I Want You To Know We’re Still Here by Esther Safran Foer

Title: I Want You To Know We're Still Here
Author: Esther Safran Foer 
Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, World War II, Holocaust

Esther Safran Foer grew up in North America, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Her growing up years were haunted by her parents' pasts which were ever present but never spoken of and relegated to remaining locked up secrets. The impetus to seek out a more complete understanding of her history came when Esther's mother casually mentioned that her father had had a wife and daughter who were both killed during the Holocaust. This bombshell piece of news was completely unexpected and precipitated her journey to find out more about her sister. Esther went with her son back to their family's homeland of Ukraine, where they followed the brave and devastating footsteps of her ancestors and met other survivors of that terrible time. In this enthralling tale of her search for her sister we are given the opportunity to join her as she is finally able to gain a more complete picture of her ancestors' lives and to restore her knowledge of her family tree. Most cathartic of all for Esther as well as for the reader is that she is finally able to grieve all that was so tragically lost and put to rest the burdens that she had unwittingly been carrying for decades.

- Elizabeth

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The Outsider by Stephen King

Title: The Outsider
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror

How disoriented would you be if several people around town were saying they witnessed you in places you hadn't been? What if your DNA was reported at the crime scene of an atrocious killing? What about your fingerprints showing up on the murder weapon? This utterly confusing situation is exactly what Terry Maitland, an English teacher and baseball coach, is confronted with. With all the evidence at hand, the Flint City DA thinks the case is a slam dunk and that worries Terry. 

As Terry realizes how much trouble he is in, he has his own lawyer start building his defense. Even though Terry's attorney feels confident that there's no way Terry can be convicted, the particularly violent nature of the crime has the city up in arms and acting out. 

Can Terry's name be cleared? How can the strange coincidences that keep cropping up be accounted for? Read The Outsider to find out. 

Actor Will Patton, from Remember the Titans and Armageddon, voices the characters for the audiobook. For the most part it was really well done, but the cadence he uses for one of the female characters is odd and takes some getting used to.

- Sarah R.

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Act Like It by Lucy Parker

Title: Act Like It
Author: Lucy Parker
Genre: Contemporary Romance

While superstar Richard Troy brings a lot of bodies to the theater, Elaine Graham is not so sure her co-star's temperamental public displays are worth the trade. In fact, it may be worse than having to act love scenes out with her ex-boyfriend, Will, now that he's dumped her publicly and moved on. 

Richard's antics would not be Lainie's problem, except now her boss wants her to help mitigate the bad boy's bad rep by pretending to be involved with him. Of course this is out of the question, until a full night's proceeds are offered to her nearest and dearest charity. How bad can it be to pretend to be this gorgeous man's girlfriend for a bit...

This is more of a slow burn sort of romance (the word "canoodling" is actually used in the book) so if you're looking for something more titillating, this may leave you a bit flat.

- Sarah R.

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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Title: My Dark Vanessa
Author: Kate Elizabeth Russell
Genre: Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Social Movements, Trauma

While away at a prestigious boarding school, fifteen-year-old Vanessa Wye is drawn into a sexual relationship with her forty-two-year-old English teacher, Jacob Strane. As a teenager, Vanessa sees the relationship as powerful, special, a true love story that no one else could possibly understand. Seventeen years later and now thirty-two years old, Vanessa is forced to look at Strane through a different lens as allegations from other students come out against him, and as she faces the truth of the manipulation that has defined over half of her life. 

This novel is heavy. While the author takes great care with the sensitive subject material, some parts are not easy to read. But for those affected by abuse, those holding a piece of the weight of the #metoo movement, and especially for anyone who's ever questioned #metoo's importance, this story feels so, so vital.

- Ashley

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The Institute by Stephen King

Title: The Institute
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Luke Ellis is very smart, but more than that, he is gifted. His untapped telekinetic ability has been noticed by some very powerful people. Stolen from his home, Luke wakes up in a room just like his own, but far away and in the midst of other special children. 

What are all the tests and shots they receive supposed to do? What happens when the children graduate to the "back half" of the institute? Can Luke find a way to expose what's going on? After all, who's going to believe a kid about conspiracy like this?

I enjoyed this story. It feels a little like a prequel to Stranger Things (without the demogorgon and the upside down.) The premise is interesting and it begs the question, "Do the ends justify the means?"

- Sarah R.

Check out The Institute @ the library!