Kristy

Moran is not afraid to use the “F” word. In fact, she urges her readers to stand on a chair and proudly yell, “I am a Feminist!” With humor, insight and compassion, Moran takes on everything from bikini waxes to body image to motherhood and politics. I found her take on feminism empowering, refreshing, and a much needed reminder. Even if you don’t agree with all her views, this book will have you laughing and thinking about what it means to be a woman in today’s society. ~ Kristy

This novel is a rare tale of friendship, family, and what it means to be real. Nine-year-old Max lives mostly in his head. He doesn’t have friends and doesn’t like being touched or held. His parents don’t understand him and he is the target of a school bully. Soon Max finds himself in very real danger and Budo, the imaginary friend he brought to life when he was four (and who serves as the narrator of this wonderful tale), is the only one who can save him. Budo’s voice and humanity made me fall in love with this story. Budo is the guardian angel who transports readers inside the vulnerability and imagination of childhood. This novel will break your heart a little, but it will also break you open in the most beautiful way. It is a story you will never forget. ~ Kristy

This is the page-turning account of the dogs rescued from NFL player Michael Vick’s infamous dog fighting ring. It is a love story about a group of selfless and compassionate individuals who saw the potential and beauty in each of these traumatized dogs. It is a story of success even in the wake of brutal abuse. And it is a testament of loyalty, forgiveness, and redemption, for canines and humans alike. This is a must-read for dog lovers, especially pit bull advocates. ~ Kristy

When esteemed writer Anne Lamott became a single mother, she wrote the bestselling memoir, Operating Instructions, a journal of her son Sam’s first year. Now Anne Lamott returns with a journal of Sam’s first year as a father. When Anne discovers that Sam is about to become a father at nineteen, she deals with a whirlwind of emotion, from anger and disappointment to joy and amazement. Told through emails, journal entries and interviews, her story reflects on the complexity of family, from first diaper to first apartment. This is a funny, touching and profound read for mothers, grandmothers and young parents. ~ Kristy

Told from the point of view of Lorenzo, a painfully introverted fourteen-year-old boy, this novel grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. Lorenzo wants so badly for his parents to believe he is “normal” that he lies and says he’s been invited on a ski trip. Really, Lorenzo plans to spend a week in uninterrupted solitude in the cellar of his home. However, his estranged and troubled half sister Olivia arrives unexpectedly with demons of her own. With Olivia in crisis, Lorenzo's courage is put to the test, forcing him to break through his protective shell in a matter of life or death. Emotionally engaging and beautifully written, this book will bravely take you to dark depths and then tenderly bring you back up for air. ~ Kristy

Powerful, relevant, and genuine, this novel tells the story of Rachel, the daughter of a Danish mother and a black G.I. As the sole survivor of a family tragedy, Rachel moves in with her paternal grandmother and aunt. In her new community Rachel confronts the challenges of being a young biracial woman in a world that wants to label her one or the other. Through her growing pains, Rachel proves her bravery, intelligence, and sensitivity. With a sincere, haunting voice, Durrow’s storytelling is moving and impeccable. I highly recommend this book! ~ Kristy

Based on a true event, this story is told to us by Ivan, a silver-back gorilla who has lived in captivity for twenty-seven years inside a mall. Resigned to this, Ivan spends his days drawing and talking to his friends Stella, an elephant, and Bob, a stray dog. All that changes, however, when their keeper acquires a new attraction, a baby elephant named Ruby. When tragedy strikes, Ivan is jolted out of his passivity and faced with an all too human situation: to protect and defend the ones he loves at any cost. Told with great humanity and empathy, The One and Only Ivan is a story about friendship, the power of art and the courage to do what is right. Ages 9-12. ~ Kristy

Meet Karl Shoemaker, a seventeen-year-old high school senior with only one wish: to be normal. This novel for young adults covers the first six days of Karl’s senior year, in which he attempts to distance himself from the Madman Underground, a group of students who are forced to attend in-school therapy. While their lives range from dysfunctional to absolutely tragic, they share a profound intimacy with each others’ stories, The Madman Tales. When I finished this book I wished I could spend a day among Karl and the other Madmen. I hope the people who read this book include teens and beauty queens, teachers and librarians, parents and babysitters, and every misfit who knows what it feels like to be a Madman. For young adults and older. ~ Kristy