Book Smarts

“Lanny” (Hardcover) By Max Porter, Graywolf Press, 160 pages, $24 -- This entrancing new novel is set in a mythical village located an hour from London. “Lanny” is a bewitching tapestry of fabulism, domestic drama, and a defense of creativity and spirit.

“Disappearing Earth: A Novel” (Hardcover) By Julia Phillips, Knopf, 272 pages, $26.95 -- One August, on the shoreline of the Kamchatka peninsula at the northeastern edge of Russia, two girls go missing. This suspenseful and haunting story announces the debut of a profoundly gifted writer.

“Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee” (Hardcover) By Casey Cep, Knopf, 336 pages, $26.95 -- “Furious Hours” unravels the mystery surrounding Harper Lee's first and only work of nonfiction, and the true crimes at the center of it.

“American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West” (Paperback) By Nate Blakeslee, Broadway Books, 320 pages, $16 --
This is a multi-generational saga about the clash between those fighting for a vanishing way of life and those committed to restoring iconic landscapes.

“The Haters” (Paperback) By Jesse Andrews, Harry N. Abrams, $9.95 -- Wes and Owen, both 16, are passionate about music, so jazz camp seems like a great idea. The trouble is they aren't stellar musicians. On the brink of being discovered, the boys must face the music, count their blessings and grow up.

“Lottie's New Beach Towel” (Paperback) By Petra Mathers, Aladdin, 32 pages, $7.99 -- Petra Mathers' charming duck-and-chicken duo Herbie and Lottie will make you smile as they take their characteristic blustering humor to the beach.

“Women Talking” (Hardcover) By Miriam Toews, Bloomsbury Publishing, 240 pages, $24 -- This compelling, compulsive read from an acclaimed Canadian author offers a window into the intricacies of a women-centered decision-making process in an isolated community with no word for patriarchy.

“Where'd You Go, Bernadette” (Paperback) By Maria Semple, Back Bay Books, 352 pages, $16.99 -- Need a perfect spring read? From “Arrested Development” writer Maria Semple, an absolutely hilarious dramedy about a family in crisis after the disappearance of its brilliant, misanthropic matriarch. Not new, but worth revisiting.

“Mama's Last Hug” (Hardback) By Frans de Waal, W. W. Norton, 336 pages, $27.95 -- Beginning with the death of Mama, a chimpanzee matriarch who formed a deep bond with biologist Jan van Hooff, “Mama's Last Hug” delivers a fascinating exploration of the rich emotional lives of animals.

“This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare” (Paperback) By Gabourey Sidibe, Mariner Books, 256 pages, $15.99 -- The “gives-zero-effs queen of Hollywood” (according to Lena Dunham) paints her unconventional rise to fame with full-throttle honesty and delight.

“Bloom” (Paperback) By Kevin Panetta (author) and Savanna Ganucheau (illustrator), First Second Books, 368 pages, $17.99 -- A delicious recipe of intricately illustrated baking scenes and blushing young love. (Ages 14-18)

“Bikes for Sale” Hardcover) By Carter Higgens (author) and Zachariah OHora (illustrator), Chronicle Books, 40 pages, $16.99 -- A perfect story for springtime, celebrating biking, friendship, and the power of coincidence. (Ages 4-9)

“The Atlas of Reds and Blues” (Hardcover) by Devi S. Laskar, Counterpoint LLC, 272 pages, $25 --
Drawing inspiration from the author's own terrifying experience, this debut novel details an unfounded police raid and explores what happens when a woman refuses to be complacent.

“Deaf Republic: Poems” (Paperback) by Ilya Kaminsky, Graywolf Press, 80 pages, $16 --
At once a love story, an elegy and an urgent plea, Kaminsky's highly anticipated collection of linked poems ask us: what are the implications of silence? (Out March 5)

“Letters from Max” (Hardcover) by Sarah Ruhl and Max Ritvo, Milkweed Editions, 336 pages, $26 --
This correspondence between student and professor is a deeply moving portrait of friendship and a shimmering exploration of love, art, mortality and the afterlife.

“Act Natural: A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting” (Hardcover) by Jennifer Traig, Ecco, 352 pages, $26.99 --
A wickedly funny and fascinating romp through the strange and often contradictory history of Western parenting.

“Nightlights” (Paperback) by Lorena Alvarez, Nobrow, 56 pages, $10.99 -- With enchanting and gorgeous artwork, “Nightlights” is a mesmerizing story about fear, insecurity and creativity. (Ages 8-12)

“Be A Maker” (Hardcover) Words by Katey Howes, Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic, Carolrhoda Books, 32 pages, $17.99 --
Rhyme, repetition, and a few seemingly straightforward questions engage young readers in a discussion about the many things we make — and the ways we can make a difference. (Out March 5)

“Those Who Knew,”
by Idra Novey, Viking, 256 pages, $27.99
From the award-winning author of “Ways to Disappear,” comes a riveting exploration of the cost of staying silent and the mixed rewards of speaking up in a profoundly divided country.

“If Beale Street Could Talk” (Paperback), by James Baldwin, Vintage, 208 pages, $14.95
In this honest and stunning novel, James Baldwin has given America a moving story of love in the face of injustice.

“The Collected Schizophrenias” (Paperback), by Esmé Weijun Wang, Graywolf, 224 pages, $16
This is an intimate, moving book written with the immediacy and directness of one who still struggles with the effects of mental and chronic illness.

“Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” (Hardcover), by Jose Antonio Vargas, Dey Street Books, 256 pages, $25.99
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, called “the most famous undocumented immigrant in America,” tackles one of the defining issues of our time.

“On the Come Up” (Hardcover), by Angie Thomas, Balzer & Bray, 464 pages, $18.99
This is the highly anticipated 2nd novel by Angie Thomas, the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning “The Hate U Give.”

“Words and Your Heart” (Hardcover), by Kate Jane Neal, Feiwel & Friends, 40 pages, $16.99
Simple, direct, and emotive, “Words and Your Heart’s” message is that words have extraordinary power – to harm and to heal; to create and to destroy; and to spread love.

“Your Duck is My Duck: Stories” (Hardcover)
By Deborah Eisenberg, Ecco, 240 pages, $26.99 Brilliantly observant short stories from one of the great American masters of the form.

“Dinner at the Center of the Earth” (Paperback)
By Nathan Englander, Vintage, 272 pages, $16.95
The new novel from the author of “For the Relief of Unbearable Urges” is a political thriller set against the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“City on the Line: How Baltimore Transformed Its Budget to Beat the Great Recession and Deliver Outcomes” (Paperback)
By Andrew Kleine, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 292 pages, $35 In his new book, Baltimore’s former budget director asks why the government’s most important job — deciding how to spend taxpayer dollars — hasn't changed in hundreds of years.

“The Chesapeake Table: Your Guide to Eating Local” (Paperback)
By Renee Brooks Catacalos, Johns Hopkins University Press, 200 pages, $24.95 Catacalos examines the powerful effect of eating local in our region. She offers practical advice for adopting a locavore diet and being more conscious of the impact of our food choices.

“Saving Winslow” (Hardcover)
By Sharon Creech, HarperCollins, 176 pages, Ages 8-12, $16.99 “Saving Winslow” is an uplifting story about a young boy who befriends an ailing newborn donkey and nurses him back to health.

“Giraffe Problems” (Hardcover)
By Jory John, Illustrated by Lane Smith, Random House Books for Young Readers, 42 pages, Ages 3-7, $17.99 Edward the giraffe can't understand why his neck is so long, bendy and (he thinks) ridiculous.

“Evening in Paradise: More Stories” (Hardcover) By Lucia Berlin, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 256 pages, $26 -- In 2015, “A Manual for Cleaning Women,” a posthumously published story collection by Lucia Berlin, was greeted with widespread acclaim. “Evening in Paradise” includes 22 of Berlin’s remaining stories that showcase the gritty glamour that made readers fall in love with her.

“Trick” (Paperback)
By Domenico Starnone, Translated by Jhumpa Lahiri, Europa Editions, 176 pages, $16 -- “Trick” combines sharp, succinct storytelling and breathtaking prose to reveal a stylish drama about ambition, family and old age that goes beyond the predictable.

“The Woman Who Smashed Codes” (Paperback) By Jason Fagone, Dey Street Books, 464 pages, $16.99 -- Jason Fagone’s new book tells the amazing but true story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman. An American woman who invented the modern science of cryptology, she used it to solve puzzles that unmasked Nazi spies and helped win World War II.

"Ninth Street Women" (Hardcover) By Mary Gabriel, Little, Brown and Company, 944 Pages, $35 -- National Book Award finalist Mary Gabriel’s new book chronicles the fascinating lives of five contemporary women artists.

“Down and Across” (Hardcover)
By Arvin Ahmadi, Viking Books for Young Readers, 336 Pages, $17.99, Ages 12+-- Meet Scott Ferdowsi, a high school senior with a track record of quitting and no idea what he wants to do with his life. With college applications looming and his parents pushing him to settle on a “practical” career, Scott seeks guidance from a famous psychologist who claims to know the secret to success.

“The Digger and the Flower” (Hardcover)
Written and Illustrated by Joseph Kuefler, Balzer + Bray, 48 pages, $17.99, Ages 4-8 -- Each day, the big trucks go to work. They scoop and hoist and push. But when Digger discovers something growing in the rubble, he sets in motion a series of events that will change him, and the city, forever.

“John Woman” (Hardcover), by Walter Mosley, Atlantic Monthly Press, 320 pages, $26
Mosley's new novel depicts the transformation of an unassuming boy into an unconventional history professor.

“Stay With Me” (Paperback), by
Ayobami Adebayo, Vintage, 272 pages, $16
Yejide and Akin have agreed: Polygamy is not for them. But four years into their marriage, Yejide is still not pregnant. She assumes she still has time — until her in-laws arrive with a woman they introduce as Akin’s second wife.

“You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships” (Paperback), by Deborah Tannen, Ballantine Books, 305 pages, $18
Women’s friendships are a lifeline in times of trouble and a support system for daily life. This warm, wise exploration of female friendship will help women lean into these powerful relationships.

“The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure” (Hardcover),
by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Press, 352 pages, $28
First Amendment expert Greg Lukianoff and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt address problems around free speech and safetyism on college campuses by exploring three "untruths."

“The Science of Breakable Things” (Hardcover), by Tae Keller, Random House Books for Young Readers, 304 pages, $16.99, Ages 8-12
Determined to help her botanist mother emerge from debilitating depression, Natalie devises a plan that uses science to remind her mom that life is worth living.

"My Valley" (Hardcover),
by Claude Ponti, translated by Alyson Waters, Elsewhere Editions, 42 pages, $24, ages 5-9
Journey through an enchanted world inhabited by "Touims" (tiny, adorable, monkey-like creatures), secret tree dwellings, flying buildings and sad giants. “My Valley,” with its clever language and beautifully detailed maps of imaginary landscapes, will delight children and adults alike.

“The Man Who Came Uptown” (Hardcover)
By George Pelecanos, Mulholland Books, 272 pages, $27
In George Pelecanos' new novel, an ex-offender must choose between the man who got him out and the woman who showed him another path. “The Man Who Came Uptown” brings Washington, D.C., to life in this high-stakes story.

“A Life of Adventure and Delight” (Paperback)
By Akhil Sharma, W.W. Norton & Company, 208 pages, $15.95
Sharma delivers eight masterful stories that focus on Indian protagonists at home and abroad, and that plunges the reader into the unpredictable workings of the human heart.

“Underbug: An Obsessive Tale of Termites and Technology” (Hardcover)
By Lisa Margonelli, Scientific American/Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 320 pages, $27
In “Underbug,” award-winning journalist Lisa Margonelli introduces us to the enigmatic creatures that collectively outweigh human beings 10-to-one and consume $40 billion worth of valuable stuff annually.

“American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West” (Paperback)
By Nate Blakeslee, Broadway Books, 320 pages, $16.
Before men ruled the earth, there were wolves. Once abundant in North America, these majestic creatures were hunted to near extinction in the Lower 48 states by the 1920s. But in recent decades, conservationists have brought wolves back to the Rockies, igniting a battle over the very soul of the West.

“Forever or a Day” (Hardcover)
By Sarah Jacoby, Chronicle Books, 40 pages, $17.99, Ages 3-6
A celebration of cherished moments with loved ones, this gorgeous picture book is for any child who's ever asked, “Can we stay longer?”

By Avi, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 208 pages, $16.99, Ages 8-12
From Newbery Award-winning author Avi comes the gripping and amazingly true tale of a boy plucked from the gutter to become the King of England.

“If They Come for Us: Poems” (Paperback)
By Fatimah Asghar, One World, 128 pages, $16
In this book of poems, poet and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated web series “Brown Girls” captures her experience as a Pakistani Muslim woman in contemporary America, while exploring identity, violence and healing.

“Clock Dance” (Hardcover), by Anne Tyler, Knopf, 304 pages, $26.95 -- In this new novel from Baltimore's own Pulitzer Prize-winner, Willa Drake receives a startling phone call from a stranger. Without fully understanding why, she flies to Baltimore to look after a young girl she's never met.

“Stones from the River” (Paperback), by Ursula Hegi, Touchstone Books, 528 pages, $16.99 -- Set in Burgdorf, a fictional German town in the 1st half of the 20th century, Hegi’s novel follows Trudi Montag, a dwarf who defends anyone who has ever felt like she doesn’t belong.

“The Death of Truth: Notes on Falsehood in the Age of Trump” (Hardcover), by Michiko Kakutani, Tim Duggan Books, 208 pages, $22 --
Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic Michiko Kakutani looks at the cultural forces that contributed to this gathering storm in the Trump era.

“Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up Bernstein” (Hardcover), by Jamie Bernstein, Harper, 400 pages, $28.99 -- Leonard Bernstein’s oldest daughter, Jamie, offers a beautifully written, deeply intimate meditation on a complex and sometimes troubled man, the family he raised and the music he created.

“Ban This Book: A Novel” (Paperback), by Alan Gratz, Starscape, 256 pages, $7.99, ages 8-12 -- In “Ban This Book,” 4th grader Amy Anne and her friends fight back when her favorite book, “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” is taken off the shelves of the school library.

“Pink is for Boys” (Hardcover), by Robb Pearlman (Author) and Eda Kaban (Illustrator), Running Press Kids, 40 pages, $17.99, ages 4-7
Parents and kids will delight in this sweet, simple text and its powerful message that life is not color-coded.

“There There” (Hardcover)
By Tommy Orange, Knopf, 304 pages, $25.95
“There There” is the story of 12 unforgettable characters — Urban Indians living in Oakland, Calif., who converge and collide on one fateful day.

“The Word is Murder: A Novel” (Hardcover)
By Anthony Horowitz, Harper, 400 pages, $27.99
Anthony Horowitz has brilliantly reinvented the classic crime novel, this time creating a fictional version of himself as the Watson to a modern-day Holmes.

“The Great Believers” (Hardcover)
By Rebecca Makkai, Viking, 432 pages, $27
Set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris, this dazzling new novel introduces readers to Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago. Yale is about to pull off an amazing coup — bringing an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings to the gallery. Yet, as his career begins to flourish, the carnage of the AIDS epidemic grows around him.

“On Middle Ground: A History of the Jews of Baltimore” (Hardcover)
By Eric L. Goldstein and Deborah R. Weiner, John Hopkins University Press, 400 pages, $39.95
In the first truly comprehensive history of Baltimore's Jewish community, the authors describe not only the formal institutions of Jewish life but also the everyday experiences of families.

“Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica" (Hardcover)
By Roger Bennett and Michael Davies, Knopf Publishing Group, 224 pages, $27.95
Propelled by the rise of the World Cup, Premier League, the glory of the United States Women's National Team, and Lionel Messi's demigod-esque talent, soccer, America’s “sport of the future” has finally arrived.

“The Fox Hunt: A Refugee's Memoir of Coming to America” (Hardcover)
By Mohammed Al Samawi and William Morrow, 336 pages, $27.99
“The Fox Hunt” tells one young man’s unforgettable story of war, unlikely friendship, and his harrowing escape from Yemen's brutal civil war.

“Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over” (Hardcover)
By Nell Painter, Counterpoint LLC, 352 pages, $26
Following her retirement from Princeton University, celebrated historian Dr. Nell Irvin Painter surprised everyone in her life by earning a BFA and MFA in painting.

“Wade in the Water” (Hardcover)
By Tracy K. Smith, Graywolf Press, 88 pages, $24
In her new book of poetry, Tracy K. Smith boldly ties America's contemporary moment to our nation's fraught founding history and to a sense of the everlasting spirit.

“Tough Guys Have Feelings Too” (Hardcover)
By Keith Negley, Nobrow Press, 32 pages, $17.95, ages 3-5
“Tough Guys Have Feelings Too” is a boldly illustrated picture book about how everyone gets sad.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man (Hardcover)
By Jason Reynolds, Illustrated by Kadir Nelson, Marvel Comics, 272 pages, $17.99, ages 12-17
Miles Morales is just your average teenager — dinner every Sunday with his parents, chilling out playing old-school video games with his best friend, crushing on brainy, beautiful poet Alicia. He's even got a scholarship spot at a prestigious school. Oh yeah, and he's Spider Man.

“A Different Pond” (Hardcover)
By Bao Phi, Illustrated by Thi Bui, Capstone Young Readers, 32 pages, $15.95, ages 6 - 8
In this 2018 Caldecott Honor Book, Bao Phi, an acclaimed poet, tells a beautiful story of a long-ago fishing trip between a father and a son.

“Hello, Universe” (Hardcover)
By Erin Entrada Kelly, Isabel Roxas, Greenwillow Books, 320 pages, $16.99, ages 8-12
Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s book is a funny and poignant story about unexpected friendships.

"Welcome to Lagos" (Hardcover) By Chibundu Onuzo, Catapult, 304 pages, $26 --
Full of humor and heart, “Welcome to Lagos” offers a provocative portrait of contemporary Nigeria that marks the United States debut of an extraordinary young writer. This is a high-spirited novel about aspirations and escape, innocence and corruption.

"The Diamond Setter" (Paperback)
By Moshe Sakal, translated by Jessica Cohen, Other Press New York, 304 pages, $15.95 --
Inspired by true events, this best-selling Israeli novel traces a complex web of love triangles, homoerotic tensions and family secrets across generations and borders. Tying present-day events to a time before the establishment of Israel, Sakal encourages us to see the Middle East beyond its violent conflicts.

“Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life” (Paperback) By Helen Czerski, W. W. Norton & Company, 288 pages, $15.95 --
This book provides tools that change the way we see everything by linking ordinary objects and occurrences like popcorn popping, coffee stains and fridge magnets, to big ideas like climate change and the energy crisis.

"My Life in Progressive Politics: Against the Grain" (Hardcover) -- By Joseph D. Tydings with John W. Frece, Texas A&M University Press, 376 pages, $30
Gun control, voting rights and environmental protection — these are hot-button issues today but Sen. Joseph D. Tydings (D-Md.) faced the same issues during his tenure in the U.S. Senate in the late 1960s and early ‘70s.

"Truly Devious: A Mystery" (Hardcover) By Maureen Johnson, Katherine Tegen Books, 432 pages, $17.99 -- True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy — and solve the mysterious case that lurks in the shadows of the school's history.

“Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet” (Hardcover)
By April Pulley Sayre, Greenwillow Books, 40 pages, $17.99, Acclaimed children's book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre's love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

“House of Names” (Paperback)
By Colm Toibin, Scribner Book Company, 288 pages, $16 --
From the thrilling imagination of best-selling, award-winning author Colm Toibin comes a modern retelling of the story of Clytemnestra and her children.

“The Balcony” (Hardcover) By Jane Delury, Little Brown and Company, 256 pages, $26 --
Set in a small village near Paris, “The Balcony” follows the inhabitants of an estate over several generations. In this debut, Baltimore-based author Jane Delury writes about growing up, growing old, marriage, infidelity and motherhood.

“Neruda: The Poet’s Calling” (Hardcover)
By Mark Eisner, Ecco, 608 pages, $27.99 --
The most definitive biography to date of Pablo Neruda, “Neruda: The Poet’s Calling” provides a moving portrait of one of the most intriguing and influential figures in Latin American history.

“Cycle Maryland: A Guide to Bike Paths and Rail Trails” (Paperback)
By Bryan MacKay, John Hopkins University Press, 224 pages, $19.95 -- In Maryland, cyclists are fortunate to have access to a range of scenic recreational trails. “Cycle Maryland” is your guide to the best of them. It's full of helpful information including maps, trail descriptions, essays and photographs.

“The Length of a String” (Hardcover) By Elissa Brent Weissman, Dial Books, 384 pages, $17.99 -- When she discovers the diary that her Jewish great-grandmother wrote chronicling her escape from Holocaust-era Europe, Imani begins to see family in a new way.

“Tales for the Perfect Child” (Paperback)
By Florence Parry Heide, Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 112 pages, $6.99 --
Sergio Ruzzier brings his mischievous touch to a timeless favorite by Florence Parry Heide, beloved author of “The Shrinking of Treehorn.” Includes one never-before-published story.

“Sunburn” (Hardcover) by Laura Lippman
William Morrow & Company, 304 pages, $26.99
Laura Lippman returns with a superb novel of psychological suspense about a pair of lovers with the best intentions and the worst luck: two people locked in a passionate yet uncompromising game of cat and mouse. Instead of rules, this game has dark secrets, forbidden desires, inevitable betrayals -- and cold-blooded murder.

“The Book of Joan” (Paperback)
By Lidia Yuknavitch
Harper Perennial, 288 pages, $15.99
The bestselling author of “The Small Backs of Children” offers a vision of our near-extinction and a heroine -- a reimagined Joan of Arc -- poised to save a world ravaged by war, violence, and greed. In doing so, she'll forever change history. "The Book of Joan" raises questions about what it means to be human, the fluidity of sex and gender, and the role of art as a means for survival.

“A Dangerous Woman: American Beauty, Noted Philanthropist, Nazi Collaborator – T he Life of Florence Gould” (Hardcover)
By Susan Ronald
St. Martin's Press, 400 pages, $27.99
A revealing biography of Florence Gould, fabulously wealthy socialite and patron of the arts, who hid a dark past as a Nazi collaborator in 1940s Paris. A seductive and utterly amoral woman who loved to say "money doesn't care who owns it," Florence's life calls us to ask whether money might be able to buy happiness after all.

“If I Was Your Girl” (Hardcover)
By Meredith Russo
Flatiron Books, 288 pages, $17.99
Amanda is the new girl in school. She wants to make friends, but is keeping a secret -- at her old school, she used to be Andrew. An award-winning, big-hearted novel about being seen for who you really are, and a love story you can't help but root for.

“Sadness is a White Bird” (Hardcover),
By Moriel Rothman-Zecher
Simon & Schuster, 288 pages, $26: In this lyrical and searing debut novel, a young man prepares to serve in the Israeli army while trying to reconcile his close relationship to two Palestinian siblings with his deeply ingrained loyalties to family and country.

“Educated: A Memoir” (Hardcover),
By Tara Westover, Penguin Random House, 352 pages, $28: An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a doctorate from Cambridge University. “Educated: A Memoir” delves into the essence of education itself.

“Food Fight: GMOs and the Future of the American Diet” (Paperback),
By McKay Jenkins, Avery Publishing Group, 336 pages, $17: Are GMOs really that bad? A prominent environmental journalist takes a fresh look at what they actually mean for our food system and for us. A comprehensive, nuanced examination of the state of our food system.

“We Were The Lucky Ones” (Paperback) by Georgia Hunter.
Penguin Books, 416 pages, $16 --
This New York Times best-seller highlights the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive — and to reunite.

“The Music Shop” (Hardcover) by Rachel Joyce. Random House, 320 pages, $27 -- A poignant, joyful novel that speaks to the healing power of music and love. Named one of the best books of the year by The Times (UK).