The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown

 

The Girl in the Lake  by India Hill Brown  209 pages

Celeste knows she should be excited to spend two weeks at her grandparents' lake house with her brother, Owen, and their cousins Capri and Daisy, but she's not. After failing her swimming lessons, she is done with the water--and she knows the trip is just a way to get her in the lake. Her grandparents are strong believers in their family knowing how to swim, especially having grown up during a time of segregation at public pools. They want Celeste to have the opportunities they never did. Celeste insists on spending her visit on dry land. But soon strange things start happening when she's alone: the sound of footsteps overhead late at night. A flickering light in the attic window. And then Celeste's cousins start accusing her of playing cruel pranks on them when she's been nowhere near them! Things at the old house keep getting scarier until, one evening, Celeste looks in the steamy mirror after a shower and sees her face, but twisted, different. Who is the girl in the mirror? And what does she want?

I am not a fan of scary stories and the only reason I read this one is that it is a Mark Twain Nominee.  It wasn't too scary, but still not a favorite.  I do think kids aged 8-12 will enjoy it because it has a ghost in it, but it also teaches a lesson about overcoming your fears.  This book also teaches about civil rights and why some people say "Black people can't swim".  Even though it was a ghost story I did enjoy the main story about the family. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving-80 pages

⭐⭐⭐

This is the classic tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Ichabod is a poor school teacher (pedagogue as Irving calls him) who aspires to woo Katrina Van Tassel and potentially inherit her father's wealth. However, there's a rival suitor nicknamed "Brom Bones" who is described as a rantipole (I had to look that word up and it means rowdy/wild/reckless) hero. Brom Bones and his gang likes to play practical jokes on Ichabod. One of the legends told in Sleepy Hollow is of a Headless Hessian Horseman who rides at night. One night after his affections were possibly spurned by young Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod rides hard and fast away from her family's farm estate. He rides into the woods past the area where the Headless Horseman has been seen before. A solitary aloof rider is still a little ways down the road. After a few moments, the rider chases him and Ichabod tries to escape. However, he realized it's the Headless Horseman and as Ichabod seemingly nears escape the Headless Horseman throws his head at him and hits Ichabod in the head. Ichabod is never heard from again in Sleepy Hollow and all that's found is a smashed pumpkin and a few of his effects. Was it really the Headless Horseman or was it Brom Bones playing another practical joke?? 

I could definitely tell this was first written and published in 1820 by the language used. In addition to rantipole mentioned above words such as higgledy-piggledy (arranged in a confused/confusing manner), niggardly (boring), coquette, and negro are all used mostly as adjectives or nouns. Irving spends quite a few pages describing Sleepy Hollow, Tarry Town, and their inhabitants, especially Ichabod Crane. Very few pages are actually spent describing Ichabod's encounter with the Headless Horseman. Overall, I thought the book was okay. I actually prefer the movie "Sleepy Hollow" with Johnny Depp and so many other great actors/actresses. It takes the premise of the Headless Hessian Horseman and turns it into a paranormal mystery with elements of horror. 

Kit McBride Gets a Wife

Kit McBride Gets a Wife by Amy Barry | 328 pages | 2022

Kit McBride knows that Buck's Creek, Montana, is no place to find a wife. Between him and his three brothers--plus little Junebug--they manage all right on their own, thank you very much. But unbeknownst to Kit, his sister is sick to death of cleaning, cooking, and mending for her big brothers, so she places an ad in The Matrimonial News to get them hitched.
After Maddy Mooney emigrated from Ireland, she found employment with an eccentric but poor widow. When her mistress decides to answer an ad for a mail-order bride, Madd​y is dragged along for the ride to Montana. But en route to the West, Maddy is suddenly abandoned and left to assume the widow's name, position, and matrimonial prospects....
With no other recourse in the wilderness, Maddy must convince Kit not only is she who she says she is, but she's the wife he never knew he needed.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

This romance was totally different than what I usually read, and I loved it.
Each character was so well written out, even our naive little narrator Junebug. Reading her chapters gave me the same experience as her brothers: frustration, softened with endearment. Maddy was a delight, Kit was swoony, and all of our supporting characters immersed me in this slice of the early American West. The only wish I had was for a little bit more at the end, as everything moved very quickly. Still we got our HEA (with some excellent closed-door tension) and everyone (well, except Willabelle) learned their lesson. I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

The Two Wrong Halves of Ruby Taylor by Amanda Panitch

 The Two Wrong Halves of Ruby Taylor  by Amanda Panitch  314 pages

Of her two granddaughters, Grandma Yvette clearly prefers Ruby Taylor's perfect--and perfectly Jewish--cousin, Sarah. They do everything together, including baking cookies and having secret sleepovers that Ruby isn't invited to. Twelve-year-old Ruby suspects Grandma Yvette doesn't think she's Jewish enough. The Jewish religion is matrilineal, which means it's passed down from mother to child, and unlike Sarah's mother, Ruby's mother isn't Jewish. So when Sarah starts acting out--trading in her skirts and cardigans for ripped jeans and stained T-shirts, getting in trouble at school--Ruby can't help being somewhat pleased. Then Sarah suddenly takes things too far, and Ruby is convinced her cousin is possessed by a dybbuk, an evil spirit... that Ruby may or may not have accidentally released from Grandma Yvette's basement. Ruby is determined to save her cousin, but a dybbuk can only be expelled by a "pious Jew." If Ruby isn't Jewish enough for her own grandmother, how can she possibly be Jewish enough to fight a dybbuk?

This is a Mark Twain nominee book.  It is a mix between realistic fiction with details of the Jewish religion and fantasy with ghosts and evil spirits.  I love reading about religions. This one was a little weird for me, because I really don't like fantasy.  It was definitely written for pre-teen girls, because it has their personalities all over it. 

Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie

 Hallowe'en Party (Hercule Poirot, #41) by Agatha Christie-259 pages

⭐⭐⭐

This is our next Book to Movie Club selection. The movie based on the book is called "A Haunting in Venice." A young girl, Joyce Reynolds, is drowned in a tub of apples (for bobbing for apples) at a Halloween party. Hercule Poirot's author friend, Ariadne Oliver, who was at the party asks him to investigate the murder. This book is a bit meandering and unfocused. It is definitely not Agatha Christie's best work. It does pick up a bit near the end, though. The ending does pretty much wrap things up and tie all the ends together, but I am still not fully satisfied with it. I actually like the movie better, perhaps because the story is different and more focused.

Jefferson Barracks by Sandie Grassino

 

Jefferson Barracks by Sandie Grassino-128 pages

Like many of us, I have loved ones who are buried in Jefferson Barracks.  My dad shipped out on a train from there in 1942 to head to Indio, CA to train under General Patton.  So, when this book came across my desk I grabbed it!  It is short and sweet with a lot of fascinating historic pictures. I enjoyed learning the history of Jefferson Barracks.

Founded in 1926 it was home to America's first permanent Dragoons (later the United States Cavalry), first school of Infantry, and first regiment of buffalo soldiers.  The largest induction and mustering-out center during both the First and Second World Wars. 

It is now home to the Missouri Air National Guard, the VA hospital, the Historic Park, a national cemetery and many museums.  It also has many wonderful walking trails that I highly recommend.  We are fortunate to have so much history so nearby.  I enjoyed this book very much.

Try Not to Die: At Dethfest: An Interactive Adventure by Mark Tullius and Glenn Hedden

 

Try Not to Die: At Dethfest: An Interactive Adventure by Mark Tullius and Glenn Hedden - 286 pages

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF HEAVY METAL AND PREPARE FOR AN ELECTRIFYING, BONE-SHATTERING ADVENTURE. You and your friends arrive at Dethfest – the wildest metal festival of the year – expecting an evening of crushing guitar riffs, the heaviest headbanging bands, and a whole lot of partying. But as the music blares and the crowd roars, freak accidents, fights, and arrests occur across the festival. Tess is acting strange, and Kyle's talking conspiracies, but Luna seems to like you and is down to stay for the headliners. Faced with riots, stabbings, and the odd act of cannibalism, you'll need to use all your wits and make careful choices if you want to drag your friends out of this mess in one piece. Something sinister is going down at this festival – and as things become increasingly dark and twisted, you'll be forced to question if this night of partying was the worst mistake of your life... THIRTY WAYS TO DIE. JUST ONE CORRECT PATH. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE? This interactive adventure is packed with twists and turns, heart-pumping action, and plenty of opportunities to make choices that could be your last. Fans of horror, suspense, and heavy metal will love this thrilling ride through the dark side of the music scene. So put on your blackest clothes, grab your ticket, and get ready to rock out - because the stakes have never been higher than they are at Dethfest.

A quick read; you can see how many different ways the characters die, or truly try not to die; it's up to you!   Some of the options I thought would keep me alive ended up killing the characters so I enjoyed the twists.  Action packed from beginning to end.