Monday, December 14, 2015

Playaway Review: Monster Calls by Patrick Ness


Summary from Goodreads:

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.


Literary Awards

  • ALA Notable Children's Books
  • Andrew Carnegie Medal
  • Booklist starred
  • Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
  • Horn Book Magazine
  • Kirkus Reviews starred
  • Library Media Connection starred
  • New York Times
  • Publishers Weekly starred
  • School Library Journal starred
  • Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Playaway Audiobook Review

If you have never tried a Playaway you should start with this book.  The story is brought to life by the captivating performance of the narrator, Jason Isaac.  Isaac has the innate ability to tell a story using variations which help differentiate between the characters.  Although I liked many of the characters in the story my favorite was the monster because I admired his candor with Conor.  In all, it took me less than 4 hours to listen to the entire story.  But wait there is more!  As a bonus feature, there is an interview with the author Patrick Ness after the story.  Overall a great book and an even better audiobook.

Rating:  5 stars



Friday, December 11, 2015

Playaway Audiobooks


These audiobooks are fantastic and we have them here at the BLA. Stop by and check them out for the holidays.


Thursday, December 10, 2015

The Next Chapter BLA's Book Club




Summary from Goodreads:


Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8835379-ruby-red?from_search=true