Adult/High School—Ackroyd merges historical fiction with literary license to create an alternative reality in which Victor Frankenstein is one of Percy Shelley's schoolmates and close friends. In this retelling of the legend, Shelley is the one who first gives Frankenstein the idea of creating a monster. Soon, both Frankenstein and the Monster are deeply entwined in the lives of the Shelleys and Lord Byron, becoming the cause of many of the strange occurrences that take place in their lives, including the inspiration for Mary Shelley's book. Ackroyd's characters are intriguing, and his depiction of the time period reveals careful research. This book is a fascinating blending of Shelley's original novel, pulling occasional direct quotes from it, and a speculation about the real-life people who were involved in its creation. This is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys Gothic, historical, or alternative fiction.—Kelliann Bogan, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

Adult/High School—This anthology offers many perspectives on vampires and includes 30 short stories by popular authors written over the last 30 years. Included are Neil Gaiman's unusual take on Snow White, Anne Rice's story in which the house—or is it a being within?—takes control, and Harry Turtledove's tale about what is really hidden under St. Peter's in Rome and its implications for the Catholic Church. A number of these stories are sexual in nature and a few are downright disturbing. Consider this purchase if you have mature vampire, fantasy, and horror readers.—Janet Melikian, Central High School East, Fresno, CA

Adult/High School—In a future Thailand, calories are the greatest commodity. Anderson is a calorie-man whose true objective is to discover new food sources that his company can exploit. His secretary, Hock Seng, is a refugee from China seeking to ensure his future. Jaidee is an officer of the Environmental Ministry known for upholding regulations rather than accepting bribes. His partner, Kanya, is torn between respect for Jaidee and hatred for the agency that destroyed her childhood home. Emiko is a windup, an engineered and despised creation, discarded by her master and now subject to brutality by her patron. The actions of these characters set in motion events that could destroy the country. Bacigalupi has created a compelling, if bleak, society in which corruption, betrayal, and despair are commonplace, and more positive behavior and emotions such as hope and love are regarded with great suspicion. The complex plot and equally complex characters require a great deal of commitment from readers. Even the most sympathetic people have darker sides, and it is difficult to determine which character or faction should triumph. This highly nuanced, violent, and grim novel is not for every teen. However, mature readers with an interest in political or environmental science fiction or those for whom dystopias are particularly appealing will be intrigued. If they are able to immerse themselves completely into the calorie-mad world of a future Bangkok, they will not be disappointed.—Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Adult/High School—Readers are thrown headlong into the melee of the Manila slums at Christmastime with the most vulnerable of its inhabitants, six-year-old Noland and his friend, who are selling homemade lanterns to help put food on the table. Noland has filled the tiny shack he shares with his mother with hanging angels. Someone is shot, and the two boys take a bleeding woman in Noland's cart to his disabled mother for care. Everyone is looking for this American woman, and the government is using the boys as scapegoats, calling them terrorists. It is a corrupt world in which the government throws poor people away and poor children are at the mercy of pimps and fearful of their own neighbors. Slowly readers separate out the major players in this drama in which the refrain "I know a story you don't know" plays over and over as Noland and his mother try to forget how the boy's father was killed and the nightmare his death has made of their lives. If there was any doubt that the poor are used and abused, then thrown away, Bobis has dispelled it. This is a story that must be heard. Compare it to Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance (Knopf, 2001), about beggars in India. A strong addition to readings for human-rights classes.—Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School—Mistaya Holiday has some problems, and her biggest isn't that she is being expelled from Carrington Women's Preparatory. No, her biggest problem as the hybrid child of Ben Holiday, a human, and Willow, a sylph, is returning to Landover and explaining to them what she intends to do with the rest of her life. Her father's advisers suggest that he send Mistaya to the royal library, Libiris, to help with its reorganization and reopening. Before the king has a chance to offer this suggestion to his daughter, Laphroig, a local baron who resembles a frog, asks for Mistaya's hand in marriage. When she gets wind of the proposal, she flees to her maternal grandfather, the River Master, to ask for his protection. He is not happy that his crossbreed granddaughter hasn't been around to see him for over a year, and Mistaya leaves him to strike out on her own. Luckily she has many magical friends, including prism cats, mud puppies, G'home Gnomes, and Throg monkeys to help her on her quest. Brooks's fans have waited years for him to return to the magical kingdom of Landover, and they will enjoy this latest effort.