Top Ten
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“Very rarely does a first novel announce a major new talent, but so it is with The Tiger's Wife. Brilliantly using myth and legend from the Balkans, Tea Obreht tells the story of a young doctor, her grandfather, and their shared history against the backdrop of the area's decades of turmoil and sorrow. This brilliant effort evokes echoes of Borges and Garcia Marquez, and is certain to mesmerize the reader.”
— Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
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“Every now and then, a life-affirming novel comes along that gets everybody talking and The Art of Fielding is such a book. It is an accomplished first novel sure to raise the bar for every debut in the near future. Building from the loaded bases of a Wisconsin college baseball field, Harbach's team is like family; we cheer their victories, feel their losses, and grow up a little more with every lesson learned. Anyone claiming to be a reader cannot miss this grand slam of a book.”
— Sarah Bagby, Watermark Books, Wichita, KS
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“This is one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read. Two people, doomed to a life of misery, find pure happiness in sharing their love even when time, distance, and family keep them apart. While you are reading this wonderful novel, your life might actually change; you will notice things you never did before, and your senses will be heightened and sharpened whether hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling, or even seeing. Read this book -- you will neither regret nor forget it.”
— Jean-Paul Adriaansen, Water Street Books, Exeter, NH
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“This is an emotionally intense story of a 64-year-old hand surgeon, Jennifer White, as she experiences the unyielding onslaught of dementia. On any given day she is lucid, catatonic, violent, or very, very sly. Does she feel any remorse for her less-than-stellar parenting of her two children? Did she kill her friend Amanda and amputate her fingers? LaPlante's exceptional skill with words puts readers inside this brilliant woman's mind so that we might experience her anger, frustration, and increasing confusion. This is a remarkable, heart-wrenching, and utterly compelling debut novel.”
— Susan Wasson, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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“When Marina Singh receives a note that her office mate, Anders Eckman, has died in the Amazon while investigating scientific work on female fertility, she is persuaded to follow him into the jungle in search of the doctor with whom he worked -- who has also exerted a crucial influence on Marina's life - and to retrieve Anders' personal effects. This spellbinding, richly atmospheric novel raises ethical questions about scientific research and discovery, loyalty, honesty, and love. Not to be missed!”
— Tova Beiser, Brown University Bookstore, Providence, RI
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“Here is a wonderful antidote to the endless salacious fictionalizations of Cleopatra. Well researched and documented, this biography draws a complete portrait of Cleopatra and her age, and the wealth of detail is balanced by a strong narrative thread. Schiff has a natural sensitivity for her subject, and it turns out that the real Cleo may be even more interesting than our imagined one!”
— Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
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“In A Visit from the Goon Squad, Egan presents a number of the kinds of idiosyncrasies we tend to avoid, only in this collection of expertly layered stories, the flawed characters enrapture and entwine themselves in the reader's imagination. Egan's novel is in a fresh form, the function of which merely hints at our own human imperfections and allows readers to forgive not just the characters in this collection, but themselves as well.”
— Brett Weinkle, Greenlight Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
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“Reminiscent of Michael Cunningham's A Home at the End of the World, though with a definitely original voice, this sweeping, powerful first novel touches on the themes of teenage angst, suburban disaffection, and the punk scene in the late 1980s, while also tackling the larger subjects of love, identity, complex family relationships, religion, and sexuality. You'll fall in love with the characters and want to hang out with them after the book is through. In one word: 'Wow!'”
— Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
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“Yale Law professor and history scholar Chua bravely and honestly relates her experiences in raising two daughters with her husband. Her self-defined 'Chinese parenting' approach presents a challenge to readers to understand how her unconditional love for her children can translate into such 'foreign' parental strategies that, from a Western perspective, seemingly impose stringent strictures on her children's development. Their accomplishments in violin, piano, and academics strongly argue for the effectiveness of her method, although the pitfalls of the approach manifest themselves, and the difficult process of reevaluation results in a provocative and instructive work.”
— Ed Conklin, Chaucer's Books, Santa Barbara, CA
By Gabrielle Hamilton
Random House Trade Paperbacks
“This isn't your typical chef memoir. Gabrielle Hamilton has come to the stove by sheer force and tenacity, and it comes through on every page of her book. From a rural childhood with her large family hosting a lamb roast for 100 guests to owning one of the most respected restaurants in New York City, Hamilton's journey hasn't always been easy, but it has always been surrounded by good, 'real' food, which is where her passion lies. Hamilton writes so deliciously that your mouth will be watering as you read!”
— Sherri Gallentine, Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA
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“I had certainly heard about wildlife smuggling, but this completely bizarre true-life tale brings the strange black market for insects vividly to life. The cat-and-mouse chase between an intrepid wildlife agent and a notorious and highly unusual Japanese smuggler will shock and amaze you. Movie Producers take note!”
— Julie Arriens, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
Cautionary Tales
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“In this evocative novel by the author of the bestselling Sarah's Key, Parisian
siblings Melanie and Antoine have grown up damaged by their mother's premature
death. Melanie is driving Antoine from a visit to the seaside where they had shared their mother's final summer, when, just as she's about to reveal to her brother a recovered memory from her childhood, she loses control of the car. A story of shocking family secrets and how childhood memories can continue to have effect far into adulthood, this is a haunting, yet hopeful read.”
— Karen Vail, Titcomb's Bookshop, East Sandwich, MA
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“Three parallel viewpoints -- of ants, developers, and environmentalists --are woven together in this novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer, who turns to fiction at age 81. Wilson tells the wonderful story of a young boy from Alabama who grows up to do battle to save his beloved forest. This magical tale reminds us of the life-and-death struggle that is going on all around us to protect our wilderness.”
— Karen Harris, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA
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“When Adam Kindred returns to London after years in the U.S. to interview for a research position at Imperial College, a chance encounter at a restaurant sets off his dizzying descent from academic to vagabond murder suspect in the matter of days. Sleeping rough and trolling the underworld of London just to survive, Adam attempts to prove his innocence and escape assassination by a crazed hired killer. William Boyd is a great storyteller.”
— Darwin Ellis, Books on the Common, Ridgefield, CT
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“I couldn't put this book down. Based on real events in 1885, this is the story of the murder of Lillie, who was eight months pregnant when she was found floating face up in Richmond, Virginia's drinking water reservoir. Was it an accident, suicide, or something more sinister? The author captures not only the feeling of the time, when many legal procedures were far different than today, but also the timeless questions of trust and whether we can ever really know the true motivations of others, even those closest to us.”
— Mary Kay Brunskill Cohen, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
Compelling Memoirs
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“Long before she could cook, Julia Child and her future husband were stirring up adventure together in the OSS. In A Covert Affair, Conant uncovers a tale of intrigue and detente, both professional and personal. All the ingredients of a fun thriller are here: plenty of bad guys, lots of Bond-type girls, double-crosses, and threats from everywhere, plus action in jungles, cities, deserts. The woman who is best known for taking down a chicken with a knife even has a one-on-one unarmed battle with a rogue elephant!”
— Geoffrey Jennings, Next Chapter Bookshop, Mequon, WI
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“This is the heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of the author's deep friendship with writer Caroline Knapp. Through rowing, swimming, writing, their dogs, and sharing life experiences, they nurture a connection that we would all love to have with someone. An honest and unforgettable tribute to best friends.”
— Ellen Jarrett, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA
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“On one hand, this is a tremendously affecting biography of William Styron, gorgeously written, dramatic, insightful, and compassionate. On the other, it is Mad Men, all skinny ties, nipped waists, scotch in the afternoon, and torrid love affairs. That the younger Styron has managed to both shed a bright light on her father's career, from its rapid rise in the '50s to its dark decline as a result of profound depression, as well as to entertain with literary name-dropping and party tales is commendable. I loved it!”
— Becky Dayton, The Vermont Book Shop, Middlebury, VT
By Ree Drummond
William Morrow Paperbacks
“The Pioneer Woman is at it again, but this time she's not dishing up recipes, rather she's giving us the juicy details of her courtship and her first year of marriage with her own 'Marlboro Man.' It's not your conventional fairy tale. Ree went from designer clothes and spa days to becoming the hard working wife of a cowboy on an isolated ranch. But through it all, it's still clear that she landed one major prince. She traded her glass slippers for cowboy boots--and she couldn't be happier!”
— Jackie Blem, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
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“This is an intensely courageous portrait of growing up after Dubus' renowned writer father leaves his mother, him, and his three siblings to confront the desolate, broken-down world of the mill towns of Massachusetts while he, in turn, teaches in nearby elitist colleges. Dubus bravely bares the veins of violence, fear, survival and love with a tender toughness, a linguistic grace, and an utter absence of rancor that places him among the most effective American memoirists writing today.”
