Homeless Bird

by Gloria Whelan, 2000.

In this young adult novel about a young girl in contemporary India, Koly, the protagonist, is married at thirteen and quickly widowed when her sickly young husband dies. Abandoned in Vrindavan, a city of begging widows, Koly triumphs over her sad fate by depending on her skill and talent at embroidery. A very uplifting novel with an inspiring main character.

Seabiscuit: An American Legend

by Laura Hillenbrand.

I absolutely loved this book. It is a rich evocation of a time and place (depression-era America), and the characters (including the horse) are unforgettable. It contains fascinating facts (like how the automobile industry began, and what the lives of jockeys were really like). The movie was good, but the book is so much better. A must-read!