Don’t judge a book by the cover. This deliciously yellow illustration is true to the novel in that there are two women powerfully connected, but there is a grim reality inside. Little Bee is about a young Nigerian refugee. You can’t help but feel deeply for this character. She has been touched by sadness, poverty, abuse and death. Yet her survival techniques are enduring. This is also the story of a fouryear-old boy who thinks he is Batman, his widowed nine-fingered mother, and his anguished father, all of whom Cleave skillfully weaves together with foreshadowing and suspense into one shocking scene. Little Bee addresses the issues of unfathomable troubles of third world countries and the dark politics of oil while telling a heartbreaking story with unforgettable characters that addresses love, consequences and accountability for human life. ~ Kelly

After reading Cannery Row during Bainbridge Library’s “One Community, One Book” celebration, I revisited a few other Steinbeck books, and laughed out loud as I read this story of a gang of friends near Monterey, California, after World War I, who enjoy wine and life—in that order. ~ Kelly

This is a novel of World War II seen through the eyes of a foster girl near Munich who learns the invaluable skill of reading through the books she steals. It is narrated by Death and is a beautifully written and heart-wrenching Holocaust story.
Ages 12+ ~ Kelly