Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Scarlett Dragna has never left the island where she lives with her beloved sister, Tella, and their spiteful father. Her father has arranged a marriage for her to a man she’s never met but who will benefit her father politically, yet this forced marriage is her only hope of escaping the island with her sister to safety away from their abusive father. 

One week before her wedding day the invitation she’d been waiting for her whole life arrives, an invitation to attend Caraval for Scarlett, Tella, and one guest. But going would mean missing her wedding, the one certain way Scarlett knows she can rescue her sister from their father. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella kidnaps Scarlett. Only when they arrive at Caraval,Tella is abducted by Legend, the mastermind behind the show. Whoever finds Tella first will win this year’s Caraval. While Scarlett has been told everything in Caraval is a performance, she falls into a game of intrigue, love, and magic. Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of Caraval are over or her sister will disappear forever!

This story takes you through a fantastic magical world, where you never know what is real, magic, or performance. But the heart of the story is love, Scarlett’s love of her sister and Scarlett falling in love. By the end of the story you believe you have finally unraveled the game to realize you had no idea.

Caraval is the first installment of the "Caraval" series; the second installment is slated to be out in 2018.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a story about a very smart young girl. Sadly, Matilda’s parents are quite negligent of her, seeing Matilda as a burden. As a result, Matilda finds unique ways to punish them for their treatment, whether it is with a bit of superglue on her father’s hat or hair dye in his hair tonic. Fortunately, they do at least enroll her in school, and Matilda has a wonderful teacher, Miss Honey, who sees the intelligence in her young pupil. In fact, Miss Honey tries to get Matilda advanced to a higher grade level, but the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, does not allow it. As a matter of fact, Miss Trunchbull despises all children. She bullies them and hands out the most severe punishments. What can a young girl do with a brute like Miss Trunchbull?
 
Listening to the audio version, read by Kate Winslet, really brought the story to life. Each character was given a unique voice, making it very easy to follow the story. While a little over the top with some of Miss Trunchbull’s actions, children will enjoy the justice one young girl is able to bring about on unsuspecting adults. 

Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Father and charming handyman extraordinaire, Rex Walls is also an argumentative alcoholic who can't keep a job. Mother and artist, Rose Mary Walls puts herself and her art first, especially before the welfare of the family. From Jeannette's toddler years and on, her family moves around a lot, often doing the "skedaddle" in the middle of the night. Frequently going without food, supervision, and any sort of bathroom facilities, Jeannette and her siblings are left to fend for themselves, shunned and labeled "dirty urchins" by townspeople and classmates alike. But Jeannette's story takes a positive turn once she leaves her depressing home for New York City.

The Glass Castle is a page-turner, with the reader wondering how things will turn out for Jeannette and all her siblings after perpetual family dysfunction. The tone throughout the book clearly shows how much Jeannette loves her family, but that love is not enough to save everyone close to her. Despite the frequent downward spiral of Jeannette's parents, this memoir is ultimately uplifting, showing how resourcefulness, a determined attitude, and hard work can result in positive changes in one's own life.

Now a major motion picture. Check out the movie version from the library later this year.

The Dry by Jane Harper

Federal Agent Aaron Falk has not been back to his remote Australian hometown since he and his father were run off twenty years ago. Aaron thought he would never go back until his childhood best friend, Luke, murders his own family and kills himself. Aaron receives a note from Luke’s father that reads simply: “You lied. Luke lied. Be at the funeral.” Reluctantly, he attends the funerals in the claustrophobic, drought-stricken farming town of Kiewarra. The locals, already on edge and starting to turn on each other in the relentless heat, are determined to hound Aaron out of town for a second time. He is more than happy to go until Luke’s father asks him to look into the murder-suicide that his son has been blamed for, and Aaron starts to suspect that Luke was framed. Along the way, Aaron must also confront the secrets buried in his and Luke’s past, where another murder lurks.

The Dry is a gripping, atmospheric page-turner. Secrets are revealed piece by piece with perfect timing that will leave you unable to put the book down. Harper’s characters and setting are so well-drawn that you will be able to feel the heat and you’ll be looking over your shoulder for suspicious locals. A summer must-read for mystery fans.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Locke Lamora is a criminal-- a liar, a thief, a crook. As a kid, he was kicked out of a criminal organization for being too good at stealing. As an adult, he runs his own gang of thieves, called the Gentlemen Bastards. They pretend to be minor pickpockets, but in reality, they’re the world’s first con artists, tricking rich families out of their wealth and counting on their marks’ embarrassment to keep themselves secret. Things go swimmingly until someone begins framing Locke for the murders of a powerful crime lord’s family, and he has to pull off the con of his life to save himself and his friends.

This is a fantastic heist book that takes place in a low fantasy world of crystal spires and annual shark fights. There’s innovative cursing and hilarious dialogue, especially from the charming and quick-witted Locke himself. Imagine Ocean’s Eleven crossed with Discworld and Game of Thrones and you’ll have some idea if you’ll like it or not. If you’re burned out on grimdark fantasy, this will make you smile. It’s a large book, but amazingly fast-paced, and it’s the first in the Gentleman Bastard series, so if you like it, there are currently two sequels. For audiobook readers, the narrator is excellent, and it makes for a great listen.