Reviews of Adult Books for High School Students

Adult/High School—Seventeen-year-old Elio faces yet another lazy summer at his parents' home on the Italian coast. As in years past, his family will host a young scholar for six weeks, someone to help Elio's father with his research. Oliver, the handsome American visitor, charms everyone he meets with his cavalier manner. Elio's narrative dwells on the minutiae of his meandering thoughts and growing desire for Oliver. What begins as a casual friendship develops into a passionate yet clandestine affair, and the last chapters fast-forward through Elio's life to a reunion with Oliver decades later. Elio recalls the events of that summer and the years that follow in a voice that is by turns impatient and tender. He expresses his feelings with utter candor, sharing with readers his most private hopes, urges, and insecurities. The intimacy Elio experiences with Oliver is unparalleled and awakens in the protagonist an intensity that dances on the brink of obsession. Although their contact in the ensuing years is limited to the occasional phone call or postcard, Elio continues to harbor an insatiable desire for Oliver. His longing creates a tension that is present from the first sentence to the last.—Heidi Dolamore, San Mateo County Library, CA

Adult/High School—This book follows a handful of high school students throughout the year leading up to their graduation. It is a harrowing and hilarious story told from the points of view of the teens and their families as they navigate the maze leading to the holy grail of acceptance by a major university. Coll celebrates and skewers the people and the politics waged on both sides of the application process as the students pick their dream colleges and these institutions either pick them back or toss them onto the scrap heap of second- and third-tier safety schools. The characters evolve through their trials and learn about themselves and one another and accept the loss of one dream while embracing another. They include Harry, a scarily normal overachiever; Maya, the talented but seemingly least gifted of a wealthy Indian family; and Taylor, a girl teetering on the verge of self-abuse or self-discovery. These are teens who come from fairly affluent families and schools. They are treated with respect and love by the author, and readers will return the favor. YAs interested in the college selection process will find this book illuminating as they see in it their own fears acted out and resolved. It reads a bit like a Stephen King novel minus the horrific ending.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Jo Pickering was abandoned by her mother at birth and raised by her father. Bobby, a truck driver, takes his daughter with him everywhere as he attends to his routes in England and Ireland. Once a guitar player, he has a habit of picking up hitchhiking musicians. When he picks up Cosima Stewart, a country-western singer from Texas, the impressionable 12-year-old becomes infatuated with her and her band. Jo convinces Bobby to attend one of the woman's performances and becomes starstruck when Cosima and another performer take her under their wing and teach her how to apply makeup and dress like they do. But Jo's attachment soon becomes a compulsion. She is desperate in her search for something that Cosima and even Bobby can't give her, and she spirals downward into increasingly destructive behavior. Events come to a head when Bobby mysteriously disappears and Jo must find ways to deal with her feelings of total abandonment. This is a compelling read about a strong girl determined to survive in a world that has not been kind to her. As Jo makes some serious mistakes in her search for love, she begins to see herself in a different light. This impressive first novel is strongly written—the characters' emotions feel genuine, the dialogue is believable, and readers will care about Jo.—Catherine Gilbride, Farifax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—Readers who grew up enjoying Gary Paulsen and Will Hobbs will appreciate this compelling survival story. Thomas Cave, a 17th-century English whaler, accepts a dare from his shipmates to spend the winter alone in Greenland. The novel is divided into three parts, beginning with a first-person narrative by Tom Goodlard, a teenager and Cave's only friend on the whaling ship Heartsease. An omniscient narrator takes over in part two, combining a suspenseful story of physical survival with flashbacks to Cave's family life in Copenhagen. While he struggles to endure the cold, dark days and record the practicalities of his survival in a journal, Cave is haunted by memories and mirages of his wife and her ill-fated pregnancy. He finally realizes he must face his grief before he can overcome his despair. Goodlard narrates the final portion of the book, relating the Heartsease's return to Greenland and reunion with Thomas Cave. The Arctic setting is integral to the story, and Harding's clear and evocative prose allows readers to see the beauty of a stark winter there, yet feel the pain of an isolated existence in frigid conditions. This first novel will spark discussion along several themes: the relationship between humans and the natural world, human reactions to tragedy and loss, and the nature of personal relationships. Although Cave survives the physical trial, this is not a "happily ever after" book, and the ending is thought-provoking and realistic.—Sondra VanderPloeg, Tracy Memorial Library, New London, NH

