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Celebrate Women’s History Month with a book by a female author. Here are two recommendations for your March reading list, courtesy of the librarians at Geneva Public Library.

 FOR YOUR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS: “Every Missing Piece” by Melanie Conklin “Life can go from good to bad in a heartbeat,” warns Maddy Gaines in the opening scene of “Every Missing Piece” by Melanie Conklin. And no one understands “bad” better than Maddy. At 11 years old, Maddy has survived the death of her father, manages anxiety caused from her overwhelming fear of danger, and adjusts to her mother’s new husband, Stan. To add to the turmoil,

Maddy suspects her mysterious new neighbor Eric is actually Billy Holcomb, a boy declared missing six months earlier. Maddy knows reporting her suspicions about Eric to the police won’t be taken seriously thanks to her history of calling 911 at the slightest hint of danger. She tries to confide in her good friend, but Cress seems far more interested in boys and fashion these days. Determined to find the truth, Maddy befriends Eric and quickly learns things aren’t always what they seem. Filled with a cast of diverse characters, this middle grade mystery is perfect for ages 8-12 and touches on serious topics such as grief, changing family dynamics, mental health and domestic violence with an age-appropriate, lighthearted approach. Readers will find a familiar friend in Maddy, whose genuine spirit and sense of humor will connect with kids. This is a timely coming-of-age story for fans of realistic fiction with a mysterious twist. — Maureen Fako, librarian

 FOR OUR READERS: “Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes Can there be a second chance at happiness for a grieving widow and a baseball pitcher who’s lost his mojo? That’s the premise behind “Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes as two people try to restart their lives while sharing a house. Evvie lives in coastal Maine. Her husband, Tim, was the local doctor in their small town. Since his death in a car accident nearly a year ago, Evvie’s friends and family are concerned about her mostly staying at home, which they attribute to grief. Her best friend, Andy, decides to shake up Evvie’s life by offering Evvie’s basement apartment to his childhood friend, Dean. Dean is going through his own life changes. He’s a former New York Yankees pitcher experiencing the yips: He can’t throw straight anymore and he doesn’t know why. After unsuccessfully trying to pitch again, Dean needs to get out of the city and recalibrate. The pair agree: Dean won’t ask about Tim, and Evvie won’t ask Dean about his baseball career. Somehow, this unlikely pair become friends, and as their friendship deepens, they learn to navigate through the challenges and disappointments in their lives. This heartwarming novel is perfect for fans of witty dialogue, novels set in small towns and flawed, likable characters. — Allyson Palagi, librarian