Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket

After six long years, Lemony Snicket, America's favorite, secretive accordionist/author, has returned with a fresh series. Much as his Series of Unfortunate Events (if you haven't read that series, I can't recommend it enough) was a love letter to, and send-up of, the gothic novel, this new series, All the Wrong Questions delves deep into the murky world of noir. Crammed full of nods to noir conventions and liberally peppered with shout-outs to the literary and filmic greats of the genre, the book moves at a fast clip and, like the Series of Unfortunate Events, is unstoppably entertaining.

The book begins in The City where a young Snicket is about to embark upon his apprenticeship in a secret organization. He ends up in a strange sea-side town in search of a small black statue of a creature -- a search with which even the local librarian, Dashiell, can't help. The young Snicket quickly meets with noir characters, all his own age. A reporter who asks more questions than Snicket can ever answer, a team of taxi drivers (Pip and Squeak, one works the wheel the other the breaks) who are happy to be paid in literary advice, and a femme fatal with "hair so dark it made the night look pale." As young Snicket investigates, each answer he unearths, ignites more questions, and as he delves deeper into the mystery of who stole the statue, more questions about his own life arise and a sinister criminal mastermind named "Hangfire" reveals himself. Can Snicket help those he has promised to assist? Can he find the stolen statue? And, most pressingly of all, can he return to the city to help the associate he unexpectedly had to leave behind?

Mr. Snicket's representative, Daniel Handler, has announced that there will be four books in the All the Wrong Questions series, each title being a different question. The next book in the series, When Did You See Her Last? was released on October 15, 2013. Want to get caught up on the series before reading book two? Then stop by the library and pick up Who Could That Be at This Hour? today!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

One of the most talked-about books of the year, Wonder is by first-time author R.J.Palacio.  It is a beautiful coming-of-age story that introduces readers to the remarkable August Pullman.
 

 August Pullman was born with not just one, but several rare genetic diseases. As a result, he has multiple facial deformities.  After years of surgeries that prevented him from attending school, Auggie and his family decide it's time for him to enroll at the prestigious Beecher Prep Middle School.  Afraid of how the other children will react to his face, Auggie is helped through his fifth-grade year by his parents, his sister, and his beloved dog, Daisy.  Along the way, he learns the painful lessons of being "different" in middle school.  But Auggie really is a wonder, and manages to make true friendships and teach the community some lessons of his own along the way.

One thing I really liked about Wonder is that the story is told from different perspectives: each section of the novel is narrated by a different character.   And it's the characters that really make the story so strong: all are very realistic, relatable (yet flawed) human beings. 

Be prepared: this is a tear-jerker, and it packs quite an emotional punch at the end.  But the tone isn't heavy-handed at all; in fact, it's quite breezy at times.   Everything about this book rings true, from the characters to the family interactions to the middle-school dramas (real and imagined).   Ultimately, Wonder is an uplifting and inspiring story about bullying, acceptance, and inner-strength with a truly wonderful hero, Auggie Pullman.  You'll never forget him.

Have you met Auggie?  What did you think of his story?  

Ages 10 and up.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker

If you can suspend belief and keep in mind that this is a work of fiction, this is a sweet story with a great hook.  The cover looks sweet - girls on a beach in the sunshine - but what if you were to know that these girls buried their dead foster mother in the back yard without telling anyone? (This is not a horrible spoiler, because this happens within the first few pages of the book.) They lie for weeks, pretending she had broken an ankle as they carried on as if everything was normal. That sounds sinister, but this isn’t a sinister story.


Twelve-year-old Stella has an unreliable mother.  She and her mom had lived with Stella’s grandmother until she died.  Then Stella’s mom abandons her. That’s why she’s in foster care.  But the foster mother was her great aunt (her grandmother’s sister).  Stella likes living with her Aunt Louise, for the most part.  She likes the orderliness of Louise’s home and the predictability of her life there.  She hasn’t quite warmed up to her Aunt’s New Englander reserved nature, but she doesn’t dislike her either.  There is a problem in this orderliness however.  Stella’s Aunt has taken in another foster child, a prickly girl Stella’s age, named Angel.  Angel is an orphan who is “oil to Stella’s water,” as Aunt Louise would say.  But as the girls need each other to keep their terrible secret they begin to see each other in a different light, come to appreciate each other, and maybe become friends.


 
See what happens to Stella and Angel in The Summer of the Gypsy Moths.

Ages 10 and up

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Conor O'Malley's mother has been sick for a long time, but now she is getting worse, and as much as she tries to hide it, Conor can tell. On top of this, he has been having the same terrible nightmare about a monster over and over again. One night, after waking up from his usual dream, he finds himself face-to-face with a monster -- not the monster from his dream, but one that looks a lot like the yew tree in his back yard. The monster informs Conor that he will tell him three stories and, after the third story, Conor must tell him one in return, and it must be the truth

The monster comes back and tells its stories as Conor's mother continues to decline. Conor has to navigate his own feelings about these stories and his mother's changing condition while adjusting to living with his grandmother. His father also returns making matters even more confusing. With the world swirling around him and everyone he knows treating him oddly, Conor feels alone and invisible with his emotions and wonders if he can face himself, tell his truth, and come to terms with stories that don't have happy endings.

One great part of this book is the artwork by Jim Kay. Check some of it out if you get a chance. A Monster Calls won awards for both its writing and its artwork. This is a great book for anyone going through a tough time. See what you think, and let us know!