“The Warm Planet” by Evelyn M. Exley”

Much of the appeal in Evelyn M. Exley’s The Warm Planet comes from its atmosphere, introspection, and emotional depth, not external action. It’s a rewarding read for those who enjoy character-driven fiction and stories built around memory and personal growth.

Tulsa is such a unique character, but then most of the people in this story are delightfully different from what readers find in most young adult novels. There’s Mookie, the woman who became a mother to two young girls when her sister died. Uncle Alex, the father figure for Tulsa and her sister, Treasure, is someone who has loved Mookie all these years, but she’s declined his every offer of marriage.

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“The Frenchman’s Table” by Julie Lomax

In The Frenchman’s Table, Julie Lomax tells stories whose outlines are familiar.  We know about concentration camps, the bombing of Europe, the occupation of France, the overrunning of Austria and Poland.  We know that there was a Resistance movement, made up of men and women, many of whom gave their lives to stop or thwart the Nazis.  Here, a table made by a French father and son records the comings and goings of people who are smuggled out of occupied territory and are passed along toward safety.  Dates and initials are carved into the underside of the table as a means of remembering those who’ve found a temporary haven in the house of the Frenchman’s son, Yves.  He is a member of the Resistance, and his wife Paula is more than willing to help shelter those who are on the run.

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“All She Wanted” by Samantha Hoffman

Small-town girl Annie Adams dreams of the big city as she moves to Chicago to pursue acting. At first, things go smoothly—she finds a great roommate, lands a decent job, and meets a charming guy, but a moment of weakness changes everything. Jealousy, deception, and secrets spoil what was good and drive Annie back to her hometown near Brockton. Pregnant, alone, and working in a coffee shop, she begrudgingly accepts her new fate.

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