Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” is a powerful page turner highlighting the experiences of two French sisters in Nazi-occupied France. Although very different and many years apart, both sisters are faced with moral dilemmas where doing the right thing could put their lives at risk.

The older sister, Vianne, is left at home with her young daughter while her husband is at the Front.  With no money or food and under the watchful eye of a Nazi billeting in her home, Vianne’s main focus is keeping her daughter Sophie alive. Vianne is faced with one challenge after another and struggles to do what she feels is right for France, while simultaneously doing what is best for Sophie. The younger sister, Isabelle, is much more passionate and audacious. She joins the French Resistance without even a second thought and ultimately becomes one of the Nazis’ most-wanted, elusive resisters.

Thought not directly on the Front lines, the battles these women face are truly captivating and heroic.  Each sister handles the war in unique ways, but both make a huge impact that continues to be celebrated years later. Hannah’s story telling is deeply moving and provides a unique insight to the women’s experience in World War II. It is an absolute must read; Just be sure to have some tissues handy.

How far can you get with a positive attitude and a sense of humor? As far away as Mars for astronaut Mark Watney, whose attributes become the difference between life and death.

In this out of this world novel, Andy Weir‘s “The Martian,” Watney finds himself stranded on Mars after his crew members presume he is dead. With a limited supply of foods and no means of communication with planet Earth or his crew, Watney is surely what is in a no win situation.

However, he uses basic skills that resonate no matter where you are located, or which difficult situation arises: resilience and the determination to live. A skilled botanist and mechanical engineer, Watney tackles every obstacle from how to extend his food supply to how to talk to NASA with logic and creativity. His sheer cunning and positive outlook are inspiring.

In addition to being highly entertaining, “The Martian” is very well written and thought provoking. Weir deserves praise for his ability to combine complex issues and deep scientific concepts and intermingle them with humor to keep the reader laughing and engaged. In the end the book is about humanity. Weir brings to life a protagonist that readers will not only want to emulate, but will also want to befriend. It also doesn’t hurt that in the movie version Watney is portrayed by Matt Damon.

While “The Martian” movie took audiences and theaters by storm, the book should definitely not be overlooked.