Reviews: Books for Adult/High School

Chaired by Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Alice MacCauley and her family are celebrating her 10th birthday. As the guests arrive, readers are introduced to neighbors, friends, and family, all of whom have hidden prejudices and anxieties. Theo, the biracial grandson of Alice’s father’s friends, is supposed to be visiting his grandparents, but by the end of the evening he is sharing Alice’s bedroom and will become a fixture in her family for the remainder of the season. Over the course of the summer they share secrets, befriend a dying artist, and learn more about suffering, humanity, and intolerance then any child her age needs to know. Together they try to make sense of the world, particularly of how adults think and why people hate the way they do. One of the lessons Alice learns is that the most heartfelt intentions can produce the most tragic results. Teens looking for an angst-filled novel will find that this one asks many questions about life and relationships without providing any pat answers.–Joanne Ligamari, Rio Linda School District, Sacramento, CA

Adult/High School–New York Detective Ellie Hatcher has been recruited by a Manhattan Homicide Task Force to assist renegade detective Flann McIlroy (whose nickname “McIl Mulder” alludes to his unusual way of solving his cases). The two are on the trail of a serial killer who is using an Internet matchmaking company called FirstDate. Soon they are enmeshed in the world of Internet socializing where the users trust that their identities can be hidden, but the reality is that those with the right skills can track down anyone online. And people are dying. There are a lot of subplots involving Ellie’s family, other officers, the Russian mafia, and the FBI, and the plot twists and folds back on itself nicely at the end.–Jane Halsall, McHenry Public Library District, IL

Adult/High School–Clark is a first-rate storyteller. The setting is 18th-century London, a dark and unwelcoming city of massive size. Eliza Tally, pregnant and unmarried, has been sent there by her mother to begin service as a maid for apothecary Grayson Black. His shop is managed by Mrs. Black, who holds an unyielding grip over all the affairs of the elusive man. Upon her arrival, Eliza meets Mary, the other servant, whom she finds annoying and bothersome at first. Eliza’s new home sits in the shadow of the impressive landmark of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the young woman becomes readers’ eyes and ears as she vividly conveys the sights and sounds of the city’s bustling life. She is disturbed by the changes in her body as the baby within her grows. At the same time, she discovers that all is not right with the mysterious apothecary and his ever-vigilant wife. His interests in her and her condition make her increasingly uncomfortable as she perceives that she is somehow an unwitting party to his secrets, and she and Mary come to rely on one another for warmth and companionship. Ultimately, Eliza learns that monsters can take many forms, and that human behavior is oftentimes most fearsome. The novel’s well-described setting and its well-realized themes of unplanned pregnancy and exploited female labor will engage teen readers.–Catherine Gilbride, Farifax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School–Dallas has made a major contribution to a growing body of literature about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Based on the one camp in Colorado (named Amache, and renamed Tallgrass by the author), the story focuses on the impact it had on the local farmers and townspeople. It is told from the viewpoint of Rennie Stroud, 13, and poignantly portrays the emotional turmoil of both the internees and local residents. Suspicion, fear, anger, hatred, love, tenderness, pride, regret: Rennie adapts and readapts to all of these as her predictable life vanishes behind the reality of war, murder, and injustice. After a young local girl is killed, most of the town looks in one direction for the murderer. Rennie, blessed with wise and just parents, manages to rise above the prevailing rush to judgment. Part mystery, part historical fiction, part coming-of-age story, Tallgrass has all the elements of a tale well told: complex characters, intriguing plot, atmospheric detail, pathos, humor, and memorable turns of phrase. But most of all, the book offers a fresh look at a theme that can never be ignored: the interplay of good and evil within society and within people.–Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Alice Fancourt knows the baby in her nursery is not her daughter, Florence, but everyone else is not so sure. Her husband thinks she is crazy; her domineering mother-in-law is reserving judgment but treating her like an infant herself; and the cops, for the most part, do not believe her. This psychological mystery exposes itself slowly. Careful readers are given the clues to Alice’s dilemma and the motivations of the characters, but it is easy to engage fully in the drama, be surprised by the occasional twist, and close the book completely satisfied. The suspense is more atmospheric than overt, and the mystery is in the tension of the relationships. Alice is a flawed character who presents herself almost as a child. Simon, the one detective who believes her, has his own torments to which teens can relate. A solid addition to mystery collections.–Mary Ann Harlan, Arcata High School, CA

Adult/High School–A coming-of-age story set on a Polynesian-like island. Alana faces her approaching puberty ritual with great concern as the entire population faces devastating typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanoes, brought on by the angry spirits of wind, water, and fire. Apprenticed to a witch, the girl denies her true power. She naively thinks that her sacrifice will save her mother, but she is caught in a web of deception. Dark forces erupt, changing all her plans. This novel has rich details of setting and character motivation. The prose is lyrical and metaphorical, in a style similar to Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist (HarperCollins, 1993). There are also elements of Greek myths in which mortals and spirits meet with mostly tragic results. The complex plot requires careful reading but the effort is worth it. Teens who enjoyed Ursula Le Guin’s Always Coming Home (HarperCollins, 1985; o.p.) will like this novel, and many readers will identify with a character facing adult responsibilities while still feeling like a child.-Deirdre Cerkanowicz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–A fast, fun read. Retired after marrying her demon-slayer partner and having a child, Kate Conner, aka Buffy the Vampire Slayer, moves with her family to a “safe” town to settle down and lead a normal life. Her husband is killed in a car accident and she remarries, has another child, and settles into a happy family life. Of course, when you know about demons and the realities of the dark side, nothing could be that simple. Certainly the cast here is complex. Daughter Allie becomes aware of her legacy when kidnapped. Saved by her mother, the teen now wants to join the hunters. Eddie, Kate’s elderly demon-hunting mentor, lives with the family as a sort of adopted grandfather. An irascible sort by nature, he’s making more waves than usual as he makes more and more demands to define his place in the household. David Long, an attractive teacher at Allie’s school, may or may not actually be Kate’s beloved first husband. Stuart Conner, Kate’s ambitious second husband, is running for San Diablo County Attorney, blissfully unaware of his wife’s alter ego. Now her not quite three-year-old son Timmy’s playdates are being interrupted by demons trying to revive a long-imprisoned Mater demon by the name of Andramelech. What’s a mom to do? Teenage girls may enjoy a glimpse of what “Buffy” has to look forward to. Serious adventure handled with humor and affection.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–MacGregor West is a lost soul. Orphaned as a boy, he is now 22 and desperate to piece together any semblance of truth about his mother’s life and, by so doing, discover his own identity. Guided by a stack of envelopes belonging to his mother, Mac finds himself at the San Francisco mansion of famed author Charles Ware and meets Ware’s daughter Carolyn. Through their relationship, Mac is pulled into the eccentric Ware clan and finds that their history may be linked to his own. McKenzie has created a unique young man whose touching and often hilarious story will entice readers, especially teens who have an affinity for Chris Crutcher and Ned Vizzini. Mac has bounced from one job to the next–library page, piano mover, pizza delivery boy–and readers will no doubt identify with his dilemma of having too many choices in life. The novel is also a love affair with San Francisco, and the city acts as a character that Mac relies on to complete his genealogical journey.–Jennifer Waters, Red Deer Public Library, Alberta, Canada

Adult/High School–This book could accurately be described as gothic fiction, a coming-of-age novel, or a melodrama. Indeed, it succeeds so intelligently and precisely in blending these genres with a cast of multigenerational characters that readers are left transfixed. Twice abandoned by irresponsible, callous relatives, Raj, 12, is abruptly left in the reluctant hands of romance novelist Ruth, the girlfriend of a deceased uncle. Raj, India-born and London-raised, is the ultimate outsider by the standards of his new 1950s Pisgah, MO, home. Although he is a derisive clown and a brilliant mimic, he desires to be accepted into the fabric of the town. Murr writes: “as a child he would spend hours imagining himself as ruggedly handsome, laconic, and dangerously impulsive as the men of Ruth’s romances. Brutally powerful, morbidly sensitive, he was the perfect man.” Ultimately, however, his inability to achieve such a personal ideal or to homogenize with the community is his salvation from the darkness of Pisgah and the corrupt adult world. The novel leaps seamlessly among perspectives, story lines, and time periods. Murr becomes almost playful in a dizzying carousel of dualisms: youth and maturity, intensity and detachment, sanity and madness, aggression and passivity, male and female, life and death, helplessness and power. These extremes are easily reached, discarded, and compounded through a parade of deeply complex characters. It is then the quieter, individual moments of thoughtfulness, imagination, and compassion that allow some characters a sense of faith and glimpse of humanity. This title will appeal to a wide range of readers.–Shannon Peterson, Kitsap Regional Library, WA

