Check It Out:

With the presidential election just days away, politics is in the air. To help get you in the spirit of the election, check out some of these political novels at the Newport Beach Public Library.

 When the Democratic presidential nominee dies, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt finds herself as the replacement for the party. Novelist Robin Gerber pits Eleanor Roosevelt against Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for the presidential race of 1952. Roosevelt confronts the issue of a female president in the White House and whether the nation is prepared for it. She gains the support of women, unions, and African-Americans.

In the end, the race is close. Find out who prevails in “Eleanor vs. Ike.”

 Another historical political novel, “America America,” by Ethan Canin, begins in 2006. The opening scenes set the stage for narrator Corey Sifter to recount his days in the early ’70s. Corey, 16 in 1971, is hired to work for the Metareys, one of the wealthiest families in upstate New York.

Liam Metarey, the patriarch of the family, takes to Corey, treats him as one of the family and even arranges to send him to an exclusive prep school. Because of his position within the family, Corey becomes privy to some of Liam’s business arrangements one of which is the financing of Sen. Henry Bonwiller’s campaign for the presidency.

Bonwiller, however, has some character flaws, which Corey witnesses. The novel seamlessly deals with politics, status, wealth and family dynamics as well as integrating Corey’s present-day life with the past.

 Kristin Gore, daughter of former Vice President and presidential candidate Al Gore, introduces Samantha Joyce in “Sammy’s Hill.”

Samantha, also known as Sammy, is a domestic policy advisor for Ohio Sen. Robert Gary. She tackles healthcare reform, developing a bill to lower prescription costs for senior citizens.

During her preparations Sammy meets Aaron Driver, a speechwriter for the Democratic presidential candidate John Bramen. Sammy falls for Driver and becomes romantically involved with him while the senator and presidential candidate join forces.

Sammy ends up in a relationship disaster, but she’s sure to pursue her passion for her healthcare-related bill and gets caught in the middle of the presidential election campaign. Continue to follow Sammy’s story in Gore’s sequel, “Sammy’s House.”