Magical realism

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins “Sometimes seeing one disheartening news story after another makes me feel hopeless,” sighs Maggie Dillard, FIRST assistant editor. “So fantasy books, like this one, are my mental retreat!” Sarah Dove is a librarian in the struggling town of Dove Pond. But Sarah’s not your average librarian… she has an extraordinary ability: Books speak to her so she can place them in the hands of the perfect reader. So when a displaced girl named Grace moves to town, Sarah—and the books—know she’s just the person to save the small community. Says Maggie: “This magical tale brought me so much joy!” (Gallery, 2019; Paperback $16, Kindle $10, Nook $10)