Author: lynndellwatson

  

I have to say that the high school students, at the library I purchase books for, received the Fear Street Relaunch books with tremendous enthusiasm!  Suspenseful and creepy, just as horror books for young adults should be, these books still let me sleep at night:)  I hope the Fear Street Relaunch continues!

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas jumps right into the story with action and emotion.  Sarah J. Maas continues writing with her clever sense of humor!  Several characters and their stories keep building and growing throughout this book.  The comments about a peaceful day (page 290) and eating fish (page 291) made me laugh out loud.  On page 295, the magnificent writing brings Aelin’s piano playing to life!  Intrigue, suspense and complicated relationships kept me on the edge of my seat.  A wonderful ending to a new and promising, hopeful beginning!

   

Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver is a historical fiction account of Lizzie Borden, her day to day life and the murders of her stepmother and father. Being told in Bridget Sullivan’s point of view helps the reader see a more complex Lizzie, instead of just a one-sided personality. Bridget Sullivan was the Borden’s housemaid during the time of the murders. I read this story after reading the non-fiction account by Sarah Miller, “The Borden Murders” and I feel that gave me more insight into the household and lifestyle of the Borden family then if I would have only read Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver. A very interesting read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reading copy of The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century by Sarah Miller! This non-fiction account covers the evidence, witness statements and testimonies of the Borden murders. Lizzie Borden’s life is also detailed and Sarah Miller keeps an unbiased view throughout her investigative research. The author spent much time and effort in developing this account and I ended up wishing that DNA could be used to discover the true culprit, but in the 1890’s no such science existed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) for the advanced reading copy of The Rosemary Spell by Virginia Zimmerman!  This is a fun, intellectual and mysterious tale.  I enjoyed the literary references throughout the story.  Shakespeare’s works are referenced and even used in solving the mystery of Rosemary’s spell.  I like the list of Rosemary’s Bookshelf at the end of the book.  An enjoyable read for anyone who likes fantasy and suspense.  Rosemary’s Bookshelf contains the following titles:  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Coraline, The Giver, The Golden Compass, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Seven-Day Magic by Edward Eager, The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and a Wrinkle in Time.  Fun for the book lover!

Thanks to NetGalley and Philomel Books, (Penguin Group), for the advanced reading copy of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys!  This historical fiction story contains many points of view.  Many aspects of World War II are told throughout the book as refugees make their way to the ships that will take them to a safer place.  Ruta Sepetys places factual information at the end of her historical fiction books and I enjoy knowing what truly took place, how she accomplished her research and the list of the resources she used!  A great quote from Salt to the Sea, “Survival had its price: guilt.”  Definitely food for thought and one more problem the survivors had to live with and overcome.  Highly recommended for historical fiction readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reading copy of The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende!  This story is a magnificent historical fiction read.  This is an enjoyable and comfortable book and the characters grow to feel like old friends.  Little by little, Alma’s history is told and all of the mysteries are unraveled as she tells her life story to her grandson Seth and her assistant Irina.  Heartwarming,tragic and nostalgic all at the same time!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the arc of Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin!  This alternate history of Hitler’s reign begins with Jewish families being stuffed into train cars.  Yael, a six-year-old girl, was chosen by a doctor at a concentration camp for experimentation with melanin.  As a result of the experiment, Yael can change her coloring to disguise herself.  She escapes by making herself look like a Nazi leader’s daughter.  She is found by the resistance. Once she is trained, Yael’s mission is to assassinate Hitler.  The life or death motorcycle race and the suspenseful espionage make this an interesting take on a WWII alternate historical outcome.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tanglewood for the opportunity to review Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri!  This non-fiction account of a set of ten-year-old twins is heart-wrenching, but also inspiring.  It describes the twins’ experiences with Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor known as the Angel of Death.  The story begins in the Romanian village where the Mozes family resides.  I am saddened at how easily people are swayed into prejudice – even children!  Even the Mozes family friends turned against them, once the Nazis took over their village.   The family’s terrifying trip to, and ultimate seperation at Auschwitz, are brought to life by Eva’s recollections of this horrible time.

I greatly admire Eva Mozes.  She moved past the trauma and helped many other Holocaust survivors by founding the CANDLES organization.  She also founded the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center.

She lives by the following three principles:

1.  Never ever give up on yourself or your dreams, for everything good in life is possible.
2. Judge people on their actions and the content of their character.
3. Forgive your worst enemy and forgive everyone who has hurt you – it will heal your soul and set you free.

The Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia is told in two points of view-Rune’s and Laurentz’.  Rune’s mother is a mystery to her.  She lives with Matilde as the older woman’s apprentice.  When Rune discovers her mother’s history, her life completely changes. The story has German origins and I enjoyed the German vocabulary lesson at the beginning of both books.

Castle of Sighs by Jennifer Murgia continues where Forest of Whispers left off.  Rune now lives in Pyrmont.  She finds traces of protection but she’s not sure what she’s being protected from.  She has been left in charge of two orphans from the Bishop’s witch hunt.  She worries for their safety and asks Laurentz to take them to his castle.  Rune finds an ancient book that reveals the history of the Pyrmont Castle and her ancestors, including her mother.  Everything changes drastically after finding the old, magical book.

I recommend this series for fantasy and supernatural readers.  The Forest of Whispers Series contains wonderful and dynamic characters and interesting setting!