The 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

 A man wakes up in a forest calling out for someone named Anna.  He has a feeling she is in danger, and indeed, he hears a woman scream and a gun shot, but the man can't remember anything else about himself, even his name.  As the day progresses, the man discovers that he is caught in the world of Blackheath, and he is destined to relive the same day--which involves a Edwardian English dinner and ball, and ends in the death of the young woman--over and over again until he can solve the mystery of who killed Evelyn Hardcastle.  Each day his spirit inhabits a different host, and he must deal with the host's mind and memories.  There are those who don't want him to be successful, and others who seem to help him, but he doesn't know what is really going on or whom to trust. 

This is an amazing, complex, book.  It is probably one of the most intricately woven plots I have ever read. I kept thinking, "he is spinning out so many threads here, how will he ever gather them all up?"  But, amazingly he does.  The plot, however, is not even the best part of the book.  The characterizations are amazing.  As Aiden enters the head of his different hosts, the reader gets to experience what it feels like to be obese, lecherous, artistic, bloodthirsty, etc just as Aiden does. And that isn't even the best part of the book either.  The best part is Turton's word craft.  He uses the most original, yet effective, descriptions I have encountered in a long time.  I was repeatedly delighted by his turn of a phrase, or apt metaphore. It blew my mind when I found out this was Mr. Turton's first novel.

I must add that this is not a book for a literary wimp.  The recorded book version is 17 hours long, and I played it at 125% speed.  Like I said, it is super complex, and there are 20 significant characters. So take your vitamins and do your mental jumping jacks before getting into this one. (2018, 482 p.)

Summerlost by Ally Condie

 Cedar is dealing with the death of her father and brother when she goes to spend the summer with family in a town called Iron Creek.  In this town they have a Shakespeare Festival each summer, and Cedar meets a friend, Leo, who encourages her to get a job selling concessions at the fair.  While there, Cedar and Leo get caught up in a mystery about an actress from the festival who died more than a decade earlier under suspicious circumstances.  As they dig into the actress's past, they take risks that put their future at the festival at risk, but that help Cedar face her own personal grief.

I came across this book as I was putting together a list of Utah authors.  It was very popular when it came out, but I never got around to reading it.  It was a fun for me to read because of its Utah connection.  The "Summer Lost" festival is clearly inspired by the Cedar City Shakespearian festival.  My children participated in a festival workshop there one summer and got a chance to go through the underground tunnels between buildings, and see the hall of portraits and the costume shop described in the book. I thought Cedar's memories of her autistic brother were nicely blanced.  She loved him, but didn't deny that living with him was sometimes difficult. This is a nice gentle summer read. (2017, 272 p.)

Gone to the Woods by Gary Paulsen

 This is a new memoir about the life of the hugely successful author, Gary Paulsen.  This one deals with his very early childhood up to his time in the military.  At the age of five he was put on a train and sent to live with his aunt and uncle on a farm.  It was a happy time and there he learned to feel at home in the woods.  Then he talks about living in Manila while his father served on a military base there.  His parents were so caught up in alcohol and fighting that Paulsen was left to live like a street kid. His parents' neglect and abuse of him and each other continued into his teen years, but he was greatly influenced by a kind librarian who first encouraged him to write. The final part of the book talks about his time in the military and how he decided to leave his military career in the end.  

I have had the great fortune to hear Gary Paulsen speak to a small group of librarians.  I had heard some of these stories before, and some were new to me.  He is a very interesting man who has lived a life more incredible and intense than any of his amazing books.  Even though he was treated so badly as a child, he grew up to be a man with a mischevious smile and a twinkle in his eye as he tells some of his many adventures.  I am glad he wrote this book, even though it has some hard realities in it.  There are kids out there who are living their own hard realities, and maybe this book will give them a sense of kinship and hope that there may still be good things ahead, even if they are in a bad place right now. I must add a warning that this is not a great choice for a kid that is sensitive and easily upset.  I probably wouldn't give to anyone under 12 unless I thought they particularly needed it. (368 p. 2021)

Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Michael is a 15-year-old high school freshman with Tourette's syndrome.  His best friend, Austin, is brilliant, but lacks social skills.  They are definitely not in the "in" crowd, but they have a secret.  Michael can generate an electric shock and deliver it at will.  His mother has always insisted that he keep his power secret, but Austin knows and is determined to figure out how Michael's powers work.  When, one day, Michael discovers that a cheerleader, Taylor, also has electric powers, they form a club to try to find out where their power came from.  The searching alerts some evil men who want to use Michael, Taylor, and teens like them to eventually rule the world. 

This is a series that is popular with kids who like Rick Riordan and Harry Potter, but I had never read it.  When it first came out, my kids read it and told me I probably wouldn't like it because it was too violent.  This week, when I ran out of other things to read and was waiting for a hold, I decided I ought to read it because it is so popular.  As it turned out, my kids were right.  I did not like it.  It is really dark.  Michael and Taylor are tortured by an evil chick called Michelle, and manipulated by the chief bad guy in really cruel ways.  I finished the book, but I am pretty much done with Michael Vey.  Actually, I haven't really liked anything by Evans. His Christmas books I read were really over the top wish fulfillment, and in a way this was, too.  This was wish fulfillment for a teen boy (who has awesome power, defeats the bad guy, and gets the girl), while the others were what Mr. Evans thought was wish fulfillment for middle aged women.  So, yeah, I am done. (326 p. 2011)

Who was John F. Kennedy by Yona Zeldis McDonough

 John F. Kennedy suffered serious health problems all his life, but he didn't let his physical challenges slow him down.  He also lived in the shadow of a brilliant, over-achiever older brother, but where Joe was talented and focused, John was likable and fearless.  Both Joe and John shared a father that was determined that one of his sons would become President of the United States.  John always thought it would be Joe, but when Joe died in WWII, John stepped up to the plate and became the youngest man, and the first catholic, ever elected as president. 

 I was waiting for a different book I had on hold, and decided to listen to a short biography.  This one was pretty interesting.  I learned a lot about JFK in one short hour.  The book is shamelessly bias in favor of JFK, mentioning some of his failures, but none of the scandal surrounding his life and presidency, and focusing on his achievements, all recounted in glowing terms.  That is probably OK in a book written for 2nd or 3rd graders.  (112 p. 2004)

Monentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

 Aven Green was born without arms, but has a spunky, can-do attitude. That comes crumbling down when she starts high school and is the recipient of some really cruel bullying. Her family and friends turn a deaf ear to her pleas that she be allowed to become a hermit, and gradually she starts to rebuild her confidence and even experiences her first crush.

This is the second in the adventures of Aven Green.  It is pretty similar in tone and plot to the first one but that isn't a bad thing.  Even though Aven has a really obvious disability, I think most young readers will relate to how she feels and responds to bullying.  The author has a good sense of teen voice, and understands the courage it sometimes takes to do even small acts. One thing I like about the book is the portrayal of Aven's and Zion's parents.  They are quirky and geeky, but so supportive. Good supportive parents are a rarity in teen lit. (272 p. 2017)