Nicole Helget's new novel, Stillwater, follows the lives of twins separated at birth — and raised on opposite sides of the tracks. Helget, who is proud to be called a "Minnesota novelist," tells NPR's Scott Simon about the photograph that inspired one of the book's central characters.

The oil rush in and around North Dakota has brought an influx of mostly male workers flush with cash. Law enforcement agencies and activists say that's creating ample opportunity for organized crime — and that more must be done to prevent women from being forced into prostitution.

A Chinese court sentenced Xu Zhiyong, a leading proponent of civil society, to four years in jail on Sunday. China's government has recently jailed officials and issued new rules to curb corruption, but it's apparently not an effort that independent citizens groups can join.

Jenny Offill's new book, Dept. of Speculation, uses anecdotes and bits of poetry to tell a nonlinear story of love, parenthood and infidelity. Offill tells NPR's Rachel Martin that her experiences as a mother inspired the book — but that her own marriage is far less dramatic than the one in her novel.

William Wiley oversees a nonprofit charged with collecting evidence of atrocities committed by both sides in the Syrian war. It's dangerous work, and the group has suffered losses. Their sacrifices won't be in vain, Wiley says, but exactly how justice will come to the war's victims isn't yet clear.

Adopted by loving white parents as a baby 42 years ago, Chad Goller-Sojourner says he was an adult before he could love his own reflection. He tells the story of what life was like growing up in a family of a different race than his own.

Russia may be the world power with the greatest influence over Syria. As diplomatic talks on Syria continue in Geneva between the two sides, what is Russia's role? NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Russian-American journalist Vladimir Pozner.

For each word given, name a synonym in which the first two letters are the same as the second and third letters of the given word. For example, spin and pirouette.

The Yankees signed the Japanese superstar pitcher this week for a whopping $155 million. NPR's Rachel Martin talks sports with sports correspondent Mike Pesca about what that means for the Bronx Bombers' bottom line.

What does the growing income gap between the richest and poorest Americans mean for social mobility? An academic study published last week found that, contrary to popular perception, it has not gotten harder to climb the income ladder in the U.S. in the past two decades.