Holiday Gift-Giving for Children/Teens

Buying books for young children through those teen years can be challenging at best.  So...here's some suggestions from my 2016 reading list that I would recommend:
TEENS
My Sister Rosa By Justine Larbalestier
Teenage boy with ten year old sociopathic sister - thriller, well-written, does have some profanity/sex, though not graphic details
A Shadow Bright and Burning By Jessica Cluess
If the child liked Harry Potter, here's the start of a new series for him/her - magicians in training, scary bad people, exciting plot, no sex/no profanity
An Ember in the Ashes (#1)/A Torch Against the Night (#2) By Sabaa Tahir
Great fantasy series with a trio of teens fighting some creepy spirits, female leads continue to get stronger as series goes on, great thrillers, no sex/no profanity
Six of Crows (#1)/Crooked Kingdom (#2) By Leigh Bardugo
Game of Throne (lite) meets Ocean's Eleven - favorite fantasy series for me, great mix of characters, exciting not scary, no sex/no profanity
Harry Potter and The Cursed Child By J.K. Rowling
Welcome back to the world of HP - well worth the trip!
Scythe(#1) By Neal Shusterman
Intense story of futuristic world for people who get to live multiple lives, yet some must be 'gleaned', new series, no sex, no profanity, lots of blood and violence but a real page-turner
Wolf By Wolf (#1)/Blood for Blood (#2) By Ryan Gaudin
Story of WWII is flipped with the Axis powers winning, powerful trio of teens as the lead, some fantasy in the idea of a skin-shifter, creative use of history, no profanity/minimal romance
Stealing Snow By Danielle Paige
Fantsy story of how the Snow Queen came to be, both exciting and humorous, no sex/no profanity
Heartless By Marissa Meyer
Author of the popular Lunar Chronicles, a new stand-alone about how the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland came to be so diabolical, fantastic fantasy, no sex/no profanity
The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold, #1): By Traci Chee
Fabulous new fantasy series wherein books and literature have disappeared from the world, yet one young girl holds the key.  Exciting page turner, no profanity/no sex
A Tyranny of Petticoats: By Jessica Spotswood
For every girl out there who still has big dreams, this is a collection of short stories by well-known female authors, that showcases strong female characters, no sex/no profanity/nice mix of history
Girl in the Blue Coat: By Monica Hesse
Story of the Holocaust in 1940's Amsterdam, conflicted female lead who gets pulled into the Resistance, well-researched historical fiction, no sex/no profanity
The Lie Tree:  By Frances Hardings
Scary gothic tale of an evil tree that listens to secrets and a young teenage girl whose family becomes enmeshed in its darkness, no sex/no profanity
If I Was Your Girl: By Meredith Russo
Powerful fiction story of a trangender teen who attempts to fit in at a new high school after her gender re-assignment surgery, powerful story that shows life can indeed get better, references to sex for obvious reasons
Jackaby (#1):  By William Ritter
Detective series from the turn of the century where the lead detective can see and talk to the spirits, strong female side-kick, no sex/no profanity
Shadow and Bone(#1), Siege and Storm(#2), Ruin and Rising(#3):  By Leigh Bardugo
Powerful fantasy series with smart, strong female/male leads, very scary bad guy, incredible cast of supporting characters, exciting page-turner, some romance/no profanity, I read all three books in just five days (it's obsessively good!)
Seraphina(#1):  By Rachel Hartman
Thought provoking fantasy story of a world where dragons are discriminated against and must disguise themselves in human shape, yet what happens when there is a 'bi-racial' dragon/human? No sex, a little romance, no profanity
The Walled City:  By Ryan Gaudin
Powerful story of a city where the criminals rule, strong female/male leads, thriller, page-turner, some sex due to the issues of sex trafficking, no profanity
Belzhar:  By Meg Wolitzer
Fictional story of a boarding school for students with 'issues,' some magical realism with a journal that takes them back in time, some romance
Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family: By Amy Ellis Nutt
Incredible true story of a young transgender woman, who fought the Maine legislature for her rights, and a breathtaking transformation of her family and how they become Nicole's champions.  References to biological sex and gender identity, for obvious reasons / no profanity

