Book Review: Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

Summary: 
Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy!

Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's new fiance. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, this reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated.

Brittany's comments: 
Meg Cabot is one of my favorite authors, and I was lucky enough to get to meet her when she came to Indiana on her latest book tour! Size 12 and Ready to Rock is the fourth book in the Heather Wells mystery series. The best way I can think to describe the series is part chick lit/part mystery. The latest book could be read as a standalone since a lot of the plot points from previous books are summarized, but I would recommend reading the other three books anyway because they are so much fun! Plus, it's always interesting for me to see characters grow over time and their relationships with other characters change. Heather is a charming, quirky character, and it's satisfying to see her overcome some hurdles and find happiness in her personal life. I felt that a few plot points in this one were predictable, but I was able to overlook that because I loved the characters and I enjoyed watching them unravel the mysteries.

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New eBooks: April 2013

The following eBooks are now available to download from our digital library. Enjoy these eBooks on your computer, eReader, tablet, or smartphone! 

Fiction

• Along Came a Duke: Rhymes with Love by Elizabeth Boyle
• The Selection by Kiera Cass
• The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
• Foul Play by Janet Evanovich
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• Rescue Me by Rachel Gibson
• Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison
• The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman
• Coming Home by Karen Kingsbury
• And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman 
• Beautiful Sacrifice by Elizabeth Lowell
• Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish, pictures by Lynne Avril
• What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
• Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult
• A Night Like This by Julia Quinn
• Divergent/Insurgent Two-Book Collection by Veronica Roth
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Shadow Souls by L.J. Smith
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Midnight by L.J. Smith

Nonfiction

• American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwan and Jim DeFelice

Upcoming Events @ Your Library

Novel Characters Book Group
Tipton, April 15, 6:30 PM
Pick up a copy of Pilgrim at Tinker Lake by Annie Dillard from the Information Desk and join us for a discussion and refreshments. Group meets in the library meeting room.

Home Gardening @ Your Library
Windfall, April 15, 7:15 PM
Tipton, April 18, 6:00 PM
Join us as we learn economical and safe ways to garden. This hands-on workshop will be fun and informative. This program is available thanks to an Educators grant from Tipton Solid Waste Management. Registration is required.

Friends and Family Feud
Tipton, April 17, 6:00 PM 
Come watch the Friends and Family Feud fundraiser. Larry Nierzwick will be back again this year as the Feud host!

Computer Class - PowerPoint 
Tipton, April 18, 6:00 pm
Learn the basics of PowerPoint, including creating slides, inserting media, and adding animations and transitions. Registration is required.


Book Tasting @ Your Library
Tipton, April 15-20
Stop in at the library during National Library Week and have a seat at one of our many Book Tasting Tables. Relax and devour some tasty treats. Enjoy the opportunity to step outside the types of books you would normally read and find some new favorites.


Annual Tipton Art Guild Show @ the Library
Tipton, April 15-30
Tipton County Artists showcase their artwork at the library. Stop in an see Tipton's talented artists. Many pieces are for sale.

Click here to view more events on our April 2013 Happenings flyer. 

Audiobook Review--The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson

Summary: An account of the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 relates the stories of two men who shaped the history of the event—architect Daniel H. Burnham, who coordinated its construction, and serial killer Herman Mudgett.

Brittany’s comments: I’ve been meaning to read this one for a few years now, and I finally picked it up. I love Chicago, history, and true crime, so it’s no surprise that I liked this book. I didn’t know much about the 1983 Chicago World’s Fair before reading this, but the book provided plenty of details about the planning and construction of the fair. The book alternates chapters about the architect, Burnham, and the serial killer, Mudgett. Sometimes I found myself hoping that the sections about the architect and the fair would move just a little faster so I could get to the parts about the serial killer because they were more intriguing. I enjoyed Tony Goldwyn's narration of the audiobook, and I think listening to the audio version helped hold my attention better than reading the print book would have, especially during the extremely detailed chapters about the fair.

I recommend The Devil in the White City to readers for its well-researched historical information mixed with an engrossing account of true crime. Some parts of it read almost like a novel, so even those who don’t normally enjoy nonfiction should give this one a try.

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Request a large print copy

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Book Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Description:
When your son can't look you in the eye...does that mean he's guilty? Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject - forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he's always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he's usually right. But when Jacob's small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob's behaviors are hallmark Asperger's, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob's mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

Brittany's comments: 
I've enjoyed several of Jodi Picoult's books, so I decided to give this one a try. Picoult is great at writing about controversial and current topics from multiple perspectives. Her books usually involve some sort of legal battle as well, which keeps me interested as I try to predict what will happen at the end. I was able to figure out one of the big plot twists early on, but it was still interesting to watch all the events and discoveries unfold from different characters' perspectives. It was especially interesting to get in the minds of a character with Asperger's and his family members. If you're a fan of courtroom dramas  and stories about family relationships, pick this one up!

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Oscar winners @ your library

Did you watch the Oscars this year? 

The library has several of the Oscar-nominated and winning films for you to check out for free. Click on a movie title to visit our catalog and request a copy.

Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing: Argo

Animated Feature Film: Brave

Costume: Anna Karenina 

Sound Editing: Zero Dark Thirty 

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln 

Directing, Cinematography, Original Score, Visual Effects: Life of Pi 

Other films nominated in various categories:

 Flight

 Beasts of the Southern Wild

 The Master

 Frankenweenie

 Wreck-It Ralph

 ParaNorman

 The Pirates! Band of Misfits

 Snow White and the Huntsman

 Marvel's The Avengers

 Prometheus

New eBooks - February 2013

The following eBooks are now available to download from our digital library. Enjoy these eBooks on your computer, eReader, tablet, or smartphone! 

Fiction

• The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
• A Brewing Storm by Richard Castle
• The Passage by Justin Cronin
• The House on Olive Street by Robyn Carr
• Sunrise Point by Robyn Carr
• Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr
• Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich
• All She Ever Wanted by Barbara Freethy
• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
• Somebody to Love by Kristan Higgins
• You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson
• When They First Met by Debbie Macomber
• Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery
• Almost Summer by Susan Mallery 
• Only Mine by Susan Mallery
• Only Yours by Susan Mallery
• Only His by Susan Mallery
• A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin
• A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
• A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin
• Snatched: A Novella by Karin Slaughter

Nonfiction

• The Belly Fat Diet by John Chatham
• A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer