Amy Kay
Hooked on Books
When the weather outside is frightful, your L&A Libraries have books that are so delightful! Hopefully, you were able to stock up on books before the holiday closure and were able to spend some cozy moments wrapped up in a good book while waiting for the blizzard to end.
I spent a few hours engrossed in the latest holiday tearjerker from Richard Paul Evans, A Christmas Memory, which is a semiautobiographical tale of his memory of Christmas 1968. As a longtime fan of Evans (you may know him for his series The Walk, in which the main character walks from Spokane, WA to Key West, FL after suffering a traumatic loss) I was heavily invested, and yes, shed a tear or two. Young Rick Evans, is bullied not just by his peers but also by a cruel teacher after moving from California to Utah. At home things are not better, his mother’s depression and crumbling marriage keep her in her bedroom. His father’s absence is devastating. One day, a neighbor saves Rick from his bullies and becomes a respite from his miserable life offering a friendly dog, fresh-baked cookies, and endless hot chocolate. As Christmas nears, though, things do not improve. With his mother in dire need of help, Ricky’s father returns home only to announce his plans for divorce. The ending is both sad and hopeful, and little Ricky eventually finds his place in the world through writing.
The other book I found myself immersed in this past weekend is an atmospheric, young adult, holiday romance titled, Whiteout. Similar to what we experienced, the storm of a century causes the city of Atlanta, Georgia to grind to a halt just days before Christmas. A group of teens band together to help a friend pull off the most epic apology of her life, which results in a magical moment that changes everything. Award-winning authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, have teamed up again to bring us an anthology of interwoven narratives that is delightful, with its young love and heartfelt moments, but also impactful, as it delves into some deeper issues. The large cast of characters come from varying backgrounds and orientations, which makes for a contemporary, inclusive and representative story. This upbeat collaboration, brimming with culture-specific references, laugh-out-loud banter, and vulnerable, heartfelt confessions, captures the enchanting spirit of classic holiday romance. A concluding author’s note gives clues indicating which creator is responsible for which character.
Both of these titles can be reserved at your local County of Lennox and Addington Library or online at www.countylibrary.ca.