March 2019 Books

Other than the first book below, the rest of my reading this month was a stack of review copies of books that I got by attending either Book Expo America or American Library Association Conferences


This was my book club's February pick. I enjoyed this story, told from two viewpoints, alternating between a young girl who was kidnapped and offered up for adoption in 1939, and a 30-year-old lawyer who is learning about this practice for the first time, and realizing that her grandmother may have also been adopted. My fellow book clubbers also liked the book, but they seemed to prefer the sections set in 1939 much more than the present ones, although I liked both equally.

A bio-engineered virus has been released in the U.S.; it causes people who are infected to become ravenous monsters (called ticks) who cannibalize humans and animals. It especially likes teenagers, so they've been rounded up and kept on former college campuses. Our heroine, Lily, lives on such a farm with her autistic sister Mel, and they've planned an escape. Joined by a former friend from "before," they learn that even though the bio-engineered monsters are called "vampires," they really aren't; we know that because vampires really do exist, and one of them is going to help Lily and Mel escape because they can help in the revolution to beat the ticks. This dystopian, science fiction, paranormal adventure mixed with teen angst and drama is completely ridiculous. Waiting for the movie...

Ellen is divorcing her husband, Sam, because he's irresponsible with money and, as an inventor, he's had a series of unsuccessful projects. She is the sole proprietor of a coffee shop/home furnishings store, but doesn't bring in enough to pay both mortgages on their house. She's so angry with him that instead of insisting that he get a job that provides a reliable income, she decides to sell the house and divorce him, even though she still loves him. All while they have two kids who are heartbroken about this, and their best friends live next door to them. That alone is completely unbelievable. The rest of the novel swings back and forth with her trying to buy the house back and the new owners splitting up over the decision, even though they also love each other and have children. What a stretch. Almost too dark for a Hallmark movie, but no more credible...

This children's book by musician Colin Meloy is about Charlie, a neglected boy who takes up with a band of child pickpockets in 1950s Marseilles. He learns the tricks of the trade, only to find that he's been used to get close to his diplomat father and steal a valuable document. He has to use all his new-found skills to make things right. Fun and clever.