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dear mr. hemingway’s 2018 holiday books & pairings 

Hooray for YA

hot cocoa with marshmallows and chocolate sauce

Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief author is back with another fantastic read.

From the Publisher (Penguin Random House):  “The breathtaking story of five brothers who bring each other up in a world run by their own rules. As the Dunbar boys love and fight and learn to reckon with the adult world, they discover the moving secret behind their father’s disappearance.

At the center of the Dunbar family is Clay, a boy who will build a bridge—for his family, for his past, for greatness, for his sins, for a miracle.

The question is, how far is Clay willing to go? And how much can he overcome?”

P.S.  These “Dramatic” bookends  are great in any teen’s room!

Google it:  A History in Google by Anna Crowley Redding

This book is for every teen. The internet and all that goes with it is here to stay.  We know it, and they know it. Find out the evolution and the future of the multi-billion dollar company Google in this informative and entertaining new book.

From the Publisher (Feiwel & Friends):  “Larry Page and Sergey Brin started out as two Stanford college students with a wild idea: They were going to organize the world’s information. From that one deceptively simple goal, they created one of the most influential and innovative companies in the world. The word “google” has even entered our vocabulary as a verb. Now, find out the true history of Google—from its humble beginnings as a thesis project made out of “borrowed” hardware and discount toys through its revolution of the world’s relationship with technology to a brief glimpse of where they might take us next.”

P.S.  Give the teen in your life a pair of these cozy “texting” gloves.  They will not have to take off their gloves while hanging outside to “GOOGLE” something on their phone with these winners.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Every great binge worthy series needs to start with book number one! There are 8 books in this series, including a prequel to this one.  Have fun!

From the Publisher (Bloomsbury):  “Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.  In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake. She got caught.  Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament – fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?”

P.S.  An iPhone case in all sizes for your Sarah J. Maas fans goes splendidly with this book.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

This was one of my favorite books this year.  It is honest, beautiful and one our teens need to read.  They will love it.

From the Publisher (HarperCollins):  “It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.”

P.S. Teens can carry their odds and ends (including this book) in this mini backpack (multiple colors available).

The Hobbit by
J.R. R. Tolkien

It is a must have for all teens. They will thank you for it one day!

From the publisher (Mariner Books):  “A great modern classic and the prelude to The Lord of the Rings.

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.”

P.S. This colorful Hobbit calendar for 2019 goes great with this book!

Dear Mr. Hemingway’s 2018 Holiday Books & Pairings

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