The Mulberry Tree by Allison Rushby
Title: The Mulberry Tree
Author: Allison Rushby
Review:
Do naught wrong by the mulberry tree, or she'll take your daughters... one, two, three. In the dead of night, spirited away, never to see an eleventh birthday.
Ten year old Immy and her family have moved to Cambridgeshire, England. Unhappy about the move, Immy's life is made more difficult by her bumbling father and the foreboding mulberry tree in her backyard. Are the myths about the tree true? If they aren't then why does Immy feel like the tree is watching her, waiting...
Review by: Jannelle
Pencils You Should Know by Caroline Weaver
Title: Pencils You Should Know
Author: Caroline Weaver
Review:
If you have a fascination with pencils, this would be the book for you. I found some interesting pencil history as well as some new pencils I wanted to try out. Such a neat compilation of this classic tool!
Review by: Ben
A Year in Flowers by Erin Benzakein
Title: A Year in Flowers
Author: Erin Benzakein
Review:
This is a stunningly beautiful book for the floral designer in all of us - or "floral designer" wanna-be's! You will find ideas for all kinds of flowers and all of the seasons of the year. Enjoy an explosion of color and designs in this magnificent book.
Review by: Jan
Book Collecting Now by Matthew Budman
Title: Book Collecting Now
Author: Matthew Budman
Review:
Want to get started in book collecting? This excellent guide gives you a running start. From how to identify a first edition, to where to find collectables & where you will likely not find them, to the value of an author 's signature, and more. But the best advice, is to collect what you like. Plus, the appendix has some great resources.
Review by: Ben
Westering Women by Sandra Dallas
Title: Westering Women
Author: Sandra Dallas
Review:
Trying to make a new life for herself and her young daughter, Maggie joins a caravan of 43 women and 2 reverends on their way to California. It is 1852 and the trail is dangerous for a group of women on their own. As she bonds with the women during the trip, she discovers that she isn't the only one with a past she'd rather forget.
Review by: Jannelle
Wine Time by Barbara Scott-Goodman
Title: Wine Time
Author: Barbara Scott-Goodman
Review:
This book takes the guesswork out of "what to pair with that wine I'm serving to my guests tonight." Wonderful recipes for all occasions. Read, cook & enjoy! Cheers!
Review by: Jan
The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff
Title: The Woman with the Blue Star
Author: Pam Jenoff
Review: This is a moving and courageous tale about World War II Poland. The story begins in the Krakow Ghetto, where you meet Sadie and her family, on the other side you meet Ella her step mother who is “friendly” to the Nazis. Sadie and others end up escaping to the sewer system and living there, barely holding on. Ella helps when she can and the girls develop a close friendship, like kindred spirits . This is a touching tale of friendship, of family and what you might do to stay alive. Loved it, and it makes you think of the times we are in now as well.
Review by: Julie
Wines of Walla Walla Valley by Catie McIntyre Walker
Title: Wines of Walla Walla Valley
Author: Catie McIntyre Walker
Review:
This is a fabulous comprehensive history of the Walla Walla wine valley. Well written and fun. Recipes included! You will enjoy exploring the Walla Walla valley through Ms. McIntyre's eyes. Pick up a book to take with you while exploring our beautiful valley.
Review by: Jan
Echo Island by Jared C Wilson
Title: Echo Island
Author: Jared C Wilson
Review:
Four boys go on a camping trip to celebrate their high school graduation. They notice a few strange things on the ferry ride back to their home, Echo Island, but don't think much about it until they arrive in a totally vacant town. They can't find anyone anywhere. The boys embark on a mission to find out what became of the people of Echo Island only to discover what has been hiding deep within themselves. Great read!
Review by: Jannelle
Be You by Peter Reynolds
Title: Be You
Author: Peter Reynolds
Review:
Bestselling children’s author Peter Reynolds has done it once again with this fun book on learning to love yourself. This is a great book to ensure your children remember to know their worth and love themselves. A great message with adorable illustrations, I highly recommend!
Review by: Bethany
Grow Bag Gardening by Kevin Espiritu
Title: Grow Bag Gardening
Author: Kevin Espiritu
Review:
I am always on the lookout for a better way to get more yield from my garden, and let’s be honest, easier if I can get it! This book and idea is a new tool in that is great if you are short on space or just want to try something new.This book covers all the Basics, the pros and cons of pots vs bags, what soils to use , how berries will work and tomatoes, plus just about everything else. I will be trying potato’s this year and some small bags that will have Pollinating plants in them, this helps get the bee’s to visit your garden Would recommend this to anyone that has done gardening before, just because some of the terms may not be familiar, but if you're a fast learner, go for it!! Enjoy! Good luck!
Review by: Julie
Ultralearning by Scott Young
Title: Ultralearning
Author: Scott Young
Review:
After pulling off the stunt of learning an entire 4 year MIT computer course in just one year, and following it with a year learning 4 different languages, Scott Young has a few things to say about how one learns something. Not only does he share the techniques that worked for him, but the current best ideas from the science of learning. If you really want to crank up your education or skill set, try ultralearning.
Review by: Ben
Broad Band by Claire L. Evens
Title: Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet
Author: Claire L. Evens
Review:
Many of us have heard of Ada Lovelace, a brilliant mathematician and writer during the nineteenth century. She is fondly called the mother of programming for her work on Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine. However, Ada Lovelace is only the first of many amazing women who helped build the computer network known today as the Internet. From the kilogirls (women that worked as the first computers during the turn of the twentieth century) to the cyberfeminists of the 1990s, Claire Evens shares stories of women who’s genius, perseverance, and creativity shaped the World Wide Web.Although a bit heavier of a read, Evens mixes research and interviews to showcase the lives of the women in this book, all while weaving in her own journey of discovery.
Review by: Alex
Chrysalis by Brendan Reichs
Title: Chrysalis
Author: Brendan Reichs
Review:
What a great ending to the Nemesis Trilogy! The Nemesis survivors have begun the process of building back society on a desolate earth. But soon, the group fractures into small factions. When the Silo is attacked, Noah & Min must figure out who is sabotaging the village. What they uncover points to other survivors. They aren't alone on the new earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult science fiction series.
Review by: Jannelle
The Healer by Donna Freitas
Title: The Healer
Author: Donna Freitas
Review:
Marlena Oliveira had the ability to heal anyone with a single touch. Many people, including her mother, say it’s a gift from God. Because of this, her mother insists that Marlena remain secluded from all but herself in order to remain pure. But when a scientist approaches Marlena wanting to study her ability, she starts to question everything she’s known to be true. With the help of a cute boy named Finn, she begins to explore the life she’s always wanted. At times sweet, confusing, and heartbreaking, this coming of age novel held me captivated.
Review by: Bethany
Weird Earth by Donald Prothero
Title: Weird Earth: Debunking Strange Ideas about Our Planet
Author: Donald Prothero
Review:
In such an advanced tech age as we live in, it seems hard to believe that some people think the earth is flat or that it might be hollow. In Weird Earth, Prothero takes on these strange ideas and many more, one by one showing how we know they are not true. He shows in many examples how the weird idea is physically impossible.
Review by: Ben
Old Bones by Preston & Child
Title: Old Bones
Author: Preston & Child
Review: Another winner by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child! This time they take on the story of the Donner party who were stranded by early snowfall while trying to take a short cut over the Sierra Mountains. There were 48 survivors from the original party of 87. But do we know the full story? Clive Benton has found a long lost diary of one of the survivors who chronicles a very different account than what we know today. With details of a 2nd previously unknown camp, Nora Kelly, a young archaeologist, leads a small expedition into the mountains to search for the camp. What she discovers will not only change history but puts her in danger from others who are also searching for what the 2nd camp hides.
Review by: Jannelle
A Divided Loyalty by Charles Todd
Title: A Divided Loyalty
Author: Charles Todd
Review:
Detective Ian Rutledge is sent to investigate a cold murder case that seems to be punishment from his superior. Sent to Avery, a small village not far from Stonehenge, Detective Rutledge is not expecting to uncover anything new. But what he finds leads him back home to the people closest to him. I love the Ian Rutledge mysteries!
Review by: Jannelle
The Last Stargazers by Emily Levesque
Title: The Last Stargazers
Author: Emily Levesque
Review:
Have you ever wondered what astronomers actually do? It's a whole lot more than staring at the night sky through a telescope waiting for something interesting to happen. My understanding of astronomy and the people who engage in this fascinating science expanded 10x by reading this book.
Review by: Ben
How Music Can Make You Better by Indre Viskontas
Title: How Music Can Make You Better
Author: Indre Viskontas
Review:
How Music Can Make You Better is a thought provoking explanation of how and why humans are so impacted by Music. Viskontas explains in a reader-friendly fashion exactly how Music is understood by the brain and why every person has a unique perspective on the subject. I really enjoyed this book and love how it sheds light on a universal subject.
Review by: Bethany