3 Recommended Books + Travel Reading

I've had a crazy spring. Between travel, my lace workshop, and the holiday, I feel as if I haven't worked a full workweek since mid-April. It's all a lot of fun, but I'm really ready to just say no to squeezing five days' worth of work into only three or four.

On Monday, I shared my thoughts on some of the audiobooks I've listened to lately. Today are brief musings on some of the print and digital books I've read or am still reading.

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper (Putnam, May 28): I'm a huge fan of quirky premises and characters, so I pretty much knew I'd really enjoy this novel. Andrew works for the government, trying to track down the next of kin when a person dies alone without any obvious clues to friends or family. He's a loner and is mostly okay with that. There's only one hitch: his work colleagues think he's a happily married man with two kids. Even that's okay . . . until he meets the new employee, that is. Peggy reawakens Andrew's ability to connect with others, but how will he be able to reveal all his secrets? Fun and different with characters that are easy to root for or boo at. (print copy provided by the publisher)

Time Museum Volume 2 by Matthew Loux (First Second, June 11): This is the second entry in the Time Museum series starring a group of kids who work at a natural history museum. This isn't your usual museum though, it's a portal to different worlds and different time periods. Each member of the youthful squad has a unique skill, and together they manage to get out of scrapes. In this installment they are sent to the French court of 1778, where they have to correct a glitch in time. The fun starts when the squad is given a new instructor--none other than Richard Nixon. The series is geared to a middle grade audience and is filled with action, humor, good art, a recurring bad guy, and (a little) young love. The time loop theme was sometimes hard to follow, but I still liked the story and artwork and seeing how the kids are maturing and learning to work as a team. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Weather Machine: A Journey Inside the Forecast by Andrew Blum (Ecco; June 25): I've always been interested in the weather and forecasting, and since moving to same county that houses AccuWeather's headquarters, my interest has only increased over the years. I've been reading this book slowly (a chapter every few days) and haven't finished yet. I've learned a lot about the history of forecasting, the science of meteorology, and the technology that drives them. The weather is one area in which countries throughout the world freely share knowledge and data. Blum visits weather stations, talks to weather experts, and tells us about the art and science behind the daily forecast. Try to imagine living in the days before the telegraph or telephone, when major storms could hit at any time, giving you absolutely no warning or time to prepare. Fascinating stuff. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

And here's what I've loaded onto my phone for listening and onto my tablet for reading as I get ready for yet another trip.

• The Shepherd's Hut by Tim Winton (Picador, June 11): a kind of coming-of-age story set in Australia. This is my first Winton novel, and I have high hopes for this book, which has won much praise. (print review copy)
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperTeen, May 7): The author, the food aspects, and the message to trust one's talents all call to me. Also part of #WeNeedDiverseBooks (digital review copy)
• Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Knopf, May 14): This is a totally new setting (Kamchatka) for me and promises to be a combo thriller and community story. (audiobook freelance assignment)
• Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear (Gallery; March 5): Now that I know I like science fiction, I thought I give this much, much, much praised first in a new space opera series a try. (audiobook review copy)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 4 Good Books and a Story

Good morning. If you're in the United States, I hope you're adjusting to the time change. I actually do better with the spring forward than I do with the fall back. Maybe that's because I love the idea that I can now take an outdoor walk after work. Yay for evening daylight.

I had a decent reading week, but that might be because most of the books I read were short and didn't require a lot of thought. Always a good choice after editing all day.

We haven't watched anything in particular on television. We're not huge basketball fans, so we're escaping March Madness. The most interesting show that comes to mind is the new season of True Detective on HBO. At first I didn't like the multiple time periods, but after I got to know the characters, I really liked the set up and the mystery.

The Tornado Scientist by Mary Kay Carson with photography by Tom Uhlman (HMH Books for Young Readers, March 19). You've heard it from me before, but it's true: I can't say enough good things about HMH's Scientists in the Field series. In this installment (out next week), we meet Robin Tanamachi, who is not only a research meteorologist but a storm chaser who is interested in learning as much as she can about tornadoes in an effort to help protect people who live in areas prone to these destructive winds. I grew up in tornado country in northern Ohio long before we had the sophisticated technology that weather scientists now depend on. It was really interesting to see how Robin's van was set up as a mini research and weather station and to learn how a storm transforms from a bout of heavy rain and winds into a twister. The amazing photographs of funnel clouds and the mind-numbing scenes of the after-storm destruction drives home the power of tornadoes; easy-to-interpret graphics illustrate the physics. Robin's stories of chasing storms and collecting data give young readers (and adults) a clear picture of what it's really like to be a tornado specialist. The book ends with an overview of how the field data are used and a look at the newest weather probes and other equipment. Recommended for readers of all ages. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Death in Provence by Serena Kent (Harper, Feb. 19). I always love it when I can get into a series on the ground floor. This cozy mystery is set in St. Merlot, France, and features a middle-aged woman who is looking for a new start after a divorce and early retirement. Penelope Kite isn't your ordinary British ex-pat who buys a house in Provence and then gets embroiled in a murder mystery, though. She used to work in the forensics lab of the Home Office. Although she doesn't have a professional degree, she has much experience interpreting crime scene data, so when she doubts the local police chief's assessment that the man floating in her swimming pool died of accidental drowning, she knows what she's talking about. The only problem is that she's not sure whom she can trust in her new town. This first in series was a lot of fun. Penny isn't stupid, but she makes classic outsider mistakes, is unaware of long-term family feuds, and is no where near as stylish as her real estate agent cum new BFF. Among the locals are a cute mayor, a cranky neighbor, a wonderful baker, and a charming electrician. It's France, so expect good wine and lots of good food. The mystery itself was well set up and kept me guessing all the way to the end. I may have had an extra glass or two of wine along the way. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Harper Audio, 10 hr, 17 min) read by Antonia Beamish, whose accents and characterizations were delightful. For more, see AudioFile magazine. (review copy provided by the publisher; audio for assignment)

The Time Museum by Matthew Loux (First Second, Feb. 2017). I picked up this middle grade speculative fiction (science fiction?) graphic novel because I noticed that the second book in the series is coming out in a couple of months. A small group of young teens are given a chance to win a prestigious internship at a natural history museum, but these aren't just any kids and this isn't your ordinary museum. The Time Museum is in fact a portal to all of earth's history, from its earliest habitable days and into the distant future; within its walls are exhibits representing the plants and animals of all these times. The kids are smart and capable, each with unique skills and each from a different time period--Ice Age to the 5000s. Delia (from our time) is given a chance to win the internship because her uncle helps runs the museum, but she must still earn her place by passing three time-traveling tests. This was a fun graphic novel about curious, smart kids who learn to balance friendship and cooperation with competition. The story has plenty of action, including a time-traveling bad guy, mixed with some laugh-out-loud humor and a twist at the end. All the children have white skin, but despite the lack of diversity, I really liked the book and am looking forward to the second installment. The artwork was colorful and the scenery and creatures from the past and future gave me a lot to look at. The action and emotions were well rendered. (copy borrowed from the library)

Tin Heart by Shivaun Plozza (Flatiron, March 12). Marlowe Jensen was born with a congenital heart defect that guaranteed her a short life unless she received a heart transplant. When she's about 16 and on death's door, Marlowe's life is saved: the heart of a teenage boy is suddenly available, and she spends the next year (which would have been her senior year in high school), in and out the hospital in rehabilitation, regaining her strength, building her immunity system, and getting used to the anti-rejection drugs. Her mother, owner of a vegan, organic wellness store, is naturally a little overprotective of Marlowe but supports her daughter's decision to return to high school instead being home schooled. Meanwhile, her mother opens a new store right next to an established family butcher shop and immediately goes into ultra-liberal protesting against meat eaters, and her younger brother dresses up in a new creative (gender-bending and genre-mashing) costume every day. So this is Marlowe's outward reality: zany but lovable family, medical issues, and a return to school where she's not only older than everyone else but is thought of as the Heart Transplant Girl. This book explores a slice of contemporary life that we rarely read about: life after an organ transplant. Marlowe contends with bullying, trying to make friends, and her first true crush all while trying to find the confidence to live outside her mother's careful control and coming to terms with having someone else's heart in her chest. I was quickly caught up in Marlowe's story, cheering her on as she tried to find some sort of normality. She makes blunders and is a little socially awkward, but she's also smart and holds her own when pushed. Keep the tissues handy, Marlowe's journey isn't always easy. (finished copy provided by the publisher)

Other Books and a Story

• Soulkeeper by David Dalglish (Orbit, March 19). I have mixed feelings about this first in a new epic fantasy series. The basic premise is that creatures and magic from the world's earliest days are reawakening and human life is forever altered. While I liked the action and interesting world-building, there was way too much going on in this book (zombies, talking mountains, assassins, soulless beings, fairies, fire spirits, wizards, healers . . .) and the plot lines didn't really coalesce until the end. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 19 hr) was read by Nicholas Tecosky. His performance was only okay. I would have liked to have heard a little more drama or emotion in his delivery. (audio review copy provided by the publisher)
• The Size of Truth by Andrew Smith (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, March 26). I was interested in this middle grade book because it featured a boy who wanted to be a chef even though his parents thought he should be a scientist. The story fluctuates between Sam in eighth grade and Sam at four years old when he was trapped in a well for three days before rescuers dug him out. Smith's writing style was a mismatch for me and the well sections were too much like The Girl in the Well Is Me (which I loved). I ended up skimming the eighth grade sections just to see what happened. There are some good lessons, but you could safely skip this. (digital copy provided by the publisher)
• "Crocodile Shoes" by Jo Jo Moyes from Paris for One and Other Stories (Pamela Dorman, Oct. 2016). I really liked this story about a woman who picks up the wrong bag at the gym and is forced to wear someone else's high heels for the day with unexpected consequences. A fun contemporary story. (finished copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Books for Your Reading List

There's good news and bad news on the reading front. A long holiday weekend doesn't stop me from working, and my spare time is spent cooking, not reading. On the other hand, there is all that audiobook time when in the kitchen and cleaning the house!

We watched one book-based movie this week (To All the Boys I've Loved Before) and finished up the PBS version of The Woman in White. We thought the first one was cute and fun, and we liked the gothic atmosphere, costumes, and acting of the latter.

I can hardly believe we're into the last week of November. I got into a mild panic about the December holidays because I haven't even made my gift list yet. I know we'll pull it off, but life is currently crazy, crazy.

Here's what I read last week.

How Long 'Til Black Future Month by N. K. Jemisin (Orbit; November 27): Holy cow this book is amazing. First, take a second and absorb the cover. I'm in love. This book is a collection of Jemisin's shorter pieces, but instead of reading like short stories they all read like novellas. I'm so impressed with how complete each story is. The book begins with a message from Jemisin explaining how she came to write these pieces. The stories are related by the themes Jemisin's fans are used to seeing: feminism, otherness and wanting to belong despite being different, relationships, motherhood, the powerful versus those who seem to not have power, fertility, and dreams. Some of the pieces were expanded into her novels (fans will have no difficulty recognizing these stories), and some explore a kind of dystopian future. I also liked the mix of settings, including a futuristic New York, a Katrina-suffering New Orleans, and off-plant settlements. I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Hachette Audio; 14 hr, 10 min), which was read by an amazing cast of narrators. This was not a full-cast production; instead a single narrator read each story. I didn't find any weak links here. Shayna Small, Gail Nelson-Holgate, Robin Ray Eller, and Ron Butler presented Jemisin's style and characters brilliantly. I can't recommend this audiobook more highly. (For more, see my upcoming review with AudioFile magazine)

Spellslinger (Orbit paperback, July 2018) and Shadowblack (Orbit paperback, August 2018) by Sebastien de Castell: I loved the first book in this fantasy so much that I immediately read the second. I believe there will be six books in all and that first four are currently available. This is the story of Kellen, the son of powerful magi and a member of a politically powerful clan. The only problem is that his magic, which should manifest itself before he turns 16, is slow to ignite. The books are about what happens when Kellen learns the truth of why he can't weave a spell and what he learns when leaves his home city and family to live in the greater world as a kind of outlaw (and, in fact, there is a bounty on his head). I really liked the world building and the role magic plays in Kellen's land. We meet those with magical power and those without, we meet the powerful and the weak, we meet loners and clanspeople, and we even meet a few sentient creatures. Kellen is on the run with his "squirrel cat" partner and a woman traveler who teaches the boy how to survive on his own. There's a bit of a wild west feeling about the books, but the setting is unique. Here are some things I like about the books: Although Kellen has an interest in a couple of girls he meets, there is (so far) no love story. Kellen is clever and smart but makes lots of mistakes and is often struggling to balance his baser instincts with loyalty and doing the right thing. There's a lot of action. Kellen's squirrel cat is a smart aleck, and I love the ribbon of humor that winds it way through the stories. There are surprises but also familiar tropes. If you're looking for a new fantasy series that does not involve a love triangle and that would appeal to both teens and adults, I'd give this one a try.

I listened to the unabridged audiobooks (Hachette Audio: 10 hr, 58 min; 9 hr, 35 min) both read by Joe Jameson. Jameson has narrated a ton of audiobooks, but I think this is my first experience with him. I liked the way he delivered the humor; upped the tension in the action scenes; and created solid, believable voices for the characters. I'm so glad I decided to give this series a chance and highly recommend it. (Review copies provided by the audiobook publisher)

Click by Kayla Miller (HMH Books for Young Readers, January 2019): I didn't realize when I picked up this very cute graphic novel that it wouldn't be available until January. I don't usually like to review books so far ahead, but such is life. This is Miller's debut graphic novel, and I thought it was a lot of fun. Olive is comfortable being friends with a number of her classmates, but when their teacher announces a fifth-grade talent show, she is dismayed to find that all of her friends have teamed up to work on their acts. Although they are excited to tell Olive about their ideas, no one invites the girl to join their act. Instead of being a woe-is-me story, this is an uplifting tale of how Olive came to terms with understanding herself and her relationship with her classmates. I loved how she found her own solution and refused to let her well-meaning and understanding mother step in to make things right. The messages here are light handed but important--for example, we can have friends of different genders and skin colors, it's okay not to have a single best friend, and sometimes friends do things we don't understand but that doesn't mean the friendship is over. Plus Olive shows us that by thinking a little outside the box (with the help of her aunt), we may be able to solve our own problems in a way that highlights our own personality. The artwork is colorful, fun, and expressive, and readers young and old will easily relate to Olive. I was trilled to see that another Olive story is in the works.

Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by Camille Laurens (Other Press, November 20, translated from the French): A few years ago I read and featured a historical novel about Degas, the ballet dancers he sketched and painted, and his famous wax / bronze statue of the Little Dancer (The Painted Girls; guest post by Cathy M. Buchanan). When I heard of this nonfiction account of Marie van Goethem, the young dancer who modeled for the famous artist, I felt drawn to it. This nicely researched book is only 150 pages, but Laurens packs a lot of thoughtful information between the covers (including photographs of Degas and his work). She puts the life of adolescent ballerinas into the broader sociocultural world of the mid-1800s, noting that (by law) the age of sexual majority was only 13 years and that young dancers had limited opportunities both during and after their association with a ballet company. The child dancers of the Paris Opera were called rats, and this quote sums up their life:

The little rats are Cinderellas without fairy godmothers, they don't become princesses, and their carriageless coachmen remain mice as gray as the cotton ticking of their slippers. They are children who work. (p. 40)

Laurens goes on to discuss the possible relationship between the artist and his model, Degas's influences for how he rendered Marie's features, and Degas's place in the art world. All the while, she tries to find clues to what happened to Marie after she was fired from the Opera for absenteeism (likely because she was modeling for Degas). What was the girl paid? What were her options? What was her future? Laurens doesn't have answers for all her questions, but her stark picture of the young dancer's world will stick with me and has broadened my reaction to the small statue. (review copy provided by the publisher)

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Weekend Cooking: Review of Flavor by Joseph Keatinge

I like graphic novels and I like stories that involve food and cooking, so I was excited to read Flavor (Image Comics, November 27), written by Joseph Keatinge with artist Wook Jin Clark.

The main character is Xoo Lim, who is single-handedly trying to save her parents' crepe restaurant, while also finding a way to heal them from a mysterious illness. She's underage and unlicensed, but her uncle Geof serves as the figurehead, keeping the officials at bay.

Xoo lives in a walled city where cooking is king, people fight over truffles, hot peppers can be used as weapons, and bars serve ice cream instead of alcohol. Her dog, Buster, helps in the kitchen and is literate.

Another plot line involves shady evil officials who are perhaps guided by the gods. We also have an up-scale culinary academy, a dangerous culinary underworld, and life-or-death cooking contests. And of note, Geof seems to be harboring his own secrets as well as an overindulgence problem when he visits the bar.

Flavor collects the first six issues of the comic, setting up the world in which Xoo lives. The artwork pops, and the emotions and personalities of the characters are clearly rendered. Each sector has a slightly different color scheme, so it's easy to tell whether we're at the academy, in Xoo's home, or in the city itself. The sample page shows Xoo, Buster, and Geof at the restaurant (click to enlarge the image).

Without giving up spoilers, the core of the story revolves around Xoo and Buster and the various plans they have to help Xoo's parents. Geof's motives for attempting to support Xoo are unclear. And, in fact, there is a lot about this comic that is unclear to me. For example, even after six issues, I'm not at all sure how the different plot lines will come together. I was also confused by Xoo's gender, which may be part of the point, but I'd like to have some kind of hint.

On the other hand, I really liked Buster the dog. He's not only cute but he seems to be the most practical and down-to-earth character in the book. I also kind of love to hate Geof, and I'm still trying to figure out whether he cares about his brother's family or if he's only in this for himself. There are a couple of cooking contests in this collection, and we learn that Xoo's specialty is definitely crepes.

At the end of the book we find a crepe recipe and a little blurb on culinary science. What we don't find at the end of the book is a solid conclusion . . . because the book ends on a major cliff-hanger. Argh!

I have mixed feelings about Joseph Keatinge's comic series Flavor. On the one hand I like some of the characters and really like the artwork. On the other hand, I didn't connect strongly with any of the story lines, and I have the uneasy feeling that I missed some key point. Will I look for the next collection? I might. Can I recommend this series? Not wholeheartedly.

Do you make crepes? I've made them only a couple times. In my family, it's my sister-in-law who reigns as the crepe queen.

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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.
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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Books about Women

Today I'm thankful for a lovely weekend: the rain ended and cooler weather came in behind it, just in time for a neighborhood outdoor get-together on Friday night.

I spent the the rest of the weekend doing a little work, some gardening, and some chores, but I sneaked in some reading time on the deck whenever I could.

 I'm watching season 2 of Anne with an E on Netflix. I'm still undecided how I feel about this show, which is inspired by Anne of Green Gables but not very faithful to the books. The acting is good, though.

I'm in a slight panic that it's just about August . . . not much time left before my final travel for the summer, and I have so, so much to do before I go. Yikes! Here's what I read last week.

Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras (Doubleday, July 31): Through the alternating viewpoints of young Chula and her family's teenage maid, Petrona, we learn how Pablo Escobar's hold over Columbia affected the entire country, even the children. Seven-year-old Chula lives in a gated community, but the neighborhood guards cannot stop the kidnappings and car bombings. Petrona's family, living in Bogota's slums, has already been victimized, and it's up to the thirteen-year-old to provide for her ailing mother and hungry younger siblings. Each girl does what she can to hold on to hope and to find security, especially as violence and danger comes ever closer to home. It's heartbreaking to witness the girls' maturing realization that their choices shrink with each passing year, and the cost of their unlikely bond is unthinkable. Although entirely fiction, the novel was inspired by events from Rojas Contreras's own childhood. When a drug culture gains power in a community, children, families, and women are particularly vulnerable. The unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 12 hr, 26 min) is read in alternating chapters by Marisol Ramirez and Almarie Guerra. Their performances highlighted the emotional impact of the novel and strengthened my connection to Chula and Petrona. (Review copies from the publisher; more at AudioFile magazine.)

Bad Girls by Alex de Campri; art by Victor Santos (Gallery 13; July 17): This graphic novel is set in Cuba on New Year's Eve 1958. Three women, linked only by their association with a night club, each have a reason to flee their current lives before the dawn of the new year. A night of traditional celebrations mixed and the last hours before Castro takes control of the country offers them their only opportunity. Will a "convenient" murder, a cache of dirty money, and street smarts be enough to help them find freedom, safety, and second chances? The women's plights and situations, their clothing, the background music, and the political situation all rang true to me. Through both the words and the art, I felt the women's desperation, and the action scenes gripped my attention. I loved the hour-by-hour setup of the story, and the dark colors of the panels set the mood well. Gunshots were shown by spiderwebbed windows and splashes of light, and the pace was accelerated by overlapping panels within panels. This is the first graphic novel I've read from the Gallery 13 imprint, but it won't be my last. (review copy from the publisher)

Lush by Kerry Cohen (Sourcebooks; July 17). I know there have been a number of memoirs about addiction, and you might feel you don't need to read yet another one, but Cohen does offer something new into the mix. A growing number of women in their forties and above are finding the lure alcohol to be harder to resist. There seems to be no break in the daily burdens of politics, job pressure, children, and marriage. Cohen, who didn't drink much in her youth, started with one glass of wine to unwind in the evening; gradually that one glass became a whole bottle or more. All the while, she took care of the kids, brought in money, and tried to keep her second marriage from dissolving. What makes her story different is that there was no AA and no rock bottom. Her addiction, as it turns out is not alcohol, and I was interested in how she learned to control her drinking and make progress with her true problem. Cohen tells her story with humor and honesty, and much of what she has to say was easy to relate to. I don't have the relationship issues she has, and my glass of wine a night and occasional Sunday afternoon extra have not escalated, but I can certainly see how easily someone could find themselves overdrinking on a regular basis. This is the story of today's women. The unabridged audiobook (Tantor Audio; 5 hr, 40 min) was read by Allyson Ryan. I loved Ryan's performance, which was so conversational that I had to keep reminding myself that this was not an author-read book. She got the humor and the self-evaluation just right. I'm sure her narration elevated my general reaction to this memoir. (galley from the publisher; audiobook personal collection)

Read Me by Leo Benedictus (Twelve, August 7): I started this book for two reasons: it's published by Twelve, which is an imprint I generally trust and it was compared to John Fowles's The Collector, a book I remember loving. Read Me is the story of a man who becomes suddenly very rich and spends his days stalking women. In the first chapter, we see what I think is the near culmination of a stalking; then the narrative jumps back to fill us in on the background. While I didn't hate this book, I found myself uninterested after the first few chapters and began skimming and spot reading just to see what happened. At no point was I compelled to start reading carefully, and I'm still unclear of the outcome of the book. The writing style was fine, but nothing clicked enough to draw me in. Reviews have been mixed, and you may be one of the readers who loves it. (review copy from the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Science to Pop Culture

What a crazy couple of weeks! As some of you know, my very active and fun-loving mother turned 90 in late June. My brothers and I planned three full days of activities, including a half day of fishing, a visit to a historic village, shopping, and eating out. We all had a great time.

Of course, I haven’t read much in the last 10 days and I haven’t had much time to visit blogs, since I’ve had to cram full workweeks into just a few days. Can you say tired? The fun isn’t over yet, since I have another short week coming up. Life will return to normal soon, I hope.

Once again, audiobooks have saved me, especially on the long car trips to and from my mom’s house. Here are my thoughts on my recent reads.

She Has Her Mother’s Laugh by Carl Zimmer (Dutton, May 29, 2018): As a former geneticist, I’m always hesitant to pick up a book that is meant to explain genetics and heredity (separate concepts) to the general population. Thus I was pleasantly surprised and pleased that Zimmer got the science right and presented it in a way that is accessible, personal, and fascinating. If you’ve sent your DNA to an ancestry company, if you’ve wondered why your brother is the only tall person in your family, if you’ve thought about IVF, or if you’ve worried about a possible inherited disorder, this book is for you. Zimmer’s approach is loosely based on his quest to understand the results of his own DNA analysis; along the way he examines the past and present cultural, political, and medical implications of genetic differences between individuals and the many avenues of current genetic research and how it affects our everyday life. The overriding message that all humans are united on the cellular level is particular important these days. I thoroughly enjoyed Joe Ochman performance of the unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 20 hr, 32 min). His no-nonsense delivery and clear and expressive voice kept my attention throughout. (More on the audiobook via AudioFile magazine.)

All Summer Long by Hope Larson (First Second; May 1, 2018): I really liked this graphic novel (comic) about Bina and Austin who have been inseparable friends since they were babies. In the summer between seventh and eighth grade, though, things start to get weird. Austin starts to pull away and barely texts when he’s away at soccer camp. Bina, left on her own most of the summer (everyone seems to be on vacation), practices her electric guitar and hangs out with Austin’s older sister a few times. When Austin comes back home, their friendship is strained until Bina finally confronts him. This is a great story about how true friendships can mature right along with you, about how people can like each other even if they have different interests, and about the importance of following your own passions. The graphic novel is geared to middle grade readers, but the message is, actually, universal. The drawings are fairly simple but very expressive. The colors are black and golds, which didn’t initially attract me, but I quickly got used them. There are diverse characters (different skin tones and facial features), a minor LBGTQ theme, and a strong focus on the women. Recommended. (Review copy provided by the publisher.)

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren (Gallery, April 10, 2018): This is a dual time-period story about the relationship between Macy and Elliot. The two meet as young teenagers and bond over their shared nerdiness. Over the years, their relationship becomes much more, until on New Year’s Eve of their 18th year, things happen, and Macy walks away from Elliot and cuts all communication. A decade later, they meet by chance, and the couple is forced to confront the events of that fateful night. There’s much to like about this novel. Macy and Elliot’s friendship had a unique twist in that it was limited to weekends, holidays, and summer, when Macy and her father stayed in their vacation home, which was next door to Elliot’s permanent family home. So, though the pair grew close, much of their time was spent apart. I especially liked Macy’s father, who, as a single parent, did his best to honor his late-wife’s wishes for their daughter. The mystery of why Macy and Elliot split is held until the end, and the plot device kept me invested. Unfortunately, the big reveal wasn’t completely realistic. I mean, what happened was realistic, but the secretiveness of it was hard to buy. Narrator Erin Mallon did a great job reading the unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 8 hr 21 min). She captured the personalities and emotions of the characters perfectly. (More on the audiobook via AudioFile magazine.)

Pop Culture: New York City by Bob Egan (maps by Jim Egan) (Applause Theatre & Cinema; June 26, 2018): This is not your usual tourist guide to New York City. The book consists of lists and maps of all kinds of pop culture things to see in the city (mostly Manhattan but also the other boroughs). For example, with this book you'll be able to find the exact spots where album cover photos where taken, where superheroes fought their battles, where sports stars grew up, and where iconic hotels are located. If you like music, books, sports, the performing arts, television and the movies, and more, you’ll discover hundreds of sites to explore next time you’re in New York. Besides identifying film locations of your favorite television shows, you'll also find lists of bookstores and music stores, nightclubs and restaurants. Egan covers a vast range of people, places, and themes, so no matter your age and interests (classic movies, punk rock, public art, reading), you’ll find plenty of places you’ll want to visit. Check out PopSpotsNYC.com to see the author’s popular website and to get an idea of how he tracks down each location. (Review copy provided by the publisher.)

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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)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Light Reading for Early Spring

Happy Monday! I have three more busy editing days, then I'm attending my annual spring lace-making workshop, and then life eases back to a simple rhythm, starting next Monday.

I usually have a full week off between the end of editing season and my long weekend with lace friends, but this year, the dates are much tighter. I won't get much reading in this week, but I know I'll have a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, on the AudioFile Magazine blog, I talk about author-read audiobooks. I'd love it if you stopped by to share your thoughts.

What I Read Last Week

Women in Sunlight by Frances Mayes (Crown; April 3). I've been a fan of Frances Mayes's since I read her Under the Tuscan Sun in the mid-1990s. Her new novel is set in her beloved Tuscany and follows the lives of three women of a certain age who are on their own for the first time since college. They meet by chance in North Carolina, become fast friends, and decide to rent a Tuscan villa for a year. They are surprised at how easily they adapt to each other and to Italy, making new friends and discovering or rediscovering new passions. They story is told from several viewpoints, including that of their neighbor, who is an American ex-pat writer and poet. Some of the novel reads as if it were autobiography, and Mayes's love of Tuscany and its sights and smells, wine and food comes shining through. In fact, now I  want to rent a villa in Tuscany for a year with my BFFs! Besides the setting, I enjoyed getting to know Susan, Julia, and Camille and seeing how they each came to terms with the second phase of their lives. Women in Sunlight is light, fun reading on one level, and an empowering look at getting older on another. Plus there's all those fabulous food descriptions! I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio; 16 hr, 52 min) read by Kimberly Farr. Farr is a pleasure to listen to; her lively performance and believable Italian and American Southern accents gave the audiobook an added spark. (More on the audiobook will soon be available at AudioFile Magazine; copy provided for a freelance assignment.)

Be Prepared written and illustrated by Vera Brosgol (First Second, April 24) is a wonderful graphic semi-autobiography about 9-year-old Vera, a Russian immigrant who wants nothing more than to fit in with her American classmates. She is always feeling like the odd girl out, especially in summer when all her friends go away to summer camp or on fabulous-sounding family vacations. Vera's mother can't afford vacations, but when they learn of a summer camp through their Russian Orthodox church, Vera's wish comes true, and she gets to spend a month at a sleep-away camp just like all the other girls at school. Vera soon discovers that camp is nothing like home, with its outhouses, wildlife, no-candy rule, and the requirement to speak Russian. Unfortunately, camp is also quite a lot like home, with its mean girls. Although Vera really doesn't like living in the great outdoors, she ends up making a good friend and learns to accept herself and her talents instead of trying so hard to be one of the cool kids. I loved the expressive artwork and the outdoor colors (see the cover for a glimpse), and my heart went out to Vera. This is a great story of finding your path and realizing that it's just fine to be your own person. I'm way more outdoorsy than Vera but still found much to relate to. Be Prepared may be geared for middle grade readers, but I recommend it for readers of all ages. (Thanks to Fist Second for the review copy.)

Coming Soon

I'm almost done with Jez Burrows's Dictionary Stories, and I'm listening to Caitlin Macy's Mrs. (read by Vanessa Johansson). I love the first and have mixed feelings about the second. I'll have more to say about both next Monday. Enjoy your week!

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 3 Hits, 1 Miss

Hello Monday and back to real life for those of us in the USA who are coming off an extra-long weekend. I really planned to read, read, read, but ended up with a bad cold. I was in that frustrating state of being too sick to read but not sick enough to sleep. Short stories and audiobooks came to my rescue.

Besides listening to books, cooking, and resting, I spent a whole day trying to get the book stacks out of the living room. It may not bother us much in everyday life, but I like a cleaner space for holiday entertaining.

I ended up with several bags of books for charity and a new supply of books slated for my neighborhood book bin. Best of all, I rediscovered some books I really want to read.

This coming week is going to be all about gift-giving and holiday reading, so look for lists on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

What I Read Last Week

Skating on the Vertical by Jan English Leary (Fomite, Nov. 1). The stories in this collection focus mostly on women who are at turning points in their life: a change in circumstance, a move to a new country, a death. The stories had a big emotional impact, even when the protagonist (as in “Skin Art,” about a former cutter) and I shared little. The stories aren’t easy, but they each embraced me fully. I especially liked the story "Mother's Helper," about a teenage babysitter helping out after the death of a client's infant daughter. The title story was about a young boy struggling with self-identity when his family life is upended. I didn’t read this collection straight through, instead I read only one or two pieces a day, giving myself time to absorb the words and think about each main character. (review copy provided by the publicist)

Body Music by Julie Maroh (Arsenal Pulp Press, Nov. 14). Love comes in many forms and has many stages. The graphic short stories in this collection look at all kinds of relationships: missed love, broken love, love on fire, love on a break, love to last. The characters represent a range of sexual and gender identities across the heterosexual and LGBTQ spectrum, and their experiences and relationships are utterly relatable for everyone. Maroh's use of a muted gray–pink palette lets the expressions and emotions of her characters take center stage. Read in order, the collection takes us on a journey from first meetings to "Togetherness with a Captial T." This is a must-read book. The stories are all set in modern-day Montreal and were originally written in French. (review copy provided by the publicist)

Hum If You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais (Putnam, July 11). I really wanted to love this book set in Johannesburg in the aftermath of the 1976 Soweto Uprising. The themes of acceptance and equality are important, but much in this book just didn’t sit right with me. The story is told from two points of view: 9-year-old white Robin, whose parents were killed in the riots, and middle-aged Beauty, a traditional Xhosa who travels to the city to search for her daughter who went missing during the uprising. I found Robin’s observations to be too precocious, and although I understood that her story was told in retrospect, the girl’s voice still didn’t ring true. In addition, it seemed that each character was created to represent a specific issue in the fight for equality (LGBTQ, Jewish, black angel, single woman, white angel); the novel would have been stronger if it had stuck primarily with Apartheid. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 14 hr, 25 min), which was read by Katharine McEwan and Bahni Turpin. Each narrator read with good expression, but each performance had issues (for example, McEwan’s pronunciation of common Yiddish and Hebrew words). My full audiobook review will be available via AudioFile magazine.

Fasting and Feasting by Adam Federman (Chelsea Green, Sept. 8): I loved this well-researched biography of food writer Patience Gray. If you don’t recognize Gray’s name, you may have heard of one of her two most well known cookbooks: Plats du Jour or Honey from a Weed. Barring that, you know her through her influence on the slow food movement and the farm to table movement. She led an unconventional life at a time when it was difficult for women to break the bonds of social expectations, especially in England. From the time she graduated college in the late 1930s until her death early in this century, she wrote, created, loved, and lived in the way that suited her best. Even if you have little interest in food writers, you will be fascinated by Gray’s fierce independent streak and her insistence on sticking to her principles; for example, she and her partner, the sculptor Norman Mommens, moved to a remote area of southern Italy in the 1960s and lived without electricity or running water and grew the bulk of their own food well into their old age. Her Honey from a Weed is one of the best cookbooks ever written and was one of the first to combine memoir with food writing. Gray was not without her critics, however (including Elizabeth David), and after finishing this biography you too may not agree with all she did. Still, her Honey from a Weed will always have a permanent place in my house. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (13 hr, 42 min) wonderfully read by Naomi Frederick. My full review will be available at AudioFile, but I have nothing but good to say.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Best Reading Week of 2017

What is the huge benefit of working ahead so one gets a full four days off for the holiday last week? Lots and lots of reading and listening time. Especially listening time, because cooking and cleaning were in order to prepare for our annual July 4 party.

Even better is that I'm back to a normal work schedule, so my evenings have been relaxing and I even stayed out of my office this past weekend. I know the easy life won't last, but I am making the most of it while I can.

The icing on the cake has been the mild weather. I don't even mind the bouts of gentle summer rain because the windows are open and the house is cool and comfortable. This is what summer is all about, isn't it?

What I Read

• The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories by Penelope Lively (Viking, May 9): I wasn't quite sure what I was going to think about this collection because the opening (and title) story was told from the viewpoint of a swamp hen in Pompeii, just before the volcano erupts. I'm glad I stuck it out though, because I was soon giving my full attention to the remaining stories, which take place in a variety of more contemporary time periods and focus on different kinds of relationships and how well we really know the people in our lives. The audiobook (Recorded Books, 7 hr, 6 min) was read by Davina Porter, one of my favorite narrators. She was expressive and teased the right emotional level out of the short pieces, though sometimes I had difficulty telling male from female voices. My full audio review will be available from AudioFile magazine.
• A Different Pond by Bao Phi (Capstone Young Readers, August 1): This short graphic novel is written for a young middle grade reader and tells the story of a young Vietnamese American boy who goes fishing with his father in the wee hours of the morning. While at the water's edge, his father tells him about his boyhood across the ocean. The messages in this comic have cross-over appeal and can sow the seeds for a larger discussion on immigration, family, and people who are different from ourselves. The illustrations by Thi Bui are rendered in a beautiful range of predawn colors, and although fairly simple in detail, the panels add to the emotional impact of the book. Highly recommended.
• Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave (Simon & Schuster, July 11): I reviewed this fun escape novel on Saturday for my Weekend Cooking post.

• Walking with Miss Millie by Tamara Bundy (Nancy Paulsen, July 4): I made the mistake of finishing this audiobook right before my guests were due to arrive on the Fourth. I sure hope I didn't look like I had been crying! Alice, 11 years old, is upset when her mother moves the family from Columbus, Ohio, to small-town Georgia to take care of her own aging mother. When Alice is asked to do their elderly neighbor a favor, she obeys, not realizing that she was going to make a new friend. This is a delightful and heartfelt coming-of-age story with themes of family, disability, racism, friendship, and more. I fell in love with Alice and her brother and found it difficult to stop listening to the book. Don't be thrown by the middle grade rating, you won't soon forget Alice's story. The audiobook (Listening Library, 4 hr, 39 min) was read by Catherine Taber who was fantastic. Her voice sounded authentically preteen to me, and I loved the way she picked up on the characters' personalities. A fantastic listen.
• Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane (Ecco, April 26): I'm normally a big fan of Lehane, so I started his newest thriller with very high expectations. This novel, set in the Boston area, is kind of three books in one: it starts out focusing on a damaged young woman who looks for love in all the wrong places, moves into a story of her healing under the care of her husband, and then turns into a psychological thriller. There are a lot of twists, though some of them are heavily signaled. I'm not sorry I read the book, but this wasn't Lehane's strongest entry. Credibility was stretched thin in places, and the plot took too many sharp turns. I'd give it a solid 3 stars. The audiobook (Harper Audio, 12 hr, 2 min) was nicely read by Julia Whelan, who clearly distinguished among the characters and kept me listening, even though the book itself wasn't a favorite.
• The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess (William Morrow, July 5): It was bittersweet to have had a chance to return to one of my favorite series ever. This novel was left unfinished at Peters's death, and Hess was given the difficult chore of filling in the blanks of Peters's work. See tomorrow's post for details.

What I'm Reading Now

• Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (Henry Holt, July 11): I am thoroughly drawn in by this novel about a women caught in that transition from being cared for by her parents to being the person doing the care giving. So far, the book is well written and easy to relate to.
• The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase (Putnam, July 25): I started this audiobook about 15 minutes before I sat down to finish this post last night (Sunday). I have high hopes.
• Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (Custom House, June 6): I put this novel aside while I was buzzing through all.the.books last week, but that's no reflection on the story. I just needed something a little more contemporary for my down time.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Short Reviews of Short Books

Not a whole lot of reading going on here because I took some time off to visit my mom for Mother's Day Weekend. Of course, I packed a bunch of print books, had my tablet for ebooks, and my phone for audioboks. I didn't, however, spend much time reading or listening -- it was more fun to visit with family.

The weather turned around again, and it was sunny and warm(ish), so we were able to do a lot of outdoor chores for my mother, and now she's all set to enjoy the summer. It wasn't all work, though; we laughed, gabbed, cooked, and ate too. A good weekend for sure.

Today I'm back to real life until it's time to get ready for BookExpo. I know it's two weeks away, but I bet the days will just fly by.

What I read last week

The Jester (Audio Sudios; 54 minutes) and Professional Integrity (Audible Sudios; 1 hr, 18 min) by Michael J. Sullivan are two standalone free audiobook short stories starring Royce and Hadrian, the heroes of the Riyria books that I've been gushing about lately. The stories are not quite as good as the full-length books, but I liked the new adventures and getting to know more about my favorite duo. In The Jester, the pair find themselves trapped in a maze with bad guys on their trail. The only way out is to solve a riddle -- can they do it in time? In Professional Integrity, Royce and Hadrian are asked to rescue a young lady, but from whom does she need rescuing? Although the stories did not advance the overall plot of the epic fantasy series, they were worth the listen, and the length made them perfect for an evening's walk. Tim Gerard Reynolds is the narrator for both, and he was fantastic as always. If you haven't yet read Sullivan's epic fantasy, I wouldn't start with these stories, but if you're fan of Riyria, then you'll want to be sure to add them to your list.

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse; May 30) is a cute contemporary young adult novel told in a he said / she said style. Since colonial days, children born of immigrant parents have had to balance cultural traditions of their family's homeland with modern life in America. Dimple is a twenty-first- century girl, looking forward to college and furthering her dreams of becoming a computer engineer. She respects her parents, but considers herself more American than Indian. Rishi harbors secret dreams of becoming an artist, especially in the world of comics, but he is dutifully planning on attending MIT to fulfill his parents' hopes. First, however, Rishi has to get to know the girl his parents have picked out as his future bride. When Rishi and Dimple meet at a summer computer programing seminar, they both begin to reassess their duties to family, their Indian culture, and their dreams. This fun rom-com explores real-life issues and has good cross-over appeal for adults.

The Stone Heart by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second; April) is the second installment in the Nameless City graphic novel trilogy. The son of a diplomat who's training to become a warrior and an orphan girl who grew up in a monastery make unlikely friends, but they've grown to count on each other's unique skills and perspectives. When Kaidu's father's life is endangered by a rival faction who wants to rule the land with military strength and the secrets of an ancient power, the children come up with a possible path to future peace. The ending isn't exactly a cliff-hanger, but I need to know if Kaidu and Rat's plan will have the intended results. The Nameless City books take place in medieval Asia and have themes of social class, good vs. evil, religious differences, and family. The artwork helps bring Kaidu and Rat's world alive, adding to the characters' personalities and animating the action. The books are more historical fiction than fantasy and can be enjoyed on a several levels by readers of all ages. Note: you need to start this action-adventure series with book one to appreciate the overall story arc.

New Boy by Tracy Chevalier (Hogarth Shakespeare; May 16). I had high hopes for the latest entry in the Hogarth Shakespeare series -- a modern retelling of Othello -- because the previous books in the series have been good, and I usually enjoy Chevalier's writing. The novel is told in five parts and takes place over the course of a single day at a Washington, DC private elementary school. Ghana-born Osei is the son of a diplomat, and on his first day at his new school he is noticed by everyone, most particularly because he is the only black student on the playground. Dee, a popular girl, is asked to befriend Osei, helping him feel at home at the school. The tragedy occurs in the classroom and on the playground, with sixth-grade relationships and 1970s prejudices propelling the action. Sadly, I found the book only okay and found it hard to buy into the concept of 11-year-olds as the main characters. The condensed timeline didn't work well either, and the plot would have been better served if the action had taken place over weeks or months instead of hours. I'm not as familiar with Othello as I am with other Shakespeare plays, so I wonder how much that affected my enjoyment. The unabridged audiobook (Harper Audio; 5 hr, 23 min) was read by Prentice Onayemi. My full audiobook review will be available at AudioFile, but here's a hint: the performance did little to help me like this novel.

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