How Did That Get to My House is a series of books that answer some of the questions that kids want to know.  The series for young readers covers eight common things that come into your house: electricity, internet, mail, music, natural gas, telephone, television and water.  In Natural Gas, Nancy Masters explains how natural gas is created, moved, and regulated, with some important safety information.  There is a "find out more" section at the end to answer further questions.  All eight of the books come in handy for answering the questions a curious kid might have about the world around them.  They can be read by a first or second grader on their own, but answer just complex enough for a grownup reading to a preschooler.  If you have a curious kid in your house, these books are a great place to start looking for answers!

Sophos, heir to a throne, practices sword play, war games and other escape practices under the guidance of a tutor. Nothing, however, prepares him for the day when armed men attack the villa, and kidnap him.  He is smuggled far away from home and sold as a slave. Was his Father a part of this plot? Sophos always felt he was a huge disappointment to him.  Sophos accepts his current circumstance, and sorts out his thoughts on who he can trust, and what he has learned that will now be useful in this new world. He realizes he must escape to make his way home to find out what has happened to his Sisters and Mother, whom he fears were also kidnapped and forced into slavery.  Complicated plot, but, a worthy read.

Review by Barb Husch - Forestville Branch

A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner is the fourth book in the Attolia Series. 

Sebastian Barry's The Secret Scripture, is set in Sligo, Ireland as are all of his novels. He writes about the places he knows and incorporates the stories he heard as a child from his mother. In an interview the author describes how this book is fiction but the concept is based on his great aunt who lived in an asylum much of her life. According to Sebastian Barry, people were not only placed in asylums for medical reasons, but also for moral reasons, such as having a child out of wedlock.

What were these asylums like? A website that documents the West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum in photographs describes the history of an asylum in Menston, Yorkshire, England. One inmate from this asylum was committed for having "milk fever."

St. Columbus Lunatic Asylum is the asylum in The Secret Scripture and the building itself, like the asylum in Yorkshire, is a beautiful and impressive structure reminicent of a palace. In modern days it has been turned into a luxury hotel, The Clarion Hotel Sligo.

Sebastian Barry reads from the Secret Scripture : Roseanne's testimony of herself

Finally, a fun review of Sebastian Barry from Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa :

The son of a wealthy family is snatched off the street and held hostage by a man who considers himself to be the ultimate environmentalist, amongst other obsessions.  Detective Michael Bennett and Special Agent Emily Barker (FBI) must find the killer as he systematically kidnaps the children of rich parents. the killer quizzes the kids for the price of their life on issues involving the price some pay for the luxury of others. Fast paced thriller, with some romance; the Nanny of Michael’s numerous adopted kids seems to be having mixed feelings, plus Special Agent Emily is attracted to our detective's warm personality. This new novel is good read reminiscent of previous books written by Patterson.
                                                      -Barb, Forestville Library