Kissing in America

Kissing in America 
By Margo Rabb
Harper, 2015. 391 pgs. Young Adult Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Eva Roth loves romance novels, much to the chagrin of her mother who is a women's studies professor and staunch feminist. Eva considers herself a feminist too, but ever since her father’s death she finds comfort in the predictably happy endings of romance novels. Then one day Will walks into Eva’s tutoring session, and Eva finds herself in what seems to be a romance novel come to life. Forced apart by Will’s sudden move to the West coast, Eva is determined to see him again. So,  Eva and her best friend, Annie, set off on a cross country journey that will teach them about themselves and about the complexities of love.

My favorite aspect of this book was the author’s ability to weave together so many female characters at different stages in their relationships. There’s Eva who is experiencing her first love and her mother who is contemplating a second marriage, but there’s also the secondary cast of characters who Eva and Annie meet on their  journey – Eva's aunt who is afraid of relationships, the Roth's family friend who's having a baby, Eva's potential step grandmother who has been married for years, etc. I liked that Rabb brought all of these characters together to portray love in a more substantial way than I’ve seen before in YA novels. And of course, not all relationships are romantic; In the end, Eva learns just as much about her relationship with mother as she does about her relationship with Will. I thought that message was very moving, and that this was an overall great read.

CNC

Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

By Tracey Stewart

New York: Artisan, 2015. 199 pages. NonFiction

Former veterinary technician turned animal rescuer Tracey Stewart takes readers on a journey to better understand animals; those in our homes, yards, and farms. She discusses topics such as how unique animals are in what they enjoy and dislike, how to read animal body language, and shines light on how even creepy crawlies creatures and pesky garden bandits have a place in the grand scheme of things. The book provides some creative, animal friendly recipes, training tips, and crafts, beneficial for both animals and humans alike. I tried some of the recommended dog massage techniques on my pooches, they seemed to respond positively, with tongues hangout out and eyes rolled back in bliss. 

This is a book for animal lovers of all ages. Stewart’s writing style is simple and approachable, yet informative. She advocates kindness and compassion for all beings, without being overly preachy or harsh, though she is clearly opinionated about factory farming and professes the benefits of the “Adopt, don’t shop” philosophy (meaning adopt an animal from a shelter as opposed to other means). The most striking part of the book are the lovely, vintage style illustrations by Lisel Ashlock on nearly every page that beg to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. Paired with the useful and practical information, this was a light and enjoyable read. 

RC

The Dress Shop of Dreams

The Dress Shop of Dreams
by Menna van Praag
Ballantine Books, 2014.  336 pgs.  Fiction

Cora Sparks lives a safe, emotionally detached life as a research scientist in Cambridge. Since her parents’ mysterious death years ago, Cora has avoided relationships with anyone but her grandmother, Etta, whose magical dress shop offers customers what they need most. When Etta’s magical meddling forces Cora to face her emotions, she has to process the loss of her parents and her feelings for Walt, the boy next door who has loved Cora all his life.

The Dress Shop of Dreams was a pleasant read. Fans of the magical realism of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen might enjoy the story, although I didn’t find van Praag’s writing or characters quite as compelling or fleshed out as those authors’. In general, though, The Dress Shop of Dreams was a cute, romantic, escapist read with a surprising element of suspense.

SGR

A Song for Ella Grey

A Song for Ella Grey
by David Almond
Delacorte Press, 2015. 268 pgs. Young Adult

Set in current day northern England, this is a retelling of the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It is the story of two modern teenagers living the lives of doomed lovers from the past as told by Claire, the best friend of the Eurydice character, Ella Grey.

This book should be read for the shear pleasure of words. I love the lush, musical language mixed with Northern England slang. The lyrical phrases make the emotions of the story so much more powerful. It perfectly captures the heady rush of reckless youth, the ache of first love, and the otherworldliness of the myth it’s based on.

AJ

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family
by Amy Ellis Nut
New York: Random House, 2015. 279 pp. Non-fiction

In 1997, Wayne and Kelly Maines, after several years of struggling to become parents, adopt twin boys from a distant young relative unable to care for them properly. As Wyatt and Jonas grow up, it became rapidly and clearly evident that the two children were very different people. Wyatt, as soon as he was able to speak, made it clear he felt himself to be a girl and became increasingly frustrated in the body assigned to him at birth. Thus began a difficult journey for a family to adapt to this new and surprising reality, struggling not only with their unfamiliarity with the very notion of being transgender but also with the difficulties in getting school administrators, teachers and others to recognize and accept transgender as a real issue and provide the necessary resources and assistance so that people like Nicole can thrive in their communities. The book alternates between Nicole's personal and legal battles and concise summaries of current scientific research explaining how gender and sexuality develop prenatally. This is a very interesting and thought provoking examination of one person's struggle to live according her true self as a transgender girl.

CHW

A Noble Masquerade

A Noble Masquerade
By Kristi Ann Hunter
Bethany House, 2015, 365 pages, Romance

Lady Miranda Hawthorne has spent years writing letters to her brother’s best friend, the Duke of Marshington--a man she only knows through hearing her brother’s stories of his wild adventures. Although she never sends the letters, she uses them as a journal, recording her frustrations with the restrictions of Regency high society to the one person she thinks might understand. When Marlowe, her brother’s new valet, finds one of these letters and mails it, Miranda is mortified. But when Marshington answers back, new possibilities open up. Miranda is intrigued by the little she knows of the Duke of Marshington, and by the odd actions of Marlowe. Suddenly, society isn’t as boring as it once seemed.

I originally picked up this book because I liked the idea of getting to know someone through letters. I wish Hunter would have explored this a little more, since we see the first letters sent, but we don’t get to see any of the others. However, Hunter adds a few twists to the plot that changes this from a romance realized through letters to a story one full of mystery and intrigue. While I was a bit frustrated, along with Miranda, that the guys got to have most of the fun in the action scenes, this book was a fun, light read full of mystery and romance. Perfect reading for on a cold, snowy day. Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen and Sarah Ladd will enjoy Kristi Ann Hunter.

MB

Red Queen

Red Queen
by Victoria Aveyard
HarperTeen, 2015. 388 pgs. Young Adult Fiction

This is a great read for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent, though I would classify this book as fantasy instead of Sci-Fi/Dystopia.

Mare Barrow lives in a world where one's lot in life is determined by the color of one's blood. Red blooded people, or Reds, are enslaved to the elite ruling class of Silvers whose blood gives them magical abilities to manipulate the elements of water, fire, air, and earth. But when Mare develops supernatural abilities unseen before, the Silver monarchy are worried this might spark a rebellion and attempt to cover up her powers by claiming she is the lost daughter of Silver nobility.

There are many dystopian themes covered such as the harsh realities of war, class struggles, and the main character being played as a pawn by both sides. However, with the fantasy elements, you will find enough new material to make it worth the read. Also, with the movie rights already acquired and the sequel just released, this is a series you’ll definitely want to follow.

AJ

Our Man in Charleston: Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South

Our Man in Charleston: Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South
by Christopher Dickey
New York: Crown Publishers, 2015. 388 pp. Non-fiction

Starting in 1852, when Robert Bunch takes up his assignment as British consul in Charleston, South Carolina, and ending ten years later with the American Civil War in its third  year, this is an account of one person's efforts to navigate treacherous diplomatic waters. As one of the more active and able of Britain's representative's in the United States, Bunch struggles to maintain relationships with leading Charlestonians even as he attempts to defend the rights of British subjects, particularly black British sailors who are often jailed to avoid encouraging discord among the slave population. As Bunch provides his political masters in Washington and London information about the political affairs, he provides a good deal of input and analysis regarding the brutal realities of slavery, emphasizing how this inhumane practice runs contrary to both morality and core British interests. As the war progresses he is regarded with suspicion by influential persons in the North and South, each accusing him of bias in favor of the other. I found this to be a very interesting and engaging look at the American Civil War. By looking at the conflict from the perspective of a single British official, the book sheds new light on a war about which much has been written. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in American history. For other similar books, I would suggest Amanda Foreman's A World on Fire or The Cause of all Nations by Don Doyle.

CHW

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity

NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity
by Steve Silberman
Penguin Random House, 2015.  534 pgs.  Nonfiction

     In NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman has created an encyclopedic history of autism from its first designation by Hans Asperger to contemporary efforts to understand those on the autism spectrum as a normal part of a neurally diverse society. Silberman's account is filled with kindness (Dr. Asperger) and wrongheadedness (Dr. Leo Kanner - who blamed "refrigerator moms"), with helpful therapies and brutal ones, and with enlightening explanations for autistic needs and expressions like "stimming [e.g., rocking and hand-flapping], avoidance of touch, focus on one subject to the exclusion of all others, and extraordinary gifts in mathematics, memory, physics, music, etc.  The contributions of Temple Gradin, Oliver Sacks, and Dustin Hoffman portraying the "Rain Man," to a more general understanding of the nature of autism are discussed here. Silberman provides and evenhanded assessment of the wrong-headed, self-serving attempts by various homeopathic practitioners and Dr. Andrew Wakefield (sample size: 12, with "doctored" results) to blame autism on vaccinations, and demonstrates that the recent upsurge in autism cases was predicted and can be explained by the expansion of the autistic spectrum and by better diagnostic techniques. Perhaps most importantly, Silberman has obviously listened very carefully to autistic people themselves, and he speaks very eloquently for them here, extolling the "virtues of atypical minds," and powerfully acknowledging that "people with cognitive differences could make contributions to society that so-called normal people are incapable of making." A profoundly important book.

Revenge and the Wild

Revenge and the Wild
By Michelle Modesto
Balzer + Bray, 2016. 373 pages. Young Adult

Seventeen-year-old Westie's a young woman on a mission: When she was a child, her family was murdered by cannibals who also managed to cut Westie's right arm off at the elbow. Ten years later, Westie wants revenge from the people who stole her family from her. Having been raised by Nigel Butler--an inventor local to Rogue City, California, one who replaced her arm with a machine prosthetic--Westie is shocked when the investors who arrive in-town to evaluate Nigel's latest invention turn out to be the people who killed her family.


But with a rough history of her own and time running out, Westie has to find a way to prove what she knows to be true . . . before the cannibals find a way to finish what they started ten years before. 

I was lucky enough to get an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) of this book from my agent in October, and was absolutely blown away by Modesto's style. Not only is this one of the most creative books I've read in awhile, but Modesto blends the fantasy, steampunk, and Western genres almost seamlessly. I adore Westie, Modesto's tough and somewhat irascible heroine, a girl willing to do whatever it takes to see her family avenged. Though its still early yet, REVENGE AND THE WILD is already one of my favorite books of the year.

CA

Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers

Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers

By Nick Offerman

Penguin Publishing Group: 2015, 400 pages. Nonfiction

In his sophomore effort, writer, actor, and woodworker Nick Offerman (who stars as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation) explores the profiles of 21 Americans he finds personally inspiring, whom he’s labeled as having “gumption”. Offerman eases the reader into his list with some notable figures from American history, like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt, retelling some familiar stories, embellished with his humorous quips. He then moves on to modern personal heros, the likes of artist Yoko Ono, writer Wendell Barry, musician Jeff Tweedy, and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead to name a few. Offerman had the unique opportunity of meeting many of the living ‘Americans with gumption’, and we as readers live vicariously through his giddy-ness and star struck reaction. 

It is not many a book that has me reaching for the dictionary as often as this one did. Offerman’s vocabulary is as broad as the professions and contributions of the people on his list. His intelligence and thoughtful contemplative nature shine through as he recounts his experiences and the ways in which those he details have influenced him personally. 

I listened to the audiobook version of this title, which I would highly recommend. It is read by Offerman himself and you can hear the sarcasm, wit, and reflection in his voice, as well as some giggling and chortling at times, which made the experience that much more enjoyable.

RC

Brave Enough

Brave Enough 
By Cheryl Strayed
Alfred A. Knopf, 2015. 135 pgs. Nonfiction

In 2012 Cheryl Strayed published Wild, a memoir of her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Now, Strayed has published a collection of quotes that includes excerpts from Wild as well as her other various essays, interviews, and speeches. Strayed adamantly states in her introduction that she is not trying to be the boss of anyone, but that she hopes to inspire readers -- and herself -- to be kind, grateful, bold, honest, forgiving, generous, and brave enough.

This small book is beautiful both in its content and form. Strayed shares heartfelt and honest quotes that vary in length as well as font, making the visual experience as striking as the sentiment of the quotes. Having read and enjoyed Wild, I was excited to read Strayed's newest publication. I was not disappointed. I might not connect with all of the author's opinions and life experiences, but I sure appreciate her blunt and beautiful self-reflection.

CNC

The Thing About Jellyfish

The Thing about Jellyfish 
By Ali Benjamin
Little, Brown and Company, 2015. 343. Young Adult

Suzy Swanson is a scientific minded seventh grader who is trying to navigate a new school and new peers, but that's tough to do after her best friend’s sudden death. Then one day Suzy learns about the tiny, almost invisible Irukandji jellyfish whose venom is among the most deadly in the world. This fact sets Suzy off on a quest to learn all she can about Jellyfish and to prove what she thinks really killed her friend. Benjamin’s novel follows Suzy's path to emotional healing but also explores themes of communication, friendship, and ultimately self-acceptance.

This is a bittersweet but fantastic book. The characters are genuine, the themes are meaningful, and Benjamin's writing style is lovely. Although this might seem like a book for younger readers, I think older teens and adults will relate to Suzy's search for meaning and understanding when the only answer offered is, "Sometimes bad things just happen." This book is a must read.

CNC

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Genealogy

The CompleteIdiot’s Guide to Genealogy

By Christine Rose and Kay Germain Ingalls

Alpha, 2012. 410 pgs. Nonfiction

Hands down this is the finest introduction to genealogy that I’ve read. This book teaches you where and how to begin your research, how to keep track of your findings, how to stay grounded in good research techniques as you explore internet resources, and how to glean the most from all the primary record types used in research. Interspersed throughout the text are definitions, “pedigree pitfalls,” “tree tips,” and “lineage lessons.”

Rose and Ingalls cover the basics extremely well. This guide is accessible, nicely organized, and clearly written. I found the chapter dedicated to resolving discrepancies to be one of the most useful.

SML

The Painter's Daughter

The Painter's Daughter
By Julie Klassen
Bethany House, 2015, 458 pgs. Romance

Sophie Dupont is the daughter of a painter who is actually a skilled artist herself. She is swept off her feet by the first man to tell her she is beautiful, but soon finds herself abandoned and in a precarious situation. Enter Captain Stephen Overtree, the responsible military man, who believes he won't survive his next battle. He offers to marry Sophie to save her reputation but he does not promise love or even a future together. Sophie has a difficult decision to make and it is made even more difficult when her first love returns.

I loved the tension that the author created between characters and how real they all became. Captain Overtree has a kind and gentle heart, but he has been scarred by war. Sophie longs to find love as she takes responsibility for her error in judgement. Wesley, her first love, is selfish and confused. The Captain's grandfather and sister add variety to the story. The old governess that lives in the attic adds a little mystery. I really enjoyed this clean Regency romance and think it might be my favorite Klassen book so far.


AL

One

One
By Sarah Crossan
Greenwillow Books, 2015. 400 pages. Young Adult

Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins who have been home schooled for sixteen years.  But when funds get tight, they make the difficult decision of going to school for the first time ever.  But as they begin to make friends and have new experiences, their health takes an unexpected turn.

Two strong, distinct voices come from the sisters, who struggle with their condition but who will raise a lot of awareness for the reader of what life is like for conjoined twins - how it is hard, and also how it is NOT as negative as you might think. This is a great book for any teen (or adult), great for discussions, great for building empathy and understanding, and is written beautifully. 

BHG

Crimson Bound

Crimson Bound

By Rosamund Hodge

Balzer + Bray, 2015. 448 pages. Young Adult

Rachelle was apprenticed to her aunt as the next village wood wife and protector.  But she meets a stranger in the woods who curses her to make a terrible choice and become bound to the very thing she was trying to fight.  Three years later she is working for the king, trying to make up for her mistakes by fighting deadly creatures.  However, all of her efforts seem in jeopardy when she's ordered to guard the king's insufferable son Armand.

When I read online that this was inspired by Little Red Riding Hood, I was shocked, because I never made that connection at all.  In fact, this story bears little resemblance to any fantasy I've ever read before.  The main character is grappling with dark forces, both within herself and on the outside.  The story also takes many unexpected turns, unlike most fantasy novels.  I enjoyed it immensely, and would recommend it for anyone interested in a darker, more complex fantasy story than usual.  

BHG

Jade Lady Burning

Jade Lady Burning
By Martin Limón
Soho Crime, 2011. 254 pgs. Mystery.

Ernie Bascom and George Sueno are members of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, stationed in Itaewon, South Korea. When they are called to investigate the death of a Korean prostitute because of her association with an American serviceman, Bascom and Sueno find that her death is quite unusual, and the U.S. Army is actually trying to close the case before all the evidence adds up. Clearly strings are being pulled behind the scenes to protect someone’s involvement, but whose?

When I opened this book I wanted to like it. I really did, but the pacing was quite slow and I found myself bored more often than not. This book is set right after the Korean War while there is still a very large American presence in South Korea, and while I imagine the author tried to keep the relations between Americans and Koreans historically accurate, I still found many things off-putting. Prostitution and gangs are central to this novel, so if that’s something you find distasteful, this isn’t something I would suggest picking up. Those who like mysteries that deal with the military may enjoy this book, but it wasn’t for me.

ACS

The Hired Girl

The Hired Girl
by Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick Press, 2015. 387 pgs. Young Adult

Told in the form of a diary, fourteen-year-old Joan longs to read books and go to school, but after her mother’s death she is needed to run the household on the farm. One day after her cruel father is particularly harsh, Joan runs away and ends up in Baltimore. With no place to go and unsure who to trust, Joan luckily is offered a job as a hired girl by the Rosenbachs, a wealthy Jewish family. Naïve and headstrong, Joan is unfamiliar with the distinctions between social classes and the religious customs of a Jewish household. Her impulsiveness often times leads to embarrassing and humorous mistakes. Though frequently exacerbated, Joan’s earnestness and willingness to work hard endear her to the Rosenbachs. Joan also grows to care for the family as she has her world opened to questions of faith, women’s education, art, literature, and even romance.

Schlitz includes great period details, especially about clothing, and candidly discusses class, religion, the need to belong, and womanhood with an expert touch. I would highly recommend this book.

AJ

Newt's Emerald

Newt’s Emerald
by Garth Nix
Katherine Tegen Books, 2015. 291 pgs. Young Adult

Lady Truthful Newington A.K.A. Newt is set to inherit the Newington Emerald on her 18th birthday. The emerald is not just beautiful, it is purported to have magical capabilities that can enhance the magic of its wearer. Just as the emerald is revealed, an unexpected storm blows through and smashes the windows and dowses the lights. Once everything has settled down again, Newt and her father are horrified to discover the emerald missing.

When her father is rendered insensible by the loss, Newt takes it upon herself to travel to London before her planned coming out party to make inquiries about the missing jewel. A young lady’s reputation would be ruined were she to go about on her own so her great-aunt, Lady Badgery suggests she take on the guise of a reclusive French cousin, Chevalier Henri de Vienne, and dress as young man. While disguised, she meets the dashing Major Harnett who offers to help search but has his own secrets and motives.

If you love Regency period historical fiction and fantasy, then this is the book for you. Known for his more traditional fantasies, Nix has expertly used the time period to craft a delightful story full of captivating characters, intrigue and a dash of romance.

AJ

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Darkly Dreaming Dexter 
By Jeff Lindsay
Doubleday, 2004. 288 pgs. Mystery

Dexter Morgan might seem like an ordinary guy, but when Dexter's not working as blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department he's pursuing his other hobby -- killing Miami’s most dangerous criminals. Dexter’s father recognized his son’s psychopathic personality early, and he was determined to keep Dexter alive and out of prison. He developed a personal code for Dexter that would satisfy his bloodlust but also deliver some kind of twisted justice to the world. After living by his father's code for years, Dexter’s carefully crafted world is put under pressure by a new Miami serial killer who's taken a special interest in him.

This is the first book in the now complete series by Jeff Lindsay.  I don't read many mysteries, but I am hooked on this series. It is as fun as it is creepy to be in the head of a psychopath like Dexter as he observes his world and the social interactions he just doesn't understand. I listened to the audiobook of Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which is narrated by the author himself, and I enjoyed the experience quite a bit. This is a great read, and it will be of particular interest to anyone who has watched the television adaptation.

CNC

Missoula

Missoula

By John Krakauer

New York: Doubleday 2015 384 pages. Nonfiction.

The latest publication from best-selling nonfiction writer John Krakauer is a journalist exploration of acquaintance rape in the college town of Missoula. It delves deep into the experience of several rape victims and their treatment in the aftermath by the public, attorneys, police officers, and college officials as they attempt to gain justice from the alleged perpetrators, many of them college football stars.

According to the book, rape is one of the most under-reported and under-prosecuted crimes. It is easy to understand why as the book depicts shameful victim blaming and brutal court and police questioning as victims are forced to recall the events. The author is critical of the harsh treatment of the women and points out inconsistencies and injustices enacted. Well researched and told with a typical Krakauer storytelling bent, the tales are frustrating, infuriating, and at times painful to endure, bringing the brutal reality of the issues to the foreground of the reader’s experience.

It’s not a lighthearted or easy read, but gives important information and perspective on an issue becoming more prevalent, especially on college campuses.  

RC

Sorcerer to the Crown

Sorcerer to the Crown
By Zen Cho
Ace, 2015.  384 pgs. Fantasy.

Sorcerer to the Crown was a delightful surprise for me, as it appealed to two seemingly divergent aspects of my nerdery – a love for female driven fantasy and a long-standing interest in Jane Austen’s England. Set in the Regency Era, the book first introduces Zacharias Wythe, a freed slave who has managed to become England’s Sorcerer Royal. He stands as Britain’s most influential magician, but a national shortage of magic, tense relations with other magical world leaders, racial prejudice, and rumors that Zacharias murdered the previous Sorcerer Royal combine to endanger his position.

The novel then switches to the perspective of Prunella Gentleman, the daughter of an English magician and an unknown Indian woman. She lives at a school where well-bred young ladies learn to subdue their supernatural abilities. Convention forbids these "gentlewitches" from practicing magic, as their weak frames could never withstand sustained magical effort. When Zacharias visits the school and witnesses both Prunella’s immense talent and the dangerous methods of suppression used there, he begins to question the longstanding ban.

