Reading Suggestions for the Characters of "How to Get Away with Murder"

How to Get Away with Murder is hands down my favorite show on television right now. If you enjoy a twisted, character-driven mystery that plays with non-linear storytelling (flashbacks into the future), you should go watch the first season right now because I wouldn't want to spoil a minute. If you're up to date on the first episode of the second season, you're safe to read on with no spoilers.

When it comes to reading suggestions for the characters of HtGAwM, almost every character could benefit from browsing the books shelved under 646.77 (aka Dating & Relationships).

Professor Annalise Keating: I wouldn't dare to give Professor Keating any sort of advice on anything ever.

Wes: Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke. Enough said.

Rebecca: Stiff: the curious lives of human cadavers by Mary Roach. Too soon?

Nate: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale. The story of the Victorian detective who inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write Sherlock Holmes, and the case that destroyed his career.

Laurel: The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Someone needs to read this book. Seriously guys, murder is never a good extra-curricular.

Connor: Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. Connor deserves the escape of an upbeat, whimsical love story.

Asher: The Trophy Kids Grow Up by Ronald Alsop. Honestly? I picked this for the title. I don't think Asher is likely to read anything.

Michaela: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella. An upbeat, romantic tale about a lost wedding ring and an engagement to the wrong man that has absolutely no murders and a happy ending? Just what Michaela needs.

Bonnie: Confessions of a Sociopath by M.E. Thomas. An exploration of the traits used to identify psychopaths, including a helpful checklist.

Frank: The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson. In fact, maybe Frank and Bonnie should just start a book club. Seriously, those two scare me.

If you enjoyed reading this, you should check out Aisha's reading suggestions for the characters of Scandal.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Staff Review: City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

Robert Jackson Bennett’s earlier books combined elements from the horror, fantasy, and mystery genres to create a creepy, bleak alternate early 20th century small town America. In City of Stairs, he presents a more straightforward fantasy novel, complete with imaginative world-building, while still incorporating elements from the pages of spy thrillers and mysteries. The use of a suspenseful mystery plot and a cast of very colorful characters makes this book a great choice for readers who are relatively new to fantasy.

The story is set in a world dominated by the island nation of Saypur, whose technological advancements (on par with the early 20th century) have completely upended the former world order. Saypur used their science to overthrow their former conquerors, the Continentals. The Continent was once gifted with divine magic, until those gods were killed by the Saypuri. Bennett explores the lasting impacts of colonialism and the ways that we define our cultural identities, while still maintaining an action-packed plot.

Shara has spent most of her adult life in exile on the Continent as an employee of the Saypuri Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically, as a spy for the Ministry. She is accompanied by Sigrud, her imposing and violent “secretary” with a mysterious past. Shara and Sigrud come to city of Bulikov to solve the murder of Effrem Pangyui, a Saypuri historian whose controversial research earned him no shortage of enemies. Bulikov was once a city of wonders, the cultural and religious center of the Continent, but now wallows in poverty and disease.

At 450 pages, this is not a short book, though the plot moves along so quickly I found it difficult to put down. Another point in City of Stairs’s favor is that it is not part of a larger series, so readers aren’t being asked to commit to three or more books that may or may not have been written yet. By the last pages, most of the plot threads are wrapped up more or less neatly, but between the imaginative setting and the interesting characters (the foul-mouthed female military commander, Mulaghesh, was probably my favorite), I would be perfectly happy if Bennett did write a sequel some day.

If this sounds like your cup of tea, you might also enjoy:

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone: Gladstone’s debut is a mix of fantasy and steampunk with a fast-paced mystery plot. Tara, a first-year necromancer, is assigned to revive a dead god, but discovers a murder.




The Spirit Lens by Carol Berg: First in a series set around the Collegia Magica, the last college of magic in a world where science has gradually gained supremacy. Portier de Savin-Duplais, a Collegia librarian, is asked to investigate an attempted murder that quickly becomes more complicated.



Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara: A gritty work of fantasy, and the first in a series of mysteries. Hawks are the equivalent to police in the City of Elantra, and Kaylin is a new patrol officer out to find a serial murderer of children.

What to do when you've finished "The Empty Hearse"?

If, like me, you've been waiting for PBS to air the latest season of Sherlock, you'll probably understand the dread in anticipating the wait for series four. That's why we put together some reading and viewing suggestions to help keep you entertained (when you aren't rewatching the first three seasons).

Sherlock, a co-production with the BBC, takes the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and reworks them for the modern world. Dr. Watson has a blog, and Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) has amazing cheekbones. Each episode is more like a short film than a typical TV episode, which contributes to the years fans have had to wait for the second and third seasons.

We've tackled some of the many variations on Holmes's story on the blog before, and the field is likely to only become more crowded, now that much of Doyle's writing is in the public domain. If you're looking for a fun comparison, Elementary is another series that updates the mythology of Sherlock Holmes to the present day. Though in this version, Holmes lives in New York City, and Watson is played by Lucy Liu.

Reading suggestions for fans of Sherlock:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
This moving story about a teen, Christopher, who employs the methods of Sherlock Holmes to investigate the vicious murder of his neighbor's dog. Christopher's autism makes it difficult for him to understand the people around him, but his focus leads him to uncover a dark secret in his own family.

The Devotion of Suspect X  by Keigo Higashino
This award-winning Japanese mystery tells an intricately plotted tale of cat and mouse. Ishigami, a solitary math teacher, helps his attractive neighbor cover up the murder of her abusive ex-husband. A crime complicated when Dr. Yukawa, Ishigami's successful rival, enters the investigation.

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
As the end of the world approaches in the form of an asteroid, Detective Hank Palace is focused on his first murder case. Offbeat and intricately plotted, readers will appreciate Palace's outsider perspective.

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears
A darkly convoluted plot drives this character-driven mystery set in 17th century England. The conflicting perspectives, the complex politics, and the changing understanding of medicine adds to the tension.

Staff Review: Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Presented with an unexpected day off last week when the cold and a burst pipe closed the library on Tuesday, I did the only reasonable thing: read a great book.

Ancillary Justice is the first novel by prolific short story author, Ann Leckie. The wonder of this book is how Leckie created a story that was both familiar and unexpected. A character who is an AI, even an AI who is a ship, is a classic of the Science Fiction genre. What makes the story feel fresh is Leckie's attention to world building and characterization.

As a reader, I'm drawn to stories of grandly imagined, future civilizations grounded by the perspectives and experiences of a few characters, or space opera in the best sense of the term. Ancillary Justice is a perfect example of what I'm looking for when I want a space opera. Justice of Toren, a 2000 year-old war ship created by the Radch Imperium, makes for a compelling narrator: she is both an outsider and someone who knows the culture intimately.

The plot starts with Justice of Toren posing as a human named Breq as she nears the end of a decades long quest, and is unexpectedly confronted by someone she knew centuries ago. Through alternating chapters, you're introduced to the pieces of her past that have brought Justice of Toren to the frozen, backwater planet of Nilt. 

Ancillary Justice is a solid foundation for a proposed trilogy, and Leckie provides an intriguing introduction to a large and dangerous universe. From the complex internal politics of the Radch to the ominous threat of the alien Presger, I'm eager for the next book to come out. I've checked her website, and there's no date as yet, but that's what our Author Alerts feature is for.

If you're looking for something else to read in the mean time, I suggest checking out:

Ursula K. Le Guin's Hainish Cycle. Not a series proper, but a loosely connected collection of novels and short stories that give an anthropologist's eye view to the future. Start with The Left Hand of Darkness, which provides a similarly unique perspective on gender.

Iain M Banks's Culture series. With intricate plots and complex world building, it's easy for the reader to lose themselves in the Culture Universe. As an added appeal, some of the characters are vast AI intelligences (even starships).

