Invisible Girl

By Lisa Jewell

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Gail-Morden Branch Administrator

    I loved this book! The author tells the story in first person through 3 of the main characters-young woman Saffyre, Cate, a mother, and Owen, the neighbour who lives across the street.

    After several attacks on women and teenaged girls in the neighbourhood, Saffyre goes missing.  

    

    Owen, the neighbour across the street is a high school teacher who is accused by two students of improper conduct.  He is so indignant that he resigns from his position rather than go through any classes to correct his supposed behaviour. The complaints coupled with his reaction make him a perfect suspect in the eyes of the police.

   

    As the story winds through the 3 main characters lives, the author casts your suspicion among several characters.  Just when you think you've figured out who the attacker is, another incident or bit of knowledge comes in to cast doubt on another character or back to someone who previously looked guilty.

   

    This book will have you guessing until the very end.  Literally, the very last sentence.

   

    If you like a good mystery, realistic fiction and can follow different characters narrating, this is the book for you!

    Available on Libby or through SCRL Altona branch.

To place this book on hold, click here.

Jerktastic Park

By Darby Conley

Adult Non-Fiction

Reviewed by KB-Winkler patron

    My introduction to the 'Get Fuzzy' series was when a friend gave me Darby Conley's first book as a birthday gift.  Ever since then I've been hooked.

    The 'Get Fuzzy' series revolves around a Siamese cat named Bucky, a dog named Satchel, and their guardian, Rob.

    In Jerktastic Park, Bucky Katt is back being...well, a cat.  He continuously picks on Satchel, has fights with his weasel neighbour Fungo, and is constantly up to something that drives Rob crazy.  Bucky is conservative while Rob is liberal, but this book can easily be read by someone who doesn't enjoy politics.  Satchel is just a pure sweetheart.

    This is an intelligent comic, however one that anyone can pick up and read.

To place this book on hold, click here.

The Girl In His Shadow

By Audrey Blake

Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Wendi from the Altona branch

    The Girl In His Shadow by Audrey Blake is an historical fiction novel set in the mid 1840's, a time when women were still forbidden to practice medicine, childbirth had a high mortality rate and studying the dead was strictly illegal.  The main characters are strong and intelligent.  The plot is filled with suspense, loss, friendship and love, determination, courage and the progression of early 19th century Victorian medicine, grabbing the reader's attention from the very first page.

    The quote "I think a woman of your delicacy and age should hardly be left to haunt dissecting rooms.  It is a disservice done to you." goes to show how hard women needed to work to make space for themselves in history and the novel focuses on the hurdles the first female doctors faced when struggling to be accepted in the medical field.  I loved this book and I cannot wait to dive into the sequel, The Surgeon's Daughter.

To place this book on hold, click here.
 

Dry

 By Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Young Adult Fiction

Reviewed by Michelle from the Altona Branch

    This fast paced novel is about a group of teens living in California.  When the drought suddenly turns catastrophic, normal life comes to a screeching halt and people start acting crazy.

    Severe droughts are not uncommon in today's world, and this book was not too farfetched at showing how humans can behave during a crisis.

To place this book on hold, click here.