Season's Readings - 2005 by Durham County Library

Notes

Season’s Readings 2005

A collection of reviews written by members of the Durham County Library Family

Table of Contents Fiction.................................................................................................... 3 Nonfiction ...........................................................................................30 Biography ............................................................................................35

Season’s Readings And a Happy New Year Filled with Great Books!

Young Adult Fiction ..........................................................................37 Juvenile Fiction ...................................................................................41 Juvenile Nonfiction ............................................................................54 Juvenile Biography .............................................................................55 Spanish Language Materials ..............................................................57 Audio-Visual Materials ......................................................................59

A special thank you to the following people for their assistance in the production of Season’s Readings Jana A. Alexander Jean Amelang Nancy Blood Lisa L. Dendy Karlene Fyffe Angela K. Pridgen Wanda Rascoe Sandy Sweitzer Autumn Winters Susan Wright

Season’s Readings is made possible by the Friends of the Durham Library Inc. 2

Thank you to the following contributors Jana A. Alexander — Marketing Services, Main Library Jean Amelang — Technical Services, Main Library Cleo Bizzell — Circulation, Main Library Nancy Blood — Adult Reading Services, Main Library Donald Bradsher — Bragtown Branch Library Faye Brandon — Durham Reads Together Volunteer Barbara Branson — Library Volunteer Mary Bryson — Technical Services, Main Library Alex Cook-Wright — Son of Susan Wright Anna Cromwell — Children’s Services, Main Library Tom Czaplinski — Children’s Services, Main Library Lisa L. Dendy — Reference Services, Main Library Charles Ebert — Audio-Visual Services, Main Library Rheda Epstein — Technical Services, Main Library Frances Evans — Library Volunteer Carol Exner — Parkwood Branch Library Kadeem Fyffe — Library Volunteer; son of Karlene Fyffe Kamaria Fyffe — Library Volunteer; daughter of Karlene Fyffe Karlene Fyffe — Youth Services, Main Library Laurel Jones — Children’s Services, Main Library Priscilla Lewis — Extension Services, Main Library Donna Moss — Southwest Branch Library Carol Passmore — Reference Services, Main Library Angela K. Pridgen — Marketing Services, Main Library Judith Quijano — Hispanic Outreach Services, Main Library Lynn Richardson — North Carolina Room, Main Library Andrea Riley — Reference Services, Main Library Carolyn Robinson — Reference Services, Main Library Melanie Sabins — Administrative Services, Main Library Kathi Sippen — Bookmobile Services, Main Library Cathy Starkweather — Parkwood Branch Library Sandy Sweitzer — Marketing Services, Main Library Deb Warner — Audio-Visual Services, Main Library Autumn Winters — Youth Services, Main Library Susan Wright—Main Library Services, Main Library 62

Fiction The Clerkenwell Tales by Peter Ackroyd

F Ackroyd, P. The next best thing to time travel is reading one of Peter Ackroyd’s books set in and around his beloved London. In The Clerkenwell Tales, he recreates a 1399 suburb bustling with commerce and entertainment even as it seethes with intrigue, political and clerical. The Prioress, Canon Yeoman, Manciple, Shipman, and other colorful inhabitants star in these interconnected stories, which spring from real events and conditions of the day and from the unchanging aspects of human nature. Once again, Ackroyd combines meticulous scholarship and absorbing narrative in a remarkable book. — Frances Evans

A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott

F Alcott, L. Rosamond Vivian lives with her indifferent grandfather on a remote island off the coast of England. She elopes with the charming stranger Phillip Tempest, only to discover that he is still married to his estranged wife and that one of his young servants is his own son. Rosamond flees, but Tempest pursues her all around Europe, driving her from every refuge she thinks she has found: a Paris boardinghouse; the entourage of a famous actress; a convent; the chateau of a count whom she almost marries; and finally the English home of the original Mrs. Tempest. Along the way, she acquires a friend and protector in Father Ignatius, who secretly and hopelessly loves her. Eventually, Tempest lures the pair back to the grandfather’s island for a final confrontation. This novel, never published in Alcott’s lifetime, is not great literature, but it is a fast-moving and entertaining story that reveals much about Victorian tastes and attitudes. One can’t help thinking that Jo March (of Little Women) was writing just such melodramas before she met Fritz Bhaer. — Frances Evans

Midnight at the Dragon Café by Judy Fong Bates

F Bates, J. Set in a small Ontario town in the 1960s, Midnight at the Dragon Café is the tale of a young Chinese girl whose world is turned upside down when she must keep the family secrets she has discovered. Su-Jen lives with her elderly father and beautiful, young mother who devote their lives to running the restaurant they own. When Lee-Kung, Su-Jen’s half brother from her father’s previous marriage, arrives, everything changes. In simple, intimate prose, Bates vividly captures time and place, along with the complexity of a childhood divided by two cultures and touched by unspoken secrets. A quietly engaging book I highly recommend. — Kathi Sippen

A Measure of Faith by Maxine Billings

F Billings, M. This is Maxine Billings’s debut novel in which she deals with faith in God and the belief that God makes everything work for good. Lynn and Robert are an ideal couple. They have two lovely daughters and a beautiful home and have been married for 21 years. They also own their own small business. Lynn is faced with issues involving her mother, who abandoned her at age 4. She is also facing surgery. Robert is supportive, but feels left out of her life and doesn’t know how to help her. Lynn’s faith waivers, and she stops attending church and begins to lose her faith in God. Her best friend, who admires Robert and Lynn, tries to make a rift in their relationship. This is when Lynn truly wishes her mother were around. Even though this book is quite predictable, I found the writing skills of the author to be wonderful. I just wish there had been less negativity on Lynn’s part. It is, however, a novel to which many women can relate. — Priscilla Lewis

The Process: Volume One by James McBride

CD 785.42 M James McBride is not only the best-selling author of the Durham Reads Together 2005 title The Color of Water, but is also an accomplished jazz musician. He has written songs for a range of entertainers from Anita Baker and Grover Washington to the children’s television icon Barney. The Process: Volume One is as musically varied as the artists and purple dinosaur he has written for. The CD kicks off with Gus Kahn’s standard “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” transporting you back into the heyday of the Roaring Twenties. The final track, “Goodbye To All That,” written by McBride, highlights his musical abilities. In between the two tracks is a range of songs from the fun swing sound of “French Girls in New York” to the more soulful sound of “Lauren.” If you like jazz - there’s something here for you. — Angela K. Pridgen

Strictly Ballroom VIDEO Feature STRI Although this movie debuted 13 years ago, it’s still a favorite of mine—one that I had to own; it’s great to pop in for a few minutes or for the entire 94-minute runtime. Competitive ballroom dancer Scott Hastings (Paul Mercurio) shuns the regimen of the Australian championship ballroom dance community and the shimmer of its leading ladies to dance his own way with an unlikely partner, Fran (Tara Morice). Together, Scott and Fran explore the magic of their own choreography—time after time. By being open to the traditions of Fran’s Spanish father and grandmother, Scott also rediscovers the passion and joy of dance. But, does Scott stick with Fran or go for the trophy? And, in which parent’s footsteps does Scott follow? Find out in this fun, romantic comedy. Rated: PG. — Jana A. Alexander

Can’t Get Enough by Connie Briscoe

F Briscoe, C. It’s been a long time since Connie Briscoe has done anything (P.G. County 2002), and believe me, readers won’t be disappointed. This book is a

(compellingly portrayed by Dennis Haysbert), but what viewers don’t know is… SPOILER ALERT. Frank is a closet homosexual. When Cathy goes to his office late one night to surprise him with dinner for all his hard work, she catches him kissing a man. END SPOILER ALERT. Far from Heaven is, in essence, telling three stories of romantic disillusionment. First, Cathy and Frank’s marriage is the proverbial house built on sand. Second, the reasons behind the crumbling relationship and their friends’ reactions to it are a dash of cold water in the face of all Cathy held true. Patricia Clarkson is excellent as Cathy’s duplicitous “best friend.” She epitomizes the climate of the time (standing on a cliff on the verge of jumping over the chasm of its oppressive ways, but still too afraid to make the final leap) with her pseudo-liberal ways and conservative beliefs. But the last and most important awakening is not between two people or with society, but in Cathy herself. “How far would you go for love?” Only the individual knows if he/she is prepared to deal with the consequences if the answer is “as far as it takes…Far from Heaven.” In this riveting drama, one goes the distance and the other is left to ponder the age-old question that haunts all cowards: What if ? Rated: PG-13. — Cleo Von Bizzell

The Notebook

DVD Feature NOTE A touching love story that is sure to find its way into the classics! James Garner and Gina Rowlands portray the final days of a couple dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote Message in a Bottle, wrote the book. It is the heart-wrenching story of lovers born on opposite sides of the tracks. The story is full of the twists and turns that fate delivers into ordinary people’s lives. Bring lots of tissues! Rated: PG-13. — Melanie Sabins

continuation of P.G. County, where the rich and famous inhabit an elite suburb of Washington, D.C. In P.G. County, readers felt sorry for Barbara Bentley, but in this title, she gets her act together, gets sober and gets a life. She’s tired of her philandering husband, Bradford. She’s selling real estate, dressing more hip, and she’s happier. Jolene has reached her lowest point since her husband left her. She’s been ostracized by the community of Silver Lake, and Pearl has taken her husband and, eventually, wins over her daughter. Things seem to improve once she wins the lottery and goes about trying to win back her husband. Watch out. Pearl realizes her life with Patrick could be better, but decides to hang in there even with Patrick’s two teenage daughters, who are holy terrors. She takes pride in her beauty salon and the fact that it’s her own business. Everyone wants to know who’s building the huge mansion in Silver Lake. In comes Baronness Veroniques, who brings more upheaval to the lives of the women of Silver Lake. — Priscilla Lewis

Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

F Brooks, G. This book is completely out of my normal range of interests. I can’t even imagine what compelled me to pick it up, much less to read it, but I found it difficult to put down and recommend it highly. Be forewarned: while beautifully written, it is a bleak account of the bubonic plague that is carried from 17th-century London to a small Derbyshire village. The author describes the desperate life before and during the plague in unflinching detail from the perspective of 18-year-old Anna Frith, a widow with two young sons. What kept me from putting it down was that Anna holds onto her dignity and goodness as the death toll mounts and the superstitious and desperately poor villagers descend into a mob. It is based on a village in which the people actually did decide to quarantine themselves to prevent the plague from spreading. Like I said, bleak and a good read. — Sandy Sweitzer

72 Hour Hold by Bebe Moore Campbell

F Campbell, B. Bebe Moore Campbell writes of a mother’s frustration with trying to cope with her daughter’s bipolar disorder. Keri Whitmore owns a designer resale shop in Los Angeles, where she lives in an upscale neighborhood with her daughter, Trina. Trina is headed for Brown University, but then she changes, and Keri ignores a host of symptoms and warnings. Trina’s behavior becomes more violent , and she refuses to take her medicine. Keri searches and prays for a remedy or a cure, only to be told that there is none. When Trina turns 18, there’s nothing Keri can do to hold her against her will. This book is a testament to the fact that patients’ rights often clash with what is best for them. Campbell’s skill as a writer is evident as she portrays mental illness as a form of slavery and blends in metaphors from the American slavery experience. She also uses the Underground Railroad as a metaphor for the escape to freedom, and the North Star as a symbol for hope and guidance. — Priscilla Lewis

