4th of July Picks: Books, Movies & More!

Happy (almost) 4th of July! Many of us enjoyed some early Independence Day celebrations last weekend, but the holiday isn't over yet! In fact, with the 4th falling midweek, it seems like the perfect opportunity to stretch the festivities through another weekend. So if you're in the mood for something patriotic this week—or something that just screams 4th of July celebrations—we have a few suggestions!


Beth's Pick


READ/LISTEN TO Drunken Fireworks by Stephen King
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Get e-book on Kentucky Libraries Unbound

Alden and his mother are newly rich thanks to an insurance policy and a scratch-off lottery ticket, but their neighbors, the Massimo family, are RICH rich. What begins as a friendly fireworks competition between the two lake house neighbors (known in the county as "The 4th of July Arms Race") ends in disaster. Skillfully read, this 2 disc story is a great 4th of July read!

Beth is the Assistant Branch Manager at Lebanon Junction Branch Library. In addition to managing staff and coordinating displays at Lebanon Junction, she is also a frequent Staff Picks contributor.

Brandy's Picks

WATCH Captain America: The First Avenger

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There is nothing more patriotic than Captain America himself. For this holiday season, if you can’t get a Captain America movie marathon in, at the very least grab a copy of Captain America The First Avenger. A tale of a man who would do anything to serve his country in World War II, so it is an amazing story perfect for the 4th! Plus Chris Evans... do I need to say more?

LISTEN TO Hamilton: Original Broadway Cast Recording

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Listen with Hoopla

If music is more your thing, grab yourself a copy of Hamilton, or better yet download it from Hoopla so you can take it out with you while you watch fireworks. It took awhile to convince me that rap about one of our country’s founding fathers could be something I wouldn’t die of boredom listening too, but it is legit! After the first couple of songs, you literally can’t walk away! There is a reason this is a phenomenon. Amazing songs, talented singers, and a story you wonder how it can be based on reality. Don’t throw away your shot—yes the pun is intended—to jam to Hamilton this 4th of July.

Brandy T. is a Children's Programming & Outreach Specialist. Beginning in August, her primary location will be Hillview Branch Library although she will also be organizing new monthly events like Wonder On and Homeschool Connect for multiple locations.

Gayle's Pick

WATCH Independence Day

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Of course we all know that the 4th of July comes once a year. In the midst of the noise that accompanies it, this film makes an even louder statement! While obviously tongue-in-cheek from beginning to end, it reminds us of the value of a united people and the sacrifices that many have made since the idea of a United States of America first began. Whoever the enemy, be it a country or beings from outer space, Independence Day will revive pride in being a 'merican! A perfect movie for this time of year!

Gayle is a Teen and Adult Programming and Outreach Specialist. Although she plans programs for multiple BCPL locations, you'll see her most often at our Lebanon Junction and Mt. Washington branches, where she offers monthly events like Brown Bag Book Club and Wii Bowling.

Heather's Pick

READ/LISTEN TO America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins
Get e-audiobook on Kentucky Libraries Unbound

A beautifully written and incredibly well-researched book that explores the funny and courageous women who built the history of our nation. I laughed and cried through the entire book, and when I finally closed it, I felt so proud to be a descendant of these incredible historical figures. This book is a must-read for every young woman searching for the bravery and independence of womanhood in America.

Heather is an Administrative Assistant with BCPL's Public Relations team. Responsibilities include graphic design, content creation, and proofreading.

Jenn's Pick

WATCH Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
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I love this documentary because it reminds me of the impact that just one person can have for good, when you choose to speak your mind. Celebrate your freedom of speech this Independence Day!

Jennifer Nippert is BCPL's Assistant Director. Among other tasks, she oversees staff development and works with the Library Director and Board of Trustees to develop and implement strategic planning initiatives.

