Check out these book reviews from Deena. Deena was a member of the Library’s Patron Service Team who recently retired. She has generously continued to share book reviews with us. Thank you, Deena!
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The Return by Rachel Harrison DB99780
Four college friends are spending the weekend at a hotel. They are with their friend, Julie, who went missing for two years and has just returned with no memory of what happened to her during that time. Julie seems changed and strange things begin happening at the hotel like noises, shadows and unexplained coldness. The hotel seemed haunted. One of the friends becomes ill and doesn’t appear to be getting any better. This is a creepy, spooky and sometimes a gory page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris DB93331
1931: Ellis is a reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper. He takes a picture of several children with a sign that says “Children for Sale”. The editor is enthusiastic about the picture and thinks it maybe his big break. The picture is ruined before it can be published and the editor demands Ellis get another picture. When Ellis returns to the home, the family is gone, so he poses two other children living nearby with the sign for his picture. Later, he learns these two children were sold and he feels he needs to make things right. He locates the mother of the children, who thought she was dying, but has since recovered and wants her children back. Ellis and a woman, Lily, who works at the newspaper, set out to find the children. They suffer several setbacks and harrowing experiences. The story in this time period gives you a sense of the Great Depression, and how desperate people were to find work and hungry. A very touching story.
Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade DBC02898
This is a well-written book and a lot is based on the author’s family history.
1919: Rachel and her brother, Sam are put in an orphanage. Rachel goes to an infant home where she is experimented on with X-rays and permanently loses all the hair on her body. Once she is moved to the orphanage where Sam is, Rachel is bullied because she does not have hair. As Rachel gets older, she works in the infirmary where nursing becomes her goal. After an incident at the home, Sam runs away before graduation and Rachel soon follows. Rachel eventually returns to New York and works as a nurse in 1954. The woman doctor who subjected Rachel to all the X-rays becomes Rachel’s patient in the hospital where she is working. Rachel is torn. Should she be compassionate, or should she seek revenge?
Very nice reviews!