Staff Picks Archives

Of course, not everyone can stay at The Bookloft forever, but that doesn't mean we stop carrying (and loving) their staff picks. So here's a selection of staff picks from former and very part-time booksellers! Or, view by person:

Staff Picks ZazuStaff Picks AlexisStaff Picks Kathleen 

More Archived Staff:

Ev   Eric   Karen   Lauren   

 

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The Way of Kings: Book One of the Stormlight Archive Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780765365279
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Tor Fantasy - May 24th, 2011

Bookseller: Alec
Title: The Way of Kings

Comments:
In the past few years, Sanderson has become an absolute powerhouse of a writer who can craft good books year after year. The Way of Kings is the dramatic beginning of an epic fantasy series that will become one of the next classics.

 

Three characters with three personal quests: a young natural historian enters the wider world to save her collapsing family; an enslaved officer tries to protect his fellows from shadows of his past; an honorable warlord struggles against a foe he never imagined-his own sanity.

 

The 1009 pages fly by as the brilliant world and intriguing characters bring to light surprises large and small and offer an immensely entertaining read that's well worth the time investment.


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Longbourn Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780385351232
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Knopf - October 8th, 2013

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Longbourn

Comments:
Ah, Longbourn- A name familiar to any devotee of 19th century literature, and the setting of one of the great love stories- although life wasn't so Masterpiece Theatre below stairs; in fact, life for the servants of the Bennet household was far from picturesque. But, oh, the longings, the aspirations, and quiet tragedies felt by these characters are as engaging as any Austen creation. If you're looking for a sequel to P&P, this is the wrong book. Instead, you'll find shades of Jane Eyre amongst protagonist Sarah, whose own love story and development make Lizzy and Darcy seem like footnotes. A fascinating story and beautiful writing makes an illuminating look at the regency period as seen through those whoi worked, toiled, dreamed, and loved and lost through it.


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American Gods: Author's Preferred Text Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780062080233
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - February 5th, 2013

Bookseller: Erica
Title: American Gods

Comments:
Absolutely my favorite book. Neil Gaiman is the master of magical realism, weaving together mythology, love, action, and a great American Road Trip in a story that probes at the landscape of modern belief. Gaiman sets up a showdown between the OLD GODS- brought to the U.S. by immigrants, and the New Gods, embodied by capitalism, technology and media. Only Shadow, caught between the two, can stop this war before it begins. Exciting and a fascinating interpretation of familiar figures whose grand, mythic origins are juxtaposed with a new American life. A classic, and one that has changed the way I read.


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Gone Girl: A Novel Cover Image
$26.00
ISBN: 9780307588364
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Published: Crown - June 5th, 2012

Bookseller: Arlene
Title: Gone Girl

Comments:
A psychological thriller where the author reveals early on the truth behind the main character's disappearance while still managing to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. Great character development and a gripping story line. No wonder it's in its 39th printing!


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Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780312541194
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Published: St. Martin's Griffin - March 15th, 2011

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: Eaarth

Comments:
I read this book because Barbara Kingsolver implored me (see front cover of book in red).

It was not a happy read, nor uplifting, nor even all that hopeful - but it was necessary. Remember Cher and Nicholas Cage in "Moonstruck"? This book is a "SNAP OUT OF IT!" slap for all of us. And by us, I mean we who knew global warming was occurring back when it was called the greenhouse effect, as well as those who think it is still just a plausible "theory."

Bill McKibben forces us beyond any lingering unsurity. We can stop talking, debating, questioning, even lamenting - and we can start understanding and adapting to this new planet Eaarth that we have made.


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When She Woke: A Novel Cover Image
$15.95
ISBN: 9781616201937
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Algonquin Books - September 18th, 2012

Bookseller: Kat
Title: When She Woke

Comments:
This is an absolutely compelling look at what might happen if the evangelical right becomes more powerful. Set in some future United States and centered around a young woman convicted of having an abortion, this could have been a preachy attack, but Jordan does not throw the baby out with the bath water. The value of faith and morality are supported.

Read the first page; after that I couldn't put it down!


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State of Wonder: A Novel Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780062049810
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Published: Harper Perennial - May 8th, 2012

Bookseller: Kat
Title: State of Wonder

Comments:
With an intricate plot and achingly realistic depth of character, Patchett creates an aura of dark mystery. The characters have pasts as troubled and ensnaring as the present. All wrestle with fears. The Brazilian rain forest acts as yet another character, as confused and unpredictable as any.

State of Wonder is an addictive page turner. I did not want to set it down until I gobbled up all the plot threads; racing through to find out what might happen next. Try to read it at a more leisurely pace if you can - the lush details deserve it. I plan to read it again soon.


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Ten Thousand Saints: A Novel Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780062021212
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Ecco - September 12th, 2017

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Ten Thousand Saints

Comments:
Small town Vermont (Burlington?) is the setting for this coming-of-age novel.

Teddy, Jude, Eliza, and Johnny are the children of the 1960's. Their parents are pot growers, bong makers, or gone. They are finding their way through the hardcore punk, drugs vs. straight-edge scene and identity issues of birth, adoption, sexual orientation, and AIDS.

As we follow along we are treated to a glimpse of an era.


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Man with a Pan Cover Image
$15.95
ISBN: 9781565129856
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Algonquin Books - May 17th, 2011

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Man with a Pan

Comments:
The perfect gift for the male in your life who cooks!

Fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles will find something to like in this collection of essays by well-known writers and foodies.

Some are very funny, some are somewhat sad, some come with bonus recipes and cooking tips, but all are worth a look!


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Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780545107105
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Scholastic Press - September 2010

Bookseller:
Title: Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters

Comments:
Someone has offended 'Almighty' (Grandmother & holder of the family fortune) and now everyone will be cut out of her will unless that person confesses & apologizes.

All 3 Sullivan girls decide that it must have been one of them. They each set out to prepare a confession.

Told in parts by each girl, this is a poignant but fun story of a family (that even though they obviously love one another) are keeping secrets that could be hurtful.


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City Dog, Country Frog Cover Image
By Mo Willems, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781423103004
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Hyperion Books for Children - June 8th, 2010

Bookseller:
Title: City Dog, Country Frog

Comments:
The best picture book of 2010! This is what can happen when a great author works with a great illustrator on just the right book.

