Fiction, Nonfiction, Children'sand YA Books

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KIRKUSVOL. LXXXVIII, NO. 17 | 1 SEPTEMBER 2020 REVIEWS | VISIONS OF AMERICA Special Issue from the editor’s desk: Conversations About America Chairman BY TOM BEER HERBERT SIMON President & Publisher MARC WINKELMAN

John Paraskevas # Optimism has been a scarce commodity this year. The Covid-19 pandemic Chief Executive Officer spread relentlessly throughout the United States, the economy shuddered, MEG LABORDE KUEHN [email protected] and our federal government fumbled its response. Police killings of Black Editor-in-Chief citizens seized national attention, and protesters calling for change were TOM BEER [email protected] met, in many cases, with violence. The presidential election was already Vice President of Marketing uncovering the ugliest tendencies in American politics. SARAH KALINA [email protected] It was difficult to feel hopeful about our future. Managing/Nonfiction Editor ERIC LIEBETRAU Then we began editing this, our first-ever Visions of America issue. The [email protected]

issue was conceived well before the dispiriting events of 2020, with the Fiction Editor LAURIE MUCHNICK understanding that the November election would, in any event, be a fate- [email protected]

Tom Beer ful one for the nation. Now, the context is dramatically altered, the stakes Young Readers’ Editor VICKY SMITH heightened. And I found, as I read through the features we had commis- [email protected]

sioned, something that had been in short supply (for me, anyway): inspiration and optimism. Young Readers’ Editor LAURA SIMEON One unexpected theme that runs through the issue is conversation. Conversation is the focus [email protected] of Just Us: An American Conversation (Graywolf, Sept. 8), in which poet and essayist Claudia Ran- Editor at Large MEGAN LABRISE kine explores how Americans talk to one another about race and racial privilege. As she said to me [email protected]

in our interview, “In order to achieve systemic change inside the various institutions and systems Vice President of Kirkus Indie KAREN SCHECHNER that we have, we’re going to have to start one to one. We’re going to have to start speaking to [email protected] each other with a shared vocabulary, a shared understanding, a shared Senior Indie Editor DAVID RAPP recognition of American history.” As Rankine found when she began [email protected] talking about race with both friends and strangers, these conversations Indie Editor MYRA FORSBERG are challenging for many of us. But in committing to them—and keep- [email protected] ing them real—we begin to create social change. Associate Manager of Indie KATERINA PAPPAS Conversation likewise came up in Eric Liebetrau’s interview with [email protected] Editorial Assistant Marie Mutsuki Mockett, author of American Harvest: God, Country, and JOHANNA ZWIRNER Farming in the Heartland (Graywolf, April 7). Mockett traveled through- [email protected] Mysteries Editor out the Great Plains of the United States with itinerant contract or THOMAS LEITCH

“custom” harvesters, talking with them about their work, their lives, Contributing Editor and their values. She sees these conversations as a way forward out of GREGORY McNAMEE Copy Editor what feels like a national impasse: “Listen to other people’s stories and BETSY JUDKINS

recognize their stories as real,” she tells Kirkus. “Conversation does not Designer necessarily yield instant gratification, but it can lead to systemic and ALEX HEAD Director of Kirkus Editorial structural changes.” LAUREN BAILEY This issue reflects the extraordinary diversity of Americans and American experiences. There [email protected] Production Editor is no grand master narrative but countless individual stories reflecting people’s histories and hopes. HEATHER RODINO We speak with Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright and novelist Ayad Akhtar, whose new novel, [email protected] Website and Software Developer Homeland Elegies (Little, Brown, Sept. 15), reflects on what it means to be Muslim American in PERCY PEREZ the 21st century, to feel responsible for what America is today and yet feel like an outsider. Darcie [email protected] Advertising Director Little Badger, author of the YA novel Elatsoe (Levin Querido, Aug. 25), talks about putting Indig- MONIQUE STENSRUD enous characters into contemporary fiction and envisioning an America where “my people, the [email protected] Advertising Associate Lipan Apache, could once again flourish on our homeland.” Author and teacher Ernesto Cisneros TATIANA ARNOLD [email protected] discusses his middle-grade novel, (Harper/HarperCollins, March 31), and the stories Efrén Divided Graphic Designer that his Mexican American middle school students in Santa Ana, California, have shared about LIANA WALKER [email protected] the experience of having a parent deported. Controller We hope that these authors and their books—these Visions of America—will inspire in you MICHELLE GONZALES [email protected] some of the optimism that we felt in working on the issue. Keep reading, and keep the conversa- for customer service tion going. or subscription questions, please call 1-800-316-9361

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2 | 1 september 2020 | from the editor’s desk | kirkus.com | you can now purchase books online at kirkus.com contents visions of america

fiction INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 4 The Kirkus Star is awarded REVIEWS...... 4 to books of remarkable EDITOR’S NOTE...... 6 merit, as determined by the INTERVIEW: AYAD AKHTAR...... 14 MYSTERY...... 35 impartial editors of Kirkus. SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY...... 46 ROMANCE...... 46 nonfiction young adult INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 48 REVIEWS...... 48 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 50 INTERVIEW: CLAUDIA RANKINE...... 56 INTERVIEW: MARIE MUTSUKI MOCKETT...... 62 children’s INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 91 REVIEWS...... 91 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 92 INTERVIEW: ERNESTO CISNEROS...... 98 WINTER HOLIDAY PICTURE BOOKS...... 140 young adult INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 151 REVIEWS...... 151 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 152 Christina Soontornvat tells the story of INTERVIEW: DARCIE LITTLE BADGER...... 156 the boys’ soccer team trapped for 18 days in a INTERVIEW: KATE SCHATZ & MIRIAM KLEIN STAHL...... 160 flooded cave in Thailand, keeping even readers indie who know the end on the edges of their seats. INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 175 Read the review on p.134. REVIEWS...... 175 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 176 Don’t wait on the mail for reviews! You can read pre-publication reviews as SEEN & HEARD...... 198 they are released on kirkus.com—even before they are published in the magazine. You can also access the current issue and back issues of Kirkus Reviews on our APPRECIATIONS: BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE...... 199 website by logging in as a subscriber. If you do not have a username or password, please contact customer care to set up your account by calling 1.800.316.9361 or emailing [email protected].

| kirkus.com | contents | 1 september 2020 | 3 fiction These titles earned the Kirkus Star: DAUGHTER OF BLACK LAKE Buchanan, Cathy Marie Riverhead (320 pp.) APHASIA by Mauro Javier Cardenas...... 5 $28.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-0-7352-1616-7 THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS by Elena Ferrante; trans. by Ann Goldstein...... 8 Coming-of-age in Roman-occupied THE NOSE AND OTHER STORIES by Nikolai Gogol; Britain. trans. by Susanne Fusso...... 10 Thirteen-year-old Hobble lives with her parents in a small, isolated com- NIGHTS WHEN NOTHING HAPPENED by Simon Han...... 12 munity at the edge of a bog. Far from the eastern coast, their lives are largely THE ORCHARD by David Hopen...... 18 untouched by Emperor Claudius’ desire to claim all of Britan- THE EXILES by Christina Baker Kline...... 26 nia for Rome. But Hobble knows that this is about to change, because the young seer has had a vision of Romans coming to THEY’RE GONE by E.A. Barres...... 35 Black Lake. Her mother, Devout, has bitter recollections of an earlier incursion—and her experiences during that time will AFTER ALL I’VE DONE by Mina Hardy...... 41 have a profound effect on Hobble’s fate. The stories of both daughter and mother unfold in alternating chapters. Buchanan A LADY COMPROMISED by Darcie Wilde...... 45 devotes many, many pages to worldbuilding, at the expense THE SEVENTH PERFECTION by Daniel Polansky...... 46 of advancing the narrative. Nevertheless, Black Lake and the broader first-century Britain around it never feel like more than a stage set. The characters are mostly flat as well. Devout’s first love, Arc, is representative in that he fits a type but lacks specificity. He is, like Devout, a member of their community’s lowest caste but he is, apparently, singular because he knows “the industry of bees and the magnificence of the nighttime sky.” Contemporary clichés like this don’t do much to help a reader find their way back into an imagined past. The book succeeds best at recalling other books, most particularly Manda Scott’s Dreaming the Serpent Spear. Both authors use Lindow Man—a body uncovered by peat diggers in Northwest England in 1984— in strikingly similar ways. The most distinctive element of Buchanan’s novel is the druid Fox. Historical fiction set in pre- Christian Britain often depicts druids as fonts of ancestral wisdom, as spiritual savants attuned to nature. Fox is not that. He is, instead, a greedy, power-hungry zealot who murders puppies and, ultimately, demands human sacrifice. Beyond this unpleasant character, this novel is unremarkable. A slog through the bog.

THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS Ferrante, Elena Trans. by Goldstein, Ann Europa Editions (336 pp.) $26.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 978-1-60945-591-0

4 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult - When her childhood friend dies, leaving behind a manuscript she is both reluctant and compelled to read, Jen through she has waited for her entire life. entire her for waited has she through Zerogram Press (128 pp.) Zerogram Press PANTHERS AND THE PANTHERS OF FIRE MUSEUM Craig Craig experiences the literary break Craig, Jen Craig, $13.95 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 $13.95 paper | Oct. 6, 978-1557-1344-448-6 The main character in this novella of interiors shares a name a shares interiors of novella this in character main The lia—and an impassioned compulsion to write. In these ways, Cole’s Teju Struggleor series My Knausgaard’s Ove Karl of lines with the book’s author. She also shares - a Austra city—Sydney, inspiration, ultimately seeming to propose that all subjects this unusual book has a relationship with autofiction along the are really reflections the of lives character, our in Jenny, selves. Open City, sharing a thematic focus on the sources of writerly | kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 5

- The Revolutionaries Try Again The Try Revolutionaries In In Ecuadorian Cárdenas’ second balance balance family with an awareness of lost possibilities while his sister’s life unravels. possibilities while his sister’s novel—after novel—after Cárdenas, Mauro Javier Mauro Cárdenas, Straus and Giroux Farrar, (208 pp.) (2016)—a once-reluctant father tries to $26.00 | Nov. 3, 2020 $26.00 | Nov. APHASIA 978-0-374-25786-6 Original, richly felt, deftly written. Highly recommended. Highly written. deftly felt, richly Original, Antonio Antonio Jose Jiménez immigrated to the from U.S. Colom- before conceiving Ada,” he imagines different versions of him- bia to fulfill his dream of an Ivy League education. Now a he’d left he’d his former wife when he was planning to, three weeks ress. On the YSA site, Antonio calls himself Arturo. At work, ridiculous…but how else do men learn to be fathers different nected through a purgatorial laundry room to the apartment he apartment the laundryto room purgatorial a through nected mothers looking at us and marveling at a world where fathers inventive, ambitious debut novel will find the erasure Despite paired samehere intelligence, with a deep humanity. sardonic brother, better a be to works Antonio paralysis, and mechanisms identity and suggests the self as a many-layered work in prog- in a fragmented, fractured style, the long, breathless sentences movies. “To learn be a how father to from a movie might sound movies. “To sia “a metaphor for expressive paralysis.” Fans of the author’s self, Antonio including I self, VIII (soccer Antonio (writer), player), tabulate tabulate the other Antonios.” Meanwhile Antonio’s sister has to to write in his spare time, he avoids thinking about his sister childhood with an Confronted abusive with father. discomfort, consumed consumed by thoughts of “the other lives he could have lived if erary references. Cárdenas undercuts the idea of a single, stable single, a of idea the undercuts eraryCárdenas references. once once shared with his wife and two young daughters. Struggling or his own failed marriage by remembering former girlfriends and daughters held hands.” and daughters a better parent to his girls. “Everywhere we went I saw grand- a schizophrenic break brought on in part by their traumatic and Antonio V (database analyst), who “creates a spreadsheet to to spreadsheet a “creates who analyst),(database V Antonio and and having sex with college students he meets on a site called dizzying and richly packed with memories, connections, and lit with memories, connections, dizzying and richly packed from their own monstrous fathers?—holotropic breathwork?” divorced divorced database analyst, he lives in a small apartment - con Divided into five sections of short chapters, the story unfolds (one of whom chose “László Krasznahorkai” for their safe word) word) safe their for Krasznahorkai” “László chose whom of (one Antonio’s Antonio’s brain “activates its emergency erasure mechanisms.” A person, he thinks, is “an accretion of misfortunes,” apha- Your Your Sugar Arrangements. He studies fathers in fiction and finding freedom

Almost 30 years ago, in Playing in the housing project in 1969. A boozy Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imag old man known as Sportcoat takes ination, Toni Morrison uncovered a shot at the local drug dealer and the ways American literature—that then doesn’t remember a thing is, literature by White Americans, about it, setting off a chain of based as it is on ideas of freedom and events that bring in members of the American dream—depends for the Baptist church where Sport- its power on the presence of Black coat is a deacon, beat cops and people. “The concept of freedom did undercover detectives, an Ital- not emerge in a vacuum,” she wrote. ian mobster and his mother, an “Nothing highlighted freedom—if it did not in fact cre- Irish bagel-store owner from the ate it—like slavery….What rose out of collective needs Bronx, and a glorious array of to allay internal fears and to rationalize external exploi- neighborhood characters. There’s even a mysteriously tation was an American Africanism—a fabricated brew regular cheese delivery and a vividly described colony of darkness, otherness, alarm, and of ants that made their way to Brooklyn from Colom- desire that is uniquely American.” bia. McBride delights in pushing the boundaries of his From Poe to Cather to Melville to overstuffed tale, and the whole thing is told with such Hemingway, “Africanism is the ve- warmth and generosity that you feel he could do any- hicle by which the American self thing: the very definition of literary freedom. knows itself as not enslaved, but In N.K. Jemisin’s fantastical The City We Became (Or- free; not repulsive, but desirable; bit, March 24), each of the five boroughs of New York not helpless, but licensed and pow- creates an avatar designed to help the city come to life. erful; not history-less, but histori- As our review describes them, “Manhattan is a multira- cal; not damned, but innocent; not cial grad student new to the city with a secret violent a blind accident of evolution, but a past that he can no longer quite remember; Brooklyn progressive fulfillment of destiny.” is an African American rap star–turned–lawyer and city Today, a brilliant group of councilwoman; Queens is an Indian math whiz here on Black writers is claiming freedom for themselves. This a visa; the Bronx is a tough Lenape woman who runs a isn’t a new story, of course, but rereading Morrison’s es- nonprofit art center; and Staten Island is a frightened say recently made me think of and insular Irish American woman who wants nothing Raven Leilani’s exhilarating first to do with the other four.” They novel, Luster (Farrar, Straus and must fight an Enemy known as Giroux, Aug. 4), in which a young the Woman in White, who uses Black woman tries to live on her racism and gentrification in her own terms. Edie is having an af- quest to destroy them. Jemisin fair with a White man named Eric deploys the racist White Stat- who’s in an open marriage—then en Islander and the shadowy, she proceeds to move in with extradimensional Enemy the Eric and his wife, breaking all the way Morrison describes White rules, giving herself the freedom American writers using Black to make mistakes and grow into characters and tropes: as foils her ambition as a painter. As our that throw their own freedom review said, “Leilani’s characters act in ways that often into stark relief. defy explanation, and that is part of what makes them so alive and so mesmerizing: Whose behavior, in real life, Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor. can be reduced to simple cause and effect?” Or what about James McBride’s Deacon King Kong (Riverhead, March 3), set in and around a Brooklyn

6 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult A dense, sometimes A claustrophobic novel that flirts with landscape of the city proper as her thoughts spiral, double-back, spiral, thoughts her as proper city the of landscape the boundary memory between and invention. wallow, and soar. Sarah’s book, which is named for a road sign on sign road a for named is which book, Sarah’s soar. and wallow, reader now holds in their hands four years after the day that Jen, Jen, that day the after years four hands their in holds now reader the outskirts of is Sydney, simultaneously “nothing at all” and the instigating event own for literaryJen’s awakening—a book that gets to the “quick” of things and is, in fact, nothing but walk. first set off on her book-length the character, and shows her a new way forward. The result is the book the quick. It frees Jen from her own foundering attempts to write | kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 7 - , of Fire The Museum and which Panthers Pamela lege friend Raf to her father’s consuming failure to write the her youth, a date with Raf wake some two years Sarah’s earlier, her apartment to walk to a cafe on Crown Street in Surry Hills, with Sarah to Jen’s with own Sarah anorexia to to Jen’s a religious conversion insti- while he slowly succumbs to cancer; from her own sense of her in and out of progress Jen’s across the meticulously rendered script, titled some The two goal and of a this half trip miles is away. to meet gated gated by Pamela; from her “one real friendship” with her - col gave to Jen at her sister’s wake and then requested back, unread. unread. back, requested then and wake sister’s her at Jen gaveto grandiosity and potential to a lingering dread that even the clos the even that dread lingering a to potential and grandiosity through the intervening years, from her childhood friendship est people in her life ridicule The and distinct shun scenes her. of this book—the “house party” at which Jen finds religion in days prior, and a days dinner prior, with onlyRaf the night before—weave friend, Sarah—in order to return Sarah’s unpublished manu- Glebe, Glebe, a suburb of One Sydney. Monday morning, she leaves Pamela—the Pamela—the older sister of recently Jen’s deceased childhood As Jen walks, she thinks. As she thinks, she carries the reader “one great work that everyone continues to ridicule him about” A girl, a city, an inhospitable society: Ferrante’s formula works again! the lying life of adults

THE LYING LIFE Giovanna seeks out her father’s sister and develops a fraught OF ADULTS relationship with the troubled woman. The process of untan- Ferrante, Elena gling generations of internecine deceit and rivalry—includ- Trans. by Goldstein, Ann ing the provenance of a peripatetic heirloom bracelet—leads Europa Editions (336 pp.) Giovanna to truths about the conventional lies told by her $26.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 parents and to decisions about how she wishes to conduct her 978-1-60945-591-0 own, not-yet-adult, life. (The bracelet appears to have mutable properties and serves as either charm or handcuff, just another An overheard remark prompts an thing to ask the enigmatic author about over coffee.) Ferrante adolescent girl to uncover the truth revisits previously explored themes—violence against women, about her relatives (and herself) in Fer- female friendships, the corrosive effects of class dispari- rante’s precise dissection of one family’s ties—albeit in a more rarified sector of Naples (the privileged life in Naples. “upper” neighborhood of Rione Alto) than in her earlier Nea- Upon hearing her father refer to her, disparagingly, as hav- politan Quartet. Giovanna’s nascent sexuality is more frankly ing the same face as a despised and estranged relative, 12-year- explored than that of previous Ferrante protagonists, permit- old Giovanna, previously a good student and affectionate ting the author to highlight two sides of teen sexuality: agency daughter, embarks on an odyssey of detection and discovery and abuse. Goldstein’s fluid translation once again allows read- through areas of Naples from which her educated and pro- ers into the head of a young woman recalling with precision gressive parents have shielded her. Desperate to determine and emotion a series of events which lead to a point of confes - whether she, indeed, resembles the abhorred Aunt Vittoria, sion. Ferrante’s legion of devoted readers will be encouraged

8 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult - Gilligan’s Gilligan’s latest opens with the A contemplative coming-of-age thrillercoming-of-age contemplative A photographer photographer has never shown the set against a modernizing Ireland. strung up by his feet like a cow. The description of a photo: It’s a dead man Gilligan, Ruth Gilligan, $25.95 | Nov. 10, 2020 10, | Nov. $25.95 THE BUTCHERS’ BLESSING THE BUTCHERS’ Tin House (312 pp.) House Tin 978-1-947793-78-1 image until although now, he believes it to be his finestwork: mystery format—start with the ending, then trace how we got cattle slaughters, eight men who’d roamed the countryside on cumstances cumstances that led to that one arresting image. It is a classic foot, keeping foot, the keeping old customs alive for those who still believed. Monaghan, 1996.” The subject had belonged to a group of ritual of group a to belonged had subject The 1996.” Monaghan, Then the novel skips backward in time, to 1996 and the cir “The Butcher,” is how he imagines it would be labeled. “County | kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 9 Granta editor The seventh volume of Freeman’s love, which the former eponymous literary journal “celebrates” calls “the biggest emotion.” and most complex FREEMAN’S Love Grove (320 pp.) Grove Ed. by Freeman, John Ed. by Freeman, $16.00 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 978-0-8021-5783-6 Some wonderful writing props up a volume that fails to For For many readers love today, is also scarce, since, as - Free A A girl, a an city, inhospitable formula society: Ferrante’s by another equivocal ending, permitting the hope of further brief tour de force, “Guangzhou,” and Daisy Johnson’s stand- love.” Several of these 21 works of fiction, nonfiction, and poem “Stone Love,” about a rock that has “spent a star age... poetry are indeed worth celebrating, especially short by stories piece piece on how insomnia takes him places his lovers can never works again! works near total absence of writing about LGBTQ+ love. Fully three- novel, captures that same childhood mystique that Johnson in favor of either an amorphous love, such as Louise Erdrich’s man notes in his introduction, “It’s a hard time to believe in main shortcoming, and a puzzling one given its theme, is the stale stories from Richard Russo and Haruki Murakami, neither Murakami, Haruki and Russo Richard from stories stale grappling with his sexuality. Also conspicuous is the lack of any grappling with his sexuality. the volume’s best piece. Nearly half the eschewworks romance best Nearly piece. the volume’s convey modern love’s scope or diversity. scope modernconvey love’s exploration of Giovanna’s journey in future volumes. exploration of Giovanna’s charts a changing woman’s loves via a nifty nested narrative, is of whom is crafting terribly original fiction or wanting for an channels so well but buries the dread The deeper. anthology’s out short “The story, Snowman,” in which a 14-year-old crafts enthralling excerpt from Mieko Kawakami’s forthcoming audience at this point in their lengthy careers. audience and woman. There are just two entries—totaling eight pages— about nonheterosexual relationships: Daniel Mendelsohn’s a muddy Christmas golem for her dying sister. “Heaven,” an quarters quarters of the volume concerns love between a cisgender man about “swan,” poem spectacular AndrewMcMillan’s followand Olga Tokarczuk and Gunnhild Øyehaug, whose “Apples,” which “Apples,” whose Øyehaug, Gunnhild and Tokarczuk Olga Black male authors, an omission exacerbated by the inclusion of inclusion the by exacerbated omission an authors, male Black Waiting for Waiting you,” or familial love, including Orange’s Tommy

here—but the novel is hardly a classic mystery. What unfolds THE NOSE AND instead is an understated family saga pulsing with quiet fore- OTHER STORIES boding. There is a low hum of violence in the background, and Gogol, Nikolai the mounting threat of mad cow disease is never far away. At the Trans. by Fusso, Susanne story’s heart is 12-year-old Úna; the daughter of a Butcher, she Columbia Univ. (368 pp.) yearns to carry on the tradition herself despite the supposed $17.95 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 limitations of her gender. But there is also Úna’s mother, Grá, 978-0-231-19069-5 beautiful and lonely, haunted by the loss of her estranged sister, who left the family for the modern world. There is Fionn, a des- A new translation of nine Gogol sto- perate dairy farmer with a dying wife trying to make good, and ries, some of them among his best known. Fionn’s bookish son, Davey, whose penchant for the classics is Gogol is indisputably, as translator his ticket out. And yet the strength here is not the richness of Fusso notes, “one of the greatest writers the characters—Úna, especially, feels generically free-spirited, in the Russian language,” and, because of his rich, sometimes a standard-issue tween literary heroine—but the richness of the arcane vocabulary, one of the most untranslatable. She acquits world. It’s an atmospheric portrait of a country at a crossroads, herself admirably in this collection, which brings out Gogol’s moving away from the traditional ways and toward a slick new playfulness and eccentricity. One of the stories, for instance, millennial future. Thoroughly lovely. is “Viy,” one of his Mirgorod cycle, populated by Cossack char- Cattle have never been so riveting. acters—to say nothing of a witch who, beaten to death by a seminarian, exacts a terrible vengeance that might have been scripted in a 1950s vampire film: “He turned his eyes away and

10 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult -

Come Come for the missing person stay mystery, for the exis tential ennui. tential works well as a scaffolding for some lovely passages, like Andy’s Andy’s lovelysome for aswell scaffolding a works passages, like satisfy, and a satisfy, few of the passages on contemporary culture fall thoughts on the online trend everyof “unboxing” videos: “And time, when the moment finally came, wondered I if the hun- wasthe box just a thing.” of us spend our lives searching for. The ending doesn’t quite friendher for search Andy’s observation But an point. of this at and ultimately the same disappointment—that what waswhat inside disappointment—that same the ultimately and dreds of thousands of other people who watched these videos felt the same as I did, the same anticipation, the same surprise, flat—forexample, Tinder saying is that superficial is not much | kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 11 - - before the ruins before stay for the existential ennui. the existential stay for Come for the missing person mystery, person for the missing Come The year was 1996, and Andy’s When her friend Peter goes missing, lypse was nigh. Andy; her boyfriend, neglectful mother was sure the apoca- their teenage years to find him. their teenage years to BEFORE THE RUINS BEFORE Gosling, Victoria Gosling, Henry Holt (288 pp.) Henry Holt $26.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 17, $26.99 | Nov. 978-1-250-75915-3 Andy digs up long-buried secrets from Admirers Admirers of Gogol and his odd sensibilities will devour but Collegiate Assessor Kovalyov could not his because and catch kerchief a with himself covered had he because the scent, belongs to one of his customers, depriving its erstwhile owner bureaucrat so badly paid that he can’t afford the titular garment titular the afford can’t he that paid badly so bureaucrat hood, and the notion of the fake diamond necklace so many her to but Peter, she findsmore mysteries than she bargained hidden somewhere on the Em property, buys a fake necklace this excellent gathering. ply call “the game.” Twenty years later, Andy hears from Peter’s Andy hears from Peter’s years later, ply call Twenty “the game.” whole company was small, and the air in it wasextremely dense, it in air the wassmall,and company whole walking around the church with her eyes closed, constantly world world really is ending and that they can therefore do whatever recalls those ancient times when marble came to life and sculp- nose itself was located in God knows what locality.” Compared nose itself was in located God knows what locality.” mal as Russian snow. An added virtue of this first-rate collection first-rate this of virtue added An snow. Russian as mal is the inclusion a of long “Rome,” story not often anthologized, whether imagerythe extraordinary, but thin is plot the which in ing his death of the St. Petersburg winter cold but then going on going then but cold winter Petersburg St. the of death his ing mother that Peter has gone missing. Andy goes digging into their back past in an attempt to find some clue that might lead stretching out her arms as if trying to catch someone.” “The tors’ chisels gleamed”—or a sunset over the Alban Hills. a sunset over chisels gleamed”—or the tors’ to to the errant nose, Mikhail gun-toting Bulgakov’s cat is as nor to exact vengeance of his own. That story is less bizarre than the the than bizarre less is story That own. his of vengeance exact to then turned toward the coffin in horror. She got up…she was that lead Andy to unpack her youth, this book isn’t exactly thriller. a The elements of mystery serve tension, to but provide the narrative real point here the is disappointment of Gosling’s modern examination living, of the emptiness of adult that they take turns hiding and searching a for, ritual they sim- they want without consequence. At the manor they meet David, meet they manor the At consequence. without want they one that gives this collection its name: A barber finds a nose that nose a finds barber A name: its collection this gives that one of his sense of smell: “The room that was accommodating this and is robbed of it when he does finally manageto buy it, catch- a mysterious boy about their age whose enigmatic presence pits presence enigmatic agewhose their about boy mysterious a describing the beautiful Annunziata—“Everything about her for. Though for. it’s Peter’s disappearance that sets off the events decide to break into an break abandoned decide into manor that to and the pretend Overcoat,” Overcoat,” a sardonic masterpiece, addresses the travails of a Peter Andy and Peter against each vying other, for David’s attention. Marcus; Marcus; her best friend, Peter; and their other friend, Em, When they hear a story about a diamond necklace supposedly

An astutely realized portrait of the collateral damage wrought by the pursuit of the American dream. nights when nothing happened

NIGHTS WHEN Patty, Jack’s mother, had emigrated first, and Liang, her photog- NOTHING HAPPENED rapher husband, followed shortly after. Patty’s dreams of higher Han, Simon education were aborted when research funding ran out and she Riverhead (272 pp.) was forced to take up work for Texas Semiconductor. After a $26.00 | Nov. 17, 2020 few years, the couple saved enough money to bring Jack over. 978-0-593-08605-6 In the meantime, Annabel was born. Jack’s 6-year-old sister is a firecracker who exerts her will to ruinous effect at Plano In Han’s remarkable debut, a misun- Star Care. Lacking his wife’s pluck, Liang too has challenges derstanding gathers enough velocity to to overcome: his insecurities about hailing from peasant stock almost shatter the nucleus of a Chinese and an anemic photography business. Han expertly shifts the immigrant family in 2003 Texas. ground under the narrative, constantly shaking the snow globe With its motion sensors and auto- to nudge the reader’s perspective away from the familiar. The matic sprinklers, the Dallas suburb of Plano seems like a high- restrained prose is all the more effective as it releases a Molotov resolution version of the all-American town. Scratch the veneer, cocktail during a singular moment when Jack’s desire to estab- though, and you’ll see turmoil beneath the gloss. The newly lish a place in his family clashes with his father’s shaky societal arrived Chengs are a barely functional family unit. They’re standing. Han’s characters are authentic, vulnerable, and utterly not just strangers in a new land—they’re practically strangers convincing, delivering one dynamite novel. to each other. Eleven-year-old Jack is just coming to know his An astutely realized portrait of the collateral damage family after having spent his formative years with his grandpar- wrought by the pursuit of the American dream. ents in Tianjin, China. Looking to pursue a doctorate in physics, THE MUSEUM OF FORGOTTEN MEMORIES Harris, Anstey Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) $16.99 paper | Nov. 3, 2020 978-1-9821-2689-6

An eccentric museum in a neglected, stately English home becomes a heart- opening site of revelation, renewal, and second chances for a widow and her son. A broken heart, a guilty conscience, a special needs child, homelessness, and joblessness are just the starting points for Harris’ busily plotted second novel, which draws inspiration from a real Victorian curiosity of a museum in southern Eng- land, where the author grew up. Enjoyably readable but over- loaded, the narrative puts 54-year-old Cate Morris, still missing her husband, Richard, who died four years earlier by suicide, through the emotional wringer. Forced to relocate from London with Leo, her 19-year-old son, who has Down syndrome, Cate turns up at Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World, where Richard’s long-dead grandfather, Colonel Hugo, assembled an extraordinary collection of stuffed animals and other artifacts harvested on trips to Africa and Asia. The museum is under threat, and Cate will try to save it, but her efforts are complicated by skeptical trustees, animal rights activists, a fire, and the inscrutable activities of an old retainer with links to the colonel. Cate’s emotional roller coaster swoops through bursts of introspection and self-recrimination interspersed with happier episodes with Leo and also Patch, a local artist and surprisingly ardent new lover. These mood swings, from grief and regret to rebirth and fairy tale—like the whistle-while-you-work team of locals that arrives to restore Hatters to order after the fire or Leo’s heroic speech to the nasty trustees—generate an unpre- dictability of tone, but Harris’ tale-spinning is good enough to

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keep the forward momentum going, often at breakneck speed. Vengeance Weapon Two. The V2 rockets are notoriously unreli- That a conclusion will be reached and that it will be satisfying able, though. Although they’re aimed at Charing Cross Station are never in doubt. in the heart of London, any strike within five miles is consid- The clouds of a formulaic setup disperse to reveal a ered a success. Many hit English neighborhoods, killing dozens charmingly clear blue sky. of civilians, while others explode at launch or veer off into the sea. Chapters of the novel alternate between the two sides, specifically between German engineers and British intelligence. V2 Twenty-four-year-old intelligence analyst Kay Caton-Walsh Harris, Robert is in a married man’s bed and survives a direct hit as floors of Knopf (384 pp.) the building collapse around her. A half dozen people are killed $28.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 and almost 300 injured. Meanwhile, German engineers work 978-0-525-65671-5 furiously to prepare missiles for launch from Belgium. Despite severe technical problems, they are under great pressure to pro- A veteran historical novelist homes duce the weapons in the thousands and rush them into service. in on one of Hitler’s last desperate hopes. The story has plenty of interesting details—for example, the In 1944, the Nazis know they’re losing bulk of Germany’s potato crop that year had been requisitioned the war. They’d developed the V1, a pilot- to be distilled into alcohol for use as rocket fuel. British radar less drone bomb its targets could hear can spot the V2s in flight, but “where exactly were they coming coming, and now its successor, which from? That was the mystery.” If only the Brits could look at a strikes without warning. The Nazis call it Vergeltungswaffen Zwei, rocket’s parabola and calculate its point of origin....Caton-Walsh young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 13

INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Ayad Akhtar

IN HOMELAND ELEGIES, THE AUTHOR CONSIDERS THE STATE OF THE NATION—AND HIS PLACE IN IT By Tom Beer

Vincent Tullo political and economic changes that are altering the nation. In a starred review, Kirkus calls it a “profound and provocative inquiry into an artist’s complex American identity.” Akhtar is the author of a previous novel, American Dervish, and his play Disgraced won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013. He recently spoke with Kirkus by Zoom from upstate New York; the conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

The book reads almost like a memoir—the main character is a Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright with your name who grew up in Wisconsin. Why did you decide to present it as fiction? It was clear what I [was writing] was substantially true and substantially concocted at the same time—that I was taking things that had happened [to me] and pointing them just a little bit further to sharpen the edge, so that the idea was clear. That meant rearranging the familial relationships just a little bit and reshifting some of the allegiances. It happened organically in the Overture, where on the one hand the father is this character who loves America and the mother is this character who has some real problems Ayad Akhtar was a writer in residence at the Academy with America. And in between is that space [that] runs the in Rome when he read “To Italy,” in which the early-19th- gamut of Osama bin Laden to Donald Trump— the gray century poet Giacomo Leopardi addressed the Italian peo- middle of late-20th-century and early-21st-century social ple. Donald Trump had been in office for a year, and Akhtar politics. was, he says, “getting some perspective on what had been happening in America.” Could he—a 21st-century play- Would you call it autofiction? wright and novelist, born in the United States to Pakistani To me it’s not autofiction, because autofiction has a kind immigrants—similarly address the American people? “I of inherent distance that the narrator has with the reader. woke up the next morning, and the first lines of ‘Overture: There’s a kind of reserve. Here the book is trying to close To America’ were already roiling around in my head,” he that gap and ensnare the reader in this seduction, if you says. “And so I wrote that out.” will. And that’s a lot closer to reality TV. It’s a kind of a lit- Akhtar is referring to the incantatory opening passage erary version of a reality serial. of his new novel, Homeland Elegies (Little, Brown, Sept. 15). In the novel, a character named Ayad Akhtar reflects on Appropriately for a book in which Donald Trump ap- his immigrant family history, his contradictory position pears as a character. The father, who is a famous in American society as an intellectual and a Muslim full of cardiologist, is called in to examine Trump in the early reservations about the faith he was born into, and the vast ’90s. Although their association is brief, he maintains

14 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | an affection for—nearly an obsession with—Trump over me at the heart of the book. If I was going to address the the years. You liken it to an addiction—which might de- nation, I couldn’t say, “Fellow citizens, this is your country. scribe America’s own bizarre enthrallment with Trump. This is what you do to me.” That’s not the address I was One of the things that I’ve thought a lot about, having looking for. I was looking for, “Look at what we have done written the book, is what was guiding me—the intuitive to our country. What have we become?” thing that I was responding to. I would say it has something to do with a cognitive shift around [our] devices, on Money is a theme that runs through the novel—first the one hand—the kind of neoreptilian, ever present now the father’s ruinous foray into real estate investing in that’s moving from thing to thing every second but with- the 1980s, and then the narrator’s financial success, out a clear object, just a kind of sensation-seeking thrill— enabled by a Muslim hedge fund manager named Riaz and on the other hand, the dominant mode of discourse Rind. and political representation, [which] is the self. It’s the sto- Riaz was a way to mirror and distill something about the ry of, What am I? What’s in it for me? What do I deserve? experience of success and the particular embodiment of Are people listening to me? I think that Trump is the em- American success that seems to have the most lure, which bodiment of that phenomenon for us on a larger cultural is being rich—that’s really the essence of American ac- level, both the self-staging and also the kind of pandering complishment. I knew that in a book about debt—which to the basest, most neoreptilian parts of us. is perhaps one of the two or three central themes of the book—I would need to immerse the reader in the specifics While the father character loves America and Trump, of the processes of debt and and how debt has transformed the mother is nostalgic for Pakistan—even though, as a the society. I needed to set up some of those ideas in a way child, she had witnessed the horrors of the India-Paki- that was going to have resonance with the Trump story— stan partition, when thousands were killed. Trump, the self-proclaimed king of debt. In a way, Trump’s If I were drawing some conclusions from my own mother advent is impossible to imagine without a society that has to create this mother, you know, my mother didn’t like the fully accepted the illusions of debt’s largesse. And we as a focus Americans had on trying to be happy. History was society did not accept that until the ’80s. The ’80s is what young adult hard. I remember having a conversation with [a Jewish fundamentally changed our relationship with money in friend]. Her parents were Holocaust survivors, and there that respect. And we’re still living in that world. was a similar sense of keeping alive the suffering and not being too happy because of what had happened. And there Homeland Elegies received a starred review in the July 15, is that parallel; one of the chapters talks about how the 2020, issue. mother would get taciturn when Auschwitz came up. She felt a kinship but also felt alienated by the fact that everybody knew about [the Holocaust], but they didn’t know about what she’d been through.

An entire section, “Scranton Memoirs,” details an episode where the narrator’s car breaks down on the Pennsylvania interstate, leading to a series of fraught encounters with the local populace. Why did this relatively brief episode warrant an extended treatment? That section is ultimately about the legacy of being a Mus- lim in America, in a Christian country. The four characters that [the narrator] meets are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. All this subliminal Christian imagery is playing throughout as a commentary on how he is separated from the American experience, but that is happening against the backdrop of something we all know: the impoverish- ment of the Rust Belt, or Middle America, or really, Amer- ica itself. The narrator’s epiphany is that he is Other in this country, not just because he is [made to feel] Other. He has chosen to identify as Other. Both things are working in tandem. That kind of self-questioning was so essential for

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 15 volunteers to help find out: “I’m good at maths. I know how PUSHCART PRIZE XLV to use a slide rule.” She joins a team of women working on the Best of the Small problem. Readers may recognize Germany’s main rocket engi- Presses 2021 neer, Wernher von Braun. Though he shows necessary fealty to Ed. by Henderson, Bill the Nazi cause, his secret dream is to send a rocket to the moon. Pushcart (600 pp.) And if he has to do that from America, that’s another story. $35.00 | Dec. 7, 2020 A short, enjoyable thriller with plenty of well-researched 978-0-9600977-0-8 historical nuggets. The venerable prize volume adds another year without getting crusty. Nominations for the Pushcart Prize are open to small, independent literary presses—magazines and book publishers now online as well as print—anywhere in the world. That said, several journals are near constants, such as McSweeney’s, with a standout contribution in Luis Alberto Urrea’s short story “The Night Drinker.” It begins as a piece of near-future apocalypticism, with the world engulfed by rising seawater (“in that tide came garbage and dead creatures and black waves”), that takes a near-idyllic turn as Mexico City returns to its erstwhile, pre-Columbian role as one of the world’s great metropolises, and that then ends on a note of horror (with Urrea nodding at H.P. Lovecraft, “that old racist”). No less foreboding, though without the ghastly resolution, is Elizabeth McCracken’s “It’s Not You,” from Zoetrope: All-Story, in which a hotel-room assignation goes awry in a fog of alcohol and mis- w w w . s i z e z e r o . o r g calculation: “It is the fear of judgment that keeps me behaving, most of the time, like the religious,” says her narrator. “Not of God, but of strangers.” One such stranger is the “radio shrink” who observes of the narrator’s day drinking, “Hair of the dog,” to which she replies, “Hair of the werewolf.” Jane Hirshfield, a familiar presence in Pushcart, turns in a lovely but pensive poem that comes from a culinary anthology but centers on the darkness of living on “an earth where loss // is so all present / that we drink it without thinking / blue-white in its early morning glass.” Yet another standout is a story by Austin Smith, better known as a poet, about an Amish man who works out his grief for the loss of two children by making a break for the world of the English (“He was weeping, but there was no beard to catch his tears”)—a Rumspringa from which he won’t return. Or will he? Forty-five years on, the Pushcart annual is as strong and wide-ranging as ever.

MAGIC LESSONS Hoffman, Alice Simon & Schuster (416 pp.) $27.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-1-982108-84-7

Set in late-17th-century England and America, the pre-prequel to Hoffman’s Practical Magic (1995) and The Rules of Magic (2017) covers the earliest genera- "A somber, disturbing mystery fused with a scathing tions of magically empowered Owens look at the fashion industry." - Kirkus Reviews women and the legacy they created. In 1664, Hannah Owens, practitioner of “the Nameless Art” sometimes called witchcraft, finds baby Maria abandoned

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| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 17 A captivating Jewish twist on the classic American campus novel. the orchard

near her isolated cottage in Essex County, England. She lov- sense in terms of later Owens women’s stories. For the earlier ingly teaches ancient healing methods to Maria, whose star books to work, Maria must found her female dynasty in Salem, birthmark indicates inherent magical powers; and since Han- but first she and Faith face betrayals, mistakes, and moral chal- nah considers ink and paper the most powerful magic, she also lenges. Maria uses her powers to help others but often misreads teaches Maria reading and writing. After vengeful men murder her own future with devastating results; separated from Maria Hannah in 1674, Maria escapes first to her unmotherly birth during her childhood, emotionally damaged Faith is tempted to mother, a troubled practitioner of dark, self-serving magic, use her grandmother’s selfish “left-handed” magic. then to Curaçao as an indentured servant. At 15 she is seduced Master storyteller Hoffman’s tale pours like cream but by 37-year-old American businessman John Hathorne (his name is too thick with plot redundancies and long-winded history an allusion to Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote about mis- lessons. treatment of marked women). Enchanted by the island, Puritan Hathorne loses his rigidity long enough to impregnate Maria before returning to Salem, Massachusetts, without saying good- THE ORCHARD bye. Maria, with new daughter Faith, whose birthmark is a half- Hopen, David moon, follows him. The ship on which she travels is captained Ecco/HarperCollins (480 pp.) by a Sephardic Jew who gives her passage in return for treat- $27.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 ing his son’s dengue fever, an excuse for Hoffman to link two 978-0-06-297474-7 long-standing unfair persecutions—of smart women as witches and Jews as, well, Jews. That Maria will find a truer love with In Hopen’s ambitious debut, an warmhearted Jewish sailor Sam than with icy Hathorne makes Orthodox Jewish high school student finds his world transformed when his family moves to South Florida. When protagonist Ari Eden leaves his bland life in Brooklyn—where he never felt deeply rooted—for a glitzy, competitive Modern Orthodox day school in the Miami suburbs, both readers and Ari himself are primed to expect a fish-out-of-water narrative. And indeed, Ari finds that his new classmates, though also traditionally observant by many standards, enjoy a lifestyle that is far more permissive than his own (a shade of Orthodoxy that is known as “yeshiva”). Suddenly Ari’s modest, pious world is replaced with a Technicolor whirlwind that includes rowdy parties, casual sex, drinking, drugs, and far more liberal interpretations of Jewish law than he has ever known. With its representation of multiple kinds of traditional Judaism, Hopen’s novel is a refreshing cor- rective to the popular tendency to erase the nuanced variations that exist under the umbrella of “Orthodoxy.” It also stands out for its stereotype-defying portrayal of Ari and his friends as teenagers with typical teenage concerns. But this is not just a novel about reorienting oneself socially or even religiously; though Ari’s level of observance certainly shifts, this is also not a simple “off the derech” (Jewish secularization) narrative. Ari’s new friend group, particularly its charismatic, enigmatic leader, Evan—a sort of foil for Ari—pushes him to consider new philosophical and existential norms as well as social, academic, and religious ones. The result is an entirely surprising tale, rich with literary allusions and Talmudic connections, about the powerful allure of belonging. This novel will likely elicit comparisons to the work of Chaim Potok: Like Potok’s protagonists, Ari is a religious Jew with a deep passion for literature, Jewish texts, and intellectual inquiry, and as in Potok’s fiction, his horizons are broadened when he encounters other forms of Orthodoxy. But Hopen’s debut may actually have more in common with campus novels like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History and Tobias Wolff’s Old School; its narrator’s involvement in an intense intellectual community leads him down an unexpected path that profoundly alters his worldview. The novel suffers due to its

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| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 19 lamentably one-dimensional, archetypal female characters: the ISLAND ZOMBIE tortured-artist love interest, the ditsy blond, the girl next door. Iceland Writings Hopen’s prose, and the scale of his project, occasionally feels Horn, Roni overindulgent, but in that sense, form and content converge: Princeton Univ. (256 pp.) This stylistic expansiveness is actually perfectly in tune with $35.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 the world of the novel. Overall, Hopen’s debut signals a prom- 978-0-691-20814-5 ising new literary talent; in vivid prose, the novel thoughtfully explores cultural particularity while telling a story with univer- An American visual artist collects her sal resonances. writing from four decades of sojourns to A captivating Jewish twist on the classic American cam- Iceland. pus novel. Horn first traveled to Iceland in 1975 at age 19, and she has been drawn to the island ever since, as reflected in this combination of poetry, short essays, oral histories, architectural reviews, and environmental jeremiads. In the book’s first section, featuring pieces published in the 1990s, the author writes about what has kept her coming back: wild weather, uninterrupted horizons, and solitude—a holiday from “the friction of seeing and knowing.” Traveling by motorcycle, she camped in outbuildings and light- houses, and she notes how Iceland’s lack of violence, reptiles, and large mammals was liberating for a traveling single woman. “Relief from fear is freedom,” she writes. Horn trains her artist’s eye on the country’s fantastic volcanic landscapes, black beaches and white surf, and hot springs found in every corner of the island. Sensually arresting, these passages are solitary meditations in an empty landscape; at times, readers long for someone else to show up. In the second section, the author offers a series of oral histories about the weather. These short installments, three pages at the most, are eloquent descriptions from ordinary people, testaments to the intricate dance between the islanders and their wild weather conditions: oblit- erating blizzards, relentless wind, and even incidents of freezing and drowning. A government commissioner calmly reports seeing spirits on his long walks through the lava fields, and older citizens express a generalized unease about climate change. The final sections feel padded: reprints of Horn’s environmental opinion pieces and meditations on specific island locations accompanied by images of previously published photographs that fail to illuminate the place. The first sections of the book will stoke the desire for a more in-depth study of Iceland; the others will interest veteran Iceland-watchers. A sometimes vivid yet uneven portrait of an artist’s many years traveling to and observing Iceland.

THE HARPY Hunter, Megan Grove (208 pp.) $26.00 | Nov. 3, 2020 978-0-8021-4816-2

When a young British mother discovers her husband’s infidelity, she is transformed by rage. “They were colleagues, then friends, and at first I suspected nothing. There were long emails, glimpses appearing

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| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 21 on his phone, apparitions. The virgin blue of his notification by their mothers”—but she studs her narrative with philosophi- light in the darkness.” Hunter’s second novel after a successful cal assertions that are perplexing at best: “Marriage and moth- debut with similar mythical and maternal preoccupations (The erhood are like death in this way, and others too: no one comes End We Start From, 2017) is narrated by Lucy Stevenson, who back unchanged.” “A children’s party, like a death, is never real receives a voicemail from the husband of a woman her husband, until it is happening.” Jake, works with in academia informing her that the spouses A shimmery prose style cannot save this slim, simplistic, are sleeping together. The other couple is about a decade older, and pretentious tale. which drives the knife even deeper. With no further ado or psychological development, Lucy goes right off her rocker, spurred by a lifelong obsession with the mythological figure of the MISS BENSON’S BEETLE harpy, a vengeful bird with a woman’s face, developed in brief, Joyce, Rachel portentous interludes. “I asked my mother what a harpy was, and Dial Press (352 pp.) she told me: they punish men for the things they do.” This aspect of $26.00 | Nov. 24, 2020 the book recalls the work of Angela Carter but lacks her black 978-0-593-23095-4 humor and stringency. Rather quickly, Lucy and Jake settle on a plan to even the score—she will hurt him three times. So she In 1914, when Margery Benson was does. Then something happens at the end, but it’s not quite 10 years old, her father showed her a clear what. Hunter’s taut, intentional prose is strong on physi- book of magical creatures, none more cal descriptions—“toddlers scooting fatly past me on balance fantastic than the golden beetle of New bikes,” droopy daffodils resembling “grumpy children dressed Caledonia. Thirty-six years later, jobless and alone, she’s determined to have the adventure of her life and find that beetle. After stealing a co-worker’s new boots in a fit of despair, and consequently losing her job as a teacher of domestic science, Margery finds herself eager to get out of England before the police catch up to her. In addition to packing up her apartment and collecting an impressive array of bug-hunting equipment, she places an advertisement in the newspaper for a French- speaking assistant, an ad to which only four people apply. After a series of curious events, she finds herself aboard the RMS Orion with one Enid Pretty, a shockingly blond woman in a pink suit who never seems to stop talking, much to Margery’s dismay. But once Margery succumbs to weeks of seasickness, Enid turns out to be the best friend Margery never knew she needed. Thus, two women too often discounted, one as an old maid and the other as a floozy, begin a very funny journey, indeed. But Margery and Enid are being followed by two shadows: Enid’s mysterious, possibly criminal past and Mr. Mundic, a man Mar- gery rejected as her assistant. A survivor of the Second World War POW camps in Burma, Mr. Mundic is frequently waylaid on his mission to reunite with Margery by bouts of beriberi and violent, hallucinatory memories. Once in the northern wilds of New Caledonia, Margery, Enid, Mr. Mundic, and the golden beetle are set on a collision course teeming with screwball comedic scenes deftly choreographed by Joyce. A hilarious jaunt into the wilderness of women’s friendship and the triumph of outrageous dreams.

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| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 23 THE DOLL that had harmed the Doll in life became useful to me in my A Portrait of My Mother art,” he writes. Among those things was a healthy skepticism, Kadare, Ismail as Kadare’s success as a writer ran up against a Communist Trans. by Hodgson, John regime in Albania that seized his manuscripts. But just as he Counterpoint (208 pp.) conquers those issues and his reputation improves, his mother $16.95 paper | Nov. 17, 2020 develops peculiar ideas about his work. Does success mean he’ll 978-1-64009-422-2 have to disown her? She inexplicably suggests he marry a “semi- prostitute” and asks if his going to France makes him a French- The Albanian novelist/poet and per- man. His father is disengaged from this peculiar behavior, more petual Nobel candidate considers his interested in news reports Kadare can share from beyond the complex relationship with his mother. Iron Curtain. Is this a portrait of mental illness, failed parenting, This brief, brittle autofiction novella totalitarian oppression, or something else? Kadare describes by Kadare intimately explores the ways his mother influenced these incidents in prose so bare-bones that they almost defy any both his personality and art. It’s not exactly a loving tribute: particular emotional resonance, which makes it hard to get a She was a difficult and idiosyncratic woman, well-off where his grip on the story either as “auto” or “fiction.” What lingers is an father’s side of the family was poor, uncomfortable in a home almost abstract feeling of mournfulness about birth and death, that is “eating me up,” and at odds with her in-laws. Her stiff- “the darkness from which we all emerge. Or the other one, the ness, combined with her taste in white makeup, earned her the darkness to which we are all going.” nickname of the book’s title. But Kadare also sees in her emo- A slight, slippery, mordant elegy for an emotionally dis- tional austerity a wellspring of artistic inspiration: “Everything tant mother.

