Monthly Archives: February 2017

Adult, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

The Silver Lining of Being Shanghaied

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Set to Sea by Drew Weing

Graphic Novel

An unusual look at a person’s development as a poet through hard life experiences.

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult

The unnamed poet is penniless and discouraged.   He is trying to write a book of poems about the sea, but he has never been to sea and is discouraged.    Then he is shanghaied (kidnapped) and forced to work on the boat.   He learns a lot about sea life and himself there.

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Adult, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

An Interstellar Web of Danger

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Book Title:  Spinning Starlight by R.C. Lewis

A very well-written, enjoyable sci-fi novel with a bit of romance.

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult

Liddi is the heiress of the largest and most influential company on the Seven Points.   When her eight brothers disappear, she finds herself in danger.   With the help of her brothers, she disappears to a faraway place; one that she thought was mythical.    There she learns how she can help her brothers and divert a disaster that could lay waste to eight planets.

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Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

Don’t Let Your Guard Down

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“Sure Fire” Series by Jack Higgins

  1. Sure Fire
  2. Death Run
  3. Sharp Shot
  4. First Strike

Fun action stories featuring teenage spies.

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18

When Rich and Jade Chance’s mom is killed by a car, they wonder where they’re going to go next. At their mom’s funeral, however, their long-lost father shows up to take them to live with him. Two days after they move in, however, the father disappears, and less than an hour later his flat is shot up by gunmen. Rich and Jade go on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of their pursuers while desperately attempting to find out what’s going on.

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Adult, Ages 16 - 18

An Old Junk and Modern Danger

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Treasure of Khan (A Dirk Pitt Adventure) by Clive and Dirk Cussler

An intense story that is exciting to read.

Recommended age: 16 – 18; Adult.

Back in the thirteenth century, a Chinese junk was tasked by Kublai Khan with a special assignment. In the present day, however, a descendant of Kublai Khan threatens to turn the entire world on its head. He has a machine that can create powerful earthquakes, and has already used it to wreak havoc on the world’s oil supplies. The only person who can stop him is Dirk Pitt, but by the time Pitt realizes the full extent of what is happening, it may be too late.

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Ages 08 - 10, Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14

He Should Have Let the Scarf Go

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Abel’s Island by William Steig

An original story about a mouse who is washed away in a hurricane and stranded on an isolated island.

Recommended age: 8 – 10; 10 – 12; 12 – 14.

Abelard foolishly rushes out to save his wife’s scarf during a hurricane and gets blown away.  After being caught in a rushing stream, he finally comes to land on an island in the middle of a river, far from all other civilized small animals.   On the island, he manages to survive, feed himself, and protect himself from predators while he waits to be rescued.

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Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14, Ages 14 - 16

He Knew Trouble Was Coming

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“Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School” series by Andrew Clements

  1. We the Children
  2. Fear Itself
  3. The Whites of their Eyes
  4. In Harm’s Way
  5. We Hold These Truths

An intriguing series of stories of kids trying to solve an old mystery.

Recommended age: 10 – 12; 12 – 14; 14 – 16

Glennley is a large corporation which wants to buy Benjamin Pratt’s two hundred-year old school, demolish it and set up an amusement park.   One day as Benjamin is rushing to school, he comes across the school’s old custodian who is dying.  He gives Benjamin an old coin, and tells him that it is his duty to protect the school.  The coin has a clue on it which leads Benjamin onward.  But first he must get around a sinister assistant custodian or two who have secrets of their own.

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Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14

Pete the Cat is On the Case

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“Pete the Cat” series by Peg Kehret

  1. The Stranger Next Door
  2. Spy Cat

Two interesting stories about two series of crimes and the cat who helps solve them.

Recommended age: 10 – 12; 12 – 14

In the first book, there is a series of arsons in Alex and Benji’s neighborhood.   Pete the cat leads Alex on the way to the clues to solve the arsons, but then Alex finds himself in great danger.  In the second book, there is a series of burglaries in the area.   When the burglars hit Alex and Benji’s neighbor’s house, and then Alex and Benji’s house, it is very frightening — especially when Benji goes missing.   Fortunately for Alex and Benji, their cat, Pete, is also on the case — and with his help they catch the crooks and free Benji.   Now, if only Pete could stop eating french fries.

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Adult, Ages 16 - 18

He Showed Up All In Pieces

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Murder Most Malicious by Alyssa Maxwell

An interesting mystery that is full of excitement, humor, and danger.

Recommended age: 16 – 18; Adult.

Lady Phoebe’s peace is shattered when the Marquis of Allerton—who had been courting Phoebe’s sister—mysteriously disappears, only to show up again later that day…in pieces. And when a man that Lady Phoebe is convinced is innocent is accused, she sets out with Eva, her faithful Lady’s Maid, to find the true murderer and bring him to justice.

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Adult, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

You Never Know What You May Find Lying About

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The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

A well-written story about life in some other world.

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult.

Piper is a scrapper, making her living by finding scrap items left behind from a meteor storm that seems to carry items from our world, and perhaps other worlds.    She seems to have a special gift with mechanical devices.  One day on the meteor field, she rescues a girl from a caravan that had been partially destroyed by a meteor.   This girl has the mark of the Dragonfly on her, marking her as important in the southern kingdom.   However, after Piper rescues Anna, she discovers that Anna is being pursued by a dangerous man.  Piper and Anna flee town by stowing away on a train where they meet unusual allies and dangerous opponents.

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Adult, Ages 14 - 16, Ages 16 - 18

Too Many Thieves at Blandings Castle

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Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse

More assumed identities at Blandings Castle.

Recommended age: 14 – 16; 16 – 18; Adult

Joe Keeble wants to give some of his money to his step-daughter, Phyllis.   Joe’s wife, Lady Constance, doesn’t like Phyllis and won’t let him give her the money.   Freddie, who wants some money to start a business, offers to steal Constance’s expensive necklace for his Uncle Joe — who would then “spend” twenty thousand pounds on a new necklace (but actually just give her the same stones in a new setting).  This way, Joe would get twenty thousand pounds to control without Constance knowing about it, and she would still have her necklace, and she would be appreciative of the fact that he was willing to replace her necklace.   Freddie is incompetent, so he hires Psmith to steal the necklace.   Psmith enters Blandings under the guise of a poet who was supposed to come, but who had decided not to.  Psmith’s real reason for coming is that he wants to court Eve Halliday who is working there.  In the meantime, there are two real thieves who have also finagled their way into the Castle, also with their eyes on the diamond necklace.

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