Public library staff across the nation have spoken! Congratulations to all the books selected for the February 2016 LibraryReads Top Ten list!
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Salt to the Sea (Top Pick!)
By Ruta Sepetys (Philomel Books)
“Titanic. Lusitania. Wilhelm Gustloff. All major maritime disasters, yet the last is virtually unknown. Ruta Sepetys changes that in her gripping historical novel. Told in short snippets, Salt to the Sea rotates between four narrators attempting to escape various tragedies in 1945 Europe. Powerful and haunting, heartbreaking and hopeful–a must read.” ―Jennifer Asimakopoulos, Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien, IL
Black Rabbit Hall (#2)
By Eve Chase (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
“Young Amber Alton and her family adore Black Rabbit Hall, and the joy and peace it brings to them all. That is, until a tragic accident changes everything. Three decades later, Lorna decides her wedding must be celebrated at the crumbling hall. As the book moves between these two time periods, secrets slowly unfold. Perfectly twisty with interesting characters and a compelling story that kept me up too late.” ―Deborah Margeson, Douglas County Libraries, Parker, CO
A Girl’s Guide to Moving On: A Novel (#3)
By Debbie Macomber (Ballantine Books)
“Leanne and her daughter-in-law Nichole both leave cheating husbands to start over. They learn that it is never easy and that hardships abound, but they meet many wonderful people on their way to happily-ever-after. Believable characters and an enjoyable story made this perfect for relaxing reading—definitely one of Macomber’s best. An excellent choice both for long-time fans of the author and for those who have never read her novels.” ―Linda Tilden, Cherry Hill Public Library, Cherry Hill, NJ
Flight of Dreams: A Novel (#5)
By Ariel Lawhon (Doubleday)
“Flight of Dreams chronicles an author’s imagined scenario on the ill-fated last flight of the Hindenburg, which was shrouded in mystery. Lawhon does a masterful job by giving meticulous detail of the ship and delving into the lives of many of the characters on board. I read with mounting dread and intensity as the storyline of the disaster unfolded. Historical detail and wonderful storytelling make this a must read for historical fiction lovers.” ―Kristin Fields, Farnhamville Public Library, Farnhamville, IA
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl (#6)
By Mona Awad (Penguin Books)
“Everyone loves Lizzie–she is the confidant, the late night go-to, and she is always there and hungry for attention. Lizzie becomes even more obsessed and needy when she no longer feels insecure about being overweight and it becomes painfully obvious that she will always feel bad about herself. It is a candid and sad look at how we mistreat people with different body types.” ―Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, Austin, TX
Find Her (#8)
By Lisa Gardner (Dutton)
“WOW. Find Her is intense. Those initial pages are a testament to the strength of Lisa Gardner’s writing. I had to know what was going to happen! At times it was so bleak and dark, and yet I still had to know what Flora and Stacy were going to be doing. A very suspenseful, twisty, unpredictable page-turner.” ―Allie Williams, Parnell Memorial Library, Montevallo, AL
The Girl in the Red Coat (#10)
By Kate Hamer (Melville House)
“There is not much more terrifying than losing your child. There’s the terror, the guilt, and then the relentless and unending chasm left behind by your child. I am grateful to not know that pain, and yet what Beth, the main character of this book, went through, resonated with me. I have had so many things on my to-do list, and yet I found myself delaying laundry and dusting and research so that I could find out how this story would unfold.” ―Kim Dorman, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ
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For more information about the program, or to learn how to vote for your favorite upcoming books, visit LibraryReads.org. And, don’t forget, voting for the March LibraryReads list ends 1/20/16!