July 15, 2022: Volume XC, No. 14

Featuring 332 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children's and YA books

KIRKUS VOL. XC, NO.

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REVIEWS Jason Reynolds & Jason Griffin The acclaimed author and the artist, longtime friends, discuss their creative collaboration

Also in the issue: K-Ming Chang, Isaac Fitzgerald, and Pablo Cartaya

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK | Tom Beer

vacation reads

Chairman H E R B E RT S I M O N President & Publisher M A RC W I N K E L M A N

John Paraskevas

As I write this, I’m busy planning a vacation to Maine—a vacation that I will already be enjoying by the time you read this. There are so many factors to consider—car rental, restaurant reservations, day trips, wardrobe, etc. But perhaps the most important is: What am I going to read?

This is one of those occasions when I’m glad to own an e-reader. Don’t get me wrong: I’ll always favor a physical book over a digital one; nothing compares with the sensory pleasure of holding that objet d’art and turning its pages. But when I’m on the road? I’m perfectly content to stock my iPad with e-books for every reading contingency. After all, you never know whether you’ll be in the mood for a smart, adrenaline-boosted thriller— Denise Mina’s Confidence (Mulholland Books/Little, Brown, July 5) looks like a good candidate—or a work of nonfiction that illuminates a fascinating person or period—in which case, Damien Lewis’ Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy (Public Affairs, July 12) offers revelations about entertainer Josephine Baker’s exploits during World War II. If I haven’t gotten to it before my vacation, I’ll definitely be reading All Down Darkness Wide (Penguin Press, July 12), a memoir by poet Séan Hewitt. Hewitt writes about struggles with his sexuality growing up in 1990s and early 2000s England and about the post-university relationship that was deeply challenged by his partner’s mental health issues. In a starred review, our critic calls it a “profoundly moving meditation on queer identity, mental illness, and the fragility of life.” OK, that doesn’t exactly sound like escapist beach-blanket fare—but I’m a strong believer that we should read the kinds of books we love all year round, whether on vacation or not. I’m always engaged by queer memoir, and this one sounds unmissable.

A great vacation read is also one that will keep me occupied—and engaged—all week long. (The right book will have me getting up early to read; quite an accomplishment when the temptation to sleep late is nearly irresistible.) A biography always does the trick. James Gavin’s George Michael: A Life (Abrams, June 28) promises more than 500 pages of pop-culture heaven—and hell, as he charts the singer’s many trials and tribulations leading up to his shocking death nearly six years ago at the age of 53. I’m a fan of Gavin’s books on Chet Baker and Peggy Lee; our review of George Michael says that “Gavin’s real stories of triumphs and tragedies poignantly explain one of pop’s most enigmatic stars,” so I’m downloading this to the iPad as well.

Since all of these are digital offerings, I won’t be sharing an Instagram post with my pile of vacation reads, as is popular with the literary set. But then who wants to lug an extra suitcase just loaded down with books? I’ll travel light with my iPad. Just don’t let me forget my charger.

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from the editor’s desk

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# Chief Executive Officer M E G L A B O R D E KU E H N mkuehn@kirkus.com Editor -in- Chief TOM BEER tbeer@kirkus.com Chief Marketing Officer SARAH KALINA skalina@kirkus.com President of Kirkus Indie KAREN SCHECHNER kschechner@kirkus.com Managing/Nonfiction Editor E R I C L I E B E T R AU eliebetrau@kirkus.com Fiction Editor L AU R I E M U C H N I C K lmuchnick@kirkus.com Young Readers’ Editor L AU R A S I M E O N lsimeon@kirkus.com Young Readers’ Editor M A H N A Z DA R mdar@kirkus.com Editor at Large MEGA N LABRISE mlabrise@kirkus.com Senior Indie Editor D AV I D R A P P drapp@kirkus.com Indie Editor M Y R A F O R S B E RG mforsberg@kirkus.com Editorial Assistant of Indie PAO L A B E N N E T pbennet@kirkus.com Editorial Assistant N I N A P A L AT T E L L A npalattella@kirkus.com Mysteries Editor THOMAS LEITCH Contributing Editor G R E G O RY M c N A M E E Copy Editor BETSY JUDKINS Designer ALEX HEAD Kirkus Editorial Senior Production Editor ROBI N O ’ DE L L rodell@kirkus.com Kirkus Editorial Senior Production Editor MARINNA CASTILLEJA mcastilleja@kirkus.com Website and Software Developer P E RC Y P E R E Z pperez@kirkus.com Advertising Sales Manager TAT I A N A A R N O L D tarnold@kirkus.com Advertising Associate AMY BAIRD abaird@kirkus.com Graphic Designer K Y L A N O VA K knovak@kirkus.com Administrative Coordinator S U S A N R AT H B U N srathbun@kirkus.com

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contents fiction

INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS............................................................ 4 REVIEWS................................................................................................ 4 EDITOR’S NOTE..................................................................................... 6 INTERVIEW: K-MING CHANG........................................................... 14

The Kirkus Star is awarded to books of remarkable merit, as determined by the impartial editors of Kirkus.

MYSTERY...............................................................................................32 SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY.......................................................... 36 ROMANCE.............................................................................................37

nonfiction INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS..........................................................40 REVIEWS..............................................................................................40 EDITOR’S NOTE................................................................................... 42 INTERVIEW: ISAAC FITZGERALD.................................................... 48

children’s INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...........................................................71 REVIEWS...............................................................................................71 EDITOR’S NOTE....................................................................................72 INTERVIEW: PABLO CARTAYA..........................................................78 BOARD & NOVELTY BOOKS.............................................................116

young adult INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS........................................................ 120 REVIEWS............................................................................................ 120 EDITOR’S NOTE................................................................................. 122 ON THE COVER: JASON REYNOLDS & JASON GRIFFIN............126

indie INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS......................................................... 137

In her latest novel, Kate Atkinson takes readers on a tour of the post–World War I London demimonde through a glorious array of characters. Read the review on p. 7.

REVIEWS............................................................................................. 137 EDITOR’S NOTE..................................................................................138 INDIE BOOKS OF THE MONTH.........................................................157 BOOK TO SCREEN............................................................................. 158 AUDIOBOOKS..................................................................................... 159

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These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson...............................................7 MR. WILDER AND ME by Jonathan Coe..............................................8 THE OLD PLACE by Bobby Finger....................................................... 11 CANCIÓN by Eduardo Halfon; trans. by Lisa Dillman & Daniel Hahn.........................................................................................12 FAIRY TALE by Stephen King...............................................................18 MOUNT CHICAGO by Adam Levin................................................... 20 ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT by Sarah Thankam Mathews.....22 THE HERO OF THIS BOOK by Elizabeth McCracken....................... 24 LESSONS by Ian McEwan.................................................................. 24 SACRIFICIO by Ernesto Mestre-Reed................................................. 26 DINOSAURS by Lydia Millet............................................................. 26 DADDY’S GONE A-HUNTING by Penelope Mortimer.......................27 TI AMO by Hanne Ørstavik; trans. by Martin Aitken....................... 28 A FAMILIAR STRANGER by A.R. Torre............................................. 31 PROPERTIES OF THIRST by Marianne Wiggins................................32 THE RISING TIDE by Ann Cleeves....................................................... 33 THE FINAL STRIFE by Saara El-Arifi.................................................36 THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER by Simon Jimenez................ 37 WHERE WE END & BEGIN by Jane Igharo........................................ 37 ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT

Mathews, Sarah Thankam Viking (320 pp.) $27.00 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-0-59-348912-3

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DOGS OF SUMMER

Abreu, Andrea Trans. by Julia Sanches Astra House (192 pp.) $23.00 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-1-662-60159-0

An unnamed narrator—known only as Shit, the nickname bestowed on her by her best friend—recounts the events of an emotionally tumultuous summer in a working-class community in the Canary Islands.

Shit and Isora are schoolgirls, and the end of their school year marks the beginning of what passes for summer vacation in their nontouristy area of Tenerife. After her mother’s death, Isora is being parented by her harsh grandmother, who runs the village’s minimarket. Shit’s parents disappear all day to jobs supporting the island’s construction and tourist trades. Left to their own devices, the two inseparable girls pass their days playing with Barbies, watching telenovelas, obsessing over pop lyrics, and exploring their nascent sexuality. Isora is in search of experiences of all sorts; less-assertive Shit develops a growing obsession with Isora. Looming over the girls’ beleaguered existence are an omnipresent cloud cover of dust and the island’s volcanic mountain; a day at the beach seems like an unattainable goal. Abreu, who writes both prose and poetry in Spanish, charts the girls’ summer course to adolescence in straightforward, nonromantic prose interspersed with occasional poetic, dream- or nightmarelike passages. This translation from Spanish by Sanches retains the slang and idioms of the neighborhood dialect, enhancing the well-grounded sense of place established

by Abreu. Comparisons to another duo of similarly disadvantaged childhood friends created by Elena Ferrante may seem inevitable. Any actual similarities between the pairs fade early on in the work as Abreu’s girls work their way through weightshaming, an apparent local obsession with excrement, masturbation, and sexual obsession. This frank exploration of the work of growing up as a girl in a place with limited horizons (don’t forget the clouds!) illuminates while it disturbs.

This is not Little Women.

OTHER BIRDS

Allen, Sarah Addison St. Martin’s (304 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-1-2500-1986-8 Ghosts with untold stories and guests with long-buried secrets reside in Mallow Island’s mysterious Dellawisp condos.

Made famous by Roscoe Avanger’s legendary novel Sweet Mallow, quaint Mallow Island, South Carolina, proves a welcome respite for Zoey Hennessey. With her inattentive father and stepmother’s eagerness to convert her bedroom into a crafting oasis, the 18-year-old decided to leave her home in Tulsa to spend the summer before college at her late mother’s old studio on the island.

She hopes that the condo, located at the horseshoe-shaped Dellawisp complex, will unearth memories of Paloma, who died 12 years ago in a car accident. Joining Zoey is her imaginary

bird, Pigeon, and when they arrive, Zoey is disappointed to discover few traces of her mother…though her new environment proves anything but lonely. Maintained by the elderly Frasier, who is constantly tailed by turquoise dellawisp birds, the condos house a hodgepodge of colorful neighbors, including the burly redheaded chef Mac; the guarded, henna-covered artist Charlotte; the paper-hoarding busybody Lizbeth and her chainsmoking recluse sister, Lucy. When Lizbeth unexpectedly dies the first night of Zoey’s stay, Frasier asks Zoey to clean out her neighbor’s cluttered home. With Charlotte’s help, Zoey is determined to understand the secrets of this eccentric woman, but she soon realizes that Lizbeth may not be the only Dellawisp resident haunted by the past. Allen weaves together an intriguing mystery, following each resident of Dellawisp as they navigate loss and love and uncover what is true and what is real.

Charlotte’s story in particular stands out; once beholden to her parents’ religious cult, she hesitates to trust Zoey’s innocence and Mac’s selflessness. Allen breathes life into her characters, those living and those in between, and fashions a narrative that imparts a powerful belief in everlasting memory: “Stories aren’t

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FICTION | Laurie Muchnick

family drama I’m not sure anyone has accurately pinned down the definition of beach read, but it almost certainly involves a book that’s so engrossing the reader doesn’t notice how uncomfortable it is to read on the beach—the sun in your eyes, the sand in your bathing suit. This summer, I’ve been enjoying books that center on family drama; it’s easy to get swept up into group dynamics stretching back decades, and if the narrative voice hits the sweet spot of withholding and confiding information, it can feel like you’re having a good gossip session.

The family in Grant Ginder’s Let’s Not Do That Again (Holt, April 5) consists of Nancy Harrison, who represents the Upper West Side of Manhattan in Congress and is now running for Senate; her son, Nick, who teaches at NYU and is writing a musical about Joan Didion; and her daughter, Greta, who opens the book with a boom when she throws a bottle of champagne through the window of her mother’s favorite restaurant in Paris—and, of course, winds up all over Fox News. It turns out that Greta has been pissed off at Nancy for years, and when she met a gorgeous French fascist on a gaming site, it didn’t take much for him to convince her to move to Paris and try to blow up her mother’s career. Will Nick go to Paris to try to find Greta even though he’s just met an amazingly nice guy and seems to be starting a relationship? Will Greta realize the French guy is just using her? Is Nancy actually a hero or a villain—and is it possible to be either of those things to your children? Our review says Ginder is “characteristically insightful on sibling and parent-child relationships,” and you’ll zip along to find out whether Nancy wins her election and—more important—if the three Harrisons are still speaking to each other at the end.

In The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (Celadon, May 31), Salo and Johanna Oppenheimer went for IVF after years of unsuccessfully trying to have children.

Three embryos were implanted in Johanna, and they all stuck, leading nine months later to the fractious triplets Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally. But there was one more em6

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bryo that the Oppenheimers chose to freeze, and years later, as her children are ready to go off to college and Johanna is forced to acknowledge that her family life isn’t the picture of happiness, she decides to thaw that single embryo and bring another child into the mix. As the titular latecomer, Phoebe is fascinated by what happened in her family before she arrived, and she manages to poke into all the dark corners and uncover all their secrets—and they’re good ones.

Two recent books peer inside the kitchens of family restaurants: The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang (Norton, Feb. 1) and Mar­ rying the Ketchups by Jennifer Close (Knopf, April 26). Both feature children who stay close to home to work in the restaurants and children who leave—though whether leaving or staying is more rebellious is a matter of perspective. As in Let’s Not Do That Again, where politics is the family business, we get to observe the details of an insular work world and see how it interacts with the family dynamics.

Lastly, in Fellowship Point (Marysue Rucci Books/Scribner, July 5), a group of Philadelphia Quaker families spend more than a century of summers on a Maine peninsula. As their octogenarian scions, Agnes Lee and Polly Wister, face mortality and the need to decide the best way to preserve the land in the future, we peer backward in time to their families of origin and also get a leisurely visit with their current families, both born and chosen.

Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.

TREASURE STATE

fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.”

A lyrical mystery that embraces letting go and living freely.

SHRINES OF GAIETY

Atkinson, Kate Doubleday (400 pp.) $25.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-385-54797-0

Private eye Cassie Dewell pursues two very different cases that take her far from Bozeman.

The morning after someone breaks into her office, Cassie gets a call from Candyce Fly, a widow in Boca Grande, Florida, who wants her to track down J.D. Spengler, the PI she’d hired to find Marc Daly, the charmer who’d charmed her out of her life’s savings. After following Daly’s trail all over the country and linking him to three other women similarly swindled, Spengler had sent Candyce encouraging words from Montana a day before going AWOL himself. Though Cassie agrees to look for him, she’s more teased by her other case, which also hinges on a phone call. Ever since someone inscribed a poem oracularly

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The author of Big Sky (2019) and Tran­ scription (2018) takes readers on a tour of London’s post–World War I demimonde.

It’s 1926. Nellie Coker presides over an empire of five nightclubs catering to a diverse clientele and a brood of six children of various talents and aptitudes. Just released from prison, she finds herself beset on all sides. Would-be usurpers have infiltrated her inner circle. DCI John Frobisher is determined to bring her to justice. And Gwendolen Kelling—currently on leave from her job as a librarian in York, lately a nurse serving in the Great War—has just emerged as something of a wild card.

While the story unfolds over a period of weeks and is almost entirely contained to London, it sprawls across social classes and gives voice to a glorious miscellany of characters. The tone is set by Nellie, a woman who had the will and the smarts to create herself, and two veterans of the trenches—Gwendolen and Nellie’s son Niven, who survived deployment to the Somme. These three are hard to shock and difficult to take unawares, and they have all endured experiences that make them want to live. Like all of Atkinson’s novels, her latest defies easy categorization. It’s historical fiction, but there’s a sense of knowingness that feels contemporary, and if this irony may feel anachronistic, it also feels spiritually correct. Intertwined mysteries drive the plot, but this is not a mystery in any conventional sense. The adjective Dickensian feels too clichéd to be meaningful, but Atkinson does excel at creating a big, bustling universe fully inhabited by vivid characters. And, like Dickens, Atkinson is obviously fond of her characters—even the ones who do horrible things. Sometimes this means that she lets us know the fate of a character with a walk-on part. Sometimes her care manifests in giving a character the sort of perfect ending that seldom exists outside of Greek tragedy or screwball comedy. And, in one exquisite moment, the author shows her love by releasing characters from the confines of the narrative altogether—a choice she seems to offer as a gift to both her creations and her readers.

Already one of the best writers working, Atkinson just gets better and better.

Box, C.J. Minotaur (288 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-2507-6696-0

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hinting at the location of “Sir Scott’s Treasure” on the whiteboard at a local bar, everyone around has wondered who hid the treasure and where it can be found, and several intrepid hunters have died in the course of their search. Cassie’s caller, who tells her that he’s the one who’s hidden the treasure and written the poem, offers her $2,000 to test his security by attempting to find him; if, against all odds, she does track him down, he’ll pay her a bonus of $25,000. Box’s early revelation of who’s behind Spengler’s disappearance turns that mystery into a duel of wits between Cassie and the bad guys. But Kyle Westergaard, a teenager she once rescued from a dangerous kidnapper, keeps sparking her interest in Sir Scott’s Treasure, whose location and mastermind provide a nifty pair of final surprises.

All this and Montana, too. Talk about treasure.

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MR. WILDER AND ME

Coe, Jonathan Europa Editions (256 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-60945-792-1

A 50-something film composer meditates on the summer of 1977, when she worked with director Billy Wilder on one of his last films.

As her own daughters prepare to leave home, Calista Frangopoulou, born in Athens, now living in Britain, thinks of the backpacking trip she took at 21 to the United States. A friend she made on her way west invited her along to a dinner in Hollywood arranged by her father. As it turned out, their companions were Billy Wilder, who owned the restaurant; his wife, Audrey; his writing partner, Iz Diamond; and Iz’s wife, Barbara.

Though the girls were wildly underdressed and totally out of their depth, and though the friend absconded halfway through

“A Massachusetts woman tries to rebuild her life after her husband goes to prison for a white-collar crime.” the complicities

storylines unfold independently before resolving together as one in an unexpected fashion.

A thriller that relies on misdirection while dealing with issues of family, love, mental health, assault, and suicide.

THE COMPLICITIES

D’Erasmo, Stacey Algonquin (304 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-64375-196-2

A Massachusetts woman tries to rebuild her life after her husband goes to prison for a white-collar crime.

Suzanne and Alan had a good life in Boston. They had a big house, with a housekeeper and a gardener, a darling if somewhat aimless son, the freedom to travel. All of this was courtesy of Alan’s successful brokerage business and Suzanne’s

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the meal and the Wilders had to have the drunken Calista sleep on their couch, she made such an impression that she was brought on to be their interpreter when they went to film Fedora in Greece the following year, then continued on during shooting in Germany and France. There is so much to enjoy about this book, which is rooted in extensive research about Wilder’s life and the making of Fedora, including the recollections of someone who actually lived a version of this experience—and yet it reads like a fairy tale. Calista forms deep relationships with both Billy and Iz and changes from a naïve know-nothing to someone with a deep understanding of the impact of World War II on a generation of artists. “I realized that for a man like him, a man who was essentially melancholy...humour was not just a beautiful thing but a necessary thing, that the telling of a good joke could bring a moment, transient but lovely, when life made a rare kind of sense, and would no longer seem random and chaotic and unknowable.” She also finds along the way the inspiration for her own future career as a composer of film scores. Beautifully written and full of wisdom, this unusual and fascinating book contains many treats, including a miniscreenplay done in Wilder’s style and an unforgettable scene in which Calista and Billy sample Brie de Meaux on a French farm where it is made.

If you love novels set in the world of moviemaking, this is as good as the best of them.

THE OTHER GUEST

Cooper, Helen Putnam (384 pp.) $17.00 paper | July 26, 2022 978-0-593-42259-5 Three storylines involve the unexpected, suspicious death of a 21-year-old woman in Italy.

Amy is—was—the 21-year-old daughter of a polished couple who run a luxurious Italian lakeside resort. Her sister, Olivia, is 17 and working hard to become the same kind of gracious, beautiful, focused hostess as their mother, Charlotte. Their father, Gordon, dreamed of creating a high-end resort, and now that he’s managed it, his entire focus is on retaining it. Leah, Charlotte’s sister, was very close with Amy and never truly grieved the loss of her niece. She’s forced to take compassionate leave at work one calamitous day when everything boils over and her grief at Amy’s death can no longer be contained. The first thread follows the last eight hours of Amy’s life as she plots her secret escape from the resort to Scotland, where she will finally attend college. The second follows Joanna, the head of counseling services at an English university, who’s putting her life back together after her long-term partner breaks up with her. The third follows Leah’s visit to the resort nine months after Amy’s death as she tries to process her feelings and find some answers despite being stymied at every turn. Author Cooper has created a twisty tale of darkness and light, calmness and storm, rigid facades and underlying messiness as the three |

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ability to keep the household running smoothly. But then everything blew up: Alan had been defrauding people and is sent to prison for his crimes, and Suzanne leaves, insisting to anyone who will listen, including the reader, that she didn’t understand enough about money to know what Alan was doing, not really.

The novel begins with Suzanne arriving in the seaside town of Chesham, trying to start her life over as a massage therapist (or “bodywork” practitioner), to reconnect with her college-age son, who has sided with Alan, and to come to terms with her own complicity in the collapse of her life. D’Erasmo sets herself up for a challenge, perhaps, in trying to make wealthy white-collar criminals sympathetic, but in many ways this circumstance is beside the point. Though Suzanne gets the most airtime, her central narrative is spliced together with the perspectives of two other women: Lydia, Alan’s new wife, whom he met after being released from prison and who has demons of her own; and Sylvia, Alan’s estranged mother. It’s only in piecing together all three of these narratives that we get a fuller picture of Alan, and that’s the point, through D’Erasmo’s clever telling—people can never be seen whole, and parts you think you see never tell

the full tale. “A real genealogy chart would trace damage back and back,” Suzanne muses. “It would look like a kaleidoscope.”

Slow burning but thoughtful and deftly structured.

FORSAKEN COUNTRY

Eskens, Allen Mulholland Books/Little, Brown (304 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-316-70354-3 A case the cops in charge have already declared closed drags former Minneapolis Homicide detective Max Rupert out of his self-imposed exile and into a series of ever more dangerous adventures.

The way Itasca County Sheriff Tate Bolger tells it, there is no case. Sandy Voight withdrew most of her savings from her bank account, packed up her 6-year-old son, Pip, and all their belongings, and took off for parts unknown, leaving David Haas, her live-in lover, to come home from work to find her gone. She might have been afraid of Reed Harris, her violently abusive ex-husband, but Reed clearly didn’t have anything to do with her disappearance because he has a perfect alibi. Sandy’s father, Lyle Voight, doesn’t believe a word of this. He’s convinced that Sandy never would have vanished without a word to him, and he doesn’t think much of Bolger, who may have defeated him in the last election for sheriff but has no clue how to work the job.

So Lyle looks up Max, who’s been living in an isolated cabin trying to come to terms with his complicated feelings about killing the man who murdered his wife in The Deep Dark Descending (2017). Max isn’t eager to rejoin the human race, let alone get involved in another case, but he can’t resist the pleas of Lyle and his wife, Meredith, and soon enough he and Lyle are on the trail of two men who’ve taken custody of Pip. Eskens provides an irresistible hook, a clever spin on a classic suspense plot, and a series of expertly escalating confrontations between enemies and ultimately between allies forced to acknowledge that their goals aren’t quite as consensual as they thought.

Guaranteed to keep your heart pounding till the end.

DAISY DARKER

Feeney, Alice Flatiron Books (352 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-1-250-84393-7 A birthday party on a remote island turns into a series of bizarre murders.

“I was born with a broken heart” is how the title character and narrator of this murder mystery opens her story.

Daisy is happy, however, to be celebrating the 80th birthday of her beloved nana, Beatrice Darker. Nana is a children’s author who several decades ago made a fortune on 10

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“A surprising page-turner—homey, funny, yet with dark corners of anger and grief.” the old place

accident, not suicide. (They don’t.) In 2002 her son, Michael, died suddenly under mysterious circumstances; an obituary appeared, but there was no funeral. Mary Alice has never discussed Michael’s death, even with her best friend, Ellie, though they are bound by grief. Ellie’s son, Kenny—Michael’s best friend—died weeks before Michael in a car crash the morning after their high school graduation. Finger handles the nature of Kenny and Michael’s friendship and the town’s reaction with unexpected nuance, showing the problematic confusion in how people see themselves, see others, and assume they are seen by others. What could have turned melodramatic becomes an exploration of the danger of unnecessary secrets.

A surprising page-turner—homey, funny, yet with dark corners of anger and grief.

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a book titled Daisy Darker’s Little Secret. Her family gathers for the birthday party at Seaglass, Beatrice’s eccentric old house on the Cornish coast, on an isolated island at the bottom of a cliff that’s only accessible at low tide. It’s a family affair: Beatrice’s son, Frank Darker, a globe-trotting classical musician who was often absent when his children were growing up; Nancy, his exwife and the coldly critical mother of those children; and Daisy’s two older sisters, beautiful and brainy Rose and vain and lazy Lily. Also on the island are Lily’s teenage daughter, Trixie (whose paternity is unknown), and Conor Kennedy, whom Beatrice took in when he was a neighbor boy abused by his father; he’s now a successful journalist. As the tide cuts off the house from the mainland, Beatrice serves a feast and then announces the reading of her will—a reading that makes almost everyone in the family unhappy. Then someone in the small group is found dead in a pool of blood. Soon bodies are stacking up, each killed in a strikingly personal manner, and the dwindling number of living people are frantically trying to identify the killer. (No calling for help—there’s no cell service, and Beatrice has stopped paying her landline bill.) Between the murders, Daisy fills us in on everyone’s backstory, which sometimes bogs down the suspense. If this all sounds a little like Agatha Christie’s bestseller And Then There Were None, that’s probably no accident. But this tale has a different twist ending that, despite some clever construction throughout the book, doesn’t quite convince.

Murder is all in the family in this novel, but the surprise ending lacks punch.

THE OLD PLACE

Finger, Bobby Putnam (336 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-42234-2 In his first novel, New York–based journalist and podcaster Finger delves into the intricate entanglements of a small Texas town with flinty, sharply observed affection.

Yes, everyone knows everybody’s business in Billington, where gossip is the currency; yes, much of the town’s social life during the week in August 2014 when this novel takes place revolves around the annual church picnic; and yes, outsiders are the exception in Billington, where traditional values hold sway. But do not expect cowboy swagger or cartoonish hayseeds from Finger, who grew up in Texas. At the novel’s center, unwillingly retired math teacher Mary Alice Roth is a jigsaw puzzle of a character, as complicated as any Henry James hero. She initially comes across as an overbearing busybody, showing up at the high school to unnerve her successor—a young transplant from Brooklyn refreshingly unafraid to confront urban-bubble prejudices. Mary Alice thinks she intimidates everyone around her, even the principal, but her often obnoxious bristle is a defensive front that doesn’t fool anyone.

Locals put up with her out of pity. Twenty-four years ago her husband drowned in what she hopes everyone assumes was an |

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CANCIÓN

Halfon, Eduardo Trans. by Lisa Dillman & Daniel Hahn Bellevue Literary Press (160 pp.) $17.99 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-954276-07-9 Fiction coats reality—or is it the other way around?—in Halfon’s brief but eventful account of life during Guatemala’s bloody civil war.

The book opens with Halfon, a Guatemalan Jew, attending a Lebanese writers conference in Tokyo “disguised as an Arab.” He knows only a few words of Arabic and has negligible ties to Lebanon but accepts a rather curious invitation to the confab because he has never been to Japan. Thus begins an unusual family saga centered on his paternal grandfather, who was born in Beirut when it was still part of Syria and fled the city with his family as a teenager. Eduardo Halfon (same name

as his grandson) becomes a wealthy textile manufacturer in Guatemala, where he is kidnapped in 1967 by a leftist guerrilla (and former butcher) known as Canción, held for ransom for 35 days, and released. All in all, not the worst outcome in a country where government commando forces were dropping innocents, including a living 3-month-old baby, into a dry well and sledgehammering or shooting children who were told they were being taken out of church to get vaccinated. “I wanted to put my fingers in my ears and be deaf and so not have to hear those voices,” writes Halfon, who is referring to the intrusive noise of soldiers bursting into his grandfather’s house but could be referring to any number of traumatizing moments. As in previous works of autobiographical fiction, including The Polish Boxer (2012) and Mourning (2018), Halfon, who spent much of his childhood in Florida and attended college in the U.S., draws us into this nightmarish world with his understated conversational style. “Everybody knows that Guatemala is a surreal country,” his grandfather wrote in a letter to a local newspaper, but the younger Halfon makes the horrors all too real.

Another minimasterpiece by a master of the form.

THE OTHER SIDE OF NIGHT

Hamdy, Adam Atria (304 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-9821-9618-9

Harriet “Harri” Kealty is having a hard time. The love of her life has left her high and dry. She’s lost her job as a police officer after the man who attacked her partner dies under mysterious circumstances. To top it all off, she’s obsessed with what appears to be a murder-suicide in which her former beau is the prime suspect.

For about three-quarters of its length, this British thriller balances twists and turns with weighty matters of fate, regret, grief, and longing. It’s a multimedia production, with narrative bites coming from court transcripts, transcribed video tapes, good old-fashioned letters, and a third-person omniscient narrator. It keeps the reader guessing, as a thriller is supposed to.

And then it falls off a cliff, much as one of its characters does.

It hints at a possible science-fiction element throughout; three of its main characters are high-level scientists, and the novel leaves a trail of breadcrumbs suggesting that their work might come into play. When it does, the results are kind of interesting, then quite imaginative, as long as you don’t think about it too much. Then the author explains. And explains. And explains.

Harri all but vanishes for multiple pages at a time. Come back, Harri! She does, eventually, but by then the reader is swimming in scientific theory and wrestling with the book’s wordy take on the space-time continuum. It’s admirable when an author is willing to take a leap, but this one happens so fast and switches the novel’s tone (not to mention its genre) so completely that the reader might wonder what happened to that lean thriller they were just reading. The novel ultimately gets so mired in 12

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WORDS WITH…

K-Ming Chang The author of Gods of Want writes stories that scare her—in a good way

BY HANNAH BAE Kristin Chang

K-Ming Chang likes to say that she writes about “queer daughterhood”—the family ties that bind lineages of women through reinvention, love, and lore. It’s a rich theme that courses through her wildly imaginative new story collection, Gods of Want (One World/Random House, July 12), as well as her debut novel, Bestiary (2020), both of which received starred reviews from Kirkus. In Gods of Want, Chang deploys lyrical prose to tell stories of Taiwanese immigrant families that veer into the surreal and surprising, with magazine ads that can spring to life and schoolgirls who can swallow each other whole.

Chang spoke to us via Zoom from northern California, where she had stopped on a road trip that she’d planned with meticulous detail. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Are you a planner, both in life and in your writing?

I use a Japanese planner called the Hobonichi really intensely, and I treasure it like a security blanket. But I’m the opposite when it comes to writing. I have to not know where I’m going. It has to feel like play. If I ever try to outline to create the shape of a story, I find I lose my sense of motivation and playfulness toward it.

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Writing this book was a serendipitous event. I was writing all of these stories for the longest time, and there was a constant feeling of discovery with dovetailing images, words, and sounds. There were a lot of M words— melons, including a character named Melon; mothers; moons; mouths. I love wordplay and the microunit of the word. Once I started playing with these microunits and seeing the recurrence of all these M words, that’s when I started to feel the associative process of sectioning the book into “Mothers,” “Myths,” and “Moths.” The triptych appealed to me.

You teach classes in flash fiction. How does this form play out in this book?

I originally wrote certain moments in these stories as stand-alone flash pieces. As I was revising, I was particularly stuck on stories like “Mariela,” which is now my favorite story in the collection, and “Nüwa,” which is about a [mythical] snake train. I had these revision plans—written in my planner!—and they felt so not alive to me anymore. Many weeks went by, and I decided to write some flash pieces because that’s the most organic kind of writing that I can immediately enter, and I ended up writing two back-to-back. I wondered if they could be a suite of linked pieces, but then I copied and pasted the first one into “Nüwa,” then put the second one into “Mariela.” They were exactly what I needed for both stories. The writing was showing me thematically where these stories needed to go and what they were really about at their core. Flash [writing] allows you to discover the meaning of something.

[In the book,] those flash pieces are published almost exactly in their original forms; I just added the character names. This sort of thing has never happened to me as a writer before, and I feel like it’s a haunted moment in creating this collection that scared me in a good way.

You are not afraid to write about the grotesque, about bodily fluids and emissions, subjects that I’ve seen discouraged in literary writing. Did you have to push to keep these parts?

I’m interested in bringing lyricism and poetry to things that are considered crass or disgusting. My editor, Nicole Counts, and my agent, Julia Kardon, really understood that was deeply embedded in my style. In some ways, I felt freed by other women writers and queer writers being scatological, like Jenny Zhang’s Sour Heart or Ottessa Moshfegh’s work. There is something about aversion and disgust that is so similar to attraction and fascination. I felt there was something queer about being so averse to something because you’re deeply attracted to it. I experienced that a lot as a child, how the feeling of wonder and feeling of horror were similar physical sensations. What does it mean to see this really

disgusting thing as deeply beautiful or worthy of looking at closely, and what does that reveal about the consciousness of the character?

I noticed that you dedicated your book to your writing group: Amy Haejung, Pik-Shuen Fung, Kyle Lucia Wu, and Annina Zheng-Hardy. How does community nurture you as a writer?

My writing group has been one of the most transformative things for my writing. These are really the people I want to be writing for. I’m a big fan of writing for your friends, for the people who are interested in what you are doing. This group is very into experimentation, play, and making writing very low stakes. I find this has helped me discover a new kind of intimacy around writing, with people who know a lot of details about my life.

I met Pik-Shuen [author of the novel Ghost Forest] at a Kundiman Retreat [for Asian American writers], and we started talking months later about forming a writing group. I’d always wanted to be in one, but I had been mildly traumatized by certain forms of feedback. But we make our own rules and have been meeting consistently for years. We’ve become pen pals in a way, because we all used to be in New York City but now we’re spread out. Yet as we’ve spread out, we continue to find each other in our own locations, sending each other rogue emails of well wishes and pictures of each others’ books in the wild. This kind of intimacy is not talked about that often in terms of the writing process.

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What inspires the way you play with words?

I discover the most joy in writing when I’m thinking about what’s the next word or how to begin a sentence, more than the delight of constructing narrative, which seems to happen incidentally or through labor. I’m always trying to ambush myself and create moments of being jolted, surprised, or shocked that keep me moving through the writing.

Recently, reading fiction in translation has been most inspiring and influential for my own work. I find that after I read something in translation, I’ll come away thinking, I didn’t know this was possible. I didn’t know you could make sentences this way. Anything could be possible, and that’s delightful and interesting to me. There are so many more ways to tell a story than what I have been taught and had internalized as the only way to tell a story. In translated fiction, there’s something about the language that feels both deeply familiar and offkilter in some way. Because I delight in the unexpected, I find myself literally translating dialogue or idioms from Mandarin, and people will say, Oh my God, that’s so cre­ative. How did you come up with that?

I’m taking an amazing Taiwanese literature class online with the literary translator and writer Jenna Tang, and we were talking about how much poop is involved in Taiwanese slang and language. It’s really normalized, and it signals intimacy, which I get into in Bestiary as well. Talking about your body in this way is a kind of love language. For the women in this collection, bodily and physical intimacy is embedded in everything that they do.

Hannah Bae is a Korean American writer, journalist, and illustrator and winner of a Rona Jaffe Foundation Writer’s Award. Gods of Want received a starred review in the May 15, 2022, issue.

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plot exposition that the ending seems further away the closer you get.

Too much exposition stalls a promising thriller.

LARK ASCENDING

House, Silas Algonquin (288 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-64375-159-7

A young man heads across the Atlantic, seeking refuge on a rapidly collapsing planet.

We meet 20-year-old Lark, the narrator of House’s seventh novel, on an overcrowded yacht full of refugees headed from Maine to Ireland. Climate change has sparked devastating fires across America, and aggressive, heavily armed militias enforce a hard-line religious doctrine that makes Lark a target

as a gay man. After an arduous trek across the sea that kills many of the passengers, including both of his parents, Lark arrives in Ireland on little more than a rumor that he’ll have a safe haven in Glendalough, a spiritually blessed place said to be both progressive and spared the worst of the climate disaster. Along the way he befriends a dog—a rare creature now in this cruel hellscape—and a woman savvy about the landscape and its threats. House delivers this straightforward adventure with efficiency and poignancy, capturing the brief idyll of freedom Lark and his family enjoyed before leaving and the newfound appreciation he has for an environment and liberal society that are both rapidly collapsing. And the novel’s style has a clarity and rough-hewn simplicity that bring the story’s conflicts into sharp relief. (It’s no accident that the dog is named Seamus, a tribute to the Irish Nobel winner Seamus Heaney, the earthiest of great Irish poets.) The novel’s chief flaw is its overfamiliarity, to the point of almost feeling like a pastiche of dystopian-novel plots and styles: At various points the story contains echoes of The Dog Stars, I Am Legend, The Road, American War, Station Eleven, and more. House seamlessly works in present-day concerns about rampant fundamentalism and willful ignorance about climate catastrophe, but for anybody well versed in the genre, this will feel like well-trod ground.

A cleareyed and engaging, if familiar, apocalyptic yarn.

THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN Huynh, Carolyn Atria (272 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-9821-8873-3

A contemporary Vietnamese American family in Southern California deals with the fallout of an ancient curse.

The three Dương sisters of Orange County’s Little Saigon community have a lot in common, from a passion for knockoff Louis Vuitton bags and real jade to a distinct inability to revere their elders as much as they should. They’re also estranged—from each other, from their mother, from their grown daughters (who are well on their way to becoming estranged, too). But the alienation isn’t random. Long ago, an ancestor named Oanh fled her marriage after falling in love with a Cambodian man, and her husband’s vengeful mother put a curse on all Oanh’s descendants.

Now, happiness is destined to elude them. If they marry, their spouses will be bad husbands, and they will never have sons, an affront to tradition. But when a mysterious psychic tells Mai Nguyễn, the oldest, that the time has come to mend fences with her sisters, Minh Phạm and Khuyến Lâm, changes seem to be on the horizon. The new year, the psychic says, will bring a wedding, a funeral, and, finally, the birth of a son, a bold prediction that scrambles the fates of this sprawling, squabbling family of women. Written with crackling humor and a shrewd, intimate understanding of Vietnamese American family life, the book is full of tart, broad comedy and farcical setups. But first-time 16

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“Two children observe and embody the liberating yet risky social experiment of communal living on an English farm.” amy & lan

novelist Huynh also uses her gift for humor as a tool to tell a unique story about exile and assimilation, highlighting the perils of trying to bend newer generations to ancient traditions and the difficulty of reconciling culture with the messy truths of modern American life. You will laugh along with the Dươngs, but you’ll also find yourself cheering for their reconciliation as they learn “there was nothing wrong with having Vietnamese daughters. It was how the world treated them that turned it into a curse.”

A funny, sharp, and insightful look at family bonds and the effects of tradition on modern life.

AMY & LAN

Jones, Sadie Harper (320 pp.) $25.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-0-06-324-090-2 Two children observe and embody the liberating yet risky social experiment of communal living on an English farm.

“We’ve always dreamed of doing that….Living in the countryside,” comments a visitor about Frith, the jointly owned farmstead that sits at the center of Jones’ latest novel.

The rural idyll—living in an environmentally friendly, self-sufficient, socially blended fashion—is the enviable achievement of three couples, the Honeys, Cornells, and Hodges, assisted by their children and a couple of late add-ons, after they bought this cluster of buildings on 78 acres. Amy and Lan are the oldest of the children, a girl and a boy born in different families soon after the Frith adventure begins, and it’s from their twin

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perspectives that this chronicle of existence there is narrated, from 2005 to 2010, as the children grow from age 7 to 12, living free (and often filthy) among the buildings, animals, woods, and fields. Sometimes events are lyrical, like cutting hay with scythes, or simply joyful, as at feasts and celebrations. At other times there’s damage and tragedy—a dead calf, an injured child—or comedy, as when a pig goes rogue. Amy, the “practical” one, and Lan, “a dreamer,” have a near-seamless relationship built on their freedom (playing with axes, climbing on roofs) and joint need for reassurance in the face of chaos and absurdity.

And then there are the grown-ups, who bicker and quarrel over practical issues and, inevitably, relationships. Jones juggles her scenario capably and compellingly, embracing a wealth of characters and a sprawling timeline. Amy and Lan may be blessed with a little too much adult wisdom, but they unite the community portrait as it widens to bring in the local village, pub, and shop and to include snobbery and poverty. But it’s at Frith, an earthly Eden, where matters—and childhoods—must end.

Change is gonna come in this poignant, low-key comingof-age tale.

BAD FRUIT

King, Ella Astra House (256 pp.) $27.00 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-1-66260-149-1 A woman on the cusp of adulthood navigates a troubled relationship with her abusive mother.

Among her siblings, 18-year-old Lily has always been known as their mother’s undisputed favorite—“Mama’s doll,” the only one capable of concocting the semispoiled orange juice May favors and soothing her public meltdowns at grocery stores.

Unlike her combative sister, Julia, and anxious lawyer brother, Jacob, Lily hews steadfastly to her mother’s rigid expectations, even dyeing her hair dark and wearing color contacts to appear more Chinese (May is Chinese Peranakan and her husband is White). As Lily prepares to enter Oxford in the fall, she subsists on the faith that she must endure only a few weeks more of her mother’s chaos before escaping. But after May accuses Lily’s father of harboring a secret love for Jacob’s ex-wife, Francie, her unpredictability only accelerates—precipitating a string of dramatic family showdowns, public confrontations, and other crises. Simultaneously, Lily is dogged by increasingly frequent flashbacks of some kind that pop into her consciousness, which she suspects may offer clues to her mother’s tragedy-riddled childhood in Singapore (involving, hazily, a devastating fire, a car accident, and the untimely death of a family member). As the summer passes—and with the help of Lewis, a young professor and kindred spirit—Lily weighs the two selves she’s come to know: the one that’s been rigidly formed in her mother’s image and the other whose outlines are blurrier but full of possibility. Debut author King skillfully brings to light the layered, deeply complex machinations that lurk below the surface in families and confer the fragile impression of normalcy; this family’s crosshairs of obligation, love, and resentment, too, are never oversimplified. May is especially captivating: a veritable tyrant who’s also full of sympathetic, deeply human insecurities.

Though a few narrative elements are inelegantly constructed— Lily’s flashbacks often read as a plot device—King expertly weaves a compelling family novel.

Layered, variable, and, like spoiled orange juice, sometimes complicatedly bitter.

FAIRY TALE

King, Stephen Scribner (608 pp.) $32.50 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-66800-217-9 Narnia on the Penobscot: a grand, and naturally strange, entertainment from the ever prolific King.

What’s a person to do when sheltering from Covid? In King’s case, write 18

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something to entertain himself while reflecting on what was going on in the world outside—ravaged cities, contentious politics, uncertainty. King’s yarn begins in a world that’s recognizably ours, and with a familiar trope: A young woman, out to buy fried chicken, is mashed by a runaway plumber’s van, sending her husband into an alcoholic tailspin and her son into a preadolescent funk, driven “bugfuck” by a father who “was always trying to apologize.” The son makes good by rescuing an elderly neighbor who’s fallen off a ladder, though he protests that the man’s equally elderly German shepherd, Radar, was the true hero. Whatever the case, Mr. Bowditch has an improbable trove of gold in his Bates Motel of a home, and its origin seems to lie in a shed behind the house, one that Mr. Bowditch warns the boy away from: “ ‘Don’t go in there,’ he said. ‘You may in time, but for now don’t even think of it.’ ” It’s not Pennywise who awaits in the underworld behind the shed door, but there’s plenty that’s weird and unexpected, including a woman, Dora, whose “skin was slate gray and her face was cruelly deformed,” and a whole bunch of people—well, sort of people, anyway— who’d like nothing better than to bring their special brand of evil up to our world’s surface. King’s young protagonist, Charlie Reade, is resourceful beyond his years, but it helps that the old dog gains some of its youthful vigor in the depths below. King delivers a more or less traditional fable that includes a knowing nod: “I think I know what you want,” Charlie tells the reader, “and now you have it”—namely, a happy ending but with a suitably sardonic wink.

A tale that’s at once familiar and full of odd and unexpected twists—vintage King, in other words.

FOX CREEK

Krueger, William Kent Atria (400 pp.) $28.00 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-1-9821-2871-5 Cork O’Connor’s latest case is a search through the Minnesota wilderness for a missing person. But that’s the only thing that’s straightforward about it.

Edina real estate attorney Louis Morriseau’s pitch couldn’t be simpler.

His wife has gone AWOL with her lover, and Lou wants Cork to step away from the grill at Sam’s Place and look for her. Cork’s not interested until he hears the identity of Dolores Morriseau’s alleged lover: Henry Meloux, the ancient healer at Crow Point reservation, who must be close to 100. Certain that this disappearance isn’t what it seems, he agrees to take a look. Shortly thereafter he gets a second surprise: The missing Dolores turns up and indicates that the man who hired Cork doesn’t look a bit like her husband. As if that weren’t confusing enough, the false Lou Morriseau has vanished himself. Soon enough Dolores disappears again. So do Henry and his great-niece, Rainy, who’s married to Cork. Naturally, Cork broadens his search. So do a whole lot of other people, including Stephen O’Connor, Cork and Rainy’s son; and law student Belle Morriseau, Lou’s sister.

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The Minnesota woods would probably be crawling with searchers even without the presence of LeLoup, an Ojibwe tracker who works for a hard-nosed man named Kimball, whose other hirelings seem to be lurking, fully armed, behind every tree as they look for Lou Morriseau themselves. Constantly cutting back and forth among the different searchers and their prey, Krueger gradually teases out Indigenous fables, myths, and wisdom that Cork will have to draw on if he’s to emerge from this free-for-all with his franchise intact.

For fans only, and they’re well advised to take notes reminding them who’s on first.

MOUNT CHICAGO

Levin, Adam Doubleday (592 pp.) $30.00 | Aug. 9, 2022 978-0-385-54824-3

After a huge swath of downtown Chicago is swallowed up by a freakish sinkhole, an acclaimed Jewish novelist who had a brief run as a stand-up comic and an obsessive fan who becomes a mayoral aide confront their losses.

The novelist, Solomon Gladman, lost his entire family to the “terrestrial anomaly” (as city officials insist it be called), leaving him to obsess over the intensely neurotic behavior of his parrot, Gogol. Having become a clinical social worker, he is attuned to that task. The fan is Apter Schutz, who by the age of 21 made millions marketing a subversive desk calendar aimed at “real Americans,” followed his hero into psychotherapy, and then went to work for a hapless mayor determined to build Mount Chicago, a memorial to the disaster victims that is “as moving as Auschwitz” but “less depressing.” At the core of the novel—which, at almost 600 pages, is a walk in the park compared to Levin’s 1,000-page opus, The Instructions (2010)—is an epic discussion of the meaning of survival that culminates in the soft, made-for-2022 notion that anyone who is even aware of a death “survives” it. Seemingly by design, the novel tests the reader’s patience with long streams of obsessive musings on subjects ranging from pizza preferences to the films of Steven Spielberg (whom David Mamet, one of the real-life figures in the book, calls a “pretentious schlockmeister”). In his opening disclaimer, Levin says that “ ‘ideas’ get in the way of art,” but his art is all about how affirming it can be, during these times of Covid-narrowed lives, to dose on ideas. “I digress, therefore I’m alive” might be his theme—a deeply affecting one when all is said and redone.

A sometimes wearying but boldly rewarding work of metafiction.

“A fictional tragedy evoked with such clarity and specificity that it will linger in your memory as if it really happened.” all that’s left unsaid

ALL THAT’S LEFT UNSAID

Lien, Tracey Morrow/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-06-322773-6

In a Vietnamese immigrant community in Sydney, Australia, a woman investigates her teenage brother’s murder.

The troubles in 1990s Cabramatta are many. The North and South Vietnamese people who came to the area as refugees after the war are deeply marked by the horrors they experienced, and they are inflicting their damage on the first-generation Australians who are their children. Lien’s debut communicates the specific operation of generational trauma with nuance and insight. The psychological predicament of the families she writes about is exacerbated by Cabramatta’s heroin epidemic and institutionalized anti-Asian racism among the “blondies” of White Australia. Between these two factors, when 17-year-old Denny

Tran is beaten to death after Cabramatta High School’s senior formal, the police show little interest in finding the murderer.

Denny must have been a junkie or in a gang, they assume. And since everyone who was at the popular banquet hall where it happened, including the boy’s best friends and one of his teachers, claims to have been in the bathroom and seen nothing, there’s no reason for them to think otherwise. His older sister, Ky, returns from her newspaper job in Melbourne to attend the funeral and ends up staying on in shock and outrage to find the truth of what happened. Her brother was no junkie or gang member: A sweet, kind, funny, almost perfect boy, he died with the “Most Likely To Succeed” award he had just won in his pocket. Her investigation will take her back into her and her brother’s shared past, particularly her friendship with Minh Le—Minnie—who long ago went from beloved best friend to stranger. If Lien goes a bit too far in carrying out the mission of the book’s title, giving more emotional accounting and exposition in dialogue than is ideal, this book is nonetheless memorable and powerful.

A fictional tragedy evoked with such clarity and specificity that it will linger in your memory as if it really happened.

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“Resplendent with intelligence, wit, and feeling.” all this could be different

VANISHED

Lin-Greenberg, Karin Univ. of Nebraska (202 pp.) $19.95 paper | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-4962-3257-1 A rich tapestry of stories set in upstate New York.

The stories here are seemingly unrelated except for their geography. But the shared themes of regret, dissatisfaction, loneliness, and connection make this collection feel interwoven and purposeful. Some stories are more successful than others, and the poignancy of “Migration,” “Lost or Damaged,” and the titular “Vanished” make the stumbles (such as the unsatisfying “Since Vincent Left”) more noticeable. That said, in bite-sized tales, Lin-Greenberg mostly gives us multidimensional characters. In “Roland Raccoon,” there’s a teacher who can’t distance herself from her adolescent meangirl experiences; “Vanished” features a college student who won’t bring herself to welcome her roommate but later clings to the first words that roommate wrote her when the pandemic (and a murder they witnessed) separated them; and in “Migration,” a hoarding woman who is just attached enough to reality dismisses the thought that her estranged daughter might be visiting the family to ask for an organ donation: “She wouldn’t want a part of any of them floating around inside her body.”

Overall, the success of this book is most apparent in the endings. Lin-Greenberg does not wrap up her stories neatly with bows. Instead she shows the reader a more truthful and profound reality: characters who don’t get the chance to redeem themselves and stories that leave more questions unanswered than not: “Now, when I look back on my early years, it’s not what I did that I regret, but rather how much I did not do.”

Thoughtful, wry, and bittersweet.

CLIVE CUSSLER’S HELLBURNER

Maden, Mike Putnam (432 pp.) $29.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-54064-0

This is the 16th installment of the action-packed Oregon Files series.

The mercenary Juan Cabrillo and his dedicated Oregon crew confront a ship carrying contraband, which leads to uncovering the Pipeline, a massive smuggling enterprise. As the series’ fans know, the Oregon is a 590-foot “rust bucket tramp steamer” on the outside and a technological marvel on the inside. It can zip like a speedboat and even change colors. The primary antagonists are two businessmen named Hakobyan and Katrakis, one Armenian and the other Greek, who have known each other for more than 50 years. Their Pipeline is a conduit for transporting arms, munitions, and meth, making 22

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it “the envy of the criminal world.” Now the Armenian has a plan to achieve “wealth beyond imagination” and avenge the genocide of Armenians by Turks in the process. They will steal a 100-megaton bomb and explode it underwater in the Bosporus to cause a tsunami that will “drown sixteen million dirty Turks in a flood of their own radioactive bathwater.” And it will happen when POTUS and the Turkish president are in Istanbul. Then Turkey will blame Russia and go to war, dragging in NATO. World War III will ensue, and badda-bing-badda-boom, the old crooks will become richer than Croesus by—um, who knows—rebuilding atop the rubble, apparently. Their plan does seem to have a few holes. Cabrillo and crew get wind of the nuclear-tipped torpedo, and of course the clock is ticking. Spectacular fighting scenes ensue, with ex-SEAL Cabrillo displaying tenacity and skill worthy of the best fictional heroes. While the evildoer Hakobyan will “do business with the Devil himself if it turned a profit,” Cabrillo will never do anything against American interests. Even his prosthetic leg deserves honorable mention for its unexpected utility in combat. The name Hellburner occurs twice near the end and is not integral to the storyline, but it makes for a good title.

Like the Oregon itself, this novel is fast-moving, implausible, and fun.

ALL THIS COULD BE DIFFERENT

Mathews, Sarah Thankam Viking (320 pp.) $27.00 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-0-59-348912-3

A young woman reckons with her first job, her first love, and her first real friends.

After she graduates from college, Sneha—the headstrong, intensely selfreliant narrator of this lovely novel—is lucky to find a job as a corporate consultant. It’s the height of the mid-2000s recession, and Sneha’s immigrant parents have been deported to their native India. Sneha moves to Milwaukee, where she tries on adulthood like an ill-fitting suit. Nothing comes easily: Her landlord has it out for her; her new girlfriend, Marina, seems to want more than Sneha can give; and then Peter, Sneha’s boss, stops paying her. Meanwhile, a childhood trauma is demanding to be reckoned with. In her debut novel, Mathews achieves what so often seems to be impossible: a deeply felt “novel of ideas,” for lack of a better phrase. Mathews somehow tackles the big abstractions—capitalism, gender, sexuality, Western individualism, etc.—while at the same time imbuing her characters with such real, flawed humanity that they seem ready to walk right off the page. Rarely is dialogue rendered so accurately.

When Marina catches Sneha in a lie and demands an explanation, Sneha says, “Because I am a trash person and a coward.” In her prose, Mathews can be deeply moving at the same time that she is funny; she dips into slang in a way that feels lyrical and rhythmic. “Bro,” Sneha tells another friend, “the molecules of

my whole body are just carbon and abandonment issues.” If the novel seems to drag toward the end, this feels like a small, stingy criticism for a book that is, as a whole, beautifully written, lusciously felt, and marvelously envisioned.

Resplendent with intelligence, wit, and feeling.

THE FINAL EQUINOX

Mayne, Andrew Thomas & Mercer (336 pp.) $11.99 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-5420-3399-2 A strange signal in outer space leads a pair of investigators into a murderous, labyrinthine probe.

It begins with an unusual autopsy in Atlanta. Computer expert Dr. Theo Cray observes a team of scientists led by the laconic Dr. Radu as they examine mu2, a robot that’s attacked one of its creators, leaving the man in a coma. Wry maverick Cray, who used to work for the Department of Defense, now serves as a freelance adviser. He’s soon lured to New Mexico for a fascinating, top-secret gig. A group of scientists, working at Field Research Station Alpha to study possible communication with aliens, has recently been in contact with someone on the planet Neptune. Or is it a hoax? The suspicious suicide of a scientist prompts Theo to contact FBI agent Jessica Blackwood, currently in Virginia tracking the mythical Tree Man—or, more accurately, two girls who’ve gone missing in search of him. The duo has collaborated before, and Jessica, remembering Theo’s expertise and compassion, agrees to use her resources to help him. Mayne alternates Theo’s puckish first-person narrative with Jessica’s starchier one to great effect. The more they learn about the financial underpinnings of the New Mexico research, the larger the possibility of fraud looms. A handful of unsolved deaths turns this science-fiction thriller into a whodunit. The main plot roams through several sets of suspicious characters and twists, but Mayne’s snappy dialogue and crisply drawn characters keep the roller coaster from turning into a runaway train.

A lively genre-hopping thriller written with panache.

THE HERO OF THIS BOOK

McCracken, Elizabeth Ecco/HarperCollins (224 pp.) $24.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-0-06-297127-2 “Your family is the first novel that you know.”

Meandering about London in the summer of 2019, 10 months after the death of her mother, McCracken’s nameless (maybe!) narrator recounts episodes from her mother’s extraordinary life and their quirk-filled family. Like all good 24

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stories, it’s complicated, and the mother in question was brilliant, stubborn, bad with money, secretive, and oppositional.

Yet she was more fun than anyone else her daughter knew.

Challenged by daunting physical limitations due to an injury with forceps when she was born, the older woman expended efforts to lead an active and successful life that could be considered heroic. (The achievement of “fun” seems superheroic.)

Braided into McCracken’s gorgeously spiraling narrative is an expansive meditation on the act of writing and, intriguingly, the art of writing memoir. Beginning with the dedication page (a photograph of an inscription—written in McCracken’s first book—to her mother, in which McCracken promises her she’d never appear as a character in her daughter’s work), the novel assumes a hybrid quality that could be called autofiction but really is an homage to the art of great storytelling. The metadilemma caused by one character’s hatred of memoir and books “blaming” parents and another’s need to tell a story provides a broad stage upon which McCracken’s characters (whoever they may be) can deliver their frustrations, realizations, and appreciations. Though bereaved, McCracken’s narrator unfolds her journey through London, and the story of her sometimesmaddening relationship with her parents as they aged, with attention to specific human detail. There is no danger here of any character becoming the disembodied “sentient, anguished helium balloons” McCracken’s narrator warns her writing students against creating.

Novel? Memoir? Who cares. It’s a great story, beautifully told.

LESSONS

McEwan, Ian Knopf (448 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-53520-2 A tale of aspiration, disappointment, and familial dysfunction spread across a vast historic panorama.

Embracing the years from the Blitz to Brexit, McEwan’s latest finds Roland Baines, an unaccomplished fellow who scrapes out a living as a lounge pianist and sometime journalist, worrying about his infant son, Lawrence: “Shocked, numbed, scar tissue forming within hours in the lower regions of the unconscious, if such a place or process existed?” The boy has good reason to be damaged, for his mother, Alissa, has abandoned them. She will go on to great things, writing bestselling novels and, decades on, a memoir that will falsely accuse Roland of very bad behavior. Alissa is working out a trauma born of other sources, while Roland floats along, remembering traumas of his own, including piano lessons with plenty of illicit extras at his boarding school. McEwan weaves in the traumas of world history as well: As the story opens, the failed nuclear generator at Chernobyl is emitting radioactive toxins that threaten the world. Other formative moments include the Suez Canal crisis, Covid, and 9/11, which causes Roland more than his usual angst:

“Only a minuscule faction, credulous and cruel, believed that the New York hijackers reclined in paradise and should be followed.

But here, in a population of 60 million, there must be some.”

McEwan is fond of having his characters guess wrongly about what’s to come: A detective scoffs at forensics based on genetics (“Fashionable rubbish”), while Roland nurses a “theory that the Chernobyl disaster would mark the beginning of the end for nuclear weapons.” Well along his path, though, Roland comes to realize a point learned in childhood but forgotten: “Nothing is ever as you imagine it.” True, but McEwan’s imagination delivers plenty of family secrets and reflects on “so many lessons unlearned” in a world that’s clearly wobbling off its axis.

A richly observed story that spans decades to recount lives of sometimes-noisy desperation.

SACRIFICIO

Mestre-Reed combines elements of a spy novel and political thriller with bleak, steely-eyed realism about Cuba in the 1990s.

After the fall of the Soviet Union and the disappearance of Soviet support, Cuba entered the “special period,” which was marked by a sharp increase in poverty, a lack of basic goods and services, and deep uncertainty about the future of the country and the socialist dreams it was built on. Mestre-Reed explores this uncertain time while also telling a story about Cuba’s underground gay and HIV-positive population. Rafa, who’s come to Havana from rural eastern Cuba, goes home one night with a man named Nicolás, becoming entwined with him, his brother, Renato, and their mother, Cecilia. The family runs a high-dollar but semilegal restaurant, or paladar, out of their home, catering to rich tourists who seek an “authentic” Cuban meal, and Rafa helps them wait tables. Soon, he falls into a passionate and tormented affair with Nicolás that’s intimate and yet hard to define for both parties. During the peak of the AIDS epidemic, Cuba established sidatorios, or sanitariums, which were mandatory for people who were HIV-positive. The novel opens after Nicolás has been sent to a sidatorio and died, though no one knows where his body is. Renato also tests positive for HIV and is sent to the sidatorio but is allowed to leave on the weekends.

Rafa and Renato are united in their grief for Nicolás but also in their aimlessness; they spend their weekends together, wandering the city, looking for tourists to pick up, and roaming without much of a purpose. After a fateful encounter with an enigmatic German tourist, Rafa learns that Nicolás and Renato had more secrets than he realized. Nicolás was a member of “los injected ones,” people so disillusioned with their country and their future that they purposefully infected themselves with HIV in a self-destructive act of protest. Now, this group is determined to overthrow the Castro government during Pope John Paul |

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DINOSAURS

Millet, Lydia Norton (240 pp.) $26.95 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-324-02146-9

Mestre-Reed, Ernesto Soho (456 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-641-29364-8

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II’s upcoming visit to Cuba. Rafa becomes a hesitant detective, more interested in learning about Nicolás, Renato, and himself than in stopping the violent uprising. In this way, the book itself reflects the slow decay of ideals Mestre-Reed is exploring in the story. The novel’s Cuba is full of dreaming, even delusional, idealists—whether it’s the bureaucrats running the state, foreign tourists determined to overlook what’s in front of them to see the picturesque Cuba of the mind, or erstwhile revolutionaries committed to any kind of change at any price.

A compelling, melancholy novel that explores the beautiful rise and often violent breakdown of dreams, ideals, and love.

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Independently wealthy but bereaved in the wake of a painful breakup, a man moves from New York to Arizona in search of a fresh start.

Millet pulls back slightly here from the environmental catastrophe imagined in her National Book Award finalist, A Children’s Bible (2020). To be sure, Gil sees plenty of evidence of human destructiveness around his new home in Phoenix, especially the corpses of birds shot and abandoned by an anonymous hunter. Human cruelty is also evident in the bullying of his next-door neighbors’ son, Tom, by a schoolmate, who is himself maltreated by his brutal father.

But Gil finds warm companionship with Tom’s parents, Ardis and Ted, and his memories of New York include close friendships with two men, the hilariously unalike married couple Vic and Van Alsten. These relationships counterpoint the treatment he suffered from his abusive and manipulative former girlfriend, Lane; good-natured, almost pathologically unassuming Gil’s eventual extrication from her emotional clutches forms an important element in the plot. How we can nurture ourselves, the people dear to us, and the world around us are key issues in this gentle, meditative novel, told from Gil’s point of view to slowly build a marvelously full, if inadvertent, self-portrait.

Gil rivals Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin in sheer goodness, with a healthy dollop of Myshkin’s cluelessness, but he grows and learns as he settles in in Arizona and gets several kinds of closure from developments in New York. His new Arizona friends are also depicted as kind people striving to do right by others.

Are they doomed to extinction, like Millet’s eponymous dinosaurs? Will they survive by evolving, as dinosaurs did into birds?

These sorts of philosophical questions are raised with a very light touch by Millet, who enfolds thematic and psychological depths in elegant, deceptively simply prose. Her lovely, moving conclusion affirms that “separateness had always been the illusion…the world was inside you.”

Another life-affirming work from a writer who always carves her own literary path.

“A teenage Renaissance bride discovers that her husband of scarcely a year intends to murder her.” the marriage portrait

DADDY’S GONE A-HUNTING

Mortimer, Penelope McNally Editions (264 pp.) $18.00 | May 17, 2022 978-1-946022-26-4

ITHACA

North, Claire Redhook/Orbit (464 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-316-42296-3 The queen of the gods narrates a crackling tale of secrets and intrigue.

Penelope has a problem—a few, in fact. First, there are the suitors: about a hundred men who trespass on her

y o u n g a d u lt

In a commuter town outside of London, Ruth Whiting leads a lonesome and tedious existence.

With her sons returned to boarding school after the holidays, her daughter, Angela, to Cambridge, and her oblivious, bloviating husband absented to London during the workweek, Ruth, whether in fact or function, is almost always alone. When she socializes, it is, briefly and superficially, with equally bored bourgeois neighbors, other wives who, “like little icebergs, each keeps a bright and shining face above water; below the surface, submerged in fathoms of leisure, each keeps her own isolated personality....Their friendships, appearing frank and sunny, are febrile and short-lived, turning quickly to malice.” And so, purposeless, neglected until someone needs something from her, unable to make or sustain meaningful connections even within her own family, revisiting past regrets that now make up the fundamental architecture of her life, Ruth finds her sense of self and security destabilizing. No longer trusted to remain independent, she is further isolated, attended by the family physician, who has bafflingly prescribed a trip alone to Antibes, wardened by the patronizing, priggish Miss de Beer. But when Angela comes to her for help with an unwanted pregnancy, retreading a younger Ruth’s own missteps, a chance at real closeness may finally have arrived. The profound gap between what goes unsaid—which is often volumes—and what the characters say— typically the most minimal, noncommittal response available— drives Mortimer’s bone-dry humor, illuminating the Whitings’ vulnerable humanity and further alienation as they fumble for intimacy with one another and those in their orbit. Originally published in 1958, a full decade before abortion was legalized in the U.K., the book is as salient a study of the disparate views and persistent inequities around reproductive health care for present-day U.S. readers as it is illuminating of midcentury English attitudes and conditions.

A wry dissection of domestic despair and affluent ennui and a topical introduction to Mortimer’s body of literary work.

hospitality, waiting for her to admit that her husband, Odysseus, is dead and choose a new king of Ithaca. And then there are the pirates who’ve been harrying the coast, the fact that Ithaca has no men of fighting age to defend it, and the troubling possibility that one of the suitors has sent the pirates to pressure her into capitulating. Perhaps her biggest problem—or opportunity—is that she’s a woman, and even as a queen she’s expected to stay out of matters of state. As told by Hera, queen of the gods, Penelope’s story is one of secrets, of women working in the shadows, unnoticed and underestimated. As Penelope herself puts it, “The greatest power we women can own, is that we take in secret.” Hera is an appealingly involved narrator with a biting tongue (“Every little twerp is descended from Heracles these days”). She picks favorites, she complains, she nudges, she rails against her own reduced position among the gods. And she weaves a great yarn. More straightforward and more visceral than much of North’s recent work, this is a ground-up view of Greek myth populated by spying maids, crafty merchants, and conniving queens. It’s taut, suspenseful, and full of Hera’s delightfully dyspeptic attitude.

A thoroughly enjoyable exploration of Penelope’s side of the ancient story.

THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT

O’Farrell, Maggie Knopf (352 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-32062-4

A teenage Renaissance bride discovers that her husband of scarcely a year intends to murder her.

Following up her National Book Critics Circle Award winner Hamnet (2020), inspired by the life of Shakespeare’s wife, O’Farrell turns to another woman seen by history only in glimpses. Little is known about Lucrezia de’Medici, married at 15 to the Duke of Ferrara, besides her suspicious death; rumors that she was poisoned prompted Robert Browning’s famous poem “My Last Duchess.” In contrast to Browning’s ever smiling victim, O’Farrell imagines a rebellious spirit less interested in matrimony than in painting the natural world around her. The author develops tension with a split time frame, opening in 1561 in “a wild and lonely place” to which 16-yearold Lucrezia is quite sure Alfonso has brought her to be killed, then circling back to depict her childhood in Florence, including a life-changing encounter with a tiger in her father’s private menagerie. From there the two narratives move forward in tandem: We see Lucrezia growing up to be sacrificed to political maneuvering that mandates her marriage to the suave Alfonso and growing aware in Ferrara that her outwardly courteous and kind husband is brutally determined to cement his shaky hold on the dukedom and ferociously intent on making sure she produces an heir. Her only solace comes in painting wild scenes of imaginary creatures, then covering them up with conventional still lifes approved by Alfonso as proper diversions for his |

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duchess. When she meets Jacopo, an apprentice to the painter commissioned to create her portrait, she finds a soul mate who perhaps offers a way out of her imprisoning marriage. Several grim scenes make clear the mortal consequences of any attempt to escape Alfonso’s clutches: Will Lucrezia take the risk? The rollbacks to earlier periods spark some impatience as Lucrezia’s 1561 dilemma becomes more pressing, but O’Farrell’s vivid portrait of a turbulent age and a vibrant heroine mostly compensate for an undue lengthening of suspense as Lucrezia struggles to defy her fate.

A compelling portrait of a young woman out of step with her times.

JOLLOF RICE AND OTHER REVOLUTIONS A Novel in Interlocking Stories

Ogunyemi, Omolola Ijeoma Amistad/HarperCollins (256 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-06-311704-4

A novel in stories that orbits four girls who meet in boarding school in Nigeria.

Remi, Nonso, Aisha, and Solape become fast friends as schoolgirls. The book’s title refers to an incident that occurs on campus in 1986 and changes their lives irrevocably. When an acrimonious principal fires several teachers beloved by their pupils, students revolt. Some girls participate in the protest and some don’t, but they all experience lasting consequences from the choices they make in this single moment of their childhoods. The first of the book’s connected stories takes place long before the uprising and centers a grandmother of one of the girls in an origin story of sorts that demonstrates this writer’s capacious vision. The stories that follow trace the trajectories of the girls’ lives as they grow into ambitious, cosmopolitan, globe-trotting women and introduce others who populate their worlds. One story, narrated by Remi’s college sweetheart, takes place in the Bronx; a story narrated

by Solape’s mother and another by Nonso’s housekeeper are set in Nigeria nine years apart. In this way Ogunyemi widens the aperture beyond the tight-knit friendship among the central characters to address family dynamics, race relations, changing political landscapes in the United States and Nigeria, and the ways in which women and girls adapt, endure, and thrive. These stories both collapse and reconstruct the coming-of-age arc in a refreshing way. The final story shines brightest in imagining a near future for the elders the girls become, and for the U.S. and Nigeria, that exceeds Aristotle’s maxim that a good ending be surprising yet inevitable. Ogunyemi explores myriad themes, from religion and fundamentalism to grief and resilience, capitalism and corruption, with aplomb.

This kaleidoscopic narrative features engaging sociopolitical drama alongside a charismatic cast of characters.

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TOUCH

Olafsson, Olaf Ecco/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-0-06-322698-2 A pandemic novel reunites an Icelandic man and a Japanese woman who had lost contact for a half-century after a brief but significant romance.

There is a lot going on in the mind of 75-year-old Kristófer, which is where most of this novel takes place. He has decided to close his successful restaurant, with Covid intensifying and no end to the lockdown in sight. He’s lost his wife to an unspecified illness, and tension remains with his stepdaughter. A friend with whom he had been to school in London has just died. His brother both depends on him and nags him. And his doctor has ordered a brain scan, suspecting some cognitive issues. He tends to avoid what he would rather not confront and isn’t much for acknowledging his feelings, even to himself. As the first-person narrator, he is not the most reliable. Out of the blue he receives a Facebook message from Miko, the Japanese woman with whom he had fallen in love in London 50 years ago and who changed the course of his life before leaving him after a few months with no explanation or warning. Now she has the virus and is not sure she will survive it. In a novel that is a little too reliant on coincidence—that the death of Kristófer’s friend from London and the reconnection with his girlfriend from London should happen concurrently—Kristófer decides without telling Miko that he will go see her in Japan, a journey that requires a stopover in London. It is there that he revisits his memories and recounts how he had forsaken his education, changed his life and his values during the radical late 1960s, and found his path forward after working at a restaurant with Miko that was owned by her father. They had identified with John and Yoko and explored the darker undercurrents of Hiroshima. Then she had left England, with her father, leaving no forwarding address.

Why had she left? Why has she contacted him now? Will they have a future after 50 years apart?

A ruminative novel that’s propelled by the narrator’s psychological reflections.

TI AMO

Ørstavik, Hanne Trans. by Martin Aitken Archipelago (200 pp.) $18.00 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-953861-44-3 A husband and wife living in Italy confront the man’s imminent death from cancer in a meditation on relationships, loss, and identity in every facet of existence.

Noted Norwegian writer Ørstavik’s new, novella-length work hints at autobiography, introducing an unnamed narrator

“Two young women navigate their friendship in Karachi, then again decades later in London.” best of friends

BLOWBACK

Patterson, James & Brendan DuBois Little, Brown (512 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 12, 2022 978-0-316-49963-7 A rogue president schemes to start, and end, a cyberwar with China.

It feels almost like business as usual to CIA field operative Benjamin Lucas when the defection of his Stanford schoolmate Chin Lin from the Chinese Ministry of State Security goes pear-shaped: Masked men storm the meeting in which Chin is handing over supersecret information, Chin gets shot, Ben gets abducted and imprisoned. But Chin’s imperious boss, Xi Dejiang, is the least of their problems, or their nations’. Shuttling back and forth to reveal a constantly widening panorama, Patterson and DuBois focus on deputy CIA director Hannah Abrams’ stalled nomination as director, inoffensive finance officer Donna Otterson’s suicide when she’s arrested for passing CIA secrets to the Chinese, and the mysterious poisoning that’s sent Vice President Laura Hernandez into a coma. The spider at the center of all this skulduggery is President Keegan Barrett, who’s ordered CIA operatives Liam Grey and Noa Himel to assemble secret teams to terminate with extreme prejudice any Chinese espionage operations they can find inside or outside the U.S. Convinced that he’s been ordained to rend China’s digital infrastructure from top

to bottom, Barrett has insulated himself from second-guessing by surrounding himself with yes men and neutralizing any dissenting voices by canceling their communications capabilities or having them assassinated. Echoing Fletcher Knebel’s Night of Camp David, which they acknowledge, and Fail-Safe and Dr. Strangelove, which they don’t, the authors set their rousing tale of a few good citizens determined to wrestle the country back from a delusional paranoiac in a world that’s at once absolutely menacing and deeply nostalgic.

The perfect beach read for political junkies willing to change the frequency for a few hours.

BEST OF FRIENDS

Shamsie, Kamila Riverhead (320 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-593-42182-6

Two young women navigate their friendship in Karachi, then again decades later in London.

“Zahra had once looked up from a dictionary to inform Maryam that what the two of them had with each other was friendship, and what they had with the other six girls and twenty-two boys in class was merely ‘propinquity.’ ” Much of Shamsie’s latest novel is concerned with this distinction, as Zahra and Maryam grapple with the force that binds them together, something more meaningful and mysterious than physical closeness. In the first half, the two are 14-year-olds living in Karachi in the weeks surrounding the death of dictator Gen. Zia in 1988. Studious Zahra is the daughter of a deeply principled TV cricket-show anchor. Confident, privileged Maryam expects to inherit her ruthless grandfather’s leather company. While the dictatorship they live under (and are subsequently freed from) colors their daily experiences, they are before all else two young girls concerned with their changing bodies, their futures, high-stakes exams, and—in particular— their growing awareness of their vulnerability as women. “It’s not just fear,”Maryam tells Zahra, “it’s girlfear.”This portion of the novel is sophisticated and poignant and crescendos to a pivotal scene in a car that is suspenseful, chilling, and masterfully executed. The second half fast-forwards to 2019, when the pair are living in London—Zahra Ali the director of the Center for Civil Liberties and Maryam Khan a powerful venture capitalist funding ethically dubious facial-tagging technologies. This portion of the novel is more scattered than the first. The maneuvering required for their powerful roles, while it allows Shamsie to touch on hot-button political issues, often lacks the exquisite nuance of her depiction of long-lasting friendship.

A quiet, moving portrait of two lifelong friends.

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who is a Norwegian novelist relocated to Milan, as the author has done, with an oeuvre that includes Love, one of Ørstavik’s own books. The narrator is deferring her next novel to write this penetrating chronicle of her partner’s decline. When did his cancer begin, she wonders, tracing their four years together, the trips, the timing of his proposal (after his diagnosis), and settling on spring 2018 when “the energy went out of you.” Now, in 2020, he is dealing with rapidly advancing illness and extreme pain while she is tending him, writing (her way of existing), and confronting their differences at a crucial junction. Why does he choose not to discuss his death, less than 12 months away?

How much strength is he using to avoid knowing? Throughout the brief text, the statement “I love you/Ti amo” is repeated and exchanged like a tolling bell as the couple both unites and divides in the face of inevitable extremis. Meanwhile, Ørstavik maintains a brutally tender, hyperprecise gaze: “For a long time just looking at you was painful to me, I couldn’t look at you without the knowledge that you’re going to die….And even though it’s not that acute anymore, it still won’t pass, now it’s quieter in a way, normal almost, death has become an attendant presence.”

Yet, dark though its central topic undeniably is, the novel shares a compassionate vision, bridging the gulf between the one who will go on and the one who will not: “What I’ve been writing is the most truthful way I’ve been able to be with you, with all that cannot be said between us in our days together.”

A remarkably frank and finely sieved account of two people approaching the ultimate parting of the ways.

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OTHER NAMES FOR LOVE

Soomro, Taymour Farrar, Straus and Giroux (256 pp.) $26.00 | July 12, 2022 978-0-3746-0464-6 A Pakistani boy is riven by duty and legacy and by his own desires.

At 16, Fahad is a bookish, sensitive boy who can’t seem to evade the critical eye of his tyrannical father, Rafik, in their home in Karachi. His hopes to spend the summer holidays in London with his doting mother are dashed when Rafik demands that the boy join him at the family’s rural estate in Abad. Just as he’s attempting to cultivate the lush jungle into farmland, Rafik intends to subdue his son’s softer tendencies, to make “a man” of him, so that eventually the boy may grow up to assume power over the family estate himself. To accomplish this, Rafik introduces Fahad to local boy Ali, who appears, at first, to be his foil: tough, brooding, and dutiful. However, as the summer advances and the boys grow closer, Fahad finds himself attracted to Ali, a seductive spell that overflows into an admiration for the overgrown jungle that his father is attempting to tame at all costs. As the relationship between the two boys blossoms, Rafik’s abuses of power take new extremes as he enlists his workers in building a dam whose construction is not only costly and ambitious, but places all of their lives at risk. A couple of decades later, Fahad has managed to effectively escape his father’s grip. A successful writer, he has made a comfortable life for himself in London with his partner.

However, a phone call from his mother threatens the stability and ease he has finally achieved: His parents are on the verge of losing their home in Karachi, and his presence is required to manage the estate in Abad. Back in Abad, Fahad observes his once-despotic father’s descent into dementia as his own mind is deluged with memories of his romance with Ali. In third-person chapters that alternate between Rafik’s and Fahad’s points of view, the novel deftly captures the way the past—both memories and inheritances—informs the present and the future.

Despite its concern for the past though, the narrative never feels stalled, moving forward with urgent and emotionally resonant prose.

A deft examination of sexuality, history, and father-son relationships.

CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP Ghost Stories

Soto, Adam Astra House (272 pp.) $17.00 paper | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-662-60135-4

A collection of ghost stories in which the ghosts are imagined, metaphorical, and sometimes even real.

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In “Wren & Riley,” a group of friends reunite after one of them kills her abusive husband in self-defense. But when they spend the night at her isolated home in Wyoming, they discover that death wasn’t enough to keep him away. In “Immanuel,” an enslaved Black boy grows up intertwined in an intense friendship with the White boy whose family holds him captive, but as the Civil War drags on, all illusions about the true nature of their relationship fall away. In “Sleepy Things,” Magdalena worries about her adult son’s relationship with his comatose girlfriend, when suddenly the girlfriend starts visiting Magdalena in her dreams.

Soto’s new collection, as suggested by its subtitle, explores ghosts.

Or, rather, hauntings, which may or may not involve literal ghosts.

In “Death on Mars,” for instance, after a person dies, their personal AI starts to carry on in their place, a haunting that doesn’t feel very different than a ghost simply because it’s carried out by a computer. Similarly, in “The Prize,” two writers plan to use a dead man’s identity to publish their own work but find it makes them feel less real themselves. Sometimes Soto drifts a bit too far into metaphorical territory in those more realistic stories or waits until the very end to provide clarity. But where there is a more direct approach, as in “Immanuel,” “Sleepy Things,” and the title story (which does feature literal ghosts), his well-drawn characters with their nuanced battles with grief and hope shine brighter.

Haunting and complex if uneven.

THE BAD ANGEL BROTHERS

Theroux, Paul Mariner Books (352 pp.) $28.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-35-871689-1

A festering sibling rivalry turns toxic.

Brothers Frank and Cal Belanger are as mismatched as the halves of Frank’s visage that give him “the contradictory face you see in some Greek masks.” A lawyer in their hometown of Littleford, Massachusetts, Frank has accumulated wealth and power through his undeniable skill at manipulating people, while his adventurous younger brother, a geologist, has roamed the world mining precious gems. Now in their 50s, the brothers’ longtime rivalry boils over into escalating, if asymmetrical, psychological warfare when Cal returns from one of his frequent lengthy international sojourns for an extended stay in Littleford with his wife, a crusader against child labor, and son. Whether he’s simply gaslighting or unleashing every weapon in his legal arsenal, Frank marshals a set of emotional and professional tools honed over a lifetime to destroy the successful career and family life Cal has built. Cal, who narrates the novel, describes his mounting sense of helplessness as Frank turns his strengths into weaknesses and exploits his every misstep. Eventually, Cal’s frustration turns to thoughts of mayhem, as he imagines ending his torment by dispatching his brother without leaving a trace.

In Cal’s telling, Frank is the embodiment of pure evil, while Cal has at least enough insight to describe some of his own moral failings with a minimum of self-justification. All of this offers a

“A gentle tale of love and loneliness.” out of esau

promising setup that turns out to be stronger than its execution, as the novel takes too long to reach its inevitable climax. Theroux is an acclaimed travel writer, and he brings those skills to bear in intermittent scenes vividly describing Cal’s gem-hunting work in places like Colombia and Zambia and some interesting aspects of the rare gem business. Inside this slow-paced novel there is a much more energetic one trying to emerge.

A psychological thriller whose payoff doesn’t deliver on a protracted buildup.

A FAMILIAR STRANGER

Torre, A.R. Thomas & Mercer (287 pp.) $15.95 paper | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-6625-0012-1

Troubled hearts meet troubled souls.

Making a graceful fiction debut, Webster-Hein crafts a soulful novel set in a small Midwestern town. Like Kent Haruf ’s Holt, Colorado, and Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead, Iowa, Webster-Hein’s Esau, Michigan, harbors lives of quiet desperation. It’s 1996, and Pastor Robert Glory has ministered at the Esau Baptist Church for 10 years, barely subsisting on a parsimonious salary. Part Native American (his mother is Cherokee, his father White), he is treated like an outsider by his self-satisfied, narrow-minded congregation. One day, he notices newcomers at Sunday service: a 30-something woman with two young children. The woman is lovely, and at the end of the service, looking into her dark eyes, he feels “a rising thrill”—perhaps, he fears, a forbidden temptation. Hein’s narrative unfolds in chapters told from the points of view of her central characters: Robert, 38, who was raised in foster homes and found order and consolation in the church; Susan Shearer, the newcomer, unhappily married to a domineering, possessive man; Randy, her husband, frustrated at his factory job, given to violent rages; Willa, their 9-year-old daughter, who will do anything to make peace at home; and Leotie, Robert’s mother, ill and aging, who was left poor, homeless, and helpless after her son was taken from her at the age of 8. Susan, seeing only a bleak future for herself and her children, struggles to live up to her wedding vows in a marriage that sometimes feels “like life without parole.” When she unburdens herself to the pastor, he counsels obedience and faith in God’s plan. His own faith, though, is wavering, shaken by Susan’s questioning and his undeniable attraction to her. “An alarm or a bell,” sounds within him, “either warning him of something or waking him up.” With characters yearning for intimacy and acceptance, Webster-Hein delicately probes the meanings of family, freedom, and desire.

A gentle tale of love and loneliness.

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A Los Angeles Times obituary writer who likes to tweet riddles asking which of three imaginary characters will die becomes the center of a triple-twisted riddle of her own.

Two months before the death of a woman the author doesn’t initially identify, Lillian Smith accidentally learns that her husband, financial manager Mike Smith, has spent the weekend at a posh Santa Barbara hotel with someone who wasn’t her. So she’s less inclined than usual to resist the advances of T-shirt printer David Laurent when he flirts with her. From that point on, as Lillian confesses alternately to her best friend, Sam Knight, and Lenny Thompson, a retired LAPD detective who tends the grounds at the cemetery where his 7-year-old daughter is buried, things go rapidly downhill. Fired from her job at the Times, Lillian starts a serious affair with David, who’s gotten her work at the marina where his boat is docked.

Someone posts PG–rated but still damning video evidence of her affair online, where it’s watched by everyone she knows, including the high school classmates of her son, Jacob, who proceed to make his life miserable. And that’s all before the death of one of the principals. Torre is hoarding so many surprises that readers are bound to see one or two of them coming, but since everyone involved has secrets to hide from the other characters whose secrets they’re sure they know, the unwary, and maybe even the wary, should buckle up and prepare for a wild ride whose perfectly timed shocks won’t end till the last page.

A whiplash suspenser that’s a model of its kind.

OUT OF ESAU

Webster-Hein, Michelle Counterpoint (336 pp.) $27.00 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-64009-412-3

THE TWO LIVES OF SARA

West, Catherine Adel Park Row Books (320 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-778-33322-7

In the early 1960s, a pregnant Black woman flees Chicago and makes her way to Memphis.

Sara’s life has been difficult, and in Memphis, she finds herself trying to hide from her demons—physical and mental—from back in Chicago. Her best friends, Naomi and Violet, helped her make her way to Memphis, where Naomi’s aunt |

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Mama Sugar welcomes her with open arms. In Mama Sugar’s boardinghouse, Sara settles in; her son, Lebanon, is born; and the days begin to flow by as she helps take care of Mr. Vanellys, Mama Sugar’s husband; Elvin and Buster, two long-term boarders; William, Mama Sugar’s grandson; and all the other boarders who come and go on their way through Memphis. Soon Sara’s circle expands: There is Mr. Coulter, one of Will’s teachers, forever giving Will extra assignments to expand his mind; Cora and Lawrence Morgan, a doctor and his wife from Mama Sugar’s church; and Ms. Mavis, a local bakery owner. But this is not a fairy tale, and happy endings are in short supply: Sara’s circle also includes Amos, Will’s here-now-and-gone-again father, a drinker and gambler; and Lucky, who is willing to do anything to get the money that Amos owes him. The story follows Sara and the others over the course of a few years, as Lebanon grows, good times follow bad times, and joy and tragedy come fast and furious. Author West has written a book that seems made to be filmed: Weighty conversations about living with segregation and trying to survive despite all the difficulties drive the story.

A raw look at life for a Black woman in the segregated South.

PROPERTIES OF THIRST

Wiggins, Marianne Simon & Schuster (544 pp.) $28.00 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-1-4165-7126-1

A sweeping, cinematic story of love and family set against the dramatic backdrop of World War II and the American West.

“You can’t save what you don’t love.”

That’s the first sentence of Wiggins’ new novel and a leitmotif throughout the book—a love story, in the classic sense, as well as a love letter to an American West celebrated by Hollywood even as it was sucked dry by the city of Los Angeles. It’s also a lesson in how Wiggins’ languid, linguistically lush and lyrical novel, set in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, found its way to completion. As the author’s daughter, photographer Lara Porzak, relays in an afterword, Wiggins was just a few chapters shy of completing the book when, in 2016, she suffered a massive stroke that affected her sequencing logic and short-term memory. Porzak worked from Wiggins’ notes and with a collaborator to help her mother complete the novel, saving it as a true labor of love. Given that painstaking process and the breathtaking beauty of the bulk of this novel, it would be ungrateful to gripe that the end doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by the previous chapters. To be sure, Wiggins set an extremely high bar. The book follows the experiences of several memorable characters, including Rockwell “Rocky” Rhodes, the scion of a wealthy East Coast railroad magnate, who has reinvented himself as a hardworking ranch man and impassioned preservationist; a Chicago-raised Jewish attorney named Schiff, who has been sent by the Department of the Interior to set up an internment camp for Japanese Americans 32

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in a desiccated former apple orchard adjacent to Rocky’s turf in Lone Pine, California; and Sunny, Rocky’s spirited daughter, a fiercely talented, mostly self-taught chef with whom Schiff falls in love. Wiggins’ interwoven plotlines—propelled here by romantic and there by familial love—and colorful characters are entrancing and as cinematic as the real-life Westerns that were filmed in the valley in which the book is primarily set. But what makes the novel soar is the way Wiggins can evoke landscapes both interior and exterior, especially the expansive valley that has come to exemplify America’s best qualities—and its worst.

This majestic novel will satisfy those thirsting for an epic saga of love, family, and the complexities of the American way.

m ys t e r y BOUND BY MURDER

Black, Laura Gail Crooked Lane (288 pp.) $26.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63910-096-5

A woman previously suspected of murder is implored by her ex to get him out of jail when he’s accused of a similar crime.

Though she hasn’t always been lucky in love herself, Jenna Quinn loves love.

She’s charmed when Mason, her young employee at the antique bookshop Twice Upon a Time, falls head over heels for the literal girl next door. The added attention of boyfriend Det. Keith Logan makes Jenna wholly smitten with the spring season. So smitten, she’s willing to try to play nice when her former fiance, Blake Emerson, shows up to her workplace with a woman who introduces herself as Missy Plott, the next Mrs. Emerson. Even though it stings to see someone else wearing the engagement ring she’d picked out, Jenna considers herself lucky that she and Blake are history. After all, instead of supporting her when she was wrongly accused of murder, Blake all but vanished, leaving her to rely on the support of her new friends in Hokes Folly, North Carolina. Missy sees herself as winning, and Jenna’s not about to convince her otherwise, but Blake demonstrates he’s no prize when he tries to win Jenna back while Missy’s out of earshot (eww!). Jenna tries to keep her head down and stay out of it until Blake’s accused of murder in the wake of a shocking discovery. Remembering Jenna’s success in clearing her own name, Blake and his mother, Gwendolyn, implore her to help.

Will this be a chance for Blake and Jenna to clear the air, or will investigating imperil the true love between Jenna and Keith?

Real-seeming characters provide more grounding but less fun.

“On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, off the northeast coast of England, the past drives the present.” the rising tide

LAST BUT NOT LEASHED

Brady, Eileen Poisoned Pen (272 pp.) $8.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-72824-934-6

DEWEY DECIMATED

Brook, Allison Crooked Lane (336 pp.) $26.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63910-090-3

A librarian solves a very cold case with help from a friendly spirit.

Carrie Singleton has had a wonderful year. She’s landed a great job at the Clover Ridge Library, joined the town council, and become engaged to Dylan Avery. Now that the library’s acquired the building next door on the town square, renovations are underway courtesy of Powell Construction, whose owner, Sean Powell, has an excellent reputation. Evelyn Havers, the library ghost whom very few lucky souls have seen, has often helped Carrie with problems. But she’s taken aback when the workmen find a body in the cellar of the building under renovation. Carrie plans to keep out of the investigation until the body is identified as that of Dylan’s uncle, Alec Dunmore, whose ghost turns up in the library with a very limited memory of who he is and who murdered him. The three members of the Whitehead family who owned the building

THE RISING TIDE

Cleeves, Ann Minotaur (384 pp.) $23.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-2502-0453-0

Indomitable Inspector Vera Stanhope, whose lonely youth with a lawless father has given her a unique approach to crime and punishment, returns in a heartbreaking case.

On the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, off the northeast coast of England, the past drives the present.

A small group of old school friends have been meeting there, at Pilgrims’ House, every five years for half a century. They first came to the island on a school trip organized by a young teacher hoping to “challenge their preconceptions” on “a kind of secular retreat.” They bonded on that first trip, but what may have really brought them together was the death of Isobel, one of their number, at their first reunion five years later. At that time, Annie and Daniel were married and mourning the loss of a baby.

Since then, Lou and Ken have also married, and now Ken has dementia. Rick has become a famous television personality, and Philip, a priest. Now, after a night of drinking and reliving the past, Annie, long divorced from Daniel, finds Rick’s body hanging in his room. The fact that Rick was recently fired from his job over allegations of sexual impropriety does not convince Annie that her notably vain friend would commit suicide and leave himself to be found naked. Soon after Vera and her crew are called in, she confirms that Rick was smothered and hanged. The Holy Island is an island only when the tide covers the causeway; indeed, trying to drive through the water caused Isobel’s death all those years ago. Although there are certainly present-day reasons why someone might have killed Rick, Vera and her team do a deep dive into the past and find an unexpected motive.

A character-driven puzzler that ends in a painful denouement.

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A veterinarian, her friends, and several dogs save the day.

Kate Turner is filling in for another vet whose yearlong absence offers her a great opportunity to live rent-free while paying off her student loans. In addition to becoming popular with the people in the Hudson Valley whose pets she cares for, she’s also garnered quite a reputation as a crime solver—though her boyfriend, Luke, who’s left a job with the police to go to law school, has recently seemed a bit distant. When Kate joins her vet tech, Mari, at a lecture about organizing everything in your life, she finds the body of the lecturer, Sookie Overmann, lying in a pool of blood. Both her Gramps and Luke know that she won’t be able to resist doing a little detective work between rounds of caring for her diverse clients. As Sookie’s assistant moves into her job, her husband becomes the leading suspect because of their impending divorce and a missing bunch of money. Meanwhile, a badly bitten pit bull left in the clinic parking lot and the feisty Chihuahua Little Man, one of Kate’s favorite clients who may have cancer, temporarily join her crew at home. At a New Year’s dance, Kate is pursued by a charming artist, and a woman apparently jumps to her death. Soon thereafter Luke breaks off their romance. With time on her hands, Kate has leisure for enough snooping to hit a killer’s nerve. Her savior turns out to be a tiny dog.

A pleasing mélange of mystery and pet lore.

and sold it to the town were dominated by the dishonest James, whom many can easily imagine as a murderer, and there are plenty of other suspects. In the meantime, the town council has to decide what to do with a neglected nature preserve: make improvements, turn it into a park, or build high-end condos.

The pressure put on Carrie by a snarky reporter who’s joined her to investigate places her friendship with police chief Lt. John Mathers in jeopardy. Even so, she can’t resist a puzzle and hopes the past and present will provide some answers.

Books, ghosts, murder, fun.

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BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH

Flower, Amanda Berkley (336 pp.) $17.00 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-33694-6

Emily Dickinson uses the power of her family name to help solve a murder.

After Willa Noble lands the position of maid of all work at the Amherst, Massachusetts, home of the Dickinsons, her life changes in many ways. When her younger brother is killed by a horse, stable owner Elmer Johnson blames him, but Willa is skeptical, since Henry had an affinity for horses, and on a recent visit to her he claimed to have a plan that would make them rich. Sensing Willa’s doubts, Emily supports her maid when the police question her, encouraging her to investigate her brother’s death. Emily doesn’t attend church, spends much of her time writing, and often seems lost in the clouds. But her intellect is formidable, and she uses her father’s position as a congressman to push the limits of respectable female behavior. Together with Emily’s dog, Carlo, the two women visit the stables where Henry died and learn that the horse that killed him has been deliberately burned. Jeremiah York, a young Black man who was a friend to Henry, was absent the night he died and refuses to say where he was. The women hope to find clues in the diary Henry left or in an anonymous threatening letter. Their investigations suggest a link between Henry and the Underground Railroad during a time when slave catches are coming north, igniting controversy. Emily insists that Willa accompany her family on a trip to Washington, D.C., where they learn a great deal, but not until they’re back in Amherst do they finally put the clues together.

Historical context adds excitement to the twin mysteries of murder and the poet’s hidden life.

MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL

Harrison, Cora Severn House (224 pp.) $29.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-72785-052-2

A Reverend Mother, a police officer, a newspaper reporter, and a Jewish doctor extend their long, successful record of solving crimes in Cork in the 1920s.

Reverend Mother Aquinas has seen the worst of humanity, and nothing surprises her. But the Christmas double murder of an archdeacon of the Anglican Church of Ireland along with one of her most troublesome and downtrodden students makes her very angry indeed. Bishop Thompson comes himself to inform her that Dr. Scher, the police surgeon, thinks that both 7-year-old Enda O’Sullivan and the archdeacon were poisoned. Inspector Patrick Cashman and journalist and law student Eileen MacSwiney, 34

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two of the Reverend Mother’s most accomplished and beloved students involved in the case, rely on her wisdom to help solve a horrible crime with political implications. Apparently someone had tricked Enda into climbing into the cathedral, putting poison into a chalice, and then eating poisoned candy. Though the mischievous Enda had the voice of an angel, neither he nor his mother was popular in the Catholic community, and the Reverend Mother has to use all her influence to arrange a proper funeral. Patrick quickly learns that the archdeacon was disliked by a great many people for a great many reasons but wonders whether any of them are serious enough to kill for. Even in an Ireland free of England, members of the old guard still occupy many of the top positions. As a Catholic, Patrick relies on his Protestant assistant for insight. In the end, Dr. Scher’s knowledge of antique silver gives the Reverend Mother the answer.

Plenty of suspects dramatizing Ireland’s religious differences provide an excellent character-driven mystery.

FALL GUY

Mayor, Archer Minotaur (304 pp.) $28.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-2502-2418-7 A murdered burglar in a stolen car leads Joe Gunther’s Vermont Bureau of Investigation team into some truly nasty places.

Despite the absence of any identification, the corpse is quickly identified as that of Don Kalfus, and the Mercedes in whose trunk he’s been found belongs to Lemuel Shaw, a New Hampshire native who returned home to live the good life after making his bundle in New York. Since a phone found on Kalfus contains images of child pornography and Angie Neal, the girl who answers the door when Joe’s task force goes looking for Lisa Rowell, the phone’s owner, is clearly the model for one of the images, the leading question immediately becomes who’s most invested in producing and consuming this smut. It’s not Lisa Rowell, who’s nothing but a fictional avatar for Kalfus. Could it be Melissa Monfet, Angie’s mother, or Trevor Buttner, her ex-con live-in?

Or could it be Lemuel Shaw, whose Mercedes was stolen not from his bucolic estate but from outside the strip club he frequented—a club from which he’d been ejected that night after arguing with bouncer Don Thompson, another pseudonym for Don Kalfus? As Joe and his teammates cross back and forth between Vermont and New Hampshire finding more and more rocks to turn over, canny readers are likely to assume they know where this all is headed. But as a series of brutal revelations stacked up like wartime corpses in the last few chapters indicate, things are much worse than they anticipated.

A meticulous, professional procedural whose climax packs a wallop.

“The busiest, saddest, untidiest village mystery ever.” demolition

DEADLY SPIRITS

Miley, Mary Severn House (224 pp.) $29.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-44830-684-8

DEMOLITION

Oldham, Nick Severn House (224 pp.) $29.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-44830-694-7 Retired Det. Superintendent Henry Christie, taken off the shelf again to question a suspect who won’t speak to anyone else, finds himself investigating a rash of crimes committed before he was born.

When Celia Twain discovers her husband’s corpse only a few hours after she’d publicly threatened to kill him over his adultery, the Kendleton constabulary are naturally interested. Since Celia refuses to talk to anyone but Henry, who’s been around forever, DS Rik Dean offers him 500 pounds for a day’s work getting her statement, which naturally doesn’t include a confession of murder. Meantime, things have heated up dramatically in the village. Although James Twain had plenty of enemies, the

SOUTH CENTRAL NOIR

Ed. by Phillips, Gary Akashic (280 pp.) $16.95 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63614-054-4

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A talented investigator and a medium who occasionally hits the mark are involved in yet another murder case.

It’s 1924, and life hasn’t been easy for Maddie Pastore. Fleeing an abusive family, she met and married Tommy Pastore, whose job driving a truck for the Chicago mob got him killed, leaving her and baby Tommy penniless. A chance meeting with the mother of a school friend who makes a living as medium Madame Carlotta Romany gives Maddie a new lease on life. When she runs into singer Sophie Dale, she recognizes her as the sister she hasn’t seen for many years. A few days later, Sophie’s husband, Sebastian Dale, calls to tell Maddie that Sophie’s been arrested for murder. Maddie’s friendship with Det. O’Rourke gets her in to see Sophie, who claims that during a big party where she was singing for wealthy Nick Bardo, she felt unwell and passed out in a bedroom, where she was later found holding a bloody candlestick with Bardo’s body on the floor. Sophie remembers nothing, and although Maddie is sure she’s innocent, she knows it won’t be easy to prove it. Maddie’s prodigious skills at digging up facts encourage her to investigate Bardo’s feuding family and his ties to the mob. She gets a hand from well-known police detective Alice Clement, who has a special interest in helping women. But Maddie has to keep Alice from learning that she works for a medium and fend off rival mobs’ efforts to get her to set up Al Capone for a hit. Walking a dangerous path, she still manages to uncover the truth.

Plenty of Roaring ’20s ambience and enough red herrings to keep things mysterious.

news that he was a business partner of Marcus Durham, whose bullet-riddled body was recently found in his own swimming pool, strongly suggests that the same person may have killed them both. A group of young toughs have attacked wheelchairbound Veronica Gough, and one of them has tried to drown her.

Then several of them break into her house, and one of them threatens her with violence, triggering her memory of her rape by another villager during the celebrations of VE-Day in 1945.

The more closely Henry, now awarded the nonce title of Civilian Senior Investigating Officer, looks into the past, the more convinced he becomes that Veronica’s memories may hold the key to a pair of unsolved murders committed even earlier, back in 1941. As DS Debbie Blackstone, Henry’s old boss in the Lancaster Cold Case Unit, observes, “It’s all about people taking things from other people.” Even as Henry is making arrests, Oldham continues to multiply complications in the final chapter, and the story ends with quite a cliffhanger.

The busiest, saddest, untidiest village mystery ever.

Editor Phillips packs 33 square miles of one of Los Angeles’ most iconic neighborhoods into 14 compact stories.

Many of the contributors choose historic venues as their settings. In Emory Holmes II’s “The Golden Coffin,” a Mississippi country boy discovers the grandeur of the Dunbar Hotel, “built by Black folks to cater to people of color in a segregated city.” In “All That Glitters,” Gar Anthony Haywood sets a family drama inside quirky Watts Towers. Naomi Hirahara chronicles the last day of the Kokusai Theatre in “I Am Yojimbo.” Other tales focus more on historic events. Penny Mickelbury reflects on the changing demographics of the Great Migration in “Mae’s Family Dining.” Désirée Zamorano offers a chilling look at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in “If Found Please Return to Abigail Serna 158 3/4 E MLK Blvd.” Still others offer tales of misery that know no time or place. A teenager tries to save her baby brother from their neglectful mother in Jervey Tervalon’s “How Hope Found Chauncey.” In “The Last Time I Died,” Jeri Westerson’s feisty schoolgirl meets her match at St. Vincent’s Academy, a Catholic girls’ school. A former ward of the state makes his uneasy way forward in Nikolas Charles’ “Where the Smoke Meets the Sky.” And two ex–GI’s make an uneasy adjustment to civilian life in editor Phillips’ “Death of a Sideman.”

These stories offer a strong sense of their community, covering a remarkable lot of ground on their beat.

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THE HOT BEAT

science fiction & fantasy

Silverberg, Robert Hard Case Crime (240 pp.) $14.95 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-78909-992-8 In a sinful city, an aspiring actress teams up with a crime columnist to clear her boyfriend of a murder charge.

At sleazy Carrol’s Bar & Grill on South Main Street, world-weary police detective Brady commiserates with Gazette columnist Ned Lowry—who writes a column called “The Seamy Side”—about the unsolved murder of Doris Blair, as they watch barfly bandleader Bob McKay, who’s recently fallen on hard times, get in a fight while bemoaning Doris’ fate.

Silverberg’s storyline veers in surprising directions, recalling the classic noir of Hammett and especially Chandler, with colorful, hard-bitten characters lurking in every dark cranny and plot detour. At the Dumas, a marginally classier nightspot, rugged, charming Jack Colin flirts with lovely B-girl Terry Stafford, who’s dancing with male customers while hoping for an acting career. Terry’s fallen hard for the wounded McKay, and a romance is blossoming. After McKay is arrested and aggressively questioned for the murder of Doris, who worked alongside Terry at the Dumas but kept to herself, Lowry returns, following the story to assess McKay’s guilt, and Brady returns as one of the cops on the case. When Terry reads Lowry’s column about the case, she senses a sympathetic ear and tells him about her subtle plan to investigate, and they decide to work together.

Gathering pieces of the puzzle will require interviews and wrangles with a colorful collection of tenderloin lowlifes. Previously published in 1960 under a pseudonym, Silverberg’s novel isn’t a modern homage but the real thing; he brings the same vigor and imagination to noir that characterizes his award-winning science fiction. Bonus: three additional Silverberg detective stories from the same era.

Genuinely juicy pulp noir from 60 years ago.

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THE FINAL STRIFE

El-Arifi, Saara Del Rey (608 pp.) $28.99 | June 21, 2022 978-0-593-35694-4

In the first of a trilogy, three women disturb the social order of a rigidly castebased society poised on the brink of disaster.

The red-blooded Embers command, the blue-blooded Dusters work, and the transparent-blooded, mutilated Ghostings serve. Sylah is a secret Ember, stolen as a toddler by the rebellious Duster sect known as the Sandstorm, who left a Duster in her place and raised her to revolution. Soldiers slaughtered the Sandstorm, and Sylah has spent the past several years as an aimless drug addict and fighter in an underground betting ring. A fellow Sandstorm survivor reenters her life and encourages her to enter the Aktibar, the fierce competition to become an heir to the empire’s ruling wardens. Due to some poor choices, Sylah ends up training another competitor instead: Anoor, a young woman everyone believes to be the Warden of Strength’s daughter when in fact she is one of the Duster children left by the Sandstorm. As Anoor advances in the Aktibar, Sylah must decide whether to rejoin the new Sandstorm or follow a different path to rebellion. Meanwhile, Hassa, a trans woman Ghosting who’s a friend of Sylah’s, seeks freedom for her people, all the while hiding secrets which strike at the Empire’s very foundations. The concept of people having different blood colors seems implausible and basing prejudice on it, ridiculous; but then, this is the same genre in which enormous dragons fly and breathe fire in sheer defiance of physics, appearing in stories written by authors from a world that foolishly constructs prejudice around skin color. Racism based on blood color also leads to some interesting possibilities for “passing,” which the author exploits to their fullest extent. The message is hardly subtle, but our current climate does not support much subtlety, and this blunt allegory—which also draws from Ghanaian and Arabian tales—is crafted into a compelling story with sympathetic characters. The depictions of Anoor, overcoming both the naïveté of a woman brought up in a pampered bubble and the bruised self-esteem of an abuse victim, and of Sylah, battling confused loyalties and a devastating addiction, are particularly well done.

Timely themes and a gripping narrative draw the reader in and keep them there.

“A wedding in Nigeria reunites high school sweethearts, giving them a second chance at love.” where we end & begin

r om a n c e

THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER

Jimenez, Simon Del Rey (464 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-0-593-15659-9

Bouchet, Amanda Sourcebooks Casablanca (496 pp.) $15.99 paper | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-72823-004-7 After her queen in cursed by the gods, a healer embarks on a magical quest to Circe’s island.

Jocasta was born to a family of commoners but became a princess after her brother’s unlikely rise to the throne, a story told in the first three books of Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles series. Jocasta’s healing talent makes her feel like a lesser member of the newly minted royal family, which needs powerful warriors and politicians to stay in power—men like Flynn, her brother’s most trusted friend and captain of the guard. Years ago, Jocasta thought she was in love with Flynn, but she has been steering clear of him ever since he cruelly rejected the romantic overture she made on her 18th birthday.

Flynn is afraid to love again, having lost his entire family to various illnesses and tragedies. He never intended to hurt Jocasta but only wanted to protect himself from further loss. When the queen is cursed by a stasis spell—not only will she never change or grow old, but she’ll stay 8 months pregnant forever without ever giving birth—it’s clear she is being used as a pawn in a battle between the gods of Mount Olympus. Jocasta realizes the only possible cure lies in the fabled gardens of Circe. Flynn and three others volunteer to go with Jocasta on her quest, which involves traversing the perilous route of Odysseus. When Flynn and Jocasta become temporarily separated from the rest of their party, they discover they can no longer deny their feelings for each other. Readers looking for a rip-roaring adventure will find it here, but the romance arc is tightly compressed and almost perfunctory compared to the long, complex fighting and action sequences. Uneven pacing makes the final round trip push to Circe’s island feel rushed.

Action packed but romance-light.

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The dying Moon goddess enlists two young warriors to kill her tyrannical sons and return her bones to the sea.

“This is a love story to its bladedented bone.” In the Old Country, when a warrior frees the Moon from the sky, she falls to Earth and grants him a wish—sons. Each son is imbued with god gifts and the title of emperor, but the people are left without a moon to light their way. The tyrannical royals eventually imprison the Moon, angering her lover, the Water, who curses the land with drought. But the dying Moon has a plan: She gives the last emperor triplets—the Three Terrors—and spreads the god gifts among them, weakening them. Eventually she convinces Jun, the First Terror’s favorite son and most ruthless killer, to free her and right both their wrongs. Upon escape, they meet one-armed Keema, a young warrior “of poor fortune” working at Tiger Gate. The people are rebelling against the royals, and Keema has pledged to deliver a sacred spear to Cmdr. Araya’s kin. The Moon also enlists Keema’s help despite Jun’s protests.

Between battling the Terrors, avenging gods and goddesses, fighting for the people, and fighting one another, Keema and Jun fall in love. If they can survive long enough to return the Moon to the Water’s embrace, they’ll end the Terrors’ reign and defeat both drought and darkness. Jimenez deftly weaves past, present, and future into one seamless narrative. Writing in first, second, and third person, Jimenez makes sure “you” are part of this story, too, casting you as Araya’s descendent and current keeper of the spear. You’ve been called to the Inverted Theater—built by the Moon and Water for liaisons long before the Terrors were born. Now the theater calls dreamers together to experience their shared history. You’re both Jimenez’s reader and “you,” who’s listening to and remembering your lola (grandmother in Tagalog) tell tales of the Old Country when you are/ were a child. In your lonely, adult present, your dreaming spirit watches those tales reenacted by dancers in the Inverted Theater. Yet you’re also living the stories as each character—from bit-player peasant to powerful goddess. You experience Jun’s PTSD, Keema’s disability—never explained, simply a part of him—and all the guilt, anger, pain, fear, joy, desire, and love that make Jimenez’s tapestry so beautiful. It’s both like nothing and everything you’ve ever read: a tale made from the threads that weave the world, and all of us, together.

Lyrical, evocative, part poem, part prose—not to be missed by anyone, especially fans of historical fantasy and folktale.

A CURSE OF QUEENS

WHERE WE END & BEGIN

Igharo, Jane Berkley (368 pp.) $17.00 paper | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-593-44023-0 A wedding in Nigeria reunites high school sweethearts, giving them a second chance at love.

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with her boyfriend, Obinna, Dunni had plans for the future with him, and he was meant to join her as soon as possible. Instead, he completely ghosted her. Now, Dunni lives in Seattle, where she works as a geneticist and is engaged to a man she knows she doesn’t love but who has her mother’s approval. She hesitantly travels back home to Lagos for a friend’s wedding, where it turns out Obinna is also a guest. Their chemistry hasn’t waned at all, but if there’s to be a future for them now, they first have to confront the past. Igharo’s lush storytelling takes readers on an emotional roller coaster. Told through alternating timelines that focus on Dunni in the present and Obinna in the past, this beautifully crafted, heart-achingly romantic tale plays with juxtapositions—poor and rich; superstition, religion, and science— and the ways they twine together. Family ties are essential to the characterization of the leads, and these relationships are insightfully and thoughtfully explored. The realistically flawed characters make mistakes, and there are consequences but also forgiveness. The story doesn’t shy away from heavy situations and hurtful relationships, but at its core it’s about how incredible support and love can be.

A passionate and empathetic story of how relationships define a person and a love that was meant to be.

DRUNK ON LOVE

Guillory, Jasmine Berkley (400 pp.) $17.00 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-10088-2 The new CEO of a winery seeks to prove herself to her co-owner brother but fears her carefully crafted professionalism may crumble after she has a one-night stand with a new employee.

Since 34-year-old Margot Noble inherited half of her uncle Stan’s winery three years ago, she has been determined to prove her worth in the family business.

After overhearing her brother, Elliot, say she didn’t deserve her share of Noble Family Vineyards, she quit her marketing job and headed to Napa with a mission. With Elliot’s decadelong experience as a winemaker, Margot must work extra hard on the business side to prove her worth. Still, her competence as CEO doesn’t prevent Elliot from making decisions without her, like when he hires a new employee for the tasting room without consulting Margot first. Desperately in need of a vacation and a drink after confronting Elliot, Margot finds solace at The Barrel, her best friend Sydney’s bar. There, Sydney dares Margot to strike up a conversation with a handsome younger man.

His name is Luke Williams, and he’s a former software engineer who’s only temporarily in Napa to help his friend Avery get over a nasty breakup. One thing leads to another, and Margot and Luke spend a passionate night (and morning!) together. At work the next day, Margot is more than content to daydream about her memories with Luke…until he walks into her office as the winery’s new hire. Suddenly, Margot and Luke must navigate a relationship where Margot is Luke’s boss—a position she 38

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doesn’t have the luxury to jeopardize—while they try to deny feelings for one another that prove stronger than any wine.

Guillory’s latest romance is bursting with mouthwatering sexual tension and desire: “But now he had to work under Margot Noble, while all the time thinking about what it had been like to be literally under Margot Noble.” Despite plenty of moments overrun with miscommunication, Margot is a powerful protagonist, and her dedication to her career, despite the numerous challenges, is absolutely refreshing.

An intoxicating romance with a strong lead.

MR. PERFECT ON PAPER

Meltzer, Jean Harlequin MIRA (352 pp.) $15.99 paper | Aug. 9, 2022 978-0-778-38616-2

A matchmaker must look beyond perfect to find her perfect match.

Dara Rabinowitz, a third-generation matchmaker and wealthy 34-year-old CEO of Jewish dating app J-Mate, would say she’s got her generalized anxiety disorder under control. A consummate planner, she runs a successful company, owns a sterile-but-fabulous Hoboken apartment with a breathtaking view of Manhattan, and visits her grandmother on the daily. But when she and Bubbe Miriam go on Good News New York to promote the app and Bubbe proceeds to share Dara’s list of qualifications for a perfect Jewish husband with the entire television audience, her life starts to go in an unplanned direction. Chris Steadfast, the show’s host, is full of Southern charm, but he has secrets—including the fact that his show is tanking in the ratings. Sure, there’s a mutual attraction between Dara and Chris, but the amount of ham in his fridge and the way his heart froze with grief after the death of his wife make their relationship goals pure business: Chris comes up with the idea to find Dara the perfect Jewish husband—one who ticks all the boxes on her lengthy list—and save his show at the same time. As Chris creates even more elaborate and romantic dates to help Dara find her perfect match—with a production crew capturing every moment—a growing fan base starts to fall in love with Dara...and so does Chris. After a disastrous date on the holiest day of the Jewish year, Dara finds a man who ticks all her boxes but discovers, as the relationship blossoms and a proposal looms, that her heart belongs to Chris—someone she would never have chosen. Despite a couple of uneven moments, Meltzer delivers an upbeat and relatable romance that features an adorable supporting cast while exploring subjects like identity, acceptance, and grief.

A sweet, quirky, and enjoyable romance.

“Meet Victor Frankenstein’s sister—and the newly animated and confused love of her life.” angelika frankenstein makes her match

THE KISS CURSE

Sterling, Erin Avon/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $15.99 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-06-302751-0

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Two witchy rivals unite against a common enemy when a new coven comes to their small Georgia town.

Something that happened 13 years ago at Graves Glen’s Penhaven College forged the beginning of Gwynevere Jones and Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow’s prickly relationship.

Thankfully, Wells moved back to Wales after one semester. He didn’t even return to Graves Glen to attend his own brother’s wedding to Gwyn’s cousin Vivi. Simon Penhallow, the family patriarch, believes the infernal Jones women and their kitschy magic shops are tarnishing the town’s deep, magical history, and he decides his favorite son’s magical talents would be better served back in the U.S. Gwyn immediately bristles at Wells’ surprising return, but that irritation heightens to a full rolling boil when he opens a witchcraft shop right across the street from her own. What seems at first to be the beginning of a rivalsto-lovers romance during the lead-up to Halloween quickly dissipates into a slapdash story involving strange newcomers and a villain who doesn’t appear until the book is nearly over. The book never seems to figure out its focus. While Graves Glen feels like a picturesque Southern version of Salem, Massachusetts, the twee Main Street vibe carries the weak romance only so far. The fact that Gywn is holding on to one seemingly innocuous event from her college years as a reason to dislike Wells makes her seem juvenile. Wells is a man who loves to feel useful, which puts him in a rather unhealthy relationship with his cold father, leading him to uproot his life not just once, but twice for the sake of the Penhallow magical lineage.

The magic fades quickly.

thanks to having been brought back to life with the help of other people’s limbs. Naïve spinster Angelika is anxious for his love.

But between the newly named Will’s bafflement at his resuscitation, Victor’s imminent wedding, the search for his missing experiment, the appearance of a military man with romantic inclinations toward Angelika, and Will’s investigation into his previous identity, the course of true (scientifically assisted) love is not running smooth. The motley cast—secondary characters include hungry villagers, a greedy priest, an angelic baby, and an ardent pig—serves as a bathetic backdrop to Angelika’s character arc of becoming less thoughtless and more charitable. A paranormal fairy tale that is skeptical of its main protagonist’s desires, this comic-horror take on the classic novel feels like a cross between The Addams Family, “Sleeping Beauty,” and the subset of romances starring men of the cloth. Will’s physical torment and emotional distress echo Mary Shelley’s creature’s suffering, and his happily-ever-after with Angelika feels discomfiting and precarious despite the return of bodily vigor and the eventual end of his celibacy.

For readers who like their rom-coms to resemble Young Frankenstein.

ANGELIKA FRANKENSTEIN MAKES HER MATCH

Thorne, Sally Avon/HarperCollins (384 pp.) $15.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-06-291283-1

Meet Victor Frankenstein’s sister— and the newly animated and confused love of her life.

Wealthy orphans Angelika Frankenstein, 24, and her older brother, Victor, have devoted themselves to scientific pursuits ever since their parents died 11 years ago thanks to their church’s faith in prayer over medicine. Served by their dour and aging housekeeper in a sprawling Gothic mansion, they’ve been trying to bring the dead to life—and this time they appear to have succeeded twice over. But Victor’s creation runs off into the forest, and Angelika’s made-to-order beau is an amnesiac with body dysmorphia |

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nonfiction NO COUNTRY FOR EIGHTSPOT BUTTERFLIES A Lyric Essay

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

A PLACE CALLED HOME by David Ambroz.....................................41

Aguon, Julian Astra House (128 pp.) $23.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-66260-163-7

THE CAR by Bryan Appleyard.............................................................41 THE MOSQUITO BOWL by Buzz Bissinger.........................................43 A WAITER IN PARIS by Edward Chisholm........................................45

An attorney and environmental activist from Guam turns a searching eye on the fate of his homeland in a time of undeniable climate change.

“I cannot think of anything more terrifying than children who do not believe the world can be changed,” writes Aguon in this mixed collection of prose and poetry. Yet, by his account, thus it is in his native Guam, long under de facto military occupation by the U.S. Some 5,000 Marines are set to move from Okinawa to Guam to train on gunnery ranges that will destroy the habitat of a cousin of the monarch butterfly as well as several other local species. Furthermore, the facility is “being built dangerously close to the island’s primary source of drinking water.” The Marines aren’t the only threat; with climate change come rising seas that will overwhelm lower-lying sections of the islands of the western Pacific. Small wonder that the inhabitants take a fatalistic view of events. “We are always hearing about what we don’t have, what is not possible, what can’t change,” writes Aguon. “We become fluent in the language of limitation.” Against this, the author urges a battle on many fronts. As an attorney, he has argued before the Supreme Court matters of the rights of Indigenous people, drawing on precedents established by Native American tribes though, admittedly, “with few doctrinal tools left at our disposal.” Against this hopeful resistance, Aguon allows that there are myriad reasons for fatalism, including an overwhelming degree of injustice and violence visited on Indigenous and oppressed peoples around the world. As the subtitle notes, the prose is lyrical, while the poetry is mostly just prose with broken lines. More incisive are the author’s thoughtful sentiments, delivered as addresses, commencement speeches, and the like, in which he waxes aspirational: “What I wish for you is that, whatever work you do, be, as they say, your love made visible.” Arundhati Roy provides the foreword.

A slender but meaningful call for justice.

MY THREE DADS by Jessa Crispin..................................................... 46 PLATONIC by Marisa G. Franco..........................................................52 THE DAUGHTER OF AUSCHWITZ by Tova Friedman & Malcolm Brabant..................................................................................52 WE ARE THE TROOPERS by Stephen Guinan...................................54 GIRLS ON THE BRINK by Donna Jackson Nakazawa...................... 55 THE COLOR OF TIME by Dan Jones & Marina Amara.....................56 WHO’S RAISING THE KIDS? by Susan Linn.....................................58 THE STORM IS HERE by Luke Mogelson............................................59 THE GOSPEL OF WELLNESS by Rina Raphael.................................62 BLACK SNOW by James M. Scott...................................................... 64 FREE MARKET by Jacob Soll................................................................65 LET’S DO IT by Bob Stanley................................................................ 66 WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME? by Carmen Rita Wong....................... 69 TEACHING WHITE SUPREMACY by Donald Yacovone....................70 THE MOSQUITO BOWL A Game of Life and Death in World War II

Bissinger, Buzz Harper/HarperCollins (480 pp.) $32.50 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-06-287992-9

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“A haunting, inspiring chronicle of fortitude and perseverance.” a place called home

A PLACE CALLED HOME A Memoir

THE CAR The Rise and Fall of the Machine That Made the Modern World

Ambroz, David Legacy Lit/Hachette (384 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-306-90354-0

Appleyard, Bryan Pegasus (320 pp.) $28.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63936-230-1

Moving testimony from a survivor of trauma.

In his riveting debut memoir, lawyer and child welfare advocate Ambroz recounts an early life of poverty, cruelty, and degradation. With his mother suffering from severe mental illness, he and his two older siblings moved from New York City to Albany to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, living on the streets, in shelters, and occasionally in crumbling apartments from which, inevitably, they were evicted. Caught in a cycle of “homelessness, hunger, housing, welfare, and homelessness again,” Ambroz tried to mitigate his mother’s volatility by insulating her from triggers that would set her off. Not least, keeping her stable meant protecting himself and his siblings from countless “inexplicable moment[s] of brutal, casual cruelty.”

Besides exposing the “illness, infection, infestation, and unmet needs” that marked his childhood, Ambroz indicts a system of severely inadequate social services. “The system doesn’t trust people in poverty,” he writes, and his desperate pleas for help were ignored: “Over and over again the three of us were left with a woman who was clearly hurting us by people in positions of authority.” When they were removed from their mother, the path to foster placement was fraught with obstacles. Ambroz was considered a special problem: Though he feared outing himself as gay, therapists—and one macho foster father—tried to “fix” him. After temporary housing in a juvenile detention facility and group homes, he was sent to a family that abused and exploited him. One of 450,000 children in foster care, Ambroz managed—with the help of sympathetic supporters and his own fierce determination—to escape the system that threatened to relegate him to the same “slide from poverty to disaster” that dogged his youth. Beginning in high school, as a member of the National Foster Youth Advisory Council, he has worked for meaningful reform, and with this potent memoir, he urges readers to “become one of the changemakers.” The author is now the head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.

A haunting, inspiring chronicle of fortitude and perseverance.

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A magisterial history of the car that surveys the shape of its future.

Former financial news editor and deputy arts editor at the Times of London, Appleyard is a bona fide automobile enthusiast, but in this wellbalanced study, he also assays the ills that car culture has wrought.

This book is not just a history of the automobile; it is also a vibrant portrait of an age, a stimulating work of scholarship, and a top-notch example of nonfiction storytelling. The combination of the author’s propulsive writing style and journalistic thoroughness makes for compelling reading, particularly the technological, cultural, and aesthetic critiques he brings to bear. Appleyard evaluates the contributions of every significant figure in the evolution of the car, from its beginnings in France and England to today’s promising electric and autonomous vehicle technologies, along with analyses of the ecological and societal costs this new era portends. Because the U.S. dominated the industry for much of its history, two men receive in-depth, and highly revealing, character studies: “Henry Ford was one of the two inventors of the core features of twentieth-century modernity. He invented and refined mass production and thereby created a mass market of consumers; Alfred Sloan at General Motors invented and refined the techniques of marketing to the masses. In their hands cars remade the world.” It is hard to imagine a more complete study of the automobile, albeit with an ominous coda. Appleyard warns that an “autonomous” future for the car, for all its benefits, will be the death knell of the joys of driving—and perhaps more. If we make the wrong choices, certain freedoms could be lost. “The autonomous cars will not in fact be autonomous—they will be driven by the cloud…they will cast off the capricious exigencies of human control and surrender to the demands of government or corporate clouds.”

Readers may never look at their cars in quite the same way again.

SHOTGUN SEAMSTRESS The Complete Zine Collection

Atoe, Osa Soft Skull Press (368 pp.) $40.00 | Nov. 29, 2022 978-1-593-76739-6

The complete run of a pioneering zine spotlighting Afro-punk and Black alternative culture.

Launched in 2006, Shotgun Seamstress echoed the brash voice, |

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NONFICTION | Eric Liebetrau

portrait of a despot Leah Overstreet

Everyone loves a villain, at least for entertainment purposes. However, writing about real-life villains—from Genghis Khan to Hitler to Stalin—is a tricky business, fraught with all sorts of thorny ethical and moral considerations. It’s vital to be as thorough, unflinching, and engaging as possible, but it’s difficult to ensure that one’s subject doesn’t come across as too relatable

The most striking elements of this thick yet pageturning bio are Short’s riveting, unalloyed insights into Putin’s time as Russia’s president, during which any opposition has been squelched, sometimes in nefarious fashion. The author is unafraid to lay out Putin’s most egregious actions, including the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Our critic concludes, “Contradictions abound, and the author is not shy about pointing out frank lies from sources that include Putin as well as his enemies. Required reading for anyone interested in global affairs.”

I agree with that assessment of Short’s book, and I highly recommend it for all readers of political biographies, particularly those with a global focus. At the same time, we must not forget the incredible bravery and fortitude of the Ukrainian people. In that spirit, I would like to point out two of the first books about Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be published in English.

On Sept. 13, One Signal/Atria will publish The Fight of Our Lives: My Time With Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Battle for Democracy, and What It Means for the World by the president’s former press secretary Iuliia Mendel, translated by Madeline G. Levine. Kirkus calls the book “a nuanced portrait of a leader in a time of crisis who has definitely risen to the occasion.” On July 26, Polity will release Zel­ ensky by Serhii Rodenko, translated by Michael Naydan and Alla Parminova. As of this writing, Kirkus has not reviewed the book, which is embargoed, but I look forward to reading it when it arrives.

or admirable.

In two significant biographies, British journalist and author Philip Short succeeded in revealing the full character of two significant villains of modern history: Mao Zedong and Pol Pot. Now he turns his keen eye on yet another: Vladimir Putin, the despotic leader of Russia whose global ambitions are proving catastrophic for anyone in his nation’s orbit.

As the Ukraine war extends into its fourth month, Short’s latest book, Putin (Henry Holt, July 26), could not be timelier or more urgent. But timeliness is only one of its many virtues. In our starred review, our critic notes that “events in Ukraine will spur sales of this thick biography, but any praise is well deserved, as Short offers an insightful and often discouraging text on the Russian president.…

Having read obsessively and interviewed almost everyone, Putin included, Short delivers a consistently compelling account of Putin’s life so far.”

The author smoothly chronicles his subject’s early life and rise to power in the KGB and as Boris Yeltsin’s assistant and eventual successor. As our critic notes, Short ably reveals Putin’s approach to politics and power: “Russia’s constitution (approved under Yeltsin) gives its president far more powers than America’s, but Short shows how Putin’s KGB background lowered his inhibitions on imprisoning or murdering political opponents; as time passed, his word became law.”

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“College football and World War II: not an obvious combination, but Bissinger handles it brilliantly.” the mosquito bowl

handmade look, and no-nonsense attitude of punk-rock zines like Maximumrocknroll. But Atoe was determined to elevate Black artists that the broader, mostly White punk culture tended to unjustly ignore. (As one contributor wrote, punk is “just black music played fast”). The author was inspired in part by the 2003 documentary Afro-Punk (she interviewed its director, James Spooner), and she spotlights a host of Black alternative pioneers: avant-garde jazz artist Sun Ra, rasta-punks Bad Brains, X-Ray Spex singer Poly Styrene, performance artist Vaginal Davis, art-punk band ESG, and more. As the zine took on a stronger political tone through its final issue in 2015, Atoe increasingly emphasized current artists and the need to create spaces for them to flourish. She describes how in Portland, Oregon, and New Orleans she booked concerts featuring LGBTQ+, female, and Black artists and organized workshops to teach those communities about art-making and the music business—and weathered accusations of being exclusionary for those efforts. In the later issues, Atoe expanded her lens further, writing about punk and punk-adjacent culture in her family’s native Nigeria and the nascent Black Lives Matter movement. As in other punk zines, Atoe honored the idea that punk was as much a community as a brand of music, and she’s infectiously enthusiastic about her favorite artists. The zine was just as fierce about calling out bigotry and ignorance in a scene in which Black fans and musicians often felt isolated and dismissed. “Punk is nothing without politics,” wrote Atoe, and the discussions of race, art, and inclusion that she stoked have moved into the mainstream.

A welcome reprint of an influential, perceptive, still-relevant zine.

Generation, Bissinger delivers several painful jolts. Often racist but ordered to accept Black recruits, Marine leaders made sure they were segregated and treated poorly. Though many of the athletes yearned to serve, some took advantage of a notorious draft-dodging institution: West Point. Eagerly welcomed by its coaching staff, which fielded the best Army teams in its history, they played throughout the war and then deliberately flunked out (thus avoiding compulsory service) in order to join the NFL. In December 1944 on Guadalcanal (conquered two years earlier), two bored Marine regiments suffered and trained for the upcoming invasion. Between them, they contained 64 former football players. Inevitably, they chose sides and played a bruising, long-remembered game, dubbed the Mosquito Bowl. In the final third of the book, Bissinger provides a capable account of the battle, a brutal slog led by an inexperienced general who vastly underestimated his job. The author emphasizes the experience and tenacity of his subjects, most of whom were among the 15 killed.

College football and World War II: not an obvious combination, but Bissinger handles it brilliantly.

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THE MOSQUITO BOWL A Game of Life and Death in World War II

Bissinger, Buzz Harper/HarperCollins (480 pp.) $32.50 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-06-287992-9

A uniquely focused World War II history interweaving military heroics and college football.

Many books describe the consequential Battle of Okinawa in 1945, but this one deserves serious attention. Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights, makes good use of his sports expertise to deliver a vivid portrait of college football before and during WWII, when it was a national obsession far more popular then professional leagues. He recounts the lives and families of a group of outstanding players who made their marks before joining the Marines to endure brutal training followed by a series of island battles culminating in Okinawa, which many did not survive. The author, whose father served at Okinawa, offers illuminating diversions into Marine history, the birth of amphibious tactics between the wars (they did not exist before), the course of the Pacific war, and the often unedifying politics that guided its course. To readers expecting another paean to the Greatest |

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IF WE BREAK A Memoir of Marriage, Addiction, and Healing

famous surname that had defined her for decades. Publishing under her maiden name is an apt metaphor for the reclamation project this book represents. Refreshingly, Buhle relates only what she knows firsthand and avoids exploiting her proximity to fame by leaking insider details that may be irrelevant to her personal story. For example, she calls Michelle Obama, also a Chicago South Sider from a working-class family, an “invaluable friend and inspiration, helping me to own my past and my choices with honesty,” but leaves it at that.

She even avoids saying much about her sister-in-law, Hallie Biden, who became Hunter’s lover after Beau Biden’s death.

One of the most touching scenes in the book is when Buhle’s daughters, who broke into their father’s phone, become the ones who bring her the truth of the situation. Quoting David Sheff ’s insight from Beaut­ iful Boy—“Caring about an addict is as complex and fraught and debilitating as addiction itself ”— the author is fairly hard on herself in describing the years of paranoia and lurching attempts to regain control that resulted from her husband’s addiction.

Remarkably lacking in both sensationalism and vengeance, this sad story will be familiar to anyone who has loved an addict.

Buhle, Kathleen Crown (320 pp.) $27.00 | June 14, 2022 978-0-593-24105-9

Hunter Biden’s ex-wife takes her turn at the mic.

When events in your private life are nonstop, salacious tabloid fodder, there are two equally natural reactions. One is to hide under the biggest rock you can find. The other is to reclaim the narrative by telling it yourself. Buhle’s memoir follows Hunter Biden’s Beautiful Things, published last year. Tellingly, she plays a relatively small role in his book, while hers focuses solely on their relationship, beginning in 1992 when they met in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and fell madly in love, ending in 2019 on the September day she visited a D.C. courthouse to renounce the

THE BIGGEST IDEAS IN THE UNIVERSE Space, Time, and Motion

Carroll, Sean Dutton (304 pp.) $23.00 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-18658-9

Fundamental physics for the nonphysicist.

Popular books on the physical sciences regularly boast that they contain no equations, which Carroll, a professor of natural philosophy and author of multiple books on cosmology, admits is an acceptable approach. Ultimately, however, “you’re not getting the real stuff. What you get are images and metaphors, rough translations of the underlying mathematical essence into ordinary language. You can go an impressive distance down this route, but something vital will always been missing.” Words can describe a concept, he notes, but mathematics tells you what’s really going on. The good news is that equations shouldn’t deter too many potential readers of this book, “meant for people who have no more mathematical experience than high school algebra, but are willing to look at an equation and think about what it means.” A central tool of physics, calculus can be explained clearly in the hands of a skilled pedagogue like Silvanus P. Thompson, whose 1910 classic, Calculus Made Easy, is still in print. For those with some familiarity with calculus, Carroll’s concision will be appreciated. The author is at his best with familiar concepts such as space. Once considered an empty container for the universe, it turns out to be a turbulent phenomenon with “a life of its own.” Time is similar to space; it’s part of how we locate ourselves, and we can measure it. But it’s different because it seems 44

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“An enlightening view of the underworld of fine French dining.” a waiter in paris

MOTHER BRAIN How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood

to flow, invariably from the past to the future—although no law forbids the opposite. Gravity, energy, relativity, and the life of stars receive Carroll’s enthusiastic attention, much as they did in such previous books as From Eternity to Here and Something Deeply Hidden. Despite the author’s claims, however, some of the math will flummox readers.

No-nonsense, not-dumbed-down explanations of basic laws of the universe that reward close attention.

Conaboy, Chelsea Henry Holt (368 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-250-76228-3

How parenting affects body and mind.

Conaboy, a journalist specializing in health issues, makes an engaging book debut with an informative, well-researched look at the physical and psychological changes caused by engaging in “the lifesupporting practice of mothering.” Drawing on interviews with parents, scientists, and medical practitioners; examining abundant research; and reflecting on her own experiences as the mother of two sons, the author depicts motherhood as “a distinct developmental stage with long-lasting effects, in which each of the body’s systems thought to regulate social

A WAITER IN PARIS Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City Chisholm, Edward Pegasus (384 pp.) $28.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63936-283-7

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A former waiter in Paris shares unsettling memories from behind the scenes.

In 2011, following the financial crisis and “a string of petty jobs,” Chisholm moved from London to Paris in search of a satisfying career.

Although it wasn’t his original plan, he took a restaurant job while fantasizing about becoming a writer. Despite having little knowledge of the French language or experience as a server, he managed to fake his way into a position as a runner in an upscale restaurant, where he was labeled L’Anglais. In trialby-fire fashion, Chisholm faced extremely hierarchical and competitive working conditions; after six brutal months, he became an official waiter. In this revealing social commentary, Chisholm shares the appalling working conditions that he and his co-workers faced behind the facade of fine French dining. “As a waiter,” he writes, “you quickly get used to the fact that people believe they can talk to you like a lower species.”

Each of his colleagues diligently played their roles in this “vast culinary amphitheatre” even as they endured condescending managers and rude customers. Working long, grueling shifts, Chisholm reveals that the staff often scraped by on stolen cigarette breaks and stale coffee and rolls. On luckier occasions, they secretly consumed half-touched plates and unfinished glasses of wine left by patrons. The author delves into the difficulties and uncertainties that he and his co-workers faced getting paid or taking time off, and he shares his experiences with squalid living conditions and even homelessness.

Although the book is set in Paris, Chisholm demonstrates how his stories of struggle have universal appeal. After months of dealing with his uncaring, corrupt employers, Chisholm found himself dreaming of an uprising against them. Following an injury on the job, his path became clear: “I felt almost duty bound to write this book. To give a voice to an invisible workforce.” In that, he succeeds admirably.

An enlightening view of the underworld of fine French dining.

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behavior, emotion, and immune responses” are dramatically affected. Noting the dearth of scientific studies about parents who are not “straight, cisgender people who share DNA with their child,” Conaboy focuses largely on birth mothers while also reporting on the experiences of fathers and other relatives involved in caregiving. In a historical and cultural overview of assumptions about motherhood, she underscores the social, political, and religious forces that gave rise to “the fallacy of the maternal instinct,” which has left some women feeling inadequate and guilty. She roundly debunks this notion, taken as scientific fact by lawmakers who want to limit reproductive rights and maternity benefits by arguing that motherhood is women’s destiny and that mothers are innately constituted as caregivers.

Conaboy shares research in neurobiology and endocrinology that has revealed complex ways that pregnancy, birth, and caregiving reorganize the brain, “altering the neural feedback loops that dictate how we react to the world around us, how we read and respond to other people, and how we regulate our own emotions.” These changes occur, in varying degrees, in both men and women. The author deftly translates scientific studies—by neurobiologists, anthropologists, primatologists, psychologists,

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and endocrinologists, among others—into accessible prose that speaks to needs and anxieties that many parents share. Adapting to motherhood, she asserts, is “a bodily challenge and a logistical challenge” that lasts a lifetime.

Useful, well-informed encouragement for new and prospective parents.

MY THREE DADS Patriarchy on the Great Plains

Crispin, Jessa Univ. of Chicago (256 pp.) $19.00 paper | Sept. 9, 2022 978-0-226-82010-1 The author of Why I Am Not a Femi­ nist and The Dead Ladies Project returns with a sharp examination of patriarchal cultural norms in the Midwest.

Crispin, who lives in Philadelphia but grew up in Kansas, begins by describing a haunting she discovered in her home after moving back to her home state. The ghost in question, dubbed Charlie, came with a specific type of “dad energy…this disapproval, this long list of unspoken rules, this very Midwestern version of masculinity that is all emotional constipation yet still strangely captivating, that leaves those around it scrutinizing every glimmer of the eye, every change in tone or inflection, looking for some sign of approval or affection or respect. The kind of masculinity that makes you think love is a thing to be earned through sacrifice and improved performance.” Mixing memoir and cultural criticism, the author explores her relationships with the three “dads” of the title: her elementary art teacher, who was involved in a horrific act of violence; abolitionist John Brown; and Reformation leader Martin Luther. Crispin shows how these different figures and their legacies have personally affected her and how their broader influences—in family, politics, and religion—have affected America as a whole, particularly related to the many myths embedded in ostensibly pure Midwestern values. Examining how each of these aspects of culture has been modified, redefined, and coopted, Crispin thoughtfully explores how “the idea of community is not enough. It’s too floppy a concept, too nostalgic and indistinct. It doesn’t just mean knitting circles and someone to bring you groceries when you’re sick. It means clusters of like-minded people who shut out any dissent. Neo-Nazis have a great sense of community, as do anti-vaxxers and militias. What we need is society.” By challenging a host of societal assumptions about family, identity, gender, religion, and politics, the author upends an array of notions about American exceptionalism.

A fascinating and engaging cultural study.

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“A damning, necessary exposé of corporate malfeasance with lethal consequences.” the petroleum papers

THE PETROLEUM PAPERS Inside the Far-Right Conspiracy To Cover Up Climate Change

Dembicki, Geoff Greystone Books (256 pp.) $27.95 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-77164-891-2

Big oil knew about greenhouse gas– related climate change more than half a century ago—and did nothing but lie about it.

In November 1959, writes investigative climate change reporter Dembicki, a prominent oil executive named Robert Dunlop “received a credible warning that his industry could cause death and suffering for large numbers of the planet’s inhabitants.” That warning came from physicist Edward Teller, one of the fathers of the atomic bomb and “no back-to-nature romantic,” who prophesied that his invention was a toy next to the consequences of fossil fuel–caused climate change. Moreover, added Teller, when the climate warmed, the ice caps would

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melt, the oceans would rise, and large swaths of the world would become uninhabitable. Even at the time, the facts were not hidden: So bad was the smog in Los Angeles in 1943 that “many assumed that it was a chemical warfare attack by the Japanese army.” Still, Dunlop and others in the petroleum business covered up those inconvenient truths, and decades later, players such as Koch Industries remain heavily invested in the fossil fuel economy, backed by media outlets such as Fox News, whose minions have steadfastly insisted that climate change is a natural phenomenon. The situation, though, is different in the courts, and renewable-energy warriors are waging combat against big oil that draws on many of the same tactics as the fight against big tobacco in the 1990s. One recent case, for instance, contests the extraction of Canadian oil sands, while another links typhoon damage in the Philippines to the international energy industry. Yet, even as one Exxon oil scientist warned 40 years ago that climate change would be catastrophic for people around the world, the Philippines included, the company still is “trying to convince people the emergency wasn’t real.”

A damning, necessary exposé of corporate malfeasance with lethal consequences.

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WORDS WITH…

Isaac Fitzgerald In Dirtbag, Massachusetts, the author shares lessons learned in biker bars, on porn sets, and at a real-life fight club

BY STEVEN DRUKMAN Remi Morawski

digent, but he was not unhappy—until the ripe old age of 8, when his family moved to the country. What followed were unsafe escapades filled with trauma, self-loathing, violence, and drunkenness. A respite came when he secured a scholarship to a venerable prep school; thereafter the book thrums with ethical lessons accrued while navigating far-flung places. Fitzgerald receives unexpected generosity from unlikely outcasts, all serving to fortify the author’s inborn humility.

While Dirtbag, Massachusetts is not exactly a memoir, Fitzgerald nails the genre in his subtitle: A Confessional.

Not only does this evoke his Catholic background (plus one odd experience he endured in the actual confessional booth), it captures the soul-baring tone of the book: raw, unflinchingly candid, never out to impress—only reveal. Fitzgerald discussed it by telephone from his home in Brooklyn; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

If form follows function, then the traditional memoir could never contain the motley and multihued life of Isaac Fitzgerald, a frequent visitor on NBC’s Today show who penned the bestselling children’s book How To Be a Pirate. “While I’ve tried to live with intentionality,” says the gentle and genial author, “this book revealed that a lot of time I’ve just been…trying out different things.” That understatement captures Fitzgerald’s utter lack of grandiosity: In Dirtbag, Massachusetts (Bloomsbury, July 19), he exhibits a devilish derring-do tempered always by his natural modesty. Each chapter reaffirms the lesson of one of his favorite sayings: “Life’s mistakes are my co-pilot.”

