Plymouth Staff Choices

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
Youth Fiction – Lower Level - Funke

This novel from German favorite Funke seems closer to her light-hearted feminist picture books than the deep and complex Inkheart series. Igraine is the youngest child of powerful magicians, the Fair Melisande and Sir Lamorak the Wily. They live in the small, dilapidated but cozy Pimpernel Castle. Her older brother Albert is studying to be a magician, too, but Igraine has always wanted to be a knight. It’s just days away from her twelfth birthday when they receive news that their neighbor the Duchess has been taken over by her greedy nephew. He wants the Singing Spellbooks that have always belonged to Igraine’s family at Pimpernel Castle. Just as the castle is besieged, Igraine’s parents accidentally turn themselves into pigs. And they’re out of the red giant hairs that they’ll need to turn themselves back again. It’s up to Igraine to save the day, with the help of a gentle giant and the Sorrowful Knight, who teaches her the rules of chivalry. It’s a light, quirky and exciting book perfect for nine- to twelve-year-olds, and possibly younger for reading aloud.

M by Jon J. Muth
Adult Graphic Novels - Main Level M

First published in 1990 as four separate comics, this stunning adaptation of Fritz Lang’s classic 1931 film lives again in this complete collection. Jon J. Muth an award winning author and illustrator of children’s books uses his unique artistic approach to craft a decidedly more adult tale. Using a photo realistic style, Muth took two years to painstakingly create the beautiful watercolor illustrations. Take one look inside and it’s hard to deny that the result was worth the wait. Just like the film, M is about an unidentified serial killer stalking children in a German city. After the police fail to apprehend him, a group of criminals in the Berlin underworld scheme to put an end to his deeds. The book stays true to the films script and in some panels could very well be indistinguishable from a frame in the movie. So whether you’re a cinemaphile, a fan of graphic novels, or a lover of art M will satisfy your needs.

Also by Muth:

Zen Shorts
Picture Book Shelves - Lower Level MUT

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller.
Youth New Book Shelves – Lower Level
Teen Zone Fiction – Main Level

Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller live in American history as strong young women who faced adversity and rose above it all to become very successful people.

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller tells the story of how Annie worked extremely hard to reach Helen not just intellectually, but also emotionally. While the novel is fiction, Sarah Miller conducted rigorous research to make certain her story was based upon facts. The result is a very compelling and inspiring story of human strength triumphing over physical and emotional weaknesses.

The novel is on many best lists including the 2008 ALA's Best Books for Young Adults.

Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy.
CD Book Shelves - Main Level - BINCHY

Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather open a catering business named Scarlet Feather in Dublin, Ireland one January. They are friends from their culinary student days and have always dreamed of opening their own business. Thus, when Scarlet Feather starts to take off, they feel all their dreams are going to come true. Of course nobody's life is a fairy-tale and interesting trials and triumphs follow Tom and Cathy as they embark upon their careers. Relationship troubles, family issues, and two adorable abandoned children enrich this tale of food, love, joy, and sorrow.

Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy is very human and relatable. Maeve Binchy is extremely gifted in the art of story-telling because she knows how to weave many unique characters and their storylines succinctly together. The audio version of Scarlet Feather is delightfully read by Barbara Caruso who makes certain that all of the characters have their own distinctly Irish flavors. It's a "yummy" treat!

The Explosionist by Jenny Davidson
Teen Zone New Fiction – Main Level - Davidson

Edinburgh, late 1930s. The world is on the brink of a second world war. Fifteen-year-old Sophie’s boarding school is shaken by the bombing attacks of rogue explosionists. In this world, Napoleon won the battle of Waterloo and Europe is divided into quite different countries – Scotland is not part of the United Kingdom but the New Hanseatic League. Sophie is forced by the impending war to make important decisions about her future now. Very few girls are going to university, with many joining the military and the brightest and most beautiful going to join IRLYNS. IRLYNS (pronounced, irrationally but amusingly, irons) is a top-secret program which trains women to be the driving force to help high-placed men do great things in service to the country. But why, Sophie wonders, do the women in high places not get similar male assistants? Outside of these thoughts, Sophie is getting on with everyday life: trying to hide a crush on her chemistry teacher, cutting gym class to have tea with the professor next door and his housekeeper’s visiting Danish nephew, Mikael, and attending her great-aunt’s regular séance. Then the medium from the séance is murdered, and Sophie starts hearing voices herself. Sophie and Mikael will both have to get over their distrust of spiritualism to find out who murdered the medium and who the explosionist was. This is a rare and delightful book that will leave you with something to think about even as the adventure will keep you reading.