Sorcerers and Seers

Sorcerers and Seers
By Chris Heimerdinger
Covenant Communications, 2010. 491 pgs. Young Adult

The Hawkins and Plimpton families (and friends) are back in the eleventh enstallment of the Tennis Shoes among the Nephites series. Jim and his sister Jenny are in Jerusalem and encounter Jesus Christ during his final week on earth, while Garth, Joshua and Marcos have been sent by Mormon to hide the gold plates. However, old enemy Akish shows up and steals the plates, which he says he'll return when Joshua returns his evil sword. Soon, Marcos and Joshua find themselves on a new adventure, mixed up with the Jaredite women and King Omer, who are trying to stay safe as Omer's descendants battle for the kingdom. Meanwhile, Meagan, Apollus, Becky, Harry, Pagag, Ryan, and Steffanie are accompanying Moroni as he tries to make it back to his father Mormon at the Hill Cumorah, where the Nephites are preparing for their final showdown with the Lamanites.

As with earlier books in the series, there's a lot going on and lot to keep straight--as evidenced by the 10 page cast of characters that opens the book. With the long delay since the last book, readers might not have as clear an idea of what's going on as they'd like. (This could probably be solved by rereading the other ten books, but I didn't have enough time or care quite enough about the series to bother.) However, the story starts to feel familiar after a few chapters. There's lots of descriptions, some really interesting thoughts about what effect time travelers could have on history, and some good action scenes, and some uplifting moments as well. However, at the end of nearly 500 pages of text, I was ultimately left with the feeling that very little actually happened. Nothing is accomplished; the characters are pretty much in the same situations at the end of the story as they were in the beginning. This might be a setup for a great next novel...but we'll probably have to wait a few more years to find out. Undoubtedly some readers will love it, but others might be irritated by the lack of any sort of conclusion, and some might not care enough to wait around for the next book to see what happens.

AE

I'd Know You Anywhere

I’d Know You Anywhere
By Laura Lippman
William Morrow, 2010. 373 pgs. Fiction

Lippman’s new piece of fiction was inspired by the sole surviving victim of a serial killer who preyed on underage girls. The author wondered what the effects of such trauma would be on the woman that girl became. Her story tells of 16 year old Elizabeth who is kidnapped by Walter, a disturbed young man who justifies to himself each brutal and selfish act he commits. Decades later, Walter is about to face death by lethal injection when he reaches out to his one surviving victim. Is he looking for forgiveness or is he simply struggling to survive even at this late hour?

This story is told from a variety of perspectives. Elizabeth as a teenager held captive, and then as the wife and mother that she will become. Young Walter as he attempts to engage with women and then later as he faces his last days on this earth. Others also tell their stories including one of the murdered girls’ mother and an activist who has taken on Walter’s cause. All these viewpoints weave a fascinating tale of redemption, courage, survival, and the journey we all take to truly know ourselves.

CZ

Citizens of London

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood With Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour
By Lynne Olson
Random House, 2010. 471 pgs. Nonfiction

Olson chronicles the British-American alliance during World War II by focusing on American individuals who made a significant contribution to the alliance, specifically highlighting three men-- John Gilbert Winant, Edward R. Murrow, and Averell Harriman. These men did all they could in their power to persuade Franklin D. Roosevelt and the American people that Britain needed their help to defeat Hitler. Many other people also contributed to this effort and Olson tells their stories as well, along with several other Americans who strengthened the alliance once America did enter the war. Olson shows how strained the relations between the two countries were before and during the war and how Roosevelt and Churchill struggled with who held more power during the joint conflict.

Olson does a fantastic job detailing this troubled alliance and the people involved in a manner that is as engaging as a novel. The reader feels real sympathy for many of the players and especially for the British people who had to endure so much privation and fear as they stood alone against Hitler. I found myself frustrated by the antipathy of Americans, especially those in high government positions who had the power to help Britain more than they did. Olson is quite thorough, showing the alliance in all its aspects, including civilian life, the military campaigns, power struggles and more.

MN

A Match Made in High School

A Match Made in High School
By Kristin Walker
Razorbill, 2009. 278 pgs. Young Adult

Senior year isn't starting so well for Fiona Sheehan. The principal has decided that a year-long marriage education course will be required for graduation, and each senior is paired up with another senior for a practice marriage. Fiona is matched up with jerky jock Todd Harding, the boyfriend of Fiona's nemesis, Amanda. To make things worse, Amanda has been paired up with Fiona's crush, Gabe Webber, and Fiona's best friend Marcie has been matched with Johnny Mercer, who seems to be paying a lot of attention to Fiona. It's going to take a lot for Fiona to survive this class, especially since Todd seems determined to humiliate her whenever possible.

This book had the potential to be funny, but I think it ended up being more crass than amusing. Fiona and Todd are rude and crude and I didn't really like much about the book, since I didn't like Fiona and didn't care what happened to her. However, kudos to the author for not following the overdone geek girl snags jock guy formula.

