Focusing on the Akha, a Chinese ethnic minority instead of the Han, the Chinese ethnic majority, author Lisa See weaves a fascinating tale of culture and family. The common thread is that of Pu'er tea, a highly prized rare tea cultivated exclusively by the Akha. Well worth the time!! Add it to your list!!

I love a good post-apocalyptic tale, but it's getting harder and harder to find the good ones under the mountain of titles that are coming out every month. And, it's getting increasingly difficult to find a new hook to grab me in these types of stories...but this dinosaur tale fit the bill. I loved the idea of dinosaurs being cloned, reintroduced to the world...and then a dinosaur disease strikes, killing off 99% of the population. That is a fresh idea I've never heard of before as it relates to dinosaurs and cloning: the fact that we could be bringing back their bacteria and diseases along with their serrated teeth and bony armored plates. This is an excellent adventure for children who love a mix of dinosaurs, action and mystery.

Moonstone for empathy, lapis lazuli for truth.....Benedict Stone is a jeweler in the quiet village of Noon Sun. This is a gem of a novel about family forgiveness and one man's second chance at happiness!! Super second entry after the debut novel "Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper"!

This book should change the way you eat! Schatzker gives many reasons as to why we eat the way we do, and many more reasons as why we should change our ways.

Another Hilderbrand beach hit!!! After more than a decade apart identical twins Harper and Tabitha switch lives--and islands to save what is left of their estranged family.

Louna is the 17-year-old daughter of famed wedding planner, Natalie Barrett. Her summer job is the family business, helping brides plan their perfect day. She plays her part in preparing brides for their happily ever after, even though she doesn't believe in it herself. However, when easy-going and women-charmer Ambrose is hired by Natalie to help out for the summer, Louna finds her world turned upside down.

The famous foodie is back with a banquet of all-new strips to satisfy your comic cravings. Whether he’s toasting a whole loaf of bread because Jon’s butter expires at midnight, fixing a taste-bud melting liverwurst, horseradish, and anchovy paste sandwich, or preparing Grandma’s special soup (hold the coyote!), Garfield makes sure fun is always on the menu!

Donna Leon's novels about Venetian Detective Guido Brunetti never disappoint!! Her 26th entry for the series is a gentle melancholy tale.

In 1945, four-year-old Michael Bornstein was filmed by Soviet soldiers as he was carried out of Auschwitz in his grandmother’s arms. For a very long time, Michael didn't talk about what happened to him during the war. One day, Michael discovered his image from the Soviet soldier's footage was being used by a website dedicated to claims that the Holocaust was a lie. Michael realized that, as a survivor, he could not remain silent. His story must be told. With the help of his daughter, Michael Bornstein tells the unforgettable story of how a father’s courage, a mother’s love, and one perfectly timed illness saved his life. Working from his own recollections as well as extensive interviews with relatives and survivors who knew the family, Michael's story depicts what happened to one Polish village in the wake of the Nazi invasion. It is shocking, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting.

It can be difficult to make friends and even harder when you lose them. This is a powerful story, told without words, of a young child who learns about the difficult topics of friendship, bullying, and death.