Adult/High School—Hill, two-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award for his short fiction, delivers a terrifyingly contemporary twist to the traditional ghost story with his first novel. Aging rock star Judas Coyne is a collector of bizarre and macabre artifacts: a used hangman's noose, a snuff film, and rare books on witchcraft. When he purchases a suit billed in an online auction as the haunted clothes of a recently deceased man, Coyne finds more than he bargained for. Everywhere he looks he sees the twisted spirit of an old and evil man following him and dangling a deadly razor on a chain. He learns that the suit belonged to Craddock McDermott, the stepfather of a former lover who committed suicide shortly after Coyne tossed her out of his life. McDermott, a professional hypnotist prior to his death, swore to destroy Coyne's rock-star life of self-indulgence to avenge her death. The behind-the-scenes look at stardom alongside the frightening pyrotechnics of McDermott's ghost will draw in teens who really enjoy a good scare. But like all good ghost stories, Hill also crafts a deftly plotted mystery as McDermott's true motivations and powers unfold. The depth of character hidden in the dark shadows of both men lifts what could otherwise be a formula supernatural thriller to an impressive debut.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—Left in the barn to hang herself as a consequence of her uncle raping her, 15-year-old Meryem defies local tradition and refuses to do it. Her cousin Cemal, recently a soldier in the army, who grew up with her in a tiny village in eastern Turkey, is sent to take her to Istanbul and is told to kill her on the way. On the train, Meryem's eyes are opened to city women who wear modern-day dress and speak and eat in front of men. Cemal cannot kill her, and after a short stay with his brother in Istanbul, he goes to a war buddy who gives them a place of temporary refuge, a fish farm on a cove in western Turkey. Here they meet a professor who has run away from his privileged life in Istanbul and is living on a large sailboat. He invites the two cousins to join him as his crew and companions. The dynamics created by this union give these three characters a new direction in which to take their lives. Teens will be drawn to the plight of a girl who has been raped and is then treated as the perpetrator of the crime. Livaneli shows village life and modern city life as two separate realities that coexist in Turkey today. Students interested in human rights and global studies will also appreciate this novel.—Ellen Bell, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, CA

Adult/High School—In this sequel to Changelings (Del Rey, 2005), twin selkies use their "thought-talk" and shape-shifting powers to help their sentient planet and its inhabitants. Petaybee, the planet, has invited Ke-ola, a sentient sea turtle, and his people to make their home there. The Petaybeans must convince the Federation to allow such a move. The catch is that the Federation is off-world, and people who live on Petaybee for any length of time acquire a symbiotic relationship with the planet. For an adult to leave would mean death. It is therefore up to young Muriel and Ronin Shongili to be the off-world diplomats who can save lives and change worlds. This is the second novel in a planned trilogy that continues the story made popular by the "Powers That Be" trilogy (Del Rey). The story line combines Irish, Hawaiian, and Indian lore to create a rich history that is at once unique and familiar. Teens will identify with the actions and feelings of these shape-shifting river seals as they struggle with their role in Petaybee's transformation.—Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School—This is the story of one prisoner's life told to another. The listener is Cal, a white, onetime racist tattoo artist who lost his voice when his throat was cut in a prison fight. He is serving a long sentence on one of the Hawaiian Islands. Over the years, he has become the kind of man other prisoners feel safe talking to—partly because he can't repeat what they say, but also because they trust the sense of peace he has found in his own silence and the time he has served. Cal's new cellmate is Ken, a Japanese man raised in Hawaii-and an outsider like Cal. He has Cal give him a large, symbolic tattoo on his back as he tells his rich though troubled tale. Ken recounts his childhood friendship with a doomed, modern-day Hawaiian prince and the decaying world he ruled. He found himself the muscle man for a bar-owning, prostitution-ring-running, loan-sharking Korean woman. Falling in love with her daughter was just one of the reasons that he ended up behind bars. Teens will appreciate the many deep, complicated relationships. The language and realities are rough, but there is much compassion and wisdom to balance them.—Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—David Hollis was a modern historian and archivist believed to have discovered the existence of a collection of glass photographic plates in the ruins of a shipwreck in Toronto Harbor. Jem Hallam, the photographer, was a young apothecary struggling to survive in the Toronto frontier of 1857. Hollis's story is told through the lens of his widow, Marianne, who is staking out the site her husband claimed was the location of the plates. It is now the construction site for a future sports arena, but Marianne, aided by her daughter's fiancé, is scouring it for both the plates and vindication of her husband's shipwreck theory. One hundred and fifty years earlier, Hallam's story is of his struggle for survival with a failing business, absent family, and ferocious climate. Both men had something to prove, with their links of shared temperament and inclination, and both suffered from the humiliations of failed hopes and dreams. This is a book as chilly, profound, and subtle as a cold winter day. In spite of its deliberate pace, the lives of the characters creep up on and wholly engage readers. Redhill is primarily a poet and that is evident in this prose work. It is as precise and nuanced as his Martin Sloane (Little, Brown, 2002) and will appeal to readers with a taste for a carefully constructed story told with a haunting turn of phrase.—Sallie Barringer, Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, OH

Adult/High School—In this readable and rich history of vampires, the authors draw on such diverse material as ancient Aztec, Egyptian, and Greek mythologies, religious symbolism, and modern art, literature, television, and movies. There is information here for every level of interest and knowledge base, and it is clear and well organized. Other than being interesting and informative in its own right, what makes this book a great choice for school libraries is its many eclectic citations, from Arthurian legend to J. K. Rowling. Readers whose enthusiasm led them from Buffy, Cirque du Freak, Anne Rice, or Bram Stoker to Legends of Blood are given a large number of options to choose from next.—Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School—Block, Sterling Professor of French at Yale, examines the world's most famous textile in lavish detail. With contagious enthusiasm, he presents the Bayeux Tapestry as a chronicle of a momentous historical event, as a work of art of stunning originality, as an artifact revealing much about the mindset and daily lives of the people who created it, and as a physical object scrupulously examined with the aid of 20th-century scientific techniques. Needle is a book of many stories, all revolving around one 230-foot-long piece of cloth, an embroidered panorama depicting the events immediately before, during, and after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Some of them are little known: readers learn of the role played by the tapestry in resurrecting the long-lost French epic "The Song of Roland"; of how it was nearly lost forever during the French Revolution; and of Hitler's chillingly extensive examination of the tapestry in search of evidence to support the notion of a master race. A color reproduction of the entire tapestry over 10 pages, numbered in 173 panels, is included. This is a welcome reading aid as Block refers to specific details throughout. Additional illustrations also add to the telling of this intriguing tale of history, art, and culture.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Carson has been both a cop and a criminal defense attorney. Here, he puts his years of experience into a "how-not-to" book. He feels that most people who get arrested aren't the worst criminals; they are just the most "clueless"—small-time offenders who make bad decisions and end up in what he calls the "electronic plantation." Now that computers make it ever so easy to track people, getting arrested, even if you're not ultimately convicted, can and will come back to haunt you. Carson has three golden rules: "If cops can't see you, they can't arrest you," "Keep your dope at home," and "Give cops your name and basic info, then shut the f*@# up!" While the book read straight through may seem a little repetitive, it ultimately does come back to one of these three rules, which are imparted with examples and behavior charts. Carson uses a blunt style to make these points, but it's a style that is sure to hit home with his target audience—the underclass. And he does make it plain that while there are many middle-class and white-collar criminals, the police tend to focus their patrols in bad neighborhoods. Those most likely to be in situations where they or those they know might get arrested will get the most out of this book, but even readers in more lofty areas with an interest in law enforcement could find much to discuss.—Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Adult/High School—This is not intended to be a scholarly work but rather a frank assessment of the current state of affairs in the Middle East by an experienced elder statesman. Maintaining that "there is a formula for peace with justice in this…portion of the world," ex-President Carter proceeds to argue his point with clarity and urgency. His perspective derives from his term as president, his successful brokering of peace between Egypt and Israel via the 1978 Camp David Accords, and his continued involvement with the Israeli/Palestinian issue in the 30 ensuing years. He includes necessary historical context, traces the role of the U.S. in each succeeding administration since he left office, and mentions vital roles played by Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. Carter points to the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty as proof that "ancient enemies" can coexist and sees hope in the statistical majorities of both Israelis and Palestinians who desire a resolution to conflict, despite the words and actions of some of their political leaders—whom he labels the "obstacles to peace." Whether one is steeped in knowledge of the Middle East or new to the subject, this book is essential reading, for it stimulates precisely the kind of dialogue that Carter believes is necessary to prod all affected peoples beyond present roadblocks to a just and lasting peace.—Dori DeSpain, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—While at first glance this volume might resemble the latest in a series of trendy business advice books, ultimately it is about storytelling, and it is a how-to for crafting a compelling narrative. Employing a lighthearted tone, the Heaths apply those selfsame techniques to create an enjoyable read. They analyze such narratives as urban legends and advertisements to discover what makes them memorable. The authors provide a simple mnemonic to remember their stickiness formula, and the basic principles may be applied in any situation where persuasiveness is an asset. The book is a fast read peppered with exercises to test the techniques proposed. Some examples act as pop quizzes and engage readers in moments of self-reflection. The book draws on examples from teachers, scientists, and soldiers who have been successful at crafting memorable ideas, from the well-known blue eye/brown eye exercise conducted by an Iowa elementary school teacher as an experiential lesson in prejudice following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., to conversations among Xerox repairmen. Readers who enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell's Blink (2005) and The Tipping Point (2000, both Little, Brown) will appreciate this clever take on contemporary culture.—Heidi Dolamore, San Mateo County Library, CA

Adult/High School—In this appealing memoir, an art educator in New York City chronicles her journey of acceptance as she came of age in a family that refused to embrace organized religious belief. When the author was seven, she decided she would like to join a Catholic friend in making her first communion. "I wanted the white dress," Lalli admits. When she asked her parents, "What are we?" she was surprised at the answer. Her once-Catholic father responded, "We are nothing." Her mother said, "My family is Jewish, but we don't practice Judaism." Thus began the girl's quest to define her secular beliefs in a society where religion often separates rather than unites people. She tried to come to terms with the friendliness of door-to-door proselytizers. She resisted efforts to convert to Christianity at a ski weekend sponsored by a church. As a teen, she tried to come to terms with the meaning of death. Her hardest task was to gain acceptance from the sister of the boyfriend she later married. When she gained the strength to believe in the correctness of her secular views, the judgments of believers no longer bothered her. The memoir ends as the author, now the mother of two, must answer the same questions she posed to her parents as a child. Whatever readers' beliefs, they will find this search for acceptance enlightening.—Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—Matthews was born in late 1967 to an African-American father who was a dedicated journalist and his apparently unbalanced white Jewish wife who, with no word of warning to her husband, took her son to Israel shortly after giving birth. The boy was quickly retrieved, and he never saw her again. This memoir richly describes the childhood, youth, and early manhood of a bright and angry person. Stymied by his lack of a mother, his inability to own his racial identity, and the vagaries of every boyhood, such as filial disobedience and posturing within the peer group, Matthews led a life that included almost enough to eat, one or two good friends, and a late-dawning subscription to black pride. Contemporary teens of all backgrounds can learn a lot from Matthews, including the fact that maturity brings change to one's beliefs and outlook as well as to one's appearance and degree of personal power. Some of what he offers is provocative enough to invite book discussion or classroom debate, while much of his story clarifies a period and a place by personalizing them.—Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Students of government looking for a succinct book dealing with the basics of our judicial system will find that this is just the resource they need. In addition to describing the different types of judges and courts, questions regarding how judges are chosen, elected, appointed, and approved are addressed. Education is also discussed, including how much science and economic training judges need for dealing with today's issues. The chapter about the Supreme Court's traditions and rituals enlightens and refreshes with its presentation of the "jury service revolution." Mayer's sober writing can cause readers to rethink and reexamine notions and ideas about law and how our court system functions and has evolved.—Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School—Written in a style similar to Steven Covey's "Highly Effective Teens" books (S & S) and passing along wisdom the author learned from her father, Mehemet Oz, author of You: The Owner's Manual (HarperCollins, 2005), this title is part dietary adviser, part survival guide for the first year of college. Specifically addressing girls, it is filled with quotes from young women, giving tips for staying healthy. Topics include eating habits for all-nighters and illustrated exercises to be done in the dorm room. While the dietary advice is general in nature, Oz chronicles her own struggles with weight and is encouraging to readers trying to maintain healthy lifestyles. Checklists, self-reflection questions, and boxed tips are interspersed throughout. The tone is upbeat and positive. Teenage girls will enjoy the anecdotes and learn a lot about staying healthy along the way.—Brigeen Radoicich, Fresno County Office of Education, CA

Adult/High School—Rapp was an extraordinary child. Born with a congenital defect, she had her left ankle amputated at the age of four. Four years later, after dozens of surgeries, her entire leg below the knee was gone. Her parents—a Lutheran minister and a nurse—told her she could be anything she wanted. And she tried and reveled in the attention. She became the March of Dimes poster child, an amputee skier, and eventually won a Fulbright Scholarship to Korea. But this is not the story of her achievements. Instead, the book chronicles her poignant journey to make peace with her flaws. In exquisite prose and with keen self-awareness, Rapp imagines how her parents must have reacted to the child born with a deformed leg, the extremes they went to so that she could feel "normal," how much she loved being a poster child, and the church ladies' gifts and visits during her various surgeries. And then came her slow realization that what children had called her—"a cripple" and "peg leg"—was true and she didn't need to do it all. At book's end, Rapp and her parents find a box filled with every prosthetic device she ever wore, from a brace as a toddler to each new artificial limb as she grew to adulthood. It is an illuminating moment in her struggle to accept her disability. Young adults, often obsessed with defects both real and imagined, will identify with the author's need at first to be extraordinary, and then her final acceptance of the imperfect, but valued person she really is.—Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—The author of several hands-on science books has produced another fun and informative book for all those who want to know how everyday things work. The focus of this volume is domestic items, including devices specific to apartment buildings and houseboats. As he did in A Field Guide to Roadside Technology (Chicago Review, 2006), Sobey explains the purpose of each item, where it is likely to be found, and how it works. For many he also adds "unique characteristics" and/or "interesting facts." More than 180 household technologies are included, ranging from the extremely common (faucet, radio, can opener) to the less common (lava lamp, grow light, robotic vacuum cleaner). They are arranged by "habitat" or section of the house: entryway, living room, kitchen, bathroom, patio, and the like. A black-and-white photo of each device is included. They are small, but adequate for the purpose. The text is sufficiently detailed without being overly technical, and the author often employs a humorous touch. With this book in hand, readers could take a tour of their home, opening up new levels of awareness, understanding, and curiosity.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—In his introduction, Venables quotes William Blake: "Great things are done when men and mountains meet." The stories and photographs collected here provide ample testimony to that observation. These tales of triumph and tragedy, of endurance and daring, are indeed tales of great things accomplished by men and women who, to paraphrase Edmund Hillary, conquer not so much the mountain as themselves. In the adventures profiled here, readers find no shortage of human agony, broken bones, frostbite, dehydration, starvation, and death. Mountain climbing demands boldness, bravery, persistence. But most of all it requires respect for the power and majesty of nature. These climbers are never cavalier, never careless, and they never underestimate the difficulties they will face. In story after story, Venables lets the climbers answer the question all non-climbers ask: Why do they do it? The answer, time and again, goes right to the heart of that respect for the compelling otherness of the mountain. Entries are arranged by continent, mixing climbs as old as 1889 and as recent as 2005. They include the famous (Hillary, Norgay, Messner) and not-so-famous (Martin Ekroll, Gertrude Bell). For each mountain, Venables includes a table of background information (height, location, first ascent, etc.). What makes this volume a winner is the compelling drama of the stories coupled with the stunning beauty of the photographs (most in color). The absence of a glossary of mountaineering terms is the only noticeable shortcoming in this riveting presentation.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA