Short: Walking Tall When You’re Not Tall At All

Short: Walking Tall When You’re Not Tall At All
By John Schwartz
Flash Point. 2010. 132 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Takes a look at the marketing, psychology, and mythology behind the obsession with height, revealing that being short does not have to be a disadvantage.

I thought this was a really interesting book about being short. The author shares personal experiences as well as scientific research proving that just because you are short doesn’t mean you will live a second-rate life! I would recommend this book to anyone that is feeling a bit sensitive about their height-tall or short.

AMM

Birthmarked

Birthmarked
By Caragh M. O'Brien
Roaring Book Press, 2010. 362 pgs. Young Adult

Gaia successfully delivers her first solo birth as a midwife and takes the child to be advanced at the Enclave walls as part of her monthly quota. Already feeling uneasy, due to snatching the baby away from its mother, Gaia becomes horrified to learn that her parents have been arrested by the Enclave for unknown reasons. After weeks of waiting and not hearing anything, Gaia sneaks into the Enclave to find her parents. Inside this world so foreign to her, Gaia learns that all is not well (although those outside are led to believe so) within this seemingly perfect existence. Children are dying and her mother might hold the key to their future.

O’Brien has created an interesting new world, set in a future where there is no water in the Unlake Superior. Gaia is a great character; although quite naïve about the Enclave and the baby situation, she thinks quickly and makes decisions that are true to her principles. Leon, the young soldier who is following her, is another strong character; his intentions are ambiguous and that makes for a good read. This is definitely a book for Hunger Games fans, but be prepared for a sequel.

MN

Strength Training

Strength Training: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to a Stronger, Sculpted Body
Ed. by Gareth Jones
DK Pub., 2009. 256 p. Nonfiction

With summer just around the corner, that dreaded swimsuit season is creeping towards us. If you’d like to tone up for that next-to-nothing apparel challenge then take a look at DK’s Strength Training for a high quality, low-cost personal training option.

Dorling Kindersley is a publisher known for their full color photos and easy readability. The layout takes you through a step-by-step program for total body fitness with an emphasis on weights. You’ll find the correct technique for a bar-fly, sit-up and the dreaded lunge. (Just don’t forget to grunt during the process and you should be fine.) You’ll find 125 exercises to propel you towards your workout goals. Strength, definition and endurance are the promises you’re sure to see by following this weight-lifting regime. Whether you want to be the next Mr. America or just feel confident in your jeans, this could be the workout for you. But if carrying in the groceries or just playing hard with your kids is a priority, then you can still try a few curls to make you more nimble. Experts say the endorphin rush received from working out is as healthy for your brain as it is for your body so this book provides a two-for-one deal. Not bad in an economic crunch.

And if baring all that flesh in public just isn’t going to happen, then the incentive might just be a stronger, healthier you.

DAP

Dinner Is Ready

Dinner Is Ready: A Complete Guide To Freezing 30 Meals In Just One Day
By Deanna Buxton
Granite Publications, 2002. 238 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a guide to making 30 meals all in one day, and includes over 150 recipes of meals that can be frozen. This is really quick to get through, as only about a third of the book talks about how to actually get everything done in one day, and the rest is filled with recipes. I especially liked the recipes because they are quick and easy to do - you won't find too many with tons of ingredients and steps.

So did I do it? I paired it down to 10 meals for my first trial-run. I spent about $50 on the groceries, and about 2 hours in the kitchen, and packed 9 meals away in the freezer (we ate the 10th that night). I actually found the process kind of fun, and the tips and guidelines she gives in the instructional part of the book really did help a lot as I put this all together. Plus, what I've eaten so far was yummy!

BG

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

The Fortunes of Indigo Skye
By Deb Caletti
Simon Pulse, 2009. 298 pgs. Young Adult

Indigo Skye is eighteen and loving life. She has a great boyfriend, loves her job as a waitress, and while her family is a little hard up for money, they're still happy. When a customer at her job leaves her a 2.5 million dollar tip, though, Indigo suddenly isn't sure of things she thought she knew. As she deals with her new-found riches, she discovers that money might not be all it's cracked up to be.

Indigo is an engaging character, quirky and strong-willed, and the supporting characters are lovable. A fun story about being true to yourself, it was diminished only by excessive use of bad language.

AE

Fearless; Imagine Your Life without Fear

Fearless: Imagine Your Life without Fear
By Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson, 2009. 221 pgs. Nonfiction

Christian minister Max Lucado invites Christians to take another look at their fears and learn to let go of them by increasing faith in Jesus Christ. He discusses many common fears and then quotes many scriptures and shares experiences to help readers understand why they can rely on Christ.

Lucado mixes humor with seriousness while providing logical examples. A discussion guide in the back gives readers an opportunity to further explore the concepts from the book.

AE

The God of the Hive

The God of the Hive
By Laurie R. King
Bantam Books, 2010. 354 pgs. Mystery

Separated to keep their family alive, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes continue to investigate the person or persons behind the death of Damian Adler’s wife. To their dismay, they find themselves without the resources of Mycroft, who has disappeared. Russell, her step-granddaughter, and her pilot, are at the mercy of an eccentric man who lives in the woods when their plane is shot down. Robert Goodman, with a likeness to Puck and the Green Man, admires both Estelle and Russell and helps Russell with her investigation in London. Holmes does what he can with his limited resources in Holland. Not sure who they can trust, the two search for Mycroft and the mysterious men behind Damian’s case and Mycroft’s disappearance.

King’s Russell series have always been self-contained mysteries, but this is the first time that a mystery has continued from the previous book. Thankfully for fans of the series who read the last one a year ago (as I did), you don’t have to remember too much to appreciate this one. I enjoyed the different points of view from various characters; it gave the mystery a greater sense of urgency and seeing the villain’s perspective gave the reasoning behind his role more depth. The new character, Robert Goodman, served as a good example of one of the novel’s main themes; change (in many ways) has come and will continue to come. These changes will affect these characters and their work. I must say though I am beginning to tire of Holmes and Russell operating apart for a great deal of the books; one of the draws to this series is their relationship and how they work together on cases.

MN

Winter Garden

Winter Garden
By Kristin Hannah
St. Martin’s Press, 2010. 394 pgs. Fiction

Meredith and Nina grew up in a home of contrasts. Their father was a warm and cheerful man who showered them with affection. Their mother, Anya, could not have been more different, remaining a cold and distant resident in their home. Now, the girls are grown and dealing with the loss of their beloved father and the deathbed promises they made to look after and get to know their formidable mother. The months pass and persistent efforts successfully convince Anya to complete the Russian fairy tale she shared parts of when they were little. As the story unfolds, the sisters begin to learn the truth behind their mother’s mysterious past and the heartbreaking events that convinced her to freeze out those who wished only to be close to her.

I always enjoy historical fiction that illuminates a period in history I have not been introduced to before. This novel takes readers to Leningrad during World War II where over one million people died during the city’s siege. Women and children were trapped through the bitter winter months with nothing to eat and daily battles to keep from freezing to death. This glimpse into Lenin’s Russia was fascinating and Hannah describes it in vibrant and chilling detail. However, mixed in with the historical is the modern story which I enjoyed a lot less and an ending that stretched the realm of belief, even for this type of melodramatic women’s fiction.

CZ

The Message

The Message
By Lance Richardson
American Family Pub, 2000. 157 pgs. Nonfiction

Lance Richardson died. While that statement usually has a certain finality to it, in this case it’s not as irrevocable as it sounds. That’s because, after spending a large amount of time in a heaven-like environment, Richardson’s spirit returned to his comatose body and he returned to life. He describes this other world in great detail, the people he met, the experiences he had and just what the afterlife is all about. He talks about the colors, music, architecture (and yes, even the books!) he remembers.

This brief, but engrossing read has been making the rounds lately, causing a small stir and a lot of talk. It's a lot to take in, but the book is simple, readable and if it's as true as Richardson says, it has instant ramifications. And the message? Well, it’s one of love, service and constitutional freedom. Doesn’t sound bad to me. Whether you believe it or not, you’ll want to read it—if only to see what all the fuss is about.

DAP

Ortho's All About Lawns

Ortho's All About Lawns
Ortho Books
Meredith, 2005. 128 pgs. Nonfiction

If the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, then look no further than Ortho’s All About Lawns. Now Ortho does suggest you plan ahead for a patch of green you can be proud of…sigh. However, if your spring has sprung and your lawn finds itself in the summer depths of dandelion despair, then check-out Orthos’s trouble-shooting tips – because it’s not over ‘till the snow hits. You’ll find easy care instructions for all types of grass, up-to-date tips on tools and techniques and watering guides for the Utah climate. I learned about the benefits of core aeration. And if that gorgeous golf-course worthy look just isn’t for you, then there’s even a lawn created from hardy, wildflower varieties—pretty as a picture and low-maintenance to boot. The guide is easy to navigate, has great photos of the good, the bad and the ugly--as well as a very useful index.

