Staff Reads: September 25, 2015

Another week, another glorious pile of books to read! First, though, are our book reviews from this past week:

 The Bird's Nest

written by Shirley Jackson  

four stars

This book tells the story of a girl in the middle of dealing with a multiple personality disorder, now better known as dissociative identity disorder. The dialogue and conflict between her personalities is at times both frightening and comical. Shirley Jackson is so good at this kind of dark humor.

The B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery Cookbook

written by Alexe Van Beuren and Dixie Grimes

four stars

Don't you just love a cookbook that's more than a cookbook? Most cookbooks just impart recipes, and recipes only, leaving them as bland as a tomato sandwich without any mayonnaise. This cookbook, though, evokes the heart of small-town America, with the stories, advice, pure heart, and recipes of Water Valley, Mississippi's B.T.C Old-Fashioned Grocery. We recommend the baked grits casserole and the chocolate buttermilk cake--yum--but really, you should just try them all!

 The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

written and illustrated by Dan Santat

five stars

We're giving 2015 Caldecott winner Beekle five shiny, golden stars, and we'd give even more if we could. Santat's illustrations are sweet and charming; they harmonize perfectly with Beekle's story. And the story! Such simple, strong messages about friendship and imagination and perseverance--lovely from beginning to end. We guarantee that this one will end up in your bedtime reading pile night after night after night after night...

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

written by Ryan North

illustrated by Erica Henderson

five stars

Oh Em Gee! Doreen Green--don't you love that name?--is a college girl with super powers. She's super strong. She's got a tail. She's saving the world. Plus, there are oodles and oodles of snarky footnotes. Amazingly fun!

Staff will be reviewing these books next week:

• Mean Streak
  written by Sandra Brown
• Yard War
  written by Taylor Kitchings
• Descender, Volume 1: Tin Stars
  written by Jeff Lemire
  illustrated by Dustin Nguyen
• Humans of New York
  written and illustrated by Brandon Stanton

Until next week, happy reading!