Adult/High School

Adult/High School—Barlow's debut novel innovatively mixes horror, noir, and epic poetry, creating a uniquely thrilling read. Ruled by competing packs of werewolves, the seedy underside of LA is far stranger than anyone ever imagined. Lycanthropes hire themselves out as hit men and pushers, both driving and feeding off the criminal world. At the center of the story is Anthony Silvo, a self-professed loner and dogcatcher who falls in love with a mysterious woman; she leads a second life as a werewolf and works for Lark, the leader of the most dangerous werewolf pack on the streets. Her growing relationship with Anthony causes her to regret the wild choices of her past and seek out a new life. Meanwhile, Lark suspects that competing packs of lycanthropes are after his power and he prepares for a massive, citywide conflict. Other subplots include a detective's investigations into werewolf-related murders and a comic bridge tournament that might have ties to the LA drug trade. Some readers might be initially intimidated by Barlow's free-verse poetry, but, after a page, they will be swept into the rhythm. It's also to Barlow's credit that the touching moments between the woman and Anthony work as powerfully as the most graphic violence in the story. The dark humor and grim story line will immediately draw in fans of other neo-horror novels, such as Christopher Moore's You Suck: A Love Story (Morrow, 2007), but Barlow's deeper style is wholly his own.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—This linked collection of short stories reads like a novel. Osnat Greenberg, 13 when readers first meet her, spends the next 15 years struggling with her identity. A child of an American father and an Israeli mother, she moves with her family from Tel Aviv to Michigan just as she begins middle school. This change in location results in more than just a struggle to assimilate into a new culture. Osnat finds herself not only isolated from her classmates and peers, but also estranged from her quarrelsome parents. As an adult, she moves to her family's apartment in Tel Aviv with the hope that returning to Israel will give her the social connections she has not been able to find in America. However, her experiences reveal that location and love are connected—just not in any of the ways she originally thought. Both funny and poignant, these stories communicate a subtle wisdom about what is important in life. Teens will be drawn in by Osnat's quirky adolescent obstacles and her heartrending journey to define herself both outside of and within her family. Recommend this title to readers who enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld's The Man of My Dreams (Random, 2006).—Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD

Adult/High School—It is 1972 and seven-year-old Che Selkirk, the son of radical parents he has never met, lives in isolated privilege with his well-to-do grandmother. Denied access to television and the news, he picks up scraps of information about his outlaw mother and father from a teenage neighbor who assures Che that his parents will come and "break you out of here." When a woman named Dial arrives at the boy's Park Avenue apartment to take him on a day excursion, he assumes that she is his mother. Unfortunately, things go terribly awry and Che becomes a fugitive himself. He and Dial end up in the Australian bush in an inhospitable commune. Carey uses a stream-of-consciousness style that poignantly communicates Che's confusion about his life on the lam and what he really wants. The explosive conclusion is worth the wait as the author vividly portrays the hardscrabble, primitive life of a group of hippies in his native Australia. Young adults will appreciate His Illegal Self for its main character-an orphan by circumstance-who struggles to understand his predicament and ultimately gains not only wisdom, but also the love he has sought.—Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—In this delightful, fifth Dr. Siri novel set in late-1970s Laos, Cotterill once again manages a winning combination of elements: crisp plotting, exotic locations, endearing characters, political satire, witty dialogue, otherworldly phenomena, and a deep understanding of Hmong culture. The story begins when Dr. Siri Paiboun, the 73-year-old national coroner of Laos, attends a Communist meeting in the north that is so tedious that a member of the audience literally dies of boredom during an endless speech. While the doctor is away from home, a booby-trapped corpse is delivered to the morgue. The always-alert and resourceful Nurse Dtui is the only one who notices something amiss, and her swift action saves the lives of several people, including an arrogant visiting doctor and Madame Daeng, Dr. Siri's fiancée. But most of the book concerns the doctor's eventful trip back from the meeting. He is kidnapped by seven female Hmong villagers who, under the direction of the village elder, call upon Yeh Ming, the thousand-year-old shaman who inhabits Dr. Siri's body, to perform an exorcism. The chief's daughter suffers the curse of the pogo stick (yes, there really is a pogo stick) and is possessed by a demon. Only Yeh Ming can free her soul. How all of this gets resolved is another example of the superb storytelling readers have come to expect from Cotterill.