The Best Man by Richard Peck 232 pages

I absolutely loved this book.  It's told first person in one of the most believable young voices I've ever read.  The boy telling the story isn't super smart, in fact, it's a running joke that it takes him a while to figure out all the random subtexts of life.  He has three men in his life that he knows are what men should be.  His grandfather, his father and his uncle.  By the end of the book, he'll add a fourth.  This is a brilliant, subtle and engrossing look at family dynamics and what really makes a good man.  There are no unrealistic characters and the introduction of a gay character is done with finesse, straightforward and unapologetic frankness.  In my opinion, this is as close to perfect as a book for young people can get. 

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett, 357 pages

Sabine was the assistant to her magician husband, Parsifal.  He dies and she finds out his family, who she thought was dead, are alive and well in Nebraska.

After Parsifal's mother and one of his sisters visit her in Los Angeles, she travels to Nebraska, in the dead of winter, to find out more about the life Parsifal lived as a boy.

Ann Patchett weaves a wonderful story of loss and love and family and acceptance in this book that also includes a bit of magic.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, 522 pages

"Carry On" is based on the fan fiction that a character was writing in Rainbow Rowell's book "Fangirl".  That said, this is a stand-alone book that doesn't require the reading of "Fangirl" to appreciate.  Don't let that stop you though.

"Carry On" features a magical world and school, similar, yet different, from the world of Harry Potter.  

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy pretty much hated each other all through the Harry Potter series.  Our hero here, Simon Snow, and his nemesis, Tyrannus Basilton Grimm Pitch "Baz," end up in a totally different dynamic.  Witty, funny, exciting, magical, thrilling. . . a great read, or in my case, listen.

Bettyville by George Hodgman, 279 pages

"Bettyville" is a memoir written by George Hodgman who grew up in Northeast Missouri, Madison and Paris, to be exact. 

He left Missouri soon after graduating college and moved to New York, where he thought he would find his place in the world.  He arrived just in time for the AIDS scare.

George returned to Missouri throughout the years to visit his parents, but returned for an extended time toward the end of his mother's life when she couldn't really live on her own any longer but didn't want to move into a nursing home or assisted living situation.

This is a beautifully written memoir by a man whose family always loved him but were never able to accept that he was gay.  

Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris 275 pages

David Sedaris is one of the funniest authors out there.  All of his works are mostly autobiographical, with the exception of his goofy fake stories/letters from uptight white women.  David's pieces draw largely on his experiences growing up with his family.  Lately, he has been writing more about living abroad, but we still get lots of hilarious peaks into his childhood and formative years.  If you have never read nor listened to a David Sedaris book, I highly recommend Me Talk Pretty One Day, as it remains my favorite of all of his books.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed by any of his works.  Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls didn't have me shaking with laughter as much as some of his others, but it was definitely funny!  Also, I have always listened to him read his own books.  I think there is something charming about him, and listening to how he tells his stories has always appealed more to me.  Other people I know don't like his voice and prefer to read his stuff.  I think they're missing out, but you can be the judge.