The Good Lord Bird is an absorbing mixture of history and imagination, told through the meticulous eye for detail and character of James McBride. The novel follows Henry Shackleford, a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, who is forced to leave town with the legendary abolitionist John Brown after a violent encounter. Believing Henry to be a girl, Brown nicknames him 'Little Onion.' Over the ensuing months, Henry conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive and eventually finds himself involved in the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, a pivotal event leading to the American Civil War. The book is a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity, survival, and the complexities of John Brown's character, portrayed with both sympathy and realism.
Set in South Carolina during 1964, 'The Secret Life of Bees' tells the story of fourteen-year-old Lily Owens, whose life is shaped by the blurred memory of her mother's death. After her nanny, Rosaleen, is arrested for insulting racists, Lily and Rosaleen escape to Tiburon, South Carolina, in search of a new life. They are taken in by three black beekeeping sisters—August, May, and June—who worship the Black Madonna. The novel explores themes of mothers, love, conviction, and forgiveness as Lily navigates her past, her prejudices, and her newfound sense of belonging. It is a powerful story about the healing power of love and the divinity of the female spirit[1][3][5].
The Book of Longings is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Ana, a young woman from a wealthy family in Sepphoris, Galilee. Ana is rebellious, ambitious, and intellectually curious, engaging in secret scholarly pursuits and writing about neglected and silenced women. Her life changes when she meets the eighteen-year-old Jesus, and they marry despite societal expectations. The novel follows their marriage, filled with love, conflict, humor, and pathos, set against the backdrop of the Roman occupation of Israel. Ana's journey is marked by her struggles to express herself and realize her potential in a patriarchal society, supported by strong women like her aunt Yaltha and friend Tabitha. The book is grounded in meticulous historical research and offers a reverential yet humanizing portrayal of Jesus' life[1][4][5].
The story follows India Opal Buloni, a 10-year-old girl who moves to Naomi, Florida, with her father, a preacher. Opal adopts a stray dog she names Winn-Dixie after finding him in a Winn-Dixie supermarket. Through Winn-Dixie, Opal meets various characters in the town, including Miss Franny Block, Gloria Dump, and Otis, and learns about friendship, forgiveness, and the importance of community. The book explores themes of loneliness, family, and the healing power of relationships and stories.
The Seven Storey Mountain is Thomas Merton's autobiography, written while he was a monk at the Abbey of Gethsemani. The book chronicles Merton's early life, his conversion to Roman Catholicism at age 23, and his decision to join the Trappist order at the age of 26. It is a unique spiritual autobiography that mirrors Dante's journey from hell through purgatory to paradise, reflecting Merton's transition from a worldly life to monastic life. The book has been highly influential and has touched millions of lives, translated into more than twenty languages and recognized as one of the most influential religious works of our time.
The Tale of Despereaux follows the adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse with large ears and a love for music, stories, and a princess named Pea. The story also involves a rat named Roscuro, who covets a world filled with light, and Miggery Sow, a serving girl with a simple yet impossible wish to be a princess. These characters' journeys intertwine as they navigate the castle, the dungeon, and each other's lives, exploring themes of bravery, kindness, and the power of light over darkness.
Based on the Japanese embassy hostage crisis of 1996-1997 in Lima, Peru, the novel follows the relationships among a group of young terrorists and their hostages, mostly high-profile executives and politicians, over several months. The story highlights how opera becomes a central theme, binding the characters together despite their diverse backgrounds. As the hostage situation prolongs, unexpected bonds of friendship and love form between the captors and the hostages. The novel culminates in a tragic ending when government forces intervene, and it concludes with an epilogue that reunites some of the characters years later.
Good Life Project 
