Reviews: Books for Adult/High School

Adult/High School–These powerful and loving stories are told by a daughter recalling and expanding on the tales her mother recounted of her own life. They cover an almost 30-year arc, from the early 1970s, when the mother was the same age that the daughter is now. Ynoemia spent her youth in the Bronx with her Dominican parents and friends. New York is richly portrayed, but Santo Domingo and its culture are never far away, and Mia’s family returns there when she is in the midst of her turbulent adolescence. Sex hangs like a dangerous cloud that is ready to consume young and old. The family doctor, a child molester, is finally caught and subjected to a cleansing ritual. Mia and her friends run the gauntlet of angry parents trying to protect them from trouble at the hands of both welcome and rejected boyfriends. Mia’s parents love her but fear the shame she could bring to the family if they let their guard down. The author shows the years passing by, parents growing old and dying, and the young aging to take their place. The characters are raw and real, and the relationships are deep and complicated. People lie to and hurt themselves and one another, but as life and the stories come full circle, most of the characters have found love and forgiveness.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–This multicultural comedy of manners stretches from the 1950s to the present. Nadim, a Bengali shopkeeper, comes from a long line of liars. His greatest deception has led to the marriage of his lazy, uneducated 13-year-old daughter into the wealthy Karim family of Calcutta. Henna, this child bride, is a manipulative, over-the-top adulteress. Duped groom Ricky-Rashid achieves his lifelong goals of becoming a successful businessman and finding true love late in life, but there’s a catch: he becomes a guilt-ridden polygamist in the process. Aziz has had a crush on Henna since the beginning and takes over brother Ricky-Rashid’s role as the caretaker of family land and becomes Henna’s lover. Other members of the extended family include Shona, who elopes to London with a distant Punjabi relative; Omar, who is in the closet; and Dermot, who wants Shona to himself. Numerous other characters are witting and unwitting collaborators to deceits, secrets, and even ignorance. Through the comfortably flawed, self-deceptive, clandestine behavior of its characters, this novel achieves a level of human realism that is at once hilarious, intriguing, and achingly cringe-worthy. This is one confection that is as literarily satisfying as it is delectable.–Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–Mara is a Brehon, or judge, in the Irish kingdom of the Burrens. She was appointed by the king and is highly respected throughout her community and the small law school she runs. She uses her powers of observation to solve crimes, whether the murder of one of her assistants or the disappearance of a neighbor’s cow. YAs will be pulled into the story through Harrison’s description of the harsh but beautiful landscapes and the many memorable characters, including the young people at the school and in the community. These teens have much in common with today’s youth: they fall in love and face parental disapproval. Readers will learn a little Gaelic and something about ancient Irish law and how it contrasts with the harsh Roman laws found in an ever-looming England. Appropriate for pleasure reading or learning about medieval history.-Deirdre Cerkanowicz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Fifteen-year-old Orm wakes from senselessness to find that he has been acclaimed a hero for having slain the local menace–a gigantic bear. Only Orm knows that, far from killing the animal, he ran from it, and it died in a fall while chasing him. He joins the Oathsworn, a band of mercenary warriors on a quest to find the lost treasure hoard of Attila the Hun. Orm struggles to live up to his fearsome reputation, learning to distinguish friend from foe, truth from falsehood, and leadership from treachery. However, only when the Oathsworn at last find Attila’s lost tomb does Orm discover his destiny. Set in northern Europe in the late 10th century, Low’s novel reveals a ruthless world rife with dirt and disease, danger and death, where safety is at best temporary, and a trustworthy friend can save your life. This is a solid coming-of-age novel with more than a hint of swashbuckling and Raiders of the Lost Ark.–Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Another look at the forced migration of Chinese people to the Americas in the 19th century. Ah Lung is happy with his wife, Bo See, and his whole family as they raise silkworms and sell the fiber. In the marketplace one day, he is kidnapped, and eventually transported to an island off Peru to work in the guano mines. The story is told alternately from the point of view of husband and wife. Ah Lung tells of life on a slave ship, an attempted mutiny, backbreaking labor, and his efforts to learn enough Spanish to facilitate an escape. Bo See keeps the family business going and contrives a way to raise an additional generation of worms in order to save enough for a ransom. The strong emotional ties between the pair are evident, and their combined narratives make for a good read. This tale of human struggle told in the context of a little-known piece of history will be most appealing to serious older teens and to those seeking stories reflecting their families’ non-European experiences.