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"In the first grade at Henry Charles Lea School in West Philadelphia, when Kenya told kids she celebrated Kwanzaa, no one knew what she was talking about." ~ from Asali Solomon's Disgruntled
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| Jane Steele by Lyndsay FayeMuch like classic heroine Jane Eyre, Jane Steele is a poor orphan who suffers at the hands of cruel family members and school administrators -- until she takes matters into her own hands. After several years of evading the law (let's just say that you don't bully this Jane and get away with it), she takes a job as governess in the very house she believes is her own rightful inheritance -- and her curiosity is piqued by the strange habits of the lord of the manor. Set in 19th-century England, this is a darkly humorous novel with a Gothic atmosphere and an unusually violent, intelligent young woman who has every intention to ferret out secrets and gain what's hers. |
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| High Dive by Jonathan LeeIn 1984, the IRA bombed a Brighton hotel in an assassination attempt on British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's life. This novel imagines the days and hours leading up to that attempt, from the fictional perspectives of an IRA recruit, the restless hotel manager (well, deputy manager), and his equally at-loose-ends teenage daughter. Alternating fraught scenes of the bomb-making with more nuanced observations of the father/daughter relationship, this is "an incredible novel of rare insight, velocity, depth, and daring" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev SahotaOriginally published in the U.K. in 2015 and short-listed for the Man Booker Prize, this multi-layered novel follows the lives of four Indian immigrants in England. One is considered an "untouchable," two others marry for the sake of a visa, and the fourth sold a kidney to be able to afford a student visa. Struggling financially and emotionally, and under constant threat of police raids and deportation, they come together in surprising, realistic ways. Readers invested in socially conscious fiction will appreciate that the author's "observations of our broken social system are razor-sharp" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix SweeneyThe four Plumb siblings have been looking forward to the youngest's 40th birthday, when they are all finally allowed to access the trust fund their father set aside for them. Having spent the money in their heads, they are devastated to learn that Leo, the oldest brother, actually has spent all the money, cleaning up one of his more disastrous messes. With Manhattan (and especially its bars) as a well-depicted setting for this novel about sibling dynamics, this debut is a more humorous alternative to similarly themed books like Ann Packer's The Children's Crusade. |
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Belonging and Not Belonging
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| Americanah: A Novel by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieEverything changed for Ifemelu when she left Nigeria for the U.S. Though she struggled -- with respect, with money, with unexpected racism -- she also found success. Her first love, meanwhile, had lived miserably and illegally in London before being deported. Out of place in the U.S. and just as out of place in Nigeria when she returns home, Ifemelu is an outspoken and courageous observer of racial restrictions and conventions in the U.S., writing a popular blog exploring these topics. Just as compelling are the descriptions of life in London and Lagos, making this a "world-class novel about independence, integrity, community, love, and what it takes to become a 'full human being'" (Booklist). |
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| The Lost Art of Mixing by Erica BauermeisterIn this sequel to The School of Essential Ingredients, restaurant owner Lillian is prepared for anything that the food business could throw at her -- it's what happens outside the restaurant that provides unexpected challenges. The same goes for a circle of her friends, coworkers, and regulars in this collection of linked stories. Each chapter offers the story of a different character (many from the earlier book) navigating a different obstacle, from failed relationships to an increasingly unreliable memory. "Warm, funny, and deeply comforting," says Booklist of this charming, tasty treat. |
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| Forgotten Country by Catherine ChungEver since the Japanese occupation of Korea, a daughter in each generation of Janie's Korean family has disappeared. Despite growing up in the U.S., this knowledge has haunted Janie since her sister Hannah's birth, forcing her to assume the role of protective older sister, even though she and Hannah clash more often than not. Resentment, rivalry, and conflicting opinions on their cultural heritage all play roles in their relationship, and several crises force these issues to the forefront. Beautifully written, this debut is an insightful examination of the bond between sisters and the role of family and history within Korean culture. |
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| The Language of Flowers: A Novel by Vanessa DiffenbaughAt 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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| Re Jane by Patricia ParkOrphan Jane Re has never felt she belonged. Half Korean, half white, the recent college graduate is a curiosity in her Flushing, Queens community, where an uncle and his family reluctantly house her (and work her to the bone stocking shelves, while her peers work on Wall Street). A job as an au pair offers new opportunities, but a trip back to Korea allows her to reconnect with family there and begin to understand herself a little better. Inspired by the classic novel Jane Eyre, this debut provides a personal and often humorous reflection on immigrant life, cultural identity, outsider status, and the desire to belong. |
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| Disgruntled: A Novel by Asali SolomonA coming-of-age tale set in Philadelphia in the late 1980s and early '90s, Disgruntled tells the story of Kenya Curtis, whose family customs -- spurred on by her radical father -- set her apart in her elementary school. When events force her to move from the city to a mostly white suburb and attend private school, Kenya remains unable to find a place where she belongs, though she becomes adept at appearing to do so. A sharp, intelligent young woman who sees through her father's charms yet still needs his comfort, Kenya offers "incisive commentary [that] is both arresting and painful" (Publishers Weekly). |
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