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Inspirational Suspense

By Shelli Kauffman, head of adult services at Bremen Public Library

My favorite genre to read is suspense, but several years ago I found myself in a conundrum when choosing my next book to read. I ventured onto my well-worn path to the James Patterson and Tess Gerritsen shelves and realized that, while I was looking forward the heart racing intensity of their books, I could no longer stomach the gory details those authors are so skilled at writing. That’s when I discovered my new favorite genre: inspirational suspense.

These novels offer intensity, mystery and spine tingling suspense, but they withhold the specific details of violence, sexual situations and profanity. The novels still deal with mature situations, such as rape, murder and kidnapping, but the authors leave the detailed descriptions of the crimes to the reader’s imagination.

If you have been looking for a clean read that still gets your blood pumping, I recommend you start with Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason or DiAnn Mills. Inspirational fiction always has a faith element to it, but I find that these authors do not “preach” their books. They concentrate on character and plot development using realistic dialogue and current events as a back drop.

Behind The Scenes

My First Mock Caldecott

Does this gold sticker look familiar? You may have seen it on certain picture books at the library. A book with this designation means that the illustrator has been awarded the Caldecott Medal for being the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books are determined each January by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association.

On the same day at the local level, the Children's Services Round Table gathers for a Mock Caldecott Day. Our Children's Librarian Brenda Anderson and Children's Department Assistant Cindy Hartman were lucky enough to attend this year's Mock Caldecott on Monday, Jan. 23.

The real Caldecott Medal Winners and Honor Books are selected from a pool of more than 700 children's books! Luckily, the local Mock Caldecott committee only had to review 175 books.

This was Cindy Hartman's first experience. She shared her thoughts here:

Local Winner

The criteria we used in determining our Mock Caldecott winner were similar to those used by the committee. We looked at the illustrations on the covers, end pages, title pages, and within the books. We looked at the form of art used to illustrate the books, and how well the story was told or enhanced with the pictures alone. Each participant had the difficult decision of narrowing their choices down to just four. So many awesome books! The votes were tallied and sadly books were eliminated. Small groups were formed and discussions occurred as to which book(s) on our table we would ultimately nominate. A brief presentation about the book was given and from there we voted on which we would ultimately choose as our winner. Our group chose They All Saw a Cat by Wenzel. While we didn’t pick the ALA’s award winner as our mock award winner, we did have most of the books on our honor list. 

ALA Winner

ALA 2017 Caldecott Medal Winner: 
Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe

ALA 2017 Caldecott Honor Books: 
Leave Me Alone Illustrated and Written by Vera Brosgol
Freedom in Congo Square, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, Written by Carole Boston
Du Iz Tak? Illustrated and Written by Carson Ellis
They All Saw a Cat Illustrated and Written by Brendan Wenzel

Click here to read more about this year's winners.

Recommended Read

Good Time Coming

Staff review by Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

When I chose this title by C.S. Harris, I guess I was expecting something a bit more light and fluffy. I couldn't have been more mistaken. This is an amazing, epic story of the life of women in the South during the Civil War and the severe hardships they endured. The story is told through the voice of 12-year-old Amrie as her eyes are opened to the brutalities of the day.

Today's world sees the Civil War as the pivotal time in history that truly opened the door to our current freedoms. However, being so far removed from it today, we forget (if we ever knew at all) the atrocities committed in the name of freedom and unity. After reading this book, you may find your viewpoint forever changed.

This is truly one of the best books I've read and I expect it to stay with me for a very long time. It's well written, historically accurate (I found myself stopping repeatedly to research battles, facts and histories), and draws you into the story in such a way that you find yourself "living" it. If you enjoy historical fiction, coming of age stories, or women's issues you'll enjoy this book. If you've ever considered reading Gone With The Wind, start here instead. I give this a solid 5 stars.

Click here to see if this book is available for check-out. 

Genre Sampler

Worth-Your-Time Biographies

By Chris O'Brien, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

Below are some recent biographies that have caught my eye, and I think they are worth your time and attention.

If you are an “oldie but goodie,” you might be interested in one of these books about some well-recognized names of days gone by:

• I Loved Her In The Movies: Memories of Hollywood’s Legendary Actresses by Robert Wagner: Some really old memories by one of Hollywood’s most dashing heartthrobs, and all the while he remains a true gentleman!
• Some Enchanted Evenings:   The Glittering Life and Times of Mary Martin by David Kaufman: She started out playing Peter Pan. She raised J. R. Ewing. You have to read the book to find out the rest of her tale!
• The Nine of Us – Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith:  Again, those of us who are a bit “older” like myself, just eat up any and all books Kennedy, especially if it’s written by one of the family! 

