The Good Father

The Good Father
by Noah Hawley
Doubleday, 2012. 305 pgs. Fiction

Dr. Paul Allen, a successful doctor in New York, is home with his family when a televised news report announces that the Democratic candidate for president has been shot at a rally, and his older son Daniel is caught on video as the assassin. The novel alternates between Dr. Allen’s attempts to understand his son’s actions and the time leading up to the crime, which Daniel spent traveling aimlessly across the United States after dropping out of college.

 This was a fascinating book; it is both a literary novel about a family crisis, and a mystery that will keep you reading all the way to the surprising (but satisfying) ending. The author covers a lot of different contemporary topics, including divorce, politics, guns, youth culture, and family responsibility, but the book is really about the two main characters, a father and son, and what makes their relationship work or not.

JC

Perla

Perla
by Carolina De Robertis
Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. 235 pgs. Fiction

While Perla was growing up in Buenos Aires during the years after the end of Argentina’s Dirty War, she knew that her father’s career in the military put him on the wrong side of history. But, she always loved and defended him until the day an uninvited guest appears in her home and causes her to question everything she thought she knew about her past.

If you are not familiar with recent Argentine history or the magical realism common in Spanish literature, you might be a bit more confused than I was when I read this book. The focus of the book is on the characters and the lessons they learn about themselves, their families, and their country, rather than telling a straightforward story for those who know nothing about the subject already. But, the writing is beautiful and the story, though a bit meandering, is compelling and definitely worth a read.

JC

Thinking Fast and Slow
By Daniel Kahneman
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.  499 pgs.  Nonfiction

Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman has spent an impressive and productive career discovering how the mind works.  In this hefty volume, Kahneman takes readers on a journey through our brains, explaining what science has discovered concerning what we think and why.  He explains that two systems are at work.  System 1 is quick, intuitive, and reactionary.  System 2 is methodical and logical.  These two systems work together to lead us to good as well as bad decisions.  It is the interaction of these two systems that shapes our judgment. Understanding these concepts may make us more able to achieve desired results when choices are placed before us.

Kahneman’s explanation of difficult and complicated concepts is what makes this book one of last year’s best works of nonfiction.  I found his description of the scientists and their interactions almost as fascinating as the science they collaborate to study.  Certainly not a light or quick read, but definitely an enlightening one. 
CZ

Her Majesty

Her Majesty: Queen Elizabeth II and Her Court
By Robert Hardman
Pegasus Books, 2012. 356 pgs. Biography.

This is the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and she can boast, though she would never, one of the longest reigns in British history (only Queen Victoria has her beat at sixty-four years). Her Majesty is a good way to remind us of what Queen Elizabeth II has achieved and the modernity she has brought to throne. Through interviews with those who know her personally, books, and royal documentaries, Hardman delivers a pretty thorough biography of the Queen. Her Majesty also includes twenty-four pages of full color photos, a nice little addition that often had me flipping back and forth with the text.

Though this book is focused on the Queen, it also touches upon the rest of her family. It takes a light tone and includes many humorous anecdotes, such as the time the Queen was filmed hurling a pair of tennis shoes at Prince Philip (don’t bother trying to find it on YouTube, the film was destroyed on the spot). My only gripe would be the chapter length, which to me seemed long. I didn’t always have time to complete a full chapter and I despise stopping midway, but I survived. Overall though, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good biography, wanting to know more about Queen Elizabeth II, her family, her reign, or anything else along those lines.

ACS

Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun
By Paul M. Barrett
Crown Pub., 2012.  291 pgs.  Nonfiction

American’s gun was created by an Austrian curtain-rod manufacturer in the early 1980s.  Gaston Glock set out to design a better hand gun and ended up with the glock, a gun many discounted at first glance due to its unattractive appearance and its being constructed mainly of plastic.  But a firearm salesman named Karl Water decided to market the gun in the U.S. and, thanks to several lucky breaks, he succeeded in competing with American manufacturers like Smith & Wesson.  The story of the rise of the glock is filled with corporate intrigue, Hollywood glitz and glamour, and, naturally, politics.

More than just a biography of the Glock, this is really the story of the gun industry over the last thirty years.  Barrett spent over a decade researching for the book and his dedication and expertise are evident.  Gun enthusiasts as well as those who know little about the industry or culture can certainly enjoy this interesting look at the life of a gun.

CZ

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty
By Joshilyn Jackson
Grand Central Pub., 2012.  322 pgs.  Fiction

Ginny was only 15 years old when she had her daughter Liza.  When Liza turns 15 she also finds herself the teenage mother of a little girl.  Now, Mosey approaches her own 15th birthday and is overwhelmed by her family’s and community’s expectation that she too will follow in Ginny and Liza’s footsteps.  But before this expected trial actually occurs, real tragedy strikes when Liza suffers a debilitating stroke.  Her mother and daughter manage to care for her despite the minimal response Liza is able to provide.  Then one day, Ginny decides to tear down her daughter’s favorite backyard and Liza’s terrifying and uncontrollable response takes the family on an entirely unexpected quest for truths that have been hidden through the past 30 years.

‘A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty’ is both an intriguing mystery and a heartfelt family drama.  Liza isn’t the most relatable character, even before the stroke, but both Ginny and Mosey provide protagonists you want read about.  The narration jumps between perspectives as well as time periods as thoughts and motives are revealed, all leading to a satisfying and surprising conclusion.

CZ

Bill Bryson's African Diary

Bill Bryson's African Diary
By Bill Bryson
Broadway Books, 2002. 47 pgs. Nonfiction

Invited by CARE International to see first hand a few of their facilities in Kenya, Bill Bryson's African Diary chronicles his eight day visit.  Too short (49 pages) to elaborate on any one subject, Bryson still manages to make us laugh with his terrifying plane ride adventure and tug our hearts as we are introduced to  a few special Kenyans he meets on along his journey.  Bryson wrote this book as a fund raiser for the CARE organization and for that reason one can forgive the book's "short" comings.

mpb

Hedy's Folly

Hedy’s Folly:The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World
By Richard Rhodes
Doubleday, 2011. 261 pgs. Biography

Hollywood legend Hedy Lamarr was born Hedwig Keisler in Austria. While still a teenager, her beauty drew the attention of the fledgling motion picture industry. After some success she gave it up to marry a Nazi arms dealer. The marriage ended badly and Hedy fled war-torn Europe to find refuge in the United States. But even more fascinating than her social life and career in entertainment, Hedy emerges in this biography as an incredibly complex personality with a surprising passion for science and invention. She and composer George Antheil form an unlikely partnership to invent a patented jam-proof radio guidance system for torpedoes.

This is a seriously fascinating story and the author covers a great deal of information to navigate readers through the different facets involved. There’s the lives of key players, the technology used and developed, the relevant and complicated copyright laws, all set amid the backdrop of World War II. My only complaint is that the so much time and effort is spent setting the stage, that the actual conclusion seems a bit abridged and anticlimactic.

CZ

The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin

The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin
by Masha Gessen
Penguin, 2012. 290 pgs. Non-fiction

     Who doesn't know that Vladimir Putin is a nogoodnik? But you may not know how bad he really is until you read Masha Gessen's impassioned account of a man who grew up being a thug, refined his skills in the KGB, and then destroyed the flowering of Russian democracy by manufacturing bogus terrorist threats to justify autocratic measures, and rounding up all the rich guys to send them to jail on fabricated charges so that the state could seize their assets. Putin's enemies, particularly in the press, are routinely shot to death or meet with unfortunate accidents. Some are poisoned, some run for their lives leaving everything behind. In this account, he seems sociopathic in his indifference to human life and his inability to connect compassionately on any level, as one may see in his profoundly insensitive, tone deaf meeting with the families of the sailors lost in the sinking of the Kursk. Gessen's passionate prose quickly draws the reader into Putin's story, but she occasionally omits linking information, such as how Putin went from a mid-level bureaucrat to Yeltsin's chosen successor and then Russian president. There are some signs of hope at the end of Gessen's story, as too many people to be arrested take to the streets to protest the recent election, but one still worries for Gessen herself who seems a sitting duck in the heart of Moscow.

LW

Dreaming of Mr. Darcy

Dreaming of Mr. Darcy
By Victoria Connelly
Sourcebooks Landmark, 2012. 360 pgs. Romance

An unexpected inheritance gives Kay Ashton the chance to move to Lyme and finish illustrating her book dedicated to Jane Austen’s leading men. She buys a large old home and sets to work outfitting it as a bed and breakfast to supplement her artist’s income. Just as the place becomes habitable, a movie cast and crew comes to town to film portions of their new version of Persuasion. Her quiet new life is quickly turned to chaos with diva actresses, drop dead gorgeous actors, and a clever but quiet screenwriter desperate to win Kay’s heart.

Nothing really makes this homage to Austen stand out from the many others that have been published in the last decade. It’s a decent piece of chick-lit, but again, nothing extraordinary.

CZ

Life's Lessons Learned

Life's Lessons Learned
By Dallin H. Oaks
Deseret Book, 2011. 165 pgs. Biography

In a series of short anecdotes, Dallin H. Oaks shares some of the meaningful lesson that he has learned through his family life, professional career, and callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Among others, he shares lessons about submitting to the Lord's will, effective leadership, the difference between sins and mistakes, and the effort it takes to move on after the death of a beloved spouse.

I'd anticipated that this book would be educational; I didn't expect it to be quite as personal as it is, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that it really does give interesting insights into Elder Oaks and revealed his personality. There were funny moments and serious ones, and overall, just about any reader, whether LDS or of another belief system, should be able to find an insight or story he or she connects with in this very interesting collection of stories.

AE

World War I: The Great War and the World it Made

World War I: The Great War and the World it Made
by John Ramsden
Recorded Books, 2004. 7 discs. Nonfiction

This excellent series of 14 lectures introduces listeners to World War I, its history, significance, and impact. Many are familiar with the fact that the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was the spark that ignited the war, but far fewer are familiar with how and why this actually brought about a world war. This series covers the complete history of the war detailing the major events of each year.

