Virgie's Picks

May 2013: I am a Khaled Hosseini’s fan, who has been waiting five years for a new story, since Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I can truthfully say that this is certainly worth that very long wait. This is the heart-breaking story of an Afghanistan family split apart by poverty and desperation. The story takes you on a journey spanning over 50 years and across multiple countries, yet starts and finishes with the same characters. What more can I say … just read this book! You won’t be disappointed!

May 2013: This insightful, heart wrenching story is about an abandoned child and the mother who abandoned her at birth. It toggles between the mother’s story (from the past) and the young girl’s story, as she searches for her mother, her family, her identity. Both pain-filled stories are narrated by the young abandoned girl. My heart ached for the plight of both characters! It made me take a hard look at foster kids as well as parents who choose to give up their child. There is no easy answer!

February 2013: I absolutely loved this book from the moment I started reading it. The story is told through two women traveling together to a funeral; elderly Isabelle who recalls her life through flashbacks to the late 1930s and her African-American hairdresser, Dorrie, who is dealing with her own life issues. The story is a mixture of historical romance, a contemporary romance, civil rights and women’s rights all tied up in an emotional page turner that will keep you hooked until the last page and leave you wishing it hadn’t ended so soon.

January 2013: I have to recommend this book once more, since it won the National Book Award for Non-Fiction! The story reads like a novel. The author immerses herself in the slums of Mumbai and takes readers to the hidden world of those who live there. Heartbreaking and beautifully written! This is a book NOT to be missed!

January 2013: Calling all women! Think about your girlfriends from pre-school, grade school, teen years, motherhood years, and more. What have these girlfriends taught you? How have they made you the person you are today? This book includes 20 short essays, reflecting on girlfriends at various stages of the author’s life. What I treasure about this book is that it caused me to reflect on my own girlfriends, and KNOW the importance of them in my life! This is a reflective read for women of all ages!

This novel is about a young woman who’s trying to keep her family together in 1957 China, at the beginning of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. At this time in history, Chairman Mao Zedong invited intellectuals to speak their thoughts for the good of the country. Kai Ying’s husband spoke his thoughts and as a result was left to raise their young son on her own, all the while wondering what had become of her husband and when, or if, he would ever return. On a recent trip to China, I discussed this historical time with a man who was a teacher during the revolution. This powerful novel helped me further understand the dramatic change that took place in China.

Never Fall Down is based on the true story of an 11-year-old boy who survived the Killing Fields of Cambodia by playing music for the Khmer Rouge. The author creatively exposes the ugliness and brutality of this genocide, while leaving a beautiful tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit. I found this to be a powerful and inspiring book, which appeals to teens as well as adults.

If you enjoyed reading Bridget Jones Diary and are looking for a light, fun summer read, then I suggest you consider this book. This is the story of Alice Buckle, who is going through her own mid-life crisis, and identifies her true feelings as she participates in an anonymous study about marriage. She develops a quirky relationship with her “researcher.” The story is told through an unconventional structure; Facebook and Twitter updates, text messages, e-mails, Google searches, and even playwriting scenes. I grew to love the character of Wife 22 as she uncovers her thoughts about marriage, trust, betrayal and midlife.

This is the story of two sisters, young girls, who are abandoned by their mother in British Columbia after their father dies. The girls, left to grow up in the home of a childless (and not very happy) couple, never lose the longing for their lost mother and the hope that she will return. As the girls enter their teen years the effects of abandonment begin to grow, as their own questions arise. This story celebrates the love between two sisters and the complicated bonds of family. It generates thoughts about a woman’s responsibility to herself and to those she loves.

This is the story of Jane Goodall as a young girl presented in a way that is sure to appeal to the targeted age group of 4 to 8. It features Doctor Goodall as a little girl and her stuffed chimpanzee as they begin an adventure which will take her on an amazing life adventure in Africa, far from her home; an adventure that is continuing to this day. Me … Jane is the 2012 Caldecott Award Honor Book. I cannot think of a better book to inspire young readers, both girls and boys, to dream and more importantly, reach for their dreams.

Middle graders, boys or girls, will be captivated by this book, but readers in that age range who like fantasy and magic, will simply love this story. This clever tale hits the ground running and never lets up. The reader follows the adventures of Stuart Horton, a 10 year old boy who has just moved to a new town. Stuart explores his Great Uncle’s abandoned house and is surprised to find that his dad’s uncle is a famous magician who has left a mystery for the right clever young boy to solve. Stuart finds clues left behind by his great-uncle which leads him on a treasure hunt looking for the hidden workshop. It is a magical blend of mystery and just the right amount of magical adventure to keep young readers glued to the pages. The thrills and action are age appropriate for preteen readers.

Pulitzer Prize writer Katherine Boo has written what I claim to be my favorite, must-read book of this year! Yes, it’s that good! For three years the author basically embedded herself in a slum of Mumbai, India, so readers could see, hear, and – to a degree – understand the lives of the residents who experience rampant corruption by those supposed to protect them, with little chance for upward mobility. Although the book is a narrative nonfiction, it feels like a favorite fiction read. The characters are real people you can understand even without having to live the terrible existence they take as normal. What is most powerful is that this is not a book about India . . . it is also a book about America and India. Read between the lines and you see that Katherine Boo wants her reader to look at America to see the parallels that connect us. We like to think that America is better off than India. However, we live in the same world; only the names are different.

