|
Titcomb's Bookshop
May 2015 Newsletter
|
|
|
Titcomb's Bookshop
432 Route 6A
East Sandwich MA
508-888-2331
titcombsbookshop.com
Mon-Sat 9-6; Sun 11-5
Let's Be Friends!
Connect with Titcomb's on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Learn about upcoming events, get book news, and let us know what's on your mind. Click the links to join us today!
Did a nice friend send you this copy of Titcomb's Newsletter? Make sure you don't miss the next issue -
|
|
1. Dog Songs by Mary Oliver
2. The Bridal Chair by Gloria Goldreich
3. Mister Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall
4. Of Irish Blood by Mary Pat Kelly
5. Kale, Glorious Kale by Catherine Walthers
6. The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
7. Kid's Guide to Keeping Chickens by Melissa Caughey
8. Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly
9. Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
10. Orr: My Story by Bobby Orr
11. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
12. At the Water's Edge by Ssara Gruen
13. Curious: the Desire to Know by Ian Leslie
14. Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
15. Lady in Gold by Anne O'Connor
16. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
17. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
18. Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
19. Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton
20. Dead Wake by Erik Larson
|
Did you know we have a Knitting Club at Titcomb's Bookshop? It's held on the first Monday of every month from 1 - 3pm and knitters of all levels are welcome. We serve delicious snacks and the conversation is always entertaining! We would love to see you on May 4!
|
 We have some inspiring books and cards for the graduate in your life!
 Very Good Lives by J.K.Rowling
$15.00
In Defense of a Liberal Education by Fareed Zakaria
$23.95
Congratulations, By the Way (Some Notes on Kindness) by George Saunders
 $14.00
 What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
$24.99
 The World Awaits; Wisdom & Stories to Celebrate Life's Big Moments by Rachel Buchholz $9.95
 The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna $16.95
 How to Tie a Tie; A Gentleman's Guide to Getting Dressed $12.95
|
| |
|
We have many ideas for the special mom in your life - from the perfect card and books (of course!) to scarves, journals, pens, jewelry - we'd love to help you find just the perfect treat!
 The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket by Marie Hanel $19.95
 Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell $24.95
 Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner $15.00
 Nature Anatomy by Julia Rothman $16.95
 Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton our price $20.80
 O's Little Book of Happiness by Oprah Magazine $17.99
 Picnic in Provence; a Memoir with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard $26.00
 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer our price $21.60
 Hammer Head by Nina MacLaughlin $24.95
 Kale, Glorious Kale by Catherine Walthers $16.95
And of course, gift wrapping is always complementary!
|
Nancy Titcomb has brought in a new line of nostalgic, book related greeting cards that we have all fallen in love with! As many of you know, our card selection is pretty fabulous, thanks to Nancy's wonderful taste. We think these cards are a perfect addition to an already great selection!
|
|
Cake & Islands
Sea Glass Candy!
We are so happy to announce that we now carry local Cake & Islands' Sea Glass Candy in beautiful glass jars for $9.00. Sea Glass Candy makes a terrific gift - we have several flavors including Ocean Blues, Sandy Neck Peach, Beachcomber, and Nantucket Sunset. We love supporting a local business and this candy is beautiful and delicious!
|
|
Photographs by Karen Huppi Vail
|
|
 |
|
|
Independent Bookstore Day!
Saturday, May 2
10:00am - 4:00pm
Come celebrate with us! Our festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the reading of a proclamation by Ralph Vitacco, Chairman of the Sandwich Board of Selectmen.
Throughout the day we will have a literary scavenger hunt and children's crafts. Win a book!
Have your picture taken
with our colonial man!
Staff people will lead "Coffee with Booksellers"  book discussions and share some of their favorite books at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
 Help create a giant paper chain of favorite book titles, which will be displayed in the store.
There will be refreshments and book-related give-aways throughout the day!
 Titcomb's will also have exclusive Independent Bookstore Day book bags designed by cartoonist Roz Chast which will be given away with each $30 book purchase while supplies last.
The Ice Cream Boat will be docked here! Titcomb grandchildren Payson and Tim will be selling ice cream from their boat on the lawn!
Refreshments will be served, of course! We hope to see you there!
|
|
Trisha Leaver
Book Launch Party
The Secrets We Keep
Join Cape Cod author Trisha Leaver for a grand celebration of her newest (and very suspenseful!) young adult novel. Sparkling beverages and snacks will be served. Trisha will read her favorite passages, answer questions, and sign books which will be available for purchase.
|
|
Book Talk & Signing
Kirstin Valdez Quade
Night at the Fiestas
Saturday, May 9
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Meet an exciting new literary voice and learn about her astounding debut collection of stories set in New Mexico, Night at the Fiestas!
One of the National Book Foundation's "Five Under 35" authors, Kirstin's fiction has been published in The New Yorker and The Best American Short Stories, among others.
We are so happy to welcome Kirstin to the bookshop and hope you will join us!
|
|
Book Club!
Tuesday
May 19 - 7:00pm
The Bridal Chair by Gloria Goldreich
 All are welcome. Author Gloria Goldreich will join the discussion by phone. The book club is lead by Elizabeth Merritt. |
|
Book Talk & Signing
Joanna Rakoff
My Salinger Year
Wednesday, May 13
7:00pm
Sandwich Public Library
 We are thrilled to cohost Joanna Rakoff with the Sandwich Public Library! She has written for The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Vogue, and other publications. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
My Salinger Year is "A breezy memoir of being a 'bright young assistant' in the mid-1990s . . . Salinger himself makes a cameo appearance . . . The real star of My Salinger Year remains the Agency itself, with its Dictaphones and fox stoles, its wistful attempts to cling to the days of '"Thin Man" movies and steamship travel' . . . The 'archaic charms' of the Agency are comically offset by its refusal to acknowledge the Internet age."
-Suzanne Berne, The New York Times Book Review
|
|
Save the Date:
Sarah Leah Chase 
Book Launch Party!June 10th 7pm
Green Briar Nature Center
Make your reservations now!
You won't want to miss this exciting special event celebrating The New England Open House Cookbook, a beautiful new cookbook filled with fabulous recipes!
Sarah Leah Chase will offer a cooking demonstration and there will be a tasting of some of her recipes. She is a caterer and author of a number of cookbooks. She also collaborated on the Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook.
Reservations are required and can be made at the bookshop. The cost is $30.00 per person, which includes a paperback copy of the cookbook.
|
New and Recommended Books :
Fiction
 A God in Ruins by Kate AtkinsonDid you love Kate Atkinson's earlier novel, Life After Life? We did, and we're excited to tell you about A God in Ruins. This novel is a sequel/companion to Life After Life, but with no time-bending. This time we follow Ursula's favorite little brother Teddy, would-be poet, RAF bomber pilot, husband and father. For all Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge will be to face living in a future he never expected to have. A God in Ruins is a masterful companion to Life After Life. (available May 5) Reg. price $28.00; our price $22.40
 Early Warning by Jane SmileyJane Smiley has said that this is not a trilogy, but a story told in three volumes. Some Luck laid the groundwork, beginning in 1920. We were introduced to Walter and Rosanna Langdon and the farmstead they purchased in Denby, Iowa. By the time the novel ends in 1953, a lot has happened: drought, the loss of a child, a series of romances, sniper attacks in World War II. At the end, Walter has died and the children are grown. That's where Early Warning, this second volume, picks up.
Smiley's engaging study of family life isn't so much about what happens but how things happen, and the ways in which the characters respond and endure. We learn about their lives through nuanced third-person narration. Smiley captures the feel and aesthetic of an American family. We meet the Langdons in Some Luck, but by the time we finish Early Warning, we feel like one of them.
(You will enjoy this novel even if you didn't read Some Luck - it stands on it's own.)
Reg. price $26.95; our price $21.56
 The Daylight Marriage by Heidi PitlorFrom Kathy:
The Daylight Marriage is a suspenseful, thought-provoking psychological mystery-thriller that will haunt you long after you finish! Part of what makes this novel so powerful is that it is so realistic; the events could happen to any marriage or family, on any given ordinary day. Stephen King's quote on the cover is such an accurate description of reading this book: ""Hypnotically readable--I absolutely couldn't put it down. The structure is brilliant, and I turned the pages with increasing dread. This book is terrific." I agree. Reg. price $24.95; our price $19.96
 The Bone Tree by Greg Iles
From Vicky: The wait is over!! The second in the Greg Iles' Natchez trilogy is here and it's a doozy! This epic thriller features Natchez Mayor Penn Cage. Penn is trying to save his father who is on the run after being accused of murdering his former nurse, an elderly black woman who recently returned to Natchez dying of cancer. The action is fast and furious, and you won't be able to stop turning the pages (all 816 of them!) This book has it all - the Ku Klux Klan (and an even more virulent branch called the Double Eagles), small town secrets, the assassination of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King, both dedicated and corrupt police, passionate FBI agents and journalists who will stop at nothing in their search for the truth. The book is eye-opening and full of details that ring both fantastic and true. It's a roller coaster of a ride and full of violence, so not for everyone. It's also best to read Iles' book, Natchez Burning first, which is recently out in paperback. Reg price: $27.99; our price $22.39
 The Last Bookaneer by Matthew PearlLondon, 1890: Pen Davenport is the most infamous bookaneer (literary pirate) in Europe. A master of disguise, he makes his living stalking harbors, coffeehouses, and print shops for the latest manuscript to steal. On the island of Samoa, a dying Robert Louis Stevenson labors over a new novel. The thought of one last book from the great author fires the imaginations of the bookaneers, and soon Davenport sets out for the South Pacific island. Davenport is reluctantly accompanied by his assistant Fergins, who is whisked across the world for one final caper. But Davenport is hardly the only bookaneer with a mind to pirate Stevenson's last novel. His longtime adversary, the monstrous Belial, appears on the island, and soon Davenport, Fergins, and Belial find themselves embroiled in an epic confrontation! From the author of The Dante Club. Reg. price $27.95; our price $22.36
The  Green Road by Anne Enright
The latest novel from Man Booker Prize-winning author Anne Enright is a gorgeously raw and expansive examination of the Madigan family. Sprawling thirty years, The Green Road follows the four children as they leave their childhood home on Ireland's Atlantic coast for new lives and new countries. Years later, when their mother Rosaleen decides to sell the home, the family return for a last Christmas. Reading this, you can't help but feel that you, too, are in the thick of it with the family. Enright was appointed Ireland's very first Fiction Laureate earlier this year and you will see why when you finish this novel. (available May 11) Reg. price $26.95; our price $21.56
 The Guest Cottage by Nancy Thayer
Does anything say "summer" more than a new Nancy Thayer novel? Nancy writes so evocatively about Nantucket that we always feel as if we're right there! In her new novel, two single parents mistakenly rent the same beach cottage at the same time. Determined to make a great summer for their children, they all decide to share the cottage. Of course lessons are learned, hearts are broken, and romance blossoms all in the beautiful setting of Nantucket. Sigh! (available
May 12) Reg. price $27.00; our price $21.60
(save the date: Nancy Thayer is coming to Titcomb's for a talk/signing on July 15!!)
