Coffeehouse Angel

By Suzanne Selfors

($16.99, Walker & Co.)



Katrina, the main character of Suzanne Selfors' latest young adult novel, lives with her grandmother above their coffeehouse in a small Pacific Northwest town. She helps in the coffeehouse before and after school and leads a rather plain life until she spots a homeless man sleeping in their alley. Her spontaneous act of compassion - merely setting out a cup of coffee, pastries and a packet of chocolate-coated espresso beans - triggers the events that change the lives of Katrina and the people she loves most.

Suzanne Selfors furnishes sufficient, but not overabundant, character details to smoothly engage the reader. If this were a television show, there would be room for spin-offs; as a stand-alone book, the minute turns and twists of plot provide a very satisfying read. The cover photography is an excellent visual aid to what lies inside, except that the title obscures what the reader soon knows: the young man in the background is wearing a kilt.

The Marysville Library will be hosting a coffeehouse event with the author on Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. The event is free; books and chocolate-coated espresso beans will be available for purchase.

Mary Burns is the owner of The BookWORKS, located at 1510 Third Street, downtown Marysville, 360.659.4997, or online at www.marysvillebookworks.com. Comments or requests are welcome at [email protected].