The Queen's Dwarf by Ella March Chase, 372 pages

Many royals kept collections of people who were termed freaks. These would often consist of dwarfs and giants. Queen Henrietta of England was one of these collectors. This book tells the story from the viewpoint of Jeffrey, a dwarf who came to her court as a young man and spent his life there. This was fascinating and well written.

The Red Lily Crown by Elizabeth Loupas, 418 pages

This was an odd historical fiction book sent to me by Night Owl Reviews. It deals with Florence, Italy, as Prince Francesco comes to power in 1574. He was obsessed with alchemy. This wasn't a bad read but not my cup of tea.

Dragons Wild by Robert Asprin, 360 pages

I've read Aprin's Phule and Myth series and really enjoyed them so I was intrigued to read this series featuring Dragons. It's sent in today's world (which makes it different from his other series) and has Dragons walking among us. This looks at a young man who discovers he is a Dragon and has a short learning curve to find out what that entails. I love Asprin's twisted sense of humor and I'm sad he's dead. I will enjoy his books all the more.

Ma, he sold me for a few cigarettes by Martha Long, 479 pages

This is one of the most heartbreaking memoirs I've read. Martha grew up in Dublin in the 1950s. Her mother hooks up an abusive man who keeps Martha and her siblings in abject poverty and abusive terror. The horrible things Martha goes through trying to survive were heartwrenching. I devoured this book in one day and finished it feeling extremely drained emotionally. I wanted to give Martha a warm bath, a good meal and a hug.

The Three Investigators:The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy by Robert Arthur, 180 pages

I love rereading books from my childhood. It's interesting to see if I remember them correctly and to enjoy the memories.

Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanna Fluke, 511 pages

I've been reading these books from the very beginning and I really enjoy the recipes. This one has Hannah in jail so it's a slightly darker feel at times.

Four Perfect Pebbles by Lila Perl and Marion Bluementhal Lazan, 130 pages

Marion Blumenthal Lazan is a Holocaust survivor who travels the country speaking a message of remembrance and tolerance. Her book covers her experience, with her being 10-years-old when her family was liberated. The Joplin Public Library was lucky enough to have her speak at our library.