10 Books for Tweens and Teens

I know 2016 isn't over yet, but I'm already looking ahead and making reading plans for the coming year. All the books featured today will be published in January, and although you'll find them in the young adult or middle grade sections of your bookstore or library, each one has adult cross-over appeal. Whether you're making a wish list or a shopping list and whether you're thinking of yourself or the young readers in your life, here are some recommendations to give you a head start on fabulous bookish 2017.

Contemporary Cultural and Social Issues in Fiction

• The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt (St. Martin's Griffin; January 17): Gretchen, a 17-year-old white girl, suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome after having been mugged. Pheonix, a brown-skinned 18-year-old, is a recent immigrant who fled his native El Salvador to escape gang violence. After a chance meeting, they bond over their common need for healing, understanding and safety.
• Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley (Harlequin Teen, January 31): Aki, a 15-year-old black girl, is unsure about everything--her faith, her sexual identity, her talents. On a Christian mission trip to Mexico, she meets white Christa and tentative flames begin to burn. A realistic look at LBGTQ teen relationships and a respectful view of religion.
• The Truth of Right Now by Kara Lee Corthron (Simon Pulse, January 3):  Lily, a white Jewish music student, and Dari, a black first-generation Trinidadian artist, start their junior year of high school already a step or two behind. When the two loners connect, they strengthen their relationship over discussions of race, family, and personal struggles, until social pressures and their past troubles threaten to tear them apart.

Fresh Takes on Old Tales

• The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Del Rey, January 10): Set in medieval Russia, this unique fairy tale is the story of a village girl, who can talk with animals and spirits, and her conflict with her stepmother, who declares all such actions and beings to be evil. Period details and careful blending of magic and realism help shape this intriguing new tale.
• Beheld by Alex Flinn (HarperTeen, January 10): Kendra, a time-traveling witch and perennial teen, recounts her perspective on the stories behind four familiar fairy tales, with an emphasis on romance. These light twists on traditional plots (including Rumpelstiltskin) offer the perfect winter escape.
• Siren Sisters by Diana Langer (Aladdin, January 3): Set in coastal Maine, this middle grade novel reimagines the myth of the sirens whose song lures ships into rocky waters. Lolly, our young singer, deals with more than her duties to the Sea Witch, she must also learn to navigate the rough seas of contemporary adolescence and keep her family safe.

Stories for Thought and Discussion

• Flying Lessons edited by Ellen Oh (Crown Books for Young Readers, January 3): This collection of short stories was published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. The pieces, written by both men and women, tackle a wide range of contemporary issues, such as racism, sports, grief, gender identity, and living with disabilities. Geared to a middle grade audience, this important and well-written collection should be on everyone's reading list.
• Here We Are edited by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin Young Readers, January 24): This anthology of essays, art, photos, and poems is geared to young adult readers and addresses what it means to be a feminist in the 21st century. The 44 contributors hail from a broad spectrum of fields--pop culture personalities, artists, bloggers, and authors--and focus on the complexities of women's issues, not simply the typical views on career opportunities and speaking up.

Coming of Age with a Few Twists

• The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti (Sourcebooks Fire, January 3): When Lizzie goes missing after a camping trip with her boyfriend, a 17-year-old girl becomes obsessed with finding out what happened. Set in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, this novel is part mystery, part coming-of-age story.
• The You I've Never Known by Ellen Hopkins (Margaret McElderry Books, January 24): This novel in verse and prose focus on 17-year-old Ariel who has lived an almost nomadic life with her alcoholic father since her mother deserted them years ago. As Ariel explores her awakening bisexuality, she discovers few people are really who they seem to be, and her world begins to tip.

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Bullet Review: The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee

Decades before Guernsey became a household name, thanks to the best-selling Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, I lived on the island while I was conducting my doctoral research. Since then, I've had a soft spot for all things British Channel Islands, so when The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee came to my attention, it was a given that I was going to read it.

Quick look: The summer that Jude, just out of college, is hired to tutor a lonely boy on a lonelier island, she is unaware of how her life will be shaped by those few indelible weeks and the two people who will haunt her forever.

About the book: The Last Kings of Sark is kind of a triple character study, mostly told through Jude's eyes. It's about her arrival on the island; her impressions of the family; and her relationship with her teenage pupil, Pip, and the summer cook, Sofi. All starts out as expected, if a little uncomfortable, until Pip's father leaves for an extended business trip. The three young people then feel their freedom and spend the summer riding bikes, walking the beach, drinking wine, and forming a bond that none of them can explain. The final third of the book revisits Jude, Pip, and Sofi over the next decade or so, giving us a snapshot of where their lives have gone.

My expectations: I read this book with no notion of the plot. I was looking forward to learning about life in the Channel Islands in the twenty-first century. Instead my view of Sark was as narrow as Jude's: revolving completely around Sofi and Pip. I know this colored my ultimate reaction to the novel.

The good: Rankin-Gee excels at painting a mood, at developing an atmosphere. The novel is pregnant with expectation, and it's easy to fall into Jude, Pip, and Sofi's circle. The pace of their friendship as well as their mistakes and falters feel authentic for that magical summer. It was also interesting to see how the events of those weeks affected the three of them as they became true adults.

The less good: On the other hand, my expectations and the actual plot of The Last Kings of Sark were at odds, and I was disappointed not to have a broader view of the islanders and island life. This is purely a personal thing and totally on me. In addition, I don't think novels have to end with every little thing tied up in a bow, but the vagueness of the last third of the book, especially the sections about Jude's life, left me wanting.

Recommendation: If you go into The Last Kings of Sark expecting a character-driven, character-focused novel, you'll find a lot to think about. Rosa Rankin-Gee well captures that moment when you're no longer a child but not yet an adult, when you can still thrill at firsts, and when you are particularly impressionable. Despite the novel's early strengths, however, I was left feeling flat, wishing for something more or something different.

Published by St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffin, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781250068040
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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6 Must-Read Novels from St. Martin's Press

I'm doing a little something different today. Instead of an imprint post, this is actually a "press post" because I want to talk about about the books from St. Martin's Press that are high up on my want-to-read list.

St. Martin's publishes such a great range of books--from beach reading to the best of literary fiction--that I always have a couple of their books calling to me. After looking over this roundup of six recent books, I bet you'll be adding titles to your reading list too.

Mystery & Magic

Paula Brackston's The Silver Witch (Thomas Dunne Books, April 2015) caught my attention because it's billed as a "blending of historical fiction and fantasy," plus it's set in Wales. The story revolves around two women who live on Llangors Lake but at different time periods. Recently widowed, ceramic artist Tilda is looking to redefine her life and work through her grief. In ancient times, Seren, a shaman, also lived along the lake. Through the powers of emotion and magic, the two women find a connection across the centuries.

When I learned that Erika Syler's The Book of Speculation (St. Martin's Press, June 2015) was a book about a book, I was intrigued. I'm not sure what Simon is going to learn after he receives an unsolicited old book from an antiques dealer halfway across the country. Why is his grandmother's name in the book and how did Mr. Churhwarry find his New York address? And then there's this:

The book sits by the phone, a tempting little mystery. I won't sleep tonight; I often don't. I'll be up, fixating. On the house, on my sister, on money. I trace the curve of a flourished H with my thumb. If this book is meant for me, best find out why. (p. 11 / ARC)

Oh to Be Young Again (or Not)

Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn (St. Martin's Griffin, June 2015) promises to be one intense psychological thriller. When seventeen-year-old Sadie is sent home from boarding school for almost killing another student, she discovers that life at her family's California vineyards is just too tame. If she starts using her full arsenal of tricks (secrets, sex, guilt), however, she could stir up some trouble. But once Sadie sets events in motion, is there anyone who can stop the inevitable violence? I might have to read this one with the lights on.

I'm curious about Sarah Bannan's Weightless (St. Martin's Griffin, June 2015) for a couple of reasons. First, it's written in the first-person plural, creating an inclusive atmosphere by encircling we the readers in with the we of the book. And then this sentence from the publicity materials really sold me: "We are not hearing the perspective of the perpetrators or even the victim, but rather of the onlookers," and some of the story is told through social media (photos, Facebook, and texts). The victim in this case is high-schooler Carolyn, the new girl in town who rises quickly through the social ranks . . . until she even more quickly falls, as the result of an unfortunate video. Oh I'm so glad I wasn't a teenager in the age of the smartphone!

Take Me Away!

Mary Kay Andrews's Beach Town (St. Martin's Press, May 2015) looks to be a fun combination of sun, surf, and romance mixed with some deeper issues. Greer is a movie location scout scrambling to keep her career on track after some setbacks. When she discovers Cypress Key, a quaint Florida town on the Gulf coast, she sets off to sell the movie idea to the mayor. He, however, is concerned with the environmental impact of the project and is protective of his town. I'm sure romance will be the ultimate winner, and I'm looking forward to a lazy afternoon of reading on my deck.

I decided to put Jane Green's Summer Secrets (St. Martin's Press, June 2015) on my reading list because I liked the premise and the hints of underlying complexities to the story. When she was young and working as a London-based journalist, Cat took advantage of all the big city had to offer. When too much partying finally alienates her from friends and family, her life begins to unravel. Years later, struggling with sobriety and single-parenthood, Cat decides to confront her past, seeking forgiveness and reconnection. What she finds, however, is that making amends isn't as easy as it seems in the movies, and some of those she hurt may in fact have been harboring dreams of revenge. I like my escape reading to give me things to think about.

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Reading On Topic: Literary Roots

How do you organize your books? My answer: I don't.

However, I often mentally group my collection into broad topics or categories. Today I want to talk about eight books I think of as having literary roots. Some of the novels provide a different perspective on a classic, others explore real-life people who were connected with a famous book or author, and one resets a favorite story in contemporary times. Welcome to this edition of Reading On Topic.

Getting Her Say

The literary connections of this pair of novels are easy to spot. In Ruth's Journey, Donald McCaig imagines the life of Mammy from Gone with the Wind. Not only do we learn the servant's name, we discover just how she came to Tara from her native Saint-Domingue (Haiti). McCaig focuses on Ruth's relationship with Ellen O'Hara (Scarlett's mother) and imagines Scarlett's childhood up to the famous barbecue at Twelve Oaks. (Simon & Schuster / Atria; October; ISBN: 9781451643534) Juliet's Nurse, by Lois Leveen takes us inside the home of the Cappellettis, where Angelica, mourning the loss of her own daughter, is hired as Juliet's wet nurse. Through the nurse's eyes, we discover the events leading up to the moment when, fourteen years later, Juliet meets Romeo and then her tragic death. (Simon & Schuster / Atria; September; ISBN: 9781476757445)

Who Was She?

This duo imagines the lives of five women who were well-known in the book world. In Mrs. Hemingway, Naomi Wood gives voice to all four of the famous author's wives, and from their perspectives we get to know the private Hemingway. Although a work of fiction, this story of the women, their marriages, and the man they loved is based on thorough research. (Penguin paperback; May; ISBN: 9780143124610) Can you even count the number of times you've read Goodnight Moon (to yourself or to a child)? Now ask yourself what you know about author Margaret Wise Brown. Curiosity drove Sarah Jio to explore Brown's life, and the result is the novel Goodnight June. Based on fact and fleshed out by imagination, this novel brings the author of the beloved book to life. (Penguin / Plume; May; ISBN: 9780142180211)

Classics Gone Mysterious

The roots of these mysteries are found in ancient Greece and medieval England. The Furies by Natalie Haynes features an ex-actor who is mourning the death of her finance while starting a new career. Alex, now a drama therapist, teaches the Greek tragedies to a class of very troubled teens in attempt to help them face their personal issues. But what happens when the kids relate a little too closely to the stories of murder and revenge? (Macmillan / St. Martins Press; August; ISBN: 9781250048004) In A Burnable Book, Bruce Holsinger takes us back to the 1300s to solve a mystery surrounding a subversive book. Geoffrey Chaucer teams up with John Grower to find the manuscript, thereby protecting young King Richard II and saving the monarchy. Sharp period details color the action. (HarperCollins / William Morrow paperback; September; ISBN: 9780062240330)

A Retelling and a Return

Rounding out this edition of Reading On Topic are a contemporary retelling of a classic and a novel that asks, What happened next? In Sway, Kat Spears takes Cyrano de Bergerac and sets the story in a modern high school. Every student knows that Jesse is the go-to guy for whatever you want, so when football star Ken asks for help to win a date with the beautiful Bridget, Jesse assumes it will be a snap. Until, that is, he gets to know the girl and starts to fall in love. (Macmillian / St. Martin's Griffin; September; ISBN: 9781250051431) Do you remember the ending of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Danielle Paige wants to know what happened after Dorothy killed the Wicked Witch of the West and finally found a way home. Dorothy Must Die revisits an Oz in which Dorothy has returned to rule and has let power go to her head. Can Amy--another Kansas-native, tornado-traveling girl--undo the damage and restore Oz to its former glory? (HarperCollins / Harper Torch; April; ISBN: 9780062280671)

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Today's Read: The Partner Track by Helen Wan

How far would you go to further your career? What if you felt tremendous pressure from your family and from your community? These are very real concerns for Ingrid Young, who is on the verge of making partner at Parsons Valentine, a prestigious international law firm.

The Parsons Valentine dining room--affectionately known as the Jury Box--resembled nothing so much as a high school cafeteria, writ large. We were all older, sure, with expensive haircuts and finely tailored suits. The food was a lot better, and it was served on fine china, classic white with a platinum border. And then there was the view. Instead of a track or football field, our windows overlooked the grand expanse of Fifth Avenue and Central Park. No trophy cases or spirit banners, either, just a vast Ellsworth Kelly painting and a few signed Chuck Close prints adorning the otherwise stark white wall. But these were just trophies of a different sort.

—The Partner Track by Helen Wan (St. Martin's Griffin [paperback], 2014, p. 1)

Quick Facts

• Setting: New York City; modern times
• Circumstances: As Ingrid Young fights to make partner, she begins to wonder if she will advance on her merits or because she is a two-fer: a first-generation Chinese American and a woman. When an uncomfortable situation arises, she is forced to question the real costs of advancement in a white man's world.
• Characters: Ingrid and her family; various fellow lawyers and clients; a love interest
• Genre: contemporary fiction; women's fiction
• Themes: family; ambition; corporate America; enduring discrimination; immigration; ethics
• What reviewers have said: most reviews have mentioned the well-developed characters and the realism of Ingrid's situation; several mentioned Wan's use of humor to lighten the serious story line
• A bit about the author: Helen Wan is herself a Chinese American lawyer and thus writes from a place of experience, although the book is entirely fiction. For an interview in which Wan talks about the book and herself, watch the BookGirl video on YouTube. More about Wan and her novel can be found on her website.
• Recommendations: I haven't even started The Partner Track, but it looks like it would make a great book club pick based on the issues Ingrid faces.

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Random Publishing Trends: Twins

Do you ever notice mini-trends in the publishing industry? I'm not talking about the vampire craze or the popularity of dystopian trilogies but the smaller, random themes that seem to spring out of nowhere. This year, everyone seems to be writing about twins. No matter the genre or intended audience, the novels of 2013 are on a multiple birth kick. Here are a dozen that have crossed my desk since June. (Links lead to my reviews or features.)

Contemporary Fiction

The Twins by Saskia Sarginson (Redhook, ISBN-13 9780316246200) is part psychological thriller and part woman's fiction about twin sisters who are torn apart after a disturbing childhood event. The twins in Mary Kay Zuravleff's Man Alive! (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, ISBN-13 9780374202316) are the college-age sons of Owen Lerner, whose life is turned upside down after he survives a lightning strike. Scott Turnow's Identical (Grand Central Publishing, ISBN-13 9781455527205) focuses on the lives of two very different twin brothers: one a state senator and one an ex-con; when a decades-old murder case is reopened, the investigation stirs up secrets and betrayals.

The twin sisters in Curtis Sittenfeld's Sisterland (Random House, ISBN-13 9781400068319) seem to be cut from different molds, but when one is caught up in a media circus after predicting a major earthquake, their lives begin to merge. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell (St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN-13 9781250030955), follows twin sisters as they transition from high school teens to college students and begin to form their own identities. In Wally Lamb's We Are Water (Harper, ISBN-13 9780061941023), twins Ariane and Andrew are each given a voice in this multiple-point-of-view look a contemporary family in crisis.

Paranormal, Fantasy, and More

In Francesca Lia Block's Love in the Time of Global Warming (Henry Holt, ISBN-13 9780805096279), which is a kind of dystopian reworking of The Odyssey, our protagonist, Pen, befriends a boy who has been separated from his twin. Eva, the hero of the dystopian fantasy Relic, by Heather Terrell (Soho Teen, ISBN-13 9781616951962), risks everything to honor the memory of her twin brother by taking his place in a dangerous game of survival and power. Alison Cherry's Red (Delacorte Press, ISBN-13 9780385742931) is a fun, light read with a deeper message about the superficiality of prejudices; the twins in this novel are the younger brothers of the super-popular Felicity St. John. While Tana, the hero of Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, ISBN-13 9780316213103), is on the run and hoping to hold on to her humanity, she meets up with brother and sister twins who are equally determined to become vampires in this dysptopian-paranormal story.

Historical Fiction

Even Larry Watson, author of Let Him Go (Milkweed Editions, ISBN-13 9781571311023), couldn't resist brother-sister twins in his powerful story of mothers and sons, set in 1951. Anton DiSclafani's The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls (Riverhead, ISBN-13 9781594486401), set in 1930, is about a pair of brother and sister twins who are separated after a tragic accident.

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Weekend Cooking: Review and Giveaway of SOS! by Aviva Goldfarb

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

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Lately, I've been hearing the same thoughts over and over again concerning making dinner: It seems that everyone wants healthful meals but no one wants to spend a lot of time or money to make them. Aviva Goldfarb has the answers.

I have been a fan of Aviva's for a number of years now. I own her first cookbook, The Six O'Clock Scramble, and I have subscribed to her weekly online service of the same name, which gives you a week's worth of easy, tasty, and healthful meals. Keep on reading because one lucky reader will win both the new cookbook and a 3-month subscription to Aviva's online recipe service.

I'm also excited that Aviva will be a guest here on Beth Fish Reads next Thursday. Don't miss her guest post.

Her newest cookbook is SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue, and, as the subtitle says, it is full of Earth-Friendly, Kid-Pleasing Dinners for Busy Families. Aviva starts out by introducing herself and the philosophy behind her recipes and the book. She is a strong believer in buying local and cooking with fresh ingredients when possible.

SOS! is organized by season, and each section starts out with five suggested weekly menus. A table of contents groups the recipes by type and provides prep and cooking times. Each section opener is printed on green paper, so it is easy to turn right to each part. The index is well organized, so you can find recipes that way too.

Throughout the cookbook, there are boxes with tips on a variety of topics such as how to use ingredients, how to be a smarter shopper, and how to store foods. You'll also find information about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, introducing your kids to new foods, and even how to compost.

Okay, so what about the recipes? The flavors you'll find in SOS! range from Cuban to Indonesian, Greek, Mexican, Italian, and Asian. Each recipe includes prep time and cooking time. Almost all of the recipes can be made and cooked in 30 minutes, although some, like meat loaf, may take just a few minutes to prepare but require an hour or so to cook or bake. Included with each recipe is also nutritional information for the main dish and for the suggested side dish.

All the recipes I looked at used easy to find ingredients and required only basic cooking skills. One of the things I love about Aviva's recipes is that she provides extra information at the end of each one. You'll find tips, side dish suggestions, slow cooker or microwave instructions, and "flavor boosters" (for those of us who like a bit of spice). A lot of the meat dishes come with vegetarian options.

The only complaint I have about SOS! is that it was incredibly difficult to choose a recipe to share with you. Here are some of the recipes I considered:

• Rosemary-Lemon Pork Chops with Yogurt-Feta Sauce
• Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Garlic-Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
• Warm Pasta Salad with Arugula or Spinach,
• Thai Sweet-and Sour Chicken Wraps
• Santa Fe–Style Beef Stew

I decided to share a vegetarian dish because several of my readers were looking for bean-based meals the other day. Here's a winner:

Mango and Black Bean Salad

Prep + Cook = 20 minutes + 10 minutes to 24 hours to chill (optional)
Serves 6

• ¾–1 cup quick-cooking brown rice (2 cups prepared)
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1–1½ cups fresh or frozen mango, cut in ½-inch chunks
• ¼ sweet yellow onion, such as Vidalla, finely diced (about 1 cup)
• ¼ cup scallions, green parts only, or chives, finely chopped
• 1 lime, juice only (2–3 tablespoons)
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
• 6 large Boston or butter lettuce leaves (optional)
• 6 whole wheat tortillas for serving (optional)

Cook the rice according to the package directions. Remove it from the heat immediately when it is done cooking. (If you want to serve the salad immediately rather than waiting for it to chill, put the rice in the freezer for 5 minutes to cool it.)

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the beans, mango, onions, scallions, lime juice, and cilantro. Combine the cooled rice with the ingredients in the large bowl, season it with the salt, and toss it gently. Chill it for at least 10 minutes (an hour or more is ideal) and up to 24 hours. (Meanwhile prepare the side dish.)

Serve the salad on its own or wrapped in large lettuce leaves or a warm tortilla or both, topped with sliced avocado (see side dish), if desired.

Scramble Flavor Booster: Stir in fresh cilantro and serve the salad with spicy salsa.

Tip: If you don't like raw onions, saute them first until they are lightly browned. If you have picky eaters, put some of the beans and rice aside before combining the rest of the ingredients and let them have simple black bean and rice burritos with mango on the side.

Side Dish Suggestion: Peel and slice 2 to 4 avocados and sprinkle them with 1 to 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice (about 1 teaspoon per avocado) and ⅛ to ½ teaspoon salt (⅛ teaspoon per avocado). (Or mash the avocados with the juice and salt to make a guacamole.)

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SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue at an Indie

SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue at Powell's
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Source: Review (see review policy)

Giveaway

Now for the giveaway part! I'm really excited about this fabulous giveaway. One lucky reader from the U.S. or Canada will not only win a copy of SOS! The Six O'Clock Scramble to the Rescue but will also win a 3-month subscription ($19.50 value) to Aviva's Six-O'Clock Scramble program, an online dinner-planning service (click the link for more information). This is a terrific service—I know because I've been a subscriber in the past. Each week you get seven main-dish recipes, each with side dishes and tips. And all are healthful, easy, tasty, and fast. Truly you don't want to miss out on this.

Here's how to enter the giveaway: Just leave a comment stating that you want to enter the giveaway and be sure to leave an email address; if I can't contact you, you can't win. Winners must have a U.S. or Canadian mailing address. I'll pick a winner via a random-number generator in the morning of June 19.

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Short Review: Sideways by Rex Pickett

You may have seen the movie, but have you read the book? Sideways by Rex Pickett is much better in print than it was in film. It is the story of two friends who go on a week-long road trip to the Santa Ynez wine country in California.

The men are in opposite places in their lives. Miles, wine connoisseur and wannabe author is divorced and has a dark outlook on life. Jack, a minor Hollywood actor, is just about to get married and has a anything-goes attitude.

Sideways takes a look at wine, friendship, and relationships between men and women. Here's a look at my notes from 2006: "The characters are more fully developed in the book than in the movie, and I understand Miles and Jack much better. The story is funny and interesting, but also a bit depressing. In the end, however, there is hope."

The cover is from the 2005 Blackstone Audio edition read by Scott Brick, who did terrific job on the narration. (Source: Bought; see review policy)

Sideways at an Indie

Sideways at Powell's
Sideways at Amazon
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Reading at the Beach is the host for this meme: Each week she invites us to spotlight a book whose title begins with the featured letter. This week it's S.

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