May's Tree Table

You may already know, but every month in the store we have 2 tables that feature a particular theme.  As booksellers, we can sign up with an idea for the tables, choose the books we want to highlight, and even decorate.  The tables are right up near the Info Desk so you can't miss them.

This month, Emily has dedicated the "Tree" Table to inspiring true-life tales.  She says, "These are stories of ordinary people who have persevered to spread hope and improve the lives of others.  Each of them saw a need and decided to do something about it."

Here are a few of the titles Emily recommends, come check out the "Tree" Table for more great, inspirational suggestions.

Outcasts United : An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference, by Warren St. John

The extraordinary tale of a refugee youth soccer team and the transformation of a small American town

Set against the backdrop of an American town that without its consent had become a vast social experiment, Outcasts United follows a pivotal season in the life of the Fugees and their charismatic coach. Warren St. John documents the lives of a diverse group of young people as they miraculously coalesce into a band of brothers, while also drawing a fascinating portrait of a fading American town struggling to accommodate its new arrivals. At the center of the story is fiery Coach Luma, who relentlessly drives her players to success on the soccer field while holding together their lives—and the lives of their families—in the face of a series of daunting challenges.

 
Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

This young readers edition of the worldwide bestseller Three Cups of Tea has been specially adapted for younger readers and updated by Greg Mortenson to bring his remarkable story of humanitarianism up to date for the present. Includes new photos and illustrations, as well as a special interview by Greg's twelve-year-old daughter, Amira, who has traveled with her father as an advocate for the Pennies for Peace program for children.



Unbowed, by Wangari Maathi

In Unbowed, Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai recounts her extraordinary journey from her childhood in rural Kenya to the world stage. When Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, she began a vital poor people’s environmental movement, focused on the empowerment of women, that soon spread across Africa. Persevering through run-ins with the Kenyan government and personal losses, and jailed and beaten on numerous occasions, Maathai continued to fight tirelessly to save Kenya’s forests and to restore democracy to her beloved country. Infused with her unique luminosity of spirit, Wangari Maathai’s remarkable story of courage, faith, and the power of persistence is destined to inspire generations to come.