Welcome to the Sixth Annual Season's Readings Gift Guide

Once again it is my pleasure to offer you “Season’s Readings,” a selection of books and films which make exceptional gifts this season. They are the best!-- handpicked by the librarians who work at your library. These staff members help you find what you like to read, to hear, and to see every day. They help you find resources and answer your questions.

Why use this list?

Books can change lives. Each of us remembers a special book. Perhaps it was Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon or Judy Blume’s Superfudge. Last September at the National Book Festival, Blume talked about the impact Maud Hart Lovelace’s "Betsy Tacy" series had on her writing. This list gives you the opportunity to give someone that special book — the one they will remember and treasure throughout their lives.

Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education says, “We are what we learn.” The titles which the librarians picked offer you are an opportunity to offer those you love a unique and enjoyable experience, one which may help them understand the world in a different way, a way that resonates with them.

Enjoy your holidays! I wish you a rewarding 2010, filled with good books, good music and good films. See you at the library!

Gail

Movies

Big Night -- DVD
With the recent release of Julie and Julia I am reminded of another great food movie, also starring Stanley Tucci -- Big Night. Tucci and Tony Shalhoub star as immigrant brothers who own an Italian restaurant with great food but few customers. Roger Ebert calls this is “a film of great wisdom and delight.” ~Julie

The Fall – DVD
In a hospital in 1920s Los Angeles, an injured stuntman tells a little girl with a broken arm a fantastical story about 5 mythical heroes. Thanks to his fractured state of mind and her vivid imagination, the line between fiction and reality starts to blur as the tale advances. This is a wondrous, beautiful film! ~Julie

Out of Sight – DVD
A career bank robber breaks out of jail and kidnaps a US Marshal in the process. When the cons head for Detroit to pull off their final big scam, the Marshal is put on their case but finds she is attracted to one of them and has second thoughts about bringing them in. Very funny! ~Julie

Strange Days – DVD
One of my very favorite movies, this futuristic thriller has it all: “racist cops, rap-star statesmen, armored cars and widespread anarchy.” This film keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last scene. ~Julie

The Complete Musketeers (The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers) – DVD
There are many versions of this film but none compares to this 1973 version. Richard Lester has made this into a tongue-in-cheek, adventurous, swashbuckling tale. Lots of fun for the whole family! ~Julie

Thunderheart – DVD
Val Kilmer plays an FBI man with Sioux background who is sent to a South Dakota reservation to help with a murder investigation. The cinematography is fantastic, the acting, particularly from Kilmer and Graham Greene is superb. This is a great mystery as well as a film that leaves you thinking. ~Julie

Bell, Book and Candle -- DVD
A frothy romance starring Kim Novak as a seductive Greenwich Village witch who ensnares publisher Jimmy Stewart to spite an old college rival. Mayhem ensues, but Novak is in trouble when she falls for Stewart, since a witch loses her powers when she falls in love. Gorgeous costumes, great soundtrack, and wonderful supporting cast, including a young Jack Lemmon as Novak’s bongo playing brother, Elsa Lanchester as her dotty aunt, and Ernie Kovacs as a hard drinking writer. ~Macaire

Coraline (Single-Disc Edition w/ 3D) -- DVD
This deliciously dark and delightful animated movie, created from the Neil Gaiman book of the same name, tells the story of a girl who is bored with her ordinary life and finds a much more interesting one with her “other” parents who are endlessly devoted and attentive to her. But as she spends more time with them, she discovers they are sinister and dangerous and she has to fight to get back to her real life. A great lesson in being careful what you wish for. ~Judie

Fiction

Life Without Summer: A Novel
By Lynne Griffin
Writer Tessa is consumed with grief when her daughter Abby, who was playing outside at her preschool, is killed by a hit and run driver. In an effort to cope with her pain, she starts meeting with a therapist whose journal entries intertwine with the ones written by Tessa and tell the parallel story of her family struggles. As the two stories evolve, the bond between the women grows and their lives become defined by the search for the guilty driver. An absorbing and emotional story with unexpected turns. ~Judie
ISBN 978-0312383886

Bird in Hand: A Novel
By Christina Baker Kline
Alison is driving home from a friend’s book publishing party in New York City when she has an accident which leaves a boy dead. Although she didn’t cause the accident, she’s haunted by guilt and finds her husband Charlie strangely unsupportive and distant. As the novel evolves, the story of her marriage and her author friend’s marriage bounces back and forth in time, revealing a complicated past and present. The characters and descriptions are thoughtful and revealing. ~Judie
ISBN 978-0688177249

The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
By Garth Stein
I loved this book narrated by Enzo, the dog and best friend of Denny Swift. Denny is an avid race car driver who brings Enzo home as a puppy and gradually expands their family to include a wife and daughter, a house and a sports car. As their lives take some difficult turns, Denny’s strength is tested and Enzo listens and encourages him wordlessly as he observes the many human complications and despairs about his inability to speak and his lack of opposable thumbs, which he longs for and looks forward to having in his next incarnation as a man. Recommended for all of us who love dogs and fast cars! ~Judie
ISBN 9780061537967

The Undomestic Goddess
By Sophie Kinsella
Samantha Sweeting, an up-and-coming young attorney working in a prestigious British law firm, is stunned to hear that she misplaced a file and cost the firm millions of dollars. In her shocked state, she boards a train and ends up in the countryside where she approaches a house seeking help and ends up being mistakenly hired as the new housekeeper. Completely lacking in domestic skills, Samantha makes the best of it and ends up discovering a wealth of new talents along with some surprising information about her former law firm. Clever and fun. ~Judie
ISBN 978-0385338691

The Secret Scripture: A Novel
By Sebastian Barry
The Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital is closing, and senior psychiatrist William Grene has to evaluate his patients to determine which ones can resume life in society. The oldest is Roseanne Clear, aged 100, institutionalized for most of her adult life. Although guarded with Dr. Grene, Roseanne writes about the passions, disappointments and tragedies of her life in a journal she keeps hidden under a floorboard, and reveals herself to be a surprisingly joyful individual. This lovely novel is a multiple award winner. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0143115694

Sacred Hearts: A Novel
By Sarah Dunant
Because the exorbitant price of dowries in 16th century Ferrara, Italy, has made it impossible for even wealthy families to marry off all of their daughters, only the most beautiful girls get husbands. The others become nuns. The plot of this novel, set in the liberal convent of Santa Caterina, involves an unhappy novice, an elderly nun transported by mystical visions, Vatican reforms and political infighting. An excellent choice for historical fiction fans. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-1400063826

Mystery and Suspense

Death Wore White
By Jim Kelly
Set in coastal England during a cold and snowy February, this novel of crime and suspense is dominated by a series of dead bodies, complicated fact patterns, and two detectives trying to sort out both the crimes and their own unlikely partnership. The British flavor and wonderful descriptions of the relentless cold and snow contributes to a compelling and atmospheric story. ~Judie
ISBN 978-0312570811

Big City, Bad Blood
By Sean Chercover
Ray Dudgeon doesn't want to save the world; he just wants to do an honest job well. But when he is caught in a war between the FBI, the Chicago police, and the mob he doesn't know who he can trust—or if he can even trust himself. ~Julie
ISBN 978-0061128684.

The Blade Itself: A Novel
By Marcus Sakey
After a botched pawnshop robbery by childhood friends Evan and Danny, Evan serves prison time while Danny goes legit. Seven years later, Evan is out and comes looking for payback. Tension from the first chapter to the last—this is a must read! ~Julie
ISBN 978-0312371043.

The Likeness: A Novel
By Tana French
The Likeness brings back Cassie, a character from French’s wonderful 1st novel In the Woods. French’s deft touch with characters and descriptions creates a subtly menacing atmosphere that builds the suspense to the very end. To say this is a thriller is to shortchange it; it’s also a fine novel. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0143115625

The Increment: A Novel
By David Ignatius
When an Iranian scientist emails the CIA’s Iranian division with a cryptic message about his country’s nuclear weapons program, agent Harry Pappas is alarmed to learn that the CIA director and the president want to “take immediate action.” Harry, tormented by his Marine son's death in Iraq, doesn't want his country to start another war. Desperate to prevent conflict, Harry has to turn to colleagues outside the Agency. This is a solid spy thriller. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0393065046

The Black Tower: A Novel (P.S.)
By Louis Bayard
The only son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the guillotined king and queen of France, was locked in the Temple Prison where he languished for years, an innocent victim. History tells us he died there.......or did he? In this historical thriller, hapless Dr. Hector Carpentier investigates the fate of the unfortunate orphaned prince. The characters move around 19th century Paris, which is dirty, dangerous and rat-infested, not the City of Light it is today. Great fun and a book with heart. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0061173516

A Cozy Quintet

Mark of the Lion: A Jade Del Cameron Mystery
By Suzanne Arruda
WWI ambulance driver Jade del Cameron promises a dying fighter pilot that she will track down his half bother. Her quest takes her to Colonial East Africa, where she runs afoul of a local witch, discovers a murder, and untangles a mystery involving drug smuggling and an illegitimate child. Vividly conveys the lifestyle of the British in early 20th century Nairobi. ~Macaire
ISBN 0451219589

Murder on the Rocks (Gray Whale Inn Mysteries, No. 1)
By Karen MacInerney
Natalie Barnes has sunk her life savings into Cranberry Island Maine’s Gray Whale Inn and is determined to make a success of it. When a visiting land developer whose plans threaten Natalie’s livelihood turns up dead, the innkeeper becomes both suspect and amateur detective. ~Macaire
ISBN 0738709085

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
By Alan Bradley
Eleven year old Flavia de Luce is the kind of precocious child who is more alarming than charming. Smart, inquisitive and largely overlooked by her sisters and father, the most interesting thing Flavia encounters in her young life is a dead body in the cucumber patch. Fearing that the stranger’s suspicious death is somehow connected to the household, Flavia focuses her boundless energy and flexible conscience on solving the crime. ~Macaire
ISBN 978-0385342308

Holiday Grind (Coffee House Mystery)
By Cleo Coyle
This special holiday addition to the Village Blend Coffeehouse mysteries finds Claire Cosi investigating the death of one of her customers, a local charity Santa Claus. The police believe the death is the result of a mugging gone wrong, but Claire is not convinced. A reasonably tricky mystery in a great setting, the book also contains a section of coffeehouse holiday recipes and tips on brewing your own espresso and latte at home. ~Macaire
ISBN 978-0425230053

Murder at Longbourn: A Mystery
By Tracy Kiely
When Elizabeth Parker finds herself alone for the holidays, she decides to spend them at her aunt’s bed and breakfast on Cape Cod helping to host a Murder Mystery party for the guests. Unfortunately, when the lights go out for the staged murder, one of the real guests ends up dead and Elizabeth’s aunt becomes the prime suspect. With determination and some romantic side trips, Elizabeth sets out to solve the crime and save the inn. The story is engaging and includes bits and pieces of Jane Austen’s writings woven into the narrative which is an extra bonus for Austen fans. ~Judie
ISBN 978-0312537562

Crafting and Cooking

Color Shuffle: New Quilts from Karla Alexander (That Patchwork Place)
By Karla Alexander
In my mind there is nothing better that a quilt pattern that looks complicated but is in fact easy to make. That’s what this book promises. It provides 16 projects in a variety of styles using the stacking/shuffling piecing method combined with other techniques. I for one, can’t wait to see it if works! ~Julie
ISBN 9781564779274.

One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric!
By Rebecca Yaker
Another gotta-have for quilters: projects that are quick and allow you to use your stash. This book includes 101 sewing projects all requiring no more than a single yard of fabric most of which can be completed in just a few hours. Includes simple step-by-step instructions, plus templates and pattern pieces where needed. ~Julie
ISBN 978-1603424493.

Rustic Fruit Desserts: Crumbles, Buckles, Cobblers, Pandowdies, and More
By Cory Schreiber
Homey, comforting desserts made with seasonal fruits make for an appealing cookbook, with recipes for pies, buckles, pandowdies, cobblers, crumbles, teacakes and more. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-1580089760

Mrs. Rowe's Little Book of Southern Pies
By Mollie Cox Bryan
Fruit, berry, nut, cream and custard, frozen and icebox pies and an entire chapter on crusts and toppings are included in this pie compendium. In addition to the recipes, the “pie tips” will help even seasoned bakers improve their product. “Pie takes you home…,” says the author. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-1580089807

Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook
By Debbie Macomber
Fans of the author’s Cedar Cove series will enjoy this culinary take on her fictional community. Based on recipes mentioned in the novels, each chapter is introduced by a character and takes place at one of the Cedar Cove addresses. In addition to the standard cookbook sections on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Macomber also includes chapters on tea, appetizers, desserts, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Includes an introduction by the author and appetizing color photos. ~Macaire
ISBN 0373892136

Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express: 404 inspired seasonal dishes you can make in 20 minutes or less
By Mark Bittman
Another winner for those of us who are kitchen-challenged! Fast and flavorful dishes using seasonal ingredients – the book is broken down into sections for summer, fall, winter and spring, with 101 recipes in each. Includes a list of basics for stocking your pantry and a substitution list. Great for cooks who are busy or simply impatient. ~Macaire
ISBN 1416575669

Beyond Our Own Backyards…

Travel as a Political Act
By Rick Steves
Veteran travel writer Steves challenges Americans to “travel more purposefully,” broaden their perspectives and “be broad-minded when it comes to international issues.” This is not a travel guide, but is instead a thought-provoking book about the value of travel. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-1568584355

Resistance: A Woman's Journal of Struggle and Defiance in Occupied France
By Agnès Humbert
Humbert’s memoir of life in Nazi-occupied France, her work with a Resistance group, subsequent arrest and detention in slave labor camps is told in a straightforward style. She doesn’t overdramatize or make herself a martyr. Humbert’s account is notable for her honesty, courage and humanity. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-1596916364

Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation
By John Carlin
This account of how Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, worked to break stereotypes and bring whites and blacks together through sports is a moving and uplifting story. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0143115724

Books for History Lovers

Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
By H.W. Brands
This detailed biography examines FDR’s personal and political life. Most fascinating are his success at bucking political opposition to get his New Deal policies passed and his wartime leadership. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0307277947

A Voyage Long and Strange: On the Trail of Vikings, Conquistadors, Lost Colonists, and Other Adventurers in Early America
By Tony Horwitz
Between 1492, when Columbus discovered America, and the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in 1620, nothing much happened in North America…right? Horwitz explores our “national amnesia” about the 1500’s in North America. The author’s personality and humor enliven this historical account. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0307277947

For Military History Buffs

Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45 (Vintage)
By Max Hastings
The last year of WWII in Asia is vividly told in this long but never tedious account. Hastings keeps the story personal by alternating accounts of battles, strategy and statistics with first-hand accounts by leaders, soldiers and civilians. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0307275363

Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World
By Roger Crowley
The military forces of the Ottoman Empire and the nations of Christian Europe clash. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0812977646

Southern Storm: Sherman's March to the Sea
By Noah Andre Trudeau
Trudeau drew from newspaper accounts, memoirs and diaries as well as historical sources to write this extensive account of the campaign that ended the Civil War. ~Suzanne
ISBN 978-0060598686

Tweens and Teens

The Hunger Games
ISBN 978-0439023481
Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)
ISBN 978-0439023498
By Suzanne Collins
Imagine a country, similar to the United States, sometime in the future, that unites its citizens through a televised reality show. The show takes two teens from each district and brings them to the Capitol to participate in “The Hunger Games,” a game that only has one victor. The rest will all be dead. Katniss has had to take care of her family and can not bear to have her younger sister participate in the games, so she chooses to take her place. The other contestant from her district is the baker’s son. Although they know each other, only one will come home. The first book is impossible to put down, while the second will leave the reader hanging for the third. Any teen (boy or girl) on your list will thank you for these books! Recommended for Grade 7 and up. ~Joyce

The Book Thief
By Marcus Zusak
This historical fiction of World War II Germany is narrated by Death. It is the story of Liesel Meminger, of Molching, Germany, foster daughter to Hans and Rosa Hubermann of Himmel (heaven) Street. Liesel is the book thief, even though she can not read. Hans teaches her to read with the book she stole, The Gravedigger’s Handbook. This is a story of the power of words, of love and the human heart, and survival. It is for high school teens and adults. An unforgettable read. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0375842207

Heartsinger
By Karlijn Stoffels, translated from Dutch by Laura Watkinson
This is a magical, fantastical, beautiful love story with intertwining characters and storylines, pulled together by Mee, the singer of sorrows. Appropriate for grade 6 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0545069298

Guardian Of The Spirit (Moribito)
By Nahoko Uehashi
This Japanese import features many familiar martial-arts fantasy elements: magic, nonstop action, swordplay, a puzzling myth, dangerous plot twists, and a strong-willed, flawed hero on a quest. What’s surprising is that the “hero” is a weather-beaten, thirty-year-old heroine: Balsa Spear-wielder, an itinerant bodyguard. After Balsa saves Chagum, the son of the Mikado, Chagum’s mother hires Balsa to protect him; she is certain that Chagum will be murdered because he is host to a mythical creature, a fact that belies the divine nature of the Mikado. Balsa must solve a mystery involving the creature and protect Chagum from both the Mikado’s elite forces and an otherworldly monster. The Moribito series is enormously popular in Japan. Grades 6-9. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0545005432

Crafts and Cooking for Teens

Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat
ISBN 978-1580085847
Teens Cook Dessert
ISBN 978-1580087520
By Megan and Jill Carle
Sisters Megan and Jill Carle understand what other teens know and don’t know about cooking and baking, and they clearly describe and explain everything their peers need to do to produce fabulous results. With an interactive, colorful design and tons of mouth-watering photos, these books teach teens and tweens to be independent in the kitchen and have an awesome time while they’re at it. ~Joyce


AlternaCrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make
By Jessica Vitkus
Interesting crafts that can be made out of recycled household items are just what a DIY teen will appreciate. There is the relatively simple page layout and informal writing style; the ideas are organized into things to wear, projects for the home, and gifts. Old pants are transformed into a purse, and pop-bottle lids become pendants. Some projects are quite involved, while others can be accomplished in a few minutes. Each idea contains clear, step-by-step instructions geared to beginners. Unfamiliar terms are defined in context or in sidebars. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-1584794561


Hardwear: Jewelry from a Toolbox
By Hannah Rogge
Independent, innovative, and fearless teen (and older) crafters will thrive on making something out of nothing and showing off their style. This book presents 24 striking, easy-to-make pieces of jewelry fashioned from nuts and metal washers, S hooks and O rings, rubber sheeting and rubber tubing, and other inexpensive, readily available hardware. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-1584794806

Graphic Novels

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
By Eleanor Davis
Super-smart Julian Calendar thinks starting junior high at a new school will mean he can shed his nerdy image–but then he meets Ben and Greta, two secret scientists like himself! The three form a secret club. There, they work on projects like the Stink-O-Meter, the Kablovsky Copter, and the Nightsneak Goggles. All that tinkering comes in handy when they discover an evil scientist's dastardly plan to rob a museum. Can three inventors, armed with their wacky creations, hope to defeat this criminal mastermind? Grade 4 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-1599903965

The Best of the Spirit
By Will Eisner
This reproduction of a classic goes back to the heyday of comics, and it's full of complex characters, plot twists, and classic storytelling. While this comic never obtained the status of some of the publisher's series like Batman, it is no doubt excellent in every way and will keep the interest of any comic-book readers who give it a try. Grade 6 and up.
ISBN 978-1401207557

Rapunzel's Revenge
By Shannon, Dean and Nathan Hale
After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her mother. Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Great fun, strong heroine, and witty dialogue make a memorable graphic novel. Grades 5 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-1599902883

Wonderland
By Tommy Kovac
Ever wonder what happened in Wonderland after Alice left? Follow the quirky tale of Mary Ann, the meticulous and dutiful housekeeper for the White Rabbit, as she continues the tale. Her boss is now wanted for treason by the Queen of Hearts for allowing the Alice Monster to enter the kingdom–off with his head! On the run and fearing for their lives, Mary Ann and White Rabbit encounter the meddlesome Cheshire Cat, the ever-contentious troublemaker. This is a terrific look at a great classic. Grade 4 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-1423104513

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152
By David Petersen
The Mouse Guard protects its fellow creatures and patrols the passageways used between the villages of the Mouse Territories. Three members of the guard investigate the disappearance of a traveling grain merchant. During their quest for the truth, the three uncover a plot; fight hungry snakes; escape a fiery death; and find a long-lost hero. Redwall fans should love this! Grade 4 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0345496867

Bone Volume 1: Out From Boneville
By Jeff Smith
The entire series (which was black and white) has been colorized. This is a must-read for your comic fans. There are 9 in the series. The story follows three cousins who have been thrown out of their town for cheating the citizens. Shortly thereafter, they are separated. Each Bone stumbles into a mysterious valley full of odd creatures that reveal strange happenings. The story is well paced with smooth transitions. It is dark, witty, mysterious, and exciting. Grade 5 and up. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0439706407

The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation
By Jonathan Hennessey
The author and illustrator (Aaron McConnell) undertake the imposing task of going through the entire U. S. Constitution, article by article, amendment by amendment, explaining their meaning and implications—in comic format. Avoiding the didactic, the book succeeds in being both consistently entertaining and illuminating. All ages. ~Joyce
ISBN 978-0809094707