As we March towards spring (see what we did there?!) we have a new batch of recommendations from our wonderful librarians. We have fantasy for grown-ups and for kids, a new take on a classic, a collection of stories for kick-ass girls (it was International Women’s Day this month after all), along with a harrowing true-life account of a man who gave so much to help expose the horrors of the Holocaust.
Fiction chosen by Amanda: Rivers of London Series by Ben Aaronovitch
A quirky series of ten titles to date, the latest being False Value. Set in a London that mere mortals can only see as fleeting shadows from the corner of the eye. This series offers you mystery, a great cast of characters and will make you laugh out loud. The two main characters Peter Grant and DCI Thomas Nightingale lead you through all ten titles with charm and wit so I would certainly recommend that you begin with the first title in the series Rivers of London.
Find the Pbook here
Listen to the E-audio here
Find the Comic here
Top non-fiction chosen by Phil: The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather 
“Witold Pilecki volunteered to be imprisoned in Auschwitz.” This first astonishing sentence begins the account of the Polish agent who exposed the modus operandi the infamous death camp. Jack Fairweather has meticulously pieced together the timeline of Pilecki’s courageous mission. His tight prose is complemented with photographs of key characters together with contextual building plans and route maps. I particularly valued the level of detail concerning movement within the camp and the web of relationships with underground operatives. Fairweather soberingly probes transnational anti-Semitism and its devastating consequences when it came to analysing Pilecki’s reports. An unforgettable read.
Find the Pbook here
Read the Ebook here
Top audio book chosen by Katy: Unexpected Twist!: An Oliver Twist Tale by Michael Rosen 
An original novel by Michael Rosen, told alongside the Dickens classic that inspired it: Oliver Twist. Shona and her dad are moving house, and at Shona’s new school, the rules are pretty confusing; she keeps getting into trouble without realizing! It’s a lot like how it is for Oliver Twist, that boy she’s reading about in English class. After Shona is unexpectedly given a mobile phone, she begins to suspect there’s something fishy about the new boys she’s met. Where did the phone come from? And some gifts, she soon learns, aren’t exactly free…
Find the Pbook here
Listen to the E-audio here
Find the audio book here
Top children’s fiction chosen by Elspeth: The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson Illustrated by Rob Biddulph 
Miracle may or may not happen!
Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face – that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret.
Because Freddie’s journey wasn’t meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn’t expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume.
But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough…
Part of the Children’s Book Club!
Find the Pbook here
Read the Ebook here
Top children’s non-fiction chosen by Dolores: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 
The definitive book of the year in our house, for both parents and offspring’ Maggie O’Farrell
What if the princess didn’t marry Prince Charming but instead went on to be an astronaut? What if the jealous step sisters were supportive and kind? And what if the queen was the one really in charge of the kingdom? Illustrated by sixty female artists from every corner of the globe, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces us to one hundred remarkable women and their extraordinary lives, from Ada Lovelace to Malala, Amelia Earhart to Michelle Obama. Empowering, moving and inspirational, these are true fairy tales for heroines who definitely don’t need rescuing.
Find the Pbook here
Read the Ebook here
Listen to the E-audio here
Have you read any of the books featured this month? If so we’d love to hear what you thought! Leave your reviews in the comments below. Missed February’s book reviews? Catch up on them here.
You can find out more about libraries in East Sussex by visiting the East Sussex County Council website.
