Library of Michigan's 2010 Michigan notable books reflect our State’s legacy of perseverance

The Library of Michigan announced the list of the 2010 Michigan Notable Books – 20 books highlighting Michigan people, places, and events. 

“This year’s selections prove that persevering through economic and personal hardship is nothing new for Michiganians, and that this enduring and independent spirit has a long, rich history in the Great Lakes State,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan.

The Library of Michigan museum store will carry the 2010 Michigan Notable Books and the books will also be available at the Michigan e-store at http://apps.michigan.gov/MichiganeStore/public/Home.aspx.

For more information about the MNB program, call 517 373-1300, visit www.michigan.gov/notablebooks or e-mail michigannotablebooks@michigan.gov.

2010 Michigan Notable Books
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• American Salvage: Stories by Bonnie Jo Campbell.
• Annie’s Ghosts: A Journey into a Family’s Secret by Steve Luxenberg.
• The Art Student’s War: A Novel  by Brad Leithauser
• Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing by Arnie Bernstein.
• Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford’s Forgotten Jungle City by Greg Grandin
• Have a Little Faith: A True Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom.
• Isadore’s Secret: Sin, Murder and Confession in a Northern Michigan Town by Mardi Link.
• January’s Sparrow by Patricia Polacco.
• The Lost Tiki Palaces of Detroit: Stories by Michael Zadoorian.
• Michigan’s Columbus: The Life of Douglass Houghton by Steve Lehto.
• Nothing But a Smile: A Novel by Steve Amick.
• Orlando M. Poe: Civil War General and Great Lakes Engineer by Paul Taylor.
• Our People, Our Journey: The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians by James M. McClurken.  
• Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway by Jeff Alexander
• Roses and Revolutions: The Selected Writings of Dudley Randall edited by Melba Joyce Boyd
• Season of Water and Ice by Donald Lystra,
• Stitches: A Memoir by David Small.
• Travelin’ Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger by Tom Weschler
• Up the Rouge!: Paddling Detroit’s Hidden River by Joel Thurtell
• When March Went Mad: The Game That Transformed Basketball by Seth Davis.

Michigan Notable Books is a statewide program that began as part of the 1991 Michigan Week celebration, geared to pay tribute and draw attention to the many people, places and things that make Michigan life unique. In that regard, MNB successfully highlights Michigan books and writers focusing on the Great Lakes State. Each title on the 2010 list gives readers insight into what it means to make your home in Michigan and proves some of the greatest stories are indeed found in the Great Lakes region.

This year's Michigan Notable Book selection committee includes representatives from the Library of Michigan; Borders Inc.; Cooley Law School; The Detroit News; Detroit Public Library; Grand Valley State University; Lansing City Pulse; Michigan Center for the Book; Michigan Historical Center; Schuler Books & Music; and the Traverse City Record Eagle.

The Library of Michigan is part of the Michigan Department of Education. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan.