In My Mailbox: September 26-October 2

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by The Story Siren, in which bloggers share books they’ve acquired in the mail / at the library / from a bookstore.

It’s been a pretty slow book week for me. I’ve been reading and listening to a lot, but not much has come into my new home. I just have two books to report, both borrowed from the library:

The Report by Jessica Francis Kane

I read about Kane’s novel The Report when Jen of Devourer of Books chose it as her BBAW Forgotten Treasure. She said:

You may think that a government investigation and report sounds like a total snoozefest, and I would understand that, but I promise you, but it is not. Seriously, this is a fantastic and absolutely engaging work of very realistic historical fiction.

That endorsement was enough to make me look into the book further. Here’s what GoodReads has to say:

On a March night in 1943, on the steps of a London Tube station, 173 people die in a crowd seeking shelter from another air raid. When the devastated neighborhood demands a report, the job falls to magistrate Laurence Dunne.

In this beautifully crafted novel, Jessica Francis Kane paints a vivid portrait of London at war. As Dunne investigates, he finds the truth to be precarious, even damaging. When he is forced to reflect several decades later, Dunne must consider whether he chose the right course.

‘The Report’ is a compelling commentary on the way all tragedies are remembered.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I know I’m a bit late in picking up this recent Newbery winner, but I’m still excited to read it! Here’s the GoodReads blurb:

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.

But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: 

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

I am quite excited to wrap up my current reads and dive into these two new acquisitions. Do you have anything exciting waiting for you this week?