TOP OF THE SHELF | COMMITTEE PICKS January 2016 ADULT FICTION A Brief History of Seven Killings: A Novel by Marlon James Winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize A recipient of the 2015 American Book Award A “musical, electric, fantastically profane” (The New York Times) epic that explores the tumultuous world of Jamaica over the past three decades. In A Brief History of Seven Killings, Marlon James combines brilliant storytelling with his unrivaled skills of characterization and meticulous eye for detail to forge an enthralling novel of dazzling ambition and scope. The Guilty (Will Robie series) by David Baldacci Will Robie is the government's most professional, disciplined, and lethal assassin. He infiltrates the most hostile countries in the world, defeats our enemies' advanced security measures, and eliminates threats before they ever reach our shores. But now, his skills have left him. Sent overseas on a critical assignment, he fails, unable to pull the trigger. Absent his talents, Robie is a man without a mission, and without a purpose. To recover what he has lost, Robie must confront what he has tried to forget for over twenty years: his own past. The Japanese Lover: A Novel by Isabel Allende Named one of the most anticipated novels of the year by New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Publishers Weekly, The Huffington Post, and more. From New York Times and internationally bestselling author Isabel Allende, an exquisitely crafted love story and multigenerational epic that sweeps from San Francisco in the present-day to Poland and the United States during the Second World War. January 2016 ADULT NON-FICTION The Innovators by Walter Isaacson Following his blockbuster biography of Steve Jobs, The Innovators is Walter Isaacson’s revealing story of the people who created the computer and the Internet. It is destined to be the standard history of the digital revolution and an indispensable guide to how innovation really happens. The Future of God by Deepak Chopra A practical approach to the spirituality of our times Deepal Chopra. Can God be revived in a skeptical age? What would it take to give people a spiritual life more powerful than anything in the past? Deepak Chopra tackles these issues with eloquence and insight in this book. He proposes that God lies at the source of human awareness. Therefore, any person can find the God within that transforms everyday life. Secrets of 6 Figure Women by Barbara Stanny Surprising strategies to up your earnings and change your life: Barbara Stanny In Secrets of Six-Figure Women, Barbara Stanny, journalist, motivational speaker,and financial educator, identifies the seven key strategies of female highearners: A Profit Motive, Audacity, Resilience, Encouragement, Self-Awareness, Non-attachment, and Financial Know-How. January 2016 AUDIOS (ADULT) Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes, Audio CD The author chronicles how saying YES for one year changed her life―and how it can change yours, too. With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Unplanned party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No. And there was the side benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear. She received a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. The Year of Yes chronicles the powerful impact saying Yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes. Read and Speak Chinese for Beginners with Audio CD, Second Edition (Read & Speak) by Cheng Ma The audio provides an accessible, entertaining beginning Mandarin program that reinforces vocabulary and covers eight topics to develop your communication skills. Progress is reinforced by tests and puzzles. The 55-minute audio CD contains key words and phrases for you to listen to and repeat. It also features entertaining listening activities and games for additional reinforcement. Listeners can perfect their pronunciation as well as participate in speaking and listening practice, audio games, and use flashcards for language reinforcement. Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace: A Guided Imagery Meditation for Physical & Spiritual Wellness by Susie Mantell, Audio CD The award winning audio provides a uniquely soothing relaxation experience for men and women in all walks of life. Like an easy chair, Mantell's narration gently releases tension, easing worry from sleepless nights. Clinically approved for health-related, work-related, chronic and traumatic stress, soft music enhances the warm, elegant narration. To relieve the stress of the day, drift into a quiet place where worries dissipate. 1 TOP OF THE SHELF | COMMITTEE PICKS January 2016 AUDIOS (CHILDREN) Inside Out Read-Along Storybook and CD by Suzanne Francis Jump inside Riley's mind and get to know the Emotions who know her best: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust. The CD includes the adventure, sound effects, and original character voices from the movie Inside Out. Ages 6-8. The Mercy Watson Collection Volume I: #1: Mercy Watson to the Rescue; #2: Mercy Watson Goes For a Ride by Kate DiCamillo, Audio CD Newbery Medal winning author Kate DiCamillo writes the first two stories about lovable pig, Mercy Watson. Listeners will find that Mercy is not just a pig–she's a porcine wonder. The portly and good-natured Mercy likes buttered toast and loves nothing more than a ride in the car. The stories in volume one of the audiobook collection introduce children to the wry and endearing world of Mercy. Ages 6-8. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book One: The Sword of Summer (Rick Riordan's Norse Mythology) by Rick Riordan, Audio CD Kid favorite author Rick Riordan turns his attention to Norse mythology in this new audiobook. In the story, Magnus Chase has lived alone, surviving by his wits, since the death of his parent. Things begin to change when he's tracked down by an uncle he barely knows-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true and Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus must make a decision. Ages 10 and up. January 2016 JUNIOR NON-FICTION The Teenagers’ Guide to School Outside the Box by Rebecca Greene For some teens, the traditional four-year high school curriculum is just what they need. Others would benefit more from non-traditional learning experiences—if they knew how to find them and what to do next. This practical, inspiring book explores the world of alternative learning, giving teens the knowledge and tools they need to make good choices. It’s not a directory of programs; there are many of those available already. Instead, Rebecca Greene introduces and describes a world of possibilities, from study abroad to internships, apprenticeships, networking, job shadowing, service learning, university coursework, and independent study. Then she tells teens where to look for opportunities, how to decide which ones are right for them, how to overcome potential barriers (cost, distance, time), how to prepare, and what kinds of benefits they can expect to take away from their experiences. Show Me the Money by Alvin Hall Money makes the world go round, but how well do children understand finances? Show Me the Money breaks the mold of the school textbook and introduces young readers to the world of economics — from the history of money to e-commerce. Divided into sections that focus on economics, business, personal finance, and the history of trade, Show Me the Money takes technical jargon and breaks it down with easy-to-understand text, diagrams, and illustrations making a formerly dry subject interesting and relevant. Topical questions of ethics are addressed throughout, including free trade, fair trade, debt in the developing world, and the impact of business on the environment. The book also looks at personal finance from saving to pensions, and introduces key thinkers such as Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes, to take a look at the bigger picture of the global economy. Updated to be in tune with today's culture of environmental and social awareness, Show Me the Money is a good investment for young people who want to learn about economics and the world around them. Show, Don’t Tell! : Secrets of Writing by Josephine Nobisso Innovative yet accessible writing strategies appropriate for both fiction and nonfiction are presented in this enchanting tale of a writing lion who holds court for a cast of animal friends. Aspiring writers learn the essential nature of nouns and adjectives and how to use them to express their individual visions so that they “show and don’t tell” every time. Writing lessons are cleverly integrated into a tale that incorporates a sound chip, a scratch-and-sniff patch, and a tactile object to engage the aspiring writer’s five senses in fun proofs. American Booksellers Association "Picks List" Winner of a 2004 Parents' Choice Recommended Award Winner of the Best Trade Book with Educational Application award from Global Learning Initiative, a partnership of The Bologna Children's Book Fair and The Association of Educational Publishers Winner of a Children's Choices Award from the International Reading Association/Children's Book Council Winner of the National Parenting Publications Honors Award 2 TOP OF THE SHELF | COMMITTEE PICKS January 2016 CHILDREN My New Friend Is So Fun! by Mo Willems Gerald is careful.