The Right Book at the Right Time

Title: Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Review/Summary: Auggie was born with a facial deformity, so he was homeschooled through years of surgeries and recoveries. Now, he is starting fifth grade and if you thought middle school was hard, then this is a testament to true friendship, understanding and kindness. This uplifting story made me laugh out loud, cry and wonder at his strength and resiliency. He is plucky and funny, vulnerable and charming. His family are so natural, real and supportive. This first novel by author Palacio addresses the insecurities of school-aged children and should be a must read for children grades five and up, as well as their parents, as it encourages discussion about love, support, and judging people on their appearance. And yes,” everyone deserves a standing ovation, at least once in their lives.”

Who will like this book?: Those who don’t shy away from reading about difficult, real-life, touching scenarios. Anyone who has ever felt judged, misunderstood, or who just wants to read about someone who is “different”.

If you like this, try this: If you liked Palacio’s writing style, be on the lookout for more from him- since this debut novel has created a huge amount of buzz, we hope he’ll be back with more soon.

If you’re interested in the subject matter of bullying, try “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier (also a teen book) or “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult- one for slightly older teens, as it’s more graphic. For littler ones looking for an introduction on the subject, “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes is a good place to start.

For those who are interested in reading about other people with “differences”, this sensitive matter can be introduced with books such as “Rules” (Autism) by Cynthia Lord or “Out of my Mind” by Sharon Draper (Cerebral Palsy). However, the subject of severe facial deformities in young adult/older children’s books is relatively rare, so this book may have opened the door for more fiction pertaining to the subject.

Recommended by: Cindy B. Children’s Librarian

If this looks like a book you or your young adult/child would like to try out, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and place a hold!

Title: Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played With Puppets

Authors: Kathleen Krull and Steve Johnson

Publisher: Random House, 2011

Review/Summary: Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book biography.

Jim Henson began his puppetry career at a very young age when as a child, his entertaining stories were “filling notebooks with creatures he made up.” By age sixteen, he was operating puppets on television. One day in 1968, he got a phone call from a TV producer that would change his life. They discussed the importance of preschool education in children’s lives. Poor children usually had no access to it – but they did have TV’s. Could TV be used to teach? And would his Muppet company help her new show for preschoolers? What happened as a result of this collaboration changed the world for the better, educating and entertaining millions of young children from various socio- economic and cultural backgrounds.

Who will like this book? The beauty of this biography is that young readers ( as well as adults) – who grew up watching the Muppets and Sesame Street can enjoy an introduction into the life of an amazing, one of a kind creative genius.

If you like this, try this:  For little ones who are fans of The Muppets, the library has a huge selection of DVDs and books that focus on the characters.  For more information about Jim Henson, try “Who Was Jim Henson?” by Joan Holub.

If your interest is more in the actual puppets, try “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet- a different- much larger! type of puppet.

Recommended by: Beth S, Children’s Librarian

If you or your little one would like to take a look at this book, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available or place a hold!

Title: Lunatics

Author: Dave Barry & Alan Zweibel

Publisher: Putnam Adult, 2012

Summary/Review: Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Alan Zweibel is a winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Together they have created an outrageous, over- the- top madcap story that had me laughing out loud! Pure fun and enjoyment, I zipped right through it!

I recommended it to my sister and she was crying she was laughing so hard! We obviously share the same weird sense of humor. Two suburban fathers take an instant dislike to each other at their children’s soccer game and the story spirals out of control from there. There are alternating chapters from each point of view, written by each author. I recommend this as an anecdote to the stressful and harried lives most lead-it is pure comic relief!

Who will like this book? Someone who’s not afraid to laugh. Someone looking for a fun, zany story.

If you like this, try this: If you’re looking for lots of humor, try David Sedaris, Amy Sedaris, or  Jenny Lawson (who has a new one coming out soon!) To veer into the political humor/satirical side, try out  Stephen Colbert, or Jon Stewart.

Dave Barry also has a number of books include “Dave Barry Turns 50″, “Dave Barry Talks Back”, and “Dave Barry in Cyberspace”.  Alan Zweibal’s include “Our Tree Named Steve”, “Clothing Optional: And Other Ways to Read Stories”, and “North” – yes- he wrote the screenplay for the movie, too!

 Recommended by: Cindy B., Children’s Librarian

Does this look like a book for you? Visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and place a hold!

Title: Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs

Author: Molly Harper

Publisher: Pocket Star, 2009

Summary/Review: This year brought Fairfield a light winter and an early spring, so I am channeling summer and diving into some good beach reads!

When Jane Jameson is unjustly fired from her position as the town’s Children’s Librarian, she heads off to the local pub. After a few rounds, she stumbles home only to be accidently mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead in a field. But, then a good-looking vampire – a group who has recently gone public thanks to a federal lawsuit – finds her and offers to turn her. She accepts the offer and three days later wakes up to find her world changed. Welcoming Jane to this new life is a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, as well as, a cute and mysterious sire, Gabriel.

When someone starts framing Jane for a series of murders in her small town of Moon Hollow, Jane sets out to prove she’s still the nice girl she has always been. This book is the first in a series about Jane Jameson and her supernatural friends, but very normal family.

Written with humor (and a few jokes only a Children’s Librarian would understand), Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs is great for those readers who enjoy a little paranormal romance in their lives.

Who Will Like This Book: Fans of the Sookie Stackhouse series, Nora Roberts fans, and adult readers of the Twilight saga.

If You Like This, Try This: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon,  Sign of the Seven Trilogy by Nora Roberts,  The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley,  Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Recommended by: Mary Sorhus, Head of Children’s Services

Does this look like your kind of book?  Visit the Fairfield Public Library Catalog to check if it’s available and/or place a hold!

Title: Poem Runs (Baseball Poems and Paintings)

Author: Douglas Florian

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012

Summary/Review: What is a better way to usher in Baseball
season with a book of baseball poems!

This new book of poetry by the creative poet and artist Douglas Florian
really hits a home run for children.  The pages are full of gorgeous spring colors of greens, blues, yellows and bright oranges. Two- page spreads of ball players warming up, pitching, catching, stealing bases have the players performing on each page.  Everyone is included in the game –the boys and
girls stretch, jump, slide, hit, and catch across the pages.  This is a book full of the pure joy children have playing the sport of baseball.  I can smell the fresh grass and dirt of a baseball field full of children.  “Play Ball!”

Who will like this book: Anyone- kids or adults, boy or girl-who enjoys baseball! Anyone looking for fun short poems and unique artwork.

If you like this, try this: Douglas Florian has written numerous other poetry books including “UnBEElievables”, “Winter Eyes”, and Autumblings”.  If you’re looking for more great baseball picture books, try “H is for Home Run” by Brad Herzog or “The Babe & I” or “Mama Played Baseball” by David Adler.

Recommended by: Cheryl, Branch Children’s Librarian

Does this look like a book you (or your little one!) will enjoy? Check out the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available- and to place a hold!

Title: State of Wonder

Author: Ann Patchett

Publisher: New York : Harper, 2011.

Review/Summary: Dr Marina Singh isn’t one for adventure. She hasn’t even left Minnesota much until she is sent to the Amazon to delve into the mysterious details of the death of her lab partner, Anders Eckman. After working as research scientists at the Vogel pharmaceutical company for seven years Eckman was asked to go check on another scientist’s miracle drug project in Brazil. He never returns. Now Marina is compelled to follow and she finds herself on an unpredictable journey of discovery. Facing sweltering heat, terrifying wildlife and obstructive natives Marina finally locates the camp where Eckman was last seen. There she is reluctantly greeted by a transformative figure from her past and Marina struggles to learn what really happened to Eckman and what exactly they are all doing in this Amazonian rainforest. A multi-layered, subtly rendered and thrilling read.

Who Will Like This: Patchett fans. Patient mystery readers.

If you like this, try this: Bel Canto, also by Patchett. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

Recommended by: Jen, Children’s Assistant

Does this look like something you’d like to try? Check out the Fairfield Public Library catalog to check availability or place a hold!

Title: Moneyball

Author:  Michael Lewis

Publisher: Norton, 2003

Summary/Review: If you have read and enjoyed any of Michael Lewis’s other books this one will not disappoint.

He is a master researcher, interviewer and story-teller who just seems to get better and better. Moneyball gives the reader an inside look at professional baseball by looking at Billy Bean and his staff of one, a Harvard economics graduate, as they try and succeed, to compete against the Goliaths of the National Pastime. Namely, the Yankees and Red Sox. The author’s in-depth investigative journalism lets the reader see, first-hand, how the management offices in professional baseball work, as well as the old-boys’-club assumptions under which they toil and fail.

Billy Bean was a top prospect in the Mets organization who became disenchanted with the game but stayed involved as a scout and later as the General Manager of the Oakland Athletics. He falls under the spell of Bill James, the patron saint of baseball statistics and analysis (known as Sabermetrics) and becomes the general manager who spends the least money per win in all of baseball. In an era of multi-million dollar sports contracts he manages, through purchasing little-known but statistically-sound players to come out on top, or very near the top of the standings every season.

