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THE FLIGHT PORTFOLIO
by Julie Orringer
Just released, The Flight Portfolio by Julie Orringer (author of The Invisible Bridge), is a sweeping and vivid portrait of wartime Marseille. Based on meticulous research, this novel is the account of Varian Fry, a Harvard graduate who in 1940 moves to Marseille under the auspices of the Emergency Rescue Committee, a group based in New York which today is the International Rescue Committee. Their goal is to save as many of the artists, writers and prominent thinkers at risk from Vichy, France and the expanding Nazi rule. Varian Fry is widely successful during the year he is in Marseille, arranging the escape of Marc Chagall, Hannah Arendt, Max Ernst, Franz Werfel as well as hundreds of others. While much of this novel is based on fact, Orringer also creates a fictionalized world of love, identity, and complex moral dilemmas. Given limited time and resources, whose life is worth saving? A big beautiful book which is a delight to read.
-Lisa Dietrich
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THE PIONEERS
by David McCullough
Pulitzer Prize-winning David McCullough rediscovers the settling of the Northwest Territory by pioneers who overcame hardships to build communities based on three remarkable principles: freedom of religion, free universal education and the prohibition of slavery. This is a fascinating story and one of local interest-the wilderness empire northwest of the Ohio River contained the future states of Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois.
-Kathy Petray |
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NANAVILLE
by Anna Quindlen
I loved this sweet, funny, and very wise book that's perfect for grandparents. Anna Quindlen cleverly conveys advice within stories of how she has navigated into Nanaville. Her story is filled with humorous gems of wisdom and lessons learned. Of her little grandson, Arthur, she says "...in the house of family, Nana is wallpaper and Pop is a chandelier." For herself, she says "and respecting the parents is the linchpin of success in Nanaville."
Nanaville is a treasure!
-Beth Mynhier
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CAPE MAY
by Chip Cheek
When newlyweds Effie and Henry arrive in Cape May, New Jersey in September for their honeymoon, the town is quiet and dreary and they find themselves slightly lost and uncomfortable with each other. The tides soon turn, when Clara, a glamorous socialite, her lover Max and his sister arrive and start up the party. Betrayal and loss of innocence have a lasting effect on the marriage. A stunning debut novel!
-Maxwell Gregory
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MIRACLE CREEK
by Angie Kim
This month I had jury duty, so I decided to take a new courtroom thriller to pass the time. I picked a winner! Kim, a Harvard Law School graduate, gives the reader a gripping tale centered on an explosion in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber used to treat autistic children. A mother finds herself on trial for the murder of two people, one her own autistic son. Part mystery, part family drama, Miracle Creek delves into the complex relationship between parent and child, and how far one is willing to go to keep secrets safely hidden.
-Laura Skinner
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WHAT MY MOTHER AND I DON'T TALK ABOUT: FIFTEEN WRITERS BREAK THE SILENCE
Edited by Michele Filgate
This book is getting a lot of chatter in the literary world, but, c'mon, can 200+ pages even begin to make a dent in this topic? It seems the answer is yes! I loved this collection of essays by 15 (new to me) authors. It is an eclectic and literary grouping of stories that are beautifully written and unputdownable. While each is very specific to the author's own experiences, they all find a way of being able to connect to the reader. My favorites were numbers 1, 11, 12, & 14, but you should read it to discover your own.
-Molly Forlow |
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THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON
by Sara Collins
A servant and a former slave is accused of murdering her employer and his wife in this historical thriller. Frannie claims she can't remember what happened that fateful evening, even if remembering could save her life. But she does have a tale to tell: the story of her childhood on a Jamaican plantation, her "apprenticeship" under the master of the plantation and the events that brought her into the Benhams' London home.
-Kathy Petray |
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THE GUEST BOOK
by Sarah Blake
Both poignant and beautifully crafted, this novel plunges us into the depths of the Milton family, slowly exposing their secrets, betrayals and prejudices through the generations. This privileged family purchases Crockett island, creating their own sanctuary, yet ultimately they cannot escape themselves. A must read!
-Maxwell Gregory
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BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, FAITH AND RESILIENCE
by Allison Pataki
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DEAR MRS. BIRD
by A. J. Pearce
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MILK!: A 10,000-YEAR FOOD FRACAS
by Mark Kurlansky
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TELL ME MORE
by Kelly Corrigan
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THE BANKER'S WIFE
by Cristina Alger
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THE BOOKSHOP OF YESTERDAYS
by Amy Meyerson
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THE MARS ROOM
by Rachel Kushner
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THE SOUL OF AMERICA: THE BATTLE FOR OUR BETTER ANGELS
by Jon Meacham
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THERE THERE
by Tommy Orange
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WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LULULEMONS
by Lauren Weisberger
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| MIDDLE SCHOOL & YOUNG ADULT SUGGESTIONS |
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MIDDLE SCHOOL:
A WOLF CALLED WANDER
by Rosanne Parry
This beautifully illustrated book is based on the true story of a wolf known as OR-7 that naturalists tracked in the wild and is told in his voice. Separated from his pack, Wander must fend for himself and find a new habitat. Encountering dangers both natural and man-made on his journey through the Northwest, kids will root for him and his desire to create a home and family. This book is full of adventure, and a great way to learn about these incredible animals. Included at the end is a map of his journey and more detailed information about wolves.
-Di Grumhaus
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MIDDLE SCHOOL:
HOPE AND OTHER PUNCH LINES
by Julie Buxbaum
Abbi Hope Goldstein's first birthday fell on 9/11 and an iconic photo of her, and others, was captured as the South Tower is collapsing behind them. This new book by NYT best-selling author of Tell Me Three Things delves into how that photo has shaped Abbi's life. Fast forward fifteen years and Abbi connects with Noah, also dealing with his own loss from that day, and they work together to track down the other people in the photo. Sweet, serious and even funny, this book is a great addition to literature on 9/11 for teens.
-Di Grumhaus
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MIDDLE SCHOOL:
UP FOR AIR
by Laurie Morrison
Middle-schooler Annabelle isn't great when it comes to academics, but put her in the pool, and she flies through the water. High school heartthrob, Connor, has nicknamed her "Hummingbird" because she is small but quick. Summer on Gray Island gives Annabelle a break from the classroom, and brings her closer to the kids on the swim team. Her friend, Jeremy, is great at school but just okay in the water. Fellow middle-schooler Mia has a mean girl streak, and when Annabelle is moved up to swim with the high-schoolers, friendships are strained. Her mom and step-dad aren't thrilled with Annabelle's new high school friends, either. Connor is so charming, fun, and pays a lot of attention to Annabelle, but when she finds herself in trouble, it's Jeremy who proves his friendship.
-Beth Mynhier
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Lake Forest Book Store
662 N. Western Avenue
Lake Forest IL 60045
847-234-4420
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