AE

Flygirl

Flygirl
By Sherri L. Smith
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008. 275 pgs. Young Adult

Ida Mae Jones just wants to fly. And when the need for pilots during WWII leads to the creation of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, Ida Mae wants to join. However, the WASP program doesn't accept "colored" pilots. Ida Mae is African American, but she's light-skinned enough that she can pass for white--and she decides to do just that in order to achieve her dream of flying. Besides trying to make it through training, Ida Mae has to be extra careful not to let anyone find out her true identity. At the same time, she has to figured out how to follow her dreams while staying true to herself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a great look at the WASP program, what life was like for women in that era, and especially a great look at the struggles of African Americans. This realistic historical fiction novel has an engaging protagonist and I'd recommend it to just about anyone.

AE

Lemon Tart : a Culinary Mystery

Lemon Tart : a Culinary Mystery
By Josi Kilpack
Deseret Book, 2009, 361 pages. Mystery

Lemon Tart is the first of Josi Kilpack’s amateur detective novels featuring cooking aficionado Sadie Hoffmiller. As the neighbor of a beautiful single mother who is mysteriously murdered, Sadie is the most likely to notice clues the police would overlook. Sadie has visited the house frequently and even taught the young woman how to make the lemon tart that was baking in her oven when the police discovered her body. Sadie’s anxiety over the murder intensifies when she realizes the young woman’s son is missing.

Sadie doesn’t mean to interfere, she doesn’t mean to notice important clues the police missed, and she doesn’t mean to irritate the investigating detective. She certainly doesn’t mean to endanger her own life as she puts the clues together to solve the mystery.

This is a clean and cozy read for mystery lovers. Sadie’s cooking skills more than match her mystery solving skills. So keep your own oven hot and ready while you’re reading. You’re sure to feel the urge to cook. SH

Blizzard!

Blizzard!
By Jim Murphy
Scholastic Press, 2000. 136 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Murphy recounts the blizzard that hit the eastern United States in 1888. Focusing on accounts of people in and around New York City, Murphy shows how the storm disabled the city, shutting down transportation, limiting food supplies, and even causing many deaths.

Award-winning author Murphy does a great job of making the blizzard of 1888 interesting for children and teens. His writing is engaging, and readers will come to understand why this storm had such a profound effect on people directly involved in it but also those of us today, since many practices (such as the New York subway system, cities' responsibility to clear snow off streets, and more) were instituted as a result of this storm and how unprepared New York was to handle it. Informative and interesting, this is a great nonfiction title.

AE

Does My Head Look Big in This?

Does My Head Look Big in This?
By Randa Abdel-Fattah
Orchard Books, 2007. 360 pgs. Young Adult

Amal, an Australian-Palestinian teenager, decides to wear the hijab, the Muslim head scarf, full time. Wearing the hijab is a huge decision, especially attending a snooty private school, and Amal is nervous about her decision, but she's determined to live her faith. She also has to decide how to live her beliefs when her crush, Adam, seems to be returning her interest.

This was interesting look at what it's like to be a Muslim teenager, but it's also an interesting look at what it's like to be any sort of teenager, showing that universal desire to fit in while being true to one's self. The issue of the hijab is fascinating, but it's just as interesting to see how many of the other Muslim characters vary in the ways they practice their religion. This book has a little bit of language, but it's a great book about a teenager understanding and living her religion.

AE

The Floating Girl

The Floating Girl
By Sujata Massey
Avon Books, 2000. 374 pages. Mystery.

Rei (pronounced Ray) Shimura, is a Japanese-American woman living in Tokyo trying to make it as an antiques dealer. To make a little extra money on the side she has been writing articles about antiques hunting for the Gaijin Times, a local magazine written in English for foreigners. This is the last person you would expect to end up doing investigative journalism into the death of an amateur manga (comic) writer, and yet Rei finds herself unable to stop her inquiries even when her own life is threatened.

I enjoyed the first half of this book much more than the second half. The author includes in her work a lot of information about Japan; its culture, people, and their obsession with manga. I didn’t care enough about Rei’s search to find clues to why the writer of a manga story was dead and the illustrator was missing. I also felt that the ending was a big let-down, having expected a far more sinister motive. I would, however, say that this was a very easy book to get pulled into. Sometimes it takes a while to get drawn into a story, but this one pulled me in from page one.

AJ

The Cookbook Collector

The Cookbook Collector
By Allegra Goodman
Dial Press, 2010. 394 pgs. Fiction

The Cookbook Collector is set on the East and West coasts at the height of the technology boom. Small start-ups are exploding into the financial markets and billionaires are made overnight. Emily Bach is a founder of one such company and her life seems headed in all the right directions. Then there is her younger sister Jess who spends her time working in a small bookstore, studying to earn an unmarketable advanced degree, and handing out leaflets in an attempt to save the redwoods. These two sisters, along with their friends and family, are about to experience a true roller coaster of events both political and social. They will each be required to decide what they truly value and what they would sacrifice to get it.

This is a beautiful book about family, trust, faith, and happiness. Behind all that is the love of books and food. Though it takes place in the recent past, 1999-2002, it reads a lot like an historical novel, filled with rich details of a way of life that is already disappearing. The characters are engaging and their struggles extremely timely. If it weren’t for some moments of rough language, I would readily recommend this title for book groups. It is a novel made for discussion and reflection.

CZ

Winter in June

Winter in June
By Kathryn Miller Haines
Harper, 2009. 320 pgs. Mystery

The third book in the Rosie Winter mysteries travels with Rosie to the Southern Pacific on a USO tour performing for the armed forces. But Rosie has personal motives for signing up: she's hoping on hearing word of her MIA ex-boyfriend, Jack. Joined by her loyal best friend, Jayne, they travel the Pacific Islands, but a shadow is cast over their journey by a body that was found in the waters of San Francisco on the day they embarked. Rosie can't help feeling it's linked to their tour in some way, but her inquisitive nature may land her in trouble if she gets too close to the truth.

Although I felt that this started out a bit slow, it was made up for by the complete immersion in the sights and sounds of the armed forces in the Pacific in the 1940s. I'm always impressed with the minutia of war-time culture that Haines is so familiar with and incorporates into her stories. Also, happily, the book picks up and leads readers through a satisfying who-done-it brainteaser. Fans of historical fiction (especially WWII) and clean mysteries will love this series, starting with The War Against Miss Winter and then The Winter of Her Discontent.

BHG

Something Like Fate

Something Like Fate
By Susane Colsanti
Viking, 2010. 268 pgs. Young Adult

Lani and Erin are best friends, linked by a car accident in their past in which Erin saved Lani's life. So, when Erin starts dating Jason and Lani realizes that she and Jason might actually have more in common than Jason and Erin, she knows she owes it to her friend not to get involved with Jason. But when Erin goes away for the summer to be a camp counselor and Jason breaks up with her, Lani, who feels as if fate has brought her and Jason together, has to figure out if there's a way to keep her best friend and still get the guy.

The issue of liking your best friend's boyfriend comes up enough in YA literature that authors need to make sure they're putting in some extra effort to give readers anything more than a cliché--and Colsanti delivers with Lani and Jason, likable characters who breathe new life into an old plot line. Lani is a sweet environmentalist who is interested in fate and the cosmos, and Jason is her perfect match. The result is a chick-lit book with a little more substance that works well.

AE

Temple Theology: An Introduction

Temple Theology: An Introduction
By Margaret Barker
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004. 104 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a fascinating little book with a very different approach to understanding the nature of temple worship during the period of the first temple in Jerusalem--Solomon's temple. Traditionally, Josiah's reforms are understood as a purging of idolatrous practices. Barker proposes that the reforms represented the death knell of the original (and true) temple worship. The author demonstrates that the early Christians had an understanding of the ancient temple worship that had been corrupted and replaced.

This study presents the ancient temple through the concepts of creation, covenant, atonement, and wisdom. Her association of the creation with the temple and some of her thoughts regarding Melchizedek and the High Priesthood will be of interest to LDS readers. Barker is an independent Biblical scholar and her point of view is guaranteed to sometimes resonate with and sometimes irritate readers.

SML

The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, & Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime

The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, & Bench-Clearing Brawls:
the Unwritten Rules of America's Pastime
by Jason Turbow with Michael Duca
Random House, 2010. 294 pgs. Non-Fiction

Thanks to Turbow and Duca, and lucky for fans of the game, baseball's unwritten rules are written down at last. Everyone knows a pitcher has to smack an opposing player if one of his own teammates has been drilled. But who knew how many variation there are on that imperative: do you just hit the next guy who comes up? or wait for a player of similar value? And what happens when your pitcher is trying to hit one of their guys but keeps missing? "Rules" for when and how you are allowed to take out the second baseman on a slide, when you can try to stretch a single into a double (not with a seven or more point lead in the late innings), and when you can act like you've been hit by a pitch when you haven't or pretend that you don't have the ball when you do. And never, never stand at the plate and admire your own home run before circling the bases. The Baseball Codes is a rare treasure for fans of America's true and enduring pastime, particularly good reading for those who came up with the game before BIG MONEY laid waste.

LW

Ghostopolis

Ghostopolis
by Doug TenNapel
Scholastic, 2010. 266 pgs. Young Adult

Scholastic's Graphix imprint has produced some terrific titles for middle-schoolers in the explosive field of graphic novels, and Ghostopolis is a perfect example. Garth, the young son of a single mother, suffers from an incurable disease but that fact takes a back seat to more pressing matters when he is accidently sent into the afterlife with a rogue skeleton horse who has sneaked back into mortality. The agent of that mistake is an agent--Frank Gallows of the Supernatural Immigration Task Force. Forbidden to have anything to do with correcting his mistake, Frank sneaks into the Afterlife with his lady friend Claire Voyant and together with Garth they transform what they find there. TenNapel's novel is witty, wise, funny (with just enough bathroom humor to keep tween boys yucking it up), and wildly exciting. Pictures and text are seamlessly arrayed to keep readers anxiously engaged in cheering on the good guys and booing the villains. A terrific choice for reluctant readers.

LW

My Invisible Boyfriend

My Invisible Boyfriend
By Susie Day
Scholastic Press, 2010. 275 pgs. Young Adult

With the new school year starting, fifteen-year-old Heidi's best friends, Fili, Ludo, and Dai, each quickly snag boyfriends. Heidi, feeling worried she's going to lose her group, invents a boyfriend--one who lives far away and mainly communicates through the internet. Even though she's made up the perfect boyfriend, things don't settle into their old routine like she'd hoped. Emo Fili is avoiding them, Ludo's boyfriend might not be as loyal to her as he should be, and Dai, insecure after his recent weight loss, even suspects Heidi of liking his boyfriend. To top it all off, Heidi gets an email from A Real Boy, someone who says he knows her boyfriend is fictitious--and wants to take his place.

I kept waiting to like this book, since the premise was funny and interesting, and I did like it, but it wasn't until the very end, when things finally wrapped up, and I thought they wrapped up a little too quickly, not giving readers quite enough of what they've been waiting the whole book for! But, with quirky (albeit occasionally annoying) characters, and the right amount of teenage angst, this is a fun new addition to teen chick-lit.

AE

The Deadly Sister

The Deadly Sister
By Eliot Schrefer
Scholastic, 2010. 310 pgs. Young Adult

Abby Goodwin is the responsible older child; Maya is the drug-using, prone to running away problem child. When Abby finds Jefferson Andrews, Maya's tutor and love interest, dead, she knows Maya will be a prime suspect, and she sets out to find her sister before the police do. She tells her sister to go into hiding and tries to figure out who else could be responsible for Jefferson's death.

Part-mystery and part-thriller, this book definitely has a twist that will surprise some readers, especially since I'm not sure the author did quite enough to lend it the credibility it needs. This book is a whirlwind, and the fact that the narrator is unreliable (which readers might not catch at the beginning of the book), could make it confusing for some.

AE

Blind Descent

Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth
By James M. Tabor
Random House, 2010. 286 pgs. Nonfiction

The supercaves of the world present one of the last places on Earth still available to adventurous explorers seeking to carve out their own place in history. To do this, cavers must endure weeks underground in complete darkness scaling walls of sheer rock and diving through underground lakes and rivers. The dangers are real and sometimes the ultimate price is paid. But these brave men and women embrace the spirit of Hillary, Armstrong, and Shackleton as they plunge themselves deep into the earth, searching for its deepest point.

Tabor’s writing reads a bit like the evening news, each sentence a bit of a cliff-hanger with impending danger in every phrase. Not that the topic doesn’t lend itself well to this type of prose. Cave exploration is incredibly dangerous and requires participants to keep constantly alert. For some, this may be the makings of a thrilling piece of armchair exploration. For me, it seemed a bit over dramatic.

CZ

Jane

Jane
By April Lindner
Little, Brown, 2010. 375 pgs. Young Adult

In the modernized retelling of Jane Eyre, Mr. Rochester is Nico Rathburn, a rock star trying to make a comeback, with a young daughter he has no idea how to raise. Jane Moore is desperately seeking a job after her parents' death has left her broke and forced her to drop out of college. Hired as a nanny for Maddy, Jane is just trying to save up money for tuition, but soon finds herself attracted to her boss. Although there are times that Jane wonders if Nico could feel something for her, other women and Nico's past are obstacles to any sort of happy ending for them.

I've never been a big fan of Jane Eyre, but I thought this retelling was decent. For those looking for a contemporary rags-to-riches romance, this one will do. Even those who aren't familiar with the story of Jane Eyre can enjoy the book.

AE

I'm with Fatty

I’m with Fatty: Losing 50 pounds in 50 miserable weeks
By Edward Ugel
Weinstein Books, 2010. 244 p. Biography

Some people have a bit of a weight problem, but when Edward Ugel gained 10 pounds one month he realized he might have a crisis on his hands, or to be exact, in his hands as he jiggled his rapidly growing love handles. His daughter also gave him some honest criticism when she loudly pointed out that he was ‘TOO BIG’ to jump in her kiddy pool. But when his doctor told him his life was now on the line, he started to get serious. That’s when he developed the “50 pounds in 50 weeks” scheme to take off his weight. It took a lot of spousal encouragement, a nutritionist, a personal trainer and a couple colon cleanses to make it through this tough year and with plenty of setbacks, Ugel had much to contend with. But he came through it with a lot less weight on his bones, a love of racquetball and a newfound respect for himself.

The book is an amazingly honest self-portrayal of a man who discovers he has an out-of-control eating disorder and commits to subdue his weighty mass. As the title portends, it’s a humorous and sympathetic look at losing weight from the rare male perspective, but Ugel is overly crass and it’s not something I’d highly recommend.

DAP

The Mapping of Love and Death

The Mapping of Love and Death
By Jacqueline Winspear
Harper, 2010. 338 p. Mystery

Maps are fascinating objects and the making of them requires certain character traits: courage, an adventurous spirit and an ability to see the world from different points of view. Finally, a cartographer must be willing to travel wherever necessary, often confronting serious danger in the process.

Michael Clifton has the right personality and the right skills, so when WWI begins he immediately sets off from California to join an English cartography unit deployed to map unchartered war grounds. Sadly, Michael won’t last out the war and when his remains are found years later a mysterious packet of letters is returned to his parents which hint at a wartime love affair in Paris. Wanting to find the last person Michael loved, his family travels to England and employs the inimitable Maisie Dobbs to discover the truth of the matter. But Maisie’s quick to discern that Michael was murdered before the bombing even started and when that detail comes to light the investigation explodes in all directions, leaving Maisie to follow each piece of the highly dangerous puzzle all the way to the end.

Winspear’s latest mystery featuring Maisie Dobbs is pleasant enough and followers of the series are in for a surprise when a new love interest crops up; however, the book wasn’t especially notable unless you’ve become attached to Maisie and her past adventures.

DAP

Surviving the Angel of Death

Surviving the Angel of Death
By Eva Moses and Lisa Rojany Buccieri
Tanglewood Pub., 2009. 141 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Ten-year-old Eva Mozes and her family were deported to Auschwitz, where most of her family was sent to the gas chambers. However, Eva and her twin sister Miriam were selected to be part of the group of twins that infamous Nazi doctor Joseph Mengele, also known as the Angel of Death, saved in order to make them the subject of horrific experiments. Eva is determined to keep herself and her sister alive.

Eva Mozes Kor has shared her story with adult audiences; here it is adapted for teen readers. I didn't particularly care for the writing style; the story is told in the first person, with adult Eva looking back at her life, which seemed to distance me from the story a little bit. However, Eva's story, and the story of any of Mengele's twins, is an important one for teens and adults to know about.

AE

Freak Magnet

Freak Magnet
By Andrew Auseon
HarperTeen, 2010. 297 pgs. Young Adult

Some people would call Charlie a freak. He loves astronomy and is convinced he has discovered a new comet. He also runs after a complete stranger to tell her how beautiful she is. Gloria is a freak magnet, attracting every freak in the vicinity. After Charlie tells her she is beautiful, Gloria recounts the incident in her freak folio and dismisses him. But when their paths cross again, she finds herself drawn to Charlie and his open manner. But both are dealing with devastating family issues and must find a way to heal from those before coming together.

Charlie and Gloria are refreshing young adult characters. Yes, they are dealing with some issues, but they don’t come across as angst-ridden as some young adult characters can. Charlie is quite endearing and funny and I loved spending time with him.

MN

And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie
St. Martin’s Press, 1939. 275 pgs. Mystery

When ten people arrive on private Indian Island off England's southwest coast, lured to a mansion by invitations from a mysterious host, terror mounts as one guest after another is murdered, in a classic whodunit that is an elaboration of the famous children's rhyme "Ten Little Indians."

In honor of Agatha Christie’s 120th birthday, I decided to pick up one of her most well known titles. This book has been adapted as a play and I would be interested to see it played out. Since the mystery follows the poem “Ten Little Indians” I knew how the next person would die, but not who was going to die. I liked the twist at the end and would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.

AMM

The Way of Kings

The Way of Kings
By Brandon Sanderson
Tor Books, 2010. 1007 pgs. Fantasy

This is the first in Brandon Sanderson's new epic series, The Stormlight Archive. Sanderson's worldbuilding is allowed to stretch its wings in this lengthy book, immersing us in a strange world ruled by storms that sweep across the land so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization. War rages on a ruined landscape known as the Shattered Plains where ten armies fight separately against a single foe. Young Kaladin was raised as a surgeon but was forced to abandon that life to protect those he loves as a soldier. Brightlord Dalinar commands one of the armies at the Shattered Plains, but lately has been troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, and has begun to doubt his own sanity. Across the ocean, a sheltered young woman named Shallan tries to convince an eminent scholar, Jasnah Kholin, to take her on as a ward. Shallan's task will be difficult, especially since her motives are less than pure. But Jasnah's research hints at something big: that their world is changing, and they must prepare before a new storm breaks.

In addition to the intricate world created here, I'm always impressed with Sanderson's detailed characters and epic storytelling. This is a great start to what I'm sure will be a successful series. I was a little bemused to find that the heroes here closely resemble those from his other books, but that didn't really detract from the experience of watching them rise to meet their challenges. Fans of the Wheel of Time series should especially enjoy this new series.

BHG

Dark Song

Dark Song
By Gail Giles
Little, Brown, 2010. 292 pgs. Young Adult

Fifteen-year-old Ames is used to a privileged life--she lives in a nice home, attends a private school, and her family seems pretty perfect. However, when her father loses his job and all of the family's money, Ames's world falls apart. Her parents, formerly supportive and interested in her life, are now angry all the time and move them to to Texas to a filthy, run-down rental. With the deterioration of her family, Ames finds comfort in Marc--a twenty-two-year-old with a criminal past who is posing as a seventeen-year-old. Soon Ames has to decide how far she'll go to keep him.

This book is both edgy and gripping. I wasn't sure if I'd find the premise of the book believable--that a happy, normal teenager would be so drawn to a dark, twisted man--but I think Giles made it work, allowing readers to see both the good and the bad in Ames and how her reaction to her parents' rejection is a plausible one. With dynamic characters, an intriguing plot, and good editing, there's not much not to like about this book.

AE

Wasatch Wildflowers: A Field Guide

Wasatch Wildflowers: A Field Guide
By Steve Hegji
Cedar Fort, 2010. 207 pgs. Nonfiction

I wouldn’t normally review a short book about wildflowers on this blog, but I was so pleased with this book I wanted to share my discovery. I have looked at a few of the other wildflowers books for our region and have been very unsatisfied. I do a lot of hiking and couldn’t recognize a single flower in these other books. Wasatch Wildflowers, however, was exactly the opposite. Not only was I able to identify all of the flowers I have come across, but I also appreciated the layman’s approach to the content in the book. Rather than using scientific terms, the author uses words that the average person can actually understand. There are also great photos of each flower which typically have a close-up of the flower and inset picture of the entire plant.

This is by no means an exhaustive text on wildflowers, but it is perfect for the beginner or person who wants to know a little more about the topic.

AJ

Sh*t my Dad Says

Sh*t My Dad Says
By Justin Halpern
It Books, 2010. 176 pages. Nonfiction

Halpern began collecting and posting the crusty quotes from his father in his extremely popular blog with the same name as the book. This is a collection of the best quotes along with Justin's descriptions and explanations throughout. The book is very entertaining, and his fathers' practical, straightforward, and in your face advice never cease to provide a laugh. Obviously, as per the title, there is profanity in this book, so keep that in mind if you find that kind of thing offensive.

My favorite thing about this book was that even though his father was often rough with some of his advice, his love for his family clearly comes through.

Juliet

Juliet
By Anne Fortier
Ballantine Books, 2010. 447 pgs. Fiction

Moving back and forth between historical events and modern day, this book is less about Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet and more about the amazing history of Siena, Italy.

Julie Jacobs and her twin sister, Janice, were born in Siena, but after tragically losing both parents, they are swept up and taken to the United States by their Great Aunt Rose where they are sternly discouraged from ever returning to their homeland. After Rose’s death Janice receives the entire inheritance and Julie gets only a mysterious letter from her aunt explaining that her mother left a “treasure” for her in Italy, but to claim it she must travel to Italy under her real name, Guilietta Tolomei.

Once in Siena, Julie soon discovers that what she first took as a worthless pile of papers left by her mother may actually prove that Romeo and Juliet (Romeo Marescotti and Guilietta Tolomei) were real people living in 1340 Siena rather than Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s play. These papers also prove that Julie is a descendant of the first Guilietta Tolomei. After chasing down some clues, Julie learns that there may indeed be a real treasure, and that there are people willing to kill for that treasure.

This is an exciting and suspenseful ride through Siena’s dark past similar to Da Vinci Code. There are a few flaws in the book. For example, some of the characters are a little over-the-top and the historical information was a little dry in my opinion, but I enjoyed the story enough I was definitely willing to over look any minor problems.

AJ

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise
By Julia Stuart
Doubleday, 2010. 304 pgs. Fiction

Balthazar Jones and his wife Hebe live in the Tower of London with their 181 year old tortoise, Mrs. Cook. Balthazar is a Member of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, or Beefeater, and is responsible for showing tourists around the national landmark. That is until he is made the Keeper of the Royal Menagerie and asked to care for Her Majesty’s collection of exotic animals. As the Tower is thrown into a period of upheaval, its eccentric residents find their own lives in a state of change as well.

The Great Tower of London is a brilliant setting for a piece of fiction. It is filled with history, intrigue, and tragedy. Unfortunately, the characters Stuart chose to populate her story are, in my opinion, unrelatable and almost completely unlikable. From the Reverend moonlighting as an author of erotica, to Hebe’s coworker who enjoys trying on beards in her down time; it’s just all a bit much. The fascinating bits of Tower history sprinkled through the oddly depressing narrative were by far my favorite parts.

CZ

The Book of Awesome

The Book of Awesome: Snow Days, Bakery Air, Finding Money in Your Pocket, and Other Simple, Brilliant Things
By Neil Pasricha
Amy Einhorn Books/G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2010. 393 pgs. Nonfiction

The author of 1000awesoemthings.com, a blog that celebrates the simple pleasures in life, has compiled some of his posts into this collection of life’s little treasures. While I didn’t find every one of Pasricha’s “Awesome” things equally awesome, like “Putting Potato Chips on a Sandwich” or “Talking About How Much the Meal You’re Eating at Home Would Cost in a Restaurant”, others succeeded in bringing a huge smile to my face like “The Smell of Crayons” and “Remembering What Movie that Guy is From.” A fun little book filled with happy moments.

CZ

Faithful Place

Faithful Place
by Tana French
Viking, 2010. 400 pgs. Fiction

When Detective Frank Mackey gets a call from a home he hoped never to return to, he finds himself entangled in a 22-year old mystery. Many years ago, he and his girlfriend Rosie Daly had hoped to leave Dublin for London to start a new life away from their depressing and repressive families, but Rosie never showed. He figured she had blown him off and gone alone but now her suitcase has been found, shoved up the chimney in an abandoned house in Faithful Place. So what became of Rosie? Frank's efforts to find out will drive him back into hateful relationships, run him afoul of a colleague on the force, and bring ruin on the people he should have been able to love. Tana French's prose goes beyond gritty to sharp-edged gravel: the language is harsh, and the hateful lives of the poor with no prospects are painfully well-wrought. French's command of dialect is impressive and her characterizations are extraordinary, bad guys and good guys often indistinguishable. Beautifully well-written, Faithful Place is not for the faint of heart or psyche but it is a powerful, atmospheric mystery not easily forgotten.

Devil's Food Cake

Devil’s Food Cake
By Josi S. Kilpack
Deseret Book, 2010. 361 p. Mystery

If eating a hunk of rich devil’s food cake topped with moist, chocolaty frosting along with a plate of Killer Nachos dripping with cheesy goodness sounds as enticing to you as catching a criminal mastermind then you’ve come to the right place, because Sadie Hoffmiller does both--at exactly the same time.

