Book review: "The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman" by Ben H. Winters

There is nothing extraordinary about Ms. Finkleman, a music teacher at Mary Todd Lincoln Middle School. In fact, nobody notices her, and the students and teachers know nothing about her. This all changes when one of her students, Bethesda, uncovers information that exposes Ms. Finkleman's rock and roll past. Soon a giant rock concert is planned featuring the seventh grade class and Ms. Finkleman. The concert helps the students discover something about themselves while also exposing the real secret behind Ms. Finkleman's past.

This book is written in a style that is similar to author Andrew Clements, who wrote the books Lunch Money and Frindle. The story has a great mixture of humor and mystery that would be a great fit for beginning mystery readers, and the constant references to popular music would engage readers with an interest in rock and roll.

Boys and girls ages 9-12 would enjoy reading this middle grade novel.

247 p.

Click on the cover or here to reserve a copy.

Book review by Vanessa

"Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes: Unforgettable Experiments That Make Science Fun" by Steve Spangler

Book review by Cathy Flying toilet paper, nails for breakfast, screaming balloons and exploding sandwich bags are just a few of the cool science tricks you will find in this book by YouTube sensation Steve Spangler. Each experiment (although these are more like science magic tricks) calls for items easily found, and most you probably already have at home. For each experiment you will find sections titled Let's Try It, Take it Further, and What's Going On Here?. So grab this book and the family and start a fun "Family Science Night!" at your house. 155 p. Grades 3-9 Click on the cover to access the book in the Library's catalog.

Click on the cover to access the book in the Library's catalog.

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over 25 years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first 12 years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of 25, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing romance novels under two pseudonyms for various publishers, when a spiritual awakening prompted her to switch gears. At the time, she was reading more suspense than romance, and felt drawn to write about ordinary people in grave danger. Her newly awakened faith wove its way into the tapestry of her suspense novels, offering hope instead of despair.

Her most recent book, Vicious Cycle, follows her New York Times best-seller Intervention. The Intervention Series deals with the subject of drug abuse and its impact on families. Other reader favorites include her books Predator and Double Minds, as well as the Restoration Series, the Newpointe 911 Series, the Cape Refuge Series, and the SunCoast Chronicles series.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country.

• The Cape Refuge Series
• Cape Refuge
• Southern Storm
• River's Edge
• Breaker's Reef
• 
  
• Seasons Series

• Seasons Under Heaven
• Showers in Season
• Times and Seasons
• Season of Blessing

• Newpointe 911 Series
• Private Justice
• Shadow of Doubt
• Word of Honor
• Trial by Fire
• Line of Duty

• Restoration Series
• Last Light
• Night Light
• True Light
• Dawn's Light

• Suncoast Chronicles
• Evidence of Mercy
• Justifiable Means
• Ulterior Motives
• Presumption of Guilt

• Second Chances
• Never Again Good-bye
• When Dreams Cross
• Blind Trust
• Broken Wings

• Other Books
• Double Minds
• Emerald Windows
• Intervention

• READ-A-LIKES
• LORI WICK - Wick is an well-known author of inspirational romance, and The Princess is a good introduction to her work since it is similar in tone to several of Blackstock's romances. Other works from Wick that readers might enjoy include Pretense or The Visitor.
• DEE HENDERSON - Fans of Blackstock might try reading Danger in the Shadows with it’s suspenseful romance. The book is conducted within the framework of Christian beliefs with a tone similar to Blackstock's. Other books in the series include The Negotiator, The Guardian, The Truthseeker, The Protector, The Healer and The Rescuer.
• KRISTEN HEITZMANN- Some of her more recent releases have been set in contemporary times and provide another possibility for readers who enjoy the small-town atmosphere and ordinary working-class characters of Blackstock's Christian suspense. Twilight is the story of a young woman whose first marriage disintegrated. Blackstock fans might also enjoy Echoes or Unforgotten.