Book reviews by the Denver Public Library –
Sam Gary branch librarians

 

ADULT

 

At the Edge of the Orchard
by Tracy Chevalier

Tracy Chevalier’s eighth historical novel introduces a family struggling to establish an apple orchard in the heart of Ohio swamplands in 1838. The novel bounces between 1836 and 1856 and is told in alternating voices, letters, and accounts. The characters are raw, the emotions real, and the details impecable. As one reviewer said, you can smell the apples and damp earth. The rich narrative and the incorporation of historical figures, William Lobb and John Chapman, is intriguing. –Emily

The Girls
by Emma Cline

This mesmerizing book takes place in California in the 1960s. Our protagonist is a lonely teenager named Evie, who sees a group of free spirits in the park and soon becomes caught up in their world. Evie strikes up a close friendship with an older girl named Suzanne and starts spending time with a soon to be infamous cult and their charismatic leader based on Charles Manson. They spend a lot of time at an abandoned ranch and Evie is enchanted and desperate to be accepted by this strange group. This is a beautifully written and fascinating read. –Kelly

 

All the Missing Girls
by Megan Miranda

This is a great little mystery told in reverse chronological order over two weeks that includes a current missing woman and our main character Nicolette’s best friend’s disappearance 10 years earlier that was never solved. Is it possible they are related? Did her brother, father, or high school boyfriend have anything to do with it either then or now? When the bodies start turning up, what truths will Nick have to face? This is a psychological thriller in the same genre as Hawkins’ The Girl On The Train that will keep you guessing until the end. –Kristi

 

TEEN

2 Sisters: A Super-Spy Graphic Novel
by Matt Kindt

This is a hefty book for a graphic novel, but it’s a quick read. Matt Kindt’s expressive drawings weave a narrative that threads multiple story lines across a diverse timeline, from ancient Rome, through the golden age of high seas piracy, and into a chaotic Europe deep in the throes of WWII. At the center of the book is Elle, a melancholy country girl who is recruited by His Majesty’s secret service. Violence, lies, and betrayal is commonplace in the life of a professional spy. But Elle has her own secrets. –Thane

 

KIDS

Raymie Nightingale
by Kate DiCamillo

Two-time Newbery Award winning author Kate DiCamillo is back. Her latest book uses details from DiCamillo’s own life to tell the story of a girl who enters a beauty pageant after her father abandons her family. As she comes to grips with this loss, Raymie meets new friends in unexpected places and learns that sometimes, life’s biggest questions have no answers. Told with DiCamillo’s signature quirky wit, with a mixture of the hilarious and the tragic, Raymie Nightingale is a memorable story of friendship, Florence Nightingale, and tuna fish. –Katie

 

Dog Man
by Dav Pilkey

Fans of Captain Underpants will recognize Dog Man from comics written by George and Harold within the Captain Underpants books. Now, Dog Man gets his own adventure as the world’s greatest detective. He’s half man, half dog, and ordinary criminals don’t stand a chance! Dog Man’s nemesis, Petey the Cat, concocts dastardly plans that involve giant vacuum cleaners, jailbreaks, and an evil pencil that sucks all the words from books. Kids won’t be able to stop laughing, and neither will their parents. Full of cleverness, hilarity, and poop jokes, Dog Man is a real treat. –Katie