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Marie's Staff Picks History
Trust Marie's taste? Here's what she's picked in the past!

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff


At first glance this novel appears to be straightforward historical fiction surrounding the life of Ann Eliza Young, the outcast wife of Brigham Young, a founding prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Yet, intertwined is a modern tale of a murder mystery involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. The research lengths the author went to for his novel are impressive. At a recent lunch event he told attendees stories of interviewing former members of FLDS communities, of visiting one Utah community himself, and of hours spent poring over historical documents. While the connection between the historical and fictitious is especially strong, what is most extraordinary are the “documents” interspersed within it: a Wikipedia entry, newspaper articles, a college thesis paper, and more, all penned by the author himself but seemingly so authentic that I had to flip back to the Author’s Note to check for citations. A complex, timely and addictive mixture of past and present, this book will no doubt spark discussion and entice readers to learn more about this piece of American religious history. Great for book clubs!

978-1-4000-6397-0 | $26.00/$30.00C | Random House | HC | August 2008

 

Relentless Pursuit: A Year in the Trenches with Teach for America: by Donna Foote


I admit it. I considered Teach for America. I suppose you could say it was a “Plan B” for me. But after reading this book I realize as a “Plan B”er I never would have made it. Never mind the rigorous admissions process involving rounds of interviews and calculated formulas, the duties bestowed upon TFA corps members demand nothing less than amazing tenacity and voracious devotion. Foote’s book weaves stories of four young teachers at a South Central Los Angeles high school with historical accounts of the birth and growth of the organization which, since its 1990 founding, has taken on the monumental task of closing the U.S. educational achievement gap. These corps members represent a select few of the many thrown into the most desperate classrooms after only one summer of intense training. This is a book that informs as much as it challenges, addressing criticisms and spotlighting the problems that face so many of America’s young and disadvantaged. A humbling read not just for this former TFA enthusiast but also for those interested in learning more about Teach for America and the discrepancies within our country’s public education system.

978-0-307-26571-5 l $24.95 l Knopf l HC l April 2008

 

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