And if chemicals and pesticides are four letter words, than go green the all-natural way with The Organic Lawn Care Manual. You’ll find out how to pick grasses that thrive in the current region and how to have a safe, pesticide-free lawn for the kids and pets to romp on all the live-long day. You can learn how to spruce up a sparse yard or how to start from scratch. Included are natural plant foods, composting tips and the pros and cons of roto-tilling. So let’s all green up, if your neighbor doesn’t thank-you, the community will.

DAP

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them

The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and the People Who Read Them
by Elif Batuman
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010. 290 pgs. Nonfiction.

Horselaughs and Slavic literature don't usually go together, but they do in this book as this six-foot-tall Turkish-American young woman recounts how she got into the Russian literature business in the first place and her subsequent adventures in academia. Batuman captures in all its cold sweaty clarity the experience of having to pick up a famous person from the airport for a conference, on, say the works of Isaac Babel (in this case Babel's loudmouth daughter) who continually asks her dinner companion whether it is TRUE THAT YOU DESPISE ME. Later a Russian customs officer asks her why she doesn't study the works of Jack London instead of Dostoevsky's because that would be easier and she wouldn't need a visa. When she applies to study in Russia she is shunted, for a variety of inexplicable reasons, to Uzbekistan where she encounters Old Uzbek epistolary love poetry in which one man's beloved is "cleaner than water," and, as Elif's teacher points out "Most people, like you and me, are dirtier than water . . . . but . . . if she puts her arm in the water, maybe the water will become cleaner." These fits and starts notwithstanding, Batuman ends on a serious note and her belief that the study of literature really can help us understand the nature of life, but before then, it's all laughs.

LW

Borrowed Names

Borrowed Names: Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and Their Daughters
By Jeannine Atkins
Henry Holt, 2010. 209 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

This book is divided into three sections, one for Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter Rose, one for Madam C.J. Walker and her daughter A'Lelia, and Marie Curie and her daughter Irene. These poetic stories show the relationships between mother and daughter as the girls grow up. It shows their frustrations with their mothers, the appreciation for them, and the ways they become like them.

This is a nice collection of stories in verse, showing the ups and downs of the mother-daughter relationship. Atkins has provided a timeline and selected bibliography to help readers looking for more information.

AE

Hold Still

Hold Still
By Nina LaCour
Dutton, 2009. 229 pgs. Young Adult

Prior to the beginning of the book, Caitlin's best friend Ingrid has committed suicide, leaving Caitlin lost, hurt, and confused. When she finds Ingrid's last journal, chronicling the ups and downs that Ingrid experienced, Caitlin has to work through her own emotions. At school, she finds herself fighting against her photography teacher, a former mentor to her and Ingrid. She also fights both for and against a friendship with new girl Dylan as well as a relationship with Taylor, the popular guy who has been hanging around her.

Nina LaCour's first novel is an insightful novel, capturing the nuances of hurt and hope battling each other in the wake of tragedy. Caitlin's struggle to move on with her life while still holding onto her deceased friend will resonate with readers who have lost someone. Caitlin's supportive parents and her distant photography teacher add to the depth of the characterization, showing the many different sides of grief. With just the right amount of romance to top this off, I vote LaCour's debut a smashing success.

AE

No Apology: The Case for American Greatness

No Apology: The Case for American Greatness
By Mitt Romney
St. Martin’s Press, 2010. 323 p. Nonfiction

Don’t think that Mitt Romney was content to fade from the political arena when his bid for the presidency was foiled. He’s back. Or rather, he never really retreated; he’s just biding his time.

Romney isn’t satisfied with the current president and he’s especially unhappy with Obama’s “apology tour” –feeling the current president is unduly apologizing to other nations for America’s greatness. Why apologize? is Romney’s view. In No Apology Romney spells out his emphatic opinion: America is a great nation, she’s earned the right to the title and she shouldn’t be afraid to govern and lead the free world.

Romeny loves America, but sees something declining. He believes America is facing challenges that the current administration is both inadequate for and unable to address. It’s a refreshingly candid and transparent look at Romney’s view of the global environment. He identifies the four major world players in the gain for supremacy: America, the Middle East, China and Russia. To be frank, it’s enough to scare your socks off. It’s an admirable overview of world politics and easy enough to understand if you’re not politically minded. In 11 cogently written chapters, Romney identifies just why America is great, why we need to retain our supremacy and how we can do it. He argues, “The best ally world peace has ever known is a strong America”.

The book is both smart and readable. So, if you’re not happy with the current administration, look to Romney, whose faith in the American people and his bid for future office are still quite optimistic.

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson

The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson
Jerome Charyn
W.W. Norton, 2010. 348 pgs Fiction

Remember the beloved American poet who told us to “tell all the truth, but tell it slant?” If the lines intrigue you, you’ll want to take a look at The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson. It’s a topsy-turvy, bizarre experience that borders on the brilliant.

In this novel, the life of the beloved poet begins at Holyoke, a finishing school of sorts, run by devilish nuns and vengeful school chums. With an all-powerful Pa-pa and a secret crush on the orphaned, handyman Tom, Emily is just beginning to find her way with words. She’s surrounded by the myriad constellations of her family, schoolmates and her various love interests and the last are perhaps the most interesting as Emily never married.

It's a blending of fact and fiction and the writing is mesmeric, Charyn’s prose reading like poetry—apropos for a work inventing a new life for this poetess. From Tom the handyman’s mouth, Charyn writes of Emily, “You were born with words, and Zilpah had to scream and sweat to put them in her mouth.” And if that isn’t enough to attract you, perhaps Emily’s own self-effacing verse, “I’m nobody! Who are you?” will entice you to learn (or fantasize) along with Charyn and the rest of us regarding just who this tiny wordsmith could have been. Charyn's being heralded as the next literary genius so take look and see if you agree.

A Spy in the House

A Spy in the House
By Ying S. Lee
Candlewick Press, 2010. 335 pgs. Young Adult

Sentenced to death for thievery, Mary Quinn is drugged by her jailer and wakes up in Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. As she finishes her education, Mary learns she can join the Agency, the all-female investigative agency run by the proprietors of the school. Eager to do so and to please her new employers, Mary joins the household of a merchant suspected of smuggling precious Indian artifacts into England as her first mission. Mary learns little during the first part of her mission; disappointed by this, she begins digging around more and encounters danger and gains an unlikely partner in her search for information.

I had high expectations for this book and was disappointed. There is nothing wrong with it; the book is fine in every way. The mystery itself is engaging; there is a mystery concerning Mary’s past; and a bit of romance spices the book up. And with fewer mysteries being published for young adults, this is a good addition. But I wanted something more and the book did not deliver that for me. If I had had lower expectations, I think I would have enjoyed this much more.

MN

Brightly Woven

Brightly Woven
By Alexandra Bracken
Egmont USA, 2010. 354 pgs. Young Adult

Sydelle longs to leave Clifton, the small, drought-ridden town she has always lived in, but she wants to do so on her own terms. When soldiers from a neighboring country invade and a wizard decides he needs her help, she has no choice but to leave. Sydelle and North, the wizard, begin their treacherous journey to the kingdom’s capital with a lot of mistrust on Sydelle’s part. She doesn’t understand why North chose her and he is a slovenly young man. As they progress on their journey, Sydelle and North learn more about each other and Sydelle learns more about magic and herself than she thought possible.

While not as complex as Incarceron or as rich in character as Finnikin of the Rock, this is an enjoyable fantasy about a young woman who really comes into her own self as she leaves her home and the security she has always felt.

MN

Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets
By C. J. Omololu
Walker & Co, 2010. 212 pp. Young adult fiction.

Lucy's life is in the constant shadow of her mother's overwhelming compulsion, being hoarding. It has taken over her mother's life and has negatively affected all in the family, even causing her parents' divorce. Lucy can't let anyone get too close for fear of having her terrible secret spilled. As the situation gets worse and worse, it finally reaches a point Lucy never expected, and she must decide how far she will go to keep her mother's obsession hidden.

This was a fascinating glimpse inside the life of someone affected by hoarding. Lately, this particular compulsion has been much featured in the media, and this book seems to be appropriately timed in such consideration. I thought it was an interesting decision by the author to take the viewpoint of a child living in the home of a hoarder but one who does not share the parent's obsession. The characters were well done and realistic, although I struggled a bit with the mother's character--she was portrayed in a mostly negative light, and it would have really added to the depth of the novel to give cause for the reader to care more about her. The ending truly surprised me but was also satisfying in a strange way. All in all, I really found this book interesting and appreciated the unique topic it covered.

CW

The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag
by Alan Bradley
Delacorte, 2010. 358 pgs. Fiction.

