Weekend Cooking: Lords and Ladles

Remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned I discovered a new food-related TV show? That show is the Irish series Lords and Ladles, directed by Maurice Linnane.

The show stars three well-known Irish chefs--Derry Clarke, Catherine Fulvio, and Paul Flynn, and each week they visit a famous Irish castle or estate and attempt to re-create a historic meal that had been or could have been served there. For each dinner, one of the chefs takes charge of the kitchen and another one scrounges up the ingredients (gathering, hunting, fishing, or tracking down a local artisan producer). The third chef tours the grand house and grounds and talks with the current owners, sharing both the beauty of the estate and the family history.

Clarke, Fulvio, and Flynn are fun to watch because their reactions to the ingredients and the kitchens seem genuine. And even despite some understandable grumbling, they're wonderfully good sports and manage to pull off the elaborate menus.

Each episode, I learned something interesting about grand meals of the past and about Irish history. I loved seeing how each head chef attempted to interpret ingredients and cooking techniques from 100 years ago and more. I also liked seeing the dinner guests--friends and family of the estate--taste the food and comment on what they liked and what they didn't like.

The entire first season of Lords and Ladles is available on Netflix. The castles/estates the three chefs visited are Birr Castle, Tullynally Castle, Castle Leslie, Westport House, Balywalter Park, and Cappoquin House. Besides the food, I learned about a woman pirate, a family that made their fortune in linen, and saw what was once the world's largest telescope. I loved getting to know the families and their histories.

The food Clarke, Fulvio, and Flynn had to cook included foods we still eat today, like roasted game, and some totally bizarre ingredients, like cow's palates. The amount of food served for just one meal is astounding. Bravo to the guests who found room to taste everything!

I basically binge watched all six episodes and plan to watch them again. Season 2 has already aired in Ireland, and I'm impatiently awaiting the USA release.

If you have any interest in Ireland or food history or just want to watch something fun and interesting, put Lords and Ladles on your viewing list. This is the very short trailer to the first season:

Note that we're celebrating my mother's 90th birthday this weekend, so I'll be very slow to visit your blogs. I will get there, but maybe not until next week.

_______

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

Click for more

8 June Novels I Still Want to Read

*Blink* ← That’s how long the month of June lasted. And that means I’m—as always—behind in reading this month’s new releases. Good thing there’s no use-by date on books, because there’s still plenty of time for me to get to the following June novels.

Tell Me a Modern Story

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza (SJP for Hogarth, June 12): A contemporary Muslim American family is divided over balancing Western 21st-century culture with their ethnic and religious traditions. Why I want to read this novel: Only through understanding and empathy can we combat hate.

The Fall of Innocence by Jenny Torres Sanchez (Philomel Books, June 12): Eight years after surviving a childhood assault, 16-year-old Emilia is having trouble moving forward. Why I want to read this novel: Although the subject is difficult, it’s important to recognize that past trauma can resonate in the present.

Take Me Back to the Last Century

The Myth of Perpetual Summer by Susan Crandall (Gallery, June 19): A young women recalls her tumultuous childhood in a small Mississippi town and her dysfunctional family. Why I want to read this novel: I liked the author’s first novel and tend to like coming-of-age stories.

Visible Empire by Hannah Pittard (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June 5): The far-reaching ways Atlanta, Georgia, was changed by the 1962 Orly plane crash that killed many of the city’s white elite . Why I want to read this novel: Because it is based on a true event with a foundation in the civil rights movement.

Give Me a Thrill

Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris (St. Martin’s Press, June 19): While on holiday in France, a man’s girlfriend goes missing, never to be seen again. Ten years later, he’s engaged and thinks his past is behind him . . . or is it? Why I want to read this novel: I really liked the author’s previous novels.

The Captives by Debra Jo Immergut (Ecco, June 5): A prison psychologist is surprised when his next patient is his high school crush, who’s been convicted of a brutal crime. How far will he go to help her? Why I want to read this novel: I trust the Ecco imprint and thought the premise was good.

Let Me Escape This World

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd (William Morrow, June 5): What would happen if humans were hit with a pandemic event that caused them to slowly lose their memories, until they no longer even remembered to eat? Why I want to read this novel: Even in the present political climate, I can’t resist a good adult dystopian/postapocalyptic story.

Bruja Born by Zoraida Cordova (Sourcebooks Fire, June 5): This is the second entry in an urban fantasy with Latinx underpinnings. Plus there are witches and walking dead. Why I want to read this novel: I liked the first book in this series and want to know what happens next.

Click for more

Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 2 Good Books

I can't believe my mom's 90th birthday is almost here. For all those who have a certain image of a 90-year-old in your head, my mother is out to shatter it. This is her version of being an nonagenarian:

She spent this morning working out with her personal trainer. She pumps real iron (not just 5-pound dumbbells) and hits the rowing machine or spinning bike too.

She still lives in her two-story house and still drives. She has a more active social life than we have, is avid gardener, and volunteers her journalism skills at a monthly glossy magazine. Here's to many more healthy years, Mom!

What I Read Last Week

The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah (William Morrow, June 19). I was attracted to this novel because of the French vineyard connection, but I didn't know much about this dual-time-period story before I started reading. In the present, Kate is studying for her Master of Wine certification and decides, for a number of reasons, to spend the summer at her family's vineyard in Burgundy. Kate grew up in the United States and has visited her French relatives only a few times over the years. While there, she helps her cousin-in-law clean out the villa's basement, and there in the cool cellar, they make a discovery that could change all their lives. In the past, Kate's great-aunt Helene keeps a journal of her life during the German occupation. She and her father try to balance their ethical beliefs with keeping the vineyard and her father's second wife and young sons safe. I became invested in both stories for different reasons. Kate's is all about family secrets and family loyalty, the pulls of independence and love, and of course the wine. Helene's story is about survival, family loyalty, and the constraints of women's opportunities in the mid-twentieth century. Throughout both story arcs are tense moments of possible betrayals, danger, and having the strength to do what's right. I liked The Lost Vintage more than I thought I would and was especially interested in the details of Helene's experiences.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook (HarperAudio; 11 hr, 43 min) read by Saskia Maarleveld. Maaleveld's French, German, South African, and American accents were utterly believable, and her pacing and characterizations kept me engaged. Recommended in either medium. (review copies from the publisher)

Wild Blues by Beth Kephart (Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum; June 5). For so many reasons, I love this book.

In the interest of transparency, I should say that I know Beth and have met her in person a couple of times, though not in a few years. Also, a book written by her great-grandfather features in Wild Blues, and this book is one of Mr. BFR's favorites and is one he owned long before I had even heard of Beth Kephart. Those two factors may have affected my deep affection for this novel, but I can also say without reservation that Kephart's writing is beautiful and the tears that filled my eyes off and on throughout my reading were genuine and were prompted solely from the story of Lizzy and Matias.

When 13-year-old Lizzy is dropped off at her uncle's house in the Adirondacks, her only worry is that her mother will be on her own all summer as she undergoes radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid cancer. But Lizzy adores her uncle Davy and can't wait to see her friend Matias. She is tall and scientific, and he has proportionate dwarfism and is an artist. She's American, and he's Salvadoran. Despite their differences, they form a strong bond while exploring the woods and telling each other stories. When Matias and her uncle go missing on the day after two men escape a nearby prison, Lizzy--armed with the book Camping and Woodcraft, which Davy had given her--heads out into the 6-million-acre park determined to find the men she loves. This is Lizzy's story, told in flashbacks.

Here are some disjointed thoughts about Lizzy: She's intelligent and insightful, but her language and perceptions remind us she's still just an adolescent. She's brave but is driven by love and fear, not by a superpower. Because this is Lizzy's story, told in Lizzy's words, the adults and their relationships are seen from a young teen's perspective. Her uncle is famous because he's on television; her science teacher knows everything; Matias's parents are shadows because she doesn't know them well. In other words, Kephart makes Lizzy real. Two more notes: don't miss reading the acknowledgments and forget the "middle grade" label. (eARC provided by the publisher)

Click for more

Weekend Cooking: The Week's Winning Recipes

Happy summer! Here's to the coming weeks of good weather, garden-fresh fruits and veggies, and lots of outdoor dining. Once the weather breaks in May, we don't eat inside again until cool October evenings force us back to the kitchen. We take full advantage of both porch and deck and, of course, the grill.

The other thing I love about summer is the switch from grocery store to farmer's market. My area has several outdoor markets each week, and we have our favorite vendors at each one. All summer, our meat, cheese, veggies, and fruit (and sometimes our beer too) are locally grown or produced. We're blessed.

In today's Weekend Cooking, I'm sharing the winning recipes of the week. As almost always, I forgot to take my own photos of the completed dishes, so the images shown here come from the websites, where you'll find the original recipes by clicking the links.

This Week's Winners

Awesome Tacos: I've made a lot of tacos in my life, but these Hard-Shell Red-Eye Tacos from Rachael Ray were some of the best ever. I followed her recipe pretty much exactly except I had 1½ pounds of ground beef so I didn't use the mix of beef and sausage. The chili powder mix I use comes from Frontier (she suggests a different brand), and I used both jalapenos called for in the recipe. I put out an array of toppings, including pickled jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, red onions, green and red sauces, cheese, and lettuce. We loved the flavor of the meat, and I bet I return to Rachael's version often. If you click through to her site, you'll find a video of Rachael Ray making the tacos in front of a live audience.

Easy, Versatile Salad: I love salads that can serve many roles: main dish, side, or lunch, and this Mediterranean Orzo Salad from Ree Drummond is a good example. I ran across this one when searching for a dressing recipe. I tend to make the same old vinaigrette over and over. Then I thought, why not just make her salad while I was at it. The only thing I did differently here was to add a small orange bell pepper that I wanted to use up. I didn't have one on hand, but I'd consider adding a cucumber next time too. We had this for dinner one night, for lunch the next day, and as a side the second night -- putting the salad through its paces all in one go.

Grilled Pizza: I did something different for our grilled pizza last night. I started with my usual pizza dough and grilling method, but then decided against our usual red sauce and veggie toppings. Instead, I used homemade garlic scape pesto for the base (my photo from a few years ago). Then came Make-Ahead Grilled Paprika Chicken from Clean Eating. I followed the recipe exactly, using three boneless chicken thighs and grilling it at about 400F for 5 minutes on a side. I wasn't worried about the meat being cooked all the way through, since I was going to chop it and recook it with the pizza. Next came grilled yellow bell pepper strips, and finally fresh mozzarella cheese. This pizza was sooo good.

_______

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

Click for more

5 Novels About Contemporary Life for Teens & Tweens

 Many adults dismiss novels geared to young adult and middle grade readers, thinking they're pretty much all either speculative fiction or full of teenage angst. It's too bad, because those adults are missing out on many excellent books that feature regular kids dealing with 21st-century life. Today's round-up highlights five contemporary stories that examine relationships, families, growing up, and a variety of social issues.

• The Freshmen by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison (Delacorte Press, June 12): A story of adjusting to college, told from two viewpoints. Although Phoebe and Luke went to the same high school, they didn’t get to know each other until college. Phoebe is all about new beginnings and completely shedding her old life. Luke doesn’t really have a plan except to play soccer. They make an unlikely pair, and just as they start to hook up, rumors and #metoo issues threaten their new relationship. This rom-com has been getting positive buzz.
• The Museum of Us by Tara Wilson Redd (Wendy Lamb Books, June 26): A debut novel that explores the differences between our inner worlds and outer realities and what happens when the two collide. Sadie guards her secrets, even from herself, until she wakes up in a hospital with her fantasy world exposed. As the 16-year-old faces the demons of her past, she learns she isn’t alone. Booklist notes that the novel softens the stigma attached to mental illness.
• Almost Impossible by Nicole Williams (Crown Books FYR, June 19): A modern-day romance tempered with deeper themes and set in California. Jade has grown up on the road with her mother’s rock ’n’ roll band, home schooled, well traveled, and street smart. She breaks ranks when, at 17, she tells her mom that she wants to spend the summer living a “normal” life with her aunt. A flirtation with the cute guy next door threatens to derail her secret plot to try to meet her father. The book features relatable characters and looks at families, parenthood, and different kinds of relationships.