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

F Cornwell, B. Another barnburner from the master of historical adventure, Bernard Cornwell. This one tells the story of Uhtred, a ninth-century Anglo-Saxon prince, who, as a child, witnesses the invasion in 866 of Britain by the Danes (We’d call them Vikings, but apparently this is wrong.) Uhtred’s father is killed in the early chapters, and the boy is taken hostage by Ragnar, a Danish lord. Ragnar is a decent sort who treats Uhtred well, and the young prince thrives in the rough-and-tumble world of the pagan Danes. But buried deep in Uhtred’s heart is the desire to reclaim his family’s ancestral keep, which has been usurped by his uncle. To do that, he needs to be English, not a Dane. So by the end of the novel, he’s cast his lot with Alfred, King of Wessex, the last unconquered kingdom in Britain. Alfred is a capable leader, if a little pious for Uhtred’s taste. This is the first of three novels that will follow Uhtred as he helps Alfred unite England for the first time. — Chuck Ebert 6

Audio-visual Materials The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride BK TAPE B McBride, J. Even if you’ve read the book, you’ve just got to check out the audiobook of James McBride’s memoir, The Color of Water. The succinct chapters, which alternate between James’ story and his mother’s, are perfect for errands or short drives—not just for long commutes. Award-winning actor Andre Braugher brings James’ story to life, while Tony Awardwinning actress Lanie Kazan is the perfect voice for James’ mother, Ruth. Kazan is especially adept at guiding the listener, as Ruth moves back and forth between the present, where she is Ruth McBride Jordan—mother of 12 black children and aligned with a black, Christian church—and the past, where she was Rachel Deborah Shilsky, the Rabbi’s daughter. Listening to this unabridged audiobook, on four cassettes, is a great way to continue Durham Reads Together 2005. — Jana A. Alexander

Far From Heaven

VIDEO Feature FARF This drama explores the 1950s marriage of a seemingly perfect couple, Cathy and Frank Whitaker (Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid). The director, Todd Haynes, opts for a more realistic movie than one might encounter in such slick films as L.A. Confidential, where the actors may have been fitted for period costume pieces and set in classic locations, but lacked the actual “feel” of the ‘50s. While watching this movie, viewers will notice such truisms as Cathy’s use of the word “Golly” and her puffy skirt. The tag line, “How far would you go for love?,” sums up the movie, with a twist. The audience is already anticipating the taboo of a potential relationship between Cathy, who is white, and the black gardener

with her beauty and intelligence, would climb the social ladder without care for the men who fought for her. Perhaps not many Americans know about her, but Maria Felix was well-known in Europe and all over Latin America when she starred in movies during the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Maria met and knew well in real life many very famous and powerful people from that time. Among them were presidents, heads of state, royalty, writers and artists. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo were her very good friends, and she sometimes spent time in Frida’s house. Maria also knew Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. She lived for many years in Paris and Italy and would travel frequently back to Mexico and other Latin American countries as well as to exotic places like Singapore. One time, while on an island in Indonesia, she fell in a hole and got trapped inside a cave full of bats. Maria was married four times and had other lovers from famous singer Agustin Lara to a rich Austrian. She also had, among other things from her extensive fortune, up to 85 thoroughbred horses that raced in the famous European derbies and won trophies at places like the Jockey Club in France. She tells about her life, from being born in a small Mexican town to her accomplishments, and her views about Mexican politics, the different presidents, the population explosion and more. — Judith Quijano

The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel

F Creel, A. Livvey Dunne, a Denver minister’s daughter, dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. Never did she imagine that World War II would alter her dreams. Pregnant from a brief flirtation with a soldier stationed in Denver, she is sent to a remote Colorado farm to wed a man she had never met. Overwhelmed by loneliness and her peculiar circumstances, she befriends Japanese sisters who are living in a nearby internment camp. When Livvey is unwittingly involved in a crime while doing a favor for her Japanese friends, she finally confronts her own yearnings and comes to terms with her impending motherhood and the farmer who married her. This is a quiet and eloquent novel. — Kathi Sippen

Plenty Good Room by Cheri P. Edwards

F Edwards, C. Meet Tamara Britton, whose life is very quiet and uncomplicated. She is a caseworker for the social services agency, where she works with at-risk children and families in the protective unit. Her life is suddenly interrupted when she consents to letting a 14-year-old runaway named Sienna move in with her. At first Sienna brings out the worst in Tamara, but as times goes by, she also helps Tamara deal with her own past. Tamara is pursued by two young men, Isaiah and Jayson; however, a romance never develops. More than a story about the failings of our foster care system, this is a story about the constant presence of God in our lives. This story shows how God can deliver people from loneliness and lovelessness to a place where they can accept the love only God can give. An excellent novel in the new emerging Christian fiction market. — Priscilla Lewis

The Road to Home by Vanessa Del Fabbro

F Fabbro, V. This wonderful novel from a South African author touches on the dark era of South African racial struggles without the overwhelming brutality that

characterizes much of the other South African fiction. White journalist Monica Brunetti had it all—promising career, loving family, marriageminded boyfriend. Then a life-altering encounter with a carjacker landed her in a hospital bed next to charismatic Ella Nkhoma, whose wit and caring challenged Monica’s world view. Their remarkable friendship will lead Monica toward a future she could never have imagined. — Kathi Sippen

Flippin’ the Script by Aisha Ford

F Ford, A. Aisha Ford has written a humorous love story that will make you laugh out loud. The characters in this book are not only humorous, but also easy to relate to and very true to life. Meet Sabrina Bradley, a young Christian woman who is trying to do the right thing in terms of her workplace and her heart. Sabrina wants to change her life. She wants to get a promotion at work, to lose a few pounds, to keep her checkbook balanced, to get more involved in church activities, and to cut down on drinking coffee—to name just a few items on her New Year’s resolution list. And, she doesn’t want to fall in love again. Unfortunately, her boss gets her hands on the list and convinces Sabrina to participate in a secret agreement where she will not only get a promotion, but also a $10,000 bonus if she keeps all her resolutions—especially the one about not falling in love. Aisha builds a compelling novel that explains the challenges facing contemporary single and married Christians. It also offers suggestions for staying true to the Christian walk in the midst of adversity. I highly recommend this book. — Priscilla Lewis

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

F Gaines, E. National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. As I began reading A Lesson Before Dying earlier this year, I had the feeling that I was just

Spanish Language Materials Gypsy Child: Dancing Without Veils/ Princesita Gitana: Bailando Sin Velos By Banu Valladares Spanish Language Adult Nonfiction 811 Valladares This is one of the few bilingual poetry books written in English and Spanish by the same person. It has very descriptive poetry and vibrant, colorful art. It describes a teenage woman escaping from a stifling relationship and cultural barriers in the South American country of Venezuela, coming to a new country different from hers, and trying to find fulfillment. She goes through emotional ups and downs—from excitement to loneliness— in her quest to find herself and finally realizes that she is growing. Like a gypsy going from place to place, she discovers bits and pieces of her inner self along the way, through her writing and art. Everyone, especially women, will be able to connect with these poems and to see themselves as fellow gypsies in the search for self. — Judith Quijano

Maria Felix: Todas Mis Guerras by Maria Felix

Spanish Language Adult Nonfiction B Felix, M. Many people wrote about the Mexican actress and star María Felix known as La Doña. The nickname came from the Mexican movie Doña Barbara that made her famous. She was identified by that movie because she was believed to be like the movie character—an ambitious young woman who,

he was able to overcome a life of hardship and be very successful. He got a full scholarship to Harvard, one of the most expensive, prestigious universities in the world. I’d recommend this book to all teens and adults. — Kadeem Fyffe

discovering an old classic that I had missed in high school some 30 years back. But Ernest Gaines’ best-seller, called an “instant classic” by the Chicago Tribune, wasn’t even published until 1993. It is a must read for everyone in Durham. As a matter of fact, it was a runner-up to be the first Durham Reads Together title. Especially moving is the diary portion of the book, which is kept by young Jefferson as he awaits death by electrocution. His crime: being black, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Referred to as a “hog” rather than a human being in court, Jefferson has to learn how to prepare to die as a man. Who learns a lesson? Is it Jefferson, himself ? Grant Wiggins, his teacher? The Reverend? Jefferson’s female family members who love him so? Or is it the small-town Cajun community, as a whole, in Bayonne, Louisiana? This novel is timely in its issues of education, identity, prejudice, race, religion, the criminal justice system and, specifically, capital punishment. The story will resonate with readers for months and years to come. Also, check out the audiobook and video editions of A Lesson Before Dying. — Susan Wright

Year of the Hyenas: A Novel of Murder in Ancient Egypt by Brad Geagley Mystery F Geagley, B. As far as I am concerned, they cannot write enough mysteries set in Ancient Egypt. It is the 31st year of the reign of Ramses III, and an elderly priestess is murdered, her body dumped into the Nile. Semerket, who has hit the bottle since his wife Naia left him and remarried, is assigned to investigate by the High Vizier. Soon, a simple murder investigation reveals a conspiracy to overthrow Pharaoh and to replace him with one of his sons and a plan to plunder the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. First in a purported series, and off to a good start. — Jean Amelang

Lenoir by Ken Greenhall

F Greenhall, K. Lenoir is the story of a black African stolen from his homeland and sold as a servant into a world he finds confusing, disgusting and haunted by pale

spirits. Mbatgha, renamed Lenoir by his captors, makes the best of his situation, learning the language of his white masters and using his own personal beauty to his advantage, posing for the likes of Rembrandt and Rubens. Most books I have read about slavery, starting with Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Huckleberry Finn, going right up through Known World, all deal with slavery in America. However, this historical novel takes the same subject from the vantage point of Europe in 17th-century Amsterdam. It is the imagined life of the unknown model in Rubens’ portrait Four Heads of a Negro. Lenoir, the narrator of the story, conveys 17th-century racial prejudices and sexual mores, contentious religious and territorial politics, and the scourge of the plague. Lenoir is bonded to Dom Twee, a schemer who can barely stay out of debt and trouble. Lenoir spends much of his time modeling for Rembrandt and aiding Twee’s schemes. He and his master run into trouble with the law and escape Amsterdam. They finally end up in Antwerp. Lenoir’s beauty and outlook appeal to Rubens, who asks Lenoir to model for him and to become a painter’s assistant. This novel is an important commentary on the history of slavery, the psychological impact of slavery on the enslaved, myths about Europe and Africa, and the many prejudicial views that still exist after centuries of so-called civilized evolution. Greenhall, with clear sensibility, has produced a most fascinating work of art that kept me involved from the beginning to the end. — Donald Bradsher

Wings of Grace by Vanessa D. Griggs

F Griggs, V. This book is a sequel to Promises Beyond Jordan. It is a story of mystery, faith, love, family and forgiveness. Two women grow up together in the mountains of Asheville, N.C.—Mamie Patterson, a black woman, and Sarah Fleming, a white woman. Their lives are forever intertwined. In 1935, they become pregnant at the same time and then give birth within hours of each other. One is told her baby died at birth and is sent to a mental institution. The other is told she had twins, one light one dark. Once again, the reader is pulled into the life of Pastor George Landis. He