~Sarah, Adult Services

Read Alike: Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini came to prominence with the publication of his haunting debut novel, The Kite Runner. A character-driven story of the turbulent history of modern Afghanistan, the country of Hosseini's birth. His writing was a revelation to many American readers, familiar with Afghanistan primarily for terrorist attacks and the recent war.

In his most recent novel, And the Mountains Echoed, Hosseini returns to Afghanistan with a thought-provoking family saga. He explores the connections of family and love as his characters scatter over the globe, resulting in a more uplifting story than his earlier books.

You can read more about Hosseini and his writing at his website: khaledhosseini.com

If you've already read all of Khaled Hosseini's novels, or if you're patiently waiting to read a copy of And the Mountains Echoed, you might enjoy checking out some of these titles:

The Mulberry Empire, or, The two virtuous journeys of the Amir Dost by Philip Hensher
This sweeping historical novel provides a richly detailed look into Afghanistan's past. In 1839 the British set out to change Afghanistan's leadership through military might, and were soundly defeated. Though not a family saga, Hensher uses a large cast of characters to illustrate the wide-ranging and long-lasting effects of the British campaign.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Pakistani-American Mohsin Hamid's books tackle the experiences of Muslims in the modern world in a similarly character-driven and thoughtful way to Khaled Hosseini. The power of relationships is another shared theme, though his writing style is somewhat more experimental. Try The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the events of September 11th have a major impact on the life of Changez, an Ivy-league educated Pakistani-American. Or his most recent novel, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, which is modeled on the upbeat tone of self-help advice books, while telling an unconventional rags-to-riches love story.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree by Sahar Delijani
Delijani’s haunting first novel is an intricately plotted, multigenerational tale of Iran’s often violent revolution. Delijani herself was born in one of Tehran’s Evin prison, and her family’s experience informs her writing. A sobering story told from multiple perspectives that rewards the attentive reader. The intricate plot and story of political unrest told through the lens of family scattered across the globe makes this a strong match for fans of Hosseini's latest.

More recent novels on the immigrant experience:
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
A skillful debut novel that skillfully examines the cultural melting pot of New York City in the late 19th century with a supernatural twist. Atmospheric and lyrical, with a touch of mystery and romance, Wecker charms the reader with her tale of outsiders, community, and friendship. Chava is a newly created and now masterless golem, Ahmad is an ancient jinni who cannot remember how he came to be trapped in a lamp for centuries.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Adichie is one of the rising stars of literature, and her lyrical, character-driven writing draws heavily from her experience as a Nigerian-American. In her most recent novel, Americanah, is a witty story of love and immigration. Ifemelu left Nigeria and her sweetheart, Obinze, fifteen years ago to pursue a career in America. Obinze also left Nigeria, but to struggle as an undocumented worker in London.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
Bulawayo’s distinctive voice shines in her character-driven debut novel. This haunting story follows Darling, whose life in a Zimbabwean shantytown is perhaps less difficult than her move to live with her aunt in Michigan. Often bleak and violent, this book is not an easy read, but Bulawayo rewards the ambitious reader with her skill and insight.

Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi
Debut novelist Taiye Selasi explores her father’s homeland in her reflective novel, Ghana Must Go. An intricately plotted and leisurely paced novel of family that has critics making comparisons to Jhumpa Lahiri and Zadie Smith. A family fractured by divorce, gathers in Accra for the funeral of the surgeon patriarch who abandoned them 16 years ago.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

BFFs & Frenemies

While I find the term "frenemies" objectionable, I admit to enjoying stories about poisonous, nice-to-your-face relationships. Bitter, backstabbing jealousy covered in a thin mask of friendship can make for some delicious conflict in a story. Often, but not always, the characters in these twisted friendships are women, often young, privileged women. So, if like me, you're cursed with wonderfully supportive friends and a dearth of couture, try picking up one of these books, movies, or TV shows and exploring the turmoil beneath the perfect facade.


