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The Not Good Enough Mother
by Sharon LambA psychologist who evaluates the fitness of parents when their children have been removed from their custody finds herself reassessing her own mothering when her son falls victim to the opioid crisis.Psychologist and expert witness Dr. Sharon Lamb evaluates parents, particularly in high-stakes cases concerning the termination of parental rights. The conclusions she reaches can mean that some children are returned home from foster homes. Others are freed for adoption. Well-trained, Lamb generally can decide what's in the best interests of the child. But when her son's struggle with opioid addiction comes to light, she starts to doubt her right to make judgments about other mothers.As an expert, a professor, and a mother, Lamb gives voice to the near impossible standards demanded by a society prone to blame mothers when anything befalls their children. She describes vividly the plight of individual parents, mothers in particular, struggling with addiction and mental illness and trying to make stable homes for their kids amid the economic and emotional turmoil of their lives--all in the context of the opioid epidemic that has ravaged her home state of Vermont. In her office, during visits with their children, and in the family court, the parents we meet wait anxiously for Lamb's verdict: Have they turned their lives around under child welfare's watchful eye? Do they understand their children's needs? In short, are they good enough? But what is good enough? Lamb turns that question on herself in the midst of her gradual realization of her son's opioid addiction. Amazed at her own denial, feeling powerless to help him, Lamb confronts the heartache she can bring into the lives of others and her power to tear families apart.
The Not-Just-Anybody Family (The Blossom Family Books #1)
by Betsy ByarsThe first book in the beloved series by the Newbery Medal–winning author &“races without pause between hilarious, suspenseful and touching crises&” (Publishers Weekly). Newbery Award–winning author Betsy Byars&’s heartwarming and timeless books about the irrepressible Blossom family are back. In this introduction to the one-of-a-kind clan, Pap, the Blossoms&’ grandfather, has landed himself in jail for disturbing the peace. Even though Junior is laid up in the hospital with two broken legs after jumping off the barn roof to test his new homemade wings, he and his sister and brother, Maggie and Vern, have come up with a plan to rescue Pap. A new generation of readers will fall head over heels for this engaging, hilarious family.
The Not-Just-Anybody Family (The Blossom Family Books #1)
by Betsy ByarsThe first book in the beloved series by the Newbery Medal–winning author &“races without pause between hilarious, suspenseful and touching crises&” (Publishers Weekly). Newbery Award–winning author Betsy Byars&’s heartwarming and timeless books about the irrepressible Blossom family are back. In this introduction to the one-of-a-kind clan, Pap, the Blossoms&’ grandfather, has landed himself in jail for disturbing the peace. Even though Junior is laid up in the hospital with two broken legs after jumping off the barn roof to test his new homemade wings, he and his sister and brother, Maggie and Vern, have come up with a plan to rescue Pap. A new generation of readers will fall head over heels for this engaging, hilarious family.
The Not-So-Great Depression
by Amy Goldman KossA TIMELY, WARMHEARTED NOVEL ABOUT LIFE IN HARD ECONOMIC TIMES.Jacki's ninth–grade teacher is always going on about the unemployment index and the recession, but nothing sinks in until her mom is laid off and everything seems to cost more than they can afford. Acclaimed author Amy Goldman Koss delivers a warm hearted and timely tale about the things we lose and the insights we gain.
The Not-So-Perfect Plan (A Holly-Mei Book #2)
by Christina Matula"I can't wait for readers to explore Hong Kong with Holly-Mei. I have no doubt they will love both as much as I did." —Erin Entrada Kelly, 2018 Newbery Medalist and 2021 Newbery Honoree on The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei Return to Hong Kong in the second book of this charming middle grade series starring Holly-Mei, a girl navigating her new city, new school, and new friendships. It&’s the start of a new year, and Holly-Mei Jones is determined to make the most of it. She has amazing friends, a great field hockey team, and Hong Kong at her doorstep. This semester is going to be perfect . . . right? Maybe not. Despite their closeness last year, Holly-Mei&’s friend group seems to be splintering. Desperate to bring everyone together, she ropes her friends into competing as a team in an inter-school tournament across the city. But as Holly-Mei becomes obsessed with winning, her friends seem less interested in the tournament—and in her new attitude. Will she be able to pull off her perfect plan? Praise for The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei&“Unique and universal all at once.&” —Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp&“A charming, truthful, and heartfelt middle grade debut.&” —Katie Zhao, author of The Dragon Warrior series and Last Gamer Standing&“From the very first line, I felt as if Holly-Mei was taking me by the hand and pulling me into her story.&” Lauren Child, author and illustrator of the Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean series
The Not-So-Perfect Planet (Way-Too-Real Aliens #2)
by Pamela F. ServiceJosh Higgins has an alien gizmo that lets him think his way to other planets—and he does NOT want to use it. But his sister Maggie won't stop bugging him, so he agrees to an off-world vacation. Josh dreams up a planet full of blue oceans, white beaches, and sunny weather. And he prepares for everything...well, almost. A parade of cranky creatures soon spoils Josh and Maggie's perfect getaway—including a one-horned beast, a sharp-toothed sea princess, and a two-tailed monkey. The planet's locals just can't get along, and Josh and Maggie find themselves caught up in the squabbling. As the Earth kids rush from one danger to another, will they discover a way to keep the peace? Or will Josh and Maggie become prisoners of the not-so-perfect planet?