This touching book, based on a true story, is told through the voice of Ivan, a silverback gorilla. I just loved every character—both animal and human; Ivan the artistic gorilla, Stella the stoic mother elephant, Bob the tough on the outside but not so tough on the inside dog, and of course Ruby the baby elephant who just wants to be loved. And the humans: George the sympathetic caretaker and his daughter Julie, a bit like Fern in Charlotte’s web because she can almost understand Ivan—or at least understand his art. The book makes the reader both sad and happy at the same time and has a fantastic ending. It teaches compassion towards animals in the same way that Wilbur did in Charlotte’s web.

This book contains two stories, set 50 years apart. The story of Ben is told through words. The story of Rose is told through amazing, detailed pictures. Both children are deaf, and struggle to find what they are looking for. The two stories intertwine, and at the end, they come together into one creative and tender story. This book is great not only for independent readers, but also as a read-aloud to younger, emerging readers. The book gives many opportunities for observation and discussion as the stories unfold. I loved it!

This is NOT a story about about bridezillas but rather reflections on the most important moments in the life of a bride-to-be! A best-selling journalist and author of The Girls From Ames, Jeffrey Zaslow visits a small town wedding shop to uncover the dreams of real women on the verge of commitment. Becker’s Bridal Shop, a four generation family business, is located in a small rural town 90 minutes from Detroit. Within the bank-turned-bridal-shop is the “magic room”, a renovated bank vault, where thousands of brides-to-be try on their dream dresses. The author is drawn to the emotional life transition stories that take place in this small shop, paying attention to the bonds between daughter and family. As one looks at these four generation interactions you can see the changes in culture and how America views the institution of marriage. These reflections may be helpful to consider as you look back on your own wedding day, or look forward to that special day for that special someone in your life!

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, crafts an inspirational meditation on dealing with life’s biggest challenges.  She is no stranger to adversity! Although she does not dwell on the specifics of her adversities, Edwards’ thoughtful reflections are an inspiration, and provide helpful perspective.  This is the perfect reading for anyone who seeks peace in knowing they are not alone with life’s problems. “You cannot change the wind, but you can adjust the sails. How we adjust our life now does make a difference in the life we have left.”

This book has been around for several years, but has a new meaning in the light of todays H1N1 Flu epidemic. The story is inspired by the true event of a plague that occured in 1665 in a town in England. Within a year, two thirds of the town was dead, and the other third were taking over more responsibilities. Through the eyes of the main character, observe what can happen in a community that faces such a tragedy. How did the plague affect faith ... relationships ... social order? This is a very moving story which gives thought to our own potential danger!

This is a story of two rural Iowa families, each with seven year old daughters who are best friends. Calli suffers from selective mutism, brought on by a family tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler. Petra is her best friend, her soul mate, her voice!  On a normal weekend, these two families are awakened to the unbearable situation ... both girls are missing! This is a mystery to be solved! Are the girls together? Are they lost in the woods? Or have they been abducted? Calli’s brother Ben searches for the girls in the woods, only to come upon a grizzly scene. Will Calli be able to finally use her words to tell what really happened in the woods?
This is a captivating story which will keep you up late at night ... it’s just too difficult to put down!

The title of this book is deceiving! This is a story not of an apparent happy marriage, but rather the stunning realization, at a time of loss, of the underlying components of a happy marriage! The author uses a creative format to tell the story, alternating each chapter between past and present. The “past” chapters tell of Enrique’s and Margaret’s meeting, forming a relationship, getting married, and struggling through some hard times. The “present”chapters tell of Margaret’s struggle with cancer, and how she endures her final days of life. It is in the act of supporting his wife’s acceptance of death, that Enrique comes to a gratifying realization of the wonder of his marriage. This heart-breaking story was a help to me as I support my sister who is dying of cancer. It gives one much to think about! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a closer look at their significant relationships.

Daoud is a tribesman living in Darfur, who tells his story of escaping an attack by Sudanese militia. After reaching safety in a refuge camp in Chad, he feels a need to inform the world of the genocide that is happening in Sudan. Using his English, Daoud accompanies western journalists into Sudan, acting as their translator, so the story can be told around the world. “If God must break your leg, He will at least teach you to limp.” This is a gripping memoir!

This young reader's edition of the world-wide bestseller Three Cups of Tea, has been adapted for young readers, ages 8+. This is the remarkable true story of one man's vision to provide hope for children (especially girls), by building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The book includes updated information and new photos, as well as a special interview with Amira Mortenson (12 year old daughter of the author) Amira, who has traveled with her father to Pakistan, reflects on the differences between children in the US and children in Pakistan. She describes the Pennies for Peace Project, and challenges children to make a difference, by supporting this project. This is a great book to inspire young citizens to participate in a service that can help others less fortunate.

If books can be passports to other places, then The Orphan Master’s Son allows you to enter the forbidden land of North Korea. This thrilling novel explores the mysterious dictatorship of North Korea under the rule of the eccentric Kim Jong-il. The author conducted extensive research and traveled to North Korea, perhaps the most secretive nation on earth, in order to accurately set the background for the story of Jun Do, a young fellow groomed in the hell-holes the regime sets aside for orphans. In my opinion, the book is a little slow in the beginning but it picks up really quickly after about 100 pages. Don’t give up! It is a worthy read!