Movies and TV

• Mean Girls
• Heathers
• Gossip Girl (also books!)
• Revenge

Books

I'm So Happy for You by Lucinda Rosenfeld
Wendy and Daphne have always been friends, and Wendy has always been the successful, stable one. Now Daphne seems to have stumbled into the perfect life, and Wendy is left reeling with jealousy. Rosenfeld's fast-paced and engaging novel is by turns reflective and sassy, with plenty of drama.





Friends Like Us by Lauren Fox
Willa and Jane have been friends and roommates since college, but their Milwaukee apartment becomes crowded when Jane starts dating Willa's friend from high school. Fox's witty and bittersweet exploration of relationships in your 20s will ring true for many New Adults.






More Like Her by Liza Palmer
Ms. Palmer’s novels are about women in the process of confronting their dissatisfaction with their lives and relationships with wit and emotion. While some of her titles are lighter and more romantic, her most recent novel, More Like Her, is somewhat darker. Frannie is convinced that her coworker, Emma, has the perfect life, and that her own is a disappointing mess, but then Frannie finds that Emma isn’t so perfect after all.




Dare Me by Megan Abbott
 Edgar-winning novelist Megan Abbott’s suspenseful, character-driven novels present a feminine perspective on the darker corners of the mystery genre. Dare Me is a fast-paced and disturbing glimpse into the cut-throat dynamics of cheerleading. A new, popular coach upends the power structure of Sutton Grove High School’s squad. Manipulation, revenge, and jealousy all increase the tension of this psychological page-turner.


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Read Alike Dan Brown

Love him or hate him, there's no question that Dan Brown has a gift for writing a real page turner. His most recent book, Inferno, is the fourth to feature the popular symbologist and conspiracy magnet, Robert Langdon. Brown's writing is fast-paced and plot-driven, with interesting puzzles and elements drawn from a variety of disciplines, from art to science.

Two of the Robert Langdon novels, The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, have been adapted as movies with Tom Hanks in the starring role. While neither film received rave reviews from the critics, both did quite well at the box office, so it's likely that Hollywood is at the very least considering movies for The Lost Symbol and Inferno.

You can read more about Dan Brown on his website: www.danbrown.com

If you're waiting to borrow a copy of Inferno from the library, or if you've already finished it, we've gathered together a few reading suggestions for you to check out:

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell
Mr. Caldwell has written one novel so far, inspired, in part, by the success of The Da Vinci Code and his experiences at Princeton. His Rule of Four, is fast-paced and suspenseful, but somewhat more scholarly with rich historical and academic detail. Set in Princeton, the action follows a group of seniors who get caught up in the puzzle of a mysterious 15th century text, the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, and then one student is murdered.

The Confessor by Daniel Silva 
Bestselling author Daniel Silva is known for his fast-paced thrillers. His protagonist usually has a background in espionage, and his books tend to be violent. His series featuring Mossad agent and art restorer Gabriel Allon is packed with suspense and corruption. The series starts with The Kill Artist, which is available as an eBook in our OverDrive collection. If you're not a fan of eReading, try The Confessor, Allon partners with Pietro, a priest, to uncover secrets of a Catholic society and an assassination.

The Charlemagne Pursuit  by Steve Berry
Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series has a suspenseful mix of historical research and action, as the former Federal agent tackles globe-spanning conspiracies. The series starts with The Templar Legacy, which is available through OverDrive as an eBook. The Charlemagne Pursuit is another good starting point for this series. Cotton Malone is on the trail for answers to his father's mysterious death in a submarine, and the key might be in a manuscript found in Charlegmagne's tomb.

Ark of Fire by C.M. Palov
C.M. Palov's first novel, Ark of Fire, is a fast-paced puzzler that will keep the reader guessing along with the characters. Photographer Edie Miller finds herself drawn into a larger mystery after witnessing the theft of an ancient Hebrew relic. She's joined in her suspenseful, globe-spanning pursuit by historian Caedmon Aisquith, but can they find the truth before the villains catch them?