Marianne's Pick

READ/LISTEN TO What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner

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Get e-book or e-audiobook on Hoopla

Get e-book on Kentucky Libraries Unbound

No matter what you think about the current political climate, Mr. Rather's observations of our nation's history are bound to remind you that we are capable of more when we are united instead of divided.

Marianne is part of our reference team at Ridgway Memorial Library. Responsibilities include teaching one-on-one computer classes, providing reader advisory services, and helping patrons with research and technology questions. She's also the Library's go-to person for genealogy research!

Tracy's Picks

WATCH Turn: Washington's Spies
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What better time to begin a series about Revolutionary War spies than the week of July 4th? Based on the true story of the Culper spy ring—and featuring "cameos" from the likes of George Washington and Benedict Arnold—Turn is an absolute treasure for American history buffs. And there's plenty of danger and intrigue to keep the rest of us interested too! The series starts off just a little slow as we first get to know the characters and the various forces at play, but with its unlikely cabbage-farmer hero, complex situations, and life-and-death secrets, the storyline quickly becomes riveting. I love that the history isn't dumbed down, that the Redcoats aren't all automatically mustache-twirling villains, and that the characters' choices are often conflicted. Plus, the acting and cinematography are superb.

READ Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus

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This is a great one to ooh and aah over with the kiddos! As usual, Kadir Nelson's artwork is glorious and brimming with emotion. The illustrations work seamlessly with Naberhaus's deceptively spare prose to paint a hopeful and diverse portrait of America, using the flag to represent iconic images of its people, landscapes, and ideals. Be sure not to skip the Author Notes in the back!

READ The Founding Fathers!: Those Horse-Ridin', Fiddle-Playin', Book Readin', Gun-Totin' Gentlemen Who Started America by Jonah Winter

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This book for kids ages 5–8 is totally awesome for adults, too! If you've ever wanted to read a HILARIOUS, tell-it-like-it-is one-page snapshot of each of the founding fathers, this is the book for you. If that's not something you ever cared to think about, trust me—give this a try anyway. And the kids will enjoy learning about this "bunch of guys with stomach issues and wooden legs and problematic personalities" too. 

WATCH Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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This Jimmy Stewart classic about an idealistic young senator who refuses to back down against political corruption never fails to restore my faith in democracy.

Tracy Weikel is BCPL's Public Relations Coordinator. Responsibilities include coordinating BCPL's print and digital marketing tools—including signage, the library website, The Library Bulletin, and social media—as well as developing special initiatives such as Show Your Library Card and Save, Fine Forgiveness Month, and National Library Week celebrations.

BEST OF 2017: Our Favorite Nonfiction for Adults

The books considered for our 2017 nonfiction list ran the gamut—from intensely personal memoirs to true crime investigations, travelogues, ethnographic studies, historical biographies, science texts, and even cookbooks. But even in examining all of those topics, nonfiction is an extensive and wide-ranging category to cover. For example, it's difficult to directly compare the merits of Electric Arches, Eve L. Ewing's mixed-media, poetic collection, with Samin Nostrat's beautiful and lively cooking guide Salt Fat Acid Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, in which the recipes are almost secondary.

Neither of those books made the final cut, but trust me—both are worth looking into. In the end, we went with our gut, choosing the books that each of us most enjoyed and appreciated. I think you'll find a bit of bias in the results—apparently, we really love memoirs!—but there is still a bit of variety in the final list for you to explore, to learn, and to enjoy.

(Also... in the interest of full disclosure, no one ever got around to reading that massive biography of Ulysses S. Grant. I'm still #32 on KLU's e-audiobook waitlist!)


The 2017 committee includes:

• Anna, Circulation Clerk, Mt. Washington Branch Library
• Brandy F., Reference Services, Lebanon Junction Branch Library
• Heather, BCPL Public Relations Administrative Assistant
• Marianne, Reference Services, Ridgway Memorial Library
• Tanya, Circulation Clerk, Mt. Washington Branch Library
• Tracy (that's me), BCPL Public Relations Coordinator & Committee Organizer

Alligator Candy by David Kushner

Marianne says:

An unforgettable memoir about a family's ultimate tragedy and their struggle to recover and carry on.

