The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey

Set in a futuristic England, most of the human population has been turned into Zombies by a strange fungus in this dystopian young adult horror eBook. Zombies or “hungries” as they are called in the book spread this fungus through bites. Our heroine, Melanie is not like other people, she and the other children living on the army compound are all “hungries” but unlike the others of their kind they can still relate to the world around them and have seemed to keep their human intelligence. For the safety of all those on the compound the children are locked in their cells and only brought out for class time when they are strapped to wheelchairs, until one day when they compound is attacked. Melanie escapes with her favourite teacher, a scientist and two of the army men from the base and the story follows them as they try to find safety.

The reviewer enjoyed this book very much, it was well written and they enjoyed the character development. As a plus, it has been made into a movie (available on Netflx) that is quite faithful to the book. You can find this title in audio and eBook format from eLibraries Manitoba.

My Enemy My Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes

This Christian fiction novel is about a young woman named Deirdre who is raised in her American father’s schooner during the war of 1812 between American and England. When the ship is captured by a British Privateer, all the crew is imprisoned and her father dies. She marries the Privateer in order to be free and is determined to also free her crew which she thinks of as family.

The reviewer liked Deirdre’s determination and how she knew exactly what to do to keep the ship from capsizing in a storm, but knew nothing about femininity, as she had dressed as a boy all her life. If you like the sound of this novel head into your local branch and request a copy!

The Day the world came to town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede

After the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the pentagon, American officials closed all of the US airspace. As a result 38 jetliners bound for the United States were forced to land at Gander International Airport. Gander, Newfoundland is a city of just over 10,000 people and suddenly they had 7,000 extras that needed to be looked after.

The people of Gander immediately stepped up to the plate. Even local bus drivers who were on strike came off the picket lines to transport passengers to various shelters set up at local schools and churches. Residents opened their houses to stranded passengers who hadn’t had a shower in days, and didn’t care where the passengers were from or what religion they were, the passengers were simply people needing help.

This book is the stories of some of the residents and the passengers. The reviewer felt an overwhelming sense of pride as they read their accounts. They felt so good to be a Canadian.

The Waiting Place by Sharron Arksey

The Waiting Place is a work of fiction about a young farm wife in labour with her first child. As each chapter progresses so does our main character’s labour and along the way we see the memories and stories from her perspective and that of the other female family members. It is a story about relationships, secrets and family obligations.

Duty, desire, love, and purpose. Who we want to be and whom we want in our lives. As Susan prepares for the birth of her first child, she contemplates her role as a mother, wife, and partner on the family farm through the lives of the women closest to her. In a world of wanting and waiting, is fulfillment always beyond reach?

Sharron Arksey will be visiting all the South Central Regional Library branches on October the 4^th and 5^th  and talking about The Waiting Place. Contact your local branch for exact times and dates!

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is a kid from Manhattan who’s been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and labeled a big trouble maker. Percy has been accused of stealing Zeus’ master bolt from Greek mythology and this blend of myth with real life gives this book a unique setting and very interesting characters.

The reviewer liked that the characters were relatable and realistic, besides their supernatural abilities. Rick Riordan blends the world of Greek mythology and modern New York together and captures you in the first chapter. You’ll want to keep reading.