“The Invisible Hour”
The following items are available at the Hancock County Public Library, 900 W. McKenzie Road. Descriptions are provided by the publisher, unless otherwise noted. For more information on the library’s collection or to reserve a title, visit hcplibrary.org.
Fiction: “The Invisible Hour” by Alice Hoffman
One brilliant June day when Mia Jacob can no longer see a way to survive, the power of words saves her. “The Scarlet Letter” was written almost two hundred years earlier, but it seems to tell the story of Mia’s mother, Ivy, and their life inside the Community– an oppressive cult in western Massachusetts where contact with the outside world is forbidden, and books are considered evil. But how could this be? How could Nathaniel Hawthorne have so perfectly captured the pain and loss that Mia carries inside her? Through a journey of heartbreak, love, and time, Mia must abandon the rules she was raised with at the Community. As she does, she realizes that reading can transport you to other worlds or bring them to you, and that readers and writers affect one another in mysterious ways. She learns that time is more fluid than she can imagine, and that love is stronger than any chains that bind you. As a girl Mia fell in love with a book. Now as a young woman she falls in love with a brilliant writer as she makes her way back in time. But what if Nathaniel Hawthorne never wrote “The Scarlet Letter?” And what if Mia Jacob never found it on the day she planned to die?
Nonfiction: “101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered” by Sadie Hartmann
Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann has curated the best selection of modern horror books, including plenty of deep cuts. Indulge your heart’s darkest desires to be terrified, unsettled, disgusted, and heartbroken with stories that span everything from paranormal hauntings and creepy death cults to small-town terrors and apocalyptic disasters. Each recommendation includes a full synopsis as well as a quick overview of the book’s themes, style, and tone so you can narrow down your next read at a glance.
Youth: “The Superteacher Project” by Gordon Korman
Oliver and Nathan, determined to get to the bottom of their new homeroom teacher’s fishy behavior, discover Mr. Aidact is actually an AI robot from a secret experimental program.