American Eclipse by David Baron

Marianne says:
I listened to this book in the week before the August 2017 eclipse and so really felt like I understood the excitement that the 1878 eclipse must have generated. It's an interesting and informative book about science, discovery, and invention.

American Fire by Monica Hesse

Tanya says:
I enjoy reading true crime, if it's well written, and this one definitely is. It covers all details, from beginning to end, and doesn't miss a beat. I think true crime readers will enjoy this one.
Tracy says:
This is a solid true-crime read with a little extra. The author did a masterful job putting this bizarre occurrence into thought-provoking economic and historical contexts.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Heather says:
This short, quickly moving book packs a wild punch. Mind-blowing nuggets of information given in such a way non-scientists can understand. Not to mention, Neil deGrasse Tyson himself narrates the audiobook, and his voice is like warm molasses!

Tracy says:
This gem of a book provides a clear and fascinating overview of the subject. I might have to listen to the audio again or pick up the book to fully grasp a few of the concepts—but the book is so short and accessible, I wouldn't mind that a bit. I loved the author's occasional shamelessly dorky asides.

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

Heather says:
This captivating memoir could not have been told in a more beautiful way than the graphic novel format. A raw and emotional monologue on identity and heritage.

Tracy says:
 Emotionally and visually evocative. 

The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy B. Tyson

Anna says:
I really enjoyed reading this.  It provided a broad understanding of basic civil rights issues that were going on during the 1950s and 60s in the black community. 

Tracy says:
Tyson does a clear-eyed, thorough, and thought-provoking job covering a seminal case in civil rights history, painting a vivid picture of the era's social landscape and explaining why the event is still so very relevant today. 

The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs

Brandy says:
I LOVED The Bright Hour. It's honest and thought-provoking, lyrical and touching. Heart wrenching even. It will make you laugh and make you cry. Loved every moment.

The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesenvich

Tanya says:
Very compelling read. It's almost like reading a work of fiction, but knowing it's not just amazed me. 

From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty

Anna says:
 This book is in my top three for 2017.

Heather says:
A macabre but beautiful exploration of what it means to live and die in cultures around the world. Extremely well-written and entertaining. I fought sleep to stay up and read it!

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay

Tracy says:
Stunning, honest, and brave. Roxane Gay is a superb talent, and I was by turns heartbroken, inspired, and awed by every word she wrote. Her story is both universal and achingly personal.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Anna says:
A well-written combination of history and memoir, told from multiple voices.

Marianne says:
Another heart-wrenching and mind-boggling history lesson about the incredible injustice dealt to the Osage American Indians by our government.

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder

Tracy says:
I can't stop thinking about and talking about this book. It's an eye-opening look at a hidden subculture of America that is far more prevalent that we might think, based on the encounters of a journalist who embedded herself within the secret tribe of van dwellers and nomads on and off over a period of more than three years. The book does much to challenge our perceptions of "homelessness" and "houselessness," and the various "characters" and situations Bruder introduces are completely engrossing. I finished the audiobook—about 10 hours in length—in two days, listening to it on my commute, at work, while cooking dinner, and any other time I was able to squeeze it in to my day.

Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Marianne says:
This is a fascinating and astounding history lesson about life in the early 1900s for some young women who were "lucky" enough to land a lucrative job painting clock faces. You can't make this stuff up!

Tracy says:
This is a well researched, fascinating story that deserves telling. 

Rebel Mother: My Childhood Chasing the Revolution by Peter Andreas

Anna says:
Really well-written and fascinating story. I highly recommend.

Shoot Like a Girl by Mary Jennings Hegar

Anna says:
Extremely well-written and an excellent perspective on female military service.

Heather says:
 This absolutely incredible memoir is one of my favorite books of 2017. MJ's strong, she's smart, she's funny, she's flawed, and she's brilliant. She's every repressed woman reaching for a man's dream and doing it with amazing finesse. I read this book covered in goose bumps.

