March 15, 2012: Volume LXXX, No 6

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REVIEWS

t h e w o r l d’s t o u g h e s t b o o k c r i t i c s f o r mo r e t h a n 7 5 y e a rs fiction

Toni Morrison returns with a deceptively rich and cumulatively powerful novel about a black soldier’s return from the Korean War p. 551

nonfiction

chi ldr en’s & te e n

Acclaimed novelist Jonathan Franzen pens an unfailingly elegant and thoughtful collection of essays p. 577

Kristin Cashore takes readers back to the Seven Kingdoms in an exhilarating and provocative companion to Graceling and Fire. p. 609

in this issue: continuing series kirkus q&a

featured indie

Cheryl Strayed discusses the many challenges and epiphanies of her journey on the Pacific Coast Trail, an adventure that led to her new book, Wild p. 584

Paula Hiatt talks about her passion for observation and its influence on her debut novel, Secrets of the Apple p. 656

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J.G. Ballard, Dystopian Master B Y G RE G O RY MC NA M EE

Wa lt D i s n e y, s p i n n e r o f f a i r y t a l e s , had an early life that no child should dream of; poverty, alcohol and war all figured into the equation. Disney shrugged it off and, while serving as an ambulance driver in World War I, spent his free time improving on the bullet holes and blood inside German helmets and dreaming of Main Street.

J.G. Ballard, the anti-Disney of our time, also had a spectacularly difficult boyhood as a prisoner of Japan, as he would record in his memoir Empire of the Sun. His dreams of High Street would turn out to be very different from Disney’s: the one’s home was a never-never-land, the other’s always subject to being exposed as a dream turned nightmare.

Consider Ballard’s late novel Millennium People, published in Britain in 2003 but not released in America until 2011. The events of 9/11 had not yet begun to fade into memory, and those of 7/7 were yet to be revealed, but Ballard was right on time with his depiction of a police psychologist who, infiltrating a band of terrorists in the London suburbs, finds them to be—well, suburbanites, “likeable and over-educated revolutionaries” who eat vegan and blow up innocents, including his own ex-wife.

And how does London respond? With a resigned tolerance of the sort reserved for very naughty children, if not indifference: “I had overturned cars and helped to fill Perrier bottles with lighter fuel, but a tolerant and liberal society had smiled at me and walked away”—heading, no doubt, for a EuroDisney sojourn across the Chunnel.

Ballard, who died in April 2009 at the age of 78, insisted that his dark view of the present was really a sneak preview of “the psychology of the future,” which perhaps explains why so many of his characters are credentialed experts in human behavior, if sometimes clueless about it all the same. He resisted as well the categorization of his novels as “science fiction,” preferring the adjective “apocalyptic” to describe books such as Crash, with its discomfiting suggestion that we crane our necks at automobile accidents because we find them to be vaguely arousing. Certainly he did, or at least the scars of a girlfriend who had lived through one terrible collision; he lingered over phrases such as “the mysterious eroticism of wounds: the perverse logic of blood-soaked instrument panels and sun visors lined with brain tissue.”

Yet science fiction most of his books must be branded. His fictional landscapes are those of the very near future in which people of the present find themselves thrust without preparation. Lost, bewildered, terrified, they make do with their scant psychological resources—which, of course, are never quite up to the tasks piled upon them.

Ballard remains what is too often dismissively called a “cult author,” which amounts to saying that Johnny Cash is a cult country singer because he can’t be found on the radio. The cult, one hopes, will grow to fill a Disneyland or two as Norton embarks on a program to reissue his work, including, next month, a 50th-anniversary edition of The Drowned World. The thought of more Ballard to read is enough to make even a dystopian think a little better of the world.

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This Issue’s Contributors

Maude Adjarian • Ken Aiken • Kent Armstrong • Mark Athitakis • Stefan Barkow • Caroline Bartunek • Josh Bell • Amy Boaz • Julie Buffaloe-Yoder • Lee E. Cart • Charles Cassady • Marnie Colton • Kelli Daley • Dave DeChristopher • Gregory F. DeLaurier • David Delman • Kathleen Devereaux • Daniel Dyer • Lisa Elliott • Gro Flatebo • Renee Fountain • Peter Franck • Bob Garber • Faith Giordano • Amy Goldschlager • Christine Goodman • Anne Lawrence Guyon • Peter Heck • Jeff Hoffman • Susan J.E. Illis • Robert M. Knight • Paul Lamey • Louise Leetch • Judith Leitch • Peter Lewis • Elsbeth Lindner • Joe Maniscalco • Don McLeese • Gregory McNamee • Sara Miller • Lisa Monroe • Carole Moore • Aparna Narayanan • Liza Nelson • Randall Nichols • John Noffsinger • Sarah Norris • Mike Oppenheim • Jim Piechota • David Rapp • Karah Rempe • Karen Rigby • Lloyd Sachs • Mark A. Salfi • Bob Sanchez • Hannah Sheldon-Dean • Rosanne Simeone • Arthur Smith • Wendy Smith • Margot E. Spangenberg • Andria Spencer • Patricia Stanley • Claire Trazenfeld • Steve Weinberg • Rodney Welch • Carol White • Chris White • Melissa Wuske • Homa Zaryouni • Alex Zimmerman

contents fiction Index to Starred Reviews.................................................... p. 543 REVIEWS......................................................................................... p. 543 Mystery........................................................................................ p. 559

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

Science Fiction & Fantasy....................................................p. 566 Q&A WITH charlie newton................................................... p. 552

nonfiction Index to Starred Reviews....................................................p. 569 REVIEWS.........................................................................................p. 569 Q&A WITH Cheryl Strayed.....................................................p. 584

children’s & teen Index to Starred Reviews................................................... p. 601 REVIEWS........................................................................................ p. 601 Q&A WITH faith erin hicks....................................................p. 618 interactive e-books.............................................................. p. 643 continuing series Round-up............................................. p. 648

indie Index to Starred Reviews....................................................p. 649 REVIEWS.........................................................................................p. 649 Q&A with paula hiatt............................................................. p. 656

Nadine Gordimer writes movingly and piercingly about the struggles in postApartheid South Africa. See the starred review on p. 545. |

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on the web w w w. k i r k u s r e v i e w s . c o m / l i s t s Discover more lists created by the critics online: New & Notable Indie Books for March (12 titles) Books for St. Patrick’s Day (12 titles) Rick Moody (11 titles) 9 You are passionate about books and so are we. Visit the Kirkus Book Bloggers Network to find current commentary on your favorite genres.

From celebrity to sci-fi, we cover it all.

Rick Moody is one of the most popular authors working today, with such hits as Garden State, The Ice Storm and his latest book, The Four Fingers of Death, which was one of our best books of 2010. Now Moody returns with a different approach, this time focusing his style and wit on talking about music in On Celestial Music. Here, he runs the gamut of music he loves, from Meredith Monk to Wilco, Otis Redding to the Lounge Lizards. As the most inspired music writing generally does, he makes the reader want to listen afresh through Moody’s ears. In a starred review, we said, “Thoughtful, heartfelt and frequently moving, like the best music.”

We’re proud to host several guest book bloggers on our site. Leila Roy at Bookshelves of Doom

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Emotionally lost and in her 20s, Cheryl Strayed decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail on her own. And, as it turns out, her overstuffed backpack, Monster, isn’t the only thing she’s carrying around. While on her life-changing adventure, Strayed deals with her mother’s death, her divorce and just figuring out who she is and what she wants to become. Wild, which received a Kirkus star, is a moving journey that never gets sappy or sentimental. fans of Chicago and thrillers, Charlie Newton packs a double punch with his latest, Start Shooting. How does he do it? With deep research into the Chicago PD, Newton makes his story rich with authenticity and nail-biting prose. Here his police procedural pits two local cops against a conspiracy of violence and corruption that dates back to World War II. In a starred review, we said that the book “delivers an even more thrilling, densely packed novel that makes most Chicago crime thrillers seem tame.”

For

Print indexes: www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/print-indexes Kirkus Blog: www.kirkusreviews.com/blog Advertising Opportunities: www.kirkusreviews.com/about/advertising-opportunities

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covers the best (and the worst) in teen books with her funny, delightful column Bookshelves of Doom. This month, Roy wrote about Cath Crowley’s Graffiti Moon. In search of a perfectly wonderful teen romance, the book was highly recommended to her by her readers. Graffiti Moon is a story that takes place over the course of one night between a girl searching for a mysterious graffiti artist and a boy she had a bad date with once years ago. Hint: He turns out to be who she’s looking for...For fans of Nick and Norah, here’s Roy’s take: “It’s about two people getting past first impressions and long-held assumptions (and yes, she’s a fan of Pride and Prejudice), about art, family and friendship, loneliness and longing. It made me laugh out loud and it made me cry. And, at times, it made my heart feel too big for my chest.”

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fiction GOLD

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

Cleave, Chris Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) $27.00 | Jul. 10, 2012 978-1-4516-7272-5

GOLD by Chris Cleave................................................................... p. 543 WHEN THE NIGHT by Cristina Comencini................................. p. 544 THE SADNESS OF THE SAMURAI by Victor Del Arbol............. p. 544 NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT by Nadine Gordimer.................. p. 545 IN ONE PERSON by John Irving................................................. p. 546 SUNSET by Al Lamanda............................................................... p. 563 HOME by Toni Morrison................................................................. p. 551 THE COVE by Ron Rash................................................................. p. 555

IN ONE PERSON

Irving, John Simon & Schuster (448 pp.) $28.00 May 8, 2012 978-1-4516-6412-6

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After the enormous popular success of his second novel (Little Bee, 2009, etc.), British author Cleave turns to the world of Olympic speed cyclists to explore the shifting sands of ambition, loyalty and love.

Tom, who just barely missed his own medal in 1968, is coaching Kate and Zoe to represent Britain at the 2012 Olympics, which the 32-year-old women know will be their last. They are best friends but fierce rivals. Zoe, who already has won four Olympic golds, lives only to race and will do anything, including sacrifice friends, ethics and her own emotional needs, to come in first. Though technically as fast, Kate is a perpetual runner -up, and compared to Zoe, she seems almost soft; her willingness to put family needs first has caused her to pass up two previous Olympic competitions. And then there is Jack, who has his own Olympic golds. He met Zoe and Kate when the three were stars in a program Tom ran to train Britain’s most talented adolescent cycling prospects. Jack was the sexy boy down from Scotland obviously bound for glory.

Although he and Zoe shared a brief, highly charged and emotionally fraught affair, Kate was the one he fell in love with and married. Their little girl Sophie is the novel’s real heart. Cleave has a gift for portraying difficult children who pull every heartstring. Battling leukemia and obsessed with Star Wars, Sophie furtively watches her parents’ reactions to her illness. Kate both embraces and resents that she is the one who must make the sacrifices for Sophie, while Jack’s commitment to his wife and daughter is deeper, if more complex, than Kate recognizes.

Meanwhile, emotionally stunted Zoe is facing a personal crisis of her own, both public and private. Then higher-ups change the rules, and father figure Tom must choose whether Kate or Zoe is going to the Olympics.

In weaker hands this would seem a bit contrived, but Cleave knows how to captivate with rich characters and nimble plotting. (Agent: Jennifer Joel)

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“A deftly plotted thriller that combines narrative momentum with literary ambition.” from the sadness of the samurai

WHEN THE NIGHT

Comencini, Cristina Other Press (256 pp.) $15.95 paperback | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-59051-511-2 Two strangers meet in the Italian Dolomites and are equally attracted to and repelled by each other.

Accompanied by her 2-year-old son Marco, Marina takes refuge in northern Italy to sort out her relationship with her husband, which has deteriorated since the birth of their child.

There she meets Manfred, a local mountain guide as elemental as the rocky peaks surrounding him. Manfred is, to put it charitably, taciturn, if not morosely uncommunicative. He quickly develops an antipathy toward Marina as being a bad mother, for in a mysterious incident she briefly leaves Marco, who falls and hurts himself. Manfred grudgingly leads Marina up to a remote mountain lodge owned by his family, and there she meets Manfred’s brothers and his sister-in-law, with whom she develops a rapport borne out of their shared roles as mothers. Despite herself, Marina starts to feel drawn to Manfred, estranged from both his wife, whom he’s brutalized, and his two children. She begins to fantasize what intimacy with Manfred would feel like and concludes it would not be for the faint of heart. Then, in an almost psychic episode, Manfred is missing when he’s expected at the lodge, and she impulsively calls the local police, who find him in a crevasse, so he now feels a reluctant obligation to Marina for saving his life. Although they come close to consummating their affair, they never act on their impulses, and Manfred tells Marina to return to her husband. Fifteen years later Marina, driven by curiosity, seeks out Manfred one more time to see what she might have missed.

A director and screenwriter as well as a novelist, Comencini is adept at creating an extraordinary portrait of psychologically scarred characters.

UNTERZAKHN

Corman, Leela Illus. by Corman, Leela Schocken (208 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-8052-4259-1 The graphic novel as feminist parable, concerning twin sisters who learn the brutal facts of life, set in New York

in the early 1900s.

Jewish daughters of a woman whose reputation makes her an object of scorn on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Esther and Fanya are identical twins and soul mates whose lives take very different turns. Yet they face a common problem in the world they’re poised to enter, and “the root of the problem lies in the overly sexual nature of the human male...It’s men’s drives, you see, that keep Woman reproducing constantly, like 544

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a breed cow. Sexual slavery awaits the woman who allows a man to entrap her, either in marriage or in a quick and ugly gutter union.” Such advice is given to Fanya by the female obstetrician she comes to assist in the frequent (but illegal) role as an abortionist. Meanwhile, Esther sees another side of man’s sexual drives, when she falls under the wing of a woman whose burlesque theater serves as a tease for the prostitution business upstairs, with nubile Esther becoming an attraction in first the former, soon the latter and finally something closer to the legitimate theater. (The graphic novel’s title is Yiddish for “Underthings.”) Yet these lines between the worlds of conventional morality and common indecency blur, as the maturing Esther attracts numerous customers who want to take her away and make an honest woman out of her, yet she sees no gain in exchanging the sort of sexual transaction to which she’s accustomed for a less lucrative and potentially more suffocating one. A climactic reunion leads to revelation for the sisters and the reader alike.

Both a work of social realism and a fable with a moral.

(Author tour to Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle)

THE SADNESS OF THE SAMURAI

Del Arbol, Victor Henry Holt (400 pp.) $26.00 | May 22, 2012 978-0-8050-9475-6

A deftly plotted thriller that combines narrative momentum with literary ambition.

A prize-winning novelist with police experience in his native Spain, Del Arbol deserves to expand his international readership with his first work to be translated into English. It’s basically the story of three families who discover how tightly their fates are intertwined. Though the plot crosses international borders and leaps back and forth across the decades, piling intrigue upon intrigue in the process, the author does a masterful job of keeping the story both clear and suspenseful. One narrative strand concerns a hospitalized lawyer in the early 1980s who is accused of helping a prisoner escape after she had successfully helped convict him of murder. The second begins 40 years earlier, when a beautiful aristocrat plots to murder her fascist husband, but finds herself betrayed by the man she loves. The third features the family of the man who tutors the younger son that the aristocrat leaves behind. Though the coincidences of suicides, dead mothers and wives, and the sins of the parents being visited upon their children, might strain credulity, they underscore the novel’s theme of “the absurd circular path of...destiny,” of how “the past is never forgotten; it’s never wiped clean” and, ultimately, of how “there are scars that never heal...but we have to keep going with what we are.” As the mystery unfolds, the lawyer discovers terrible truths about her father, which tie her in a deeper and darker way than she had realized to the police

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officer whose conviction had seemed like a blow to corruption, yet more likely was evidence of political corruption at higher levels. The reader will find this more compelling than confusing.

A literary page-turner.

THE SINGLES

Goldstein, Meredith Plume (256 pp.) $15.00 paperback | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-452-29805-7 Five unmarried guests manage to come together—and fall apart—during an upscale wedding at a Maryland country club.

Unconvinced that there is any upside to being a bridesmaid, New York City casting director Hannah nonetheless feels a sense of obligation when her dear college friend Bee requests her services. Aside from the bother of having to buy a special halter bra for the occasion, singleton Hannah is anxious about seeing her ex Tom, who will be there with his new girlfriend, a guidance counselor named Jaime.

Staying with Hannah is another college friend, Vicki, a creative type with a dull corporate job in Rochester. She also has a mild case of depression that she combats with a special sunlamp she carries around in a guitar case. Vickie and Hannah’s Texas friend Rob, alas, is a last-minute no show for the wedding, although his presence is missed. A laid-back underachiever with a tendency to disappoint people, Rob carries a torch for Hannah, although his only commitment is to his dog Liz, a rescue mutt with epilepsy. Through texts, he gets a play-by-play of the event, while struggling with his own mixed feelings—and a sudden emergency. To calm her prewedding jitters, Hannah mixes a couple of mystery pills (offered by the controlling matron-of-honor, Dawn) with alcohol, and proceeds to make a fool of herself during the inevitable confrontation with Tom, who remembers the end of their relationship far differently than she does. Inebriated as she is, Hannah catches the eye of Phil, a strapping young man who is only attending as a favor for his sick mother. And Vicki bonds with Bee’s uncle Joe, a successful, divorced businessman from Las Vegas with a thing for wistful young brunettes. Funny and sad with easily identifiable characters, Boston Globe advice columnist Goldstein’s debut makes the most of some very familiar scenarios.

Charming wedding farce with a bit of depth.

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Gordimer, Nadine Farrar, Straus and Giroux (384 pp.) $27.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-374-22264-2 A biracial couple faces both personal and political issues in South Africa after the Struggle.

In many ways Steve and Jabulile seem to have bridged the difficult gap from pre- to post-Apartheid life. They move to a suburb, have two children—a girl, Sindi, and a boy, Gary Elias—and seem to be living the new dream. Steve, a chemical engineer, finds a teaching position at a local university, and Jabu moves from her position as a teacher at a Catholic school to the study of law. Her native language is isiZulu, and Steve decides he wants to learn the language when Sindi is young so he can be drawn even closer to his daughter. But ripples begin to develop in their seemingly placid life, for politics in the era after Mandela is scarcely Edenic. Jacob Zuma is running for president, and he brings with him the political liability of suspicion of corruption by having enriched himself in questionable arms deals. Women are routinely raped, and Jabu is sometimes called in to help in their defense. (She finds out to her horror that one in four South African men have confessed to rape.) On the personal front, Steve attends a conference in London and has a brief but intense fling, thereby violating what had been an unshakable bond with Jabu. With the growing unrest becoming an almost daily part of their lives, Steve begins to look at the prospect of their emigrating to Australia—though he neglects to tell Jabu that he’s even considering this possibility. Against this political and personal turmoil, Jabu has centering conversations with her father, a minister with a long memory of time and history.

Gordimer writes movingly and piercingly about the struggles after the Struggle.

MONDAY MORNINGS

Gupta, Sanjay Grand Central Publishing (304 pp.) $24.99 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-0-446-58385-5 Standard-issue medical procedural from CNN medical correspondent and surgeon Gupta (Cheating Death, 2009).

In this debut novel, Gupta commits some of the more common errors of Fiction 101 by telling more than showing, and then showing the mundane with as much attention as the distinctive. Thus the second sentence of the book: “Wearing bright blue polyester jumpsuits with a yellow insignia on the left front pocket and standard-issue black boots, they were moving fast.” Moving fast, check. But would it have mattered whether the uniforms were of green cotton, the badges red, the

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boots brown? The matter-of-factness and attention to every detail would probably serve a surgeon in theater very well, the purposes of a yarn less effectively; yet both qualities overwhelm the dramatic: “The aneurysm, a small blister on the surface of an artery, had suddenly let loose, spraying blood throughout her brain. She had likely felt a sudden thunderclap headache, and within seconds was rendered unconscious.” “One of the possible risks was damage to the olfactory nerve that ran near the cancerous growth. If that was nicked or cut, the patient would lose the sense of smell.” Just so, Gupta’s characters are of the stock variety: the hardbitten, arrogant master cutter, the encouraging mentor, the poor kid out to save the world (“the first Robidaux to consider college,” the foreign resident who works twice as hard as everyone else—in short, the kind of people whom, mutatis mutandis, you’d send into combat in a World War II film, or, in this instance, into the emergency ward. In that regard, Gupta’s book makes its greatest contribution: It shows that a doctor’s life isn’t all glamour and golf on one hand or completely clinical on the other, even if most of the coitus is interruptus.

All does not end well, not for certain patients and certain docs alike, but the quotidian world ticks on; it’s very much as if James Michener had attempted a medical thriller, though without the thrill and without Michener’s epic length.

Competent but no more—and, of course, one always wants something beyond mere competence from a surgeon.

IN ONE PERSON

Irving, John Simon & Schuster (448 pp.) $28.00 | May 8, 2012 978-1-4516-6412-6 Billy Dean (aka Billy Abbott) has a difficult time holding it together in one person, for his bisexuality pulls him in (obviously) two different directions.

Billy comes of age in what is frequently, and erroneously, billed as a halcyon and more innocent age, the 1950s. The object of his first love—or at least his first “sexual awakening”— is Miss Frost, the librarian at the municipal library in the small town of First Sister, Vt. While Miss Frost’s small breasts and large hands might have been a tip-off—and the fact that in a previous life she had been known as Al Frost—Billy doesn’t quite get it until several years later, when the librarian seduces him.

At almost the same time he becomes aware of Miss Frost as an erotic object, he develops an adolescent attraction to Jacques Kittredge, athlete and general Golden Boy at the academy they attend. And Billy also starts to have conflicted feelings toward Elaine, daughter of a voice teacher attached to the academy. (As Irving moves back and forth over the different phases of Billy’s sexual life, we find he later consummates, but not happily, his relationship with Elaine.) We also learn of Billy’s homoerotic relationships with Tom, a college friend, and with Larry, a professor Billy had studied with overseas. And all of these sexual attractions and compulsions play out against the background 546

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of Billy’s unconventional family (his grandfather was known for his convincing portrayals of Shakespeare heroines—and he began to dress these parts offstage as well) and local productions of Shakespeare and Ibsen.

Woody Allen’s bon mot about bisexuality is that it doubled one’s chances for a date, but in this novel Irving explores in his usual discursive style some of the more serious and exhaustive consequences of Allen’s one-liner.

(Agent: Janet Turnbull)

BEING LARA

Jaye, Lola Morrow/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $13.99 paperback | Mar. 13, 2012 978-0-06-206934-4 An adopted child turns 30 and confronts her African origins.

Lara, a successful London web entrepreneur, has always felt slightly dislocated, an anomie which has expressed itself in mild OCD symptoms. Growing up in Essex, England, with her adoptive white parents, she’s had to cope with racist slurs and narrow-minded neighbors. Worse, she’s never had an adequate answer to the question that continues to unsettle her as true adulthood looms—why did her African mother abandon her? Lara’s two mothers each have their narrative say. Pat (formerly one-hit-wonder rock star Trish) has been estranged from her own family ever since she adopted a black child. Yomi, Lara’s birth mother, was unwillingly married off to a powerful chief in her village near Lagos, Nigeria. Her true love, Henry, had disappeared, but returns long enough to impregnate her. The revelation of how and why, exactly, Lara wound up in the Motherless Children’s Home, where Pat and her husband Barry, visiting on a charity mission, found her, is withheld until novel’s end, presumably to generate suspense in a plot whose momentum otherwise lags. By her 30th birthday, Lara considers herself thoroughly English—her longing to meet her African mother has diminished. But just as she is about to blow out the candles on her birthday cake, a mysterious woman in a head wrap appears at her parents’ door. Lara (née Omolara) spends the rest of the novel avoiding her birthmother, but urged on by her best friend Sandi, and her boyfriend Tyler, Lara reaches out to Yomi’s mother, who has accompanied her daughter to England in the quest for their lost progeny. As “Granny” introduces Lara to her Nigerian heritage, Lara finds the missing dimensions of her selfhood and steels herself to learn the truth about her perceived abandonment by Yomi. Unfortunately Lara’s conflicts pale in comparison to those of Yomi, a character who would have absconded with the novel had she been allotted more space.

An earnest but often clichéd and sentimental comingof-age story.

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“Stories about storytelling from a young Israeli author.” from suddenly, a knock on the door

THE UNINVITED GUESTS

Jones, Sadie Harper/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $24.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-211650-5

Strange goings-on at an Edwardian country house.

Jones (Small Wars, 2010, etc.) quickly establishes a tension-riddled scenario.

Charlotte Torrington Swift is in danger of losing Sterne, the grand manor bought for her by her adoring first husband, who couldn’t afford it and died leaving a pile of debts. Second husband Edward is off to Manchester to try and save Sterne—not that this wins him any favor from petulant Clovis and Emerald, who have never liked their stepfather.

Edward will miss Emerald’s 20th birthday party, to which childhood friends Patience and Ernest Sutton have been invited; spoiled but good-natured Emerald worries that the clever, unfashionable siblings will be rudely treated by her ill-tempered brother and their status-obsessed mother. Circumstances become even more unpromising with the arrival of survivors of a terrible crash on the nearby branch line, whom the Great Central Railway informs Charlotte will have to be hosted overnight. There’s something very odd about these passengers, and odder still about Charlie TravershamBeechers, another survivor and an old acquaintance of Charlotte’s, though she’s clearly alarmed to see him. Traversham-Beechers is invited to the awkward birthday dinner, while housekeeper Florence Trieves struggles to find food for his increasingly rowdy fellow passengers. He uses a self-invented game, Hinds and Hounds, to encourage the airing of everyone’s unpleasant opinions about each other, and the game ends with Traversham-Beechers’ ugly revelations about Charlotte’s past. At this point, what seemed to be a savage comedy of manners takes a 90-degree turn and becomes a supernatural confection. There’s no question about Jones’ skill— the novel is cleverly constructed and written in smooth prose. It’s quite a step down in ambition and moral seriousness, however, from her two previous novels. The nasty climax to Hinds and Hounds, obviously intended to make a statement about the human capacity for evil, has its impact muffled by the deliberately implausible happy ending, modeled on a Shakespearean romance.

A peculiar change of pace for this gifted author.

SECOND PERSON SINGULAR

Kashua, Sayed Translated by Ginsburg, Mitch Grove (352 pp.) $25.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-8021-2019-9 Two Arab-Israelis struggle with their insecurities in this unconvincing third novel from the Arab-Israeli writer.

He’s sitting pretty, this Arab from the villages of northern Israel; at only 32, he’s one of the top |

criminal-defense lawyers in Jerusalem, and an expert navigator through the thicket of Arab-Jewish relations. The unnamed lawyer also has a good marriage to Leila, a social worker; it may lack passion, but Leila makes sure the household, which includes two small children, runs like clockwork. The lawyer’s calm, measured tone changes dramatically when a note falls from the used book, a Tolstoy novella, he’s about to read. It’s in his wife’s handwriting and could be construed as erotic. The calculating lawyer turns into a raging monster of sexual jealousy. Has Tolstoy’s wife-killer leapt from the page to possess him? Or is his naïveté about matters of the heart taking its toll? (The lawyer has no experience with other women.) Disappointingly, these questions go unanswered, and their urgency ebbs as Kashua introduces another character, Amir, the protagonist of alternating sections. It’s an awkward structure, made more so by a six-year time difference. Back then Amir, also an immigrant to Jerusalem from an Arab village, was a newly minted social worker, a socially inept kid who went on a not-quite-date with his co-worker Leila, who afterwards wrote that altogether innocent note. So there’s the slender plot connection.

Amir has a second job as a caregiver for Yonatan, a young Jewish man in a vegetative state. Gradually Amir assumes Yonatan’s identity. He’s alienated from his mother but finds a willing surrogate in Yonatan’s mother; together, they pull the plug on the Jew and Amir buries him in an Arab cemetery. Creepy, for sure, yet the sequence resolves nothing. By now the time periods are in sync. The lawyer has tracked down Amir, who tells him everything, and the lawyer’s marriage returns to normal; much ado about nothing, then.

Kashua fails to illuminate his characters’ troubled souls.

(Agent: Deborah Harris)

SUDDENLY, A KNOCK ON THE DOOR

Keret, Etgar Translated by Englander, Nathan & Shlesinger, Miriam & Silverston, Sondra Farrar, Straus and Giroux (192 pp.) $14.00 paperback | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-3745-3333-5 Stories about storytelling from a young Israeli author.

With stories this short (many are a paragraph or two or a page or two, making the 22 pages of the penultimate “Surprise Party” feel like an epic), every word counts, so it’s quite possible that something has been lost in the translation (with no slight intended to the three translators credited, including noted author Nathan Englander). However these stories might read differently in Hebrew, and signify something different within a different cultural context, they function like fables and parables, fairy tales and jokes, with goldfish that grant wishes, parallel universes, an insurance agent who suffers (and then prospers) from his own lack of insurance, a woman who mourns her miscarriage with a creative-writing course (with her husband becoming jealous of the instructor and responding by writing his own revelatory stories). Bookending the collection are two stories featuring a writer as protagonist, a first-person

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narrator that the reader is invited to identify as the author, who is being forced to perform the act of writing for the benefit of others. The first, the title story, finds him coerced to create at gunpoint, conjuring a plot that proceeds to transpire within the story as he takes some pleasure from “creating something out of something.” The final story, “What Animal Are You?,” shows the self-conscious writer being filmed for a TV feature as he’s in the process of writing (or at least simulating it), wondering whether a hooker might seem more natural on camera as his wife than his wife does. His pieces elicit comparison to sources as diverse as Franz Kafka, Kurt Vonnegut and Woody Allen. He also recalls Lydia Davis in his compression and Donald Barthelme in his whimsy. Yet the stories are hit-and-miss, some of them slight or obvious, though the suggestion that “in the end, everyone gets the Hell or the Heaven he deserves” might be a fantasy that readers will wish were true.

More like bits and sketches than stories, from a writer who is often very funny and inventive, and occasionally profound.

RAINSHADOW ROAD

Kleypas, Lisa St. Martin’s Griffin (336 pp.) $14.99 paperback | Feb. 28, 2012 978-0-312-60588-9 A little romance and a little magic make for a surprising page-turner as a glass artist falls for a vintner on an island in the Puget Sound.

It comes as quite a shock when Kevin tells Lucy their relationship is over. It’s even worse when he tells her she needs to quickly move out as his new girlfriend will be moving in. And then devastating when he confesses that the new girlfriend is her younger sister Alice. Criminal, but all of a piece—ever since a childhood bout of meningitis left her fragile, Alice has always gotten her way; her parents spoiled her into a beautiful, unbearable young woman. Reeling from the news, Lucy takes a walk on the beach and runs into Sam Nolan, a handsome, rakish grape grower and confirmed bachelor. The two strike up a saucy friendship, but agree that anything more would be disastrous given Lucy’s recent breakup and Sam’s admittedly cynical perspective on all things love. Sam’s romantic skepticism has deep roots: his parents were the town drunks, raging and embarrassing to their four children, creating in each a fatalism that encourages superficial relationships. The exception is Holly, Sam’s niece who he and his brother Mark are raising after the death of their sister. The three live in a rambling Victorian attached to Sam’s vineyard and soon enough (due to an accident that leaves her leg temporarily immobile) Lucy moves in. They both resist the sexual energy, but then confess their deepest secrets: Lucy can convert glass into living things (like fireflies) and Sam can will plants to grow. Will Sam admit he’s in love with Lucy? Will Kevin and Alice really marry? Will Lucy take the art grant in New York or stay pining for Sam? Happily, everyone gets exactly what they deserve.

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Strengthened by characters with depth and something interesting to say, this winning first installment in a trilogy is sure to thrill fans of modern romantic fiction.

THE ICE CREAM GIRLS

Koomson, Dorothy Grand Central Publishing (448 pp.) $14.99 paperback | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-4555-0713-9 Two women, tried as teens for the murder of their teacher, confront their past and each other.

A tabloid photo of 18-year-old Serena and 16-year-old Poppy, pictured wearing string bikinis and holding ice-cream cones, leads the London press to dub them the Ice Cream Girls. After their former teacher, Marcus, was found stabbed through the heart, each girl denied administering the coup de grâce. The sensationalist press coverage portrayed the teens as sociopaths and Marcus as a saint. The jury believed Serena but convicted Poppy.

Twenty years later, Poppy is paroled from prison, and returns to her parents’ home in Brighton, where the welcome is decidedly frosty. Serena, also a resident of Brighton, has a professional career, is married to mild-mannered physician Evan and has two children. Through flashbacks, we learn that—unbeknownst to their parents—Marcus seduced both girls when they were underage, then embroiled them in a depraved ménage à trois. Each suffered beatings, emotional abuse and repeated rapes. Serena’s outwardly calm domestic life imperfectly masks her post-traumatic stress— she hides the kitchen knives every night and cannot bring herself to reveal her past to Evan. Poppy emerges from prison with only one goal in mind: force Serena to admit that she was the one who fatally stabbed Marcus, not Poppy. Threatening to expose her to Evan, Poppy tries to coerce a confession, however Serena claims that she cannot recall how Marcus was killed or by whom. It stretches credulity that two girls from relatively privileged homes could not escape this predator especially since, when they’re not enduring his atrocities, they are living at home with their parents. The accretion of details of these horrors certainly imparts a credible motive for murder. However, the question remains, who actually killed Marcus? The solution to this puzzle is unexpected, largely because Koomson elects to gloss over the details of the murder investigation and trial.

Although the plot does not weather close scrutiny, this is an unsettling, insomnia-inducing read.

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THE SECRETS OF MARY BOWSER

Leveen, Lois Morrow/HarperCollins (496 pp.) $14.99 paperback | $9.99 e-book May 22, 2012 978-0-06-210790-9 978-0-06-210791-6 e-book Set free by her mistress, can a young slave find true freedom up North? Or will she discover that there is more than one way to be enslaved?

Leveen’s debut novel brings to life the true story of a young slave woman. Her abolitionist-leaning mistress, Bet Van Lew, sets Mary and her mother, Minnie, free. Yet Mary’s father and Minnie’s husband, Lewis, remains enslaved as a blacksmith to his master. So freedom proves more difficult than either woman had anticipated. Under Virginia law, Mary and her mother may stay in the Commonwealth only a year after being set free. After that mark, either could be resold into slavery. Unwilling to leave her husband, Minnie chooses a dangerous path of deception, pretending to still be a slave. Hoping for a better life for their daughter, Lewis and Minnie send her North to be educated in Philadelphia. Once north of the Mason-Dixon Line, Mary swiftly learns that racism persists, even among the freed slaves themselves. She gains a fine education and deep friendships. Yet Mary must also learn to negotiate the bewildering rules of living in a racist and classist society: being exiled to the Negro benches, enduring unwarranted insults and having to hide her own family’s secrets. After her mother dies, Mary realizes that time is wasting. She begins to see clearly that true freedom depends on everyone being free. After rejecting a flattering—yet essentially insulting—marriage proposal, Mary discovers the courage to return to Virginia for her father, to work with the Underground Railroad for other slaves and even to spy for the Union army. And along the way, she finds true love.

Deftly balancing history, romance and adventure, Leveen honors the life and historical importance of a brave, resourceful woman. (Agent: Laney Katz Becker)

barrier is less an issue than the worst kind of naiveté. Will, a photography nut, is planning on a visit to a tea factory in Laos when Jake awakens him with a risky alternative. A guy he met in a noodle place told him about this beautiful, little-known spot with a waterfall where they can go swimming and Will can photograph—and be with in other ways—the photogenic Wa people. Will reluctantly gives in.

Beautiful topless girls do indeed greet them at the swimming hole.

Jake wanders off with one of them, leaving Will to contemplate what may become the most amazing day in his life—if only he can stop thinking of his girlfriend back home. When he spies Howard stashing something in the boot of his Jeep, the day begins its downward slide. Howard insists customs cops don’t care about young tourists.

One bad turn leads to another, a cop gets shot in the chest by the backpackers’ crossbow, Jake and Will turn on each other, their agreeably un-villain-like guide pays for his transgressions and any remaining shreds of human decency get washed away in the rapids. Lewis writes with a subtle comic edge. The pages of this short novel turn so quickly, its dark undertow can sneak up on you.

A novel that sets itself apart from most noir fiction with its lighter and looser feel.

BORDER RUN

Lewis, Simon Scribner (240 pp.) $22.00 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-4165-9605-9 Lured into the jungle of Thailand by the promise of pure bliss with lovely tribal girls, British backpacking buddies Jake and Will discover their guide Howard is using them as a cover to deal drugs across the nearby Burmese border. Taking matters in their own hands, they cross the line between self-preservation and moral depravity.

Lewis, who sent a Chinese inspector to England to search for his abducted daughter in the 2008 thriller Bad Traffic, returns with another dark tale of cultural dislocation. In this book, the language |

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“Läckberg’s greatest strength is dramatizing the long shadows of family troubles that grow to monstrous size.” from the stonecutter

AFTERWARDS

Lupton, Rosamund Crown (400 pp.) $25.00 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-307-71654-5 No one is above suspicion when a cozy scenario of suburban family accord morphs into a full-throttle psychological thriller, ring-fenced by a mother’s love.

Happy middle-class facades crumble and suspects multiply like flu germs in the nonstop second novel by British publishing sensation Lupton (Sister, 2011), quirkily narrated by the out-of-body spirit of Grace, a brain-dead mother in the hospital, badly hurt when rescuing her 17-year-old daughter Jenny from a burning school set alight by an arsonist. Jenny, whose spirit is also hovering, has three weeks to live unless a transplant heart can be found. Now the two observe Grace’s husband and son Adam trying to deal with the tragedy’s aftermath while the police—notably sisterin-law Sarah—investigate the fire. With each turn of the page, Lupton seems to add another element and motive to the mix: Jenny has a hate-mailing stalker; Adam has been bullied; Grace’s best friend has an abusive husband; the school is in financial trouble. Sarah, like Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, is the noprisoners-taken investigating heroine who risks everything in pursuit of the truth, while Grace observes silently from her fourth dimension. The sinuous chain of plot twists reaches right to the story’s literally heart-rending conclusion.

Despite excessive length and the sense of suffocation that can arise from Grace’s interiorscape, this compulsive read confirms Lupton’s instinctive commercial flair. (Agent: Felicity Blunt)

TRUTH LIKE THE SUN

Lynch, Jim Knopf (304 pp.) $25.95 | Apr. 16, 2012 978-0-307-95868-6

Master politician Roger Morgan moves from crafting the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair to running for mayor of the city 40 years later, but along the way a nosey newspaper reporter investigates his checkered past.

Lynch moves the narrative along by alternating chapters focused on the young Morgan’s brash ambition in putting obscure Seattle on the world map in 1962 and his decision to oust the sitting mayor in 2001. Hired by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer to produce a feature focused on the 40th anniversary of the Fair—and of its iconic structure, the Space Needle—reporter Helen Gulanos starts to dig into Morgan’s past. At first everything seems to check out.

He was a young Turk determined to make a difference in Seattle’s place in cultural history, and while in the ’60s he was never in an elected office, he still emerged as a consummate politician, never forgetting names, dates or special occasions. (In one particularly 550

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telling scene he goes to talk to beggars on the Seattle streets to find out why they’d decided to move from Spokane—and he offers money to the one with the best story to tell.) But as Helen doggedly pursues the story, sordid details begin to emerge—the rumor that cops had been on the take, for example, and had used their graft money to invest in apartment buildings for which they’d received inside information from Morgan. And Helen starts to probe even darker secrets—that before a trial on this scandal a star witness had been murdered. It also turns out that Helen is no rose herself, for she’s twice been accused of libel at her previous newspaper.

A briskly paced novel that gives us an insider’s view into both the politics of culture and the culture of politics.

THE STONECUTTER

Läckberg, Camilla Pegasus Crime (496 pp.) $25.95 | May 9, 2012 978-1-60598-330-1

Swedish publishing phenom Läckberg returns to the ill-starred town of Fjällbacka for another dose of resentment that festers into violence.

Now that his live-in girlfriend, writer Erica Falck, has presented him with a child, Patrik Hedström ought to be finding a better balance between his personal and professional responsibilities. But his sympathies as both father and cop are demanded by the murder of Sara Klinga, the daughter of Erica’s new friend Charlotte.

Who would dump a seven-year-old near a wharf after drowning her, according to forensic evidence, in a bathtub? As Patrik surveys the wreckage of Sara’s extended family, from the pathological philandering of Charlotte’s husband, Dr. Niclas Klinga, to the unaccountable cruelty of Niclas’ mother Lilian Florin, whose name Niclas rejected in favor of his wife’s upon his marriage, Läckberg (The Ice Princess, 2010, etc.) parcels out hints of the tragedy’s roots in the loveless marriage some 75 years ago between flirtatious heiress Agnes Stjernkvist and Anders Andersson, the stonecutter she’d captivated and planned to leave before her father discovered her pregnancy and forced the couple to wed.

Meanwhile, back in the present, Patrik and his mostly incompetent colleagues on the Tanumshede police force focus their suspicions on imperious Lilian, who seems to loathe everyone but Stig, the bedridden husband she nurses so assiduously; Kaj Wiberg, the neighbor with whom she’s long feuded over every pretext she can find; and Kaj’s son Morgan, a computer game designer with Asperger’s Syndrome who’d be poorly equipped to take the air even in a much sunnier spot than Fjällbacka.

Yes, the detection is forgettable (Patrick solves the mystery by watching a similar case on TV) and the climactic revelation unsurprising. Läckberg’s greatest strength is dramatizing the long shadows of family troubles that grow to monstrous size.

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THE LIMPOPO ACADEMY OF PRIVATE DETECTION

McCall Smith, Alexander Pantheon (272 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-307-37840-8

Three relatively ordinary cases for Botswana’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency are complicated by an altogether-extraordinary meeting.

Mma Silvia Potokwane, the traditionally built matron of the orphan farm, tells Precious Ramotswe that there’s something not quite right about board member Ditso Ditso, the well-known businessman who’s insisted on building a central kitchen for the facility that will make food preparation and delivery more efficient but less loving. Soon enough, however, the matron has bigger problems to worry about: At the instance of Rra Ditso, she’s fired from the job she thought she’d have forever. While Mma Ramotswe is digesting this sad news, she learns that Fanwell, the more industrious apprentice at her husband J.L.B. Matekoni’s Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, has been arrested for doing illicit (and unwitting) mechanical work on stolen cars. There’s even skullduggery afoot in the construction of the new home furniture dealer Phuti Radiphuti is building associate detective Grace Makutsi, whom he married at the end of The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (2011). All this might well be overwhelming even for Mma Ramotswe, who’s also headed for a rare adventure outside Gaborone, if she weren’t fortified by support and wise counsel from Clovis Andersen. And not just from Andersen’s tome The Principles of Private Detection, her own professional scripture, but from the author himself, who turns up in her office just in time to offer help as sententious and self-effacing as it is effective. Longer but not better than the 12 earlier accounts of the Agency.

Few fans, however, will want to miss the byplay between Mma Ramotswe and her revered mentor.

HOUSE OF THE HUNTED

Mills, Mark Random House (320 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4000-6819-7

A solid literary thriller from Mills.

Petrograd, Russia, is a risky place to be in 1919. Thomas Nash is there on secret business for the British, and he kills a man before barely escaping execution by the Bolsheviks. His lover Irina, he hears, is executed in her attempt to leave the country with him. Sixteen years later, he lives quietly on the French coast, long out of the spy game. He sails, enjoys close friends and dotes on his beautiful goddaughter Lucy. All is well until his dog Hector disappears and an intruder attacks Tom in the middle of the night. Clearly this is not a robbery; someone wants Tom dead. But why, after all |

these years? The botched attempt on his life will not be the last, so he has to get to the bottom of this in a hurry. Plenty of twists and turns follow, including an especially well done car chase. The story turns back on itself to weave in colorful background—most of it necessary and entertaining, but some of it rather a drag on the pace one might expect from a thriller. Tom is an appealing hero: flawed, but decent at his core, a man who is tough only because he has to be. The supporting characters such as Lucy and her mother are well drawn and believable, while the villains’ motivations might be a bit of a stretch. Yet the Leninist thuggery caused so many senseless deaths that plausible reasons for murder may not be necessary. All in all, the book paints a convincing picture of a man whose past returns to haunt him and who must face it while he keeps his wits and protects the people he loves.

A lot of atmosphere complements the excitement, while the ending seems to suggest that a sequel might be in the works. Let’s hope so. (Agent: Stephanie Cabot )

HOME

Morrison, Toni Knopf (160 pp.) $24.00 | May 8, 2012 978-0-307-59416-7 A deceptively rich and cumulatively powerful novel.

At the outset, this might seem like minor Morrison (A Mercy, 2008, etc.), not only because its length is borderline novella, but because the setup seems generic. A black soldier returns from the Korean War, where he faces a rocky re-entry, succumbing to alcoholism and suffering from what would subsequently be termed PTSD. Yet perhaps, as someone tells him, his major problem is the culture to which he returns: “An integrated army is integrated misery. You all go fight, come back, they treat you like dogs. Change that. They treat dogs better.” Ultimately, the latest from the Nobel Prize–winning novelist has something more subtle and shattering to offer than such social polemics. As the novel progresses, it becomes less specifically about the troubled soldier and as much about the sister he left behind in Georgia, who was married and deserted young, and who has fallen into the employ of a doctor whose mysterious experiments threaten her life. And, even more crucially, it’s about the relationship between the brother and his younger sister, which changes significantly after his return home, as both of them undergo significant transformations. “She was a shadow for most of my life, a presence marking its own absence, or maybe mine,” thinks the soldier. He discovers that “while his devotion shielded her, it did not strengthen her.” As his sister is becoming a woman who can stand on her own, her brother ultimately comes to terms with dark truths and deep pain that he had attempted to numb with alcohol. Before they achieve an epiphany that is mutually redemptive, even the earlier reference to “dogs” reveals itself as more than gratuitous.

A novel that illuminates truths that its characters may not be capable of articulating.

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k i r ku s q & a w i t h c h a r l i e n e w t on I n a n o v e l t h a t K i r k u s c a l l e d “an even more thrilling, densely packed novel that makes most Chicago crime thrillers seem tame,” Charlie Newton returns to the mean streets with Start Shooting.

This densely plotted police procedural pits two local cops against a conspiracy of violence and corruption that dates back to World War II, with a soulful spoonful of Chicago blues to boot. Just returned from Austin, Texas, where Kirkus and the Texas Book Festival presented Charlie’s talk about his new novel, the novelist sat down to talk about cops, criminals and the long hard road to the crime novel.

Start Shooting

Charlie Newton Doubleday (320 pp.) $25.95 Jan. 10, 2012 978-0-385-53469-7

Q: You’re known for the heightened realism in your novels— if you write about a street corner in Chicago, you’ve stood on that corner to take a good look around. Is this a creative process, or just your character?

A: Both. The part of this life that makes up for the endless rejection and no money is you get a backstage pass to whatever interests you, provided you’re willing to go to the heart of it. Your “reason” for being where you are, asking what you’re asking, is comparatively benign. A corner in Belfast or Beirut doesn’t require you to be a combatant, just a voyeur or groupie, and generally speaking, they don’t die in the larger argument.

Q: You’ve talked about distilling a book down to its essence.

What’s the fundamental nature of Start Shooting?

A: Hopes and dreams. Some propel you through the fire, some burn you to death.

Q: The book is based on a real case out of Chicago. How did that case find its way to you, and then into the novel?

A: Denny Banahan. Lt. Dennis is a street legend in the city and one of my best friends. He worked the case and provided me the green card. Unless a connection I need is facing prison, Denny vouching for me will get me anywhere I want to go in Chicago’s police/criminal world. Denny is the protagonist in my next novel, Canaryville.

Q: What does crime writing do to the world that other kinds of fiction can’t?

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A: I always liked puzzles. Puzzles and “issues with authority” led me to the racetrack and handicapping, which indirectly led me to a bit of conditions forecasting and strategic planning. I bore easily, not because I’m brilliant, but because my attention span is directly related to my curiosity. If I can figure the situation quickly, I’m done with it quickly.

Regarding dialogue, I don’t “strip it down” as many critics contend. I say it out loud, then type it. That style doesn’t always make for maximum clarity— and I work on that—but it feels right given what I know firsthand about the story.

Q: You also share something with other strong literary writers in using crime to say things about society. When you start something like Start Shooting, how defined is your effort to paint a bigger picture?

A: Actually, I see it as narrower. Start Shooting has a backdrop of corruption—corporate, municipal, personal—and society’s acceptance thereof. The Al Davis culture of “just win, baby.” The villains who drive my kind of stories are given the reins to your “bigger picture,” and that forces the issue into the story without it becoming the absolute focus. In this case, “hopes and dreams” collide with corruption on a number of levels.

Q: Most writers go to cops and criminals for inspiration, but you’ve gone the other way and started mentoring police officers in writing. What did you hear at the Police Writer Series in Chicago?

A: About half of them want to write about non-police stuff. They didn’t define their entire “self” as men and women with badges and guns, but rather men and women with families, histories, dreams, etc. Jon Eig and I LOVE the Chicago Police Department and Lt. Maureen Biggane for making this series happen, the first one in the USA. We’ve seen so much interest from the media and publishing, it’s really remarkable.

–By Clayton Moore

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For the complete interview, visit our website at www. kirkusreviews.com. p hoto © l is a l aw

A: Generally speaking, crime writing allows you to place a politically incorrect 900-pound gorilla at the center of the story and give it a microphone instead of a ball-gag. Do that with a standard Thriller or Romance and your sales would drop by half after the first review. The unfortunate news, though, is your sales would still be double that of most crime writers.

Q: The guys you get lumped in with—Richard Price, James Ellroy, etc.—have some of the same strengths: stripped-down dialogue and complex, ambitious plots. How did you come to develop those strengths in your writing?

“The physics are dubious, the story lightweight—but it’s all good fun.” from illusion

THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES

O’Melveny, Regina Little, Brown (336 pp.) $25.99 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-316-19583-6

Poet O’Melveny’s darkly whimsical first novel follows a 16th-century Venetian doctor as she travels across Europe in search of her father.

Gabriella’s physician father taught her his craft, and they practiced medicine together before he left Gabriella and her depressed, paranoid mother 10 years earlier, supposedly to gather material for his great project, The Book of Diseases. He has written letters over the years, but their frequency has dwindled; now, in 1590, he writes that he will not be returning. As a female doctor, she has been restricted to treating only women, but now the Guild of Physicians denies 30-year-old Gabriella her right to practice medicine at all. So with her loyal maidservant Olmina and Olmina’s trusted husband Lorenzo, Gabriella bids a testy farewell to her harridan of a mother and departs Venetia in search of her father. She brings her medicine trunk, her father’s letters and the pages from her father’s book about mysterious ailments like solar madness and the malady of mirrors. She visits Padua, where her father’s friend hints at her father’s tendency toward madness.

She passes as a man through villages in Bavaria, where most of the women have recently been burned as witches. She steals back some of her father’s papers from a Bavarian professor. In Scotland she meets Hamish, a doctor who knew her father. He arranges for her to treat some patients, although for all the talk of medicine Gabriella is never shown doing much actual healing. She and Hamish are drawn to each other, although their romance may strike readers as lukewarm. Unaware that she is pregnant, she leaves without telling him, but he stalwartly follows her to Tangier until her search ends. Along the way Gabriella becomes less sure of the boundary between devotion and obsession. She faces dangers both from nature and men. There are deaths. There is sex. But mostly there is pretentious talk.

O’Melveny writes with rococo flourish, but Gabriella’s journey becomes a slog. (Author events in Los Angeles and San Francisco)

ILLUSION

Peretti, Frank Howard Books/Simon & Schuster (512 pp.) $26.99 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-1-4391-9267-2 A time-traveling work of legerdemain by well-known Christian novelist Peretti (Piercing the Darkness, 2003, etc.).

If you were a magician’s assistant, you’d probably file suit if your employer sent you spinning off into another dimension. Somehow, that’s |

just what’s happened to Mandy Collins, the lesser of equals in the magic act Dane and Mandy, who, after four decades of being married to the boss, has drifted into an alternate universe where she’s back to her late-teen self in 1970. The soundtrack to that bit of time travel may be Flip Wilson, Dean Martin and LaughIn (“Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me”), but all is not japes and jests in the land of the walking tie-dyed undead. Meanwhile, poor Dane Collins is stumbling through life thinking that Mandy is dead, their own private Idaho (“they still returned simply because it was Idaho and Mandy loved Idaho”) empty without her. Until, that is, Mandy shows up in her 19-year-old guise, leading the old magician to, well, think about new tricks. In a pure-of-heart way, of course: Dane’s no horndog, even if, you bet your bippy, the post-teenybopper makes for temptation: “Whatever this fixation with a twenty-year-old was,” he notes, “it had to be affecting his thinking.” Roger that. Peretti employs a squad of mad scientists to give the story wonky grounding— ”She had at least 50 percent opacity, and I’m guessing I had the same opacity to her,” says one dogged researcher before barking out weird-science lingo that belongs on a Star Trek set. (The reader will want to work the term “deflection debt” into his or her next conversation.) It would be stealing Peretti’s thunder to tell what happens next, but suffice it to say that true love conquers all, even relativistic space-time.

The physics are dubious, the story lightweight—but it’s all good fun.

ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER LIFE The Story of a Crime

Persson, Leif G.W. Translated by Norlen, Paul Pantheon (416 pp.) $26.95 | $13.99 e-book | Mar. 1, 2012 978-0-307-37746-3 978-0-307-90705-9 e-book

Dark, politically charged thriller from Swedish crime writer Persson (Between Summer’s Longing and Winter’s End, 2010), one of many literary heirs of Stieg Larsson.

Anyone who was alive and kicking in 1975 is likely a much different person today, if in no other way than that the platform shoes and disco ball are now in storage. Certainly a person’s politics might be different—and attitudes about others, too, especially if you are, say, a Norwegian put into contact with Germans within living memory of the Nazi occupation. Persson’s newest starts off smack in the middle of a not uncommon scene in the Europe of 1975: a cadre of terrorists has seized the German embassy in Stockholm, demanding the release of prisoners, including members of the Baader-Meinhof gang. Things get ugly quickly; as the head of the homicide squad idly thinks, “The promised effects of the Stockholm syndrome, this good, consoling cigar, seemed more remote than ever.” A few hours in, and hostages and terrorists die. Or did they? The operation was so carefully planned that, it stands to reason, someone well

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placed both inside and outside the embassy had to have been in on it. Red herrings—perhaps better, Red Brigades herrings— ensue, as Persson unfolds a carefully plotted story that jumps to 1989 and the fall of the Berlin Wall, then to the near-present, crossing generations of investigators and government officials in the quest to find out who knew what—and who covered up what, and who killed whom. People change with the years—and they don’t. Persson himself figures in the proceedings, in the sly way that Alfred Hitchcock figured in his films. And while there’s humor, if mostly black—let “The one who had ended his life by his own hand and with the help of his service revolver to save society unnecessary nursing expenses and himself an undignified life” stand as a fairly typical example—Persson writes with unrelenting grimness, as if needing a strong dose of Mediterranean sunshine to cure the police-beat blues.

It helps to know something about the time in which the story is set, and who Olof Palme was, to appreciate the book. Still, a practiced, Larsson-worthy procedural.

THE REEDUCATION OF CHERRY TRUONG

Phan, Aimee St. Martin’s (368 pp.) $25.99 | Mar. 13, 2012 978-0-312-32268-7

In this multigenerational novel of the Vietnamese diasporas, a family is split between France and America, thanks to the secrets of their patriarch.

The novel opens in contemporary Vietnam, where Cherry Truong is visiting her wayward brother Lum. Cherry is trying to convince him to return home to Los Angeles (where he was a disappointment to the expectations of their parents), but Vietnam has transformed him—now Lum has a prosperous future in real-estate development and a girlfriend with a baby on the way. The irony of his Vietnamese success brings the novel back to the Truong family’s escape in the ’70s. Hung and Hoa Truong pay passage for their family (two sons, three daughters-inlaw and a couple of grandchildren) for the dangerous boat ride to a refugee camp in Malaysia. After years of waiting, they finally find sponsorship from a wealthy French family and join their eldest son Yen, now a lawyer, in Paris. All but youngest son Sanh, who with his wife immigrates to America. The family’s split branches—Cherry and Lum grow up in Southern California and their cousins in Paris—offer a peak into the ubiquitous nature of the immigrant experience, however Phan’s telling of the two stories becomes a patchwork of ideas. Much of the novel involves the downtrodden Hoa (her husband Hung is a tyrant) and follows her from the camps to their new life in Paris, a cold world where they must remain in perpetual gratitude to the haughty Bourdains. In California Cherry and Lum play outside their mother’s beauty salon, while Grandmother Vo becomes the neighborhood moneylender. Interspersed are letters, from Hung to his mistress (the secret source of all the family’s problems) or from Grandmother Vo to her daughter, but instead of adding layers to the family history, the letters and 554

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fractured chronology does more than symbolize the fractured Truong family—it splinters the novel so that no one character or plotline becomes essential, least of all the title character’s.

Phan’s family saga has many riches, but it lacks the clear focus to become a standout debut.

SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR

Pollero, Rhonda Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (304 pp.) $15.00 paperback | Apr. 17, 2012 978-1-4165-9073-6 A trust-fund reject fights a crush on her hot boss by developing an even bigger crush on an even hotter private investigator.

Finley Anderson Tanner’s work as a paralegal leaves her plenty of time for after-work margaritas with best friends Becky, Jane and Liv. And if it means that her snooty mom, the much-married Cassidy Presley Tanner Browning Rossi, decides to cut off her older child’s access to the family fortune, Finley (Knock Off, 2007, etc.) just makes up the difference by buying pre-owned Lilly Pulitzers. Even comparisons with her oncologist younger sister Lisa don’t faze Finley, at least not until Lisa decides to marry fellow oncologist David Huntington-St. John IV. Now Finley’s in a bind. Who should she invite to the nuptials?

Her supervisor Tony Caprelli has made it clear that he likes her, second-hand Jimmy Choos and all. But Tony, hunk that he is, is Cassidy’s favorite for the role of escort. So to spite her mother, Finley naturally asks even sexier Liam McGarrity, who like her is a paid minion at her firm, working as an investigator rather than as a litigator. And an overnight stay at the Ritz might give Finley a chance to seal the deal with Liam, who despite numerous liplocks and full body caresses has yet to succumb to her charms.

The sudden departure of Ellen Lieberman, an attorney who bugs her almost as much as Cassidy to chuck the paralegal stuff and go to law school, gives Finley a moment’s concern. But between selling some of Ellen’s old costume jewelry on eBay, shopping for lingerie with Tony’s 13-year-old daughter Izzy and obsessing over Liam, Finley barely has time to pack her slightly irregular Fendi bag before she’s off to Atlanta and a whiff of kidnapping.

Lots of shopping, lots of steam, and if you don’t blink, you might catch the mystery.

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AUGUST AND THEN SOME

Prete, David Norton (272 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 23, 2012 978-0-393-05799-7 An intense, tragic story about a young man’s struggle to take control of his life.

JT Savage lives in a working-class New York City neighborhood and has a job lifting rocks. When he turned 12, his dad took him to a barroom and got him into the middle of a fight involving a pool cue. Now his younger sister Dani relates poorly to the world, for a dark reason he completely understands. Dad is a drunk and worse, and Mom is feckless. How can JT repay the old man for an awful hurt he’d inflicted on a member of his family? He and his potato-headed friend Nokey decide to steal JT’s father’s 1965 Shelby Cobra and sell it. Meanwhile, JT witnesses a Dominican girl named Stephanie in the process of getting herself pregnant. Later her boyfriend abandons her, and JT is there to help—but their relationship is not what the reader might expect. JT himself doesn’t fit an easy stereotype. If there is one thing he wants in life it’s to not be like his father, yet it wouldn’t take a strong push in that direction to spoil his chances forever. Can he protect both Dani and Stephanie, give Dad his due and stay out of jail? His boss respects his hard work, but will JT be hauling rocks for the rest of his life?

As JT might put it if he were prone to self-pity, he has a big f*ing challenge ahead. The language in this first-person account fits his upbringing: Without all the F-words the book would be a couple of pages shorter. But the dialogue crackles like a plastic bottle underfoot while the pace never slows.

A disturbing novel offering a mixture of hope and despair, vileness and nobility.

THE COVE

Rash, Ron Ecco/HarperCollins (272 pp.) $25.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-06-180419-9 Lonely young woman meets mysterious stranger. What might have been trite and formulaic is anything but in Rash’s fifth novel, a dark tale of Appalachian superstition and jingoism so good it gives you chills.

Three miles out of town, in the North Carolina mountains, a massive cliff rears up. Beneath it is a cove, gloom-shrouded and cursed, so the locals believe, though all the out-of-state Sheltons knew was that the farmland was cheap. The story takes place in 1918. Both parents have died and their grown children, Hank and Laurel, are trying to cope. Hank is back from the war, missing one hand. Laurel has a purple birthmark; she has been ostracized by the townsfolk of Mars Hill as a witch. Rash’s immersion in |

country ways and idioms gives his work a rare integrity. One day Laurel hears a stranger playing his flute in the woods; the sound is mournful but mesmerizing. The next time she finds him prone, stung by hornets, and nurses him back to health at the cabin.

(What the reader knows, but Laurel doesn’t, is that he’s on the run from a barracks.) A note in his pocket tells her his name is Walter and he’s mute. Laurel can live with that. She has low expectations, but maybe her life is about to begin. Hank hires Walter to help him fence the pasture; he proves an excellent worker. Laurel confesses her “heart feelings:” Walter is encouraging; Laurel cries tears of joy. Meanwhile in town Sgt. Chauncey Feith, a bombastic, deeply insecure army recruiter and faux patriot, is stoking fear of spies in their midst as local boys return from the front, some in terrible shape. Eventually Laurel learns Walter’s identity; his back story is fascinating, but only a spoiler would reveal more.