Juvenile Biography The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman

JB Anderson , M. 2005 Newbery Honor Book and 2005 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. Freedman gracefully narrates the story of Anderson’s life and career. It is her remarkable voice that the author emphasizes in this handsomely and spaciously designed book about an artist who preferred to focus on her career, but was forced to confront her nation’s racism. — Rheda Epstein

Of Beetles and Angels by Asgedom Mawi

JB Mawi, A. This is an amazing book! It taught me that you don’t have to be the richest, the smartest, or the coolest person to succeed in life. I was also reminded that you reap what you sow: the author was so nice to everyone he met, even the worst people, and he ended up with a great life. Mawi lived in Ethiopia with his family, until one day a man told them they were going on a journey. Mawi lived in a refugee camp for about three years before moving to America in 1983. He and his family had to live in a motel for seven weeks before they were sponsored by a family. As they were starting to settle in America, Mawi’s father told him about strangers and taught him to treat all people – even the most unsightly beetles – as if they were angels sent from heaven. Later on, Mawi started to attend school, where he was picked on daily because of his race and financial situation. Even with all these problems,

Juvenile Nonfiction Remember: The Journey to School Integration by Toni Morrison

J 379.263 Morrison 2005 Coretta Scott King Award Author. This is Morrison’s first historical work for young people. Using archival photographs, she takes the reader on a journey, remembering “the narrow path, the open door and the wide road” to school integration. — Rheda Epstein

has broken up with Theresa Jordan and is now engaged to Johnnie Mae Taylor. Johnnie is a novelist who is attempting to solve a great mystery about an elderly woman (Sarah) who appears to be in need of a savior. Sarah tells Johnnie such an incredible story that even she doesn’t believe it. Pastor Landis is still pastor of Grace Faith Missionary Church, but there are outside forces brewing that will put his pastorship at risk. Will Johnnie and Pastor Landis spend a lifetime together? Theresa is preparing for the birth of her child while working on a relationship with her mother. Add to this a person’s lifelong obsession with a special necklace, and you have the makings of a good mystery. Griggs also incorporated all the lessons of love, faith, family, and forgiveness to make a great story. You won’t want to put this book down. — Priscilla Lewis

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

F Haddon, M. As 15-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone solves the murder of a dog in his neighborhood (of which he is accused), I was moved by the insight into his autistic mind. In addition to being unwilling to eat yellow or brown foods, for example, he takes everything at face value, which makes the process of understanding his working-class parents’ divorce that much more painful to observe. It is a funny, moving book of someone who has no filters through which to see the world. — Sandy Sweitzer

Sweet Bye-Bye by Denise Michelle Harris

F Harris, D. Meet Chantell Meyers, a 20-something San Franciscan who thinks true happiness comes from material things, a perky job and a drop-deadgorgeous boyfriend. She doesn’t realize what’s important in her life until she almost loses her father. This event causes her to also reflect on the deaths of her mother and sister. She promises God that if He will save her father, she will start living right. Her father is revived, and she sets out on her task. Chantell says hello to church and begins to say goodbye to the things she once cherished.

Chantell embarks on a journey where she evaluates who she is and what she wants out of life. She wrestles with her flesh, her ambitions in the workplace, materialism, and all the struggles to live in the world with Godly integrity and without compromise. Chantell is no goody-two-shoes; she’s just another sister trying to live right and find that balance between living in the world and living God’s way. The spiritual aspect was on point, and everything was delivered right on time, specific and appropriate without being judgmental. This is Christian fiction at its best. — Priscilla Lewis

The Ghost Writer by John Harwood

F Harwood, J. A literary creep-fest! Gerard, an Australian librarian, dreams of returning to his mother’s native England and of meeting his longtime English pen pal, a young woman bound to a wheelchair after losing her family in an automobile accident. A romantic at heart, Gerard clings to the mysteries of his mother’s life in England, the details of which she never feels comfortable discussing. The narrative is broken by short stories that Gerard encounters as he snoops in his mother’s belongings, disturbing stories that begin to resemble puzzle pieces, even clues to why his mother left England long ago. Haunting, gothic, creepy, spooky and intelligent are all excellent words to describe this book. — Mary Bryson

Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman

F Hoffman, A. Blue Diary is a hauntingly clever story of relationships, truth and identity. Ethan Ford, a well-respected and adored member of the small town of Monroe, Mass., is living a “normal” life as husband of 13 years to Jorie; father of 12-year-old son, Collie; Little League coach; member of the volunteer fire department; and reliable renovation specialist and carpenter. However, Ethan isn’t who or what he pretends to be. That’s why the doorbell rings. Ethan is taken to jail and detained in regard

The Golden Hour by Maiya Williams

J Williams, M. Rowan has hated his life ever since his mother died. He and his sister Nina are sent to spend their summer with their late mother’s two aunts in a small town in Maine. There they meet two other children and stumble across an abandoned resort that serves as a portal into the past. When Nina disappears, Rowan and the others search for her in late 18th-century France. As the French Revolution approaches, Rowan is challenged to find a sense of self amidst the dangers of the times. While the book brings the past to life and touches on serious questions of class, race, and grief, it is the exciting adventure that will keep children reading. — Cathy Starkweather

Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive by Karma Wilson; illustrated by Karla Firehammer

E Wilson, K. This is a title that I would place in the category of “just for fun,” much like the knee-slapping goody entitled Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin. In this side-splitter, the illustrations wonderfully complement the rhyming text, making it a sure winner with preschoolers. The story starts off with two pocket-picking cows who steal the farmer’s truck keys to take a joy ride into town and, with the farmer’s refrain of “sakes alive,” this hilarious adventure begins. Stop signs mean nothing to cows who can’t read, as they swerve just in time to miss the sheriff! When a line of police cars joins the pursuit, Mabel and Molly— our two car jackers— marvel at the beautiful lights. Another thing cows don’t know is where the brakes are located as they zoom into town, pass the firehouse, and run into the mayor’s flower bed. All soon join the pursuit to stop this cattle drive. As they roar through town followed by the sirens of police cars and fire trucks, not to mention the mayor, what do the townsfolk cry? “Hooray, a parade!” When the chase finally ends, the children all yell and ask for Mabel and Molly’s autographs. Cows can’t write; however, they soon find a way to leave their mark on this rip-roaring cattle drive. To learn what Mabel and Molly gave each child, check out this book. But, I warn you, be prepared to laugh ‘til the cows come home! — Anna Cromwell 53

Indigo” (published in her 1983 poetry collection, A Daughter’s Geography) serves as the text of this picture book. Kadir Nelson evokes the feelings of a family album in rich, deep-toned oil paintings that provide a tribute to the legendary black men whose contributions changed the culture of 20th-century America. Nelson’s illustrations effectively depict this era in history, known as the Harlem Renaissance. — Rheda Epstein

Miss Bindergarten Has a Wild Day in Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

E Slate, J. The canine kindergarten teacher is at it again in Mr. Slate’s latest offering of the rhyming series featuring an animal for each letter of the alphabet. In this book, it is one of “those days,” – Miss Bindergarten breaks her necklace, spills her juice and gets a flat tire before she even arrives. Once she does, however, ants visit the classroom, water overflows, lunches spill and the nature study bugs escape. Despite the chaos, Miss Bindergarten and the class get through the day, even to its culmination of viewing something special. — Laurel Jones

The Bee-Man of Orn by Frank Stockton

J Stockton, F. Stockton wrote a number of American fairy tales. In this one, a beekeeper is told by a Junior Sorcerer that he has been transformed from something else to his present state. The Bee-Man decides to try to find out what he was meant to be. Along the way he meets a Languid Youth who wants to be more energetic. Together they enter a cave of dragons in hopes of succeeding in their quests. Stockton illustrates the folly of trying to be what others think you should be in a gentle and humorous way. — Cathy Starkweather

to the murder of a teenage girl named Rachel that was committed 15 years before in Maryland. Somebody in this safe Massachusetts town has called to report Ethan’s whereabouts from having seen his not-to-be-mistaken handsome face on a real-life crime show. In trying to figure out what happened, Jorie travels to Maryland, gets directions, and heads out to an unfamiliar landscape. She views Rachel’s death certificate, visits the grave site and talks with the murdered girl’s sullen adult brother, James. James gives Jorie a package containing an envelope neatly tied with brown strings and brings forth Rachel’s blue leatherette diary with a gold clasp. Jorie (and her best friend, Charlotte) and Collie (and his best friend and neighbor, Kat) are left with the other members of this close-knit community to sort out whether or not this could be and how they can continue on with their lives. This was the first Alice Hoffman novel that I read—now I am hooked! You can’t go wrong with her combination of realism and fairy-tale magic. I also recommend other titles that I have read by Ms. Hoffman: Here on Earth, Practical Magic, The Probable Future, The River King and Turtle Moon. — Susan Wright

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

F Hosseini, K. This amazing book was my favorite of the year. It is beautifully written fiction and an essential history lesson. The Kite Runner follows the life of a young man who grew up in Afghanistan before the Russian invasion and the rule of the Taliban. Amir has a defining (and disturbing) moment in his early life that haunts him into adulthood. The descriptions of his beloved and richly diverse Afghani community before, during and after the conflicts gives the reader a whole new outlook on this country that many think of as war-torn, poor and barren. His life as an immigrant in California is another good reminder of the amazing lives of people who come to America, whose talents we don’t use fully. I was honored to hear Hosseini speak recently, and he talked about how the “autobiographical” became fiction in the book, so be sure to find an article about him after you finish it. I adored this book. — Sandy Sweitzer 13

A Family Reunion by Brenda Jackson

F Jackson, B. For an author who usually writes romance and single stories for novellas, Brenda’s debut novel into mainstream fiction is excellent. This book is about family, love and, of course, a family reunion. I think most people who have attended a family reunion will be able to relate to this book. In any family, there seem to be secrets and revelations that come to light during times of crisis. It has been 15 years since the Bennett family has been together. Meet Ethan Allen Bennett, the patriarch of the family, who’s approaching 90 and who thinks it is time for a reunion. The heart of this story is three female cousins and the older male cousin who is assigned to keep them out of trouble. Taye is a hair stylist with big ambitions. Alexia is the chubby girlturned-sexy superstar, who seems to have it all. Rae’Jean is the pretty doctor who is engaged to be married. Michael is a widowed airline pilot struggling to manage his teenage daughter. These four prove just how close cousins can be, even after being separated for 15 years. — Priscilla Lewis

The Playa’s Handbook by Brenda Jackson

F Jackson, B. Meet Lance Montgomery, Ph.D., author and renowned relationship expert, who has just published his book entitled The Playa’s Handbook. Lance is a skeptic of love and romance, a product of divorce—twice—and a broken home. His book emphasizes his playa views. Friends Marcus Lowery, Samuel Gunn and Philip McKenna are among Indiana’s most eligible bachelors. One night while watching the game and drinking beer, they admit to buying Montgomery’s book. They feel they are ready now to embark on commitment-free relationships and become true playas. Sam’s friend Lance also happens to be the author of this book. Lance has his own challenges once he meets Dr. Asia Fowler and finds that his rules can make life messy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but can’t wait to see if there is a sequel that will tell what happens with Lance and Asia. — Priscilla Lewis

mails flying across the Atlantic Ocean between our two continents. While the book gave some back-story, especially about Tom Riddle’s past and ancestry, it included a higher than normal number of Unanswered Questions. So many loose ends to tie up in the next book, the final one in the series as announced years ago by the author herself; so much ground for Rowling to cover. Will Harry defeat his mortal (immortal?) enemy without the aid of his mentor and protector? Is there any doubt? After all, this is a children’s book, and Good triumphs over Evil—in literature, if not in real life. And with no release date announced yet, we don’t know how many more months we’ll have to wait to find out the answer to all our questions. Aarrgghh! — Jean Amelang

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

J Rowling, J. I like Harry Potter because it’s fun to read. Little kids can read it, and each book gets more dangerous. The thing about them is that they’re magical. They’re good to read unless witchcraft is against your religion. One important thing is that the Death Eaters will break into the castle. You think you’re going to find out who the Half-Blood Prince is, but you’ll have to read to the end. This is my second-favorite Harry Potter book. Don’t you think it should be longer than 652 pages? My favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (the longest at 870 pages) in the 5th year at Hogwarts. Harry uses magic outside of school in front of Muggles (not wizards). That’s illegal and the Ministry of Magic finds out and Harry is sentenced. It’s okay to use magic to protect yourself but not just playing around or stuff. —as told to Susan Wright by her 8-year-old son, Alex Cook-Wright

Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange; illustrated by Kadir A. Nelson E Shange, N. 2005 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. In a reflective tribute, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of black innovators that often gathered there. Her poem “Mood

asked to read it again. The text just bubbles with happy, enthusiastic language, and the bright orange, yellow, purple and green colors sparkle with intensity. Books like this teach your child that reading is fun. So have a pleasant time reading this book, but don’t forget to return it to the library! Books as good as The Scrubbly-Bubbly Car Wash need to be shared. — Tom Czaplinski

Zak’s Lunch by Margie Palatini; illustrated by Howard Fine

E Palatini, M. This is a light-hearted tale of wishful thinking, with which many children will empathize. When Zak is called for lunch, he races in. But he is not pleased to see that lunch is a ham-and-cheese sandwich. His mother’s answer to this is “This is not a restaurant, young man.” Suddenly Zak is transported to a 1950s- style diner called “Zak’s Place,” complete with a waitress named Lou to take his order. When she comments that his first order—a hamburger—is ‘an eensy teensy bit boring,’ Zak lets his imagination run loose in ordering his meal. Howard Fine’s vivid illustrations of a fast-food feast are a perfect complement to Ms. Palatini in this hilarious tale of mealtime gone wild. — Laurel Jones

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

J Rowling, J. This is not so much a review as it is an appreciation. After all, who would dare knock the best-selling book of the year? Here begins a Spoiler Alert, to the one Harry Potter fan who due to some unforeseen tragedy has not read this book since its highly-hyped July 16th release. Is Snape evil? Is he a cold-blooded murderer or is he acting under secret orders? Is he a double agent working in the camp of Lord Voldemort while spying on behalf of the Order of the Phoenix? Was Dumbledore’s faith in Severus misplaced? These were the questions being discussed this summer in hushed tones at water coolers around the planet in case other Harry Potter fans within earshot hadn’t read the book yet, lest the ending be spoiled for them. My teenage nephews in Spain and I discussed these questions in e50

A Man Inspired by Derek Jackson

F Jackson, D. Meet Jermaine Hill, a motivational speaker who inspires people everywhere to do great things. He has it all—fame, riches, women, a black Escalade. However, none of these things can fill the void in Hill’s life left by a past incident that he has not overcome. ( Jermaine has never recovered from the car accident that killed his best friends, even though it occurred nine years ago.) Candice Clark comes into town to profile Jermaine for a small, black American magazine. Their budding romance is predictable, but things change when Chantal Dixon seeks to expose Jermaine and, in doing so, actually captures his suicide attempt on camera. These novels inspire hope in Christ and reveal the power of second chances, both in life and love. This book will challenge those who think they can find peace, love, hope and joy in material things or, for that matter in a marginal faith. — Priscilla Lewis

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

F Kostova, E. Kostova’s novel takes a scholarly approach to an idea dear to pulp fiction: Dracula is real and he knows where you live. Three timelines interlace as each historian takes up the hunt through libraries and archives from Oxford to Istanbul, following a paper trail of folk tales, diaries, letters and other documents that span centuries. Along the way they are joined by allies, including a young woman with a very personal stake in the outcome, and threatened by Dracula’s undead minions. Comparison with The Da Vinci Code is inevitable, but at 642 pages this is less of a thriller and more of a historical puzzle. It is, however, fascinating. — Deb Warner

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

F Krauss, N. This beautifully written novel of loss and survival has two story lines. One begins with a boy in Poland, Leo, who falls in love and writes a book; with the arrival of World War II, both the love and the book are lost. The

other follows 14-year-old Alma Singer as she searches for the story behind her name. As their two lives converge in surprising ways, Krauss explores the interplay of life and literature. — Nancy Blood

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

F Krauss, N. My favorite fiction this year! The story centers on two main characters: Leo, a retired locksmith, now in old age, and Alma, a teenager. The sections of the novel told from Leo’s point of view are hilarious, touching and bizarre. Alma’s plan to rescue her mother from a lonely life revolves around a short book written in Spanish called The History of Love that her mom is translating into English. Anything else about the plot is unnecessary and possibly confusing. I found the characters fresh and well-developed. Nicole Krauss has given us a story line that is mysterious, funny, global and as human as love, itself. If you enjoyed Shadow of the Wind or The Five People You Meet in Heaven, you may want to try this novel. — Donna Moss

Small Island by Andrea Levy

F Levy, A. Orange Prize and Whitbread Book of the Year. Set in Jamaica and England, this novel of emigration, love and loss follows Jamaicans Hortense and Gilbert Joseph as they establish themselves in England after World War II. Queenie Bligh, their white landlady, provides one sort of welcome, and her husband, Bernard, only recently returned from India, another. Told in alternating chapters in these four voices, the novel explores—with wry humor and aching humanity—a society on the verge of many societal changes. — Nancy Blood

Who Does She Think She Is? by Benilde Little

F Little, B. In this novel, Benilde tells the story of three generations of black women in

Picasso and Minou by P.I. Maltbie; illustrated by Pau Estrada

E Maltbie, P. The illustrations are what draw me to children’s picture books. The research and study that went into preparing to do the illustrations in this book evidently paid off handsomely for Estrada. Early 20th-century Paris is pictured in rich architectural detail, along with authentic fashions and interior design. Estrada’s representations of Picasso’s paintings are so faithful to the originals that they seem almost to be reproductions. The illustrations have an updated, contemporary feel to them, are lively, humorous and colorful.

The story is of Pablo’s early struggles to make a living as an artist, and of his friendship with the cat Minou. Picasso is painting only sad, blue pictures (his Blue Period) after the death of a friend, and no one wants to buy these paintings. When Picasso can no longer feed himself and Minou, he puts the cat back on the street to fend for himself. To Picasso’s surprise, the cat brings home a sausage for Pablo to eat, and they share the meal together. It follows him from his Blue Period, through his Rose Period and his experimentation with Cubism. And although Minou was a cat, and not supposed to know very much about art, he did know what he liked. Whenever Pablo asked for Minou’s opinion of these paintings, Minou’s diplomatic response was always, “Meow.” — Andrea Riley

The Scrubbly-Bubbly Car Wash by Irene O’Garden

E O’Garden, I. If you’re looking for a lively, colorful book to read to your child, The Scrubbly-Bubbly Car Wash by Irene O’Garden is the book you need. The illustrations by Cynthia Jabar are as lively and bouncy as the musical, rhyming words. This book is fun. As you read this involving tale of a family traveling through a noisy car wash with their dirty car, you and your child will almost feel the gushing water and bubbly suds. By the time the story ends, you’ll probably be

only 12 years old at the time, but when he found an article about Dr. ABC’s search to find a person to work in exchange for room and board, Matthew went for it. I’d recommend this book to anyone in fifth grade or older. This book is full of suspense, mystery and lots of fun facts and adventures. — Kamaria Fyffe

Hidden Talents by David Lubar

J Lubar, D. Martin has been booted out of school after school and has now landed at Edgeview, his last chance. He must learn to negotiate his way in a world of bullies and boys who refuse to take responsibility for their actions. Martin starts to suspect that something paranormal is going on. Could the boys be causing problems without knowing it? Lubar looks at how personal characteristics can seem like either curses or assets, depending on your point of view. This fast-paced and intriguing story is likely to appeal to both boys and girls. — Cathy Starkweather

Clever Gretchen and Other Forgotten Folktales by Alison Lurie

J Lurie, A. Forget Sleeping Beauty and Snow White! Alison Lurie presents a sample of traditional folktales where the prince doesn’t rescue the princess. There is considerable variety, but I particularly liked “Clever Gretchen” and “Manka and the Judge.” In “Clever Gretchen,” a young man has foolishly signed a contract with the devil in order to win Gretchen for his wife. Seven years later, Gretchen must figure out how to beat the devil at his own game to rescue her husband. In “Manka and the Judge,” a young woman attracts the attention of a young judge with her wisdom as well as her beauty. But he insists that she stay out of courtroom business after they marry. Eventually Manka feels compelled to help someone with his case. How can Manka help this person and save her marriage? If you find the modern versions of fairy tales too sweet for your taste, try these. — Cathy Starkweather

one family and their relationships to each other. There’s Aisha, who’s been showered with love and adoration all her life and plans to marry a rich, white scion of old money. Her plans change when she meets Miles, a business associate of her future father-in-law. Camille is Aisha’s mother, who was an unmarried teenage mother—much to her mother’s dismay— who redeemed herself by marrying a successful lawyer. There’s Geneva, the grandmother, who was attending college and primed to marry the right man, until she met a jazz musician and fell in love. This book clearly gives three generations’ views of life’s expectations for love and personal achievement. Aisha brings them all together through their experiences in life and love. — Priscilla Lewis

Child of a Rainless Year by Jane Lindskold

Fantasy F Lindskold, J. When Mira was 9, her enigmatic mother vanished, and her foster parents, complying with the wishes of her trustees, took her far from Las Vegas, N.M., and Phineas House. Forty years later, prompted by her foster mother’s diaries and her own memories, Mira returned to her childhood home for the first time. She soon found that solving the puzzle of her mother’s disappearance meant solving other puzzles first. Who were these shadowy trustees and why were they really there? Why was her talent for using colors so important? Why were those beautiful kaleidoscopes so carefully hidden? Were the “silent women” ghosts like Paula Angel or something else? Her inheritance, it seems, was strange indeed. — Deb Warner

Distant Lover by Gloria Mallette

F Mallette, G. Meet 37-year-old Tandi Crawford, whose past and present have caused her much pain and pleasure. She can’t forget that her mother died at an early age, that her father was indifferent toward her, or her teenage romance. Tandi’s fantasy of getting together with this man carries her through 20 years of lonely nights and bitter days, since her husband doesn’t seem to notice that he’s lost her.

