This wasn\\\'t a book that I thought I\\\'d enjoy - the subject matter is scary to contemplate. But the story as told from the point of view of 5 year old Jack is one of resilience and bravery and a mother \\\'s love. Highly recommended! It was a book that I couldn\\\'t put down.

My club loved this book, a fictional biography of Ernest Hemingway's first wife and their lives in Europe after WWI. It was interesting to view this more personal side of the author.

I loved this book, although it was very different from my usual reads. Sylvie is a 13 year old girl who is trying to come to terms with what happened the night her demonologist parents were murdered. She has had an unusual upbringing and the kids in town view her family as strange. Although I found some parts a bit scary it is not a horror novel by any means. I felt that I was right alongside Sylvie as she begins to learn the truth. The novel switches back and forth from the present to the months leading up to the murders. I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Set in WWII Paris during the occupation, this is the story of an ambition French Architect, Lucien Bernard, who discovers that he is actually "a righteous man." When Lucien first agrees to build a secret hide-away for a Jew, he is only looking to get a large commission. The gentleman who hires him to design these hide-aways can also get him commissions to design factories for the Germans. Lucien does not see himself as the collaborator the Resistance labels him, but slowly he begins to rethink his work for the Germans. As the occupation drags on, Lucien finds that he not only getting revenge on the Germans who have taken over his beloved city, but he begins to empathize with those he is saving. But the Germans have discovered one of his hiding places and are determined to find who built it, and one of his designs has failed terribly. Danger is moving and closer and Lucien has too much to lose.

This impressive debut novel brings to life the stories of three very different women during WWII. Based on the life of New York socialite Caroline Ferriday, it is a historical novel full of both heartbreak and hope. Caroline is working for the French embassy in NY when war breaks out. Her philanthropic efforts extended from French orphans to the women later released from the concentration camps. The character of Kasia, based on actual survivors, is a young Polish girl who gets caught up in the resistance and is sent to the women's camp Ravensbruck along with her mother and sister. There she is subjected to the medical experimentation of Dr. Herta Oberhauser, the only female defendant at the Nuremburg Medical Trial. This is recommended for those who are interested in WWII, especially some lesser known events. Despite the horrors and tragedy, the novel is one of human resilience.

A dramatic story of motherhood, family and the lives of undocumented immigrants. Letty is a 33 year-old mother of 2 who has allowed her children to be raised by her parents while she works 3 jobs. When her parents suddenly decide to return to live in Mexico, Letty is finally forced to be a mother to 13 year-old Alex and 6 year-old Luna. How can she provide them with a good life when she has only a high school education? How can she be a parent all on her own? Along the way, Alex risks everything for the love of his girlfriend, an illegal immigrant. Letty must finally grow up herself so that she raise her children. This is a heartfelt story about a mother searching for a way to give her children the American Dream.