msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

A hilarious yet sad debut novel set in San Francisco, TDDNI, revolves around a series of murders and the life of recent MFA graduate Korean-American Philip Kim. When his baby boomer neighbor is shot, and turns out to be a semi-famous adult film star named "The Grey Beaver," he unwillingly gets caught up in the ensuing investigation, and becomes the target of a complicated, dangerous scheme. Underneath the light is an incredibly dark look at what it means to be Korean-American, especially in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings. If you live or have ever lived in San Francisco, where much of the early action takes place, you'll enjoy Kim's stinging yet delightfully comical portrayal of the city and all of the local references. Click here for a full review . Grade 12+

Former award-winning architect and MacArthur genius Bernadette has had it with Seattle: its volunteering helicopter moms clad in Birkenstocks, its timid drivers, and its endless rain are sending her over the edge. She loathes leaving the house so much that she hires a virtual assistant in India to manage her affairs. When her daughter Bee asks for a family trip to Antarctica as a reward for years of perfect grades and her Microsoft bigwig father agrees, the prospect of the trip causes Bernadette's slim grasp on the day-to-day reality of her life to slip. When she disappears, Bee gets right on the case, and, via a series of intercepted emails, letters, and, yes, FBI reports, figures out where her mother went. The perfect beach or rainy day read. Click here for a full review . Grade 10+