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Martin Maple and his dad live alone on an island. Mr. Maple spends all his time building a mysterious machine that he says will bring hope. When the machine is almost done, he rows off to the mainland to bring back the final piece. He never returns, nor do the … Continue reading
Briony Larkin is a witch. Her stepmother told her so before she died, a death for which Briony feels responsible. Briony’s youthful temper and magic also caused her twin sister Rose to be developmentally disabled. Briony avoids the swamp and the Old Ones that call to her, sullenly cares for … Continue reading
Aerin Renning, fugitive from a slave planet, gets an unbelievable chance to attend Academy 7, “the most prestigious school in the universe.” Dane Madousin, son of the Alliance’s top military man, also scores high enough on his entrance exam to attend Academy 7. She is terrified and withdrawn; he has … Continue reading
Gittel is a Chassidic Jew in modern Brooklyn, but in many ways her life looks — by design — like something out of Fiddler on the Roof. Everything is prescribed by law and tradition: what to wear, what to read, how her husband will be chosen.* To Gittel this feels … Continue reading
Just back from WWII, Evie’s stepfather takes her and her mother on a surprise vacation to Florida, where they meet Peter, a young man he knew in the service. As Evie falls for Peter, she is caught in a tangled web of secrets and lies. This won a National Book … Continue reading
4 out of 5 Ingrid and her sprawling extended family get together for every possible occasion, where no matter how old she and her teenage cousins get, they are always stuck at the kid table. Hanging out with each other beats discussing mortgages with their parents, but what will it … Continue reading
When Alton’s mother pushes him to play bridge with his blind, crotchety uncle in the hopes of scoring a big inheritance, he’s irritated — who wants to play a boring, mystifying game with old people? — but he goes along with it. Of course, he ends up loving bridge, and … Continue reading
Another very complicated story by the author of one of my recent favorites, Jellicoe Road. She’s trying out fantasy this time: when Finnikin, son of the captain of the guard of Lumatere, is a child, the ruling family is murdered and the city occupied. It’s also sealed off, Sleeping Beauty-style, … Continue reading
Oh, read it read it read it! If you liked The Hunger Games, you must absolutely read this book. And that means that you should skip everything past the “spoilers” cut, because you really don’t want to be spoiled. Basically, Prentisstown is a human settlement on an alien planet. There … Continue reading