—Joanne Ligamari, Twin Rivers United School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—This is the 17th entry in Davis's popular series about a Roman private "informer" (read private investigator). He normally works for the emperor, but while on vacation in Egypt with his family, Falco is pressed into service as the lead investigator in a high-profile case. The head librarian at Alexandria has been found dead, and all indications suggest murder. The mystery is of the cozy whodunit type with plenty of false trails and suspects galore, clever repartee, and layers of motives to dig through. The setting is lush first-century Egypt, and the period detail is interesting; the characters, both main and secondary, are fully fleshed out. There are some odd notes, such as Falco's offhand references to forensic techniques far ahead of his time and his modern attitude toward his wife, which can be distracting. A very large cast of recurring characters with numerous variations on their names makes this a difficult book to read as a stand-alone, but it should be popular in libraries that have mystery lovers or Falco devotees.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School—This novel follows Alaska State Trooper Nathan Active as he tries to solve two possibly connected occurrences: the discovery of the body of a hunter at a remote lake and a fire at the Chukchi Recreation Center that claims eight lives. Without having read the previous books in the series, it is initially difficult to engage with the characters, but that quickly becomes inconsequential as the main focus of the novel turns to solving the mysteries. Jones provides a unique look at the Alaskan landscape and reveals many of the racial tensions that still exist in this part of the world. Ghost Bears leaves readers looking forward to the next "Nathan Active" installment.—Kelliann Bogan, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH

Adult/High School—In 1910 Gaesong, Korea, a female child is born to a learned scholar and calligrapher and his wife. The child, unnamed by her father, who is despondent over the recent annexing of Korea by Japan, names herself Najin. She proceeds to forge her own destiny, struggling to be an obedient daughter in the Confucian tradition of her father and the Christian faith embraced by her mother. To escape an arranged marriage, Najin goes to the emperor's palace to be a companion to the princess. With the collapse of the Joseon dynasty, she loses her position. She finds ways to further her studies in education and medicine and helps support her parents and younger, shiftless brother with work as a teacher and physician. When her father arranges another marriage, to a student minister, Najin agrees. Immediately she is left with his family to act as a servant while he studies in the U.S. Accused of spying after she returns to her own now-impoverished family, Najin spends months in prison. The novel, based on the life of the author's mother, comes to a satisfying conclusion with the surrender of Japan and the reunion of the couple. Descriptive imagery communicates Najin's philosophical musings, dreams, and appreciation of nature. Readers are left with greater understanding of the horrors of Japanese occupation and of the cultural, political, and religious upheaval that Korean families faced as they negotiated the modern world. Delicate black-and-white illustrations complement the prose. A compelling narrative about an intellectually curious and brave heroine.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library System, Fairfax, VA

Adult/High School—The opening chapter of Mason's imaginative first novel begins with Odysseus, having spent several years after his battles in the Trojan War struggling to find his way home, finally getting to the shoreline of his island kingdom of Ithaca. Instead of finding his wife patiently waiting for his return, he discovers that Penelope has married a fat old man she knew to be impersonating Odysseus. The author follows this humorous twist with a series of Calvino-esque, interlocking short stories and vignettes—some shorter than a page—that sculpt and explode Homer's original plot. Mason's near-deadpan writing style and wild imagination make this a very funny work as readers see events like the blinding of the Cyclops through the eyes of poor Polyphemus, mythical cities transformed into tourist traps, and heroes who are at best clueless and at worst blatantly cruel. This could easily be the territory of campy satire, but Mason moves well beyond that. He destroys and rebuilds Odysseus from the outside in, forcing readers to think about this mythic character in a modern and often-psychological way. While the book is certainly a more entertaining ride for readers who really know Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, it includes some helpful footnotes that are informative and poke fun at the original myths and our constant reinterpretations of them. Although he can at times be too clever for his own good, Mason's novel displays a high level of fun and thought.