De'y: a Novel

by Edwidge Danticat

Knopf/PRH

    A Haitian mother living in Miami is in a mall  when a mass shooting occurs. It takes her several days to be able to tell anyone that she experienced this. In Haiti, her parents have a sudden medical emergency and come to her home as soon as they can travel. The wounded family comes together to find strength but the reality of never returning to Haiti is very hard to accept. This is beautifully written and so sad.

    It is very hard to read without thinking of the fear, pain and confusion of the Haitians that the U.S. President is forcing to return to a very dangerous place. 

If you would like to know more about, or own these books, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place: bookshop.org.

The Neverfear (Book 3 of Impossible Creatures)

by Katherine Rundell

Knopf Books for Young Readers

  If you haven't read the first two in this series, do go back to Impossible Creatures and The Poisoned King. Every part of this series is amazing, but it does help to start at the beginning. Glimouria is a world not like our own - peopled with amazing, strange  and sometimes deadly creatures - but with many of the same needs - friendships, family, trust and bravery.

  This is listed for ages 10 and up but it is a great place for us "up"s  to avoid our world and imagine how it could be.

If you would like to know more about, or own these books, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place: bookshop.org.

The Monk

by Tim Sullivan

Atlantic Crime/IPG

   Sullivan's George Cross series keeps getting better. This one does make you realize that most people don't think what the lives of our religious people might've been before they took the cloth.  In Brother Dominic's case, his past was unfortunate, to say the least.

If you would like to know more about, or own this book, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place: bookshop.org.

The Spy and the Traitor 

by Ben Macintyre

Crown/PRH

       This is a fast-paced true tale of spies and the world they live in. The people become very real and the danger is palpable. For anyone who enjoys espionage and/or Slough Horses.

If you would like to know more about, or own this book, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place: bookshop.org.

Etna

by Paul Yoon

Scribner/S&S

     A brilliant anti-war novel for our time. This should be required reading for anyone thinking about joining the military.  Actually everyone should read this book, immediately. 

     Etna's voice never falters. Yoon does an amazing job of keeping a strong, compassionate dog in charge of the story; and making you care so very much for Etna, his pack and his search for home and peace.

If you would like to know more about, or own this book, please check with your local independent bookstore or this great place: bookshop.org.