Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Retold and remixed fairy tales are a favorite genre of mine. Thorn is VERY loosely based on The Goose Girl with plots and characters not found in the orginal tale. The main character has courage and stamina and also reacts to hard situations in a real way. She has endured abuse and that colors how she sees people and situations and affects her trust of people's motivations. I liked how that is still a part of her and yet she can still find ways to show mercy to people who have wronged her without allowing them to continue to hurt her. 

This is the first book in the series called, Dauntless Path. Each succeeding book focuses on a new main character while the previous book's main character takes a back seat while this new story is told. I enjoyed this a lot and have already started the second book, The Theft of Sunlight.

Recommend: Yes

Young Adult fiction, fairy tale, fantasy

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

 8 hours and 33 minutes. Time spent listening to this gem. Here is the plot in a very small  squirrel sized nutshell: Simon is a pre-teen that has experienced something traumatizing: a school shooting. His parents move him to a new town to help him move past it all. He meets new friends and has new adventures all which help him to embrace who he is. 

There are also demented squirrels and emus, obsessed space scientists, and a town without the internet and microwaves. Oh and hilarious anecdotes mixed in. The author, Erin Bow, uses humor and quirky real characters to soften this sad and scary subject. The kids in the story deal with PTSD and autism and are super bright. They show how they deal with these issues courageously with parents who love them and support them. All around inspiring. This quote sums it up well, "Simon Sort of Says is a breathtaking testament to the lasting echoes of trauma, the redemptive power of humor, and the courage it takes to move forward without forgetting the past." (Summary on Libby app)

Recommend: Yes

Junior Fiction, trauma, PTSD, autism, astronomy, friendship, humor

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West

 I have read several of Kasie West's books in the past and I like their light hearted, just enough angst, and plucky characters. My daughter received this one as a gift so, of course, I had to pick it up and read it. 

The basis of the plot is based on a typical miscommunication scenario. I don't love these especially when they go beyond an acceptable time for one or both of them to come clean and resolve the lies that are being perpetuated. The fall out from these falsehoods ends in overreactions which makes everything worse. I was a bit disappointed in the story and the characters. The sub plot was interesting, however, which was one of a complicated family situation. This kept me reading to the end. And of course, in the style of many a Hallmark romance, there are dogs. 

Recommend: no

teen fiction, romance, dogs, family. 

Fortunately the Milk by Neil Gaiman

On our recent road trip we listened to the audio book version that was narrated by the author, Neil Gaiman. It was a quick listen, about an hour, and full of imaginative humor. 

This is a tale a dad spins to explain why it took him sooooo long to go to the corner market and pick up some milk so that his kids could eat their breakfast cereal. When he finally comes in the door the kids demand what took so long and so he tells them. I can imagine Neil Gaiman himself weaving this tall tale to his own family!  Very fun to listen to.

Recommend: Yes

Audiobook, humor, children, family

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

 Road trips are the best times to read a new book!  My daughter brought this book that her brother had given her on our road trip to Ohio. I picked it up and read it in a couple of days. It deals with a hard subject-suicide, but in a It's a Wonderful Life sort of way. Nora has lived a life full of regrets and those regrets coupled with some hard knocks nearly overcome her. As she prepares to end her life she finds herself in the Midnight Library. Here she gets multiple second chances to see how her life would have turned out if she had made one different choice. As she sees what could have been what is seems better and better. 

The multiple themes of missed chances and present realities put together may seem to be depressing and overwhelmingly discouraging. Yet, Matt Haig, spins a tale that left me feeling hopeful and not hopeless. We all have lives that are messy and we all miss opportunities, but as Nora learned, life is about connecting with others despite our situation and serving and helping those around us. Miraculously as we do that we help ourselves find happiness and purpose. 

Recommend: Yes

Fiction, death, suicide, hope, friendship, family relationships

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

I was browsing in the Libby app the other day looking for an audiobook to listen to as I was working. I came across this gem that was available to checkout.  The premise of the book at first was a bit depressing as Ove is facing life without his wife who has recently passed away. He decides he would rather join her in death than live what he thinks is a pointless life alone. He lays plans to take his life simply and neatly but is thwarted at every turn by people he is at first irritated and annoyed by and who he thinks are idiots. Slowly, though, they become a part of him and he loves and serves them in his own curmudgeonly way. 

Recommend: Yes

Ficiton, death, family, friends

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The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

 I have been in love with C.S. Lewis' Narnia books since I was a child and made my own wardrobe in my closet where I read them all. This is the last in the series and I wanted something to listen to as I went on my walk. Again, Spotify has free audiobooks and this was one of them. A plus was it was read by Patrick Stewart, he did a phenomal job!  

I don't often reread this last book in the series but I was fascinated with Lewis' symbolism as he illustrated the end of the Narnia world and described going into Aslan's country. I was enjoying it so much I kept listening as I came home and did the dishes and cleaned the house with the story in my ears. 

Recommend: Yes. 

Junior fiction, fantasy, end of the world, Narnia, talking animals, religion