Thanks for participating in summer reading!

Our summer reading program for 2011, A Midsummer Knight's Read, ran June 6-July 30. 157 teens and adults signed up this year, and 19 teens and 52 adults finished the program. Summer reading participants read a total of 797 books... in hardcover, paperback, large type, audiobook, eBook, and eAudiobook formats! Catherine W. won the grand prize $100 Target gift card. We also had 10 adult weekly winners who won $15 Target gift cards throughout the summer. Thank you to everyone who signed up, turned in their reading entries, and wrote their own mini book reviews! Stay tuned for next year's theme, "Reading is So Delicious!"

Recommended read: Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran

Claire DeWitt isn't the most relate-able of women: she's bitter and often under the influence of something (alcohol, various drugs). But, she's also a brilliant and unorthodox private detective with an affinity for a (fictional) French detective named Silette. Silette's place in this story is his one and only book, Detection, which Claire carries with her from job to job like a bible of sorts. A one-time New Orleans resident, Claire is hired to find out what happened to prosecutor Vic Willing, who hasn't been seen since Katrina a year and a half prior. She takes her time, her methods unusual, waiting for the clues to come to her. Things that don't seem connected might actually be. And, of course, one of those tidbits of info ends up being the most important clue to solving the "The Case of the Green Parrot," as Claire dubs it.

The darker mood of the novel is perpetuated in dysfunctional post-Katrina New Orleans. It naturally provides many possibilities as to Willings' disappearance. Did Vic die in Katrina, was he murdered, or did he simply just stay away afterwards without leaving a forwarding address? The chaos that was New Orleans after Katrina is unfathonable for us outsiders and Gran does a very impressive job conveying the utter devastation that followed. This passage so aptly describes this: "some people, I saw, had drowned right away. And some people were drowning in slow motion, drowning a little bit at a time, and would be drowning for years. And some people, like Mick, had always been drowning. They just didn't know what to call it until now."

The character I find most interesting isn't really even a true character: Silette. His philosophy on crime detection I find to be a revelation: " 'When a person disappears," silette wrote in Detection, "the detective must look at what she took with her when she left-- not only the material items, but what is gone without her, what she carries with her to the underworld; what words will go unspoken; what no longer exists if she is made to disappear.' " This point Silette makes would be useful for any crime solver's arsenal.

So, to my issues with this book: there's little emotional attachment to the main character. She is more mysterious than the actual mystery she solves; her motives for most things are unclear, probably to be explained in a later installment ( I believe Gran is gearing this up to be a series). The closest I came to some clarity is the background story on her friend Tracey's disappearance as a teenager. My other beef was that the dialogue of some characters was annoying and repetitive at times. I would think to myself, just say it already!

In the end, though, I have to recommend a book where I like the supporting characters and the mystery itself was fulfilling, but I'm just not a fan of the main character (not yet anyway)-- which might just be the author's intention. Not too bad for a book I picked up because I liked the cover.

Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
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Staff reviews and recommendations from summer reading

Jefferson Key by Steve Berry
NEW FICTION BERRY
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"Good series, good author history I didn't know about. Author's notes at end saying what's real and what is fiction is wonderful." Rating: 4
-- Jeanne E.

The Enchanter's Forest by Alys Clare
MYSTERY CLARE
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"Good series, takes place in 1190's. This one is when Richard the Lionheart has returned from captivity. The English people were taxed to pay his captor's ransom demands -- many nearly destitute." Rating: 4
-- Jeanne E.

High Five by Janet Evanovich
MYSTERY EVANOVICH
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"Who doesn't like Janet Evanovich?! This book is fast-paced, funny and sometimes sexy." Rating: 4
-- Heather Z.

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
FICTION GARDNER
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"A decent 'detective' story. Lots of possibilities and then wrapped up neatly at the end. Not heart-pounding, but kept my interest." Rating: 3
-- Kirstin F.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins
TEEN HOPKINS
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"A tragic account of a teen's descent into drugs. Written like poetry (liked that a lot)." Rating: 4
-- Kirstin F.

Slam by Nick Hornby
TEEN HORNBY
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"Hornby never disappoints. His writing is witty, funny and his characters are endearing." Rating: 5
-- Kirstin F.

The Principles of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman
741.642092 KAL
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"Certainly a unique read. It's quirky and inspiring." Rating: 4
-- Heather Z.

Masterpiece of Murder by Mary Kruger
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"Historical mystery -- 1890's husband/wife team. Husband is a cop and doesn't want wife to help but she always gets involved anyway." Rating: 4
-- Kathy S.

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai
NEW FICTION MAKKAI
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"A funny, smart, quick read. I related a lot to the main character -- a young library assistant. Probably my most-enjoyable read of the summer!" Rating: 4.5
-- Heather Z.

Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
NEW FICTION OBREHT
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"It was a little slow in the beginning but I couldn't put it down by the end. The story is a fascinating blend of folklore and science, war and family." Rating: 5
-- Heather Z.

Zombie Spaceship Wasteland by Patton Oswalt
IN THE NEWS -- BIOGRAPHY
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"I really liked the memoiry stuff and inside view of standup comedy. The more experimental stuff I didn't like as much." Rating: 3.5
-- Heather Z.

The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan
NEW JUV FICTION RYAN
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"Fictionalized account of Pablo Neruda's childhood in Chile. The writing is elegant with Neruda's poems interspersed . Peter Sis adds his delicate pen drawings to make this a very special book for children and adults." Rating: 5
-- Heidi H.

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
NEW FICTION SCOTTOLINE
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"Well-written -- could happen to anyone. A mother's courage to do the right thing. Lots of twists and turns." Rating: 5
-- Carrie E.

Murder on Sisters' Row by Victoria Thompson
NEW MYSTERY THOMPSON
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"Historical mystery. A good 'cozy' mystery." Rating: 3
-- Kathy S.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
TEEN WESTERFELD
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"Good juvenile fantasy based on an alternative World War I. Military moves in mechanical walkers (clankers/Germans) vs Darwinists (Brits) who have bred fantastical creatures to use in battles. Good fun." Rating: 4
-- Heidi H.

Popular summer reading author: Jodi Picoult

Handle With Care
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"Good book. She always weaves a great story!" Rating: 5
-- Marie K.

Nineteen Minutes
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"Disturbing topic written in typical Picoult style." Rating: 3
-- Amy S.

Sing You Home
NEW FICTION PICOULT
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"I am a big fan of her books and this one did not disappoint. I didn't want it to end!" Rating: 5
-- Natalie S.

Popular summer reading author: Nicholas Sparks

Dear John
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"It was really sad but I liked it a lot. The story line was very unpredictable." Rating: 4
-- Audrey M.

The Last Song
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"I liked the new perspective of a teenage love story. Being a teenager, it allowed me to connect, even though I'm super different from the main character." Rating: 5
-- Geneva B.

The Lucky One
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"My least favorite Sparks book to date. I predicted most of the story except one bit at the end which wasn't very interesting. Protagonists were bores. There were some great supporting characters though -- Zeke the German shepherd and Nana, the sharp granny." Rating: 3
-- Lindsey S.

Message in a Bottle
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"This book was a classic Nicholas Sparks book. It starts with a single mother who gives up on believing in men - until she finds a letter written by a man in love. It's a tear-jerker, but very good." Rating: 4
-- Geneva B.

True Believer
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"Another classic Sparks book. Romantic, loving and leaving the reader with a feeling of wanting one of these 'perfect' relationships. Although not my favorite, I loved and enjoyed it." Rating: 4
-- Geneva B.

Summer reading reviews: Mystery

Best Murder of the Year by Jon P. Bloch
MYSTERY BLOCH
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"It was ok! Slow in the beginning. Picks up when the character everyone loves dies." Rating: 3
-- Andrew R.

Below Zero by C.J. Box
MYSTERY BOX
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"A new author for me. I enjoyed the story and suspense but because the characers go from book to book I should have started with books from years ago and then caught up to the present." Rating: 4
-- Diane M.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
MYSTERY BRADLEY
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"Flavia de Luce is a delightful 11-year-old sleuth." Rating: 5
-- Louvera M.

Jinxed by Carol Higgins Clark
MYSTERY CLARK
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"Another smart, short and quicky sleuth about the wine area of California and its inhabitants. Cute and entertaining." Rating: 4
-- Donna R.

Zapped by Carol Higgins Clark
MYSTERY CLARK
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"Comedy, mystery and adventure taking place during the New York, New Jersey Blackout. Good reading. Entertaining." Rating: 5
-- Donna R.

Whiplash by Catherine Coulter
FICTION COULTER
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"Good mystery. She always writes a book that holds your interest." Rating: 5
-- Marie K.

Love You More by Lisa Gardner
NEW FICTION GARDNER
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"Good mystery - Keeps you guessing until the end! Enjoyed Ms Gardner's writing style." Rating: 5
-- Marie K.

Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner
FICTION WEINER
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"This murder/mystery book kept me guessing until the end. I haven't read one lately that you don't know the ending by the end of the first chapter!" Rating: 4
-- Kimberly W.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
MYSTERY WINSPEAR
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"This is a good depiction of pre WWI England -- class structure and how the war began a change." Rating: 4
-- Louvera M.

Popular summer reading author: Philip Margolin

Executive Privilege
FICTION MARGOLIN
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"Just when you think you have it figured out -- there's a new twist to this thriller. It's a great read." Rating: 5
-- Diane M.

Fugitive
FICTION MARGOLIN
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"If you love thrillers, suspense, twists and turns, you'll love this book."
Rating: 5
-- Diane M

Supreme Justice
FICTION MARGOLIN
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"A suspense thriller. Written by a defense attorney knowledgeable with criminal behavior." Rating: 4
-- Louvera M.

"Good book about the workings of Supreme Court and how attorneys investigate their cases." Rating: 5
-- Donna R.

The Undertaker’s Widow
FICTION MARGOLIN
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"Love the author -- love the book. Suspense - a plot with turns and surprises." Rating: 5
-- Diane M

Wild Justice
FICTION MARGOLIN
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"You just have to keep reading -- don't want to put it down. Twists and turns and plenty of excitement." Rating: 5
-- Diane M.