All the Light We Cannot See is an award winning Historical Fiction novel by Anthony Doerr. It tells the story of a young French girl named Marie-Laure and a young German boy named Werner. As World War II rages on, their lives drastically change and ultimately collide. Marie-Laure and her father must seek refuge in…

If you know me you know it’s hard for me to resist a Homer Hickam novel. I had managed to hold off on Carrying Albert Home until around Valentine’s Day. Mr. Hickam released a short story, set during the Rocket Boys’ days in Coalwood on Amazon, and of course I devoured it. Reading this story…

For undisclosed reasons the matriarch of Beaworth, Amelia Midwinter, has banned dancing in the village. Running from a scandal, Alec Valcort moves his mother and sister to this remote town. But, Alec is a dancing and fencing master, and must either find another profession or challenge Lady Midwinter’s rule. However, Alec may find an unexpected…

 Serafina knows she is different. She lives in the basement of the Biltmore Estate with her father, who does electrical work on the property. One night Serafina sees a figure in a black cloak abduct a young girl who is visiting the estate. However, she is not the first child who has disappeared from the…

Once again, a series on PBS has inspired my reading selection. Victoria is a novel by Daisy Goodwin, creator and writer for the PBS series, released to coincide with the show. It, obviously, tells the story of England’s second longest reigning monarch. Alexandrina has been closely guarded by her mother throughout her life, allegedly to…

In honor of the Holiday season, this review will feature a duology by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares is the first in the series. Lily’s older brother convinces her to leave a notebook in her favorite bookstore, and Dash is the one to find it. Against the backdrop of…

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett tells the story of the Keating and Cousins families. After Beverly Keating and Bert Cousins have an affair, the families are thrown together. The six Keating and Cousins children spend their summers together and form and unlikely bond. Years later Franny Keating gets involved with author Leon Posen, and tells him…

The story of the Rocket Boys of Coalwood, WV begins in October of 1957. Russia has just launched Sputnik into orbit, and Sonny Hickam watches this marvel cross the sky from his back yard. Sonny is inspired to join the space race in his own way. He enlists the help of five of his friends…

 Throughout his life, Jacob has heard fantastical stories about his grandfather’s childhood. Abraham tells his grandson about the orphanage he grew up in and the children who lived there. As Jacob matures, these stories with their monsters and peculiar children become harder to believe. After his grandfather passes away, Jacob decides he has to know…

 America’s First Daughter by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray begins at the end. It opens on July 5, 1826. Thomas Jefferson has died, and his daughter, Martha, is sorting through his papers. Looking back on her past Martha, often called by the nickname Patsy, tells us the story of her life and about her relationship…