New Arrivals

ADULT FICTION

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett - "an optimistic, uplifting novel set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it. (Feb.)--Publishers Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"The White Queen" by Philippa Gregory - "The marriage of 22-year-old Yorkist King Edward IV to 27-year-old widow Elizabeth brings a sea change in loyalties: Elizabeth's Lancastrian family becomes Edward's strongest supporters, while Edward's closest adviser, the ambitious earl of Warwick, joins with Edward's brother George to steal the English crown. Gregory invents plausible but provocative scenarios to explore those mysteries (surrounding the period); she is especially poignant depicting Elizabeth in her later years, when her allegiance shifts toward Richard III (who may have killed her sons). Gregory earned her international reputation evoking sex, violence, love and betrayal among the Tudors; here she adds intimate relationships, political maneuvering and battlefield conflicts as well as some well-drawn supernatural elements. Gregory's newest may not be as fresh as earlier efforts, but she captures vividly the terrible inertia of war. -- Publishers Weekly
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PICTURE BOOKS

"Thanks a LOT, Emily Post!" by Jennifer LaRue Huget - "Drawing on actual excerpts and characters from Emily Post's bestselling etiquette book, which was published in 1922, here's a hilarious look at being on your best behavior...and on your worst!" -- inside front cover

"Truckery Rhymes" by Jon Sciezka - For generations, Trucks have been sharing these beloved tales, rowdy rhymes, and honk-along songs. Finally these classics have been gathered into one big, noisy, high-octane collection! All the favorite truckery rhymes are here -- from "Peter Peter Payload Eater" to "Little Dan Dumper"...all the way to "Pop! Blows the Diesel." -- inside front cover


EASY READER

"Three By the Sea" by Edward Marshall - "After a picnic on the beach, Lolly, Sam and Spider are very full. It's too soon to swim, so they decide to tell spooky stories. Lolly's is an eerie story from her school reader. Sam's is suspenseful, with an unexpected ending. And Spider's? Spider thinks his is the best and scariest of them all! Will Lolly and Sam agree? -- back cover