Traveling with Ghosts by Shannon Leone Fowler

Heather says:
A lovely, rambling monologue on love, life, tragedy, and the healing power of immersing yourself in the world after grief has changed you.

Tanya says:
What an emotional journey this takes you on. It's not just a book, but a life story, so much love and heartbreak and healing in what seemed like not enough time. A very powerful read. 

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie

Tracy says:

A hypnotic blend of poetry and prose that provides a raw, searing portrait of grief, a complicated childhood, and—as can be expected from Alexie—the realities of life as a modern American Indian.

BEST OF 2017: Our Favorite Fiction for Adults

This past year, our committee has traveled from magical lands in the Middle East and medieval Russia to the haunted landscape of modern America. We've journeyed across time and space and continents, reading stories that are stunning in their eye-opening realism and others that have taken us on a fantastical adventure. We read many magnificent books that didn't make the cut, including thrillers that left us reeling (Tanya loved Fiona Barton's The Child, for example) and the ambitious offerings of literary heavyweights like Jennifer Egan, Paul Auster, and George Saunders.

In the end, though, these are the books that have most stuck with us, the ones that entertained us, taught us, and inspired us. We hope you love them as much as we did!

The 2017 committee includes:

• Beth, Assistant Branch Manager, Lebanon Junction Branch Library
• Donna, Circulation Clerk, Ridgway Memorial Library
• Heather, BCPL Public Relations Administrative Assistant
• Stephanie S., Reference Services, Hillview Branch Library
• Tanya, Circulation Clerk, Mt. Washington Branch Library
• Tracy (that's me), BCPL Public Relations Coordinator & Committee Organizer
• Trish, Reference Clerk, Mt. Washington Branch Library

All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai 

Heather says:

This sci-fi novel is overflowing with personality. Insanely smart and intelligently written, Mastai has created art with words in a distant utopia, and given us a character that is endearing, funny, and a complete idiot. Loved every page of this one.

Tracy says:

Unless you count YA dystopia, sci-fi is SO not to my usual taste. But I adored this breezy, smartly written time travel caper with its bungling, strangely charming anti-hero. Mastai takes a concept that could've easily become trite or stale and breathes magnificent life into it. Once I got started, I couldn't put it down.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Donna says:

I did not think I would like this book, as it has a fantasy sticker on it, but I absolutely love it.  (Fantasy is not my usual style.)  It is set in medieval Russia.  This author made me believe the gods and demons are real in this timeframe.  I love Katherine Arden's  fresh style of writing. I almost could not put it down.

Heather says:

Beautifully written and darkly enchanting, this is a must-read for all lovers of fantasy and fairy tales. I was hooked from page one. It breathes a breath of fresh air on a genre that (usually) relies heavily on Germanic folklore by bringing to life little-known Russian fairy tales in an epic that keeps you on the edge of your seat and leaves you breathless.

The City of Brass by S.A.Chakraborty

Tracy says:

A spellbinding, addictive fantasy that steps outside the usual tropes and settings to create something truly memorable. Weaving in fascinating details of Islamic history and folklore, The City of Brass is a fast-paced, opulent roller-coaster ride drenched in intrigue, hidden dangers, and compelling world building. I hung on every word and can't wait to see what comes next for this fascinatingly complex cast of characters.

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

Donna says:

Very engrossing novel.  I could not put it down.   

Heather says:

Stunningly well-written and chock-full of visceral details. The short scenes pack big punches, and each thread interweaves in an incredible, connected stream of consciousness. Time is not linear, and there are moments of sheer brilliance in the writing. One of my favorite reads this year.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Steph says:

Wonderfully written and subtly stunning. I am going to have to read her first book.

