Katie's Picks
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
Alexie is truly one of today's most gifted yet underappreciated storytellers. This collection of stories reads like a dreamscape in its flow, but will leave the reader unexpectedly laughing, crying and wishing that the experience will never end. The author sheds an unprecedented light on Native American reservation life today, while offering his audience all the mysticism, folklore and dignity of his heritage.
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond
How often I've listened to my parents reminisce about those long lost sweet treats from their childhoods...I now know that they are not alone in their mourning, as Steve Almond embarks on a truly epic journey to discover what caused the demise of his favorite candies. The ultimate reward comes, however, when he finds that perhaps they are not extinct after all. Quite the patriotic read!
Harcourt
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
When three sisters disappear in the Central American mountains, the fourth Mirabel is left to uncover the reason why. Alvarez combines historically accurate accounts with lyrical prose to weave a poignant and bittersweet story of one family's struggles and abuse under Trujillo's dictatorship.
Penguin Group
The Cute Book by Aranzi Aronzo
No other book could ever carry its title as well as this one. The mascot and accessory collection here covers every colloquial and slang meaning of "cute" -- from adorable to gothic, kitschy or hip. Inspired by popular kawaii ("Japanese cute") design, and sure to appeal to the DIY side in each of us, the critters of The Cute Book are such fun and so easy to make and give.
Vertical
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
This is a young adult novel unlike any you'll likely encounter again, and won't soon forget. The reader is led through the confused final days of a girl who has reached the end of her rope, and the tragic consequences her death has on those whom she names as the 13 reasons why she chose to end her life. Hannah is the girl who gives voice to her pain. Clay is the boy who fell for her. And one night, their stories collide.
Penguin Group
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
How I passed this extraordinary novel by for so many years before finally plunging into Atwood's unerringly believable dystopic landscape, I'll never know. She is a writer of exquisite prose, rewarding stories and remarkably human characters. In The Blind Assassin, she deftly spins together three seemingly disparate tales, which will take you on a journey from rural Canada to the far reaches of space -- a journey from which you'll not want to return.
Knopf Publishing Group
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Charlotte Doyle is the sole passenger onboard the 'Seahawk.' She's also the sole female headed across the ocean to America. Charlotte soon discovers that she must learn to protect and defend herself if she is to survive the murderous captain and his mutinous crew. These pages hold her account of that fateful voyage, with no truths spared...
HarperCollins Publishers
Epileptic by David B.
Taken as a graphic novel, Epileptic is a testament to the power of imagination when an artist roams freely in his most personal fears. Taken as a memoir and an account of growing up with an epileptic brother, David B.'s story is as intimate and reflective as the greatest of confessionals is able to be. This book unequivocally brings the graphic novel into the realm of contemporary literature.
Knopf Publishing Group
And the Train Goes... by William Bee
Take a ride thru the English countryside on this brightly-colored locomotive creation from William Bee. Young children easily catch on to the repetitive train noises, and will be rewarded with a silly surprise at the end of the book, when the train finally reaches the station! Great fun!
Candlewick Press
The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen by Peter Berley
I appreciate any cookbook that is as enjoyable to read as its recipes are to make, savor and share. Peter Berley is a subtle and ever-respectful artist of vegetarian and vegan cuisine, offering plenty of kitchen lore, terminology, sugar and fat alternatives, seasonal menus, and truly palate-pleasing dishes to which I've returned again and again. (And this coming from a girl who likes her steaks medium-rare!)
HarperCollins Publishers
When Dinosaurs Came with Everything by Elise Broach, illustrated by David Small
Although I've long been a fan of any book graced with David Small's whimsical and expressive illustrations, I dare say this is my favorite to date. This story is ideal for any reader going through that dinocentric phase of childhood. Charming and truly clever, parents will especially appreciate the mother's innovative spirit at the end. An all-around winner!
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
As the population moves toward an increasingly digital age, we may lose sight of many surroundings and happenings that are taken for granted. In simple, repetitive verse, and with all the innocence of the young, Margaret Wise Brown reminds us of what is important about these things. (A great inspiration for an early elementary writing assignment too!)
HarperCollins Publishers
Post Office by Charles Bukowski
Think Office Space, but as a book, with far more obscenities, in the 60s, and with the United States Postal Service as the office. Okay, so not quite the same -- only in the fact that the main character lavishes us with soul-killing, mind-numbing episodes from the workplace. Combine these with his sexual encounters and gambling escapades, and it can't go wrong. Or perhaps wrong is the only way it can go...
Ecco Press
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A violent teenage prankster is the central character in Burgess' groundbreaking work. The viciousness with which he brings to mind questions of good and evil, oppression and power, and, ulimately, reformation, make for a truly compelling read. But the real delight is in the language that he has created; a book that will haunt you long after you've read the last page.