Zen Cho’s debut is one of my favorite reads from 2015, and I found her fantasy re-imagining of Regency England fresh and entertaining. It was especially interesting to see how magical ability leveled the social playing field for Prunella and Zacharias, two individuals who would have been otherwise rejected in British society. Cho’s writing was witty, her characters were lovable, her exploration of race and gender was intriguing, and her magical world was fully developed. I’m definitely a fan, and I look forward to future additions to the Sorcerer Royal series.

SGR

The Japanese Lover

The Japanese Lover
By Isabel Allende
Atria Books, 2015. 321 pgs. Historical Fiction

Alma Belasco escaped Poland just as the Nazis  came to power. Her parents, sensing coming hostilities, sent her to live with a prosperous aunt and uncle in San Francisco where she enjoyed a seemingly respectable and privileged life. Now, over seventy years later, she tells the story of her life to her grandson, Seth, and to Irina, an Romanian refugee working in the picturesque  retirement home where Alma now resides.

Possibly her biggest and most unsettling revelation is her long time relationship with Ichimei Fukuda.  Her affair with this quiet Japanese gardener is tried many times throughout the years by prejudices magnified by World War II and the American's internment of their own citizens solely because of their Japanese origin.

True friendship, forgiveness, love, prejudice and passion are all illustrated in this sweeping historic novel.  Isabel Allende continues to write beautiful stories populated with deep characters in vivid landscapes.  The audio version of this book was exceptionally well done.

CZ

Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story

Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story
By Jewel
Blue Rider Press, 2015. 386 pgs. Biography

Jewel’s “Never Broken” is an impressive addition to this year’s list of celebrity autobiographies. She presents a very genuine depiction of a unique life lived with courage and determination.

Raised in Alaska by dysfunctional parents, Jewel was taught to yodel at age five and was quickly incorporated into the family’s traveling act, singing in bars and hotels. As a teenager, thanks to support from her community, she was able to attend an arts academy in Michigan and, soon after graduation, struck off on her own. By the time she was twenty-one she had a multi-platinum debut but the road to her unprecedented success was difficult and did not get easier as her career took its inevitable ups and downs.

While I was familiar with some of Jewel’s songs and aware that she had spent some time homeless on her road to fame and fortune, I knew little of her story. “Never Broken” is surprisingly hopeful and positive, despite the author’s struggles. This is another inspiring story by a brave individual. The audio version, narrated by the author, includes a number of solo recordings which fans will want to hear.

CZ

These Shallow Graves

 

These Shallow Graves
By Jennifer Donnelly
Delacorte Press, 2015, 487 pages, Young Adult Mystery Fiction

When her father is found dead of a supposed suicide, Jo Montfort is convinced that something doesn’t add up. When she meets cub reporter Eddie Gallagher, who claims to have proof that her father’s death was actually a murder, Jo will have to decide how much she is willing to risk and lose in order to uncover the truth.

Drawing on the escapades of female reporter Nelly Bly and the writing of Edith Wharton, Jennifer Donnelly writes a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Jo is a fun, plucky heroine who isn’t afraid to buck convention in order to get to the truth. Although not incredibly graphic, this book is definitely aimed for older teens since it discusses many of the problems of New York City in the Gilded Age. This book is aimed toward a YA audience, but I think those who enjoyed Amy Stewart’s Girl Waits with Gun will enjoy this book as well.

MB

Best Boy

 

Best Boy
By Eli Gottlieb
Liveright Publishing, 2015, 248 pages, General Fiction

A middle-aged autistic resident of a therapeutic community where he was sent as a young child rebels against changes in his environment by attempting to return to a family home and younger sibling he only partially remembers.

Eli Gottlieb’s latest book has been getting a lot of buzz, and it’s no wonder. You don’t normally find fiction written from the perspective of someone with autism. Todd is an interesting, simple sort of man who just wants to be happy. His condition makes it so that he’s not really sure how to attain that goal. It was interesting to see how all of the clues to what was really going on in the story were there; Todd knew about them, he just didn’t pick up on the importance of the clues because his mind processes things differently. I don’t know much about autism, so I don’t know if this is an incredibly accurate portrayal of how someone with autism sees the world. However, it seems like a pretty good guess and it’s given me a lot to think about.

While this book has a pretty high aim, don’t be turned off by the premise. This book is easy to read and has some unexpected moments of humor. It deserves all of the buzz it’s getting.

MB

Winter (Lunar Chronicles #4)

Winter
By Marissa Meyer
Feiwel and Friends, 2015. 832 pgs.  Young Adult.

In the final book of The Lunar Chronicles, Cinder, Kai, Iko, Scarlet, Wolf, Cress, and Thorne unite to launch a revolution on Luna. The group of friends, hoping to prevent Queen Levana’s ascension to the throne of Earth’s Eastern Commonwealth, find unexpected supported from her kind but unstable stepdaughter. Horrified by the cruelty Levana and her court wreak with their mental manipulations, Winter has refused for years to use her Lunar Gift, in spite of the madness that results. When Winter learns who Cinder really is, she shows surprising grit in defying Levana and facing her own fears.

Though Winter is more than 800 pages long, the plot moves briskly. In Scarlet and especially Cress, switching perspectives was sometimes frustrating because one storyline might be more interesting than the others. Things happened so quickly in Winter, though, that I was fully invested in every storyline. Meyer continues to impress me with her surprising twists to familiar tales, and she neatly wraps up all of her plotlines for a satisfying conclusion.

I listened to the audiobook of Winter narrated by Rebecca Soler, and I definitely recommend it. Soler is an excellent reader who brings Meyer’s characters and story to life.

SGR

Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice
By Thomas Pynchon
New York: Penguin Press, 2009. 369 pp. Mystery.

In this mystery, private investigator and hippie, Doc Sportello, is plunged into the seedy underbelly of late ‘60s - early ‘70s L.A. when is ex-girlfriend, Shasta, comes to him with a kidnapping plot she wants him to foil. At the same time, he’s looking for a missing body guard, investigating a dead musician rumored to be alive and well, and delving into the case of a runaway daughter of wealthy parents. In true noir style, his cases become connected to one another as he unfolds the larger conspiracy at hand, interviews a cast of counterculture characters and has several run-ins with cops whose motives and methods become increasingly questionable.

Doc’s carefree personality, reminiscent of “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski (1998) film, colors him unassuming to many, and disarms those from whom he seeks information. This, matched with his apparent deductive skills, allows him to de-tangle the web he’s found himself woven into and makes it enjoyable to ride alongside him as he does.

This may be one of Pynchon’s more accessible novels, and a good place to start if you’re interested in reading his more complex and often longer works (Gravity’s Rainbow, Bleeding Edge, The Crying of Lot 49, etc.). There is some harsh language, adult situations, and drug references within, so readers who may find this content objectionable will want to consider other selections. This book is a psychedelic sprint into a hazy world of crime, conspiracy, and secrets, but softened by humor and unique and interesting characters.

RC

Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince

Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince
by Lisa Hilton
Boston: Houton, Mifflin, Harcourt, 2015. 384 pp. Biography

Given the staggering number of biographies of Elizabeth I and histories of the Tudor period more generally, one would have thought there was nothing particularly new or interesting to say on this subject. Quite the contrary. Lisa Hilton, instead of the usual cradle to grave chronology of her subject, examines various aspects of her life and the various influences upon it through the lens of the lessons of Machiavelli's The Prince. While she may not have read the book, the author contends that she applied those principles of realpolitik to the challenges she had to face in Renaissance and Reformation Europe. The author presents some fascinating revisionist arguments and historical precedents about the role of women in court life, how women could wield power and royal authority on equal terms with men and how the role of sovereign could transcend normal gender categories (thus the description of Elizabeth as a prince, not a princess). This was a fascinating and enjoyable book. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical biographies in general or the Tudor dynasty in particular.

CHW