My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris

Heather says:

My favorite thing is this book! Surreal and mesmerizing, both in the words and the gorgeous illustrations. Storytelling and mythology interweave the narrative, creating a phenomenal exploration of the human monster, society, and the inner demons we all carry. Of all the books I've read this year, this one touched me at the deepest part of my psyche.

Panchinko by Min Jin Lee

Steph says:

This book does what all good fiction is supposed to. It entertains, it teaches, it crosses the stratum of emotions, and it leaves you thinking. A must read for fans of Amy Tan or The Joy Luck Club.

A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline

Donna says:

I loved this book.  I read the first half straight through from about 2:30 AM till 5:30 AM. Stepping into the world of a woman that lived through much hardship and just got on with her family responsibilities without any doubt about what she should do or could do struck a chord with me. I hated for the book to end. 

Steph S. says:

I really enjoyed this book. It is beautifully written.

Tanya says:

I liked this book more than I expected to. It's a nicely written story and it kept me interested beginning to end.

Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

Beth says:

Loved this book! A good coming-of-age story. 

Heather says:

A wildly fun romp through a little girl's screwed up world. It's like a mid-grade novel on steroids. 

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Steph says:

This was fantastic!

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
Donna says:
A generational story of wealthy refugees, this novel offers a view into a slice of life that we ordinarily do not see. The tense relations between the East and West areas of the world have been going on since time began, it seems. This story seems to close the distance just a little, and brings understanding of another culture with it.

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

Beth says:

"Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother 40 whacks! When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41!" Lizzie Borden was acquitted of murdering her parents in 1892, but there has always been a question of whether she really did the deed, and the author presents a fictional tale of how the murders could have happened.

Heather says: 

What a ride! A gripping opening, razor-sharp dialogue, and an intense attention to detail that puts you right in the scene. The narrative flows into madness until Lizzie becomes real, and you question everything. This one has stuck with me for a while.

Sing, Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Tracy says:

An urgent, haunting exploration of the weight of history and how it echoes through today's reality. Reminiscent of Beloved, with a powerful, thoroughly modern spin.

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti

Beth says:

Aa great read, especially when you figure out what the “twelve lives” are.

Tanya says:

This is one of my favorites. It travels back and forth between past and present in the book setting, but it flows perfectly. I had a hard time putting this one down. Excellent read.

Waking Lions by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen
Donna says:
I found this novel to be a true page turner. The characters are universal.  Even though the book is set in the middle east, the story could take place right here in the United States. If not for the mention of towns like Beersheba and lots of mentions of the desert, a person could forget exactly where the story takes place. The human emotions of fear, jealousy, and survival are the same in any language or country. I highly recommend this novel.

REVIEW: Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story by Kim Powers + Bonus Suggestions for Further Reading

Ever since the news about Harper Lee was announced last week, we've been a little sad here at BCPL. However, we've also been thinking about the contribution Lee's work and life have made to the literary world despite the fact that she only published two books during her lifetime. So in honor of that, Beth—Assistant Branch Manager of our Lebanon Junction location and a HUGE Harper Lee fan—is contributing her very first review here at Book News & Reviews.

Together, we've also compiled a list of related readings we think will appeal to Harper Lee fans. The list includes titles by and about Harper Lee as well as those inspired by her work and life. We've also included several "read-alike" titles that we feel reflect similar themes or characters as Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Beth's Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction/Paranormal Mystery
Audience: Adult

Summary: A fictional tale of the friendship between Harper Lee and Truman Capote with a twist. Here, after a decades' estrangement that followed the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird, the former friends are drawn together again when Truman fears he is being haunted by the Clutter family.

First Lines: "She's back. She's after me."

Beth's Review: Author Kim Powers takes the story of Truman Capote and Harper Lee and spins a tale full of mystery and haunting memories. Is it the past that comes back to haunt you; or ghosts of those who have touched your lives, revisiting you in your aging years? Or is the ghost regret for what once was? What really happened to end the friendship of Capote and Lee?? A story based on facts will take you back to 1959—the true story of the murder of a Kansas family of four that took four years to become Capote's In Cold Blood—and to 1960 and the book that took the world by storm, To Kill a Mockingbird. Can someone tortured by the past atone in the present?? A great read that makes you feel like you're watching a movie as it unfolds.

