The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden

by Karina Yan Glaser

Vanderbeeker fans, the wait is almost over! The sequel to the enchanting middle-grade novel,  The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street comes out on September 25th and it does not disappoint. This time, the lovable Vanderbeekers are on summer vacation–having adventures in their Harlem neighborhood and trying to create a community garden. This is a must-read for the kids in your life and would make a fantastic classroom read aloud for upper elementary. Look out for my interview with author Karina Yan Glaser on Episode 6 of  the A Bookish Home podcast, coming up on Thursday, September 20th. Amy Poehler also recently optioned the rights to The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, so I’m hoping we see this heartwarming, funny book on the big screen soon!

Look for The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden at your local library or bookstore or order online:

Indiebound    Amazon     Amazon Kindle

What We Were Promised

by Lucy Tan

What We Were Promised is the stunning debut novel by Lucy Tan that draws the reader into the world of modern Shanghai from the views of the wealthy Zhen family, and Sunny, the housekeeper employed at their luxury high rise. Fans of The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee will find What We Were Promised also delivers keen observations and a carefully woven story with deeply buried secrets.  Library Journal declares, “A novel of class, culture, and expectations; readers who enjoyed works like Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians will likely find Tan’s surprising and down-to-earth tale an entertaining read.” And Booklist writes, “Tan’s first novel is beautiful and compassionate as it explores how identity is reinvented and the importance of confronting the past to move into the future.” Lucy Tan will be on the podcast to discuss What We Were Promised on October 4th!

Look for What We Were Promised at your local library or bookstore or order online:

Indiebound.    Amazon     Amazon Kindle

I’d Rather Be Reading:

The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life

by Anne Bogel

Bibliophiles and fellow fans of author Anne Bogel’s Modern Mrs. Darcy blog and What Should I Read Podcast will enjoy her new book of essays on the reading life: I’d Rather Be Reading.  I listened to the audiobook and it was a treat to hear some of Anne’s backstory as a reader and the role books have played in her life as I took note of countless literary references. If you’re looking to make the leap from podcasts to audiobooks, this conversational collection would be an excellent place to start.

Look for I’d Rather Be Reading at your local library or bookstore or order online:

Indiebound     Amazon     Amazon Kindle

Forever or a Day 

by Sarah Jacoby

This gorgeous picture book examines the mysterious nature of time. In Forever or a Day, we look at time from a child’s point of view. The narrator notes, “Sometimes it’s far, far away–like when you will be old, gazing out at the sea” and later,  “You cannot hold it. You cannot give it to someone in exchange for a snack.” School Library Journal notes, “This is a book that bears repeated readings. Its treasures reveal themselves on close examination and its subject matter is, of course, profound…. A lovely lap book, exceptionally well-suited for intergenerational sharing again and again.” For those doing Mock Caldecotts this year, I think Forever or a Day‘s detailed illustrations and complex topic would be perfect for discussion with older picture book readers.

Look for Forever or a Day at your local library or bookstore or order online:

Indiebound     Amazon

Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win

by Jo Piazza

Jo Piazza is the author of six books, including The Knockoff and How to Be Married. In her new novel, Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win, a Silicon Valley executive decides to return to her small hometown in Pennsylvania to run for the Senate. The campaign that follows will turn her life upside down in more ways than she ever expected. Library Journal writes, “Piazza’s contemporary representation of what women go through to become successful politicians is both insightful and honest. Rooted in current events, the plot precisely captures the modern political environment. It’s easy to empathize with and cheer for this likable heroine.”

Look for Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win at your local library or bookstore or order online:

Indiebound    Amazon     Amazon Kindle

 

What have you been reading lately? I’d love to hear!  Leave a note in the comments or let me know on Twitter @ABookishHome.

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Happy Reading!

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

 

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