PatchPicks: Book Recommendations

This weeks's PatchPicks are courtesy of Connie Regan, Fiction, Movies and Music Manager at Cook Memorial Public Library.

For Adults

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

Why does Skippy, a fourteen-year-old boy at Dublin’s venerable Seabrook College, end up dead on the floor of the local doughnut shop? Why Skippy dies and what happens next is the subject of this dazzling and uproarious novel, unraveling a mystery that links the boys of Seabrook College to their parents and teachers in ways nobody could have imagined.

The Imperfectionists  by Tom Rachman

In this hilarious yet heartbreaking debut, Rachman chronicles the slow but steady demise of a fictional international newspaper. The chaos of the newsroom becomes a stage for characters unified by their inevitable plight, with each chapter presenting an affecting look into the life of a different player.

Man in the Woods by Scott Spencer

Paul Phillips, a master carpenter, is living in bucolic upstate New York with Kate Ellis and her daughter, Ruby. But Paul's life begins to implode after a chance encounter results in an irrevocable act that no one witnesses, save a mixed-breed dog he renames Shep. Paul suffers the burden of his terrible secret: the fear of discovery and punishment and the equally disturbing fear of getting away with his crime.

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer

In 1937, Andras Lévi, a Hungarian-Jewish architecture student, arrives in Paris from Budapest with a scholarship, a single suitcase, and a mysterious letter he promised to deliver. But when he falls into a complicated relationship with the letter's recipient, he becomes privy to a secret that will alter the course of his—and his family’s—history.

Room by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the world, where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma, eats, sleeps and plays. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, to keep him away from Old Nick.  But to Ma, Room is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him.

For Teens

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (aka Thrice B) have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). Still, Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope and girl of unyielding optimism, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. But when a fatal tragedy threatens Amber's optimism--and her way of life, can Amber continue to be the rock star of hope?  With an oddball cast of characters, and a heartwarming, inspiring story, this novel unveils a beautifully beaten-up world of laughs, loyalty, and hard-earned hope.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells and corridors, but metal forests, dilapidated cities, and wilderness. It has been sealed for centuries, and only one man has ever escaped. Finn has always been a prisoner here. Although he has no memory of his childhood, he is sure he came from Outside.  Finn discovers a crystal key which enables him to open any door and also to communicate with Claudia, the warden’s daughter, who also finds a crystal key, and who is determined to escape an arranged marriage.

Next week's Patch Picks: Summer Camps. Put your suggestions in the comments box. And be sure to come back to see our Libertyville Patchers' picks.