Adult/High School—While spending a year in Nepal, Alex, an American college student, meets Maya, who is from the hill country. She helps Maya leave her home and begin a new life in Kathmandu, and both young women feel that there is something strong that binds them together. Alex makes two more trips to Nepal over the next eight years. She learns that Maya has gone to Bombay, where she has entered the sex trade, and Alex follows her there, hoping that their bond will allow her to find Maya and somehow help her. This is a story about a relationship that cuts across cultures, but also about a culture that severs relationships. With complex and intriguing characters and beautifully drawn settings, this compelling novel has much to offer American teen girls ready to look at the larger world.—Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—This fast-paced whodunit entertains on several levels. A domineering, powerful, spiteful editor of a major national newspaper is found murdered with the same spike in his chest that he used to kill reporters' stories. A young, single, clever female detective teams up with a young, single, clever male reporter to solve the case. The evidence points to a multitude of suspects. Then another victim is found dead, and then, still another. Each time, the method of murder is more gruesome, and more telling. Obviously, the murderer (murderers?) is sending a message, but exactly what that message is remains elusive. The suspense mounts, and most readers will remain puzzled to the end. In addition to these elements of a traditional mystery, readers are treated to an inside look at a rapidly changing, and some would say dying, profession of print journalism. With considerable attention to detail, Darnton portrays the key players in this transformation: the resentful old guard, the clueless publisher, the aggressive career builders, the talented but unappreciated reporters, the self-centered columnists, and the ruthless international media tycoon. With abundant wit and panache, the author navigates his way between the rising cliffs of cynicism and romanticism to arrive at some semblance of truth concerning this not-yet-expired institution in our society. The daily newspaper is still alive in America, even if several newspaper workers are dead all over in Darnton's entertaining and enlightening tale.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Oates examines a family made famous first by the success, and then by the murder of their six-year-old ice-skating star, Bliss Rampike. Through 19-year-old Skyler, readers are introduced to the family. They know that his younger sister has been killed. But by whom, and why? The author holds back nothing in this portrait of a family gone horribly wrong: two egotistical, noncommunicative adults raising their firstborn, who cannot live up to their expectations or their own dreams, and their daughter, who tries. Readers see not only the relentless striving of the mother for fame and fortune, but also the manipulation of her son. Skyler tells of his memories (he was nine when his sister died) and of the present with appropriately excruciating detail—the overwhelming intrusion of the outside world, the public damning of his family, and the repercussions he suffers. The first-person narrative requires close attention to the web of lies and intrigue that the author spins. The use of footnotes by Skyler may confuse some teens, but the insights contained in them are invaluable. This is not a quick read, but rather a painful scrutiny of society and the things people often value. Give this book to advanced readers who will want to solve the mystery, and who want to study the dynamics of a dysfunctional family and/or of a society driven mad by media coverage. Intelligent and thought-provoking.—Janet Melikian, Central High School East, Fresno, CA

Adult/High School—An evocative, emotionally rich story of female adolescence and grief. Nico, the 13-year-old protagonist, lives a life of ease in her family's lake house. Her parents are well-intentioned and progressive. Her older sister is in many ways the center of Nico's universe—Nico is fascinated by Margaret's beauty, her cigarette habit, and her femininity. There is obvious love between the two of them, and a shared intelligence and wit that manifests itself in their conversation. Because Nico's awe of her sister is evident from the start, the situation is all the more painful when Margaret drowns. The narrative then focuses on Nico's grief, her attempt to reconcile her sadness with her growing feelings for Margaret's brooding boyfriend, and the family's attempt to redefine itself. As usual, Prose's writing is spot-on: she conveys the psychological turmoil of the situation with stark, simple language and tempers the sadness with moments of dry humor. Nico has a decidedly adult voice, but teen readers will nevertheless appreciate her wisdom and her confusion, her selfishness and her budding sexuality. The author taps into the deepest corners of her characters' minds and spins a hook-filled plot around a complex protagonist. Fans of Sarah Dessen, Sara Zarr, and Deb Caletti will enjoy Goldengrove immensely.—Caitlin Fralick, Ottawa Public Library, ON

Adult/High School—Sano Ichiro, second in command to the shogun, is preparing for war against his enemy, Lord Matsudaira. The shogun is weak and unable to rule effectively and the two wage battle behind his back, each wanting to stop the other from gaining more power. In the thick of this enmity, a skeleton is unearthed and discovered to be the body of the shogun's cousin, murdered 40 years earlier. Sano is sent to investigate, only to find that his own mother is implicated. He must not only save her from execution, but also come to terms with the secrets she's held all his life. This turn of events provides Lord Matsudaira with the fodder he needs to try to oust Sano. The story threads are neatly tied up to create a satisfactory ending that leaves readers wanting more about these all-too-human characters. This series stars Sano and his wife, Reiko, who solve mysteries. The book can be read on its own, but it would be a richer experience for teens familiar with the preceding titles. The plot is complicated, with many auxiliary stories taking place alongside the thread of the mystery. Rowland brings Sano, his wife, a cast of supporting characters, and 18th-century Japan to life with a sweet, simple writing style.—Connie Williams, Kenilworth Jr. High, Petaluma, CA

Adult/High School—Isabelle, 11, has not spoken in 280 days and her doting parents are frantic with worry. The girl enjoys a comfortable life in a Manhattan apartment and a country-weekend cottage and is enrolled in private school. Her silence is not the result of trauma and has no physical cause. Several psychologists have given up on "fixing" her, and her school threatens to cut her loose if she does not return to normalcy. Ruth, a somewhat controlling mother, hangs on to the hope that a new psychologist will unravel the mystery through Isabelle's drawings. Wilson holds on to the hope that action will cure his daughter's silence—hang the swing, clean the garage, cut the Christmas tree, travel to Africa. The plot is at first revealed through the parents' point of view and could almost be considered a mystery, complete with red herrings. (Will the deaf neighbor boy trigger Isabelle to speak? Has she inherited crazy Uncle Jimmy's tendency to mental problems?) Only when the story switches to the protagonist's point of view do readers begin to understand what is going on. December is a hauntingly quiet domestic drama, full of evocative language and agonizing emotional scenes. The looming demise of an old apple tree and of a cancer-stricken dog hint at the loss of a childhood. Isabelle's quiet, stubborn rebellion should appeal to teens.—Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA

Adult/High School—Allen presents scans of original documents followed by clear commentary detailing the events surrounding the texts. The book covers a wide span of time, making it a resource that will pique the interest of almost any history lover. Highlights include a simple baker uncovering a British spy during the American Revolution, Stalin's support of Kim Il Sung during the Korean War, and a report sent to George W. Bush in August 2001 suggesting the possibility of an attack on U.S. soil organized by Osama bin Laden. Largely focused on the U.S., the volume does include documents and tales from the Soviet Union, Germany, France, Israel, and a handful of other nations. Chapters are arranged by theme, such as "The Secret State" and "Espionage Accidents," making this an easy read. The primary-source material of spy stories, shrewd political moves, and hidden aspects of war shows how conflicts between nations persist during times of peace. The book also serves as a good quick-reference tool. An index allows users to look up documents by nation, major historical figure, and subject. Thought-provoking and enjoyable, this unique collection tells stories often neglected in history class.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—Cetin recounts the 1915 Armenian genocide, when the Turks sent thousands of Armenian people to their deaths. After they rounded up the men, they slit their throats, and marched the women and children until most of them died. Literally snatched out of her mother's arms, Christian-born Heranus was rescued from death by a Muslim gendarme who brought her up as the Muslim girl Seher. Treated as a servant by his wife, Seher eventually married the son, and unsuccessfully searched for her family. The Turks euphemistically called the Armenians "converts," or those who have impure blood. Those who survived the marches were called "the leftovers of the sword." Cetin was an adult when she learned of these horrors and of her grandmother's original family; and her grandmother implored her to help find them, which Cetin set out to do. It is not always clear who is narrating, and Cetin often tells readers something through one individual and then again through another. In spite of these slight problems, My Grandmother is a fascinating account of a story that needs to be heard by teens. It well deserves to be used in world history class, or as a biography for genre assignments in English classes.—Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School—Francis was green before it was the popular thing to be. On January 17, 1971, he saw a half-million-gallon oil spill near the Golden Gate Bridge, and a year later, in an attempt to do something positive for the environment, he chose to start walking, forsaking motorized vehicles of any kind. He walked everywhere, and on his 27th birthday, feeling again that he was not doing enough for the world, he took a vow of silence. For the next 17 years, he spoke not a word. But his life didn't stop and he never sat still. Francis managed to walk across the United States and, while he did, he earned an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in science and environmental studies; finally, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he completed a PhD in land resources. He learned how to play the banjo, and the five-string Conqueror became his walking companion, people magnet, and calling card. He continued his pedestrian trek, took a job at the office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and eventually became UNEP's Goodwill Ambassador to the World's Grassroots Communities, and walked and sailed to the tip of South America. Planetwalker is an inspiring story that will make teens think and may help them to realize that global change is possible through individual action.—Joanne Ligamari, Twin Rivers United School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—London and New York sewer tunnels, Japan's robotic toilet industry, farming innovations in China, and the politics of public sanitation in India—past and present—are treated with forthright investigation, sensitivity to intercultural relations and experiences, and high good humor. The effects of urban living on people who don't have sufficient human-waste disposal systems include not only diseases, but also social constructions that follow them beyond their portable brick latrines and backside-cleansing tools. The privacy that Westerners have grown to insist on as part of the toileting experience hampers travelers in parts of the world where toilet stalls don't have doors, let alone where toilets don't have stalls. George interviewed locals, social reformers, engineers, and bureaucrats in search of filling in the details of the picture she creates, making this a thorough, highly informative, and thought-provoking account. Her writing style is a delight, assuring her a faithful audience even while she discusses topics most commonly left unspoken and unwritten about. Teens may pick this up first for the gross-out factor but will find it a wealth of scientific and political intrigue.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—A thorough investigation of the fishing industry. Grescoe's research carried him to major fishing ports across the globe, from the Chesapeake Bay to the Indian Ocean, where he spent time with and interviewed fishermen, fishmongers, chefs, restaurateurs, and scientists. Each chapter focuses on a different dish—"Shrimp Curry," "Bluefin Tuna Sashimi," "Fish and Chips"—telling the history of the dish as well as the legal, ethical, and health issues surrounding the seafood used to make it. The author then explains his own choices of what to eat and what not to eat. But what really drives the book is his love of cuisine. Whether it's something as ordinary as fish sticks or an exotic meal of jellyfish, he writes about it all with gustatory enthusiasm. The book concludes with a useful appendix listing alternative resources, questions to ask when buying seafood, a list of common fishing terms, and lists of seafood broken into categories so readers have a clearer idea of what is acceptable to eat. While it may not have the widespread appeal of Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation (Houghton, 2001), Grescoe's entertaining and informative book will arm anyone interested in a dietary change.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—Klein's memoir of her fight with food is brutally and painfully honest. It begins with irony—the soon-to-be mother of twins who has battled weight issues all her life was told by her obstetrician to gain 50 pounds—and ends with acceptance that "no matter the grief I endure, I will always care what I weigh." The author's remote and self-absorbed mother, who has her own image issues, and her successful businessman father, whose insensitive remarks contributed to her lack of self-esteem, sent their 13-year-old daughter to a camp known to help children lose weight. Having suffered bullying at school and nicknamed Moose, the girl hoped to remake her image at camp. Her attempts were undermined, however, by the unkindness of cliques, the ineptitude of staff, and her own excessive behavior, which ranged from eating binges and purging to promiscuity. Her stash of pornography earned her the new nickname of Porno Queen. Two meaningful relationships did develop, however. Bunkmate Kate, irrepressible, irreverent, and sardonic, offered genuine friendship, and boyfriend Adam offered the exhilaration of first love. There are no easy answers here for ways to lose weight or become popular, but teens who battle weight issues will find a kindred spirit, and campers will laugh and grimace over some universal experiences.—Jackie Gropman, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School—At last, an instructional art book that focuses solely on the female manga character. The bodacious babes featured in this well-designed, highly informative, and artistically inspirational book will hold appeal for both newly curious and experienced manga artists. The characters range from classic shojo-style to sexy uniformed schoolgirls, empowered career women, and pop-culture enthusiasts ("Representin' Reiko"—a hip-hop fan—or Ana, the punk rocker) as well as to vampires, beach babes, tomboys, and Goths. Multiculturally neutral, the book well represents international styles, fashions, and trends of contemporary teen girls. It includes an introduction to manga; a film, book, and artist resource list; a Japanese-terminology glossary; a list of tools and materials; and a comprehensive how-to section that covers everything from basic line drawing to digital media. This title should be a welcome addition for art instructors, teen manga clubs, and libraries that have a strong manga/anime following.—Jodi Mitchell, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Longman follows high school football coach Cyril Crutchfield, Jr., in his dogged determination to rebuild Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish through the sport. Teen rivals from three different schools joined together at the new South Plaquemines High. Overcoming many obstacles—including lifting weights in a makeshift training room in a ruined gym while watching highlights of opposing teams on a VCR run by a generator—this team made it to the 2006 state playoffs. Their goal for the next season was the state championship at the Dome in New Orleans. In addition to being a story about football, the book showcases the rebuilding of a community rich in tradition and commitment to family. It also highlights struggles with insurance companies, the poorly built FEMA trailers, and government subsidies. Share this title with fans of Friday Night Lights or those who want to learn about the effects of Hurricane Katrina on a small community.—Gregory Lum, Jesuit High School, Portland, OR

Adult/High School—Today's teens may know Shatner from his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal, or as the pitchman for Priceline.com, or as a character in several Brad Paisley music videos. They are probably also aware of his enduring role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek television show and movies. In this autobiography, he takes a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at his long acting career, starting with performing in the Montreal Children's Theatre, moving on to the Canadian Rep, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and, ultimately, just about every television drama that was on the air in the 1950s. Over the years, he clearly learned to laugh at himself, which makes this book an entertaining read as he talks about his career, his four wives, three daughters, horses, love of risk-taking, eternal quest for financial security, and lots of people, famous and otherwise, whom he met along the way. Although the narrative is roughly chronological, Shatner never hesitates to stop in the middle of one story to tell another, or to refer to something that happened much later. There is some repetition-he clearly has favorite stories-but his lighthearted approach makes readers willing to be indulgent of his vagaries and excesses.—Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—This collection of essays is a good choice for teens who suspect what geeks already know—that mathematics is interesting and, yes, even fun. The selections are geek lite, covering such questions as "How heavy is your house?" and "Which is more powerful—your brain or a PC?" The answers provided are short (typically four to eight pages); humorous; and, best of all for the mathematically challenged, easy to understand. Tattersall occasionally throws in an impressive-looking formula in a display of "gee-whiz" showmanship, but readers need not worry. The author explains his calculations in plain English. While the British origin of the book will from time to time jar American readers, as when the author explains how you can estimate the population of Boston because you already know the population of Liverpool, this is a minor distraction in an entertaining and enlightening book.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—A compact trim size, alphabetical organization, and short entries make this guide appealing and easy to use. Each of the 94 entries includes a general description, origins, variations, practice, and cultural context, as well as one to three related superstitions to send readers on a sort of choose-your-own-adventure experience. Topics range from the familiar (black cat, fortune cookie, wishbone) to the more exotic (evil eye, maneki neko, yantra), and each entry has examples drawn from movies, television, and music, most of which will be known to teens. Seventy of the entries are also illustrated in a center section of color plates; the lurid colors of the computer-generated collage images may appeal to some (or may end up snipped out of the book). Although there are 16 books and articles and 30 Web sites listed in the sources, there are no footnotes or endnotes, so Yablon's assertions are difficult to back up. However, as a starting point or as a bit of fun, casual readers should find this book enjoyable.—Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA