The Charlotte Blood Chronicles Death in the Aviary by Victoria Dowd*

 Charlotte Blood's editor-in-chief sends her to investigate a year-old murder. Her cover? She is there to write an article about the family's ravens. 

The wealthy Ravenswick family lost its heir a year ago on New Year's Eve in 1928. As Charlotte resides and investigates at the Abbey, the secretive family and the moors seem to be plotting against her. A couple of near death incidents convince her that something sinister is uniting the family.

As the reader uncovers the Ravenswick family secrets with Charlotte, they also realize that Charlotte is stumbling upon her deceased husband's seemingly double-life. And who is her landlady, Mrs. C? Is she really only a landlady who writes mystery novels (which no one seems to have read!) and who likes to drink whiskey? Charlotte's own life is interesting, not just the mysteries she solves. I am looking forward to book #2 in September. 

The setting on the moors is also a character. This book is gothic!

Warnings: The dead heir's wife is having an affair with his brother. The brother's wife knows this and accepts it. Some sentences about them "messing around" and flirting/foreplay is mentioned. Celeste, whose father is having the affair,  has seen them being intimate and recorded her observations in her journal. Nothing too descriptive but still enough that I would not share this book with a high schooler. Celeste is a disturbed young girl. I felt so sorry for her yet she creeped me out a bit with her violent descriptions in her journal.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold*

 Aidyn, a reporter for the Kansas City Star, asserts herself too far. Her superiors send her on an assignment that is perceived as insulting-writing someone's obituary. Clara Kip has been admitted to a hospice care unit. Intitially Aidyn assesses her subject as ordinary. As she begins to ask questions and research this woman's life, she discovers not only an interesting life but one that has impacted others for eternity.

I loved Mrs. Kip! She reinforced the importance of truly loving people and reminding oneself that each person before us are eternal souls. She also teaches the reader how to live and to die well. 

I did not think the character of Aidyn was well-developed. I did not connect to her or like her. It seemed like she was only necessary to reveal Mrs. Kip.

*Highly recommend but see my above assessment.

-Borrowed from the library.

Dante's Inferno A graphic novel adaptation by Paul & Gaetan Brizzi*

 Twin Brizzi brothers allow a wider audience to appreciate Dante's great work. I have not read The Divine Comedy and find even the idea of reading it intimidating. My son, who will be a junior this coming school year, will be reading Dante's Inferno. He's not intimidated! When I found this adaptation, I was thrilled. It helps build schema and gives confidence to read the original work. I am undecided if I will have him read this adaptation because of the warning below.

I read online that the brothers are working on adpatations for the rest of The Divine Comedy!

*Highly recommend for high school through adult (To be expected: the setting is hell, the people are evil & act evil!)--but read warning below before handing to a high school boy.

Warning: All the people are naked. Some illustrations depict women's full breasts. The women are grotesque so they are not alluring. But would seeing them lead a boy to seek to look at more appealing images? 

-Borrowed from the library.

Let's Go Home by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin*

 I savored the illustrations in this book. I have not read through a picture book this slowly in a long time! 

With her perfect word choice and pacing, Ms. Rylant welcomes the reader into a home and reflects with them the wonderful attributes each room contains. Her words and Ms. Halperin's images will summon memories in the reader's mind. 

The illustrations are whimsical and detailed. The reader will feel like they are visiting an actual home as they gaze at each page. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library (but if I see it in a store, I will buy it!).

The Blue Hill Meadows by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Ellen Beier**

 What a lovely collection of stories about the Meadow Family-Sullivan, Eva, Ray, and Willie who live in Blue Hill, VA with their dogs, Lady & Sam. The four stories, one for each season, focus on Willie, a third grader. Over the course of a year, Willie gains two dogs, goes fishing for the day with his father, gets stuck in a blizzard at his teacher's house, and gives his mother the best Mother's Day gift ever.

The illustrations suit the tone of the stories perfectly!

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Garden Adventures of Griswald the Gnome by Daniela Drescher Translated by Anna Cardwell

 Originally written in German

Griswald loves living in his rain barrel. Each short chapter focuses on a different adventure he experiences. The narrator is a human who owns the garden and lives in the house.

The illustrations are beautiful. 106 pages

-Borrowed via ILL.

The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit translated by Elisa Amado

 The chickens are content with their mundane lives. Then the capybaras arrive. They are different. Can they be trusted? Until hunting season is over, the chickens agree to allow them to stay. Rules are established. The rules are broken. Then a capybara performs a heroic feat and transforms the chickens' opinions of them.

I liked the dry, subtle humor. The illustrations add to the story. While reading it, I was wondering if the author was trying to express his opinion on immigration. 

-Borrowed from the library.