With fall in full swing and Halloween in our rearview, we shift to upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is next up in the season, and for those who celebrate, it signals a time dedicated to acknowledging all that you are thankful for as you are surrounded by family.

What better way to bring in this season of thanks and gratitude for loved ones than to read books that highlight the complexities of families? 

This blog will dive into five Sunbury Press books that showcase families who are each in different stages of life and have various relationships to match. We also made sure to include both fiction and nonfiction stories from all types of genres, so there is truly something for everyone.

• (Sunbury Press) Leaving Germany: One Family's Post-World War I American Journey by A. B. Zeitler: Moving away from home to be an immigrant in a foreign land is as brave as it is terrifying, but having family by your side aids the process of starting new. This newly released biography chronicles the experiences of Hans Zeitler and his family as they travel across the world, fleeing post-war southern Germany in search of a better life and more opportunities in America. Working decades to achieve their goals of dairy farming, the family explored multiple ways of living and persevered through numerous personal struggles. The Zeitlers’ hardships and triumphs amid worldwide economic and political upheavals are unique to them, but are also typical of other immigrant stories, past and present.

 

• (Sunbury Press) A Ghost Comes Calling by Rebecca Titchner: Knowing where you come from provides crucial insights into a significant part of your identity. This next nonfiction pick takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions as Titchner relays her life as an adoptee and the complicated feelings and perspectives she faced when locating her birth parents and Dana, the sister she never knew. This book explains Titchner’s complicated but necessary quest of finding out who she is through her familial origins. Titchner relies on her sister’s journals to better grasp the reasoning behind Dana’s decisions. Readers have said A Ghost Comes Calling is a tale of discovery, acceptance and understanding – for yourself and the ones you love – that addresses the intricacies of mental health and relationships.

 

• (Sunbury Press) A Short Season: Faith, Family, and a Boy’s Love for Baseball by G. David Bohner & Jake Gronsky: The thought of losing someone close to you is arguably one of the hardest parts of loving a person, but it is also a very tangible way of recognizing the magnitude of that love. Author G. David Bohner’s fear of loss was amplified when his grandson Josiah Viera received a terminal diagnosis. In 2005, the family was presented with the harrowing option of turning off Josiah’s ventilator to end his suffering. Jake Gronsky is a former professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, one of many players inspired by Josiah’s fight for life. Bohner and Gronsky collaborated to bring this story together. ​​A Short Season is a family’s journey through sorrow and joy, a baseball team’s inspiration and the story of one exceptional child’s ray of hope that changed all of their lives forever.

 

• (Milford House Press) Going Home by Sharon Marchisello: How do you solve a murder when the only witness can’t remember anything? Family is a complicated subject for the main character of this mystery thriller novel. Michelle DePalma is struggling to manage the care of her mother Lola Hanson, who suffers from worsening memory loss that is likely connected to Alzheimers. Just one month after 9/11, Michelle’s visit to see her mother in Two Wells, Texas takes a turn after Lola finds her caregiver viciously murdered. Stuck in her hometown, Michelle is forced to tend to her estranged mother, clear Lola’s name and find the real killer. Shocking twists keep readers guessing as family Michelle didn’t know she had appears and evidence against Lola surfaces. With a compelling plotline and relatable portrayals, Going Home highlights the vulnerability and strength it takes to manage Alzheimers for both the patient and their family.

 

• (Brown Posey Press) A Theory of Expanded Love by Caitlin Hicks: Being born in a large family, as a woman no less, comes with its share of obstacles. This novel explores the unique set of circumstances faced by main character Annie Shea. Set in 1963, Annie searches to secure crumbs of her adolescence while navigating the responsibilities placed upon her by her Catholic family. When Annie learns a family friend could become the first American pope, she embarks on a mission to secure their election. But things take a turn when scathing secrets and scandals threaten to derail her plans. Annie discovers the lengths her parents will go to to uphold their Catholic reputation and must confront the reality of her moral and familial obligations. Readers attest to Annie’s power as a narrator, bringing comedy and insightful commentary on religion, childhood and identity.

As the last months of the year creep up on us, we prepare to slow down and indulge in the things that bring us joy. For most, families fit into that category. Whether your relationships with your family members are works in progress or fully developed, there is something for everyone to relate to within the titles listed here. Between representing the bonds forged during hardships, the love strengthened by loss and even the knowledge gained from questioning loved ones, these books encourage deep thinking and a greater appreciation of those we call family.

So, while you’re thinking of everything you’re grateful for, let these poignant and heartfelt books inspire you and shape your reading list this month.

Thank you for checking out our list of “Family-Focused Books.” Stay tuned for more blog posts like this one coming soon!