Featured December Releases

Did one of the book covers on our homepage catch your eye? They are all new titles being released in December 2020, and all are well-reviewed and anticipated. Read below for a description of each, and click the linked title if you'd like to request a copy or get your name on the wait list. And don't forget to watch for more featured releases next month! 

Featured Fiction Titles for December: 

The Opium Prince by Jasmine Aimaq 

Afghanistan, 1970s. Born to an American mother and an Afghan war hero, Daniel has spent his life navigating a complex identity. After years in Los Angeles, he is returning home to Kabul at the helm of an agency dedicated to eradicating the poppy fields that feed the world’s opiate addiction. But on a drive out of Kabul, Daniel accidentally hits and kills a young Kochi girl named Telaya. He is let off with a nominal fine, in part because nomad tribes are ignored in the eyes of the law, but also because a mysterious witness named Taj intercedes on his behalf. Wracked with guilt, Daniel begins to unravel, running from his crumbling marriage and escalating threats from Taj, who turns out to be a powerful opium khan. 

Germania: A Novel of Nazi Berlin by Harald Gilbers 

Berlin 1944: a serial killer stalks the bombed-out capital of the Reich, preying on women and laying their bodies in front of war memorials. All of the victims are linked to the Nazi party. But according to one eyewitness, the perpetrator is not an opponent of Hitler's regime, but rather a loyal Nazi. Jewish detective Richard Oppenheimer, once an investigator for the Berlin police, is reactivated and forced onto the case. Oppenheimer is not just concerned with catching the killer and helping others survive, but also his own survival. Worst of all, solving this case is what will certainly put him in the most jeopardy. With no choice but to further his investigation, he searches for answers and a way out of this dangerous game. 

The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little 

Antoinette and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel know they’re destined for something better. Abandoned by their family, they’ve grown up under the guidance of nuns preparing them for simple lives. At night, their secret stash of romance novels and magazine cutouts helps them keep their dreams of the future alive. When they’re of age, the sisters set out with a fierce determination to prove themselves worthy to a society that has never accepted them. Their journey propels them out of poverty and to the cafés of Moulins, the performance halls of Vichy—and to a small hat shop on the rue Cambon in Paris. But the sisters’ lives are again thrown into turmoil when World War I breaks out, forcing them to make irrevocable choices. 

Featured Nonfiction Titles for December: 

Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother's Letter to Her Son by Homeira Qaderi 

In the days before Homeira gave birth to her son, the road to the hospital in Kabul would often be barricaded because of frequent suicide explosions. Propelled by the love she held for her soon-to-be-born child, Homeira walked through blood and wreckage to reach the hospital. But the joy of her son’s birth was soon overshadowed by other dangers. Defying the law, she risked her freedom to teach children and fought for women’s rights. Devastating in its power, this book is a mother’s letter to a son she was forced to leave behind. In telling her story she challenges you to reconsider the meaning of motherhood, sacrifice, and survival. 

Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World's First National Park edited by Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler, and Daniel R. MacNulty 

2020 marks twenty-five years since one of the greatest wildlife conservation and restoration achievements took place: the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. Absent for seventy years, they returned to Yellowstone in 1995 when the government reversed its extermination policy and began the reintroduction of wild wolves. In the following decades, scientists studied their behaviors and built a one-of-a-kind field study. This is the incredible story of the wolves’ return to Yellowstone as told by the people responsible for their reintroduction, study, and management. Featuring a foreword by Jane Goodall, beautiful images, and contributions from over seventy 70 wildlife conservation leaders around the world. 

Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good by Tina Turner 

Tina is a global icon of hope. For decades, she has shined as an example of someone who can generate hope from nothing, break through all limitations, and achieve success that endures. And now, with this book, she shows how anyone can overcome obstacles to fulfill their dreams. She shows how we can improve our lives, empowering us with spiritual tools and advice to enrich our unique paths. Drawing on the lessons of her own experiences--rising out of sorrowful lows to stratospheric heights--she illuminates the practical principles of Buddhism and how they have helped her elevate from despair, adversity, and poverty to joy, stability, and prosperity.