Let’s just say the heartbreaking climax involves a lynch mob led

by Feith; perhaps the cove really is cursed.

Even better than the bestselling Serena (2008), for here Rash has elevated melodrama to tragedy. (Author tour to Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Miami, Memphis, Nashville, New York and Raleigh/Durham)

THE KISSING LIST

Reents, Stephanie Hogarth/Crown (240 pp.) $22.00 | May 22, 2012 978-0-307-95182-3 Debut collection of loosely connected stories follows a group of highly educated, often underachieving women through their 20s.

“Kissing” introduces us to most of the continuing characters through the eyes of Sylvie while she is a graduate student at Oxford. She sketches a tangled web of flirtations, sexual relations and betrayals among various expat Americans that continues back in the States, where unsettled, disconnected maneuverings are the norm for young people unsure of who they really are. We don’t much like Sylvie at the end of the next story, “Roommates,” when she moves out of the Manhattan apartment she shares with cancer-stricken Laurie; her oddly noncommittal relationship with Lance, a considerably older doctor from her Western hometown, is off-putting as well.

Reluctance to engage is a temptation for much of this collection, which examines marrying for money (“Love for Women”), drifting in and out of jobs (“Temporary”) and weird sex (“Little Porn Story”) as strategies these smart, anxious women use to delay figuring out what they really want from life. But everyone grows up, whether they like it or not. The strongest stories, “Games” and “Awesome,” plumb Sylvie’s insecurities and show her learning to be more accepting, less concerned with the impression she makes. The weakest, Laurie’s delusional, cancer-stoked reverie in “Disquisition on Tears,” strays too far from the plain, realistic plot and character development that is Reents’ forte. Gratuitously baroque developments in a few tales also suggest an author still not entirely clear about the essential nature of her talent. On the whole, however,

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“A writer to watch.” from the folded earth

Reents impresses with her knowledge of conflicted young-adult hearts and her astute portrait of their social lives during the years in which the graduates of fancy colleges haven’t yet figured out who will make it big and who will merely get along.

Sharp work from a promising writer who might do even better with the broader scale of a novel. (Author events out of Worcester, Mass. Agent: Emily Forland)

THE FOLDED EARTH

Roy, Anuradha Free Press (272 pp.) $14.00 paperback | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-4516-3333-7 Gentle comedy, bitter tragedy and grief intertwine in an affectionately delineated portrait of an Indian hill community.

While ostensibly offering a leisurely exploration of the town of Ranikhet in the foothills of the Himalayas, Roy (An Atlas of Invisible Longing, 2011) has achieved something larger, a poem to the natural world and its relentless displacement by the developed one. Maya, a young widow whose husband Michael died trekking in the mountains, has come here to be near where his body was found and to teach at a local school. Her landlord, Diwan Sahib, a retired man of influence, is rumored to own a cache of valuable letters between Edwina Mountbatten and Nehru. This secret passion is mirrored in two contemporary romances, Maya’s liaison with Diwan’s nephew Veer and the love between illiterate hill girl Charu and a cook. Roy pulls politics, society, ecological warning and history into her slow, episodic story, but it’s her love for the creatures, landscapes and eternal beauty of this place that inspire it. Finally events gather speed after an act of petty spite against a neighbor and his pet, culminating in death, a terrible discovery and an act of shattering revenge.

Despite an occasional sense of drift, this understated, finely observed book expresses a haunting vision. A writer to watch.

FIFTEEN DIGITS

Santora, Nick Mulholland Books/Little, Brown (336 pp.) $24.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-316-17631-6 Rich Mauro is living the dream— heaps of money, beautiful girlfriend, bright future—when an insider-trading scheme involving him and his blue-collar co-workers in the printing department of a big New York law firm blows up in their faces.

Mauro, an ex–construction worker with connections at Olmstead & Taft, is all but guaranteed a cushy job after law school. But Jason Spade, a self-hating young ne’er-do-well at the firm, talks him into thinking he’s going to lose his girlfriend Elyse to the 556

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hotshot ad man her starchy-rich parents have in mind for her— unless he comes up with a nest egg fast. The insecure Mauro agrees to lift privileged investment information from the papers they’re copying and to his profound regret enlists three workmates in the plan, including his mildly retarded supervisor and a reformed Puerto Rican gang leader. They’re all in it together: To access the offshore account where their millions in stock profits will go, each participant secretly chooses three digits of a 15-digit password. Things go swimmingly until financial analysts get wind of the trading irregularities. Mauro thinks they can just step away from the scheme with what they’ve earned. But the Dominican mobsters to whom Spade is in debt, unbeknownst to his partners, have other ideas. Though we are told from the start that things will end tragically, the brutality and shocking suddenness of the climax still catch us by surprise.

Though this novel cries out for some Elmore Leonard– like whittling away of soft tissue, Santora pulls no punches with his Faustus-like story. (Author appearances in Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco)

THE LIVES OF THINGS

Saramago, José Translated by Pontiero, Giovanni Verso (160 pp.) $23.95 | Apr. 4, 2012 978-1-84467-878-5 This slim collection of early, experimental stories represents a footnote on the career of the Nobel Prize–winning novelist, who died in 2010.

Originally published as a collection in 1978, these stories reflect the social conscience and penchant for elaborate allegory that would flourish in his celebrated novels, such as Blindness (1998). In the introduction, translator Giovanni Pontiero (who died in 1996) explains that half of the stories “might be described as political allegories evoking the horror and repression which paralysed Portugal under the harsh regime of Salazar.” Since most American readers aren’t all that familiar with Portugal’s political situation of the 1960s, the opening “The Chair” might be particularly impenetrable without the brief context provided by the introduction, which alludes to “the dictator’s dramatic departure from the political scene on 6 September 1968, when the deckchair in which he was sitting collapsed and the shock precipitated a brain haemorrhage.” The story itself is oblique and matter of fact, minutely detailed, largely devoid of passion, punctuated by the exhortation, “Fall, old man, fall. See how your feet are higher than your head.” In the other stories as well, characters are unnamed, mainly described by their social positions, as the late author spins parables about an oil embargo that leaves a man all but imprisoned in his car (“Embargo”), a society in which things stop working (doors, watches, buildings, entire streets) and even disappear (“Things”) and the establishment of a cemetery that becomes “a city of the dead surrounded by four cities of living human beings” (“Reflux”). “The Centaur” reads most like a fable, yet it is also the most compelling story

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here, as the author shows the protagonist’s divided nature, referring to the mythical creature as both horse and man, who “had learned how to curb the animal’s impatience, sometimes opposing him with an upsurge of violence which clouded his thoughts or perhaps affected that part of his body where the orders coming from his brain clashed with the dark instincts nourished between his flanks.

Though some of the stories work well on their own, the collection will mainly interest those already very familiar with the author and his novels.

THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME

Scotch, Allison Winn Putnam (320 pp.) $25.95 | Apr. 12, 2012 978-0-399-15758-5

Young woman who survives a devastating plane crash with her body intact— and her memory wiped clean—struggles to piece together her complicated past.

Waking up in an Iowa hospital surrounded by beeping machines and people she does not know, Nell Slattery soon discovers she is a very lucky girl. She was found, along with hunky young actor Anderson Carroll, still strapped to her seat in a rural field where a passenger jet went down. She and Anderson were the only two to live. The daughter of the famous and reclusive painter Francis Slattery, Nell is told that she has a husband, Peter, and runs a Manhattan gallery with her pretty younger sister, Rory. She remembers nothing. It emerges that she and Peter were briefly separated after he had a one-nightstand with a co-worker, and she and Rory were not speaking before her fateful flight. Still, under the well-meaning ministrations of her new-agey mom, Nell returns to New York (and Peter) while ignoring the sinking feeling that she isn’t hearing the whole story. Back home she is dismayed to learn from various sources that she was previously a buttoned-up control freak with a wardrobe full of neutral colors. That is a far cry from the “fabulous” person she was hoping for. She was also a promising musician, who gave it all up after her father abandoned the family in her teens. Her father’s shadow looms large over Nell, and finding out more about him is part of the reason she allows a reality TV show to tell her story, against everyone’s better judgment. That makes sense, since it turns out that everyone in Nell’s inner circle has something to hide, and it is up to her to find the truth on her own. So she enlists Anderson, who has been self-medicating his post-crash PTSD with supermodels and booze, on a road trip to a small town that just might be the key to everything—if she can only remember where it is.

Scotch (Time of My Life, 2009, etc.) crafts a plausible story, complete with a capable and prickly protagonist, that doesn’t resort to any movie-of-the-week amnesia clichés.

A dry-eyed modern take on healing and forgiveness.

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NOCTURNAL

Sigler, Scott Crown (576 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-307-40634-7 A genre-bending urban fantasy that pits San Francisco’s Finest against a subterranean horde of monsters who threaten the human race.

Inspector Bryan Clauser, SFPD, is disturbed because he keeps dreaming of crimes that come horrifyingly true when he’s awake. Rex Deprovdechuk, 13, is disturbed because the older kids bully him when he’s at Galileo High and his mother beats him when he’s not. Aggie James is disturbed because someone has snatched him from the streets of San Francisco, where he’s made his home ever since things went terribly wrong in his life, and chained him up in an underground realm of mutants who keep taking away his fellow prisoners and killing them one by one. These three unlikely combatants are brought together by a series of murders that seem at first to be the work of a human killer.

In short order, someone kills a pedophile priest, a cop newly promoted from Vice to Homicide and several of Rex’s teenaged tormentors. Rex and Bryan, not to be outdone, get to taste blood themselves, and very tasty it is too. Sigler (Ancestor, 2010, etc.) drops hints of the paranormal from the beginning, but it’s not till halfway through that his tale jumps the shark by means of forensic findings that mark the killers as both human and bestial—and indeed as rather close blood relatives. Once they realize what they’re up against and see that the police department and the city government are anything but trustworthy allies, Bryan and his motley crew shift from police-procedural mode to save-the-world heroics, even when “they were outnumbered four to one by motherfucking monsters with guns.”

A bait-and-switch for fans of police noir, but red meat for readers who wish Harry Potter had swapped his YA credentials for a badge and gun. (Agent: Byrd Leavell)

THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN And Other Stories Skibsrud, Johanna Norton (240 pp.) $23.95 | Apr. 9, 2012 978-0-393-07375-1

Connection and enlightenment are sought and occasionally experienced in a first collection from Canadian poet and Giller Prize–winning novelist Skibsrud (The Sentimentalists, 2011).

Relationships remain unexpressed or rest in not-quite-connected small family knots in Skibsrud’s dreamy yet searching fictions—e.g., “The Limit,” in which an absent father reaches out to his stranger-daughter. Reminiscence features often, as in “Clarence,” recounting a newspaper photographer’s use of a childhood episode to revive his subject, the oldest man in the county. The

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stories offer glimpses of France, Canada and the Midwest, yet the landscapes seem desolate and are often visited by death, like the suicide of a son in “French Lessons” or the casually mentioned murder in “Signac’s Boats.” These two stories are also connected via the character of Martha, an American in Paris who falls in love there, but even on this subject Skibsrud’s approach is cerebral, almost abstract. “Cleats,” another story in the Martha/Paris sequence, is more concrete, tracing the feelings behind an abandoned marriage, although it too is driven by the ineffable. And the closing tale, “Fat Man and Little Boy,” is one of several striving to capture a flash of understanding for which words seem scarcely adequate.

Skibsrud’s economical, poetically aware stories reveal a writer comfortable with the form, and one who requires her readers to think. (Agent: Tracy Bohan)

HENNY ON THE COUCH

Soodak, Rebecca Land 5 Spot/Grand Central Publishing (304 pp.) $13.99 paperback | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-446-57426-6 Soodak’s first novel, about an affluent New York mom and her rocky relationship with her own mother, considers several mother-daughter parallels.

Kara, born out of wedlock to a talented songstress and a brilliant composer, found life with her mother difficult. Her mom was both gorgeous and boozy, and treated her more like a girlfriend than daughter. Kara ached to leave her small town in Ohio behind and migrated to New York City, which held the key to everything she wanted in life. Of course, the thing she wanted most of all was Oliver, a rising young star in the art world; but a lasting relationship with Oliver wasn’t possible, and Kara soon finds herself recast as a mother, wife and businesswoman. Told partially in flashbacks that take Kara back to her childhood with her temperamental mother and her college days with the careless and sometimes emotionally cruel Oliver, the book opens with Kara finding the nowfamous Oliver’s paintings exhibited in a nearby gallery. Married to a successful businessman, Michael, and the mother of three, Kara partners in a children’s hair salon, employs a nanny who lives in the couple’s small studio apartment next door to their place and befriends novelist Morgan, who cheats on her husband with a stranger. While Kara explores her mother issues and deals with nanny problems from her perch high in an expensive building, she gradually becomes aware that her daughter, Henny, is having problems at school. Set against the backdrop of the Big Apple, which Kara clearly loves, the book examines Kara’s life of pedicures, lattes and play dates in writing that flows. In the end, though, the most interesting parts of the book aren’t set in Kara’s present, in which she comes off as shallow and self-indulgent, but in her past, dealing with her drunken mother and crush on a man who was, at best, self-serving.

Although Soodak’s portrait of a privileged upper-class New York mom rings true, once Kara crosses from college student to frazzled yuppie she ceases to be interesting and sympathetic. (Agent: Elizabeth Kaplan) 558

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MORE THAN YOU KNOW

Vincenzi, Penny Doubleday (608 pp.) $26.95 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-385-52825-2

Two sets of brothers and sisters negotiate the post–World War II London reconstruction boom.

Vincenzi’s latest investigation of British class unrest (Another Woman, 2012, etc.) begins with a country house. Entailed by a family trust, Summercourt cannot be sold by its owners, impoverished aristocrats Sarah and Adrian Fullerton-Clark. Son and heir Charles, a fledgling stockbroker, is in no position to help financially. With no repair budget, Summercourt is sliding into ruin.

Sarah and Adrian pin their hopes on daughter Eliza’s marriage prospects—Jeremy, an ad exec worth a fortune, is smitten with her. Eliza, editor of a trendy style mag, finds her job all-absorbing as London fashion captivates the world, and bland Jeremy bores her. But she experiences immediate sexual frisson with Charles’ former army buddy Matt, a self-starting real-estate entrepreneur. An unplanned pregnancy forces the issue and the two are wed, much to Sarah’s chagrin over the groom’s working-class antecedents. Matt’s sister Scarlett, an airline hostess, has her own romantic troubles. Her lover, a married American, David, claims he’s about to divorce, but now his wife, Gaby, is pregnant. Scarlett, outraged because she had to abort her child by David, blackmails him into giving her seed money to start a travel business.

While in Greece scouting a small hotel, she meets Mark Frost, a painfully shy travel writer with very appealing grey eyes. Eliza is chafing at the restrictions imposed on her by marriage and motherhood—Matt insists that she give up her job just as Twiggy and Carnaby Street are revolutionizing everything. Charles’ marriage to middle class upstart Juliet has proven disastrous—she’s spending all the money she erroneously (based on Summercourt) married him for, and he’s reduced to borrowing from her father.

A few more developments, and the stage is set for the tampeddown hysteria that Vincenzi finesses so well.

An intriguing glimpse at British life at the outset of the turbulent 1960s.

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“The hunt for historical artifacts adds spice to one of the most charming adventures of Lori and Aunt Dimity.” from aunt dimity and the village witch

m ys t e r y INTERLOCK

Alexander, Gary Five Star (258 pp.) $25.95 | Apr. 11, 2012 978-1-4328-2575-1 Which is worse, being hounded by Russian oil plutocrats or stingy American insurance agencies?

Butch Hightower, a so-so artist, vegetarian and Sudoku addict with one teensy bad habit, is in a jam. To settle his massive video-poker marker, now owned by wiseguys who insist that he help steal a painting valued at $250 million, he has set up a double-cross and absconded with the canvas. Not far behind him are a Russian assassin who lovingly keeps assorted parts of his dead “tasks” stored in lockers across the U.S. and a freelance scout who’s eager to find the lost item and save an insurance company a huge payout. What’s poor Butch to do? Like so many of us, he turns to family for help: his younger brother Buster, a 60-year-old standup comic who specializes in lobbyist jokes and shares his life with Carla, owner of Last Chance Insurance, which specializes in covering those destined to become or cause roadkill. The brothers convene in Chandler’s Boot, Ore., where Butch has stashed the painting. Alas, owners of a failing gift shop find it, grab the finder’s fee and hotfoot it out of town. To the Russian and the insurance scout’s dismay, the painting left behind is a forgery, causing the duo, the brothers, Carla and a gal pal she’s befriended in jail (don’t ask) to scurry hither and yon in pursuit of the genuine article. They wind up in Roswell, where they reconnoiter storage facilities, unearth more forgeries and ponder the alien situation before eventually settling Buster’s problem.

Like Zillionaire (2011) and its predecessor, a gleefully demonic chase after MacGuffins, plumped up with veggie recipes rife with cusswords and comedy routines skewering society’s foibles.

ANTIQUES DISPOSAL

Allan, Barbara Kensington (240 pp.) $23.00 | May 1, 2012 978-0-7582-6360-5

The mysterious contents of a storage locker they’ve purchased land a ditzy mother-daughter duo in yet another murder.

Vivian Borne and her daughter—well, really her granddaughter—Brandy make a little extra cash selling antiques in the Mississippi River town of Serenity. When Vivian gets a tip from her old friend Big Jim Bob that the storage locker he’s auctioning off contains some valuable |

items, the pair bid on the item, win it and haul off the first load of treasure. But on their return, the locker is empty except for the body of Big Jim Bob. Vivian, who considers herself a detective, dives into the investigation, dragging along Brandy, who’s been depressed ever since her boyfriend suddenly left town, and her actual daughter Peggy Sue, who’s Brandy’s birth mother. Peggy Sue’s spirits have been equally low since her husband died, leaving her nothing but debts and forcing her to move in with Vivian and Brandy. A few treasures are found in the boxes they brought home. But it’s not until someone breaks in and attacks Peggy Sue and Brandy’s blind dog Sushi in order to search the house that they realize they must have something the killer wants. A cornet that may have belonged to Bix Beiderbecke is the only item that would seem to merit the killer’s interest. Once they learn that the owner of the storage locker was also murdered, Vivian plans a denouement out of Nero Wolfe.

Allan’s sixth (Antiques Knock-Off, 2011, etc.) combines the latest on the ongoing saga of the ladies’ lives and the obligatory antiquing tips with another amusing mystery.

AUNT DIMITY AND THE VILLAGE WITCH

Atherton, Nancy Viking (240 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 30, 2012 978-0-670-02341-7

The entire population of an English village comes together to protect the privacy of the newest resident.

Ex-pat American Lori Shepherd, her attorney husband and their two horsecrazy sons live on the outskirts of the Cotswold village of Finch.

Lori is just one of the many residents casually hanging about to see the arrival of newcomer Amelia Thistle. Two of Lori’s artistic friends soon identify Amelia as Mae Bowen, a famous artist who formerly lived in a gated house to escape her rabid fans. Lori breaks village tradition by paying an uninvited visit to Amelia, who’s still grieving the loss of her husband and brother.

Amelia has come to Finch determined to recover the rest of a missing manuscript her great-grandfather had discovered in which Gamaliel Gowland, the 17th-century rector of Finch’s church, describes Margaret Redfearn, presumed to have been a witch. Once Amelia reveals her identity to several people, Lori, the current rector and his wife, and Lori’s father-in-law, who’s smitten by Amelia, join in the hunt. Not only do they have to decipher the cryptic clues they find in each newly discovered page, but they must also protect Amelia from the fans who have tracked her down. Even Aunt Dimity, a spirit who communicates with Lori by writing in a special book, gets into the act with her usual sage advice.

Although there’s little mystery in the traditional sense, the hunt for historical artifacts adds spice to one of the most charming adventures of Lori and Aunt Dimity (Aunt Dimity and the Family Tree, 2011, etc.).

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THE BIG CAT NAP

Brown, Rita Mae & Brown, Sneaky Pie Bantam (240 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-345-53044-8 A Virginia farmer and her remarkable pets celebrate the 20th anniversary of their first appearance in print with— what else?—yet another case of murder.

Mary Minor Haristeen, aka Harry, and her husband, equine veterinarian Fair Haristeen, both enjoy the hard work and the many pleasures of farming in Crozet, Va. Born and bred there, former postmistress Harry has many friends, but her closest companions are her cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, and her brave corgi, Tee Tucker.

A minor car accident with her friend Miranda reminds Harry that the local ReNu, one of a chain of collision repair shops run

by Victor Gatzembizi, is popular for its low repair costs. ReNu is also a favorite with another local businessperson, Latigo Bly, the owner of Safe & Sound insurance. A trip to ReNu to pick up the Very Reverend Herbert Jones’ truck leads to the shocking discovery of the body of a mechanic, brutally murdered with a tire iron. The Sheriff and Harry’s friend Deputy Cynthia Cooper know that the ever-curious Harry won’t be able to leave the case alone. When more mechanics are murdered, Harry continues to investigate in between her farm chores and her work for the community. Her pets have pulled her out of danger many times in the past, but this time they have their paws full.

Brown (Cat of the Century, 2010, etc.) spins a thin mystery in which top honors go to the author’s love for her beloved Virginia countryside and for her animal characters, who as usual steal the show. (Agent: Wendy Weil)

REST IN PIZZA

Cavender, Chris Kensington (304 pp.) $23.00 | May 1, 2012 978-0-7582-7150-1 Sisters team up to investigate the murder of a celebrity chef in their small town. Even closer, actually.

When bookshop owner Cindy asks for a hand with her grand opening from local pizza-shop owner Eleanor Swift and her younger sister Maddy, no one suspects what lies ahead.

Cindy has recruited celebrity Chef Benet to give a cooking demonstration in order to help bring in customers, and Eleanor and Maddy don’t mind taking time from A Slice of Delight to assist, especially since able-bodied Greg and Josh can lend a hand in the sisters’ absence. The chef goes missing right before he’s meant to take center stage, and Maddy and Eleanor split up to try and find him. Once Eleanor finally does locate him, the enormous knife protruding from his body makes her doubt that he’ll be taking his expected role in the opening after all. Of 560

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course the corpse has turned up in A Slice of Delight, immediately drawing suspicion on them. To clear their names, and maybe even out of habit, Eleanor and Maddy try to figure out who had reason to off Benet. Given the dead man’s argumentative nature, eliminating the few locals who didn’t want to kill him may be easier than proving who did. Mixed in with the mystery is drama in Maddy’s longtime relationship that may shake things up for good.

Despite a predictable plot, the increasing mastery of action and flow suggest that Cavender (A Pizza to Die For, 2011, etc.) is hitting her stride.

BLOODSTONE

Doherty, Paul Creme de la Crime (240 pp.) $28.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-78029-016-4 Dominican monk Brother Athelstan and his companion in crime solving, Sir John Cranston, Lord High Coroner of London, take on a locked-room murder.

Sir John drags Athelstan away from his parish when wealthy merchant Sir Robert Kilverby is found dead in his windowless, locked chancery study. Even worse, the fabulous Bloodstone, which Kilverby holds for the Crown, is missing. Although the sleuths soon realize that Kilverby was poisoned, their real challenge is in determining how. The Bloodstone was one of a number of religious artifacts that a group of English archers known as the Wyvern Company claimed to have found on a cart in France, though many suspect that they had in fact looted them from the Abbey of St. Calliste. Since the remaining Wyverns are living and dying at the Abbey of St. Fulcher, that’s where Athelstan and Sir John begin their investigation. They’re greeted with the news that one of the Wyverns has been murdered. Sub-Prior Richer is from France, and Athelstan suspects him of secretly working to return the loot to St. Castille. Abbott Walter seems far more interested in his pet swan and his supposed sister and niece than in murder and theft. Prior Alexander favors Richer more than is seemly. All of them are hiding secrets. More deaths among the Wyvern Company and attempts on Athelstan’s life follow as he comes closer to uncovering the truth.

The 11th in this series (The House of Shadows, 2003, etc.) brings to life the sights, sounds and smells of 1380. The mystery presents an intriguing puzzle but moves ponderously to its solution.

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HUNTING SWEETIE ROSE

Fredrickson, Jack Minotaur (336 pp.) $24.99 | Feb. 28, 2012 978-0-312-60526-1

A clown plunges, a lady vanishes, and there’s nothing funny about the connection.

Famously benevolent Sweetie Rose Fairbairn is a power among the rich and famous in Chicago’s high society, until suddenly no one can find her. Before disappearing, she hires Vlodek Elstrom to do some discreet snooping. It’s an assignment that even unflappable Dek thinks of as having an unsettling side. He’s supposed to look into the untimely death of James Stitts, a professional clown with an offbeat specialty. In full clown regalia—red nose, orange hair, baggy pantaloons—Stitts leapt from tall buildings, sustained by a carefully knotted piece of rope. Prior to his valedictory performance, his lifeline was tampered with, sending down one clown. Dek wonders why any of this should be of such particular interest to Sweetie Rose. But a $2,000 retainer applied to a cash-poor situation nearly always trumps skepticism, so he signs on. As his investigation gathers steam and surprises, troublesome complications mount for a client whose murky past becomes prologue to a murderous present. Soon enough all sorts of people are hunting the missing Sweetie Rose, including the police.

Fredrickson (Honestly Dearest, You’re Dead, 2009, etc.) gets two-thirds of it right. The prose is polished and pliant, the slightly idiosyncratic hero entirely sympathetic. Blame a near miss on that pesky, plotting leg of the triad—the story doesn’t grab you.

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER

Gilman, Keith Severn House (240 pp.) $28.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 978-0-7278-8102-1

An ex-cop tries to help out an ex-girlfriend.

Franny was the one who got away.

Lou Klein chased her, but she preferred other men, marrying several times and winding up with Brian Haggerty, owner of a strip club, who likes to bed and brutalize his staff. Now, according to Franny’s brother Jimmy, a cop who grew up with Lou and worked with him on the Philadelphia police force before a righteous blow turned bad, forcing Lou out of the department to set up as a private eye, Franny needs help separating from Brian. But leaving is complicated because a few years back there was some nasty business about Brian’s first wife being in bed with his father, then being murdered—a time when Brian’s acquittal depended on the alibi Franny gave him. Franny insists that she doesn’t need help, but it doesn’t seem that way when Jimmy, trying to get her ring back from Brian, winds up dead on Lou’s porch, then Franny |

is stabbed herself. With some assistance from his p.i. partner Joey and caveats from his daughter Maggie, Lou finds himself reopening the case of the first wife’s murder and uncovering affairs galore, a paternity coverup and a surprising participant in that bedroom assault.

Some grisly bits and overwrought descriptions fail to juice a pedestrian plot lacking the power of Father’s Day (2009).

PATIENT ONE

Goldberg, Leonard Midnight Ink/Llewellyn (384 pp.) $14.95 paperback | May 8, 2012 978-0-7387-3046-2 An emergency-room doctor must use all his considerable skills to save the president and the nation from disaster.

Dr. David Ballineau is called back to the hospital when a large group of people, including the president and his family, are taken to the ER with what appears to be severe food poisoning after a dinner for the Russian president.

When the Secret Service demands a secure private area for the dignitaries, they are taken to the ritzy Beaumont Pavilion, and almost all the other patients are moved to other areas.

David, the president’s doctor, and experienced nurse Carolyn Ross quickly realize that the President’s excessive bleeding is due to something more than poison. As they struggle to contain the bleeding while waiting for the arrival of the president’s rare blood type and plasma, the Pavilion is suddenly seized by Chechen terrorists who murder all the security agents and announce they are holding the world leaders as hostages for the release of their fellow terrorists. David, who had been in the special forces, hides in the ceiling spaces and drops notes of medical advice to Carolyn, who is stretched to the limit trying to help the president and the other ill patients without new supplies. David uses his cell phone to keep the Secret Service up to date while the vice president and her team struggle to come up with a rescue plan. David and Carolyn play cat-and-mouse with the cold-blooded terrorists, who are willing to kill anyone but the President to achieve their ends. Even after David is wounded and captured, he continues his desperate attempts to thwart the terrorist plot. Goldberg, a clinical professor at UCLA Medical Center, has the expertise to provide an exciting medical thriller.

This fast-paced departure from his Joanna Blalock series (Lethal Measures, 2000, etc.) provides all the excitement, intrigue and danger you could ask for. (Author appearances at BEA and ALA)

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“Heley’s seventh Abbot Agency entry may be her most delicate and best balanced yet.” from false report

BLOOD IN THE WATER

Haddam, Jane Minotaur (320 pp.) $25.99 | Mar. 27, 2012 978-0-312-64434-5

You probably don’t know the neighbors as well as you think you do—not when they’re this full of surprises.

Everybody in Waldorf Pines, a gated community aspiring to be ritzy, knows everything there is to know about everybody else: Which wife is bedding the pool boy, which resident makes a nuisance of himself with ridiculous complaints, which old biddies are lesbians and which teenager is a bona fide sociopath. So when that pool boy is found dead in the pool and another body is burned to ashes in the woman’s locker room, the result of a fire that incinerated most of the building, everyone, including the local cop, assumes that Arthur Heydreich, the cuckolded husband, did it. Immediately arrested, he must be released when DNA indicates that the ashes are those of a man. Where then is his wife? Has she committed a double homicide? And why? Gregor Demarkian, the Armenian Hercule Poirot called in to make sense of matters, immediately realizes that misdirection is the key to understanding the mystery.

Accordingly, he chats up the Waldorf Pines citizenry and uncovers many assumed identities, much blackmailing, quite a few red herrings and a plot twist so convoluted that even Demarkian’s hyper-smart wife Bennis can’t quite follow it.

Not top-of-the-line Haddam (Flowering Judas, 2011, etc.) but still enjoyable, like a night out doing nothing special with old friends.

FALSE REPORT

Heley, Veronica Severn House (224 pp.) $28.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 978-0-7278-8117-5 An old friend talks Bea Abbot (False Money, 2011, etc.) into helping a musician caught in a honey trap.

Plagued by doubts about the direction her domestic agency is taking, Bea takes an afternoon off to attend a concert with CJ, her adopted son Oliver’s mentor. With his usual skill, CJ guides her to a tête-à-tête with Jeremy Waite, a music teacher fired because of an illicit liaison with an underage girl. The more she listens to Jeremy’s tale—how Josie knocked on his door looking for an address on the next street, how she returned day after day to pour out her lonely heart to him, how she maneuvered him into a compromising position, only to have a photographer snap their picture—the more certain she is that he’s the victim of a badger game. But his wife has thrown him out, and when vandals trash his rental flat, kind-hearted Bea lets Jeremy stay with her in an upstairs apartment originally intended for Oliver and 562

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Bea’s assistant Maggie to share. Jeremy is a mixed bag as a guest.

He eats everything in sight, he can’t find his shoes, but he creates celestial music on an electric keyboard. And Bea can use the distraction. Her agency is growing by leaps and bounds, but as the client list grows, so do the complaints. Her new manager, Ianthe, has fired all her old staff and changes the computer password daily, effectively locking Bea out of her own system. But when Maggie’s purchase orders aren’t filled and her estimates keep getting lost, Bea wonders if it’s time to sell up and retire to the south, as her son Max repeatedly suggests.

Heley’s seventh Abbot Agency entry may be her most delicate and best balanced yet.

BEHIND THE WALLS

Jones, Merry Severn House (224 pp.) $28.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7278-8118-2

An archaeology scholar asks whether a mysterious death is a simple murder or a supernatural event.

Iraq war vet Harper Jennings has had her share of drama in her life, most recently a strange medical scandal with some of her students at Cornell University. Now things are more settled for Harper, especially since her husband Hank, who fell off their roof while the two were trying to fix up their house, has finally returned home after an extended stay in the hospital. Although he can now talk, Hank’s speech is inconsistent, and Harper worries that he may have stopped improving. When Harper’s colleague Zina Salim, who has never been on particularly good terms with Harper, shows up at Hank and Harper’s place ranting about a Nahual, Harper has no interest in getting involved. After all, she was passed over for the plum job Zina got at the Langston place sorting through pre-Columbian artifacts. Besides, shape-shifters like Nahuals are just folklore.

The next day, however, Harper finds Zina’s body in the woods with the heart ripped from her chest, and Harper knows she must investigate the murder. It’s not clear whether Zina’s death is the work of the natural world or something beyond. Hank tries to dissuade Harper from getting involved, but she’s determined to find the truth even if it puts her in danger. With Hank growing more distant, Harper knows the only person she can rely on is herself. Or is it?

The more straightforward story line raises this entry above Summer Session (2011), though Jones sacrifices a bit of action in the process.

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JURY RIG

Kaul, Korey Five Star (286 pp.) $25.95 | Apr. 20, 2012 978-1-4328-2586-7

Public defender Kaul’s first novel stars a figure hitherto neglected by legal eagles: the trial consultant whose specialty is picking the right jury.

Nothing in Kate Summerlin’s extensive experience has prepared her for the twists and turns that her two latest cases pose. In one of them, the Urinator, né Rick Wrenshaw, has already admitted to shooting his neighbor Harold Pike six times after the deceased called Rick, who’s on the short side, a garden gnome; Kate’s charge is not to get her client off but to get him life in prison instead of a one-way trip to the death house. In the other, wayward mustard heiress Elsie Stiltson publicly posted an unauthorized photograph of Officer Mike Beckwith, an undercover Kansas City cop who was shot and crippled by drug boss Ulturo Mendiro’s family retainers after his cover was blown; the question is how much responsibility Elsie bore for his injuries. There are lots of complications in store, but the biggest and trickiest is the kidnapping of Kate’s lecherous boss, Dr. Walter Townsend, by a Santa Claus lookalike and two hapless henchmen who are convinced that (1) the person they’ve snatched is actually Townsend’s partner, Kate’s mentor Dr. Farley Greene, and (2) the abduction will put pressure on Kate to blow Beckwith’s case by hook or crook. More challenges for the increasingly beleaguered heroine arrive via a cornucopia of experts, crooks and bystanders, most of them, even the walk-ons, certified zanies, before a happy but thoroughly confusing denouement in a funhouse that provides an apt metaphor for the whole enterprise.

Though it could have used a firmer editorial hand and a few more drafts, Kaul’s debut sparkles as brightly as a cubic zirconium ringed by paste diamonds. More, please, but a little bit less next time.

ONE BLOOD

Kent, Graeme Soho Crime (288 pp.) $25.00 | Feb. 7, 2012 978-1-61695-058-3 The killing of an American tourist in the Solomon Islands reunites the singular sleuthing duo from Devil-Devil (2011).

A brief, provocative prologue, set in 1943, describes a Japanese destroyer attacking an American craft, PT-109 to be specific. Nearly 20 years later, brusque young nun Sister Conchita has been challenged with running a dilapidated mission in the Western District, where the other nuns have settled into an amiable inertia. Intransigent Sisters are the least of her problems on the day someone sets the ceremonial |

bonfire alight hours ahead of schedule as a corpse lies atop it.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Ben Kella of the Islands Police Force is sent west to investigate violence and sabotage at the Alvaro logging station. Though the area is unfamiliar to Kella, most of the workers there are from his native island of Malaita. While Kella is questioning the lusty Australian logging boss Michie, Sister Conchita, not far away, talks to former prizefighter Joe Dontate, whose chain of trading stores also sponsors mission tours. Given their proximity and common goals, it’s not long before this combustible duo is back together. Sister Conchita is chagrined to see that the nuns who treat her with indifference fawn over Kella. She finds the evasive responses of the District Commissioner about the death highly suspicious. Sister Conchita appeals to Kella for help. Is there a link to John F. Kennedy, about to become President of the United States?

Kent could provide more detail about the workings and ambience of his exotic setting, but his two sleuths are compelling and refreshingly unique. (Agent: Isabel White)

SUNSET

Lamanda, Al Five Star (276 pp.) $25.95 | Jun. 6, 2012 978-1-4328-2584-3 A former police officer sunk in the depths of despair is rescued by the mob boss he thinks had his wife killed.

John Bekker was working on a special task force investigating organized crime when his wife Carol was raped and brutally murdered in front of their 5-year-old daughter Regan. Bekker goes off the rails and becomes an alcoholic living in a beach trailer on his disability income; Regan, who has never spoken since the crime, lives in a facility catering to her needs. One morning Bekker wakes up in an empty room where he goes through the hell of detox. When he recovers, he finds that he’s in the home of Eddie Crist, a mob boss dying of cancer. Crist swears he had nothing to do with Carol’s death, although he suspects his hot-headed son Michael may have been involved before his death. Now he wants Bekker to find out who really did it. He provides him with a private investigator’s license and all the money he needs. So Bekker reaches out to his former partner Walter Grimes, who allows him access to all the case files. He learns that the police and even the FBI went all out to solve Carol’s death and find out who killed Bekker’s informant, all to no avail. Bekker reconnects with his former colleagues and his sister-in-law Janet and goes over the case material looking for that one clue that will help him break the case. Suddenly Bekker and his family are targets for a killer determined to bury the truth.

The latest from Lamanda (Running Homeless, 2011, etc.) is an exciting thriller filled with tough but sympathetic characters who drag you breathlessly along to the final scene.

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ONE RED BASTARD

Lin, Ed Minotaur (256 pp.) $25.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-312-66090-1

It’s 1976. The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China duel by proxy, pulling NYPD Officer Robert Chow into their murderous wake.

As Taiwan and Beijing jockey for position in the diplomatic game that will determine which of them the U.S. will recognize as the real China, word comes that the late Mao Tse-tung’s daughter Li Na is seeking asylum in America. It seems like a plum when Robert’s girlfriend Lonnie, a Newswire reporter, snags an interview with Chen Xiaochuan, Li’s representative, but everything goes haywire when Chen is found bashed to death in Roosevelt Park, his finger severed, soon afterward. Miraculously, the cops don’t arrest Lonnie, even though she was the last person to see Chen alive. But clouds of suspicion form around her, her own news organization stops running her stories and Robert, who’s already under official pressure to clear the case, finds himself even more motivated. His rounds take him not only to representatives of both regimes but among such sharply differentiated figures as agitator Lincoln Chen, aka “Mr. Revolution”; “anti-Chinese Chinaman” Byron Su; and Artie Yee, who seems curiously unconcerned that someone’s torched the offices of Inside Chinatown before it could cover the big story.

The mystery is both confusing and obvious, but Lin (Snakes Can’t Run, 2010, etc.) has a rewardingly sharp eye for both the issues that divide the denizens of New York’s Chinatown and the features that bind them together, as Robert continues to be bound to his ex-girlfriend Barbara, in spite of it all.

THE LOST ARTIST

Lukasik, Gail Five Star (300 pp.) $25.95 | Jun. 6, 2012 978-1-4328-2576-8

Rose Caffrey’s sister is dead. And that’s only the beginning of Rose’s problems.

Rose, a performance artist, is tall, dark and arty, with a string of broken romances.

Her very different sister Karen was a short blond college professor, immune to romance, who apparently fell from a ladder and broke her neck.

Her money goes to a scholarship fund, and her beat-up southern Illinois farmhouse to Rose, who’s always short of cash and anxious to sell. While the outside is rough, the inside is partially restored.

But the most amazing part is the room whose walls are painted with murals that Karen was having uncovered by art restorer Alex Hague. Buried for over 175 years under wallpaper and paint, the murals fascinate Rose, especially when she learns that the paintings may be related to the Trail of Tears, a branch of which passed right 564

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through the area. As she goes about cleaning up Karen’s research materials in various locations, Rose is attacked, possibly by a relative of the house’s original owners, the Braun family. She eventually finds part of a diary belonging to Emily Lord Braun, who might well have been the mysterious painter. Unable to resist investigating, Rose fights her attraction to Alex and finds that a good many people are lying to her about the murals, which could be very valuable. Despite her reservations, Rose joins Alex on a dangerous hunt for clues to reveal the secrets of the past.

In a departure from her Leigh Girard mysteries (Death’s Door, 2009, etc.), Lukasik has crafted a highly intriguing tale loaded with suspense and historic interest.

THE ROYAL WULFF MURDERS

McCafferty, Keith Viking (352 pp.) $26.95 | Feb. 16, 2012 978-0-670-02326-4

Field & Stream editor McCafferty’s first novel is a fish story with a homicidal hook.

Fresh from a wracking divorce, Sean Stranahan arrives in Bridger, Mont., unsettled and unhappy, a man without much purpose. He has only two serious interests: painting and fly-fishing. True, he once earned a living as a licensed private eye, but he never really took that seriously.

Then along comes a southern songbird and natural heartbreaker calling herself Velvet Lafayette, and suddenly a susceptible Stranahan finds himself taking sleuthing very seriously indeed.

Fetched out of Montana’s trout-laden Madison River is a dead young man who proves to be the songbird’s missing brother. A tragic accident? Hardly. Not with that Royal Wulff lure hooked so grotesquely in his mouth. Who put it there and why? That’s what Vareda, her real name, hires Stranahan to discover. Since it’s an election year, Sheriff Martha Ettinger takes a more than passing interest in these questions as well. But when murder follows murder, it becomes all too clear that someone ruthless is intent on keeping the answers secret. Having begun at crosspurposes, Martha and Sean now find themselves flirting with disaster. But their flirting with each other turns out to be beneficial for the investigation and fun for the reader.

An entertaining debut, though less of the fishing stuff probably would have been more. (Agent: Dominick Abel)

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“Perry’s most successful attempts to cloak contemporary geopolitical anxieties in plummy faux-Victorian periods.” from dorchester terrace

FATAL INDUCTION

Pajer, Bernadette Poisoned Pen (232 pp.) $24.95 | paper $14.95 | May 1, 2012 978-1-59058-612-9 978-1-59058-614-3 paperback 978-1-59058-613-6 Lg. Prt. A college professor enters a contest and dabbles in a murder investigation.

Benjamin Bradshaw, Professor of Electrical Engineering, has moved to Seattle at the dawn of the 20th century to shield his young son from the stigma of his mother’s suicide. Before the semester begins, Bradshaw, who’s entered a contest for a telephonic system that will deliver music from the Seattle Grand Theater directly to people’s homes, is caught up in a mystery. Why is an abandoned gypsy peddler’s cart in the lane behind his house, and where are the father and child who were living in it? Soon enough, the body of the father is found nearby and Bradshaw learns that his own son has been harboring the little girl, a possible witness to murder who runs away when Bradshaw sees her. Despite warnings from his old friend Detective O’Brien to keep out of the case, Bradshaw follows a trail into dangerous areas of town full of bars, brothels and assorted criminals. The dead peddler, who was not in fact a gypsy, had sold a tonic with dangerous ingredients that involve the professor in a federal investigation into adulterated patent medicine. After his gold fever abates, Bradshaw’s best friend Henry suddenly returns to a town already on edge since the shooting of President McKinley, and Henry’s niece Missouri is determined to convince Bradshaw that she’s not too young for him. Nothing daunted, Bradshaw uses his electrical expertise in a plan to trap a ruthless killer.

The second in Pajer’s Professor Bradshaw series is more slowly paced than his debut (A Spark of Death, 2011). Even so, the historical tidbits and information on early electrical inventions keep it interesting. (Author tour to Oregon: Portland and Lincoln City. Washington: Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bellingham and Snohomish.)

DORCHESTER TERRACE

Perry, Anne Ballantine (352 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-345-51062-4

A dying adventuress holds entirely too many secrets for the miscreants who threaten Queen Victoria’s government, whose peace Thomas Pitt is sworn to keep.

Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, the wise and knowing aunt of Pitt’s wife Charlotte, is right to be concerned about her old friend Serafina Montserrat. It’s not just that Serafina’s life is drawing to a close; her illness makes her mind wander, and oftentimes she says things she shouldn’t—and, according to her niece, Nerissa Freemarsh, things that just aren’t true. But Serafina speaks |

very much to the point when she tells Vespasia that she’s afraid “they’ll kill me” because “I know too much.” Sure enough, the next time Vespasia comes to visit, Serafina has already died.

Pitt, who’s already been put on high alert by the hints about very contemporary terrorist threats Serafina has intimated to Vespasia, ascertains that the cause of death was an overdose of laudanum quite impossible for Serafina to have administered to herself. Whodunit? And even more important, why? It doesn’t take long for Pitt (Long Spoon Lane, 2005, etc.) to focus his concern on Duke Alois Habsburg, a decidedly minor noble whose upcoming visit to his cousins in England seems increasingly likely to end with his assassination. But which of the slippery bureaucrats Pitt must deal with in his new capacity as head of Special Branch is the traitor behind the plot? And how can Pitt, who continues to be superstitiously reverent toward his alleged social superiors, smoke out the traitor and deal with him?

Slow to catch fire, but full of pleasing twists once it does—one of Perry’s most successful attempts to cloak contemporary geopolitical anxieties in plummy faux-Victorian periods. (Agent: Donald Maass)

NINE FOR THE DEVIL

Reed, Mary; Mayer, Eric Poisoned Pen (318 pp.) $24.95 | paper $14.95 | Lg. Prt. $22.95 Mar. 1, 2012 978-1-59058-994-6 978-1-59058-996-0 paperback 978-1-59058-995-3 Lg. Prt. How can you find a killer who doesn’t exist?

Much loathed roman empress Theodora wastes away from disease, her husband Justinian constantly by her side, her attendants Vesta and Kuria fetching and fretting, Gaius the court physician prescribing potions, her best friend Antonina sending in get-well packets and various clerics offering up prayers for her. Nonetheless, she succumbs, and Justinian, demented with grief, calls in John, his Lord Chamberlain, and demands that he identify her murderer.

With his wife off to assist their daughter in childbirth and his aged manservant Peter practically at death’s door, John alone must deal with the enmity between Christians and Mithranians, generals with political aspirations and lovers whose romances Theodora had manipulated. Did someone poison the empress? The palace gardens were rife with foxglove, and almost everyone had access to it. The palace torturers heat up their instruments, and the palace guards knock on doors in the dead of night to send possible suspects to the dungeons. John’s best friends lie to him, and the emperor has him in his sights as his wife’s nemesis until John, once again communing with Zoe, the little girl depicted on a mosaic in his home, pinpoints exactly by whose hand Theodora died.

Whores, beggars, lawyers, even a tax collector and a pope wander around Constantinople’s back alleys, brothels, kitchens and church sanctum sanctorums. What a relief for John (Eight for Eternity, 2010, etc.) to be finally freed of his duties and prepare to take his household off to Greece.

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READY, SCRAP, SHOOT

Slan, Joanna Campbell Midnight Ink/Llewellyn (336 pp.) $14.95 paperback | Apr. 8, 2012 978-0-7387-2747-9 Series: Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-N-Craft Mystery, 5 A single mother struggling to support her daughter becomes a target for murder.

Kiki Lowenstein is barely keeping her life together. A partner in a craft store, she feels that her creative talents are under-appreciated, especially when the senior partner sells another share to a rigid German woman. Her narcissistic mother comes to visit convinced that Kiki is hiding assets that would help support her; her cop boyfriend, Chad Detweiler, still isn’t divorced; and now Kiki is pregnant. The only bright spots in her life are her lovely daughter Anya and her mother-in-law Sheila, who, now that she’s grudgingly come to respect Kiki, pays for all the extras for Anya. When they attend a May Day celebration at Anya’s posh private school, a St. Louis society matron is killed and her son wounded. Both Chad and Sheila’s fiancé, Police Chief Robbie Holmes, wonder if Kiki was the real target, since her murdered husband’s former partner is still certain that Kiki’s holding back money that should be his. As Kiki works on a memorial scrapbook for the Fitzgerald family, she struggles to figure out whether she’s targeted for death.

All the while, her mother’s mania is increasing, and Detweiler’s wife is verbally attacking her in public. Can things get any worse?

Slan’s scrapbook mysteries (Make, Take, Murder, 2011, etc.) are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise, in this case the hardships of caring for elderly parents.

MONKEY WRENCH

Thayer, Terri Midnight Ink/Llewellyn (288 pp.) $14.95 paperback | May 8, 2012 978-0-7387-3126-1 A quilt-shop owner’s ideas for promoting her shop and helping an employee involve her in a case of murder.

In the first time since her mother’s death, Dewey Pellicano’s totally revamped quilt shop, QP, has been invited to participate in the annual Quilter’s Crawl, several days of special events at a number of California quilt shops that draw visitors from long distances. But things are not going as smoothly as she’d like. Her bathroom makeover is not done, her best employee Vangie is busy with college and Pearl, her recently widowed quilting teacher, is acting strangely. Dewey and Vangie have come up with a plan to use Twitter to publicize the event, but when Vangie’s boyfriend, who’s been in a pro-drug rally, dies in her car, Dewey finds herself, not for the first time, in the middle of a murder investigation. Nor are all the quilt shop owners happy with the Twitter idea. When 566

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a quilter drops dead in a big crowd at one of the featured shops, Dewey gets the blame. Although Dewey doesn’t see her boyfriend Buster as often as either of them would like, his experience as a police officer assigned to the drug task force comes in handy when she learns that both Vangie and Pearl may be innocently entangled in an illicit drug ring. Her attempts to get her friends out of trouble make her a target for murder.

Thayer’s pleasant third (Old Maid’s Puzzle, 2008, etc.) offers its curious heroine a touch of romance and several puzzles to solve, and adds quilting tips for the like-minded.

science fiction and fantasy ANGELS OF VENGEANCE

Birmingham, John Del Rey/Ballantine (560 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-345-50293-3

The final novel in Birmingham’s post-apocalyptic trilogy (After America, 2010, etc.) doesn’t wrap up the story so much as coast to a stop, with a frustrating amount of padding before the disappointing climax.

After a mysterious energy field known as the Wave destroys almost all human life in North America, the world is plunged into chaos, as foreign political powers are destabilized and the remaining Americans struggle to rebuild their country. Past its initial (entirely unexplained) premise, Birmingham’s series is more action thriller than science fiction, and this final installment focuses primarily on four point-of-view characters: Caitlin Monroe, a ruthless covert agent sent to infiltrate the rebellious, totalitarian Texas government; Sofia Pieraro, a hardened Mexican teen out to avenge her father’s murder; Jed Culver, chief of staff to the U.S. president; and Julianne Balwyn, a British smuggler on the run from a hit squad. Most of the action this time around takes place in the reconstituted United States, which is just getting back to a semblance of stability several years after the Wave. After having established various new political realities, Birmingham does little of note with them, and whole areas of the world remain barely mentioned. Instead Birmingham slowly and tediously draws connections among the various characters’ missions, filling many chapters with meandering exposition and irrelevant details. On several occasions he devotes substantial passages to exploring the backgrounds and points of view of characters who are then immediately killed or otherwise taken out of the story. Readers who’ve followed the trilogy from the start may be invested in the characters’ personal

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vendettas, but they’re disappointingly hollow compared to the largely ignored geopolitics of the changed world.

Dull characters, bland dialogue and thin plotting make for a weak final installment of the trilogy, which Birmingham closes by awkwardly setting up a potential sequel. No thanks. (Agent: Russell Galen)

NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE 2012

Kelly, James Patrick & Kessel, John--Eds. Pyr/Prometheus Books (336 pp.) $17.95 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-1-61614-619-1 The 2010 Nebula Award winners, as voted in 2011 by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (after a preliminary sieving), finally served up in 2012.

The short-story winners, following a tie: Kij Johnson’s “Ponies,” a razor-slash across the jugular illustrating the unthinking cruelty of young girls; and Harlan Ellison’s “How Interesting: A Tiny Man,” something like a modern take on the point J.G. Ballard made long ago with “The Drowned Giant.” Novelette winner Eric James Stone’s “That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made” features colossal energy-beings that live inside the sun, and—really—Mormonism (I know, I know—but read the story anyway). “The Lady Who Plucked Red Flowers Beneath the Queen’s Window,” Rachel Swirsky’s winning novella (concerning a matriarchal society whose chief wizard is betrayed by her monarch into perpetual enslavement) suffers from its staccato pacing and unfinished air. There are excerpts from Connie Willis’ Blackout/All Clear (best novel) and Andre Norton Award winner Terry Pratchett’s I Shall Wear Midnight. The Solstice Award (for impact on the field) was claimed by the late James Tiptree Jr. and illustrated with a devastating story of alien sex, “And I Awoke And Found Me Here On The Cold Hill’s Side.”

Other ballot finalists are represented by Geoff Landis, Chris Barzak, Shweta Narayan, Adam Troy-Castro, Aliette de Bodard and Amal el-Mohtar, and there’s poetry from Kendall Evans and Samantha Henderson, Howard Hendrix and Ann K. Schwader.

Not a banner year, all things considered, with greatest likely appeal to the younger section of the audience (but is it the audience that’s getting younger, or the writers, or the voters?), and too often pallid, especially—perhaps unfairly— contrasted with a true heavyweight champion like Tiptree.

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CRUCIBLE OF GOLD

Novik, Naomi Del Rey/Ballantine (288 pp.) $25.00 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-0-345-52286-3 After a brief hiatus (Tounges of Serpents, 2010, etc.), Novik continues the globetrotting, alternate-Napoleonic-era adventures of Captain William Laurence and his Chinese Celestial dragon Temeraire.

Previously, Laurence was convicted of treason and transported for preventing the British from infecting the enemy French dragons with a fatal disease. As this volume opens, ambassador Arthur Hammond ends Laurence’s Australian exile, restoring his commission and appointing him to negotiate with a force of African dragons sent by Napoleon to Brazil.

Along the way, Laurence and his companions endure shipwreck, capture, stranding on an island and a desperate journey through the Incan Empire (the local dragons prevented the conquistadors from succeeding in this universe, although the smallpox they left behind has proved fairly devastating). While there is some intriguing but sadly limited time spent examining the differing political, societal and spiritual roles played by dragons in various cultures, most of the plot is devoted to nonstop action. Underneath it all, however, Novik is ambitiously exploring what it is to be a moral man in a world where such a quality is considered inconvenient at best; a man who, despite the powerful leverage provided by his dragon, may never be able to fully triumph over rampant corruption and petty opportunism.

In some ways, a repeat of what’s gone before, but despite that, thoughtful, good fun. (Author tour to New York, Tucson, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. Agent: Cynthia Mason)

THE ADVANCE TEAM

Pfeifer, Will Illus. by Torres, Germán Tor (176 pp.) $15.99 paperback | Mar. 27, 2012 978-0-7653-2712-3 Aliens-among-us yarn from veteran comics scripter Pfeifer (Amazons Attack!, 2007, etc.) and relative newcomer Torres.

In the opening sequence, narrator Zack McKinley of Cleveland prepares to assassinate rock icon Orson Arson with a high-powered rifle.

“Believe it or not,” the caption advises us, “I wasn’t always like this.” Indeed. Previously, Zack eked out a living delivering pizzas while trying to summon up the courage to ask fellow-employee Vic for a date. Then one snowy evening Vic grabs Zack’s phone, punches in her number and says the rest is up to him. Zack picks up a stack of pizzas and drives joyfully away—until a strange unearthly light kills all electric power and brings the car to a stop. Wondering what’s going on, Zack climbs out. Straight into the arms of a bunch of thugs intent on robbing him and science fiction & fantasy

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“A whopping 31 eclectic stories in speculative mode, expertly selected from 2011’s large and diverse output.” from the best science fiction and fantasy of the year

stealing his phone. Hardly knowing what he’s doing, Zack beats them to a pulp. “Wow,” he murmurs. He tracks down the artist who devised Orson Arson’s logo, Anton Arvon. Arvon turns out to be a homicidal alien with super powers. After a struggle Zack kills him and runs home, where his Uncle Archie is waiting.

Archie, who claims to be an astronaut and isn’t actually related— in the artwork he resembles the Joker—explains that, 50 years ago, aliens opened up a wormhole on the far side of the moon and sent to Earth an advance team of invaders. Zack’s part in all this is...well, Zack thinks Archie is crazy and blows him off. The story proceeds via abrupt cuts and flashbacks, with the details more convincing than the broad outline, itself not too much more than hackneyed science-fantasy wish-fulfillment. The blocky, rather messy black and white artwork brings to mind Mad magazine and fails to make the best use of the script.

Come back, Alan Moore, all is forgiven.

gang; unspeakable biological experiments (Nnedi Okorafor); Ellen Klages offers “Goodnight Moons” as if written by Robert A. Heinlein. Also includes worthy contributions from Karen Joy Fowler, Catherynne M. Valente, Geoff Ryman, Hannu Rajaniemi, Peter Watts, Nalo Hopkinson, Kelly Link, M. Rickert, Maureen F. McHugh, Peter S. Beagle, Robert Reed, Bruce Sterling and Margo Lanagan.

Especially valuable for readers who enjoy short stories but have neither the time nor the inclination to seek them out.

THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR

Strahan, Jonathan--Ed. Night Shade (600 pp.) $19.99 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-59780-345-8 A whopping 31 eclectic stories in speculative mode, expertly selected from 2011’s large and diverse output.

Hard to determine standouts from such a spiffy bunch, but here goes. Ken Liu offers a delicate, limpid and thoroughly heartbreaking magic-realist tale of a Chinese girl purchased and brought to America as a bride. In Neil Gaiman’s capable hands, an elderly Sherlock Holmes, not altogether unaccountably, takes up beekeeping in China. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, E. Lily Yu’s smart, predatory wasps draw intricate, exact maps and enslave anarchist bees. Paul McAuley writes tellingly of alien artifacts creating havoc along a Norfolk coast drowned by global warming. Cory Doctorow’s humorous “The Brave Little Toaster” consciously takes on, and trounces, Thomas M. Disch’s famous fantasy-parable. Ian McDonald pens a saga of terraforming Mars, whose gritty realism conceals a surprise but all-too-plausible ending. Jeffrey Ford steps up with a trademark, squirm-inducing yarn of a saint’s grisly relic. From Kij Johnson comes an engagingly peopled, beautifully realized tale of an engineer bridging a most peculiar and dangerous river. A seeming fantasy that turns into a weird future information war deserved to be, and hopefully will become, much longer (yes, Michael Swanwick, that’s a hint). Humans watch in helpless astonishment as aliens attack Venus—and, even stranger, Venusians fight back, as Stephen Baxter describes. Robert Shearman presents an art gallery whose vast paintings do vastly more than just illustrate an entire year of history. Hardly less impressive: A girl’s grandiose fantasies of an alternate Mars turn out to be the real thing (Dylan Horrocks); a microscopic black hole (Caitlin R. Kiernan); alien parasites (An Owomoyela); a musicologist’s revenge (K.J. Parker); Libba Bray’s train-robbing girl 568

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nonfiction PRAGUE WINTER A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948

These titles earned the Kirkus Star: GUEST OF HONOR by Deborah Davis..........................................p. 575

Albright, Madeleine with Woodward, Bill Harper/HarperCollins (480 pp.) $29.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-06-203031-3

FARTHER AWAY by Jonathan Franzen..........................................p. 577 OBAMA AND THE MIDDLE EAST by Fawaz A. Gerges.............. p. 578 LIVING, THINKING, LOOKING by Siri Hustvedt....................... p. 582 ATLANTIC FEVER by Joe Jackson.................................................. p. 582 BIRDSEYE by Mark Kurlansky..................................................... p. 583 CITY by P.D. Smith.........................................................................p. 594 DARWIN’S GHOSTS by Rebecca Stott..........................................p. 596 NIGHTCAP AT DAWN by J.B. Walker.......................................... p. 597

BIRDSEYE The Adventures of a Curious Man

Kurlansky, Mark Doubleday (304 pp.) $25.95 May 8, 2012 978-0-385-52705-7

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The former U.S. secretary of state blends World War II–era history and memoir in her account of her discovery, at age 59, that she had lost more than two-dozen relatives in the Holocaust.

Albright’s (Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America’s Reputation and Leadership, 2008, etc.) parents had never told her of her Jewish heritage, and in January 1997 she had only recently learned of it when a Washington Post reporter broke the larger story. She spent the ensuing years researching her family’s history and the history of her native Czechoslovakia. She was aided in her endeavors by family material she found stored in boxes in her garage—and by a small research team. Born in 1937, the author naturally doesn’t remember the war’s earliest days, so the initial sections are principally a summary of history of the region and the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. Occasionally, she slips into the first person to talk about the activities of her father, a career diplomat, and her mother, a diplomat’s wife but also a woman very interested in the supernatural. The most gripping parts are those personal stories; the others mostly repeat what can be found in many histories of the war and Holocaust.

Retellings do not, of course, diminish the horror, but Albright sometimes focuses more on the politics and the war than on the remembrance. The personal passages increase in number and detail as she grows older. Also engaging are the later sections, which deal with the postwar politics in Czechoslovakia, especially the communists’ moves to subvert the fledgling democracy.

Although much is conventional history, the unconventional—the personal—animates and brightens the narrative. (Author appearances in Boston, Chicago, New York, Miami, Washington, D.C.)

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“A spirited engagement with the 1969 breakthrough novel that brought Philip Roth both renown and notoriety.” from promiscuous

NO WORSE ENEMY The Inside Story of the Chaotic Struggle for Afghanistan

Anderson, Ben Oneworld Publications (304 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 19, 2012 978-1-85168-852-4 978-1-85168-863-0 e-book An unusually courageous war correspondent shares his dispatches from the frontlines of Afghanistan.

Filmmaker and journalist Anderson spent five years embedded with the British and American forces in Afghanistan, primarily in Helmand, “the country’s most violent province.”