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School–Ten stories that are at once suspenseful and macabre. In “Valentine, July Heat Wave,” an estranged wife returns to collect her things only to find a repulsive “valentine” awaiting her. In “Suicide Watch,” a drug-addicted son teases his father with a shocking story about his grandbaby. The collection culminates with the most frightening of all, “The Museum of Dr. Moses,” in which the young protagonist finds a multitude of horrors awaiting her in the museum/house where her mother now lives with her infamous new husband. Oates’s succinct sentences and carefully chosen words convey emotion with sledgehammer impact. The exception to this style is “Hi, How Are You,” a one-sentence story with a big-bang conclusion about two joggers in which the commas seem to act as the breaths of the runners. The author is a master storyteller, and teens will identify with the themes here: approval, friendship, love, death, and family relationships, especially between parents and children. Readers who are interested in tales of abuse, such as Dave Pelzer’s autobiographical A Child Called It (Health Communications, 1995), or Stephen King-like tales of horror will gobble up this well-crafted collection.–Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School–This debut novel is a bittersweet study on what war and violence can do to a family. Helen Johnson is a nine-year-old girl living in California in the 1970s. Her Japanese-born mother, Anna, is having an emotional breakdown while her father, a Vietnam vet, is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Helen and her five-year-old brother are punished for their wrongdoings by being locked in a closet. When Anna completely breaks down, the children are sent to stay with their immensely kind and caring Uncle Steve, their father’s younger brother. It is Steve who suggests that Helen write to her mother’s uncle in Japan. Soon, Steve and Helen visit him and his wise wife, and the family’s healing begins. Taniguchi’s ability to compose sentences rife with emotion powers a story that is just a little contrived. Helen has some of the feel of a young elementary student but she is not convincing over the course of the novel. However, this story may bring some profound understanding to teens living in a country engaged in a foreign conflict fought by soldiers who may be their family, friends, or neighbors. The book displays an understanding of the unique pain that war delivers to each family and the hope for salvation and redemption that time can sometimes bring.–Jane Halsall, McHenry Public Library District, IL

Adult/High School–On the edge of civil war, planets are threatening to break away from the Galactic Alliance Luke Skywalker and his comrades worked so hard to build. As head of the military, Jacen–Jedi Knight and son of Han and Leia Solo–will do anything to fight back any insurrection. He quickly moves from a capable military tactician to a shady politician, making deals to increase and consolidate his power over the alliance. More frightening, he is under the guidance of Lumiya, former pupil of the Dark Emperor Palpatine, who leads him to the evil powers of the Sith. To gain the ultimate power of a Sith Lord, he must cause the death of someone close to him, and he has trouble deciding whether to kill his parents; Ben, his protégé and the teenaged son of Luke and Mara Skywalker; or Lumiya. An interesting subplot involves Boba Fett taking over leadership of the Mandalorian race and helping them rebuild their once-proud society. While it doesn’t have a direct influence on the main events, there are hints that the rise of the Mandalores will have a great impact on the series as a whole. The first two thirds of the book are more character-driven and less action-packed than most “Star Wars” novels. Still, this fifth volume in the series ends with a powerful battle pitting Sith Lords against Jedi Masters, satisfying fans and pushing them on to the next volume.–Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School–During the Depression, 10-year-old Henry Walker meets Mr. Sebastian in the run-down hotel where they live. The man teaches Henry the art of prestidigitation, but at a price as the boy’s beloved sister disappears–as does Mr. Sebastian. Then, after decades of performing in blackface as the Negro Magician, Walker himself disappears, and his friends in the small-time traveling circus that is now his venue try to piece his story together, all of them sure that they know the true version. Each individual sheds some light on the illusionist’s life, until the carefully crafted imaginings are nothing more than a sad tale about a doomed man. The strengths of the novel are the unexpected twists that it takes. The hook comes in the early pages, with the more magical stories; the unfolding of the truth will engage readers. Set in the American South in the middle of the 20th century, this book about a tortured soul is quality storytelling.–Mary Ann Harlan, Arcata High School, CA

Adult/High School–This guide to movies available for home viewing aims to suggest occasion-enhancers rather than to provide critical direction. The films are organized around life experiences, such as holidays, or when one is feeling lonely, preparing for spring break, or waxing nostalgic about grade school, and are described in terms of their relevance to the occasion and their acting, directing, and story line. Each section is arranged chronologically, and most include both domestic and foreign selections. A few titles are repeated in different sections, with annotations to suit the occasion under discussion. Teens and teachers will find this book a valuable resource both for entertainment advice and composing programming appropriate to seasons or events. Rightfully, highbrow and lowbrow fare share the pages here. The quality writing also provides nice concise modeling of expository prose.–Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School–In whole or in part, this accessible tome has high appeal to both history buffs and foodies. Colquhoun approaches her topic with the skill and energy of a raconteur, providing clearly drawn contexts in natural science, political history, and technology’s developments against which to examine aspects of food and dining customs in a manner that is both engaging and entertaining. The book is organized chronologically from prehistory to the late 20th century, and each era is described in terms of domestic economy, the health effects of both the popular and upper-class diets, and efforts to guide cooks and hostesses through such means as prescriptive handbooks. Readers may not be surprised to discover how long ketchup (or catsup) has been valued, but they will be properly intrigued by the debates about the relative merits of faddish table manners. Both social science and health curricula can be enriched by this title, either by teachers in the classroom or students utilizing it for research; however, its slog-free nature assures that some will simply devour it for pleasure.–Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School–This little book is exactly what it sounds like: an amusing guide that includes fashion tips, romantic advice, strategies of the “evil genius,” and suggestions for ensuring one’s future reputation. It features illustrated thumbnail biographies of individuals from a variety of fields (e.g., Marie Curie, Stephen Hawking, Shakespeare, Hypatia of Alexandria, and Machiavelli). The short chapters are introduced with quotations on the nature of genius and divided with humorous subheadings and lots of white space. An index lists people by name, field, and dates of birth/death. Although the tone is witty and light and there are tongue-in-cheek quizzes and lists of genius attributes, the content is not completely fluffy. The book succeeds in teasing out a definition of genius, providing interesting background stories on well-known figures, and explaining the nuances of being a smarty-pants. Teens who already consider themselves in that category will enjoy a study break with this book, but may be tempted to vandalize by the “cut-out-and-keep” speech template for Nobel Prize winners.–Sondra VanderPloeg, Tracy Memorial Library, New London, NH

Adult/High School–Womack and Jasper have done an excellent job of collecting essays and opinions exploring and deconstructing hip-hop music, lyrics, and music-video imagery. Several selections examine hip-hop’s seeming obsession with “bling,” violence toward women, and glorification of drugs, questioning whether the artists are providing social commentary or adding to the problems by extolling the worst of inner-city life. Other essays, like the foreword by Michael Eric Dyson, remind readers of hip-hop’s early connections with the Civil Rights Movement. The volume includes interviews with well-known performers such as Ludacris and Too $hort, as well as with Rob Marriot, cofounder of the hip-hop culture magazine XXL. Despite the contributions from a number of academics and high-minded cultural critics, the editors make this book accessible by keeping jargon to a minimum. Readers should be aware that this is not a history of the music like Jeff Chang’s Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop (St. Martin’s, 2005), but rather a collection that assumes that readers already know the big names and events. Smart fans of the art form will find a thoughtful, balanced volume that gives them the opportunity to think about the medium and make their own decisions about hip-hop’s place in history.–Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School–Kurtz’s memoir of his years as a guitar prodigy illuminates not only the joys of great talent, but also the terror of not knowing what to do with it. Most of the book follows the musician as he masters his art through long years of study and rises to become a budding professional classical guitarist following in the footsteps of Andrés Segovia. Yet Kurtz eventually realizes that he is no Segovia and that the artist’s life he has craved is even harder than he imagined. He is eloquent in describing what music means to him and how that kind of love can change a life. He conveys the joy he finds in hearing and creating beautiful and even not so beautiful sounds. Practicing is not just about guitar playing; it is also about studying the world you inhabit and expressing yourself as clearly as you can. Kurtz has taken this lesson and turned his eye to literature, writing this book about trying to find the musician he once was. He brings the same focus and nuance to his storytelling as he did to the music he created.