 The Bullet by Mary Louise KellyWe heard about this book through Mary Louise Kelly's interview on NPR. The premise is fascinating: imagine finding out that you have a bullet lodged in your body that you have no memory of, and that everything you knew about your life was a lie. Caroline, the protaganist, is forced to question everything in her life. A professor of literature, she previously spent her days curled up with a book in the library. Now, she's on a quest that actually puts her life in danger. You will be captivated from page one! Reg. price $26.00; our price $20.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
New in Paperback:
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
From Elizabeth M: This first novel written by a Swedish blogger is a charming story. You will come to love this cranky old man whose world is black and white. He is a rule-follower who has no patience with people who are not. His tale unfolds when a new family moves into his neighborhood and accidently flattens his mailbox. Unlikely friendships are formed that produce laughter and tears. At the end of the book you will want to share it with others. (available May 5) $16.00
The Invention of Wings
by Sue Monk Kidd
This book, by the author of The Secret Life of Bees, is a real staff favorite and we are so excited that it will finally be available in paperback! Hetty "Handful" Grimke, a slave in early 19th century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke's daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. Kidd's sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah's 11th birthday, when she is given ownership of 10 year old Handful. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next 35 years, as both strive for lives of their own, dramatically shaping each other's destinies. Sarah will experience betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before finding her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women's rights movements. (available May 5) $17.00
 Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. Refusing to believe she was abandoned, Jenna searches for her mother regularly online and pores over the pages of Alice's old journals. A scientist who studied grief among elephants, Alice wrote mostly of her research among the animals she loved, yet Jenna hopes the entries will provide a clue to her mother's whereabouts. A deeply moving page-turner! $16.00
 The High Divide by Lin Enger The High Divide opens in the summer of 1886, when Ulysses Pope, husband to Norwegian-born Gretta and father to Eli, 16, and younger son Danny, abruptly disappears from their western Minnesota home. Shortly thereafter, Eli finds a letter to his father from a woman in Bismarck - so he and Danny hop a freight train west, following their only clue to their father's whereabouts. Gretta, in turn, embarks on her own journey, "with two dollars left in her purse and not a single blood relative in all the North American continent-aside from her own two sons, whose whereabouts were unknown to her." She instead heads east to St. Paul, the home of Ulysses' sister, who shares details of her brother's military years that were unknown to Gretta-and which may somehow be connected to his disappearance now, nearly two decades later.
Enger's gripping story is a marvelous blend of strong characters and a moving description of a land and time now lost. $15.95
 Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki
A return to the sort of romantic fiction, more grounded in realism, that Murakami made famous in his 1987 novel, Norwegian Wood, set against the social realities of contemporary Japan. This is the story of Tsukuru Tazaki, a young man haunted by a great loss; of dreams and nightmares that have unintended consequences, and a journey into the past to mend the present. Vintage Murakami! (available May 5) $15.95
 The Life We Bury We were introduced to this novel by the Books on the Nightstand folks at our event a few weeks ago. We have all read it since, and recommend it!
Joe Talbert has never met his father; his mother is a bipolar alcoholic; and his younger brother is autistic. Joe works two part-time jobs to save money while attending a community college. He escapes his troubles by transferring as a junior to the University, which is two hours away.
Joe's first English class assignment is to write a biography of a stranger. He decides the best place to start is at a nursing home, where he meets Carl Iverson-a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murderer. As Joe spends time with Carl, he starts questioning the events that led to Carl's conviction.
As Joe tries to uncover the truth, he struggles with his mother's illness and guilt over leaving his brother in her care. Constantly being called back into the family drama that he's fought so hard to leave behind, Joe realizes he may eventually have to give up his dreams of a college degree for his brother's sake. But, his determination to clear Carl before the man dies puts Joe's life, as well as his education, at risk.
The characters in this coming of age/murder mystery are unique, and twists and turns make this a compelling read - you will stay up late to finish it! $15.95
|
|
New Nonfiction:
 The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
We can honestly say that we will happily read anything David McCullough writes! His style is so accessible, his subjects become so fascinating with his hand. The Wright Brothers is no exception! The setbacks, the hardships, the secrecy when fame was dangling in front of them, the danger, the crashes, the occasional family drama but unwavering devotion - the story never sags. The competition with others trying to get the title of first to truly fly was always part of the story. The initial reluctance of the U.S. to show interest while France was ready to embrace them is interestingly portrayed. You will admire the brilliance of these amateur mechanics as you read and be amazed at the mathematical and scientific ground they covered in their relentless research. (available May 5) $30.00
 It's a Long Story by Willie Nelson (signed copies!)We are so excited to have a limited number of signed copies of Willie Nelson's new book. Here's what Willie has so say about his own story:
"Unvarnished. Funny. Leaving no stone unturned."
