1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature

March 2015
Vol. XXVII, No. 2
Nancy Dreher, Editor
T H E
F R O N T
L I N E
Although I am not particularly fond of winter, the highlight of the
season for many booksellers is the American Bookseller
Association’s Winter Institute. Booksellers, publishers and authors
gather for three days of conference, conversation and cocktails—so
Robert McDonald, Head of the Children’s Department; Sarah
Collins, Events Coordinator; and I headed to Asheville, North
Carolina in February for the 10th Winter Institute. I was thrilled to meet T.C. Boyle
whose book, The Harder They Come, will be out in March. I had dinner with Eric
Larson, author of The Devil in the White City. His new book, Dead Wake, about
the 1915 sinking of the Lusitania, will also be out in March. I chatted with Kelly Link,
author of the brilliant collection of short stories, Get in Trouble, which is on our
shelves now. We returned to the store with renewed enthusiasm for our industry.
The March calendar offers some great events. As usual, the Family Action Network
(FAN) has some incredible programs coming up: NPR’s Anya Kamenetz, author of
The Test, about standardized testing, at Evanston Township High School on
Tuesday, March 3; Carrie James, author of Disconnected, about youth and new
media, at Central School in Glencoe on Monday, March 16; and Bryan Stevenson,
author of Just Mercy, on Monday, March 23 at ETHS.
We are so pleased to co-host Jeanne Bishop, author of Change of Heart, at the
Sacred Heart Parish Center on Wednesday, Marcch 18 at 7 pm. Rebecca
Alexander (Not Fade Away) will be at The Standard Club on Wednesday, March
18, for a luncheon and at the store on Thursday, March 19, for an evening event.
Alexander’s wrenching account of coming to terms with her eventual loss of hearing
and sight is incredibly moving and uplifting. On Monday, March 23, former Navy
Seal Eric Greitens (Resilience) will be at The Union League Club for a luncheon.
On Wednesday, March 25, Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank will
talk about his memoir Frank at a luncheon at The Union League Club and an
evening event at the Center on Halsted.
When I’m not at the store, I have been sitting in front of our fire reading. Some of my
favorites: Outline by Rachel Cusk (smart and beautifully written; the story of a
writing teacher who goes to Athens and the stories told to her); My Sunshine Away
by M.O. Walsh (set in Baton Rouge, the narrator recounts his boyhood and traumatic
events—couldn’t put this one down); A Pleasure and a Calling by Phil Hogan (a
truly creepy story of a realtor who keeps keys to all his properties—see Liz’s review
inside); A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler (I have always loved Anne Tyler and
this family saga did not disappoint). Finally, one of my favorite writers, Kazuo
Ishiguro (Remains of the Day), has an incredible new novel, The Buried Giant, an
Arthurian fable about a couple searching for their son.
My daughter Lexy (13) has been reading as well. Her suggestions: Mosquitoland by
David Arnold (“Sweet, charming, and heartwarmingly dysfunctional, this book was
absolutely phenomenal. Funny, quirky, real, and well-written. 5 stars.”); The
Summer I Saved The World in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwirz (“A sweet
story about a girl who realizes getting older isn’t easy, and that even the little things
matter. This book was a nice light read that leaves you feeling fresh and optimistic”).
Like me, my daughter, Katie (17), loved Get in Trouble by Kelly Link and was also
thrilled to read Samantha Shannon’s second installment in her series. Katie thought
The Mime Order was even better than The Bone Season. Nicky (16) is enjoying
Death by Black Hole by celebrity astronomer Neil Degrasse Tyson. Finally, my
husband, Roger, loved The Black House by Peter May, a murder mystery and
coming-of-age flashback set on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.
Great events and great new books! Hope to see you in the store.
MARCH
C A L E N D A R
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
7 pm, New Trier High School
Northfield
Cornog Auditorium
JON GOULD
How to Succeed in College (While Really
Trying): A Professor’s Inside Advice
Gould, a professor in the Department of Justice,
Law & Criminology at American University, offers
candid advice and insights—based on his years of
teaching experience at campuses ranging from large
research universities to small liberal arts colleges—
to help students be better prepared not only to
succeed in college but to enjoy it as well.
7 pm, Evanston Township High School
1600 Dodge Ave.
A FAN Program
ANYA KAMENETZ
The Test: Why Our Schools Are
Obsessed with Standardized TestingBut You Don't Have to Be
Kamenetz, NPR’s leading education blogger, explores
all aspects of standardized testing--where the tests
came from, their limitations and flaws, and ultimately
what parents, teachers, and concerned citizens can do.
She asks how to preserve space for self-directed
learning and development--especially when we still
want all children to hit the mark.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4
12 noon – 2 pm
Winnetka Historical Society Annual Luncheon
Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave.
SALLY KALMBACH
Mrs. Thorne’s World of Miniatures
Chicago historian Kalmbach tells the story of
Narcissa Niblack Thorne, the woman who gained
worldwide recognition for the hundreds of
miniature rooms she created with such exacting
detail that they became educational tools for
students of architecture and interior design. The 68
of them that she left to the Art Institute of Chicago
have delighted generations of visitors for decades.
Tickets ($45 members, $55 non-members) can be
reserved online at www.winnetkahistory.org.
Continued on page 5
THE INSIDE LINE
KATHLEEN
CRAWFORD
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins ($26.95). Rachel, a young woman unhappily reeling from
an unwanted divorce, rides the train through suburban London every day. While on the train, she
becomes obsessed with watching the neighborhood where she previously lived with her husband.
She imagines the people living there as wildly happy and successful in their relationships as she
believes she once was with her husband. When one of these neighbors goes missing, Rachel recalls
witnessing a scene from her train seat that may be of importance to the police. But Rachel is not
reliable. Her loneliness has led to heavy drinking, and she is prone to memory loss and drunkdialing. Should she report what she saw? In Hawkins’ first foray into fiction, she skillfully builds
both suspense in this story and empathy for the main character Rachel, who may not immediately
endear herself to readers. This is a fast-paced Hitchcockian-type thriller that you will find most
difficult to put down. A perfect vacation read!
Descent by Tim Johnston ($25.95). A girl aged 18 is abducted during a family vacation in
Colorado's Rocky Mountains. What makes this suspenseful story so superior is Johnston's
magnificent prose and his unparalleled attention to the sense of place in a story, combined with a
powerful plot of abduction and its aftermath on the family members. Caitlin, a high-school senior
from Wisconsin, is a track star. Vacationing with her family, she goes on a run with her brother
bicycling by her side. When he is hit by a car and severely injured, a worried Caitlin reluctantly
accepts a ride down the mountain with a stranger so she can call for help. Alarmingly, Caitlin
doesn't return. The story then fast-forwards to three years later. The police have actively looked,
search parties have come and gone, but Caitlin hasn't been found. The family is devastated and
driven apart. Caitlin's father remains in Colorado to continue the search while his wife returns to
Wisconsin with their son. The book is both painful and beautiful as it builds to its stunningly
unexpected conclusion. This an unforgettable read.
JON GRAND
Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and
Havana by William LeoGrande and Paul Kornbluh ($35). The recent announcement of steps to
improve relations with Cuba noted that negotiations had been conducted under the auspices of
the Vatican in strict secrecy. One might be forgiven for thinking that these negotiations were
somehow unique. As LeoGrande/Kornbluh's book documents, attempts to maintain and
perhaps improve relations with Castro's Cuba began as the revolution surged toward victory.
Through the darkest days of the missile crisis and the Cold War, secret and direct contact between
Cuban and U.S. officials continued, despite negative public policy statements on both sides. The
book provides a fascinating look at the hidden side of foreign policy development and provides
a context in which to view the latest negotiations and agreements between the U.S. and Cuba.
Hell and Good Company: The Spanish Civil War and the World It Made by Richard Rhodes
($30). The Spanish Civil war was the dress rehearsal for the larger conflict that soon overtook and
overshadowed it. The brutality of the conflict that pitted the forces of democracy against Fascism
is best represented by the howling figure in Picasso's Guernica. Rhodes focuses on the emerging
tools and approaches to warfare: incendiary bombing of civilian populations, the increasingly
sophisticated use of poison gases (as well as the development of more effective protective
devices), and better battlefield medical service including the use of on-site blood transfusions.
The horror of warfare, as so often happens, was matched by life-saving progress. But that view
comes later. The reality of the Spanish Civil War was harsh and brutal for combatants and noncombatants alike. Rhodes' great story-telling ability and lucid prose capture the pathos of the
war, the idealism that informed it, and the utter indifference to human suffering that won it.
Leningrad Siege and Symphony: The Story of the Great City Terrorized by Stalin, Starved
by Hitler, Immortalized by Shostakovich by Brian Moynahan ($30). The beautiful city of
Leningrad was, by design, a place of splendor, culture, and sophistication. Its intellectual
independence was intolerable to Stalin. The years of brutal repression and terror took their toll.
But it was Adolf Hitler who sought to wipe the city off the face of the earth. For 900 days the city
would be shelled and starved of food and fuel. One in three of the population died yet the people
continued to resist. In the midst of the horror, Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony was first played
in the city. Like Sibelius' Finlandia, the Leningrad symphony captures the heroism and yearning
of the people and, through its magnificent passages, inspired hope. It would also inspire fear and
jealousy. Stalin had all but abandoned Leningrad to her fate, but the city fought on without him.
In the end, Leningrad's heroic resistance was a challenge to the myth of Stalin's role in the defeat
of German forces. The repression and terror began again. Moynahan has written a beautiful
book. Against a backdrop of unimaginable horror, this is the story of indomitability and the
magic of music.
Continued on page 3
AIMEE ANDERSON
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ($27.99). My favorite book of the year so far, this is a very
smart historical novel set during the Nazi occupation of France. Highlighting the roles of women
and their unimaginable bravery and strength in times of outrageous cruelty and death, this book
offers an original perspective on the heroes of World War II. The book follows two sisters and their
roles in supporting the Résistance movement. One sister struggles to maintain normalcy at her
country home with her children while her husband is sent to the front. The other sister remains in
Paris with their father. Each sister is forced to confront danger and heartbreak, at times doing the
unthinkable for their country. At once heart-wrenching and sad, inspirational and thoughtprovoking, this book is truly a must-read.
Leaving Before the Rains Come, by Alexandra Fuller ($26.95). I could not wait to read this book
as I loved Fuller’s earlier works on her unconventional upbringing in war-torn Rhodesia. In this
unforgettable memoir she confronts her at-times painful childhood, the deterioration of her
marriage, and—throughout all of life’s up and downs—what it means to have to ultimately save
yourself. Written with wit and grace and showcasing her undeniable love of Africa, this fascinating
story is not to be missed. If you enjoy this book, take the time to read her earlier account of her
childhood, Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. You will not be disappointed!
A Pleasure and a Calling by Phil Hogan ($25). This is a creepy, psychological treat. A realtor in
an English town keeps all the keys to the homes he has sold over the course of 17 years and returns
uninvited to “check up” on things. If outwardly bland Mr. Heming doesn’t approve of something
he finds, he will set himself to making it right, as only a true sociopath would. This novel makes
you want to change your locks before you cuddle up with your next good read.
LIZ ROGATZ
Of Things Gone Astray by Janina Matthewson ($19.99). I was drawn to this book by its unusual
cover, and once I started I could not put it down. It’s an absolute charmer—a magical, delicious
fable. Several Londoners wake up one day to discover they have lost something – their job, their
sense of direction, their first love, the façade of their home, their piano keys. Each character
eventually overlaps with another along the way as they deal with their losses. Ultimately this is a
tale about finding the things that truly matter.
Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America by Jill Leovy ($27). This is an in-depth study of
the cycle of violence in South LA, which could be Chicago’s South Side. It poses the question that
we as a nation have been grappling with: Don’t black lives matter? However, this is the story of
black men killing other black men at alarming rates and the media choosing not to cover these
deaths. An understaffed police force is totally overwhelmed and trying to track down the
murderers in a community where fear of talking and retribution is paramount. At the core of the
story is a policeman whose own son is shot and killed in front of his house and the dedication of
his colleagues to bring the perpetrator to justice. It is a moving and timely read.
2015 Spring Book Discussion Groups at The Book Stall
Wednesdays at the store 9:30 – 11 am
Note Evening Discussion Groups on April 22 and May 14
Wednesday, March 18
Nothing Daunted:
The Unexpected Education of
Two Society Girls in the West
by Dorothy Wickenden
Led by Suzanne Hales
Wednesday, April 15
Men We Reaped
by Jesmyn Ward
Led by Judy Adams
Wednesday, April 22
The Empathy Exams
by Leslie Jamison
Led by Arlyn Miller
Wednesday, April 22
6:30 pm Honoring Earth Day
East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
Led by Meaghan Heaton
Wednesday, April 29
The Enchanted
by Rene Denfield
Led by Elise Barack
Thursday, May 14
6:30 pm
Prague Summer
by Jeffrey Condran
Led by Alice Moody
Wednesday, May 27
Heart of a Dog
by Mikhail Bulgakov
Led by Julia Denne
Good Reads for
2015 Spring Break
On the Go with Authors
HARDCOVER FICTION
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler ($25.95)
Of Things Gone Astray by Janina Matthewson
($19.99)
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah ($27.99)
The Laws of Murder by Charles Finch ($25.99)
The Long Way Home by Louise Penny ($27.99)
Some Luck by Jane Smiley ($26.95)
Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm ($27.95)
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty ($26.95)
Get In Trouble by Kelly Link ($25)
Redeployment by Phil Klay ($26.95)
The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant ($26)
PAPERBACK
Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead ($15)
Bird Box by Josh Malerman ($15.99)
Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews ($17)
The Enchanted by Rene Denfield ($14.99)
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
by Gabrielle Zevin ($14.95)
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler ($15.99)
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes ($16)
How to be a Good Wife by Emma Chapman ($15)
On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee ($16)
The Blackhouse by Peter May ($14.99)
Longbourn by Jo Baker ($15.95)
The Farm by Tom Rob Smith ($15)
The English Girl by Daniel Silva ($15.99)
HARDCOVER NON-FICTION
How to Be a Victorian: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to
Victorian Life by Ruth Goodman ($29.95)
The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of
the Alliance to Defeat Hitler by David Roll ($34.95)
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
by Eric Larson ($28; out March 10)
Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses and
Geeks Created the Digital Revolution
by Walter Isaacson ($35)
Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts ($45)
Believer: My Forty Years in Politics
by David Axelrod ($35)
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters
of Nicholas and Alexandra
by Helen Rappaport ($27.99)
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover
in the Civil War by Karen Abbott ($27.99)
Whipping Boy: The Forty-Year Search for My TwelveYear-Old Bully by Allen Kurzweil ($27.99)
Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End
by Atul Gawande ($26)
PAPER NON-FICTION
Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the
Rise and Fall of the Comanches, The Most Powerful
Indian Tribe in American History
by S.C. Gywnne ($17)
Congo: The Epic History of a People
by David van Reybrouck ($19.99)
My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel
by Ari Shavit ($17)
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest
Journey by Candice Millard ($16)
Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges ($16.95)
Stephanie at the ABA Winter Institute
with author T.C. Boyle, whose new novel,
The Harder They Come, is out this month.
DAVID AXELROD, at The Union
League Club, signing his memoir
Believer, already a bestseller.
Local author BARBARA MAHANY
found new readers for Slowing Time:
Seeing the Sacred Outside Your Kitchen
Door at a Silent Samaritan event at the
Michigan Shores Club.
Opera diva and Wheeling native
DEBORAH VOIGT delighted the crowd
with stories from her book, Call Me
Debbie—and with her voice! She sang
one of the Carpenters’ (as in Karen and
Richard Carpenter) oldies, a Strauss
aria, and “I Could Have Danced All
Night.”
New York Times “Your Money” columnist
RON LIEBER drew a crowd to the store
for his new book The Opposite of Spoiled.
Good news for fans of NICKOLAS
BUTLER at the Glencoe Public Library:
His award-winning novel Shotgun
Lovesongs was new in paperback, and
we could show an advance copy of his
book of short stories, Beneath the
Bonfire, due out later this year.
One of our biggest children’s events
ever: ADAM GIDWITZ, author of the
bestselling Grimm tales, gave a
dramatic re-telling of one of them.
At his February event at the store, former Army
Ranger and local resident Ross Ritchell
captivated a large crowd with the story of his
debut novel The Knife.
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
3 pm at the store
BARNEY SALTZBERG
Redbird: Colors, Colors Everywhere
Saltzberg is launching a new series of board books about a character
named Redbird, who is trying to pick his favorite color.
MONDAY, MARCH 9
5:30 pm, The Union League Club
A Chicago Council on Global Affairs Program
MARC GOODMAN
Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected,
Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It
Goodman, a global security advisor and Chair for Policy, Law, and
Ethics at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University, speaks on the
subject of “Cybercrime and the Digital Dystopia.” His new book
(above) takes readers into the dark side of technological innovation
and the unintended consequences of our connected world.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11
5:30 pm
The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior
A Chicago Council on Global Affairs Program
VICKY WARD
The Liars Ball: The Extraordinary Saga of How
One Building Broke the World’s Toughest Tycoons
Bestselling author and former Vanity Fair contributing editor Ward
joins Chicago’s Sam Zell in a program titled “Tall Stories: Myth and
Reality in Commercial Real Estate.”
MONDAY, MARCH 16
7 pm, Central School, Glencoe — A FAN Event
CARRIE JAMES
Disconnected: Youth, New Media, and the Ethics Gap
James, a sociologist and principal investigator at Project Zero at the
Harvard Graduate School of Education, discusses the subject of her
book examining how young people and the adults in their lives
think about online privacy, property, and participation dilemmas.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
12 noon, Luncheon, The Standard Club
THURSDAY, MARCH 19
7 pm at the store
REBECCA ALEXANDER
Not Fade Away: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found
Alexander, a psychotherapist and extreme athlete who is almost
completely blind and deaf, tells the extraordinary story of the rare
genetic mutation called Usher Syndrome she was born with and a
shattering accident at age 18—and meditates on what she has lost
and what she has found in return.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18
7 pm, Sacred Heart Parish Center
1060 Gage St., Winnetka
JEANNE BISHOP
Change of Heart: Justice, Mercy, and
Making Peace with My Sister’s Killer
The sister of Nancy Langert, who in 1990
was murdered in Winnetka along with her husband
Richard Langert and their unborn child, tells the story
of her journey to confronting and reconciling with their killer.
Jeanne Bishop is an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County and
an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern. This event, co-hosted
with Sacred Heart and The Women’s Exchange, is open to the
public. No reservations necessary.
MONDAY, MARCH 23
12 noon, The Union League Club
ERIC GREITENS
Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Better Living
Greitens, a Navy SEAL and former Rhodes Scholar, tells how he
drew from his own experience and wisdom from ancient and
modern thinkers to help a former SEAL comrade deal with posttraumatic stress disorder.
7 pm, Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.
A FAN Presentation
BRYAN STEVENSON
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Named one of the best books of 2014 by many publications, this is
an account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a
window into the lives of those he has defended, and an argument
for compassion in the pursuit of true justice.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25
• 12 noon, The Union League Club
• 7 pm, Center on Halsted
3656 North Halsted St., Chicago
BARNEY FRANK
Frank: A Life in Politics from the
Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage
Former Massachusetts Congressman Frank relates his journey from
New York City to Boston and then to the Congress, where for more
than 40 years he played a vital role in the struggle for personal
freedom and economic fairness. Call The Book Stall for luncheon
reservations. The evening program is free and open to the public but
registration is highly recommended to reserve a spot:
:
https://community.centeronhalsted.org/BarneyFrank
2 pm, Deerfield Public Library, 920 Waukegan Rd.
Author Panel on Mystery Writing
Susanna Calkins, Clare O’Donohue, and Lori Rader-Day
discuss their latest mysteries.
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
7 pm at the store
KENAN HEISE
He Writes About Us:
An Autobiography of a Chicago Journalist
Award-winning Chicago author and journalist Heise tells the
surprising story of his life as a Chicago newspaperman whose
disability and seven years in the Franciscan Order of monks
ultimately led him to create new waves in journalism.
COMING IN APRIL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
7 pm at the store
SCOTT SIMON
Unforgettable: A Son, a Mother, and the Lessons of a Lifetime
We’re delighted to welcome back NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday
host and Chicago native Scott Simon for a talk about his inspiring
tribute to his mother, Patricia Lyons Simon Newman. The book
began with tweets he sent in 2013 from the Northwestern Hospital
ICU in Chicago, chronicling his mother’s death and reminiscing
about her life.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
7 pm at the store
COURTNEY MAUM
I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You
Join us for a French-themed evening with Courtney Maum, whose
novel set in Paris and London is new in paperback. The author will
be interviewed by our book group leader Alice Moody.
the children’s line...
Dear Readers,
ROBERT MCDONALD
It’s been cold enough to really hunker down for some extended reading time. Much as we
all look forward to the advent of spring, it’s not so bad to have had some time where a fire
in the fireplace and a good book seem just about mandatory, so my Kids Department
colleagues and I are delighted to share some of our choices for end-of-winter reading. Of
course, cabin fever can set in, so we also offer activities and author events to coax you out
of the house.
The first week in March is ScreenBreak Week. In partnership with The Alliance
for Early Childhood, we offer book-related activities nearly every day from March
2 – 7, including a superhero writing workshop, story times, a dinosaur party, and
an in-house performance on Saturday, March 7, at 3 pm, by artist and musician
Barney Saltzberg, author of Beautiful Oops, who is introducing a series for
toddlers starring his new character, Redbird. For a complete schedule of our
ScreenBreak Week offerings, check out our website!
Throughout the month of March we are proud to bring authors into Chicago-area schools,
including Barney Saltzberg, Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants) and Dan Santat (this
year’s Caldecott winner for The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend), as
well as actors and authors Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead and fantastic
debut novelist Ted Sanders (The Keepers: The Box and the Dragonfly,) among others.
If we don’t yet bring free author visits into your school, get your school librarian or
principal in touch with us, and we can explain how it works.
On Saturday, April 4 at 3:30 pm, brace yourself for Cupcake Storytime! Kids ages 4-7
should bring their appetite for stories and treats, as we read bestsellers like Peanut Butter
and Cupcake and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. Then we will embark on a cupcake
decorating extravaganza. This event is free, but space (and icing and sprinkles) are
limited—you have to call us 847-446-8880 to reserve your spot.
My new favorite picture book these days is the completely charming Mr. Squirrel and the
Moon, in which a meek squirrel worries about all the trouble he and his friends will get into
after the moon falls into his tree. The picture of Mr. Squirrel’s imagined jail cell is worth the
price of the book. Thankfully, with the help of a hedgehog, a goat, and a mischief of mice,
squirrel’s nervous fears are put to rest and the moon is safely back in the sky.
The picture book Where Bear?, by artist and writer Sophy Henn, manages to feel both
timeless and contemporary, as a boy and his very large bear try and find the perfect place
for a bear to live. It’s delightful on its own, but would also be great for kids who have a
friend moving to another city.
Speaking of moving, in The Terrible Two, by Mac Barnett and Jory John, Miles Murphy is
forced to move to a new town, the incredibly boring Yawnee Valley. Miles has always been
known as the town prankster. But Yawnee Valley (known for its cows) already has a
prankster. Let the prank wars commence! We hosted these dynamic authors in schools
recently, and have autographed copies of the book in stock! Perfect for Wimpy Kid fans.
If you know a MTN (musical theater nerd) ages 9-12, their book has just been released.
Broadway veterans Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead teamed up to write
Jack & Louisa: Act 1, the story of an unlikely friendship between a city boy who moves to
small-town Ohio, and the theater-crazy girl who happens to live next door. We are hosting
both authors in area schools on March 12, call us and we can get you autographed copies:
847-446-8880.
Happy nearly-almost-hopefully-sort-of Spring, and Happy Reading!
Robert
This just in: We are delighted to be a stop on The Very Big Wiggle, the nationwide tour
celebrating Eric Carle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Join us on Monday, March 16 at 4 pm
for a story, VHC activities, and a chance to get your picture taken with the Caterpillar, who
will be in the store with us! The publisher is offering prizes for the best photos!
Amy’s Picture Book Picks
A Violin for Elva by Mary Lyn Ray, Illustrated by Tricia Tusa ($16.99). Elva wants to play the violin more
than anything, but her parents do not agree. She begins to pretend she is playing the violin in everything
she does. While brushing her teeth or doing her homework, she is practicing for recitals. She imagines
playing all the world's music. As she grows up, her hope get pushed aside but not her love of music. One
day she resolves to fulfill her childhood dream. A lovely story of hopes, dreams, and perseverance. The
illustrations are lovely and whimsical. Ages 4-6
Last Stop On Market Street by Matt De La Pena, ilustations by Christian Robinson ($16.99). Every Sunday
after
church, CJ and his nana take the bus across town to Market Street. Today CJ is not happy. He
AMY TRODGON
continually asks his nana why they don't have a car or why he can't have an iPod? His wise nana always
has an answer about how lucky he is to see and do all the things he does. He finally wonders how his nana "finds beauty where
he never even thought to look"? A heart-warming story of a grandparent-child relationship and the love they share. Ages 4-6
Click, Clack, Peep! by Doreen Cronin ($17.99). There is a new animal on the farm—a noisy one! Baby Duck arrives PEEP, PEEP,
PEEPING! No one can get any sleep. All the animals move out of the barn and duck takes his headphones off and gives them
to Farmer Brown. Now, how to get baby duck to sleep? The answer will make you laugh! This is a great, new addition to the
Farmer Brown stories. Ages 4-7
Red by Michael Hall ($17.99). A blue crayon mistakenly labeled red at the factory is having an identity crisis. The label says red,
so it must be red, right? Every one tries to help red color red—his parents , his teachers, his other crayon friends with no luck.
It is not until a new friend comes along that red discovers he is blue after all! Michael Hall’s ingenious artwork lends itself to
this story of courage and believing in yourself. A book to be read and shared on many levels. Ages 4-8
Stella by Starlight ($16.99). Stella is growing up in the Depression-era Jim Crow South. Bumblebee, North Carolina is
segregated. Some stores she can go in and some she can't. Some people are nice and friendly, and others are not. She thinks
very little about this until one night she and her brother happen upon a Ku Klux Klan meeting. Frightened, they share the
incident with their parents, and Stella's community is upended. A story of resilience and bravery, this book will open your eyes
to the segregated South. Ages 9-12
Betsy’s Young Adult Picks
Beneath by Roland Smith ($16.99). Pat O'Toole has always looked up to his older brother Coop, even
though Coop is different. He never talks on the phone, never uses email and has few friends. Coop's
favorite place has always been underground. When Coop runs away, it is up to Pat to find him. After
several months, Pat receives a digital voice recording from Coop which which leads Pat to New York City
to find him, and his adventure begins! Coop has joined the Community, a society that lives beneath the
streets of NYC. This is an action-filled, quick read that will especially appeal to boys. Ages 10-14
BETSY BALYEAT
All Fall Down by Ally Carter ($17.99). This is an intriguing new series by the author of the Gallagher Girls
series. Sixteen-year-old Gracie has returned to Embassy Row in Atria where she spent most of her childhood. While trying to
recover from the death of her mother, she is living with her grandfather, who is the ambassador. Gracie's mother was killed
in an accident according to the people of Atria, but Gracie knows that she saw a scarred-faced man shoot her mother. Since
this is something Embassy Row does not wish to deal with, it is up to Gracie to find the killer. This is a gripping thriller with
enough unanswered questions to keep readers waiting anxiously for the next book. Age 14 up
The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard ($17.99). Seventeen-year-old Mare Barrow lives in a society where your lot in life depends
on the color of your blood. If you bleed red, then you are in the impoverished underclass; if you bleed silver, you are in the
elite class. Mare is a Red and she contributes to her family the only way she can, by stealing from the Silvers. This is dangerous
as the Silvers possess myriad powers. A twist of fate leads Mare to the royal palace, where in front of the King and all the
nobles she discovers a power of her own, a power that could lead to a revolution. Aveyard weaves a compelling story that
includes romance with revolution and moves at breakneck speed. A welcome addition to the dystopian set of young adult
novels. Age 14 up
Kari Patch and Dragon Lore Reimagined
Seraphina ($10.99) and Shadow Scale ($18.99), both by Rachel Hartman. These two novels contain
some of the best reimagining of dragon lore that I’ve read in a very long time. Seraphina, the 2012
Morris Award winner for debut YA fiction, is finally out in paperback! The book is the story of Seraphina,
assistant to the court composer of the kingdom of Goredd and holder of a very big secret. In a world in
which dragons and humans live together in increasingly-precarious peace, Seraphina finds herself in the
middle of court intrigue, a royal death, and a possible plot to start a war between the two species. As
Booklist put it, “Equal parts political thriller, murder mystery, bittersweet romance, and coming-of-age
KARI PATCH
story, this is an uncommonly good fantasy.” Shadow Scale, out March 10, continues the story of
Seraphina and Prince Lucian and their quest to keep peace, with Seraphina off on a secret quest. With a broader scope and
wider cast of characters, Shadow Scale might even be better than Seraphina. I cannot wait to talk to teens about this book.
For the serious fantasy lovers in your life, this is a can’t-miss pair of titles!
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How to Succeed in College
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The Test
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Not Fade Away
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Not Fade Away
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Just Mercy
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Unforgettable
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He Writes About Us
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