MADreads Reviews

Every month there are new titles purchased for the Too Good to Miss collections at our libraries. If you're not familiar with TGTM (as we call it here in library-world), it's a special collection of popular books that are truly too good to miss. Some are new and popular titles, others are older titles that might not have had as much media attention as a bestseller or celebrity book club selection but are still great reads that deserve another look.

In this very darkly funny adventure (think way amped up Deadpool humor), Carl is saved from annihilation by aliens because his soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend's prizewinning cat, Princess Donut, has escaped their apartment. While he's freezing outside in the wee hours of the morning, barefoot in his boxer shorts and a jacket, trying to re-capture Princess Donut, Carl sees every physical structure flattened, literally. Anyone who was in those buildings? Gone. He knows that because an alien announcer tells him so.

Chris Nickson really, really loves his hometown of Leeds, England. The music journalist and mystery novelist has written, by this point, four detective series spanning two hundred years set in Yorkshire’s largest city. While each series could loosely be considered police procedurals, what makes Nickson’s series stand out is the portrait of the city itself—a place largely off the beaten path for many crime readers—as it progresses from a regional center of the wool and agricultural trade to sprawling industrial boom town bursting with late Victorian optimism.

Tessa, a young Cree girl, wants to learn beading from her grandmother, or Kohkom. But her mother informs her that first, she must learn why beads and beading are important to them. The two of them visit Kohkom, and she proceeds to lovingly teach Tessa all about the stories behind the beads. Written by a Nbisiing Nishnaabe author, What's in a Bead? shares indigenous words and customs alongside clear, bold illustrations.

It's that time of year again where the best of the year lists start appearing. Have you started your lists? Publishers Weekly has just released their best books of 2024. The categories include: Top 10, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, Poetry, Romance, SF/Fantasy/Horror, Comics, Nonfiction, Religion, Lifestyle, Picture Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult. There is something for everybody.

It seems like a perfect meet cute: wide-eyed debutante Eve Ojukwu, fresh from the hinterlands of Kepler, bumps into wealthy bachelor Esteban Mendez-Yuki of megacorp MYCorps on a half-gravity dancefloor on the ritzy satellite of New Monte. Except this is all part of a carefully orchestrated con game, hatched by Ruthi Johnson—our innocent Eve—in revenge for Mendez-Yuki’s jilting of her sister Jules, now expecting Esteban’s child back on Kepler.

At a recent book discussion of the Mystery Book Group at Lakeview we talked about Dennis Lehane's powerful (though incredibly tough to read) novel, Small Mercies. One description of the books says "this novel dives into the dark heart of American racism, weaving a complex tale of family, power, and revenge set against the backdrop of Boston's tumultuous history.

"I would never eat a child. What do you think I am...a monster?" proclaims the main character of this book who, admittedly, looks an awful lot like a monster. 

The orange creature stands in a line with a bunch of kids. Ten kids, to be exact - this is important, so pay attention. Each kid has some sort of accessory - a kite, a soccer ball, knitting needles, etc. 

Don't miss these new fall-themed picture books that showcase the season:

Is it November yet? While the air might be filled with anticipation about a major event on November 5, there is the anticipation that comes of finding something new to read.  With October offering an abundance of big titles and notable debuts, November and December might be a bit thin by comparison, but there’s still plenty look forward to.  The highlights:

Feel the playful and rhythmic beat in One, Two, Grandpa Loves You. The story starts with a child packing her unicorn backpack for a visit with grandpa. They are ready for many outdoor adventures! They hike, explore, find baby birds, and munch trail mix. All the while repeating the phrase: “One, two, Grandpa loves you!” like a sweet reassuring hug. The illustrations are bold and colorful and show each vignette of the grandpa and grandchild’s time spent together. Green and leafy trails, star-filled skies, and majestic purple mountains set the scene.

Every month there are new titles purchased for the Too Good to Miss collections at our libraries. If you're not familiar with TGTM (as we call it here in library-world), it's a special collection of popular books that are truly too good to miss. Some are new and popular titles, others are older titles that might not have had as much media attention as a bestseller or celebrity book club selection but are still great reads that deserve another look.

Only Child opens with a tense and heartbreaking scene as Zach Taylor and the rest of his first grade class huddle in a closet waiting for the gunfire of an active shooter in their school to stop. Zach is six and though his class has practiced hiding like this, he and his classmates don't really know what's happening. They just know that they're scared and confused. Once Zach leaves that closet, he'll find the world as he knew it has irrevocably changed - because while Zach has survived, his older brother Andy has not.

The day has begun and the world is full of noises, lights, sounds, and feelings. The alarm clock is loud, the sun is bright, and the shirt is too itchy. Our main character is struggling and experiencing sensory overload. How will she navigate her day when the world is so loud, bright, and overwhelming?

The grownups in her life allow her to self-regulate and tell them what she needs. Slowly, our main character is able to have a gentle hug, quiet time, and personal space in a dark place surrounded by comfy things.

This sensitive and empowering middle grade graphic novel focuses on changes associated with adolescence. Set in modern-day Montreal, Adèle is enjoying her winter break when she discovers something new about herself: she can see and hear ghosts. Adèle first hears voices in the backseat of the car while her sister is driving her to the Mile End Library. Then she sees the same elderly man waiting outside her family's convenience store, the Blue Goose Dépanneur, several days in a row.  

October brings with it a particularly special time of year here in Madison: the return of the Wisconsin Book Festival, this October 17-20. This year’s events include authors of national standing to student writers embarking on new careers; topics of politics, poetry, science and culture to things that go bump in the night and just plain good stories that will keep you reading late into the night. And best of all, it’s all free. Check out the events page and plan your schedule—some events require advance registrations.

Does it ever get old??? No, it does not. Animal books are one of the staples of any library kids collection and these two are extra fun. In close up, highly detailed color photos, the reader is asked if they are looking at a “butt” or a “face” of an animal. Turn the page and get your answer along with interesting facts about the animal in question.Some animals are easy guesses, but most are exotic surprises.  Who knew an Australian Mary River Turtle breathes through its butt and can stay underwater for several days at a time?

A couple of months ago, my colleague Jane posted a book review for A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and described it as “a warm hug of a book.” I really needed a warm book hug at the time and I read it… three times. Ever since I have been on the hunt for that warm hug feeling. A book about people making connections, showing up for each other, and making the most out of their lives. It’s a big ask, and not something you find every day.

Do you love Dragons? Do you love silly picture books? Do you love excellent read-alouds that get more and more ridiculous until you're a  giggles on the floor? Do you love books that sneakily teach concepts like MATH to little kiddos so you can give yourself a "I am a great parent!" pat on the back? This book is for you!!

Desmond Aloysius Limerick (Dez) is a retired gatekeeper. What's a gatekeeper you may ask? Well in Dez's case, a kind of cross between Jack Reacher, MacGyver, and John McClane. His former profession had him working ops around the world and as a gatekeeper he was responsible not only for getting his teams into whatever location they needed to enter, but making sure they all got out too. He was an expert on entrances and exits of all kinds. His current life has him living in southern California and sitting in on an occasional musical gig.