Mistakes or not, they’re all deftly recounted with the care of a storyteller, and by book’s end, a tale of human grace emerges. “I grapple with emotions in story form,” he says, “even if my life has been grappling in the dark.”

Fitzgerald’s grappling took place in many disparate arenas: actual grapples, bloody and bruised, in a real-life fight club; barbacking in a San Francisco biker dive; erotic performing in pornographic films; smuggling supplies to internally displaced peoples in Southeast Asia.

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Was writing this book cathartic or—to use a less grand term—an unburdening, of sorts?

There’s a real draw in writing a memoir to make yourself look better than you are. [Laughs.] Of course! You’re in control! But that’s the beauty of a confessional: Behind the lattice and the shadowy figure, you’re talking directly to God, and here’s where you can be honest. No reason to hold back—you’re gonna be forgiven. In fact, I think that with all my other writing, what drove me was a hope for the unburdening you mention; I’ve learned that the real place to find that is in therapy. What I discovered (though probably already knew) in writing Dirtbag, Massachusetts is that if you try to make yourself look good, you end up with a boring memoir.

And this book is anything but. So you set out to write a traditional memoir?

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ian mission operating in Myanmar, Sudan, and Iraq] when you felt for “the first time in a long while I don’t feel like dying.”

The sense of purpose you can get out of life came clear to me with FBR. Maybe that work was not my purpose, exactly. But it was about opening myself up to the idea that through helping others you can learn self-worth. Because there’s never going to be that perfect moment where you turn the final page and it’s like, yeah, I’m safe, I feel like everything’s good. It’s always mixed with the bad. You have to make the effort to be curious and to forgive. The FBR is an organization (and I’m not a smart enough person to say why or why not) that’s not perfect. But do I know that at a certain moment in my life they were providing help to humans who truly needed it? Yes.

Actually what I sold to my publisher was a collection of cultural essays—what I turned in is so different from the original proposal. But as I wrote I found myself drawn more and more to my childhood, and I realized that what I’d thought was my being an adult was just me reacting to that childhood over and over again. For many years I made sure that I was not going to write a memoir. I was reading a lot in the ’90s, and—let’s be honest—there were a lot of sad White boy childhood memoirs in the ’90s. So while I knew I could write an entertaining essay about Star Wars, it became clear that I needed to focus on this first. It just poured out on the page.

Explain the title.

One of the places I lived was Athol, Massachusetts.

[Laughs.] Exactly—everyone calls it Asshole, Massachusetts. A poor rural area—but beautiful—in a relatively rich state. And the name fit. But you can’t call a book Asshole, Massachusetts, and a friend said: “Why don’t you just call it Dirtbag, Massachusetts?” And that was the moment when I knew it was going to become more memoir-based—dealing with where I was from and all that.

You write that you went from being “poor city mouse to poor country mouse”—and then got a scholarship to a wealthy boarding school.

My first year at boarding school I had such a thick Boston accent—an accent that, up until that point, I was proud of!

But not there, so I’d sit in my room and practice pronouncing my R’s. And of course, the next year Good Will Hunting comes out and suddenly that accent was cool. I’d return to Athol and people who never spoke that way suddenly had that accent. [Laughs.]

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Despite your turn from Catholicism, it seems like there’s still a deeply religious person in there.

You’re 100% correct. Am I an atheist? Yes. But do I pray every time I touch the ocean? Yes. I believe in gratitude. If the only reason you’re a good person is that you’re scared you’re going to hell, that’s not saying much. I believe in forgiveness and growth. A good percentage of us are just out there trying our best. I find that my life is more full when trying to move through the world believing that people can change.

Which is akin to your belief in stories—there can be character redemption in the third act.

After all, what is the Bible? It’s a collection of stories. I have to believe in humanity. There’s a way to live that you can be curious about yourself, but you have to extend that curiosity to other people. What a flat world it would be otherwise!

You have a talent for upending conventional expectation. Your time in porn was where you learned how to be more intimate in life. The violence of your teenage fight club taught you more tender ways to express love.

It makes me so happy that that comes across. I’ve come to learn that places like “the childhood home,” “the Catholic church,” you know…all those places that are typically sold as safe spaces—they were not for me. I love a bar—it’s a space I’ve always sought out. Where I found a place to be myself, at home, safe—they were those places that are usually sold as places to be avoided. The porn set. Biker bars.

Fight club. For me they were a place to be myself without admonishment.

Steven Drukman is a playwright and writer in New York. Dirtbag, Massachusetts was reviewed in the April 15, 2022, issue.

Plus your time on the frontlines of real danger: dodging landmines with the Free Burma Rangers [a humanitar-

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A VISIBLE MAN A Memoir

where the author suddenly came face to face with racial prejudices he had not experienced in his birth country. At the same time, the ethnically diverse working-class neighborhood where he spent most of a closeted gay adolescence helped Enninful establish the beginnings of an identity based in the vibrancy of street culture. His entree into the world of fashion came when he accepted a modeling job for the independent London fashion magazine i-D, “the closest you could come then to a pure documentary of British youth and their culture tribes.” Enninful soon stepped behind the camera to work as a photographer’s assistant, a fashion commentator, and, finally, a stylist. His professional successes eventually gave him the courage to come out as a gay man and endure the wrath of a father who threw him out of the family home. His forced independence became the catalyst that propelled Enninful to increasing levels of success at i-D, Vogue Italia, and Vogue in the U.S., where he worked with the legendary Anna Wintour and pushed for greater diversity among the magazine’s models. That experience led Enniful to British Vogue, where, as editor-in-chief, he transformed staid layouts into groundbreaking statements about fashion, culture, and race—all of which he captures in this vibrant memoir.

Inspiring reading for the style-inclined.

Enninful, Edward Penguin Press (272 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-29948-7

A memoir from the first Black editorin-chief of British Vogue.

The son of a Ghanaian military officer and his gifted dressmaker wife, Enninful (b. 1972) discovered his love of fashion early in life. He spent his boyhood in his mother’s workshop, “transported by the whole experience…the colours, the fabrics, the loving attention of my mother and her staff.” Hiding his love of fashion and glamour from his disapproving father (“The Enninful boys would be doctors and lawyers: respectable, distinguished, cerebral, credentialed, dull”), he began exploring what would later become a career as a fashion stylist. In 1981, after a political coup in Ghana, the family moved to London,

HOW TO WRITE LIKE A WRITER A Sharp and Subversive Guide To Ignoring Inhibitions, Inviting Inspiration, and Finding Your True Voice Foster, Thomas C. Perennial/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $17.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-06-313941-1

Encouragement for beginning writers.

Foster brings his experience as a teacher and writer to this genial guide to the writing process. Any piece of writing, he notes, is a conversation between writer and reader, a notion exemplified by his own chatty, informal style. Though focusing on nonfiction writing, such as essays, newsletters, opinion pieces, profiles, and reports, Foster acknowledges that the techniques and guidance he offers can just as well apply to fiction, poetry, or drama. Rather than approach writing as rules to be memorized or “formulas to be copied and applied as needed,” the author presents writing as a way of discovering the world as well as “an occasion for increasing self-knowledge.” In his view, “it is okay to have a writing personality, to not erase yourself from your writing,” and even to use I, which some writing teachers forbid. He cautions against what Gail Godwin famously called the “Watcher at the Gate,” the pesky self-editor that threatens to silence a writer’s voice. As Foster sees it, writers can be undermined by worry, self-doubt, overconfidence, vagueness, poor structure, and dishonesty—i.e., deliberately spreading misinformation. Throughout the book, he provides exercises—in argument, analysis, description, and crafting an introduction, for example—and lists of guidelines. He breaks 50

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“One of the youngest survivors of AuschwitzBirkenau tells her remarkable story.” the daughter of auschwitz

ONE HUNDRED SATURDAYS Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World

down the writing process, beginning with “invention,” which can include daydreaming and journaling; and proceeding to organizing, crafting an effective ending, and—crucially important—revising at the sentence, paragraph, and structural levels.

He underscores the importance of supporting claims with evidence: facts, data, testimony, experts’ findings, anecdotes, and quotes. At a time when shifty disinformation seems to be everywhere, he discusses how to evaluate the credibility of a source.

“Every piece of writing,” he emphasizes, “is an argument, even if its only point is, ‘I’m worth reading.’ ” His overarching advice to writers is simple: “Write every day….Read. Widely.”

Sturdy practical advice to build confidence and skill.

Frank, Michael Illus. by Maira Kalman Avid Reader Press (240 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-982167-22-6

At 99, a Holocaust survivor describes her harrowing experience.

In 2015, Frank met Stella Levi when they attended a lecture on Nazi Fascism at NYU’s Department of Italian Studies. Levi grew up in the Juderia (Jewish quarter) of the island of Rhodes among “Judeo-Spanishspeaking Sephardic Italian Jews.” The day after the lecture, the director of the Centro Primo Levi called Frank to ask if he wanted to help Levi (no relation to Primo) with the English in her upcoming talk. He went to her Greenwich Village apartment shortly thereafter for their first meeting. The next week, he told her he wanted to write about her life. Thus began 100 Saturday conversations spanning six years, during which Levi described her upbringing and wartime experience. At first, she refused to discuss the camps to which she and 1,650 other Rhodeslis, wedged onto “three dilapidated cargo boats,” were sent. In Frank’s elegant rendering, Levi restricts herself to family stories—her father’s successful coal and wood business, the sibling who was the first among her sisters to be educated at the Italian high school for girls— before discussing the Fascists who introduced racial laws, disinterred Jewish cemeteries, and “set in motion a series of events that would in time lead to the destruction of this same community, which had lived in relative peace in Rhodes for nearly half a millennium.” The narrative, interspersed with Kalman’s color paintings of scenes from Levi’s life, is an evocative and heartbreaking work. Readers only intermittently get a sense of the connection between Levi and Frank, and based on the evidence presented here, it doesn’t transcend far beyond that of reporter and subject. The story Levi tells, however, is gut-wrenching in its horrifying familiarity, and Frank presents it well—even if the concept of 100 Saturdays comes across as a storytelling gimmick.

A brutal yet ultimately hopeful account from one of history’s darkest episodes.

PLATONIC How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep— Friends Franco, Marisa G. Putnam (336 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-33189-7

A remarkable examination of the epidemic of loneliness and sound advice for

alleviating it.

In this articulate, informative book, Franco, a psychology professor at the University of Maryland, notes that the number of friends that most people have is lower than ever before (sometimes zero), and these circumstances lead to numerous deleterious effects on our mental and physical health. “Out of 106 factors that influence depression, having a confidante is the most powerful,” she writes. “Loneliness is more fatal than a poor diet or lack of exercise, as corrosive as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Friendship literally saves our lives.” The author identifies work pressure as a central culprit, but also to blame is the widespread view that relationships should only focus on sex and romantic love. Many people have simply forgotten how to make and keep friends, and Franco provides a wealth of useful advice on the subject. Starting a friendship requires taking initiative, which can mean accepting vulnerability and the risk of rejection. “People think tiny acts, like saying hello, can’t have colossal consequences for their life,” she writes. “But they can. One hello can be the difference between being lonely and finding your best friend.” Having common interests is always a good place to start. Making friends with people across racial, social, and political boundaries is also important, but there has to be a set of shared values. Cultivating and maintaining a friendship requires an investment of time and energy, and both sides have to know the boundaries. Franco covers a great deal of ground, although one area she does not explore in depth is social media. Are Facebook friends, for example, really friends? Is Instagram a help or a hindrance? That is a big subject deserving a book of its own, and maybe Franco will address it in a subsequent volume. Until then, this one offers many fascinating insights.

A pleasing mix of research, advice, and humor, this book is a useful tonic to a key social ailment.

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THE DAUGHTER OF AUSCHWITZ My Story of Resilience, Survival and Hope

Friedman, Tova & Malcolm Brabant Hanover Square Press (304 pp.) $16.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-335-44930-6 One of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau tells her remarkable story. |

When Friedman and her mother miraculously walked out of the extermination camp together in April 1945, her mother said one word: “Remember.” Now 83, Friedman has penned a memoir with the assistance of veteran war reporter Brabant, seeking to “immortalize what happened, to ensure that those who died are not forgotten. Nor the methods that were used to exterminate them.” Beginning at age 2, Friedman shares gut-wrenching memories of life in the Jewish ghetto in German-occupied central Poland known as Tomaszów Mazowiecki, where she and her family were forced to live. Eking by in overcrowded, often squalid conditions, they struggled to find food, witnessed the disappearances of family and friends, and lived in constant fear.

“When I heard heavy boots,” she writes, “I knew trouble was imminent.” Throughout this time, the only certainty was her parents’ enduring love. “Beyond them…there was nothing but the abyss,” she writes. When she was 5, Friedman and her family were sent to Starachowice labor camp, and the author shares the raw details of the brutality and horrors that she and her family experienced. Then she and her mother were relocated to Auschwitz-Birkenau, while her father was sent to Dachau.

Through luck and determination, they managed to cheat death multiple times; however, the psychological effects would last a lifetime. Although Friedman and her parents survived, their struggles did not end after the camps. They continued to face antisemitism and struggled to reassimilate. In one of the most haunting passages, the author describes a “recurring nightmare” of “walking among dead bodies…after which further sleep is impossible.” Despite the many horrifying ordeals she has endured, she remains courageous and faithful: “Everything I do, every decision I make today, is forged by the forces that surrounded me in my formative years.” Actor Ben Kingsley provides the foreword.

A heartbreaking yet ultimately redemptive account from the 20th century’s darkest days.

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Americans do not have access to public transit. A water main break occurs every two minutes.” Meanwhile, the number of workers in the financial sector who populate the ranks of the ultrawealthy has doubled in the past four decades, and most of them know how to skirt tax laws. Corporate profits are more than double the percentage of employee compensation, while Jeff Bezos’ and Elon Musk’s space adventures occupy far more eyeballs on the TV news than the far more significant climate crisis. Everywhere the reader turns in Galloway’s book, there’s frightening news that promises to grow worse. In a supremely timely turn, for instance, he links mass murder—“a uniquely male crime” committed by “bored young men without any pathway to economic security”—to the general hopelessness of the era. Marriage rates are down, education for minority citizens lags far behind that for Whites, inequality grows, and wages continue to fall. All the points made by the author’s tables and graphs—“visuals that strike a chord and inspire action”—point to a maddeningly visible but unacted-on dissolution of the republic.

A dispiriting though deeply meaningful tour of bad-news numbers that mark a frightful national decline.

LOOKING FOR AN ENEMY 8 Essays on Antisemitism

Ed. by Glanville, Jo Norton (176 pp.) $25.95 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-324-02065-3

Dispatches from the harrowing resurgence of global antisemitism.

One theme that emerges in this wellcurated collection of essays is that while antisemitism has become more visible in recent years, it has never ebbed. As Glanville writes, “the perception of Jews as a globally united group, operating clandestinely across borders, has survived as a formula to be applied in any era.” Photographer and writer Mikołaj Grynberg describes how Poland’s Jewish population has eroded due to pogroms, Communist-era edicts, and gag orders. It is illegal there to assert that Poland played a role in the Holocaust despite it being the site of the most infamous Nazi death camps. Writer and translator Natasha Lehrer discusses how France’s culture of “universalism” provides cover for antisemitic rhetoric. Novelist Olga Grjasnowa shows the pervasiveness of antisemitism in Germany, often fobbed off on Muslim immigrants but common among native Germans as well. All of this has a long history, as Glanville discusses in an essay on “blood libel” and persistent false accusations of Jews committing murder for religious rituals. As many of the contributors note, antisemites are newly emboldened by a global wave of populism spearheaded by Donald Trump, infecting not just QAnon conspiracy theorists, but legislators in the U.S., England, and other nations. That line of demonization has a long history, as well: Activist Jill Jacobs points out that in the 1940s people spread rumors of murderous Communist Jews massing at the Mexican border. Israeli

ADRIFT America in 100 Charts Galloway, Scott Portfolio (256 pp.) $29.00 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-54240-8

We have captains aplenty and loads of technology—and yet, writes entrepreneur and NYU marketing professor Galloway, the ship of state is lost at sea.

A little of the “adrift” metaphor goes a long way, but the author makes good points. For example, we all have powerful computers in our pockets, yet we fail to forge connections that advance the interests of the commonwealth. Moreover, although Galloway is intent on proving his thesis with meaningful numbers, we don’t seem to be capable of fixing major problems: the fact, for instance, that in 1966, “the U.S. committed 2.5% of its potential GDP to infrastructure development,” whereas today the number is 1.3%. Furthermore, “about 1 in every 5 U.S. roads is in poor condition. Forty-five percent of |

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“Fabulous lost sports history for historians and sports fans alike.” we are the troopers

WE ARE THE TROOPERS The Women of the Winningest Team in Pro Football History

journalist Tom Segev thoughtfully explores how this shift has changed politics within and around Israel, intensifying debates over distinctions between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The subject merits a longer, more comprehensive study, but the variety of perspectives in this slim collection captures the emotional intensity of the subject and the urgent need to address it.

The other contributors are Philip Spencer and Daniel Trilling.

Thoughtful considerations on the intersection of history, bigotry, folklore, and politics.

Guinan, Stephen Hachette (320 pp.) $29.00 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-0-306-84693-9

The inspiring, little-known story of a powerful women’s professional football team in the 1970s.

In June 1971, Sid Friedman, a Cleveland entrepreneur, ran an ad in the Toledo Blade: “Okay girls, here’s your chance to be liberated. The rough and tumble football way.” In this exciting, informative resurrection of largely forgotten history, Guinan, who teaches high school English and film in Columbus, tells the story of the Toledo Troopers, a team that “would not only prove that women could compete in a traditionally male-dominated sport, but also they would define what it means to be a champion.” As the author shows, the ad appealed to women whose brothers and husbands played sports and earned college scholarships and decent salaries—while girls and women were unable to secure sports scholarships. Guinan does a fantastic job of delving into the lives of the women who player for the Troopers, coached by Bill Stout, a down-on-his-luck former high school football star who returned home each night to “two screaming children in diapers, a catalog of unpaid bills, and the emotional black hole of his marriage.” Stout worked with Carl Hamilton, a Black sheriff ’s deputy and former defensive tackle, to choose the roster of amazing athletes who made up that near-flawless team. In June 1972, Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX, a milestone in women’s sports history. Guinan offers sympathetic, well-rounded portraits of the many athletes who benefitted, including the members of the Troopers, but he also chronicles the lingering inequality. For example, women earned $25 per game, while their male counterparts received annual salaries of six and seven figures. In 1973, the Troopers appeared on the Phil Donahue Show, and the host’s naïve, irritating question forms the crux of this well-researched book: “What would motivate a woman to play pro football?” The answer—the same thing that motivates men: love of sport. The author includes a list of Troopers players from 1971 to 1979.

Fabulous lost sports history for historians and sports fans alike.

A MAN OF THE WORLD My Life at National Geographic

Grosvenor, Gilbert M. with Mark Collins Jenkins National Geographic (320 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-426-22153-8 The former CEO of the National Geographic Society recounts his life and career.

For a century, National Geographic magazine, wrapped in its familiar bright-yellow cover, has been a journal of the world, “a trove of some 1,500 issues with more than 7,000 articles on subjects from anthropology to zoology.” Granted, writes Grosvenor—a descendant of Alexander Graham Bell as well as of the line of Grosvenors associated for generations with the magazine—some of its older content was racist, but that “was a product of a culture that has, thankfully, evolved.” Of particular interest to armchair adventurers are Grosvenor’s own adventures in the world. Working as a photographer and traveler, he took part in expeditions that included an exploration of the Arctic Sea and accompanying then-President Dwight Eisenhower on a journey to Afghanistan and Iran, a trip that yielded a fine image of the president “looking down from Air Force One at the storied Khyber Pass.” Less interesting are the author’s long disquisitions on office politics and personality clashes, as with a legal counsel who “lobbed the vast majority” of intimations that Grosvenor was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

(As Grosvenor reveals through accounts of vacations at the family mansion in Cape Breton and such, it’s clear he grew up with considerable privilege.) Still, students of publishing history will find a few gems here: an in-house controversy over whether Robert Peary ever reached the North Pole on a trip funded by the parent National Geographical Society or the decision to sell the ailing magazine, which had “become a global media company,” to Rupert Murdoch. The magazine, “part of the package of media assets Fox jettisoned in 2019,” was subsequently acquired by Disney, which Grosvenor reckons a better fit.

A middling memoir but with bright spots from venues scattered across the globe.

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OFF WITH HER HEAD Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power

GIRLS ON THE BRINK Helping Our Daughters Thrive in an Era of Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Social Media

Herman, Eleanor Morrow/HarperCollins (384 pp.) $29.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-06-309567-0

Jackson Nakazawa, Donna Harmony (320 pp.) $28.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-23307-8

A far-reaching history that directly addresses the “misogynist’s handbook” that still plagues women in power.

From Cleopatra and Anne Boleyn to Theresa May and Hillary Clinton, Herman, author of Sex With Kings and Sex With Presidents, addresses the long history of double-standard practices that troublingly persist today.

Why do men—and other women—wish to tear down ambitious, intelligent, accomplished women in positions of power, while often treating men in the same positions with deference? “In each woman’s story,” writes the author, “I discovered organized smear operations churning out unfounded accusations of sexual improprieties and criticisms of her ambition, untrustworthiness, appearance, and unlikability, accusations rarely made about male leaders either in the first century BCE or today.” Herman methodically sifts through these often false accusations, most of which follow the “misogynist’s handbook,” which was crafted to “enforce the Patriarchy, a concept so towering it must be capitalized.” In a typically amusing passage, the author writes about a “clear pattern of vilification across the millennia and throughout history to bring down powerful individuals suffering from chronic no-penis syndrome.” She shows how misogyny usually involves a fear of women’s bodies as life-giving forces and the male need to eclipse and harness that mysterious power for their own purposes, and she underscores how many religious traditions emanated from that need to control. Using enlightening humor as well as righteous, well-founded frustration and anger, Herman effectively deconstructs the tendency of men to focus on hair, voice, clothing, and body type rather than pertinent qualifications and accomplishments. Not content to merely call out these biases, the author advocates for the importance of electing more women to public office and getting men to stand up for women in the face of sexism. With chapter titles like “The Alarming Shrillness of Her Voice,” “She’s a Bitch and Other Animals,” and “Additional Tools To Diminish Her,” the text offers a nice balance of serious inquiry and well-placed levity.

Timely and politically spot-on, this is sure to be a popular title.

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How to help girls deal with the many toxic elements of contemporary society.

Jackson Nakazawa, the author of The Angel and the Assassin and Childhood Disrupted, opens with a disturbing note: “When we look at the mental health of American girls today, one thing becomes clear: We as a society are failing pretty miserably….

One out of four adolescent girls reports suffering from symptoms of major depression compared with fewer than one in ten boys.” This stark assessment sets the tone for the author’s incisive analysis of the causes of the stress, anxiety, and depression that American girls are experiencing at an unprecedented rate.

Of course, social media plays an outsized role, as girls constantly compare their lives with others online—even though those portrayed lives are often grossly misleading. Jackson Nakazawa cites research into the roles that genes play during pregnancy and how parental stresses in early childhood can affect a girl’s ability to handle adversity. Furthermore, girls are reaching puberty at earlier ages, causing undue stress and anxiety about body image. Jackson Nakazawa chronicles her interviews with numerous young women, giving readers a firsthand perspective on the many difficult issues they face, and she offers 15 strategies for how to work with girls, giving them the tools they need to navigate an often misogynistic society. These include seeking the help of mentors and mental health professionals, figuring out how to “dial back on evaluating your daughter,” and learning how to “create routine, ritual, and structure—including a family media plan.” Outside of the family, the author “wants to see men—especially those in powerful roles…wake up to the reality of the fear girls experience growing up female in a world dominated by sexism and male power.” All of the author’s advice is sound, and her insights into how to start the process of change make this an important book for parents of girls.

A perceptive, informative examination of the problems young American girls face and how to change them.

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“Joseph successfully links episodes in the struggle for civil rights to form a continuum of injustice and resolution.” the third reconstruction

PLAGUES AND THEIR AFTERMATH How Societies Recover From Pandemics

illustrated panorama of women during a century of profound change. Each chapter features women from around the world who have made significant contributions in areas such as sports (including boxing, fencing, marathon dancing, and chess), education, the arts, entertainment, science, research, activism, and business. Some are unquestionably famous—Marilyn Monroe, Queen Victoria, Josephine Baker, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Mead—but readers are likely to find many new discoveries.

There’s 1950s tennis star Althea Gibson, the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam title; pioneering balloonist Marie Marvingt, who also happened to be a mountain climber and adventurer; trapeze artist Maud Wagner, known as “The Tattooed Lady”; and Vesta Tilley, an acclaimed entertainer who, in the 1890s, was “the highest-earning woman in Britain: a singing, dancing, cross-dressing phenomenon whose songs were familiar to an entire generation.” Women were on the move as pilots and taxi, bus, and train drivers; they founded their own businesses (Coco Chanel, Helena Rubinstein, and German toy maker Käthe Kruse, among many others). Mary Baker Eddy created a religion, Christian Science. In 1903, Maggie Lena Walker overcame Jim Crow laws to become the founding president of the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia. Women also fought against Fascists in the Italian resistance, served in guerrilla militias in Vietnam, and joined Mao’s People’s Liberation Army. Martha Gellhorn and Nellie Bly were pathbreaking journalists. Some women were queens (Isabella II of Spain, Hawaiian Queen Liliuokalani); others, including Eleanor Roosevelt and Evita Peron, became powerful because of the men they married. Although the biographical sketches of each woman are brief, they are rich in detail, and Amaral’s deeply saturated colorized images bring to life a prolific number of portraits, snapshots, and historical photographs. The author’s capacious selection unsurprisingly omits many notable women, but the included profiles make for entertaining reading.

A fresh contribution to women’s history.

Jenkins, Brian Michael Melville House (240 pp.) $16.99 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-68589-016-2

With the pandemic apparently past the high-water mark, this book takes a look at what might follow.

A senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books on political and global affairs, Jenkins provides a solid overview of past pandemics, from the Black Death to Zika, as well as a Dramatis Pestilentae in an appendix. While he acknowledges that each event has had a character and trajectory of its own, he points out recurring themes of social dislocation and political instability. There has always been a desire to find causes, ranging from “outsider” ethnic groups to divine wrath. This often metastasizes into conspiracy theories and resistance to government efforts to combat disease, going back to the plagues of Athens. A difference with the current pandemic is social media has spread and amplified misinformation and extremism. A problem with the book is that much of this ground has already been covered. Jenkins acknowledges that American society was dangerously polarized before the Covid-19 pandemic and has become even more so in the past few years. However, whether that is the result of the pandemic might be confusing correlation with causation. “Epidemics leave legacies of distrust and disorder,” he writes. “They reveal and reinforce existing problems—poor governance, societal divisions, prejudices, inequality, corruption. Social and political cleavages intensify.” Would America be more politically unified and emotionally satisfied if the pandemic had never happened?

It seems unlikely. Jenkins does offer useful historical perspective and rightfully points out that the Covid-19 pandemic’s economic and social consequences will remain with us for a long time, as will the disease itself. Readers should consult this book after Polly J. Price’s Plagues in the Nation, Kyle Harper’s Plagues Upon the Earth, and Charles Kenny’s The Plague Cycle.

Pandemics and plagues have been around for a long time, and this book traces some of the common threads.

THE THIRD RECONSTRUCTION America’s Struggle for Racial Justice in the Twenty-First Century Joseph, Peniel E. Basic Books (272 pp.) $27.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-541-60074-4

THE COLOR OF TIME Women In History: 1850-1960

A noted scholar of political history offers a hopeful vision of a future in which Black Americans take their places as full, equal citizens of the U.S. Joseph, founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the University of Texas, provocatively links the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection to the anti-Black violence of the Reconstruction era, a time of entrenched Jim Crow policies, which, he reminds readers, was not confined to the South.

That first Reconstruction period was followed by a second, in his reckoning, which expanded from Brown v. Board of Education

Jones, Dan & Marina Amaral Pegasus (432 pp.) $39.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-639-36285-1 A rousing celebration of women’s achievements.

British historian, journalist, and TV presenter Jones teams up with Brazilian artist Amaral to create a brisk, vibrantly 56

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to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The third, which began with the election of Barack Obama, is “the most volatile yet.” By Joseph’s account, the White nationalism espoused by Donald Trump and those rioters hinges on two lies: “The first is that Black people are not human beings. The second is that the first lie never happened.” One need not be a far right-winger to embrace “redemptionist” rhetoric that imposes school segregation in the name of “parental choice” and voter suppression in the name of election security. Of course, the Trumpian backlash against the Obama years was grounded in “white nostalgia over the nation’s regime of racial slavery and grievance over that system’s demise.” Each era of reconstruction has brought renewed violence by those who insist on White supremacy, most recently as exemplified by the police murder of George Floyd and countless other Black Americans. Through joint actions with feminists, gay rights activists, other oppressed minorities, and allies, Black people have been able to assert their rights anew with the Black Lives Matter movement, bringing new vigor to the dismantling of redemptionist racism and resistance against “racial segregation, exploitation, and death”—a cause that, the author argues, can reach its goals within our lifetime.

Joseph successfully links episodes in the struggle for civil rights to form a continuum of injustice and resolution.

to power, it’s the loudest voice in the room that wins, no matter how ridiculous the matter in question might be. Take QAnon’s assertion that only Trump could save us from a pedophile ring, when in fact allegations of pedophilia have long surrounded him. Kendzior’s indignation can sometimes wax a touch too righteous, as when she snipes at Anthony Fauci for his supposedly overweening self-regard. Nonetheless, her incisive account of a society in a death spiral, beset by “simultaneous revivals of the worst of the American past,” is endlessly compelling.

A provocative, pointed challenge to all Americans to dig harder for the truth.

THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM Golda Meir and Her Path to Power

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Lahav, Pnina Princeton Univ. (376 pp.) $35.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-691-20174-0

An in-depth portrait of a woman of contradictions.

An emeritus law professor and member of the Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies, Lahav takes a feminist perspective in her examination of Golda Meir (18981978), the former prime minister of Israel, seeking to show how “she balanced her womanhood with her political ambitions.” Born in Kiev, Golda (as she preferred to be called) was the second daughter in a traditional patriarchal family; she was expected to marry and become a homemaker. The family moved to America in 1906, settling in Milwaukee, where Golda became increasingly oppressed by her parents’ strictures.

When she was 14, she took off for Denver, joining her older sister. There, she became attracted to the nascent Zionist party and began her career as a Zionist-socialist activist. By 1921, she had married and moved with her husband to Palestine, where her “energetic talents” were prized. The marriage, though, suffered, even after the couple had two children. Golda and her husband separated, and she relegated her child care to nannies so she could devote herself to politics. Despite misogyny both within Israel and abroad, Golda rose to prominence. Although she was not named to the nation’s first cabinet in 1948, a slight that angered her, she soon gained central roles: as minister of labor and social security in 1949, minister of foreign affairs in 1956, and Israel’s first female prime minister in 1969. Lahav tries to understand Golda’s lack of interest in feminism, her refusal to “challenge the othering of women,” and her vehement criticism of the women’s liberation movement by speculating about what Golda “might have” felt and by posing salient questions.

Famously called “the ablest man in the cabinet” by her mentor, David Ben-Gurion, she was deeply aware that she navigated a man’s world, but as Lahav shows, she felt no responsibility to break the glass ceiling for other women. Her interest was solely in the survival of Israel.

A thoughtful portrait of a complex world leader.

THEY KNEW How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent

Kendzior, Sarah Flatiron Books (256 pp.) $29.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-250-21072-2

A sharp dissection of a culture of lies, secrets, and conspiracies—including “the original conspiracy theory: American exceptionalism.”

Even paranoiacs have enemies. In the case of current citizens of the U.S., the enemies are countless, as demonstrated

by Kendzior, author of Hiding in Plain Sight and The View From Flyover Country. By the author’s account, the GOP is one, and particularly Republicans in state legislatures who insist that their states are naturally “red” when, in fact, almost everywhere is purple—“like a bruise.” Alas, Kendzior notes, Americans are gullible people: A week after the 2020 election, only 3% of the population believed that Donald Trump had won, but a year after, “only 58 percent of Americans—and only 21 percent of Republicans—still believed that Biden was the legitimate president.” In such an environment, it’s small wonder that conspiracy theories are in wide circulation. Some of them are bizarre enough to seem almost parodies—e.g., “Pizzagate.” Others, by Kendzior’s account, have stronger legs. For example, we still don’t know all the facts about 9/11, particularly when it comes to Saudi Arabia’s involvement, and the leaders of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol have yet to be brought to justice. In a corrupt culture of lies (think of the thousands Trump sputtered), chain reactions fire wildly. Since we mistrust authority but yield |

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“Linn’s examination of how screens have taken over childhood is a must-read for any parent.” who’s raising the kids?

WHO’S RAISING THE KIDS? Big Tech, Big Business, and the Lives of Children

and understood, the Horseman was both the clue and the final reveal. He was the keystone in the arch, the signature at the bottom of every page. As Homer Simpson once observed of beer, the Horseman was the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems.” The author describes how she wanted to use her mother’s stories of abuse, starting at the age of 12, by her riding teacher, the Horseman, as material for a memoir, a project on which her mother, also a writer, had agreed to collaborate, according to McLaren. However, once the book was sold and the manuscript begun, her mother, Cecily Ross, withdrew her permission, deciding to keep the story for her own use, the author says. Rather than comply, McLaren chose to weave the unfolding conflict into the narrative, including the fact that her mother beat her to print with a 2020 essay in the Literary Review of Canada aggressively titled “This Story Is Mine.” Her daughter disagrees. “Stories are like children,” she writes, “and children are like barn fires….Go ahead, toss a match in the hay. After that the thing will live and breathe. It will go where it wants. You cannot pretend to own it any more than you can control it.” In the end, McLaren took a compromise position, minimizing the Horseman material and centering the mother-daughter relationship and other stories about her childhood—from a cruel game she played with her little sister to the pitched battles she fought with her stepmother to what seems like an early discovery of microdosing when she was in high school: “I spend my school days in a blur, snacking from the bottomless ziplock bag of magical fungus….Taken in small quantities, mushrooms lift my spirits.”

A lot of good writing in search of a story with some juice left in it.

Linn, Susan The New Press (320 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-62097-227-4

An eye-opening and disturbing exploration of how marketing tech to children is creating a passive, dysfunctional

generation.

In 2004, Linn, a psychologist specializing in childhood development, published Consuming Kids, a landmark study on how corporations develop marketing campaigns specifically aimed at young people. In the ensuing years, there has been a seismic shift in technology, with a flood of smartphones, tablets, and interactive apps, and children are connecting to the online world at younger ages. Some companies are even marketing screen-based games for babies. Lego, once seen as a toy that encouraged creativity and innovation, now comes with apps that direct what the child should do, and stuffed toys can now sing, dance, walk, or talk at the push of a button. “The more a toy can do, the less a child needs to do,” writes the author. “And the less a child does with a toy, the less useful that child’s play is to healthy development.” One of the book’s hardest-hitting chapters examines “pester power,” encouraged by marketers in order to place an emphasis on brands, which allows for the sale not just of individual toys, but entire product lines. Brand addiction is a sure path to profitability. The nadir of cynicism is when researchers profile teens to determine their psychological weaknesses so they can target advertising at them. Linn recounts numerous horror stories about manipulation, but she is proactive in her advice. “Postpone getting your child a smartphone until at least eighth grade,” she writes. “When it comes to raising children, smartphones are probably the most pernicious of all tech devices.” Read books with them, or go outside to play. Put down your own devices so you do not set a bad example. Set limits on screen time, and don’t yield to nagging for more stuff. In other words, be an active and involved parent.

Linn’s examination of how screens have taken over childhood is a must-read for any parent.

THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES My Time With Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Battle for Democracy, and What It Means for the World

Mendel, Iuliia Trans. by Madeline G. Levine One Signal/Atria (240 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-66801-271-0

The former press secretary to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy lays out the stakes of the current war.

“Perhaps he had not always been a perfect leader,” writes Mendel. “There had been difficulty in mustering the necessary support around his initiatives, managing his staff, and navigating the shoals of partisan politics. But in the chaos of war he knew exactly what to do. He became our national protector.” Indeed, Zelenskyy came into his own as a wartime leader of unflinching courage and a deeply wrought conviction that Ukraine is a bulwark of Western democracy and a nation that belongs in the 21st century. By contrast, Mendel writes in a closely observed portrait, “there is only one way to describe Putin: ‘old age.’

No matter how much I looked at him and his delegation, no

WHERE YOU END AND I BEGIN

McLaren, Leah Amistad/HarperCollins (256 pp.) $28.00 | July 26, 2022 978-0-06-303718-2

In the process of writing a book about her mother’s stories of her childhood trauma, the author found herself in a tussle over who owns the story.

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matter how much I listened, everything about them conveyed old age: old ideology, old principles, old behavior, old thoughts.”

Readers will find a generally admiring but not entirely uncritical depiction of Zelenskyy as well. He is a masterful negotiator who understands that peace is preferable to war, for “only with peace can he focus on rebuilding his nation.” That rebuilding involves guiding Ukraine to forward-looking economic, social, and cultural standards and shaking off the power of oligarchs, but it also acknowledges that Ukraine is a multicultural society that includes ethnic Russians—who, in the course of the current war, have discovered that their language is now associated with “inhumanity and cruel aggression,” so much so that they’re switching to speaking Ukrainian as an expression of solidarity.

Readers will also find a cleareyed look at both the reasons for Russia’s intransigence and the countervailing force of Ukrainian resistance in a war that “has burned away all that was artificial and superficial in our lives.”

A nuanced portrait of a leader in a time of crisis who has definitely risen to the occasion.

her own most important subject, she sometimes drifts into glib self-considerations that fail to register as anything other than light entertainment. Still, the author writes in a lively style, and she consistently expresses an appealingly irreverent sensibility.

An often amusing romp through contemporary issues by a popular humorist.

THE STORM IS HERE An American Crucible Mogelson, Luke Penguin Press (368 pp.) $29.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-48921-5

SHE’S NICE THOUGH Essays on Being Bad at Being Good

Mercado, Mia HarperOne (224 pp.) $27.99 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-0-06-309851-0

A millennial humorist takes on timely topics.

In her second collection of essays, following Weird But Normal, Kansas City– based writer Mercado explores a range of subjects, most notably her identity as an Asian woman in the Midwest, the conventions of lowbrow TV, the social impacts and racial dimensions of the pandemic, and the ambiguities of “niceness” as a female ideal. “So much of kindness comes down to the ability to absorb the thoughtlessness of others,” she writes. The author delivers plenty of witty reflections, offering mostly casual commentary on the thickets of contemporary identity politics and the meretricious seductions of pop culture. The author is at her best when, in a distinctively quirky style, she documents her absorption as an adolescent in various TV dramas—“I attribute much of my teen horniness to Degrassi”—and assesses her conflicted status as an ambitious, attention-seeking introvert: “I don’t want to be famous as evidenced by the fact that I wrote down, in a book, ‘I do not want to be famous.’ Nothing makes someone less famous than writing a book.” At times, Mercado is unpersuasive, especially in the pieces that seem to aim at more incisive modes of cultural criticism—e.g., in her commentary on the rise of incivility in public life, the ultimate sources of racist and sexist attitudes, or the significance of her religious upbringing. Though the essential questions posed by the collection—“At the center of it all, am I actually nice or am I just performing a role I think I’m expected to play? Who is benefitting from my niceness?”—accurately locate Mercado as |

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A war correspondent provides a crucial account of the events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt.

“While they demonstrated their ability to attempt an insurrection…I have a hard time crediting them with the imagination necessary to conceive of one,” writes Mogelson, New Yorker staffer and winner of two National Magazine and two George Polk Awards, referring to the Proud Boys and other right-wing radicals who stormed the Capitol. The orders for that insurrection came from elsewhere, as a congressional investigation is now unveiling. Mogelson examines the uprising as the expression of a kind of free-floating White rage that he has been tracing over the last few years. His reporting has taken him to places such as Michigan, where, in 2020, thousands of Trump supporters, antivaxxers, and other dissidents attempted to shut down the state capitol while others plotted to kidnap and perhaps even kill the state’s Democratic governor, who “had recently extended a stay-at-home order and imposed additional restrictions on commerce and recreation.” The Covid-19 pandemic was one spark, along with “a raging blizzard of propaganda [that] would completely blot out reality.” The reality that Mogelson presents is unrelentingly bleak, culminating in a vivid, and frightening, blow-by-blow account of the assault on the Capitol, which he witnessed firsthand. By not declaring himself a member of the press, he was able to move among figures such as the so-called QAnon Shaman, “who was carrying out a highly specific and consequential mission, from which he would not be deterred”— namely, to reclaim the Capitol for God by bellowing “shamanic songs” to activate the electromagnetic ley lines along which D.C. was supposedly built. (His mission ultimately ended in a sentence of 41 months in prison.) Other participants were much less woo-woo, of course, earnest in their mission to overturn the election and, in the bargain, hang Mike Pence for upholding the Constitution. Mogelson recounts the chaos in consistently striking, memorable detail.

Essential for understanding the right-wing rage that boils across America.

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“A brave and inspiring account of a movement through pain to a complex reckoning and self-recovery.” no one crosses the wolf

WHAT IF? 2 Additional Serious Scientific Answers To Absurd Hypothetical Questions

the kayak beneath the water,” nearly drowning him and his friend. Filmed by neighboring whale watchers, the video went viral and stimulated the author’s already intense interest in these immense mammals. He writes that the plight of whales first attracted popular attention during the Cold War, when U.S. Navy hydrophones placed on the sea floor to eavesdrop on Soviet submarines detected strange musical sounds from passing whales. The 1970 album Songs of the Humpback Whale became a blockbuster environmental milestone and marked the beginning of the end of widespread commercial whaling. So what are the whales saying? No one denies that animals exchange signals, but discussing the concept of “animal language” with some scientists was like “waving a red cape in front of a bull.” Though no specific “words” are revealed, Mustill uncovers numerous intriguing avenues as he recounts his travels around the world interviewing the growing number of scientists trying to make sense of an overwhelming stream of recordings from cetaceans (whales and closely related dolphins and porpoises), with contributions from other chatty animals, especially birds. After the 1950s, oscilloscopes produced permanent pictures, but it was only in the past decade that big data and artificial intelligence enabled researchers to identify individual whales, each with an individual speech pattern, and follow them across the globe.

They learned that cetaceans live long lives in complex societies, with clans and cultures delineated by the way they speak, a fascinating world brought to life by Mustill.

Despite the absence of a primer on whale language, readers will savor this expert exploration of animal communication.

Munroe, Randall Riverhead (368 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-525-53711-3

Former NASA roboticist Munroe continues his quest to answer the world’s unlikeliest questions.

Assuming you had enough fuel, how long would it take you to drive to the edge of the observable universe? If you traveled at 65 mph, writes the author, “it will take you 480,000,000,000,000,000 years…to get there, or 35 million times the current age of the universe.” How Munroe arrives at such calculations isn’t always clear, and his math doesn’t always show the work, but roll with it. He estimates that a hungry T. rex set loose on the streets of New York might be placated with 80 hamburgers—and if the dinosaur decides to devour a friend of yours instead of the proffered treat, “anyway, hey, you have 80 burgers.” Speaking of eating, can a person eat a cloud? No, writes the author, not unless you can squeeze the air out of it, and never mind whether the water within the cloud is potable. Munroe takes clear delight in his odd investigations—e.g., whether a person—or a vampire, maybe—can get drunk drinking a drunk person’s blood. The answer has to do with the dilution of ethanol, but Munroe pauses to counsel that it’s a very bad idea to drink someone else’s blood in the first instance: “I’m not a doctor, and I try not to give medical advice in my books. However, I will confidently say that you shouldn’t drink the blood of someone with a viral hemorrhagic fever.” You’ve got to like a book that blends deep dives into such matters as the nature of black holes and the mathematics of genealogy with handy pop-culture references—as when Munroe brightly likens the unfortunate Greek king Sisyphus to Hollywood stalwart Dwayne Johnson, because, of course, rocks are involved in both cases.

A delight for science geeks with a penchant for oddball thought experiments.

NO ONE CROSSES THE WOLF

Nikolidakis, Lisa Little A (292 pp.) $24.95 | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-542-03771-6

A memoir about confronting trauma and working toward healing.

In this frank and often searing narrative, Nikolidakis examines what she describes as monstrous abuses perpetrated by her father, who, after leaving her family, murdered his new girlfriend and her daughter before committing suicide. Setting forth “my truth—the emotional truth of my experiences,” the author recounts how she was stunned by the violence that might easily have included her or other family members and slowly began a painful investigation into the wide-ranging impact of her father’s malignancy. She insightfully explores her family’s well-concealed dysfunction, her descent into alcoholism and promiscuity as a teenager, and her long-standing efforts to deny the reality of the psychological and physical torments. Particularly vivid (and harrowing) are those passages that reflect on the divide between her father’s charismatic public presence and the cruelty of his private life. With compelling clarity and eloquence, she anatomizes his ability to manipulate: “I remember nearly a dozen such apologies from those years, each of them cried and slumped, his head held and bowed until I offered forgiveness. I always did, partly

HOW TO SPEAK WHALE A Voyage Into the Future of Animal Communication Mustill, Tom Grand Central Publishing (304 pp.) $29.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5387-3911-2

The science behind animal communication, with an emphasis on whales.

Mustill, a biologist and filmmaker who has collaborated with Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, among others, opens with a bracing scene: In 2015, while kayaking with a friend in Monterey Bay, off the California coast, a breaching whale “punched 60

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DIANA, WILLIAM, & HARRY

because it got him out of my room, but mostly because I believed him. To see grief so close up, to inspect it and work out the algebra of its accuracy, filled me with shame, as though lying near his shame released its contagion.” Nikolidakis concludes by explaining how her search for understanding took her to her father’s homeland in Greece and Crete, where she found a sense of spiritual renewal in reconnecting with his extended family. The text is convincing and memorable in suggesting that the author was, ultimately, able to accept the final unknowability of what drove her father’s destructiveness and to transcend the rage and self-loathing he wrought.

A brave and inspiring account of a movement through pain to a complex reckoning and self-recovery.

Patterson, James & Chris Mooney Little, Brown (448 pp.) $30.00 | Aug. 15, 2022 978-0-7595-5422-1

THE SKEPTICS’ GUIDE TO THE FUTURE What Yesterday’s Science and Science-Fiction Tell Us About the World of Tomorrow Novella, Steven with Bob Novella & Jay Novella Grand Central Publishing (512 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-538-70954-2

A gimlet-eyed look at the promises of technology and futurists past.

If people were to live to be 1,000, and if one of them committed some heinous crime, would it be just for a life sentence to last multiple centuries? Thus one of the thought experiments in the latest by the Novellas, a follow-up to The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe. The authors argue that while we have made tremendous progress in technology in the past half-century, it’s been in arenas that we didn’t quite expect: not the cure for cancer or the solution to climate change but instead fun apps to distract us from the world. “I drive to work in a car that would most likely seem ordinary to a driver from the 1950s,” write the authors, “but they would likely be blown away by my GPS and entertainment system.” That we might expect different comes from the overselling of a gleaming future by science fiction— e.g., the promise in 2001 that we would have traveled to Jupiter two decades ago or the projection that we’d have so much leisure time that we’d all become masters of our various corners of the universe. Instead, as the authors note, modern life proves “the deep philosophical principle that shit happens,” with most of us incapable of seeing it coming. The authors venture a few predictions of their own, including the expansion of robotics and the mechanization of biology, creating replacement parts within our bodies that are far more effective than the current titanium knees and hips. “But why limit ourselves to the original body plan?” he rejoins. “We can even add extra limbs.”

One thing may be certain: If we live forever or very nearly so as “genetically modified cyborgs,” there won’t be much need for children—so maybe don’t buy stock in diaper manufacturers.

An intriguing if bet-hedging work of futurology that calls into question the whole business of futurology itself.

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The Patterson juggernaut continues to expand into the nonfiction world with this account of the royal family.

Given that bookshelves are full of stories about the House of Windsor, is there anything more to be said about the shattered family of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997)? Patterson thinks yes—and proves it—in this narrative about the lives of Diana, William, and Harry. Numerous authors have written about Diana the victim, Diana the fashion icon, and Diana the “people’s princess,” but Patterson explores an aspect of the late Lady Di that offers more fertile ground for investigation: Diana the mother. Starting from a young age, Diana Frances Spencer displayed an uncanny ability to put people at ease, and her clear love of children set the stage for her most important role, that of “Mummy.” Amid all the recent Diana content, from Netflix shows to films, Patterson does something different. He treats the princess as a person and tells the story of a mother from her perspective. In fascinating morsels, we learn of the empathetic heart underneath the diamond brooches and couture gowns. Diana struggled with issues many face—including mental health, frosty in-laws, and a doomed marriage—and Patterson treats his subject with compassion and an admiring acknowledgement of Diana’s rebellious side. However, the book loses momentum after Diana’s death. We see how sons William and Harry assumed their roles in the royal family without their mother’s guidance. By this point, Diana’s impressive humanitarian efforts give way to her sons’ social lives and military careers. In spite of efforts to keep Diana top of mind, the narrative becomes less vibrant once Diana is no longer in it. As the sons drift apart, the book leaves us with the heartbreaking question of what might have been.

A good choice for readers who can’t get enough of Diana.

THE OTHER How To Own Your Power at Work as a Woman of Color

Pierre-Bravo, Daniela Legacy Lit/Hachette (256 pp.) $29.00 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-0-306-92544-3

An undocumented Chilean immigrant uses her personal experiences to advise other marginalized young professionals about their careers.

Pierre-Bravo, a reporter for MSNBC’s Morning Joe and contributor and producer to NBC’s Know Your Value platform, begins with her childhood, which she and her family spent in “survival mode,” trying to eke out a living while avoiding |

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“Writing with authority and empathy, Raphael tells a disturbing story of taking a good thing and then overdoing it.” the gospel of wellness

deportation. Due to this situation, she was not only constantly working; she lived in constant fear. In one particularly poignant example, she remembers hitting a parked car while working as a delivery person for Mary Kay, a job she took on to help defray the costs of college. Although she desperately needed her summer wages—as an undocumented student, she was ineligible for scholarships or loans—she spent most of her money paying the owner of the damaged car in cash so she could avoid a confrontation with law enforcement, which might have forced her to reveal her immigration status. After this level of childhood trauma, Pierre-Bravo says it took years to stop making decisions from a place of fear. Following these revelations, the author encourages young people to learn from her past hesitancy by rejecting survival mode, setting boundaries, taking risks, embracing vulnerability, and asking directly for things like promotions and raises, among other strategies. The author’s conversational tone and hard-won experience lend her voice a compassion and clarity that readers will find both useful and comforting, and her advice is practical and well reasoned.

“It’s time for you to stop waiting for anyone’s permission,” she writes. At times, though, Pierre-Bravo’s insistence on self-advocacy feels disconnected from the real structural barriers faced by women of color and other minority communities. This leads to analysis that is sometimes overly simplistic and puts an unfair amount of pressure on individuals to single-handedly overturn centuries of oppression.

An inspirational professional guidebook for women of color that occasionally misses the bigger picture.

England in an act pitting capitalists against working people and turning the vast wetlands, “one of the world’s richest environments,” to farmland—and, of course, releasing greenhouse gases to accompany those generated by the first factories of the Industrial Revolution. A proverbial “pot of gold” awaits those who undertake such conversions. As Proulx writes, the swamp, fens, and bogs of North America, once drained, yielded valuable hardwoods, while the mangrove swamps of Mexico are being “deliberately destroyed…to open an area for the construction of a large Pemex oil refinery.” Remaking the world inevitably impoverishes it and us, as Proulx writes in a crescendo that damns the damming of the Mississippi River, turning it into “a large mud canal” in the bargain, its delta now being swallowed up by rising seawater.

An eloquent, engaged argument for the preservation of a small and damp yet essential part of the planet.

THE GOSPEL OF WELLNESS Gyms, Gurus, Goop and the False Promise of Self-Care

Raphael, Rina Henry Holt (352 pp.) $28.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-250-79300-3

An eye-opening account of how the U.S. has become “a self-care nation, though arguably one that still lacks the fundamentals of well-being.”

A journalist who specializes in health and women’s issues, Raphael is perfectly situated to investigate the massive wellness industry. What started as a movement to increase health and reduce stress has become, in many cases, a cure worse than the disease, with social media “fitfluencers” setting standards that are impossible to meet and a host of self-appointed gurus selling diet programs of every conceivable type. Most of the diets claim to be backed by science, but when Raphael drills down, she finds little reliable evidence and plenty of nonsense. Nevertheless, many people worry endlessly that they might inadvertently deviate from the plan, even if it is making them less healthy. Others stress about chemical pesticides infecting their vegetables and fruit, but the amounts are so miniscule as to be meaningless. “Food has become an utterly fraught ordeal for the average woman,” writes the author. “A Fear Factor episode that never ends. If you’re to take extreme wellness gurus and fad diets at face value, you cannot consume any sugar, gluten, pesticide residue, dairy, ‘chemicals,’ and more.” Some gym programs resemble cults, and countless people get caught in a vicious cycle: You have to work hard to pay for the stress-reduction programs that are needed because you are working too hard.

Raphael delves incisively into the marketing techniques used by so-called wellness companies and finds a remarkable level of manipulative cynicism. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop line is a prime example. “Their health advice always seems to converge

FEN, BOG & SWAMP A Short History of Peatland Destruction and Its Role in the Climate Crisis Proulx, Annie Scribner (208 pp.) $26.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-982173-35-7

The noted novelist turns to environmental history to describe the workings of the world’s wetlands.

“A swamp is a minerotrophic peat-making wetland dominated by trees and shrubs,” writes Proulx in an opening introduction of terms that contrasts swamps with the fens and bogs of her title. All these bodies yield peat, partially decomposed vegetable matter that humans have used for various purposes over the centuries, including fuel and fertilizer. The problem is, in the world-destroying period that Proulx brightly calls the “psychozoic,” with the increased exploitation of wetlands, the greenhouse gases held in peat formations are being released into the atmosphere, a vicious circle of climate change that continues to get worse. “That is the frightening side of peatland’s ability to hold in huge amounts of carbon dioxide: rip or burn the cover off and it is in your face,” writes the author, who ranges widely in this short book. She provides a particularly good compact history of the draining of the fens of eastern 62

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THIS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE What the Music You Love Says About You

to one end point: buy more stuff,” writes the author, who saves her sharpest barbs for the purported benefits of crystals and biohacking. She hopes the pendulum will swing back toward a more sensible center; until then, it’s clear that she subscribes to a useful piece of old advice: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Writing with authority and empathy, Raphael tells a disturbing story of taking a good thing and then overdoing it.

Rogers, Susan & Ogi Ogas Norton (288 pp.) $27.95 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-393-54125-0

THOT

Reid, Chanté L. Sarabande Books (96 pp.) $17.95 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-956046-11-3 Reticular literary criticism folded into biting vignettes of the author’s present studies and life.

In fewer than 7,500 words, debut author Reid attempts to connect a slippery range of narrative elements: her read on the character Denver in Toni Morrison’s Beloved as “vampiric” and “an image of queer futurity”; the alleged madness of Medea and related trope of the “crazy” woman; the tragic history of Margaret Garner, “The Modern Medea,” who was killed in 1856 and served as an inspiration for Beloved; the 2016 police killing of Reid’s so-called “crazy” Bronx neighbor Deborah Danner; “clips of conversations”; myriad metaphors; and more. Reid’s style is experimental, poetic, and confident, while her tone connotes exhaustion. She includes photographs from works she has studied, including Beloved and Anne Carson’s preface to Grief Les­ sons and translation of Medea. These images are most notable for Reid’s extensive markings and notes, which are, by turns, striking, personal, cogent, illegible, and incisive. At the beginning of the 21st chapter of Beloved—the first one narrated by Denver— Reid has scrawled in the margins, among other thoughts, “*A vampire has to be invited in, let the romance novels tell it. like love. like romantic period [1800-1850] for white men the belief that imagination is all.” In an artful section of stream-of-consciousness writing, the author notes, “this language will never be / stationary.” Much of the dialogue, without quotation marks, reads like a text-message exchange, and much of the book is not easy to follow. Therein lies its vulnerability as well as its particular strength. This is a provocative work that defies categorization, making it a tough sell for general readers. “The first thing you learn,” writes Reid, “in the studies of White Gods / Classics / Authorities, is that tragedies are for men.” Throughout, the author’s often moving poetry and prose resonate with rhythmic echoes, whether examining classic prose or ruminating on the lyrics of hip-hop icons N.W.A. A boundary-pushing book-length essay perfectly suited to literary scholars.

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Liberace or Lyle Lovett? What we listen to speaks volumes about us.

In this blend of neuroscience and audiophilia, Rogers, who describes herself as “one of the very few successful female record producers in the profoundly male-dominated industry,” has spent a lot of time thinking about the meaning of listening to music. One of her great conversation starters is a “record pull,” asking the person or people you’re with to play their favorite tunes and, in turn, putting yours on the table in a fearless exercise in “selfdiscovery.” The records you offer have predictive value. For example, if you like David Bowie, you might like Lou Reed— whom Rogers declined to work with on the grounds that she was a little too methodical for the improvisational project he had in mind. Writing with neuroscientist Ogas, Rogers identifies seven dimensions that shape our understanding and appreciation of music, four of them musical (melody, lyrics, rhythm, and timbre) and three “aesthetic” (authenticity, realism, and novelty). Some are obvious: The songs we walk away humming or dancing to catch us in just the right way. The aesthetic dimensions are subtler. On the matter of authenticity, Rogers holds up the example of the supremely horrible band the Shaggs, who made up in fearlessness what they couldn’t muster in musical skill (“Incompetence. Embarrassing, unsalvageable, breathtaking incompetence”). Interestingly, Rogers argues that nature and nurture play roles in determining musical taste. We have a certain genetic propensity for some kinds of music, but more to the point, it’s experience and exposure that help shape our tolerance for novelty (Zappa or Stockhausen, anyone?) and desire for believability (Hank Williams versus, say, Milli Vanilli). Refreshingly, Rogers urges that we rid ourselves of snobbery, for musical taste is broadly various: “It is the limitless diversity of listener profiles that fuels the infinitely rich art form we love.”

An intriguing look at how what enters our ears shapes our minds.

SURVIVAL OF THE RICHEST Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires

Rushkoff, Douglas Norton (224 pp.) $26.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-393-88106-6

A media theorist dismantles the techcentric fantasies of the wealthiest people in the world. |

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“A top-shelf World War II history told with meticulous research and considerable heart.” black snow

In this scathing book, Rushkoff opens with an account of a meeting he attended with five of the world’s richest men, who sought his opinions on their strategies to survive an “Event” that would render the world as we know it unlivable. These men and the rest of their technocrat counterparts suffer from what Rushkoff calls “The Mindset,” a worldview marked by a staunch bias toward quantifiable data and “a faith in technology to solve problems,” especially the problems that those billionaires’ own technologies have wrought. While digital technologies initially offered opportunities for more meaningfully connected and innovative ways of life, Rushkoff argues that the hopes were corrupted by market goals. As a result, new technologies were designed less for consumer satisfaction and more for investor profit. Another major detriment is the winner-take-all attitude among tech “innovators,” who aren’t interested in incremental progress as much as creating a singular invention for which they can take all the credit. However, notes the author, “these totalizing solutions perpetuate the myth that only a technocratic elite can possibly fix our problems.” Rushkoff describes an interesting connection between tech billionaires and the prominence of psychedelics in tech culture, further illustrating the need of the tech elite to believe that they are singularly capable of providing the solutions humankind needs—while getting rich in the process. The idea that technology can remedy the ills that technology created is founded on a faulty belief that only what’s quantifiable has value, but the “squishier” subjects and ways of thinking that explore our dignity and humanity are still important, and it is imperative we don’t leave them behind. Though Rushkoff occasionally displays too evident a disdain for his subjects, he writes with knowledge and authority. The text conveys an appropriately urgent and serious message, while the closing section offers sound reason for hope and reasonable steps to take for a better future.

A dense but thorough and authoritative condemnation of tech worship.

world rather than replacing them,” and he organizes the text into seven sections, reflecting the priorities we encounter in a typical week: work, schooling, commerce, and so forth. In each chapter, he first outlines the unexpected pitfalls of digital life and then suggests more humane, contemplative approaches that acknowledge progressive solutions from pre-pandemic society, which he terms “rear-looking innovations.” For instance, he argues in favor of “the physical space of the office and the human relationships that occur there,” noting how remote work proved frustrating in many fields. As a parent, Sax grimly views virtual schooling in terms of its “soul crushing disappointment,” recalling how, “as weeks turned to months, everyone except the heroic teachers stopped caring.” He discusses how this misadventure revealed rampant economic inequality in student preparedness while highlighting the emotional aspects of learning relative to the physicality of schools. Likewise, Sax examines how digital commerce proved both helpful and destructive.

The shortcomings of gentrification in cities became clearer, and issues of personal faith, communication, and political discourse were likewise strained. The author relies on (virtual) interviews throughout, synthesizing the views of academics, other authors, and his suburban peers. This creates a pop-psych feel to the text, rendered in an approachable, witty style punctuated with personal asides poking fun at his own relative privilege during the pandemic.

Deft, colorful discussion focused more on social prescriptions than on specific, tangible analog things.

BLACK SNOW Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb Scott, James M. Norton (448 pp.) $35.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-324-00299-4

THE FUTURE IS ANALOG How To Create a More Human World

Thorough study of the B-29 raids over Japan that underscores the debate over precision bombing versus firebombing at the end of World War II. In this excellent follow-up to Rampage and Target Tokyo, Scott evenhandedly examines the controversy surrounding the firebombing of Japanese cities and offers a sympathetic rendering of the devastating effects of those bombings on the civilian population. At the core of the narrative is the development of the B-29 Superfortress, a massive, expensive new bomber championed by Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold in his advocacy for the independence of the Air Force. By late 1944, ready for action, the new bombers were assigned to the Pacific theater in an operation overseen by Gen. Haywood Hansell Jr., “one of the few leaders who still preached the idea of humane [daylight precision] bombing.” As the American public clamored for an end to the war, top-level military officials made the decision to increase the use of incendiary bombs in order to break the

Sax, David PublicAffairs (288 pp.) $29.00 | Nov. 15, 2022 978-1-5417-0155-7

A sociological study arguing that the pandemic reinforced a widespread desire for old-school, “analog” connectivity.

Toronto-based reporter and writer Sax follows up his well-received The Revenge of Analog by testing its thesis against the upheavals caused by Covid-19: “Digital technology will continue its advance [but]…the analog world remains the one that matters most.” The author considers how unpleasant months of enforced isolation upended his life, tartly noting, “The digital future was finally here! And it fucking sucked.” In response, Sax envisions a future “where digital technology actually elevates the most valuable parts of the analog 64

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morale of the Japanese civilian population, force surrender, and avoid a costly invasion. In the early weeks of 1945, Hansell was replaced by ace pilot and operator Curtis LeMay, who immediately instigated the firebombing system, which involved flying low at night and carpeting dense urban areas with waves of incendiaries, killing thousands. “Targeting homes was the key to societal breakdown,” the generals concluded. Scott writes that LeMay’s March bombing of Tokyo represented a “tremendous moral shift for the United States, which until this moment had opposed the intentional killing of civilians.” This paved the way for the destruction of dozens of other Japanese cities, and after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the death toll reached 330,000, an estimate that was “likely low.” Scott alternates his page-turning account of the air operations with devastating on-the-ground eyewitness reports of survivors, providing a kaleidoscopic portrait of both sides in a cataclysmic conflict.

A top-shelf World War II history told with meticulous research and considerable heart.

first computer-coding school for girls; Mariam Safi founded a Kabul-based institute for community development; Manizha Wafeq’s Peace Through Business program has trained and mentored more than 600 women entrepreneurs. “When people ask me if the Taliban has changed,” Wafeq notes, “I tell them it has not. It is our women who have changed.” As artist Rada Akbar puts it, “I know that in every home in Afghanistan there lives…a superwoman.”

Impassioned testimony to women’s determination.

FREE MARKET The History of an Idea Soll, Jacob Basic Books (336 pp.) $32.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-465-04970-7

WE ARE STILL HERE Afghan Women on Courage, Freedom, and the Fight To Be Heard Ed. by Shahalimi, Nahid Plume (192 pp.) $17.00 paper | Aug. 16, 2022 978-0-593-47290-3

Profiles of Afghan women who are fighting against repression.

Human rights activist, filmmaker, and artist Shahalimi (b. 1973) fled from Afghanistan with her widowed mother and three siblings in 1985, first to Pakistan and then to Canada. Over four years, beginning in 2014, she made several trips back, interviewing women for her first book, Where Courage Carries the Soul (2017). Banned from the country after its publication in Germany, Shahalimi defiantly continued her project, and in less than two months, she conducted, transcribed, edited, and translated the interviews that comprise this moving collection. The 13 women she profiles share outrage at the Taliban, which brutally restricts women’s lives. As Margaret Atwood notes in her introduction, that puritanical theocracy informed her creation of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale. Like Shahalimi, many women left as refugees. “My education almost certainly would have ended in 1996, in the fourth grade, with the invasion of the Taliban,” writes Hila Limar, if she had not grown up in Germany. Now she is an architect and activist affiliated with Visions for Children, an organization that has built seven schools in Afghanistan. Many activists have risked their lives. For example, Razia Barakzai, who initiated the first women’s protests after the fall of Kabul, has received “unequivocal death threats from the Taliban.” When singer Aryana Sayeed made an unveiled performance on The Voice in 2013, “a group of cler­ics issued a fatwa against her on TV, promising entry into heaven to whoever could decapitate her.” All of these women are devoted to empowerment. Fereshteh Forough founded the |

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Nuanced history of a notion that, while central dogma in economics, is in the eye of the beholder.

Through the influence of libertarians like Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman, the free market today is presumed to be self-regulating, with state interference only harming it. But as Soll, a MacArthur fellow and professor of philosophy, history, and accounting, shows in this authoritative account, this is far from the views of early proponents of the free market. Cicero, for example, believed that a free market should be the natural outcome of well-meaning, well-educated agrarians coming together to trade justly, with the state aiding the process through the guidance of wise laws. This idea carried into the early modern period by way of intermediaries such as St. Augustine, who continued to view free trade as a species of ethics. “If God helped people do good, and if by their own free will they then were pious and nonmaterialistic, their possession of money and goods could be positive,” Soll glosses, before moving on to the greatest moral economist of all, Adam Smith, who “saw the free market as the product of a peaceful and even gentlemanly process of social and economic progress.” An influential precursor to Smith, Antonio Genovesi emphasized personal integrity and public trust as determinants of the value of labor and commodities, aided again by governments that advanced trade by providing protections against criminals, building roads and harbors, and the like. Conversely, Soll argues, von Hayek considered markets to be the arena of a battle between good and evil, the latter represented by the state.

Friedman, whose name is most closely associated with the free market today, agreed, though it did not stop him from supporting unfree societies such as Augusto Pinochet’s Chile. Ironically, Soll concludes in this stimulating book, China is now a leading proponent of free market ideas, even as many Western powers turn to economic nationalism.

A cleareyed exposition of an important tenet of economic thought, with all its shades of meaning.

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“A delightful music history that gives pop its proper due without losing any of the fizzy fun along the way.” let’s do it

LET’S DO IT The Birth of Pop Music: A History

noted (and notorious) Russian novelist Vladimir Nabokov at Cornell, “where she truly came alive.” What Totenberg and Ginsburg shared over a half-century friendship, much spent over bowls of bouillabaisse, was a profound love of conversation and learning, to say nothing of the law, to which Totenberg had a sort of trial by fire, covering, among many other events, the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. “For understandable reasons,” she writes, “he’s never granted me an interview, and when we attend the same social events, I keep my distance.”

Ginsburg was a devoted student and thoughtful interpreter of the law, which made her invaluable as a member of the court. As the author writes, she also had a gift for being “able to separate fierce intellectual disagreements from personal animus,” which helps explain why the aforementioned Thomas, with whom she often disagreed, paid deeply felt tribute to her after her death.

Indeed, counseled Ginsburg, “It helps, sometimes, to be a little deaf when unkind or thoughtless words are spoken.” She has been honored and eulogized countless times since her death in 2020, but, Totenberg reminds us, while Ginsburg sought points of common ground in developing arguments and dissents, she was still the victim of partisan politics. In a typically nasty move, Mitch McConnell denied her a place lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda, which the Senate controls, and she was honored in Statuary Hall, the purview of the House. McConnell did not attend. “Even as many conservatives will welcome a far more conservative, some might say extreme, Court,” Totenberg closes, meaningfully, “many in America may well be surprised to miss a more centrist Court, as they will miss RGB.” An affectionate, revealing portrait of an important figure in American history.

Stanley, Bob Pegasus (624 pp.) $35.00 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-63936-250-9

A sprawling, 600-page, swiftly moving chronicle of the birth of popular music.

Stanley, whose previous history, Yeah!

Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music From Bill Haley to Beyoncé, cleverly captured the heyday of pop music, turns his uncanny ability to draw connections between far-flung generations of musicians to the first half of the 20th century.

As the author shows, this is the era when pop music was born— when “records…were made to sell, music…was intended to be heard by the largest possible audience”—and the recording and performance industries developed alongside the music. Stanley profiles numerous larger-than-life figures, from the brilliant yet tragic heroes Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin, through the birth of jazz and big bands, to iconic superstars like Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. The author’s pithy summary of Sinatra’s appeal demonstrates his descriptive skill: “The tenderness in his voice was all the more effective because of the flip side, the toughness that could mutate into drunken divorcee bitterness on something like ‘That’s Life.’ Love and hate, kindness and intolerance in equal measure.” Stanley calls Sinatra the “fulcrum” of the book, embodying what came before and providing the blueprint for the careers that came after—all the way up to the current music scene. This author’s ability to assess the history of his subject through the lens of today’s music sets this book apart. As he finds the links between Carole King and Garland (“ ‘It Might as Well Rain Until September’ could have been sung by Judy Garland in Meet Me in St Louis”) or Paul McCartney’s connections to both Matt Monro and Peggy Lee, Stanley makes the argument that good music is good music. “John Lennon disparagingly referred to these efforts as Paul’s ‘granny music,’ ” writes the author. “But who doesn’t love their granny?”

A delightful music history that gives pop its proper due without losing any of the fizzy fun along the way.

STARRY MESSENGER Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Tyson, Neil deGrasse Henry Holt (288 pp.) $28.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-250-86150-4

The well-known astrophysicist argues in favor of science.

Tyson, popular TV commentator and director of the Hayden Planetarium, points out that until a few centuries ago, all cultures explained natural phenomena through words from wise men (i.e., “authority”), sacred texts, and myths. Life was short, disease-ridden, and violent, and few claimed that important questions remained unanswered or that progress was possible. After the 17th-century Enlightenment, scientific inquiry began delivering explanations that “are true even when you don’t believe in them,” and there followed significant improvements to our quality of life as a species. Even though science has delivered the goods for centuries, Tyson warns against two alternatives. The first, deeply held personal beliefs, are not susceptible to argument and range from the literal truth of the Bible to the superiority of the Dodgers over the Yankees. Personal beliefs are benign

DINNERS WITH RUTH A Memoir on the Power of Friendships Totenberg, Nina Simon & Schuster (256 pp.) $27.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-982188-08-5

Longtime NPR correspondent Totenberg recounts her friendship with the late Supreme Court justice.

