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Donovan's Bookshelf

June Prime Picks

 
Biography & AutoBiography
The Computer Corner
The Culinary Corner
Audiobooks 
Health Matters
Novel's and Mysteries 
Reviewer's Choice
Science Nature and Technoligy
Scintillating Science Fiction and Fantasy
Young Adult / Teen Reads
 

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
James Rollins
William Morrow
9780062666451             $16.99
www.harpercollins.com 

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. 


Scar Tissue: Watts & McLaren
Scott Wiener
Scott Wiener, Publisher
ASIN: B06X6FT5X8              $2.99
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X6FT5X8 

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34266347-scar-tissue 

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. 


Unreliable
Lee Irby
Doubleday
9780385542050             $26.95
www.doubleday.com 

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. 


Scintillating Science Fiction and Fantasy 

The Hills of Meat, the Forest of Bone
Michelle Muenzler
Falstaff Books 
ASIN: B01N6H9B9D             $2.99
http://www.michellemuenzler.com

http://www.falstaffbooks.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6H9B9D 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940154189733 

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=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Serena+Clarke&search-alias=books&field-author=Serena+Clarke&sort=relevancerank 

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
Peter Dare
Whittles Publishing/CRC Press
9781849951302             $29.95
www.whittlespublishing.com 

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. 


TreeGirl: Intimate Encounters with Wild Nature
Julianne Skai Arbor
TreeGirl Studios
9780692726044             $45.00
www.treegirl.org 

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. 


Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos
Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw
DaCapo Press
9780306822704             $35.00
www.dacapopress.com 

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. 


Reviewer's Choice 

Around the World in 80 Tales
Dave Tomlinson
Dave Tomlinson, Publisher
9781310402470             $2.99
Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2czLiM0

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." 


Breaking the Spell
Chris Robé
PM Press
9781629632339             $26.95
www.pmpress.org 

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.


Dining and Driving With Cats: Alice Unplugged
Pat Patterson
IonPublishers
978-0998792217            $12.95
http://a.co/7JmwoRV 

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.). 


'Random Acts' titles
Conari Press
www.redwheelweiser.com 

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. 


For This We Left Egypt?
Dave Barry, Alan Zweibel and Adam Mansbach
Flatiron Books
9781250110213        
www.flatironbooks.com 

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. 


Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red
Andrew Thompson
Ulysses Press
9781612436685      $12.95
www.ulyssespress.com 

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. 


My Scandalous Little Rule Book
Jacquie Somerville
SelectBooks
9781590793008             $16.95
www.selectbooks.com 

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. 


Preventing Credit Card Fraud
Jen Grondahl Lee and Gini Graham Scott
Rowman & Littlefield
9781442267992             $36.00
www.rowman.com 

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. 


Stop North Korea!
Shepherd Iverson
Tuttle
9780804848596      $19.95
www.tuttlepublishing.com 

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. 


Sunbelt Publications
www.sunbeltbooks.com

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. 


Theodore Waddell: My Montana
Rick Newby
University of Oklahoma Press
9780976968474             $29.95
www.oupress.com 

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. 


Wild Ideas: Creativity from the Inside Out 
Cathy Wild
Standing Place Press, LLC
ASIN: B01N3CQNQW                              $9.95
http://a.co/dAz8eDV 

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. 


Your Song Changed My Life
Bob Boilen
William Morrow
9780062344458             $16.99
www.harpercollins.com 

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.


 

Young Adult/Teen Reads 

Candlewick Press
www.candlewick.com 

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. 


Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion
www.hmhco.com 

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. 


A Saving Stone
Mark Marks
Mark Marks, Publisher
ASIN: B00FETBZE2        $2.99
http://a.co/bYmGrJS 

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. 


Simon and Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com/kids 

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. 


Tig Ripley: Hard Rock
Ginger Rue
Sleeping Bear Press
9781585369478             $16.99
www.sleepingbearpress.com 

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. 


Viking Penguin
www.penguin.com 

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.