Sadie has quite a history for being in the right place at the wrong time and her desire to see justice served has this amateur sleuth kicking up all kinds of trouble in the humble little town of Garrison, Colo. At the annual library fundraiser, Thom Mortensen, the town’s famous/only novelist steps up to speak and his publicist is brutally shot. When Thom disappears, Sadie’s told to give her statement and head home, but so many obstacles put Sadie right back in the middle of the action that even an ABP for her arrest (for interfering in a police investigation) doesn’t stop this gastronomic gumshoe from pursuing the truth. With a killer on the loose it’s surprising how many mouth-watering treats Sadie has time to make, but every recipe is included and each sounds utterly scrumptious. Dieters beware because it will take all your willpower not to whip up one of these alluring snacks while reading. Just don’t drip on the pages.

Coming 3rd in the series, this culinary mystery by Josi Kilpack is sure to please those who like their mysteries clean and cozy.

DAP

Stolen

Stolen
By Lucy Christopher
Chicken House, 2010. 299 pgs. Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Gemma is traveling from London to Vietnam with her parents. On a layover in Bangkok, she is drugged and abducted. When she finally begins to regain her senses, she finds she's trapped in the middle of the Australian desert with her kidnapper, Ty, who has been watching her since she was a child and has decided to keep her "forever". After her escape attempts fail, Gemma starts to settle into a routine and finds that maybe Ty's intentions aren't as bad as she originally thought.

This book keeps the reader tense, waiting to see what's going to happen next. There's an expectation that Ty is going to hurt Gemma in some way, to show that he's a monster. Even as the author tries to paint him in a sympathetic light, and as Gemma comes to understand him better, it was difficult for me to see him as anything more than a lunatic--maybe a nice lunatic and one who has had a difficult past but still a lunatic nonetheless--which made it hard for me to believe Gemma's conflicting feelings about him. I also didn't feel like I ever get a really good sense of who Gemma was; she wasn't a dynamic character for me. Still, this edgy first novel provides lots of food for thought and interesting discussion topics.

AE

An Impartial Witness

An Impartial Witness
By Charles Todd
William Morrow, 2010. 344 pgs. Mystery

While on leave during World War I, Bess Crawford observes the wife of a soldier she has nursed in an emotional and intimate embrace with another man. Then the woman is murdered and Bess comes forward with the information she has. Feeling a duty to the woman’s husband, Bess begins to investigate who the mystery man was and if he had something to do with the woman’s death. Bess’ investigation leads her into family secrets and when another woman is attacked, Bess knows she must find the murderer before more harm is done.

War causes people to behave differently and it is very interesting to see how people dealt with the trauma of war in this time period. The mystery is not as tight as the Rutledge mysteries Todd writes, but it is a good one and Bess Crawford is a determined heroine.

MN

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures

Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World’s Stolen Treasures
By Robert K. Wittman
Crown Publishers, 2010. 324 pgs. Nonfiction

The FBI, surprisingly, spends relatively few resources fighting art crimes, especially when compared to Western European countries. This makes Robert Wittman something of a unique treasure himself as one of the only art crime specialists employed by the FBI. In this memoir, he tells of a number of the undercover operations he worked on to reclaim priceless pieces of art lost to the world when they were stolen from museums or private collectors.

When reading Priceless, I felt that the author hadn’t really decided what kind of a book they were writing. Portions read like an interesting memoir of a man who found himself working his dream job despite personal tragedy and organizational roadblocks, other sections gave pointers on going undercover and how best to deceive a “mark”, and other parts (my personal favorites) presented fascinating stories of famous works of art and the heists responsible for their disappearance. Despite the unclear goal and direction of the narrative, Wittman still manages to provide a fun look into the world of art crimes.

CZ

Things I Know about Love

Things I Know about Love
By Kate LeVann
Egmont USA, 2010. 153 pgs. Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Livia wants to be more than just a girl who had leukemia. So, she sets out on a fabulous trip to visit her brother, who is doing a semester abroad at Princeton. On her plane ride over, she decides to write a blog about what she knows about love...and when she arrives in the States and meets Adam, a fellow Brit studying in the U.S., she finds she has much to learn.

This book has lovely characters--Livia is a typical teen in some ways but also has an added maturity and depth that makes her easier to stomach than some other teen protagonists. Adam is a sweetheart, and their blossoming romance is a tender look at love. The book is fun and sad and sweet all at the same time.

AE

The War to End All Wars

The War to End All Wars
By Russell Freedman
Clarion Books, 2010. 176 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

Award-winning author Freedman provides an overview of World War I. He describes the situations that led to the outbreak of the war, the progression of the war (or lack thereof, as the opposing forces were locked in trench warfare), and how the peace treaty actually set the world up for the next world war. Including archival photographs, a few maps, and first person quotes, Freedman's book is both entertaining and informative. A great resource for anyone wanting to brush up on history.

AE

Good Omens

Good Omens: the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
By Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Ace Books, 1990. 366 pgs. Fantasy.

What happens when the angel, Aziraphale, and fallen angel, Crowley, decide they’d much rather keep living among the humans on earth than follow through with Armageddon? With Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman writing together, the answer is a crazy ride through the last days of earth with a handful of hilarious characters such as the Anathema Device, a descendant of Agnes Nutter (the only witch to have all of her prophecies come true, if only you can understand them), a pre-teen antichrist, Shadwell, a Scottish witch hunter, and many more.

While there were many moments in this book that were pure comedic genius, overall I felt the book was very confusing. That being said, I think this book needs to be treated like the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where the more times you watch it, the funnier it becomes.

AJ

White Cat

White Cat
By Holly Black
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. 310 pgs. Young Adult

Holly Black creates an intriguing world where magic exists and is feared. For in this world a mere brush of the fingers is enough to curse someone. Seventeen-year-old Cassel comes from a family of curse workers with ties to organized crime, but he is the only family member without a power. Cassel attends an elite boarding school where he uses his con-artist skills to pretend to be just like any other kid, but Cassel is hiding something from his classmates. He may have killed his best friend, Lila. He has a vivid memory of standing over her body with a bloody knife in his hand. Now Cassel’s carefully crafted life is starting to unravel. He dreams of a white cat that reminds him of Lila, and something is definitely up with his two older brothers.

I was a bit nervous to pick this book up after reading Black’s dark fantasy novel, Tithe, because of some of the content of the book. While this book is still a bit edgy, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Cassel is a great character. His dry humor made me laugh out loud at times.

AJ

Tangerine

Tangerine
By Edward Bloor
Harcourt Brace, 1997. 320 pgs. Young Adult

Twelve-year-old Paul has been visually-impaired since he was five years old, when he looked into a solar eclipse--or so his family says. He doesn't quite believe that, but he's not sure what did happen. However, he thinks it has something to do with his older brother, Erik. Getting anyone to admit the truth is harder than he'd like, though, because his parents are caught up in the Erik Fisher Football Dream and their lives revolve around getting Erik a college scholarship. When Paul joins the Tangerine Middle School soccer team, pieces start to come together and Paul finds he can see more than anyone around him realizes.

Tangerine has the ability to appeal to a wide variety of readers. Boys and girls alike will be interested in Paul's story. He's a smart, fun character who isn't willing to let anything keep him down. The mystery surrounding his poor eyesight and some of the more humorous moments of the book will keep readers hooked.

AE

The Grimm Legacy

The Grimm Legacy
By Polly Shulman
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2010. 325 pp. Young adult fiction.

In this wonderful fantasy story, Elizabeth Rew, high school student, gets an after-school job working as a page in the New-York Circulating Material Repository, compared to a library that loans out special items. Little does she suspect the route her life will take because of the job, particularly when she is granted access to the mysterious Grimm Collection, full of powerful, magical items. However, when someone is suspected of stealing the Grimm items, Elizabeth's quiet life erupts into a dangerous, mad dash to catch the thief.

Filled with mystery, magic, and gentle romance, this is an excellent read that is wonderfully written. I enjoyed it so much that I was sad when I finished the book because I wanted the story to continue! The characters are well developed and the storyline is beautifully original with elements of familiarity. A fantastic read for anyone looking for an adventurous, magical story.

CW

We Hear the Dead

We Hear the Dead
By Dianne K. Salerni
Sourcebooks Fire, 2010. 422 pgs. Young Adult

Annoyed by their niece’s intrusion in their home and bed, Kate and Maggie Fox make up a ghost to scare her. Instead the sisters attract attention from the neighbors and elaborate on their prank, creating a spirit who speaks to them. As the story spreads, the sisters gain fame as “spirit rappers” and are part of the beginning of the spiritualism movement. As their notoriety spreads, Maggie feels guilt about their deceitfulness, but Kate truly believes that she can hear the spirits. Maggie and Kate move beyond their small New York town and Maggie meets Elisha Kane, a doctor and explorer, who wins her heart, but wants her to stop her rapping.

The summary for this book (and the title), based on a true story in nineteenth century New York, leads the reader to believe this is solely about the Fox Sisters and their spirit rapping. However, the book takes a turn in the second half and focuses on Maggie’s relationship with Kane. While I didn’t mind this turn, it was a bit misleading and jarring. While not a must-read, it was interesting to see how the sisters fooled their patrons.

MN

The Named

The Named
By Marianne Curley
Bloomsbury, 2005. 332 pgs. Young Adult

As one of the Named, 16-year-old Ethan is charged with secretly protecting history from the Order of Chaos - an evil group that seeks to alter the past to achieve ultimate power in the present. Ethan is given orders to train his first apprentice, 15-year-old Isabel Becket, in a few short weeks. The two are aided by innate abilities - Ethan's manipulation of images and objects, and Isabel's healing powers. Soon history and lives are at stake, and their quest has become a personal one, with Ethan discovering that people and events are not always as they appear.

I really enjoyed both Ethan's and Isabel's characters, as well as the voyages into history, the developing of their powers, and the unraveling of this secret world and the unexpected characters that play a part in their lives. I can't wait to read more in this series.

BHG

In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying

In Trying Times, Just Keep Trying
By Merrilee Boyack
Deseret Book, 2010. 142 pgs. Nonfiction

This book is all about overcoming the trials that come into each of our lives. Merrilee Boyack admits that she is in the middle of her trials and doesn't have all of the answers. She uses her strong testimony and sense of humor to take us along with her as she struggles to make it through her challenges. Just having her admit that she had hard days and times of doubt made her seem all the more human.

I have heard many of the ideas she shares in this book before, but somehow, just the way she says them, really reached inside and had an impact on me. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever faced a trial and wondered how in the world they would ever get through it.
AL