February Recommendations

Novels:

A HEART SO FIERCE AND BROKEN, by Brigid Kemmerer, is the long-awaited sequel to her fabulous Beauty and the Beast retelling, A CURSE SO DARK AND LONELY. In this new installment, even though the curse has been broken, troubles still abound for Prince Rhen and Princess Harper. There are rumors that Rhen is not, in fact, the rightful heir to Emberfall. Queen Karis Luran may attack at any time. And Rhen's longest-tenured and most trusted Royal Guardsman, Grey, has been gone for months without word. Rhen swears he will kill any rival heir who appears bearing magical powers, so the only thing that could make all this worse is if Grey is the heir! Seamless storytelling--from three points of view—make this second volume a pleasure from cover to cover. (YA)

Graphic Novels:

In PUMPKINHEADS, Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks take readers to the pumpkin patch where best friends Deja and Josiah have worked every autumn for the last three years. Now that they’re seniors and college is on the horizon, this is the last Halloween they’ll be spending here for a while. Deja has decided that Josie should leave with no regrets: tonight he has to actually talk to The Fudge Shoppe Girl, aka Marcy, who he’s he’s been crushing on for as long as they’ve all worked together. Hijinks ensue, and the two friends enjoy a night full of misadventures and revelations—and not nearly enough snacks. (YA)

BECOMING RBG: RUTH BADER GINSBURG’S JOURNEY TO JUSTiCE, written by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Whitney Gardner, is a solid introduction to this Supreme Court Justice and “modern feminist icon.” Beginning with her childhood as a feisty girl growing up in Brooklyn, where reading introduced her “to capable and clever girls doing satisfying, useful work out in the world,” thorough her education at Cornell, where she fell in love with the law and “effective writing,” on through her time as one of only nine women out of five hundred in Harvard Law School, to her placement as professor, judge and beyond, Ruth excelled, even as she fought bigotry and championed equal rights for all. The graphic novel format makes this inspirational biography both appealing and accessible. (YA)

Picture Books:

BEAR IS AWAKE! AN ALPHABET STORY, by Hannah E. Harrison, tells a complete story, from Aa to Zz. Awakening on the first spread is a big bear who makes his way to a cozy cabin, where he rings the doorbell and enters excitedly and on and on, in this funny adventure of a hungry bear and his newly-found human friend. Gouache illustrations cleverly illustrate the spare text.

ONE FOX: A COUNTING BOOK THRILLER, by Kate Read, is a counting book that also has a narrative arc. One famished fox, with his two sly eyes, spots three plump hens, and away we go! Mixed media illustrations—done with collage and painting—are strong, colorful, and expressive.

LITTLE DOCTOR AND THE FEARLESS BEAST, by Sophie Gilmore, is a real charmer. All the crocodiles come to see the child they call Little Doctor, who treats each one of them with care. She fixes broken tails, and tweezes out splinters, and, in return, the crocs tell her tales of fearless legendary beasts. Until, one day, one of those very beasts, Big Mean, arrives at her cottage with her jaws clamped shut. The illustrations, which look to be watercolors, are delightful.

--Lynn