Title: Cures for Heartbreak

Author: Margo Rabb

Intended Audience: Young Adults and up

Fifteen-year-old Mia has a lot of spunk and a good sense of humor, and she’s going to need both. Her mom has just died unexpectedly, leaving Mia feeling very alone. She misses her mom terribly. She argues with her sister and feels like she barely knows her dad. Her school work suffers drastically. All of this may sound like it would make for grim reading, but author Margo Rabb has created a wonderful story, and given her young narrator such an engaging and authentic voice that you will want to read every word.
Mia’s mother gave her daughter a precious gift before she died. As Mia expresses her sorrow and works to navigate her new world, the value of her mother’s gift becomes ever clearer. Read Cures for Heartbreak to learn about that gift, and to enjoy a story that will stay with you for a long time.
The library has one copy of Cures for Heartbreak. You can find it in the Young Adult Room on the “new books” shelf.

Reviewed by Gail Hintze, Young Adult Coordinator

Sahara Special

By Esme Raji Codell

Recommended for grades 4-8

We’ve all heard the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Things—and people—aren’t always what they seem on the outside. No one knows this better than Sahara Jones, the title character in Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell. Though she is an avid reader, writes her own “Heart-Wrenching Life Story and Amazing Adventures,” and aspires to be a writer, she has spent years in school turning in incomplete, half-heartedly attempted assignments and trying hard not to be noticed. This behavior gets her assigned to a “Special Needs” teacher (thus her classroom nickname “Sahara Special”) and leads to her repeating the 5^th grade. As she begins 5^th grade for the second time, Sahara finds that a new teacher, Madame Poitier, has been assigned to her class. “Miss Pointy,” as the children call her, is slowly able to persuade Sahara to show her secret self and unleash her writing talent. In the process, Sahara also learns to deal with the hurt of her father’s absence and begins to imagine an exciting future.

Esme Raji Codell uses much humor and beautifully descriptive language to tell this story of a girl not daring to live up to her potential. Students (and adult readers) will identify with many of the school experiences, humorous and otherwise, included in the book. Miss Pointy is an especially wonderful and quirky character who is shown being patient and loving with her class as well as openly exasperated at times with their behavior. Sahara’s story will remind readers of the importance of making peace with our past and striving to be who we were meant to be.

Sahara Special was a 2006 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award nominee. It is the March selection for the Mother & Daughter Book Club at the library. Two copies of the book are available in the KPL Youth Department in the Junior High Fiction section.

Reviewed by Laura Abbott

KPL Youth Department Clerk

Peace like a River

Peace like a River by Leif Enger
KPL Adult Book Club selection for March 2007

Set in rural Minnesota and North Dakota during the 1960s, Peace Like a River captures the feel of its era authentically. That alone makes this book pleasing enough without considering the plot or writing. However this novel also has excellent prose and a riveting plot that make it a must read.
Peace like a River tells the story of the Land family, who put their faith to the test in a journey that ultimately reinforces the importance of home and family. The four main characters are believable yet each posses certain fantastic characteristics that reinforce the novel’s biblical themes. For instance, the narrator Ruben is the middle son who suffers from lung ailments. He views himself as quite ordinary yet knows that he is called to serve as a witness” to miracles. His role in the story becomes pivotal as he must decide who to share his knowledge with.
An additional bonus to this novel is the character of Swede, the younger sister. She is a brilliant and precocious youngster whose fascination with the old west lends an epic, even more nostalgic flavor to the book.

The Kewanee Public Library has one copy of Peace like a River in the Adult Fiction section of the Library.

Reviewed by Jill Gray
Information Services

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

Kim Edwards

Adult Fiction

A surprise spring snow storm swept through Lexington, Kentucky March 1964. It was that cold night that Norah Henry went into labor. Do to the weather her husband, Dr. David Henry, had to deliver her baby with only the help of his nurse. First came a healthy baby boy, Paul. Then unexpectedly Norah delivered another baby. Instantly David knew something was wrong with this baby. Their baby girl was born with Down’s syndrome. David had to make a decision quickly. He decided to send their daughter, Phoebe, away to an institution, and tell his wife that the baby died. David’s nurse, Caroline, was told to take the baby to an institute. When Caroline walked through the institute she knew it was not a place for a baby. She left immediately taking Phoebe with her and raising her on her own.

In Lexington Norah was never able to get over the loss of her baby, while David was ripped apart inside by his lie. In Pittsburgh Caroline fought to provide a good education for Phoebe. Two families living separate lives but forever connected by one morning in March.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a story that will catch your attention right away. Written by award winning author Kim Edwards. She is also a graduate of the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. You can find a copy of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter in the Large Print section of Kewanee Public Library.

Sarah R. Barth, Youth Services, Kewanee Public Library

The Christians Culture Survival Guide: The Misadventures of an Outsider on the Inside

The Christians Culture Survival Guide: The Misadventures of an Outsider on the Inside

Matthew Paul Turner

Young Adult and Adult

Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a conservative Baptist church. He discuses every thing form his churches view on baptism to sex and boycotts. As he got older he began church hopping. Turner shares the lessons he has learned from attending countless different churches. He talks about all the uncomfortable to down right bizarre thing he has encountered over the years. Though out the book he throws in fun list of thing he thinks you should know, like “Six Signs Your Pastor Might Have an Ego Problem” and “Five Creative Ideas for Your Old WWJD Bracelets”.

Turner dares to write things that many Christians wouldn’t dare say out loud but think. Much of what he writes is very funny. You will be quoting lines from this book for days. However, Turner tends to drop bible verses into his writing that don’t always make sense. In the end Turner tries to be spiritually profound but come up lacking. Anyone who has ever raised your eyebrow or stifled a laugh at something you have seen at a church will enjoy this book.

Kewanee Public Library has one copy of The Christian Culture Survival Guide by Matthew Paul Turner. This copy can be found in the Young Adult Non Fiction in the lower level.

Sarah R. Barth, Youth Services, Kewanee Public Library

No More Dead Dogs

No More Dead Dogs

Gordon Korman

5^th-9^th grades

Janet was a precocious little girl. She has survived family hardships and rocky friendships. Lucky for Janet she has a trustworthy old friend, her dog Rex. The story moves along beautifully until I realize that the dog was going to die. It has happened to me again. I have been duped. There should be warning labels on books like these.

Warning: A dog will die a terrible death in this book. If you

are a dog lover we suggest you do not read this book. However,

if you do, please do so in the privacy of your own home. So that

you will not bawl uncontrollable in public.

How many times have you read a book when all of the sudden, “Son get the shotgun. It’s time to kill your beloved dog”? It was after one of these experiences that I knew it was time to read No More Dead Dogs.

Wallace Wallace was having a similar experience when his English teacher made him read Old Shep, My Pal. He hated it. When it came time to write a review of the book Wallace had no problem writing about how much he disliked it. However, this was not good enough for his English teacher. Soon a war breaks out between Wallace’s football friends and his English teacher’s Drama Club. Find out all about Wallace’s high jinks in No More Dead Dogs.

Kewanee Public Library has two copies of No More Dead Dogs. They can both be found in the juvenile fiction section on the second floor.

Sarah R. Barth, Kewanee Public Library, Youth Services

Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think

Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think

By Brian Wansink, Ph.D

Intended audience: young adults and up

If you gave a bunch of moviegoers some really, really stale popcorn, do you think they would eat it? What do you think would happen if you served that same old popcorn in larger containers? If you gave restaurant diners a free glass of fine North Dakota wine to enjoy with their food, do you think it would change how much they eat and how long they linger over their meal?

“People eat however much they want depending on how hungry they are and how good it tastes. At least that’s what they say. My graduate students and I think different.” explains author Brian Wansink. Wansink has spent years studying people’s food choices, and he’s had a lot of fun while he’s learned some surprising things about how and why we eat. In Mindless Eating, he describes some of his entertaining experiments and their instructive results.

Wansink states that Mindless Eating is not a diet book, but he does give tips for “mindless” weight loss, which those of us who struggle with dieting may find very helpful. He also provides lots of ideas to help you make healthier decisions about the food you eat. Even if you don’t care about losing weight, you’ll find Mindless Eating well worth your time.

You can find a copy of Mindless Eating in the New Books section of the Young Adult Room in the basement.

Gail Hintze

Kewanee Public Library

Young Adult Coordinator

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

Intended Audience: Adults or teenagers interested in racial issues

I first heard of Barack Obama back in 2004 when he became a candidate for the US Senate for Illinois. Although at the time, his selection and ultimate victory seemed a lucky fluke, he quickly became rather famous, giving the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. Currently he is the only seated US Senator of African American descent. On Saturday, February 10, 2007, Obama is expected to announce that he is running for President of the United States.

Obama’s biography, Dreams from My Father was selected for Kewanee Public Library’s Adult Book Club read for February in honor of Black History month. It is a fitting book for February as it deals with both racial discrimination and identity in a fair and balanced manner. The book will also give readers an inside glimpse into the history and character of this rising star in our political sky. Obama birth was the result of a racially mixed marriage. His father was a foreign student from Kenya who ultimately returned to his native country to fulfill his own destiny. Barack Obama was raised by his white mother and grandparents, mostly in Hawaii. Barack remained relatively innocent about racial tensions in the world until junior high school. Once he became aware of the undercurrents and power disparities in the world Obama spent the rest of his adolescence questioning his role as a black man in America and ultimately reached the realistic but hopeful tone he implores today.

