Staff Picks

I’m not a great fan of historical fiction but this book has changed my perspective.  The story of Rachel growing up in Kalaupapa-a leper colony on the island of Moloka’i-is both compelling and powerful.
Removed from her parents and facing an uncertain future at the age of seven, she doesn’t give up but forges forward to make her life meaningful and rise above her circumstances.  I loved her spunk, courage and perseverance! This book is one I know I will re-read at some point and recommend to my friends as well. -Sharri (Jan's customer)

For years I have heard this is a good book.  So I finally read it for our Book Group.  This is not a "good" book.  This is a great book.  After I finished it, just in time for group I felt just like the sign in the store about a tramatic experience at the hands of a paperback.  This is such a great book that none of the book group members was willing to turn the book in for credit, they all said oh, no, this is a keeper.  Now I know why we never have any copies.  I have just restocked this title and I can't wait to read Honolulu and see if Mr. Brennert can do it again. -Debbie

This is the second of Ellison’s Samantha Owens series. 

Samantha Owens is a medical examiner who has just relocated to Washington D.C. from Nashville.  Sam’s plans to lead a quiet life teaching college classes on medical forensics fall apart when an apparent terrorist attack in the subway near the college pulls her in.  Anyone who read the first book knows that Samantha Owens cannot resist a mystery, especially when it involves herself and anyone she knows. 

I love these books and anyone who knows me, knows that my preferred genre is sci-fi-fantasy, but these stories are so well written, and convoluted and there are twists and turns that blindside you every time you think you have it figured out.  There is enough romance to make the character more human to the reader but doen’t get mushy or graphic, there is plenty of crime investigating again the graphic parts are left to the readers imagination, just the way I like it.  Ellison does a wonderful job of developing her characters; they are strong and vulnerable, very human.  I highly recommend this book, this author and this series. -Jody

This is the story of Connor O’Brian, a 17 year old boy whose parents had died the previous year and his grandparents become his guardians.  Connor is at a private school when he receives a telegram from his grandfather telling him to come home to Tennessee.  When he arrives he is relieved to find his grandparents are okay, but they have many secrets to tell him and his adventures begin.  First he finds out that his family is the guardian of the Tinys, a group of little people that came from Europe.  There are people who have been looking for the Tinys for generations, they are not nice people.  Connor’s grandfather was going to turn the guardian job over to Connor’s father, but his death changed that and Connor must now step up to keep the Tinys safely hidden.

I like the premise of the story, but found it slow and redundant is some places.  This is the first of a series for young adult readers. -Jody