School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
Recommended by Kathleen Brown for kids
“Everyone is afraid of something,” Daneshvari writes. Madeline is afraid of bugs and avoids the outdoors. Theodore is terrified of death, and Lulu is claustrophobic. Garrison is so afraid of water that he breaks out in a cold-sweat at the mere mention of swimming. Their parents, seeking a way to quell their phobias, send them to the School of Fear during summer break. At the mansion, they are hosted by a creepy host of characters that rival any of their imagined terrors. Funny and clever, School of Fear tells the story of four 12-year-olds from diverse backgrounds who learn to work together as a team to overcome their fears.
Crazy by Han Nolan
Recommended by Lin Salisbury for teens
Jason, 15, has a secret. His father is going crazy. Since his mother died, Jason has been the only one to hold his father’s fragile world together. Jason has developed his own coping mechanisms—imaginary friends that counsel him through his day. Is he going crazy, too? After behaving erratically at school, Jason is referred to the school psychologist who has him join a group of other students with troubling family stories. For the first time, Jason has a group of real friends to count on. Jason is a likeable character, and Nolan weaves a complex story of relationships, mental illness and belonging. Heartbreaking and funny, Crazy will resonate with teens and adults alike.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Recommended by Joy Lukes for adults
CeeCee Honeycutt is embarrassed by her eccentric and deranged mother Camille, who wears prom dresses and matching shoes while shopping at Goodwill. When a policeman arrives at their door the last day of school to inform CeeCee’s mostly absent father that his wife has been killed by an ice cream truck, he agrees to send CeeCee to Savannah to live with her wealthy great-aunt Tootsie. With Tootsie, CeeCee inherits a quirky, outspoken tribe of women. Fans of The Help and The Secret Life of Bees will love this book.
