Carver: A Life in Poems

Carver: A Life in Poems
By Marilyn Nelson
Front Street, 2001. 103 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

In a series of poems, Marilyn Nelson provides an overview of botanist and educator George Washington Carver. Readers get glimpses of his drive to receive an education and then in turn to share his knowledge with others through his work at Tuskegee College and through personal relationships. Carver's faith and kindness are portrayed, and while readers may need to do some additional research to understand all of the poems, this is a great introduction to a highly interesting individual.

AE

Like Sisters on the Homefront

Like Sisters on the Homefront
By Rita Williams-Garcia
Lodestar Books, 1995. 165 pgs. Young Adult

Fourteen-year-old Gayle's mother has had enough. Already the mother of one child, Gayle is now pregnant again, so her mother forces her to end her pregnancy and then sends her down south to live with relatives she doesn't even know: Uncle Luther, a preacher who has no patience for Gayle, "Miss Auntie," who puts Gayle to work around the house, and her cousin Constance, who still wears knee socks at age sixteen. Gayle is miserable and just wants to get back to the City, but as she's forced to do some growing up, she also finds out what it means to be family.

This book portrays an interesting look at family dynamics. Gayle isn't the most engaging character I've ever read about--at times, she is both abrasive and vulgar--but I did enjoy the process of watching her learn and grow.

AE

Great House

Great House
By Nicole Krauss
W.W. Norton & Co., 2010. 289 pgs. Fiction

A huge desk with an array of drawers and a powerful presence plays a central role in the stories of a writer, a father, a student, and a son. Each of these seemingly disconnected individuals takes turns narrating in a somewhat confessional style and the desk becomes a representation of their losses and disappointments.

I am a huge fan of Krauss’ A History of Love and was very excited for this new novel’s release. However, while I am very impressed by this author’s ability to weave an intricate story filled with honest emotions and deep truths about human nature, I didn’t feel connected to the characters or experience that wonderful moment of illumination that I did with History. This is a dense read with absolutely no dialogue and paragraphs that can go for pages. Beautiful prose make it worth picking up, but be prepared to work your way through its pages. Certainly not a quick or light read.

CZ

Room: A Novel

Room: A Novel
By Emma Donoghue
Little, Brown, and Co., 2010. 321 pgs. Fiction

Five-year-old Jack narrates a riveting story about his life growing up in a single room where his mother aims to protect him from the man who has held her prisoner for seven years since she was a teenager.

A lot of buzz has surrounded Donoghue’s latest novel. Although the reality of teenagers and children held captive for years seems to be becoming more prevalent, the most intriguing element of the book is the young narrator. Donoghue does a good job of revealing and unraveling a disturbing, adult story from a child’s perspective. Unfortunately, the voice of the young narrator is often jarringly inconsistent. At times, Jack sounds like a caveman. At other times, he has the vocabulary of a PhD. Overall, though, the tale of what Jack’s mother does to survive and protect her son, and the consequences of their captivity, is an intriguing one.

LF

Naked Heat

Naked Heat
By Richard Castle
Hyperion, 2010. 290 pgs. Mystery

NYPD detective Nikki Heat was recently thrust into the limelight when an article featuring her and written by her ex-boyfriend, Jameson Rook, hit newsstands. Her new celebrity status is a serious departure from her comfort zone and it has even begun to interfere with her work. Her newest case, the murder of local scandal reporter Cassidy Towne, forces her to team up with Rook again as they sift through high profile suspects looking for a brutal murderer.

This is the second Nikki Heat novel penned by the fictitious Richard Castle from ABC’s hit show Castle. As far as mysteries go, Naked Heat is an okay addition to the genre. The characters are a bit clichéd as is some of the dialogue. But readers will most likely be fans of the TV series, and for them this is a fun book filled with familiar conversations, investigations, and characters.

CZ

Jekel Loves Hyde

Jekel Loves Hyde
By Beth Fantaskey
Harcourt, 2010. 282 pgs. Young Adult

After her father is convicted of stealing money from his company and subsequently murdered, Jill Jekel is left alone and rejected by her peers. At her father’s funeral, Tristen Hyde, a new student who recently moved from England, approaches Jill, offering her words of comfort and a shoulder to cry on. When their science teacher suggests that Jill and Tristen team for the science contest offering a $30,000 grand prize, Tristen is not interested. However after talking to Jill and realizing that she may hold the key to his family’s dark secret-a secret which puts his life at stake-Tristen can’t refuse this “Jekel and Hyde” partnership.