Most interesting to me were the lectures dealing with aspects not generally covered in history texts: details about the home front during the war, literary and artistic responses to the war, and how the war has evolved in the popular imagination ever since.

SML

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free ProductivityBy David AllenViking, 2001. 267 pgs. Nonfiction
You know you need to read a book when other books mention this one. Getting Things Done is about a decade old now, but still one of the most simple and intuitive organization systems out there. If you’re like me and sometimes just feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things you need to remember to do, then you should definitely check out this book. David Allen explains that our minds are just not designed to remember what we need to do when we need to do it. So trying to depend on it as a catch-all for our lives both personal and professional is ultimately going to fail and stress you out. Even more, this stress and anxiety is actually keeping your mind from innovative thinking and creativity.

David Allen maps out a plan to get everything out of your head and organized into action lists that leave no doubt about what to do next (unlike your old “to-do” lists). The GTD (Getting Things Done) System will definitely take some time to implement, but could really reduce those feelings of being overwhelmed.
AJ

Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That?

Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? A Guide to Modern Manners
by Henry Alford
Twelve, 2012. 242 pgs. Nonfiction.

Henry Alford notes that most of us can easily spot bad manners, but we aren’t always sure what good manners are in modern society. Alford decides to explore what good manners are by visiting Japan, known for its excessive attention to politeness, interviewing writers like Judith Martin, and trying his hand at advising his friends on tricky etiquette questions.

This book is less of a how-to guide and more of a memoir. Alford is quite funny and some of the chapters were very insightful; some of the other chapters were less helpful or interesting. I did like that he addresses many modern issues like Facebook and email etiquette and I liked his final conclusion that having good manners mostly means using your imagination to figure out what another person might be thinking or feeling in a particular situation.

JC

Always the Designer, Never the Bride

Always the Designer, Never the Bride

By Sandra D. Bricker

Abingdon Press, 2012. 318 pgs. Fiction

The characters from the Tanglewood Inn are all included in this newest book set around the Atlanta wedding destination hotel. This story focuses on Audrey, the wedding dress designer, who has dreamed about fashion her whole life. When her best friend Carly asks her to custom design her dress,of course Audrey says yes. Audrey flies to Atlanta thinking she will stay for a few days at the Tanglewood Inn for the wedding and then try to salvage her failing business in New York.

A few days turns into several weeks as Audrey makes new business contacts, finds new friends, and falls in love with J.R. who just happens to be Carly’s new brother-in-law. I enjoyed this novel as much as the previous books in this series. It is a light, romantic chick-lit with a Christian feel that’s not overly preachy. I’m looking forward to the last book in this series, which will be published next spring.

AMM

Drift: the Unmooring of American Military Power

Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power
by Rachel Maddows
Crown, 2012. 288 pgs. Nonfiction

In this concise and well-written book, Ms. Maddow describes how the military and nation as a whole have essentially become disconnected, operating in two separate spheres. Starting in the Vietnam era when LBJ wanted to have his war without the complications that a full national engagement in the struggle would entail, the author describes how subsequent administrations and a mostly pliant Congress have made it possible to engage in military action all too easily. By expanding executive powers and making use of expedients such as private contractors, governments can take us to war without the necessity of bringing the country as a whole on board. Ms. Maddow outlines the process of this transformation with numerous examples and ends with a few suggestions as to how to restore Constitutional principles that make war a difficult decision, as it ought to be.

This is a quite interesting book. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in current events and/or politics, whatever their position on the liberal-conservative spectrum. While Rachel Maddow is considered by some to be on the loony left, this was a well reasoned argument for more consideration and thoughtfulness when military action is contemplated. Yes, there are a good deal of flippant comments sprinkled throughout, but it serves to lighten the tone and make the book a more enjoyable read rather than detracting from the points she is trying to make. And she does so concisely, at about 250 pages, when another author might have flogged the reader with a lot of extraneous data or bitter invective.

CHW

No Horizon is So Far

No Horizon Is So Far

By Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft

Da Capo Press, 2003. 253 pgs. Nonfiction

Liv and Ann grew up across the world from each other (Liv in Norway and Ann in the United States), but from childhood both had a fascination with Antarctica. In addition, they both grew up to be teachers and had a desire to teach kids about following their dreams. Although both had been to Antarctica previously on their own, they were excited to make a trek together after meeting one another. In 1994, Liv was the first woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole. Ann was the first woman to cross the ice at both the North and South Poles.

In their expedition together, Liv and Ann were determined to be the first women to ski-sail across Antarctica. They spent years planning fort he trip and acquiring sponsors to be able to afford their adventure. They wrote a curriculum for students in grades K-12 to follow their trip. Although they faced hardships along the way, they successfully crossed the continent from November 2000-February 2001 via the Shackleton Glacier.

This was such an interesting story of determination and perseverance in realizing your dreams. Liv and Ann are currently planning another expedition with four other educators for November 2012. This expedition will be an 800mile, 80 day trip to the South Pole. You can follow these arctic explorers on their website, yourexpedition.com.

AMM

How to Save a Life

How to Save a Life
By Sarah Zarr
Little, Brown, 2011. 341 pgs. Young Adult

Jill is a senior in high school when her mother decides she's going to adopt a baby; via the internet she has "met" a young mother who is willing to give up her baby, but she wants it done without lawyers and agencies. Jill has tried to convince her mother that this is a bad idea, that she's just grieving for her late husband and that she can't just impulsively adopt a child. And yet, her mother invites Mandy to come stay with them in the weeks before the delivery. At first, Jill, who has cut herself off from pretty much everyone since her father's death, can't stand Mandy or the idea of her being there, and she's certain Mandy isn't telling the truth about a lot of stuff. And yet, as the time passes, it turns out that Mandy and her baby might be exactly what Jill and her mother need.

Jill and Mandy alternately narrate this novel of love and healing and hope. Each girl has struggles that readers, although perhaps not in the exact same situation, will be able to relate to and will be able to take hope from the changes and healing that come about for the two protagonists. Both girls have moments when they're frustrating, but it never goes over the top, which means Zarr nailed the personality of the normal teenager without antagonizing readers. There's some language and off-screen sex, and it tackles hard issues so it's probably best for mature readers. I'd be putting off reading this one for months for some reason, but I'm definitely glad it made it's way to the top of my list. It's a rewarding book for those who looking for a little insight into life and love.

This title is available as a downloadable audiobook through Overdrive. The narrator who did Mandy's voice was a little grating at first but grew on me by the end; the narrator for Jill's voice was very good.

AE

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from MyFrontier

By Ree Drummond

William Morrow, 2012. 293 pgs. Nonfiction

Are you looking for some delicious new recipes? Look no further than The Pioneer Woman’s newest cookbook. Ree Drummond, who blogs at thepioneerwoman.com; delivers beautiful photography as well as a variety of yummy foods in this book. Like her first cookbook, this one is filled with pictures of her family and the ranch they live on.

If you are follower of her blog, you will notice that her writing style in the cookbook is the same as on her blog. Check out this great cookbook for some scrumptious eats!

AMM

Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy
By Robin LaFevers
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2012. 549 pgs. Young Adult.

Ismae, the daughter of Death himself, is forced into an arranged marriage to a man who doesn't realize that she has the evil mark upon her. When he discovers it, he intends to have her destroyed, but she is rescued instead and taken to a convent dedicated to serving Death. There she is trained in how to kill in various ways--weapons, poisons, etc.--and finds strength she didn't know she possessed. Before she takes her final vows, she is sent out on a mission that makes her challenge what she thought she knew about Death and her convent--and her own heart. Although she has long feared/hated men for their cruelty, her mission has her paired up with Gavriel Duval, the bastard son of the deceased duke, who is determined to protect his half sister and get her crowned before France can invade or corrupt barons force her into marriage. Although her abbess sends her to spy on Duval as well as eliminate anyone with the marque of death, Ismae finds herself drawn to Duval and wonders if he could really be the traitor the abbess says he is.

This is a first-rate piece of historical fantasy. With political intrigue, a well-developed setting, action, romance, and complex, engaging characters, this book pretty much has it all. Ismae and Duval are both such real characters, struggling to figure out what they want and what is right. There is some violence and innuendo, and the idea of girls being trained to carry out death is gruesome, so it's probably more appropriate for older teens, but for those who are ready for it, it's a gripping book that will leave you anxiously awaiting the second book in the series.

AE

Embrace

Embrace
By Jessica Shirvington
Sourcebooks Fire, 2012. 374 pgs. Young Adult

Violet Eden has long loved her friend Lincoln, but he sees her as a training partner for martial arts and running. Just as Violet is about to see if they can take things to the next level, he betrays her. Lincoln has known all along that Violet, on her seventeenth birthday, will find out that she, like him, is a Grigori, a half-angel, half-human charged with protecting humans from fallen angels. Violet just wants to have a normal life and she's not so sure she wants to embrace this new life--and she is sure that she no longer wants nothing to do with Lincoln. She starts spending a lot of time with Phoenix, a fallen angel, who, technically she should want nothing to do with but who draws her in so much that she can't stay away. However, even as romance is developing with Phoenix, she can't forget Lincoln--and she also can't quite walk away from the fact that the Grigori need her help as fallen angels are wreaking havoc on her town.

I think teen readers will love this one--it's got passion, it's got a love triangle, it's got all that paranormal goodness (for those who like that sort of thing). As an adult reader, I struggle a bit with the relationship between Violet and Phoenix, who is portrayed as that sexy bad boy but who crosses the line into a little too bad (and I didn't quite feel like Violet understood that enough). Teens will clamor for the next book in the series, and hopefully they'll be a little more appalled by Phoenix than Violet was.

AE

Article 5

Article 5
By Kristen Simmons
Tor Teen, 2012. 364 pgs. Young Adult

After the War, the Federal Bureau of Reformation started cracking down on people who are violating the moral statutes of the country, which includes Article 5: "Children are considered valid citizens only when conceived by a married man and wife." Even though she was born years before the statutes went into effect, suddenly Ember, the daughter of a single mother, Ember is taken to a reformatory and her mother is taken to prison. Being separated from her mother is bad enough, but Chase Jennings, her former boyfriend, is one of the arresting officers. Despite his betrayal, though, Ember will do anything to get back to her mother--even if it means trusting Chase.

This book has a good premise; it has pretty good action and characters. I think there are a lot of things that I think teen readers will enjoy. It's an interesting dystopia. However, the writing was awkward; so many times it seemed like the author spent more time paging through a thesaurus for obscure synonyms rather than just using a word that teenagers would really use. The word choice crossed over into the ridiculous, and I wish the editor had pushed for more realistic language. I found it be very jarring and it kept distracting me from the story. Again, a lot of teens will probably love it; I tolerated it.. I liked the characters enough and the romance angle, but the writing bugged me enough that I found myself hoping that it wouldn't be made into a series because I don't know if I could sit through another book.

AE

Defending Jacob

Defending Jacob
by William Landay
Delacourte, 2012. 421 pgs. Mystery

Andy Barber has been a successful district attorney in his small Massachusetts town for years, but when his son Jacob is accused of murdering a classmate his life begins to fall apart. He and his wife Laurie wonder what the best way to defend their son is, and as the case proceeds they have to confront difficult questions about loyalty, family history, justice, and parenting.

The pace of this book was a little slower than I expected; it includes quite a bit of courtroom drama and so often goes over the same material more than once. It is also narrated by Andy Barber, and it took me at least half the book to realize that Andy might or might not be telling the truth (both to himself and to other people). Sometimes I wanted to reach into the book and smack him because he could be kind of frustrating. The twists and turns of the plot and the interesting narration do make this a great read if you want a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

JC

Heaven Is Here

Heaven Is Here
By Stephanie Nielson
Hyperion, 2012. 310 pgs. Biography.

Heaven is Here follows the story of Stephanie Nielson and her family before, during, and after the tragic plane crash that changed their lives forever. Stephanie and Christian seemed to be living an idyllic life pre-crash. They had been blessed with four beautiful children, a great job, and were surrounded by a community of family and friends. However on August 16, 2008, their seemingly perfect world literally crashed down. Stephanie and Christian along with their friend Doug Kinneard fell from the sky in a fiery airplane crash.

Stephanie relates the tale of her suffering through the pain of being burned over 80% of her body and recovering from both the physical and emotional toll the crash took on her body and family. Because of her faith in God and her determination to live a life filled with hope, she has not only survived, but thrived in the years since the crash.

Stephanie was raised here in Provo and blogs at nieniedialogues.com. I’ve followed her blog for a few years and was very interested to read more about her life. This is an emotional, inspiring book and is encouraging for anyone going through trials of their own. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story of hope and determination in the face of adversity.

AMM

Where Things Come Back

Where Things Come Back
By John Corey Whaley
Atheneum, 2011. 228 pgs. Young Adult

Winner of the American Library Association's William C. Morris Debut Award and the Michael L. Printz Award for best young adult novel, When Things Come Back is a jewel of a book, so good it made me forget my resentment that Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls didn't win anything, for crying out loud, in the Printz sweepstakes. Cullen Witter lives in the sleepy little town of Lily, Arkansas, where nothing much happens until someone thinks he hears, and then sees a previously-thought-to-be-extinct species of woodpecker, in this book known as the Lazarus bird (think: ivory-billed woodpecker, or Lord God bird) just outside of town. But what is ravaging Cullen, and what makes him want to shoot the woodpecker in the face if he should ever run into it, is that his younger brother Gabriel has disappeared inexplicably and completely and no one has a clue how to find him. The Witters are a good family, loving and caring, and now swamped by grief and uncertainty. But there are friends to be had--Cullen's friend Lucas who promises Gabriel will come back and sleeps on the floor of his bedroom in support; Alma Ember, his unexpected, "partially married" girlfriend; the townspeople who don't really know what to say, but still say something.

Unlike many Young Adult books, this one is also funny, filled with the richness of family back and forth and the sometimes accidental hilarity of the teenage years. A separate narrative about a very odd religious quest vis-a-vis the apocryphal Book of Enoch finally melds into the main story with surprising consequences and revelations in an unlooked for but extraordinary ending. Some casual (though never graphic) sex makes this book off-limits for younger teens, but high-schoolers on up should find much nourishment in these pages. I hate to admit it, but the Printz committee got it just right.

LW

Rock On

Rock On
By Denise Vega
Little, Brown and Company, 2012. 296 pgs. Young Adult

Orion Taylor, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for a band without a name, is looking forward to buying his dream guitar and playing in the Battle of the Bands. However, his older brother, Del, who used to be the type to always get Ori's back, now, having dropped out of college and moved back home, can't seem to stand Ori. He mocks his music and his band and seems out to get the girl Orion likes. Tired of being in his brother's shadow, but not quite confident enough to truly believe good things will happen to him, Orion is just trying to make music--and make his dreams come true.

Another good addition to contemporary realistic fiction with a teen protagonist. I really liked Orion; he's a down to earth, relate-able type of guy. This is the sort of book that's easy to hand to teens because everyone can identify with the struggle for confidence and believing in yourself and your dreams enough to make them happy. Minimal language, but otherwise clean.

AE

Boy21

Boy21
By Matthew Quick
Little, Brown, and Company. 2012. 250 pgs. Young Adult

Living in Bellmont, PA, where the Irish mob rules, Finley escapes from the hardships of life (which include a legless grandfather, a deceased mother, and a father stuck working a dead-end job) through two things: basketball and his girlfriend, Erin. The two of them train hard and Finley is looking forward to his third year as starting point guard when his coach asks for his help with a special project--a new basketball player. Russ has just moved to Bellmont from California, where, before his parents were murdered, he was best high school baller in the country. Now, however, he's obsessed with outer space, insisting his parents' spaceship will be picking him up soon, and answering only to Boy21. Although not really sure what he can do, Finley does as his coach asks and befriends Boy21, even though it means he's worried that if Russ snaps out of it, Finley could wind up on the bench.

I'd heard good things about this book, and I'm glad for the chance to be able to read it for myself. I loved watching Finley, who is a completely nice guy, take Russ under his wing, and at the same time, figure out what's really important to him and learn how to stand up for himself. The Irish mob element wasn't developed quite at much as it should have been (I guess I feel like they should've been more present throughout the book, especially given a couple of the twists later in the book), but overall, it was really enjoyable. Again, Finley was great--a nice guy you can't help but like--and I enjoyed getting to "know" him so to speak. Some language, but not an excessive amount.

AE

Edge of Dark Water

Edge of Dark Water
by Joe R. Lansdale
Little, Brown, 2012. 292 pgs. Mystery

When Sue Ellen, Terry, and Jinx's friend May Lynn is pulled dead from the river with a sewing machine tied to her leg, the kids decide to raft down the Sabine River to a town where they can catch a bus to Hollywood and scatter her ashes, because that's where she wanted to be. They don't have any money, but thanks to May Lynn's journal they find a stash of bank robbery loot and set off, with Sue Ellen's abused, drugged-out mother along for the ride. The missing money gets them followed by Sue Ellen's icky Uncle Gene, Constable Sy, and a truly scary sociopathic character named Skunk, who is given to cutting off people's hands after he has killed them. After a couple of detours in the unhappy minister's home, and the wicked old woman's cabin, the travelers find themselves desperately fighting for their lives in a battle Skunk seems certain to win. A fine thriller, Edge of Dark Water is also laugh out loud funny in a Twainsy kind of way, and a thoughtful, poignant character study of young people with few or no prospects who find themselves in a life-threatening, life-changing moments. So well done. One of the best of Joe Landsdale's very fine works.

LW

To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St. Louis

To Hope and Back: The Journey of the St. Louis
By Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press, 2011. 204 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

In 1939, over 900 Jews sought refugee from Hitler and the rise of Nazism in Germany by boarding the St. Louis and heading to Cuba. Having purchased costly tickets, which in some cases used up families' entire life savings, they were treated kindly by the crew, including Captain Schroeder, and they were anticipating a new life in Cuba, or after a brief stay in Cuba, in the U.S. However, as the ship was racing across the ocean, trouble was brewing, as Nazi propaganda convinced many Cubans the soon-to-arrive Jews were poor, dirty criminals. As the ship reached Cuba, no one was allowed to disembark. While a few concerned people tried to convince either the Cuban government or the U.S. government to allow the emigrants in, the Jews feared what would happen if no one would take them--because returning to Germany would mean almost certain death.

This is first-rate book that really makes the story of the St. Louis and her passengers come to life. It follows two children who really traveled on the ship, one a wealthy passenger experiencing seasickness and the other a third class passenger loving every minute on the ship. In alternating chapters, we follow them as they leave their homeland--and their fear--behind, only to be faced with a whole new fear when they reach Cuba. Interspersed throughout the books are also chapters titled "What the Captain Knew," which is a bit of a misnomer since the captain didn't know exactly what was going on, just that something wasn't right as he tried to get his passengers to Cuba as quickly as he could, in hopes of getting them into the country before anything could keep them out. The narrative style makes it a gripping choice, and readers will be aghast at the decisions made by hostile and/or weak governments who haggled over the Jews and their situation with little regard for their suffering. With its bittersweet ending, as the Jews did find new countries back in Europe but many were captured by the Nazis anyway, it shows readers the sobering reality of weakness and disregard for human life.

AE

Getting Over Garrett Delaney

Getting Over Garrett Delaney
By Abby McDonald
Candlewick Press, 2012. 319 pgs. Young Adult

From the moment she met him, Sadie knew that she and Garrett Delaney were destined to be together and have an epic love story. However, while he's been her best friend for the past couple years, his feelings have never ventured past the platonic stage. Sadie is determined that things will change this summer when they attend a writing camp together for six weeks--except she doesn't get accepted. Garrett goes without her and soon calls to tell her he's fallen in love with a girl at the writing camp, and Sadie realizes, with the help of some new friends and co-workers, that it's time for her to finally get over Garrett for good.

I was expecting something light and fluffy and fun, and in some ways, this book fits that description, but it also went deeper, as Sadie had to realize just how much she'd let her feelings for Garrett control her entire life and that she needs to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the book and Sadie's Garrett-detox process. Some language, but probably not enough to bother most readers.

