WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND BRAVE BY hAZEL gAYNOR

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND BRAVE – by Hazel Gaynor Based on real people in real peril, this book follows Nancy, an eight-year-old student, and Elspeth Kent, a teacher at the Chefoo (China) School from 1939-1945. When the book begins, both Nancy and Elspeth are new arrivals at the school for children of missionaries and diplomats. The students are expected to study hard and make their way to colleges like Oxford and Harvard at the completion of their school years. When the Japanese occupy the school, life for both students and teachers abruptly changes. The book centers on how the teachers help the children cope with their very changed circumstances. Well researched and well written the story is compelling and full of incidents that portray life as “guests” of Imperial Japan from Temple Hill to Weihsein Internment Camp. Olympic medalist Eric Liddell was also interned atWeihsein and became one of the children’s teachers. The grit and perseverance of both and adults is starkly shown without excess reliance on graphic details. Book groups will find much to discuss. Older children and their parents in a combined book group would find this book absorbing and thought provoking. 5 of 5 stars

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens WOW! Just WOW! This is a great book. Murder, abandoned child, growing up alone, nature, young love, sex, ecology, love, poetry, betrayal, education, redemption, forgiveness, treachery -- it is all here. Well written with strong characters and even stronger biology, Owens debut novel is clearly a winner. The North Carolina coastal region and the animals, birds, flowers, grasses, etc. are as much a character as the human in this book. Kya, Chase, Jumpin’, Mabel and Tate are the main humans in this beautiful elegy to nature and the human spirit. Saying too much more will spoil the “mystery” in the book, so just know that is a book that should not be missed. Book groups will find much to discuss and ponder. Biologists and sportsmen/women will appreciate the accuracy of the science. 5 of 5 stars

EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs

EGG DROP DEAD by Laura Childs This 7th book in the Cackleberry Club Mysteries series finds Suzanne discovering the dead body of her cheese supplier instead of rounds of cheddar cheese. When the amateur sleuths get too close to discovering the scheme to defraud the farmers, things get pretty dicey for Suzanne, Petra and Toni. Clever plotting served with a helping of friendship and rounded out with enticing recipes make this a cozy mystery worthy of an afternoon with a book. 4 of 5 stars

EVERY CROOKED NANNY by Mary Kay Andrews (Kathy Hogan Trochek)

 

EVERY CROOKED NANNY by Kathy Hogan Trochek (Mary Kay Andrews) One of Mary Kay Andrew’s first outings is this delightful romp through cleaning and mayhem. Callahan Garrity, former cop and now owner of a housekeeping service, finds herself embroiled in her clients missing jewelry, silver, important documents -- and nanny. Is their Mormon nanny really who she says she is? Where is she? Why would take the documents? How far does a high school friendship require one to go? And then there is the dead body! As times rollicking, this mystery will keep you guessing until the last page. Andrew’s characters and situations are believable and likeable. The writing is fresh and intelligent. Altogether well worth your time. 4 of 5 stars