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Family Drama

The Project

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The Project by Courtney Summers
Format: Book, eBook
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

Years ago, Lo’s sister Bea joined “The Unity Project.” The Project, as it’s casually known, is NOT A CULT according to its charismatic leader, Lev Warren, and his followers. They are a service organization, with centers for enrichment dotting the American north east. Warren gives a public sermon once a year, and has been known to predict world events, leading the faithful to believe the access to a higher power he claims to have is real. But Lo isn’t buying it.

When an opportunity arises for her to investigate The Project, she’s determined to unmask Warren as the charlatan she’s sure he is, and free her sister from his manipulations. But when she’s embraced by him and his movement, her doubt falters, and her defenses begin to crack. Does Warren actually perform miracles? Does The Project truly offer redemption? Or is it all just a dangerous façade?

The story is told through chapters alternating between the sisters, which can be jarring at first, but pays off, as it sets up a suspenseful and satisfying narrative journey, with twists and turns you won’t expect. The book features scenes of abuse, which may be troubling to some. Courtney Summers also wrote the Edgar and Audie award winning 2018 novel Sadie. Both books are at times unpleasant, but totally worthwhile explorations of family, truth, and identity.

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Hillbilly Elegy

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Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Format: Digital audiobook
Who it’s for: Adults

J.D. Vance grew up in the Rust Belt town of Middletown, Ohio.  He is the grandson of a poor, uneducated couple who left their Appalachian roots at a very young age for a better life in Ohio.

Although part of the white middle-class in Ohio, J.D.’s family could never quite escape the Appalachian stereotype described as “uneducated and prone to impulsive acts of violence”.  Life for J.D. and his family was chaotic and dysfunctional, fraught with the social problems of his hometown including alcoholism, drug addiction, and constant money problems.

J.D.’s family struggled like many working-class American families from small towns do.  But J.D. was fortunate.  He had the constant love and support of his grandmother and extended family members. J.D.’s grandmother taught him that working hard matters as well as taking responsibility for one’s choices.

Hillbilly Elegy is J.D. Vance’s story of surviving the dysfunction of white working class America to become a graduate of Ohio State University and Yale Law School.  It is his own explanation of how the Appalachian values passed down from his grandparents actually helped him survive the stigma of the poor American and taught him that if he worked hard enough, he could make it.

The audio version of this book is narrated by the author.

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Ink

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Ink by Alice Broadway
Format: Book, Audiobook
Who it’s for: Teens, Adults

Imagine a world where your life story is tattooed on your skin. Leora lives in such a world. In Saintstone, where she lives, all the citizens mark their bodies with their accomplishments. They are marked even at young age. Your name, your occupation, your family tree, your medical history, any great achievement you’ve earned, any crimes you’ve committed, all in ink for the world to see. No one in Saintstone has secrets. Or so Leora thinks. When her father dies, his skin is flayed and turned into a book, as is tradition. His book will be “read” at a “weighing of the soul” ceremony, where it will be determined whether he has lived a life worth remembering, and his book will be returned to his family, to be kept on a shelf with the rest of their ancestors, or he will be forgotten, and his book will be burned. Leora is confident her father was a good man, but there’s a terrible rumor going around that his book has been edited, and that he, and whoever altered his life story, committed a horrible crime, possibly colluding with the “blanks”—people outside of Saintstone who do not tattoo their bodies, who’s life stories are hidden from view. Ink by Alice Broadway, and its sequels Spark and Scar, are original and intriguing stories about family, friendship, rebellion, and redemption. Find Ink in our catalog.

Fighting with My Family

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Fighting with My Family
Format: DVD
Rating: PG-13

If you love to watch WWE, you are going to love this movie! “Fighting with My Family” revolves around Paige growing up in a tight-knit wrestling family. Paige and her brother Zak are given one ultimate shot to try out for WWE. Paige is the only one who earns a spot in the WWE training program. This movie is based on the true story of determination that leads Paige down the path that makes her a star.  This movie also stars Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and cameos many other WWE stars. You don’t have to be familiar with WWE wrestling to be able to understand this movie. Anyone who has fought hard for something will definitely relate to “Fighting with My Family” .

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Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury, and Reinventing Love

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Love You Hard: A Memoir of Marriage, Brain Injury and Reinventing Love by Abby Maslin
Format: Book
Who it’s for:  Adults

In August 2012, Abby and TC Maslin lived in the Capitol Hill area of Washington D.C. with their young son, Jack. TC worked as an energy analyst and Abby was a school teacher. TC was attacked while walking home from a Nationals game late at night.  TC was beaten nearly to death by three young men who took his cell phone and debit card.  They left him bleeding and hurt on a sidewalk a few blocks from his home.  When Abby woke up in the night to find out that her husband wasn’t home, panic set in.  Hours later Abby found out that her husband had been taken to the hospital but she didn’t know if he was alive or dead.

After many days and months of physical rehabilitation, TC did survive, but was unable to walk and talk.  Abby had to take over his complete care, teaching him to read and talk again.  There were no guarantees of his future life after the tragedy.  The two of them had to learn to trust and love each other again.  During their agonizing months both of them had changed.

This is a true story and has connections to St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Abby is a good writer and I was especially touched by her prologue that describes when she and TC met for the first time. This account is a raw and inspiring story with an amazing outcome. TC Maslin has an inner strength that helped him to beat the odds of not only surviving but conquering his disabilities. While still re-learning to walk and communicate, TC realized how much Abby did to take care of him, he said, “But you’ve done everything for me. Do you know that? I love you, honey. I love you so hard.”

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Gravity Falls

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Gravity Falls
Format: TV series on DVD
Who it’s for: Kids, Teens, Adults, Everyone

Twins Dipper and Mabel Pines have been sent to Gravity Falls, Oregon to spend the summer with their Great Uncle, or Grunkle, Stan, who runs the Mystery Shack, a tourist trap that peddles overpriced merchandise to anyone interested in Bigfoot, flying saucers, unicorns, and the like. But very soon after their arrival Dipper discovers a journal that leads him to believe the mythical things in Grunkle Stan’s shop could be based in reality, and Gravity Falls might be a hotbed of paranormal activity. It turns out there really are zombies, minotaurs, real live gnomes, and a number of other oddities in the woods surrounding the Mystery Shack, and Grunkle Stan may not be as oblivious to it all as he lets on!

This show is truly enjoyable for all ages. It’s got delightful humor for the kids and delicious mysteries for the grown-ups. The twins are the heart of the show: Dipper is slightly neurotic, Mabel is a bottomless well of effervescence, and they have a sweet, supportive sibling relationship. The cast includes the voices of Kristen Schaal, T.J. Miller, J.K. Simmons, Nathan Fillion, and Nick Offerman. It’s basically The X-Files meets Twin Peaks meets The Simpsons on the Disney channel and I am here for it. Are you? Find Gravity Falls in our catalog!