March Recommendations

Novels:

I don’t want to give away any spoilers by describing THE TOLL, by Neal Shusterman, which is the final book in his Arc of a Scythe Trilogy. For those who have read the previous two books, SCYTHE, and THUNDERHEAD, this final installment twines all threads together, ups the ante, and finishes the series with a flourish. It does not disappoint. (YA)

THE KINGDOM OF BACK, by Marie Lu, is a fantasy-infused account of the close relationship between musical genius Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart and his lesser-known sister, Maria Anna (Nannerl). Nannerl Mozart, a musical “miracle” herself, desperately wants to be a composer, but she lives in a time when women are defined by marriage and childbearing. She's drawn into an alternate world, a fairy story taking place in a land called the Kingdom of Back, where a wild-looking boy promises to help her achieve her heart’s desire. Fantasy and reality blur, and Nannerl must decide for herself what her legacy will be. (MG)

Graphic Novels:

BUG BOYS, by Laura Knetzger, is an odd and adorable friendship story between two bugs, the impulsive Rhino-B, and the quieter, more bookish Stag-B. It features a series of adventures, including treasure-hunting and bug-napping, delivering books to the strangely friendly Dome Spider at the Insect’s Library, a trip to a Bee Hive AND a Termite Hive, and so much more. Just like the storyline, the art is delicate and whimsical. (MG)

Picture Books:

THE LOVE LETTER, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins, is the story of three friends—Hedgehog, Bunny, and Squirrel—and how one shared letter sends a message of love that impacts them all. Denise's text is compact without seeming terse, and the illustrations are the usual top-notch stuff we are used to from Cummins.

IN A JAR, by Deborah Marcero, features two bunnies, Llewelyn and Evelyn, who bond over their love of collecting--and sharing--glass jars filled with everything from the mundane to the extraordinary. Then Evelyn moves away, and the two friends must figure out how to share from afar. Marcero’s text is spare and evocative, and her stylized art gives this story a unique look that serves it well.

In UP ON BOB, by Mary Sullivan, Bob is a dog who "has work to do." He must get his person’s bed perfectly arranged so he can have his nap. It’s hard work, but he likes hard work, and it pays off. But when the bed is finally ready, Bob gets a visit from a surprise Someone. Good thing the Someone likes hard work, too. The antics—and personalities—of Bob and Someone are perfectly portrayed in this picture book/easy reader hybrid.

--Lynn