Category: staff recs

  • “The Spectacular” by Fiona Davis

    Cathy recommends: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

    Genre: Historical fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: A thrilling story about the dreams and drive of one woman’s journey in the mid to late 1900s.

    Cathy says: I chose this book because I know of one Foster native who became a Rockette, plus I’m always up for a good story. It’s interesting seeing the changing mores of family life during those years, as well as the grueling life of a dance performer. The author opens up the dancer’s life through back and forth visits from 1956 and present day (1992). It has a most satisfying ending.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “Home Front” by Kristin Hannah

    Cathy recommends: Home Front by Kristin Hannah

    Genre: Fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: One family’s journey to peace when the soldier mom goes to war.

    Cathy says: Kristin Hannah knows how to wring her readers dry of tears! Each member of this family must deal with the mom’s life as a Black Hawk pilot deployed to a war zone. The characters are strong; from the excitable 4 year old daughter to the calming ever helpful mother-in-law. The joy of a best friend, the peer pressures experienced by an adolescent, as well as marital difficulties are addressed in this book as well. An emotional ride.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore

    Chris recommends: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

    Genre: Historical fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: The Roosevelts put people out of work by preserving land instead of using it for lumber. A farmer decides to build a Swiss chalet, which becomes a summer camp for rich children. At this camp, the son and daughter of one of the most influential families in the area go missing. This novel combines family secrets with forgotten history.

  • “Amber and Clay” by Laura Amy Schlitz

    Audrey recommends: Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz

    Genre: Historical fiction novel in verse

    Reading level: YA

    Summary: In Ancient Greece, a stable-boy-turned-philosophy-student and a devotee to the wild goddess Artemis cross paths in the most unexpected way.

    Audrey says: “Hermes here. The Greek god — No. Don’t put down the book — I’m talking to you. If the lines look like poetry, relax. This book is shorter than it looks.”

    This book is truly a work of art. This hybrid novel combines poetry, prose, and artwork to create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The book freely traverses between history and fantasy: we hear from real ancient philosopher Socrates, but also from the perspective of various gods of the Greek pantheon. The living world and the ghostly afterlife are treated with equal weight. Hermes quotes contemporary literary criticism. We read modern museum labels of historical artifacts, and then read Schlitz’s imagined provenance and what their significance might have been. This is genuinely the most unique book I’ve ever read.

    “This is their story. When it’s over, if you like, you can tell me what it means.”

  • “The Love of my Life” by Rosie Walsh

    Cathy recommends: The Love of my Life by Rosie Walsh

    Genre: Fiction

    Reading Level: Adult

    Summary: Well-meaning omissions of the truth will explode at the worst possible times.

    Cathy says: It’s a thriller; it’s a mystery which is unravelling one page and one shock after another. This book truly changed and morphed with every revealed factoid. There was never a hint, never foreshadowing, never following to a logical conclusion. This reader could not put it down!

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “How to Read a Book” by Monica Wood

    Chris recommends: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

    Genre: Contemporary fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Three people who are tied to the same drunk-driving accident accidentally meet up at a Portland book shop, and their lives intersect in transformative ways.

    This title is available at Foster Public Library.

  • “Marvelous Marvin” by E. J. Finocchio, D.V.M.

    Cathy recommends: Marvelous Marvin by E. J. Finocchio, D.V.M.

    Genre: “Canine autobiography”

    Reading level: School-age readers

    Summary: The true story of an unwanted dog as he tells of his journey to become an official greeter for the RISPCA.

    Cathy says: This book gives children insight as to the minds of dogs, instilling knowledge of canines and hopefully, compassion for those animals who are not physically perfect. Dr. Finocchio was the director of the RISPCA when he wrote the book.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “Do Fish Sleep?” by Jens Raschke

    Cathy recommends: Do Fish Sleep? by Jens Raschke, illustrated by Jens Rassmus

    Genre: Fiction

    Reading Level: Early chapter book

    Summary: One child’s journey through her changing feelings about her little brother, who has leukemia.

    Cathy says: Simple language dealing with a complicated and highly emotional situation.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez

    Kylie recommends: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

    Genre: Contemporary romance

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Justin writes a viral Reddit post about his curse where every woman he dates goes on to find their soulmate the second they break up. Emma has this same problem, so she slides into his DMs and they band together to break their curses by “dating” each other so they will both be able to find their soulmates after they break up.

    Kylie says: Abby Jimenez takes the typical cutesy contemporary romance and adds layers and deepness to her stories making them not only swoon-worthy, but impactful and heart-wrenching too. If you like the “he falls first,” fake dating, and found-family tropes, then this one is for you.

    This title is available at Foster Public Library.

  • “Girl One” by Sara Flannery Murphy

    Cathy recommends: Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy

    Genre: Sci-fi suspense

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: First-person story of one special woman and her journey into self-discovery while looking for her missing mother.

    Cathy says: I was captivated by the details of the creation of this special woman, her discoveries, and the power of love. This book reminded me again that relatives are bound together by blood, but family is bound by the heart. I could not put this book down.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.