Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

One delightful thing about reading and reviewing children’s titles is the opportunity that is presented to learn like a child again. I never studied volcanoes and earthquakes when I was in school; I remember magma from my kids’ studies and that was about it. In this appealingly illustrated title, I learned about geology with Ava and George. They were excellent guides.

This book provides lots of information and terminology in small easy to learn pieces. There are many GeoFacts and experiments to try at home as children learn about volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. At the end of the book, there are a useful review section, an author’s note and a list of websites for young scientists who want to learn more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. You and your young scientist will love it.

#VolcanoesAndEarthquakes #NetGalley

From the publisher:

 

Molten Mud Murder is published by the excellent Poisoned Pen Press, a small press that is dedicated to mystery fiction. This is author Johnson’s first novel and the first in a projected series.

American protagonist, Alexa, is a forensics examiner whose specialty is teeth. She has come to New Zealand on a fellowship, falls in love with the country and wants to stay longer. She manages to insert herself into the murder case involving a city counselor.

What I struggled with a little: Alexa took many risks that felt plot driven. Some mysteries, such as what happened to her friend, Mary, were not fully solved. Perhaps that is for another book.

What I liked: The setting on the North Island of New Zealand and the ways in which the landscape is brought vividly to life. The information about tribal Maori customs and rituals. That there was a back story for Alexa. The hint of romance between her and Bruce, the Senior, a term for the chief detective. The details on forensic examination.

This mystery should appeal to armchair travelers, lovers of New Zealand and those who enjoy action packed mysteries. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this proof in return for an honest review. I look forward to the author’s next book.

I enjoy the Inspector Wexford mysteries, of which, An Unkindness of Ravens is one. I have not read the Meg Wolitzer but it got decent reviews.

This book is an incredible resource for parents and other important adults in a child’s life who want to impart a love of reading to children. I was given this book in e-galley form by the publisher and NetGalley. I will most definitely want to purchase the hard copy. I bookmarked and bookmarked as I read.

Pamela Paul oversees book coverage at the New York Times while Maria Paul is associated with the Times. They both love reading and want children to as well. Both authors recall their favorite reads over the course of the book. As an adult, like me, you may start thinking again about when you learned to read and the books that you most loved as a child as you make your way through the text..

The book is divided into four sections: Born to Read which is about babies and toddlers; Growing a Reader which is about emerging and then independent readers; Your Middle-Grade reader and A Reader for Life: Teenagers. The book ends with a section on more books by theme and reading level.

In each section there are many suggested books. I will give just a brief idea of the riches within. For babies: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Moo, Baa La La La. Classic board books are mentioned as well including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Snowy Day. Toddler suggestions include The Carrot Seed, Millions of Cats and Harold and the Purple Crayon along with new Classics like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Hello Lighthouse. The authors continue with suggestions right through the teen years. The importance of keeping an open dialogue with children is stressed; for example, The Hunger Games may upset some readers but not all. It can be good to dialogue with the reader.

Paul and Russo are parents and it shows. They have practical knowledge about raising readers. There are so many suggestions from using the library, to NOT using books that are device based, to not getting overly caught up in parental contests about whose child learned to read first, to the joys of bedtime stories, young readers love of series and so much more. One aside was about Harry Potter with the authors noting that these are not meant for very young readers even if they are able to decode the words.

I recommend this book most highly. It is full of reasoned ideas and book suggestions that will make adults excited about opening the world of literacy to children.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this terrific book. The opinions are my own.

In case you missed my recent post on this.  I really liked this one.

Kudos to the talented Ann Cleeves for this first entry in her new series. I have read the author’s Vera and Jimmy Perez novels, both of which I recommend. As a reader who looked forward especially to every Perez novel, I was sad to learn that the series had finished. I wondered if there would be no more books by this author. I am delighted that that is not the case.

In The Long Call, Ann Cleeves creates a world within a small community in North Devon where rivers converge; the setting effectively becomes a part of the story. In this world, there are three police officers who are central characters. First is Matthew; he was raised within the Brethren, a conservative religious group. While Brethren characters are very much a part of the novel, Matthew himself has left the group. This cast him away from the familiar into a new life in the police and with his husband, Jonathan. Next is a female character, Jen. She is divorced and never has sufficient time for that elusive work-life balance. Ross is a police officer who seems a bit full of himself but he too has reasons for being as he is. I enjoyed spending time with each of these characters.

The story is populated with many others. There are businessmen, a curate and his girlfriend, an artist and many others. There is the murder victim whose backstory is essential to the plot. Also, there are three young women with Down Syndrome who are integral to the novel. Ms. Cleeves portrays each as a fully rounded person. She is clear eyed and empathetic in the portrayals of the three and their families.

This book was an excellent read and one that I highly recommend. I was sorry to get to the end of the book and only hope that the next in the series comes out soon. If you are a person who enjoys well written British mysteries, put this one on your TBR pile

Many, many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.

The novels that Julia Keller, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, writes are never easy reads…but, boy, are they good! Each book is set in Ackers Gap, West Virginia, a place that faces far too many harsh realities. There are many drug problems, crushing poverty, a lack of resources and yet…people persevere.

This title is the eighth in the series which began with A Killing in the Hills. Long time readers will want to catch up with Bell Elkins, a former attorney (to know why “former” you need to read the earlier books), Jake, who is disabled (to know why, you need to read the earlier books) and Nick, the former sheriff. The three now run their investigative firm. Each has a rich and complex backstory of life events and relationships. Because of the depth of backstory, old readers, like me, are eager for updates but you can also read this novel as a stand alone.

I have learned to trust this author, even when the official book description sounds bleak. In this one, the devastating story has to do with a former hospital where lobotomies were performed on women who were “troublesome” and certainly not capable of giving consent or even asked about consent. This historical malpractice figures in the story that takes place in the current day even though the hospital has been long closed. So…oh, no is what I thought. Not sure I can go there but…I am so glad to have read this title.

There is despair in this one but also glimmers of hope. There is also a death to be investigated, lots of local color and beautifully delineated characters, even minor ones such as a trucker and a librarian.

I give The Long Way Home 5 stars, not something I do often. I recommend it most highly.

Many, many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. I am already longing for the next in the series.

This book offers up some thoughts about the U.S. There are multiple entries for each letter of the alphabet, running the gamut from baseball to slavery.  The book reflects the author’s wish to paint the country in broad strokes.  Each entry includes an illustration and some thoughts about what is being pictured.  This is a modern book that reflects the current state of the country.

4/5 stars ****

Note: The formatting of the e galley that I received seemed to have some layout errors that I am sure will be corrected for the print book.  Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

A couple pf examples from the publisher:

The youngest children are certain to like this appealing book. It features photos of babies and toddlers doing all that can be done with hands, (think clap, bang, wave good-bye, catch a ball and more. Liittle ones will see themselves in the photos of a diverse group of children having fun. Toddlers can just enjoy the photos or, with your engagement, could imitate the actions that they see.

Highly recommended for reading time with a baby that you know.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars ****

#MyHands #NetGalley

This is a quick read picture book. For me, the best part of this book was the illustrations which were cartoon like and amusing. The text did not speak to me as much; it goes through various ailments and asks if particular animals can have them. Answers come only at the very end of the story and mostly in an appendix. Still, children will most likely enjoy the pictures and the whimsy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

3 stars ***

I wish that I could just read all day!  So, Fern Britton writes good women’s fiction; Sophie’s Choice is a classic; then there is some historical fiction, some mysteries and a non-fiction title.  Hope you find something that you like!