“I read this a year ago and can’t stop thinking about it,” says the nominator of “A Gate at the Stairs” by Lorrie Moore. “Heart-wrenching and captivating,” this coming-of-age tale takes place in the Midwest shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The book follows college student Tassie Keltjin for a year of life in which she becomes a nanny for the newly adopted biracial child of an older white couple and confronts racism, sexual awakening and family tragedy. Poetic language and wry humor lift this sad story out of the darkness.

Have a suggestion of your own? Let us know what you think our community should read in 2011 by filling out a suggestion form at any of our branches, the bookmobile, or online at oneread.org.