Bookshelf

May Books

FICTION

The Kingdoms, by Natasha Pulley

With a little time travel, a little altered history, a little humor, a prophetic postcard and a narrator with an untrustworthy memory, there’s just something for everyone in The Kingdoms. For anyone who loved Matt Haig’s Midnight Library or Alex Landragin’s Crossings, Pulley’s The Kingdoms is a book you will not want to stop reading, and then not want to stop thinking about.

Local Woman Missing, by Mary Kubica

In a thrilling and satisfying read, the New York Times bestselling author and master of suspense takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. From the heart-pounding first chapter to the twists and turns that come together at the very end, this is Kubica’s best yet.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, by Colleen Oakley

Piper’s husband has died, but she continues to act as if he’s still here, and everyone on Frick Island pretends along with her. A small-town journalist shows up for an “island life” story and discovers Piper and her “husband” Tom, and decides Piper’s story could be the making of his career. Oakley, a USA Today bestselling author, delivers an unforgettable love story about an eccentric community, a grieving widow, and an outsider who slowly learns that sometimes faith is more important than facts.

Mary Jane, by Jessica Anya Blau

In a coming-of-age tale set during the mid-’70s, Mary Jane is brought up in a strict, staid, traditional, run-like-clockwork household. At 14, she’s hired as a nanny in a completely unorthodox situation. Her task is to take care of the adorable 5-year-old daughter of a psychiatrist and his free-spirited wife. A glamorous movie star and her rock star husband move in with them so that he can be treated for addiction. What follows is an unforgettable summer when Mary Jane finds her stride.

The Newcomer, by Mary Kay Andrews

Letty Carnahan is kind and not much like her wild sister, Tanya. When her sister joined her in New York and had a lovely child, Maya, with the wealthiest man they knew, she told Letty if anything ever happened to her to take her child and run for their lives. When Letty finds Tanya dead, she does just that. They end up in a charming motel full of older snowbirds who have been there for years. Letty has to find out what happened to her sister and fast, but who can she trust? The motel owner’s son is a hot cop who is hot on her trail in a book full of twists and turns that.

Magic City, by Jewell Parker Rhodes

When Joe Samuels, a young Black man with dreams of becoming the next Houdini, is accused of rape, he must perform his greatest escape by eluding a bloodthirsty mob. Meanwhile, Mary Keane, the white, motherless daughter of a farmer who wants to marry her off to the farmhand who viciously raped her, must find the courage to help exonerate the man she accused with her panicked cry. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, Magic City evokes 20th century Jim Crow America while painting an intimate portrait of the heroic but doomed stand that pitted the National Guard against a small band of Black men determined to defend the prosperous town they had built.

The Cave Dwellers, by Christina McDowell

In a compelling family saga that takes place in the powerful social scene of Washington, D.C., teenagers and their parents live in an unspoken hierarchy inextricably linked by wealth, family longevity, political offices, scandals and secrets. Their circle is closed to outsiders until those inside society choose to open their eyes to the invisible divisions erected by exploitation over generations. Gone are the days when inherited wealth can continue without naming the evil that created it. A new generation becomes the one shining a light on themselves.

NONFICTION

Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death and Glory in America’s Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt,
by Daniel Barbarisi

When Forrest Fenn was given a fatal cancer diagnosis, he came up with a bold plan: He would hide a chest full of jewels and gold in the wilderness and publish a poem that would serve as a map leading to the treasure’s secret location. But he didn’t die, and after hiding the treasure in 2010, Fenn instead presided over a decade-long gold rush that saw many thousands of treasure hunters scrambling across the Rocky Mountains in pursuit of his fortune. Full of intrigue, danger and break-neck action, Chasing the Thrill is a riveting tale of desire, obsession and unbridled adventure.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Always by My Side, by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

The most dedicated friend a child will ever have is their woobie, their blankie, their stuffie. They share in joys, sorrows, worries and triumphs, and maybe, just maybe, the little people mean just as much to the stuffies as the stuffies mean to the little people. The perfect gift for a new baby or a graduate, Always by My Side is a celebration of friendship. (Ages 2-5.)

Something’s Wrong!, by Jory John

Jeff is having one of those days. He knows something’s wrong, but just can’t quite put his finger on it, so off he goes to find a friend to help. What he finds is not only a true friend, but also a hilarious solution to his problem. This giggle-inducing read-aloud is sure to become a bedtime favorite.
(Ages 3-6.)

Bear Can’t Wait, by Karma Wilson

Waiting is so hard when you’re planning something exciting for a friend, and patience is a virtue Bear just can’t seem to muster in this newest installment of the delightful “Bear” series.  (Ages 3-6.)

The Poop Song, by Eric Litwin

Everybody does it, so why not sing about it? Fun for potty trainers or just for some little kid silly time, the poop song is sure to make everyone giggle. (And yes . . . it will get stuck in your head.) (Ages 2-5.)

Golden Gate, by James Ponti

Adventure, STEM and a bit of spy-thriller action combine to make the “City Spies” series the perfect choice for kids looking for a fast-paced new series. With team members from around the world joining forces and sharing their unique gifts in a magical CIA-type organization, readers won’t be able to put Golden Gate down. (Ages 9-12.)

Where the Heart Is, by Jo Knowles

It’s the first day of summer and Rachel’s 13th birthday. With a summer job caring for the neighbor’s farm animals, her best friend, Micah, nearby and weeks of warm weather and fun to look forward to, Rachel is living the dream. But when bad news threatens all she loves, Rachel must make some difficult decisions about who and what are really important in her life. At once sweet, silly, sad and ultimately satisfying, Where the Heart Is is the perfect summer read. (Ages 11-14.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

April Bookshelf

FICTION

Astrid Sees All, by Natalie Standiford

Set in New York City in the 1980s, two young girls arrive after college. Carmen is a native New Yorker with connections, confidence and charisma, while Phoebe is from Baltimore, enamored with Carmen, and desperate to find her place in the city, its art scene and the underground. She lands a job at a club as Astrid, who reads fortunes from movie ticket stubs. All the while, a serial killer stalks the city, and girls are disappearing. Astrid Sees All has a fabulously seedy vibe: music, fashion, art, drugs, danger and sex.

The Girls in the Stilt House, by Kelly Mustian

The Natchez Trace in Mississippi is a place that is deep, verdant, and ripe with stories and secrets. It is also a place where, in the 1920s, many scratched out an existence through sharecropping, bootlegging, trapping, fishing and hard labor during a time of racism, segregation and social disparity. In Mustian’s magnificent novel, mostly written at Weymouth, a violent act inexorably binds the lives of two teenage girls of different races. They struggle to survive, harbor their secrets, and protect those dear to them as their individual stories unfold. Readers will be held in this novel’s grasp from start to finish, experiencing the power and sensitivity provided by a great new voice in literary fiction.

Gold Diggers, by Sanjena Sathian

In a marvelous marriage of coming of age, magical realism, immigration, ambition and history, Gold Diggers is a blazingly brilliant novel stretching from the East Coast to the West Coast. Neeraj is an awkward young Indian American teen. Anita is his neighbor and childhood friend. With the help of her mother’s family recipe of an alchemical solution derived from stolen gold, the two are given powers of achievement and abilities to reach their previously unattainable goals and the thought-provoking consequences that follow them for years to come.

The Last Bookshop in London, by Madeline Martin

August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London. Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed — a force that triumphs over the darkest nights of the war.

The Elephant of Belfast, by S. Kirk Walsh

Inspired by true events, this vivid and moving story of Hettie, a young woman zookeeper, and Violet, the elephant she’s compelled to protect through the German blitz of Belfast during WWII, speaks to not only the tragedy of the times, but also to the ongoing sectarian tensions that still exist in Northern Ireland. Dodging the debris and carnage of the Luftwaffe attack, Hettie runs to the zoo to make sure that Violet is unharmed. The harrowing ordeal and ensuing aftermath set the pair on a surprising path that highlights the indelible, singular bond that often brings mankind and animals together during terrifying times.

Good Company, by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

In a follow-up of her bestselling debut novel The Nest, Sweeney explores the strains and deep bonds that mark longtime marriages and friendships. Flora Mancini is a voice actor; her husband, Julian, stars in a cop show. Margot, her best friend since college, is a longtime superstar on a hit TV show, married to a gentle doctor. The women and Julian came up together as students in New York City, scraping to find work in theater and participating in Julian’s small theater company, Good Company. Twenty years later, they all live in Los Angeles, and dote on Flora and Julian’s daughter, Ruby. When Margot stumbles across an envelope containing her husband’s wedding ring — the one he claims he lost one summer when Ruby was 5 — all of their lives are upended.

The Drowning Kind, by Jennifer McMahon

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Invited and The Winter People comes a chilling new novel about a woman who returns to the old family home after her sister mysteriously drowns in its swimming pool . . . but she’s not the pool’s only victim. A haunting, twisty and compulsively readable thrill ride from the author Chris Bohjalian has dubbed the “literary descendant of Shirley Jackson,” The Drowning Kind is a modern-day ghost story that illuminates how the past is never really far behind us.

NONFICTION

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide,
by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

A guide to some of the world’s most interesting places, as seen and experienced by writer, television host and relentlessly curious traveler, the late Anthony Bourdain. In World Travel, a life of experience is collected into an entertaining, practical, fun and frank travel guide that gives readers an introduction to some of his favorite places — in his own words. It features his essential advice on how to get there, what to eat, where to stay and, in some cases, what to avoid. Supplementing Bourdain’s words are a handful of essays by friends, colleagues and family that tell even deeper stories about a place, including sardonic accounts of traveling with Bourdain by his brother, Chris, and a guide to Chicago’s best cheap eats by legendary music producer Steve Albini.

Broken Horses, by Brandi Carlile

The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, producer and five-time Grammy winner opens up about a life shaped by music in this candid, heartfelt, intimate story. Though imperfect in every way, her dysfunctional childhood was as beautiful as it was strange, and as nurturing as it was difficult as her musically gifted but impoverished family moved 14 times in 14 years. Carlile takes readers through the events of her life that shaped her very raw art — from her start to her first break opening for the Dave Matthews Band, to sleepless tours over 15 years and six studio albums while raising two children with her wife and, ultimately, to the Grammy stage where she converted millions of viewers into instant fans.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

More Than Fluff, by Madeline Valentine

Cute, adorable, fluffy Daisy duck just can’t take it anymore. Everyone wants to HUG her, and all she wants is for everyone to stay out of her personal bubble. When her subtle hints don’t quite do the trick, Daisy boldly asks her friends for wing bumps, pinky shakes and high-fives. The perfect choice for those kiddos with personal space issues or just someone needing a little “me” time, More Than Fluff gives young readers words to ask for what they need. (Ages 2-5.)

Beast in Show, by Anna Staniszewski

Of course, everyone thinks their pet is the best, but Julia is sure Huxley will win top prizes in the dog show. They arrive to find it’s not an ordinary dog show at all and the talent portion is really out of this world. A wonderful tale of giving your all and doing your best no matter what, Beast in Show is just perfect for anyone who loves someone furry. (Ages 3-6.)

G My Name is Girl: A Song of Celebration from Argentina to Zambia,
by Dawn Masi

A playful celebration of everything girl, G My Name is Girl is also a wonderful worldwide journey and a fun way to honor the characteristics that strong, confident young women possess. Clever parents and grandparents will recognize the format as that of a classic travel game and enjoy sharing the rhyme with a whole new generation. (Ages 3-8.)

Mars! Earthlings Welcome,
by Stacy McAnulty

Humor and fun facts bring nonfiction alive for the youngest readers in McAnulty’s Our Universe series. In the newest installment, Mars! Earthlings Welcome, budding scientists learn that Mars may have once had rivers and streams, is Earth’s closest neighbor, and has 37 whole minutes longer in its day than Earth. For classrooms and curious kids (and parents), this series is a great way to learn more about our great big universe. (Ages 4-8.)

Peter Easter Frog, by Erin Dealy

Who says bunnies should have all the fun? Hippity hoppity Peter the Easter . . . frog is here to help out Easter Bunny any way he can. A fun holiday story of kindness, sharing and friends with a few giggle-inducing surprises along the way. (Ages 3-5.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

March Books

FICTION

The Lowering Days, by Gregory Brown

Set in the majestic and austere Penobscot River region of Northern Maine is a land revered by centuries of indigenous people for its abundance, and later, taken, depleted and poisoned by Europeans. At the center of the story are the lives of young people attempting to right the wrongs of adults, past and present. When a teenage girl of the Penobscot Nation sets fire to an abandoned mill, a series of events is unleashed between two neighboring families with an uneasy history. The writing in this novel is chock-full of breathtaking lines and unforgettable characters, alongside a deeply satisfying tale.

We Begin at the End, by Chris Whitaker

A picturesque California coastal town sets the scene for the story of a cast of unforgettable characters. Duchess is a 13-year-old with a foul mouth and an iron will to protect her vulnerable little brother and mother from her repeated bad decisions. The local police chief, Walk, keeps an eye on his hometown and its residents, while attempting to resist inevitable change. When his best childhood friend is released from prison after a 30-year sentence, a series of events is set into motion that will spiral out of control. More than a crime novel, it’s a beautifully written, spellbinding tale imbued with intensity, passion, loyalty, lust and greed.

Surviving Savannah, by Patti Callahan

It was called “The Titanic of the South.” The luxury steamship Pulaski sank in 1838 with Savannah’s elite on board. Through time, their fates were forgotten until the wreck was found, and now their story is finally being told in this breathtaking novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis. This is a moving and powerful exploration of what women will do to endure in the face of tragedy, the role fate plays, and the myriad ways we survive.

The Windsor Knot, by S.J. Bennett

When a musician is found dead in Windsor Castle after a “dine and sleep,” it appears to be a cut and dried suicide. After further investigation, however, it is determined to be murder — and possibly an inside job. The queen leaves the investigation to the professionals until their suspicions point them in the wrong direction. Unhappy at the mishandling of the case and concerned for her staff’s morale, the monarch decides to discreetly take matters into her own hands. Anyone who loves The Crown will adore this charming, cozy mystery featuring her majesty at her cleverest.

The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World, by Laura Imai Messina

This wonderful novel of grief and love tells the story of Yui, who lost her mother and daughter in the terrible tsunami of March 2011. She hears about a man who has an old telephone booth in his garden where people find the strength to speak to their departed loved ones. News of the phone booth spreads, and people travel from miles around to the old man’s garden. Yui goes too, but can’t bring herself to speak into the receiver. Instead, she finds Takeshi, whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of her mother’s death. A heartbreaking and heartwarming story of healing.

Libertie, by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Set in Brooklyn during the Civil War and the turbulent times after, the voice of Libertie Sampson describes her unique childhood as the freeborn daughter of a Black, widowed female doctor. Libertie’s mother has aspirations for her daughter to follow her path and join her in her practice. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, is hungry for something else while constantly being reminded that, unlike her mother who can pass as white, her skin color is darker. Rather than face her mother’s disappointment, she marries a Haitian doctor and leaves the country with him in search of an autonomous life. She finds herself lonelier than ever on the tumultuous island in this immersive and unforgettable literary triumph.

NONFICTION

Grace & Steel: Dorothy, Barbara, Laura, and the Women of the Bush Dynasty, by J. Randy Taraborrelli

No matter the challenges related to power and politics, the women of the Bush dynasty always fought for equality in their marriages as they raised their children to be true to American values. Or, as Barbara Bush put it, “The future of this nation does not depend on what happens in the White House, but what happens in your house.” Taraborelli, the New York Times bestselling author, details the tragedy Barbara faced in burying her 3-year-old daughter, Robin, and her struggle with depression over the decades; the tragic night a teenage Laura Bush accidentally killed a good friend, a story she did not discuss publicly for decades; the affair that almost doomed George H.W.’s hopes for the presidency; and the tense relationship between Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush that culminated in an angry phone call during which Barbara told Nancy she would never speak to her again — and didn’t.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Peter Easter Frog, by Erin Dealey

Who says bunnies should have all the fun? Hippity Hoppity Pete the Easter . . . frog is here to help out the Bunny any way he can. A fun holiday story of kindness, sharing and friends with a few giggle-inducing surprises along the way. (Ages 2-4.)

Home Is in Between, by Mitali Perkins

When you are born in one place and raised in another, that’s when you’re in the “in between,” and as hard as it can be to learn a new culture and new rules and, well, new everything, it is quite the gift to be fluent in the language of two places. A fun immigrant story from the viewpoint of a middle-class child learning the ins and outs of being part of a whole new world.  (Ages 4-6.)

What’s Inside a Flower? by Rachel Ignotofsky

Not just your ordinary science book, What’s Inside is the book any budding wildlife biologist would want. Stunning illustrations teach not only parts of a flower, but also jobs flowers have and the way they interact with the world. The perfect book to welcome spring. (Ages 8-12.)

Ground Zero, by Alan Gratz

Told from the viewpoint of two teens on opposite sides of the globe, Gratz reframes the 9/11 story for the eyes and ears of young readers. This one is sure to be an instant bestseller. (Age 12 and up.)

The Valley and the Flood, by Rebecca Mahoney

When Rose’s car breaks down in the unique little desert town of Lotus Valley, Nevada, she feels a strong pull to a place where strange things seem to happen and a surreal prophecy is set to take place. A creative, fresh, and imaginative work of art. (Age 14 and up.) Review by Kaitlyn Rothlisberger.  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

February Books

FICTION

Milk Blood Heat, by Dantiel W. Moniz

A livewire debut novel that depicts the sultry lives of Floridians in intergenerational tales that contemplate human connection, race, womanhood, inheritance and the elemental darkness in us all. Set among the cities and suburbs of Florida, each story delves into the ordinary worlds of young girls, women and men who find themselves confronted by extraordinary moments of violent personal reckoning.

The Unwilling, by John Hart

Gibby’s older brothers have already been to war. One died there. The other, Jason, came back misunderstood and hard, and ended up in prison. After his release, and determined to make a connection with his brother, Jason coaxes Gibby into a day at the lake: long hours of sunshine, whisky and two older women. When one of the women is savagely murdered, suspicion turns to Jason; but when later the second woman is kidnapped, the police suspect Gibby, too. Determined to prove Jason innocent, Gibby must avoid the cops and dive deep into his brother’s hidden life. What he discovers is a truth more disturbing than he could have imagined. Crime fiction at its most raw.

The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah

Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as drought grips the Great Plains. The crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. Elsa Martinelli — like so many of her neighbors — must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. Written by the author of The Nightingale, Winds is an indelible portrait of America during the Great Depression as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

The Nature of Fragile Things,
by Susan Meissner

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. Widower Martin Hocking is mesmerizingly handsome, but Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved. When the 1906 earthquake happens, they are all forever changed.

NONFICTION

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,
by Harriet Jacobs

A perfect book club selection, Incidents is the reissued autobiography of a woman born into slavery in Edenton, North Carolina. A compelling read in modern day, it was written between 1853 and 1858 and published in 1861 under the name Linda Brent.

Walk in My Combat Boots,
by James Patterson and Chris Mooney

These are the brutally honest stories usually shared only between comrades in arms. Here, in the voices of the men and women who have fought overseas from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, is a poignant look into what wearing the uniform, fighting in combat, losing friends and coming home is really like.

Romantics and Classics: Style in the English Country House, by Jeremy Musson

In this coffee table book featuring houses of the English countryside, Musson and photographer Hugo Rittson Thomas have assembled a stunning collection of charming homes that reveal a remarkable wealth of taste and style, ranging from classic to contemporary and bohemian. In addition to featuring homes like Haddon Hall, Smedmore, Court of Noke and The Laskett, the book includes essays expanding on the essential components of country style.

The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation,
by Anna Malaika Tubbs

In this groundbreaking debut, Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King and Louise Little, who taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers who pushed their children toward greatness.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home, by Kathryn Cristaldi

Oh, my goodness, this is the sweetest thing — a perfect read-together that will make you want to cuddle with your favorite 3-year-old and share the yaks in Cadillacs and frogs on big-wheeled bikes. “I will love you till the cows come home, from a trip to Mars through skies unknown, in a rocket ship made of glass and stone . . . I will love you till the cows come home.” (Ages 1-4.)

The Beak Book, by Robin Page

Straining, sniffing, tossing, crushing, cooling, filtering, snapping — beaks are incredibly versatile, and the birds that own them wildly diverse. Budding ornithologists and nature lovers will enjoy learning about the wide world of birds and their beaks in this fun new title. (Ages 3-8.)

Bear Island, by Matthew Cordell

There is no one good way to get through a bad time, but after losing her best dog, Charlie, Louise retreats to a tiny island near her home, where her days are filled with warm sun, quiet animals and time — time to think and be and find a path forward. A lovely story of healing after loss from a picture book wizard. (Ages 3-6.)

The Cousins, by Karen McManus

Milly, Aubrey and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they’ve never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. When they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they’re surprised and curious. The longer the cousins are on the island, the more they realize how mysterious — and dark — their family’s past is. A fast-paced thriller for fans of Genuine Fraud or We Were Liars. (Age 14 and up.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

January Books

FICTION

Nick, by Michael Farris Smith

Before Nick Carraway moved to West Egg and into The Great Gatsby, he was at the center of a very different story — one taking place along the trenches and deep within the tunnels of World War I. A romantic story of self-discovery, this rich and imaginative novel breathes new life into a character that many know but few have pondered deeply. Nick reveals the man behind the narrator who has captivated readers for decades.

The Fortunate Ones, by Ed Tarkington

A teenage boy being raised in a low-income area of Nashville by a single mom receives a mysterious scholarship offer to attend an elite private school for boys. Charlie Boykin is thrust into the midst of the children of billionaires and socialites, and the trajectory of his life is altered forever. But was it all worth it? This is a character-driven novel with a storyline as opulent as the mansions within it.

The Good Doctor of Warsaw, by Elisabeth Gifford

Janusz Korczak ran an orphanage for Jewish children in Warsaw, where conditions became increasingly harsh during World War II. Gifford tells his story with moving details of daily life — struggling to find food and to avoid being killed by the Nazis. Over 95 percent of the 350,000 Jews in Warsaw did not survive the war. A story the world must never forget.

The Prophets, by Robert Jones Jr.

A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the comfort they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence. In the barn they tended to the animals, but also to each other, transforming the hollowed-out shed into a place of human refuge, a source of intimacy and hope in a world ruled by vicious masters. With a lyricism reminiscent of Toni Morrison, The Prophets masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance, but is also shot through with hope, beauty and truth, portraying the enormous, heroic power of love.

The Last Garden in England, by Julia Kelly

This is a sweeping novel of five women across three generations whose lives are connected by one very special garden — the Highbury House estate — designed in 1907, cared for during World War II and restored in the present day by Emma Lovett, who begins to uncover secrets that have long been hidden.

The Divines, by Ellie Eaton

Moving between present-day Los Angeles and 1990s Britain, The Divines is a scorching examination of the power of adolescent sexuality, female identity and the destructive class divide. Josephine inexplicably finds herself returning to her old stomping grounds of St. John the Divine, an elite English boarding school. The visit provokes blurry recollections of those doomed final weeks that rocked the community. Josephine becomes obsessed with her teenage identity and the forgotten girls of her one-time orbit. But the more she recalls, the further her life unravels, derailing not just her marriage and career, but her entire sense of self.

A Mother’s Promise, by K.D. Alden

In Virginia in 1927, Ruth Ann Riley was poor and unwed when she became pregnant. She was sent to an institution and her child given up for adoption. All the rich and fancy folks may have called her feebleminded, but Ruth Ann was smarter than any of them knew. No matter the odds stacked against her, she was going to overcome the scandals of her past and get her child back. She just never expected her battle to go to the United States Supreme Court, or that she’d find unexpected friendships, even love, along the way. 

The Narrowboat Summer, by Anne Youngson

Eve and Sally are at a crisis in their lives when they each happen upon a narrowboat on a canal owned by Anastasia. Before they realize what they’ve done, Sally and Eve agree to drive Anastasia’s narrowboat on a journey through the canals of England, as she awaits a life-saving operation. The eccentricities and challenges of narrowboat life draw them inexorably together, and a tender and unforgettable story unfolds. At summer’s end, all three women must decide whether to return to the lives they left behind or forge a new path forward.

NONFICTION

Let Me Tell You What I Mean, by Joan Didion

Twelve early pieces never before collected offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and creative process of Didion. Drawn mostly from the earliest part of her astonishing five-decade career, these are subjects Didion has written about often: the press, politics, California robber barons, women, the act of writing, and her own self-doubt. Each piece is classic Didion: incisive and stunningly prescient.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Winter is Here, by Kevin Henkes and Laura Dronzek

When winter comes, it comes soft like snowfall and hard like leaves frozen in ice. Winter comes white and gray and deep, deep blue. From the husband and wife team of Henkes and Dronzek, Winter is Here is the companion to the lovely When Spring Comes and is the perfect introduction to the seasons for young readers. (Ages 1-3.)

A Busy Year,
by Leo Lionni

Winnie and Willie and Woody are friends. First, as January snow falls on Woody’s branches, later as her branches bloom and even later as her leaves begin to fall, the friends experience all a year has to offer. A fun way to learn about the seasons while also zeroing in on the qualities of a good friend, A Busy Year is a classic that deserves a spot on every child’s bookshelf. Arriving Jan. 12. (Ages 2-3.)

Looking for Smile, by Ellen Tarlow

Once in a while, when you least expect it, life gets you down, and you just lose your smile. But sometimes the quiet song of a good friend can make the world bright again. A great story of friendship and of dealing with the downs. (Ages 3-6.)

Just Our Luck, by Julia Walton

In this moving and absolutely hilarious tale, Leo is a high school boy caught up in his own anxiety. He normally keeps his head down, but a fight with another boy at school starts a chain reaction, entangling Leo in something he never would have been part of by choice. This amazing, touching masterpiece is perfect to the very last page. (Ages 13 and up.) — Review by Kaitlyn Rothlisberger.  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

December Books

FICTION

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, by Marie Benedict

In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Her husband, a World War I veteran, and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author.

Fresh Water for Flowers,
by Valérie Perrin

Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Casual mourners, regular visitors and sundry colleagues — gravediggers, groundskeepers and a priest — visit her to warm themselves in her lodge, where laughter, companionship and occasional tears mix with the coffee she offers them.

Miss Benson’s Beetle, by Rachel Joyce

From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comes an uplifting, irresistible novel about two women on a life-changing adventure, where they must risk everything, break all the rules, and discover their best selves.

Big Girl, Small Town, by Michelle Gallen

Majella is happiest out of the spotlight, away from her neighbors’ stares and the gossips of the small town in Northern Ireland where she grew up just after the Troubles. She lives a quiet life caring for her alcoholic mother, working in the local chip shop, watching the regular customers come and go. Then her grandmother dies and Majella’s predictable existence is upended.

NONFICTION

The Berlin Shadow: Living with the Ghosts of
the Kindertransport, by Jonathan Lichtenstein

In 1939, Jonathan Lichtenstein’s father, Hans, escaped Nazi-occupied Berlin as a child refugee on the Kindertransport. Almost every member of his family died after Kristallnacht and, upon arriving in England to make his way in the world alone, Hans turned his back on his German Jewish culture. As Hans enters old age, he and Jonathan set out to retrace his journey back to Berlin.

Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear,
by Eva Holland

Since childhood, Holland has been gripped by two debilitating phobias: fear of losing her mother, and fear of heights. Finding the nerve to face down her fears, Holland not only shows us how to grapple with our own, but invites us to embrace them as a way to live happier and feel more alive.

I Cook in Color: Bright Flavors from My Kitchen and Around
the World, by Asha Gomez

Best known for her easy mix of cooking traditions from the American South and her homeland of Kerala in Southern India, chef Asha Gomez continues to evolve her unique cooking style.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Meerkat Christmas, by Emily Gravett

Sunny the Meerkat wants Christmas to be PERFECT. So, he sets out to find snow, and Christmas trees, and the most amazing dinner. But something is still missing, and he may just have to go all the way back home to discover just what it is. Everyone’s Christmas will be just perfect with this fun holiday read-together. (Ages 3-6.)

Counting Creatures, by Julia Donaldson

The much-loved author of the Gruffalo and Animalphabet is back with this clever, beautiful title, just perfect for nature lovers and animal lovers alike. (Ages 4-7.)

Find Fergus, by Mike Boldt

Oh, Fergus. He just doesn’t GET hide and seek. After hiding among moose, polar bears and skinny trees, Fergus finally discovers the perfect hiding place. But when it’s time for the game to be over, Fergus is nowhere to be found. Oh, Fergus. (Ages 3-6.)

Cat Kid Comic Club, by Dav Pilkey

Fans of the wildly popular Dog Man books will be inspired to dream up their own stories and unleash their own creativity as they dive into this new graphic novel adventure. (Ages 9-12.)

Five More Sleeps ’Til Christmas, by Jimmy Fallon

Every kid knows it’s the nights before Christmas that are the hardest. The excitement, the toys dreamed of, the anticipation! This fun Christmas countdown book is the perfect way to help giddy tots get through those last five nights before the big day! (Ages 3-8.)

Exploring the Elements, by Isabel Thomas

Everything in the world is made of 118 elements, and this fun title is an artful and accessible guide to each and every one of them. Sections include the design of the periodic table, graphically stunning layouts featuring each element’s letter symbol, atomic number, attributes, characteristics, and uses. This little gem is the perfect gift for that kid who appreciates something interesting and unusual. (Ages 9-14.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

November Books

FICTION

Here Is the Beehive, by Sarah Crossan

Ana, an unhappily married lawyer, and Connor have a three-year affair. Ana is happy to leave her family for him but Connor is hesitant. Ana finds out about his death from his wife, who calls Ana, Connor’s lawyer. The cause of death is kept from the reader. In beautiful and sparing language, this book is told in five parts dealing with Ana’s grief, love and loss — all a secret, even as she secretly changes the will so that she is the executor and can keep him close a little longer.

Together in a Sudden Strangeness: America’s Poets Respond to the Pandemic, edited by Alice Quinn

In this urgent outpouring of American voices, poets speak to us as they shelter in place, addressing our collective fear, grief and hope from eloquent and diverse individual perspectives. The executive director of the Poetry Society of America, Quinn was also the poetry editor at The New Yorker from 1987 to 2007 and an editor at Alfred A. Knopf for more than 10 years prior to that.

The Archer, by Paulo Coelho

From the bestselling author of The Alchemist comes an inspiring story about a young man seeking wisdom from an elder, and the practical lessons imparted along the way. It’s the story of Tetsuya, a man once famous for his prodigious gift with a bow and arrow, and the boy who comes searching for him. The boy has many questions, and in answering them Tetsuya illustrates the tenets of a meaningful life, how one must take risks, build courage, and embrace the unexpected journey fate has to offer.

NONFICTION

From Russia with Blood: The Kremlin’s Ruthless Assassination Program and Vladimir Putin’s Secret War on the West, by Heidi Blake

The untold story of how Russia refined the art and science of targeted assassination abroad — while Western spies watched in horror as their governments failed to guard against the threat — is now in paperback. Unflinchingly documenting the growing web of death on British and American soil, Blake bravely exposes the Kremlin’s assassination campaign as part of Putin’s ruthless pursuit of global dominance and reveals why Western governments have failed to stop the bloodshed. The unforgettable story that emerges whisks us from London’s high-end night clubs to Miami’s million-dollar hideouts, and ultimately renders a bone-chilling portrait of money, betrayal and murder, written with the pace and propulsive power of a thriller.

The Science of James Smithson: Discoveries from the Smithsonian Founder, by Steven Turner

By providing scientific and intellectual context to his work, The Science of James Smithson is a comprehensive tribute to Smithson’s contributions to his fields, including chemistry, mineralogy and more. This detailed narrative illuminates Smithson and his quest for knowledge at a time when chemists still debated things as basic as the nature of fire, and struggled to maintain their networks amid the ever-changing conditions of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

Pancho Villa’s Saddle at the Cadillac Bar: Recipes and Memories, by Wanda Garner Cash

In 1924, Achilles Mehault “Mayo” Bessan and his 18-year-old bride journeyed from New Orleans to Mexico, where he ultimately transformed a dirt-floored cantina in Nuevo Laredo into a bar and restaurant renowned across the United States for its fine seafood and fancy cocktails. Cash writes, “I grew up behind the bar: first child and first grandchild. I spoke Spanish before I spoke English and I learned my numbers counting coins at my grandfather’s desk . . . I rode Pancho Villa’s saddle on a sawhorse in the main dining room, with a toy six-shooter in my holster. I fed the monkeys and parrots my grandfather kept in the Cadillac’s parking lot.” Readers will find themselves drawn to a different, more languid time, when Laredo society matrons passed long afternoons in the bar, sipping Ramos Gin Fizzes; when fraternity miscreants slouched into the Cadillac to recover from adventures “South of the Border”; when tourists waited in long lines for 40-cent tequila sours and plates of chicken envueltos.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Margaret’s Unicorn, by Briony May Smith

When a unicorn is your friend, you wish spring was far away. You wish for long days of feeding your unicorn water warmed by moonlight and flowers from the meadow. You want more first snows, warm fires and days splashing in the waves. But when spring comes and your unicorn rejoins his herd, you’re just glad for the wonderful memories of your amazing friend. The absolute perfect book for unicorn fans. (Ages 4-7.)

The Silver Arrow,
by Lev Grossman

What to do if it’s your 11th birthday and your life is much too boring? Why, write to your long-lost rich uncle and ask for a birthday surprise, of course! So when a full-sized steam engine arrives in Kate’s backyard, she and her brother find themselves rolling right into the middle of an epic adventure in which they must imagine cars for the train (swimming pool car!) and must care for the animals (talking ones!) who are waiting at each station platform with tickets. Perfect for a family read-together. (Ages 8-12.)

Pearl and Squirrel Give Thanks, by Cassie Ehrenberg

“Thanksgiving is when you share what you’re thankful for with family and friends,” Stan tells Pearl and Squirrel. Jump rope, fetch, fountains for swimming, friends and cuddly nap spots are all amazing things, but the thing Pearl and Squirrel are most thankful for is a warm dry place to call home. A break from the traditional Thanksgiving books, this one is sure to be a kid favorite this holiday season. (Ages 3-6.)

The Blue Table, by Chris Raschka

Flowers, apples, pies. There are so many things to be thankful for, but the thing that stands out the most is the family that gathers around the table. Great for Thanksgiving or any day everyone gathers, The Blue Table is a wonderful celebration of the things that matter most. (Ages 3-6.)

Only the Cat Saw,
by Ashley Wolf

As the family busily goes through their daily routine, only the cat sees the sheep grazing, the lightning bugs come out and the shooting star streak across the sky. Only the cat sees the beauty and wonder. A gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the miracles in every day. (Ages 3-6.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally.

Bookshelf

October Books

FICTION

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,
by V.E. Schwab

In France in 1714, during a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever — and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. Everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name. It’s a story you will never forget about a life no one will remember, penned by a New York Times bestselling author.

Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam

A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong. Amanda and Clay head out to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a vacation: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter, and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they’ve rented for the week. But with a late-night knock on the door, the spell is broken. Ruth and G.H., an older couple who claim to own the home, have arrived there in a panic. A sudden blackout has swept New York and — with nowhere else to turn — they’ve come to the country in search of shelter. With the TV and internet down, and no cellphone service, the facts are unknowable. Should Amanda and Clay trust this intruding couple, and vice versa? Suspenseful and provocative, Alam’s third novel is keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race and class. Leave the World Behind explores how our closest bonds are reshaped, and unexpected new ones forged, in moments of crisis.

Troubles in Paradise, by Elin Hilderbrand

Travel to the bright Caribbean one last time in this satisfying conclusion to the bestselling “Winter in Paradise” trilogy. After uprooting her life in the States, Irene Steele has just settled in at the villa on St. John, where her husband, Russ, had been living a double life. But a visit from the FBI shakes her foundation, and Irene once again learns just how little she knew about the man she loved. With help from their friends, Irene and her sons set up their lives while evidence mounts that the helicopter crash that killed Russ may not have been an accident. Meanwhile, the island watches this drama unfold — including the driver of a Jeep with tinted windows who seems to be shadowing the Steele family. As a storm gathers strength in the Atlantic and surprises are in store for the Steeles, all will be revealed about the secrets and lies that brought Irene and her sons to St. John .

Moonflower Murders, by Anthony Horowitz

Susan Ryeland, the retired publisher, is living the good life running a small hotel on a Greek island with her long-term boyfriend Andreas. Then the Trehearnes come to stay. The strange and mysterious story they tell, about an unfortunate murder that took place on the same day and in the same hotel in which their daughter was married — a picturesque inn on the Suffolk coast named Farlingaye Halle — fascinates Susan and piques her editor’s instincts. One of her former writers, the late Alan Conway, knew the murder victim. Conway based the third book in his detective series, Atticus Pund Takes the Cake, on that very crime. The Trehearne’s, daughter, Cecily, read Conway’s mystery and believed the book proves that the man convicted of that murder is innocent. When the Trehearnes reveal that Cecily is now missing, Susan knows that she must return to England and find out what really happened. Brilliantly clever and relentlessly suspenseful, Moonflower Murders is a deviously dark take on vintage English crime fiction from one of its greatest masterminds.

NONFICTION

Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity and Change, by Maggie Smith

Sometimes it seems, in the midst of a dark time, a deep rut or maybe just in the middle of a long boring stretch, the thing that keeps one from moving forward is simply the inability to move at all. In Keep Moving, Smith offers thoughts, suggestions, reflections and stories that encourage readers to keep going: to breathe, blink, sit, eat and to call that a successful day. This little gem is one to keep close at hand and revisit anytime the world gets a little too hard. When Smith, the award-winning author of the viral poem “Good Bones,” started writing inspirational daily Twitter posts in the wake of her divorce, they unexpectedly caught fire. It is all here. For fans of Anne Lamott and Cleo Wade, a collection of quotes and essays on facing life’s challenges with creativity, courage and resilience.

No Surrender: A Father, a Son, and an Extraordinary Act of Heroism that Continues
to Live on Today, by Chris Edmunds and
Douglas Century

An unforgettable story of a father’s extraordinary acts of valor in World War II and a son’s thrilling journey to discover them — an epic narrative of bravery, compassion and faith. Like most members of the Greatest Generation, Roddie Edmonds, a humble American soldier from East Tennessee, rarely spoke about his experiences during World War II. Not even his son Chris knew the full details of Roddie’s capture at the Battle of the Bulge or his captivity at Stalag 9A, a Nazi POW camp. But when Chris’ daughter was assigned a family history project, Chris reread Roddie’s wartime diaries, which set in motion a series of life-changing events. Chris embarked on a years-long journey, interviewing surviving POWs under Roddie’s command, and retracing his father’s footsteps. Century, a New York Times bestselling author, and Edmonds take us to the front lines of this inspiring multigenerational story.

Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld

In page after hilarious page, one brilliantly crafted observation after another, readers will witness the evolution of one of the great comedians of our time and gain new insights into the thrilling but unforgiving art of writing stand-up comedy. Since his first performance at the legendary New York nightclub Catch a Rising Star as a 21-year-old college student in the fall of 1975, Seinfeld has written his own material and saved everything. “Whenever I came up with a funny bit, whether it happened on a stage, in a conversation, or working it out on my preferred canvas, the big yellow legal pad, I kept it in one of those old school accordion folders,” he writes. “So I have everything I thought was worth saving from forty-five years of hacking away at this for all I was worth.”

Modern Comfort Food, by Ina Garten

In this collection of all-new soul-satisfying dishes from America’s favorite home cook, Garten shares 85 new recipes, many inspired by childhood favorites, but with the volume turned way up. There are few things more comforting than gathering for a meal with the ones you love, especially when dishes like “Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas” are at the center of the table. Old-fashioned crowd pleasers like “Roasted Sausages, Peppers, and Onions” are even more delicious and streamlined for quick cleanup. Home cooks can always count on Garten’s dependable, easy-to-follow instructions, with lots of side notes for cooking and entertaining. From cocktails to dessert, from special weekend breakfasts to quick weeknight dinners, you’ll find yourself making these cozy and delicious recipes over and over again.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

If You Want a Friend in Washington: Wacky, Wild & Wonderful Presidential Pets, by Erin McGill

From Macaroni Kennedy (a horse) to Pauline Wayne Taft (a cow), there have been some outrageous presidential pets along with a veritable herd of dogs, cats and the occasional chicken. This fun, informative, cleverly illustrated picture book will have young readers laughing out loud and their adults cramming information sure to be useful for trivia nights. (Ages 4-8.)

I Promise, by LeBron James

Children believe what you tell them. This book of affirmations should be the go-to for anyone hoping to raise a child to be courageous, kind, helpful, questioning, hardworking, respectful, and curious. And in the end, isn’t that what we really want of them all? Proceeds from this motivational picture book will go to the LeBron James Foundation and the I Promise School. (Ages 3-5.)

Kenny and the Book of Beasts, by Tony DiTerlizzi

In this highly anticipated sequel to the much-loved Kenny and the Dragon by Caldecott Honor winner and N.C. Battle of the Books author DiTerlizzi, Kenny must cope with many changes in his life — including a litter of baby sisters, friends at different schools, and the fear that he’s losing his best friend. (Ages 8-12.)

The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs, Americas Test Kitchen Kids

Curious young foodies will enjoy this fun new cookbook that explores the secrets behind some commonly available foods (think: ketchup, applesauce, sprinkles, pancake mix, hummus, and fish-shaped cheddar crackers), and recipes to create their own healthy versions of these kid favorites. (Ages 8-12.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally

Bookshelf

September Books

FICTION

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, by Garth Nix

When is a bookseller more than simply a person who sells books? When they are one of the left-handed booksellers of London, of course. And Merlin, a mythical-creature-explaining, weapon-at-the-ready, failed bookshop clerk, is one of the most legendary left-handed booksellers of them all. When budding art student Susan Arkshaw wanders into Merlin’s path while searching for her father, her life may never be the same. Quirky, fast-paced, fantasy fun just perfect for fans of Night Circus, Caraval and Jackaby, this little gem is going to be at the top of the recommendations list for the fall.

The Talented Miss Farwell, by Emily Gray Tedrowe

Miss Farwell is the bookkeeper for a small town when she discovers her love of art. Moving funds around, she “borrows” to acquire art, then sells it for a profit, repaying the “loan.” But things begin to get out of hand. Will she get caught? It’s amazing how hard it is to change your ways when you’ve been having so much fun!

Monogamy, by Sue Miller

Annie and Graham have a comfortable life and a comfortable marriage in Boston. She is a photographer, and he owns a bookstore. Her personality is rather reserved, while his is loving and larger than life. They have two adult children, a son from his first marriage, and a daughter together. They enjoy a close relationship with his ex-wife. When Graham dies suddenly, Annie is at a complete loss in her grief. She also finds herself grappling with rage when she learns that he was unfaithful to her in the days leading to his death. This is an intuitive study of a marriage, friendship, family and how to come to terms with a loved one’s fallibility.

The End of the Day, by Bill Clegg

Told in two different time periods and with three main characters and their families, this is a fabulous tale of coveting what someone else has, making assumptions without knowing all the facts, and making decisions whose ramifications affect many others.

The Evening and the Morning,
by Ken Follett

Thirty years ago, Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, his masterful prequel, The Evening and the Morning, takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end at the dawn of the Middle Ages, where Pillars begins.

NONFICTION

ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History, by Jennifer Dasal

ArtCurious is a colorful look at the world of art history, revealing some of the strangest, funniest and most fascinating stories behind the world’s great artists and masterpieces. Through these and other incredible, weird and wonderful tales, ArtCurious presents an engaging look at why art history is, and continues to be, a riveting and relevant world to explore. Dasal is the curator of modern and contemporary art at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh and host of the independent podcast ArtCurious, started in 2016 and recognized as one of the country’s best podcasts by O, The Oprah Magazine and PC Magazine.

Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience, compiled by Shaun Usher

In the volume on cats, Florence Nightingale sends care instructions to the woman who has just adopted her angora tomcat, Mr. White. T.S. Eliot issues a rhyming birthday party invitation to all Jellicle cats for his 4-year-old godson. Jack Kerouac’s mother grieves at the death of the family cat. In the volume on music, Keith Richards tells his aunt about bumping into a former schoolmate named Mick Jagger, who also loves Chuck Berry. Yo-Yo Ma wonders whether Leonard Bernstein remembers introducing him onstage as a young boy. A Harvard psychiatrist begs CVS to change their on-hold music. Riffing on their passions and surroundings, the artists and entertainers in this volume candidly reveal the sources of their inspiration, what music means to them, why they create it, and so much more.

Our Tarot, by Sarah Shipman

Jane Addams, Benazir Bhutto, Lucrezia Borgia, Anne Frank, Frida Kahlo, Beatrix Potter, Florence Nightingale, Nefertari, Elizabeth I, Cleopatra, Marie Curie, Zora Neale Hurston, Sophie Scholl, Eleanor Roosevelt and Ida B. Wells are all featured in this traditional yet most unusual tarot deck. From 1300 BCE to the late 20th century, the women depicted in the deck represent many ethnicities, creeds, socioeconomic classes, sexualities, ages and abilities and have all influenced their world.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Ty’s Travels: All Aboard, by Kelly Starling Lyons

The first in a brand-new “I Can Read” series from the Coretta Scott King award-winning author, Ty’s Travels is perfect for those readers just beginning to read on their own. With family, adventure and creative play, Ty is really going places, and young readers will delight in reading along as they turn the page to see just where Ty may end up next! (Ages 4-6.)

How to Read to a Grandma or Grandpa,
by Jean Reagan

In bookstores and in libraries, with voices quiet or voices LOUD, books are best when shared with someone — and even more fun when that someone is a grandma or grandpa. In this latest installment in her super cute “How To” series, Reagan shows how wonderful books can be when shared with someone you love. This is the perfect title for Grandparents Day, Sunday, Sept. 13. (Ages 3-8.)

