Thank you to Scholastic Canada for the Advanced Reading Copy. Guts by Raina Telgemeier will be published on September 10, 2019. This review contains spoilers, and is written from the perspective of a children’s librarian. It’s been 5 years since Sisters, the sequel to Smile, was published. From my experience working in libraries, interest in… Read More Raina Telgemeier is at the top of her game with new book, Guts
NetGalley Reviews I have started reviewing advanced reading copies of books for NetGalley! If you’re a librarian and you’re not part of this amazing service, I highly recommend joining. You can request copies of upcoming books and read them on your Kindle, computer, or phone. I will be using the ARCs to inform purchasing decisions… Read More Book Reviews – October 2018
Not since Harry Potter have I devoured a book like this. The writing – fantastic. The plot – even more fantastic. The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins is a dark comedy, twisty mystery, and modern mythology, rolled up into one magnificent debut novel. Twelve orphaned children are adopted by a man with supernatural abilities named… Read More Favourite Book of 2015: The Library at Mount Char
Ever wondered what your dogs would say if they could speak? Canadian author André Alexis’s apologue (a brief allegorical fable) might shed some light on the matter. In an effort to determine whether or not human intelligence contributes to happiness, Greek gods Apollo and Hermes grant intelligence to fifteen dogs in a Toronto veterinary clinic.… Read More Book Review: Surprisingly dark and enlightening “Fifteen Dogs”
What I Read Winter is in full swing, which means many an afternoon spent curled up on the couch. We broke some horrifying temperature records in Kitchener-Waterloo this week, and I’ve been coping with a large pile of excellent novels. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson: Crazy, creative, disturbed, kept me up all… Read More What I Loved 9: Psychological Thrillers, Selma, Girl Talk
What I Read The thing about working in 2 library systems is…that there’s just so much more to read! I’ve read so many books this month – I’ll just have to give you bite-sized reviews of each of them. 1000 Feelings For Which There Are No Names by Mario Giodano: New to our non-fiction collection,… Read More What I Loved #6 – Belzhar, Zita the Spacegirl, Meditation, Uptown Waterloo, and Graduation
It’s been a busy, life-changing month for me – but I still found the time to consume respectable amounts of media! The way I see it, reading and watching and listening is part of my job now. And what a wonderful job that is. What I Read Hellgoing by Lynn Coady With all the (well-deserved) hype… Read More What I Loved This Month #5
*This book review contains spoilers* In fast-paced gripping prose that will keep readers turning pages, Jo Knowles tells the story of an unplanned pregnancy from the alternating perspectives of 4 high school students. All Ellie wants is to be loved. All Josh wants is to lose his virginity. Their miscommunication introduces the novel, and results… Read More Book Review of Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles: Not Your Average Problem Novel
“We always underestimated our own participation in magic. That is, we thought of magic as something that existed with or without us. But that’s not true.” How does one create a story about queer love that will appeal to readers of all sexualities, without coming off as defensive, offensive, or pushy? Write about magic. David… Read More Gay Literature with Universal Appeal!? Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Welcome to suburban Seattle in the 70s: where a mutation based sexually transmitted disease is transforming teenagers into monsters. Although sometimes housed in the adult graphic novel section, Black Hole by Charles Burns is certainly a story for teens sixteen and up. Through the perspective of several high school students, the reader witnesses a sweeping… Read More YA Book Review: Black Hole by Charles Burns: a fast-paced sci-fi horror hybrid for the masses
Ontarian Librarian 