REQUIRED READING
The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman Gill (Knopf)
Thirteen-year-old Griffin Watts is charged with an unusual crime: the theft of stone gargoyles off New York City buildings, from tenements to skyscrapers. He’s a chip off the old (crumbling city) block — his father runs an illicit architectural salvage company. To the dad, the gargoyles are a precious endangered species.
Conviction by Julia Dahl (Minotaur)
Former New York Post reporter Julia Dahl is back with another NYC thriller. In 1992, a black family is found murdered in their Crown Heights home. A teenager is quickly convicted, and that seems to be the end of the case — until 22 years later, journalist Rebekah Roberts gets a letter that says: “I didn’t do it.” So begins an exploration into the dark underside of the city — and as Roberts creeps closer to the truth, her own life is at risk.
Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring by Bassem Youssef (Dey Street Books)
A memoir from the “Jon Stewart of the Arab World,” Youssef created “The Program,” the satirical news show that became the most-watched TV show in Egypt’s history. His jokes hit their target — so much so that he was subjected to a six-hour long police interrogation, in which he was accused of insulting the Egyptian presidency and Islam. Both hilarious and disturbing.
No One Cares About Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America by Ron Powers (Hachette Books)
Part memoir, part history, this book offers up a thoroughly researched narrative of the social history of mental illness in America, paired with the author’s own personal story about his two sons’ battles against schizophrenia.
Tuesdays with Morrie: 20th Anniversary by Mitch Albom ( Broadway Books)
The story of the friendship between a college professor, his former student and the lessons of life became an international best-seller, a TV movie, a stage play and a beloved staple of book clubs across the country. This month, it celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special edition and a new forward by Albom.
Missing Tyler by Tamara Palmer (CreateSpace)
It’s summer break, but 15-year-old Kit Carlin is reeling from the loss of her twin brother. She copes with her grief on the Jersey Shore while dealing with the usual mix of young love, jealousy and friendship.