Book Club Kits

All the Gallant Men: An American Sailor’s Firsthand Account of Pearl Harbor by Donald Stratton with Ken Gire

An unforgettable story of unfathomable courage and steely determination. The first memoir by a USS Arizona Survivor. Copies: 10

Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord

Cynthia Lord’s touching book explores the challenges of fitting in when you’re a little different. On her first day of public school, Emma befriends Jack, an animal-obsessed boy. As their friendship grows, Emma wonders if it will hinder her quest to find a best friend who truly understands her. Copies: 8

Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes

Darrian aspires to write for the New York Times and joins Mr. Ward’s class, famous for its open-mic poetry readings and boys vs. girls poetry slam. Each student, with unique challenges like health issues, foster care, bullying, or family addiction, shares their story through poetry, fostering a deep bond and understanding among classmates. Copies: 10

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

In Louise Erdrich’s “The Birchbark House,” readers explore 19th-century pioneer life from the perspective of 7-year-old Ojibwa girl, Omakayas. The story, set in 1847, revolves around her life with an Ojibwa family on Madeline Island, navigating the challenges of daily life, encounters with nature, and the historical smallpox epidemic. Erdrich’s authentic portrayal, along with her own illustrations, makes Omakayas a relatable, strong character, enriching the canon of children’s classics.

The Bones of Paradise by Jonis Agee

A kaleidoscopic portrait of misfits, schemers, chancers, and dreamers, Agee’s bold novel is a panorama of America at the dawn of a new century yet under the shadow of Wounded Knee. A beautiful evocation of the Nebraska Sandhills and the men and women who dared to tame them. Copies: 10

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson 

 

Thanks to Roosevelt’s Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project, Cussy Mary Carter, the last of her kind with blue skin, serves as the traveling librarian. To bring books to the hill folks, Cussy confronts deep prejudice and suspicion. Drawing inspiration from Kentucky’s blue-skinned people and the brave Kentucky Pack Horse library service, it’s a story of courage, strength, and the power of books. Copies: 10

Brave Like That by Lindsey Stoddard

In Lindsey Stoddard’s uplifting tale, Cyrus Olson navigates the expectations set by his heroic father and his own lack of bravery. With the aid of a stray dog, new friends, rhythm, and courage, Cyrus embarks on a journey of self-discovery. This heartfelt novel celebrates resilience and the transformative power of friendship. Copies: 8

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman 

Padma Venkatraman’s middle-grade debut tells a captivating story of four determined homeless children surviving on the streets of Chennai, India. With hope and bravery, they form a family on an abandoned bridge, scavenging for a living. When illness strikes, eleven-year-old Viji faces a tough decision about their hard-fought freedom. Copies: 8

Canyons by Gary Paulsen

Two boys from different cultures face challenges that will shape them into men. Coyote Runs, an Apache boy, participates in his first raid but has little time to experience manhood. Over a century later, 15-year-old Brennan Cole becomes fixated on a bullet-pierced skull he discovers near Dog Canyon. It turns out to be the skull of an Apache boy executed by soldiers in 1864. Brennan feels a mystical connection between himself and Coyote Runs, understanding that both boys won’t find peace until the skull returns to its sacred place. In a grueling canyon journey, Brennan confronts his greatest challenge. Copies: 10

Dancing with the Octopus  by Debora Harding

In 1978, on a chilling Omaha winter day, 14-year-old Debora Harding was abducted at knife-point, assaulted, held for ransom, and left to die. However, her book “Dancing with the Octopus” explores the idea that this might not have been the most traumatic event of her childhood. Through a skillful narrative that shifts between past and present, Harding delves into her story, from the immediate aftermath to the potential for restorative justice two decades later. This book unveils the societal and political forces that shape the lives of crime survivors, offering an intimate and darkly humorous portrait of a family’s disintegration, as well as a groundbreaking journey of reckoning and recovery. Copies: 10

Death Zones and Darling Spies: Seven Years of Vietnam War Reporting by Beverly Deepe Keever

Beverly Deepe, armed with a journalism degree, embarked on a two-week trip around the world in 1961. Instead, she spent seven years in South Vietnam, becoming the longest-serving American correspondent covering the Vietnam War. Her memoir “Death Zones and Darling Spies” vividly portrays the horrors of war and America’s changing role. Copies: 8

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel, “Dragon Hoops,” explores his life, family, and teaching experience at a high school. As someone unfamiliar with sports, Gene discovers the captivating story of the school’s basketball team, the Dragons, as they pursue a long-awaited championship. This season becomes a transformative journey for both the players and Gene himself. Copies: 8

Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’ Amour

Louis L’Amour’s memoir, “Education of a Wandering Man,” chronicles his remarkable life from leaving school at fifteen to his adventures as a hobo, cattle skinner, merchant seaman, and bare-knuckled prizefighter. This book captures his love for learning, encounters with fascinating individuals, and the experiences that shaped him as a storyteller and a man. Copies: 10

Great Plains Bison by Dan O’Brien

In “Great Plains Bison” Dan O’Brien explores the American bison’s history, ecology, and cultural significance. O’Brien, an experienced wildlife biologist and Great Plains authority, has managed his ethical buffalo ranch since 1997. Combining rigorous research with personal insights, he details the bison’s natural history and its role in Native American culture. Copies: 10

 

 

 

Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict

From Marie Benedict, the bestselling author of The Only
Woman in the Room
, comes Lady Clementine, an incredible novel about Winston Churchill’s wife and her unwavering support during World Wars I and II. Benedict masterfully tells the story of this remarkable woman’s impact on history, weaving secrets and personal struggles into a captivating tale. Copies: 10

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

When Owen Michaels vanishes, he leaves a cryptic note for
his wife, Hannah: “Protect her.” Hannah understands it’s about
Bailey, Owen’s distant daughter who lost her mother young and resents her stepmother. Ignored by Owen and caught in a web of mystery, Hannah unravels Owen’s true identity with Bailey’s help, setting them on a surprising path to an unforeseen future. Copies: 10

Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar

The situation is getting dire for Jews in Poland on the eve of World War II. Esther’s father has fled to Cuba, and she is the first one to join him. It’s heartbreaking to be separated from her beloved sister, so Esther promises to write down everything that happens until they’re reunited. And she does, recording both the good–the kindness of the Cuban people and her discovery of a valuable hidden talent–and the bad: the fact that Nazism has found a foothold even in Cuba. Copies: 8

The Line Between by Tosca Lee (Book 1)

Wynter Roth escapes from a doomsday cult only to find herself in the middle of a global pandemic that causes rapid dementia. She must get information to a Colorado lab, but she doesn’t know who she can trust in this new and crazy world. Copies: 8

The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm

Join a young Mars resident, Bell, on an otherworldly adventure. He’s just an ordinary 11-year-old, curious about his colony’s secrets. When a virus strikes, Bell and the children are their families’ only hope. In this New York Times bestselling novel, Mars becomes a captivating home as they strive to unite the planet. Copies: 8

The Meaning of Names by Karen Gettert Shoemaker

A hauntingly tender story set in Nebraska during WWI, a time when nationalism led to prejudice against German-Americans, a time when the influenza pandemic of 1918 killed millions. Gettert Shoemaker weaves an enduring story of faith, family, and love. Copies: 14

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Set in post-Civil War Texas, Paulette Jiles’ novel tells the story of 71-year-old Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd and his unlikely ward, a 10-year-old girl who had been rescued by the U.S. Army from the Kiowa Indians. Copies: 8

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter

In a standalone novel by Ally Carter, Maddie and Logan, once close but torn apart by a kidnapping attempt in their youth, find themselves stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. Maddie, raised in solitude for safety, is forced to reunite with Logan when their outpost is attacked and he’s taken. Their journey to survive and reconcile unfolds amidst the looming threat of an assassin.

Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin

Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin is an empowering picture book celebrating the uniqueness of girls. Tameika, a talented performer, faces doubt when auditioning for the lead role in her school’s Snow White musical. This delightful story encourages self-confidence and embracing one’s own magic, even in the face of criticism. Copies: 9

Off the Grid by Alex Kava

NYT bestselling author Alex Kava’s collection, “Off the
Grid,” features suspenseful short stories and a novella. FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell stars in most of them. From a chilling road trip in “Goodnight Sweet Mother” to tracking a senator’s missing family in “Electric Blue,” these tales deliver unexpected twists and danger. Copies: 10

One False Move by Alex Kava

Melanie Starks and her son, Charlie, run petty cons until Jared Barnett, recently released from prison, tempts them with an audacious heist. The Nebraska bank robbery goes awry, leaving innocent lives lost. Now fugitives, Melanie, Charlie, and Jared must navigate a perilous path with everything to lose. Copies: 10

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

Cather’s second novel, a sentimental and somewhat controversial story of the Bergsons, a family of Swedish pioneers that settles for life on the Nebraska a prairie at the turn of the 20th century. Copies:10

Parachute Kids: A Graphic Novel by Betty C Tang

Feng-Li can’t wait to discover America with her family! But after an action-packed vacation, her parents deliver shocking news. They are returning to Taiwan and leaving Feng-Li and her older siblings in California on their own. Suddenly, the three kids must fend for themselves in a strange new world― and get along. Starting a new school, learning a new language, and trying to make new friends while managing a household is hard enough, but Bro and Sis’s constant bickering makes everything worse. Thankfully, there are some hilarious moments to balance the stress and loneliness. But as tensions escalate―and all three kids get tangled in a web of bad choices―can Feng-Li keep her family together? Copies: 10

The Plain Sense of Things  by Pamela Carter Joern

The Plain Sense of Things is a poignant tale set in the stark prairie of western Nebraska. It spans three generations of a family, their stories tied together by the bonds of flawed love and unyielding need. A widowed farm wife strives to support her children; a young woman grapples with the transition to motherhood; the aftermath of World War II wreaks havoc on those left behind; and a failing farmstead breaks a family’s heart. Through hardship and change, these interconnected stories reveal the resilience, dignity, and bittersweet beauty of a life lived in the unfiltered reality of the plain sense of things. Copies: 10. 

Prairie Forge: the Extraordinary Story of the Nebraska Scrap Metal Drive of World War II by James J. Kimble

Kimble tells the story of how efforts on the home front changed the trajectory of World War II. Copies: 9

Rain Dogs by Sean Doolittle

Former reporter Tom Coleman inherits a rundown pickup truck, campground, and canoe livery. He’s burdened with an unwanted, pot-smoking employee he can’t afford. Tom’s past losses leave him indifferent. However, a drug lab explosion near his property reunites him with his former love, a resentful cop, and a powerful local who wants him gone. Reluctantly, Tom gets involved, but in Nebraska’s Sandhills, trouble escalates quickly. A tranquil summer turns perilous with grudges, betrayal, and violence. Shelter is no longer an option. Copies: 12

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie, a candid girl in a wheelchair, surprises people with her big dreams of becoming a professional baker. Moving to care for her ailing grandpa, she faces new challenges as the new kid in a trailer park on the “wrong side” of town. Making friends, she realizes this town could be their best opportunity. Copies: 8

A Single Light by Tosca Lee (Book 2)

After spending six months protected in an underground silo, Wynter and Chase emerge to find the world has changed. With society in chaos, the pair set out to save the country- again. Copies: 8

Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith

In time for Patricia Highsmith’s centennial celebration, her
debut, “Strangers on a Train,” is reissued with a new introduction by Paula Hawkins. Guy Haines and Charles Bruno, strangers on a train, become entangled in a sinister pact: one will murder the other’s relative. Highsmith’s thriller, inspiring Hitchcock’s film, unveils the dark depths hidden within ordinary lives. Copies: 5

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica 

In this timely follow-up to Heat, a young baseball prodigy dreams of winning MVP, meeting his hero, and finding a cure for his sister’s Lupus. Living as an undocumented immigrant in America, he faces fear until an unexpected hero changes everything. This thrilling novel skillfully tackles immigration issues alongside lively sports action. Copies: 8

Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini

Jennifer Chiaverini’s novel explores the untold story of the women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War I. Breaking down gender barriers, they became telephone operators, battling a pandemic while aiding the Allies. With meticulous detail, Chiaverini honors their bravery and duty, shedding light on their vital contributions to history. Copies: 8

Twins by Varian Johnson

Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran — a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister! Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there’s nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?

Watching Eagles Soar by Margaret Coel

Follow Father John O’Malley and Vicky Holden into Wind River Reservation’s hidden mysteries. Stolen artifacts, drug dealers, murder, and a 30-year-old case stir their investigations. Sin, secrets, retribution, and insightful essays on writing about the West make this thrilling short story collection a must-read. Copies: 7

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

In Barkley Cove, the “Marsh Girl” Kya Clark is accused when Chase Andrews is found dead. Yet, Kya is a gifted naturalist, learning from the land. Despite her solitude, she craves love and connection. Drawn to two men, she faces a shocking turn of events. Owens’ novel beautifully contrasts nature’s wonders with a gripping coming-of-age tale, exploring the impact of isolation on human behavior and the secrets within the wild. Copies: 8 
Audiobook: 1

Golden Sower Book Club Kits 

Copies: 8 each

Because the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yan

Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi

Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm

Roll With It by Jamie Sumner

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica

Twins by Varian Johnson & Shannon Wright

 

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