You will thoroughly enjoy this inside, very inside, look at the wheelings and dealings which make Moneyball a winner.

Who will like this book?: Anyone who’s into baseball, and not afraid to get the (not so pretty) truth.  People who are interested in non-fiction books that read like fiction.

If you like this, try this: If you’re interested in the topic- concerning economics and baseball- try Alan Schwarz’s “The Number Game” or “Baseball Between the Numbers”.  If you enjoy Michael Lewis’ style of writing, he has a number of other books including “The Big Short” and “The Blind Side”.

Or, check out this blog or this one- two more books about sports!

Recommended by: Mark Z, Guest Reviewer

If this looks like a book you’d be interested in, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to place a hold or check availability

Title: When She Woke

Author: Hillary Jordan

Publisher: Algonquin Books, 2011

Summary/Review:In the not-so-distant future, only the most dangerous criminals serve their sentences behind bars. All others are made to serve their time on the outside, living among the rest of society but with one big difference. In order to readily identify them as criminals, they are injected with a virus to change the color of their skin. Most of these “Chromes” are Yellows, serving short sentences for misdemeanors. Child molesters are Blues but they don’t fare so well out in society so they are rarely seen. Hannah Payne is a Red. She has been convicted of killing her unborn child. Dangers to Hannah and those like her come in many forms. Religious fanatics and vigilantes have them in their sights. How will she ever survive her 16 year sentence?

More than a modern “Scarlet Letter”, this is a very thought provoking and riveting story. Full of controversial topics, I’m sure it will lead to some interesting conversations. Adding to the disturbing nature of “When She Woke” is the realization that we can see glimpses of the fanaticism portrayed in this story just by watching CNN.

Recommended by: Sue B, Circulation Coordinator

A second look: If Margaret Atwood had written The Scarlet Letter, it would read like this book.  This is a slightly futuristic story where the Religious Right has taken over so that, for instance, abortion is legally considered murder.  Not only that, viruses have been developed that produce changes in skin color.  Yellow for misdemeanor, blue for child molester, red for murderer – a clever solution to prison overcrowding. Criminals are released into society to fend for themselves in a world that can see what you’ve done.

Our heroine woke to find herself chromed red after being convicted of murdering her unborn child.  She keeps her lover’s name a secret, protecting this powerful and well-respected man.  She soon discovers that life on the outside is fraught with danger – even from those who claim they will protect her.

Recommended by: Lauren, Reference Assistant

Who Might Like This?: Fans of dystopian novels, science fiction.

If you liked this, try this: If you’d like to read more Hillary Jordan, try out her incredibly popular “Mudbound”.  If you’re interested in dystopian novels, “1984″ by George Orwell or “Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood are two classics.  For younger readers, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins or “The Giver” by Lois Lowry both depict dystopias. If you liked the book overall, check out “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne or one of the many other books based off this classic.

Does this look like a book you’d like to read? Visit our catalog here, where you can check availability and place a hold. [Link will open in a new window]

Title: The Cat’s Table

Author: Michael Ondaatje

Publisher: Knopf, New York: 2011

Summary: I must confess I am thoroughly besotted with Mr. Ondaatje’s writing and romanticism.  Years ago I am came across his first book “Coming Through Slaughter” (House of Anansi, 1976) about the jazz musician Buddy Bolden who lived a very short and troubled life. The language was like a river of torment and beauty structured like the flow of jazz with long riffs, then the staccatos of short blasts and then more complexity as Bolden descends into madness. This was Ondaatje’s first novel and he deservedly won the Books in Canada First Novel Award.  That is when I first caught the Ondaatje bug. The next time I was overwhelmed by his writing is when I read The English Patient – before I saw the lush movie. Once again feel in deep, deep love.  His other books have not been as richly satisfying and I was thinking of ending our love affair. “The Cat’s Table” came out just in time for me to give him one more chance. And voila the sentiments have been renewed.

