Shooter by Caroline Pignat

Caroline Pignat is a Canadian author that attracts quite a few readers in my school library.  One of the most popular being Egghead.  I haven't had a chance to read any of her books up until now when I received an ARC of Shooter.

Shooter begins with a school being placed in lock down and students running for cover.  After many classrooms being locked a group of students find themselves hiding out in the boys bathroom.  These five students all think they've got the others pegged on who they but after an hour in lock down together they quickly realise that maybe their perceptions are all based on image and rumours.

The back cover of Shooter recommends the book for ages 12 and up.  Unless it shows up as a Red Maple nominee in the Forest of Reading next year, I don't think it is something I will add in my school library.  I think it is an excellent story but a bit too mature for the majority of my readers.  

Book Clubs

Last night I had book club.  I look forward to it every month.  It's a nice night out having dinner with the girls.  We are quite a small club - just three of us.  But it works.  We always manage to find a date that works for the three of us.  We are all busy with kids and work.  I think if we had more than three we would struggle to find a time that works for everyone.  Often people laugh when I say it's a book club of three but it works.

In reality we spend very little of the night discussing the book but the books are what bond us together.  This month we were discussing The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.  This book has been getting so much publicity lately.  People calling it gripping and a page turner.  We didn't feel it.  For once we all agreed.  It was a good book.  For once, we all finished it in time!  We didn't love the main characters.  We thought the characters could have been more developed.  We did like a few of the secondary characters.  It was a good book, we just felt it was not quite as amazing as some of the reviews have been raving.

We take turns picking the restaurant and the book.  It typically is a bit of a discussion but one person gets final word.  Last night the book clubber choosing the next book wanted to read a classic book now.  The other two immediately shot her down and said we want modern fiction.  Overruled!  This month we will be reading Dumplin by Julie Murphy.

Are you in a book club?  What was your latest read?  What are you reading now?  Tell me about your book club.

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Britt-Marie is quite content taking care of others and making her home shine.  She is a slightly older lady that is quite set in her ways.  But when she finds out her husband has done her wrong she won't stand around and put up with it.   Although he is in the hospital with some heart trouble and it doesn't feel right to leave some one when they are down and out; that is just what Britt-Marie does.

If she's going to be out on her own, she is going to need a job.  With no work experience Britt-Marie's job prospects are very limited.  She quickly finds herself in a worn down town outside the big city running a recreation centre.  Britt-Marie soon finds herself in the midst of the town's core - the soccer pitch; or lack of it.

I thought this story was going to be quite predictable but it actually wasn't.  Even mid-through when I changed my ending prediction I was still wrong.  A great group of characters.  Britt-Marie Was Here certainly leaves her mark.

Check out A Man Called Ove also by Fredrik Backman.

The Girls in the Garden by Lisa Jewell

Claire Wild has just returned from a neighbourhood party with her daughter.  She has had way too much to drink.  Pip heads out to the garden to find her older sister but when she's found Grace is unconscious.  

Claire Wild and her two daughters, Grace and Pip, have just moved to a new home.  Claire's husband has experienced some severe mental health issues and the girls have been forced to find somewhere new to live in London, England.  The find themselves in this neighbourhood where the buildings and homes join together and the inside forms this cool 3 acre communal park.  Claire is trying to lay low and regroup but it's hard to avoid her super friendly neighbours and they all quickly become friends.

We know from the first chapter that somewhere along the lines everyone in the neighbourhood is certainly not friendly because someone has harmed Grace.  But who?

I really loved the idea of this neighbourhood.  It sounded like such a cool place to live.  As the story progressed none of the characters were very likeable.  They all had secrets.  Everyone was in everyone else's business.

The Girls in the Garden was a great fast read with a good mystery.  It wasn't until the last page that you figure out who harmed Grace.

The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman by Mamen Sanchez

The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman is a mystery, a love story, a story of strong friendships and also quite funny as well.  Atticus Craftsman is the son of a wealthy tycoon in the literary business.  His father had established small literary newspapers across Europe.  All were very successful expect the Spain office.  Atticus is sent to Spain with the task of firing the five employees and closing up the office.  His father sends him off with a warning - they're all women.

The women of the office are a tight group of friends.  They help each other out when in need and celebrate each others successes and cry together when life isn't going as planned for one of the group.  When they receive word that the office is too be closed they quickly make a plan to stall for time.  And the mystery begins.

All of the characters in the book were very like-able.  There were many characters in the book and I was worried it was going to get confusing but they were each well defined and distinct.  I enjoyed reading a book set in Spain.  I can't think of anything else I've read set in Spain.  It was a nice change.

The Altogether Unexpected Disappearance of Atticus Craftsman  will be on sale August 9th, 2016. 

The Imaginary by A. F. Harrold

I definitely judged this book by it's cover.  The cover of this book is beautiful.  There are a few pictures throughout The Imaginary and they are all very well done.  I loved it.

The Imaginary would make a good read aloud for a younger grade.  The Imaginary is the story of a young girl with an imaginary friend.  Of course, she's the only one who can see him.  Until....others can see him too.  And she can see other imaginaries too.  Danger is lurking for the imaginaries.  A fun story for those with a great imagination.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Echo is a beautifully written story about a harmonica.  Although the harmonica isn't magical it has a huge impact on the lives of it's various owners.  The harmonica makes it's way to three different owners throughout the story.  The three children that possess the harmonica are each experiencing some difficult times in their lives.  They each have a great appreciation for music.  They are also very appreciative for small gifts.

Echo is a beautifully written children's novel that could easily be enjoyed by many adults as well.  It's quite long - over 500 pages.  Definitely a book for an avid reader.  Last year my school had a visit by Marsha Skrypuch.  Her books are still requested quite frequently.  I think this would be a good suggestion for her fans.