Claire and I launched the Independent Bookstore Reader’s Challenge earlier this year to encourage people to seek out and visit new bookstores. Robin, from A Fondess for Reading, satisfied the scout category by visiting Murder by the Book in Portland, Oregon, and Snow Goose Bookstore in Stanwood, WA. Allison Staton, from Soccer Mom in Denial, is also a scout after visiting Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC, and The Blue Bunny Bookstore in Dedham, MA. We’ve had several other people sign up and we’re looking forward to hearing from them. It’s not too late to enter the competition – just visit at least two new bookstores before the end of year and tell us about it (in a post, or an e-mail or a comment on the Challenge post). What a great activity while traveling for the holidays! Everyone who satisfies the Challenge will be entered in a drawing for a $20 ABA Gift card. Click here to enter.
In honor of the upcoming gift giving season, we’re adding a new category, “Holiday Helper.” Buy two books at an independent bookstore, scan the receipt and send it via e-mail to Claire (claire@bookstorepeople.com) or me (kim@bookstorepeole.com) and we’ll enter you in a drawing for a second $20 ABA Gift card. Not sure what books to buy? No worries, we’ll be starting our Best Gifts for Readers lists next week. We’re gathering lists of travel literature, fiction, YA, children’s, independent publishers and more.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!


These books have something for everyone. Regular readers of the blog know that Claire loves to talk about our reading material differences, but she read The Mary Russell series almost as fast as I did (we have to cut her some slack, she has four kids). My husband loved these books. We conjured up an arrangement that read the new Mary Russell first because I read faster, then he can read in peace without me asking “are you done yet?” Insert your own tone into that question, it’s probably more polite than mine. Claire and I even chose The Beekeeper’s Apprentice for our joint family book club and our teenage boys loved it.
Beatrice’s Goat, written by Page McBrier and illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter, is the true story of ordinary people chipping in to make a big impact on the lives of others. One goat gave Beatrice Biira a chance at an education. I’ve 