Tandi vows never to return to her father’s house. But when her marriage fails, she and her son end up there. Tandi is searching for answers to questions that have haunted her all her life – questions about her mother’s death, her father’s emotional distance, her husband’s coldness and her lover’s thirst for her. Through this maze, Tandi finds out secrets that will forever change her life. — Priscilla Lewis

Gil’s All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez

F Martinez, A. All that Duke and Earl wanted when they stopped at the diner was a cup of coffee and maybe some pie. Of course, when they find the woman running the diner being threatened by someone determined to drive her away, it’s only the right thing to do to help a lady out. Same old story, eh? Not exactly. You see, Duke’s a werewolf and Earl’s a vampire. The person doing the threatening is a jailbait sorceress using spells in Pig Latin from The Necronomican (the abridged version). Add to that a grouchy spirit in a Magic 8- Ball, some undead cows, ghouls, zombies and a sheriff who really has about seen it all, and you get a really fun read. — Deb Warner

Rituals of the Season by Margaret Maron

Mystery F Maron, M. Judge Deborah Knott of Colleton County, N.C., is getting married in two weeks to Dwight Bryant, the sheriff ’s deputy who has secretly been in love with her for years. As if she didn’t have enough to do, such as attend a whirl of social engagements and deal with family members who are renovating her house, a courtroom colleague is shot, and two law students ask Deb to help stop the execution of a woman prisoner they believe is innocent. The murder subplot is the weakest part of the book; its strength is its depiction of a loving couple and the relationships of a large family with rural roots in a South that is rapidly disappearing. Maron’s numerous fans won’t want to miss a detail of the long-overdue wedding. — Jean Amelang

monsters and fish the size of houses, and frogs ready to hop over skyscrapers. But even though Arthur signs his paintings with a splat of his tail and the name “Art Dog,” no one knows who Art Dog really is—until there is a theft at the museum and the Mona Woofa is stolen. Then some dog must find out who the thieves are, and Art Dog comes to the rescue. Children will love Art Dog’s Brushmobile and its resemblance to Batman’s Batmobile, and anyone who enjoys art history will be enchanted and amused by Thacher Hurd’s colorful illustrations, which make reference to famous paintings by Seurat, Picasso, Gainsborough, Grant Wood, Matisse, van Gogh, Vermeer, Munch, de Kooning, Pollock, Manet, Hopper and many other world-renowned artists. With wit and a sense of drama, Hurd weaves a story about a dog that loves art and wishes to be as famous as the artists whose works stimulate his fantasies and paintings. Follow the ‘tail’ of Art Dog to find out who stole the Mona, and to see how his dream of becoming a famous artist comes true! — Andrea Riley

Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

J Kadohata, C. 2005 Newbery Medal. The title is explained in the opening paragraph: “My sister, Lynn, taught me my first word: kira-kira. I pronounced it ka-a-ahhh, but she knew what I meant. Kira-kira means ‘glittering’ in Japanese.” The strong love within a Japanese-American family is told from the point of view of younger sister Katie. Personal challenges and family tragedy are set against the oppressive social climate of the South during the 1950s and early 1960s. — Rheda Epstein

Skullduggery by Kathleen Karr

J Karr, K. Skullduggery is a historical fiction novel about a boy named Matthew trying to find a job after his family died from a cholera epidemic. Matthew was

The Planet of Junior Brown by Virginia Hamilton

J Hamilton, V. What if young people decided to truly look out for each other instead of joining violent gangs? Hamilton imagines what could happen in this 1972 Newbery Honor book about two eighth-graders. Buddy Clark is homeless, while Junior Brown lives with his mother; but it is Junior Brown who ends up needing his friend’s help. They have been cutting classes to spend time building a model of the solar system with the help of the janitor. Over time, Buddy senses that something is seriously wrong in Junior Brown’s life and tries to figure out what it is. We end up seeing that being a good friend is a lot like being a hero. — Cathy Starkweather

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

E Henkes, K. 2005 Caldecott Medal. Kitten’s frustration and eventual triumph— emotions familiar to young children—find artistic expression in a meticulously crafted book with classic appeal. Henkes employs boldly outlined organic shapes and shades of black, white and gray, with rose undertones, on creamy paper to tell a simple story of a kitten who mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. The moon, the flowers, the fireflies’ lights and the kitten’s eyes create a comforting circle motif. — Rheda Epstein

Art Dog by Thacher Hurd

E Hurd, T. Arthur Dog works by day as an art museum guard. He likes his job and the famous paintings by Vincent Van Dog, Pablo Poodle and other artists that he is surrounded by. In fact, he can’t decide which painter is his favorite—is it Leonardo Dog Vinci, or Henri Muttisse? Arthur leads a quiet life away from the museum and spends most nights in his little apartment on West 17th St., except when the moon is full. On those nights, Arthur’s appearance changes: he takes out a box he keeps in his closet, puts on a hat and a mask, creeps down his stairs and into an alley, and takes out his PAINTS AND BRUSHES! Arthur paints murals with

Sweet Devotion by Felicia Mason

F Mason, F. Meet Amber Montgomery, who escapes from a bad marriage to a little town called Wayside, Ore., population 17,900. She escapes her life as an abused wife and establishes a new identity in the community as the “cookie lady.” Meet Police chief Paul Evans, who thinks Wayside is a perfect place to raise his orphaned niece and nephew away from his former life in D.C. Chief Evans arrests Amber, thinking she’s part of the commotion going on at a community center. They become instant enemies. When they are thrown together as chaperones, they discover things that they are both trying to escape. They are also forced to confront their fears. They are both placed in a position to save a life and, in doing so, they find the courage and faith to love. This book is very interesting and also takes a serious look at the subject of spousal abuse. — Priscilla Lewis

Skinny-Dipping by Claire Matturro

F Matturro, C. For just plain fun and diversion, try Skinny-Dipping. It’s a light novel of suspense, with a heroine who can be compared (in some ways) to Stephanie Plum. Lilly Cleary is a health-conscious, high-powered attorney who finds herself the target of an inept assassin, possibly because her client is a physician she is defending against a malpractice suit. Lilly is a delightfully wacky character who is surrounded by a cast of other delightfully wacky characters. This book will not tax your brain, but it will be fun. — Kathi Sippen

Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride

F McBride, J. Miracle at St. Anna is James McBride’s first novel. It is a departure from his frank journalistic writing style in The Color of Water and possesses all of the pleasure of magic realism. The cast of characters includes four Buffalo soldiers of the 92nd Division in Italy during World War II, a young Italian boy, the villagers and Germans involved in the war. Let me introduce you to two of the soldiers. 19

Giant draftee Sam Train, hailing from Gilead, N.C., carries around a Florentine marble statue head everywhere he goes, rubbing it like it’s a rabbit’s foot good-luck charm. Train is described as “dumb,” but he struggles with his identity and issues of race, class, invisibility, intellect and love. At one point, he is torn between carrying a dying young boy or the figurehead to safety. Bishop is a preacher from Kansas City whose silky voice is his balm. However, Bishop’s liking or caring about a person is in direct proportion to how much he can use the person. He reaches a turning point toward the end of the novel in a beautiful passage… He (Bishop) understood it all then, who God was, why the mountains were formed, why rivers ran from north to south, why water was blue and not green, the secrets of plants, and his own purpose… As this book states, miracles are the only sure things in life. — Susan Wright

A Heart of Devotion by Tia McCollors

F McCollors, T. This is Ms. McCollors’ debut novel, and she writes with the type of rhythm and pace associated with best-selling authors, not a first-time novelist. She is a native of Greensboro, N.C., and graduated from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a dynamic addition to the Christian fiction market. Anisha Blake is experiencing the Christian singles dating blahs when she meets Tyson Randal, a man of God whom she hopes is the answer to her prayers. The situations that she deals with are very real, easy to understand and very Bible-based. She tells of her struggles in her walk with God, her career and her love life. Her love life takes her away from serving God, and she leans on her sisters for strength. This book does not leave out the struggles that Christian singles face on a daily basis, nor does it deny the fact that we are all human. — Priscilla Lewis

none was more exciting than Pirates of the Seven Seas. Unfortunately, I was always relegated to the role of damsel in distress or worse—the nurse who bandaged the hero. Often I tied the bandages too tight to give them their just desserts. For this reason and more, my heart leapt when I saw the front cover of The Pirate Meets the Queen, as it leaves no doubt that the swashbuckling hero of this tale is none other than a fierce, strong and independent woman by the name of Granuaile, who is affectionately referred to as Granny O’Malley. This old London tale chronicles the life and times of Granny O’Malley, from birth to ship captain, and covers her fond relationship with one-time foe, yet lifelong friend, Queen Eliazabeth, called Red Liz due to the color of her hair. The two meet under less-thanfavorable terms (Granny as a Pirate and Red Liz as the owner of the ships being pirated). Upon the capture of Granny’s son Toby, the two titans realize that they have more in common than they knew, and a fast friendship is forged, enduring throughout their lives. Everyone will love this book; however, it is a must-read for strong, independent girls and (old) ladies like me with a little bit of tomboy still left in them. — Anna Cromwell

One Magical Morning by Claire Freedman and Louise Ho

E Freedman, C. Young children will thoroughly enjoy this fascinating journey with Little Bear and his mommy as they stroll casually through the shadowy woods. Along the way, they meet and greet voles, moles, mice, squirrels and other woodland creatures as they awake with the rising of the beautiful morning sun. Sometimes, Little Bear stops long enough to play with friends or just to admire the beautiful pictures painted by Mother Nature. The author’s use of easy-flowing rhymes is quite effective and will keep kids completely engaged. In addition, readers will be magically drawn into the story through the soft pastel hues in the charming, full-page illustrations. This truly enthralling offering is perfect for a day-care morning circle time or a Saturday morning read, as children slowly awake to face a new day. — Karlene Fyffe

Despereaux. Because of his love for a human child, Despereaux has proved to be a disappointment and a disgrace to his family. However, through that love he is able to endure much and to conquer all, ultimately becoming a hero not only to the mouse community but to mankind as well. Despereaux does this by saving a little princess from certain death as the rat king plots her demise. Throughout her novel, Kate DiCamillo takes us on a roller-coaster ride of emotions from heart-wrenching lows to spine-tingling highs. She has sprinkled her work with a host of wonderful characters such as Chiaroscuro, a villain whose antics will be remembered long after the book is closed, and Despereaux, whose character is so multifaceted that he is absolutely indescribable. Therefore, you will simply have to meet him for yourself. I promise that, just as I did, you will fall in love with this little mouse and with the The Tale of Despereaux. Check it out today. — Anna Cromwell

Evangeline Mudd and the Golden Haired Apes of the Ikkinasti Jungle by David Elliott J Elliott, D. In this delightfully silly book, Evangeline’s scientist parents have raised her much as the Golden Haired Apes raise their young. When her parents leave her with her cousin to go off to the Ikkinasti Jungle, Evangeline is unprepared. Her cousin raises minks for their fur. Because of this, Evangeline becomes acquainted with animal rights protestors. She tries to hold on until her parents return. When they don’t show up, Evangeline must go to their rescue. In the Ikkinasti Jungle, Evangeline encounters a headhunter, gets kidnapped and faces someone who wants to destroy the jungle. Elliott has succeeded in presenting an environmental message in a light and funny manner. — Cathy Starkweather

The Pirate Meets The Queen by Matt Faulkner

E Faulkner, M. As a young girl growing up in eastern North Carolina, I was a confessed tomboy—running, jumping, climbing and doing my level best to keep up with my brothers. The games they played were the games I loved, and

Saturday by Ian McEwan

F McEwan, I. This stream-of-consciousness novel takes a daylong and intense look at the life of London neurosurgeon Henry Perowne. Perowne is highly skilled at his work and completely satisfied with his equally talented family—lawyer wife, poet daughter and musician son. What happens during one day—a Saturday in February 2003 when a huge protest march against the impending war in Iraq occurs—will have a powerful impact on Perowne and on the reader of this mesmerizing, profound novel. — Nancy Blood

The Interruption of Everything by Terry McMillan

F McMillan, T. It was hard for me to get into this book originally, but once I got involved it was a good read. The main character in this book is Marilyn Grimes, a 44-year-old woman who has apparently had it with her husband; her live-in mother-in-law and her dog; her selfish children; a mother who is showing the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s; a foster sister with a drug habit; and her hot flashes. Marilyn has spent her whole life taking care of everyone else. Now a 40something-year-old homemaker whose children have left home and whose husband is a workaholic, she can’t quite enjoy her new phase of life. Marilyn struggles to reclaim her life, dreams and passions. There are many themes in this novel, including the care of older parents and a marriage that could be on the brink of divorce. — Priscilla Lewis

The Lady of Cawnpore by Elisabeth McNeill

F McNeill, E. India, 1857 through 1919—this historical novel places the reader in the midst of Indian/British hostilities. In 1857, Emily Maynard witnessed the slaughter of her sister and 200 other British women and children. The only survivors were her young nephew, his ayah and herself. Sixty-two years later, Emily is treated by a young British doctor with whom she shares her

life story. With engaging characters and authentic historical detail, McNeill’s novel makes enthralling reading for fans of historical novels and romance. — Kathi Sippen

The result? P.S. Longer Letter Later, a novel written in letters with each famous author taking the voice of one of the teen girls. If you know these two authors, you’ll be surprised at who takes which character.

Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran

F Mehran, M. Take three sisters who escape from the Iranian Revolution and place them several years later in a small Irish town where they open a café. The result is a good story. The sisters are haunted by their pasts, but a number of the townspeople have unexpected pasts, also, and these are revealed as the story unfolds. The recipes that begin each chapter are woven into the story, as the sisters struggle to find a place to settle and to call home. — Carol Passmore

How would you navigate the tumultuous teen years if your very best friend in the entire world suddenly moved away? Just because your parents found jobs in another state is no excuse to leave your best friend alone! How do these friends cope with moving, new siblings, changing parental attitudes, loss of jobs, and boys? By writing and writing and writing one another; by falling in and out of friendship; and by remaining friends no matter what. Try both short novels for a great insight into how friends of any age can help one another through all of life’s troubles, even boys! — Carol Exner

Abundant Rain by Vanessa Miller

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

F Miller, V. This is the second novel in a series by this new author. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book by this author and couldn’t wait to read the sequel. I was not disappointed. In this novel, Miller tells of a family that deals with years of grief over the loss of a loved one whose body is never recovered. The Underwoods visit New York for their wedding anniversary. Kenneth Underwood is in one of the World Trade Center towers when it falls on September 11th. As Elizabeth searches for him, the angels send a guard to protect him from the demons that have been sent to destroy him. Even though Elizabeth needs to give her attention to their two daughters, she never fully recovers emotionally from her loss. Elizabeth pursues her singing career in Gospel, learning to trust in God, whom she feels let her down. Years later, Kenneth returns injured, physically and mentally, but with a new lease on life. This book sheds light on the term “spiritual warfare.” Abundant Rain deals with real life issues and brings Christianity “home.” — Priscilla Lewis

J DiCamillo, K. What a great story! A girl, new in town, adopts a dog and watches her whole life change … because of Winn-Dixie. Things don’t seem to be going well for India Opal, the daughter of a minister at a small church in a small Florida town. Opal has no friends. “The Preacher,” as she calls her dad, is a serious, well-educated man, whom Opal likens to a turtle stuck inside its shell. Once Winn-Dixie enters their lives, however, things are never the same again. Their lives open up, friends appear, and their community is revitalized through the magical love of a shaggy mutt: Winn-Dixie. — Carol Exner

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

by Kate DiCamillo J DiCamillo, K. If you are already wild about Kate DiCamillo after reading her previous titles, Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tiger Rising, then you will become a diehard fan after reading what— for me— is her greatest work, The Tale of Despereaux. This tale of fantasy fiction introduces us to the trials, tribulations and ultimate triumph of the main character presented to us in the form of a shy and timid, yet socially conscious, mouse named 43

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

J Choldenko, G. 2005 Newbery Honor Book. A 12-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935, when guards’ families were housed there. The extraordinary environment proves challenging to Moose, as does living with a sister who is autistic. The warden’s bossy daughter, Piper, hatches a scheme to make money from classmates. (‘Once in a lifetime opportunity! Get your clothes laundered by Al Capone and other world-famous public enemies!... Only costs 5 cents’) and forces Moose to help her. — Rheda Epstein

Don’t Need Friends by Carolyn Crimi; illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

E Crimi, C. This beautifully illustrated book will warm the hearts of parents and children. The story starts out with Rat’s best friend, Possum, moving away to another junkyard, leaving Rat behind. Rat is very disappointed and decides that he doesn’t need friends. “Don’t need friends, don’t need ‘em at all,” he grumbles. He spends his days grumbling to himself and sneering at the other animals. Eventually all the animals stop greeting him. And, of course, this is fine with Rat, since he doesn’t need friends…doesn’t need ‘em at all… One day a new, grumpy, junkyard dog moves in beside Rat, and the two constantly fuss at each other until one cold winter morning when things begin to change. Check out this book to find out how cold temperatures and a foot-long salami sandwich lead to the creation of a beautiful friendship between Rat and Dog, the two grumpiest junkyard animals. — Karlene Fyffe

P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More by Paula Danziger and Anne M. Martin

J Danziger, P. These two famous children’s authors are also best friends. By chance, they began writing to one another as if they were writing a continuing story.

Former Rain by Vanessa Miller

F Miller, V. This is Vanessa Miller’s debut novel. In this novel, she writes about two couples, Elizabeth and Kenneth Underwood and Nina Lewis and Isaac Walker, whose lives are spinning out of control. Elizabeth and Kenneth have been married for five years, and although they have two lovely daughters, their marriage is anything but perfect. Nina is the girlfriend of Isaac, a heartless, cold drug dealer. When she tries to escape their lifestyle, Isaac is determined not to let her go. Elizabeth is hurt because Kenneth is caught cheating on her. In this story, both couples hit road bumps, but will they allow God to make a difference in their lives? Nina and Elizabeth meet at church and become friends. Nina helps Elizabeth come to terms with her situation with Kenneth and guides her with advice and the Word. Vanessa tells a dynamic story of how people react when they are hurt and bitter. However, once Miller introduces God into the lives of these characters, her fiction takes a backseat to sermons, Bible lessons and scriptures. This novel will have you laughing, crying and cheering. — Priscilla Lewis

Grown Folks Business by Victoria Christopher Murray

F Murray, V. This is a heart-wrenching story of a woman’s loss, pain and sorrow, brought about by the one person who promised to love and protect her. It’s a story of forgiveness and love, and how faith and trust in God can get someone through even the darkest times. Sheridan Hart, a Christian, had it all—a successful business, two smart children and a fine husband who was a doctor. One day, her husband comes home and delivers some devastating news that changes her life forever. Now, Sheridan must take a good look at herself. She has to break the news to her children, family, friends and church members. She knows what the Word says she should do, but she still finds it difficult to take the Christian route. She is then forced to rely heavily on her faith through prayer and the scriptures to get her through the storms of life.

This novel will make you laugh and cry at the same time. Victoria Christopher Murray is one of my favorite authors. — Priscilla Lewis

Ladies Coupe by Anita Nair

F Nair, A. Akhila is 45 and single, an income-tax clerk, and a woman who has always been the backbone of her impossibly demanding family – until the day she gets herself a one-way ticket to a resort town on the ocean. In the intimate atmosphere of the all-women sleeping car—the Ladies Coupe—the women share their lives, their loves, their heartaches and their triumphs. The women have very different backgrounds, but they have in common the dilemmas women face in their relationships with husbands, mothers, friends, employers and children. From her interactions with the women in the coupe, Akhila is able to come to some decisions about her life. — Kathi Sippen

For Love & Grace by Kendra Norman-Bellamy

F Norman-Bellamy, K. It’s been a long time since I have shed as many tears as I did over this book. In her debut novel, Kendra delivers a heartwarming love story that touches on true love, true friendship and, most importantly, true faith. Dr. Gregory Dixon and Attorney Derrick Madison are best friends and have been since they were young. Derrick loses his mother in a tragic car accident, and this begins the test of his friendship with Gregory and his struggle with faith. Gregory is a doctor who has the gift of healing and is everything any woman would want in a man. If you could bottle him up and sell him, you would be rich. Little did he know that he would help to heal the woman who would hold the key to this heart. Grace is a beautiful woman who has a near-death experience that leads her to Gregory’s arms. Gregory’s doctor/patient relationship turns into a deep, abiding love for Grace as he nurses her back to health. Derrick is very bitter. He believes that Grace is the woman who hit his mother and wishes she would die. It

Juvenile Fiction Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent van Gogh E Anholt, L. by Laurence Anholt This delicately illustrated book is based on an actual encounter between Vincent van Gogh and the Roulins family. When van Gogh moves to Arles, he is befriended by a boy named Camille. Vincent is poor, and Camille’s father, the town postman, helps the artist with gifts of furniture and household implements. Camille’s gift to Vincent is a huge bunch of sunflowers picked from the fields surrounding the village. Vincent wants to paint a picture of Camille’s father, and eventually paints all the members of Camille’s family, including Camille! Camille has never had a picture of himself, and he is very excited. He loves Vincent’s paintings— with their bright colors and strong smell of paint—and he can’t understand why no one else in the town likes Vincent’s paintings, and why no one wants to buy any of them. Camille’s father tells him that although people often laugh at things that are different, they may one day learn to love Vincent’s paintings. Anholt captures the sunshine and vibrancy found in van Gogh’s works, and he conjures up the beautiful landscapes and surroundings that van Gogh painted while staying in Arles. The illustrations include reproductions of some of the artist’s most famous paintings—those of Camille’s family, the Roulins, and of the sunflowers—and refer to other van Gogh paintings: The Starry Night, The Bedroom and Field of Arles. This is a gentle and touching introduction to Vincent van Gogh’s life and his paintings. It presents a true picture of the poverty and isolation in which he lived, and yet shows his responsiveness to the kindness and support the Roulins gave him when he was a poor and struggling artist. — Andrea Riley 41

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

YAF Westerfeld, S. In the mood for an exciting romp through the seedy underbelly of New York? Peeps by Scott Westerfeld is the story of Cal Thompson, former college freshman, current vampire hunter. Through a one-night encounter, Cal has become a carrier, compelled to hunt down the girlfriends he has infected (“parasite positives,” or “peeps”) and the evasive woman who infected him. With an almost entirely new take on vampires and vampire hunters, Westerfeld presents a believable and resonant protagonist, one who suffers from meat cravings and self-imposed celibacy. Cal tracks the peeps through the streets, alleyways, basements, and rooftops of New York, trying to get them treatment before they infect others. But there’s something about the parasite that Cal doesn’t know . . . Peeps is witty and fast-paced and takes a quirky new look at vampirism. This young adult novel is a fast, fun read. — Lisa L. Dendy

will take God’s grace to help these characters understand one another and discover the truth about the tragic death of a loved one. This is a very upbeat, motivating novel. — Priscilla Lewis

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

F Picoult, J. “Ross Wakeman succeeded the first time he killed himself, but not the second or the third.” Think that’s a doozy of a first sentence? Here’s the end of the first section: “But just as Ross knew that in eight hours, the sun would come up—just as he knew that he’d have to go through the motions for another day—he also knew he couldn’t die, in spite of the fact that it was what he wanted, more than anything.” Picoult’s engaging and gritty narrative keeps this story of grief and love across generations tied to the realm of reality, despite ghosts and clairvoyants. Ross’ personal story soon collides with Comtosook, Vermont’s tragic history of eugenics and a modern-day battle for land between developers and a local Native American tribe. And fate weaves many more lives into this haunting tale. This novel holds so much more story than I can cover in this blurb! This novel defies classification as a ghost story or historical fiction or a mystery. Picoult’s writing carries you through heart-throbbing pain and redemption. — Mary Bryson

Strange Itineraries by Tim Powers

Fantasy F Powers, T. This slim volume of nine stories is the totality of Tim Powers’ short fiction. This is a shame, because he demonstrates a real talent for the shorter format. Powers is very good at creating the unified tone that holds a short story together. Since these are mostly ghost stories, that tone is one of nostalgic regret. All the stories are set in Southern California, most of them when the Santa Ana winds are blowing. It’s a very moody collection. Three of these stories are co-written with James P. Blaylock, and two of

them—“We Traverse Afar” and “The Better Boy”—can be found in Blaylock’s collection 13 Phantasms. — Chuck Ebert

The Best-Kept Secret by Kimberla Lawson Roby

moved by the way Lucien got to (was forced to) watch his family and friends back in London deal with his illness. Again, a fun read for adults and teens ages 12 and up. — Sandy Sweitzer

F Roby, K. Well, Kimberla is back with her tale of the Rev. Curtis Black. In the previous two novels, Casting the First Stone and Too Much of a Good Thing, readers met one of the cleverest preachers. Now Curtis is starting over with a new job, a new wife and a will to follow the straight and narrow. I think Curtis has met his match in his new wife, 15 years his junior, who didn’t bargain on a middle class life when she married him because he was a high roller in the past.

Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler

Curtis tried hard to stay on the straight and narrow, but his wife, Charlotte, has learned a few tricks of her own from her husband and has an affair with Curtis’ best friend, Aaron. Curtis has no clue and thinks Charlotte is just tired all the time. Little does Charlotte know that Aaron has a history of mental illness; thus the drama begins. When it appears that life is getting back to normal for the Blacks and they seem to want their marriage to work, Roby throws in a surprise ending that leaves readers breathless. — Priscilla Lewis

Hopeless Savages Vol. 1 by Jen Van Meter; artists Christine Norrie and Chynna Clugston-Major

Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell

F Russell, M. Russell sets this richly researched historical novel in the small mountain villages of northwestern Italy, where during the last months of World War II thousands of Jewish refugees were harbored and saved. Filled with characters of all types—Catholics and Jews, Germans and Italians, old and young, Nazi and Resistance fighters—this novel explores both the inhumanity of war and the resilience—and grace—of people. — Nancy Blood

Pretty Birds by Scott Simon

F Simon, S. This novel takes an unflinching look at the siege of Sarajevo in 1992

YAF Mackler, C. Mara Valentine’s senior year is set: 1)Win valedictorian over her old flame Travis. 2)Take college classes in the afternoons. 3)Work at the coffeehouse on weekends. 4)Avoid meat, dairy and eggs. The arrival of Mara’s wildchild niece, V, introduces chaos to this closed system. Will Mara bust out under V’s influence, or merely crack? — Autumn Winters

YAF Van Meter, J. This stylish, manga-influenenced graphic novel takes up the case of Dirk and Nikki Hopeless-Savage, two 1977-era punk rockers who are now known as Mum and Dad. When a dark part of their past looms back into the picture, it’s up to their kids to save the day. Rat, Arsenal, Twitch and especially young filmmaker Zero are more than up to the task. — Autumn Winters

Dragon’s Bait by Vivian Vande Velde

YAF Vande Velde, V. Vande Velde has tackled the topic of desire for revenge in a fantasy setting. Some villagers have lied about Alys in order to take her property from her. She vows revenge against the entire village for not coming to her defense. A dragon agrees to help her, but forces her to make each decision herself. Vande Velde explores the girl’s feelings during the whole process. The parallels to those teens who have killed their teachers and classmates after being bullied are there, but not in an intrusive way. I do recommend this, but it is not for younger children. — Cathy Starkweather

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier

YAF Desai Hidier, T. Dimple Lala is an ABCD — American Born Confused Desi. In other words, she’s the 15-year-old daughter of East Indian immigrants, caught on the line between hip hop and Bollywood. Her best friend, Gwyn, is a beautiful blond glamourpuss sweetheart. The two girls rule their New Jersey neighborhood as supertwins until they meet Karsh, a “suitable Indian boy” DJ. Not only is this YA novel a skilled examination of cultural identity, appropriation and assimilation, it’s a wildly satisfying romance. The author’s lyrical, but easy-to-read writing style only adds to the plot’s natural pep. Not to mention the spot-on teen slang—Oh Claude, this book is frocking great! — Autumn Winters

Better Than Running At Night by Hillary Frank

YAF Frank, H. Ellie Yelinsky has never really had a boyfriend before, so it’s kind of confusing to end up making out with Nate during the first week of classes at the New England College of Art and Design. There are so many weird people around anyway, like Sam the shy stoner and fashion-obsessed Ralph. Nate isn’t exactly comprehensible either, with his rib cage tattoo and snow-mouthed kisses. This is the quiet, powerful story of a former loner/former Goth/former teen creating a space for herself in the world. — Autumn Winters

Stravaganza: City of Masks by Mary Hoffman

YAF Hoffman, M. The first in a trilogy, this story is about a teen stricken with brain cancer who travels between two worlds. It will remind some readers of Harry Potter, since Lucien stravagates (travels) between modern-day London and an enchanting 16th-century Venice-like city called Bellezza. While he is dying in one world, he is vibrant and healthy in Bellezza, where he gets caught up in the royal intrigue and power struggles. In the sequels, Lucien travels more widely through Talia, which is sort of a parallel universe to Italy. I loved the way the two countries are similar and different, and was

through the eyes of its teenage protagonist, Irena Ravic. With startling detail and dark humor, NPR journalist and author Scott Simon exposes the violence and terror of “ethnic cleansing” and the devastations of war. A gripping read, filled with humanity and compassion. — Nancy Blood

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

F Sittenfeld, C. Prep is a fantastic read, even if you hate snobs. Lee Fiora, a Midwestern scholarship girl, makes her way through Ault, an exclusive Massachusetts boarding school. Sittenfeld deftly evokes moments familiar to anyone who ever lived on any campus: the thin, promising shadow of a letter in your mailbox; the loneliness of Saturday night; canned soup heated on a dorm stove; the awkwardness of a restaurant meal with your roommate’s parents. She balances unsentimental observation with a certain sense of wistfulness and tons of delightfully excruciating social angst. — Autumn Winters

Delicious by Mark Haskell Smith

F Smith, M. Start with the exotic simmering warmth of Honolulu. Take two ruthless and hot-headed businessmen battling over a catering contract. Add a young man with a passion for traditional Hawaiian cooking, a lovelorn movie rep, his New Age assistant and a lovestruck pimp. Stir in assorted friends, relatives, lap dancers and teamsters, and spice with two “wannabe” contract killers and one seasoned pro. Relax and enjoy. — Deb Warner

When Everything’s Said & Done by Eboni Snoe

F Snoe, E. This story is told through the eyes of a 100-year-old woman named Nebia, who is full of wisdom. It involves the Robinson family, especially the Robinson sisters, who were raised by their mother. Brenda, the oldest, is the practical one; Cora is the wild child; and Annette, the youngest, is God-fearing and innocent. The sisters are close until

Michael moves into their rental house upstairs. He is a college classmate of Brenda’s, who secretly has a crush on him, but her sister Annette falls madly for him. These three sisters fall for the same man over the course of time. This story is full of jealousy, love, heart, losing family ties and working your way back. A great heartwarming, page-turner novel, with a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. — Priscilla Lewis

Young Adult Fiction

Blankets by Craig Thompson, writer and artist

When Lightning Strikes by Jenny Carroll (Meg Cabot)

F Thompson C. Blankets is the story of the comic book artist as a young man. Thompson uses 300+ pages of elegant black-and-white drawings to tell the story of his first girlfriend. It’s a very tender book, perhaps even emo. Don’t read it if you’re grumpy or you hate couples at the moment. Do read it if you are now or ever have been in love—especially if it was the 1990s at the time. — Autumn Winters

The Preacher’s Son by Carl Weber

F Weber, C. Bishop T.K. Wilson, a popular pastor of the largest black church in Queens, N.Y., has decided to run for borough president. His wife and two children appear to be shining examples of respectability in their community. The kids are actually the same as any other young adults, and their parents have no idea what is going on. Dante, the bishop’s son, is expected to assume his father’s position someday. The problem is, Dante wants to be a lawyer. He has also met the woman of his dreams, but she is his parents’ worst nightmare. Donna, Dante’s younger sister, is sweet, but she is not what everyone, including her father, thinks she is. She gets involved with another man of God, and that’s only the beginning. As this story unfolds, with its many surprises, we find out that even Bishop

YAF Carroll, J. Jess Mastriani is not exactly your normal teen before she gets struck by lightning. Although only 5 feet 2 inches tall, she has a tendency to beat up on football players who mock her mentally ill brother or her large best friend. She becomes even more unusual after the lightning strikes. Now she wakes up knowing where missing children are. Not wanting to be studied by scientists, she anonymously phones in the locations to the 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU hotline. Soon, however, the FBI becomes interested in her talent, and Jess finds her life spinning out of control. This book is very different from, and funnier than, the Lifetime TV show Missing, which is loosely based on it. — Cathy Starkweather

Boy Proof by Cecil Castellucci

YAF Castellucci, C. Her mom is a star. Her dad is a special effects wizard. But Victoria “Egg” Denton is just a misfit. Nobody ever understands what she’s talking about, not even her fellow members of the Melrose Prep Science Fiction and Fantasy Club. So she mostly keeps to herself, hiding behind movie quotes and extreme snarkiness. Then, the Latin-spouting, ankh- tattooed, highly annoying Max Carter shows up in AP English. He might be the Neo to her Trinity, or he might be just another idiot. It’s hard to say… At any rate, this book is no typical teen romance! — Autumn Winters

Hell Bent for Leather: Confessions of a Heavy Metal Addict by Seb Hunter B Hunter, S. Failed Brit metalhead Seb Hunter gives readers a fan’s take on all things metal, as he relates his personal journey toward rock and roll mediocrity. Filled with cringeworthy tales of big hair, spandex and dodgy gigs, this autobiography plays like a particularly witty VH1 special. — Autumn Winters

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride B McBride, J. I actually read the book three years ago during our terrible ice storm. We had no electricity for five days, but I read the book with a flashlight at night and sat in my car during the day and read. I simply love this book. It is addictive reading. I particularly liked the way the author wrote every other chapter telling his mother’s story, and the chapters in between telling his own. I have to admit that sometimes I skipped chapters to read Ruth’s story, then went back to read James’. It was like watching the big screen with an inset picture telling another story.

