The Wright Brothers / David McCullough. Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the world when they took flight. This biography by a master of historical writing looks at the lives of the two geniuses before and after the triumphant day.

Movies

Against the sun  An engrossing film based on a true story of three US Navy aviators in a raft on the open ocean with little hope of rescue. After a crash landing, these men must find ways to survive with next to no resources but their knowledge and will to survive. Storms, sharks, starvation are just some of their ordeals with finding land as the major obstacle. Visually interesting given the setting and well portrayed by Tom Felton, Garret Dillahunt and Jake Abel.

The Precipice: a novel by Paul Doiron. Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch joins the desperate search for two female hikers who have disappeared on a remote stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Eventually two corpses are found, their bones picked clean by increasingly aggressive coyotes. Soon Maine is panicked by the fear of killer coyotes but Mike’s girlfriend wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens insists that the scavengers are being wrongly blamed. She believes that there is a two legged murderer loose and when Stacey disappears the search turns personal..

 In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume.  It is 1987 and Miri Ammerman has returned to her home town of Elizabeth, New Jersey to commemorate the worst year of her life. In 1952, thirty five years earlier when she was fifteen and in love for the first time,  a succession of plane crashes devastated her community. Blume paints a vivid portrait of the early 50’s: its love and friendships, its fads and music, A-Bomb hysteria and rumors of the communist threat. Blume uses actual events that she experienced to remind us that from one generation to another life goes on.

The President’s Shadow by Brad Melzer.  It appears that Ward Beecher has an ordinary job working with the National Archives but he has a much more important mission. He is a member of the Culper Ring, a secret society formed by George Washington. The current President needs the Culper Ring’s help after a severed arm is discovered buried in the White House Rose Garden. The trail leads Beecher to one of  our country’s greatest secrets.

Inspector of the Dead by David Morrell. The year is 1855 and as the Crimean war rages the British losses cause the fall of the government. As the Empire teeters , along comes one of the most idiosyncratic personalities of Victorian England, opium-eater Thomas De Quincy, tracking a killer targeting prominent Londoners. De Quincey comes to the conclusion that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself.   

Country: a Novel by Danielle Steel. Stephanie Adams is a stay-at-home mother stuck in a loveless marriage for the sake of the children. Suddenly, at the early age of 52, her husband dies, and she is forced to move on with her life as she juggles loneliness and her children’s grief. On a chance road trip her life changes when she meets country music star Chase Taylor and their mutual attraction opens up a whole new world.

Kill Chain: The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins by Andrew Cockburn The widespread use of drones is arguably the most significant change of how we fight wars in the twenty-first century, and yet the implications of this are not widely understood. Andrew Cockburn’s fascinating new book explores both the history of drone warfare and the strategic, political, and moral consequences.

The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789 by Joseph J. Ellis Perhaps the largest misconception about the American Revolution is that it gave birth to “a new Nation.” In fact, at the time of the Revolutionary War, the American colonies thought of themselves as sovereign republics joined in a temporary wartime alliance to overthrow British rule. The creation of the United States, in what Ellis calls the “Second American Revolution” followed only after years of political maneuvering by four men: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

Empire of Deception: The Incredible Story of a Master Swindler Who Seduced a City and Captivated the Nation by Dean Jobb Before there was Bernie Madoff there was Leo Koretz. Amid the political corruption, speakeasies, and gang violence of Chicago in the Roaring Twenties, Koretz masterminded a Ponzi scheme that hundreds of people investing the modern equivalent of 400 million dollars in nonexistent Panama timber land and oil wells. The international manhunt that ensued lasted nearly a year.

So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson In this insightful new book Jon Ronson examine the aftermath of those who have been publicly shamed—people who have seen their entire lives turned upside-down by a single big mistake or ill-advised Tweet. As always, Ronson’s writing is highly informative while remaining light and amusing.

Grain of Truth: The Real Case for and Against Wheat and Gluten by Stephen Yafa Has wheat been given a bad rap? Yafta examines the recent explosion of gluten free diets with a careful, balanced, and thorough examination of the science and history of wheat production and consumption. He also points to some of the real problems with modern sources of wheat, which have less to do with gluten itself and more to do with the needs of industrial-scale mass production.

All the Rage by Courtney Summers Romy Grey was assaulted by Kellan Turner, the sheriff’s son. After speaking out, she was bullied and called a liar by her friends. The only place she felt safe was at work, a diner in a nearby town. When another girl goes missing and news is spreading that she was also assaulted, by Kellan, Romy has to make a choice – does she speak out again or risk more girls getting hurt?

Mosquitoland by David Arnold Mim’s mother is sick in Ohio.  Now Mim has to confront her demons on a thousand-mile odyssey from Mississippi.  Her journey will redefine love, loyalty, and what it is like to be sane.

The Truth Commission by Susan Juby Normandy Pale chronicles the Truth Commission. She and her two friends ask classmates and teachers about open secrets for her "creative non-fiction module" at an art school. At the same time, Normandy’s famous sister reveals unsettling secrets herself.

Chocolate: Sweet Science and Dark Secrets of the World’s Favorite Treat by Kay Frydenborg In this book, teen readers will explore the history and science of chocolate and learn about the cultural background and economic implications of its creation and harvesting.  For chocolate lovers, it is both engaging and enlightening and a must read!  

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa Allison Sekemoto survives in the outermost circle of a vampire city, the Fringe.  When she becomes an immortal vampire, she is forced to flee outside her city walls.  There, she joins  a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend  which might cure the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

My Life in Dioramas by Tara Altebrando In Kate Marino’s candid twelve year old point of view, Tara Altebrando’s story is laced with compassion and humor. Kids will relate to Kate’s initial aversion to change, moving, and subsequent personal growth. Having lived in New York’s Hudson Valley for a long time, the Marino family’s home is lovingly named Big Red and is full of memories. However, Kate’s parents are financially strapped and their solution is to sell their home. Kids and tweens can relate to Kate’s honest feelings, observations, and creative attempts to disrupt the unwelcome move. Kate is torn between holding on to the past or growing into the future. When she realizes that “change is hard, until it’s not”  she finds a creative way to honor her old home by crafting dioramas of Big Red to honor and remember the rooms in which she and her family grew up. Appropriate for children ages 9+

Watch the Sky by Kirsten Hubbard Jory is fairly well adjusted for the company he keeps. His stepfather, Caleb has strict rules to which he adheres and prophesizes that because the end is coming, you must be prepared and therefore NEED to constantly look for the signs. Jory’s escape route from this reality is via school and his friends. Unfortunately, Caleb announces to Jory’s family that the time has arrived and final measures need to be made. Find out what the family is preparing for, what the danger is, what Caleb’s plans are, and what choices Jory makes in this page-turner! Appropriate for kids ages 8+

Underworld: Exploring the Secret World Beneath Your Feet by Jane Price. Descend to another underexposed habitat full of interesting and curious things! Prepare to be visually spellbound and dazed with the descriptions of the network of systems and mazes beneath our feet!  Find out how these complexities existing under a city work and help meet the needs of those residing above. Appropriate for children of all ages!

A Piece of Cake by LeUyen Pham Similar to the classic Golden Books, kids and adults alike will appreciate this new spin on a classic “mouse tale” with its bright colors and warm expressions personified in these charming animals.  Pham’s easily identifiable story elements and  illustrations not only support Common Core State Standards but also serve as  a resource to demonstrate character qualities such as bigheartedness, creativity, and innovation. Appropriate for children ages 4+

Peggy by Anna Walker When a serendipitous wind sweeps up Miss Peggy, an unassuming hen, and relocates her to a big city, a wild adventure is sure to ensue! Kids and adults will love the quirky fun that Peggy experiences as she tries to find her way home. The soft paintings depicting city life and Peggy’s excursion showcase smile-provoking experiences such as shoe shopping, popcorn eating and nesting in a furniture store! This book encourages the readers to chat about travel and tourism, chance, safety and resourcefulness. Appropriate for children in preschool.