W.W. Norton & Co.
Running with Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
With an acerbic yet candid sense of humor, Burroughs recounts his childhood growing up in a household of nuts. When his mother could no longer take care of herself, let alone her son, she sent Augusten to live with her psychiatrist's family -- an eccentric group, even wackier than herself. Grossly funny and utterly inappropriate (but tough to resist)!
Picador
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
One of my most beloved of children's books, with spectacular pencil drawings, this classic tells the story of one Mike Mulligan, who remained faithful to his trusted steam shovel Mary Anne, even when newer, faster equipment threatened to take her job. A touching story of friendship and the rewards it brings.
Houghton Mifflin Company
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
It may be that not all 120 Canterbury Tales were completed, as Chaucer introduces in his book's Prologue. And we'll likely never know what would have come about in those unfinished tales, but from what remains are some of the most startling glimpses of 14th century human nature - from wooing damsels, to flavoring stews, to religious pilgrimage - made all the more vivid in the verse of campfire yarns.
Penguin Group
Frindle by Andrew Clements
My favorite of all of Clements' books, Frindle is a rollicking good story of the power of language. While daydreaming in class, Nick begins to wonder how objects get their names - why is a pen a pen? This seemingly innocent question leads to a string of events in which the entire country can soon be heard murmuring the name "Frindle," and Nick finds himself responsible for changing the English word as he knows it!
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton
I was in no way prepared for the tour de force (de arte) on which this book would take me. de Botton writes with an insight born of contemporary cultures, but with the passion of times and people past. The world in which I had recently wandered through, assuming much familiarity, has now permeated my every sense and subconscious. An intimate and moving collaboration of architecture, philosophy, nature and humanity.
Knopf Publishing Group
Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World by Peter D'Epiro
The title says it all -- 'the art of effortless mastery,' or '50 ways Italian genius shaped the world.' A brilliant and engaging compilation of essays regarding the contributions of 50 (some expected, some rather unexpected) Italians to the creation and development of everything from electricity to ballet, political theory to automobiles, dictatorship to musicianship.
Knopf Publishing Group
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Reminiscent of Lois Lowry's The Giver, DuPrau's book brings us a world that was created as the last refuge for the human race. The city has survived for 200 years under the direction that each person is appointed to a fitting job. Lina is an underground worker; Doon is a messenger; it is only when they switch jobs that they discover a secret which leads them to a world that is not so extinct after all!
Random House Children's Books
Chocolate and Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen by Clotilde Dusoulier
Dusoulier's chocolateandzucchini.com blog has long held the position of my homepage when I sign online, and for good reason; she is a spirited food writer and cook who discovered her passion for French cuisine when her husband's job brought her on a hiatus to the states. Her recipes, now available in book form, offer the most unexpected flavor combinations, with brilliant success. Wine pairings accompany all of the recipes, as well as variations for those hard-to-find ingredients. No kitchen should be without this long-awaited collection!
Broadway Books
The Little Girl and the Cigarette by Benoit Duteurtre
Despite this book's appeal as the foremost in contemporary French satiricals, its unflinching themes concerning the anarchy that ensues in a world of too many laws, is eerily universal. Duteurtre has crafted a provocative world in which adults are afraid to say no to children, cigarettes are illegal in all public places, & condemned men become idols overnight. No one is prepared for a contradiction of these rules, until one man finds himself ensnared in a society gone terribly awry.
Melville House Publishing
The Little Book by Selden Edwards
Whether time-traveling in fin-de-siecle Vienna or following one affluent family's thrilling heritage through the mid-twentieth century, there is nothing little about this book. It ever so subtly transcends those assigned categories of history, science fiction and contemporary literature. It manages to deftly illuminate the American way of life by stepping firmly outside the realm of the imaginable. And though the story is revealed in ever delicate layers, making no hurry to explain away the boldly-imagined mystery that ties all the characters together, I never once questioned the journey on which I was being taken, and willingly lost myself in Mr. Edwards's beautifully ambitious debut novel.
Penguin Group
How We Are Hungry by Dave Eggers
So varied in theme, language and style are the stories in Dave Eggers' marvelous collection that you won't believe they were all penned by the same hand. A grab bag of some half-baked and other well-done ideas and ramblings; at turns zany and contemplative, sweet and sour, this collection will satiate any voracious reader.
Knopf Publishing Group
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
In the city of Kabul, Parvana abides with her family, ever watchful of the Taliban's ruling eye. But when Parvana's father is arrested for social reasons, the country's strict views regarding religion and women take on a whole new meaning for the young heroine. She must devise a plan to help her family survive, while remaining true to herself, in a time and place which demands otherwise.
Groundwood Books
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdich
A deftly crafted story of forgiveness, redemption, truth and identity, set on a magically eerie Ojibwe reservation. Father Damien, who has served the remote tribe of people for most of his life, finds that the nearer he comes to his final days on earth, the stronger the need to reveal the many secrets of his past...and present -- secrets which could upset his religion, his life's work, and the very people for whom he's struggled these many years.
HarperCollins Publishers
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
A chilling glimpse into the future of biological science, freedom of choice and human relationships. The story unfolds with the reader fully aware of Matt's creation from the DNA of an all-- powerful dictator -- no mystery there. Instead, the mystery lies in how Matt is to escape El Patron's country alive, and if he does, how he can possibly find people who will believe all that he has witnessed.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
A Coney Island of the Mind, 50th Anniversary Edition with CD by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Ferlinghetti's vibrant verses are a sort of circusy love poetry that speaks to the swooning heart of any girl who judges a potential romantic interest based on his choices in literature. Let me clarify -- Ferlinghetti does not write love poetry (at least not of the ethereal Neruda or self-depricating Bukowski sort). What he writes is poetry of a particular generation, but in a most universal voice, that can't help but encourage the drawing forth of one's own associations and desires . . . mooney-eyed girl or otherwise.
New Directions Publishing
The Gastronomical Me by M.F.K. Fisher
Most of us have moved past the old adage, "You are what you eat." In M.F.K. Fisher's case, however, it is perhaps quite the appropriate phrase, but can also be expanded to include, "You are what you eat, with whom you eat, where you eat, how you eat..." All this and more Fisher discovered when she and her husband made their way around Europe in the 1940's. A food writing classic about the joys of cooking!
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
Whenever Prince Brat misbehaves, however insignificantly, Jemmy receives the punishment. He is the young highness' Whipping Boy, a position Jemmy fears he will hold for the rest of his life. But when he and the Prince are captured by two theives who find out that one of the boys is royalty, they must come together if they wish to remain alive.
HarperCollins Publishers
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Along the watery streets of Venice the Thief Lord reigns supreme. Revered by his peers, the band of runaways to whom he teaches all there is to know of the art of thievery; feared by the citizens of Venice who must bar their doors at night lest they awake to find their riches have disappeared. But when two of the boys follow the Thief Lord on one of his many nightly escapades, they begin to uncover the true identity of their masked leader -- a truth that could spell disaster!
Scholastic, Inc.
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
When Elmer happens upon a stray cat who regales him with stories of the magical land of Wild Island, the unlikely duo stows away on a cargo ship bound for sea. Once the pair land on the island, they encounter a menagerie of dangerous creatures, all of whom hope to prevent Elmer from rescuing the captive dragon. Elmer must use the collection of odd items in his backpack to survive each encounter if he is to save the dragon and himself from certain doom!
Random House Children's Books
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff
Hollis can't remember a time when she wasn't being passed from one foster family to another. Now she has been placed in the care of Josie, an elderly woman who is slowly losing her memory. It is now up to Hollis to keep Josie's illness a secret from Social Services, and with the caretaker roles now reversed, the young girl discovers that she may have found and nearly lost the perfect family.
Random House Children's Books
The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
What can I possibly say that you can't simply read in these 26 pages? It's Gorey. It's uniquely bizarre and delightfully twisted. It's wicked fun. You probably know the ideal person with whom you can share this book. And if you're a Gorey novice, there is no time like the present in which to make yourselves acquainted...
Harcourt
The Nicholas Series by Rene Goscinny, illustrated by Jean-Jacques Sempe
You mean to tell me that you've yet to read of the tales of the lovably bumbling and adventurous French schoolboy named Nicholas?! Well, aren't you lucky that you stopped by, for you hold in your hands the hilarious accounts of fishing in the pond, playing soccer, learning math, and fighting bandits as only Nicholas can tell them. Introduce yourself today and you'll never be disappointed when he's around!
Book 1: Nicholas
Book 2: Nicholas Again
Book 3: Nicholas on Vacation
Book 4: Nicholas and the Gang
Phaidon Press, Inc.
Dear Mili by Wilhelm Grimm, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Intricate and striking illustrations by Maurice Sendak complement this once lost Grimm's tale of a war ravaged land, and a girl whose mother sends her into the forest for protection. Despite the terrors in the woods and her own helplessness, Mili finds comfort in her guardian angel and shelter with a kindly old man. A deeply moving story of the effects of war on children, but also the divine powers of love. It's no wonder this story has lasted these many centuries.
HarperCollins Children's Books
A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo
Xiaolu Guo, herself a young Chinese woman, gives voice to her country's contemporary youths with her stunning novels and films -- most recently in the Orange Prize-winning novel A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers. The charmingly bewildered protagonist, Z, moves to London to better her English, throw herself into Western culture and fall in love. As Z all-too-quickly learns, there is not one word in the foreign languages of English, or love, to help her easily bridge the cultural divide, while maintaining her own heritage and values. But as Z's speech and grammar progresses, so too does the writing in the novel, leaving us caring deeply about this girl who is able to reconcile each of her identities into the woman she becomes.
Knopf Publishing Group
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale
It's been only a couple hundred years, but better late than never . . . the Hales have at last told the real tale of Rapunzel and her neverending braids (used less to escape from towers and more as lassos). The illustrations alternate between exaggerated comical expressions and superhero posing -- both styles helping to illuminate this rollicking adventure of a sassy, rough-and-tumble maiden, out to help the downtrodden and punish the powerful. I haven't had this much fun in a long time!
Bloomsbury USA
Generation Loss by Elizabeth Hand
This is an artfully crafted literary thriller following the life on an NYC photographer who made her living off of snapshots of death in the city's postpunk scene, to her washed-up career landing a haphazard project on a remote Maine island. Whether it's the wary locals, the secretive attitude of the icon she's been sent to interview, or the attraction she develops to a mysterious artist's works, Cass begins to question her safety. Someone else, however, has a darkly twisted reason for wanting Cass to hang around...
Harcourt
Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart
Oh just admit it - everybody loves the perfect villian, and here he is! Learn how the young James Matthew grows to be one of the most notorious figures in literary history. From fatal duels at boarding school, to taking companions in the form of hairy spiders, to truly disgusting pranks with lemon custard, no other character will keep you gagging and laughing like the young Capt. Hook.
HarperCollins Publishers
Across the Nightingale Floor: Book One of the Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn
A hauntingly beautiful tale of ancient Japan, in which Takeo is a teenage boy who has all of his life been raised as an advocate of peace. But when the boy's village is pillaged by a vicious army of foreigners, Lord Otori decides it is time for Takeo to learn the ways of the assassin. Suspenseful to the last page, this book is a brilliant work of history, legend and destiny.
Penguin Group
The Bald Soprano: And Other Plays by Eugene Ionesco
For those who love theater, absurdity, surrealism, paradoxicals, dinner parties, mind games, the interplay of language and the written word...reading Ionesco is like falling down the rabbit hole, taking a few wrong turns, stumbling over a toadstool, and waking to find that you can tap dance on the ceiling!
Grove/Atlantic
Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic by Emily Jenkins
An enduring and timeless tale of adventure in unexpected places (and a great before bedtime book). Plastic, Lumphy and Stingray think they are quite wordly, as they've listened closely to all that the Little Girl says of the "outside world." But when they venture out of the bedroom to find a birthday gift for her, the three friends soon discover that they have much to learn. Absolutely imaginative and heartwarming.
Random House Children's Books
A Portrait of the Artisit as a Young Man by James Joyce
Quite possibly the quintessential semi-autobiographical novel, as it is unabashedly forthwright, yet beautifully embellished. Stephen Dedalus' journey from early childhood to the precipice of manhood is punctuated with all the questioning of an Irish-Catholic upbringing which distinctly mirrors Joyce's own uncertainties. At the same time, however, the narrator lends a wry voice to this unremarkable boy as he grows into his future as an eminent literary giant.
Penguin Group
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
A true tale of America's own Jack the Ripper; Part haunting mystery, part historical feat of architecture and human ambition. An astounding story which follows the lives of the builder of the Chicago World's Fair, and the serial killer who used the lure of the fair to trap his victims.
Knopf Publishing Group
Wave by Suzy Lee
This is probably the greatest story to yet be told in pictures alone. Any child, young or old, who has ever spent a day at the lake or seashore, will recall every thrill and exaltation, here so perfectly rendered in Suzy Lee's jubilant watercolors. Wave is a picture book to be treasured for its humor, its innocence and its simple timelessness.
Chronicle Books
August: Osage County by Tracy Letts
There are those plays which every Drama 101 student is made to read -- Oedipus Rex, Top Girls, The Crucible, Death of a Salesman, and endless Shakespeare. Then there are those read based on some other compulsion . . . August won the 2008 Pulitzer, afnd judging from the astringent dialogue and crudely realistic portrayal of one American families self-inflicted collapse, Letts' veracious drama earns equal footing as a prize-winning stage production and as a stunning written work.
Theatre Communications Group
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A book that remains to this day as inspiring, comforting and rational as it was hailed upon its first publication in 1952, Lewis' call for Christian unity is a timeless message. And although it is a collection of those particular beliefs, Mere Christianity also serves as a metaphor to promote acceptance and faith during any time of personal or global hardship. One of the defining works of a most remarkable man.
HarperCollins Publishers
Eeeee Eee Eeee by Tao Lin
Basically - I've fallen in love. Tao Lin brings a refreshingly welcome voice to pop culture, all the while employing a juxtoposition of explosive wit & utter detachment, that will punch you in the teeth & send you floating through his world. Just watch out - you're likely to run into nonsensical dolphins, a fanciful president & even a reflection of yourself along the way.
Melville House Publishing
Follow the Line Around the World by Laura Ljungkvist
Geography is one of those subjects that I wish I had pursued more enthusiastically after high school. I forget how much I enjoy it until I begin losing endless hours while pouring over maps, atlases and books such as this gem. Kickstart your child's wonder of the planet early on, and rediscover your own fascination, as you follow the line around the world.
Penguin Group
Resistance by Barry Lopez
An astonishing testamonial to the endurance of the human spirit, its message spans time and place, despite being vitally applicable to the state of the world today. Written in the voices of nine individuals, all on the run from some powerful force, Lopez has penned a vivid picture of what it is to resist that force. The writing is as jolting and beautiful as the stories, making this a monumental achievement for the avid and strong-hearted reader.
Knopf Publishing Group
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder (Updated and Expanded Edition) by Richard Louv
Few can deny that far too many of today's children are becoming statistics in the unfortunate trends of rises in childhood obesity, attention-deficit disorders, and weakened immunity. These children are also often shockingly unfamiliar with the surroundings just outside their front doors. What Louv has created with this judicious and neccessary book, is an urgent plea to educators, parents and indeed all guardians of our youth, to encourage environmental awareness and outdoor activity before this generation becomes the last to know the delicate bond between themselves and the rest of the natural world.
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Memories of my Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
In true Garcia Marquez fashion, this book lifted me above the ground and took me on a sweeping journey to a place unknown, only to gently bring me back to earth. I won't soon forget, however, the story and lessons which unfurl so unassumingly in these pages. I can only hope to look back on each year in my life with the same soft pleasure as the narrator. A triumph in less than 120 pages by the master storyteller himself.
Knopf Publishing Group
A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin
The summer that Hattie turns 12 a visitor arrives. He has never been spoken of before, and even when Uncle Adam becomes a permanent member of the household, Hattie's parents refuse to recognize his disabilities. But Hattie, who has lived her whole life in the company of adults, finds the childhood friend she never believed she would have. As the two become ever closer, neither is prepared for what comes when summer ends.
Scholastic, Inc.
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass
Have you ever felt that your head would explode while thinking too hard about outer space? Read this book! But beyond being totally astronomical, it is also the very down-to-earth story of three kids, each at a pivotal moment in their lives, who find themselves together, in the middle of nowhere, to see a once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse. And only as they are forced together, and begin to contemplate the vastness of space, do they realize the significant role each of them has to play in the universe.
Little, Brown Young Readers
Dancer by Colum McCann
Rudolf Nureyev is shockingly brought to life in these pages -- an existence riddled with promiscuity, childhood poverty, drug abuse and the never-ending strive for perfection in his dancing. Vibrantly written and terribly heartrending, this is a story for the dancer and nondancer alike, crafted with every thoughtfulness this man deserves.
Picador USA
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
A children's classic from one of the greatest storytellers of the past 60 years! Homer Price is the most unlikely hero one will ever encounter, but with the help of his pet skunk, the Sheriff and the boys, the Elixir of Life Compound and a dysfunctional donut machine, who knows just what's in store. The small town of Centerburg had better hold on to it's britches -- here comes Homer Price!
Penguin Young Readers Group
Lentil by Robert McCloskey
This wholesome boy from Alto, Ohio solidified my love of the harmonica at an early age. (That, and my parents' mutual appreciation for timeless Neil Young albums.) With the accompaniment of McCloskey's exquisite charcoal illustrations, this classic children's story also led me to discover that inherent musical quality of bringing people from all walks of life together...made all the more clear when even Old Sneep has a change of heart!
Penguin Young Readers Group
The Guenevere Trilogy by Rosalind Miles
Most everyone knows the legendary story of King Arthur and his Queen; of the sorcery of Merlin and Morgan le Fay; and of the forbidden and tragic love between Guenevere and Lancelot. Now, in the tradition of The Mists of Avalon, Guenevere's story is told with her voice. As courageous and heartbreaking as ever, Rosalind Miles has penned a work of true beauty.
Book 1: Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country
Book 2: Knight of the Sacred Lake
Book 3: The Child of the Holy Grail
Crown Publishing Group
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes That Rule by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero
Animal friendly and so tasty that even diehard milk and egg cupcake-aholics may find themselves on their knees and paying homage to these delightful delicacies. Don't believe that you'll fall for the sugary-soy bites of heaven? Just ask the M&E staff - they've sampled a few... (The Gingerbread with Lemony Buttercream Frosting, and the Green Tea Cupcakes are my personal weaknesses.)
Da Capo Press
Bird by Rita Murphy (Released October 14th)
From the observatory atop Bourne Manor, delicate and feather-light Miranda longingly searches the beaches, the lake, the hills beyond for some sign as to where she has come from. Sadly, she is caged in the dreary house with a spinster widow who has outfitted Miranda with a pair of leaded boots to keep her firmly on the ground. It's not until the free-spirited boy, Farley arrives on the beach that Miranda realizes she must let herself fly to be truly free.
Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Travel to a world in which nothing more than a manmade wall divides the Old Kingdom from the New. The New Kingdom exists in a time and place eerily familiar; the Old Kingdom is home to Dark Magic, enchanted creatures and the secret to Sabriel's strange upbringing -- a secret which will inevitably determine her future. As the two worlds begin to collide, Sabriel must accept her role as necromancer and travel to the deepest level of Death if she is to save all that she holds dear.
HarperCollins Children's Books
17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore by Jenny Offill, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
In our childhoods, my siblings and I have taken care of numbers 1-3, 7, 8 and 14-17. The kids I've babysat have got 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12 covered. And surely by the end of the day I can be sure to have crossed the street backwards (twice) and started a food fight... Even if you don't want to admit it, you have surely known - or been - someone who can relate to this hilarious (and quite accurate) picture book!
Random House Children's Books
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Already seen the movie? Read this. Bored of routines? Read this. But heed Rule #1: You cannot talk about the Fight Club. You will soon understand why, and what you discover will shake your world, shatter your security, and challenge your mind and body. A 'cult classic.' A darkly funny and inventive read. Palahniuk at his best.
W.W. Norton & Co.
Book Crush by Nancy Pearl
The undisputed Nancy Pearl has done it again - and this time it's for kids and teens! In the tradition of her adult recommendation bestsellers, Book Lust and More Book Lust, comes an indispensible guide to young people's literature, from the classic to the contemporary. No librarian, teacher, parent or avid reader should be without this hand-picked collection.
Sasquatch Books
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
A most exceptional portrayal of one young woman's spiral into the depths of schizophrenia (made all the more remarkable and heartrending when read as a parallel to Plath's own life). The Bell Jar remains one of the most intimate and terrifying writings of the progression of this neurological disability, as well as a beautifully created narrative from one of literature's most infamous and significant females.
HarperCollins Publishers
10 Minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann
Rodents have never before been as utterly lovable as in Peggy Rathmann's nearly non-verbal countdown to bedtime. But no worries, for her brightly-colored and imaginative illustrations offer an adventurous storyline no child can refuse. So grab your toothbrush and pajamas, and hop on the bus to the 10-Minute-Bedtime tour!
Penguin Young Readers Group
Uncommon Arrangements: Seven Portraits of Married Life in London Literary Circles 1910-1939 by Katie Roiphe
Katie Roiphe's engaging new work is equal parts sociological study of committment and domesticity, plus gossipy expose of the married lives of some of Britain's most acclaimed writers. She takes the no-holds-barred approach in her writing, making for an intriguing & fast-paced read, not to mention a flawless reflection of the unprecedented oddities of this eccentric group of couples. After all, it's always fun reading about people who make our lives look normal...
Dell Publishing
Little Pea by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, illustrated by Jen Corace
Who would have guessed that existing as a wee green vegetable could be such a difficult life? Little pea comes home to a miserable dinner of candy every night, before he is allowed to have his most favorite dessert of all!
Chronicle Books
Walk on Water: The Miracle of Saving Children's Lives by Michael Ruhlman
A glimpse into one of the most challenging and rewarding of the medical professions, pediatric congenital heart surgery. Dr. Roger Mee is unrivaled in his field and can truly be labeled a virtuoso of his art. What a privilege to experience even for a few pages what this man experiences daily. Awe-inspiring and captivatingly written.
Penguin Group
The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon
Brent Runyon shows no self-pity as he recounts the day he came home from high school, filled his bathtub with gasoline, stepped in, and set himself on fire. In fact, his story is one of triumph and even humor as he undergoes months of surgeries and rehabilitation to recover his once ruined body and spirit.
Knopf Publishing Group
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
El mejor libro de lee-en-volz-alta en enos, mi amigo. ?Es un perro? un gato? !No! !Es el figher mas grande de espada en el mundo, El Skippito, cha cha!
