12 Books to Read in April

I often talk about the physical (print) books on my reading list, but I sometimes forget to let you know what's new on my eReader. Here are 12 books (all to be published in April) that caught my attention.

Traveling to New Places

• The Alaskan Laundry by Brendan Jones: Set in Alaska, this novel follows Tara Marconi's transformation from Philadelphia athlete and baker to commercial fisherman in the harsh northern latitudes. Themes: friendship, self-discovery, new starts (Mariner Books) • Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjie Divakaruni: Set in India and America, this is the story of three generations of women whose choices have unexpected consequences. Themes: mothers & daughters, cultural expections (Simon & Schuster) • Chasing the North Star by Robert Morgan: Set in the 1850s, this novel follows the journey of Jonah Williams who escapes from his South Carolina plantation to find freedom in the north. Themes: human spirit, friendship, survival (Algonquin). • A Fierce and Subtle Poison by Samantha Mabry: Set in Puerto Rico, this murder mystery finds its foundation in folklore and tales of the "girl filled with poison," who may or may not be dangerous. Themes: first love, culture clash, folk beliefs (Algonquin Books for Young Readers)

Nonfiction Picks

• Jungle of Stone by William Carlsen: This is the true story of the early-1800s discovery of the fabled cities of the ancient Maya. Facing an unforgiving environment, two men survived a 2,500-mile journey to tell the world of their discoveries. History (William Morrow) • The Last Voyageurs by Lorraine Baoissoneault: In 1976 a group of Midwestern teens and high school teachers set out to reenact the 3,300-mile journey of French explorer La Salle. This is the story of their adventure told against the backdrop of the original 1680 expedition. History, travel (Pegasus) • The Path by Michael Puett and Christine Gros-Loh: Written for the general public, this book is based on Harvard professor Puett's very popular Chinese philosophy class, which has transformed the lives of hundreds of students. Philosophy (Simon & Schuster) • Pistols and Petticoats by Erika Janik: The subtitle tells it all--"175 Years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction." This book explores the trials and tribulations of the strong women who found a place in real-life law enforcement or in the pages of crime novels. Women's issues (Beacon Press)

Family and Women

• The Railwayman's Wife by Ashley Ray: Set in 1948 in Australia, this is the story of a young widow trying to come to terms with life as a single parent and a World War II veteran whose poetry seems to have been bled away. Themes: healing, moving forward, friendship (Atria) • Sunday's on the Phone to Monday by Christine Reilly: Set over thirty years in New York City, this is the story of a couple and then a family settling into its maturity. Themes: sisters, loyalty, family love (Touchstone) • Three-Martini Lunch by Suzanne Rindell: Set in the late 1950s in New York City, this novel centers on three young adults whose publishing dreams--as authors or editors--are tested by personal choices and cultural expectations. Themes: ambition, friendship, the price of success (Putnam) • The Year We Turned Forty by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke: Set during modern times, this novel gives three fifty-year-old best friends a do-over of their fortieth year. What would they do differently? Themes: friendship, choices, fate (Washington Square Press)

What's on your eReader for April?