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unless they become coercive political beliefs, and the intensity of this coercion continues to increase in today’s political climate, sometimes culminating in violence. Tyson urges readers to base their actions on accurate observation—evidence rather than feeling—and a willingness to discard ideas that don’t work.

“To deny objective truths is to be scientifically illiterate,” he writes, “not to be ideologically principled.” Among the best sections of the book is an essay in which the author, taking a page from early racist anthropology, delivers a tongue-in-cheek but strictly fact-based argument that Whites resemble chimpanzees far more closely than Blacks do. Marshalling his evidence, he shows “how easy it is to be racist.” Since it’s been proven (scientifically) that humans are terrible at assessing risks, flummoxed by statistics, impervious to facts that contradict their prejudices, and murderously attached to their tribe, Tyson may be fighting a losing battle. Still, he’s a welcome voice in the escalating fight with the array of forces aligned against science and rational thought.

Good sense for those who value good sense.

in Nazi concentration camps. When the Romans led their military expeditions into Greece, they turned its books “into the spoils of war.” In the “story of books in Rome, slaves are the protagonists.” Vallejo frequently diverges from her primary path, covering education, religious persecution, the rise of reading, bookselling, and countless other topics.

Unquestionably erudite, but the vast amount of information in this digressive work may limit the appeal.

ELECTABLE Why America Hasn’t Put a Woman in the White House...

Yet

Vitali, Ali Dey Street/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $28.99 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-0-063-05863-7

PAPYRUS The Invention of Books in the Ancient World

Vallejo, Irene Trans. by Charlotte Whittle Knopf (464 pp.) $35.00 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-0-593-31889-8

Imagination and historical research converge in this memoir-ish book about books and a whole lot more.

Spanish author Vallejo, here “consumed by the book I’m writing,” beckons readers to join her on a sprawling, learned, lively personal history tour of books—“a silent dialogue between you and me.” The narrative quickly morphs into a comprehensive, fact-laden, occasionally rambling intellectual history of ancient Greece and Rome. The author opens with a fablelike story about a king sending out hunters to find books, papyrus scrolls in many languages, “light, beautiful, and portable,” for a great library in Alexandria. When Mark Antony arrived, he tried to woo Cleopatra with a special gift: 200,000 books for the city’s library. “In Alexandria,” writes Vallejo, “books served as fuel for passion,” and that institution became the world’s first public library. After Alexander died young, King Ptolemy worked to maintain the vast library, enlisting the help of a variety of scholars. Vallejo’s narrative jumps around: illuminating tales from ancient history, descriptions of her research in Oxford’s libraries, how to read a scroll, the education of a scribe, our fascination with The Iliad and The Odyssey. Throughout, the author draws on other writers (Borges, Christopher Morley, Umberto Eco) and films (Memento, It’s a Wonderful Life) to help make her points, and she is clearly filled with wonder about myriad topics, almost all literary. For example, how many books were in ancient Greece? How many people could read then? Before turning her gaze to Rome, she discusses libraries |

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A Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News examines why the U.S. still has not elected a woman president.

As Vitali, who followed the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns across the country, points out, 2020 produced the most female presidential candidates—all Democrats—in American history. The six women who ran were “qualified, competent lawmakers with heavy policy portfolios,” and they all “attracted top staff and notched key endorsements.” Yet no woman was selected to face incumbent Donald Trump. The author argues that women—even those like then-Sen. Kamala Harris—did not have the name recognition of male candidates like former Vice President Joe Biden. They also had to work far harder than male candidates to build a “national campaign infrastructure and a national donor base to pay for it.” Vitali suggests that because the experiences of women are not discussed enough, or dismissed as irrelevant, voters who fail to do the proper research (a discouragingly large section of eligible voters) may feel like women are agenda-driven unknowns unable to take on important issues. In turn, this makes them appear unable to offer the same “reassurance” that a (White) man could. This was especially significant at a time when fear levels—largely stoked by Trump and his enablers and followers, abetted by Fox News—caused voters to avoid anything remotely uncertain. On the positive side, Vitali shows that because Joe Biden has made it a priority to elevate women like Kamala Harris to high-level government posts, he has helped bring much-needed visibility to women leaders in a way that even Hilary Clinton could not.

This will help women continue to build voter credibility, making them not just viable, but electable candidates. In this hopeful and well-documented study, Vitali clearly shows the importance of a truly level playing field. “It’s the job of the candidates to run,” she writes, “but it’s on us to ensure the track is uniformly flat for all of them.”

Intelligent and engaging political analysis.

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“Both a practical and inspirational guide with special appeal for budding musicians.” how to write a song that matters

COLD Three Winters at the South Pole

HOW TO WRITE A SONG THAT MATTERS

Williams, Dar Hachette (288 pp.) $19.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-306-92329-6

White, Wayne L. Potomac Books (256 pp.) $29.95 | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-64012-552-0

A songwriter’s guide for those who are more concerned with making meaningful art than with commercial success.

As a recording artist, singer/songwriter, author, and leader of songwriting retreats, Williams has established a fruitful career on the periphery of the mainstream. In her latest book, following What I Found in a Thousand Towns, she distills her wisdom and experience to help others who have similar priorities. She also demonstrates how a great song comes about, how a songwriter develops her artistry, and how a song progresses from initial inspiration into something acceptable and possibly even exceptional. Through examples from her own songwriting and workshopping, Williams shows how a song can start from a familiar chord progression of the sound of certain words, even if the words don’t hold a specific meaning yet.

Then there’s a spark of inspiration, for those who are receptive to it, which fuels a creative flame. Williams smoothly describes the process of “listening for cues and clues” to discover the focus of the song, who the narrator is, what a particular combination of verbal sounds and guitar progressions is trying to convey to the songwriter and to potential listeners—and why any of this matters. The author recognizes that there are many hunches and intuitions involved and that experience will help the songwriter learn how much to value the initial inspiration, when to remain true to the voice and when to question it, and how to incorporate feedback from others. Williams also shows how and where songs can make a wrong turn and how to get them back on course. Even those with no musical experience or aspirations will appreciate the author’s illumination of the mechanics of songcraft, and she is consistently encouraging. “However you join music with your lyrics,” she writes, “please, please, just jump over things in this book that don’t relate to your songwriting or that are intimidating in general.”

Both a practical and inspirational guide with special appeal for budding musicians.

An expedition leader recounts his experiences at the South Pole as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

“The USAP,” writes White, “is responsible for the upkeep of three Antarctic stations, numerous field camps and ships” and “for coordinating all the science conducted by several agencies and educational institutions.” The author spent three winters as the site manager at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which “sits atop nearly two miles of moving ice and where temperatures can drop below minus 100 degrees. A former Marine, White shares details of his leadership style and the interview and selection process for the crew. Despite the author’s matter-of-fact tone, it’s clear White took his role seriously, fully understanding the many challenges they would face in such an inhospitable landscape. Describing his first experience with the bitter cold, White admits that it “caught my attention and scared me.” While the South Pole has “magnificent auroras,” the “environment outside the station, especially in winter, is potentially lethal.” Prior to their departure, in order to help crew members prepare for the environment, White engaged them in team-building exercises at USAP headquarters in Denver. He continued these activities during their mission, making sure that his crew members maintained strong bonds. One of the most interesting sections of the book describes the creation and placement of the Geographical South marker. Since the ice moves approximately 33 feet per year, a new location is unveiled on Jan. 1. Throughout, White chronicles the many internal struggles he faced with his crew, including the effects of isolation, boredom, and alcohol consumption. He also writes about the difficulties of navigating issues involving family and friends back home. During the third winter, the Covid-19 pandemic was sweeping across the world. While he and the crew were insulated from the virus itself, they endured fear and helplessness for the safety of their family members.

An enlightening perspective on a remote region of the globe.

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WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME? A Memoir

RITUAL How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living

Wong, Carmen Rita Crown (240 pp.) $28.00 | July 12, 2022 978-0-593-24025-0

Xygalatas, Dimitris Little, Brown Spark (320 pp.) $30.00 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-316-46240-2

The gradual unraveling of lifelong deceptions about her parenthood teaches a Dominican Chinese woman unsettling lessons about the mutability

of identity.

“I wish I could tell you a loving story,” writes Wong near the beginning, “a cross-cultural heart-filled fest of American melting-pot dreams, of how a teenage Dominican immi­grant girl ended up married to a thirty-something Chinese immigrant man, but no.” In 12 chapters named for answers to the titular question—“...Because We Lost Our Way,” “...Because I Thought We Had Time,” etc.—the author traces the often maddening story of her quest for truth in a warmly immediate narrative voice. She begins with a hard fact: Peter Wong, the man she calls Papi to this day, was paid to marry her mother, Lupe, so Lupe’s family could get green cards. Lupe and Papi separated when the author was young, and she and her adored older brother were moved from the lap of the Dominican community to the apartment of the man who would become her mother’s second husband. “Marty was a white self-proclaimed ‘honky’ academic type with glasses,” writes Wong, “a head of Italian curls and a bushy mustache, driving a tiny AMC Gremlin hatchback.” The author’s masterful ability to bring characters to life is a key component of the lively narrative. As soon as Lupe became pregnant with the first of four daughters, Marty moved the family to New Hampshire, a bastion of Whiteness.

Though Wong’s relationship with her mother was somewhere between fraught and disastrous, and though Lupe died without correcting her most serious lie, the author does a commendable job of trying to understand who her mother was. Regarding the dire outcome of the New Hampshire move, Wong writes of her mother: “from earning her own money, living her freedoms, dressed to the nines, red lips and beauty-shop hair, to sitting at a kitchen table, makeup-less, hair pulled into a utilitarian bun, toddlers at her feet, two hundred miles from all she’d known.”

Snappy writing, unusual empathy, and an unexpectedly satisfying resolution send this memoir to the front of the pack.

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A comprehensive examination of rituals, from the primitive to the complex, and how they embody social meaning and purpose.

In his first book for a popular audience, Xygalatas, who runs the Experimental Anthropology Lab at the University of Connecticut, digs into an understudied field. Researchers have often dismissed the concept of ritual as an oddity existing at the fringes of culture even while acknowledging that every society has its ceremonial practices. Despite his initial skepticism, the author observed a huge number of rituals, supplementing his findings with lab studies, and interviewed numerous participants, many of whom “swear on the importance of their rituals, although they are not always sure why they are so important.” Humans have been doing this for millennia. In fact, Göbekli Tepe, one of the oldest and largest archaeological sites in the world, built more than 12,000 years ago, was apparently designed with a variety of ceremonies in mind. Xygalatas examines religious ceremonies as demonstrations of faith and sacrifice, as well as military rituals, which have the purpose of building solidarity and skills. Other rituals connect to mate selection and fertility. The legal profession has plenty of odd ceremonies of its own, with robes, titles, and Latin incantations, and athletes will often carry lucky charms or perform personal rituals before a big game. Yes, Xygalatas concludes, rituals are essentially pointless in that they do not have any impact on the physical world. However, there are undeniable effects for those who participate, and they are usually beneficial in providing social cohesion and individual purpose. “Ceremony is a primordial part of human nature, one that helps us connect, find meaning and discover who we are,” writes Xygalatas. “It is only when we embrace our obsession with ritual that we will be able to harness its full potential in our lives.”

Intriguing glimpses of how ritual provides the foundation stones of social structure and cultural evolution.

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“An outstanding contribution to the historical literature of American racism and racist ideologies.” teaching white supremacy

TEACHING WHITE SUPREMACY America’s Democratic Ordeal and the Forging of Our National Identity Yacovone, Donald Pantheon (464 pp.) $32.50 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-31663-4

Education can be liberating. However, as this provocative survey demonstrates, it can also uphold the worst of the status quo.

“As for Sambo, whose wrongs moved the abolitionists to wrath and tears…there is some reason to believe that he suffered less than any class in the South from its ‘peculiar institution.’ ” The authors of that statement were Samuel Eliot Morison and Henry Steele Commager, two eminent historians whose work is still studied today. As Yacovone, an associate at Harvard’s Hutchins Center for African American Research, observes, the textbook in which that spectacularly racist—and incorrect—statement occurs was a standard for many years.

Beginning with the founding of the republic, writes Yacovone, textbooks have been primary instruments for transmitting “ideas of white American identity,” even asserting that this identity is definitively White and that, as one 1896 textbook stated, “to the Caucasian race by reason of its physical and mental superiority has been assigned the task of civilizing and enlightening the world.” Current textbooks have plenty of problems, as well.

Yacovone points out that only in the last decade have Texas history textbooks acknowledged slavery, and not states’ rights, as the primary cause of the Civil War. It is from history textbooks, he adds, that the terms White supremacy and master race entered the lexicon, and it has been from textbooks that excuses for the subjugation of some peoples and extermination of others have found learned justification. Even textbooks—and Yacovone has pored over hundreds—that condemned the secessionist movement were often inclined to consider the enslaved population as “a degraded and inferior people.” Interestingly, the author links some of the worst excesses to the anti-communist fervor of the Cold War era, when textbook publishers and authors were avid to erase differences between North and South—White differences, anyway.

An outstanding contribution to the historical literature of American racism and racist ideologies.

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children’s AMIRA & HAMZA The Quest for the Ring of Power

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

AMIRA & HAMZA by Samira Ahmed; illus. by Kim Ekdahl.............. 71

Ahmed, Samira Illus. by Kim Ekdahl Little, Brown (384 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-316-31861-7 Series: Amira & Hamza, 2

AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME by B.B. Alston............................... 73 IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL by Andrea Beatriz Arango; illus. by Alyssa Bermudez......................................................................74 COVERED IN COLOR by Elisa Boxer; illus. by Susanna Chapman.................................................................. 80

LOU by Breanna Carzoo...................................................................... 82 EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE by Pauline David-Sax; illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow......................................................83 I DON’T CARE by Julie Fogliano; illus. by Molly Idle & Juana Martinez-Neal...........................................................................85 IF YOU READ THIS by Kereen Getten.................................................87 WILDOAK by C.C. Harrington........................................................... 90 LUMINOUS by Julia Kuo.................................................................... 96 GHOSTCLOUD by Michael Mann...................................................... 98 MERCI SUÁREZ PLAYS IT COOL by Meg Medina...........................100 HOLLER OF THE FIREFLIES by David Barclay Moore...................101 THE CIRCLES IN THE SKY by Karl James Mountford....................101 YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, DAVID BRAVO by Mark Oshiro............... 103 WINDSWEPT by Margi Preus; illus. by Armando Veve...................105 NO! SAID CUSTARD THE SQUIRREL by Sergio Ruzzier................ 107 TO CHANGE A PLANET by Christina Soontornvat; illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell............................................................110

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The sibling duo return on another quest to save the world.

It’s been two months since sister and brother defeated Ifrit in Qaf and saved the universe. It’s also the end of summer: Hamza wants to have something awesome to share when school starts, so he goes off to explore an old, abandoned, castlelike house. But a sudden tornado hits, and he wakes up in the Oriental Institute, a nearby Chicago museum, face to face with Ifrit’s father, Ahriman, who has returned in search of the Ring of Power that will allow him to control the human and jinn worlds. To find it, Ahriman needs all three parts of an ancient oculus—and the help of Hamza, who is a Chosen One. Ahriman threatens to destroy everything Hamza loves if he does not help him. After solving a riddle, they claim the first piece from the Oriental Institute, then travel via Ahriman’s tornado to the British Museum and the Louvre to collect the remaining pieces, with Amira and fairy princess Aasman Peri in pursuit.

Alternating chapters from Amira’s and Hamza’s points of view capture their thoughts and emotions. Ahmed cleverly weaves in Islamic historical figures, some of whom are ghost Keepers of The Ring who pose riddles, like scholar and philosopher Ibn Sina and scientists and inventors the Banu Musa brothers.

Ahmed’s rich worldbuilding continues in this imaginative and absorbing sequel.

A captivating magical adventure. (map, author’s note, notes on fantastical creatures and historical figures, further reading) (Fantasy. 9-13)

WAYS TO MAKE FRIENDS by Jairo Buitrago; illus. by Mariana Ruiz Johnson.......................................................... 80

ALWAYS, CLEMENTINE by Carlie Sorosiak....................................110 ONE SKY by Aaron Becker................................................................. 117

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CHILDREN’S | Mahnaz Dar

toward a more inclusive history “Characters are White—a realistic choice, given the historical setting.” As a reviews editor, I’ve come across variations of that phrase over the years, and it always makes me pause. Many still hold the misconception that the past looked homogenous, that people of color were rare exceptions in a mostly White landscape. It’s no surprise why: Historical fiction has often cast White characters as the heroes, the narrators of history, with characters of color relegated to the background. Happily, that is changing as we see more and more novels that offer far richer—and more authentic—representations of history.

Amina Luqman-Dawson’s Freewa­ ter (Little, Brown, Feb. 1) centers on a community of people who fled slavery, making their home and raising freeborn children in the Great Dismal Swamp. Simultaneously sweeping and intimate, the novel follows a wide cast of characters, among them 12-yearold Homer, who has just escaped the Southerland plantation with his sister, and his friend Anna, who plans to follow suit. Based on actual accounts of those who fled enslavement, this story of Black resistance offers a necessary counter to historical fiction dominated

by White saviors.

With Isla to Island (Atheneum, March 15), Alexis Castellanos draws from her own family’s experience with Operation Peter Pan, a program that, between 1960 and 1962, evacuated Cuban children to the United States after Fidel Castro came to power. This almost entirely wordless graphic novel uses color to dazzling effect. The pages fill with rich, warm hues to depict young Marisol’s life in Cuba. Castellanos uses a blackand-white palette when Marisol finds herself in the United States, lonely and scared, but color slowly reemerges as she carves out a new life.

Set during the 1992 LA riots, actor John Cho’s debut novel, Troublemaker (Little, Brown, March 22), co-written with Sarah Suk, follows Jordan, a Korean American boy attempting to make his way to his father, alone at the fam72

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ily liquor store—and bring him a gun for protection. Those living through historical moments aren’t always granted the luxury to ponder that fact, and friendship woes, failing grades, and his fraught relationship with his father dominate Jordan’s thoughts. Yet this fast-paced tale also pauses to explore historical context, and over the course of the frenzied night, Jordan emerges with a greater awareness of the systemic racism at the root of the riots.

The title character of Wendy Wan-Long Shang’s The Secret Battle of Evan Pao (Scholastic, June 7) feels out of his element when he and his family move to a small town in Virginia, where he is the only Chinese American student in his class. A Civil War project feels alienating until Evan finds evidence of Chinese soldiers who fought in the war—a discovery that bolsters him as he copes with a family secret and both subtle and more overt forms of racism. Shang’s thoughtful, empathetic tale will leave readers eager to follow Evan’s example and approach history through a more inclusive lens.

In Emi Watanabe Cohen’s The Lost Ryū (Levine Querido, June 7), ryū, or dragons, are real but small; large ryū haven’t been seen in Japan since the end of World War II, about two decades ago. Ten-year-old Kohei is convinced that finding a large ryū is the key to making his unstable grandfather happy once more, and he sets out to do so. This beautifully layered novel entwines long-hidden secrets about Kohei’s family with dark discoveries about the war; the result is an intricate tale that will reward readers willing to grapple with complex truths.

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.

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light-skinned, gray-haired woman, appears with a pair of fresh new undies for the unhappy spirit, and things take a turn for the better. Gómez’s cartoonish art has a childlike simplicity to it. Much of the plot’s heavy lifting relies on its young audience finding the repeated phrase smelly old underwear hilarious. For those who do not, the book may be a bit of a slog. Further, the text, translated from Spanish, has its share of clunky moments.

For example, the citizens of Scaryville are scared, “Because there lived… // The ghost with the smelly old underwear!!!” Putting aside precisely how a ghost “lives,” disconnections between text and image include visits to “the garbage dump,” which appears to simply be a single trash bin. This tale fails to reach its potential. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Underwear proves underwhelming in this weak attempt at eliciting preschool giggles. (Picture book. 3-5)

Alston, B.B. Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (400 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-0-06-297519-5 Series: Supernatural Investigations, 2 A 13-year-old magician must face her fears and learn to control her magic in hopes of preventing a supernatural war in this follow-up to 2021’s Amari and the

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Night Brothers.

Amari Peters returns in the trilogy’s thrilling, actionpacked middle volume with another mystery to solve. Nearly one year after Amari proved that magicians can be good, the state of Georgia experiences a momentary time freeze, leaving the Supernatural World Congress trapped in time. A powerful magician must be behind this dastardly event. Amari turns to the secret League of Magicians, hoping to get help and disprove popular opinion about magicians. Instead she is offered the Crown of Count Vladimir, a rare treasure that confers powers she doesn’t feel ready to accept. Her refusal triggers the Great Game, a deadly competition between born magicians to determine who will inherit these forces. As newly minted Junior Agent Amari is thrust back into the beguiling supernatural world, she must find the mastermind behind the time freeze.

She also enters the Great Game in order to save her brother from the curse he’s under. Luckily Amari has Elsie, her weredragon best friend, and other allies who help her save the world again. Readers who fell in love with Amari will not be disappointed by this refreshing, energetic, first-person narrative that deftly weaves the playfulness of magic with real-world issues of misinformation and discrimination. Amari is Black; Elsie is cued Latinx.

A superb, marvelously satisfying sequel. (Fantasy. 8-12)

THE GHOST WITH THE SMELLY OLD UNDERWEAR

Andrés, José Carlos Illus. by Gómez Trans. by Cecilia Ross nubeOCHO (40 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-84-18599-43-9 Series: Somos8

The only thing worse than a haunting? A putrid, odiferous undergarment haunting!

The mostly human denizens of Scaryville, representing a range of skin tones, have a ghost problem. Whether they’re at the movies or just trying to sit down to dinner, the ghost with the smelly old underwear, its knickers clearly in a twist, will pop out of nowhere. Something must be done, so one by one brave volunteers march into the ghost’s castle, always retreating when they encounter the haunting. Fortunately, Old Granny Fanny, a |

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“Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard.” iveliz explains it all

THE FAMILY BUSINESS

about and preserving ancestral memories. Her text contains just enough information to be beneficial to young readers without overwhelming them. The nuances of the connections between ancestors and current generations, and between lost loved ones and living ones, are expertly captured. Above all, the story centers on the joys of family and tradition. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Shines a triumphant spotlight on Day of the Dead festivities. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7)

Appelhans, Lenore Illus. by Ken Lamug HarperCollins (40 pp.) $17.99 | July 19, 2022 978-0-0628-9886-9

Different family members have different talents.

Lucky, the youngest of four raccoon siblings, eagerly awaits the day he is old enough to join the family business. When he is deemed big enough, he joins his family in their ongoing hunt for food, raiding dumpsters and compost bins and scrounging for rotting fruit. Along the way, they’re called “robbers,” “thieves,” and “bandits” by the people who own the rubbish bins in which they’re foraging. Aware for the first time of others’ perceptions of his family, Lucky develops a stomachache at the thought of continuing the tradition and instead tries paying for snacks with found money and ultimately using his dancing skills to busk for money. Of course, a happy ending ensues, and the family business is modified. The book has fair pacing and amusing digital illustrations, but any educator, librarian, or caregiver who knows or suspects they know a family struggling with food insecurity will likely find this a problematic title. The raccoons are branded thieves for taking unwanted and discarded food items, and Lucky is treated with respect only when he has enough money to pay. In addition, the book contains a deeply flawed, not-so-subtle message that all it takes to change a family’s ability to provide food are honesty and pluck. Human characters are racially diverse; one character uses a wheelchair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Like raccoons you see out in the daytime, this book should be avoided. (Picture book. 6-10)

IVELIZ EXPLAINS IT ALL

Arango, Andrea Beatriz Illus. by Alyssa Bermudez Random House (272 pp.) $16.99 | $19.99 PLB | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-56397-7 978-0-593-56398-4 PLB To navigate her school and home lives through depression and PTSD, a 12-year-old Latina girl retreats into her poetry and journal.

Seventh grader Iveliz plans to make this a great year despite recent trauma. Her abuela Mimi’s arrival from Puerto Rico means a chance to feel like a family again, filling in the space left by her father’s absence. But Mimi’s Alzheimer’s has progressed since the last time Iveliz saw her, and Iveliz’s fraught relationship with her distant, always working Mami doesn’t help to keep the peace either. Meanwhile, her friendship with Amir, a boy from Afghanistan, seems to be on the rocks, and Iveliz keeps getting in trouble at school thanks to bullies, an ill-conceived revenge plot, and awkward attempts to forge a new friendship.

Going to therapy and managing her medication also eat away at Iveliz even as she tries to find solace in visions of her dad. Full of heartbreak and compassion, Arango’s debut crackles with refreshing frankness and wit. The author excels at building Iveliz’s voice through each poem, leading to a tale that’s quick to read yet hard to put down. The creative use of varied poetic forms supports moments of levity and catharsis. Final art not seen.

Superbly woven; a bold, deep portrayal of a young voice who needs to be heard. (author’s note, resources) (Verse novel.

10-14)

OUR DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION

Aranda, Ana Nancy Paulsen Books (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-525-51428-2

A brown-skinned Latine family prepares for and then celebrates the Day of the Dead.

Mar, Paz, and their parents have much to do to get ready to welcome family for the big celebration: getting marigolds and sugar skulls at the market, making almond cookies, and writing poems. There are special revelations about ways in which the children are like their grandfather and great-grandmother as well as singing and dancing. At the heart of it all, Abuelita is greeted joyfully and shares family stories. The illustrations are appropriately brightly colored and show off many of the elements of the Day of the Dead. The special marigolds, skulls, and symbolic monarch butterflies thread across pages, tying the celebration and the living and the dead together. Aranda explains why the holiday matters as well as the importance of learning 74

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ALL BY HIMSELF?

Arnold, Elana K. Illus. by Giselle Potter Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5344-8989-9 When we help one another, we help the world go round.

The cover image offers a clue to the story within—hands of various skin |

tones holding blocks painted in primary colors. This foreshadowing continues throughout the text and the artwork, unfolding a temporal and geographical chain that connects a light-skinned boy who builds a tower of blocks (“all by himself!”) to the actions of the people who came before him: the lightskinned farmer who planted a seedling that became a tree, the brown-skinned arborist who tended the tree, the light-skinned woodcutter who felled the tree, the light-skinned woodworker who carved blocks from the wood, the brown-skinned artist who painted the blocks made from the wood of that tree, and so forth. People of all backgrounds do work to contribute to a thriving society—rather a heady theme for such a young picture book, though if caregivers or educators focus more on the lesson of how blocks are made, children may find it more appealing. The tale is conveyed in rhythmic language—reminiscent of “The House That Jack Built”—and watercolor-andink illustrations in an earth-toned palette in Potter’s signature style. Deep greens, browns, and oranges punctuated by bright blues and reds connect one spread to another, though in rather repetitive perspectives that likely won’t resonate with children,

and depictions of people feel stilted. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A missed attempt that leaves readers feeling flat. (Picture book. 4-7)

PEBBLES TO THE SEA

Arsenault, Marie-Andrée Illus. by Dominique Leroux Trans. by Shelley Tanaka Groundwood (40 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-77306-824-4

Two siblings temporarily unite their separated parents.

Set in La Grave, a close-knit community on Quebec’s Iles de la Madeleine, this story follows Flo and Fée (who narrates), whose parents live apart. After painting pebbles one day, the siblings strew their little stones as they visit adult friends, hoping the trail will lead their parents to them. At their final stop,

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THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF

the parents, having followed the path, do indeed join the children. Flo and Fée have already learned that separation doesn’t mean irrevocable loss, for a wise friend has explained, “You two will always link your mother and father.” Then, another, colorful surprise awaits. This quiet French Canadian import about connections handles parental breakups calmly and with a detached air; Flo and Fée seem to take their folks’ split well. Two islands connected by a sand bridge are a metaphor for permanency; in the end, the siblings recognize they’re the “bridge” forever linking their parent “islands.” Appealing paint-and-collage illustrations include photo cutouts, torn paper, and lace. Photos of the blond, light-skinned sisters personalize them; other characters are light-skinned as well. The predominance of blues supports the maritime location; making effective use of perspective, several scenes heighten the idea of separation. Muted colors connote seriousness, though emotions run the gamut. Specific references to places make this a lovely ode to La Grave, but— without a pronunciation guide or context—the French names may confound readers unfamiliar with the setting. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Reassuring and with some nice characterizations but coolly distancing overall. (Picture book. 5-8)

Barnett, Mac Illus. by Jon Klassen Orchard/Scholastic (48 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-1-3386-7384-5 Fairy-tale fun for everyone. (Except trolls.)

Barnett and Klassen partner for a retelling of the classic folktale about a trio of variously sized goats (all named Gruff) and a troll whose greed ultimately leads to his downfall. The story has been told many times, but in this variation, Barnett shows off for his audience by giving the troll a substantial amount of dialogue, most of which rhymes: “I love goat! Let me count the ways. / Goat rump in a honey glaze. / Goat smoked, goat poached, a goat pot roast. / Goat smorgasbord! Goat smeared on toast! / A goat kale salad—hold the kale. / Goat escargot! (That’s goat plus snails.) / On goat I’ll dine, on goat I’ll sup. / You little goat, I’ll eat you up!” It’s amusing verbal play, and librarians and caregivers who love to read out loud will enjoy hamming it up, although it may lessen the scary impact of the character. Likewise, the artwork, created in ink, watercolor, and graphite and compiled digitally, is pure Klassen, and the brown, green, and blue tones combine into an earthy setting where the ratlike troll (sans tail) fits in perfectly. But the visual reveal of the third billy goat takes a bit of oomph out of the story, as readers will be able to anticipate that this troll won’t be having goat strudel anytime soon. Fans of either Barnett or Klassen will love this retelling, but librarians won’t be sending their Paul Galdone or Jerry Pinkney retellings out to pasture just yet. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Pleasant but slightly pedestrian. (Folktale. 4-8)

MY NAME IS A STORY

Ashanti Illus. by Monica Mikai HarperCollins (40 pp.) $18.99 | July 19, 2022 978-0-0632-2236-6

Singer/songwriter Ashanti’s picturebook debut follows a little girl learning to accept and celebrate her unique name.

The story opens with a brown girl named Ashanti in a racially diverse classroom; she wishes that her name was “easy…like recess, sunshine, and skipping rocks.” Instead, she finds that her name is “a spelling bee for my teacher and jumbled puzzle pieces on my classmates’ tongues.” Her classmates call her name “weird” and giggle when she writes it on the board. When she cries in her brown-skinned mother’s lap after school, her mother explains the glory of her name and offers affirming words for each letter, like awesome, strength, and harmony. Ashanti wipes her tears away, and by the time they reach the final letter of her name, she is shouting, “An INSPIRATION! INNOVATION! A bright IMAGINATION!” with a smile and a triumphant stance. Her mother tells Ashanti that her name is a story, and the next day at school, Ashanti stands before the class with her head held high. Heartfelt moments between mother and daughter are the highlight of this book. Mikai’s speckled, pastel-hued art brings light and energy to the page. This does feel like a tale that’s been done before—the story arc is similar to Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow’s Your Name Is a Song (2020), illustrated by Luisa Uribe, and the main character’s physical appearance echoes Mikai’s prior picture-book art.

Still, there is room for all of these titles on shelves. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-7) 76

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ALBIE ON HIS WAY

Bauer, Jutta Trans. by Mathias Wieland Red Comet Press (36 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-63655-032-9 Albie, a rodent known for speed, sets out to deliver an important scroll from the king to the neighboring monarch, but detours interrupt his trip.

After a series of good deeds, among them helping a squirrel family whose father was injured when he fell out of a tree, returning a lost ball to a “sad little critter,” and looking after the children of a tired mother pig who needs to do her shopping, Albie encounters a threatening bulldog and must take a different route. Lost and exhausted, the rodent is rescued by kind groundhog Alma; Albie recovers and develops a close relationship with her. Finally, Albie arrives at the neighboring castle—or so it seems. “How surprised I was to find my VERY OWN king!”

Albie has gone full circle without ever delivering the important |

“A satisfying mission to find happiness and fun; mission accomplished.” how to draw a happy cat

AVEN GREEN MUSIC MACHINE

message. But the benevolent king, grateful for the intriguing distraction, is more interested in hearing about Albie’s adventures; Albie is rewarded with a house, Alma is invited to move in, and the two start a family. Albie narrates this German import, with colorful, charming cartoons bringing the tale to life.

Meanwhile, a second story deftly unfolds in a wordless series of black-and-white shaded scenes below each of Albie’s episodes, detailing the porcine king’s rather lonely existence—an understated yet resonant message that friendship and connection are what enrich life. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Subtle and kindhearted. (Picture book. 5-8)

Bowling, Dusti Illus. by Gina Perry Union Square Kids (128 pp.) $12.99 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-1-4549-4222-1 Series: Aven Green, 3

Irrepressible Aven Green returns to tackle a new challenge: playing a musical instrument.

When her teacher Ms. Luna announces a talent show, Aven has no trouble listing her many skills: She’s already a keen detective and a strong baker. But what she really wants is to be a professional musician. After all, not having arms doesn’t mean she can’t play an instrument. And surely, a week is more than enough time to master some Mozart! But finding an instrument she can handle—or rather “feetle”—is tougher than it seems. The violin is out of the question, and her toes don’t stretch enough to play chords on the piano. Her best friend hurts her feelings by

HOW TO DRAW A HAPPY CAT

Berlin, Ethan T. Illus. by Jimbo Matison Hippo Park/Astra Books for Young Readers (40 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-66264-004-9

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After an unseen narrator offers instructions for how to draw a cat, an action-packed quest for happiness ensues.

Clear, step-by-step instructions using shapes like a rectangle for a face and triangles for ears quickly assemble this story’s protagonist—a yellow cat with pink ears who stands against an empty backdrop with a frown. “Hmm, she doesn’t look very happy. What do you think she wants?” the narrator asks. The narrator addresses the problem by offering material solutions, such as clothes, a stuffed animal, and a skateboard. Though the feline initially looks excited, she then frowns once more. The narrator suggests friendship in the form of round-headed stick figures, which the narrator teaches readers to draw, but this is less a journey about the search for happiness and more a spirited romp; each page turn leads to a new problem, with the narrator providing instructions for drawing the next solution. A skate ramp launches the cat and her pals into the air, and a red plane saves them from a free fall. A pizza catapult takes things a bit too far yet will delight readers with just the right combination of humor and action. The word happy is bolded blue throughout, and other phrases are bolded in different colors to distinguish meaning. While this fun, exuberant book focuses on adventure, a light message about creating positive solutions could be gleaned. The narrator gives in to the cat’s tantrum at one point—a moment that caregivers may not appreciate but that is nevertheless realistic. Even though the cat is a flat character, it is easy to become invested in her happiness. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A satisfying mission to find happiness and fun; mission accomplished. (Picture book. 4-6)

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BEHIND THE BOOK

The Last Beekeeper Pablo Cartaya’s dystopian novel tackles weighty topics but respects readers enough to offer the truth

BY MAHNAZ DAR Zoe Milenkovic

Pablo Cartaya calls himself a method writer—like a method actor plunging into a role, he immerses himself in the worlds he writes about. For his middle-grade dystopian novel, The Last Beekeeper (Harper/HarperCollins, July 12), he donned protective gear and visited bee farms in the Northeast and Southeast; he even got cellulitis following a wasp sting. “When I’m embedded into my world, my characters, I get really deep, and I want to know everything,” he says via a Zoom call from his home in Miami.

Understanding bees was central to his book, which is set in a world reeling from the effects of climate change, where honeybees are thought to be extinct— a terrifying prospect but one that doesn’t bother most inhabitants; propaganda has convinced many that bees are “killer insects.” However, 12-year-old Yolanda Cicerón and her older sister, Camila, discover a colony on their farm and, by reading a book and notes written by their now-dead Abuelita, realize that the bees are key to the survival of their community and to combating their authoritarian government.

Bees are misunderstood, says Cartaya. Though our instinct upon seeing a bee is often to panic, they are “vital 78

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to the environment.” He wanted to “explore the idea that these seemingly annoying pests are actually really quite good for us and for our world.”

Though The Last Beekeeper might seem like a departure from his earlier works of realistic fiction, in many ways it’s rooted in realism. Cartaya was spurred by events such as the storms that swept across Texas in February 2021, resulting in power and internet outages and shortages of food, water, and heat. Cartaya imagined a society devastated by hurricanes, earthquakes, and freezes—events that don’t “necessarily wipe out the entire Earth’s population. But [they wipe] out a large number of [people]. And then the groups that survive, they’re not communicating with anybody else outside of that particular region.” He asked himself what that community might look like.

The world he envisioned is disturbingly similar to our own. While the characters have regrouped and rebuilt, access to resources is imbalanced. The residents of the city of Silo have a level of wealth and privilege that those in the Valley, like Yoly and Cami, can only dream of. Eager to escape her lot in life, Yoly accepts scholarship money so she can stay in school and become a neurolink surgeon (a prestigious job that involves implanting computer chips into human skulls). But too late she finds herself saddled with debt. To ensure his worldbuilding rang true, Cartaya spoke to Michael Pirson, an associate professor of management systems at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, whose work concerns global sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and human dignity violations. Cartaya came away with an understanding of how “people can come together in crisis and then splinter off into camps of oppressors and oppressed.” Cartaya adds, “Humans have a capacity for such good and such amazing things. And yet we terrorize ourselves; we terrorize each other. It’s incomprehensible to me.”

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Cartaya always strives to be honest with readers. While many dystopian novels frame technology as something insidious, Cartaya took a more balanced approach; to do otherwise, he says, would be to ignore the important role technology and social media play in young people’s lives.

Thus Yoly realizes that while the government uses technology for nefarious means, it can also be used for good.

He likens her initial longings to leave the Valley for Silo to our relationships with Twitter or Instagram. “She’s [thinking], ‘I want to go there because that’s where the technology is. That’s where the good stuff is.’ We’ve all had that sort of thing, right? ‘I want to get more Twitter followers, I want to get more IG followers.’ ” He recognizes, too, that young people juggle school, family, friends, and more, and though tweens have far more agency than younger children, they’re still beholden to the adults around them. He believes that kids need stories that reflect the complexities of their lives. “I love tackling stories that have multitudes because young people live in multitudes; they don’t live in singularities,” he says.

Above all, Cartaya wants readers “to understand that I respect the multitudes of their experiences. I respect the experiences that are often flooded with darkness and also with hope. And with happiness….My task is to give that to them, honestly.”

Still, hope pervades the novel as Yoly’s eyes open to the evils around her and she realizes she needs to take a stand. The tension between her and Cami—who has seen firsthand what happens to those who step out of line and is committed to keeping her sister safe—is especially compelling. “It’s our lives right now,” says Cartaya. “There seem to be 1,000 different fronts,” he says. “You’re trying to be an advocate for all the ills and the wrongs in this world, and you just don’t even know what front to fight on anymore.”

The bond between the sisters is powerful—no surprise given that family is a subject Cartaya frequently returns to in his work. “There are four things that I always put in all my books: the themes of family, community, culture, and abuelas.” His own abuela died of cancer when he was in fourth grade, yet he still feels her presence. “She’s with me in the choices I make, in the type of parent I am, in the type of company I keep,” he says. Similarly, Yoly and Cami still feel Abuelita through the knowledge she continues to impart. “It’s just an extension of how I feel about my own abuela,” he notes.

Cartaya’s characters always manage to surprise him. “I think it’s because I spend so much time trying to understand who the characters are. And so by the time I put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard or whatever, they’re fully formed.” Characters whom Cartaya deeply loves may have different perspectives than his, like Yoly’s best friend, Arelis, who is skeptical when Yoly tries to convince her they must fight back against those in power. “When things are bad, people’s true nature tends to come out. And it isn’t usually very pretty,” Arelis responds. Cartaya has a more hopeful outlook, but he stresses, “I respect her experiences.

And I respect what she has gone through.” He adds, “I can’t embed my belief system in a character.”

He’s just as amazed by his readers as he is by his characters. “Their resilience, their sense of humor, and their unapologetic honesty [are]...inspiring,” he says. “I wish I was as brave as they were when I was their age.”

Though the topics Cartaya takes on—student debt, climate change, inequities—might sound overwhelming, even frightening, in a book aimed at middle graders, he refuses to give his readers anything less than the truth. “I have too much respect for that audience,” he says. “I hated being talked down to as a kid. And so I will never do that.”

He also feels it’s his duty as an author. “The purpose of a writer is to reflect the world that they’re living in and to examine the questions that are relevant in our world, whether…our stories take place 125 years in the future, as with The Last Beekeeper, or the past, or anywhere.”

The Last Beekeeper was reviewed in the May 1, 2022, issue.

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“Draped in striking hues and compelling from cover to cover—a gem of a biography.” covered in color

I AM RUBY BRIDGES

dubbing her piano-playing “bad noises,” and hearing about her classmates’ talents (which range from artistic to humorously revolting) makes her feel like giving up. But with support from Ms. Luna, her parents, and her great-grandmother, Aven learns that all that matters is doing her best. As Aven’s appealing selfconfidence alternates with frustration, Bowling simultaneously acknowledges setbacks and reassures readers that discouraging feelings don’t last forever. Adults’ matter-of-fact acceptance of Aven’s musical ambition is refreshing, and the resolution to her instrumental dilemma is heartwarming. Straightforward dialogue explores such concepts as patience, persistence, and tact.

Perry’s spirited black-and-white cartoon illustrations vividly express Aven’s sadness, determination, and joy. Aven and her family present White, Ms. Luna is depicted as brown-skinned, and Aven’s classmates are racially diverse.

Realistic, affirming, and uplifting. (glossary) (Fiction. 6-9)

Bridges, Ruby Illus. by Nikkolas Smith Orchard/Scholastic (48 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-338-75388-2 The New Orleans school child who famously broke the color line in 1960 while surrounded by federal marshals describes the early days of her experience from a 6-year-old’s perspective.

Bridges told her tale to younger children in 2009’s Ruby Bridges Goes to School, but here the sensibility is more personal, and the sometimes-shocking historical photos have been replaced by uplifting painted scenes. “I didn’t find out what being ‘the first’ really meant until the day I arrived at this new school,” she writes. Unfrightened by the crowd of “screaming white people” that greets her at the school’s door (she thinks it’s like Mardi Gras) but surprised to find herself the only child in her classroom, and even the entire building, she gradually realizes the significance of her act as (in Smith’s illustration) she compares a small personal photo to the all-White class photos posted on a bulletin board and sees the difference. As she reflects on her new understanding, symbolic scenes first depict other dark-skinned children marching into classes in her wake to friendly greetings from lighter-skinned classmates (“School is just school,” she sensibly concludes, “and kids are just kids”) and finally an image of the bright-eyed icon posed next to a soaring bridge of reconciliation. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A unique angle on a watershed moment in the civil rights era. (author and illustrator notes, glossary) (Autobiographical pic­ ture book. 6-8)

COVERED IN COLOR Christo and JeanneClaude’s Fabrics of Freedom

Boxer, Elisa Illus. by Susanna Chapman Abrams (48 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-4197-5611-5

Freedom can come in all forms, backgrounds, textures, and hues.

Endpapers depicting brilliant pink fabric foreshadow the motif of fabric and color to come. Poetic prose depicts Christo’s early life, filled with colorful books as well as political and social strife after the Nazis arrived in his Bulgarian town. Orange and red flames leap across the spread from the fireplace in which Christo’s parents burned those colorful, now-dangerous books to keep their family safe. This brutal event influenced Christo, who sought to depict truth and life in his art. Fleeing to France, he discovered an affinity for sculpture—in particular, for wrapping objects in canvas. When he met Jeanne-Claude, they moved to America to pursue their dreams. Though it took 25 years, at last their installation The Gates appeared in Central Park in New York as miles of orange fabric billowed in the wind like the flames in the fireplace, a tangerine curtain defying fascism.

Filled with watercolor and gouache whorls outlined in black, each spread pops and crackles with dazzling colors. Close-up vignettes accompany full-page illustrations, enticing readers to slow down and look again and again. The concise yet vivid text is supplemented by extensive backmatter that includes photographs, author’s and artist’s notes, and more. This one is perfect for storytimes and interdisciplinary curriculum units alike.

Chisto and Jeanne-Claude present White; background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Draped in striking hues and compelling from cover to cover—a gem of a biography! (notes, selected sources) (Picturebook biography. 4-8)

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WAYS TO MAKE FRIENDS

Buitrago, Jairo Illus. by Mariana Ruiz Johnson Greystone Kids (40 pp.) $18.95 | Aug. 30, 2022 978-1-77164-975-9 Friendship can blossom in unexpected ways.

“To make friends you should sit under a huge tree,” states an unseen narrator. And so, a young toad does, passing the minutes in the cool shade while waiting for a friend. Or perhaps rescuing a bee in a fountain might result in a new friend. So what if the insect is quick to anger? After all, “sometimes bees can be bad tempered.” To make friends, consider saying hi 40 times to “the shy kid who never says hi to anyone,” dressing up as fruit and sharing fruit, or even befriending a cactus that’s “nice and calm and quiet” and a great secret keeper. And when the day grows long and fatigue sets in, spending time with oneself—to read, draw, imagine—is also rewarding. With all of these tips and more, this sublime picture book |

THE AREA 51 FILES

offers gentle guidance to all readers, from reluctant youngsters in prickly social situations to more experienced friendship seekers needing a refresher. Peppered among moments of pure hilarity and suggested creative outlets are nuggets of encouragement meant to bolster compassion. Featuring a cast of excellently depicted anthropomorphic animals, the colorful, buoyant artwork—predominantly in orangy reds and mint greens—impresses due to its flair and secondary details. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A refreshing, candid consideration of making friends with others at one’s own tempo. (Picture book. 4-8)

Buxbaum, Julie Illus. by Lavanya Naidu Delacorte (304 pp.) $14.99 | $17.99 PLB | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-42946-4 978-0-593-42947-1 PLB Series: The Area 51 Files, 1 Area 51 gets its first new resident in 5 years—and a new mystery.

When her grandma moves into a kid-free retirement home, 12-year-old orphan Priya “Sky” PatelBaum and Spike, her pet hedgehog, relocate to Area 51 to live with Sky’s eccentric Uncle Anish. At 51, humans and Break Throughs (government-speak for aliens) live together off-grid in harmony. Unfortunately, several Zdstrammars (one of many Break Through species) mysteriously disappear, disrupting the base’s harmony and contributing to feelings of suspicion.

Despite being deputy head of the Federal Bureau of Alien

SPEAK UP!

Burgess, Rebecca Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $22.99 | $13.99 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-06-308120-8 978-0-06-308119-2 paper

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Middle schooler Mia is autistic—and a secret viral pop sensation.

Mia, a 12-year-old White girl, struggles to fit in at school. Mia would be happy to just be herself, stims and all, but the other students have trouble understanding her and even bully her, and her mother is full of strategies to help her attempt to mask her autism. Unbeknownst to anyone but her best friend, Charlie, who is Black and presents as nonbinary, Mia posts music videos online under the pseudonym Elle-Q. Coincidentally, one of her biggest fans is also one of her biggest real-life bullies, Laura.

This graphic novel by an autistic author/illustrator is a loving depiction of one young person’s experience of autism. Though she may struggle with some of her emotions, Mia does not suffer because of her autism. Rather than a fix, she needs acceptance and accommodation. The novel is also kind to the other characters, touching upon their internal lives and what leads them to their ableist behavior. As Mia grows and begins to self-advocate, most of the other characters also grow and at least begin to accept Mia for who she is. Despite being a vehicle for these important lessons, the story doesn’t feel serious or preachy. The full-color art is a bit flat but nevertheless cute and expressive, and the panels are easy to follow.

A fun, sweet story about being oneself. (Graphic fiction. 10-13)

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Investigations, Uncle Anish becomes a prime suspect. Can Sky and Elvis, her alien classmate, prove Uncle Anish’s innocence and find the missing Zdstrammars before it’s too late? YA author Buxbaum’s middle-grade debut is a rip-roaring series opener complete with over-the-top characters and jokes galore.

Naidu’s black-and-white cartoon illustrations extend the comedy with ongoing commentary that smartly interacts with the prose. The cast of Break Through species—like Audiotooters, Galzorian, and Sanitizoria—have hilariously creative on-thenose names with illustrations to match. Sky is coded biracial, with a White dad and Indian mom. Aliens appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors; Elvis shape-shifts but looks like a brown-skinned boy to Sky. Though the main mystery is neatly wrapped up, the cliffhanger ending promises more laughs.

Contagiously goofy and fun. (Mystery. 8-12)

diverse neighborhood, feels like their life is limited to one thing: being a place for dogs to relieve themselves. Lou knows they’re serving a valuable (albeit wet) purpose but longs for more: “Deep down inside, I feel like there’s more in me than what they can see. Like I’m full of greatness! I just don’t know what it is or how to let it out.” When a cat living in the apartment above the doggy day care sets off a chain of events that leads to a small kitchen fire, Lou finally understands what their ultimate purpose in life is: helping others.

It’s hard to identify that one element that turns a great book into a truly exceptional read, but whatever it is, this has it. Is it the spare text that slowly sets up some delightfully witty lines? Is it the bold artwork that emphasizes Lou’s expressive googly eyes and silly little mouth? Is it a few well-placed potty jokes? Whatever it may be, children, librarians, educators, and caregivers will love returning to this book over and over. Librarians and educators will find this in frequent rotation in storytimes; they’ll also love the message and the hat tip to the importance of municipal plumbing. Double win!

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Gee whiz, this book is No. 1! (Picture book. 5-8)

QUACKS LIKE A DUCK

Campisi, Stephanie Illus. by Maria Lebedeva Familius (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-64170-729-9

FIGHTING FOR YES! The Story of Disability Rights Activist Judith Heumann

Don’t form opinions from limited

information.

Petunia the platypus, a recent emigrant from Australia, complete with a present, a party hat, and a pavlova, is excited for her first neighborhood shindig until she realizes that it’s a costume party and she’s the only one not dressed up. What’s worse, no one in the neighborhood recognizes what a platypus is. Instead, they insist she must be a duck or a beaver or an otter based on various parts of her anatomy. (Tough party, right?) Thankfully, when a duck, a beaver, and an otter arrive, stacked on top of each other, wearing an oversize coat, and announce that they are dressed as a platypus, the neighbors finally understand, and Petunia regains the confidence needed to declare that she’s not a label, she’s just her. Readers will love this delightfully odd tale, and storytellers will have a blast reading it aloud in storytimes. The artwork has a fresh vibe, and the characters pop from the white space of the page, making this a winning choice to share with large groups.

Discussion leaders may find this a useful tool in helping younger children understand the value of not jumping to conclusions based on limited facts. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A positively peachy tale. (Picture book. 6-8)

Cocca-Leffler, Maryann Illus. by Vivien Mildenberger Abrams (48 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 9, 2022 978-1-4197-5560-6

An account of Judith Heumann’s fight for equal rights for herself and others with disabilities.

As a child in the early 1950s, Judy loved books. But the principal of the first school her mother signed her up for declared her and her wheelchair a “fire hazard,” and the Jewish Day School’s principal refused her even after she learned Hebrew. When she was finally permitted to attend public school in fourth grade, the segregated disabled students “weren’t expected to learn much of anything at all.” Faced with prejudiced attitudes and inaccessible spaces, Judy “heard the word NO much too often” growing up. But after winning a legal battle against the New York City Board of Education to become a teacher, Judy joined disabled friends in advocating for disability rights. She and fellow activists petitioned the government to pass Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—to ensure sidewalk ramps and bus lifts were installed and to make sure that buildings were wheelchair accessible—and finally, in 1977, after nationwide demonstrations, including a grueling 24-day sit-in at a San Francisco federal building, they succeeded. Cocca-Leffler’s straightforward text relates Judy’s challenges and triumphs, while Mildenberger’s muted illustrations adequately if somewhat blurrily convey Judy’s sadness, determination, and joy. An author’s note provides more information on Heumann as well as background on Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a note from Heumann asks, “How will you start fighting for YES?”

LOU

Carzoo, Breanna HarperCollins (32 pp.) $15.99 | July 12, 2022 978-0-06305-405-9 How you are treated does not define you.

Lou, a fire hydrant located across the street from a doggy day care in a 82

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“For all those who are never found without a book at recess.” everything in its place

Judy presents White; background figures are racially diverse.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Uplifting and stirring. (sources, notes) (Picture-book biogra­ phy. 6-9)

as the chief attraction in an annual parade. The legend tells of the time Molly Flanders McMulligan Marshall lost her twin brother, Liam, at sea when the townspeople pressured him to go out in his fishing boat even as a dangerous storm approached.

After Mallory begins to see Molly in visions and nightmares, she must find a way to break Molly’s curse on the town before the vengeful ghost can exact her furious otherworldly revenge on the town that monetizes and celebrates her trauma. In tense, fast-paced chapters, Currie concocts a chilling setting replete with haunting spectral scares set in a town with an accessible but intriguingly complicated history. However, the thrills ultimately fizzle, as much is told rather than shown and pivotal plot points are revealed too soon and resolved too quickly and tidily. While some scenes are chillingly rendered, they lose their panache when juxtaposed against moments of cloying predictability. Most characters read as White.

Atmospheric but at times frustratingly flat. (Horror. 8-12)

FRIDGE-OPOLIS

Coffey, Melissa Illus. by Josh Cleland Little Bee Books (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-4998-1254-1 A playful introduction to the serious topic of food waste.

As this picture book opens, the city of Fridge-Opolis has a serious pollution problem caused by rotting and expired food. Cartoon-style illustrations use wavy lines to indicate the malodorous stench emanating from the foods while also employing color, perspective, and crowding of forms and shapes to create a messy, chaotic setting. Meanwhile, rhyming text with a singsong cadence reads, “Lettuce had long ago wilted. / Rhubarb was bitter and rude. / The overripe pineapple prickled. / Even broccoli was in a bad mood.” Wordplay abounds as the untenable situation unravels, and after a food fight breaks out, anthropomorphic, mustachioed Mayor Mayonnaise resolves to clean things up. He enlists the help of Doctor Baking Soda, who scrubs the refrigerator clean and gets rid of spoiled food, leaving “only food safe to eat.” At book’s end, Recycling Ridge and Compost Town are introduced as new additions to the kitchen community, pointing toward ongoing efforts to reduce and responsibly deal with waste. Accessible, well-designed backmatter includes statistics and information about food waste in the United States to offer a sobering and inspiring call for readers to help “reach our national goal of cutting food waste and loss in half by 2030.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Don’t waste time: Pick up this fun, ecologically minded read. (Picture book. 3-7)

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EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE A Story of Books and Belonging

David-Sax, Pauline Illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow Doubleday (40 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | July 19, 2022 978-0-593-37882-3 978-0-593-37883-0 PLB

A bookish child who doesn’t feel that they belong decides to take a risk.

To Nicky, belonging seems so simple in Ms. Gillam’s library at school. How could recess and its rowdy, closed-off groups ever compare to the quiet delight of reshelving books? “Everything has its place in a library. / The books. Ms. Gillam. Me.” Then Ms. Gillam announces she will be away at a conference, and Nicky dreads facing a whole week without her haven. Nicky seeks solace in the routine of their mother’s cafe and in their favorite customer, Maggie, who rides a motorcycle and loans Nicky books. But when Maggie comes to the restaurant one day with a whole fleet of motorcyclists—all of them different, all of them together—Nicky is floored by the realization that being different doesn’t have to mean being alone. The poetic text refreshingly resists “correcting” its misfit protagonist and opts instead to validate them. Nicky doesn’t have to shed their introversion or put aside books to make friends but instead invites a peer to dive into books with them. Pinkney Barlow’s illustrations offer a rich, journalesque storytelling counterpart, as the collage and ink-pen styles expertly contrast Nicky’s introspection with the world around them, gifting readers with an almost fantastical visual and emotional landscape. Almost the entire cast is Black and brown, though Barlow opts for unfilled line drawings rather than painted skin tones. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

For all those who are never found without a book at recess.

(Picture book. 4-7)

THE GIRL IN WHITE

Currie, Lindsay Sourcebooks Young Readers (304 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-72823-654-4 A recent transplant wrestles with her seaside town’s complicated and ghostly history.

Twelve-year-old Mallory Denton has moved from Chicago to a tiny New England town. Eastport, Massachusetts, is a popular tourist destination, relying on its long and spooky history to keep its economy thriving. Its attractions include Mallory’s parents’ creepily themed restaurant that abuts a cemetery.

Sweet Molly’s is Eastport’s most famous story, commemorated |

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“Like slipping into a hug.” me gusta

BLUE BABOON FINDS HER TUNE

settings including a city, a desert, and a forest. With each short phrase, the bilingual text nudges readers along, comforting and smoothing over any worries or troubles. A few clunky lines (see “No me gusta prejudice toward / our beautiful skin, nuestra piel hermosa”) don’t detract too much from the overall intent to offer safety and connection, even if that feeling lingers only for a moment. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Like slipping into a hug. (Picture book. 4-8)

Docherty, Helen Illus. by Thomas Docherty Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (32 pp.) $14.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-72823-890-6 As it turns out, beauty is in the ear of the beholder.

Blue Baboon wanders into a park and spots a musical combo playing. She sees a bassoon on its stand, scoops it up, and starts playing along. Sadly, she is not a natural, and an elephant, one of the musicians, takes the instrument away from her. After a storm puts an end to the music, Blue Baboon spies a sign for nighttime hot air balloon rides and takes off in one; as she does, the elephant hands (trunks?) the bassoon to her, and eventually she finds a new place to play her music—and a friend, Green Baboon, who appreciates her unusual sound. Though the rhyming text is spare, with just a few words per page (“Big monsoon, wet baboon”), there are many details in the vibrant illustrations (the facial expressions of all the characters, including the moon, the ducks who follow along), all contributing to the depth of the story. Even the music feels vivid, shown in floating, gentle bubbles from the combo in contrast to the boldly colored lightning bolts that emanate when Blue Baboon and Green Baboon play. Children will enjoy pointing out the pink balloon with a white heart that appears in every spread. The characters are endearing, and the final two-page spread is a visual delight, with everyone floating through the sky in dazzling hot air balloons.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

An eye-catching palette and charming characters will draw readers in from the very first page. (Picture book. 2-5)

WITCHES OF BROOKLYN S’More Magic

Escabasse, Sophie Random House Graphic (240 pp.) $20.99 | $12.99 paper | $23.99 PLB Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-12552-6 978-0-593-11933-4 paper 978-0-593-11934-1 PLB Series: Witches of Brooklyn, 3 A fantastical, friendship-centered romp that leans into all the good feels about summer sleep-away camp.

Witch-in-training Effie Huchbolt-Walloo’s third adventure takes her away from the city to the lush natural landscape of Camp Raccoon, a place for young witches to bond with nature.

She’s supposed to go solo, but at the last minute she’s joined

by Henry, Aunt Carlota’s nephew, who’s transformed into a panda. Effie’s initial reluctance quickly dissipates as she makes new friends and begins exploring her unusually strong connection to the natural world. Through it all, the lake and forbidden island at its center loom over Effie. Can her newfound powers save Camp Raccoon when a dare has unintended consequences?

Equally enjoyable as a stand-alone read or for returning fans, this entry balances fun new characters with the comfort of time spent with reliable standbys. Filled with classic summer-camp fare—friends and bullies, friendly competition and campfire camaraderie—the campers’ magical abilities add to the quirky humor and worldbuilding. Readers may especially enjoy daydreaming about Checkers High, a magical game that combines checkers and parkour. As is true of the series as a whole, characters present with a diversity of skin tones, body types, and hair colors and textures, however specific cultural and racial identities remain unspecified; in Witches of Brooklyn (2020), Effie’s Asian and White heritage is hinted at.

Comfortingly familiar and as thirst-quenching as an icycold lemonade on a hot summer’s day. (drawing tutorial, additional scenes) (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

ME GUSTA

Dominguez, Angela Henry Holt (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-250-81854-6 Home and love amid family and community are the key themes of Dominguez’s latest bilingual picture book.

“Mi corazón, my heart. / there is so much que me gusta.”

So begins this series of heartfelt declarations, each a successive burst of warmth. What joys can be found and shared? So many, including eating ice cream before it melts on a sunny day, embracing family traditions, and basking in “our stories, los cuentos, / both imaginary and real.” Dominguez does not shy away from highlighting the challenges that might arise on occasion, such as the words go home! and not welcome that mark the outside of a taqueria or moments when loneliness and sadness drag the day down. Where does solace reside? Here, closeness—with each other and nature—and working together are offered as solutions, exemplified by the vibrant artwork depicting images of families and communities diverse in skin color, in 84

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features a flowing rhyme scheme that reads aloud beautifully.

But the message of the importance of voting feels superficial.

The drama of the friends voting different ways is resolved a shade too quickly and without visual or textual clues supporting the importance of anonymity in democracy. If you’re looking for a “B side” book about voting for storytime, this is acceptable; if you’re looking for more…keep looking. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The vote was not rocked. (Picture book. 4-8)

Esposito, Nick Illus. by Ricardo Tokumoto Bushel & Peck Books (96 pp.) $14.99 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-1-63819-079-0 Series: The Good Guys Agency, 1

A sweet story that proves things “built with kindness are built to last!”

The Good Guys Agency is “here to make the world a better place.” The agency—made up of three boys named Lucky, Rudy, and Red—has an enviable treehouse, a fun Kid Cruiser go-cart, and a long list of aspirations, much like a scout law (“We Pledge To: Be Kind to Others …”). The agency must help Charlie, who’s frustrated by his little brother, Teddy, who keeps ruining his attempts to build a fort. So Lucky, Red, and Charlie go to Imagination Station, while Rudy stays connected to them via stringand–tin can “telephones.” The boys learn about Fred Rogers, who as a child was bullied but nevertheless always advocated for treating others with kindness. The boys meet an adult Mr. Rogers and witness highlights in his career: Mr. Rogers speaks “calmly and nicely” while testifying before Congress to ask for a $20 million allocation for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and cools off in a wading pool with Officer Clemmons, a watershed moment in 1969 when many swimming pools were still segregated. Back home, Charlie, having absorbed Mr. Rogers’ lessons, welcomes Teddy’s help building the fort. A mix of prose and colorful comic panels make for a fast-moving story affirming the power of kindness and empathy. Lucky, Red, Charlie, and Teddy are light-skinned; Rudy has a darker complexion and curly dark hair.

A warm tale that will have readers following the characters’ worthy examples. (brief biography of Fred Rogers, complete list of Agency pledges) (Graphic chapter book. 6-9)

I DON’T CARE

Fogliano, Julie Illus. by Molly Idle & Juana Martinez-Neal Neal Porter/Holiday House (40 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-0-8234-4345-1

ROCK THAT VOTE

Fleming, Meg Illus. by Lucy Ruth Cummins Dial Books (32 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-0-593-10835-2 Choosing a class pet has never been so tough.

The democratic process is in full effect when a classroom of students must vote on selecting and naming a new classroom pet that will join their existing pet rabbit, Mango. The students work in small groups to make posters that promote their animal of choice. After a brief kerfuffle between two friends (one saw the other voting for a different pet after both agreed to vote for a tree frog) is resolved, a pet duck is chosen, and the students elect to call their new pet Froggie. The brightly colored illustrations—a mix of gouache, colored pencil, brush marker, and digital finishing touches— present a vibrant classroom full of diverse children, and the text

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A friendship book made by friends.

Fogliano’s title may prompt thoughts of Sendak’s Pierre, who doesn’t care—until he encounters a lion. There aren’t any perilous felines in this picture book, however, and there are two protagonists. At first, one child occupies the verso, with teal highlights in the grayscale graphite-and-linocut illustrations.

The other is on the recto, with yellow highlights. It appears they are at odds, with the gutter between them seeming to symbolize an emotional barrier as opening text reads, “i really don’t care what you think of my hair / or my eyes or my toes or my nose.”

Soon, though, subtle changes in facial expressions and posturing reveal the friends’ true feelings as Fogliano’s deftly rhymed verses, which never miss a beat in their cadence or in their emotional resonance, help readers realize that while the friends don’t care about surface matters like appearance, attire, or possessions, they do care about each other. Compositionally, they end up occupying shared space on the spreads and will doubtlessly take up residence in readers’ hearts, too, with lines like “but mostly i care that you’re you / and i’m me / and i care that we’re us and i care that we’re we” sealing the deal. Both children have skin the color of the page; one has darker hair, while the other has lighter hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Show you care by sharing this book with others. (Picture book. 3-8)

A SPARK IN THE DARK

Fong, Pam Greenwillow Books (32 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-0-06-313653-3

An exploration of light and darkness featuring a little orange fish with enormous eyes.

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HOLLYWOOD MAY-HAM

light—which offer parallels to real life. Unfortunately, there is a disconnect underlying what could have been straightforward metaphor. This quirky, aesthetically appealing story introduces two people—an adult and a child, both light-skinned—who approach their boat with fishing poles. Onboard, the adult fishes while the child tosses breadcrumbs to a group of hungry fish. The story never acknowledges the dangers to fish in these sun-drenched waters (“The light is warm and welcoming. In the light, it is easy to see what’s ahead”), and the little fish happily pursues a sinking breadcrumb. As the fish swims deeper still, general warnings accompany specific hazards in the art—for example, a near miss with an anglerfish illustrates the idea that some sparks can be the wrong ones to follow when searching for light. The text—often white against the deep blues of the ocean—reassuringly notes that the darkness can make us feel frightened, lost, or angry, and many children will enjoy the comical expressions on the fish’s face. Art, layout, and text create a soothing and often humorous mood, but vegetarian readers may feel uneasy. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sweet but more than a little fishy. (Picture book. 3-6)

Foxe, Steve Illus. by Shadia Amin Graphix/Scholastic (80 pp.) $8.99 paper | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-338-80669-4 Series: Spider-Ham Graphic Novel Peter Porker is hamming it up in Hollywood.

Spider-Ham, an alternate version of Spider-Man from a universe where anthropomorphic animals are the norm, sets his sights on Hollywood when he learns that the lovely Mary Jane Waterbuffalo is starring in a movie by proclaimed director Alfred Peacock.

Oddly though, Spider-Ham seems be the antagonist in this cinematic outing. Traveling to Los Angelfish and finding a way into the studio, Spider-Ham uncovers treachery in the form of the Swinester Six: Mysteriape, Raven the Hunter, Buzzard (who’s actually an Opossum), Sandmanatee, Eelectro, and Doctor Octopussy Cat. With help from Mary Jane, Porker is able to save the day and stop the Swinester Six. Along the way, readers who love the Marvel characters will giggle at the various animal-themed cameos of popular characters and Peter Porker’s general bumbling. It’s an amusing graphic novel for younger or reluctant readers and one that should have a lot of popular appeal on school or library shelves. The artwork is bright and inviting, and even readers who aren’t that familiar with all the Marvel references will still be able to enjoy the story. Adults will appreciate that Mary Jane plays a more proactive role than just “damsel in distress” and has a big role in ultimately saving SpiderHam from the baddies.

This ham is sweet enough for readers to want seconds.

(Graphic novel. 7-10)

A JOURNEY UNDER THE SEA

Foster, Craig & Ross Frylinck Clarion/HarperCollins (56 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-0-358-67786-4

Explore the ecosystem of the Great African Seaforest.

Foster and Frylinck, founders of the Sea Change Project and part of the team that produced the Netflix film My Octopus Teacher, use some of their amazing underwater photographs to introduce a kelp forest ecosystem located off the coast of South Africa, a rich, biodiverse ocean world. In a gentle, leisurely tone, they invite readers to “dive into the clear, cold water…relax and explore.” The relatively simple text sits directly on the striking images. The first two spreads show the ocean from above, flying over the South African coast and then closing in above a swimmer. Under the water is an abundance of “curious creatures,” colorful fish, a seal pup, a tiny rockfish, and an octopus hiding behind shells and stones. Spread by spread, we meet more creatures until, finally, we see departing dolphins. The photographs are colorful and unusual, from distant views to astonishing close-ups; a look at a pyjama shark’s eye is especially compelling. The five final pages feature smaller versions of the images found within the book, with further identification and information. This is a delight on its own but would also pair well with Susannah Burhman-Deever’s If You Take Away the Otter (2020), illustrated by Matthew Trueman, or Nicholas Read’s The Seal Garden (2018), with photographs by Ian McAllister, both set in the kelp forests off North America’s West Coast. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Dive in! (Informational picture book. 4-7)

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COUNTING IN DOG YEARS AND OTHER SASSY MATH POEMS Franco, Betsy Illus. by Priscilla Tey Candlewick (40 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-5362-0116-1

Rollicking verses on “numerous” topics.

Returning to the theme of her Mathematickles! (2003), illustrated by Steven Salerno, Franco gathers mostly new ruminations with references to numbers or arithmetical operations.

“Do numerals get out of sorts? / Do fractions get along? / Do equal signs complain and gripe / when kids get problems wrong?”

Along with universal complaints, such as why 16 dirty socks go into a washing machine but only 12 clean ones come out or why there are “three months of summer / but nine months of school!” (“It must have been grown-ups / who made up / that rule!”), the poet offers a series of numerical palindromes, a phone number |

“A charming, eye-opening exploration of gender restrictions and self-determination.” elsewhere girls

I HEAR YOU, OCEAN

guessing game, a two-voice poem for performative sorts, and, to round off the set, a cozy catalog of countable routines: “It’s knowing when night falls / and darkens my bedroom, / my pup sleeps just two feet from me. / That watching the stars flicker / in the velvety sky / is my glimpse of infinity!” Tey takes each entry and runs with it, adding comically surreal scenes of appropriately frantic or settled mood, generally featuring a diverse group of children joined by grotesques that look like refugees from Hieronymous Bosch paintings. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers can count on plenty of chuckles along with a mild challenge or two. (Poetry/mathematical picture book. 8-11)

George, Kallie Illus. by Carmen Mok Greystone Kids (36 pp.) $17.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-77164-739-7 Series: Sounds of Nature

ELSEWHERE GIRLS

Gale, Emily & Nova Weetman Text (320 pp.) $8.95 paper | Aug. 9, 2022 978-1-922330-45-1 Two Australian girls swap bodies and eras: Cat Feeney goes back to 1908 and Fanny Durack forward to 2021, experiences that prove liberating for both.

Their lives converge when each of them, in their separate times, go swimming at Wylie’s Baths in Coogee, near Sydney. Cat and Fanny narrate their confusion over the jarring body-swapping time travel in alternating first-person voices. As they pick up clues, they discover that they have swimming in common. Their responses to women’s roles and the conveniences and inconveniences of life in each time period are warmly relatable. Cat hates restrictive, gender-based chores and clothing. Laundry and ironing require hours of labor, and she dislikes swimming in a heavy woolen bathing suit. Fanny is thrilled to go to school and enjoys riding in cars. She favors packaged food and is shy about her skimpy bathing suit. As Cat and Fanny rail against and adjust to their circumstances, they each clarify their passions, defining for themselves, without family or cultural pressures, their goals: Cat to get her Surf Rescue Certificate; Fanny to fight for a women’s Olympic swim team. How can they trade places again so they can pursue their dreams? Cat is White, as is Fanny, a character inspired by Sarah Frances Durack, who in 1912 became the first woman swimmer to win an Olympic gold for Australia. Racial diversity in secondary characters reflects past prejudices and changing attitudes.

A charming, eye-opening exploration of gender restrictions and self-determination. (afterword) (Fiction. 10-14)

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A family enjoys the glorious sounds of the ocean until the sun sets.

Two children listen to, imitate, and frolic along to the sounds of the sea, from roaring waves to barking seals. Sometimes they stand still to savor the whooshing of a seashell held to the ear; other times, they leap high while mimicking the “skree, skree” of a seabird. As the day goes on, the smaller child grows sleepy until finally both children fall asleep in the arms of their grownups. Washes of muted jewel tones and soft pencil lines invite readers to enjoy oceanside delights. With just a few sentences per page, the narrative skips along with a focus on auditory perception. Although the cozy ending denotes a bedtime story, the impulse to imitate flying birds and scuttling crabs may serve as an energetic rather than soporific catalyst. The generalized text and illustrations allow for many to draw connections to their own oceanside adventures, but other readers may wonder, for instance, which species of seabird says “skree, skree.” The two brown-haired children, one with curly hair and the other with straight hair, have brown skin and dots for eyes. One grown-up has long blond hair and pale skin, and the other has brown curly hair and brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A solid seaside escapade that will sit nicely alongside other books on the five senses. (Picture book. 3-5)

IF YOU READ THIS

Getten, Kereen Delacorte (208 pp.) $16.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-0-593-17400-5

On her 12th birthday, Brie receives a surprise gift from her deceased mother.

Brie’s mother was full of adventure.

She had the loudest laugh. She sang too loudly even when she didn’t know the words. She would take Brie on adventures that lasted all day. When cancer took away her energy, her health, and ultimately her life, Brie realized that she would gladly endure the embarrassments of her exuberant mother just to have her back. In the three years since her mother’s passing, Brie’s Nana has kept the birthday breakfast tradition her Mama started. But on her 12th birthday, something is different. A gift her Mama left her for this birthday contains letters that lead her on an adventure across her Jamaican town to find something that will bring her joy for years to come. Struggling with her father’s constant absence and lack of attention, Brie makes do with help from best friends, her Nana, and her aunt and uncle as she solves the puzzle. After many emotional and strategic |

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“A fun mystery with enough red herrings to keep readers riveted.” heist and seek

ups and downs, Brie learns more about her Mama and her Papa and gains a gift that will help her learn more about herself. This delightful coming-of-age story details a transformative experience, pairing vivid characters with an evocative setting and bringing readers on an unforgettable journey. Humorous and touching in its drama and relationships, this story will hold readers’ attention and make them care.

Dazzling. (Realistic fiction. 8-12)

names like the Bona Lisa by Leodoggo da Vinky), it may have to close its door permanently. Mango and Brash realize this must have been an inside job. Could it have been the curator, Thelonious Snoot, a caterer with an ax to grind, an avant-garde possum artist named Panksy, or museum preparator Savanna the cheetah? With the help of his new S.M.O.C.K. (Supplementing Mango’s Originality, Creativity, and Knowledge), Mango must go even deeper undercover as artist Macaroni Ancheese to see if he can get close enough to crack this case. Green’s latest offering is a fun mystery with the series’ trademark puns and bright illustrations and enough red herrings to keep readers riveted. This is a must-read for fans of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man books wondering what to pick up next. Though this installment falls relatively later in the series, this is a great jumping-in point for new readers that offers tantalizing tidbits that established fans will relish. Thelonious is light-skinned, while the caterer is brown-skinned; background human characters are depicted in a variety of skin tones.

A winner. (information on how to draw the characters) (Graphic fantasy. 7-10)

1-2-3 SCREAM!

Ginns, R.U. Illus. by J. Espila Delacorte (240 pp.) $12.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-37407-8 Tales short and creepy.

In the delightfully deranged introduction, author Ginns shares his writing process: “I usually use my index finger. I raise it high above my head and bring it down, with three or four quick taps in a row. Then I stop and I look around. It’s important to know if anyone, or anything, is watching.” He’s especially concerned about librarians and birds.

This sets the tone well for the entries to come, each of which involves some unusual twist of the imagination. Like any collection of stories, readers will find different ones appealing. Some use gross-out humor, others focus on interpersonal conflict, and the opening story is a meditation on social media and fate.

A particularly clever one follows a student who forges a permission slip in order to sneak on to a field trip full of troublemakers who are doomed to be replaced by well-behaved replicas. There are also plenty of spooky creatures, an evil bobblehead, and an encyclopedia entry about birds and the dangers they pose. Most pages feature lively black-and-white art by Espila that, combined with character names, indicates some racial diversity. A good pick for kids who want something that leans to the funny side of creepy without requiring sustained attention.

Strange fun. (Horror. 8-12)

HANA’S HUNDREDS OF HIJABS

Gutta, Razeena Omar Illus. by Manal Mirza Barefoot Books (24 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-64686-620-5

Hana’s overflowing collection of scarves and accessories have led to end-

less clutter.

Hana finds fabulous hijabs everywhere, from malls to thrift shops; she even repurposes her mother’s old skirts. Combinations of colorful scarves, dresses, accessories, and jewelry result in ensembles in a variety of styles and earn her the praise of her friends and relatives, who ask for her fashion advice. But soon her amassed collection overflows into the rest of her home, and her punctilious styling results in her constantly being late to school. Hana reflects on the importance of hijab and how it makes her feel special. After observing her aunt styling a customer’s hair and the positive and powerful effect it has, Hana is inspired to think of how she can channel her creativity in a more productive way and provide a service to the community.

Simple text is paired with warm-colored illustrations of flowing fabric in a multitude of patterns, colors, and textures and accessories that work to showcase the range of variations in hijabi fashion as well as how Hana celebrates and expresses the endless possibilities of her individual style. In the backmatter, the author and the illustrator answer questions about what hijab means to them as well as their own styling preferences. Hana and her family are tan-skinned and Muslim; her friends are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A fun and charming introduction to the beauty of hijab.

(Picture book. 4-8)

HEIST AND SEEK

Green, John Patrick First Second (208 pp.) $10.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-2508-4988-5 Series: InvestiGators, Vol. 6 Reptilian wisecracking sleuths return for their sixth silly adventure.

Following Braver and Boulder (2022), S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigation Teams) agents Mango and Brash return to solve the case of missing masterpieces from the art museum. The museum’s fundraising gala is fast approaching, and without its beloved paintings (many with chuckle-inducing 88

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ROOM ON TOP

hidden in his mother’s client’s attic. In the first letter in the shoebox, Toby pleads with Rosemary not to hate him. Meanwhile, Nevaeh helps her dad open a long-locked self-storage unit and finds it empty when it should have been full of antiques. Gradually, in third-person narratives that alternate between the two White tweens, Colin and Nevaeh meet, become friends, realize that their families share a history, and solve the entwining mystery of their finds. Haddix writes with her usual smooth skill in this series opener, weaving in an interesting theme about possessions and what they mean to different people. Nevaeh longs for Colin’s clean home, while Colin finds persistent beauty in the things his mother discards. Though the mystery they solve relies heavily on coincidence, it’s credible, as are all of Colin’s and Nevaeh’s actions. The characters are real and inviting, and the emotions ring true.

Fast-paced and enjoyable. (author’s note) (Mystery. 8-12)

Hächler, Bruno Illus. by Laura D’Arcangelo Trans. by Marshall Yarbrough NorthSouth (32 pp.) $17.95 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-0-7358-4486-5 When is close too close—and high too high?

A little anteater loves riding on Mama’s back. He gets lonesome sometimes, so he invites some friends along, and each accepts with alacrity. One by one, various animals—including Badger, Duck, Hare, Frog (who brings his whole family!), and Fox—step up. A few appreciate the new perch better than their own familiar hangouts; others comment on the pleasant surroundings. While the real estate on her back grows more crowded and the animal pile gets taller, good-natured, accommodating Mama remains silent, though the illustrations depict her looking doubtful. Eventually something’s gotta give: When a heron swoops down on the precarious pile on Mama’s back, uh-oh! But all’s well that ends well. No animals were harmed in the telling of this story, and Mama’s back turns out to be the best place in the world…for a little anteater. This sweet, gently humorous, though unoriginal, Swiss import, originally published in German, reassures children that their own perfect places are always close. The engaging illustrations, rendered with mostly muted shades, are enlivened with occasional pops of bright colors but are in places busy, with some small details hard to distinguish. Onomatopoeic animal sounds interspersed throughout enhance the comical proceedings, and a sly 90-degree turn midbook displaying the tower of animals atop Mama will capture children’s attention, as will the final avalanche. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Fun; you might want to make room for this one. (Picture book. 4-7)

THE BROTHERS FLICK The Impossible Doors

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Haddock, Ryan Illus. by Nick Wyche & David Stoll with Whitney Cogar & Jim Campbell Simon & Schuster (208 pp.) $9.99 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-63849-104-0 Not all doors should be entered.

In an unspecified realm where universes seem to align sits an orphanage and detective agency run by the brothers Flick, a quartet of quickwitted youths: empathetic Desmond, leader Leopold, inventor Remington, and baby Wolfgang. The orphanage is home to a few helpful adults, but Leopold is the self-appointed caretaker since the deaths of the Flick parents. When a boy with limited memories crawls out of a well that he never fell into, the brothers agree to solve the mystery, although it appears to be only one part of a greater puzzle. Along the way, the brothers encounter phantom dogs, pixie problems, shadowy monsters, and more— and discover doors, and a key, to other realms. The illustrations have a “Jonny Quest meets the Hardy Boys” vibe with a few modern twists, such as Remington’s futuristic wheelchair and the elegantly communicated visual representation of the sign language he uses. Based on design alone, this graphic novel will attract mystery and adventure fans by the droves, but the meandering plot and odd reveals along the way may frustrate those looking to solve the cases before (or alongside) the detectives.

The denouement is satisfactory in that the big questions are answered, and readers who are invested solely in the adventure elements will most likely be pleased. Overall, the minimysteries are fun fluff surrounding a surprisingly profound central conundrum. The brothers are light-skinned; the other children in the orphanage are diverse.

Scattered but ultimately enjoyable. (Graphic novel. 9-12)

THE SECRET LETTERS

Haddix, Margaret Peterson Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins (368 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-06-283852-0 Series: Mysteries of Trash & Treasure, 1 In the small town of Groveview, Ohio, two 12-year-olds solve a mystery.

Colin’s and Nevaeh’s families approach the business of material possessions from opposite directions: Colin’s single mom, who’s so minimalist his friends think the family is poor, runs Possession Curation, a company dedicated to helping people declutter their lives.

Nevaeh comes from a large, loving family; her father, the selfproclaimed Junk King, never met scrap he wouldn’t keep until he could sell it. One day, Colin finds a box of letters dated 197377 and written by someone named Toby to a certain Rosemary |

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WILDOAK

Gemma struggles not to mess up her job at her family’s business, the Spirit Sanctuary. A creepy anonymous text message gathers the girls by Silas’ grave one night, where they’re surprised to see who wishes to join them and listen to a story, a cautionary tale about technology addiction in which texting thumbs go rogue.

Moralizing calls for sympathy for villains (from school bullies to Silas himself) ring hollow but are fortunately brief. The humor is strong throughout, and the story is strongest when keeping readers guessing about what’s real—both in the interpersonal conflicts and the seemingly supernatural happenings. The cliffhanger plays up this element in order to launch readers into the next book. Most cast members present White; one key character is Japanese American.

A good blend of spooky and silly. (Horror. 8-13)

Harrington, C.C. Scholastic (336 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-338-80386-0 In 1963, a child finds both a snow leopard cub and a way to live with her stutter in the Cornish woods.

For aptly named Rumpus, the old forest in which he is abandoned is a harsh replacement for the cage at Harrods or the flat he tore up after being purchased as an ill-advised birthday gift. For 11-year-old Maggie, visiting her long-estranged grandfather, who lives near Wildoak Forest, provides welcome relief from her parents’ quarrels over her schooling and others’ humiliating mockery and impatience when she tries to speak.

Grandpa Fred, a country doctor and amateur naturalist, turns out to be a perceptive sort. Still, he rejects her claim to have seen a leopard—until he helps her rescue Rumpus from shotgun-wielding locals and stands beside her as she overcomes her fears to deliver a halting but stout defense to those frightened by rumors of his ferocity. The author adds a wisp of magic in the woods that whispers “Be gentle with yourself. It is hard to be human,” to Maggie and helps Rumpus survive wounds inflicted by an illegal trap. In an epilogue, an adult Maggie wraps events up neatly while confidently owning her communication differences. Harrington packs her memorably atmospheric debut with compelling issues, but her sharply felt portrayals of two vulnerable youngsters of different species bonding as they find their ways in hostile worlds will make the deepest impression.

The human cast presents White.

Tugs on ethical sensibilities and heartstrings with equal strength. (author’s note, resources) (Fiction. 9-13)

THE LITTLE COVEN

Harrison, Penny Illus. by Vivian Mineker Little Hare/Trafalgar (32 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 1, 2022 978-1-76050-812-8 Three witches who are very different nevertheless come together and celebrate their friendship.

Light-skinned, blond, adventurous Eve rides a broomstick and can summon sunshine; tan-skinned, dark-haired Florence can heal with potions, balms, and charms; and brown-skinned Sabine charts the stars and can tell fortunes. Together, the three gather in a forest clearing under the full moon, each contributing to a large cauldron that unexpectedly goes “BOOM,” the turn of the page showing the three suddenly much older but still gathering and sharing friendship. In between their initial gathering and the explosion, the girls are shown doing more ordinary things: comforting a sad Sabine, cheering Florence after she wins a race, jumping rope, gathering berries, sharing a picnic. It’s as if the book can’t decide if it’s a Halloween tale with sprinkles of Wiccan ways and witchy stereotypes or a story of three girls’ friendship. The ending—“A truly magic friendship… // …never really needs a spell”—does not clear up the confusion. The spot-on rhyming text has a nice bouncy rhythm.

Bright colors pop and seem to glow against darker backgrounds, and witchy items are sprinkled throughout: beakers, pointy hats, a black cat with odd, star-shaped pupils, wands, a crystal ball. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A confusing muddle of a witchy friendship tale. (Picture book.

3-6)

1-2-3-4, I DECLARE A THUMB WAR

Harrison, Lisi & Daniel Kraus Union Square Kids (256 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-4549-4454-6 Series: Graveyard Girls, 1

A scary-story–lovers’ club takes on a local haunting.

Misery Falls, Oregon, was the home of notorious killer Silas Hoke, said to return on the anniversary of his death to claim another victim. It’s also the hometown of the Grim Sleepers, a monthly sleepover club of middle school friends who are devoted to telling scary stories. Recently, though, the stories aren’t doing it, especially compared to the girls’ real-life conflicts: Track star Whisper’s newly blended family includes her bully; actor Frannie’s former best friend is now her rival in the school play; overachieving Sophie lives in her even more perfect sister’s shadow; and supernatural true believer (and club leader) 90

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“A heartening look at a tough reality.” the hope of elephants

WHEN MOLLY ATE THE STARS

is even studying elephants at her local zoo in Utah. Beautifully told in verse, the novel contains hopeful imagery inspired by Cass’ persistence, visits to the zoo’s elephants, and the family’s faith, which is effortlessly woven into the narrative and is cued as being the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Literature rarely portrays life with someone who is immunocompromised; this story shows the limitations Cass faces at times, for example, in seeing friends and playing baseball. She’s also home-schooled in part to help keep her father safe. Cass and her family are presumed White.

Tenderly written; a heartening look at a tough reality. (author’s note) (Verse novel. 10-13)

Hesselberth, Joyce Chronicle Books (44 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-79720-940-1

In this allegory about interconnectedness, a girl with a literal taste for stars inadvertently robs others of their light.

On a clear winter night, gingerhaired Molly reaches up to pluck a star from the sky—and finds it delicious. She crunches and gobbles until she feels “warm and bright, inside and out.” Commencing her evening walk, she encounters friends, who proffer a lantern, warming tea, and an invitation to a gathering. Molly rejects each offer; her captured stars provide all the light, warmth, and comfort she needs. She climbs to her favorite high point, where she realizes how her selfishness has deprived the now “dark and gloomy world” of its exquisite starlight. Hesselberth depicts Molly’s dress as a kind of cage: While the stars she’s consumed glow visibly, their luminosity doesn’t extend beyond her.

Remorsefully, she uses a key to unlock her garment, returning the stars to the sky. Feeling empty, she retraces her route home but sees her four friends, sharing a telescope, a picnic—and community. Gratefully, she joins them as Hesselberth gently conveys a strong yet never heavy-handed warning against selfishness. The nocturnal palette of wintry purples and deep blues is accented with complementary tints of pale orange and yellow. Molly is light-skinned, and her friends’ faces are pastel blue, mauve, and butter-yellow, suggesting a hyperstylized diversity.

Simple six-pointed stars glint across galaxies of gestural color.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers won’t miss the gracefully delivered message: Generosity and friendship triumph over greedy self-absorption.

(Picture book. 3-5)

TALES OF A SEVENTH-GRADE LIZARD BOY

Hill, Jonathan Walker US/Candlewick (288 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-5362-1646-2

THE HOPE OF ELEPHANTS

Hill, Amanda Rawson Charlesbridge (480 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-62354-259-7

A tween holds on to hope as her father repeatedly battles cancer.

Ever since she was 4, Cass and her parents have attended every World Series, the trips a gift to her father from his former employer as he was fighting his second round of cancer. Now, he’s been diagnosed with yet another kind of cancer, but Cass is determined they’ll get to go one last time. On her 12th birthday, Cass learns that her dad has Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a gene mutation that makes him susceptible to cancer—and there’s a 50% chance that she has it too. Now, she must decide if she will take a test to see whether she carries a mutated p53 gene. Hope comes from a study of elephants, which have 20 sets of p53 genes—a doctor |

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Tommy wants to fit in, but middle school is tough for a lizard person.

Tommy Tomkins is really Booger Lizk’t of Elberon, a community of lizard people living deep beneath the surface of the Earth. Humans’ overuse of natural resources took a toll on the Lizk’t, and Tommy’s family was forced to leave Elberon or perish. They disguise themselves and go to live among the humans. Unfortunately, moving somewhere new isn’t easy.

Disgusted by human food, Tommy gets caught eating a bug at school, and the bullying begins. When Dung Tran, a new student from Vietnam, gets bullied for his name and way of speaking English, the two bond over their experiences as outsiders.

Wanting to be accepted for who he is—a refugee, not an alien trying to take over the world like the lizard people demonized on a popular TV show—Tommy reveals his true identity to Dung. But friendship can be fragile; Tommy is filled with insecurities after Dung finds another friend, new student Scarlett who is socially excluded because her father is the school custodian. This funny, entertaining graphic novel centers friendship and self-discovery as it skillfully balances comedy with serious topics like identity and belonging. Informed by his Vietnamese relatives’ immigrant experiences and his own childhood, Hill writes with thoughtful insight. His dramatic, full-color illustrations use gradient backgrounds of purple, blue, and green, giving them a retro feel.

Engaging and thought-provoking. (author’s note) (Graphic science fiction. 8-12)

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“A SHHHpecial treat for children who prefer to play it…soft.” how to party like a snail

SANTIAGO! Santiago Ramón y Cajal–Artist, Scientist, Troublemaker

crasher: “Stump! You’re here!” “Well, I’m always here since I’m rooted in the ground, but your SHHHindig is filled with all my favorite things!” Cue the low-volume lollapalooza, ending with a snuggle beneath the stars as the two pull a wild all-nighter “in their hearts.” Collier adds droll details aplenty, from a worm doing the limbo while a bear shakes its booty in early festive scenes to Snail and Stump both clad in onesies, exuberantly waving streamers before piling up the pillows. Like Maureen Gaspari’s I Don’t Like Birthday Parties (2021), this is tailor-made for younger party lovers with a low tolerance for high decibels.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A SHHHpecial treat for children who prefer to play it… soft. (Picture book. 5-8)

Hosler, Jay Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House (224 pp.) $22.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-8234-5036-7

The childhood antics and later achievements of Nobel Prize–winning Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934) are given an engaging graphic-novel treatment.

As children, Santiago and his younger brother, Pedro, skipped school and were added to their town’s official list of troublemakers. Their strict doctor father, who came from a background of hardship, was intent on Santiago’s following him into a stable career in medicine. Though he was forbidden to pursue art, his true passion, Santiago stubbornly refused to give up on it, even when he was sent away to a brutal Catholic school. There, Santiago found plenty of opportunities for mischief, even building and firing a cannon, which landed him in jail. Eventually his path did lead him to medical school, and his enduring love for art paid off when he illustrated in groundbreaking work how the brain’s nerve cells are organized. The skills Santiago cultivated during his misspent youth allowed him to achieve greatness in the field of neuroscience. His wild antics are depicted in humorous detail in illustrations that bring the historical setting to life. Slapstick humor and stylized, exaggerated representations of an impish Santiago contribute to the story’s liveliness and fast pace. Extensive, detailed source notes show how much research went into the work and indicate which elements are based on fact and which Hosler imagined to fill in the narrative.

Scientific discoveries spring to life in this action-packed graphic novel. (bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-14)

THE FORGETTERY

Ip, Rachel Illus. by Laura Hughes Farshore/HarperCollins (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-00-855724-9 A British import about memories.

Young Amelia has a forgetful grandmother. The colorful, detailed title-page illustration shows Postit notes everywhere reminding Granny to “water the plants” and to take her key. Out exploring in the forest one day, Amelia and Granny come across The Forgettery—a magical place inside a giant tree where “you can find anything you have ever forgotten.”

Greeted by the Memory Keeper, Amelia tells him that they’ve forgotten the way home. He invites them to climb aboard a hot air balloon, and the two are delivered to Granny’s Forgettery, a space filled with memories (it is very large, Granny being very forgetful). There, Granny sifts through fond memories. Afterward, they head to Amelia’s Forgettery (much smaller) until a delivery of a clock reminds them that it’s time to go home. The Memory Keeper hands them a map to The Way Home, and off they go. Prompted by a letter the Memory Keeper gave her, Amelia creates a scrapbook, writing down Granny’s memories from the Forgettery along with names and photos. This is a quiet story of intergenerational connection told with compassion. The graceful, impressionistic illustrations make effective use of color and whimsical details; Granny’s beloved memories—images of a younger Granny set against smudgy reds and oranges—are an especially nice touch. Amelia and Granny are light-skinned, while the Memory Keeper is dark-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender reminder that memories may fade but love lasts forever. (Picture book. 4-6)

HOW TO PARTY LIKE A SNAIL

Hrab, Naseem Illus. by Kelly Collier Owlkids Books (40 pp.) $18.95 | Sept. 15, 2022 978-1-77147-417-7

Snail finds that it’s hard to be a party animal when any loud noises send him retreating into his shell.

Snail enjoys the quieter parts of parties, like the confetti and whispering wishes over a cake—but when things turn rowdy, he has to hide. The other animals don’t understand his conviction that “quiet is just as fun as loud,” and soon even Stump, the nearby tree stump, is getting more party invitations that he is. Rather than throw a pity party, Snail decides to organize a “SHHHelebration” with warm milk (“Mmm, a hug in a mug!”), lip-synching to lullabies, and a cozy “blanket burrito.” There’s something missing though…until Stump turns 92

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THE CHRONICLES OF DELTOVIA

this goosebump-inducing, Brothers Grimm–inspired contemporary fairy tale deftly illustrates how a younger sibling begins to outgrow both an older one’s shadow and the expectations of their parents as she pursues her own sense of self and takes the initiative in a daring rescue mission. Main characters read as White; alluding to the source material, “Snow-White and RoseRed,” one sister has white-blond hair and the other’s is auburn.

Names and physical descriptions cue some diversity in the supporting cast.

A swamp full of secrets and a quirky cast of characters combine for a delightfully dark debut. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Jaimes, Olivia Andrews McMeel Publishing (224 pp.) $11.99 paper | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5248-7156-7 Series: The Very Genius Notebooks, 1 Misha predicts that the masterpiece she and her best friends have begun creating will lead to fame and fortune.

The young collaborators share a notebook (square-ruled and occasionally eraser-smudged) in which their illustrated novel takes shape interspersed with Misha’s journal-like account of middle school moments. The three heroes of their work, The Chronicles of Deltovia, are very like their creators. Misha, a bit impulsive, relies on her feelings much of the time and longs to be seen as complex, brave, sad, and deep (and famous in the future). June (the most sophisticated artist of the three) is focused, detail-oriented, and needs to understand the world logically. Athletic Ollie plays an untroubled cheerleading role, her infrequent additions to the work in progress amusingly detached. While the fantasy tale they create proceeds by fits and starts, propelled by Misha and clarified by June, the trio navigate the school year, participate in an overnight field trip at the science museum, and uncover, somewhat accidentally, the ongoing embezzlement of school funds. Misha’s, June’s, and Ollie’s voices are pitch-perfect and very funny, combining sincerity with fledgling self-awareness and accompanied by hilarious cartoon art in three distinct styles. The result is a warmhearted look at friendship and the pleasures and pitfalls of collaboration, literary and otherwise.

Misha and Ollie read White; June appears Black.

Amusing and insightful. (Illustrated fiction. 9-13)

BERANI

Kadarusman, Michelle Pajama Press (224 pp.) $18.95 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-77278-260-8

THE WHISPERING FOG

Jennings, Landra Clarion/HarperCollins (240 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-358-67455-9 When Neve’s older sister, Rose, is kidnapped by a swamp witch, she must learn to listen to her own instincts or risk losing her sister forever.

Though they aren’t twins—Rose is 11 months older—seventh grade sisters Rose and Neve are rarely apart. Headstrong, outgoing Rose has always been in charge of everything, which has been fine with creative, introverted Neve. Soon after their parents separate and the girls move with their mom to a creepy old house in Etters, South Carolina, a strange fog emerges from the woods and disappears with Rose, leaving Neve to figure out what happened and how to save her sister. Most of the adults around her are emotionally absent and, frankly, rather useless.

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Inspired to help orangutans facing habitat destruction for palm oil agriculture, Malia disregards her teacher’s warning and circulates a petition through her private school in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The seventh grader garners peer support, but the petition falls afoul of the government’s pro–palm oil stance, resulting in both Malia’s and her teacher’s suspensions. Meanwhile, Ari has moved to the city to work in his uncle’s restaurant and attend middle school. Ari feels guilty for his good luck and even more guilty as he looks after Ginger Juice, the sad-eyed orangutan trapped in a too-small cage at the restaurant. Ari feels helpless until he learns about Malia’s petition, which offers information about rescuing captive orangutans. All the while, Ginger Juice dreams of the jungle and her lost mother. Told through alternating viewpoints, Malia’s and Ari’s chapters detail the corruption, inequities, and prejudices that are obstacles to activism as well as the differences between Ari’s village life and Malia’s privileges. Ginger Juice’s sections, written in stilted language, do communicate the awful nature of her plight but also tend toward depicting orangutans as lessintelligent humans as opposed to fully competent beings who are intelligent in their own ways. By contrast, the portrayal of Malia’s experiences as the biracial daughter of an Indonesian father who has passed away and a White mother from Toronto is nuanced and well integrated into the larger plot.

A stirring introduction to the plight faced by orangutans. (map, glossary, orangutan information and resources, author’s note) (Fiction. 8-13)

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BLACK BOY, BLACK BOY

ending, with Priya’s family celebrating in their new community, is sweet, it feels abrupt; there’s little context about the new neighborhood, and readers aren’t introduced to the guests. The result is a gentle yet pat tale. Priya and her family are Indian; their neighbors vary in terms of ethnicity, ability, and body type.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A book about Diwali that doesn’t quite crackle. (information about Diwali, glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kamanda, Ali & Jorge Redmond Illus. by Ken Daley Sourcebooks eXplore (40 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 9, 2022 978-1-72825-064-9

A young Black boy and an adult companion journey hand in hand as they discuss the achievements of inspirational

BROWN IS BEAUTIFUL

Black male figures.

The frontispiece, featuring colorful, joyful, and mosaiclike illustrations of the child and his stylishly dressed adult companion engaged in various activities, sets the tone for the opening text: “Dear boy, Black boy, rise up, it’s time. / It’s a new day and a chance to shine.” As the boy points ahead, the sun beams down, illuminating the path. A figure wearing a football uniform emblazoned with the number seven appears ahead of them (“A story of courage that starts on this day. / Courage like these men who paved a way”)—Colin Kaepernick, who is illustrated taking a knee. As they continue, the companion poses questions and suggestions to the boy (“Dear boy, / Black boy, / what do you read? / Chinua Achebe’s poems / inspirational indeed”) in mostly rhyming text accompanied by bold, vibrant illustrations.

Along the way, more Black figures are introduced, among them Barack Obama, Arthur Mitchell, and Elijah McCoy. Eventually, the two arrive at a fork in the road, where the boy receives encouragement about his future and is told that he must begin his own journey. This ode to Black boy joy abounds in positive representation of Black men and serves as a beautiful reminder of a glorious lineage. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An affirming, nurturing, and powerful celebration of Black men, past, present, and future. (biographical notes about the individuals mentioned) (Picture book. 5-7)

Kelkar, Supriya Illus. by Noor Sofi Farrar, Straus and Giroux (40 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-0-374-38952-9 Brown is everywhere.

Holding a camera and on the lookout for all things brown, a brown-skinned child goes on a hike with their grandparents while their parents prepare for the arrival of a new sibling. As the text points out, brown can be found everywhere in nature, from the ants that carry heavy loads to the “mother bear protecting her young” to “a wrinkled maple leaf.” Attributing strengths such as wisdom and kindness to the color, the child finds their own identity in it and hopes to pass those traits on to their newly born sibling. The story closes with a page from the child’s scrapbook, featuring photos, leaves, and other objects commemorating the day. Though, as this story makes clear, brown is beautiful—a fact underscored by a slew of books celebrating the skin tones of children of color—the rhymes feel cumbersome and sometimes disjointed, and the text may not stay with children. Still, there’s a warmth to the illustrations, which feature luminous shades of brown spilling across the pages, and the message is sound, using the natural world to convey the beauty of brown. The appended scrapbooking activity is a wonderful way to start conversations about the colors of the natural world. In an author’s note, Kelkar, who is Indian America, discusses growing to embrace her brown skin. (The book was reviewed digitally.)

Though the story likely won’t linger, this brilliant tapestry of browns may spark discussions about identity and nature.

(Picture book. 3-6)

DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME

Kaushik, Shachi Illus. by Aishwarya Tandon Beaming Books (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-5064-8407-5

A girl finds new ways to celebrate a beloved festival.

Diwali is Priya’s favorite holiday, but things feel different now that she’s no longer in India. It’s quiet, and as she looks out the window, she reminisces about past celebrations of Diwali, which were infused with color and noise.

But as her mother gets ready for the festival in their new home, Priya feels her spirits rise. The preparations attract the attention of neighbors, whom Priya and her family welcome into their home to join in the celebrations. From drawing colorful rangolis to cleaning the house to welcome the goddess Lakshmi to lighting the clay lamps, the book offers an easy-to-understand explanation of the festival. The text is simple and unfussy, complemented by illustrations in a similar vein. Though the 94

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THE IHEARDS

Kilgore, Emily Illus. by Zoe Persico Little Bee Books (40 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-4998-1268-8 A companion to The Whatifs (2020), this time exploring gossip.

Mason is a meddlesome lad, which makes him especially attractive to the buzzy swarms of “Iheards”—insectlike creatures with long proboscises, perfect for fitting in ears and |

“A case study in the tension between scientific objectivity and human nature.” the search for sasquatch

THE SEARCH FOR SASQUATCH

whispering secrets. The Iheards surround Mason, telling him rumors of other classmates. “I heard Ameera is scared / of thunderstorms.” “I heard Valeria broke / Maya’s crayon on purpose!”

All of these secrets build up inside of Mason until he can’t take it anymore. They burst forth, whether true or not, and he tells everyone. A special History Day project is assigned, and no one wants to be Mason’s partner. On the day of the presentation, Mason is distraught; the Iheards prey on his weakness, crowding and zipping around, creating literal clouds of insecurities.

Luckily, classmate Natalie offers a different perspective—what if the Iheards can be good? A shift appears in both Mason and the art: He beams, and the room brightens. This tale follows the same emotional pathway as Kilgore and Perisco’s previous work but not quite as seamlessly. Framing the Iheards as positive is a bit more clunky and difficult; still, given how relevant the topic is, this one may be a jumping-off point to conversations about gossip. An author’s note further explains that we all deserve to share our own stories and that repeating rumors can be painful. Mason is light-skinned, Natalie is brown-skinned, and their classmates are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A clumsy but sweet springboard to discussions about spreading rumors. (Picture book. 4-8)

Krantz, Laura Illus. by Rafael Nobre Studio Abrams (160 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-4197-5818-8 Series: Wild Thing

NOBODY

Konigsberg, Jane Berger Illus. by Petrolela Dostalova Reycraft Books (32 pp.) $17.95 | Sept. 14, 2022 978-1-4788-7605-2 A child excluded from joining their friends feels jealousy and self-doubt.

A menagerie of animals (a raccoon, a penguin, an elephant, and more) gather for many fun activities. But a young human tot is always left out. Alone on the page, with sad eyes and a huge frown, the youngster wonders, “Does nobody love me? / Does nobody care?” The animals pile into a car for an ice-cream trip (there’s no room for the child), they trick-or-treat through the neighborhood (they don’t wait for the kid), and they splash in the pool (the child watches from behind the bushes, uninvited).

A surprise birthday party in the end is purportedly why the animals were avoiding the youngster the entire time. There are a few hints of birthday planning hidden in the art (decorations in a box, a list of party necessities), but it’s a difficult leap to make since not many of the activities themselves are related to party planning. It simply reads as if the animals are ignoring the child for a long period of time—which makes the happy resolution fall flat. The art is the star with squat, adorable animals and an emotive tyke with light skin, but the text reaches for rhymes and falters with the overall arc. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers may identify with the experience of social rejection but will flounder through the rest. (Picture book. 4-7)

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A case study in the tension between scientific objectivity and human nature.

Not quite convincingly trying to position herself on the side of science, podcaster and science journalist Krantz opens with lucid discussions of taxonomy and human evolution but then runs through the circumstantial evidence—“thousands” of outsized footprints, “thousands” of sightings in every state except Hawaii, numerous blurry photos dubbed “blobsquatches” by aficionados, a set of mysterious ground “nests” discovered in Washington state. And while Krantz acknowledges the so far total lack of “irrefutable proof,” she highlights the importance of keeping an open mind and recognizing that there are still unsolved mysteries in the world. On more personal notes, she records an exciting (but fruitless) overnight expedition with a group of experienced “squatchers” and the (negative) results of a DNA test on a sample taken from one of the aforementioned nests. Along with showing that she’s done diligent research, the backmatter includes an inventory of camping supplies for would be squatchers (including a “camera—to get blurry blobsquatch photos”) and a quick list of Bigfoot relatives worldwide.

Still, notwithstanding Krantz’s claim that the real prize is the search itself, prospective cryptid hunters will find a better, if even less skeptical, overview in Kelly Milner Halls’ In Search of Sasquatch (2011)—with photos rather than the fanciful graphics of shadowy monsters sitting on a modern toilet or posing as caped superheroes.

A readable précis that offers a decidedly mixed message. (glossary, notes, sources, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 11-13)

A NAME FROM THE SKY

Kruger, Diane Illus. by Christa Unzner minedition (48 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 25, 2022 978-1-66265-091-8

Actor Kruger embraces her unusual name and bestows her daughter with a name with special significance.

To many, the name Diane doesn’t sound odd, but when the author was growing up in Germany, it didn’t “sound German at all, like Anna, Lena, or Heidi.” In this picture book, Kruger reminisces about the meaning of her name and how she came to appreciate it. Delicately drawn illustrations with a light watercolor wash first depict a young, blond, White-presenting Diane in red patchwork overalls with her blue-kerchiefed pet bunny, Benny. To escape childhood taunting, Diane reads to Benny as Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and other fairy-tale |

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“A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world.” luminous

WHO’S THE SCAREDY-CAT?

characters look on. When her mother explains she was named for a goddess, presumably the Roman goddess Diana, “a fearless huntress, strong-willed, with magical powers,” young Diane begins to wonder what her own special powers will be. After she and her mother travel to London, depicted with diverse citizens, and Diane sees a play for the first time, she realizes her gift is storytelling. Adult readers, especially fans of Kruger, will recognize illustrated scenes from several of her movies. She concludes with a tribute to her daughter and the distinct name she gave her and asks children to ponder their own names and powers. Though the art is attractive, overall, this quiet, understated tale will resonate more with caregiving readers than with children. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A self-affirming tale with limited appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)

Lane, Cort Illus. by Ankitha Kini Little Bee Books (112 pp.) $16.99 | July 5, 2022 978-1-4998-1292-3 Series: Monster and Me, 1

Freddy von Frankenstein is destabilized when his family configuration suddenly changes.

Freddy, an inventor like his father (Victor von Frankenstein), has a built-in best friend in his older brother, F.M. (Frankenstein’s Monster, whom Victor created nine years ago). Freddy’s all set to be his family’s focus for his eighth birthday when a strange girl shows up at the Nepalese palace where they live.

Riya has no friends or family, so Freddy’s parents take her in.

Wanting things to go back to normal, Freddy tries to poke holes in Riya’s story. When a strangely human-seeming tiger appears in their home as Riya disappears, readers may put together that Riya is a werecat before skeptical superscientist Freddy does.

When Riya’s secret is revealed, she, Freddy, and F.M. learn that a magical signal from their palace has also attracted a yeti. As the three work together to distract the hungry yeti with food— and save the campers the yeti has been menacing—Lane offers both action (in the form of Riya’s tiger diversionary tactics) and slapstick, food fight–flavored humor (a grilled-cheese-sandwich cannon saves the day), though the story’s moral is a touch heavyhanded (“Just because something is different doesn’t mean I should be scared of it,” Freddy muses). Riya is from northern India; Freddy is biracial, with a European father and a Chinese mother; cultural backgrounds are made clear through text and lively black-and-white cartoon illustrations. A wordless (except for onomatopoeia) comic book–style segment at the end adds a final laugh.

Unsubtle but lighthearted charm. (Fantasy. 6-8)

LUMINOUS Living Things That Light Up the Night

Kuo, Julia Greystone Kids (44 pp.) $18.95 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-77164-888-2

Imagine being bioluminescent like the living creatures that make their own light in the dark of night and ocean depths.

With a two-level text and illustrations that almost seem to glow, Kuo presents the phenomenon of bioluminescence to younger readers and listeners through the imagined explorations of a parent and child who are tan-skinned and dark-haired and outlined in tan. On black (or, once, deep blue) spreads, shades of orange and blue define the living things on the pages.

The parent and child explore the woods at night, travel by boat (even into a cave), and imagine swimming in the ocean. They discover fungi, glowworms, and a variety of sea creatures that use their abilities to make their own light for different purposes.

The humans’ facial expressions reflect their pleasure. Page turns indicate each change of focus and lead readers further into the exploration. The simple, poetic text and striking images make for an effective group read-aloud. Most spreads also include more extensive information in a short expository paragraph in a smaller font. Here Kuo introduces and defines concepts such as energy, bioluminescence, camouflage, dinoflagellates, biodiversity, and even light pollution. Kuo concludes with a powerful exhortation to readers: “So always look, / really look, // when it’s dark out.”

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A surprisingly simple yet mesmerizing introduction to a wonder of the natural world. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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YOSSEL’S JOURNEY Lasky, Kathryn Illus. by Johnson Yazzie Charlesbridge (48 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-62354-176-7

In the 19th-century American Southwest, a Jewish boy from Russia befriends a Navajo boy.

Yossel’s family is fleeing Russia to avoid the soldiers of the czar. They sail first to New York, then take a train to Topeka and another to Santa Fe, and finally travel by horse-drawn covered freight wagon to a Navajo reservation. Uncle Izzy left Yossel’s family his trading post when he died, and now they’re responsible for selling “coffee and beans and seed” to their neighbors.

Eight-year-old Yossel learns some English and Navajo from listening to the customers but doesn’t speak to anyone until he meets Thomas, a Navajo boy. Stylized illustrations depict the boys playing with Star Eye the sheep, eating blintzes, and |

THE LONGEST, STRONGEST THREAD

having a sleepover at Thomas’ hogan. Yazzie’s warm acrylics in bright pinks, blues, and yellows paint the setting in the colors of desert sunshine (even Russia and New York seem Southwestern, with New York homes that “rub shoulders” illustrated as pink-trimmed, greenery-draped, single-story cottages). Given Yossel’s history as someone forced to flee his home due to ethnic violence, it’s a surprise to see none of the parallel story for Thomas (during roughly the time of the forced deportation of the Navajo by the U.S. government). Instead, this is a pleasing, sun-drenched tale of friendship in a new place. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Though not without a misstep, this is a charming picture book that blends two rarely combined cultures. (author’s note, further reading) (Picture book. 4-7)

Leitner, Inbal Charlesbridge (32 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-62354-359-4

BONNIE’S ROCKET

Lee, Emeline Illus. by Alina Chau Lee & Low Books (40 pp.) $20.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-64379-069-5 A young Asian American girl engineers a rocket launch while her father does the same.

It’s 1968, and Bonnie’s father is a NASA engineer working on the Apollo 11 mission. It’s a job that requires him to be far from home for 10 months. While Baba is hundreds of miles away working on launching astronauts to the moon, Bonnie has a task of her own: “designing a magnificent rocket ship.” As she works on her project—setbacks and breakthroughs included— letters from Baba offer encouragement. And like Baba’s team of engineers, Bonnie’s diverse group of friends and her sibling, Mei Mei, are a strong, collaborative crew. With them by her side, Bonnie works through the various stages—the Design, the Build, the Test, the Analysis—before a successful launch the day before the Apollo 11 lifts off. Lee accessibly introduces scientific principles as Bonnie toils through the construction of her rocket. Readers follow along as she troubleshoots and gets inspired. Chau’s inviting illustrations depict Bonnie’s methodology, using her notebook as the backdrop for many spreads.

Paired with the parallel narrative of an engineer father away working on a space mission, the moments of distance, encouragement, and shared interest provide additional emotional resonance. In an author’s note, Lee discusses drawing inspiration from her grandfather, who was born in Guangzhou, China, and immigrated to the United States, where he worked with NASA and the Apollo space program. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An engaging father-daughter STEAM story full of support and scientific inquiry. (activity) (Picture book. 4-8)

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Saying goodbye to Grandma before a big move is hard.

Grandma’s cozy sewing studio is filled with snug bolts of fabric and endless spools of thread. The child narrator, whose family is moving to “where the lakes freeze in winter,” will miss Grandma very much. Grandma busies herself sewing a special project while her grandchild plays with fabric scraps to ease anxiety. First, tiny hands create a small map so Grandma always knows the way to the new house. Then, because it is so far away, a lumpy little airplane is stitched so Grandma always has transportation. The youngster imagines holding a strong magnet that will pull Grandma (and her sewing pins) directly to the child whenever needed. Grandma’s strong, capable hands make a warm coat for those cold winter months, and Grandma gently explains while sewing the final button, “We are connected by the longest, strongest thread in the whole world.” Circles of blue swoop around the two; another spread shows Grandma holding one end of a thread and the child holding the other.

Fabric textures and layers saturate the art, standing out starkly against the vast, white backdrop, with bold yet soothing pops of yellow and blue standing out. Grandma and her grandchild have skin that’s the white of the paper. The idea of people being linked by a thread of connection isn’t new, but it’s comforting just the same. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Deeply woven with love. (Picture book. 3-6)

LEARNING WITH SKIP. COLORS

Loman, Sam Clavis (32 pp.) $14.95 | July 26, 2022 978-1-60537-752-0 Series: Skip, 1

Kids learn color basics with a cute kitty.

As Skip helps Grandpa with chores in the garden, readers discover colors. When Skip gets wet watering the plants, the text mentions his yellow raincoat. Later, he fills the birdhouse with food and discovers a robin with a red tummy. Four other hues—blue, green, purple, and orange—are similarly spotlighted. On each spread, the name of the color being highlighted appears within an icon shaped like a cat’s head. Later, Skip and Grandpa visit the flower garden, and Grandpa suggests that Skip pick a bouquet of blossoms for Grandma featuring “all the colors of the rainbow.” In this uncredited translation from Dutch, this very simple tale conveys its fundamental concepts in a sweet, though bland manner. The illustrations are lively; protagonists’ facial expressions are appealing. Note some |

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WHIZ KID

missteps: To introduce blue, Skip is depicted looking up at the sky; right after, he’s seen learning about purple as he eats blueberries and gets purple juice all over his mouth—a potentially confusing moment, given the berry’s association with the word blue. Also, the bouquet that Skip picks doesn’t actually contain all the colors of the rainbow, as a rainbow has seven colors, one of which—indigo, separate from purple (violet, in an actual rainbow)—isn’t represented here. At book’s end, Skip introduces additional colors, some familiar, some less so. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Suffices as a very basic introduction to colors, but there are better concept books around. (Concept book. 1-3)

Lyons, Kelly Starling Illus. by Wayne Spencer Penguin Workshop (96 pp.) $15.99 | July 19, 2022 978-0-593-38353-7 Series: Miles Lewis, 2 A science fair can bring out the best in us…and the worst.

Miles Lewis, a smart aspiring scientist, considers this year’s science fair a second chance. Since his electrical switch didn’t get him to the regional competition last year, he vows to create a winner this year. When his teacher allows the students to work in groups, Miles chooses to work with Jada, but the team expands as their friends join. As they plan, Miles realizes how hard it can be to collaborate with others. It gets tougher when his cousin Cameron, who made it to the regional competition last year, visits and Miles’ team likes Cam’s scientific ideas more than his.

Although Miles knows that Cam is adjusting to his parents’ separation, he struggles with jealousy of Cam. The team’s Marvelous Marble Grand Prix, a marble racetrack that illustrates how energy works, teaches Miles a lot about himself and how to be a better friend, cousin, and team member. This is a warm, inviting tale with a realistically flawed protagonist whom many readers will see themselves in. Miles’ close-knit family offers support throughout: Momma tells him not to be so hard on himself; Nana cooks and gardens with him; and Daddy, a professor who teaches Black history, exhorts him to persist—a strong message that will resonate with readers. Spencer’s illustrations depict a loving Black family whose members respect one another.

An honest, inspiring STEM-focused story starring an incredibly relatable future scientist. (facts about five Black scientists) (Chapter book. 6-8)

THE ROAD TO AFTER

Lowell, Rebekah Nancy Paulsen Books (192 pp.) $16.99 | May 10, 2022 978-0-593-10961-8 Fleeing domestic abuse, a girl and her family begin a hard but hopeful journey to healing.

Eleven-year-old Lacey is shocked that Mama has called the police to take them, along with Lacey’s 4-year-old sister, Jenna, to safety—and unhappy at leaving the family dog behind.

The girls are fearful and confused; Daddy’s rules prohibit leaving the house without him. Though he is put in jail, feeling safe will take time. Moving to transitional housing brings challenges.

Lacey, home-schooled, has never had a friend. Daddy’s control over the family was absolute even when he wasn’t home to enforce it. Now Mama must learn to make her own decisions.

Initially, Lacey misses Daddy’s rules, terrifying but known; she’s anxious at having new rules to follow, though breaking her father’s rules doesn’t bring retribution. With community help and support, the three timidly expand into their new life.

Mama revives her artistic ambitions and, gaining strength, nurtures her daughters’ artistic gifts. Reading about Rachel Carson, Lacey finds life lessons in the natural world: observing how a sunflower grows from a seed and how a winding creek finds its own way. Lowell, who in an author’s note describes herself as a domestic-abuse survivor, focuses here on healing; the abuse is portrayed retrospectively—fitting, given her audience. Like her gentle illustrations, the verse format suits her story, a mosaic of small epiphanies that cumulatively chart a path from darkness into light. Characters’ race and ethnicities aren’t described explicitly.

A moving, age-appropriate, and convincing portrayal of family resilience after trauma. (Fiction. 10-14)

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GHOSTCLOUD

Mann, Michael Peachtree (320 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-68263-518-6 A supernatural story of one boy’s survival in the darkest of times, set in a dystopian London.

It has been two years since Luke Smith-Sharma last saw his family. Kidnapped along with thousands of other children, he spends his days shoveling coal in Battersea Power Station, hidden away from the world. The setting is palpably Dickensian, covered in steam and soot, and controlled by Cruella de Vil–like villain Tabatha Margate. White and Indian Luke is also half-ghost, able to see things others cannot. Aiding Luke in his efforts to escape are richly developed supporting characters: his best friend and bunkmate, Ravi; plucky new girl and plumber’s niece Jess; and Alma, a ghost girl yearning for closure. |

“In this relatable account, a child’s struggles to draw turn to triumph.” i can’t draw

I CAN’T DRAW

Along with Luke’s newfound ghosting skills, Alma teaches him how to leave the physical world and fly above steampunk London, where he gains a larger perspective on their predicament.

The situation becomes harrowing as he learns of Margate’s despicable plans. Some of the content is quite gritty and dark as the novel critiques social inequities; it feels like Charles Dickens, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, and Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book rolled into one. Mann creates empathy for Luke, who shows clear hope and compassion for others during this evil time. The quick-witted humor and fast pace keep the entertainment factor high.

Thrilling. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Martin, Stephen W. Illus. by Brian Biggs McElderry (48 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-1-5344-9341-4

SCOOT A Tiny New York Bird With a Great Big Idea Manushkin, Fran Illus. by Bruce Degen Holiday House (40 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-0-8234-4254-6

Sparrows aren’t birdbrains!

When a little sparrow leaves her nest to investigate the big city, she starts on a journey that takes her all over New York City.

Adopting the name Scoot—from the bustling pedestrians who constantly tell her to move aside—the sparrow meets older bird Scram, who shows her the ropes of living in the big city. Flying around a stylized Manhattan, the duo meet other sparrows, and the band of birds work together under Scoot’s leadership to help migrating birds overcome the confusing glow of the city at night. Overcome with pride, Scoot and company rename themselves with more stylish monikers. Like real sparrows on the sidewalk, the story jumps and flutters erratically. The plot isn’t helped by a rhyme scheme that doesn’t always work: “ ‘You need street smarts,’ / chirped an older bird. ‘Hop right! Hop left! / Like so, kid: / GO!’ / ‘Okay,’ she told him. / ‘I’ll give it a try.’ / In two smart hops, / she snatched / a French fry!” Combined with busy gouache and pencil illustrations, the book feels confounded and cluttered. The brief description of New York City Audubon’s program “Lights Out New York,” which, Manushkin explains in her author’s note, encourages buildings to turn off their lights during migration season, is interesting but doesn’t integrate smoothly. Overall, this is an intriguing idea but poorly executed. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This one’s for the birds. (illustrator’s note, list of NYC landmarks featured in the story, list of birds included in the book) (Picture book. 6-8)

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What makes a good drawing? Accuracy or embellishment?

This ode to the triumphs and difficulties of drawing opens with the step-by-step construction of a cat. A child named Max then proclaims, “I can’t draw!” Wadded-up scraps of paper on the ground are signs of Max’s frustration as they display their efforts at creating a space cat and a horse. Sorta. In contrast is the horse that Max’s friend Eugene has drawn, a prancing, beautifully rendered equine. Max proceeds to offer Eugene cupcakes in exchange for lessons, which Eugene does, first by giving Max a book and then by working side by side with Max on landscapes, animals, and self-portraits. Alas, only tracing improves Max’s efforts. But Max and their imagination carry the day as the child proceeds to jazz up Eugene’s precise renderings, adding dinosaurs, lasers, and robots—unpolished but attention-grabbing additions. Whether they can draw well or just love to draw, children will enjoy the efforts and friendship of the two round-faced characters. Max’s work is rendered in crayon and Eugene’s work in graphite pen. Additional, colorful illustrations are done with colored pencils, pastels, and ink. All are child-friendly and appealing, reflecting both characters’ talents and passions. Coming full circle, the book concludes with Max’s personalized step-by-step instructions for drawing a cat.

Max is light-skinned and bespectacled; Eugene is dark-skinned.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

In this relatable account, a child’s struggles to draw turn to triumph. (Picture book. 4-7)

POUT PARTY

McColl, Sarah POW! (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-64823-017-2 Can’t a puppy just have a grumpy day?

“One sunny, shining, beautiful day, / Rue woke up feeling grouchy and gray.”

Black-furred pug puppy Rue thinks everything is wrong, from her bunchy socks to her crunchy breakfast. Her mom tries a kiss, and her teacher asks her to smile, but nothing helps. At recess, her friends try to get her to play, but Rue just wants to pout. Then Rue gets an idea. She makes a sign inviting everyone to her pout party, where no one can be happy or excited.

No one wants to join…except her white-furred kitten friend Joy, who fakes a grumpy face. Rue tries to out-grumpy Joy, but Joy “grumble[s] and groan[s], And stomp[s] with her feet.” Others think it looks like fun and join in. Rue coaches the whole class, and they all make horrible faces…which makes Rue giggle. And everyone laughs. Then Joy assures Rue that next time she feels |

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“A tender tribute to the power of family in bolstering children making their way in an often unkind world.” a door made for me

grumpy, Joy will still be there for her. The rhyme might clunk once or twice and go for the obvious throughout, but children will easily see themselves in the animals of various species that populate McColl’s simple tale. The big-eyed, clothed animals in her cartoon illustrations are expressive and colorful. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A passable presentation on dealing with negative emotions.

(Picture book. 2-6)

a White boy about his age. The boys enjoy fishing in the river together, and Jack teaches Ty how to dig for nightcrawlers. One day, they catch three buckets of fish, and Jack decides to show all his friends. But when the boys knock on a door, a White father refuses to let his child come out—a pattern that repeats several times. Baffled, Tyler finally realizes the reason when one parent says, “You can come in, Jack…but not that little Black boy. He needs to stay outside.” Jack enters, leaving Tyler on the other side of the locked door, which changes everything for Tyler. At home, Tyler’s grandfather offers no easy answers, but he has words of encouragement that make all the difference. In an author’s note, Merritt explains that this story is based on his own childhood experience—which “left a mark on my heart that I would carry for many years.” Ollivierre’s illustrations, with deeply saturated colors, effectively capture Tyler’s sadness and befuddlement as he encounters racism from the White adults but also the joy and love that abound as the family bonds over a backyard fried fish dinner. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender tribute to the power of family in bolstering children making their way in an often unkind world. (Picture book.

4-7)

MERCI SUÁREZ PLAYS IT COOL

Medina, Meg Candlewick (352 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-5362-1946-3 Series: Merci Suárez, 3

Eighth grade brings Merci more challenges at home and school.

Merci Suárez is about to start her last year of middle school at Seaward Pines Academy in Florida. The family is on high alert, as Merci’s grandfather Lolo, who has Alzheimer’s, has declined considerably. Brilliant big brother Roli is back home to work at Walgreens, attend community college for a semester, and save money before returning to university. When school starts, Merci—who has a stylish new haircut—must balance her core group of best friends, Hannah, Lena, and former rival-turned-pal Edna, with new attention from popular soccer teammate Avery. Then there’s Wilson, the boy Merci can’t stop texting and feeling fluttery around, even though these new feelings about her friend confuse her. Like the previous two installments, this is a story that focuses on characterization, self-discovery, and growth. There’s also an indepth exploration of grief and the differences between forever and fair-weather friends. Although it’s accessible to new readers, the story’s conclusion will particularly resonate with existing fans of Merci and her Cuban American family. Medina finishes the heartwarming story arc of her plucky, curious, strong-willed young protagonist with the same well-crafted dialogue, humor, and cultural exploration readers expect.

A fabulous finale to a memorable trilogy. (Fiction. 9-13)

OVER AND UNDER THE WAVES

Messner, Kate Illus. by Christopher Silas Neal Chronicle Books (56 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-79720-347-8 Series: Over and Under In a new entry in the Over and Under series, a paddleboarder glimpses humpback whales leaping, floats over a populous kelp forest, and explores life on a beach and in a tide pool.

In this tale inspired by Messner’s experiences in Monterey Bay in California, a young tan-skinned narrator, along with their light-skinned mom and tan-skinned dad, observes in quiet, lyrical language sights and sounds above and below the sea’s serene surface. Switching perspectives and angles of view and often leaving the family’s red paddleboards just tiny dots bobbing on distant swells, Neal’s broad seascapes depict in precise detail bat stars and anchovies, kelp bass, and sea otters going about their business amid rocky formations and the swaying fronds of kelp…and, further out, graceful moon jellies and—thrillingly—massive whales in open waters beneath gliding pelicans and other shorebirds. After returning to the beach at day’s end to search for shells and to spot anemones and decorator crabs, the child ends with nighttime dreams of stars in the sky meeting stars in the sea. Appended nature notes on kelp and 21 other types of sealife fill in details about patterns and relationships in this rich ecosystem. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

More thoughtful, sometimes exhilarating encounters with nature. (author’s note, further reading) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

A DOOR MADE FOR ME

Merritt, Tyler Illus. by Lonnie Ollivierre WorthyKids/Ideals (40 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-5460-1256-6

Some childhood encounters take a lifetime to get over.

As Tyler, a young Black boy, rides to his grandparents’ house, his folded arms and anxious expression suggest that he does not want to go. A whole summer with his grandparents—who will he play with? But Tyler quickly becomes friends with Jack, 100

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friendship, an opportunity to learn about Appalachia beyond the confines of the camp, an education into the region’s rich history and challenges, and growing self-awareness for Javari.

Though surrounded by racially diverse campers, Javari cannot escape racism. Complex characters and authentic conversations, particularly between Javari and his former Amtrak porter grandfather, provide rich content for exploring the enduring trauma of White supremacy. Thoughtful explorations of issues such as corporate greed, the opioid crisis, water rights, and the little-known history of Affrilachians abound in this outstanding novel.

An emotionally resonant narrative skillfully connecting the past, present, and future. (Fiction. 10-13)

Mohrweis, Michelle Peachtree (288 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-68263-484-4

Two scared, furious, eighth grade girls will have to work together if they want to win the robotics competition.

Allie’s been constantly on the edge of enraged explosions since the tragedy that shook her world last year, and she has one last chance: If she gets kicked out of any more electives she’ll be expelled. Evelyn, lonely since her best friend moved away and convinced she needs to solve her family’s money problems, has become unbearably mean and overbearing toward the rest of her robotics team. When Allie slumps into the classroom and robot-obsessed Evelyn sees one more drag on her chance to win the championships, it’s a recipe for disaster. Property damage and a fistfight ensue, and it seems Evelyn, Allie, and the rest of their fractured robotics team can’t save their fragile crew— but they must try. Allie opens up to Evelyn about her parents’ deaths and about her lack of interest in romance. Evelyn tells Allie about the boys and girls she crushes on, about being autistic and her fear of disappointing her moms. But saving the day won’t be about just fixing one robot or winning one tournament.

Leadership, they discover, requires passing the mic. Allie and Evelyn are cued White, while their teammates are all kids of color; one boy has cerebral palsy, and the other two boys are dating.

Unsubtle but not overwrought, with genuinely inspiring kindness and collaboration found amid pain. (Fiction. 10-13)

THE CIRCLES IN THE SKY

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Mountford, Karl James Candlewick Studio (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5362-2498-6 The twin desires to mourn and to comfort imbue a simple fable played out by a woodland cast.

Though Fox is eager for rest after a long night of hunting, his curiosity is piqued when he hears the birds singing a strange new song. He follows them to a dead bird in a field. Fox’s confusion attracts the attention of Moth, who finds it difficult to explain what has happened to the bird. Instead, Moth tells Fox how the moon reflects the sun’s rays, even long after the sun has gone. Fox struggles to understand until Moth explains that the bird is dead. “I was trying to be kind,” Moth tells Fox. “Sad things are hard to hear. They are pretty hard to say, too. They should be told in little pieces.” As Fox grapples with the newfound realization, Moth offers solace if not the explanation he was seeking.

Mountford does dual duty in giving voice to both the confusion that comes with death and a template on how to be there for those in pain. Tonally, the book never turns precious, the storytelling clear, concise, and sympathetic. All this is wonderfully accompanied by digital art resembling woodcuts and lithographs, the black of the fox, the birds, and the moth contrasting keenly with the colors of the natural world surrounding them.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Speaking to heart and eye in equal measures, a beautiful treatise on remembering life and helping those left behind.

(Picture book. 4-7)

HOLLER OF THE FIREFLIES

Moore, David Barclay Knopf (368 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-5247-0128-4 978-1-5247-0129-1 PLB In New York and Appalachia, a shy, gentle, Black boy must find a way to honor his gifts and his truths.

Twelve-year-old Javari Harris, who is short for his age and has strabismus, lives with his family in Bushwick, a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in Brooklyn.

After the family returns home from a rally protesting the killing of an unarmed Black man by the police, they find a lease termination notice on their door, threatening what has been the family’s home for three generations. The opportunity to spend two weeks in West Virginia at a STEM summer camp couldn’t come at a better time for Javari: It offers relief from the pressures of home, particularly ongoing conflicts with his mother, who seems to project her fears about raising a Black son onto him. At camp, a mysterious interloper offers an unlikely |

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DRAGONBOY AND THE WONDERFUL NIGHT

shows a hand pushing the balls down. Many of the descriptions offset one another as opposites. Build has hands stacking toy blocks opposite destroy, with a fist punching the pile to topple it. Though this whimsical book, originally published in French, takes on a well-trod topic and is on the lengthy side, the many examples will speak to kids and may spark discussion about how our ability to use our hands allows us to be productive and enjoy life. Most characters or hands are the white of the page; some are depicted as brown. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An attractive take on an oft-addressed topic best perused over several sittings. (Picture book. 4-6)

Napoleoni, Fabio Little, Brown (40 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-316-46218-1 Series: Dragonboy, 2

Dragonboy, Unicorngirl, and their friends are ready for a nighttime adventure.

The protagonist, a bald, light-skinned, dragon costume–wearing little boy introduced in Dragonboy (2021), is camping along with Unicorngirl, a dark-haired, lightskinned girl in a unicorn getup, and an assortment of stuffed toys.

While Unicorngirl sleeps, the others rush out—the toys having come to life—excited for what they might see and experience.

Simon, a sloth, is reluctant and admittedly frightened, but the friends are reassuring, and he finds himself enjoying their escapades. The characters find their own senses of delight, whether noting the swaying trees, spotting an owl, listening to night sounds, playing with fox cubs, or counting and wishing on stars.

Eventually Unicorngirl, who has been lurking behind them, joins the fun, chasing fireflies. Napoleoni employs lovely imagery in description and dialogue, and the narrator speaks directly to readers, often using parenthetical asides, encouraging them to imagine, wish, and be happy with their friends. The characters have distinct personalities, and they come together as a group of good-natured, kind friends. The tale is beautifully augmented by inventive, detailed illustrations. The night is filled with blue-tinted trees that have eyes and seem to watch over the friends. Sharp-eyed young readers may spot tiny, colorful caterpillars, a frog, a spider, a snail, and other hidden creatures in shadowed blue camouflage. Even the moon shines a benevolent, calm smile upon them. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Tender, charming, and a visual delight. (Picture book. 4-8)

BIG BEAR AND LITTLE FISH

Nickel, Sandra Illus. by Il Sung Na Carolrhoda (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-72841-717-2

An initially disappointing carnival prize turns out to be more rewarding than it seems.

Bear has her heart set on winning the biggest teddy bear at the fair, but instead she wins a fish—a fish “so small it lived in a bowl.” Bear reluctantly takes home her prize, but her sadness keeps her from seeing Fish’s potential for companionship. Bear goes on a walk alone and returns to tell the fish it cannot stay— their first real conversation. Fish counters every one of Bear’s arguments, and finally Bear sets off on another walk—this time, holding the fishbowl. Fish is orange, with red spectacles, a stack of books, a bed, and a plant; Bear is brown (some readers may be confused when she refers to herself as gold, but Fish clears up the discrepancy later) and walks upright. Gently rounded, softly colored hills, clouds, and trees, depicted with a grayish blue tinge, lend an underwater feeling to Bear’s world, subtly linking it to Fish’s bowl. Bear and Fish are sometimes big on the page, sometimes small, reinforcing the importance of perspective in this lovely, gently humorous story of the friendship that grows between different creatures when they accept each other for who they are. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A delightful tale of unexpected friendship. (Picture book. 3-7)

MY HANDS

Néjib Trans. by Angus Yuen-Killick Red Comet Press (128 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-63655-042-8

THE PRINCE OF STEEL PIER

An exploration of how we use our hands for basic things and endless

Nockowitz, Stacy Kar-Ben (248 pp.) $9.99 paper | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-72843-034-8

creativity.

Full-page, large, thick, black-outlined cartoon drawings rendered in a minimalist style against a stark white space emphasize a one- or two-word description of an action that can be taken using one’s hands. Greet is accompanied by an image of a handshake and touch, with a depiction of two hands (one brown, the other the white of the page) pressed palm to palm.

Though hands are the focus, some images depict faces or whole people. Sometimes, splashes of color are used to highlight a particular example. To illustrate how hands can shape or flatten, colorful balls appear, with a hand rolling them; another image 102

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Thirteen-year-old Joey Goodman spends every August in Atlantic City, New Jersey, at his grandparents’ hotel.

It’s 1975, and the city is soon to become a gambling resort as old hotels are replaced with casinos. Joey’s passion is playing Skee-Ball at the boardwalk arcades. There, he attracts the attention of shady Artie Bishop, known as the king of Steel |

“A spooktacular story that’s surprisingly insightful.” ghostlight

GHOSTLIGHT

Pier, and becomes involved in Bishop’s unspecified criminal activities. Suave Artie engages Joey in conversation about the boy’s favorite book, The Once and Future King, and Joey begins to regard him almost as a new King Arthur. Artie offers him a job chaperoning his daughter, Melanie, when she comes to visit.

After Joey finishes his unpaid waiter’s shift at the hotel restaurant each day, he lies to his family, meets Melanie, and they explore the piers’ seedy amusements. Joey falls for 15-year-old Melanie, and she regards him fondly but is attracted to his older brother Reuben. The close-knit Jewish family of four bickering brothers, parents, uncle, and grandparents (especially wise grandpa Zeyde) is lovingly portrayed. The descriptions of Joey’s ponderings about God (he’s had his bar mitzvah but is undecided) and Artie’s business dealings may not hold young readers’ interest, and the immersive setting could appeal more to adults old enough to remember the time and place. All characters are presumed White.

A tween gets in over his head in this introspective and nostalgic story. (author’s note) (Fiction. 10-13)

Oppel, Kenneth Knopf (400 pp.) $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-48793-8 978-0-593-48794-5 PLB

THE CAN CARAVAN

O’Neill, Richard Illus. by Cindy Kang Child’s Play (32 pp.) $9.99 paper | Aug. 1, 2022 978-1-78628-615-4 Series: Travellers’ Tales Janie helps her neighbor Mrs. Tolen by reconstructing her caravan when the older woman needs a safer living space after breaking her hip.

Janie, a light-skinned girl with reddish hair who lives with her mother and grandfather, and Mrs. Tolen, gray-haired and light-skinned, are Travellers who live in caravans. In the past, they traveled from town to town, working with metals and recycling older materials in what Janie’s grandpa calls the “ragand-bone trade.” After visiting a can-recycling factory with her diverse class, Janie decides to rebuild Mrs. Tolen’s caravan with the help of classmates and community members. The recycling plant donates recycled metal sheets, and the community collects cans to earn necessary funds. Volunteers work under Janie’s leadership. After Mrs. Tolen finishes rehab, she moves into her new recycled “Can Caravan.” Colorful, realistic illustrations lend an upbeat tone. Perhaps it’s unrealistic for Janie to direct the initiative, but the “komli chavvie” (kind child), as Mrs. Tolen calls her, has a strong interest in creating caravans, and kids will admire her take-charge attitude and goodhearted actions. O’Neill deftly folds traditional Traveller values and vocabulary into a contemporary picture book about recycling and community action. A helpful flowchart at the end shows how cans are recycled. Romani words are defined on the copyright page. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An affirming story about a helpful young Traveller. (Picture book. 6-8)

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Friendship with ghosts can be chilling.

Thanks to constantly repeating Rebecca Strand’s name while leading the Island Ghost Tour at Toronto’s Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, teenager Gabe Vasilakis awakens her ghost and accidentally clasps hands with it, forging an otherworldly connection between the pair that strengthens Rebecca while chilling Gabe. Fortunately, this happened just in time, as wicked ghost Nicholas Viker has reemerged after many years of slumbering. Viker was a ghost who battled Strand and her father—and ultimately killed them—as they attempted to use a ghostlight to send trapped spirits on to their final destinations.

Greek Canadian Gabe’s work to defeat Viker before his plans to rule both the spirit and moral worlds can come to fruition begins. He’s helped by Rebecca; his best friend, 16-year-old Russian STEM prodigy Yuri; and ghost-story blogger Calli Ferreira, a girl he meets during his tour whose family came from Goa. The plot sounds complicated—and it is—but readers looking for a spirited read that’s grounded in factual Toronto history will appreciate this modern-day ghost story. Subplots on the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the ability of past ghosts to acknowledge their roles add some soul to this supernatural thriller and may provoke conversation among readers.

Although the story wraps up skillfully, hints of future adventures for the earthly ghost fighters will have readers consulting the spirits to see if a sequel lies ahead.

A spooktacular story that’s surprisingly insightful. (Fiction.

11-15)

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, DAVID BRAVO

Oshiro, Mark Harper/HarperCollins (384 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-06-300815-1

David Bravo is having the worst day ever when a time-traveling dog shows up and offers him a chance to do it all over.

Tuesday, Sept. 12, truly takes the cake as the most awful day of 11-yearold David’s entire life. It starts with him anxiously fumbling through his first middle school presentation about his heritage: He has a Brazilian and Mexican American father and a Japanese American mother from Hawaii, and he has difficulty explaining that he is adopted. This is followed by an embarrassing foodpoisoning incident that ends with David’s causing an accident that hurts his best friend Antoine’s ankle during cross-country |

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“A soaring promise that having the courage to act on one’s dreams is all that really matters.” a dream of birds

ONE WINTER UP NORTH

practice. His wish to redo everything is granted by the arrival of Fea, a talking, shape-shifting dog who says her new mission is to help David repair his timestream. His first thought is to fix things for Antoine, worried their friendship may be on the line, but when that doesn’t help, David and Fea end up going back and forth in time trying to make things right. This funny, brave, charming novel is packed full of delights. The plot goes to utterly unexpected and beautiful places in a journey about heritage, culture, choice, and, above all, love and connection.

David learns to navigate the many aspects of his identity—his anxiety, his budding romantic feelings for Antoine, and his background as a Latinx by birth—and brings the entire welldeveloped, diverse cast of characters together while doing so.

A joyful, surprising, time-traveling delight. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Owens, John Univ. of Minnesota (32 pp.) $17.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-5179-1292-5

A family of three goes on a winter camping trip in this wordless picture book.

Leaving their car, two parents and a child snowshoe in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota while pulling sleds filled with gear. Near a frozen, snowcovered lake, they set up camp. A hot tent (with a woodstove and stovepipe) keeps the family cozy overnight. Pulling on winter gear takes several spot illustrations scattered across a spread until finally the child is ready to greet the new day.

The three snowshoe across the lake and through the woods, exploring, perusing the wildlife tracks they spy, and stopping for hot drinks. On their second night, they stand outside and echo the howls of the wolves. Readers leave them that evening snuggled up by the fire. The watercolor illustrations emphasize both the remoteness of the location and the season. Blues and whites dominate the double-page spreads, with cozy yellows for warmth and light. Perspectives change to give both closeup and big-picture views, the family tiny in the wilderness. The quiet is palpable. Close observers may spy some wildlife, but the focus is on the family’s adventure, which, while some may proclaim is boring, will thrill outdoorsy families, who may rush to plan their own wintry camping trip. The child and one of the parents have brown skin; the other parent’s skin is lighter. All have dark hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Captures the simple pleasures and quiet escape of a family’s winter camping trip. (Picture book. 3-10)

THE GINGERBREAD WITCH

Overy, Alexandra Inkyard Press (286 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-335-42686-4

After Mother Agatha, who raised her in a gingerbread house, is burned to ashes, 12-year-old Maud sets out through the dangerous Shadelands in search of a way to bring her back to life.

Overy’s new spin on fairy-tale favorites is a series opener that includes characters from “Hansel and Gretel” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—plus a three-legged wolf with violet fur aptly named Grim. Maud is not quite human but not fully witch either—she’s a creation of Mother Agatha, who quite literally made her from enchanted gingerbread. After Agatha is pushed into a fire by witch-hunting Wolves, Maud seeks to revive her from the ashes. Along the way, she encounters the Wolves and a mysterious witch named Vira and learns to trust her instincts. Overy’s story is well paced; the sense of urgency around saving Agatha keeps the pages turning.

Maud’s sidekicks—Grim and two gingerbread-made creatures, Nuss the squirrel and Florian the vulture—are utterly charming and full of personality. While most of the plot threads are tied together at the end, a few details are frustratingly left unresolved, possibly leaving room for a sequel. Although made from gingerbread, Maud is described as having white skin.

A modern reimagining that reads like a well-told fairy-tale classic. (map) (Fantasy. 8-12)

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A DREAM OF BIRDS

Patel, Shenaz Illus. by Emmanuelle Tchoukriel Trans. by Edwige-Renée Dro Amazon Crossing Kids (32 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-66250-093-0 Making a rash but worthy choice, a child frees a neighbor’s caged flock of tropical birds.

When young Sara sees that the strange little wire house she passes on her way to school has been filled with noisy parakeets, she remembers how cardinals, cape canaries, and turtledoves used to gather in her grandpa’s yard every afternoon to chirp and coo—and snatch at the handful of rice he would throw in the air at 4:00 each afternoon. The next day, she opens the cage and accepts the ensuing punishment from her parents…who tell her, worrisomely, that birds not used to being free might not be able to fend for themselves. That night, though, she dreams of flocks of brown and lesser noddies, terns, and other birds flying free in the nature preserve on nearby Cocos Island and is reassured: “All will be well, as long as the world has wings to dream.” Some of the act’s consequences are a bit glossed over, |

but its profound rewards are clear. Patel sets her tale on her native island of Mauritius (where it was originally published, in French), and for her illustrations Tchoukriel not only depicts settings and the dark-skinned residents, but also the many birds in careful, exact detail. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A soaring promise that having the courage to act on one’s dreams is all that really matters. (Picture book. 6-8)

a muddy puddle. But when it comes to his own problem, the solution isn’t so easy. His 12 siblings won’t budge, and his mother snores on despite his plaintive cries. Shedding a few tears makes him feel better, but he can’t get discouraged. A lesson in sharing (or not!) comes from a calf. The rescued ball proves just the distraction he needs to get his mother all to himself. The final wordless page shows all the animals bedded down for the night, a rather forlorn Thirteen left out of the shelter awake. The text is a bit stilted: “Thirteen feels that happiness makes you want to sing. But not yet. Later. Now, he has to fill his tummy.” The green grass and tan and brown of the farmyard background the illustrations of the adorable piglets, and the antics of the chicks and their exasperated mother will make observant kids (and their parents) chuckle. Thirteen’s star helps readers pick him out, though it has a tendency to move around. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers will empathize with this pig and hopefully learn to not give up. (Picture book. 3-6)

GHOSTS COME RISING

Perry, Adam Yellow Jacket (288 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-4998-1354-8

A young girl in 1920 upstate New York becomes an expert on helping convince people they can see the dead.

After 12-year-old Liza’s parents died in the influenza pandemic, she and her younger brother, John, are left in the custody of itinerant-photographer–turned–con man Mr. Spencer. Now they work together on a spiritualist scam, doubleexposing photographic plates to make it seem as if the dead are among the living. When they arrive at the Silver Star Society, a spiritualistic center in rural Pennsylvania run by a woman named Ms. Eldridge, their luck seems to spin in both directions at once: They’re welcomed and believed, but at the same time, mysterious storms wreak havoc on the center, and Liza begins to see nighttime shadows she’s convinced are threatening John.

Liza, as narrator, warns us upfront not to believe a single thing she says, yet she seems so utterly grounded and convincing that the story she tells slides from historical fiction into supernatural suspense before readers realize it. The novel is well paced and well plotted, but the ending, especially the epilogue, lacks emotional punch. Black-and-white photographs that, like the story, aren’t quite what they seem appear throughout. Most characters seem to be White.

Ghost-story fans will stay up reading past their bedtimes. (photo credits) (Historical paranormal. 8-12)

WINDSWEPT

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Preus, Margi Illus. by Armando Veve Amulet/Abrams (304 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-4197-5824-9 An unlikely hero embarks on a quest to find her missing sisters.

In Tagalong’s world, youngers under 15 are not allowed Outside their homes to avoid being swept away by snow squalls.

The Powers-That-Be preserve the status quo while outlawing books and fairy tales as dangerous. Seven years ago, Tag’s three sisters—Lily, Rose, and Iris—vanished in a squall. Tag, now 13, has never been Outside until the day she receives an invitation to a meeting. Discovering a book of fairy tales hidden in an attic wardrobe, Tag takes it with her as she escapes Outside to meet Finn, the boy who invited her, and three younger boys. They’re poised to journey into the Unknown to find their windswept siblings. Not sure she really belongs with them, Tag nevertheless joins along and, after Finn vanishes, distracts and inspires them with remarkable stories from her book. Aided by three spellcasting sisters, various magical objects, and some trickery, Tag emerges as a determined and creative hero as she confronts treacherous danger alone in a dramatic climax. Inspired primarily by the Norwegian fairy tale “The Three Princesses in the Mountain Blue,” this edgy, somewhat dystopian tale set in a world where race holds no significance masterfully blends European fairy-tale motifs with timely warnings about human greed, waste, and destructiveness while extoling the power of storytelling. Richly descriptive prose and delicate, atmospheric black-and-white illustrations enhance the fairy-tale flavor.

An inventive, memorable must-read. (map, author’s note, list of fairy tales, bibliography) (Fantasy. 10-14)

THE THIRTEENTH PIGLET

Poulin, Andrée Illus. by Martina Tonello Milky Way (40 pp.) $16.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-1-990252-15-0

Thirteen is a natural problem-solver, which is handy since his mom’s got only 12 teats.

Thirteen is a pink-speckled pig who resembles his siblings save for the patch over one eye and the star-shaped spot on his side. When he comes upon a problem, he puzzles out a solution, because even though he’s small, he believes he can be helpful, as when he rescues a child’s ball from |

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BUBBIE & RIVKA’S BEST-EVER CHALLAH (SO FAR!)

whose face was disfigured in an acid attack; and Winter, a dolphin whose prosthetic tail inspired humans with disabilities.

The author encourages readers to reframe their own scars as sources of strength, emphasizing the importance of self-care and seeking support during this difficult process. He avoids comparing struggles or triumphs, reassuring readers that their experiences matter and that no step toward healing is too small.

Sidebars define terms and further discuss such concepts as recognizing injustice and supporting others. Though the focus is uneven (30 subjects receive individual chapters, while singleparagraph snapshots introduce the remaining 30), the wealth of experiences represented and the author’s conversational, compassionate tone will reassure readers coping with their own challenges that they are not alone.

A refreshingly down-to-earth exploration of trauma and healing. (resources, films and books, discussion questions) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

Reul, Sarah Lynne Abrams (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-4197-5898-0

Rivka and Bubbie are determined to bake a perfectly wonderful challah.

Bubbie has always been too busy to cook, but now she has the time for a new Friday tradition, and granddaughter Rivka is an eager helper. Their first effort is a disaster. But Rivka’s mother always says, “Practice makes progress,” so every week there’s more trial and error, with setbacks and some improvements. They patiently let the dough rise in a warmed oven and allow for a longer bake. But while they’re having fun playing in the snow, they forget to listen for the timer, and the loaf is burned. So next time they set two timers and play a quiet game of cards. At last, they produce a delicious challah that receives rave reviews from the family. Rivka narrates the tale with enthusiasm and joy, describing the rhythm of the baking process (“We squish and smoosh and stretch and squeeze! We let our cozy dough rise, then we roll-pat it into ropes”). She optimistically repeats the title phrase after each effort, until it is gloriously true. A few Yiddish expressions are used throughout. Reul’s bright, colorful cartoons perfectly capture the love and humor of learning to bake. Rivka’s and Bubbie’s large, round brown eyes, facial expressions, and body language dramatically express every emotion and reaction. Young readers and their grands will feel the love and connect to their own family traditions. Rivka, Bubbie, and their family are tan-skinned and Jewish. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Delightful and delicious. (recipe) (Picture book. 4-9)

OWEN’S DAY WITH DADDY

Ruff, Jerry Illus. by Davilyn Lynch Clavis (32 pp.) $18.95 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-1-60537-644-8

With a little extra love from his dad, Owen adjusts to becoming a new big

brother.

Owen’s dad and baby brother sweetly play together until Owen, overcome with jealousy, cries out, “I want to do something with you, Daddy!” Owen’s tantrum is followed by a tummy ache. Dad responds to the child’s hurt with validation and calm.

They decide to do three fun things: feed ducks at the park, go down the big slide at the playground, and order cheeseburgers at the drive-thru. Within these simple activities, Owen is reminded of his deep connection to his father while practicing skills he can apply to older brotherhood (like nurturing ducklings and braving his fears of an unfamiliar challenge). By the end of their father-son day, Owen’s envy has morphed into thoughtfulness toward his new sibling; as they drive home, Owen asks, “Can babies drink milkshakes?” and when he returns home, he gently kisses his little brother. Though Owen and his dad never explicitly unpack the child’s jealousy, the narrative positively models adults being patient with Owen and affirming his difficult emotions, complemented by the illustrations, rendered with childlike simplicity. Owen, his father, and his brother are pale-skinned with black hair; Owen’s mother is light-skinned with brown hair. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An uncomplicated story about the small ways that dads can help young ones accept their new siblings. (Picture book. 4-8)

BRAVER THAN I THOUGHT Real People. Real Courage.

Real Hope.

Reynolds, Luke Beyond Words/Aladdin (288 pp.) $21.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-58270-847-8

A look at people—and animals—who parlayed obstacles into growth.

Incorporating candid anecdotes of his own traumas, Reynolds explains that everyone has physical or emotional scars, but these painful experiences can be catalysts of positive change for oneself and others. Importantly, he acknowledges myriad sources of emotional trauma, including mental illness, racism, and both experiencing and witnessing abuse. Profiles of 60 diverse contemporary and historical figures from around the world illustrate his point.

Subjects include enslaved American abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who sustained a head injury that left her with chronic pain and seizures; nonbinary singer Demi Lovato, who struggled with drug addiction; Ugandan activist Hanifa Nakiryowa, 106

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“Rescues and kittens by the carload, with a bit of inner growth on the side.” bastille vs. the evil librarians

NO! SAID CUSTARD THE SQUIRREL

with her approval. This lighthearted look at collecting nicknames infuses the first-day-of-school genre with a new voice.

Antonio’s mother is light-skinned and red-haired; his father is brown-skinned, dark-haired, and Cuban. The school principal is Black, and Antonio’s classmates are diverse. Unitalicized Spanish words and phrases appear throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sure to spark lively conversation about readers’ own nicknames. (Picture book. 4-7)

Ruzzier, Sergio Abrams Appleseed (40 pp.) $15.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-4197-5524-8 Ruzzier’s trademark artistic style accompanies this tale of defending who you are.

A diapered rodent is remarkably perturbed by Custard the Squirrel. Right off the bat, the rodent asks if Custard is, in fact, a duck. Custard may initially look like a duck to readers, but the refrain—“ ‘No,’ said Custard the Squirrel”—leaves little room for doubt. Still, the rodent just won’t let it go. From numerous angles, the rodent attempts to get Custard to give in and act like a duck. “Won’t you go swim in the lake?” asks the rodent. “Will you please quack?” Custard tirelessly responds in the negative.

It is with great grace that Custard remains unflappable in the face of the rodent’s insistence. Finally, by the story’s end, Custard erupts into a chorus of no’s as joyous as they are adamant.

With its steady repetition, this is practically a how-to manual on patiently combating relentless ignorance. Yet it is as much about believing someone when they tell you who they are as it is a guide for dealing with the rodents of the real world. Soft artwork rendered in pen and ink and watercolor deftly highlight the features and body language of both of the main characters.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gently told primer on accepting people for who they are.

(Picture book. 3-5)

BASTILLE VS. THE EVIL LIBRARIANS

Sanderson, Brandon & Janci Patterson Illus. by Hayley Lazo Starscape/Tom Doherty (272 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-25-081106-6 Series: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, 6

MY NAME IS COOL!

Sacre, Antonio Illus. by Sarah Demonteverde Familius (32 pp.) $16.99 | July 19, 2022 978-1-64170-657-5 A young boy recounts the stories of his many nicknames.

Antonio is named after his father, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather—and his father’s best friend. He soon receives his first nickname in the hospital when his squinting eyes remind his mom of the vintage cartoon character Mr. Magoo. This nickname gives rise to several spinoffs, which, in addition to his first, middle, and last names, bring Antonio’s total number of names to six at just 3 days old. The pattern continues as Antonio’s Cuban family members bestow charming and often playful Spanish nicknames on him. Antonio, who is bilingual (speaking Spanish and English) like his papá, shares the story behind each name and eventually reaches 10 names.

Trouble finds Antonio on the first day of kindergarten, when he has difficulty answering his name when the teacher takes attendance. Antonio is sent to the principal’s office to explain himself. There, he finds a friendly ally who delights in the story of his names and gives him one more as he heads back to class |

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Previous prognostications of failure and doom notwithstanding, this bustling entry features miraculous survivals and just deserts for the biblio-baddies.

Switching narrators in the wake of devastating deeds at the end of The Dark Talent (2016), the co-authors pick up the action with stern, stab-happy Bastille describing her rescue of traumatized Alcatraz Smedry from a Library of Congress that is filling up with lava, then a desperate effort to keep ultra-evil librarian Biblioden the Scrivener from forcing the world’s remaining Free Kingdoms to check themselves out permanently. Despite her own forewarnings of a disastrous ending and stern suggestion to start with Volume 1 for the backstory, she does fill in enough of what’s going on for readers to keep pace—and in characteristically take-no-prisoners tones, lays out a rip-roaring tale in which she fulfills her role as Alcatraz’s protector with plenty of brisk (if bloodless) sword work and an unshakeable loyalty that, along with the occasional punch, draws him out of a paralyzing slough of guilt and self-loathing. A climactic battle features a horde of bloodthirsty kittens and a ravenous, punning monster—followed by hints that surviving librarians may be taking up worthier missions and, since Bastille insists on the veracity of this account, credible reasons why people the world around have talents for being late, breaking things, and like peccadillos.

Most of the heroically posed figures in Lazo’s realistically modeled illustrations are light-skinned.

Rescues and kittens by the carload, with a bit of inner growth on the side. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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“A comforting, satisfying allegory of justice and self-care centering Jewish themes.” naomi teitelbaum ends the world

THE UNDERPANTS

gatefold, are done with reasonable fidelity. A distant ship in several scenes is the only sign of a human presence. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Despite the seasonal tilt, an evocative view of a timelessly ancient natural cycle. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-8)

Sauer, Tammi Illus. by Joren Cull Scholastic (40 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-338-74027-1

SILENCE

Farm animals set a unique fashion trend.

Finding a pile of clean laundry, Kitty jumps into the basket to enjoy the warmth. She finds a certain article of clothing that makes her very excited. She drapes the “coat” over her shoulders and goes for a walk around the barnyard. On the porch, she meets Dog, who asks, “What are you doing in those underpants?”

Kitty insists that the garment is a coat, and Dog asks to wear it, too. Dog piles into the underpants, and the two of them meet Pig, Rooster, and Cow, and the cycle repeats itself, causing the garment to stretch out further and further each time another animal joins the coat-wearing huddle. Finally, Bird squeezes in, causing Cow to sneeze, and everyone is forcibly ejected from their tightknit group. The animals accept that their fun is over, and Kitty brings the (very stretched) underpants back to the farmhouse. In the author’s note, Sauer states that this story is inspired by Jan Brett’s The Mitten (1989), which in turn is based on a Ukrainian tale. This much sillier variation centers on a pair of standard white briefs and employs a setting similar to Sauer’s childhood home. Cull’s illustrations resemble a kooky comic strip, perfect for Sauer’s goofy humor. The only human character, the farmer, is light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Sure to elicit laughter. (Picture book. 3-6)

Shamshurina, Lena Annick Press (36 pp.) $19.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-77321-730-7 A traveler’s guide to noise and silence.

Black, white, and gray images depict the world around us. A silhouette of a person with a cowlick holds a finger up to their lips, telling readers, “I’m looking for silence. It must be lurking around here somewhere.” We follow the seeker as they embark on a hunt. It’s impossible to find silence in a daytime city, of course, but the woods are also full of noises, as is the night. Poetic lines like “They say silence holds many secrets for those who want to hear them” crash somewhat discordantly with more straightforward explanations like “Space is a kind of vacuum. A vacuum is a place without air where sound does not travel. That’s why we can’t hear a thing.”

In the search for silence, we learn that we cannot even find it within our own bodies and are told, somewhat confusingly, that “its secrets are the hidden sounds we found along the way.”

There’s a lot going on in this book tonally, and the loose structure makes it feel more like a meandering conversation than a story, though with a striking visual component. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A strange lesson about finding what you’re not looking for.

(Picture book. 4-7)

ICEBERG A Life in Seasons Saxby, Claire Illus. by Jess Racklyeft Groundwood (30 pp.) $19.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-77306-585-4

NAOMI TEITELBAUM ENDS THE WORLD

Shanker, Samara Atheneum (256 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-66590-502-2

Glimpses of the life all around a seemingly deserted Antarctic iceberg.

“If this world looks empty, / look closer,” Saxby suggests— going on to catalog in sonorous sentences the arrivals and departures of seals and penguins, of krill and terns, and other visitors as seasons turn. Meanwhile the small but stately glacier, newly calved at the start, changes shape as it floats, is slowly frozen into sea ice as winter comes and goes, and at last in spring tips over and vanishes…as another berg calves in the “pale Antarctic dawn.” The author closes with a note about how many of these seasonal patterns are being affected by climate change. Racklyeft more often goes for glassy rather than rough or stormy waters in her blue-tinged seascapes in order to make the glacier’s underwater parts at least faintly visible, and above and below the surface her ice is translucent in all weathers, which lends a lyrical quality to each scene. Her renditions of marine life, particularly in an artificially populous but eye-filling 108

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Three California kids, preparing to become b’nei mitzvah, become accidental masters of a magical creature.

Naomi Teitelbaum complains to her moms about her bat mitzvah homework, but really she’s excited about the party, the presents, and the upcoming celebrations for her two BFFs. An anonymously delivered bat mitzvah gift, unwrapped, reveals a tiny clay figurine—a golem who comes alive to serve Naomi. The trio of friends make a scary discovery: Each completed task makes the golem grow.

If that weren’t scary enough, Naomi’s been seeing ominous, notquite-human strangers. She tries a bold solution, ordering the golem to go off and repair the world—fixing social, environmental, and any other problems that can be cured through the |

AWE-SOME DAYS Poems About the Jewish Holidays

brute force means at his disposal. Unsurprisingly this plan goes dreadfully awry, but how can disaster be averted? With the help of real and supernatural rabbis, Naomi and friends save Los Angeles. There’s welcome ubiquity in the Judaism of the quest; the apparently White teens encounter multiple flavors of Ashkenazi American Judaism as well as demons and dybbuks from Jewish folklore. A 2,000-year-old lesson helps Naomi, who is passionate about justice, understand a healthy balance. The core philosophical themes are explained; some concepts that will be familiar to many Jewish readers (such as Chabad) are left for readers to gather from context.

A comforting, satisfying allegory of justice and self-care centering Jewish themes. (Fantasy. 9-12)

Singer, Marilyn Illus. by Dana Wulfekotte Dial Books (32 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-32469-1

GOLD!

Shannon, David Viking (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-35227-4 A kid’s take on an ancient tale.

Maximilian Midas is the ultimate capitalist. Displaying an infantile obsession with his mother’s gold necklace, by the age of 7 he’s built a fortune, starting with a lemonade stand, then selling the beverage “in stores throughout the land.”

Told in an inconsistently metered ABCB rhyme scheme, the story follows the light-skinned boy’s fantastical rise in fortune and continued exploitation of others: sabotaging his competition’s lemonade stand with a dead mouse, charging his parents rent, and finally retreating to a castle overflowing with gold at the top of a mountain, alone with his fortune. When Max gets the bright idea to sprinkle gold dust on his cereal, he, like his namesake, turns into a golden statue, immobile except for “a little tear that Max had saved / Since he was one year old.” He’s magically transformed back into flesh and blood, his gold disappearing into the ether. Max decides to become a more humanitarian capitalist, musing that “Gold can never make you feel / as good as being nice.” Shannon’s oil paintings are detailed and bold, adding a layer of grotesquerie to the already vulgar story.

Blending overt moralizing with fantastical elements somewhat muddles the message here, especially since children are less prone to wealth hoarding than adults, and at the end of the book, “mak[ing] millions” is still presented as the solution to problems. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Ostentation without substance. (Picture book. 4-7)

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This collection of poetry follows one family as they decide to celebrate every Jewish holiday for the entire year.

Some of the forthcoming holidays are well known to the family and observed with long-standing traditions, while others are somewhat new to them. Each holiday, beginning with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, is presented with a poem and an illustration depicting an aspect of the observance and the accoutrements that accompany the activities. The poems are narrated by one of the children in the family and detail each holiday’s traditions, how they play out, and the child’s own experiences (on Yom Kippur, “No cake, no honey / and for me, / no soccer, no TV”). The poet often mentions how “where my cousins live,” some of the holidays are observed differently. On Israeli Independence Day, the family sends the cousins photos with the Israeli flag; last Fourth of July, the cousins sent a similar message with an American flag. For each poem, readers will also find detailed explanations about the holiday, including history, references to the Torah, and definitions. The tone for each holiday is appropriate for the degree of festivity or seriousness.

Tisha B’Av recalls the destruction of the Temples in ancient Jerusalem, and Yom Ha Shoah is Holocaust Remembrance Day; the accompanying poem speaks of sadness and lives lost but with a hope for mending and rebuilding. The poems for Purim and Simchas Torah exude joy. The family is light-skinned and dark-haired; their community is a diverse one. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A poetic chronicle of Jewish holidays all year-round, with lots to learn and enjoy. (note about the Jewish calendar, web resources) (Informational picture book/poetry. 6-10)

BESSIE THE MOTORCYCLE QUEEN

Smith Jr., Charles R. Illus. by Charlot Kristensen Orchard/Scholastic (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-3387-5247-2

She’s one cool rider.

Biographical information and poetry combine in this bikerbook bonanza about Bessie Stringfield, a Black motorcycle aficionado who crisscrossed the United States in the late 1920s and early 1930s. When traveling, Bessie relied on fate—specifically a penny and a map—to determine where she’d head next; during her travels she performed in circuses and in races. The story does not shy away from the racism Bessie encountered |

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ALWAYS, CLEMENTINE

in her travels; when she couldn’t find anywhere that would let her spend the night, she slept alone on her bike. As Smith notes, biographical information on Stringfield is scant, as little has been written about her, but the author’s note and the brief bibliography will help curious readers learn more, including her love of telling a good yarn. The text rides a fairly smooth road: “Bessie slung her jacket / over her back, / reached under her chin / and undid her strap, / slid off her helmet / with style and grace, / then stunned the crowd / with her hidden brown face.” But the real leaders of the pack are the illustrations, which incorporate color in exciting ways while providing Bessie a classic vibe for her adventures. Unexpected pops of purple, pink, and teal create a strong visual interest that will help draw readers into Bessie’s story. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A great tale about one bad biker. (Picture-book biography. 8-10)

Sorosiak, Carlie Walker US/Candlewick (304 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5362-2884-7 Letters from a super-intelligent mouse to the beloved chimpanzee she leaves behind when she escapes a research lab.

Poignant, loving, and threaded through with the joy of discovery, the letters that Clementine mentally composes to her gentle simian friend tell a tale that takes suspenseful turns while affirming tolerance and selfexpression. Thanks to tweaked DNA, she’s thinking about prime numbers the day she is born, helps other mice navigate mazes, and figures out how to escape her cage at night and sign with the lab’s sad, affectionate chimp, Rosie. When a guilt-ridden research assistant spirits her and another mouse subject out of the lab, leaving them in a nearby mailbox, she begins a series of reports to Rosie about the wonders of the outside world.

Eleven-year-old Gus and his grandfather welcome the fugitives rather than turn them in for the large reward offered by the lab when the mousenapping is discovered. They create a storm of public protest against animal experimentation by televising a chess match in which Clementine beats five experienced human players simultaneously. Along with offering an optimistic, aspirational view of human nature as she winds the story to a joyous conclusion, Sorosiak tucks in a subplot around nonverbal Hamlet, the other mouse escapee, who constructs a model of Notre Dame out of wood chips, as food for further thought about different intelligences. The human cast seems to be mostly White.

Serious themes lightened by comedic touches; the strong emotional attachments will linger with readers. (Fiction. 8-12)

TO CHANGE A PLANET

Soontornvat, Christina Illus. by Rahele Jomepour Bell Scholastic (40 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-1-338-62861-6

Earth’s beauty and fragility provide the impetus for activism in this introduction to climate change.

In the opening and concluding compositions, Bell’s gouache and digital full-bleed spreads employ a circular motif to frame and represent the book’s subject. “One person. / Small, quiet, / insignificant” appears on the landscape, a brown-skinned child wearing shorts and a green, flowing scarf. Observant readers will follow this character throughout the narrative. As the population grows, the planet changes; readers see traffic congestion, deforestation, cattle farms, and air pollution. The impact on this gorgeous world is shown as a polar bear and its young glide by on separate ice floes, floods and wildfires arrive with changing seasons, and parched farmland yields dried-up crops. Challenging concepts are conveyed simply: Greenhouse gases are shown stifling the globe like a “too-warm blanket.” Soontornvat repeats “when one person, / and one person, / and one person / become many” to first show the negative effects on the planet and then the possibilities when more people use solar panels, install wind turbines, and plant gardens. By the time the protagonist joins marchers in Washington, D.C., diverse throngs fill the pages. Their signs and subsequent letters to a city council, a senator, and a grandmother (“I went to my very first climate march yesterday”) suggest concrete ways for children to make a difference. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An attractive entree to a vital subject for the youngest citizens. (author’s note, sources) (Picture book. 4-8)

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FRONT COUNTRY

St. Antoine, Sara Chronicle Books (332 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-79721-563-1 A monthlong camping trip in the Montana wilderness brings insights to eighth grader Ginny Shepard.

Ginny is on track to being the covaledictorian of her class along with her best friend, Zinzie. She’s also the school’s top tennis player and has just been accepted into a competitive summer school program at Columbia University. Her lawyer parents couldn’t be more pleased. But in science class, Ginny learns that climate change is causing the extinction of thousands of species, including her beloved pika, a furry little animal found in the Rocky Mountains, and she has a meltdown. She skips class to attend a climate rally and quits the tennis team.

Her parents, desperately worried, sign her up for a four-week organized hiking trip in Montana. Ginny is initially thrilled, but |

“A tender reminder that family and culture can buoy us after loss.” gracie brings back bubbe’s smile

GRACIE BRINGS BACK BUBBE’S SMILE

when she gets there, she finds that it’s actually a trip for troubled teens. Even worse, with the exception of one of the two leaders, she is the only girl among five boys. Set just post-Covid, the expertly crafted plot incorporates contemporary concerns as well as timeless truths into its layered plot. Each character’s backstory is organically revealed as the story unfolds, and the dialogue is especially effective. As Ginny slowly adapts to her circumstances, questions are not so much answered as they are explored and taken on. Ginny reads White; some secondary characters bring racial diversity.

Riveting. (Adventure. 10-14)

Sutton, Jane Illus. by Debby Rahmalia Whitman (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 1, 2022 978-0-8075-1023-0

GROWING FOOD IN THE GARDEN

Stier, Catherine Illus. by Francesca Rosa Whitman (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 1, 2022 978-0-8075-7271-9 Series: Science Makes It Work, 3 Inspired by eating fresh produce from the farmers market, a young boy learns about a few of the scientific concepts behind gardening.

Daniel visits the farmers market with his mom and learns about the importance of pollinators. On the way home, Daniel notices that a new community garden has opened. He convinces his brother, Cory, that growing their own food would be delicious and fun. At school, Daniel learns about photosynthesis and transpiration. At home, he and Cory try a few simple experiments suggested by Daniel’s teacher. Finally, the boys and their mom begin volunteering at the community garden. Their hard work culminates in a produce-fueled fall potluck for the community—including some pollinators. The third title in the Science Makes It Work series leaves much to be desired as a classroom introduction to plants and gardening. Exploration of scientific terms is shallow, and brightly colored but static illustrations do little to provide visual context. The serviceable narrative fails to inspire curiosity. Though the featured science experiments demonstrate the scientific concepts, readers must look elsewhere to find step-by-step instructions. Daniel and his family are depicted with light skin and straight dark brown hair.

Background characters are racially diverse; one character uses a wheelchair.(This book was reviewed digitally.)

Scientific engagement fails to bloom in this garden-variety classroom title. (Informational picture book. 6-9)

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Gracie’s grandpa died recently, and her grandmother is grieving.

Usually, when Bubbe visits, she and Gracie do all kinds of things together, but this time Bubbe is too sad. When Bubbe mentions how she loved using Yiddish words with Gracie’s grandfather, the little girl asks her grandmother to teach her Yiddish. Gracie already knows zayde (grandfather) and bubbe, but Bubbe teaches her other words, some of which have passed into English and which readers may already know, like nosh (“eat a snack”). Bubala, as Bubbe explained earlier, means “little grandmother” and is a term of endearment. And at bedtime, Bubbe tells Gracie, “A gute nakht” (“goodnight”). Bubbe uses Yiddish words in context, and Grace picks them up easily, as will readers.

Slowly, as the two bond over the language, Bubbe starts to smile and even laughs out loud one day. Colorful, stylized illustrations show a family resemblance among Gracie, her mom, and her grandma. The reality of death is introduced, but the focus is on naches, or joy, that one’s children and grandchildren can bring, even after a loved one dies. This is a gentle take on coping with a loss that can be used in educational settings or among families. In an author’s note, Sutton explains that “Different people pronounce these words in different ways.” The main characters are light-skinned and Jewish; Gracie’s neighborhood is diverse.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A tender reminder that family and culture can buoy us after loss. (Picture book. 5-7)

SIR LADYBUG

Tabor, Corey R. Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (72 pp.) $12.99 | March 29, 2022 978-0-06-306906-0 Series: Sir Ladybug, 1 Sir Ladybug, a shy bug with a sword, enjoys playing video games and baking cakes but isn’t the type to turn down a quest.

While on a morning excursion with friends Pell (a roly-poly) and Sterling (a snail), Sir Ladybug is approached by a troubled, beetle-appearing bug whose caterpillar friend needs rescuing from a monster. Bolstered by Sir Ladybug’s call for courage, the group of friends embark on their journey to face the deadly creature only to find the monster is really a hungry chickadee in search of its next meal. With some creative problem-solving, however, Sir Ladybug and company put things right over the course of the book as new friendships blossom and characters celebrate one another’s strengths. The |

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“A welcome notice that our government is increasingly diversifying.” mama in congress

MAMA IN CONGRESS Rashida Tlaib’s Journey to Washington

chalky, spring-colored illustrations are accompanied by asterisked notes playfully defining terms such as squire and herald and include opening pages for chapters and poetic interludes. These all work together to create a vibrant, segmented graphic novel that can be consumed in pieces or all at once by early readers as desired. Visual humor, tongue-in-cheek declarations, and knock-knock jokes add to the fun absurdity of a story that subverts the natural phenomenon of a bird eating a bug. The story is comprised of an entirely animal cast, with all characters but Sir Ladybug left ungendered.

An endearing testament to the joys of friendship. (Graphic novel. 7-10)

Tlaib, Rashida & Adam Tlaib with Miranda Paul Illus. by Olivia Aserr Clarion/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-358-68343-8

A boy of Palestinian descent explains how (and why) his mom, Rashida Tlaib, went into politics.

Using a deep-seated desire to help others as both theme and motivation, Adam describes how his mother, growing up in a polluted neighborhood of Detroit as the eldest of 14 siblings and experiencing both prejudice and poverty, went on to earn a law degree, to work for and then (after prayer and reflection) succeed a state representative, and, in time, to win election to the national House of Representatives—where, she explains, if the president should misbehave, she can vote to “give him a time out!” Other than that, she has little to say about her policies or projects. “Mama, why are you one of the first Muslim women in Congress?” asks Adam’s younger brother, Yousif.

Standing before an unlabeled but recognizable portrait of Shirley Chisholm in Aserr’s bright, chipper rendition of the Capitol’s foyer, Mama answers, “Sometimes it takes many to run for there to be a first”—a pointed, if potentially misleading (given that Chisholm wasn’t Muslim), moment. There and in other settings ranging from smoky cityscapes to retro suburban scenes, the small figures of hurrying passersby or celebratory election workers that join the representative and her two children (dad, divorced, escapes mention) feature several people of color, including some wearing hijabs. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Light on specific detail but a welcome notice that our government is increasingly diversifying. (glossary) (Picture-book biography. 6-8)

EVEN ROBOTS CAN BE THANKFUL!

Thomas, Jan Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (64 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-66591-167-2 Series: Robots Books Two robot buddies express gratitude for their friendship in three amusing

vignettes.

Having established their more-human-than-robot buddy bona fides in Even Robots Aren’t Perfect! (2022), Red Robot and Blue Robot are back for three more short stories, presented in comic book–style panels with speech bubbles. The second volume finds the pair in their cozy home suddenly terrified of an (imaginary) robot-eating monster in “Bump in the Night”; dealing with a misunderstanding with Purple Robot in “Sorting Bolts”; and discussing how lonely they would feel without each other in “The Train Trip.” Through it all, the two robots frequently express admiration for each other and thankfulness for the friendship they share. As in the previous book, Thomas differentiates the two cleverly. Blue Robot is taller, with a block head, while Red Robot looks more like a fire hydrant. The two wobble and whimper, grin, and celebrate with a great range of expressions and emotions over tiny misunderstandings that get blown up with big feelings. The gratitude lessons are never overdone or preachy, with each story playing out like a short comedic playlet with a happy ending rather than an earnest lecture. If there’s something lost from not having one continuous story, it’s made up for by the sheer charm of Red Robot and Blue Robot. There’s lots of pleasure to be had spending time with them. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

The series continues to entertain with sweet, gentle humor. (Picture book. 1-8)

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BEST BROTHER EVER!

Trasler, Janee Simon Spotlight (64 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-66591-449-9 Series: Figgy & Boone

A mouse grapples with the concepts of brotherhood, species, and family solidarity.

A longtime writer for very early readers launches a new series incorporating graphic-novel reading techniques and gentle humor. To introduce the story, the mouse, Figgy, explains how to read panels and the difference between speech and thought bubbles. In the first chapter, Figgy’s friend Boone patiently tries to help him understand that they are not brothers. Figgy’s a mouse; Boone is a rat. In spite of their similarities, they’re different species— cousins. In the second chapter, after learning that a hamster is |

CULTURED DONUTS Take a Bite Out of Art History

also a cousin, Figgy uses that label for all his friends. But when Figgy encounters a kitten, Boone has to explain the food chain.

In the final chapter, the kitten’s mother arrives and captures Figgy. Boone comes to the rescue by providing a distraction, and, in a heartwarming moment, he calls Figgy “my brother” after all. The cartoon animals are depicted with bold outlines and flat colors. Throughout, there are clues as to what might happen next, beginning with the mention of a cat in the introduction. Though different, Boone and Figgy are fun foils for each other. Boone would clearly prefer to be working on more complicated ideas; the illustrations show him working with math and science, but he does take time to sketch out the food chain for his friend. Figgy, in turn, produces “family trees” and a list of his favorite foods. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Satisfying siblinghood in a promising series starter.

(Graphic early reader. 5-7)

Tyler, Chloe Flowerpot Press (52 pp.) $19.95 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-1-4867-1871-9

ISLAND OF SPIES

Turnage, Sheila Dial Books (384 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-7352-3125-2

World War II brings U-boats, spies, and adventure to a North Carolina island community.

Even before the United States entered the war, 12-year-old Sarah Stickley Lawson, called Stick by family and friends, and her two best friends, Neb and Rain, longing for adventure in their quiet Hatteras Island town, formed a group called the Dime Novel Kids to solve mysteries while they awaited assignments from the FBI. Neb, also 12 and also White, is the son of the former lighthouse keeper, so the trio uses the abandoned Hatteras lighthouse as a lookout. Rain, 10, born on the beach to a mysterious White woman who can’t remember her past, has brown skin, stirring up prejudice from some White islanders. While the kids are suspecting the town’s postmistress of being a spy, real trouble comes in the form of German U-boats bombing cargo ships off the coast. Meanwhile, Stick’s Papa is missing at sea. Turnage takes a little-known piece of American history and sets it solidly among realistic characters and an entertaining saga of island life. Her trademark folksy narration and love of metaphor do this particular tale a disservice, however: The Dime Novel Kids are so quirky and imaginative that it takes readers a long time to realize that the U-boats and possible spies are real, and the plotting and pace sag under the weight of the charm.

A mismatch between voice and story weakens this otherwise promising novel. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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An art history primer with a sweet conceit.

In an artist’s note, Tyler introduces her endeavor to emulate the style of 16 artists in depictions of donuts. “Why donuts?” she writes, asking the question that may cross many readers’ minds. She then matter-of-factly explains her project’s inspiration: “I have a sweet tooth that is impossible to satisfy and donuts are often on my mind.” Ensuing pages devote one spread to each artist, with versos typically offering a brief biography, an example of the artist’s work, and a point of interest about the artist under the heading “Delicious Details.” (There are a few artists without a representative piece of art reprinted, likely due to copyright concerns.) The biographical statements are succinct and informative, typically including commentary on the artist’s media and movement. Tyler’s donuts on the facing pages evidence her careful study of the artists’ styles, and terrific backmatter distills descriptions of techniques to inspire readers to attempt imitating their styles, as well. The fly in the ointment of this ambitious, well-executed book is the lack of diversity in the 16 featured artists. Most are European or American White men, with only two women (Mary Cassatt and Georgia O’Keeffe) and two men of color (Jean-Michel Basquiat and Tadanori Yokoo) included. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An engaging art history read that would have benefitted from greater inclusivity. (glossary) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

MY BINDI

Varadarajan, Gita Illus. by Archana Sreenivasan Scholastic (40 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-338-59881-0 An Indian American girl is initially reluctant when her parents announce it’s time to wear a bindi to school.

While Varadarajan’s author’s note states that many Hindu women and girls do not strictly follow the tradition of wearing the bindi—the red mark worn between the brows—there is no such flexibility in Divya’s house. Both Divya’s parents think it’s time Divya starts wearing a bindi, with her father adding that she’ll look “so beautiful.” But Divya fears that her classmates Sam, Sally, and Sania will make fun of her.

Despite her palpable anxiety, Amma tells her that “the time has come,” and Divya chooses a bindi to wear to school. Her fears that her classmates will mock her don’t come to pass, and she comes to love the bindi and even gives a speech to her class about why. The book feels less like a story of a girl learning to embrace her culture and more a heavy-handed exhortation to |

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PLAY LIKE A GIRL

do so—a startling choice given the increase in Hindu nationalism in both India and the Indian Hindu diaspora. Amma, who wears the bindi even while sleeping, insists that wearing a bindi is “what Hindu girls do.” Though the illustrations are appealing, Divya’s internal monologue about why she loves wearing the bindi is preachy, and the author’s note feels judgmental toward Indian Americans who prefer not to embrace certain traditions.

Divya’s classmates are racially diverse; Sam is brown-skinned, Sally is light-skinned, and Sania is, like Divya, Indian American.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

This one can be skipped. (Picture book. 3-7)

Wilson, Misty Illus. by David Wilson Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $22.99 | $12.99 paper | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-06-306469-0 978-0-06-306468-3 paper Middle school drama hits hard in this coming-of-age graphic memoir.

Natural competitor Misty has faced off against the boys for years, always coming out on top, but now they’re moving on without her into the land of full-contact football. Never one to back away from a challenge, Misty resolves to join the team and convinces her best friend, Bree, to join her. While Misty pours herself into practicing, obviously uninterested Bree—who was motivated more by getting to be around boys than doing sports—drifts toward popular queen bee Ava, creating an uneasy dynamic.

Feeling estranged from Bree, Misty, who typically doesn’t think much about her appearance, tries to navigate seventh grade—even experimenting with a more traditionally feminine gender expression—while also mastering her newfound talent for tackling and facing hostility from some boys on the team.

Readers with uncommon interests will relate to the theme of being the odd one out. Social exclusion and cutting remarks can be traumatic, so it’s therapeutic to see Misty begin to embrace her differences instead of trying to fit in with frenemies who don’t value her. The illustrations are alive with color and rich emotional details, pairing perfectly with the heartfelt storytelling. The husband-and-wife duo’s combined efforts will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale. Main characters present as White; some background characters read as Black.

A sincere, genuine, and uplifting book that affirms the importance of being true to yourself. (Graphic memoir. 9-13)

THE ADVENTURES OF QAI QAI

Williams, Serena Illus. by Yesenia Moises Feiwel & Friends (40 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-250-83140-8

A Black girl finds the inspiration she needs to shine from her beloved doll.

Sports fans who followed champion Williams upon her return to tennis after becoming a mother also became familiar with her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., and Alexis’ Black baby doll Qai Qai, who has a huge social media presence. Now, the child and her doll take center stage in their own picture-book adventure. Baby Girl loves to dance and move throughout her home with her mother, who is Black, her father, who is White, and, of course, Qai Qai. However, as Baby Girl’s upcoming dance recital approaches, she admits to her doll that she is nervous about getting her dance just right with so many people watching. Qai Qai becomes real and assures her that she will be able to overcome her stage fright and give an outstanding performance. Qai Qai’s confidence helps Baby Girl find the courage to set her fear aside and believe in her ability on the dance stage. Williams’ celebrity and Qai Qai’s following will attract readers to this lively, encouraging tale of self-belief and friendship. Making heavy use of shimmering pink and purple hues, the vivid, fluid digital art effectively brings to life a story infused with magic and movement. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An upbeat, energetic reminder that all children need support to help them learn to believe in themselves. (Picture book.

2-5)

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LOTUS BLOOM AND THE AFRO REVOLUTION

Winston, Sherri Bloomsbury (304 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5476-0846-1

A seventh grade girl learns to speak up for equity, community, and freedom of expression.

Lotus Bloom is not your typical tween: She wears vintage ’70s clothes, proudly rocks an Afro, and is a gifted violinist. Music is her escape, and she needs it more than ever between her parents’ divorce, her father’s relocation to Paris, a mother who doesn’t understand her, and a strained relationship with her best friend, Rebel Mitchell. Atlantis School of the Arts, Lotus’ new magnet school, allows her to focus on her passion, but Rebel is staying behind in a regular public school. When Lotus is made firstchair violin, she catches the attention of Adolpho Cortez, a |

“Adorable and diverting.” my aunt is a monster

PENGUIN AND PENELOPE

ninth grade bully who believes the honor is rightfully his. Having learned to tamp down her feelings, Lotus ignores him despite her friends’ urging her to take action. But when a school administrator cites her Afro as a dress-code violation, Lotus is done with keeping quiet. Ignoring her Granny’s pessimism and her mother’s admonition not to make waves, she speaks up for herself and also joins Rebel’s protest against Miami-Dade County’s inequitable funding of schools in their historically Black neighborhood. Winston employs rich descriptions through Lotus’ first-person narration, conveying her love of music. The text brings themes of racism and protest to the forefront, making it a solid conversation starter. Lotus and Rebel are Black; the rest of the cast is broadly diverse.

A relatable novel that will encourage readers to fight for their rights. (Fiction. 8-12)

Yoon, Salina Bloomsbury (40 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-68119-344-1

MY AUNT IS A MONSTER

Yee, Reimena Random House Graphic (336 pp.) $20.99 | $13.99 paper | $23.99 PLB Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-12546-5 978-1-984894-18-2 paper 978-1-984894-19-9 PLB All her life, Safia Haziz has dreamed of adventure.

Reared on awe-inspiring tales by her bookseller parents, she’s lost and lonely when they die. She’s taken in by a distant aunt—born Walteranne Hakim, later she became Lady Whimsy, the World’s Greatest Adventurer. Having given up her globe-trotting lifestyle after being turned into a blue-furred, three-eyed, wolflike monster by a strange curse, Aunt Whimsy has hidden away from the world with her toughas-nails housekeeper, Miss Cathryn, for company. When her aunt’s archnemesis, Professor Doctor Cecilia Choi, nicknamed Pineapple Tart, resurfaces in the news after a yearslong expedition, will Safia help Aunt Whimsy reclaim her former glory?

The answer in this lighthearted romp is a foregone conclusion, as Safia and her aunt travel on a luxury ocean liner, negotiate a magical jungle, and befriend a surly secret agent. These, among other excursions, are depicted in an energetic style reminiscent of a ’90s cartoon. Full-page spreads of the sensations, sounds, smells, and tastes Safia experiences on her journeys are particular highlights. Yee’s character design is delightful, full of diversity in body type, skin tone, and gender expression. The story is kindhearted and full of fun. Eleven-year-old Safia is blind; her disability is never treated as an obstacle, instead incorporated into her zest for life in realistic ways, such as through the technology and devices she uses. Safia is brown-skinned and has relatives in India and Egypt.

Adorable and diverting. (gallery, concept art) (Graphic fan­ tasy. 8-12)

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When Penguin discovers a lost elephant, he vows to help her get home.

Marking the 10th anniversary of Yoon’s Penguin and Pinecone (2012), this tale sees the popular character return for another story of friendship. After freeing Penelope the elephant from the mud, Penguin tries to help her find her herd. They eventually swim their way across a body of water, following tracks on the other side back to Penelope’s family. The message—about the importance of trust in friendship and the value of staying connected despite distance—rings true. Adults sharing the story with children will feel a pang at Penguin’s words to Penelope, “I’ll never forget you either, because you’re unforgettable.” Penguin’s scarf, ever the symbol of the gift of friendship, becomes Penelope’s, tying the two together. Yoon’s signature illustrative style is on display; with thick black outlines reminiscent of block-printed art, each page feels simultaneously simple and detailed. The shift of perspective to a bird’s-eye view of Penguin and Penelope and depictions of interlocking elephant trunks “hugging” add richness to the storytelling. In the same vein as the other Penguin tales, this one is sweet and earnest and sure to resonate with fans and newcomers.

Darling illustrations and a gentle storyline combine for a lovely tale about the bonds of friendship. (Picture book. 3-6)

HORSES What Do Wild Horses Like Mustangs and Ponies Get Up To All Day? York, Carly Anne Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat Neon Squid/Macmillan (48 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-68449-250-3 Series: A Day in the Life

The history and habits of equines.

Horses, as we know them today, first appeared as a genus called Eohippus 52 million years ago, the size of a dog and sporting three toes in addition to hooves. A two-page spread displays how this little creature evolved into the majestic horses we know; great care goes into showing not only how the ancestors of horses looked, but also their leg bone structure within picture balloons. This latest in the series blends expert research with beautiful illustrations, allowing readers to absorb a vast amount of information in just 48 pages. Biology professor York explains not only how horses, zebras, donkeys, and other members of the family spend their days, but how they communicate and survive against drought, predators, and even each other.

Like others in the series, this one offers a “day in the life” of various animals, presenting a different vignette for each hour |

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“Perfectly captures bedtime for baby from a parental perspective.” you are getting sleepy

of the day: a foal being born and walking within hours in the English countryside, a fight between mustangs on the Nevada plains. Explanations of the purposes of horsetails (nature’s fly swatters) and stripes on a zebra (to confuse predators) are just a few of the factoids found here, written in easy-to-understand prose. Prabhat’s illustrations effectively create a sense of place and action and differentiate the wide range of species. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A fascinating, easy-to-understand primer for anyone curious about horses. (glossary, index) (Informational picture book. 6-8)

her sleeping team of fighters, leads them as they quickly suit up, and gets the diverse team (and their Dalmatian) onto the firetruck. “Flashing lights shined. FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! The loud siren whined. WOOOOOOOO! The bell went CLANG! each time it rang. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!” Arriving at the scene, the team works together to douse the flames, and Flo bravely breaks into the building to save a trapped pup and reunite it with its family. In the end, Flo and the team reward themselves by going back to bed. It’s an exciting story, and one that’s chock-full of descriptive words that will help build young readers’ vocabularies. Aiding that goal are the bold and bright digital illustrations, which have a sleek, classic vibe and make use of pops of red to keep young (and older) eyes dancing around the page. This one will be a popular choice among librarians, caregivers, and readers for years to come. Readers will be happy to have Flo in their homes day or night! (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This book’s on fire! (Picture book. 2-4)

I’VE NEVER MET MY GRANDPA

Zigmund, Shannon Illus. by Mackinzie Rekers Kind World Publishing (32 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-1-63894-014-2

A girl recounts her experience coping with the loss of the grandfather who died before she was born.

The young narrator, who has pale skin and long, frizzy brown hair, encounters pieces of her grandfather through family photos, conversations, mementos, and as she overhears her mother grieving. As expected, the girl wonders whether she will like the things her grandpa did—jokes, theater, music, tennis— all the while repeating, “But I’ve never met my grandpa.” This rhythm of the girl noting what she’s heard about her grandfather while incessantly reminding readers of the lack of a face-to-face encounter becomes tiresome and, unfortunately, builds toward a didactic and predictable ending. Though the girl’s parents talk about her grandfather, the missed opportunity for a shared family conversation around grief is a profound one, rendering this story a thin and unhelpful resource for parents. A brief note for children at the end asks questions that should have appeared in the story. Flat, cartoonish artwork that features rather expressionless characters and doesn’t vary in perspective only mirrors the events described in the text rather than adding visual complexity or depth. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An unsatisfying attempt to guide children through the life experience of losing a relative. (Picture book. 4-7)

board & novelty books YOU ARE GETTING SLEEPY

Alexander, Lori Illus. by Monica Mikai Cartwheel/Scholastic (16 pp.) $8.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-338-81406-4

Baby winds down for bed.

Alexander and Mikai detail the steps needed to get a sweet baby to sleep. The baby is treated to a relaxing bath, dressed in fresh jammies, read a story, and given a cuddle and kiss before drifting off to sleep. Mikai’s illustrations carry the text. The use of color shows the sky darkening, plays off of the gold of a parent’s jewelry, and conveys warmth and comfort. As the baby lies in the crib looking up at their parents, the light through the slats plays across the little one’s face and the bed linens.

The baby’s “tired eyes” and deep yawn playfully match the family pup’s. And in the most compelling moment in the book, a close-up of the baby’s parents shows them leaning in and giving one final, loving goodnight kiss. The illustrations capture the parents’ loving gazes, their patience and love, and the feeling of watching a wide-awake baby become a peaceful, sleeping one.

The baby and parents are Black. While there are many bedtime board books for baby, this one stands out for its incredible illustrations and for centering a family of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Perfectly captures bedtime for baby from a parental perspective. (Board book. 0-1)

FIREFIGHTER FLO!

Zimmerman, Andrea Illus. by Dan Yaccarino Holiday House (32 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 11, 2022 978-0-8234-5157-9 Series: Big Jobs, Bold Women Good firefighters know they need to go with the Flo. Flo, a firefighter with light brown skin and curly brown hair, knows that firefighters always have to be prepared. One night, when a call comes in to the station reporting a fire, Flo rouses 116

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BIG GREEN GARAGE

with white sprays of stars: night. Between Becker’s poetic text, featuring satisfying alliteration (“We wonder at its wildness”) and the amazing sense of movement and color, readers are treated to a feast for the ears, eyes, and imagination.

Lyrically dazzling, artistically stunning. (Board book. 2-6)

Arena, Jen Illus. by Mike Dutton Chronicle Books (24 pp.) $19.99 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-1-4521-7074-9

ONE SKY

Becker, Aaron Candlewick Studio (16 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5362-2536-5 Stained glass–like cutouts depict the sky from dawn to dusk.

Caldecott Honor author/illustrator Becker takes readers on a visually striking, poetic journey through the day with the vibrant sky as the backdrop. The board book opens, “Its dawn begins in darkness,” and a swirl of thick black lines and geometric cutouts scrawl across the page. The cutouts, scattered throughout, have colorful, translucent inserts. Holding them up to a light source (for most success, try a sunny window) gives these a stained-glass effect in a palette matching the page. Each cutout complements the page that it is first found on as well as the next layout, mimicking the way the sky shifts subtly throughout the day, with colors evolving and deepening but not completely vanishing. Becker’s blend of hues is strategically chosen to resemble the delicate mix of blues, purples, and pinks that accompany an early morning sky. As the day progresses, there are orangey pinks, light blues, and little white patches that suggest clouds. The darkening sky at dusk reflects the morning’s pinks and purples until it becomes a dark purple |

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HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, AND TOES

Chronicle Books Chronicle Books (20 pp.) $7.99 | July 12, 2022 978-1-79721-212-8 Series: Beginning Baby

The classic song presented verse by verse with animal accompaniment.

This board book “sings” readers through the childhood favorite “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” At the Cat’s Meow Dance School, a pink kitty wearing a sweatband teaches other animals the movements that accompany the song. The book walks through the whole song twice, the second time without the step-by-step moves but with images of the animals playing instruments and dancing. The book begins with helpful encouragement to readers to sing and follow along with the movements and wraps up by suggesting another round. The illustrations show just the animals against a white background; there’s no other scene-setting save the dance studio sign. The dancing critters are cute enough, with wide cartoon eyes and childlike features. Some of the animals, like the narwhal and the octopus (which have neither knees nor toes), seem like odd choices, though the narwhal is adorable in its striped shirt.

Song-to-book translations are well-tread territory, particularly for the infant and toddler population. This one, while nicely done, doesn’t present anything new or refreshing. Readers looking to add something exciting to their crowded shelves can pass this one up, while those seeking a decent presentation of a classic will be satisfied. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Not head and shoulders above similar titles. (Board book. 0-2)

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Enter the big green garage and see a car and a truck being fixed.

The interactivity starts right from the cover when readers are invited to slide open the green roll-up door of the garage. Children who are past the stage of naming transportation vehicles and are now interested in more detail will delight in what they will find inside, where a team of mechanics is in charge. Rhyming text explains the process. First the tow truck brings the car in to be fixed, the tools are gathered, and then the car is put on a lift, “Drain the oil. / Change the plugs. / Quiet noises. / Smooth out bugs.” The book is rich in car-related vocabulary, such as fun­ nel, jack, plugs, wires, wrench, nut, hose, battery, belt, and muffler—a veritable trove for little mechanics in the making. To add to the fun, there are flaps to open, a wheel to turn, and objects to slide.

Little hands may find some of these interactive elements difficult to move, particularly the sliding ones; a truck that can be moved along a curvy track will probably not hold up long but will be fun while it lasts. The gouache, pen, and digital collage illustrations are appealing, and the characters portrayed represent diverse ethnicities.

Add this to the young vehicle enthusiast’s bookshelf. (Board book. 3-4)

YOU’RE A HELPER!

Chronicle Books Chronicle Books (14 pp.) $10.99 | July 12, 2022 978-1-79721-213-5 Series: Beginning Baby

Children are invited to manipulate die-cut sliders to help seven childlike animals complete daily tasks in this entry in the Beginning Baby series.

Bright, cheerful illustrations introduce Paisley the octopus, Riley the narwhal, Mateo the red panda, and others. Each spread describes the task at hand with a simple declarative sentence, then addresses readers with a request and exclamation of praise. “Mia the monkey is putting away the toys. Can you help?

Good job! You’re a helper!” Activating the slider sends Mia’s ball |

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from her upraised paw toward the toy basket. Each robust slider contains an inset circle sized for small index fingers, but ease of manipulation depends on the paper engineering. Sliders that move horizontally or vertically are easy to move, but the three others, curved to visually describe arcs of movement, are a bit more challenging. The cartoon-eyed animals are pictured in a garden, in a classroom, and in homelike interiors. A final spread gathers the smiling friends together, inviting counting and spotthe-difference activities.

Sturdy and upbeat. (Board book. 1-3)

“D is for Do Your Best.” These positives aside, the text doesn’t always work. “Try reading to someone younger than you to help them learn, too!” seems out of place in a board book with an audience of largely pre-readers. While some of the ideas include explanations of how or why they are helpful, not all include that piece. Overall, the limitations of the alphabet structure result in some forced suggestions (“O is for offer,” “Z is for amaZing”) and a missed attempt at conveying complicated topics like selfhelp. The mismatch between the intended audience and the format, however, is its biggest hurdle. The illustrations include people who range in ages, skin tone, and abilities. One child uses a hearing aid, one uses a prosthetic leg, and one uses arm crutches. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Doesn’t quite succeed as either an alphabet book or a guide to helping. (Board book. 3-5)

LITTLE PUMPKIN A First Halloween Story

Edwards, Lisa Illus. by Kat Kalindi Viking (12 pp.) $7.99 | Aug. 23, 2022 978-0-593-46518-9 Series: You Are the Light, 2

LET’S PLAY, LITTLE RABBIT

Mühle, Jörg Gecko Press (20 pp.) $9.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-77657-471-1 Series: Little Rabbit

Pumpkins, owls, spiders, a cat, and a bat gather under a tree to join the Halloween Ball.

A small pumpkin sits next to a larger one as sweet things are said about it. Though the sentiments expressed are charming, at times the rhyming text likely won’t have much resonance for younger readers: “You are the light that sparkles bright, / when all around is darkest night. / Everyone gathers to see the sight.”

Or “You are the light / that warms our friends, / when the dark / and cold descends. / We will dance / before night ends.” Each spread ends with “Little Pumpkin, we love you!” The intended audience may overlook making meaning out of the text as they focus instead on the illustrations. The artwork, though a bit static and on the generic side, is nevertheless pleasant and toddler friendly, with the characters set against a background in appealing nighttime hues of blue, teal, and purple. This one likely won’t become a Halloween read-aloud favorite. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Though the sentiment is sweet, the delivery falls flat.

(Board book. 1-3)

Little Rabbit invites readers to play.

In this board book, a simple series of invitations and games shows Little Rabbit behaving like a typical toddler, playing peekaboo, swinging, and splashing in a tub of water. The concise text sets an appropriate pace for little readers, and the questions will resonate with children—“Can my little rabbit play too? One, two, three….” “Wheeee!” How darling that even Little Rabbit has a little rabbit! Using a soft yet vibrant palette, each spread features Little Rabbit against a solid background.

Little Rabbit has sweet rosy cheeks, perky ears, and a toothy smile that evokes childish front teeth. Mühle’s text is written in the first person and directly addresses readers (“Splash! Got you!”), giving them a sense of conspiratorial camaraderie with Little Rabbit. Admittedly, on a crowded shelf of similar titles, there’s little to distinguish this one from similar read-and-play titles. Still, though largely a retread of many others in its genre, it’s an appealing, bouncy read that will entice little ones. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Though not a standout, a sweet story. (Board book. 0-2)

ABC HELPFUL ME Learn All the Ways You Can Be a Helper—From A to Z!

JAPAN

Harrison, Erica Walter Foster Jr. (32 pp.) $16.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-0-7603-7610-2 Series: ABC for Me, 13

Satoko Seo, Emily Illus. by Aunyarat Watanabe Barefoot Books (20 pp.) $9.99 | Oct. 18, 2022 978-1-64686-629-8 Series: Our World

Alphabetically arranged suggestions of ways children can help their families and communities.

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A board book with text in two languages.

As an age-appropriate visual guide offering a few Japanese phrases alongside the English narrative, this book presents scenes of daily life that tidily fit within a framework of |

“All aboard for a spooktacularly sleepy ride!” goodnight train halloween

characteristic associations with Japan: cherry blossoms filling the sky; a traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, salted fish, pickled plums, and soup; and bowing to say “hello and thank you.” The cartoonish illustrations resemble young children’s drawings and may appeal especially to those who are beginning to engage with colors and forms on the printed page. However, for some, the depictions of a garden walk, a market visit, and bathing methods speak more to nostalgia and tropes than to quotidian realities—cherry blossoms are a prime example of what comes to mind when many picture Japan but are in season only a few weeks a year. For this reason, assertions such as “we say” and “we eat” can feel prescriptive. The people portrayed all have beige- or peach-toned skin and rosy cheeks as well as dark hair (except for a gray-haired character) and dark dots for eyes.

(This book was reviewed digitally.)

A gentle yet predictable child’s-eye view of Japan. (summary of expressions and practices) (Board book. 3-5)

GOODNIGHT TRAIN HALLOWEEN

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Sobel, June Illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith Clarion/HarperCollins (12 pp.) $8.99 | July 12, 2022 978-0-3586-2607-7 Series: The Goodnight Train The goodnight train is back for a not-so-scary fourth installment.

The nighttime locomotive travels through an autumnal landscape that’s bursting with Halloween tropes. As in the previous stories, bed-shaped cars are hooked up for a train ride; here, three diverse children are dressed in their Halloween finest as a skeleton, a princess, and a bee. Fans of the series will find the usual perks of a solid rhyme scheme, additional words and sounds peppering the illustrations, and pages of yawning creatures signaling that it’s time for bed. Those unfamiliar with the series will also find the book amusing, but readers who really love Halloween—or spooky things like bats, ghosts, and black cats—will enjoy it the most. As with the other installments in this series, educators and librarians will find this useful for seasonal book displays and storytimes but will probably keep it out year-round because it checks many of the boxes that signal a solid addition to any board-book library. Die-cut circles of various sizes are sprinkled across the double-page spreads, giving caregivers a chance to test young readers’ predictive skills while providing small hints at what’s to come. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

All aboard for a spooktacularly sleepy ride! (Board book. 2-5)

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EACH NIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

Anderson, Jodi Lynn Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (256 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-06-239357-9

BLOOD OF TROY by Claire M. Andrews..........................................120 THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF HOODIE ROSEN by Isaac Blum......... 121 THE GETAWAY by Lamar Giles........................................................128

A teenage girl longs to believe again, despite her skepticism.

Seventeen-year-old Cassie Blake, a high school senior in Green Valley, New Jersey, once wanted to be a nun. But her faith died after her mother left her family and she witnessed a tragic, fatal train crash when she was 11. She was with Elias Jones, an Australian boy in town visiting relatives; afterward he sent letters that she ignored, and their contact ceased. Now Cassie suffers from anxiety and insomnia and has a complicated relationship with religion and God. She dotes on little brother Gabe while feeling alienated from her complacent father and sister. Cassie also feels alone in pushing back against Father James, the local demagogue priest. When Elias returns to the U.S. for college, he invites Cassie on a quest that shakes up her stifling existence. Their worldviews conflict: For Cassie, the world has felt inherently unsafe ever since the accident, while for Elias, it has felt full of magic. Their love blossoms despite challenges ranging from small-town prejudice to devastating climate change events. Cassie’s despair, rage, and courage in the face of seeming hopelessness are lyrically chronicled in quiet prose that belies the magnitude of the personal and global crises the teens face. The book follows a White default. Elias has one Bangladeshi grandparent and three who are presumably White; his characterization feels racialized and underdeveloped.

A thoughtful read about grappling with faith while learning to take a stand. (Fiction. 13-18)

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU by Will McCormack & Michael Govier; illus. by Youngran Nho............................................ 131 THE SILENT STARS GO BY by Sally Nicholls................................... 131 VICTORY. STAND! by Tommie Smith & Derrick Barnes; illus. by Dawud Anyabwile................................................................ 135

BLOOD OF TROY

Andrews, Claire M. Little, Brown (480 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-316-36674-8 Series: Daughter of Sparta, 2

VICTORY. STAND! Raising My Fist for Justice

Smith, Tommie & Derrick Barnes Illus. by Dawud Anyabwile Norton Young Readers (208 pp.) $19.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-324-00390-8

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Directed to become personal guard to Sparta’s Queen Helen, Daphne searches for the deities’ lethal hidden agenda.

Bonding with strong-willed, courageous Helen, Daphne experiences |

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A powerful novel about systemic racism that challenges readers. (Fiction. 12-18)

Menelaus’ cruelty firsthand. Realizing the conclave of Achaean leaders he’s hosting is seeking an excuse to go to war with Troy and fearing for the safety of Troy’s emissaries, Daphne and Helen slip away to warn them and flee to Troy, where they’re warmly welcomed. Unlike Sparta, vibrant Troy, protected by Apollo’s wall, values arts and culture over warfare, but when 1,000 Achaean ships suddenly arrive, everyone recognizes that the gods have intervened on the Achaeans’ behalf. Fighting off their onslaught alongside Amazons and Trojans, Daphne struggles to learn why the Olympians are invested in this war—and in her. Although she loves Apollo, she despises gods who demand much but give little, ensuring that humans pay the price. Free of vanity, indifferent to the male gaze, and portrayed without objectification, Daphne’s the compelling hero of an epic that is closer in tone to its Homeric source than to many pop-culture iterations. Abandoning the traditional casus belli—Helen’s beauty and abduction—Andrews grants her agency, too. Greek myths describe a world ruled by flawed gods, their inhumanly vast powers accompanied by petty desires; yet many other retellings soft-pedal the costs of living there. Daphne’s choices exact a high price, but for true heroes, winning isn’t everything; it’s not even the point.

Characters are diverse in appearance.

A vivid, riveting sequel. (map, author’s note, glossary) (Fan­ tasy. 12-18)

THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF HOODIE ROSEN

Blum, Isaac Philomel (224 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-52582-1

I RISE

Arnold, Marie Versify/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $18.99 | Aug. 2, 2022 978-0-358-44904-1 Fourteen-year-old Ayomide struggles to balance life as an activist with her desire to simply be a regular teenager.

The year Ayo was born, her mother, Rosalie, founded See Us, an influential grassroots civil rights group. Similar to Black Lives Matter, See Us focuses on issues impacting Black people—police brutality, racial profiling, and an unjust prison system—but with a local focus on Harlem. Despite being raised in the movement, Ayo is ready to move on and experience life like any kid her age. After an emotional conversation, her mom lets her step away from See Us. Then Rosalie is shot by police at a protest and ends up in a coma, and Ayo must decide if she can take on a leadership role and resume the fight for justice. The main characters are Black, and Arnold seamlessly weaves into the story historical information as well as facts about current issues related to the presumption of Black people’s criminality.

The campaign Rosalie organizes after an unarmed Black man is killed by police is especially poignant, shining light on the disproportionate number of Black victims in fatal traffic stops.

The way Arnold poses the question of how much one must “pay for the crime of living while Black” will prompt both Black and non-Black readers to ask difficult questions of themselves and society at large. This is simultaneously an intimate story with rich character development and a call to action.

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In a town seething over an influx of Orthodox Jews, a yeshiva boy falls in love with the mayor’s daughter.

Yehuda “Hoodie” Rosen tells us on Page 1 that his horrible crime ruined his life, humiliated his family, and put him in the ICU—but in some ways, he also thought it was pretty funny. Once you get to know this jokester, you’ll believe it; his sharp awareness of the ironies of life and language illuminate every page of this first-person narrative. Hoodie, his parents, and his “numerous and various” sisters have just moved to Tregaron, a fictional town (cued as being near Philadelphia) where his father is involved with building a high-rise intended to house many more Orthodox families.

The community’s outraged opposition to this is spearheaded by the mayor, Monica Diaz-O’Leary, so it’s particularly inconvenient that the first love of Hoodie’s 15-year-old life is her daughter, Anna-Marie—who seems to like him back. But after the two attempt to remove the swastikas that have been spray-painted on Jewish gravestones, Hoodie is ostracized by his community and harshly punished for consorting with a non-Jew. Then antisemitism explodes in a violent, ripped-from-the-headlines incident. Blum’s engrossing debut explains myriad details of Orthodox Jewish faith and includes Hoodie’s questioning of them. Through the brilliant character of Zippy, his wise older sister, Hoodie can see the path to a less constricted but still devout way of living. Anna-Marie’s surname cues her ethnic background.

Funny, smart, moving, courageous, and so timely it almost hurts. (Fiction. 12-adult)

THE GATHERING DARK An Anthology of Folk Horror Ed. by Bovalino, Tori Page Street (272 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-64567-622-5

A collection of deliciously strange horror stories with an impressive scope.

From the allure of urban legends to the haunting reimagining of youthful games like Truth or Dare, these tales possess the vibe of a shadowy slumber party destined to keep you up all night. With pieces by 10 authors, including familiar names like Erica Waters, Chloe Gong, Courtney Gould, and |

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YOUNG ADULT | Laura Simeon

teen novels that center characters with disabilities Anna is a keen cross-country runner who at first tries to ignore the symptoms she experiences after exercising. Her diagnosis brings radical changes for her daily life and friendships.

One for All by Lillie Lainoff (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, March 8): This work set in France in 1655 follows Tania de Batz, daughter of a retired musketeer.

Lainoff, writing from her own experience of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, presents a protagonist who faces the challenges of ableism and sexism. Thanks to her father’s tutelage, Tania is a talented sword fighter who enters a school where young women are secretly trained to become daring, undercover musketeers who apprehend traitors.

Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester (Clarion/HarperCollins, May 10): Verónica is, like the author, a young Peruvian American woman with hip dysplasia. Against her parents’ wishes, talented, athletic Vero joins a local aquatic park’s mermaid show, finds a charming and attentive boyfriend, and takes steps toward asserting her right to make medical decisions about her body. The book carefully unpacks messages around beauty standards and perceptions of bodies—especially female ones—with scars and other outward differences.

You, Me, and Our Heartstrings by Melissa See (Scholastic, July 19): Debut author See brings her experiences as a violinist with cerebral palsy to this romance.

When Daisy (violin) and Noah (cello) are paired for a duet, life takes an unexpected turn. The teens, who come from disparate socio-economic backgrounds, have their sights set on Juilliard. Their performance—and romance—goes viral, shining a spotlight on the tropes of inspiration porn and stereotypes about relationships between disabled and nondisabled people.

Young readers today expect more books that represent the reality of their lives—in other words, books reflecting the broad diversity of humanity as they know it. One positive development is an uptick in the number of books by authors with disabilities featuring leading characters who share their experiences. In these novels, being disabled is one facet of well-rounded characterization, and the characters lead meaningful lives. Disabilities aren’t used as plot devices to elicit pity or exploited to serve as inspiration.

Disability is a broad term covering a tremendous range of different experiences, both cognitive and physical, that have varying degrees of impact and visibility. Unlike many other marginalized identities, the disabled community is one that anyone can join at any time; long Covid has brought this truth to widespread awareness like never before. Between the large number of teens living with disabilities and the even larger number who have family and friends with disabilities, the relative invisibility of this subject in literature for so long is even more striking. The following thoughtful, intriguing 2022 titles written with the perspective of lived experiences span a variety of genres. They’re worth picking up and hopefully will pave the way for even more to come.

All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle (McElderry, Feb. 15): This romance offers double the fun as divorced mother Julia and her daughter, Cara, go on a reality dating show for single parents. Potential stepsiblings meeting each other and their possible future stepparents increase the opportunities for drama. It’s refreshing to meet a disabled love interest: Connor, biracial Cara’s beau and son of another contestant, shares the author’s Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Like Mangle, Julia is a Korean American transracial adoptee.

The Moth Girl by Heather Kamins (Putnam, March 8): Kamins’ moving author’s note describes her own lupus diagnosis as a teen, the respectful representation of chronic illness she hungered for in books and other media, and her decision to invent a condition called lepidopsy for her novel. Sophomore 122

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Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.

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PHALAINA

editor Bovalino, this compact volume contains varied themes and styles. A young woman in New Zealand is filled with foreboding after taking a position as a live-in nanny in a remote seaside house in Gong’s “The Tallest Poppy.” A teenager learns of a fiery curse on her Oregon farming town that dates back to a history of witchcraft in Gould’s “Third Burn.” The arrangement of the stories successfully negotiates shifts in tone and provides a strong, cohesive reading experience. Several stories draw upon traditional subject matter; overall, they take surprising turns and offer vividly fresh spins on even the most classic of frightful motifs. Strong gothic tendencies emerge in these accessible, well-crafted, and atmospheric tales. Ominous, moody, and fiercely original, this anthology provides a delightful introduction to horror and an irresistible diversion for existing genre fans. Strong female protagonists are well represented along with diversity in race, national origin, and sexual orientation.

Perfectly creepy. (about the authors) (Horror anthology. 14-18)

Brière-Haquet, Alice Trans. by Emma Ramadan Levine Querido (320 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-64614-182-1 A British naturalist’s young daughter draws seekers benign and decidedly otherwise in this French import.

In a tale with a powerful premise despite notably ragged execution, Manon, who is mute and described as resembling people with albinism, spends seven years in a convent orphanage in London while both her father’s killer and her mother’s secretive folk search for her. Her name is based on a French pun that is pointed out twice but doesn’t work in English. As Manon’s true nature is gradually revealed through her father’s letters to his great friend Charles Darwin, the pursuit finally comes close enough to send her fleeing into the streets to take refuge with Molly,

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“A bittersweet, honest look at loss and trauma.” things i know

THINGS I KNOW

a bighearted street poet with a loyal and unusually intelligent dog. Readers are likely to feel whipsawed, as the barrage of very short chapters brings frequent changes in scene, point of view, and tone. Several victims are killed and mutilated in gruesomely explicit detail; Molly and even the dog also narrate, sometimes to comical effect. The thoroughly demonized bad guys—who want Manon as a scientific specimen and key to her father’s vast fortune—are pitted against pursuers who, due to parallel evolution, look human(ish) but have very different ancestors and intimate connections with the natural world. Brière-Haquet folds in some topical themes as she steers events to a soaring climax and forced but tidily happy ending. Both the omniscient narration and other characters use demeaning language in reference to Manon’s eyes and skin, and her characterization evokes common disability tropes. Everyone presents as White.

Passionate but patchy in execution. (Eco-fantasy. 14-18)

Close, Helena Little Island (288 pp.) $11.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-915071-03-3 A young woman struggles with anxiety and grief in a coastal Irish town in this contemporary novel.

Saoirse’s father moved their family from Limerick to the small town of Cloughmore after the death of her mother two years before. While her awful, image-conscious younger sister, Eva, has blended in, Saoirse and her younger brother, Aran, find their new town narrow-minded and claustrophobic; 18-year-old Saoirse is glad to be taking her final secondary school exams before returning to Limerick for college.

However, it doesn’t come soon enough for her to escape being ostracized by the crowd that her ex-boyfriend, Finn, is part of.

When he dies by suicide, Saoirse’s mental health is stressed to the point of breaking. The unrelenting pressure Saoirse experiences is vividly depicted in her first-person narration, realistically manifesting itself in stomach upset, breathing difficulties, and blackouts. A large cast of secondary characters, including grieving Dylan, who was Finn’s best friend but with whom Saoirse is also involved, and Jade, her outspoken, complicated, bisexual best friend, are sketched in broad strokes that flesh out Saoirse’s world, grimly but poignantly illustrating how difficult it can be for people to find support. An auspicious ending to this story is both surprising and welcome. Most characters are White.

A bittersweet, honest look at loss and trauma. (Fiction. 13-18)

TEEN TRAILBLAZERS 30 Daring Boys Whose Dreams Changed the World

Calvert, Jennifer Illus. by Vesna Asanovic Castle Point Books/St. Martin’s Press (128 pp.) $16.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-250-28161-6

Thumbnail biographies highlighting formative boyhood experiences of 30 exceptional men past and present who have had a lasting impact.

The highlighted figures include 18th-century mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker, World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, and gay activist Harvey Milk. Each chapter follows the same template: a few bullet points, which include dates of birth and death (if applicable), an impactful quote from the subject, a short biography, and interesting sidebar facts. This last element often provides the most interesting information in the book, like the fact that Louis Braille found a way to translate sheet music into braille, and Jacques Cousteau developed his love of the sea when he took up swimming as therapy after breaking both of his arms in a car crash. As for youthful accomplishments, Nelson Mandela was expelled from university for protesting, and David Hogg famously became an activist after surviving the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Other notable inclusions are quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Brazilian landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, and Japanese video game developer and Pokémon inventor Satoshi Tajiri. Calvert’s crisp introduction pinpoints her hope that these brief, fact-filled portraits may spur readers to explore further. The book’s value in this regard is unfortunately weakened by a lack of recommended further reading, and its authority is undermined by an absence of sources. The text follows a White default. Color illustrations brighten the volume.

A cursory introduction to potential male role models.

(Nonfiction. 12-16)

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WHITE FRAGILITY (ADAPTED FOR YOUNG ADULTS) Why Understanding Racism Can Be So Hard for White People

DiAngelo, Robin Adapt. by Toni Graves Williamson & Ali Michael Beacon Press (272 pp.) $24.95 | $16.00 paper | Aug. 9, 2022 978-0-8070-0736-5 978-0-8070-1609-1 paper

The bestselling primer on racism and complicity, reworked for teen readers.

With this adaptation, Williamson (who is Black) and Michael (who is White) do far more than edit DiAngelo’s text; they take its fundamental concepts and thoughtfully contextualize them for their audience, referencing both media and events that postdate the original work’s 2018 publication. The basic structure of the original is observed, covering White people’s discomfort with talking about race, White supremacy, the myth of colorblindness, and so forth, concluding with steps |

COVEN

readers can take to move “from fragility to agility.” A wholly new chapter on understanding racism and allyship in media is tailored to readers who are digital natives. “Afterthoughts” such as journal prompts follow each chapter. Throughout, the coadapters offer illustrative personal anecdotes, and they set up hypotheticals grounded in the world of teen readers, as when they explore affirmative action through the lens of scholarships and college admissions. When DiAngelo’s own words appear, they are set off as pull quotes in a discordantly fussy faux handwritten display type. Design choices such as this consistently undermine the text. Illustrations range from uninspiring portraits of thinkers referenced to opaque graphics that baffle more than illuminate. Callout boxes occasionally offer definitions, but it’s not clear how definition-worthy vocabulary was determined; in one section, socialization is defined but not meri­ tocracy or ideology. Such elements undermine the work’s ability to serve its intended readership.

Solid content let down by poorly executed, readerunfriendly design. (resources, endnotes, index) (Nonfiction.

12-18)

Dugan, Jennifer Illus. by Kit Seaton Putnam (288 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 6, 2022 978-0-593-11216-8

COUNTING SCARS

Di Lorenzo, Melinda Orca (128 pp.) $10.95 paper | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-4598-3355-5 Series: Orca Soundings A 16-year-old is drawn to a mysterious guy when she is packed off to a lastresort reform camp by her social worker.

Adele is a good kid who has struggled with little family support, and she just wants to get through the next two weeks at the inanely named Camp Happy after her mother suffers an overdose and goes into an in-patient rehab center. As soon as she arrives Adele encounters fellow camper Fergus, a magnetic loner, and is immediately warned away from him by Andy, who, despite being goodlooking and friendly, makes Adele uneasy. Employing accessible vocabulary peppered with realistic teen dialogue and short, fastpaced, plot-driven chapters, the book quickly establishes a connection between Adele and Fergus, who after seeming to appear and disappear at random around camp, helps her find her way in the woods after she reluctantly agrees to attend an illicit bonfire. Adele’s attempts to stay on the straight and narrow due to her desperation to be seen in a good light by her long-absent father will make her sympathetic to readers, and romance fans will appreciate the spark between her and Fergus. As his backstory becomes more central to the story, a solid mystery unfolds.

Characters all read as White.

An engaging, focused romantic thriller that will pull in reluctant readers. (Thriller. 13-18)

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A teenage witch is torn between the life she’s built and the bonds of a coven she barely knows.

Emsy’s life is mostly that of an ordinary California teen, except for some occasional pyrokinesis. Magic and ritual are her parents’ things—Emsy would rather be surfing. So when her mother tells her that a family of witches has been brutally murdered and they must move back to upstate New York to rejoin their coven for safety, Emsy’s world comes to a shattering halt. Leaving her friends and girlfriend is bad enough, but Emsy soon realizes just how little her parents told her about witches and magic as she suddenly finds herself training to wield a power she’s never embraced. Desperate to undo it all and return to normal, Emsy agrees to help another teen coven member who is even more devastated than she is to bring his family back from the dead. But every choice in the world of magic comes with a cost, and Emsy’s involve the very highest of stakes and direst of consequences. Seaton’s richly colored illustrations are dynamic, adding to the atmosphere. The multiracial, intergenerational ensemble cast of queer witches facing a deadly, unknown magical threat forms a strong narrative foundation, enhanced by intense character conflict and action. The neatly wrapped-up conclusion doesn’t deliver on such compelling tension, however, and despite some remaining questions leaving room for a sequel, the ending may leave readers deflated.

Not a must-read but a solid, witchy story. (Graphic fantasy.

14-18)

IF YOU ONLY KNEW Letters From an Immigrant Teacher Francis, Emily Seidlitz Education (130 pp.) $14.99 paper | Sept. 1, 2022 979-8-218-00256-5

Movingly and authentically evokes the power of personal narrative.

Connection, concern, and vulnerability warm every page of the letters Francis, a teacher of English language learners in North Carolina, writes to some of her former students from Latin American countries. The young people are addressed by given names only; there are identifying details about their life histories, but it is unclear whether they are composites or actual youths who granted permission to be included. Francis interweaves selected life episodes of her own that mirror the teens’ situations. A smuggler brought her from Guatemala to the U.S. when she was |

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ON THE COVER

Jason Reynolds & Jason Griffin The award-winning author and the illustrator—friends since college— discuss their collaboration

BY MARK ATHITAKIS Adedayo Kosoko

their early ambitions. Griffin has exhibited his artwork globally, while Reynolds has become among the most successful YA authors working today, writing a string of bestsellers that includes a Newbery Honor recipient, two National Book Award finalists, and a Kirkus Prize, plus a stint as the Library of Congress’ National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

All the while, the two Jasons have kept collaborating.

Earlier this year they published Ain’t Burned All the Bright, a story turning on Covid and 2020’s racial reckonings, combining three long sentences by Reynolds and artwork that Griffin had been producing in Moleskine notebooks. That book’s release provided an opportunity for their publisher to reissue My Name Is Jason (Caitlin Dloughy/Atheneum, June 28). The two convened on Zoom—Reynolds from Washington, D.C., Griffin from Queens, New York—to talk about the anxiety of revisiting their early work, the intuitive nature of their work together, and how the best collaborations emerge from trust and vulnerability. This interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Jason Reynolds, left, and Jason Griffin

How does it feel putting My Name Is Jason. Mine Too back into circulation now?

Jason Griffin and Jason Reynolds have thrived as collabora-

Griffin: I think that it provides context for Ain’t Burned All the

tors practically since they met as students at the University of

Bright. At the time, it was just what we were going through. But

Maryland. Their personal and artistic friendship led to a 2005

now I think it’s really interesting to look back at it, to see it as

book of Griffin’s art and Reynolds’ poetry, Self, which they fol-

almost our origin story.

lowed up with 2009’s My Name Is Jason. Mine Too: Our Story, Our

Reynolds: I’m still uneasy about it. It’s like publishing juvenilia.

Way. Combining Griffin’s collages, paintings, and line drawings

Don’t get me wrong, because what Jason is saying is true. It does

with Reynolds’ poetry, My Name Is Jason tells the story of two

give context. That being said, it’s tricky to put out work that you

budding artists struggling to make a name for themselves while

wrote when you were 20, 21 years old. Jason is 40. I’m kissing

trying to enjoy the ride as well. As Reynolds writes: “It’s just / So

40. Both of our careers and lives are different. It’s important to

hard / To explain to people / That my life / Is not unhard / But

know that this is a 20-year-old thing. I would hate for people to

not unhappy.”

think this is what we put out today. We were kids.

My Name Is Jason didn’t make much of a splash at the time.

How are you different artists now?

But in the years since, the two Jasons have more than fulfilled

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Griffin: We were more likely to take certain risks then than

How does your collaboration work?

maybe we would now. I don’t know if I would say I’m better now,

Reynolds: It’s like a trust fall from the top of a skyscraper.

I’m just different.

When Jason said “oxygen mask,” it triggered lots of things in my

Reynolds: I’m definitely better now [laughs]. But that being said,

body. And I wrote a sentence, a very long sentence, and I took

I just feel more like myself. I just feel more comfortable with and

all the punctuation out of the sentence and sent it to him. “So

more confident in who I actually am. At 21, 22, 23, you’re sort of

this is a string of words now. And you can break these words up

feeling out the self that you’re becoming. You got on the pants

however you see fit on the page, whatever this does to you.”

that you’re gonna grow into, so everything is a little awkward.

Griffin: That was the extent of him giving me input on the visu-

You never stop growing, but the pants do fit a little better.

als. That’s it. I can’t even count on one hand the times that we’ve checked each other—me checking him on the writing or me on

The book is also interesting in how it models male friendship, a big theme in your fiction.

Reynolds: There was one line toward the end that I broke dif-

Reynolds: That’s what I write about the most. My whole thing

ferently. “Let’s move this word here.” That’s the answer, and we

is that for the friendships to ring true, they have to possess

move forward. We just don’t have a lot of back and forth.

some sense of vulnerability. I’m not so sure that a friendship

Griffin: Here’s a little thing that I do in my studio: I’ll search

is a healthy friendship without it. So I try to write about boys

for an interview where Reynolds is talking just to have his voice

the art. It just doesn’t happen. There’s 100% trust there.

who are connected but also are able to be compassionate and

on in the background, so that I can try to channel him along

sensitive and hold each other accountable. A lot of stories are

with my input. Because this is about not just the writing or the art, it’s about both coming together. It’s always important for me to have his voice there.

Ain’t Burned All the Bright turns on Covid and the murder of George Floyd. Did you feel an urgency to get the story out because it was on the news? Or take your time with it because it is an art book?

He’s over your shoulder, but he’s not telling you what to do.

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romps, boys being boys. But I’m more curious about, what does the friend do when the boy says he’s afraid?

Griffin: Yes. Reynolds: Man, that’s the best kind of friend [laughs].

Griffin: Urgency is the right word. Not because it’s timely, but because as artists, we had to get it off our chests. We were work-

Mark Athitakis is a journalist in Phoenix who writes about books for

ing on another project, but as Jason says, 2020 was like a year of

Kirkus, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and else­ where. My Name Is Jason. Mine Too was reviewed in the April

suffocation. There was so much stuff going on that it felt like our brains just stopped running. There was so much informa-

1, 2022, issue.

tion coming in, it was hard to process things. I was doing therapy over the phone and talking to my mentor, Joanna Cotler, who published My Name Is Jason. Mine, Too, and they were like, “You need to keep like a sketchbook of these things that you’re hearing on the news.” But I was really dead set on making this other project, and it was almost like I had barricaded myself or put up a boundary that wasn’t necessary. And it wasn’t until I was talking to Reynolds on the phone and saying, “I’m filling up Moleskine sketchbooks all over my house. And it’s served as kind of an oxygen mask.” Something clicked with that term— oxygen mask—for both of us.

Reynolds: There’s never really been a moment in my individual career or in my collaborative career where the urgency to publish has anything to do with me. The business urgency is the business urgency. It’s got nothing to do with me; we don’t even have those conversations. I think we try our best to make sure that we’re always working with the kind of urgency that is inside out. |

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“You’ll want to stay on this nightmarish roller coaster till the end.” the getaway

THE SECOND DEATH OF EDIE AND VIOLET BOND

15, the oldest of five children of a single mother who struggled with addiction before finding religion. Many of her challenges and successes reflect joys and difficulties many teens of different backgrounds face; others (like driving a truck to sell oranges around town at age 9) will resonate with some and be eye-opening for others. Initially, her education came second to survival; later she faced homesickness, self-doubt, and setbacks like an unplanned pregnancy. Francis’ advice is validated by her own experiences, and she doesn’t gloss over her heartbreak at her students’ stories—one arrived wearing an ankle bracelet from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Francis is empathetic and supportive; she sees their passions, character traits, and achievements. In simple, stirring prose, she gives teens the incomparable gift of her genuine attention while accepting that she can’t meet their every need.

Compelling, caring, and inspiring. (Nonfiction. 14-adult)

Glaze, Amanda Union Square & Co. (368 pp.) $18.99 | Oct. 4, 2022 978-1-4549-4678-6

It’s 1885, and runaway twins join a traveling group of mediums after fleeing their extremist minister father to avoid being placed in an asylum.

Seventeen-year-old Edie and Violet Bond were born identical with green eyes and auburn hair, but over time, Edie’s hair has become nearly white. Their mother died under mysterious circumstances a year ago, and each sister has some of her innate spiritual abilities: Edie is able to cross the Veil between life and death, while Violet channels spirits. Mr. Huddle, the head of their traveling group of Spiritualists, has them performing in Sacramento, California, where the woman who organized the Women’s Suffrage Association is causing a stir by fighting for equality. Misogyny abounds as women are being locked up in asylums for baseless reasons by their “male guardians”—fathers, husbands, or brothers. Edie displays delightful moxie, performing trance lectures on stage and using this platform to preach equality under the guise of channeling Benjamin Franklin and other male thinkers. When the father they escaped turns up in an unexpected place, the sisters uncover horrible truths. The atmospheric and haunting tone feels ominous as the twins encounter things they can’t quite explain, while the plot intensifies as Edie holds back secrets from Violet that could have devastating consequences.

The timely, gripping themes of sisterhood and fighting misogyny will resonate. Characters default to White.

An impressive and eerie debut that will keep readers looking over their shoulders. (author’s note) (Paranormal thriller.

12-18)

THE GETAWAY

Giles, Lamar Scholastic (400 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-338-75201-4 Trapped in an apocalyptic theme park, teens fight back.

Jay has it pretty good, all things considered, in a not-too-distant future absolutely ravaged by droughts, fires, floods, and powder-keg instability. He and his family are live-in employees of Karloff Country, a mountaintop in Virginia taken over by a billionaire family who created their own version of Disneyland as a refuge for their similarly wealthy peers to cavort away from the destruction they helped create.

But when the end times loom, Jay realizes that the new guests, the Trustees, are privileged to the point of sociopathy, torturing staff over perceived slights with impunity. Jay rebels along with fellow Karloff Academy seniors Zeke and Connie and Seychelle, his crush and an heir to the Karloff fortune (Chelle’s racist grandfather, Franklin Karloff, hasn’t gotten over her White mom’s having had a biracial Black baby). They’re all fast friends; “the Black kids always find each other.” Narrated through multiple points of view, the novel features Jay’s perspective most prominently, with some interludes from his friends, all presented in Giles’ signature strong, accessible voice. With hints of Cory Doctorow, Jordan Peele, and Richard Matheson, this book stands on its own as a dystopian adventure, but the deeper metaphors around servitude, privilege, class, and solidarity mean that there’s a lot to think about as the characters reckon with their proximity to and complicity in violence both local and far-flung.

Hold tight: You’ll want to stay on this nightmarish roller coaster till the end. (Horror. 13-18)

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IMPROVE How I Discovered Improv and Conquered Social Anxiety

Graudins, Alex First Second (240 pp.) $17.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-250-20823-1

“Yes, and” your way out of social anxiety.

Part memoir, part introduction to the world of improv comedy, this graphic memoir follows illustrator Graudins from childhood through her young adult years. Graudins admired the confidence and camaraderie of the theater kids at her school, and although she attempted to join them, her social anxiety—represented as a devilish doppelgänger—stopped her from fully participating.

This voice of self-doubt follows her throughout her academic career and is often represented only by black thought balloons |

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

that dominate panels with negative ruminations and fear. That artistic choice works well, as readers unfamiliar with anxiety will immediately understand the weight and all-consuming oppressive nature of the condition. After flirting with improv in college and being challenged by a therapist to be more proactive in addressing her anxiety, Graudins enrolled in beginners’ improv, and the narrative shifts from a traditional memoir to cover extensive information about improv. Readers who are interested in this art will find this a valuable and well-written introductory guide. Those who are more interested in other aspects of Graudins’ story may find the nuanced information about improv lessons tedious. The clean, appealing, cartoonstyle art is particularly effective at showing improv exercises and expressing Graudins’ inner emotions.

Informative reading for young people seeking creative ways to break the chains of social anxiety. (author’s note, further reading, games) (Graphic nonfiction. 12-18)

Kallen, Stuart A. ReferencePoint Press (64 pp.) $32.95 | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-67820-348-1

DUET Our Journey in Song With the Northern Mockingbird

Hoose, Phillip Farrar, Straus and Giroux (160 pp.) $24.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-3743-8877-5

A select overview of the northern mockingbird in human history.

The book tries to make the case for a “duet” of mockingbird-human relationships throughout history: The mockingbird provides entertainment, while the human provides sustenance and a willing appreciation. However, Hoose doesn’t quite sell it. Arranged in short chapters with color photographs, snippets of human interactions with mockingbirds are presented loosely chronologically, beginning with Native American references to mockingbirds and ending with 21st-century studies on the birds’ being able to recognize specific humans. Along the way, readers learn a little bit about Thomas Jefferson’s fondness for mockingbirds, songs that reference mockingbirds, the effect of the Civil War on birds, the caged bird trade, women who advocated for bird protection, and Charles Darwin, who observed mockingbirds on the Galápagos Islands, among others. Unfortunately, the stories are either presented too superficially or are too limited in depth to begin with to have any great impact, and beyond their chronological order, there is no buildup to a conclusion other than that the mockingbird population (like all birds) is declining, although they are not officially endangered. The book has a decidedly anthropocentric feel to it—the overarching sentiment seems to be that the mockingbird’s primary value lies in its ability to entertain humans with its singing. While the source notes for each chapter give the author’s references, some of the stories nonetheless feel more romanticized than historical.

A mishmash of folklore and history lite that doesn’t quite get off the ground. (index) (Nonfiction. 12-15)

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Social media is a powerful force in today’s world: What are its risks and benefits?

The introduction describes the power of social media to organize and mobilize protestors in Cairo, Egypt, during the Arab Spring of 2011 and in Washington, D.C., during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. It goes on to explain how social media platforms generate profits by collecting personal data on users and accentuating negative content to heighten engagement. Kallen then goes on to explore this phenomenon in more depth: Using the Black Lives Matter and climate action movements as examples, he shows social media raising public awareness. He talks about influencers, describes click farms that generate followers, and explains how social media can harm physical and mental health. The book spotlights QAnon conspiracy theories and the algorithms Facebook and YouTube use to push controversial, anger-provoking posts that attract and maintain attention. Examples of political manipulation and social control through social media in China and India expand the focus beyond U.S. borders. The final chapter covers efforts to counteract the negative effects of social media. The exposition is straightforward and clearly organized. Kallen uses numerous quotations to bolster his arguments. His concern for readers’ well-being is evident throughout as he offers them advice and encouragement for making social media a positive force in their lives.

A timely reminder for teens. (photo credits, source notes, organizations and websites, further research, index) (Nonfiction.

12-18)

LIONESS OF PUNJAB

Kharbanda, Anita Jari Yali Books (316 pp.) $22.99 | Sept. 17, 2022 978-1-949528-71-8

A sweeping tale about a legendary 18th-century female Sikh warrior who went to war against the Mughal empire.

Now known to generations of Sikhs as Mai Bhago, the young woman born Bhag Bhari is a teen at a crossroads when the novel opens. Growing up in a traditional Sikh family in Jhabal Kalan near Amritsar, Bhag Bhari resists prescribed feminine tasks like cooking and sewing. Rather than dreaming of settling down and raising a family, she yearns to study martial arts like the men in her family—and displays striking talents when she does so. She also yearns to use her skills to protect her people.

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MURDER AT THE HOTEL HOPELESS

about them and longs to be part of the fight. But Bhag Bhari’s parents urge her to focus more on finding a respectable husband and being a good bride. Kharbanda’s novel is at its strongest when it describes Bhag Bhari’s struggle to push back against the often sexist environment around her. While many parts of this legend’s fictionalized story are fascinating, the pacing feels uneven—often quite slow but too rushed when it comes to the main character’s evolving relationship with Nidhan Singh, her husband. Still, readers will likely be drawn to the rich historical details, and Bhag Bhari’s strong Sikh faith and courage shine throughout.

An illuminating look at Sikh history. (author’s note, sources) (Historical fiction. 13-18)

Lekich, John Orca (128 pp.) $10.95 paper | Aug. 16, 2022 978-1-4598-3349-4 Series: Orca Soundings A teenager hooks up with a young detective—or at least a kid who plays one on TV—to solve a murder.

Seventeen-year-old Charlie Hope willingly does what he can to help his single mom keep their small Vancouver hotel afloat, but his latest task, tending to thoroughly spoiled 14-year-old star Penny Price and her pampered Chihuahua, Baby, has him at about the end of his rope.

At least he can unwind by playing chess with elderly resident Mr. Ignato…until, that is, Iggy winds up dead at the bottom of a staircase shortly after fretting to Charlie that his life might be in danger. The death is ruled accidental, but Charlie isn’t so sure—particularly after discovering that the old man has left him a massive stolen diamond. Going more for comedy than complexity, Lekich concocts a lightweight whodunit featuring two wrangling amateur sleuths, hidden pasts, a small pool of possible suspects, glittery MacGuffins both real and otherwise, a dognapping at gunpoint, and quick progress to a climactic scuffle in (where else?) an abandoned warehouse. The end brings just deserts to surviving members of the all-White-presenting cast, and for Charlie and Penny, a relationship that at least looks more like friends than adversaries.

Tailor-made for reluctant readers who prefer their noir on the lighter side. (Mystery. 12-18)

MERE MORTALS

Lange, Erin Jade HarperTeen (368 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-06-321911-3 Vampire siblings are turned back into mortal teenagers and forced to attend high school in Nowhere, Iowa.

Charlotte and her brother, Reginald, have been vampires for a century now, but after Charlie almost kills a human and Reg gets involved, their punishment is to become mortal again. Charlie tries repeatedly to persuade the Elders to make them back into vampires. In the meantime, they reluctantly agree to attend Hope High School. Charlie’s assumption that she’ll fit right in as the new queen bee is quickly dashed, but eventually she and Reg make friends, find love interests, and start to appreciate certain aspects of human life like sunlight and coffee. When the opportunity to regain her immortality finally comes but with severe stipulations, Charlie has to decide who she truly wants to be. Charlie’s first-person narration is inviting and amusing as she walks a fine line between confident and egotistical. Her growth drives the story, though some of her changes feel too abrupt. However, the tale falls into tired tropes: Reg is lovable but ultimately comes across as an underdeveloped queer sidekick, and the ending of his story arc is unsatisfying. An important paranormal power is briefly explained as originating from a long-ago Indigenous woman. Enough is left open at the end of the book for a potential sequel, but it comes at the detriment of this story, which is left feeling incomplete with underexplored worldbuilding. Main characters are implied White.

A compelling premise that lacks needed depth. (Paranormal.

13-18)

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THE DEPTHS

Lesperance, Nicole Razorbill/Penguin (368 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 13, 2022 978-0-593-46536-3 A tropical paradise is haunted by a dangerous secret.

After elite athlete Addie’s horrific free-diving accident—she’s dead for eight and a half minutes—her mother brings Addie along on her honeymoon so Addie won’t be alone as her injured lungs recover. Their destination’s Eulalie Island, a private Caribbean island. Apart from the island’s caretakers (and their two sons), they have the island to themselves. So why does it sound like the birds are calling Addie’s name—and who’s the giggling child she keeps hearing?

As more strange things happen—the white flowers turn pink and then darken, vines behave strangely—Addie digs deeper into the history of the island, from its 1700s castaway namesake to a doomed Bostonian family from 1843. (The brutal colonialism of the region is mentioned, but Eulalie explicitly has no history of Indigenous peoples or European settlement.) Addie |

“Heavy pain exquisitely rendered.” if anything happens i love you

IF ANYTHING HAPPENS I LOVE YOU

grows closer to the son of one of the caretakers and is introduced to a deep freshwater sinkhole where she feels no pain and can hold her breath long enough to free dive again. But being favored by the island and its supernatural inhabitants proves dangerous to more than just Addie. The tropical setting is refreshing for its Victorian ghost-story vibe, the characters are likable, and the story’s mystery threads weave together into a delightfully eerie tapestry. Characters default to White.

Readers will dive in so deep they might forget to come up for air. (Horror. 13-18)

McCormack, Will & Michael Govier Illus. by Youngran Nho Andrews McMeel Publishing (64 pp.) $16.99 paper | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5248-7125-3

MY SECOND IMPRESSION OF YOU

Mason, Michelle I. Bloomsbury (304 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5476-0412-8

A magical app gives Maggie insight into the hearts and minds of her friends and family.

Maggie Scott thinks she’s meeting her boyfriend, Theo Kallis, for a promposal only to be dumped because he’s tired of all the drama in their relationship. Leaving the coffee shop, she falls and breaks her foot. The injury sidelines her from her current and upcoming dance and stage performances, a fact that’s devastating to Maggie, who’s working toward a career in musical theater. Almost as bad is that her accident is witnessed by Theo’s best friend, Carson Lockwood, whom she can’t stand.

Maggie decides to try to get Theo back—she hopes to glean ideas to rekindle his interest by remembering what originally brought them together the previous summer. A mysterious text takes her to the Best Day app, which, through simulations that follow the structure of a play, transport Maggie back in time.

It also grants her access to people’s inner thoughts, including those of her parents, brother, and best friend as well as Carson and Theo. As a result, Maggie uncovers uncomfortable truths, including about her own behavior. Maggie is a well-developed character whose journey to self-knowledge is believable and earned. Her relationships with her family members are given equal weight as those with friends and romantic partners. Main characters are cued as White; Maggie’s best friend is Dominican and Irish American.

Equal parts sweet romance and thought-provoking story of self-discovery. (Romance. 12-18)

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Grieving parents find their ways back together.

A companion to the Oscar-winning short film of the same name, this graphic novel brings new elements to a story that has, horribly, become a familiar narrative in American life. In the aftermath of a school shooting that takes their daughter’s life, a father and mother must rediscover love in a world that’s been leached of color. Their daughter’s soul—“the part of you that is really you”—helps them along, bringing forth memories of her joyful life and enabling them to process her tragic—and tragically preventable—death together. With any exercise in adaptation, there is the question of harnessing medium specificity; this work more than rises to the challenge. McCormack, Govier, and Nho, the animated movie’s co-creators, take their successful cinematic story concept and give it new life with the addition of a carefully written text that explicates the philosophy at the heart of the original. Scenes are reordered to relate to one another in new ways, and characters are endowed with enriched backstories. The cat, an adorable fixture of the film, takes on a moving new role. The result is a book that holds its own, settling comfortably into its own niche, ready to welcome a new audience. Shadows, silhouettes, and occasional washes of color are expertly used to increase the emotional impact. Main characters have paper-white skin and straight, dark hair.

Heavy pain exquisitely rendered. (Graphic fiction. 12-18)

FADED GLIMPSES OF TIME

Nichol, Nyah Common Deer Press (200 pp.) $15.95 paper | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-988761-71-8 Series: The Tempus Trilogy, 2

Even with do-overs, saving the world can seem impossible.

Following the adventures of Broken Shards of Time (2020), Wren Derecho has just returned from the future—barely— as the timeline was collapsing, but she hopes her efforts and the sacrifices of her friends were enough to prevent those horrible events from unfolding. However, it seems that altering the future has also changed some things in the past. Alex Donahue’s eyes are now bright blue, the same blue as the infernal orb that caused her future self to turn evil—and that is back in her possession even though she left it in the crumbling future timeline. Now Wren is stuck in a time loop, one of which only she and Alex are aware, as they relive a day during which the |

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“A tale of young love interrupted by the realities of war.” the silent stars go by

THE GIRL IN THE CASTLE

world continually ends. Wren needs to find a way to break the loop in order to save her friends and time as they know it. Told from multiple characters’ perspectives and going over multiple iterations of the same events, this narrative keeps both the protagonists and readers on their toes, though it is sometimes difficult to emotionally invest due to the continually changing circumstances. Nevertheless, this second installment maintains a fast pace as it rockets into the finale. In a racially diverse cast, Wren is cued as White, and Alex is brown-skinned; both have robotic prostheses.

An exciting whirlwind of science-fiction espionage for those who appreciate plot-driven stories. (Science fiction. 13-18)

Patterson, James & Emily Raymond Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown (368 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 19, 2022 978-0-316-41172-1 The lives of two girls named Hannah, living in different centuries on different continents, intersect.

Eighteen-year-old Hannah Dory is an English peasant living a harsh existence in 1347. Hannah Doe is a resident of Belman Psychiatric Hospital in 2023 New York City, brought in after being found on the street experiencing hallucinations and screaming something about a castle. Modern-day Hannah periodically enters a catatonic state, something the staff refer to as her “going to the castle.” Columbia psychology student Jordan Hassan is a new intern at Belman, and his interest is piqued by this girl no one knows much about. He decides to play detective and try to discover her history himself. Meanwhile, in the medieval England storyline, Hannah Dory tries to save her village from starvation by sneaking into the baron’s castle but finds herself swept up in a fight between the new baron and his rival. The book sustains a breakneck pace with short chapters and many cliffhangers that will keep readers’ interest. Patterson’s author’s note includes a list of mental health resources and describes his experience of working as an aide in a psychiatric hospital when he was a teenager. The narrative thoughtfully centers mental illness and touches on complex topics like suicide. Whiteness is the default; Jordan is cued as Muslim.

Thrill-seekers will be absorbed by this exciting story.

(Thriller. 14-18)

THE SILENT STARS GO BY

Nicholls, Sally Walker US/Candlewick (240 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-1-5362-2318-7 A complicated romance unfolds in the wake of World War I. In 1916, Harry Singer, a carefree, floppy-haired boy of 19, entered the war effort. He was sent to the front and went missing one month later, just as then-16-year-old Margot Allen, the pretty blond, blue-eyed vicar’s daughter he was sweet on, learned she was pregnant and was packed off to a home for girls in her condition. Now it’s 1919, and Margot is returning from her secretarial course in the big city of Durham to her North Yorkshire village to celebrate the first Christmas since the war ended. She’ll get to see 2-year-old James, who is being raised as her brother. Harry, who had been a prisoner of war, will also be returning for the holidays. Since learning he was alive, Margot hasn’t found a way to tell him about James and has avoided communicating with Harry altogether. The novel’s strong pacing alternates between wartime and its aftermath, vividly capturing postwar life with its continuing food shortages and the devastating loss of life both in combat and to the influenza pandemic. The experiences of Margot’s older brother, Stephen, show the lasting impact of the war on someone who survived many months in the trenches. At the heart of this story lies a tale of young love interrupted by the realities of war and life’s complications.

A textured historical romance that is far more than the sum of its parts. (historical note) (Historical fiction. 13-18)

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MORE THAN STRESS Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Pedrick, Cherry, Bruce M. Hyman & Tabitha Moriarty Twenty-First Century/Lerner (104 pp.) $37.32 PLB | Sept. 6, 2022 978-1-5415-8893-6 Series: Healthy Living Library Covers clinical anxiety disorders: what they are and how they are diagnosed, treated, and managed.

Recently there has been increased concern about teens’ mental health. The authors estimate that over 10% of young people ages 12 to 17 have a diagnosed anxiety disorder. In this straightforward overview, a trio of medical experts, including a registered nurse, a licensed clinical social worker, and a medical student, unpack the differences among worry, stress, and diagnosed anxiety disorders, addressing their teen readers directly.

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OVERCOMING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS FOR TEENS CBT Activities To Reduce Pain, Increase Hope & Build Meaningful Connections

options and offers stress management techniques that are useful for all readers, whether they have an anxiety disorder or not.

The clear exposition is illustrated with captioned photos showing racially diverse people, mostly teens. The text is also broken up with graphs and charts. Especially useful are the depictions of what’s going on inside our bodies. There are occasional text boxes about specific disorders, such as trichotillomania; the roles played by social media and stressful life events; the relationship between anxiety and depression; the experiences of people from marginalized groups; the value of helplines; and the impact of celebrities who share their own mental health struggles. This is an inviting, accessible, and informative volume about a critical subject.

A timely overview of a widely recognized health concern among teens. (glossary, source notes, selected bibliography, resources, further reading, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction.

12-18)

Pettit, Jeremy & Ryan M. Hill Instant Help Books (200 pp.) $18.95 paper | Sept. 1, 2022 978-1-68403-997-5 Series: Instant Help Solutions

CREEP A Love Story

Peñaflor, Lygia Day Clarion/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-358-69292-8

A love story between two teens, narrated by their stalker.

The cutest couple at Holy Family High School is definitely Laney Villanueva and Nico Fiore. They are popular, gorgeous seniors living a beautiful romance—and the target of sophomore Rafaela Wickham, the sole focus of her obsessive love. Drawn to them like a moth to the light, Rafi slowly but surely gets closer to Laney and Nico, conniving and manipulating events to ingratiate herself and find a way into every aspect of their lives. Her aim is to become one with them—one of their closest friends and the person they will turn to in their hour of need. And when challenges arrive, she does everything she can to help them stay together. It is, after all, the least she can do.

This fast-paced psychological thriller is a disturbing, uncomfortable, heartbreaking journey into the mind of a young person who clearly needs help and attention; the text emphasizes this by showing the emotional fallout of her parents’ abandonment, including an alarming incident involving a beloved teacher. But this aspect is mostly bypassed in favor of creepy thrills, leaving a story that is often repetitive in its emotional beats and likely to leave readers craving more depth. Fans of stalker narratives may appreciate that element enough to enjoy the ride. Laney is Filipino American; Nico and Rafi are assumed White.

A creepy but hollow thriller. (Thriller. 14-18)

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A compact but comprehensive volume highlighting ways to navigate suicidal ideation in teenagers and help them care for their mental health.

From providing readers with a road map on how to use the book to helping teens create a safety plan and identify warning signs, this resource for navigating suicidal ideation in teens has it covered. This book is a great way for teens and their caregivers to better understand how they can respond to suicidal thoughts and promote overall well-being. By clearly outlining the signs of when to seek external help, explaining what kind of help to seek depending on the circumstances, and showing how not all negative thoughts have to be scary, Pettit and Hill have created a helpful interactive resource that can be used independently by teens or with the support of an adult professional. By outlining clear, actionable steps and ways to identify various levels of severity, this book helps remove some of the fear around seeking help in difficult situations. The examples provided include a broad range of situations, including unhealthy friendships, divorced parents, difficulties with romantic partners, and bullying. Stories are used to illustrate how teens can use the tools provided in this book and how each person might do so a little differently. The inviting layout includes chunks of texts broken up with questions, charts, and bullet points.

An accessible, empowering, informative guide for teens and their caregivers. (authors’ note, resources, references) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

MISS PEREGRINE’S MUSEUM OF WONDERS An Indispensable Guide to the Dangers and Delights of the Peculiar World for the Instruction of New Arrivals

Riggs, Ransom Illus. by Jim Tierney Dutton (240 pp.) $21.99 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-0-399-53856-8 Series: Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children

A guidebook to the peculiar world for fledgling members, with notes about the variety of peculiar abilities, techniques for blending in with normals, and other helpful features.

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I SHALL AWAKEN

galleries of peculiars arranged by type, from earthworkers to invisibles and deadrisers. Not to mention real historical peculiars such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mary Seacole. He goes on to discuss time loops (with a handy guide to finding their hidden entrances), ploys and disguises for passing as normal in the outside world, the origins of deadly wights and hollowgast, and, in a final omnium-gatherum section, the peculiar world’s language, party games, and foundational texts. The photos, most of which are portraits, are likely to be the most immediate draw, as even the ones that don’t feature creepy figures with rubbed out eyes or fall under the general theme of fun with skeletons have a decidedly otherworldly air. The staring subjects include racial and cultural diversity.

A keepsake that may fill in a few blanks even for devoted fans of the series. (photo credits, map, index) (Informational fan­ tasy. 12-14)

Šardická, Kateřina Trans. by Tereza Novická Illus. by Štěpánka Coufalová Albatros Media (368 pp.) $17.99 | May 17, 2022 978-80-00-06347-8 Dora’s village is turned upside down when three missing people return in this novel translated from the Czech.

Seventeen-year-old Dora Lautner has been labelled “crazy” ever since four of her friends—Sonya, Tom, Astrid, and Astrid’s little brother, Max—disappeared from day care 12 years ago while she was left behind, unable to say what happened. As the community begins the winter solstice festival of Korochun, during which the dead may walk among the living, Astrid and Tom reappear, unable to remember what transpired, along with a comatose Sonya. Max, however, is nowhere to be found. While people assume that Gustaw Linhart, their suspected kidnapper, set them free upon his recent release from an asylum, Astrid, Dora, and Tom aren’t so sure.

When the traditional bonfire refuses to light and dead animals begin to turn up around the village, talk begins of a curse. During the 12 days of the festival, Dora, Tom, and Astrid must solve the mystery of the abduction and the returnees’ arrival in order to wake up Sonya and find Max before it is too late. The novel is eerie and atmospheric, with a plot drawn from the worst childhood fears of monsters under the bed. The final revelation of the truth behind the mystery does nothing to diminish the horror; if anything, it makes it even scarier. The measured pace is interrupted by bursts of terrifying action, keeping readers in suspense.

An intense, absorbing novel that will have readers jumping at shadows. (Horror. 13-18)

THESE TWISTED BONDS

Ryan, Lexi Clarion/HarperCollins (496 pp.) $18.99 | July 19, 2022 978-0-358-38658-2 Series: These Hollow Vows, 2 Brie struggles with her newfound power and identity amid growing court upheaval in this duology closer following These Hollow Vows (2021).

Having turned fae after nearly dying from her bond with Sebastian, Abriella flees, reeling from his betrayal. Discovering a Seelie prison camp for Unseelie children, Brie unleashes her now considerable magic to free them, alongside Misha and his Wild Fae. Despite her mistrust of all fae, Brie vows to demolish all the golden queen’s camps and stop the exploitation of children. As the imbalance between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts grows, Brie struggles to fix the problem created by her survival. After recuperating with the Wild Fae, she reunites with exiled Unseelie Prince Finn and his friends and immediately recalls her attraction to him despite her bond with Sebastian. As she falls into a flirty love triangle, Brie’s relationships with Sebastian and Finn spotlight negative and potentially toxic issues such as jealousy and obsessive possessiveness as well as the importance of positive communication, support, and empathy. The focus on Brie’s evolving sense of self and belonging elevates an otherwise familiar fantasy plot with some predictable twists. The theme of power in terms of consent, free will, balance, and duty is strongly depicted through Brie and Finn’s determination. Brie and Sebastian read as White; Finn reads as fantasy diverse.

A satisfyingly emotional journey with depth. (Fantasy. 13-18)

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THE 99 BOYFRIENDS OF MICAH SUMMERS

Sass, Adam Illus. by Anne Pomel Viking (352 pp.) $18.99 | Sept. 20, 2022 978-0-593-46478-6

Swept up by the fantasy of fairy-tale romance, an aspiring artist embarks on a modern-day quest for the boy of his dreams.

From the privacy of @InstalovesInChicago, his anonymous Instagram account, 17-year-old White boy Micah Summers, a former reality TV star with a famous father, posts drawings of his crushes reimagined as fantastical romance heroes. After 99 boyfriends, his fans are eager to see Boy 100, but after a disastrous attempt to ask his latest crush on a date, Micah refuses to post yet another secret infatuation without actually making a move. When fate sends him tumbling into |

“Extends histories of 20th-century Black struggles for new generations.” victory. stand!

SIMPLE ACTS The Busy Teen’s Guide to Making a Difference

a missed-connections encounter with a handsome fashion designer on the train, Micah pushes himself out of his comfort zone by immersing himself in the persona of Prince Charming and going on an adventure around the Chicago Loop to find true love with help from best friend Hannah, a straight Black girl. During his pursuit of an idealized relationship, Micah learns that love requires honest and open communication.

His mistakes and growth through his insecurities add meaningful complexity to his romantic conflicts. Micah’s wealth also comes up as a subject of exploration. Refreshingly, even when relationships get messy, no one is the villain, and the story pushes back against the idea that young queer people have limited chances of finding love. Some black-and-white line illustrations of Instagram posts accompany the text.

Self-reflective with satisfying depth. (Romance. 14-18)

Silverstein, Natalie Illus. by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff Free Spirit Publishing (144 pp.) $15.99 paper | July 12, 2022 978-1-63198-626-0

BUCKHEAD

Shobo Illus. by George Kambadais BOOM! Box (144 pp.) $14.99 paper | Sept. 13, 2022 978-1-68415-847-8 A young Nigerian gamer mods up with his friends to rescue the residents of his new town from Ewon, a spirit from Yoruba history.

Toba Adekunle has recently moved to the United States from Lagos because of his mother’s job. His parents visited sites in Nigeria in order to create the Elseverse, a virtual reality system meant to preserve Nigerian history. However, his father became trapped inside the platform after he encountered an unknown intelligence in one of the ruins of the Edo Kingdom. Toba’s mother hopes that by relocating to rural Washington state to work for the company that wanted to develop VR tourism from their data, she might find a way to save her husband. Toba becomes friends with several other new transplants to Buckhead Middle School—Josue, Romy, and Mel—as well as Darsha, a local girl. After strange events occur, they enter the Elseverse through a new operating system and learn that residents of Buckhead are being controlled by Ewon, who was a general in the Ajogun celestial army.

Toba is aided in his battle to save the day by his new friends. The book uses a video game structure with sections opening with levels listing the Elseverse stats of the five friends. The dramatic, full-color illustrations enhance the intensity, highlight humorous parts of the narrative, and add to the poignancy of the racially diverse young people’s friendships.

A thrilling Afrofuturist adventure told through a video gamer’s lens. (cover gallery) (Graphic science fiction. 12-16)

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General advice for doing good on personal and local levels.

Following on her Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back (2019), Silverstein proposes a limited program of “intentional acts of kindness and service, sprinkled throughout your busy everyday life,” geared to privileged teens. Along with an emphasis on collection drives to address a broad range of social needs, the author tallies fundraising ideas from bake sales to dance marathons without substantive practical tips on setting them up and perfunctorily recognizes that, yes, some young people don’t have much free time because financial necessity means they actually have to work, while promoting the value of community service as a way of raising social consciousness and doing good. She suggests turning birthdays and other celebrations into fundraisers (or…collection drives), argues that readers can “blast positive messages that can silence the perpetrator” of cyberbullying and online hate, and promotes head-shaving in support of children in chemo as a “Stretch Idea.” The text largely assumes that readers will benevolently give to others (advising that readers can establish a school diversity and inclusion board and “use this platform to give any marginalized individuals or groups a safe place to share experiences”), setting up an us-vs.-them framework (“We need to remember that we will all be in need of help one day”). Black-and-white spot art shows racially diverse human figures.

A bland offering next to the many more compelling guides available. (resources, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12-15)

VICTORY. STAND! Raising My Fist for Justice

Smith, Tommie & Derrick Barnes Illus. by Dawud Anyabwile Norton Young Readers (208 pp.) $19.95 | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-324-00390-8

“We had to be seen because we were not being heard.”

Gold medalist Smith teams up with award-winning creators Barnes and Anyabwile to vividly share the freedom dreams that inspired his iconic protest at the 1968 Olympics. Born in Texas to sharecropping parents, Smith and his large family followed the Great Migration that sent thousands of Black families out of the Deep South. Landing in California, he navigated racist misconceptions from peers and authority figures alike. Arriving at San Jose State at the height of |

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the civil rights movement, Smith met like-minded friends who balanced athletic excellence with a commitment to justice. After achieving gold and bronze, respectively, in the 200-meter sprint, Smith and John Carlos arrived at the podium prepared to make a global statement protesting racial injustice. During the playing of the U.S. national anthem, they raised black-gloved fists in support of impassioned ideals that emerged from the Black student–led Olympic Project for Human Rights. Smith navigated post-Olympics professional repercussions and remained committed to his principled stance; decades later, reverence for his protest would return in the form of honors and awards, yet the struggle to upend racial injustice continues. The blackand-white illustrations’ realism echoes the visual influences of the Black Power period. Art and text present an unflinching look at the physical and verbal racist violence of the time. This evocative undertaking extends histories of 20th-century Black struggles for new generations, reminding us to continue to be brave, courageous, and organize for change.

Authentic and inspiring. (Graphic nonfiction. 12-18)

WHEN STARS COME OUT

St. Clair, Scarlett Bloom Books (416 pp.) $11.99 paper | July 26, 2022 978-1-72826-299-4

Hiding her ability to see the dead from her new classmates may prove to be the least of Anora’s problems when she lands in the crosshairs of a secret organization.

After what happened in New York, Anora Silby is determined to fly under the radar at her new school in Oklahoma. That is easier said than done: On her first day she both captures a soul and then loses the resulting resurrection coin that grants power over another’s soul. Between trying not to become the subject of Roundtable, the school’s gossip app, and balancing the uncertain social structure of a new school with the attention of Shy Savior, the mysterious and magnetic star quarterback, Anora has her hands full. When her missing coin becomes a murder weapon and she finds herself the target of a powerful secret organization, deciding whom to trust becomes a life-or-death matter. A reimagined Orpheus and Eurydice tale told in dual perspectives, St. Clair’s foray into YA tries to do too many things at once. Characters are distinctive but numerous, and readers may have trouble following many different concurrent plotlines. Shy and Anora’s relationship takes a long time to develop despite its “love at first sight” beginning, and an interesting magic system and detailed worldbuilding are somewhat lost in competing narrative conflicts. Characters default to White.

Too many loose threads crowd out the details of an intriguing fantasy world. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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THE COMPASS ROSE

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

WOMEN WI$E by Eleanor Blayney & Marjorie L. Fox................. 140 BLUE LAKE by Jeffrey D. Boldt........................................................ 140 THE POSEN LIBRARY OF JEWISH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION ed. by Elisheva Carlebach...................................................................142 JACKIE DOES IT ALL by Fabian E. Ferguson; illus. by Alisa Aryutova..................................................................... 144

SHADOWS HOLD THEIR BREATH by Sherry Robinson.................. 151 WESTERN SKIES by Darden Smith..................................................152

Artistic works of the old masters illuminate stories of crime, family feuds, and acrid relationships in Barasch Rubinstein’s knotty stories.

The author prefaces each of these four tales with brief, scholarly pieces about Italian Renaissance artists, each hinting at the following story’s themes.

In “On Perspective,” 14th-century painter Giotto’s innovations in perspective frame a narrative about a restaurant owner who hires a prisoner on work-release and is excited by the man’s accounts of his burglaries—until some money goes missing. “On Motion” pairs Leonardo da Vinci’s treatment of movement with a couple traveling around the world by train and plane, stewing in jealousy and the man’s resentment at being left out of his father’s will. “On Time” cites Michelangelo’s works to comment on a woman’s reconnection with an old flame who dredges up anguished recollections of her abortion and their breakup. “On Synthesis” moves from Raphael’s harmonious balancing of motifs to a woman whose sense of empathy sharpens as she writes a story about a painter and advises people on their conflicting desires for love and meaning. Barasch Rubinstein’s lucid, engaging art-history sections, which are illustrated by color reproductions of various masterpieces, establish an intellectual tone that bleeds into her fiction as her characters self-consciously brood over moral and epistemic conundrums. There’s much neurotic navel-gazing in the stories, and characters tend to sound like psychiatrists when they speak, as when the narrator of “On Synthesis” says, “Your search for the truth is a result of your curiosity. The child that didn’t want to find out what his father was doing preferred not to delve into human nature.” Fortunately, Barasch Rubinstein excels at visual, painterly imagery that opens up her characters’ inner worlds, as in “On Time”: “A hidden joy was forming, splashing golden slivers everywhere, illuminating the suffering, making it look almost attractive.” The result is a gallery of shrewdly drawn, deeply felt portraits.

Occasionally stilted but often luminous literary studies in which life imitates art.

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GOING, GOING, GONE! by Steve Hermanos.................................. 146

Barasch Rubinstein, Emanuela Manuscript (174 pp.)

SHADOWS HOLD THEIR BREATH

Robinson, Sherry Shadelandhouse Modern Press (272 pp.) $23.95 paper | July 19, 2022 978-1-945-049-28-6

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INDIE | Myra Forsberg

for armchair adventurers Rousing adventure yarns transport readers to different eras and plant them in the middle of magnificent scenery and risky quests. Kirkus Indie recently reviewed books that invite the audience to join a 1,200-mile ocean voyage; the pursuit of a pirate ship in the Caribbean; and a treacherous treasure hunt in western Asia.

Susan Conrad’s Inside My Sea of Dreams focuses on a young seafarer’s journey from Washington state to Alaska along the coastal water trail called the Inside Passage. Navigating her rainbow-colored kayak named Kami, Suz sees intriguing sights like “steep-walled fjords, just a sliver on the sea.” According to our reviewer, the picture book—illustrated by Rebecca Rothman—delivers “a dynamic adventure tale, based on a true story, told in evocative images and prose.”

The daughter of pirates embarks on a dangerous mission in Dan E. Hendrickson’s Brandy, set in the 19th century. Brandy—who runs a tavern with her uncle—discovers that the murderous villain who captured her parents’ pirate ship, The Red Witch, plans to expand the slave trade in the Caribbean. While she decides to stop him by claiming her legacy, she also must deal with a complex personal matter: She has fallen for first mate John Edwards of The Morning Star.

The “briskly paced” pirate tale “seamlessly blends action and a love story,” our critic writes.

In Circle of Dreams by Robert E. Ferguson, two pals seek a priceless religious artifact: the holy robe of Jesus.

This third installment of a trilogy stars Granger Lawton and Bobby McAllister.

They sail with their team of archaeologists and bodyguards to various places—including Jerusalem and Istanbul— looking for clues and dodging armed religious zealots. Then a team member ends up fatally shot. Our reviewer calls the novel an “entertaining finale to a rewarding treasure-hunting series.”

Myra Forsberg is an Indie editor.

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DNA, OR THE BOOK OF BRAD

Bauer, Monica Self (277 pp.) $10.44 paper | $2.99 e-book April 3, 2020 979-8-6326-0975-3

In Bauer’s debut novel, a young Black lawyer discovers her birth family and her Jewish roots.

While speeding down Los Angeles’ 405 freeway and on the phone with one of his many mistresses, 56-year-old “Rabbi to the Stars” Brad Cohen gets into a fatal car wreck. At the same time, across town, 28-year-old attorney Rose Pettigrew, who identifies as Black, is hesitantly opening the results of her recent DNA test. Raised by her adoptive mother, Shaniqua, to celebrate her Blackness, Rose is surprised to learn that she has Ashkenazi Jewish ancestors. Her girlfriend, a White heart surgeon named Paula, can’t believe it either; she was raised Jewish but later declared herself agnostic and vowed long ago to never date another “nice Jewish girl.” The two quickly put together that the recently deceased Brad, who was also White, must have been Rose’s biological father, so they attend his starstudded funeral, where they meet the rest of the dysfunctional family: Rose’s brother, Jacob, who’s struggling to get his comedy career off the ground; the gentle and straightforward Rabbi Shmuel, Rose’s grandfather; and Brad’s highmaintenance widow, Saragail. Rose finds herself thrown into all the drama of her new family as she struggles to come to terms with her multifaceted identity. Bauer’s plot provides a fun setup that allows her to explore Jewish, LGBTQ+, and Black communities from several smart angles. Her book is filled with colorful characters and jokes; Saragail particularly stands out with her divalike behavior and possibly supernatural hot flashes, although Paula consistently delivers the book’s best one-liners: “Look it up. It’s worth two Jew Points,” she responds when Rose asks what mishegoss means. Some jokes, especially about celebrity culture, are a bit too broad—Cyndi Lauper sings “Jews Just Wanna Have Fun” at Brad’s funeral, for example—but a sweet core of self-acceptance and familial love keeps things relatively grounded.

An intriguing premise paves the way for laughs in a tale featuring a diverse cast.

APOLLO SALVATOIR Shā-Shǔ the Dragon

ACT OF FATE A Doc Brady Mystery

Bertoch, Hiram J. Finny Wiggen Media (265 pp.) $19.95 | $14.95 paper | $3.99 e-book March 3, 2022 978-1-946334-00-8 978-1-946334-98-5 paper

In this fifth installment of a mystery series, a resilient Houston orthopedist and amateur gumshoe returns to solve

another complex case.

In this volume, author/orthopedist Bishop departs from his typical formula to more intensively incorporate several of Dr. Jim Bob “Doc” Brady’s family members in a new investigation.

Previous volumes like Act of Negligence (2021) have featured the good doctor’s longtime wife of nearly three decades, Mary Louise, as a solid foundation of love and support. This time, she is fully embroiled in a scandal that puts her life in serious jeopardy.

As typical for a Brady mystery, there are many moving parts successfully suspended in motion. This one kicks off with the coldblooded murder of Meredith Brown James, whose marriage to neurosurgeon Dr. Frank James has seen better days. She is slain while planning a romantic reconciliatory dinner that she hopes will revive their relationship. Meredith’s father, distinguished Houston philanthropist and cancer survivor Melvin Brown, also happens to be Doc’s patient. At the time of her murder, the physician was about to perform knee replacement surgery, his specialty, on Melvin. Further tragedy ensues when Doc learns that Mary Louise has been seriously injured in an automobile accident. Suffering massive cranial and skeletal trauma, she lies in a coma. Desperate to save her life, Doc appeals to Frank James, one of his close colleagues, to tend to Mary Louise. But the “ladies’ man” has bigger problems to deal with as his wife’s murder has taken on a life of its own with many serpentine detours and suspects galore (himself included). The cutthroat killer shot a newly pregnant Meredith with two bullets, one to the forehead and the other inexplicably through the fifth rib into her heart. With Frank emotionally and physically unavailable to medically treat Mary Louise, Doc turns to physician George Flanagan, an instantly unlikable man “with the bedside manner of a roach.”

As usual in Bishop’s energetic series, Doc is pulled in many different directions. Here, he works with police detectives to uncover Meredith’s murderer and find the driver responsible for Mary Louise’s injuries. But he has found help this time, enlisting his adult son, J.J., and his investigative firm to assist in sleuthing the case details. As the author’s sturdy puzzler plays out, so does a nefarious plot that readers will devilishly enjoy.

By placing Mary Louise’s life on the line, the story creates a particular urgency to uncover the killer and solve the mystery, and this aspect infuses a good amount of suspense into the novel. Despite the somewhat tidy ending, this new adventure ultimately lives up to the Brady series standards, as does Bishop’s vivid clinical settings and descriptions. Prolific to a fault, the author includes a teaser chapter of the next volume after |

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In this YA martial arts adventure, a boy in a remote temple trains for greatness while unaware of his family’s true nature.

Eleven-year-old Apollo Salvatoir lives in San Francisco. His father, William, is a successful businessman while his mother, Tayleigh, died in a car accident two months ago. Apollo loves gymnastics and his best friend, 11-year-old Tan Ling. When classes at Willoughby’s Academy break for the summer, Apollo’s busy father allows his cruel assistant and lover, Jamie Plover, to care for his son. The physically abusive woman calls Apollo “nothing but a dog.” Apollo and Ling eventually film Jamie’s abuse with a cellphone to expose her. But Jamie catches them, spoiling the plan and triggering Apollo’s transfer to an “exclusive private school” in rural China. At the strange school, the other children wear color-coded robes and treat Apollo like an inconsequential gerbil. Apollo soon comes under the tutelage of the instructor Shīfŭ Hui, who tells him: “The feet of a dragon stand firm against evil, walking toward and never away from duty.” Meanwhile, Ling, whose father, Tan Far, considers her an embarrassment, sends her to the Chinese village of Xitanxiang, where she’ll attend school. Ling and Apollo soon become trapped in a familial rivalry between two martial arts sects: the White Dragons and the Black Dragons. Bertoch gives YA and advanced middle-grade readers a well-crafted, unvarnished adventure that follows the chosen one format. Chapters begin with paragraphs of wisdom from The Book of the Wyvern Spirits, explaining the humble beginnings of the legendary figure that Apollo will become, Shā-Shŭ, and including inspirational passages like “Each of us has a role to play, and the world is better when we reach without fear toward it.” Apollo is a great role model for readers, as he helps the aging Lanfen in the school’s kitchen. The abuse he suffers is graphic, as when Jamie strikes “Apollo across the chest.” While other YA fare might include fanciful elements like magic to balance harsher themes, the author forgoes anything that might soften his message of braving a dangerous world. Finding a new family is what saves Apollo.

A well-written, absorbing martial arts tale best suited for older YA audiences.

Bishop, John Mantid Press (380 pp.) $19.99 | $14.99 paper | $9.99 e-book May 10, 2022 979-8-9861596-1-4 978-1-73425-119-7 paper

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a fitting epilogue. With no end in sight, the fierce and fearless Doc will continue his fight for Texas justice as the thrilling tales keep on coming. Fans of interwoven family dramas and mysteries will especially enjoy this installment.

Another potent, vigorously written entry in a series that continues to keep mystery fans rapt.

WOMEN WI$E The Essential Guide to Financial and Lifestyle Decisions as We Age

Blayney, Eleanor & Marjorie L. Fox Amplify Publishing (280 pp.) $30.00 | $9.99 e-book | June 6, 2022 978-1-64543-164-0 Two financial planners, one of them a lawyer, draw on personal and professional experience as they offer advice to older women looking ahead to retirement.

In her role as a financial adviser, Blayney had helped other women plan for retirement, but when she stopped working at age 67, she found negotiating her own retirement plans to be unexpectedly challenging. Facing the increasing physical limitations of aging, along with numerous financial and lifestyle decisions, Blayney decided to compile the resource book that she herself needed to make the transition to retired life. She collaborated with like-minded colleague, attorney, and financial planner Fox, who had retired at age 71. Beginning with daunting statistics such as that women over the age of 65 are “80% more likely to be below the poverty line than men” and that 5,000 U.S. women turn 65 every day, Blayney and Fox assess the challenges that face a group in which “many feel alone, unseen and unheard, in a culture uncomfortable with the realities of aging.” Their topics range from identification of and protection from elder abuse to choosing the most practicable living situation and navigating the complexities of Medicare and Social Security. A deep dive into financial planning options includes chapters on annuities, reverse mortgages, strategies for spending down savings and investments, and estate planning. The authors’ perspectives as older women help to give their guidebook authority and heart. Even though they are both professionals in financial planning, they candidly admit to facing the same challenges as women far less schooled in economics, such as increasing difficulty in changing ceiling light bulbs and overcoming a reluctance to join a senior center. One notable limitation is the book’s firmly heterosexual perspective. Given the extra legal and social challenges that gay couples may face in later life, it’s surprising that the authors present aging as a “his and hers” proposition and don’t discuss the challenges of lesbians looking ahead to retirement. Nonetheless, with numerous lists, questions, and detailed explanations of complex financial and personal issues, this sincere and thorough guide would be helpful to women of all ages.

A practical and compassionate handbook designed to help women envision their lives after work.

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BLUE LAKE

Boldt, Jeffrey D. River Grove Books (312 pp.) $18.95 paper | $8.99 e-book | March 8, 2022 978-1-63299-516-2 An administrative law judge finds himself both in love and in mortal danger in this debut mystery.

Judge Jason Erickson loves his work enforcing Environmental Protection Agency laws even if it is often a strenuous, uphill battle. Big money has tremendous influence in Wisconsin, and the political power structure is stacked against him.

And he is slowly falling in love with Tara Highsmith, a science reporter who often attends his hearings. Tara tries to save her marriage, but her cheating husband wants out, clearing the way for her and Jason to plan a future. Meanwhile, there is a crucial case involving lakefront condominiums (“slipominiums”) backed by the sketchy Tommy Calandro. The attorney pleading the case for a permit is a hotshot lawyer named Earl Franks whose reckless lifestyle has made him beholden to Calandro.

Bribes are dangled; threats are made. Jason records some of these exchanges. In the pivotal point in the book, Jason—about to take his findings to the police—is shot down in the street, as is Tara. The rest of the story focuses on a courtroom drama leading up to a startling conclusion. Boldt is a retired administrative law judge and passionate about justice and the environment, and this shows on every page of this remarkable novel. It’s no surprise that the courtroom scenes are so well handled. Jason is a finely drawn and thoughtful character, as is Tara. Their falling in love is delightfully paced. These are idealistic and wary people who make their own slow magic. The author even manages to make Earl a borderline sympathetic, or at least understandable, character. There is humor even in the worst of times, as when Earl tries to kill himself but finally realizes that his hybrid Lexus will not consistently spew enough carbon monoxide to do the deed. At some points, Boldt displays a wry wit: Jason “felt righteously indignant that he couldn’t even feel righteously indignant.” And the author’s vivid descriptions of the Wisconsin countryside will make readers put the Dairy State on their bucket lists.

An impressive, wonderfully detailed legal thriller showing the best and worst of humanity.

“Burke’s poetry is characterized above all else by a searing honesty.” xuleca lounge

AN IMPROBABLE ASTRONAUT How a Georgia Farmboy Wound Up Flying the Space Shuttle

Bridges Jr., Roy D. Heart Ally Books (446 pp.) $48.69 | $31.95 paper | $5.99 e-book May 17, 2022 978-1-63107-042-6 978-1-63107-041-9 paper

XULECA LOUNGE Poems

Burke, Kevin Clifford Self (90 pp.) $13.25 paper | $3.99 e-book 978-0-578-96364-8 This collection of poetry celebrates creativity, marriage, and the development of a strong sense of self.

The volume’s title poem came to Burke in a dream he experienced while visiting Philadelphia with his husband. It describes a fictional space in which he could “feel inspired to wonder at the edge of the creative process.” In the poem, the author rejoices in the silence found there and the freedom to create “fertile ground / a respite from chattering / to temper the magical realm.” The significance of solitude is explored in a number of Burke’s poems, including “Solitude’s Hour,” in which he finds respite from past pain: “I bask, lay my head and rest upon its sweet lullaby of green.”

Other poems confront trauma directly, with an affecting bluntness: “Child blocked / the father’s cock / numb and dim / frozen prey of vermin.” In contrast, “The Song of Fire” is a tender and earnest panegyric to the poet’s husband, Miguel, on their wedding day: “They bless and quench / our soul-driven search / for each other.” Burke’s poetry is characterized above all else by a searing honesty. The closing poem, “Christmas Eve,” offers a crystal-clear window into the poet’s emotions prior to discovering a true sense of self: “I despised myself for being / tremulous / too tender / too weak.” This lingering self-doubt metamorphosizes into an inspirational moment of triumph: “Now my clumsy cooling star shines / no longer waiting to be changed / like water into wine.” This collection is peppered with cultural references, from allusions to duende, a Spanish term loosely defining a heightened state of emotion, to a mention of the ancient Egyptian sun god Aton. This lends a textural richness and a certain exoticism to Burke’s writing. On occasion, the poet is overeager to shoehorn in highbrow indicators, leading to imagery feeling gratuitously pretentious and overworked: “I am alone...on a couch I do not own / in a stygian starless room of night.” This minor flaw only mildly detracts from a thoughtfully introspective collection written with passion and grace.

Multifaceted, self-explorative poems that prove both illuminating and uplifting.

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A debut memoir focuses on a venturesome Southern farm boy who fulfilled a lifelong dream to explore space as an astronaut.

From his earliest days, decorated military veteran and retired astronaut Bridges had an undeniably adventurous spirit.

His book, split into three sections, first explores his quest to learn everything about space travel during an inquisitive youth, then his full immersion in the NASA program, and, finally, his emergence as a key leader in numerous Air Force interstellar projects. Beginning at age 5, the author displayed a lively imagination and explorative spirit as he scoured the forests around his suburban Georgia home in search of bears and buried treasure.

Born during World War II, Bridges writes fondly of his early life as the son of a registered nurse mother and a father formerly enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Though the family was preoccupied with work, this aspect afforded the shy author and his sister, Eva Mae, many opportunities for “testing boundaries” even after they relocated to his beloved grandparents’ tobacco farm.

In high school, Bridges developed an affinity for science and engineering, marveling at how Soviet space explorers launched an artificial satellite into an elliptical low Earth orbit. With his family’s immense support, he decided to pursue a career in space travel: “I didn’t care how improbable that might be. I saw it as my great adventure.” His strenuous years training at the Air Force Academy provide plenty of stories of camaraderie, cadet scandals, and his marriage to his first love, Benita, in 1967 (they are still together). After flying fighter jets in the Vietnam War, he saw his career trajectory soar, spanning intensive training in pilot school with rocket-powered aircraft, working at the Pentagon, and becoming a NASA astronaut candidate.

In his early 40s, after raising two children with his wife, Bridges accepted a prestigious offer to pilot the Challenger Spacelab 2 shuttle mission in 1985. This climactic event becomes the memoir’s capstone and is narrated in exacting detail, providing a riveting account of his time manning the craft as it shot into space despite a terrifying episode of engine failure. His career would climb even higher in the Air Force before the author retired in 1996. Though the impressively written book needs no embellishment, Bridges’ story is further enhanced with generous personal photographs illustrating the many pivotal moments of his momentous career. There are shots of Bridges immersed in a water buoyancy spacewalker simulator; near the combat jets he piloted; with the Spacelab 2 crew; and during his stint as an Air Force major general, perhaps his crowning achievement. In this obvious labor of love, Bridges, at 79, reflects on a life lived to the fullest, with many

dreams accomplished and countless boundaries and obstacles conquered. While he shares a somewhat overwhelming amount of detail throughout his impassioned self-portrait, what will resonate most with readers of all ages is the author’s fearless spirit and perseverance in achieving seemingly insurmountable goals. Even readers with just a casual interest in space travel and interstellar exploration will find much to savor in this admirable, inspiring, and heartfelt account. The memoir proves that with enough drive and determination, anything is possible.

A sublime scrapbook tribute to an unexpected career in orbit.

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THE POSEN LIBRARY OF JEWISH CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION Volume Six: Confronting Modernity, 1750-1880

CHOICES WE MAKE IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE From Fantasy Land to Tomorrow Land Cook, Stephen P. Parthenon Books (424 pp.) $14.95 paper 978- 0-9627349-5-3

Ed. by Carlebach, Elisheva Yale University Press (600 pp.) $136.55 | Nov. 26, 2019 978-0-300-19000-7

The sixth book in an anthology series about Jewish history and culture that covers the years 1750 to 1880.

The latest volume, edited by Carlebach—a professor of Jewish history, culture, and society and director of the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies at Columbia University—contains a wide range of material by and about major Jewish figures of the era, including autobiographical excerpts, poetry, fiction, and scholarly writing. Authors include well-known figures, such as Karl Marx, and lesser-known ones, such as socialite and poet Rebecca Franks, known as the “Jewish Belle” of Philadelphia.

