If you’re wondering what book you should pick up next, just ask an expert! T&S checked in with Holland Saltsman, owner of The Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves, to get her current list of must-reads for all ages.
the almost sisters by Joshilyn Jackson » Jackson had me at tequila, Batman and a return to the South. In what I can only describe as Comic-Con meets The Help, this book takes readers on an endearing and entertaining trip where we learn what superheroes really look like.
the reason you’re alive by Matthew Quick » Quick’s books never fail to move me, and his latest continues this streak, solidifying a position on my ‘favorites’ shelf. David, a Vietnam vet, struggles to maintain family relationships and is trying his best to bring closure to an incident from the war that haunts him involving a Native American solider. Humor and hope are found throughout the story, as his inability to filter anything he says makes him one of the most aggravating and endearing characters I’ve ever encountered.
this is not the end by Chandler Baker (young adult) » I read this book in one sitting. These characters—and that twist, oh the twist!—have stuck with me for days. What if resurrection were a reality? This mesmerizing novel is like We Were Liars and Sophie’s Choice with a trace of Unwind. A story of impossible choices that is as layered as it is exciting.
i want to be in a scary story by Sean Taylor (picture book) » This is an entertaining picture book about an adorable little monster who desperately wants to be in a scary book, except that once he realizes how very scary the scary books are, he starts to change his mind. A fun read-aloud for kids of all ages about finding out that sometimes what we really want isn’t always the best.
>> In anticipation of the solar eclipse Aug. 21, Holland says check out: American Eclipse by David Baron