Perfectly paced & beautifully nuanced, dog lovers and their friends will love this book


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Half Brother Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780545229258
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Scholastic Press - September 2010

Bookseller:
Title: Half Brother

Comments:
What happens when an only child gets a new baby brother? What happens when it is a baby chimp? Ben's parents have decided to study the social and language learning of primates by inviting one to live with them as family. Ben comes to love his new brother Zan. He helps him learn to sign useful words. He gives him his bath in the evening and reads him his bedtime stories .He backs him up when neighborhood bullies torment Zan. Eventually they even walk to school together.

Everything is going on as well as could be expected when funding runs out for the research project. What will happen to Zan now?

Funny, authentic, heart-rending & compelling--I couldn't put it down.


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You Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780061947049
Availability: Out of Print
Published: HarperTeen - August 24th, 2010

Bookseller:
Title: You

Comments:
Powerful & unput-down-able, YOU tells the story of 15 year old Kyle. Kyle is one of those kids, every high school has them, who get by without causing enough trouble or getting good enough grades to be noticed. He sits in the back of the class, rarely does his school work, and dresses in the same black clothes everyday.

When he meets the wrong person who shows him a different world, everything changes. Just when he begins to notice that something is not quite right it is too far too late.


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The Last Newspaper Boy in America Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780525422051
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Dutton Juvenile - September 3rd, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: The Last Newspaper Boy in America

Comments:
This is a story about Steele, a small town community triumphing over the forces accumulating to destroy it. Led by Will David (Will of Steele), the latest in the long line of Steele Paperboys, the town comes together to save local newspaper home delivery, local industry & community integrity. Along the way we get to know engaging characters, laugh with him at his older brothers spoonerisms, learn the history of the paperclip & the hairpin, and appreciate the love and respect that can form when people come together with a cause. A wonderful tale!


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Out of My Mind Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9781416971719
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - May 2012

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Out of My Mind

Comments:
Eleven-year-old Melody can not speak, and she uses a wheelchair. (Wait! Don't stop reading now!) She is concerned about all the usual teenage stuff. Once she is given a computer that generates speech for her she is able to take part in many more aspects of normal life.

This book is not sad. It is not sweet. It is not even a little bit preachy or boring. It does let us begin to understand the many life challenges that differently-abled kids face.

It puts in perspective the little everyday teenage issues in a light, funny way.


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Pop Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780061742286
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Balzer + Bray - August 25th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Pop

Comments:

Marcus Jordan loves football. Practicing his passes in the park, he meets ex-NFL player, Charlie Popovich and the two begin an unlikely friendship based on grueling football drills and childish pranks.

Before long, Marcus realizes that Charlie doesn't just act like a teenager --- he thinks he still is one and that Marcus is his old friend Mac.

Alzheimer's disease -- possibly brought on by the multiple injuries he suffered as a football player, has disrupted Charlie's memory. Korman has created believable characters and a powerful story.

Also, YES, this is a book about football but it is NOT just for boys.


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Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780399252181
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Philomel Books - September 17th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Flawed Dogs: The Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster

Comments:

A favorite of mine is the Berkeley Breathed poem entitled, Flawed Dogs.

"So in this world

Of the simple and odd,

The bent and plain,

The unbalanced bod,

The imperfect people

and differently pawed,

Some people live without love . . .

That's how they're flawed."

In his first try at a book for middle grade readers, Breathed has created a very lovable character in Sam, a dachshund. Once a dog show star, Sam has been a victim of Cassius the poodle. Sam wants revenge and the Westminster Dog Show is the place he has chosen to get it.

A novel both hysterically funny and heart-breakingly sad, young readers will love.


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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1 Cover Image
$6.99
ISBN: 9780375846830
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - July 28th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute: Lunch Lady #1

Comments:

A lunch lady super hero?

Secret spy tools that include a spork phone and a spatu-copter?

Dispensing justice while she dispenses lunch, Lunch lady and her cohort keep school safe.

This clever, funny graphic novel is the first in a series. The black, white and yellow art captures the action perfectly. A great choice for the reluctant reader too.


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The Omnivore's Dilemma, Young Readers Edition: The Secrets Behind What You Eat Cover Image
By Michael Pollan, Richie Chevat (Adapted by)
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ISBN: 9780803735002
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Dial Books - October 15th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: The Omnivore's Dilemma for Kids: The Secrets Behind What You Eat

Comments:
Is a "Young Readers Edition" of the best selling Omnivore's Dilemna really necessary?

YES!

Kids want to know about the food they eat but they do not want to hear it from their parents. This new version will capture them from the first sentence of the introduction. A clear, well researched, fascinating account of our food from farm to plate.


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Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Cover Image
By Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780152060572
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: HMH Books for Young Readers - October 2008

Bookseller: Kat
Title: 10 Little Fingers & 10 Little Toes

Comments:
The best new picture book to arrive in years! This book has it all; charming illustrations that gently support the simple rhyming text show happy babies at play.

But that is not all!

In just a few hundred words and with just 40 pages, author Mem Fox & illustrator Helen Oxenbury have managed to convey the weighty idea that we are all alike at the same time as we are all different and most importantly that either is wonderful and deserving of love & laughter.

A PERFECT BOOK!


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Creature ABC Cover Image
By Andrew Zuckerman (By (photographer))
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ISBN: 9780811869782
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Chronicle Books - July 29th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Creature ABC

Comments:
An Alphabet book like no other! From Alligator to Zebra, Zuckerman's photography of wildlife makes this a book all ages will enjoy. The Crisp, detailed images will set babies to drooling and parents to linger on each spread. A book to come back to time & again!


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The Principles of Uncertainty Cover Image
$25.00
ISBN: 9780143116462
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Penguin Books - October 27th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: The Principles of Uncertainty

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

Amazing, unusual, whimsical, historical, philosophical & ...

Kalman has combined her very personal art with a text of artful prose. Part personal narrative, part documentary, part travelog, part chapbook - but all Kalman. She tackles the huge questions: death, love, war, identity, happiness, coffee, and dancing.


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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780689711817
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - April 1998

Bookseller: Kat
Title: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Comments:
Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away...so she decided not to run FROM somewhere, but TO somewhere. That somewhere was the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. And she decided that she wouldn't return until she could come back different. This is my all-time favorite children's book!


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There's a Wolf at the Door: Five Classic Tales Retold Cover Image
By Zoe Alley, R. W. Alley (Illustrator)
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ISBN: 9781596432758
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Roaring Brook Press - September 30th, 2008

Bookseller:
Title: There's a Wolf at the Door

Comments:
The classic Wolf of the fairy tale world leads us through this oversized, jam-packed picture book.

The five stories are told in a colorful comic book style that is well suited to these fun stories. Every page has illustrations that are detailed enough to keep you looking through the multiple re-readings that this book is sure to inspire.

You'll never think of That Wolf in quite the same way!


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The Hunger Games Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780439023481
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Scholastic Press - October 2008

Bookseller:
Title: The Hunger Games

Comments:
Every year, 2 names are drawn from each region of the country to join the Hunger Games.  This isn't an honor, it's a death sentence.  The names drawn are 14-18 year olds-one boy, one girl.

In a future world, North America as we know it has been destroyed.  The continent is now divided into 12 regions.  Katniss is 16 years old, smart & very resourceful.

The hunger games are a mix of Survivor, American Idol and Gladiator. The story is violent at times but the brutality is balance by the utterly humane actions of many of the characters.

This is one novel you will not be able to put down!

A fantastic start to the Trilogy.


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Something Missing: A Novel Cover Image
$15.00
ISBN: 9780767930888
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Broadway Books - July 14th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Something Missing

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

Martin is a thief -- a thief with a shopping list. He calls his victims clients and he keeps the same victims for years at a time. He never takes anything that will be missed. He takes that second roll of tin foil you bought forgetting that you already have a full roll. He takes one of the pair of diamond & pearl earrings from your jewelry box. He assumes you will think you lost the missing one. Six months later, he returns to take the other half of the pair. His clients/victims never know they've been robbed. Everything was going very well until the day he dropped Cindy Clayton's electric toothbrush in the toilet. Being a thief with a conscience he couldn't just fish it out and put it back on the shelf. He had to go to the store and find a new one for her. There was a very good reason he never visited his clients twice in one day.


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So Brave, Young, and Handsome Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9780802144171
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Grove Press - April 8th, 2009

Bookseller: Kat
Title: So Brave, Young, and Handsome

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

I met Leif Enger in Louisville, Kentucky. He was standing, shyly, hands clasped behind his back, with a chest-high stack of his new book. I asked him about the new book but all he could say was, "I really hope people like it. I know it was been long time since my first one". His "first one," Peace Like a River, was a critical and commercial success. The new novel, So Brave, Young, and Handsome, opens with a scene where Monte Becket, the author of a wildly popular book, ruminates upon his success and ponders his ability to follow it with a second novel of any quality. In at least this one respect, Leif Enger is Monte Becket. Neither of them need have worried, this is sure to be another bestseller. When Becket meets Glendon Hale, a forever-on-the-run aging outlaw, he is easily persuaded to leave his wife and son to go with him on an unclearly defined quest that leads them through the "Wild West" of the early 1900s. What follows are travels to places exquisitely evoked, meeting colorful characters, and enduring harrowing escapes. With cowboys, loose women, and lawmen, it is also a western tale for folks who don't or won't read westerns. It will be a proud member of the literary western genre. Go along for the ride!


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My Little Book of Chinese Words Cover Image
By Catherine Louis, MaryChris Bradley (Translator), Shi Bo (Other)
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ISBN: 9780735821743
Availability: Out of Print
Published: NorthSouth (NY) - May 2008

Bookseller:
Title: My Little Book of Chinese Words

Comments:
Don't have any interest in learning Chinese? No? You'll still want this book!

Colorful & iconic wood cut print illustrations provide a visual nmemonic for the caligraphy.

There is even a guide to pronunciation for each word.

If you or the child in your life are beginning a study of Chinese language there is no better book than this one!


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Say You're One of Them Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9780316086370
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Back Bay Books - September 18th, 2009

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Say You're One of Them

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

This is a book about the children of Africa told through their own eyes.

Akpan pulls no punches when relating these five stories. The children are ordinary, smart, witty kids who are caught in nightmarish situations.

Unbelievably this is not a depressing read. Akpan lets you see, feel and begin to understand Africa; its glory, its pain and its hope for the future.

An extraordinary book, it challenges us all to look.


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Weeping Under This Same Moon Cover Image
$14.00
ISBN: 9780981491004
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Crow Flies Press - May 10th, 2008

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Weeping Under the Same Moon

Comments:
This strong debut novel is based on a true story of two teenage girls from very different cultures. When their paths cross it changes both of their lives.

Mei is an artist whose life has been disrupted by the Vietnam war. Her parents reluctantly send her away to what they hope will be a safer world. She joins the exodus of Vietnamese refugess know as the Boat People. Her parents are also counting on her to protect and care for her two younger siblings as they travel the oceans.

In Mei's own words we learn about the dangers she faces. Surviving hunger, thirst and the ravages of the sea, Mei and her little family eventually arrive in New York City -- still on her own. When Hannah and Mei meet, neither understands the language or the culture of the other but they both find in the other exactly what they need.

This is a powerful book about a time not so far distant in American history; it speaks to the teenagers of today about the power of love and the spirit of volunteerism; affirming that doing for others does so much for one's self.


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Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit Cover Image
By Kadir Nelson, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
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ISBN: 9781416989554
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - January 13th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Change Has Come

Comments:
This book can be many things. It can be the book that provides an uplifting moment when you need one. It can help us remember where we've been and where we are going. It can be the book that explains the beauty of the American system of democracy to children abd to those of us that had forgotten or become disillusioned.

Nelson has captured in his spare but evocative sktches the essence of Barack Obama & the joy of the moments they portray.

It is a book that has a special meaning for today (1/20/09) but will also serve us well through the years.


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Never Take a Shark to the Dentist: (and Other Things Not to Do) Cover Image
By Judi Barrett, John Nickle (Illustrator)
$18.99
ISBN: 9781416907244
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - March 4th, 2008

Bookseller:
Title: Never Take a Shark to the Dentist

Comments:
Laugh out loud fun! Pages & pages of vibrant illustrations & instructions for life. You'll learn why not to invite an ant to a picnic (they invite all their friends) and other important lessons.

The text is simple (a 3-year-old will get most of the jokes) but still thought-provoking.

 

Why should you never take araccoon to the bank? You will have to read it to find out.

 


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The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780786838189
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Hyperion Books for Children - March 25th, 2008

Bookseller:
Title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Comments:
After discovering that her high school has a secret club that only boys can join, Frankie finds out their secrets and plans to undermine & then overtake their plans.

The pranks she masterminds are creative and involved. Any girl who has ever felt left out of boys-only fun will love this funny book.

Boys will want to read it too -- if for nothing else but to find out how girls think and feel.


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13 Little Blue Envelopes Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780060541439
Availability: Out of Print
Published: HarperCollins Publishers - December 21st, 2010

Bookseller:
Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Comments:
Ginny's Aunt Pet was never the sort to follow the rules, but when she sends the first of 13 little blue envelopes, her instructions say, "this letter is full of rules I've written and that I need you to follow."

Following the instructions to buy a one-way ticket to London, Ginny begins an adventure that changes forever her outlook on life AND her opinion of her Aunt Peg!

Read this book & join Ginny as she travels to places she's never been; places in geography, in empathy, in memory and in love!

At the end you will want to create your own envelopes (or wish someone would for YOU!)


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Sunrise Over Fallujah Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780439916257
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Scholastic Press - April 15th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Sunrise Over Fallujah

Comments:
In 2003 the war in Iraq is just beginning. The truth about "Weapons of Mass Destruction" will not be known by most Americans for years. Robin Perry enlists in the military instead of going to college. Not long after that he is sent to the Middle East where nothing is as he had expected. Assigned to the Civilian Affairs Team, he & his comrades are supposed to help the people living in the war zones. Unfamiliar with the religion or the customs of the Iraqi people, Robin struggles to understand them.

Myers draws us into this story with authentic-seeming situations, well-researched details and great characters. This is the one book about the war that I would choose to help teens visualize the war now being fought by some of their own peers. Must read!!


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My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins, and Fenway Park Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780142413432
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Speak - February 19th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: Never Take a Shark to the Dentist

Comments:
Assigned to keep journal & told that many people address their entries to someone, three friends document a year--A Most Excellent Year!

T.C. writes to his dead mother, Ale writes to Jackie Kennedy & Augie Kwan can't quite decide between Liza Minelli and her sister, Judy Garland.

This great cast of characters are involved in a school musical, mentoring a six-year-old deaf boy (who is waiting for Mary Poppins to come adopt him), petitioning to government to include a ballfield in the plans to honor the Japanese who were interred during WWII, to say nothing of surviving the year as friends & with their families.

Well written, funny, authentic & oignent!


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Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate #1) Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780316056632
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Orbit - October 2009

Bookseller: Kat
Title: Soulless

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

First let me say that I'm not a big fan of vampire stories. That said, I found this book to be a hoot!

This is one of the most downright clever and entertaining books I've read lately.

The plot centers around a half-Italian, food-loving spinster named Alexia Tarabotti and her encounters with the fanged and the furry.

Look out for the sequel: Changeless. Teaser: werewolves in kilts.


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The Black Book of Secrets Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780312368449
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Feiwel & Friends - October 2nd, 2007

Bookseller:
Title: The Black Book of Secrets

Comments:
In some long-ago time and some un-named city, we first meet Ludlo Fitch as he is running to escape the dentist. The dentist has been hired by his parents to pull out all of his teeth. The dentist will pay his parents for the teeth.  He escapes the dentist, hops onto the back of a carriage going he knows not where -- just away!

Upon arriving in what he discovers to be Pagus-Pagus, he meets a fellow newcomer, Joe Zabidou, a pawn broker, who has set up shop in the town. Ludlo soon realizes that while the townsfolk are too poor to have much to pawn, Joe will pay good money for their deepest darkest secrets.


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A Thousand Splendid Suns Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9781594483851
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Riverhead Books - November 25th, 2008

Bookseller: Kat
Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well. Khaled Hosseini returns with a beautiful, riveting, and haunting novel that confirms his place as one of the most important literary writers today. Propelled by the same superb instinct for storytelling that made The Kite Runner a beloved classic, A Thousand Splendid Suns shines a light on the lives of women in Afghanistan throughout the past few tumultuous decades. It is an incredible chronicle of thirty years of Afghan history and a deeply moving story of family, friendship, faith, and the salvation to be found in love.


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The Magicians: A Novel (Magicians Trilogy) Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780670020553
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Viking - August 11th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: The Magicians

Comments:
This book was published for adults, but young adults may enjoy it as well. Brooklyn teenager Quentin Coldwater is at odds with himself. He's uncertain about his post-high-school direction and plays third wheel with two cooler friends, on one of whom he's had a longstanding crush. A bizarre turn of events leads him to a college examination that results in an invitation to study at Brakebills Academy, a school of magic. Though Brakebills is no Hogwarts, its courses and requirements have as much internal logic and suspension-of-disbelief-ability. One of Grossman's major achievements in The Magicians is to make readers almost believe that magic is possible, though tedious and difficult both to study and to master. Harry Potter comparisons are inevitable, given the subject matter, but The Magicians is not a charming romp suitable for younger readers. It's darker, more bitter and complex and melancholy, and the young adult characters (true young adults, not teens) drink and have sex (the latter mostly off-camera) and deal with the consequences of love and betrayal and loss. It's also romantic and real and absolutely un-put-down-able. Think of it as Donna Tartt's Secret History meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell and slaps them on the side of the head with a heavy dose of homage-à-Narnia.


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What Have You Changed Your Mind About?: Today's Leading Minds Rethink Everything (Edge Question Series) Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9780061686542
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Harper Perennial - May 20th, 2014

Bookseller:
Title: What Have You Changed Your Mind About?

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young people may enjoy it as well.

Even geniuses change their minds sometimes!

Is there a question you've been re-thinking? Is it about human nature, cyberspace, sex, UFOs, philosophy, artificial intelligence, religion, quantum theory, evolution or . . . everything?

Well, take a look at this book. I'm willing to bet that there will be at least one essay you'll want to stop and read right away.

The list of authors writing in this collection is eclectic but impressive. 150 brilliant, thoughtful, and focused essayists will make you think and think again.


When You Reach Me Cover Image
$16.99
ISBN: 9780385737425
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Published: Wendy Lamb Books - July 14th, 2009

Bookseller:
Title: When You Reach Me

Comments:


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My Secret: A PostSecret Book Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9780061196683
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Published: William Morrow - October 24th, 2006

Bookseller: Kat
Title: My Secret: A Postsecret Book

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

Postsecret.com founder Frank Warren is back with a fresh and compelling companion to his wildly popular Los Angeles Times bestseller, PostSecret. Warren has personally selected never-before-seen anonymous postcards created by teens and college students from across the country. Each card bears an intimate and powerful secret; at turns inspirational, shocking, hilarious, and poetic. My Secret offers a raw and revealing glimpse into the real lives of today's teens and twentysomethings. Choosing their own handmade postcards over email or text messages, teens and college students express their hopes, fears, and wildest confessions in a way that truly represents their diverse personalities and voices.


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The Reserve: A Novel Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9780061430268
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Published: Harper Perennial - February 10th, 2009

Bookseller: Kat
Title: The Reserve

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

This fascinating look at the "haves and have-nots" in a fictional Adirondack village is not exactly a departure for Banks, but while mining his familiar themes of class and culture he paints a crystal-clear portrait of a time and place.

In an Adirondack Club, not unlike the venerable Ausable Club, a cadre of wealthy NY 'summer people' clash with the townspeople and the guides.

The protagonist is a barking-mad heiress with the troubled past and lack of integrity so often found serving as mistress to inappropriate men. One such is the popular artist who struggles to span the socio-economic divide.

Questions of honor, love, loneliness, and lust feature large. A thought-provoking provocative tale.


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If There is Something to Desire: One Hundred Poems Cover Image
By Vera Pavlova, Steven Seymour (Translator)
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ISBN: 9780307272256
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Knopf - January 19th, 2010

Bookseller: Kat
Title: If There Is Something To Desire

Comments:
This is a book that was published for adults but young adults may enjoy it as well.

Poetry, when done well, requires language to be economically evocative. Paulova has achieved this in these spare poems. Often less than ten lines long (some only ten words long), each poem is a gem.

This would make a lovely gift for a lover or a lover of language.

#59
"Writing down verses, I got a paper cut on my palm.
The cut extended my life line by nearly one-fourth."

#71
"I
am
the one
who wakes up
on your
left"


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Dial H Vol. 1: Into You (The New 52) Cover Image
By China Mieville, Mateus Santolouco (Illustrator)
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ISBN: 9781401237752
Availability: Out of Print
Published: DC Comics - April 23rd, 2013

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Dial H: Into You

Comments:
This reboot of a Silver Age comic brings plenty of Mieville's oddities to bear in a frenetic story of mysterious badies and even more mysterious allies. Nelson, a lazy schlub of a man, is chosen by circumstance to become a superhero and finds that hero part was always inside of him - sounds pretty standard, I know, but it serves as a good grounding for all of the strange things going on around him. What is Abyss, and what does it want? What is the creature on the other end of the line?


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Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas Cover Image
$21.99
ISBN: 9781596438651
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: First Second - June 11th, 2013

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Primates

Comments:
Are you ready for this journey? Do you have your backpack, waterskin, machete, tent, etc.? You'll also have to bring your full range of emotions and wonder for this comic. Jane, Dian, and Birute all had their share of exciting, frightening, and enlightening moments. Isn't it time you learned about three of the world's most influential primatologists?

Ottaviani's writing is light but not devoid of material, and Wicks' illustrations playful without becoming satire.


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The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo (Pulitzer Prize for Biography) Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780307382474
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Broadway Books - May 14th, 2013

Bookseller: Alec
Title: The Black Count

Comments:
His was the true story behind the Count of Monte Christo. The duels he fought were again performed by d'Artagnon, Porthos, Aramis, and Athos. Alex Dumas was, in many ways, his son's hero - in life and in his books.

The amount of effort put into researching this biography practically lights up the pages. Dumas's story is closely intertwined with the surprisingly enlightened state of France in the late 18th century - with both being summarily erased during the rise of Napoleon.


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Joe the Barbarian Cover Image
By Grant Morrison, Sean Murphy (Illustrator)
$19.99
ISBN: 9781401237479
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Vertigo - March 12th, 2013

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Joe the Barbarian

Comments:
When Joe awakens in his room in hypoglycemic shock, a whole new world awaits him. To his toys he is the Dying Boy, destined to drive away the darkness of King Death - if only he could find some soda and reset the circuit breaker. The two worlds are tied to each other; but are the metaphors simply a manifestion of reality, or are they the true underpinnings of his life?

The art alone is worth a peek: the lines and coloring give a life and emotion to the crazy things that Joe meets on his adventures. I found a great character in Jack - or Chakk - Joe's pet rat and runt of the seven barbarians. Give it a look.


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A Little Book of Sloth Cover Image
By Lucy Cooke, Lucy Cooke (Photographs by)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781442445574
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Margaret K. McElderry Books - March 5th, 2013

Bookseller: Alec
Title: A Little Book of Sloth

Comments:
I have a giant dilemma, and I need your help. I cannot for the life of me decide whether baby three-toed sloths are cuter than baby two-toed sloths. I consider myself a connoisseur of cute animals; I've raised otters and emus, rehabilitated hummingbirds, and dealt with all sorts of cute creatures before - and even I am stumped! Please help! Read this book!


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Fuzzy Nation Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780765367037
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Tor Science Fiction - March 27th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Fuzzy Nation

Comments:
Based around the discovery of a possibly sentient, but more importantly endearing and adorable alien species, this book is a real feel-good read. Jack Holloway is morally ambiguous in a rapscallion-disbarred-from-being-a-lawyer kinda way; we are constantly reminded by his words that he isn't such a great person, but do his actions speak differently? The real stars are the Fuzzies, whose charm is just sweet and wild enough to be believable, and the dog, Carl, who enjoys blowing things up. Add to this some grandstand courtroom drama, and you've got a fun, easy read. Also check out Little Fuzzy, the 1963 Hugo-nominated book that Fuzzy Nation was inspired by.