This book is an exotic “Harriet the Spy” tale set aboard a ship traveling from Sri Lanka to England.  The protagonist is an 11-year old boy who is seated at the lowliest table on the ship complete with a set of eccentric personalities several with big secrets he is compelled to try to reveal. The boy records what he sees on the journey and Ondaatje is a master at capturing the feelings and curiosities of this young explorer. He writes:   “Sleep is a prison for a boy who has friends to meet.” This tale is surely semi auto-biographical as the author is a native of Sri Lanka who emigrated to Canada where he now lives. There is a wistfulness about the telling as if the author remembers his young days longing to return to that time of innocence (or as the author puts it:  “naked with innocence”) while standing on the precipice of maturity.  He begins to discover basic truths:  “What is interesting and important happens where there is no power.  Nothing much of lasting value ever happens at the head table, held together by familiar rhetoric.” When I come across beautiful passages in any book I am compelled to read them aloud and hear the beauty and rhythm of the words. So many times when reading this book I stopped, reread the passage, and then read it aloud again. Bravo Michael Ondaatje.

Recommended by: Karen, Town Librarian

A second look:  When on a ship voyage, the most desirable place to be seated for dinners is the Captain’s Table. The most socially connected sit there. Those considered to be the least significant are seated at table # 76 –the “cat’s table”– as far away both physically and socially as one can be seated from the Captain. In 1950, this is precisely where 11 year old Michael is seated: aboard the Oronsay, traveling from Sri Lanka to London to be reunited with his mother. Michael, who is the novel’s  arrator, though by himself, is quick to make friends with two boys making the same voyage: asthmatic Ramadhin and the rambunctious trouble-maker, Cassius.

For 21 days, unfettered for the most part by adult authority, daring and unsupervised, they explore the ship and roam the decks looking seeking adventure, hiding in  lifeboats to spy on the guests, and strive to learn the secrets of others, like the shackeled prisoner who is escorted at night on the deck. The boys quickly realize that their insignificance means they are “invisible to officials such as the purser and
the head steward, and the captain.”

“Sleep is a prison for a boy  who has friends to meet…We could not wait to continue exploring this universe.” One adventure, in particular, took place on a wild rainy night
with dangerous and heaving waves — when Cassious and Michael know they must
observe and experience a “catastrophe” first hand (the storm) , so they have Ramadhin strap them to the deck and nearly drown!

Each day, the boys rejoin their interesting and eccentric adult dinner companions, also seated at the “cat’s table”. Each person at the cat’s table had interesting reasons for being on board, even if it was unspoken or, as yet, undiscovered by the boys.

“…those at the Captain’s Table were constantly toasting one another’s significance. That was a small lesson I learned on the journey. What is interesting and important happens mostly in secret, in places where there is no power.”

Later in the book, Michael realizes that for years he never thought about that voyage until he reaches a point in his life where he realizes the impact that the trip had on him and his ship-board friends.

I would recommend this book to anybody! But, if you really enjoy stories about boys, such as Boy’s Life, by Robert McCammon, or some of Stephen King’s fiction that centers on the life of boys, this is the book for you.

Recommended by: Susan Z, Reference Librarian

Who will like this book: Those who enjoy reading literature, especially those books that take you to far-away places. Those who aren’t intimidated by a murky reality or magical realism.

If you like this, try this: The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes, which also offers a multi-layered account of memories

If this looks like a book you’d like to read, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to place a hold or check availability!

Title: An Accidental Sportswriter

Author: Robert Lipsyte

Publisher: Harper Collins, 2012

Summary/Review: I appreciated this book because beyond the very interesting inside stories of Lipsyte’s relationships with many internationally famous sports champions including Muhammad Ali, Althea Gibson, Howard Cosell, Mickey Mantle, Richard Petty, and others, I was made aware for the first time why Lipsyte was justifiably famous as a sports writer, perhaps one of the first sports writers with an incredibly strong and ethical social consciousness.

He was one of the first New York Times  sports beat reporters who spoke his mind about racism, drug abuse, homosexuality, and sex in the previously sacrosanct major professional and college sports. I would recommend this book not only for it’s personal insights into athletes everyone feels familiar with, but also as a window into one man’s  attempt to drop the veil of secrecy surrounding sports heroes.

Who will like this book?: Someone  who enjoys reading memoirs about people who didn’t take the traditional  path.  Someone who’s interested in sports  and isn’t afraid to learn about the dirty secrets involved with them.

If you like this, try this: If you’re  interested in sports reporting, there’s an anthology released yearly entitled “Best  American Sports Writing”.  Also, try out “The  Only Game in Town: Sportswriting from The New Yorker” by David Remnick.

If you’d like to read more about baseball, check out the Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

If you have a child or teen  interested in sports and you’d like to get them started on some good reading,  check out Mike Lupica or Tim Green (a former NFL-er), two well-known sports  authors.

Recommended by: Mark Z, Guest reviewer!

Want to see if this book is available or place a hold? Visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog!