Thriller
Love, Espionage, and Betrayal
‘The Quiet American’
By Graham Greene
As French colonialism crumbles, Alden Pyle, an idealistic CIA agent, believes the agency has Vietnam’s best interests at heart. Thomas Fowler, a foreign correspondent, works with Pyle until the agent’s policies result in violence and Fowler’s lover falls for Pyle.
Classics
Whimsical Adventure and a Rolling Bookshop
‘Two Classic Novels in One Volume: Parnassus on Wheels and The Haunted Bookshop’ By Christopher Morley
When Roger Mifflin shows up with his wagon bookshop (named Parnassus), looking for a buyer, Helen McGill purchases this traveling shop along with the business’s horse, Pegasus, and dog, Boccaccio. After bidding farewell to her brother and life on the farm, Helen sets off on a series of adventures with Mifflin as she learns the book trade and attempts to get Mifflin back to Brooklyn. “Parnassus” has remained in print for over a century because of Helen’s wit and verve, and her charming take on life.Investigative
Big Help With a Little Bad Mouth
‘Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win’ By Peter SchweizerIn this intriguing and compelling read, investigative journalist Peter Schweizer shows that Beijing is more than happy to put up with mild criticism of its regime as long as the status quo remains the same. In “Red-Handed,” Schweizer presents the reader with his most alarming findings to date, revealing a web of complicity from America’s wealthiest elites who, in a variety of scenarios, are helping to build up China’s military, as well as technological and economic prowess on the world stage.
Young Adult
Great Escapes With Great Friends
‘Britfield & The Rise of the Lion’ By C.R. StewartThe Britfield young-adult adventure series is a blend of C.S. Lewis and Dan Brown. C.R. Stewart has created an exhilarating world where two young orphans, Tom and Sarah, are constantly on the run from those who wish them harm. After having escaped England in the series debut, now “Britfield” moves to France. These YA books are fast-paced, full of history and culture, and focus on courage and friendship.
Memoir
A Story of Relational Bridges
‘Shmuel’s Bridge: Following the Tracks to Auschwitz With My Survivor Father’ By Jason SommerJason Sommer’s debut book and Holocaust memoir “Shmuel’s Bridge: Following the Tracks to Auschwitz with my Survivor Father” is a heartfelt read with incredibly honest and poetic writing. In search of the bridge where his uncle, Shmuel, was killed, he connects the physical and emotional bridges that exist between fathers and sons.
History
Defiance During the Blitz
‘The Splendid and the Vile’ By Erik LarsonHere, Larson brings to life Winston Churchill during the awful year when England stood alone against the Nazis. Particularly fascinating are his depictions of the Churchill family and their own personal struggles. In addition, he gives us portraits in miniature of the grit and bravery of ordinary Britains who endured economic hardship and a horrific, relentless bombing campaign. As we learn how Churchill inspired these people in “the art of being fearless,” we’re reminded of the meaning and importance of true leadership.
For Kids
A Lovable Classic
‘Inch by Inch’ By Leo LionniThis tale of an industrious inchworm who can measure almost anything is a classroom staple. When a hungry nightingale comes along, the inchworm uses his talent to avoid becoming lunch. Lionni’s simple story is sure to bring smiles.
4 Sisters, 2 Rabbits, and an Interesting Boy
‘The Penderwicks’ By Jeanne BirdsallThe Penderwick sisters spend summer vacation on a lovely New England estate. They go on adventures with a neighbor, Jeffrey, and rescue him from being forced to attend a school he despises. It’s a charming old-fashioned tale.