KHALIL Khadra, Yasmina Nan A. Talese (240 pp.) $26.95 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-0-385-54591-4

After his suicide mission in Paris as part of the terrorist attacks of 2015 goes awry, a young Belgian named Kahlil suffers through dark nights of the soul back home. On assignment from an Islamic State group affiliate, Khalil and a childhood friend were to have taken part in a massacre at the Stade de France. But while the friend blew himself up outside the French stadium, Khalil’s vest failed to ignite, forcing him to return to his poor Brussels neighborhood, where neither his Moroccan-rooted family nor most of his friends know of his extremist bent. His emir, with whom he “grew up in the same gutter,” acknowledges that Khalil was mis- takenly given a defective suicide vest. But even after he’s given another bombing mission, the increasingly paranoid Khalil is punished by the feeling that his cohorts think he lost his nerve the first time. Overcome by anger, guilt, and then grief over the shocking death of the only family member he cares about, he becomes physically ill. You wouldn’t expect to care about a character whose life’s purpose is to murder a large number of people. But Khalil, who tells his story with a mixture of pun- kish attitude and intellectual snobbery, is so utterly without meaningful human connection that it’s hard not to feel a mea- sure of sympathy. Khadra, an Algerian author based in France who writes under his wife’s name (he adopted it while in the Algerian army to avoid military censorship), skillfully shows how someone like Khalil can be turned into a terrorist from a young age. With Khalil’s fate—and those of countless potential victims—perpetually hanging in the balance, the book becomes

24 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 25 Subtle, intelligent, and thrillingly melodramatic. the exiles

a gripping existential inquiry that earns the author comparisons dignitary Lady Franklin, who fancies training one of the “sav- with Camus. ages.” A necklace of shells made by her mother and a pet pos- An exciting work of fiction rooted in docu-like reality. sum named Waluka are all Mathinna can take from the life she knew. Across the ocean, 21-year-old Evangeline, also recently orphaned, is fired from her job in London and sent to Newgate THE EXILES Prison when a family treasure is found in her room—and this is Kline, Christina Baker not the only problematic gift she has received from the family’s Custom House/Morrow eldest son, now conveniently traveling in Venice. Meanwhile, (384 pp.) in Glasgow, half-starved 16-year-old urchin Hazel Ferguson is $27.99 | Aug. 25, 2020 caught stealing a silver spoon. Evangeline and Hazel become 978-0-06-235634-5 acquainted on the Medea, a former slaving ship bound for the prison colony where the now obviously pregnant Evangeline is A London governess and a Scottish to serve a sentence of 14 years. Kline takes her time with this midwife’s neglected daughter are sent epic story, creating each of her nightmarish and uniquely mal- to a penal colony in Australia, where odorous settings in detail, from the harrowing months at sea an Aboriginal girl is in another sort of with the randy and violent sailors to the strange new world that captivity. awaits Evangeline and Hazel in the convict colony. Once back Kline’s monumental eighth novel opens in 1840 on Flinders on land, the narrative loops in poor lonely Mathinna, whose life Island, Australia, where an 8-year-old orphan named Math- now consists mainly of being dragged out at tea parties to be inna is whisked away from her tribe at the whimsy of visiting pawed and humiliated, then clicks into high gear when Hazel gets a work-release assignment as a maid in Lady Franklin’s household. This episode in history gets a top-notch treatment by Kline, one of our foremost historical novelists. This fascinating 19th-century take on Orange Is the New Black is subtle, intelligent, and thrillingly melodramatic.

KRAFT Lüscher, Jonas Farrar, Straus and Giroux (224 pp.) $26.00 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-0-374-18214-4

After entering an essay contest with a $1 million prize, one man wrestles with memories of women, boats, and David Hasselhoff. In his first book, Barbarian Spring (2015), the Swiss writer satirized capitalism and conspicuous consumption. Here he takes wry shots at academia, technology, and venture capitalists via a self-centered German professor with money woes and unsettling memories. Richard Kraft’s current marriage is collapsing and his finances are in tatters from a previous one. He travels to California, where judges will choose the winner of the essay competition, which requires the writer to defend Alexander Pope’s proposi- tion “Whatever is, is right” in relation to technology. After a week, though, Kraft has produced nothing. Mostly his mind wanders. He recalls Ruth, a lover who rarely appears without a reference to the size of her breasts and/or hips, and Johanna, another, who ended their four-year affair inexplicably and left for San Francisco. He remembers watching the 1980s TV series Knight Rider, starring Hasselhoff and a talking car, and climbing the Berlin Wall, where he is reunited with Ruth and a son he was unaware of as Hasselhoff sings about “looking for freedom” from a crane basket. Elsewhere in essay-avoidance, Kraft goes rowing in the San Francisco Bay and loses his bearings, his boat,

26 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | and his clothes before getting rescued and charged $8,000 for A MILLION AUNTIES the lost boat and oars. He goes searching for Johanna and learns McKenzie, Alecia why she left him. And he has high-end macaroni and cheese Akashic (160 pp.) with the contest’s wealthy sponsor, who is also backing a float- $15.95 paper | Nov. 17, 2020 ing-island project that would fit right in on Swift’s Laputa. As 978-1-61775-892-8 with Robert Menasse’s in The Capital, Lüscher’s satire requires some knowledge of recent European history and politics. It’s A chorus of voices from the Jamaican also diffuse, but Kraft’s seriocomic fumblings and failings help diaspora tries to define the meaning of to hold it together. community. An uneven but often entertaining book. As a New York City–based artist, Chris can’t shake the burden of his father’s expectations. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained after the death of Chris’ wife, Lidia. Looking for a fresh start, Chris travels to Jamaica, his mother’s homeland. Chris’ agent, Stephen, who also has roots in that country, has set him up at his Auntie Della’s home. For a few days, Chris is at peace, learning to draw flowers, creating art, tucking into Auntie Della’s delicious meals, and being fawned over by the locals. But upon learning that his father is severely ill, Chris has to rush back to the U.S. Separate threads young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 27 detail Stephen’s own visit to Jamaica when Miss Pretty, another ONE OF US “auntie,” who has had a difficult life, begins to view Stephen as Stories her own son. In yet another plotline, Chris’ father, who grew up Nadelson, Scott in the South, narrates the story of his marriage to Eileen, who’s BkMk/Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City Jamaican. Miss Vera, another auntie, talks about her daily life (260 pp.) in Jamaica, reminiscing about her daughter who immigrated to $16.95 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 Miami. These various characters drop in and out of the narra- 978-1-943491-25-4 tive, their reasons for doing so barely apparent. McKenzie tries to create a vibrant community of people who are tied together Centering on self-absorbed Jewish by love for their motherland, but the characters are so paper- Generation Xers as they mature (or don’t) thin, their motivations so cloudy, that the entire story begins to in 1980s and ’90s New Jersey, many of turn to mush. At first blush it appears that the mystery behind these 18 stories have an autobiographical Lidia’s sudden death might serve to anchor the novel, but that ring, but counterbalancing gravity comes from the smattering arc too eventually disappears into thin air. of tales about an earlier generation of Jews, real and fictional, A drive-by snapshot of characters’ lives. facing concrete issues of survival. Nadelson establishes the book’s fundamental tone of ambivalence, doubt, and guilty regret in the opener, a sly, almost impersonal snapshot in which an upwardly mobile narrator identifies with the squatter who has invaded his former home. The narrator, or someone very like him, returns in the

28 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult In In her debut novel, poet Roísín As the story begins, Taylia is home in As the Taylia story begins, navigates navigates racism, family problems, and sexual violence. takes aim takes at the model minority myth as LIKE A BIRD Unnamed Press (288 pp.) Press Unnamed Róisín, Fariha $26.00 | Sep. 15, 2020 $26.00 | Sep. 15, 978-1-951213-09-1 Chatterjee 20-something Taylia narrator A story of three brothers and a murder that lacks tension tension lacks that murder a and story brothers three of A ground that turns out to be less satisfying than it should be. be less satisfying than ground that turnsout to and well-defined characters. the death of Alyssa, her who older died sister, two years earlier. absorbing family drama. Instead it occupies an awkward middle awkward an occupies it Instead drama. family absorbing Manhattan, Manhattan, having taken a break from college while mourning | kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 29 Three Irish brothers spend their At the start of Irish novelist Nugent’s Nugent’s novelist Irish of start the At lives battling each other and competing one ends up dead. for their mother’s attention—and then LITTLE CRUELTIES Gallery& Schuster Books/Simon Nugent, Liz Nugent, (352 pp.) $28.00 | Nov. 10, 2020 10, $28.00 | Nov. 978-1-5011-8968-5 A A carefully curated volume on themes of personal and Strikingly, the title story concerns Jews rejecting Jews. After her After Jews. rejecting Jews storyconcerns title the Strikingly, but their voices aren’t distinct in any way, and the flat similarity distinct in any way, aren’t but their voices led him to paint instead of act (“Butterfly atRest”)—and semi- lege graduate spirals into ethical purgatory while avoiding the last story, “Going last to story, Ground,” recalling the moment in his 20s latest latest book, the three Drumm brothers are attending a funeral. lying in the coffin—and the other two have helped him land plicated plicated than most people wanted.” Proof of that complexity visit to Auschwitz he’d promised The visit he’d Auschwitz his men to mother. in “Safe when he was torn a between lover who felt familiar too and the whose careless attention they competed for their entire lives. risky adventure of travel. With the exception of a few tough, in “The Depths” or the failed actress who suffers humiliation in “Cut Loose,” stories Nadelson’s are dominated by boys and is it fragile the Luke, emotionally unstable youngest, who finds synagogue snubs her publicly disgraced family, a woman shrieks, shrieks, woman a family, disgraced publicly her synagoguesnubs ships with each other and their mother, an actress and singer son, who can’t quite keep up a successful career or romance? Or romance? or career successful a up keep quite can’t who son, success as a pop star but pays a huge personal price? Nugent young men. The still innocent 14-year-old in “Sweet Ride” is gant, womanizing film producer who’s his mother’s favorite tect tect endangered women because “the world was far more - com troubled women, like the high school outcast troubled like women, who gets revenge travels to the past to reveal her winding answer, back through the Drumms’ troubled childhoods and their fraught relation- there. Which there. brother is an dead? it arro- Is the William, oldest, group identity—inclusion, rejection, escape. rejection, identity—inclusion, group comes comes through historic anecdotes—anti-Semitic author Louis- of the characters makes it hard stay of in to invested the who makes characters survives and Sorry” and “Last Bus Home” both face their inability to pro- to inability their face both Home” Bus “LastSorry” and and and who The doesn’t. book raise doesn’t enough tension to be a thriller, and its lack of depth prevents it from becoming an fascinated fascinated by his neighbor, a high school nerd–turned–college dropout. On a spree through Europe, an imprudent recent - col despite despite his misogyny? it Is hapless, awkward Brian, the middle Nevelson Nevelson (“Liberté”); Zero Mostel’s heroic blacklisting that Communist Russia (“The Cake”), and 1944 Berlin (“Caught”). fictions about Jews infictions Depression-era about BrooklynPayout”), (“The But while two are standing with the mourners, one of them is Ferdinand Ferdinand Céline’s romantic pursuit of Jewish sculptor Louise Each brother takes a turnEach brother at takes justify narration his to perspective, “This is how you treat one of your own.” Taylia is suffering from depression and low self-esteem, believ- A young woman’s struggles will resonate with many reading Alyssa was more beloved by their parents. In addition, her ers despite the novel’s pat resolution. Indian father and White Jewish mother couldn’t address the microaggressions and cultural disconnect Taylia and Alyssa navigated while growing up. Despite her family’s affluent lifestyle, IN SECURITY Taylia has suffered various deprivations that money and educa- Schwarzschild, Edward tion cannot overcome. Only her summer spent in India with State University of New York Press her paternal grandmother, dadi-ma, was any balm. After Taylia (233 pp.) is gang-raped by the son of family friends and his acquaintances $24.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 at a party, the man takes her home and tells her parents she got 978-1-43848-091-6 drunk and threw herself at him; her parents disown her, and Taylia is expelled from her family’s Upper West Side apartment. The personal and professional lives Fortunately, Taylia has a small inheritance from her beloved of a Transportation Security Adminis- dadi-ma and is able to build a new life, step by step, after finding tration employee converge in Schwarzs- a job at a cafe. The queer feminist owner, Kat, takes Taylia under child’s novel. her care. The novel has many plot threads and characters, not Narrator Gary Waldman is well all of whom are equally developed. In particular, Taylia’s parents versed in grief and contemplation. When the novel opens, are seriously underwritten, especially given the important role he’s a relatively recent widower and is doing his best to raise they play. Long conversations and coincidences drive much of his 6-year-old son, Ben, on his own. He’s spent the last seven the action, especially in the last third of the novel. years working for the TSA at Albany International Airport in upstate New York. Through flashbacks, Schwarzschild reveals moments from Gary’s history, including the harrowing deaths of his father, mother, and wife. Gary, who had previously worked as a tennis coach, has mixed feelings about his job— but soon draws the attention of his co-workers and a powerful local family when he helps save the life of a wealthy man who collapsed in an airport bathroom. Gary is drawn to the man’s stepdaughter, Diane, even as the anniversary of his wife’s death looms. The arrival in town of Gary’s FBI agent brother-in-law, Hank, creates wrinkles both personal and professional, as Hank has reports of a possible terror plot. The two disparate threads found within this novel—a middle-aged man learning to reen- gage with the world and the threat of a very different form of trauma—coexist neatly for much of the book. The novel’s climax manages to incorporate Gary’s personal and professional crises and dovetails with the book’s themes of parental legacies and frayed parent-child bonds. It’s not a perfect ending, but the lived-in details of Gary’s life—and Schwarzschild’s work in making a fundamentally decent character dramatically compelling—make for an absorbing read. Schwarzschild delivers a subdued look at one man’s life, punctuated by earned moments of tension.

THE WITCH HUNTER Seeck, Max Berkley (400 pp.) $17.00 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 978-0-593199-66-4

A desperate hunt for what may be a gang of serial killers flushes out a police- woman’s haunting past in Finnish author Seeck’s first English translation. The body of a famous author’s wife is discovered in what appears to be a deliberately staged pose, dressed in a black gown with black painted

30 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 31 nails and a ghastly grin. Another almost identical woman is The heroine’s personal problems provide a fascinating found under the ice of a nearby lake. The author, Roger Kopo- counterpoint to a disturbing tale of murder and madness. nen, is out of town at a book signing, where an audience member asks some odd questions. While a police officer is driving him back to Helsinki, communications are lost, and two bod- UNSEEN CITY ies are soon found burned in the woods. The police realize that Shearn, Amy the deaths are re-created scenes from Koponen’s popular Witch Red Hen Press (272 pp.) Hunt trilogy and fear that more may follow. Sgt. Jessica Niemi’s $17.95 paper | Sep. 29, 2020 dying boss, Erne Mikson, the only person on the Helsinki 978-1-59709-367-5 police force who knows she’s a very wealthy woman, puts her in charge of the case. Mikson, long Jessica’s father figure, knows A ghost story that focuses not on a her disturbingly dysfunctional background, which is slowly single spirit but on an entire city whose revealed as she’s personally drawn into the mystifying case by layered history haunts its occupants. her striking resemblance to several of the victims. Jessica’s team “Meg had the unsettling sense that works tirelessly to uncover suspects and motives as more grue- she was seeing all the layers of the city some murders related to witches occur until Mikson fears that transposed over one another, like scrims Jessica herself may be a target. The apparent resurrection of in a play going haywire.” Meg Rhys proudly carries her “Spin- Koponen’s cellphone and his image caught on surveillance cam- ster Librarian card” and does not believe in love, thank you eras only make the case more confusing for the officers, who very much. Instead she believes in ghosts, and in New York have very different thoughts about who’s involved. City there is no shortage of phantasmal company. Haunted by (accompanied by?) the ghost of her sister, who died at 25, Meg armors herself with the weapons that might otherwise be used to attack her: She’s 40 and single, she’s a librarian, and she has a cat named Virginia Wolf (a misspelling only Meg finds funny as well as a wink toward Shearn’s fondness for multi-comma’d sentences). When handsome Ellis Williams approaches Meg at her Brooklyn library to help him uncover the truth about a rental property his father owns in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the circumstances seem ripe for a traditional romantic comedy—that is if their trauma and grief weren’t compounded by the occult. The two of them undertake an obsessive research project as they peel back the layers of the house, and the city itself. Largely focused on Meg, the omniscient narrator occasionally switches to the perspective of a young Black girl whose story is slowly revealed. At times Shearn’s exploration of topics as weighty as gentrification, police brutality, and Black trauma comes off oversimplified and overfiltered by the White heroine. That said, it is clear that Shearn has done her research—and details about the free Black settlement Weeksville in particular are treated with sensitivity and knowledge. Ultimately, the novel is as much a haunting by the geography of New York as it is the story of a few souls who live—or have lived—there. Like the ghosts who inhabit its pages, the novel lingers long after you’ve put it down.

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| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 september 2020 | 33 EVERY LAST SECRET door to the Winthorpe’s baronial estate in untouchable Ather- Torre, A.R. ton, Neena’s determined to seduce William because she wants Thomas & Mercer (302 pp.) to trade up on husbands or, failing that, get a seven-figure payoff $15.95 paper | Dec. 1, 2020 to go away—and because she’s taken a particular dislike to Cat, 978-1-5420-2019-0 who represents all the women Neena’s fought over the years and who’s begging to be taken down a peg or 10. The rules of The blow-by-blow battle between engagement are flexible—open flirting, barefaced lying,- char two Silicon Valley wives over one of their ity committee blackballing, and criminal conspiracy are all per- husbands and a whole lot more. fectly acceptable—but a prologue makes it clear that the rivalry In this corner is Catherine Win- will eventually end up under the purview of the Atherton Police thorpe, effortlessly beautiful wife to sexy, Department. Torre raises the heat on the plotting and counter- rugged, demanding, fabulously wealthy plotting with such delicate mastery that even readers who can William Winthorpe, who treats the high-salaried employees see perfectly well where this is all going will race to watch it get he’s pushing to perfect and market a breakthrough new medi- there. cal device like serfs and his wife like a queen. In this corner is Deliciously, sublimely nasty: Mean Girls for grown-ups. Neena Ryder, Winthorpe Technologies’ new director of motivation, who loses no opportunity to correct everyone who calls her Mrs. Ryder that it’s Dr. Ryder. Though her own ami- WINTER COUNTS able mate, demolition contractor Matthew Ryder, loves her to Weiden, David Heska Wanbli pieces and makes just enough to have bought the place next Ecco/HarperCollins (336 pp.) $27.99 | Aug. 25, 2020 978-0-06-296894-4

When his troubled 14-year-old nephew, Nathan, is endangered by a new heroin operation on the Rosebud Indian Reserva- tion in South Dakota, hired muscle Virgil Wounded Horse must rely on more than his fists to save him. Narrator Virgil, a member of the Lakota Nations, is a vigilante-style bruiser whom victims and their families turn to when, thanks to an indifferent federal justice system and a toothless tribal court, sexual assaults and other violent crimes aren’t prosecuted. Falsely busted after pills are planted in his school locker, forced to make drug buys while wearing a wire and then mishandled by agents, Nathan is the latest victim of systemic malfeasance. Virgil, his nephew’s guardian since the rap-loving boy’s mother (Virgil’s sister) was killed in a car accident, finds himself in way over his head with the bad guys. His unlikely ally is his combative ex-girlfriend, Marie Short Bear, an ardent believer in the Native rituals for which he has no use: “I didn’t do ceremonies.” She’s also the daughter of a shady coun- cilman running for tribal president. Like its protagonist, the novel is rough around the edges. Key characters have a way of fading from view, and things get talky just when the action is picking up. And at one point, Weiden makes rather odd use of cartoonlike action words including “BANG!” and “Missed!” Weiden is at his best allowing Native culture to curl naturally around the mystery plot. A ceremonial scene in which Virgil has a harrowing vision of being present at the massacre at Wounded Knee is a bit heavy-handed but affecting nonetheless. A solid if inconsistent crime novel.

34 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | Smartly plotted, violent, and utterly absorbing. they’re gone

that the husband who’d beaten her for years is finally gone. Their mystery paths begin an exquisitely slow convergence when Cessy is visited by two lowlifes who inform her that Hector had owed their boss $15,000, a debt that’s now passed to her, and FBI agent Levi Price THEY’RE GONE tells Deb that Grant had dallied with a series of prostitutes, one Barres, E.A. of whom had milked him and his estate dry. As Cessy scrambles Crooked Lane (336 pp.) to find some way to deal with the collectors who won’t take no $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 for an answer, Deb seeks her own answers by meeting with Maria 978-1-64385-555-4 Vasquez, the D.C. hooker who’d replaced her in her husband’s sex life and bank account. When Cessy’s resources prove inadequate The murders of two men who couldn’t to fend off the intensifying threats, her brother, Chris, rides to be less like each other entangle their wid- the rescue from Phoenix, his background as a contract killer ows in a web of prostitution, blackmail, guaranteeing fireworks even before the two women collide with murder, and eventually each other. each other. Barres stands out from the pack with his unusually Grant Thomas was a successful pro- sensitive handling of racial and sexual identities—Cessy’s mother fessional in the Beltway suburb of Vienna, was Panamanian, Deb was born in Vietnam, and Deb’s daughter, Virginia; Hector Ramirez was a hit man who plied his secret trade Kim, has a girlfriend—and his ruthless efficiency in sweeping around Baltimore. After they’re gunned down in separate inci- supporting characters from the board the minute they’ve lost dents on the same night, freelance writer Deb Linh Thomas goes their ability to support anyone. into dazed mourning while bartender Cessy Castillo celebrates Smartly plotted, violent, and utterly absorbing. young adult

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 september 2020 | 35 THE CASE OF THE BAKER on the filming and comment on its accuracy to the Sacred Writ- STREET IRREGULARS ings. But when Maureen sees Worth shot to death, the Irregulars Boucher, Anthony are instantly transformed from authorities to suspects. Things American Mystery Classics (312 pp.) get stranger when the corpse vanishes, and stranger still when $25.95 | $15.95 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 each of the invited guests—Federhut, Dr. Rufus Bottomley, 978-1-61316-181-4 professor Drew Furness, Sirrah editor Harrison Ridgly III, and 978-1-61316-182-1 paper Jonadab Evans, who as John O’Dab created the deathless detective Derring Drew—recounts an intricately detailed backstory “SHERLOCK HOLMES RIDES larded with improbable incidents, coded messages, Holmes-ian AGAIN!” announces a newspaper head- allusions, and broad implications of each other’s guilt. The char- line covering a mysterious murder in this acters are no more than types, but their different voices are per- ebullient 1940 reprint by the multital- fectly suited for the wild tales they tell, and fans who approach ented Boucher (1911–1968), and it’s all true except for the Sher- this 80-year-old pastiche through either Arthur Conan Doyle’s lock Holmes part. writings or any of the dozens of Holmes’ posthumous adven- When the Baker Street Irregulars protest producer F.X. tures by other hands will be challenged, piqued, and delighted Weinberg’s decision to sign heterodox mystery novelist Stephen right down to the final revelation by a most unexpected sleuth. Worth to script The Adventure of the Speckled Band, Metropolis Inventive, ingenious, rollicking fun. Pictures publicity agent Maureen O’Breen comes up with a clever way to buy them off: Invite four Irregulars veterans and their latest initiate, German émigré Otto Federhut, to consult ANONYMOUS Breck, Elizabeth Crooked Lane (320 pp.) $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-1-64385-564-6

A freelance San Diego insurance investigator thinking of expanding her practice sees her wish fulfilled when she’s stalked by a sex killer. “Stop investigating me or I will hunt you down and kill you. BITCH. No police,” reads the note pinned to Madison Kelly’s front door. The threat is not only unsettling, but inaccurate, since Mad- die’s between jobs and isn’t investigating anybody. But then she recalls that she’s been poking around informally in a case recently profiled on the podcastCrawlspace : the disappearances of Samantha Erickson after she left a bar in the Gaslamp Dis- trict four years ago and of Elissa Alvarez after she left another bar two years later. Despite, or maybe because of, the message, Maddie doubles down in her efforts and soon finds Elissa’s cellphone near the parking lot where she was last seen—quite a coup considering that her friend Detective Thomas Clark, of San Diego Homicide, hasn’t found it himself during the past two years. As Maddie identifies suitably unsuitable men who might have done away with Samantha and Elissa, first-timer Breck, herself an insurance investigator, multiplies the suspicious men in Maddie’s own orbit who just might be her stalker: her downstairs neighbor Ryan, a surfer in graduate school; her friend Dave Rich, who’s been her lover but never her boyfriend; Tom’s drinking buddy Ken Larrabee, who’s clearly interested in her; and Tom himself, who’s never enjoyed Maddie’s sexual favors even though his wife is convinced that he has. Beneath all the expository passages beats a brave heart that deserves a sequel showing sharper sleuthing chops.

36 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult - With With its delightful detective duo, Bryndza’s refreshing, twisty thriller stays upbeat even in dark moments. paper suggests that Simon drowned; the medical examiner was camping with him the night he died. Putting the pieces reservoir and then begin goes When missing. Kate Tristan and researching the history of Shadow Sands, what they discover is ing professor Magdalena Rossi, who had an earlier flirtatious together, together, Kate finds something wonky in the timeline. Who truly shocking. constantly at odds with his sister/roommate, Sarah, and her can be trusted? Meanwhile, another mystery unfolds. Visit is accosted while doing research encounter Tristan, with at the assistant. Things are rocky on the homefront for Tristan, who’s who’s Things are assistant. rocky on the Tristan, homefront for fiance, andGary, he’s eagerto log some The hours local away. finds a puncturewound. Kate gets a very different picture of Lyn Lyn when she interviews Simon’s close friend Geraint, who | 1 september 2020 | 37 | kirkus.com | mystery - shadow sands shadow Galway Galway private finds eye Taylor Jack The whole city is abuzz with the A A criminologist uncovers several While swimming Shadow in Devon’s Sands reservoir, 18-year-old Simon - Ken boat. Soon, Simon’s being pursued him- himself awash in miracles, and not the news of ”—the “the miracle spotting of a shocking secrets at a remote reservoir. shocking secrets at a remote young girl bathed in an unearthly blue good kind. SHADOW SANDS SHADOW dal notices a man loading a body into a Bryndza, Robert Bryndza, Bruen, Ken Mysterious Press (256 pp.) Press Mysterious $26.00 | Nov. 3, 2020 $26.00 | Nov. $24.95 | Nov. 3, 2020 $24.95 | Nov. A GALWAY EPIPHANY A GALWAY Thomas & Mercer (316 pp.) Thomas & Mercer 978-0-8021-5703-4 978-1-5420-2336-8 twisty thrillertwisty even stays upbeat moments. in dark With its delightful detective duo, Bryndza’s refreshing, duo, Bryndza’s detective delightful its With Another heady Irish stew spiked with wayward epigrams, epigrams, with wayward spiked stew Another heady Irish light that evokes Lourdes and Fatima. Jack is the beneficiary Jack light of Lourdes that and evokes Fatima. his farmer/biker/falconer his friendto farmer/biker/falconer help McDonald Keefer him him to identify the online troll who drove his daughter to sui- local university, finds Simon’s submergedbody, fully clothed, whittle down the caseload. In shockingly fast succession, the wants him findto and quiet Sara because “the Church does not wish a miracle at this time.” Jack, more interested in a rash of while she’s scuba-diving with her Jake, teenage son. When she ness. Jack emerges from the hospital to a raft of cases. Renee now started beating their daughter. Stephen Morgan wants nibal serial feels killer, compelled to Simon, investigate further. reports her discovery, she’s annoyed by the officious manner six days (naturally, he can’t remember), grabs the reins and takes takes and reins the grabs remember), can’t he (naturally, days six spared him but brought him into close contact with the miracle the with contact close into him brought but him spared mother, Lyn, Kate, who’s already discovered the Nine Elms can- Elms Nine the discovered already who’s Kate, Lyn, mother, self. self. Days Kate Marshall, later, a lecturer in criminology at the girl, Sara, who was trying to rob him as he regained conscious one-word paragraphs, and lots and lots of Jamesons. Sláinte. and lots and lots of Jamesons. paragraphs, one-word control. Or does he? control. - Eventu of the very be who driving seem the to characters story. cide. And Monsignor Rael, an investigator called in from Rome, fromcalledin Rome, investigator an Rael, Monsignor And cide. of new DCI Henry Ko. After speaking with Simon’s grieving ally emerging Jack, from a lost weekend that extends to five or a miracle of his own, a close encounter with a truckMack that a competitive would swimmer, never have gone into the water docket docket is indeed diminished—not by the efforts of Jack and fully clothed. Kate enlists eager student Harper Tristan as an Garvey begs him to stop the husband who beats her and has fires set by wealthy forensic accountant Benjamin J. Cullen, asks Cullen, J. Benjamin accountant forensic wealthy by set fires Keefer but Keefer by jolts of violence that claim a remarkable number HAVE YOURSELF A FUDGY until her own place is ready. When someone leaves a mysteri- LITTLE CHRISTMAS ous note on the door, she follows the directions to a designated Coco, Nancy meeting place, where her dog, Mal, discovers someone buried Kensington (352 pp.) in a snowbank. Kayla Cramdon, a newcomer to the island, later $8.99 paper | Oct. 27, 2020 dies in the hospital of probable poisoning—with Frances’ name 978-1-4967-2758-9 on her lips. Allie, who has plenty of sleuthing experience, is not about to let her friend face a murder charge, and, encouraged A Mackinac Island hotelier and fudge by the series regulars, she starts digging for clues. Frances stub- maker’s Christmas spirit is challenged by bornly refuses to say anything until Kayla’s mother, Sally Cram- a series of calamities. don, accuses Frances not only of murder, but also of being her Even before discovering the corpse, own birth mother who gave her up for adoption. When Allie’s Allie McMurphy is already dealing neighbor dies in similar circumstances, she looks for the con- with serious problems. The roof of the nections that will solve a perplexing case. McMurphy Hotel has caved in, and she can only hope that the Two nasty murders, charming surviving characters, renovation will be completed by Christmas. After she turns plenty of Christmas cheer, and enough fudge recipes for a down wealthy bachelor Trent Jessop’s offer to go to Chicago major sugar rush. for the winter to make fudge in a commercial kitchen, Rex Manning, the police officer who invited her to share his house, is suddenly reclaimed by the wife who left him. So Allie uses ON DEADLY TIDES retired hotel employee Frances Devaney’s surplus apartment Duncan, Elizabeth J. Crooked Lane (288 pp.) $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-1-64385-468-7

A chance meeting with a journalist plunges an amateur detective into another case of murder. Businesswoman/artist/sleuth Penny Brannigan and her friend Alwynne are staying at a hotel on the Welsh island of Anglesey for a painting weekend organized by sleazy former actor Bill Ward. In the hotel bar Penny shares a table with a fellow Canadian, wildlife photographer Colin Campbell, and Jessica Graham, a young New Zealander who’s digging into the disappearance of a wealthy compatriot seven years ago. The next morning Penny discovers Jessica’s body on the beach, apparently fallen from a steep cliff. Her old friend DI Bethan Morgan investigates, and although the autopsy is inconclusive, both of them sense that something isn’t right. Penny feels the urge to sleuth while pursuing a budding romance with Colin, who’s flitting back and forth between assignments. Penny invites Jessica’s distraught mother to stay with her in her cottage in Llanelen, North Wales. When someone breaks in, she knows her hunch about murder was on point. She and Colin fall for an apartment in Anglesey, a stunning Georgian terrace that Ward’s selling now that his lover, hotel assistant manager Sarah Spencer, has agreed to move out. Little do they know that the apartment may contain a crucial clue to the murder—and indeed play a major role in their own future as a couple. Fans of this long-running series will delight in both the mystery and the romance that bids to change the heroine’s life.

38 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | A maverick agent battles duplicity on all sides in a personal rescue mission. time to hunt

THE DIABOLICAL BONES is alive, held by a group called the Maroon Berets, who accuse Ellis, Bella him of trying to kill the president of Turkey. Triggs declares the Berkley (336 pp.) rescue of Henican too sensitive for Hunt’s renegade style and, $16.00 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 in a meeting at Langley, convinces him to instead accompany 978-0-593099-15-5 veteran agent Harriet Jacobs on a mission to take out Venezue- lan strongman Jorge Ramirez, who’ll be in Switzerland. Ramirez, Skeletal remains attract the sympa- meanwhile, is eager to align himself with the Maroon Berets thy and scrutiny of a not-yet-famous trio and supplies them with intel on Venezuela’s new president, Col. of Victorian-era sisters. Arteaga, whom the CIA has dubbed “Queen Bee.” Ramirez is The faithful housekeeper of the surprised to learn that he’s to meet CIA operative Aram Diljen, Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and a possible mole. Concealed at the meeting, Hunt and Jacobs Anne—disturbs a quiet afternoon in receive an order at the last minute to kill Diljen instead. Who December 1845 with dreadful news. Clifton Bradshaw, the can the righteous Hunt trust? owner of Top Withens Hall, has uncovered a bundle of child’s Despite some plot holes and cardboard characters, an bones in the chimney niche in his late wife’s rooms, shut up action-packed thrill ride with plot twists around nearly every since her death 13 years earlier. The sisters, daughters of a par- curve. son, are concerned with the soul of the child and the reason the bones were hidden away. Emily is particularly impatient because their last case as detectors, in which they styled themselves Bell Brothers and Company, was just a search for a miss-

ing cow. The three women and their brother, Branwell, brave young adult the winter snows and the wrath of Bradshaw, who’s violent, abusive, and more often than not drunk since the death of his wife. Although he refuses to surrender the bones for Christian burial, his son smuggles them out to the sisters, whose careful notes about them help a female friend with medical training speculate that the deceased was a malnourished child laborer. Moved by the pitiful tale, the sisters uncover a sensational mix of old and new religions, a ghostly woman in black, a local visionary who knows dark magic, and orphans terrified of a monstrous figure who steals children—and then starts stalking the Brontës themselves. Ellis takes gothic over the top in the second fictional adventure of her real-life characters.

TIME TO HUNT Gervais, Simon Thomas & Mercer (288 pp.) $15.95 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 978-1-5420-2082-4

A maverick agent battles duplicity on all sides in a personal rescue mission. In Istanbul, American Charlie Heni- can is seized by half a dozen men who call him an assassin. Twelve hours later, CIA deputy director Dorothy Triggs strate- gizes in the Bahamas with Max Oswald, her son and “right-hand man” about ways to convince Pierce Hunt to rescue Henican, his close friend. Hunt is vacationing there with his lover, Anna Garcia, who has shut down the Garcia crime syndicate, to which she’s the heiress. Though Hunt now works for the Drug Enforcement Administration, Triggs is confident that his history with Henican in Gaza will secure his involvement. Her attempt to convince Hunt goes badly, and later Triggs and Max are ambushed and nearly killed. A video confirms that Henican

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 september 2020 | 39 ABSENCE OF MERCY offer, mostly to escape, taking along Paisley, his manservant. He Goodwin, S.M. arrives just in time to examine the corpse of Alard Janssen, the Crooked Lane (320 pp.) man who arranged his employment. Janssen’s successor, Capt. $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 Owen Davies, openly ridicules Jasper and changes his assign- 978-1-64385-521-9 ment to investigating the murders of Janssen and two other men, Dunbarton and Wilbur Sealy, killed under similar circum- In pre–Civil War New York City, a stances in the seedy Five Points neighborhood. To assist him, British Detective Inspector teams up Jasper perversely picks Hieronymus “Hy” Law, an ex-detective with a disgraced American detective to who worked the case before he was locked up in the Tomb catch a cunning serial killer and save the for unspecified reasons. Law rebuffs the offer but has second American’s career. thoughts after engineering an escape. When Jasper calls on April 1857. After a drunken carouse, Janssen’s widow, Zuza, he’s amazed to see one of the other vic- foppish Felix Dunbarton is murdered on the street. Meanwhile, tims’ widows in attendance as well. The crosscurrents of local in London, DI Jasper Lightner is summoned unexpectedly politics and an elegant bordello figure prominently in the inves- from a bloody murder scene by the police commissioner. Jasper tigation, which gains traction when Hy joins the team. is surprised to see the Duke of Kersey, his cruel, overbearing Goodwin’s series kickoff offers a colorful, panoramic father, at the meeting and even more surprised at home sec- view of old New York and introduces a provocative sleuthing retary Sir George Grey’s offer to send Jasper to New York to team. help the police department there. The Duke’s constant abuse has triggered a pronounced stutter in his son, who accepts the ONE OF OUR OWN Haddam, Jane Minotaur (272 pp.) $27.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 978-1-25-077049-3

Gregor Demarkian’s last case. Marta Warkowski has lived all her 72 years in a three-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia’s Alder Arms despite the best efforts of Miguel Hernandez, the building’s super, to cajole her to leave or evict her. She knows all the dodges: Bring your rent check directly to Cary Alder’s office; make sure to get a receipt every month; and don’t let the bastards think they can get away with bullying you. About the only thing that will get her to move is death. Even when her body, stuffed into a plastic garbage bag, is tossed from a van onto the street, she’s not quite dead, only comatose. It’s Hernandez who’s dead, lying on the floor of her coveted apartment. Father Tibor Kasparian and 14-year-old Tommy Moradanyan, who are on the scene, are already preoc- cupied with their own problems, which range from the imprisonment of Tommy’s father, attorney Russ Donahue, to Tibor’s recent placement of Javier, an abandoned child, in foster care. Since Russ Donahue’s crimes include shooting Gregor Demark- ian, who’s also agreed with his wife, Bennis Hannaford, to take in Javier, it’s only natural that the Philadelphia Police Department comes calling on Gregor for help. This time, though, the interest in the Armenian American Poirot’s sleuthing is outpaced by Haddam’s exposition of an all-too-plausibly widespread plot to smuggle undocumented people into the country and exploit them in every possible way. The result is a fitting sunset vehicle for Haddam, a pseudonym for Orania Papazoglou, who died in 2019 and is memorialized in a brief, glowing afterword. One last testament to the importance of community in maintaining the values that make America great, or at least human.

40 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | One of those rare thrillers whose answers are even more scarifying than its mysteries. after all i’ve done

AFTER ALL I’VE DONE in Angola, and his partner, charming Christianne Beaucarne. Hardy, Mina No sooner has Enora bonded with Christianne than her new Crooked Lane (310 pp.) friend disappears, leaving behind a note that strongly indicates $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 that she plans to do away with herself—and no wonder, since 978-1-64385-470-0 she’s been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which would have killed her shortly and painfully anyway. Enora shares her A middle-aged woman sidelined by belief that Christianne has committed suicide every chance she a horrific accident finds even sharper gets, and she gets plenty of chances, because DI Frank Bullivant, pains waiting on the other side of her determined to close this case his way before he retires, arrests recuperation in this expert nightmare Andy, and then, after releasing him, Enora herself. If only the by Hardy, familiar to many readers as actress can survive his suspicions, her future seems assured, Megan Hart, author of All the Secrets We since her feckless son, Malo, throws in his lot with Sylvester Keep (2017), etc. Penny, the son of neighboring ex-diplomat Sir William Penny, Five months ago, while she was on her way to the hospital to promote the Twilight Fund, which proposes to sell spaces in with an ailing gallbladder, Diana Sparrow’s car hit a deer on a deluxe underground silos (think high-rises in reverse) to super- rural Pennsylvania road. When she awoke, she was minus her rich clients who want to be able to shelter against war, disease, gallbladder, two working collarbones (and therefore two func- and famine until natural death claims them. tioning arms), and her memory. During a recovery that would’ve Brisk, confident, and clearly aimed at readers who already been impossible without the constant ministrations of Harriett share its heroine’s assumptions about life and lifestyles. Richmond, the mother-in-law who’s the real reason Diana mar-

ried her husband, Jonathan, Diana’s discovered that Jonathan young adult has been cheating on her with her childhood friend Valerie Del- agatti. Divorce is out of the question: Diana’s grown used to the pampered lifestyle the prenup she’d signed would snatch away from her. Every day is filled with torments. She slips and falls in a pool of wine on her kitchen floor she’s sure she didn’t spill herself. At the emergency room, her credit card and debit card are declined. She feels that she hates oppressively solicitous Harri- ett but has no idea why. Her sessions with her psychiatrist fail to heal her rage at her adoptive mother, an addict who abandoned her then returned only to disappear again and die an ugly death. Even worse, her attempts to recover her lost memory lead to an excruciatingly paced series of revelations. Val says Diana asked her to seduce Jonathan. Diana realizes that Cole, a fellow student in her watercolor class, isn’t the stranger she’d thought he was. Where can this maze of deceptions possibly end? One of those rare thrillers whose answers are even more scarifying than its mysteries.

LIMELIGHT Hurley, Graham Severn House (272 pp.) $29.99 | Dec. 1, 2020 978-0-7278-8980-5

Actress Enora Andressen finds herself in the spotlight for all the worst reasons when a friend who’s so new some might not count her as a friend vanishes from a “post-aspirational” seaside town in East Devon. Following the death of her recent lover, screenwriter Pavel Sieger, Enora’s turned her back on the public to visit her friend Evelyn Warlock, a gifted editor, in quietly upscale Budleigh Salterton. It’s there that she meets Evelyn’s neighbor: short- tempered Andy McFaul, who lost a leg disarming land mines

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 september 2020 | 41 BENDING THE PAW in Medora posing as photographers, Rose and Thomas find a Kelly, Diane dying town and a coterie of crude and dangerous men. Outfit- St. Martin’s (320 pp.) ted with new horses, weapons, and trousers for Rose, they settle $7.99 paper | Oct. 27, 2020 in to investigate. Rose, Thomas, Roosevelt, and many of their 978-1-250-19739-9 friends are “lucky”—that is, they all have some sort of paranormal ability. Rose can see spirits, but when the ghost of the dead A police officer and her canine part- miner appears to her, she’s terrified. She must deal with both ner search for a body missing from a otherworldly dangers and her mutual real-world attraction to gruesome crime scene. Thomas that the superbly characterized pair constantly push A slasher has executed a St. Valen- aside, knowing it would ruin them both in New York society. tine’s Day massacre of his own in Fort Based on historical characters and filled with high adven- Worth. A call from Detective Audrey ture, romance, and scares, Rose’s newest adventure is a winner. Jackson summons Officer Megan Luz and Brigit, her K-9 teammate, to the scene, a suburban kitchen covered in blood. It’s not the way Megan pictured spending the MURDER IN OLD BOMBAY night of her engagement to Seth, her firefighter boyfriend, but March, Nev Seth has a dog of his own, and he understands the importance Minotaur (400 pp.) of K-9 teams. When Megan gets to the scene, poor homeowner $26.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 Shelby Olsen is distraught by the gruesome mess but even more 978-1-25-026954-6 upset that Greg, her loving husband, is missing. She asks Audrey and Megan where Greg could be. The two don’t know how to In colonial India, a fledgling sleuth tell her that, given the blood volume they see, it really doesn’t probes the inexplicable deaths of two matter where Greg is any more. Eager to impress her mentor young women. and prove that she’s fit to fill her shoes one day, Megan digs into While recuperating in hospital from the case of the apparent murder and the missing body. But all battle injuries in 1892 Poona, Capt. James the obvious leads go nowhere, and Megan isn’t sure what’s next. Agnihotri, of the 14th Light Cavalry Interspersed chapters adopt the perspectives of the slasher, Regiment, becomes interested in the case of two young women who’s mainly keeping a low profile at a hotel, and Brigit, who’s who fell to their deaths from a university clock tower. A lifelong equally concerned with tracking the killer and scoring some fan of Sherlock Holmes, Jim is moved by a letter published in liver treats. At length Megan’s investigation leads her to the one the local newspaper from Adi Framji, the husband of one vic- and only possible conclusion. tim and brother of the other, pleading for justice. Maneck Fit- The procedural emphasis continues to set this series ter stood accused of causing the deaths, but the young man was apart from other dog mysteries. released for lack of evidence. Leaving the army behind, Jim gets a job as a reporter for The Chronicle of India and soon finds Adi, who quickly becomes Watson to his Holmes. The eldest of six THE SILVER SHOOTER children, Adi lost his unworldly wife, Bacha, and secretive sis- Lindsey, Erin ter, Pilloo, to the killer. The investigative duo becomes a trio Minotaur (320 pp.) with the arrival from Liverpool of Adi’s sister, Diana, who adds $17.99 paper | Sep. 22, 2020 feminine insight and a romantic interest for Jim. The investi- 978-1-25-062344-7 gation begins at the library near the tower, where the librarian verifies the story of Maneck arguing loudly with two black-clad Pinkerton agents who specialize in men shortly before the tragedy. Like the last page of the medi- the paranormal have a rousing adventure cal examiner’s report on the victims, garments found under a in the Wild West of the 1880s. library table have mysteriously disappeared. A pair of attacks Rose Gallagher has been trans- convinces Jim that he’s closing in on the killer. When Jim finally formed from a poor Irish maid to a val- talks to Maneck, who stayed mute during his trial, he expresses ued Pinkerton agent. She and her former fears for his own safety and suggests that Jim dig deeper into employer, society dandy Thomas Wiltshire, are used to the the Framji family. mean streets of New York. When Theodore Roosevelt hires Based on true events, March’s crisply written debut com- them to travel to the Dakota Territory to investigate some bines fascinating historic details with a clever puzzle. outré occurrences, they feel out of their depth. Tempers are running high near Roosevelt’s ranch, where a brutal winter that killed thousands of cattle has been followed by the slaughter of animals and people by what is described as a monster. A miner has vanished, and many are searching for the fortune in gold he reportedly left hidden. The ranchers blame the Indians, who in turn accuse the ranchers of stealing their horses. Arriving

42 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | CHRISTMAS CARD MURDER the first part of the collection, focus on innocents, mostly chil- Meier, Leslie & Hollis, Lee & Ehrhart, Peggy dren, forced all too early in life to confront the ghosts of the Kensington (320 pp.) past. A boy struggles to deal with the sudden absence of his $26.00 | Oct. 27, 2020 mother in “Coming in on Time.” The title character of “Echo” 978-1-4967-2822-7 is defined by his uncanny bond to the sister who died before he was born. “London Safe” tracks a grown man’s ill-fated reunion Three Christmas greetings bring with the father who left him as a child. In the second part, “Old clues to murder. Friends,” the focus shifts to the ghosts themselves, dead-eyed Meier’s title story presents Lucy souls like IRA hard case Gerry Fegan (last seen in The Ghosts of Stone on the verge of realizing a life- Belfast, 2009) and aging killer Albert Ryan (from Ratlines, 2013), long dream. Since three of their four who can’t forget the violent roles they’ve taken in the Troubles. children are grown and living on their Child and ghost collide most memorably in The Traveller, the own, she wants her carpenter husband, Bill, to knock out the concluding novella, in which Ellen McKenna, the daughter of wall between their cramped bedroom and an adjacent room to pensioned cop Jack Lennon (from The Final Silence, 2014), is create a luxurious master suite. As Bill bangs away at the lath caught in the crossfire between her father and the nameless and plaster, Lucy finds an antique Christmas card with a nasty assassin, long presumed dead, who’s targeted him for a client message hidden in the baseboard. Lucy’s search for the sender who, like everyone else in Neville’s remorseless world, just can’t circles back to the long-ago murder of a high school student. let the past go. Although her inquiry has moments of high drama, including a Irish noir done to a turn, with just enough tearful senti- blizzard that shuts down the town, the solution is a letdown. ment to turn the screws tighter.

The miserable missive in Hollis’ Death of a Christmas Carol is young adult sent by Carol Waterman to three friends: Hayley Powell, food writer for the Island Times; Rosana Moretti, wife of the Times’ publisher; and Hayley’s friend Mona Barnes, a lobsterwoman. Borrowing from the classic film A Letter to Three Wives, Carol’s card reveals her plans to run off with the husband of one of the friends, plans that are foiled by her death. Neither the solving of the mystery nor the unmasking of the errant spouse offers any holiday cheer. Ehrhart’s Death of a Christmas Card Crafter tells the sad tale of popular high school art teacher Karma Kar- ling, whom readers never meet before her body is found in a local Christmas tree lot. She leaves behind the last of a Twelve- Days-of-Christmas–themed series of cards featuring not 12 but 13 drummers drumming. Neighbors Pamela Paterson and Bet- tina Fraser use that extra image to track down Karma’s killer—a solution that comes so far out of left field it could have been sent there by Willie Mays. Three tepid treats for the holiday season.