MIDDLE READERS
(Notes on appropriateness is for both reading level/subject - all of these can be good read-alouds for struggling readers)
Echo: By Pam Munoz Ryan
Beautiful book with three story lines from the 1930-1940's, heroic, tough, smart children, and a magical harmonica that connects them all / thick book but big margins, appropriate for grades three and up
When Friendship Followed Me Home By Paul Griffin
Beautiful story of a friendship between a young boy with a tough life and a girl battling cancer, plus the coolest dog ever / appropriate for grades five and up
One Half From the East By Nadia Hashimi
Powerful story of Afghanistan and the tradition of dressing girls like boy, thoughtfully written but does bring up some tough topics, like the treatment of women and the privileges of the male gender, appropriate for grades four and up
Gertie's Leap to Greatness By Kate Beasley
Funny, heart-warming, sad, complicated - this is Gertie's life.  Fabulous read for grades three and up.
Circus Mirandus By Cassie Beasley
Beautiful fantasy story of a young boy who must save his grandfather by finding the magical circus who promised grandpa a miracle / female friend who helps the boy is strong, smart, and totally a boss, appropriate for grades three and up
Furthermore: By Tahereh Mafi
New fantasy book about a young girl whose magical skills are unclear, but who must save her father in the world he disappeared into long ago / pieces of many of the children's classics over the last hundred years, beautifully written, appropriate for grades four and up
Hour of the Bees: By Lindsay Eagar
Sad but powerful story of a family trying to help their grandfather move to assisted living after grandma dies, surrealism with the presence of bees and the magic that they bring, appropriate for grades three and up
Wolf Hollow: By Lauren Wolk
Rather dark story of friendship and bullies in the Appalachian mountains, critically acclaimed, appropriate for grades five and up
The War That Saved My Life: By Kimberly Bradly
Wonderful historical fiction about a young girl with a club foot who is moved to the countryside during the London Blitz / heartbreaking at times with a wicked mom but some beautiful heroic and human moments, appropriate for grades four and up
Some Writer:  By Melissa Sweet
Wonderful mix of graphics with letters, drawings, pictures, and words to tell the story of E.B. White and how his three children's books (Charlotte's Web, The Trumpet of the Swan, and Stuart Little) were born, appropriate for grades three and up and wonderful gift to give that elementary school teacher in your life
Pax:  By Sara Pennypacker
This book reminded me so much of Where the Red Fern Grows / heartbreaking story of a young boy and his fox, themes of war, appropriate for grades three and up
Towers Falling:  By Jewell Parker Rhodes
Fantastic story of how a fifth grade teacher in Brooklyn teaches his students about Sept. 11, 2001 / trio of smart, complex, multicultural lead characters who go on a trip of discovery, appropriate for grades three and up


PICTURE BOOKS
(There are SO many, but these were my three favorite 'go-to' books)
A Dog Wearing Shoes by Sangmi Ko
Black and white illustrations that are SO cool, wonderful story of a girl 'adopting' a dog, some words but not overly much, appropriate for age 3 and up
School's First Day of School by Adam Rex, Christian Robinson
The first day of school as told by the school itself, deals thoughtfully with fears of schools and all the new things kids see there, appropriate and perfect for pre-school through second grade
Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio, Christian Robinson
My favorite picture book, a story of a French bulldog puppy who was accidentally switched and is being raised by a French poodle family, wonderful themes of family and who 'fits,' appropriate for ages two and up
Thunder Boy Junior by Sheman Alexie (yes, the author of many adult books and YA), Yuyi Morales
Heartwarming story of a young Native boy who needs and wants his own name for his own identity, embraces his Native heritage, wonderful big colorful illustrations, appropriate for ages two and up

November books

The Clay Girl by Heather Tucker
Rave review by bookseller in our small-town independent bookstore magazine, highly rated on on-line book sites, yet little press for this debut author...all this combined to make this a book I was curious to read.  Thank goodness I did, as it turned into one of my favorite books of 2016.  DO NOT MISS this one (and yes, the capitals are there for good reason).  The story begins in Toronto in the 1960's with eight year old Harriet (aka Ari) whose father has committed suicide, mom has lost it, and they need to farm out the six sisters.  Ari then journeys to her stay with her lesbian aunts up north in Cape Breton, where she discovers the all-encompassing love of two amazing women, and the freedom of true childhood.  However, Ari's epically dysfunctional family pulls her back to Toronto, and we the readers watch her youth unfold over the next eight years.  Ari is funny, brilliant, artistic, loyal, compassionate, and just all-around heroic, but without being Pollyanna-esque.  The adults in her life, mainly a few caring teachers, remind us what just one influential person can do to change the trajectory of a child's life. Besides the well-drawn plot line and characters, Heather Tucker can seriously write; I highlighted so many beautiful lines, yet she does not get caught up in her own writing merely for the sake of showing off; she uses her words to more deeply flush out her story.  I laughed, I cried, and I felt my heart tugged in every direction.  I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Yep, I know...Jodi Picoult, the writer of great pop culture, page-turners, but is it literature? Yep, it sure is, and her latest brings the reader smack into the face of a hot, divisive, charged topic of today - racial bias and the divide that has roiled this country for centuries. The premise is charged with emotion:  a labor and delivery nurse is helping a pair of young parents with their newborn baby, and the father demands she not be allowed around his child due to her race.  When tragedy occurs with the newborn, legal action is set into motion.  Simple, right?  Yet Picoult attacks the idea not just of the insidious racial discrimination against blacks in our country, but the white nationalist movement, being a black teenage boy in America, discrimination in the workplace, and the reality of white privilege.  This is an explosive book that truly attempts to see all sides, as it is told through the eyes of not only the black nurse, but the Neo-Nazi father and the Ivy league-educated white lawyer. I highly recommend, particularly to book clubs who like provocative, meaty discussions.


And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Frederik Backman

Yes, one of my favorite authors is back, and this time it is a small novella he shares with the world.  The author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked You to Tell You She's Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here has now taken the heartfelt story of a grandfather, as he descends into Alzheimer's, and sees how the disease shapes his relationship with his young grandson.  As we look back into his past, we meet Ted, his son, and Noah, his wiser-than-his-years, sweet, loving, understanding grandson.  As Grandpa's world gets smaller, his memories get bigger, even as his confusion grows.  This is a lovely book to gift a friend or loved one who has dealt with dementia in their own family; it is a keeper.




Blood at the Root:  A Racial Cleansing in America by Patrick Phillips

Did you know that Forsyth county in the state of Georgie remained all-white for almost 100 years? Yeah...me neither.  It is always amazing to me to read about our county's history that I never knew existed, especially in today's world of wikipedia and instant sources.  Back at the turn of the century, Forsyth county was similar to many other post-Civil War southern areas...an agrarian society, dependent upon the black farmers and house servants who kept the white economy rolling, and tied to the KKK and other white supremacist beliefs.  Both races lived in an uncertain wariness of the 'Other,' willing to divide towns and villages to live in relative peace with one another.  That is until a cry of rape and murder tore them apart.  As told by a man who was raised in Forsyth county from the 1980's on, this is the tale of how the blacks were not only expelled from this region, but kept out for decades.  It was as if time stood still in Forsyth for race relations, until dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and knowledge of the civil rights movement smacked the residents in the face.  It is a provocative tale that reminds us of our not-so-distant past.

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
We all know about Alice and her adventures, but what about the famous Queen of Hearts in Wonderland?  How ever did she become the wicked woman who shouts “Off with her head!” with the slightest provocation? Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles) combines the wit of Lewis Carroll’s language, a young woman’s secret desire for independence, treachery and intrigue in a magical court, an unwanted suitor, and a love that will go beyond the bounds of reason to explain the genesis of this famous literary character.  Meyers knows her Alice story extremely well, using numerous allusions and secondary characters from the familiar story.  This would be a great gift for that teenage girl in your life, or just a great entertaining book for anyone who loves YA.

Blood for Blood by Ryan Gaudin
Finally...the sequel to Wolf by Wolf, Gaudin's head-spinner novel that took the idea of WWII and twisted it, with Hitler and the Nazis coming out the winner.  The complex, brave, heroic Yael is back in this book, continuing to use her skills of skin-shifting, after being experimented upon in the camps, as are the two young men she raced against in the previous book.  Luka, the former victor, provides Yael with frustration, sassiness, and a little love interest, while Felix, the brother of the kidnapped girl who Yael shifts into while she tries to assassinate Hitler, is forced to make a life-changing decision - does he report the rebels to save his family, or does he support the cause of freedom? This is an exciting, can't-put-downable book that is a worthy 'second' to her first hit.  And yes, if you haven't read Wolf by Wolf, do it - this is one of my very favorite 'duals' in YA with complex characters, strong writing, and cliffhangers galore.

Orphans of the Carnival by Carol Birch
The 'freak shows' of the 19th century were infamous: Barnum's Tom Thumb and his wife, the siamese twins of the London circus, and the famous 'Ape Woman,' Julia Pastrana, who was the toast of Europe. Carol Birch has been nominated twice for the Man Booker prize, and this book reminds us why.  As she explores the life of Julia Pastrana, Birch also seeks the answer to what makes us human.  We see how Julia is exploited by both managers and audiences, by the hangers-on who want to see how 'human' she really is, and by physicians who poke and prod her throughout the years.  Interspersed among Julia's story, is also the story of Rose, a British woman in 1983, who struggles with relationships, abject poverty, and mental illness.  This is a fascinating book about a long-forgotten abuse of an intriguing, and very human woman.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman
This is a compulsive read by an award-winning author, the first in a trilogy of a futuristic world where morality is a thing of the past, as is pain, disease, and torture.  The 'Cloud' has turned into the 'Thunderhead,' which takes care of everyone's needs and sets a person's clock back to any age desired, when one is feeling 'old.' (Not a bad program, right? Except in the wrong hands, of course!) However, there is one small hiccup...the need for population control.  Enter the Scythedom, a worldwide group of people, supposedly chosen for their intelligence, compassion, and honor, whose duty it is to glean a certain number of people every year to keep the numbers survivable.  Of course, rebellious, murder-loving Scythes unfortunately exist as well.  Twists and turns galore, bloody violence at times (yet with the ability to revive anyone who dies - kinda cool but painful), some amazing character development, and some deep philosophical thinking about immortality and death combines to make this a serious page-turner.

October 2.0

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

This is the latest by the author of Room (yes it was a book first before the award-winning movie), and it is a worthy attempt by Donoghue not to get pigeon-holed into one genre.  In her latest novel, the story is set in post-famine Ireland, in a small village where a young girl has not eaten in four months.  Due to righteous skepticism about this 'miracle,' the town council has hired two women to observe eleven-year old Anna O'Donnell:  one is a young widow, trained by the famous Florence Nightingale and recently back from the Crimea war, dedicated to the new modern ideas of nursing; the other is a stodgy nun who adheres to the council's admonitions to only observe, and not to get personally involved.  However, as Nurse Wright becomes drawn into Anna's life through her stories and conversations, she begins to see the consequences of this 'miraculous' girl.  A nosy reporter, an over-protective Irish mother, a dead brother, and a mysterious missing husband all combine to make this an intriguing and unique story.  The twisted ending may surprise you and it will definitely give a book club some intriguing topics to discuss.

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

What a breath of fresh air this book is from young debut novelist, Brit Bennett.  Instead of the stereotypical inner-city, drug lords, high crime, overt racism of the urban landscape, Bennett gives us a thoughtful look at an African-American family in a southern California suburb, as her characters deal with issues of family and societal expectations.  Part of the uniqueness of this novel is the feeling of a Greek chorus, as the 'mothers' narrate parts of the story. These mothers are the older women of the black church called "Upper Room," that provides the central setting around which the story revolves.  We first meet Nadia Turner, as the mothers describe the teenage girl's relationship with the pastor's son and the constantly swirling rumors as the two become deeply involved with one another.  Add in Aubrey, the highly religious young woman with deep familial dysfunction and a co-dependent relationship with Nadia, and a deep and twisted triangle emerges.  Issues of prejudice, abuse, abortion, and religion pull the reader into the well-drawn plot line, and the complex characters that Bennett is able to develop only furthers these themes.  This is a provocative, well-written novel that would satisfy solitary readers and provide incredible conversation to any book club.

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

The author of Atonement, On Chesil Beach, and The Children Act is back with another thought-provoking novel.  Only 198 pages long, this is a short, wicked, rather nasty tale of a marriage gone wrong, an inappropriate love affair, and two morally reprehensible characters.  However, we have all read twisted tales like this so what makes this one different?  Why, the narrator, of course!  It is the nine-month fetus who sees and hears all: the news of the day, the visits of his father, the diabolical plans of Uncle Claude to murder said father, and the acquiescence of his beloved mother, Trudie.  And yes, for those of you familiar with Shakespeare's Hamlet, the allusions are obvious and wickedly accurate: the uncle who wants his brother's place, the weak wife, the fumbling naive father, the son who wants revenge but cannot make up his mind, the ghost who walks among the witnesses, and even a story of some mice (ie The Mousetrap play-within-a-play) that is highly creative.  I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as the singular 24 hours unfolds to reveal the story of this small fetus and his 'entrance' into the modern world.  Highly original and creative, I highly recommend this lil book.

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

If you're looking for brain candy, this is it.  Read in just 24 hours, this is a dialogue-heavy, page-turner of a book.  Split between two narrators and two time periods, it is a look back at the famous Barbizon Hotel for Women in New York City.  Yes, the one where Sylvia Plath lived during her magazine internship, the one where famous models lived under strict rules, and the girls from small towns learning to be executive secretaries slept between long days of typing and short-hand classes.  In 1952, Darby escapes from the small town of Defiance, Ohio and is unfortunately placed on the hotel floor with the perfectly glossed and tressed Ford models, though Darby is here to learn the secretarial world.  She is drawn into the dark world of heroin and jazz music by the hotel maid, culminating in consequences she could never have foreseen.  Interspersed with Darby's tale, comes Rose, the girlfriend of a high-powered executive and a failed television anchor, and when suddenly cast out on her own, becomes obsessed with the mystery of the elderly woman who still occupies an apartment in the Barbizon building of condos.  This is a fluffy read that is just sheer entertainment.

An Ember in the Ashes / A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I am always a sucker for a good series that engages history, fantasy, and some serious heroes and evil beings. Based on the fall of the Roman Empire, the plot line begins at Black Castle, where two of the three main characters, Elias and Helene, are finishing up their training to be "Masks," the most well-trained killers for the emperor's army.  Unbeknownst to them, the emperor is soon to die, so the mysterious sect that foretells the future decides to throw three of these soon-to-be graduates into a competition for the throne.  Add in a "Scholar" girl, Laia, whose entire culture has been murdered and decimated by the Empire, and whose brother needs to be saved from execution, and you've got the beginnings of a great series.  Author Sabaa Tahir, however, relies not just on historical allusion, but also imbues her story with magic, fantasy, and creatures from the underworld.  In the first book, I wanted a more powerful Laia, one who would fight for justice and stand up to the horrifyingly nasty commandant, but Tahir takes her time to build this character.  By Book Two, Helene, Elias, and Laia have found their hidden talents: Helene can sing people back to life, Elias communes with the dead, and Laia can control her visual appearance, as well as swing an wicked sword.  I was impressed with Tahir's patience to slowly develop these characters, to allow their circumstances to dictate how they learned to deal with sorrow and victory, and to weave magic and fantasy into a rather violent, military world.  I will be anxiously awaiting book number three.

October Books

The Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
If you like exciting page-turning plots, rich and complex characters, and a fantasy setting rife with history, magic, and criminals, then this series is for you.  The finale to last year's huge hit Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo continues her Grisha series with great success.  The story begins where Crows leaves off - the gang of six has just pulled off the greatest heist ever, kidnapping the only chemist in the world who knows the secret of jurda parem, the drug that gives the magical Grisha unprecedented power, as well as an insatiable craving for more of the drug.  This time around, Kaz and his compadres must save the city of Ketterdam and their own hides before the bad guys get their hands on the recipe and destroy the world. Except now his members have a few different obstacles to overcome; the Grisha witch can no longer stop hearts, but she can wake the dead; the compulsive gambler has to explain to his father how he literally bet the family farm; the Fjerdian strongman who was raised to hate the Grisha has now fallen in love with one; and the Wraith, who can climb anything imaginable and appear like smoke, has an assassin on her tail. Think Ocean's Eleven meets Game of Thrones; criminals who have the power to make you root them on, relationships that are romantic, complex, and occasionally hilarious, and an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat. If you're the person who says "I don't read fantasy," this series is guaranteed to make you change your mind...trust me.

Some Writer by Melissa Sweet (Published October 2016)
If you ever read Charlotte's Web, you'll remember Charlotte's famous sayings, woven into her web, to try and save her friend Wilbur from the butcher's knife.  In Melissa Sweet's appropriately named book, she pens a tribute to the creator of some of our favorite childhood characters, as well as the most beautiful essayists of the 20th century, E.B. White.  In this lovely amalgamation of literature (a mix of hand-drawn illustrations, copies of White's own handwriting, photographs, etc.), Sweet shares the life of a beloved author.  I admit to goosebumps as I read how Stuart Little was born, as well as the critical reviews, and when White and his wife buy a farm up in Maine, and fill it with geese, sheep, and yes, pigs, it is obvious how Wilbur, Charlotte, and little Fern came to life.  My favorite, Louis from Trumpet of the Swan,  gets his just due as well.  Admittedly, these three books were truly part of the fabric of my childhood, as they were to my own two daughters.  Thus, this book enchanted me - all I need are some elementary age children for an audience and life would be perfect:)

Doc and Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
Hmmm...a Western...not the normal genre I gravitate towards, but there's always a first time.  It helped that the author is one of my favorites and she is coming to Village Books in November to talk about her books.  Her first novel, The Sparrow, was my first foray into sci-fi, and it is honestly one of my more memorable reads, with threads of the Jesuit religion drawing the story together, and a shocking ending that one never forgets.  After a sequel to this book, Russell changed direction and wrote a WWII novel, set within the Italian resistance, called Thread of Grace.  Next up, another shift  in Dreamers of the Day, as the world powers slice and dice the Middle East up to their own desires.  Then, Russell moves back in time to the iconic Wild Wild West with her companion books about Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp.  While it is not necessary to read one to understand and enjoy the other, I found that reading Doc definitely added to my depth of knowledge once I started into Epitaph.  (Note on the title:  love the nod to the name of the setting, Tombstone:)  John Henry Holliday, dentist not medical doctor, began life as a petted son of aristocratic southern planters, but his life turns West after a tuberculosis diagnosis.  In Doc, we see Holliday's complicated life of gambling, drinking, womanizing, as well as his relationship with the Earp brothers.  Epitaph unwinds the long, slow march towards the famous shootout at the O.K. corral.  Admittedly, I am a huge historical trivia buff, and I found much of this narrative utterly fascinating.  Mary Doria Russell is an expert at getting inside a character's head, walking us around to see every facet, and showing us 'heroes' with clay feet and 'bad guys' with redemptive qualities.  I highly recommend both books, as well as her talk at Village Books on November 2.

The Lost Girls by Heather Young
Written by a debut author, garnering tons of good reviews, this is a 'thriller' with some gothic tidbits thrown in, as well as a mystery with threads of domestic violence and abusive parental relationships.  Yep, it pretty much has it all.  The story is told by two narrators:  Lucy, an old woman who lives alone out at her family lake house in Minnesota, who is telling the story of their family's last summer together; and Justine, Lucy's great-niece, who inherits the house after Lucy's death and travels here to escape an abusive relationship. Back in the 1930's, the youngest child in the family, Emily, disappeared on the last day of summer.  This destroyed the family in so many ways, and forced Lucy and her sister Lilith to live forever at the lake house.  Upon Justine's return, decades letter, the mystery unspools itself, and introduces two suspicious brothers next door, a stalker boyfriend, and two unhappy little girls.  This is a good 'first novel' that will keep you turning pages.

Mischling by Affinity Konar
I am admittedly torn by this book.  On one hand, it is incredibly well-written for a debut writer, reminiscent of a Toni Morrison with beautiful words, sentences, and imagery that paints a beautiful, yet often disturbing picture.  Yet, the story feels disconnected and fragmented, needing more connections between story lines.  It is, however, an unforgettable book. It begins in 1945 when two identical twins travel in a cattle car with their mother and grandfather, arriving in Auschwitz, only to be chosen immediately by Josef Mengele to reside in his 'Zoo,'  Here, the girls are subjected to the most horrible experiments, and are witness and victim to extreme physical and emotional abuse.  Told through the eyes of each girl, Pearl and Stasha each have their own memories they are in charge of keeping.  Thus, when Pearl disappears, Stasha is left bereft.  Because of its tragic story line, writing style, and questions, I do think it would be a challenging book club book to discuss.



The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
Chosen for Book of the Month club in September and earning rave reviews on GoodReads, I am baffled, flummoxed, puzzled, disappointed, you name it.  This book was arguably just plain terrible; paper-thin characters who spoke and acted in ways that demanded slapping, thin plot line with incredibly predictable 'twists,' and such bad writing that I honestly think my dog Enzo could have done better.  Blech blech blech!

September Books

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
The title alone was enough to pull me in...hillbillies are the largest subculture in our country today and they make an impact.  Vance begins his story by a disclaimer, that as a 31 year old, he's done nothing to warrant a memoir, except that his upbringing and cultural background gives others a much-needed window into a world known only by its residents.  Raised by Mamaw and Papaw, grandparents who moved from the hills of Kentucky to a small, industrial Ohio town, J.D. was faced with an entire litany of familial issues:  a drug-addicted mother who went through men like popsicles on a hot summer day, intense blood-related pride and honor that caused violence and arguments, extended family that helped raise him and mold him, lack of skills with money management and job retention, and a deep-seated sense of fear and mistrust towards government, social workers, anyone in authority.  I roared with laughter over some of Mamaw's salty comments and worldly advice, felt compassion for a way of life I knew nothing about until reading this book, and was utterly enthralled to see how a young, poor kid in the heartland of our country came to write this book.  Definitely a five star!

Darktown by Thomas Mullen
Back in 2006, Mullen wrote a fabulous book called The Last Town on Earth; it won some big awards, including debut book of the year.  I still remember it (story of an Everett, WA logging town during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1916).  His next two novels received solid reviews, but never quite 'caught on.'  Darktown could be a sleeper hit this fall, juxtaposing the reading world's love of a taut mystery along with the racial tension still prevalent today.  The story takes place in Atlanta, Georgia whose police chief has just commissioned the city's first black police officers, eight in total.  Jim Crow is alive and well, even as these ex-soldiers return from fighting in Europe.  The main character, Lucius Bogg, is a Morehouse graduate and son of a prominent preacher, raised in the segregated well-to-do black neighborhood.  His partner has a more realistic view of the issues of race, having been raised in a poor black neighborhood of Atlanta, as well as being part of General Patton's black tank battalion.  As these two new police officers try to maneuver their way through racist white policemen, the unwritten rules of headquarters, the lynch-happy country crowd, and the heroic expectations of their black community, they team up with a decent white officer to try and solve the murder of a young black woman.  This book is a heck of a ride, and I highly recommend it.

Lost and Gone Forever by Alex Grecian
If you read Grecian's first book, The Yard, then you are familiar with his cast of crew in the Scotland Yard murder squad circa 1890's.  He introduces Jack the Ripper in the very first of the series, and yes, Jack is still alive and kicking in his latest.  Jack is, however, not just a slasher of women; he is brilliant sociopath who is able to mesmerize his victims and force them to do his will.  In the latest installment of Jack's mischief, Inspector Walter Day has been missing for over a year, kept in captivity by Jack and searched for by his cast of supporters:  wife Claire, not a shrinking violet but a children's author and loyal wife; Neville Hammersmith, former partner and current private eye who always seems to survive violent attempts on his life; Fioana Kingsley and her father Dr. Kingsley, an early forensic scientist; and Hattie Pitt, an aspiring private eye who has her eye not only on solving a mysterious disappearance but also on Hammersmith himself.  I've read the entire series and I would vote this one as one of the very best - creepy mystery with great characters and a dark, yet somehow freakily likable bad guy.

The Other Half is East by Nadia Hashimi (Published September 2016)

Acclaimed author Nadia Hashimi (The Pearl that Broke Its Shell) has turned her attention to children's literature, and her first creation is beautiful.  Exploring the tradition of bacha posh, dressing your daughter as a boy, the life of Obayda who becomes Obayd unfolds, as does the friendship between two special children.  Obayd finds another 'bacha posh,' and forms a special bond with him.  However, when maturity hits, Obayd's friend must become a wife, shining a glaring light on the harsh world of Afghanistan and their treatment of women, as well as difficult issues of gender and one's identity.  It is a sensitive, thoughtful, inspiring book.

August 2.0

A House With No Windows by Nadia Hashimi 
Back with her third adult book, Nadia Hashimi never disappoints me.  Her first book, The Pearl That Broke its Shell, was the winner of the Goodreads debut novel in 2014 and was one of my favorite books of the year.  Her second, The Moon Hangs Low, was a powerful story of Afghan refugees, as they tried to make their way to Western Europe.  Her latest novel focuses on the 'crimes' of women in Afghanistan, typically involving accusations of immorality and sex.  The main character, Zeba, after being found holding her husband's bloody body, is accused of murder and locked up in a women's prison.  Her lawyer Yusef, a young idealistic Afghan-American, returns to her village, going through the past history of Zeba and Kamal's marriage, as well as the traditions of their community.  As Zeba acquaints herself with the other women prisoners, we also see the honesty, the frustration, the dignity, and the ultimate inequities in the supposed legal system of this decimated country.  This is a powerful novel that tells a heart-wrenching tale of redemption and honor.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
It's hard to know where to start with this book...finalist for huge awards, loooooong (as in 814 pages), weird cover.  All these things combined negatively so it sat on my bedside stand for months.  Finally, a couple friends encouraged me to pick it up, saying it would be worth it.  That is an understatement, and I do not say the following lightly:  this is one of the BEST books I have read in my adult life.  Over the span of thirty years, this novel follows four young men who meet as college roommates and begin their adult life.  Boring, right?  Yep, that's what I thought, but by page 10 I was completely unable to put this book down.  Read in four days, early mornings and late nights, the story is so compelling, so intense, so raw, and so rich that it pulls you into their lives in a way I have rarely felt. Yanagihara is an incredible storyteller and beautiful writer, but she doesn't get caught up in the poetry of her words; she truly stays focused on the four friends, in particular Jude, the most tortured of the boys.  I have not wept this many tears over a book in I don't know when, and yes, it was worth every tear.  This will be a book I never forget; I cannot recommend it highly enough.


The Trespasser by Tana French

If you haven't read any of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad mysteries, and you like a well-written Irish story, you really need to pick one up. They do not need to be read in any order, as each book picks on a different detective and a new murder,  I have loved all but one (The Likeness - not her best), and her latest trip back to Dublin is one of the best in the series.  This time around, the two main detectives are some complex characters with unique issues. Antoinette is the only female detective in a sexist, bullying environment - she is tough, feisty, assertive, and brings the fight first. Her partner, Stephen, is a pretty boy who likes to be liked, but only on the surface; he is smart, manipulative, and loyal to the core.  As the two detectives investigate what should be an open-and-shut domestic homicide, they learn the dark side of the Murder Squad and those people who will do anything to protect their turf.  Great read!



The Light in Paris by Eleanor Brown
I loved Brown's first book The Weird Sisters; it was quirky, well-written, different.  I was excited to see a new book out from her after five years, figuring she took the time to write another winner.  However, I was underwhelmed by her latest effort.  The premise wasn't bad with two parallel stories: Madeline, a woman in the 1990's, unhappy in her marriage, tied to a 'conventional' life that she did not want, and Margie, her grandmother who spends a season in Paris in 1924, looking for that unconventional life denied her by a well-to-do family.  It had great potential, but was wasted in a predictable story line, and poorly drawn characters that were hard to root for.  I frequently just wanted to slap Madeline, tell her to quit whining, and MOVE ON; Margie was slightly more heroic, as she tries to make a go of living without her family's money and breaking out of all of life's rules to live the life of a French writer.  Alas, Eleanor Brown devolves into the convention that her characters tried so valiantly to escape in their own literary lives and writes an inevitable end that leaves no room for an 'ah-ha' moment, pleasure in the unforeseeable, nor any true feelings other than disappointment.

The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore

One part legal thriller, one part historical fiction, and one part love story, this new novel by Graham Moore (The Sherlockian, screenwriter of The Imitation Game) is a page turner.  Young attorney Paul Cravath (yes, you can find him on Wikipedia), is inexplicably hired by George Westinghouse for the patent battle against Thomas Edison.  Thus, the story of the beginning of the era of electricity, invention, and modern industrial age plays out and it is a fascinating look into the lives of these famous historical characters.  J.P Morgan and Alexander Graham Bell even have a cameo, as well as Nikola Tesla, who plays a bigger part in the invention of electrical current than I ever knew.   Reminiscent of the race between Gates and Job to invent the first personal computer, this was an intriguing novel that shows how creativity, concentration, passion, and greed shaped a new age for America.


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne
I've only had about a million people ask me if I've read the new
Harry Potter; it's a logical question considering my obsession with Hogwarts, Muggles, and anything HP-related.  So now the answer is "Yes," I took a morning and read the script of the play currently on the London stage.  And "No," J.K. Rowling did not write this book, but merely acted as a consultant with the playwright to bring the world of Harry Potter back to life.  Here's my conclusions:  1) it was an absolute delight to find myself once more in this world, to be reading about characters I consider old friends - it warmed my heart 2) it's not a book - of course there's not deep character or plot development - it's a script of a play so put that into perspective 3) you need to be a fan of alternative-reality scenarios - there's a lot of them 4) is it worth it? Absolutely!  Jack Thorne gets this world, and he understands the lives of children - their anxieties, their friendships, their troubles with parents, etc.  He does a worthy job of weaving all the important pieces into a new tale of Hogwarts and its students; I thoroughly enjoyed it.

August Books

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (September 2016)

A brilliant new historical fiction, touched with surrealism, Whitehead has written what many of us booksellers feel is an award-winner.  He takes the context of the underground railroad, a system of houses and other hideaways, manned by abolitionists, and imbues it with magical fantasy, creating a 'real' locomotive that speeds runaway slaves away on their journey to freedom.  Cora, a young woman who lives a hellish life on a Georgian cotton plantation, ostracized by the other slaves, motherless and alone, is chosen by Caesar, a fellow slave, to catch the train to freedom.  Thus begins Cora's adventures, with allusions to Gulliver's travels as well as the travails of Odysseus.  The strangers who both assist and impede the slaves are complex, showing great violence at times, as well as great compassion.  It is a tale well told, that will leave thought provoking ideas behind in its wake.

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

Rich, handsome, ambitious man meets beautiful woman with a big heart, a heart so generous she chooses to be guardian to her sister with Down's syndrome.  Man woos her, proposes, has perfect wedding...except the broken leg of the sister...oops.  Then Jack and Grace live happily ever after, right? Not a chance.  What happens behind the steel shutters and locked doors of their English country home makes for a tense, psychological thriller.  Can Grace save her sister, much less herself, or will Jack convince the world that she is insane?  As the thread of madness spools out and the past is revealed, you will obsessively turn pages to see the true fabric of this marriage.  Already a huge hit in the UK and movie plans in the works, this book should take America by storm.

Daisy in Chains by Sharon Bolton

Maggie Rose is a true-crime writer, yet also a renowned defense attorney in England.  In fact, she's a pro at getting murderers out of prison, after being convicted of heinous crimes.  So who better for Hamish Wolfe to hire, the handsome surgeon convicted of some fairly nasty murders?  This is a premise with some guaranteed twists and turns, as Maggie continuously questions his innocence or guilt.  Bolton takes us back in time to see the history of some of the victims, throwing in numerous red herrings to throw the reader off track.  This book will keep you up late at night, frantically turning pages, to see if you guessed right...guilty or innocent?

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood
I loved Marwood's first two books (The Wicked Girls and The Killer Next Door), and this deliciously British mystery writer does not disappoint with her third novel.  Based loosely on the true story of Madeline McCann, the three year old English child who disappeared years ago while on vacation with her family, in this fictitious version, the young child is a twin who mysteriously vanishes one night while in a vacation home in Bournemouth.  The players of the story are what makes this book so fascinating:  her father, a rich nasty man who is a serial monogamist, ruining every marriage he touches; teenage siblings with a huge trough of bitterness inside; an absentee mother more concerned with her nails than who's watching the children; and a host of rich, self-centered, narcissistic friends who all have different stories of the night that Chloe vanishes.  It is a rich story, with complex characters and various nuances of plot twists that made my mouth hang open literally in the last few pages.  Loved this book!

Modern Lovers by Emma Straub

A small neighborhood in Brooklyn, two mixed up teenagers, four adults with an 'interesting' history, and two marriages struggling to find happiness after years together, Straub (The Vacationers) has written another intriguing story of 'normal' people in America.  Zoe and Jane have been married for years, raising a rebellious daughter named Ruby, running a small restaurant, and forgetting the romance of how they found each other.  Elizabeth is the neighborhood realtor and uptight mom, married to uber-wealthy and privileged Andrew, who has never really found his 'thing' in life.  Yet, long ago, Zoe, Andrew and Elizabeth were in a college band that had that one big hit, the one-hit wonder sung by the long-dead heroin addict who deserted the band first.  Oh my, the complications of a simple life.  Straub does a masterful job of stringing out all the plot lines, and of making us care about each character; this is a great vacation read.

The Trespassers by Tana French
In her Dublin murder squad series, Tana French has written some fabulous books and some 'meh.'  Her latest, however, is by far the best of the lot.  I love that this series does not have to be read in any order; each book stands on its own, focusing on a member of the Murder Squad and a new mystery, usually involving a dead body, family ties, complex relationships, and deeply developed characters.  In The Trespassers, Detectives Antoinette Conway and Steve Moran are the 'newbies' to the Squad, and must deal with harassment and non-stop dirty tricks to try and solve the murder of a beautiful young woman.  Extremely well-written, with numerous twists and turns, this is a fantastic new addition to the series.

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
The author of Big Little Lies, The Husband's Secret, and What Alice Forget is back with her latest novel of Australian mom, relationships, and a little mystery thrown in.  I am always excited to pick up a Moriarty book, always good brain candy, always a bit of a page turner, always entertaining.  Unfortunately this time around, not so much.  Perhaps she rushed it after such huge hits?  Perhaps she's running out of material?  Or perhaps she forgot that amidst the stupidity of humanity, we also like to see a little heroism, character, or intelligence? Involving an 'incident' at a neighborhood barbecue, it takes forever to find out what happened, and quite frankly, to care about it, or the people involved.  Sorry, but I would take a pass on this one.

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi
Remember your childhood favorite stories, the ones filled with magic and adventure, the ones that talked to you like you were a grown up, the ones that made your brain tick and your heart surge?  Tahereh Mafi's latest book is the perfect blend of all our old favorites - Phantom Tollbooth, the Oz stories, Narnia, The Wind in the Willows, the Secret Garden, Kipling's Just So stories.  This was a delightful romp through an enchanted land that should be a newfound classic.  The main protagonist is Alice (yes, some illusions to Lewis Carroll's heroine) whose father disappeared three years ago, and flunked her magical test into adulthood, choosing to go off on a hunt to find not only her father, but her true magical talent.  The beginning was a bit saccharine for me - I was concerned at first - but then Alice shows her sassy, feisty, independent side and never lets up.  Her sidekick in crime, Oliver, is a perfect partner with issues of his own.  This is a magical new tale for any reader ten years and up, and would be a wonderful gift for either a boy or a girl.