Space Battle Lunchtime : lights, camera, snacktion! by Natalie Riess

[Sam] Have you ever watched Iron Chef and thought, this is great but I really wish the contestants were aliens? If you are currently shouting at your screen “YES, YES, I THINK THAT ALL THE TIME!!!” this graphic novel is so for you. Don’t read any further, just take my word for it and put it on hold,  Find it Here.

Now for the rest of you, who maybe don’t spend as much energy wishing extraterrestrials would invade your favorite reality show, don’t worry this book is also for you. In fact you may have a lot in come with the main character of this book. Peony was honestly very happy being an awesome baker in an adorable earth based coffee shop. But after unwittingly accepting an offer from a strange customer she finds herself the newest contestant on Space Battle Lunchtime, a super popular alien cooking competition broadcast all over the universe.

This graphic novel is just fun. The art is bright, the story is simple, but entertaining. A fun read for kids or adults! Check it out now and you’ll be all caught up when vol. 2 arrives this summer.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

I loved this audiobook! The cast of narrators were amazing and, although I started out doubtful that the correspondences would be able to carry my interest through an entire novel, the unique format totally kept me wanting more. Hard to get out of the car at the end of my commute with the thought that I might be missing out on something going on in 1946 Guernsey!

Find in Wiggin’s catalog:
Audiobook
Print Edition
Large Print Edition

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

[Sam] Peppi Torres’ plan to survive her first day of middle school is to be boring and invisible. But that plan shatters when she trips over Jaime Thompson in the hallway and everyone starts calling her his “nerder girlfriend”. And how does Peppi react? She pushes Jamie and runs away. What a nightmare! So of course Peppi’s after-school art club finds itself at war with Jaime’s science club. Will Peppi ever overcome her embarrassment and apologize to Jamie? Will the feud between Art club and Science club destroy the school? Find it Here

This awesome graphic novel creates a vivid picture of the ups and downs of life in middle school. It’s funny and relatable. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy Raina Telgemeier‘s graphic novels. And if you enjoy this book checkout Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. 

 

The Pruning Answer Book: Solutions to Every Problem You’ll Ever Face; Answers to Every Question You’ll Ever Ask by Lewis Hill, Penny O’Sullivan

[Sara]

Very helpful! I started knowing little about pruning, and I have a new large garden to care for at my new home. I feel much more confident about the process thanks to this handbook– it explains pruning in the context of plant structure and growth in a way that beginners can wrap their head around while also going into the details that can back up more experienced gardeners, landscapers, and arborists.

I got this out from the library over the winter (available here) and am going to buy a copy to hang onto for easy reference this spring. A bonus– the author is one of our library trustees here at Wiggin! She is so helpful and always willing to answer questions from our community.

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Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

[Sam] This is a wonderful middle grade book that radiates hope and love even in the midst of trying circumstances.The main character Amina starts out as a shy girl who lives very much within her comfort zone. She loves music but refuses to sing in public. She enjoys Sunday school at her mosque but is embarrassed to recite Arabic in class. However, the arrival of a new family member, changes within her friend group, and a tragedy in her community might just bring out a whole new side to Amina. I loved how thoughtfully Amina’s family and community were described. I felt I learned new things about Pakistani-American culture, but also found a lot I could relate to within these characters. I highly recommend it.  Find it Here

The Adventures of Superhero Girl, by Faith Erin Hicks

[Lesley] Awesome take on the superhero genre from the perspective of an ordinary person who just happens to have superpowers and who wants to fight crime. Loved the sense of humor and the sense of sincerity in this and definitely want to read more by Faith Erin Hicks! Passed it on to my husband and he loved it too. Thanks for the recommendation Lucia!

Scar Island, by Dan Gemeinhart

[Lucia] Dan Gemeinhart’s third novel continues his streak of gripping middle-grade adventures.

Jonathan Grisby is the newest “student” at Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. The crumbling fortress is located on a remote island, pounded by surf and weather, and cut off from every comfort. The boys spend nights locked in dark cells exposed to the icy wind, and survive on mere scraps of food. The staff is cruel and abusive, and it’s exactly what Jonathan deserves. You see, Jonathan is not innocent. He has a terrible secret, a past that earned him his spot at Slabhenge, and he’s ready to take whatever punishment comes his way to try and atone. But, just as Jonathan is learning the ways of his new life, a disaster leaves the boys alone on the island without any adults. When their newfound freedom turns to anarchy and a new wave of cruelty, Jonathan must come to terms with his past, or leave every boy on the island to a watery doom.

Gemeinhart’s first two books, “The Honest Truth,” and “Some Kind of Courage,” were both on the Great Stone Face Award list, and I expect “Scar Island” to make it a hat trick. This book is recommended for anyone who enjoys adventure, disasters, self-discovery, and solid, fast-paced writing.

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The Luminaries, by Eleanor Catton

[Lesley] Catton somehow manages to take a large cast of characters (alive and dead), a wild and untested place and time, and a very tangled plot and create a fabulously crafted story. Mystery piles on top of mystery amidst lies, betrayals, innocent mistakes, and plans-gone-awry and it all unfolds with lush descriptions and intimate details. I especially loved how painstakingly the story is revealed in the first 3/4 of the book only to careen almost off the rails to the ultimate explanation in the end. Masterfully written. I can’t say I ever really came to understand the structure of the constellations/zodiac but it didn’t distract from everything else that is wonderful about this book.

 

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

[Tricia] This is a beautifully written, powerful and deeply compelling novel telling the  story of two sisters in Ghana in the 18th century, one who marries a British officer and stays in Ghana, the other is sold into slavery in America. The book tells the story of the descendants of each sister, all the way up to the present. The sense of place in this book is so strong, and I feel like it’s going to stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend.

Life Among Giants, by Bill Roorbach

[Lesley] Bill Roorbach has written a novel that is both similar to some of John Irving’s best (think A Prayer for Owen Meany or World According to Garp) and very much its own story. Narrated by the adult “Lizard” (David), the story spans from the 70’s to today and encompasses football, corruption, rock music, fame, mental illness, murder, world-class ballet, sex, family, and food. Lizard and his sister Kate grow up in a family of secrets and across a pond from a famous rock star, his equally famous ballerina wife, and his disabled son. Moving forward and backward in time, David relates the intertwined stories of his parents, his sister, the famous neighbors, the crimes suspected and confirmed (like the murder of his parents for one), and his own life as a pro football player turned restaurateur/chef. “Tangled” doesn’t even begin to describe the plot but we are deftly brought along, mainly learning things in the order that David did and getting all of the stories from his perspective. And, in the end, we only know as much as he does — which isn’t the whole truth by any means. This book is well-written and the characters are wonderfully introduced and developed. Not a murder-mystery since we always know who killed David’s parents, but there are many mysteries surrounding the motivations of many characters and maybe some even greater mysteries about why people behave the way they do.

I downloaded this audiobook through the library’s Hoopla subscription with my library card.