Staff Pick: Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

From goodreads:

Seven stories of passion and love separated by centuries but mysteriously intertwined—this is a tale of horror and beauty, tenderness and sacrifice.

An archaeologist who unearths a mysterious artifact, an airman who finds himself far from home, a painter, a ghost, a vampire, and a Viking: the seven stories in this compelling novel all take place on the remote Scandinavian island of Blessed where a curiously powerful plant that resembles a dragon grows. What binds these stories together? What secrets lurk beneath the surface of this idyllic countryside? And what might be powerful enough to break the cycle of midwinterblood? From award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick comes a book about passion and preservation and ultimately an exploration of the bounds of love.

A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2013
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013

Pick it: if you are looking for a mystery that is slowly unraveled as the story travels back in time. I loved reading as the pieces of the story came together. Beautifully spooky. 

Skip it: if you want something a little more straightforward - this is definitely a strange read.

Pair with: White Crow, for another creepy read by Marcus Sedgwick.

Staff Pick: The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

From goodreads:

For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own. 

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Pick it: if you’re looking for a story that explores PTSD and the ways children can end up taking care of their parents. This book was beautiful and heart-breaking.

Skip it: if you prefer your realistic fiction to be a little less intense.

Pair with: Dana Reinhardt's The Things a Brother Knows for another story about the effects of PTSD on a family.

Reviewed by: Deena