September 2022 Shelf Talk
ADULT Against All Odds: a True Story of Ultimate Courage and Survival in World War II by Alex Kershaw
Best-selling author of The First Wave shares the untold stories of the four most decorated soldiers of World War II: Maurice “Footsie” Britt, Michael Daly, Keith Ware and Audie Murphy. Kershaw uses personal interviews and primary source materials to create a gripping account of American courage from the North African deserts to the heart of Nazi Germany. “Having survived against all odds, who among them would finally find peace?”
Review: publishersweekly.com/9780593183748 To Boldly Grow: Finding Joy, Adventure, and Dinner in Your Own Backyard by Tamar Haspel
Self-proclaimed “crappy gardener” Haspel, takes readers along with her as she goes from clueless to competent while taking a more active approach to her diet: raising chickens, growing tomatoes, foraging for mushrooms and hunting for meat. The “direct connection to what we eat can utterly change the way we think about our food – and ourselves.”
Review: kirkusreviews. com/book-reviews/tamar- haspel/to-boldly-grow The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
This fantasy-fiction debut was inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights. Abdullah “weaves together the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert” in search of a legendary magical lamp. In a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, the discovery that everything – enemies, magic and the past – is not what it seems and decisions on who to become in the new reality must be made.
Review: kirkusreviews. com/book-reviews/chelsea- abdullah/the-stardust- thief-volume-1-thesandsea- trilogy-1 Ocean State by Stewart O’Nan
This latest, profoundly compelling novel by O’Nan is set in a workingclass town on the coast in Rhode Island. The story revolves around sisters, mothers and daughters, and the author paints a “fully realized portrait of these women” while weaving a heartbreaking and compelling story of working-class life. This novel has been described as a “Shakespearean tragedy told in spare, poetic, insightful prose.”
Review: publ i s h e r s w e e k l y . com/9780802159274 YOUNG ADULT A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poisoned tea that killed her — the poisoned tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu. When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong- shi — masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making — she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life. But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.
Review: https://www. booklistonline.com/Magic- Steeped-in-Poison/ pid=9753338 Of Fire and Ash by Gillian Bronte Adams
She rides a fireborn, a steed of fire and ash, trained for destruction. Ceridwen tal Desmond dreams of ruling like her father over the nation of Soldonia, where warriors ride to battle on magical steeds, soaring on storm winds, vanishing in shadow, quaking the earth and summoning the sea. After a tragic accident claims her twin brother, she is exiled and sworn to atonement by spending her life — or death — for her people. But when invaders spill onto Soldonia's shores and traitors seize upon the chaos to murder her father, Ceridwen claims the crown to keep the nation from splintering. Combatting overwhelming odds and looming civil war, she begins to wonder if the greatest threat to the kingdom may, in fact, be her. With fire before her and ash in her wake, how can she hope to unite instead of destroy? Review: https://www. kirkusreviews.com/bookreviews/ gillian-bronteadams/ fire-and-ash Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
ONE PRINCESS. Merida of DunBroch needs a change. She loves her family — jovial King Fergus, proper Queen Elinor, the mischievous triplets — and her peaceful kingdom. But she's frustrated by its sluggishness; each day, the same. Merida longs for adventure, purpose, challenge… maybe even, someday, love. TWO GODS. But the fiery Princess never expects her disquiet to manifest by way of Feradach, an uncanny supernatural being tasked with rooting out rot and stagnation, who appears in DunBroch on Christmas Eve with the intent to demolish the realm and everyone within. Only the intervention of the Cailleach, an ancient entity of creation, gives Merida a shred of hope: convince her family to change within the year or suffer the eternal consequences. THREE VOYAGES. Under the watchful eyes of the gods, Merida leads a series of epic journeys to kingdoms near and far in an attempt to inspire revolution within her family. But in her efforts to save those she loves from ruin, has Merida lost sight of the Clan member grown most stagnant of all: herself? FOUR SEASONS TO SAVE DUNBROCH OR SEE IT DESTROYED, FOREVER.
Review: https://www. kirkusreviews.com/bookreviews/ maggie-stiefvater/ bravely
My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel
A fresh, witty romcom romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding. Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you're part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don't include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri's last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top-tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri's sister's extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment. In the midst of the chaos, Zuri's mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom's South African cousin Naveen — who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri's spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily, Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen's charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister's big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?
Review: https:// www.publishersweekly. com/978-1-4197-5453-1 CHILDREN Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
In this classic picture book and 1949 Caldecott Silver Medal Winner, Sal and her mother pick blueberries on the hill to can for winter while, at the same time, mother bear and her cub are eating blueberries for the coming winter. Sal eats berry after berry instead of “plink-plinking” them into her bucket! Both mothers are intent on their jobs and don’t notice the little ones until a suspenseful surprise takes place. This is a delightful, read-aloud story that has endured generation to generation. The blue ink for words and McCloskey’s wonderful sketches reinforces the “blueberry tone” for readers and their little ones.
Review: kirkusreviews. com/book-reviews/robert- mccloskey/blueberries- for-sal Te Amo, Bebe, Little One by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Maribel Suarez A beautiful picture book with heartfelt rhyming verse, Mexican imagery and a Spanish refrain shows a mother repeatedly saying how much she loves her baby.
Review: publishersweekly. com/pw/authorpage/ lisa-wheeler.html The Story of Ferdinand by Robert Lawson
Ferdinand the little bull loves to sit quietly and smell the flowers instead of practicing to fight. Ferdinand grows up and is one day stung by a bee. His wild snorting and stomping convince everyone that he is the fiercest of bulls and is ready for the ring. This classic picture book was first published in 1936 and has been a bestseller ever since.
Review: kids-bookreview. com/2017/11/review- story-of-ferdinand. html Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: an expedition to the cloud forest of New Guinea by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop It looks like a bear but isn't one. It climbs trees as easily as a monkey, but it isn't a monkey either. It has a belly pocket like a kangaroo, but what's a kangaroo doing up a tree? Learn about the amazing Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, which makes its home in the ancient trees of Papua New Guinea's cloud forest. Meet the amazing scientists who track these elusive animals by following a group of explorers and scientists as they travel to Papua New Guinea on their quest to find the Tree Kangaroo. Don’t miss other animal scientist books by the Montgomery and Bishop team! Review: kirkusreviews. com/book-reviews/symontgomery/ quest-forthe- tree-kangaroo