September's Books

Sonia Manzano, “Maria” from Sesame Street, had a hard life growing up. Her father a violent drunk, her mother the victim of his abuse, a chronically ill younger brother—this was her family. Manzano tells of her bleak childhood with forthright honesty, and takes you along on her journey to the High School for Performing Arts and Carnegie Mellon University. She wins a roll in “Godspell,” and catches the eye of Sesame Street’s executive producer. The book ends as she is hired for the television show, where she would go on to win Emmys for writing and acting. I hope there is another book in the works—I’d love to read about her experiences with the cast and guest stars of Sesame Street.

 


Bryant and May and the Bleeding Heart by Christopher Fowler
On the Ropes by Tom Schreck
As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from The Princess Pride by Cary Elwes
The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
The Chronicles of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
Nobody's Child by Libby Fischer Hellmann
Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio
Play Dead by Leslie O'Kane
Protecting Patron Privacy by Matthew Beckstrom
Fallen by Karin Slaughter
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle by JoAnna Carl
Becoming Maria:a memoir by Sonia Manzano
Faithless by Karin Slaughter