Books to Escape In...

When the winter dreariness sets in, sometimes there’s nothing better than curling up with a book so absorbing that you read it in one sitting and don’t even notice that your foot is in pins and needles. Here are some of our favorites to escape the gray chill…

Which reads keep you comatose on the couch? Click "comment" to share your own picks so others can enjoy them!


East by Edith Pattou

If you like fantasy and folklore, this retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon will satisfy and entertain! --Christine


Joy School by Elizabeth Berg


Katie is so loveable because she notices all the right details. It's a quick read about her first true love. (Sequel to Durable Goods because the author loved the character so much) --Cara





I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak



Mystery, humor, romance, and a big stinky dog. --Beth

The Ramsay Scallop by Frances Temple
An adventure, a romance, and a fascinating slice of 13th-century medieval European life! --Christine



The Beduin's Gazelle by Frances Temple
Medieval Arabia in all its glory! Plus a romance and thrilling adventure! (Companion to The Ramsay Scallop) --Christine




Someone to Run With by David Grossman


Another big dog, pulling Israeli narrator Assaf along a mysterious path through the back streets of Jerusalum. Imagination meets difficult realities of life for young street performers, but hope prevails! --Cara