. . . So say the publishers about this book I've written. What I say is that this is the story of my life, told as clear as a Texas sky and in the same rhythm that I lived it. It's a story of restlessness and the purity of the moment and living right. Of my childhood in Abbott, Texas, to the Pacific Northwest, from Nashville to Hawaii and all the way back again. Of selling vacuum cleaners and encyclopedias while hosting radio shows and writing song after song, hoping to strike gold. It's a story of true love, wild times, best friends, and barrooms, with a musical sound track ripping right through it.
My life gets lived on the road, at home, and on the road again, tried and true, and I've written it all down from my heart to yours. " Signed, Willie Nelson (available May 5) $30.00 (reserve a signed copy now!)
The Light of the World, a Memoir by Elizabeth Alexander
From Elizabeth M.: In this beautifully and eloquently written memoir, Alexander tells of the sudden death of her husband. She writes with warmth about their marriage and family life -- even includes recipes of her husband who was a chef and an artist. Elizabeth Alexander is a poet and Yale professor known for her poem read at Barack Obama's first inauguration. $26.00
 On the Move, A Life by Oliver SacksFrom Kathy: I love Oliver Sacks - I have read many of his books, and they are always interesting, enlightening, "awakening". But I have to admit I was taken aback by the cover of On the Move. Is the young dude straddling the motorcycle really Oliver Sacks, the genial neurologist of "Awakenings"? Seems it certainly is. As this memoir makes clear, Sacks has many facets: The compassionate scientist who writes beautifully and travels to Mexico to look at ferns has also been a motorbike buff, competitive weightlifter and, in the past, a drug abuser. In February, the 81-year-old Sacks revealed in a New York Times op-ed that he has terminal cancer. Sacks writes, "I am a man of vehement disposition, with violent enthusiasms, and extreme immoderation in all my passions."
This is a very interesting memoir by a truly wonderful, fascinating man. $27.95
 Capital Dames by Cokie RobertsJournalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts offers a different take on the Civil War era, focusing on the women who were involved in politics behind the scenes. $27.99
new nonfiction in paperback:
 Not My Father's Son; a Memoir by Alan CummingCelebrated actor Alan Cumming goes on an emotional journey as he learns the truth about his family history. While the story of his grandfather's life and death was revealed on the TLC series, Who Do You Think You Are?, bigger revelations about his father and their complex relationship have never been shared with the public before. Listen to Scott Simon's NPR interview with Alan Cumming.(available May 5)$15.99
 The Sea Inside by Philip Hoare
This collage of personal memoir, cultural history and travelogue is full of the ocean's strangeness and beauty. The Sea Inside is part bestiary, part memoir, part fantastical travelogue. It takes us on a magical journey of discovery, filled with astounding tales of faith and fear, wilderness and destruction, mortality and beauty.
