I positively loved Silver Sparrow (Algonquin Books, May), in which Tayari Jones has crafted a compelling novel of two girls living parallel lives. Dana and Chaurisse are only months apart in age, but worlds apart in every other respect. Dana and her mother live a solitary life with intermittent visits from Dana's father, James. Conversely, Chaurisse and her mom live with James as a "normal" family, with relatives and friends who come and go. It seems that Dana and her mother are a secret—James Witherspoon is a bigamist, the only common denominator between the two families. The contrast in the girls' perspectives becomes particularly engaging, with Dana determining at a young age that Chaurisse is her half-sister. The tension from this knowledge moves the novel quickly, hurtling toward the "big reveal." Dana may not have her father, but she has the power of a secret. Jones's stunning writing captures daily life with a crystalline quality reminiscent of Mark Twain.