KDL Recommends

It is the second and final book of the “Anna Dressed in Blood” series. Cas, our ghost hunter, is trying to move on after Anna sacrificed herself to save him and his friends. Four months later, he is starting to see her in dreams, in other ghosts, and wandering around. Anna appears tortured, in a different way every time he sees her. Cas doesn’t know what happened to her, or where she is, but he knows she doesn’t deserve the torture she seems to be going through. He makes it his mission to find and save her.
-Shannon at KDL’s Comstock Park branch

A very creepy ghost story set in prohibition-era New York. It gave me bad dreams. That’s how much I loved it.
-Kris at KDL’s Comstock Park branch

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.
-Beth at KDL’s Gaines Township branch

A fantastic, humorous, and often poignant look at a near future in which people work, learn and play in a virtual world know as the OASIS – a virtual world with a secret that could transform the life of one lucky player.
-Eric at KDL’s Tyrone Township branch

A great apocalyptic thriller that makes vampires scary again.
-Michael at KDL’s Cascade Township branch

This a page-turner and a tear-jerker!
-Theresa at KDL’s Byron Township branch

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone is a terrific science fiction/fantasy book. While difficult to understand this unique world created by Gladstone, I loved this book! The characters are unique and appealing, the plot is interesting, the writing is excellent. The cover is cool too!
-Shaunna at KDL’s Grandville branch

I read this for my book club, and we had an excellent discussion. One review said the book is “about an unconventional family forced to come together and re-create its own legacy.” It is a book about family, but it’s also about how different people may react to a stressful situations. I have not seen the movie but I am told it is good though very different from the book.
-Marlys at KDL’s Wyoming branch

This system makes weeknight meal planning much easier, and it’s great for shaking up stale meal-time habits. I haven’t completely adopted the system, but I have enjoyed several of the innovative recipes. If you’re super busy, but still like to be creative in the kitchen, give this cookbook a try.
-Ali at KDL’s Service Center

Truth be told, I started crying about halfway through this book and didn’t stop until it I was done with it. I usually don’t go for tear-jerkers, but the main character, Fern, was relatable and the writing was fast-paced. The story revolves around a family in the restaurant business, and also the relationships between four siblings. I felt like I was a member of the family too, and couldn’t stop turning the pages. Highly recommend, with a box of Kleenex.
-Liz at KDL’s Plainfield Township branch

I would like to recommend Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey. This is the tale of a young woman who, on the walk through the woods to a Grannie’s house, gets bitten by a wolf and the next day is caught up in much more then she would have ever thought possible. With a strong heroine, a hospitable werewolf, and magic galore, this is a unique blend of fairy tales that will keep almost anyone up past their bedtime!
-Sarah at KDL’s Wyoming branch

I recently finished The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan. It starts with the story of young Misskaella, who has the uncanny power to draw out the human part of the seals who live near the island. Not understood on the island, Misskaella lives a secret life of pain and soon begins to draw up sea-wives for the Rollrock men in a kind of terrible repayment. The narrative is told from various points of view as time progresses, creating a story that tells of the private inner lives we all hold and the unfathomable and interconnected nature of our actions.
-Dawn at KDL’s Gaines Township branch

Contemporary British mystery introducing Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy.
-Melissa at KDL’s Service Center

I would recommend The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann which is about a society that purges thirteen-year-olds who are creative. Identical twins, Alex and Aaron, are separated, one to attend University while the other, supposedly Eliminated, finds himself in a wondrous place where youths hone their abilities and learn magic. I just finished reading the second book Island of Silence. I love the value placed on creativity and integrity by the citizens of the magical land of Artime, where risk-taking is encouraged and learning from mistakes is celebrated, versus the neighboring village of Quill which is based solely on logic.
-Wendy at KDL’s Walker branch

How to be a Woman, by Caitlin Moran is not only a thought-provoking diatribe on the trials and travails of being a modern woman, but one of the the funniest book I have ever read.
-Heidi at KDL’s Service Center

I’ve heard this is the first work of fiction by a woman who served in Vietnam, and these short stories by the former OR nurse are profound, moving and stark. I’ve read a lot of fiction and non-fiction about Vietnam and this is a fascinating portrayal. Don’t read at bedtime; you won’t sleep well.
-Morgan at KDL’s Service Center

Excellent book on statistical concepts and comparisons…ex: ...”I trained for 6 years…that’s a kindergartener’s whole life…that’s the same as 42 dog years!” or Every week in practice I swam 60,000 meters…in 6 years I swam 12,480 miles…that’s 183,040 trips around bases…or like swimming the full length of the Great Wall of China 3 time!”
-Laura at KDL’s Plainfield Township branch

I fell in love with this book and have been re-reading it a little bit every day. The advice columns seem universal to me and Strayed is able to weave in so much poignancy into each one.
-Morgan at KDL’s East Grand Rapids branch

I love this main character. Her story will stay with you long after the book ends.
-Michelle at KDL’s Service Center

These 11 interconnected stories explore the depths and struggles of faith and life in a close-knit community of Dutch-Canadian families in rural Alberta; it is a satisfying book that leaves the reader with an appreciation for the complexities of life and love. The author was a presenter at the Calvin College Festival of Faith and Writing last spring.
-Helen Kay at KDL’s Spencer Township branch

“A Separation” won the Academy Award for Best Foreign movie, but I still wasn’t sure how good it was going to be until I started watching it. A husband and wife in modern-day Iran are fighting over how to care for the husband’s ill father. The wife moves out, and the husband hires a woman to care for the old man. A tragedy ensues, and the movie takes us through the various versions of the event as seen by those involved. Richly nuanced in its various characters, this movie is a must-see, even if you don’t like foreign movies. Its themes are universal.
-David at KDL’s Plainfield Township branch