Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Once I find an author I like, I read all their work. This is my fifth Kingsolver (Prodigal Summer, The Lacuna, Poisonwood Bible, Pigs in Heaven). As is typical of her work, she pulls you in by creating painfully human characters enmeshed in some kind of critical conflict. This one, set in Appalachia, tells of a restless young woman, seemingly trapped in her station in life as a young mother.  She finds purpose and worth as she learns about the plight of the monarch butterfly in the context of climate change. Yes, it's that huge. But, as always, Kingsolver brings it all together. Not only do you follow this compelling character rising to her potential, you learn a heck of a lot of science in the reading. 
Kingsolver's work is one huge reason why FICTION is so necessary in today's world.Who really wants to spend their leisure time reading about climate change? monarch migration patterns? Appalachian culture? But fiction has a way of making all the non-fiction (the science) relevant to our lives.