Readers > Booklists > Staff picks > 2005
2005
Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin-
Tepper parks his car in various legal parking zones in New York City and just sits in his car. He manages to spark the attention and wonder of those around him. Trillin writes a gentle satire of New York foibles.
Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson-
From slavery to freedom, through segregation, freedom marches and the fight for literacy, the tradition they called Show Way has been passed down as a way to remember the past and celebrate the possibilities of the future.
Ten Circles upon the Pond: Reflections of a Prodigal Mother by Virginia Tranel-
The mother of ten children reflects upon the culture, philosophy, choices and decisions made in their life together.
Many Ways: How Families Practice Their Beliefs and Religions by Shelley Rotner-
How are people different from each other? How are people the same? Explore the similarities and differences of the world's religions.
The Spinning Man by George Harrar-
A college philosophy professor is suspected of kidnapping a teen age girl from a state park. Is he really guilty?
Gorilla Doctors by Pamela S. Turner-
The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is a group of courageous and talented scientists working to save the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda and Uganda.
The Book of Salt by Monique Truong-
A gay Vietnamese cook takes a job as cook to Alice B Toklas and Gertrude Stein.
Danitra Brown, Class Clown by Nikki Grimes-
Best friends Zuri Jackson and Danitra Brown respond very differently to the start of school but support each other any way they can.
Beautiful Blemish by Kevin Sampsell-
Short stories by the Future Tense Publishing micro press founder. Past Writers Talking author.
Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time by Lisa Yee-
Standford has to deal with making up his English class, falling in love, making the A-team in basketball and his grandmother going into the nursing home over the course of one summer.
Perma Red by Debra Magpie Earling-
Louise White Elk dreams of both belonging and escape, and of discovering love and freedom on her own terms. But she is a red-haired, tough, and beautiful temptation, and at least three men, each more dangerous than the other, want to control and possess her:
Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury-
Eddy Okubo lies about his age and joins the army in his hometown of Honolulu only weeks before the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Suddenly Americans see him as the enemy-even the U.S. Army doubts the loyalty of Japanese American soldiers.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini-
Everybody Reads 2006 selection. The story of the friendship of two boys in war-torn Afghanistan.
Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka-
This wide-ranging collection of authors and illustrators shows that guys do read . . . and will read more if given things they enjoy reading.
Core: a Romance by Kassten Alonso-
This book has been described as a novel of "considerable daring and precision." According to one critic, "Alonso explores the border between Hell and the everyday, finding it closer than we might have hoped." An Oregon Book Award finalist. Past Writers Talking author.
Shakespeare's Secret by Elsie Broach-
A missing diamond, a mysterious neighbor, a link to Shakespeare- can Hero uncover the connections?
Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson-
Racing against the clock, shy middle-school student Lily and her best friends, Katie and Jasper, must foil the plot of her father's conniving boss to conquer the world using an army of whales.
A Winter Marriage by Kerry Hardie-
A 52 year old widow goes to a wedding in Ireland to find a new husband to support her and her problem son.
Sabriel by Garth Nix-
It's up to Sabriel to journey in a dangerous world to uncover her real destiny and to battle a growing evil. Former Teen Author Lecture author.
Two Wheels North: Cycling the West Coast in 1909 by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb-
Two boys just out of high school set off to bicycle from Santa Rosa California to the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition in Seattle in 1909.
An Egg on Three Sticks by Jackie Moyer Fischer-
In the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, 12-year-old Abby watches her mother fall apart and must take on the burden of holding her family together.
The Elephant Walk by Joe Spooner
Father Time by Steve Duin-
Whether it's coaching Little League or coaching one's kids through adolescence, Duin (columnist for The Oregonian) has been there. A chronicle of the pain, joy and beauty of being a father. Past Writers Talking author.
Please Don't Kill the Freshman by Zoe Trope-
The shameless confession of an intuitive teenager, first published in zine format by local author Zoe Trope. Find out more about zines at the library's Zines section.
Oscar's Half Birthday by Bob Graham-
To celebrate his first half birthday, Oscar, family and many friends go on a picnic.
Staircase of a Thousand Steps: a Novel by Masha Hamilton-
In a remote desert village of storytellers and seers, the accidental revelation of long-held secrets, including a forbidden love affair, unravels a young girl's world. Past Writers Talking author.
Permanent Rose by Hilary McKay-
While trying to reconnect with her friend Tom, who has returned to the United States without leaving a forwarding address, eight-year-old Rose inadvertently discovers the identity of her adopted sister's father.
Going Home by Eve Bunting-
Carlos, his parents, and his sisters visit the family village in Mexico.