National Book Award Fiction Longlist 2016

“Imagine Me Gone is a deeply moving portrayal of a family's complex love for one another as they manage and respond to the shape-shifting undercurrent of mental illness experienced by both father and son. A compelling read on every level, this novel is crafted with impressive emotional sensitivity, providing a direct feed into the inner lives and secrets of each character. Writing of this caliber is a rare thing. Haslett has created a gem of a novel that I will recommend over and over again.”

“National Book Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson has crafted a beautiful, heart-wrenching novel of a young girl's coming-of-age in Brooklyn. Effortlessly weaving poetic prose, Woodson tells the story of the relationships young women form, their yearning to belong, and the bonds that are created - and broken. Brooklyn itself is a vivid character in this tale -- a place at first harsh, but one that becomes home and plays a role in each character's future. Woodson is one of the most skilled storytellers of our day, and I continue to love and devour each masterpiece she creates!”

“News of the World may be slight in size but it is expansive in story, scenery and characters. I found myself cheering out loud for Captain Kidd and Johanna at times and crying at others. The narrator of this audiobook was able to capture the accents of the characters so well and I felt listening to the audiobook greatly added to my appreciation of the story. This is a book where I found excuses to keep driving my car so I could keep listening!”