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—In rural 1850s England, a horse-mad young woman flees home on her wedding day. Fearful that her fiancé's promise of "a house full of children" will translate into a future of drudgery, Pell plans to visit the Salisbury Horse Fair. Her mute little brother insists on accompanying her, but when he and her horse disappear at the fair—along with the man for whom she's spent the day working and who still owes her money—Pell's vision of her future is drastically altered. The twists and turns along her new path bring her into contact with a wide variety of people, from the Gypsy family that helps her on her way to Dogman, to a taciturn poacher who becomes her savior. Rosoff's simple yet descriptive language paints a clear picture of a world both bleak and beautiful. Like the setting, the characters are many faceted. Nobody, including Pell, is entirely good or evil. Readers will appreciate her journey, both the external search for her brother and a place in the world for herself, and the internal pursuit of balance between familial responsibilities and personal satisfaction. Teens will relate to Pell's internal conflict and refusal to settle onto the path life seems intent to force upon her. Rosoff's first adult title is as finally crafted as her Printz Award-winning How I Live Now (Random, 2004).—Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Adult/High School—In August 1926, 20-year-old Gertrude Ederle not only became the first woman to swim the English Channel, but she also did it in record time, beating by nearly two hours the fastest of the five men who had preceded her. Dahlberg was allowed access to Ederle's unpublished memoir and her archive of newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and memorabilia. He focuses on the period from 1925, when Ederle made her first, unsuccessful Channel-crossing attempt to 1926, when she succeeded. Ederle was one of the first female sports celebrities, and Dahlberg is an engaging writer who does a good job of putting her and her accomplishment into the context of the 1920s and the drive, especially in America, to establish famous "firsts." He does not fulfill the promise of the book's subtitle, however. Ederle's accomplishment was not so much "incredible" as it was a combination of luck and dogged determination, and the only way she "changed the nation" was by introducing the two-piece swimsuit and wraparound goggles. Ederle's brief moment of fame did not have any lasting effects. The second woman to swim the Channel did it only weeks after Ederle, and a man broke her record soon after that. The book works as a piece of Americana and perhaps as a cautionary tale for publicity-hungry athletes.—Sarah Flowers, formerly at Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—These books are equally inclusive and explore many of the same elements. The first title has chapters devoted to "Werewolves: The Beast Within," "Werewolves & Popular Culture," "The She-Wolf," "Werewolves: Fact and Folklore," and "Defense Against the Werewolf." Connections between wolves and people are explored, including wolf attacks, domestication, and accounts of children adopted by wolves, while science-documented incidences of psychosis related to werewolves and the medical condition "wolfitis" are also examined. The book explores world legends and myths and delves into movies, television shows, and literature, too. The second volume is divided into "Vampires: Body & Soul," "The Origins of Vampires," "The Evolution of Vampires," and "Vampires & Popular Culture." Legends and myths from around the world, accounts of real-life vampires, and the science of vampires are just some of the themes, while the development of vampires in literature, from John Polidori's The Vampyre, published in 1819, to present-day books such as Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series (Little, Brown) and Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake" series (Penguin), are discussed. Highlighted movies include such classics as the silent film Nosferatu and the 1931 version of Dracula featuring Bela Lugosi, along with the movies of today. Television series like The Munsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and True Blood are also discussed. These volumes are well researched and have extensive bibliographies. Glossy pages filled with television and movie shots, poster art, reproductions, and photographs make them visually delightful. These books should be of high interest to genre fans.