This book is just as intriguing as Fantaskey’s first book, Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side but has a darker edge.

KK

Bloodthirsty

Bloodthirsty
By Flynn Meaney
Poppy, 2010. 234 pgs. Young Adult

Finbar is tired of living in the shadow of his popular, athletic twin brother Luke. When he gets the chance to attend a different high school an idea strikes him. He can use his pasty white sun allergic skin to his advantage; he can pretend to be a vampire. Girls love vampires and he loves girls, so he’s hoping girls think fake vampires are just as hot.

Finbar is your typical teenage boy worrying and thinking about all things boy- fitting in, getting the girl, and what to do once you have the girl. Many funny things ensue in his journey of becoming a brooding vampire and his personal discovery of who he really is.

KK

Girl, Stolen

Girl, Stolen
By April Henry
Henry Holt, 2010. 213 pgs. Young Adult

Griffin sees the car keys left in the new Escalade and steals the car without thinking about it. Cheyenne, sleeping in the back seat, is horrified to learn she is being kidnapped. Griffin immediately regrets his rash decision to steal the car when he sees Cheyenne, but can’t let her go even when she tells him she is blind and can’t give a description of him to the police. Matters become more complicated when Griffin’s scary father learns Cheyenne is the daughter of the president of Nike and that she has pneumonia. Cheyenne is a strong character and the reader feels sympathy for Griffin and his situation, but overall the story is not as gripping as it could have been.

MN

Bright Young Things

Bright Young Things
By Anna Godbersen
Harper, 2010. 389 pgs. Young Adult

Cordelia and Letty are too big for their small Ohio farm town. So after Cordelia’s wedding, she and Letty secretly board the train for New York City. Letty believes the getaway is for her to realize her dream of being a star on the stage, but orphaned Cordelia has her own hidden dream of finding her long-lost father, a notorious bootlegger. Astrid, already a New York socialite, seemingly has everything a young girl could want, but struggles with her relationships with her boyfriend and mother. These three girls follow their dreams in 1929 New York City, amid the flappers and the bootleggers of the time. Although not as delicious as her Luxe series, Godbersen gives readers another frothy series set in New York City.

MN

ZUMBA !

Zumba: Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!
By Beto Perez
Wellness Central, 2009. 289 p. Nonfiction

Zumba, anyone? (pronounced Zoom-bah) If you haven’t heard, Zumba spells Dance Party and it’s the hottest aerobic craze sweeping the nation. It all started when Beto, a Columbian-born aerobics instructor, forgot his traditional aerobics mix and had to make do with the only CD he had in his gym bag, which just happened to be some Latin dance tunes. Deciding to wing it, he led the class through a sweaty series of energetic salsa moves, meringue steps and cha-cha hip swivels—the class went wild and the rest is history. Read all about Beto’s early years, learn some basic steps and pair it with the Zumba diet and accompanying recipes if you’re looking to re-energize your fitness routine and start partying with the rest of us Zumba fanatics.

The book comes with an “Exlusive Zumba Fitness DVD”, however it’s not much to brag about. Granted, 5 of the most basic Zumba moves are taught in an easy to follow, 3-part: slow, medium, full-speed style; but, the party quickly stops because for the next hour all that happens is a large count-down clock appears on the blank screen while great Latin music plays in the background. Quite a let-down if you were looking for an actual workout routine.

But if you’re interested in a live Zumba class, check-out your local gym or the Provo City Community Recreation Center (soon to be relocated in a brand-spanking new building), where you can find Zumba classes six days a week. Can you say dance party!?!

DAP

I Am a Strange Loop

I Am a Strange Loop
By Douglas Hofstadter
Basic Books, 2008, 412 pgs. Nonfiction

In I Am a Strange Loop, Douglas Hofstadter says he is trying to state once again the main theme of Gödel, Escher, Bach, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction in 1980. “The central aim of this book is to try to pinpoint the nature of that ‘special kind of subtle pattern’ that I have come to believe underlies, or gives rise to what I have here been calling a ‘soul’ or an ‘I’" (pg 23). How does “I” emerge from the chaos of cells and neurons and chemicals that make up the brain? He explores the question through stories, metaphors, experiences and symbols. This is not a book about neurological science – clearly he thinks that a study of biological processes alone cannot describe what “I” is. How does consciousness become self-aware and able to contemplate its own consciousness?

This is a subtle and interesting book but it is not an easy read. Readers with a religious background will probably find his ethics and his discussion of the soul inadequate. Many readers will find the book interesting as a memoir and for the personal reflections of this brilliant “I”.

SH

At Home: A Short History of Private Life

At Home: A Short History of Private Life
By Bill Bryson
Doubleday, 2010. 497 p. Nonfiction

“Home is where the heart is” said John McLeod and that sanctuary is the focus of Bill Bryson’s current work of historical brilliance.

Bryson and family live in an old rectory in Norfolk, England, and while doing a spot of home repair one day, Bryson began to ponder the origins of home life: why the original rector needed a dining room of such grandiose proportions for his single self, why the only indoor toilet was tucked away in a small cupboard on the stair landing and seriously, what function did that extra row of buttons on his suit coat sleeve really serve?

All these questions and many more fascinating details of home living are brought to glowing life as Bryson takes us on a historical tour of our own home, room by room, cellar to roof, through the glorious past of what has now come to be commonplace. He examines the advent of the sofa (so shockingly intimate), the introduction of the mousetrap and the relief of relieving yourself indoors with the benefits of working plumbing. However mundane you thought your home used to be, you'll think so no more.

Anyway you look at it, by examining the homes of the past you’ll be forced to appreciate your home of the present—whether you’ve got a gourmet kitchen or not. A grand book to ring in the Thanksgiving season and start you listing the million blessings of our modern age.

DAP

Hitler's Holy Relics

Hitler's Holy Relics: A True Story of Nazi Plunder and the Race to Recover the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire
By Sidney Kirkpatrick
Simon and Schuster, 2010, 336 pgs.

Before and during World War II the Nazi’s plundered and hid away an immense number of art treasures. The art was hidden in salt mines, underground bunkers and vaults. During and after the war, the officers of the Monuments Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), a special Allied military group, worked to determine the original owners and repatriate stolen art. Walter Horn, a German national who had moved to the United States before the war, was one of these men charged with preserving the cultural monuments and heritage of war-torn Europe. He volunteered to serve in the military and was assigned to interrogate German prisoners of war in preparation for Nazi war crimes tribunals.

One of the POWs told him of a special bunker under the city of Nurenburg containing the 1000 year-old crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. When the bunker was entered by the US military, several important items were missing from the collection. Captain Horn was assigned to discover who took them. As a German and a former art history professor at Berkeley he was well prepared to understand the significance of the crown jewels to the Nazi movement and Hitler personally. This book follows his investigation and reveals the symbolic importance of the relics.

The retelling is gripping, though I missed seeing the photos since I listened to the audiobook. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in World War II or art history.

SH

The Charming Quirks of Others

The Charming Quirks of Others
By Alexander McCall Smith
Pantheon Books, 2010. 256 p. Mystery

“One should never mislead a friend, or an enemy for that matter, she thought. We owed the same duty of truthfulness to everybody, no matter what we thought of them.”

This is merely one of the ethical conclusions drawn by the beautiful mind of Isabel Dalhousie as she ponders the perplexities of the human condition. As a moral philosopher living in Edinburgh, Isabel is the endearing protagonist in the Sunday Philosophy Club series and is always engaged in more than one ethical mystery or another. Unable to say no to anyone in need of help, this time Isabel reluctantly agrees to sort out an anonymous message portending searing consequences in the hiring of a school principal.

Yet again, McCall Smith delivers his ever-charming, deliciously quirky cast of characters, juxtaposing a deep awareness of the human psyche and an entertaining story, gracefully told. But, it’s McCall Smith’s ability to gently push us to examine our own conscience that might be his greatest achievement. Although it's not a mystery of Halloween proportions, it's one that will warm your soul.

DAP

I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight
By Terry Pratchett
Harper, 2010. 355 pgs. Young Adult

Tiffany first notices the rough music when one of the local men beats his daughter and the crowd gathers to condemn him. She realizes the rough music is growing and that people are beginning to harbor bad feelings against witches. Worried about this, she discovers a shadowy man with no eyes and the foulest order following her. Another witch informs her that this is the Cunning Man, who appears every few hundred years, hardening people’s minds and hearts against the witches and he wants to consume Tiffany. With the help of the Wee Free Men and a local young man, Preston (a wonderful new character to the series), Tiffany plans how to defeat the Cunning Man.

Fans of this series will delight in this newest, and I believe final, addition to the Tiffany Aching series set in Discworld. Tiffany is a fantastic heroine-bright, stubborn, and loyal. The Wee Free Men provide their usual humor and Pratchett makes lots of fun and pointed observations about humans. Readers who haven’t read this series, but like weird, humorous, fantastical adventures, should pick up The Wee Free Men, the first in this series.

