Kasey, a lively and funny twelve-year old stuck in the hospital for a month, writes a series of letters to her friend Nina. She introduces us to her family, the nurses and staff at the hospital, and to Ivy, her IV, who becomes her protector during the long, scary nights at the hospital. 

Kasey’s perspectives on her family, her soccer team, and her elderly hospital neighbors paints a vivid portrait of a trying time in her life.

This is a great read for grades 4-7! 

Available as an eBook on Overdrive

Reviewed by Anna

This novel was truly one of the best reads of 2018 and beyond.  Jones, an African American author, writes a powerful story about what happens when a black man is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.

Celestial and Ray are newlyweds and just starting their lives together – he as a young executive and Celestial as an artist.  Unexpected circumstances  occur that absolutely rip their lives apart and test their new young love to the limit. Roy is placed in jail, while Celestial must return to her past life feeling confused and angry. To help Celestial cope, her dear friend Andre brings her some comfort.

This a love story that stirs up deep feelings for three people who are dealing with forces beyond their control.

Available as eBook on hoopla and Overdrive

Available as downloadable audiobook on hoopla and Overdrive

Reviewed by Terri

You were the one who wouldn’t let me in when I knocked

 Sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner is trying to put what happened last winter behind her. Living in a cramped cabin with six other family members, she craves a few moments of escape and relief. That’s how she finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy as her family decides to suddenly move from their mountain home to the wide expanse of prairie miles away, where her father has been told of a surplus of empty cabins just waiting for them.Unfortunately, the story of rich land and beautiful houses is too good to be true. The family’s new residence has evidence of a terrible crime and soon Amanda begins to fear that the devil she saw that winter may not be so easy to escape. But does the creature exist in this world, or only in her own haunted mind? 
Daughters Unto Devils is said to be “If Little House on the Prairie were written by Stephen King” but after reading it, it’s very clear that the inspiration might have been more Evil Dead than Carrie. The story’s build up is slow and increasingly unsettling, causing the reader to wonder, along with its narrator, just what is real and what isn’t. The final conclusion is altogether horrifying, gruesome and completely haunting. For fans of horror stories, don’t let the YA label on this one turn to away. It’s a fright you wont want to miss. 

Daughters Unto Devils is available to stream on Hoopla here in both ebook and audiobook formats. Just don’t listen to it late at night.

Reviewed by Athena

This historical fiction does take place during WWII and centers around two estranged sisters who have grown up in Brooklyn. They are reunited during the early days of the war at the Springfield Armory which is located in Springfield, MA and was important for the manufacturing of guns. One sister is an officer’s wife and lives on the beautiful grounds of the Armory while the other sister arrives as a war widow and works in the factory. As they reunite, old wounds are opened and a secret shared by the two is revealed due to a mysterious person from their past lives. Sibling rivalry and jealousy are two major themes.

The author is from the Springfield area and also wrote THE TWO FAMILY HOUSE which I recommend.
I am personally familiar with the Springfield Armory as I grew up in Springfield. It is, to this day a beautiful property with a museum showcasing its history.

Get the eBook from Overdrive or the audiobook from hoopla!

Reviewed by Terri

It’s a bad time to try to read the latest, hottest books on Overdrive: everyone wants them. It’s a great time to read hot titles from a few years ago! This review was originally posted in 2017, but Elinor Lipman remains a delight. You can’t go wrong with any of her titles, so here are the links for all of her eBooks and audiobooks on Overdrive and hoopla. Not sure how to get started? Ask a librarian! We are available by email at medfield@minlib.net and by phone at 508-359-4544 Mon-Fri 10 am – 6 pm.

Original review:

Another funny read from Elinor Lipman, On Turpentine Lane is a light and delightful story of a woman, her new house, the mysteries that come with it, a bad boyfriend and a great coworker. What elevates this book above a cozy tale is Lipman’s characteristic cultural insight and wit. Elements of mystery and romance keep the plot moving. Perfect for someone looking for some warmth and brightness at the end of a cold New England winter. (There’s also a cameo recognizable to local readers: all of that snow from the winter of ’14-’15 snowpacalypse.)

Reviewed by Pam.

Find the book!

Natural Histories gathers some of the most scientifically significant, historically rare, and beautifully illustrated gems from the American Museum of Natural History’s library. Peek into the Rare Book Collections and view full page prints from Sky atlases of the heavens to copper plates of marsupials that feed exclusively on pollen and nectar. Explore the pioneers of natural science even when it was not yet a profession.

Recommended by Charlotte

Jenna Heap finds out at the age of 10 that she’s not who she thought she was. Go off on a magical adventure as she runs away from home escaping a deadly hunter, finding new friends, learning magical spells, and discovering who exactly Jenna Heap is! This is a great book for kids who finished Harry Potter and want some more magic in their lives!

Recommended by Charlotte

Girls! Get inspired and read about 29 wildly different ladies throughout history and across the globe who raised their voices and changed the world. Pénélope’s beautiful drawings and hilarious storytelling will leave you invigorated to follow your dreams and eager to rise while lifting others.

Recommended by Charlotte

George Takei gives a firsthand account of his four year old self as he finds his own birth country is at war with his parent’s. When his entire family is forced from their homes into an uncertain future, what can one person do? This graphic memoir reveals important lessons about the WWII Japanese American Incarceration that still can be learned today.

Recommended by Charlotte

The Signature of All Things is a hard science fiction that beautifully captures the life of Alma Whittaker, a brilliant botanist born in the Age of Enlightenment. This story is filled with twists and turns and well written characters from sea captains to eccentric missionaries. Reading this book opens your mind to the beauty of science from bioluminescent plankton swirling in the ocean to the slow creep of moss in your own backyard.

Recommended by Charlotte