—Lara McAllister, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—This collection of more than 80 tales and poems has been meticulously compiled for rabid vampire-lit fans to sample and enjoy. The book is divided into 13 distinct sections. Stories predating Dracula include Edgar Allan Poe's "Ligeia" and Sheridan Le Fanu's "Carmilla." "Classic Tales" features Bram Stoker's "Dracula's Guest," published posthumously and edited from the final draft of Dracula. Unexpectedly included is D. H. Lawrence's "The Lovely Lady," under the heading "Psychic Vampires." Penzler offers up some newer tales with Anne Rice's intriguing "The Master of Rampling Gate," Stephen King's humorous "Popsy," Ray Bradbury's creepy "The Man Upstairs," and Gahan Wilson's chilling "The Sea Was Wet as Wet Can Be." Penzler has also selected works of lesser-known authors but just as varied and pleasurable for horror aficionados. Also not to be missed are the interesting and entertaining extras: the preface by Neil Gaiman, the foreword by Kim Newman, the introduction by Penzler, and the outstanding extensive vampire bibliography compiled by Daniel Seitler. There is a substantial amount of history and lore to be found here about the fictional vampire and its popularity in modern-day culture.—Melanie Parsons, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—A hiking trip gone uncomfortably wrong, in violation of the first credo of Scouting to "Be Prepared," caused Townley to revisit the history of Scouting and its principles. It also provided him with the spark to begin a year of traveling the world collecting anecdotes from adults who have taken these principles of and incorporated them into their everyday lives. These men, all of whom achieved the highest honor attainable, tended to gravitate toward professions that allowed them to exemplify the service attitude and leadership they learned while enjoying the camaraderie of others. From doctor to soldier, teacher, actor, and Olympic competitor, each man had a story to tell about how Scouting led him to make choices that would enrich his life. Written with a distinctly American point of view, Townley's book puts forth the idea that the underlying principles of Scouting help boys to become men who will be compassionate, competitive leaders. An extensive index and full-color photos enhance this solidly written entry about the value of old-fashioned American gumption.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School—Von Ruhland provides a wide-angle snapshot of the environmental condition of the Earth. She makes the case that acting locally is not going to be enough to turn climate change around, that we must demand international solutions to international problems. The author argues that human demands for energy, meat, milk, and water are contributing to environmental crisis and that fast-industrializing countries such as Brazil and China are accelerating it. The organization of the book makes for ease of use for student researchers. The chapters move from the Earth's atmosphere to the oceans and to each of the continents. The most pressing issues are discussed, including ozone depletion; rising sea levels and temperatures; the expanding Sahara Desert causing drought, famine, and political chaos in Africa; the disappearance of permafrost in Europe; the increase of weather-related "natural" disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in North America; loss of rainforest in South America; and more. Each chapter features a portrait of an environmental activist such as Rachel Carson and Chico Mendes. These portraits not only pay tribute to their contributions, but also serve to remind readers that well-informed, passionate individuals can make a difference. Each chapter ends with a list of recommendations for improving the environment. The majority tend toward the tame: consult this or that Web site, eat more Brazil nuts, etc. The book is illustrated with stunningly beautiful nature photographs as well as horrifying pictures of environmental disasters. Extensive bibliographical references and a useful index are appended.—Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA

Adult/High School—The authors take the ordinary sweatshirt and offer several ways to spice it up by making it into a skirt, a dress, or just a very different kind of top. They start with the basics of supplies and equipment, how to measure, and how to work with sweatshirt fabric, both by hand and on the machine. They then discuss body basics and fashion dos and don'ts, including how to camouflage figure flaws. From there they move into the specific projects. There is a wide variety of ideas, and each one contains detailed directions, complete with step-by-step illustrations. These projects are mainly for those with sewing experience, but they will appeal to teens who are looking for ways to personalize their wardrobes and are willing to put in the work.—Sarah Flowers, formerly at Santa Clara County Library, CA