The Not-So-Simple Question (A Holly-Mei Book #3)
by Christina Matula"I can't wait for readers to explore Hong Kong with Holly-Mei. I have no doubt they will love both as much as I did." —Erin Entrada Kelly, 2018 Newbery Medalist and 2021 Newbery Honoree on The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-MeiReturn to Hong Kong in the third book of this charming middle grade series starring Holly-Mei, a girl navigating her new city, new school, and new friendships.Holly-Mei is caught in the middle.Holly-Mei Jones has finally settled into her new friend group in Hong Kong—that is until suddenly everyone starts talking about dating. Which Holly-Mei is not ready for.At least she has her school&’s Experience Week to look forward to. Holly-Mei can&’t wait to show off Taiwan, where her beloved Ah-Ma is from, to her friends. The trip is going to be perfect…right?Maybe not. On top of the pressure to date, Holly-Mei starts to wonder if maybe being half-Taiwanese isn&’t enough. In the face of these big questions, will Holly-Mei be able to finally feel like she belongs?Praise for The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei&“Unique and universal all at once.&” —Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Chirp&“A charming, truthful, and heartfelt middle grade debut.&” —Katie Zhao, author of The Dragon Warrior series and Last Gamer Standing&“From the very first line, I felt as if Holly-Mei was taking me by the hand and pulling me into her story.&” Lauren Child, author and illustrator of the Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean seriesRead all the books in the Holly-Mei series!The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-MeiThe Not-So-Perfect PlanThe Not-So-Simple Question
The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei (A Holly-Mei Book #1)
by Christina Matula"I can't wait for readers to explore Hong Kong with Holly-Mei. I have no doubt they will love both as much as I did." —Erin Entrada Kelly, 2018 Newbery Medalist and 2021 Newbery HonoreePacked with humor and heart, this debut middle grade series follows a girl finding her place in a brand-new world of private school and frenemies when her family moves to Hong Kong. Holly-Mei Jones couldn&’t be more excited about moving to Hong Kong for her mother&’s job. Her new school is right on the beach and her family&’s apartment is beyond beautiful. Everything is going to be perfect . . . right?Maybe not. It feels like everywhere she turns, there are new rules to follow and expectations to meet. On top of that, the most popular girl in her grade is quickly becoming a frenemy. And without the guidance of her loving Ah-ma, who stayed behind in Toronto, Holly-Mei just can&’t seem to get it right.It will take all of Holly-Mei&’s determination and sparkle (and maybe even a tiny bit of stubbornness) to get through seventh grade and turn her life in Hong Kong into the ultimate adventure!
The Notations of Cooper Cameron (No Series)
by Jane O'ReillyEleven-year-old Cooper Cameron likes things to be in order. When he eats, he chews every bite three times on each side. Sometimes he washes his hands in the air with invisible water. He invented these rituals after the death of his beloved grandfather to protect others he loves from terrible harm. But when Cooper's behavior drives a wedge between his parents, and his relationship with his older sister, Caddie, begins to fray, his mother's only solution is to take Cooper and Caddie to the family cabin for the summer. Armed with a collection of rocks, his pet frog, and his notebook, Cooper vows to cure himself and bring his damaged family back together.
The Note
by Angela Elwell HuntEn route from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Tampa International, Flight 848 bursts into flames and crashes into Tampa Bay. All 261 passengers and crew are killed. For one week, newspaper columnist Peyton MacGruder and her fellow reporters cover one of the nation's worst air disasters in years with overwhelming and numbed emotions. Then a woman Peyton's never met gives her a plastic bag that has washed up behind her house. The bag contains a note, almost certainly from the doomed flight, with a simple yet wrenching message: T- I love you. All is forgiven. -Dad. Combing through the passenger list to find the victims whose children's names begin with T, Peyton is determined to deliver the note to its proper owner. A quest which will prove as important to Peyton's own life as to the mysterious T.
The Notebook Girls
by Julia Baskin Lindsey NewmanJulia, Lindsey, Sophie, and Courtney enter Stuyvesant, New York Citys most prestigious public high school, in September of 2001, just days before they watch the Twin Towers crumble outside their classroom window. A bond of friendship is struck, and yet demanding class schedules, extracurricular activities, and busy social lives make it hard for them to stay in touch. This prompts the four girls to start The Notebook, a collective journaling project that allows them to express their frustrations, triumphs, and everyday encounters inside an ordinary composition book. Their experiences are not unusual: They get cut from teams, get bad grades, win debates, get rebuffed by boyfriends, plan surprise parties, smoke, drink, experiment with sex, and argue with their parents. But it is the raw honesty of these page-turning exchanges that will captivate readers, involving them in both their individual and group stories, and laying bare what it is really like to be a teenager today.
The Notorious Countess
by Liz Tyner"People must have something to talk about... And I do make for a good tale." After escaping an unhappy marriage, Lady Riverton enjoys her notoriety among the ton...even if her reputation isn't deserved. But when she's caught in a most compromising position with Andrew Robson, for the first time the truth is even more scandalous than the rumors! And yet, in Andrew's arms, Beatrice finds she's no longer defined by her reputation and is free to be the woman she truly is. Is it time for Beatrice to trust in Andrew and end her reign of scandal once and for all?
The Nourishing Homestead
by Ben Hewitt Penny HewittA practiculture way to grow nutrient-dense food, produce healthy fats, and live the good life The Nourishing Homestead tells the story of how we can create truly satisfying, permanent, nourished relationships to the land, nature, and one another. The Hewitts offer practical ways to grow nutrient-dense food on a small plot of land, and think about your farm, homestead, or home as an ecosystem. Much of what the Hewitts have come to understand and embrace about their lives of deep nourishment is informed by their particular piece of land and local community in northern Vermont, but what they have gleaned is readily transferable to any place--whether you live on 4 acres, 40 acres, or in a 400-square-foot studio apartment. Ben and Penny (and their two sons) maintain copious gardens, dozens of fruit and nut trees and other perennial plantings, as well as a pick-your-own blueberry patch. In addition to these cultivated food crops, they also forage for wild edibles, process their own meat, make their own butter, and ferment, dry, and can their own vegetables. Their focus is to produce nutrient-dense foods from vibrant, mineralized soils for themselves and their immediate community. They are also committed to sharing the traditional skills that support their family, helping them be self-sufficient and thrive in these uncertain times. Much of what the Hewitts are attempting on their homestead is to close the gaps that economic separation has created in our health, spirit, and skills. Ben uses the term "practiculture" to describe his family's work with the land--a term that encompasses the many practical life skills and philosophies they embody to create a thriving homestead, including raw-milk production, soil remediation, wildcrafting, Weston A. Price principles, bionutrient-dense farming, permaculture, agroforestry, traditional Vermont hill farming, and more. The Nourishing Homestead also includes information on deep nutrition, the importance of good fats, and integrating children into the work of a homestead. The Hewitts' story is reminiscent of The Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing, and is sure to inspire a new generation of homesteaders, or anyone seeking a simpler way of life and a deeper connection to the world.
The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care
by Sally Fallon Morell Thomas S. CowanThe Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care makes the principles of traditional nutrition available to modern parents. The book provides holistic advice for pregnancy and newborn interventions, vaccinations, breastfeeding and child development, as well as a compendium of natural treatments for childhood illnesses, from autism to whooping cough. The work of Rudulf Steiner supports the book's emphasis on the child's spiritual requirement for imaginative play.
