There were a few places where I wish the author had dived a little deeper (pun intended!), but it was an absolutely perfect airplane read. Predictable, but satisfying.

Oh, my heart. What a remarkable book. Loved this family saga, and the way Perkins would pick certain moments in time--but not solidly draw the lines between moments. Loved how intergenerational this tale was--and that growth happened at all ages.

Highly, highly recommended. But make sure you have Indian food easily accessible.

What a romp! I had issues keeping the characters straight, but it was such fun. Loved the thought of these girls trying to trick all the grownups--and make sure their life of relative freedom remained intact.

Another winner from Paulette Jiles. Not an easy read, and there is plenty of realistic violence. But loved that it explores this time period (end of Civil War and early Reconstruction) from many angles.

This sparked a truly wonderful discussion at our museum book club.

Amazing primary source document. When studying the Great Depression, there are plenty of tales of those that lost everything--but what about the professional class that almost lost everything? He really struggled to understand some big economic issues, and it was interesting to follow his learning process.

That said, this book is a rather slow read (though not overly long), so don't tackle unless you already have an interest in this time period.

Charming exploration of boyhood. The language is absolutely stunning. For someone who has really only read his science fiction or Farenheit 451, it was interesting to read this "slice of life." Probably need to read more Bradbury.

It's like a greatest hits compilation for all of my favorite AASLH friends. Anthologies can be challenging, but Bob wove them together well. Lots of food for thought, and definitely something I think I'll be sharing with staff as we go through some deep thinking about our own organization.

Confession: Know Bob and quite a few of the authors well. It's always a little weird to review books of people you've had few beverages with.

Complicated, layered story about a changing neighborhood, changing relationships, and growing up. Really loved Maya. Really hated the principal. I think that's the way it's supposed to be. It left me wanting just a little bit more, which is always a good sign.

I've heard of the Grimke sisters for years, but didn't realize until I started reading this how little I knew about them. Such a wonderful story of women finding their wings--but also a woman who would never be free. Lots of food for thought, and a great look at how complicated Charleston and slavery and womanhood was (and continues to be.) Recommended.

So fun to watch Emily grow as she was pushed out of her shell by her best friend. Not sure what I would do if a best friend disappeared and left me a list of things that were way out of my comfort zone.

I do wish just a little bit more time had been spent at the end, when we finally meet Sloane. I wanted to know more about her parents motivations and what impact that has had on Sloane.