Looking for you next great read? See what the Newfields librarians are reading and loving this month…
Margaret’s Unicorn, by Briony May Smith
Margaret’s whole world changes when her family moves to a cottage by the sea to be near her grandma. One evening, Margaret spots a mist over the water. No, that’s not mist…clouds maybe? No, they’re unicorns descending onto the shore! They vanish as quickly as they’d appeared, but accidentally leave behind a baby, tangled in the weeds. Margaret, lonely and in need of a friend, brings him home and cares for him through the fall and winter. Together, they chase the waves, stomp on frozen puddles, and build snow unicorns. When spring finally comes around, and the other unicorns return, Margaret’s takes her small friend back to his family… but these two won’t forget one another. And though Margaret misses him, she has made a new friend, and her new cottage is starting to feel like home. -Goodreads
I loved this children’s book. I want to go live by the sea and watch unicorns materialize from the fog and eat wildflowers. The illustrations are delightful. I became lost in their detail. I suspect Briony May Smith must have drawn them from real places she has been. The story is magical and succinct.
If you want to read a book that sparks your imagination and returns you to safe child hood days this is it.
This book is available in our children’s picture book collection.
-Cori C.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.
In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
-Goodreads
As a huge fan of the movies, I decided its about time that I read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
This is the one instance I think I am grateful I watched a film adaptation before reading the book. The way Tolkien writes is almost like a history textbook (don’t let that put you off!!) so having the general knowledge of who’s who, and where the plot is heading allowed the consumption of this book to be easy and fun.
I have always loved Sam in the movies, but book Sam was even better! Talk about a loyal companion!! The fellowship is an amazing found family, and I’ve enjoyed reading their journey.
I enjoyed how much history we got from Tolkien in the book. I can see how intricate the entire world of Middle Earth is, and it’s so beautiful!
One of my favorite parts of reading this, was finding the differences between the movie and book. The ending was a bit different, certain epic lines were said by various people, and more. The differences made reading it a new experience than watching the film.
Fans of the movies who have never read the books, do it! Find the audiobook (Andy Serkis’s version is fantastic), open up the physical book and read along 🙂
This book is available in our collection as well as in audiobook and ebook format through both the Libby and hoopla apps with your library card.
-Marie S.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
[The Cosmere #28]
The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death? -Goodreads
This is my first book by Brandon Sanderson and my first foray into his literary universe of The Cosmere. If you’re looking for a lighter, standalone fantasy read, this is a great pick. As a reader who loves fantasy but struggles to wade through more dense worldbuilding series, I found Tress to be easy to jump into and immerse myself without getting bogged down or confused.
I loved the diverse and creative cast of characters. This was a story that had real depth without taking itself too seriously. One of my favorite aspects of the book was its overall tone and voice. It reminded me of The Princess Bride (which, I learned later, was Sanderson’s inspiration—”What would happen if the princess went on the adventure to save the prince?”). The story was often funny without being wholly unserious. And the characters were well developed and interesting. Tress, in particular, was a refreshing personality. She is, on the whole, a normal girl who is happy living her quiet life on a small island. But as she is drawn into an epic adventure on a dangerous sea to rescue her true love, she grows in confidence and skill. She wasn’t looking for danger or adventure but learns to embrace it.
This is a Young Adult fantasy that I recommend for all ages. I listened to the audio version on Libby and highly recommend it as the narrator was excellent.
This book is available to check out in our collection as well as in ebook and audiobook formats through both the Libby and hoopla apps.
-Brittney T.