Wild Symphony,
by Dan Brown

Yes, that Dan Brown. There’s more to life than meets the eye, and there’s more to Wild Symphony than just a simple picture book. There are poems (20 of them), adorable animals (bouncing kangaroos, clumsy kittens and a cheetah chase), and even an animal orchestra! Most importantly, though, there are short asides to remind readers to “listen to nature,” “slow down and enjoy today,” and “get back on your feet when you fall down.” The perfect gift for anyone of any age from the author of The Da Vinci Code. (Ages 4-6.)

The Similars, by Rebecca Hanover

Emma’s life was torn apart last summer when she found her best friend, Oliver, dead. Now she has to return to school without him. Her high school, Darkwood Academy, prides itself on its diversity and, because of this, they are the first school to allow clones to attend alongside the “Originals.” One of the clones is of her dead best friend. Throughout the book Emma works to uncover secrets about the “Similars,” discovering surprising twists about Oliver’s death, and learning that she may be more similar to these Similars than she could ever have anticipated. (Ages 14 and up.) (Review by Ella Pate.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally

Bookshelf

August Books

FICTION

The Boy in the Field, by Margot Livesey

The New York Times bestselling author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy delivers a novel written with with the deceptive simplicity and power of a fable. One September afternoon in 1999, teenagers Matthew, Zoe and Duncan Lang are walking home from school when they discover a boy lying in a field, bloody and unconscious. Thanks to their intervention, the boy’s life is saved. In the aftermath, all three siblings are irrevocably changed.

Squeeze Me, by Carl Hiaasen

Brightening even the darkest of days, Squeeze Me is pure, unadulterated Hiaasen. Irreverent, ingenious and highly entertaining, it captures the absurdity of our times. A prominent high society dowager suddenly vanishes during a swank gala, and is later found dead. She was an ardent fan of the Winter White House resident just down the road, and a founding member of the POTUSSIES, a group of women dedicated to supporting their president, who immediately declares that Kiki was the victim of rampaging immigrant hordes, which is far from the truth.

Migrations, by Charlotte McConaghy

In an effort to find the last flock of Arctic terns, a young Irish woman with a tragic past finagles her way onto a fishing boat in Greenland to follow their migratory path. This is a staggering tale of hardship, loss, danger, adventure and, most of all, it is a wake-up call that the humans of this world need to answer.

The Wright Sister, by Patty Dann

An epistolary novel of historical fiction, The Wright Sister imagines the life of Katharine Wright and her relationship with her famous brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright. After Wilbur passed away, Katharine lived with and took care of her increasingly reclusive brother Orville, who often turned to his more confident and supportive sister to help him through fame and fortune. When Katharine became engaged to their mutual friend Harry Haskell, Orville felt abandoned and betrayed.

The Orphan Collector, by Ellen Marie Wiseman

From the internationally bestselling author of What She Left Behind comes a gripping and powerful tale of upheaval: a heartbreaking saga of resilience and hope perfect for fans of Beatriz Williams and Kristin Hannah, set in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak, the deadly pandemic that infected one-third of the world’s population.

NONFICTION

The Smallest Lights in the Universe,
by Sara Seager

In this luminous memoir, an MIT astrophysicist must reinvent herself in the wake of tragedy and discovers the power of connection on this planet, even as she searches our galaxy for another Earth. With the unexpected death of Seager’s husband, the purpose of her own life becomes hard for her to see. Suddenly, at 40, she is a widow and the single mother of two young boys. For the first time, she feels alone in the universe. Seager takes solace in the alien beauty of exoplanets and the technical challenges of exploration. She also discovers earthbound connections that feel every bit as wondrous.

Life of a Klansman: A Family History in White Supremacy, by Edward Ball

A descendant of a carpenter in Louisiana who took up the cause of fanatical racism during the years after the Civil War, Ball reconstructs the story of his great-great-grandfather, who had a career in white terror of notable and bloody completeness: massacres, night riding, masked marches, street rampages. It was all part of a tireless effort that he and other Klansmen made to restore white power when it was threatened by the emancipation of 4 million enslaved people. Ball seeks out descendants of African Americans who were once victimized by “our Klansman” and his comrades, and shares their stories.

Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain, by David Eagleman

The magic of the brain is not found in its parts, but in the way those parts constantly reweave themselves in an electric, living fabric. With his hallmark clarity and enthusiasm, the renowned neuroscientist reveals the myriad ways the brain absorbs experience: developing, redeploying, organizing, and arranging the data it receives from the body’s own absorption of external stimuli, enabling us to gain the skills, facilities and practices that make us who we are.

Reaganland: America’s Right Turn 1976-1980, by Rick Perlstein

From the bestselling author of Nixonland and The Invisible Bridge comes the dramatic conclusion of how conservatism took control of American political power. Backed by a reenergized conservative Republican base, Reagan ran on the campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” — and prevailed. Reaganland is the story of how that happened, tracing conservatives’ strategies to gain power and explaining why they endure four decades later.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Summer Song, by Kevin Henkes

The song of summer is loud sprinklers and lawn mowers and thunder, and also quiet dragonflies and lightning bugs and foggy mornings. The song of summer is long, long days until summer is bored and ready for a new song. The latest in Henkes’ wonderful season series, Summer Song will have young readers running through sprinklers in their minds long after the orange oak leaves begin to fall. (Ages 3-6.)

Randy, The Badly Drawn Horse,
by T. L. McBeth

Randy is a beautiful horse. Everyone says so. With his flowing mane, long powerful legs, culinary expertise and stunning visage, Randy knows he is practically perfect — until one day he sees his reflection and begins to doubt what he is certain is the truth. This hilarious adventure in self-confidence and believing in yourself is perfect for story time or together time and is sure to have young readers begging: Again! Again! Randy is a real hero for our time. (Ages 4-7.)

Soaked, by Abi Cushman

Ugh, days and days and days of rain are just TOO MUCH, so Bear and friends head into the cave. Once inside, moose becomes too much when he begins to juggle hula hoops in an attempt to change the mood of the crew. Readers who adore Ryan Higgins’ 1 Grumpy Bruce will adore this grumpy rain-soaked crew, who finally come around to some serious joviality. (Ages 3-6.)

I Got the School Spirit, by Connie Schofield-Morrison

A new school year, whether virtual or in person, just begs for a rush of school spirit! Fresh kicks, new friends, new backpacks, and fun energetic teachers are amazing opportunities just filled with discovery and delight in this new back-to-school book that celebrates a spirit of discovery and joy. (Ages 5-7.)  PS

Compiled by Kimberly Daniels Taws and Angie Tally