Adult Books 4 Teens: June 2011
RSS
Fiction BERG, Carol. The Soul Mirror. 480p. ROC. 2011. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-451-46374-6. LC number unavailable. BRADLEY, Alan. A Red Herring Without Mustard: A Flavia de Luce Novel. 399p. Delacorte. 2011. Tr $23. ISBN 978-0-385-34232-2. LC number unavailable. CHAUCER, Geoffrey. Selected Canterbury Tales: A New Verse Translation. tr. by Sheila Fisher. 816p. Norton. 2011. Tr $35. ISBN 9780393079456. LC 2010053552. FOWLER, Therese. Exposure. 384p. Ballantine. 2011. Tr $25. ISBN 978-0-345-51553-7. LC number unavailable.Adult/High School–Fowler evokes shades of “Romeo and Juliet” with a contemporary social media twist: sexting and its consequences. Amelia Wilkes, 17, is not allowed to date, but she and 18-year-old Anthony Winter are having a secret, star-crossed romance that turns out to have tragic consequences when Harlan, Amelia’s strict father, discovers nude photos of Anthony on his daughter’s computer. Harlan’s immediate and complete rage at what he stubbornly insists is exploitation of his daughter spirals out of control as first Anthony and then Amelia are arrested in what explodes into a media circus. Kim, Anthony’s mom, is a teacher at the school both teens attend and she can’t muster the financial resources or political clout that drives Harlan’s near vendetta against her son. Although Fowler explores the adults’ motivations, she keeps the focus on Anthony and Amelia: believable, flawed characters who are in love and don’t see what they did as wrong. Their choices reflect the total desperation that denied love can bring. Teens who enjoy romance or who appreciate layered and complex family stories with a courtroom element á la Jodi Picoult will devour this.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI HARPER, Karen. The Irish Princess: A Novel. 416p. NAL. 2011. pap. $15. ISBN 978-0-451-23282-3. LC number unavailable. HOWREY, Meg. Blind Sight. Pantheon. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-307-37916-0. LC number unavailable. MCCLEARY, Carol. The Illusion of Murder. Bk. 2. 352p. Forge. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2204-3. LC number unavailable. MIZUKI, Shigeru. Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths. tr. from Japanese by Jocelyne Allen. illus. by author. 372p. Drawn & Quarterly. 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-77046-041-6. LC number unavailable. RASMUSSEN, Rebecca. The Bird Sisters. 290p. Crown. 2011. Tr $24. ISBN 978-0-307-71796-2. LC number unavailable. ROY, Lori. Bent Road. 358p. Dutton. 2011. Tr $25.95. ISBN 978-0-525-95183-4. LC number unavailable. SHAN, Darren. Hell’s Horizon. Bk. 2. 336p. (The City Trilogy). Grand Central. 2011. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-446-55173-1. LC number unavailable. SHAPIRO, Elena Mauli. 13, rue Thérèse. 288p. Little, Brown. 2011. Tr $23.99. ISBN 978-0-316-08328-7. LC 2010006269. SUZUKI, Oji. A Single Match. illus. by author. 227p. Drawn & Quarterly. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-1-77046-009-6. LC number unavailable. TANNER, Ron. Kiss Me, Stranger. 171p. Ig. 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-935439-14-2. LC 2010048616. VAUGHN, Carrie. After the Golden Age. 304p. Tor. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-7653-2555-6. LC 2010036541. ZENTNER, Alexi. Touch. 264p. Norton. 2011. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-0-393-07987-6. LC number unavailable. Nonfiction BISHOP, Elizabeth. Poems. 352p. Farrar. 2011. pap. $16. ISBN 978-0-374-53236-9. LC 2010038535. CRAIG, Michael Earl. Thin Kimono. 105p. Wave. 2010. Tr $14. ISBN 978-1-933517-46-9. LC number unavailable. GRUMMER, Arnold E.. Trash-to-Treasure Papermaking. 208p. Storey. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-60342-547-6. LC number unavailable. ICE-T, & Douglas Century. Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption–from South Central to Hollywood. 288p. One World. 2011. Tr $25. ISBN 978-0-345-52328-0. LC number unavailable. ZUCKOFF, Mitchell. Lost in Shangri-La: The Epic True Story of a Plane Crash into the Stone Age. 400p. Harper. 2011. Tr $26.99. ISBN 978-0-06-198834-9. LC number unavailable.
Adult/High School–In Berg’s Renaissance-like world, the magic being displaced by reason is quite real, although strangely changed since the wars 300 years ago. When bright, eminently reasonable Anne de Vernase is summoned to court after her sister’s mysterious death, she finds that the intrigue that left her brother imprisoned and her father a convicted traitor four years earlier in The Spirit Lens (Roc, 2010) is perhaps not concluded. The plotting is interlaced with themes of faith versus evidence and magic versus science with undercurrents of romance and quite a few murders. Astute readers will see the truth through Anne’s narration sooner than Anne herself does: she has a powerful latent ability for magic, is neither dull nor plain despite her claims, and is front and center in the mystery. Reluctantly allied with a cast of characters even less open about their true selves, Anne finds herself in peril as she fights to save the world from a mad sorcerer. Although the plot sounds a bit epic, this is mostly a complex fantasy of manners with a side of bloodshed and mystery. Anne is engaging even when she is being annoyingly obtuse, and her journey from sheltered girl to powerful woman and agent of change will resonate with teens (not just girls, despite the poor cover art) who like fantasy. Although this novel can be read alone, it assumes some awareness of the world, and readers who haven’t read the first (in which Anne is a secondary character) might be tempted to go back.–Karyn N. Silverman, LREI (Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School), NYC
Adult/High School–Readers will be thrilled with Bradley’s beautifully crafted latest “Flavia de Luce” novel that is both suspenseful and laugh-out loud funny. Though this book can stand alone, it is a treat to learn more about Flavia and the eccentric cast of characters that appeared in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (2009) and The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag (2010, both Delacorte). Flavia and her trusty bike, Gladys, travel the countryside in search of answers to the long-ago “disappearance” of a village child, the bludgeoning of a traveling gypsy, the murder of a local thug, the identity of a ring of sinister thieves, and the mystery of a suppressed religious sect. Her courage and determination in the face of great danger are extraordinary. She is also dealing with her father’s economic woes and the “sad splendor of the de Luce ancestral home,” along with the fact that her sisters’ wicked treatment of Flavia have ramped up a notch. Also woven through the story is Flavia’s longing for her mother and her loneliness: “whenever I’m with other people, part of me shrinks a little.” Teens will cheer for Flavia’s bravery, her brilliant knowledge of chemistry, and her compassion. A tender ending will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. Bravo for Flavia and bravo for Bradley.–Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA
Adult/High School– Filled with sex, adultery, high adventure, and fart jokes, and providing direct access to the ever-fascinating Middle Ages, The Canterbury Tales should be a natural choice for teens. Unfortunately, even discounting the 600 years of cultural difference, the Tales remain frustratingly out of reach for most readers due to Chaucer’s Middle English, which while technically readable is filled with archaic vocabulary and complex syntax. In this new translation of approximately half of the Tales, Fisher focuses on vocabulary, leaving Chaucer’s Middle English syntax almost entirely intact. The downside to this approach is obvious, and accounts for why traditional translations have opted against it: it makes for a much more challenging read. But the payoff is tremendous, allowing the modern reader a truer taste of Chaucer’s language, and a sense of how simultaneously modern and distant Chaucer is, without having to learn the more specialized aspects of Middle English grammar and vocabulary. And complemented as it is by the original Middle English on facing pages, it is an excellent way to introduce students to at least short passages of Chaucer’s actual language without devoting an entire semester or more to studying vocabulary. For teens looking to read the Tales on their own, stick with Coghill (Penguin, 1951) or Raffel (Modern Library, 2008). But for teachers looking to introduce their students to Chaucer as a poet, rather than merely a storyteller, this book is an unquestionably strong choice.- Mark Flowers, John Kennedy Library, Solano County, CA
Adult/High School–This story opens with Gera, knife in hand, ready to plunge it into the swollen, corpulent body of ailing King Henry VIII. It’s sweet revenge for the years of forced exile, the unjust beheading of her uncles and step-brother, and the removal of the Fitzgeralds–the uncrowned Royal Family–from their beloved Ireland. The Irish Princess follows the story of Elizabeth Fitzgerald–Gera–through the years of her exile, arranged marriage, unrequited love for Edward Clinton, Lord High Admiral, and her growing admiration, in spite of herself, for the young Princess Elizabeth. There is nothing better than a historical novel filled with revenge, court intrigue, and a truly great love story; and this novel delivers them all. When it’s based on true history, it’s even better. What brings this Irish rebel into the darkened back room with murder in mind, and will she follow through or will she get caught? Even if one knows how King Henry died, the story is fraught with anxiety for her safety. Gera is a strong-willed, rebellious, and stubborn woman with but one goal in mind: to return to her beloved Ireland and restore the Fitzgerald family to its rightful place. One can almost hear the hue and cry of “A Geraldine! A Geraldine!” as one closes this book at its satisfying end. Perfect for teens who like romance within a historical setting.–Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA
Adult/High School–For all of his 17 years, Luke has lived in a family of women. His mother, Sara, a revered healer and yoga master, has raised him to be non-judgmental and gentle. When he wanted to play football, she gave him a bongo drum instead. His two older sisters, sassy and irreverent, have doted on him since babyhood. His grandmother believes that he is the only one in the family who shares a reverence for the Bible. Luke himself, however, is a far more interesting and complex thinker than any of his loved ones perceive. His father has long been absent, believed by Luke to have vanished after one magical night with Sara. Everything changes when his father, now a famous television star with a new name, contacts Sara with a proposal that Luke should come to Los Angeles for the summer. The male bonding between long-lost man and his son fulfills mutual longings that neither had previously acknowledged. Throughout the summer, Luke writes essays intended for his college application. These essays comprise the first part of each chapter, and are filled with Luke’s wonderfully witty observations on family dynamics and the workings of the human brain. After the essays, which generally wander far afield of Luke’s opening ideas, the narration changes to third person. This is only confusing for the first couple of occurrences; readers quickly realize that more of the story can be told from this vantage point. Teens will appreciate Luke’s philosophical insights as well as his youthful naivety.–Diane Colson, New Port Richey Library, FL
Adult/High School–Intrepid American reporter Nellie Bly is the star of this period mystery. Plucky, outrageous, brave, and sharp, her true-life circumstances make her adventures seem natural. In this sequel to The Alchemy of Murder (Forge, 2010), Nellie is engaged in a race around the world to beat Jules Verne’s 80-day story. Opening with action scenes worthy of Indiana Jones, she witnesses the murder of a man who whispers the word “Amelia” and secretly passes her a key before dying in her arms. After subsequent attempts on her own life, Nellie becomes determined to solve the murder, even as she races around the world by ship and train. What follows is an exotic adventure featuring magic tricks and red-herrings, with danger and conspiracy at every turn. Other real-life figures play supporting roles, including Frederick Selous, a famous big-game hunter and potential love interest for Nellie, and the fascinating actress Sarah Bernhardt. With a sometimes contradictory blend of feminist conviction and naiveté, Nellie shows determination and spunk that will keep the interest of teens looking for an historical adventure. Teens not familiar with the intrepid reporter will benefit from the “editor’s” footnotes explaining historical references and the photographs and news clippings that add authenticity to the story. Readers may want to follow up with Bly’s true published account, Around the World in Seventy-Two Days.–Priscille Dando, Robert E. Lee High School, Fairfax County, VA
Adult/High School–An award winning Japanese cartoonist offers his own story of service in the Emperor’s army. Apolitical and at first disinterested in the required military service, Mizuki quickly came to develop a sense of personal offense at how his comrades were treated with disrespect by their commanders. Originally published in Japan in 1973, this memoir shows the decline of Japanese bravado in the face of troop losses and Allied bombs. Mizuki differentiates each of his characters here, not only physically but in displaying and relaying temperaments in word and action. This is a war story that gives ready access to American readers who know little of Japanese foot soldiers’ experiences during World War II; the medium of classic manga is just right for the content.–Francisca Goldsmith, Infopeople Project, CA
Adult/High School–Everyone in town knows that an injured bird should be taken to the elderly Bird Sisters, Twiss and Molly. In this recollection, the sisters recount a long ago summer when everything hinged on one sweet moment of possibility. Their father, unable to fulfill his aspirations as a golf instructor after a car accident renders his game off balance, moves out to live in the barn by himself while their mother carries on. Cousin Bett comes to live with them and brings with her the promise of the outside world. But when the sisters discover that Bett is invited into the barn–off limits to them–they uncover secrets that change the course of their lives forever. This lavishly written story follows the rhythms of their life much as it follows the ebb and flow of their rural Wisconsin community. Episodes from their past follow them through the present as they take in one last bird to repair, only to have it die and toss them back to that time, many years before. Love, loss, choice, and family loyalty are the words these sisters live by. This book, extremely well written with descriptions that drop readers right into the middle of a rural poverty-stricken life, will not appeal to all teen readers. But those who think deeply, who like their reading to be evocative of times past, and who enjoy the play of words to develop a sense of place will enjoy it. The choices Twiss and Milly make to stay together are understandable and compelling, but they are also just plain sad.–Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, CA
Adult/High School–Arthur Scott grew up in a small town in Kansas in the 1950s, but fled to the big city of Detroit after the death of one of his younger sisters, Eve. Now it’s the mid ‘60s, and Detroit has become a dangerous place to live, with race riots and black boys calling his teenage daughter, Elaine, on the telephone. So Arthur packs up his wife, Celia, and their children, Elaine, Daniel, and young Evie, and moves them back to an unexplored familial landscape of pain. No one in the Kansas community, it seems, has forgotten the petite, golden-haired sister who died so mysteriously. And now Arthur’s own daughter Evie evokes memories of the lost girl. The story is told through multiple viewpoints: Daniel, who is becoming a man in this new place of masculine bravado; Evie, fascinated by the clothing of the dead aunt who carried the same name; and Ruth, Arthur’s sister, who married Ray, the brute who loved Eve and may have killed other young blondes in her memory. From this ominous beginning, life on Bent Road becomes increasingly shrouded in long-kept family secrets and violence. Although the teenage daughter is the least-developed character in Arthur’s family, the taut, psychological tension that propels this novel will grip fans of authors such as Dean Koontz and Tana French.–Diane Colson, New Port Richey Library, FLA
Adult/High School–The companion to The Procession of the Dead (2010) is set in the same strange city peopled with gangsters, villains, and blind Incan priests and ruled over by the enigmatic Cardinal. The action here is roughly concurrent in time, but with only a few overlapping characters. Al Jeery is one of the Cardinal’s guards, a good soldier who only kills on command, and who is defined by his failed marriage and his alcoholism (now under control). When his current girlfriend is brutally murdered and the Cardinal assigns the case to Al, things go from bad to worse: the girlfriend was a prostitute, Al’s long-missing father is a professional killer, it’s all a set up by the secret cabal that controls the city from below–and that’s just the beginning. Likable Al lacks depth, and too many plot points will be familiar to readers of the first book. Al comes across as having little to live for, making the destruction of everything he loves feel a bit purposeless (although that purpose is the heart of the mystery). His journey from redemption (recovery) into darkness is certainly bleak, and Shan has mastered horror, but here the sense of macabre glee in his material is missing. Still, fans of the first volume will appreciate the plot twists and turns and a greater sense of the players, perhaps leading up to a showdown or resolution in the final volume.– Karyn N. Silverman, LREI (Little Red School House and Elisabeth Irwin High School), New York City
Adult/High School–Shapiro based 13 Rue Therésè on the real-life experience of receiving a box of ephemera belonging to Louise Brunet, who had occupied the apartment above hers at that address. Shapiro weaves a tale of mystery and love around the objects found inside. Set in both present-day and 1920-1940s Paris, the story follows Trevor Stanton, a visiting professor “gifted” with the box by Josianne, the departmental secretary, as he uncovers the various contents and constructs the story behind them. Louise’s life, loves, and passions intrigue Trevor, and he is drawn into her world in mysterious and compulsive ways. While at first he is rather dispassionate about his discoveries, as the book progresses he is increasingly obsessed, ultimately finding snippets of musical scores and other items that were not part of the original contents. His letters to a mysterious “Sir” regarding the box and Louise’s history become more and more fevered, and by the end of the story he has entered Louise’s world... or has he? Is he truly uncovering her life, or is he imagining the story and subtext? Readers will enjoy puzzling over the objects, many of which are reproduced on the pages of the novel itself. This book will appeal to teens who enjoyed Nick Bantock’s “Griffin and Sabine” books (Chronicle), the movie Amélie, Josten Gaarder’s Sophie’s World (Farrar, 1994) or Jennifer Donnelly’s Revolution (Delacorte, 2010).–Laura Pearle, Hackley School, Tarrytown, NY
Adult/High School–Interconnected short stories feature children and adults both coping with ghosts from their past and serving as apparitions to others in the present. Suzuki’s narrative style features the viewpoint of each main character as well as omniscient long views of landscapes that open from broad rural or small-town normalcy to the minute details of interpersonal interactions that, although outwardly often bizarre–a headless boy, a recently raped woman–forego cheap shock and instead direct readers to what it must be like to think and feel in the aftermath of personal trauma. The human condition as it is realized in individuals is at center stage and the stories serve as much as parables as fiction. This is an ideal choice for older teens who are looking for deeper reading than soap-opera or action manga and can serve as a foreign selection in course work on literary fiction. An awareness of postwar Japan’s own self perception can assist in unfolding the many layers these apparently simple tales possess, but is not required to gain access to them.–Francisca Goldsmith, Infopeople Project, CA
Adult/High School–Tanner’s debut novel opens with such a bizarre mixture of absurdity, revulsion, and humor–a mother, Penelope, feeds her 13 starving children sawdust and socks--that readers might be forgiven for believing that they have stumbled into a Roald Dahl novel (there are even sketchy line drawings reminiscent of Quentin Blake’s work). Penelope, though, is no Dahl-ian villain–she is struggling for her family’s survival through a rebellion in which her husband and eldest son are fighting on opposite sides. The author delicately balances the deathly serious nature of these events with his satirical vision of war. On the one hand, though almost half the novel comprises the stories of Penelope’s husband and son, readers are heartbreakingly aware that these stories are only Penelope’s dreams of events about which she may never learn the truth. On the other is Tanner’s biting version of dystopia–a society not much different from ours that has been slowly crushed by the excesses of a corporatized pleasure principle, recalling such works as Nancy Farmer’s The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm (Orchard, 1994) and Libba Bray’s Beauty Queens (Scholastic, 2011). This vision of society is embodied by the unnamed country’s tyrant, called only “The Man,” who idolizes trashy pop culture, his countless dogs, and Gregory Peck. Tanner’s prose is dense and sometimes challenging, but the power of his vision is undeniable, and as the comparisons to Dahl, Bray, and Farmer should make clear, this novel has plenty of potential for cynical teens everywhere.–Mark Flowers, John Kennedy Library, Solano County, CA
Adult/High School–Having already established herself as an accomplished interpreter of the supernatural with her “Kitty Norville” werewolf series (Grand Central), Vaughn succeeds fantastically at a superhero novel. Centered on Celia West, the super-powerless daughter of two of Commerce City’s most famous superheroes, the novel deftly balances more mundane concerns of family strife and personal identity with superheroic derring-do (such as Celia’s almost constant kidnapping and rescuing by the city’s superheroes). This balance is most humorously achieved in the central plot: the prosecution for tax evasion of the city’s greatest Supervillain, in which Celia, an accountant, plays a central role. It’s closer in tone to the lighthearted revisionism of dir Brad Bird’s The Incredibles (Pixar, 2004) than the dark deconstruction of Alan Moore’s Watchmen (DC Comics, 1987). After the Golden Age offers a number of quite barbed insights into the genre; the revelation of the source of the heroes’ powers gives a particularly sharp cut at the psychological (ir)realism of the genre’s stock characters. But rather than dwell on such genre-bending, Vaughn keeps her focus on sharp, well-crafted dialogue and realistic characters, giving her novel an excellent foundation on which to build a fast-paced, mystery-inflected plot. An incredibly easy read that nevertheless repays (and in fact invites) critical analysis, this is a perfect pick for fans of superheroes, and could easily have been marketed as a YA novel.–Mark Flowers, John Kennedy Library, Solano County, CA
Adult/High School–Jeannot arrives in the unspoiled north Canada woods at 16, having walked clear across the continent. After a disembodied voice speaks his name, his dog refuses to move from the spot, so he stays to pan the river for gold. His mediocre success attracts enough prospectors to establish the town of Sawgamet, and Jeannot builds a successful logging business. Decades later, his grandson Stephen, the narrator of Touch, returns home to Sawgamet to take over the local parish and sit with his mother during her last days. He relates stories about his grandfather and father and the women they loved, stories of their young adult years that have been told again and again, interspersed with memories of his own childhood. Some of the stories come across as tall tales; Stephen has difficulty “separating the myth from the reality.” Some are passionate, usually tragic, love stories. All serve to illuminate the central mystery of the novel: why Jeannot left Sawgamut as a young man and why he returned 30 years later, when Stephen was a boy. Although the stories take place in the past, they are vivid and thrilling, interspersed with sudden chilling moments of horror. Otherworldly creatures lurk in the woods and in the river, though they are not to be outdone by fire, blizzards, or the dangers of floating logs down the rapid river. Zentner’s flawless, fluid execution allows central moments of life, death, and love to layer into a haunting accumulation. Teens will be attracted to the adventure, passion, tragedy, horror, mystery, and the tales of men who live life to the fullest.–Angela Carstensen, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City
Adult/High School–Bishop (1911-1979) received many honors, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the National Book Award for Poetry in 1970 for her Complete Poems. This new edition of her collected poetry was released in celebration of the centennial of her birth. Being independently wealthy, she was able to travel and live abroad. Many of her poems treat her travels, and she knew Portuguese, French, and Spanish well enough to translate the work of other major poets. Her poems will be appreciated by teens for their accessible style. “Questions of Travel,” the title poem from a book set in Brazil, is a good example. “There are too many waterfalls here; the crowded streams/ hurry too rapidly down to the sea,/ and the pressure of so many clouds on the mountaintops/ turning to waterfalls under our very eyes./ For if those streaks, those mile-long, shiny, tearstains,/aren’t waterfalls yet,/in a quick age or so, as ages go here,/ they probably will be.” “North Haven,” written in memory of her friend Robert Lowell, is a sad poem. “You left North Haven, anchored in its rock,/afloat in mystic blue…And now—you’ve left/for good. You can’t derange, or re-arrange,/ your poems again.” This is a fine collection that students will want to read and ponder, including the collection of facsimiles of previously unpublished poems at its conclusion.–Karlan Sick, formerly at New York Public Library
Adult/High School–Craig’s third book of poetry contains many insightful and surprising selections. Rather than being introduced to Japan here, readers encounter a trip to the acupuncturist, shoeing horses, and watching an owl at night. The poet makes all of the works interesting. Some are written in paragraphs but read as poetry. Some, such as “This I Believe,” contain amusing thoughts. “I believe in tacos and mortification./I believe that all people fall/into one of two categories: Doonesbury or Far Side./Well, or Andy Capp. Andy Capp type people./They’re everywhere.” Craig works as a farrier in Montana, so it is natural that a man who earns his living shoeing horses would write about the experience. “In the Road” shows that horses even enter his sleep. “I had a dream last night. I dreamt/I was trying to shoe a horse in the road./I’d get under him and swing my hammer/and he’d move his foot, just a little.” His matter-of-fact style may inspire some to try writing about their own experiences. The straightforward poems describe small events and tell part of little stories. In “The Neighbor,” the poet explains that he is writing for himself or for someone like him. Teens who enjoy poetry will want to share Craig’s short, lively poems.–Karlan Sick, formerly at New York Public Library
Adult/High School–Written by an expert with three prior books on papermaking (Tin Can Papermaking, 1992; Arnold Grummer’s Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking, 1999; Arnold Grummer’s Complete Guide to Paper Casting, 2002), this book promotes recycling with a variety of ideas for creating and crafting with homemade paper. In addition to creating paper, texturing, casting, embossing, and watermarking are a few of the processes detailed. A blender is required along with such materials as tin cans, sponges, various screens, and plenty of paper towels. Detailed explanations provide concrete steps to complete the projects. It is the sophisticated vocabulary, and the use of terms specific to papermaking, although defined initially, coupled with directions that are relatively complex that make this an adult book. Certainly the projects are ones that kids would enjoy with direction and supervision, but they are not ones a young person could easily understand or follow on their own. Photographs visually document the step-by-step instructions, depict the projects, or chronicle how to create materials such as a paper press or a pour hand mold. FAQs anticipate challenges and issues. Templates and pictures of numerous creations such as cards, critters and puppets, mobiles, ornaments, coasters, and more demonstrate the artistic potential of papermaking. Grummer’s enthusiasm for the craft and broad knowledge of the subject is evident throughout. A thoughtful list of resources, paper museums, and related books complete the package.– Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Adult/High School–To describe this memoir in one word would be to call it “honest.” In a conversational style, the rapper-actor holds nothing back, sharing his opinion on women, homosexuality, and the difference between gangsters, thugs, hustlers, and players. Ice-T grew up in South Central L.A., attending Crenshaw High School when the Crips and Bloods were in all out war. He describes what it took as a teenager in that time to survive. He was respected as a criminal, pulling mainly jewelry and department store robberies, and looks back with nostalgia, explaining his success and acknowledging that it’s a different game today. On the side, he started rapping about the gangster criminal life in clubs and became known on the party scene. While he sold weed, he explains why he never got involved in drugs, and how that decision, along with joining the army when his girlfriend had his baby, saved his life. Ice-T describes how he rejected the criminal life (he had even briefly considered becoming a pimp) and worked to become a pioneering rap star, then founded the band Body Count, which took him to a new level of fame with the controversial song “Cop Killer.” After some movie roles, he landed the part of Fin, playing a detective on Law & Order: SVU for 11 years. His narrative style can be disarming. As expected, the street language is authentic, and he’s not afraid to be politically incorrect–particularly when talking about women. However, fans of rap and hip-hop will be enthralled with his firsthand view of the so-called East Coast-West Coast rap war and his take on Tupac, Jay-Z, and other stars. Ice-T relays his philosophy on life throughout, providing advice on lessons learned that will speak to many teens.–Priscille Dando, Robert E. Lee High School, Fairfax County, VA
Adult/High School–This gripping book, dubbed “the last untold story of World War II,” tells of three people who survived a plane crash in New Guinea. In a remote jungle, they discovered cannibalistic natives as well as their own survival skills. Margaret Hastings, 30, volunteered for military service because she longed for adventure. She got more than she bargained for. After surviving the plane wreck, and watching friends die, she suffered gangrene and lived without food and medicine for weeks. Luckily, the natives became less threatening when Hastings and her friends learned to communicate with them, and the friends were successful at protecting each other. Although there are no teenagers in this story, Hastings–resilient, courageous, funny–will appeal to teen readers. The story of her struggle for survival is intense and raw, with many stomach-churning scenes. Many teens enjoy graphic scenes, so it is easy to imagine this book, with all of its mentions of rotting flesh and amputation, as being admired by this readership. Unfortunately, the second half of the book is much slower than the first. Once the plane crash survivors have made contact with a rescue team, the tension fizzles. Only students with a deep curiosity in aviation or the military will be interested in the long, drawn-out chapters that focus on the rescue team and the logistics of their mission. Despite this criticism, the book deserves a place in libraries that want to showcase dramatic historical moments and the achievements of women in the military.—Jess deCourcy Hinds, Bard H.S. Early College, Queens, NY
