The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Age Level: Adult
Format: Unabridged book on CD
Reader: Davina Porter

In this fifth installment to the Outlander series, twentieth-century born Claire Randall happily lives in 1771 America with her husband, eighteenth-century Scottish born James Fraser. However, living in the remote part of the colony of North Carolina cannot prevent the world's problems from entering their lives. Tensions in America are growing by the day, with colonists upset over the British government's rule. Claire's knowledge of the upcoming American Revolution warns James of what is to come, leaving no doubt that an unsettling future lays ahead for them and their friends. With a cast of memorable characters and a story line rich in descriptive detail, Davina Porter's reading transforms Gabaldon's novel into a deeply moving and pleasurable experience.

It is hard to classify Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series into one reading genre: some may call it science fiction or fantasy, since it does involve time travel, while others call it romance, since there are many romantic elements in the novel. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction with occasional romantic intrigue interlaced in the story line. Readers (or listeners) will at first notice the length of the novels in the Outlander series: they are huge! If you like getting through a story in a couple hundred pages, this is not the series for you! The Fiery Cross, in book on CD format, is 47 discs long. In book format, it is over 1400 pages long.

I really love Gabaldon's attention to detail: while some readers may find painstakingly descriptive paragraphs about a particular dress or an herbal plant discouraging and unnecessary for the story, I found them to be quite enjoyable. And Porter's reading of the story - to put it simply, it is terrific! Each character has his or her own distinct voice, making the story flow smoothly. Porter has to be one of the best readers for audiobooks. She has the perfect voice for it! Readers will find that Porter also reads the other books in the Outlander series. Though the books do not necessarily have to be read or listened to in order, I found it very beneficial to start with the first, aptly titled Outlander. This way, readers can start from the beginning of this tale and find out how Claire was transported back to the eighteenth-century and learn about all of the events leading up to The Fiery Cross.

Be prepared to get sucked into a wonderful epic story!

Reviewed by Jessica

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Age Level: Teen
Format: Book

Matthew has five rules of survival:

"1. Sometimes, the people who mean you harm are the ones who say they love you.
2. Fear is your friend. When you feel it, act.
3. Protect the little ones.
4. If you coped before, you can cope now.
5. Always remember, in the end, the survivor gets to tell the story."

These are the rules Matthew lives by. These rules have come from 17 years of living with an abusive mother with his two little sisters. He knows that it is his job to protect his sisters - there's no one else to do it. Both his father and aunt are afraid of the unpredictable nature of his mother, they bow to her will. He feels like there's no one he can trust, no one who will help him get his sisters out of their environment, until, one evening, he spies Murdoch. Murdoch, a man he's never met before, but one that he sees standing up to an angry father on the verge of beating a child. Now...Matthew is obsessed and on a mission - maybe Murdoch can help them. Matthew desperately wants to find out.

This book is rated for teens in grades 9+. It's a gripping tale of child abuse seen and experienced through the eyes of a 17-year-old who is, unfortunately, far older than he should be. It's written in the form of a letter - Matthew is writing the story of their life with their mother for his youngest sister, should she ever have questions about their past. He's doesn't know if he'll ever give it to her, or if she'll ever want to read it, but he needs to write this story down for himself.

This story is completely terrifying and realistic. Personally, I could not put it down, and read the entire book in the span of a couple hours. It is a page turner and is definitely worth reading by both adults and teens.

Reviewed by Sara.

Milwaukee Winters Can Be Murder by Kathleen Anne Barrett

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Emotions always get the better of Beth Hartley, a writer of legal briefs and a former lawyer. Twice married, once divorced and once widowed, Beth likes working out of her home, setting her own hours, and still surrounding herself with law books; plus, she happily no longer has to argue in a courtroom. What could be better? When her secretary Janice's brother Dave is found dead in his apartment, Janice asks Beth to prove that Dave was murdered. Written in the first person, Beth takes the reader through her mis-steps, deductions and conclusions. As Beth gets closer to finding the truth, she faces her greatest challenge: survival. Published in 1996 by Avalon Books, this is the first in the Milwaukee mystery series.

This book may be a little hard to find - it is out of print according to Amazon.com, and Adams County Library System does not have it on the shelves, but it is a treat to read (asking to get it from another library is always an option!). Those who like the "cozy" mysteries or the amateur sleuth mysteries will enjoy this book. Predicting the end of the book, or at least who had a hand in Dave's death, may be a little easy for some readers, but the overall storyline makes up for it. Rich in detail, Barrett describes the Milwaukee landscape very well - I have never been to Milwaukee, but I felt like I was there driving downtown or taking the highway to one of the malls. And, Beth's house! Trust me, when you read this book, you will want a house just like hers!! I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Milwaukee Summers Can Be Deadly.

Reviewed by Jessica

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

  

Gretchen Yee, a student at the Manhattan School for Art, feels like an ordinary nobody surrounded by a sea of extraordinary people.  She feels like she doesn't fit in with her peers artistically or personally.  No one understands or appreciates her style of art, that of the great comic book writers, and she longs to understand what others think of her - so she wishes she could be a fly on the wall of the boys locker room, and amazingly, her wish comes true.  She spends a week there, buzzing around the room, listening in on the boys conversations, discovering the mysteries of the male anatomy, and learning far more about herself and those around her than she ever expected.

 

This is a fun read.  There is a lot of humor in this book, as well as drama, which is only to be expected when dealing with interpersonal relationships.  Gretchen learns a lot, during her time as a fly, about boys (they have feelings too!), that her best friend is keeping something big from her for fear of upsetting her, and that everyone’s perceptions of other people are different.  Most importantly, Gretchen learns some things about herself, and ultimately wishes that she can once again be herself.

 

Even though this is a story about a girl turning into a fly, it is realistic.  The emotions that Gretchen expresses – the worries, fears, and anger are completely believable and are things that not only teens, but many people face today.  

 

Please be aware that this book is for grades 9+.  Because Gretchen becomes a fly that lives on the wall of the boys locker room, she does, well, see everything, and she does describe what she is seeing.  There is also some strong language used within the book.  It may not be a book for everyone, but I found it to be an enjoyable read and think that this is a good book for teens who are unsure of their place in the world.

 

Reviewed by Sara

The Conjurer by Cordelia Frances Biddle

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Everyone has secrets to hide. When wealthy financier Lemuel Beale disappears during a hunting expedition in 1840s Philadelphia, his sheltered, unmarried twenty-six year old daughter Martha's quiet world unravels as she learns secrets and reprehensible scandals of Philadelphia's privileged class. As her father's disappearance stretches into days and weeks, Martha, along with the help of Philadelphia mayoral assistant Thomas Kelman, begins to question his disappearance and comes to the conclusion that Lemuel may have been the victim of foul play. Meanwhile, suspicious and horrific deaths of prostitutes have Philadelphia's lower class talking, and a conjurer/mesmerist named Eusapio Paladino claims to have visions of all wrong in Philadelphia. This is Biddle's first mystery starring Martha Beale, but not her first mystery: Biddle and her husband Steven Zettel write the crossword puzzle mystery series under the name Nero Blanc.

If you like reading historical mysteries or stories set in a historical era, pick up this book. Biddle's extensive research shines through in The Conjurer. 1840s Philadelphia comes to life; one can picture the scenes and the characters. The characters themselves have their own unique attributes. The chapters give the characters' viewpoints in the third person, showing how their own secrets and scandals intertwine with the main mystery - the disappearance of Lemual Beale. Like pieces of a puzzle, Biddle connects everything in the end to make an enjoyable read.

I am very partial to good historical novels and stories; my interest in history, particularly American history, drives me to pick up books set in a historical time. I was not disappointed picking up this book, and I am sure you will not be disappointed either!

Reviewed by Jessica