MN

Rich Boy

Rich Boy
By Sharon Pomerantz
Twelve 2010. 517 pgs. Fiction

Robert Vishniak was born to a working-class, Jewish family in Philadelphia during the late 1940s. Early in life, he decides that he is destined for much more and uses his natural charm and easy good looks to gain access to the social circle of the wealthy. His desire to leave his origin and family behind to create a new life for himself leaves him oscillating between the two worlds, unable to find or be himself.

The author seems to want Robert to be a sympathetic protagonist striving for the American Dream. However, for me, he comes across as a conceited jerk exhibiting obnoxious amounts self-pity, self-loathing, and self-destructive behavior. The historical aspects of the novel somewhat make up for the lack of a plot readers can invest in, however several chapters toward the beginning of the book describing Robert’s early sexual exploits make this a difficult book to recommend.

CZ

Women, Food and God

Women, Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything
By Geneen Roth
Scribner, 2010. 211 pgs. Nonfiction

In Women, Food and God, Geneen Roth claims that our relationship with food is a reflection of our relationship with God. She speaks to those who struggle with addictions to food, dieting, or any type compulsive behavior driven by a need to numb ourselves to life. Her instructions encourage readers to live in the moment and recognize the issues behind their addictive behaviors as the only way to gain freedom from them.

While there are certainly some gems of insight within this book, Roth’s subtitle which promises a “Path to Almost Everything” is a serious oversell. Her writing reminds me of a yoga instructor I once had, speaking of centering my breath and anchoring myself in my gut…whatever that means. She is very encouraging and passionate about our ability to overcome addictions, but I felt she gave little real help for those looking to achieve change in their lives.

CZ

The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials
By James Dashner
Delacorte Press, 2010. 361 pgs. Young Adult

In the second book of The Maze Runner series, Thomas has stepped out of the frying pan and into the fiery, baked land known as "the Scorch" - the most barren, wasted area earth has known since sun flares devastated the planet years ago. Thomas and the other Gladers have two weeks to cross the Scorch, somehow enduring the extreme heat and barren earth, as well as the Cranks - people driven to murderous insanity by a disease known as the Flare. And it doesn't help knowing that the masterminds behind these Trials, WICKED, are stacking the odds against them. Thomas longs to be free from the manipulation of WICKED, but he can't help but feel that the path to freedom might be locked within his own mind.

James Dashner delivers another action-packed, gripping segment of this story. A few moments in the book had me especially terrified, and the reader shares in Thomas's frustration as WICKED's mind-games constantly keep you guessing about what is real, what is not, and above all what will happen next. I think that this series will especially appeal to teenage guys, although I think anyone who is a fan of young-adult or science fiction novels will enjoy this. I'm eagerly looking forward to the final book in this series.

BHG

Forge

Forge
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010. 297 pgs. Young Adult

Curzon, a recently escaped slave, has parted ways with Isabel, the girl who rescued him. Isabel was determined to head to Charleston to look for her little sister; Curzon thought the plan was foolish, so Isabel left without him. In order to survive, Curzon somewhat accidentally enlists in the Continental Army and is among the troops stuck in Valley Forge for a miserable winter. All the while, he's trying not to think about Isabel, dealing with prejudice from other soldiers, and planning his future.

The second book in the Chains series is a fine piece of historical fiction. Curzon is a likable character, and many readers will be interested to see how things play out between him and Isabel. The look at life at Valley Forge is interesting, and the look at slavery in a country fighting for its freedom is definitely intriguing. There are some slow moments, but all in all, it's a thought-provoking and entertaining book.

AE

Tomb of the Golden Bird

Tomb of the Golden Bird
By Elizabeth Peters
William Morrow, 2006. 381 pgs. Mystery

Elizabeth Peters is a pseudonym for Barbara Mertz, who holds a PhD. in Egyptology from University of Chicago, therefore her mystery novels featuring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody are bound to have some degree of contextual authenticity. Unfortunately, although I made it through this mystery, I never found it very engaging. The plot and the characters were just not really interesting. This book is the last in the series (following the internal chronology)--I may give her another chance by selecting one of the earliest in the series. I listened to this book on CD. Barbara Rosenblat does the narration and her voicing of the various characters was excellent.

Shades of Milk and Honey

Shades of Milk and Honey
By Mary Robinette Kowal
Tor, 2010. 304 pgs. Fantasy.