The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children: The Hurt, the Hope, and the Healing
by Wanda Taylor“A history and a testimonial towards healing” of the hundreds of African-Nova Scotian orphans who suffered abuse and neglect at the government’s hands (The Coast).In 1921, prominent lawyer and Nova Scotia Black leader James R. Johnston’s vision of a place welcoming of Black children came to reality. In an era of segregation and overt racism that saw most orphanages refuse to take in Black children, the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children fulfilled an important role.But despite its good intentions, today the Home is mostly known for a troubling past. Former residents launched a class action lawsuit alleging sexual and physical abuse suffered at the Home over a period of several decades. In The Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children: The Hurt, The Hope, and The Healing, author Wanda Taylor interviews former residents participating in the lawsuit and upcoming public inquiry and connects their stories to her own relationship with the Home. The former residents in this book provide an unsettling, and sometimes graphic, description of what life was like inside the Home and describe the many ways the government system designed to protect them instead exacerbated a culture of abuse and neglect.
The Novel Habits of Happiness (Isabel Dalhousie Novels #10)
by Alexander McCall SmithIsabel Dalhousie is one of Edinburgh's most generous (but discreet) philanthropists - but should she be more charitable? She wonders, sometimes, if she is too judgmental about her niece's amorous exploits, too sharp about her housekeeper's spiritual beliefs, too ready to bristle in battle against her enemies. As the editor of the Review of Applied Ethics, she doesn't, of course, allow herself actual enemies, but she does feel enmity - especially towards two academics who have just arrived in the city. Isabel feels they're a highly destabilizing influence; little tremors in the volcanic rock upon which an Enlightened Edinburgh perches. Equally troubling is the situation of the little boy who is convinced he had a previous life. When Isabel is called upon to help, she finds herself questioning her views on reincarnation. And the nature of grief. And - crucially - the positioning of lighthouses. The only questions Isabel doesn't have to address concern her personal life. With her young son and devoted husband her home life is blissfully content. Which is the best possible launching pad for the next issue of the Review - the Happiness issue. As Isabel is beginning to appreciate, happiness, for most people, is not quite what it seems . . .
The Novels of Gloria Naylor: Mama Day, Linden Hills, and Bailey's Cafe
by Gloria NaylorThree lyrical and unforgettable novels from the National Book Award–winning author of The Women of Brewster Place. After winning both the National Book Award and the American Book Award for her now iconic debut novel, The Women of Brewster Place, which was later made into a TV miniseries starring Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Naylor continued to garner acclaim as one of the most original voices in twentieth-century American literature with novels such as Mama Day, Linden Hills, and Bailey&’s Cafe. Mama Day: On Willow Springs, an island off the coast between Georgia and South Carolina, superstition is more potent than any trappings of the modern world. Here, the formidable Mama Day uses her powers to heal. But her great-niece, Cocoa, can&’t wait to escape to New York City. When Cocoa returns to the island with her husband, George, darker forces challenge the couple—and their only hope may be the mystical matriarch. Steeped in the folklore of the South and inspired by Shakespeare, Mama Day is one of Naylor&’s &“richest and most complex&” novels (Providence Journal). &“[A] wonderful novel, full of spirit and sass and wisdom, and completely realized.&” —The Washington Post Linden Hills: For its wealthy African American residents, the exclusive neighborhood of Linden Hills is a symbol of making it. But what happens when the dream of material success turns out to be an empty promise? Using Dante&’s Inferno as a model, Naylor reveals the true cost of success for the lost souls of Linden Hills—a hell of their own making. &“Every page contains a brilliant insight, a fine description, some petty and human, some grandiloquent.&” —Chicago Tribune Bailey&’s Cafe: This &“moving and memorable&” national bestseller is set in post–World War II Brooklyn, on a quiet backstreet, where Bailey&’s Cafe serves as a crossroads for a broad range of patrons, a place of limbo for tortured souls before they move on—or check out (Boston Globe). &“A virtuoso orchestration of survival, suffering, courage and humor.&” —The New York Times Book Review
The Novels of Iris Murdoch Volume One: Henry and Cato, The Italian Girl, and The Philosopher's Pupil
by Iris MurdochThree sharply observed novels from the &“prodigiously inventive&” Man Booker Prize–winning author of The Sea, The Sea (The New York Times). &“One of the most significant novelists of her generation&” (The Guardian) and a &“consummate storyteller&” (The Independent), British author Iris Murdoch grappled with questions of morality as well as the nature of love in novels that are every bit as entertaining as they are thought provoking. Over the span of her career, she was the recipient of the Man Booker Prize, the Whitbread Literary Award, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Henry and Cato: Henry Marshalson and Cato Forbes were inseparable childhood friends. But their lives took different paths. Henry went to the United States to teach art history. Cato became a priest. When Henry&’s brother dies, leaving him sole heir to his family&’s vast estate, he returns to England, and the two friends reconnect. As Henry struggles to come to terms with his personal passions and family obligations, Cato fights against his religious doubts and darker urges. Soon, both men find themselves entwined in a deadly intrigue that could ruin not only their lives but also the lives of those they hold dear. &“Murdoch&’s finest novel.&” —Joyce Carol Oates The Italian Girl: After a long absence, Edmund Narraway has returned to his childhood home to attend his mother&’s funeral. The visit rekindles feelings of affection and nostalgia, but also triggers a resurgence of the tensions that caused him to leave in the first place. As Edmund once again becomes entangled in his family&’s web of corrosive secrets, his homecoming tips a precariously balanced dynamic into sudden chaos. &“[An] inbred story of modern life . . . a ritual of innocence and corruption . . . accomplished with many dark fancies, sudden surprises and arcane implications.&” —Kirkus Reviews The Philosopher&’s Pupil: The quiet English town of Ennistone is shaken up when George McCaffrey&’s car plunges into the cold waters of a canal, carrying with it his wife—and when the village&’s most celebrated son, famed philosopher John Robert Rozanov, returns, upending the lives of everyone with whom he comes in contact, in this New York Times Notable Book. &“The most daring and original of all her novels.&” —A. N. Wilson
The Novels of Iris Murdoch Volume Three: A Word Child, An Unofficial Rose, and Bruno's Dream
by Iris MurdochFrom the Man Booker Prize–winning author of The Sea, the Sea and &“one of the most significant novelists of her generation&” (The Guardian). A &“consummate storyteller,&” British author Iris Murdoch grappled with questions of morality as well as the nature of love in novels that are every bit as entertaining as they are thought provoking (The Independent). Over the span of her career, the &“prodigiously inventive&” Murdoch was the recipient of the Man Booker Prize, the Whitbread Literary Award, and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (The New York Times). A Word Child: Twenty years ago, Hilary Burde was one of the most promising scholars at Oxford, a student with a rare talent for linguistics and an unquenchable drive—until the accident. Now, forty-one and a decidedly ordinary failure, Hilary finds his quietly angry routine shattered when his old professor reappears—a man whose own demons are tied to Hilary&’s and the tragedy from years ago. As the two men begin to circle each other again, digging up old wrongs and seeking forgiveness for long-buried ills, they find themselves on a path that will either grant them both redemption or end in their mutual destruction. &“Marvelous . . . riveting . . . fine and elegant.&” —Los Angeles Times An Unofficial Rose: Hugh Peronett&’s life is tinged with regret: Twenty-five years ago, he ended an affair with Emma Sands, a detective novelist who had stolen his heart, to be with his wife, Fanny. Now Fanny is gone, and both Hugh and his grown son, Randall, find themselves at a crossroads of passion and righteousness. As Hugh, Emma, Randall, Randall&’s wife, Randall&’s mistress, and several others are caught in a dance of romance and rejection in bucolic rural England, they search for the true meanings of love, companionship, and desire. &“[A] Shakespearean comedy of misaligned lovers, minus the spirits and potions. Here the characters are responsible for their own actions, and Murdoch delights in painting these young, middle-aged and elderly adventurers and the psychological processes that direct their actions.&” —Publishers Weekly Bruno&’s Dream: With not much time left to live, Bruno makes a final request to those who care for him: He wishes to see his estranged son, Miles, once more. After decades of broken contact due to Miles marrying a woman Bruno once found unsuitable, the prodigal son returns home—and finds himself confronting much more than a dying man&’s last demand. As Miles; his wife and his sister-in-law; Bruno&’s son-in-law, Danby; and Bruno&’s nurses and aides gather at this deathbed vigil, they become entangled in a web of affairs. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, Bruno&’s Dream explores the turbulent passions and bitter grudges that will change them all—even long after Bruno is gone. &“Murdoch is in command of her talents . . . above all there are the transcending elements of passion and profundity on the subjects of death and love beautifully articulated in dramatic action.&” —The New York Times
The Novels of Jane Austen, Volume II: Pride and Prejudice (3rd Edition)
by Jane Austen R. W. Chapman"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's perfect comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. This volume is the companion to the BBC television series, a lavish production aired on the Arts and Entertainment Network.
The Novels of Jimmy Breslin: World Without End, Amen; The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight; Table Money; and Forsaking All Others
by Jimmy BreslinTough, funny, moving fiction from the New York Times–bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist. Jimmy Breslin was not only &“the biggest, the baddest, the brashest, the best columnist in New York City,&” he was also an outstanding New York Times–bestselling novelist, equally comfortable with comedy and tragedy, often intermixing the two (New YorkDaily News). Collected here are four of his best-loved novels, including three New York Times bestsellers. World Without End, Amen: Hoping to find redemption, disgraced, alcoholic NYPD cop Dermot Davey travels to Ulster—the heart of the increasingly bloody Irish Troubles—to find the father who abandoned him as a child, in this New York Times bestseller. &“Excellent . . . Breslin writes prose in a New York idiom with a shrewdness all his own.&” —The New York Times The Gang That Couldn&’t Shoot Straight: Breslin&’s New York Times–bestselling, madcap novel of the sloppiest turf war ever launched by the Brooklyn mob was the basis for the hilarious movie starring Jerry Orbach as the witless Kid Sally Palumbo and a young pre–Godfather II Robert De Niro. &“A very funny novel . . . and a good one.&” —The Village Voice Table Money: This New York Times bestseller &“about flesh-and-blood working people&” is the story of Owney Morrison, a Vietnam vet who returns home to Queens with a Congressional Medal of Honor and few prospects (Studs Terkel). Owney takes up the family legacy as a sandhog—a tunnel worker. But when his drinking gets out of control, his wife Dolores considers leaving with their baby daughter rather than being dragged down by a man who feels safest one hundred feet below the street. &“[A] serious literary novel, a superior work of fiction.&” —The New York Times Forsaking All Others: Puerto Rican drug dealer Teenager will stop at nothing to dominate the South Bronx narcotics trade—but a scorching affair between a crime boss&’s daughter who&’s literally married to the mob and Teenager&’s childhood friend, legal aid lawyer Maximo Escobar, threatens to ruin the entire operation. Before it&’s all over, the South Bronx is going to burn. &“A novel of considerable complexity and richness.&” —Chicago Tribune
The Novels of Lisa Alther: Kinflicks, Original Sins, and Five Minutes in Heaven
by Lisa AltherThree wise and witty novels of the sixties, sexuality, and the South by a New York Times–bestselling &“strong, salty, original talent&” (Doris Lessing).Kinflicks: &“An ambitious, funny, lucid and unfailingly honest&” coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s American South (The New Yorker). Tart-tongued Tennessean Ginny Babcock seems to live in an idyllic world—and her mother documents every moment for the family&’s home movies. But mother&’s &“kinflicks&” don&’t capture everything about Ginny. Not by a long shot. Original Sins: In this &“thoroughly endearing&” novel, Sally, Emily, Jed, Raymond, and Donny are friends who dream big in rural Tennessee (Chicago Tribune). But the road to reality isn&’t quite what they imagined. Some take the safe route; others drift away to reconsider their roots and traditions; and for Donny, an African American, fulfilling dreams is all about resilience. In the ever-shifting landscape of the 1950s and &’60s, they grow up, grow apart, and have every good intention of coming back together. Five Minutes in Heaven: Raised in the Tennessee hills in the 1950s, Jude grows into a young woman who finds her soul mate in her new neighbor Molly. But when age and social convention intervene, she ventures north to pursue all that sixties New York has to offer—including a transitional comfort with a man in the midst of his own sexual discovery. With an endearing heroine and a smart consideration of what it means to love—and be loved—this coming-of-age novel is &“a little bit of heaven&” (Rita Mae Brown).
The Novels of Madeleine L'Engle Volume One: The Other Side of the Sun, A Live Coal in the Sea, and A Winter's Love
by Madeleine L'EngleFrom the National Book Award–winning author of A Wrinkle in Time, three poignant novels exploring the power of love, family, and secrets. The Other Side of the Sun: In this atmospheric novel of suspense set in the turn-of-the-century South, a nineteen-year-old British newlywed must stay with her American husband&’s family on their South Carolina estate when he is called away on a diplomatic mission. She soon discovers her in-laws are not who they appear to be—as she stirs up dark secrets that were meant to remain buried. A Live Coal in the Sea: After her teenage granddaughter poses a troubling question, Dr. Camilla Dickinson must confront the painful history she&’s long kept hidden as she relates a complex saga involving her beautiful, adulterous mother; her troubled son; and the difficult choices that have affected three generations. &“[A] haunting domestic drama.&” —Publishers Weekly A Winter&’s Love: Emily Bowen&’s marriage is hanging by a thread after hardships befall her family. During their sabbatical in Switzerland, a man from her past returns, offering the affection she craves, and Emily must decide if she&’s willing to sacrifice the life she&’s built for an unseen future. &“A convincing story of mixed loyalties and divided affections.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The Novels of Stephen Birmingham: Carriage Trade, The Wrong Kind of Money, The Auerbach Will, and Shades of Fortune
by Stephen BirminghamA quartet of novels from the New York Times–bestselling author of &“Our Crowd&” and master chronicler of Manhattan&’s rich, famous, and deceitful. These four gripping novels prove that &“when it comes to the folkways of the rich, the powerful, and the privileged, Stephen Birmingham knows what he&’s talking about&” (Los Angeles Times). Carriage Trade: One of New York&’s most elegant and exclusive retail establishments, Tarkington&’s has been the preferred shopping experience of Manhattan&’s elite for decades. But the unexpected death of founder Silas Tarkington raises serious doubts about the future of the enterprise. At the reading of his will, disturbing questions arise about the tycoon&’s past, and suggestions of a dark, secret life threaten to tear the family apart. The truth could destroy much more than the family business—especially as it becomes more and more likely that Silas&’s death was no accident. &“[A] page turner . . . [that] offers a little bit of the best of everything&” (The New York Times). The Wrong Kind of Money: The Liebling family is among the wealthiest in New York, but in the eyes of &“old money&” gentile aristocrats like the patrician Van Degans, they will always be lower-class Jewish nouveau riche. Jules Liebling got his start selling liquor during Prohibition while in cahoots with dangerous mobsters, and his widow, Hannah, now runs the family business with a tyrannical hand. But when her daughter-in-law meets Georgette Van Degan for lunch at Le Cirque, gossip circulates about a thaw between the families and, quite possibly, a partnership. As rumors fly in this &“fast and wonderful&” novel that has &“something for everyone,&” family skeletons on both sides are exposed, leading to jealousy, betrayal, and even violence (Cincinnati Enquirer). The Auerbach Will: The daughter of poor immigrant Russian-Jewish parents on the Lower East Side, Essie Litsky married Jack Auerbach, and together, they rose from poverty and amassed a fortune that dwarfed their wildest dreams. But money could never buy the affection of family or compensate for the true love Essie let slip away. And now, as she nears the end of her life, she must contend with blackmail and heartless legal assaults coming at her from all sides—the result of the ugly, persistent greed of her own children and grandchildren. But Essie is not dead yet, and those who underestimate the remarkable old woman are in for a shocking and powerful surprise. This New York Times bestseller is full of &“delicious secrets&” drawn from the &“gossipy, Uptown/Downtown milieu Birmingham knows so well&” (Kirkus Reviews). Shades of Fortune: Mireille &“Mimi&” Myerson took her grandfather&’s struggling cosmetics company and turned it into an empire. But suddenly, as she prepares to launch a new perfume line, she is faced with hidden threats at every turn. Her efforts to further expand the company could be sabotaged from within by her own treacherous family. With the discovery of her husband&’s affair and the return of real estate magnate Michael Horowitz, her first and most enduring love, Mimi must determine whom she can trust—especially in light of the shocking revelations that are about to emerge regarding the birth of the Miray Corporation.
The November Baby (Noel Streatfeild Baby Book Series)
by Noel StreatfeildA treasury of inspiration for every November baby...Find out why you might give your November baby a name to do with champions, what is meant by a gift of a bunch of laurel, and who your baby shares their birthday with - could it be Monet, William Blake or Winston Churchill? Much-loved author Noel Streatfeild originally launched this series of month-by-month baby books in 1959. Recently rediscovered in her publisher's archives, each little book arrives complete with gorgeous illustrations, and includes: - suggested names and games for babies born in each month - characteristics of your baby according to their zodiac sign- famous babies who share your baby's birthday- quotations and rhymes to fit every aspect of babyhood... and much more. With a warm, lively and charming introduction by Noel Streatfeild to every volume, each adorable book in this series is a pleasure to read, and an object to treasure.