One copy of Dreams from My Father is available at the Kewanee Public Library in Adult Biography

Reviewed by Jill Gray

Information Services, Kewanee Public Library

I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers
Tim Madigan

Recommended for all ages


”It’s a good day in the neighborhood” was frequently spoken by a man who had a caring spirit for all those he came into contact with. It is none other than, Mr. Rogers, of Pittsburgh, Pa who hosted the show Mister Roger’s Neighborhood for young people because he cared about what they viewed on television.
The “I’m Proud of You” is a story about the friendship between journalist Tim Madigan and Fred Rogers. Fred learns one lesson that would carry him throughout his life and this lesson has lightened his load as he traveled down the road of life and increased his faith in God. The author shares his relationship and insights of Fred Rogers as they share many of life’s sorrows and joys together through their correspondence. The reader can find inspiration at many points as this is a book about real life and shared experience.


Reviewed by Mary Oberg
Information Services

Devil in the Details: Scenes of an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig

Devil in the Details: Scenes of an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig

Intended Audience: Adults

In this painful and humorous memoir, Jennifer Traig provides the reader with a first hand account of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it impacts both an individual and her family. Traig, the child of a religiously mixed marriage (Reformed Jewish father and Catholic mother) decides at an early age that she is an Orthodox Jew.

Despite the fact that her family is nonpracticing or perhaps in reaction, her efforts toward piety become a major facet of her OCD. Scrupulosity is a term used to describe OCD expressed by religious rituals and Traig's accounts illustrate this excellently. The reader is given an education in the history of scrupulosity and how hard it is to treat. Traig also suffered from other compulsions, including hair pulling and eating disorders.

Although at times somewhat overwhelming, Traig infuses the narrative with a sense of the absurd. Her parents' ability to remain balanced seems a miracle. The story ends on a positive note with Traig facing her anxieties and working toward a more normal life. This book is recommended for anyone who is interested in mental illness.

The Kewanee Public Library has one copy of Devil in the Details in Adult Biography.

Reviewed by Jill Gray
Kewanee Public Library
Information Services

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen
Author: Sarah Dessen
Intended Audience: Older teens and adults

In Just Listen, Annabel and her family look perfect from the outside but underneath are isolated and unhappy. Annabel herself tries to get along with everyone by presenting an agreeable facade and when she is terribly wronged keeps it to herself. Her sisters and parents, all involved in their own problems fail to notice Annabel's decline. Ultimately, the heroine in this story must, with the help of an unusual new acquaintance help herself. This riveting tale by popular Young Adult author, Dessen shows Annabel's growth towards honesty and self knowledge.

This book is intended for a teen audience but will also appeal to adults, particularly parents of teens. It could serve as a source of interpersonal discussions on a variety of topics, such as depression, eating disorders, date rape and peer relationships. The relationships between the sisters in this book is especially well done and poignant. Although the book deals with some weighty issues, the resolution of the story is satisfying.

One copy is available in the Young Adult room of the Kewanee Public Library.

Reviewed by Jill Gray
Kewanee Public Library
Information Services

The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott

Title: The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott
Author: Jill Scott
Intended Audience: Older teens and adults

Jill Scott is best known for her Grammy winning, Neo-Soul Album, Who is Jill Scott? which launched her career as a recording artist by going platinum. Her book The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours gives her fans and anyone unfamiliar with her music an alternate glimpse at this talented and sensuous young artist. Her poems, some dating back to her middle school years, exquisitely capture the life of a modern African-American woman, her romance, friendships and religion. Scott’s language is real life but rich with sounds and images.

In this book Scott honors famous poets (Nikki Giovanni and Emily Dickinson) as well as some lesser known. For anyone who thinks that poetry is boring, I challenge them to read one of Scott’s poems. You may raise your eyebrows at some of the themes she pursues but will never think of poetry in the same way again.

