The Submission by Amy Waldman

This was such a thoughtful and well written book. I really took my time reading it because I wanted to think about the characters and the issues and the politics presented.
The story...yes, it is fiction, takes place after 9/11 and opens with a jury debating the various design submissions for a memorial at the site of the attacks. The panel consists mainly of artists, and there is one woman, Claire, who is the spouse of a victim. She rallies for one design, which most of the others haven't chosen as their first selection. Claire's influence, probably because of her status as "family member," helps to bring the others to her side.
The submission and selection process is anonymous; the jury do not know the identities of the artists/architects who have submitted designs.
When the name of the artist selected is revealed as Mohammad Khan, outcry from the public is loud and antagonistic. Khan is American, and pretty mainstream at that. While he is a Muslim, he is not a practicing one and is basically non political.
The novel describes conflicts, mind shifts, prejudices and sensitivities of the characters and the public during this difficult time in our history.
There are several very interesting characters and

Light from a Distant Planet by Mary McGarry Morris

This was not on my "Want to Read" list because I didn't know that Mary McGarry Morris had a new book out. She is one of my FAVORITE authors, especially "Songs in Ordinary Time." I want to read that again now.
I really enjoyed this book although I have to say, at the beginning it seemed slow. But she was building up the characters so strongly at the beginning and that ends up being so crucial to the story.
I went online and read some reviews of people who compared the main character, Nellie, to Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird." Yes, there are similarities. Both are extremely ethical and honest. And they feel that they have a special "sense" when it comes to understanding people. And Nellie does.
She is a very well drawn character. This coming of age story is a murder mystery, coming of age, and family drama. I really liked this book and found myself actually reading passages over again. Nellie's struggle to "do the right thing" causes so  many conflicts with her family and within herself.