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| Marlena: A Novel by Julie BuntinFifteen-year-old Cat is lonely in her new hometown in rural Michigan, until she meets her beautiful, reckless neighbor, Marlena. The friendship that the two build is unlike anything either girl has ever experienced, but it is doomed. Within a year, Marlena is dead. Now in her thirties, Cat is still damaged by the loss. The book alternates between the two eras, creating a haunting portrait of an intense friendship -- and the adult perspective that sees things a little more clearly. Leisurely paced, this debut is "devastating; as unforgettable as it is gorgeous" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| American War: A Novel by Omar El AkkadA second American Civil War is underway as three southern states refuse to give up fossil fuels, despite rising waters (New Orleans, Washington D.C., and all of Florida are long gone) and summers that last from March to December. It's 2075, and coastal refugees are pouring into the Midwest, but young Sarat and her family seek shelter in a Mississippi camp. As she grows, she becomes a warrior for the Southern cause, delivering violence until her eventual capture. Vividly imagined, this terrifying dystopian novel is based on debut author Omar El Akkad's work as a journalist, combining disparate elements of reporting on climate change, the Arab Spring, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the war in Afghanistan. |
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| Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey RatnerThirteen-year-old Teera and her aunt Amara were the only two members of their family to survive the Khmer Rouge, having fled Cambodia in 1979. Returning in 2003 after Amara's death, Teera finds herself in a country still feeling the effects of cruelties suffered (or inflicted) years ago. There, she meets a musician who claims to have known her father, who disappeared long ago. Her experiences of Cambodia in the present alternate with the musician's horrific memories of life in captivity with her father. As the title suggests, music is central to this lushly written tale of survival and loss. |
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| The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley: A Novel by Hannah TintiCareer criminal Samuel Hawley has spent much of his life on the road, dragging his young daughter Loo along, until she enters adolescence and he tries to leave his criminal past behind. They've moved to the Massachusetts town where Loo's long-dead mother grew up, and are cautiously making inroads into the community. But Loo's desire to understand her mother's death sets her at odds with her father, who still carries his late wife's makeup, shampoo, and robe to each new home. Told in their alternating perspectives (hers of their present, his of the twelve times he's been shot), this is a "breathtaking novel of violence and tenderness" (Booklist). |
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| Spoils by Brian Van ReetSet in Baghdad in 2003, this unsettling debut novel is told from three points of view -- on different sides of the war. Cassandra and her fellow soldiers are guarding a roundabout when it is attacked by mujahideen; Sleed and his tank crew are looting a palace and fail to come to their rescue before Cassandra is captured. The third point of view is provided by a Muslim insurgent who is losing ground to an Islamist extremist. With spare, powerful prose, author Brian Van Reet (an Iraq War veteran) vividly portrays the horrors of war. |
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| Save the Date by Mary Kay AndrewsThis charming, romantic read stars talented Savannah florist Cara Kryzik, whose innovative designs haven't quite found their market. Meanwhile, a pesky (but rather attractive) man seems to show up at every wedding she works, distracting her when she can least afford it (you can see where that's going, right?). She's getting desperate for that one career-making gig when the perfect opportunity arises. Unfortunately, it turns out to be a hefty load of work, right when everything else seems to be falling apart. But never fear, this humorous tale from bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews ends happily -- which makes it perfect for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. |
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| Wallflower in Bloom by Claire CookDeirdre Griffin has always been a wallflower compared to her high achieving, high maintenance siblings. In fact, right now she's working to manage her brother's "brand" (he's "a cross between a rock star and a guru"). This doesn't leave her much time for herself, but in the wake of a setback in her personal life (and a lot of vodka), she uses what she knows to get herself a spot on Dancing with the Stars, where she finally might have a chance to change her life for the better. This fast-paced read (which unfolds over a single week) offers a host of quirky characters, and of course is a must-read for any fan of DWTS. |
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The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
At 18, Victoria Jones ages out of the California foster care system, where she's had more than 32 homes since being abandoned as a baby. Without much of an education -- aside from being taught the symbolic meanings of flowers by Elizabeth, a kind foster parent -- Victoria is hired by a florist. Abused, neglected, and wary, she has not been well-prepared for engaging with the world, but her work slowly puts her on a path towards peace. Told in vignettes alternating between the present and her time with Elizabeth, Victoria's story makes for an "enchanting, ennobling, and powerfully engaging" debut (Booklist).
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The garden of evening mists : a novel
by Twan Eng Tan
Seeking solace in the Malaysian plantations of her childhood after grueling World War II experiences, criminal prosecutor Yun Ling Teoh discovers a Japanese garden and its enigmatic tender, an exiled Japanese royal gardener who reluctantly accepts her as an apprentice. By the author of The Gift of Rain. Original.
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The girl in the garden
by Kamala Nair
A conflicted young woman seeks clarity about her impending marriage by remembering a childhood summer when she discovered a long-hidden secret while visiting her mother's ancestral home in an Indian village outside a mysterious jungle. 40,000 first printing.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Harrison Memorial Library Ocean and Lincoln Carmel, California 93921 831-624-4629www.hm-lib.org/ |
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