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Acacia: The Acacia Trilogy, Book One Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780385722520
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Anchor - August 26th, 2008

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Acacia: The War with the Mein

Comments:
A note before I begin: I listened to the audio version, read by Dick Hill. What a great experience!

A smorgasbord of diverse people and characters, philosophies, religions, histories and battles. Compelling bad guys and dastardly plots, subterfuge and betrayal, angry gods and pirates. Written by a notable historical fiction author, this foray into fantasy is kilograms of story in a one-pound book. Perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin and Bernard Cornwell.


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A Wolf at the Door: A Jesse James Dawson Novel (Jesse Dawson #3) Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780451464637
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Ace - August 7th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: A Wolf at the Door

Comments:
In this third volume featuring the Kansas City samurai, Jesse Dawson takes on more demons, fleshless men, and the agents of LA when he receives a tip that the life of a superstar holds the key to a power that could shift the balance in a secret demon war.

Complex characterizations and good pacing continue to set this downright fun series apart.


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Sorry Please Thank You: Stories Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780307907172
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Pantheon - July 24th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Sorry Please Thank You

Comments:
A heady aroma of tongue-in-cheek wafts from Charles Yu's melancholy-pie examination of the human condition. Each bite has something different: a plethora of flavors, from creamy introspection to the lingering burn of an unrequited pepper. Flavors that, when combined, create an odd but playful umami on the tongue.

While metaflavor may take some time to get used to, the extra chewing involved can uncover unparalleled literary experiences. Whether you nibble at it as an appetizer, or gobble the entire thing at once (like me), you are in for a treat.


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The Quantum Thief (Jean le Flambeur #1) Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780765367662
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Tor Science Fiction - January 31st, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: The Quantum Thief

Comments:
This heist tale set far in the future is a kaleidoscope of walking cities, dilemma prisons, mind-stealing pirates, and an economy based on how much time remains before a person dies. It may take a little time to orient yourself, but once you do, the reward is a real post-human treat.

Though the characters are certainly more than human, their relationships, needs, and desires are uniquely human. May require significant time to grok.


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Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780316129084
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Orbit - June 15th, 2011

Bookseller: Alec & Zazu
Title: Leviathan's Wake (Expanse #1)

Comments:

[Alec's original review has been lost to the deep recesses of time, so as a fellow lover of this book series, here's Zazu's take:]

This is the book I give to people who tell me "I love science fiction. This is also the book I give to people who furrow their brows and quirk their mouths when when they hear any words even remotely referring to space. Whether you're already a sci-fi convert or not, this is the book (the series!) to entertain and delight, to puzzle and gasp over, to clutch, white-knuckled, until every single page has been turned. You won't be able to help getting attached to the awesome characters as they plunge through a horror-filled, suspenseful noir-style mystery in the best contemporary space opera to hit the scenes since Ender's Game.
Whoever you are, just read this. And we'll see you again when you come back for the sequel.


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The Last Policeman Cover Image
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ISBN: 9781594745768
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Quirk Books - July 10th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: The Last Policeman

Comments:
A mystery. A coming apocalypse. The very infrastructure of the world has changed. People are walking away from their jobs, and services we take for granted are becoming hard to find. Incidents of suicide are skyrocketing. Gas is unavailable except to government employees. The US is looking more and more like a military state. So why does one suspicious suicide matter? Why solve a murder if it won't matter in six months? Hank Palace may be the new naive, book-smart detective in Concord, but to solve this case he must shift everything he knows about investigation to a world gone off its rocker.


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Caliban's War (The Expanse #2) Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780316129060
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Orbit - June 26th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Caliban's War

Comments:
Though some of the horror from Leviathan Wakes has been replaced with political maneuvering, its sequel provides just as many thrills as Corey expands the universe and the problems that exist within. Holden and crew are joined by three other POV characters, each of them entertaining in their own way; though I do have to say that the foul-mouthed Indian grandmother who has the UN by the balls was a particular treat. Strong female characters who aren't exceptional specifically because of gender, and an increasingly multifaceted plot play off of the quick writing and coalesce into a worthy sequel.


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City of Saints and Madmen Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780553383577
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Spectra Books - February 28th, 2006

Bookseller: Alec
Title: City of Saints and Madmen

Comments:
A fever-dream smorgasboard of miscellanea; stories and essays and squid and arguments, all from different voices clamoring for your attention. And under it all, the spectacular city of Ambergris, a singular labyrinthine enigma built of exotic people, enchanted fungus, and sensuous horror.

For those readers looking for something more experimental.


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A Confusion of Princes Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780060096946
Availability: Out of Print
Published: HarperCollins - May 15th, 2012

Bookseller: Alec
Title: A Confusion of Princes

Comments:
Prince Khemri is effectively immortal, strongly psychic, and physically indomitable, so what has he to worry about? Considering the fact that this is the story of his first three deaths, he obviously has a lot to learn.

Reminiscent of Dune and Ender's Game, this book will appeal to anyone who appreciates a good, twisty coming-of-age story within a complex alien society.


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The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780062255662
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: William Morrow Paperbacks - June 3rd, 2014

Bookseller: Erica
Title: The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Comments:
Like with all of Neil Gaiman's books, I wanted to sit and savor his haunting, dreamlike prose and absorb this story of the indelible magic of memory over a span of days. However, I ended up consuming this book hungrily during a trip down the Taconic to NYC. Breathless with anticipation, I could only marvel over Gaiman's ability to seamlessly merge exhilaration and fear, bucolic fable and magical realism, and tell a story meant for adults using the voice of a child. A short read that packs a powerful punch - another fantastic addition to Gaiman's already treasured works of fiction.


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The Dark Cover Image
By Lemony Snicket, Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780316187480
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - April 2nd, 2013

Bookseller: Erica
Title: The Dark

Comments:
Are you afraid of the dark?

Laszlo is.

But even though the dark can be a quiet, chilling, scary place,

It's not all that it seems...
This fantastically illustrated book by Lemony Snicket gets at the heart of why we fear the unknown... but also helps us to confront our fears.

A perfect book for nighttime (or daytime)/


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Vampires in the Lemon Grove Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780307957238
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Knopf Publishing Group - February 12th, 2013

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Vampires in the Lemon Grove

Comments:
Lush, whimsical, and disturbing - three words not often used together, but perfect to describe the group of stories by Karen Russell in Vampires in the Lemon Grove. This is the best kind of horror - mired in the mundane but able to transcend into something almost sublime. Russell has a great grasp of language and a narrative flexibility. She can go from the bone-chilling transformation of Japanese girls into silk worms, to the hilariously irreverent reincarnation of the president Rutherford B. Hayes as a horse, to the massage therapist who heals the emotional scars of a war vet - at no small cost to her own sanity (this was my favorite, though the New York Times disagrees). The themes of memory, loss, and healing ring throughout, making this collection a treasure and a delight.


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Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead Cover Image
$24.95
ISBN: 9780385349949
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Knopf - March 11th, 2013

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Comments:
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hearing the question, "Can women have it all?" As a young woman about to enter grad school and poised to join the workforce, Sheryl Sandberg's book was like a breath of fresh air. Sandberg has an impressive resume (COO of Facebook, Vice President of Global Online Sales at Google) and has emerged as a (reluctant) champion for women who want to achieve positions of leadership without sacrificing personal goals. Sandberg notes that women often hold themselves back in their careers due to significant social and cultural pressures, and her book sytematically addresses these pressures while suggesting ways for women to "take a seat at the table!" Sandberg also reflects on her own experiences, creating a mix of wisdom, humor, and poignancy that makes "Lean In" feel less like a rulebook and more like a warm conversation with a mentor. An excellent read for those in power or those just getting started.


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Howl's Moving Castle (World of Howl #1) Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780061478789
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Greenwillow Books - April 22nd, 2008

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Howl's Moving Castle

Comments:
How do I describe Howl's Moving Castle? If you've seen the Miyazaki movie, you have a pretty good idea that this story contains colorful characters, magic, and adventure! Sophie, a simple hat-maker, has an unfortunate run-in with the Witch of the Waste, who transforms her into an old woman! Sophie has no choice but to join the eccentric (and dreamy!) wizard Howl on his moving castle to break the spell. Diana Wynne Jones' trademark slice-of-life writing creates a tale that's funny, charming, and will make you wish you had a moving castle, a fire demon, and a magical scarecrow of your own! One of my absolute favorites.


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The Beekeeper's Apprentice Cover Image
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ISBN: 9780312427368
Availability: Out of Print
Published: Picador USA - October 2nd, 2007

Bookseller: Erica
Title: The Beekeeper's Apprentice

Comments:
I continually look forward to new Laurie R. King books, featuring a fantastically written and wonderful detective named Mary Russell... and her partner, Sherlock Holmes. Ok, suspend your disbelief - retired and living in the country with his bees, King's Holmes is as sharp as ever and he finds a remarkable partner and foil in Russell. In fact, she may be one of my favorite literary heroines! Smart, strong, and daring, Russell is more than a match for Holmes. Their adventures together span the globe, where they encounter such figures as T.E. Lawrence, Rudyard Kipling, and many more. But their journey begins here, and Oxford-educated King knows how to tell a story that's intelligent, gripping, and sure to please Holmes fans old and new alike.


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Seven Days in the Art World Cover Image
$16.95
ISBN: 9780393337129
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - November 2009

Bookseller: Erica
Title: 7 Days in the Art World

Comments:
Written in 2008 - just when the financial bubble is about to burst - 7 Days in the Art World is a fun and fascinating look into the contemporary art market, including the social, cultural, and financial agendas that prompt people to create and consume art. Each 'Day' Thornton spends covers a different facet of this world; from art fairs to auction houses to a CalArts crit class. We get a peek into the luxurious world of the 1%, while also getting a look at the complex relationships between artist, dealer, and collector. Written with wit and an engaging journalistic voice with a dash of sociology, Thornton constantly returns to the question, "What is art?" Read this to find out!


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Cloud Atlas: A Novel Cover Image
$17.00
ISBN: 9780375507250
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Random House Trade Paperbacks - August 17th, 2004

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Cloud Atlas

Comments:
I was a third of the way into this book, and I didn't think we were meant to be... then suddenly my heart was aching for the characters and their stories, and it did catch me by surprise! It's been a month since I've finished it and I'm still thinking about it (hence the staff pick).

This book proves that David Mitchell can be any writer he chooses. The six novellas that comprise Cloud Atlas are original forgeries - each adopts the voice of a distinct author and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It is a sextet, with each story bleeding slightly into the next, and a bizarre yet engaging narrative format - each story split into two parts, each concluding towards the end of the book: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Oh, and did I mention that the sotries stretch from the 19th century into a post-apocalyptic future?

Yes, it can be confusing and challenging, but so worth it. Despite the diverse and seemingly random plot lines, there is and overall message about the never-ending power struggle that seems inherent to humanity, that drives it forward - until one day perhaps drives it to the brink of demise. It's also about the Amazing Resilience of Humanity.

All of this is hard to sum up in one staff pick - but do yourself a favor and try out this complex, dazzling, and thoughtful story.


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The Hare with Amber Eyes (Illustrated Edition): A Hidden Inheritance Cover Image
$40.00
ISBN: 9780374168285
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Farrar, Straus and Giroux - November 13th, 2012

Bookseller: Erica
Title: The Hare with Amber Eyes

Comments:
A lovely, sumptuous, and engaging memoir written by a young ceramist who receives a remarkable inheritance - 264 Japanese netsuke figurines previously thought to have been taken by Nazis. The discovery of this collection prompts the author to investigate the journey these objects took and the result is a beautiful story about his family: the Ephrussis, a European Jewish banking dynasty whose legacy can be traced from Odessa to Vienna to Paris in the late 19th century. Not only is this great story-telling, but all of it is true! Written with a lot of gorgeous detail and plenty of heart, this book will appeal to anyone who loves art, history, and family.


