June Prime Picks
Biography & autobiography
The
Blind Masseuse
Alden Jones
University of Wisconsin Press
9780299295745
$19.95
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
The Blind Masseuse: A Traveler's Memoir from Costa Rica to Cambodia tells of the author's travels around the world on a ship - but it's more than another account of places seen and peoples encountered, asking hard questions about a life on the road and the long-reaching consequences of constant travel and uprooting: "...there were ways to roam the globe for pay, or at least break even. But there had to be consequences of a life of constant uprooting and disorientation. How long could I live like this? What would I have to give up? Could I remain geographically unmoored and still have a family, children, a career?"
Including these personal reflections, along with bigger-picture moral questions, adds an extra dimension to the travel experience and asks: "Is there a right way and a wrong way to travel?"
In the course of asking and answering these questions, readers receive a lively, passionate, intriguing set of insights they won't find in the ordinary travel memoir, making The Blind Masseuse a vivid, engrossing survey.
Lana
Turner: Hearts and Diamonds Take All
Darwin Porter & Danforth Prince
Blood Moon Productions
9781936003532
$32.95
www.bloodmoonproductions.com
Lana Turner: Hearts and Diamonds Take All belongs on the shelves of any collection strong in movie star biographies in general and Hollywood evolution in particular, and represents no lightweight production, appearing on the 20th anniversary of Lana Turner's death to provide a weighty survey packed with new information about her life.
One would think that just about everything to be known about The Sweater Girl would have already appeared in print, but it should be noted that Lana Turner: Hearts and Diamonds Take All offers many new revelations not just about Turner, but about the movie industry in the aftermath of World War II.
From Lana's introduction of a new brand of covert sexuality in women's movies to her scandalous romances among the stars, her extreme promiscuity, her search for love, and her notorious flings - even her involvement in murder - are all probed in a revealing account of glamour and movie industry relationships that bring Turner and her times to life.
Some of the greatest scandals in Hollywood history are intricately detailed on these pages, making this much more than another survey of her life and times, and a 'must have' pick for any collection strong in Hollywood history in general, gossip and scandals and the real stories behind them, and Lana Turner's tumultuous career, in particular.
Rebel
Mother
Peter Andreas
Simon and Schuster
9781501124396
$26.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Rebel Mother: My Childhood Chasing the Revolution is a memoir filled with drama that reads like fiction, but is all true. The author was kidnapped by a housewife mother who turned into a revolutionary and began leading a life on the run, even moving to South America with her young son in tow.
When his mother passed away in 2004, he uncovered some thirty boxes of her diaries and learned many truths in the notebooks that covered the years of his childhood with his mother.
How does a traditional 1950s housewife from a small Mennonite town in Kansas come to abandon her marriage, steal her child, and flee the country after a custody battle?
Add Andreas' vision of the revolution which is her central vision to the experience of living a life on the run, moving from a Berkeley hippie commune to a socialist collective in Chile, for an intense story of adaptation, politics, and a young boy's ability to survive his chaotic childhood.
Memoir readers who seek accounts of politics' impact on children in separated families will find Rebel Mother a vivid, memorable story.
Young
and Damned and Fair
Gareth Russell
Simon & Schuster
9781501108631
$30.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Young and Damned and Fair: the Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII is the reappraisal biography of a historic figure who has received much coverage before, but offers newcomers and history buffs a different view of Catherine's activities in both royal circles and in the events of her kingdom.
Under Gareth Russell's hand, sixteenth-century politics comes to life, reviewing Tudor society as it tells of the feisty young queen who married a man old enough to be her grandfather, then fell in love with a young man after they were married.
While history would have it that Catherine was merely a foolish young bride, Gareth Russell's new research offers deeper political and social insights into her situation and is essential for any reader who wishes to probe beyond conventional history to understand the underlying influences of her life, decisions, and love.
The Computer Corner
Addison-Wesley/Prentice
www.informit.com/aw
Two outstanding new computer guides are recommended for programmers, developers and computer libraries looking to stay up to date on the latest skills and programs.
William "Bo" Rothwell's Linux for Developers: Jumpstart Your Linux Programming Skills (9780134657288, $44.99) is directed to developers at varying degrees of Linux experience who want a basic tutorial on writing better Linux-based code.
It adopts a progressive workbook approach as it builds from basic to advanced skills that can be applied to either Linux command line or GUI environments, and it teaches the basics of not just writing scripts and using associated programs, but understanding how Linux organizes and accesses files so that code can be streamlined for maximum benefit.
Readers with some prior programming or developer background who want to get the most from Linux will find this an excellent guide to its processes and for considering various routines for producing better code.
Richard Knaster and Dean Leffingwell's SAFe Distilled: Applying the Scaled Agile Framework for Lean Software and Systems Engineering (978013429425, $44.99) is for Agile software programming collections and those who would apply the SAFe framework to business goals, and teaches how to work with and implement this system, which can result in measurable productivity results.
As chapters discuss business and software relationships, Agile environments, and SAFe's specific purposes, systems engineers receive a specific focus on business value, program risk assessment processes, brainstorming solutions, and much more, making SAFe Distilled an important key to success that should be in both programming and business collections.
The
Culinary Corner
Gluten-Free
Cooking for Two: 125 Favorites
Carol Fenster
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
9780544828681
$19.99
www.hmhco.com
Gluten-Free Cooking for Two: 125 Favorites is for the small household who would enjoy healthy gluten-free foods, and differs from other gluten-free cookbooks because its recipes have been scaled down from 'family size' to accommodate couples.
This approach allows for fresh meals to be prepared that have a minimum of leftovers and wasted food, and includes the author's own custom gluten-free flour blend along with tips for advance prep.
Anticipate recipes you wouldn't ordinarily think would be in a gluten-free cookbook, all created for the two-person table. Wouldn't lasagna be omitted for both its gluten and its oversized portions, for example? Not here, where gluten-free sauces and noodles are used to make a 2-serving portion using a 4x8 pan. Or, make-your-own gluten free scones, using the author's signature flour blend recipe.
Gluten-free couples will relish these dishes and the freedom and variety they offer.
How
to Eat a Lobster and Other Edible Enigmas Explained
Ashley Blom
Quirk
9781594749216
$12.99
www.quirkbooks.com
How to Eat a Lobster and Other Edible Enigmas Explained considers some fifty food etiquette questions that have to do with familiar and unfamiliar, tricky foods. From how to eat sushi with chopsticks and how to open a coconut to eating kumquats, noodles, and basic table etiquette (such as how to excuse oneself from the table), this is a fun collection of food snafus and challenges.
By going beyond the 'how to eat' particular foods and dishes approach of other titles and venturing into the world of table etiquette, how to handle foods, and how to maintain vegetarian manners in the face of overt carnivore celebrations such as barbecues, this is a fun and practical handbook that 'foodies' will find both entertaining and useful.
