This week’s literary events

Tom Oliphant and Curtis Wilkie, “The Road to Camelot: Inside JFK’s Five-Year Campaign.”

A behind-the-scenes account of John F. Kennedy’s campaign to the White House, beginning with the young and undistinguished junior’s bold, failed attempt to win the vice presidential nomination in 1956. 7 p.m. May 15. Reading, discussions, Q&A, signing. Free. Carter Presidential Library and Museum, 441 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta. 404-865-7100, acappellabooks.com

Omar El Akkad, “American War.”

Akkad offers up a powerful debut novel about a second American Civil War, a devastating plague and one family caught deep in the middle. 7 p.m. May 16. Conversation, Q&A, signing. Wrecking Bar Brewpub, 292 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta. 404-221-2600, acappellabooks.com

Keith Law, “Smart Baseball: The Story Behind the Old Stats That Are Ruining the Game, the New Ones That Are Running It, and the Right Way to Think About Baseball.”

Renowned ESPN analyst and senior baseball writer Law’s new book looks at the numbers game of baseball, proving why some of the most trusted stats are surprisingly wrong, explaining what numbers actually work, and exploring what the rise of big data means for the future of the sport. 7:15 p.m. May 16. Talk, signing. Free. Decatur Library Auditorium, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur. 404-370-3070, ext. 2285, georgiacenterforthebook.org

Ashley Antoinette, “The Prada Plan 5.”

In the latest addition to her bestselling urban fiction series, Antoinette continues her gritty tale of a moneyhungry woman who finds her life spinning out of control. 7 p.m. May 17. Signing. Free. Barnes & Noble Edgewood, 1217 Caroline Street at Moreland Ave., Atlanta. 404522-0212, store-locator. barnesandnoble.com/ store/2204

Ted Geltner, “Blood, Bone and Marrow: A Biography of Harry Crews.”

Award-winning author, journalist, and professor Geltner profiles one of the most unlikely figures in 20th century American literature—a writer who emerged from a dirt-poor South Georgia tenant farm and went on to create a singularly unique voice of fiction. A veteran of Crews’ creative writing classes, Jay Atkinson, and Atlanta writer Candace Dyer join Geltner. 7 p.m. May 17. Discussion, signing. $10. Margaret Mitchell House, 979 Crescent Ave. NE, Atlanta, 404-8144150, atlantahistorycenter.com

Susan Abel, “Through the Mist.”

In Atlanta author Abel’s debut novel, set in the mid-1900s near a Blackfeet reservation in Montana, a riding instructor must let go of her past in order to save her future. 2 p.m. May 20. Reading, signing. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2105 LaVista Rd. NE, Atlanta. 404-636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com

Mark Pendergrast, “City on the Verge: Atlanta and the Fight for America’s Urban Future.”

Atlanta born Pendergrast (“For God, County & Coca-Cola”) uses the Beltline saga to explore issues of race, education, public health, transportation, business, philanthropy, urban planning, religion, politics, and community. 3 p.m. May 20. Talk, signing. Free. Barnes & Noble at the Forum on Peachtree Parkway, 5141 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross, 770-2094244, gwinnettpl.org Also appearing: 7 p.m. May 25. Talk, signing. Free. Tall Tales Book Shop, Toco Hill Shopping Center, 2105 LaVista Rd. NE, Atlanta, 404636-2498, talltalesatlanta.com

Nicole Castroman, “Blacksouls.”

Local YA author Castroman returns with the romantic and adventurous sequel to her first novel (“Blackhearts”), continuing the reimagined origin story of Blackbeard the pirate. 7:30 p.m. May 20. Signing. Free with purchase of book. Little Shop of Stories, 133A E. Court Square, Decatur. 404-373-6300, littleshopofstories.com/