Bog Queen

North, Anna. Bog Queen. 2025. 288p. ISBN 9781635579666.

When a perfectly preserved body is discovered in a bog in northwest England, Agnes, an American forensic anthropologist, is called in to investigate. This is unlike any case she has ever encountered: though the bones confirm the person was buried over two thousand years ago during the Iron Age, the body remains miraculously preserved. Agnes quickly becomes drawn into a profound mystery, feeling an almost primal call to understand and avenge the death of an Iron Age woman who, despite the centuries, feels more like her than she realizes.

As she works, Agnes must contend with local forces: peat-cutters who seek to profit from the rich bog and passionate activists who demand the ancient land be left undisturbed. The bog itself becomes a central character—a complex repository of artifacts and remains with its own dark, powerful stories to tell. Flashing between the uncertainty of post-Brexit England and the druidic order of Celtic Europe at the dawn of the Roman era, Bog Queen forces Agnes to question everything she thought she knew about her own talents, her self-reliance, and her place in the world.

This is a captivating read for fans of historical mystery, archaeological thrillers, and dual-timeline narratives that focus on place and atmosphere. It will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy stories that blend forensic science and ancient history, particularly those featuring female protagonists with deep connections to the past. The book's rich, complex landscape of the bog, both as a setting and a repository of history, makes it an excellent choice for those who value literary quality and political undertones within a suspenseful framework.

Most Haunted Houses

Fielding, Yvette. Most Haunted Houses. 2025. 208p. ISBN 9781839135606.

Are ghosts real? Do some of them haunt buildings? Drawing from a wide range of locations, including historical royal residences, the infamous 'Most Haunted House in Britain,' and even the author's personal home, Most Haunted Houses describes paranormal encounters that occurred during the filming of a British series on the same subject. A variety of spectral figures and haunting events are described, from barbaric priest's ghost, the eerie tale of a witch who faced trial for murder, and the heartbreaking saga of a pair of tragic lovers whose spirits continue to linger

Fans of paranormal activity will enjoy these various encounters and will experience some of the goosebumps the author no doubt suffered during her stay in these haunted locations. Readers are cautioned that these accounts are not for the faint of heart, promising an exploration of some of the most chilling ghostly phenomena documented. Each of these encounters is described in vivid terms and provide an unsettling glimpse into the world of the supernatural.

The Mystery of the Crooked Man

Spencer, Tom. The Mystery of the Crooked Man. 2024. 303p. ISBN 9781805335115.

Agatha Dorn is an eccentric British middle-aged archivist with a sharp wit, a love for gin, and a passion for classic detective fiction. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a lost manuscript by the renowned Golden Age author Gladden Green. This discovery catapults Agatha into the literary spotlight, bringing her sudden fame and recognition.

However, Agatha's newfound celebrity is short-lived. The "rediscovered" novel is revealed to be a forgery, and her reputation is tarnished as a result. Adding to her woes, her former lover is found dead with a piece of the fraudulent manuscript nearby, leading Agatha to suspect foul play. Determined to clear her name and uncover the truth, Agatha embarks on a quest to solve the murder and expose the connection between the killing and the fake manuscript. But can she manage to stay sober enough to catch the real killer, or will she become another victim in this intricate whodunit?

Fans of Agatha Christie's novels will love this well-crafted mystery. Agatha's quirks, such as her love of gin and her prickly personality, make her memorable and entertaining. 

Sing If You Can't Dance

Casale, Alexia. Sing If You Can't Dance. 2023. 320p. ISBN 9780571373802.

Living in a small town, Ven is a fiercely independent and determined British high schooler. Her family runs a music festival every year, and Ven has always been involved. But in the last few years, she has secretly been battling a chronic illness which has affected her physical abilities. Ven had to give up dance, abandoning her best friend Maddie and causing a rift in their relationship. A new arrival, Ren, a mysterious American, changes the dynamics at school. Ven is attracted to Ren, and he seems interested as well.

Since she can't dance, Ven is teamed up with other students in her Chorus class, and they start working together to create a competitive singing group, Ven juggles demanding rehearsals, the pressures of schools, and the complexities of her relationships increase the tension in her body, affecting her ability to function. 

As she struggles through these challenges, Ven unexpectedly discovers a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her. Her journey of self-discovery demonstrates that even when faced with adversity, there is always room for joy, creativity, and new beginnings. Hers is a poignant and uplifting story that celebrates the strength of the human spirit and the importance of finding your own rhythm in life, regardless of the obstacles you may encounter.

1984: The Graphic Novel

Orwell, George, adapted and illustrated by Fido Nesti. 1984: The Graphic Novel. 2020. 224p. 978-0-358-35992-0.

Winston has grown in Oceania, one of the three super states that succeeded the myriad of countries and that are now in perpetual war against each other. The Party, guided by Big Brother, dominates all thoughts, actions, and beliefs. The Thought Police is everywhere, listening in to all conversations, spying on everyone all the time. A worker in the Ministry of Truth, where he modifies historical records to ensure they match the current predictions of the Party. The Party must always be right. But Winston harbors doubts, and he knows that the Party is not correct. He's even seen evidence of this. So Winston has to live with doublethink, the ability to think one thing and its contrary simultaneously. 

When he meets Julia, Winston instantly dislikes her. She has too much Party fervor, she's too much of a zealot. Soon, however, Winston discovers that Julia is nothing of the kind. Like her, she's hiding her true feelings and her thoughts as best she can to passively resist the Party. When they are given the opportunity to rebel, both of them take it knowing full well that it can only end in death. However, the two lovers must do something to fight off the totalitarian power of Big Brother!

A great graphic novel adaptation of 1984, this book manages to convey the despair and darkness of the world in which Winston and Julia live, and eerily demonstrates how relatively easy it would be to slip into a totalitarian system without knowing it. Readers who are interested can read a review of the book here.

The Brontë Plot

 Reay, Katherine. The Brontë Plot. 2015. 334p. ISBN 9781401689759. Available at FIC REA on the library bookshelves.

Lucy works in an antique shop, where she is in charge of the rare book collection. Over the years, she has developed a talent for acquiring rare books that have handwritten notes in them, sometimes from the author themself, sometimes from strangers who left their impressions of what they read or dedications to loved ones decades earlier. When James walks in the store looking for a specific book, Lucy is thrilled to have that book in the collection, and enthusiastically lends it to James for an art project. Smitten, the two of them soon become an item, and James buys several rare books from Lucy. Then he discovers that the handwriting in all of them is very similar to that of Lucy.

With her forgery exposed, Lucy suddenly loses James and her position at the store is at risk, since the owner prides himself on providing only the best authentic antiques, and forged rare books could sink his business. Helen, James' rich grandmother intervenes by offering Lucy a job as her personal consultant on a trip to England to help her on an antiques acquisitions tour of the old country. But Helen also has a secret of her own, and she needs Lucy's help to complete unfinished business ...

The Splendid and the Vile

Larson, Erik. The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz. 2020. 585p. ISBN 978-0-385-34871-3. Available at 940.54 LAR on the library shelves.

On the 10th of May, 1940, Winston Churchill becomes the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the British defeat to the German army in Norway. That same day, Hitler's forces invade Holland and Belgium, forcing France to the defensive as the Germans overrun the heavily fortified French border. Committed to fight to the end, Churchill is unable to prevent the French army's collapse and the subsequent surrender. The British manage to evacuate most of its expeditionary corp as well as large parts of the French army surrounded at Dunkirk. 

Vowing to destroy the British's will to fight on while planning an invasion, Hitler orders Goering and the German Air Force to obliterate British air defenses. Led by a relentless Churchill, the government takes control of aircraft production and manages to double, then triple, the numbers of monthly airplanes put in service. As the Germans expand their war efforts and increase the number and intensity of bombings, the British fight back and begin dropping bombs on German targets. As cities are inadvertently hit, the war takes a deadlier turn and soon London is under constant attack, while other British cities are also reduced to rubble.

With the country preparing for invasion, Churchill actively courts the Americans, knowing that Britain cannot win the war without American intervention. Britain must survive long enough for the Americans to be dragged in the war. The relentless pounding of London and continued military losses compound Churchill's headaches. Can the British resist a determined German air assault?

Told from primary sources including the diaries of Churchill's daughters and one of his personal secretary, The Splendid and the Vile reveals a much personal approach to war than most histories of the Blitz. Focused on the one year where the Luftwaffe relentlessly dropped tons of bombs, killing over 45,000 people and causing until economic and structural damage, this book explores the impacts on the lives of ordinary people who lived through the Blitz, as well as follow the reactions and decisions made by Churchill and his entourage during that fateful year. Fans of history will love reading how Churchill galvanized the British people in fighting what seemed to be a lost cause.

Olivia Twist

Langdon, Lorie. Olivia Twist. 2018. 331p. ISBN 978-0-310-76347-5. Available as an ebook on Overdrive. 

When her mother died in childbirth, newborn Olivia was left bereft. Looking at her pretty face, the attending physician asked the nurse to take care of the baby, but raise it as a boy for poor orphan girl children in Victorian England had very little prospects aside from peddling themselves for a few coins. Upon the nurse's own death, Ollie, as the child was known, was turned over to the workhouse, from where she promptly escaped, joining with a gang of boys and brought up under the protection of Jack, known under his criminal name as the Artful Dodger. For years, the streets of 1860s London were brutal and violent.

During a pickpocket incident gone wrong, Jack managed to steal a rich man's wallet, but Ollie was captured and abandoned. Luckily she was recognized by the victim as his long lost niece, and was adopted back into the Brownlow family. Now, years later, Olivia has joined high society, but keeps track of several street boys whom she feeds and clothes. With her engagement to Max Grimwig coming, Olivia will secure her financial future, but at the cost of marrying someone she doesn't really care for.

When Jack reappears, Olivia is struck by how handsome he is and how he has evidently joined high society as well. As the adopted nephew of a well-known socialite, Jack moves around hi those rarified circles, stealing valuable objects from the inside. When he recognizes Olivia as Ollie, Jack is also quick to fall in love. However, the reappearance of Monks, the well-known street lord, in the slums of London puts all of the street orphans in danger. When Jack realize that Monks is after Olivia, he vows to stop him, even if this means putting his own life in danger.

A retelling of Oliver Twist with a female protagonist, this tells the story of a strong character dedicated to saving as many children as possible, even if this means skirting what is proper in her society. Jack can be both endearing and enraging at the same time, and the way they bumble through their budding relationship is very realistic. Fans of historical fiction with a splash of mystery will love this book!

All These Monsters

 Tintera, Amy. All These Monsters. Book 1 of the Monsters series. 2020. 464p. ISBN 9780358012405. Available at FIC TIN on the library shelves.

In the recent past, a breed of underground monsters called scrabs have emerged throughout the world. Three variants of them exist in Asia, Europe, and North America. Squat and armor plated, scrabs are hard to kill. They dig holes and emerge in populated centers, trying to kill, maim, and destroy as much as possible. Most of the scrabs in North America have been killed, but Europe remains plagued with them.

Greyson, a millionaire teen famous for being rich, has decided to assemble mercenary teams and send them to Europe to fight the scrab problem, now that the United States has pulled its military back to the country, and people are flocking to the trials.

At seventeen, Clara does not like school. She's too focused on surviving her abusive father and her always-in-denial mother, so when the chance presents itself Clara escapes her stifling Dallas life and travels to Atlanta on no money, with the hope of making the team. She's not the best fighter, or the most dedicated, but she's driven and she makes the cut and is assigned to Team 7, the only team of teens from the United States.

Scrabs are deadly, however, and soon members of the team are killed in battles. Clara falls for Julian, the 19-year-old in charge of Team 7, while the rest of the team tries to figure out how to work together. As they continue to fight monsters, however, Clara realizes that a conspiracy is afoot to smuggle European scrabs back to the United States. Scrabs may be violent, but they may not be the worst enemies ...

Fans of dystopian fiction and those who liked Reboot will appreciate Tintera's new series.

Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris; June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944

Keegan, John. Six Armies in Normandy: From D-Day to the Liberation of Paris; June 6 - Aug. 5, 1944. 1994. 365p. ISBN 9780140235425. Available at 940.53 KEE on the library shelves.

On June 6, 1944, two massive armies met on Europe's doorstep. An invasion force composed of Americans, British, Canadians, French, Polish, and other European expatriates landed in Normandy and found themselves against what was dubbed the impenetrable Fortress Europe guarded by the Germans. The Second World War had started almost five years earlier, and Nazi Germany had swiftly conquered most of Western Europe before Hitler had turned his hungry eyes towards Russia.

Over the years, knowing an invasion attempt would take place, the Atlantic littoral was fortified, and the Germans dug in to offer a stiff resistance and the hope that such an attempt would be crushed on the beach. When troops landed, the Germans were prepared but unable to throw the Allies back in the water. Their forces had been depleted on the Eastern Front, and what remained behind were second-tiered divisions. These still fought doggedly, preventing the Allies from achieving the breakthrough they had hoped for. 

Military forces are examined, engagements are described, and the composition and history of each of the national armies that participated is presented. Military strategies are analyzed, and the lives of various leaders are explored. D-Day and the Battle of Normandy remains important today, as they, more than any war since, show what a European conflict between Russia and the United States would look like. Fans of history will appreciate this incredibly detailed work.

Stalking Jack the Ripper

Maniscalco, Kerri. Stalking Jack the Ripper. 2016. 327p. ISBN 978-0-3162-7349-7. Available at FIC MAN on the library shelves.

Audrey Wadsworth is the daughter of a British Lord, and lives in a manor in a wealthy section of London. Unlike other girls in her position, however, the seventeen-year-old is not interested in her debutante ball or finding a wealthy husband, but instead enjoy working with her uncle, a forensic doctor who clinically studies dead bodies. If it was up to her, Audrey would pursue a career in medicine. But it is 1888 in Victorian England, and Audrey's control over her own person, much less her destiny is severely limited by her gender. And with her mother's death several years ago, her father's grief preventing any bonding with his daughter, and an older brother who's turning into a dandy, Audrey feels very lonely indeed.

When dead bodies begin turning up violently mutilated in the Whitechapel area of London, Audrey's uncle is called to investigate, and Audrey participates in the forensic work. Thomas Cresswell, one of her uncle's student, also joins in the hunt for the killer. Thomas is cold and calculating, and knows about as much about human anatomy as her uncle. Audrey finds him both condescending and fascinating at the same time.

But as clues are uncovered, the work of the man now called Jack the Ripper by the British press indicates that someone close to Audrey might be the perpetrator. First, hints point towards her beloved uncle, so he is arrested. But as murders continue during his detention, Audrey is forced to confront a horrible choice. Could her father be the bloody killer? Or, possibly worse, could it be Thomas, slowly luring her in as the last victim of a deadly game of cat and mouse?

Descriptions of dead bodies are vivid, and the plot moves along at a rapid pace. Audrey's violation of societal norms is well incorporated in the story telling, and the conclusion is shocking. Fans of horror and action will enjoy the suspense that Maniscalco has created based on a series of historical events.

Royals

Hawkins, Rachel. Royals. 2018. 296p. 482 mins. ISBN 978-0-525-63200-9. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Daisy has looked forward to her summer trip with her best friend all year. Unfortunately her family has to uproot when her perfect sister announces her engagement to the Crown Prince of Scotland. For someone like Daisy, being in the spotlight of the tabloids, newspapers and social media is almost as bad has having to abandon her Florida home to find herself in a dreary world of rich and idle teens.

Daisy is then matched with Miles, the Crown Prince's younger brother, in the hopes that he can quickly teach her how the court works. Miles, however, finds himself in trouble more often than not, and he regals the tabloids with his antics. Along for the ride, Daisy finds herself becoming the source of scandals, which distracts from her sister's upcoming wedding. Can Daisy regain control over her precarious situation at court and become the lady everyone expects her to be, or will she be able to tear out the royal rulebook and remain her quirky self?

A delightful romance set in a fictionally independent Scotland, Daisy and Miles dance around each other throughout the book, not exactly sure where each other stands. Their fears and hopes are realistic and easily relatable, even if the setting is not. Fans of rom-com will enjoy this easy read.

  

Rebel Angels

Bray, Libba. Rebel Angels. Book 2 of the Gemma Doyle series. 2005. ISBN 978-0-385-73029-2. Available at FIC BRA on the library shelves.

In A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma Doyle discovered that she is a priestess in the Order, a group of women who throughout history harnessed the magic of the realms and protected the world from outsiders. She and her friends traveled often to the realms, and that is where Pippa was ultimately lost. Gemma, Felicity and Ann agreed not to go back.

Now, however, things have changed. Gemma is plagued by the ghosts of three girls who appear almost angelic. They reveal a vision of themselves running on a beach with rocky cliff, with a fourth girl behind. Suddenly, a woman wearing a green cloak guides the fourth girl towards the water where a horrific aberration emerges from the water, ready to consume her. Gemma is certain it is Circe, formerly known as Sara, a student at Spence twenty four years ago. Gemma can't figure out what the ghosts are trying to tell her, but she knows this information could save her life.

At Spence, the girls are readying themselves for Christmas vacation. All of them, except Ann the scholarship student, are returning home to be with family. Gemma is eager to experience all that the season offers, from balls and large gatherings of folks hoping to be seen to operas and gift giving. But it will be bittersweet, the first Christmas without her mother, while her father continues to sink in his own pit of despair fueled by opium.

At the last minute, Felicity invites Ann to stay with her, and the three girls look forward to spending time together in London, away from their chaperones. The arrival of a new teacher, however, upends their plans. Miss McCleethy is here to replace Ms. Moore, who was terminated for leading the girls to the cave where they first discovered how to enter the realms, and she seems to have an unhealthy interest in Gemma. Before leaving, the three of them visit the realms, and Gemma notices that Pippa has not crossed over to the realm of the dead, but is instead lingering. She's happy to see her old friends, but Gemma notices that her condition seems to have deteriorated. Pippa makes them promise to return and tell her about their vacation in London.

At Victoria train station, Gemma's brother is late to pick her up, and she is followed intently by a member of the Rakshana. Attempting to escape him, she runs into a gentleman, Simon Middleton, who is both a viscount and a friend of her brother's. Gemma is quite smitten by him, and is thrilled that he invites her family to dinner. While in London, Gemma reconnects with Miss Moore, and she tells her more about their ordeal and the realm.

As Gemma and her friends keep traveling to the realms, they notice that things are getting worse. It is untended and growing wild. When Gemma shattered the seal that contained the magic, it released it and now it is corrupting everything. Gemma, Felicity and Ann must locate the Temple, where the magic can once again be safely contained, before Circe or her agents discover it. Who will pay the high price necessary to bring hope back to the realms?

A Great and Terrible Beauty

Bray, Libba. A Great and Terrible Beauty. Book 1 of the Gemma Doyle series. 2003. 404p. ISBN 0-385-73028-4. Available at FIC BRA on the library shelves.

It is 1895, and Gemma Doyle longs to see London. Born in India of an English mother and father, Gemma has read extensively about London, and has always wanted to visit. Now that she's 16 years old, Gemma feels that it is time for her to experience her debut in London's fashionable society, and she's been badgering her mother to take her there. Her mother has always refused, however, much to Gemma's chagrin and incomprehension. During an outing, Gemma and her mother are separated. Lost and wandering the crowded streets, Gemma has a vision of her mother being attacked and willingly killing herself. But it was not a vision, but it really happened, and now Gemma's mother is dead.

Her mother's suicide unhinges her father, and the family returns to London, where her brother now studies. Gemma is enrolled in Spence, a boarding school for proper young ladies. Still hurt that her mother died because she was searching for her, Gemma tries to find comfort in the friendship of others. She meets mean girls Felicity and Pippa, and her roommate Ann, who is a scholarship student at Spence. At first Felicity and Pippa are mean to Gemma and Ann, but they soon come to see that Gemma possesses strange powers. Gemma's visions continue, and soon she and her friends find themselves in a cave, guided there by a teacher. She also encounters Kartik, a strange Indian teen who has followed her all the way from India to protect her. He was there when her mother died, and now he's here too.

When Gemma discover an old journal of two girls, who were members of the Order and who perished in the flames when Spence's East Wing burned down in 1871, Gemma is spurred on to explore the spiritual world, and discover what happened to her mother and to the two girls who perished in the fire. As she spends more time in the spiritual world with her friends, however, Gemma realizes that there are other forces at play, forces that could very well lead to her demise and that of her friends.

Fans of Bray's The Diviners series will enjoy this paranormal tale taking place in a Victorian era of repressed sexuality where presentation is everything. The story continues in Rebel Angels.

Victoria: Portrait of a Queen

Reef, Catherine. Victoria: Portrait of a Queen. 2017. 246p. ISBN 0-544-71614-0. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

One of the youngest queens in Britain’s history, Victoria had a miserable childhood sequestered with her mother. At her birth, Victoria stood far removed from the throne, but royal deaths in rapid succession meant that by the age of eighteen and on the passing of her uncle, she ascended the throne. For the next sixty-three years, Victoria would guide Britain through profound changes that would undermine the very idea of monarchy, and her name would become synonymous with the era.

Victoria had nine children with her husband, Prince Albert of Germany, before his untimely death. Her children all married European royalty, weaving a tapestry of bonds between the various ruling houses of the continent. During her long reign Victoria served many Prime Ministers, and often found herself at odds with their national and international policies. Several intrigues and scandals marred her reign, threatening the fate of the monarchy, but she managed to retain her importance and significance and left a better royal house.

During her reign, the second longest for a British monarch, Victoria witnessed the arrival of the steam engine, the development of modern weapons and warships, the unification of Germany and Italy in national states, the extension of the voting franchise to more British males, and the expansion of Britain’s colonial empire. As a figure, she represented the country and carried on her royal duties effectively. Fans of history will appreciate Victoria’s skills in navigating a changing world and remaining relevant.

13 Treasures

Harrison, Michelle. 13 Treasures. 2010. 355p. 478 mins. ISBN 0-316-04148-3. Available both at FIC HAR on the shelves of the library and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Tanya is blessed (or cursed, depending on how she feels) with the second sight, the ability to see beings from the fairy world that have crossed over to the human world and dwell among us. Ever since she could speak, she’s been trying to tell the world about the fairies that surround her, to no avail. No one believes her, and the fairies always exact their revenge by playing mean tricks on her.

Now a teen, Tanya is getting into more trouble at home as fairies discover yet one more diary she has been keeping. When her mother finds her bedroom wrecked, and with Tanya once again unable to explain what happened, she decides it’s time for Tanya to live with Florence, her grandmother for a while. Elvesden Manor is a large country house on the edge of Hangman’s Wood, in the middle of nowhere. The woods are filled with deep holes, referred to as catacombs, and many a person have fallen to their death. Tanya remembers the woods and the manor being filled with fairies, and she shudders at the thought of going back. Aside from Florence, the manor has three other human residents: Fabian, a boy her age; Warwick, Fabian’s father and the groundskeeper, and Amos, Fabian’s crazy grandfather.

The fairies at Elvesden Manor are not happy to see Tanya again, but on her first day she discovers a book about fairies in the house’s library, and an old newspaper clipping that talks about the disappearance of Morwenna Bloom over fifty years ago. Warned not to wander in the woods, Tanya and Fabian nonetheless enter them when they pursue Oberon, Tanya’s dog. Afraid that Warwick, who is out hunting in the woods, will shoot the dog, they try to follow it but become hopelessly lost. When they are found by a girl about their age wearing a green outfit, Tanya realize that Morwenna is stuck in the fairy world and needs help escaping.

But as the fairies continue their campaign against her, Tanya will need allies. Whom can she trust with her secret of second sight?

Betwixters: Once Upon a Time

Cantu, Laura C. Betwixters: Once Upon a Time. Book 1 of the Betwixters series. 278p. ISBN 978-0-9885-8519-5. Available at FIC CAN on the library shelves.

Noah’s move to England from the United States was not without difficulty, but he has adapted fairly well to his new environment. In English middle school, he made quick friends with always full of himself Ethan and best dancer and quick-witted Skye but is often the target of bully Gunther and his cronies. Noah’s father worked for the NSA, and is now involved in a secret project, which forced the family to move. Noah’s mother, who is Chinese, is very supportive of Noah and his aspirations.

Their town abuts the Dark Wood, a forest reputed to be haunted and the scene of a grizzly murder eight years ago. Noah’s father has made him promise never to enter the forest, but when Noah, Ethan and Skye are chased by Gunther and his crew, the only way to escape is to leave the school through the forest. As they go deeper, the environment changes and they can feel it become oppressive. They run in the man who owns the forest, whom they nickname Scaretaker and who warns them away from the dangers that lurk nearby. Skye, meanwhile, discovers the most amazing creature: Neevya the faerie, who comes from another realm and has unwillingly stepped through a portal to the human world. Stuck in an iron trap, Neevya has been infected by iron poisoning and must find the way back home soon, or she will die.

