Beyond Belief by Jenna Miscavige Hill

Jenna knows she is a Thetan. She knows that her body is just temporary and when she is older she will be able to leave her body, remember past lives and continue to remember this life in future lives. She has no concept of other religions, or even that there are people who don't believe they are Thetans. Jenna is a third generation Scientologist and her life is the church's.

When Jenna was 2 her parents re-dedicated their lives to Scientology, packed up the family and moved to California to be part of the Sea Org, the organization that runs the church. Jenna and her brother are mostly raised by caretakers, with limited time spent with their parents. Slowly, her parents are given less and less family time until Jenna and her brother are sent off to the Ranch, a boarding school of sorts for kids of Sea Org members. Jenna is not yet 7 years old at this time.

From her early years at the Ranch, to her teenage years working for the Sea Org, Jenna's life is fascinating. With  limited access to her family and hard labor at a young age, her life is far from typical especially for a child. Beyond Belief takes the reader on a personal journey inside an organization that keeps a very tight lid on what gets out.

Fans of memoir and religious exposes will enjoy Beyond Belief. Whether you've read Dianteics, or just seen that South Park episode, reading Beyond Belief will keep you turning the pages.



  

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

This book is an unusual work of fiction. The main character is a group of young Japanese women traveling to join their husbands in California. These husbands are men they have seen only in twenty-year old photographs and know only through letters filled with lies, written by professional letter writers. They arrive in the United States around 1920, a time when Japanese immigrants were not welcome. The women speak as a chorus, illustrating the universality of their experience. Individuals are identified simply as “one of us,”  “a few of us,” and “others of us.”  The group is made up of many different types of women. There are women from wealthy backgrounds and women from poverty, women from the city and women from the farm. There are talented women and women with ordinary skills, faithful wives and adulteresses.  There are women who are satisfied with their lot in life and women who are never happy. The story takes us through twenty-three years of their lives (their journey, husbands, hard work, children and relationships with whites), until the pivotal year of 1942. Then, after they have been labeled “Traitors,” the author finally identifies each woman by name as they prepare to depart for the government internment camps where they will live for the duration of the war.  The Buddha in the Attic, a prequel to Julie Otsuka’s earlier book, When the Emperor Was Divine, which is about life in those camps, is a lyrically written ode to human perseverance.

Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline

Natalie Greco is a law professor who loves teaching her signature class, History of Justice.  Angus Holt is a fellow professor who uses law clinics to teach his students.  He invites Natalie to come with him to the local minimum security prison to give a lecture to inmates.  While there, a riot breaks out and Natalie ends up witnessing a guard’s death and hearing his puzzling last words.  Suspecting a cover up by the prison, Natalie investigates and ends up embroiled in a mystery that extends farther than she ever thought possible.  To add to the excitement, Angus and Natalie fall in love - but all is not as it seems.  As always, Lisa Scottoline entertains with a suspenseful story that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Daddy’s Girl is the perfect novel to have on hand and devour between sunning, gardening and grilling this Memorial Day weekend!

America America by Ethan Cain

Corey Sifter becomes a yard boy for a powerful family in the early 1970s.  The patriarch, Liam Metarey, campaigns for United States senator Henry Bonwiller, who he hopes will become the next president.  Everything is going well until the senator’s bad choices catch up with him and a campaign worker is found frozen to death in an orchard.  This stunning novel goes between different time periods with ease.  Corey is an unreliable narrator at times with his words clouded by his respect for the Metareys.  Not all the questions are answered and the reader must make up their own mind as to what they think really happened that cold night.  Check out America America @the library!

The Map of True Places by Brunonia Barry

Zee Finch, a respected psychotherapist, has a patient commit suicide.  She feels responsible and the death brings back memories of her own mother’s suicide.  Her engagement is also falling apart and her dad has late stage Parkinson’s.  As she tries to make sense of her life, she realizes she doesn’t know what she wants to do with her furture.  Zee is easy to relate to and her journey is compelling. Check out The Lace Reader as well, which features some of the same characters as The Map of True Places.

I Can Barely Take Care of Myself by Jen Kirkman

Jen Kirkman does not want to have kids. Contrary to popular belief, she will not regret this decision or change her mind. Unfortunately for Jen, most people don't understand that stating "I don't want to have kids" is not an invitation to debate. Fortunately for us this means she has a book full of stories about how and why she doesn't want to have children.

Fans of the Chelsea Lately show will recognize Jen's sarcasm and dark sense of humor. From growing up with anxiety (mainly from watching The Day After) to paying extra on vacation to be near the adults only pool with disastrous results, each of her stories builds on the fact that no, she does not want to have kids, and no she will not change her mind.

Readers looking for a light read after one too many baby showers and toddler birthday parties will enjoy I can Barely Take Care of Myself.

Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler

Aaron's life is guided by one simple rule: Jesus is coming back soon, and everything he does should be pleasing to Jesus. Play with He-Man action figures? Not when Jesus is the true master of the Universe. Watch E.T.? What would Jesus say if the previews were not pleasing? Listen to Amy Grant? She sometimes drinks wine!

Aaron is confused, torn and most of all unsure that these rules issued by his parents are truly a concern to Jesus. Like any teenager questioning the world around him, he rebels: listens to rock music, watches movies and he might even drink beer. He does this and still has the image of the perfect son to a father who works as a pastor and at a Bible College and a stay at home mom who works with children. Of course he doesn't have the perfect relationship with his parents, as his risky behaviors do have consequences. At one point he even gets taken out of his Christian high school and sent to the even more strict Christian high school across town. And here is where the story gets really good.

Marketed as a book for Young Adults, Rapture Practice might resonate more with readers with their teen years behind them. Growing up Christian or even religious will help understand Aaron's confusion and frustration; however his humor and attitude will leave readers of all backgrounds laughing and crying. You can't help but root for the kid who both admires and is confused by his parents. Fans of humorous memoir will be begging for the next chapter in Aaron Hartzler's life after finishing Rapture Practice.

Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Lottie is anticipating a proposal from her boyfriend.  She’s sure it’s going to happen soon.  When his 'big news' turns out to be what trip to use their frequent flyer miles on she realizes he is not planning on marriage.  When an ex-boyfriend calls out of the blue she decides to meet up with him and they end up engaged.  Fliss, Lottie’s sister, is alarmed at the news knowing it’s an Unfortunate Choice that Lottie always makes after a breakup.  She makes it her mission to prevent Lottie from ruining her life and does everything possible to prevent the marriage from being consummated.  This entertaining and funny novel is a great escape and will be sure to please Sophie Kinsella’s many fans.  Check out Wedding Night @the library!