Atmosphere: A GMA Book Club Pick

From Kristin Hannah, the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes The Women, an unforgettable story of courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of friendship forged in the crucible of war.

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears the words "Women can be heroes, too," a new world opens before her. Raised in the sheltered, sun-kissed world of Southern California, Frankie has always strived to be the good girl. But in 1965, as her brother is deployed to Vietnam, she impulsively enlists in the Army Nurse Corps, trading her idyllic life for the chaos and trauma of the war.

In Vietnam, Frankie and her fellow nurses face unimaginable challenges, forming deep and lasting bonds amidst the daily realities of life and death. But the battle doesn't end when they come home. In a divided America, these women find themselves fighting a new war—for recognition, respect, and a place in a society that wants to forget them.

The Women is a powerful tribute to the unsung heroes of the Vietnam War, a story of resilience, and a testament to the enduring strength of women in the face of adversity. It's a journey of love, loss, and the discovery that even in the darkest of times, hope and courage can light the way.

In 1950s Tehran, amidst a city on the cusp of change, two young girls, Ellie and Homa, forge a bond that will define their lives. "The Lion Women of Tehran" follows their intertwined destinies through three turbulent decades of Iranian history, from the glittering reign of the Shah to the revolution that transforms their world forever.

As Ellie and Homa navigate family secrets, forbidden loves, and the constraints placed upon women in their society, their friendship becomes a sanctuary. They dream of a future where they can be independent, where their voices can be heard, and where they can roar like the lionesses they aspire to be. But as political unrest simmers beneath the surface of their seemingly modern city, their loyalty is tested, and they must confront difficult choices that could shatter their bond.

A sweeping saga of friendship, betrayal, and resilience, Marjan Kamali's "The Lion Women of Tehran" is a powerful portrait of a nation in upheaval and the extraordinary women who dare to fight for their place in it. Evoking the vibrant sights and sounds of Tehran, this unforgettable novel explores the complexities of female friendship, the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the sacrifices we make for love and country.

In 1986, as the nation buzzes with anticipation for the Space Shuttle Challenger launch, three siblings navigate their own turbulent orbits. Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas, all seventh graders, are as different as the planets, each wrestling with anxieties that threaten to pull them into separate worlds. Cash, a basketball enthusiast sidelined by a broken wrist, fears failing school. Fitch battles a volatile temper he doesn't understand, finding refuge in arcade games. Bird, his twelve-year-old twin, dreams of commanding a NASA mission, yet feels increasingly invisible.

Bound by a chaotic home life and a shared love for science, the siblings find an unlikely connection through their enthusiastic teacher, Ms. Salonga. When she assigns a project that divides the class into spacecraft crews, each tasked with a mission, the siblings' lives begin to converge. As the fateful launch day approaches, the pursuit of a shared goal and the weight of historical events will forge an unexpected bond between Cash, Fitch, and Bird, changing their lives and their understanding of family, friendship, and the vastness of their own potential.

Told in three compelling alternating voices and beautifully illustrated by the author, We Dream of Space is a poignant and unforgettable middle-grade novel about finding your place, even when you feel worlds apart.

In the heart of 1950s Washington, D.C., Briarwood House is a haven of secrets, a down-at-the-heels boardinghouse where women hide behind picket fences and closed doors. But the arrival of Grace March, a lovely and enigmatic widow, stirs the quiet lives of her neighbors, forging an unlikely sisterhood.

There's Fliss, the poised English beauty masking deep wounds beneath a perfect facade; Nora, the policeman's daughter caught in a dangerous dance with a shadowy gangster; Beatrice, a former baseball star sidelined by a world that no longer values her talent; and Arlene, a fervent believer consumed by McCarthy's Red Scare.

Grace's attic gatherings, filled with sun tea and camaraderie, offer solace and connection. Yet, she harbors a secret that threatens to shatter their fragile bond. When an act of shocking violence rocks Briarwood House, these women must confront their own truths and decide who the real enemy lies within.

Set against the backdrop of postwar America and the chilling paranoia of the McCarthy era, The Briar Club is a gripping tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the enduring power of female friendship.