For readers who have met New York author (and eventual resident of Maine) Lucy Barton in Strout’s other books, this is an interesting deep dive into her life. It focuses on a period in. Barton’s life where her children were young and she is in the hospital for nine weeks with a severe infection following routine surgery. Not sure if I would have enjoyed this story if I hadn’t read about Barton in Strout’s other books.

We love this series! The illustrations are lovely and cute. Bird and bear are such great friends.

Full of adventure and interesting characters.

Harry Potter is the best book series in the entire world.

This book kept popping into my radar as an Indie Next pick for July 2025 and I read about it via The NY Times. I don’t often go for nonfiction memoir/biography but my interest piqued at this tale of a couple surviving adrift for four months after their yacht capsized. It’s a wild story and worth a read. I listen to the short audiobook on Spotify.

Beautiful picture book that encourages everyone to try and repair or better our world.

This Magic Treehouse book was very informative- covering the harsh conditions and cruelty of the Civil War. Jack and Annie meet Clara Barton and (mild spoiler) a distant ancestor. My 4.5yo thought this book was tragic but interesting.

Have you lived through Covid 19? In this generation you probably have. If you like adventure packed story’s, or feeling guilty for another character, this the book for you. Knox lives in Hong Kong, his home, the land he is from. He has been to America but now he has to live there. To him that’s not so bad, but there’s a catch, he is leaving his one friend behind, his dad. As he moves from the land he once knew to a whole new world, to escape from the dreaded covid 19, he must embark on loneliness, secrets about himself, and his new life! Was escaping Hong Kong enough? What about his dad? Will his mom be able to take care of him, his brother, and sister? Read New From Here by Kelly Yang to find out!

A beautiful book- After finishing, I recommended to my best friend who read it and loved it as well. Matt Haig can take something outlandishly fantastical and weave it into a storyline so believable and inspiring that you start look look for glimpses of that similar magic in your everyday life. A true delight!

It was a very good book for teens and older kids