Review originally published in Library Journal, July 2020. The determined daughter of Jewish bakery owners in Atlantic City, Florence Adler, 20, starts the summer of 1934 swimming, as she trains for an upcoming trip to France to swim the English Channel. When the siren of the sea's life is cut short in tragedy, Esther and Joseph… Continue reading Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
Tag: Summer
Holly Jolly Summer by Tiffany Stewart
Originally appeared in School Library Journal, April 2018. Gr 7 & up - The summer tourist season is bustling in the stifling hot town of Christmas, Kentucky, as 15 year old First Daughter, Darby causes a very public disaster at the annual Snow Globe unveiling. Her single father, Mayor Peacher, encourages her to get a… Continue reading Holly Jolly Summer by Tiffany Stewart
Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs
Map of the Heart will be published August 22, 2017. I was in the mood for a love story, and this one was a perfect fit. This is a modern-day romance mixed in with a healthy dose of historical fiction, historical mystery, and a forbidden historical romance. 36 year old widow and single mother, Camille, has… Continue reading Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs
The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
The Identicals will be released on June 13, 2017. It's definitely going to be a hit summer beach read, as are most of Elin's novels. Elin Hilderbrand's novels have a way of transporting me into the story with such force that I can think of nothing else but the characters. I've no shame in admitting that… Continue reading The Identicals by Elin Hilderbrand
The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur
I really enjoyed this story, especially because of the rich atmospheric scenes. As a reader, I really felt transported to the little lake community with its local legends and secrets. The story has a little bit of everything: mystery, suspense, coming-of-age, guilt, and regret. The story takes place in a mostly secluded lake community, where… Continue reading The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
I've heard a lot about this popular YA book and I've been meaning to read it for some time. This past week, one of my students checked it out from the public library and put it on my desk with a demand to "read it!" So, I did. And, I am pleased. It was a… Continue reading We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
The Rumor will be published on June 16, 2015. Elin Hilderbrand has done it again - created a beautiful story that I absolutely couldn't put down! Although her books are mostly all set during the summer on the island of Nantucket, she manages to create distinctly different story lines and characters that blend perfectly. The… Continue reading The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand
Librarian Laura 