Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Author, Laurie Halse Anderson, has returned to the Revolutionary War for her new YA novel, Chains. As the Revolutionary War begins, 13 year old Isabel and her sister, Ruth have been promised their freedom upon the death of their owner, Miss Mary Finch. But as a cruel twist of fate they are refused their freedom and end up in New York City as slaves to the Lockton's, a cruel family with strong British ties. Isabel meets another slave, Curzon, who encourages her to spy on her owners who have information on the upcoming planned British invasion of New York City. Isabel hesitates to become a Patriot informant until her sister is sold and now she must seek her freedom to go search for her sister. She takes information that she hears as she is serving Mr. Lockton and hopes for her freedom when her owners are discovered, but instead she is caught, branded with an I for 'insolence' on her cheek. This novel will sear you, as well. You will be moved, shocked and amazed at the spirit and Isabel's ability to overcome extreme hardships and to break the chains that have bound her all her life.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Be wary of the dark.

Before you think, "Ugh, not ANOTHER vampire novel?!" be warned. If a book that is over 700 pages long can keep my interest, especially one dealing with vampiric overtones, then it surely must be one that deserves a second glance.

The passage by Justin Cronin

A secret government experiment to create super soldiers for the military goes awry and our country's population is infected with the virus. (Oh, did I mention that they concocted the virus from Bolivian bats and used death row inmates as test rats?) Soon there's an epidemic of "virals" which disrobe, fly and leap on their victims and generally wreak havoc on those remaining in this post apocalyptic mayhem of a world which is left

Jumping ahead several decades, the second half of the book centers around a small community of survivors who live in what appears to be a compound which is surrounded by a wall. Daylight hours are safe, night time is a different story and using lights and shifts of guards, they manage to keep the "virals" or "jumpers" from invading their home.

Add a young girl to the heady mix, a girl who travels alone, a girl who can communicate with the virals through mind reading yet is not one of them and you'll find that this is indeed a book worth reading.

Listen Here!

It is true! Our God is a communicating God. John Eldredge, in his book, Walking With God, gives a series of stories from one year of his life, showing us what it looks like to walk and listen to an amazing God! Believe me, you will learn many things from this book. You will be equiped, as well, for a deeper walk. And an incredible journey is awaiting you as you learn to listen ---because He IS speaking. Eldredge shows us it is in fact true and you can "walk with God" in like manner.

This book is the July 2010 selection for the Faith-Inspired Book Club at the Delphi Public Library, July 22nd. Pick up a copy of the book and join us if you can, 9:00 a.m. Or just pick up the book and be blessed!

Making Toast

This book is a touching and beautifully honest account that begins with the moment author Roger Rosenblatt and his wife Ginny learn of the death of their daughter. At the age of thirty-eight, Amy a devoted wife, mother of three young children, and a successful medical doctor, dies suddenly at home while her young children are present. After hearing the devastating news, the Rosenblatts rush to the home of their son-in-law and grandchildren --- fulfilling an overwhelming need to be together, to help sort out the pain, and to begin to realize the loss that they have all sustained. The days pass and this need to be together somehow becomes a permanent living arrangement. Through the following year we see this shattered family gather the pieces of their former life in an attempt to assemble something that is somewhat whole. Ginny, the grandmother, almost seamlessly moves into the role of mother; cooking, shuttling children to school activities, and singing nursery rhymes as she tucks them into bed. "Now, in her sorrow, she is in her element," writes Rosenblatt. And of this Ginny says," I think my whole life has led up to this moment". Roger offers his own substantial contribution; making toast and pouring cereal for the children's breakfast. "This is the one household duty I have mastered", he claims. This book presents a family's personal pain in a way that is tender without being sentimental and it shows us that even through heartbreak there is humor and beautiful life lessons to be learned.

Blackout by Connie Willis

This is Connie's first book since Passages in 2001 and the third time travel book she has written. Blackout takes place in Britain during World War II. Three researchers from Oxford University in the year 2060 have traveled back in time to observe three different historic events as they happened. Eileen is to work as a maid at a country house where she can observe children evacuated from London. Of course the children catch the measles and this may keep Eileen from returning to Oxford on schedule. Mike is sent to observe the evacuation of Dunkirk, but instead lands many miles away. Even though historian time travelers are not supposed to be able to affect the course of history, Mike's trek may do just that. A third historian Polly has the most dangerous placement. She must find a job as a shopgirl in London where she can observe those who work and live in the damaged city and who take refuge in the bomb shelters at night during the blitz.
This book is a genuine page turner. From the horrifying bombs in London to the bratty children in the manor house to Mike's race to save the soldiers at Dunkirk, the three must face the fact that they may not make it back to the future. However, we won't know until the second book All Clear, comes out in the fall of 2010.
Connie has done her research as always and the book is full of interesting tidbits about the ways the British people set out to defy and fool Hitler. Connie Willis has been inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and has won six Nebula awards and ten Hugo awards. Her first time travel book is Doomsday which takes place in the 14th century during the time of the Black Death.