Ever wonder why all those women fainted back in Regency England? Little did you know it was because of over exertion while weaving glamours. In Mary Robinette Kowal’s alternate version of Jane Austen’s England, a lady must be able to weave the subtlest of glamours into her home and personage in order to be considered truly talented. It must not be anything too garish, just simple things like making the fire glow a little brighter or swaying trees in a painting.

Jane and Melody are two sisters hoping to make advantageous marriages, but Jane has all the talent and Melody has all the beauty. When Jane discovers that one of Melody’s suitors is a scoundrel set on taking advantage, she uses her skills to try and set things right. However, Jane still doesn’t believe her talents are enough to attract a match and almost overlooks the love of a man right in front of her.

This is a quick, fun read. I enjoyed the fantastical elements mixed in with Jane Austen type characters. However, I felt the concept was better than the actual results.

AJ

Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure

Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure
by Emma Campbell Webster
Riverhead Books, 2007. 352 pgs. Fiction

Your name: Elizabeth Bennet. Your mission: to marry both prudently and for love, avoiding family scandal. Equipped with only your sharp wit, natural good sense, and tolerable beauty, you must navigate your way through a variety of decisions that will determine your own romantic (and financial) fate. Ever wonder what would happen if Elizabeth accepted Mr. Darcy’s proposal the first time around? Or ran from his arms into those of Persuasion’s Captain Wentworth? Now is your chance to find out.

This grown-up Choose Your Own Adventure novel is an irresistible draw for any Janeite. Although the book is essentially a retelling of all Austen’s novels, the enjoyment comes in imagining what would have happened if Elizabeth Bennet had married Willoughby or Mr. Knightley rather than Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth’s fate often ends in failure (or worse), but the novel is all in good fun.

LF

Copper Sun

Copper Sun
By Sharon Draper
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2006. 302 pgs. Young Adult

Amari's life changes forever when her African village is invaded by white men who kill the children and the older people and capture the fittest, healthiest youths, forcing them into a life in slavery. Amari's parents and younger brother are killed, and she suffers humiliation and degradation as she is forced from her home, branded, and sent across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States. After being raped and abused on the ship, she is then sold at an auction and purchased by a cruel man who gives her to his son Clay for his birthday present. On the plantation, she meets Polly, an indentured servant, and they form an unlikely friendship, and as their lives spiral out of control, Amari and Polly find themselves fighting for a common goal: freedom.

This gripping story is one that does not shy away from the horrors of slavery, but at the same time, Draper handles the material with dignity, showing Amari's strength. The dialogue is true to the time and place, and the book is rich with historical details. This book shows the complexity of slavery and race relations, with varying degrees of the acceptation or rejection of slavery by the characters. Polly's change in attitude as her friendship with Amari grows helps debunk misconceptions held by many whites, and Amari's continued hope and her struggle for freedom demonstrate the strength of the human spirit even in the bleakest of situations. An excellent choice for fans of historical fiction or those looking for a great multicultural novel.

AE

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June
By Robin Benway
Razorbill, 2010. 281 pgs. Young Adult

Following their parents divorce, sisters April, May, and June move to a new town with their mother, and suddenly, special gifts that they had as children reappear in their lives. April can see the future--and doesn't always like the images she sees. May can make herself invisible and June can read people's thoughts. When April sees something bad happening, but can't make sense of the scene (flashing red lights, June and April's love interest, Julian), she is determined to protect her sister, even though June has no desire to be protected; she's just concerned about being popular. Meanwhile May is struggling to adjust and finds herself constantly irritated by her history tutor--and the fact that parts of her body just disappear against her will.

This book wasn't completely satisfying; there were some issues that I felt the author didn't address enough (Why did the powers disappear for so many years? How does their gifts relate to those of their grandmother and her sisters?), and the way things all came together in the end didn't quite make sense to me. But, I really enjoyed the romantic elements; the interaction between the girls and the boys in their lives was realistic and witty.

AE

Divinely Designed

Divinely Designed
By Rachael Renee Anderson
Bonneville Books, 2009. 182 pgs. Romance

En route to Tempe, Arizona where she'll be starting a new job for a prestigious interior design company, Kennedy Jackson gets a flat tire; Braxton Taylor stops to help her, and is charmed by her sense of independence and determination to fix the problem on her own. Although they go their separate ways, they soon run into each other again--Kennedy's new roommate Stacey has a crush on Braxton and he, as the ward mission leader, is trying to help her learn about the LDS Church. However, Braxton hires Kennedy to decorate some houses he's building, and as their work relationship develops, so do their feelings for each other.

