The Grandmother Plot by Caroline B. Cooney

  The Grandmother Plot: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney. Sourcebooks: Poisoned Pen Press, 2021. Adult fiction, mystery.

Middletown Memory Care facility is the typical facility for aging seniors who have mental health problems. Freddy's grandmother is a white haired  little old lady and he loves her. His sisters live many miles away and his mother has died so Freddy is in charge. Freddy has questionable friends who may be drug dealers, he makes an iffy living from blowing glass beads and pipes, and he survives illegally claiming his dead mother's Social Security in his grandparents' aging home. Let's just say that Freddy is not your average hero.

But, when one of the little old ladies at MMC dies, things take a complex turn. Caroline Cooney has again constructed a tightly woven plot with realistic details and fascinating characters. Reading about the intricacies of the care center is hard, but readers who have experienced first hand those centers will appreciate the care that the author has taken to get the details right. Sometimes, the details about glass blowing are enough to make you think the author must have her own art studio at some time! The mystery will carry readers along with Freddy and make an unforgettable journey. Prepare to lose some sleep because you will not want to put this book down!

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson

 

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson. Ilustrated by Qin Leng. Candlewick Press, 2021. Children's picture book. 

  This wordless (except for signs) picture book is full of visual details in ink and watercolor that paint pictures and tell a complicated story. A small girl and her grandparent run a neighborhood store in a city. They post a sign "Apartment for Rent" for the over-the-store space, but it has broken tile and cabinets, a bare, hanging light bulb, and is very shabby looking. Two pages of people walk by and look at the sign, but some even haughtily turn up their noses. When an enterprising young couple move in, they scrub and work and wave at the neighbor! Soon they have involved the little girl, helped spruce up the store itself, and the apartment even has flower boxes. The little girl, her grandparent, and the neighborhood cat have soon become a family that inspires the whole area.  

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

 

The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon. William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2017. Adult nonfiction.

  This is my very favorite nonfiction book of 2020. It is filled with adventure, history, true bravery, and stories of real people. On Thursday, December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax harbor. One was filled with explosives destined for WWI efforts. The result was the most destructive man-made disaster until Hiroshima. Windows for fifty miles were blown out. Over 2,000 people were killed and thousands more were wounded. A huge portion of the population instantly became homeless. The lessons learned included how to better deal with the blind, how to rebuild quickly, and are told through the stories of several families. Ironically, the HMS Titanic's rescue and recovery missions had taught locals how to label, store, and bury large numbers of dead bodies. While that disaster is well known, the "Blizzard of Glass" in Halifax is less well remembered. Bacon's book will ensure that readers will long remember it. 

Before She Was Helen: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney

 

Before She Was Helen: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney. Sourcebooks, Poisoned Pen Press, 2020. Adult fiction, mystery.

      If you think that life in a South Carolina retirement village is all golf, cocktails, and relaxing, check out this fictional Sun City tale! Clemmie is living as Helen and has become quite adept at hiding secrets even from her family. But, some of her neighbors are hiding things, too. When she goes next door to Dom's place, she goes through the connecting door to the Coglands'. Clemmie sees a stunning piece of art and snaps a photo with her cell phone. She never suspects that forwarding it will reveal it's stolen and bring the owner, a drug ring, and adventure to her own life. Cooney is a master at YA fiction, but this adult book will bring her new fans. At times, it is funny and the characters are true to life. If you read Nancy Drew as a teen, Carpool by Mary Cahill as a parent, and long for senior fun, this is the perfect novel!   Cooney does not disappoint with the intricate plotting here. 

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

 

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2020. Adult fiction. 463 pages.

     When the Saardam leaves Batavia for Amsterdam in 1634, the  ship carries a diverse group of people. From the wealthy Sara Wessel, her husband and daughter to a religious mystic, the passengers are unusual. Even the large soldier, Arent Hayes is travelling with a prisoner, his friend Sam Pipps, a detective. On the long journey, mysterious things happen and some think the devil is at work. Readers will work to discover what dangers are afoot, who is not what they seem, and guess whether the great ship and its passengers will ever see land again. 

The Girl in the Mirror: A Novel by Rose Carlyle

 

  The Girl in the Mirror: A Novel by Rose Carlyle.  William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins, 2020.  Adult fiction, mystery. 

 Summer Rose and Iris Carmichael are identical twins, but are mirror images of each other. Outside, so alike, the girls are quite different on the inside. Summer has married the handsome Adam whose wife has died and Summer is mother to his small son. Iris has overcome insecurities and has led a very different life, but when Summer calls and says that she needs her, Iris goes. 

 Iris ends up piloting the family's yacht across ocean waters. The trip is life changing when she is able to basically impersonate her sister after Summer disappears. What has happened to Summer? And who, among the Carmichael cousins, will be able to claim the millions of family dollars by having the first biological grandchild? 

 Filled with greed, mystery, sailing lore, set in the mysterious Thailand, and using the interesting twin tidbits, this tale is a compelling read. Although it is Carlyle's first novel, it will certainly be worth watching this new talent. 

Trowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley

 

 Trowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley. Candlewick Press, 2020. YA

     When Ziggy Karlo's mother, Jenny, leaves him with Nana Jean, his life takes a turn for the better. He is safe and has food and Nana Jean is a fierce protector and a compassionate listener. But, it's neighbor June Bug Jordan who becomes his friend. And she needs a friend as much or more than Ziggy. June's father has died of AIDS in the days when no one really knew much about the disease. June's mother is full of grief and has so many mental health isssues that she can't even take care of herself, much less June Bug. It's summer and there's no school or school lunches and Uncle Toby, Dad's brother, only brings groceries once a week. Ziggy and June become the most unlikely friends. Slowly, details are given about each of their families and the two have to come to grips with new realities and work to forge better futures than pasts. 

     This novel is an incredible story of love and family. Some of the subject matter deals with more YA topics than typical children's novels, but SO many of our students face hard situations in their lives and need to have these characters show that there is hope in the world. Beautiful imaginative worlds can provide an escape from dire times, but communication with adults who can help with real things is important, too. Definitely fifth grade and up can handle the reading level. Characters are memorable and this book will show up again at award time. Do not miss it!