Poser by Claire Dederer

I liked this. It was funny, and it made me want to do yoga again.

Why Kids Don't Like School by Daniel T. Willingham

I really liked this--he did a masterful job debunking currently-trendy educational theories.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Why exactly did this win the Newbery?

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Very interesting. Recommended.

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Heart-wrenching and lovely. Highly recommended. I actually got a little teary (when she opens the suitcase) and I never do that.

In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff

An engaging book with a meh ending.

Empire of Liberty by Gordon Wood

Kind of a slog, but I'm glad I read it.

The Shame of the Nation by Jonathan Kozol

Wow. This is one of those (depressing) books that forever changes the way you think about things. Highly recommended.

The Devil's Rooming House by M. William Phelps

Interesting story; subpar writing.

Who Was Albert Einstein? by Jess Brallier

I read this to the boys. Nice, funny, simple.

A Fountain Filled with Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Decent.

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

I really enjoyed this.

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen

Hilarious.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

I read this to the boys. They loved it because it was funny; I thought it was OK.

Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenreich

I really liked this, and not just because I am a curmudgeon. (Although I am.) But because she's absolutely right that a cultish devotion to "positive thinking" has taken over the country, to ill effect in a wide variety of fields. Recommended.

The Warmest Room in the House by Steven Gdula

If you had never read anything about the history of American cooking, this might be interesting. But if you have, there is nothing new here.

A More Perfect Constitution by Larry Sabato

Interesting.

The Story of Thomas Alva Edison by Margaret Davidson

I read this to the boys. Very simplistic writing style, but a decent story.

Gray Matter by David Levy

An interesting book; I started off liking the author, but by the end, I thought he was unprofessional and creepy.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

I've seen this book on best seller lists for years, but ignored it because I don't do zombies. But it isn't about zombies; it is hilarious social criticism. Highly recommended (if you can look past some vulgar language).