In a race against time and with enemies occupying the forest, Noah, Ethan, and Skye will need to outwit their parents, their bully, and the Scaretaker to deliver Neevya back to her home and save her life. Can they find the portal before it is too late?

1984

Orwell, George. 1984. 1983. 314p. ISBN 0-15-166038-7. Available at FIC ORW on the library shelves.

The Party and the government of Oceania are one. There is only one Party, and the Party provides for everyone. Big Brother is the face of the Party and of the State, and he encourages people to work hard to support the Party and Oceania against its enemies, Eastasia and Eurasia, both superpowers like Oceania. Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party, the organization that supports the Party and implements its directives. As a worker in the Ministry of Truth, Winston’s job is to modify news report and articles so that they always match what the Party has said. Thus, if the Party predicted five years ago that the number of boots produced would be up by 5% but was down by 2%, it is Winston’s job to make sure that the newspaper reports from five years ago reflect the 2% decrease and not the 5% increase. This ensures that the Party is always right.

Winston is very dissatisfied with his life. Big Brother is spying on all of the population and the Thought Police is very active making sure everyone conforms to the Party’s ideals. When Winston meets Julia, he suddenly feels hope and love rekindled in his heart, and they begin secretly dating in a seedy part of town to escape Big Brother’s surveillance. As their relationship grows, so does their hate of the Party and of Big Brother. Encourage to join a seditious group, both of them forget that Big Brother is always watching. Caught and made to confront their worst fear by the Ministry of Love, can Winston and Julia’s love triumph over the totalitarian Party?

Read a review of the graphic novel adaptation of 1984 here.

The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories

Pratchett, Terry. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories. 2017. 256p. 235 mins. ISBN 9780062653116. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

How annoyed would a witch be if her vacuum cleaner was mistaken for something other than her mode of transportation? What if small people build a submarine and ended up floating all the way to the sea? What if a random encounter for directions turned into an airship adventure of a lifetime? These tales and more fill the pages of this humorous book. A total of fourteen different stories, some of them featuring recurring characters, showcase the light fantasy settings Pratchett was well known for, including his exploration of the Old West … of Britain, meaning Wales, time travel both back a few hundred years and all the way to the time of dinosaurs, and the tales of fantastic creatures including trolls and gnomes.

At age seventeen, Terry Pratchett sold his first story. While a journalist for a local newspaper, he continued to write and improve his craft. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories feature fourteen of his early tales, which have been experienced minor updates. The audio version is well engineered and feature sound effects that enhance the narrator’s delivery of voices and setting. Fans of Pratchett’s work as well as light fantasy will enjoy these tales of wizardry and magic.

The Demon Covenant

Brennan, Sarah Rees. The Demon Covenant. Book 2 of the Demon Lexicon trilogy. 2010. 440p. 901 mins. ISBN 9781416963813. Available as an audiobook on Overdrive.

In The Demon Lexicon, Alan and Nick discovered after a confrontation with the magicians of the Obsidian Circle that Nick was not human, but rather an ancient demon inserted in the body of a newborn to achieve Black Archer’s dark purpose of acquiring even more magic. Nick’s capture had failed, and as a result many of the magicians of the circle had been slain. Mae Crawford and her younger brother Jamie had returned to Exeter and resumed their lives. Having discovered that the two siblings were playing their divorced parents against each other, Annabelle, Mae and Jamie’s mother, has assumed sole custody and now keeps a closer eye on her kids.

Mae is flabbergasted when she discovers that Jamie has continued to meet and talk with Gerald, now the leader of the Obsidian Circle. Jamie possesses magical talents and hopes to develop them further, and he is also madly in love with Gerald. She contacts Alan and Nick to inform them of her worries. The two brothers appear to have had a falling out of sorts, and are barely speaking to each other. As Mae work with Nick to attempt to make him appear more human, she also begins to fall for Sebastian, a tough boy at school who’s been picking on Jamie, causing further tensions between herself and her brother. She’s also still attracted to Alan, and to Nick.

With Gerald planning to capture Nick and draining him of magical powers for his own nefarious purposes, Mae realizes that she must unite all of the magicians’ enemies into a strike force to take the magicians out. This, however, will require careful planning and the setting aside of old hatreds. Can Mae maneuver the deadly pitfalls to save everyone she cares about?