Audiobooks
Highbridge
Audio
www.highbridgeaudio.com
Four new audios from Highbridge Audio are highly recommended picks for listeners looking for audios in durable plastic cases suitable for the rigors of library lending or travel, solid writers, and narrators who bring their subjects to life.
David Grossman's A Horse Walks Into a Bar (9781681684376, $29.99) tells of an Israeli comedian past his prime who performs standup comedy in a small club. In the audience is a local court justice whom Dov knew as a boy, along with others who remember his childhood. His comedy becomes a self-examination as he moves into his life to offer a powerful and funny survey which is brought to life by narrator Joe Barrett.
Bill Schutt's Cannibalism (9781681681962, $29.99) is narrated by Tom Perkins, who does a fine job of bringing to life a blend of biology and history that considers cannibalism's culture, culinary implications, and more. Research on various cannibalism events throughout nature and human society blend with insights ranging from scientific to observations of social condition, psychology, the effects of climate change and overcrowding, and more, offering a pointed survey of cannibalism in different species.
The Not-Quite States of America by Doug Mack (9781681684352, $34.99) is read by Jonathan Yen, who lends a smooth and evocative voice to enrich a production that focuses on the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other places. While these areas are filled with American flags, identity, US postal services, and other trappings of American cultural, political, and social structures, they are not commonly included in histories of this country.
Author Doug Mack embarked on a 31,000 mile journey through these territories and American history in an effort to uncover how they came to be and what part they played in this nation's development. His blend of travelogue and investigation should be a part of any serious American history collection.
John Rechy's After the Blue Hour (9781681684734, $29.99) receives an excellent narration by Cooper North, who successfully enlivens and enriches the story of John, who flees a chaotic big city life to go to a private island where an admirer of his work offers him a refuge from the maddening crowds.
Unfortunately, this is no true refuge, and John comes to find himself in a dangerous situation, facing violence, isolation, and a sense of danger that threatens his world.
All are powerful audiobook listens, highly recommended as standouts from the crowd.
Health Matters
Caring
for the Dying
Henry Fersko-Weiss
Conari Press
9781573246965
$24.95
www.redwheelweiser.com
Caring for the Dying: The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death should be read by anyone concerned about end-of-life caregiving and respite, and describes a different approach to death and dying than most books offer.
Its focus on how meaning and comfort can be introduced to the care process at the end of life based on an 'end-of-life doula model' adapted from the approaches of birth doulas contributes to a plan on how to gain the most meaning and comfort from end-of-life care.
From planning strategies and using a blend of ritual and guided imagery to ease the dying to changing the death experience into an uplifting opportunity for transformation for all involved, this is a thought-provoking guide highly recommended for any collection appealing to healthcare providers and alternative medicine readers.
Jessica
Kingsley Publishers
www.jkp.com
Four new health books provide clinicians, healthcare providers, families, and consumers with different coverages of how to solve common healthcare issues or get the most from their healthcare, and are recommended for a variety of collections.
Leslie Davenport's Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change: a Clinician's Guide (9781785927195, $29.95) considers the impact of climate change on mental health, offering both a theory about this connection and therapeutic interventions for those who are confronting environmental damage and changes.
Treatment and healing of the symptoms associated with this change go beyond standard approaches for anxiety or stress and delve into the realms of creating and sharing new stories of evolutionary transformation, while chapters pair resiliency stories with worksheets to encourage clients and therapists to work together to encourage practices that lead to a more flexible, harmonious life perspective.
Jo James, Beth Cotton, et.al.'s Excellent Dementia Care in Hospitals: A Guide to Supporting People with Dementia and Their Carers (9781785921087, $24.95) is a different approach for hospital workers who care for dementia patients, gathering a compendium of best practices for handling common issues from communications challenges to recognizing and managing pain, achieving better hydration, and combining mental and physical approaches.
Case histories supplement discussions of physical and mental symptoms of dementia patients and how hospital staff can recognize and manage them, providing specifics and key insights especially useful for those involved in dementia patient care as an adjunct to overall hospital routines for those without dementia.
Karen Watchman's Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia: a Guide for Families (9781849056779, $24.95) is for families and healthcare providers alike and addresses the common questions and confusion that comes when a relative with an intellectual disability is further diagnosed with dementia.
From the anticipated progression of the condition and how it will impact and require changes in living situations, friendships, family, and relationships to discussing dementia and handling medication, this primer covers all the basic questions that arise upon diagnosis.
Bo Hejlsov Elvén's Disruptive Stubbron Out of Control? (9781785922121, $15.95) is for parents, teachers, and those working with kids in classroom settings, and addresses the challenges and choices involved with handling routinely disruptive children.
From understanding the nature of authority and the hierarchy of power in the classroom setting to building a solid foundation for an action plan and understanding how this foundation can improve classroom relationships and reactions, Disruptive Stubbron Out of Control? is a key book about power, confrontation, and strategies for understanding student responses, and will reach any teacher challenged by disruptive classroom situations.
Life
After the Diagnosis
Steven Z. Pantilat, MD
DaCapo Lifelong
9780738219387
$16.99
www.dacapopress.com
Life After the Diagnosis: Expert Advise on Living Well with Serious Illness for Patients and Caregivers comes from a palliative care expert with several decades of medical experience, whose focus is on improving the lives of people with serious illness.
Because of his specialty, this book isn't just another 'how to talk to your doctor' title, but offers specific information ranging from understanding the side effects of common treatments and how to appoint a surrogate decision-maker to pain level indicators and the pros and cons of treatments used to control conditions.
From opiods to what is most important in a health care routine, this is a powerful tool that patients can use to understand medical approaches, treatment rationales, and how they relate to their own values and priorities in life.
The
Obesity Epidemic
Robyn Toomath
Johns Hopkins University Press
9781421422497
$22.95
www.press.jhu.edu
The Obesity Epidemic: Why Diets and Exercise Don't Work and What Does provides a survey of exercise, weight gain, and political and medical influences on how weight is managed, assessing a range of factors that affect weight gain and loss.
One might not think that marketing choices would not have much to do with obesity; but how foods and exercise are 'sold' to consumers, the presence of fad and extreme approaches that simply don't work, and the influence of world trade agreements and trends on food choices and weight loss perceptions all play important roles in efforts to lose weight.
Bottom line: people have to choose more healthy options; and until they do, weight will not be lost. This book reviews the barriers to real, lasting weight loss and what can be done about them, and is recommended for any health collection concerned about weight management.
Novels and Mysteries
The
Eye of God The
Eye of God creates a powerful Sigma
Force thriller that opens in Mongolia, where a research satellite has
crashed,
involving a range of special interests in the search for a physics
project gone
awry. Add
a mysterious Vatican package that reveals the remains of a Mongol king,
an
investigation into a mystery that dates to the birth of Christianity,
and a
deadly weapon hidden for centuries for a story line that skips around
the world
and juxtaposes many special interests in different angles of a story
that just
keeps changing. James
Rollins offers many startling moments ("It
was a strange way to invade a country.") in his
story's
chapters, bringing readers along for a rollicking thriller ride that
cements
its action in individual stories that are engrossing and highly
unpredictable
affairs.
James Rollins
William Morrow
9780062666451
$16.99
www.harpercollins.com
Scar
Tissue: Watts & McLaren Goodreads: Fourteen-year-old
Mary is gifted with an eidetic memory, so awakening in a groggy state
with only
fragments of memory about where she is or what has happened to her is
especially frightening - a situation which only worsens when she
confronts
military-looking scientists who refuse to answer any questions, keeping
her
imprisoned and away from her parents. As
pieces of her memory return, Mary realizes that something frightening
has
changed her life, destroyed her parents, and infected her with what
turns out
to be a deadly engineered plague, before she is rescued by military
soldiers. This
is just the opener to a complex thriller that (it should be cautioned,
for
those who avoid graphic violence) involves intrigue, executions,
hunters and
prey, and outcasts who struggle to survive in a vastly changed world.
Protagonists are gritty, sometimes foul-mouthed, and confront their
changed and
challenging circumstances with a determination that sometimes comes
across as
uncommonly persistent, but succeeds in immersing readers in a
powerfully
winding tale of struggle. Scar
Tissue: Watts & McLaren is
a
potent saga of greed, corruption, trust betrayed, and uncertain
alliances
formed as the plague grips society and changes lives. Many novels and
sci-fi
thrillers posit a world changed by plague; but few move further to
probe
underlying influences and alliances changed by human greed and
circumstance. Most
of all, this probe of Mary's humanity in the face of her transformation
and new
pursuits makes for a thought-provoking read recommended for thriller
readers
who like their dialogue edgy, their close encounters sometimes violent
and
always gritty, and their story lines peppered with political, social,
and
psychological insights.
Scott Wiener
Scott Wiener, Publisher
ASIN:
B06X6FT5X8
$2.99
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/
https://www.goodreads.com/
Unreliable Unreliable
is a psychological thriller
centered upon an unlikely protagonist, because failed novelist and
teacher
Edwin Stith seems like anything but a candidate for action. He's just a
small-town man who has several odd characteristics: he's an honest liar
whose
life operates on a rocky, precarious slope; and he may (or may not)
have killed
family members. A
homecoming leads Edwin out of his uncertain life and into a world where
his
secrets may be exposed. Family relationships, angst, and dysfunction
blend into
a plot both hilarious and thought-provoking - a difficult balance to
achieve -
in a story which winds its way through murder and interpersonal
confrontation
alike. Readers
who enjoy blends of psychological suspense and family interactions will
find Unreliable
an engrossing read that eschews
the normal dramas and action of the thriller genre to incorporate some
of its
elements in a new way, offering a taste of something refreshingly
different to
thriller enthusiasts.
Lee Irby
Doubleday
9780385542050
$26.95
www.doubleday.com
Scintillating Science Fiction and Fantasy
The
Hills of Meat, the Forest of Bone
Michelle Muenzler
Falstaff Books
ASIN:
B01N6H9B9D
$2.99
http://www.michellemuenzler.
http://www.falstaffbooks.com
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Since she was a child, trader Hetha Eran has been wandering the labyrinth which exists on the fringes of reality and holds gates to weird and challenging worlds. It's barely navigable by those with savvy instincts and the ability to survive its twisting and ever-changing atmosphere, but she and her companion, Mobi the Shark Boy, have honed both these abilities and a mercenary purpose that includes Eran's cunning control of her companion ("I suppose I could have done him better by finding a labyrinth path to take him home, but I figured he owed me at least a bit of profit before we attempted that trek.").
She's been successful at plumbing the gates and various weird realities to return with goods that earn her wealth, but her jaded and raw view of the worlds she traverses is about to turn success into a special challenge when she enters a world where she is prey, and must come to terms with a challenge that could literally consume her.
The narrator's first-person voice is gritty and vivid ("I don't do guilt. It's stupid when mistakes are so easy to make and consequences even easier to avoid. Yet, despite that, an inkling of guilt is busy squiggling its way up my puke-throttled throat."), her experiences oddly weird and compelling, and the story line delightfully unexpected as it traverses the realms of speculative fantasy and sci-fi. Eran embarks on a fight for her life in a truly alien environment that challenges anything she's known in the past.
One doesn't expect the touch of coarse humor that permeates her adventures, but it's there, in abundance ("As the meat sucks me down by my arm, I strongly consider signing up for throwing lessons next time I'm in Branthag'abor."). Irony, sarcasm, reflection and adventure shine in a story powered by a feisty protagonist with a jaded view of life, death, and everything in between: "I suppose at least I won't be alone when I face the Dead Ones. That's some small comfort. Maybe they'll be so distracted by a rampaging Soleoon, they'll forget to tag me for disposal and I can slip past them for a second try at this whole living thing. You never know. It's happened before."
Readers who enjoy a combination of eerie, weird elements in their fantasy and horror works will relish the refreshingly innovative characters and setting of The Hills of Meat, the Forest of Bone, which is very highly recommended as an exceptionally original, engrossing piece.
Isian
series titles
Serena Clarke
Red Mountain Shadows Publishing
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=
Three books in this series revolve around the world of Isian and are recommended for series readers who enjoy solid blends of fantasy and romance.
Book One, The Treasure of Isian (978-1477540107, $12.99), sets the stage for these three adventures by introducing a prince with a penchant for escapades and a trusted servant who enthusiastically supports him on his quests.
His challenge lies in finding the legendary Treasure of Isian, a goal thwarted by a host of supernatural forces from witches and giants to lovelorn dragons.
For Elani, the pleasure lies not so much in the adventure but in the company of her beloved prince: "She had never felt so invigorated in her life. She had spent every day for the last thirteen years of her seventeen years of life following around the prince, obeying his every command. He loved to travel the countryside and journey to other kingdoms."
His mission to save his kingdom dovetails with her desire to find romance and fulfillment in her own life; but on this journey, each grows and evolves.
The Treasure of Isian may feel like a young adult read (and, indeed, it can reach older fantasy readers who enjoy romantic backdrops), but it's also recommended for adults who enjoy the trappings of high fantasy - dragons, elves and witches. It presents the compelling saga of a young girl tasked with her own quest and a journey to find herself: "You must see what the future holds. Your decision will affect nations, most immediately the kingdom of Nirine.”
It's refreshing to see a feisty young girl whose objective proved just as important as a prince in charge of his kingdom's safety. It's fun to read a story that takes its time to build, creating the foundations of family and relationships in the course of its adventure. And, mature teens and adults alike will appreciate the unexpected circumstances Elani faces in the course of what turns out to be a multi-faceted quest.
The adventure builds slowly, but this is necessary in order to fine-tune character personalities and relationships so that their actions and logic are believable and lively. The result is a powerful story of a girl's visions and how her decisions and choices impact a prince's kingdom and life.
Book Two in the series, The Alliance of Isian (978-1493679867, $14.99), continues the story using a different cast of characters in the kingdom of Isian. War is on its way, requiring unusual alliances with enemies and a political marriage that challenges a young prince and princess as well as a kingdom.
(It should be noted that because the setting, action and characters differ, this book can be treated as both a linked story sequel and as a stand-alone, individual read holding special appeal to readers who don't ordinarily pursue interlocking series titles, but who like each book to stand on its own merits.)
Prince Alec has never seen his betrothed - her face is always hidden. His marriage with one whose culture is quite different from his own is complicated by his unfamiliarity with her world and his bride-to-be even as the event is designed to unite two very different worlds.
Both Gabrielle and Alec must work hard - and for the sake of their different kingdoms - to make this forced relationship work as conflict looms and the cultural disparities they experience together threaten to spill over into the uncertain relationship between their kingdoms.
Serena Clarke's attention to detail and descriptions of all sides lends insights and fine psychological depth to her story, which operates on many different levels: "Gabrielle was disturbed by the way the soldier’s fought. They fought so differently from the Isianic soldiers. The Isianites were full of grace and tranquility when they fought. They used strategy to defeat their opponents. But these Tandorian soldiers were brutal and gruesome. The looks on their faces were vicious as they battered each other with axes, spears, and maces. They growled and their faces were contorted with rage. It made her ill to watch the fighting. She was stunned when Alec picked up an axe and joined in the fighting. She wanted to turn away. She did not want to see his handsome features and bright blue eyes distort and look like the other ruthless soldiers. But she could not look away."
The result is a romance set against the backdrop of a clash of minds and cultures which is replete with action, insight, and the foundations of how love and trust come together.
Book Three, The Secret of Isian (978-1522983361, $14.99), chooses yet other characters to profile in the evolving story of a kingdom facing its greatest challenge to survival, and focuses on the evolution of seer Rimelda and Prince Ander, who each have a stake in seeing their kingdom at peace.
Prince Ander may rely on seers, but he's not sure he can trust Rimelda's startling visions; while Rimelda looks for answers beyond what she can predict. Together, the two embark on a quest that involves Rimelda learning new things (such as knife fighting) from Prince Ander, and Ander in turn learning to value what Rimelda brings to the table.
In some ways their romance is a predictable turn of events; but in others, the social and political influences upon each of their actions creates an atmosphere of surprise as Prince Ander slowly grows into the idea that Rimelda is someone he can not just trust, but love.
In keeping with real-world events, sometimes one or more of the characters seem oblivious to what is obvious to the reader. Mystery, action and romance entwine, but develop in a manner that mimics real life; and so there are slow points and revelations that take time for the characters to absorb while readers await the results with baited breath.
The result is an excellent contribution to a series which is satisfyingly well-developed and replete with adventure and strong psychological development, recommended not just for mature teens with a prior affection for fantasy and romance, but for many an adult who will find the dramas and interlinking stories to be satisfyingly revealing.
Monkeyboy:
Anki Legacies Adventure
S. Shane Thomas
CreateSpace
978-1542402538
$10.99
http://a.co/0CLPO49
Hanuman is a monkey who has become intelligent merely by swallowing a magical stone. His existence and that of the magical Wisp are introduced in a laboratory setting, where Han enjoys a special bond with an ethereal creature who transmits moods via physical changes, and who quickly befriends a relatively lonely monkey-turned-intelligent.
Monkeyboy has no peers to associate with, so one of his goals is to find more stones to feed to his monkey counterparts so they, too, may become intelligent and serve as his companions.
While the scientific and social contentions of Monkeyboy may sound adult, the short chapters, whimsical descriptions, and underlying story are decidedly young adult in nature, and will attract pre-teens and teens who like sci-fi and fantasy with a more complex, thought-provoking slant than a leisure piece alone could provide.
But, don't expect serious introspection alone - Monkeyboy presents a delightful romp through life by a newly intelligent child who acts up like a human child, gets into scraps, and faces the antics of destructive cousins who create messes, leaving him to clean up.
Underlying this tale are plans for a planet's takeover - a scheme which places Han at the heart of many adventures and challenges and a greater story that evolves from a seemingly innocuous magical encounter.
As various species interact and learn from each other and face a greater scheme involving the Anki Empire's evolution, kids will relish a fine, different perspective from the usual alien takeover saga through the eyes of a boy who is not human, yet holds the sensitivity and intelligence of humanity.
The blend of science fiction, fantasy, and social commentary make this a top recommendation for adolescents looking for something original and different.
A
Paleolithic Fable: An Anki Legacies Adventure
S. Shane Thomas
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B01LYOOO5P
$9.99
http://a.co/h5sGswh
A Paleolithic Fable: An Anki Legacies Adventure represents high fantasy at its best in an adventure that revolves around magical beings who invade the Stone Age era intent upon replacing the slowly-evolving human beings with their own species.
From the very start, the action grabs with descriptions that are compellingly original: "...becoming conscious after only his head had completely formed, deeply disturbed Bobby. It gave him the opportunity to watch science’s best attempt at time travel in action."
But fantasy readers should be forewarned: there is quite a large cast of characters involved in the various human and alien species battling for ownership of the planet, and these special interests also blend and interact with magic, science, and evolutionary processes. All this requires a good degree of attention to detail, which means that this is not a light, casual read. It's a complex world and set of interactions which requires thoughtful, close inspection at first; but the setting and various characters soon develop flow and attraction once the initial premises are established, and readers who appreciate multifaceted, layered reads on many levels will find the A Paleolithic Fable more than delivers on its initial promise of a riveting, engrossing saga.
Think Jean Aul's prehistoric peoples combined with an alien/magic interface that challenges all species to survive, then adds a dose of epic quest. All these elements work together to create an original work of high fantasy that considers how species come to dominate, co-exist, or face extinction.
The
University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies
Wolfgang Edwards
Bookbaby
ASIN: B01MUAKPM3
$.99
http://a.co/0MhdqHy
Book 1 of the Students of Madness series takes the form of a collection of stories that follow students at a university where magic and science studies intersect, sometimes with dangerous results. Eight interwoven tales of these classes and student experiences combine to create a powerful arrangement of encounters which each contribute different facets to a greater atmosphere.
The opener, 'The Right Hand', opens with a Solstice Sale and a teen inventor's desire to obtain, by whatever means necessary, the final, expensive piece of equipment central to her creation. As events unfold, the steampunk atmosphere of this world comes to life through vivid descriptions of mechanical wonders ranging from an 'octo-crane' machine to makeshift aircraft with pedal-powered propellers and a smoky urban atmosphere where wonders are everyday occurrences.
One doesn't expect horror, fantasy, and sci-fi steampunk atmosphere to intersect in stories which edge into all three genres without thoroughly immersing themselves in any singular path; but that's one of the pleasures of The University of Corporeal and Ethereal Studies: readers who look for a blend of the macabre, the supernatural, and the unique will appreciate the author's approach to injecting all of these aspects into stories that build upon each other to create both independent tales and intersections between different realities.
From the opener story of a young girl's efforts to bring a secret invention to its final phase and how she'll do anything to achieve this goal, only to face unexpected results, to 'Smoke and Venom', a story 'created in hindsight' that probes the upper echelons of a society where a birthday boy's dubious celebration edges into questions of wealth, poverty, greed, and power's privileges and impact on the world, each very different tale offers edgy horror and social observation which, when paired with the atmosphere of a steampunk society, comes to life in unexpected ways.
Readers who pursue all the stories will come to realize that, like a jigsaw puzzle, they actually create a bigger picture. Existing in its own borderland world somewhere between Lovecraft, Clive Barker, H.G. Wells and Shirley Jackson, the dark, brooding worlds probed here should attract a wide audience of any who enjoy out-of-the-box short stories.
Science, Nature & Technology
The Life of Buzzards The
Life of Buzzards gives serious
buzzard
fans an in-depth and authoritative read that compiles studies by the
author
conducted over a sixty year period, and is centered on the Common
Buzzard of
Europe in general and the British uplands in particular. While
one might expect that the geographic focus of such a book would limit
its
audience to scientists from England, one pleasure of The Life of Buzzards
lies in its inclusion of buzzard
natural history to include life cycles, behaviors, breeding and
habitats, and
more, which makes the topic of interest to readers residing beyond the
British
Isles. Packed
with charts, color photos, and seasonal information, this is a 'must
have' for
any science collection serious about bird study in general and buzzard
biology
in particular.
Peter Dare
Whittles Publishing/CRC Press
9781849951302
$29.95
www.whittlespublishing.com
TreeGirl:
Intimate Encounters with Wild Nature Julianne
Skai Arbor, author of TreeGirl:
Intimate
Encounters with Wild Nature, is a nature
photographer, certified
arborist, and conservation educator; thus, her experiences with trees
and
nature are backed by practical experience as much as idealistic
vision. This
combination serves her well in a book that advocates for trees and
wilderness
with a blend of passion for her subject and an arborist's eye for
detail. In
this coffee-table-sized hardcover display, she employs a remote-control
timer
and a tripod to photograph herself and others as they connect with
trees,
introducing some fifty tree species she encountered during her journeys
through
thirteen countries and across four continents. Her
approach of combining photographic and artistic prowess with a travel
story and
a healthy dose of botany helps science and nature readers form their
own
connections with trees and a newfound appreciation for their beauty and
importance to the human race.
Julianne Skai Arbor
TreeGirl Studios
9780692726044
$45.00
www.treegirl.org
Universal:
A Guide to the Cosmos Universal:
A Guide to the Cosmos is
written not for neo-scientists, but for lay readers who would learn how
concepts such as string theory, the Inflationary Multiverse, and other
cosmic
concepts can be accessible to non-scientists. A
blend of discussion, math, illustrations, photos, and philosophical and
scientific reflections permeate chapters designed to take the notions
of
Einstein and other scientists and place them in perspective of the
larger story
of the universe and its evolution. The
tone is scholarly, yet accessible as the discussions pinpoint how
conjectures
and guesswork comes to be supported by a process of extrapolation,
study, math,
and new knowledge. Non-scientist
readers who want a surprisingly easy introduction to a vastly complex
topic
will find much to like in a title that peppers its equations with color
visuals
and detailed discussions throughout.
Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw
DaCapo Press
9780306822704
$35.00
www.dacapopress.com
Reviewer's Choice
Around
the World in 80 Tales Step
Ahead Travel: http://bit.ly/1PwjeIk Around
the World in 80 Tales: 80 Stories, 25 Countries, 5
Continents, One Heck of a Ride! is
packed with the author's
short escapades in a globe-trotting, fun series of adventures perfect
for
armchair pursuit. The
first thing to note about these stories is that Dave Tomlinson is a
budget-minded traveler, and his choices involve adhering to a financial
plan
that leans towards the thrifty side of travel. Thus,
he did get to Ecuador - but not for a notoriously expensive tour of the
Galapagos. Instead, he opted for the lesser-known, budget-minded choice
of Isla
de la Plata, the 'Poor Man's Galapagos' where the wonders of nature
offer
similar enjoyment without costing an arm and a leg. From
a visit to Northern Laos and the small town of Phonsavan, a
surprisingly expensive
gateway to the Plain of Jars, to a 24-hour bus journey in Peru,
Tomlinson
explores the limits of budget travel and offers up gritty journeys
through
sometimes-adverse conditions in a survey that embraces local peoples
and
off-the-beaten track experience. The "you are there" feel is
compellingly immediate. Budget-minded
adventure enthusiasts who want to travel the world through another's
eyes will
find Around
the World in 80 Tales an
absorbing, involving account that's hard to put down, packed with
personal
observation and insights: "Hiking
the
Bibbulmun Track alone in summer time was a wonderful exercise in
self-sufficiency and inner strength. I passed through several towns
along the
way but sometimes I would go for days without seeing anyone. My daily
life was
so simple and free from the usual worries that it offered an amazing
sense of
contentment."
Dave Tomlinson
Dave Tomlinson, Publisher
9781310402470
$2.99
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2czLiM0
Breaking
the Spell Breaking
the Spell: A History of Anarchist Filmmakers,
Videotape Guerrillas, and Digital Ninjas
is the first
in-depth study to consider the history of anarchist video activism from
the
late 1960s to modern times, offering both an unprecedented scope in the
timeline of its coverage and an unequalled depth to its survey of
changes in
production, distribution, publicity, and global resistance
influences. Chapters
survey the nature and special challenges of alternative media
production which
resists conventional distribution techniques, social media and business
influences, and other social and political pressures in the efforts to
remain
true to activist roots. Readers thus receive an important and detailed
history
that surveys video activist groups, individuals, and technologies and
how they
have been used to fight for particular causes without benefit of
mainstream
influences. Film
and video holdings and collections strong in activist and anarchist
history
will relish the unique nature of this subject and the depth Chris Robé
brings
to it in his efforts to create well-rounded, thought-provoking
discussions.
Chris Robé
PM Press
9781629632339
$26.95
www.pmpress.org
Dining
and Driving With Cats: Alice Unplugged It's
a memoir...it's a travelogue...it's a book about pets...it's a
relationship
primer. But most of all, Dining
and Driving
With Cats: Alice Unplugged represents a
refreshingly whimsical,
different perspective that incorporates all of the above into a
rollicking road
trip through life that stands out from any other memoir, travelogue,
relationship book, or pet story on the market today. The
first thing to note about this book is that nothing is superficial. The
author
and his wife Alice live in Mexico - and its culture, history and
oddities
aren't glossed over, but are thoroughly explained in passages that
enlighten
with information even as they entertain: "Alice
and I were living in the small cathedral town of San Miguel de Allende,
high in
the foothills of central Mexico. Did I say San Miguel was a small town?