• Just under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno (Knopf Books FYR, June 5): An affecting debut focusing on what it’s like to be homeless in New York. After Cora’s father dies, her mother has trouble keeping the family safe and together, especially because Cora’s younger sister is “different.” Remembering her father’s horticultural lessons, Cora searches for solace in the trees and green spots of Brooklyn, all the while trying to take care of her sister and find security. A story about life for way too many youngsters in 21st-century America.
• Drum Roll Please by Lisa Jenn Bigelow (HarperCollins, June 6): A summer camp story in which a young girl copes with change and self-discovery. Just as Melly, a budding drummer, heads off to music camp with her BFF, her parents announce they’re getting a divorce. Throwing more coals on the fire, Melly’s friend spends all her time with a cute guy, and Melly herself begins to question her passion for the drums. Stir in a new girl friend who just might be a girlfriend, and you have one transformative summer. A contemporary coming-of-age story that focuses on friendship, families, and LGBTQ themes and features a diverse cast.

Click for more

Wordless Wednesday 502

Rose, 2018

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Click for more

Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Quartet of Reviews

June is usually a pretty easygoing month, but the last few weeks I've been juggling work deadlines with house and yard work. We're also in the final stages of planning my mother's 90th birthday celebration. I'm not complaining about being busy, but I haven't had much reading time.

The only exciting news is that my bird feeders were attacked by a bear. This is the third or fourth time this has happened over many years, but this time the bear totally destroyed the feeders. So we (actually, Mr. BFR), had to reset the poles and buy new feeders. We took the feeders in at night for a week, but the bear seems to have moved on. One of our neighbors saw a mother and cubs getting into his garbage; maybe they're the bears that were in our yard too.

Here's what I read and listened to over the past couple of weeks.

A Stash of One's Own edited by Clara Parkes (Abrams, 2017): You don't have to be a knitter to laugh, and cry, at the 21 essays collected in this book. Some of the knitting greats--teachers, designers, bloggers, and producers--reflect on their relationship to their yarn stash. If you're a hobbyist of any kind (or even an avid reader), you will be able to relate to the women and men who struggle with their yarn collection. Many ask themselves if they're borderline hoarders; some found joy in giving their stashes away. I nodded my head in agreement with many of the stories: "I have no idea what I'm going to do with that yarn, but I have to have it"; "I didn't bring yarn or needles on vacation but I really need to knit now" (and so go out and buy new supplies). Other essays brought tears, as knitters talked about the stashes they inherited from their mothers or when one man described how, when he was a kid, he had to hide his passion for "pretty string" from his parents. Whether you keep a stash of yarn (books, embroidery floss, tools, or fabrics) or buy only what you need when you need it, you'll be able to relate to many of these essays. I listened to the unabridged audiobook for a freelance assignment (Audible Studios, 5 hr, 1 min). The essays were read (in turn) by Kevin T. Collins, Kate Udall, and Eliza Foss. Each narrator captured the emotional heart of the essays: bringing out the humor or the poignancy, depending on the knitter's story. Recommended in either medium.

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercombie (Orbit, 2015):  The second entry in the First Law Trilogy is in some ways stronger than the initial installment because the action has started. The first book introduced the characters and set up the various factions: the royal court, the magi, the Northmen, the southern peoples, and the Eaters, to name just some. And, of course, the factions are made up of citizens, rulers, wannabe rules, fighters, trackers, and so forth. In this book, the battle lines have been drawn, and some countries are better at warfare than others. Back in the cities merchant classes are maneuvering for power and wealth, while the Inquisition is determined to stop any potential rebellion. Finally, in the wilderness an unlikely band of four men and one woman are a quest to find the one thing that will help humans fight the Eaters. I'm not going to spoil anything by telling you what happens, but I can assure your there are deaths, betrayals, surprising alliances, twists, and bloody battles. The characters in the First Law Trilogy are flawed and can make mistakes, but they can also learn and grow. Abercombie is a master at creating believable characters that easily draw your interest (whether you like them or not). The action, as I mentioned, takes place on several fronts, and even in audio (Hachette Audio; 22 hr, 39 min) I had no problem remembering the characters or their specific story arcs. Steven Pacey nails this series: he never falters with the accents and his timing pulled me along. I'm trying to wait a week or so before I finish the trilogy so I can make my visit to this universe last. (personal collection)

Give Me Your Hand by Megan Abbott (Little, Brown, July 17, 2018). Oh boy can Abbott tell a good tale. This is the story of two women with PhDs doing research in human biology. Their relationship began when they met as seniors in high school, becoming best friends on the one hand and fierce competitors for a coveted scholarship on the other. Their friendship takes a dark turn when Diane confesses that she's done "something really bad." Once Kit learns Diane's secret she is haunted by it, and disassociates herself from Diane as soon as she can. Years later, Kit has a fairly secure position in a famous lab, hoping her boss will tap her for a spot in a new project. Just days before the boss is about to announce her new team, who should walk into the lab but Diane. This psychological thriller takes place in two time periods: Kit and Diane as teens and Kit and Diane in the present. The tension  is delicious, and the manipulative characters (all with secrets) will make you cringe (or cheer or boo, depending). An underlying theme is women against the system, and running questions are, How far would a woman go to get respect and power? Is Diane horrible? Is Kit an innocent? What about their boss, the secretary, the other researchers? I loved Chloe Cannon's well-paced performance (Hachette Audio; 11 hr, 2 min). She didn't give anything away, so every new piece of information, every slight twist or reveal came as a surprise. She kept the women's dialogue distinct, and the male voices were fine. Put this thriller on your list (print or audio) for next month. (review copy provided by the audio publisher)

Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li (Henry Holt; June 19). This debut novel has two faces. On one level is the intergenerational drama of the Han family, owners of the Beijing Duck House in Rockville, Maryland, and the off-duty doings of two of their long-term staff. The two grown Han brothers have different ideas about the future of the restaurant founded by their late father; and their mother, newly widowed, is beginning to find her inner strength. The other level focuses on the personal issues faced by the characters, such as addiction, marriage, aging, and parenthood. Li does a good job contrasting life in the Duck House with life at home; for example, Jimmy Han competently oversees the restaurant with a paternal eye, but falls apart when it comes to romantic relationships. One of the plot lines revolves around a kind of Chinese godfather, with whom the Han family has a love-hate relationship. I was expecting a light, fun summer novel and so was surprised that Number One Chinese Restaurant offers more than a simple escape read. While this character-driven novel won't make my top-ten list for 2018, it shows Lillian Li's potential, and I've put her on my list of authors to watch. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Click for more

Weekend Cooking: A Little of This and That

Good morning, friends. Today is a kitchen miscellany of links, some good classic cookbooks, and a review program. I was going to throw in a new TV show, but I ran out of steam. Another day for that. Let's get going!

Abrams Dinner Party As you know, I've been a member of the Abrams Dinner Party for the last year. Thanks to the program, I've shared recipes and photos and reviewed cookbooks and memoirs. I honestly loved so many of the cookbooks, I don't think I could pick a favorite, though I really liked The Dinner Plan, The Austin Cookbook, What's Gaby Cooking . . . Oh heck, I'm just going to end up listing almost every title.

If you would like to be a member of Abrams Dinner Party for 2018-19, head on over to the application website and fill out the form by July 20. If you visit the site, you'll even see an endorsement by me! I loved being part of this program and encourage all of you to apply. I got so much more out of the Abrams Dinner Party than new cookbooks: I was inspired to post more food photos, I discovered new food sites, and made some new friends too. Go forth and apply! Yes, you!

Picador Cookstr Classics When I learned that Picador Cookstr was reissuing some of the great cookbooks of the late twentieth century, I knew I had to have copies. I'm beyond thrilled that the publisher sent me the first three in the series.

• Indian Cookery by Sameen Rushdie was originally published in 1988. (Side note: One of her primary taste testers was her brother Salman, whose first book came out at around the same time.) Some of the recipes came from Rushdie's family, but others she discovered as an adult. A couple things I love: she provides several variations on traditional dishes, tells us how and when to serve them (including menus), and gives us a little history too. I really enjoyed reading her personal reflections on her lifelong relationship with food and cooking.
• I've long been a fan of Arthur Schwartz and somehow missed his 1979 Cooking in a Small Kitchen when it first came out. The title isn't a joke; Schwartz tells us how to pull off all kinds of dishes--and even dinner parties--within the confines of the types of tiny kitchens found in many city apartments and student digs. He goes through equipment and logistics and provides recipes for everything from casual weekday meals to fancy dinner parties for four or more. His recipes are always easy to follow, and I love the international scope.
• Irena Chalmers's The Confident Cook sounds familiar to me, and I wonder if my mother bought it when it was published in 1975. The premise of the cookbook is this: if you learn the basic techniques (like roasting) and foundation recipes (like sauces) then you'll have the confidence to tackle any dish. For example, if you know how to make a crepe batter, you can make blintzes, pancakes, and clafouti. This is a wonderful reference to have in the kitchen, and I bet I turn to it often, even with my many years of nightly cooking.

5 Links to Explore Today's links cover food and drink, and I hope at least one catches your attention.

1. I'm biscuit challenged. For some reason, mine never, ever rise. And, yes, I have followed every tip and piece of advice out there. So imagine my surprise when these buttermilk shortcakes / biscuits from Epicurious actually worked. (And, yes, that's whipped cream from a can shown in the photo. So sue me.)
2. I love to bake bread, and these taralli from Food 52 with olives and white wine sound awesome. The comments on the recipe are mixed, though, so I may do more research before making them, but I'm intrigued. And, no, I had never heard of taralli before and had to do some digging. One site described them thusly: "almost like a cracker, bread stick and pretzel all rolled into one, but better."
3. Eric Asimov at the New York Times is a trusted wine source. (You may remember I reviewed his book How to Love Wine a few years ago.) I bookmarked his latest Twenty Wines under $20 column because it looked like there were some good picks for summer sipping. Of course, here in Byzantine Pennsylvania I'll have to pay more than $20 for most of them, but them's the breaks. Sigh.
4. Talking about wine, I discovered Strawberry and Peach Rose Sangria the other day when I was snooping around the What's Gaby Cooking site. It looks so pretty and so refreshing. Because strawberries and peaches don't show up at the farmer's market at the same time, I think I'll wait a month and make it with peaches and raspberries, plums, or nectarines. Cheers!
5. Finally, I love all things lemon and have a particular weakness for lemon curd. Although it's really not difficult to make, I rarely bother. But the other day I saw this recipe for Microwave Lemon Curd from Skillet. This looks insanely easy and won't heat up my kitchen in the summer. I absolutely plan to give this a try. Then I'll have to bake some more of those buttermilk biscuits. Oh darn.

_______

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

Click for more

3 Excellent Books for Budding Young Scientists

When I was in elementary school, there were very few good science books for young readers. Most of the nonfiction was greatly simplified and watered down, leaving budding scientists craving something more. Probably because I was one of those frustrated kids, I'm always looking for quality middle grade science books, which makes me a huge fan of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Pretty much my favorite nonfiction middle grade series is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Scientists in the Field books. Each book introduces readers to real-life scientists and through words, photos, graphs, and illustrations shows us the ins and outs of conducting fieldwork in a wide range of disciplines. The books may be geared to tweens, but the information is ageless. I love this series.

Beetle Busters by Loree Griffin Burns (photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz) takes us to the hardwood forests of the American Northeast, where foresters, entomologists, and others are searching for ways to stop the Asian longhorned beetle, which are killing trees from the inside out. The problem scientists face is a little ironic: in order to save trees, they may have to cut trees down--even currently healthy ones. Beetle Busters starts by explaining the beetle's life cycle, how it was introduced to America from China, and the massive damage they could do to our woodlands and to the trees in our neighborhoods. Then we meet the researchers and see exactly how they conduct surveys and search for the bugs. We also learn that working in the forests isn't always pleasant (think: bees, poison ivy, and bad weather, for example). After analyzing the data collected in the field, the foresters must make hard decisions. The book ends with a list of resources for learning more and how to get involved. The paperback edition of Beetle Busters includes a "research update," which reports on the continued success of the beetle-elimination program described in the book.

The Next Wave by Elizabeth Rusch is all about how engineers and ocean scientists in the Pacific Northwest are looking for ways to use the power of waves to generate clean, reliable, and sustainable energy. Did you know that wave energy could provide enough electricity to power every home in the United States? The problem for scientists is creating devices that can withstand the incredible forces produced by those very same waves, especially during storms. What's more, marine biologists are concerned about the impact permanent ocean structures and cables might have on ocean life. In the course of The Next Wave, we learn all about wave energy and meet the scientists who are building and testing all kinds of ocean-worthy generators. One of the things I love about this book is that it doesn't hide the failures, and we clearly see that science involves a lot of trial and error. We also discover that it isn't easy to get funding for research. Many countries are involved in the quest to harness the power of waves, and scientists and engineers have come up with a lot of amazing ideas, from small buoys to large platforms. One team is designing a device that rests on the ocean's floor instead of floating on the surface. Work continues in the exciting field of wave energy, and The Next Wave concludes with a great bibliography and list of informative websites.

I should also mention that HMH's Scientists in the Field website has activities and additional resources, which really bring these books alive for readers of all ages. If you prefer ebooks instead of print, HMH offers enhanced ebook editions that include videos and other interactive features. I haven't seen one of the ebooks, but they sound very cool.

The third HMH book is a little different. Joyce Sidman's The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is an incredible biography of a woman who was one of the first field biologists and one of the first people to describe the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies. What makes this story unique is that Maria Merian did her fieldwork before the likes of Darwin and Linnaeus were even born. In the 1600s, the young Maria loved to draw and paint the bugs she saw in her native Germany. The careful and precise illustrations she made as a thirteen-year-old led to her lifelong observations of the small creatures around her. But Maria did more than look and draw, she documented the life stages of the bugs and recorded minute details: how they grew and changed, what they ate, and how they lived. She did all this without a formal education and while fulfilling her duties as daughter and then wife and mother. She also had to hide her scientific interests: women doing "unnatural" things could be tried as witches. Despite the odds, Maria eventually left her husband, moved to the Netherlands, sold her artwork to finance a trip to South America, and returned to Amsterdam at the turn of century. All the while she continued to paint and observe nature and record her findings.

The biography is beautifully illustrated with photographs and engravings and with Maria's own illustrations. Sidman places Maria's story in the social, political, and religious context of the 1600s and doesn't whitewash the facts for young readers. Maria Merian has been called the world's first ecologist, and scientists have relied on her meticulous work even up to modern times. The Girl Who Drew Butterflies is a stunningly gorgeous, well-researched biography about an amazing woman who should not be lost to history. This is a book to keep in your permanent collection.

Click for more

Wordless Wednesday 501

On My Porch, 2018

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Click for more

Today's Read: The Dying of the Light by Robert Goolrick

How far would you go to save your family's social standing? Diana Cooke's parents put all their hopes on her making an excellent (read: moneyed) marriage that will save them and their beloved family estate.

She was born with the century. She was born as well into the memory of two wars--her grandfather had been Jeb Stuart's aide-de-camp, her father had lost a leg in the Philippines--and then, when she was fourteen, she knew the agony of the Great War. Her whole childhood was touched by the present evil of war, as it was war that killed all six of her cousins, Penny, Carter, Stuart, William, Augustine, and Uncle Charlie, who was called that because by the time he was born, his oldest sibling already had children of his own.

—The Dying of the Light by Robert Goolrick (Harper Books, July 2018)

Quick Facts

• Setting:Virginia, about 1918 to 1941
• Circumstances: As World War I comes to an end the Cookes find themselves unable to maintain their beautiful Virginia estate, which has been in their family since colonial times. It is now up to Diana, young and beautiful, to marry into money and save the house and her parents' futures. Her arranged marriage doesn't bring her happiness, and Diana's choices, secrets, loves, and hates follow her throughout her life. Her one joy is her dear son, but can he help her find peace?
• Genre: literary fiction with elements of Southern Gothic.
• Themes: family, marriage, secrets, duty, love
• Characters: Mostly Diana's family, neighbors, and her son's friends
• Why I want to read this book: I liked several of Goolrick's earlier novels (A Reliable Wife, Heading Out to Wonderful), so am curious about his latest. I generally like Southern fiction and books about families.
• Reviews: I read several advanced reviews of The Dying of the Light, and found mixed reactions. Most readers liked Goolrick's writing style, but several thought Diana's character was too stereotyped.
• One more note: I took the opening quotation from chapter 1 because I thought it was stronger than the opening to the prologue. The prologue, by the way, seems to reveal much of what's to come in the novel, and I'm not sure I like so much foretelling.

