Thornhill, by Pam Smy

A fairly new book by an author I have not heard of before...wow, this book is dark! A young girl growing up in a boarding home in 1982 is bullied by the other girls, and severely bullied by one girl in particular. At the same time, in the present day, a girl has moved into the house next door to where the boarding school once operated, and she finds connections to the bullied girl, although she is no longer there...so, her ghost? The story develops along the way, and the book is told alternately with words and with drawings, both by author Smy. This is one of the darker stories I have ever read, reminding me of Holly Black, perhaps. I admit it disturbed me a little. 4 scared paws.

Catwoman: Soulstealer, by Sarah J. Maas

Wow, sometimes it just takes a little while to finish a book, you know? Now that it is raining less (slightly!), and sunny more (slightly!), I find myself laying on the back deck in the sun, barking at birds and chasing insects, and my reading lags a little. Anyway, I managed to get through this 3rd book in the DC Comics chapter book series, and it was...okay.  While I read I was trying to think of what I wanted to read next (not a good sign while reading a book to wonder about the next one) and whether I wasn't as fond of this book because the main character is a villain instead of a hero, like Wonder Woman or Batman.  I'm not sure, but this one was just okay, of the first three in the series so far. It had action, romance, adventure, super heroes (although the "good" superhero was Batwing...never heard of that character before, have you? It had all the elements of a great story, and it was...good. Not bad, but not great. I still think Wonder Woman was the best of the series so far, and I'm looking forward to book #4, Superman! In the meantime, if you read Catwoman, let me know what you think of it! I love to be talked into a so-so book being really great for someone! 3 paws.

Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson

My brother, Henry, was the runt of his litter. We have the same parents, but I was born in the first batch of puppies, and he was born in the second. Not only does that make me the older sister (and smarter, of course, in every way), but it means we had different experiences in our dog youth. One result of that difference show itself in our eating habits. Henry eats from a special dish made with extra shapes within the bowl to force him to eat more slowly. As the runt, I imagine he was the last to get to Momma for food, and that has made a lifelong impression on him - not a good one, necessarily...he eats like he has never eaten before, and like he may never get to eat again! The special dish helps him slow down so at least he tastes some of what he is eating...how much is debatable!

I share all of that as a way to introduce you to the latest book by author Jacqueline Woodson.  The book, Harbor Me, will make you read slowly, just like Henry's dish makes him eat slowly. You cannot read this book quickly, it just will not allow it. The words are not long or difficult, the book itself is less than 200 pages. But the story has such a richness, such a depth to it, that it forces you to read slowly. The characters, their situations, the exchanges between them as they meet for their weekly ARTT sessions....it all is put together so perfectly, and so descriptively, that you have to read slowly. The story is like a really rich, thick, homemade ice cream; you want to keep every bite in your mouth as long as possible until you just have to swallow it - and then you can't get the next bite into your mouth fast enough!

The only thing I wasn't sure of about this story is how mature main character Haylie's reflections and thoughts are. She is written like a 50-year-old wise woman, but in the story she is in the 6th grade. It seemed a little like Woodson was telling some of her own story, perhaps, in this book, but that isn't a bad thing. Whether that is true or not, if you have any liking whatsoever of realistic fiction, I highly recommend this book! Or any book by Woodson, for that matter...she is a master writer, and she shines in Harbor Me. Wow. 5 paws!

         Henry in front of me at home!

The Library Book, by Susan Orlean

About twice every school year I have to read a book meant for adults. Not sure why, just need something different. This spring break I read The Library Book, and what a treat! One of the reviews calls this book a love letter to libraries, and I couldn't agree more! Using the devastating fire in 1986 of the Los Angeles Public Library as the background to explore not only the fire, but libraries around the world, I loved this book! Not sure if any of my owner's middle schoolers would enjoy it as much, but if libraries just seem like one of the greatest things since peanut butter in a kong, than try this one! The BMS library doesn't carry it, but the public libraries do! Enjoy! Blink blink! 5 paws!