Other authors to check out include: Matthew Reilly, Raymond Khoury, and Scott Mariani.

You might also enjoy checking out Cheap Thrills, a book blog devoted to the thriller genre by a local blogger: cheapthrillsbookblog.wordpress.com


Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Snack Time, Read Up!

 

Gulp, the latest book by popular science author Mary Roach, tackles the mysteries of the digestive system. If you enjoy learning while you laugh, you should definitely check out Mary Roach's writing. She has an ability to bring humor and insight to topics that would normally make the average person squirm (sex, death, etc.). If you're already on the waiting list for Gulp, or you're not quite sure you want to read about what happens in the small intestine, we've pulled together a list of some other recent titles that explore our relationship with food.

Mark Kurlansky is another popular author of non-fiction known for his engaging style and incredible detail, though his tone is far more serious, and his focus tends toward the historical. If you're looking to learn more about our relationship to food prior to consumption, you should ddefinitely check out Salt: a world history (333.85632 KUR), Cod: a biography of the fish that changed the world (333.956633 KUR), and Birdseye: the adventures of a curious man (LP Biography Birdseye). For other in depth explorations of a single consumable's impact on humanity's history, try:

• Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization by Steven Solomon (553.7 SOL) 
• Sugar: A Bittersweet History by Elizabeth Abbott (633.6 ABB)
• A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage (394.12 STA)

Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss (613.2 MOS)
This recent title has also spent some time on the best seller lists. A through-provoking and passionate look at our relationship with junk food by an award-winning journalist. If you're already on the hold list for this one, check out:

• American Wasteland by Jonathan Bloom (363.7288 BLO)
• In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (613 POL)
• Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock (DVD 647.95 SUP)

Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton (641.5092 HAM)
The stories of the people who devote their lives and careers to food and the restaurant business can provide a different perspective on our relationships with food. Blood, Bones, and Butter is a moving and straightforward autobiography by Gabrielle Hamilton. The book chronicles Hamilton's difficult path from rural New Jersey to the head chef of her own New York restaurant. For more chef, foodie, and restaurant memoirs, try:

• Relish: my life in the kitchen by Lucy Knisley (Graphic Knisley)
• Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford (641.59455 BUF)
• Kitchen Confidential: adventures in the culinary underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (641.5092 BOU)

Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza by Ken Forkish (641.815 FOR)
Perhaps you're more interested in creating the delicious foods you eat yourself? Carnegie-Stout does have an excellent collection of cookbooks, but for today we'll stick to a few on baking bread. Flour, Water, Salt, Yeast is a recent guide to home baking from ken Forkish, a Portland baker. The recipes in this cookbook range from the beginner to rather more advanced. If you're looking for more, check out:

• Flour: Spectacular Recipes from Boston's Flour Bakery by Joanne Chang (641.815 CHA)Flour 
• My Bread: the revolutionary no-work, no-knead method by Jim Lahey (641.815 LAH)
• Bread Baker's Apprentice: mastering the art of extraordinary bread by Peter Reinhart (641.815 REI)

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you! 

Essays and short non-fiction

A selection of essay and other short non-fiction collections available at Carnegie-Stout Public Library. We've included a variety of topics and styles, but you'll notice a slight preference to the literary because it is, after all, National Library Week. If you're a fan of short non-fiction, you might also enjoy checking out this list of 102 articles from 2012.

