This is a new addition to our Young Adult collection. Although I’m not a huge Sci-Fi fan, this book really reeled me in. Readers can only assume it takes place in our future, after something has 
happened to force people to live inside huge domes which simulate an outdoor environment. Everything is going along fine there (with each batch of new babies being genetically engineered, what could go wrong?), until one day a stranger comes along and takes away all of the “wonder babies” (the youngest members of society who are unusually bright). This doesn’t sit right with 13-year-old Martin, whose sister is among the newly missing. He sets out to find her and what he finds out along the way will keep you formulating new questions until the very end. The Sky Inside is unbelievably suspenseful and imaginative.
~Contributed by Gina Loprinzo
Filed under: Adult Fiction | Tags: Adult Fiction, Scotland, series, time_travel
From Library Journal:
“After being separated by seven years of World War II, Claire and Frank Randall return to the Scottish Highlands for a second honeymoon. Left to her own devices while her husband immerses himself in 
historical pursuits, Claire inadvertently enters a circle of standing stones and is plunged back 200 years to a Scotland on the verge of the second Jacobite uprising. Her pluck and skill as a nurse win the Scots’ grudging respect, but only marriage to a Scot will save her from the clutches of Frank’s vicious forbear, Black Jack Randall. Though first novelist Gabaldon uses time travel primarily to allow a modern heroine, this is basically a richly textured historical novel with an unusual and compelling love story.” – Cynthia Johnson Whealler, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, Mass. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Being mostly a Non-Fiction reader, I was told about this series by my aunt. Having a love for anything Scottish, I decided to read it. At the time, there were 4 of the 6 books released and I read all of them in just over two weeks. I couldn’t put them down. These books are very large, 600-900+ pages of ____ (insert your own adjective here, because these books have it all). For some, the Scots’ dialect may be intimidating, but I ken (know) you will get used to it. I highly recommend the whole series for adults, starting with Outlander, followed by Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, The Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and coming in 2009 (I’m so excited!), her 7th book, An Echo in the Bone.
~Contributed by Susan H
Filed under: Young Adult Fiction | Tags: romance, series, Stephenie_Meyer, teens, vampires, YA_fiction
For months, my friends had been trying to get me to read the book Twilight. Everyone kept telling me, “The book was amazing!” At first, I did not believe them, because who wants to read about 
vampires and a small town? Eventually, though, my friends got me to read the first chapter of Twilight and I thought, “Well, you know, this is not too bad,” so I kept reading. Before I knew it I was done with that book and ready for the second one.
Twilight is about a girl named Bella. She is your average girl, just trying to get though high school one day at a time. Bella was doing just fine getting through high school, until she meets a guy name Edward who turns her life upside down.
~Contributed by Caitlin Modelson
Why do some activities drain us of our energy and seem to take forever, while other activities energize and empower us as we lose all sense of time and place? Expanding upon Marcus Buckingham’s work with the Strengths Movement, educator and author, Jenifer Fox, in her book, Your Child’s Strengths, explains how the Affinities Program she developed at The Purnell School helps students become successful by “playing to their strengths.” When strengths are tied to interests or affinities, she states, children can develop skills that enable them to succeed. The book includes a workbook enabling parents and teachers to help children make discoveries about themselves from their daily activities. By discovering, developing and using their strengths instead of identifying and strengthening their weaknesses, students gain the confidence and self-knowledge they need to succeed in life. Highly recommended!
Contributed by Carolyn Hart
Filed under: Adult Fiction | Tags: adult_fiction, family, quick_reads, Rita_Mae_Brown, sisters
Are you looking for a quick read for a day at the beach? I’ve got the perfect book for you! The Sand Castle by Rita Mae Brown can be read in one leisurely afternoon. The story takes place in 1952, and 
tells about one day in the lives of two sisters, and is narrated by one’s 7 year old daughter. In a short time, Brown takes the story from lighthearted, to melancholy, to amusing, to bittersweet. Everyone can find something to relate to in this book, from losing a loved one to cancer to spending a day laughing and arguing with family.
Contributed by Gina Loprinzo
Filed under: Young Adult Fiction | Tags: fantasy, Libba_Bray, www.libbabray.com, YA_fiction
A fantasy novel The Sweet Far Thing was a great ending to the trilogy written by Libba Bray. The main character Gemma Doyle continues to try and discover her place in 19th century England and the parallel world of the realms. At school she is seemingly a misfit; in the realms, she holds the power to create or destroy the magical place she stumbled upon two years prior. The characters continue to evolve and their desires to use magic for good and bad culminate. This book keeps you enthralled, wanting to know how it ends for every character and side plot. I highly recommend this book. But naturally, read the first two before you get to the finale.
~Contributed by Karen L.
Filed under: Adult Fiction, Mysteries | Tags: adult_fiction, book_review, Mysteries, Grafton, series
Avid fans of Grafton’s ABC mystery series will have undoubtedly already read T is for Trespass (it’s been flying off the shelves!). The great thing about this series is that the books don’t necessarily have to be read in order. Of course, if you like somewhat light mysteries, I would recommend you start with “A is for Alibi” and work your way through them all! Grafton never disappoints readers with her strong, likeable 
female heroine, private investigator Kinsey Millhone.
What’s different about this latest edition is that Grafton alternates between the voice of Kinsey and that of the antagonist of the book. You’ll be turning pages feverishly to find out what’s happening with one and then the other.
~Contributed by Gina Loprinzo
Filed under: Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction | Tags: adult_fiction, New_Moon, series, Stephenie_Meyer, teens, vampires, YA_fiction
The last book I read (in between semesters) was New Moon. This is the second book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. For much of the story, Bella is separated from her love, the vampire Edward. While this is heartbreaking, there is plenty of excitement as Bella’s friendship with 
Jake deepens and she discovers a secret about him (no spoilers here!).
School Library Journal says, “New Moon will more than feed the bloodthirsty hankerings of fans of the first volume and leave them breathless for the third.” This is one reader who will be reading the third and fourth volumes the first chance she gets.
Recommended for ages 15-adult.
~Contributed by Gina Loprinzo
Welcome to the Kent Public Library blog! Here you will find book reviews and links to useful resources. Use the search box to find reviews of books which interest you, or browse using the tags on the left side of the page. If you have a question or a suggestion, we’d love to hear from you! You can reach us by phone at (845) 225-8585 or by e-mail at kentpubliclibrary@yahoo.com. And, of course, if you’ve read a book we’ve reviewed, feel free to add your comments here on this blog.
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