Polly Horvath has done it again with northward to the moon the sequel to my one hundred adventures, which is now out in paperback. Jane, an adventurous child intent on grasping all the experiences that she can has found herself and her family suddenly fleeing a town nobody likes in search of an old family friend. The adventures begin. These outlaws encounter missing magicians, horse ranchers and thieves, eventually finding long lost family along the way. With a quirky cast of characters, humorous dialogue and a moving storyline, Horvath has another award winning novel on her hands. For anyone with an adventurous side, this book will not disappoint.

When I read the sentence, "At the very center of things and at the farthest edge," I was hooked. How many of us have felt this way? This isn't your typical "how I overcame my drug addiction memoir." Bill Clegg explains in detail his descent into crack madness and his overwhelming guilt in letting his family, friends and basically, everyone he knows down. Except, unlike most, he is addicted to crack and doesn't care about making amends or the consequences or losing his life. It doesn't matter. Only the pipe and the next hit. For anyone who has lived, loved and been a victim of addiction, this memoir is for you. I couldn't put it down, felt sympathy for the author and am hoping he can stay clean for the rest of days. This read is an intense memoir about the dangers of drug addiction and the realization that it really is up to the addict to make the changes...unfortunately.

Tony Marshall, the 85 year old son of Brooke Astor, is headed to jail for the next one to three years. Maybe he should pick up “Mrs. Astor Regrets” by Meryl Gordon to occupy his time. This biography is filled with scandals of titanic proportions. Oh, wait, that was John Jacob Astor, the patriarch of this family, who went down with the ship. Money stolen, a beloved Childe Hassam painting sold and neglectful relationships make for an interesting inside look at this wealthy, highly dysfunctional New York dynasty. If you think the key to happiness is money, this book will make you think twice. And, hug your mom.

I remember as a child reading “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott and hoping I would follow a similar path as “Jo”, the independent, free-spirited heroine who balks at the conventional restraints of her time. In “The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott,” (Putnam, 352 pgs.) by Kelly O’Connor McNees, readers get another chance to meet the iconic family this novel was based upon and take a closer look at Alcott during the summer of 1855. For anyone who was entranced with “Little Women,” this book is sure to delight. With familiar characters, writing reminiscent of Alcott’s era, this story mesmerized me and transported me back to an easier time. Or, is it? Full of lost love, hope and struggle, O’Connor McNees has created an incredible tale of one of the most famous women authors of our time. I highly recommend this historical fiction.

A professor told me 20 years ago to stop reading dead authors and start with some new, upcoming authors, such as Louise Erdrich. I should have listened to him. Award winning Erdrich has written a novel unlike any of her previous works. Shadow Tag is a painfully, intense story about a marriage slowly dying beyond repair and two highly dependent artists consumed with each other, letting all else fade into the background. Even their poor children gradually lose significance in their lives. Irene and Gil, the main characters, attack each other savagely throughout this novel. Once in love, they now have the ammunition to tear each other apart. And, they do, viciously. Both highly manipulative characters, they torment the entire family to the point of destruction. Fans of Erdrich might wonder if this novel is representative of her painful divorce from fellow author Michael Dorris, which only adds to the intense emotions this book provokes. I highly recommend Shadow Tag, a disturbing look at a disintegrating marriage. It will make you squirm, hurt your stomach and realize the lengths people will go to destroy each other when the love is lost.

Isn’t it interesting how several key players in the assassination of JFK all have different accounts of the events leading up to Lyndon B. Johnson taking his oath of office? Tragedy will do that to a person. The Kennedy Assassination 24 Hours After, by Steven M. Gillon, dissects the actions of Johnson, offers another look behind the famous photo aboard Air Force One and magnifies the power of the Kennedy Clan. They weren’t a very likeable group. This account of the tragedy in Dallas only reinforces the fact Johnson was in control. Or, at least act like he was.

Imagine having the fear of becoming a bag lady, much like Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem and Shirley Maclaine, all very successful women who shouldn't worry about such things. Then, imagine you spend your whole life working hard, decided to invest this hard earned money preparing for the future and meet Bernard Madoff. Unfortunately that is exactly what happened to Alexandra Penny, author of The Bag Lady Papers. Preparing for a cozy dinner party and living her everyday upscale life, Penny is soon thrown into a whole new world by a simple phone call. The Ponzi scam, devised by Madoff, hereby known as M.F., has crumbled. She has lost everything. An incredible honest account of losing it all, trying to survive the devastating consequences and once again, rising from the destruction. Whether you have money, want money or are working towards the American dream, this book can give you insight on how important it is to take control of your earnings. Don't let the M.F. get you, too!

Teddy Roosevelt brought conservationism to the minds of the American public. The Bitterroot Mountain Range fire of 1910 almost destroyed this movement and the National Forest Service in two horrific days. Teddy's boy scouts, a scathing reference to the forest rangers, were challenged across three states with over 300 millions acres consumed by The Big Burn. Timothy Egan's account of the greatest force assembled to fight a wildfire in our history is fast paced and informative. Teddy Roosevelt triumphs and conservationism continues to gain momentum. Imagine what our country would be like today without our national parks? Thanks, Teddy.