(available May 12)$17.95
 Birdmen by Lawrence Goldstone
Birdmen comes out in paperback in time to be a great companion for David McCullough's new book The Wright Brothers. Birdmen concerns the rivalry between the Wright brothers and Glen Curtiss. Another fascinating book about the pioneering era of aeronautics in this country, and the battles for control of patents. $16.00
|
|
|
Cookery Books
The Picnic
We're in love with this book! It's so charmingly put together - and who doesn't love a picnic? The Picnic shares everything you need to plan an effortless outdoor get-together: no-fail recipes, helpful checklists, and expert advice. With variations on everyone's favorite deviled eggs, 99 uses for a Mason jar (think cocktail shaker, firefly catcher, or cookie jar), rules for scoring lawn games, and refreshing drinks to mix up in crowd-friendly batches, let The Picnic take the stress out of your next party and leave only the fun! $19.95
Chowderland by Brooke Dojny 
When we heard about this book we wondered how it was possible to produce a whole book about chowder. Well - Creamy Clam Chowder, Northwest Salmon Chowder with Leeks and Peas, Double Corn Summer Chowder... Brooke Dojny offers 57 recipes for chowders of all kinds -- some made with seafood, some with meat, and some with just veggies. A favorite section includes recipes for side dishes, salads, and desserts to round out the menu. Whether you're looking for a hearty meal on a cozy winter evening or a fresh gumbo perfect for a summer lunch, we think you'll turn to this delicious collection again and again! $14.95
Back in the Day Bakery; Made with Love by Cheryl and Griffith Day
This is such a wonderful, fun cookbook! Cheryl and Griff Day run a very popular bakery in Savannah, Georgia. This is their second book - the recipes are delicious and not difficult. The Days are self-taught bakers and their mission is to get everybody baking from scratch! You will be inspired by this book! $24.95
Click here to watch the most adorable video!
|
 
Children's Books |
|
Picture Books
 Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay From Vicky: What a sweet and beautifully illustrated book! Reminiscent of a book from 100 years ago, it is delightfully illustrated with cut paper and watercolor illustrations. A young girl moves to the city, where she is happy to see that "Butterfly Park" is next door. But where are the butterflies? She does her best to lure them into the park and inspires the whole neighborhood to help. They show her that butterflies love flowers for their nectar, and because flowers need roots to grow, the neighbors plant them in Butterfly Park. A lovely tale of community, friendship and nature that is sure to become a beloved part of any young child's library. $16.95 Ages 3 and up.
 Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr From Vicky: We stopped the presses when this lovely book arrived! It must be in the newsletter! This book is so beautifully illustrated by Teagan White and the Melissa Marr's text is so sweet and comforting. A new baby has arrived and mama holds it close and soothes the baby as it shivers like a bunny, kicks like a kangaroo, lifts its head like a lizard and howls like a wolf. Even the text, done with colored calligraphy, is beautiful. A precious new baby gift!! $16.99 Ages birth-4
 Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt by Kate Mesner
From Vicky: The authors of Over and Under the Snow turn their attention to the miracles of gardening and the life that abounds above and below ground. Snow hasn't quite melted when a young girl and her grandmother begin to dream about the garden they will plant. Meanwhile, under the ground, earthworms and insects begin to dig and stir up the soil. From spring to fall, the girl and her grandmother tend the garden, finally harvesting the bounty, the remains of which are eaten by ants who have burrowed nearby. The cycle continues as insects and worms hunker down deep beneath the soil when cold weather returns. At the back of the book is more information on the animals mentioned in the story. Beautifully illustrated by Silas Neal $16.99
Ages 3-8. |
| Chapter Books |
Undertow by Michael Buckley
Are mermaids the new vampires? Mermaids and mermen have long been objects of romantic fantasy. These sea creatures, however, are brutal fighters, arrogant about their superiority over humans, and live like refugees on the beaches of Coney Island. When some of them are forced to attend a public high school, Lyric Walker is drafted to help their crown prince, a brooding hunk known as Fathom, assimilate. Only Lyric has a secret of her own - her mother is actually one of the sea people, in hiding from both the government and her own people. There are some parallels to the civil rights movement and school integration in this novel, but the real attraction for most readers will be the romance and action, both of which are in high supply. Readers looking for supernatural romance with a bit of a twist will be pleased. (available May 5) $18.99
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The Crossover won the 2015 Newbery Award for best children's book of the year, and we wanted to call attention to this poignant novel in verse that mixes basketball, family, and coming-of-age themes. The author, who has written 18 books, told the Washington Post he "tried to write the book to show boys - and girls - that poetry could be cool".
Josh and his twin brother, JB, are inseparable, on and off the court. With the support of their father, a famous basketball player, they're poised to have a great season, maybe even win the championship for their junior high. Then things start to change. JB starts to spend more time with girls than with Josh, their dad is hiding a health issue that could change all of their lives, and Josh begins to lose his way. One big mistake, and he's suspended from the team, estranged from his brother, and wondering how much time he has left with the brightest star in his world: his father.
Readers will fall in love with the characters, feeling the ache of loneliness, the heavy weight of worry, and the joy of family fun. Parents will love the opportunities the book presents for positive, deep discussions, as well as its slyly hidden life lessons and basic good values. $16.99
Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan
by Cynthia Rylant
From Vicky: Cynthia Rylant is simply a brilliant writer! She writes mainly for emerging readers and is best known for her Henry & Mudge series and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. (Who else would have written a series of beginning reader books about an old man and his cat?) She imparts in every book such perfect, gentle humor and humanity.
This latest book is one more gem in her broad constellation of brilliant books. There is a drought in Gooseberry Park, and Kona the labrador retriever, Gwendolyn the hermit crab and Herman the crow come up with a plan to get water to their fellow animals. It will take a lot of effort - as well as 200 owls, drinking straws and some bubble gum. Add a bat who is a motivational speaker, and this clever, funny adventure begins! Ages 7-10. $16.99
 Theodore Boone: The Fugitive
by John Grisham
Our favorite kid lawyer is back! Theodore Boone: The Fugitive is the fifth installment in John Grisham's popular middle-grade series.
Thirteen year-old Theodore Boone is on a class trip seeing the sights of the capital city. But he hadn't counted on seeing the most wanted man in the history of his home town, Strattenberg. Suddenly Theo is caught in the hunt for an accused murderer, alongside the FBI. Theo knows he's getting in deep - and things could become even more dangerous. Because if this case goes back to court, it will be down to him.
Will justice finally be done...or will the killer's criminal allies be out for revenge?
John Grisham delivers high intensity legal drama for a new generation of readers in the fifth novel in his bestselling Theodore Boone series. (available May 12) $17.99
The Water and the Wild by Katie Elise Ormsbee
A green apple tree grows in the heart of Thirsby Square, and tangled up in its magical roots is the story of Lottie Fiske. For as long as Lottie can remember, the only people who seem to care about her are her best friend, Eliot, and the mysterious letter writer who sends her birthday gifts. But now strange things are happening on the island Lottie calls home, and Eliot's getting sicker, with a disease the doctors have given up trying to cure. Lottie is helpless --- until a door opens in the apple tree. Young readers will enjoy following Lottie down through the roots to a world of sprites in pursuit a cure for her friend. $16.99
Roller Girl by Victoria Jamison
From Vicky: This warm, fun and insightful graphic novel about friends growing up has already been awarded an almost unheard of 5 starred reviews! After 12 year old Astrid and her longtime very best friend Nicole go to a Roller Derby race, Astrid decides to attend roller derby camp for the summer, and naturally she assumes Nicole will want to go, too. However, Nicole wants to go to dance camp instead. Suddenly, Astrid's world feels like it's coming apart. The girls are growing up in different directions and for the first time, they find themselves fighting. The book is written with such insight about the changes and challenges of adolescent friendships, and the actions and emotions are perfectly conveyed by the illustrations. Highly recommended for girls ages 9-13 and especially for fans of Raina Telgemeier. $12.99
Woof by Spencer Quinn
From Gail: Birdie, the kid, just got her best birthday present ever - Bowser. Bowser, the dog and the lucky present, says Birdie's the best smelling person - best of any he's ever sniffed. He loves her right away, especially when she lets him sleep on her bed. Bowser has so much to say in this mystery, you sometimes forget he's not a person. Together they try to solve the heist of a stuffed marlin and the rumored treasure that involves feuding families including Birdie's dad and grandma. This takes place in hot and steamy Louisiana with lots of swampy bayous and gators and some delicious bacon odors. Now, who doesn't love bacon? $16.99 (Can we let you in on a little secret? Spencer Quinn is the pseudonym of author Peter Abrahams from Falmouth here on the Cape!)
|
|
Children's Nonfiction:
 Choosing Courage by Peter Collier
What turns an ordinary person into a hero? What happens in the blink of an eye on a battlefield (or in any dangerous situation) to bring out true courage? These stories of men and women who have been recognized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation provide some answers.
We learn of Jack Lucas, a 13-year-old who kept his real age a secret so he could fight in World War II --- where he deliberately fell on a grenade to save his buddies during the Iwo Jima invasion --- and Clint Romesha, who almost single-handedly prevented a remote U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan from being taken over by the Taliban.
Also included are civilians who have been honored by the Foundation for outstanding acts of bravery in crisis situations: for example, Jencie Fagan, a gym teacher who put herself in danger to disarm a troubled eighth grader before he could turn a gun on his classmates. Adding depth and context are illuminating sidebars throughout and essays on the combat experience and its aftermath: topics such as overcoming fear; a mother mourning her son; and "surviving hell" as a prisoner of war. (available May 12) $18.95
I Will Always Write Back: How One Letter Changed Two Lives by Martin Ganda
It started as an assignment. Everyone in Caitlin's class wrote to an unknown student somewhere in a distant place. Martin was lucky to even receive a pen-pal letter. He lived in a slum in Zimbabwe. Because he was the top student, so he got the first letter. That was the beginning of a correspondence that spanned six years and changed two lives. In this compelling dual memoir, Caitlin and Martin recount how they became best friends - and better people - through their long-distance exchange. This is a well-written, accessible story that will open children's eyes to life in developing countries. $18.00
 The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Petersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
At the outset of World War II, Denmark did not resist German occupation. Deeply ashamed of his nation's leaders, 15 year old Knud Pedersen resolved with his brother and a handful of schoolmates to take action against the Nazis if the adults would not. Naming their secret club after the fiery British leader, the young patriots in the Churchill Club committed countless acts of sabotage, infuriating the Germans, who eventually had the boys tracked down and arrested. But their efforts were not in vain: the boys' exploits and eventual imprisonment helped spark a full-blown Danish resistance. Interweaving his own narrative with the recollections of Knud himself, here is Phillip Hoose's inspiring story of these young war heroes. (available May 12) $19.99
|
|
Young Adult Books
 Challenger Deep by Neal ShustermanFrom Vicky: Challenger Deep is an incredibly moving, completely gripping novel about a high school student named Caden Bosch, who finds himself in a truly frightening dive into schizophrenia. More and more, it becomes impossible for him to recognize the real from the imagined and in his paranoia, he believes even his classmates are trying to kill him. Losing almost all ties to reality, he thinks he is a crew member on a pirate ship going down to Challenger Deep, the lowest place on Earth under the sea. The book is based on the experiences of the author's son, who provided the powerful illustrations. It is such a realistic and empathetic view of mental illness.
"A brilliant journey across the dark sea of mental illness; frightening, sensitive, and powerful. Simply extraordinary." (Laurie Halse Anderson, award-winning author of Speak) $17.99
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
LAIA is a Scholar living under the brutal rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire's greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who vow to save her brother from execution. ELIAS is the academy's finest soldier-and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he's ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor. When Laia and Elias's paths cross at the academy, they will find that their destinies are more intertwined that either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself. $19.95
 Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and-lately-concern. When Peyton's increasingly reckless behavior culminates in an accident, a drunk driving conviction, and a jail sentence, Sydney is cast adrift, searching for her place in the family and the world. When everyone else is so worried about Peyton, is she the only one concerned about the victim of the accident?
Enter the Chathams, a warm, chaotic family who run a pizza parlor, play bluegrass on weekends, and pitch in to care for their mother, who has multiple sclerosis. Here Sydney experiences unquestioning acceptance. And here she meets Mac, gentle, watchful, and protective, who makes Sydney feel seen, really seen, for the first time.
The uber-popular Sarah Dessen explores her signature themes of family, self-discovery, and change in her twelfth novel, sure to delight her legions of fans.
(We will have signed copies available May 5) $19.99
|
  |
|
|
|