THE TRAVELLER AND OTHER STORIES Neville, Stuart Soho Crime (336 pp.) $27.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-1-641-29203-0

Life in contemporary Ireland is bracketed in these 12 tales—all but one of them reprints—by the experiences of young people who’ve scarcely tasted it and veterans who wish they hadn’t. Neville’s foreword notes the pleasure he takes in writing stories that provide a break from the long-haul commitments of his novels. But that break is severely limited by both the stories’ thematic consistency and their recycling of characters and plotlines from the novels. The six stories in “New Monsters,”

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 september 2020 | 43 JANE DARROWFIELD AND drugs designed not so much to control as to torment her. The THE MADWOMAN NEXT DOOR initial focus of Miller and Carrigan’s inquiries on the Milgram, Ross, Barbara the youth hostel where Anna and Madison both lived, is sharp- Kensington (304 pp.) ened once they connect Anna’s murder to the disappearance $7.99 paper | Oct. 27, 2020 of Milgram resident Katrina Eliot after she left a bowling alley 978-1-4967-3075-6 the year before. Following the slender leads they unearth slowly and methodically, they examine the victims’ links to a tempo- One and perhaps a quarter new rary employment agency, a murder years ago on a beach in Bali, assignments for the Cambridge, Massa- and, most chillingly, their online activity. Both of the victims, chusetts, problem-solver who debuted in along with hundreds of others, have been subjected to spying by the aptly titled Jane Darrowfield, Profes someone who’s hacked their computers, taken control of their sional Busybody (2019). cameras and databases, and turned their private lives into com- Megan Larsen doesn’t think she’s modities for sale to other like-minded voyeurs. As Miller and crazy, but she sure has been acting strange. She’s been wak- Carrigan’s pursuit gathers momentum, each new lead falls short ing up in the middle of the night convinced she’s seen a bright of explaining everything but pulls them onward inexorably to light only to find her house in darkness and losing both sleep the next. and self-confidence in the process. All of this makes it hard for A paranoid, deeply unsettling page-turner best read on a her to focus on her work as a lawyer—a particular problem now digital device capable of tracking every eye movement. that her review for a possible partnership is coming up. Megan wants Jane, her next-door neighbor, to determine whether or not she’s sane. No sooner has Jane suggested a few common- DEATH, DIAMONDS, AND sense steps to help answer Megan’s question and identified a DECEPTION possible biological cause of her troubles and three men in her Simpson, Rosemary life who might be gaslighting her—an old friend and colleague, Kensington (304 pp.) an ex-boyfriend, and a disastrous online date—than Megan $26.00 | Nov. 24, 2020 vanishes. Her father, high-powered attorney Edwin Larsen, is 978-1-4967-2212-6 unconcerned (some father!), but Jane presses on, counting on the fact that she’s on much better terms with Detective Tony A chance observation at a fancy ball Alvarez than with Megan’s father, realtor, or security provider. exposes embezzlement, scandal, and She even finds time to take on a tiny second case brought to her murder. by Ralph Pilchner, another neighbor, who claims that Gordon Prudence MacKenzie has little inter- and Pam Marshall have alienated the affections of Ralph’s cat, est in the social prominence that is hers Roo, by feeding her themselves. by birth. But she reckons without her redoubtable aunt, the The heroine is soothing, sturdy company, but neither the dowager Viscountess Rotherton, an American “dollar princess” main case nor the minicase leads to much of a solution. who exchanged family money for a title. Lady Rotherton insists on stuffing Prudence into a Worth gown and dragging her to the first Assembly Ball of the New York season, but Prudence THE INTRUSIONS goes only on the condition that her business partner, ex–Con- Sherez, Stav federate officer and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter, escort her. World Noir (272 pp.) At the ball, Lady Rotherton spots paste fakes among real dia- $14.95 paper | Nov. 17, 2020 monds once intended for Marie Antoinette and now in a neck- 978-1-60945-620-7 lace adorning the neck of Lena De Vries, the wife of a wealthy financier. William De Vries hires the two-person firm of Hunter Think the life you live online is secret and Mackenzie, Investigative Law, to inquire discreetly about and secure? Think again. the missing gems. A network of street urchins, dedicated ser- Still facing awkward questions and vants, and former Pinks point Prudence and Geoffrey toward a possible legal action from internal affairs gem cutter whom they find dead in his jewelry store. A second over their handling of their last case in murder and a suicide later, the search for the missing diamonds Eleven Days (2013), DI Geneva Miller makes a suspect of Lena’s son, a gambler and drunkard whose and DI Jack Carrigan, of London’s Metropolitan Police, face sorry misadventures lead to tragedy, a desperate escape attempt, another aborning nightmare when Madison Carter reports and an emotional cliffhanger deferred until at least the next that someone drugged both her and her German-born house- installment. mate, Anna Becker, an aspiring actress, at The Last Good Kiss, Simpson takes her unconventional duo from the upper a nightclub they both frequented, and kidnapped Anna. Pulled crust to the lowest dregs of New York society in the Gilded off the missing person case to investigate a murder, Miller real- Age. izes that the victim is Anna Becker, her throat surgically punc- tured and her body carefully posed after she was pumped full of

44 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult Much Much to the dismay of her mother, A A wannabe Georgia detective gets who’d rather she be thinking of marriageof thinking be she rather who’d than murder, Lyla Moody’s been working working been Moody’s Lyla murder, than closer than she’d like to a murder. to like closer than she’d ON BORROWED CRIME ON BORROWED for her uncle Calvin, a private detective Crooked Lane (320 pp.) Crooked $26.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 Young, Kate Young, 978-1-64385-462-5 Complex Complex social networks spark an equally complex A A fine outing for a spunky heroine whose job and other becomes becomes increasingly compelled by and Helen’s, her inquiries brother, brother, Hugh. Is her warm friendship with Devon enough to book club, whose members enjoy delving into crime, spots lead to revelations that leavelead to no family unscathed. her chance, for all too soon after her husband, Judge David her former over stepbrother, the disposition of an inheritance puzzle. police chief, police another chief, former boyfriend, and the investigator of who was supposed to protect him. And Rosalind’s not in the older their of death the after Casselmaine of Duke became who mother? As Rosalind struggles with her own questions, she social-climbing Mrs. Vaughn? Would the social-climbing Would pleasures Mrs. Vaughn? of Devon’s sustain a marriage that would take her out of London, away in peaceful Sweet Mountain. Lyla, a member of the Jane Doe involved with. Carol had been squabbling with who Kevin, was investigate until they investigate turn up - enough dirt threaten earn to Lyla ing notes from a possible serial She killer. works with both the stuffed in a suitcase left at Lyla’s door. The local police focus on focus police local The door. Lyla’s at suitcaseleft a in stuffed glance, glance, every smile, every unguarded look would be held up to getting psychological help from Lyla’s father. The club members club The father. Lyla’s from help psychological getting activities provide plenty of grist for future investigations. plenty of grist for future activities provide the scrutiny of vultures like poisonous Lady Pennyworth and to to a duel, how he came to be killed before the two contestants the identity of one of many dead women found along the I-85 the I-85 cold cases and is not deterred when they both warn her warn both they when deterred not I-85is the and cases cold company company and the luxuries of life in Cassel House compensate even met, or what happened to his second, Bartolemew Vaughn, Vaughn, Bartolemew second, his to happened what or met, even country to solve mysteries but to celebrate Louisa’s wedding club member Carol Timms sitting in a car with an unidentifi- corridor and wanted the club to investigate. Now she’s missed of the dangers. and reexamine her relationship with Louisa’s brother Devon, able person and looking desperate. Carol had thought she knew she thought had Carol desperate. looking and person able fromfriends,everyher where thrustworld and social a into her for the moods of mercurial Catherine Devon’s Winterbourne, from Lyla with her disagreeable cousin, Ellen, whom he’s now from a relative. But she also was arguing with her husband and No No one knows why Corbyn would have challenged his friend Lyla’s ex-boyfriend Kevin, who’s just moved who’s in across the Kevin, street ex-boyfriend Lyla’s Timms, callsTimms, Calvin to find his missing wife, her body turns up | 1 september 2020 | 45 | kirkus.com | mystery ------a lady compromised is mostly focused on the ice-cream Rosalind Rosalind Thorne continues her bat Truss’ Truss’ third stroll down Memory In In the space of one eventful eve- Although, as the daughter of a bar land’s land’s elite, her father, a forger, and her ning, three locals—Barbara Ashley, the runner-up in the local Milk Board’s Lac tle to negotiate the intricate world of the of world intricate the negotiate to tle onet, Rosalind owns a place among Eng- MURDER BY MILK BOTTLE MILK MURDER BY Lane offers firmhomicides. with is packed Brighton evidence that 1957 Bloomsbury (320 pp.) Kensington (304 pp.) Kensington British haut ton. $17.00 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 10, paper | Nov. $17.00 $26.00 | Nov. 24, 2020 $26.00 | Nov. COMPROMISED A LADY 978-1-63557-597-2 Truss, Lynne Truss, 978-1-4967-2087-0 Wilde, Darcie Wilde, What’s Your —are Game? bashed Your What’s and sliced to Complex social networks spark an equally spark networks social Complex puzzle. complex What’s Your Game? Your What’s Truss faithfully both the re-creates ingenious appeal Truss and before he finally identifies a killer who’s both unguessable and, bizarrely unlikely weapon. Guided partly by the very different beau, his sister Helen’s fiance. The circumstancesare murky. lead him to filter his monstrously tactless remarks to others, the formulaic limitations of golden-age puzzlers. problems are too weighty even friendfor Her Rosalind. Louisa well, unnoticeable. ward to dating Barbara that very evening, is properly outraged; is a master criminal, and Milk Girl Pandora Holden, who had ing herself useful to others in her social set and living on the stable Peregrine Twitten to stable figure Twitten Peregrine out what the victims had in sundae competition he’ll be judging; and Palmeira Groynes, small change they offer for solving their problems. But some stint on sister, sister, a courtesan, have abandoned her. She survives by mak tic Lovelies beauty Andrew contest; Inman of the Automobile the police station’s observant and efficient charlady, is preoc eyes for him years ago, and partly by his cocksure sense of his own abilities, but never by any sense of decorum that would common common that would make someone attack them with such a believeselse nobody who fromup Groynes, picks Mrs. he clues cupied with the summit meeting of crime lords arranging she’s of William Corbyn, killed William of on his way to a duel Mira- with Peter death with milk bottles. Sgt. Jim Brunswick, looked who’d for for her Chambers. ex-lover Terence So it falls mainly to Con- BBC radio show Twitten presses on as the body count rises to impossible heights impossible to rises count body the as on presses Twitten Inspector Geoffrey Inspector Steine, now that finishedhe’s his own brief Association; and Cedric Carbody, a celebrity Association; contestant on and the Cedric Carbody, Winterbourne begs her Winterbourne to discover the truth behind the death The stars align in this charming queer rom-com. written in the stars

THE SEVENTH science fiction PERFECTION Polansky, Daniel Tor (176 pp.) and fantasy $14.99 paper | Sep. 22, 2020 978-1-250-76756-1

THE FACTORY WITCHES OF In this stand-alone fantasy, a high- LOWELL ranking subject of a theocracy built on Malerich, C.S. the embers of a revolution threatens to Tor (128 pp.) upend the social order again in her quest $13.99 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 for answers. 978-1-250-75656-5 Years ago, the artist Laqip, the student Amata, and the soldier Kiri led a revolution all the way up Sisterhood, love, and magic blossom the Spire, where Kiri toppled the Divine Empress and took her in this timely tale of protest based on a place as the God King Ba‘l Melqart; his beloved companions historical incident. never returned. Today, a young woman named Manet serves In mid-19th-century Lowell, Massa- the God King as an Amanuensis, having successfully achieved chusetts, the “mill girls” spin the thread the seven perfections of body and mind. When someone sends and weave the cloth in the textile facto- her a locket bearing the image of an unknown woman, Manet ries, all to the profit of the “Boston gentlemen” who own the puts all her considerable skills to bear in pursuit of the woman’s mills where they work and the boardinghouses where they live. identity, aggressively questioning a variety of people at all lev- But when those very same gentlemen decide to raise the young els of society, from brothel guard to fortuneteller to religious women’s rent by a quarter a week, the women decide it’s time authority, leaving a trail of blood (her own and others’) behind they had a say in their living and working conditions. Fierce her as she learns new truths about Kiri, Amata, and Laqip… Judith Whittier organizes the workers into a union and ensures and herself. The use of second person seems to have become a their loyalty to the cause—and specifically, to their planned more popular choice for SF/fantasy writers in recent years, and strike at the mills—with the help of her friend Hannah Picker- Polansky wields it expertly here, with all the different charac- ing, a gentle and sickly Seer who bends her untrained magic into ters addressing themselves directly to Manet. Since we never a spell that uses a lock of every woman’s hair to literally weave hear Manet’s thoughts or what she says (except in one section), all of them into solidarity. Now the union members are magi- we are forced to figure out who she is and what her goals are cally compelled to maintain the strike, but what will they do based on what the other characters say and how they respond when the mill owners’ agent, the hardhearted Mr. Boott, brings to her. She is a protagonist-shaped point of focus around which in new and more desperate workers to take the strikers’ places the story forms, an open window through which readers can at the factories? As Judith and Hannah seek a magical solution observe every conversation and monologue, accreting knowl- to their cause, they both gradually realize that what they feel edge as they are directed to a seemingly inevitable conclusion. for one another is more than mere friendship. A feel-good mes- A fascinating concoction of metropolitan fantasy, mys- sage of a marginalized community battling amoral, exploitative tery, puzzle, character study, and oblique fable. capitalists might seem a bit obvious, but it also feels empowering during these uncertain times, when so many are still effectively disenfranchised. If the story has a flaw, it’s that it might’ve been richer with a higher page count and more development. romance The battle between the union and the establishment could have spawned additional twists and turns, more magic spells. Some more character development would also have been welcome; we learn a certain amount of Hannah’s history, but we learn very WRITTEN IN THE STARS little about Judith’s backstory and even less about the other mill Bellefleur, Alexandria girls’. Avon/HarperCollins (384 pp.) Slender but still well-crafted and satisfying. $15.99 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 978-0-06-300080-3

Two wildly different women fall in love while fake dating. Elle Jones is on her way to a blind date with Darcy Lowell, and disaster seems imminent. Not only is this the latest in a string of dating disappointments,

46 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult Ultimately skippable. Ultimately who have stuck with the 30-plus books of the Argeneau series willto be afind passable this addition even if the cast is getting rather large. New readers: Don’t bother, rather as large. bother, you’llreaders: New Don’t either be lost, is revealed and italicized Spanish words start being sprinkled in. sprinkled startbeing words Spanish italicized revealedand is of black leather outfitsand the notion that fate has selectedthe heroine, a vampire a see to refreshing it’s While love. true one excitement quickly fades once Ildaria’s previous sexual trauma of color–turned–vampiric superhero, they won’t find it here. annoyed, or infuriated. Her characterization is hollow enough to hear an echo. Readers Readers echo. an hear to enough hollow is characterization Her If If readers are expecting a nuanced representation of a woman 47 | 1 september 2020 | | kirkus.com | romance - - - - When Darcy asks

Ildaria Garcia left the Dominican A A secretive club owner might just break his greatest rule: fall Don’t in love with an Immortal. vived a vampire attack that left her an IMMORTAL ANGEL IMMORTAL Sands, Lynsay Sands, Republic Republic 200 years ago after having sur $7.99 paper | Sep. 29, 2020 $7.99 Immortal Immortal and in constant fear of retri- 978-0-06-295630-9 Avon/HarperCollins (368 pp.) Avon/HarperCollins The stars align in this charming queer rom-com. The stars but she’s running late and wearing a pair of sexy undies so by Ildaria and her kind. While Ildaria is physically running from runningphysically is Ildaria While kind. her and Ildaria by bane than a boon, forcing Ildaria to lie low after her crime-fight her after low lie to Ildaria forcing boon, a than bane bution from the man who attacked Moving her. from place to loss, but Darcy has of Tired different having plans. her brother, love life, she lies and says the two hit it off. her lifestyle unstable and unsuitable, and she thinks present her to go along with the lie, it turns out that Elle has her own loves cheap boxed wine; Darcy orders a $56 glass of Chardonnay. Chardonnay. of glass $56 a orders Darcy wine; boxed cheap loves her past, G.G.’s avoidance is more the emotional sort. When the When sort. emotional the more is avoidance G.G.’s past, her uncomfortable uncomfortable she can “practically taste her spring-fresh laun- possibility of Ildaria and being G.G. mates is brought up, due place, she place, her does pasther best keep hidden to while acting as with Elle’s astrology business, Oh My Stars—meddling in her reasons to take part in a fake dating scheme: Her family finds ing herself in a solid relationship might take some of the pres run by Joshua James Simpson Guiscard, known as G.G. Though asG.G. known Guiscard, Simpson James runJoshua by interested in interested falling in love. Elle writes the night off as another ing exploits go viral. The Night Club (yes, that’s the name) is sure off. The plot doesn’t The deviate plot sure much doesn’t off. from other fake-dating than meets the eye. But the plot’s predictability doesn’t detract predictability doesn’t than meets the eye. But the plot’s to to their immense attraction, both of them must grapple with their prior baggage. Can ever G.G. love an immortal vampire? the venue caters to a supernatural clientele, G.G. is all human. A A human. all is G.G. clientele, supernatural a to caters venue the fascinated and of fearful both him made hasevent traumatizing conversations around conversations nontraditional career paths and breaking optimistic, straight-laced actuary Darcy is harshly realistic. Elle realistic. harshlyactuary is Darcy straight-laced optimistic, away from familial expectations. Fans of pop culture–inspired astrology sites will love the effortless and entertaining way the author weaves zodiac memes throughout the text. and time spent together reveals there is more to both women a vigilante. social However, media has proved to be more of a from its two compelling leading ladies, and there are interesting interesting are there and ladies, leading compelling two its from favorites—awkward first dates lead to passionate first kisses dry detergent.” Despite Elle’s best intentions, the eveningis, in best intentions, dry Elle’s Despite detergent.” endearingly is Elle astrologer free-spirited Where horrible. fact, Can Can Ildaria live with endangering a come to care man for? she’s Brandon—who’s the creator of a dating app that’s collaborating that’s app dating a of creator the Brandon—who’s Elle believes in soul mates and is determined to find her own; Darcy had her heart broken by her andex-fiancee is no longer There’s nothing terribly There’s new in this paranormal romance—lots nonfiction HIS VERY BEST These titles earned the Kirkus Star: Jimmy Carter, a Life Alter, Jonathan HIS VERY BEST by Jonathan Alter...... 48 Simon & Schuster (800 pp.) $37.50 | Sep. 29, 2020 THE LOOK OF THE BOOK by David J. Alworth & 978-1-5011-2548-5 Peter Mendelsund...... 49 ROME IS BURNING Presidential historian Alter delivers by Anthony A. Barrett...... 52 the first full-length, comprehensive biog- AN ARISTOCRACY OF CRITICS by Stephen Bates...... 52 raphy of Jimmy Carter. James Earl Carter Jr. (b. 1924), the GLORY by Kahran Bethencourt & Regis Bethencourt...... 58 peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, can be “brisk—sometimes peevish—in private, with a biting wit THE LAST AMERICAN ARISTOCRAT by David S. Brown...... 61 beneath the patented smile.” So writes Alter, observing that Carter, who cooperated with the author, was not always the nice FRIDAY NIGHT LIVES by Robert Clark...... 68 guy of his public image. What irritates him most, it seems, is the widespread, almost canonical perception that he was weak. “I SYLLABUS by William Germano & Kit Nicholls...... 72 made many bold decisions,” Carter insists, “almost all of which REVOLUTION OR DEATH by Justin Gifford...... 72 were difficult to implement and not especially popular.” Alter demonstrates as much, meticulously unfolding proof of Carter’s BLOOD AND OIL by Bradley Hope & Justin Scheck...... 74 many accomplishments while just as carefully showing his missteps. High on the list of the latter was a managerial style that GHOSTWAYS by Robert Macfarlane & Stanley Donwood & left Cabinet members to operate pretty much as they wished, Dan Richards...... 78 leading to incoherence at times. However, his achievements, HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON both during his presidency and after, are significant, as Alter by Jon Meacham...... 79 capably demonstrates. The former naval officer (the title comes ELEANOR by David Michaelis...... 80 from a stern interview Carter endured with Hyman Rickover) tried not just to be a good man, but also to do his best every day. VOICES OF A MASSACRE Ed. by Nasser Mohajer...... 80 As Alter notes, one bit of evidence for this was that Carter never lied, unlike the current occupant of the White House. He also THE HARDEST PLACE by Wesley Morgan...... 81 made significant advances in civil rights as governor of- Geor JOHN BERRYMAN AND ROBERT GIROUX gia. Even though “some reporters were already thinking of him by Patrick Samway.....83 as a fluke,” when he edged out Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election, he corralled a big-tent Democratic Congress REPORTS FROM HELL by Chas Smith...... 85 and plenty of Republicans as well with a governing style that HUMANS by Brandon Stanton...... 85 revealed “no distinct political ideology.” Other achievements were further opening China after Richard Nixon first cracked TRUE CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS by Jeffrey Toobin...... 86 the door and bringing Israel and Egypt together, if uneasily, for the Camp David Accords. Even the Panama Canal treaty, used THE WAR OF THE POOR by Éric Vuillard; by Ronald Reagan as a wedge issue, was successful, and though trans. by Mark Polizzotti...... 87 Carter faltered with respect to Iran’s Islamic Revolution, he can be credited for broadening democracy around the world—for MAX JACOB by Rosanna Warren...... 88 which he deserves greater appreciation. THE PEOPLE ON THE BEACH by Rosie Whitehouse...... 89 Students of recent presidential and world history will find Alter’s anecdotally rich narrative immensely rewarding. AMERICAN CONTAGIONS by John Fabian Witt...... 90

48 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | A book about books that deserves a spot in every bibliophile’s collection. the look of the book

THE LOOK OF with her family to Canada as a teenager after the suicide of her THE BOOK father. In the first half of her observant and unforgiving account Jackets, Covers, and of a life that “has always been a precarious mix of gutter and Art at the Edges of Literature ballroom, of intense work and absolutely unhealthy play,” Amiel Alworth, David J. & Mendelsund, Peter discusses her unhappy childhood, a series of career moves, Ten Speed Press (292 pp.) a “backroom” abortion, years of clinical depression, and four $50.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 marriages, the last one to former newspaper magnate Conrad 978-0-399-58102-1 Black, to whom Amiel has remained ferociously loyal. This half is packed with enough memorable characters, household moves, A lively compendium that proves dinner parties, and jewelry shopping excursions to fill at least that, at least in some respects, you can three typical memoirs. The second half, a tough slog, is devoted indeed judge a book by its cover. almost entirely to Black’s legal problems, which culminated The cover or dust jacket of a book does many jobs, write lit- in a 2007 trial and incarceration in a federal prison in Florida. erary scholar Alworth and designer Mendelsund, creative direc- “Knowing profoundly that my husband was innocent and being tor at the Atlantic: It’s meant to sell the book, of course, but it’s relentlessly persecuted for crimes that hadn’t taken place”— also ideally a work of art. The latter requires explanation, “since and noting to readers who may find the subject less compelling art is usually understood to have no commercial purpose what- than she does that “this is my book and my game”—the author ever, and there’s no getting around the fact that book covers proceeds to excoriate at length the “slithering creatures ris- are advertisements.” In the most memorable instances, there’s ing from the regulatory swamp” who brought her husband to no question of the art aspect: Think of the cover of The Great trial, the lawyers (on both sides) “indifferent to anything but

Gatsby, with its all-seeing female eyes, an image that figures at their own success and greed,” the jurors she feels weren’t up young adult several points in this book. The challenge of doing double duty to the task of evaluating her husband’s guilt or innocence, and as art and ad grows greater with the increased digitization of the the society “friends” who slipped away upon Black’s imprison- book, whether as an e-book or as a physical object sold online, ment. Even Amiel’s most enthusiastic admirers will grow weary in either instance requiring the cover to be “as effective at 1 1/2 of the massive amount of attention devoted to this relentless inches tall, which is the size of an Amazon thumbnail image, as onslaught. “This book,” she writes, “is simply an account of a they are at 9 inches tall, displayed in the window of the brick- woman’s life that…ran into a late autumn storm that continued and-mortar bookstore.” Alworth and Mendelsund range widely with droughts and predators to this, the very last flight.” in their examples, from pulp fiction to the most elevated litera- A celebrity memoir with an uncompromising kick that ture—Ulysses, for example, whose cover made highly effective could stand to shed at least 200 pages. use of the then-new Futura typeface. Some covers are acciden- tal, as when the designer of A Clockwork Orange, in its movie tie- in edition, failed to come through, requiring an all-night session THE WOMAN WHO from the art director. “Every time I see that image,” he says, “all STOLE VERMEER I see are the mistakes.” Mistakes or no, the design is brilliant, The True Story of as are the covers of Jo Nesbø’s The Snowman (its single drop of Rose Dugdale and the blood signals the genre) and Lee Clay Johnson’s Nitro Mountain, Russborough House Art Heist whose designer notes that the photo of “a deer alerted to foot- Amore, Anthony M. steps” connects to “The premise in film that fear builds in the Pegasus (272 pp.) anticipation, rather than in the thing itself.” $27.95 | Nov. 10, 2020 A book about books that deserves a spot in every biblio- 978-1-64313-529-8 phile’s collection. A rollicking biography of a female art thief. FRIENDS & ENEMIES In his lively third book about art and crime, Amore, the A Life in Vogue, Prison, & director of security at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Park Avenue tells the story of a “fiery, bold, and brash” Englishwoman who Amiel, Barbara stole for nationalistic reasons. Bridget Rose Dugdale (b. 1941) is Pegasus (400 pp.) a “true outlier and major figure in the annals of criminal history.” $27.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 Born into a wealthy family, she studied philosophy, politics, and 978-1-64313-560-1 economics at several colleges. A position at the Ministry of Overseas Development was “crucial” to her becoming an activ- More enemies than friends take cen- ist, as was her reading of Marx’s Das Kapital, with its discussion ter stage in Amiel’s fiery recollections of of British imperialism in Ireland. Dugdale was invigorated by her eventful life. seeing Cuba’s revolution in person, attending protests in Man- The conservative newspaper colum- chester, and visiting Northern Ireland. The Bloody Sunday pro- nist grew up in England during World War II and then moved tests were “responsible for her foray into Irish politics,” as she

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 49 necessary visions for america’s future Leah Overstreet Today, the United States is argu- The End of White Politics by Zerlina ably less “united” than at any other Maxwell (Hachette, July 7): “An insid- period of time since the Civil War, er’s analysis of what the Democratic and the 2020 presidential election Party must do to win as White voters is sure to add abundant fuel to a fire become the minority in the U.S. in that continues to spread into nearly the next 25 years….With a style that every aspect of American society. In is as infectious as it is cogent and this issue, you will find interviews accessible, the author outlines and with and features about authors who defends her recommendations and are addressing many of the nation’s strategies so thoroughly that the only biggest problems, whether it’s po- possible dissent is a willful disregard litical divisiveness, White supremacy, or economic infor the future of not just the Democratic Party, but the equality. Here what our reviewers said about five impor- future of all but the most privileged Americans.” tant books that demand the attention of anyone worried Stakes Is High by Mychal Denzel about the future of the U.S. Smith (Bold Type Books, Sept. 15): “A The Great Demographic Illusion by Richard Alba (Princ- young Black man surveys the land- eton Univ., Sept. 1): “A sociologist offers an optimistic, scape and finds America a poisonous, densely argued text about why ethno- broken place—but perhaps not irre- racial assimilation will continue to be trievably so….Anyone who has fol- a part of the American future—and lowed the headlines recently knows why it’s beneficial and important for that life for African Americans is the nation… for all Alba’s optimism, fraught with peril, the American he knows that the process of assimi- dream ever more distant….An urgent lation now under way won’t be com- and provocative work that deserves pleted until equality and inclusion in- the broadest possible audience.” crease. To that end, he proposes clear The American Crisis by the writers of the Atlantic social policies that he believes will (Simon & Schuster, Sep. 15): “In hasten the process, most of them fo- keeping with the Atlantic’s goal of cusing on directly addressing racism, economic inequal- ‘debating and illuminating Ameri- ity, and educational opportunity….A heartening, wise, ca’s meaning and purpose,’ editor at and profoundly important counternarrative to hysteria.” large [Cullen] Murphy gathers 40 Won’t Lose This Dream by Andrew Gumbel (The New incisive essays from an impressive Press, Aug. 25): “An urban university strikes a determined roster of contributors….The essays path to improve the academic perfor- are grouped into four sections: The mance and graduation rates of minor- first looks at ‘underlying conditions ity students—and does much more in of society as a whole that have been the bargain….Georgia State Universi- deteriorating for decades.’ The sec- ty is scattered across several campus- ond examines the failure of politics; es in Atlanta, long a choice of Black the third covers the disastrous Trump presidency; and and Latino students who lacked the the last focuses on the possibility for the nation’s rein- means to go to schools farther from vention....Among many unsettling pieces are profiles of home. It barely ranked among insti- Newt Gingrich, Paul Manafort, Ivanka Trump, and, most tutions of higher learning until, dur- disturbingly, conspiracy theorists enraptured with QA- ing the last financial crisis, the - uni non. Other top-notch contributors include Anne Apple- versity’s president made it a priority baum, George Packer, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ibram X. Ken- to improve conditions….Required reading for education di, and Yuval Noah Harari.” reformers seeking to broaden community connections and benefit minority constituencies.” Eric Liebetrau is the nonfiction and managing editor.

50 | 1 september 2020 | fiction | kirkus.com | transitioned from “intellectual activist to militant operative.” volunteers, raise funds, and marshal grassroots power. Those Englishman Walter Heaton, a married “revolutionary social- skills served her well as she moved into more public positions, ist,” became her comrade in arms and, later, her lover. Dug- winning an election to the California State Assembly in 1976 dale’s aggressive activism earned her the nickname “Angel of and to the U.S. Congress in 1990. The authors report the many Tottenham.” In 1973, she broke into one of her family’s estates causes that Waters has championed, trace her rise to increasing and stole eight valuable paintings to fence for the Irish Republi- visibility and power, and even include a gushing chapter on her can Army, a crime for which she received a suspended sentence. fashion choices. With two “local toughs,” she hijacked a helicopter in a botched A lively pop history of an impressive career. aerial bombing of a British police station in Northern Ireland. As Amore writes, Dugdale had “elevated her status from gun- runner and rabble-rouser to bona fide terrorist.” In 1974, Ver- OUR LAST SEASON meer’s painting The Guitar Player was stolen from England’s A Writer, a Fan, a Friendship Kenwood House. Amore believes Dugdale was the thief, but it Araton, Harvey was never proven. Then came the “biggest theft in the world,” Penguin Press (256 pp.) as Amore extravagantly describes it: Dugdale and her IRA cro- $28.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 nies brazenly stole 19 paintings from Ireland’s Russborough 978-1-984877-98-7 House, including Vermeer’s Woman Writing a Letter With Her Maid. She only stood trial for the bombing and was sentenced to A sportswriter pays tribute to one of nine years. Released in 1980, Dugdale has become “something professional basketball’s most passion- of an icon in Ireland.” ate fans.

A captivating, detail-rich biography of a “criminal legend.” New York Times scribe Araton, who young adult has written multiple books about the NBA, was relatively new to sportswriting the day he met RECLAIMING HER TIME Michelle Musler, a New York Knicks fan 16 years his senior, The Power of Maxine Waters when she “crashed an evening gathering of media regulars” at Andrews-Dyer, Helena & Thomas, R. Eric the 1981 All-Star Game. Musler was a Knicks season-ticket Illus. by Dorsainvil, Sabrina holder from the early 1970s to the mid-2010s, most of those Dey Street/HarperCollins (240 pp.) years at courtside. She died in 2018 at age 81. In this affectionate $26.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 memoir, the author describes his decadeslong friendship with 978-0-06-299203-1 this mother of five who divorced her cheating husband when she was in her 30s and started a global executive-training busi- An homage to a political powerhouse. ness that often took her away from her kids. Much of the book In a book conveyed in the same focuses on Araton’s career and Knicks history. Curiously, Musler breezy tone as Brenda Jones and Krishan Trotman’s Queens of is in the background for long passages, a bench player rather the Resistance: Maxine Waters, Washington Post reporter Andrews- than a starter. A lot of the basketball talk—who got traded for Dyer and Thomas, a senior staff writer at elle.com, offer an whom and so on—is strictly for fans, and some readers may be admiring biography of the prominent legislator, illustrated by discomfited by the privilege on display. Not every passionate Dorsainvil and including many photographs. The authors draw fan can contact a Knicks source to get tickets to champion- on abundant media coverage of Waters’ life and career, her ship road games or have a friend at the Times who “straddled legislative record, interviews with friends and colleagues, and or crossed a fine professional line” by publishing her obituary Thomas’ interview with Waters in 2017 to recount her rise from in a paper that reserves that recognition for more famous fig- “humble beginnings as a Head Start teacher in the projects to ures. At its best, the book shows Musler and Araton addressing meetings with Nelson Mandela and Hillary Clinton and Barack universal questions—whether they lived honorable lives, made Obama.” The book’s title comes from Waters’ testy exchange lasting contributions, or spent enough time with family. Former with Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, in July 2017, Knicks coach Pat Riley said a season can end only in winning or where she repeatedly insisted that he answer her questions, misery. For Musler, “her love of the journey was what defined interrupting his calculated digressions by invoking the parlia- her as a fan.” That’s the message of this book: Between birth mentary rule of “Reclaiming my time.” The much-publicized and the misery of death, find the happiness in between. anecdote testifies to Waters’ outspoken, take-no-prisoners style A wise if occasionally rarefied look at the forms that love and refusal to be intimidated, earning her the epithet “Kerosene can take. Maxine.” One of 13 children, Waters struggled to claim her time at home and at school, working hard for recognition. Married at 18, a mother at 20, she and her husband moved to California, where she worked at the telephone company until a friend told her about an opening at Head Start. “Head Start changed my life,” Waters said in an interview. “Through Head Start I discovered me.” She learned how to organize parents and community

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 51 A well-constructed, timely study, clearly relevant to current debates. an aristocracy of critics

ROME IS BURNING didn’t fiddle while the city burned, and no one, including the Nero and the Fire That suspected, martyred Christians, set the fire, whose precise ori- Ended a Dynasty gins remain undetermined. Yet for all that didn’t happen, the Barrett, Anthony A. conflagration did effectively destroy the Roman economy and Princeton Univ. (352 pp.) Nero’s reputation (although Barrett succeeds in saving what $29.95 | Nov. 10, 2020 can be saved of the emperor’s name) and led to his leadership’s 978-0-691-17231-6 collapse and the end of the imperial line that began with Julius Caesar. The city’s reconstruction, to which the author devotes A thorough, high-quality work much attention, led to architectural innovations like octago- on Emperor Nero and the fire that nal structures, domes, and the use of concrete vaulting. While destroyed Rome in 64 C.E. context-setting is necessary, there’s excess information about A noted biographer of such ancient the history of fires, and a couple of the book’s chapters, espe- figures as Caligula and Livia, Barrett focuses on one of the turn- cially those on the archaeological evidence of the fire’s extent ing points in the history of the Eternal City, one that proved and the city’s rebuilding, may be a test for general readers—but a “human tragedy” of panic, mayhem, horror, death, and loss. will interest students of the period. On the whole, the book is Drawing on the latest archaeological discoveries, writing with briskly written in a colloquial voice and succeeds in bringing practiced skepticism, challenging the accounts of ancient burning Rome vividly alive. Barrett ends with a distinctive sur- chroniclers, and showing his deep learning, the author sorts out vey of the places of Nero and the fire in a variety of artistic disci- and dismisses many of the myths surrounding the fire, which plines, including literature, film, and opera. An unusual number raged for nine days and destroyed two-thirds of the city. Nero of maps and photos add greatly to the reading experience. Sure to be the most enduring treatment of this major historical event for some time.

AN ARISTOCRACY OF CRITICS Luce, Hutchins, Niebuhr, and the Committee That Redefined Freedom of the Press Bates, Stephen Yale Univ. (336 pp.) $28.00 | Oct. 27, 2020 978-0-300-11189-7

In the 1940s, the news media became the focus of a notorious investigation. In 1944, Henry Luce, the overbearing, self-aggrandizing publisher of Time, Fortune, and Life, enjoined Robert Hutchins, the “imperious” president of the University of Chicago, to lead a Commission on Freedom of the Press. In a fascinating, pro- digiously researched intellectual history, media scholar Bates offers a penetrating examination of the commission, which resulted—after 17 meetings, 58 witnesses, 225 staff interviews, and a hefty financial investment—in a controversial report, A Free and Responsible Press. Both maligned and praised when it was published in 1947, the report, Bates writes, illuminates the problems of democracy and the media that continue to vex the U.S. At a time when the public deeply distrusted journal- ists, Luce directed his commission to investigate newsroom bias, “foreign and domestic propaganda, corporate domina- tion of political discourse, a fragmenting and polarized electorate, hate speech, and demagoguery, as well as what we now call echo chambers, trolls, deplatforming, and post-truth politics.” The commission’s egotistical, opinionated members, writes the author, “were not necessarily suited to committee work.” How- ever, they agreed that the media exerted a powerful force in

52 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | January 2020, 297pp, 7x10 TWO VOLUMES July 2020, 156pp, 6 1/8x9 1/4 August 2020, 379pp, 6x9 Hardcover: 978-1-4408-4970-1, February 2020, 774pp, 7x10 Hardcover: 978-1-4408-7661-5, Hardcover: 978-1-4408-7092-7, $97.00 Hardcover: 978-1-4408-6084-3, $40.00 $63.00

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| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 53 shaping public opinion, even when experts told them that most THE AMERICAN JEWISH people read only what they already believe and only about 20% PHILANTHROPIC COMPLEX care about public affairs. Bates fashions shrewd, deft character- The History of a Multibillion- izations of individual members: among them, “jaunty mystic” Dollar Institution philosopher William Ernest Hocking; pessimistic theologian Berman, Lila Corwin Reinhold Niebuhr; long-winded propaganda expert Harold Princeton Univ. (272 pp.) Laswell; outspoken poet Archibald MacLeish. On the whole, $35.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 the commission embraced “the democratic hypothesis” that “if 978-0-691-17073-2 people have access to the facts and arguments, they will govern themselves more wisely than anyone can govern them.” But The history, organization, and influ- they mounted no evidence, preferring instead “to meander in ence of American Jewish philanthropy. vague philosophical generalities rather than do the dirty hard Berman, the chair of American Jew- work of digging for facts.” Nevertheless, Bates argues persua- ish History at Temple University, delves into a little-studied sively, the report remains influential as a seminal examination area of American finance and culture: the “complex” behind of the media. Jewish philanthropy. While admitting that defining Jewish A well-constructed, timely study, clearly relevant to cur- philanthropy is not always a simple task, the author navigates rent debates. a sizable body of research—more than a century of giving and investing by and for the Jewish community, involving many bil- lions of dollars. Berman should be commended for creating a coherent, concise study of such a diffuse and sprawling subject. As the American Jewish population grew in the 19th century, so did its level of philanthropic sophistication. Organized mainly around geographically centered “federations,” these clearing- houses for giving sustained the growing immigrant community while also undergirding existing Jewish community needs. The early to mid-20th century brought a change in emphasis from “philanthropic distribution to philanthropic accumulation.” During these decades, federations and their donors shifted from the practice of immediate spending to a culture of endowment. This shift took on greater meaning following the Holocaust, as capital growth became a symbol of the survival and continuance of the Jewish community and culture as a whole. A second great shift took place in the last decades of the century, as the role of federations changed again from cen- tralized sources for asset accumulation to providers of financial services for individual donors. Throughout this century of philanthropic evolution, Berman identifies a dizzying array of market trends, political entanglements, special interests, and regulatory changes, most of which also affected American philanthropy in a more general sense. Hence, this study of Jewish philanthropy in America is both a cultural history in its own right as well as an expression of the fuller story of giving across a wide swath of American society. A meaningful addition to the fields of Jewish studies and philanthropy.

54 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 55 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Claudia Rankine

IN JUST US, THE POET AND ESSAYIST EXPLORES WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TRUTHFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE IN AMERICA By Tom Beer John Lucas Americans? In a starred review, Kirkus calls Just Us a “work that should move, challenge, and transform every reader who encounters it.” Rankine, 57, is the author of Citizen: An American Lyric—winner of numerous awards, including a National Book Critics Circle Award and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize—and other works of poetry, essays, and plays. She teaches at Yale, is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellow- ship, and is a founder of the Racial Imaginary Institute, an interdisciplinary collective that explores the role of race in our lives. Her latest play, Help, had just begun per- formances at The Shed in New York when theaters went dark in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in March. Rankine and I recently had our own conversation on the subject of race—and her work—on Kirkus’ Fully Booked podcast; she joined me from New Haven, Con- necticut, where she lives with her husband, photographer and filmmaker John Lucas, a frequent collaborator. I asked her why the idea of conversation was central to the book and what she wanted to explore through it. “You come to conversations, usually—like our conversation now—to learn from each other, to build something,” Rankine explained. “Not to be wrong or right but to really construct a world in which I tell you something, you tell me something, and we move forward from that. And that kind of building and mutual interest that gov- erns other conversations seemed to be stalled in talking about race in this country.” She elaborated: “We have seen that when race is on the table, when we’re talking about White suprema- Claudia Rankine’s new book is titled Just Us: An cy—notions around White supremacy, racism, inequi- American Conversation (Graywolf, Sept. 8). As the subti- ties—everybody clamps up. And at first I thought it was tle suggests, the theme of conversation runs throughout a kind of belligerence. But I have come to believe that this complex, multifarious work incorporating poetry, we have such different experiences that when a White essays, and artwork, plus pages of notes on sources and person says to me, ‘What do you mean this happens? I “fact checks.” How do we talk with one another—Black can’t believe this happens,’ what they’re really saying to and White—about race? What gets left unsaid? Why is me is, ‘This has never happened to me. And so I find it the conversation so challenging, especially for White hard to believe you.’ ”

56 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | The book’s opening essay, “liminal spaces i,” is a case of what it allows. And I thought for this book, it would in point. The piece is adapted from a New York Times be really amazing if I could bring all my worlds into the Magazine article in which she described talking about one book—so that Claudia the researcher, the person privilege with a number of White men—all of them interested in archival documents, the person who writes strangers—whom she encountered in airports and on poetry, the person who wrote essays could meet inside planes. As you might imagine, the conversations were this inquiry….And it did feel like a big enough subject sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes humorous, and that it needed everything I knew….I was going to throw almost always illuminating. Rankine told me that when the kitchen sink at it.” the piece ran in the Times, she received some 200 letters We ended our conversation by acknowledging that and more than 2,100 online comments, many from men Just Us—written before the deaths of George Floyd and who thought she “got it wrong.” Breonna Taylor and the summer’s mass protests against “That’s when I made the realization and really under- police brutality—is being published as a different sort stood that when I say White privilege, White men often of national conversation about race is beginning to take hear economic privilege,” Rankine explained. “And I’m ac- form. “I think that we are in an extraordinary moment,” tually just talking about the privilege to be able to live Rankine said. “What we’ve seen in Portland, what we’ve your life. To have an encounter with the police…or to seen during the protests across the country, is that for go to a store and to be able to just go down an aisle, pick the first time people are saying, ‘We’re ready to take on something up, pay for it, and leave without somebody the world in front of us.’ And in order to achieve sys- following me….Now I’m very careful, and I often say temic change inside the various institutions and sys- when I use White privilege: I’m talking about the ability tems that we have, we’re going to have to start one to to live—just live life.” one. We’re going to have to start speaking to each oth- If misunderstanding is one obstacle to the conversa- er with a shared vocabulary, a shared understanding, a tion about race, civility is another. “Civility is the thing shared recognition of American history. And so I can- that we have seen used to cover over the portal into real not think of a better time to begin to think about having conversations about reality,” as Rankine put it to me. In conversations.” young adult one of the book’s essays, “social contract,” she recounts a dinner party where the subject of the 2016 presiden- Just Us received a starred review in the May 15, 2020, issue. tial election came up, and one guest—who was writing The full conversation with Claudia Rankine can be heard on a book on it—said Trump had won because of econom- the Fully Booked podcast. ics, not racism. When Rankine challenged him, another guest abruptly changed the subject by commenting on dessert. Rankine writes, “It’s so blatant a redirect, I can’t help but ask aloud the most obvious question: Am I being silenced?” “The ramification of that is that I have never been invited to that house again,” Rankine said with a laugh. Had she perhaps pushed the point too far? “I think that when he insisted on the fact that it was all economics, that that was a moment when the violence that’s being done against Black people in the society was being erased,” she said. “I wanted to say, ‘You can’t erase a reality that is very dangerous for immigrants, for Black people, for women, that over 60% of White men voted into power’….I think we have to stop feeling like good manners are better than recognizing the inequities and inhumanity that is being brought to huge segments of the society.” I asked Rankine about the form of Just Us, which, like so much of her work, refuses to adhere to strict genre boundaries or conventions. “I’m a poet by training,” she said, “but I also write essays, and I have written plays. And each genre gives you something different in terms

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 57 An exquisite pictorial love letter to Black children around the world. glory

GLORY from across the U.S., London, and Paris. Others are adorned in Magical Visions of brilliantly colored fabrics and accessories from the countries Black Beauty where they live or have familial roots, including Ethiopia, South Bethencourt, Kahran & Bethencourt, Regis Africa, Kenya, and Senegal. All of the models are meticulously Photos by the authors styled in bold, ornate fashions, with equally bold, creative hair- St. Martin’s (256 pp.) styles. Their ensembles and accoutrements honor Black people’s $30.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 majestic ancestral past, rich present, and dauntlessly imagined 978-1-250-20456-1 futures. Whether clad in white cotton Sunday morning dresses with saddle shoes or intricate metal and beaded jewelry, this A photographic celebration of the “next generation of free thinkers and cultural innovators” dis- beauty and versatility of Black children and their hair. plays their power. Some images are accompanied by notes on The acclaimed husband-and-wife child photography team the children’s interests and the adversities they face. There’s transforms what began as the arresting AfroArt series on Ins- the contemplative gaze of 10-year-old, science-and-math–lov- tagram into a beautiful, inspiring photography book. As the ing Celai, the “youngest professional runway model to walk in Bethencourts write, “we didn’t just want to question traditional an all-adult lineup in New York Fashion Week”; the pure joy of beauty standards—we wanted to shatter them. We wanted to a trio of little girls wearing roller skates; and 9-year-old Darryl, create images that flew in the face of the established spectrum whose family had a hard time finding a school in Nairobi that of acceptable standards of beauty.” The result is a showcase of allows dreadlocks. There are activists and aspiring astronauts; the “talent, drive, determination, and ingenuity in our [Black] friends Pokuaa and Sarah, who excel at academics and sports youth across the diaspora.” Some of the children featured hail but can’t go to school every day because they also work to support their farming families; and a 13-year-old CEO who founded her own clothing line to fight racism and colorism. An exquisite pictorial love letter to Black children around the world.

A DEMON-HAUNTED LAND Witches, Wonder Doctors, and the Ghosts of the Past in Post–World War II Germany Black, Monica Metropolitan/Henry Holt (352 pp.) $29.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-1-250-22567-2

Of witch trials, quack medicine, and millenarian terrors in the ashes of the Third Reich. Given the fiery end of Hitler’s regime and the firebombing of Dresden and other cities, it’s understandable that ordinary Germans might have been apocalypse-minded in 1945. That was still true in 1949, writes history professor Black in this sometimes circuitous but well-paced account, four years after the Allied occupation and the division of the country into East and West Germany. In the wave of denazification that immediately followed surrender, old grudges surfaced in accusations of witchcraft and conspiracy theories. At the time, writes the author, German newspapers and kaffeeklatsches alike were also rife with rumors of the end of the world—not so far-fetched given the nuclear proliferation of the Cold War—and with revisitations of the old Norse stories of Ragnarok. Against this backdrop came one of Black’s principal subjects, a Danziger who changed his name from a Polish antecedent to the German Gröning—and who signed up for the Nazi Party years before the annexation, suggesting that he was looking forward to a comfortable life under Hitler. Instead, he grifted his way across the postwar landscape, engaging in a form of faith healing that

58 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | yielded a string of faux miracles—but also a negligent homicide BLOOD RUNS COAL or two. (One of Gröning’s tools, not surprisingly, was tin foil.) The Yablonski Murders and The German courts eventually restrained “Gröning the Wun- the Battle for the United derdoktor” from practicing medicine without a license along Mine Workers of America about the time he died and he and his victims were forgotten. Bradley, Mark A. Other memorable figures Black examines include a crusader Norton (336 pp.) who “had a way of popping up almost anywhere that witchcraft $27.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 accusations surfaced” in a country where pharmacies still sold 978-0-393-65253-6 magical potions with names such as “devil’s dung” until legally ordered to use “ordinary German names.” Cat-and-mouse account of the mur- Though of specialized interest, an eye-opening look into der of a union activist battling corrup- a corner of postwar history that seems more medieval than tion in the coal fields. modern. Attorney and former CIA officer Bradley recounts the 1969 murder of Joseph Yablonski, who rose through the ranks of the United Mine Workers of America to become a lieutenant of John SONATA L. Lewis, a champion of miners’ rights. Yablonski, writes the Bowden, Charles author, was “stunned” when Lewis selected an empty suit named Univ. of Texas (152 pp.) Tony Boyle to become his vice president. While Lewis took his $24.95 | Nov. 3, 2020 union members out on a long strike and denounced coal compa- 978-1-4773-2223-9 nies for ignoring worker safety, Boyle was an accommodationist young adult A trademark hallucinatory tour of the Southwestern borderlands by its chief literary interpreter. The work of Bowden (1945-2014) falls into two rough categories: meditations on the psychotic world of the drug car- tels and its supporting players south of the border and the wan- ton destruction of desert places by capitalist predators to the north of it. In this posthumous work—one of numerous books that he left behind in various states of completeness—he writes of a beleaguered Border Patrol agent attempting to keep illegal crossers from coming across the line even as a coyote tells him, tauntingly, “I’m crossing fifty Brazilians tomorrow, right along this stretch and you can’t stop me.” Naturally, he made good on his promise. Two leitmotifs play prominently in Bowden’s book: sandhill cranes, intermediaries between the human and spirit world; and madness, whether enacted by institutional- ized patients in a Mexican jail or by the renowned painter Vin- cent Van Gogh. (It’s Bowden’s love for Beethoven, who makes an appearance, that gives the book its title.) Bowden has two rhetorical modes as well: swiftly moving run-on sentences that take up whole pages (“…you are the illegals coming north, or climbing out of a container in a port and here is what is wrong with you, you didn’t pick the right parents and this will not be forgiven, and this is true of the Mexican or the Chinaman or the zone-tailed hawk or the lion padding softly down the creek in the night, eyes huge with hunger for the fresh blood of the deer”) and portentous, short, fragmentary paragraphs (“I drift off, people tell me I vanish before their eyes. A ghost in my own life”). The former category is dominant, and if the author is incantatory, one sometimes wishes he’d reach for a period. Ear- lier works such as Blue Desert and Killing the Hidden Waters are more disciplined in this regard. Not Bowden at his best, but even middling Bowden is better than most contemporary authors at their peaks.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 59 who, after a terrible mine accident, went out of his way to absolve A well-paced, thorough investigation of a half-century-old the owner of responsibility and “reminded the families, as if they crime whose effects are still felt in the Appalachian coal fields. did not already know it, that coal mining was a very dangerous way to make a living.” Clearly Boyle wasn’t the right man for the job, but when Yablonski mounted a campaign to replace him as 150 GLIMPSES OF union president, Boyle arranged for his murder. When hired kill- THE BEATLES ers infiltrated Yablonski’s home, they killed his wife and daughter Brown, Craig as well. It took years of courtroom tedium, coordinated by pros- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (592 pp.) ecutor Richard Aurel Sprague, to arrive at the facts of the kill- $30.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 ing. Readers may feel that justice was not fully served when they 978-0-374-10931-8 learn that a couple of the principals, including a manipulative woman who betrayed her own father, were allowed to slip away An overstuffed gathering of Beatle- into the witness protection program. Still, like Sprague, who mania, an evergreen subject. had a remarkable winning record (“He had sought first-degree Who knew that Paul McCartney murder convictions in sixty-four cases and got what he asked wrote “Why Don’t We Do It in the for in sixty-three”), Bradley sets forth a methodical, step-by-step Road?” after watching “a couple of mon- account of the vicious murders and Boyle’s fall from power and keys copulating en plein air” in Rishikesh? Or that John Lennon life imprisonment. Yablonski loyalists were able to effect some hesitated to let Paul join his band since Paul could play and of the reforms he’d argued for, including a more effective pension might jeopardize his leadership? Brown, whose last book was plan and overall stronger union. an award-wining biography of Princess Margaret, serves up 150 episodes, most running just a few pages, concerning the lives and work of the Beatles, with poor Ringo, as ever, mostly an afterthought. (The author quotes American writer Carolyn See to deem the drummer “patron saint of fuckups the world over.”) Brown is not an uncritical worshipper, but when he does criti- cize, it’s seldom fresh. He observes, as have so many, that John and Paul needed each other as creative foils and competitors and that when they separated, their solo work suffered, “with John falling back on self-pity and Paul giving in to whimsy.” Still, there are some little-known moments here, as when Kingsley Amis railed, “Oh fuck the Beatles” in a bitter letter to Philip Larkin, attaching a nasty racist epithet to Yoko Ono in passing. Another example is when Brown describes the Maharishi’s retreat in India, which, thanks to the tobacco heiress Doris Duke, was “far from spartan,” though conducive enough to feelings of spiritual exaltation that John was reduced to writing “hippy-dippy lyrics” that later resolved into such self- doubting tunes as “Jealous Guy.” Collectors of all things Beatles will relish Brown’s description of their first time getting high, courtesy of Bob Dylan, who is “an enthusiast for visiting sites associated with rock stars,” touring John’s boyhood home after the National Trust acquired it. The author sometimes second- guesses, as when he decries the cover of Abbey Road, the quartet “generally looking as if they couldn’t be arsed,” but allows that it has since become iconic and often imitated, like the Beatles themselves. Light on brand-new news but a pleasure for Fab Four completists.

60 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | A splendid addition to the shelf of books about a distinctive, ever elusive figure in American history. the last american aristocrat

THE LAST AMERICAN THE NEW CHARDONNAY ARISTOCRAT The Unlikely Story of How The Brilliant Life and Marijuana Went Mainstream Improbable Education of Cabot, Heather Henry Adams Currency (320 pp.) Brown, David S. $28.00 | Aug. 11, 2020 Scribner (464 pp.) 978-1-984826-24-4 $30.00 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-1-982128-23-4 The complicated story of how marijuana went from back alleys to a multibil- A fresh, top-notch biography of lion-dollar American industry. Henry Adams (1838-1918). In Geek Girl Rising (2017), former Noted historian Brown once again trains his perceptive eye ABC news correspondent Cabot spotlighted successful pro- on a major American thinker. As a member of a powerful politi- fessional women in the male-dominated tech industry. Here, cal family, Adams possessed the strengths and prejudices of his she applies the same investigative reporting skills to the now- class, and his work both chronicled and reflected the decline of mushrooming cannabis industry, producing an intriguing, the Boston-centered gentry. Elevating self-pity—what Brown character-driven narrative about “a complicated and contro- calls his “sense of displacement”—into a unique sensibility and versial topic.” Wisely, the author focuses on primary figures generalizing from it, Adams made irony into a distinctive, signa- who have not only profited from this new enterprise, but ture style. His principal historical works—those about the Jef- changed the culture around the substance as well—e.g., Beth

ferson and Madison administrations and Gothic culture—are young adult unrivaled masterpieces. Yet despite a backward-looking mind, Brown notes that Adams also evinced traits of a modern man who, despite his often suffocating emotionlessness, responded to new experiences and historical developments with an open mind—but always critically. Unfortunately, like most members of his class and circle, he was also deeply anti-Semitic, ethno- centric, anti-labor, and racist. “I believe,” writes Brown, “that to understand much of America’s history, and more specifically its movement in the late nineteenth century toward an imperial, industrial identity, one both increasingly beholden to technology and concerned with the fate of the white race, is to understand Henry Adams.” The author presents his “critical profile” of Adams, a man of “fluidity of identity,” with the acuity that marks his earlier works. Few write so confidently of the American historical writings produced by both academic and freelance writers. When Brown leaves American precincts, as he must to write about Adams’ late-life masterpiece, Mont Saint Michel and Chartres, he is less sure-footed, but that weak- ness only modestly mars the book’s many strengths. It takes up easy company with related works on Adams by Ernest Samuels, Garry Wills, and Edward Chalfant. In deftly capturing a man of enormous scholarly achievement, near-tragic limitations, and symbolic significance in American history, Brown gives us another fine biographical study. A splendid addition to the shelf of books about a distinctive, ever elusive figure in American history.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 61 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Marie Mutsuki Mockett

FOR AMERICAN HARVEST, THE AUTHOR SPOKE WITH THE GREAT PLAINS FARMERS WHO PUT FOOD ON OUR TABLES By Eric Liebetrau

Sylvie Rosokoff the thing; with it, some stereotypes shade away or at least become more complicated.” It’s a fitting, educative book for our divisive times. I spoke with Mockett via Zoom; the conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

What was the impetus for this journey? I was on the farm with my father and thought that nobody really knows anything about this world. I believed it would be fun to write about it, but I was working on fiction at the time. Then the tsunami happened in 2011, and I wrote an op-ed that propelled me into writing a book about Japan. For that project, I did so much international travel and had to learn a lot of vocabulary words about Buddhism. It was really difficult, so I thought that I would like my next project to keep me domestic and to just involve the English language.

You write about America’s “big cultural difference as being Christian farmers versus atheist knowledge workers.” Your book offers viable avenues to bridge that divide. Can you discuss that in more detail? I learned this term “knowledge worker” maybe 20 years ago, and I’ve thought about it ever since. With my education, that’s kind of the group of people that I belong to, but I also didn’t grow up that way. So there’s probably a degree to which I’ve always been trying to bridge that In American Harvest: God, Country, and Farming in the difference, before I even knew that I was. I wanted to Heartland (Graywolf, April 7), which our reviewer called “a go visit the farm and the people who work there, to see revealing, richly textured portrait of the lives of those who if there was a way to look at them again, outside of the put food on our tables,” Marie Mutsuki Mockett chron- way I was encouraged to do when I was living in [New icles her journey with wheat harvesters across the Great York City], where I was surrounded by people who had Plains. The author spent summers on her family farm in purely knowledge worker backgrounds—unless they go Nebraska (and a small part of Colorado), and her portray- to a B&B in Vermont and meet a farmer. als of the land and its people are not just lyrical, but culturally and spiritually illuminating. Through her travels, Talk about Eric, the lead wheat harvester and the “Mockett analyzes the divides between rural and urban, re- book’s primary character. I was impressed by the ligious and apathetic or atheistic, conservative and liber- depth of his thought and willingness to engage in al.…Refreshingly, the author finds that conversation is just sometimes uncomfortable conversations.

62 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | People ask me all the time, is Eric really unusual? He is a trying to understand what that actually is. At the end of particularly thoughtful person, and I am extraordinarily the book, Eric demonstrates ways in which he’s trying fortunate to know him and his son, who is also interest- to be authentically better. This is a farmer who’s not on ing. Some of their blood relatives don’t necessarily think Facebook, just virtue signaling. He’s actually asking him- things through with the same sort of care that those two self, how can I live my life differently? He called me re- men do. So they are unusual, but I don’t think that they’re cently and told me that he and his relatives and colleagues so unusual, either. I’ve gotten letters from people who were having conversations about Black Lives Matters, have read this book, mostly White guys who feel seen and that’s not something they would have done before. and then want to tell me about it, and many are alarmed by Trump and what has happened to our country. We live in fraught times. How can we all be better? Listen to other people’s stories and recognize their sto- Your descriptions of the mechanics of the farming pro- ries as real. I believe that activism is so important in our cess are particularly eye-opening to a neophyte like me. country, but I also think that there’s room for conversa- Is it beneficial for everyone to understand the process tion, which is what this book is about. It’s really impor- better—and not just in a vague philosophical sense? tant that activists speak the truth and are not negotiat- I think so. I had a conversation with a colleague who was ing on what they have to say, but we also have to speak to born in the Midwest. He said, “I’ve left that world be- each other. My friend recently said that anyone who vot- hind. I live in the city now.” I told him that’s complete- ed for Trump is a racist. I understand the satisfaction that ly fine, but your food does not come from the city—and comes in saying something like that, but I also really want that is true for all of us. We’re getting our food from a dif- our country to be better. I believe it can be, and through ferent part of the country, and it’s probably being raised conversation, sometimes that can happen—although I and transported by people who, if we just handed them a do also see that it has to be paired with activism. questionnaire, on paper would look very different than we do and hold different beliefs. But our system is inter- I agree—actual civil conversation, not just yelling at dependent. each other. young adult Conversation does not necessarily yield instant gratifica- What does the future of American farming look like to tion, but it can lead to systemic and structural changes. I you? hope the book can inspire some people to engage in that We have an aging population when it comes to farming, process even though it’s not immediately gratifying and and there is not an inexhaustible source of soil. When I sometimes difficult. But it’s more rewarding in the end. talk to young farmers, they tell me that we will see more Latino farmers and more people of color. The U.S. is one American Harvest was reviewed in the Feb. 1, 2020, issue. of the few countries that is able to produce enough food to feed its own population, but there are a lot of questions that have to do with the growing population and climate change. We don’t have an inexhaustible supply. We can’t just continue to go to Whole Foods and pay a little bit more. We have to make food that can be disseminated everywhere.

Christian faith is strong within the community you portray. Can you discuss that dimension of your story? In a posthumous op-ed, John Lewis wrote, “The truth does not change.” I was greatly struck by this line and understood it more deeply than I would have a decade ago. As this book makes clear, there are Christians who see that Jesus was all about social justice for everybody around the world. I think sometimes in intellectual circles, people have a great deal of discomfort with that idea—and yet it’s a powerful concept and one that was significant in the civil rights movement. I take seriously that people have a spiritual dimension, and I am always

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 63

Just the thing for students of civics—which, these days, should include the entire polity. a user’s guide to democracy

Stavola, a Jersey Shore mother who attained wealth in the Ari- Cabot covers much of the relevant territory, from entrepre- zona medical marijuana business; Wanda James, the first Black neurship to women’s health to social justice. entrepreneur to own a business license in the cannabis indus- An entertaining story of the curious arc that brought the try; Bruce Linton, the founder of the first marijuana company cannabis industry out of the shadows. to trade publicly; and Mel MacDonald, “former U.S. Attorney appointed by President Ronald Reagan, fifth-generation Mor- mon, elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints A USER’S GUIDE TO (LDS), and unexpected supporter of legalizing medical mari- DEMOCRACY juana.” Perhaps the most interesting figure is Jeff Danzer, a How America Works home cook who has sought to match the various flavors and Capodice, Nick & McCarthy, Hannah aromas of cannabis to a wide variety of dishes as well as distill- Illus. by Toro, Tom ing the plant down its purest, most delectable essences. Dan- Celadon Books (240 pp.) zer created cuisine so delightful that Kate Hudson served up $16.99 paper | Sep. 8, 2020 his treats at her star-studded birthday party, and he eventually 978-1-250-75184-3 earned the nickname “Julia Child of Weed.” Another prominent figure is Ted Chung, a Wharton alum who leads Snoop An easily digestible, illustrated guide- Dogg’s cannabis investment strategy. On stage in 2019, Snoop book to the agencies and institutions noted, “I love the fact that I used to be a bad guy known for that make up the federal government. smoking weed like you used to read about me….Now it’s all Fans of the old Schoolhouse Rock! song “I’m Just a Bill” (“and love and it’s all peace and all understanding.” Indeed—and I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill”) will appreciate the straightforward approach that Civics 101 podcast co-hosts Capodice and McCarthy bring to the job of describing “how America works.” At the top of their discussion is the doctrine that each of the three branches of government is coequal, enshrining a system of checks and balances that emerged from James Madison’s Fed eralist essay urging that “ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” If that system is more observed in the breach than the act these days, it’s because the legislature has not asserted itself sufficiently. That said, the authors write, “the House can be a wild and crazy place,” subject to political movements like the tea party that shake things up periodically, while the Senate is less exuberant and more aloof, its members protected by six- year terms that were put in place, one supposes, to keep them above the fray. The Senate, write Capodice and McCarthy, was “created for debate,” with Senators able to talk for as long as they wish about any given bill—“or any other matter.” Both sides of Congress are inefficient, but that’s a feature and not a bug, meant to keep laws from spilling out of the Capitol dome too haphazardly. There are scarcely any qualifications for becoming president, either, apart from age and citizenship. The authors try for nonpartisanship, but it’s clear enough that they’re unim- pressed with the current occupant of the White House: “There are a whole lotta firsts in the Trump administration,” they write, “but here’s the one we’re going with: He is the first president since Polk to not have a pet.” Just the thing for students of civics—which, these days, should include the entire polity.

64 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com |

UNSUSTAINABLE who are least affected by the damages they cause,” and myopic, INEQUALITIES often selfish political decisions have resulted in the “weakening Social Justice and of the social state and the intensification of financial and trade the Environment globalization.” In a clear, balanced voice—particularly impres- Chancel, Lucas sive in the face of such maddening social conditions—Chancel Trans. by DeBevoise, Malcolm outlines five areas in which environmental inequality is most Belknap/Harvard Univ. (184 pp.) visible: access to resources, risk exposure, responsibility for $29.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 degradation, exposure to the toxic effects of misguided policies, 978-0-674-98465-3 and having a voice when it comes to decisions involving natural resource use. Although the author readily admits that he doesn’t A cogent argument that “unless have all the answers and that significant research is ongoing, he economic inequality is reduced, it will does submit a number of policy initiatives that could lead to be extremely difficult to attain the other goals of sustainable crucial steps forward, including investment in environmentally development.” impactful infrastructure, taxation based on ecological impact, Chancel, co-director of the World Inequality Lab at the and public transparency in the measurement and accounting Paris School of Economics, draws on peer-reviewed research to of progress. Chancel also suggests immediate changes in pro- show how continued economic inequality stands in the way of gressive taxation, retooled public services, communal water “democratic vitality, social well-being, economic efficiency, and management, improved public transportation, and ramping ecological stability.” One of the galling consequences of the cur- up energy efficiency requirements for housing and workspaces. rent situation is that “the biggest polluters are typically the ones Many of these efforts will require strong citizen participation young adult

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 65 An Insider’s Outsider View of America Raised in Sweden, the biracial child of American parents, author and hip-hop artist Jason Diakité has a unique lens on the U.S. [Sponsored]

By Megan Labrise Afsoneh Khorram times—of race and identity, and the roots and legacy of slavery, that are as visible today as they’ve ever been.” Growing up biracial in a small Scandinavian country, Diakité “wished for white skin, a people, an origin, a collective narrative, and a history,” he writes in A Drop of Midnight (Amazon Crossing, March 1). Even after becoming one of Sweden’s most successful musicians, he still struggled to find a sense of belonging. “Where was I supposed to start?” he writes. “As I created my identity, it became a patchwork quilt, a mosaic of irregular shards and pieces I meticulously tried to meld together into Jason Michael Bosak Diakité. I was never American, never Swedish, never White but never Black either. I was a no-man’s-land in the world.” Although it was written in Swedish, the An invitation to travel to South Carolina in memoir of world-famous hip-hop artist Jason 2015 provided a potential point of departure. “Timbuktu” Diakité could rightly be called an The occasion was the 100th birthday party of American tale. A poetic and profound explo- Cousin Willie, a first cousin of his late grand - ration of inheritance and identity, En droppe father Silas. He asked his father, Madubuko, to midnatt sold more than 100,000 copies in the join him on the trip, to show him where their author’s native country and was adapted into a family came from. stage performance in 2017. Now, in an English “My father refused,” Diakité says. “And I kept translation by Rachel Willson-Broyles, with nagging at him, and asking him, and he refused. an epilogue added in 2019, A Drop of Midnight We had several discussions about this. In the end, is ready for American readers. Kirkus calls it a after about two months, we found out that, first of “vibrant, thoughtful memoir reflecting contem- all, we missed the birthday party. That came and porary Black cultural concerns.” went. Then Cousin Willie passed. He celebrated “It is very much an American story,” says Dia - his 100th and then he moved on. And I just felt kité, who was born in Lund, Sweden, in 1975 to this deep sadness of the disappearing of a part of a White mother from Scranton, Pennsylvania, our history. Of our family history but also a first- and a Black father from Harlem, New York. “I hand account of Jim Crow South Carolina in the say that I’m of the United States, but I’m not ’20s and ’30s. So that was really painful for me.” from the United States. It gives me an insider’s He decided to make the trip without his father outsider view of a story that has been told many later that year. (A documentary filmmaker friend

66 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | young adult - - - podcast. Drop of Midnight is A a coming-of-iden “I’d say “I’d Fully Booked Diakité on the FullyBooked view with Jason cate to the United States. “It’s asking questions of askingof questions “It’s States. United the to cate belonging. And not it’s just my my it’s story, fam ily’s anIt’s story. unknotting of all these threads tity story,” says Diakité, who plans to one day relo day one plansto who Diakité,says story,” tity that make up who we are and where we come from andfrom trying find some answers to in that.” Megan Labrise is the editor at large. Listen to her inter Labrise at large. is the editor Megan - - - - | kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 67 Diakité hiscontinued pilgrimage through Bal “I “I know that there’s a pain in that,” he says. “One “One of the paradoxes that was revealed to .” again experiencing it afford to be a kind of tourist in our roots, in about about Southern culture, customs, andlabor, land an insider’s outsider view, he motored through the motored he view, outsider insider’s an self-discovery with a fresh perspective. He is the sum of his identities and then some—not “half” places places were to them and who they were in those places, Harlem and Scranton, have disappeared says. “And there’s a dividethere’s says. “And in our experiences, my scape. scape. Certain local vistas stirred deep feelings correspondence, he correspondence, emerged from his journey of nous, and expansive.nous, ries, ries, and the exploration of long-buried family came South Carolina,to I realized that I could come from come physically exist, what somehow those countryside with new friends, gaining insights joined instead.) In the style of Paul Theroux,with Paul of style the In instead.) joined but “double,” he writes—multicultural, multitudi writes—multicultural, he “double,” but me me while writing this book is that the I’m son of migrants but I’m not a migrant myself,” Diakité ‘home’ what to as own, my and dad’s my and mom’s dadand mom my that places thoughthe is….Even his parents, the excavation of childhood memo like in tracks sand. the over blown the the places from which we income, the poverty timore, Alabama, New Orleans, and New York to reassess his father’s reluctance to return. to reluctance reassess histo father’s from from which we come, because of the fact that within him, a recognition so powerful it led him City, City, where he’d briefly lived as by Complemented additional conversations with young a man. I was born in Sweden, never having known it. I was protected from the pain of seeing it and “I’ve “I’ve seen it in my father’s eyes. And when I A book that belongs in every football fan’s collection. friday night lives

and a “joint commitment to the common good.” While this may On Christmas night in 1776, George Washington and his be a tough sell given current societal trends, Chancel is a firm Continental Army scored a much-needed victory over Hes- believer in getting priorities straight, and he forcefully argues sian mercenaries, a triumph captured by German American for the importance of “subordinating commercial objectives to artist Emanuel Leutze in his 1851 painting, Washington Crossing the larger purpose of bringing about a far-reaching and durable the Delaware. It depicts 12 men in Washington’s boat, including ecological and social transition.” an 18-year-old lieutenant named James Monroe. This dramatic A concise, useful work of public policy. moment, suggests Cheney, foreshadowed the “Virginia Dynasty” (1789-1825), during which four of the first five presidents of the U.S. hailed from the Old Dominion. According to the author, THE VIRGINIA DYNASTY the four men—Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Four Presidents and the and Monroe—who composed the Dynasty were all “children Creation of the American of the Enlightenment” who valued individual rights as well as Nation slaveholders who “sensed the coming of a great conflict” over Cheney, Lynne that wicked institution and thus “feared for the Union.” Yet they Viking (576 pp.) were different. Washington was the prototypical leader, Jeffer- $36.00 | Sep. 29, 2020 son and Madison the “life-long students” and wordsmiths, and 978-1-101-98004-0 Monroe the diligent type who lacked the “intellectual agility” of his two immediate predecessors in office. At times they clashed: An edifying introduction to the lives Madison and Monroe ran against each other in a congressional of four presidents of the U.S. election, and Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe opposed the policies of Alexander Hamilton, Washington’s first secretary of the treasury. Cheney capably shows that despite these differences and disputes, the quartet helped lead to “the creation of the American nation,” and general readers will learn plenty from the text. However, the author breaks no new ground for those already familiar with the history of her principals, and her account suffers from supposition (too many instances of the phrase “may have”; “Jefferson and Madison surely took up the topic” of their health when they roomed together; “Madi- son, an uncommonly serious student, might have earlier been acquainted with such ideas”) and odd repetition (“at age twenty- nine, less than three months after his arrest, [Benjamin Franklin Bache] died of yellow fever at age twenty-nine”). A flawed yet informative history of the early years of the Republic.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVES Photos From the Town, the Team, and After Clark, Robert Photos by the author Univ. of Texas (192 pp.) $45.00 | Nov. 3, 2020 978-1-4773-2119-5

A return, 30 years later, to Permian High, the celebrated Texas football powerhouse highlighted in Buzz Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights. Clark, then a contract photographer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, recounts that he “was hungry, with a bit of a chip on my shoulder and fighting every day for the chance to prove my worth on the staff of this great newspaper.” When he learned that Bissinger, then an investigative reporter at the paper, was planning to write a book about the place that Texas high school football fans called “the Mojo of Odessa,” he made a pitch to shoot photos for it. In this outstanding portfolio,

68 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | Clark gathers outtakes and reprints freshly scanned from 137 have nothing more to learn.” They shouldn’t be afraid of fallow rolls of film that he hadn’t looked at for decades. “The players periods, which can serve “as preparatory to the fertile ones”; were frozen in my negatives and my mind as beautiful, strong nor of panic, which the author has found energizing. As for ask- athletes,” he writes, “but upon reexamination of the work I ing for help, Cleese writes that he always shows his work to oth- see macho warriors, as well as kids on the verge of adulthood.” ers, alert to their responses, but not necessarily adopting their It’s true: The players are very young, and for all the posturing advice for how to fix something: “you and only you must decide of the big-men-on-campus jocks, there’s often a vulnerability which criticisms and suggestions you accept.” While many of to them, particularly on those infrequent nights when Perm- Cleese’s observations and suggestions may seem obvious, his ian was losing. Clark has also photographed the players and candor is endearing. principals of that winning season in the years since, and his An upbeat guide to the creative process. captions sometimes tell stories that come not from the lives of the teenagers but instead from those of middle-aged men. One young man had a remarkable 1,300-yard rushing season and was heavily recruited by major colleges only to injure his knee during what Clark calls “a meaningless scrimmage,” losing his ticket out of a poverty-stricken childhood. Other players married and divorced their Permian sweethearts, went to prison, grappled with addiction, and worked the tough jobs of the hinterlands. Still, as one Permian gridiron vet recalls proudly, “I always say our fifteen minutes of fame have lasted

thirty years.” Hanif Abdurraqib provides the foreword. young adult A book that belongs in every football fan’s collection.

CREATIVITY A Short and Cheerful Guide Cleese, John Illus. by Rowson, Martin Crown (112 pp.) $14.00 | Sep. 8, 2020 978-0-385-34827-0

A versatile entertainer shares encouraging advice. Actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer Cleese, co-founder of Monty Python and co-writer and star of the British TV comedy Fawlty Towers—among many other achievements—draws on his long, accomplished career to offer a slim compendium of random musings on creativity. He is convinced, he writes, that “you can teach people how to create circumstances in which they will become creative.” Contrasting “quick, purposeful thinking” with ruminating, based on Guy Glaxton’s Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind, Cleese admits he was surprised to discover the power of the unconscious in creative processes. The unconscious is “like the language of dreams. It shows you images, it gives you feelings, it nudges you around without you immediately knowing what it’s getting at.” Although, like many people, he was taught to privilege analysis and critical thinking, he came to believe that creativity flourishes in “an atmosphere of uncertainty and gentle confusion.” Creative people, he has found, “are much better at tolerating the vague sense of worry that we all get when we leave something unresolved.” Among many pages of helpful hints, Cleese suggests that people are most likely to be creative doing something they know and care about, but they should avoid complacency. When they are sure they know what they are doing, “creativity plummets. This is because they think they

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 69 A worthy defense of a maligned generation, both passionate and policy-wonkish. ok boomer, let’s talk

SURROUNDED BY OK BOOMER, LET’S TALK PSYCHOPATHS A Millennial Defense of Our How To Protect Yourself Generation From Being Manipulated and Filipovic, Jill Exploited in Business (and in One Signal/Atria (208 pp.) Life) $17.00 paper | Aug. 11, 2020 Erikson, Thomas 978-1-982153-76-2 Trans. by Bradbury, Rod St. Martin’s Essentials (272 pp.) A sharp retort to critics of millenni- $26.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 als and the clichés of laziness and narcis- 978-1-250-76388-4 sism that cling to them. In her second book, journalist and A guidebook for deflecting psychological manipulators. lawyer Filipovic speaks directly to those who feel stung by the In Surrounded by Idiots (2019), communication expert Erik- insult “OK, Boomer,” delivered by millennials and GenY-ers son assessed (and color-coded) the most popular types of per- weary of smug elders’ lectures about gumption and hard work. sonalities. Here, the author uses a similar narrative structure Younger generations do work hard, she explains; indeed, they’ve and focuses on tactics to help readers avoid “play[ing] into the been forced to be always-on and take on multiple gigs in a time hands of an evil-minded psychopath.” As he shows, honing when the inequality gap has only widened in the past 50 years. one’s recognition of these personalities is especially important They earn less than boomers did at their age, carry much more because they exist in such a wide variety of settings, from ordi- student-loan debt, are more likely to delay marriage and chil- nary, daily situations to corporate boardrooms and government dren longer for economic reasons, have a harder time buying a offices. To some, the moniker “psychopath” may seem harsh, home, and feel more socially isolated (“our health is trending in but Erikson is consistent in his warning that the term is fitting the wrong direction”). The author places much of the blame for and that they are determined to exploit another’s weaknesses this predicament at the feet of boomers, particularly the Rea- to exact harm. His text reintegrates the four-color personality gan-era privatization schemes that economically hamstrung model from his previous book, and Erikson educates readers many younger people. In a section on the problem of mass on key psychopathic characteristics (superficiality, remorseless- incarceration, the author explores how people of color have ness, cunning, etc.), basic defense mechanisms against them, been disproportionately affected by the situation. As Filipo- and how to recognize them (partners, co-workers, superiors) vic notes, even progressive boomers shouldn’t crow too much: and diffuse deviant behavioral patterns. The author shows how Much of the hard work of the civil rights movement, she notes, to see through the deceptive fog of dangerously controlling was done by people born before the boomers. Ultimately, the behaviors and provides methods to rid one’s life of those whose book is less of a pile-on than a data dump: If there’s a statis- intent is to “drag many people down with them.” Throughout, tic showing the disparities in wealth and achievement between Erikson uses reality-based scenarios as examples, allowing read- boomers and millennials, she’s found it. That sometimes gives ers to properly arm themselves against manipulative tactics the prose a dutiful, white-paper feel, a problem alleviated by by acknowledging the systematic series of common control- interviews with people who express their anxieties about work, ling techniques employed by psychopathic personalities—e.g., parenting, climate change, and other topics. By the end, readers obfuscation or gaslighting. He also examines this conundrum will understand that Filipovic seeks to strike a conciliatory tone, through the perspective of the observer (the victim) to pro- asking that boomers avoid tarring younger generations and mote analysis of certain enabling behaviors that may make advocate for the return of the kind of work and family policies them attractive bait for hostile manipulators. Ultimately, the that benefitted them. author settles on one key countermeasure on which to focus: A worthy defense of a maligned generation, both passion- self-awareness. While some readers may find that the narrative ate and policy-wonkish. is alarmist, those fascinated by multifaceted behavior will heed Erikson’s warning about diabolically manipulative people and their presence in every corner of contemporary society. A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING Bluntly cautionary and applicable advice on the impor- The Curious History of tance of vigilance. Alphabetical Order Flanders, Judith Basic (368 pp.) $30.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 978-1-5416-7507-0

The centurieslong history of the evolution of the alphabet as we know it. In her latest, social historian and novelist Flanders tackles the curious history

70 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | of alphabetical order. The author creates a fitting structure poverty-stricken miners in neighboring communities who did for the book, proceeding from “A Is for Antiquity” to “Y Is for the same. Deeper interrogation forced Franklin to realize that Y2K” (not every letter gets its own chapter). Flanders moves his situation was temporary while the coal miners’ situation was from a discussion of language in the classical world all the way not. Ultimately, he was as equally deluded about the “relative to the 21st century, with hypertext and other breakthroughs ease of social mobility” as he was clueless about “the challenges in language acquisition and absorption. It might seem like a of systemic poverty.” Later in the book, Franklin probes how relatively dull subject, but the author’s prose is consistently the continued existence of color lines in America means that he engaging. “Writing is powerful because it transcends time,” she will always see young Black men like Trayvon Martin as differ- writes, “and because it creates an artificial memory, or store of ent from his sons and that this difference will always preclude knowledge, a memory that can be located physically, be it on the “shared vulnerabilities” that make empathy possible. The clay tablets, on walls, on stone, on bronze, papyrus, parchment best he can do is teach his sons to “embrace the humility and or paper.” Flanders introduces the Benedictine monks and their compassion necessary to get to know boys like Trayvon Martin.” influential work in their monasteries, and after spending several Wise and humane, Franklin’s book offers a timely, socially rele- chapters on the Middle Ages, she introduces the birth of print- vant portrait of the struggles facing thoughtful citizens seeking ing as well as movable type and the first card catalogs. Flanders to create a more just society for every American. admits that while many history buffs think that alphabetiza- Intelligent reading well suited to this moment. tion “followed hard on the heels of printing…the reality was less tidy, as reality usually is.” Fascinating character sketches further the story, among them vibrant portraits of Samuel Pepys, John Locke, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, but we should all hail

librarians (“the institutional memory of their libraries”) as the young adult unsung heroes of this history. Flanders often points out that many of the advances in the organizing principles of the alphabet have been the result of constant experimentation rather than lightning-strike breakthroughs. For readers who love language or armchair historians interested in the evolution of linguistics, this is catnip. For the mildly curious, it’s accessible, narratively adventurous, and surprisingly insightful about how the alphabet marks us all in some way. A rich cultural and linguistic history.

DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR American Essays Franklin, Joey Univ. of Nebraska (216 pp.) $19.95 paper | Oct. 1, 2020 978-1-4962-1210-8

A writer and English professor explores the “uncomfortable truths” of what it means to be a White, middle- class man in 21st-century America. Speaking from the perspective of middle age, Franklin boldly confronts the “delusional thinking” he views as “killing us softly, one narcissistic fairy tale at a time.” He does so through 12 essays that muse on the many self-deceptions in which he and countless Americans have engaged. The author begins by examining his role as a father through the game of toy soldiers he sometimes plays with his three sons. The game appears to be a harmless bonding activity, but as Franklin suggests, it also speaks to the way “masculinity and mayhem” are inextricably intertwined in American culture. The author observes that the same ready acceptance of surface truth has also characterized his view of class issues. While he was a poor graduate student in southeastern Ohio, he donated plasma for money and saw a connection between himself and the

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 71 An illuminating study of a complex, memorable historical figure. revolution or death

SYLLABUS REVOLUTION OR DEATH The Remarkable, The Life of Unremarkable Eldridge Cleaver Document That Changes Gifford, Justin Everything Lawrence Hill Books/Chicago Review Germano, William & Nicholls, Kit (368 pp.) Princeton Univ. (224 pp.) $28.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 $24.95 | Oct. 20, 2020 978-1-61373-911-2 978-0-691-19220-8 A searching biography of the Black An inspiring exhortation to make the Panther leader who “was a man of seem- standard college syllabus work harder ingly irreconcilable contradictions.” and better. As literary scholar and biographer Gifford clearly shows Germano and Nicholls, who teach at the Cooper Union for in this excellent account, which makes use of a trove of docu- the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, argue that ments and interviews unavailable to other writers, the trajec- the syllabus, “that almost invisible bureaucratic document,” tory of Eldridge Cleaver’s life (1935-1998) is confounding. He must become something more than the purposes it normally graduated from minor infractions to violent crimes as a young serves: as something of a contract between teacher and stu- man and spent a decade in prison, where he became a voracious dent (if you do X and Y, you will get an A) and as a repository of reader who “created vast bibliographies with dozens of titles” university policies on such things as unexcused absences, pla- and absorbed great bodies of knowledge. His prison memoir, giarism, and accommodation for special needs that the teacher Soul on Ice (1968), remains a classic, a defiant assertion of inde- almost certainly did not write. Both those functions are neces- pendence from behind bars. He was also adept at self-sabotage: sary, but the syllabus can be more useful. The authors encour- abusive, narcissistic, capable of turning on allies without sec- age teachers to keep a “secret syllabus” that is a teaching diary, ond thought. Cleaver achieved fame in the 1960s as a leader of reflecting on successes and failures in presenting material and the Black Panthers, advocating an increasingly militant Black eliciting students’ responses. Moreover, the authors hit hard nationalism. Fleeing federal charges after a shootout with and repeatedly on the thought that the best teaching turns on police, he spent years in exile in places like North Korea, where notions of “student-centered pedagogy,” which relies on collab- he made speeches that “implored freedom fighters to kidnap orative projects. “So when we craft a syllabus,” they write, “let’s ambassadors, blow up buildings and pipelines, and shoot anyone choose to think actively about the plan we’re making for stu- who stood in their way,” Cuba, and Algeria, where, as he often dents to know together and how to know together.” Over the did, he alienated his protectors. He finally returned to the U.S. course of this short book, the subject subtly transforms from and disavowed his revolutionary past to become, as he wrote to the Rousseauvian pedagogical contract to the act of teaching a confidant, “a big Patriotic Shit,” a path that took increasingly itself, with some useful pointers toward unwonted practices, unlikely turns: devotee of the Unification Church, momen- such as the teacher’s holding discourse back and insisting that tary darling of the religious right (he “hoped to capitalize on the students talk, as well as promoting the thought that if the America’s obsession with born-again Christianity”), designer course contains readings, students must be actively commit- of ill-fated codpiece-equipped trousers, anti-communist cru- ted to that work. “Because we sometimes fail to fully imagine sader, and, as his fortunes wound ever downward, tree trimmer. our students in that act of reading,” write the authors, “our syl- Cleaver even advocated for “identification cards to control ille- labi sometimes fail to create the right conditions for students gal immigration.” In the end, though, he was also addicted to to read well.” Overburdened teachers will cheer the authors’ crack cocaine and was diagnosed with prostate cancer, leading suggestion that they mark only categorical errors on written to his early death. One of the author’s early remarks is a fitting work—but perhaps will groan at the thought of reading “a fully epitaph: “a troubled man who survived by any means necessary.” corrected redraft.” An illuminating study of a complex, memorable histori- A thoughtful, provocative collection of well-tested cal figure. teaching strategies and philosophies that work across the curriculum.

72 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | THE DOMESTIC REVOLUTION first book; that term is what scientists call the object once it How the Introduction of hits the ground. In space, it’s a meteoroid. Streaking across the Coal Into Victorian Homes sky at night, it’s a meteor or shooting star. Readers who assume Changed Everything the author is describing an exotic phenomenon will quickly Goodman, Ruth learn their error. Roughly 40,000 tons of extraterrestrial mate- Liveright/Norton (352 pp.) rial fall to Earth every year. Most is “cosmic dust” that rains $27.95 | Oct. 20, 2020 down unseen, but about 60,000 “finds” have been discovered 978-1-63149-763-6 and moved to museums and private collections, and a small army of scientists and entrepreneurs is scouring the planet for British social historian Goodman, more. Most originate from the innumerable small bodies in the whose previous books brought Tudor asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the result of collisions. and Victorian societies to life, now turns The fragments drift through space for between 100,000 and to the advent of coal use. 30 million years before arriving on Earth. Sometimes a piece is Beginning in the 1500s, the increasing use of coal trans- large enough to produce a spectacular show and considerable formed heating, cooking, architecture, road-building, and, not damage. A fragment perhaps 20 km. in diameter that struck 66 least, London’s air. Although coal was adopted early by lime million years ago decimated entire ecosystems and wiped out burners (who produced mortar for building) and blacksmiths, the dinosaurs. Most consist of stone or a mixture of stone and the greatest use was in homes. “The early rise of coal,” writes iron; a few are almost pure iron. So far, none have contained the author, “is not a story about industry; it is a tale of domestic materials unknown to science, and they are sources of price- needs and comforts, of individual, private choices.” After a brisk less knowledge. Many asteroid stones remain unchanged since

overview of other forms of fuel—wood, peat, dung—Goodman whirling clouds of dust formed the solar system 4.6 billion years young adult offers a detailed, abundantly illustrated picture of the ways ago—and it was from these stones that scientists determined coal changed daily life for all classes throughout Great Brit- the age of the Earth. As the molten Earth cooled, iron and other ain, drawing from a prodigious number of sources, including heavy metals mostly sunk to its core out of reach, but iron mete- property inventories, house expenditures, town records, house- orites provide a sample. Along with long descriptions of hard keeping manuals, and recipe books. In addition, she recounts science, Gregory also explores the inevitable pop-science ques- her own experiences in facsimile houses, cooking and heat- tions. Stories of humans killed by a falling meteor are uncon- ing with different kinds of fuel and confronting the “nonstop vincing. Evidence for animals killed is weak, but meteors have cleaning” of the filth resulting from burning coal. “Coal meant definitely struck houses and bruised their occupants. more smoke within the living area,” she notes, “and it meant A solid education that is so detailed it will appeal mostly smoke that stung the eyes and affected breathing.” Neverthe- to amateur astronomers and geologists. less, coal became increasingly popular because it burned with a “small and uniform” flame and was plentiful, leaving more land for agriculture. Within a few decades, houses had chimneys, WELCOME TO THE kitchens had grates, and cooks had new recipes. The “cuisine NEW WORLD of coal” included “boiled or steamed puddings both sweet and Halpern, Jake savoury, roast meats which are in fact baked meats served with Illus. by Sloan, Michael ‘roast’ potatoes and all the trimmings, Victoria sponge cakes and Metropolitan/Henry Holt (192 pp.) hot buttered toast with jam.” For several centuries, coal served $21.99 paper | Sep. 8, 2020 as the predominant fuel for homes and industry. While in con- 978-1-250-30559-6 tinental Europe and the U.S., “domestic coal-burning barely lasted a century,” Londoners “cooked on coal for over 350 years.” Immersion journalism in the form An engaging history of social transformation. of a graphic narrative following a Syrian family on their immigration to America. Originally published as a 22-part series in the New York METEORITE Times that garnered a Pulitzer for editorial cartooning, the story How Stones From Outer of the Aldabaan family—first in exile in Jordan and then in New Space Made Our World Haven, Connecticut—holds together well as a full-length book. Gregory, Tim Halpern and Sloan, who spent more than three years with the Basic (320 pp.) Aldabaans, movingly explore the family’s significant obstacles, $30.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 paying special attention to teenage son Naji, whose desire for 978-1-5416-4761-9 the ideal of the American dream was the strongest. While not minimizing the harshness of the repression that led them to A thorough guide to rocks that fall journey to the U.S.—or the challenges they encountered after from space. they arrived—the focus on the day-by-day adjustment of a Meteorites don’t exist in space, typical teenager makes the narrative refreshingly tangible and explains British geologist Gregory in his free of political polemic. Still, the family arrived at New York’s

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 73 An excellent work of impressive research on a dangerous world leader. blood and oil

JFK airport during extraordinarily political times: Nov. 8, 2016, the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. The last murder nearly the day that Donald Trump was elected. The plan had been derailed him, as the authors point out in their meticulous, for the entire extended family to move, but some had traveled highly relevant narrative, and while the international commu- while others awaited approval, a process that was hampered by nity has grown wary of this lethal upstart, it is too early to tell Trump’s travel ban. The Aldabaans encountered the daunting if MBS will fulfill his bloody-minded vision. The cast of charac- odds that many immigrants face: find shelter and employment, ters and Al Saud family tree are especially helpful. become self-sustaining quickly, learn English, and adjust to a An excellent work of impressive research on a dangerous new culture and climate (Naji learned to shovel snow, which he world leader. had never seen). They also received anonymous death threats, and Naji wanted to buy a gun for protection. He asked himself, “Was this the great future you were talking about back in Jor- AIR MAIL dan?” Yet with the assistance of selfless volunteers and a com- Letters of Politics, Pandemics, munity of fellow immigrants, the Aldabaans persevered. The and Place epilogue provides explanatory context and where-are-they-now Houston, Pam & Irvine, Amy accounts, and Sloan’s streamlined, uncluttered illustrations Illus. by Taylor, Claire nicely complement the text, consistently emphasizing the Torrey House Press (176 pp.) humanity of each person. $15.95 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 An accessible, informative journey through complex 978-1-948814-38-6 issues during turbulent times. From the wilderness of Colorado, two writers share their anxieties and hopes. BLOOD AND OIL In late March, Houston and Irvine began writing to each Mohammed bin other from their homes on opposite sides of the San Juan Salman’s Ruthless Mountains. What started as a contribution to Orion magazine’s Quest for Global Power online pandemic series continued, resulting in a collection, Hope, Bradley & Scheck, Justin gracefully illustrated by Taylor, that stands as a testimony to the Hachette (368 pp.) sustenance of friendship in frightening times. Both women are $29.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 “intensely aware” that they write from a place of privilege: “two 978-0-306-84666-3 healthy white women in respectful, loving relationships who have the enormous privilege of doing meaningful work from A thorough delineation of the rapa- home, with plenty of food socked away and some of the most cious, ambitious new economic plan for beautiful and accessible wildlands all around.” Yet despite their Saudi Arabia by the heir apparent to the good fortune, they reveal past wounds and present challenges. throne, Mohammed bin Salman. For example, both had abusive fathers and mothers who said Like Ben Hubbard in his recent scathing assessment, MBS, they regretted having them; both have scar tissue in their lungs dogged Wall Street Journal reporters Hope and Scheck dili- from pneumonia and high altitudes, making them particularly gently chart the rapid rise—and recent faltering—of MBS (as vulnerable to Covid-19. Irvine has a daughter who suffers from he is known colloquially), though this book focuses less on epilepsy and Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder. “What biography and more on his determination to remake the Saudi I know for sure,” she writes, “is that privilege doesn’t spare you economy. With the accession of his father to the Saudi Arabian from trauma, although it can lessen the blow, and the aftermath.” throne in 2015, his seventh son was already expertly positioned Motherhood, womanhood, work, and nature recur as themes, at his father’s side to succeed and to carry out a sweeping set as does frustration with Donald Trump and with neighbors who of reforms. King Salman, who was the governor of Riyadh for vehemently refuse to wear masks. “I watch this administration nearly 50 years (until 2011), has been known as the enforcer attack and destroy every single thing that brings me joy,” Hous- and disciplinarian in the corrupt, far-flung family. Beginning in ton writes, “air and water, sure, trees and animals, every slice 2015, MBS served as defense minister and moved swiftly over of wildness we have left, but also the arts, education, diversity the ensuing four years to consolidate his power by squeezing itself, Amtrak, solar power, the post office.” They wonder if out relatives. Among many other initiatives, he waged war on post-pandemic life will be different. “Battling for a better world Yemen; set out to enrich his family in stock trading and other is the only occupation now,” notes Houston, “and it is women’s ways, which his father had been loath to do; instigated a stagger- turn to lead the charge, maybe with a few good men in tow.” ing economic reform for the country called Vision 2030, which An affecting collection of candid, heartfelt letters. he has consistently touted internationally; courted Donald Trump, “treating him like a king” during his first foreign visit; shook down the richest men in his country by holding them hostage at the Ritz-Carlton until they shelled out; moved ahead with the public listing of the state oil company, Aramco; and, most brazenly, continued to ruthlessly silence his critics—e.g.,

74 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | MONOPOLIES SUCK TRIAL BY FIRE 7 Ways Big Corporations A Devastating Tragedy, 100 Rule Your Life and How To Lives Lost, and a 15-year Take Back Control Search for Truth Hubbard, Sally James, Scott Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) Dunne/St. Martin’s (384 pp.) $26.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 $29.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 978-1-982149-70-3 978-1-250-13126-3

The title says it all: The major corpo- Exposition of a tangled tragedy rations are milking us dry, and the prob- about which it took “years before anyone lem is getting worse as they flout “the knew what really happened—and who rules that democracies create to protect their citizens.” was truly to blame.” How do monopolies suck? Let Hubbard, the director of It all happened in 90 seconds: a 2003 conflagration in a enforcement strategy at the Open Markets Institute, count Rhode Island nightclub that killed 100 people and badly injured the ways: They’re anti-democratic, they crush competition many more and that stands today, James notes, as “the nation’s and hamper innovation, they’re destroying the planet, and so deadliest rock concert.” Name a cause, though, and you enter forth. “We blame the economy for our financial struggles,” she Rashomon territory, with many contributing factors, ranging writes, “but the economy is doing just fine. The problem is from a local culture in which “it was a badge of honor to fig- that the ultrarich are hoarding its spoils.” The game is rigged ure out how to manipulate the system to one’s advantage” to

from the start, though those spoils have been increasingly roll- the installation of improper building materials and perhaps young adult ing into the vaults of the mega-wealthy ever since the Reagan willful violations of building codes. Two brothers owned The years, when the interests of the middle class were jettisoned Station nightclub but were preparing to sell it when the band in favor of the predatory capitalism of today. Hubbard clearly Great White played there. When the band’s road manager shows how monopolies are established in numerous ways. For set off a pyrotechnic display, a foam-clad wall caught fire, and instance, in the matter of internet access, very few consum- within that short span of time, nearly everyone who had been ers have a choice between more than two providers, “meaning inside had died or been severely injured. The author’s account broadband providers can charge monopoly prices in most of is minutely detailed, its technical discussions punctuated by America.” Where municipalities have provided broadband, as human-interest-story portraits of the victims; it is often repeti- in the case of Chattanooga, lobbyists have pressed to quash this tive, sometimes to emphasize a point, sometimes seemingly “unfair” competition legally. In another instance, four leading carelessly. What emerges from the story is a blend of cascading poultry producers conspired to fix prices, costing families an effects and unintended consequences: The flammable foam had average of $330 extra per year—and that’s just poultry. Monopo- been installed in an effort to deal with neighbors’ complaints listic corporations gather consumer data (see: Amazon, Google, about noise, for instance, and the nightclub had no sprinkler Facebook), parasitize the economy (“Walmart employees make system—though sprinklers weren’t required by code and the up the single largest group of food stamp recipients in many “deadly danger was never noticed” during multiple fire inspec- states”), and promote inequality and “inequities in our society, tions. Considering James’ exhaustive examination of the facts like structural racism and patriarchy.” Hubbard’s argument is and the back-and-forth argumentation regarding fault, it is sur- convincing without being overbearing. Usefully, she also makes prising that the legal consequences were not more severe—the the case that monopolies have been broken before in American fire inspector, for example, received a raise from the town and history (think Teddy Roosevelt’s trust-busting) and that there then retired early on disability—or more broadly distributed. are anti-monopolistic tools already available to federal enforc- An unsettling history of horrific events whose memory ers—if only they would use them. is still fresh. A provocative call to restore economic competition by dismantling the ruling plutocracy.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 75 THE WOMEN I THINK ABOUT THIS THING CALLED LIFE AT NIGHT Prince’s Odyssey, On and Off Traveling the Paths of My the Record Heroes Karlen, Neal Kankimäki, Mia St. Martin’s (352 pp.) Trans. by Robinson, Douglas $29.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 Simon & Schuster (416 pp.) 978-1-250-13524-7 $27.00 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-1-982129-19-4 A journalist acquaintance of Prince’s riffs on the musician’s Sphinx-like per- A middle-aged writer sifts through sona, heartbreaks, and basketball skills. history for other women whose lives In this peculiar, intermittently intrigu- matched her wanderlust. ing blend of biography and memoir, Karlen makes clear that he “I’m forty-two. I have no husband, no children, no job,” didn’t know Prince (1958-2016) especially well. But, as he suggests, Finnish author Kankimäki writes early in this hybrid of history, who did? They hung out in the same Minneapolis neighborhood memoir, and feminist essay. She feels a sense of liberation in as children, which helped Karlen gain Prince’s trust for three that status but also a pang of isolation that draws her to “night Rolling Stone features. Later, Karlen was recruited to script a women” who blazed their own paths. First and most prominent movie, 3 Chains o’ Gold, that stitched together some of Prince’s among them is Karen Blixen, author of the 1937 classic Out early-1990s videos. More provocatively, the author notes that of Africa. As part of her research into Blixen’s life, Kankimäki he wrote a document to accompany Prince’s as-yet-undiscov- chronicles her journey in her footsteps in present-day Tanzania. ered will, which he claims is inexplicably buried somewhere Both strip away the author’s sense of romanticism; the present- at Paisley Park, Prince’s compound outside Minneapolis. Over day country is malarial, poverty-stricken, and overrun with the years, they’d intermittently meet and connect via letters tourists while Blixen suffered from sexism along with the case and late-night phone calls, but that’s not much to build a book of syphilis her husband gave her. Still, Blixen’s stubbornness is around—especially since Karlen shares no details about the inspiring. Kankimäki also writes pocket biographies of globe- alleged will’s contents. Still, the author did a little reporting trotters like Nellie Bly and Isabella Bird, who “seems like my to supplement his files, connecting with Prince’s high school doppelgänger: a fortyish, depressed spinster who suffers from music teacher and Purple Rain–era band mates like André headaches and insomnia, but who is fed up with the narrow con- Cymone. Karlen also chronicles Prince’s deep-seated resent- fines in which her society has trapped her”; Alexandra David- ment of his high school basketball coach, who refused to play Neel, who infiltrated the sacred Buddhist city of Lhasa; painters the infamously short budding musician despite his outstanding like Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana, who navigated athletic talent. Prince could be peculiar and protective about the masculine world of 16th-century Italian art; and avant-garde his family history, concealing his father’s abuse and the death Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who committed herself to a men- of his infant son from a genetic disorder while allowing slan- tal institution. Though the book has a clear organizing principle, derous rumors about his mother to perpetuate. That along with its execution feels aimless. The livelier travelogues of Tanzania his numerous other idiosyncrasies, Karlen argues, were part of and Japan clang against the more studious essays on Bird and Bly, Prince’s “kayfabe,” a professional wrestling term for selling the and the author’s explanations of her subjects’ difficulties make sport’s fakeness as real. The author is a lyrical writer on these her concluding “night women’s advice” feel thin or cloying (“be points, but ultimately, the narrative is an exercise in armchair buoyant as hell”). Kankimäki’s repeated despairing that she’s psychology that has too many historical gaps to qualify as biog- unsure where she’s going with the book emphasizes the sense of raphy, and the author is too distant from his subject to deliver disorder. However, the author engagingly maps her frustrations an intimate portrait. against those of her heroes, the “illnesses, self-doubts, weak An earnest vamp on Prince’s life that leaves its subject no moments…ordinary human reality” that echo her own. less mysterious. An enlightening if dense and patchwork study of the many hurdles women artists faced—and still face.

76 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | SAVING STALIN DISTRACTED Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, Why Students Can’t Focus and the Cost of Allied Victory and What You Can Do in Europe About It Kelly, John Lang, James M. Hachette (384 pp.) Basic (304 pp.) $28.49 | Oct. 6, 2020 $30.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 978-0-306-90277-2 978-1-5416-9980-9

Historical account of the relations A lucid discussion of attention and between the three Allied leaders during how to persuade students to pay it. World War II. A professor of English and director Kelly begins on June 22, 1941. Having dismissed repeated of the D’Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption warnings from Britain, his spies, and Red Army units along the University, Lang is addressing teachers, but he delivers advice border, Stalin remained stubbornly loyal to his friendship treaty with universal applications. Though modern technology usu- with Hitler, so that day’s massive German invasion caught the ally receives the blame for restless, distracted students, it’s a Soviet Union unprepared. After the opening, the author alter- problem as old as history. Socrates considered writing a malig- nates between the fighting and Stalin’s subjects as they tried to nant invention, a crutch that destroyed the ability to remem- get along and manage the various campaigns. Although certainly ber. “The telegraph, the radio, the television, the computer… as evil as Hitler, Stalin may have been less of a megalomaniac. brought with them critics who argued that they were destroy-

Both micromanaged their armies with terrible consequences, ing our attention spans,” writes the author, “turning us into dis- young adult but a year of disaster persuaded Stalin to step back; thereafter, tractible creatures who could no longer focus on our work, our he often took his generals’ advice. Although it was Stalin’s own prayers, our study, or one another.” Lang quickly shoots down fault, the Soviet Union bore the brunt of the violence and casu- the idea that modern students can effectively multitask. They alties, and he never let Churchill and Roosevelt forget it. Many can’t, except when one task is trivial, such as folding clothes Russian historians have argued that the Allies deliberately held while watching TV. Studies show that people who believe back their armies, only jumping in once the Wehrmacht was in they are multitasking are actually switching back and forth full retreat in 1944. The conventional portrait of Roosevelt and between two tasks. You can’t text and drive; you either text or Churchill as a harmonious team was only accurate early in the drive. Even when not life-threatening, the result is inefficient. war. By 1943, with America the dominant partner and exasper- Research has demonstrated that it leads to lower grades, includ- ated at Churchill’s reluctance to support a cross-channel inva- ing for students sitting near the multitasker. No Luddite, Lang sion, Roosevelt began calling the shots. A gifted politician, he advises against banning devices in favor of limiting their role, believed he could deal with Stalin better than the conservative and he devotes an appendix to his personal “device policy.” He Churchill, and historians give him low marks for the results. In urges teachers to “make a fundamental shift in our thinking: his defense, Kelly points out that ruthlessness is a poor substi- away from preventing distraction and toward cultivating attention.” tute for intellect. With the Red Army on the spot, Stalin had Humans are relentlessly curious, so a teacher who follows this no trouble installing puppet governments throughout Eastern approach has a decent chance of pulling student attention away Europe. His goal—protection from a resurgent Germany— from Instagram. We are built to pay attention to others, and a proved unnecessary, and the satellites produced only trouble successful classroom is a community. The author shares many and expense for his already dysfunctional economy. The author educational thinkers’ low opinion of grading, but he insists on relies mostly on secondary sources, but he chooses them well. some form of assessment, an irresistible strategy that focuses a As a result, this is high-quality history that will disturb only student’s attention. readers who learn about WWII from the History Channel. Although aimed at educators, the book offers good les- A well-rendered popular history describing war and great sons in psychology for the average reader. men.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 77 A lovely evocation of some “spectral and unreal” elements of the British landscape. ghostways

GHOSTWAYS NYU music professor Mahon argues convincingly that Two Journeys in Black women have been pivotal to rock music’s evolution. Unquiet Places Think of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” repurposed by Macfarlane, Robert & Donwood, Stanley & Elvis Presley, or Tina Turner’s skill at bridging R&B, rock, and Richards, Dan pop. But their influence, notes the author, has been stifled in a Norton (176 pp.) variety of complicated ways. They’ve often been hired as back- $15.95 paper | Nov. 24, 2020 ground singers to lend “authenticity” to White rock perform- 978-1-324-01582-6 ers yet exiled from the genre when they took center stage. Patti LaBelle, for instance, came up all but anonymously in a 1960s Travels in spectral places whose girl group and as part of the ’70s trio Labelle, considered outli- names are barely on the map of Eng- ers or a one-hit disco act on the basis of their song “Lady Mar- land—and so much the better. malade.” Mahon argues that women rockers had to cultivate Writing with Donwood and Richards, Macfarlane, perhaps “betwixt and between” genres to find a footing, even while that the foremost British nature writer at work today, extends his strategy made success fleeting for the likes of Labelle, LaVern fascination with little-known geographies—see his last book, Baker, and the Shirelles—a shame because artists like Claudia the outstanding Underland (2019)—by visiting two beyond- Lennear and Betty Davis made indelible, path-breaking albums. the-ken English districts. The first is the “untrue island” of Allowing these women to be more than window dressing or Orford Ness off East Anglia, both wild and bearing a heavy provide more than a dash of vocal “blackness” was a perceived human footprint. Half a century ago, it was used by the gov- threat. The band Humble Pie got push back when it made its ernment for nuclear tests; now, “brown hares big as deer lope Black female backing singers equal partners. In one excellent across expanses of shingle cratered by explosions, and the wind chapter, Mahon explores the stereotypes exemplified by the sings in the wires of abandoned perimeter fences.” Macfarlane Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” through three women connected walks the sandy, grassy landscape, delivering a portrait that to Mick Jagger. Mahon’s book lacks the sweep of a fully fleshed blends poetry, prose poem, dialogue, and essay, peppered with history, effectively ending the story with Turner, though she sightings of the ghostly and uncanny. As is his wont, the author makes mention of recent artists like Santigold and Alabama sprinkles long-forgotten landscape terms throughout his pages Shakes. But if the narrative arc is brief and the prose occasion- (“drongs, sarns, snickets, bostles”). One of them is the subject ally burdened by academic stiffness, Mahon has done plenty to of the second part of the book, the “holloway”—the hollow expose how Black women rockers have been marginalized by way, an ancient avenue of humans and animals worn in the soft musicians, audiences, historians, and critics. rock of Exeter, some thousands of years old. “A sunken path, a A well-researched, sociologically savvy effort to expand deep & shady lane,” writes Macfarlane. “A route that centuries the rock canon. of foot-fall, hoof-hit, wheel-roll & rain-run have harrowed into the land,” kin to a hedgerow but wilder still, since few holloways are used by modern travelers: “They have thrown up their own THE HUMAN COSMOS defences and disguises: nettles & briars guard their entrances, Civilization and the Stars trees to either side bend over them & lace their topmost Marchant, Jo branches to form a tunnel or roof.” The writing is idiosyncratic Dutton (352 pp.) and elegant, the story inviting enough that, for all its eldritch $28.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 elements, one might wish to wake up covered in dew and join 978-0-593-18301-4 Macfarlane, Richards, and Donwood (perhaps best known for his Radiohead album covers) in a meal of damson gin and tea- A tour of the heavens that centers bread—and maybe see a few ghosts along the way. not so much on outer space as what it A lovely evocation of some “spectral and unreal” ele- does to our inner beings. ments of the British landscape. For generations, prehistorians have considered the animals painted in ocher and charcoal on the ceilings of caves such as Lascaux to be BLACK DIAMOND QUEENS ritual objects of a kind. But what if they’re really star charts? African American Women One scholar calculated the ephemera of 20,000 years ago and and Rock and Roll then mapped it onto a work of rock art called Bull No. 18. As Mahon, Maureen science journalist Marchant writes, “he found that when the Duke Univ. (392 pp.) bull was created, the Pleiades were slightly higher above the $30.95 paper | Oct. 30, 2020 bull’s back and that Aldebaran (the bull’s eye) was more clearly 978-1-4780-1122-4 framed by the Hyades—an even closer match to the painting than they are today.” There’s nothing overly New Age–y about Snapshots of some of rock ’n’ roll’s the thought that “Lascaux Cave is as much about cosmology as greatest Black female performers, under- it is about biology.” Chronicling the history of the Hill of Tara appreciated in rock’s broader history. (present-day Ireland), built long before the Great Pyramids,

78 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | Marchant, who has a doctorate in genetics and medical micro- handling love relationships,” she writes near the end, “but a biology, notes the work of a scientist who tried to work out lifetime consumption of books and movies had taught me some how the ancient monument was oriented toward the sky. very bad ideas about how it was all supposed to work.” Readers will share his sense of wonder at a direct landing of A memoir that is both relatable and subversive. sunlight “right in the tomb’s heart…until the chamber was so bright he could walk around without a lamp, and see the roof twenty feet above.” It’s a short hop from archaeoastronomy to HIS TRUTH IS current teleological notions of the “meaning” of the universe. MARCHING ON As Marchant writes, “science is based on the idea of studying John Lewis and the a purely physical, material reality. Subjective experience is Power of Hope stripped out so we can seek what’s really out there rather than Meacham, Jon in our imaginations. That has led inexorably to a worldview Random House (368 pp.) in which the physical universe is all that exists.” But is there $30.00 | Aug. 25, 2020 more? That chapter has yet to be written. 978-1-984855-02-2 Readers interested in the cognitive aspects of cosmology will enjoy Marchant’s explorations. The story of the late congressman and activist’s massive contributions to the civil rights movement. WE SAW SCENERY Pulitzer Prize winner Meacham, a Time contributing editor The Early Diaries of and professor at Vanderbilt, has written about many significant

Merrill Markoe figures in American history. In this timely biography, the author young adult Markoe, Merrill narrates the incredible life of John Lewis (1940-2020), one of Illus. by the author the civil rights movement’s most prominent leaders. Meacham Algonquin (288 pp.) concisely chronicles his subject’s highs and lows and, most impor- $24.95 | Oct. 20, 2020 tantly, his personal sacrifices—not least of them being severely 978-1-61620-903-2 beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma in 1965 while leading a protest march. Given his remarkable accomplishments, An Emmy-winning comedy writer’s Lewis is that rare historical figure who deserves his lionization. graphic memoir about her odyssey into Refreshingly, Meacham offers a distinctly human portrait of a diaries she kept as a young girl growing up in the 1950s and ’60s. man who struggled with anxieties, fears, and occasionally despair, When Markoe began looking through her girlhood journals, a leader who dug deep to find the courage to keep going in the face she writes, “I was amazed at how much it felt like I was reading of nearly insurmountable cultural resistance. From his humble about a stranger.” She discovered long-forgotten—and some- beginnings to his recent death, the author clearly demonstrates times painfully embarrassing—entries detailing the minutiae Lewis’ bravery and survivor’s instinct, whether he was penetrat- of her daily life, such as a weight-loss recommendation from ing segregated stores in Nashville in 1960, organizing the Free- her doctor that sent her “spiraling into a lifetime of obsessive dom Riders a year later, or becoming the go-to young organizer dieting.” More significantly, she encountered the outlines of her who had the ear of everyone from John F. Kennedy to Martin developing self: a girl “steeped in pop culture” who considered Luther King Jr. Throughout the book, Meacham not only shows the TV her “best friend” and routinely fought her one-time Lewis’ obvious talent as an organizer and an instigator of what he “relentless adversary,” her brother. With a mixture of mortifica- called “good trouble”; what also emerges is the story of a preacher, tion and amusement, Markoe observes how her younger self the calling that a young Lewis yearned for and never really gave faithfully recorded such events such as the Cuban missile crisis up. As always, the author is a fluid writer, and the book benefits alongside those involving a string of unrequited loves that began from his inclusion of commentary from such contemporaries as in the fourth grade. During one especially hilarious romantic Harry Belafonte. An added bonus is a heartfelt epilogue by Lewis mishap, Markoe interpreted a Nazi salute a crush gave her as himself. “The civil rights movement,” he writes, “brought about a sign of his undying affection. “On the cusp of 15,” she left a nonviolent revolution—a revolution in values, a revolution in Florida for San Francisco with her family. As the new girl, she ideas. The soul force of this movement enabled America to find quickly developed survival strategies that “put me at war with its moral compass.” my parents.” Teenage angst eventually drove her to seek refuge An elegant, moving portrait of a giant of post-1950 Amer- in art, her diary, and humor, which she used to combat tensions ican history. with her parents that she did not escape until she went to the University of California at Berkeley. Markoe’s bold, sometimes absurdist drawings and the often chiding conversations she imagines between her mature and adolescent selves enhance the comedy at the heart of this thought-provoking story about what happens when the wisdom of age confronts the follies and foibles of youth. “I wish I could say I became smarter about

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 79 A well-documented and enlightened portrait of Eleanor Roosevelt for our times. eleanor

ELEANOR VOICES OF A Life A MASSACRE Michaelis, David Untold Stories of Life Simon & Schuster (704 pp.) and Death in Iran, 1988 $35.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 Ed. by Mohajer, Nasser 978-1-4391-9201-6 Oneworld Publications (480 pp.) $40.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 A comprehensive exploration of one 978-1-78607-777-6 of the most influential women of the last century. Powerfully moving testimonies from The accomplishments of Eleanor prisoners who survived the brutal crack- Roosevelt (1884-1962) were widespread downs in Tehran in 1988 by Supreme and substantial, and her trailblazing actions in support of social Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. justice and global peace resonate powerfully in our current After eight years of destructive war with Iraq, the Islamic moment. Her remarkable life has been extensively documented Republic of Iran finally submitted to the cease-fire codified in a host of acclaimed biographies, including Blanche Wiesen by a U.N. Security Council resolution in 1988. A few days later, Cook’s excellent three-volume life. Eleanor was also a highly Khomeini appeared on TV and, as he put it, drank this “chal- prolific writer in her own right; through memoirs, essays, and ice of poison.” Indeed, it was a bitter blow to the IRI, which letters, she continuously documented experiences and advanc- already had prisons full of dissenters from 1981 onward; some ing ideas. In the most expansive one-volume portrait to date, had survived previous waves of executions. At the border with Michaelis offers a fresh perspective on some well-worn terri- Iraq, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran tried to rise tory—e.g., Eleanor’s unconventional marriage to Franklin and up and were brutally suppressed; many were captured and sent her progressively charged relationships with men and women, to Evin and Gohardasht prisons. Thus the vengeance against including her intimacy with newspaper reporter Lorena Hickok. these so-called Monafeqin, or hypocrites, began, carried out by The author paints a compelling portrait of Eleanor’s life as an paramilitary gangs in the streets and elsewhere. Most prisoners evolving journey of transformation, lingering on the significant were interrogated multiple times, and any Mojahedin-branded episodes to shed nuance on her circumstances and the players prisoner who would not “repent,” even those who had served involved. Eleanor’s privileged yet dysfunctional childhood was their original sentences, were marked for execution. For sev- marked by the erratic behavior and early deaths of her flighty, eral weeks in July and August, the victims were terrorized with alcoholic father and socially absorbed mother, and she was blindfolds, forced confessions, torture, and often death (4,500 left to shuttle among equally neglectful relatives. During her to 5,000 victims). At the time, little information about the young adulthood, her instinctual need to be useful and do good atrocities was available—only what prisoners could glean from work attracted the attention of notable mentors, each serving each other and the guards. According to Mohajer, who offers a to boost her confidence and fine-tune her political and social solid introduction, the same scenario played out in other pris- convictions, shaping her expanding consciousness. As in his ons across Iran. The massacre eliminated a large population of acclaimed biography of Charles Schulz, Michaelis displays his Mojahedin and successfully destroyed the Iranian leftist move- nimble storytelling skills, smoothly tracking Eleanor’s ascen- ment for decades to come. Those who remained were deeply sion from wife and mother to her powerfully influential and con- scarred, but some escaped. This heartbreaking but necessary troversial role as first lady and continued leadership and activist text also includes interviews with mothers of the disappeared, a efforts beyond. Throughout, the author lucidly illuminates the group called the Movement of the Mothers of Khavaran, “who essence of her thinking and objectives. “As Eleanor’s activism may be likened to the Madres de Plaza de Mayo of Argentina.” evolved,” writes Michaelis, “she did not see herself reaching to The book also features a foreword by Angela Davis, a timeline, solve social problems so much as engaging with individuals to and an immensely helpful 17-page glossary. unravel discontinuities between the old order and modernity.” A wrenching, important work of historical scholarship A well-documented and enlightened portrait of Eleanor demanding justice for the victims. Roosevelt for our times.

80 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | THE HARDEST PLACE NO REFUGE The American Military Ethics and the Global Adrift in Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis Pech Valley Parekh, Sarena Morgan, Wesley Oxford Univ. (280 pp.) Random House (672 pp.) $24.95 | Oct. 1, 2020 $35.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-0-19-750799-5 978-0-8129-9506-0 A philosophy professor warns that A searching history of the U.S. cam- the international system for aiding refu- paign against the Taliban and al-Qaida in gees is broken, and Western democracies a remote district of Afghanistan. have an ethical obligation to help fix it. The Pech Valley, writes journalist Morgan in his impres- In a quietly potent response to not-in-my-backyarders, sive debut, is a mountainous region that drew the attention of Parekh, who directs the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics the U.S. military shortly after 9/11, with soldiers “on the trail Program at Northeastern University, sounds an alarm about a of Osama bin Laden.” Establishing a series of forward oper- global humanitarian crisis. Amid rising anti-immigrant sen- ating bases, American troops attempted to bring something timents worldwide, only 2% of refugees are able to settle in a like order to the region. However, with villages isolated by new country or voluntarily return home; the rest often remain steep mountains and almost no passable roads, movement was for years in squalid, dangerous refugee camps or urban slums. difficult—it could take an entire day for a small unit to move During the Cold War, both capitalist and communist nations

a couple of miles, even without opposition. Insurgents who could score political points by taking in refugees from other sys- young adult learned their tactics from the fight against the Soviet army in tems of government—witness the American embrace of victims the 1980s now turned against the U.S. forces, using improvised of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and the Vietnam War in explosive devices and well-coordinated ambushes. The locals 1975—but the appeal of that tactic has faded, and “resettlement who seemed to be cooperative to U.S. soldiers were clearly countries are taking in relatively few refugees.” Parekh shows working with the insurgents—their family members and the catastrophic results through statistics, personal stories of neighbors—when the Americans inevitably went away. While refugees, and clear explanations of philosophical lenses through large assaults into the narrow side valleys and high mountain which readers might view the crisis—among them Kantian, clearings could lead to significant enemy casualties, they too utilitarian, and religious frameworks, such as the good Samari- often led to unacceptable civilian deaths, further alienating tan principle or other traditions of helping strangers in Abraha- the population. Furthermore, as Morgan vividly shows, the mic faiths. The author also refutes myths that cast refugees as enemy proved skillful in overcoming the Americans’ appar- insufficiently vetted or “terrorists in disguise.” In the U.S., for ent technological superiority, downing helicopters and over- example, the 2- to 5-year screening process involves eight fed- running small bases on several occasions. Ultimately, the U.S. eral agencies and up to nine interviews that have included ques- turned over its outposts to the Afghan military, providing a tions such as, “Can you remember how many stars were on the few advisers who rarely accompanied the locals into combat. jacket of the military officer that raped you?” Parekh ends with By 2015, the U.S. was conducting operations with drones and worthy ideas on how Western democracies might meet their the occasional crewed aircraft. The author, who spent a good moral responsibility to ease the nightmare that, partly through deal of time in the region, interviewed many of the soldiers flawed policies, they helped to create. If the West fails to act, who served in the Pech as well as a number of Afghan locals. she suggests, its task will grow more complex with a new group The result is a sobering look at how the same mistakes were of asylum-seekers on the horizon—the so-called climate refu- repeated by subsequent deployments, with predictable results. gees fleeing perils such as rising seas and food scarcity. Required reading for anyone who wants to understand The moral case for helping the world’s refugees, solidly the war in Afghanistan. grounded in facts.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 81 An entertaining diversion for fans until the curtains rise again. singular sensation

THE LONE STAR SPEAKS Recalcati is a prominent Italian psychotherapist; his trans- Untold Texas Stories About lator, Goldstein, is a prominent literary translator, most nota- the JFK Assassination bly of Elena Ferrante’s novels. So in terms of both the contents Peterson, Sara & Zachry, K.W. and provenance, this brief but insightful book evokes the Bancroft Press (448 pp.) religious-literary secular writings of Marilynne Robinson or $32.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 Geraldine Brooks. Recalcati argues that the garden of Geth- 978-1-61088-192-0 semane, where Jesus was betrayed by both Judas and Peter, is central to a story not just about the Messiah, but the nature of Another entry in the who-killed-JFK man: “his frailty, his lack, his torments.” Because the setting genre. provides a backdrop to Jesus’ anticipated death, it is a window When it comes to the Kennedy assas- into suffering, and because the ways Judas and Peter betrayed sination, you can take one of two paths: him are divergent, the Gethsemane story reveals the different a single shooter theory or, to complicate the matter, a cabal. ways mankind is consumed by fear. Recalcati notes that Judas’ Peterson and Zachry, who both work at Midland College in betrayal was stoked, ironically enough, by a sense of righteous- Texas, take the second course, in the manner of Oliver Stone’s ness; he thought it was wasteful for Jesus to allow himself to be movie JFK, condemning the “politicians and bureaucrats who anointed with costly oil in Bethany. Judas’ decision to reveal helped” in the assassination. “Even if they had nothing to do Jesus to the Romans was motivated not solely by money, but the with his assassination, they altered, ignored, and hid evidence woundedness of “a man in love with his teacher” who resented so that one man was assigned all the blame for the death of that his love was not returned. Peter’s three betrayals, by con- a president.” The authors then recount Kennedy’s alleged trast, reveal the fragility of that love, how “we are not always attempted rape of a friend and the idea that his reputation as consistent with our desire.” As the author writes, God’s silence a war hero was overblown. By their account, JFK and his father in this particular moment underscores the anxiety and humility also had a knack for making powerful political enemies. So, of the human condition, leaving all three of the scene’s central naturally, lots of people would want the young president dead, players—and by extension, humanity—forced to reckon with including Lyndon Johnson, who was bound up with all sorts an inherent isolation and uncertainty. Neither homily nor aca- of bad actors—e.g., Billie Sol Estes and H.L. Hunt—and who, demic study but inspired by both, the narrative thoughtfully Estes allegedly was prepared to testify, left a long trail of bod- explores how we tangle with faith, fear, and suffering. ies behind him. Said Johnson to Estes just before that fateful An elegant, provocative meditation on one of the Gos- hour in Dallas, “The next time you see me, I’ll be on Air Force 1,” pels’ most emotionally complex moments. according to an unnamed intermediary. Ask Johnson, and he’d tell you that it was the Mafia—both the Italian American and the Dixie flavors. Ask Dixie Mafia hit man George McGann, SINGULAR SENSATION and he’d tell you that “he strongly suspected that the FBI, the The Triumph of Broadway CIA, and even the Dallas police chief were involved in the plot Riedel, Michael to kill John F. Kennedy.” And Lee Harvey Oswald? It depends Avid Reader Press (304 pp.) on which one you’re talking about—the “patsy” or the guy who $28.00 | Nov. 10, 2020 was Jack Ruby’s lover, Ruby being bound up with the CIA and 978-1-5011-6663-1 the Mafia alike. Whodunit? Take your pick, as the authors move from one stab to the next, topped off with their closing asser- Broadway stages a comeback. tion that JFK, their insinuations notwithstanding, “changed the As the 1990s began, the Broadway future for the better!” neighborhood hit the skids. Off to see A scattershot effort that may interest JFK conspiracy London-imported hits such as The Phan theorists. tom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and Cats, New York theatergoers sidestepped crack vials and prostitutes. However, Broadway was ripe for a resurrection, which long- THE NIGHT IN GETHSEMANE time New York Post theater columnist Riedel follows in his brisk, On Solitude and Betrayal insightful, and deliciously detailed take on the decade. For sure, Recalcati, Massimo the author serves up great dish: For example, appearing in a hit Trans. by Goldstein, Ann revival of Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance, Elaine Stritch, clad Europa Compass (80 pp.) only in bra and panties, darts into the crowded theater lobby $16.00 | Nov. 3, 2020 just before curtain time to check on her house seats. But Riedel 978-1-60945-622-1 is after more than tales of outrageous antics. He chronicles the plays and musicals that brought great American theater back to A psychoanalyst puts Jesus and his a spiffed-up Times Square. A poignant and suspenseful chapter apostles on the couch regarding the piv- follows Jonathan Larson, waiting tables in a lower Manhattan otal moment between the Last Supper diner while determined to stage a modern-day La Bohème as and the crucifixion. transported to New York’s Lower East Side and called Rent. The

82 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | brilliant Larson died at 35 from a rare illness, just as his musi- age of 57. His anguished life dominates Samway’s cleareyed lit- cal became a megahit that garnered the Pulitzer Prize. At the erary history, populated by a large cast of characters including same time, Riedel chronicles an infamous rivalry on 42nd Street. Allen Tate, Robert Lowell, Saul Bellow, and T.S. Eliot. Fresh from his failure as head of Cineplex Odeon, the brutally A perceptive, empathetic look at a confluence of artistic aggressive Garth Drabinsky restored a derelict theater to house lives. the musical Ragtime. Across the street, Disney returned to grandeur the New Amsterdam, eventually to house The Lion King. Riedel’s account of this show’s artists at work, particu- NEVER ALONE larly director Julie Taymor, is fascinating. Later, playwright Tony Prison, Politics, and Kushner’s Angels in America became a landmark chronicle of the My People AIDS epidemic. Finally, Mel Brooks caps this vivid chronicle Sharansky, Natan & Troy, Gil with his musical The Producers. Riedel, keenly knowledgeable of PublicAffairs (480 pp.) the business of show, rounds out his history covering the deals— $30.00 | Sep. 1, 2020 and swindles—brought off by a colorful cast of producers. 978-1-5417-4242-0 An entertaining diversion for fans until the curtains rise again. The noted Soviet dissident and Israeli activist recounts a long history of “living life backward.” JOHN BERRYMAN AND Trained as a physicist, Sharansky (b. ROBERT GIROUX 1948), who co-authored this memoir with historian Troy, spent

A Publishing Friendship nine years in Soviet prisons for supposed anti-Soviet crimes. young adult Samway, Patrick The rest of the time he was either alone—“I always found soli- Univ. of Notre Dame (298 pp.) tary comfortable, if I could read or write there, if it was warm, $45.00 | Oct. 31, 2020 and if there was food to eat”—or with a bunkmate or two whom 978-0-268-10841-0 he suspected of being KGB informants. Meeting with Nelson Mandela long afterward, the two political prisoners compared An important friendship helped to notes: Mandela’s sentence was three times longer, but at least he sustain a poet’s work. had visitors. Finally, Sharansky was released and immigrated to Samway, a priest and literary scholar Israel, where he immediately began agitating for the acceptance whose previous books focused on Flan- of 400,000 of his fellow Soviet Jews. They arrived, a flood of out- nery O’Connor, Walker Percy, and Thomas Merton, offers an standing scientists, artists, and scholars who had followed the intimate portrait of the relationship between editor Robert guideline that in order to survive they had to excel, and “almost Giroux (1914-2008), who was a close friend of Samway’s, and overnight, the number of Israel’s doctors, engineers, musicians, poet John Berryman (1914-1972), whose work Giroux edited, and chess players doubled.” Sharansky allied for a time with promoted, and encouraged. The two met at Columbia Univer- Benjamin Netanyahu, opposing the Oslo Accords and other sity in 1932, where both were students of the famed professor treaties with Palestine on the grounds that they elevated “Yas- and poet Mark Van Doren. Samway recounts each man’s career ser Arafat’s terrorist dictatorship on the Palestinians, instead moves: Giroux, first at CBS, then as junior editor at Harcourt, of cultivating the more grassroots democratic leadership that and finally editor at Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, where he became was sprouting in the 1990s.” For this, he was pegged a rightist, chair; Berryman, studying at Cambridge, then taking short- although as the years passed, he became a sort-of-liberal critic term teaching stints at various colleges, delivering lectures, of Netanyahu and his party—and he doesn’t have much good to and achieving the fame that resulted in accolades, grants, and say about Donald Trump, either. Charmingly, he describes his awards. Their personalities could not have been more differ- backward approach to life events: He celebrated his bar mitz- ent. Berryman described himself as “a disagreeable compound vah at 65, which allowed him to “appreciate my Torah portion’s of arrogance, selfishness and impatience, scarcely relieved by relevance and explain it to everyone without having my rabbi some dashes of courtesy and honesty and a certain amount write my speech for me.” Since he was imprisoned immediately of industry.” Giroux was patient, steady, and, as his letters to after his wedding and didn’t see his wife for years, he has since Berryman attest, kind. Berryman was a womanizer and alco- worked to make his marriage a happily-ever-after story. holic, “plagued by incandescent outbursts and perilous bouts of Admirers of Sharansky will appreciate this insider’s depression,” which led to repeated hospitalizations and treat- account of Israeli politics and his independent-minded life. ment with a hefty “cocktail of drugs.” He married three times, subjecting each wife to what one called the “nightmare” of living with him. Giroux, though briefly married, lived quietly with a man he had known since they were teenagers. Berryman was tormented by his father’s death, ruled an apparent suicide. “I feel I am a sort of human grenade whose pin has been withdrawn,” he wrote shortly before he jumped from a bridge at the

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 83 SKY SONGS I MARCHED WITH PATTON Meditations on Loving a A Firsthand Account of Broken World World War II Alongside One Sinor, Jennifer of the U.S. Army’s Greatest Univ. of Nebraska (204 pp.) Generals $19.95 paper | Oct. 1, 2020 Sisson, Frank with Wise, Robert L. 978-1-4962-2264-0 Morrow/HarperCollins (304 pp.) $28.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 An English professor and nonfiction 978-0-06-301947-8 writer reflects on the inseparability of beauty and brokenness in human life. A 94-year-old World War II veteran Between 1922 and 1931, photogra- tells his story. pher Alfred Stieglitz shot hundreds of cloud images that Sinor Raised in Depression-era rural Oklahoma, Sisson enlisted sees as “sky songs” “meant to pull the viewer into a vortex of in 1943 at age 18, sailed to Europe in 1944, served through the light, merging the immediate and the transcendent.” In this final, freezing winter, and fought into Germany. His unit fin- book, the author follows Stieglitz’s artistic lead by taking ished the war in Munich, where he witnessed the horrors of “snapshots” of different parts of her life and probing them for the nearby concentration camp at Dachau: “Death hung in the meaning. In “Headwaters,” she grapples with an extraordinary air like a maleficent fog. We stopped, and the men got out. We synchronicity of events: On the day a beloved uncle died on an could see barracks and buildings. Barbed wire lined the perim- Alaskan river boat trip, her first son was conceived. Life and eters. On the far side of the camp stood a blackened brick death, Sinor writes, joined in a way that was at once tragic and chimney. The crematorium, I realized with horror.” After miraculous. In another essay, the author muses on the paral- Germany’s surrender, the Army transferred him to the mili- lels between two unrelated but intertwined episodes. At Utah tary police, where he served in the occupation of Berlin for State, where she teaches creative writing, painful stories by a nearly a year, which included a long, apparently platonic rela- closeted gay student and a lesbian who “prayed daily to God tionship with his female interpreter before returning home to to make her straight” made her uncomfortably aware of “the enjoy a long and prosperous life. This is not the first as-told- unchallenged homophobia” espoused by the Church of Jesus to memoir from an elderly veteran by the prolific Wise. Like Christ of Latter-day Saints “theocracy” in which she lived. 82 Days on Okinawa, which Wise wrote with veteran Art Shaw, When LDS missionaries visited her home in an attempt to he produces an unashamedly novelistic narrative with plenty convert her, Sinor openly expressed disgust for their bigotry of action and long stretches of “reconstructed” dialogue that only to realize later that her anger came from the same place resemble an old Hollywood film and—like the movies—get as the homophobia she excoriates. The author then explores some details wrong. Most readers of World War II memoirs her evolving relationship to religion. Once a fervent believer know something of the war’s history, but Wise takes nothing in a God, she eventually became an atheist. But marriage to for granted, so he portrays Sisson as an omniscient observer, a poet who believed that clouds were “proof enough…of the privy to the thoughts of the higher command and actions of Divine” and a deepening of her practice of yoga during a three- other armies. At times in the text he encounters another sol- month visit to India moved her away from “the sterile shore of dier who helpfully proceeds to describe the current state of atheism” and toward belief in “the existence of a force beyond the fighting, including events on the Russian front and poli- what [she could] name.” Sinor’s skills in interweaving differ- tics at home. In his defense, it’s unlikely that Sisson’s recollec- ent stories within the essays and finding the hidden connections from 75 years ago could fill out an entire 300-page book. tions between them are evident throughout. Together, they What survives is a convincing story of an innocent young man work to create a tapestry that is both searching and insightful. who experienced a vicious war and then a year of adventures A lyrically profound collection. in postwar Berlin. Some parts require grains of salt, but this is a believable portrait of a soldier present at the defeat of the Reich.

84 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | Gonzo meets Hezbollah in this unlikely— and delightful—work of journalism. reports from hell

SHE COME BY IT NATURAL Bullitt if Frank Bullitt wore a bleached fauxhawk,” and Josh, Dolly Parton and the Women given to sage analyses of current events: “This is the way his- Who Lived Her Songs tory works, bro. Convulsions and spasms. To imagine any dif- Smarsh, Sarah ferent, to imagine that we are somehow removed from the long Scribner (208 pp.) bend, is ludicrous.” Smith opens with a howlingly funny inter- $22.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 view he conducted with David Petraeus, who delivered “easily 978-1-982157-28-9 digestible, easy-to-understand drips of Middle Eastern insight that I imagine rack-rate conference-goers crave.” During that A journalist and bestselling author encounter, Smith had been prattling on about a car that is as pays tribute to country music legend central a piece of equipment in this narrative as the suitcase full Dolly Parton (b. 1946). of pharmaceuticals in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, very much a Before her recent elevation to the kindred book. So are just the right T-shirt, the right board, and status of universally beloved icon,” writes Smarsh, Parton “was the right amount of sangfroid when, in Lebanon, the loopy jour- best known by many people as the punch line of a boob joke.” nalists were kidnapped by actual terrorists, just as they’d feared, This book, based on essays the author wrote for No Depression occasioning another Jeff Spicoli–ish remark from Josh: “These magazine in 2017, explores Parton’s musical and cultural contri- Hezbollah bros are something we know. We can figure this out.” butions. It also tells stories about the women so often at the Underneath all the goofiness is utterly serious intent: In addi- heart of Parton’s songs. Bent on becoming a star, she left for tion to seeking to better understand the radicals’ point of view, Nashville after high school. But she faced many challenges as an the author is committed to providing plenty of shades of gray attractive woman working her way to the top. Parton’s break- in a world that “had never been more black and white or more

through song, “Dumb Blonde,” released in 1967, foretold the polarized.” (Readers will hope he covers the U.S. in the same young adult attitude a largely sexist country music industry took toward the spirit.) Funny and sharp, Smith is also a master of the tossed- singer, especially in the early part of her career. Her first indus- off phrase that is just right for the job: “Early-2000 Dubai felt try mentor, Porter Wagoner, for example, recognized Parton’s like Blade Runner might if written and directed by trust-funded musical talent, but he tried to use it to serve his own “thunder- Saudi Arabian boys who loved robot porn.” ous ego.” The quick-witted grit that helped her endure would A lively and entertaining—and illuminating—journey later come out in the characters she played in hit Hollywood into dangerous territory. films like 9 to 5 (1980). Smarsh argues that this “humorous bra- vado” arises not just from Parton herself, but from the “culture of working-class women” she represents. The singer’s savvy is HUMANS also as much sexual as entrepreneurial. The author shows how Stanton, Brandon Parton used both to reach success—and not just in music: She St. Martin’s (448 pp.) has said that Dollywood is “the most lucrative investment she $35.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 ever made.” Her influence is now so pervasive that she has 978-1-250-11429-7 become a cross-genre inspiration to young artists like hip-hop star Nicki Minaj. Though not a self-identified feminist, Parton The creator of the hit internet series exemplifies the “unsurpassed wisdom about how gender works Humans of New York takes it global, in the world” that Smarsh believes is part of the working-class chasing down a panoply of interesting female experience. stories. A highly readable treat for music and feminist scholars as In 1955, Edward Steichen staged a show called “The Family well as Parton’s legion of fans. of Man,” a gathering of photographs that emphasized the com- monality of humankind. Stanton’s project seemingly has much the same ambition. “You’ve created this magic little corner of REPORTS FROM HELL the Web where people feel safe sharing their stories—without Smith, Chas being ridiculed, or bullied, or judged,” he writes. “These sto- Rare Bird Books (192 pp.) ries are only honestly shared because they have a long history $27.00 | Aug. 11, 2020 of being warmly received.” The ask is the hard part: approach- 978-1-64428-075-1 ing a total stranger and asking him or her to tell their stories. And what stories they are. A young Frenchwoman, tearful, Gonzo meets Hezbollah in this recounts being able to see things from the spirit world that unlikely—and delightful—work of no one else can see. “And it’s been a very lonely existence since journalism. then,” she says. A sensible teenager in St. Petersburg, Russia, What to do when al-Qaida strikes relates that her friends are trying to be grown-up, smoking and the twin towers fall? Grab a surf- cigarettes and drinking alcohol, whereas she wants to remain board and make for the Middle East, of a child close to her parents: “I’d like these times to last as long course, the strategy followed by Smith and companions Nate, as possible.” A few stories are obnoxious, as with a Dutch incel “who happens to look exactly like Steve McQueen playing Frank who has converted himself into a pickup artist and outright

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 85 cad: “Of course it’s manipulation, but why should I care? I’ve and profit-minded willful blindness, the interviews also- show been manipulated so many times in my life.” A great many case thoughtful and socially engaged—if wonky—personalities. stories, some going for several pages but most taking up just Relevant augury for technology’s future during a tech- a paragraph or two, are regretful, speaking to dashed dreams dependent, dysfunctional historical moment. and roads not taken. A surprising number recount mental illness, depression, and addiction; “I’d give anything to have a tribe,” says a beleaguered mother in Barcelona. Some are TRUE CRIMES AND hopeful, though, such as that of an Iranian woman: “I’ve fallen MISDEMEANORS in love with literature. I try to read for one or two hours every The Investigation of day. I only have one life to live. But in books I can live one Donald Trump thousand lives.” Toobin, Jeffrey A lovely, sometimes challenging testament to the univer- Doubleday (496 pp.) sality of human nature. $30.00 | Aug. 4, 2020 978-0-385-53673-8

VOICES FROM THE VALLEY Has Donald Trump committed Tech Workers Talk About impeachable offenses? Yes—and then What They Do—and How some, as New Yorker writer and CNN legal They Do It analyst Toobin chronicles in this catalog of crime. Ed. by Tarnoff, Ben & Weigel, Moira Robert Mueller concluded his investigation of the presi- Farrar, Straus and Giroux (160 pp.) dent’s misdoings by grouping them into two broad categories. $14.99 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 One, examining Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, was 978-0-374-53867-5 inconclusive even though Mueller “had uncovered a genuinely massive conspiracy in Russia, stretching from the military The state of Silicon Valley captured to the private sector, to interfere in the most solid rite of our in uneasy conversations with technology democracy”—namely, the 2016 presidential election. The other workers. was Trump’s flagrant obstruction of justice in acts committed Logic magazine co-founders Tarnoff and Weigel use crisp, before, during, and after the investigation, as when he fired knowing interviews to address the labor and class ferment FBI director James Comey soon after entering office. Trump percolating beneath the tech industry’s sleek exterior. They has never bothered to even give the impression that he is not argue that industry secretiveness contributes to internal stress corrupt; when the impeachment proceedings began in 2019, and public misunderstandings. “To obscure the human work he reacted by threatening and blustering while taking care involved in training an algorithm or moderating a social media not to leave a paper trail. That has always been his way, as his feed,” they write, “is both a sales pitch and an evasion.” The former attorney Michael Cohen has documented, and “Muel- interviews capture seven archetypes, including “The Founder,” ler’s report, if read carefully, establishes that Trump committed “The Engineer,” and “The Massage Therapist.” The editors begin several acts of criminal obstruction of justice.” Toobin delivers with a developer whose floundering startup earned a lucrative a painstakingly constructed record of Trump’s crimes, never buyout, apparently to quash competition: “the inherent value mincing words: For example, were it not for Rudolph Giuliani’s in a talent acquisition comes from acknowledging that most ineptitude as an attorney, “Donald Trump would not have been projects in software fail.” This pervasive sense of high-stakes impeached.” In the months since his impeachment, Trump absurdity provides a tense, neurotic undertone throughout has bungled everything he’s touched. For one, writes Toobin, the book. A technical writer addresses the industry’s notorious “Trump addressed the coronavirus the same way that he con- “gendered exclusions,” showing “what it’s like to be a woman in fronted his Russia and Ukraine scandals—with bluster, blame tech perceived to be less technical.” A chef whose union activ- shifting, vindictiveness, and lies.” It’s a depressing record, and ism has since aided a more equitable workplace remembers his Toobin’s careful narrative yields mostly despair for the fate of first posting at a wealthy startup: “I ain’t gonna be mad at them, the republic. As he concludes, “For Trump, his presidency was but they were snobby as hell. You saw the Benzes, the Lambo- more about him that what he could accomplish,” and what rghinis, the Porsches, the Ferraris, the Bentleys popping all up Trump has accomplished is mostly destruction. in the parking lot.” The editors also acknowledge the impor- Think of it as a user-friendly—and utterly damning— tance of the contributions of “tech’s blue-collar workers”—e.g., explication of the Mueller Report. Read it. Then vote. security guards, custodians, cafeteria staff: “Their labor is often invisible but completely indispensable. If they don’t do their job, nobody else can do theirs.” Viewing Google as an industry bell- wether, Tarnoff and Weigel also interviewed an engineer who noted, “I have a friend whose opinion is that Google strongly believes in doing the right thing—so long as it doesn’t cost Google money.” While indicting a business culture of privilege

86 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | A slim book in which every word is important, one that deserves to be read multiple times. the war of the poor

HOW TO WRITE ONE SONG childhood home. Smartly photographed rather than tran- Loving the Things We Create scribed, the letters offer an engrossing portrait of the artist as and How They Love Us Back a young man. Many of the future novelist’s hallmarks can be Tweedy, Jeff seen in embryotic form: the plainspoken wit and candor (“Sex Dutton (176 pp.) is peachy. Why bury it with things low and vulgar”), the clever $23.00 | Oct. 13, 2020 doodles (one letter includes a credible stegosaurus), and, in war- 978-0-593-18352-6 time, a heartsickness over humanity in turmoil. In 1941, Vonne- gut and Cox were high school sweethearts at separate colleges: The Wilco frontman delivers a song- Cox at Swarthmore, studying English, Vonnegut at Cornell, writing guide emphasizing routine and ill-advisedly studying chemistry and spending most of his time process rather than merely waiting for a writing for the student paper. His early letters to “Woofy” are flash of inspiration. giddy and flirty (“the interior of a tan sedan / cannot be part of This book should have a potential readership beyond fledg- nature’s plan,” goes one bit of doggerel) and not a little plead- ling songwriters. Of course, that audience includes devoted ing, hinting at marriage and a touch passive-aggressive about Wilco fans who want more insight into the songs, but anyone her dating others. World War II distanced them further and involved in a creative endeavor can benefit from Tweedy’s advice. inevitably changed him: His mother died, he was captured as a Much of the information echoes other how-to guides: Allow POW and witnessed the bombing of Dresden (which famously yourself room to fail, learn from your mistakes, don’t allow your inspired Slaughterhouse-Five), and grew more desperate for her inner critic or editor to enter the process too early. What’s most attention. After they married in 1945, his letters (as he awaited helpful is the specific and personal—how Tweedy does it. He official release from the Army) become more practical, ashe

provides a daily schedule of his routine, including the naps and plots a literary career. But his sense of humor and ingenious- young adult long walks he considers integral to the process. He offers tran- ness never waver. Two examples of Cox’s letters show that she scripts of conversations, including one with his wife, and shows was deeply supportive, even gushing about his literary potential, how these have inspired lyrics, and he provides examples of mix- and one senses Vonnegut needed every encouragement. The and-match and cut-and-paste word exercises to suggest how one two split in 1971; here, though, Vonnegut’s ardor is undiluted might find meaning and even music in what might initially appear and a pleasure to snoop in on. to be nonsense. Tweedy even suggests stealing, though he shows A charming set of Vonnegutiana that will appeal to fans of how one can take chord progressions or words from someone his writing—and love letters in general. else and turn them into music that is totally your own. Many of the chapters are bite-sized, and the shorter ones could have been richer with more personal experiences woven in. The author THE WAR OF THE POOR advises listening to other people’s music and learning how to play Vuillard, Éric those songs, but readers may wish he had gone deeper into the Trans. by Polizzotti, Mark music that informed his own, what he tried to copy, and how it Other Press (96 pp.) progressed into something original. Though Tweedy does his best $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 to demystify the process, he does allow that “I truly think I do a 978-1-63542-008-1 lot of my best work while I’m asleep.” While the text contains plenty of solid tips for writing one song, the author allows for a A slender, vivid history of a 16th-cen- wider resonance, showing how “songs help us love and cope, and tury populist revolt that holds relevance they teach us how to be human.” for current times. A concise look at how to listen and appreciate. In his latest, Vuillard, the winner of the 2017 Prix Goncourt for The Order of the Day, follows Thomas Münzter (c. 1489-1525), a zealous LOVE, KURT German preacher “who rejected the debates among learned The Vonnegut Love Letters, theologians; esotericism made him sick. He appealed to pub- 1941-1945 lic opinion.” Throughout this brief but powerful, moving book, Vonnegut, Kurt the author clearly and poetically demonstrates Münzter’s pas- Ed. by Edith Vonnegut sion for reform. “He is enraged,” writes Vuillard. “He wants the Random House (240 pp) rulers’ skins, he wants to sweep away the church, he wants to $35.00 | Dec. 1, 2020 gut all those bastards….He wants to put an end to all that pomp 978-0-593-13301-9 and miserable circumstance. Vice and wealth devastate him; their conjunction devastates him.” As the narrative progresses, Kurt Vonnegut’s letters to his first the initial feeling of disjointedness morphs into a delightful wife, Jane Marie Cox, written in the crucibles of war and young thread of connection as the author pinballs around the 16th- literary ambition. century landscape. He chronicles the plight of the repressed Vonnegut’s eldest daughter, Edith, discovered this cache serfs in Leipzig, Prague, Rome, and Avignon. Like most fanat- of letters, written between 1941 and 1945, in the attic of her ics, Münzter could occasionally come across as a raving lunatic,

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 87 leading the poor to raise the wrath of God against the godless An exemplary work of biography and intellectual his- rulers who suppressed them. The availability of the Bible in the tory; essential reading for students of literary and artistic vernacular encouraged Münzter to receive God’s direct mes- modernism. sage through visions and dreams. People flocked to hear him conduct services in German. He rejected Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine in favor of Erasmus and Raymond Lully, though THE KIDNAPPING CLUB he eventually dismissed all theologians. In addition to his Prague Wall Street, Slavery, and Manifesto, Münzter also wrote Protestation, which argued that Resistance on the Eve of the “the crucial experience of humanity was suffering,” the only way Civil War that one “could receive the word of God.” Summoned to justify Wells, Jonathan Daniel his work to the Elector of Saxony and the crown prince, he fore- Bold Type Books (368 pp.) told the rise of the silent flocks who would destroy them. $28.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 A slim book in which every word is important, one that 978-1-56858-752-3 deserves to be read multiple times. A tale of money and enslavement on the streets of New York. MAX JACOB In the early 19th century, writes his- A Life in Art torian Wells, New York was the Northern city most closely and Letters aligned with the slave states and the institution of slavery, “due in Warren, Rosanna large part to the lucrative trade between Manhattan banks and Norton (736 pp.) insurance companies and the slaveholders of the cotton South.” $45.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 Where many Northerners refused to follow the demands of the 978-0-393-07885-5 Fugitive Slave Act, it was big business for a group that abolition- ist David Ruggles called the New York Kidnapping Club, “a Thoroughgoing biography of a now- powerful and far-reaching collection of police officers, political little-known French artist, writer, and authorities, judges, lawyers, and slave traders who terrorized the collector of consequential friendships. city’s black residents throughout the early nineteenth century.” Overstuffed without being claustro- Members of the club thought nothing of dispatching freeborn phobic—in the manner of Roger Shattuck’s kindred study The Black New Yorkers to the South to be impressed into slavery. Banquet Years—poet Warren’s book will introduce most readers Black children in particular often disappeared from the streets to Max Jacob (1876-1944), someone, she writes, “I had never only to turn up on plantations in the South—and later in Cuba heard of.” Jacob was Breton, Jewish, gay, and Pablo Picasso’s first and other international slave markets. The work of the kidnap- friend in Paris, and he served as an important link between the pers was made easier by a corrupt police department—and at symbolists and the surrealists. He was a writer and painter him- one point two corrupt and competing police forces—and the self, almost always broke, but he was generous with his money fact that both sides of Manhattan were lined with wharves filled and time. To read this book is to confront a catalog of impor- with ships that came and went. The author populates his pages tant writers, artists, and thinkers of the period, all of whom, with characters who are little known to history, such as the it seems, Jacob knew: Modigliani, Éluard, Cocteau, Queneau, city’s recorder, Richard Riker, who “for nearly thirty years on Leiris, Chagall, Braque…the list goes on. His homosexuality, behalf of southern slaveholding claimants sent untold numbers which in those days could occasion scandal and imprisonment, of people into bondage.” Small wonder that when he died, the was sometimes an issue, inasmuch as young men took advan- newspapers of Charleston and New Orleans published obituar- tage of his generosity and helped themselves to his money and ies. Ruggles should also be better known. The narrative suffers social connections. He converted to Catholicism in an effort, it from a certain sluggishness and needless rhetorical flourishes— seems, to “cleanse his soul and ensure his salvation” while also “As the train gained momentum on its tracks, Ruggles took his clearing the slate for further erotic encounters: “As long as you seat, hopeful that the momentum to end slavery was finally don’t sin, you’re saved,” he wrote. “If you sin, you go to confes- gaining steam among the hectic citizens of the northeast”—but sion, you’re still saved.” The conversion, and his long residence it’s a story that deserves to be told. in the monastic community of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, did not A convincing demonstration of the close links between help when Vichy France and the occupying Nazis imposed capitalism and the unconscionable trade in human beings. racial laws on France that would have sent Jacob to Auschwitz had he not died of pneumonia before he could be transported there. Warren shows that, while not a giant like so many of his friends, Jacob was more central to France’s early-20th-century artistic and literary history than he has been given credit for. He was also a wonderful storyteller who, for one thing, composed a “mythic genealogy” linking a storied pistol of Picasso’s to Alfred Jarry when in fact the two never met.

88 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | A lively survey by an eminence in the field. a world beneath the sands

THE PEOPLE ON A WORLD BENEATH THE THE BEACH SANDS Journeys to Freedom The Golden Age of After the Holocaust Egyptology Whitehouse, Rosie Wilkinson, Toby Hurst Publishers (416 pp.) Norton (528 pp.) $29.95 | Oct. 15, 2020 $30.00 | Oct. 20, 2020 978-1-78738-377-7 978-1-324-00689-3

A painstakingly researched account A history of the relatively short period of the seaborne refugee operations to during which Egyptology “emerged from deliver Jewish survivors of the Third its antiquarian origins to emerge as a Reich to what would become Israel. proper scientific discipline.” Whitehouse, a journalist and historical adviser at Vienna- More compressed than Jason Thompson’s recent multivol- based Centropa, “an interactive database of Jewish memory,” ume history on the subject, Wilkinson’s latest spotlights the impressively documents a moment in history when more than great French, English, and German scientists and adventurers 1,000 Holocaust survivors gathered on a Ligurian beach and who managed to crack many of the mysteries of ancient Egypt— clambered aboard a rickety ship that was stuffed far beyond its notably, Jean-François Champollion’s “decipherment” of hiero- capacity, sailing to the British Mandate of Palestine on a thank- glyphics in 1822. His achievement, writes the author, “allowed fully uneventful eight-day journey across the Mediterranean. ancient Egyptian culture to emerge out of the fog of Classical

The survivors braved Italian authorities, a British naval block- myth and esoteric legend into the spotlight of serious scientific young adult ade, and an oddly hostile reception by those who reflexively enquiry.” After Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt (1798-1801) and believed that “they must have done some wrong in order to still the ensuing era of Muhammad Ali’s brutal modernization of the be alive.” In order to effectively chronicle this and other tales of country (until 1848), an “orgy of destruction” followed, as trea- rescue, Whitehouse traveled to such critical sites as Berdychiv, sure seekers and some archaeologists were driven by “a desire where the Soviet journalist Vasily Grossman “was shocked to to record and preserve Egypt’s ancient patrimony before it was discover the major role that his former Ukrainian neighbors had lost forever.” In the 1830s, Prussian archaeologist Karl Richard played in the murder of his mother, his relatives and the thou- Lepsius “took Egyptian philology to the next level, enabling, for sands who lost their lives”; tourist-packed Auschwitz, where the first time, the translation of running hieroglyphic texts as “cars and coaches fill the carparks and locals quick to make a few opposed to mere names and epithets.” In 1850, French scholar zlotys try to divert day-trippers from the free parking to their Auguste Mariette discovered the Serapeum monument under private paying lots”; and Dachau, “not a place that lends much the sands of Saqqara, the most celebrated discovery since the help to the road-trip historian.” During her journey interview- Rosetta Stone; in 1858, Mariette was appointed director of ing survivors, relatives, archivists, and historians, Whitehouse the newly formed Egyptian Department of Antiquities. The learned about stories not often recounted elsewhere, includ- momentous early 1880s, writes Wilkinson, saw the convergence ing the work of avenging former prisoners who poisoned their of European discovery of Egypt and “Egypt’s discovery of itself.” interned erstwhile SS guards with arsenic-laced bread; of the Earlier, in 1874, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York Jewish Brigade of the British army, “a unit of soldiers who had “acquired its first Egyptian objects.” When Howard Carter and effectively gone AWOL” to help Holocaust survivors escape to Lord Carnarvon started their excavation of the Valley of the Palestine; and of Italian partisans and ordinary townspeople in Kings, ancient Egypt had assumed the status of “a complex and helping overcrowded refugee ships sail, a story commemorated vibrant civilization.” Refreshingly, Wilkinson dedicates a chap- in Leon Uris’ novel Exodus. ter to two women: Lucie Duff Gordon and Amelia Edwards, An illuminating, welcome addition to the literature of the whose A Thousand Miles Up the Nile (1877) was published to great Holocaust and its aftermath. acclaim. The author also includes images, maps, and a timeline. A lively survey by an eminence in the field.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 september 2020 | 89 IS EINSTEIN STILL RIGHT? AMERICAN Black Holes, Gravitational CONTAGIONS Waves, and the Quest To Epidemics and the Law Verify Einstein’s From Smallpox to COVID-19 Greatest Creation Witt, John Fabian Will, Clifford M. & Yunes, Nicolás Yale Univ. (180 pp.) Oxford Univ. (256 pp.) $20.00 | Oct. 27, 2020 $22.95 | Nov. 10, 2020 978-0-300-25727-4 978-0-19-884212-5 Don’t want to wear a virus-blocking The answer is yes, but plenty of work mask? Well, neither did some people a remains to confirm his predictions and century ago—and the law caught up with fill in the gaps. them, too. Will, a professor of physics at the University of Florida, and In a book that’s both timely, considering the pandemic, and Yunes, physics professor at the University of Illinois and found- remarkably speedy, considering that it began as a spring 2020 ing director of the Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Yale Law School class, Bancroft Prize winner Witt looks at the Universe, write that Einstein became a scientific superstar in sometimes contending, sometimes cooperating forces of public 1919 when experiments showed that the sun’s gravity bent a interest and private liberty in times of epidemic disease. “New star’s light when it passed nearby. The authors add that, unlike germs help make new laws and institutions,” he writes, “yet many other superstars, he deserved the acclaim because his old ways of doing things shape the course of epidemics and discoveries—mostly relativity, but there were others—mark the ways in which we respond to them.” In the earliest years him as one of the most significant geniuses in human history. of the republic as now, he observes, there have been two major Besides his brilliant if unsettling descriptions of time and space, branches of disease control: the sanitarian and the quarantinist. relativity predicts phenomena so bizarre that Einstein himself Then as now, the sanitarian—wear a mask, practice social dis- doubted their existence. Most scientists agreed until the 1960s, tancing—has been reserved for the better off, while quarantines when they began turning up. Confronted with neutron stars, have been brought to bear on immigrant and minority popu- pulsars, quasars, gravitational lenses, cosmic background radia- lations. So it is that the White House argues with increased tion, and black holes, relativists suddenly found themselves in urgency for a wall to block putatively disease-bearing border great demand. By this time, other theories proposed to explain crossers, and so it is that the earliest colonial inhabitants of the matters, but so far relativity enjoys a perfect record. “Experi- Hamptons ordered that “no Indian shall come to towne…until ment seems to really like Einstein’s theory in spite of how crazy they be free of the small poxe.” Whether Chinese worker, Jew- and wacky it seems,” writes Yunes at the conclusion. The culmi- ish immigrant, or Irish tenement dweller, quarantinist measures nation was the 2015 detection of almost impossibly faint gravity of control applied to the Other, who often could not obey laws waves, “the most important scientific discovery of the twenty- imposed by the landed majority, such as having dining and toilet first century (at least so far).” Many books explain Einstein for facilities far apart. Witt documents how the federal government a lay audience, and readers would be advised to consult one— has consistently punted health regulations to the states, with perhaps Will’s Was Einstein Right? (1986)—before tackling this results ranging from Michigan’s banning anyone with a venereal challenging entry in the field. Justifiably excited by the past 50 disease from marrying to “Typhoid Mary” Mallon’s serving 23 years of astronomical spectaculars, the authors hurry past Ein- years in involuntary isolation, “never having been convicted stein’s basics (curvature of space, relativity of time), concentrat- of or even charged with a crime.” No matter which regime is ing on his more complex predictions. They succeed superbly in followed, writes the author, the current pandemic violates the describing the history and personalities behind them and work doctrine that public health is paramount. diligently, sometimes successfully, to explain the science. Contrarians and the civic-minded alike will find Witt’s Solid insights into Einstein’s dazzling discoveries, but not legal survey a fascinating resource. for the faint of heart.

90 | 1 september 2020 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | children’s AKISSI These titles earned the Kirkus Star: Even More Tales of Mischief AKISSI by Marguerite Abouet; illus. by Mathieu Sapin; Abouet, Marguerite trans. by Marie Bédrune...... 91 Illus. by Sapin, Mathieu CINDERS & SPARROWS by Stefan Bachmann...... 94 Trans. by Bédrune, Marie Flying Eye Books (144 pp.) NORTHBOUND by Michael S. Bandy & Eric Stein; $14.95 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 illus. by James E. Ransome...... 95 978-1-912497-41-6 THE SUMMONER by Victoria Bond...... 100 Series: Akissi, 3 LEMON BUTTERFLY by Cao Wenxuan; illus. by Roger Mello...... 106 More comic strips by Abouet and Sapin make it across ABC ANIMALS

by Christopher Evans...... 111 the Atlantic, delivering big laughs about a rambunctious young adult MEXIQUE by Mara José Ferrada; illus. by Ana Penyas; Black girl making joy and making life in the day to day of an trans. by Elisa Amado...... 112 Ivory Coast village. In 2013, the debut volume introduced North American THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT by Lamar Giles; readers to the larger-than-life character of Akissi, a bold, crafty, illus. by Dapo Adeola...... 114 adventurous Black girl who sees the neighborhood as her play- MODERN ART EXPLORER by Alice Harman; ground. In this set of stories, readers see her wrestle with an illus. by Serge Bloch...... 115 impending nightmare: She’s to be shipped off with her uncle to THE STRAY AND THE STRANGERS by Steven Heighton; the freezing-cold, wolf-infested streets of Paris, a world away illus. by Melissa Iwai...... 116 from the village streets and neighbors she has come to know so well. Imagine that, a story about an African child that doesn’t TWINS by Varian Johnson; illus. by Shannon Wright...... 118 hinge on escape or opportunity elsewhere but rather centers THE BOY AND THE GORILLA by Jackie Aza Kramer; itself in the bountiful abundance and beauty of life among her illus. by Cindy Derby...... 118 people. In her introduction, Abouet writes about reclaiming her happy memories of being an Ivorian girl in her homeland in THE GREAT BUNK BED BATTLE by Tina Kügler...... 118 order to provide “a different view of Africa than the one we are NO VOICE TOO SMALL ed. by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson usually shown. An Africa full of life, rather than sorrow.” Full & Jeanette Bradley; illus. by Jeanette Bradley...... 122 of laughs and a heartwarming embrace for friendship, the epi- A LONG ROAD ON A SHORT DAY by Gary D. Schmidt & sodes draw on real-life experiences in order to deliver a narra- Elizabeth Stickney; illus. by Eugene Yelchin...... 131 tive unlike any other. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we see of WILD GIRL Akissi, Fofana, Spectreman, and more. by Helen Skelton; illus. by Liz Kay...... 133 Big heart. Big laughs. Get this collection and all the rest, ALL THIRTEEN by Christina Soontornvat...... 134 too. (maps, maze, bonus activity) (Graphic fiction. -7 adult) ONCE UPON A WINTER DAY by Liza Woodruff...... 138 DANDAN’S DREAM by Xiaowen Zhu; illus. by Gong Yanling...... 139 TANI’S NEW HOME FELÍZ NEW YEAR, AVA GABRIELA! by Alexandra Alessandri; A Refugee Finds Hope and illus. by Addy Rivera Sonda...... 140 Kindness in America JACK AND SANTA by Mac Barnett; illus. by Greg Pizzoli...... 140 Adewumi, Tanitoluwa with Lord, Michelle Illus. by Dawson, Courtney THE CHRISTMAS FEAST by Nathalie Dargent; Thomas Nelson (32 pp.) illus. by Magali Le Huche...... 142 $17.99 | Nov. 24, 2020 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS illus. by Lara Hawthorne...... 144 978-1-4002-1828-8 THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement C. Moore; After his family is forced to flee Nige- illus. by Loren Long...... 147 ria and adjust to the United States while living in a homeless shelter, Tani wins a chess championship.

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 91 some books worth voting for

Leah Overstreet Even though presidential elec- even the most disengaged voters so that “the future began tions roll around every four years to change.” in the United States, it’s an occa- It’s important to remember that democracy takes sion that doesn’t inspire many chil- place outside of the United States, too, and two of the best dren’s books; usually we can count of this year’s crop come from South America. on seeing a scant handful. Not in In A Small History of a Disagreement (Aldana Libros/ 2020. This year, we’ve seen a verita- Greystone Kids), Chilean creators Claudio Fuentes S. and ble boomlet of picture books that in Gabriela Lyon depict a conflict some way address the electoral pro- within a school, when a new sci- cess. With just a couple of months ence building threatens a vener- before Election Day, we thought able tree in the schoolyard. In Eli- we’d corral some of the best that address this complicated, sa Amado’s translation, the history critical civic undertaking. teacher turns the conflict into “an In V Is for Voting (Henry Holt, exercise in civics”—but it’s not an July 21), Kate Farrell and Caitlin empty one. This group of students Kuhwald use the superficially sim- demonstrates that disagreement ple structure of an alphabet book can lead to fruitful collaboration. (Maybe it should be dis- to deliver a bracing, even thrilling tributed in Congress.) paean to activist democracy. With Lion has always been the undisputed King of the Jun- entries such as “H is for homelands gle, but his imperial ways lead the animals to decide they’d that we’ve occupied” and “N is for prefer to be a democracy. Under rules such as “candidates never forgetting what was,” read- cannot trade gifts for votes” and “candidates cannot eat ers come away really feeling that their opponents,” Monkey, Snake, Sloth, and, yes, Lion “M is for matter—and every vote does.” vie to become The President of the Jungle (Nancy Paulsen Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz’s irrepress- Books, Jan. 7). Via Lyn Miller-Lachmann’s translation, ible Froggy has gotten dressed, learned to swim, gone to Brazilian creators André Rodrigues, Larissa Ribeiro, Pau- the doctor, and engaged in 28 other activities. Now it’s la Desgualdo, and Pedro Markun deliver a funny story that Froggy for President! (Viking, May 12), and the accident- doubles as an informative primer. prone amphibian finds himself pitted against Frogilina Finally, though not a book about the electoral process in the election for class president. There’s more slapstick as such, The World’s Poorest President Speaks Out (Enchant- than substance, but for series fans, it’s an introduction to ed Lion Books, Aug. 18) nevertheless stands as a tribute political campaigning at the elementary school level. to the ideals of democratic govern- On the serious side, Mark ment. Adapted from Uruguayan Shulman and Serge Bloch also use President José Mujica’s speech to a classroom election—for class the 2012 United Nations Confer- pet—as a way to introduce read- ence on Sustainable Development ers to the process in I Voted (Neal by editor Yoshimi Kusaba for the Porter/Holiday House, Jan. 21). Au- original Japanese edition, illustrat- thor and illustrator emphasize the ed by Gaku Nakagawa, and trans- importance of making an informed lated by Andrew Wong, the book choice—and that choosing not to brings Mujica’s message to U.S. vote has its own consequences. readers. His insistence to world leaders that “shared hu- The multiracial, multicultural student body of Stanton man happiness is the greatest treasure of all” is one we all Elementary School shows child readers that even though need to keep in our minds as we head off to the ballot box. they cannot yet legally vote, they can still make a difference in Margaret McNamara and Micah Player’s Vote for Vicky Smith is a young readers’ editor. Our Future! (Schwartz & Wade/Random, Feb. 18). These children engage in an energetic, upbeat get-out-the-vote campaign in their neighborhood, finding ways to inspire

92 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | Wood engravings beautifully capture both the forested seasonal landscapes and the characters’ expressive body language. the bear and the duck

Tani lived “in a home that felt as secure as a castle, in a fine An energetic but sadly incomplete account of Washing- neighborhood in Nigeria.” But one day, his father, who owns a ton’s march to the presidency. (timeline, source notes, bibli- print shop, sneaks away from members of the terrorist group ography) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Boko Haram after they ask him to make posters, and the whole family, now in danger, must flee. They move to a home six hours away, but Boko Haram members find them. They must leave THE BEAR AND THE DUCK Nigeria quickly. They land in New York City and move into a Angeli, May homeless shelter, where Tani and his brother must sleep on a Illus. by the author separate floor from their parents. At school, Tani joins the chess Eerdmans (32 pp.) club and practices with his brother in their room at the shel- $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 ter. In his first tournament, he scores the lowest of all players, 978-0-8028-5555-8 but he studies and practices and keeps competing, and a year later, he wins the New York State championship. Headlines Bear and Duck’s friendship begins bring his story to readers around the world, who respond with with a threat and an act of kindness. encouragement and large donations to his family. Tani’s story is When an injured duck caught in a tangle of branches and a narrated in a lovely childlike voice that retains the wonder of bear taking a stroll after winter hibernation meet, Duck makes learning new things. The turn of events that can cause happy the first move, shouting a warning to stay away or the bear will families to need asylum will enlighten young readers and open lose his head. Bear finds the fear behind that threat amusing, minds. The generous view of the United States feels optimistic considering his advanced age and lack of teeth. Instead Bear but genuine. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.8-by-21-inch brings Duck home to care for him in his den. As Duck recu- double-page spreads viewed at 65.1% of actual size.) perates, the two take walks, with Duck riding on Bear’s back. young adult A valuable story of family, community, new beginnings, While Bear bathes in the water, Duck splashes about and tells and perseverance. (afterword) (Picture book/biography. 4-9) wonderful stories of his adventures. But soon Duck knows he must join the other birds and fly away. Bear is lonely and fears that he will never see Duck again. He sleeps through another A PARADE FOR GEORGE winter, and the next spring Duck returns for a happy reunion. WASHINGTON It is a gentle tale, told with tenderness and humor. Duck seems Adler, David A. to be the dominant personality while Bear is patient, gentle, Illus. by O’Brien, John and admiring. They are both male and of wildly different spe- Holiday House (32 pp.) cies, but these details are less a factor in their friendship than $17.99 | Nov. 3, 2020 acceptance and warmth. Illustrations in full- and partial-page 978-0-8234-4252-2 wood engravings beautifully capture both the forested seasonal landscapes and the characters’ expressive body language. A celebration for America’s first president. A loving, nonjudgmental tale of a long and lasting friend- Straightforward, lighthearted text and intricate, colorful ship. (Picture book. 4-8) illustrations tell the story of President-elect George Washing- ton’s travels from his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, to New York City, where he was sworn in as the first chief executive THE INVASION of the United States. Exuberant parades and joyous festivities Applegate, K.A. & Grant, Michael were held in abundance, though the unassuming Washington Illus. by Grine, Chris would seemingly have preferred to make his journey quickly Graphix/Scholastic (240 pp.) and quietly. The future president’s serious personality and no- $24.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 nonsense attitude are clearly expressed, the jubilation of the 978-1-338-22648-5 crowds that met him is readily apparent, and the trek is por- Series: Animorphs Graphix, 1 trayed succinctly yet includes specifics, outlining differences between then and now by implication. What’s here is pleasant After a night at the mall, a group of and interesting, and young readers and listeners will enjoy the kids encounters an alien, forever chang- details in the accessible text and the humorous, deftly drawn ing their lives. illustrations. What is missing is the presence of brown faces Jake, Marco, Tobias, Cassie, and among the White ones throughout the story; such omissions, Rachel cut through a construction site to make it home before intentional or not, are deeply questionable given the dearth of curfew when a spaceship heading straight for them lights up the children’s books on Washington that address the fact that he sky. They approach the ship and meet a dying Andalite who has owned people who were slaves—a fact that is missing here even just fled a Yeerk ambush. The Andalite, an alien with the power in the backmatter. Simultaneously a celebration of America’s to morph, tells of the invasion the sluglike, parasitic Yeerks beginnings and a lost opportunity to present a complete depic- have planned for Earth. Other Andalites will come to help— tion of history, this selection may nevertheless be useful given but not for some time. Before his gruesome death, the Anda- the approaching election and inauguration. lite bestows the children with the power to temporarily turn

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 93 The castle is rich with enough ghosts and enchanted staircases to satisfy any fantasy lover. cinders & sparrows

into any animal they wish, as long as they have first acquired its CINDERS & SPARROWS DNA via touch. Following their bizarre night, the group—with Bachmann, Stefan Jake as their reluctant leader—must decide whether or not to Greenwillow Books (368 pp.) battle the Yeerks. The decision is made when they realize Jake’s $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 brother has been taken over by a Yeerk. Determined to save 978-0-06-228995-7 their town, the group embraces their abilities and fights back. This text-heavy graphic novel is full of action-packed panels Although a 12-year-old servant girl and detailed, realistic illustrations. The narrative is engaging doesn’t recall the time before she was an and may encourage readers to learn about animals. However, orphan, she remembers her secret, pow- the intensity of the murderous undertones may scare younger erful name: Zita Brydgeborn. readers. Cassie and Marco are brown; the rest of the main cast When she’s summoned to Blackbird is White. Castle, which is ruled over by the unpleasant Mrs. Cantanker, to A dark, bracing series opener. (Science fiction. 8-13) take her rightful place as the last of a family of powerful witches, it seems almost like a dream come true. But there is much to learn and no one she can fully rely upon, not even Minnifer, the WHAT A LUCKY DAY! maid, and Bram, the cook, both of whom are friendly toward Awan, Jashar her. There’s also the scary matter of her family, bewitched and Illus. by the author moldering in the dining room. Mrs. Cantanker gradually reveals Norton Young Readers (48 pp.) herself to be a dark force to be reckoned with. When she trusts $17.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 to her own resourcefulness—which is ample—Zita is able to 978-1-324-01552-9 begin gathering tools of power: a loyal crow, magical scissors, and, finally, her Anchor. She’ll need them all as the depth of A picture-book debut that looks at Cantanker’s evil scheme is finally exposed and Zita must fight common superstitions and misconceptions. the battle of her life to save her family and protect the world A stork is going fishing. “If I’m lucky, from a dead witch of undeniable power. Bachmann’s world- I’ll have fish for dinner,” the long-legged building is delightful. The castle is rich with enough ghosts and bird says hopefully. But suddenly, a black enchanted staircases to satisfy any fantasy lover, and the cast of cat crosses the path. “OH NO! BAD LUCK!… / I won’t catch characters, all seemingly White, is well developed and engaging, anything today!” The black cat is also going fishing. “If I’m especially intrepid narrator Zita. lucky, I’ll have fish for dinner,” the feline purrs. But: “OH NO! A suspenseful entertaining romp through an entertain- A RACCOON! That masked bandit will steal my fish!” Coin- ingly witchy world. (Fantasy. 9-14) cidentally, the raccoon is also going fishing. The refrain repeats. Four animals, all hoping for a fish dinner, suddenly crowd the dock, each looking warily at the others, afraid of all the mis- A PIG IN THE PALACE taken beliefs they’ve previously heard. The raccoon fears catch- Bahrampour, Ali ing warts from the frog; the frog hopes the stork doesn’t deliver Illus. by the author any inconvenient babies. Each eyes the others suspiciously. But Abrams (32 pp.) what luck! They each catch a fish! Each superstition or myth is $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 unraveled as the animals apologize to one another. Stork is par- 978-1-4197-4571-3 ticularly perplexed: “Wait. What? Why would I deliver babies?” Awan’s illustrations use contrast effectively; the bold, simply An invitation to the palace causes a shaped animals stand out starkly against the light sky. The text piggy pickle. also pops in dark, blocky typeface. Appended backmatter fur- Bobo the warthog is happily rolling ther explains the origins of the misconceptions associated with in the mud floor of his hollow tree home when he gets a surprise: each animal. The question of the fishes’ luck goes unaddressed, an invitation to dinner with the new queen. Certain it’s a mis- however. take—he’s usually covered with mud and fleas—he lies awake A clever way to approach a conversation on assumptions. all night worrying he won’t fit in. In the limo the palace pro- (Picture book. 4-7) vides the next day, he learns no one’s ever seen the queen; this will be her big reveal. When he arrives at the palace, the other guests (humans all, diverse in both race and gender) are wearing fancy clothes. Bobo thinks about covering up, but the table- cloth he uses makes a mess…then his fleas start acting up. Soon the guards are after him, trying to throw him out. The ensuing chase wrecks the palace. “Who made this mess?” shouts the queen from her palanquin. Shamefacedly, Bobo confesses. With a squeal of delight, the queen (also a warthog) shouts “WELL DONE!” Suddenly everyone is free to have fun and be as messy

94 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | as they like, even the stuffy palace guards. Bahrampour’s text LIFE IN A FROZEN WORLD and watercolor cartoons are neatly in sync, Bobo’s bewilder- Wildlife of Antarctica ment yielding to a determination to stay for dinner as the fool- Batten, Mary ishness proceeds. The hoggy hijinks of the chase through the Illus. by Gonzalez, Thomas palace and the messy finish will appeal to little listeners, who Peachtree (40 pp.) will hope for an invite to the queen and Bobo’s next party. The $18.99 | Nov. 1, 2020 cartoon illustrations show a (human) cast of many hues. (This 978-1-68263-151-5 book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 61.2% of actual size.) Although the southernmost continent is covered with ice A pleasing porcine parable. (Picture book. 2-7) all year round, wildlife still thrives in Antarctica—but the eco- system there is threatened. Batten worked with the Cousteau Society campaign against NORTHBOUND mineral exploitation in Antarctica in 1990. Her continued fas- A Train Ride Out of cination with this relatively mysterious world, which has no per- Segregation manent human population, is evident in her depiction of the life Bandy, Michael S. & Stein, Eric that does thrive there. Her descriptions are clear, concise, and Illus. by Ransome, James E. interesting, whether she’s discussing forests of kelp, pastures of Candlewick (40 pp.) phytoplankton, and swarms of krill; the fish, whales, penguins, $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 and seals at the top of the food chain; or the underwater inver- 978-0-7636-9650-4 tebrates who live long and often grow to gigantic proportions. young adult A friendship blossoms despite the segregation that would keep two young boys apart. Trains often interrupt Michael and Granddaddy’s farm work, and Michael dreams of riding on one of them. He gets his wish when Grandma decides to take him from Alabama to Ohio to visit cousins. They board the “colored only” car, and Michael marvels at the landscape and towns whizzing by. He sees a boy his age in the White section of the train as he explores, but he knows not to enter. When the train leaves Atlanta, however, the signs labeling the cars come down, and Michael befriends Bobby Ray. Together they explore both the White and Black sections of the train and the amazing dining car and sleeping berths. They discover a mutual love of drawing, playing with little green army men, and trains. But when the train reaches Chattanooga and the segregation signs return, their play comes to an abrupt halt. In these lushly illustrated watercolor and collage images, Ransome effectively captures the boys’ kinship amid the senseless, racist Jim Crow laws that separate them. The bucolic landscape outside the train’s windows sharply conflicts with the train conductor’s removal of Michael from the White car. Backmatter addresses the laws that created this unjust travel condition, beginning in 1887 with the Interstate Commerce Act. Painful history portrayed honestly and beautifully to help children understand the very personal impact of racism. (Picture book. 5-8)

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 95 Her text is relatively substantial for a picture book, and it’s ONE GIRL set against a backdrop of gorgeous Antarctic scenes created Beaty, Andrea by Gonzalez using pastel, colored pencils, and airbrush. The Illus. by Phumiruk, Dow animals are recognizable; the scenery is magnificent. After pre- Abrams (40 pp.) senting the resident wildlife, the author introduces humans— $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 scientists taking advantage of Antarctica’s protected status and 978-1-4197-1905-9 sunlit summers for research of all kinds, including studying the effects of Earth’s changing climate. She describes the changes While sitting outside her home one on the plant and animal life and the loss of sea ice, which also night, a forlorn little girl is surprised by a threatens the rest of the world. “Scientists estimate the melting book that falls from the sky. of Antarctica’s land ice will lead to a rise in sea level of between Glowing like a shooting star, the book lands at her feet. 3 and 16 inches…by 2100.” When she opens it, the pages transport her to a whimsical, Sobering news in a handsome package. (map, further imaginary land full of possibility. The girl is so enamored with facts, author’s note, glossary, acknowledgments, selected the book that she takes it to school and shares it with her class- bibliography) (Nonfiction. -7 10) mates. Inspired by what she’s read, the girl begins to write her own, original story. Swept up in the magic she has created, the girl’s classmates start reading—and, in one case, writing—books SELMA of their own. Eventually the first girl’s words take flight, shim- Bauer, Jutta mering as they circle the Earth and land at the homes of other Illus. by the author children who, presumably, will be inspired to find their voices. Gecko Press (56 pp.) Beaty’s rhyming text is charmingly sparse: each word is care- $9.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 fully chosen, and the language glimmers with precision. Much 978-1-776572-12-0 of the story is told by Phumiruk’s gorgeous illustrations, which not only feature a protagonist who appears to be Asian, but also From Germany, a low-key story about a contented sheep. children with diverse skin tones and hair textures; all the chil- “When I just couldn’t take it any more, I went to the wise ram,” dren appear to be wearing school uniforms. While the words begins this well-designed, unusually small book. It doesn’t seem and pictures work in synchrony, creating a lyrical call to action to be a book aimed at young readers. The opening illustration encouraging children to find their voices and, simultaneously, shows a discontented, possibly depressed brown dog nursing a their inner strength, the plot itself is abstract and widely open glass of red wine, and while the overall theme of the fablelike to interpretation, such that the book reads more like a poem story—happiness is being content with what you have—may than a traditional story. (This book was reviewed digitally with be valuable in some contexts, its exploration here is puzzling. A 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60.6% of actual size.) wise ram tells the dog the story of Selma, a sheep. Selma has a A charming, rhyming picture book designed to inspire. daily routine that consists of eating some grass, playing with her (Picture book. 3-7) children, exercising, more eating, chatting with a vulture neighbor, and then sleeping. Asked by the press (shown as a pale- skinned human arm holding a microphone) what she would do SOFIA VALDEZ AND THE if she had more time, her answers are the same, with tiny varia- VANISHING VOTE tions in narrative construction but not meaning. When Selma Beaty, Andrea is asked what she would do if she won a million dollars…well, Illus. by Roberts, David here, readers may be expecting a twist, and those readers will Amulet/Abrams (160 pp.) be disappointed. The illustrations are wholly engaging; they are $12.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 full-page bleeds on the recto, executed in a saturated palette in 978-1-4197-4350-4 comforting earth tones with engaging shadow details that give Series: Questioneers dimension to the landscapes. Selma is an appealing-looking sheep who exudes placidity, contentment, and a little humor. The Questioneers are back for a new The dog who opens the story never returns. early chapter book, this one featuring Lovely illustrations; but the fable falls flat. (Picture book. Sofia Valdez, of Sofia Valdez, Future Prez 5-8) (2019) fame. Sofia and her friends from Miss Greer’s second grade class are back for another adventure. This time around, an election to select the new class pet offers lots of what Miss Greer likes to call Learning Experiences. Young civic activist Sofia is put in charge of managing the election, which pits candidates backed by two of her best friends against one another. Mean- while, her cousin Marisella grapples with a pet problem of her own. Between friends and family, the election pulls Sofia in all

96 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | BE BOLD,

BE BRAVE, young adult

DREAM BIG! Who’s yourSee what’s favourite new personin the in the Little People, BIG DREAMS series?

www.littlepeoplebigdreams.com @QuartoKids #LittlePeopleBigDreams

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 97 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Ernesto Cisneros

A YOUNG MEXICAN AMERICAN FACES HIS MOTHER’S DEPORTATION IN CISNEROS’ NOVEL OF RESILIENCE By Vicky Smith

Andre Martinez In Efrén Divided you look at a lot of what is wrong about the United States, but you also see hope. How did you strike this balance? I started writing this during the elections of 2016. It was really difficult not being political. There were so many things I wanted to say, but that wasn’t what the book was for. I wanted to always just remain true to the characters. There were times when the politics seeped in.

Like when Jennifer talks about Americans’ attention to chickens in cages and their inattention to children in cages. So yes, politics seeped in—beautifully. [That] was one of the moments that I allowed myself a little bit of liberty. I just wanted to open the front door. I just kept thinking, you know what, it’s a lot easier to hate people you don’t know. And I bet you a lot of people haven’t met a Latino family before, an immigrant family. So I just wrote about my family and things around me. I had three students in 2016 who had a parent taken away. I have this blue box in my classroom [so kids can] let me know something’s going on. If a kid hasn’t turned in any In Ernesto Cisneros’ moving debut, Efrén Divided homework for a week and something’s going on at home, I (Harper/HarperCollins, March 31), Mexican American don’t want to be giving [them] detentions. [One boy] told 12-year-old Efrén Nava tries to be a loyal best friend to Da- me his father had been taken away over the weekend, and vid Warren, a White boy who’s running for student-body I didn’t know what to say. So for all the kids that are going president as a goof—but secretly Efrén’s rooting for Jen- through the same thing, I wanted to write a book to help nifer Huerta. Jennifer’s mother— like Efrén’s—“no tiene them. And Efrén was the perfect name. I thought it was kind papeles,” and Jennifer sees the position as a way to create of like a friend, to help them. [Now] I have a better response: change—in attitudes if not policies. Then Efrén’s Amá is that they’re not alone. And that they do have a community suddenly deported, and now he must care for his two little of allies and supporters. siblings while Apá, also undocumented, works extra overtime in hopes of hiring a coyote. Thanks to his U.S. citizen- The trip to Tijuana had to be tough to write. ship, it’s up to Efrén to cross into Tijuana to take Amá the Yes, yes, I was so terribly worried about that. There’s so little money, a journey that proves transformative. We caught up representation of Mexico in the U.S. that I wanted to make with Cisneros, a middle school teacher, via Zoom from his sure that I showed the beauty of it as well. Because it is beau- home in Santa Ana, California. The interview has been ed- tiful. We used to go there when I was a kid all the time. And ited for length and clarity. we’d see the beaches, and I’d think, man, I wouldn’t mind liv-

98 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | ing here. But then we’d go to the downtown, and there’d be the little children selling you things, and it was heartbreaking. I did go back [to Tijuana] to scout. The people who are staring at [Efrén] were the ones staring at me. I didn’t really make anything up.

Reading Efrén, you want so badly for Amá to make it back. Did you imagine an ending where she did? No, no. I [knew] from Page 1: She can’t come back. Maybe directions, and she realizes that overseeing a fair election that 10 years ago, but right now, the way things are, you cannot runs smoothly proves to be a real challenge. Fortunately, she has sage advice from Abuelo and help from the local library to do it. I had three students who were brave enough to let me guide her. The short chapters and ample illustrations make for know what’s going on. Imagine how many didn’t feel com- an accessible and entertaining early chapter book, full of fun fortable enough to share? I wanted to remain truthful. But I and, yes, learning experiences. Extensive backmatter includes information on the importance of a free press, the true histori- didn’t know how I was going to possibly end a middle-grade cal events behind Abuelo’s stories, and more information on book like that. Jennifer saved the day for me. So many young how the voting process in the United States works. Sofia and people right now are already becoming activists, and I want- her family have brown skin and are of Mexican heritage; her ed Jennifer to reflect that. friends are diverse; and Miss Greer presents White. Marisella uses a wheelchair. Questioneers fans will not be disappointed; new fans Is there anything else you’d like to say? will find this outing a timely introduction to the series. (Fic [We talk] about the depiction of people of color and how we tion. 6-9) don’t see ourselves, I think it’s true. But if you look at Front Desk [by Kelly Yang (Levine/Scholastic, 2018)], I swear to YOU CAN CHANGE God, you could take my family and you could replace it with THE WORLD hers. I think there’s a universal reality. The goal is for people The Kids’ Guide to a Better

Planet young adult to realize that we’re a lot more similar than we are differ- Bell, Lucy ent. And I [also] want the book to be a reminder for teach- Illus. by Hicks, Astred ers. So the message is to the kids, that they’re not alone, and Andrews McMeel Publishing (224 pp.) $19.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 for teachers, that sometimes we see kids a certain way, and 978-1-5248-6092-9 there’s a lot more to them. A well-designed collection of envi- Efrén Divided ronmentally focused activism ideas that are scalable and acces- received a starred review in the Dec. 1, 2019, issue. sible to children. Today’s children are already on the forefront of environmental activism, increasingly aware of the dangers to planet Earth—but the problems seem so large, and they are so very small. This resource is a smartly designed catalog of ideas to make it easier for individuals to put into practice actions that can help save the planet. Divided into categories addressing topics such as plastics, clothing, food, energy, and animals, each section is filled with information and activities to help readers become more aware of wastefulness and environmental impacts. Readers will find a recipe for toothpaste, tips for a plastic-free birthday party, and instructions for starting an outdoor garden. These suggestions provide tangible ways to change mindsets about consumption. Engaging factoids lead readers to inspirational stories of children from around the world who have made a difference in areas they care about. Full-color illustrations throughout are colorful and engaging with a friendly, modern look. The book concludes with a fitting chapter on kindness, making donations, and raising awareness, making it quite possible to raise a generation of children capable of changing the world. Backmatter contains a list of the children mentioned in the book, along with contact information, as well as additional resources and organizations. A strong reference addition to any library. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 99 Bond does the real-life Zora Neale Hurston proud. the summoner

WISHES AND WELLINGTONS traditions, especially those that limit opportunities for girls and Berry, Julie women, even as she navigates uncertainty and loss. Bond does Sourcebooks (368 pp.) the real-life storyteller Hurston proud, weaving an absorbing $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 tale of the everyday horrors Black people faced in the South at 978-1-7282-2325-4 the turn of the 20th century, even within the bounds of communities such as Eatonville. Both fans of and newcomers to A magical sardine can brings a Victo- the award-winning Zora & Me series will thoroughly enjoy this rian girl the promise of three wishes. thrilling conclusion. Stuck at Miss Salamanca’s School A sweet, lyrical, finely crafted mystery and a testament to for Upright Young Ladies, Maeve Mer- the deep bonds of friendship. (biography, timeline, bibliog- ritt, prone to foul language and fisticuffs, raphy, adaptations of Hurston’s work for children) (Historical wants a life of her own making filled with travel and cricket, fiction. 10-14) not the stultifying life dictated by family and society. But an unopened sardine can found in a rubbish pile brings the unexpected arrival of Mermeros, an ancient djinni. Will Maeve lose 5-MINUTE REALLY TRUE her integrity to greed like all the previous djinni masters? Soon STORIES FOR BEDTIME Maeve, her roommate Alice, and local orphan Tom are in the Britannica Books midst of more adventure, blackmail, and danger than they ever Britannica Books (192 pp.) imagined possible. Maeve’s first-person narrative moves swiftly, $12.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 peppered by her droll observations and witty dialogue. Small 978-1-912920-65-5 details weave together to create an engaging tapestry that becomes more complex and compelling with every page turn. Nonfiction alternatives to made-up Maeve is highly possessive of her good fortune, but an altru- bedtime stories. istic eleventh-hour choice leads to happy endings for all after What better way to induce drowsi- she wrestles with her conscience and ponders the gap between ness in young pillow plumpers than short, rich and poor. When Maeve and Tommy raid the sarcophagus fascinating introductions to the bedding-down behavior of of a long-ago Persian king, Alice pushes back against the theft. creatures from hibernating “frogsicles” to grizzly bears, not to Human characters are cued as White; the cover shows Maeve mention the “terrifyingly terrific tarantula!” and the “jawsome” with brown skin and black hair, but her appearance and ethnic- great white shark? Or perhaps tallies of record-breaking beds, ity are not described in the text. (This review has been updated to styles of beds used around the world, and beds found in King reflect a change between the advance reader copy and final edition.) Tut’s tomb? Or sleep’s stages, purposes, and body positions? A nostalgic Dickens and Nesbit mashup. (Historical fantasy. Combining the work of four authors and 10 illustrators, this 10-13) compendium of night-related knowledge ranges well beyond the bedroom as well as Eurocentric confines—touching on con- stellations known to Indigenous South African and Australian THE SUMMONER cultures and moon legends from Inca and West African Batam- Bond, Victoria maliba traditions before closing with lullabies in five languages. Candlewick (256 pp.) Despite being the work of many hands, the painted illustrations $17.99 | $7.99 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 on every page are consistent in their bright hues and simple car- 978-0-7636-4299-0 toon style. Human figures are diverse in dress and racial presen- 978-1-5362-1667-7 paper tation, and nearly everyone (animals included) smiles. Though Series: Zora & Me, 3 pre–Covid-19 scenes of unmasked night workers in a hospital are a bit jarring and a claim for the antiquity of the West African Zombies, grave robbers, and grief lungfish that is off by at least a hundredfold slips past a team feature in this trilogy finale fictionalizing of Britannica fact checkers, these otherwise solid excursions author Zora Neale Hurston’s early years. through the natural world and human culture offer unusual In 1905, 14-year-old Carrie and her routes to dreamland. best friend, Zora, begin eighth grade, their final year of primary Nourishing nighttime snacks when the pigeon, the bunny, school in their hometown of Eatonville, Florida, the nation’s or the kid in the wolf suit pall. (glossary, source list, index) first incorporated Black-run town. When a violent White (Nonfiction. -5 9) lynch mob arrives hunting a Black fugitive and terrorizing Zora, Carrie, and their families and neighbors, the future seems uncertain. A grave robbery and talk of hoodoo and zombieism heighten tensions within the community. In the midst of the turmoil, Zora’s self-important father decides to run for mayor against the town’s founder as Zora’s mother’s health worsens. Zora, smart, ambitious, and sharp-tongued, boldly challenges

100 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | TM young adult

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 101 ONE REAL AMERICAN colorful and energetic; beginning with close-ups of the protago- The Life of Ely S. Parker, nist and her mother (including a particularly poignant picture of Seneca Sachem and Civil Wolf Cub crying with loneliness), the book ends with aerial and War General long-distance shots of the howling clan. One striking spread Bruchac, Joseph shows the silhouetted pack waiting for mother and cub to join Abrams (248 pp.) them. Another page shows the wolves numerous as the stars, a $18.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 tribute to the strength they can find in their numbers. Opening 978-1-4197-4657-4 with occasional rhymes, the text may have readers looking for consistent meter and rhyme, but they will do so in vain. Over- Ely S. Parker, Seneca Grand Sachem all, the illustrations in this book steal the show. (This book was and secretary to Ulysses S. Grant during reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at the Civil War, is a fascinating biographi- 24.8% of actual size.) cal subject. Celebrate this cub as she finds even young members have Raised by a prominent family of Seneca orators, Parker roles to perform with their pack! (Picture book. 3-7) (1828-1895) went from a humble Iroquois childhood to the halls of Washington, D.C., where he juggled leadership roles in two clashing nations. Educated by Baptist missionaries, Parker’s HOW TO GET AWAY early life echoed that of Fredrick Douglass as he became aware WITH MYRTLE of the need for literacy through hurtful public encounters. He Bunce, Elizabeth C. studied law, then worked as an engineer, diplomat, cultural Algonquin (352 pp.) informant, and commissioned officer in the Union Army. As a $17.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 member of Grant’s entourage, he saved him from capture and 978-1-61620-919-3 became the first Native American to run a governmental office. Series: Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery, 2 By the time Parker was ousted as Commissioner of Indian Affairs due to racism, the trade-offs he made in his lifetime Morbid Myrtle, plucky aspiring inves- came into question. To leave his homeland only to be forgot- tigator, must solve a dastardly railroad ten by a friend who became president was a poignant turn of murder in late Victorian England. events. Unfortunately, the author only scratches the surface of Poor Myrtle. Father thinks she should Parker’s complex interiority. Parker’s tribal traditions, histories, have a holiday, because a 12-year-old girl needs some time away and mythologies are covered in a condensed manner. Archival from solving murders. Horrors! He’s sending her off for “Family photos and maps add to the expertly researched material. The Amusements” at the seaside with Aunt Helena. Myrtle’s govern- most heartfelt aspects of the book are the direct quotes from ess, Miss Judson, usually supportive of Myrtle’s unconventional Parker’s autobiography; readers will delight in his eloquent interests, is a willing collaborator in the effort to keep Myrtle statements. away from crime. When their train to the seaside is robbed, A Civil War tale about perhaps the most accomplished Myrtle is thrilled by the mentoring of a wonderful lady inves- yet little-known Native in U.S. history. (timeline, endnotes, tigator. But the investigator herself is murdered, leaving Myrtle bibliography, image credits) (Biography. 10-14) to find both the murderer and the jewel thief without assistance. In the forbidding, unwelcoming coastal town, Myrtle uncovers myriad disquieting mysteries. Each new revelation builds upon WOLF CUB’S SONG the prior discovery until the tense, wonderfully eerie climax Bruchac, Joseph on a ramshackle amusement pier. The sleuthing is heartwarm- Illus. by Bear Don’t Walk, Carlin ing and funny, featuring strong women and girls, packed with Reycraft Books (24 pp.) characters who genuinely care about each other. Myrtle’s story $14.95 | Sep. 30, 2020 would be an undiluted treat, if only there weren’t plot points 978-1-4788-6964-1 hinging upon insidious stereotypes about how disabled people’s bodies function and others’ right to know details about their A wolf cub’s mother reminds her to find belonging and pur- abilities. Myrtle and most characters are White; Miss Judson is pose as a member of her pack. a Black woman from French Guiana; and a local teen photogra- An expression of encouragement to small children who pher who befriends Myrtle is brown-skinned. feel lonely and frightened as they tuck into bed, this vibrantly A delightful heroine and an exciting mystery mostly man- illustrated picture book begins with Wolf Cub curled up in her age to outshine tired, harmful disability tropes. (historical den. It’s dark outside, and she misses her friend the sun. She note) (Historical mystery. 10-12) cries out in loneliness until Mother Wolf arrives to coax her into the starry night. A fuchsia-tinged aurora greets the mother and cub as they take their place on a hill with the rest of their pack and begin singing to Grandmother Moon. The illustrations in this gentle reminder of the importance of extended family are

102 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | Readers will immediately draw parallels with the Covid-19 pandemic, but they’ll also find a well-constructed and enjoyable adventure. cleo porter and the body electric

FLOODED out of her apartment to try to locate and save the life of the Requiem for Johnstown medicine’s rightful recipient. Accompanied by her electronic Burg, Ann E. instruction tablet, Ms. VAIN, and a small observation drone, Scholastic (336 pp.) Cleo learns more about her world—inside the apartment and $18.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 out—than she expected. Current readers will immediately draw 978-1-338-54069-7 parallels with the Covid-19 pandemic, but they’ll also find a well-constructed and enjoyable adventure. The theme of sto- In first-person free verse, Johnstown, rytelling, particularly the tale of “Little Red Riding Hood,” is Pennsylvania, residents comment on interwoven expertly. While the resolution may be wrapped a lit- their lives and dreams before and after tle too neatly for some readers, the thought-provoking material the catastrophic flood of 1889. generated by questions of isolation, community, and privilege The six main voices in the cast are may make up for this. This novel would work especially well as younger than those in Jame Richards’ an extended read-aloud, a choice for classroom discussion, or a similarly versified account, Three Rivers Rising (2010)—at least book club selection. until the aftermath, when Andrew Carnegie and other mem- A topical read that’s worth the attention. (Science fiction. bers of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, two survi- 10-12) vors who unsuccessfully sued them for damages, Red Cross founder Clara Barton, and, most poignantly, unidentified (but perhaps previously met) victims chime in. Burg invents some characters, but everyone given a first and last name is his-

torical, and she takes such pains to describe the flood’s direct young adult causes and actual events in the poems that her appended note seems superfluous. The expressed feelings and words are all her own, though, and if most of the speakers sound more like mouthpieces than distinct individuals, both the intensity of the tragedy and a sense of outrage that the negligent parties escaped punishment come through clearly. Except for the personified river’s contributions, which are nature notes cast into solemn, italicized streams of one- to three-word lines, everyone’s mildly elevated language and cadence sound so much alike that without the identifying labels it’s hard to tell one from another. Still, readers will come away with a clear idea of the flood’s causes, perpetrators, and shocking toll. An absence of descriptors points to a White default. Moving, though more about the disaster itself than its human cost. (Verse historical fiction. 11-13)

CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC Burt, Jake Feiwel & Friends (288 pp.) $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-1-250-23655-5

A mission to save a life pushes a young girl to discover the world around her. In the not-too-distant future, the world goes into permanent self-isolation, with families living in massive tower blocks, sealed in separate apartments. Their only access to the outside is through drone-delivered supplies that arrive via tubes in their kitchens. While studying for her first test in the surgical candidate track, 12-year-old Cleo, who is White, receives a package with the right address, but the wrong name. Opening it and finding much-needed medical supplies, the young doctor-to-be breaks

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 103 The naïve pictures have an animated cartoon look that suits the quirky story. the abba tree

THE ABBA TREE she goes to wake Abba. When faced with her request, he wit- Busheri, Devora tily suggests: “Plant an Abba Tree.” Hannah positions her father Illus. by Shkedi, Gal upright with his feet as roots and his strong arms out straight, Kar-Ben (24 pp.) holding branches bearing an upside-down bat and a right-side- $17.99 | $7.99 paper | Dec. 1, 2020 up owl. This Israeli import, translated from the Hebrew, is 978-1-5415-3466-7 quietly amusing, but with no real explanation of the holiday’s 978-1-5415-3475-9 paper meaning, it assumes a knowledgeable readership. The naïve pictures, created with a palette of simple greens, blues, and browns, What is the titular Abba Tree? have an animated cartoon look that suits the quirky story. Han- The flyleaf explains thatAbba is the Hebrew word for father, nah and Abba both have dark hair and pink skin. (This book was but most kids will intuit the meaning, as little, bespectacled reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at Hannah tries to communicate with her tall, lanky dad while 25% of actual size.) he grabs a nap under his favorite carob tree. The carob has a A sweet father-daughter tale well suited for homes famil- special relation to the Jewish observance Tu B’Shevat, and Abba iar with Tu B’Shevat. (Picture book. 4-6) planted this particular tree for Hannah the year she was born. Hannah wants to climb a tree, but she knows that this carob is young and weak. She finds others nearby: first the eucalyp- THE DRUID AND THE DRAGON tus, whose “trunk [is] slippery,” then the pine, whose “bark Butcher, Kristin [is] rough and scratchy,” and finally, the olive, with pollen that Crwth Press (232 pp.) “tickle[s] Hannah’s nose.” Not finding any of these satisfactory, $9.95 paper | Oct. 15, 2020 978-1-989724-03-3

A young girl must find the bravery within to save the kingdom. Maeve has often gotten in trouble for being a daydreamer. Images go through her head of castles, kings, warriors, and dragons, but she never knew where these thoughts came from. The villagers in her small community think she is a simpleton except for Declan, the young Druid bard she meets at the market when she goes to sell eggs. When Declan introduces Maeve to Bradan, a seer who perceives Maeve’s daydreams more as visions, Bradan wants to help her develop her skills and reassures her that she is not fool- ish. Maeve is resistant until she meets Riasc Tiarna, a dragon that can communicate with Maeve through her thoughts and who lets her know that she is destined for a task that is extremely important—and she is the only one who can accomplish it. Maeve is stubborn and ornery at times, and her parents are abusive and mean, but insufficient characterization makes these traits feel foundationless. Unfortunately, the worldbuilding also lacks depth. The development of the chosen one trope doesn’t bring anything new to the genre but could be intriguing to young readers encountering it for the first time as the story comes to a satisfying end. All characters are cued as White. A middling fantasy. (Fantasy. 8-11)

104 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | OTTO P. NUDD Readers new to these works will get a good idea of the major Butler, Emily issues and events of fifth, sixth, and seventh grades through Crown (240 pp.) each speaker’s memories, and all will be left with yet another set $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 of lessons about the importance of forgiveness. These Vermont- 978-1-5247-1775-9 ers are probably all White. A satisfying culmination of a middle school chronicle. Animals and humans learn to work (Fiction. 9-13) together and help each other. Otto and Lucille are newlyweds who are expecting their first child. In almost every respect, they lead the life of a conventional middle-class couple, except… they are a pair of ravens, and Lucille is busy hatching an egg. Otto is a clever but verbose and arrogant bird who reads Popular Science and spends much of his time assisting Bartleby Doyle, an elderly inventor who is building a flying machine in his workshop. Otto has a special relationship with 10-year-old Pippa Sin- clair, with whom he trades treasures. When Doyle takes a nasty tumble while trying out the flying machine inside his workshop, Otto rushes to get help, setting in motion an extraordinary

chain of events involving a whole neighborhood of characterful young adult speaking animals and birds and even a few humans. In trying to rescue his human mentor, Otto is taught a few life lessons about respect and humility. Lucille tells Otto that to get what he wants, he will need to make amends to all the animals to whom he has been unkind. Readers will be drawn into the unstoppable excitement of the chase and may learn a few lessons in social behavior as well as a little science along the way. Most human characters are assumed White. An original offering; part quirky and rambunctious animal adventure, part physics lesson, part friendly morality tale. (Fiction. 8-12)

GOODBYE, MR. TERUPT Buyea, Rob Delacorte (416 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 978-0-525-64798-0

Eighth graders Peter, Jessica, Dani- elle, Anna, Jeffrey, Luke, and Alexia celebrate their final year with Mr. Terupt, who is still in their lives as their adviser. The fourth book in the series follows 2015’s Saving Mr. Terupt. Mr. Terupt’s fans will be happy to see their favorite characters return with a bucket list of epic projects. Health issues—diabetes and cancer—become the focus of two successful projects; Luke researches the cows on Danielle’s farm; Jeffrey tries to make wrestling weight by starving himself; family relationships grow and change, and so do their own. There’s even a chaste kiss. All of them, but especially brokenhearted Peter, struggle to adjust to the idea of a future without Mr. Terupt’s support. Buyea follows the narrative pattern of his previous books, chronicling the school year month by month in short chapters with alternating first-person narratives that reflect the speakers’ personalities.

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 105 LEMON BUTTERFLY pals (and fellow delinquents)—the strong JP McGowan, the Cao Wenxuan extremely smart Randall “Toothpick” Lee, and the psychic Cad- Illus. by Mello, Roger die Pratchett—realize that they’re the only ones who are willing Reycraft Books (32 pp.) to admit that children in the Puget Sound area are going miss- $16.95 | Sep. 30, 2020 ing. As they pursue the mystery, the friends figure out that chil- 978-1-4788-6975-7 dren have actually been going missing from around the world, and they begin to suspect brilliant billionaire Oliver Pruitt (who A solitary journey in pursuit of an is vaguely reminiscent of Elon Musk) is the culprit. Transcripts idyllic vision transforms the life of a from Pruitt’s podcast are interspersed throughout the text, butterfly. offering clues to ardent listener Mars. Better-developed char- From the outset, this read-aloud presents dynamic text- acters and a tighter narrative—especially in the first half of the illustration interplay that defies a singular or straightforward novel—would have made for a more memorable and gripping narrative. As the words introduce the protagonist’s “vivid col- read, especially given the intriguing plot points. The cliffhanger ors,” the picture shows only the lemon butterfly’s silhouette, ending might result in fans anxiously awaiting what comes next. cut out in paper white against a vermilion background. The use Some characters’ identities bring diversity to the cast—Mars is of negative space continues throughout the book, suggesting Indian; nonbinary JP uses the pronouns they/them. other dimensions—perhaps expansive, possibly emotive—into Despite the exciting premise, an unexceptional SF mys- which viewers have a peek. Wildly divergent illustrations tanta- tery. (Science fiction. 10-13) lize: A feast of colors, shapes, styles, abstractions, and perspectives invites viewers to linger over each double-page spread as a unique composition and ponder the visual narrative belying HAPPY NARWHALIDAYS the printed text. What compels the protagonist to leave lush, Clanton, Ben verdant surroundings and the company of other butterflies for Illus. by the author some other “field of flowers”? Does the lemon butterfly feel a Tundra (72 pp.) pang of regret when encountering the “barren wilds,” depicted $12.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 as powerful, interlocking black lines angled against a stark 978-0-7352-6251-5 white background? Why are hints of human presence visible in Series: Narwhal and Jelly, 5 the absence of textual reference to people? Is the white horse significant beyond its role as messenger and guide? What is the The holidays have come for Narwhal message? This edition is translated from a Chinese text, and and his friends. the twist at the end of this tale appears added for the English In this fifth installment of the- Nar version, satisfying Western story-arc conventions through a whal and Jelly series, the eponymous creative reinterpretation and altogether surprising conclusion. pals are looking forward to cold waters, songs, and the arrival (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.375-by-18-inch double-page of the Merry Mermicorn, a “part mermaid and part unicorn spreads viewed at actual size.) and completely mer-aculous” being who “spreads sheer cheer One of a kind—an intriguing, sophisticated study in con- and pure awesomeness wherever she goes!” Narwhal and Jelly trasts that reimagines the potential of picture-book art. (Pic exchange gifts and enjoy undersea snows, all the while dropping ture book. 4-9) their trademark facts about ocean life (this time taking a slant toward all things chilly). This slim volume houses six different vignettes, among them “The Perfect Present,” in which Jelly THE UNEXPLAINABLE agonizes over finding Narwhal the right gift, and “The Mean DISAPPEARANCE OF Green Jelly Bean,” a story the friends write and illustrate about MARS PATEL an unappealing sentient jelly bean who is flavored like “pickle- Chari, Sheela scum snail-slime puree.” Clanton’s art is instantly recognizable, Walker US/Candlewick (304 pp.) with its simply wrought characters and cool blue palette punc- $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 tuated with splashes of contrasting color. Full of “sheer cheer” 978-1-5362-0956-3 itself and with an emphasis on kindness and friendship, this volume doesn’t miss a beat alongside its predecessors. Although Based on the serialized mystery pod- it’s never explicitly stated, most young readers will discern that cast of the same name, this novel fol- Narwhal’s holiday is a thinly veiled riff on Christmas traditions, lows the adventures of 11-year-old Manu with its central visiting figure who’s akin to Santa, Narwhal’s “Mars” Patel and his buddies as they peppermint-stick–striped horn, and carols like “Jingle Shells” attempt to find Aurora Gershowitz and Jonas Hopkins, two of and “We Fish You a Merry Mermicorn.” their missing friends. A holiday treat for fans. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) When Aurora inexplicably is incommunicado for five days, Mars worries that something is amiss. But when Jonas does not return from an emergency trip to the restroom, Mars and his

106 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 107 BMP_FALL_AD_Color_BG redo 3P w stars.indd 1 8/7/20 10:50 AM Generous use of wordless panels and close-up, exaggerated reaction shots lends both speedy pacing and cinematic flair. the witches

DENY ALL CHARGES Witch—herself transformed into a (fantastically feral-looking) Colfer, Eoin mouse and smashed to smithereens—are showstoppers too. Disney-Hyperion (336 pp.) The plot remains unchanged overall except that Bruno Jen- $18.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 kins, the unsuspecting lad the witches use as their test subject, 978-1-368-04504-9 is switched for an unnamed and more competent girl and the Series: The Fowl Twins, 2 protagonist’s cigar-smoking, purple-haired Grandmamma has both her thumbs. But unlike the 1990 film, here our protago- A scheme to inveigle Artemis Fowl’s nist remains a mouse as he and his new mouse friend charge off younger sibs into helping steal a huge at the end to serve just deserts to all the witches of the world. trove of gold doesn’t go at all well for the The boy and his elderly caregiver are brown-skinned, and the schemers. witches are ethnically diverse. Introduced in Fowl Twins (2019), A helter-skelter take on Dahl’s gleefully gross rodentine 12-year-olds Myles and Beckett kick off their second round of ruckus. (Graphic fantasy. 7-10) exploits, dealing in midair with a guided missile to which their hybrid pixie-elf chaperone Lazuli Heitz has been strapped, then go through a series of equally ridiculous captures and rescues to THE WHO’S WHO OF several showdowns with bad guys, saving not only tons of gold, GROWN-UPS but thousands of Irish teens at a flash convention from the ven- Jobs, Hobbies and the Tools geance of a maddened, human-hating warrior dwarf. How, you It Takes ask? By employing a unique skein of complementary abilities: Davey, Owen Myles, as dapper and at least as egotistic as his older brother, Illus. by the author brings the mental wattage, and Beckett supplies the clever Little Gestalten (96 pp.) hands, unexcelled martial prowess, and a gift of tongues that $24.95 | Nov. 24, 2020 extends to animals and plants. Along an improbably daft plot- 978-3-89955-149-5 line that even the seldom-reflective Beckett finds “fart-centric,” Colfer also strings dazzling displays of high tech, heartwarm- Learn (some of) the tools of (some ing peeks at the family dynamics of the closely knit if decidedly of) the trade(s). eccentric Fowl clan, dolphin-back rides, huge blobs of slime Bold posterlike illustrations work in tandem across each (some of it explosive), and a climactic exhibition of prejudice oversized double-page spread to define a selection of tools used gone off the rails that is intense enough to leave readers queasy. by a variety of professions and hobbies, both real and fantasti- As a teaser for future adventures, Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye, cal. The verso page highlights from three to eight items com- arch archvillain from the previous volume, pops up for a cameo monly used by each profession while the recto page presents at the close. The human cast presents as White. a practitioner accoutered with the depicted items and acces- More high-octane Fowl play. (Fantasy. 10-12) sories. The people represent a range of skin tones, ages, and sizes, and the jobs and hobbies are equally diverse, ranging from astronaut to superhero. The professions are not arranged in any THE WITCHES apparent order, which makes each page turn a bit of a surprise. The Graphic Novel Equally surprising are the tools selected for each profession: Dahl, Roald The skater’s (actually a skateboarder, a light-skinned woman) Illus. by Bagieu, Pénélope do not include a helmet but do include other safety gear while Scholastic (304 pp.) the fisherman (a White, bearded old salt) is depicted with no $14.99 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 actual tools at all. It certainly is visually interesting, but it’s dis- 978-1-338-67743-0 appointingly reliant on stereotype and will probably do little to encourage creative thought. Although there is gender and racial Even being transformed into a mouse diversity on display, Davey disrupts too few preconceived roles: doesn’t keep an 8-year-old orphan boy The pilot looks like a White man, as do the scientist and the from turning the tables on a convention conductor; the boxer is a hulking Black man. The only Black of child-hating witches in this graphic makeover of the classic character approaching a STEM trade is the “nerd” hunched novel from 1983. over a laptop and carrying a bag of comic books. Generous use of wordless panels and close-up, exagger- More style than substance. (Informational picture book. 6-10) ated reaction shots lends both speedy pacing and cinematic flair to this version—though so deliciously terrifying is the Grand High Witch once she takes off her disguise that viewers may be compelled to linger over every hideous detail. The disgusting witchly potion concocted to turn all of Britain’s children into mice, plus blood-splashed scenes of the unnamed young hero getting his tail chopped off and the Grand High

108 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 109 THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD through the eyes of the newscaster kitties, everyday events— IN COMICS a snowstorm, making a salad, getting a new bathmat—become de Panafieu, Jean-Baptiste newsworthy. The episodes highlight the absurdities familiar to Illus. by Barman, Adrienne those who live with cats: A kitten has an important reason for Holiday House (80 pp.) almost knocking a plant off a shelf; the cats all competitively $22.99 | $12.99 paper | Dec. 1, 2020 climb the clean laundry; they bop one another in the head 978-0-8234-4578-3 in competition for a favorite perch. Alas, none of the artistic 978-0-8234-4583-7 paper possibilities of the comics form are present here. Lettering is unexciting, crammed into overstuffed speech bubbles, and the A visual history of our planet’s long artwork shifts scale and sometimes floats in a formless setting. career as a nursery for living things. The lack of section or chapter markers between the uncon- A brown-skinned paleontologist in a lab coat patiently nected and usually brief (two to three pages) stories makes fol- guides three chattering listeners through the ages from Earth’s lowing the action confusing, as many of the scenes don’t have a fiery formation through climate and other geophysical changes clear punchline or conclusion. But the antics of the feline narra- to the present day’s “sixth period of mass extinction.” As she tors are charming, especially for animal lovers. goes, she rolls out polysyllabic terms and nomenclature at a Sweet and appealing, but there’s no shortage of better rate that may leave casual readers struggling to keep up but will crafted, more dynamic, and funnier cat comics. (activities, undoubtedly elevate the pulses of devoted young STEM-wind- paper dolls) (Graphic fantasy. 8-11) ers. Side comments from her audience add common-language context (“The Carboniferous is the age of coal…” one says, while the other concludes, “…and also the age of roaches!”). Though QUILL SOUP blocks of narrative crowd Barman’s panels, her cartoon por- A Stone Soup Story traits of alien-looking sea life evolving first into extinct, pop- Durant, Alan eyed plant eaters and toothy, slavering predators, then finally Illus. by Blankenaar, Dale familiar creatures such as us, flesh out the fossil story in light- Charlesbridge (40 pp.) hearted but reasonably accurate detail. (“Lighthearted” except $16.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 for one scene of a poached rhino with its horn bloodily removed, 978-1-62354-147-7 that is.) Animals hog the spotlight, and a specious claim that all stars have planets mars the closing vision of new kinds of life From South African, an animal retell- arising both on our own world and elsewhere. Still, this French ing of the “Stone Soup” folktale. import offers an overview as coherent as it is chronologically The stranger in this version is Noko, a porcupine. Having broad…particularly for readers not intimidated by encounters traveled without food “through the Valley of a Thousand Hills,” with plesiadapiforms, perissodactyls, Gomphoteria, and like ses- he arrives in a village hungry. When the villagers refuse him quipedalia. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-15.6-inch food, he creates a “thick and rich” soup with nothing but hot double-page spreads viewed at 77% of actual size.) water and three of his own quills—and, of course, all the other Readers with a less-than-burning interest may struggle… ingredients that the villagers contribute. Impressed by Noko’s or find that interest kindled by the end. (partial glossary, claim to have fed this soup to the king, they fork over carrots, index) (Informational picture book. 10-12) mealies, beans, spinach, and more. The king, not present but imagined, is a lion; the villagers are Meerkat, Warthog, Rabbit, and bunches of others. The setting, called a village, is both bus- ELVIS PUFFS OUT tling and ambiguous—an amalgam of village, forest, and jungle. A Breaking Cat News The scenes are intensely crowded and bursting with energy; Adventure both animals and backgrounds are styled in two dimensions, so Dunn, Georgia everything overlaps on one plane. These animals aren’t living in Illus. by the author a specific static location so much as a world of bright red, yellow, Andrews McMeel Publishing (176 pp.) blue, green, black, and white shapes and patterns. Occasion- $11.99 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 ally an element seems industrial, such as small rounded rooms 978-1-5248-5819-3 connected by ladders and tunnels that evoke factory pipes, but it’s not definite. Flap copy says that illustrator Blankenaar took A compilation of comic shorts about inspiration from African sources ranging from broad to specific: quirky cats putting on a newscast. “Tanzanian artwork, the wood sculpture of Western Africa, and Lupin, Elvis, and Puck are the report- the costumes and masks of the Bwa people of Burkina Faso.” ers at CN News, reporting on all the goings-on in the house Visually dynamic. (Picture book. 3-7) of The Man, The Woman, The Toddler, and The Baby (all are White). The family and their three cats (the inspiration for creator Dunn’s webcomic-turned–graphic novel series) experience what would, to nonfeline viewers, be an unexciting world. But

110 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | Evans’ depictions are sharply delineated, deeply textured digital woodcuts, almost three-dimensional and touchable. abc animals

ABC ANIMALS to achieve her dream of earning a scholarship and attending Evans, Christopher school for the first time, the two strike up a friendship greater Illus. by the author than the differences in class and nationality that divide them. Peter Pauper Press (52 pp.) Together, they weather Mimi’s family secrets, Sakina’s pursuit $17.99 | Oct. 1, 2020 of her dreams, and the sometimes-violent lead-up to an upcom- 978-1-4413-3463-3 ing election. Faruqi’s descriptions of modern Karachi are rich with sensory detail, and her exploration of Mimi’s complicated A plethora of mammals, reptiles, feelings about her father make for a beautifully layered char- birds, and more fills this striking alpha- acter arc. Sakina, however, feels defined almost entirely by her bet book. poverty, flattening her story and making her character’s devel- There’s a cat, an elephant, a robin, and others that are opment less satisfying. instantly recognizable, along with several that are slightly famil- A thoughtful portrait of friendship across class lines in iar, like a badger, an iguana, and a lemur. A nautilus, a xenopus, modern Pakistan. (Fiction. 9-14) and a urial are exotic and possibly completely unknown to many child readers. Each animal is presented in a double-page spread. Upper- and lowercase letters in a serif typeface and a modified cursive appear at the top of the verso page, within faint lines that might be seen on a school handwriting chart or practice exercise. A large uppercase letter fills the center of the page, with a design and color that mimics the illustration of the ani-

mal. Somewhere on the page is a silhouette of the animal, most young adult often in light beige. The animal’s name is printed in a thin sans- serif at the bottom of the page. There is no other text. Evans’ depictions of each animal on the recto page go far beyond simple illustration. They are sharply delineated, deeply textured digital woodcuts, almost three-dimensional and touchable. The creatures’ eyes are incredibly expressive, gazing directly at readers as if offering their souls for inspection. The zebra on the book’s jacket is an exact duplicate of the one on the last page, with the addition of slightly raised texture that cries out for a reader’s delicate touch. Wonderful. A stunning, breathtaking achievement. (illustrator’s note) (Picture book. 4-10)

A THOUSAND QUESTIONS Faruqi, Saadia Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins (320 pp.) $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 978-0-06-294320-0

When 11-year-old Houston native Mimi Scotts lands with her mother in Karachi, Pakistan, for summer vacation, she’s not sure what to expect—especially from her Pakistani grandparents, whom she is meeting for the first time. Mimi’s mother grows increasingly distracted and distant as she navigates the fallout of her failed marriage to Mimi’s White father. Mimi grounds herself by writing to her estranged father in her journal. Although most servants in Mimi’s grandparents’ enormous house are excited about the American arrivals, Sakina Ejaz, a girl Mimi’s age who works as an assistant to her head cook father, couldn’t care less. Between her family’s poverty and her father’s diabetes, she has enough to worry about. But when Mimi agrees to help Sakina pass an English exam

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 111 By focusing on the children and their feelings, the story of their journey becomes the sad, universal one of so many refugee children past and present. mexique

MEXIQUE multihued collection of bunnies. Even the jellyfish has babies A Refugee Story From (“We believe in shining light”). Some lines are more opaque the Spanish Civil War than others: A family of brown bears eating honey that drips, Ferrada, María José improbably, from a paper-wasp nest illustrates the lines “We Illus. by Penyas, Ana believe that groups are smart / We believe in smacks of sweet- Trans. by Amado, Elisa ness.” A family of dotted rays swims across the double-page Eerdmans (40 pp.) spread that follows: “We believe we’re works of art.” A monarch $17.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly appear in the last few pages 978-0-8028-5545-9 (“We believe that life’s a journey”) before readers see that the bighorn sheep family has reached the summit: “We believe in On May 27, 1937, 456 children were evacuated from Spain you.” (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double- during the Spanish Civil War. This book depicts their trans- page spreads viewed at 30.3% of actual size.) Atlantic voyage to Mexico. Something light for a new-baby gift or child embarking Text and illustrations work hand in hand to tell their story. on a journey. (Picture book. 2-7) Adults carrying bundles and escorting children arrive at the port where the children are to embark. As the children board, the adults hug them tight. Through the voice of one of the chil- VEG PATCH PARTY dren, readers learn of their fears and expectations. They see Foges, Clare the older ones reassuring the younger ones, especially at night. Illus. by Murphy, Al They observe their songs and games, sad re-creations of the war Faber & Faber (32 pp.) scenes they have witnessed. They experience the voyage, which $15.95 | Oct. 20, 2020 never seems to end. And finally the children arrive: “We move 978-0-5713-5285-2 forward. We think that the war stayed behind. But it’s not true— we bring the war in our suitcases.” By focusing on the children When the cows go to sleep, the veg- (all depicted as White) and their feelings, the story of their jour- gies rock! ney becomes the sad, universal one of so many refugee children As the sun goes down on the farm, all of the animals close past and present. Sepia-toned images with the occasional touch their eyes; it is time for bed. But not for the vegetables! They of muted reds convey the grimness of the experience. The peer cautiously from their planted rows: “All clear?” a cauli- afterword informs readers the children arrived in Mexico with flower head asks. “Yup!” another replies. “The vegetables start the expectation their stay would be short and they would soon waking up. / They stretch and rise and shine. / They drag out reunite with their families back home. Little did they know this lots of stages / Cos it’s VEGGIE PARTY TIME!” An Elvis- would be a permanent exile, and most of them would never see inspired potato is the first performer, fronting The Chips. Then their families again. comes the pumpkin, who gets the crowd going wild. Parsnips, Specific yet universal in its narration, this makes the refu- turnips, peas, and carrots; everyone is dancing! The rollicking gee experience accessible to young readers. (Picture book. 6-10) refrain is hard to resist: “SO conga like a carrot, / Party like a pea, / Rock out like a radish, YEAH! / And boogie like a bean! / It’s called the veg patch party. / It’s muddy, loud and fun… / WE BELIEVE IN YOU So get your veggie wiggle on / And rock out EVERYONE!” A Ferry, Beth thunderstorm comes, but even that doesn’t stop them. The veg- Illus. by Idle, Molly gies are in their element: rain and soil! Murphy’s bright, boldly Roaring Brook (40 pp.) outlined vegetables jump (and jive) off the page. The veggies are $18.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 anthropomorphized with googly eyes, grins, and rubbery arms 978-1-250-31200-6 and legs—readers may not want to eat these veggies, but they may feel more inclined to munch on regular ones after a couple A poem celebrates family philoso- readings. Sneaky nods to bands give adult readers a chance to phies and affection for the young. chuckle as well. Eight four-line stanzas accompanied by stylized illustrations Fun for storytime; inspirational for the dinner plate too. of animal parents and babies make up this hortatory collection (Picture book. 3-6) of happy thoughts. At the opening, a bighorn ram, ewe, and lamb ascend a steep incline (“We believe in climbing higher”), a mole and baby kiss (“We believe in digging deep”), bright yellow flowers bloom (“We believe in drinking sunshine”), and a sloth snuggles with its baby (“We believe in beauty sleep”). The “we” voice of encouragement and cheerleading continues throughout. From tadpoles to lions, Idle’s big-eyed, pretty animals are all recognizable in warm pastel colors and rounded forms. “We believe in families” appears with a pair of rabbits and a

112 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | WHERE IS OUR LIBRARY? of humor and action, this new series opener will be catnip for A Story of Patience and fans of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man. Bold, bright colors are used in Fortitude busy, cartoon-filled pages. The layout is crisp and easy to fol- Funk, Josh low, and short, quickly consumable chapters end with questions Illus. by Lewis, Stevie that entice readers to continue. Although the plot is a bit overly Henry Holt (40 pp.) drawn out near the end, the pace remains zippy. The ending $13.39 | Oct. 27, 2020 includes a big reveal, and an epilogue sets up intrigue for the 978-1-250-24140-5 next book. A superhero cat and an intrepid girl scientist: What’s not The New York Public Library’s iconic lions go in search of to like? (drawing instructions) (Graphic fantasy. 7-10) their vanished Children’s Center. Following on Lost in the Library (2018), bibliobeasts Patience and Fortitude, stunned to find the shelves in their beloved THE THREE BROTHERS children’s library on 42nd Street empty, set out on a rhymed, Gay, Marie-Louise nocturnal hunt that takes them past a number of Manhattan Illus. by the author literary landmarks and into several library branches before Groundwood (40 pp.) ending (spoiler alert) at the entrance to the Center’s new loca- $19.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 tion across the street. Whether or not the Covid-19 pandemic 978-1-77306-377-5 throws the timing of this blatant bit of marketing for a loop (the opening has already been delayed once), the tour is rich in plea- Young brothers Finn, Leo, and Ooley

sures for children’s-lit fans—not only for its glimpses of library set off to find wild animals in the woods young adult buildings and interiors both historic and up to date (Manhattan near their farmhouse. ones anyway, with one quick trip to the Bronx…Staten Island, The art—involving pencils, water- as usual, gets the brushoff), but for the visual references to new color, wax crayons, and white ink—immediately draws read- and older classics that Lewis packs into many scenes. A formal ers in. Three Muppet-like boys with dark hair and beige skin announcement of the move at the end includes a key to books comfortably share a pale-green sofa and a stack of books while and branches included in the art. There are no human figures in birds fly above them and ghostly images of nonthreatening wild sight until a final, thinly but diversely populated, daylight view mammals surround them. Pastels and muted primary colors of the old and the newly renovated libraries facing each other form a pleasing palette that continues throughout. “Every night, on Fifth Avenue. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by- Finn reads a story to his brothers.” The text goes on to say that 20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) the boys enjoy stories with adventures and wild animals; middle Part valentine, part press release. (Picture book. 6-8) child Leo suggests that tomorrow, the boys should go exploring for wild animals. By this time, little Ooley is already asleep, setting the stage for more toddler behaviors that will charm young MAX MEOW readers. The text is simple, suitable for independent, transi- Cat Crusader tional readers and for reading aloud. As the boys trudge through Gallagher, John deep snow—with Ooley in his bear suit always lagging behind— Illus. by the author readers, but not the boys, see ghostly animals in and around tree Random House (240 pp.) trunks. While the older brothers have a brief discussion that $12.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 hints of the effects of climate change on animal populations, 978-0-593-12105-4 readers—but not Finn and Leo—will see Ooley happily sliding Series: Max Meow, 1 away down a hill. Other than brief mentions of Grandpa, no adults clutter this tale of siblings who are resourceful, creative, Meow-za! There’s a superhero in the and kind. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by-16-inch city of Kittyopolis known as the Cat double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) Crusader—but who is he really? Gentle, humorous, and fun. (Picture book. 4-8) Max Meow, an orange-and-white cat who dons clothes and a bow tie, is visiting his scientist friend, Mindy Microbe, a curly haired human with brown skin, when he eats a bite of a meatball that Mindy found in outer space. All of the sudden he has superstrength, an electric tail, and the power to fly! With his new skills, he might as well become a superhero. Agent M, an evil mouse, and Big Boss, a shadowy creature, want the meatball for their own nefarious purposes, so they send Robot Reggie to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Max and Mindy have an argument and stop speaking. Just as everything seems at its most dire, Max realizes it’ll take more than superpowers to save the day. Full

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 113 THE LAST MIRROR Fae that comes to his rescue. Naming his savior Haven, Nathan ON THE LEFT and his newfound friend escape to a nearby town, where merce- Giles, Lamar naries kidnap the pair. The mercenaries—a volken and a traitor- Illus. by Adeola, Dapo ous half volken/half human—escort Nathan and Haven to the Versify/HMH (272 pp.) Empire’s capital, where Prince Naoki and his entrusted guard, $16.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 Ren, enlist the group to uncover the truths behind the Dark- 978-0-358-12941-7 ness; the goddesses’ child, Lerina; and the mysterious source Series: Legendary Alston Boys, 2 of Nathan’s magic. Loaded with humor and thrilling magical combat, this spin on the chosen one trope wrings out a lot of The Legendary Alston Boys of Logan fun despite some oddball pacing. A few meta-jokes draw need- County are back in a new multiverse less attention to the formulaic narrative, but strong characters adventure. and intriguing worldbuilding make for a gratifying hero’s jour- In the series opener, readers were introduced to the detec- ney. Featuring text in in-universe Ancient (actually Esperanto) tive team of cousins Sheed and Otto Alston when they went and Common (English) languages, as well as a racially diverse toe-to-toe with the time-stopping Mr. Flux. A mirror “bor- cast, this webcomic-turned–graphic novel ends on a promise of rowed” from the Rorrim Mirror Emporium in downtown Fry a sequel. to resolve that showdown sets off the journey of this sequel, as It may be Nothing, but this adventure’s really something. the boys are magically reminded by Missus Nedraw that the (Graphic fantasy. 8-12) Emporium is no ordinary house of mirrors. Yes, behind the mirrors lie whole new worlds where Missus Nedraw and the menacing-looking Judge reign over the Multiverse Justice Sys- THE WAY PAST WINTER tem. The word is that they need Otto and Sheed to recapture Hargrave, Kiran Millwood an extraordinarily dangerous criminal who has escaped, but Chronicle (284 pp.) something seems not quite right about this setup—something $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 more insidious than the reality-bending rules of this dimension 978-1-4521-8155-4 they’ve entered, including a gang of spiders who call themselves the ArachnoBRObia. Even more complicated, Otto worries A young heroine sets off into an end- that Sheed is in need of a checkup but knows he will refuse to less winter to rescue her brother from a self-advocate for a doctor’s visit. Otto can’t just let his detective mythic bear. partner lapse into what might be an even more serious health This Scandinavian-inspired fairy tale condition. This heartwarming adventure centers on the caring starts off strong with a mesmerizing leg- relationship between two Black boys while driving home a les- end of the bear Eldbjørn, who protects son about what justice might truly be. the forest. Three siblings—Sanna, the oldest girl; brother Oskar; A fantastic second addition to an already-acclaimed and the youngest, Mila—learn of the destruction of the woods series. (Science fiction. -8 12) and the heart-tree to which the bear is drawn. The story then jumps forward many years—Mama died after Pípa, their fourth sibling, was born, and Papa left five years back, never to return. FANTASTIC TALES OF It is endless winter, and the children are hungry and cold and NOTHING abandoned. The morning after an enormous stranger with Green, Alejandra & Rodriguez, golden eyes accompanied by a group of men arrives at their Fanny door, 17-year-old Mila discovers 16-year-old Oskar missing. The Illus. by the authors chase—in a sleigh pulled by dogs—to find and save him begins. Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins The edgy atmosphere of the closed-in cabin is rapidly replaced (320 pp.) by adventure as Mila’s drive to locate her brother brings to life $12.99 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 stories Mama told them about the Bear. Imagine Narnia’s Lucy 978-0-06-283947-3 rescuing brother Peter from Philip Pullman’s armored bears. The focused plot contains Brothers Grimm–like scenes of hor- On Nothing, a decadelong truce ror and death. The book is quite violent for younger readers, but binds a tenuous peace between the the spare storyline and simple characters may feel too young for Human Empire and the Volken Court—but now humans and older ones. Still, there are those who will embrace this frozen volken alike are disappearing as the encroaching Darkness fantasy. Characters are White. spreads across the lands. An atmospheric tale for older readers wanting an action- Nathan Cadwell, a charismatic gambler, miraculously mag- focused fairy tale. (Fantasy. 10-15) ics himself out of the clutches of ferocious debt collectors. Waking up in the dangerous Booreal Forest, Nathan narrowly evades an attack by a volken—a magical being with the ability to transform into an animal—thanks to an enigmatic nonbinary

114 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | A lively tour conducted by a knowledgeable curator. modern art explorer

MODERN ART marsupial. As in the previous titles, Harper shares fascinating EXPLORER factoids about each species in a small font: “House centipedes Discover the Stories can travel 15 inches (38 centimeters) per second. That’s like a Behind Famous Artworks person running 58 feet (18 meters) in a second!” As the presen- Harman, Alice tations continue, Alligator, stressed out, asks to go next and Illus. by Bloch, Serge shares 100 seconds of deep breathing to relax everyone. Harp- Thames & Hudson (96 pp.) er’s cartoon illustrations highlight the class’s enthusiasm and $19.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 emotions. Though many pages group items to facilitate count- 978-0-500-65220-6 ing, not every 100 is countable: Centipede’s legs aren’t all in the frame, and Pelican’s project is the fact that this bird dives “into Illuminating descriptions of 30 art- the ocean from 100 feet in the air.” works from the Centre Pompidou accompany strong reproductions. The 100th day of school has never looked this diverse. The introduction delineates modern art (1860s to the late (Picture book. 4-7) 1960s) from contemporary art—“everything after that”—but informs readers that the museum does not include any works before 1905 and that the book includes a few works from the ATLAS OF RECORD-BREAKING late 20th and 21st centuries. A number of female artists are ADVENTURES included as well as a commendable range of artists of color, A Collection of the Biggest, several non-Western. Sections ranging from two to four pages Fastest, Longest, Toughest, feature a large reproduction, enhanced by Bloch’s amusing car- Tallest and Most Deadly

toons that pick out themes from the artworks and sometimes Things From Around the young adult include caricatures of the artists. The unusual selection of art- World ists working in different styles, media that vary from paint to Hawkins, Emily bottle caps, and sassy commentary makes this volume stand Illus. by Letherland, Lucy out from others. With contemporary language, humorous titles, Wide Eyed Editions (96 pp.) some stories about the artists’ love lives (comments about Pablo $35.00 | Oct. 6, 2020 Picasso’s misogyny and relationships are especially pointed), 978-0-7112-5565-4 and perspectives that encourage readers to consider these Series: Atlas of . . . works on their own terms, the book becomes a lively tour conducted by a knowledgeable curator. In describing Slave Auction, Readers will gain a record-breaking knowledge of trivia. 1982, by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Harman explains that the artist Take a trip across all seven continents with explorers as studied symbols and embedded them in his work. Noting some they discover factoids galore. The explorers, one who presents of those symbols, she asks: “Can you see how these signs and White and the other with light-brown skin, travel the world, ideas might relate to slavery, and how black Americans might often accompanied by a local guide, gleaning information along still experience danger today?” the way. The pages depict surreal landscapes and maps featuring Revealing, sometimes snarky, always lively. (timeline, slightly anthropomorphized animals, such as a bindle-carrying glossary, list of artworks, index) (Nonfiction. 11-16) bird and pirate hat–wearing caiman. Each double-page spread concentrates on one area and is splattered with tiny text that provides uneven levels of information. For example, in one box MISS MINGO AND THE 100TH readers learn that cheetahs “accelerate from zero to 55 miles DAY OF SCHOOL per hour in just three seconds” and that ostriches are “the fast- Harper, Jamie est creature on two legs.” Great! But how fast are ostriches? Illus. by the author The same page notes that a cheetah can “reach a top speed of Candlewick (40 pp.) over 60 miles per hour.” Wait! Isn’t it 55 mph? Other facts are $16.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 equally vague. Readers learn that the Greenland shark is “the 978-1-5362-0491-9 world’s oldest vertebrate,” but does this mean longest-living Series: Miss Mingo vertebrate or the vertebrate that has been around the longest? They are also instructed to hold their breath with a Cuvier’s Miss Mingo and her kindergarten class of animals are back, beaked whale, “nature’s best air-breathing diver,” but aren’t told this time celebrating both the 100th day of school and one how long these whales can go between breaths. (This book was another’s amazing capabilities. reviewed digitally with 10.8-by-15.2-inch double-page spreads viewed In mid-February, it’s time to look at the students’ 100th at 84% of actual size.) Day projects, and they are as varied as the students themselves. Readers after records should stick with Guinness. (seek- Hippo’s mom has brought his born-yesterday sister, who weighs and-find game, index)(Nonfiction. 10-12) 100 pounds; Octopus has brought 10 groups of 10 shells each from his octopus’s garden; Koala shares their teddy bear collection, which is ironic because Koala is not a true bear but a

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 115 The simple narration drives home for young middle graders how far kindness and compassion can go in making newcomers feel welcome. the stray and the strangers

THE STRAY AND bird’s branch and sends it plummeting. The concerned friends THE STRANGERS try to help, but the bird rescues itself by flying, and the animals Heighton, Steven play together: “Snow is fun with friends.” Henry’s illustrations Illus. by Iwai, Melissa are cartoon-cute, but the picture clues may not be enough for Groundwood (96 pp.) readers to guess unfamiliar words—the “quiet” and “heavy” $14.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 pages may be especially opaque. Literacy practice wins out over 978-1-77306-381-2 entertainment value in this early reader; children aren’t likely to reach for it again. Told from the perspective of a stray Fulfills a need but without a solid story.(Early reader. 4-6) dog, the story of refugee migration from the Middle East through Turkey and across the tumultuous waters of the CLOSER TO NOWHERE Mediterranean Sea to the island of Lesvos in Greece. Hopkins, Ellen Kanella is a lonely stray, distrustful of both dogs and humans Putnam (416 pp.) as she fends for herself. But when refugees begin to arrive, shiv- $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 ering, tattered, and afraid, Kanella finds new purpose and new 978-0-593-10861-1 companionship. Soon a makeshift camp is built to house the refugees before they embark on the next stage of their peril- Sixth grade cousins learn to navigate ous journey. Kanella slowly grows accustomed to the camp com- complicated family dynamics. munity, befriending a worker who offers her water, food, and Cal came to live with Hannah and warmth. Most of the new strangers leave within a few days, but her parents nearly 15 months ago. The one little boy does not. His parents are missing. Like Kanella, two share a mean-spirited, alcoholic he, too, is alone. The two share food and become playmates, grandmother; their Italian heritage; and and when the boy has nightmares, Kanella comforts him, snug- red hair. Hannah, a gymnast and dancer, has enjoyed stability, gling close to him throughout the night. When officials visit attention, and affection from her parents. Cal’s life has been for inspections, the futures of both Kanella and the little boy filled with the loss of his mother at age 9 followed by a period are called into question. An afterword both provides historical of abuse and neglect by his now-imprisoned father. Cal suffers context and reveals that the story is based in fact. The simple, from PTSD and a defensive kind of vigilance while Hannah third-person, past-tense narration is tightly focused on Kanel- resents that Cal’s peculiar behavior makes him a target at school. la’s perceptions and experiences, a strategy that drives home for Brief chapters in the first-person voices of Cal and Hannah young middle graders how far kindness and compassion can go reveal their divergent personalities. Imaginative Cal describes in making newcomers feel welcome. the world in terms of “Fact or Fiction,” his statements and Based on a true story, a poignant, heartwarming intro- answers offering sometimes wryly ambiguous observations of duction to the lives of refugees. (Historical fiction. 7-10) his experience. Practical and more certain of herself, Hannah’s poems with the header “Definition” are a jumping-off point for sharing glimpses into a more physically and emotionally privi- SNOW IS FUN leged childhood. Hopkins’ use of free verse provides a canvas Henry, Steve for sure-handed, brush-stroke development of the backstory Illus. by the author and plot and emotional investment and identification with the Holiday House (32 pp.) characters. A school lockdown and shooting at the climax of the $15.99 | Nov. 3, 2020 story allow Cal to demonstrate his new ability to connect with 978-0-8234-4600-1 others and to see the ways that kindness can come back around. Series: I Like To Read Compassionate and compelling. (author’s note) (Verse fic tion. 10-14) Some woodland friends explore and enjoy the snow. This entry in the I Like To Read series uses short sentences, one per spread, with repetitive vocabulary and at most one stretch word. The setup uses cinematic strategies. “Snow falls” shows a tan rabbit near its hole in the base of a tree, two gray mice sharing a hole above it, as flakes fall all around. “Snow is white” pulls back the view to show a third hole, a squirrel just peeking out. “Snow is quiet” sees the rabbit and the mice taking a nap amid the falling snow. Gradually, an owl in a fourth hole and a small bird on a branch are introduced as the snow “blows,” “falls and falls,” and “is heavy.” Finally, on the seventh spread, a rather slim story begins as the weight of the snow breaks the

116 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | SPIRITS AMONG US warm tones of sunshine and ruddy fur invite readers to cozy Howard, Sherry up, whether in a lap or under covers or snuggled next to a new Reycraft Books (240 pp.) sibling. Despite the predictably traditional family setup (cloth- $16.95 | Oct. 22, 2020 ing and accessories suggest an opposite-sex set of two parents), 978-1-4788-7027-2 what could easily tumble into saccharine, shower-gift banality manages instead to convey the immediacy and timelessness of An aspiring ghost hunter who uses a a delightful day with loving caregivers. (This book was reviewed motorized wheelchair becomes a sleuth digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at 80.7% of when a robber strikes her Kentucky actual size.) hometown. A single day, a first year—a lovely addition to little ones’ Twelve-year-old Scooter, a self- shelves. (Picture book. 0-4) described “sensitive,” is fascinated by ghosts; she and her best friend, Harlan, chronicle their ghost-hunting vigils on their YouTube channel, “Spir- TINY MONSTERS its Among Us.” But the spirit she really longs to meet is her The Strange Creatures That Momma, who died in the car accident that injured Scooter’s Live on Us, in Us, and Around spinal cord a year ago. When Scooter attempts to record the Us ghost of her great-great-great-grandfather, a repentant former Jenkins, Steve & Page, Robin slave owner, she captures something else: a clue to the robber- Illus. by Jenkins, Steve ies plaguing her family’s holler, Chamber’s Corner. Can she and HMH Books (40 pp.)

Harlan—and her trusty Labrador, Max—identify the culprit $17.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 young adult before her family’s paintball business is hit? Heavy foreshadow- 978-0-358-30711-2 ing weakens the mystery, but Scooter’s conversational narration and a dash of suspense keep the pages turning. A tender Illustrations based on microscope images reveal a world of exploration of family and loss forms the story’s heart. Scooter’s fantastic, sometimes frightening-looking creatures who share close-knit extended family is warmly supportive despite her our world. Marine dad’s stern exterior, and the ending is sweet if somewhat Jenkins’ familiar collage illustrations, set on stark back- pat. Howard—who relearned how to walk as a child—portrays grounds, seem ideally suited for display of the monsters in min- Scooter’s disability realistically, including her hopes of recovery iature described in this latest offering. From the alien-appearing and insecurity about the appearance of her legs. Most charac- thistle mantis to the roly-poly tardigrade, he gives readers mul- ters default to White, though a description of Harlan’s tightly tiple views of faces, feelers, teeth, and claws, all highly enlarged; curled black hair may lead readers to imagine him as Black. the creature’s overall appearance; and its original size. There A cozy, mildly suspenseful read. (Mystery. 8-12) are worms that live inside us, mites that live on our outsides, insects that bite us, and intriguing creatures whose lives have nothing obvious to do with ours, including a marine scale worm WELCOME TO THE WORLD that lives at a volcanic vent deep in the Pacific Ocean. Each is James, Helen Foster introduced with a lighthearted headline (“It’s a Sleepover!” for Illus. by Brown, Petra the house dust mites that live in pillows and bed linens). Most Sleeping Bear Press (32 pp.) creatures get a single page; a few get a full double-page spread. $16.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 The extent of enlargement is always noted; some actual sizes are 978-1-53411-012-0 too small to see. An illustrator’s note explains that the electron microscope images are black and white; the illustrator used A family of red squirrels introduces color “to highlight the forms and details” of the microscopic a new baby to the waiting world in James and Brown’s latest creatures; but the dragon springtail’s blue body and orange collaboration. spines are accurate. Alas, the book has no page numbers, but A single day of games and exploring stands also for a baby’s the thumbnail images accompanying further information on first year of discovery and family. The day begins with yawns, each critter in the backmatter correspond to the order in which sunshine, toys, and smiles. From there, the squirrel kit ven- the animals appear. tures outside to sing songs, dance, and play hide-and-seek. Another impressive outing by a popular pair. (Informa Back inside for bathtime bubbles, a snuggly story, and finally tional picture book. 4-10) sleepy goodnights. A quiet, parental voice narrates, addressing the baby directly, and the sparse text carries readers through a day of welcoming “hellos” ranging from pet names (“Hello, sunshine”; “Hello, cutie”) to words that capture the moment (“Hello, wiggles”; “Hello, cuddles”). In typical fashion, Brown’s illustrations capture the sprawling fun of outdoor games as deftly as they do the quiet intimacy of a bedtime routine. Rich,

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 117 TWINS presence and wise responses help to recenter the soul. Through Johnson, Varian dialogue, the child begins to understand how Mom’s love con- Illus. by Wright, Shannon tinues to live on. When the child bravely reaches out to Dad, Graphix/Scholastic (256 pp.) the two begin to find comfort and solace in their love for Mom $16.66 | $12.99 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 and each other. The artwork, full of expressive brush strokes 978-1-338-23617-0 and washes of color, offers a poeticism that perfectly matches 978-1-338-23613-2 paper the text. The gorilla’s large purple shape serves as a visual meta- Series: Twins, 1 phor for the emotional weight of the child’s sadness. Derby’s flowing application of paint conjures a sea of emotions, and Sixth grade presents new challenges the paintings appear as if viewed through a wall of tears. Well- for the Carter twins. placed pops of bright color are both striking and uplifting. As It’s the first day of school, and Afri- father and child (both present White) hug, talk, and walk hand can American identical twins Maureen and Francine Carter are in hand under a sweeping sky, the gorilla fades into the distance. having mixed feelings. Maureen is nervous about middle school: Luminous. (Picture book. 4-8) She has a new confusing schedule, cadet corps, and, worst of all, classes without Francine. She worries that middle school will swallow her alive. Francine, however, is looking forward THE GREAT BUNK to everything sixth grade can offer. She can’t wait to be in new BED BATTLE surroundings, try new classes, and grab new opportunities to Kügler, Tina shine, like joining the student council race. Outgoing Francine Illus. by the author is all set to start campaigning, but when Maureen decides to run Scholastic (48 pp.) as well, it threatens to tear the two apart. As Francine pushes $4.99 paper | $23.99 PLB | Sep. 1, 2020 to stand out, Maureen yearns to fit in, and neither sees eye to 978-1-338-56167-8 paper eye. Johnson, in his first graphic novel, encapsulates the rocky 978-1-338-56168-5 PLB transition from the comfort of elementary school to the new Series: Fox Tails, 1 and sometimes-scary world of middle school. The sibling bond is palpable and precious as each conflict and triumph pushes Two fox kits aren’t ready for bed yet them apart or pulls them together. Wright’s illustrations fill the in this early reader by a Geisel Medal honoree. pages with vibrancy and emotion. The diverse student body, Gray fox Fritz and red fox Franny are enthusiastic play- careful touches in the Carter home, and background elements mates: eager to build, to explore—and to avoid bedtime. Their in the mall scenes stand out for their warmth, humor, and real- story is divided into three parts, and while each could be read ism. The small details that differentiate Maureen and Francine, alone, they flow well as one narrative. In “Ready for Bed,” Fritz while maintaining their mirrored features, are delightful. and Franny rambunctiously prepare for bedtime (“I can brush A touching, relatable story of identity, sisterhood, and my teeth faster than you!” Franny boasts as water, toothpaste, friendship. (Graphic fiction. 10-14) and foam spill everywhere) and have a “good-night dance party” despite their caregivers’ best efforts to settle them down. In “My Bunk Is Better,” Fritz and Franny compare and contrast THE BOY AND their top and bottom bunk beds while pretending the furni- THE GORILLA ture is a treehouse and cave, a ship, a submarine, and so on. In Kramer, Jackie Azúa “Let’s Trade?” the duo swap beds as each tries to prove that their Illus. by Derby, Cindy respective bunk is better. Kügler seamlessly weaves repeated Candlewick (49 pp.) words and phrases into the story, so as readers enjoy Fritz and $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 Franny’s antics, they will expand their vocabularies and build 978-0-7636-9832-4 reading confidence without feeling as though they are practicing. Kügler expertly uses character-associated colors and a verti- In the wake of Mom’s death, a gorilla helps a child process cal page layout to foster visual literacy and provide visual clues grief and open up to Dad so they may heal and find hope again for readers. The majority of the text is in speech balloons. together. A rollicking romp for new readers. (Graphic early reader. 4-6) As shadows grow long at the funeral and attendees cross a gray-green field, a gorilla looks on. During the reception, the ape’s heavy mass quietly fills the living room where the child sits. But once outside, in Mom’s garden, the child talks with the gorilla. The unnamed child asks about death and dying, and where Mom went, and if she’ll ever come back. The gorilla’s honest yet reassuring responses offer the child relief in the quest to understand. Feelings of hurt, confusion, isolation, and even resentment are acknowledged, but the gorilla’s gentle

118 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | The brisk pace, poignant descriptions of a changing friendship, and realistic handling of the protagonist’s growing self-awareness will keep readers riveted. distress signal

DISTRESS SIGNAL an audience with the rajah—and a new, unexpected opportu- Lambert, Mary E. nity. This heartwarming rags-to-riches story is accompanied by Scholastic (272 pp.) vivid illustrations that pulse with detail, movement, and color. $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 However, the middle of the story consists mostly of expository 978-1-338-60744-4 text detailing different ways to divide the set of seven rings into multiple parts, an abstract diversion that brings the plot to a A class trip turns into a fight for sur- grinding halt. An author’s note discusses base 10 and binary sys- vival when four sixth graders are lost in tems. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double- the Arizona wilderness. page spreads viewed at 36.1% of actual size.) Lavender Blue-Morris has been look- A cleverly imagined story with a delightful premise but ing forward to the wilderness science uneven plot. (Picture book. 5-8) camp since kindergarten. For an astron- omy and ham radio buff like Lavender, three days in the wild feel like a dream come true. When Lavender’s best friend, Marisol, ELIZABETH WEBSTER AND gets angry with her and pairs up with Rachelle, the class queen THE PORTAL OF DOOM bee, for the bus ride instead of Lavender, who has to sit with Lashner, William John, it begins to look like this won’t be the amazing trip she’d Little, Brown (336 pp.) hoped for after all. Things go from bad to worse when a prank $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 goes wrong and Lavender is responsible for getting herself, 978-1-368-06289-3 Marisol, Rachelle, and John hopelessly separated from the rest Series: Elizabeth Webster, 2

of the group. The unforgiving Arizona bush presents treacher- young adult ous obstacles like a flash flood, wild animals, and dehydration. Seventh grader Elizabeth Webster Hardest of all, the conflict between Lavender and Marisol—and handles another legal matter. struggles among the rest of the group—threatens to tear them After defeating the demon Red- apart when they need each other the most. The brisk pace, poi- wing in a court of law, young Elizabeth gnant descriptions of a changing friendship, and realistic han- expected her life to settle down for a little bit, but the law never dling of Lavender’s growing self-awareness will keep readers sleeps! Balancing homework, friends, and her job at her father’s riveted. Marisol is bilingual in English and Spanish, hinting at legal firm, Webster & Spawn: Attorneys for the Damned, is some diversity in the class, but physical descriptions are mini- tricky enough even before a ghostly mother wails for Elizabeth mal, and most characters are assumed White. to protect her long-lost son, Keir McGoogan. The case should Perilous desert survival action and relatable BFF conflict be simple enough: Free Keir from his supernatural pact and combine for a fast-paced disaster read. (Thriller. 9-13) reunite mother and son. But while Keir’s case gets held up in the courts, Keir must stay with Elizabeth and attend middle school with her. Will Keir’s peculiar behavior expose Elizabeth’s dou- SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS ble life? Will Elizabeth be able to successfully argue Keir’s case? A Tale of Music and Math Will Elizabeth’s father learn to see her as more than just a legal LaRocca, Rajani assistant? This sequel provides a spirited romp through a world Illus. by Sreenivasan, Archana of ghosts and goblins with the effortlessly charming Elizabeth Lee & Low Books (40 pp.) at the front of it all. It brings back the exciting mix of legal and $19.95 | Oct. 20, 2020 paranormal activities that made the first entry such a charmer, 978-1-88500-897-8 but the emotional arc doesn’t hit the same sweet spot as the first. Readers thrilled to return to this world will find plenty to enjoy, Once upon a time there lived a rajah who, despite his good but others will find this entry a bit ho-hum. Main characters are nature, lacked the mathematical ability to properly govern his White; there’s a bit of diversity among Elizabeth’s friends. kingdom…. A sturdy case. (Mystery. 10-14) As a result, his people suffer. One such is Bhagat, a nimble- thinking and hardworking but impoverished young man who lives with his mother in a distant village. Bhagat is a passionate singer, so when he hears that the king is holding auditions for the royal troupe, he travels to the palace to audition. Due to his family’s poverty, Bhagat is able to carry only 1 rupee and seven links from his mother’s wedding chain. When he arrives at his destination, the innkeepers demand a ring in advance for every night that Bhagat stays, but the goldsmith charges 1 rupee per link to break it. How can Bhagat make the necklace last without wasting a single link? With some clever reasoning and base two math, Bhagat makes his resources stretch long enough to get

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 119 The illustrations reflect a reverence for the majestic Chinese landscape. the musician

THE MUSICIAN mysterious disappearance of Bonus Bucks, he is immediately Liu, Xuefeng suspected as the perpetrator. Robin is sure he is innocent, but Illus. by Grassholz, Gunter & Wan, Yuxi will she be able to prove it? Loveless’ newest installment fol- Reycraft Books (32 pp.) lows its predecessors’ format, with short, bustling chapters $17.95 | Oct. 22, 2020 punctuated with distinctive crayonlike full-color illustrations 978-1-4788-6978-8 and comics panels. Despite the breezy pacing, Robin’s friend- Series: Lofty Mountains and Flowing ship journey with Wilu feels tedious and heavy-handed, lessons Water like “mean nicknames are a bad call” plopping into readers’ laps. In addition to the forced cheer and morality, series conventions, Imported from China, a visually such as the rapping twins and Robin’s references to foods, feel captivating retelling of a classic Chinese contrived and formulaic instead of like comforting touchstones. folk story. Robin is White while the rest of the Merry Misfits are diverse. This sincere and ancient tale depicts the legendary friend- Wilu has brown skin, and the fact that suspicion immediately ship of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi. Both share a true understand- falls on him, a kid of color, is not interrogated. ing of music and bond when they meet by chance through Doesn’t come close to the bull’s-eye. (author’s note) their deep appreciation of the guqin, a traditional Chinese (Graphic/fiction hybrid. -7 10) string instrument. Boya tells Ziqi how he was introduced to the guqin as a young boy and quickly mastered the technique needed to play proficiently. Though he was skilled, however, THE MASK THAT LOVED his music failed to connect to his audiences. Boya was sent to TO COUNT Penglai Island, fabled home of the immortals, to await a new Luo Xi teacher only to realize that it is nature that will inspire him to Illus. by the author create his greatest compositions. Ziqi is moved by Boya’s ability Trans. by Wang, Helen to capture the essential beauty of nature, and Boya in turn is Cardinal Media (32 pp.) grateful to have found a companion who truly understands his $9.99 paper | Oct. 20, 2020 music. Like Boya’s masterpieces, the illustrations reflect a rev- 978-1-64074-118-8 erence for the majestic Chinese landscape. Towering mountains that disappear into an endless mist and verdant river valleys are An N95 mask with counting ability (!) discovers how “spe- lushly portrayed with vibrant colors in a style emulating tradi- cial” it is. tional Chinese brush art. There is a lovely balance between the Narrating, it speaks directly to readers/listeners, exhorting bold landscapes and detailed, close-up images that allow read- them to be aware of how important face gear and other per- ers to connect to the strong emotional resonance of the story. sonal protective equipment are in these critical times. The mask (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.375-by-18-inch double-page counts how many people are buying masks at a pharmacy, how spreads viewed at 32.7% of actual size.) long it takes for the doctor who buys it to get to his hospital, Elegant and evocative, this culturally authentic folktale how many boxes of donated medical supplies are headed to “the beautifully conveys the powerful bonds of music and friend- center of the epidemic, “and how many intravenous drops help ship. (Picture book. 5-9) a hospitalized young virus patient feel better; this mask does plenty of reckoning. The mask isn’t actually worn by anyone, but then the child, recovered and homeward bound, donates WHO IS THE BUCKS BANDIT? the mask to a different doctor. The mask now realizes its pur- Loveless, Gina pose: “to give people hope and to help save lives.” This volume, Illus. by Bell, Andrea a Chinese import, is one in a new series of hopeful, nonfrighten- Andrews McMeel Publishing (192 pp.) ing books aimed at helping youngsters understand the corona $13.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 emergency. Whether they’ll buy the “counting mask” premise 978-1-5248-6089-9 is another, er, story, but the narrative calmly conveys the ideas Series: Diary of a 5th Grade Outlaw, 3 that there’s a “dangerous new virus” (never named) around and that all masks are protective. Busy, lively illustrations effectively Could the new fifth grader be a thief? show frontline medical personnel in full protective gear. Both In this third installment in the Diary primary characters have dark, straight hair and pale skin; others of a 5th Grade Outlaw series (loosely are racially diverse. based on the Robin Hood mythos), Should help children understand the crisis and the need green-hoodie–clad Robin Loxley decides that she will befriend to undertake currently recommended wellness measures. Wilu Johnson, the new student at Nottingham Elementary, no (Picture book. 4-7) matter what. Robin’s friends, the Merry Misfits, try to welcome him in, but he is standoffish and aloof, proclaiming he is a “solo kid.” At Nottingham, good behavior and grades are incentiv- ized with Bonus Bucks; when Wilu’s arrival coincides with the

120 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | THE EXCEPTIONAL is up. Mother and child tumble over in an embrace, laundry MAGGIE CHOWDER scattering all over. “ ‘I love you, shirt,’ she whispered. ‘I love Lute, Renee Beauregard you, Mommy,’ said the shirt.” Many a young reader will giggle Illus. by Valentine, Luna in recognition of similarly enacted pretend games of their Whitman (256 pp.) own. The illustrations, unfortunately, are a little stiff, and their $16.99 | Oct. 1, 2020 faces and body language do not reflect as much emotion as 978-0-8075-3678-0 the game would suggest. Mother and child are depicted with brown hair and olive skin. Twelve-year-old Maggie Chowder Sweet, if a little bland. (Picture book. 3-5) had been looking forward to a promising summer in Renton, Washington. However, things get progressively THE PRINCE AND THE GOBLIN worse after her father loses his job and takes an unpaid role Madge, Rory & Huff, Bryan in a web series to pursue his dream of acting. Several changes Illus. by the authors that Maggie is not ready for quickly follow: Her mother starts Tantrum (213 pp.) a stressful new job at a grocery store; the family moves from $17.99 | Sep. 29, 2020 Maggie’s beloved home to a small two-bedroom apartment, 978-1-951710-37-8 where she has to share a room with her 4-year-old brother, Series: Goblin Trilogy, 1 Aaron, who has autism; and to make matters worse, Maggie’s comic-book–hating Grandma Barrel comes to visit and her par- A goblin seeking adventure gets his

ents cannot afford to send her to Junior Forest Ranger Camp wish and more. young adult although she desperately wants to become a ranger and protect In the lush Kingdom of Yore below the wilderness like her favorite comic-book character, Eagirl. the Gobble Downs hills lives Hob, a gob- Maggie finds that she is increasingly embarrassed about her lin like no other. While other goblins are smelly, ill-mannered, family’s situation, especially since her best friend, LaTanya and unreliable, Hob is clean, loves reading, and dreams of big Richards, moves into a fancy new house and gets a puppy after adventures inspired by his books. Hob’s life is forever changed her father gets a job coaching the Seahawks football team. But when he crosses paths with a prince and dwarf who are taken with time Maggie learns the value of family and friends. Lute’s as prisoners during an ambush. Hoping to start a new life and well-rounded characters capture the difficulties of change, and lured by the possibility of a quest, Hob helps them escape Valentine’s black-and-white comic strips featuring Eagirl mirror and embarks on an adventure of a lifetime filled with danger, Maggie’s feelings about her life. Maggie and her family seem to secrets, and the hunt for the Lost City. Intricate worldbuilding be White by default; LaTanya’s ethnicity is not specified. and descriptive passages of the landscapes and inhabitants of Empathetic, realistic, and very enjoyable. (Fiction. 9-12) Yore will transport readers to a fantasy land featuring goblins, gnomes, a three-headed troll, and a witty apprentice with magical abilities. Though the pace starts out slowly, most charac- THE RUNAWAY SHIRT ters, both human and otherwise, are well rounded. The focus MacMillan, Kathy on Hob, the sidekick of the story, is a refreshing take on the Illus. by Castaño, Julia heroic adventure quest genre. Scattered throughout are simple, Familius (32 pp.) cartoonlike, grayscale illustrations that complement the text. $16.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 The prince is blond and White; the apprentice and the main 978-1-64170-251-5 antagonist are brown-skinned. An enjoyable adventure. (map) (Fantasy. 8-13) As a mother does the laundry, she takes a break to play a pretend game with her young child. When she starts folding the laundry the child can be seen climbing into the laundry basket behind her. She folds a few items and then reaches over to fold a shirt. Only this is a special shirt—the child is inside it, but she pretends to pay this detail no mind. “First one sleeve, then the other. Then I fold it in half,” she says, folding the child’s knees up over crossed arms. “But the shirt [does] not stay folded.” When she repeats the operation and places the shirt alongside the rest of the folded clothes on the bed, “the shirt [does] not stay on the bed.” And so the game proceeds, with the mother trying to put the shirt into a drawer and then trying to drape it on a hanger. When at last she decides to wear it instead, the game

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 121 BOLD TALES OF BRAVE- a poet who relates to an aspect of the activist’s identity.” New HEARTED BOYS Yorker Charles Waters, for instance, gives a shoutout to 6-year- McFarlane, Susannah old Samirah “DJ Annie Red” Horton, “proudly / representing Illus. by McKenna, Brenton; Howe, Simon; the People’s Republic of Brooklyn” with her anti-bullying rap; Huynh, Matt & Joyce, Louie Zach Wahls, founder of Scouts for Equality, poses with his two Aladdin (128 pp.) moms next to a triolet from Lesléa Newman. Other contribu- $19.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 tors, including Carole Boston Weatherford, Janet Wong, and 978-1-5344-7359-1 Joseph Bruchac, honor young people making good trouble in areas of contention as varied as climate change, gender identity, Four reimagined fairy tales each pro- immigration law, safe drinking water, and gun violence. The vide a different example of what it means to be brave. contributors are as diverse of identity as their young subjects, Gentle Jack the giant lives a peaceful life with his beloved and as a sidelight, the poems are cast in a variety of identified mother until a diminutive thief, also named Jack, from another forms from free verse to reverso, cinquain, and tanka. land breaks into his home. Puzzle-loving Hansel and his daring Never too soon to start stirring things up: “We may be sister face the dangers of the dark woods together when their small / but / we / can / ROAR!” (contributor bios, notes on aunt and uncle abandon them. Christian, a former shepherd poetic forms) (Informational picture book/poetry. 6-12) boy, risks his life to tell the truth when swindlers take advantage of the emperor’s vanity. Despite doubts about his destiny, Prince Leo Charming battles an evil fairy to break a curse. As LUCY LOPEZ, CODING STAR the verse preface suggests, each of the boy protagonists displays Mills, Claudia internal strengths unrelated to their size or physical prowess to Illus. by Zong, Grace overcome a trial. Every hero earns a happily-ever-after by learn- Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House ing an undisguised lesson. Some of the tales make an effort to (128 pp.) challenge gender stereotypes by including girls with physical $15.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 strength and athletic abilities, but they never expand beyond 978-0-8234-4628-5 a binary depiction of gender. The last story, a new version of Series: After-School Superstars, 3 “Sleeping Beauty,” removes the kiss between the prince and the princess. Instead, Aurora’s mother models consent by asking Everyone in third grader Lucy Prince Leo if she may kiss him in thanks for saving their whole Lopez’s family has a “special thing”: Her kingdom. Illustrations in a green palette accompany the text. mom practices salsa dancing, her dad Apart from in “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” in which the illus- loves gardening, and her older sister, Elena, is obsessed with trations seem to depict an Asian setting, all of the characters computer coding. seem to be White. Lucy’s not sure what her “thing” is yet, but the sisters have a Overwhelming sweetness with underwhelming diversity. club in which they try their hands at different skills to earn self- (Fantasy. 6-10) awarded merit badges, and Lucy can’t wait to find out what her “thing” will turn out to be! Lately, however, it seems as though all Elena wants to do is sit in front of a computer and work on NO VOICE TOO SMALL her coding projects. Looking to connect, Lucy enrolls in an Fourteen Young after-school coding camp with kids readers will recognize from Americans Making other installments in the After-School Superstars series. Lucy is History introduced to basic computer coding terms and concepts like Ed. by Metcalf, Lindsay H.; algorithms, loops, and conditional statements. She is surprised Dawson, Keila V. & Bradley, Jeanette when, instead of being excited about another activity to do Illus. by Bradley, Jeanette together, Elena is mad that her little sister is copying her new- Charlesbridge (40 pp.) found hobby. Lucy is torn between excitement about her knack $18.99 | Sep. 22, 2020 for coding and her sister’s irritation. Can Lucy code a game 978-1-62354-131-6 for the end-of-camp Coding Expo that will change her sister’s feelings about having two coders in the family? Chapter-book Tributes in prose and poetry to children and teens of today readers will enjoy watching Lucy navigate the exciting world of who have spoken out to support a cause or protest injustice. computer coding and the complexities of having an older sister. Budding activists in search of child role models beyond the Illustrations depict characters of color, and Lucy and her family high-profile likes of Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg may are coded Latinx, though ethnicities are not specifically named well draw inspiration from this less-intimidating—but no less in the text. brave and worthy—lineup. For each, a poem by one of 14 poets Explore sister dynamics in this gentle read. (coding and a laudatory paragraph flank an engaging, soft-focus portrait resources) (Fiction. 7-9) by Bradley that digitally emulates chalk and pastels on a textured brown background. “Each activist,” write the editors, “inspired

122 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | The shiny, cartoon illustrations are bright and engaging, easy to see from the back of the room. thanks a ton!

