We’re so excited to announce that four of our titles have been selected by public library staff across the nation for the 2016 Favorite of Favorites list!
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout #3
“Set in the mid-1980s, Lucy Barton, hospitalized for nine weeks, is surprised when her estranged mother shows up at her bedside. Her mother talks of local gossip, but underneath the banalities, Lucy senses the love that cannot be expressed. This is the story that Lucy must write about, the one story that has shaped her entire life. A beautiful lyrical story of a mother and daughter and the love they share.” —Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys #7
“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
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson #8
“Fans of Simonson’s Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand have reason to rejoice. She has created another engaging novel full of winsome characters, this time set during the summer before the outbreak of World War I. Follow the story of headstrong, independent Beatrice Nash and kind but stuffy surgeon-in-training Hugh Grange along with his formidable Aunt Agatha. Make a cup of tea and prepare to savor every page!” —Paulette Brooks, Elm Grove Public Library, Elm Grove, WI
Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly #9
“This is story of the Ravensbruck Rabbits: seventy-four women prisoners in the Ravensbruck concentration camp. Using alternating first-person narratives, the characters relate their experiences from 1939 through 1959. Drawing upon a decade of research, Hall reconstructs what life was like in Ravensbruck. More than a war story, this is a tale of how the strength of women’s bonds can carry them through even the most difficult situations. Lilac Girls is a solid, compelling historical read.” —Andrea Larson, Cook Memorial Public Library, Libertyville, IL
Click for More Information on These Titles.
And remember, the February voting deadline is 12/20!