Reading Ahead: September 2018, part 1

I know, it's hard to think about autumn when we're heading into the dog days of summer, but a librarian always thinks ahead! So if you happen to be longing for cooler nights and a book to keep you company, here are a few to look forward to.

Sea Prayer, by Khaled Hosseini. The new work from the author who brought you The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, Sea Prayer is short but powerful, Hosseini's response to the refugee crisis. Told in the form of an illustrated letter, from father to son, it is the eve of their journey and a reflection on their life, a hope for their future, the danger that lies between them and freedom. It also vividly renders their history in Syria and their home before it became a war zone.

Button Man, by Andrew Gross. Gross, whose novels have recently taken a historical turn with excellent results, here brings his legion of fans a new novel that is equal parts historical thriller and family saga. It's the 1920s and Morris, Sol, and Harry Rabishevsky are growing up poor and rough on the Lower East Side until the death of their father forces them into fending for themselves and providing for their large family. Each of the boys finds a different path: Morris quits school to work in a garment factory, Sol studies to become an accountant, and Harry falls in with a tough crowd. Morris rises quickly and Sol joins him in the factory, but Harry becomes entangled in organized crime and won't be lured away. But when the mob set their sites on the garment workers union, a showdown will pit brother against brother. Jeffrey Archer fans might want to take a gander, too.

Transcription, by Kate Atkinson. New historical fiction from the bestselling author of Life After Life. In 1940, Juliet Armstrong is eighteen when she is recruited, reluctantly, into the world of espionage. Working for an obscure branch of MI5, she finds her work alternately tedious and terrifying. By the time the war ends, Juliet figures that she may leave the past behind her. Ten years later, however, her career as a BBC producer is threatened when figures from her past reappear. The war now is different, as is the battlefield, but the threat is no less real. This is right at the top of my to-read list next month.

Flight or Fright, by Stephen King and Bev Vincent. Stephen King hates to fly, and now he and co-editor Bev Vincent bring you an anthology of stories about just what can go wrong at cruising altitude. The compilation includes new works by King himself and son Joe Hill, as well as classic tales from legends like Ray Bradbury and Roald Dahl. Perfect for readers who like a good scare!