Compared to Washington, D.C., our home for the previous 22 years, San
Miguel
was more like an upscale Latino neighborhood. But it was an unusual
neighborhood. No other community its size featured a towering, pink
limestone
Gothic cathedral with Magic Kingdom castle-like spires pirouetting
hundreds of
feet above the cobblestone streets and tourist shops below." This
opener portends a read that is a standout: under Pat Patterson's hand,
the
sights, smells, and influences of the areas traversed come to life as
much as
the personal connections between cats, people, and the world. How
is true love found? Part of this process is explored as a girl who
loves cats
becomes connected to a boy who finds refuge and kinship in her
wandering heart,
which takes a dream home lifestyle and turns it into cross-countries
road trip
with two companion cats in tow. Hilarious,
rollicking, unexpectedly vivid, and refreshingly different, there is no
other
story quite like Dining
and Driving With
Cats: Alice Unplugged, which is very highly
recommended for readers
of memoirs, animal stories, and travelogues where relationships and
history
meet. (Warning:
an affinity for cats is almost a requirement. This affection can,
however,
evolve from this story's influence.).
Pat Patterson
IonPublishers
978-0998792217
$12.95
http://a.co/7JmwoRV
'Random
Acts' titles It's
been several decades since the concept of random acts of kindness
received
acclaim and since the editors of Conari Press published a book by the
same
name, but their newly updated edition of Random
Acts of Kindness (1573248533, $14.95 deserves a
spot in any
inspiration-oriented collection for its survey of a movement that
brings
stories of compassion and empathy to a large audience. From
suggestions on how individuals can adopt an attitude of kindness and
helpfulness towards others by being more in tune with the needs of
individuals
around them to quotes, stories, and ideas that reinforce this concept,
this
updated account adds further information and approaches to a mix that
personalizes the act of being kind. These
editors also have published Random Acts of
Kindness Then & Now (9781573245876,
$14.95), which includes the
original book plus new stories. These
accounts involve strangers, simple affection, and empathy, and serve as
inspirational books to both uplift readers and offer insights into how
such
acts may be expanded upon or perpetrated.
Conari Press
www.redwheelweiser.com
For
This We Left Egypt? For
This We Left Egypt? A Passover Haggadah for Jews and
Those Who Love Them is a different,
tongue-in-cheek version
of Jewish history for those who have a sense of humor about this
subject, and
combines fun drawings with observations that take traditional Jewish
stories
and turn them upside down. One
example of a non-traditional retelling goes like this: "...the Hebrews spent forty
years wandering in
the desert, also referred to as the wilderness. Initially, this was
because
Moses (like many typical male prophets) refused to ask directions to
the land
to Canaan. But later...twelve Hebrew spies did manage to sneak into the
Desert
of Paran, on the edge of the Promised Land, and they discovered that
while the
soil was fertile, the land was inhabited by giants. Yup, that's right.
Giants.
Though it is also possible that the twelve spies were all really short,
or that
they happened to reach the Desert of Paran on Stilt Day." Wonderfully
hilarious! Any Jewish history reader with a sense of humor will love
this very
different view of Jewish history and culture.
Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel and Adam Mansbach
Flatiron Books
9781250110213
www.flatironbooks.com
Hair
of the Dog to Paint the Town Red Hair
of the Dog to Paint the Town Red: The Curious Origins
of Everyday Sayings and Fun Phrases
joins others in the
language trivia section with a fun exploration of the ironies and
oddities of
the English language. Andrew
Thompson's approach differs from some in that he focuses on hilarious
origins
of common sayings such as 'put a sock in it' and 'clutching at straws'
and 'fly
by the seat of your pants'. This
injection of historical background lends fun references to surveys
which
include explorations of meaning, cover the phrase used in its context,
and
makes historical references that often date back to ancient
times. Hair
of the Dog to Paint the Town Red is
a
'must' for any wordsmith who is also interested in history.
Andrew Thompson
Ulysses Press
9781612436685 $12.95
www.ulyssespress.com
My
Scandalous Little Rule Book Collections
strong in self-help and motivational titles will find this blend of
memoir and
advice guide offers some hard-hitting truths and approaches to life
based on
how author Jacquie Somerville leads her own successful life. In
the course of describing this life and her encounters (which range from
a hated
job of selling stereos and having to endure and cooperate with
cheerleader-type
management programs to her strange wedding to a gay man, even though
she was
straight), Somerville imparts a sassy and classy set of success tips
that
simply won't be found in any other self-help or advice
approach. Perhaps
that's because her brand of success also involves a healthy degree of
self-identity and preservation; but one thing is for sure: My Scandalous Little Rule Book
is a 'must'
for a generation of women who would forge their own paths without
relying on
relationships, father figures, or co-dependent life choices.
Jacquie Somerville
SelectBooks
9781590793008
$16.95
www.selectbooks.com
Preventing
Credit Card Fraud Preventing
Credit Card Fraud: A Complete Guide for Everyone
from Merchants to Consumers is a
guide to protection against
credit card fraud that outlines the many ways such fraud is perpetrated
and how
merchants and consumers alike can employ often-simple routines to help
thwart
and prevent such actions. The
discussions come from a successful bankruptcy attorney who has her own
practice
and a nationally-renown author and consultant specializing in business
relationships and criminal justice (among other things). Their combined
knowledge creates a blend of business and consumer advice guide that
goes
beyond simpler discussions on the topic to consider the potential
damages of
credit card fraud, how to identify online and offline frauds, and what
to do
when fraud is suspected. No
consumer or merchant should be without this in-depth guide to the many
warning
signs of fraud and how fraudulent transactions work.
Jen Grondahl Lee and Gini Graham Scott
Rowman & Littlefield
9781442267992
$36.00
www.rowman.com
Stop
North Korea! Stop
North Korea! A Radical New Approach to the North Korean
Standoff holds an unusual
approach and alternative that
sets it apart from most books written about North Korea's nuclear
ambitions and
the implications for East Asia, and should be on the shelves of any
foreign
relations library serious about Asian events. Contrary
to most books on the subject, this pairs history with a proposal for
the reunification
of North and South Korea that takes into account the possibility of buying
peace. This
might seem like a high-cost and strange idea to those used to thinking
that
only military solutions can work, but its proposals on how to achieve
reunification
offers much food for thought that differs from many mainstream
assessments and
ideas on how to solve the problem. Stop
North Korea! is especially
recommended for debates at the high school, college, or public level,
as it
proposes many specifics worthy of in-depth discussion.
Shepherd Iverson
Tuttle
9780804848596 $19.95
www.tuttlepublishing.com
Sunbelt
Publications Max Kurillo's California's El Camino Real and
Its Historic Bells
(9781532318948, $22.95) is, surprisingly, the first book to cover the
history
and preservation of one of the state's major transit routes. The
"King's
Highway" extends some 2,000 miles and was long the major transportation
artery in the state, but today it's marked only with historic bells
whose
origins are rarely known by the many who still travel the remaining
sections of
this route. From
the roadway's development and the evolution of these bell markers which
were
designed to celebrate its course to maps, vintage black and white
photos, and
information on the roadway's evolution, this is a powerful history that
should
be in any California library. It thoroughly documents the road's
influences on
different regions throughout the state and the methods by which it came
to be
celebrated and remembered. Nicholas
Clapp's Bodie:
Good Times & Bad
(9781941384268, $22.95) enjoys fine photos by Will Furman as it brings
the
abandoned desert mining town to life and covers its history and the
people who
saw their hopes and dreams come alive, only to be buried in
Bodie. Bodie
is unique among old frontier towns because it remains nearly complete
in its
physical buildings, even as it's now empty of residents. Gorgeous
full-page color photos capture the town and its surroundings, while
accompanying history documents the rise and fall of Bodie and considers
its
attraction and uniqueness to modern California history buffs who can
visit it
today as a rare relic indicative of the state's tumultuous mining
towns.
www.sunbeltbooks.com
Theodore
Waddell: My Montana Theodore
Waddell: My Montana - Paintings and Sculpture,
1959-2016 is a catalog of the rancher-artist's works which reflects a
satisfying blend of landscapes and animals, blending abstract
expressionist
techniques with a survey of Western animals both domestic and
wild. Waddell's
works are represented in colorful pages that gather images from his
personal
archive in a title that surveys his influences, his Montana background,
and the
works of other artists, pairing these with an extensive oral history
thanks to
Rick Newby's access to Waddell's journals and letters, which offers
unprecedented information on his evolution and artistry. The
result will appeal to two audiences: arts collections strong in
regional,
contemporary American artists, and any with a special affection for
Montana
landscapes and nature, and their artistic history and
representation.
Rick Newby
University of Oklahoma Press
9780976968474
$29.95
www.oupress.com
Wild
Ideas: Creativity from the Inside Out In
Wild Ideas: Creativity from the Inside Out,
author Cathy Wild presents the seven stages of creative process,
considers why
and how these stages are reached or thwarted, and tells creators how to
stay on
track, offering at once a psychological exploration and a personal
journey from
an author who is both an artist and a counselor with years spent in
private
practice and artistic pursuits. Other
books discuss the concept of nurturing creativity; but this book's
difference
lies in its wide-ranging applications of ideas across disciplines, from
anthropology, psychology, and early childhood education to dance and
healing.
As such, it offers far more detail than most, woven into different
perspectives
that reflect upon impasses as much as achievements. From
sources of inspiration and 'magical moments' of revelation as to why
creativity
should be considered not a unique gift, but an original state of
ability that
everyone holds, chapters delve into the basics of how attitudes towards
life,
habits of reacting to it, relationship choices, and perspectives either
support
or quash the creative spirit. Wild
Ideas asks deep questions, invites
its ideal audience to process the answers, and also issues a
call for
action by inspiring a willingness to change in order to get the most
from
creative impulses—and nurture that process. The
result is a powerful encouragement of 'wild ideas' and out-of-the-box
thinking
processes that demonstrates that nurturing projects, thoughts, and
curiosity
can lead to new frontiers of growth and creative exploration to
supercharge
one's life. Mystery, mourning, trust and intuition are only a few of
the facets
that contribute to this process, and are explored in
depth here. Anyone
truly interested in creative forces and change will find Wild Ideas: Creativity from the
Inside Out throws
down the gauntlet for real transformation and leads readers on the path
whereby
they can explore their individuality and creative roots and those
attitudes
that either support them or keep them in check.
Cathy Wild
Standing Place Press, LLC
ASIN: B01N3CQNQW
http://a.co/dAz8eDV
Your
Song Changed My Life Your
Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent,
Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey
and the
Music That Inspired It comes from a
NPR music expert who considers
much-loved music stars and how they influenced the world around them. Other
books may cover the music of a given culture or era; but this one
offers a
different focus on the pivotal moments that inspired each musician,
from Cat
Stevens and Wilco to Phish and Jackson Browne, and adopts an approach
that
traces the direct influences of fellow musicians upon each
other. There
are numerous surprises in these specific observations: Cat Stevens was
transformed by the Beatles' cover of "Twist and Shout," for one
example. In
connecting and documenting seemingly unconnected events and their
long-range
impacts, this book offers not just a detailed survey of pop culture
icons and
their influences, but how life-altering creative forces are
harnessed. Fans
of popular music will find Your Song Changed
My Life a powerful survey that offers many key
connections between
musicians, their musical evolution, and how many genre icons influence
each
other.
Bob Boilen
William Morrow
9780062344458
$16.99
www.harpercollins.com
Young Adult/Teen Reads
Candlewick
Press Martin
W. Sandler's The
Whydah - A Pirate Ship
Feared, Wrecked & Found (9780763680336,
$19.99) brings slave
ships and their operations to life, documenting how the fast,
large-capacity
cargo ship The Whydah was used to transport slaves to America before it
was
overtaken by Black Sam Bellamy, a pirate who used it as his prize
flagship and
who proceeded to plunder the East Coast before it sank in a
storm. The
treasure it held was lost until 1984, when marine archaeologists
uncovered the
wreck and its artifacts, revealing a history that has since challenged
conventional notions about pirates. Advanced
elementary to middle school readers (and any adult who likes true
pirate
accounts) will find this a powerful and revealing historical
examination. Little
Wolf's First Howling by Laura McGee
Kvasnosky and Kate Harvey McGee (9780763689711, $15.99) tells of a
little wolf
that can't wait to howl professionally, even as he takes howling
lessons from
Big Wolf. Little
Wolf is certain he's more than ready to join his father in a nighttime
howl,
but timing is everything, and Little Wolf's best may not be good
enough, yet. A
helpful father joins in on what turns out to be a howl unlike anything
heard
before. Newbery
Medalist Laura Amy Schlitz joins forces with Caldecott winning artist
Brian
Floca in Princess
Cora and the Crocodile
(9780763648220, $16.99), the story of a princess who is sick of
lessons,
bathing, and doing all the other things a proper princess needs to
do. She
decides to enlist in the help of a fairy godmother, but said godmother
isn't what
she expected - and quite possibly won't be able to help,
either. Advanced
elementary to early middle school readers will appreciate the lively
story of a
little princess who is sick of her role, and a godmother who is only
too
willing to help give her an unexpected break that ultimately teaches
her a
lesson about mischief-making. Chris
Van Dusen's Hattie
& Hudson
(9780763665456, $16.99) recounts a peaceful summer paddle on the water
which
causes Hattie to break into spontaneous song. Unfortunately,
Hattie's celebratory song awakens something less peaceful in the lake,
and what
evolves is an odd relationship as a young girl confronts a monster
lured by her
music. Good
reading skills or parental read-aloud assistance will be required for a
complex, involving story that evolves beyond a song's results and
enters the
realm of an unusual friendship and an unexpected threat in this
different, fun
story which is filled with good-sized, engaging drawings.
www.candlewick.com
Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Three
excellent new titles from Houghton Mifflin Clarion provide children
with fun
reads that are unique and involving. Janet
Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel's The
Great Fuzzy Frenzy (9780544943919, $7.99) lends
to read-aloud as
well as individual pursuit by young picture book readers with good
reading
skills as it follows the story of a strange, big, round, fuzzy thing
which
falls into a prairie-dog town. Pages
loaded with lovely prairie dog illustrations accompany the story of a
war which
erupts between the "fuzzes and the fuzz-nots" and turns the formerly
peaceful abode into a battlefield, thanks to one Pip Squeak. What can
be done
to return peace to the home? This
is a wonderful read, replete with surprises and lovely
drawings. Michelle
Robinson's And
the Robot Went ...
(9780544586529, $16.99) is illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier and tells of
the
arrival of a mysterious, big box. Could there be a Robot inside the
box? Not
really: it's just full of junk and parts - or, is something more going
on? As
Nosy Fox, Eager Beaver, and others get to work, a bigger picture
emerges which
involves a cooperative construction effort. Kids will relish the
whimsical
illustrations as the wrecking crew gets to work and makes some dubious
associations with unexpected results. Young
adults who choose Virginia Zimmerman's The
Rosemary Spell (9780544936997, $7.99) will find
it a compelling
story of two young bookworms who face a special adventure when they
come upon a
very old book with strange magical qualities. The
story becomes even more absorbing when it turns out that this magical
tome is
somehow connected to memory and reality, and when Rosemary and Adam
find
themselves on a quest to gain back Shelby, who has vanished from the
world
thanks to the book's powers. A
fine story holding many different facets comes to life in a different
kind of
magical adventure that will interest middle through high school fans of
books
and magic.
www.hmhco.com
A
Saving Stone A
Saving Stone presents young adults
with
the story of a young Norwegian prince who, in 2028, walks the beaches
with his
mother and picks up a stone that gives him a strange visionary power.
It's also
an artifact of death, because its arrival has killed his father. His
world
changes from that point onward as he struggles with his new visions and
their
impact on his world: no mean task for a pre-teen who is newly tasked
with
leading a nation in the wake of his father's fiery death. The
ability to foretell catastrophes is no mean feat for anyone; but for a
nation's
leader, it's a powerful tool that enables him to formulate actions and
responses
to handle and thwart tragedy; and so Arden is able to manipulate his
world and
change the future. But
can his ability to change history translate to altering his own
destiny? A
Saving Stone follows the growth and
transformation of a young boy given a powerful tool. It follows Arden's
efforts
to understand his role and place in history and includes a solid dose
of social
and political insights about this future world, yet it also succeeds in
showing
the special challenges of keeping a superpower secret in order to
assure that
it operates seamlessly and without outside influence. Young
adults introduced to this futuristic story of a young boy's evolving
position
in the world will find A
Saving Stone
a powerful saga of the process of his awakening new purposes beyond
that of a
nation's leader, and will especially appreciate the underlying moral
and
ethical dilemmas he faces as he navigates an ability nobody else on
Earth can
claim.
Mark Marks
Mark Marks, Publisher
ASIN: B00FETBZE2
$2.99
http://a.co/bYmGrJS
Simon
and Schuster Two
excellent tales are top, recommended picks for picture book readers and
parents
looking for high-quality pairings of text and pictures. Rob
Sanders' Rodzilla
(9781481457798,
$17.99) receives fine, large-size colorful drawings by Dan Santat as it
tells
of a fat, toothless monster (with bad breath) on the loose. He's pudgy
and he's
squashy - but he's anything but fearsome. His super-powers consist of
stink-rays and slime missiles, and he cannot be stopped - or, can he? A
hilarious
monster adventure evolves. Hannah
Barnaby and Mike Yamada's Bad
Guy
(9781481460101, $17.99) tells of a crafty, smart, bad guy who
specialize in
frightening people - largely with an imaginative series of adventures
involving
pirates, greedy treasure hunts, and brain-eating. His real world
persona
involves a loving mother, disciplinary action, and a series of
confrontations
with peers and the library. Does he really want to be such a bad boy,
after all? Both
are original, fun reads that parents will want to pursue, as
well.
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Tig
Ripley: Hard Rock Tig
Ripley: Hard Rock provides young
adult
readers with a sequel to Tig
Ripley: Rock 'n
Roll Rebel, and tells of Tig and the members of
the band Pandora's
Box, who continue to aspire to be rock stars even though they're only
in middle
school. Their
ambitions are thwarted by Tig's cousin's casualness and refusal to
improve her
playing skills, Robbie's desire to introduce a new band member, and a
conflict
that places Tig in the middle between her best friend and her
band. A
fun story of friendship, commitment, and personal best drive
evolves.
Ginger Rue
Sleeping Bear Press
9781585369478
$16.99
www.sleepingbearpress.com
Viking
Penguin Three
new picture books offer youngsters and adults selecting for them a
satisfying
gathering of fun encounters. Bethany
Barton's Give
Bees a Chance
(9780670016945, $16.99) is for any young reader who needs to know about
bees
and their important role in the world, and pairs a lively format with
basic bee
facts and colorful cartoon-like drawings especially designed for those
who
don't like bees. From
tips on how to keep bees away to the pecking order of honeybees and fun
facts
about their hives, this pairs a lively series of buzzing encounters by
a
bee-phobic boy with real insights into how bees operate in the
world. Paul
Kor's Flash
the Fish
(9780735227460, $16.99) will reach ages 3-5 with its story of Little
Flash's
family, which travels all over the ocean in a big group. The problem is
that
Flash likes to explore on his own - and when he does so, he faces
challenges
that aren't helped by safety in numbers. What
seems a monstrous and dangerous beast turns out to be something that
needs
Flash's help - but how can a little fish help an immense
being? A
fun story of family, individuality, and friendship emerges for the very
young. Rebecca
Van Slyke's Lexie
the Word Wrangler
(9780399169571, $17.99) is illustrated by Jessie Hartland and provides
a
different kind of Western story as it tells of a female ranch wrangler
who
watches over baby letters as they grow into words, until some begin to
go
missing, changing everything. Can
Lexie track down the missing letters and restore order to her ranch?
The
wordplay and fun drawings are lovely, and many an adult will find this
a
unique, fun read.
www.penguin.com