One Amazing Thing

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Divakaruni explores what happens when a diverse group of nine individuals are trapped in the basement of an Indian consulate after an earthquake. Divakaruni weaves the fascinating tale of nine survivors.
More information about the book is at amazon.com

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake: A Novel

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender tells the story of nine-year old Rose Edelstein, who, after taking a bite of her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake, learns that she can "taste" her mother's feelings and emotions. Rose learns of deep family secrets kept by her mother, father and brother.

More information about the book at Amazon.com.
Information about Aimee Bender on her website.

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Just Don't Fall

Just Don't Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made It Down the Mountain by Josh Sundquist is about Josh's own experience of surviving Ewing's Sarcoma; a virulent cancer strain, that claimed his left leg at the age of nine. The story follows Josh through his hospital visits, through his struggles as a young boy, into adulthood and as he takes on his first attempt at skiing.

More about the book at Amazon.com.
More about the author, Josh Sundquist, on his website.

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The Lock Artist: A Novel

The Lock Artist: A Novel by Steve Hamilton follows Mike, the "boxman", "Miracle Boy" Smith as he documents his eighteen years of life, now that he is in prison. Mike hasn't spoken a word in ten years, since he became the "Miracle Boy" and discovered his talent of opening anything from key-less locks to eight-hundred pout safes (which is what landed him in prison).

Check out more information about this book on Amazon.com.
Information about the author, Steve Hamilton, on his Website.

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The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden: A Novel, by Helen Grant is described as a "charming horror novel" by Publishers Weekly (Amazon.com). Pia, a ten-year-old girl from a small town in Germany had a normal life until, one day, her grandmother accidentally catches fire and burned to death. Afterwards, Pia becomes an outcast; her only friend being the most unpopular boy in her town, StinkStefan. The two of them visit an elderly man who tells them ghost stories of the town in the hopes of solving old disappearances of young girls.

More information about the Author on her website.

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The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To

The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by DC Pierson tells the story of two, socially awkward, high school, best friends, Eric and Darren. Neither are good with girls and must endure the cruel high school experience until Eric reveals a truth to Darren: Eric does not sleep and never has. Once this fact reaches the rest of the school and the world, it sends Eric and Darren on a daring adventure.

More information on the book at Amazon.com.
DC Pierson's Website.

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Voice of America

Voice of America by E.C. Osondu is a collection of 18 short stories about living in Nigeria and Africa. E.C. Osondu presents a grim picture of the hardships of living in Africa. Although the book is dark, Osondu provides moments of humor and imagination.

More information about the book is available on Amazon.com, as well as information about the author.

Please post a comment about the book and whether it would be suitable for the SJSU Campus Reading Program. Thanks.