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The Flight of Gemma Hardy: A Novel Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780062064233
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Harper Perennial - June 26th, 2012

Bookseller: Erica
Title: The Flight of Gemma Hardy

Comments:
Margot Livesey weaves together a lovely and quiet retelling of Jane Eyre set in 1950's Scotland. As a lover of Bronte's original, I was skeptical at first of reading anything basoed on her classic novel. However, Livesey does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Jane Eyre - a complex yet sincere portrait of a woman's mind, a haunting and engaging sense of place, and of course a brooding, byronic love interest. Perfect for a quiet afternoon's read with a cup of tea.


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A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller Cover Image
$16.00
ISBN: 9780767910064
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Broadway Books - March 13th, 2007

Bookseller: Erica
Title: A Year in the World

Comments:
Reading this book is like traveling with Mayes herself. Her writing is beautiful, poetic, and passionate as she describes the food, the people, and the culture of the places she visits. If you've read Under the Tuscan Sun, you'll recognize the feeling of yearning as her beautifully crafted words soak into your soul. You'll want to make your own voyage to the Greek Isles, Morocco, Italy, Spain, and more! If you're a fan of travel, food, literature, and poetry, this travel memoir is for you!
Happy travels!


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Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780060853983
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: William Morrow - November 28th, 2006

Bookseller: Erica
Title: Good Omens

Comments:
It's the End Of The World...and it couldn't be funnier! Good Omens, the love child of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, is one of the most clever and well-written books to come about in a long time! Join an Angel and a Demon, who after around 6,000 years have struck up an odd friendship, as they try to prevent the apocalypse. Add even more colorful characters and a dash of unexpected depth and you have a (slightly philosophical) comedy you will read again and again!


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Wiggle Cover Image
By Doreen Cronin, Scott Menchin (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780689863752
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Atheneum Books for Young Readers - June 2005

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: Wiggle

Comments:
Gotta Love this book! If you don't want to take my word for it, just come find me and I'll read it to you, and then you'll understand.


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Daemon (Daemon Series) Cover Image
$9.99
ISBN: 9780451228734
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Dutton - December 29th, 2009

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: Daemon

Comments:
What a debut!! Daniel Suarez (a systems consultant and software designer) has penned a rapid-fire, chilling - yet entirely plausible - scenario of technology gone awry.

The main character, Mathew Sobel (computer systems genius and founder of Cyberstorm Entertainment) is dead before the book begins! in fact, Sobel uses his own death to trigger an unstoppable computer virus in the form of a daemon - a computer program that runs in the background and executes tasks at an appointed time, or in response to a certain specific event (think "mailer daemon").

Whether you are a computer geek, a cybergamer, or a complete technophobe, you'll be entertained and enlightened by this sinister, propulsive story.


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The Weather of the Future: Heat Waves, Extreme Storms, and Other Scenes from a Climate-Changed Planet Cover Image
$15.99
ISBN: 9780061726941
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Harper Perennial - July 19th, 2011

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: The Weather of the Future

Comments:
I know what you are thinking, "Oh brother! ANOTHER book about 'climate change' and 'global warming.'" And yes, this foremost climatologist does have a data-based vision for our near future that is as "scorching" as any other climate forecast I have read. But her voice contains no pessimism. In fact, she uses lots of prominent scientists' voices to remind us that a dire weather future is only one possible outcome, and that we have the power, right now, to affect that outcome.

Amidst all the facts and figures in this book - or perhaps because of them - she made me feel hopeful about the future, and she compelled me to make a change, a real one, that saved at least a tank of gas, and kept my money in the Berkshires. A win-win! That's the difference in this book, and that's why it is worth reading.


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F in Exams: The Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers Cover Image
$9.95
ISBN: 9780811878319
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Chronicle Books - February 23rd, 2011

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: F in Exams

Comments:

Best teacher gift EVER!!!

(1)Find x. Ans = "Here it is!" (As if it were a game of Hide and Seek)

(2)What is a "Fibula"? Ans = A little lie. (It is no lie that this book contains clever, insightful, hilarious answers to test questions that are familiar to us all.)

(3)Why would I want this book? Ans = For a laugh, for a change of perspective, for a gift, heck, even for a cheat sheet if you happen to have an upcoming exam!


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F for Effort: More of the Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers Cover Image
$9.95
ISBN: 9781452113227
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Chronicle Books - July 11th, 2012

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: F for Effort!

Comments:

Yay! More!

Q: Explain how energy is lost during an energy conversion.

A: Thinking about energy conversion is so boring that I completely run out of energy and have to go to sleep at my desk.

These are even funnier than the first! Enjoy!


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Make It Happen in Ten Minutes a Day: The Simple, Lifesaving Method for Getting Things Done Cover Image
$10.99
ISBN: 9781479212477
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform - August 30th, 2012

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: Make It Happen in Ten Minutes a Day

Comments:
Just give it ten minutes...

Full of wisdom without being preachy, this book made me want to "Make It Happen." And because the gentle nudge from this book moved me from "have to" to "want to," I'm now getting so much more accomplished, and I am doing it with joy!

Remember Tony Robbins? Well, this tiny little book motivated me more than his complete set of CDs! Lorne Holden delivers her message with profound simplicity and large-heartedness. I know this gets said all the time, but you really can't afford not to read this book.


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How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick Cover Image
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781610392839
Availability: Out of Print
Published: PublicAffairs - April 9th, 2013

Bookseller: Laurie
Title: How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who's Sick

Comments:
EXCELLENT advice, gently and often anecdotally given. It has already made me more sensitive to the needs of someone dealing with illness.


Staff Pick Badge
Ship Breaker Cover Image
$12.99
ISBN: 9780316056199
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 Days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers - October 3rd, 2011

Bookseller: Alec
Title: Ship Breaker

Comments:

Let me preface this by saying that I did not like The Hunger Games, and find many of today's dystopias and post-apocalypses to be sub-par. Characters, back story, and plot often play second string to base brutality and cruelty for no reason other than its own sake. (Why does a society just lie down and accept their 12-18 year old children murdering each other?) If our moral character has disintegrated as much as the world has, I need to know why.

This is where Ship Breaker comes in. It has all of the action, brutality, and violence, but it also has meaning. It may not be pleasant, but we know why-- increased storm activity destroyed coastal cities, Nailer's father became a violent amphetamine addict when his wife died, and the income gap between rich and poor has skyrocketed due to a lack of natural resources. These elements make a riveting book that could very well happen tomorrow.
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