The Lifespan of a Fact by John D'Agata (808.02 DAG)

In Other Worlds: SF and the human imagination by Margaret Atwood (813.54 ATW)

The Thing About Life is That One Day you'll be Dead by David Shields (813.54 SHI)

I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron (814.54 EPH)

Farther Away: essays by Jonathan Franzen (814.54 FRA)

Distrust that Particular Flavor by William Gibson (814.54 GIB)

When I was a Child, I Read Books by Marilynne Robinson (814.54 ROB)

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (813.54 SED)

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (814.6 GLA)

Pulphead by John Jeremiah Sullivan (814.6 SUL)

The Possessed: adventures with Russian books and the people who read them by Elif Batuman (891.709 BAT)

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Look Alikes: Silhouettes

Sometimes books have surprisingly similar titles, and sometimes they have rather similar cover designs. Today we've gathered nine recent books that feature a silhouetted face on the cover. Cover design often give readers a hint about the sort of story can be found within their pages. The books gathered here tend to be character-driven, serious in tone, and have a setting that is historical, international, or both.

The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
Novelist and memoirist Rachel Simon's 2011 novel tells the moving story of love, family, and discrimination. In 1968, Lynnie, a white woman, and Homan, a black man, meet and fall in love as residents at the Pennsylvania School for the Incurable and Feebleminded. When Lynnie becomes pregnant, they escape and while on the run she gives birth to a daughter. The officials catch up with the young family hiding in rural home with a retired teacher, and the family is divided.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Cleave's moving second novel is the story about two very different women, who alternate narrating the cataclysmic intersection of their lives. Little Bee is a Nigerian refugee who came to England in a cargo ship with Andrew O’Rourke’s business card. Sarah is Andrew's widow. Cleave pays great attention to the voices of his characters in his moving novel. The story is often dark, but you’ll also find humor and hope.

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri
Iranian American author Dina Nayeri's most recent novel, A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea, is a lyrical and character-driven coming-of-age story set in a seaside village in 1980s Iran. When she is eleven, Saba's twin sister and mother disappear, and Saba spends years imagining the life they must be living in distant America, an escape from the bleak reality of Saba's life in Iran.

The Healing by Jonathan Odell
Mississippi native Jonathan Odell is the author of two richly detailed and character-driven novels about his home state's troubled past. The Healing is an atmospheric story of the complex relationships between a plantation owner and his slaves, as told by Granada midwife, former slave, and inhabitant of the former plantation in 1930s.

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland
Ms. Vreeland is the author of several lyrical novels that illustrate the worlds and minds of artists and their art. Her titles are well-researched, leisurely paced, and character-driven. Clara Driscoll, of Clara and Mr. Tiffany, was an employee of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and the creative mind behind the iconic Tiffany lamp. This lushly visual novel explores the life of the little known artist and the dynamic period at the turn of the century.

The White Garden: a novel of Virginia Woolf by Stephanie Barron
Ms. Barron is the author of intricately plotted historical fiction and mysteries, including the Jane Austen Mystery series. The White Garden is a fast-paced and suspenseful tale of gardening, suicide, and the literary world of Virginia Woolf. Jo Bellamy came to England from America to study the gardens of Vita Sackville-West, and her grandfather who worked in the gardens prior to his tragic end.

Bride of New France by Suzanne Desrochers
Canadian novels Suzanne Desrochers applies her research into Canada's history in her first novel, Bride of New France. A richly detailed tale that doesn't shy away from the grim realities of life in 17th century Canada, the story follows Laure Beausejour on her journey from Paris to the wilderness.

In Darkness by Nick Lake
Winner of the 2013 Michael L Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature, In Darkness is a gritty and character-driven novel of life after the 2010 Haitian earthquake. The story is told from the perspective of Shorty, a 15-year-old gang member trapped in the rubble. Author Nick Lake weaves the story of Haiti's fight for independence in 1804 with Shorty's life in the slums.

The House Girl by Tara Conklin
Tara Conklin's debut novel, The House Girl, is a thought-provoking look at slavery's lasting impact in the United States. This compelling and lyrical tale is split between 1852 Virginia and modern New York City. Lina Sparrow is a lawyer working to build a class-action suit to gain reparations for the descendants of slaves. Josephine Bell is a 17-year-old house slave who cares for Lu Ann Bell, an artist. A moving story of redemption, justice, love, and family.



Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!