This lighthearted romantic comedy is a good choice for fans of LDS chick-lit. I wish some of the deeper issues of the book had been addressed a little more and not resolved quite so easily, but overall, it's nice, uplifting story.

AE

House of Learning: Getting More from Your Temple Experience

House of Learning: Getting More from Your Temple Experience
By M. Richard and Kathleen H. Walker
Deseret Book. 2010. 128 pgs. Nonfiction

Many people express their love of the temple. They say that they feel good while they’re in the temple. But often patrons and even temple workers feel a need to bring greater focus to their temple worship. This insightful book from a former temple president and matron is designed to help.

I liked that this book was filled with personal stories from the Walker's experiences working in the temple. These stories helped illustrated the principles they have outlined. This book can easily be read in one sitting and left me pondering how I can get more out of my own temple service.

AMM

834 Kitchen Quick Tips: Techniques and Shortcuts For the Curious Cook

834 Kitchen Quick Tips: Techniques and Shortcuts For the Curious Cook
America’s Test Kitchen. 2006. 585 pgs. Nonfiction

The Editor’s of Cook’s Illustrated have compiled techniques and tips for solving common kitchen problems in preparing and serving meats, fruits, vegetables, spices, and condiments.

Did you know you can restart a barbecue grill with a hairdryer, soften butter with a rolling pin, or prevent scorching a saucepan using marbles? These unique tips and many more are in this handy volume. Initially I picked up the book to see how to easily peel peaches, but then I was so fascinated I had to read through each and every tip. This would be a great gift for novice and experienced cooks alike!

AMM

One Day

One Day
By David Nicholls
Vintage Books, 2010. 437 pgs. Fiction

Dexter and Emma meet on graduation day in Edinburgh and share the night together, but in an unconventional way. Em and Dex’s friendship continues for the next twenty years, and the reader sees how it evolves, or doesn’t evolve, along with their lives each year on the same date they met. As they live their mostly unsatisfying lives, their relationship is the one thing that centers them.

I cannot believe I actually finished this book. Intrigued initially by the premise, I kept reading because I wanted to know what eventually happens to their relationship. That’s the only thing that kept me going though. For most of the book, Dex is a self-absorbed twit who doesn’t really change, but continues his fast living with women, drugs, and such. Em is better, at least realizing that she is not happy in various situations and changing that, but she can be whiny as well. The will-they or won't-they gimmick quickly tires. Fans of off-beat love stories might appreciate this, but readers who appreciate character development will be put off by it. Those readers who like their books clean, or even somewhat clean, will want to keep away from this one.

MN

Proofiness

Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception
By Charles Seife
Viking, 2010. 295 pgs. Nonfiction.

Each day we encounter statistics and figures presented to inform or persuade. We rely on them to accurately represent reality. But Charles Seife’s new book is filled with reasons why we should be hesitant to accept the validity of many figures. Advertisers present findings out of context, politicians manipulate poll results, expert witnesses provide misleading numbers with which to sway judges and juries, and journalists “cherry pick” sensationalized data to draw an audience.

While Seife’s writing is somewhat snarky in tone, he presents statistical and mathematical concepts in an approachable and entertaining manner. His examples of mathematical manipulation and statistical deception clearly (and at some times embarrassingly) demonstrate how easily society can be misinformed. But, my favorite aspect of this book by far is Seife’s word choice, phrasing, and ability to create his own lexicon. I find it hilarious. For example, he writes of how our “minds revolt at the idea of randomness.” He has titled our tendency to create patterns out of entirely chaotic data “randumness”. This is a great piece of science writing perfect for anyone interested in math, statistics, or political, journalistic, or judicial ethics.

CZ

Mare's War

Mare's War
By Tanita S. Davis
Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 341 pgs. Young Adult

Octavia and Tali, teenage sisters, are not excited about their plans for the summer: driving across the country from California to Alabama with their grandmother for a family reunion. Their sports-car-driving, high-heel-wearing grandmother, Mare, is unpredictable, and not at all like the average grandmother. However, as they travel across the country, making stops at random roadside attractions, Mare tells the girls about her life as a teenager, when she ran away from home and her job cleaning houses to try to make a better life for herself and her younger sister.

A 2009 Coretta Scott King Honor book, this book combines the best of historical fiction and combines it with spunky, contemporary characters. The look at life in the south during the 1940s, the struggle that Mare faced in the army during and afterward due to continued segregation are all portrayed with a deep respect for those who struggled to find their place in the world. A look at race relations and an exploration of family relationships, this book is as informative as it is entertaining.

AE