Charles and Emma

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith
By Deborah Heiligman
Henry Holt and Co., 2009. 268 pgs. Biography

Charles Darwin didn’t know if he should marry or not; he enjoyed his time and wasn’t sure if he could compromise it with a wife. So he did what any budding scientist might do—he made a list of the pros and cons of marrying. He finally decided that the answer was “Marry—Marry—Marry Q.E.D.” Charles soon found a woman who would be a good wife and companion, his first cousin Emma, but he worried because she was religious. By this time, he had already sailed around the world and had begun to believe in natural selection and less in God’s creation. Even though his father told him to keep it a secret, Charles shared with Emma his beliefs after they agreed to marry. Although concerned that he would end up in hell and she would be in heaven when they died, Emma did marry him.

This charming biography chronicles their married life and how they reconciled their very different opinions. It was not easy to do, as they had a few children who passed away, but the loving pair managed to create a wonderful life together. Heiligman does a great job of detailing their lives and how much they loved each other.

MN

The Shepherd's Song

The Shepherd’s Song: a Christmas Story
By Larry Barkdull
Deseret Book, 2009. 124 pgs. Fiction

Joshua ben Levi is a shepherd tending the family’s flocks on the Judean hills. As his wife, Miriam, approaches childbirth something goes terribly wrong and she fears this child will be lost like all the others. In order to gain favor with God, Miriam urges Joshua to go and pray at the temple in the nearest village. Joshua knows he must sacrifice his favored lamb to assure a miracle for Miriam and the child. Along the way he meets several individuals who seem to need a miracle more than he, which forces Joshua to make some life altering decisions. In the end, he will be witness to a miracle of unprecedented holiness.

A lovely, little holiday read. This simple tale is made richer by its message of sacrifice and miracles.

DAP

Prophecy of the Sisters

Prophecy of the Sisters
By Michelle Zink
Little, Brown, 2009. 343 pgs. Young Adult

Soon after her father’s mysterious death, Lia discovers a strange mark on her wrist and spies her sister insider their mother’s old room, the Dark Room, whispering in a strange ceremony. Lia’s dear friend, and love, James also gives her a book he finds in her father’s library, a book that tells of a prophecy of two sisters. Lia soon discovers that she and her twin sister Alice are the sisters spoken of in the prophecy, sisters at odds who will either protect the world from Samael (also known as Satan) or bring him back into the world.

This is the first in a series and does a good job of setting up this world, the prophecy, and the struggle between the sisters. However, I am not sure if I will read the next books. Nothing is wrong per se with the book and how it’s written, but at times I felt like I was getting involved in something more evil than I liked.

MN

The Gift

The Gift
By Cecelia Ahern
Harper, 2009. 302 pgs. Fiction

Lou Steffen is a business executive obsessed with his job. He never has time for his family and rarely even notices others. However, one day, he stops to give a homeless man, Gabe, a cup of coffee, and he ends up getting Gabe a job in his company. He soon wonders if that was a good idea, though, as there's something mysterious about the way that Gabe seems to be in two places at once and knows things about Lou that he shouldn't. As Lou wonders who Gabe really is, Gabe is trying to give Lou the gift of a lifetime.

Ahern's latest book should leave fans fulfilled. Elements of the miraculous are combined with reality in this story about learning what life is really about. Even as frustrating as Lou can be, readers will still find themselves hoping that he can redeem himself in the eyes of his family and become the person that he really wants to be.

AE

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
By Beth Fantaskey
Harcourt, 2009. 354 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Jessica Packwood was adopted and raised by two peace loving vegans. She lives on an organic farm and attends Woodrow Wilson High School. Jessica’s world is shattered when immediately before her eighteenth birthday a handsome young Romanian named Lucius Vladescu shows up at her doorstep. Jessica’s parents neglected to tell her that her birth parents were vampire royalty. Her real name is Antanasia. Jessica has been engaged to Lucius since her birth in order to join two powerful vampire clans together. Jessica is horrified by the concept of an arranged marriage but soon learns that if she doesn’t marry there will be an epic vampire war with many innocent casualties. Jessica can’t help but be attracted to certain noble qualities that Lucius possesses. But she understandingly doesn’t want her future life mapped out for her. Lucius, on the other hand, enjoys the freedom of America a bit too much when he starts dating the local alpha cheerleader and earns the wrath of his vampire guardians.

The book title is taken from a guide Lucius gives Jessica called, “Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions.” This contrast between teenage reality and the absurd provides much of the humor in Fantaskey’s novel. However, I found the tone to be uneven. It shifted between light comedy and romance to darker violence. There is also a large amount of sensuality in the novel. It was not as light a read as the cover and title may suggest. But it was refreshing and different to read something that had some unexpected plot twists. Fantaskey definitely leaves the plot wide open so she can write a sequel.

