We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver

 Can't decide what I think about this.

The Mirage by Matt Ruff

Clever, funny, provocative . . . and then it all devolved into silly supernaturalism.

The Silent Land by Graham Joyce

Intense, weird, and ultimately unsatisfying.

A Bitter Truth by Charles Todd

 meh.

Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer

 I read this for Simon's school.  It is a great choice for middle or high school science:  very interesting and not too long.  (But if you've already read another book about viruses, this will be too basic.)

White Heat by Melanie McGrath

 A decent mystery in a fascinating setting.

Noah's Compass by Anne Tyler

 meh

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

 A very engaging book, but the ending felt rushed and sort of tacked on.

Trigger Point by Matthew Glass

 You know, I don't normally do political thrillers but this one just sucked me right in.  It was completely engaging and also thought-provoking.  Recommended.

Note:  The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton

meh

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Jesus and His World by Craig A. Evans

An unnecessarily polemical introduction and some unwarranted conclusions combine with fascinating insights in this work.


Note:  The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The Reconstructionist by Nick Arvin

I really enjoyed reading this but the ending confused me.

Note: The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

Vital Circuits by Steven Vogel

 I read this along with Simon as part of his Biology studies.  Some parts were absolutely fascinating and others were kind of boring.

Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

 This did nothing for me.  If you want to read plantation lit, try The Kitchen House.

Note:  The publisher provided me with a digital review copy of this book.

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

meh.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

 A good, solid mystery.  I'll definitely look into the other ones in this series.  (And it fed my Downton Abbey fixation, although the setting isn't quite as rich.)  (And it is still only $1.99 in the Kindle store.)

His Majesty, Queen Hatshepsut by Dorothy Carter

I read this to the boys.  It was OK.

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

 Decent.

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

meh.

The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault

 Clever, quirky, and unique--I really enjoyed reading this book.