THE 5TH WAVE by RICK YANCEY -- "Imagine Katniss Everdeen dropped into the center of McCarthy's The Road - with a few aliens on her back - and you've got Cassie, the new mega-heroine of 2013. Cassie, who has survived the first four waves of an extraterrestrial-led extermination campaign against humanity, believes she's the only human left. In case she's not, she lives by the motto "trust no one," and keeps as her "bestie" a trusty M16. But when Cassie is drawn from the safety of her seclusion to fulfill a promise, she realizes not only that she's not alone, but that humanity may still have a fighting chance. The 5th Wave is not only a rip-roaring page turner, but an introspective commentary on society, community, and what it means to be connected to one another." Amanda. MEET THE AUTHOR HERE AT INKWOOD ON MAY 18 AT 2 PM!

THE DISASTER DIARIES: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE APOCALYPSE by SAM SHERIDAN--“Disasters are inevitable, but what happens when you try to prepare for every conceivable situation? Sam Sheridan, author of The Fighter's Mind and A Fighter's Heart, sets out to understand the skills needed to not only live through the apocalypse, but the skills necessary to survive long term in a new world shaped by earthquakes and tsunamis, zombie plagues and alien invasions. Sheridan explores many aspects of survival such as physical preparedness, emergency medicine, personal protection, and the psychology of traumatic experiences. An entertaining and enlightening read, The Disaster Diaries is recommended for curious worriers and survival buffs alike.” Christian.

FLORA by GAIL GODWIN -  "Flora is the beautifully written story of Helen's tenth summer when nothing seemed to happen yet the whole world changed. A precocious child who hardly knew her mother, Helen has recently lost her charismatic, beloved grandmother and is left in the care of Flora, an unsophisticated cousin from Alabama. Helen's father, bright, troubled and alcoholic, has left to do "secret war work" at the end of WWII. Helen's days are spent isolated in the run-down family home because of a polio outbreak, and her loneliness and imagination dominate her days. Godwin perfectly depicts the world as seen through the all-observant but self-absorbed eyes of a child, and the expertly told story of choices and mistakes, loss and love is unforgettable. The story is both literary and suspenseful, a perfect book club choice." Leslie

THE HERO’S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM by CHRISTOPHER HEALY - “Ever hear of Gustav and Frederic? No? How about Duncan and Liam? Still no? Well then how about Prince Charming? Yes, I thought so. These four Princes Charming - brought together by always playing second fiddle to their Princesses in the tales - are eager to prove to their kingdoms that they deserve to be the heroes of their own story. The only problem? They are all - with the exception of Liam - woefully incompetent in the Hero Department. Mix that in with an evil witch, some trolls, and an annoyingly heroic Cinderella and you’ve got a hilarious adventure story boys and girls will love.” Amanda

THE INNOCENTS by FRANCESCA SEGAL – “In her debut novel, Francesca Segal re-imagines Edith Wharton's classic, The Age of Innocence. Reset in a North London neighborhood, the leading man, Adam Newman, is finally engaged to Rachel Gilbert, an event highly celebrated in this tight knit Jewish community. Unfortunately, doing what is expected of him turns out not to be so simple for Adam. Upon the arrival of Rachel's younger cousin, Ellie Schneider, he begins to question his sense of duty to the community, to his family and to his legacy as he unable to fight the desire he feels towards her. The writing is superb and witty, and the characters are complex. The Innocents is a beautiful first novel, and I look forward to reading Segal's forthcoming works.” Lindsay.

THE REVISED FUNDAMENTALS OF CAREGIVING by JONATHAN EVISON – “Benjamin Benjamin (yes, that’s his name) is down on his luck. In fact, you could say his life is miserable. He’s unemployed, he’s lost his family and his estranged wife is suing him for divorce, he’s broke, and he’s depressed. In an attempt to get himself out of his current rut, Ben enrolls himself in a course on the fundamentals of caregiving taught in the local church’s basement. Upon completion of the course, Ben gets paired up with Trevor, a 19-year-old young man who is slowly being paralyzed by muscular dystrophy. An unlikely friendship evolves between the two, and it becomes clear that they may be each other’s saving graces. Trevor never breaks from his daily routine and Ben hasn’t managed to move on beyond his failed marriage. Ben convinces Trev’s mom to allow him to take Trev on a road trip. Along their journey, the pair meet several interesting characters enabling Trev to finally see the world he’s been missing and Ben to find the strength to move on. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking, you won’t regret reading Evison’s novel.” Lindsay.