The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey by Leanda de Lisle

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

In this nonfiction account, de Lisle argues that Lady Jane Grey, whose reign as "Nine Day Queen" during the Tudor dynasty ended in her execution, has received an undeserved negative connotation in history. Often described as cold, cunning and thirsting for power, Jane was nothing like that, according to de Lisle; rather, Jane was a victim of circumstances in a time of uncertainty involving the line of succession for the English monarchy. Her sisters, though not executed, also suffered tragic lives. De Lisle shows readers what life was like for those close to the English monarchy during the reign of Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. She includes family trees of all parties involved in the Grey sisters' lives, allowing readers to make connections between families mentioned throughout the book.

This book provides an interesting look at a part of English history that does not receive much attention in the classroom. I was unfamiliar with the Grey sisters' story until I read this book. I found de Lisle's arguments to be compelling and her narrative to be very easy to read.

Anyone with an interest in Tudor history or a history of England should read this book.

Reviewed by Jessica

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Olive Kitteridge, a school teacher living in Crosby, Maine, is known for her emotional outbursts and opinions. Her life revolves around doom and gloom, partially thanks to being raised by an emotionally disturbed father. However, as Strout shows in this collection of short stories, under Olive's cool demeanor is someone who shares the same joys, concerns and feelings that are representative of people she knows. Olive appears in each of the thirteen short stories, either as a main character, a minor character or just simply a passing name in conversation; each of these stories show how Olive's existence plays on the characters, whether it be a former student reflecting on Olive's classroom mannerisms to her husband contemplating a deep love for an employee and its effect on his marriage. Emotionally charged with themes such as depression, suicide and love, these stories bring into the foreground life's insecurities and how each of the characters play on their strengths and weaknesses to overcome or succomb to their thoughts.

This is a very powerful book and one that I would not normally pick up to read. However, the fact that this book won the Pulitzer Prize changed my mind. I'm glad it did. Despite her shortcomings, it's rather easy to sympathize with Olive and to see how she has touched the lives of those around her, in both a negative and positive light. The short stories span a few decades, watching Olive and her family growing older and facing tough situations, such as bad communication and health scares. This is a view of small town life and how so many of the townspeople connect with one another. It's just simply amazing.

Those who enjoyed reading The Grace That Keeps This World by Tom Bailey or Plainsong by Kent Haruf should try this book.

Reviewed by Jessica

Girl in a Blue Dress by Gaynor Arnold

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Catherine Dickens released early letters from her estranged husband Charles to the public so that "...the world might know that he loved me once."

From debut author Gaynor Arnold comes a fictional story based on Charles Dickens' marriage. The great Alfred Gibson has died. While the rest of London mourns the death of one of the greatest literary geniuses the public had seen, his estranged wife Dorothea sits in her small apartment, uninvited to the funeral, and reminisces about her marriage to Alfred. These recollections bring to light a marriage that looks happy on the outside but has devastating problems internally.

I was amazed by this novel! Arnold brings readers to Victorian era London, where customs and society's mores play a huge role in the actions of the characters. Dorothea is presented as a sympathetic character, whose husband preaches for family morality and yet banishes her from the house in order to strike up an extremely friendly acquaintanceship with a young actress. Through Dorothea, Arnold gives Catherine Dickens a chance to replay life after the death of her husband, reexamining the events that shaped the marriage and having the courage to confront those who played a part in the marriage's downfall. Fans of historical fiction should take a look at this novel. Even fans of Charles Dickens may appreciate this different portrayal of the man. I must admit, I'm not a huge fan of Dickens' works, but after reading this novel, I really want to pick up a Dickens biography and see how he really lived.

Reviewed by Jessica

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

**This is the 2009 One Book One Community selection**

In 1996, Hanna Heath, a rare book expert, travels to war-torn Sarajevo to conduct the job of a lifetime: analyze and conserve the famous Sarajevo Haggadah. During her initial analysis of the book, she discovers little artifacts - an insect's wing, wine stains, salt crystals and a white hair - that add to the remarkable history of the Sarajevo Haggadah. Brooks takes her readers through an imagined history of the Haggadah, linking Hanna's artifacts with the path the Haggadah has taken through generations. Along the way, Hanna learns some life-changing aspects about her own family and its past.

People of the Book is an amazing book. Brooks takes the little knowledge known about the real Sarajevo Haggadah and constructs a plausible history of the book. The narrative switches between contemporary times and early periods in history, chronicling the journey of the Sarajevo Haggadah and the reasons behind the little artifacts Hanna finds in the book, which provides an excellent connection between present time and past times. It was very hard for me to put the book down - I wanted to keep reading about the Haggadah's journey. Brooks is an outstanding storyteller. Those who like to read historical fiction should give this book a try!

Reviewed by Jessica

Intertwined by Gena Showalter

Age Level: Teen

Format: Book

Most sixteen-year-olds have friends. Aden Stone has four human souls living inside him:

One can time-travel.
One can raise the dead.
One can tell the future.
And one can possess another human.

With no other family and a life spent in and out of institutions, Aden and the souls have become friends. But now they're causing him all kinds of trouble. Like, he'll blink and suddenly he's a younger Aden, reliving the past. One wrong move, and he'll change the future. Or he'll walk past a total stranger and know how and when she's going to die.

He's so over it. All he wants is peace.

And then he meets a girl who quiets the voices. Well, as long as he's near her. Why? Mary Ann Gray is his total opposite. He's a loner; she has friends. He doesn't care what anyone thinks; she tries to make everyone happy. And while he attracts the paranormal, she repels it. For her sake, he should stay away. But it's too late....

Somehow, they share an inexplicable bond of friendship. A bond about to be tested by a werewolf shape-shifter who wants Mary Ann for his own, and a vampire princess Aden can't resist.

Two romances, both forbidden. Still, the four will enter a dark underworld of intrigue and danger but not everyone will come out alive...

I will admit, when I first picked up this book I was a little skeptical. I'm over vampires. I've read way too many books lately that have dealt with vampires. But from the first page, I was hooked on this book. I couldn't put it down. The sub-plots with the vampire princess and the werewolf were interesting, but there was so much in the relationship between Mary Ann and Aden. I loved those two characters from the first moment I met them and I wanted to know how it was that Mary Ann could silence the voices.

All in all, this was a very good book. There were many unnecessary plot-lines and characters, but overall it was very interesting. Read it for Aden and Mary Ann. Not for the vampire princess and werewolf.

Reviewed by Sara.