Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwartz

It all comes down to the shame associated with being unmarried and pregnant. Amanda comes home to hide her pregnancy, the night of the birth she tires to leave to escape a plan to give the baby to her sister. This results in a tragic accident when her toddler niece chases after her on the ice and her sister chases after her daughter. Sister, Mathilda, drowns. Amanda spins more lies all to hide the fact that the baby is hers. Things become more complicated as the children grow. The two girls meet at school and of course they become best friends. The baby's father moves to the neighborhood as a summer residence and his son eventually becomes friends with both girls. In order to prevent a potential marriage between half-siblings, Amanda finally tells all to her niece Ruth, that she raised as a daughter. Everything works out, although the family never escapes their oddness.

No News At Throat Lake by Lawrence Donegan

It would be easier for everyone if today's opponents came dressed up in the all too familar clothes of the conqueror.

There are four types of clients; those who know who you are but don't know why they need you; those who don't know who you are but know why they need you; those who know who you are and know why they need you; those who don't know who you are and don't know why they need you.

Seventy-five percent of Irelands road signs have been stolen and now adorn the walls of Irish themed pubs in California.

For a while life was seamless conversation with gray haired men in black suits and clerical collars telling dull stories about how they spent their lives doing starving Africans a favor by introducing them to the word of the Lord. As if that would fill their bellies.

Can't stand around here all day admiring the view. There's work to do.

The Brief Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Telling Bell not to flaunt those curves would have been like asking the persecuted fat kid not to use his recently discovered mutant abilities.

They can't do what they want to do or be who they should be. I might have no one in the world but at least I'm free.

Success, after all, loves a witness; but failure can't exist withoutone.

Nothing more exhilarating than saving yourself by the simple act of waking.

Niggers who messed with Him had a habit of ending up with a bad case of the deads.

Travel light. She extended her arms to embrace her house, maybe the whole world.

A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Bean

This is a memoir about a Sierra Leone boy who, at the age of 13, joined the army to fight against the RUF. Unfortunately, the army turned out to be as crazy and horrific as the RUF squads. He was removed by Unicef and rehabilitated. He made it to the US by representing his country in the Children UN. He was adopted by an American woman he met through that organization. An amazing chronicle of the inhuman events he lived. Similar to the genocidal accounts told in "Last King Of Scotland" and "Hotel Rwanda." I still find it inconceivable that the world lets this happen.