AE

Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage

Gilded Lives, Fatal Voyage: The Titanic’s First Class Passengers and Their World
By Hugh Brewster
Crown, 2012. 338 pgs. Nonfiction

From what led the passengers to their trip, to the rescue by the Carpathia in the freezing Atlantic, this book walks the reader through the first and final voyage of the Titanic. Using narratives from the lives of prominent passengers we read about the splendor of the first class accommodations, the clothes, the company kept, the unheeded ice warnings, the lookout’s missing binoculars, and the pressure to put on speed. Scrupulous research and 100 rarely-seen photographs bring this book to life to depict a vivid account of the Titanic’s tragically short life.

While I’m familiar with the Titanic’s tale I can’t say I know much about the passengers. This book changed that. It didn’t follow a particular person’s story, but the same people cropped up throughout and that made it feel real. This is definitely something I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the Titanic, or to someone who enjoys narrative nonfiction. This is not a book that just lists facts. It takes you on a journey.

ACS

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
By Jennifer E. Smith
Poppy, 2012. 236 pgs. Young Adult

What a difference four minutes can make in your life. That’s all it took for Hadley to miss her fight from New York to London and meet Oliver also London bound.

Hadley is not at all excited to travel abroad for her father’s wedding to the woman she believes shattered Hadley’s family. Oliver’s reason for returning to London is not apparent at first, but he’s not exactly happy to be going home either. Over the course of the flight and the next day, these characters learn about the meaning of life, love, and family relationships.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to see the characters develop in such a short time period and see how they dealt with the situations they were individually put in. Even though their love story proceeded quite quickly, it was believable and delightful. I’d recommend this book for someone looking for a quick, feel-good read.

AMM

The Outcasts

The Outcasts
By John Flanagan
Philomel Books, 2011. 434 pgs. Young Adult

In Skandia, sixteen-year-old boys must go through brotherband training, where groups must work together while competing against other brotherbands as they try to prove themselves ready to take their place in Skandian society and in the Skandian wolf ships. Hal Mikkelson is half-Skandian, half-Araluen, which, in the eyes of the other Skandians, means he's outsider and probably always will be. His only friend, Stig, is the son a Skandian who stole from his countrymen and then high-tailed it out of the country, which leaves Stig as an outsider as well. They, along with six other outcasts, aren't chosen for a brotherband and by default become a brotherband, the Herons. Competing against larger brotherbands, no one expects the Herons to succeed, but Hal and his new friends are determined to show that they aren't the losers that everyone thinks they are.

In this companion series to The Ranger's Apprentice series, readers will quickly draw parallels with the other series, with small, underdog Hal (similar to Will), strong but not as bright best friend Stig (similar to Horace), and the wise mentor Thorn (similar to Halt). While there are definite similarities, there are enough difference to make the book distinct. Readers familiar with Ranger's Apprentice won't be disappointed by the new series, but it's not necessary to read the other series before diving into this one. Highly recommend to anyone looking for rip-roaring good fun.

The downloadable audiobook is available through Overdrive, and, as with the Ranger's Apprentice series, John Keating does a great job with the narration.

AE

The Princess Diaries

The Princess Diaries
By Meg Cabot
Harper Avon, 2000. 238 pgs. Young Adult

Mia Thermopolis has enough to worry about: she's flunking algebra, her mom just started dating her algebra teacher, and she can't get Josh Richter to notice her. But when her father tells her that she is, in fact, the Princess of Genovia, it seems that her problems are just beginning. Now she must endure "princess lessons" with her grandmother, including a makeover, all while trying to remain inconspicuous and trying to have a normal teen life.

Written in journal entries, Mia's personality comes through as funny and engaging and is generally a solid character who is easy to like. The only thing that was a bit irritating was Mia's outright resistance to becoming a princess. I wish the author had made more of an effort to give understandable reasons for Mia's distress at the situation. Still, the entertaining plot and humorous commentary will keep you turning pages. This is a clean book, but I would still recommend it for older teens as some of Mia's worries involve more "mature" things. If in doubt, parents, read it first.

BHG

Rearview Mirror

Rearview Mirror
by Stephanie Black
Covenant Communications, 2011. 316 pgs. Mystery

When Fiona Claridge was in college, she was responsible for a car accident that killed her roommate, Mia Hardy. Eight years later she has mostly moved on and teaches English at a small college in New England. However, her grief and guilt over Mia’s death come back when someone begins sending her sinister packages with threatening messages. She assumes the culprit is a disgruntled student, until the incidents escalate and she realizes that she needs to find out who is threatening her before she becomes the next victim.

It took me a little while to get into this book at first because there are a number of different characters and figuring out how they are all related to each other is a bit tricky. But, once I figured out who everyone was I enjoyed this mystery a lot. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot and I was kept guessing until the end; the plot is also rounded out by a bit of romance as well as Fiona’s emotional journey coming to terms with the accident she caused.

