Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
(Bloomsbury)

"Susanna Clarke astonishes with a tale full of wonders! The vivid characters, richly defined world of 1806 England, and mystical elements keep the pages turning in this story of how magicians helped the English defeat Napoleon." --Emery Pinter, Chapter 11, Atlanta, GA

  


Shadow Divers: The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II
by Robert Kurson
(Random House)

"Robert Kurson tells the story of a close?knit band of deep?sea wreck divers trying to determine the identity of a Nazi sub sunk off the New Jersey coast. Shadow Divers combines a moving story of personal relationships with an inside look into a world most of us will never experience. I couldn't put it down." --Peter Guadagni, Bonanza Books, Clayton, CA
     
 
 

 

 

Chasing Vermeer
by Blue Balliett
Illustrated by Brett Helquist
(Scholastic Press)

"What a fun book this was to read. Two sixth-graders, a creative teacher, stolen art, letters written in secret code, and a lot of seemingly unrelated clues had me guessing all along the way." --Kimberly A. Hughes, Village Bookstore, Menomonee Falls, WI

 

Duck for President
by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

"Candidate Duck has high aspirations in running the farm, as one thing leads to another, and soon the presidency is at hand. Complete with Cronin's version of the 'hanging chad' and a late-night saxophone appearance on television. Fun for the whole family." --Carl Wichman, Varsity Mart, Fargo, ND

     
 
 

 

The Book Sense Book of the Year Awards represent those titles independent booksellers most enjoyed handselling during the past year.