"In the Woods" by Tana French

This debut novel by Tana French will capture you from the first page, and shake you until you're dizzy. One summer day in Ireland, three children disappeared into the vast, wild woods near their suburban home. All that the police found was one of the children, terrified and clutching a tree, covered in blood. This boy had no memory of what happened or how he'd escaped his friends' fate.

Years later, the bodies of the other children never found, that little boy has evolved into Detective Rob Ryan. He and his charismatic partner Cassie Maddox are called back to the woods to solve a murder--and to put together the pieces of Ryan's own mystery.

I'm not really a mystery fan--nor am I particularly interested in reading about police officers. Yet French has such a unique, vibrant voice that she could write literally anything, and it would be impossible to put down. The characters (especially Ryan, who narrates the story, and his best friend Cassie) are impeccably drawn and dynamic. The haunting, original mystery has such strong psychological threads that I was tempted to skip ahead, something that I never, ever do. But the real compelling part of this story is its setting: Dublin, Ireland. Who can resist the Irish flare to French's writing?

I must warn that the conclusion itself didn't satisfy me; but the journey to the conclusion was so innovative and compelling that I am eager to read more of French's work.

Beth gives it four out of five carrots!
Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins -- WHAT WE THINK!

Clare says: After breaking out of the Quarter Quell Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has a lot on her mind. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol, a war is raging throughout the districts, plus she is expected by rebel leaders to be their Mockingjay. As she struggles to make sense of it all, Katniss knows that making the right decision will be harder than ever. Mockingjay, I think, was an amazing ending to the Hunger Games trilogy. Everything I predicted about Mockingjay turned out to be exactly the opposite! This fact made every turn of a page that much more exciting! I consider Mockingjay a must read, along with the rest of the series, because it is so unique and leaves you with a feeling of awe every time you look at it. Clare gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Grace says: Collins did a great job of developing her characters even further in The Hunger Games finale and the plot was fast-paced and exciting. I could barely put the book down to eat or sleep!

Beth says: Mockingjay is a psychological and philosophical foray into war and destruction that will leave readers shell-shocked, yet hungering for more. It certainly leaves a lot to think about, and is a great book for teens and adults to discuss!

Click here to purchase your copy of Mockingjay at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie

Challenged by an article I read in the New Yorker Magazine, in which the author states that it is almost impossible to guess who the murderer is in Agatha Christie's famous mysteries, I decided to try out my detective skills and see if I could solve the mystery before the last page. My conclusion is...I'm not quite cut out to be a sleuth, but I'm more than happy to continue reading Christie's novels.

"Murder at the Vicarage" is the first of the Miss Marple mysteries. When Colonel Protheroe, a rather disliked man in the small town of St. Mary Mead, is murdered in the Vicar's study, gossip abounds. The book is narrated by the Vicar, who along with Miss Marple, the town's most accomplished amateur detective and snoop, attempts to uncover the truth. After many twists, Miss Marple finally cracks the case...but is the murderer who you thought it was going to be?

Click here to order "Murder at the Vicarage" from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

"Saint Training" by Elizabeth Fixmer

Clare's thoughts: Saint Training is about a devoted 11-year-old Catholic Mary Clare O'Brian. Determined to be a saint Mary Clare is especially careful about keeping her sins to a minimum (because saints almost never sin) and making sure all of her prayers count. But during this financially difficult time for her family of 13, she starts to wonder why God hasn't been answering her prayers.

This realistic fiction book, by Fort Atkinson author Elizabeth Fixmer, is about how a religion can be really important and mean a lot in a young girl's life. I really enjoyed this book because until reading Saint Training, I didn't realize what crazy things a very pious girl would do. I'd recommend this book for any girl 5th grade and up.

Kerry's thoughts: Even though I'm going to be at school in St. Paul, Minnesota, I'm seriously considering driving home for the weekend to be at the author signing for this marvelous book. Mary Clare is an adorable, realistic character with crazy curls and her own opinions. As a non-Catholic, I enjoyed learning about Catholicism through the eyes of a girl who is figuring out what she believes in a time of turmoil. Fixmer also provides a rare perspective on the war in Vietnam, exposing Mary Clare to the differing beliefs within her family and the Catholic Church. Along with being extraordinarily cute (especially in Mary Clare's letters to the Reverend Mother), this book is, simply put, delightful.

PS. The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop is hosting an author signing and Q&A session for Saint Training on Saturday, September 18, from 10am to noon. We'll hope to see you there!

Clare and Kerry give it 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Girl in Translation" by Jean Kwok

"It's never easy being the new kid, and harder still when you are poor and you don't speak the language. From a comfortable life in Hong Kong to a gritty sweatshop in New York, we follow Kimberly Change in this smartly told story that illuminates the struggles of adolescence against a backdrop of poverty and cultural conflicts and reveals that, even in the land of opportunity, sometimes you have to fight for what you want and let go of what you love."
--Carol Mark, Books on the Common, Ridgefield, CT

I couldn't have put it any better myself. Told from an interesting and uncommon perspective, this story centers around strong, intelligent Kimberly, an inspiring and refreshing character to read about. She struggles to reach her dream of practicing medicine, facing down all obstacles, even love, and yet her priorities never waver. This book is perfect for any young woman, and though it is definitely more oriented towards females, it is certainly a great read for everyone else as well.

Kerry gives it four out of five carrots!

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"The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer

Though I first read this addicting, suspenseful sci-fi six years ago, it has withstood all other challengers to keep it's title as my all-time favorite. It is a great introduction into the fantasy/sci-fi genre and is a book that you will remember long after you've read it. Matt, the main character, is seen by most other characters in the novel as a beast, not the boy that he is. The book follows him through his childhood, as he begins to become aware of exactly how he came to exist and why.

As the book deals with cloning, drug lords and some very creepy people, it is more appropriate for teens and up. I was introduced to The House of the Scorpion as part of a book group, and it was definitely easy to discuss. With new technology constantly advancing, it's just realistic enough to freak you out (in a good way!).

Click here to buy The House of the Scorpion at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

"Diamond Ruby" by Joseph Wallace

I couldn't tell you what an inning or a fly ball is to save my life, but there's something I found absolutely enchanting about Diamond Ruby, a story of baseball, family, and the tumultuous time that was the 1920's. The Spanish Influenza Epidemic struck when Ruby herself was still just a child, and she was left to take care of her two young nieces. She used her freakishly long arms to throw rocks at squirrels, just so her family could eat. But when her alcoholic older brother loses yet another job, she needed to find a source of income for her family: being a sideshow at a circus, where men would pay money to try and throw a baseball faster than her.

But no man could. And thus, Diamond Ruby went on to become the first woman pitcher in a baseball league.

Ruby is a remarkable character; her strong will resonates throughout the book in every action she takes. Her life is anything but charmed: she is constantly surrounded by shady characters who have no respect for women, let alone a "freak" who can pitch 90 mph. Yet as Ruby meets real historical figures like Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, Diamond Ruby becomes an interesting journey through the 1920's, complete with rumrunning, the Great Bambino and more.

This would be a fabulous book to discuss in a reading group or book club!

Beth gives it four out of five carrots!

Click here to buy this book at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!