Sections devoted to visual and material culture include images of finials on the rolls that hold Torah scrolls, a stylized topographic map of Israel by scribe and illustrator Moses Ganbash, and paintings such as one depicting a Jewish burial society from the late 1700s. Also included are excerpts from sheet music, such as that for Charles-Valentin Alkan’s Ancienne melodie de la synagogue from 1844. Even those who are well versed in the time period will learn much from these pages, which include a wide range of material, from an epistle that expresses opposition to Hasidism, penned by scholar Elijah ben Solomon Zalman, to a piece on bare-knuckle boxing by an Englishman known as “Mendoza the Jew.” The greatest takeaways from the work involve questions that readers may not have considered; for example, just how did a soldier go about celebrating Passover in the middle of the Civil War, as a Union Army private set out to do in 1862? An account from American Mordecai Sheftall, who was captured by the British in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, is brief but highly engaging. Other, more well-known sources don’t have the same enlightening appeal; for instance, excerpts from the work of Benjamin Disraeli prove relatively dry, with familiar statements, such as how “the fitness of a material object for a material purpose is a test of its utility.” Images of items such as an amulet made to protect pregnant women from Lilith, Adam’s first wife in biblical lore, create more lasting states of wonder.

An essential collection of Judaica that ably combines the known and the obscure.

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A manual looks at how individual choices shape the future of society.

In this companion to his Coming of Age in the Global Village (1990), Cook offers a framework for describing the different viewpoints, mentalities, and ways of thinking about all aspects of human life—religion and spirituality, personal responsibility, systems of governance, consumption, the environment, and militarism, among many others.

This framework is a way to understand and guide people toward making decisions that are optimal for their own lives and for the future of humanity as a whole. The author outlines these viewpoints through a series of 52 choices between opposing worldviews, detailed in the book’s appendix and on a companion website. Using his own preferences as examples, Cook explains how the combination of values and choices he has made has allowed him to pursue a sustainable lifestyle, reduce his carbon footprint, build a community of friends and relatives, and develop an authentic spiritual life. He provides his choices as an example for readers to adapt to their own circumstances. Drawing on the author’s scientific background as a professor and research specialist, the book also takes an analytical approach to climate change and other crucial topics, showing how and why humans can and should take steps toward sustainability. Although the prose can be meandering at times and the volume’s pacing could be tighter, readers will likely be willing to overlook occasional narrative shortcomings in favor of Cook’s enthusiastic and authentic storytelling. Throughout the text, he demonstrates a deep knowledge of wide-ranging subjects, and the book’s many references to Coming of Age demonstrate that the author has returned to his topics many times since 1990, refining and strengthening his analysis in the intervening decades. The manual makes a persuasive case for moving toward a more sustainable lifestyle— although few readers are likely to join Cook in “peecycling,” using their own urine to fertilize homegrown crops—and for making choices that are true to one’s values without demonizing those who follow a different path.

A thoughtful and well-reasoned guide to making lifestyle decisions.

“This thoughtfully conceived book illuminates the complexities and possibilities following an ALS diagnosis.” find a place for me

ELIJAH GOES TO CLEVELAND

Darden, Mark Illus. by Anh Bui Buckeye Muscle Media (32 pp.) $17.99 | Sept. 27, 2021 978-1-73670-300-7

YOUR ADVENTURES AT CERN Play the Hero Among Particles and a Particular Dinosaur!

Diamante, Letizia Illus. by Claudia Flandoli World Scientific Publishing Company (150 pp.) $20.55 | $17.61 paper | $12.90 e-book Aug. 29, 2021 978-981-12-3490-3 978-981-12-3558-0 paper

This debut educational, activities-filled graphic novel takes readers on a grand tour of the world’s biggest particle physics laboratory.

Diamante styles her work as a game book, making readers the protagonists. They are at CERN, on the border between France and Switzerland. Their adventure begins by choosing to be a tourist, a CERN researcher, or a student. Each of these roles will send them bouncing around the work as they traverse the particle-smashing Large Hadron Collider or try to reach

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In this travel/picture book, a little boy’s scavenger hunt takes him to Cleveland landmarks and historical sites.

When Elijah and his parents arrive in Cleveland to visit his grandma and grandpa, he learns that his “FAVORITE BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD” will be headlining at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. An offer of free tickets sets Elijah and his grandparents off on a scavenger hunt. To earn the tickets, they must follow clues on the band’s website to find its members at sites around the city. With his grandparents helping to decipher the clues by sharing their knowledge of Cleveland and its historical and contemporary points of interest, Elijah makes it to each location, beginning with Public Square and a statue of the city’s founder, Moses Cleaveland. But each time the trio arrives, the band members have moved on to the next site. Will Elijah and his family get those free tickets after all? Darden’s lively tale is enhanced by Elijah’s enthusiasm and Bui’s varied city settings— including the West Side Market, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and the Wade Lagoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art—and character-rich renderings of the boy and his supportive Black family. The book includes an illustrated map and a list of the places Elijah visits, with additional background information. (If the author isn’t already planning a series featuring Elijah’s travels, he should consider it.)

An appealing young boy and his family star in a tribute to an Ohio city.

one of its four massive detectors. Each role also comes with further choices—one helper and one or more tools—and picking the wrong thing may have disastrous consequences. Along the way, they will meet such animated characters as pet cockatiel Cheepy; CERN guide Marta; and Schrödy, an adorably snarky cat more interested in food than assisting anyone. There are numerous obstacles as well, from a hacker whom readers are racing against for a password to access the late Professor Virtualli’s robot-controlling code. The author provides the protagonists with entertaining choices. In one case, grabbing the wrong piece of cake could prematurely end their stories. But no matter where readers go, the novel practically bursts with quizzes, games, and wonderful scientific tidbits, like backgrounds on famous physicists and the origin of the Big Bang moniker.

It’s an educationally rich book for all ages, with plenty of humor.

Schrödy, for example, takes over the glossary and puts his own spin on it; he adds comments on “annoying” humans and claims that “terribly dangerous” dogs are food thieves. Flandoli’s playful artwork only elevates the fun, filling the pages with cartoonish animal expressions and colorful particles. Some illustrations showcase intriguing details, like a crowd of CERN Control Centre operators. Readers may fare better with a print copy of the work, as it requires endless page-flipping and even, as the author encourages, jotting down checkmarks and game answers.

This dynamic book for kids and adults overflows with scientific knowledge and delights.

FIND A PLACE FOR ME Embracing Love and Life in the Face of Death

Fagan, Deirdre Pact Press (250 pp.) $17.95 paper | $9.99 e-book | Nov. 1, 2022 978-1-64603-283-9 In this memoir, a woman recalls her husband’s battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

On Dec. 12, 2011, Fagan was told by her 43-year-old husband, Bob, that he had a “twitch in his arm.” By Dec. 29, he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a terminal condition with a life expectancy of two to five years. At the time of the diagnosis, both the author and her husband were working as teachers and raising two young children. Fagan was still in mourning after the loss of several close family members. The memoir explains how the couple came to terms with the news that Bob was dying. The author recalls a proactive approach, with Bob eager to “slow” what he referred to as this “ALS fucker” with practices such as juicing. She also openly discusses intimate topics like their sex life and how ALS did not destroy it. Fagan describes Bob’s deteriorating health and mobility but also memorable occasions, such as her husband attending a Rush concert. The book is punctuated with honest conversations in which the couple discuss the future and Bob’s hope that his wife will find another partner after his death. The author also explains with clarity what having ALS means and how it manifests itself: “ALS |

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affects voluntary muscle movements. Put simply, this means that anything you can hold, like your breath or your urine, is affected.” Fagan is a sharply descriptive writer, capable of viscerally capturing the pain of impending loss: “When someone’s skin is your own skin, losing them a bit at a time is like fileting yourself one layer at a time.” Her adoration for Bob is palpable even when she is vividly transporting readers to their saddest and most intimate moments: “He was the best thing that had ever happened to me. He was the reason I was still alive. His gorgeous frame sat on the edge of that bed weeping in the position of The Thinker, sobbing into his hands.” One criticism is that the account ends somewhat abruptly. Readers will want to understand in greater detail how Fagan coped with her grief and moved forward. Still, this thoughtfully conceived book illuminates the complexities and possibilities following an ALS diagnosis.

A frank and affecting ALS account with lucid and at times heartbreaking writing.

JACKIE DOES IT ALL Ferguson, Fabian E. Illus. by Alisa Aryutova Self (44 pp.) $17.99 | July 26, 2022 978-1-73616-213-2

An overachieving scout learns the value of saying no in this picture book.

Butterfly Brigade member Jackie, a confident girl with brown skin, curly hair, and glasses, is excited to attend her first scout jamboree. Her enthusiasm for earning patches puts her in the running for the “top scout overall” Golden Monarch Award. She comes up with a plan to enter the Great Jamboree storytelling competition, which would earn her two more patches—she just has to write a tale before the event. It seems simple enough, but when her fellow scouts ask for help fixing their banner and Ms. Cruz needs Jackie to dogsit, the girl finds herself in over her head. Luckily, Mommy’s there with sage advice: “To make people happy, I know how far you would go, / but there often” come times “when you just have to say ‘NO!’ ” For children (and adults) who struggle because they take on too many tasks, this valuable lesson—learned early— could save a lot of future tears. Jackie is a likable protagonist who strives to help everyone. She eventually learns that taking care of herself is just as vital. Ferguson’s humorous, rhyming stanzas scan smoothly throughout, and the invented scouting organization allows more children to identify with Jackie’s goals.

The action-oriented illustrations that depict a brown-skinned cast are where Jackie really shines. Aryutova deftly captures the girl’s spirit and challenges in soft-edged, cartoon images.

A timely, vibrant, and cheerfully illustrated reminder about the importance of balance.

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FINDING QUERENCIA Essays From In-Between

Fletcher, Harrison Candelaria Mad Creek Books (180 pp.) $19.95 paper | April 15, 2022 978-0-8142-5817-0

A scholar explores issues of Latine identity in this collection of introspective essays.

Fletcher, an associate professor of creative writing at Colorado State University, has previously authored award-winning books, such as Descanso for My Father (2012). Here, he continues to offer readers poignant reflections on Latine history, identity, and culture.

Nearly all of the book’s nine chapters have a rare combination of brevity and depth. These are not essays designed to be read in a single sitting but pieces to be contemplated and reread, as one may discover new subtleties after multiple read-throughs.

Some essays are divided into subparts that offer relevant, standalone poems or mini-essays, often no longer than a paragraph.

Fletcher opens the collection with a description of a valued heirloom from his family’s New Mexican past—an Easter mask from the Yaqui Nation of Southern Arizona that was used in Passion plays that blended the biblical story of Jesus’ death and resurrection with those of Native deities. The author writes that when he wore the mask, “some hidden side of me had stepped out from the trove of memory….I saw myself.” One of the book’s main subjects is “in-between” spaces, as represented by the mask’s blend of Christianity and Indigenous culture and its connection between the present and the past. The titular Querencia is a Spanish word that lacks an English equivalent and is defined by the author—in a characteristically offbeat style that defies traditional grammatical norms—as “desire of want of sanctuary of strength of safety of soul where you know who you are and where you belong.” The book’s introspective aesthetic is complemented by an ample assortment of original black-and-white collage and photomontage artwork, which, like the essays they accompany, offers an appealing combination of simplicity and depth. Overall, Fletcher’s style may be a bit esoteric for readers who prefer a more straightforward essayistic approach. Others, however, may find this a profound and resonant collection.

A powerful set of reflections on identity and family history.

THE YOU I SEE

Freeman, Danny Atmosphere Press (402 pp.) $16.99 paper | July 12, 2022 978-1-63988-311-0 Two 13-year-old boys discover love and sexuality in this debut YA romance.

Set in late-1980s Houston, Freeman’s novel opens with the electric chemistry between the protagonist and narrator,

“Readers will get an authentic and sometimes harrowing view of life in the Northwest Territories.” mólazha ̨

The book’s centerpiece is Hardy’s adolescent experience at a Roman Catholic boarding school, where he lived in a dormitory whose supervisor repeatedly raped him and other boys.

(He includes a blistering indictment of the church for covering up such crimes.) Later chapters describe his career as a lawyer and Métis rights advocate and plumb the damage wrought by the molestation ordeal, which manifested in his alcoholism and failed marriage. Much of Hardy’s labyrinthine account consists of dry genealogical information that will be of interest mainly to family members. But there are also intriguing snippets of frontier history and lore: an episode of famine and cannibalism; his grandfather’s killing of a moose with a knife; and tales of the monstrous “Náhgáneh” bushman. The author also paints a revealing picture of social tensions, exploring how the Métis uneasily navigated White bigotry and Indigenous resentment and the antagonisms between Catholics and Anglicans. (Before his wedding, Hardy’s Catholic Métis grandfather had to sign a contract guaranteeing that he would let his wife and children practice Anglicanism.) Hardy’s prose, usually lucid and workmanlike, is searing in conveying his victimization at school— “It was about thirty years until I started losing the rotten smell of his body, which was ground into my senses”—and lyrical in evoking nature. (“There would be” the northern lights, “swirling like paintbrushes, spreading colour across the skies, which were filled with bright stars that glittered like diamonds.”) Beneath the reams of family factoids, readers will get an authentic and sometimes harrowing view of life in the Northwest Territories.

Vivid stories of anguish and survival that are sometimes obscured by genealogical minutiae.

THE BATTLE OF LINCOLN PLACE An Epic Fight by Tenants To Save Their Homes

´ MǪLAZHA (Child of a Whiteman)

Hardy, Richard I. FriesenPress (336 pp.) $39.99 | $29.99 paper | $4.99 e-book April 8, 2022 978-1-03-912667-1 978-1-03-912666-4 paper A Métis clan weathers bitter cold, ethnic bias, and sexual molestation in Canada’s Northwest Territories in this memoir.

Hardy, whose father was a White Canadian and mother was a Métis of mixed European and Shúhta Got’ıne First Nation ancestry, looks back to the 1850s in tracing his family’s history in Fort Norman and other subarctic villages. The author chronicles several generations of forebears: the women bearing heroic numbers of children and the men working as fur traders, clerks, and managers for the Hudson Bay Company. He moves on to his boyhood in Fort Norman, where he traveled by dog sled and absorbed the Métis cultural stew: Families still trapped and hunted but embraced Christianity and prized formal education.

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Alex Kennedy, and Brandon Marshall. The teens meet at the Bissonet Avenue Church of Christ, where Brandon’s father is the preacher. Brandon is a jock with “incredibly fair brown hair” who talks fast and cracks crude jokes that keep the more reserved, intellectual Alex on his toes. But from their first encounter, Alex realizes he can’t imagine a life without his new friend, who looks “like he just stepped out of a magazine.” At group retreats and sleepovers, Alex discovers the world of fundamental Christianity. Brandon’s menacing father lords Scripture over his family in contrast to Alex’s loving, open-minded parents, who put his happiness and safety above all else. That does not stop the boys from discovering each other’s bodies— and their mutual admiration for the Adonis-like high schooler Joel Thompson. Small physical affections quickly escalate to a deeply felt yet necessarily secret romance. But homophobic attacks, local politics, and the bigotry of Brandon’s own family all brew in the background, threatening to separate the teens as they start to come to terms with their confusing feelings.

Through Alex’s wise-beyond-his-years voice, Freeman perfectly captures the uncertainty and intensity of a friendship on the verge of a queer romance, and the contradictorily cosmopolitan and conservative Houston is a perfectly rendered setting.

Unwavering support from Alex’s parents right from the start produces a few very moving moments, but it also deflates the dramatic tension. (Their frank discussions with the boys can also feel more like a progressive parenting manual than realistic conversations.) The plot often seems on the verge of something darker and more complex—like Alex’s borderline inappropriate sleepovers with the much older Joel—but the author consistently returns to the simpler, sweeter, and more classic beats of love triumphing over all.

A queer romance that offers an uplifting, if somewhat predictable, tale of first love.

Hathaway, Dennis Crania Press (543 pp.) $4.99 e-book | July 15, 2022

An activist and journalist recounts the story of a mass eviction of tenants from a Los Angeles apartment complex in this nonfiction book.

Located in the Venice neighborhood of LA, Lincoln Place apartments provided affordable housing to middle-class families on fixed incomes for a half-century, with many of the residents in the early 2000s having lived there for decades. Protected by LA’s rent control laws, the complex’s tenants tended “to stay put once they had moved in,” as rents for new housing skyrocketed in Venice starting in the 1980s. Then, one day in December 2005, just weeks before Christmas, Lincoln Place’s 65 adults and 21 children were suddenly evicted from their homes in the “largest single-day lockout in Los Angeles history.” The locks on their doors were changed that very day, and they were only allowed to come back to retrieve their possessions after signing up for a two-hour time slot approved by the property’s management. Using the brute force of the sheriff ’s |

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department to enforce the evictions, Lincoln Place had found an apparent way around the city’s stringent rent control laws.

The complex utilized a loophole in the Ellis Act, which allowed for mass evictions if the landlord removed all residences from the rental market. A housing activist from Venice, Hathaway tells the story of the building’s tenants with a passionate, righteous indignation, from their harrowing eviction and homelessness to their tenacious, decadelong legal battle with the property’s corporate owners. As a journalist whose work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, the author is a skilled storyteller and pays close attention to the legal minutiae of both sides in the Lincoln Place trials. And while his independent research through newspaper accounts and trial records is impressive and is backed by ample citations, the strength of the volume comes from interviews with the tenants themselves and direct eyewitness accounts. At nearly 460 pages, the book is at times unwieldy, but in an era when the price of housing continues to rise, it tells a timely and important story.

A powerful and relevant account of greed, gentrification, housing insecurity, and collective action.

GOING, GOING, GONE! A Baseball Novel

Hermanos, Steve Inkshares (528 pp.) $17.99 paper | $9.49 e-book | March 8, 2022 978-1-950301-23-2

Baseball players travel back in time to the wild major leagues of the early 20th century in this fantasy.

Hermanos’ tale follows three modern-day San Francisco Giants teammates—prima-donna star André Velez, who keeps hammering homers with the help of illicit steroids; struggling rookie second baseman Johnny Blent; and grizzled manager Bucky Martin.

They get catapulted back to the year 1906 during an earthquake and wash up with the New York Giants. The trio takes in a barely recognizable sport where bats weigh 50 ounces; unkempt playing fields are studded with rocks and potholes; spitballs are legal; drunken fans routinely attack players on the diamond; and contracts pay $800 a year. Blent and Velez painfully adjust—the half Black Velez pretends to be a Native American to get into the segregated majors—to become top players. Martin, meanwhile, gets hired as manager thanks to his 21st-century sabermetrics; he gradually tames a team that likes liquor, vandalism, and gunplay better than practicing and leads the Giants from the cellar to the World Series. Unfortunately, the trio’s new timeline is warped by the presence of New Glory, a Caribbean slave empire run by Confederates who escaped to Cuba after the Civil War and are forcing Albert Einstein to build them an atom bomb. When New Glory’s baseball league challenges the Giants to a “Solar Series,” the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Hermanos’ novel mixes steampunk themes into a vivid baseball yarn that’s full of colorful period details and piquant sketches of historical figures, from wily mound genius Christy 146

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Mathewson to a blustery Theodore Roosevelt and a mad Nikola Tesla. The author’s portrait of old-time baseball steeps readers in intricate strategizing, punchy dialogue—“Phillippe, you fuck­ ing infant! Suck your thumb! Shake your rattle!” goes a typical onfield razzing—and play-by-play that’s riveting and even lyrical. (“Head down, legs churning, he senses the white light of God is emanating from second base as he races for it, the ball crossing his field of vision as he slides, the ball ticking off the second baseman’s glove, Blent popping up and zipping for third, McGraw’s fist of a face staring at the ball coming in, ‘Down!

Down! Down!’ ”) Readers will stick with this riotous pageturner to the last out.

A raucously entertaining, richly atmospheric SF sports fable.

THE JAGGED CROWN A Fantasy Adventure in a Troubled World Full of Monsters and Magic Kalimeris, Thanos Manuscript (248 pp.)

A diverse group of heroes gathers to battle a witch who can destroy the world in this epic fantasy debut.

It is the Ninth Age of the Fire Horse, and a great evil prepares to consume the world. Tregha is a Forest Ranger hunting for Dagghu warriors in the Arun Delta. The Rangers operate under the leadership of Lord Adfir and hope to meet with the Southern Patrol soon. Tregha is actually half Dagghu, the illegitimate son of Chief Knamu, who used magic to impregnate Lady Lylhanne, an Elf Trueblood hostage. Tregha’s dark stoicism helps keep his monstrous Dagghu heritage in check. When Adfir returns from scouting with a Fennelora priestess named Astoriie, Tregha sees someone who lives in perfect harmony with nature—someone to admire. After learning that the Southern Patrol has been destroyed, the Rangers find themselves battling the animated corpses of their comrades. Astoriie senses an allconsuming evil supporting the Dagghu warriors, who’ve grown bolder. The primary hope standing against this dark force is the wizard Aenrindel of Ellendor. As the wizard travels with a caravan across the Rall’Haku desert to the city of Kabir, he’s accompanied by a young monk called Luo. The 9-year-old child has been instructed by Master Su of the Long Fang Temple to guard Aenrindel but also to eliminate him if he’s seduced by evil. When several cars from the caravan mysteriously vanish into the desert’s red mists, the group steps onto the long road of confrontation with the witch Kakista. Can heroes with both physical and magical might stop her from killing the world?

In this series opener, Kalimeris brings together different types of fantasy storytelling to forge a dense, palate-cleansing adventure. Some readers will respond to motifs similar to those in classics like Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series, such as races of elves, dwarfs, and the fellowship-style banding together of heroes. Fans of darker fantasy works, including Stephen Erikson’s Gardens of the Moon (1999), will appreciate the parade of

“With great sensitivity and power, Kron captures the ‘organized chaos’ of life in a war zone.” fit for duty

FIT FOR DUTY

Kron, K.A. She Said Books (252 pp.)

978-1-59021-721-4 In this drama, an Army psychiatrist in Iraq suffers the loss of her ex-husband, a soldier, and is held responsible for his death.

Col. Jen Stevens is the chief psychiatrist at an Army medical facility in Balad, Iraq, and as acclimated to the ravages of war as one can be—she lost much of one leg due to an IED and is on her seventh deployment. But she is not fully prepared when her former husband, Sgt. First Class Kevin Jackson, dies under circumstances that could be interpreted as a freak accident or a suicide. He seems to have walked, out of disorientation or despair, into the tail rotor of an Army helicopter. Before the incident, Jackson was cleared for duty by Jen, and now she possibly faces charges of reckless endangerment. To make matters worse, she slowly discovers that the mission Jackson was just on went terribly wrong, and it resulted in the deaths of local children—his teammates killed them as they prepared to shoot down his helicopter. But, as chillingly depicted by Kron, the official account isn’t the whole story. The author artfully combines a poignant psychological drama with a legal one—Jen needs both to find some peace in the face of Jackson’s death and save her military career. With great sensitivity and power, Kron captures the “organized chaos” of life in a war zone and the trauma that predictably results. Here, Jen reflects on the battle tales many soldiers harbor: “Right now, those stories were raw, the reality of what they experienced, not only their own injuries,

but the horror of their friends being ripped apart in ways that were not imaginable. The survivor’s guilt was often worse than any physical injury, and all too frequently a life sentence for the mind.” Finally, the author offers a deeply thoughtful reflection on gay sexuality in the military—Jen is a lesbian married to a woman who’s also a soldier stationed in Iraq.

An emotionally astute portrayal of the terrible wages of war.

THE SHANGHAI KADDISH Loebell, Larry Manuscript (393 pp.)

A comedian investigates his mother’s experience as a European Jewish refugee in love with a Chinese revolutionary in Loebell’s historical romance.

Richard Eisenberg, an almost-50 fixture of stand-up and late-night talk shows circa 2008, owes his sense of humor to his mother, Deborah Eisenberg, but he never knew his father. She left Richard’s dad behind when she was expelled from Shanghai in 1959 and refuses to talk about him. Half of Loebell’s novel consists of Richard trying to coax backstory out of the tight-lipped Deborah while wooing Transportation Security Administration screener Emily Yarri, who almost tases him when he makes a terrorism joke at the airport.

The novel’s other half delivers Deborah’s backstory as a refugee who fled Nazi-occupied Vienna in 1939 at the age of 14 and ended up in Japanese-occupied Shanghai, one of the few places that was taking in Jewish migrants. Settling in as an assistant to her émigré uncle, a dentist, Deborah drinks in Chinese and Jewish culture. She also falls for Zhang Qizheng, an 18-year-old Communist Party firebrand with a day job as a bookie; she turns him on to poetry. Their love is constrained by prejudice, World War II, and the party itself when it brands Deborah an imperialist running dog. Loebell’s yarn steeps readers in the atmospherics of war-torn Shanghai, with its squalid glamour and sinister power plays. Richard’s framing narrative is a more callow but well-observed portrait of the life and mindset of a working comedian, written in sparklingly witty prose, as when Richard meets an underwear salesman showing his wares at the airport: “Richard…looked away in embarrassment, not so much because he had been cashiered into looking at women’s underwear in an airport security line but because of the weird entrapment he felt being watched by others while he was looking at women’s underwear in an airport security line.” When he finally goes to Shanghai, he gets an earful of wisdom—“People, countries. All the same. Everyone sacrifices. We all pay for what we escape, for what we seek”—that gives his quest real depth.

A richly entertaining period love story with tragic resonance and wry humor.

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fresh concepts that seem almost disposable in their profusion.

There are, for example, several elaborately conceived character origins shuffled into the larger story that often enforce an episodic pacing. In a flashback, readers learn of Ryn Kartashee, a “warrior poet” who’s owned by Prince Qelek of Kabir and whose prowess in the fighting pits earns him the love of Harinni, the royal’s betrothed. Ryn and Harinni’s story is grand in its own right, but readers may need patience while the primary narrative rotates slowly back into view. The author’s prose is lean on dialogue, frequently requiring readers to submit to lengthy descriptions of scenes both violent and bucolic. When Navardi, the Chosen of the Sun God Ra, battles an army, “the searing heat soon filled the air with the stench of roasting flesh as ten thousand men cooked at once.” Such violent moments are outnumbered by paeans to nature, as in the passage “Spry flowers in white, gold, and purple pose in the petticoats, millions of tiny dancers suspended mid-lift in the steady hands of their betrothed.” Overall, the imagination on display is remarkable.

Yet the equally amazing characters need more space to breathe and potentially carry a less cluttered, more emotionally resonant tale.

A sprawling fantasy that’s an inventive love letter to the genre.

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THE POTENTIALIST Your Future in the New Reality of the Next Thirty Years

SIMONE LAFRAY AND THE RED WOLVES OF LONDON

Lytle, Ben Amplify Publishing (264 pp.) $28.00 | $9.99 e-book | Sept. 27, 2022 978-1-63755-136-3 In this first installment of a nonfiction trilogy, a serial entrepreneur prognosticates life in the next 30 years.

Applying his own considerable personal and business experiences, Lytle briskly covers “The Forces of Change” in Part 1 of the book, moving on to the “Skills and Mindset” necessary for succeeding in a career and the development of strategies for health and wealth in Parts 2 and 3. The author begins with an intriguing “Prologue,” in which he describes numerous fictional individuals at various stages, envisioning what living in future years will be like for them. In Part 1, Lytle broadly explores four major themes around which he believes the future will unfold: “Innovation-Resistance,” “Democratization,” “Demographic Change and Neutralizing Distance,” and “The New Reality— Better or Worse?” While much of this content is speculative, the author does an admirable explanatory job of justifying why he selected these themes. Perhaps most provocative in this first part are the “ten new world realities” he outlines, such as “You will be superhuman, but will you make the best of it?” and “Life and career in the Cloud will redefine life as we know it.” Parts 2 and 3 delve into the skills Lytle thinks will be needed in a future world. Not surprisingly when it comes to the workplace, he believes collaboration, much of it enabled by technology, will set the tone. As for the individual’s role, the author invests considerable time discussing the concept of personal branding.

Offering specific brand-building ideas, Lytle also urges readers to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, regarding themselves “as a Product or Service.” In Part 3, the author focuses on three areas—health, wellness, and success—each of which he deftly discusses with a heavy emphasis on adopting the right mindset.

He delivers sage advice on healthy living and managing wealth (not just acquiring it). He also defines the requirements for success “in the New Reality,” encouraging “the pursuit of potential as a central theme in life.” Foretelling the future is not an exercise for the faint of heart, but Lytle handles the challenge with both enthusiasm and wisdom.

Visionary and intriguing; a compelling read about future realities.

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O’Farrell, S.P. Brandylane Publishers, Inc. (248 pp.) $32.95 | $17.95 paper | $3.99 e-book April 18, 2022 978-1-953021-35-9 978-1-953021-36-6 paper In this middle-grade sequel, a young French spy goes undercover at an elite English boarding school.

Twelve-year-old Simone LaFray is a junior operative for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Having helped to apprehend “The Whisper”—an international conflict broker and son of the renowned criminal hacker “The Maestro”— Simone is ready for her next case. This takes her to London, where junior agent Claire Pilfrey has been kidnapped from a wealthy boarding school. Claire’s last report suggests that she’d obtained the OmniKey—an invention of The Maestro’s that allows access to any computer network—and hidden it “somewhere safe” on campus. Simone embarks on an undercover mission at the school, taking her best friend, The V, with her. But solving the case won’t be easy. Simone, who prefers to go unnoticed and keep her own company, will have to mingle with Claire’s classmates (“Who were Claire’s friends? Who were her enemies?”). Furthermore, London has fallen prey to a gang of vigilante art protesters, and Simone discovers that “La Volpe Rossa” (The Red Fox), the villain from her first adventure, was, until recently, the school’s art teacher. Can Simone untangle the entwined threads of mystery, find the OmniKey, and rescue Claire? O’Farrell writes in the first person, past tense, affording insight into the intellectual maturity and self-aware social unease that underlie Simone’s preternatural competence. The London setting is a bit tourist generic and not as evocative as the Paris of Simone’s first case. Nonetheless, the prose skips along nicely and the story surges forward.

The author has an ear for dialogue and a knack for dropping clues—some that lead readers toward possible solutions, others that deepen the intrigue. Simone is a likable viewpoint character. Her observational and analytical skills are impressive yet she refreshingly reflects her age and can be knocked off-kilter by everyday issues. Unfortunately, the book is far from self-contained. O’Farrell drops in returning characters (Madame Fontaine, The V) without introduction and only late in the story confirms such basic information as Simone’s age and that a girl named Mia is her sister. The ending is also more a teaser for the next installment than a denouement in its own right. Regardless, fans of the first volume are sure to approve.

A breezy adventure that lives in the moment; tremendous fun.

“What starts out as a rumination about literature and aspirations turns subtly into a compelling reflection on the loss of life and limbs.” moss

MOSS

Pace, Joe Reliquary Press (234 pp.) $12.86 paper | $2.99 e-book | Dec. 14, 2021 978-1-936519-99-6

LEADING WITH EMPATHY Understanding the Needs of Today’s Workforce

Pallapa, Gautham Wiley (368 pp.) $17.80 | $17.00 e-book | Dec. 9, 2021 978-1-119-83725-1

An impassioned plea for embracing empathy.

Organizational transformation coach Pallapa writes in this debut: “When you

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In this novel, the illegitimate son of a literary giant deals with love, loss, and the struggle to find himself.

Oscar Kendall’s father was Isaiah Moss, a god in the literary pantheon (think Philip Roth, John Updike, Saul Bellow). It is the old story of the epigone.

Oscar is a relentless writer himself but has never published a thing because Papa Isaiah’s talent is overpowering, sapping, and emasculating. Instead, Oscar keeps a low profile, teaching at a prep school, hiding his paternity, and wallowing in his inadequacies. Then Isaiah dies and leaves Oscar his cabin on a New Hampshire lake and all its contents, which include the manuscript of his last, unpublished book. Oscar, there for the summer, meets May Pierce, a fierce amputee, and falls slowly in love with her. Readers discover information about Isaiah from his acerbic but oddly ambiguous letters to his son. Readers also learn the history of so many who suffered during various wars: Isaiah’s father, who died in World War II; May’s grandmother Ruby Pierce’s young husband, who died in Vietnam; May, who lost her legs in Afghanistan; and Isaiah, who lost his innocence in Korea. Pace is a very strong writer considering that he has to produce passages supposedly penned by this imagined titan of letters. What starts out as a rumination about literature and aspirations—will Oscar find the courage to escape his father’s shadow, or is he in fact a genteel loser?—turns subtly into a compelling reflection on the loss of life and limbs (May was a champion runner). Along the way, there are intriguing “interludes” that readers find out are excerpts or fodder for the manuscript that Oscar will finally start writing (“Free at last!”). Perhaps the best part of the book is Pace’s decision to make Oscar the narrator. He provides a wonderful voice, all the insecurities, but also all the anger and decency that Oscar is unaware of but that readers will recognize. He has always been a better man than he thought, and the audience will rejoice to see that.

An excellent and thoughtful exploration of art, ambition, and mortality.

lead with empathy, you are empowering humanity in the face of adversity.” Pallapa lays the groundwork for this argument with a broad discussion of the negative impacts of the global pandemic, proposing that empathy could be an enduring “prescription” for relief. The material in Part I includes an overview of several contemporary global challenges largely influenced by but not limited to the Covid-19 pandemic and also provides a kind of road map for navigating post-pandemic stress. While the content isn’t unique, numerous anecdotes and examples are sure to be illuminating and reassuring to readers. Part II provides a deeper dive into the types of empathy, notes the differences between empathy and sympathy, and explores how to lead with empathy.

Of interest in this part is the author’s focus on “emotional intelligence (EQ)” as the driving force behind empathy. Two other engaging sections with illustrative examples outline the effects of random acts of kindness on empathy and how to instill empathy in children. In Part III, Pallapa widens the scope to include organizational leadership. This final section distinguishes this book from others of the genre. Pallapa authoritatively delves into why there are too few empathic leaders and how to exhibit empathy as a leader to both employees and customers. There are numerous deftly described ideas in this section. The author identifies the special challenges of leading a remote workforce and provides compassionate advice for improving “psychological safety.”

Pallapa’s refreshing, unwavering optimism is best demonstrated by the “five positive trends” he puts forth (such as remote work becoming more acceptable and an increase in leaders’ empathy for their employees) that represent an antidote “to the dark clouds of these stressful and challenging times.”

A well-developed approach to humanistic leadership.

LOLA FLORES

Perlstein, David iUniverse (356 pp.) $3.99 e-book | March 30, 2022 In this historical novel, Perlstein chronicles the rise of a transgender performer from Havana to Hollywood.

Anshel Sobel is born in Warsaw around 1910 and raised in New York City from the age of 2 under the American name Albert. In 1929, she fakes her own death, leaves her family behind, and heads for Havana under a new name: Lola Torres. She’s a talented pianist and singer, and she finds a place to stay with the sister of the Sobels’ housekeeper. Cuba seems like a land of opportunity for Lola, but it’s also a land of danger where her transgender status, Judaism, and Communist sympathies can lead to serious trouble. She’s soon performing in some of Havana’s hottest clubs under an even newer name: Lola Flores. She can’t keep her past completely hidden, however; an empathetic costumer, Fernando Fallon, who’s also transgender, tells her upon their first meeting, “You are not the first woman I have met who was born what seemed a man. Or a man born a woman.” Fernando becomes Lola’s secretkeeper and adviser, and together they embark on an impressive |

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career, finding stardom not just in nightclubs, but on the Broadway stage, on radio and records, and even in films. Her celebrity brings her into the orbit of mobsters such as Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and Meyer Lansky and to the attention of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. It turns out that America is Lola’s land of opportunity after all, especially now that she’s there on her own terms.

But as Lola’s star rises, the fear that her secret will be revealed lingers in the background.

Perlstein’s prose rolls out like a reel of film, convincingly illuminating early-1930s Cuba, late ’30s New York, and ’40s Los Angeles. At one point, for instance, Lola gets support from some familiar folks following her performance in the Ziegfeld Follies: “A hand patted Lola’s behind as the final curtain descended. ‘You were aces, kid,’ said Bob Hope, who’d had a previous Broadway hit. In the wings, Fanny Brice gave Lola a knip, pinching the flesh of Lola’s left cheek between her thumb and index finger. ‘Oy! A Cuban me, only prettier!’ ” Over the course of the novel, the author manages to get plenty of mileage out of Lola’s nesting-doll identities and aliases, which she uses to achieve a variety of goals. It’s a somewhat lengthy novel at nearly 450 pages, and, at times, it feels as if Perlstein is simply moving Lola through history for little reason other than the joy of encountering real-life celebrities and various world events. The book ultimately—and unexpectedly—has more to say about the American Jewish experience than about the transgender one, which readers may find intriguing or disappointing depending on their interests. Overall, this is a work that’s not quite a picaresque but not entirely serious in tone, either, and the book gets by, much like its protagonist, on the sheer bravado of its vision.

An intriguing, if overlong, reimaging of old-time entertainment history.

SOLVING THE RIDDLE OF MICROSOFT AND YOUR COMPUTER 2nd Edition

Riddle, Mark AuthorHouse (52 pp.) $20.99 | $10.99 paper | $3.99 e-book Nov. 8, 2021 978-1-66554-319-4 978-1-66554-320-0 paper This second edition of a manual focuses on computers in general and Microsoft in particular.

Riddle devotes the first half of his book to a simple and heavily illustrated guide to the basics of operating a computer, everything from adjusting the screen saver and manipulating the mouse to organizing files and synching things up with a printer.

In all cases, he combines step-by-step instructions with screenshots and images carefully depicting, with arrows and highlighting, exactly what he’s talking about. His screenshots and flowcharts show readers every single variable they’ll encounter while navigating the sometimes-bewildering variety of branching paths and separate options for every action. Newcomers 150

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and unsophisticated computer users (inexperienced older readers, for instance, are an ideal target audience for this kind of approach) will be walked through every moment of their likely actions, with bulleted points and graphics designed to maximize basic understanding and minimize frustrating missteps.

They will learn about hard drives, file storage, and, in the book’s concluding section, Microsoft specifically. And throughout the manual, Riddle frequently injects consistent notes of both optimism and enthusiasm that will be extremely welcome to readers struggling with what can seem to be a very daunting new world.

“Most computers come with a variety of goodies that is just fantastic,” he writes in one such outburst. “When I first started to learn about computers, I was like a kid in a candy show.” His concentration on Microsoft is likewise both wise and strategic.

It’s the famous operating system that his readers are most likely to encounter in offices and homes—and the one that will probably confuse them on first exposure. His skill at compressing and clarifying is nothing short of amazing; readers will be pleasingly astounded at how much ground this compact guide covers in such little space.

An invitingly clear and upbeat elementary breakdown of computer basics for a general audience.

ALONG THE WAY Poems for the Wayward Rivers, C.M. Manuscript (77 pp.)

A volume of poetry focuses on beauty and surrender.

In his poems, Rivers encourages readers to trust the natural order of the cosmos, to let go of unhappiness, and to cherish the present. “Refugees Welcome” recalls “the road, your shoes, the bread, the wine, the good soup carried by kind hands” that are part of a relocation. In “High Road,” he gently coaxes readers to consider “the cartography of your choices / that seemed before to hold / no pattern—the direction of / your footsteps, how / they brought you here at last.” He tells readers that there is no such thing as the self in “Seeking Passage.” He examines the futility of resistance in “Layers” and the unhelpfulness of blame in “Anchor.”

He tries his hand at haiku in “Oregon.” He drops readers into different environments, from the chilly steps of a university to the cozy interior of a cabin. Reinvention and resurrection are recurring themes. The fragility and fleetingness of life also underlie many of Rivers’ poems. Ultimately, his book is about remembering to live life fully and accept the present situation, asserting that the goal is “no embrace, no rejection, / to neither cling nor condemn.” No detail is too small for the author; in his poems, he pauses to contemplate things as seemingly insignificant as flowers that grow from a crack in the ground and a bag of plums left by a friend. His nature descriptions are evocative and rich. In “California,” he vividly recalls how “waves of solar gold hurl themselves against the mountains, shameless, reckless” in the coastal wetlands. He is philosophical without

“To Robinson’s credit, the ending is not the ‘Kumbaya’ outcome some readers might hope for.” shadows hold their breath

being overanalytical. His poems are steeped in wisdom that emanates from lines like “Take your time, that’s what it’s there for. Walk to the ends of the earth.” That said, some passages, like “Sharpen the necessary tools, shed what is no longer useful, take inventory,” veer dangerously close to motivational speaker territory but thankfully stop before they get there.

A stunning collection that embraces both the sensuality and the profound meaning of small moments.

SHADOWS HOLD THEIR BREATH

Robinson, Sherry Shadelandhouse Modern Press (272 pp.) $23.95 paper | July 19, 2022 978-1-945-049-28-6

A character-driven collection of poetry focuses on nature and humanity.

Rose is a poet who is passionate about all things avian, human, and ecological. Female characters dominate the volume’s poems, which are steeped in emotions and natural beauty. Birds of almost every variety appear in these pages; even people seem to become them at different points in the author’s poetry. A young boy is compared to a screaming gull, and a woman is dubbed a loon. Rose introduces readers to Alma, who would “cry rivers that flowed down the hall,” and Martha, a wife disillusioned with playing house and whose body is “heavy like the decorative steel anchor on the mantel.” An unnamed woman considers her eerie resemblance to a female neighbor in “cleaver street.” In a pair of poems, the author recalls how her mother would say goodnight with a shadow puppet chickee bird and could pick up scalding pots barehanded. In “pry,” Rose reveals a family’s dinner-table rituals that take place as news breaks of Princess Diana’s fatal car crash. A beggar’s refrain “repeated over and over in a soft, uncertain / voice as if someone had taught him to recite those words / precisely and / politely forever” is the subject of “water street.” Rose transports readers to a variety of destinations, from a ruff of evergreens in Northern Wisconsin to a Colonial Revival home in Bangor, Maine, and the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum in Los Angeles. Her descriptions are as vivid and delicate as stained glass. She describes birds in an imaginary aviary, “their wings rowing / glowing particles of dust into the dim,” and spiderwebs “like white lace / curtains billowing in an ocean breeze.” More quotidian moments are no less evocative. A dishwasher’s days are marked by “hot porcelain and kinky hair,” while a drop of gin dribbles down a single woman’s chin and makes “its home there like a glass wart.” But some of the poems, like “the changing room” and “anke’s ataraxia,” go on a bit too long, losing their momentum and diluting their messages.

A lovely series of poetic portraits.

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A woman’s fateful decision colors and molds her future in Robinson’s third novel.

Kat Hunter, a model wife, is haunted by her sister-in-law’s death years earlier in Vietnam—Beth was her best friend— and by inchoate feelings of suffocation. One night, she steals away from her husband and three daughters as they sleep, hoping to come back home in a couple of weeks—as a better wife and mother, cured of her malaise. But weeks turn into months as she makes a new life for herself in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A bitter divorce ensues, and it looks as if she will never see her daughters again. Kat hides the details of her past from new friends Molly Fisher, a free spirit whom she meets on the bus during her first night away; Molly’s boyfriend, Jake, who turns out to be a violent abuser; and, most importantly, Wyatt Jenkins, whom Kat eventually marries. She lets people assume that she fled from an abusive husband, a husband who was in fact not abusive but just a clueless male chauvinist. When that truth comes out, she is punished anew by many in the community and even, for a time, by Wyatt, who is confused and hurt. To Robinson’s credit, the ending is not the “Kumbaya” outcome some readers might hope for. The characters are well drawn, as are the tight community of Gatlinburg and the beautiful surrounding countryside. The story is punctuated by letters Beth sent back to Kat from Vietnam. Does Kat regret that she is not the brave spirit that Beth was? Has she always been living the wrong life? In truth, we are never quite clear about what caused her to leave home. This is a story about grabbing what happiness one can while also living with pain that may never really go away.

That is what makes it an honest novel for grown-ups.

An impressive and thoughtful exploration of the mistakes good people make.

PRIMITIVE

Rose, Cecelia Self (96 pp.) $9.99 paper | $2.99 e-book | Feb. 3, 2022 978-0-578-36599-2

THE HEALTHCARE LABYRINTH A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance Ryan, Marc S. RealClear Publishing (528 pp.) $30.00 | $9.99 e-book | May 3, 2022 978-1-64543-993-6

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Ryan, an industry veteran and president of the health care software tech firm MHK Inc., shares his knowledge of the field with this insightful, four-part manual. He sensibly separates his analysis into sections that first cover the origins and fundamentals of American health insurance, then expand to discuss current trends and policies and what the future holds for an industry he sees as mired in regulatory and operational dysfunction and exorbitant consumer costs. Spurred by his frustrations with the current state of health care, the author hopes to enlighten readers by breaking down the various components of the industry, beginning with its genesis. Next, in layperson’s terminology, he examines the often intricate health insurance framework, including plan differentiations and descriptions of standard coverage and benefits. Sections on the terms found in health plan documents are easily digested and consumer-friendly, as are details on billing, medical coverage statistics, and the many moving parts of Medicare. While the subject matter may prove daunting to some, Ryan’s language is easy to read and inclusive, traversing a multitude of health care trends and policies both past and present. Bold subject headers make extracting specific information easier. But the murkier topics of compliance regulations, the politics of health policy legislation, and government oversight make for a denser reading experience. The author counterbalances the enormous amount of information he offers

This Issue’s Contributors # ADULT Colleen Abel • Mark Athitakis • Colette Bancroft • Amy Boaz • Catherine Cardno • Lee E. Cart Emma Corngold • Coeur de Lion • Dave DeChristopher • Amanda Diehl • Melanie Dragger • Lisa Elliott • Chelsea Ennen • Harvey Freedenberg • Jenna Friebel • Glenn Gamboa • Amy Goldschlager Miriam Grossman • Geoff Hamilton • Natalia Holtzman • Jessica Jernigan • Jayashree Kamblé Brandi Larsen • Tom Lavoie • Judith Leitch • Elsbeth Lindner • Kirk MacLeod • Michael Magras Don McLeese • Gregory McNamee • Sarah Morgan • Jennifer Nabers • Liza Nelson • Mike Newirth Therese Purcell Nielsen • Sarah Norris • Connie Ogle • Mike Oppenheim • Nina Palattella • Derek Parker • Sarah Parker-Lee • Ashley Patrick • Elizabeth Paulson • Amy Reiter • Roberto Rodriguez Lloyd Sachs • Bob Sanchez • Richard Santos • Linda Simon • Lily Smith • Wendy Smith • Leena Soman • Margot E. Spangenberg • Mathangi Subramanian • Bill Thompson • Chris Vognar Francesca Vultaggio • Marion Winik CHILDREN’S & TEEN Lucia Acosta • Mahasin Aleem • Autumn Allen • Sandie Angulo Chen • Jenny Arch • Elizabeth Bird Kimberly Brubaker Bradley • Christopher A. Brown • Jessica Brown • Abby Bussen • Timothy Capehart • Ann Childs • Alec B. Chunn • Amanda Chuong • Anastasia M. Collins • Jeannie Coutant Dave DeChristopher • Elise DeGuiseppi • Ilana Bensussen Epstein • Brooke Faulkner • Amy Seto Forrester • Ayn Reyes Frazee • Jenna Friebel • Omar Gallaga • Lakshmi Gandhi • Laurel Gardner Judith Gire • Carol Goldman • Melinda Greenblatt • Ana Grilo • Christine Gross-Loh • Tobi Haberstroh • Julie Hubble • Ariana Hussain • Kathleen T. Isaacs • Darlene Ivy • Danielle Jones • Betsy Judkins • Deborah Kaplan • Stephanie Klose • Lisa Krok • Megan Dowd Lambert • Angela Leeper Sharon Levin • Patricia Lothrop • Wendy Lukehart • Kyle Lukoff • Kaia MacLeod • Joan Malewitz Emmett Marshall • Michelle H Martin • J. Alejandro Mazariegos • Kirby McCurtis • Jeanne McDermott • Sierra McKenzie • Zoe McLaughlin • Kathie Meizner • J. Elizabeth Mills • Tori Ann Ogawa • Hal Patnott • Deb Paulson • Alea Perez • John Edward Peters • Susan Pine • Kristy Raffensberger • Nancy Thalia Reynolds • Amy Robinson • Christopher R. Rogers • Hadeal Salamah Meredith Schorr • E.F. Schraeder • Rita Soltan • Allie Stevens • Jennifer Sweeney • Deborah D. Taylor Desiree Thomas • Bijal Vachharajani • Jenna Varden • Janani Venkateswaran • Yung Hsin Angela Wiley • Marion Winik • Bean Yogi INDIE Alana Abbott • Kent Armstrong • Darren Carlaw • Charles Cassady • Michael Deagler • Steve Donoghue • Jacob Edwards • Joshua Farrington • Tina Gianoulis • Lynne Heffley • Justin Hickey • Ivan Kenneally • Collin Marchiando • Rhett Morgan • Jim Piechota • Sarah Rettger • Erica Rivera • Jerome Shea • Barry Silverstein

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with consumer recommendations, reports on industry progress, and proactive solutions to the problems he believes are hobbling the country’s health care system. Among the more debatable criticisms Ryan shares is his open, honest opposition to national socialized medicine. He believes it’s “not likely to meet Americans’ expectations of instantaneous access to high-quality, technology-driven healthcare (if you can afford it).” Finally, he closes by probing the ticking time bomb of an aging population and how this element factors into the health care scenario as well as timely commentary on the ramifications of Covid-19 on the industry. The author’s passion for an affordable universal access program and his dedication to American health care reform by restructuring the industry’s myriad components are evident and convincing throughout this instructive, cautionary, and solidly crafted resource.

An illuminating, practical guide that seeks to demystify the pros and cons of health plans.

WESTERN SKIES

Smith, Darden Dexterity (128 pp.) $42.69 | $9.99 e-book | March 9, 2022 978-1-947297-42-5 Lonesome people inhabit a forlorn landscape in this poetic and photographic meditation on Texas.

Smith, an Austin-based singer/songwriter, arranges poems, song lyrics, brief essays, and photos into “a love song to the mythology of Texas.” The book’s soul resides in its dozens of images of the West Texas plains, which show scrubby, arid prairies with tufts of grass, weedy tendrils, clumps of trees—often bare and wintry—and the occasional yucca; the land dimly stretches away under threatening clouds until it meets hills that either sparkle with promise under a shaft of sunlight or form a black, imprisoning wall. The human presence is seen in artifacts: highways and railroad tracks converging toward the horizon; rust-stained Quonset huts and oil tanks; tires abandoned against a sagging fence. Photographed with an old Polaroid in black and white with a hint of sepia, these hazy, cunningly artless snapshots capture terrain that feels nearly vacant but suffused with meaning. Smith’s writings are similarly shaped by Texan vistas, whether in an essay on the geology of the plains, which were the bottoms of ancient seas before they became highways for herds and people, or in a plaintive love song that gives the book its name: “And the stars they are falling from your eyes / And my love, my love was on the rise / And I am in between you and some horizon line / Underneath the western skies.” Smith’s pen is as good as his camera at evoking the gritty physicality of the Lone Star State and opening it up to human energy and emotion, as in his entrancing poem “Necklace”: “Just after the first gas station coming into town, / I see abandoned oil rigs, houses with dirt and cactus front yards, / …. / A dual cab Ford truck screams / Up behind me and passes. / Two teenage white kids in the front smoke / And nod their heads to the bass crunch / Of some guy

“Souter’s prose is sturdy and efficient, and the steely hero is a fascinating character.” hope rises

THE 6IXTH EVOLUTION Managing Lives and Careers Through Convulsive Times

singing about life in Newark or L.A.” The result is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

A luminous, haunting panorama of an austere yet rich environment.

Straub, Larry G. ArchwayPublishing (260 pp.) $35.95 | $17.99 paper | $2.99 e-book Feb. 1, 2022 978-1-66571-479-2 978-1-66571-480-8 paper

HOPE RISES

Souter, Ryan FriesenPress (366 pp.) $25.15 | $24.99 paper | $4.99 e-book Feb. 4, 2022 978-1-03-911974-1 978-1-03-911973-4 paper

tionary thinking.

In this visionary assessment, Straub tackles what he terms “convulsive events”—occurrences such as the 2008 global economic meltdown and the Covid-19 pandemic—that shape societies in general and human lives in particular. The book’s complex structure centers on six “convulsions,” roughly representing the evolution of the author’s own life and business, intertwined in four parts. The first section expansively describes five “evolutions,” followed by “The 6ixth Evolution” in the second part. Part 3 explains a research-based model that Straub calls “The Promethean Framework,” while Part 4 explores “6e Thinking.” The organization of the volume is multilayered, and the terminology employed may bewilder readers at times, but the content is intriguing, in part because it is based on original research conducted by the author in pursuit of a doctorate. For each of the five evolutions constituting Part 1, Straub cites some of his research to introduce the topic, provides a definition/ salient history, discusses “opportunities, challenges, and lessons learned,” and includes a summary of “6 Key Takeaways.” The fifth evolution, “The Great Divide and the Post-Truth World,” is especially current. Here, the author offers a history of polarization, contrasts nationalism and globalism, and presents a lucid discussion of cultural polarities. His key takeaways, such as “A move to nonpartisan or open primary systems, in which voters are not required to declare party affiliation, should be considered,” are insightful. Part 2 delves into the implications of the five evolutions. While it is somewhat repetitious of Part 1, this section takes a more futuristic view of the new world environment. Parts 3 and 4 are the most forward-looking. Straub strongly encourages the use of “The Promethean Framework,” a strategy he devised “to navigate the treacherous waters of our new convulsive environments.” He also recommends applying “6e Thinking,” which “can serve as a platform allowing for renewed focus and energy on key areas of importance.” Despite the author’s detailed descriptions and relevant examples, these concepts may be a bit challenging to grasp for some readers.

While lofty at times, this work delivers a perceptive, farreaching exploration of evolutionary thinking.

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In this cli-fi novel, a young woman tries to overcome her dark past (and disability) to join her isolated community’s powerful policing squads.

Author Souter, also a filmmaker, sets his dystopian story in the year 2070, although there are few futuristic props. Climate change wreaks havoc on food harvests and supply chains, and central government has collapsed, leaving individual cities and towns to fend for themselves against wildfires and rioting. In one community, ironically renamed Prosperity Way, demagogue Paulix Kane has taken over with a seductively persuasive philosophy of peace and security via harsh law and order.

He dubs himself the Supreme Valor, and his police force, the Elite Front, patrols the minifascist state, divided between the wealthy “Royalton” area and the poorer Zone B. Hope Mulder is a 21-year-old Zone B native, and she was born missing a left arm to a young mother straightaway murdered. Though raised with love by her adoptive family, the intense Hope pins her future on the goal of a position with the feared Elite Front. Summary public executions as punishment for taking a life are an unquestioned part of the law (and Prosperity Way natives unintentionally kill each other so often it becomes grimly amusing; one can almost sympathize with the grumpy Supreme Valor). When her cherished stepbrother dies because someone else was horseplaying with a bow and arrows, Hope’s fierce reaction at the execution impresses Paulix, and she gets to train with Elite Front despite her disability. Others in the Kane dynasty are not so sympathetic, and the hero grows disillusioned with the pitiless justice system and the bullying mindsets behind it. Souter’s prose is sturdy and efficient, and the steely Hope is a fascinating character, which counters the dearth of surprises and arid, featureless setting. Readers of “prepper” fiction might be attracted to the doomsday/survivalist aspect of the material, though the milieu and sense of fatalism tend to recall some of the less sentimental Westerns of yesteryear (think Shane or the oaters of Elmore Leonard).

A bracingly tough female protagonist enhances a so-so SF tale.

A business professional and academic suggests a new model of evolu-

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WHERE YOU LINGER & Other Stories

Stufflebeam, Bonnie Jo Vernacular Books (284 pp.) $18.99 paper | $7.99 e-book | July 11, 2022 978-1-952283-22-2 Characters in this debut collection of dark short stories struggle with escaping their pasts—often with terrifying results.

In this volume’s opening tale, “Skeletons,” five friends, one of whom seemingly mesmerizes the others, go camping.

They live in a bizarre world where animals roam in skeletal form, from dinosaurs to saber-tooth tigers. The other stories follow suit, blending familiar characters with disturbing imagery and circumstances. “The Lifespan of Shadows,” for example, sees a house go to spooky lengths to ensure that feuding sisters will not leave behind their inherited childhood abode. Stufflebeam infuses her collection with a somber theme of letting the past go, with nostalgia as a glaring detriment. In one tale, Nostalgia is literally a drug. In the title story, a woman, using a machine to relive her long-ago relationships, likens it to an illness without a cure. While the author shrouds her narratives in metaphors, it doesn’t make horrific sights any less gruesome. That’s certainly the case in the superb “The Split.” Emma moves away from her parents to live with her girlfriend, a decision that literally splits her—half of her body stays in the Texas home where she grew up. Recurring characters among the predominantly female cast link many of these tales, including the collection’s final three stories, which form a short but grand SF trilogy. It begins with a woman named Robin Kirkland, who works at a company that makes synthetic companions. She becomes obsessed with the glitchy, damaged ones, many of which end up in a subway mingling with the homeless. The second tale explores shady tech

K I R K US M E DI A L L C # Chairman H E R B E RT S I M O N President & Publisher M A RC W I N K E L M A N Chief Executive Officer M E G L A B O R D E KU E H N # Copyright 2022 by Kirkus Media LLC. KIRKUS REVIEWS (ISSN 1948- 7428) is published semimonthly by Kirkus Media LLC, 2600Via Fortuna, Suite 130, Austin, TX 78746.

Subscription prices are: Digital & Print Subscription (U.S.) - 12 Months ($199.00) Digital & Print Subscription (International) - 12 Months ($229.00) Digital Only Subscription - 12 Months ($169.00) Single copy: $25.00.

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firms that may be harming female employees, and the concluding story focuses on hackers infiltrating a billionaire’s beta virtual reality game. Throughout the volume, Stufflebeam writes with masterful pithiness and genuine insights. At one point, the woman in the title story muses: “I grip her skin and remember why I loved her. But, also, why I stopped.”

These extraordinary tales prove to be both spine-chilling and profound.

SNAKES HAVE NO LEGS!

Tills, Kelly Illus. by GetYourBookIllustrations FDI Publishing (27 pp.) $9.99 paper | $2.99 e-book Sept. 21, 2021 978-1-73670-040-2

A humorous picture book explores what snakes can and can’t do.

Snakes can’t wear shoes or gloves, of course, because they have no feet or hands—but can they wear a scarf? “Well,” writes Tills, “maybe a long, long one.” A mix of kid-savvy, funny-bone entertainment, and clearly expressed, simple facts about snake physiology and behavior, this story for children, from toddlers to early readers, will make adults smile, too. (Birds have two legs, the author observes, adding, “flamingos think they have one.”)

In tandem with the humor, Tills informs her audience that even though snakes don’t have feet, they do have “tiny belly muscles” that allow them to coil and twist their bodies and slither “on the ground, up a tree, or in the water.” The author frames some of the story’s black-and-white images by GetYourBookIllustrations of a goofy, polka-dot snake and other cartoon-style animals on full-page backgrounds of saturated colors, many patterned with a reptilian scale motif. Other pictures are positioned on white pages and accented with colorful shapes. The book concludes with a gentle segue from Tills presenting comic and factual reasons that show snakes are “wonderful” to asking children to name something that makes them “wonderful,” too. The snake and his friends appear to be interested in the response. This work is part of the author’s Awesome Animals series, which includes Pigs Never Sweat! (2021).

A tongue-in-cheek look at snakes that will make kids giggle.

“When focused on the relationship between father and son, this work is a fitting tribute to an American luminary.” sander’s study

SANDER’S STUDY A Son’s Story

Vanocur, Chris Bowker (216 pp.) $14.95 paper | $6.99 e-book | Feb. 12, 2022 979-8-9854232-0-4

After DNA–modified humanoids violently overthrow society, the Tucker clan, a group of rustic settlers, battles for survival.

Warrener’s first novel imagines a society that has crumbled under an onslaught of genetically modified organisms—these monstrosities are known as the “unbred.”

In West Virginia, the Tucker clan, population 500 or so, subsists in frontier fashion, farming and trading with occasional nomads and maintaining a running feud against the hostile neighboring Greenbriers. The ever present threat that has shaped their small world, however, is predation by “pigmen,” clawed, feebleminded humanoids guided in their attacks by clever creatures called “shadowers.” Only in bits and pieces is the reader made to understand this world is the result of a bygone advanced human civilization nurturing a gallery of genetically modified creatures (some for human-replacement organ harvesting, others for worse purposes) who turned savage and rebelled, with a fiendish pandemic also in the mix. Now, besides pigmen, there is fear and fascination about the “ubermenschen,” a superhuman caste who are held guilty for the generations-old disaster. When mysterious drifter Omar Walking shows up in Tucker clan territory, he distinguishes himself in courageous battle against the massing unbreds, and he even finds an apprenticeship/employment in the colony making gunpowder. But whispers and suspicions persist over Omar’s origins and intentions. Readers of Justin Cronin’s The Passage trilogy may be impressed by Warrener’s interesting, offbeat take on a superficially similar horror/SF premise. This author leaves rather much more to the imagination. The pigmen are very sketchily described but resemble Middle-earth’s orcs gene-spliced on to a vivid invocation of hardscrabble Appalachian cultural settings, values, folkways, and even storytelling conventions and vernacular (“This elder business wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. At forty-two, Job was getting too old for this sort of thing. But he supposed this was why they were called elders.” It’s a fine debut and a haunting one, we reckon.

Creature-feature material blended skillfully with Appalachian-style grievances in a post-apocalyptic world.

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The son of an acclaimed television journalist recollects his father’s life in this combination of memoir and biography.

From his distinctive name to his commanding on-air presence as the leading political reporter for NBC News, Sander Vanocur was a ubiquitous figure who appeared on the TV screens of millions of Americans via his coverage of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the tumultuous 1960s presidential elections. This book, written by his son, a Peabody Award– winning TV journalist, recounts Sander’s exceptional life experiences, often masked behind a stoic demeanor. A natural raconteur, Chris Vanocur expertly blends his own childhood memories and interactions with his father in adulthood with a traditional biography of Sander’s accomplishments (complete with well-researched footnotes), striking an impressive balance between nostalgia and objective reporting. As such, readers are given a glimpse into the author’s admittedly privileged childhood, when he went to an elite private school with the children of presidents. His biology lab partner was Dan Rather. Details from Sander’s life also take center stage, including his reputation for bipartisan tenacity. Sander, for instance, was among the first journalists to publicly question President John F. Kennedy about the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, and he coined the term Irish Mafia to describe the Kennedy family’s inner circle. Sander also appeared on President Richard Nixon’s infamous “Enemies List.” The work draws heavily from the “avalanche of paperwork” discovered in Sander’s study following his 2019 death, which provided his son a rare glimpse into the private life of his often emotionally aloof father. Reproductions of letters and family photographs complement the author’s endeavor to provide an intimate look at his father’s life. The book’s final chapters on the author’s own accomplished career, while intriguing, are thematically disjointed from the rest of the book and are perhaps better suited as an independent volume. But at its best, when focused on the relationship between father and son, this work is a fitting tribute to an American luminary.

An engaging, if occasionally fragmented, account about a legendary TV reporter and his son.

FOR HOME AND HEARTH

Warrener, Ethan Self (308 pp.) $2.99 e-book | May 27, 2022

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU RISK MAKE RISK THEATRE Three Tragedies and Six Essays

Wong, Edwin FriesenPress (420 pp.) $20.99 | $14.99 paper | $6.99 e-book Feb. 28, 2022 978-1-03-913510-9 978-1-03-913509-3 paper Wong collects plays and essays that argue for the centrality of risk in drama.

Wong argues that risk serves as the fulcrum of tragedy.

Characters gamble something, exposing themselves to catastrophe via unlikely but potentially ruinous events, as when Macbeth and his wife decide to kill the king or when Oedipus fails to heed Tiresias’ advice to abandon his search for his father’s murderer. Wong illustrates his theory with three examples of contemporary plays that emphasize risk as the engine of their plot.

In Bloom by Gabriel Jason Dean tells the story of an American documentarian who stumbles upon the bacha bazi, or dancing boy, culture while working in Afghanistan. The Value by Nicholas Dunn follows three petty thieves who have just stolen a valuable piece of art and must now come to terms with its real worth.

Children of Combs and Watch Chains by Emily McClain involves a husband and wife who, unable to conceive a child, each embark on a secretive “Gift of the Magi”–style plot to make the other a parent, putting their life together in serious jeopardy. Following the plays are six essays by Wong in which he further explores the ways risk functions in ancient Greek tragedies as well as works by Shakespeare and Arthur Miller. Wong extends his risk reading to the realm of the novel, using Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd as his primary example. Wong’s prose is clean and easy to follow even as he wades into textual analysis. He writes that Macbeth “is transformed by a series of lowprobability, high-consequence events, in the beginning raised up by chance, and, in the end, cast down by the same power he hoped to harness. Macbeth is the story of how low-probability, high-consequence events encouraged a man to wager all-in.”

The three plays are enjoyable in their own rights, particularly McClain’s gripping Children of Combs and Watch Chains, which manages to feel simultaneously classic and fresh. As a whole, the book is both a persuasive argument for Wong’s theory of tragedy and an impressive package in service of his preferred approach to literary criticism.

An insightful, thought-provoking blend of drama and critical theory.

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INDIE

Books of the Month CARBON TECHNOCRACY

GOBUMPIN

An ambitious, scholarly study of the societal complications of energy extraction.

A clever, inclusive story with plenty of tongue twisters and striking images.

Warren Ross Illus. by Jade Fang

Victor Seow

BLUE HAVEN A psychological thriller that’s full of surprises and confronts the dangers of artificial happiness.

Chad Alan Gibbs

FLIGHT

MY DAD, MY ROCK

An extraordinary mix of wartime history and personal remembrance.

A beautifully illustrated, touching tale of love.

A fun mystery with a clever hero that offers sharp, surprising takes on big issues.

Victor D.O. Santos Illus. by Anna Forlati

Rasa Gustaitis

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kirkus.com

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BARDO BY THE SEA

Lisa King

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B o o k To Sc r e e n film and tv adaptations in the works

BY MICHAEL SCHAUB

Uma Thurman will sit behind the Resolute Desk in the film adaptation of Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue, Deadline reports.

Thurman, the star of movies such as Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, and Burnt, will play U.S. President Ellen Claremont in the movie.

McQuiston’s bestselling romance novel, published in 2019 by St. Martin’s Griffin, tells the story of Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of President Claremont, who can’t stand his British counterpart, Prince Henry. The two, however, slowly realize that they have romantic feelings for one another. In a starred review, a critic for Kirkus called the book “a clever, romantic, sexy love story.”

Uma Thurman Alex will be played in the Amazon Prime film adaptation by Taylor Zakhar Perez (Embeds), while Nicholas Galitzine (The Craft: Legacy) will play Prince Henry. Several other cast members have been announced, including Stephen Fry (V for Vendetta), Clifton Collins Jr. (Westworld), Rachel Hilson (Love, Victor), and Aneesh Sheth (Jessica Jones).

The film is being written and directed by playwright Matthew López, who told Deadline, “I am overjoyed that Uma will be joining us to play President Claremont. Her intelligence, warmth, and humor are a perfect match for Casey’s iconic character.

I cannot wait to be on our Oval Office set with her.”

On Instagram, McQuiston, who is also one of the film’s executive producers, wrote, “Oh, and one more thing…UMA *ACTUAL* THURMAN will be playing the role of Madam President in the RWRB movie!!!!!”

Charmaine Wilkerson’s Black Cake is headed to the small screen, with Adrienne Warren set to star, Deadline reports.

Wilkerson’s novel, published in February by Ballantine, tells the story of two siblings whose mother dies and wills them a traditional Caribbean fruitcake and an audio file in which she reveals secrets about her life. A reviewer for Kirkus called Wilkerson “clearly an author to watch” and wrote, “There is plenty to savor in this ambitious and accomplished debut.” The novel was Jenna Bush Hager’s Today show book club pick for February.

The Tony Award–winning Warren, known for her roles in Broadway shows such as Bring It On and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, will play Benny, one of the siblings.

Andrew Dosunmu, whose previous films include Restless City and Mother of George, is set to direct the pilot, which will air on Hulu. Oprah Winfrey will serve as one of the show’s executive producers along with Marissa Jo Cerar, who has written for 13 Reasons Why and The Handmaid’s Tale.

On Instagram, Warren wrote, “This story is so special. I can’t wait to share Adrienne Warren it with you all.”

And Wilkerson weighed in, “So honored to see the talented [Warren and Dosunmu] joining the team of creative professionals working on BLACK CAKE the screen series for Hulu.”

Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.

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book to screen

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Bruce Glikas/WireImage

ADRIENNE WARREN TO STAR IN BLACK CAKE SERIES

David Livingston/Getty Images

UMA THURMAN CAST IN RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE FILM

AU D I O B O O K S

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Marion Winik

Location, Location, Location The book our reviewer called “the most exciting U.K. debut in years”—An Olive Grove in Ends by 23-year-old Moses McKenzie (Hachette Audio, 9 hours and 49 minutes)—is possibly even more powerful in audio, because it’s set in a place that comes to life through its dialects and patois. A person’s ends, in British slang, is what we in the U.S. call their ’hood, and this one, located in Bristol, is home to an unsettled mix of Caribbean and Somali, Muslim and Christian gangs and congregations.

The only thing that could be better than the way the author evokes this community on the page is to hear his brother, Louis McKenzie, an accomplished actor, interpret it aloud. The olive grove of the title surrounds something truly unexpected in Ends—a magnificent mansion. Narrator Sayon Hughes is 10 years old the day he breaks into it for the first time and vows to live there someday. The dream is buried at the heart of all his relationships: with his cousin Cuba, who will give him the means through drug dealing; with his schoolmate Shona, a preacher’s daughter and the love of his life; with his mother, whose cruel failure to believe in him is a motivation in itself.

A few of the stories in The Partition by Don Lee (Recorded Books, 7 hours and 37 minutes) are set in the film industry,

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where “flied lice” accents and other stereotypes and tropes are a plague for Asian American actors. Cindy Kay and Greg Chun, the audiobook narrators of Lee’s lively, edgy, often erotic stories, bring authenticity and wry vocal shadings to a variety of complicated characters in a dazzling array of settings. The daughter of Korean immigrants who own a Chinese restaurant in Warrensburg, Missouri, Penny sets her sights on working at the trendiest izikaya in downtown Philly. In Tokyo, the sons and daughters of diplomats smoke weed at an Eric Clapton concert. Boston TV newscaster Victoria Crawford (formerly Hyo-son Cho) is a “1.5”—born in Korea, raised in the States. Of her two lovers, she prefers her married White boss to the sweet, single Dr. Yung-Duk Moon. In the wilds of West Texas, a Korean author and her translator bathe nude in a hot tub. In a suburban neighborhood of Baltimore with a racist history, an Asian American couple is on the rocks. Lee skewers idiocy and cant everywhere he finds it, and he finds it just about everywhere.

A fictional Massachusetts coastal town around a decade in the future is the eponymous setting of Vigil Harbor by Julia Glass (Random House Audio, 17 hours and 9 minutes). This ambitious, engrossing, somewhat terrifying story features eight firstperson narrators and one omniscient narrator, brilliantly realized by a cast including favorites like January LaVoy and Kimberly Farr as well as the author’s son Alec Glass. Every inhabitant of Vigil Harbor has been directly affected by the sharp escalation of global warming, viral pandemics, and domestic terrorism.

One teenager lost his father to Covid in 2020; a neighbor who went to NYU was at the epicenter of a bombing. A Guatemalan-born landscaper lives with the anxiety of a now-complete ban on immigration; the gorgeous coastal residences built by the architect now exist only in the virtual reality closet he uses as a marketing tool. As for the marine biologist, his job has become so politicized he’s been attacked by local fishermen. What would a happy ending even mean in this version of our future? You’ll be desperately rooting for these characters to find out.

Marion Winik is the host of the NPR podcast The Weekly Reader. |

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