Adult/High School–While much of the material here was published posthumously in books like The Silmarillion (1985) and Unfinished Tales (1988, both Del Rey), Tolkien delivered it in a loosely connected way that made it difficult to read. Edited by his son, this new volume draws from both of these earlier sources to pull together a complete single narrative set in pre-Hobbit Middle Earth. Túrin, son of the human lord Húrin and the elven lady Morwen, becomes a pivotal force in the ongoing battle against evil in an epic adventure full of intrigue and clever battle scenes. The early parts of the story focus on Túrin’s young life. As an adult, he is wrongly judged for the death of an elf and banished for the rest of his life. He manages to become the leader of a ragtag band of forest outlaws that cause no end of problems for forces of evil trying to usurp the kingdom. Túrin is charismatic, brave, cocky, and as equally skilled at getting into trouble as he is at getting out of it. Lee’s black-and-white drawings and full-color paintings come from the traditions of fantasy illustration and offer dramatic visuals throughout the book. The language and vocabulary, especially in the dialogue, might intimidate casual readers, but ambitious fans of fantasy will find a work that reminds them why we continue to place Tolkien at the zenith of fantasy literature after so many years.–Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School–The world is watched over and governed by the Wizard Lord, and it is the duty of the Chosen, eight “magically infused mortals,” to be sure that he does so justly. The Leader, the Seer, the Swordsman, the Beauty, the Thief, the Scholar, the Archer, and the Speaker had done their duty by removing the former insane and tyrannical Wizard Lord in the first book in the series, The Wizard Lord (Tor, 2006). Now, peace and tranquility have been restored. The new Wizard Lord is well loved and improving the world through technology instead of magic. Everything looks good on the surface, but Sword has his suspicions and travels to Winterhome, the Wizard Lord’s dwelling, to see for himself. What he finds is disturbing. The traitor to the Chosen in the last battle is the Wizard Lord’s chief adviser. His questions multiplied instead of answered, Sword calls the Chosen together to confront the Wizard Lord and, by the end of that confrontation, few Chosen are left. With the survivors scattered and their magical powers gone, it will be up to Sword to assemble a new group of heroes to sort out the answers raised in this installment and to remove a wily foe. True to its serial nature, this book has no true ending and produces more new questions than answers, but it is well written and intriguing enough to leave readers eager to find out what happens next.–Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA

Adult/High School–This book is a companion to a public television documentary and a Smithsonian Institution exhibit. Most books about deafness revolve around Helen Keller; Deaf Eyes mentions her once, in relation to Alexander Graham Bell. He became a proponent of a philosophy that advocated the end of American Sign Language and warned against the dangers of a “deaf race” with deaf marrying deaf. Bell is not painted as a villain, but as an example of any outsider at odds with a minority that is trying to organize and grow stronger. Deafness cuts across all cultures, and the authors show how deaf people have had to fight to be recognized as intelligent and useful members of society. The photographs of individuals, schools, societies, and heroes bring their struggles and victories to life. This is the perfect resource for teens writing reports or those just wanting to learn about this condition that could affect anyone.–Will Marston, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner may be familiar names, but it’s unlikely that teens have heard of U.S. Army Captain Richard Henry Pratt or the Sioux leader American Horse. Jenkins introduces readers to these figures and others in her vivid social history of the decline of American Indian culture and the development of college football. Her lively writing features unbiased descriptions of major historical figures, thumbnail sketches of minor personalities, and cameos by Mark Twain and President Eisenhower. The book opens with familiar events–the battles between Native Americans and U.S. Army soldiers over Western territories and the abysmal treatment Native American tribes received at the hands of the government. Less widely known is Captain Pratt’s dream of providing educational opportunities for Indians and his founding of the Carlisle Indian Training School in Pennsylvania. Jenkins’s strength is in her sports writing; the most compelling sections of the book are descriptions of the Indians at Carlisle inventing new plays and prevailing against all odds in pivotal games against Harvard and West Point. The volume is enhanced by an eight-page spread of black-and-white photos with detailed captions. All Americans is a history book of heartbreaking stories that will appeal to teens interested in football or Native American history; it also has value as a narrative nonfiction supplement to the U.S. history curriculum.–Sondra VanderPloeg, Tracy Memorial Library, New London, NH

Adult/High School–Before it was the second largest spectator sport in America–and before it was a billion-dollar industry–stock-car racing was an outlaw sport populated by men who had learned to drive by moving moonshine from the country to the city, outrunning the cops. In 1947, Bill France called a meeting of drivers, owners, and mechanics, and NASCAR was born. There is no comprehensive history of the early days of NASCAR; much of it was lost because it was not recorded. The authors attempt to rectify that by gathering oral histories from 58 people who influenced the development of the sport. There are funny memories and poignant accounts of loss and struggle. This book will be popular with NASCAR fans and will introduce readers to people beyond the Pettys and the Earnhardts.–Mary Ann Harlan, Arcata High School, CA

Adult/High School–This book chronicles the year that Barbara Kingsolver, along with her husband and two daughters, made a commitment to become locavores–those who eat only locally grown foods. This first entailed a move away from their home in non-food-producing Tuscon to a family farm in Virginia, where they got right down to the business of growing and raising their own food and supporting local farmers. For teens who grew up on supermarket offerings, the notion not only of growing one’s own produce but also of harvesting one’s own poultry was as foreign as the concept that different foods relate to different seasons. While the volume begins as an environmental treatise–the oil consumption related to transporting foodstuffs around the world is enormous–it ends, as the year ends, in a celebration of the food that physically nourishes even as the recipes and the memories of cooks and gardeners past nourish our hearts and souls. Although the book maintains that eating well is not a class issue, discussions of heirloom breeds and making cheese at home may strike some as high-flown; however, those looking for healthful alternatives to processed foods will find inspiration to seek out farmers’ markets and to learn to cook and enjoy seasonal foods. Give this title to budding Martha Stewarts, green-leaning fans of Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (Rodale, 2006), and kids outraged by Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation (Houghton, 2001).–Jenny Gasset, Orange County Public Library, CA

Adult/High School–Nuzum taps into a pervasive thirst for vampire mythology and culture. His examination of the enduring popularity of everyone’s favorite monster is oddly respectful as well as hilariously irreverent. Discussions of the real Vlad Dracula, and of Bram Stoker’s background and writing, are informative, and the author’s acute psychological observations are enlightening. The flesh-and-blood of the book, however, is Nuzum’s willingness to throw himself into his research, often with hysterically funny results. He drank his own blood, saw 605 vampire movies (overwhelmingly awful), took a vampire tour of San Francisco led by “Countess Mina,” went on a tacky and sometimes dangerous vampire tour of Romania, did a stint as a vampire in a haunted house, and attended a Dark Shadows convention. With heavy doses of self-deprecating humor, Nuzum recounts these experiences while slyly exposing the silliness of vampire culture. The liberal use of profanity may turn off some adults, but worldly wise teens are unlikely to be so fainthearted.–Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA

Adult/High School–A good choice for teens interested in a synoptic view of Afghanistan from prehistory to 2006. Located along the trade routes that connected the continents of Europe and Asia, the country was exposed to a plethora of ideas and ethnicities over the centuries. Arab forays (ca. 650) introduced what would become the most unifying influence–Islam. The majority of the book, however, focuses on the period from 1747, when modern Afghanistan was founded under Ahmad Shah, to the present. Wahab covers the “Great Game” between the Russian and British empires, the unrest of the 20th century, the Soviet occupation of the 1980s, the rise of the mujahideen, and the Taliban era and the civil war that followed, and concludes with a chapter summarizing the current status of her native county. (Wahab immigrated to the U.S. in 1981, but returned briefly in late 2002-early 2003 to film the PBS documentary, Afghanistan Unveiled.) The book contains dozens of black-and-white photographs as well as numerous sidebars on a variety of subjects from important personages to national flags.–Dori DeSpain, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School–From the mid-19th to the mid-20th century, photographers, most of them white, took thousands of pictures of the Ojibwe people of northern Minnesota. Anthropologist White’s book reproduces hundreds of these photographs and describes the circumstances under which they were taken and the background and approach of the photographers. White people, he argues, while not ill-intentioned, photographed the Ojibwe in a way that reinforced the photographer’s cultural view of Indians as exotic others, while Ojibwe photographing their own people provided a more accurate cultural context. The author provides interesting insights into Ojibwe/white relations, although an occasional bit of turgid prose suggests the book’s connection to his doctoral dissertation. The major attraction for teens will be the beautifully reproduced photographs that document, however imperfectly, the lives of the Ojibwe during a century of change. A worthy addition to libraries that support Native American studies, especially those in the upper Midwest.–Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA