Welcome to SWHPL Readers’ Advisory!

October 1, 2012

One of my favorite jobs as a librarian is connecting people with books….in fact it is one of my favorite things to do in and out of work! I love readers’ advisory and I am . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews

Staff Picks for Fall 2012

October 1, 2012

Vesta Kowalski The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling ~This is about as far from Harry Potter as it is possible to get. It’s hard to find a likeable character among the many (all just slightly overdrawn) whose stories . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews

We can’t all be rattlesnakes / Patrick Jennings.

April 28, 2012

2009 Terrific book…I’m so glad I finally read it! Yes, I loved a book with a snake as the main character…amazing. It’s a short clever story that really gets to the heart of human relationship . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

The cats in the doll shop / by Yona Zeldis McDonough ; illustrated by Heather Maione.

April 28, 2012

2011 I loved this book as much as the first about this family published in 2009, The Doll Shop Downstairs. It’s just a great family story and I’ll love recommending it. I won’t have to . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Children's Books

The doll shop downstairs / by Yona Zeldis McDonough ; illustrated by Heather Maione.

April 26, 2012

I hate to overuse the phrase but this is a “nice old fashioned story.” It is historical fiction based on the origin of Madam Alexander Dolls – During World War I a doll repair shop . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Children's Books

Blanche of the blueberry barrens / by Anne Molloy ; illustrated with linoleum cuts by Arline K. Thomson.

April 13, 2012

Good old fashioned coming of age story – well – she’s 11! Trusted with the huge responsibility of housekeeping and babysitting while family is off blueberrying – they go to the barrens each year – . . . read more »

Category: Reviews Juvenile Books

Kildee House / Rutherford Montgomery ; illustrations by Barbara Cooney.

April 13, 2012

Sweet book. Issues: “Wife walked out” referring to raccoons Mountain people “a feud” a shot gun Death of raccoon Pipe smoking – lots! Good messages though! hunting issue feuding kids make friends very respectful of animals . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

Beauty queens / Libba Bray.

April 3, 2012

This book was a challenge for me – way too bizarre! At first I was repulsed by the characterzation of beauty queens as shallow, competitive Barbie Doll types – not convincingly done and too trite . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Young Adult Books

Understood Betsy / Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Illustrated by Martha Alexander

April 3, 2012

I loved this quaint little old fashioned story – OK, the writing is a little odd, especially at first – but once you’re in a few chapters it’s OK – She consults with the reader . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

White cat / Holly Black.

October 1, 2011

Whew! Had to read this in a day – Basically a story of mob families – with fantasy element of “special abilities” added. Called “Workers” they can change emotions or memories or transform other people . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Young Adult Books