Flush by Carl Hiaasen

A father in jail for taking the law into his own hands. A mother using the dreaded “D” word with her lawyer. A casino boat dumping raw sewage into protected waters—and getting away with it. A mysterious disappearance—possibly murder. How much worse could the outlook be?

When a clever brother and sister, with the aid of an angry waitress, step forward to do their part, everything really gets moving. But it will take a couple of bullies to really do the job in this surprise ending, which just goes to show that “what goes around comes around.”

 

The Witches of Dredmoore Hollow by Riford McKenzie

Elijah isn't known for his bravery. As his father says, his imagination tends to get the better of him. But Elijah's imagination isn't to blame when his two strange aunts arrive at Dredmoore Hollow and whisk him away to stay with them, right after his parents suddenly leave town.

Elijah discovers that secrets and magic are part of the Dredmoore family legacy and there's no hiding from your roots--no matter how deep and dark and tangled they may be.

"Things That Are" by Andrew Clements

A novel full of adventure, romance, and mystery, a story about learning to trust the things we know but cannot see.

Alicia's total blindness is a harsh fact. But she still sees what's going on. She sees how her parents want her to be independent, but can't quite let go. She sees Bobby edging closer, sees their relationship approaching new territory. And she sees William, at first just another invisible form, a voice. Except William is invisible to everyone, not just Alicia.

Oodles of Animals by Lois Ehlert

Come take a look--it's creatures galore! You will find crawlers,creepers,a green-legged leaper: Quackers, cluckers, a red-headed cheeper. A barker, a pincher a big-eared thinker: Honkers, howlers and oodles more.

Ms. Wiz Spells Trouble by Terence Blacker

Ms. Wiz Spells Trouble is the first book in a best selling series that was originally published in the United Kingdom.


Describing herself as a paranormal operative, the delightful Ms. Wiz uses her magic to rescue the students at St Barnabas School from one disaster after another - with outrageous results.

The Jewel of Gresham Green by Lawana Blackwell

Knowing my fondness for historical novels and for England, a friend recommended the Gresham Chronicles to me. Titles include The Widow of Larkspur Inn, The Courtship of the Vicar’s Daughter, The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark, and now The Jewel of Gresham Green (which appears to be the only one available at PPL as of this writing).

Technically, I was a little disappointed in the way the stories portray Victorian England (at least, I think it is supposed to be Victorian). The author obviously did a lot of research, but 21st Century American viewpoints have a way of slipping in anyway (typical of this kind of novel). But, forgetting the technicalities, I found I enjoyed them all immensely as a fun and entertaining read. The people are almost all likeable, though not impossibly perfect—and the author loves to invent characters with amusing quirks. The plots and sub-plots are interesting, but not overly agonizing. Although not all of the characters are sweet and innocent types, the content is "family friendly." And the “bad guys” almost all either ultimately reform, or get their come-uppance. So what if they’re not entirely realistic? That’s the fun of fiction!

The Black Glove by Grant Morrison

This book is a great addition to the Batman mythos. Along with Batman and Son, Morrison is taking risks and from a creative and artistic standpoint, succeeding admirably in proving that even the oldest of comic book icons can be as fresh and interesting as the newest creator owned characters.