A copy of The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott is available in the new nonfiction section (lower level) of the Kewanee Public Library

Reviewed by Jill Gray, Kewanee Public Library, Information Services

Small Bites by Jennifer Joyce

Small Bites by Jennifer Joyce

If you’re an adventurous cook, and you’d like to impress some special guests or have some fun in the kitchen, take a look at Small Bites. Author/chef Jennifer Joyce specializes in creating elegant dishes that feature ingredients from all over the world. Hints for advance preparation, party decorations and beverages accompany recipes for such delights as Coconut Shrimp, Smoky Black Bean Dip, Glass Noodle Salad with Black Pepper Chicken and Chocolate Frangelico Pudding.
My first thought on spying the colorful cover of this book was, “fast snack ideas.” A closer look, though, suggests that this book is not mostly about yummy things that you’ll throw together quickly when the mood strikes. There are a few pages of speedy-preparation nibbles, dips and salads; but many of the recipes you’ll find here require some advance planning. Some call for items you may not keep on hand (fresh mozzarella, scallops, Thai curry paste) and most will take some time to prepare.
In keeping with the Small Bites theme, photos show the most delicate servings arrayed in tiny bowls or on undersized plates. Despite this suggestion of “just a little,” though, I think I could happily make a whole meal out of many of Joyce’s selections. The book provides a helpful list of food web sites at the end, so that lack of an ingredient won’t stop you from giving these intriguing recipes a try.
Gail Hintze

Joyce, Jennifer. Small Bites: tapas, sushi, mezze, antipasti, and other finger foods. New York: DK Publishing, Inc. 2005.

Birdmen, Batmen and Skyflyers

Book Review: Birdmen, Batmen and Skyflyers
By Michael Abrams
Audience: Young Adult and up

When most of us think of flying, we think of riding in airplanes. A few imaginative people have tried a very different approach, though: wings attached to an individual who would then hurl himself from a precipice or tall building, or jump from an airplane. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, and for many people it was.
Who were these people? How and why did they pursue their wild dreams? What happened to them? Author Michael Abrams tells their stories, and amazing tales they are. Read about John Damian, who made himself wings with bird feathers and jumped from Stirling Castle in 1507:

“Beating the air with all his might, he soared through the sky and headed south for many miles before gliding across the channel and…no, no, my mistake. It was the ground below that he headed for…”

Frenchman Leo Valentin and American Clem Sohn were among those who had better luck, for a while at least. Perhaps most astounding, Abrams relates that thanks to modern materials and engineering, gliding through the air with a pair of wings attached has become a relatively popular sport. To call it a safe sport might still be pushing it a bit, but you can decide for yourself. Read all about it in Birdmen, Batmen and Skyflyers. Find a copy in the New Books section of the Young Adult Room on the lower level of the library.

Gail Hintze
Young Adult and Information Services

The World is Flat
By Thomas L. Friedman

If you have ever wanted to understand globalization and what it means for you and your children, then this book is for you. At 488 pages, The World is Flat is a book that requires commitment and is a bit daunting. However Friedman does a good job of making the technology related information understandable for the average reader, using layman’s terms and examples. The rise of the Internet is credited with much of the flattening of the world but Friedman also explains how several key world political events also influenced our current situation. The author also makes clear without taking a partisan stance why the US has seemingly missed its wake up call about globalization.

Unlike other recent publications which attempt to take on issues such as outsourcing, open source software and free trade policies, Friedman’s tome does not give simplistic answers. In fact readers will find themselves with some serious thinking to do about our national values as capitalists, consumers and citizens when they read the chapter titled “The Great Sorting Out.” This is a book that leads to a shift in how the business world is viewed. It will also make one look at their individual work habits differently. I highly recommend it to anyone willing to take the time to read it.

One copy available in Adult Nonfiction (303.48 FRI)

Jill Gray, Information Services, Kewanee Public Library.

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley by Sally Walker

Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley
Sally M. Walker
6-10 grades
In 1863 the Union army had the busy Charleston Harbor surrounded. The Confederate army was in desperate need of gun powder and ship making supplies. If they did not reopen the harbor they were sure to lose the war. The Confederate army needed to find a way to attack the Unions ships without giving warning.
Down in Mobile Arkansas, James McClintock, with the financial support of Horace Hunley, started to work on a design for a submarine. After two failed attempts work began on the Hunley. The Hunley’s job was to transport a torpedo to the enemies’ ship unnoticed. After several disasters the Hunley was sent to bomb the USS Housatonic. The Hunley successfully destroyed the Housatonic but it never returned home.
The Union went on to win the war but what happened to the Hunley remains a mystery. Over the years many searched for the Hunley but nobody succeeded until May of 1995. Just 1,000 feet from where the Housatonic went down the remains of the Hunley were discovered. Using modern science and forensics many of the mysteries of the Hunley and the crew is revealed, but why did the ship go down?
All of this will be explored in Secrets of a Civil War Submarine by Sally M. Walker. Walker explains both the history of the Hunley and the science of going through the wreckage. The text is accompanied by many colorful pictures to explore. The ease of this book will be fun to read for kids interested in history or science and forensics. Kewanee Public Library has a copy of Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley available in the Juvenile Nonfiction section on the second floor.

Sarah Barth, Kewanee Public Library, Youth Services