Wilson has some skeletons in his closet. His family members are forced to face all their issues, and they discover what family is really all about. A good read. — Priscilla Lewis

The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny

Fantasy F Zelazny, R. The Guns of Avalon follows Corwin, Prince of Amber, after he escapes from his dungeon prison and plans an assault on his brother Eric, who crowned himself. Corwin encounters his royal brothers and sisters and one of his former officers during his journey back to Amber. Along the way, he also confronts the beasts from the dark road, the result of the curse he put on Eric while he was blinded and imprisoned. Corwin travels through Shadow, battling evil beasts and laying plans to seize the throne; meanwhile, the creatures from the dark road have plans of their own. The Guns of Avalon, the second book in Roger Zelazny’s Amber series, remains a classic work of fantasy more than 30 years after it was published. — Lisa L. Dendy

I admire his mother because she is truly a very, very strong woman. She was determined, and she was so brave. She treaded waters that people still won’t look at. I described her as a shock absorber and a true example of faith. I admire James McBride for his persistence in getting the story from his mother and then delivering it to us. The book is beautifully written. For all readers and nonreaders, this is a very good book. If you start to read it, you can’t put it down. This a real story that shows people who have no idea how some people actually live that what you see is not necessarily what it is. Translated, the family would have seemed like some strange brood to outsiders, but they all went on to become very successful adults in spite of all of the odds against them. I just love this book. — Faye Brandon

Nonfiction Take the Fight Out of Food: How to Prevent and Solve Your Child’s Eating Problems by Donna Fish

618.928 Fish Worried about a picky eater? Mrs. Fish, a licensed social worker specializing in eating disorders, has provided an easy-to-read guide for parents to teach their child how to eat in a “rational, enjoyable and healthy way.” This book is packed with sensible advice for parents and grandparents. It is recommended as “a must read for every busy family struggling with mealtimes.” — Carolyn Robinson

The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by Stephen Jay Gould

576.8 Gould It took me three years, but I finally got through this one. Of course, a lot of that time was spent eyeing it on my “To Read” shelf and thinking, “that is an awfully thick book.” Not only is it more than 1,300 pages, but the type is also very small and the writing is technical. It’s not quite at the level of a full-blown scientific treatise, but it’s definitely aimed at someone smarter than I am. This is Gould’s Origin of the Species: his notion that for most of a species’ existence, it doesn’t change much, if at all. He and others claim that the change from one species to another occurs when the environment changes, and then it happens relatively fast, i.e. tens of thousands of years, instead of hundreds of millions. This idea was first introduced in the ‘80s. It and several side issues stemming from it have provided themes for a good many of Gould’s essays since then, so this book serves as a good summation of his writing career. So, did he prove his point? To tell you the truth, I’m not qualified to judge. I’ve read everything Gould has written for the general reader, but I’ve never read anything from the other side. Gould’s ideas make sense to me, but so might the competing arguments if I bothered to read them. But right now, I’m tired. — Chuck Ebert

Biography Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, and How Baseball Got Big by Jose Canseco B Canseco, J. According to the Amazon.com review of Juiced, this book was “touted as a Ball Four for the new millennium.” While Canseco’s book is indeed a tell-all in the tradition of Jim Bouton’s Ball Four, it is a far cry from Bouton’s 1970 classic. Canseco lists numbers of professional baseball players that he claims use, or have used, steroids and points out that he was responsible for introducing many of these players to his steroid regimen. He is a huge proponent of steroid use and believes he was blackballed because of his stance, while Mark McGwire’s use was ignored because he was an AllAmerican white guy. But this memoir is not only a tale of widespread steroid use by major league baseball players and tacit acceptance by major league owners and commissioners. It is also the story of a hard-working Cuban boy who persevered through adversity—a young man who, despite prejudice and through performance-enhancing drugs and disciplined workouts, rose to the top of his profession. However, this unevenlywritten book leaves doubts as to the author’s credibility. Whether entirely truthful or not, this book has created a tear in the fabric of major league baseball and has negatively affected the careers of most, if not all, of the players named. Still, Canseco does provide a look into a side of professional baseball that we haven’t seen since Ball Four and its sequel, I’m Glad You Didn’t Take it Personally, and some insights into one of the most interesting characters in baseball since Jim Bouton. Recommended for all baseball fans. — Lisa L. Dendy

crystallizes during or after adolescence. That explains why we often see good friends of different races mixing together in preschool and elementary settings, but not as much later on. This was an enlightening book for me, as a Caucasian, to begin to explore and understand that all of us have a racial identity and that we must strive to affirm it as well as to embrace others. Dr. Tatum prepares us to talk about race and racial identity across racial lines as adults. Some topics include white privilege, negative stereotypes, and identity development in multiracial families. I recommend this book as an excellent accompaniment to the first Durham Reads Together title, The Color of Water. — Susan Wright

Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend by Mitchell Zuckoff 364.163 Zuckoff In 1920, Charles Ponzi became a multimillionaire and then an inmate by promising thousands of clients a 50% profit in 45 days. While convincing them he was dealing in international postal coupons, he was robbing Peter to pay Paul. The adage “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” is forgotten in the wake of slick talk, greed and gullibility. Government investigators, newspaper reporters chasing the story, failing banks and a beautiful wife make the story seem contemporary. Ponzi’s name lives on. — Barbara Branson

Our Separate Ways: Women and the Black Freedom Movement in Durham, North Carolina by Christina Greene 323.119 Greene If you want to know about the post-World War II Civil Rights Movement in Durham, read this book. Although it focuses on women’s involvement, all the major players and big events are included. Author Christina Greene lived in Durham for 12 years, where she directed the Duke-UNC Center for Research on Women, worked for the Institute for Southern Studies, and earned a doctorate in history from Duke University. Based on her dissertation research, Our Separate Ways is an in-depth study of how several generations of black and white women, low-income as well as more affluent, shaped the struggle for civil rights in Durham. — Lynn Richardson

Losing Malcolm: A Mother’s Journey Through Grief 155.937 Henderson by Carol Henderson Losing Malcolm: A Mother’s Journey Through Grief is a beautiful but heartwrenching tale of a mother’s joy, worry, grief, and recovery upon the birth, short life, and death of her first child. Written by Chapel Hill columnist and author Carol Henderson, Losing Malcolm deals with the real issues faced by a grieving mother: loss, helplessness, depression, jealousy and fear, in a straightforward manner. This touching memoir is recommended for anyone dealing with grief. — Lisa L. Dendy

Among Flowers: A Walk in the Himalayas by Jamaica Kincaid

915.496 Kincaid This book recounts Kincaid’s trip to the Himalayas to gather seeds, but in truth it is more. With long sentences, long paragraphs and long chapters, a very skilled writer transports readers with the story of what she did on her summer vacation. Walking, eating and sleeping get equal time. Leeches and Maoists are both threats as is the weather, from time to time. Some seeds are gathered (with no comment regarding the risk of importing invasive species of plants). I found this book entrancing. — Carol Passmore

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. by Steven D. Levitt

330 Levitt There is nothing about the gross domestic product or stock markets or business cycles in this book. Levitt looks at things differently and asks different questions. So if you want to know why drug dealers live with their mothers or how the Ku Klux Klan is like a group of real estate agents, this is the book to read. I was most fascinated by his consideration of what parents name their children and how the name chosen affects, or does not affect, the future of the child. — Carol Passmore

A Child’s Delight by Noel Perrin

823.009 Perrin This collection of articles by Perrin looks at children’s books that he considers neglected classics. When I saw that he included some of my favorites (e.g. Dogsbody, The Railway Children, I Capture the Castle and Mistress Masham’s Repose), I decided to read this in the hopes of finding new favorites. And I did. While explaining why he considers each book a classic, he will tempt you to go read it. I recommend that you do. — Cathy Starkweather

Is This Your Child?: Discovering and Treating Unrecognized Allergies in Children and Adults by Doris J. Rapp 618.929 RAPP This book is very helpful to parents in determining whether or not their children have an unusual form of allergy. The topics covered include what is an allergy, and how to detect and treat allergies. It also includes an extensive appendix and bibliography of relevant sources of food allergenic substances, case histories, organizations, books, tapes and a list of environmental medicine specialists. — Carolyn Robinson

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die by Steven J. Schneider, editor

791.437 One This book is impossible to resist. It’s a cleverly designed, invitingly fat collection of movies that might change your life. The 1001 movies include silent films, genre classics, foreign films and the best blockbusters. They’re arranged chronologically, so it’s easy to see the progression of genres or national cinemas. Really. If you’ve had enough of Ebert, and Kael has grown cold, this is the next logical step. — Autumn Winters

An Exaltation of Soups: The Soul-satisfying Story of Soup, as Told in More Than 100 Recipes by Patricia Solley 641.813 Solley If you are person who reads cookbooks, you’ll like this. If you are not, this is a great place to start. Solley includes history, poetry, riddles and more around her chapters on soups for birth, for marriage, for weight loss, for hangovers, etc. She also does recipes for various religious holidays, and these are drawn from around the world. I picked a handful of recipes I might actually make. Topping my list of soups I will never make is a Russian soup for curing a hangover called rassol’nik, or Kidney (that’s the organ meat, not the bean) Pickle soup. — Carol Passmore

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: and Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum 305.8 Tatum Just as in numerous middle and high schools throughout Durham County, parents, teachers, and school staff throughout the U.S. have asked themselves why black and white students group themselves in isolated clusters even in racially diverse settings. In numerous recommended nonfiction book lists, I have come across Beverly Tatum’s explanations of the development of racial identity. Dr. Tatum, with a Ph.D. in psychology, lays out the facts that racial identity (whether for blacks, whites, Latinos, Asians or Native Americans)