The next three are chock-full of grit, glitz and lots of juicy details for those interested in personalities from the music world, the movie world, and/or TV leading ladies:

• The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher:  Timely, touching, especially now!
• Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls by Lauren Graham:  Fast, fun, funny, addictive.
• River of Time: My Descent Into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope by Naomi Judd: Informative, sad, eye-opening.

Finally, maybe these three don’t all necessarily belong in the same category, so I’ll just categorize them under “Miscellany Do Not Misses.”

• Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly:  The movie based on this book is in theaters now. An amazing true story. Read the book, see the movie, for sure!
• Lab Girl by Hope Jahren:  An illuminating memoir of a woman in science. A moving portrait of a longtime friendship and a stunningly fresh look at plants that will forever change how you see the natural world! Sounds quirky, but do give it a try. You might not want to put it down!
• Settle For More by Megyn Kelly:  I read it because I was curious. Turns out, I was pleasantly surprised. Well written, moving, eye-opening, maybe even a bit inspiring, all by that blonde from Fox News! Pretty, classy, down-to-earth, and gutsy.

Recommended Read

Twelve Angry Librarians

By Melissa Nunez, adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

Things just seem to happen around librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine Coon Cat, Diesel, and this year's SALA conference is no exception. Murder and mayhem abound and Charlie finds himself on the case again. Author and librarian Miranda James, AKA Dean James, provides us with a charming cozy mystery, an antagonist to despise, and kitty antics to make us grin. This was my first Cat in the Stacks read and I found it a fun and entertaining light read.


Click here to see if this book is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

Before I Go to Sleep 

By Shelli Kauffman, head of adult services at Bremen Public Library

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson is one of the few books I've read this year that actually kept me guessing until the end. Main character, Christine Lucas, suffers a traumatic brain injury causing her to wake up each morning with no memory of her current life. Each day her husband, Ben, must explain who he is and who she has become since her late twenties. The terror she experiences each morning as she encounters pictures of people she doesn't know and objects she doesn't understand, is only surpassed by the wrinkly reflection in the mirror of her almost fifty-year-old body.

This psychological thriller becomes particularly intriguing as Dr. Nash is introduced early in the novel. After Ben leaves for the day, Dr. Nash calls Christine and guides her to find a hidden journal she has been secretly keeping that explains her day-to-day life. As she reads the journal she realizes her own words don't always agree with her husband's version of events. It becomes unclear if she can trust Ben, Dr. Nash, or even herself.

If a reader can get beyond the monotony of the main character needing the very foundation of her existence explained to her every day, he'll be captivated by this suspenseful read, needing to get to the last page before he can trust his own conclusions. 

Click here to see if this book is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

If You Give a Mouse a Brownie

By Terrie Bickel, bookkeeper and young adult department assistant at Bremen Public Library

"If you give a mouse a brownie, he's going to ask for some ice cream to go with it."

Thus begins yet another tale of author Laura Numeroff’s mouse with the exasperatingly short attention span. Thirty years after the release date of her mouse’s first adventure, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, he is still wearing out his owner as he hops from activity to activity. Although nothing tops the original, this book is charming, colorful, and sure to entertain young children. It’s a story told time and again as the mouse, and in other books, a pig with a pancake, a moose with a muffin, a dog with a donut, and a cat with a cupcake, hop from activity to activity as one thing always makes them think of something else they must do. 

Every time I bring one home, my son wants to read them all again, and I’m sure this time will be no exception. The illustrations by Felicia Bond are adorable, the books are not over-long, and the way the characters are inter-woven throughout some of the books make them all fun. Laura Numeroff’s latest, as well as the rest of the series, is, in my opinion, a big win.


Click here to see if this book is currently available for check-out.

Recommended Read

The Two-Family House

By Holly Heller, communications coordinator at Bremen Public Library

Brooklyn, 1947. A blizzard. Two babies are born minutes apart. A split decision is made that will intertwine two families’ lives forever. The Two-Family House tells the story of two brothers, Abe and Mort Berman, who reside in a two-family brownstone in Brooklyn with their families. Their wives, Rose and Helen, share a secret that binds them for life. As the decades unfold, their tight-knit bond begins to unravel. When tragedy strikes, will heartbreak or happiness prevail?

Lynda Cohen Loigman deftly inserts the reader in the midst of complicated family dynamics, shedding light on the Berman Family saga through viewpoints of six different family members. The well-developed, very realistic characters will begin to feel like part of your own family. The thought-provoking storyline will evoke interesting conversation for book clubs.

Click here to see if this book is available for check-out.

Staff review brought to you by Holly Heller, communications coordinator at Bremen Public Library.