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Tom Page was working in the stables of Mr. John Harrington, a sugar merchant, in Bristol, England in the winter of 1766 when his life is changed forever. When a ship bearing exotic animals for sale comes into Bristol’s port Mr. Harrington purchases two young elephants and puts Tom in charge of caring for them. No one he knows has any experience working with elephants, so Tom must figure things out on his own. He bonds with the elephants and his relationship with them will define his life. The Elephant Keeper is Tom’s story of working with elephants and how each life is changed because of the other. This is a wonderful story about the powerful bond that can form between humans and animals.

Reviewed by Jessica B., Mint Hill Branch

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The four Welch kids were devastated when their father was suddenly killed in a car accident. Then a few months later their mother was diagnosed with cancer and within three years of their father’s death they lost their mother as well. Amanda was 19, Liz 16, Dan 14 and Diana 8 when they were all sent to live with different families since no one wanted to take all four together. The kids struggled to cope with the loss of both parents and being separated from each other. It takes five more years before all the kids are fully back in contact or living together again. This is an incredible story of the powerful bond between siblings who had only each other to rely on.

Reviewed by Jessica B., Mint Hill Branch

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If you had to tell the story of your life in six words, could you? That is exactly what thousands of people have done through six-word memoirs on SMITHmag.net. What started as an Internet phenomenon, culminated in the publication of two books. The most recent book, It All Changed In an Instant, is full of funny, heartbreaking, profound and silly memoirs written by obscure and famous writers alike. These memoirs provide a glimpse into other people’s lives and it is amazing how much you can learn about a person in six words. This is a quick and entertaining read that anyone can enjoy.

Reviewed by Laura M., Sugar Creek

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Every cake has a story. And those stories are much more than just decorations and calories, according to Jen Yates, creator of the popular web site CakeWrecks.com. To share her favorite cake stories, Yates compiled the best of the worst cake wrecks from her blog into an entertaining book, mixing photos with background stories, facts and humor. Yates defines a cake wreck as “any professionally made cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate…not necessarily a poorly made cake; it’s simply one I find funny, for any number of reasons.” Readers too will find this collection of celebrated cakey wreckage hilarious, satisfying that sweet tooth with laughter instead of sugar.

Reviewed by Kim W., University City Regional

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Obsession is a powerful and dangerous quality to possess. Whether it is the love of another, creating a work of art, or simply bettering one's self, such a desire can drive a person to do amazing and terrible things. Paulo Coelho’s The Winner Stands Alone shows the results of obsession by delving into the world of fashion, and using it as a metaphor for how much people are willing to sacrifice. A deeply interesting and entertaining novel, Coelho uses his ability to speak to everyone at once to show what happens to those who take their passions too far.

Reviewed by R. W.

This book review was submitted on-line by a Reader's Club patron.

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