msjamgochian'sinfinitebooklist

A brilliant, beguiling and beautiful book set in Depression-era Seattle in the 1930s, TGOLAD tells the at once heartbreaking and hopeful love story of African American chanteuse Flora Saudade and adopted wealthy white boy Henry Bishop. Forever foes Love and Death are playing a game: Flora and Henry are their unknowing pawns. A pitch-perfect Seattle setting, an indelible ensemble cast of characters, and a hefty dose of high-stakes legerdemain all come together in a mesmerizing cacophony that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. I had the distinct pleasure of listening to Ms. Brockenbrough read at the Washington State Book Awards; the notes of her voice floating through the air were every bit as gorgeous as her words on the page. Not to be missed! Click here for a trailer and here for a full review . Grade 8+

The most comforting, delightful, and pleasurable read I have had in a long time, AO tells the story of 16 year-old Morwenna, who has just been sent off to boarding school in order to escape her evil witch of a mother and connect with a father she has never known. Grief struck after the death of her twin sister (while evading her evil mother), Mor finds solace in the world of books and magic. She has incredible appeal for oddball bibliophiles around the world: "What I mean is, when I look at other people... and see what they like and what they're happy with and what they want, I don't feel as if I'm part of their species. And sometimes - sometimes I don't care... Sometimes it feels as if it's only books that make life worth living..." A gorgeous book, endorsed by Ms. Le Guin herself, and a perfect match for sci-fi book clubs. Give it to fans of Le Guin, Vonnegut, Rowling, and magic. Guaranteed to make you feel less lonely. Grade 9+

Le Cirque des Rêves only comes out at night, is in black and white, and has a loyal group of patrons devoted to following it around the globe. Celia and Marco, two young magicians raised and trained to compete against each other in the ultimate magic-off, fall in love, not realizing that only one of them can survive the dangerous game concocted by their scheming masters. A lyrical, gorgeous romance encased in velvet and set in the late 19th century. Not to be missed. Click here for a full review and don't miss Ms. Morgenstern's website for extras including a playlist.

Chip Linton slowly loses his mind after he pilots a plane that crashes into a river after a pair of geese simultaneously destroy both engines, killing 39 of the 43 passengers aboard. Chip survives, but he is no longer able to fly, and he retreats to a small town in New England with his wife Emily, a lawyer, and their lovely twin daughters, Hallie and Garnet, to get away from horrific memories and the press. Unfortunately, their new Victorian mansion of a home has a tragic history of its own. Haunted distraught Chip starts spending lots of time in the basement. With dead people. A classic page-turner of a ghost story with a modern twist that will thrill fans of the genre who are willing to suspend their disbelief long enough to make it to the surprise ending. Don't miss Mr. Bohjalian's other books, especially Secrets of Eden . Grade 9+