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–A candid portrait of the 30-year career of a South Carolina public high school English teacher, these 72 short essays were previously published in a Charlotte, NC, newspaper. A devout adherent to the democratic principles of public school education, this no-nonsense, disciplined, at times pedantic (“Mrs. McSatan”) teacher expects only the best from her students. She makes no exceptions for race, gender, disability, or family-income status. Confessing that she sometimes fails to show empathy or compassion in the classroom, McSpadden clearly cares deeply for her students, and they for her. Interwoven throughout are pieces of a more personal nature, providing a glimpse into the author’s home life as mother and wife. Juxtaposing the personal with the professional helps to humanize the persona of “schoolteacher.” Claiming that her mother promoted Socratic thinking/questioning to her as a child, McSpadden uses this same style of critical pedagogy within her classroom, referring to Socrates often in her essays. She concludes with a list of the books, plays, and films that she uses in her senior English classes, along with brief explanations as to why she chose these particular sources and how she believes they help foster critical-thinking skills in young adults. McSpadden’s reminiscences about the rewards and challenges of her work should provide insight to students considering a career in education.–Jodi Mitchell, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Grinnell was the kind of man every generation needs. He had one eye focused on the future and, fortunately, he did something about what he saw coming. His foresight was one of the main factors in the continued existence of the buffalo, Yellowstone National Park, and Glacier National Park. Punke ties together the fascinating story of Grinnell and the threatened treasures he loved. The decline of the buffalo is a very human story, and the author leads readers through the hunting culture of the Indians and the even more ferocious killers from the East that superseded it. This book shows the evolution of a well-to-do boy who shed the safety of the privileged life he could have kept to embrace and protect the wild animals and men of the frontier. This is the story of how one person worked to turn the tide of greed and apathy that seemed invincible and in the process educated and elevated the conscience of a nation. Teens will find this modern morality tale exciting and inspiring.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–In the same breezy, nontechnical language as his books on household technology and roadside technology, Sobey examines some 160 items in and around the average desk environment. Arranged by habitat (on the floor, on the walls, connected to a computer, behind-the-scenes), the entries explain the item’s behavior, its location, and how it works. For many of the devices, he adds “unique characteristics” and/or “interesting facts.” The author moves effortlessly and unapologetically from the simple to the complex and back again. The paper clip, pen, and pencil receive as much attention as the network server, GPS, and Split 50. Some items seem odd choices for inclusion. While readers might expect to find the proverbial watercooler, the flushless urinal is not always thought of as office technology. Teens will appreciate Sobey’s sense of humor: in addition to binding papers and other materials together, another purpose of a rubber band is to fly across the office from the fingertip of a bored employee. Each entry has a small but serviceable black-and-white photo. A fun, informative survey.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Unheard takes readers into several different worlds: a young deaf man’s individualized perceptions, as well as the violence and poverty of a remote African village. It questions the usefulness of outsiders lending a hand to Third World cultures and is a heartfelt description of friendship and personal growth. The prologue describes Swiller and a friend cowering on the living room floor in the dark, armed with nail-encrusted two-by-fours and fighting for their lives. Chapter one, “First Day,” flashes back to the beginning of the author’s journey, when he joined the Peace Corps to become “an ambassador” to people who may never have seen or met a person from outside their community. His mission was to encourage the locals of Mununga, a village on the shores of Lake Mweru, Zambia, to dig wells and help improve their sanitation and health. Swiller attempted to follow the guidelines provided in his training, but soon discovered that reality and idealism were at odds. As his story progresses, corruption, dishonest village leaders, and a culture he didn’t entirely understand all play a part in his coming to terms with his deafness and his understanding of who he was and just what he intended to do with his life. Swiller’s experiences come to life in a way that teens can and will hear, however metaphorically.–Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA