River Readers

Lee was a survivor of a mass shooting at her high school when she was a freshman. Her best friend Sarah was killed in a bathroom stall holding Lee's hand. A story immediately circulated when a cross necklace was found in the bathroom that is was Sarah's and that she died proclaiming her faith. Sarah's story became sensationalized and soon became "the" story of the shooting. However, Lee and one other survivor that was also in the bathroom knew that wasn't what happened. The other survivor, Kellie, tried to set the story straight at the time but no one believed her.

Something is wrong with the Castle Glower. It has been acting strange, adding rooms, shuddering without warning. Then all of a sudden Celie, Lulath, Pogue, Rolf and Lilah were transported in to a world with wild griffins, ruins of the Castle and two deceptive wizards. The five must figure out how they got there and what it will take to get back home.

This is the third in the Castle Glower series and it was just as entertaining and intriguing as the first two. I anxiously await the fourth installment!

Little Charlie was a sharecropper's son. All he knew was bad luck and hard work. His bad luck continued when his father was killed and the mean foreman, Cap'n Buck, showed up demanding money his father owed him. He demanded Little Charlie go with him on a slave hunting expedition to the North. That is where Little Charlie's education of the world really began.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green is the perfect balance of science fiction and a treatise on how fame and social media can change a person and leave them questioning who they are. Are they the persona created for the public view or are they something more?

During the war, most villages and cities were devoid of men. Chilbury was no exception. While the women were more than capable of taking over most of the duties, the vicar of the village church decided he would disband the choir. When the new music tutor declared they should have an all-ladies' choir, not all were so sure it would work. What developed was so much more than a choir.

Melissa Goodwin's nickname was Mouse. She was shy and always let her friend Olivia take the lead. Olivia could talk her into doing most anything and that was how Melissa (Melly to her friends) found herself going to Camp Rockaway to learn more about playing drums. When Olivia became enamored with a boy Melly had to take a backseat and fend for herself. Could she make friends on her own and come out of her shell?

Toby and Luke have been through everything together, best friends all their lives. Although they have different personalities entirely, their horrific family situations and living conditions formed a bond between them. Their safe haven is an old wreck of an airplane they found in the forest by their North Carolina home. They would sit for hours in the plane, plotting and planning their escape from their lives of abuse, neglect and misery. It all seems possible when Luke has the opportunity for a wrestling scholarship to Iowa. It was their ticket out.

It all started with the disappearance of Mattie Southern and the subsequent discovery of her body. Mattie left behind a sister, Sadie, who was devastated by her death. Their mother survived but she was a drug addict, neglectful at best, absent entirely at her worst. Sadie had done her best to raise Mattie on her own with their surrogate grandmother, May Beth Foster, occasionally looking after them.

Leah Burke is experiencing the typical growing pains of adolescence. She finds solace and unquestioning friendship from playing in her all-girl band for which she is the drummer. Things start to fall apart in the band though when the tensions of college applications, acceptance and scholarships start to emerge. Then there is Leah's own internal conflicts that start to overwhelm her.

This wonderful sequel to Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is an open, honest look at the painful reality teens face every day. If you loved Simon, you'll love this look into Leah.

Accused of treason, Delilah Dirk and Selim travel to England to clear her name. Once there they discover the real traitor is none other Major Merrick. While in her homeland, Selim discovers a side of Delilah he knew nothing about.
This second in the adventures of Delilah Dirk is just as enjoyable as the first. I am eagerly going on to the third!

Wednesdays in the Tower sees a return to Castle Glower. One day the castle transforms and adds a new tower where Princess Celie finds a giant orange egg. The castle wants the egg to remain a secret and helps Princess Celie to hatch it. Celie was delighted when a little griffin emerged. Thinking all this time that griffins were imaginary, Celie sets upon a search to find out all she can about the griffins and why they are embedded in Castle Glower's lore. Many adventures ensue and more questions are asked than are answered.

After being liberated from Bergen-Belsen in 1945, Gerta Rausch finds herself with no one left and nowhere to go. Taken from her home by the Nazi's in when she was just past 14 years old, Greta survives time in Theresienstadt, Auschwitz and eventually Bergen-Belsen. She survives by playing her father's viola in the camp orchestras. But after the liberation, she finds herself alone. Bergen-Belsen becomes a type of refugee camp for the survivors and it is there that they try to heal from the atrocities they withstood.

Delilah Dirk is a magical, swashbuckling, adventure seeking gal who meets up with Erdemglu Selim and they embark on all kinds of exploits.
This is a delightful graphic novel full of fun and adventure. I can't wait to read the second.

Henry "Monty" Montague was the very definition of a rogue. Born into privilege, he continuously was bringing shame down onto his family name. When it came time for his Tour, his father laid down an ultimatum, shape up or lose everything. This tour was his chance to prove himself. Traveling with his life long friend, Percy (with whom he was in love) his sister and a chaperone, Monty seemed unable to curtail his bad behavior. In a moment of bad judgment, Monty steals a box belonging to the Duke of Bourbon and serious trouble ensues.

Lily is biologically a boy but has always felt like she was a girl in a boy's body. She was born Tim McGrother but dreams of the day when she can be Lily. Her mom and sister are very supportive as is her friend Dare but her dad is not.

Norbert has recently moved into the area with his mom to live with his grandmother. Nicknamed Dunkin for his love of Dunkin Donuts, he longs to fit in. His first friend is Lily but when school starts, he becomes friends with the jocks who bully Lily terribly, straining his friendship with Lily and Dare.