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Eileen's Picks
 The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart. Random House
Here is a playful story, wittily written by the Brit, Julia Stuart. For fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,
the eccentric characters and poignant and preposterous predicaments
will have you oohing, ahhing and periodically guffawing. There's a
sweet love story here and a rather tart-ish lust story, too. Great fun
to read.
 Left Neglected by Lisa Genova. Simon and Schuster
Lisa Genova's heart-breaking and illuminating debut novel, Still Alice,
intimately introduced us to early onset alzheimers. With a Ph.D. in
Neuroscience, Lisa Genova, knows the various manifestations of brain
disease and injury. In Left Neglected she gives us a rare
one---Dr. House would definitely take this case-the patient does not
recognize anything on the left, i.e., their left leg, hand, a person
standing next to them. Another fascinating and, in this case, uplifting
read. Her character development is exquisite. You care about the
characters and can sympathize with their failings and fears
 Unsaid by Neil Abramson. Hachette
This
touching story explores the ways we connect with, and influence, each
other. Often the way we initially interpret our effect on others turns
out to be off track. In this novel veterinarian, Helena Colden, dies
of breast cancer but cannot move on. Her memories of all the animals
she's lost or euthanized weigh her down like the chains on Dicken's
Marley. Her
husband's grief leaves him in limbo. Through memories and observations
little by little they both come to realize life is more than losses and
moving on. Life is about taking the joys given and savoring them;
sharing them and, finally, rising above the grief.
Tomorrow River by Lesley Kagan. Penguin
Ooooh yeah, here's another great suspense writer from the Midwest--Milwaukeean, Lesley Kagan.
Young
Shenendoah's mother disappeared one year ago and that's when her
younger sister, Woody stopped speaking. Shenny is determined to find out
what happened to her mother before her father remarries. Kept isolated
from the rest of their small Virginian community, the girls do manage to
slip away now and then to play and continue their detecting. Filled
with helpful eccentrics, malevolent relatives, and loving observers the
girls dodge their hard-drinking Dad and we try to figure out, along with
Shenny, what happened one year ago.
In
this her third novel, the New York Times bestselling author earns a
Publishers Weekly starred review. Way to go Lesley! Comparisons have
been made to To Kill a Mockingbird. Her new hardcover, Good Graces, comes out in September (see New Notables). It continues the story started in Whistling in the Dark.
Rachel K's Picks
 The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madnessby Lori Schiller. Hachette
Lori
Schiller was a bright, loving young woman with the world at her feet.
Then the "Voices" came. Readers are invited to experience Schiller's
true account into her terrifying decent into madness or schizo-affective
disorder. Like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,
Schiller's story has something to say about the advancement of medical
technology. Although Schiller achieves a full recovery, her
determination, and the amazing medical advancements of today really make
this book shine.
 Get Ready for Back to School.Penguin Young Readers Group
Another
school year will soon be upon us. To get the little ones ready for
their big day, there are a few titles that would be a perfect fit. The Night Before Kindergarten or any other Night Before titlesare New York Time's back to back bestsellers. Miss Bindergarten's  series
of back to school books are sure to encourage kids that school can be
cool. Finally, teach children that school is exciting and interactive
with This School Year will be the Best by Kay Winters.
Beginning a new school year can be discouraging for children. It means
summer is over and homework is waiting. These books help show your kids
or students that school can be just as fun.
Stephanie's Pick
 EVIL CAT, A Fluffy Kitty Gets Mean by Elia Anie. Perigee
Elia
Anie shows the dark, but humorous, side of our favorite felines in her
book EVIL CAT, A Fluffy Kitty Gets Mean. Through 95 simple but hilarious
illustrations, the reader follows this mischievous feline through all
manners of trickery. Whether Kitty is shaving the family dog, or
replacing the computer mouse with its live counterpart, this book is
sure to make you laugh. Perfect for a cat lover or anyone looking for
proof that a feline conspiracy is behind the ever missing remote and
unmatched sock.
Rachel H's Picks
 Girls of Murder City by Douglas Perry - Penguin
Gin.
Jazz. Flappers. The roaring twenties were a time of sin and pleasure in
Chicago. Two ladies became the headliners when they were both accused
of shooting their lovers. Later their stories would be made into the
musical, Chicago. You'll love Girls of Murder City, a story of murder and all that jazz!
 Sisterhood Everlastingby Anne Brashares - Random House
When
we last saw the sisters of the pants, they were nineteen and just
starting their adult lives. Now they are twenty-nine and have grown
apart. Since the pants dissappeared, nothing has kept them connected.
However, now they need their friends more then ever. Will they be the
same as before?
Beau's Picks
 Shark Wars by Ernie Altbacker. Razorbill
What's
more exciting then sharks? The answer is nothing! In Shark Wars, a
young shark named Gray must protect his home, the wide open sea! He must
travel through the sea to some place deep into the water, called Open
Water. Here he will discover secrets about his life and how to bring
peace back to the entire ocean! Read this exciting book if you are
looking for adventure!
 Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari. Scholastic
Similar
to the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, this book it set in the
future. Lucy's world has been turned upside town. Manhattan has endured
horrible things, and Lucy has lost everyone she loves. She is hunted
down by hounds, she is scared and tries to save herself. She is also
tracked by Sweepers. Sweepers capture and infect people with horrible
diseases and plague.
Join
her on her adventure of endurance and survival! Fans of Hunger Games
will be able to compare and contrast details of these books. Being a fan
of Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, I was not disappointed!
Becca's Picks
 Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles. St. Martins Press
Luis
is the youngest Fuentes brother, and has the brightest future by far.
He's social, has great grades, and dreams of someday becoming an
astronaut. His life couldn't be any better, and then he falls head over
heels for the wrong girl and things start falling apart. His perception
of the perfect life is destroyed as he learns horrifying facts about his
family, especially his father. Luis is forced to make the ultimate
decision: does he try to forget everything he's discovered and continue
pursuing his dream or will he follow in his brother's footsteps and
become the "bad boy"?
Falling for Hamlet by Michelle Ray. Hachette
In
this exciting retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia is a beautiful
high school senior who is dating Prince Hamlet of Denmark. Ophelia and
Hamlet are constantly hounded by paparazzi, and Hamlet going mad after
the death of his father only makes matters worse. Now Ophelia is telling
her side of the story her way: via television interviews. This novel is
witty and charming, a must have for any summer collection.
 Forever by Maggie Steifvater. Scholastic
Maggie
Steifvater does not disappoint in the third and final book of the
Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. Isabel's father is planning to wipe out
the wolves forever, and Sam and Isabel are left to try and save the
pack. Cole desperately searches for the cure for Grace, but things are
not looking up. The stakes are higher than ever, but still Sam and
Grace, and Cole and Isabel are sure that nothing can tear them apart.
This page turning conclusion will finally give fans the satisfying
ending they've been waiting for.
Liz's Pick
 Princess Zelda and the Frog by Carol Gardner. Macmillan
The
best part about Carol Gardner's Princess Zelda and the Frog is the
photographs of the bulldog Zelda. Shane Young shot great pictures of
Zelda in her many costumes. The story, however, is a classic fairy tale
about a princess with a problem.....or two. Along comes a frog (in the
form of another bulldog) who makes her an offer she can't refuse. Later,
because of her mother's insistence on keeping her promise, Zelda finds
relief for a persistent problem and a best friend forever! Kids will
love the numerous photos of bulldogs in regal and frog attire.
All the staff picks are 20% off.
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PETER PAN - OFFERED BY THE REVOLUTION THEATRE at CHAOS
August 20 is the Prairie Wildflower Walk and Picnic with author Jannifer Powelson and Master Gardeners,
My
Dad and Mom bought a log cabin in rural Wisconsin in the late 1960s. It
was on a sandy-bottomed lake and every July they would load up the
station wagon and up "to the lake" we drove. Each kid had a brown
grocery bag which contained our swimsuit, pjs, shorts, t-shirts and
comic books. Our Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Ed would combine their 5 kids
with we six Fesco kids and we filled the cabin up. Unless there was
thunderstorm, we spent the days outside. We all swam like fish, played
king of the raft, had cannonball contests, looked for turtles and frogs
during the day and crayfish at night.
