Compiled and Edited by Leslie West, Bessemer Public Library

The members of the Jefferson County Public Library Association’s Readers’ Advisory Round Table recommend the following books as gifts for the holiday season. These titles are available for checkout at local public libraries in Jefferson County and many are available as audio books. The titles chosen are in print and available for gift purchases from local bookstores.

Atonement by Ian McEwan. A novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness, Atonement opens in 1935 Britain with an event that will forever change the Tallis family. The author follows the repercussions of that summer through the war years and into the close of the 20th century.

Recommended by Pam Bainter, Hoover Library

Blessings by Anna Quindlen. Skip Cuddy, caretaker of the Blessing estate, finds a baby asleep in a box and decides he wants to keep her. The secrets of the past, how they affect the decisions and lives of people in the present, are at the center of this beautifully written work.

Recommended by Leslie West, Bessemer Library

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. A journalist, banned from flying, is forced to take the train from New York to LA to spend Christmas with his girlfriend. He decides to write about riding the rails over the holidays, and BOY does he get a story!

Recommended by Mondretta Williams, Leeds Library

The Essential 55: an Award-Winning Educator’s Rules For Discovering The Successful Student in Every Child by Ron Clark. Pithy anecdotes, shared by the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year, reflect the successes and failures Clark encountered in rural and inner city classrooms.

Recommended by Diane Cole, Leeds Library

The Mulberry Tree by Jude Deveraux. Lillian Manville struggles to regain her financial security after her husband’s death, while restoring the old farmhouse he left her. She forms a wonderful relationship with a handsome handyman and discovers a secret from her husband's past.

Recommended by Ramona Jett, Leeds Library

Myths, Mysteries, and Legends of Alabama by Elaine Hobson Miller. Compiled by a Birmingham native, this book contains tales of eerie cow mutilations, shape-shifting robbers, arsenic-filled mummies, disappearing moon shiners, whining trees and more. It’s enough to keep Mulder and Scully of the X-Files working overtime!

Recommended by Heather Miller, Homewood Library

A Portrait of Jesus by Joseph F. Girzone. The focus of this book is Jesus; how he lived and his relationships with people and God. It is a readable unexpected treat about this often misunderstood man.

Recommended by Beth Hutcheson, Homewood Library

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. A hilarious story about a couple who decides to keep the holiday simple and "skip Christmas." Their decision brings about some unanticipated repercussions. As Christmas draws near, an unexpected event forces a change of plans.

Recommended by Dianne Clark, Bessemer Library

The Small Garden Encyclopedia compiled by Sue Phillips. Discover the delights of turning your yard into a haven of color and tranquility. Fresh ideas for new and experienced gardeners alike.

Recommended by Elizabeth Drewry, Botanical Gardens Library

The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King. This novel, set in the South, tells the story of a minister's wife who cannot adjust to the demands of being married, not only to a prestigious Methodist minister, but to his entire congregation as well. Cheer her on as she emerges from this role toward independence.

Recommended by Billie Page, Hoover Library

Teen Reads

The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen. This is not a light-hearted story, but it is one that will make the reader marvel at the endurance of the human spirit. It will also educate the reader about one of the darkest periods in the 20th century, the Holocaust.

Recommended by Laura Edge, Trussville Library

Flip by David Lubar. When Ryan and his twin sister Taylor discover disks that fell from an alien spaceship, their lives are changed forever. Each disk represents a slice of life from a legendary earthling that can transform him into that legend for a day.

Recommended by Betty Nylen, Hoover Library

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. The tales of hobbits, elves, dwarves and other magical characters make this trilogy one of the world’s most celebrated works of literature. Don’t just watch the movies, read the books!

Recommended by Valerie Holmes, Trussville Library

Books for Children

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin. Written in diary fashion, this picture book chronicles the life of a worm--highlighting everything from digging holes, to scaring kids, to doing a worm-like version of the hokey pokey.

Recommended by Amanda Bonner, Hoover Library

Hushabye Lily by Claire Freedman. Lily Rabbit cannot fall asleep in the noisy farmyard of animals. Eventually, all of the animals quieted and the only noise left on the farm is the sound of Lily’s own snores. This book makes a perfect bedtime story.

Recommended by Dona Herring Smith, Homewood Library

Zee by Michael Gay. Zee wants to wake his parents without making them angry. What’s a zebra to do? Bring them breakfast in bed, of course! What ensues is a sweet, charming story that is perfect for a young child.

Recommended by April Moon, Emmet O’Neal Library