The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger In “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth,” author Zoë Schlanger challenges our narrow preconceptions of consciousness. By tracing the evolution of animal … Read more
Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care by Claudia Rowe As a journalist for the Seattle Times, The New York Times and Mother Jones, Claudia Rowe is no stranger to reporting on the horrible things that can happen to children. Her story about Latino youth gang activity in Grant County, Washington, … Read more
Whidbey by T Kira Madden Exploring the aftermath of child sexual abuse, “Whidbey,” the debut novel by author T Kira Madden, explores how such abuse continues to manifest in the lives of victims, as well as those who care about them. Madden is herself a survivor, and her first book, a memoir entitled “Long Live … Read more
On March 23, 2020, Washington state issued a stay-at-home order because of the spread of COVID-19, introducing a surreal period in our collective memory. It is interesting to watch how and when historical events show up in literature as a means of exploring, documenting and remembering difficult times in our shared history. Six years post-pandemic, … Read more
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” is the latest work of historical fiction from acclaimed author Lisa See. Inspired by the true story of a 15th century female physician in China, the novel follows the life of Tan Yunxian from her sheltered youth to her impactful old age. … Read more
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Sometimes escapism is the only way to tolerate real life, and Gig Harbor author Matt Dinniman’s absurdist fantasy featuring accidental hero Carl delivers in spades. Carl is a 27-year-old Coast Guard veteran from Seattle who broke up recently with his live-in girlfriend when he discovered she was cheating on … Read more
Lovers In Auschwitz: A True Story by Keren Blankfeld Journalist Keren Blankfeld’s debut work, “Lovers in Auschwitz,” is a gripping biographical account of two survivors who found an unlikely romance in the darkest of places. The book follows Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia, two young prisoners who found solace in each other before the war’s … Read more
Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney It’s 1977 in Rochester, New York, and life for two families on Cambridge Road is about to forever change. When Nina Larkin’s newly single friend gifts her a copy of The Joy of Sex, Nina suddenly realizes she wants more than her going-through-the-motions marriage. Nina falls into a relationship with Finn Finnegan – which turns out to be not just a fling, but a … Read more
Kin by Tayari Jones Tayari Jones’ 2018 novel An American Marriage was a bestseller, an award-winner and an Oprah Book Club Pick, and readers have been eagerly awaiting her next book ever since. Happily Jones returns in 2026 with Kin, another richly crafted story that blends themes of fate and the power of individual choice. Annie and Niecy are “cradle friends” from small-town Louisiana. The girls have each been raised by … Read more
Evelyn in Transit by David Guterson Bainbridge Island author David Guterson — best known for his PEN/Faulkner award-winning debut novel, “Snow Falling on Cedars” — draws on his knowledge of and experiences with Tibetan Buddhism in his recently published novel, “Evelyn in Transit.” In the novel’s opening chapters, Evelyn, a young girl climbing trees in Evansville, … Read more