ALC

Sarah's Quilt

Sarah’s Quilt: the Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 1906
By Nancy Turner
Thomas Dunne Books, 2005. 402 pgs. Fiction

Sarah’s Quilt is the continued story of Sarah Agnes Prine, a settler in the Arizona Territories around the turn of the century. Her story continues with many of the characters introduced in These Is My Words with the notable addition of her sons. Life in the territories is never easy and the year 1906 brings many challenges, including her sons dropping out of college, a severe drought threatening to destroy the home she has struggled to build, and extended family coming and going, some temporarily and some forever.

I did not enjoy this second installment in Sarah’s story as much as the first. This may be because of characters no longer a part of the story (sob!!), but I also didn’t feel as close a connection to Sarah as I did in These Is My Words. The journal entry narration seemed to lose some of its authenticity and….did I mention that I missed people from the first book!! (I don’t want to spoil anything….but, I MISS ____!!) This short series should definitely be read in order and if you enjoyed the first, I would recommend reading this one as well. It is good, just not as good as the original.

CZ

The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead
By Ayn Rand
Plume, 1994. 736 pgs. Fiction

Simply put, this is the story of a man who knew no other way to live than in complete self interest and total honesty. Howard Roark is that man and the world seems to be at complete odds with him throughout his career, though he never seems to mind. His world is populated with men searching for happiness through the acquisition of fame, fortune, and power. Their ultimate failure to achieve these goals illustrates, with stark contrast, the power of Howard’s confidence and sincerity.

This was my first venture into the world of Ayn Rand. I was blown away by her storytelling along with her theories of the world and society. Whenever I start reading a big fat book like this, I worry that it will be unable to keep my interest and I happily report that The Fountainhead definitely succeeded in drawing me in throughout the story. I also worried that, since I haven’t read a lot of books that require ‘deep thinking’ recently, I would be unable to critically evaluate a book with such an academic reputation. I’m not sure I am ready to write a 10 page essay on the underlying themes and messages in Ayn’s work, but I believe I still caught on to her agenda and, while I certainly do not agree with all her views, she gave me a lot to think about. This book deserves its ranking among American literary classics.

CZ

NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children

NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children
by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman
Twelve, 2009. 336 pgs. Nonfiction.

After all these years we discover that "positive reinforcement" is not all it is cracked up to be. In fact, children who are repeatedly told how smart and able they are, whether or not it is true, develop a defensive posture and show an unwillingness to try new or harder things because they feel the need to protect their "smart kid" turf. On the other hand, children who are praised for their hard work and willingness to keep trying will prosper in school with less stress and greater drive and curiosity. These somewhat startling results and others are reported in Bronson and Merryman's fascinating new book which also takes on the Baby Einstein myth (electronic teaching aids do not make your children smarter and in fact generally slow them down), and that parents and educators can truly know by Kindergarten whether a child is intellectually gifted and well-suited for accelerated programs. Chapters on sleep deprivation, why children lie, and the profoundly effective teaching of self-control as an educational strategy in preschool round out this fine book, essential reading for anyone interested in the education and growth of children.

LW

There's No Place Like Here

There's No Place Like Here
By Cecelia Ahern
Hyperion, 2007. 340 pgs. Fiction

Sandy Shortt has been obsessed with finding missing things ever since she was ten, when a neighbor child went missing. As an adult, she opens a missing persons agency and spends her time hunting for missing persons--and running from what might be missing inside of her. She has just accepted a new case, helping Jack Ruttle find his missing brother when she herself goes missing. Sandy finds herself in a land of all things missing, where she encounters people she'd been searching for as well as items she herself had lost. Unable to accept that she won't be found, Sandy is determined that she won't stay here and wonders how she can go back to the life she has just realized she's been wasting.

This book is a bit difficult to read, as it jumps around and includes flashbacks, but it has an interesting premise. A mixture of chick-lit and fantasy, this book is not my favorite by Ahern, but it's still one to recommend to her fans or those looking to consider that the unbelievable may be possible after all.

AE

Deep in the Heart of Trouble

Deep in the Heart of Trouble
By Deanne Gist
Bethany House, 2008. 395 pages. Romance

Tony Morgan expects to inherit his family’s oil business. Instead when Tony’s father dies, Tony is completely disinherited. Left with nothing he decides to start at the bottom of a competitor’s oil business and learn the ropes. Tony travels to Corsicana, Texas where he meets Essie Spreckelmeyer. He soon learns that she is the business mind behind her father’s oil company. Tony is both attracted to Essie and frustrated by her antics. Essie is independent minded, vivacious and eccentric. Disappointed by a previous failed romance she has decided not to marry. Rather, Essie focuses her considerable energies on managing her father’s business and the Velocipede Club she has founded. Tony and Essie learn to trust each other and compromise as they both manage their business interests and fall in love.

Essie Spreckelmeyer is a character introduced by Deanne Gist in her previous novel, Courting Trouble. This is a case where the sequel is better than the original. Gist has the opportunity to delve into the lives of the town's idiosyncratic supporting characters. They lend humor and personality to the novel. Although this is a Christian Romance the sermonizing is kept to a minimum. Unlike the first book it is written from Tony’s point of view. It is interesting to view Essie and the town of Corsicana from a different perspective. The romance is believable and it is interesting to learn about the early years of oil drilling in Texas.

ALC

Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Bk 1)
By Richelle Mead
Razorbill, 2007. 332 pages. Young Adult

Rose and Lissa are best friends and have been on the run from St. Vladimir’s Academy for several years. Lissa is a Moroi vampire princess and orphan. Rose is a dhampir guardian (half-human, half-vampire), and is psychically linked to Lissa. When Rose and Lissa are forced to return to their school they must contend with regular class work in addition to vampire politics and death threats. Rose is assigned a dhampir mentor named Dimitri who helps her learn to fight the Strigoi. Dimitri, a stoic Russian, happens to be handsome, a brutal fighter, and only a handful of years older than Rose. Rose finds herself attracted and fascinated by her teacher. Rose help Lissa temper her mercurial moods while Lissa deals with her emerging vampire gifts.

As I started this novel I felt I had missed something because Mead doesn’t give any back information as to why Rose and Lissa are not at St. Vladimir’s Academy. Also, Mead starts writing the novel without much explanation about Morois, Dhampirs, and Strigois, the different types of mortal and immortal vampires and half-vampires in her world. The explanations eventually do come. Nevertheless, the setting blends contemporary and fantasy worlds seamlessly. Mead’s writing is strong and the reader is compelled to make a judgment about Rose, the primary character. She leaps off the page as a loyal friend but flawed and impulsive teenager. She is an anti-Bella, intensely aggressive and proactive in her actions. This is an edgier vampire teen read, with both vulgar language and sexual situations.

ALC

The Wild Things

The Wild Things
By Dave Eggers
McSweeney's Books, 2009. 288 pgs. Science Fiction

Eight-year-old Max is frustrated by his older sister's lack of interest in him, by how busy his mother is with work, and by his mother's annoying boyfriend Gary. So when crazy ideas enter his head, such as dumping buckets full of water all over his sister's room, Max acts on them. One night, Max puts on his wolf suit and as his behavior spirals out of control, he finds himself running away from home. He sails a boat to an island where he quickly encounters a group of wild things, and his fast talking gets him made their king. However, they're a hard bunch to rule, and things aren't as fun as Max hoped.

This spin-off of the classic children's book Where the Wild Things Are and the screen play of this year's movie, falls flat. I liked the beginning, with some speculation about why Max is a wild thing; the family dynamics are intriguing. However, there's not much additional insight into the wild things--who are they, where did they come from, what will happen to them when Max leaves? The imbalance there frustrated me, and this book lacks the power and sheer fun of the original picture book. Fans of Maurice Sendak's book will likely be disappointed with this attempt to build on the story.

AE

If We Kiss

If We Kiss
By Rachel Vail
Harper Trophy, 2006. 259 pgs. Young Adult

Fourteen-year-old Charlie has a big problem. Kevin Lazarus kisses her out behind the school one day...but then a few days later, he kisses her best friend Tessa at a party. Tessa and Kevin start going out, but Charlie still likes Kevin and can't stop thinking about kissing him again. Things become more complicated when Charlie's mom starts dating Kevin's dad; although the situation is totally awkward, it also places Charlie in close proximity to Kevin. While there are many reasons why they shouldn't kiss, Charlie can't help but wonder what will happen if they do.

This book didn't really grip me, but I think tweens and young teenagers would like it. It's easy to read, and the emotional battle Charlie goes through will ring true to them.

AE

The Great Cow Race

The Great Cow Race
By Jeff Smith
Cartoon Books, 1996. 144 pgs. Young Adult

The second book in the Bone series focuses on the Spring Fair. The three Bone cousins, now reunited, have different agendas. Lovable Fone Bone just wants to spend time with Thorn, the human girl he has a crush on, while Phoney Bone has a cooked up a gambling scheme. With Grandma Rose set to enter and win the Cow Race, Phoney spreads word that there is a mystery cow that is expected to win the race this year. The cow is really Smiley Bone in disguise, but the people don't know that, and as they lay down bets on the mystery cow, Phoney prepares to swindle them out of their property.

This book doesn't address the larger problems in the series--like, who are the rat creatures, why are they after Smiley, and how does Thorn fit into all of this?--but it does gives some hints that Grandma Rose and her friend Lucius know more than they're letting on. So there's little resolution, but the hints are enough to get the reader wondering what will happen in subsequent books. A good pick for reluctant readers; it's easy to read and understand, and they'll likely be interested enough to proceed with the series.

AE

The Treasure Map of Boys

The Treasure Map of Boys
By E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press, 2009. 244 pgs. Young Adult

In the third installment of the Ruby Oliver series, Ruby, who is still a social pariah, finds herself facing unexpected challenges in the second half of her junior year. Although she is attracted to Noel, her friend Nora likes him, too, and Ruby has vowed not to mess up her friendship with Nora. Jackson, who so cruelly dumped her and started dating her former best friend Kim, has now dumped Kim and is hanging around Ruby. Ruby's panic attacks are increasing, and she really needs to figure out what she wants before things get any worse.

I really enjoyed this book. Ruby is still funny and engaging, and her struggle to be a good friend and stand up for herself is painfully believable. Lockhart captures the drama of high school in a way that makes readers wait anxiously to see how things will play out and sweeps them up in the roller coaster ride of Ruby's life. This is a great series for chick-lit lovers and for reluctant readers.

AE

Reading Together

Reading Together
By Diane W. Frankenstein
Perigee, 2009. 279 pgs. Nonfiction

Curling up on the couch with a book and a child is one of life’s most precious moments, but how do you foster a child’s desire to read on their own? If you’ve ever wondered just what will peak your child’s interest, Reading Together’s subtitle is the answer, claiming “Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child who Loves to Read”. Now that’s magic. The volume highlights 101 books that “kids will want to read and talk about” and Frankenstein shows you how to get kids talking. Each book is featured on a story page which includes an age and grade appropriate time for a child to read the book (with a parent or on their own), a story synopsis, pertinent “what did you notice” questions, and a list of books to read next if that one hit the right spot. Most importantly, she shows you how to create an environment that doesn’t make the child feel like you’re demanding a school book report. Frankenstein’s sound ideology rings true, “the best of stories show children who they are and as importantly, who they might become.”

DAP

Girl in a Blue Dress

Girl in a Blue Dress
By Gaynor Arnold
Crown Publishers, 2008. 414 pgs. Historical Fiction

Before Dorothea “Dodo” Gibson even saw him, she heard Alfred Gibson’s laugh and smelled his lavender smell, falling in love with him immediately. He fell in love with her as well and after convincing her parents, they married. In a period of ten to fifteen years Dodo had borne Alfred several children and then he very publicly abandoned her, declaring her an unfit mother and a worse wife. In this novel inspired by the life and marriage of Charles Dickens, Arnold tells Dickens’ wife Catherine’s side of the story. Touched by the comment Catherine made about making her letters public “so the world may know that he loved me once,” Arnold constructs this well-written story of the Dickens’ life together and how their marriage dissolved. As Arnold tells Dodo’s story, she also offers an intriguing look at marriage and what each spouse has to give up in order to make it work.

MN

Evermore

Evermore
By Alyson Noël
St. Martin's Griffin, 2009. 306 pgs. Young Adult

After being in a car crash that was fatal for all her family members, Ever has gained psychic abilities that make daily life overwhelming. Her attempt to close herself off from the majority of the world suddenly fails when an impossibly perfect boy, Damen, starts attending her school, claiming everyone's attention, including her own. As their relationship develops, Ever's life becomes increasingly complex as she tries to discover the reason for Damen's mysterious manner, even risking her own life.

Evermore was a predictable read with poor writing. That being said, it will nonetheless be a popular book for those who enjoyed Twilight and other similar stories, as well as readers looking for a teen romance. Although I didn't mind reading it and will probably read the rest in the series to find out what happens, there are other books written in this genre of much higher caliber.

CW

The Persian Pickle Club

The Persian Pickle Club
By Sandra Dallas
St. Martin's Griffin, 1996. 196 pgs. Fiction

The Persian Pickle club is a group of tight-knit women living in Kansas during the Depression. They meet often to work on quilts, to talk, and to help one another. When a newcomer, Rita, joins the group, Queenie, the narrator, is anxious to befriend her and make her feel at home in the group. However, Rita is an aspiring reporter, and her curiosity threatens to bring to light a secret that could be devastating for the group.

This book is delightful! Queenie and her friends, all with their own eccentricities, are quite a group. It's a fun story to read, with its quirky characters and themes of love and friendship.

AE

Trail of Fate

Trail of Fate
By Michael P. Spradlin
Putnam’s Sons, 2009. 230 pgs.Young Adult

Shipwrecked and washed ashore in France, Tristan is a member of the Knight’s Templar and with his traveling companions Robard and Maryam, they continue their journey. They are to bring the Holy Grail safely to Scotland and away from the evil hands of Sir Hugh. Along the way they meet up with Celia and a band of French Cathers escaping their own persecution. Tristan falls for Celia and vows to protect her, putting the Grail at risk.

This book is just as enjoyable as the first one in the series with lots of non stop action. Just to give you fair warning, there is a cliffhanger ending, again!

KK

The Battle for Skandia

The Battle for Skandia
By John Flanagan
Philomel Books, 2008. 294 pgs. Young Adult

Will and Evanlyn have escaped from Skandia and are on their way home to Araluen when Evanlyn is captured by the Temujai while out hunting for dinner. At the same time Holt and Horace are on their way to Skandia to rescue Will and Evanlyn. Their paths cross in the rescue of Evanlyn and they realize they have bigger problems on the way if the Temujai are invading Skandia. This means Araluen will be next.

KK

The Devil's Breath

The Devil’s Breath
By David Gilman
Delacourte Press, 2008. 511 pgs. Young Adult

While out on a run one night at his English boarding school, 15 year old Max comes under attack and barely escapes with his life. Things become more suspicious when his father, who is on an expedition in Namibia, goes missing and is presumed dead. It is up to Max to take the clues his father has left behind for him and to figure out what his father was investigating and try to search for his father before it is too late.

Not as fast paced as Horowitz’s Alex Rider series, but it does contain a villain James Bond would be proud to fight against.

KK

Literary Hoaxes

Literary Hoaxes: An Eye-Opening History of Famous Frauds
By Melissa Katsoulis
Skyhorse Pub., 2009. 328 pgs. Nonfiction

You’re most likely familiar with the controversy surrounding the Da Vinci Code, but did you know to whom Dan Brown owes his million dollar idea? On whichever side of the fence you sit, the credit or blame rightly belongs to Pierre Plantard, the man who committed one of France’s most infamous literary frauds of the twentieth century. Plantard was a religious zealot who founded the Priory of Sion and claimed to be the last heir of a royal French family with rights to the throne and a bloodline dating back to Jesus. With planted manuscripts and genealogical charts he managed to defraud countless people until, as usual, the truth was discovered. This is merely one example of the numbers of legendary hoaxes you’ll discover in this highly readable volume.

Katsoulis has done a stupendous job compiling this grand selection of hoaxes and their perpetrators. Each account is well-written and receives her thoughtful commentary as she discusses the intent of each fraud and provides an analysis of the motives and mental states of each fraudster. Famous author Alexander McCall Smith of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency adds his own recommendation, proclaiming it “both entertaining and thought provoking.” I have to agree. If you’re in the mood for some highbrow, bookish scandal dive in and prepare to be delighted.

DAP

PS, I Love You

PS, I Love You
By Cecelia Ahern
Hyperion, 2004. 375 pgs. Fiction

A widow at twenty-nine, Holly Kennedy doesn't know what to do. Her life revolved around her husband Gerry, and she never expected him to die so young. Devastated, she doesn't even leave the house, and getting out of bed is a major accomplishment. When she gets a package from her husband, though, she is forced to do more than she thought she could. The package contains envelopes, one for each month, with consists of Gerry's list of things for Holly to do. Some are funny, some are painful, and all contribute to Holly's healing process.

I thought this was a lovely book, a great look at the grieving process and learning to live again. I like Holly, and the cast of quirky supporting characters was great.

AE

Cracked Wheat for Christmas

Cracked Wheat for Christmas
By Ted Hindmarsh
Cedar Fort, 2005. 80 pgs. Fiction

For Dr. Alexander Pennington III, Christmas is nothing significant except that it gives him an excuse to leave his practice on the West Coast to visit his affluent family in New England. This is his opportunity to show them what a success he has become. He's gained a prestigious degree, established a reputation, and still adheres to his family's sophisticated code that permits no sentimentality, no special treatment of the poor, and no faith in anyone other than self.

Alexander points his car eastward and keeps the pedal to the floor all day long. Suddenly, there's big trouble! His brand-new high-tech automobile, filled with expensive Christmas gifts, breaks down on a secluded mountain freeway turnoff. He finds himself stranded in a raging blizzard on a cold winter night. All the money and influence in the world can not help him now.

Originally published in 1985, this is a sweet story of how even in the humblest of circumstances love can be found and rich blessings realized.

AMM

The Boy Book

The Boy Book
By E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press, 2006. 193 pgs. Young Adult

In the second installment of the Ruby Oliver series, Ruby is starting her junior year. Still unpopular and on the outs with her former friends, she is trying to work through her feelings toward the boys in her life--Angelo, the hot neighbor boy, Jackson, the ex-boyfriend who is no good for her, and Noel, whose friendship definitely crosses into flirtation. She also tries to fix broken friendships and figure out what she needs to do to be happy.

Ruby is just as funny as she was in the first book, but she reveals a little more depth in this book. I really enjoyed how she gained a stronger sense of who she is in this book, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book.

AE

The Carousel Painter

The Carousel Painter
By Judith Miller
Bethany House, 2006. 335 pgs. Romance

Carrington Brouwer, an American, lives in Paris with her father while he teaches art lessons to young debutantes. When Carrington’s father dies she has nowhere to go and relies on the generosity of a previous student, Augusta Galloway. Augusta invites Carrington to live with her in Ohio. However, when Carrington arrives it is clear Augusta’s highbrow mother is furious with the plan. Augusta’s father owns a factory that produces carousel horses. He agrees to let Carrington work there as a painter, even though she will be the only woman working at the factory. Carrington moves to a different part of town from the Galloways and lives in a boarding house. While struggling to support herself she also tries to impress Josef Kaestner, the young German manager of the factory.

It is clear Judith Miller did detailed research about the time period before she wrote this Christian historical romance that is set during the year of 1890. The most interesting part of the novel is reading about the class distinctions of the time and comparing them to our own society now. Aside from the historical atmosphere I found the novel to be an unexceptional example of the genre. There is an formulaic evil suitor and inferior crime sub-plot. Instead of having Biblical teachings be a part of the natural ebb and flow of plot and characterization they come across as klutzy. Readers might try Tamera Alexander or Deeanne Gist instead.

ALC

Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon

Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon
By Joe Gores
Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Fiction. 337 pgs.

When I heard that someone had done a prequel to Hammett's classic The Maltese Falcon I didn't expect it to be anything very good, but very pleasantly surprised to find that author Joe Gores has pulled if off extremely well. He has nailed the characterization of private eye Sam Spade, as well as the setting (San Francisco), the period (1920s), and the story genre (hard-boiled detective story). Gores is thoroughly steeped in Hammett and his milieu and his work is first-rate.

SML

Prada & Prejudice

Prada & Prejudice
By Mandy Hubbard
Penguin Group, 2009. 238 pages. Young Adult

Fifteen year old Callie’s best friend has moved away and as a result Callie feels lost in school. She outwardly mocks the in-crowd but secretly desires to be a part of it. Callie takes a school trip to London, ostensibly to pad her college applications, but in reality to ingratiate herself into a top clique. Once there Callie still feels awkward, and in a desperate bid to win popularity buys a pair of exorbitantly priced Prada shoes. Walking on cobblestones in high heels proves disastrous and Callie falls and takes a hard hit to the head. When she wakes up it is 1815. Luckily Callie finds shelter in the mansion of Lord Alexander Thorton-Hawke, the Duke of Harsbury, and finds a friend in his cousin Emily. The Duke happens to be young, rich, and handsome. Callie thinks he is overbearing and pompous. The Duke thinks Callie is too outspoken.

This is a light variation of the Austen time travel genre. It is chick lit for the teen set, similar in tone to Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella. There are funny and awkward moments for Callie as she chafes under nineteenth century restrictions and swoons over Lord Alexander’s pretty eyes and tight fitting jackets. Although readers might be slightly put off by Callie’s shallowness (she’s in London and all she cares about is Prada?) they will also relate to her desire to have a friend and be confident in herself.

ALC

The Body in the Sleigh

The Body in the Sleigh
By Katherine Hall Page
William Morrow, 2009. 256 pgs. Mystery

It's Christmas time on Sanpere Island, just off the blustery Maine coast. Folks are decorating their fishing boats and lobster traps and all seems merry and bright. Faith Fairchild and her family are spending their yuletide basking in the serenity and enjoying the bliss of seafood risotto and chocolate bread pudding. That is, until she and her children find the body in the sleigh. Then the overlaying calm is shattered by murder, drug trafficking and a mysterious baby boy found in Mary Bethany's goat barn on a snowy Christmas Eve.

What begins as a charming cozy later mingles with the darker elements of drug and child abuse. Not too explicit, it's still enough to raise some righteous anger. Readers will fall for the star character of Mary Bethany--a reclusive spinster with only her goats to love until the gift child arrives. She even upstages the sleuth in the latest Faith Fairchild mystery by the award winning author (as any Mary and child should on this night of all nights). Recipes included--make enough to share!

DAP

Fireworks

Fireworks
Scholastic, 2007. 224 pgs. Young Adult

This is a collection of four unrelated short stories by popular young adult authors, each a summer romance. Megan is determined to finally talk to the crush she's been too shy to approach. Lindsay is on a trip to Europe, determined to have a summer fling with a foreign boy, but finds that to be more complicated than she expected. Molly, spending her sixth summer at a remote camp in Maine plans to pursue gorgeous co-counselor River, until her spoiled brand-name wearing sister tags along. And Wynn, off to do a summer creative writing class, finds a kindred spirit in her class.

This is a quick, fun read. A perfect chick-lit choice for an afternoon of light reading.

AE

Heaven Scent

Heaven Scent
By Rebecca Cornish Talley
Bonneville Books, 2008. 229 pgs. Young Adult

Liza is fed up with her father. Ever since he got a new job, he's never home--he even missed her championship basketball game. Her family is falling apart and Liza can't handle it anymore. At the same time, her mother reveals her interest in the Mormon church, and then tragedy strikes. Liza finds herself wondering if there is something in this new church that might bring her the peace she's looking to find.

Although some readers will find the dialogue to be somewhat stilted and think the story is a little corny, others will appreciate this young woman's journey to find faith and healing in the midst of tragedy.

AE

Out from Boneville

Out from Boneville
By Jeff Smith
Cartoon Books, 1995. 142 pgs. Young Adult

Fone Bone and his cousins Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone have been run out of Boneville, due to Phoney's crooked business dealings and in their attempt to get back they get separated from each other. As Fone tries to find his cousins, winter sets in and he is stuck in a forest. There he encounters a new friend in Thorn, a human girl, enemies in the form of giant rat creatures and an ally that no one else seems to believe exists--a red, cigar-smoking dragon.

This adventurous tale leaves lots of questions to be answered in subsequent books in the series, but it's fun and Fone Bone is a cute character. This series is wildly popular with children, teens and adults and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to this lovable bone and his not-so-lovable cousins.

AE

Maus

Maus: A Survivor's Tale
By Art Spiegelman
Pantheon Books, 1986. 159 pgs. Nonfiction

In this black and white graphic novel, the author shows both his present-day relationship with his father and his parents' past. Although he and his father have a strained relationship, Art learns about his parents' life before the Holocaust as well as how life changed as they were rounded up into a ghetto and how they managed to avoid going to Auschwitz, at least temporarily, and spent their time in hiding, never quite sure who they could trust.

This is my second time reading Maus and it is amazing. The graphic novel format is an excellent way to portray this story, with the pictures greatly enhancing the text. This is a very interesting book; it's fascinating to read about their experience in the Holocaust and to read between the lines and see how Art's father has been influenced by his earlier experiences.

AE

Road Dogs

Road Dogs
By Elmore Leonard
William Morrow, 2009. 262 pgs. Fiction

If you've never read Elmore Leonard this breezy crime story isn't a bad place to start. Jack Foley is an extremely successful bank robber (at least 127 banks) when he's finally caught and sent to prison. Foley hooks up there with Cundo Rey who is loaded with loot. He owns multi-million dollar properties and has staff managing his assets while he finishes out his 8-year sentence. Rey arranges for Foley's 30-year sentence to be reduced to three months. Foley stays in one of Rey's homes in Venice, California and waits a week or so for Cundo to join him. Also in Venice is Cundo's common-law wife waiting for him. And FBI agent Lou Adams is watching Foley like a hawk, waiting for him to rob his next bank. Nothing plays out as anyone expects it to.

SML

Black Sheep

Black Sheep
By Georgette Heyer
Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2008. 279 pgs. Romance

Abby Wendover, at the age of "over eight and twenty" considers herself to be an old maid and her chief occupation is rearing her orphaned niece, Fanny. When Fanny, who has not yet been introduced to society, is pursued by Stacy Calverleigh, who has a reputation as being a fortune hunter, Abby wants nothing more than to protect her young ward. When she finds that Stacy's uncle Miles has also come to town, she thinks perhaps he will be her ally in keeping Fanny and Stacy apart. Miles annoys her when he refuses to help, and yet, she can't stay mad at him, as he has a habit of saying all sorts of improper but honest things that make her laugh at all the wrong moments, and soon, it may not be only Fanny who is charmed by a man of bad reputation.

This book was delightful. A clean, gentle read, the banter between Abby and Miles is amusing and this romantic un-hero will have readers rooting for him long before Abby realizes he's just what a spirited spinster needs to liven up her life.

AE

What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures

What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures
By Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 410 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a collection of Gladwell’s writings that were previously published in The New Yorker over the past ten years. Topics range from why there are dozens of flavors for mustard but only one for ketchup, why mammograms are not as effective as we think they are, how the history of hair dye is a history of societal changes, and why smart people are overrated. Each article is written with Gladwell’s sense of humor and sense of wonder at the world around us and it’s constant ability to surprise and amaze.

Gladwell fans will all enjoy this collection of writings. Not all articles are as intriguing as others, but the collection as a whole is well worth reading. Some topics are reminiscent of his other titles which is not much of a surprise since they were written at the same time. Malcolm Gladwell is, without doubt, one of the most talented narrative nonfiction writers publishing today and this work is a great addition to his already impressive shelf.

CZ

Murder by the Book

Murder by the Book
By Betsy Brannon Green
Covenant Communications, 2009. 275 pgs. Mystery

Kennedy Killingsworth, the librarian in a middle-of-nowhere Georgia town, is one of the last people to see Foster Scoggins before his alleged suicide. She can't help but wonder why he would apply for a library card only hours before killing himself, and she soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and being romanced by several of the suspects. Drake Langston seems nice enough; after all, he wants to build a new library in town. But he needed Foster to sell his land in order for his development scheme for the town to work. And his construction boss Sloan, although highly attractive, also seems a little dangerous. Kennedy's falling for Luke Scoggins, handsome nephew of the deceased...who also stood to gain if his uncle died.

Readers may wonder just why Kennedy has so many suitors or consider it unlikely that someone with no experience in crime investigation gets so heavily involved in solving a murder, but at the same time, a fun mix of characters with a helping of a southern setting will have fans eager to follow Kennedy on her inaugural murder investigation.

AE

Where Men Win Glory

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
By Jon Krakauer
Doubleday, 2009. 383 pgs. Biography

Pat Tillman was a rising star in the NFL when two planes flew into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. This fiercely competitive and disciplined young man was struck with an undeniable desire to help fight the war on terror and do his part to make the world a safer place for those he loved. This desire motivated him to walk away from his new bride and a $3.6 million dollar football contract to join the United States Army. Two years later he was killed by friendly fire while fighting in a war he did not believe in.

While this book is about the personal journey of one young man, it is also a highly readable narrative of the events and politics that have resulted in the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Krakauer’s high regard for Pat Tillman is obvious throughout the book, as is his lack of respect for the Bush Administration which used Tillman’s celebrity, when he enlisted as well as when he tragically died, to their own advantage despite Tillman’s expressed desire that they not.

CZ

Tinsel

Tinsel: a search for America’s Christmas present
Hank Stuever
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. 331 pgs. Nonfiction

Looking for a book that evokes the warmth of the true Christmas spirit? Well then, shut this one and run--far, far away because A Christmas Carol this book is not. Hank Stuever is a well-known journalist for the Washington Post and his objective was to document the lives of three families on their journey through the Christmas Season. He chose a town called Frisco, Texas where everything is big: the land of big hearts, big houses, big hair, big churches and most of all, B-I-G Christmas-ing. You’ll learn about Tammi and her too-perfect, Christmas decorating frenzy, Jeff and his over the top, synchronized music and light display and Carroll, single mom who just wants to give her kids what they want for Christmas and serve faithfully in her local mega-church.

Hank’s style is that of a surgeon. Carefully cutting open each individual right down the center he stirs a very clever scalpel and removes a brain tendril wrapped around his pen with his left hand and with his right hand holds up their heart for all the world to see. Hank’s writing is full of both suppressed mockery and genuine fondness for his subjects on the table. Subversive and sardonic, thankfully Stuever doesn’t quite reach the cusp of snarkiness. He’s fond of word play and each chapter ends with quite a zinger. It’s a little bit brilliant and might just make you re-think the reasons and ways you spend your own holidaze.

DAP

A Rumpole Christmas: Stories

A Rumpole Christmas: Stories
John Mortimer
Viking, 2009. 161 pgs. Mystery

Rumpole of the Bailey appears one more time (John Mortimer died in January of this year) to defend the sometimes defenseless--everyone presumed to be innocent until 12 of his peers say otherwise--in this delightful collection of the curmudgeonly barrister in the holiday season. Looking forward only to the customary exchange of lavendar water for a tie with his wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed), Rumpole finds himself defending a woman "taken in adultery" from blackmail charges, a universally despied Islamist from an apparently open and shut case of murder, and his own office staff from the larcenous designs of Santa Claus. Rumpole is his comfortable old self, sitting down to a plate of mash and steak and kidney pie, washed down with the miserable vintage of his choice (Chateau Thames Embankment), but various crimers and his wife intervene to make his life both interesting and annoying. Great solstice reading with a cup of hot chocolate by the fireside.

Love You Hate You Miss You

Love You Hate You Miss You
By Elizabeth Scott
HarperTeen, 2009. 276 pgs. Young Adult

As this book unfolds, Amy is just getting out of a treatment center where she has put drinking behind her and has scarcely begun to deal with the death of her best friend, Julia. Feeling responsible for Julia's death, Amy can't adjust to life without her friend. Drifting through life, Amy tries not to and to avoid any of the few people who actually talk to her, while her psychiatrist raises issues that Amy would rather not deal with.

Amy's grief and self-imposed isolation are poignantly portrayed. The characters are realistically developed, with depth showing both their strong points and their flaws. I almost returned this book to the library without reading it, but I decided to read the first chapter instead--and ending up finishing it in one day. This is one of those books that invites you in and then haunts you after you finish it.

AE

Stitches: a Memoir

Stitches: a Memoir
by David Small
Norton, 2009. 329 pages. Biography.

Many know David Small as the Caldecott-winning illustrator of So You Want to be President, and of multiple other children's books, but in this memoir, he illustrates the grimmest of childhoods--his own. Small grew up in Detroit, predictably pictured as a gray wash, but his home and his own interior landscape are equally dark. His mother, who mostly communicated her anger and displeasure with slammed cupboard doors and weeklong silences, had no warmth to offer her sons. His father, a doctor, treated David's sinus problems with X-ray treatments and when a growth appeared on his neck, his parent's ignored it for three years (just a "cebaceous cyst") until he lost one of his vocal cords, his thyroid gland, and was thought to be on the way to losing his life, though no one actually ever told him he had cancer. Small's artistic gifts are richly evident here where what at first seems to be a simple sketch is really a deeply nuanced expression. Powerful and distressing, Stitches makes Small's off-stage redemption seem almost a miracle.

LW

The Squad: Perfect Cover

The Squad: Perfect Cover
By Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Laurel-Leaf Books, 2008. 275 pgs. Young Adult

Toby Klein is somewhat of an outcast at her high school and she is fine with that. She loves her combat boots and hacking into important websites. But she never imagined that she would be recruited for the cheerleading team. What Toby quickly discovers, though, is that the squad is actually a cover for a group of underage operatives for the United States government (if the girls serve for two years in the squad, at the age of eighteen they become CIA operatives). Toby is unsure of this whole set-up, but discovers the cheerleading squad might not be so evil after all.

You might be tempted to think this is a rip-off of the Gallagher Girls series, but it has enough differences that it doesn’t feel like it. This was a quick and fun read about a girl discovering that outer appearances don’t always tell the whole story about someone or something.

MN