The Book Search

 I've allowed myself a little latitude over the last few weeks, to read some grown up books for a change.  They were lots of fun and I hope you'll like these as well! The first one is called 'What Happened to the Bennetts?" by Lisa Scottoline.  I've read several of Lisa's other books and they are always well thought out and surprising mysteries.  This one was no different.  The book opens with a family returning from field hockey game.  Jason Bennett, the dad is driving, his wife is giving advice, his daughter, the field hockey player is making snarky comments while on her phone and his son is whining.  Typical family outing.  Until they notice a car in the rearview mirror that doesn't seem to want to let them go.  After a completely horrific act of violence, the family is whisked away to the witness protection program, in spite of their protests.  I could keep telling you the plot line but it would be mean to reveal any more of this tightly woven story or

 It's so exciting to find new books to read!  This week had some terrific ones-check these out! The first one is called The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill.  I love Kelly Barnhill's work.  I loved Iron Hearted Violet and I loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon.  I might love this one even more.  The narrator in this story at first appears to be an omniscient third person and tells the story of very different characters.  A group of orphans living with kind but poor and elderly caretakers.  An ogress who has been chased from her home by an evil dragon.  A murder of crows.  The mayor of a small village called Stone-in-the-Glen.  The story unfolds a little at a time-the orphans are very different from each other but each one has a strength that supports the family.  The Ogress is just trying to live her best life, in spite of the prejudice of the humans around her.  The mayor is trying to gather as much treasure as he possibly can.  The village was once beautiful and full of