— Margot Liddell, Norwich Bookstore, Norwich, VT
Exciting New Voices
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“The Invisible Bridge will make you forget every other novel you've ever read about World War II. Through the lives of two Hungarian Jewish brothers whose fates span the vibrant student cafes of 1930s Paris to the backbreaking labor camps on the Eastern Front, Orringer creates an entire universe, breathtaking in its breadth and extraordinary in its intimacy.”
— Elizabeth Sher, Politics & Prose Books and Coffee Shop, Washington, DC
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“During the Victorian era, flowers conveyed expressions of love and were often used as a form of communication. Victoria Jones, an abandoned child who has been evicted from many group homes, learns this language, and upon her emancipation at age 18, eventually finds a job with a caring florist. A chance meeting at a flower market forces her to confront her past and learn to love and trust someone again. Diffenbaugh's extraordinary debut brings forth in elegant prose the emotions of anger and mistrust, love and loss, and the possibilities for a second chance at happiness.”
— Annie Philbrick, Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT
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“As he faces retirement, Henry Cage finds his life spiraling out of control. He must deal with an ailing ex-wife, an estranged son, and a malicious stalker who is prone to violence. This first novel is both a page-turner and a disconcerting portrayal of the randomness of life and the choices we make. Strangely uplifting, The Upright Piano Player is guaranteed to keep you riveted.”
— Jack Gillard, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
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“Surprising, get-under-your-skin characters populate the spare landscape of Fort Hood, Texas, in this collection of linked stories that will have a compelling effect on even the most skeptical reader. Fallon opens a window into military base life from the perspective of the quiet supporters -- spouses, children and injured vets - who stay home when the men deploy. A riveting debut!”
— Nicole Magistro, The Bookworm of Edwards, Edwards, CO
Families - And Other Challenges
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“The whirlwind romance and marriage between Winnie, 78, and wealthy businessman Jerry, 85, promises a happy future but immediately upsets family dynamics. Jerry's resentful daughter views Winnie as a gold-digging usurper, while Winnie's daughter, beset by financial problems brought on by her husband's brain injury, is difficult in her own right. Their stories are interwoven with a deft hand and portrayed with both wit and compassion.”
— Ellen Sandmeyer, Sandmeyer's Bookstore, Chicago, IL
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“This is the story of a family that shows the world a little and hides a lot more -- even from each other. It's a story of compassion and abuse, lies and secrets, of people who once could finish each other's sentences and now don't know who they themselves are, let alone who other family members have become. It's about narrow minds and big dreams, and about how sometimes grace and sin can be the exact same thing, and how that can tear apart hearts and lives. This a difficult tale, exquisitely told.”
— Jackie Blem, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
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“Ward writes with a power and depth of feeling that is both rare and exhilarating. Her novel about 12 days in the life of a poor black family living on the Mississippi coast as a hurricane gathers in the gulf displays the gifts of a writer with exceptional skill and no fear. The characters seem almost to claw their way off the pages, so vividly has Jesmyn Ward created them. This is a novel of flesh and blood, heart and soul, dreams and terrors that I will not soon forget.”
— Stan Hynds, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester Center, VT
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“One stormy evening in the late 1960s, Martha, a retired school teacher living alone in her farmhouse, opens her door to find a young couple from the nearby State School for the Incurable and Feeble Minded on her doorstep carrying a very new baby. Martha has time to feed and clothe them, and they have time to locate a hidden space in the attic in which to hide the baby before the authorities appear. The man escapes, and as the young woman is led away, she leans into Martha and says, 'Hide her.' To her own astonishment, Martha agrees to keep the baby and in that moment readers give up their hearts to these four remarkable characters and the story of the next 40 years of their lives.”
— Jeanne Regentin, Between the Covers, Harbor Springs, MI
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“Located in the Florida Everglades, the Swamplandia island theme park is also home to the Bigtrees, a family of alligator wrestlers. When the mom and star of the show dies, the Bigtree way of life unravels. Dad heads to the mainland to find investors, while his three teenagers are left to deal with their losses. Kiwi attempts to infiltrate a rival amusement park, Ossie falls in love with a ghost, and the story's 13-year-old narrator, Ava, wrestles with a force more fearsome than gators: the loss of innocence. Karen Russell's sentences are so beautiful and original, they will leave you breathless!”
— Michael Keefe, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR
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“Julia Glass follows classic tradition, proving once again that family is the original source of comedy, tragedy, and frustration. Her newest novel is a meditation on love, both filial and romantic, and how hopelessly ridiculous we all become if we don't make the effort to temper our passions with reason or our actions with accountability.”
— Emily Crowe, Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA
Inspiration and Information
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“For anyone whose life has been touched by cancer -- probably all of us -- this is a fantastic introduction to not only what cancer is, but also its history, cultural significance, and the legacy of our battles to overcome it. Mukherjee's treatment of this epic subject is multifaceted and told with energy, eloquence, and a deep sense of the human stories behind the medicine.”
— Mark LaFramboise, Politics & Prose Books and Coffee Shop, Washington, DC
By Conor Grennan
William Morrow Paperbacks
“Grennan takes a year off from his job with the EastWest Institute and volunteers for three months in a Nepalese orphanage. He is captivated by his lively and affectionate young charges, but the story grows darker as he learns more about the for-profit traffic in young children stolen from their families and villages. Grennan vows to return to help reunite the children with their families, and the story of his fulfillment of that quest is powerful and moving.”
— Sarah Goddin, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
By Ted Gup
Penguin Books
“A suitcase of letters leads Ted Gup on a journey to his hometown of Canton, Ohio, during the heart of the Great Depression. A Secret Gift is a wonderful look at one man's generosity in a time of despair and how the human spirit survives even the most difficult times. Gup weaves the tale of the lives of those touched by the secret letters and their descendants with great care and charm.”
— Sam Droke-Dickinson, Aaron's Books, Lititz, PA
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“The massive migration of black people out of the South during the 20th century is a subject that has never been truly examined in popular history. That oversight has been rectified in this magisterial work. Concentrating on three individuals, Wilkerson puts a human face on a movement that transformed American society on every level and brought the depths and heights of tragedy and triumph to those who had the courage to escape the oppression of Jim Crow.”
— Bill Cusumano, Nicola's Books, Ann Arbor, MI
Brave Old Worlds
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“Caleb's Crossing reveals how early pioneers and native inhabitants of what is now Martha's Vineyard were capable of intense friendship and a sharing of spiritual beliefs despite dissimilar backgrounds. Employing the language of the time, Brooks once again proves her prowess in this story of the education of the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College. Caleb, the son of a chieftain, faces criticism from his own people as well as from white society. The narrator, Bethia Mayfield, desires the same education as Caleb but is denied due to her sex. The two become lifelong friends and their story is an emotional and evocative look at a crossing of cultures.”
— Karen Briggs, Great Northern Books and Hobbies, Oscoda, MI
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“The deaths of 900 Jews at Masada in 70 CE remains a terrifying tale. Through Hoffman's stunning prose, we meet four women as they weave their way to Herod's ancient fortress, believing the mountaintop can withstand any siege. Yael, daughter of an assassin, is in search of her brother; Revka, a baker's wife, arrives with her grandsons in the wake of her daughter's murder; Shira is a sorceress and mother figure to all except her own daughter, Aziza, who has chosen the warrior's path. As dovekeepers for the besieged community, they care for both the birds and each other. This haunting novel puts an unforgettable human face on a terrible tragedy that will stay with the reader for a long time.”
— Anne Holman, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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“The Midwife of Venice is the love story of Hannah, the best midwife in 16th century Venice, and her husband, Isaac. It is also a story of intrigue, adventure, and the religious issues of the day. By edict of the Pope, a Jewish midwife could not aid in the delivery of a Christian baby. To do so would bring severe punishment to the midwife as well as to the Jewish community as a whole. Hannah is faced with the choice of letting a gentile baby and his mother die in the hands of a less competent midwife, or attempting to help. The choice she makes will have dire consequences regardless of how she chooses. An enthralling read with much to discuss!”
— Nancy Nelson, Sunriver Books, Sunriver, OR
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“This majestic debut follows Eleanora Cohen, an eight-year-old prodigy who, through a strange turn of events, leaves her life in Constanta and becomes an adviser to the Sultan. Lukas deftly evokes the sights, smells, sounds, and textures of 19th century Stamboul. The reader sees the world through the eyes of a small, precocious child as she negotiates with the larger forces of history. This is a stunning and thoroughly engaging read that will reach beyond the typical genre of historical fiction.”
— Rachel Marcus, Pegasus Downtown, Berkeley, CA
New Works From Old Favorites
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“This compelling novel tells the story of Clara Driscoll who is employed by Louis Tiffany during New York City's 'Gilded Age.' As head of his glasswork's women's department, she achieves recognition for her design for the first leaded stained glass lamp. However, her desire for artistic success and personal happiness is thwarted by Tiffany's company policy against hiring married females. Vreeland masterfully shows an emotional picture of the glamorous world of the privileged class as set against the poverty of immigrants struggling to sustain hope and survive in their 'new world'. A must read!”
— Carol Hicks, Bookshelf At Hooligan Rocks, Truckee, CA
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“Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections is considered by many to be the best work of fiction produced in the last decade. Now Franzen has written Freedom, and it is as rich and rewarding as anything he has ever done. The characters are fully realized, the backdrop is perfectly captured, and the story is playful and sad, as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. Readers love Franzen because they know, and often are, the people he writes about, and are able to gain further access and insight into what it means to be human by spending time with the people and places he describes. Franzen does what so many writers fail to do -- he brings his stories to life and allows us to live within them.”
— Kester Smith, Book People, Austin, TX
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“The best books haunt and sometimes confuse you. They will make you think, feel, wonder, go back to earlier chapters, and finally, fully experience the story being told. Nicole Krauss's new book does just that and more. This powerful novel contains multiple stories of loves lost, families torn apart, and secrets kept and revealed. The suffering of many in Nazi Germany, in Pinochet's Chile, and those seeking a new life in Israel are woven together by the narrative thread of a stolen desk. This is a powerful book that will leave you reeling.”
— Ellen Burns, Books On The Common, Ridgefield, CT
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“Remembering is sometimes like 'juggling a hundred thousand crystal balls all at once, trying to keep all these memories going,' writes Francisco Goldman in this autobiographical work. This beautifully written book is, at the same time, an elegant and elegiac novel, a brutal and honest memoir, and the longest and most tender love letter in the world. Say Her Name is a gift of love for the author's beautiful young wife, Aura Estrada, who died after an accident in the waves at Mezunte beach in Mexico. Aura's absence is deeply felt throughout the whole book, and the last pages will take your breath away.”
— Aggie Zivaljevic, Kepler's Books & Magazine, Menlo Park, CA
Potpourri
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“Using his own home, an 1851 rectory in England, as a jumping off point, Bryson focuses his immense curiosity and incomparable writing skills on every aspect of 'home' to explore the history of why we live where we do and how we live. He takes us from room to room in this dynamic survey. You'll immediately want to share this with someone else. It's an 'Oh, let me read you just one more thing!' kind of book.”
— Banna Rubinow, The River's End Bookstore, Oswego, NY
By Simon Winchester
Harper Perennial
“This book, like its subject, is both sprawling and majestic. To reinforce his view of the ocean as a living thing, Winchester terms his book a 'biography of the ocean.' His life story of the Atlantic begins with the ocean's very formation. In later ages, he discusses such diverse topics as exploration, piracy, slavery, and conflict. Winchester writes with both beauty and authority, and his love of the ocean is so clearly expressed that readers nearly smell the salt! This is a masterpiece!”
— Christopher Rose, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA
By Erik Larson
Broadway Books
“Larson once again tells the story of real people living through momentous, historic events. In 1933, William Dodds becomes America's ambassador to Germany, a year after Adolf Hitler was named chancellor of Germany. Dodds brings his family with him to Berlin, including his daughter, Martha, a vivacious socialite. The U.S. State Department shows more concern about reconciliation with Germany in hopes of debt repayment than in the increasing signs that Hitler is stepping up violence against Jews and building up his military capabilities. With the Dodds family, you will be right in the middle of the events that led up to WWII.”
— Jeanne Costello, Maria's Bookshop, Durango, CO
By James Hansen
Bloomsbury
“Dr. James Hansen, considered the father of the study of global warming, has written a powerful book warning the world of the consequences if we continue to ignore the problem. Hansen, the director of NASA's Goddard Institute and a distinguished climate scientist, has been working for 30 years to publicize his findings, but he has largely been ignored. The subtitle of this book says it all. It is a frightening, and, at the same time, a must-read. The future of our world is dependent on getting the word out and urging action now.”
— Sue Richardson, Maine Coast Book Shop, Inc., Damariscotta, ME
By Jessica Speart
William Morrow Paperbacks
“I had certainly heard about wildlife smuggling, but this completely bizarre true-life tale brings the strange black market for insects vividly to life. The cat-and-mouse chase between an intrepid wildlife agent and a notorious and highly unusual Japanese smuggler will shock and amaze you. Movie Producers take note!”
— Julie Arriens, R.J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, CT
More Indie Next Lists
- February 2024 Indie Next List
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- January/February 2024 Kids Indie Next List
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- November/December 2023 Kids Indie Next List
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