Lose weight! Exercise is something we hear all the time. However, it's not happening and America has a pandemic problem with obesity. Well, here comes the book Fat Chance, written by a renowned pediatric endocrinologist, Robert Lustig, who finally gives some hope to all of us to lose weight and recover our health. Dr. Lustig lets us know early in his book what the "villian" is that is working against us (Hint: it's very sweet). This book is compelling, controversial, and completely based in science and it can change your life.

Check our catalog.  Kate D. Youth Services

Since I know nothing about the military, I decided to read this book and found it fascinating.  It includes comments from men and women in all areas of the military describing their experiences in boot camp.  The book amazed me in that anyone could survive what the trainees went through and proud that they would sign on for this important job.  It was an eye opener and would be fun for someone in the military to read and reminisce.  Check our catalog.

Sue N., Youth Services

          Tina Fey’s humor is in every paragraph of this book.  She is self-deprecating and very funny about it.   Because there is a hefty dose of sarcasm in her humor, I had to listen to this in smaller doses than I listen to most books.  The story includes her childhood as well as her career at Second City in   Chicago which led to her television career on “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock”.   Mostly, Tina is very appreciative of all who helped her along the way and has a brilliantly humorous way to express it.      Check our Catalog.

Kathleen Zaenger, Director

The subtitle sums up the book: "a doctor breaks ranks about being sick in America." Dr. Brawley spells out how the medical treatment you receive is directly related to what your medical insurance covers, "the wallet exam". While this wasn't a surprise to read, I hadn't thought about the over treatment that those with the "best medical insurance" receive and the harm that this can cause.  Or that the limitations of one’s medical insurance, or lack of, can result in treatment that is actually more expensive and less effective. While I wasn't surprised by how much the drug industry influences which drugs doctors prescribe, I definitely was naïve about the extent and the kick-backs.  Dr. Brawley is a Detroit native, who acknowledges those who helped him in receiving his education, from elementary school on, and shaping the doctor he is today.  His story alone is fascinating.  The book left me with a lot to think about, especially in light of waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision about mandatory health insurance.  This is definitely “not boring nonfiction”.  Check our catalog

Holly, Youth Services

Read on my Nook. I lived on the east side of Detroit for 10 years and so this book brought back many memories of the area. I love Detroit and this book describes the downfall of so much of the city. It discusses Coleman Young's terrible run as mayor, the Catholic church and schools, Black citizens and the racist issue while showing a boy's growing up in the city.  Fascinating book and those of us  in the suburbs need to read it.  Check our catalog or check for the ebook.

Sue N., Youth Services

I needed a book on my Nook and found this really good one. I never would have looked in the 300s at the library since that section is social studies.  Amy Chu compares her Chinese mother method of raising children to our Western American way. Wow, she seems so regimented and strict and it is hard for an American mother to accept what she is doing.  Chu and her book have been on a lot of the TV talk shows with great controversy. Her two daughters, Sophia and Lulu, have very different personalities and there are conflicts as Lulu becomes a teenager. In the end, Chu realizes that she needs to ease up and make some changes herself.  Fascinating book.  Check our catalog or check for the ebook

Sue N., Youth Services

Martha has done it again! This book is filled with some great recipes from all over America. She arranges the book geographically and provides a backstory of how certain foods influenced that part of America.  Some of the recipes that sound so delicious to me and look easy to prepare are the Classic Potato Salad, Blueberry Crisp (can't wait for the Michigan blueberries to arrive.), Chicken Parmigiana, Cornbread, Bacon and Leek Stuffing and Butter-Peacan Ice Cream Pie. Mmmm... This is a good thing!  Happy Eating.  Thank you Martha Stewart you are an American Icon!  Check our catalog

Kate, Youth Services 

Journalist Blaine Harden tells the story of Shin Dong-hyuk, one of the only known people born in a North Korean prison camp to escape to freedom. This is truly an example of the ability of the human spirit to survive under extreme, inhuman conditions. It is an important story to tell because it is estimated that 200,000 people still live in these prison camps in North Korea under a regime that shows little hope of change in the near future. Any awareness that can be raised is important to ending this type of human suffering in the world. I highly recommend it.  Check our catalog

Jan K., Youth Services 

This is an amazing tale of perseverance.  Louis Zamperini begins his life hungry for adventure and is constantly pushing boundaries.  During his teenage years he finds a positive way to channel his energy and becomes an Olympic runner. This career is quickly side railed by World War II when Louis enlists in the Air Forces.  During the war Louis encounters many close calls. The most heart wrenching moment comes when his plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean.  After surviving 46 days without any provisions Louis is taken as a POW by the Japanese.  For the next two years Louis will endure the brutality of the Japanese military surviving solely by his own amazing will.  This true story is extremely well written and it astounded me with how powerful and resilient the human mind, body and spirit can be after facing such extremities. Check our catalog!

Emily D., Circulation

Read on my Nook. The title intrigued me and I like to read about people and their lives in the middle east.  Nujood was married as a  9 year old child to a man 3 times her age.  He was supposed to stay away from her until she was a teen but immediately comsumated the marriage and was cruel to her all the time.  His family also abused her but she became strong and went to court and managed to divorce him.  Fascinating reading as well as sad.  Check our catalog or check for eBook

Sue N., Youth Services