Shizuku Kanzaki the son of a world-renowned wine critic, Yutaka Kanzaki who just passed away. Being the only child he is expected to inherit his father`s estate, and a wine collection featuring 13 heaven blessed wines worth more than two billion yen. Shizuku, a salesman at a major beer company, never had much interest in wine and has never drank wine before in his life. Now he must compete against Issei Tomine, a prominent wine critic whom his father adopted before his death, to identify 13 mystery wines, the last being the “The Drops of God”. Whoever guesses correctly will inherit the whole collection; it`s all or nothing. An absolute page-turner, it makes learning about wine compelling and fun.

Reviewed by Cam-Tu D., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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Juliette is locked in an asylum. It’s been 264 days since she’s spoken. She has no idea if she will ever get out. One day she gets a roommate - someone she can talk to. But it’s a boy, a familiar boy. His name is Adam and he doesn`t remember her. She can’t let him touch her. The last time she touched someone bad things happened and she would never want anything bad to happen to Adam. After nearly a year in her cell she’s taken to Warner, the son of the leader of the Reestablishment. He wants to use Juliette for the very reason she was locked up in the first place. Can she and Adam escape or will Juliette become the Reestablishment`s weapon?

Reviewed by Jessica W., University City Regional

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Scoffing at the idea of a Graphic Novel biography of one of the greatest minds of all time? Don’t. It’s well done, and for those of us who are not “rocket scientists” it makes the physics easier to comprehend. Feynman believed that if you couldn’t explain something simply, then you didn’t really understand it. He took art courses and learned to play a samba instrument. He learned to be a safe cracker while working on top secret projects for the military -- much to the army’s consternation. He helped develop the atomic bomb and was on the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Above all, he didn’t let others tell him how to live, learn or teach and that made him very interesting.

Reviewed by Michele B., Plaza Midwood Branch

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`The Lake` is a quiet novel, written in language that is deceptively simple. Chihiro is a budding artist, just breaking free of a childhood spent enduring the worst aspects of small-town life. Still reeling from the death of her mother, she meets Nakajima, a fellow lost soul with whom she forms a slow but abiding bond. Over the course of the book, almost without realizing it, the reader accompanies Chihiro as she crosses the gulf between girl and woman, at the same time bringing a sort of dawn to Nakajima`s benighted existence. This is a fast and enjoyable read, powerful in its emotional revelations without ever leaving its subdued and hopeful tone.

Reviewed by Erin R., Morrison Regional

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Dorothy Hall wanted to write her autobiography to see herself in a “more understandable light.” Diane Keaton wants to fulfill her mom’s wish and to get to know her mother through her 85 journals, letters, and numerous collages. Keaton shares her and her mom’s stories through their respective diary entries, letters, and voice mails organized chronologically from 1921 to the present. Keaton is the oldest of a family of four. She also writes about her career and romances with Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, and Al Pacino. Her mom was an artist and photographer who did collages. The book has photos of the Hall family, and Keaton’s family, and her mom’s collages. This love letter to her mother is a funny, poignant, and insightful read.

Reviewed by Megan M., Main Library

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In volume 2 of “Twilight Graphic Novel,” we return to the town of Forks, Washington where Bella Swan and Edward Cullen are completely in love. In this volume, we get some background history on the Cullen family and find out just why they are `vegetarians` in the vampire community. Dating a vampire doesn’t erase normal teenager activities as Bella balances life with her Dad, homework, friends, and Prom! An innocent family game of baseball with the Cullens during a thunderstorm turns their world upside down and they are forced to think about a life without each other. This new version of the famous `Twilight` book by Stephanie Meyer is a delight to read and see!

Reviewed by Angel T., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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`The Other Wes Moore` is an incredible story about a young man from Baltimore, who got caught up in all the wrong things. His mother made the difficult decision to send him to military school at age 12 and the experience changed him for life. Around the time Wes graduated, a Rhode Scholar, from Johns Hopkins University his mother told him about another Wes Moore who grew up in their same neighborhood but was wanted for murder. After learning about the other Wes Moore, he decided to meet him and find out how two people from the same place, with the same name, could end up in two completely different places. This book will leave you feeling inspired and amazed at how people can overcome great obstacles.

Reviewed by Amrita P., Matthews Branch

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Victoria Christopher Murray and Reshonda Tate Billingsley make their fans` dreams come true with `Sinners and Saints`. In true church–drama fashion they spin a tale that would make reality television look like Sunday school. The plot gives you drama, laughter and suspense. If you haven`t read any novels about Jasmine Bush or Rachael Adams you won`t get lost in this one. What really excited me was each authors would take turns writing about their character. It’s apparent that they really had to work together as a team. This story offers readers a jam-packed, drama–filled literary ride sure to satisfy everyone who has enjoyed stories about Rachael Bush and Lady Jasmine in the past.

Reviewed by Tina C., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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What would you do with your life if it was over? Riley’s life as she knew it is over. She and her beloved dog, Buttercup, have crossed over with her parents. Only her sister, Ever, survived. Wishing she had stayed with Ever, Riley detours on her first day of school to go see how Ever is faring without her. The new school turns out to be a placement facility to figure out what Riley will do with her afterlife. After watching an embarrassing playback of her life, Riley is slated to become a soul catcher. Riley’s first assignment with her guide is to get the ghost known as the Radiant boy to cross over. Can she succeed where so many others have failed?

Reviewed by Linda K., North County Regional

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In this Harlem novel, twin sisters Diamond and Pearl are like day and night. Diamond becomes addicted to the street life at an early age while Pearl wants nothing but the complete opposite. After getting pregnant at fourteen, Pearl decides that she wants more out of life. Going back to school and heading to college she graduates and becomes an FBI agent. Pearl only returns to Harlem when she absoulutely has to. When tragedy strikes, Pearl is brought back to the hell she so desperately wanted to avoid. Pick up this jaw-dropping saga and you might just come `unzipped` also.

Reviewed by Candy H., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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