She Got Up Off the Couch

She Got Up Off the Couch by Haven Kimmel is a memoir about growing up in Mooreland, Indiana, a very small town peopled with rather colorful, eccentric folks. The story centers around Haven’s mother and her heroic decision to change her life, and loosely follows Kimmel’s first memoir, A Girl Named Zippy. If you liked this book, then try The Used World: A Novel, also by Kimmel, the first fictional writing of hers I’ve read. Unforgettable characters, compelling plot, lots of humor, and a lovely interpretation of what makes up a family. —Jayne Trent, secretary, math