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"A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot answer." ~ Author unknown
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| My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry: A Novel by Fredrik BackmanBullied at school and left out at home, seven-year-old Elsa relies on her grandmother for love and attention, and she is only too happy to provide it. Granny weaves tall tales of the Land of Almost-Awake, and sets up a quest for Elsa to undertake so that she will not be so alone after Granny, who has cancer, dies. Precocious Elsa delivers the letters Granny has left, and as she does so discovers that her neighbors seem to embody characteristics of the creatures from the Land of Almost Awake... Whimsical and charming, this is just the book for fans of Daniel Wallace's equally offbeat Big Fish. |
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| The Little Paris Bookshop: A Novel by Nina George; translated by Simon PareFrench bookstore owner Jean Perdu considers himself a literary apothecary, prescribing exactly the right books to heal whatever ails his customers. His own heart, however, remains unhealed, at least until an unusual encounter leads him to read a long-sealed letter, which in turn compels him to board his bookshop (yes, it's a floating bookshop on the Seine!) and sail in search of his own happy ending. His journey -- enlivened by quaint French towns, delicious cuisine, and friendly strangers -- made this winsome U.S. debut a bestseller in Europe. |
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| Death and Mr. Pickwick: A Novel by Stephen JarvisAlthough this leisurely paced novel is framed by literary sleuths who narrate in the modern era, most of it is set in a richly detailed London of the 19th century. Proposing that the serialized sketches that launched Charles Dickens' career -- The Pickwick Papers -- were actually created by caricaturist Robert Seymour, this 800-page behemoth immerses readers in the London Dickens knew, complete with debtors' prisons and sporting clubs. Addressing the birth of mass-market publishing through Dickens' popularity, and with a huge cast of characters, this book has appeal for Dickens scholars and fans of lengthy, immersive reads. |
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| The Book of Speculation: A Novel by Erika SwylerHaving discovered by dint of sheer research (and a mysterious book that landed on his doorstep) that the women in his family all seem to a) have worked for a circus and b) die by drowning on July 24th, Long Island librarian Simon Watson is desperate to prevent his sister from being the next victim of what seems to be a family curse. Chapters alternate between his timeline and an 18th-century circus, and the novel itself is by turns melancholy and magical. Consider yourself a fan of the circus aspects of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus or Katherine Dunn's Geek Love? You won't want to miss The Book of Speculation. |
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To win her favor
by Tamera Alexander
A gifted rider in a world where ladies never race, Maggie Linden is determined that her horse will become a champion, but the one man who could help her has vowed to stay away from thoroughbred racing forever. Simultaneous.
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| The Shore: A Novel by Sara TaylorIf you loved David Mitchell's The Bone Clocks, you may also like this nonlinear, imaginative debut novel, which likewise mixes fantasy and realism and ranges widely through time. Set on the barrier islands of Virginia's Chesapeake Bay, it focuses on the descendants of healer Medora Slater, who endure poverty, abuse, racism, and plague -- while still reaching for their dreams and protecting their loved ones. Falling somewhere between Southern Gothic, "grit lit," and women's fiction, this literary novel has been long-listed for the prestigious Bailey's Women Prize for Fiction. |
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The seven sisters : a novel
by Lucinda Riley
Gathering at their Lake Geneva estate when their adoptive father passes away, six sisters receive tantalizing clues about their true heritage, prompting Maia to journey to Rio de Janeiro to learn the story of her parents' forbidden love. By the best-selling author of The Orchid House.
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Narrated by Kids and Teens
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| Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieNarrated by 15-year-old Kambili, this striking but often bleak novel shares her story -- of growing up wealthy but miserable in Nigeria, of finding happiness and love during a visit to her aunt in the countryside, and of the country's political strife. The tyranny in the larger Nigerian political sphere is also embodied by her father, but as she and her brother get older, they become less likely to submit to his demands, which spells danger for their whole family. Written with a strong sense of place, this debut novel won several awards; you may also enjoy Sefi Atta's Everything Good Will Come for another dynamic take on Nigeria, also narrated by a young woman. |
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| A Clockwork Orange by Anthony BurgessA Clockwork Orange was first published in 1962, as commentary on the fear of juvenile delinquency that was gripping England at the time. Set in a near-future in which roving gangs of teenagers unleash violence at every opportunity, it's narrated by the leader of one of these gangs, Alex, who is clearly intelligent, dangerous, and unreliable. Peppered with an invented, Russian-influenced slang, this book's popularity (and instances of its banning) increased after its adaption as a controversial movie by Stanley Kubrick in 1971. A final redemptive chapter was left out of versions published in the U.S. prior to 1986. |
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| Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran FoerOskar Schell is the nine-year-old son of a man killed in the World Trade Center on 9/11, and he's searching all of New York City for the lock that fits a key his father left behind. The only clue he has is the mysterious envelope (bearing the single word "Black") that contained it. Interwoven with Oskar's story is that of his grandfather, who survived the bombing of Dresden. This tale of grief and a boy's quest for one last message from his father is universally adored by critics, as unique pictures, unusual typography, and comic yet moving language make this a powerful and unforgettable read. |
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| The Elephant Keepers' Children by Peter Høeg; translated by Martin AitkenBoth madcap and philosophical, this one-of-a-kind novel features teenaged siblings trying to discover the whereabouts of their parents, who have disappeared from their idyllic island. Characters have names like Bodil Hippopotamus, Alexander Flounderblood, and Anaflabia Borderrud, while plot elements include oiled tunnels and apparently ambulatory corpses -- not to mention a religious conference and a plot to steal valuable artifacts. This whimsical style of storytelling -- narrated by a 14-year-old boy -- won't be for everyone, but those who enjoy a quirky challenge may appreciate this inventive, unusual novel. |
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| Pigeon English by Stephen KelmanEleven-year-old Harrison "Harri" Opuku has just moved to London's housing projects from Ghana when a fellow classmate is stabbed on the sidewalk and dies. Along with his best friend Dean, Harri decides he's going to discover the culprit, based on sleuthing techniques picked up from TV. Charming and mischievous, Harri is an irresistible narrator who employs Ghanaian and British slang with equal aplomb. His enthused perspective, along with the slang, may be hard-going for some readers at first, but this Booker-shortlisted novel may well appeal to fans of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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