Reviews: Adult/High School

Adult/High School—At the age of 12, Nenita decides that the best move she can make for both herself and her family is to leave their impoverished home in her tiny Phillipine village and become the maid to a middle-class family with a sympathetic teenage daughter. Nenita's acquaintances range from an itinerant and elderly fishmonger to the snack baker who conducts her business so fragrantly that Nenita is torn between wanting to help and needing to get her hands on the food, both for herself and her nearly starving friends. She is painfully aware of her parents' individual shortcomings and sees herself as providing not only a little money, but also emotional space, by her absence, for her mother and herself. Bobis creates a fully realized community and a compelling character in her protagonist. Comparisons to Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street (Vintage, 1991) are apt both for the heartfelt honesty and the simplicity of this coming-of-age story, and, like Mango Street, this book provides a well-written and highly engaging story about an ethnic group rarely delivered so well to American readers.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—The prolific Card published one short story collection, Maps in a Mirror: The Short Fiction of Orson Scott Card (Tor, 1990), which supposedly included all of the short fiction he was willing to share. But apparently there are now a lot more selections, as demonstrated by this hefty volume. This compilation, composed of science fiction, fantasy, literary tales, and Mormon stories contains no clunkers. There is some truly innovative and wonderful storytelling here. Card's ability to create believable characters that readers come to care about remains his strongest selling point. Sometimes those characters happen into other worlds, as in "Space Boy" and "Dust." Other times they stay firmly grounded in this one, yet their stories give a new and different perspective on life. Teens who enjoy Card's earlier work, who like short stories, or who are just looking for a new world to lose themselves in can't go wrong here. Standout stories include "Space Boy," "Homeless in Hell," "Inventing Lovers on the Phone," and "50 WPM." Short essays give the origins of the individual selections.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School—Blue-collar Neil Countryman meets Seattle blue-blood John William Barry while running track. The novel opens with a lot of references to 1970s pop culture: television shows such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart, and athletes and celebrities like Steve Prefontaine, Carl Lewis, the Doobie Brothers, and Gerald Ford. Guterson describes Neil and John William's generation as "slightly late for the zeal of the sixties and slightly early for disco." He depicts a 34-year friendship that survives their many differences. It starts out with a shared love of nature, running, and hiking the Olympic Mountains. But as they mature, the men drift in different directions. As the first Countryman to attend college, Neil takes his education seriously and chooses a traditional life. In contrast, John William drops out of school, decries hypocrisy, studies philosophic thought (most notably Gnosticism), and retreats into a life in the Olympic forest, in a bit of a Thoreau-like existence. His mental state is most certainly fragile, likely inherited from his mother. But in spite of their differences, Neil honors their "blood pact," hiking in food, supplies, and companionship, and, most importantly, he honors John William's desire to keep his location a secret. The 1970s setting will hook teens in the opening, and the lyrical description of the Olympic Mountains forest will keep them reading. The biggest draw, however, will be the themes of friendship and loyalty, and how they survive through the years.—Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA

Adult/High School—The first in a proposed trilogy, this story set in a wilderness 14,000 years ago is told from the wolves' viewpoint. Kaala is a young female whose relationship with her pack is strained by the portentous crescent moon mark on her chest and her affinity for humans. Her bond with them is formed when she rescues a young girl from drowning. Through repeated conversations with Greatwolves, spiritwolves, and Ancients, the young wolf comes to realize that she is the latest in a line of mixed bloods who have the opportunity and challenge of forming an alliance with humans in order to remind them of the interconnectivity of life and to prevent them from destroying their world. The road Kaala travels to ultimate understanding is a tortured one that, at times, borders on the tiresome, but this is a minor drawback in a book whose strength is in the depiction of life in and among wolf packs. Clearly, Hearst has done prodigious research, and her story is infused with a great depth of understanding. Her depiction of the animals' lives, from raising pups to hunting strategies to the protocol of both inter- and intra-pack associations, makes her lupine cast both captivating and believable. A favorite character, however, may be the raven Tlitoo, who plays the part of a Sancho Panza sidekick and provides some comic relief. With its engaging blend of animal science and mythology, and a strong environmental message, Promise will appeal to a variety of teens.—Dori DeSpain, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Adult/High School—This debut novel by a Peabody award-winning playwright has its finger on the pulse of what's current and happening. It is also a very old story of exploitation, greed, and over-the-top drama done in four first-person voices: the eponymous Heller siblings—three beautiful red-haired teenage girls—and, oh yes, their brother. The tale begins with a classy picture in Vanity Fair by a noted photographer and ends, semi-tragically, in the way that all celebrity stories seem to end—in tabloid headlines and with paparazzi shots and court proceedings. Reading this book is like eating too much candy; it tastes good and you want to wolf it all down, but by the time you're done, it will make you feel sick. The three sisters, although different, become so manipulated by others that if the sections weren't labeled, it would be difficult to tell the point of view had changed from voice alone. Their rabid vanity becomes grating, while the nonexistence of any parental responsibility bodes ill for their futures and that of the only sympathetic character, their brother. Still, teens who like Cecily von Ziegesar's "Gossip Girl" or Zoey Dean's "A-List" series (both Little, Brown) will devour this with no indigestion.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Adult/High School—Five college students in Madison, WI, drink some home brew together one May evening in 2001 and the next morning they each have a new power. One can fly, one is superstrong, one can run faster than the eye can see, one can become invisible, and one can read minds. They spend some time learning about the limits of their superpowers, but, eventually, they decide to use their newfound abilities to do what they can to help society—stopping crimes, solving crimes, rescuing those in danger, and so on. The premise of this first novel sounds lighthearted, and there certainly are funny moments. But Schwartz seems more interested in the confusing and difficult aspects of having such talents. He doesn't worry about how the powers came to be, or why each person got his or her particular one. Instead, he asks: Whom do you tell? How do you conduct an ordinary life? What is the difference between being a crime fighter and being a vigilante? What are these new powers doing to one's physical and psychological well-being? This is a thoughtful but entertaining novel, with interesting characters. It is respectful of the genre of the superhero comic book, while taking the concept in a different direction.—Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Adult/High School—This novel transforms the dangers of surfing and thrill-seeking into a powerful metaphor for the transition from childhood to adulthood. Bruce "Pikelet" Pike and his friend Loonie, both 12, are looking for a way of life different from what home and school offer them. Living in a small, working-class town on the west coast of Australia in the 1970s, they turn to surfing as their escape. At first, they manage little beyond paddling offshore on flimsy boards. But everything changes when they meet Sando, an aging hippie-guru with a love of sports and danger. He takes the boys under his wing, first by letting them store their boards at his home and later by encouraging them to chase after increasingly dangerous waves. Ordinary life becomes boring and colorless to the boys when compared to the magic they feel when blasting through the churning water. The surfing sequences are beautifully and excitingly described, giving an easy hook to an otherwise emotionally complicated novel. Jealousy enters the relationship when Sando takes Loonie on a surfing tour through the Pacific Islands, leaving Pikelet behind with Sando's bitter wife. The two bond through their pain at being left behind and question the place of thrill-seeking in their lives. Their friendship takes a sexual turn, making this novel best for more mature teens. Told as a retrospective tale, Winton's story mixes the frenetic excitement and confusion of adolescence with the perspective and wisdom of adulthood, making this book a unique reading experience.—Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA

Adult/High School—The raised stiff right arm and the accompanying "Heil Hitler" continues to be recognized as redolent of a time, place, and world-shaking series of events. It came into use so rapidly and with such legal imperative that even a picture dictionary published less than two years after the edict commanding this "German greeting" already showed it as a standard. Twelve years later, at the end of World War II, it fell even more quickly into disrespect. Allert explores the ambiguity of the spoken phrase, the viral nature of this particular greeting in a culture where regionalisms had always precluded any such uniform expression, and the nature and service of greetings of any sort as a human and cultural device. While this is not a simple text, the author makes excellent use of photos and reproductions, and explains technical language related to sociology with efficiency, making this book accessible to teens interested in Nazi Germany, contemporary gang signs, and aspects of human psychology. It is also likely to be useful to teachers looking for new ways to relate history to their students' lives.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—This is a unique take on a how-to book with its combination of sports, culture background, and quotes from skateboarding greats. Each trick is introduced with a brief history, including its inventor, and a brief description of it. Black-and-white photos of the trick being performed and more detailed instructions of how to complete the move follow. The book does not condescend to readers, and the pictures are more interesting than the illustrations in most how-to titles. This is a strong addition to collections; it's great for browsing, for readers seeking tips and instruction, and for those interested in learning about the history of skateboarding.—Mary Ann Harlan, Arcata High School, CA

Adult/High School—Bragg revisits his Alabama hometown for the third time, following All Over but the Shoutin' (1998) and Ava's Man (2002, both Vintage). He attempts to retell the story of his father, vilified as an abusive drunk in the earlier works, and gives him a more in-depth treatment in an effort to determine what made him the way he was. While by no means sympathetic, the portrayal shows readers a man who had limited choices in education, employment, relationships, and, ultimately, behavior. Before he became an absent father, Charles Bragg was a good son; a handsome man with a sexy car; a fighter and carouser, and eventually a mean, spiteful drunk. Described through recollections of friends and relatives who knew him when, the figure who emerges coped the only way he knew how, with exaggerated machismo, in a small town that he never left for any length of time. The author's realization that he might have been harsh in his previous memoirs comes through as he views his new 10-year-old stepson as soft. Even with all the benefits of education and a Pulitzer Prize, that seed of the immature Bragg tough guy remains. The story unfolds in alternating chapters, shorter ones about the stepson interspersed with longer ones about Charles Bragg. The stepson stories have a '40s-something navel-gazing quality about them that could put off some teens, but most of the book, masterfully told, is the kind of dysfunctional family memoir that teens tend to love.—Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD

Adult/High School—Conley visited the sets of action films to talk with Hollywood stuntmen and -women and to report on the elaborate preparations and precautions that allow heart-stopping feats to be done safely. Performers talk about their lives on and off film sets and recall some of the best, the worst, and the craziest stunts they and their colleagues have enacted. They provide insider tips on how to break into the business and how spectacular falls, car crashes, and other stunts are planned and executed. While the book's format could seem repetitious (another chapter, another stuntman, another set of reminiscences), the stories are so interesting that it's difficult to stop reading. The author transmits his fascination for the profession, and readers come away with knowledge and respect for those actors for whom tumbling head over heels down a staircase or falling off a galloping horse is all in a day's work. Movie buffs will enjoy the inside information and thrill-a-minute tales.—Sandy Schmitz, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—More than mere trivia, less than true science, this book is based on Discover's popular monthly column of nearly the same title, "20 Things You Didn't Know About." The first thing the editors do is apologize for the volume's title, calling it "absurd." "Everything" is indeed misleading: "20 Things about 20 Things" is spot-on accurate. The topics range widely and are presented one to a chapter in alphabetical order, from airport security to weather, with bees, duct tape, meteors, rats, and sleep among those in between. The subjects fall into the categories of technology, health, and nature more so than hard science. Written with wit and humor, the entries are fun to read and easy to understand, demanding no scientific background. For most teens, the selections will prove to be things they truly did not know. Where is the most likely spot for alien life in the solar system? What did the ancient Greeks use to treat battlefield wounds? And that tape of a zillion uses: Is it duct tape or duck tape? The answers to these and many more, similar questions can be found in this entertaining compilation.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—Griffin found fame—and infamy—with his mid-20th-century experiment in changing his skin pigmentation and reporting on the responses a person of color garnered in the American South. With the publication of magazine articles that would become his classic Black Like Me, Griffin and his family became targets of hate mongers, and he, his wife and children, and his parents moved to Mexico to find sanctuary. While living in Morelia, Griffin worked not only on the book-length account of his experiences with racism, but also continued to practice photography, an art he came to some years earlier, as he was going blind. (He regained his sight a few years before his skin pigmentation experiment.) The current book includes images of friends, family, and Mexican neighbors as well as essays and journal entries from this both tumultuous and reflective period in his highly inquisitive life. A wide array of readers will find nuggets to treasure as Griffin was given access to Mexican folk celebrations, recorded rural life, reflected on the dangers threatening his family in Texas, and celebrated the recovery of his eyesight.—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax Public Libraries, Nova Scotia

Adult/High School—Lee takes readers on a delightful journey through the origins and mysteries of the popular, yet often overlooked, world of the American Chinese food industry. Crossing dozens of states and multiple countries, the author sought answers to the mysteries surrounding the shocking origins of the fortune cookie, the inventor of popular dishes such as chop suey and General Tso's chicken, and more. What she uncovers are the fascinating connections and historical details that give faces and names to the restaurants and products that have become part of a universal American experience. While searching for the "greatest Chinese restaurant," readers are taken on a culinary tour as Lee discovers the characteristics that define an exceptional and unique Chinese dining experience. Readers will learn about the cultural contributions and sacrifices made by the Chinese immigrants who comprise the labor force and infrastructure that supports Chinese restaurants all over the world. This title will appeal to teens who are interested in history, Chinese culture, and, of course, cuisine. Recommend it to sophisticated readers who revel in the details and history that help explain our current global culture, including fans of Thomas L. Friedman's The World Is Flat (Farrar, 2006) and Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner's Freakonomics (Morrow, 2006).—Lynn Rashid, Marriots Ridge High School, Marriotsville, MD

Adult/High School—This thoroughly researched, intelligently written, and beautifully presented book explores in detail the connections between a super-successful writer and his marvelously engaging creation. Fictional characters, even one as exotic, sexy, and talented as Bond, seldom emerge from the pure, unaltered imagination of the author. Bond has deep roots in Fleming's life, in the places where the author lived and visited, the people he knew and worked with, and in the family, social, and love life he experienced. Macintyre also investigates the real-life roots of other major characters, such as Miss Moneypenney, M, and supervillain Ernst Stavro Biofeld. He examines the plot origins of several of the stories, as well as the real-world gadgets and gizmos that show up so famously in the books and movies. Where does the "Bond girl" come from? And what should we make of Bond's life of luxury? These and other questions are answered here, revealing Macintyre's convincing reverence for and fascination with the intertwining worlds of these figures. The volume is lavishly illustrated with black-and-white and color photographs.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Adult/High School—There have been some excellent collections of nature writing published in recent years (The Norton Anthology of Nature Writing is one fine example), but not until now has there been a definitive anthology of American environmental writing. In this superbly edited volume, McKibben draws a clear distinction between the two. The best of the latter often celebrates nature, but also asks searching questions about the impact of human life on the planet. After a poignant foreword by Al Gore, as well as his own illuminating introduction, McKibben begins with the work of a writer, thinker, and activist ahead of his time, Henry David Thoreau, and ends the volume with Rebecca Solnit's essay, "The Thoreau Problem." She notes that many people think of Thoreau only as a man alone observing nature, but the author of "Civil Disobedience," before enjoying his day of huckleberry picking, spent a night in jail rather than pay taxes to a government guilty of ignoring the higher laws of nature. This vast and varied collection, arranged chronologically, includes many seminal names, such as John Muir, Rachel Carson, and Wendell Berry, and some that are less well known or unexpected, like Benton MacKaye, Caroline Henderson, P. T. Barnum, and Philip K. Dick. Most of the selections derive from longer prose works, but there is also a smattering of poems, song lyrics, and cartoons. Although the heft of the volume might scare away some teens, others may realize that they could easily read bits and pieces, and that they would benefit greatly by any amount of time spent in these pages. Numerous photographs, many in full color, are included.—Robert Saunderson, Berkeley Public Library, CA