Kidder introduces a new hero for our time. Deo— a survivor of the Rwandan massacres—through a combination of what can only be described as grace and good fortune, manages to get to the U.S., squatting in a tenement in New York City and camping in Central Park while working as a grocery delivery man. Befriended by perceptive and tenacious strangers, he makes his way to Columbia University, medical school, and Dr. Paul Farmer with Partners in Health—the subject of Kidder’s book Mountains Beyond Mountains. Kidder examines Deo’s remarkable life and journey with sensitivity, compassion, and awe at the example set by Deo’s sheer capacity for hope. ~ Mary
~ We anticipate a visit to Bainbridge by Kidder in Fall 2010!

The Lacuna (Harper), a lavish, luscious novel told through diaries and letters, is a splendid mixture of art and politics. The language and characters are vintage Kingsolver. Historical fiction doesn’t get any better—you’ll meet Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Leon Trotsky. There’s a mystery, too, so don’t be discouraged if you’re confused at first!”

This chapter book is intended by the publisher for an audience in grades
4-8. I found it a beautiful and satisfying read. Wonderfully illustrated by Foreman’s watercolors, it’s a multi-layered story of a boy who, through his obsession with learning to play the violin, learns a painful secret and manages to draw his family together. This is a very sensitive introduction to the difficult subjects of the Holocaust and family secrets. ~ Mary