JC

An Unlikely Suitor

An Unlikely Suitor
By Nancy Moser
Bethany House, 2011. 394 pgs. Romance

Lucy Scarpelli is an Italian immigrant who has lived in poverty most of her life, as she, her mother and her younger sister, the willful, spoiled Sofia, do piecework to eke out a meager existence. Their luck changes, however, when Lucy finds jobs for them as seamstresses, and even more so when a wealthy client, Rowena Langond, a New York socialite as she works on Rowena's dresses. When Rowena invites the three women to Newport to do some sewing work for her, Lucy and Sofia both find themselves being courted by men who are well above their classes. Although not quite sure these men would forsake their social standing in order to wed, neither of the sisters can help but follow her heart. Meanwhile, Rowena, who was crippled in an accident, is willing to obey her parents' wishes that she marry the son of a business associate, thinking that her affliction leaves her no other option; however, as much as she tries to love him, she's not quite sure that marrying him is her best option.

This book provides some gentle romance as well as a look at the social complexities of the late 19th century. Lucy and Rowena are both likable characters and readers will be anxiously awaiting for them to find their happiness; Sofia, on the other hand, is an overly annoying little sister who might have readers wishing they could smack her rather than hoping she finds love. The book concludes with a few notes and illustrations of dresses to provide a little extra insight in the society and fashion on the era.

AE

Illuminated

Illuminated
By Erica Orloff
Speak, 2011. 244 pgs. Young Adult

Sixteen-year-old Callie is spending the summer with her Uncle Harry when they discover a hidden diary inside one of the illuminated manuscripts at the auction house where her uncle works. Soon they are trying to follow the trail back through history to Heloise and Abelard, a pair of star crossed lovers whose love was doomed from the start. Along the way Callie meets August and they can't deny the strong attraction they feel for each other. Their adventures bring travel and danger as they try to trace the history of this amazing manuscript.

I had great hopes for this book, but the characters were not well developed and the instant romance between Callie and August seemed unrealistic. The story had great potential but it fell flat.

AL

To Win Her Heart

To Win Her Heart
By Karen Witemeyer
Bethany House, 2011. 347 pgs. Romance

Levi Grant, recently released from prison after serving time for involuntary manslaughter, has become a new person through Christ; he has rejected his violent past and now wants to live a peaceful, honorable life. Through the help of his prison pastor, he gets a job in Spencer, Texas working as a blacksmith, where he falls for Eden Spencer, the town librarian and the daughter of the town's founder. Even as his feelings for her grow, and he wonders if she will be able to accept him if she knew about his past, especially since she's a pacifist.

I really liked how this book addressed the topic of faith, repentance, and forgiveness. Witemeyer did a terrific job exploring whether or not change is possible and how people must decide to deal with other people's pasts, topics which will be pertinent for most readers. Levi's insecurities about his past and his desire to be someone better, alongside Eden's struggle to truly believe Christ can change people, were realistically developed, and I really liked how, unlike some inspirational romances, this one had a really good balance of faith and romance. A great choice for fans of historical romances or inspirational fiction.

AE

The Red Garden

The Red Garden
By Alice Hoffman
Crown Publishers, 2011. 270 pgs. Fiction

This novel traces vignettes from the 300-year history of Blackwell, Massachusetts, starting with the founders who set up camp one winter and barely survived, to the man who came through planting apple trees on his way out west, to the civil war soldier who came home with one leg, and on through the present day. Woven throughout the stories of the founders and their descendants is the red garden, which inexplicably draws people to it generation after generation, and where everything that is planted mysteriously comes up red.

This is a beautifully told story that will draw you in from the first pages. It was interesting to see how people's lives were touched by earlier generations, and how their stories wound around and built upon each other, each unique and yet all of them becoming part of Blackwell.

BHG

Pride and Popularity

Pride and Popularity
by Jenni James
Inkberry Press, 2011. 238 pgs. Young Adult

Chloe Hart despises the popular kids at her school, particularly Taylor Anderson, who has all the other girls following his every move. Then Taylor decides that Chloe is the only girl he is interested in and Chloe can’t tell if he is sincere or simply trying to get on her nerves. If you’ve read Pride and Prejudice you’ll probably be able to figure out how the book ends, but it’s still fun to see how it happens.

I wasn’t sure about how much I’d enjoy another adaptation of Jane Austen, but this was a lot of fun. The story fits into the plot line of the original fairly well without feeling forced, and I really liked Chloe a lot. The author has planned an entire series with the same group of characters, so thankfully you can still read more about Chloe and her family after this book is done.

JC

The Wedding Letters

The Wedding Letters
by Jason Wright
Shadow Mountain, 2011. 335 pgs. Fiction

This book is a sequel to The Wednesday Letters, and describes the courtship of Malcom and Rain’s son Noah. When Noah decides to marry his fiancée Rachel, a family friend begins collecting letters from their friends and family giving them advice about life and marriage. Then Rachel discovers something terrible about her past and the wedding plans seem to be in jeopardy. Can Noah and his parents save the wedding?

This book is a quick, cozy book about how family and friends can help us get through tough times in our lives. Reading it just might inspire you to start a new family tradition the next time someone you love gets married.

JC