Check for availability in the library catalog.


Related Readings

By Harper Lee
To Kill a Mockingbird - Check Library Catalog | Read C.W.'s Guest Review
Go Set a Watchman - Check Library Catalog | Read C.W.'s Guest Review

By Truman Capote
In Cold Blood - Check Library Catalog

Nonfiction about Harper Lee & her work
Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee - Check Library Catalog
The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee - Check Library Catalog
I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee - Check Library Catalog
Scout, Atticus & Boo - Check Library Catalog

Fiction inspired by Harper Lee & her work
Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story - Check Library Catalog
I Kill the Mockingbird - Check Library Catalog
In Search of Mockingbird - Check Library Catalog

Recommended for To Kill a Mockingbird fans
The Dry Grass of August - Check Library Catalog
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter - Check Library Catalog
A Land More Kind Than Home - Check Library Catalog | Read My Review
A Lesson Before Dying - Check Library Catalog
Mudbound: A Novel - Check Library Catalog
Revolution - Check Library Catalog | A Best of 2014 Selection
The Secret Life of Bees - Check Library Catalog
A Time to Kill - Check Library Catalog
The Undertaker's Daughter - Check Library Catalog
Whistling Past the Graveyard - Check Library Catalog


Related Films
Capote - Check Library Catalog
In Cold Blood - Check Library Catalog
To Kill a Mockingbird - Check Library Catalog

TEEN GUEST REVIEWS: Teens Take on the Classics

We have one more round of teen guest reviews in honor of Teen Read Week! Of course teens (or any BCPL patron or blog reader!) is always welcome to submit a guest review at any time. You can contact me at tweikel@bcplib.org for details.

In the meantime, here are reviews of two literary classics from local teens!

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Reviewer: Denise
Denise's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romanticism
Audience: Adult
 
Summary: In 17th century Boston, Hester Prynne, a young Puritan woman, is accused of adultery and ostracized after conceiving a child outside of her marriage. Hester refuses to name her lover despite pressure from her husband, who hides his true identity from the rest of the community and becomes obsessed with getting revenge against Hester's lover.

Denise's Review: Nathaniel Hawthorne, an author known for a few classics (The Scarlet Letter and The House of Seven Gables) surely spent vigorous hours in the process of writing The Scarlet Letter as he takes space in his pages to describe in great detail one or two objects at a time. Based in Puritan times, Hester Prynne lives out her life, looked down upon for committing adultery. Hester besides raising Pearl, her daughter from the sin, does a lot for the town. By the end of the novel a lot of secrets are revealed. The book as a whole, I strongly recommend for high school students only.

Extra: Tracy's Thoughts: I actually read this book in 7th grade at the behest of a friend who LOVED it. I was a bit less enthusiastic, but I did enjoy it though much of it probably went over my head. By the time I was in high school and it became assigned reading, I was better able to appreciate the rich symbolism of the book, especially in relation to the guilt felt by Hester's secret lover. Of course, the overt emphasis on symbolism tends to detract from character development, as Henry James famously pointed out in his essay "Hawthorne":

The faults of the book are, to my sense, a want of reality and an abuse of the fanciful element–of a certain superficial symbolism. The people strike me not as characters, but as representatives, very picturesquely arranged, of a single state of mind; and the interest of the story lies, not in them, but in the situation, which is insistently kept before us....

Personally, I love layered books that are brimming with symbolism. However, rich, multi-dimensional characterizations are often the key element to my very favorite books, as I have noted in several previous reviews. And though it's been a while since I picked up The Scarlet Letter, I must agree with James that the characters are a bit flat. Perhaps that is why I've always been somewhat ambivalent about this particular classic.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reviewer: C.W., Age 16
C.W.'s Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Coming-of-Age Story/Southern Gothic
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover

Summary: In this classic tale of courage and morality in a small, Southern town, a young tomboy tells the  story of the summer her father defends a black man accused of raping a white woman. This is a  powerful look at discrimination and an emotional exploration of human instinct, as viewed  through the eyes of a child.

C.W.'s Review: I did like reading this. It was told from the eyes of Jem and Scout, which is different from what you normally read from the perspective of an adult. I had to ask my mom about some of the storyline because it was written around some subjects I didn’t understand at first, because I am 16 and didn’t live through them. It was easy to read, and it was surprisingly well made into a movie.


So... that is our teen take on two popular classics, with a brief interjection from me. Now we're wondering, what it your opinion of the featured titles?

TEEN GUEST REVIEWS: Recent Releases

It's Teen Read Week! Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative to encourage teens to read for the fun of it. To celebrate here on Book News & Reviews, throughout the week we will be posting guest reviews contributed by local teens. Plus, we will soon be announcing the latest updates to our Ultimate Teen Booklist! To kick us off, tonight we have three honest (sometimes painfully honest!) reviews of recent releases from three different teens. Thanks to all of our guest reviewers for sharing!

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Reviewer: C.W., Age 16
C.W.'s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Audience: Adult/YA Crossover
Series: Companion novel to To Kill a Mockingbird

Summary: When a now adult Scout returns to Maycomb, Alabama twenty years after the trial of Tom Robinson, she struggles with her own personal beliefs and the prevailing opinions of her hometown in the midst of the political upheaval of the mid-1950s.

C.W.'s Review: I didn’t like this as much as To Kill a Mockingbird, but it was still good. It was kind of a good history lesson, and it shows some ways we have changed in society and a lot of ways we haven’t. I think that Atticus’s character changed too much between the two. He was open-minded and against racism in To Kill a Mockingbird, but he changed and I didn’t see him as the same person. What I do think was done well was that the author was able to warn readers about placing people too high on a pedestal.

The Rule of Three by Eric Walters
Reviewer: Samantha, Age 16
Samantha's Rating: 2/5 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction/Apocalyptic Fiction
Audience: Teen/Young Adult
Series: Rule of Three Trilogy #1

Summary: Civilization quickly begins to crumble following a sudden global technology crash. Sixteen-year-old Adam is stunned by the local chaos, but with the guidance of his police-captain mom and his neighbor—a retired government spy—Adam is determined to do whatever is necessary to survive and rebuild civilization.

Samantha's Review: This wasn’t too great a read. I had trouble making myself read it, because in parts, it droned on. And on. And on. It was a pretty good set up for the storyline, when Adam realized that something was wrong besides the cell phones not working all of a sudden. But, it didn’t seem very realistic that his mom was the Police Captain and his neighbor used to be a spy. Adam didn’t stand out as a very strong character. It was almost written like he was a bystander in his own life, but then the author made it seem like he was responsible for bigger things all of a sudden.

Minders by Michele Jaffe

Reviewer: Ashleigh, Age 16
Ashleigh's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller
Audience: Teen/Young Adult

Summary: Sixteen-year-old Sadie is a privileged overachiever destined for success. But when she joins the elite Mind Corps Fellowship program as an observer monitoring the inner thoughts of an unsuspecting teenage boy, she finds herself falling for a troubled, possibly homicidal boy she has never met.

Ashleigh's Review: I loved it! There was romance, crime, murder, peer pressure, and a thriller.

I like the idea of a teen mind-reader. And Sadie was so quick to fall for the bad boy, which happens a lot in real life. Then she finds out he might have committed a crime and wonders if she should turn him in to the police. It was kind of scary to think that she had to decide whether or not to turn him in, since the crime was so big, but I know girls who probably wouldn’t do it. I like the way the author describes what Sadie is seeing while in Ford’s mind—especially about the colors coming together into pictures. And the twist is awesome!