Kathleen is one of our beloved BookKids booksellers. A former teacher and librarian, she still has that unmistakable teacher voice and the librarian know-how.
1. Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell
An unforgettable novel set in rural Michigan with a 16 year old heroine named Margo Crane. She leaves home after the death of her father and sets out to find her missing mother traveling on a river raft with a rifle and a biography of Annie Oakley for inspiration.
2. Trillin on Texas by Calvin Trillin
This book is total fun. Trillin captures the diversity of the state of Texas, from eating barbeque in rural central Texas to an immigration attorney in Houston, to things way beyond.
3. Chinaberry Sidewalks by Rodney Crowell
This is not your typical celebrity memoir. Instead, Crowell writes about a very tough childhood on the rough side of Houston, Texas. In the opening pages he describes firing a shotgun to stop a fight between his mother and father; he was five years old! Crowell’s love for his flawed parents and his humanity come through the pages of this wonderful book.
4. Trapped by Michael Northrup
This is a Young Adult novel that I read during an icy weekend last January. It’s the story of seven students who get left behind at their high school when a snowstorm hits. At first, being trapped at school seems like an adventure, but when the snow keeps coming, the fun ends and hard decisions have to be made.
5. Stirring It Up with Molly Ivins by Ellen Sweets
A delicious memoir of Molly Ivins as told through her love of cooking. Great stories from her friends, as well as thirty-five of her favority recipes.
BookPeople 
Great picks!
Thank you, Kathleen, for naming Once upon a River as one of your favorite books. You are so kind. Maybe I’ll get to Austin one of these days to say hello in person. Cheers! Bonnie (Jo Campbell)