Labor Day, a novel by Joyce Maynard, is narrated by Henry Wheeler, a man in his early thirties recounting his first year as a teenager.  Back then, as the Labor Day weekend approaches, young Henry has little to look forward to, for his depressed and divorced mother suffers from agoraphobia, and their lackluster days together are spent wholly indoors.  But, on the Thursday before Labor Day, Henry convinces his mother to go on a shopping trip, during which they encounter an unkempt and injured man asking for a ride.  Astonishingly, they assent and soon learn that the man is a convicted murderer on the run.  In its review of the book, The Washington Post notes that "Maynard's skill [...] makes this ominous setup into a convincing and poignant coming of age tale".

Want to read this month’s Literary Circle book choice and enjoy using an e-reader? You can read Labor Day by Joyce Maynard for free when you join our eBook Club! See here for more information about the eBook-Club and how to sign up and access hundreds of gratis books and audiobooks! 

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