Armed only with a video camera, he accompanied his hosts on hundreds of excursions to forward positions, staying “as little time as possible on the main bases, where not much ever happens.” Anderson’s thousands of hours of recorded video allow him to clear away the fog of war, recounting precisely what happened in some of the most chaotic and stressful situations humans can experience. With humor, compassion and a fine eye for detail, the author meticulously pieces together each scene with the skill of a good choreographer. While the book is too atmospheric and action-based to have much of a grand political narrative, Anderson’s central contention is that our strategy in Afghanistan is confused and ineffectual, and the Taliban is confidently reestablishing its networks of authority throughout the country. The Afghan National Army (“a heavily-armed, badlydressed version of the Keystone Kops. On drugs”), now taking responsibility for most areas, is poorly trained and motivated and of dubious loyalty. The efforts of Anderson’s unit to win hearts and minds were constantly stymied by civilian deaths, communication problems and the great remove from which policymakers view the landscape.

An engrossing blow-by-blow account of the nuts and bolts of modern warfare.

LETTERS TO A FRIEND

Athill, Diana Norton (288 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 16, 2012 978-0-393-06295-3

The renowned British publisher follows her refreshingly honest series of late-in-life memoirs with a collection of three decades of letters to a fellow writer in New York.

Athill (Somewhere Towards the End, 2009, etc.) spent most of her career as a highly respected editorial director for London publisher André Deutsch, propelling the careers of notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Jean Rhys and Philip Roth. Celebrated for her editing prowess, Athill began publishing short stories and autobiographical works in 570

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her mid 40s. After retiring from publishing at age 75, her career as a memoirist hit a steep trajectory. Here Athill illuminates broad swaths of her past, with more than 100 characteristically candid dispatches to poet Edward Field, from 1981 to 2007.

With the brisk immediacy and contextual depth that often distinguishes correspondence from memoir, Athill’s letters reveal vivid shades of her colorful personality that heretofore have been most evident in interviews. Matter-of-fact observations detail the minutiae of her daily life: trying to find ribbons for her old typewriter; the eventual, daunting switch to computers; the modest fee for an article she wrote; flowers budding in the garden; bodily functions during illnesses. The author deftly intertwines tales of travels, dinner parties and quirky characters with blunt observations and passages about the life of a writer.

Without the balance of Fields’ epistles bridging her letters, however, their extensive dialogue reads like a one-sided conversation. Occasional footnotes and poems are not enough to provide sufficient background, often leaving readers in the dark about the people, places, emotions and events she references.

Endearingly forthright, buoyant and detailed, Athill’s letters tell but one side of a cherished bond, leaving the reader eager to see her friend’s replies.

PROMISCUOUS Portnoy’s Complaint and Our Doomed Pursuit of Happiness

Avishai, Bernard Yale Univ. (240 pp.) $25.00 | May 1, 2012 978-0-300-15190-9

A spirited engagement with the 1969 breakthrough novel that brought Philip Roth both renown and notoriety.

It would be easy to form misleading impressions from this critical analysis of Portnoy’s Complaint. The fact that it’s an academic study from a celebrated university press might suggest that this book would drain all the fun from Portnoy. To the contrary, this critical work, written by a friend of the author, is very much in the spirit of the book to which it responds. Harvard Business Review contributing editor Avishai (The Hebrew Republic: How Secular Democracy and Global Enterprise Will Bring Israel Peace at Last, 2008, etc.) ventures far and wide over literary, philosophical and other cultural touchstones, providing a context for Roth’s novel that encompasses James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Jackson Pollock and Judd Apatow. Avishai proves both an informed and engaging guide to the novel and its legacy. In a deft turn of critical praise, he writes of the novel’s expressing “the dirt of desire after the hygiene of childhood.” He explains how the novel is very much of its time yet transcends its time, and of how it has been perceived as quintessentially Jewish yet is ultimately emancipating in the way it resonates so far beyond the Jewish experience. Drawing on interviews with Roth and access to his notes, Avishai deals with the issue that has long been central to Roth: the blurring of fact and fiction, of novel

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BRAIN WARS The Scientific Battle Over the Existence of the Mind and the Proof that Will Change the Way We Live Our Lives

and confession. Avishai builds a strong case that Portnoy is not Roth, and that the protagonist might even be the object of the author’s satire, along with psychoanalysis and pretty much everything else the novel addresses. “The joke was on everybody—parents, lovers, tribes, patients, psychoanalysts—which is another way of saying it was on the act of reading itself,” he writes, while elsewhere describing the progression of Portnoy “from a great farce into an unnerving mystery.”

A companion volume that enhances appreciation of the novel.

IN THE WATER THEY CAN’T SEE YOU CRY A Memoir

Beard, Amanda with Paley, Rebecca Touchstone/Simon & Schuster (256 pp.) $24.99 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4516-4437-1

Candid though bland memoir of an athlete juggling award-winning aquatic prowess with hobbling insecurities.

In straightforward prose, seven-time Olympic medalist Beard recounts her bubbly childhood with her family amid the manicured lawns of sun-drenched Irvine, Calif. Her blooming obsession with neatness, order and compulsive “Windexing” sparked high-energy sports participation, beginning at age four. Swimming eventually trumped all else (“Water had become my getaway”), and the author began years of dedicated training with competitive clubs. Bolstered by the full support of her family, Beard qualified to compete in the 1996 Olympics at 14, where she won a gold medal and two silver. However, in addition to the emotional toll of her parents’ unanticipated separation, the author faced the embarrassment of late-onset puberty, mild dyslexia and the pressure to deliver self-confident performances in a sport she considered “incredibly monotonous.” Determined training sessions throughout her youth became marred by botched romances (including a relationship with NASCAR star Carl Edwards), bulimia, drug experimentation and depression-fueled self-inflicted “cutting” that persisted well into adulthood. Still, the photogenic Olympian (who posed for Playboy in 2007) went on to win 21 medals to date. Now 30, Beard writes gushingly about her supportive husband, new baby and a happier life with an anticipated return to the Olympic arena. Though the narrative tone and delivery remains amiably direct, this style leaves little room in an awkwardly stiff, workmanlike portrait for much-needed personality.

For sports junkies fascinated by determined athletes back in the game after near emotional ruin.

Beauregard, Mario HarperOne (256 pp.) $26.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-207156-9

A neuropsychologist argues that the time has come for “an expanded model of reality” that takes into account the separation of mind and consciousness from the brain.

Beauregard (The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul, 2008, etc.), an associate researcher at the University of Montreal, cites examples to set the stage for his conviction that “mind and consciousness are not produced by the brain.”

He gives examples of the placebo effect and the use of neurofeedback to train the mind to control brain functions, and he rejects efforts to map areas of the brain to mental functions by the use of electrical stimulation and other methods—he deems these to be reductionist. To support his contention of the primacy of mind over matter, Beauregard describes the apparent effectiveness of black magic on victims who believe in the power of spells. More controversial are his contentions about extrasensory perception.

He reports examples of out-of-body and near-death experiences, which he interprets as proof of the existence of the soul and its life after death. He also discusses clairvoyance and precognition; he writes, “no current theories in physics, psychology, or neuroscience can explain them convincingly.” In the author’s view, a scientific paradigm shift is on the horizon, and he states what he claims to be definitive proof that under certain conditions “telepathy does occur.” He cites an experiment in which participants in different rooms were shown the same four pictures. One made a selection and the other guessed which one was selected.

In one third of the instances, the second participant chose the correct picture, beating the “odds against chance beyond a million billion to one.” He does not entertain the possibility that the experimental design was flawed.

Proponents of the author’s new-age beliefs will be intrigued; others will be more skeptical.

CENTRAL PARK An Anthology

Blauner, Andrew--Ed. Bloomsbury (240 pp.) $17.00 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-1-60819-600-5

A leisurely stroll through the park with some agreeably literary companionship.

Though each of the pieces focuses on Central Park, editor and literary agent Blauner (editor: Brothers, 2009, etc.) observes of the millions who consider this their favorite spot in |

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“A nervy, expansive memoir from a pioneering gender activist.” from a queer and pleasant danger

New York, “Ask what all of those people love most about Central Park, and you will almost never get two alike answers. Such is the vastness, the diversity, the wonder of this place that plays so many different roles to so many different kinds of people.”

Much is made in the selections of the diversity of people drawn to the park, but the voices selected for inclusion make it read something like a special issue of the New Yorker (which has published many of these writers). More than a third of the pieces were previously published, including an excerpt from a novel by Paul Auster, a fable about “The Sixth Borough” by Jonathan Safran Foer, a letter from Wall Street Journal columnist Marie Winn to Holden Caulfield and the title essay from Colson Whitehead’s The Colossus of New York. As the writing ranges over decades as well as acres, many of the writers see the park as a microcosm of the city. Adam Gopnik notes, “There is always a new New York coming into being as the old one disappears.” Safran Foer: “It’s hard for anyone, even the most cynical of cynics, to spend more than a few minutes in Central Park without feeling that he or she is experiencing some tense in addition to the present.” There are repeated references to the zoo, to Jackie Onassis jogging, various sports and the occasional mugging, but there are also celebrations of the park as a cultural hub as well as a natural resource.

One of the most incisive observations is secondhand, by Andy Warhol as conveyed by Susan Cheever: “It was better to live in the city than the country because in the city he could find a little bit of country, but in the country there was no little bit of city.”

A good anthology for an afternoon’s reading in the park.

THE ADMIRALS Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King—the Five-Star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea

Borneman, Walter R. Little, Brown (576 pp.) $29.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-316-09784-0

Prolific author and historian Borneman (Rival Rails: The Race to Build America’s Greatest Transcontinental Railroad, 2010, etc.) fashions a comparative history involving four five-star admirals whose tireless efforts and relative strengths tell the moving story of triumph and tragedy during World War II. The author chose his subjects—Chester Nimitz, William Halsey, William Leahy and Ernest King—because they were the first and only five-star fleet admirals, when five stars were first authorized by Congress in 1944. The four were key to rebuilding the fleet after the debacle of Pearl Harbor: Leahy, the oldest of the Annapolis grads, already a proponent of building up the interwar gunnery as commander of destroyers, was the first to earn an admiral stripe, an early advocate of the “big ship-big gun” strategy; King, formerly head of the postgraduate Naval School, a steely, volatile leader, was appointed commander in chief of the U.S. Fleet after the Japanese attack, eventually muscling out co-consul “Betty” Stark and demonstrating astute strategic insight in dividing command 572

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between the North Atlantic and Pacific; Nimitz, who cut his teeth on submarines, was the consummate commander, ferociously exacting but devoted to his men, appointed commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet and proved bold and decisive from one Pacific strike to another; and “Bull” Halsey, a scrappy fighter, commander of destroyers, lauded for his “can-do” leadership in the Solomons— though he endured questioning over his handling of the attack at Leyte in 1944. Borneman deftly manipulates multiple narrative strands and a wealth of detail. He vividly fleshes out the numerous vain, ambitious men vying for power at the top and examines their important decisions and lasting ramifications.

An accomplished, readable history lesson.

A QUEER AND PLEASANT DANGER The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy Who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She Is Today Bornstein, Kate Beacon (288 pp.) $25.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-8070-0165-3 978-0-8070-0166-0 e-book

A nervy, expansive memoir from a pioneering gender activist.

When she was Al Bornstein and a member of the Church of Scientology, Kate Bornstein (Hello Cruel World: 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks and Other Outlaws, 2006, etc.) signed a billion-year contract pledging to serve the church in both his present and future lives. Though she eventually left the church, the idea that a soul can endure forever doesn’t seem so implausible when you read her story, which takes us from a bizarre childhood to a troubled young adulthood to her stint in Scientology, which lasted more than a decade. That’s just the first two parts of the book, and even one of those experiences could have been the basis of a full memoir. Bornstein then goes on to discuss, with frank and arresting detail, her diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, her transition from Al to Kate, her immersion in the S&M community, her emergence as a powerful voice in the transgender community and her success as a performance artist, author and speaker. Bornstein frequently exposes the slippery nature of truth by telling a compelling and believable story and then immediately informing the reader that it was fabricated.

Late in the book, some of the dialogue with her friends in the lesbian/S&M community reads more like a script (Bornstein is also a playwright) than conversation. Nevertheless, the backbone of the book, and of Bornstein’s life, is her admonishment in to “do whatever it takes to make your life more worth living.”

This cri de coeur, which appears in a letter to her estranged daughter and grandchildren, suggests that Bornstein has made real sacrifices to follow her own advice, and can therefore dispense it with integrity.

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THE HEARTBREAK OF AARON BURR

Brands, H.W. Anchor (224 pp.) $15.00 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-0-307-74326-8 Most schoolchildren can tell you that Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Brands (History/Univ. of Texas; The Murder of Jim Fisk for the Love of Josie Mansfield, 2012, etc.) chronicles the story of the downward trajectory his fortunes endured thereafter.

Burr’s relationship and devotion to his only child, Theodosia, produced a wealth of correspondence that allows us to see his tortured, often-desperate persona. His break with Thomas Jefferson over political issues and the outrage after Hamilton’s death finished Burr’s political life. More importantly, the press of creditors suggested it was a good time to get out of town. He left New York and headed west to investigate the possibilities of land speculation. While traveling he became convinced of an impending war with Spain, either in Mexico or Florida. He raised a great deal of capital to buy a tract of land in the Louisiana Territory and to outfit an expeditionary force. Burr never actually stated the purpose for the 15 boats, 500 men, firearms and provisions, but his intentions made many nervous. It was to be his ultimate undoing. Jefferson didn’t trust him, and many others saw his moves as an attempt to split the United States in two. Despite charges of treason, no indictment could be reached after two hearings, but Jefferson rejected the findings and called for his arrest. Burr attempted to evade capture but was eventually taken and transported to Richmond to stand trial. The second in the author’s series entitled American Portraits, this is one of the increasingly popular “small stories” that give so much insight into the men, women and events of history.

A short but thrilling page-turner. Brands burrows into Burr’s psyche and exposes his failings as he details the outstanding talents that were so sadly wasted.

THE ROAD TO FREEDOM How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise

Brooks, Arthur C. Basic (192 pp.) $25.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-465-02940-2

American Enterprise Institute president Brooks’ follow-up to The Battle: How the Fight Between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America’s Future (2010).

The author presents his argument in two parts: “Making the Moral Case for Free Enterprise” and “Applying the Moral Case for Free Enterprise.” In the first, Brooks portrays America as “an opportunity society” and uses studies of mobility between income classes to show that neither the poor nor the rich must |

remain as they are. This allows him to argue that U.S. income inequality is actually beneficial because “the moral rejoinder about the fairness of rewarding merit through free enterprise will carry the day.” He also defends a “minimum safety net” not as a means to increase material equality but as a way to preserve “access to basic medical care, sufficient food and basic shelter.”

Brooks writes that the safety net should still be available for American citizens most in need and would include food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. In the second section, the author insists that the primary concern should be fixing the debt problem, which means dealing with “out of control entitlement spending.” Brooks contends that entitlements should be a basic safety net for the poor and not a source of retirement benefits for everybody. “The system should encourage people to work longer, retire later, and save more, so they can take care of themselves without resorting to the safety net,” he writes. If entitlements are cut in the way the author suggests, foreigners will invest in America and recovery will be possible. Brooks does not consider the 2008 financial crisis and its great affect on such confidence.

Another restatement of the views associated with neoconservatives, freshening up the packaging but not the substance.

THE ONLY ONE LIVING TO TELL The Autobiography of a Yavapai Indian

Burns, Mike McNamee, Gregory--Ed. Univ. of Arizona (176 pp.) $17.95 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8165-0120-5

One shattered life in what was to become Arizona in the second half of the 19th century, on a personal scale and from a native perspective.

Burns started life as Hoomothya, aka Wet Nose, a child of one of the tribal branches gathered under the name Yavapai. In 1872, when he was about eight years old, his family was murdered at the Skeleton Cave Massacre, and Hoomothya was taken by Capt. James Burns, in whose home he fell somewhere between a ward and a servant, and renamed Mike Burns. This is the story of a swath of his life, though concentrating on the years 1872–1886, and told in his words. Aided by Bloomsbury Review and Encyclopaedia Britannica contributing editor McNamee’s (Aelian’s On the Nature of Animals, 2011, etc.) light editorial touch, those words have an unfiltered, sand-blasted polish, spare and well-chosen and strung with piquant atmospherics and a decided sense of transport. “Burns lived in two worlds, and he was at home in neither,” writes McNamee, but he did spend many years as a scout for the United States military, where he took part in the push westward. There is plenty of mayhem and bloodshed, but what gives this memoir its peerless value is the potency and immediacy of the observations. This might be as quotidian as herding chickens, or as appalling as a man shot at such close range his clothes caught on fire, or as

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evocative as the place descriptions, moving camp, “following a big wash upstream toward the Superstition Mountains near the Gold Field.” Threaded throughout is the mistreatment and murder of native populations that Burns, despite being a scout, could or would hardly ignore.

An ethnographic and historical prize from “that anthropological desideratum above all others—the native point of view.” (18 b/w photos)

IMMORTALITY The Quest to Live Forever and How It Drives Civilization Cave, Stephen Crown (320 pp.) $25.00 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-307-88491-6 978-0-307-88493-0 e-book

A categorical account of humanity’s attempt to achieve immortality, from European philosopher and Financial Times essayist Cave.

“Death is meticulous in collecting every living thing sooner or later,” writes the author in this architectural examination of what we think about when we think about death—or rather the ways we devise to trick the inevitable out of its reward. Cave explains how the seeking of immortality is the foundation of human achievement, the wellspring of art, religion and civilization. Our institutions, rituals and beliefs are efforts to clear the path of immortality, and they can be comfortably culled to four impulses: that of simply staying alive, via food, safety and health; the resurrection narrative, rooted in nature’s rhythms, then blossoming into cryogenics and digital avatars; the survival of the soul, what anyone who has had an out-of-body-experience can readily appreciate; and legacy, the indirect extension of ourselves. The touch of the matter, however, is that we know we are going to die, but we can’t accept, or even imagine, nonexistence, so we create institutions that deny or distract us. The author is rangy and recondite, searching the byways of elixirs, the surprises of alchemy, the faith in engineering and all the wonder to be found in discussions of life and death. “Our lives our bounded by beginning and end,” he writes, “yet composed of moments that can reach out far beyond ourselves, touching other people and places in countless ways.”

When death harkens, Cave provides a luminous, mindful taste of the alternatives.

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THE ESCAPE OF SIGMUND FREUD

Cohen, David Overlook (272 pp.) $28.95 | May 1, 2012 978-1-59020-673-7

An enjoyable small story about an incident in Sigmund Freud’s late life.

Freud was nearing the end of his life in 1938 when he finally agreed to leave Vienna as it succumbed to Nazi domination. Freud the atheist looked at himself as only a tribal Jew. He didn’t practice his faith and didn’t wish to accept the danger of remaining in Austria, but he didn’t wear blinders. To offset charges that psychoanalysis was a Jewish sect, Freud chose Ernest Jones, a Welsh Methodist, as his biographer. Cohen’s (Psychologists on Psychology, 1985) opinion of that biography could not be clearer as he chips away at Jones’ writing; he notes that Jones left out salient facts. Cohen is not a biographer but a psychologist, and this book is much more an analysis of Freud, his daughter and other relevant characters. The author illuminates the reasons for his facts carefully and clearly. Freud’s distinction as the father of psychoanalysis ensured aid from many sources to leave Vienna.

Diplomats in Vienna, France, America and England, his biographer and his patient, Marie Bonaparte, all worked tirelessly to facilitate the departure of Freud’s party. Possibly the most influential was Anton Sauerwald, who was appointed by the Nazis to control the family’s assets and their psychoanalytic publishing house. It was he who not only cleared the bureaucratic paperwork necessary for the Freud party, but also took responsibility to ship over 1,000 items to him in England.

An illuminating look at the end of the life of a giant of psychology.

AN ECONOMIST GETS LUNCH New Rules for Everyday Foodies

Cowen, Tyler Dutton (384 pp.) $26.95 | Apr. 12, 2012 978-0-525-95266-4

Food and economics meet in this entertainment by celebrity economist Cowen (The Great Stagnation: How America Ate All the Low-Hanging Fruit of Modern History, Got Sick, and Will (Eventually) Feel Better, 2010, etc.).

A celebrity economist? Yes, for Cowen is widely hailed for his smarter-than-freakonomics, libertarian-inclined economics blog Marginal Revolution on one hand and his D.C.-centric blog Tyler Cowen’s Ethnic Dining Guide on the other. Here he blends the best of both those worlds. If you’ve heard of the free-rider problem in economics, where leeches benefit from the productivity of others, then here’s a twist:

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“A well-researched, highly readable treatment of an important era in racial relations, encapsulated in the meeting of two of the era’s most significant men.” from guest of honor

“the wealthy and the myopic are the friend and supporter of the non-drinking gourmand.” In other words, the knowing customer may well choose to avoid drinking anything other than water, knowing both that the markup on alcohol and soda is astronomical and that those who buy such things effectively lower the tariff on the price of a meal, where the margins are slimmer. In economic terms, this “price discrimination” favors the teetotaler, and with nary a hint of moralizing. Cowen stops short of formulas and equations, but there’s plenty of hard, old-fashioned economic thinking in these pages—e.g., the power of immigration to improve cuisine and the bewildering array of food choices we have today as one of the blessings of free-market capitalism. Cowen is also prepared to go into the fray as a mild-mannered version of Anthony Bourdain. He writes that one shouldn’t Google “Best restaurants Washington” but instead “Washington best cauliflower dish” if one wants to escape the awfully ordinary, and he counsels that the best barbecue is to be found in small towns in joints that open and close early.

The narrative gets a touch repetitive at points, but if you’re a foodie with a calculator, this is your book.

WHO IS THAT MAN? In Search of the Real Bob Dylan

Dalton, David Hyperion (400 pp.) $26.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-4013-2339-4

The mysteries of Bob Dylan captured in even-handed, never-boring fashion.

Like another American dreamer, Jay Gatsby, Dylan is the product of his own myth. Unlike Gatsby, the myth—the multiple sides of which were recently displayed like museum pieces in Todd Haynes’ I’m Not There—has long been part of the package. Still, no matter how calculated the mystery may be, Dylan remains a chameleon even to those close to him. According to Rolling Stone founding editor and longtime rock chronicler Dalton (El Sid: Saint Vicious, 1997, etc.), Dylan “writes compelling tales about his character in a series of self-portraits that he then peevishly paints over.”

In this latest attempt to lift the Dylan veil, Dalton offers less a straight biography than an inspired, imaginative investigation into Dylan’s many sides: dedicated folkie, gifted poet, egomaniac, wannabe maker of abstract cinema. The author sifts the songs for real-life clues and tackles certain aspects of the Dylan story that have long been a source of controversy. Examples: Dylan did visit Woody Guthrie, there was no benediction, no passing of the torch; the dying folkie may not have even known Dylan was there. Dylan wasn’t booed for going electric at the Newport Folk Festival; he was booed because he only played 15 minutes. The supposedly life-changing near-death 1966 motorcycle accident was likely no more than a minor scrape.

Although the book ends in a bit of a limbo—as any book that follows Dylan in his later career is destined to do—this |

lively and literate attempt to read a half-century’s worth of brain scans from a literal living legend strikes the right balance between admiration and skepticism.

GUEST OF HONOR Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner that Shocked a Nation

Davis, Deborah Atria (304 pp.) $26.00 | May 8, 2012 978-1-4391-6981-0

On Oct. 16, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt invited a black man, Booker T. Washington, to dinner—and set off a scandal.

It was a typical gesture for the impulsive Roosevelt, who had been made vice president in hopes that his progressive ideals would wither in the largely impotent position. But the assassination of William McKinley made Roosevelt president, and the Republican establishment’s nightmares began. Washington was the embodiment of the rags-to-riches American dream, an ex-slave risen to become the head of the Tuskegee Institute. Davis (Gilded: How Newport Became America’s Richest Resort, 2009, etc.) weaves together the two men’s biographies with a portrait of their era—simultaneously a time of immense progress and widespread bigotry. Roosevelt was convinced that the nation’s growth required African-Americans to take a fuller role in national affairs; he also saw the black vote in the South as a key ingredient of Republican power. Shortly after assuming the presidency, he began quietly to consult Washington on political appointments in the South. The dinner seemed a natural outgrowth of that relationship, and it went smoothly enough.

However, after an Atlanta reporter wrote about it, the South erupted in fury; a line had been crossed. The dinner became an excuse for lynchings and other racial persecutions and led to a cooling of what had been an important working relationship. Some progressive blacks, including W.E.B. Du Bois, criticized the dinner as setting back racial relations. On the other hand, Scott Joplin used it as the theme of an opera, A Guest of Honor. Davis gives a clear overview of race relations in the closing decades of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, with plenty of additional detail on the times.

A well-researched, highly readable treatment of an important era in racial relations, encapsulated in the meeting of two of the era’s most significant men.

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BILL VEECK Baseball’s Greatest Maverick

Dickson, Paul Walker (448 pp.) $28.00 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-8027-1778-8

Dickson (The Unwritten Rules of Baseball, 2009, etc.) delivers an engaging biography of Bill Veeck (1914–1986), an innovative, irascible and progressive gadfly within the

staid world of baseball.

For six decades, from the 1930s to the ’80s, wherever baseball was played, talked about or voted on, Veeck was there. Born into baseball—his father had been president of the Chicago Cubs—Veeck would go on to own and run four baseball teams.

In each case, he turned moribund franchises into fan favorites through promotions ranging from ingenious to silly, from exploding scoreboards to having a little person (a midget) take an at-bat—and much, much more. But he also had a keen eye for talent and produced winning teams—his Cleveland Indians won the World Series in 1948. Color was no barrier to Veeck, as he signed the first black player in the American League, Larry Doby, who would later become the second black manager in the big leagues. Off the field, he was a lifelong champion of civil rights and of political causes he thought right; he opposed the Vietnam War. All of this brought him fan adulation but fellow owners’ enmity, as his irreverent insistence that baseball might be fun seemed to threaten the sanctity of the game. Dickson suggests his progressive stance on race might have been the greater irritant: In 1950, the only black players in the American League were on Veeck’s Indians. Ever fast with a quip, Veeck returned the fire, once saying, “I’ve always felt that when most owners stick their heads in the sand, their brains are still showing.” Dickson expertly evokes Veeck’s populist, garrulous public persona, while at the same time showing the private pain he endured as a World War II injury caused him to have countless amputations of portions of his right leg, leading to deterioration and ruin of the rest of his body, but not his spirit.

Veeck is not as well remembered as he should be. Dickson’s book is a skillful corrective. (41 b/w images)

WHAT CHINESE WANT Culture, Communism and China’s Modern Consumer

Doctoroff, Tom Palgrave Macmillan (272 pp.) $27.00 | May 22, 2012 978-0-230-34030-5

A primer on Chinese consumers.

Doctoroff (Billions: Selling to the New Chinese Consumer, 2005) is North Asia area director and Greater China CEO for marketing/advertising firm J. Walter Thompson. Obviously 576

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a pragmatic person, the author stresses the pragmatism of Chinese consumers. It is vital to understand the individual politics and civic values of Chinese women and men of all ages, he writes, so that they are more likely to purchase products and services from elsewhere. This mostly explains the failure of the Mattel company to sell Barbie dolls and the success of Starbucks to sell coffee and other consumables in a strong tea culture. Throughout the book, Doctoroff treats even the most complicated topics briefly, with each paragraph delivering a takeaway pearl of wisdom. Because the ordering of the chapters seems random, the narrative is choppy, but the writing is clear and authoritative. Doctoroff does not see China as an economic or political threat to the United States, which gives the book a certain calmness too often absent in similar books by authors who seem slaves to xenophobia, no matter how subtle. Doctoroff emphasizes the importance of understanding the Chinese worldview, which is radically different from that of the United States, no matter how much some Chinese express fascination with Western culture. All the outward modernization of Chinese society does not negate the reality that fundamental change is nearly absent, that the watchword is individual ambition, leavened by caution and family loyalty. In an epilogue, Doctoroff offers 10 myths about China, including the myth that American-style individualism is taking root.

A no-nonsense book by an enlightened capitalist.

SO RICH, SO POOR Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in America

Edelman, Peter New Press (208 pp.) $24.95 | May 29, 2012 978-1-59558-785-5

Edelman (Georgetown University Law Center; Searching for America’s Heart: RFK and the Renewal of Hope, 2001, etc.) examines the continuing problem of poverty in the United States.

The author worked for Robert F. Kennedy on poverty issues and resigned from the Clinton administration because of disagreements over welfare reform. He contends that America has come to a turning point. “We are headed in the wrong direction,” he writes. “The hole we are in is getting deeper and deeper. The costs of not doing the right thing now for all of our children are going to get higher and higher.” Though a lot has been accomplished since the 1960s—e.g., food stamps, the earned-income tax credit and the indexing of Social Security to inflation—there is still plenty of work to be done. Children are one of the author’s major litmus tests. There are more children in poverty than ever, a fact that Edelman partly attributes to the low-wage economy, which has been adopted since the ‘70s, as well as the resurgence of unprecedented income inequality.

“An astonishing 20.5 million people lived in extreme poverty in 2010,” writes the author, “up by nearly 8 million in just ten years, and 6 million had no income other than food stamps.”

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“An unfailingly elegant and thoughtful collection of essays from the formidable mind of Franzen, written with passion and haunted by loss.” from farther away

Further, there is no state in the country where a worker on the federal minimum wage would be able to pay the rent for a single or two-bedroom apartment. Edelman depicts a growing impoverished population cycling between low-income work and dependence on extended family and friends. Without serious efforts to improve the quality of employment and address community and family issues, the situation will only get worse.

Unfortunately, such improvement is questionable in the current political climate.

A competent, thorough assessment from a veteran expert in the field.

JUST SEND ME WORD A True Story of Love and Survival in the Gulag

Figes, Orlando Metropolitan/Henry Holt (352 pp.) $27.00 | May 8, 2012 978-0-8050-9522-7

A rich trove of letters tells the moving story of two young physics students in Stalin’s Russia whose love was severely tested while separated by exile in Siberia.

In this first publication of “the largest cache of Gulag letters ever found,” Figes (History/Birkbeck College, Univ. of London; The Crimean War, 2011, etc.) has sifted through more than 1,500 missives to uncover a story of two people who found a way to endure over eight years of the harshest isolation and repression.

After meeting at Moscow University in 1935, Lev and Svetlana, or Sveta as she is called in the letters, became kindred spirits over their shared passion for poetry and learning. With the invasion of Russia by the Nazis in 1941, Lev was mobilized to the front; he was soon captured and spent the war as a POW. However, because he spoke German, he was enlisted as a translator. With the liberation by the Americans, Lev was urged to take a job as a physicist in the United States, but he refused, returning to Moscow to find Sveta. Upon arrival, he was accused of spying for the Germans and was sentenced to 10 years in the Arctic Gulag.

News of Lev’s whereabouts finally reached Sveta and her family, and in an extraordinary letter dated Jul. 12, 1946, Sveta wrote to Lev for the first time at the labor camp: “How many times have I wanted to nestle in your arms but could only turn to the empty wall in front of me? I felt I couldn’t breathe. Yet time would pass, and I would pull myself together. We will get through this, Lev.” They managed to express a cautiously optimistic tone through the grim, lonely stretch of Lev’s incarceration, and were even able to meet secretly a few times. Their devotion to each other allowed them each to survive.

A heart-rending record of extraordinary human endurance.

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FARTHER AWAY Essays

Franzen, Jonathan Farrar, Straus and Giroux (336 pp.) $26.00 | May 1, 2012 978-0-374-15357-1 Further dispatches from one of contemporary literature’s most dependable talents.

Franzen (Freedom, 2010, etc.) returns with a nonfiction collection that includes book reviews, reportage and personal reflections on such topics as the social scourge of cell phones and the pleasures of bird-watching, but the collection as a whole is haunted by the author’s relationship with David Foster Wallace, a peer similarly lauded for erudition and seriousness of purpose who committed suicide in 2008. Wallace’s suicide provides the emotional ballast for the title essay, an account of Franzen’s sojourn to an impossibly remote island where he hoped to escape the demands of modern technology, see some exceedingly rare birds and scatter the ashes of his dead friend. The piece functions as travelogue, a reckoning with the novel Robinson Crusoe and a howl of despair at the suicide of a friend, and Franzen’s formidable intelligence and literary skill combine these strands into an unforgettably lyrical meditation on solitude and loss. Elsewhere, the author makes impassioned cases for such obscure novels as The Hundred Brothers and The Man Who Loved Children, recounts hair-raising adventures protecting endangered birds on Cyprus from poachers, wrestles with Chinese bureaucracy and the ethical implications of golf and, in a whimsical, digressive faux interview with the state of New York, manages a highly amusing impersonation of Wallace’s lighter work. Franzen can get a bit schoolmarmish and crotchety in his caviling against the horrors of modern society, and he perhaps overestimates the appeal of avian trivia to the general reader, but anyone with an interest in the continued relevance of literature and in engaging with the world in a considered way will find much here to savor.

An unfailingly elegant and thoughtful collection of essays from the formidable mind of Franzen, written with passion and haunted by loss.

THE ALEPPO CODEX The True Story of Obesession, Faith, and The International Pursuit of an Ancient Bible

Friedman, Matti Algonquin (320 pp.) $24.95 | May 15, 2012 978-1-61620-040-4

A unique 1,000-year-old book is the pursued object of this scriptural detective story.

Inscribed with precision on vellum in the 10th century, the book known as the Crown of Aleppo has been, over the centuries, the most authoritative version of the Hebrew Bible. Produced by a sect that owed fealty solely to the written Word, the

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“Gerges succinctly traces the history of the West’s relationship with the Middle East and pulls no punches as he iterates the trail of failed policies.” from obama and the middle east

Crown survived the Crusades in Jerusalem. In the outskirts of Cairo in the 12th century, it was studied by the great physicianphilosopher Maimonides. It traveled eventually to Aleppo, Syria, where it was reverently safeguarded in a synagogue. That history is not disputed. But in 1947, when the establishment of the State of Israel was ratified by the UN, an anti-Semitic riot erupted and the Aleppo synagogue was torched and sacked.

The sacred text was saved, hidden with a Muslim merchant, transported covertly to Turkey and eventually brought back to Jerusalem and the new Jewish nation. Nevertheless, it was not a happy ending. Only three-fifths of the Crown ended in the hands of the government caretakers. Absent was the Pentateuch, the Five Books of Moses. The dramatic story of the book and the search for the missing pages attracted a president of Israel, undercover agents, specialists and colorful and wealthy dealers in ancient texts. There were false trails, lies and deaths.

The best theory: The central jewels of the Aleppo Crown were taken after it reached Jerusalem. After more than half a century, the pages have still not been recovered, but AP correspondent Friedman is fairly sure who took them, naming a learned, highly placed government official, a sage collector could not resist the remarkable text. As the author wryly concludes, the “page with the passage Thou shalt not steal was stolen. Also missing are the commandments not to bear false witness, covet another’s property, or commit murder”—all violated, he notes in his sharply etched story of the Aleppo Codex.

Through the Levantine haze and a millennium of safekeeping, a carefully paced narrative of purloined Judaica.

THE HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. READER

Gates Jr., Henry Louis Basic Civitas (656 pp.) $29.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-465-02831-3

Omnibus of writings on race discourse and genealogy over three decades by the eminent Harvard professor.

Most notably in the academic world, Gates (Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African American History, 1513–2008, 2011, etc.) excavated and promoted the significant original mid-19th-century AfricanAmerican women’s narratives Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson (rediscovered in 1982) and The Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Crafts (first published in 2002). The author’s insightful introductions to both works are reproduced here. He has been instrumental in reinvigorating the African-American literary tradition by drawing on these and other little-known or otherwise lost contributions—e.g., work by early poet Phillis Wheatley, who was writing at a time when the absence of black writing proved to many the inferiority of the race. Yet for Gates these long-lost writings proved both their “certificate of humanity,” by embracing the European tradition, and their utter distinctness, especially in terms of language. As director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research 578

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at Harvard, he has co-edited important volumes dear to the legacy of Du Bois such as African America Lives and Africana: The Encyclopedia of African and African American Experience, the prefaces to which also appear here. In his persistent delving into genealogical research of his own family and those of famous others such as Oprah Winfrey, he has made some fascinating and troubling disclosures—e.g., outing Anatole Broyard and Jean Toomer for “passing” for white. Finally, he demonstrates in numerous journalistic pieces that he is an engaging and accessible writer, especially in interviews with Josephine Baker and James Baldwin and with Condoleezza Rice.

A meaty selection from Gates’ large-bodied work.

OBAMA AND THE MIDDLE EAST The End of America’s Moment?

Gerges, Fawaz A. Palgrave Macmillan (224 pp.) $28.00 | May 22, 2012 978-0-230-11381-7

Gerges (Middle Eastern Politics/ London School of Economics; The Rise and Fall of Al-Qaeda, 2011, etc.) succinctly traces the history of the West’s relationship with the Middle East and pulls no punches as he iterates the trail of failed policies.

The Middle East has always been a hotbed, but now it is a conflagration waiting to ignite. The dissolution of trust and friendship toward the West, beginning with French and English imperialism up to the current Israeli doctrine of permanent conflict, is reaching critical mass. These ex-colonies wanted development, modernization and relief from economic hardship, while all the West wanted was to thwart communism and control the area’s oil. Policy decisions were based on containment of the Soviets, but the focus has now shifted to stifling Iran’s influence and that of militant Islamism. As a leading authority on the Middle East, Gerges’ extensive research and analysis exposes the effects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the war on terror and the emerging power of Turkey, Iran and Egypt. The author excoriates the Bush administration and its imperialistic “continuity of failure,” from the act of rejecting Iran’s offer of help after 9/11 to unilateral war in Iraq. The president’s neoconservative advisers used exaggeration, overreaction and crusading impulses to further their goals, tactics that poisoned the entire Middle East against the United States.

Obama’s attempts at conciliation have been repeatedly stymied by the constraints of the American political system and his own protracted efforts to build consensus. Frustrated Arab states are weary of rhetoric and distrust America’s inaction as they turn to the rising powers of Turkey, Egypt and Iran for solutions.

Gerges lays out the problems from multiple viewpoints and establishes the points of greatest need. How Obama addresses the challenge to America’s hegemony and whether he can stand up to political pressure from home will determine if this is truly the end of America’s moment in the Middle East.

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ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING INDIAN How My Second Childhood Changed My Life

An exceptional book that thoroughly scrutinizes the struggles of all the nations of the Middle East and doesn’t hesitate to distribute blame where it’s warranted. (First printing of 50,000)

I NEVER PROMISED YOU A GOODIE BAG A Memoir of a Life Through Events—the Ones You Plan and the Ones You Don’t

Gilbert, Jennifer Harper/HarperCollins (224 pp.) $24.99 | May 15, 2012 978-0-06-207594-9

The story of a dynamic New York event planner who forged a new path for success in the wake of tragedy.

“When everyone else was standing around gasping, I went to my fix-it place,” writes debut memoirist Gilbert of her grace under pressure when handling last-minute snafus at galas and weddings. Yet for many years, this first female recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award lived a double life. On the outside, she wore power suits and bright red lipstick, presided icily over the all-female staff at her company, Save the Date (even earning the dubious distinction of making notorious Vogue editor Anna Wintour “look like a pussycat”) and threw lavish parties at the best Manhattan clubs. Inside, she carried shame and fear, the dual burdens of surviving a horrific, random attack. Gilbert’s recollections of that day in 1991 when she knocked on a friend’s apartment door, only to look up and see a man charging toward her with rage in his eyes, are hair-raising enough to make even the most trusting person look over her shoulder when walking down the street. This scene provides a backdrop for the many changes she experienced during the next 20 years, as she mourned the loss of her optimistic younger self and embarked on a career trajectory that allowed her to enjoy life through others’ celebrations until she could accept that she deserved her own joy. Of course, she eventually found true love and happiness, but with a series of Jane Austen–esque twists.

What distinguishes Gilbert’s memoir from the inspirational survivor pack is her willingness to share the bumps along her road to recovery. The story doesn’t go predictably from devastation to bliss; she makes mistakes, suffers loss, endures heartache and punishes herself by dieting and over-exercising.

A mostly likable memoir that shows we can choose to be more than the sum of those events that are beyond our control.

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Gill, Rupinder Riverhead (288 pp.) $15.00 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-1-59448-577-0

An honest, mildly humorous account of growing up the child of Indian immigrants in Canada.

Gill begins by comparing her childhood to being raised Amish—except Amish children get Rumspringa. “In Indian adolescence,” she writes, “you never break free of the rules.”

The author is certain if Indian children were given the same two-week period of freedom, none would choose to return to their old way of life. In her strict family, weekends consisted only of homework, chores and television; activities such as sleepovers and summer camp were strictly forbidden. For her 30th New Year’s resolution, Gill set out to accomplish a list of experiences she missed out on during her childhood, including summer camp, learning how to swim and taking dance lessons.

As she accomplished items on the list, she became braver and decided to shake up her stagnant life as a publicist, so she quit and moved to New York City to pursue her dream of writing for TV. Unfortunately, her new life did not work out as planned, and Gill moved back to Toronto. The memoir ends without a resolution; the author is still pursuing her dream of becoming a TV writer. Throughout, Gill writes about her parents in a balanced way, presenting them as neither angels nor demons. The tone is lighthearted, and Gill is a heroine to root for—relatable, imperfect and prone to both success and failure.

A lighthearted read for readers curious about the lives of middle-class immigrants, or those looking to identify with the experience of being an outsider.

LEFTY An American Odyssey

Gomez, Vernona & Goldstone, Lawrence Ballantine (432 pp.) $28.00 | May 15, 2012 978-0-345-52648-9

A veteran author teams with the daughter of Vernon “Lefty” Gomez (1908–1989) for a biography of the Yankee legend.

One of the game’s singular personalities and greatest big-game pitchers, Lefty Gomez entered the Hall of Fame in 1972. In a career cut short by injuries, he nevertheless managed to win 20 games four times, lead the league three times in strikeouts and shutouts and twice in ERA. A fierce competitor, he started and won six of seven World Series games (while losing none), and three of four All-Star games. Daughter Gomez and Goldstone (Inherently Unequal: The Betrayal of Equal Rights by the Supreme Court,

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1865–1903, 2011, etc.) dutifully cover the baseball heroics, from Lefty’s California boyhood, the town teams and semi-pro ball, his signing with the San Francisco Seals and his storied Yankee career. The narrative’s chief delight, though, is the treatment of Lefty the character. For his pranks, eccentricities and highspirited antics, he acquired the nickname “El Goofo,” but the moniker belied a steady character that led teammates to confide in him, a keen native intelligence and ready wit. Sure, he once famously held up a World Series game as he contemplated a passing airplane, but this same man perfectly captured the fearsome slugger Jimmie Foxx by remarking, “He has muscles in his hair.” Thanks partly to his marriage to showgirl June O’Dea and his post-playing career as sales rep and goodwill ambassador for Wilson Sporting Goods, Lefty traveled widely and appears to have hung with an endless list of famous friends: sitting in with bandleader Eddy Duchin, chumming with James Michener, dining with Hemingway, fishing with Ted Williams, playing cards with the Babe. Though this largely adoring treatment acknowledges some dark passages—a near-divorce, a midlife bout with alcoholism, the motorcycle death of a beloved son— the overwhelming impression is of a crowded, accomplished life exuberantly lived.

An amiable portrait of a baseball great—like Yogi Berra, Dizzy Dean and Satchel Paige—whose outsized personality looms even larger than his considerable athletic achievements. (16-page b/w insert)

OKLAHOMA CITY What the Investigation Missed—and Why It Still Matters

Gumbel, Andrew & Charles, Roger G. Morrow/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $26.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-06-198644-4 Journalists Gumbel (Steal This Vote: Dirty Elections and the Rotten History of Democracy in America, 2005, etc.) and Charles investigate the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, uncovering failures in the official investigation and making a strong case for a larger conspiracy that fueled the attack.

In this minutely researched book, the authors take a multifaceted approach. Beginning days before the April 19 attack on the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, the authors retrace the movements of the two men officially accused of the crime, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, as well as their known associates in radicalized militia communities scattered across the Midwest. Tracing the events of that day, the authors recount the series of miscalculations that led the bombers to switch targets, as well as hypothesize about the larger networks of discontented extremists who had long been threatening a response to the federal government’s bungled handling of the Waco situation. Gumbel and Charles balance their account of the perpetrators with multi-agency accounts from FEMA, the FBI, the ATF and local police and fire 580

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departments. By comparing these agency narratives, it becomes clear that many errors in the investigation were the product of miscommunication, territorialism and, in some cases, purposeful misrepresentations on the part of agents. The many voices of responders and investigators add to the voluminous cast of characters featured, from the ranks of extremist militia groups to the stalwart firefighters who treated the first victims. The authors deliver a compelling, articulate narrative history, thorough in both mainstream theories about the bombing and fringe conspiracy theories.

A valuable contribution to the larger study of terrorism in the United States.

CHANGE COMES TO DINNER How Vertical Farmers, Urban Growers, and Other Innovators Are Revolutionizing How America Eats Gustafson, Katherine St. Martin’s Griffin (288 pp.) $14.99 paperback | May 8, 2012 978-0-312-57737-7 978-1-4668-0241-4 e-book

Amid numerous stories about the industrial-food complex and its pitfalls, freelance writer and change.org blogger Gustafson seeks examples of what “a better food system” would resemble, traveling across America to find alternatives.

In four parts—“Local is as Local Does,” “Green Thumbs,” “Growing Empowerment” and “How Does Your Garden Grow?”—the author chronicles her experiences with, among others, organic farmers and locavores; a Montana co-op; universities with dining programs that partner with community resources; a hospital with its own garden; online grassroots efforts; agricultural programs that encourage the next generation of farmers; and coordinators of urban greenhouses. Gustafson discovered that such projects, despite enthusiasm, were sometimes beleaguered by logistical problems, and that practical motivations, such as job creation, could also play as significant a role as more idealistic environmental, social-justice and lifestyle concerns. Readers who are familiar with works such as Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma (2006) will appreciate how Gustafson examines the darker aspects of getting food from farm to table. Though the examples she provides are not intended as groundbreaking solutions, they present an overview of what is possible. Gustafson’s personable approach to a sometimes-controversial topic results in a modulated argument for a food economy that is neither anti-corporate nor solely in favor of small businesses. This is a work of realistic assessments, featuring moments of inspiring optimism. As the author notes about one self-proclaimed “change agent,” “when you do what you love with fervor and even ferocity, the universe responds.”

Recommended for an informed, general audience intrigued by but perhaps just beginning to explore sustainability.

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“What makes a bestselling novel?

Longtime teacher and prolific thriller writer Hall explores how certain books strike literary paydirt.” from hit lit

HIT LIT Cracking the Code of the Twentieth Century’s Biggest Bestsellers

Hall, James W. Random House (320 pp.) $16.00 paperback | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-8129-7095-1 978-0-679-60496-9 e-book

What makes a bestselling novel? Longtime teacher and prolific thriller writer Hall (Dead Last, 2011, etc.) explores how certain books strike literary paydirt.

The author animatedly shares a distinct fascination with books and reading that has taught him “secrets about the real world that I could discover nowhere else.” Inspired and developed by a popular fiction course he began teaching more than two decades ago, Hall examines 12 of the most successful novels of the 20th century and “reverse-engineer[s]” them, mining their separate defining qualities and their comparative appeal to readers. Chosen for their dexterity and entertainment potential with consideration for gender diversity, location, familial dysfunction and their “strikingly similar techniques and themes,” they range from melodramas like Gone with the Wind, Peyton Place and Valley of the Dolls to suspense/horror hits The Exorcist, Jaws and The Dead Zone, as well as classics like To Kill A Mockingbird and The Godfather. For readers, Hall writes, an emotional connection with a central character is paramount. Social taboos, time constraints and the “threat of danger” also draw (and hold) attention, as does secrecy and mystical mystery (see The Da Vinci Code and The Exorcist). Hall writes that the graphic sex in Peyton Place and Valley of the Dolls takes on a deeper adulterous subtext in The Bridges of Madison County and The Firm. Similarly, the author partially attributes the runaway successes of The Hunt for Red October and The Godfather to the irresistibility of the American Dream. Referential and cleverly elucidated, the book raises many good points about the precise methodology of bestselling novels—Hall’s own work included.

Passionately and thoroughly entertaining.

TURNING TWO My Journey to the Top of the World and Back with the New York Mets

Harrelson, Bud & Pepe, Phil Dunne/St. Martin’s (288 pp.) $25.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-312-66240-0 978-1-4299-4139-6 e-book

The former Mets’ shortstop, coach and manager revisits his career, revealing his diamond talents and work ethic, his love for the game, his two World Series appearances and his narrative limitations.

Harrelson and co-author Pepe (who’s helped other former Mets craft their memoirs—Gary Carter, Yogi Berra) mostly |

keep their focus between the lines, venturing out only to issue some opinions about steroids (they’re bad), upper management (sometimes bad) the media and over-exuberant fans (ditto). But readers will learn virtually nothing about Harrelson’s personal life. Oddly, the personality who does haunt the text throughout is Pete Rose. Harrelson begins with his brawl with Rose in a 1973 playoff game and twice mentions Rose’s famous 1970 homeplate collision with catcher Ray Fosse in the All-Star Game (the author avoids judgment; he merely describes). In later chapters he weighs in on Rose’s mercenary attitude about baseball memorabilia and his exclusion from the Hall of Fame (Harrelson believes this is just), and several times he mentions coaching Rose’s son in the minors. The author devotes too many pages to summaries of seasons and games, mentions his presence during some remarkable moments (the New York blackout, the Buckner error in the 1986 World Series) and pauses to praise those who helped him or whom he otherwise admires: Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver (his roommate) and others. Harrelson loves his new career as a minor league owner. Clichés abound, and numerous exclamation points stand in his prose like Louisville Sluggers.

Minor-league writing from a major-league player and person. (8-page color insert)

THE OUTSOURCED SELF Intimate Life in Market Times

Hochschild, Arlie Russell Metropolitan/Henry Holt (320 pp.) $27.00 | May 8, 2012 978-0-8050-8889-2 An eminent sociologist explores how service-for-pay is replacing the support of family members, friends and neighbors, and how this shift is impacting lives.

Hochschild (Sociology/Univ. of California, Berkeley; The Commercialization of Intimate Life, 2003, etc.) approaches her subject from three directions: her personal experience, the stories of providers of an array of services and the stories of people who sought their services. Some of the services, such as child care, have been around for a long time; others, such as online dating and wedding planning, are more recent inventions. The author examines every stage of life, from birth to death. Hochschild interviewed women who act as surrogate mothers for infertile couples, as well as those who hire others to bear children for them; she talked to a man who has made a business of scattering the ashes of the dead. She also looks at people who help women select a wedding gown, help a couple choose a baby’s name and teach a man how to become a better father.

There are even “rent-a-friend” services. Perhaps the most surprising service that she uncovered is that of a wantologist, who “helps you name your goals.” Hochschild’s personal story, which she returns to from time to time, is a far more common one— that of trying to find the right care for an elderly ailing relative.

The book, chock-full of quotes from the numerous people she

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“At once stimulating and warm-hearted, with sentences of drop-dead beauty and acuity on nearly every page.” from living, thinking, looking

ATLANTIC FEVER Lindbergh, His Competitors, and the Race to Cross the Atlantic

interviewed, has a casual and at times almost gossipy feel, and the author gives short shrift to what all this means and how we are dealing with it.

Anecdote-rich, analysis-poor—more a series of snapshots than sociological study.

LIVING, THINKING, LOOKING Essays

Hustvedt, Siri Picador (400 pp.) $18.00 paperback | Jun. 5, 2012 978-1-250-00952-4 Another superb essay collection from novelist Hustvedt (The Summer without Men, 2011, etc.).

As in her previous collections, Yonder (1998) and A Plea for Eros (2006), the author trains a formidable intellect on difficult subjects (the structure of the brain, the nature of perception) with an engaging personal touch that invites a general readership. In “Excursions to the Islands of the Happy Few,” though she acknowledges the need for specialized vocabulary and research, she regrets the “culture of hyperfocus and expertise” in which “people inhabit disciplinary islands of the like-educated and the like-minded.” Hustvedt, by contrast, has a doctorate in English literature, has written extensively about art and has lectured at neuroscience conferences and at the Sigmund Freud Foundation. The categories invoked in her title—personal essays (Living), intellectual puzzles (Thinking), investigations of art (Looking)—indicate her broad scope; their underlying unity rests on Hustvedt’s consuming interest in connections: between emotion and intellect, memory and imagination, mother and child, artist and audience. Embodied, employed both as a verb and adjective, is a favored word, and it’s no accident that she mentions several times a 1996 neuroscience paper that identified certain “mirror neurons” that fire in the cerebral cortex of macaque monkeys performing a specific physical action and also fire in monkeys observing the action. She is fascinated by the link between what we do and what we see, and by the noncorporeal but non-imaginary spaces where human beings interact emotionally and intellectually. Frequent anecdotes about her extended family and her childhood illustrate her points and lower the intimidation factor; Hustvedt addresses a broad public without dumbing down her material. There are no weak essays here, but some of the best concern art, particularly those on Goya and Louise Bourgeois, whose work provides particularly fertile soil for Hustvedt’s exploration of the “electrical connection [that] takes place between the viewer and the image seen.”

At once stimulating and warm-hearted, with sentences of drop-dead beauty and acuity on nearly every page.

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Jackson, Joe Farrar, Straus and Giroux (592 pp.) $30.00 | May 15, 2012 978-0-374-10675-1

A talented storyteller re-creates the signature moment of aviation’s golden age.

By the spring of 1927, the technology, money and pool of design and piloting talent had reached a critical mass. Clearly someone would soon fly from New York to Paris nonstop and capture the $25,000 Orteig Prize, unclaimed since 1919. By then World War I had transformed the image of aviators from eccentric flying fools to dashing “knights of the air.” The Jazz Age publicity machine, newly augmented by radio and newsreels, prepared to catapult to unprecedented fame whoever crossed the Atlantic first. Notable candidates included the Italian Francesco de Pinedo, Frenchmen René Fonck, Charles Nungesser and François Coli, Americans Charles Levine, Bert Acosta, Clarence Chamberlin, Noel Davis, Floyd Bennett and Richard E. Byrd, the polar explorer already accustomed to the “hero business.” And, of course, a young mail pilot and his plane, Spirit of St. Louis. The glare attending Charles Lindbergh’s triumph has all but obscured his rivals, almost every one of whom was better known, better equipped, more experienced and at least as able. Without diminishing the Lone Eagle’s achievement, Jackson (The Thief at the End of the World: Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire, 2008, etc.) makes clear the “cult of Lindbergh” would have evaporated had he not won, and that a combination of skill, luck and the misfortunes of his competitors allowed him to survive the “Great Atlantic Derby” and relegate his competitors to footnotes. Jackson rescues the stories of these and other fliers, some of them killed, the rest severely marked by the great race. Throughout, he folds in unfailingly apt observations about the psychology of aviators, the peculiar mix of wealth and want that characterized the 1920s, the hunger for heroes, the role of chance and the turbocharging effect of mass media.

With stirring detail and perceptive insight about the pilots and the public, Jackson recaptures the tone and tenor of a frantic era’s national obsession. (16 pages of b/w illustrations)

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PERFECT CHAOS A Daughter’s Journey to Survive Bipolar, a Mother’s Struggle to Save Her

Johnson, Linea & Johnson, Cinda St. Martin’s (320 pp.) $24.99 | May 8, 2012 978-0-312-58182-4

A no-holds-barred “biography of depression,” based on the alternating journal entries of a mother and daughter.

Cinda Johnson, who directs the special education graduate program at Seattle University, and her daughter Linea, a mentalhealth advocate and national speaker, jointly chronicle the first five years of Linea’s ongoing battle to overcome the ravages of bipolar disorder. First diagnosed while in high school, Linea still battles “anorexia, anxiety, and depression,” but she explains that her episodes are now controllable. “My relationship with bipolar has evolved…My illness is part of me, it is something that affects my life,” she writes, “but it is something, not all. It is not my life; my life is merely affected by it. It does not define me if I don’t let it.” The author and her mother describe the evolution of her disease and the difficult struggle they both faced in coming to terms with it. Even though Cinda trained specialeducation teachers to deal with mental illness, she found it difficult to accept it in her own daughter, a popular high-achiever whose goal was to become a professional musician. This is a gritty account of what it is like to be down in the trenches with mental illness—fighting suicidal thoughts, battling the aftereffects of shock treatment, dealing with medication and its side effects and resisting the temptations of alcohol and street drugs.

While Linea was battling for sanity, Cinda and her husband faced the difficult challenge of balancing their desire to protect their daughter with the need to respect her privacy and freedom. Ultimately, it was Linea who decided to give up her career aspirations, move back to Seattle from Chicago, where she had been attending college, advocate for the mentally ill and work to “create a world free of stigma.”

A simultaneously painful and inspiring page-turner.

HUNTING IN THE SHADOWS The Pursuit of Al Qa’ida Since 9/11 Jones, Seth G. Norton (448 pp.) $27.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-393-08145-9

A chronological, historical walk-through of successive waves of al-Qaeda terrorism from 1998 to the present.

What has caused the three surges in terrorist activity over the past decade-plus, and can the next one be predicted? |

RAND analyst Jones (In the Graveyard of Empires: America’s War in Afghanistan, 2009, etc.) fashions a complete tutorial in the rise of violent jihadism, which emerged from the struggle against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the late 1980s. The organization’s early leaders had competing visions about its mission that created enormous tension. Chief Egyptian idealogue Sayyid Imam al-Sharif, author of the seminal Primer in Preparing for Jihad, warned against taking the violent campaign against the Egyptian government and asserted that the terrorist tactics “grossly misinterpreted Islam.” His deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri became increasingly militant, joining with other groups and turning the struggle outward to the corrupting influence of the West on Islam. In 1998, al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden and others published a fatwa to kill Americans, yet it wasn’t until the simultaneous attacks on U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam that the U.S. finally took full notice. Jones tracks the American response—e.g., by CIA officials Henry Crumpton and Philip Mudd, as the first wave of violence crested with 9/11.

The author ably organizes all the pieces of the puzzle regarding successive terrorist attacks, fleshing out the numerous personalities involved, tracking the U.S. and British response and decade-long hunt for bin Laden and establishing excellent perspective on the amorphous nature of the enemy and the dissention from within. In preventing a next wave of terrorism, Jones propounds exploiting al-Qaeda’s tendency to kill civilians as a way of eliciting backlash against the group.

From a knowledgeable guide, a thoughtful study of the pattern of violence and response. (8 pages of photographs; 16 maps.

Author tour to New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco)

BIRDSEYE The Adventures of a Curious Man Kurlansky, Mark Doubleday (304 pp.) $25.95 | May 8, 2012 978-0-385-52705-7

Yes, the frozen-food guy really was named Clarence Birdseye (1886–1956), and the story of his adventures is another satisfying dish from the remarkable menu of the author of Cod (1997), Salt (2002) and other treats.

Kurlansky (The Eastern Stars: How Baseball Changed the Dominican Town of San Pedro de Macoris, 2010, etc.) places Birdseye in the same category as Thomas Edison: amateurs who got curious about a problem, played around with it (sometimes for years) and eventually figured it out. Birdseye had many more interests than frozen foods, writes the author; he invented, among other things, a kind of light bulb and even a whaling harpoon. He also grew up in a world that seemed to have limitless resources—no worries about plundering the planet. He killed creatures with abandon for decades, many of which he enjoyed eating, including field mice, chipmunks and porcupine. His curiosity also made him fearless. He conducted field research on Rocky Mountain spotted fever (collecting thousands of ticks), and he lived in the frigid

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k i r ku s q & a w i t h c h e r y l s t r ay e d

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

Cheryl Strayed Knopf (336 pp.) $25.95 Mar. 20, 2012 978-0-307-59273-6

Q: You used journals and memory to write the story. Were there any surprises along this journey? Anything or anybody you forgot about who popped back up?

M a n y o f u s w i s h w e ’ d done this or that— taken that trip, quit that job, or started a project—but Cheryl Strayed put a chance moment in an outdoor store’s checkout line to good use. Due to a glance at the back of a Pacific Coast Trail guidebook, she got the itch to do it. Then actually did.

The story of how she did it, however, is not that easy. In her memoir, Wild, Strayed is wrestling with some mighty beasts by her early 20s—divorce, her mother’s illness and death, drug abuse, and that just-what-the-hell-am-I-doing-with-my-life? malaise of young adulthood. Strayed may be lost when she hits the trail, but she knows that it’s something she’s got to do. And despite the many challenges— exhaustion, dehydration and her feet being beaten into a bloody pulp—she has many epiphanies on the trail, big and small, and is forever changed by her adventure.

In a starred review, we called Wild, “a candid, inspiring narrative of the author’s brutal physical and psychological journey through a wilderness of despair to a renewed sense of self.” In any case, it’s an incredibly rewarding read for anyone who craves adventure, closure and moving forward.

A: In some ways, it’s like it’s back in ’95, and in some ways, it seems like yesterday. I had my journal and read it a couple times between when I wrote Wild and hiked…It was very helpful in terms of memory, in terms of this thing happened and this thing happened, the order of events, details. I couldn’t have written it without my journal …After I met someone, I’d sit down and write pages and pages—about the meeting, quoting what they said—it may not be the most direct quote, but I’m writing the quote an hour after those conversations actually happened, not 15 years later.

One thing that I was really struck by, I got in touch with a few people I met on the trail, and I’d say, “Just tell me what you remember about that night, about what we said together,” and pretty much always what they remembered was what I remembered.

Q: You mention many trials on the way: dehydration, hunger, your feet especially play a huge role… what you went through is emblematic of the entire trip—i.e., there is a lot of pain, but it gets you to where you need to go.

Q: The book takes place during your 20s. What spurred the decision to write it now?

A: I teach memoir sometimes, and I always say to students just because you have an interesting story or tragic story or fantastic story, or whatever it is, it doesn’t mean you should tell that story until you have something to say about that experience. All of us have had all kinds of experiences, but the writer’s job is to bring his or her consciousness to bear on that experience. Sometimes it takes quite a while to figure out what something meant to your life.

And then it’s time, just logistical, learning how to become a writer, growing up, doing all those things that a writer has to do. My first novel was Torch—every writer has that first book in them that they have to do before they can go on. Years passed, and the story of my hike was always one I would tell people about at dinner parties, and they would always say, “You have to write about it.”

I think what happened is that something inside me, that material had to compost…then a few years ago I realized that I did have something to say about it. Part of it, for example, I could write about Minnesota [her home state] best after I’d left it. I couldn’t write about my 20s until I had a perspective on them. I couldn’t until my late 30s, and I’d moved into different space. I became a mother, settled and fulfilled in a way, and that was when I could write about that time of my life. It’s sort of a coming-of-age tale.

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For the complete interview, visit our website at www. kirkusreviews.com.

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p hoto © jo n i k a b a n a

A: It was interesting the relationship between physical suffering and emotional suffering. When I went on that trip, I was suffering emotionally and spiritually, I was lost and hurting and felt that my life was going in a direction that it shouldn’t. I felt like I’d lost my center.

And I had this idea that a lot of people have: I grew up in rural Minnesota and I know the realities of the natural world—not this all idealized version people have—yet I did kind of have an idealized version of what it would be like to hike the PCT. I thought, well, it will be hard, but it will mostly be me pondering things while the sunsets. I had this very benign ideal of what the experience would be like.

Then, of course, I get out there and realize that this is going to be the biggest physical hardship of my life, to do what I did. It entailed a lot of physical discomfort and, at times, actual suffering. My feet were always in pain, and to this day, I gave birth to both my kids naturally outside the hospital, with no medical intervention, my son was 11 pounds, my daughter 10, and those were the two most painful experiences in my life. But the third most painful was hiking the PCT.

–By Molly Brown

“Not just Langella’s ‘famous people I have known,’ but a heartfelt love letter to the theater and to the days when stars were stars, not merely celebrities.” from dropped names

Labrador region of Canada (and took his equally fearless wife and their infant). It was in the North that he began to wonder why foods frozen there—naturally—tasted so much better than the frozen foods back home. He discovered, of course, that it was quick-freezing at very cold temperatures that did the trick. He eventually invented the process that produced vast amounts of good frozen food, but then had to wait for the supporting infrastructure (transportation, storage, etc.). Kurlansky tells the exciting tale of Birdseye’s adventures, failures and successes (he became a multi-millionaire) and his family, and he also offers engaging snippets about Velveeta, dehydration and Grape-Nuts.

The author notes that Birdseye knew that curiosity is “one essential ingredient” in a fulfilling life; it is a quality that grateful readers also discover in each of Kurlansky’s books.

DROPPED NAMES Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them

Langella, Frank Harper/HarperCollins (368 pp.) $25.99 | Mar. 27, 2012 978-0-06-209447-6

Stage and screen stalwart Langella recalls his encounters with celebrity, both in and out of the spotlight.

Early on in this engaging memoir, the author notes his difficulty in conveying the “glory” of a chapter’s subject, Noel Coward, to a contemporary audience, “as wit, intelligence, and style have lost ground to stupid, vulgar, and loud.”

Curmudgeonly tone aside, Langella’s stories of 65 noteworthy people illustrate his point that the celebrities of today can’t hold a candle to the distant, mysterious, shining lights of yesteryear.

The book is organized into a separate chapter for each “dropped name,” in chronological order of their death. Among those appearing, some in brief encounters, others in lifelong relationships, are many of film and theater’s greatest, including Laurence Olivier, Robert Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth, to name just a few. Freed up, perhaps, to kiss and tell by the death of his subjects, Langella pulls no punches, expressing scorn for talent wasted (Richard Burton) and egotism misplaced (Anthony Quinn, Actors Studio guru Lee Strasberg), and providing scandalous detail on many on-set or backstage dalliances. Some of the stories are humorous, others fascinating, and some—notably the section on Hayworth—heartbreaking. Though often relegated to a supporting role in these stories, Langella’s voice commands the reader’s attention. However, he does not ignore his own flaws, including moments when his arrogance let him down or his ignorance led to humiliation. Through it all, the author’s respect for the craft of acting and those who attempt to practice it at the highest level is evident, and his focus on the importance of real connection between not just actor and audience but between human beings, elevates the book above mere name-dropping.

Not just Langella’s “famous people I have known,” but a heartfelt love letter to the theater and to the days when stars were stars, not merely celebrities. |

TOPGUN ON WALL STREET Why the United States Military Should Run Corporate America

Lay, Jeffery with Robinson, Patrick Vanguard/Perseus (336 pp.) $25.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-59315-717-3

A former Navy fighter pilot and 24-year veteran of the armed forces applies lessons he learned from the Navy to Wall Street.

Assisted by Robinson (co-author: Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10, 2007, etc.), Lay asserts that the crash of 2008 wouldn’t have happened if the Navy’s standards of recruitment, training and commitment to truthfulness operated in the world of business.

“No amount of bleating and whining will ever let Wall Street off the hook,” he writes. “They darn near single-handedly screwed up the world. It would not have happened if they’d taken a very strong pull on what was becoming a runaway horse.” Lay examines the reckless pursuit of short-term profit and the proliferation of “evil and obfuscated” financial instruments, but his main focus is different. He worked for a Lehman Brothers subsidiary, Neuberger Berman, shortly before the 2008 crash, and he compares the firm’s former standards under the family ownership of Bobbie Lehman and his predecessors with what it became under Richard Fuld. Lehman Brothers, writes Lay, “had a rich and glittering tradition of building mighty American businesses, enormous operations that had stood the test of time—until personal greed became the only thing that mattered.” The author claims that many Wall Street firms lack any sense of “undying loyalty,” and he contrasts these companies with the Navy, in which “the past remains the custodian of the future, not the other way around.” Lay also discusses the training and education programs provided by the Naval Academy and the difficult qualification process for naval aviators. Shortcuts are simply not tolerated.

A different view of the financial crisis that raises important questions about business ethics and personal responsibility.

WORDS LIKE LOADED PISTOLS Rhetoric from Aristotle to Obama Leith, Sam Basic (320 pp.) $26.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-465-03105-4

Former Daily Telegraph literary editor Leith (The Coincidence Engine, 2012, etc.) brings to life a forgotten but eternally essential subject.

“What is democracy,” asks the author, “but the idea that the art of persuasion should be formally enshrined at the center of the political process?” The art and science of persuasion, so

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central to politics, the law, literature, love and, indeed, human society itself, has fallen on hard times. Once the capstone of the triumvirate—grammar, logic, rhetoric—that formed the basis of a liberal education, rhetoric is now seen as something to be distrusted, and its place in the academy has been supplanted by upstarts like critical theory and linguistics. Leith uses every tool in the rhetorician’s arsenal to argue for rhetoric’s continuing relevance (even disdain for rhetoric is a transparently rhetorical device, for “the most effective rhetoric is often the least obviously rhetorical”). His contention that “[e]xplaining rhetoric to a human being is, or should be, like explaining water to a fish” is somewhat belied by his use of extensive use of such terms as pleonasm, hypallage, enargia and zeugma. However, persistent readers will gain a great deal of insight into how humans use communication to get what they want. With chapters on each of the five parts of rhetoric and the three branches of oratory, and spotlights on “champions of rhetoric” from Satan to Obama, the book fulfills Cicero’s three objectives of rhetoric: “to move, educate, and delight.”

Required reading for aspiring writers, lawyers, politicians and marketers.

HUNTING DOWN THE JEWS Vichy, the Nazis and Mafia Collaborators In Provence, 1942-1944

Levendel, Isaac & Weisz, Bernard Enigma Books (340 pp.) $24.00 | Feb. 28, 2012 978-1-936274-31-4

A grassroots-level, chilling dissection of French collaboration in southeastern Vichy.

In Not the Germans Alone (1999), Levendel wrote about his personal heartbreak as a child in 1944 occupied France when his mother was arrested by the Nazis. Here he writes that he learned decades later that the men who took her “spoke French with the accent of Marseille,” thus fueling his desire to discover the truth of who was helping the Germans and why. Along with journalist Weisz, Levendel delves deeply into the prefecture archives of Vaucluse and Avignon. Sifting through administrative records and testimony of postwar tribunals, the authors consider the workings of small-town individuals on the streets, in the businesses of towns like Avignon, Carpentras, Pertuis, Sorgues and Apt, creating a thorough reconstruction of “networks of evil” that allowed Jews to be routinely stripped of their possessions, arrested and deported. Before the Nazi invasion of the Free Zone in 1942, the Vichy government applied rules about Jewish deportation unevenly across its departments. The Commissariat général aux questions juives (CGQJ) was set up in 1941 under German pressure to maintain the census of local Jews and enforce their “economic Aryanization”—i.e., legalized looting. The CGQJ and the local militia were comprised of French citizens from all walks of life who denounced and informed on Jews because of resentment and/or monetary gain.

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As the war progressed and German resources were stretched, the French moved into the role of “loyal collaborators.” Under microscopic scrutiny, the authors look at dozens of cases, and even 15 “shades of gray” cases where malevolence and benevolence toward the Jews were blurred.

A meticulous, very specific “on the ground” research study.

MANY SUBTLE CHANNELS In Praise of Potential Literature

Levin Becker, Daniel Harvard Univ. (352 pp.) $27.95 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-674-06577-2 978-0-674-06527-7 e-book

A playful illumination of the complexities, mysteries and absurdities of an obscure French organization devoted to

“potential literature.”

Serious wordplay abounds within the experiments of the Oulipo, a Paris-based collective devoted to systematic literary exploration, constraints that free the mind and imagination (such as writing a novel without using the letter e), and devising “real solutions to imaginary problems.” The organization’s pantheon includes Raymond Queneau, Italo Calvino and Georges Perec, while fellow travelers could range from Vladimir Nabokov to Paul Auster. Much of the writing focuses on the processes of writing and reading while an emphasis on language as language trumps such conventional notions of “realism” in character and plot. Words on a page may not be more, but they are never less, than words on a page. American author Becker served an apprenticeship as an archivist before joining the organization in which “anyone who asks to be a member of the Oulipo thereupon becomes inadmissible for life.” The author is also the reviews editor for The Believer, and his self-deprecating reminiscences humanize the book well beyond literary theory, while his tone renders even extended examinations of the organization’s theories and history more palatable than expected. One work is praised for the “Zen-by-way-of-Kafka simplicity of its zero-sum goal,” while the masters rise above mere experimentation: “Like Perec, Calvino was great at bringing humanity into what could otherwise be a soulless structural shell game.” There is a strong mathematical, even scientific, component within the philosophies of these theorist-practitioners, whose field of inquiry (like so much else) has been transformed by computer technology. But there’s also a disarming element of whimsy: “Like any literary treatises worth their salt, the manifestos are unsatisfying; their saving grace is [their]…tongue-in-cheek attitude toward the notion of the manifesto in the first place.”

Destined to delight a small, select readership—the Oulipo wouldn’t have it any other way.

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“Thoughtful, outspoken words from a sage who has lived his share of history.” from notes on a century

NOTES ON A CENTURY Reflections of a Middle East Historian

LAND OF PROMISE An Economic History of the United States

Lewis, Bernard with Churchill, Buntzie Ellis Viking (384 pp.) $28.95 | May 14, 2012 978-0-670-02353-0

Lind, Michael Broadside Books/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $27.99 | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-06-183480-6

One of the first Orientalists in Britain shares his long historical trajectory, from London to the Middle East to Princeton.

Lewis (Eastern Studies Emeritus/Princeton Univ.; The End of Modern History in the Middle East, 2011, etc.) was born in 1916 and is still astoundingly prolific and relevant, as demonstrated in recent bestsellers What Went Wrong? (2002) and The Crisis of Islam (2004). In episodic, wittily composed chapters, he addresses salient events in his career as a historian of the Near and Middle East—e.g., the process of learning numerous difficult languages and formative influences such as being born a nonreligious Jew in London. Enamored early on with exotic languages, he taught himself Italian and Hebrew, then at the University of London (his father wouldn’t let his only child go to Oxford because “it was just a place where students spent all their time drinking and partying”) he entered the relatively untried field of Oriental Studies and tackled Arabic. In this prewar era, his teachers followed a philological, textual approach, rather than historical. When he chose “the Eastern Question” in terms of the Ottoman Empire, he was encouraged to study the British, French, German and Russian documents, but not the Turkish. After the war, which Lewis spent with British intelligence doing decoding and translating work, he headed for Istanbul, determined to delve into the Ottoman archives, and emerged with an important early work, The Emergence of Modern Turkey (1961). In a lifelong pursuit of an unbiased and accurate historical method, he has often served as a kind of cultural diplomat, lecturing in America and translating for dignitaries, and he urges the guarding of one’s “scholarly impartiality” and against prejudice. He writes frankly of his long tenure at Princeton, the dicey Israel-Palestinian crisis, the eclipse of secularism in the Muslim world and the “dangerous trend…of intellectual protectionism” advocated by Edward Said et al.

Thoughtful, outspoken words from a sage who has lived his share of history.

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The director of the New America Foundation’s Economic Growth Program charts the technological innovations and the political response to those changes that have marked our economic history.

Many of us mistakenly think politics will change the world when, in fact, it’s the steamship plowing against the current, the railroad stretching across the nation, the electricity lighting our homes or the personal computer connecting us to the world that end up most intimately altering our daily lives. It’s been the job of our politics to catch up and wrestle with those changes.

Lind (The American Way of Strategy: U.S. Foreign Policy and the American Way of Life, 2006, etc.) divides American economic history into three epochs, beginning with the First Republic “founded on water and undermined by steam.” Even as Hamilton and Jefferson’s competing visions struggled to shape character of the new nation, the Industrial Revolution was already underway. Absorbing grand innovations, writes Lind, leads to periods of misalignment, when “the institutions of the economy and the polity drift further and further apart.” Great crises follow, and the U.S. had to pass through the Civil War to found a Second Republic, itself threatened by the coming widespread adaptation of electricity and the internal combustion engine.

The nation had to endure a Great Depression and World War II before today’s Third Republic emerged, an Information Age whose technological roots can be traced to those tumultuous decades. The cycle continues as we await another Republic born in the aftermath of today’s Great Recession. With dozens of short entries on the businessmen, financiers, inventors and industrialists who helped transform the country and the political leaders and public servants responsible for handling the social consequences—highest marks go to those in the Hamiltonian tradition like Henry Clay, Lincoln and FDR—Lind memorably vivifies this constant churn of economic activity and political reconstruction.

Timely, big-picture analysis that supplies vital context to our current economic and political moment.

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FRONT BURNER Al Qaeda’s Attack on the USS Cole Lippold, Kirk PublicAffairs (416 pp.) $27.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-1-61039-124-5

A meticulous history of the USS Cole attack and America’s response, which Lippold, the ship’s commander at the time, considers shamefully weak, laying the groundwork for what followed.

On Oct. 12, 2000, suicide bombers attacked the Cole in the port of Aden in Yemen, killing 17 crewmen and injuring twice as many. Eleven months later, 9/11 captured our attention, but the Cole attack remains a vivid memory for the ship’s commander. After reviewing his 20-year career in the peacetime Navy, Lippold cuts to the immense explosion, which everyone first assumed was a refueling accident. There follows nearly 200 pages of exhaustive description of the devastating damage, the crew’s heroic response, which saved the ship from sinking, and 20 days of assistance, repairs, politics and investigation that did not end when the Cole returned to the United States. In the final 100 pages, the author recounts the fate of the ship (repaired), the lives of the survivors and bereaved and the many inquiries: into the crime, into the Navy’s antiterrorism policy and into Lippold’s conduct. Traditionally, losing a ship ends its commander’s career. Not concealing his resentment, Lippold recounts several historical exceptions and then describes in painful detail how his superiors absolved him of blame but surrendered to political pressure. He was repeatedly denied promotion and retired in 2007. Unlike many military memoirs, this one shows little partisan bias, as the author expresses equal contempt for the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations.

While the best examination of our failure to take alQaeda seriously remains Lawrence Wright’s The Looming Tower (2006), Lippold delivers a personal, opinionated account of the last outrage before 9/11 which should have galvanized our leaders but didn’t. (8-page black-and-white insert)

BUTTERFLY IN THE TYPEWRITER The Tragic Life of John Kennedy Toole and the Remarkable Story of A Confederacy of Dunces MacLauchlin, Cory Da Capo/Perseus (320 pp.) $26.00 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-306-82040-3

A brief study of the too-brief life of John Kennedy Toole (1937–1969), author of the classic comic novel A Confederacy of Dunces.

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something of a charmed life. The New Orleans native was an academic success, skipping two grades as a child and earning top marks studying literature at Tulane and Columbia. Later, his students at Hunter College and Dominican College would recall him as a charming and engaging teacher. An easy Army stint gave him plenty of free time, and in 1963 he began writing A Confederacy of Dunces, a brilliant picaresque novel set in his hometown. He hit the literary jackpot when the manuscript caught the admiring attention of editor Robert Gottlieb, who shepherded Catch-22 and other classics in the 1960s. But Gottlieb’s demands for revisions demoralized Toole, and after giving up on the book he slipped into a mental decline that concluded in 1969 on a Mississippi roadside, where he asphyxiated himself on his car’s exhaust fumes. MacLauchlin (English/Germanna Community Coll.) delivers this story in prose that never rises above workmanlike, but he cleanly lays out the brief life of his subject and his work’s unlikely afterlife: Thanks to his mother’s dogged efforts, Confederacy found an advocate in novelist Walker Percy, and the book became a sensation when it was published in 1980, winning the Pulitzer Prize. MacLauchlin is careful not to stray far from the documented record, and he criticizes a previous biography, Ignatius Rising (2001), for indulging in speculation about Toole’s alcoholism and sexual orientation. But apart from identifying friends and colleagues who were likely models for Confederacy’s characters, MacLauchlin engages little with the novel itself, which diminishes a sense of Toole’s accomplishment and his ongoing influence on comic novelists today.

A valuable biography, albeit lacking in Confederacy’s lively spirit. (16 pages of b/w photographs)

UNCONTROLLED The Surprising Payoff of Trial-and-Error For Business, Politics, and Society Manzi, Jim Basic (320 pp.) $28.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-465-02324-0

In his debut, software entrepreneur and former management consultant Manzi provides a critique of using apparently scientific methods for social engineering.

Because societies are much more complex than the harder sciences like physics and biology, the author believes that attempts to apply the reductionist methodology will be doomed to failure.

He writes that skepticism should be the order of the day in considering claims for the efficacy of new programs that ostensibly need scientific testing for validation. Manzi contrasts the application of the methods of the controlled experiment from the biological sciences with efforts to apply random-testing methods to criminal-justice, education and social-welfare programs. The author argues that the ultimate decisions on the application of such methods are “outside of science”—they are political and depend on answers to the question of “what kind of society we want to build.” Manzi recommends grasping the bull by the

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“Maraniss stresses that Obama’s Muslim ancestors encompass only one facet to his complex, fascinating makeup.

Another in the author’s line of authoritative biographies.” from barack obama

horns, as President Clinton did when he took on the question of welfare reform, and that responsibility be taken for (possibly unpopular) political decisions that will result in action, without sheltering behind apparently scientific studies to accurately predict the success or failure of social programs once they are implemented. What is done can always be modified if it doesn’t work out right. The areas in need of the most urgent action, writes the author, are education, Social Security and Medicare.

A thoroughly argued, powerful study based on principles independent of the author’s own conservative-libertarian views.

BARACK OBAMA The Story

Maraniss, David Simon & Schuster (608 pp.) $32.50 | Jun. 19, 2012 978-1-4391-6040-4 978-1-4391-6753-3 e-book

An exhaustive, respectful study of the president’s “shattered genealogy,” from Kansas to Kenya, Hawaii to Indonesia.

Washington Post associate editor Maraniss (Into the Story: A Writer’s Journey Through Life, Politics, Sports and Loss, 2010, etc.) painstakingly constructs a sensible, solid grounding beneath the mythology of the current president.

However, note that Obama only reaches age 27 in this long biography. Accepted to Harvard Law School, his political future “still amorphous but taking shape,” he resolved finally to visit the land of his absent father, Kenya, and make sense of his African heritage. “Leaving and being left” had become the themes of his childhood, and Maraniss has certainly done his homework, delving both into the original Kansas Dunham clan, marked by the suicide by poisoning of Obama’s great-grandmother Ruth Dunham, in 1926, and the prideful rise and tortured demise of Obama’s father and namesake, the Harvard-educated economist who was undone by hubris and alcoholism. Considering the many tangled strands of Obama’s story, it is extraordinary that he did not lose himself. Yet these same “misfits” in his family, especially his hardworking mother and her Kansan parents, Stanley and Madelyn, embraced the biracial grandson unconditionally, shielding him from the bigotry of the era by entertaining the tale that he descended from Hawaiian royalty. Maraniss’ portrayal of Barack Obama senior, from astute political mind to abusive husband and self-destructive drinker, is masterful and moving, while “Barry” the son emerges very gradually from the cocoon of his elite Honolulu boarding school to grasp his identity as an African-American young man at Occidental College and then Columbia in the 1980s.

Maraniss stresses that Obama’s Muslim ancestors encompass only one facet to his complex, fascinating makeup.

Another in the author’s line of authoritative biographies. (16page b/w insert)

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SUBLIMINAL How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior

Mlodinow, Leonard Pantheon (272 pp.) $25.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-307-37821-7 978-0-307-90744-8 e-book

Physicist Mlodinow (Physics/Caltech; The Drunkard’s Walk: How Randomness Rules Our Lives, 2008, etc.) takes a wide-ranging look at some of the mysteries of the unconscious mind.

As with his previous books, the author aims to make complex scientific concepts accessible to non-scientists. Here he samples a wide variety of studies and anecdotes from the 19th century to the present day, exploring the behaviors humans engage in without being aware of what they are doing. Because so many actions that affect our senses, memories, social interactions and self-image occur unconsciously, “the real reasons behind our judgments, feelings, and behavior can surprise us.”

A 2005 study, for example, found that people tend to unconsciously eat larger amounts of popcorn, regardless of its quality, if they receive a larger container of it. In another study, test subjects reacted differently to computerized voices depending on whether they sounded male or female, with subjects showing profound but unconscious gender biases. In a loose, easygoing style, Mlodinow combines numerous accounts of scientific studies with pop-culture references and even personal anecdotes. While many of his topics are fascinating individually, the author tries to cover too much ground in just over 200 pages.

Among dozens of other subjects, he writes about the early history of psychology, experiments with a blind stroke victim, a horse named Clever Hans, the inaccuracies of the testimony of Watergate figure John Dean and his own mother’s relationship with her pet Russian tortoise. Ultimately, the book never full coheres, and the reader comes away with little concrete insight into the unconscious—save that it is a subject full of mystery.

A diverting but scattershot examination of undeniably intriguing aspects of human behavior.

THE RECKONING Debt, Democracy, and the Future of American Power

Moran, Michael Palgrave Macmillan (256 pp.) $27.00 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-230-33993-4

The fiscal sky is falling, and it’s George W. Bush’s fault.

Moran, a geopolitics and economics writer for Slate and other publications, is far more sophisticated than that opening declaration suggests, but in the main

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his arguments line up with it. Two economically catastrophic events took place on Bush’s watch or even at his instigation— the “disastrous Iraq War” is one, “U.S.-inspired economic policies that encouraged global capitalism to run riot” the other.

“The damage,” writes the author, “will haunt America for a generation.” As he notes, Americans have long tended to shrug off the costs of war as simply the costs of doing business as global policeman and superpower, but there are no funds left for such behavior anymore—much as those who are now calling for war with Iran might pretend otherwise. That said, Moran does not necessarily project a decline in American influence around the globe; we may be broke, but we also have “the world’s largest domestic consumer market, as well as a commanding lead in many of the disruptive technologies that still drive product innovation.” He does not add the caveat, “for the moment,” though he does warn that choosing another leader like Bush would hasten Ragnarok, or at least its fiscal equivalent. Parting ways with other critics from the progressive side of the aisle, Moran does allow that debt will have to be curbed and the political will found not just to do that, but also to convey to the rest of the world—especially creditors—that we’re serious. That will come with some cost, personal and national, and it will almost certainly require the U.S. to shed its “superpower cape.”

For policy and financial wonks, a smart, bracing and sobering read; for voters, fair warning about possible outcomes of the looming November elections.

KENTUCKY DERBY DREAMS The Making of Thoroughbred Champions Nusser, Susan Dunne/St. Martin’s (304 pp.) $25.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-312-56990-7 978-1-250-01149-7 e-book

Life on one of the nation’s foremost horse-breeding farms meticulously rendered in loving detail and set against the ominous backdrop of an uncertain economy.

It’s a good thing thoroughbred racehorses are such remarkably beautiful creatures, because as Nusser (English/Carroll Coll.; In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love, 2004) so adeptly illustrates, they are a handful. The risks involved in caring for these fragile beasts are myriad, while the rewards are fleeting. A tanking economy has only further trimmed the odds, and even the sport of kings has been forced to tighten its money belt. The author’s main subject is Taylor Made farms in Nicholasville, Ky., one of the nation’s most successful horsebreeding operations. Bringing a novelist’s descriptive prowess to her reporting, Nusser provides a fascinating tour for the uninitiated, who will learn plenty, whether following a fledging veterinarian up to her armpit in a mare’s hindquarters or a veteran groom running down a wayward colt. In fact, the book may even be an eye-opener for veteran horse enthusiasts. The author also brings her discerning eye to the employees of Taylor Made, 590

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who are no less compelling than their equine charges. After all, it is the drive and dreams of these Kentucky horsemen and women that keep the bluegrass barns going year-round, as well as the very human hope that at least of few of their foals will grow up to be champions.

An absorbing look inside the daily lives of both the people and animals powering the exciting world of thoroughbred racing. (8-page color photo insert)

FRIENDS, FOLLOWERS AND THE FUTURE How Social Media Are Changing Politics, Threatening Big Brands, and Killing Traditional Media

O’Connor, Rory City Lights (270 pp.) $13.95 paperback | Apr. 15, 2012 978-0-87286-556-3

Is social media enhancing our ability to share and digest information or contributing to its attrition?

Two-time Emmy Award–winning filmmaker and journalist O’Connor (Shock Jocks: Hate Speech and Talk Radio, 2008, etc.) acknowledges that “the dichotomy between mainstream and digital media is rapidly disappearing.” In his lucid examination of the effects of digital technology, the author asserts that the evolution of web-based platforms and the rise of the Occupy movement has caused a marked decrease in our culture’s dependence on “traditional models of organization,” a trend defusing the formerly ironclad influences of government-regulated businesses and media franchises. An era of participatory involvement is underway, and O’Connor offers both a history and a contemporary update on this modern informational superhighway with chapters highlighting the pros and cons of Internet name-branding, the visual prowess of YouTube’s innovative “audience engagement,” Twitter’s “micro-blogging” magnetism and the flap over privacy issues at monopolistic entities like Google and Facebook. Further supporting the author’s pro-digital thesis are the voices of leading researchers and executives, including Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, former Facebook Director of Marketing Randi Zuckerberg and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. Though all tout their respective products, they are fully aware of the cautionary characteristics of technological progress. An obvious proponent of the online-media revolution, O’Connor pulls no punches and effectively tracks the gains and losses of the movement in clear, energetic language.

An erudite, constructive analysis.

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“Suu Kyi’s next chapter remains to be written. For now, enjoy this compassionate biography of an exemplary leader.” from the lady and the peacock

ASYLUM A Memoir About Hollywood, Mental Illness, Recovery, and Being My Mother’s Son

Pantoliano, Joe Weinstein Books (256 pp.) $25.00 | May 1, 2012 978-1-60286-135-0

Longtime character actor Pantoliano, known for memorable roles in films such as Risky Business, The Matrix, and Memento, and an Emmy Award–winning turn in The Sopranos, writes about his lifetime struggle with depression and substance abuse.

Known to friends and fans as “Joey Pants,” Pantoliano wrote about his upbringing in 1950s and ’60s-era Hoboken, N.J., in a previous memoir (Who’s Sorry Now: The True Story of a Stand-Up Guy, 2002). Here he focuses on his later life and career, which was profoundly affected by his undiagnosed depression, likely inherited from his psychologically abusive mother. Much of the memoir dwells on Pantoliano’s drunken escapades and fights through the years, his large sexual appetite and, later, addictions to Vicodin and Xanax. In one memorable passage, he gargles with water from a bar toilet after projectile vomiting—just one of several references to vomit and other bodily fluids. Pantoliano largely comes off as having been a selfish, undependable and unpleasantly needy person throughout much of his life, and it can make for rough reading. The book is also hobbled by odd, playlet-like fantasy sequences (including a conversation between Pantoliano and Sigmund Freud), celeb-bio clichés (“I had developed a habit... that when things were going good, I went out of my way to foul them up!”) and an unfortunate affection for exclamation points.

On the plus side, Pantoliano is admirably open about his history of depression and his recent work to lessen the disease’s stigma and help others with similar conditions.

A frank celebrity memoir with good intentions but awkward execution. (Author appearances in Los Angeles and New York)

THE LADY AND THE PEACOCK The Life of Aung San Suu Kyi

Popham, Peter The Experiment (464 pp.) $27.50 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-61519-064-5

An inspiring biography and a rare glimpse of what Burma could have been, and could still be.

Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the world’s most famous female politicians, is unusual in that she has never held an official position of power. The daughter of Aung San, Burma’s national hero, Suu Kyi was a housewife, scholar and low-level functionary of the United Nations before her mother’s illness forced her to |

return to the land of her birth in the late 1980s. Thrust to the head of the nation’s protest movement, she helped found the National League for Democracy and led the party to a landslide victory at the polls. However, the results of the election were nullified, and she has spent most of the years since under house arrest. Independent foreign correspondent Popham (Tokyo: The City at the End of the World, 1985) ably chronicles the trials and tribulations of a nation that has been imprisoned and brutalized by an avaricious, paranoid military junta, an entity that has never demonstrated the slightest hint of concern for its victims’ welfare. The picture that emerges is of a stoically determined woman of uncommon fortitude who gave up the chance to say goodbye to her dying husband in order to stay in Burma when her country needed her, and who has never considered shying away from the duty she inherited to shepherd her people to selfdetermination. Against the odds, she has survived assassination attempts. Finally set free in 2011, “she emerged, to the jubilation of thousands of her supporters and the relief of the world, into a new landscape where she had no role.” In the aftermath of the first, tentative loosening of the military’s death grip over the country, Suu Kyi’s next chapter remains to be written.

For now, enjoy this compassionate biography of an exemplary leader.

THIS LOVE IS NOT FOR COWARDS Salvation and Soccer in Ciudad Juárez

Powell, Robert Andrew Bloomsbury (256 pp.) $25.00 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-1-60819-716-3

The candid story of a life-changing season an American journalist spent following Ciudad Juárez’s hapless but beloved soccer

team, the Indios.

When Powell (We Own This Game: A Season in the Adult World of Youth Football, 2003) decided to go south of the border and live in Juárez, a town that experiences 10 murders per day, cartels and corruption interested him only in so far as they were part of the local color. What caught and held his attention was the Indios, a soccer team struggling to hold on to its major-league status and its dignity. As Powell drew closer to the members of the organization, he learned that the Indios were much more than just an ordinary sports franchise. For owner Francisco Ibarra, the club functioned as “a vital social program, the one bright spot in a city growing impossibly dangerous.” For the players, the team offered professional and economic opportunities. For American-born midfielder Marco Vidal, the Indios were a way to reconnect with his roots and fulfill the family dream of returning to Mexico. And for the citizens—especially the members of the Indios’ rowdy, irrepressible fan club, El Kartel—the team represented hope and a way for the people to show they had been neither cowed nor defeated by the violence surrounding them. At the same time, however, Powell also saw

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DOUBLE TIME How I Survived—and Mostly Thrived—Through the First Three Years of Mothering Twins

that the team was ultimately powerless to save people (including himself) from the tragedy of tacitly accepting atrocity as the norm. The team could only help people survive in a city where “[m]urder [was] effectively legal” and a country where the government was as much to blame for the daily executions as the drug lords it claimed to be fighting against.

Unsentimental and deeply humane. (8-page color insert)

ON THE ORIGINS OF JEWISH SELF-HATRED Reitter, Paul Princeton Univ. (152 pp.) $26.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-691-11922-9

Reitter (Germanic Languages and Literatures/Ohio State Univ.; The AntiJournalist: Karl Kraus and Jewish SelfFashioning in Fin-de-Siècle Europe, 2008) traces the term “Jewish self-hatred” to the 1930s and explores the various meanings, positive and negative, it has acquired.

The author identifies two 20th-century writers—Anton Kuh and Theodor Lessing—whom he credits with coining, modifying and popularizing the term. Both men owed debts to Nietzsche.

Lessing’s 1930 book, Jewish Self-Hatred, as the author writes, caused quite a reaction, and the term quickly spread throughout the writings of scholars and philosophers concerned with Jewish identity. It did not initially have entirely negative connotations; some took it to mean that Jews should despise the conditions that contributed to their situation and embark on a process of self-transformation. “Lessing forayed,” writes Reitter, “into the genre of self-help.” The author then shifts his focus to Kuh’s 1919 speech, “The Tragedy of the Jew,” which railed against the failures of assimilation. His later book, Jews and Germans (1921), argued that World War I had propelled anti-Semitism again into the foreground. In addition to exploring the term’s various meanings, Reitter sketches the careers of his two principals (Lessing was a feminist who also “irked Thomas Mann”; Kuh died in 1941 in New York while on his way to make a speech titled “How I Will Survive Hitler”) and makes an occasional effort to lasso general readers with some informal diction. But this is essentially a work for scholars, organized like an old-fashioned five-paragraph essay: introduction, three sections, conclusion.

Comprehensive research and scholarly diction will attract only a scholarly, but grateful, readership.

Roper, Jane St. Martin’s (256 pp.) $24.99 | May 8, 2012 978-0-312-55223-7 978-1-250-04491-7 e-book

A new mother chronicles her adventures raising twins.

“I worried that I might love one baby more than the other.

I worried that I wouldn’t have the time or energy to bond with them the way mothers bond with a single baby, because I’d be so busy juggling the two of them.” These were just two of the many thoughts tumbling through Roper’s (Eden Lake, 2011) head when she and her husband discovered they were having twins. With humor and frankness, the author opens a private door into her life as a new mother of fraternal girls. She elaborates on her struggles to combat depression while evolving into a good mother and continuing to work part-time. Roper illustrates the complexities of parenthood, times two, including pre-pregnancy fears, labor and learning how to juggle the needs of twins. Nursing strategies, diaper changes, feeding and sleeping routines, the complications of taking two children shopping—all are captured in Roper’s matter-of-fact account.

The author also holds nothing back when discussing her sudden drops into depression, a state that pushed her to scramble into bed, despite her children’s needs. “I don’t know one woman… who doesn’t struggle at times with the push and pull of children and work and spouse and self,” she writes, “not to mention the dreams and passions that fall outside the realm of simple logistic possibility.” It was with this thought in mind that Roper made changes in her work and her medications so she could genuinely claim to be “doubly blessed.”

A straightforward, honest look at how raising a child is difficult, but raising twins can be exponentially more demanding.

THE SOUTHERN ITALIAN FARMER’S TABLE Authentic Recipes and Local Lore from Tuscany to Sicily

Scialabba, Matthew & Pellegrino, Melissa Lyons Press (336 pp.) $19.95 paperback | Apr. 3, 2012 978-0-7627-7082-3

A delicious journey through central and southern Italy through recipes.

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“Another excellent wake-up call about the need to prevent the destruction of our natural environment.” from the world of the salt marsh

with ingredients grown and raised out the kitchen door,” they write. “There was something that we connected with, that just seemed real and felt right about washing dirt off freshly picked vegetables, or noting the vibrant orange color of the free-range egg yolks we were using to make fresh pasta.” At the beginning the authors provide basic recipes for pasta and crepes, and they include a charming history of the farm, how the family came to agritourism and, of course, the specialties of each house—usually at least one appetizer, entree and dessert. Home chefs can start with a beet carpaccio with pickled onions from Tuscany, move on to polenta with pork and sausage sauce from Umbria and finish with a poached pear and ricotta mousse tart from Basilicata. Some of the mouthwatering recipes are fairly simple, such as the farfalle with zucchini and mussels from Apulia, but others will take time, such as the chicken lasagna from the Michetti Convent in Abruzzo. Scialabba and Pellegrino also make adaptations for home chefs—e.g., replacing quail for Sardinia’s indigenous partridges—and they include instructions on where to find wild boar in American and the contact information for all of the farms, among other points of reference.

A perfect guide to bringing home the traditional and unique flavors of Italy.

THE WORLD OF THE SALT MARSH Appreciating and Protecting the Tidal Marshes of the Southeastern Atlantic Coast Seabrook, Charles Univ. of Georgia (356 pp.) $28.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-8203-2706-8

Atlanta Journal-Constitution environmental writer Seabrook (Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses, 2002, etc.) opens the door to the world that lies between the land and the ocean, the tidal salt marsh.

Told through the life experiences of his friends and colleagues—fishermen, crabbers, oystermen and others—the author’s story frequently returns to his main theme: the destruction of this important environmental resource. He quotes Georgia political analyst Bill Shipp: “Everywhere you look, developers are rolling out plans for gigantic subdivisions and shopping centers. Many of these new gold-seekers view the marshlands as Georgia’s last frontier—a wild and watery space to be filled, developed and overpopulated.” From the upper reaches of the Altamaha, the river that supplies Atlanta, to the Savannah shipping canal, the flow of fresh water to the coastal plain has been impeded and reduced by hard topping. Coastal towns such as Bluffton, S.C., are being swamped by sprawling development, and changes to the ecology are undermining the marshland nurseries essential to the survival of crustaceans and fish. Seabrook reviews scientific studies showing that “more people—and the secondary development that followed—[has] |

meant more pollution, which meant more shellfish beds offlimits to harvesting.” He also assesses restoration and mitigation programs designed to determine whether it is possible to recover such habitats once they have been lost. Ultimately, though, it is a social problem, and conflicting needs—e.g., the need for more housing versus the destruction of our maritime environment—will need to be resolved politically. Seabrook includes history, a summary of contemporary scientific research and current legislative initiatives, and he also writes poignantly of his birthplace, John’s Island, S.C. Another excellent wake-up call about the need to prevent the destruction of our natural environment.

BREAKOUT NATIONS In Pursuit of the Next Economic Miracles

Sharma, Ruchir Norton (288 pp.) $26.95 | Apr. 9, 2012 978-0-393-08026-1

The head of Morgan Stanley’s emerging markets division conducts a brisk worldwide tour in search of new markets ready for takeoff.

No first-book jitters for Sharma, longtime columnist for the likes of Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. His smooth, almost chummy style suits him ideally for guiding civilians through the sometimes-arcane thicket of the dismal science, looking for those emerging markets likely to disappoint or exceed expectations in the coming years. Sharma insists on the importance of on-the-ground observations, and he’s recently visited all the countries discussed here. While recognizing that factors explaining growth change continually, he divulges some helpful, broad rules of the road. We learn, for example, why a particular nation’s form of government counts less than the economic understanding and vision of its leaders, why the size and growth of a nation’s second city is important and why the list of top-ten billionaires matters. He offers informed speculation on why Russia’s Putin may have outlived his usefulness, why Sri Lanka, the Philippines, even Nigeria may finally be headed in the right direction, why Mexico continues to underperform, why Poland and the Czech Republic find themselves in the “sweet spot” of Europe, why the coming slowdown in China will feel like a recession and why Indonesia’s new “efficient corruption” counts as an improvement over the old way of doing business. Sharma drills down even further, noticing and explaining the significance of the price of a hotel room in Rio, a single electromagnetic railroad in China, the road conditions in Vietnam, the decibel level of late-night revelry in a Turkish club, the popularity of Korean soap operas, jammed traffic in Jakarta or dangerous street crime in Johannesburg. Confining his predictions to the near future, Sharma refreshingly comes across as that rare thing Harry Truman once sought: a “one-handed economist” willing to stake his reputation without resort to “on the other hand” equivocation.

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“As exciting, sprawling and multifarious as a shining city on a hill.” from city

CITY A User’s Guide to The Past, Present, and Future of Urban Life

For investors looking to place their bets and for general readers looking to understand the global economic landscape in the wake of the Great Recession. (12 photographs)

COUNTING THE DAYS POWs, Internees, and Stragglers of World War II in the Pacific

Smith, Craig B. Smithsonian Books (264 pp.) $27.95 | May 8, 2012 978-1-58834-355-0

A retired engineer who has taken up writing delivers fascinating accounts of six Japanese and Americans who passed the war in enemy hands.

Smith (Lightning: Fire From the Sky, 2008, etc.) delivers firstperson stories of a GI who endured more than three terrible years as a POW in Japan and a Japanese soldier who spent a more comfortable time in the United States but felt guilty about surrendering. Casting his net widely, the author describes an Russian mining engineer and his wife, hiding and starving in the occupied Philippines, a Japanese soldier who escaped to the jungle after the U.S. reconquered Guam in 1944, emerging only in 1960, and a young Nisei woman, born and raised in Los Angeles, caught up in the shameful American internment of Japanese Americans after 1941. Smith pulls no punches portraying the cruelty of the Japanese to those under their power, but, like many amateur historians and not a few professionals, he justifies this as a consequence of the samurai Bushido tradition, which teaches that warriors fight to the death and that those who surrender are beneath contempt. In fact, traditional Bushido does not excuse brutality or require warriors to die except to preserve honor. The Japanese did not abuse prisoners from the Russo-Japanese war and World War I. Their suicidal behavior and inhumanity during World War II sprang from a new policy by 1920s military leaders who believed it would toughen Japanese soldiers, enabling them to overcome less-determined but technically advanced Western armies.

Readers can take comfort knowing that all six subjects survived, perhaps the only good news in these gripping though mostly painful stories about one of the many grim aspects of WWII. (15 black-and-white photographs; 4 maps)

Smith, P.D. Bloomsbury (352 pp.) $40.00 | Jun. 1, 2012 978-1-60819-676-0

Smith (Doomsday Men: The Real Dr. Strangelove and the Dream of the Superweapon, 2007, etc.) composes a polyphonic paean to our urban past, present and future.

More than once in this ambitious text, the author declares that “cities are our greatest creation”—here he emerges as urbanology’s head cheerleader. Each section focuses on a specific aspect of urban life (hotels, skyscrapers, entertainment, etc.) and offers both a brisk history and a current assessment. Throughout this literary and culturally hip book, Smith distributes numerous sidebars, from the history of the parking meter (born in Oklahoma City) to red-light districts. He alludes to Melville (the first to use in print the word “down-town”), Dickens, Poe, Henry James (who didn’t like skyscrapers); he mentions films like Metropolis, Blade Runner and Dirty Harry. The long section about the possible effects of global warming on city life, especially in coastal areas, will probably not sit well with warming’s deniers—oh well. Although Smith often waxes lyrical about city life (he’s a lover in complete thrall), especially about such features as public parks, libraries, museums and street food, he does not neglect the dark side. One disgusting detail: the sewer lines clogged with fat that lie beneath areas featuring lots of fast-food restaurants. The author provides statistics when he needs them—about half of the world’s population now lives in cities (by 2050, he thinks it will be 75 percent)—and a section, both gloomy and upbeat, about urban ruins (e.g., Pompeii and Detroit). Smith writes sensitively about the best of places (Masdar City in Abu Dhabi—a planned community) and the worst (the Dharavi slum in Mumbai), and only neglects bridges and tunnels— a city book minus London and Brooklyn bridges!

As exciting, sprawling and multifarious as a shining city on a hill. (Color illustrations throughout)

STARTING AND CLOSING Perseverance, Faith, and One More Year

Smoltz, John with Yaeger, Don Morrow/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $26.99 | $12.99 e-book | May 8, 2012 978-0-06-212054-0 978-0-06-212055-7 e-book Passable baseball memoir by retired pitching ace Smoltz, centered around his efforts, at age 41 and after major shoulder surgery, to pitch just one more year.

The author knew at an early age he would find his fortune as a professional ball player. For 20 years he was a stellar pitcher,

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both starting and relieving for the Atlanta Braves as they won 14 straight division championships and a World Series. In 2009, however, age and injury seemed to catch up to him, and he moved on from the Braves to the Red Sox and then briefly to the Cardinals. While he enjoyed mixed success in his final year, Smoltz has more in mind than simply talking about success in baseball. He uses his success as a metaphor for how to succeed in life. While he overcame many injuries and obstacles to stay in the big leagues as long as he did, his advice is too often expressed in sincere but hoary bromides (“I always looked at [failure] as an opportunity to grow”) that do little to inspire.

Similarly, his deep and honest profession of Christian faith (“I truly accepted Jesus Christ as my savior in 1995”) gets lost in odd juxtapositions. For example, at one point he writes, “the two things I can point to that kept me persevering year after year for so many years were my faith in God and golf.” Smoltz seems not to mean to give the two equal billing, but some readers may find it odd nonetheless. When Smoltz talks about baseball, the book comes alive. Whether he’s discussing the differences between starting pitching and relief pitching and the difficulties of switching from one to the other, as Smoltz did more than once, or why power pitching wins in the postseason, or why the Braves won only one World Series, it all has the ring of authenticity and wisdom.

Decent baseball book; mediocre inspirational book.

MY EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY LIFE

Spacek, Sissy and Vollers, Maryanne Hyperion (288 pp.) $26.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4013-2436-0 An average memoir from the renowned actress.

Beginning with her childhood in Quitman, Texas, Spacek then chronicles her move to New York City after high school to pursue a singing career. During her time in the city, she subsisted on part-time work and help from her parents. She played the guitar and sang at a local bar and took classes at the Lee Strasberg Actors’ Studio. After filming her first movie, Prime Cut (1972), Spacek moved to Los Angeles. She was then cast in Terrence Malick’s classic Badlands (1973), where she met her future husband Jack Fisk, who was the art director of the movie. The memoir then recalls Spacek’s life during and after her big break as the lead actress in Brian de Palma’s Carrie (1976). After winning an Oscar for the role of country singer Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), Spacek took a self-imposed hiatus and moved to the country to enjoy nature, horses and a calm family life. Even though she made family life her priority, she continued to act in movies while raising her daughters; Spacek almost always brought her entire family on set. She returned to acting in the ’90s and won an Oscar nomination for her role in Todd Fields’ In the Bedroom (2001). Much of this overly detailed book lacks a narrative arc, but the author comes off as truly down-to-earth, a |

value she preaches throughout the book. As the title states, the book is “ordinary” and does not have enough drama to engage readers not directly interested in Spacek and her work.

For die-hard movie buffs and Spacek fans only. (Two 8-page photo insers; b/w line art. Author tour to New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta and Texas)

LEAVING MUNDANIA Inside the Transformative World of Live Action Role Playing Games

Stark, Lizzie Chicago Review (256 pp.) $16.95 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-1-56976-605-7

Freelancer Stark trains her journalistic eye on the real-life realms of makebelieve mages, goblins and elves.

Larpers—those fanatical folks who dress up in medieval costumes on the weekend in order to chase pretend beasties through hotel lobbies and wooded campgrounds—are a peculiar bunch, and the author knows them well. Like her, a great many larpers (derived from the acronym LARP, for Live Action Role-Playing) are highly accomplished people representing a diverse range of professional fields—definitely not the cheeseball-eating basement dwellers they’re so often accused of being.

Stark’s keen observational skills and crisp writing style successfully cut through those hackneyed stereotypes to reveal the very real people who are drawn to deeply imaginary worlds. There is the Fox News–watching game master who continuously frets over the welfare of his players, as well as the father-andson teams whose familial bonds only grow stronger with each passing year they spend slaying monsters together. Most of the profiles are rich, unexpected and compelling. The only commonality between them is the deeply held desire to leave the daily grind—often known to larpers as Mundania—far behind.

Stark attempts to take the uninitiated into the larpers’ world, and she mostly succeeds. Eventually, however, the discussions about differing gaming mechanics, regulations and monetary systems grow tedious. The people populating these weekend worlds of wizards and witches are infinitely more intriguing than the arcane ways in which they are governed.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the world of live action role-playing—and some stuff you didn’t.

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“Stott masterfully shows how Darwin, by discovering the mechanism of natural selection, made a unique contribution, but he did not stand alone—nor did he claim to.” from darwin’s ghost

THE MIGHTIER HUDSON The Spirited Revival of a Treasured Landscape Stone, Roger D. Illus. by Sloan, Michael Lyons Press (288 pp.) $24.95 | May 1, 2012 978-0-7627-6395-5

A detailed account of the Hudson River Valley.

Environmentalist and journalist Stone (Tropical Forests and the Human Spirit, 2001, etc.) provides an enthusiastic and comprehensive chronology of the river and its surrounding valley. Delivering “up to 1.5 billion gallons of water a day to more than nine million customers,” the Hudson River Valley is the main source of water for New York City. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that this area has been the source of many environmental battles in the past two centuries.

Recent threats to the river basin include a proposed casino that could attract six million visitors a year, budget cuts to many projects that currently protect the Hudson from “new increments of nutrient or toxic pollution to the watershed” and the current process to extract natural gas known as “fracking.” Stone examines the specifics of numerous action groups creating many new projects to restore and revive the river—e.g., the Walkway Over the Hudson, a restored railway bridge turned pedestrian walkway, and the Hudson River Park. The creation of state and local parks for hiking, renovated small-town waterfronts full of art galleries and restaurants, “well-managed small and tidy fruit, vegetable, and dairy farms” and numerous colleges—Bard, Marist, SUNY New Paltz and others—have turned the valley’s industrial and polluted past into a present state of commerce, art, education and recreation. Illustrations and a map included.

The specifics of the Hudson River Valley supplied by an ardent lover of the area.

DARWIN’S GHOSTS The Secret History of Evolution Stott, Rebecca Spiegel & Grau (400 pp.) $27.00 | Jun. 12, 2012 978-1-4000-6937-8

Stott (English Literature and Creative Writing/Univ. of East Anglia; The Coral Thief, 2009, etc.) conjures up the spirits of Darwin’s scientific predecessors in this excellent follow-up to Darwin and the Barnacle (2003).

When Darwin finally published On the Origins of Species in 1859, he knew he would become the center of passionate debate and possibly even prosecution. However, he did not expect to be charged with “failing to acknowledge his predecessors”—a quotation from a letter sent to him by an Oxford geometry professor, Rev. Baden Powell, who himself faced the possibility of 596

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prosecution for heresy. In the first authorized American edition of his iconic work, Darwin attempted to rectify the situation by including a list of his predecessors. Stott amplifies Darwin’s list and provides a lively account of the “pathfinders, iconoclasts, and innovators” who were Darwin’s spiritual kin over the preceding 2,000 years. She chronicles their lives as they struggled to understand the relationship between extinct and existing species, including humans; she also examines the political and religious persecution they faced from their opponents. Stott begins with Aristotle, who was forced into exile on the island of Lesbos, where he stayed for four years. He dissected birds and fish and puzzled over sponges, which had characteristics of both animals and vegetables. Another of Darwin’s kindred spirits was Benoit de Maillet, who by the mid 18th century had assembled geological and fossil findings to substantiate his claim that the earth was billions of years old and that land species had evolved from sea creatures. Unfortunately, as Darwin learned after including Maillet on the list, Maillet also reported sightings of Mermen. The author also includes discussions of, among others, Leonardo da Vinci, Swiss naturalist Abraham Trembley and the ninth-century Islamic philologist and lexicographer known as al-Jahiz.

Stott masterfully shows how Darwin, by discovering the mechanism of natural selection, made a unique contribution, but he did not stand alone—nor did he claim to.

MASTERS OF COMMAND Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership Strauss, Barry Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) $26.00 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4391-6448-8

Military historian Strauss (The Spartacus War, 2009, etc.) cleverly exposes the characters of three legendary leaders through the five stages of war: attack, resistance, clash, closing the net and knowing when to stop.

The author effortlessly compares their histories side by side, describing battles with both comprehensiveness and simplicity.

Their core armies were seasoned professionals who knew their commanders were the best and devoted themselves to serving them. Even so, Alexander and Caesar suffered multiple mutinies, ruthlessly crushed; Hannibal’s men stuck with him without a whimper for nearly two decades. Fortune was with them as well. They controlled the battlefield with the ability to read their enemy’s tactics, and while they were often outnumbered, their opponents’ armies consisted of raw recruits who had to face battle-hardened troops. The men who opposed them did not hold absolute authority over their armies, but had to answer to higher powers. Alexander’s dismissal of his fleet was almost his undoing, but he was saved by the sudden death of the Persian general and Darius ending his naval offensive. Fabius’ scorched-earth policy effectively put off Hannibal’s attacks until the Senate replaced

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him, and the generals who opposed Hannibal at Cannae had to alternate days of authority. Pompey believed he could conquer Caesar by wearing his army out with lack of food and fodder. The Senate thought otherwise, and Pompey finally acquiesced to their demands for a final battle at Pharsalus. All three of these men had colossal egos; each thrived in war and made it look easy.

They were military geniuses who swept dramatically into enemy territory, but they succumbed to vanity, didn’t know when to quit and occasionally overreached—but they were conquerors, and conquerors are not known for moderation.

Strauss sharpens our image of three brilliant commanders and makes military history great fun. (8-page photo insert with 6 maps)

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders

Sullenberger, Chesley Morrow/HarperCollins (336 pp.) $26.99 | $12.99 e-book | CD $26.99 May 15, 2012 978-0-06-192470-5 978-0-06-210136-5 e-book 978-0-06-212831-7 CD

With the assistance of Century (co-author, with Ice-T: Ice, 2011, etc.), Sullenberger (Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters, 2009) presents “a contemporary version” of John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage.

Following his heroic landing of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, the author met with first officer Jeff Skiles to discuss how to move forward as private individuals faced with unsought public notoriety. They resolved to use their “new platform for the greater good” by serving as advocates and champions for aviation safety and the profession of airline pilots. But first they had to prepare themselves to deal with the new challenge. This book is an outgrowth of that process, as they rose to master new responsibilities and obligations. Sullenberger calls it “a kind of personal quest,” which brought him into contact with the 11 people whose stories form the core of his book. Among others, they include three-time World Series– winning baseball manager Tony La Russa; Admiral Thad Allen, who brought innovative methods and a “fresh eye” to dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Gene Kranz, the NASA Flight Director who stood up for the astronauts’ safety against NASA’s bureaucracy, and who brought Apollo 13 and its crew safely home; and Michelle Rhee, who was brought in to overhaul the Washington, D.C., school system and produced remarkable results over three years. Sullenberger is also concerned with how people build loyalty and empower others, as well as how they respond to crises. He highlights the role of Jim Sinegal at Costco, who has defended his employees and customers against the demands of Wall Street stock analysts.

Sullenberger has provided a real service in presenting these courageous American leaders and their stories. |

LULU IN THE SKY A Daughter of Cambodia Finds Love, Healing, and Double Happiness

Ung, Loung Perennial/HarperCollins (368 pp.) $15.99 paperback | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-06-209191-8

The third memoir in a trilogy about processing and moving past the trauma of surviving the Cambodian genocide.

Activist Ung (Lucky Child, 2006, etc.) wrote two previous well-received chronicles of her stint as a child soldier serving the Khmer Rouge. She lost most of her family to the killing fields, built a new life as a refugee in Vermont and reunited with a sister who was abandoned in Cambodia. This book chronicles the next chapter of her life, the decade that began with her time in college. At age 20 she fell in love with Mark, a wholesome, optimistic Midwesterner. The author gives a significant amount of attention to their courtship and eventual successful marriage.

Even the magic of their romance, however, couldn’t negate her almost-daily struggles with depression and residual post-traumatic stress. Mark’s sunniness, which originally drew her to him, became a source of resentment, but she ultimately recognized as positive her husband’s capacity to love without fear. The title is a combination of Ung’s nickname, Lulu, and the Beatles’ song, and its implicit optimism reflects a theme running through the author’s life. “People will always die,” an aunt told her, “but we have to continue to live. Live, eat, and love.” After college, she and Mark moved to Washington, D.C., where she began her lifelong work as an activist. The book closes with another return trip to Cambodia in 2000.

Ung’s writing is clear-headed, honest and compelling; much of what she describes, from the brutalities she and her family endured to the ways it steered her adult life, is deeply affecting.

NIGHTCAP AT DAWN American Soldiers’ Counterinsurgency in Iraq

Walker, J.B. Skyhorse Publishing (568 pp.) $16.95 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-61608-617-6 Iraq war experiences from those who were there.

“Sgt. J.B. Walker,” the “author” of this absorbing, dramatically vivid chronicle, is a pen-named collective effort by American soldiers fighting in Iraq. Originally self-published, the narrative is comprised of candid e-mails assembled once the group returned to American soil and encompasses much more than its original intent to detail “the simple charms of soldiering.” With exacting scrutiny, many

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of the unnamed authors share the stark realities and myriad complications of counterinsurgency efforts. Each of the six sections delves deeply into the multilayered aspects of military duty: the culture shock from intercepting violence (while expressing good intentions) to the citizens of a predominantly foreign society, soldiering with a concussion, profiling jihadist militants, the inexplicability of suicide bombing and the silent suffering of innocent Iraqi women and children. Most affective are the personal accounts, ranging from the poignant to the humorous. Individual narration of violent conflicts and meticulously rendered scenes of armed tactical maneuvering are tempered by the soldiers’ first-person depiction of fearless Iraqi civilians demonstrating resistance to cutthroat guerrilla movements. Expertly archived and originally written for military audiences, this confluence of warfare experiences is sure to garner widespread attention, with the publishing proceeds directed to charities serving military families, “the unacknowledged soldiers of any war.”

A bracing cooperative effort taking readers as close to war as humanly possible.

ON THE RUN IN SIBERIA

Willerslev, Rane Translated by ÓhAiseadha, Coilín Univ. of Minnesota (232 pp.) $19.95 paperback | May 1, 2012 978-0-8166-7627-9

A young Danish anthropologist’s valiant attempt to organize the sable hunters of northeastern Siberia.

Willerslev’s (Anthropology/Univ. of Oslo; Soul Hunters: Hunting, Animism, and Personhood among the Siberian Yukaghirs, 2007) accessibly translated account stretches back to the mid-1990s, when during his field research to Yakutia, he and a friend resolved to help the indigenous hunters organize a fur-selling cooperative that would guard against exploitation by the state and allow them more autonomy and badly needed wealth. Having lived among the sable and moose hunters, Willerslev relished the bitter conditions, spoke Russian, loved to hunt and recognized the simple needs and terrible poverty among the hunters and their families. They had grown to rely on the state enterprise called the Sakhabult, which bought their furs as a fixed low price, allowing them then to purchase low-priced basics such as food, ammunition, vodka and gasoline. However, the impoverished hunters never saw the huge profits the monopoly garnered at international auction. Willerslev’s idea was to cut out the mafia middlemen: First, he and his partner in the Danish-Yakaghir Fur Project, Uffe Christensen, enlisted the seasoned hunting patriarch Kolya Shalugin, who was caught selling the commune’s vehicles and fixtures, before petering out into alcoholism. Then Slava Shadrin, a teacher, assumed the leadership of the commune and took his grievances against the Sakhabult monopoly directly to President Putin, to limited effect. Resentment of the Danes’ interference inflamed the mafia, naturally, and Willerslev 598

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had to hide out in the harsh winter taiga for many months, living by his hunting, wits and the kindness of his fellow hunters.

His account is a fascinating study of this remote pocket of ethnic Yakuts, who adhere tenaciously to an ancient language and livelihood despite the existential challenges.

A lively anthropological study encompassing the total belief system of these rare, hardy Arctic hunters. (39 blackand-white illustrations; 2 maps)

RIDING FURY HOME A Memoir

Wilson, Chana Seal Press (380 pp.) $17.00 paperback | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-58005-432-4 In her debut memoir, Wilson portrays our culture’s intolerance of homosexuality through a mother-daughter story of dysfunction, loss and empowerment.

The author chronicles her childhood in the 1950s and ’60s, her coming of age in the ’70s and the reestablishment of her relationship with her mother as an adult. The first part of the narrative relates how Gloria, Wilson’s mother, attempted suicide at least three times before Wilson was 12. Gloria spent extensive time in mental hospitals and was subjected to heavy medication and shock therapy. Partly because of her mother’s lack of parenting, Wilson tried to make herself nearly invisible to please those around her. She fled to college at Grinnell in Iowa and then to San Francisco to find herself. There she became active in both the gay-rights and women’s-liberation movements and came out to her friends and family as a lesbian.

As Gloria healed and found her voice, Wilson discovered that her mother was also a lesbian and that her depression was fueled by intolerance for her lifestyle choice. Eventually the author and her mother reconnected, and the final part of the book outlines her mother’s death from cancer and the resolution and boundary setting that occurred before she died. While the book takes place during a dynamic time for lesbians and society as a whole, Wilson offers very little reflection and synthesis. As a practicing psychotherapist, the author has the tools to dig deeper, but the story unfolds as a straightforward, chronological series of events.

A decent cultural study, but many readers may desire more analysis and wisdom.

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“Wong’s message is simple yet profound: Music heals.” from scales to scalpels

LIZZ FREE OR DIE Essays

Winstead, Lizz Riverhead (272 pp.) $25.95 | May 10, 2012 978-1-59448-702-6

An odd book that falls into the gap between memoir and essay collection and one that lacks the amount of laughter or revelation that readers expect from an author who is known for comedy.

Winstead mainly enjoys peripheral name recognition. She was one of the co-creators of The Daily Show and its head writer, but she left the show “a few months before Jon Stewart took over for complicated reasons that are far less important than my wonderful experience of creating and bringing it to life.” She subsequently became one of the primary architects of the ill-fated Air America liberal radio network, where she co-hosted a program with an unknown discovery, Rachel Maddow. She also introduced Rosanne Barr and Tom Arnold. “This is a book of essays about life.

My life,” she writes. “It’s not a memoir, per se.” However, “essays” might imply a series of pieces that can stand alone, which most of these can’t, and it’s closer to memoir in its chronological progression and dependence on information provided in earlier chapters to understand later ones. She calls these pieces “Messays,” which might seem like an unfortunate aberration if the book weren’t subsequently filled with similar neologisms. Her tendency to question her own memory causes her to “Lizzmember,” while her family’s penchant for interrupting makes them all “Winsturrupters.” Yet her life seems richer and more inspirational in the lessons of experience than such cloying affectations suggest—as a liberal Minnesotan raised in a loving, conservative Catholic household, as a feminist in comic clubs where there was too much misogyny, as a daughter who suffered through the declining health and deaths of her parents. Winstead also has a couple of very funny, extended chapters: on the robbery of her parents at an assisted living home and of her experiences with dogs and vets.

Intermittently interesting—if only there were more evidence of the “observational humor” through which the author long made a living.

SCALES TO SCALPELS Doctors Who Practice the Healing Arts of Music and Medicine

Wong, Lisa & Viagas, Robert Pegasus (368 pp.) $27.95 | May 20, 2012 978-1-60598-177-2

With the assistance of playbill.com founder Viagas (I’m the Greatest Star: Broadway’s Top Musical Legends from 1900 to Today, 2009, etc.), Wong sums up her experiences as president of Boston’s Longwood Symphony Orchestra. |

The author joined this relatively unique orchestra of semiprofessional musicians who are also medical practitioners in 1985, at a time when it was made up of “an enthusiastic but rather motley band of eighty or ninety musicians.” In college Wong had dreamed of becoming a professional violinist but decided on a medical career instead. Despite the demands of a thriving pediatric practice, marriage and motherhood, she joined the LSO and served as president from 1991 to 2012. She provides thumbnail sketches of other members of the orchestra to substantiate her assertion that music and medicine can be complementary, and she explains that the ability to listen is crucial both for musicians performing in an orchestra and doctors treating patients. Both disciplines require “passion, focus, training, and the sharing of humanity with those around us,” and for doctors who need to suppress their own emotions in professional situations, playing music can be a welcome release. Wong also discusses the clinical benefits of listening to music—e.g., stroke victims who regain their lost ability to speak by singing; withdrawn patients suffering from dementia who become responsive through music—and pays special tribute to Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Prize– winning doctor whose combined career as a missionary and musician remains an inspiration.

Wong’s message is simple yet profound: Music heals. (8 pages b/w photos)

THOSE WHO HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE A History of America’s Wars and Those Who Fought Them

Wright, James PublicAffairs (368 pp.) $27.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-61039-072-9

Despite the title this is not a battle history but a thoughtful account of how America treats its soldiers.

From the time of the Revolution, Americans have eulogized our fallen warriors. Sadly, lauding those who die for their country is easier than supporting the survivors, and many still argue that defending America is every citizen’s duty to be carried out with no thought of reward. This opinion was never unanimous, but it was not until 1818 that Congress approved pensions for needy but nondisabled veterans. Pensions for Union veterans followed the Civil War, an expensive proposition. During the 1920s, with many Civil War survivors still collecting, veterans received nearly 20 percent of the federal budget. World War II marked the last gasp of the citizen-soldier myth. One result was the last New Deal entitlement program—the GI Bill of rights, which provided massive educational, medical, unemployment and loan benefits. By 1950 it was the largest entitlement program in history (Social Security eventually surpassed it). Since then Congress has expanded it, and no Republican dares call it socialism. Ironically, the other result is that, as our all-volunteer soldiers grew less representative of the average citizen with

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the draft’s end in 1973, Americans have come to revere them as the defenders of freedom. The downside is that Congress (20-percent veteran compared to 80 in 1975) tends to exert less authority over the military and acquiesce in our presidents’ increasingly aggressive use of force until long after it’s clear that matters are not going well.

An astute view of America’s enthusiastic but oftenunrealistic attitude toward those who fight its wars.

WHAT THE ROBIN KNOWS How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World

Young, Jon Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (272 pp.) $22.00 | May 8, 2012 978-0-547-45125-1 Naturalist Young (co-author: Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, 2008) explains how to understand the

language of birds.

Trained in anthropology at Rutgers, the author’s passion for bird-watching began in the salt marshes of southern New Jersey where he was raised, but he attributes his real learning to a series of mentors who trained him in Native American traditions. Young believes that native and scientific knowledge about nature are complementary, and that animal communication is “never just the robins communicating with other robins”—they transmit information to other species, which follow their calls.

In his wilderness-training classes, Young teaches students how to listen and understand these communications. However, he notes, it’s a skill that can be practiced by anyone in the backyard or a local park, by choosing a “sit spot” and quietly observing what is happening in the same area every day. Young stresses the need to sit quietly, allowing the birds to accept our presence; after first flying away in alarm, they will return to their territory.

“If we learn to read the birds…we can read the world at large,” he writes. “The types of birds seen or heard, their numbers and behaviors and vocalizations, will reveal the locations of running water or still water, dead trees, ripe fruit, a carcass, predators, fish runs, insect hatches, and so much more.” This information, shared by all the birds and animals living in a habitat, was crucial to the survival of hunter-gatherer societies. A trained tracker can learn to recognize how the variations in birdcalls and their behavior when alarmed can identify different predators such as hawks, crows and cats.

A sophisticated guide for amateur bird watchers and a door-opener for newbies. (15 b/w drawings)

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DAN GETS A MINIVAN Life at the Intersection of Dude and Dad

Zevin, Dan Scribner (256 pp.) $24.00 | May 22, 2012 978-1-4516-0646-1

This occasionally humorous volume is the latest addition to a rapidly growing selection of books by—and about and for—the post-hipster dad.

Such books practically constitute a new genre, one that mixes memoir, self-help and parenting advice. After having children, men who once prided themselves on their taste in music, ironic detachment, anti-fashion fashion sense and nonconformist conformity are now preoccupied with strollers, playgrounds and play dates. Some of these men are writers, and since writers adhere to the dictum to “write what you know” (while recognizing a potential readership when they see it), they write books like this. This marks a return to familiar territory for Zevin (The Day I Turned Uncool, 2002, etc.), who once wrote for Rolling Stone, does comedy for NPR and describes his career progression as “aging out of New Journalism and easing into Old Journalism” (though he’s a blogger as well). The author doesn’t provide much fresh material about Disneyland, stay-at-home dads, finding a nanny, or the titular Minivan (which he loves, perhaps a little ironically, rather than resents), but he recognizes that parenthood has changed his goals: “Twenty years ago, it was my ambition to win a Pulitzer Prize. Today, it is my ambition to get a reclining chair for the living room.” Though the book is rarely laugh-out-loud funny, at least Zevin acknowledges that he is not nearly as hip as other similar authors think they are.

Not the best of the genre, but nowhere near the worst.

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children’s & teen MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

These titles earned the Kirkus Star:

Adderson, Caroline Groundwood (216 pp.) $16.95 | paper $9.95 | $9.95 e-book Mar. 1, 2012 978-1-55498-131-1 978-1-55498-132-8 paperback 978-1-55498-202-8 e-book

THE DROWNED CITIES by Paolo Bacigalupi .............................. p. 603 LITTLE DOG, LOST by Marion Dane Bauer; illus. by Jennifer A. Bell................................................................. p. 604 WHEN DINOS DAWNED, MAMMALS GOT MUNCHED, AND PTEROSAURS TOOK FLIGHT by Hannah Bonner..............p. 606 BITTERBLUE by Kristin Cashore ..................................................p. 609 FREAKY FAST FRANKIE JOE by Lutricia Clifton ...................... p. 611 THE WICKED AND THE JUST by J. Anderson Coats................... p. 612 WATER SINGS BLUE by Kate Coombs; illus. by Meilo So.............................................................................p. 612 HORTEN’S MIRACULOUS MECHANISMS

by Lissa Evans ................................................................................ p. 615 TWO LITTLE MONKEYS by Mem Fox; illus. by Jill Barton ........ p. 615 OUT OF THE WAY! OUT OF THE WAY!

by Uma Krishnaswami; illus. by Uma Krishnaswamy ................ p. 621 CHLOE by Peter McCarty..............................................................p. 624 MARTY MCGUIRE DIGS WORMS

by Kate Messner; illus. by Brian Floca .......................................... p. 625 A BREATH OF EYRE by Eve Marie Mont ....................................p. 626

A mother who disappears, two brothers left alone and a seemingly kindly neighbor make up the ingredients of this unsuccessful story about troubled families.

Eleven-year-old Curtis has always helped care for his little brother while their mother works and attends school. Now she has not come home, rent is due and food is running out.

Haunted by memories of a horrible foster-care family with whom he stayed the first time his mother left him, Curtis fears that he will be separated from his little brother. Then strange but kindly Mrs. Burt, who lives across the street, offers money and meals. When she takes them to a remote lakeside cabin in British Columbia for the summer, Curtis is slowly drawn into this brave new world of chopping wood, building an outhouse and fishing. In truth, Mrs. Burt has “absconded” with the children because she mourns her son who drowned in the lake 40 years ago. Curtis’ mother has not run off but has been badly injured and is lying in a coma. In a few pages of the finale, the narrative flow abruptly wraps up, leaving too many loose ends and unanswered questions. Curtis’ first-person narration necessarily limits readers’ access to the puzzle, and his easy acceptance of the big reveal strains credulity.

The elements of a good story are present, but its telling lacks resonance, character development and depth of understanding. (Fiction. 8-12)

A CONFUSION OF PRINCES by Garth Nix.................................p. 628

DON’T COPY ME!

FROGS! by Laurence Pringle; illus. by Meryl Henderson............. p. 630

Allen, Jonathan Illus. by Allen, Jonathan Boxer/Sterling (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-907967-20-7

TWO CRAFTY CRIMINALS! by Philip Pullman; illus. by Martin Brown................................................................... p. 631

Here’s Little Puffin, minding his own business and enjoying a walk when a trio of impish gull chicks turn up and start mimicking his every move.

How can he stop Small Gull, Tiny Gull and Baby Gull from annoying him? He tries to scare them and outrun them before he finally tries to turn the tables on them by sitting very still. |

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The little ones eventually fidget from boredom and walk away.

But when Little Puffin moves on, it starts all over again. The creator of the Baby Owl books (I’m Not Scared!, 2007, etc.), captures both the playful spirit and the exasperation of this familiar game with clean, bold lines and clear colors against a white background. The game begins on the cover with “Don’t Copy Me!” in large, fire-engine–red letters echoed by soft shading.

There’s a stern, no-nonsense look on Little Puffin’s face as he towers over the little gulls, whose eager expressions show just how unperturbed they are. There’s plenty of humor in the pacing of the predictable text, uncluttered pages and Allen’s appealingly fluffy, wide-eyed birds.

Young children acquainted with the pleasure of conspiring to annoy an older child and those who’ve suffered the indignity of being made fun of will enjoy seeing just who outsmarts whom. (Picture book. 3-6)

DREAMLESS

Angelini, Josephine HarperTeen (496 pp.) $17.99 | May 29, 2012 978-0-06-201201-2 Real sexual tension apparently requires all the divine forces in the universe be arrayed against you, if this book is any guide.

Demigods and erstwhile lovers Helen and Lucas can never be together, because they’re secretly first cousins. Just in case the couple realizes that relationships between cousins aren’t considered incest in their home state of Massachusetts (or 24 other states in the union), Lucas’s father explains that the future of the demigod species, nay, of the entire planet depends on the couple staying apart. Because! Of history! And magical things! And could Lucas just stop being so selfish? Lucas responds by pretending to hate Helen, following the standard tortured-angsty-boy recipe for staying away from his girlfriend. Poor Helen, meanwhile, is spending all her sleeping hours traveling the Underworld. She hopes to defeat the Furies and end the senseless feuding that has tormented the semi-divine Scions since the Trojan War, but she can’t seem to make any headway in the blasted hellscape of the Underworld. Not to mention, her magical journeys are keeping her from REM sleep, thus probably killing her. At least she’s met a hot new Scion in the Underworld to fill the vacancy Lucas left by being such a meanie.

Interesting plot twists almost carry endless pages of Forbidden Love. (Paranormal romance. 13-15)

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FAKE MUSTACHE

Angleberger, Tom Illus. by Wang, Jen Amulet/Abrams (208 pp.) $13.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0194-8 Can one nerdy teen keep a tuft of fake lip-hair from realizing its dream of world domination?

Seventh grader Lenny Flem Jr. leads a mild-mannered life hanging out with his best friend, Casper, and watching repeats of the now-cancelled Jodie O’Rodeo Showdeo with his parents and sisters (he will never admit that he likes it). Then Casper, whose hippie parents never buy anything unnecessary, gets a wad of cash from his grandmother, and he uses it to purchase a man-about-town suit and the very expensive Heidelberg Handlebar Number Seven (a real-hair fake mustache). Soon after, the robberies begin. Billions are stolen by, first, a gang of strolling accordion players and then a bunch of school librarians. Both groups are led by a mysterious, short suited man with a mustache. Then Fako Mustacho, businessmanabout-town appears and holds the town of Hairsprinkle in his thrall. Only Lenny and the real Jodie O’Rodeo seem immune from his mesmeric spell, so it’s up to them to stop Fako’s grab for presidential power! Angleberger severs all ties with sanity in his latest farce for preteens with hilarious results. Narration is shared by Lenny, a nerdy everyman hero, and Jodie, a thinly disguised Hannah Montana. There’s plenty of action and goofiness with very little room for explanations. Fans of Angleberger’s previous efforts won’t be disappointed.

Total deadpan lunacy. (Fiction. 9-12)

GUACAMOLE Un poema para cocinar/ A Cooking Poem

Argueta, Jorge Translated by Amado, Elisa Illus. by Sada, Margarita Groundwood (32 pp.) $18.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55498-133-5

Argueta follows Arroz con leche/Rice Pudding (illustrated by Fernando Vilela, 2010) with another simple, lyrical bilingual recipe for children.

Three siblings cavort their way through the oldest one’s description of making guacamole: “Yummy guacamole, / so greeny green, / as pure as love.” Relying on four ingredients (avocados, limes, cilantro and salt), the author breaks the recipe into bite-sized steps for the smallest hands and enlivens the text with extra activities, such as singing and dancing. “Sing to the salt / as you shake it / so that little splatters / of white drizzle / fall like rain on the green avocado.” Asterisks indicate the two steps where children may need adult help. The Spanish text appears over the English text, and both face Sada’s fanciful illustrations,

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“Larger-than–life-size paintings, intricate drawings and a chatty, informative text combine to introduce the world of insects and spiders…” from creep and flutter

bright with the author’s descriptive, often metaphoric palette. The illustrations bring the recipe to life, and children will delight in the antics of these happy children. Living in a hollowed-out avocado, the characters are small enough in some of the illustrations to slide on freshly cut fruits, play under the kitchen faucet and frolic in salt the size of popcorn. The end of the book finds the entire family enjoying the freshly made guacamole on the lawn outside their unusual abode. While the Spanish text loses a bit of its lyricism and repetition in translation, the overall effect will still be pleasing to young readers.

A bilingual treat. (Picture book. 4-8)

CREEP AND FLUTTER The Secret World of Insects and Spiders

Arnosky, Jim Sterling (40 pp.) $14.95 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4027-7766-0

Larger-than–life-size paintings, intricate drawings and a chatty, informative text combine to introduce the world of insects and spiders, “the largest biomass on Earth.”

Displaying his own boundless sense of wonder, Arnosky draws on personal experiences to attract his audience, describing a mayfly hatch in a trout-filled pond, a lady beetle that crashed near his woodstove, a yellow-striped grasshopper seen in the Everglades and more. The naturalist covers an astonishing variety—mayflies and dragonflies, beetles and bugs, caterpillars, moths and butterflies, grasshoppers and their relatives, bees, wasps, ants, flies and spiders. The information he provides is necessarily limited, but he’s chosen facts likely to appeal.

Short chapters are organized into familiar groups and separated by six fold-out pages (two are gate-folds) full of examples. Gorgeous, carefully crafted paintings show tiny details and often include a creature’s habitat. The magnification is usually given, and silhouettes show actual size. Labeled pencil drawings add further detail and make comparisons. Although the author differentiates between a cocoon and a chrysalis, he does not clarify that calling the latter a cocoon as well is erroneous. He includes solid suggestions for further reading. A table of contents makes the organization clear, but an index would have been helpful.

This is another splendid invitation to children to explore the natural world. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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PRECIOUS BONES

Ashley-Hollinger, Mika Delacorte (352 pp.) $16.99 | $10.99 e-book | PLB $19.99 May 8, 2012 978-0-385-74219-1 978-0-307-97421-1 e-book 978-0-375-99046-5 PLB It is 1949, and the traditional way of life in the swampland of Atlantic-coast Florida is threatened.

Ten-year-old Bones and her family live a life governed by awareness of the land and the measured pace of the seasons. They are not cut off from modern life, but it’s encroaching rapidly.

When a land speculator and a neighbor are murdered, offstage, Bones’ father becomes a prime suspect because of his encounters with them. The plot weaves around the investigation but focuses mainly upon Bones, who is at once innocent and wise, trusting and skeptical, fearful and accepting. Her voice is strong and lyrical, mixing regional syntax and dialect with lovely descriptions of the beauty she sees as she hunts, fishes, observes and explores in this mystical place. She cares for every creature that comes her way and learns lessons of neighborliness and generosity from the example set by her parents. Finely drawn supporting characters add richness and warmth. But there are also the harsh realities: one family’s vicious cruelties, hurtful laws and prejudices that prevent natural friendships, the death of a beloved neighbor and the ever-present dangers of nature itself. A satisfying conclusion leads to a happy celebration for everyone.

A spirited tale and fascinating setting, but it is Bones who shines. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 9-12)

THE DROWNED CITIES

Bacigalupi, Paolo Little, Brown (448 pp.) $17.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-316-05624-3

In the visceral and deeply affecting companion to the Printz Award–winning Ship Breaker, Bacigalupi returns to a dark, war-torn dystopian future in which severe climatic change and years of political upheaval have left the United States a bloodied and ravaged landscape.

Bands of child soldiers roam from village to village, raping, pillaging and brutally murdering, all in the name of endless civil war. Against the backdrop of this blood-soaked chaos, two unlikely allies, a crippled teenage “war maggot” and a half-man/ half-beast genetically altered killing machine, risk their lives and their freedom to save a boy forced into servitude by rebel soldiers.

Mahlia and Tool (whom readers may recognize from Ship Breaker) venture deeper and deeper into the Drowned Cities, each fueled by unwavering loyalty. As they do, readers are given glimpses of proof that love and humanity can shine through even the most

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“A perfect selection for pet lovers new to chapter books and anyone who just enjoys a cheerful dog story.” from little dog, lost

unimaginable darkness. Arguably, the novel’s greatest success lies in the creation of a world that is so real, the grit and decay of war and ruin will lay thick on the minds of readers long after the final page. The narrative, however, is equally well crafted. Told in the third person, the novel alternates between Mahalia and Tool’s stories, allowing both characters the time and space to imprint themselves on readers’ hearts.

Breathtaking. (Dystopian. 14 & Up)

THE PRINCESSES OF IOWA

Backes, M. Molly Candlewick (464 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-7636-5312-5

In the wake of a drunk-driving accident, a girl destined to be homecoming queen finds herself wondering who she really is.

Paige was hustled off to France for the summer by her parents to get over the shame. When she gets back to school in the fall, it’s hard to fall back into sync with her best friends, also in the accident. Worse, her boyfriend, though he swears he still loves her and seems to like making out with her, is spending an awful lot of time with one of them. Paige is surprised to find that the best class of the day is creative writing, where she makes friends with a couple of kids on the fringe. Through writing exercises, she revisits the night of the accident and interrogates herself—and she doesn’t always like what she learns. Paige’s journey out of the Mean Girls IT group won’t shock readers, but it unfolds with pleasingly realistic hesitations, as does her relationship with the new, uncool boy. Backes has more trouble with her secondary characters; while some feel very real, others never depart from stereotype. Subplots involving homophobic attacks on the writing teacher, Paige’s difficult relationship with her social-climbing mother and an anti–drunk-driving campaign weave in and out with sometimes-faltering success, particularly the last. But the writing is fluid, Paige is a likably unreliable narrator and the highschool setting is believably sordid.

A mostly solid, if a little too long, high-school drama.

(Fiction. 14 & up)

PIRATE PRINCESS

Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta Illus. by McElmurry, Jill Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $17.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-114242-0

a pirate ship, she seizes the chance to make her dreams come true. To her dismay, Captain Jack assigns her deck-swabbing, cooking and, finally, lookout duties, and she fails spectacularly at all of them (especially the last, in which her failure involves puking and further fouling the deck she never successfully swabbed in the first place). Her fate is sealed. Unless determined Bea can come up with another way to make herself indispensable to the crew, she must walk the plank. The deft, engaging verse interspersed with pirate lingo is complemented neatly by McElmurry’s precise and detailed illustrations. Establishing the feel of an old-fashioned fairy tale with some madcap modern twists, her dramatizations cast the pirates as peculiar and slightly intimidating rather than menacing, and bespectacled Bea as clumsy, quirky and full of pluck.

A winning combination of smart and silly, this yarn will make a welcome addition to princess and pirate storytimes, as well as a good choice for one-on-one sharing. (Picture book. 4-8)

LITTLE DOG, LOST

Bauer, Marion Dane Illus. by Bell, Jennifer A. Atheneum (240 pp.) $14.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4424-3423-3

When her loving family—especially the boy who kisses her on the lips—moves to the city, Buddy is re-homed with a clueless though kind woman while a dog-loving boy yearns for a mutt of his own.

Long, thin lines of free-verse text scroll invitingly down the mostly white pages. This tender, engaging effort economically captures the winsome attitude of Buddy, whose “ears like airplane wings” now sag. She spends her days peering through her new owner’s fence, watching despondently for her missing boy and finally resolving to go find him. Mark, who lives in the same town, feels his life is empty without the dog he desperately needs but his mother won’t permit. And there is shy Charles Larue, the aging caretaker of a nearby mansion, who spends his lonely days waiting for something—anything—to bring meaning to his life. How these three needy creatures will come together is predictable but wholly satisfying nonetheless. Bauer describes the little dog joyfully chasing a ball: “She rose and rose / as though her hind legs were springs, / as though her front ones were wings.” The description just as aptly captures the heartening nature of this attractive tale, which is enhanced with Bell’s pleasant black-and-white illustrations.

A perfect selection for pet lovers new to chapter books and anyone who just enjoys a cheerful dog story. (Verse fiction. 8-12)

In upbeat, rhyming verse, BardhanQuallen presents the rollicking adventures of a princess-turned-pirate.

Princess Bea is not your typical princess. Instead of longing for a happily-ever-after in the arms of Prince Charming, she yearns for a swashbuckling life on the high seas. One day, spying 604

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THE BIG GREEN BOOK OF THE BIG BLUE SEA

Becker, Helaine Illus. by Dawson, Willow Kids Can (80 pp.) $15.95 | paper $9.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55453-746-4 978-1-55453-747-1 paperback Bite-sized pieces of information and hands-on explorations teach readers all about the sea, from its composition and currents to its problems and energy potential.

In simple terms but with scientific vocabulary, Becker introduces such diverse topics as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, density, desalination, sea-floor spreading, global warming, tsunamis, oil spills, osmosis, camouflage and overfishing. Almost every spread provides readers with something to do, whether small lifestyle changes that will help the ocean or a hands-on demonstration. One such invites readers to explore the ways the two different types of whales eat by using a fork and a toothbrush to “feed.” Over half the book is dedicated to the amazing adaptations that help ocean animals survive—swim bladders, echolocation, blubber and body shapes are just a few. Fascinating facts appear throughout and are sure to amaze. How many readers know that seabird sneezes are actually a really concentrated salt spray? But this compendium of facts and fun is not without its flaws. The lack of a bibliography means readers cannot check facts, especially when they doubt their veracity (as they should in a few instances). Also, the demonstrations/experiments do not always accomplish their stated intent. Beautiful photographs are scattered throughout, but the bulk of the visuals falls to Dawson, whose illustrations have a retro look and color to them.

The sheer breadth of information presented here and its appealing format make this an invaluable resource, especially when accompanied by a knowledgeable adult to guide and correct. (table of contents, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

ONE DAY I WENT RAMBLING

Bennett, Kelly Illus. by Murphy, Terri Bright Sky Press (24 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 28, 2012 978-1-936474-06-6

A young collector repurposes found junk, bringing his scoffing peers along on a flight of fancy.

To Zane a hubcap is a “flying saucer’s crest,” a brown bag with armholes becomes a warrior’s shield and other litter is similarly transformed. Initially dismissive, the other kids in his urban neighborhood are soon marching along behind brandishing their own finds—and gathering at last aboard a packing-crate “ship” constructed in an empty lot.

Though thematically kin to Antoinette Portis’ Not a Box (2006) and other celebrations of imaginative play, it’s a poor relation.

Bennett’s rhyming cadences are occasionally forced: “One day |

I went rambling / and found a long lasso.” Moreover, the multicultural cast of children in Murphy’s seedy settings have oddly misshapen facial features, and one discovery (“Hey! What’s that?”) is rendered as a visual jumble that will leave readers confused about what they’re supposed to be seeing.

A worthy but not uncommon premise, developed elsewhere with better writing and art. (Picture book. 5-7)

FALL FROM GRACE

Benoit, Charles HarperTeen (304 pp.) $17.99 | May 8, 2012 978-0-06-194707-0

Lies, lust and betrayal just don’t add up fast enough.

On the outside, high schooler Sawyer seems to be gliding through life.

He’s focused; he’s got good grades, a hot girlfriend and plans for college. On the inside, however, he feels trapped by his parents’ expectations and the tight leash his girlfriend keeps around his neck. Enter Grace Sherman, a smooth-talking, resourceful, quick-witted girl from another high school whose presence infuses him with excitement and a sense of danger. She’s cool but weird enough to be sexy. What’s more, she’s hell-bent on stealing a painting from the local library, and she needs Sawyer’s help. Benoit’s second teen effort is just as tightly crafted as his first (You, 2010).

Characterizations are solidly constructed, and the plot moves methodically as Sawyer is pulled deeper into Grace’s plan.

Despite Benoit’s ability to pull all of these elements together, the novel is missing a hook, which is what made his first so effortlessly terrifying. Art theft as a concept may not pique the interests of teen readers, especially those looking for a body count. The tension also builds slowly—more than half of the novel is given over to building up Sawyer’s relationship with Grace. It’s definitely an intriguing pairing, but less-patient readers will be flipping pages to get to the action.

A slow-build, film-noir high-school drama. (Fiction. 14 & up)

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Bernier-Grand, Carmen T. Illus. by Engel, Tonya Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6135-7

Bernier-Grand offers her version of the origins of the popular Mexican shrine.

Abandoning her typical free-verse style for a more traditional narrative, the author describes the Aztec Juan Diego’s three encounters with the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill, near Tlatelolco (now Mexico City). Mary requests that Juan Diego tell the local bishop to build her a shrine on the hill. As an Indian, Juan Diego has a difficult time getting an audience with the

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skeptical man, much less convincing him that the Virgin Mary would reveal herself to such a lowly person. On his third visit to the bishop, Juan Diego carries a sign from the Virgin to the bishop: roses in December. When Juan Diego reveals the roses, the bishop finds that “the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was painted on Juan Diego’s tilma!”The author concludes the tale with details on the significance of the shrine, the origins of the name “Our Lady of Guadalupe” and other relevant historical facts and dates. While Engel’s stately oil and encaustic illustrations match the seriousness of the book’s subject, readers may be distracted by the type choice and text placement, as well as a few awkward page turns. Those familiar with the author’s verse works may long for her return to that form.

A faithful, if uneven, retelling. (author’s note) (Picture book/religion. 7-12)

THE CHILDREN OF HAT COTTAGE

Beskow, Elsa Illus. by Beskow, Elsa Floris (32 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-86315-855-1

Three young siblings are left alone at home; could there be trouble? Of course.

Mother and her children live on a little island in a spruce little cottage that looks like a man’s hat. Occasionally, she must row to the mainland on various errands. When the children need new clothes, she decides to go get some yarn, promising sweet honey cakes for the children if they’re good. The trip takes longer than expected; neither the spider, the snail nor the shoemaker who lives by the shore has any wool. Meanwhile, the children decide to help by cleaning out the chimney. They use twigs as brushes and get covered with soot in the process. They bathe in the ocean, then use the twigs to start a fire to heat the water to clean their clothes. But the fire spreads to the cottage!

Luckily the shoemaker sees smoke and rows across the water.

It’s too late to save the cottage, but the man helps the children build a new, stronger one out of wood—and ends up marrying their mother when she returns. Presented with an abundance of white space, the economically drawn figures are delicately tinted with watercolors.

The charming fable was published in Sweden in 1930, and its vintage feel is positively refreshing. (Picture book. 4-7)

ABOVE

Bobet, Leah Levine/Scholastic (368 pp.) $17.99 | $17.99 e-book | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-545-29670-0 978-0-545-39220-4 e-book In a world where “Sick’s the same as Freak Above,” only below is Safe.

Safe is both adjective and noun in Matthew’s world, both the feeling and the subterranean haven built by claw-handed Atticus. Matthew is the Teller of Safe, the person who keeps everyone’s stories and retells them. Its denizens are those unwanted Above: the mentally ill, the marginal—and the Cursed. He loves the fragile, honey-haired Ariel, whom he found on patrol in the sewers around Safe and who turns into a honeybee when under stress. Bobet starts her surreal fable/adventure explosively, with a catastrophic raid by the terrifying shadows that kills leader Atticus and scatters Safe’s residents. Matthew, Ariel and two others make their way alone to a sympathetic doctor Above to regroup and, they hope, retake Safe. Above, Matthew finds his received history continually under challenge. Having been the first child born in Safe, Matthew sees it as the only reality. Occasionally interspersing Matthew’s tightly filtered, present-tense account with the Tales of Safe, the author rarely gives readers an opportunity to see what may be objectively “real,” making for a slightly claustrophobic, normality-inverting experience.

While readers who long for concrete answers may be frustrated, those willing to go along with this captivating exploration of both individual and collective identity will find themselves pondering its implications long after the last page. (Fiction. 14 & up)

WHEN DINOS DAWNED, MAMMALS GOT MUNCHED, AND PTEROSAURS TOOK FLIGHT A Cartoon Prehistory of Life in the Triassic

Bonner, Hannah Illus. by Bonner, Hannah National Geographic (48 pp.) $17.95 | PLB $25.90 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-1-4263-0862-8 978-1-4263-0863-5 PLB Series: When…, 3

More standup-style paleontology to follow When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm (2007).

Here Bonner chronicles developments in the Triassic Period, during which life got a fresh lease on the planet in the wake of the massive Permian extinction. She tracks an explosion of biological diversity as the oceans were repopulated, lush forests grew and the dominant kinds of land animals went from 606

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“Emotions are so critical to childhood that there’s always room for a bright new book about them.” from how do you feel ?

clumsy-looking therapsids to sleek archosaurian dinosaurs and proto-crocodiles. Early mammals are already waiting in the wings, and a swelling chorus of insects (“We eat pollen, we drink sap, / We do the hungry insect rap”) make up a “bug buffet.” In the deep, toothy sharks, ichthyosaurs and other predators put in appearances—hovering, in the illustration, over a tempting platter of neatly arranged fish, clams and cephalopods.

The author neatly dishes up a multi-course feast of polysyllabic monikers and tasty tidbits of data (“Later British mammals drank tea and ate scones, but these mouse-size [Morganucodon] ate bugs instead”) to go with her cartoon menagerie. The book closes with a serpentine timeline of prehistory (featuring appropriately placed plugs for each of the previous books in the series) and both adult- and child-level leads to further resources.

Both casual and confirmed fans will devour this delicious blend of fact and foolery with relish. (pronunciation guide) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

FLOWER GIRL

Bottner, Barbara Photos by Grier, Laura Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6119-7 A little girl is thrilled to be a flower girl in her aunt Penny’s wedding.

There are so many things she’ll get to do. She’ll have fancy shoes, a bouquet and flowers in her hair, and, best of all, she’ll wear a lovely white dress just like the bride’s. On the day of the wedding, she’s nervous, but she reassures the ring bearer with a somewhat unappreciated good-luck kiss. Everything goes smoothly, and there’s dancing and cake too. Bottner’s slight, lighter-than-air tale, written in the simple first-person voice of the tiny heroine, takes its cue from the perennial obsession with weddings, princesses and the like. Grier’s wedding-album photos neatly capture every moment of this little girl’s special day. It’s all very sweet and charming, and young girls who read it will probably sigh and wish for their own chance to be in a wedding. But there might be some uncomfortable caveats for the adults sharing it with them. It seems staged and contrived and too darn cute. The narrator has no name, although the bride, groom (this is a “traditional” wedding all the way) and ring bearer are all named. At the end, her only wish for happiness is to be a bride someday.

A dream come true for little girls who love to dress up, but more than a bit too syrupy for some. (Picture book. 3-6)

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YESTERDAY’S DEAD

Bourke, Pat Second Story Press (232 pp.) $11.95 paperback | Apr. 16, 2012 978-1-926920-32-0

As the Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918 in Toronto reaches epidemic proportion, the local newspapers run lengthy lists of “yesterday’s dead,” a chilling backdrop to 13-year-old maidservant Meredith’s personal struggle as the disease ravages the household where she works.

Impoverished, Meredith had to lie about her age in order to be hired by the Watertons. While the friendly cook and kind chauffeur immediately reach out to her, the butler, Parker, who rules the household, is rude and critical. Tasked not only with helping in the kitchen but also with watching the motherless youngest child in the family, lively 6-year-old Harry, Meredith mostly manages, struggling only with the middle daughter, severely spoiled Maggie. As the disease begins to overwhelm the city, Dr. Waterton is called away, leaving Parker and the eldest son, Jack (to whom Meredith feels a certain attraction) in charge.

Then family and staff begin to fall ill, and responsibility finally shifts almost solely to Meredith. While largely predictable, and peopled with stock characters (albeit engaging ones), the strong sense of place and time and the vivid peril of the deadly disease keep the plot rushing believably forward. Meredith’s very human fluctuations between despair and determination in the face of tragedy add considerably to the authenticity of her character.

A gripping depiction of a tragic epidemic and the sometimes heroic responses of those affected. (Historical fiction. 10-15)

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Browne, Anthony Illus. by Browne, Anthony Candlewick (32 pp.) $14.99 | May 1, 2002 978-0-7636-5862-5

Emotions are so critical to childhood that there’s always room for a bright new book about them.

With blue overalls, a green sweater, yellow sneakers and a trademark Browne primate face, this toddler-shaped chimp really catches the eye. He (or perhaps she, skipping the usual girlmarkers like long hair) looks up at an unseen speaker, who asks, “How do you feel?” The young chimp demonstrates various feelings: “Sometimes I feel very happy… / and sometimes I feel sad”; sometimes confident, guilty, angry, silly, shy or worried. Browne uses scale, hue, facial expression and minimalist backgrounds to make each watercolor-and-gouache picture fetching in its own way. “[B]ored” shows a black-and-white spread, toys banished to a corner, mouth open in a blasé yawn. “[L]onely” shows young chimp small and far away, isolated in a vast white spread, casting a fragile shadow. On the royal-blue “sad” page, the young chimp

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“Budding chemists and crime-scene investigators will especially enjoy this science whodunit.” from poison most vial

gazes miserably out a window while raindrops fall indoors, symbolically. The last three feelings—hungry, full and sleepy—shift from emotional to physical but are certainly relevant. A final spread shows thumbnail reprints for kids to point to and name as they answer the query, “How do YOU feel?”

For a younger audience than Browne’s brilliantly dark, subtle pieces, this is a hearty, cheerful offering that appropriately refrains from undermining the non-cheerful emotions. (Picture book. 1-4)

BEST SUMMER EVER

Bunting, Eve Illus. by Masse, Josée Sleeping Bear Press (40 pp.) $9.95 | paper $3.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-58536-550-0 978-1-58536-691-0 paperback Series: Frog and Friends, 3 Frog and his friends are back (Frog and Friends, 2011) in another trio of early-reader tales, but this time they focus less on humor and problem solving and more on life lessons and manners.

In the first story, Frog and Bat play a game, pointing out the ways in which they are different, though “not unkindly.” There are compliments aplenty as the two discover that they have just as many similarities as differences. In the second story, Frog sets off for a vacation for some time alone to think. The trouble is, his friends all want to come along. Not wanting to be rude, Frog allows it, and it turns out to be the best vacation ever. In the final tale, Frog meets Starman, who gives away the stars in the sky (and teaches a few star facts in the process). Frog gathers all his friends, and they each pick out a star to be their very own, even though they have to stay in the sky. The hearty friendships are plenty evident, both in the text and in the expressive faces of Masse’s characters, but with the book’s emphasis on not hurting others’ feelings and making sure all are included, this is definitely more didactic than the series opener.

There are good lessons here, but here’s hoping Bunting will deliver the next ones with a healthier helping of humor.

(Early reader. 6-8)

THE BAD APPLE

Burns, T.R. Aladdin (352 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-4424-4029-6 Series: Merits of Mischief, 1

her from near-certain injury—and kills her. He’s sent to Kilter Academy for Troubled Youth. After his parents drop him off, Seamus finds things at Kilter aren’t what they seem. It’s a school to train professional Troublemakers. Pulling one over on the young faculty earns demerits, which equal credits at the Kommissary. Ratting on fellow students earns gold stars, which correspondingly reduce credit at the Kommissary. Weighed down with guilt, Seamus vows to be good, but he keeps inadvertently scaring or making a fool of his teachers and earning demerits.

Why does the school’s enigmatic director have such confidence in Seamus? Will he ever feel comfortable letting his new friends know why he’s at Kilter? Burns’ (who’s also Tricia Rayburn, Siren, 2010) series starter has an interesting premise and some enjoyable moments. However, there are far too many loose ends at volume’s close for this to be a satisfying read in itself. While Seamus’s turmoil is believable, he and the rest of the cast are a bit underdeveloped. The lack of solutions to the several mysteries make this more of a turn-off than a page-turner.

Perhaps once the series is complete, this will be something to recommend. (Adventure. 8-12)

POISON MOST VIAL

Carey, Benedict Amulet/Abrams (240 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0031-6 When Ruby’s janitor father becomes the prime suspect in a murder, the eighth grader decides it’s up to her to clear his name.

Forensics expert Dr. Ramachandran was not the most congenial of professors, but everyone is still surprised when he turns up dead in his lab at DeWitt Polytechnic University. Ruby Rose, who attends the DeWitt Lab School on the campus, finds that in the court of public opinion her father has already been convicted—especially after empty toxin vials are found in his locker.

Ruby enlists the aid of her large, Jamaican buddy, Rex, and reclusive, retired toxicologist Clara Whitmore, who lives in Ruby’s building.

What with hacking into computers, evading gangs and like spy-jinx, the mystery demands a lot of brain work. However, with a little coaching Ruby is up to the task. Carey mixes toxic chemistry and logic problems in his second middle-grade mystery to good, if not great effect (The Unknowns, 2009). The slow unfolding of the mystery borders on lethargic, but the realistic heroine, her odd (but not quirky) supporting cast and the distinctive nature of the mystery save this at-times-intoxicating brew.

Budding chemists and crime-scene investigators will especially enjoy this science whodunit. (Mystery. 10-14)

Mischief has its rewards, especially at Kilter Academy.

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NIGHT BOY

a retro feel that suits the Old West setting. His characters have a Richard Scarry look to them, especially the cat.

With phrases seemingly thrown in because they rhyme, not because they advance any sort of plot, this is one to skip.

(Picture book. 4-7)

Carter, Anne Laurel Illus. by Pelletier, Ninon Orca (32 pp.) $19.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55469-402-0 A story that imagines Night and Day as siblings at play becomes mired in a muddled attempt to do too many things at once.

Night is a prince who chases his older sister, Day, across the sky in a game of hide-and-seek. In a spaceship loaded with comets and stars, he and his teddy bear paint the sky with constellations. Brightly colored, cartoon-like artwork sets the stage for fun, with the sleepy, befuddled prince forgetting, as he does each night, that he’s supposed to be hunting for his sister. Astronomical elements are thrown into the text and illustrations almost as an instructional afterthought, too often missing the mark. Picture books in rhyme ought to be a pleasure to read aloud, but here the forced meter makes it hard to establish a natural cadence.

Where the rhyme does scan properly, it results in heavy, plodding verse that often weakens the story: “The spaceship takes off with a plug-your-ears boom / and blasts into space with a hold-on-tight zoom. / Teddy’s distracted. He just wants his snack. / Milk and fresh cookies smell good in the back.”

Not up to the standard Carter set in her previous award-winning outings (Under a Prairie Sky, 2004, etc.).

(Picture book. 4-7)

THE CAT IN THE RHINESTONE SUIT

Cash, John Carter Illus. by Nash, Scott Little Simon Inspirations/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) $17.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4169-7483-3 Cash’s latest is plagued with problems similar to those facing his previous two children’s offerings, awkward syntax and poor scansion being the worst of these, but he also adds a new one to the mix: a thin, if enthusiastic plot.

Rhyming verse tells the tale of Cat and Mouse, who travel together, singing as they ride their bandicoot and camel, respectively, through the desert. Cat has a score to settle with Del Moore the snake, who stole his catnip ball when he was just a kitten. But before a showdown can take place, disaster strikes: The bandicoot trips, and the four travelers wind up precariously hanging from a cliff. Snake is the only passer-by who hears their cries and stops to help. “Snake offered Cat his tail end. / Out the Cat’s paw did extend. / Del Moore said, / ‘Let’s just be friends!’ / And the Cat gave a smile.” Instead of allowing readers to infer the moral offered by this pat ending about second chances, the author supplies his own, which has little to do with the story. Nash does his best to meet the underlying good intentions of the text. From his palette to the clothing his characters wear, the illustrations have |

THE EXCEPTIONALS

Cashman, Erin Holiday House (236 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8234-2335-4

Mysterious goings-on at a boarding school for paranormally talented students feel very, very familiar.

Alone in her family, Claire is unexceptional. While Claire has attended the public high school, telekinetic brother Billy and medium sister Charlotte go to Cambial, a boarding school for children with paranormal abilities, and her parents (father: code breaker; mother: truth seeker) are administrators there. A night of partying gone wrong finds her enrolled at Cambial. She quickly settles in with teachers and students, most agreeable, some not. But it turns out she is exceptional after all: She can hear animals’ thoughts. While secretly practicing in the woods, she encounters Dylan, a mysterious and “exceptionally handsome” young man with “long, dark eyelashes framing beautiful green eyes.” Even as the students prep for the annual telekinesis tournament, some of their most talented begin to disappear. It appears an enemy of Cambial is not dead but instead determined to bring it down. It will take a Chosen One to thwart him. Well-worn characters and plot churn their way toward a climax with the deranged villain, who explains his entire plot to the gathered protagonists. Readers will likely find Claire’s embarrassingly instantaneous attraction to Dylan both stupid and distasteful.

Claire’s entertaining exchanges with a campus cat stand out as fresh and enjoyable; the rest is painfully derivative. (Paranormal romance/mystery. 11-15)

BITTERBLUE

Cashore, Kristin Dial (576 pp.) $19.99 | May 1, 2012 978-08037-3473-9 Building on the plots and themes of the award-winning Graceling (2008) and its companion Fire (2009), this rich and poignant fantasy grapples with the messy aftermath of destroying an evil overlord.

Nine years after Bitterblue took the crown, the young queen and her realm are still struggling to come to terms with the monstrous legacy of her father, the insane, mind-controlling Leck. How can she “look forward,” as her

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advisors urge, when she cannot trust her memories of the past?

Sneaking out of her castle, Bitterblue discovers that her people have not healed as much as she has been told. While “truthseekers” are determined to restore what Leck destroyed, others are willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden. Gorgeous, textured prose is filled with images of strange beauty and restrained horror. It propels an intricate narrative dense with subplots and rich in characters familiar and new. Weaving them together are all the lies: conspiracies and ciphers, fakes and false testimony, spies and thieves, disguises and deceptions, mazes and puzzles. They are lies spun from greed, shame, strategy, fear, duty—even kindness.

And it is Bitterblue who, trapped in this net of deceit, must draw upon all her courage, cleverness and ferocious compassion to reveal the truth—and to care for those it shatters.

Devastating and heartbreaking, this will be a disappointment for readers looking for a conventional happy ending. But those willing to take the risk will—like Bitterblue—achieve something even more precious: a hopeful beginning. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

THE SELECTION

Cass, Kiera HarperTeen (336 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-06-205993-2 It’s a bad sign when you can figure out the elevator pitch for a novel from the get-go.

In this case, if it wasn’t “The Bachelor meets The Hunger Games,” it was pretty darn close. In a rigid, caste-based dystopian future, Illéa’s Prince Maxon has come of age and needs to marry. One girl will be chosen by lottery from each province to travel to the Capital and live in the palace so the prince can make his choice. The winning girl will become queen, and her family will all be elevated to Ones. America, a Five, doesn’t want to join the Selection because she is in love with Aspen, a Six. But pressure from both her family and Aspen causes her to relent, and the rest is entirely predictable. She’s chosen, she goes to the palace, she draws the ire of the other girls with her beauty and the interest of the prince with her spunky independence. Prince Maxon is much nicer than she expected, but she will remain loyal to Aspen. Maybe. Shabby worldbuilding complements the formulaic plot. Scant explanation is made for the ructions that have created the current political reality, and the palace is laughably vulnerable to rebels from both the North and the South, neither of whom are given any credible motives. But there’s lots of descriptions of dresses.

A probably harmless, entirely forgettable series opener.

(Dystopian romance. 13 & up)

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THE YEAR OF THE BEASTS

Castellucci, Cecil Illus. by Powell, Nate Roaring Brook (192 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-59643-686-2

A tale of contemporary family and a comic that draws on Greek mythology unfold in alternating chapters, interweaving to tell of two sisters blighted by the sting of jealousy.

When the boy who is the object of Tessa’s crush chooses her younger sister, Lulu, a fissure develops between the two.

Struggling against her feelings of increasing invisibility, Tessa finds solace in a secret relationship with awkward loner Jasper, but then she really falls for him. Meanwhile, Medusa is re-imagined as a marginalized high school student. She is first shown up by a lovely mermaid and then runs from a shadowy Minotaur in graphic-novel chapters, which unfurl in variously sized panels that sweep across the pages. A tragic turn of events finally makes clear the connection between the two dramas—a dovetail that many will struggle to understand throughout most of this short work. Tessa’s third-person voice may leave readers feeling at a distance from her, but that suits the tone of her character just fine. Teens will feel sympathy for her, particularly in regard to her situation with Jasper, but they’ll likely also be somewhat repelled by the ugliness of her raw envy.

It won’t be for everyone, but sophisticated readers will eat this melancholy, appealingly disjointed novel right up.

(Graphic/fiction hybrid. 12-16)

DYING TO KNOW YOU

Chambers, Aidan Amulet/Abrams (288 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0165-8

Will a story told in believable first-person voice by a 75-year-old man truly strike a chord with a teen audience? The answer is yes, though it may be a smallish one.

Karl approaches the older man, an author, with a request. His new girlfriend, Fiorella, has tasked him with providing a series of written answers to questions she’s composed so that she can find out more about him. But Karl, an 18-year-old plumber who’s no longer in school, is dyslexic; answering the questions is beyond him. Seeing something of himself in Karl, the author reluctantly agrees to help, but acquiring a good understanding of Karl is hard. Only slowly recovering from grief over his father’s death, the boy doesn’t like to talk about himself. The friendship the two form as Karl gradually gains knowledge of himself that isn’t based on the previous failures in his life is artfully, touchingly portrayed. It’s filtered through the fictional author’s aged point of view, which is punctuated with prostate issues and his own sorrow over the recent

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“The pace in this debut is leisurely, but readers… will be rooting for Frankie Joe. The final scenes soar with hope.” from freaky fast frankie joe

death of his wife. As Karl matures, the author also changes, finding a welcome release from his emotional pain. The storyteller’s unique perspective ultimately enhances the tale but also skews it to a more sophisticated group of readers.

This quietly understated performance captures the wistfulness of music in a minor key and is ultimately successful in its life-affirming message. (Fiction. 12 & up)

ADHD IN HD Brains Gone Wild

Chesner, Jonathan Free Spirit (160 pp.) $14.99 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-57542-386-9 A writer with ADHD shares his experiences and offers practical advice to readers who might also have brains that are

wired differently.

“My name is Jonathan, and I have a special brain,” says Chesner, who is quick to tell readers he is a perfectly smart person; he even attended the University of Southern California and received a degree in public policy. But he knew early on that his brain wasn’t like other people’s brains. He says, “I had the type of brain that would wear a Hawaiian shirt, bright red pants, and cool painted shoes to a wedding.” From garish cover to hyperactive format, the design of the volume imitates the author’s brain—lots of bright yellow, more than 60 short chapters on distinct topics for easy and frenetic skipping around and many photographs, drawings and speech bubbles. In the midst of the hyperactive goings-on, Chesner offers plenty of good-hearted advice on such topics as dating, homework, snacks and family life, concluding by advising readers to follow their hearts and dreams. He cautions that life isn’t a fairy tale, and “most dreams don’t come true,” but readers will never know if they don’t try.

Readers with ADHD, and anyone else for that matter, will like the “go for it” spirit of a writer who found blessings in his struggles with his “special brain.” (glossary, index, about the author) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)

BOBO’S SMILE

Chwast, Seymour Illus. by Chwast, Seymour Creative Editions/Creative Company (32 pp.) $14.99 | Apr. 15, 2012 978-1-56846-221-9 A particularly poker-faced clown searches far and wide for happiness after the circus closes, only to find it after a most unexpected and unpleasant event.

On the cover Bobo’s smile is missing. Even though the endpapers offer myriad upturned mouths to choose from, recovering his smile will not come so easily. Yes, life was good when he could make people laugh, but that all vanishes when the |

circus is shuttered. Initially sad, the clown decides to take a trip around the world. Chwast’s flat, bright colors outlined in ink on muted pastel backgrounds illustrate his many adventures: in an airplane, on a roller coaster, astride an elephant and underwater.

Each framed picture portrays a straight-faced Bobo experiencing it all. The first-person narration, delivered in an easy-to-read text, accompanies the retro graphic art. “Finally it was time to go home.” The following wordless spread reveals a bewildered Bobo crossing a city street teeming with vehicles. Somewhat shockingly the page turn shows a suspicious man all in brown robbing the colorful clown. This results in the buttons falling off of his clothes and hat. He then begins to juggle the buttons—still with an expressionless face. Soon his juggling draws a crowd. Then he smiles.

Unfortunately, the well-meaning message is delivered by a character whose lack of affect has no likely appeal for the intended preschool audience. (Picture book. 3-5)

FREAKY FAST FRANKIE JOE

Clifton, Lutricia Holiday House (144 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8234-2367-5 While his mom is in jail, Frankie Joe tries to adjust to living with his newly surfaced father, FJ, his stepmother and “the four legitimate Huckaby sons.”

The brothers tease Frankie Joe because, academically, he is “freaky slow,” which is at odds with how fast he is when he runs or bikes. The tension and the cast of characters are well-developed, especially Frankie Joe, who is believably resistant to the new setting and the rules of the house.

Speaking in the first-person, Frankie Joe shows spunk, spinning the taunt into a positive when he launches Frankie Joe’s Freaky Fast Delivery Service. With his income, he plans his escape back home from Illinois to Texas. But with each day Frankie Joe becomes more integrated into—and essential to—the town and the family, starting with his friendship with another town oddball, elderly Miss Peachcott. She tells Frankie Joe his family history.

With this reveal, the author realistically depicts Frankie Joe’s growing doubts about his mother’s decisions. His mother’s final act, abandoning him to FJ, leaves Frankie Joe grief-stricken and depressed but he now has a new understanding of what responsibility and home mean.

The pace in this debut is leisurely, but readers, like the town folk and his newfound family, will be rooting for Frankie Joe. The final scenes soar with hope. (Fiction. 8-12)

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“Brilliant: a vision of history before the victors wrote it.” from the wicked and the just

THE WICKED AND THE JUST

Coats, J. Anderson Harcourt (352 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-547-68837-4 Two girls of very different degree are brought together unwillingly by the English conquest of Wales.

Cecily is in a pet at having to leave the home of her youth—where her mother is buried—and relocate to the Welsh frontier, but her father is a younger son. He will take a burgage in Caernarvon, recently conquered by Edward I. In exchange for a home, he will help to keep the King’s peace. Cecily hates Caernarvon. She hates its weather, its primitive appointments and its natives, especially Gwinny, the servant girl who doesn’t obey, and the young man who stares at her. It would be easy to dismiss this book as a Karen Cushman knockoff; Cecily’s voice certainly has a pertness that recalls Catherine, Called Birdy. But there’s more of an edge, conveyed both in the appalling ease with which Cecily dismisses the Welsh as subhuman and in Gwinny’s fierce parallel narrative. “I could kill the brat a hundred different ways.”

Never opting for the easy characterization, debut author Coats compellingly re-creates this occupation from both sides. It all leads to an ending so brutal and unexpected it will take readers’ breath away even as it makes them think hard about the title.

Brilliant: a vision of history before the victors wrote it. (historical note) (Historical fiction. 12 & up)

ANIMAL JAMBOREE / LA FIESTA DE LOS ANIMALES Latino Folktales / Leyendas Latinas

Cofer, Judith Ortiz Illus. by Dawson, Ted & Mora, Giovanni Piñata Books/Arté Público (96 pp.) $9.95 paperback | Apr. 30, 2012 978-1-55885-743-8 Cofer offers a slim bilingual collection of animal tales.

In “The Animals’ Grand Fiesta,” arrogance gets the best of a lion and a lioness, and readers discover how goats lost their long bushy tails. A resourceful ant helps an older couple save their garden from a hungry goat in “The Brave Little Ant and El Señor Chivo.” In the shortest (and most awkwardly told) tale, “A Funeral for Nangato,” a cunning cat teaches a village of mice a lesson in how they live their lives. In the most entertaining story in the collection, “The Parrot Who Loved Chorizos: A Puerto Rican Tale,” a frustrated cook bests a gluttonous bird with a penchant for spicy sausage. The entire English collection is followed by the Spanish version, and the second and fourth tales are set expressly in Puerto Rico. The remaining stories 612

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contain occasional Spanish words and animals that add a Latino flavor to otherwise universal tales. Readers familiar with the author’s work may miss the original characters for which she is best known, as the tales are too short to allow many of her strengths as a writer to flourish. Humorous black-and-white illustrations complement the tales.

Although a worthy addition due to the scarcity of such books, the sparse collection would have been strengthened by additional tales. (Folktales. 8-12)

WATER SINGS BLUE Ocean Poems

Coombs, Kate Illus. by So, Meilo Chronicle (32 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8118-7284-3

Twenty-three poems and evocative watercolor paintings pay tribute to the wonders of the ocean world.

The versatile Coombs shows she’s as adept at poetry as she is at concocting or adapting fairy tales (Hans My Hedgehog, 2012, etc.). She invites young readers into her celebration with an opening “Song of the Boat” and ends with the message of the “Tideline.” “‘Don’t forget me— / I was here, / wasss h e r e / wasssss h e r e …’” Varied rhyme and rhythmic patterns and surprising connections characterize these relatively short poems, which read aloud well and stick in the memory. There’s humor, interesting language and intriguing imagery, as when the Gulper Eel’s “astronomical maw” is compared to a black hole. Thoughtful organization and placement of text on the page and So’s wavery, watery illustrations extend the poems’ meaning. A series of couplets describing “What the Waves Say” is illustrated with panels of varying water-surface patterns. Three different jellyfish poems share a double-page spread; another spread emphasizes the size of a blue whale with its vertical orientation and a shipwreck lying at the bottom. Sand-colored endpapers show objects washed up on shore: a shell, a feather, a crab’s claw and what might just be the remains of a footprint.

Share this admirable appreciation with a wide audience. (Picture book/poetry. 4-10)

WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE

Coriell, Shelley Amulet/Abrams (320 pp.) $16.95 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0191-7

In an upbeat, by-the-book romance, a popular girl shunned by her two best friends finds a home among the misfits at the school’s radio station.

Just after Chloe’s best friends stop speaking to her, A. Lundgren, guidance counselor, calls loud,

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big-hearted Chloe into her office to discuss her JISP—junior independent study project. A combination of mishaps and negligence on Chloe’s part leads Lundgren to assign Chloe a JISP topic. Chloe finds herself in a portable classroom with shy freshmen Frick and Frack, hostile Clementine, music-obsessed Taysom, pregnant Haley and unexpectedly cute Duncan. Her mission: promote the school’s underfunded radio station or fail junior year. Using marketing skills learned from her work at Dos Hermanas Mexican Cantina and her natural gift for gab, Chloe turns the radio station around by hosting a call-in advice show.

The story hits a few false notes: The rumors Brie spreads are particularly vicious but evaporate quickly; the radio show takes off a bit too suddenly to be believed; and could one teenager really own that many pairs of glam vintage shoes? But the lighthearted tone, familiar plot and occasional poignant moments between Chloe and her similarly headstrong grandmother will carry readers through.

Formulaic fluff with a winning personality. (Fiction. 12 & up)

13 HANGMEN

Corriveau, Art Amulet/Abrams (352 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0159-7 When Tony DiMarco’s family moves from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Boston’s North End, Tony finds himself in the middle of a mystery going back to the days of Paul Revere.

Tony is about to turn 13 when the DiMarcos move into a town house at 13 Hangmen Court. His great-uncle, Zio Angelo, has died and left the house to the DiMarcos, oddly stipulating that Tony should get his attic bedroom. And it’s in that attic room that Tony discovers a slate shelf above the bookcase with an odd spiral shape carved into its center, with a mysterious power to conjure people from the past. The novel’s cover featuring a ghostly Red Sox player from the past suggests that this will be a baseball mystery, and readers may be disappointed when they realize it’s not. Instead, it’s a complex tale involving everything from Algonquin vision quests, Hermann Minkowski’s “block universe” theory, the Great Molasses Flood of 1919, the Underground Railroad, gangsters, witch trials and Paul Revere. This abundance of historical detail is perhaps too weighty for the relatively modest mystery at the story’s core. Readers who love history may look beyond the lure of the Red Sox mystery and find themselves happily immersed in the fascinating tale.

Ghostly fun in old Boston. (historical note) (Fantasy. 9-14)

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HEIDI HECKELBECK AND THE COOKIE CONTEST

Coven, Wanda Little Simon/Simon & Schuster (128 pp.) $14.99 | paper $4.99 | May 8, 2012 978-1-4424-4166-8 978-1-4424-4165-1 paperback Series: Heidi Heckelbeck, 2 A touch of magic changes boring cookies into something “special” in this early chapter book about cooking and following one’s own heart.

Heidi Heckelbeck excitedly enters her elementary-school cookie contest, wanting to share her family’s Chocolate Chunk Cookies with her friends. Super-competitive Melanie Maplethorpe mocks her recipe, saying it’s boring. Even when Heidi’s best friend Lucy gives her excellent advice—”Stick with what you do best and you’ll come out on top”—Heidi is unconvinced. She consults her hidden Book of Spells, gathers her ingredients, adds a special dash and waits for the spell to work. While the cookies look beautiful, the smell and taste are surprising—and not in a good way. When Lucy’s plain cookie wins the competition, Heidi learns that Lucy’s original advice was solid. With black line drawings reminiscent of the Jetsons on each page, this slim volume will speak to young readers who have been listening in on television cooking shows with their families. While the plot about magic and spells feels strangely out of place, the rest of this basic school and family story is easy to follow. A recipe for the winning cookies would have been a natural extension for hungry readers.

While somewhat pedestrian fare, this easy-to-read series installment goes down easy enough. (Fiction. 5-8)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MRS. MILLIE!

Cox, Judy Illus. by Mathieu, Joe Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6126-5 Mrs. Millie’s silliness with mixed-up words continues as her students plan a few birthday surprises, and this time, it is not just Mrs. Millie who gets her words wrong (Don’t Be Silly, Mrs. Millie!, 2005, etc.).

The kids begin it by having their parents help them “decorate the classroom with colorful baboons. / Oh! We mean balloons.”

They lay out treats, knowing that Mrs. Millie will call them “cubcakes” when she sees them, and lay in a good supply of “apple moose” to drink. Then it’s time for the party. They surprise Mrs. Millie and go through all the normal birthday rituals—presents, cake, blowing out the candle, making a wish and playing games.

Every spread save one features some sort of word mix-up, whether based on rhymes (moose and juice) or just words that sound similar (camel and candle). Cox’s text leans heavily on Mathieu’s brightly colored pencil-and-watercolor illustrations for humor, and he

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definitely delivers. The zany mash-ups he creates are sure to elicit giggles in readers, though they may not last through repeated readings once they get over the novelty. His cast of characters includes a mix of skin colors, though it would have been nice if their facial expressions were just as varied.

While the schtick may be getting a little old for everyday readers, clever teachers could turn this into a creative writing/art lesson that works for multiple grade levels. (Picture book. 4-7)

TROUBLE AT TRIDENT ACADEMY

Dadey, Debbie Aladdin (112 pp.) $14.99 | paper $5.99 | May 18, 2012 978-1-4424-4978-7 978-1-4424-2980-2 paperback Series: Mermaid Tales, 1 Prolific Dadey’s (Keyholders: The Wrong Side of Magic, 2010, etc.) latest series follows young mermaids through turbulent

friendships.

Eight-year-old best friends Shelly and Echo are overjoyed to be starting school at the prestigious Trident Academy at the same time. Rambunctious and good-natured, together they cause mild trouble, especially in trying to find a way to make grumpy Mr. Fangtooth crack a smile. Their friendship wobbles when they disagree over whether to ask Shelly’s grandfather for help on a school project or not. The minor tiff leads to Echo’s sudden friendship with Pearl, a rich snob who dislikes Shelly most of all. Echo and Shelly miss each other, though, and restore their friendship while reaching out to another mermaid who is new to the area and has made friends. While Echo and Shelly are not particularly distinctive, and Pearl and the archetypal token boy, Rocky, are cartoony, the characters’ interactions are funny and believable. The friendship-driven conflicts continue in Battle of the Best Friends (publishing simultaneously).

In Battle, Pearl books a top under-the-sea band to perform and invites Echo but not Shelly; the end again reinforces the importance of inclusiveness and rewards those who are nice.

The underwater setting adds some dimension to straightforward friendship stories. (class reports written by each character, song lyrics, author’s note, glossary) (Fantasy. 6-9)

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WRECKED

Davies, Anna Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4424-3278-9 A girl runs afoul of the wicked sea witch but finds love with one of her minions in this new take on the mermaid theme.

Miranda lives with her wealthy grandmother on a small island off South Carolina. After a beach party, she pilots her boat on a joyride, but a freak storm wrecks the craft, killing four of her friends and putting her boyfriend into a coma. A mysterious boy swims her to safety. Unaccountably, her schoolmates and the adults at her private school all blame her for the accident, despite proof that she wasn’t drinking. Miranda takes refuge on a deserted beach where she meets a boy who suddenly appears there. Christian isn’t actually a merman but a “betwixtman,” living either down below or up above. He is, however, a creature of the sea and, of course, impossibly handsome. The Sea Witch has commanded him to collect Miranda’s soul, but, naturally, he falls in love with the girl and plots to kill the witch instead. Meanwhile the witch appears on land with her own plot to collect Miranda’s soul. Although the concept here seems an original-enough twist on mermaid stories, the execution doesn’t stand above the average, and the resolution seems far too easy.

For paranormal-romance addicts only. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)

HAPPY FAMILIES

Davis, Tanita S. Knopf (240 pp.) $16.99 | $10.99 e-book | PLB $19.99 May 8, 2012 978-0-375-86966-2 978-0-375-98457-0 e-book 978-0-375-96966-9 PLB In a compassionate family drama, twins Ysabel and Justin struggle with the revelation that their father has begun liv-

ing as a woman.

Before, Ysabel was a talented glassblower and Justin a champion debate-team member, and the pair lived with both parents.

After, their father has moved to the other side of the state, and everything has become uncertain. Will the twins’ parents get a divorce? Is Christine still the same person as the dad they knew?

Why did everything have to change? For spring break, Ysabel and Justin’s parents arrange for the twins to stay with their father for the first time after the big news. Both the tension and the deep caring among Ysabel, Justin and Christine are palpable as the family (reluctantly, on the twins’ part) attends daily therapy sessions, eats extravagant takeout meals and embarks on a guided rafting trip with other transgender parents and their children. Exposition is handled gracefully; both dialogue

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“Irresistible rhythm, adorable monkeys and pitch-perfect rhyme make this a must-have for the preschool set.” from two little monkeys

HORTEN’S MIRACULOUS MECHANISMS Magic, Mystery & a Very Strange Adventure

and narrative inform readers about what it means to be transgender while still staying true to the characters involved. The twins’ move from suspicion to acceptance comes quickly but believably, and action-oriented scenes—a harrowing moment rafting, a search for a missing twin—keep the pace brisk. The story’s focus on an African-American family makes it particularly notable in LGBTQ-themed teen literature.

Warmly drawn; a valuable conversation-starter for families like Ysabel and Justin’s. (Fiction. 12 & up)

FRIEND ME! 600 Years of Social Networking in America

DiPiazza, Francesca Davis Twenty-First Century/Lerner (112 pp.) $24.95 e-book | PLB $33.26 | May 1, 2012 What do Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have in common with coffeehouses, broadsides and the Sears, Roebuck & Co. mail-order catalogue? They are all types of social networking.

Using examples from hundreds of years of American history, DiPiazza shows readers that long before the Internet or even electricity, there was plenty of social networking going on. The author defines social networks as “groups of people connected by common interests and needs.” With that broad definition, she proceeds to explain how ring shouts organized by slaves, calling cards, telegrams, radio and telephones are all examples of social media. Clear text explains the essential role social networking plays in such things as cooperative ventures, the structure of communities, the exchange of ideas and knowledge and the organization of political protests. The book also notes that along with the great strides advanced technologies have brought to social networking, there are also dark sides, such as bullying, fraud and cyber-stalking. Short chapters liberally illustrated with photographs and other archival material take readers chronologically from pre-Columbian North America to today.

What this book does best is place current modes of social media and their impact in a historical context and encourage readers to think about social networking in a whole new way. (bibliography, further reading, index, primary source quotations, source notes, websites) (Nonfiction. 10-18)

Evans, Lissa Sterling (272 pp.) $14.95 | $7.99 e-book | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4027-9806-1 978-1-4027-9845-0 e-book Wacky, funny and ever so mysterious, this clever tale hits the ground running and never lets up.

Very short 10-year-old Stuart Horten—S. Horten, get it?—thinks he’s facing a long, boring summer when his parents pack the three of them up and move to his father’s hometown as school lets out. His parents are a pleasantly oblivious pair: His mom is an unimaginative doctor, and his father designs crosswords for a living. (He joyfully tosses around hundreddollar words like “prestidigitator” and “perambulation.”) Stuart quickly discovers the long-abandoned home of his great uncle Teeny-Tiny Tony Horton, a famous magician who disappeared 50 years before, and the puzzle box left to his incurious father.

Resourceful Stuart wants to learn more, but he’s plagued by the girl next door, who’s intently following him everywhere. Just as a fabulous clue appears in a vandalized phone booth, the prying girl, April, shows up, and it turns out she’s identical twins—oh, no! triplets—April, May and June. And they’re shortly followed by the villainous, entrepreneurial Jeannie, hot on Stuart’s heels.

The pace is rapid, the clues to Tony’s disappearance are intriguing and the characters are vividly—often hilariously—drawn.

Irony runs hand in hand with just enough believable danger to create palpable tension.

A vastly engaging, must-read mystery infused with the perfect touch of captivating conjuration—er, magic. (Mystery. 9-14)

TWO LITTLE MONKEYS

Fox, Mem Illus. by Barton, Jill Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4169-8687-4 Irresistible rhythm, adorable monkeys and pitch-perfect rhyme make this a must-have for the preschool set.

“Two little monkeys / playing near a tree, / one named Cheeky, / one named Chee.” With the familiar rhythm of a nursery-school finger game, the text draws children into this story of two little monkeys and their escapades on the plains.

Playing among the high grasses and dirt, Cheeky and Chee are frightened by something prowling and take refuge in a nearby tree. Strong verbs like scramble, tremble, peep and leap are easy to decode and understand, allowing young readers to enjoy the pictures or act out the story along with these brave little monkeys. Barton’s soft watercolors, in purple, gray and tan, are both

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“Historic details about the real Hartgill, Longspee and Stourton are deftly woven into a ripping good story.” from ghost knight

captivating and comforting—never will readers actually fear for Cheeky and Chee’s safety. Hidden in the landscape are hints of the action to come: a tail in the grass or leopard spots in the brush. Gently paced visual and textual narratives (especially when the little monkeys are falling from a tree or running from the predator) make the book ideal for frequent rereading. The easy rhythm and rhyme will allow lap listeners to chant along while they memorize this one.

Look for little humans to add this to their play repertoire. (Picture book. 1-4)

SPIRIT’S PRINCESS

Friesner, Esther Random House (464 pp.) $17.99 | PLB $20.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-375-86907-5 978-0-375-89990-4 e-book 978-0-375-96907-2 PLB Series: Princesses of Myth, 5 Himiko, pampered daughter of a clan chief, wants only to become a shaman.

Friesner’s previous Princesses of Myth duologies featured young women (Helen of Troy and Queen Nefertiti) about whom enough historical or mythological information exists to provide the framework of story. With far less source material for Queen Himiko, the third-century Japanese shaman ruler, Himiko’s story is an original work overlaid on a historical framework. Himiko’s chieftain father adores her, as do her older brother and her father’s wives. Despite their love and affection, none of them takes Himiko seriously when she insists she is a shaman. Himiko herself isn’t sure she can achieve her goal; with one leg lame since she was a child, she can’t do a shaman’s dances. Though the current shaman insists Himiko will be her heir, it can’t happen until Himiko is ready to stand up to her father. As a nice twist, Himiko isn’t fighting sexism (the current shaman is female, and a nearby clan has a female shaman chieftess), but family history. It’s a somewhat plodding journey through Himiko’s early childhood and adolescence, but fans of Helen and Nefertiti will take Himiko into their hearts as well.

The slow-moving tale takes its readers on a journey through a tidily detailed historical setting, with a heroine not nearly as anachronistically progressive as is usual in such tales. (author’s note) (Historical fiction. 11-13)

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THREE LITTLE DINOSAURS

Fuge, Charles Illus. by Fuge, Charles Sterling (24 pp.) $14.95 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-1402796456

Plot plays a minor role at best in this brightly illustrated tale of three cute, stubby-limbed dinos getting a taste of flight.

Scratch, Sniff and Lofty—respectively a tyrannosaur, a ceratopsid and a brachiosaur—lumber energetically about their airy, open landscape, waving big leaves and even jumping off the top of a volcano in fruitless efforts to fly. Discouraged, they’re about to give up when along comes Terry Dactyl to offer them a ride on his back. “We really are flying!” they cry, before being dropped off atop Mrs. Brachiosaurus’ head and sliding down her back (“Whee!”) to the ground. The three prehistoric preschoolers proceed to sit down with slices of pinecone pie to watch Terry and his buddies swoop and soar as the sun sinks, and then it’s off to bed and further airborne dreams. Only carping critics will wonder how the playmates had missed spotting the Pterosaurs before.

A cozy, briefly told wish-fulfillment tale, lit up by pictures whose clear colors and solid-looking figures are easy on the eyes. (Picture book. 3-5)

GHOST KNIGHT

Funke, Cornelia Translated by Latsch, Oliver Illus. by Offermann, Andrea Little, Brown (352 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-316-05614-4 “Banished” to boarding school in contemporary Salisbury, England, 11-year-old Jon finds himself targeted by phantom riders determined to punish him for something that happened centuries before.

When his mother sends him off to Salisbury Cathedral School, Jon arrives “shrouded in thick mists of homesickness.”

Pursued by ghost riders only he can see and who call him “Hartgill,” his mother’s maiden name, a terrified Jon confides in fearless classmate Ella. She takes him to her grandmother, an expert on local ghosts. Ella’s grandmother warns Jon he’s being haunted by the ghost of Lord Stourton, a villain hanged in 1556 for the murders of Jon’s Hartgill ancestors. Ella suggests Jon evoke the ghost of William Longspee, a famous knight buried in Salisbury Cathedral. Longspee’s ghost proves a valorous champion, helping Jon eradicate Stourton and his vendetta. But Longspee harbors his own dark secret, which Jon pledges to resolve. Historic details about the real Hartgill, Longspee and Stourton are deftly woven into a ripping good story. It’s told with self-effacing humor from the perspective of an awkward boy who emerges as honorable and brave as the ghost knight and the contemporary

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girl he befriends. Black-and-white illustrations add to the Tudor atmosphere and drama.

Sword-swinging ghosts will haunt readers of this droll, harrowing and historically grounded ghost story. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 8-12)

KILLER GENES

Furlong, C.T. Inside Pocket (192 pp.) $7.99 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-9562-3157-4 Series: Arctic6 Adventures, 2 The intrepid Arctic6 team of British kids will try to save the U.S. President from death by a genetically engineered virus in the second installment of their eponymous series (Killer Strangelets, 2011).

This time the siblings, cousins and friends head out for an innocent camping trip in the English countryside when they stumble upon a mysterious facility that instantly arouses their suspicions. With their cell phones, iPads and a clever dog they sneak inside, to discover that, yes, indeed, another mad scientist is at work trying to take over the world. Actually, this time the mad scientist turns out to be the dupe of a mad businessman. Meanwhile, the kids learn that the wonderful U.S. President, attending the G-20 meeting, has fallen deathly ill and that several other world leaders have already died. Captured by the completely evil Peter Gek, they must escape and foil his vile, mass murderous plan. Gek, another completely over-the-top villain, obligingly brags about his vile plan, explaining most of it and leaving the rest available for the kids to decipher on his laptop. Furlong keeps his villains and plots entirely cartoonish as the kids scamper around, blogging the entire adventure all the while. It’s all preposterous and scrambled and plenty of fun for readers who like their suspense a bit comic and a lot crazy.

Book three, Killer Star, publishes simultaneously.

Scooby-Doo would fit right in. (Science fiction. 10-14)

SUMMER IN THE CITY

Gay, Marie-Louise & Homel, David Illus. by Gay, Marie-Louise Groundwood (144 pp.) $15.95 | $15.95 e-book | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55498-177-9 978-1-55498-200-4 e-book

and later on, he and his troublesome little brother Max take the wrong bus on a trip to the country. Still, most of the experiences during his post–sixth-grade summer run along the lines of agreeing to babysit a neighbor’s goldfish (with the inevitable result), discovering the perils of walking several dogs at once and sharing a backyard campsite with a skunk. It’s all agreeably capped by a surprise multigenerational birthday party in the nearby alley. Charlie relates his experiences in a bemused, almost selfdeprecatory tone, and Gay’s frequent fine-lined, loosely drawn illustrations mark all the high and low spots.

An upbeat summer idyll likely to draw chuckles whether read alone or aloud. (Fiction. 10-12)

MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH

Griffin, Bethany Greenwillow/HarperCollins (336 pp.) $17.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-210779-4 Griffin (Handcuffs, 2008) forsakes realism for sultry dystopia.

Araby Worth lives in a tower soaring above a swampy, disease-ridden city.

While her scientist father searches for a cure, Araby loses herself in a drugged haze and then finds purpose again joining a rebellion. But nothing is as Araby believes.

Multiple factions work at cross-purposes, everyone has a secret agenda and the complex plot only thickens in this riff on Poe’s short story. Griffin has taken several hot tropes—dystopic setting, pretty dresses, steampunk, love triangle—and created something that, if not new, at least feels different. The underlying questions about science and religion, which may save or destroy, and Araby’s strangely dispassionate understanding of her own depression (despite a remarkable blindness to anything else) give the tale an unexpected psychological tension. Araby’s precise, self-absorbed narration overwhelms some details of setting and nuances of character but elicits sympathy nonetheless. The complicated plotting fails to resolve in this volume (it is the first of two), but the inexorable movement towards the party in the prince’s palace, where the wealthiest will dance to his sadistic whims while the world crumbles (per the source tale), makes for satisfying reading despite the lack of answers.

Formulaic but fantastic, from the eye-catching cover to the growth of a heroine who might save the world. Tailormade for popular consumption. (Dystopic steampunk. 14 & up)

After previous family vacations highlighted by encounters with alligators, revolutionaries and natural disasters (see Travels With My Family, 2006, for details) a “stay-cation” at home in Montreal sounds a trifle boring to Charlie.

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k i r ku s q & a w i t h fa i t h e r i n h i c k s Canadian comics artist and writer Faith Erin Hicks’ graphic novel, Friends With Boys, features a young heroine who, like Hicks, has three brothers and must negotiate the tricky transition from being a home schooler to a high schooler. Here, Hicks explains a little about her longstanding interest in cartooning, her drafting process and why there’s a ghost in her story.

Q: How and when did you start cartooning?

Friends with Boys

Faith Erin Hicks First Second/ Roaring Brook (224 pp.) $15.99 Feb. 28, 2012 978-1-59643-556-8

A: I’ve always liked drawing, though I did not show promise at an early age. I started making comics in 1999 when I was in college and began putting them online. They were awful! I calculated how many pages I’ve drawn since then—1,800. I just got interested and kept doing them. And then along came the publishers. Being a full-time creator was not my initial goal—I am as astonished as anyone else that I can do this for a living.

Q: Where did the ghost in your story come from?

Q: What’s it like being a graphic artist in Halifax?

A: I enjoyed it. I’ll probably always prefer to write and draw my books, but this was fun—I was given the control to edit and change things around. I have opinions about timing. I like decompressing a scene in a comic so characters can have time to individually act and react to the emotion of that scene.

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A: When I write the initial script, I do thumbnails.

I get giant notepads at the dollar store. For me, it’s important that the art and writing be developed at the same time. I don’t really know where my stories start, they just sort of come, though I tend to start with characters. That’s the very beginning of an idea. When I am sitting down to write my script, I do thumbnails to make sure the art and the writing are balanced.

Q: You’re currently illustrating a work based on another writer’s story. How does this compare to doing it all yourself?

Q: So you liked being given a rough draft you didn’t have to write?

A: Yes, I didn’t have to come up with the story, which can be the hardest thing. I was given this great story—I was like Steven Spielberg doing my adaption of [Michael Morpurgo’s] War Horse!

–By Jessie Grearson

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au t h or il lus t rat io n co u rt e sy o f t he au t h o r

A: A lot of it’s memory…I think high school experiences are universal. I attended in the late ’90s…but I feel like if I went back, the technology would be 15 march 2012

A: This sounds lame, but I always tend to make comics I would personally enjoy reading. When I first did my Web comic in 1999 it was a Buffy the Vampire Slayer ripoff. I wanted a comic similar to that.

It’s been the same with every book. My first was about zombies. I like zombies. I really only started thinking about audience when I got published by First Second, since it’s more a concern for book publishers.

But I still write books that I would like. Though I am pleased when older male readers will come up to me and say, “I really enjoyed your book!” even though it’s about a 13-year-old girl. Knowing I am expanding horizons, showing them there are other works out there with female leads that they may also enjoy.

Q: Which comes first for you, the words or the sketches, and how do you work back and forth between drawings and text?

Q: Your work deals with contemporary subjects adolescents find interesting—bullying, peer relationships, what happens to home schoolers when they go to school, lunch-table dramas.

Are you remembering this, or are you connected to a school?

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Q: Who did you have in mind as your audience when you were working on Friends with Boys?

A: The ghost has a metaphorical nature in the story, which I don’t want to talk too much about, but I live in Halifax, Nova Scotia—and Halifax is very old, very layered, with a vast history. It’s also a maritime city with a reliance on the ocean.

I walk through the city, and there’s this posh downtown street next to a tiny cemetery. There are 1,200 grave markers in it but actually 12,000 people, all in this tiny plot of land. Halifax, it’s a modern city living right next door to all this vast history. So the ghost came out of wanting to set this comic in this sort of small town with a layered history. It’s not exactly Halifax, but the setting is inspired by it, and the ghost is a part of that.

A: Halifax has an amazing comic-book store and an amazing art store. I had a comic-book bible as a kid…

Comics are sort of hard to get into without an entry point. They can be unfriendly to a female reader, but this store called “Strange Adventures” was awesome and reached out to me, got me the books I needed.

It’s where I became a hardcore comic reader. The library system here is great, too.

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different, but there’d be the same crises, fights and [so on]. Everyone just goes through it. It’s always kind of a bummer.

“Hemphill’s deft sense of line, engaging language and fast-paced plot combine smoothly as molten glass in this intricate family drama….” from sisters of glass

FEROCITY SUMMER

Grosso, Alissa Flux (288 pp.) $9.95 paperback | May 8, 2012 978-0-7387-3070-7 A troubled teen tries to understand how her life has hit rock bottom in this clumsily executed, issue-cluttered novel.

Seventeen-year-old Scilla lives in a low-income dump, her best friend, Willow, is a drug addict and she keeps making out with Willow’s drug-dealing brother, Randy, even though she suspects she might be gay. In addition, she killed a woman while driving a speedboat drunk last summer. Her trial is coming up, and she might get a deal if she agrees to trade information on Randy’s drug connections, but first she’ll have to survive an attempted convenience-store robbery, a mob panicked by lightning at a concert and a multiple-vehicle car accident. Parts of Scilla’s history essay on Sherman’s March and anecdotes about a fictional designer drug named Ferocity muddy the plotline even further. Scilla’s cliché-ridden, unrealistically self-aware voice is didactic at best and doesn’t even begin to approximate how a teenager speaks at worst: “I’ve discovered a world that can’t be experienced by those who stick to the straight and narrow, and I like this world immensely at times…. Peer pressure is a difficult thing to resist, mostly because in all of us, there is a part that has no desire to resist.”

While peer pressure may be difficult to resist, this novel is not. (Fiction. 14 & up)

MAMMOTH AND ME

Hall, Algy Craig Illus. by Hall, Algy Craig Boxer/Sterling (32 pp.) $16.95 | Mar. 6, 2012 978-1-907967-22-1

Can a boy find a place for his new best friend, a misfit mammoth?

One night, there’s a knock at the door, and the little narrator, very small in striped pajamas, opens it to find… Mammoth!

Mammoth is baby blue with pink inner ears and “as big as the biggest truck and hairier than a yak.” Also, he looks hungry; the boy feeds him fish sticks and peas right from the freezer (Mammoth is too big to fit through the door). Things go downhill from there. While taking a nap in the garden, the mammoth flattens Dad’s shed; at the park he crushes the swing; and he empties the swimming pool with a single dive. He even has an “accident” all over a car; the driver declares, “This town is no place for a mammoth!” What to do? Just when things seem hopeless, the boy sees a broken-down bus in the distance, full of stranded children and a distraught driver. Mammoth has a great idea; he carries everyone home. Now everyone wants to be his friend. And Dad says Mammoth can live with them after all. Hall’s prose captures the wide-eyed simplicity of the very |

young, and his illustrations, using watercolor paints, pencil, and graphite stick, seem both warmed and washed with whimsy.

A simple, engaging tale, with a subtle lesson. (Picture book. 2-5)

SISTERS OF GLASS

Hemphill, Stephanie Knopf (160 pp.) $16.99 | $10.99 e-book | PLB $19.99 Mar. 27, 2012 978-0-375-86109-3 978-0-375-89701-6 e-book 978-0-375-96109-0 PLB Love and conventional roles for women collide in this page-ripping tale from 15th-century Venice.

The gifted Printz Honor–winning poet (Your Own, Sylvia, 2007, etc.) turns to Renaissance Italy to probe timeless questions of class, gender roles and family ties. Setting her story on the tiny island of Murano in the late 1400s, Hemphill shines a light on the world of glassmaking as crafted by the well-established Barovier family. The tale’s tension centers around Maria’s promise to honor her dying father’s wish that she marry into Venetian nobility. This responsibility should have fallen to her older sister, Giovanna, whose beauty, charm and upbringing have primed her to become a noblewoman her entire life. At age 15, Maria feels the expanse of her world beginning to shrink as her mother starts preparing her “to be bartered away.” She finds that “learning to be a lady / is like learning / to live within a shell.” Maria’s misery only increases when an alluring glassblower arrives on the scene, making her long even more to be allowed to preserve the family’s social station by exercising her talents as a glassmaker. Hemphill’s deft sense of line, engaging language and fast-paced plot combine smoothly as molten glass in this intricate family drama, in which modern self-determination eventually trumps tradition.

A fiery, feminist love story young teens, particularly girls, should just devour. (Verse novel. 11 & up)

FAT NO MORE A Teenager’s Victory over Obesity

Hidalgo-Robert, Alberto Piñata Books/Arté Público (192 pp.) $16.95 paperback | Apr. 30, 2012 978-1-55885-745-2

A disarmingly brash weight-loss memoir from the college-age creator of the Healthy Bert: No Child Left with a Big Behind Foundation.

Hidalgo-Robert was dubbed “El Gordito” (“little fat boy”) before he was even a year old and weighed 230 pounds at 14. The memoir opens with a lengthy indictment of not only himself for years of junk-food addiction, but also his family for being

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“Lizzie’s deeply felt poems depict her sudden downward spiral.” from the girl in the mirror

too indulgent and the pediatricians in his native El Salvador for pushing weight-loss diets. As he puts it in typically frothy style: “Read the following words carefully and engrave them on your brain: DIETS DO NOT WORK! Diets suck. Diets are unhealthy. If you want to lead a starvation-a-la-mode life, use a diet!” What does work for him is the Lucile Packard Weight Control Program, which he characterizes as focusing less on weight loss than lifestyle changes. Aside from cutting out TV (“I was screaming in my seething mind,” he declaims upon learning this) those changes all seem to involve categorizing foods and limiting the intake of certain kinds, but never mind: Five years after starting, he’s 69 pounds lighter. Whether or not that entitles him to claim that he’s “won the battle,” at least he demonstrates that the approach can lead to long-term weight loss.

There’s a little too much self-flagellation, but the author’s age and blithely awkward prose may win points with a teen audience. (food lists, recipes, before and after photos) (Memoir. 12-18)

DREAM BIG Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Olympic Gold

Jordan, Deloris Illus. by Root, Barry Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-1-4424-1269-9

Michael Jordan’s mother returns for another story about her famous son’s childhood.

Michael Jordan’s childhood dreams were always of playing basketball. His friends, brothers and mother are full of upbeat advice, encouraging him to work hard and keep practicing.

After watching the U.S. Olympic team battle Russia, young Michael announces to his mother that he will be an Olympic basketball champion. More pat advice about dreamers and doers follows. But Michael puts his plan into action by asking his coach what he could do now to get closer to that dream. And in an ending that echoes Salt in His Shoes (cowritten with Roslyn Jordan and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, 2000), he goes to his older brother’s scrimmage and makes a three-pointer right over the heads of his opponents. An afterword sums up Michael’s journey to the Olympic Games—the culmination of lots of little steps undertaken day after day. While Michael’s story is an inspiring one, Jordan’s retelling may leave readers feeling less uplifted than bashed over the head. She tells rather than shows, and her emphasis on schoolwork, while worthy, is repeated a bit too often for either readers’ comfort or the flow of the story.

Root’s watercolor-and-gouache illustrations convey to readers just how much Michael lives and breathes basketball.

Not likely to be a life-changing inspiration to any, save diehard Michael Jordan fans. (Picture book/biography. 4-7)

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THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR

Kearney, Meg Persea Books (176 pp.) $15.00 paperback | Apr. 15, 2012 978-0-89255-385-3

Before Lizzie McLane can search for her birth mother, she first needs to find herself.

In The Secret of Me (2005), a novel in verse, 14-year-old Lizzie began a quest to discover her place within her adoptive family. Three years older in this standalone sequel, also told in verse and journal entries, the now–highschool senior has started the process of looking for her birth mother. Her introductory entry briefly recounts the history of the prior book and delivers a shocker: Her father passed away on the same day that a letter with non-identifying information about her birth mother arrived from the adoption agency.

Lizzie’s deeply felt poems depict her sudden downward spiral.

She mourns the loss of what was and what could have been, joins her older coworkers in late-night partying and drinking and tries to reconcile her feelings about her old boyfriend and a sensitive, guitar-playing romantic possibility. When her change in lifestyle results in losing close friends and a near rape, Lizzie realizes that she no longer recognizes the girl she sees in the mirror. Kearney, an adoptee herself, ends with information about adoption support groups and resources. She also offers a guide to many of the poems’ forms (ballads, pantoums, villanelles, etc.) and structures.

Fans of Helen Frost will admire the attention to both poetics and story. (Poetry. 14 & up)

THE SHABBAT PUPPY

Kimmelman, Leslie Illus. by Zollars, Jaime Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6145-6

The peaceful respite offered by Shabbat is celebrated in the nature walks a boy and his grandfather enjoy.

Grampa’s weekly ritual encourages Noah to find Shabbat shalom, or Sabbath peace, in the beauty of the natural world. Summer offers a fluttering butterfly and ducks on a lake.

Autumn’s falling leaves reflect the sun’s “dancing dots of light,” along with a glistening spider web and sweet raspberries. Softly falling snowflakes in the quiet atmosphere of winter are perfect exemplars of Shabbat shalom. But Noah wishes to share all this with his dog Mazel, quite the rambunctious puppy, whose exuberance, according to Grampa, would spoil the tranquility and purpose of outings on the day of rest. But once a year has passed, Mazel, a bit older and less feisty, joins Noah and Grampa on the weekly stroll to find their Shabbat shalom together. Doublepage graphite drawings digitally colored in muted shades provide an array of unassuming urban scenes. Numerous examples in the text flesh out Grampa’s exhortation to appreciate life in the observance of the day of rest.

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An effective presentation of the weekly religious observance as a personal reflection on life’s simple pleasures.

(Picture book. 5-7)

IN HONOR

Kirby, Jessi Simon & Schuster (240 pp.) $16.99 | May 8, 2012 978-1-442-41697-0 A road trip brings two collateral victims of the war in Iraq together.

Honor, an orphan, is shocked to receive a letter from her soldier brother right after his funeral. Opening it, she finds tickets to a favorite musician’s farewell concert and decides it is imperative that she attend. Disreputable and usually drunk, her brother’s former best friend, Rusty, jumps in the car to go along. The road trip that ensues takes the two from Texas to California and from antagonism to intimacy.

Rusty’s version of how Finn decided to join the Marines—a decision that led to his death in Iraq—is quite different from what Honor believes is true. That, along with Rusty’s memories of their shared past, makes Honor realize that she may have been wrong about a number of things. Some parts of the plot are unsatisfyingly glib. Honor’s Aunt Gina, her guardian, has an unbelievably accommodating parenting style. The debit card Honor borrowed from her brother is just too convenient. And Honor dismisses supposed best friend Lilah all too easily. But bad-boy Rusty is appealing, as are the folks they meet along the way, and Rusty and Honor’s romantic banter is satisfying.

A somewhat fluffy read about non-fluffy issues. (Fiction. 12-16)

GLIMMER

Kitanidis, Phoebe Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $17.99 | PLB $18.89 | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-06-179928-0 978-0-06-179929-7 PLB Two teens from opposite ends of the high-school caste system investigate their own identities and learn a hellishly perfect town’s provenance.

The two meet when they awake naked in the same bed, unable to remember how they arrived there. They don’t even remember their own names; those they discover when locals in Summer Falls recognize them. In Summer Falls, all storybooks end on a high note, and inhabitants spontaneously pass out when they experience anything painful, recovering quickly to forget all details of distress. In their quest to understand who they are and what happened to them, Elyse and Marshall learn that they are endowed with complementary mystical abilities and that both possess dark family histories. Journals Elyse once left behind provide invaluable clues; somehow she once survived |

adversity long enough before a “heatnap” struck her to know that memory is unreliable. For readers who accept this, other questionable arrangements aren’t much more egregious. Discerning readers, though, will notice inconsistencies in the rules of Kitandis’ (Whisper, 2010) world. Though Elyse and Marshall alternately narrate, Marshall is less dynamic. No less inquisitive than she, he is more subdued and devoted to their budding romance. The author does not shy away from violence or spare the protagonists from personal connections to the forces of evil and oppression.

Touches on it all—sex, ghosts, magic and dystopia—but masters none of it. (Paranormal romance. 12 & up)

OUT OF THE WAY! OUT OF THE WAY!

Krishnaswami, Uma Illus. by Krishnaswamy, Uma Groundwood (28 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55498-130-4 A boy in India sees a baby tree growing by the side of a dusty path, and, because he protects it, it flourishes throughout his lifetime despite the changes to the landscape around him.

Krishnaswami’s spare text tracks the tree’s growth over time, with the titular refrain “Out of the way! Out of the way!” giving voice to those who hurry past it. Mixed-media pictures inspired

by India’s arts-and-crafts tradition depict the path turning into a lane, then a street, then a road, signaling the rapid development that transforms the landscape from a quiet, sleepy village into a busy town. Meanwhile, the boy grows into a man, and the tree becomes a meeting place for local people. The message to stop and smell the roses (or enjoy the tree) comes through effectively as spreads become more and more saturated with imagery that crowds out white space. Some readers may be unable to easily identify the boy who leads off the story from page to page, but the text seems less interested in following his character than on attending to the tree’s particular role in providing a place of rest and beauty. And in that, it succeeds beautifully.

A lovely, unique contribution. (Picture book. 4-8)

HEART OF A WARRIOR 7 Ancient Secrets to a Great Life

Langlas, Jim Free Spirit (160 pp.) $15.99 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-57542-388-3 This guide to building character with a Korean martial arts focus is unusual but not completely successful.

Langlas draws inspiration from the Hwarangdo, ancient Korean warriors whose ideals became a philosophical basis for Taekwondo. Seven principles form a

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code of honor: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, community service and love. By embodying these principles, teens can become warriors: people who are successful, happy members of society. Each of the principles and its fundamentals are explained clearly in simple, encouraging prose. The “Room for Reflection” sidebars create opportunities to apply what’s being taught. The teen voices in the “Voice of a Warrior” and “A Story from the Warrior’s Path” interpolations, however, feel more like writing-prompt responses than authentic expression. What lets down the work is the framing device in which wise Master Yi teaches his students each of the principles. Zen-sounding homilies like “The life of possessions is not always the life of having” and examples drawn from a Hwarangdo mindset might lead to eye rolls.

If teens are willing to overlook the clichés, they will gain appreciation for the warrior’s path. However, this work will probably be most useful for martial arts instructors and teachers as a way to discuss character. (afterword, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

SEEING SYMMETRY

Leedy, Loreen Illus. by Leedy, Loreen Holiday House (32 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 15, 2012 978-0-8234-2360-6

An entertaining assortment of dozens of diverse and colorful examples from quilts to kites to cupcakes invites the reader to discover both line and rotational symmetry.

The cleverly designed cover and title page provide an example of “flip” or mirror symmetry right off the mark. The book moves on to a clear and simple explanation of the line of symmetry—an image of a folded-paper sea turtle is followed by an image of a real sea turtle—and provides many examples, including individual letters and even words that exhibit symmetry. Leedy moves on to a discussion of rotational symmetry, with various spinning designs. Throughout, the approach is clear, direct, simple and encouraging. One double-page spread of holiday symbols and decorations seems unnecessarily narrow and a bit commercialized, but overall, the layout, diagrams, font sizes and use of color set this overall above a mere textbook treatment. The backmatter reinforces the lesson with the following: two pages of notes provide extensive discussions of the specific forms of symmetry in the main text, and there are two activities (folded shape cutting and a folded paint-blot design), a brief glossary (“Symmetry Words”) repeating the vocabulary and concepts introduced in the text and a one-page discussion of the importance of symmetry in math.

Useful and accessible. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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PUFFLING PATROL

Lewin, Ted & Lewin, Betsy Illus. by Lewin, Ted & Lewin, Betsy Lee & Low (56 pp.) $19.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 978-1-60060-424-9 The intrepid husband-and-wife team’s latest travels take them to Iceland to report on the plight of puffins.

With their usual skilled attention to detail and empathy for animal life, the Lewins take readers to the island of Heimaey off the southern coast of Iceland. There, they recount the annual rescue of baby puffins by children of the Puffling Patrol. The young birds are often confused by street lights in the small town and must be rescued and returned to the shore. Focusing on brother-and-sister twins in one Icelandic family, the Lewins provide fascinating information on the adorable birds and the special attention they receive. Whether sheltered in a box or held carefully in the children’s hands, the pufflings are irresistible. The lush watercolor paintings and detailed pen-and-ink sketches draw readers into this remote land and provide many charming close-up views of the colorful seabirds. Like animal life all over, puffins are threatened by global warming, and fewer and fewer numbers are recorded each year, making the twins’ efforts feel all the more urgent. The Lewins have previously visited and written about elephants in Botswana and India, gorillas in Uganda and horses in Mongolia; this latest travelogue is as informative and attractive.

Bird and animal lovers will enjoy this journey to a remote but welcoming locale. (additional information, resources, glossary and pronunciation guide) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

THE WATER DRAGON A Chinese Legend Li Jian Illus. by Li Jian Tuttle (42 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-60220-978-7

Chinese dragons are made up of the parts of other animals, and this tale’s eponymous water dragon has a snake’s skin, a fish’s scales, an eagle’s claws and a deer’s antlers.

His origin is the subject of this bilingual tale about a boy who finds a magical red stone that creates endless rice and coins.

Generous Ah Bao shares with his neighbors, but unfortunately the stone also dries up all sources of water. When the boy dreams about a water dragon, he sets out to find him. He first meets a giant snake trapped by a rock and helps him by removing it. The snake thanks him by giving him a piece of skin and warning him about a greedy red monster. The boy then meets a carp, a deer and an eagle and does good deeds for them, in turn receiving a body part from each and the same warning. He finally meets the monster and bravely escapes, but he turns into the dragon himself, sending water down to the thirsty earth. Graceful

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“[I]t’s just another derivative piece of merchandising.” from seriously, just go to sleep

watercolors in a traditional Chinese style with an autumnal palette suitably accompany the tale. The book was originally published in China, and no sources are given for the tale.

Although flatly ending with “That’s the legend told of the kind Water Dragon…” the story nonetheless has the satisfying elements of an entertaining and adventurous folktale. (Folktale. 6-9)

THE PACK

Lorentz, Dayna Scholastic (240 pp.) $5.99 paperback | $5.99 e-book May 1, 2012 978-0-545-27646-7 978-0-545-38808-5 e-book Series: Dogs of the Drowned City, 2 Can a dog rule the world?

Dogs have found religion, as we always knew they would. They believe in the Great Wolf, who protects all dogs, and in the Black Dog, who is a force for destruction. Shep believes most fervently of all. Shep rescued his friends from a flood in volume one of the series (The Storm, 2012), but he never thought he’d become the subject of a religious parable. But dogs have started telling stories about the Storm Shaker who was touched with moonstuff.

Shep doesn’t feel like a prophet. But if he becomes a legend, will the other dogs trust him to lead them through the flooded streets to safety? This is a more ambitious, thoughtful book than the first, with fewer chase scenes. In fact, Shep spends most of the novel trying to develop a philosophy of leadership. Not every reader will want to follow along as Shep tries out theocracy, democracy and dictatorship. And the canine language Lorentz has developed, which worked so well in the series opener, is more labored here, with sentences like: “That’s a wellfurred idea if I’ve ever smelled one.” But action fans will love the climax, in which Shep fights an actual black dog.

Adventure lovers will enjoy the cliffhanger ending, and political junkies will wonder if dogs are more advanced than we are. (Animal fantasy. 8-12)

RACING CALIFORNIA

Lynch, Janet Nichols Holiday House (192 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8234-2363-7

year, for his mom’s undiagnosed sickness and for his girlfriend Glory despite the rigors of the race, but he quickly finds he is stretched to the limit. When his hero tests positive for drug use, Evan must evaluate his place in the cycling world. With a bit more gross-out humor, Lynch’s narrative could nearly be mistaken for a Chris Crutcher novel, albeit one about an incredibly narrow subject. Potentially exciting moments fail to materialize due to cycling jargon and too-generic descriptions of roads, hills and spinning wheels. Cycling terminology is defined in the narrative rather than in a separate glossary, and that additional weight slows the pace. While Evan has depth, the other characters appear and vanish too quickly to leave an impression.

It’s an uphill climb, one that will leave many readers stranded on the side. (Fiction. 12-16)

SERIOUSLY, JUST GO TO SLEEP

Mansbach, Adam Illus. by Cortés, Ricardo Akashic (32 pp.) $15.95 | Apr. 2, 2012 978-1-61775-078-6

The prepublication smash hit of 2011 Go the Fuck to Sleep gathers itself for a second run at number one on the bestseller list with a slightly repackaged version that features kid-safe language.

The rhyming quatrains have been largely retained, with just the last line or two smoothed over for actual child audiences.

“How come you can do all this other great shit / But you can’t lie the fuck down and sleep?” becomes “You’re incredibly cute, and super-duper smart, / But why’s it so hard to just sleep?” after a little massage (which often casts scansion to the wind). The book’s trim is larger than its original, and a few of the illustrations have been redone. In one scene, an African-American father tiptoes out of the room, as his cherubic child (maybe) nods off, where in the original both were Caucasian. But playing it straight just doesn’t work for this effort. If anything made its progenitor funny, it was the juxtaposition of the parental cri de coeur against the worst excesses of the bedtime-book form. Syrupy imagery (“giant pangolins of Madagascar are snoozing”) combined with equally gooey metaphorical illustrations in gleeful parody. Here, it’s just another derivative piece of merchandising. The book’s creators make sure readers know this: On the floor of the African-American child’s bedroom, Go the Fuck to Sleep peeks out from underneath The Cat in the Hat and Goodnight Moon.

Just as manipulative as the books it claims to mock.

(Picture book. 2-6)

For 18-year-old Evan Boroughs the chance to sign with a major cycling team comes as an incredible opportunity.

Joining the Image Craft-Icon team gives Evan the chance to compete in the Tour of California with his cycling icon, Dashiell Shipley, as the tour winds from Sacramento to Thousand Oaks. Evan still tries to make time for finishing his senior |

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“Beautifully benign illustrations conjure powerful familial feelings.” from chloe

SHADOWS ON THE MOON

Marriott, Zoë Candlewick (464 pp.) $17.99 | $17.99 e-book | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7636-5344-6 978-0-7636-5993-6 e-book “Cinderella” is reimagined as a revenge story set in an alternate feudal Japan.

On the day Suzume turns 14, her family is destroyed. Soldiers arrive to slaughter her father, falsely accused of treason, and all his line. Suzume somehow escapes, and with the aid of Youta, a mysterious “cinderman,” manages to evade the soldiers until her mother returns from traveling, along with her father’s best friend, Terayama. Terayama takes mother and daughter under his protection by marrying Suzume’s mother, assuming the wicked-stepfather role. As Suzume learns more about her parents’ involvement with Terayama, she discovers reasons to hate and fear him. Marriott (The Swan Kingdom, 2009, etc.) writes wonderful villains, who fulfill fairy-tale roles while maintaining a balance between despicable and understandable.

Suzume’s blooming desire for revenge and the need to conceal herself to stay alive are aided by her emerging magical powers as a “shadow weaver,” training in the craft of illusion under Youta.

Shadow weavers are rare to the point of mythological except to other shadow weavers, who are conveniently drawn to help each other in times of need. The emotionally damaged, selfharming Suzume needs all the help she can get in her constant illusion-driven reinventions aimed at self-preservation and avenging her family. Strong characters and motivations abound in a rich fantasy world.

A dark yet very fresh fairy-tale reinvention. (QR code to digitally access poetry written by characters) (Fantasy. 14 & up)

CHLOE

McCarty, Peter Illus. by McCarty, Peter Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $16.99 | PLB $17.89 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-114291-8 978-0-06-144292-5 PLB Who wouldn’t want to put on a monster show in a big, cardboard box or pop bubble wrap at rapid-fire speed?

After a new television ruins “family fun time,” Chloe, the middle bunny in a brood of 21, tries to pull her brothers and sisters from its glowing grip. Colored-ink drawings hover on lush, creamy paper, offering delightfully dreamy details: the bunnies’ fur, pert mouths and dewy eyes, their clothes’ stripes and patterns, their bodies clustered together around the house.

On one dizzying double-page spread, Chloe levitates at the epicenter of the domestic swirl, her family circling swiftly around her. McCarty says simply and directly to middle children everywhere, “Chloe was in the middle.” The narrative maintains perfect pacing throughout, speeding up with long sentences 624

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and slowing down with abbreviated lines that allow readers to linger on the soft, mesmerizing artwork (so many bunnies!). A bustling dinner scene shows the family nibbling on every kind of spring veggie; readers’ eyes roam from one end of the table to the other and back again, studying each whiskered face and plate. Fashion (eyeglasses, dresses, shirts) and minute tweaks in expression individualize each rabbit, while Chloe always manages to shine. McCarty captures the tensile ties strung among siblings, parents, genders and ages in every household.

Beautifully benign illustrations conjure powerful familial feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)

MARIO MAKES A MOVE

McElmurry, Jill Illus. by McElmurry, Jill Schwartz & Wade/Random (32 pp.) $16.99 | PLB $19.99 | May 8, 2012 978-0-375-86854-2 978-0-375-96854-9 PLB Mario is a squirrel who loves his dance moves, from the “Bowling Ball” to “Twirly Ballet Arms,” and his relatives assure him he is amazing.

He believes them. His friend, blue–tutu-and-glasses-sporting Isabelle, however, dismisses his dance moves as “nice:” “ ‘NICE?’ said Mario. ‘I think you mean amazing. Or astonishing, maybe.’ ‘Hmmm,’ said Isabelle.” When she informs Mario that anyone can have a move, he’s devastated. He decides his new creative pursuit will be finding and displaying sticks… amazing sticks. He labels his sticks “Scratchy,” “Twiggles” and “Plain Jane.” When Isabelle realizes she’s driven her friend to these sticky extremes, she feels bad about the “nice” and switches it to a “elegant.” She adds “graceful.” In a harmonious denouement, the two squirrels mash their dance moves and invent the “Even More Amazingly Amazing Amazer.” (“And everyone was amazed.”) In one sense the story is about pursuing one’s own passion, no matter what others say or don’t say about it. It’s also about a friend who realizes the power of the wrong word at the wrong time and takes it back. Warm, winning gouache illustrations reflect soft autumnal landscapes populated by cartoonish animals and are juxtaposed with comically elaborate diagrams of various dance moves, some detailed on cut-out graph paper.

A charming story of friendship, dance moves, artistic fervor and squirrels. (And squirrel facts!) (Picture book. 4-8)

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WALKING ON EARTH AND TOUCHING THE SKY Poetry and Prose

by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School

McLaughlin, Timothy P.--Ed. Illus. by Nelson, S.D. Abrams (80 pp.) $19.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0179-5

Poet and teacher McLaughlin, after gradually connecting with his students at Red Cloud Indian School, provided them with creative-writing prompts that yielded sometimes-magical outcomes.

The Lakota people live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Shannon County, S.D., the second-poorest county in the country. An introduction depicts harsh conditions of high unemployment, poverty, disease and alcohol and drug abuse but also describes the strong cultural legacy of vibrant Lakota tales and the close ties among people. All of this is infused into the poems and brief tales of this anthology of work by children in grades five through eight. The pieces are divided into small thematic groupings. These include obvious ones like “The Natural World” and “Family, Youth, and Dreams,” but also unexpected ones like “Misery” and “Silence.” Kayla Matthews movingly describes in free verse the heartache “when you always seem to be getting dressed in black to go to a funeral” and is echoed

by Derrick McCauley: “Silence is when I saw my mom for the last time.” Others are more upbeat: “Silence is the darkness of night when the moon shines bright and pine trees make the only sound,” writes Isaac Red Owl. Vivid, polychromatic illustrations by Nelson accompany the students’ evocative works.

A moving, fascinating glimpse across cultures, perfect to pair with Trickster (2010) by Matt Dembicki. (Anthology. 11 & up)

THE MAN IN THE CLOUDS

Meinderts, Koos Illus. by Fienieg, Annette Lemniscaat USA (38 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-935954-13-2

A mountaintop is home to the man in the clouds, so called by the villagers in the valley below.

How he came to be there, no one knows, but every day he sits in his wooden cottage and draws inspiration from a beautiful landscape painting on his wall. Villagers escape the drudgery of their lives by climbing up to gaze upon the painting, ignoring the beauty of the scenery along the way. The old man welcomes all sorts to his modest home, but when a stranger comes to see his famous painting and puts the idea into his head that selling it could make him rich, he can no longer just enjoy it for the peace it gave him. Fearful and unhappy, his attitude toward the painting and his visitors changes, and he makes a fateful decision. Written in the style |

of a traditional tale, this very readable story is richly amplified

by Fienieg’s soft watercolors, from the invitingly skewed lines of the house to the foreboding shadows that reflect the man’s darkening mood. The simplicity of the idyllic setting is echoed in the unadorned typeface. Endpapers depict a grand view of valleys between mountaintops just touched with sunlight, a hint of what awaits those who can appreciate what they already have.

A lovely parable for our times from an acclaimed Dutch husband/wife team. (Picture book. 4-7)

MARTY MCGUIRE DIGS WORMS!

Messner, Kate Illus. by Floca, Brian Scholastic (176 pp.) $17.99 | paper $5.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-545-14245-8 978-0-545-14247-2 paperback Third-grader Marty and her classmates are given a challenge by a visiting environmentalist: to develop Earth-friendly projects that she will then judge.

Third-grade imaginations are untamed and funny. After an illconceived paper-making plan destroys her parents’ food processor, Marty and her best friend Annie get involved in a worm-powered composting project that’s supposed to help with wasted cafeteria food. Other classmates build a giant Super-Earth-Woman out of recycled materials, grow petunias and create a recycling-reminder buzzer. Marty, determined to win, is frustrated when her worms can’t begin to keep up with the volume of garbage generated. She worries that all she has to show for her project is “a bunch of halfeaten carrot sticks and worm poop,” and she’s convinced that those will never save the planet. Floca’s cheery black-and-white illustrations match the upbeat theme of the tale, and with at least one per brief chapter, they break up the text pages nicely. Marty’s first-person commentary, sometimes just a tiny bit sarcastic, splendidly conveys the eroding innocence of middle-graders.

A quick, amusing read with an easily digestible environmental message; it is a perfect match for its young intended audience. (Fiction. 6-9)

NIBBLES’ GARDEN

Middleton, Charlotte Illus. by Middleton, Charlotte Marshall Cavendish (24 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6134-0 Discouraged by the caterpillars eating the dandelion leaves he worked so hard to grow in his first adventure (Nibbles, 2010), Nibbles and his new neighbor, Posie, decide to keep them as pets.

The two guinea pigs make a hysterical list of the things they might need to care for their six new charges and then consult

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Mr. Rosetti, who knows everything. He sets them straight (caterpillars do not need ping-pong balls to play soccer) and provides them with clean jars for a habitat. The two love their caterpillars and enjoy watching them grow. But they are mystified when, one day, the pets suddenly disappear. The duo makes “Lost” posters to hang around town, but no one has seen the caterpillars anywhere. But then Mr. Rosetti e-mails a request that they bring the jars to his café. When he unscrews the tops, six beautiful butterflies emerge. Nibbles and Posie make new “Found” posters, which are such a hit they get hung in the town art gallery. Middleton’s mixed-media artwork is a visual feast of patterns in the backgrounds and clothing; each caterpillar, too, is distinct. The drawings that Nibbles and Posie make of the caterpillars and, later, the butterflies, are childishly and endearingly rendered.

While this lacks the science found in many other caterpillar-to-butterfly titles, it has a charm that cannot be replicated. (Picture book. 3-6)

FAIREST OF ALL

Mlynowski, Sarah Scholastic (176 pp.) $14.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-545-40330-6 Series: Whatever After, 1 A magic mirror, a slightly bossy sister and her inquisitive 7-year-old brother captivate in this rollicking remake of a classic fairy tale.

An aspiring judge, 10-year-old Abby especially likes fairy tales’ clarity; in fairy tales, “good is good, and bad is bad.” However, Abby’s orderly world is overturned when her brother Jonah accidentally awakens the eerie mirror in the basement of their new home. Suddenly, they find themselves in Snow White’s world—just in time to valiantly foil the evil queen’s poisonedapple plot. This is cause for celebration until they realize that now “Snow” no longer requires rescuing by the prince. Comical misadventures ensue as the pragmatic Abby and exuberant Jonah attempt to resolve their dilemma, with many surprises along the way. Mlynowski blends elements from the traditional tale with the Disney movie version and adds her own modern twist. The result is an uproariously funny read. The swift pace of the tale and non-stop action combined with Abby’s quick wit will enchant readers from the first page.

While Snow’s story is satisfactorily settled, the author leaves enough beguiling mysteries to keep readers eagerly anticipating the siblings’ next adventure. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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WINNING TEAM

Moceanu, Dominique & Thompson, Alicia Disney Hyperion (240 pp.) $5.99 paperback | Apr. 17, 2012 978-1-4231-3633-0 Series: The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts, 1 Finally, young female gymnasts have a book to call their own in this first title in The Go-for-Gold Gymnasts series, co-authored by Olympic gold medalist Moceanu.

Having recently achieved Junior Elite status, Brittany Morgan (who’s 12 but looks like a 9-year-old) and her family uproot from Ohio to Austin, Texas, so Brittany can train with the prestigious Texas Twisters and continue her path to the Olympics.

The overconfident, homeschooled girl’s biggest chance to make new friends is with fellow trainees Christina, Noelle and Jessie, but somehow she keeps putting her foot in her mouth rather than solidly on the beam before her. She tries to temper her impulsivity in the face of Christina’s insecurities and Jessie’s possible eating disorder. The pedestrian, first-person narration’s self-comparisons to Boo Radley will probably be lost on most in this audience, who are unlikely to have read To Kill a Mockingbird. In a predictable ending, Brittany realizes the true meaning and spirit of teamwork and brings her renewed enthusiasm to the rest of the Texas Twisters.

This insider’s view gives an interesting perspective on gymnasts’ lives, from their grueling work schedule and training methods to risk of injuries and even superstitious obsessions, but don’t expect any winning medals. (Fiction. 10-12)

A BREATH OF EYRE

Mont, Eve Marie Kensington (352 pp.) $9.95 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7582-6948-5 This richly satisfying tale of first and last love transcends its genre—not another breathless, fan-fiction take on a literary classic but an intertextual love letter.

Raised by a distant father and exdebutante stepmother, shy, bookish Emma misses the mother she barely remembers. At Emma’s 16th birthday party, her mother’s college roommate, Simona, gives her a copy of Jane Eyre. Emma finds Simona’s son, Gray, disturbingly attractive, but he dates an A-list girl at Lockwood, the boarding school Emma, a scholarship student, attends. The alliance she forges with her new roommate—fellow scholarship student and Haitian science whiz Michelle—heartens both until, struck by lightning, Emma wakes up to find herself Jane Eyre. Though her world is comforting at first, Mr. Rochester’s controlling ways trouble Emma, who feels deepening compassion for Bertha Mason. (Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea is clearly a referent here.) She fights her way home, but unresolved issues

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“Many-legged home-builders are rendered in remarkable artwork.” from busy builders

and mysteries, especially the connection between Jane’s world and Emma’s mother, draw her back. With evocative settings and compassionately drawn characters, this trilogy opener offers affectionate insight into the gifts literature gives readers.

If treasured books have the power to change us, it’s a two-way street. As we change, so does our relationship to those books and so, in a sense, we change them.

A smart and rewarding ode to literature. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

THE LETTER Q Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Younger Selves

Moon, Sarah --Ed. Levine/Scholastic (272 pp.) $17.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-545-39932-6

from the other cows, who urge her to give up. Her second try is no more successful. And then the worst happens—rain clouds cover the moon completely. But this serendipitous event actually helps the clever bovine achieve her goal. “Her friends came out and marveled much. / ‘Ms. Moo, you’ve done it now!’ / ‘A cow can really jump the moon, / as long as she knows how.’ “ The scansion in Mortensen’s verse works well, with just a few minor exceptions, making this a good read-aloud—and the final word of some verses is separated by a page turn, allowing audience participation. Mack’s cows are a delight, although none stand out save Cindy Moo with her pink bow, cowbell and brown spots. None of the cows have udders, and all but the heroine sport tiny horns.

Although it has been done before (many times), this take stands out for its clever heroine who just won’t give up.

(Picture book. 3-7)

BUSY BUILDERS

To hear the more than 50 contributors tell it, one might think that queer adults mostly end up living in ritzy corners of New York City and becoming

published authors.

That, perhaps, is the necessary consequence of this project, which compiles lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer writers’ letters to their younger selves. Big names in adult, teen or children’s literature have contributed, including Michael Cunningham, Armistead Maupin, Marion Dane Bauer, Arthur Levine, Gregory Maguire and Amy Bloom. A number of comics artists—including Michael DiMotta, Jennifer Camper and Jasika Nicole—have penned letters in comic form. Many authors use their short (usually two- to three-page) letters to talk about the future. Some letters read like a memoir in second person; some describe past addictions, suicide attempts and other grim circumstances; many give advice. Comparisons to the It Gets Better video campaign, in which LGBT adults promise queer and questioning teenagers that life improves after high school, are inevitable. Contributors Jacqueline Woodson and Erik Orrantia even use the language of “getting better” outright. Yet the disproportionate achievement of fame, wealth and successful careers in the arts among the authors here seems an unfair promise to make to most readers.

Inspiring but not universal. (Anthology. 14 & up)

CINDY MOO

Mortensen, Lori Illus. by Mack, Jeff Harper/HarperCollins (32 pp.) $16.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-06-204393-1

Munro, Roxie Illus. by Munro, Roxie Marshall Cavendish (40 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6105-0 Many-legged home-builders are rendered in remarkable artwork.

Eight habitat-building insects plus one spider are introduced.

Each receives a close-up two-page look at the animal alone followed by a full-spread painting of the web, hive or mound in which it lives, here accompanied by a description of its hunting, nesting and food-storage habits. For most of the insects, the habitat provides a way to store its eggs and hatch and nurture larvae; the spider uses its web to capture its food. The full-color ink illustrations work well to give a sense of the creature’s body structure as well as of the general look of the hive or nest for each. The individual portraits are terrifically impressive, while the handsome habitat paintings show very well from a slight distance, making this a good choice for reading aloud to a group. Munro includes within each habitat drawing a close-up or cutaway interior look at a piece of the structure. The information presented is clear and unadorned, densely packed in a trim, compact type against the background of the habitat paintings. More information appears on the insect-focused introductory page directly opposite the title-page verso, and a glossary of “Bug Words” along with a brief list of resources is included on the last page.

Enticing as an introduction to insects and spiders. (Nonfiction. 4-9)

The classic nursery rhyme gets the cows on the Diddle Farm thinking, but none so much as Cindy Moo, who is determined to jump over the moon.

After arguing whether the feat is even feasible, the cows all listen as Cindy Moo declares that she is the cow who will do it. But her first try fails, and she gets the requisite “told you so” |

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“Space battles! Political intrigue! Engineered warriors!

Techno-wizardry! Assassins! Pirates! Rebels! Duels! Secrets, lies, sex and True Love! What more can anybody ask for?” from a confusion of princes

SECRET DIARY

Neel, Julien Translated by Burrell, Carol Klio Illus. by Neel, Julien Graphic Universe (48 pp.) $8.95 paperback | $20.95 e-book PLB $27.93 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7613-8868-5 978-1-4677-0099-3 e-book 978-0-7613-8776-3 PLB Series: Lou!, 1 A beguiling import introduces the irresistibly plucky 12-yearold Lou, a French cousin to Jimmy Gownley’s Amelia McBride.

Lou lives in urban France with her mother, a bespectacled writer who spends her time procrastinating and obsessively playing video games rather than working on her science-fiction space epic. Like many preteens, Lou spends much of her time thinking about clothes, boys and friends and whether she may be too old to play with dolls. Lou utterly adores her neighbor Tristan, and her mother nurtures a similar crush of her own on another neighbor, Richard. What saves Lou from complete tweenage vapidity is a well-timed sense of dry humor with a dash of non-irritating precociousness. Lou’s mother can be tempestuous as an adolescent herself, leaving Lou to act as her anchor, tempering her whims and acting as a voice of reason.

This humor is heightened by visits with Memaw, Lou’s maternal grandmother, who harbors penchants for both brussels sprouts and conflict. A pleasing palette ranging from vibrant brights to muted earth tones fills neat, orderly panels, creating a cohesive and tidy layout; only at the beginning and end of the volume do readers actually see Lou’s diary, a collage of her thoughts and information about other characters. This publishes simultaneously with volume two, Summertime Blues.

This lighthearted charmer will leave readers enchantées.

(Graphic fiction. 9-12)

A CONFUSION OF PRINCES

Nix, Garth Harper/HarperCollins (352 pp.) $17.99 | PLB $18.89 | May 15, 2012 978-0-06-009694-6 978-0-06-009695-3 PLB Exuberant and insightful, this science-fiction bildungsroman grapples with the essential question: “Who am I?” After 16 years of intensive training and superhuman augmentation, Khemri is ready to take his place as Prince of the mighty intergalactic Empire. Alas, he immediately finds out that his status isn’t quite as exalted as he had always thought. To start with, there are tens of millions of Princes, and most of them are out to kill him. Khem must negotiate a deadly maze of military training, priestly recruitment and even Imperial interest, never knowing whom he can trust.

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He can rely only on himself—and all the mechanical, biological and psionic enhancements that far-future science can provide. Until the day even that is stripped from him… From the riveting opening sentence to the final elegiac ruminations, this is rip-roaring space opera in the classic mold. Add a perfect protagonist: Overprivileged, arrogant and not nearly as clever as he thinks, Khemri’s first-person narration is also endearingly witty, rueful and infinitely likable. Perhaps his account relies a bit too much on “had I but known” foreshadowing, and the secondary characters are thinly sketched accessories to the hero’s personal journey. But the rocket-powered pace and epic worldbuilding (with just the right amount of gee-whiz technobabble) provide an ideal vehicle for what is, at heart, a sweet paean to what it means to be human.

Space battles! Political intrigue! Engineered warriors!

Techno-wizardry! Assassins! Pirates! Rebels! Duels! Secrets, lies, sex and True Love! What more can anybody ask for? (Science fiction. 14 & up)

UNRAVELING

Norris, Elizabeth Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (464 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-06-210373-4 In a refreshing change of pace from the current glut of angel books, when Janelle is killed in a car accident, she doesn’t move on to a seraphic afterlife; she’s brought back from the dead instead.

Her savior is stoner Ben, and even as he is bringing her back to life she notices his “huge brown eyes,… wavy dark hair [and] tortured half smile.” Janelle needs to be alive. Her mother has withdrawn into total bipolar uselessness, and though her X-Files–obsessed, FBI-agent father is fabulous, he works insane hours, so Janelle holds the family together. Through some efficient snooping in her dad’s office, Janelle learns that people are turning up melted—including the person in the car that hit her. And there’s mention of a countdown to an event that could destroy the Earth. Could there be a connection? First-time author Norris surrounds her likable narrator with equally appealing and complex primary and secondary characters, compensating for a relatively slow pace. Plotting is not quite so strong, particularly in the book’s science-fiction elements. Ben’s healing ability is given a ludicrously vague explanation, and the potential Earth-ending event is made only barely more credible. Still, the writing is smooth, and the love story satisfies despite its predictability.

Good for romance fans, if not science-fiction aficionados. (Science fiction/thriller/romance. 14 & up)

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STERLING SQUADRON

Nylund, Eric Random House (320 pp.) $16.99 | paper $6.99 | $6.99 e-book PLB $19.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-375-86857-3 978-0-375-87225-9 paperback 978-0-375-89927-0 e-book 978-0-375-96857-0 PLB Series: The Resisters, 2 A young pilot trainee needs to recruit more to defend Earth against an alien menace in this made-for– video-game sci-fi adventure.

In volume one of this series (The Resisters, 2011), Ethan Blackwood found out Earth was overrun by an alien species long before he was born. Kidnapped and then recruited to fight with the last remaining humans, he’s learned how to fight as only a 12-year-old in a massively built cyborg wasp can. Ethan’s still in flight training when he discovers that the alien Ch’zar have been expanding their forces across the planet with terrifying speed. Ethan and his fellow pilots are up for the battle, but there just aren’t enough of them. They need more, kids who are old enough and strong enough to control the bio-tech insect weapons that are the only way to fight against the enemy. Adults can’t fly without being absorbed into the collective Ch’zar mind, and most kids live in the simulated safety that Ethan came from, unprepared for the truth, much less the fight. But Ethan knows where they can find kids who are ready for the challenge: the Sterling Reform School, where the troublemakers are sent. Well developed, with an action-packed plot and good characterizations, this is a strong sequel leaving room for more to follow.

Tailor-made for gamers, this adventure fills a niche.

(Science fiction. 10-14)

THE WIND THAT WANTED TO REST

Oberman, Sheldon Illus. by Waldman, Neil Boyds Mills (32 pp.)

PLB $17.95 | Mar. 1, 2012

Schram writes that despite careful research, she could find no references in any scholarly resources, although stories about the wind exist in folklore from many lands. This one stands as a quiet lesson in doing good deeds and being a good neighbor.

Waldman’s soft watercolor illustrations are almost entirely in shades of blue and evoke a vaguely eastern European landscape with mythical overtones.

A quiet story with lessons to teach about benevolence. (afterword) (Picture book. 4-7)

CAT GIRL’S DAY OFF

Pauley, Kimberly Tu Books (336 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-60060-883-4

Natalie Ng, gifted with the Talent of being able to communicate with cats, embarks on an impetuous adventure as a movie riffing off film classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is filmed at her Chicago-area high school.

Natalie comes from a Talented family, but her two sisters and her parents all possess high-grade Talents such as blending like a chameleon, knowing when people are lying or having an ultrasensitive sense of smell. Still, Nat’s unique ability to understand cats means she’s the only one to hear celebrity blogger Easton’s cat screaming for help because his owner has been kidnapped and replaced with a look-alike. Since there’s no one else ready and able to rescue Easton, Nat and her pair of slightly offbeat friends take on the job. This leads to one perilous situation after another, many of them featuring the italicized thoughts— appropriately laconic and snarky—of the various cats that Nat seeks out for help. Her bumpy budding romance with classmate Ian adds an amusing love interest to the mix. The fantasy elements, solidly grounded in an otherwise real world, seem everso-believable. Lively conversation, strong characterizations and a fast pace make this a breezy read. The funny feline thoughts are catnip for the audience.

A worthwhile adventure and an easy sell for feline fanciers who already know what their pets are saying. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 11 & up)

Wind, old and tired, searches for a resting place.

Worn out from all his years of scurrying about, Wind searches through forests, mountains and villages for a place to lay down his weary self. Nothing and no one wants him because of the cold and danger that he brings. Wind is driven to anger and to storm by these rejections until a young girl offers the “dark, dry, quiet place underneath our house.” Her kindness sustains him until springtime, when he leaves. But not before he bestows a lasting gift on the girl and her family—a cool space to find respite from hot summers. Oberman, a noted Canadian teacher, author and storyteller wrote this story in the style of a folktale and called it a “Jewish tale from Soviet Russia.” However, in her afterword, gifted storyteller Peninnah |

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CRUSH

her mother’s passing (why are her guiding Promises now hurting her?), her belief system (why won’t God let her in on his plan?) and her strained relationship with her father (could he be just as sad as she is?). Perhaps she’s always had some of the answers, in the neglected Promise and the guy right in front of her.

A purely satisfying look at mourning and sexuality— and even their connection. (Fiction. 15 & up)

Paulsen, Gary Wendy Lamb/Random (144 pp.) $12.99 | $9.99 e-book | PLB $15.99 May 8, 2012 978-0-385-74230-6 978-0-307-97453-2 e-book 978-0-375-99054-0 PLB After previous misadventures in Liar, Liar and Flat Broke (both 2011), Kevin is back again, this time applying his quirky, inquiring mind to the world of love.

Tina, aka the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen, has stolen Kevin’s heart, although she’s blissfully oblivious to the effect she has on him. Every time he sees her, his tongue ties itself in knots. The situation isn’t helped by the fact that hunky new student Cash appears to be joined firmly to her side. Rather than reveal his ardor outright, Kevin decides it’s safer to first make a scientific study of just how love works by setting up romantic opportunities for his victims (otherwise known as study subjects). He starts by trying to create a candlelit dinner for his parents, although he accidentally causes a fire. He then enthusiastically moves on to trying to ingratiate his brother’s hockey team with some female figure skaters and setting up a blind date for a neighbor. Each time he carefully observes the outcome.

While Kevin gets in plenty of trouble, he seems ever so slightly more mature in this outing. It’s hard not to be amused by his innocent antics; his droll narration as he observes surprising but unhelpful results to his experiments just adds to the fun.

Another fast-paced romp with a well-intentioned, if severely misguided eighth grader. (Fiction. 9-12)

PURITY

Pearce, Jackson Little, Brown (224 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-316-18246-1 Are death-bed promises meant to be forever?

For the last six years, 16-year-old Shelby has been living according to the “Promises” she made to her mother as she was dying of breast cancer: 1. listen to her father; 2. love as much as possible; and 3. live without restraint.

When her father becomes an organizer of the town’s fatherdaughter Princess Ball, in which daughters pledge a purity vow, she wonders how she can keep Promise 3 if she’s bound by Promise 1.

In this achingly realistic story, the teen realizes that losing her virginity before the ball will negate the purity vow. Best friend Jonas, keeper of her Life List, reluctantly helps with her search for a one-night stand. Shelby’s biting, irreverent first-person narration (“I’m about to try to sleep with Jesus from a Proactiv commercial”) finely blends the humor and pain of her situation. During her quest, she also finds herself confronting unresolved feelings about 630

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FROGS! Strange and Wonderful

Pringle, Laurence Illus. by Henderson, Meryl Boyds Mills (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-59078-371-9 Series: Strange and Wonderful, Science writer Pringle truly delivers with his latest, a fascinating look at the similarities and differences among the many and varied species of frogs.

Think that all frogs jump on the ground, are green and leave their eggs/tadpoles to fend for themselves? Well, this text will set readers straight. The Reinwardt’s flying frog glides between trees, the mantella and poison frogs come in all the colors of the rainbow and one can guess what makes the marsupial frog stand out. Nothing if not thorough, this covers just about everything one would want to know about frogs. Camouflage, mating, development, coloring, size, locomotion, how and what they eat and how and why they make sounds are just some of the topics. The last few pages deal with humans and the ways they affect frog populations and habitats. While Pringle presents large paragraphs of information on each page, he perfectly measures out each fact, balancing it with some interesting tidbit sure to fascinate and help kids remember the details that are presented. Henderson’s detailed, realistic watercolors match the text, showing the great diversity among the many species of frogs. Insets accompany much of her full-spread artwork, allowing her to depict the many variations that exist.

Budding herpetologists will snap this one up faster than a frog can catch a fly. (author’s note, answer key, list of resources for more information) (Nonfiction. 6-10)

KNUCKLE AND POTTY DESTROY HAPPY WORLD

Proimos, James Illus. by Proimos, James Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt (80 pp.) $12.99 | May 22, 2012 978-0-8050-9155-7 Two cutesy-poo picture-book characters seek (and find) a way to toughen up their images.

Chafing at the roles forced on them in previous bestsellers with titles like Tiger and Bear Are Cute and Tiger and Bear Are

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“As ever, Pullman proves himself the master storyteller with laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue and memorable characters that spring to life…” from two crafty criminals !

Wholesome, Knuckle Tiggerelli and Potty Polarberg seek help to escape their upcoming outing, Tiger and Bear Go to Happy World. Appeals to their author (who turns out to be not the TV celebrity named on their title pages, but a ghost writer named Gregory) and illustrator get only hostile responses. Knuckle and Potty (respectively, small pink and green outline figures with oversized eyes and lashes) arm themselves with erasers and mount a direct assault on Happy World’s trees and flowers. Alas, these turn out to be less defenseless than their sappy smiles imply. Proimos cranks up the general air of chaos by mixing narrative text with loosely drawn framed and unframed cartoon scenes and trots in other stars of page and screen. Such lights as Winkie the Pug and the rhyme-spouting Chicken in the Beret lend aid and advice.

A knee-slapper for recent early-reader grads who like their metafiction on the droll side. (Graphic fiction. 7-9)

TWO CRAFTY CRIMINALS! And How They Were Captured by the Daring Detectives of the New Cut Gang

Pullman, Philip Illus. by Brown, Martin Knopf (320 pp.) $16.99 | $10.99 e-book | PLB $19.99 May 8, 2012 978-0-375-87029-3 978-0-375-98868-4 e-book 978-0-375-97029-0 PLB

Two 1994 novellas—Thunderbolt’s Waxwork and The Gas-Fitters’ Ball—plunge readers into the colorful melee of 1894 London in this satisfying, slapstick U.S. debut starring the intrepid boy and girl detectives of the New Cut Gang.

Counterfeiting sixpences is “a low, sneaking, sniveling sort of crime,” as it hurts the poor the most. So when Thunderbolt Dobney sees his own father hauled off to jail for what he thinks must be “coining,” he feels sick inside. Justice prevails when, through a series of outrageously elaborate hijinks, he and the New Cut Gang expose the real criminal. Why a host of crooks is after the unsettlingly hideous wax-headed dummy of Dippy the hot-chestnut vendor is an entirely different case to crack.

In The Gas-Fitters’ Ball, the New Cut Gang is just lamenting the recent lack of crime in London when the Gas-Fitters’ Hall is burgled. No Swedish match or drop of wax goes unnoticed, and another mystery is solved. As ever, Pullman proves himself the master storyteller with laugh-out-loud-funny dialogue and memorable characters that spring to life, from the literally omnivorous Sharky Bob to the “blooming supernatural” Peretti twins and the “oily-eyed poodle-faker” Mr. Horspath.

A strong sense of right and wrong permeates the gleeful absurdity of the New Cut Gang’s madcap capers and refreshes the soul. (Mystery. 9-12)

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CITY CRITTERS Wildlife in the Urban Jungle

Read, Nicholas Orca (144 pp.) $19.95 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55469-394-8 An unfocused but mildly entertaining introduction to our nonhuman neighbors

and housemates.

Expanding his definition of “urban animals” to include butterflies, zebra mussels, cougars and even certain kinds of whales, Read presents quick tallies of creatures who have proven adaptable enough to thrive, or at least survive, in or near towns and cities. They do so largely, he claims, because we destroy their natural habitats and also, deliberately or otherwise, feed them.

He seems fonder of colorful figures of speech than strict accuracy—deer in Boston are hardly “as common as dandelions,” and conversely many might wish that city pigeons were only “as common as McDonald’s outlets.” Nevertheless, he presents a reasonably extensive menagerie of mammals, birds, reptiles and “creepy crawlies” that urban or suburban U.S. and Canadian readers are more than likely to encounter. Aside from one scene of falcons chowing down on a pigeon, the mix of closeup and mid-distance color photos on every spread present their subjects in fetching poses. A discourse on invasive species and a closing appeal to conserve wild spaces are tangential but not entirely foreign to his main subject.

Not so much a systematic identification guide as a broad, engagingly informal reminder that we are sharing our immediate surroundings, as well as our world in general, with others. (index, glossary, online resources) (Nonfiction. 11-13)

RIPPER

Reeves, Amy Carol Flux (360 pp.) $9.95 paperback | Apr. 8, 2012 978-0-7387-3072-1 A rebellious young woman of high station finds her calling—and much more—volunteering in an East London hospital just as the Jack the Ripper murders commence.

Abbie Sharp, newly orphaned, finds herself chafing under the restrictions imposed by her snooty grandmother, who threw her mother out years before for her wild ways. Grandmother’s attempt to teach Abbie responsibility by making her work at the charity hospital backfires when the girl becomes increasingly interested in the welfare of its prostitute patients. Abbie, meanwhile, finds herself more reliant on the street-fighting skills she picked up in Dublin than she ever expected. And she’s also having visions… What could they mean? Narrator Abbie is a boilerplate spunky heroine, and she falls into an equally formulaic romance with a prickly-but-deep

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“Ultimately, the book succeeds in exhausting readers, but whether from adventure or from terror rests with the beholder.” from lulu ’s magic wand

handsome physician. Debut author Reeves holds a PhD in 19thcentury British literature, and she brings her research to bear on the background story. She appears to have decided not to apply it to her prose, however, which is littered with colloquially modern constructions (“I am simply going to have to be all right with…”; “[it] was fine with me”). Abbie performs astonishing feats of athleticism without ever being hampered by her skirt. Moreover, the paranormal twist feels wrenched into place.

For more effective reboots of the Jack the Ripper legend, try Maureen Johnson’s The Name of the Star (2011) or Stefan Petrucha’s Ripper (2012).

Skip. (Paranormal historical fiction. 12 & up)

LULU’S MAGIC WAND

Richards, Chuck Illus. by Richards, Chuck Walker (32 pp.) $17.99 | PLB $18.89 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-0-8027-2248-5 978-0-8027-2249-2 PLB When a consolation prize at an amusement park lands in the hands of little Lulu, her imagination—along with everything in sight—goes wild.

This book is a visual thrill ride, all vivid colors, lively movement and comic imagery. At an amusement-park booth called the Wizardly World of Wonder, toddler Lulu ends up with a magic wand when her dad fails to win her desired prize, Priscilla, the Fairy Piglet. By the time the wizard realizes his real wand is missing, Lulu has created a balloon tornado, launched the merry-go-round creatures into the air and woken the Screamin’ Dragon roller coaster. When the Octo-Beast begins to shoot laser beams out of its eyes, Lulu’s toddler antics seem more sinister than silly. Richards, author of Jungle Gym Jitters (2004), expertly juggles the over-the-top madness, repeating images and swirls in the rounded balloon figures, the octopus legs, the roller-coaster track and popped-open eyes. The concern lies with the text. It seems to be simply an interpretation of the images, with little to connect the described mayhem with Lulu’s magic wishes. Does her active imagination simply in vision or actually result in her loved ones being eaten by dinosaurs and giant monkeys? Stronger narrative could have launched the visuals even farther.

Ultimately, the book succeeds in exhausting readers, but whether from adventure or from terror rests with the beholder. (Picture book. 4-8)

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THE SPAGHETTI-SLURPING SEWER SERPENT

Ripes, Laura Illus. by Zenz, Aaron Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6101-2

A pint-sized sleuth tracks a purple underground monster.

When Mom scrapes the family’s uneaten spaghetti into the sink, young Sammy Sanders hears strange slurping sounds. He becomes “77 percent convinced” that a spaghetti-slurping serpent lives in his sewer, and can’t get to sleep. The next morning, Sammy and his little sister Sally investigate. There are meatballs and strands of limp spaghetti around the manhole cover!

Sammy, whose round glasses make the whites of his eyes look as enormous as an owl’s, can barely contain his excitement. After he removes the cover, Sally slips on some sauce and lands in the sewer, becoming a smelly sludgy mess. Sammy’s left to investigate alone and comes up with a brilliant idea. Late that night, he sneaks out of the house with a salty snack for himself and a bowl of spaghetti for the serpent. But he falls asleep, and the huge serpent slithers up to the scrumptious spaghetti. Slurping sounds startle Sammy awake; he’s face-to-face with the monster.

There’s just one thing to do: Share! Sammy’ salty snack earns him a friend for life. And that night, he sleeps soundly, 100% sure that there’s a serpent in his sewer. Zenz’s illustrations, in Prismacolor colored pencil, look generic, but Ripes’ yarn has pace and phonetic crackle.

Fun enough once through, but not much more. (Picture book. 3-6)

ANIMAL STORIES FROM THE BIBLE

Rock, Lois Illus. by Peluso, Martina Lion/Trafalgar (48 pp.) $14.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7459-6220-7 Eight animal characters from familiar Bible stories serve as narrators for this overlong collection first published in England.

The stories from the Old Testament include a snake recounting the Garden of Eden story, a raven presenting the tale of Noah and his Ark, the whale describing the prophet Jonah and a lion retelling the story of Daniel in the lions’ den.

New Testament narrators are a lamb, a wolf and a donkey in stories from the life of Jesus and a cockerel telling the story of the first Easter. Each story is three or four pages of text in firstperson narration by the individual animal, with most stories too long for the intended audience. All the animal characters sound like well-educated, adult humans wearing animal costumes, complete with anthropomorphic insights. Each story has several small illustrations and one larger one, in a pleasant folk-art style with simplified shapes and a flattened perspective.

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However, the ratio of illustrations to text will not hold the interest of most young children.

A misguided effort with some flashes of humor but far too much text. (Picture book/religion. 4-8)

THE FIVE LIVES OF OUR CAT ZOOK

Rocklin, Joanne Amulet/Abrams (240 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-4197-0192-4 All cats have nine lives, especially those with 26 toes, right?

That’s what 10-year-old Oona tells her 5-year-old brother about their rescued cat.

They found Zook, named for fried zucchini, in the alley behind their apartment. Zook becomes the pivot for the plot when his kidneys fail and he needs daily infusions. Enter Dylan, a guitarplaying nurse, charms Oona’s single mother and brother Fred, but Oona is convinced he’s the VILLAIN who shot Zook with BBs several years ago. Oona has a penchant for telling whoppers, like her dead father, but hers are colored-coded (blue, black, red, white and yellow) depending on need and purpose. In her engaging narration, she capitalizes important words, teaches Fred to read with rebuses and tells him stories (again, like her father) about Zook’s previous lives. With THEORIES to fit all circumstances, Oona’s character is a combination of Harriet the Spy in curiosity and Anastasia in spunk. As in Rocklin’s previous One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street (2011), the spirit of a diverse and multicultural community plays a key role. In an achingly honest resolution, Oona recognizes that, unlike stories, real life has both unhappy and happy endings.

Another emotionally satisfying outing from Rocklin; hanky recommended. (Fiction. 8-12)

VEGAN IS LOVE Having Heart and Taking Action

Roth, Ruby Illus. by Roth, Ruby North Atlantic (40 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 24, 2012 978-1-58394-354-0

Sure to provoke controversy and discussion, this illustrated introduction to vegan living occasionally leans too heavily on assumptions but generally offers a clear view of the topic.

Presented in picture-book format, this nonfiction work features a different concept on each two-page spread. These concepts include clothing choices, animal testing and using animals in entertainment venues as well as eating habits, farming and environmental degradation. With each, Roth examines the impact of peoples’ choices on the Earth and the animals that live on it. Colorful, stylized paintings vary in subject matter, |

from cheerful organic farms to starving children, wounded animals and raw meat. The graphic nature of some of the pictures suggest that adults would be most comfortable sharing Roth’s message with older elementary children, a reality somewhat at odds with the appealing cover and brevity of the text. The lack of an index or print citations to specific information may leave readers wondering whether some of her sweeping statements are entirely (or still) correct, depending on when the book is read. Roth’s decision to ascribe emotion to animals may also leave some readers unconvinced. With luck, however, her main thrust—that our choices influence the world around us—will remain true indefinitely.

Roth offers a strong statement in support of a philosophy that some adults may wish to share with the children in their lives. (suggestions for further action) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

CORDIALLY UNINVITED

Roy, Jennifer Simon & Schuster (256 pp.) $15.99 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4424-3920-7

A junior bridesmaid’s work is never done.

Eleven-year-old Claire has been dutifully hiding the fact that she is a cousin and fast friend to Belle, the commoner who is soon to wed the Prince of England.

As the wedding date approaches, the secret is revealed, and Claire and her mother are whisked off to England so that Claire can fulfill her role as junior bridesmaid in the wedding. Once in London, Claire discovers that there is something fishy going on involving a fellow junior bridesmaid called Pandora—a young girl clearly infatuated with the Prince—and her great-aunt Cornelia. Cornelia may or may not be a witch who has cursed the Prince’s relationship with Belle. The text is peppered with letters between Claire and Belle and text conversations between Claire and her friend Evie from back home as well as her new London buddies. Claire is likable enough, and readers will enjoy making the inevitable connection between Belle and real-life Kate Middleton, but the relationship between too-perfect Belle and her much younger, much more ordinary cousin doesn’t ring true. Furthermore, the plot twists, such as they are, feel thin and forced, and the story limps along to a forgone conclusion.

Only the most passionate of princess devotees will fall head-over-heels for this one. (Fiction. 8-11)

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JEAN LAFFITE The Pirate Who Saved America

Rubin, Susan Goldman Illus. by Himmelman, Jeff Abrams (48 pp.) $18.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8109-9733-2

Who knew that some pirates in the old days were Jewish and fought on the side of the good guys? Mateys, meet Jean Laffite, a real pirate of the Caribbean.

Rubin’s slim book begins in what is now Haiti with Laffite’s early days as a descendant of Spanish Jews. She moves on to his “career” as a successful privateer and smuggler and then to his fighting alongside Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans.

Wise to the ways of the bayous and marshes, knowledge crucial to American defenses, Laffite also supplied Jackson with troops and ammunition. Amazingly, the fierce battle was over quickly and the British trounced. Thereafter, all was forgiven, as Lafitte and his pirates were proclaimed heroes and lauded for bravery and patriotism. Details about the rest of his life remain spotty in the historical record. While several of Laffite’s nefarious exploits are recounted here, they’re told in a matter-of-fact tone that doesn’t make them sound as exciting and dangerous as they had to have been. The paintings rendered in muted colors are fairly stiff, though some add atmosphere and rousing flavor.

Lafitte is depicted as heavily buckled in the illustrations; too bad he doesn’t come across as more swashbuckling.

Still, this will suffice as an introduction for die-hard pirate fans and add an interesting, quirky footnote to American history. (author’s note, bibliography, index) (Picture book/biography. 8-11)

RACHEL’S SECRET

Sanders, Shelly Second Story Press (256 pp.) $12.95 | Apr. 16, 2012 978-1-926920-37-5 This novelization of the 1903 Kishinev pogrom graphically describes the carnage as Christian Russians slaughter their Jewish fellow townspeople.

Three protagonists startlingly reduce to two when one, a Christian 14-year-old, is stabbed to death by his uncle, who covets the family tobacco business. Over the following months, Kishinev’s newspaper Bessarabetz whips the city into a frenzy by claiming that Jews murdered Mikhail to use his blood for baking matzah, urging, “we need to come together, fellow Christians, to purge our town of Jews.” The narrative shifts focus between Rachel and Sergei, friends of Mikhail, for the lead up to, climax and aftermath of the pogrom. Rachel is Jewish: Rioters butcher her father and neighbors in front of her, smash houses and businesses and upend her 634

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world. Sergei is Russian Orthodox. Although son of the look-theother-way police chief, Sergei steadfastly repudiates the blood libel but, as a 14-year-old, can’t prevent the slaughter. Sanders’ debut has generic prose and occasional anachronisms, but nonetheless adeptly conveys the history, from Mikhail Rybachenko’s real name to the bitter bigotry and bloodbath. One odd misstep: The text paints Rachel’s titular “secret”—her knowledge of Mikhail’s true murderer—as crucially important, as if that information could, in the right hands, have saved lives. But Russia and Eastern Europe’s pogroms (including Kishinev’s second, in 1905) needed no trigger beyond anti-Semitism.

Critical for its underexplored subject. (historical note, glossary) (Historical fiction. 10-15)

BABY FLO Florence Mills Lights up the Stage

Schroeder, Alan Illus. by Van Wright, Cornelius & Hu, Ying-Hwa Lee & Low (40 pp.) $18.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 978-1-60060-410-2 Florence Mills, dancer and singer, was the sweetheart of the Harlem Renaissance.

From childhood, Baby Flo entertained her family and her neighbors in Washington, D.C. Her parents put her on stage when she was 3 years old, entered her in cakewalk contests and had her entertain the rich and powerful at their homes. Fame came early in the vaudeville production The Sons of Ham. Mills went on to perform to great acclaim in stage productions in New York and in London. Unfortunately, she died in 1927 at the age of 31 and was mourned by thousands at her Harlem funeral.

Duke Ellington’s composition “Black Beauty” is believed to have been written in her memory. Schroeder concentrates his story on her very early years, leaving her exciting adult career and life to a lengthy afterword. The watercolor illustrations feature a perpetually smiling Flo, smiling family, smiling neighbors and smiling passersby. She is not well known today because there are no known recordings or film footage, and unfortunately, this title presents an overly perky perspective on an African-American performer born to former slaves. There should be a better balance between the actual text and the information in the author’s note.

Kudos for the effort, but a more illuminating text and more suitable illustrations would have made this a much better title. (author’s note, photographs) (Picture book/biography. 3-7)

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“Schwartz accurately tunes in to the thrill of small adventures and the best part about babysitters—the new, creative energy in the house.” from willie and uncle bill

WILLIE AND UNCLE BILL

Schwartz, Amy Illus. by Schwartz, Amy Holiday House (40 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 15, 2012 98-0-8234-2203-6

When Uncle Bill visits, adventure is never far behind!

The doorbell rings three times. It’s a sign of something special. Uncle Bill is here to watch Willie. The text hints that Willie may be a bit dramatic. He wears “checked pants and a big striped shirt.” But one look at the illustrations, and readers know that Uncle Bill and Willie are kindred spirits. In a shortchapter format, three separate stories are told. In the first, there is an unexpected haircut and a French hairdresser hero, Pierre.

In the second, the pair sets out to make Icky Stew (which consists of chocolate, tuna salad, liverwurst and much more). But who will eat it? A walk through Brooklyn finds some willing customers. The last adventure includes a subway ride and an electric rock-’n’-roll performance. Each story ends with Willie’s mother coming home, instinctively knowing something must have happened but never quite finding out. Schwartz accurately tunes in to the thrill of small adventures and the best part about babysitters—the new, creative energy in the house. Bright patterns adorn Willie and Uncle Bill but are also smattered across rugs, sofas and wallpapers, adding to the joy.

Emerging readers will appreciate the feel of a chapter book, but this dynamic duo will surely be adored (and envied) by all ages. (Picture book. 4-8)

BURIED ALIVE! How 33 Miners Survived 69 Days Deep Under the Chilean Desert

Scott, Elaine Clarion (80 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 17, 2012 978-0-547-70778-5

On August 5, 2010, a copper mine in Chile collapsed, trapping 33 miners nearly half a mile underground.

Shifting the focus back and forth between the plight of the buried miners and the rescue efforts underway at the surface, Scott creates a riveting tale. She describes the choices the miners’ strong leader advised that prolonged their survival long enough to be rescued and the creative solutions that effected that rescue. They drilled through over 2,000 feet of especially hard rock, delivered supplies to the trapped men through a tiny bore hole and then invented a way to carry the men, one at a time, to the surface in a very small capsule.

Evocative color photographs on almost every page enhance the brief text. The narrative moves step by step through the events that led up to the collapse, follows the efforts of the trapped miners to sustain life by rationing their extremely limited resources and describes the effect of the accident on |

their families. It also covers the development of a vibrant tent city at the rescue location, the ingenious strategies developed by the rescuers and finally the lasting impact on the survivors, many of whom remain unemployed.

An engaging, suspenseful look at a tragedy averted that also provides a glimpse of a challenging way of life. Pair this with Marc Aronson’s more in-depth Trapped (2011). (glossary, author’s note, additional websites) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

RED & YELLOW’S NOISY NIGHT

Selig, Josh Illus. by Little Airplane Productions Sterling (28 pp.) $14.95 | Apr. 3, 2012 978-1-4027-9070-6 In this adaptation of the animated short The Olive Branch: Sleep, Red wants to play his “strummy” loudly while Yellow wants to sleep—a situation that leads to a quarrel.

What works as a wordless, one-minute film loses its quirky charm and becomes static and didactic in this treatment. Red and Yellow dwell in the Olive Tree where they mostly live happily together. Or so readers are told; unfortunately, neither the characters nor the nature of their friendship is really established before the conflict is introduced. The text is leaden, and the connection between the characters is not conveyed in the bland illustrations. Their bickering ends in standoff. Instead of an emotional revelation or an acknowledgement of the other’s position, the resolution is somewhat accidental. Following the argument, Red realizes the night is a quieter time and changes his tune to an appropriately soft one. Both Red and Yellow enjoy the sound of this and have the same idea: The song becomes a lullaby for Yellow.

The book contains a worthy message but is disappointingly without nuance. For a more meaningful and engaging story about friendship, conflict and compromise, use Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Mike Lowery (2010). (Picture book. 3-6)

MOONBLOOD

Stengl, Anne Elisabeth Bethany House (368 pp.) $14.99 paperback | $14.99 e-book Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7642-0781-5 978-1-4412-1472-0 e-book Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood, 3 The final book of the trilogy continues the richly imagined although sometimes confusing world of Heartless and

Veiled Rose (both 2011).

Rose Red, princess of a long-hidden kingdom, was stolen as an infant by her mother to keep her safe from her royal father,

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“The prudent message that all Jews are one family rings out clearly and joyfully.” from the elijah door

who has evil plans that spell her future doom. Rose Red has lived, hidden by veils, in the world of mortals, working in the household of beloved childhood playmate Prince Lionheart. Lionheart is a flawed hero, terrified when he should be brave, then wracked by guilt for his many shortcomings. Faced with the potential loss of his crown for championing Rose Red, he casts her into the dangerous Wilderlands. This final self-justified act of betrayal has a far-reaching unanticipated impact. Eventually he embarks on a quest to find her, but it may be too late. Rose Red and Lionheart are carefully drawn, but the myriad other characters are less well developed. Between complex back stories and multiple plot lines, readers may wish for a scorecard to help keep track. A theme of Christian allegory runs through the tale, mostly subtle, but notably heavy-handed at the climax.

A multilayered, labyrinthine fantasy that will engage fans of the genre, even those not looking for a tale with a moral message. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

THE ELIJAH DOOR A Passover Tale Strauss, Linda Leopold Illus. by Natchev, Alexi Holiday House (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8234-1911-1

A foolish argument creates a feud that can only be resolved through a wisely engineered pretense.

The Galinskys and the Lippas trade geese and hens with unequal results. When the geese die and an unreasonable misunderstanding ensues, the family elders cut off their longstanding friendship. But David Lippa and Rachel Galinsky, like Romeo and Juliet, wish to marry. They seek the Rabbi’s advice to bring the two families together and involve the rest of the villagers in a ruse to gain invitations from their feuding parents for the yearly Passover Seder. “One by one the neighbors came…. pleading injury, poverty, bad planning, or broken dishes.” Preparations for the mammoth ceremonial dinner include a lot of furniture—stretching from each family’s house until two long, winding tables almost connect between backyards. Heeding the Rabbi’s plea for joyous celebration “in our love for each other,” the feud ends, with the Rabbi’s own table unifying the two dinners before the Seder begins. But how to welcome Elijah outside? David and Rachel go back inside to open the unused front door for the symbolic gesture. Oldworld storytelling depicting a bygone era of Eastern European shtetl life is augmented by folk-art–inspired, roughly detailed woodcuts hand-colored with watercolor inks.

The prudent message that all Jews are one family rings out clearly and joyfully. (Picture book/religion. 5-8)

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HOPE AND TEARS Ellis Island Voices

Swain, Gwenyth Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills (118 pp.)

PLB $17.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 Readers are invited to recite the thoughts, fears and dreams of all those who came to Ellis Island as immigrants, workers and visitors.

It was a place for Lenni Lenape Indians to fish for oysters, a site for hanging pirates, a fort and, most famously, the entry point for 12 million immigrants from Europe. Now it stands as a National Park Service Monument. Swain provides brief historical background for each period and creates short narratives to perform that are based on letters, diaries, oral histories and print resources. Annie Moore from Ireland was the first to be processed. Many more came from Greece, Hungary, Bohemia, Italy, Poland, Russia, Norway, France and Great Britain. They faced health inspectors, photographers, strange foods, dedicated nurses, helpful volunteers and, finally, if they were lucky, the welcome promised by the Statue of Liberty. All of these experiences are captured in monologues or short playlets introduced by short contextualizing notes. Even children of families who came through other entry points will find resonance here.

Copiously illustrated with photographs, illustrations and maps, this is a solid resource in an attractive format for those studying immigration and working on oral-history projects.

A poem in the voice of a National Park Service worker today says it best: “The sense that, / after all these years, / spirits live here, / along with all their hopes and tears.” (source notes, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

DROPS OF LIFE

Tiitinen, Esko-Pekka Illus. by Tiitinen, Nikolai Cuento de Luz (24 pp.) $14.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-84-15241-31-7 This play-turned-book, imported from Finland, opens with an idealistic dove approaching a world-weary owl to help alleviate the desertification in distant Africa.

A friendly whale transports the pair across the ocean. After the mammal’s beached siblings are rescued, and the destination is reached, the dove seizes on the solution of planting trees, but where to find seeds? Enter the wind, and the mission is carried to the four corners of the earth, reaching a koala, gorilla, panda and mountain lion. These creatures carry native seeds, while a boy brings water; the teamwork produces a seedling. In addition to being earnest to a fault, the dialogue-driven narrative bogs down in length and, at times, obscurity. The cause of the predicament is never explained, although there are asides about “saying something to humans.” The repeated refrain, “the strong give the weak the power to do more / when the wind is behind them,” only makes sense in context,

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diminishing its potential power. Realistically rendered animals are foregrounded, as on a stage, while Rothko-like backgrounds provide an aura of fantasy. The vibrant palette, strong contrast between warm and cool tones and sophisticated layering of colors effectively convey the splendor of nature.

The exquisite visuals don’t completely rescue this environmental fable from its heavy-handed and muddled message; theater, with its energy, movement and tighter scripting, it is still the better vehicle. (organization note) (Picture book. 5-8)

THE BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUNTAIN

Trapani, Iza Illus. by Trapani, Iza Sky Pony Press (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-61608-510-0

Seasons and senses and bears, oh my!

In a refreshing spin on an old singalong favorite, Trapani’s bear doesn’t go over the mountain just to see what he can see, but to hear, touch, smell and taste as well. His sensory adventures are humorously cut short when he sees a mama duck nipping and chasing him away, hears a snake hissing in his ear, smells a skunk spraying, feels a porcupine’s quills and has his taste of sweet honey interrupted by a swarm of buzzing bees. Verse by verse, the song’s text introduces the five senses while art depicts the (mis)adventures and also provides a visual representation of the progression of the seasons.

By book’s end, winter has arrived, and Bear retreats over the mountain again to his den, leaving readers with the satisfying ending: “And now the bear is snoring, / Snugly in his den.” In case readers are unaware of the tune to the song, backmatter provides the score and verses all on a single page. Throughout, the colorful paintings of the subtly anthropomorphized bear frolicking in his woodland mountain habitat will engage young readers and singers.

A fine addition to the storytime shelf. (Picture book. 1-4)

LITTLE FRIENDS

Tukel, Onur Illus. by Tukel, Onur Marshall Cavendish (64 pp.) $14.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6260-6

and guilt, but ultimately friends. The second story takes place in winter and involves a fortress of snow, the tree and one amazing snowball fight. When spring returns, the tree is struck by lightning, and the buddies imagine a new life for the stump. Comicbook–style panels combined with full-page illustrations keep this universal story moving along at a nice clip. The three children are easy to tell apart—Sara sports a tan face and red pigtails, Louisa is brown-skinned with a bouncy black hairdo and Barry’s gray tint and wide, tooth-sprinkled mouth will amuse all readers. Each story has its own background color as well, brown for fall, blue for winter and green for spring.

Readers who like comics with a storyline will look forward to further refreshingly non-saccharine tales of these three friends. (Early reader. 5-9)

SWAY

Turner, Amber McRee Disney Hyperion (320 pp.) $16.99 | May 15, 2012 978-1-4231-3477-0 Ten-year-old Cass can’t wait for her mother to return from a four-monthlong disaster rescue trip, but when she finally does, it’s a bitter disappointment.

Cass and her father have tried to adapt to Toodi Bleu Nordenhauer’s frequent absences: “My dad tries to fill in the empty part of the pizza when the Mom slice is taken away.” But this time Toodi’s leaving Alabama for good—not for a disaster but for a stranger named Ken. Who needs rescuing now? Emotions are raw and real here—it’s genuinely painful to witness Cass’ denial-heavy response to her mom’s sudden exit, as well as her ice-cold view of her well-meaning father. The story perks up considerably when Cass and her dad hit the road in a dumpy RV called “The Roast” (“more Ritz cracker than Ritz-Carlton”). Her once– scorn-worthy dad is full of surprises, including his transformation to M.B. McClean, traveling purveyor of soap shavings allegedly owned by historical figures from Abraham Lincoln to Clara Barton. With the power of “Sway,” those heroes’ finer qualities are passed along to the washer. Cass’ reactions to Sway and to her “new father” are fascinating and utterly credible, as is her evolving perception of her wayward mom.

A linguistically playful heart-wrencher about healing, love, forgiveness and the power of believing in something good, whether it’s old soap or your own family. (Fiction. 9-12)

One tree plus three friends equals three quirky stories.

Sara and Louisa do everything together.

Barry lives next door, but he is friendless. In the first story, he commandeers the tree at the top of the hill and refuses to share his tire swing with the girls. An argument escalates into near disaster when Barry cuts the rope to the girls’ swing, and they retaliate by cutting through most of his. The scary consequences bring the three together, initially awash in accusation |

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THE SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (AND THEIR PARENTS)

Verdick, Elizabeth & Reeve, M.D., Elizabeth Free Spirit (240 pp.) $16.99 paperback | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-57542-385-2 With so many children being diagnosed with autism-spectrum disorders, numerous new advice books are becoming available. This is one of the more useful ones.

With a broad intended audience of 8- to 13-year-olds, this effort risks being too simple for older readers or too complex for the youngest ones. Most of the time it finds middle ground, although it definitely leans toward being most appropriate for the younger end of that range. Somewhat juvenile ideas such as crafting a crown to be worn by a person speaking (to focus attention there) and a section on appropriately using the bathroom will likely offend older readers. Beginning with a brief description of autism-spectrum disorder, it then systematically moves through some of the more challenging aspects of the disorder. It explains in clear language strategies children can train themselves to employ to improve functioning in the neurotypical world and why these might be useful. These ideas range from watching videotapes of their own interactions with others and personal-hygiene advice to ways to identify impending meltdowns and avoid or minimize them. A lot of the advice is highlighted in color, and additional text boxes that describe children with ASD are printed on brightly contrasting, perhaps distracting, backgrounds.

A generally useful and easily readable effort with lots of practical advice, especially appropriate for gradeschoolers and their caregivers. (Nonfiction. 8-11)

BODY SLAMMED!

Villareal, Ray Piñata Books/Arté Público (176 pp.) $11.95 paperback | Apr. 30, 2012 978-1-55885-749-0 A San Antonio teenager hooks up with a fast-living pro wrestler and discovers the downside of hanging out with risky companions in this sequel to My Father, the Angel of Death (2006).

Junior year’s a drag for Jesse. His mom has moved out; his dad—a star performer on American Championship Wrestling—is hardly ever home; he’s barely getting by in school; and he’s spending far more time on the bench than on the football field. His life takes an exciting turn, though, after his father introduces him to 22-year-old TJ, a cocky upand-coming wrestler. TJ puts him behind the wheel of a hot car, presses beers on him and takes him to a mixed-martial-arts tournament and a boozy Halloween party. Then, ignoring his 638

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own growing uneasiness, Jesse takes a ride with TJ across the border to buy steroids. Glimpses of bouts on Monday Night Mayhem and references to “jobbers,” “smarks” and Mexican luchadores add more atmosphere than actual wrestling action to a tale that is essentially about making better choices. Jesse makes his after he and TJ are robbed and severely beaten in a Nuevo Laredo alleyway—and so do his parents. Sudden changes in point of view add to an unfocused feel.

More about teachable moments than suplexes and drop kicks. (Fiction. 11-13)

THE MATATU

Walters, Eric Illus. by Campbell, Eva Orca (32 pp.) $19.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55469-301-6 A modern Kenyan folktale about the colorful vans that carry people, animals and supplies underpins a story about Kioko, an astute but literal-minded boy, and his grandfather.

While the pair take a ride on the boy’s fifth birthday, Kioko asks why dogs run after matatus. Grandfather uses the opportunity to tell a story about why dogs chase after, sheep ignore and goats run away from the vans. Kioko interrupts his grandfather when confronted with silly ideas like animals talking and riding matatus, but as his grandfather describes a ride during which the dog never got his proper change, a sheep paid his fare exactly and a goat ran off without paying at all, the boy begins to understand both animal and human behavior. The boy asks his grandfather for a cash birthday present and then hands it to the conductor. He maturely tells the man that he is paying for the fare-beating goat, but in return, the conductor must give the dog back his money. Oil paintings provide realistic details of contemporary rural Kenya but include a few spreads in which the animals humorously take on anthropomorphic characteristics. The author’s note, drawing upon his Kenyan experiences, will amuse adults, but the full point of the story may elude youngsters, who are likely to be just as literal-minded as Kioko.

Nevertheless, the love and respect shown between Kioko and his grandfather is both universal and sweetly evident.

(Picture book. 5-7)

DOLORES HUERTA A Hero to Migrant Workers

Warren, Sarah Illus. by Casilla, Robert Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6107-4

Warren’s debut provides a muchneeded biography of a heroine in the struggle for migrant farmworkers’ rights.

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“Surreal in its effect, this celebration of the creative mind encourages young readers and listeners to open doors of their own.” from doors in the air

Dolores Huerta, often relegated to a secondary character in books about César Chávez, takes center stage in this accessible story. Huerta’s story begins with her realization that migrant farmworkers’ conditions and pay are the root causes for her own students’ poor health, hunger and lack of shoes.

The author chronicles Huerta’s journey by emphasizing her various roles: teacher, friend, warrior, organizer, storyteller, peacemaker, mother and woman. After Huerta fails to get the workers’ bosses to improve conditions and raise wages, she organizes a strike. Eventually, her efforts help change working conditions. In watercolor with pastels, Casilla captures Huerta’s strength and the resilience of Latino migrant farm works.

With the notable exception of a single, stark-white offset, the text blends beautifully with the illustrations in form and substance. A detailed chronology (in which Chávez appears) and a list of books, articles and websites enrich the simple text. While the book alone will work with younger children, the backmatter makes this title an exceptional resource for both Hispanic Heritage and Woman’s History months.

A welcome title for children and educators alike. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

DOORS IN THE AIR

Weale, David Illus. by Pratt, Pierre Orca (32 pp.) $19.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-55469-250-7

A small boy muses on the power of imagination to carry you away from ordinary life.

After enumerating usual features of his home—roof, walls, beds, tables, brooms, books and hooks—the narrator reveals his fascination with doors. “Doors open wide / To let me pass through / Like rain down a spout / Or smoke up a flue.” Pratt’s quirky acrylic paintings (new illustrations for a text first published in 2008) show a sharply angular house and a variety of commonplace objects. They also introduce the imaginary creatures that accompany the narrator on his journey: a small stuffed elephant, a red, white and blue bird, a goldfish and a fanciful, ostrich-like creature. A wordless double-page spread halfway through the tale shows them escaping into the world of imagination. Rhyming, rhythmic quatrains become threeline stanzas: “You are, you see, / The silver key / To open up the lock.” The dreamscape includes a jungle with oversize plants, a rounded castle, a passage with keyhole-shaped windows, a page of colorful doors and a flying carpet, which brings the boy home.

A magical incantation is repeated: “Oh sesame, sesame / East of me, west of me / Sesame, sesame, snap!”

Surreal in its effect, this celebration of the creative mind encourages young readers and listeners to open doors of their own. (Picture book. 4-8)

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CHILDREN OF TIME Evolution and the Human Story

Weaver, Anne H. Illus. by Celeskey, Matt Univ. of New Mexico (192 pp.) $24.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8263-4442-7 In six fictional episodes directly linked to paleontological artifacts, Weaver retraces the past 2.5 million years of “hominin” (pre)history.

Framed as a modern lad’s daydreams, her reconstructions open with the short life of the Australopithecine “Taung child” and end with a supposed seasonal ritual by a group of early modern Homo sapiens in what would become Europe some 26,000 years ago. In between they offer scenes in the daily lives (and deaths) of Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Neanderthal in future Africa and the Mideast. With paintings that resemble museumdiorama backgrounds—loose, but careful with natural detail— Celeskey tracks evolutionary changes in facial features, body types and clothing (or lack thereof). As the narrative progresses, the author inserts speculative but informed touchpoints in the development of names (“Roaank Awaagh” to “Moluk of the Wolf Clan”) and language, tools and culture. Explanatory afterwords elaborate on the evidence incorporated into each chapter.

The level of violence is unrealistically low, but these purposeful vignettes add a gauzy back story to what today’s children may have only seen as a few old chipped stones and fossil bones. (resource lists) (Creative nonfiction. 10-12)

BIG BAD SHEEP

Wegenast, Bettina Translated by Ragg-Kirkby, Helena Illus. by Busshoff, Katharina Eerdmans (64 pp.) $12.00 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-8028-5409-4 There’s no obvious audience for this (very) odd import.

The position of Big, Bad Wolf has recently opened up and Karl, an aggressive sheep, decides to apply for it. Accompanied by his kindhearted friend Locke, he wins a probationary period and dons the wolf ’s matted fur and fierce fangs. An unpleasant episode of cannibalism, Locke’s unlikely but effective adoption of the role of Hunter, the rescue of the eaten sheep and Karl’s repentance ensue. Most often presented in picture-book format, fractured fairy tales draw on familiar characters and action then add a twist to bring surprise and humor. There are also some novel-length adaptations that play with folk tale motifs to create original, entertaining versions of traditional tales. It can be tricky, though, to engage older readers using what they might consider babyish plots or themes, so the fact that this translation features elements of “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Three Pigs” may give readers pause. Add the challenging vocabulary, arch humor, relative

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“A pretty pair of ideas makes a very nice read-aloud: Tiny snippets of Shakespeare form the text for an illustrated almanac.” from shakespeare’s seasons

brevity and—true to the original tone of German folktales, some downright gruesome elements—and the ideal (or even intended) audience becomes even more unclear.

While the plot moves briskly and the small black-andwhite illustrations support the text effectively, it’s hard to imagine who might enjoy this odd mishmash of fairy-tale tropes and philosophical ponderings. (Fiction. 8-10)

SHAKESPEARE’S SEASONS

Weiner, Miriam--Ed. Illus. by Whitt, Shannon Downtown Bookworks (32 pp.) $16.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-935703-57-0

A pretty pair of ideas makes a very nice read-aloud: Tiny snippets of Shakespeare form the text for an illustrated almanac.

Whitt creates fastidiously detailed cut-and-paste, origami and collage images to complement the Bard’s words. The book opens with “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” Readers see children on the beach flying kites and building sandcastles, watched by a woman with a book. The beachscape is visually anchored by the head of a woman with long hair, hinting that this may be a memory. The Winter’s Tale’s “mints, savory, marjoram; / The marigold” finds three little girls amid the flowers and green. “Earth’s increase” from The Tempest is a bounty of pumpkins and veggies; “bareness everywhere” comes after a Christmas scene. “The purest spring is not so free from mud” depicts mud-luscious splashing and a pair of yellow boots framing a single crocus. In spring, there is a wedding—”Sweet lovers love the spring,” from As You Like It. A final double-page spread flows from a proposal to a pregnancy to children to teens to an elder couple through the seasons: crocus to primroses to autumn leaves to snow and back to crocuses again. The longest quote is eight lines but most are four or less, and read aloud with the images, they are easily accessible even to very young children.

Just lovely. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8)

FLORA’S FURY How a Girl of Spirit and a Red Dog Confounded Their Friends, Astounded Their Enemies, and Learned the Importance of Packing Light

Wilce, Ysabeau S. Harcourt (528 pp.) $17.99 | May 8, 2012 978-0-15-205409-0

The bumbling-if-adorable heroine of Flora Segunda (2007) takes off on a less clownish adventure through a parallel North America.

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at the Benica Barracks Military Academy while silently chewing on the knowledge that her real mother isn’t Buck Fyrdraaca, Commanding General of the Califan army. No, Flora’s mother is the war criminal General Haðraaða, aka tiny Doom, aka Azota the whip: the Butcher Brakespeare herself. And she’s alive. Flora performs a forbidden magical working to find her mother, but a wer-bear steals the map with Tiny Doom’s location, and Flora must follow. Flora and her shapeshifting fellow traveler—Sieur Wraathmyr, half Kulani (Hawaiian) and half Varanger (Norwegian), when he’s not being a bear—defeat an enchantress, befuddle pirates and overcome zombifying Birdies. Flora, both educated and tamed by her eight months in the barracks, is vastly more prepared to deal with the big bad world than in previous volumes. Though Califa and environs are every bit as wacky and flavorful as before, Flora herself is no longer so foolish a child. The result is both richer and less funny: Ridiculous mishaps have been replaced with sometimes-heartbreaking moments of personal growth (and an ancestral ghost octopus).

Flora fans will love old mysteries solved while new mysteries prep for volume four. (Fantasy. 12-15)

HOW TO MAKE A GOLEM AND TERRIFY PEOPLE

Willis, Alette J. Floris (240 pp.) $9.95 paperback | Apr. 12, 2012 978-0-86315-840-7

Two classmates and an ancient alchemist help a meek Edinburgh teen get a handle on her fears.

As if being constantly harassed by Euan at school isn’t bad enough, a home burglary on the night of her 13th birthday leaves emotionally fragile Edda on the verge of a breakdown. She’s desperate enough even to believe strange new classmate Michael Scot’s claim that he can grant her wish to be protected from danger.

Warning that wishes are tricksy things, he orders her to create a heart using materials linked to her terrors and then to bury it inside a monster outlined in clay. Is it all a prank? Her loyal friend Lucy and even Euan—who in an unlikely twist becomes a reluctant ally after Edda learns that he’s a victim of domestic abuse—think so. Hearing heavy footsteps in the night but finding deep footprints, dead birds and other small animals in the yard every morning, Edda soon has a change of heart. So do Lucy and Euan after the trio meets the golem face to, well, face.

Wisely realizing that “you can make monsters on your own, but you need your friends’ help to stop them,” Edda enlists the two in a scheme to change the golem from an aggressive to a peaceable creature. By the time they succeed Scot has vanished, even from Lucy’s and Euan’s memories, but so have Edda’s fears.

Some exciting moments but the character development seems forced, the monster not all that terrifying, and the “conquering fear” theme works better on a metaphorical level than an actual one. (Fantasy. 10-13)

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THE PRINCESS AND THE PACKET OF FROZEN PEAS

Wilson, Tony Illus. by deGennaro, Sue Peachtree (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-56145-635-2

In this contemporary version of “The Princess and the Pea,” Prince Henrik knows what he wants in a future bride and devises the right test to find her.

Prince Henrik longs to “fall in love and get married,” but his future bride must share his zeal for hockey and camping.

Henrik’s brother, Prince Hans, advises a “real princess” should be so sensitive she will complain about sleeping on a single pea placed under “a stack of twenty mattresses and twenty eiderdown quilts.” Hans’ wife, Princess Eva, passed this time-honored test, but when Henrik observes whiney Eva, he knows he wants the exact opposite. Eschewing stacks of mattresses, eiderdown quilts and the single pea, Henrik opts to test aspiring princesses with an old sleeping bag, a thin camping mattress and a packet of frozen peas. No girl tolerates sleeping on peas until Henrik’s “outdoorsy” pal Pippa arrives. After a day of sports, Pippa sleeps “fantastically well,” using the frozen peas as an ice pack for her sore shin. Relying on pattern, line and pale colors, the naively stylized pencil, gouache and collage illustrations subvert proportions and perspectives, adding to the whimsical tenor of this droll tale of a savvy prince who finds the perfect partner.

A must for would-be princesses. (Picture book. 4-8)

THE BEARS GO TO TOWN

Winters, Kay Illus. by Kirkland, Katherine Whitman (64 pp.) $14.99 | May 1, 2012 978-0-8075-0595-3 Series: Pete & Gabby, 1

Despite appealing pictures of mischievous bears, this story lacks teeth.

Bear cubs Pete and Gabby lament the end of camping season at Happy Time Campground and go to town in search of people and food. Bear-savvy readers may note a sign in Kirkland’s opening illustration reading, “Don’t Feed The Bears,” which suggests that Pete and Gabby have already encountered people who know not to interact with them. Nevertheless, in the ensuing brief chapters, the cubs are mystified by the townspeople’s fearful reactions on a soccer field, in an icecream shop and at the post office and fire station. It’s unclear whether the bears’ dialogue is understandable to the humans— especially when they respond, “PEOPLE!” to the humans’ cries of “BEARS!” Ultimately, Pete and Gabby occupy an odd space of quasi-anthropomorphism: They are bearlike in their presumed threat to people, and yet they can stuff mailboxes, wave to passersby and revel in slapstick mishaps in town. |

Finally, they simply ride back to the forest atop a fire truck after their “friend” the ranger comes to fetch them—no tranquilizer guns required.

In what seems like a new golden age of early readers, this just isn’t a standout. (Early reader. 5-7)

SILENT STAR The Story of Deaf Major Leaguer William Hoy

Wise, Bill Illus. by Gustavson, Adam Lee & Low (40 pp.) $18.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-1-60060-411-9

At a time when deaf people were routinely called “Dummy,” William Hoy accepted and owned the nickname proudly.

He had become deaf as a result of meningitis and endured loneliness and isolation before attending a school for the deaf, learning American Sign Language and joining the school baseball team. Starting on an amateur team and moving into professional baseball in the minor leagues, he used ingenuity and acute observation to overcome difficulties in following umpires’ calls and to anticipate possible plays in every situation. He played for 14 years with several major league teams, racking up solid statistics and several fielding records. Fans tossed confetti and waved arms, hats and handkerchiefs to let him know that they were cheering for him. When he faced a deaf pitcher in a historic game in 1902, each signed recognition of the other’s remarkable achievements. Employing rich descriptive language with just the right combination of drama and information, Wise emphasizes Hoy’s steadfastness and determination in his baseball exploits and in every endeavor before and after his career.

Gustavson’s sharply detailed illustrations, rendered in oil on paper, follow the text faithfully and offer glimpses into the look and feel of life and baseball in the19th century. Line sketches of baseball action and hand signals fill the endpapers.

A fascinating introduction to a little-known hero. (author’s note, sources, afterward) (Picture book/biography.6-12)

THE LAST SONG

Wiseman, Eva Tundra (232 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 10, 2012 978-0-88776-979-5

The daughter of Queen Isabella’s physician discovers that her parents don’t practice the religion in which they raised her.

Doña Isabel can’t understand why her parents insist that she be betrothed to Luis, the cruel and arrogant son of her father’s friend from the royal court. At last they explain that they are marranos, secretly living as Jews but seeking to protect her

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from the Inquisition by marrying her to a Christian. Shocked but not particularly given to soul searching, Isabel proceeds to meet an attractive Jewish boy, Yonah, who leads her into Toledo’s ghetto for a secret Torah class and a seder. True to type, Luis turns out to be an informer who has her father arrested and tortured—but thanks to a fortuitous family letter proving that Torquemada himself had Jewish grandparents Isabel secures his release. With “Dayenu” on their lips, Isabel and her parents join Yonah’s family and other expelled Jews headed for a new life in Morocco—their passage paid with jewelry smuggled by a loyal slave. A scant few of the Christians here are not rabidly hateful, but Wiseman is plainly less intent on posing thorny issues of faith or crafting complex characters than portraying Jewish courage and solidarity in adversity.

Worthy aims are scuttled by avoidance of nuance. (Historical fiction. 11-13)

WRITE ON, MERCY!

Woelfle, Gretchen Illus. by Wallner, Alexandra Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills (40 pp.)

PLB $16.95 | Mar. 1, 2012 Move over, Thomas Paine! Revolutionary War writer and activist finds fame!

First biography for young readers published!

Mercy Otis of colonial Massachusetts did not attend college but studied at home with her father’s encouragement. After her marriage to James Warren, she began writing and joined the political discussions about breaking ties with Great Britain that were held in her home. As open rebellion grew closer, she wrote political plays, albeit unsigned. When fighting broke out, Warren began an ambitious project—a history of the American Revolution, concentrating on “radical thoughts and bold actions.” It was published in 1805 under her name. Woelfle’s lively and informative style keeps the narrative flowing. Wallner’s gouache paintings are colorful and spirited, with a good mix of full-page scenes and close-ups of prominent figures. In a nice touch, Mercy Otis Warren’s Copley portrait hanging in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is reproduced. Decorative inserts excerpt her writings and those of her father and her husband. It is usually Abigail Adams who gets the nod whenever women of colonial and revolutionary-era America are mentioned, so this title certainly fills a niche.

A solid addition to the canon. (author’s note, timeline, bibliography, websites) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

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JAPANESE NURSERY RHYMES Carp Streamers, Falling Rain and Other Traditional Favorites Wright, Danielle Illus. by Acraman, Helen Tuttle (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-4-8053-1188-2

Fifteen short, simple songs in Japanese and English seem to be designed more for language practice than actual sharing.

The poems are presented line by line in Japanese characters (three different kinds are used, though only one per poem), a phonetic transcription and a loose but clunky and unrhymed English translation. They include authentically childlike celebrations of rabbits dancing (“Come see, come see the adorable dance / Hoppedy hop, hoppedy hop”), carp streamers “swimming happily in the air” and falling rain (“Picchi picchi chappu chappu / Splish splash, splish splash”). There are also wistful memories of “My Hometown” and a festival song that begins, “Our village guardian god’s generosity / Is what we celebrate on this joyous day / Boom boom, whistle whistle.” On an accompanying CD, tracks identified only by numbers alternate Japanese and English performances of each entry (the former sounding far more natural than the latter), sung in very high voices over solo guitar accompaniments. There is no printed music. Acraman’s art is more toddler-friendly than the lyrics, with plenty of muted but distinct colors and simple, blocky forms.

The Japanese versions’ bouncy rhythms are lost in translation, and even hopes for the sort of cultural insights that folk poetry affords go unfulfilled, since nearly all of the selections are attributed to modern lyricists and composers. (Bilingual nursery songs. 1-4)

EARTH DAY, BIRTHDAY!

Wright, Maureen Illus. by Kim, Violet Marshall Cavendish (32 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-7614-6109-8

Can “the silliest monkey ever seen” share a birthday...with Earth Day? It’s April 22, and everyone in the jungle—the big lion, elephant, crocodile and even the pith-helmeted snake—is celebrating Earth Day with a day full of planned ecological events.

Who should swing into view but Monkey, declaring, “It’s not Earth Day! It’s my birthday!” Viewing him mostly as a nuisance, the others offer to include him in their projects. The flamingo is planting a row of tiny trees, the zebra is picking up litter, the hippo shops with cloth bags, the tiger is composting and the giraffe sorts bottles, cans, paper and glass for recycling. But the heedless Monkey, while lending a hand, keeps repeating his mantra: “It’s not Earth Day! It’s my birthday!” Even the lion’s

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“Stemple’s photographs are the true stars of this book.” from bug off !

roar—”Give me a break!”—doesn’t put a dent in Monkey’s certainty. And he just may have a point. When he shows all the other animals the yummy birthday cake his mom made for him, everyone is immediately converted. Monkey blows out the candles, and all the animals yell, “Hooray! It’s Monkey’s birthday AND it’s Earth Day!” Wright keeps the verse crisp and bouncy while including an impressive number of ecological activities and a nice variety of animals. Kim’s bright pictures combine paper, photographs, and colored pencils.

Breezy, with a valuable message tucked inside. (Picture book. 3-5)

BUG OFF! Creepy, Crawly Poems

Yolen, Jane Photos by Stemple, Jason Wordsong/Boyds Mills (32 pp.)

PLB $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 Mother and son collaborate once more (Birds of a Feather, 2011, etc.), creating a group of poems and photographs that celebrate some well-known creepy crawlies.

Fly, praying mantis, butterfly, ants, honey bee, lovebug, daddy longlegs, spider, dragonfly, tick, ladybug and grasshopper each take a spread, the photo opposite a page of text that includes the poem and a paragraph of facts. Most of Yolen’s poems rhyme, and an author’s note encourages readers to create their own poems, with a caution that they choose their words wisely, using the lightning-versus–lightning bug quote from Mark Twain to support this. But some nature-minded readers may see Yolen as not taking her own advice. There is sometimes a disconnect between the beauty of the photographs and the more joking tone and anthropomorphizing of some of the poems. A spider’s tired joke about the World Wide Web is a stark contrast to these lovely lines, for instance: “A flittering cloud, / a crowd / of creeps. / And then, as if / an unseen broom / sweeps / skimmingly / across the sky, / the swarm is gone / in a blink / of an eye.” Stemple’s photographs are the true stars of this book. His macro views show such details as the rainbow colorations on a fly’s wings, the serrations on a grasshopper’s rear legs and the many units that make up the lovebug’s compound eyes.

A bug-themed companion to their previous collaborations. (Poetry. 5-10)

THE STOURBRIDGE LION

Zimmermann, Karl Illus. by Walker, Steven Boyds Mills (32 pp.)

PLB $16.95 | Mar. 1, 2012

The first steam locomotive on track in the United States now holds a place of

honor in a museum.

It was brought from Stourbridge, England, to the U.S. in 1829 to enable the transfer of coal from the mines of northeastern Pennsylvania to the canals of New York. A painting on |

its front was the inspiration for the nickname. Zimmerman’s breezy narrative traces its first American run, which the locals both ridiculed and feared. He goes on to describe the mechanics of its operation on gravity rail lines and its eventual journey to world’s fairs in Chicago and New York and then to the Smithsonian Institution. (The locomotive actually weighed too much for the tracks and was in use only for a very short period.) It is now on permanent loan to the Wayne County Historical Society in Pennsylvania. Railroad fans will enjoy the detailed descriptions of early locomotion mechanics, rail construction and efforts to save the locomotive. Walker’s full-page oil paintings present a pleasant picture of early-19th-century life and rail operations.

The title will have limited appeal to general audiences who would be better served by a more inclusive book, but train enthusiasts will welcome another entry that fuels their railroading enthusiasm. (additional information, sources) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

interactive e-books ELFISHKI AND THE GIANT CAKE

Baryakina, Elvira Illus. by Gavrilov, Dmitry kidsiphoneapps.net $2.99 | Dec. 21, 2011 1.1; Jan. 23, 2012 Despite its labored plot, this cottoncandy–sweet tale of opposites who accomplish a monumental task by working together has some merit.

Elfizz, a talented magician and restaurateur on Rainbow Island, could not be more different than Maggie, the pleasantly plump proprietor of the Gingerbread Nook. But in a mythical world where “miracles happen every day,” two opposites can accomplish great things in the spirit of cooperation. The upside? The narration is solid, and easy-to-use navigation and a high degree of interactivity keep readers engaged—to a point. Unfortunately, the tale founders in the Sparkling Sea. The book takes an awkward textpicture-text-picture approach, introducing the main characters on pages that do not bear their images. Elfizz’s eager-to-please ghost waiter is on the page, but readers must turn the page to see Elfizz.

Readers see a bunch of sweet treats from her bakery, but no Maggie until the following page. This approach also means that some pages are simply too text heavy, with the potential to overwhelm young readers. Moreover, the pace is lumbering and clunky. In partial compensation—and pursuant to the series’ goal of developing “conscious reading skills”—the app plants discovery questions/ points at the bottom of each frame.

In the end, these intellectual delights may save the cake for some readers. (iPad storybook app. 5-9)

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“The app’s moody illustrations, piano soundtrack and apparently sad main character make for a touching experience.” from the gift

THE GIFT

Carlyle, Jos Illus. by Mynard, Dan Persian Cat Press $6.99 | Jan. 18, 2012 1.1; Jan. 27, 2012 An unusual, ethereal app uses its slow pace, musical accompaniment and oil-painted illustrations to create a mood that transcends its sometimes-plodding storytelling.

A young boy whose name is never revealed discovers a baby girl floating on a shell by the shore. He picks her up and tries to wake her, but nothing happens. He decides to take the baby to a group of creatures called the Oomorels, who are wise and have magical powers. The seven Oomorels—of all shapes, colors and kinds of fur—take turns trying to determine what the baby may need, from food to drink to shelter. What finally awakens the child is love, in the form of a kiss from the young boy, but until that point the story teases the outcome for a disturbingly long time, creating anxiety that the baby may not be alive. “But her eyes were closed, like she was sleeping,” the text reads early in the story, and the baby stays that way for nearly 30 pages. The app’s moody illustrations, piano soundtrack and apparently sad main character make for a touching experience. But that spell is nearly broken by a repetitious middle section that’s only bearable because of lovely animation and challenging interactions.

If it’s meant to be a fable, it’s one with a very simple message: that a child needs love to awaken and grow.

Luckily, this app was built with plenty of love and care; it may not be a perfectly constructed story, but there are little moments of grace within. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD Chocolapps Chocolapps $3.99 | Jan. 23, 2012 1; Jan. 23, 2012

The bandit of Sherwood Forest takes center stage in this full-screen animation-meets–digital-book incarnation.

An exciting marriage of full-screen animation and classic pop-up design, this e-book makes one smart move after another. First, and perhaps most importantly, creators have managed a faithful (though abbreviated) version of the legend, with language and narration worthy of the good-vs.-evil classic.

Secondly, the story is well paced, cleanly illustrated and supported with an appropriate musical backdrop, which sets the tone throughout. Sound effects are plentiful—love the neighing horses and the whizzing arrows!—and integrate well with the animation. Add to that six language options, highlighted text and independent touch-pronunciation for each word, plus “show me” and “explain to me” options to give visual clues for more difficult words/concepts, and Robin’s heroic adventures 644

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hit a bulls-eye as a comprehensive learning experience for young readers. Occasional moments in which text and voice narration are out of sync (“traitorously”/”treacherously”) should be easily fixed in an update.

All that and a merry tale in which the bad guys are foiled, the good king is reinstated and the good guy gets the lovely Maid Marian—it will have readers looking for their capes and tights. (iPad storybook app. 4-10)

CHIMPS SHOULD BE CHIMPS

Friedman, Claire Illus. by Sklobovskaya, Natalie Manning Productions Dec. 1, 2011 1.0; Dec. 19, 2011 An elderly zoo chimp tells the story of his oppressive early life as an animal

performer.

It’s the 50th birthday of Old Poe, a chimp at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and zookeeper Todd has decorated the outside of Poe’s habitat with banners while visitors wish him happy birthday. Poe’s granddaughter, Lulu, asks Poe to tell her about when he was little, and he tells the compelling story of what it was like to be forced into a world where “chimps were not chimps”—where he was caged, frightened and mistreated as an animal entertainer. The artwork is effective, with scenes of Poe being mistreated in the past illustrated in muted, dark colors, while the present zoo-habitat scenes are drawn in glossy, inviting colors. The rhyming text mostly scans, though it never rises above amateurish. The story effectively demonstrates that zoos are qualified to provide chimps with the “appropriate care, housing and rich social life they require to truly be chimps,” but there is no mention of how zoo life compares with the quality of life of chimps in the wild. The app includes a helpful navigation menu and ten “Chimp Facts” to go along with the story. A narration option would be helpful, particularly since the rich language is probably not accessible for early readers.

A moving story with graphic appeal makes an effective case for animal rights. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)

TICK BAIT’S UNIVERSE

Gamble, Marc Illus. by Woodruff, Liza You University Apps $4.99 | Feb. 8, 2012 1.0; Feb. 8, 2012

A “powers of 10” app that takes young explorers from quarks to the furthest reaches of the observable universe.

An aptly named dog flopped down in a sunny backyard provides the starting point. Each flick of thumb and finger magnifies the view of canine hide by a factor of 10, down to 10-18, and each

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pinch will pull the image up and out one step. Finally, at 1027, only a gauzy film of galactic superclusters is visible. Though a “handwritten” text font and Woodruff ’s simply drawn cartoon illustrations (several featuring a drifting virus or other small animation) give the presentation an informal look, there is plenty of hard information here. This information includes the number and kinds of quarks in a proton as well as descriptions of the mysterious galactic “Great Wall” and even more immense “Sloan Great Wall.” The brief commentary appearing beside each view offers quick, specific facts strewn with playful interjections—“Kuiper Belt (rhymes with diaper)”—and true-or-false questions that are sometimes tricky, like “True or False: Viruses are alive.” There are enough typos to make an update desirable, but overall it’s an inventive and provocative exercise.

This well-designed odyssey truly does put the universe at viewers’ fingertips. (iPad informational app. 6-12)

THE GUARDIANS

Kitaro, Ziv Illus. by Nadel, Ron Nekudat Mifne $1.99 | Jan. 25, 2012 1.1; Feb. 3, 2012

A choose-your-own-adventure app filled with animals and quests to determine the reader’s values is ambitious, but not nearly varied enough to hold up to repeated readings.

In a world that has fallen into fear after being overtaken by a vague force referred to as the “Darkness,” the reader takes the role of a Guardian tasked with acting as a savior. A set of short, branching stories involve talking to animals about ways to combat the Darkness. A bear, for instance, wants to use brute force, but other creatures are either ambivalent or only on board with the crusade once they’re helped out of a jam. It’s an intriguing premise, but the execution is much more limited than even the most basic adventure computer games of two decades ago.

Choices are usually limited to two options, and one option is usually wrong. Playing through this game of a story only two or three times reveals the right path to avoid the story’s pitfalls, and the ending varies only slightly based on the reader’s choices. The artwork, at least, is distinctive and varied, with clever design work giving life to frogs, snakes, sneaky foxes and other animals. There’s also a set of achievements to be earned based on decisions made in the story with values assigned like “being healthy,” “being brave” or “being honest and fair.” There’s a nugget of a great idea in the app, but it feels far too short and limited to be truly immersive. Its constant repetition of references to the menacing Darkness begins to lose its power after the first dozen or so mentions, too.

It’s a story that feels too gimmicky and slight to engage readers deeply within a game structure that doesn’t offer much challenge or reason for repeated reads. (iPad storybook app. 5-10)

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TEN GIGGLY GORILLAS

Nunn, Graham Illus. by Nunn, Graham Wasabi Productions $3.99 | Jan. 19, 2012 1.0; Jan. 19, 2012

Clever and packed with interactivity, this app entertains but also confuses, as the star characters look an awful lot more like silly monkeys than giggly gorillas.

Beginning with 10 playful gorillas hanging high in the treetops of a generic jungle, readers are challenged to “tickle” the specific gorilla mentioned in that screen’s text. The featured gorilla is easily identified through clues in the text and by the various and funky objects they hold or wear, such as flippers, a bow tie or a drum. Once the correct gorilla is tapped/tickled, it plummets or, in some cases, swan dives to the jungle floor, leaving the group of gorillas down one. This pattern repeats until there are no gorillas left dangling. The rhyming and repetitive text mostly works, but stretches thin in a few places, although the cheerful female Australian narrator makes most rhymes work with a natural ease. Readers can also choose to narrate on their own with or without sound effects, although these noises, which are invoked by tapping any of the gorillas, add a humorous chaos to the text. Hidden within each page is a colorful toucan, which greets readers when tapped. Extra features include a gorilla memory game.

This enjoyable rhyming-pattern book reinforces simple counting concepts—if only it were taxonomically accurate. (iPad storybook app. 2-5)

PORKCHOP & MOUSE

Roberton, Fiona Illus. by Roberton, Fiona Ant Hive Games $0.99 | Jan. 18, 2012 1.0.1; Jan. 27, 2012

More Hello Kitty than Peter Rabbit, this very modern app with minimalist illustrations and clever jokes tucked throughout is a cute, if lightweight, cat-and-mouse story.

Porkchop, a perfectly white cat with a small circle for a body and larger circle for a head (with triangle ears, of course), lives in a house with red wallpaper, doors and hanging lights. He also lives with an infestation of mice: fat, oval mice who’ve been “nibbling on his doughnuts.” Porkchop pursues one mouse out of the house, across a field of spinning flowers, through an autumnal forest, over icy mountains and a desert and through a neonlit city, among other places. There are visual jokes throughout, like Easter Island statues on one page or a beach book called Great Catsby, but many of them are too subtle, or displayed in such small text that they’ll be lost on younger readers. The animation isn’t jaw-dropping—it’s only used in small portions on each page—but it’s effective. Mice eating, birds flying and

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a giant blue moon spinning are activated with button presses or by flicking a finger. The built-in narration’s British-accented take on the material is bright and friendly. An option to record one’s own narration is also nicely done; a simple microphone icon appears on each page. Porkchop’s chase leads back to the house, where the mice have made a peace offering: a huge pile of donuts to share.

It’s a simple story that emphasizes fun over substance, but the visuals are so crisp and adorable that they’ll appeal to readers who are looking for less-traditional art styles in their storybooks. (iPad storybook app. 2-8)

MR. ROBOT

San, San Looda Studio $1.99 | Jan. 20, 2012 1.1; Jan. 27, 2012 A strange but beguiling mix of surreal storytelling and lighthearted psychological advice.

Selecting any of the five symptoms on the first screen, like “Unable to start doing anything,” leads to a “diagnosis” (from “Procrastination” to “Manic”). The app then proceeds to a tale about a lad who, convinced that his brain has been mechanized, fits a boombox over his head as a disguise and sets out for a series of encounters in Machine City and elsewhere. Eventually, he concludes that his problem is inconsequential. Every symptom leads to the same story, but a different “prescription” appears at the end. Putting all “network communication tools” into the freezer for a month cures “Information Anxiety,” for instance, or, for paranoia, “Pay attention to drink water, breathe more northwest wind.” Lines of text share space with panels of elaborately detailed cartoon art, which is rendered in harmonious colors and with accomplished figure modeling. The pages fade into view and glide elegantly into position on each screen with successive swipes as changing strains of ambient music play. A tap on any screen opens toggle buttons for the music and the (rare) sound effects, plus a thumbnail index strip.

Not particularly therapeutic, but the art and the plot are engaging—as is the translation, which is so consistently amusing that the awkwardness may well be intentional. (iPad storybook app. 10-14)

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THE SNOW BALL

Steinberg, David Illus. by Conrad, Liz PadWorx $1.99 | Jan. 23, 2012 1.0.1; Feb. 1, 2012

Heavy snow gives a community of fun-loving polar bears a reprieve from school.

Most kids love it when school is cancelled due to inclement weather, especially when they get to play in the snow; the polar bears in this winter’s tale are no exception. They “go thumpthump-galumping” through the snow, make snow angels, throw snowballs at each other and “go flopping on the ice for a ride / balumping on their bellies, going slipidee-sliiiiiide.”

In terms of interaction, this app doesn’t offer much—linear gliding movement, minimal tilt motion and rudimentary animation, for example. The illustrations are so cute, though (imagine a more primitive Coca Cola polar bear), that kids will probably enjoy just observing the adorable creatures having so much fun. Though readers can choose between “read myself ” and “read to me” options, there’s a non-negotiable, bright and cheery soundtrack that loops in the background, a feature that would be nice to be able to switch off (or at least turn down).

Kids are likely to enjoy the bonus “penguin attack” game for a short while, but it’s nothing spectacular. Perhaps the app’s greatest feature is that it’s dedicated to Conrad, the late illustrator, and a portion of the sale proceeds will be donated to cancer research in her honor.

Not much depth but enough breadth to keep little ones engaged for a short time. (iPad storybook app. 2-6)

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

TabTale TabTale Jan. 12, 2012 1.2; Jan. 24, 2012

A rhymed version of the classic, compressed into just 12 screens thickly strewn with touch-activated trifles.

“A pretty girl named Alice sat by the stream one day, / She was clever and nice, but had no friend with whom to play.” Viewers can read this literary lowlight to themselves, listen to a saccharine audio or even record their own version. The best option of all removes the text from view entirely with the tap of a button. This leaves a dozen bland, brightly colored cartoon views of an expressionless, doll-like blonde lass in a blue pinafore shrinking, growing (“Mm! A cookie!”) and encountering various odd creatures. These include the usual suspects: a Mad Hatter with an array of headgear options, a sniggering purple Cheshire cat and a Queen who explodes into cards at Alice’s accusatory “Hey, you!” In each scene, taps release sprays of hearts or sparkles, activate exclamations or other sound effects and set off slow animations. Seven screens also include

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“A winning app that could easily be deemed the jazz version of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Smooth.” from a jazzy day

several drag-and-drop jigsaw pieces. The app is available for a nominal charge or in a free version with large pop-up ads.

A sticky-sweet rendition, with none of the original’s pungency or strangeness. (iPad storybook app. 5-7)

THE SOUNDS WE MAKE

Terranova, Michael-Paul Illus. by Terranova, Michael-Paul Curious Circus $0.99 | Jan. 29, 2012 1.0; Jan. 29, 2012

A basic exploration of assorted bodily sounds, including—and perhaps featuring—those considered “rude.”

In keeping with the simplicity of their 2011 releases (Max’s Temper Turnaround; Splotch: The Center), the developers use plain, geometrical characters and minimalist features to demonstrate the various sounds that our bodies make. We can whistle, clap, snap, hum and tap our feet. “[Mumbling] some” provides a transition from more socially acceptable noises to those that might be considered impolite: yelling, shrieking, snorting and snarling, to name only a few. The story builds, however, to a churlish finish by featuring burping, belching and farting—the last of which is deemed rude, gross, indecent and… fun. Each bodily utterance is demonstrated by tapping the characters that introduce them, and when it comes to flatulence, readers are encouraged not to do it in public (or at least to say “excuse me” if they do). All characters congregate on the final page to offer their own expressions of what it sounds like to pass gas, a finale that is sure to be a hit with the potty humor crowd (good luck getting the kids to move on).

A no-frills, sound-effects–driven “story” that has a decent rhythm, reliable interactive elements, simple navigation and a splash of age-appropriate vulgarity thrown in for good measure. (iPad storybook app. 3-6)

A JAZZY DAY

The Melody Book The Melody Book $4.99 | Jan. 13, 2012 1.1; Jan. 30, 2012 This highly user-friendly primer gives kids both a macro and micro lesson about jazz music.

Papa kitty wakes up his children with the exciting news that they’re going to visit a jazz band. After a yummy breakfast, off they go. First, they encounter a hip raccoon who plays a mean bass. Brother and sister cat also observe a fox playing drums, a goose tickling the ivories and a squirrel playing a groovy guitar riff. The story explores a wide variety of instruments, including the vibraphone, trumpets, trombones, three different saxophones, the flute and the clarinet. Turning the page activates instrument demos, though some launch more |

quickly than others. Touching band members elicits repeated demo performances, and if tapped all at once, they play at the same time. The young felines offer commentary when tapped, and the text itself provides helpful insight into the basic theory of jazz and the various categories of instruments that comprise a jazz band (brass and rhythm sections, for example). One page even highlights various sections as they chime in. The clever bonus games prompt kids to guess which instrument is making which sound, and it also quizzes them by asking them to match the names to the instruments.

A winning app that could easily be deemed the jazz version of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Smooth. (iPad storybook app. 2-8)

SCAREDY SQUIRREL

Watt, Mélanie Illus. by Watt, Mélanie Kids Can $9.99 | Dec. 8, 2011

An appealing little fraidy-squirrel leaves the predictable, safe life of his nut tree for an adventure into the terrifying unknown.

Scaredy Squirrel is so afraid of the outside world that he’d rather remain in his tree forever than risk running into killer bees, sharks or green Martians. And just in case something unexpected happens, he’s got a fully stocked emergency kit and a top-secret exit plan. Naturally, something unexpected does happen, and Scaredy Squirrel leaps out of his tree, with surprising and delightful results. Simple cartoon illustrations reflect a sophisticated use of perspective and page design. The low-key, droll narration is effective; it allows Scaredy Squirrel’s endearing character to take center stage. Navigation is achieved easily through a picture menu. Unfortunately, the iBooks experience lacks the freedom of an app. Double-tapping sometimes brings up the iBooks menu, sometimes zooms in or out and sometimes actually triggers something interactive.

There is some text that is not narrated, and page turning is a little glitchy. It’s also priced at the iBooks standard $9.99, which is expensive compared to storybooks from the App Store.

For every kid or grownup who has ever been afraid of anything, Scaredy Squirrel is a delight in any format—but this particular interface is not a significant improvement on good old paper. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)

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continuing series HERE COMES THE FLOWER GIRL! The Very Fairy Princess, #3

Grant, Michael Katherine Tegen (528 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 1, 2012 978-0-06-144915-4 (Science fiction. 14 & up)

TAKEN AT DUSK Shadow Falls, #3

Armstrong, Kelley Harper/HarperCollins (336 pp.) $17.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-06-179705-7 (Paranormal suspense.

13 & up)

THE POPULARITY PAPERS: The Rocky Road Trip of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang The Popularity Papers, #4

THE FAME GAME L.A. Candy, #4

Conrad, Lauren Harper/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $18.99 | Apr. 3, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-06-207328-2 (Chick lit. 14 & up)

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ABLE TO PLAY: Overcoming Physical Challenges Good Sports

Oliver, Jana St. Martin’s Griffin (414 pp.) paper $9.99 | Mar. 27, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-312-61480-5 (Paranormal romance.

14 & up)

Stout, Glenn HMH Children’s Paperback (112 pp.) paper $5.99 | Apr. 3, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-547-41733-2 (Collective biography. 9-12)

I WANT TO WIN! Little Princess

Ross, Tony Illus. by the author Andersen USA (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7613-8993-4 (Picture book. 4-9)

Ignatow, Amy Illus. by the author Amulet/Abrams (208 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4197-0182-5 (Fiction. 9-13)

LIBRARY MOUSE: A Museum Adventure

Gibbons, Gayle Illus. by the author Holiday House (32 pp.) $17.95 | Apr. 15, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8234-2368-2 (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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Scotton, Rob Illus. by the author Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $15.99 | PLB $16.89 Mar. 1, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-06-197871-5 PLB: 978-0-06-197872-2 (Picture book. 3-7)

FORGIVEN Demon Trappers, #3

Hunter, C.C. St. Martin’s Griffin (400 pp.) paper $9.99 | Apr. 10, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-312-62469-9 (Paranormal romance.

12 & up)

THE CALLING Darkness Rising, #2

SECRET AGENT SPLAT! Splat the Cat

McKee, David Illus. by the author Andersen USA (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-7613-8989-7 (Picture book. 4-9)

FEAR Gone, #5

Andrews, Julie & Emma Walton Hamilton Illus. by Christine Davenier Little, Brown (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 24, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-316-18561-5 (Picture book. 4-8)

ELMER AND SUPER EL

Kirk, Daniel Illus. by the author Abrams (32 pp.) $16.95 | Apr. 1, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4197-0173-3 (Picture book. 4-8)

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This Issue’s Contributors # Kim Becnel • Marcie Bovetz • Louise Brueggemann • Timothy Capehart • Ann Childs • Julie Cummins • GraceAnne A. DeCandido • Dave DeChristopher • Lisa Dennis • Carol Edwards • Brooke Faulkner • Laurie Flynn • Omar Gallaga • Judith Gire • Carol Goldman • Melinda Greenblatt • Megan Honig • Julie Hubble • Jennifer Hubert • Shelley Huntington • Kathleen T. Isaacs • Laura Jenkins • Betsy Judkins • Deborah Kaplan • K. Lesley Knieriem • Robin Fogle Kurz • Megan Lambert • Angela Leeper • Wendy Lukehart • Lauren Maggio • Joan Malewitz • Hillias J. Martin • Jeanne McDermott • Kathie Meizner • Daniel Meyer • John Edward Peters • Susan Pine • Melissa Rabey • Rebecca Rabinowitz • Kristy Raffensberger • Shana Raphaeli • Nancy Thalia Reynolds • Melissa Riddle Chalos • Lesli Rodgers • Erika Rohrbach • Leslie L. Rounds • Ann Marie Sammataro • Dean Schneider • Chris Shoemaker • Karyn N. Silverman • Robin Smith • Karin Snelson • Rita Soltan • Edward T. Sullivan • Shelley Sutherland • Jennifer Sweeney • Monica D. Wyatt • Melissa Yurechko

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indie Kirkus has been keeping an eye on selfpublishing for years, and we’ve never seen anything like the current boom. With the number of self-published titles now pushing 1 million per year, and independent authors utilizing new technologies to sell tens of thousands of copies of their work, the age of indie has truly arrived. Indie brings readers the best works by independent authors, and we bring independent authors the crucial tools to get the word out about their books like no one else. We’ll give your book an unbiased, professional review, and then we’ll push that review into the world via our social-media properties, newsletters, website and expanding content. To learn more about Indie and start promoting your title, please visit us online at kirkusreviews.com/indie/about.

9 These titles earned the Kirkus Star: PETRA by Subhi Alghussain...........................................................p. 650 secrets of the apple by Paula Hiatt.....................................p. 652 THE STOVEPIPE by Bonnie E. Virag............................................. p. 655

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SHOW TRIALS How Property Gets More Legal Protection than People in Our Failed Immigration System Afrasiabi, Peter manuscript (249 pp.)

May 1, 2012

A highly organized, informative discussion of the immigration system in the United States.

In this politically charged environment, Afrasiabi manages to broach the volatile issue of immigration in a well-rounded, surprisingly effective framework that combines case studies, historical research, statistical analysis and personal anecdotes to detail the current issues and propose solutions. Invocations of Kafka, “The Twilight Zone” and “Alice in Wonderland” prove warranted as illustrations of the often surreal circumstances that confront immigrants facing deportation. Immigrants usually lack access to quality legal representation, while their situation can be made doubly difficult due to language barriers and significant cultural differences. Afrasiabi incorporates his work with colleagues and students at the Chapman University School of Law to deftly weave together the facts of several compelling cases and their underlying legal issues, with a genuine sense of suspense as readers wonder if justice will be truly be served.

Occasionally, though, the narrative becomes overwrought— two federal laws passed in 1996 are “dark storm clouds depositing their sleet”—although, considering the life-changing effects of court decisions, it’s difficult to overstate the ramifications: extralegal rendition of individuals with pending cases and the de facto deportation of native-born children whose parents are deported. Afrasiabi also addresses the legacy of various antialien laws in California, as well as marriage equality for same-sex couples when one partner is a noncitizen. As the subtitle asserts, Afrasiabi employs his additional experience in the field of property law to contrast the stark differences between immigration judges and constitutional judges, like their qualifications, vetting processes and even the oaths they take. His arguments culminate in seven concrete reforms proposed in the conclusion.

In order to make the immigration system more just and effective, Afrasiabi claims the solutions are closer than we may think; we can implement procedures and safeguards already in place within the constitutional courts.

A persuasive, valuable addition to the ongoing immigration reform debate.

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PETRA A Panoramic Journey Alghussain, Subhi (183 pp.)

May 25, 2012

Stunning panoramic views of Petra, one of the world’s archeological treasures, in this beautifully designed coffee table book.

If your travel plans to the Kingdom of Jordan fall through, the next best thing to visiting Petra—the famed desert city carved into sheer rock—is this gorgeous collection of panoramic photographs. You might remember the city from the final ride-intothe-sunset scene of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” but these photos capture the city better than Spielberg. Petra sits in the cradle of civilization, so it’s seen thousands of years’ worth of settlers—Greek, Roman and Byzantine cultures, with notable influence by neighboring Egyptian, Arabic and Eastern civilizations. The area’s impressive array of clashing cultures notoriously relates to its reputation as an unstable region. The city was abandoned after a series of devastating earthquakes between 363 and 551 AD and, being located in a deep and narrow desert canyon, it wasn’t “discovered” by Europeans until 1812.

Now, photographer Alghussain captures the sprawling richness of the ancient city with a professional eye and gear—Fuji Panorama (6x17) professional camera with 90- and 180mm lenses and Fujichrome Velvia film. Having obtained special permission from authorities to enter the site at sunrise and sunset, Alghussain exploits a magical balance of light and shadow to portray the unique architecture of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The book’s perfunctory introduction includes minimal use of maps and cursory historical lessons to introduce the reader to the land, but that’s just preparation for the real treat—24inch-wide, double-page panoramas of Petra’s hallowed beauty.

Captions and corresponding thumbnails are relegated to the final pages so as not to interrupt the breathtaking visuals. From choice of film to the professional firms hired for printing and image scanning, all production details are of the highest caliber. Alghussain goes even further by collaborating with book designer Kevin Opp to produce an edition that sets the standard of design in independent publishing.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in architecture, classical history or travel photography.

AND STILL, SHE WEPT Barnes, T.C. Amazon Digital Services $2.99 e-book | Jan. 12, 2012

A small-town sheriff and a detective try to stop an elusive killer targeting young girls in Barnes’ debut.

A missing teenager is found dead in North Carolina and Sheriff Claire Stiles is called in to investigate. The death is connected to a murder in New York, so Claire soon welcomes 650

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recently widowed Det. Frank Reilly to the case. The killer, Jackson, introduced early in the novel, concentrates his murderous animosity toward one girl—she’s already dead, but Jackson continues to see her reflection in other young women. A meticulous investigation ensues. It’s deliberately slow but never tedious, even when highlighting the mundane aspects of the police work—like the sheriff assigning tasks—and the many unanswered questions and dead ends. The systematic buildup of suspense after the endless hours of investigation doesn’t have the punch it could because the killer’s identity has already been revealed to readers.

Claire’s despondency and willingness to sidestep the rules place her in closer proximity to a film noir gumshoe than her detective counterpart, Frank. A subplot involving a potential love connection between the two is made more complex because she has a boyfriend. The novel’s greatest strength is its unrestricted look at Jackson’s history. He had a loveless mother who nurtured his hatred and now represents an evil living beyond the grave.

Despite several scenes of victims’ parents hearing the dreaded news, Barnes avoids melodrama and continuously reminds readers of the murderer’s presence. For every scene of a mother crying for her child, there’s a less intense but still chilling sequence such as Claire witnessing an exhaustive autopsy. The book nearly falters after hitting the resolution and lugging its way to an ending, but the appropriately unsettling coda will linger with readers.

A disturbing portrait of a killer, and the scrupulous work and determination required to find him.

PROGRAMMED

Carter, James CreateSpace (372 pp.) $11.99 paperback | Aug. 26, 2011 978-1461061298 In the guise of a traditional sci-fi novel, Carter puts forth a treatise on consumerism, the environment and the future of the planet.

In 1957, Alex Gardener, a young Navy cryptologist at a top-secret Nevada military base, is assigned to decode the mysterious symbols recovered from a crashed UFO. Overseen by a power-hungry colonel, Alex quickly realizes that the symbols hold the key to humankind’s salvation, which he must not let his corrupt superiors control. Incensed by Gardener’s insubordination, the colonel forms the Black Falcons, a cadre of enforcers dedicated to preserving the secrets of extraterrestrial intelligence. The colonel’s men in black stop Gardener before he fully understands the symbols’ meaning. They then hide the symbols until their rediscovery in 2012 by Gardener’s granddaughter, Kate. Kate embarks on her own quest to understand the alien symbols while evading the men in black so she can alter the apocalyptic course for life on Earth. Carter’s imaginative take on the secrets of Area 51 is well-paced and tidy, weaving together a suspenseful plot and mythology for the aliens in a way that is believable—as far as aliens are concerned—and often entertaining.

This novel’s main weakness, though, is character development; central characters duck in and out of the narrative frequently and

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unceremoniously, and a constantly shifting third-person perspective makes their motives and personalities even more difficult to follow. Several characters—like Kate’s stereotypically white trash mother and the absurdly nefarious colonel—are pure caricature.

But while it’s hard to connect with Kate and her compatriots, the real center of Carter’s universe is Earth itself: Carter succeeds in conveying the high emotional stakes of the planet’s perilous future. His vision of Earth’s eventual decline is frighteningly plausible and his solution is genuinely moving.

Though uneven in character and plot development, the novel’s vivid look at the potential future of humankind might even change the way readers see the world.

THE ABLE SEAMAN’S MATE Cheevers, William William Cheevers $0.99 e-book | Jan. 2, 2012

In his sweeping novel, Cheevers gives voice to the struggles endured by Irish immigrants.

The Delaney family made their home on an Irish peat bog. When an invitation to New York arrives from an uncle, the question of immigration ignites a conflict between Big Jimmy Delaney and his 14-year-old son, Jimmy. The younger Jimmy, the story’s protagonist, is determined to make the voyage with or without his parents. A decision is made: Big Jimmy, his wife Mary and Jimmy will head to New York City, leaving the two younger sons in an orphanage to finish school. The long voyage tightens the tension between father and son, as young Jimmy learns how to provide for himself with help from the sailors on board. Upon arrival in New York City, the family discovers that the uncle has died; after Mary dies of a miscarriage for which Jimmy blames his father, Jimmy severs ties with his father for good. Cheevers relates the ordeal in a readable Irish lilt, which fades as Jimmy gets farther from his homeland. Strong-willed and capable, Jimmy is most at ease when he’s on the move; over the years he finds jobs as a seaman’s mate on a river steamer and as a telegrapher for the railroad. Cheevers fashions Jimmy into a well-rounded, relatable character through his speech and the wanderlust that ultimately drives his life. Though Jimmy has few genuine friends, his ability to maneuver friendships to his advantage sets him apart from similar protagonists. Through his alliances Jimmy attends college in the East, then heads west to become a journalist in California. Along the way Jimmy has an unlikely though not implausible encounter with one of his brothers who’d been left behind in Ireland. The brother’s rage at his father has led him to become a prizefighter. The discussion between the brothers shows how far Jimmy has moved from his conflict with his father—and yet the conflict still keeps him on the move. His cunning, drive and independence land him in on the West Coast, but his desire to keep moving on continues. While the conclusion fits, it leaves readers looking for closure, because Jimmy, compelling as ever, is once again starting over.

A fascinating immigrant’s tale of the turmoil and restlessness that come from beginning life anew. |

THE LITTLE BOOK OF SECRET CODE PUZZLES Pearls of Wisdom & Encouragement Waiting to be Discovered Ciesla, Gary AuthorHouse (68 pp.) $8.58 paperback | Dec. 15, 2011 978-1468532128

Simple brain-teasers yield deep thoughts in this winsome puzzle-book.

Ciesla (The Logic Puzzle Project) includes 27 puzzles, each of which consists of a brief aphorism rewritten in code using a simple substitution key that replaces each letter with a different one. (One example: with the starter clue that all the Ts in the original have been changed to Fs and the Bs to Ls, “FM LY MS HMF FM LY” can be decoded to reveal a familiar Shakespearean preamble.) The puzzles fall in the sweet spot of modest difficulty, a smidge beyond Wheel of Fortune on the toughness scale. They require canny inferences based on the frequencies of letters and small words and the likelihoods of letter combinations; occasionally the solution jumps out in a flash of insight. Solving them one after another becomes an enjoyable, flowing experience, a kind of linguistic version of completing Sudoku puzzles. While their puzzle-solving gears turn, readers will soak up useful life lessons. Each puzzle is prefaced by an unscrambled proverb, witticism or mystic pronouncement by the likes of Horace Greeley (“The darkest hour in the life of any man is when he sits down to study how to get money without honestly earning it”) and Oliver Wendell Holmes (“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us”). While not quite as pithy, the ideas expressed in the solutions to the puzzles—”It has been said a person won’t be in control of his life until the day he can show that he has learned to control his emotions”—certainly bear pondering, and could exert a subliminal character-building influence over kids as they painstakingly decipher them.

An amusing and mildly edifying diversion.

THE DIARIES

Driskell, Chuck manuscript (415 pp.)

Jan. 31, 2012 During a routine mission, a troubled spy stumbles upon a cache of diaries—the lost accounts of a Jewish house servant brutalized by Adolf Hitler—in Driskell’s thriller.

Gage Hartline was once Matthew Schoenfeld, a military wunderkind handselected for the CIA’s special operations forces, until a clandestine mission goes horribly awry, ending in the deaths of two children. Blaming himself, Gage leaves the military behind, taking only assignments where he doesn’t need to invoke his license to kill. When a French intelligence agency offers him a simple

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“Sun, fun and revelations in Rio provide Rita with a much-needed sense of place in the world her mother made for her.” from born in rio

job bugging a German customs office, Gage discovers a hidden collection of diaries penned by a Jewish housemaid named Greta Dreisbach while working in one of Adolf Hitler’s homes.

Raped by the tyrant, Greta becomes pregnant and eventually escapes, although her journals stand as history-shaking proof that Hitler fathered a half-Jewish heir. Gage, accompanied by his young lover, Monika, sets out to find Hitler’s heir, but the incalculable value of the diaries soon catches the attention not just of his French employer, but also the vicious crime syndicate Les Glaives du Peuple. Driskell’s debut is a standard thriller, never wandering too far from the genre’s traditional conventions. Yet while it brings little new to the table, the book’s execution is highly competent and well paced, if occasionally repetitive as a means to keep its large cast up to speed. These characters are exaggerated, sensationalistic types—hard-nosed, honorable soldiers; sadistic criminal kingpins; beautiful but dangerously clueless women—that, while not entirely believable as people, are nonetheless recognizable and entertaining. Even more impressive is the novel’s pacing, which rarely lingers while giving each character the appropriate level of attention before their larger-than-life characteristics grow tiresome. Some of the novel’s more graphic scenes aren’t for the faint of heart, and even readers who might not consider themselves squeamish will still squirm at the vivid descriptions of torture and violence.

Notably, the eponymous diaries don’t quite convey the pathos Gage experiences from them.

Uninventive and fairly exploitative, but still an engaging, enjoyable thriller.

SECRETS OF THE APPLE Hiatt, Paula Mayday Jun. 15, 2012 978-0984663408

Detailing how family dynamics, cultural diversity and past relationships shape who we are, debut novelist Hiatt subtly explores the cavern between a successful life and a meaningful one.

Kate, a young idealistic American, and Ryoki, a wealthy Japanese businessman—both divorced—pair up professionally when Ryoki needs an assistant quickly and it just so happens that Kate’s teaching position fell through. (Readers learn later that their mutually caring families have a hand in the “coincidence.”) Their two families deeply respect each other with a long-standing business partnership and friendship, though neither Kate nor Ryoki knows each other. Ryoki reluctantly accepts Kate into his office; he seriously doubts her capabilities and is concerned she’ll negatively impact his big project and professional reputation. After all, he demands a grueling pace from his assistant and the responsibilities are enormous. Kate quickly proves that what she lacks in training, she makes up for with brains, intuition and hard work. In the office, she mothers and nags Ryoki for being a workaholic, and her quirks and 652

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eccentricities annoy him. Eventually, Ryoki notices that he feels differently when Kate is away. Hiatt uses interesting metaphors and visual descriptions as the love story slowly boils below the surface, though occasionally those unique metaphors are distracting. Ryoki’s thoughts—a surprising amount of self-doubt and hurt—linger under his suit, but like Ryoki, we’re never quite sure of Kate’s thoughts. The reader and Ryoki want to know more about her, which keeps both pushing forward. He invites her to work for him in Brazil, arranging her quarters in a guest cottage outside his home. Kate wonders why he goes to such pains for a “temporary” assistant and Ryoki wonders why himself. In Sao Paulo, they remain platonic and professional but as intimate as a couple can be without sex. Each secretly cherishes this escape from the life they had been living before—Ryoki especially—but in their tense, tender connection, he’s afraid to act on his emotions until another man threatens to swoop in and take Kate away from him.

An exceptional first effort that captures the harmony of two beating hearts.

BORN IN RIO

Martins, Cássia CreateSpace (330 pp.) $12.60 paperback | Nov. 1, 2011 978-1466441798 In her debut, Martins offers the warm story of a woman’s return to the homeland she left as a child.

Rita Ray doesn’t care for personal relationships. She’s single, 37 years old, with a lucrative banking career in Manhattan after a modest upbringing in Florida. Getting ahead in the business world is her sole focus, and she adopts a cold, distant manner to keep everyone, even family, at arm’s length. But when her mother, Maia, dies unexpectedly, Rita must confront the difficult past that closed her off emotionally. When Rita was 10, Maia suddenly uprooted her from their home in Brazil and brought her to the United States. Though Maia worked hard to create a better life for them both, their close relationship deteriorated because Maia refused to discuss their former life and the circumstances that forced her to flee from Brazil with Rita. After losing her mother without regaining the closeness they once shared, Rita plans a visit to Rio de Janeiro to learn more about her family and to reconnect with Maia’s dear friend Elisabete.

In the beautiful, vibrant city, long-suppressed memories rush back to Rita—her heart thaws as she begins to appreciate the hard life Maia lived and the difficult choices she made with her daughter’s well-being in mind. Rita’s rediscovery of Brazil and her growing understanding of her mother provide the novel’s greatest pleasures, despite the sometimes melodramatic flashbacks. Immigration challenges and a compelling family dynamic would be absorbing enough without the over-the-top villainy of the men in their past. In Rio, Rita also meets Gabriel, a kind and handsome ex-lawyer turned health-food chef, who offers himself as her tour guide. The city opens up in its tropic splendor on

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INCREDIBLE AH-HA MOMENTS Ideas You Won’t Stop Talking About

the tours provided by Gabriel and Elisabete; its history and culture are enchanting. Throughout the often sensationalized plot, Rita—more than a tourist, but not a local—also explains the city’s lively customs, which flow naturally from the narration.

Sun, fun and revelations in Rio provide Rita with a much-needed sense of place in the world her mother made for her.

A colorful story of personal growth that ripens in Rio.

GOODS OF DESIRE

Monte, Quentin Xlibris (234 pp.) $31.99 | paper $19.99 | Mar. 5, 2005 978-1413491302 978-1413491296 paperback In Monte’s (For Singers Only, 1983) amusing sci-fi novel, two friends build a machine named “GOD” that identifies what’s best in the world.

Charley Watts accidentally wanders into Limitless Inc., an invention company that protects its secrets using a device named Gizmo to monitor, scan and evaluate all who enter the building. After he’s scanned, detained and released, Charley is quickly chased down by a multitude of executives who have been ordered to retrieve him. He’s been identified as highly intelligent by Gizmo, so Limitless’ V.P. quickly offers Charley a job. It’s unclear how Charley, a member of Mensa, inadvertently walks into a strange building directly across the street from his bus stop, or why someone off the street would be hired to work in a high-security atmosphere, handling a very sensitive project without a background check. Regardless, after a few months, Charley and Evan Casey—Charley’s roommate and fellow geek—create a prototype based on Gizmo, which they name Goods of Desire, aka GOD. When pointed at a group of objects, living or inanimate, GOD identifies the best individual within the group. With GOD pointing them in the right direction, Charley and Casey open a general consulting business.

Though both men want to use GOD for the common good, they devise different means to that end. The story’s concept is loosely based on a dream Monte had, so a level of disconnect emerges in attempts to fit together certain aspects that have no real connection. At times, plot convenience and random acts take over any regard for reality, while bland structure and style further increases the story’s disconnect. The dialogue stumbles when Monte tries to convey a stereotype, such as when Evan and his fiancée, Meg, meet with the mobster Joe Galanti: “U’m sorry youz don’t like dah way I talk. My apology. Anyways, back to bidness.” Though Monte keeps things fairly subtle, the acronym for the Goods of Service device eventually proves its merit in Monte’s underlying question: What’s the point of GOD? The idea of a GOD device is intriguing, as is Monte’s message, but the story doesn’t support its lively imagination.

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Nestoiter, Alexander CreateSpace (354 pp.) $18.90 paperback | $9.99 e-book Dec. 22, 2011 978-1468010213 Our fate lies not in our stars but in our feet, argues this self-help manifesto.

Nestoiter’s unpredictable treatise flutters off in many directions but returns to his unconventional theory that the neurological challenge of bipedal balancing drove human brain evolution, and that the environment surrounding the feet, our primary balancing appendages, decisively influences the psyche.

Unfortunately, paved surfaces and comfortable shoes make our balancing faculties atrophy and sever our podiatric connection to reality, causing emotional and spiritual distress. (Stable, high-grip shoes “utterly obliterate the information your soles are relaying to your soul,” he warns, but tottering on high heels provides a balancing workout that helps women “stay sharp, witty, alert and perceptive.”) Nestoiter interrupts his off-thewall analysis of the mind-foot problem with bizarre digressions on everything from mass extinctions to the link between flatulence and obesity (“do not hold gas for more than thirty minutes, or you will never be thin again”), while an appendix offers random tips on alleviating dandruff, estimating the diameter of your small intestine and warding off evil spirits with salt. Interspersed are unctuous sales pitches for his “Balance Professor,” a balance-pipe that provides a “true therapeutic, deep-tissue foot massage” along with a soothing brain tune-up. Nestoiter’s opus reads like a parody of an autodidact’s nutty theory of everything, though he seems to mean it seriously. His ideas are exhaustively though ineptly reasoned out in an earnest, conversational style that seems lucid until you stop to think about his arguments, but the book bogs down under slabs of amateur scholarship and mathematical calculations and grows repetitious as he circles back to his obsessions. He allows that the material is “a little tedious” but insists that readers “not skip pages” lest they misunderstand his unconventional conclusions. Nestoiter’s eccentric ideas actually get harder to follow the less of it one skips, but at times his Yogi Berra-esque pronouncements—”Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening all at once”—attain an accidental profundity.

Nestoiter’s grab bag provides some unusual food for thought, though it can be a little hard to swallow.

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“It’s satire at its finest—laughing until the sobering moment of realization that the events in Moq’tar aren’t as fictional as you’d hope.” from slick

SLICK!

Perlstein, David iUniverse (252 pp.) $16.95 paperback | Nov. 1, 2011 978-1462045457 As a dead-locked election grips the fictional sultanate of Moq’tar, no issue is safe from Perlstein’s (God’s Others, 2010, etc) wit as he lampoons politics in the gulf.

Bobby Gatling, a retired U.S. soldier now employed by a private security firm, is on assignment in Moq’tar. While Bobby’s been training security forces, the aging sultan has allowed his favorite son, Yusuf, to run the country. Western-educated with an MBA from Berkeley, Yusuf has been hard at work, in the capitalist fashion, transforming Moq’tar into “Moq’tar, Inc.” And his sister, the alluring Zoraya, has been with him every step of the way. But everything gets complicated quickly when it turns out that the succession isn’t as certain as Yusuf (and America) thought. Between a drunken U.S. ambassador, a cultural affairs officer with a penchant for cinema and Yusuf ’s playboy-turned-traditionalist older brother, Bobby has his work cut out for him. Stuck in the middle, he’s forced to balance his duties, his loyalties and his conscience as he navigates the dangers of a Middle-Eastern election rife with double-dealing and assassination attempts. The setting works brilliantly for Perlstein to show how ridiculously volatile the region can be, as he takes well-aimed shots at capitalism gone too far, gulf politics, forced democracy and anti-Semitism (to name just a few). It’s satire at its finest—laughing until the sobering moment of realization that the events in Moq’tar aren’t as fictional as you’d hope. To his credit, Perlstein never crosses the line into offensiveness, despite the numerous hot topics and cultures in his sights. And although he tends to dump characterization on the reader, that’s hardly a bother since each one is compelling.

Best of all, the novel isn’t written just for scholars of the region; the plot is packed full of car chases and plot twists that keep the tension high and the pace fast. Those looking for subtle humor will find plenty, but those interested in action and intrigue alone won’t be disappointed either.

What else is there to say? It’s slick.

DREAMLAND Book One

Piana, Ron Gould, Randi Londer CreateSpace (318 pp.) $14.95 paperback | $0.99 e-book Sep. 22, 2011 978-1463606312 A chance incident brings racial and marital tensions on Long Island to a head in this first installment of a debut series.

Former golf wunderkind Buddy Graves never planned to return to his old club as a caddy at age 32, but the recession had other ideas. Now he’s just trying to hold 654

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fast to his lovely nurse wife, Dana, while watching his neighborhood crumble in the housing bust. Then it happens: a 7-year-old girl who lives next door slips innocently into Buddy’s bathroom, he hustles her outside, a cell phone camera snaps and one Tyrell Walker embarks on a twisted crusade for “Webtribution” and racial justice. But that’s not Buddy’s only problem. Dominating the country club scene is Izzy Weinberg, nursing home baron, and his still-sexy wife, Elaine, with whom Buddy enjoyed a steamy flirtation on the links years ago. Izzy harbors Carnegiestyle railroad dreams, boozes up Chinese business partners and keeps a smart young assistant working late under his covers. The web tightens when Dana joins a health task force investigating Izzy’s empire, and then her muckracking blogger gal pal posts a damning photo of a black activist professor—with connections to Tyrell—in company of the wrong color. So unfolds this smartly structured soap opera that adroitly lampoons our postmodern smugness. If we really want to explode stereotypes of rich Jews, femmes fatales, Asian power brokers, radicalized black brothers and white jocks whose lives crashed long ago, why not throw them together for high stakes and watch the sparks and clichés fly? Gritty vernacular rules the book, with heavy doses of ghetto talk and enough N-bombs and F-bombs to supply a platoon. The women seem a tad interchangeable, but they serve just fine as beautiful causes that launch men to insane states of desire. And sometimes, of course, ambition really is a bitch. At least one dream gets reborn at the novel’s end, with further complications and unsavory revelations promised in book two. Bring it on.

A cleverly threaded melodrama with a raunchy style and enough secrets, sex and culture clashes to keep the pages turning.

DAUGHTERS OF IRAQ

Shiri-Horowitz, Revital Horowitz (284 pp.) $14.95 paperback | $2.99 e-book Apr. 1, 2011 978-0615460796 A latticework of personal tragedies and cultural history underpins Shiri-Horowitz’s debut novel about immigrant lives in Israel, translated from the Hebrew by Shira Atik.

Violet and Farida Twaina, the youngest daughters of a Jewish Iraqi family, find their lives upended during “The Exodus” in the 1940s, when Jews fled the country to escape retaliation during the creation of Israel. Abandoning a sprawling house in Baghdad, the family arrives as refugees at an Israeli transit camp and then scatters to far-flung kibbutzim. Violet and Farida remain inseparable through this time of hardship, and subsequently through marriage and the births of their children. Their lives slowly return to normalcy, but other sorrows await—the death of their beloved former playmate, Eddie; early widowhood and its attendant loneliness for Farida; and an untimely diagnosis of terminal cancer for Violet. In her final months, Violet writes a diary for her children, Noa and Guy, to ensure the family’s past stays alive. The journal forms one part of the triptych of shifting points of view that

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“Despite their odd coupling, Mallick and Leloir orchestrate the finale with the aplomb of Poirot at a pace more presto than adagio.” from final adagio

illuminate this generational saga. Farida and Noa, meanwhile, offer insight into the family’s present and future. If political betrayals scarred the older generation, Noa grapples with betrayals of a more personal nature. Her emotional journey offers a counterpoint to the family’s earlier journey from persecution. Despite its somber narrative arc, the novel is leavened with passion (above all else, for food, which is almost a fourth protagonist). The Twaina sisters’ zest for life, despite setbacks, is seen in the dying Violet’s rich evocation of the culture of Iraqi Jews and in matronly Farida’s spirited foray to a beauty salon to have her hair cut, colored and styled. Such moments offset occasionally stodgy prose and some heavy-handed exposition. These are minor flaws, however, in a novel that brims with love for a community that no longer exists, and for the women who ensure that this lost community will not be forgotten.

A sympathetic tale of love, loss and loneliness highlighting a largely underrepresented community.

THE CORNERSTONE OF DECEPTION

Simani, Cheryl The Third House (453 pp.) $18.00 paperback | Dec. 7, 2011 978-1461052814 Converting her nonfiction research into historical suspense, first-time novelist Simani challenges the integrity of acclaimed archaeologists Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson and George Smith.

In the mid-19th century, archaeologists’ discoveries in the Tigris-Euphrates region altered the biblical timeline. Taking the reader from Mesopotamia to Paris to London, Simani introduces real-life archaeologists Austen Layard, Jules Oppert, Fulgence Fresnel, Rawlinson and Smith, among many others (as the three-page list of characters will attest), showing how their lives and discoveries were intertwined, and how nearly all were affected by the machinations of Rawlinson. Taking on the uneducated, working-class but gifted Smith as his assistant, Rawlinson schools him in matters both archaeological and unethical.

What to do if your dig is not as productive as you had hoped?

Buy artifacts on the black market. Having trouble with a translation? Make it up. Research challenged by colleagues? Discredit theirs. As if forgery were not enough, Rawlinson also dabbles in anti-Semitism and racism. While he remains reprehensible, Simani’s exquisite character development imbues Smith, a man of humble origins, with sympathy. Oppert vacillates from being a main to a secondary character, but he is probably the most fascinating of the long list of them. The novel’s historical elements are well researched, and Simani displays an additional gift for weaving an engrossing love story, as evidenced by the relationship accounts of Layard, Oppert and Smith. The author occasionally allows her characters to engage in long, dull conversations, rehashing events that occurred off-screen, but otherwise she manages to create a mainly interesting mystery.

A riveting tale of archaeological intrigue.

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FINAL ADAGIO

Stancic, Giselle Giselle Stancic $0.99 e-book | Dec. 28, 2011 On a weekend in 1993, the performance of Gustav Mahler’s brooding Ninth Symphony by a fictive Chicago Philharmonic frames this cleverly constructed murder mystery.

A prologue describes the 1963 murder of Eugenie Leloir, the young wife of Swiss rising star Auguste Leloir, who will conduct the Philharmonic in the Mahler Ninth that evening. Post-murder, the performance is cancelled and the case remains unsolved.

Thirty years later, now–world-acclaimed Leloir returns to conduct the Mahler Ninth, but during the first performance the principal oboist collapses and dies, which sets off a convoluted chain of events, including a plot to murder Leloir. Details of reed preparation and the venues of Philharmonic Hall and greater Chicago suggest intimate knowledge of woodwinds and the various Chicagoland crime scenes. Dialogue is lively while the settings and musical details enrich the plot line, and orchestra members and Philharmonic staff are well drawn, especially Mallick, one of the security guards and a former police detective. In fact, Mallick, lazy and almost surly behind the reception desk, steals the show in his post-crime transformation into an inspired gumshoe. Leloir and the orchestra’s music director, Grant Alexander, aren’t as well-developed, however. It strains credulity that courtly Leloir would ignore his obligations as a guest conductor in order to join Mallick in search of clues in the oboist’s death. Leloir and Mallick are surely one of the oddest couples in crime fiction: Mallick left the police force in disgrace because of incompetence; Leloir actively dislikes him but accompanies him in the hope of learning more about his wife’s death. Grant Alexander’s plot to kill Leloir, whom he perceives as a threat to his career, becomes entangled in aspects of Eugenie’s murder that neither Leloir nor Mallick satisfactorily explains. Despite their odd coupling, Mallick and Leloir orchestrate the finale with the aplomb of Poirot at a pace more presto than adagio.

A well-played mystery for music lovers. Bravo!

THE STOVEPIPE

Virag, Bonnie E. Langdon Street (440 pp.) $17.95 paperback | Oct. 1, 2011 978-1936782307 Virag’s memoir paints a bleak portrait of a broken childhood, but her strength shines amid the rubble.

In the early 1940s, Virag and four of her siblings were forced into a big, black car and taken away from their home by the Children’s Aid Society. She was never told why; she was 4 years old. Though poverty-stricken, Virag had always felt love from her mother and an older sister, “Muggs,” who helped care for the younger children (Virag’s mother had 18 children

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k i r ku s q pau l a SECRETS OF THE APPLE

Hiatt, Paula Mayday June 15, 2012 978-0984663408

& a w i t h h i at t

A stay-at-home mother of three, Paula Hiatt has many stories to tell, although she’s only written one book so far. In her debut novel, Secrets of the Apple—“An exceptional first effort that captures the harmony of two beating hearts,” according to its starred review—Hiatt develops a captivating love story between Kate, an idealistic young American, and Ryoki, a successful Japanese businessman. Hiatt, an American who lives abroad in China with her family, also runs a board game company with her husband.

Here, she shares her worldwide sources of inspiration and the passion for observation that fuels her writing.

Q: How long was Secrets of the Apple in the works and what inspired it?

K i rk us M e di a L L C # K i rk us M e di a L L C President M A RC W I# NKELMA N President SVP, Finance M A RC W I NH Kull ELMA N J ames SVP,Marketing Finance SVP, J ames ull M ike HH ejny SVP, Marketing SVP, Online M ike H ejny Paul H offman

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Q: You’ve said there are things about Kate that are based on your experience, but that she is “far cooler” than you are.

Is she your or even the ideal woman?

A: Actually, I’m my ideal woman because I’m real, even if I am addicted to M&Ms. Shoehorning all women into some mythical, ideal mold would be like bringing back corsets and the 16” waist. Kate is who she is, and I like her, mostly, though I don’t think she appreciates M&Ms enough to be my bosom friend. She’s an archetype, a melding of the 19th and 21st century woman who illustrates that we carry the DNA of our predecessors. We got our big mouths and strong opinions from somewhere.

Q: Is or was there someone in your life on whom the character Ryoki was based, or was he completely made up?

A: Ryoki is a hand from here and an eyeball from there. I would have loved to base him on my husband, but no one would have believed a character with that much energy. To write from the perspective of a man, let alone a Japanese man, was one of the biggest challenges of the novel. But to adequately address the process of discovery, I needed two people who couldn’t rely on cultural shorthand to fill in the gaps. Discovery |

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is key in this novel, and two Americans would have allowed too many details to slide under the rug.

Q: You seem to have an intimate knowledge of the dynamics of Japanese family and culture. Where did you get this?

A: Research, research, research. Japanese anime fascinated me because I didn’t understand it. There were the universals, of course, but often the characters reacted in ways that made absolutely no sense to me.

So, I started studying Japanese culture, reading everything I could get my hands on. After a while I started to joke that I owned more Japanese culture books than the public library.

Q: You’ve previously lived in Brazil, and you’re currently living abroad in mainland China with your husband and three children. What role does this play in enriching your writing?

A: In Brazil I waded through homeless children every day on my way to work. In Europe I finally got the flavor of historical sites I had read about since I was a child. In Nepal I watched bodies burn in an outdoor crematorium. In India I toured a goldmine, descending a mile underground in a tiny elevator crowded with gas cans, and held a gold bar so fresh it was still warm from the smelting pot. But mainland China is truly a life without seat-belts. A single thoughtless moment, and I will get run down by a car in a land where it is cheaper for the driver to kill than to maim.

I can’t afford not to pay attention. Consequently, I can’t help but collect acorns that grow into trees in my imagination. Though my experiences enlarge my perspective, I never forget that the richest writing is not about exotic locations, but about noticing.

–By Lisa Oliver Monroe

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A: Four years. I was driven by my desire to pay tribute to my own mother who serves as the basis for Kate’s mother, and whom I had lost to cancer a few years earlier. She was a stay-at-home mom with six daughters, who really did cook the lettuce onto the tacos, just like in the book. But when she died, the church filled to the back with the overflow, and all these years later people are still coming up to tell me what a difference she made. The novel grew to encompass other themes, but in the beginning I felt that someone needed to speak for women like my mother who understood that a woman’s value is intrinsic, having nothing to do with worldly plaudits.

total). Virag’s home life was hardly idyllic—her rowdy older brothers gave her canned molasses to quiet her when she cried from hunger—but it was far better than where she ended up.

Plunged into foster care, the children were often abused and used for labor. Virag and her twin sister, Betty, performed grueling, dangerous work on a tobacco farm and were locked in an attic at night with no heat other than a stovepipe, which provided minimal warmth and became a comfort of sorts for the girls. Virag’s plainspoken style makes for a powerful read. At one point, the children are so hungry they eat sassafras leaves.

When the girls slice open their bare toes while hoeing, Virag describes how they “simply rinsed off the blood and went back to hoeing.” Readers should prepare to be angered and moved to tears: One of the most heartbreaking scenes involves the rape of Betty when she is 7 years old. But there are better times and even much “whistling in the dark” humor, as the author does a beautiful job of capturing the voices of childhood. The book is a swift, well-written read, and not merely an indictment of the foster care system. There is compassion from some adults, such as a foster-care worker who helped Virag enroll in art classes during her high-school years. Amazingly, Virag’s voice is not bitter, as she plumbs the depths of despair and rises above what no child should ever have to endure.

An inspirational story of survival and the loving bond between sisters.

apprentice Kulkulla—a washout from the medical guild—learn belatedly about the secret project and realize that for the sake of society they must take steps against it. Williams’ unhurried pace may make H. Rider Haggard seem like LucasFilm by comparison, but his characterizations are offbeat, mature and intelligent—the aged Jeppo and his cherished, ailing wife are an especially fetching romantic duo in these oversexed vampireand werewolf-ridden times. The alternate world Williams portrays is a compelling one, and the brickweaving concept does eventually inspire subtle tremors of awe and wonder. Wisely, Williams doesn’t waste page space laying out minutiae, terminology and mechanisms. Whether brickweaving be art, magic, science, mathematics, geomancy or any and all of the above is a question that remains ambiguous—nicely so for readers pulled, as if by gravity, into this well-built narrative.

A low-key but consistently interesting, against-thegrain fantasy, supported by sturdy world-building.

THE BRICKWEAVERS Williams, J.F. manuscript (501 pp.)

Jan. 21, 2012

In the kingdom of Thujwa, exalted craftsmen build with elemental forces of energy—but there are those who would use this technique, “brickweaving,” to create weapons of mass destruction.

In dignified, formal language hearkening back to 19th-century fantasy masters like Verne and Wells, Williams describes what seems to be a primitive, preindustrial society. But appearances can be deceiving. The desert-bounded city-state of Thujwa is home to various guilds of craftsmen (it’s a measure of Williams’ dry humor that the most hapless and useless guild is devoted to medicine). Among these artisan-aristocrats, the most crucial to society’s functioning are “brickweavers,” adept at manipulating gravitational and magnetic force. In most prosaic functions, brickweavers build virtually impregnable brick walls, spill-defying basins and amazing soaring (or floating) towers that make up the skyline. But brickweaving energy can also propel vehicles, hold living matter in stasis or—using immense forces of attraction, compression and repulsion—create WMDs that destroy with terrible finality. To outlying tribes, Thujwa is still remembered from ancient days as a cruel conqueror and enslaver. When the brickweaving guild’s leadership consults the archives of the distant past to reconstruct a few of the brickwoven war machines (for ominously vague reasons), principled brickweaver Jeppo and his raw |

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