March Books
FICTION
The Great Passion, by James Runcie
In 1727, Stefan Silbermann is a grief-stricken 13-year-old, struggling with the death of his mother and his removal to a school in distant Leipzig. Despite his father’s insistence that he try not to think of his mother too much, Stefan is haunted by her absence, and to make matters worse, he’s bullied by his new classmates. But when the school’s cantor, Johann Sebastian Bach, takes notice of his new pupil’s beautiful singing voice, Stefan’s life is permanently changed. A meditation on grief and music, The Great Passion is an imaginative tour de force.
How Strange a Season, by Megan Mayhew Bergman
With flawless intuition and depth, Bergman presents an unforgettable story collection featuring women seeking self, identity, independence and control of their circumstances. Each page crackles with life: A recently separated woman fills a huge terrarium with endangered flowers to establish a small world only she can control in an attempt to heal her broken heart; a competitive swimmer negotiates over which days she will fulfill her wifely duties, and which days she will keep for herself; a peach farmer wonders if her orchard will survive a drought; and, generations of a family in South Carolina struggle with fidelity and their cruel past, some clinging to old ways and others painfully carving new paths. Bergman’s provocative prose asks the questions: What are we leaving behind for our descendants to hold, and what price will they pay for our mistakes?
Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, by Teri M. Brown
When Ivanna opens the door to uniformed officers, her tranquil life is torn to pieces, leaving behind a broken woman who must learn to endure cold, starvation and the memories of a man who died in the act of betrayal. Using her thrift, ingenuity and a bit of luck, she finds a way to survive in Soviet Ukraine, along with her daughter, Yevtsye. The question remains: Will she be strong enough to withstand her daughter’s deceit and the eventual downfall of the nation she has devoted her life to?
NONFICTION
The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder, and an Unlikely Fight for Justice, by Benjamin Gilmer
In a powerful true story expanding on one of the most popular This American Life episodes of all time, a rural physician learns that a former doctor at his clinic committed a shocking crime, leading him to uncover an undiagnosed mental health crisis in our broken prison system. When family physician Dr. Benjamin Gilmer began working at the Cane Creek clinic in rural North Carolina, he was following in the footsteps of a man with the same last name. His predecessor, Dr. Vince Gilmer, was beloved by his patients and community — right up until the shocking moment when he strangled his ailing father and then returned to the clinic for a regular day of work.
Poor Richard’s Women: Deborah Read Franklin and the Other Women Behind the Founding Father, by Nancy Rubin Stuart
In a vivid portrait of the women who loved, nurtured and defended the thrifty inventor-statesman of the American Revolution, Poor Richard’s Women reveals the long-neglected voices of the women behind Benjamin Franklin, America’s famous scientist and Founding Father who loved and lost during his lifelong struggle between passion and prudence. What emerges from Stuart’s pen is a colorful and poignant portrait of women in the age of revolution.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
The Ogress and the Orphans, by Kelly Barnhill
It’s difficult to be kind in an unkind place, but being a good neighbor means you may have to do the difficult thing sometimes. The Newbery Award-winning Barnhill has written another literary masterpiece destined to become a classic for discerning readers both young and old. (Ages 10-14.)
Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn,
by Shannon Hale
True friends are as precious as the last cookie, but as Unicorn finds out, you don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect friend. Hale and illustrator LeUyen Pham have teamed up for another fun, rhyming Kitty-Corn tale that guarantees giggles. (Ages 4-7.) Meet the author and illustrator at The Country Bookshop, Wednesday, March 9, at 4 p.m.
Snail’s Ark, by Irene Latham
Kangaroos, zebras, lions, elephants — we all know they came on the ark two-by-two, but what about the snails? As it turns out, when the weather turns rough and the creek begins to rise, snails stick together. (Ages 3-6.)
A Grandma’s Magic, by Charlotte Offsay
When a baby is born, a magical thing happens: A grandma is born too, and she is instantly granted so many magical powers. Celebrate grandma magic with this oh-so-cute homage to the one who loves us best in the world. (Ages 3-6 and 45-98.)
Swim, Duck, Swim!, by Jennifer Harney
In the pond, not everything always goes as planned. When it’s duck No. 3’s turn to swim . . . she improvises. A cute take on being yourself and doing your best, this adorable title is perfect for Easter or any time young readers are struggling to fit in. (Ages 2-5.) PS
Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.