Click for more

Weekend Cooking: Easy Living on the Deck

I know horse racing is a controversial sport, but we watch the big three races every summer. Today is the Belmont Stakes, the last leg of the Triple Crown. Whether we're home alone or watching with friends, we always find it fun to make the official drink of the race.

The signature cocktail for the Belmont Stakes has an interesting history. The original drink for the race was called the White Carnation, named after the Belmont's official flower. It's made with vodka, cream, schnapps, and soda (among other ingredients) and was never very popular.

In 2011, the cocktail was changed to the Belmont Jewel. Count me in the crowd that didn't like the White Carnation. The Belmont Jewel, however, is another story! It's really good and really refreshing and really dangerous (as in, it goes down waaaay too easily).

When we decided to taste-test the drink earlier this week (hey, don't judge!), I decided to make a summer appetizer from one of the wonderful Abrams Dinner Party cookbooks I received from the publisher.

First We Eat by Eva Kosmas Flores (Abrams, March) is a great seasonal cookbook that I've turned to often. You may recall the spicy pecans I made last March. This week I made the Manchego-Stuffed Petite Peppers--twice! They are so easy and fast to put together and are a healthy, light pre-dinner treat that goes well with wine or a cocktail.

Just so you know, First We Eat is more than appetizers. We've tried a couple main dishes, and I'll share some summer grilling recipes next month. I've also marked a few fruit-forward desserts to try as the season progresses.

Anyway, today's Weekend Cooking is a celebration of summer entertaining: enjoy both the drink and the peppers, even if you never watch horse racing.

The Belmont Jewel
Makes 1 Drink
Readily available on multiple websites

• 1.5 ounces Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon (I used Knob Creek)
• 2 ounces lemonade
• 1 ounce pomegranate juice
• Orange zest (no measurement given)

Mix ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Serve on the rocks with a lemon twist.

Manchego-Stuffed Petite Peppers
Makes about 24
From First We Eat

Note that I made my peppers a little bit differently from the original recipe, which I provide here. First, I used yellow peppers (not that it matters much), and second, I cut the recipe down by about a quarter and made only 6 peppers. The first time I made these, I followed the directions, keeping the caps on the peppers. The second time, I made them as shown here: cut in half and then stuffed. We liked the flavor of the toasted breadcrumbs in the open-face version, but the peppers could cook longer and soften in the original version. You decide.

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 24 petite red sweet bell peppers
• 2½ cups Manchego cheese, grated
• ½ cup panko bread crumbs
• 1½ teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

Preheat the oven to 400F.

In a small skillet heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring every minute or so until fragrant and lightly golden around the edges, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Cut the caps off the tops of the peppers, reserving them for later, and remove the seeds. Arrange the peppers in a small roasting pan or casserole dish so that the tops are facing up. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the cheese bread crumbs, rosemary, garlic, and any oil from the pan. Use a small spoon to stuff the filling inside each pepper. Replace the tops.

Roast until the cheese has melted and the peppers have deepened in color and some of them have slight char marks on the top, 25 to 30 minutes.

_______

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

NOTE: Mr. Linky sometimes is mean and will give you an error message. He's usually wrong and your link went through just fine the first time. Grrrr.
_______

Click for more

What's the Buzz? 10 Novels with Starred Reviews

June is one of the huge months for publishing. Tons of great new books are released right after Memorial Day, just in time for summer reading. What to know which ones have earned starred reviews from a variety of print sources? Here are 10 books on my eReader that were given special notice by professional reviewers. Do any of them catch your eye?

I've listed the books in alphabetical order, divided into young adult and adult. The quotations come from the publishers' summaries.

• All That I Can Fix by Crystal Chan (Simon Pulse, June 12): "A teen boy’s world gets turned upside-down when a zoo of exotic animals takes over his small town in this wickedly funny, heartbreakingly honest novel." Diverse read, humor, contemporary
• A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman (Greenwillow, June 26): "15 authors reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia . . . enchanting, heartbreaking, romantic, and passionate." Diverse read, short stories/tales
• Wild Blues by Beth Kephart (Antheneum, June 5): "The threat of two escaped convicts and a missing friend lead Lizzie on a harrowing journey through the wilds of the Adirondacks." Art, friendship, survival (full-color illustrations)

• Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin (Ecco, June 12) "A gritty and captivating debut about a caretaker of an Appalachian nature preserve who gets embroiled in a dangerous bear-poaching scheme." Evocative descriptions of nature
• The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Viking, June 19): "A novel of friendship and redemption in the face of tragedy and loss set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris." LBGTQ, coming of age
• The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah (William Morrow, June 19): "A novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II." Women's fiction, wine
• The Shimmer by Carsten Stroud (Mira, June 5): "A high octane thriller laced with humor and a smattering of supernatural genre-bending. Set in Florida now and during the fifties." Psychological suspense
• Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman (Ballentine, June 5): "A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut." First selection in Reese Witherspoon's Book Club
• Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams (Riverhead, June 19): "Smart and inventive, an emotional page-turner that considers the elusive definition of happiness." Set in Louisiana, coming of age
• The Verdum Affair by Nick Dybek (Scribner, June 12): "A sweeping, romantic, and profoundly moving novel . . . about a lonely young man, a beautiful widow, and the amnesiac soldier whose puzzling case binds them together even as it tears them apart." Friendship, secrets, love

Click for more

Wordless Wednesday 500

Peonies

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Click for more

8 Recommended Audiobooks & a Great Audiobook Giveaway

It's June and that means it's Audiobook Month. I've written many posts about my love of audiobooks, when I listen, how I listen, and how to review audiobooks. I've also reviewed hundreds of audiobooks in this space.

In fact in almost 10 years of blogging I've written 562 posts that deal with audiobooks in some way, or at least one post every single week.

Today I'm celebrating audiobooks in two ways. First, is a list of my favorite listens so far this year. I picked three children's titles and five adult titles. I narrowed down my adult list by making sure I included audiobooks from different genres. That way, I have a better chance of recommending a book you might want to read. For the children's books, I include one audibook each for young listeners, middle graders, and teens.

Second, thanks to the Audio Publishers Association and the major audiobook publishers, I have an eight-audiobook giveaway to one lucky USA listener. Scroll down for details.

Let's start with my top 2018 audiobooks (so far). I've included quotes from my original reviews (click the links to read more).

Audiobooks for Young Readers

• Spin: The Rumpelstiltskin Musical is an audiobook original that I just loved. What a fantastic production of storytelling and singing with a full cast led by Jim Dale. This short audiobook (Harper Audio, 1 hr, 28 min) is a delight, and you and your family will be singing along with Rumpelstiltskin in no time.
• The overriding message of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Books 1–2, edited by Fancesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli (Listening Library; 6 hr, 59 min) is that girls can dream of doing whatever they want: they can be smart, brave, and strong and if you don't believe it, here are 200 true-life stories to prove it. The audiobook is brilliantly read by a cast of fantastic audio performers, among them Mozhan Marnò, Janeane Garofalo, Ashley Judd, Alicia Keys, and Esperanza Spalding.
• People Like Us by Dana Mele (Listening Library, 9 hr, 18 min) is a fast-paced double mystery with all the good parts of a prep school thriller plus a couple unexpected twists. Erin Spenser did a fine job with the teenage voices--both male and female--and she delivered on the full range of emotions. 

Audiobooks for Adults

• You'll want to listen to I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (Harper Audio; 9 hr, 45 min) with the lights on. In fact, you may have trouble sleeping--like ever again! The audiobook is brilliantly read by Gaba Zackman, who approaches the material matter-of-factly but with good expression. She blurs the line between narrator and author, which allowed me to lose myself in the story. (nonfiction)
• Put Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth (Harper Audio; 11 hr, 29 min) on your must-listen list right now. Set in rural Australia in the 1880s, this is the story of two brothers caught up in something they are too young and too unprepared to understand. Narrator David Linski is so, so good. His varied pacing and volume matched the text perfectly, and I was completely won over by his performance. Plus I love his accent. (historical fiction)
• Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes (Random House Audio; 16 hr, 23 min) is set in Tuscany and follows the lives of three women of a certain age who are on their own for the first time since college. Kimberly Farr is a pleasure to listen to; her lively performance and believable Italian and American Southern accents gave the audiobook an added spark. (contemporary fiction)
• Force of Nature by Jane Harper (Macmillan Audio; 8 hr, 53 min) is the second entry in the Aaron Falk mystery series set in the Australian wilderness. Good tension and solid plotting pulled me in, and I was unable to figure out the solution before it was revealed. Stephen Shanahan has a natural, fluid style and masterfully works the tempo to keep the tension tight. (mystery)
• Only Human by Sylvain Neuvel (Random House; 8 hr, 43 min) is the third entry in Themis Files series. Told in a series of interviews, government documents, lab reports, and more, this is a fun, complex story of family and of contact with extraterrestrials. The audiobook is read by a full cast, and the overall production is fabulous. The individual performances are so believable that I truly felt as if I were eavesdropping on people talking rather than listening to an audiobook.

The Giveaway

Thanks to the Audio Publishers Association, Blackstone Publishing, High Bridge Audio, Hachette Audio, LA Theatre Works, Macmillan Audio, Post Hypnotic Press Audiobooks, Scholastic, and Tantor Audio, I'm so pleased to be able to host one of the June Is Audiobook Month giveaways.

All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to fill out the form at the end of this post. I'll pick a winner on July 1. Once the winner has been confirmed, I'll send his or her email address to the APA and then will erase the spreadsheet containing any personal data.

The APA will send the winner the codes for downloading all eight audiobooks shown in the graphic and listed below. The books will be available from Audiobooks.com. Remember this is for USA residents only.

• Seven by Paula Cizmar, Catherine Filloux, Gail Kriegel, Carol K. Mack, Ruth Margraff, Anna Deavere Smith, and Susan Yankowitz
• Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman, narrated by MacLeod Andrews
• Bring Me Back by B. A. Paris, narrated by Kevin Hely and Cathleen McCarron
• Wings of Fire Book One: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland, narrated by Shannon MacManus
• Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, narrated by Todd McLaren
• Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan, narrated by David Shih
• A Girl Stands at the Door by Rachel Devlin, narrated by Robin Miles
• Torn from Troy, Book 1 in the Odyssey of a Slave Trilogy by Patrick Bowman, narrated by Gerard Doyle

NOTE: For more chances to win and to discover more audiobook recommendations and tips, be sure to visit the 21 other blogs participating in this celebration. The links to their blogs can be found on the APA website.

Good luck and keep listening!

Click for more

Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Good Books for Young and Old

Last week was insanely crazy with work. I had editing deadlines and writing deadlines all piled up on each other. But I still managed to finish five books and make progress on a sixth.

How did I do that? Mr. BFR was off fishing with his friends for the week. So I had all the time to myself. I read at all my meals, never turned on the TV, and had an audiobook on speakers whenever I could.

I'm happy he's back home, but I was also happy to get in so much reading time. Here's what I read.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Books 1–2, edited by Fancesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli (Listening Library; 6 hr, 59 min, June 19). Put this audiobook (sold in two parts on Audible) on your reading list. Buy it for the young people in your life. Listen to it yourself. As the subtitle says, this is a collection of "200 Tales of Extraordinary Women," and the stories are inspiring, moving, and empowering. Forget the target audience of middle grade girls. Rebel Girls is for everyone: all ages, all genders. The stories are short, really short—but each is a biography of a rebel woman from ancient history to the current century. Some of the people everyone's heard of, such as Jane Austen, Marie Curie, Qui Jin, Sappho, and Frida Kahlo. Others were totally new to me (though maybe you'll recognize the names): Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (president & scientist), Wang Zhenyi (astronomer), Maya Gabeira (surfer), Grace O'Malley (pirate), and Eufrosina Cruz (activist and politician). Each volume contains the stories of 100 women and girls, arranged alphabetically and spanning the world. This is not a Euro-centric collection, and the women profiled excelled at politics, sports, science, cultural change, the arts, and more. The overriding message is that girls can dream of doing whatever they want: they can be smart, brave, and strong and if you don't believe it, here are 200 true-life stories to prove it. I am recommending, nay insisting, that you listen to Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls because the two volumes are brilliantly read by a cast of fantastic audio performers, among them Mozhan Marnò, Janeane Garofalo, Esperanza Spalding, Ashley Judd, Alicia Keys, and Esperanza Spalding. My full audiobook review will be available at AudioFile magazine, but let me assure you there are no weak links in the performances or the stories. (copy for a freelance assignment)

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown, June 19): If it's summer, it's time for a new Hilderbrand novel. I can't say I've read all 21 of Hilderbrand's books, but I can say I've never been disappointed. This year's outing combines all the expected Nantucket details, great characters, up-to-date plot, and good food with a murder mystery. Just days after the island is recovering from the Fourth of July celebrations and tourists, the very wealthy Garrison-Winburys are hosting their son's wedding. Greer has managed the entire event (with the help of the island's best wedding planner and caterers) because her future daughter-in-law, Celeste Otis, is completely focused on her mother, who is battling end-stage cancer. There are delicious subplots involving secret affairs, a social media influencer who slept with her ex-boss, an airport security agent looking for love, an antiques dealer involved in fraud, and a famous author facing her first rejection. Everyone seems to be hiding something, and the cops are having a hard time figuring out the sequence of events that ended in the death of the maid of honor in the dark hours after the rehearsal dinner. This smart, sharp story is one of the must-read books of the summer. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 12 hr, 8 min) read by Erin Bennett. She did a fantastic job with the accents, pacing, and characterizations. I was captivated by her unforced expressiveness and easy-to-listen to voice. Get out your beach towel, pour yourself some expensive rum, put in your earbuds, and get ready for a trip to Nantucket. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

Brightly Burning by Alexa Donne (HMH Books for Young Readers, May 1): I love classic retellings and I love how Donne reimagined Jane Eyre as a futuristic, space age story. Earth is in the grips of an Ice Age, but the lucky humans are safe in space ships, orbiting the planet until it's safe to return to ground. Stella Ainsley was sent to live on an orphan ship after being rejected by her rich aunt. Despite becoming both a teacher and an accomplished engineer, she wants more out of life. So when offered a job as governess on a privately owned ship, the Rochester, she accepts, ignoring rumors that the ship is haunted. From there, the plot riffs on the main plot points of Jane Eyre, keeping all the familiar parts of the story—for example, Aunt Reed, a crew member named Poole, a secretive boss, and laughter in the night—but setting them on a space ship with cool technology. Stella is pretty kickass and doesn't let her heart get in the way of doing what she knows is right for humanity, herself, and her friends. I especially like the fact that Donne didn't hesitate to dispense with some of the original story arcs, thus keeping the story moving forward to a satisfying ending. If you haven't read Jane Eyre, you would still enjoy Brightly Burning, but a lot of the fun for me was recognizing characters and events from the classic. (review copy provided by the publisher)

A People's History of the Vampire Uprising by Raymond A. Villareal (Mulholland, June 5): Sometime in the near future a CDC virology researcher is sent to Arizona to investigate a suspicious death, but when Lauren arrives at the morgue, she's told the body has been stolen. Officials, however, can show her the body of another person who seemed to die under similar circumstances. Later that night, she's told the body got up and walked away. That day is forever known as Day 1 of the Nogales organic blood illness (NOBI). The story of what happens next is told a series of reports, newspaper articles, FBI documents, diaries, and interviews. The format is slightly derivative (see Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy or Sylvain Neuvel's Themis Files), but plot itself is unique, and the different perspectives on the vampire phenomenon are well thought out. For example, if people were infected by a virus that turned them into vampires, would they have rights under various disability laws? What if those people asked to be turned into vampires? Everyone has opinions on this and all kinds of other issues and complications caused by the rise of the vampires (called Gloamings in the book), including Hollywood, the Vatican, and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, Lauren and her team are interested in trying to isolate the virus and perhaps find a cure, and those acts are also considered controversial. A People's History of the Vampire Uprising is a fun addition to the vampire genre. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 13 hr, 26 min) is read by 10 narrators, including Christine Lakin, Robert Petkoff, and Karissa Vacker. I've grown quite fond of full-cast productions, especially when everyone does a good job. The expressive and well-matched performances added to my overall enjoyment of the story. (print and audiobook copies provided by the publisher)

The City on the Other Side by Mairghread Scott, illustrated by Robin Robinson (First Second, April 24): Isabel lives in San Francisco with her high-society mother, who is more concerned with her own life than that of her daughter's. If it weren't for the household staff, Isabel would be left totally alone. When she is taken to live with her artist father for the summer, Isabel is even more isolated. Her dad has no household staff and spends all his time in his studio. One day when playing in the woods, she finds a fay who has crossed the veil into the human world. As Isabel touches him she is transported to an alternate San Francisco, where two fairy factions are at war. Before the fay dies, he gives Isabel the power to bring peace, if only she can find the rightful prince and heir to the throne. With the help of some new friends, she sets out to find the prince. The City on the Other Side is a fun middle grade comic about a lonely girl who finds her courage and learns to make friends. There's plenty of action as she escapes the bad guys and figures out who is trustworthy and who isn't. The illustrations clearly show the action and the characters' emotions, and the fanciful creatures, including a delightful friendly mushroom, are unique and well rendered. Recommended for younger readers who like adventure and fantasy. (copy provided by the publisher)

Click for more