Stories Close to Home, Library Title Feature, Summer Reading Program Update

Library News - Stories Close to Home, Library Title Feature, Summer Reading Program Update 

A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting Diane Les Becquets, author of Where the Water Meets the Sky, a novel set on Michigan's beautiful Garden Peninsula. Listening to Diane speak during her presentation, you could hear her love for the area in every story she shared. It was clear she spent a great deal of time exploring the Garden Peninsula and truly appreciates everything that makes it special. There is something extra meaningful when we can combine our love for the Upper Peninsula with our love of reading.

It got me thinking: what other novels allow us to reconnect with the place we call home in a whole new way?

A personal favorite of mine is Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley. Set in Sault Ste. Marie, the novel follows Daunis Fontaine after she witnesses a shocking murder that draws her into a criminal investigation. She agrees to go undercover, uncovering secrets that put her own life at risk. While the suspense keeps you turning the pages, the novel also beautifully highlights the Native American culture that is such an important part of our region. For those familiar with the Upper Peninsula, reading this novel feels like being part of an inside club. You recognize the places, landscapes, and communities in a way many readers cannot. If you haven't picked it up yet, I highly recommend it.

Another author worth exploring is Karen Dionne, who has written two suspenseful novels set in the Upper Peninsula.

The Marsh King's Daughter follows Helena Pelletier, a woman with a remarkable secret. She is the daughter of a kidnapper. Her mother was abducted and held captive in a remote cabin in, you guessed it, the Upper Peninsula, where Helena was born two years later. Growing up, Helena loved the wilderness and admired her father, until she learned just how dangerous he truly was. Twenty years later, after her father escapes from prison by killing two guards, Helena knows she is the only one with the skills to track him through the marshes she once called home. If that isn't enough to grab your attention, the novel was also adapted into a movie.

Dionne's second Upper Peninsula thriller, The Wicked Sister, follows Rachel Cunningham, who has spent years in a psychiatric facility convinced she is responsible for her parents' deaths. When new evidence about the murders comes to light, Rachel returns to her family's log cabin in the Upper Peninsula in search of the truth. As she uncovers long-buried secrets, she realizes that home isn't always the safe place she remembered, and that her relationship with her sister may hold the darkest secret of all.

For those who enjoy historical fiction, The Women of the Copper Country by Mary Doria Russell transports readers to Calumet during the Copper Country Strike of 1913. Annie Clements witnesses firsthand the dangerous conditions faced by miners and the hardships endured by their families. Tired of watching her community suffer, she becomes a leader in the fight for workers' rights. Through Annie's journey, readers experience an important chapter of Upper Peninsula history while following a compelling story of courage, sacrifice, and determination.

If nonfiction is more your style, The Sweater Letter by Dave L. and Lynn M. Distel tells the true story of a woman who was shot and killed on the final day of deer season in 1992. Initially ruled a hunting accident, the case took a dramatic turn after investigators discovered a strangely worded letter hidden in a box of sweaters and noticed suspicious behavior from the victim's husband, Bruce Moilanen. Thanks to determined investigators and courageous witnesses, enough evidence was eventually gathered to bring him to justice. It's a fascinating true crime story that happened right here in the Upper Peninsula.

The four fiction titles I mentioned are all recognized by the U.P. Notable Book Club, which was established in 1998 to celebrate authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan's Upper Peninsula. One of the unique features of the program is its monthly Zoom discussions with authors. This year, nine of the ten authors on the 7th Annual U.P. Notable Books List have agreed to meet virtually with readers, giving participants a chance to hear directly from the writers themselves.

These books have all been recognized by the U.P. Notable: The Marsh King's Daughter in 2020, The Women of the Copper Country in 2021, and both The Wicked Sister and Firekeeper's Daughter in 2022. All of these titles can be found here at MSPL, ready for you to discover and enjoy! 

The Upper Peninsula is a remarkable place. It may be overlooked by those who have never been here, and you may get a puzzled look when you tell someone that you're from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. But those of us who call it home know there is nowhere else quite like it.

These authors have captured the beauty, history, and spirit of our region and shared it with readers around the world. Whether you're looking for a suspenseful thriller, a historical novel, or a gripping true crime story, there's an Upper Peninsula book waiting for you. And who knows? You might just discover a new appreciation for the place we've always called home.

Library Title Feature - Make Nice, by Ryan Effgen

Sandwich meets The Wedding People in this irresistible comedy of manners as three generations of a family—a snail scientist, a soon-to-be divorcée, her teenage daughter, a hapless con man, and their feckless patriarch—descend on a ritzy Lake Michigan vacation island. "If you’ve got concerns about your own family vacation, just wait until you read about the one the Pickford siblings are taking. . . . The family’s agitation is a boon for readers, who’ll surely enjoy the smart structure of the plot, the finely drawn characters, and the general mayhem they bring to what’s supposed to be a place for relaxation."—Town & Country 

Summer Reading Program- Don’t forget to take advantage of our Dino photo-op! Stop in and check out our button exchange…the collection is growing! The Community Coloring page is almost complete, people of all ages are welcome to finish it up. We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our programs this summer, with special thanks to our guest readers, Mr. Jackson and Dr. Hanson!

Library Hours:  Monday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Library Contact Information:  Phone: (906) 252-4316, Email: mspl@manistiqueschools.org, Website: https://www.manistiquelibrary.org.