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Charles Lenox, Victorian private detective, has an opportunity to revisit his university days when he gets a case involving a missing second-year student at Lincoln College, Oxford. George Payson has vanished, leaving only an odd collection of items in the sitting room of his quarters: a frayed piece of string, half a tomato, a fountain pen, and a card labeled "The September Society." Oh, yes, and a dead cat. Lenox re-explores his old haunts as he pieces together the clues, which eventually lead him back to London and the headquarters of the mysterious society. Period details are present but not oppressive in this carefully plotted story. Lenox is an appealing character, and details of his personal life are scattered throughout, giving a rounded picture of the man while not hampering the detective portion of the story. Good writing, good plotting, an intriguing setting, and agreeable characters make this a solid choice for older teens.—Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—Dr. Ernesto Sandoval leaves a successful psychology practice in Minnesota to return to his native Guatemala, with the love of his life and their daughter, to help rebuild his beloved, war-torn country. Many of his patients have been tortured, raped, and imprisoned, so when a general who has perpetrated these atrocities comes for treatment, Ernesto is challenged both professionally and personally. This is a fascinating look at the intricacies of that treatment and how Dr. Sandoval resolves the complicated issues both for himself and for his patient. The book is a concise work of well-crafted poetic prose. The narrative, sometimes thoughts, other times dialogue, alternates between characters, initially leaving readers unclear as to who is speaking. There is a peppering of Spanish phrases which adds spice to the story, but they are not always translated or explained contextually. Because much of the text is the thoughts of the characters, readers see exactly where the characters are and where they are going. This novel will appeal to young adults as a view of people who have had to live through the horrors of war, especially those students who have first- or secondhand knowledge of such a life.—Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School—The cities of Volstov and Ke-Han have been at war for more than a century. Volstov's flying Dragon Corps (think motorcycle gang with wings) is its greatest weapon. Made up of a ragged, motley crew of young men who don't fit in anywhere else in the community, their nightly raids cause havoc and appear to be getting the upper hand, with victory seemingly near. Then things start to change; "the girls"—as the dragon riders call their metal steeds—seem to be "off," unable to communicate, and start behaving as though their riders were complete strangers rather than the almost mind-connected teams they had been. The magicians of Volstov are also plagued with illness and affliction. What is causing the devastating shift in the 100-year war? Who or what is behind the massive change in the balance of combat? Perhaps it is the intruder from the 'Versity who has been stationed inside the Dragon Corps to find out what makes the riders tick; or maybe the Margrave's new lover has thrown the world out of whack, and he is the reason for the magicians' disease? All parties will have to work to save their kingdom, using cooperation and teamwork to do it. Fans of epic fantasy novels will be pleased with this one.—Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—A race of parasitic aliens has nearly completed its benevolent conquest of the aggressive, violent human race. By implanting themselves into humans, the souls have access to all of the hosts' memories and emotions and are indistinguishable from them. The humans do not realize they're being taken over until it is nearly too late. Some resist the invasion, including Melanie Stryder, her brother, and her lover. When Melanie is killed on a mission, her body is taken over by a soul named "Wanderer." Melanie's memories prove overwhelming for Wanderer, who eventually succumbs to her need to search out her family. What follows is a tale of survival, friendship, and love. By discussing Earth's invasion from the conqueror's viewpoint, the novel takes a unique look at a fairly standard plot device. It overcomes a slow beginning after Wanderer reaches the humans and begins to care about the ones she meets personally. She comes to love Melanie's brother like her own, fights her body's attraction to Melanie's lover, and grows ever closer to another human, Ian. The humans in turn accept Wanderer as a valuable and caring individual, rather than as Melanie's oppressor. They overcome their prejudices and begin to work together in the humans' best interests. Host will likely appeal to readers interested in supernatural romance or character-driven science fiction. Questions of what defines humanity and love add a philosophical angle to an engaging and entertaining title.—Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Adult/High School—Mila, the daughter of an ex-hippie diplomat, has settled into her Washington, DC, high school very nicely after stints in Asia, Europe, and South America. She's a straight-A cheerleader heading into her senior year in 1993 when her mother drops the bomb: she has been reassigned to Mexico City. Although intrigued by the possibility of discovering her mysteriously anonymous father, Mila is resistant and resentful of the move. Feeling insecure when faced with the ultrarich cliques of her international high school and reeling from a date rape, her good-girl, preppy self disappears as pot, Ecstasy, acid, cocaine, and peyote become part of her routine; much of the narrative is taken up with drinking in nightclubs, procuring drugs, and bribing policemen. The famously corrupt political arena becomes personal in more ways than one. The prose is dense, full of details about daily life, and the teen packs a lot of living into her senior year (yet still manages to get into Harvard). The Mila that narrates from a later date is sometimes a little too wise and philosophical, and her attitude toward the drugs and sex that punctuate the teens' lives goes quickly from shocked innocence to world-weary nonchalance. Teens who enjoy reading about the exploits of the young, rich, and virtually parentless (think "Gossip Girl") will enjoy this book.—Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—In 1984, Birmingham, England, is home to Kate Meaney, 10 years old, bright, self-possessed, and so obsessively engaged in the art of detection that she puts Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet to shame. Twenty years later, Kate is just a memory in a very few people's minds—and an obsession to a security guard at a Birmingham "shopping and leisure center." A peer but a stranger to Kate, he knows he saw her the day she disappeared, but, a child himself at the time, he hadn't reported his sighting. Now he sees her on the security cameras in the mall, and his new friend who works at the music store—and who has her own past with Kate—finds the little girl's toy monkey in the employees-only area of the complex. O'Flynn has created an ensemble cast of fully developed and engaging characters—children, adults, and adolescents—and placed them in a plot that twists and turns more than the underground and locked stretches of the mall. And she creates sentences and verbal images that are both finely honed and flawlessly flowing. This is a book with high appeal to mystery and suspense fans, and also to anyone who appreciates fine writing or mesmerizing storytelling.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—The quirky cast of this mystery includes a televangelist who bilks millions from his viewing audience, his adulterous wife, their less-than-upright chief financial officer, a love-smitten game warden, and a private fossil collector who engages in strange, dinosaur-related sex. Peter Boothe plans to build a mega-church on the banks of the Pedernales River, but things begin to go awry when a dinosaur fossil is uncovered. Hollis Farley, the backhoe operator, is torn—does he report his find to proper paleontologists and provide the world with an amazing discovery, or does he keep silent and sell it to the highest bidder? Hollis is considering his options when, unfortunately, others step in, and he is found dead with an arrow through his back. Who has the most to gain and the least to lose? Rehder's tale of greed, corruption, betrayal, and fraud is fun, fast-paced, and a satisfying whodunit that will leave readers laughing and looking for the earlier books in the series.—Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—The poignant reminiscences of an old man about the life-changing experiences of his 16th year are recounted with spellbinding immediacy and evocative language. Events take place in 1962, in a boy's boarding school on the sinking coastline of East Anglia. The cynical narrator has been expelled from two other boarding schools and longs for freedom from the sadistic discipline, cruel bullying, and mind-numbing curriculum. He wants to be free like Finn, the young teen who lives alone in a fisherman's hut by the sea. For most of the book the narrator's name is withheld. Readers know only that he is lonely, self-conscious, and yearns to be strong and independent. Finn welcomes him somewhat reluctantly, but soon the two meet regularly and a deep (if one-sided) emotional attachment is formed. Finn instructs his awkward new friend in the ways of survival and the history of this remote place as they explore the sinking rugged coast with its mysterious coves and ancient forts. The narrator disregards curfew as he regularly sneaks out of St. Oswald's School, recklessly racing the incoming tides and the undertow in order to arrive at Finn's cottage. Love and friendship are a dominant theme of the book. As the narrator's obsession with Finn and Finn's romantic medieval existence deepens, he becomes insensitive to the yearning friendship of a fellow classmate, with tragic results. Readers may have suspicions as to Finn's true identity but will believe sympathetically in the narrator's naïveté and be greatly moved by his story.—Jackie Gropman, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School—This anthology includes stories, poems, and folktales that provided source material and influenced the writings of C. S. Lewis. Included are pieces by E. Nesbit, Hans Christian Andersen, Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and J. R. R. Tolkien. Some of these authors were widely read by Lewis and documented as such; others were chosen by Anderson due to story elements and passages that strongly resemble those within Lewis's work. In brief source notes preceding each entry, the editor speaks to the perceived influences. He also quotes passages within Lewis's work that appear derivative of, or at least inspired by, the earlier author. Similarities in allegory and metaphor, specifically theological in nature, are pointed out. Serious fans of Lewis's writing or those interested in his biography, emerging writers of fantasy, and students studying comparative literature or literary criticism will find this a provocative resource. Background information on each author and a recommended reading list are included.—Jodi Mitchell, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—This rollicking survey of desserts is as addictively compelling as the author finds red velvet cake to be. Referencing agricultural history, gastronomic invention, medical research, and social changes, Chen weaves readily between science and art, expertly including readers in her exploration of taste buds, kitchen technology, and up-to-the-moment news about weight and health. Not only is it fun to read about chocolate, sugar, and dueling recipes, but Chen also offers intriguing narrative on the history of candy (the name of which was borrowed by Crusaders from the 11th-century Arabic sweet called Qandi); how experiments like the Edible Schoolyard, funded by the Alice Waters Foundation, can instill food literacy in adolescents; and the economics of food shopping that distinguishes gustatory selections made by wealthy and poor Americans. Accessible and focused by turns on such topics as fat, hybrid fruit, and artificial sweeteners, this volume can be dipped into or read in full. It's an excellent choice for teens who have any interest in knowing why candy bars are attractive and for curriculum planners in search of stellar writing to add to courses in science, history, health, or sociology.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—This amusing collection of factoids entertains, but it's also an accessible look at the 43 men who have held our nation's highest office. The book presents offbeat information in digestible portions ranging from one sentence to a quarter page and frequently portrays our presidents as folks much like the rest of us. The history of America's early days is made relevant for modern readers through comparison with more recent events (e.g., parallels between controversial 19th-century elections and Bush vs. Gore). The comical black-and-white illustrations and caricatures, a table of each president's vital statistics (age at inauguration, dates served), and an appendix presenting tongue-in-cheek ratings of the best and worst presidents all give readers a chance to glean numerous nuggets worthy of trivia quizzes, including First Lady foibles, top scandals, assassinations and assassination attempts, and the story of Martin Van Buren's tiger cubs. Several key crises and presidential responses to them are given chapter-length coverage, as are particularly noteworthy presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. This enjoyable book would be useful as a supplement to a history or civics curriculum, or for independent study by confirmed political junkies or those who have only become interested in presidential politics with the historic 2008 campaign.—Ed VanderPloeg, New London, NH

Adult/High School—The editors of SMITH magazine invited readers to contribute brief life stories in the vein of Hemingway's bravura tale, "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." The hundreds selected for publication include offerings from children and adults, professional writers, bereaved parents, recovering broken hearts, and people with great pride in showing off their wit. Teens will recognize some of the "memoirists," including Janet Tashjian, author of The Gospel According to Larry (Holt, 2001), Ned Vizzini of It's Kind of a Funny Story (Hyperion/Miramax, 2006), and Deepak Chopra. The six words by the latter are followed by a handsome pun penned by his son: "Soul'd out so I could prophet." Some entries include cartoons, self-portraits taken with a camera, or other artwork. The index allows access by topic, some of which are adoption (two entries), coffee (five entries), and love (28 entries). A good combination of inspired, inspiring, and entertaining, this title is eminently browsable and shareable. It's a fine book to offer reluctant readers as well as teens who are interested in creative writing.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—An introduction to 23 jobs in health care, architecture, the law, financial services, education, the social sciences, information technology, sales, media, and more. Gregory dedicates a separate chapter to each one, opening with its history and background and describing the current status of the field (including statistics on employment levels, education required, and average salaries). The most revealing portions of each chapter are the direct quotes from surveys. Workers are asked to compare the reality of the profession to expectations developed in school, describe the biggest surprise, say whether they would choose that position again, and answer practical questions about hours and advancement, as well as best and worst aspects of and changes in the profession. The honest, insightful answers given by the survey responders, combined with the wide-ranging fields and professions covered, offer teens an opportunity to learn about "the real world" before committing to a specific career path. The concluding chapter features a table of data comparing current careers and dream professions from 50 survey responders and encourages readers to consider factors beyond salary and status when choosing a profession. This book belongs in every high school library and guidance office.—Sondra VanderPloeg, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

Adult/High School—Black Wings is a well-written, copiously illustrated book with sharp photographs (mainly in black and white) and colorful posters of the record of American blacks in aviation—from fabric-winged biplanes to outer space. Readers learn about pioneers like Bessie Coleman, the first black woman with a pilot's license; Eugene Jacques Bullard, the first black American to fly in combat (during World War I, for the French); and C. Alfred Anderson, the first to earn a Commercial Pilot License. About one-third of the book deals with the Tuskegee Airmen. These members of the first black combat flying organizations fought on two fronts during World War II: against the Luftwaffe in the skies over North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and Germany, and against racism at home. Because of their phenomenal success, the units were continued into the postwar period, despite a sharp drawdown that drove the Air Force from 2.4 million people in 1945 to 303,000 two years later. The Airmen's record was a seminal reason for Air Force racial integration—and it was the first service to integrate. The book ends with the space era, highlighting such astronaut heroes as Fred Gregory, Guy Bluford, and Charles Bolden. An inspiring volume.—Alan Gropman, National Defense University, Washington, DC

Adult/High School—Nearly 25 years ago, 18-year-old Billy Gilley killed his parents and 11-year-old sister by hitting them repeatedly with an aluminum baseball bat. His then-16-year-old sister was not attacked, although she was in the house the night of the event. Harrison explores both what led to Gilley's actions and how those actions have colored his surviving sister's life. Jody Gilley, who is now a successful and well-educated woman, cooperated with Harrison to delve into the drama. Imprisoned in eastern Oregon, Billy Gilley also worked with the author as she accumulated information, questions, and theories about the crime. As stark as is the violence described here, so too is the emotional development of the causes and the results of that violence on both surviving children. Readers who are interested in human psychology will be fascinated by this study, which is accessible and nuanced by switches between reporting both past and present. And teens who may find cathartic release in reading about a true parricide will also see the shades of gray the events have left on Billy and Jody Gilley's current self-images.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—Li was born in 1940 to a harsh and punitive father and an emotionally distant mother. Hyperactive and curious, the lonely little boy was forbidden to go outdoors, and his only companion was his kindly nurse. When the political power shifted, Li's father was imprisoned and the family sent to live in a disease-infested slum. Yet Li was happy there, running wild with a gang of boys. His newfound freedom was short-lived, and he was sent to an eccentric but caring aunt in Shanghai, where he had to learn a new dialect, was taunted by classmates, and found himself at odds with the academic expectations. With the fall of Shanghai to the Communists, Li went to his parents in Hong Kong, where his father had sought refuge after prison. Li's education included expulsion, abusive homeschooling, and a middle school where he excelled. Finally, Li's father, in an attempt to ingratiate himself with the Communist party, sent his son to a brutal reform school. The fiercely independent Li failed the final exam and realized that he had been manipulated by his father and the school. Returning home, he succumbed to depression and "vulgar materialism" before coming to accept his heritage and his father. This candid memoir by an engaging and sympathetic narrator will be of special interest to students of politics and history.—Jackie Gropman, Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA

Adult/High School—The information collected here is not only important for those who need to know how to behave when far away from home. It is also a primer for helping to understand people from distant countries who may be living next door. Many ancient traditions can seem bizarre and humorous to outsiders; the author presents numerous instances of personal traits of Americans that are thought to be strange abroad. This is not just a matter of knowing that how we wave hello in the United States may be taken as an insulting gesture in Greece. The person standing so close to you in the checkout line may be unaware that you consider that rude since it is natural to him. An understanding of what is "normal," then, is culturally based. The unique customs and rituals described here are a wonderful introduction to seeing beyond ourselves to the beauty in the variety of human experience. Teens can use this title as a reference book for deciphering lifestyles.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Moore answers questions about Ebola-including where it came from and what would happen if terrorists acquired the virus-and 49 other diseases. They are grouped by means of transmission and include headline grabbers such as SARS, avian flu, and anthrax, as well as conditions considered relatively mild in Western countries, such as measles and chicken pox. Basic information is provided in two to four pages and illustrated with a map of where the disease is active, a drawing of the human body showing the areas affected, and bar graphs indicating how infectious and severe the disease is, its fatality rate, and how dangerous it would be as a bioweapon. Owen's companion volume has a similar format, with brief narratives of 50 crimes, mostly murders, and an emphasis on explaining the methods by which the cases were solved by forensic science, including fingerprints, bite marks, fabric analysis, and computer records. Many of the accounts are illustrated with drawings or photographs. Teens interested in forensics and true crime will avidly devour Owen's work.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Nieuwenhuizen, a respected authority on young adult literature in Australia, calls this collection "a large and enticing smorgasbord of recent titles along with reminders of some older but still wonderful books," and it is delectable. Each title is coded with a reading age and sorted into a dozen categories. The categories include "Adventure and crime," "Extreme and edgy," "Fantastic worlds," "My place in the world," "Not such ordinary lives," "This sporting life," "War and conflicts," and "When you want to laugh." Australia is most represented, but this is an international list and is interestingly and widely varied. "What if...?" isn't science-fiction dependent but rather highlights titles that can stretch minds with big questions. There are offerings by 26 authors in this section, with some, such as Scott Westerfeld, identified not with one featured book but with a series. Some authors, like Robert Swindells, can be found in multiple sections, although the books detailed in each one are different. Contemporary authors include Meg Cabot, Gabrielle Zevin, and Brian K. Keaney. Classic authors include Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, George Orwell, John Wyndham, and Ursula K. Le Guin. The annotations are solid and the choices diverse and intriguing. Sidebars offer themes and lists not covered by the major sections. Great for those times when a literate teen is at a loss for an answer to "What should I read now?"—Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School— Amigurumi, the Japanese art of crocheting small animals or toys, is currently popular, but as a textile art has been around since the 1950s. Most amigurumi are animals with proportionally large, round heads. This colorful and well-organized book includes an overview, an explanation of materials, a guide to reading patterns, and several pages of crochet techniques. For those with more experience, a section on designing animals from sketches is included. Fifteen patterns are offered with detailed instructions of varying degrees of complexity for items such as a pig, sausage dog, and monkey. Photos and drawings add additional support. A wonderful gallery of items made by a variety of creators appears at the end of the book. With at least three photos per page, this volume provides a host of ideas for those who want to pursue the art of amigurumi. There are many, many Web sites available with free patterns, but this book would be useful not only for beginners, but also for those who could use technique refreshers or who need to be inspired by the great variety of photographs of completed projects.—Jane Ritter, Mill Valley School District, CA

Adult/High School—The appeal of Batman waxes and wanes, but he has doubtless been one of the most popular superheroes in recent years, with the upcoming movie generating even more buzz. This entry looks at Batman as a literary figure worthy of several critical essays. Eighteen authors, including those with backgrounds in journalism, editing, and academia, contribute short critical essays focused on the many aspects of the superhero through the years. Though each writer has a particular point of view, there are several points on which they do agree: Batman Begins was the best of the movies, the campy TV series nearly ruined the character, Batman is even darker than many casual observers realize, and Frank Miller made him darker still. These recurring themes give the book cohesion, even though it is doubtful that any but the most ardent fan will read it from cover to cover. A particularly clever essay looks at the cost of being Batman, estimating the value of the costume, the Batcave, the Batmobile, and more as just under $300 million. This book would be a good addition where superheroes are popular, as well as a clever alternative to more dry, dusty literary criticism for those doing assignments.—Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Adult/High School—Pohlen's unique and impelling guide serves as a minicourse in American Progressive history. The book's seven sections correspond to geographical regions, from New England to the Pacific Rim. Sites include the universally familiar (the Bread and Roses Strike in Lowell, MA; the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, AL) along with the lesser known, such as the parking lot in Belle Glade, FL, featured in "Harvest of Shame," Edward R. Murrow's influential 1960 broadcast about the plight of migrant workers. With each location, the author tells not only what occurred there, but also how the consequences affected American society. Entries range from a single paragraph to a page and a half, each indentified by icons providing information (such as the type of site and whether it is private or public property) and followed by a list of sources and contacts. Pohlen makes effective use of quote boxes; additional information is also set aside in a shaded, file-folder design. Some 70 distinct black-and-white photographs accompany the text. Whether or not readers ever visit a site, they will have enriched their knowledge of Progressive ideals and the people who faced incarceration, injury, and even death in order to "move America forward."—Dori DeSpain, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—The authors examine 50 toys, including their history and scientific principles. In many cases, they discuss and reproduce original patent drawings. They also take the toys apart to reveal the technology that makes them tick and offer suggestions on how one might build some of these items from scratch. The entries include the balsa wood plane, Erector Set, Frisbee, gyroscope, hula hoop, and Nintendo Entertainment System. Written for novices and illustrated with black-and-white photos throughout, this book is sure to provide hours of entertainment and enlightenment.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—This book explores the economic and cultural roots of New Orleans. With the exception of a brief coda that reflects on recent Mardi Gras celebrations, Sublette focuses on the pre-20th-century history that shaped the modern city. The author traces its origins across the Atlantic to 18th-century monarchs and the French Revolution. He follows the city's development chronologically, noting that Spanish explorers and a thriving slave trade with the west coast of Africa also left their mark. These influences are evident in the music and dance whose legacy reaches far beyond the Mississippi Delta. Sublette's style is delightfully readable, avoiding stilted academic prose while maintaining a scholarly approach that is peppered with fascinating details. Filled with period maps, this volume will appeal to history buffs and readers interested in the musical heritage of New Orleans.—Heidi Dolamore, San Mateo County Library, CA