Kat

Tatjana Soli knows more about the Vietnam War than anyone I’ve heard of, and it shows in every sentence of her novel. The story centers around a photojournalist who drops out of college and becomes the first female combat photographer in Vietnam. A lush and arresting story. Nancy Pearl called it a “devastatingly awesome novel,” which should tell you something! -Kat

This series should never be missed, but this year’s volume is just fabulous. It features one of the best short stories I’ve read (Man of Steel, pg 180), an excerpt from an incredible forthcoming novel (The Tiger’s Wife, pg 287), the best farm names of America, and a short comic about an astronaut (Breakdown, pg 308). A great gift for someone who loves to read, no matter what the format. -Kat

I can’t seem to shut up about this book! Roose was an undergraduate at Brown University when he decided to undergo a semester “abroad” at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University, also known as “boot camp for Christ.” What follows is a respectful but animated look at one of our country’s most misunderstood cultural groups: college-age conservative evangelical Christians.—Kat

This is one of those gorgeous novels about a difficult subject that you just can’t put down. The central character is Jack, a precocious boy who was born in a reinforced garden shed, where he lives with his imprisoned mother. It is Jack’s voice that saves the story from complete darkness, even in the most harrowing passages. Surprisingly funny and warm, and one of my favorites this year. -Kat