Jack & Louisa Act 1 by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead

 Junior fiction. I was looking for some fun easy reads at the library and this looked like it would fit the bill. Jack and Louisa are obsessed with musical theater, in fact Jack has actually performed on Broadway. He moves down the street from Louisa, far away from New York City. Their friendship has a rocky start, but they end up helping each other do the thing they love-perform on stage. 

I enjoyed this quick little read. It's the first in the series, the other two books being Act II and Act III. 

Recommend: Yes. 

Sammy Keyes series

 Sammy Keyes is a series written by Wendelin Van Draanen. Sammy is a 7th grader who lives with her grandma in her seniors only high rise. Her mother is off being an actress in Hollywood and Sammy has to pretend to only be visiting her grandmother since no children are allowed to live in her grandmother's building. Sammy is one of my favorite fictional characters. She's brave and vulnerable, sassy and kind, smart and resourceful. She solves mysteries with the help of her varied friends. These books are short and wonderful. I've read them all before, but these revisits have made my soul happy. There is one book for every month of her 7th grade year. So far I've reread the first 4. 

Recommend: Very much!

The Grey King by Susan Cooper

 Junior Fantasy Fiction. Fulfills "Newbery winner or honor" category in the Pioneer Book Challenge.

I've read this dozens of times in my life time, it won the Newbery award in 1976. It's the 4th book in the 5 book series, The Dark is Rising. I read this out loud to my boys and they enjoyed it immensely. It takes place in Wales and is based in Arthurian mythology. The entire series is wonderful!

Recommend: Yes

Worth the Wrestle by Sheri Dew

 Non-Fiction. Fulfills the "Self Help" category in the Pioneer Book Challenge.

I have always loved to listen to Sheri Dew speak. She has a way with words and can express difficult concepts in a relatable way. Brian and I read this book together and it has helped us think about gaining answers to difficult questions. Asking questions is never a negative exercise, but it is one filled with effort and can be considered a wrestle. The biggest takeaway for me was that perhaps answers are not the most important thing in asking questions, but the closeness and love that I feel from my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ as I ask and act. 

Recommend: Yes. 

Messiah: The Little-Known Story of Handel's Beloved Oratorio by Tim Slover

 Non-Fiction. Fulfills "New Arrival Downstairs" category in the Pioneer Book Challenge

When I was in Provo a few months back I stopped by the Pioneer Bookstore. As part of this book challenge I'm doing, some of the categories need to be purchased at their store. Side note: if you ever have a chance to visit the Pioneer Bookstore in Provo, GO!  It's a used bookstore and has wonderful nooks and crannies to discover and sit and read. I saw this one on the New Arrival table and picked it up. The fact that it included a CD in the back of the Tabernacle Choir singing the Messiah sealed the deal for me and I bought it. 

It's a short book that covers the social environment around the time that Handel composed The Messiah. Even though I know the music well, I had not known about the situation surrounding the singers Handel chose to sing and how the public reacted. It's easy to look back on music history and assume that all these masterpieces were received with many accolades. This was an interesting look into Handel's life and how he navigated the performers he worked with and the public's reaction. 

Recommend: yes

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

 Mystery. Fulfill Best Seller Fiction Display category in the Pioneer Book Challenge

I've always been a mystery fan and especially and Agathe Christie lover. I normally read her mysteries that feature Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple and I love to watch the different adaptions on the large and small screens. This stand alone novel of hers is pretty dark, but I guess since each of her books usually has at least one murder in the story that could be said of all of them. This one seemed more sinister than others I have read. Perhaps it was because the detectives in her other books bring a bit of light into the stories. 

For those who have never read this I won't give any spoilers, but there are multiple murders committed and discussed throughout the book. And the absence of a detective as part of the story is not Christie's usual style. I would still recommend this book to those mystery lovers, but perhaps not to a first time mystery reader. 

Recommend: Perhaps

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon

 Mystery. Happily I noticed that another installment in the Tourist Trap mystery series had come out in February. I immediately downloaded it to my kindle and read it over a few days as I was on a plane with my daughter, Audrey, and her adorable son Ollie. (In between making sure Ollie didn't escape our row and run down the aisle of the plane.) It did not disappoint. I did see that Lynn Cahoon will be releasing her final book, #14, this fall. Sigh. I'll have to find another guilty pleasure!

Recommend: If you're me, YES!