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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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Mangrove lightning
by Randy Wayne White
Approached by a legendary charter captain who believes his family has been cursed for their role in a multiple murder in 1925, a skeptical Doc Ford follows trails of attacks on the family from Key Largo to Tallahassee, only to suffer a series of near-fatal mishaps himself. (suspense). Simultaneous.
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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 Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns by Margaret DillowayIn her rose garden, prickly biology teacher Gal Garner blooms, tending her competition roses with patience and care. On dialysis since childhood, Gal is an expert at pushing others away, but her solitary and regimented ways come to an abrupt end when her teenage niece, Riley, arrives after her mother takes off for Hong Kong. Though it isn't an easy process, Gal and Riley eventually establish a relationship, and Riley helps Gal learn to connect with and reach out to others. As in Ramsey Hootman's Courting Greta, this exercise in compassion leads to reconciling with family members, participating in community life, and embracing new experiences. |
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| The Girls in the Garden: A Novel by Lisa JewellVirginia Park is a bucolic setting where neighbors keep a genial eye out for one another and kids are safe to run free. Or, at least that was true until young Pip found her older sister, 13-year-old Grace, unconscious after a summer party. Grace can remember nothing about her attack, so many residents of the once-picturesque garden-square community come under suspicion. Mixing the suspense of a Paula Hawkins novel with the community concerns and family dramas of a Liane Moriarty bestseller, The Girls in the Garden ties in the long-ago death of a teenager, unspooling a riveting story from multiple perspectives. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Keene Public Library
60 Winter St.
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
603-352-0157
http://www.keenepubliclibrary.org/
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