The best read-aloud book in years, my friend. Is it a dog? a cat? No! It's the greatest sword fighter in the world, El Skippito, cha cha!
Penguin Young Readers Group
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
This may be the first one I've encountered, but I can now say, without question, that I'm a sucker for any toad who's been pumping iron. And if he's able to lend a helping hand to the plucky little blue truck, pig, cow, and the rest of the farm animals, I can only lover him all the more. Schertle has most splendidly and cleverly retold the classic underdog story with Little Blue Truck.
Harcourt Children's Books
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
It's very rare that I encounter a book that so forcibly makes me think, "this should be required reading for the entire population." Trouble is that book. It's the story of the Smith family (especially Henry and his dog), of grieving, of the unexpected, of a town consumed by prejudice and revenge, of Mount Katahdin, and of what happens when folks believe that Trouble can't possibly find them. This deeply-felt story secures Gary Schmidt's undeniable rank at the top of young adult literature.
Houghton Mifflin
Buy This Book
Zero: The Autobiography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife
For a number that is taken for granted by nearly all cultures, zero certainly caused quite a stir throughout the progress of civilizations. Revered by some, feared by others, and still an intriguing concept to today's mathematicians, the little round number has had a stranger existence than one can fathom.
Penguin Group
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
From the endlessly fantastical mind of the dear Dr. Seuss comes a fable for children of all ages. Through Seuss' signature rhyming style, and with a host of new furry creatures, we learn of the terrible effects of greed, when the Onceler refuses to stop cutting down trees. The Lorax, who speaks for these trees, teaches an important lesson in conservation that has proven to be a favorite for many generations.
Random House Children's Books
Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of WWII's Greatest Rescue Mission by Hampton Sides
A harrowing tale, not only of the POW survivors of the Bataan Death March, but also of the men who were part of the mission sent to rescue their fellow soldiers. Riveting in its horrific detail, and punctuated with personal accounts of the Ghost Soldiers, this book in undeniably an homage to a generation that valued freedom, valor and brotherhood above all else.
Knopf Publishing Group
He Came with the Couch by David Slonim
A delightfully creative story of a wee monster who unassumingly takes up residence as a couch potato on a family's newly-purchased sofa...and in their hearts. A tale that gives a colorful twist to the age-old saying, "Home is where the heart is."
Chronicle Books
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
In elementary school I became thoroughly obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials after reading this book for a historical fiction unit. The author vividly relates the story of a young woman named Kit who journeys to the colonies to live with relatives. There she befriends a kindly hermit woman, ostracized by the prejudiced and fearful community and eventually accused of witchcraft. Now Kit must make the life-threatening decision to stand by her innocent friend and risk her own life, or abandon the only true companion she's ever known!
Random House Children's Books
Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach
Alice Steinbach had always prided herself on being an independent woman. But independence does not always go hand-in-hand with knowing oneself. This was the dilemma Steinbach faced as she traveled her way through Europe, having made no prior reservations. The characters she encounters, the places she stays, the person she becomes, make for the adventure of a lifetime.
Random House Publishing Group
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The count is up to 8 -- that's right, 8 times I've read this book and every experience is new and rewarding. (Dare I say my favorite book of all time...) Steinbeck's personal journey and unarguable masterpiece travels well beyond the typical stories of good and evil to envelope its reader in the journey of a lifetime.
Penguin Group
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
One of my childhood favorites as well as the quintessential read for any young girl who has a love of dancing, acting and fulfilling her greatest dreams. Noel Streatfeild tells the story of the three Fossil sisters, orphaned while young, but with the good fortune to be gifted with talents to make names for themselves at an eminent ballet academy. And it's not until the pointe shoes are on, that the girls find a happiness that they feared they had lost forever.
Random House Children's Books
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
In an effort to fit in at his new school, Richard joins a seemingly untouchable group of Greek scholars. He joins their classes, their parties, their inner workings. But when an accident occurs in the woods late one night, it leads to a string of events for which none were prepared. A compelling tale rife with literary allusions.
Knopf Publishing Group
Good-Bye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson
Here is a boldly-imagined graphic novel by a once-Northern-Michigander. It is a story of endearing friendships, grotestque sidekicks, adventure on the high seas, a mouse and a turtle. But this tale of leaving the known world behind for the often frightening trials of life, merely serves as a partner to a host of illustrations as unexpected and easy to become lost in as life itself.
Knopf Publishing Group
Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig
At a time when OCD was untreatable with drugs, Traig made it through her childhood relatively unscathed. Heck, she can even look back and laugh. From her orange-only choices in cuisine, to the removal of every hair on her body, to taking the role of Orthodox Jew to unheard of extents, Traig has compiled a collection of her most touching and twisted memories.
Little, Brown & Company
Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida
Vendela Vida has masterfully echoed the stark beauty of the Lapland region in which this story unfolds, with her bright and uncomplicated prose. Overwhelmed and feeling trapped by her recent engagement, an uncertain career, and the revelation that she has a father she never knew existed, Clarissa runs to the northern reaches of the globe in the hopes of confronting her past and, ultimately, determining her future.
HarperCollins Publishers
Candide: Or Optimism by Voltaire
In Voltaire's rather bold approach to vicious satire and explicit political and social commentary, Candide is the often deluded and bumbling protagonist, searching for love, fame and fortune...in all the wrong places. With acerbic humor and wit, and endlessly thought-provoking, this cautionary tale deserves a place of importance on any well-read bookshelf.
Viking Penguin
Vegetable Harvest: Vegetables at the Center of the Plate by Patricia Wells
In true Patricia Wells' fashion, the famed cooking duchess has collected an extensive array of recipes, all simple as can be, all distinctly French market-influenced, and all in celebration of vegetables! Oh! And all delicious, of course. And for those entertaining equal parts vegetarians and those who aren't, this cookbook has menu options to satisfy both, and which complement each other beautifully at the table. Bon Appetit!
Morrow Cookbooks
The Disappeared by Gloria Whelan
Gloria Whelan never fails to amaze me; she has this unmatched ability to share stories of other cultures, often focusing on oppression or times of hardship. Yet, she is a master of making her young readers aware, without being verbose. The Disappeared is told through the voices of a boy taken from his family during Pinochet's regime in Argentina, and his sister who risks her family's trust, her values and her very life to bargain for her brother's release. This story reminds us that though "The Disappeared" are many, they are never forgotten.
Dial Books for Young Readers
Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan
As is tradition, Koly is placed into an arranged marriage at the tender age of 13. She soon discovers that she was chosen not so much as a wife, but foremost as a caretaker for her dying husband. Faced with a future as an unwanted widow, Koly begins to stictch her story into an intricate quilt; and with every stitch made by her clever hands, Koly comes one step closer to rewriting her story, and finding peace within herself. Breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring.
HarperCollins Children's Books
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
I've clearly never experienced the Wall Street and Park Avenue socialite scene, but Mr. Wolfe paints a picture so vivid as to make me second guess myself. He has the sneaky ability to unload pages of journalistic research in a gripping and gossipy crime drama fashion that will leave you at once bemoaning and condemning these "Masters of the Universe." Think 1980's National Geographic Explorer meets People's Court, in this great American comedy.
Bantam Books
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Another masterpiece by the father of contemporary American journalistic satiricals. Mr. Wolfe has the unique ability to immerse himself and his reader into slices of highly specific societal divisions like no author I've yet to encounter. This book is no exception. A rollicking, merry, Day-Gloing trip into the genius of Ken Kesey, his Merry Pranksters and the hipsters of the time!
Bantam Books
Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood
One of my favorite bedtime stories growing up - both a classic story of the importance of family, with the perfect dash of fairy tale spookiness. I can vividly recall how Don Wood's unrivaled illustrations surprised me with hidden details every time I opened this book. I remember too Audrey Wood's tale of seven siblings who are in danger of becoming the witch's dinner unless their mother can prove how well she really knows her children. They don't make picture books like this anymore...
Harcourt Children's Books
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Yates' nearly forgotten novel is as bitingly sardonic as it is slightly disturbing. Welcome to suburbia -- WWII is a decade past; babies, backyards and banal jobs in the city are in; marital troubles are never discussed in public. And for Frank and April Wheeler, the mundane "extremes" to which they go to play house are simply the beginning of the downward spiral to which the reader is privy at all times. As much as we like happy endings, Yates reminds us that it is not often the most realistic way to end the story -- nor the most intriguing . . .
Knopf Publishing Group
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
As another Passover Seder approaches, Hannah is not looking forward to more of her grandparents' stories of the Holocaust. But when she is transported back in time, she finds herself in one of those very concentration camps. Knowing what she does about the outcome of the Holocaust, Hannah must choose between revealing all and subsequently altering the course of history, or losing those she's befriended, before it's too late!
Penguin Young Readers Group
I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
Ed Kennedy leads a life of quiet desparation, to live up to his Mother's expectations, to find a girlfriend, and to quit his dead end job as a cab driver. Little does he know that an anonymous correspondant has other plans for Ed. Playing cards begin arriving in the mail with cryptic tidbits of information which Ed must decipher in order to rescue average peole from the sometimes heartbreaking routine of their daily lives. An addictive page-turner!
Random House Children's Books