Pollard Memorial Library

Holiday Gift Booklist

Looking for a good gift this month? We think books make great gifts! You'll find some ideas below. The Pollard Memorial Library Staff wishes you all happy holidays!

Fiction

Binchey, Maeve. Quentin's

While filming a documentary about Quentin's, a former Dublin restaurant, Ella Brady explores the changing face and spirit of the city.

Binchy, Maeve. Scarlet Feather

Cathy Scarlet and Tom Feather have worked hard to make their catering business a dream come true. Meet the people who have all touched their dream.

Cisneros, Sandra. Caramelo

A multi-generational saga of a Mexican-American family of renowned shawl makers.

Crichton, Michael. Prey

Eight people are trapped in a fabrication plant in the Nevada desert by predatory molecules that they created.

Grafton, Sue. Q is for Quarry

Two police detectives enlist Kinsey Millhone's aid to help identify a long-ago murder victim found in a California quarry.

Humphreys, Helen. The Lost Garden

A horticulturalist in charge of a team of land girls forming an estate during WWII discovers a lost garden and secrets from WWI.

Lamott, Anne. Blue Shoe

Mattie Ryder, a recently divorced mother of two, and her brother struggle to uncover the truth about their dysfunctional upbringing.

Ludlum, Robert. The Hanson Directive

His quiet life disrupted by a terrorist kidnapping, Paul Janson assembles a rescue team only to find himself targeted.

Lehane, Dennis. Mystic River

A gritty, sometimes violent, mystery-thriller centering on several South Boston families.

Mason, Daniel. Piano Tuner

In 1886, piano tuner Edgar Drake leaves his quiet life in London for the jungles of Burma to repair a rare grand piano.

McDermott, Alice. Child of My Heart

A teenage girl spends a seemingly idyllic summer with her 8-year-old cousin, Daisy, on Long Island.

McLaughlin, Emma. The Nanny Diaries

Co-written by two former nannies, this satirical look at Manhattan childcare is a guilty treat.

Merullo, Roland. In Revere, In Those Days

A coming of age novel addressing themes such as strong family ties and ethnicity. Boston locale makes this book familiar and engaging.

Patterson, James. Four Blind Mice

Alex Cross and partner John Sampson journey deep across military lines to confront the most brutal killer of their careers.

Pearson, Allison. I Don't Know How She Does It

Kate Reddy, a hedge fund manager and mother of two, struggles to balance her professional and personal lives.

Quindlen, Anna. Blessings

When a teenage couple abandons their baby at the estate owned by Lydia Blessing, the estate caretaker decides to raise the child himself.

Schwartz, Christina. All Is Vanity

A delicious satire focusing on the friendship of two lifelong friends. The two couldn't be more different in lifestyle choices even living on opposite coasts.

Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones

The spirit of 14-year-old Susie Salmon describes her murder, her new home in Heaven, and her witness to her family's grief.

Shaara, Jeff. The Glorious Cause: A Novel of the American Revolution

Spanning the years of 1776-1782, the sequel to Rise to Rebellion captures a pivotal period in the American Revolution.

Smith, Lee. The Last Girls

Four middle-aged women sail down the Mississippi on the Delta Queen to recreate a raft trip during their college days and to remember a deceased friend.

Donna Tartt. The Little Friend

Harriet Cleve Dufresnes grows up in the shadow of her brother who, when she was only a baby, was found hanging dead from a tree in their yard. Determined and precocious, far beyond her twelve years, she resolves one summer to solve the murder and exact her revenge.

Turow, Scott. Reversible Errors

Corporate lawyer Arthur Raven defends the reopened case of a death row inmate who may be innocent.

Christmas Novels

• Baldacci, David. Christmas Train
• Evanovich, Janet. Visions of Sugar Plums
• Grisham, John. Skipping Christmas
• Karon, Jan. Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story
• Macomber, Debbie. The Christmas Basket

Nonfiction

Ambrose, Stephen. To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian

A series of reflections on the history of America by one of the nation's most popular historians.

Baggett, Nancy. The All-American Cookie Book 2001

A wonderful cookie cookbook with illustrations.

Beschloss, Michael. The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman, and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany

Reveals one of the little known secrets of WWII - FDR's and Truman's plans for a postwar Germany.

Cornwell, Patricia. Portrait of a Killer

The best selling novelist turns her attention to Victorian London to reveal the true identity of Jack the Ripper.

Downs, Hugh. My America

The television personality shares the words of 150 citizens expressing what America means to them.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed

Is minimum wage a living wage? Ehrenreich goes undercover working a series of minimum wage jobs to find out the answer.

Giuliani, Rudolph. Leadership

New York City's, "Mayor of the World" describes the leadership skills that helped him to cope with the catastrophic events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Kennedy, Caroline. A Patriot's Handbook

The president's daughter presents an inspiring selection of patriotic speeches, poems, song lyrics and historic documents.

Woodward, Bob. Bush at War

A behind the scenes account of the first 18 months of the Bush administration.

Biography

Brokaw, Tom. A Long Way from Home

The NBC anchorman and the author The Greatest Generation describes life growing up in the heart of the American Midwest.

Clark, Mary Higgins. Kitchen Privileges

A charming, bittersweet memoir of growing up in the Bronx during the Depression.

Queen Noor. Leap of Faith

The queen of Jordan describes her life and marriage to King Hussein.

Rockefeller, David. Memoirs

The youngest son of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. narrates the story of his varied roles as financier, philanthropist, and unofficial international envoy.

Children's Picture Books

Brett, Jan. Who's That Knocking On Christmas Eve?

A special guest frightens away naughty trolls and saves Kyri's Christmas.

Buzzeo, Toni. Sea Chest

While a young girl awaits the arrival of her newly adopted sibling, her great aunt tells her the story of a baby that washed ashore on a lighthouse island during a storm.

Cronin, Doreen. Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Farmer Brown takes a vacation and leaves his brother in charge of the farm. Clever Duck finds a pencil and writes all sorts of mischievous instructions for the farmer's brother.

Newman, Leslea. Runaway Dreidel!

A family's Chanukah celebration is interrupted by a wild dreidel.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Mice and Beans

As Rosa Maria prepares for her granddaughter's birthday party, the little mice that live in her walls are also getting ready for their own celebration.

Winnick, Karen B. Barn Sneeze

Ah-Choo! Follow the chain of sneezing animals!

Children's Novels

Blume, Judy. Double Fudge

Fudge returns and is driving his big brother crazy. Fudge's latest obsession - money!

Bruchac, Joseph. Skeleton Man

In this spooky mystery, Molly's parents disappear and she must live with a strange uncle. Molly uses her wits to protect herself.

Cummings, Priscilla. A Face First

Twelve-year-old Kelley suffers terrible burns to her face in a car accident. As she heals, what does she learn about being a whole person?

Gantos, Jack. What Would Joey Do?

Joey's back and faces new challenges like trying to figure out what makes his home schooling partner so mean, fighting parents and a dying grandmother.

Martin, Ann M. A Corner of the Universe

Hattie's twelfth summer is full of surprises. It starts when she meets an unusual uncle she never knew existed.

Paterson, Katherine. Same Stuff as Stars

When 11-year-old Angel's mother abandons her and her little brother at their great grandmother's house, Angel finds comfort in unexpected places.

Siebold, Jan. Doing Time Online

Middle schooler Mitchell must make amends for the role he played in a prank by participating in special police program. What starts out as a punishment becomes a valuable lesson.

Snicket, Lemony. The Carnivorous Carnival

Book 9 of the "Series of Unfortunate Events" finds the Baudelaire orphans on the run once again from evil Count Olaf. The children are forced to hide out at the Caligari Carnival pretending to be freaks.

Teen Novels

Alton, Steve. THE MALIFEX

When Sam, the computer game fanatic, gets dragged to another boring holiday in the English countryside, he doesn't realize he will soon enter the world of Wicca and the old ways. Sam and a local girl, Charly, awaken Amergin, Merlin's assistant. Sam is the hero and Malifex the evil entity attempting to destroy the ecosystem. A swiftly paced eco-fantasy.

Armstrong, Jennifer. THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME

Second book in the Fire-Us trilogy is set in post-holocaust Florida where most of the adults died five years ago during a deadly epidemic. Hunter, Mommy, Teacher, and Angerman, emotionally-scarred teenagers, take to the road to find President in Washington, whom they hope will explain what happened to the world. Along the way they meet some surviving adults who call themselves "Keepers of the Flame". Grim settings, strong characters, and apocalyptic allusions characterize this volume of the series.

Bauer, Joan. STAND TALL

As the tallest seventh grader in the history of his school, Tree has a lot to deal with both in and out of class. His parents are recently divorced. He begins a friendship with an outcast 8th grade girl and stands up against the meanness of some popular kids. His relationship with his grandfather and others help him to take pride in himself and accept his height.

Blacker, Terence. THE ANGEL FACTORY

British teen, Thomas Wisdom, has the kind of life most kids dream about. He is smart, well-liked and good-looking....and his parents never yell at him. Everything is perfect...too perfect. After hacking into his father's computer, Thomas suspects that his parents aren't what they appear to be. Great mystery and science fiction selection.

Gantos, Jack. WHAT WOULD JOEY DO?

Joey Pigza is a well-meaning, lovable pre-teen with Attention Defiicit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Joey and his mother are trying to get their lives back on track when his father, Carter, comes roaring back into their lives. Funny, heartwarming novel.

McDonnell, Nick. TWELVE

Written by an 18-year old author, this novel is well-written. The protagonist, Chris, lives in a luxurious townhouse where he holds huge parties for people who are not his friends. "Twelve" is the hot, new drug in the crowd. Welcome to the world of Manhattan's elite adolescents. Older teens will pass this around.

Muharrar, Aisha. MORE THAN A LABEL: WHY WHAT YOU WEAR OR WHO YOU'RE WITH DOESN'T DEFINE WHO YOU ARE

The realities and cruelties of labeling. Seventeen-year old author, Muharrar, includes teens from all over the country by using a survey to ask why teens use labels and their thoughts about them.

Paterson, Katherine. THE SAME STUFF AS STARS

Angle Moran is in trouble. Her daddy is in jail, her mama has disappeared, and her great-grandma needs a mother almost more than she does. Angel's only breaks from constant worry are her midnight visits to the pasture behind her great-grandmother's house where the mysterious Star Man lets her look through his telescope and teaches her about astronomy. Wonderful characterization and glorious prose make this book one to rejoice over.