The MAN WHO BROKE INTO AUSCHWITZ

THE MAN WHO BROKE INTO AUSCHWITZ is by Denis Avrey, a British soldier who was captured by the Germans and imprisioned at a "work camp" next to Auschwitz, where thousands of Jews were killed during World War II.  The book describes the horrible conditions there -- and focuses on an unusual situation where he changed places twice with a Jewish man at the death camp.  What resulted is a gripping story that stretches out to the present day as Avery tries to connect with this prisoner's family.  Years after escaping from the death camp, he learns how his gift of a few cigarettes saved a man's life.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Shaffer and Barrows

This delightful novel, written in the form of letters, tells about Juliet Ashton a writer looking for her next book subject. A letter from someone on the island of Guernsey, (in the Channel Islands, between England and France), leads to her correspondence with various residents of this isolated place and to her eventual visit there.

The story takes place in the late 1940s, and the island's residents gradually tell about their experiences when the Germans invaded the island during World War II.

This serves as the background for the story....and fleshes out the personalities of those who live on this isolated island. The ending teases the reader with its suspense.

THE MAN WHO LOVED CHINA by Simon Winchester

"The Man Who Loved China" by Simon Winchester is the story of Joseph Needham, an eccentric British Scientist who spent years in China researching its closely-held secrets. In the 1940s, he traveled throughout the war-torn country seeking far-flung places that would shed light on China's extraordinary inventions....many of which pre-dated those of the Western world.

He found evidence that the Chinese were responsible for many of mankind's impressive innovations such as multicolor printing, seismographs, fertilizers, magnetic needle compasses, paddle-wheel boats, suspension bridges and much much more.

Needham, somewhat of a free spirit, was also a disciplined researcher. He wrote 17 immense volumes (Science and Civilization in China) cataloging China's impressive inventions.

THE FLYING CARPET OF SMALL MIRACLES by Hala Jaber

This gripping book, written by an award-winning foreign correspondent, is an inspirational account of her mission to save two orphans of the war in Iraq.

Jabar, a Lebanese woman and now a British subject married to an English photographer, paints a harrowing picture of the children maimed physically and mentally by bombings inflicted by American troops. A childless woman who longs for children of her own, Jabar becomes emotionally involved with a grandmother and her two surviving grandchildren. Jabar's inner conflicts and bravery in the face of war, plus her relationship with this devastated family, make this a book that's hard to put down. Her bravery and courage are an inspiration.

LOOK AGAIN by Lisa Scottoline

Ellen Gleeson, the main character in Lisa Scottoline's book, LOOK AGAIN, is faced with a horrible choice. Five years earlier, she adopted a sick baby abandoned in a local hospital and nursed him back to health.

When a "Have you seen this child?" flyer arrives in the mail with the photo of a baby kidnapped in Florida years earlier, the picture looks exactly like her son. Should she toss the flyer? As an investigative reporter, should she find out more about the kidnapped child -- and possibly be forced to give up her adopted son?

This book is a page-turner with an unusual plot. Check it out.

DEWEY by Vicki Myron

"Do I really want to read a book about a cat?" I asked myself that question when someone recommended "Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World" by Vicki Myron. Reluctantly, I began reading the book -- and became captivated by this heartwarming story.

On a freezing cold night in Iowa, someone stuffed Dewey into the book return slot of a small-town library. He was just a few weeks old and barely alive when Vicki Myron, the library director, found him the next morning. Myron fell in love with Dewey and nursed him back to health with the support of her staff.

At the time, the town of Sterling had fallen upon hard times. Yet when townspeople visited the library, their spirits soared as they watched Dewey's antics. He seemed to know instinctively how to reach out to people. Special-needs kids blossomed under his spell. As the years went by, stories about Dewey, the library cat, spread throughout Iowa, then the entire country -- and around the world.

People traveled thousands of miles to see Dewey. A camera crew from Japan came to the library for a shoot. The increasing number of visitors to this isolated small town helped generate more business -- and Sterling began to thrive.

If this book were only about Dewey, it might become a bit tiresome. Fortunately, it focuses on the human side also. We learn more about Vicki Myron, a single mother, and her struggles to gain an education, survive a disastrous marriage, and create a first class library. Myron and Dewey became a force in Sterling and helped turn the town around after its earlier decline.

Readers feel as though they're IN the library with Dewey. This book also offers interesting insights about library management.

DEWEY is the purr-fect book for increasing your appreciation of small-town values and resilience -- and for learning about a remarkable cat.

THE FIFTH SEASON: Tales of My Life in Baseball

Even if you're not a baseball fan, you're likely to enjoy Donald Honig's book, "THE FIFTH SEASON" Tales of My Life in Baseball". It's not just about baseball. It's about an long-gone era in American history. It's about coming of age in the 1930s and 1940s. It's about coping with shattered dreams of the future and coming out ahead in the long run. Honig has lead a life that many of us would envy.

Honig paints a colorful picture of immigrant life during his boyhood in New York City, about his love for baseball, and his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. Did his dreams come true? No. He tried out for a minor league team and failed to land a berth. Honig picked up the pieces and turned to his second love -- writing.

During his career as a sportswriter, Honig rubbed shoulders with Baseball's greats and had in-depth conversations with many of them. One of the most touching chapters deals with Pete Reiser, a shining star with the Brooklyn Dodgers -- destined to become one of baseball's all-time heroes. Reiser was an all-star who frequently crashed into the centerfield wall while making spectacular catches. After incurring many devastating injuries, Reiser had to retire from baseball before he hit his prime. I had been an avid Dodger fan during that era . After reading Honig's book, I was relieved to find out that Reiser didn't waste away feeling sorry for himself. He went on to lead a constructive life.

After reading Honig's book, I feel as though I've walked through his neighborhood streets, met his parents, and watched memorable baseball games with him. My memories of baseball are even richer.