Plymouth Librarians' Choice

The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
Youth Fiction - Lower Level - SPIDERWICK

Young Mallory, Simon, and Jared Grace have just moved into their old Great Aunt Lucinda’s home, and strange situations are occurring. For example, one night Mallory’s hair is tied to her bed. Another time, the kitchen is turned upside down during the middle of the night. While their mother blames Jared, he and his siblings soon find out that these mysterious circumstances can be explained by the magical world of faeries. This world is “closer than you think” and sets the intriguing The Spiderwick Chronicles series into motion.

The first of the five books in The Spiderwick Chronicles series, The Field Guide, is written in simple yet wonderfully descriptive prose and is an enjoyable read for all ages. Moreover, the books in the series are uniquely packaged with black and white photos and riddled passages. Who doesn’t feel intrigued or excited by the idea of a magical world all around you? If you want to enter this world, then you should pick up a copy of The Field Guide and get lost in all things imagination!

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
Adult Non-Fiction - Upper Level - 814.54 F

This book is a collection of essays about books and reading, every one of them just delightful. The first essay, “Marrying libraries” talks about how long it took for her and her husband to combine their libraries, and the difficulties of doing so. “Never do that to a book” talks about the difference between courtly lovers of books, who would never write in or otherwise mutilate their books, and carnal lovers of books, who do so as a matter of course. (My mother, who refuses to write even in pencil on photocopied music, definitely falls into the courtly camp. I have seen her write only penciled corrections in poorly edited books.) “The His’er Problem” talks about the difficulties of gender in language, where using non-gendered language is awkward and ungainly, but gendered language really does exclude people of the non-mentioned gender. And while “essay” sounds dull, every one of these had me laughing and reading bits aloud to whomever was unfortunate enough to be around. If you are reading this blog in the first place, it’s a fairly safe assumption that you like books. And if you like books, you’re missing out if you haven’t read this one.

Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story by Frederik Peeters
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level - BLU

Blue Pills is an autobiographical graphic novel that chronicles the relationship between the author/illustrator Frederick Peeters, his girlfriend Cati, and her three-year-old son. As Frederick and Cati grow closer, she must reveal that both her and her son are HIV positive. Where many might run from the relationship or fall into the trap of pity, Peeters reacts by embracing his love for Cati, albeit cautiously. With the help of a doctor who is as Peeters describes actually “human,” the two learn that the boundaries the virus creates sexually and psychologically can be broken down. With its simple monochromatic illustrations and frank and unsentimental perspective, Blue Pills is the type of book that can easily be read in one sitting. However, Peeters' true skill is his ability to turn a harrowing subject on its head and find the good in it.

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. Read by Natalie Moore.
Teen Zone CD Books - Main Level - MURDOCK

It’s the summer between DJ Schwenk’s sophomore and junior years. She’s managing her family’s dairy farm, with both her parents unable to help and her little brother busy with Little League. Her two college-age older brothers are off coaching at a football camp. Busy, simple, boring. Then a family friend, the coach of the rival high school’s football team, asks DJ to coach his back-up QB. Brian is a rich and snotty quarterback already loathed by the entire Schwenk family. Still, DJ and Brian forge a connection as they’re running and bringing in the hay. More than that, his casual insults make her think about what she does and why. DJ decides to find a way to do more of what she really loves – football. There’s also an interesting subplot with DJ’s best friend, Amber. This is a rare book with a protagonist for whom thinking and words don’t come easily. Natalie Moore brought DJ to life with a great Midwestern country teen voice. DJ's humor and honesty with herself kept me going straight on to the second book, The Off Season. Murdock's most recent book is Princess Ben.

Without Blood by Alessandro Baricco
Adult Fiction Shelves - Main Level

Without Blood is a dark fable that somehow manages to create a rich epic story of revenge without exceeding one hundred pages. The story involves a young girl Nina who witnesses the execution of both her father and brother. After this damaging incident she spends the rest of her life seeking revenge on the three men responsible. The story itself is deceptively simple, however its themes are anything but. Alessandro Baricco the best-selling author of Silk touches upon how the damages of war, the need for vengeance, and the mental scars we keep inside can continue to be passed on like a disease. While a story such as this could span more than ninety-seven pages, Baricco distils the narrative down to its basic elements. By doing this each moment of the story, every glimpse of the characters psyches, every word is imbued with more importance.

Good Dog. Stay. by Anna Quindlen.
New Book Shelves - Upper Level – 636 Q
Dogs truly are man’s best friend and in Good Dog. Stay, Anna Quindlen lovingly describes the everlasting bond between human and canine. This book is a written tribute to her beloved black Labrador retriever, Beau. As you read, you will share in the triumphs and struggles of Beau’s life with Ms. Quindlen and probably think of your own little “Beaus” who have produced the same pleasures and frustrations.

Good Dog. Stay. is truly a touching portrait of the special bonds we share with our animals. Sprinkled throughout the text are lovely black and white photographs of dogs of all sizes and types. Thus, if you have ever experienced a slobbery kiss or a moony-eyed glance from a beloved pet, this book is perfect for you!