In Flavia de Luce's latest mystery, the 11-year old chemist and amateur sleuth runs into a couple of stranded puppeteers whose van has broken down on their way to London. Rupert Porson, beloved creator of Snoddy the Squirrel, turns out to be a jerk in real life (so often the case), and his "traveling companion," tired of his abuse and philandering confides in Flavia and becomes a prime suspect when Rupert is murdered. Although she has to deal with the slights and insults of her older sisters, chores imposed by her father and her austere and demanding Aunt Felicity, she still manages to sort her way through multiple suspects and a boatload of red herrings to make the needed connection between Rupert's death and a local family tragedy. As is usual, the interest of the puzzle is generally swallowed up in the delight of character, setting, and British wit.

LW

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
By Sonya Sones
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004. 268 pgs. Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Ruby Milliken leaves her best friend, her boyfriend, her aunt, and her mother's grave in Boston and reluctantly flies to Los Angeles to live with her father, a famous movie star who divorced her mother before Ruby was born.

This book wasn't hideous at all, as a matter of fact. It was written in poems, which somehow connected me more emotionally with this main character than any of the recent books I've read. I felt Ruby's thoughts and responses were very true and honest for what was happening to her, dealing with the loss of her mother and the separation from everything familiar. And while I was worried that the poetic structure would feel gimmicky, I actually found this very meaningful. Plus it was pretty fun seeing how her life changed once she was living with a movie star (what can I say? I eat that stuff up).

BHG

Specials

Specials
By Scott Westerfeld
Simon Pulse, c2006. 372 pgs. Young Adult

In the third book of the Uglies series, Tally Youngblood has been made into a Special--a virtually unbeatable, unbreakable law enforcer who likes to bend the laws herself. When her plan to rescue her former boyfriend Zane goes awry, Tally finds herself challenging her entire civilization once again.

I know this series is popular with a lot of readers; for me, though, this book didn't have what I was looking for. While the premise is good, the ending just left too much open for me to be wholly satisfied. I enjoyed Uglies, but I feel the series went downhill from there. Still, readers who enjoy dystopias and Westerfeld's other books might like this one.

AE

Worlds Afire

Worlds Afire
By Paul B. Janeczko
Candlewick Press, 2004. 92 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

On July 6, 1944, a fire at a circus in Hartford, Connecticut killed 167 people. Here Janeczko, in a series of poems told from the point of view of different people involved in that fire (children, parents, detectives, etc.) shows the anticipation of the circus, the horror of the fire, and the aftermath of it.

Although this book is short, it is powerful. I'd never heard anything about this tragedy, but I appreciated the way Janeczko could provide so much information in so few words. A bibliography as well as additional information about the fire would improve this book (the brief note is not enough to fill the reader's need for information), but still, I highly recommend this one.

AE

Alchemy and Meggy Swan

Alchemy and Meggy Swan
By Karen Cushman
Clarion Books, 2010. 167 pgs. Young Adult

When sharp-tongued Meggy Swan arrives in London, it is hate at first sight. The city is dirty and ugly, and although her father, an alchemist whom she has never met, has sent for her, it turns out he thought he had a son and has little use for a daughter, especially a crippled daughter. Meggy is frustrated by her surroundings, but as she forms an uneasy friendship with Roger, an actor, she finds that she has more to offer the world than insults.

Cushman does a good job of introducing readers to Elizabethan London, and Meggy is a spunky main character. A good read for middle-schoolers.

AE

The Tudors

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England’s Most Notorious Dynasty
By G.J. Meyer
Delacorte Press, 2010. 612 pgs. Nonfiction.

Of all England’s rulers, the Tudors have proved to possess the greatest ability to remain prominent in the history books. Their relatively short reign, barely three generations, managed to bankrupt the government and establish an unrivaled legacy of brutal tyranny and civil unrest. This work follows the royal family from Henry VII’s unlikely rise to power, to Henry VIII’s six wives and the tumultuous religious war he waged against the Catholic Church, on to his son Edward VI’s short time on the throne, his daughter Mary’s 5 year reign and bloody legacy, and finally to Elizabeth’s forty years in power.

Meyer writes in an entertaining style with a dry humor that kept me tied to the narrative. I did feel that the coverage was uneven; spending a majority of the book telling of Henry VIII’s many intrigues while spending an amazingly little amount of time exploring Elizabeth and her relatively lengthy reign. However, I still recommend this collective biography to anyone interested in English history. The “Historical Notes” that ended most chapters were particularly fascinating and gave excellent glimpses into life during the time period. I, personally, am glad I decided to explore the Tudor dynasty if only to be introduced to my new favorite word, kleptocracy, which was used to describe the political environment Henry VIII established. Totally worth all 20 discs and 25 hours!

CZ

84, Charing Cross Road

84, Charing Cross Road
By Helene Hanff
Grossman Pub., 1970. 97 pgs. Nonfiction

At 84, Charing Cross Road resides a British bookselling establishment known as Marks & Co. They are purveyors of scholarly and collected old, rare and out-of-print books. This beloved classic is the collection of a twenty-year correspondence between an American writer from the fifties and Marks & Co.

Helene’s a sassy dame with a lightning sharp pen and her British counterparts are as equally reserved as she is bold. However, the employees of Marks & Co. do warm up as the correspondence progresses and the well-known British wit displays itself admirably. At first ‘Ms. Hanff’ and then finally ‘Dear Helene’, their address shows the remarkable intimacy that develops, (especially when regarded from the standpoint of shopkeeper and customer) and the entire shop is continually begging Helene to come across the pond for a visit. As Helene demands Chaucer in a modern, readable print and the complete works of Donne, dear Frankie dutifully and lovingly hunts them all down. It’s a humorous and delightful game and this slim volume is a welcome look into all things bookish.

While the frugal will be in utter ecstasy at the ‘good ol’ days’ pricing of large volumes at $2.65 / per, just think of the absolutely astounding prices you’ll find at the library. A grand total of $0.00 for any book you can imagine, and we’ll give them all to you with a smile. You can’t beat the cost nor the service. So come on in and see if the library owns all the books Ms. Helene Hanff purchased from Marks & Co. over the years. It might just be a reading challenge you’ll want to accept. Recommended for literature fans and those who appreciate a hearty chuckle.

• Book Club sets available in July.

DAP

The Unwritten Rule

The Unwritten Rule
By Elizabeth Scott
Simon Pulse, 2010. 210 pgs. Young Adult

Every girl knows the unwritten rule: your best friend's boyfriend is off limits. Sarah really cares about her best friend Brianna...but she really likes Brianna's boyfriend Ryan. In fact, she has liked him since eighth grade, and as much as she tries not to like him, she can't help it. And when it turns out that he might not be as interested in Brianna as Brianna would like, Sarah is faced with a difficult decision.

Scott did a great job of creating well-developed characters--Sarah's plight is real, and Brianna, although bossy and self-centered, is so insecure and hurt because of a bad family situation that she's a sympathetic character as well. This is a quick read but not a shallow one.

AE

The Unbearable Lightness of Scones

The Unbearable Lightness of Scones
by Alexander McCall Smith
Anchor Books, 2010. 344 p. Fiction

Bertie’s back! And so is the rest of the crew who reside at 44 Scotland Street. The charming characters who live in this apartment house in the heart of Edinburgh are sure to delight. The latest installment in the series documents the lives of the tenants and provides a whimsical, delicious look at current Scottish life. The goings on include six-year-old Bertie, who desperately wants to join the Cub Scouts and free himself from would-be-girlfriend Olive’s clutches. Angus is enmeshed in the guilty parenthood of his beloved dog, Cyril. Domenica wants her stolen teacup back. Matthew is washed out to sea and saved by…dun, dun, dun. And Big Lou just isn’t having much luck in the boyfriend department. As the lives of the tenants intertwine and mingle together McCall Smith helps us realize just how much we all depend on each other and how our lives create a domino effect.

There’s even a bit of romance for all the lovebirds out there. The question is, who will it be? As for the scones, you’ll dearly want to find a nice Scottish one to munch while reading. Recommended for fans of McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Sunday Philosophy Club series.

DAP

Dead in the Family

Dead in the Family
By Charlaine Harris
Ace Books, 2010. 311 pgs. Fiction

Sookie Stackhouse is back in this tenth volume of the Southern Vampire Series. The Fairy War has come to an end. Sookie is healing physically and emotionally from the torments she encountered during the struggle. The world as a whole is coming to grips with the supernatural creatures who have come forward and announced their existence. And with Eric’s problems securing his position as Sherriff, he and Sookie are finding it very difficult to find the time to define their developing relationship.

This series has lost a fan. I really enjoyed the first few books, but I felt like half of Dead in the Family was spent explaining vampire/werewolf/fae politics, which is the portion of the series I care the least about. The story was strung along in a very dry and uninteresting way leading to about ten pages of excitement. I do still like the characters and the initial premise, but it has just reached a point where the lore has completely overshadowed the storylines, which is really a shame.

CZ

These Three Remain

These Three Remain
By Pamela Aidan
Simon & Schuster, 2007. 437 pgs. Fiction

This is the final book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series and tells Darcy’s story from his visit to Rosings and the ill fated proposal, to the happily ever after at Elizabeth’s side. Aidan continues to expand Darcy’s character, motivations, and personal struggles in a way that stays impressively true to Austen’s original narrative.

This was my favorite of the three volumes. The series as a whole is highly entertaining and enlightening and I look forward to recommending it widely. This is not a work of literary genius, but it is a really fun, light read perfect for anyone who wants to experience the comfort of reading a story you already know and love.

CZ

Parallel Journeys

Parallel Journeys
By Eleanor Ayer
Aladdin Paperbacks, 2000. 244 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

When Hitler rose to power in Germany, Helen was a Jew who needed to escape. Alfons was a child who got swept up into the Hitler Youth organization. As Helen was hiding in the Netherlands, trying to keep herself and her family alive, Alfons was rising in the ranks of the Hitler Youth, fervently believing in all that Hitler promised. In this book, Ayer combines excerpts from Helen's and Aflons's autobiographies with her own commentary to show how Hitler's regime affected different groups of people.

This was an interesting book to read. Particularly interesting is the ideas that the Hitler Youth were Hitler's victims as well--although they fervently supported him, their actions were influenced by the teachings of parents and other adults. Also fascinating is the story of how Helen and Alfons met, years after the war, and began doing speaking engagements together.

AE

MOM: a Celebration of Mothers from Storycorps

MOM: a Celebration of Mothers from Storycorps
Editor: Dave Isay
Penguin Press, 2010. 186 pgs. Nonfiction

The Storycorps project started as a booth set up in the Grand Central Terminal in NYC. Travelers could come in, sit in the booth and record a portion of their personal story: their lives, their memories and their wisdom. Mom is the result of thousand of people's reminiscences of their mothers and strives to capture just a few of the amazing stories that exist.

The book is organized into three sections: Wisdom, Devotion and Enduring Love. I found the advice Leah Haseley’s mother gave her insightful—“You be the one” she always said. “You be the one to make up with a friend or to reach out and break the silence between you.” What splendid advice from those ever brilliant people—our mothers.

Included is a list of questions in the back for readers to interview their own mothers, a project sure to be cherished by both parties. As founder of the Storycorps project Dave Isay says,“the individual stories we’ve collected have taught us that as a nation there is much more that we share than divides us”. So three cheers for Moms, we couldn’t have done it without you.

The Illustrated Quick Cook

The Illustrated Quick Cook
DK. 2009. 544 pgs. Nonfiction

A resource packed with over 650 recipes for every occasion and offers menu planners, recipes-chooser galleries, cook's notes, recipe variations, and full-color photos of all the completed dishes.

This cookbook is full of great photographs, time-saving tips, after-work recipes, and food for those on a budget. I like that each recipe indicates how much prep time needs to be done, how long it cooks, if the meal can be frozen, and if the meal is “healthy” (meaning low in fat, salt, and/or sugar). In addition many of the recipes list variations and cook’s notes. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone looking for some new meal ideas, or those that simply love to look at beautiful food!

AMM

Spells

Spells
By Aprilynne Pike
Harper, 2010. 359 pgs. Young Adult

When a deadly enemy puts both Laurel’s life and the faerie realm of Avalon in danger, Laurel must draw on all her human strength as well as her faerie skills to survive. Will she depend on David, her human boyfriend, for help? Or will she turn to Tamani, the electrifying faeries with whom her connection is undeniable?

Spells is the sequel to Wings which came out in 2009. According to Aprilynne Pike’s blog this is the 2nd book in a 4 book series. Although I enjoyed Spells it did not draw me in the same way Wings did. However, knowing that this is a middle book in a series, I look forward to an exciting conclusion to this series as the next two books are published. Spells shows the conflict Laurel feels as she tries to stay close to both David and Tamani while at the same time trying to fend of her enemies.

AMM

It's Not Summer without You

It's Not Summer without You
By Jenny Han
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2010. 275 pgs. Young Adult

In the sequel to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Susannah has passed away, leaving Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah to deal with the loss. Her relationship with Conrad having crashed and burned, Belly has become somewhat distant from both of the brothers. But when Conrad disappears, Jeremiah enlists Belly's help to find him.

While I like Jenny Han's writing style, I did not enjoy this book as much as the first. The ending was ambiguous and might be disappointing to some readers.

AE

Little Miss Red

Little Miss Red
By Robin Palmer
Speak, 2009. 254 pgs. Young Adult

Sophie Greene is getting frustrated with her boyfriend of three years, Michael. However, when he tells her he wants to press the pause button on their relationship, she's miffed that he has beaten her to the punch. On the plane ride to Florida, where she'll be spending spring break with her grandmother, Sophie meets Jack, who is older, wilder, and seems like fun. As she spends spring break with him, certain he's her soul mate, she can't quite forget about Michael and starts to wonder if Jack is as good as he seems.

This is a quick read and following the tradition of Robin Palmer's other books is loosely related to a fairy tale. While this book has its funny parts, Sophie's obsession with romance novels and her expectation that life should be like those novels, while a parody of life, can get annoying. While she does make some important realizations about life and love, readers should make sure they're in the mood to stomach a lot of teenage cluelessness along the way.

AE

The Six Rules of Maybe

The Six Rules of Maybe
By Deb Caletti
Simon Pulse, 2010. 321 pgs. Young Adult

Scarlet has spent her life looking after other people, while her older sister Juliet has done exactly what she wanted. When Juliet returns home, pregnant and newly married, Scarlet tries to intervene as Juliet mistreats and even ignores her husband Hayden. Disgusted with Juliet, Scarlet persists in trying to protect those around her, but the time comes when she has to learn about letting go.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; Scarlet's emotions are complicated and real, and the unfolding of what she learns about herself and her family shows her growth. I'd recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen's works.

AE

Duty and Desire

Duty and Desire
By Pamela Aidan
Simon & Schuster, 2006. 280 pgs. Fiction

After the ball at Netherfield, Austen’s Pride and Prejudice sends Darcy off into the world, heartlessly convincing his friend Bingley that no good will come from a connection to the Bennet family. Aidan takes us with Mr. Darcy to London and on to other adventures, though his heart, despite his best efforts, remains undeniably attached to Elizabeth. This middle book in her Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman series takes us to a part of the story almost completely untouched by Austen’s narrative.

Most middle books in trilogies pale in comparison to the first and then the final installments. This series is no different. It is still fun to follow Darcy into London society and to learn more of Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy’s sister Georgiana, but Elizabeth’s absence is apparent and the reader is likely to press forward if only to read the third book and the events that are sure to come. I can still recommend the series to readers, though this is probably my least favorite of the three books in the series.

CZ

An Assembly Such as This

An Assembly Such as This
By Pamela Aidan
Simon & Schuster, 2006. 246 pgs. Fiction

Mr. Darcy has never been wholly comfortable at large gatherings and usually goes out of his way to avoid them and the attention his social station usually attracts. Because of this, the thoughts of attending a public gathering in Hertfordshire with his friend Charles Bingley inspire a fair amount of dread. And so begins this re-imagination of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as told from Darcy’s point of view.

It is amazing how many times the same story can delight and entertain. In this book, the first of a trilogy, Aidan reintroduces beloved characters and conversations with a new twist that is still true to the original. I consider this to be one of the better Austen knock-offs and could easily recommend it to anyone.

CZ

Have Him at Hello: Confessions from 1,000 Guys About What Makes Them Fall in Love…Or Never Call Back

Have Him at Hello: Confessions from 1,000 Guys About What Makes Them Fall in Love…Or Never Call Back
By Rachel Greenwald
Three Rivers Press. 2010. 281 pgs. Nonfiction

Rachel Greenwald conducted in-depth Exit Interviews with 1,000 single men, asking them why they hadn't called back after a date. Citing true anecdotes and case studies, this book examines the most frequent date-breakers that men confess, and offers practical advice on how to avoid them.

Date-Breakers were categorized as the top 16 stereotypes men generally group women into when they decide not to ask for a second date. A few of these groups include: The Boss Lady, The Blahs, The Bait and Switcher, The Park Avenue Princess, and The Closer.

I thought the research behind this book was really interesting. How better to find out why men decide not to ask a girl out again, than to ask the men upfront. Greenwald often had to ask a few probing questions to really get to the crux of the matter. Often men said things like, “There just wasn’t a spark” or “She just wasn’t my type.” It was interesting to read the different stereotypes men give to women and learn how to avoid being placed in that stereotype.

AMM