October Books We're Excited To Read

Small Great Things by Jodi PicoultPicoult's newest novel comes out October 11th. The story revolves around Ruth Jefferson, a labor and delivery nurse, who is caring for a newborn when she is suddenly transferred to another patient, because the parents of the newborn are white supremacists and Ruth is African-American. The next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. She hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. A legal battle ensues. Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. 

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
From the author of Where'd You Go Bernadette, Semple's newest book comes out October 4th.  The story follows Eleanor Flood, a married mother, who knows she's a mess. On the same day her son decides to fake sick in order to stay home and spend time with his mother, Eleanor discovers that her husband is on vacation, and hasn't told her. Just when it seems like things can't go more awry, an encounter with a former colleague produces a graphic memoir whose dramatic tale threatens to reveal a buried family secret. 

The Trespasser by Tana French
Book #6 in the Dublin Murder Squad series comes out October 4th. Detective Antoinette Conway is new to the Murder Squad when she gets the case of Aislinn Murray, a blond, pretty woman, dead in her catalogue-perfect living room, next to a table set for a romantic dinner. Antoinette has seen her somewhere before, but she can't quite say where. The more Antionette and her partner dig into the case, the more they learn that Aislinn is not the perfect doll she appeared to be. 

The Mothers by Brit Bennett
Coming out October 11th, Bennett's debut novel is a surprising story about young love. When senior in high school Nadia Turner, who is mourning the suicide of her mother, gets pregnant by Luke Sheppard, the local pastor's son, the cover up that takes place will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth. As Nadia hides her secret from everyone, including Aubrey, her God-fearing best friend, the years move quickly. Soon, Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey are full-fledged adults and still living in debt to the choices they made that one seaside summer, caught in a love triangle they must carefully maneuver, and dogged by the constant, nagging question: What if they had chosen differently? 

News of the World by Paulette Jiles
This historical fiction novel hits the shelves October 4th. In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people. A band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna's parents and sister, but spared the girl and raised her as one of their own. When the U.S. army rescues the ten year old, they commission Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd to take her to her aunt and uncle from Wichita to San Antonio. The two strangers begin to trust one another eventually on the 400 mile journey.  Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.

Read-Alike Monday: Daniel Silva

Lake Forest Library patrons love Daniel Silva's books because of their intriguing, well researched storylines. Silva's most popular series features Mossad agent Gabriel Allon, a master art restorer and sometime officer of Israeli intelligence. These novels are violent, well written spy thrillers and readers can't get enough of them! The first book in this series is The Kill Artist. For those of you that are already fans and are just waiting to get your hands on the latest in the series, The Black Widow, try some of these authors in the meantime.

Read-Alikes:

Alan Furst: writes historical spy novels set just before World War II. His books are well researched and involve complex plots. Start with Night Soldiers- set in Bulgaria, 1934 when a young man is murdered by the local fascists. His brother, Khristo Stoianev, is recruited into the NKVD, the Soviet secret intelligence service, and sent to Spain to serve in its civil war. Warned that he is about to become a victim of Stalin’s purges, Khristo flees to Paris. Night Soldiers masterfully re-creates the European world of 1934–45: the struggle between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia for Eastern Europe, the last desperate gaiety of the beau monde in 1937 Paris, and guerrilla operations with the French underground in 1944.

Brian Freemantle: writes suspenseful espionage novels featuring smart, complex intelligence operatives who are enmeshed in dangerous, sometimes violent, cat-and-mouse games involving terrorists, the KGB, or the CIA. Start with Charlie M, the first in the Charlie Muffin series. Charlie Muffin, a British spy, finds himself shot at and missed and then shot at and hit by his own employers in this truly excellent novel of double crosses in the spy game.

Graham Greene: wrote many different kinds of books, but several focusing on international politics and espionage. These titles include, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana, and The Human Factor. These stories wrestle with the moral consequences of spying and the impact that killing has on those who kill.

Andrew Grant: writes intricately plotted and violent espionage thrillers whose tales lead through mazes of double and triple-crosses. Start with Even, the first in a series of books featuring Royal Naval Intelligence officer, David Trevellyan. The story begins when David is set up for the murder of a homeless man in New York City. He must solve this international conspiracy to save himself and seek justice for the homeless victim.  

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE! NEVER GROW OLD

“If you decide to take the bus, turn to page 35…If you run away, turn to page 55.”  Oh, the delicious anticipation as we make our choice, then turn to page directed. What happens next?  Most of us, or our children, have spent time choosing among the various exciting paths in Choose Your Own Adventurebooks.  A perennial favorite, the adventures could range from dealing with a HAL-like computer to surviving in the Canadian Rockies, or investigating a ghostly island, to solving a jewel heist in Paris.  Originally published in the late 1970s by R.A. Montgomery as Vermont Crossroads Press (now Chooseco), the multiple ending format saw waning interest, but is now experiencing an expanded resurgence.  Other types of adventure include a more socially tuned in series – Choose Your Destiny -  survival scenarios set in various historical eras around the world, and adventures featuring some favorite comic characters.  The Children's Library has a list of the various titles and series including:

  

You Choose   

   

 Choose Your Own Adventure 


  

You Choose

    

You Choose

You Choose

You Choose

Choose Your Destiny

Worst Case Scenario