KINGSTON AND THE crowd pleaser at storytimes. Savvy educators and caregivers MAGICIAN’S LOST will use these rhymes as a chance to introduce new vocabulary AND FOUND words to youngsters. The shiny, cartoon illustrations are bright Moses, Rucker & Gangi, Theo and engaging, easy to see from the back of the room. A double Putnam (288 pp.) gatefold as the second-to-last rhyme reintroduces the titular $17.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 phrase and will provide an unexpected explosion of color and 978-0-525-51686-6 characters. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.5-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) A 12-year-old boy goes on a wild jour- Thanks for this! (Picture book. 5-8) ney across realms to save his long-lost father. Kingston James and his Ma left Echo THE NAME I CALL MYSELF City, Brooklyn, four years ago when his magician father, King Namir, Hasan Preston the Great, disappeared into a magic mirror during a Illus. by John, Cathryn duel at the Mercury Theater. Now they’re back to save their Arsenal Pulp Press (40 pp.) brownstone from imminent foreclosure. King takes a break $17.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 from packing up the family’s magic shop and—along with his 978-1-55152-809-0 cousin Veronica and friend Too Tall—discovers several cryptic messages at the Mercury. Using a secret cipher his father taught An isolated child struggles with self-esteem as they discover him, he decrypts them, working under the assumption that his their identity diverges from familial and societal expectations.

father is guiding him. He finds a mysterious, carved, wooden Ari’s parents call them a name that does not fit, a name for young adult box—the Lost and Found—setting him on an adventure to old snoring kings. They “idolize” their mom, a good listener unlock secrets of the Realm. Soon King finds out that he has who lets them try on dresses, but they fear coming out to their accidentally opened a portal into the Realm, triggering a count- dad, who insists boys act and present themselves in a certain down before his father fades away into nothing. Time is quickly way. Year by year, from ages 6 to 18, Ari documents their life running out, and blinded by hopes of rescuing his father, King experiences and the distressing changes of puberty as they puts his loved ones in jeopardy; now he’s the only one that can explore their gender and their attraction to boys. The first-per- save them. This brisk, first-person narrative will appeal espe- son narrator introduces themself in the opening by the name cially to readers who like puzzles and illusions. The engaging their parents gave them. Right after this, they explain, “But I plot and history of Black magicians make up for the stilted dia- call myself something else.” This true name remains a mystery logue. King and the majority of other characters are Black. until the final page of text, when they introduce themself again A likable, otherworldly adventure with a bit of a mystery. as Ari. The layout follows a predictable pattern, with text on the (map) (Fantasy. 8-12) left side of each spread and an accompanying illustration on the right side. Illustrations depict Ari and their family with light brown skin, but the narration gives no indication of ethnicity THANKS A TON! or racial identity. Troublingly, Ari has no trustworthy friends, Moyle, Sabrina and their mom is their only apparent support, though a passive Illus. by Moyle, Eunice one at best. While the narrative resolves on a note of hopeful abramsappleseed (34 pp.) self-identification, this coming-of-age story largely focuses on $16.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 struggle, waylaying happiness until the character is 17. 978-1-4197-4334-4 Sadly, a typically harrowing representation of a young Series: Hello!Lucky transgender person without supportive community. (Picture book. 5-8) Finding the right way to say “Thank you” can be difficult (and zany). A young elephant in a pink-and-white–striped shirt and blue KITS, CUBS, AND CALVES overalls wonders how to thank various friends for their help An Arctic Summer with various small tasks but struggles with the right words. As Napayok-Short, Suzie the elephant considers the concept of gratitude, rhyming cou- Illus. by Campeau, Tamara plets describe what the little pachyderm may offer in thanks: Inhabit Media (32 pp.) “You hugged me when my day was hard, / so you deserve this $17.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 SAINT BERNARD!” With each imagined token of thanks, the 978-1-77227-274-1 elephant’s small pink wagon is seen to house more and more creatures and items, culminating in a final kitchen-sink gag at A curious girl named Akuluk visits her family in Nunavut to the end of the book. The logic of the gifts is nonsensical, depen- learn the language and life ways of her ancestors. dent on the rhyme scheme rather than any sense of commen- When Akuluk arrives at her aunt and uncle’s on a solo trip surate reciprocity, but the comedic effect will be an immediate to visit her northern relatives, she also meets her aunt’s new

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 123 The sparse, lyrical text lends the book a cozy, poetic quality that is both soothing and whimsical. night walk

puppies, a litter destined to become sled dogs in the Arctic. She YOU AND ME AND goes to bed, eager for morning, when she will head out into the EVERYBODY ELSE Arctic Ocean on her uncle’s boat. Bouncing across the waves Niebius, Maria-Elisabeth toward her family’s old campground, she and her relatives see Illus. by Farina, Marcos an orphaned beluga taken in by a nearby pod. At every turn, Little Gestalten (32 pp.) Akuluk learns about the natural world by listening to oral his- $19.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 tories, making observations about different species, and using 978-3-89955-855-5 modern technology. Her uncle teaches her about the relationship between polar bears and foxes, and when she returns home, This German import reminds chil- she is surprised by a souvenir on her bed. While the plot feels dren that feelings, as well as some physi- a bit buried by a great deal of cultural and environmental infor- cal impulses, are universal. mation, the book will appeal to children who are interested The illustrations, which appear screen-printed, depict indi- in earth sciences. The story’s pacing is meandering and dense, vidualized children of various ethnicities and racial presenta- but the illustrations help by capturing the dynamic northern tions in different settings. Their varied skin tones are rendered world with realistic colors and excellent details. An Inuktitut in deeply saturated colors and include realistic shades, such as dictionary and pronunciation guide round out this book for beige and brown, but also stylized ones, such as blue, orange, older children. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8-by-18-inch mossy green, and literal black. The verso of each spread begins double-page spreads viewed at 38.2% of actual size.) with “Everybody,” the remainder of the text exploring various An information-rich tale of reciprocity between Arctic feelings and physical states of being. Everybody feels happi- families and the natural world. (Picture book. 5-8) ness, fear, ennui, loneliness, anger, and more. Everybody plays, eats, sleeps, “gets hurt sometimes,” and dreams. In one spread, readers observe that “everybody pees,” some while standing IN A FLASH and some while sitting down, and the book doesn’t shy from Napoli, Donna Jo depicting children relieving themselves in various positions. Wendy Lamb/Random (400 pp.) The spread about sorrow verges on reductive. It states: “Just $16.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 remember that the sadness will pass and you will be happy 978-1-101-93413-5 again,” even if it’s not always that simple for children, or perhaps some adults in their lives, suffering from severe depres- Two Italian sisters try to survive in sion. That aside, the book is an inclusive and generous reminder Japan during World War II. to children that everyone experiences intense feelings, which In the summer of 1940, not long after may help some readers feel less isolated or even, in some cases, their mother’s death, 8-year-old Simona reduce their anxiety. Unfortunately, there’s a glaring grammar and her 5-year-old sister, Carolina, move error toward the book’s close (“The thought of some treats can with their father to Tokyo, Japan, where make some mouth’s water”). he will begin a job as the chef at the Italian embassy. Over A welcome, if slightly uneven, addition to the growing the next few years, the girls master the Japanese language canon of children’s books about emotional literacy. (Picture and learn Japanese customs in order to fit in with peers who book. 4-10) believe they are living in luxury even though they are servants within embassy walls. Being a Westerner in wartime Japan soon becomes difficult. In 1943, following Italy’s surrender to the NIGHT WALK Allies, all Italians are forced into internment camps, and the O’Leary, Sara sisters are separated from their father. Escaping, they set off on Illus. by Arscott, Ellie a long and treacherous journey to stay alive in a country that Groundwood (32 pp.) now sees them as the enemy. Through the voice of Simona, this $18.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 novel offers an unusual perspective on the World War II years 978-1-55498-796-2 in Japan. The girls’ journey is constantly challenging, as they often face sudden, unexpected risks. Because the story spans When a child struggles to fall asleep, multiple years, there is a lot of information about Japan’s home- a night walk with Dad around the neigh- front experience during the 1940s, including patriotism, pro- borhood proves transformative. paganda, underground anti-war efforts, depletion of resources, Through the lit windows of the houses in her neighbor- and bombings. Topics of xenophobia, identity, assimilation, loss, hood—and in what appears to be a nearby, more urban area— friendship, and family are intertwined through the perspective the narrator gets a look at a shopkeeper who is grumpy by day of a young person navigating tumultuous events. but joyful by night and a Muslim family with hijabi female A new, interesting perspective on a history rarely told. members having a cozy, late dinner. The unnamed protagonist (map, postscript, notes on research, bibliography) (Historical marvels at how much happens all around town after bedtime. fiction. -8 12) The child’s father recounts that when he was younger, he lived in a rural area where he could walk through the dark for miles

124 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | without encountering anyone else. His observation makes DOODLE CAT IS BORED the child reflect on the home they share and how everything Patrick, Kat that’s known and unknown about it—the day and the night, the Illus. by Farrell, Lauren friends and the strangers—contributes to a sense of belonging. Scribble (32 pp.) The sparse, lyrical text lends the book a cozy, poetic quality that $16.99 | Nov. 3, 2020 is both soothing and whimsical. The illustrations incorporate 978-1-950354-34-4 diverse body types, skin tones, and faith markers, and they Series: Doodle Cat represent a variety of homes ranging from two-story houses to apartment buildings. The book’s only flaw is that the text, while A cat is excruciatingly bored. well written, meanders such that the story’s ending feels more Doodle Cat, drawn as a red, cat-shaped silhouette with fran- like a surprise than a conclusion to the plot arc. (This book was tic eyes and sharp whiskers its only markings, sits on a blank reviewed digitally with 10-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed white page. “I AM BORED,” says Doodle Cat. The next two at 65.1% of actual size.) pages have plain, matte-black backgrounds, and Doodle Cat A sweet rumination on family, home, and belonging. (Pic stands (upright like a human) in a yellow spotlight. “EXCUSE ture book. 2-6) ME EVERYONE I AM BORED! / HALLO?” This is no low- energy boredom; it’s desperate, bug-eyed, shrieking boredom. Suddenly, a crayon appears on the floor. Doodle Cat squints THE EFFICIENT, INVENTIVE in suspicion, tries to eat soup with it, dances with it, and hears (OFTEN ANNOYING) MELVIL the crayon say, “I’m for doodling.” Aha! Doodle Cat, ever self- DEWEY focused, nabs credit for that revelation (though if the concept

O’Neill, Alexis of doodling is so new, why did the character self-identify as young adult Illus. by Fotheringham, Edwin “Doodle Cat” all along?) and has a brain explosion that Farrell Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills (40 pp.) illustrates in a full-bleed spread of chunky psychedelic designs. $18.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 The arc is now about drawing (it’s called doodling, but much 978-1-68437-198-3 of it is more deliberate than that). The breathless pace and forced brashness—two separate, explicitly bum-focused pages A panegyric for modern library science’s most renowned (“Here’s my bum”) plus Doodle Cat “surfing through time and and despicable founder. space on a wave of farts with Wizard Susan,” an unexplained Leaving all reference to Dewey’s long history of sexual White human who never appears before or after—make every harassment and open racism and anti-Semitism confined to two page seem like a new bid for readers’ attention. sentences in the small-type afterword, O’Neill presents him as There’s not much substance or cohesion here, but it may a man on a mission—obsessed with efficiency, determined “to work to corral—briefly—little ones who won’t stop running make the biggest difference in the world in the least amount of time,” around. (Picture book. 2-5) and fired up with the notion that success for this country’s immigrants hinged on free public libraries that were profes- sionally staffed (by women, because they were capable but, wink HOWL wink, cheaper than men) and filled with materials that could Patrick, Kat actually be found. In a staccato narrative replete with boldface Illus. by Barrow, Evie words in ALL-CAPS and exclamation points (“Hardworking! Scribble (32 pp.) Determined! Visionary!” “Controlling! Demanding! Manipula- $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 tive!”), the author tallies many of his achievements, from the 978-1-950354-45-0 Dewey Decimal System (given only quick mention here) and the first library school to professional associations and special- A rotten day can be fixed in the mid- ized library furniture. She also tacks on a complimentary quote dle of the night. from him about women…as if that would somehow make his Maggie’s opening litany of woes calls behavior excusable. Fotheringham captures his manic sense back to Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad of purpose by twice depicting a locomotive smashing through Day: “the sun was the wrong shape, in a sky that was too blue. books and points to his actions’ common result by surround- / Then, Maggie’s shoes would not go on properly. Her socks ing Dewey elsewhere with much smaller, uniformly White were even worse. / … / Finally, the spaghetti was too long.” At colleagues and contemporaries looking, mostly, bemused or night, bright moonlight streams in, and nobody wants to go to outright peeved. “A pretty good legacy,” the author concludes, bed. After Maggie and her mom each “almost explode,” Maggie “don’t you think?” “Checkered” might be a better description. bursts outdoors and rages herself into a wolf, evoking Where the (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page Wild Things Are. Here, however, Maggie needs help expressing spreads viewed at 75% of actual size.) her feelings, and Mom joins her outside. Together they howl, As disingenuous a profile as ever was. (timeline, source prowl, and “dance…wildly under the moon.” Their newly lupine list, photos) (Picture book/biography. 7-10) bodies—Maggie’s fangs; Maggie’s and Mom’s “long tails with bristling fur”—are only textual, never shown; however, their

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 125 shadows look exactly like wolves. Maggie wears overalls and I DON’T WANT TO GO then red-striped pajamas. Illustrations are bright and sketchy, TO SCHOOL! with a loose, windblown feeling and colored-pencil lines going Pellai, Alberto & Tamborini, Barbara everywhere in all directions; this matches Maggie’s frustration Illus. by Paganelli, Elisa and then her freedom, though the visual mood doesn’t apprecia- Magination/American Psychological bly calm down when Maggie’s mood does. Maggie’s and Mom’s Association (24 pp.) skin is the flat white of the background paper. Pair with Kyo $14.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault’s brilliant Virginia Wolf (2012). 978-1-4338-3244-4 This can’t match its classic ancestors, but it can play with Series: Big Little Talks them. (Picture book. 3-6) A kid starting school is underwhelmed. Unsurprisingly, the reluctant scholar expresses grievances: BENNY’S TRUE COLORS Teachers are mean, it might snow, and the classroom’s always Paulson, Norene cold. A wise, reassuring parent or caregiver in the background Illus. by Passchier, Anne offers counterarguments: School’s warm (in more ways than Imprint (40 pp.) one) and fun, teachers are kind, and new friends and activities $18.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 await. What about the protagonist’s (and many children’s) big- 978-1-250-20771-5 gest complaint—missing their favorite grown-up? Wouldn’t the adult prefer staying with the child and not being alone either? A winged friend experiences cross- The caregiver quietly explains they must work but also missed species transition. parents when a schoolchild. The best part? “I will be waiting Benny, a pug-nosed, ruffed, flying creature, “looks like all for you.” This is a gentle take on a common experience. The the other little brown bats in the park—he has a brown, furry gripes are typical ones; the adult’s rejoinders, sensible and sensi- body, webbed wings, and pointed ears.” But “Benny isn’t a bat”: tive. The White protagonist is more quickly convinced by the he’s diurnal, hates eating bugs, and “dreams about a silky, soft adult that school’s great than actual children might be, but this body; fluttering, patterned, colorful wings; and long, curling will assure readers/listeners facing the identical experience. The antennae.” You see, Benny is “really…a BUTTERFLY.” His voices of the child and mostly unseen grown-up are differenti- butterfly friends are all extremely supportive of his identity, ated by type: The child “speaks” in orange capitals; the adult, and his mother’s only lines are variations on “I love you.” Even in a conventional, black serif type. The sweet, appealing illus- though the butterflies don’t think Benny needs to change trations are inventive; one classmate has brown skin. A reader’s his body, some caterpillars wrap him in a cocoon (instead of note includes tips for adults to help children beginning school. extruding a chrysalis for him) and he emerges more typically The same creative team also produced companion titles I Want butterfly-assigned. While it’s nice that this story, dedicated by Everything (2020), about tantrums, and Oh Brother! (2020), about Passchier to “all the trans and gender-nonconforming kids out welcoming a new baby in the family. there,” departs from the traditional bullying narrative, it’s still A calming, helpful title about a childhood rite of pas- an uncomfortable stand-in for transgender identities, implying sage. (Picture book. 3-6) (I Want Everything!: 978-1-4338-3242-0; Oh that gender differences are akin to those between insects and Brother!: 978-1-4338-3243-7) mammals rather than fluid social constructions. Even without the strained metaphor the story is positively treacly; in penning a supportive tale, the author deprives the plot of conflict to fuel THE LITTLE MERMAID it. The bright, chipper art, matching the tone, is unsubtle but Pinkney, Jerry appealing. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch Illus. by the author double-page spreads viewed at 18.1% of actual size.) Little, Brown (48 pp.) Choose stories about real trans children over this clumsy $18.99 | Nov. 3, 2020 attempt. (Picture book. 4-7) 978-0-316-44031-8 The classic fairy tale is reimagined as a story of friendship, family, and inner strength. Melody, the youngest princess in the realm of the merfolk, is curious about the world above the ocean surface. She collects objects from sunken ships and asks questions no one will answer. One day, she follows her guardian turtle to the surface and sees a human girl on shore, who waves to her. Melody wants a friend, and when the Sea Witch, a monstrous red creature, offers her legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, she is fairly easily led astray despite the long-standing

126 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | The novel treats its young audience with respect, assuming they can grapple with broad themes of war, violence, and danger without graphically depicting them. jonesy flux and the gray legion

warnings of the merfolk about the Sea Witch. Melody makes JONESY FLUX AND it to shore and makes a fast and deep friendship with Zion, THE GRAY LEGION but when she discovers that her voice has empowered the Sea Pray, James Witch to attack the Sea King’s realm, she must return, regain Sterling (416 pp.) her power, and restore order for her family and her merpeople. $16.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 The replacement of the original love story with a friendship 978-1-4549-3835-4 story is a warm and welcome touch for children, and Melody’s Series: Jonesy Flux, 1 agency throughout makes her an admirable heroine even if her quickness to leave her family seems rash. Pinkney’s lush water- In this love letter to the space opera color scenes draw readers in with rich detail and vibrant hues. genre, a daring young girl embarks on a The merfolk and Zion are brown-skinned with curls, and the quest to save those she loves. meticulous rendering of the merfolks’ fins and shells brings the In the distant future, in a distant mythical creatures within reach of realistic imagination. solar system, 11-year-old Jonesy Archer has been eking out a life Another modern classic from one of our finest illustra- after surviving a pirate attack on her space station three years tors. (author’s note) (Picturebook. 5-9) prior. She and the rest of the survivors, (all children of varying ages) scavenge what they can from the remnants of Canary Sta- tion while waiting for rescue. But when Jonesy accidentally dis- STICKS AND STONES covers she has a strange power, the Gray Legion—a malevolent Polacco, Patricia entity seeking to rid the galaxy of such powers—arrives at the Illus. by the author station, taking her friends captive and leaving Jonesy stranded.

Simon & Schuster (48 pp.) This catapults Jonesy into an adventure across the galaxy, where young adult $18.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 she searches for answers, develops her abilities, and reunites 978-1-5344-2622-1 with those she has lost. The novel treats its young audience with respect, assuming they can grapple with broad themes of Veteran picture-book creator Polacco war, violence, and danger without graphically depicting them tells another story from her childhood on the page. Though the middle third of the book loses some that celebrates the importance of staying steam in terms of pacing, Jonesy’s odyssey is mostly packed with true to one’s own interests and values. action and fun, offering some solid and unpredictable twists After years of spending summers with her father and grand- along the way. Jonesy and her family are White. There is some mother, narrator Trisha is excited to be spending the school year racial diversity among her supporting cast of characters. in Michigan with them. Unexpectedly abandoned by her sum- A classic space adventure that rewards readers with a mertime friends, Trisha quickly connects with fellow outsiders rousing journey through the cosmos. (discussion questions) Thom and Ravanne, who may be familiar to readers from Polac- (Science fiction. -8 12) co’s The Junkyard Wonders (2010). Throughout the school year, the three enjoy activities together and do their best to avoid school bully Billy. While a physical confrontation between THE SILVER BOX Thom (aka “Sissy Boy”) and Billy does come, so does an oppor- Preus, Margi tunity for Thom to defy convention and share his talent with Univ. of Minnesota (200 pp.) the community. Loosely sketched watercolor illustrations place $16.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 the story in the middle of the last century, with somewhat old- 978-1-5179-0968-0 fashioned clothing and an apparently all-White community. Tri- Series: Enchantment Lake, 3 sha and her classmates appear to be what today would be called middle schoolers; a reference to something Trisha and her mom Plucky 17-year-old investigator Fran- did when she was “only eight” suggests that several years have cie is back for the concluding episode of passed since that time. As usual, the lengthy first-person nar- a trilogy set in Minnesota. rative is cozily conversational but includes some challenging Francie has discovered a small sil- vocabulary (textiles, lackeys, foretold). The author’s note provides ver box that is somehow connected to a brief update about her friends’ careers and encourages readers her mother’s mysterious disappearance 13 years earlier. The to embrace their own differences. (This book was reviewed digi- additional discovery of a mysterious abandoned cabin in the tally with 11-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) woods awakens vague memories of when her mother went away, Deliberately inspirational and tinged with nostalgia, this all clues to opening the tricky puzzle box and locating a vital will please fans but may strike others as overly idealistic. (Pic (but forgetful) elderly woman in a nursing home. Aided by her ture book. 7-10) pal Raven and Jay, another classmate, Francie follows clues she hopes will lead to her mother. Although a few red herrings add uncertainty, the villains remain largely hidden from readers, leaving the mystery mostly unsolvable even to clever armchair sleuths until the evildoers eventually reveal themselves. Brief

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 127 Uncommon elements give this time-travel novel a charming spin. the girl from the attic

environmental messages crop up frequently and are only mildly RESPECT didactic. Although the mystery and its resolution rely on some- Redding, Otis times improbably convenient happenstance, Francie’s plausi- Illus. by Moss, Rachel bly intrepid nature (and remarkable lack of reliance on adults) Akashic (24 pp.) keeps the plot moving at an engaging pace, and the wintry $16.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 Northwoods setting provides an appealing backdrop. Although 978-1-61775-844-7 the mostly White characters are only sparingly depicted, Raven Series: LyricPop talks about biased treatment and double standards she experiences as an Ojibwe person. The text of Redding’s famous song A modern Nancy Drew replacement grounded in current (made more so by Aretha Franklin) is laid out against illustra- technology but largely reliant on brain power and courage. tions of diverse families. (Mystery. 11-16) In this volume of the LyricPop series, the lyrics of “Respect” are printed in lines of alternating colors, with backup (“just a little bit,” “Ooh,” “re re re re...,” etc.) printed in speech bubbles. THE GIRL FROM THE ATTIC The top half of each spread depicts adults enacting various Prins, Marie careers, such as education, military, science, construction, and Illus. by Hagedorn, Edward medicine, while the bottom half pictures children playing at the Common Deer Press (222 pp.) same career seen above. The same Black family is featured on $12.99 paper | Oct. 1, 2020 each page while diverse characters fill in extra roles. The illus- 978-1-988761-51-0 trations carry enough interest to sustain attention through the end of the book, though it will take some practice—or dedica- After moving to a new house, a girl tion to sharing the song—for caregivers and children to pace the finds a portal to its previous residents reading/singing with the page turns. Three other series entries from a century ago. publish simultaneously: Move the Crowd (by Eric Barrier and Not only has Maddy’s mom remar- William Griffin and illustrated by Kirk Parrish), with rap lyrics ried and gotten pregnant, but Dan, her poetic enough to be read aloud without the awkward decision new, annoying stepdad, has moved them from Toronto to an whether to sing or speak; These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (by old octagonal house in the countryside. On the mend from Lee Hazelwood and illustrated by Rachel Moss), in which a cat a bad bout of bronchitis and still tackling her asthma, the gets jealous when her human gets a dog; and We Got the Beat (by tween begins exploring her unusual house. A black cat helps Charlotte Caffey and illustrated by Kaitlyn Shea O’Connor), in her discover a door in the woodshed’s loft, and once opened, it which a couple kids and some flamingos romp to bubble-gum becomes a portal from her present in 2001 to the house’s previ- backgrounds. Average families may not know how to enjoy ous residents, nearly 100 years earlier. Through numerous trips these titles, but musical families will. back and forth between these time periods, Maddy observes Best for the biggest fans. (discussion questions) (Picture Eva, a girl with consumption, and meets Eva’s brother, Clarence, book. 3-6) (Move the Crowd: 978-1-61775-849-2; These Boots Are Made who goes by Clare. In this quiet and evenly paced blend of fan- for Walkin’: 978-1-61775-875-1; We Got the Beat 978-1-61775-836-2) tasy and historical fiction, Maddy notes the similarities between Eva’s and her own health conditions and becomes determined to work with Clare to save Eva. A soap-making scheme intro- I PROMISE YOU duces readers to farm life at the beginning of the 20th century. Richmond, Marianne But as problems also mount in her own time, Maddy realizes Illus. by the author that she’s been neglecting the real people who need her most. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (40 pp.) Although never didactic, this gentle narration, enhanced with $9.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 quaint black-line drawings, emphasizes building family relation- 978-1-7282-2902-7 ships and accepting responsibility for one’s actions. Characters follow a White default. All children deserve a lifetime of lov- Uncommon elements give this time-travel novel a charming, empowering assurances from their parents. ing spin. (Fantasy. 8-12) A series of parents muse on all the things they have promised their little ones right from the start. There are, of course, love, concern, and nurturing of body and mind, but also vows to teach their children moral principles; to impart a sense of belonging in the world; to devote time and attention; to impose limits; to offer guidance, choices, and help; to show acceptance; and many other life-altering, -affirming, and -strengthening gifts children need from parents so they will grow into happy, productive adults. One of the most generous, loving promises of all is truth—that the children have “infinite worth, / built-in and

128 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | boundless” and that life isn’t always “easy or perfect or fair”— THE GREAT REALIZATION but when their offspring feel down, the parents promise to lis- Roberts, Tomos ten. Of course, parental reassurances don’t end with childhood Illus. by Nomoco and children’s leaving “the nest.” The certainty of home awaits. Harper/HarperCollins (32 pp.) Each promise in the book’s hushed, softly worded verse is set $17.09 | Sep. 1, 2020 apart in display type. Muted watercolor and delicate ink-line 978-0-06-306636-6 illustrations done in Richmond’s trademark childlike fashion suit the gentle parental promises. Skin tones and hairstyles and Lyrical reassurance in the face of ill- colors of parents and children are diverse throughout, and there ness or pandemic, spun off from a viral video: “Well, sometimes is gender diversity among the parents depicted. you get sick, my boy, / before you start / feeling better.” Sweet and comforting; a nice gift for new parents-to-be. With similarly daft logic—not to mention frequent dis- (Picture book. 3-6) regard for regular meter and rhyme—Roberts tells a favorite bedtime story to two children. Back in 2020, the text relates, corporate greed (“our leaders taught us why / it’s best to not / FOLLOW YOUR BREATH! upset the lobbies— / more convenient to die”) and feelings of A First Book of Mindfulness loneliness brought about by our addiction to screens and social Ritchie, Scot media were transformed into a healthier “work-life balance” Illus. by the author while hiding away from the virus. “We started clapping to say Kids Can (32 pp.) thank you / and calling up our moms. / And while the car keys $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 gathered dust / we would look forward to our runs.” Emerg-

978-1-5253-0336-4 ing from this rather radically simplistic isolation scenario to young adult Series: Exploring Our Community a fresher, less-plasticized world led to the titular epiphany, the exact nature of which readers are left to figure out. Along Five friends from Ritchie’s informational series Exploring with Americanized spelling and a few unnecessary changes in Our Community learn about mindfulness. line order and wording, this version of the poem comes with Pedro is nervous about moving. His mom, a martial arts restrained, sparely brushed watercolor illustrations of, mostly, instructor, teaches him and his friends about mindfulness to try stylized human figures rendered in a range of hues from paper to relieve his anxiety. She talks them through various tips and white (the narrator and children) to shades of brown and pale tricks. First they learn how to stretch and focus on their bodies. blue or green. (A sidebar gives readers a stretch to try on their own.) Then they Readers may be affected by the optimistic tone, but the take a mindful walk through a park and into a garden, noticing words sound darker, even disturbing, themes. (Picture book. the sights and smells. A sudden rainstorm brings up a discus- 6-8) sion about emotions. “Like the weather, feelings change and are often beyond our control.” The pals head back to Pedro’s house for a sleepover, where they learn how to do a body scan before WERE I NOT A GIRL bed. Bold headings announce each topic (“Be Wise—Visual- The Inspiring and True Story ize!”) while the main narrative follows the friends. A subnarra- of Dr. James Barry tive in smaller font gives more in-depth facts. Ritchie’s inked, Robinson, Lisa comics-inspired illustrations are bright enough to appeal but Illus. by Berke, Lauren Simkin also subdued enough to complement the calming subject mat- Schwartz & Wade/Random (40 pp.) ter. Examples of mindful games are appended along with a glos- $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Oct. 20, 2020 sary. Pedro and his friend group make up a diverse, mixed bunch. 978-1-9848-4905-2 (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.3-by-17.8-inch double-page 978-1-9848-4906-9 PLB spreads viewed at 35.2% of actual size.) A reminder to pause, breathe, and notice the moment. A children’s biography of a complex figure. (Informational picture book. 4-8) The much-interpreted facts, not to mention meaning, of Dr. James Barry’s life are squarely presented in this quiet picture book. After opening with “Imagine living at a time when you couldn’t be the person you felt you were inside,” the story provides some scant information about Dr. Barry’s early life: his female-assigned birth and feminine name in 18th-century Ire- land, the restrictive roles for women in that time and place, and Barry’s decision to pass as a man in order to enroll in medical school. At this point the story shifts from she/her pronouns to he/ him, as the story dutifully but calmly follows Barry on his travels as a military doctor. The illustrations are subdued and old- fashioned, with background scenes often depicted in smudged

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 129 black and gray scribbles and the White protagonist surrounded JOURNEYMAN by an almost all-White cast. An early question asks, “Why did The Story of NHL Right Margaret become James? She never said. Nor did he.” Despite Winger Jamie Leach the interesting character at its center, this story comes across Rosner, Anna as somewhat dull, the subject matter proving much more lively Yellow Dog (104 pp.) than the telling. It ends with the claim that “James was living his $11.95 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 truth” without making clear what truth, precisely, Barry was liv- 978-1-77337-054-5 ing. An author’s note tries to clarify a position that isn’t as clear in the text, with final notes fleshing out Barry’s biography and Following extensive interviews with discussing gender-neutral pronouns and nonbinary identities. her subject and his family, Rosner relays (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page in the first person the story of Ojibwe ice spreads viewed at 19.1% of actual size.) hockey player Jamie Leach from child- Both timely and historical. (Picture book/biography. 6-10) hood through professional success. Leach, the son of renowned hockey player Reggie Leach, started skating almost as soon as he could walk. As the son of DEAR BABY, a professional athlete, he was familiar with a lifestyle of trav- A Love Letter to Little Ones eling for games, being close with teammates, and moving after Rosenthal, Paris being traded. At some point, he realized his father was famous, Illus. by Hatam, Holly something that affected the family’s privacy. Jamie’s first step Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) toward his own career in professional hockey came at the age of $18.99 | Sep. 29, 2020 16 when he joined a junior team in Vancouver. This work pieces 978-0-06-301272-1 together his memories, his passionate pursuit of a spot in the National Hockey League, and the sometimes random changes A love letter to the first five years of life. that took him between leagues, teams, and towns. This brief Rosenthal previously partnered with her mother, Amy overview is written in a personal, open, and conversational tone Krouse Rosenthal, to pen Dear Girl, (2017), her father, Jason that invests readers in Leach’s story whether they are already Rosenthal, for Dear Boy, (2019), and now ventures out as a solo fans of his or not. Cultural aspects of his Ojibwe heritage, inte- author in an ode to babies everywhere. The same epistolary for- gral to his experience, are casually woven into his story with mat applies; here, the words of encouragement, advice, and just clear explanations. Reggie and Jamie Leach are the only Indig- plain silliness are directed toward the tiniest of tots. Rosenthal enous father and son to have both won the Stanley Cup. Pho- encourages tenacity: “Dear Baby, / It’s okay to make mistakes. tos throughout each chapter enhance the work. The depth of / Get back up and make your mark!” (A line of paint-smeared Leach’s relationships with his supportive family members and handprints connects spilled paint cans to a youngster happily the friends he made through hockey come through in the sim- creating art on the wall and some paper.) Rosenthal also encour- plicity of the descriptions and anecdotes. ages curiosity: Quite literally, the mandate “BE CURIOUS” Recommended for hockey fans and nonfans alike. (Memoir. stretches across the double-page spread, but the sentiment 10-14) is also clear in a spread that depicts babies watching animals, playing with flowers, and chasing floating bubbles. “Dear Baby, / Explore, / explore, / explore. / There’s always more.” At times, ELEANOR, ALICE, AND THE the text hovers close to saccharine (“I hope your dreams come ROOSEVELT GHOSTS true. / Mine did when I met you”), but since the work is catering Salerni, Dianne K. to doting caregivers, a little schmaltz is to be expected. Happily, Holiday House (240 pp.) Hatam’s stark-white skin tones from the previous books have $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 warmed, and most babies throughout are painted in a variety of 978-0-8234-4697-1 shades. Hatam also includes various adult caregivers to showcase many ages of loved ones. (This book was reviewed digitally The Roosevelt family is haunted by a with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 60.2% of actual size.) treacherous spirit. One for the baby-shower lists. (Picture book. 2-5) In an alternate 1898, ghosts are a common occurrence. Some are unaware of their own spectral status, most are harmless, but a few are a bit vengeful. When a peculiar spirit awakens in the old Roosevelt family house in New York City, cousins Eleanor and Alice must strive to overcome their differences and figure out just what this spirit wants. The ghost authorities claim the spirit is harmless, but the little tricks the presence pulls become more and more dangerous as time goes on. Meanwhile, another dark force has emerged in the house

130 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | As the snow intensifies and the serial trading progresses, the momentum and suspense build gradually. a long road on a short day

where Alice was born and her mother died. Are the two ghosts A LONG ROAD ON connected? The Roosevelt family secrets hold all the answers, A SHORT DAY and the two teen girls discover them one by one. This mix of Schmidt, Gary D. & Stickney, history and fantasy creates a nifty setting for a middle-grade Elizabeth mystery, but there’s one big problem: The Roosevelts all sound Illus. by Yelchin, Eugene the same. Alice and Eleanor are described as total opposites, Clarion (64 pp.) but their spoken patterns are nearly identical, making the com- $17.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 plex relationships all the harder to decipher, even with the aid 978-0-544-88836-4 of the family tree that is provided. The constant muttering of “Wait, which one is talking this time?” kills the narrative’s flow, A boy and his father embark on a spe- destroying the pacing that’s so crucial to a mystery’s success. cial mission. A poorly characterized mystery. (author’s note) (Mystery. When Samuel’s mother wishes for “a brown-eyed cow to 10-14) give us milk for the baby,” Papa takes his best knife and invites Samuel to join him on a search for a cow. Leaving their farm early on a white January morning, Papa reminds Samuel to NIGHT NIGHT, CURIOSITY “keep up” because “it’s a long road and a short day,” a refrain he Sayres, Brianna Caplan repeats throughout their journey. At neighbor Snow’s house, Illus. by O’Rourke, Ryan Papa trades his knife for two tin lanterns. At the Perrys’ house, Charlesbridge (32 pp.) he trades the lanterns for a book of poetry. He trades the book $16.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 for a pitcher at Widow Mitchell’s, and the pitcher for a sheep

978-1-58089-893-5 when they encounter Dr. Fulton. This pattern continues as young adult Papa trades the sheep for a gold pocket watch and the watch A child with eyes on the skies fits an for a pony and cart that Samuel would dearly love to keep. Day- envisioned trip to Mars into the bedtime light is fading, snow is collecting, Samuel’s cold, and he has routine. kept up with Papa, but will Papa trade the pony and cart for a After Mom has gone off to work a night shift at (as a later cow? As the snow intensifies and the serial trading progresses, video call reveals) Mission Control, Dad flies the space-mad the momentum and suspense build gradually until father and young narrator upstairs to wash up, snuggle down, and all the son reach journey’s end, where Samuel receives a well-deserved while imagine traveling with the Curiosity rover through space reward. Full-page, realistic color illustrations introduce each to land on Mars. In his russet-toned illustrations, O’Rourke chapter, tracing their journey from beginning to end in a snowy, bucks a common trend in the recent spate of entry-level tributes rural, largely unmechanized environment evoking a simpler by not anthropomorphizing the durable rover. Consequently, time and place. the episode is animated less by artificial, fanciful elements than Quiet, gentle, satisfying tale of father-son bonding. (Fic by the child’s native interest in space. The child’s astronomical tion. 8-10) enthusiasm is underscored in the pictures as the scene switches back and forth from Mars to good-night hugs and kisses in a bedroom festooned with space-themed furnishings and deco- NO ORDINARY THING rations. If Sayres’ verses aren’t exactly star quality (“We cuddle The Tale of the Traveling with my bedtime book… / We’re racing toward the sand. / Our Snow Globe parachute helps slow us down. / It’s time for us to land”) and Schmidt, G.Z. the illustrator varies the child’s size from scene to scene, still Holiday House (240 pp.) the premise has a certain glow to it…and both rhymed part $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 and prose afterword shed glimmers of background informa- 978-0-8234-4422-9 tion about the rover’s mission. Child and parents appear to be White, but there are figures with darker skin in a crowd scene. A magical New York journey through It’s nice to see a vivid imagination at work even though time and the grieving process. this plods where it should soar. (Picture book. 6-8) In 1999, 12-year-old orphaned Adam lives with his kindly Uncle Henry. Despite financial hardship, they love each other and Henry’s struggling bakery, although Adam is bullied at school and longs for his parents. When a strange man points him to a magical snow globe, Adam finds himself hopping through time, encountering various points in the lives of three other children—Jack, Daisy, and Francine—whose stories intersect in various ways. The arch, omniscient narrator also shares the connected story of Elbert, a magician and the son of Irish immigrants in the early 20th century, and his search for three pieces of time. Heavy

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 131 This beautifully contemplative portrait is notable for its depiction of a capable elder, dwelling not amid illness, regret, or grief, but in the moment. the old woman

material—Adam, Francine, and Jack have traumatic backsto- THE OLD WOMAN ries while Daisy’s family magically controls their underpaid and Schwartz, Joanne overworked factory employees, leading to tragedy—is handled Illus. by Kazemi, Nahid (too) lightly, with ultimate messages of acceptance and the Groundwood (36 pp.) beauty of living life in the present made explicit. This sweet, $18.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 short debut has a few glaring issues with problematic tokenism: 978-1-77306-211-2 Two sage elders, one Black who fills the Magical Negro role and one who is homeless, disabled, and perpetually cheerful, exist An old woman transits through an only to support biracial (Chinese/White) Adam. The novel has a autumn day, evening, and overnight to loose sense of place (this New York City is a sanitized pastiche), dawn, unhurriedly observing nature’s but the book still manages to evoke emotional closure. cues. Imperfect but not without appeal. (Fantasy. 8-12) She and her dog live in a simply furnished old house. Most days, the dog chases squirrels, then dozes indoors on an old rug. On a walk in the hills, they observe a crow, and the woman mar- TWO TOUGH TRUCKS vels at what it would be like to fly. The woman throws sticks for GET LOST! the dog to fetch and finds a stout walking stick for herself. They Schwartz, Corey Rosen & Gomez, Rebecca J. rest at a familiar boulder “with its perfect seat.” Whirling fall Illus. by Leung, Hilary leaves trigger a memory of playing outside for hours. Kazemi Orchard/Scholastic (40 pp.) draws the woman in her younger form, hair now dark against her $17.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 pale skin, dancing among the leaves. The artist’s lovely illustra- 978-1-338-23655-2 tions blend chalky graphite-gray with pastel and rusty autumnal accents. The full harvest moon rises, and the woman thinks of Nothing’s spookier than getting lost words to describe it: “huge, looming, warm, gentle, enormous, without your best friend by your side. dreamy, peaceful, autumnal—magnificent.” Next morning, stiff Once so different, the buddies of Two Tough Trucks (2019) and achy from the long walk, she goes outside to watch the are now as alike as peas in a pod. Mack and Rig spend their days sun rise. “There was a chill in the air. Soon it would be cold. It “racing and chasing and zipping ’round bends.” Warned by their always comes like this, thought the old woman, and yet no one folks to be back before dark, the two tear off into the saguaro- day is the same as another.” This beautifully contemplative por- studded landscape, failing to notice with their headlight-eyes trait is notable for its depiction of a capable elder, dwelling not shut that when the road forks they take different paths. Upon amid illness, regret, or grief, but in the moment, relishing each discovering that they are not only lost, but separated, the two day’s unique beauty. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by- look high and low as the sun sets in the west. It’s Rig who thinks 16.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 91.5% of actual size.) to light a flare and Mac who gets to the high ground, where he Calming, serene, respectful. (Picture book. 3-7) spots it. Reunited, they retrace their tracks, back to parents and home. This rhyming sequel, while peppy, downplays the trucks’ previously established personalities, rendering them CHESTNUT nearly identical. It is nice to see them manage their mutual res- Shotz, Jennifer Li cue, though the ending lands a bit flat. Blocky, cartoon art keeps HMH Books (320 pp.) things artful and peppy, rendering every little emotion a lost $12.99 | $7.99 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 truck might feel in quick succession. Quick-eyed spotters will 978-0-358-10870-2 note the roadrunner and tortoise that secretly accompany our 978-0-358-10874-0 paper two heroes as they search for one another (even on the endpa- Series: American Dog, 3 pers). (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.9-by-19-inch double- page spreads viewed at 18.5% of actual size.) A young girl living on a struggling This sequel may not be wholly necessary, but little truck farm desperately wants a dog. lovers will appreciate the light at the end of the tunnel. (Pic Twelve-year-old Meg Briggs lives ture book. 4-6) on her family’s Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. Her family constantly worries about money and their farm’s financial solvency, leaving Meg acutely aware of this unease. One cold morning, Meg finds a beautiful brindled Plott hound, which she names Chestnut, on a remote corner of their property and decides to keep him—even if it means lying to everyone she loves. Meg schemes to make and sell ornaments for money to keep Chestnut and help the farm. Soon she is overwhelmed by her own fibs and punishing schedule. When her family’s farm is in further jeopardy, will Meg be able to both keep the dog she loves and help her family retain their ancestral

132 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | home? Meg is a complex character who makes understand- THE HACKER’S KEY able missteps; while she is cognizant of her family’s troubles, Skovron, Jon she often relies on manipulation. Shotz’s canine confection Scholastic (224 pp.) has rapid pacing and short chapters fueled by high drama and $7.99 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 emotional tension. For readers who enjoy the thrill of a “will- 978-1-338-63398-6 they-or-won’t-they” tale, this should keep pages flying as Meg and Chestnut endure an unrelenting cavalcade of challenges. When a global techno-apocalypse Although teeming with melodrama, Shotz’s cloying prose can looms, can three savvy kids save the world? be stilted and overly formulaic, appealing perhaps most to Ada is the daughter of Remy Genet, those who appreciate familiar tropes or to established fans of a notorious hacker, thief, and current this series. Characters are presumed White. inmate at a Supermax prison. Ada attends Best suited for the most ardent dog or Christmas fans. the Springfield Military Reform School (dog facts) (Fiction. 7-10) with her friend Jace Winslow, a tech whiz, and multilingual fren- emy Cody Francesco. Ada learns that a horrible cyberweapon called the Hacker’s Key has been stolen, and in its place was left WILD GIRL a message for her father. Ada, Jace, and Cody are soon whisked How To Have Incredible into an international whirlwind of danger, espionage, and crimi- Outdoor Adventures nals, leading them from America to Iceland, Ireland, and the Skelton, Helen Czech Republic. The trio must carefully follow clues and dis- Illus. by Kay, Liz cern whom to trust, even within their own group. Skovron’s spy

Candlewick (144 pp.) thriller reads at a breakneck pace, imbued with tech know-how, young adult $19.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 covert ops, and heart-pounding action scenes. Alongside the 978-1-5362-1286-0 thrills, there is a hearty dose of pop-culture references from the ’80s and beyond, including retro Nintendo games and classic Skelton describes daring adventures science-fiction mentions. Perceptive readers should be able to she has had around the world and sug- easily suss out the identity of the supervillain, but that doesn’t gests ways for young people to challenge themselves. render this any less gripping. Ada is White, with a French father Biking to the South Pole, with kite skiing as a change of and American mother; Jace is Black; and Cody is Chilean. Sec- pace. Three marathons in 24 hours—in the desert. Solo kayak- ondary characters are diverse in ethnicity and nationality. ing 2,000 miles of the Amazon River in under 2 months. Walk- Reads like Alex Rider meets Ready Player One. (author’s ing a high wire between two abandoned city buildings. These note) (Thriller. 8-12) are some of the truly wild adventures Skelton regales readers with in this tantalizing nonfiction title organized by environment. Skelton shares every detail of each trip: her physi- BYE-BYE, BLUE CREEK cal, emotional, and mental preparation (or, occasionally, lack Smith, Andrew thereof); required gear; dangers; and the shocking and some- Simon & Schuster (256 pp.) times nasty things she had to endure to complete the challenges. $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 Each chapter ends with “best parts” and “worst parts” of the 978-1-5344-1958-2 adventure, two spreads full of related wild adventures for read- Series: Sam Abernathy, 2 ers to try (with adult supervision), and a spread introducing fairly diverse accomplished women who have made history with Twelve-year-old Sam Abernathy is their own adventures—with space for the reader to add her own prepared to say goodbye to Blue Creek, photo. Readers will be on the edges of their seats as they fol- the small Texas town he’s endured his low each incredible story; Skelton’s honesty about the roles of entire life. motivation, confidence, mentorship, and teamwork makes for And goodbye to being known as the an impressive lesson in the mechanics of mind over matter. The boy who got stuck in a well all those years ago. But Blue Creek colorful spreads are well designed, with layouts that are easy to isn’t ready to say goodbye to Sam: Instead of spending the last browse or read, stylized illustrations of diverse girls being active, few weeks before he departs for boarding school in Oregon and the occasional photograph of Skelton (who presents White) chilling with his best friend, Karim, and Karim’s cousin Bahar in action. (a girl whom Sam insists he does not have a crush on), Sam must Positively thrilling. (Nonfiction. -8 13) reckon with the supernatural family of monsters that has moved into Blue Creek’s haunted manse, the Purdy House. After all, Sam can’t just leave his home behind knowing it might be in danger. The sequel to The Size of the Truth (2019) improves upon its predecessor in nearly every way: The plotting is tighter, the jokes are funnier, the characters are sharper, and the messaging is on point. Sam’s put-upon nature and the sharp-witted barbs

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 133 slung between him and Karim make the novel into a crackling ALL THIRTEEN two-hander, creating a fun read. The novel’s tertiary characters The Incredible Cave have just enough shading to make the cast feel lived in save for Rescue of the Thai Boys’ one notable exception: Bahar is a promising character who isn’t Soccer Team given nearly enough page time to make the impact readers will Soontornvat, Christina want from her. Blue Creek is a mostly White community, but Candlewick (288 pp.) Bahar and Karim may be Persian; Karim is bisexual. $24.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 A much-improved sequel. (Mystery. 10-14) 978-1-5362-0945-7 An in-depth account of a harrowing BLACK HEROES OF real-life mission that succeeds against THE WILD WEST all odds. Smith, James Otis This book logs the 18 days that elapsed in the summer of Illus. by the author 2018 as 12 boys—all members of the Wild Boars soccer team— TOON Books & Graphics (56 pp.) and their coach were trapped inside Tham Luang Nang Non, $16.95 | Sep. 15, 2020 or the Cave of the Sleeping Lady, after it flooded in north- 978-1-943145-51-5 ern Thailand. The world watched as a daring rescue ensued. Instructive on many levels, the present-tense narration re-cre- The racial and cultural diversity of ates the hair-raising suspense and tension, rendering details of the Old West gets the comic-book treat- the extreme dangers of dive rescues and the seemingly insur- ment in Smith’s exploration of the lives mountable logistical challenges created by the landscape and and adventures of three Black historical figures. heavy rainfall. The text recounts the events, techniques, and The presence and contributions of Black people in the diverse individuals involved in this struggle while retaining steady progression of the Western frontier have long been over- an urgency that propels page turns with bated breath despite looked. Mary Fields was born enslaved and became a renaissance the foreknowledge that the trapped team will survive, but woman, working on steamboats, building a mission, driving one retired Thai Navy SEAL sacrifices his life. Color photos a mail coach, and opening her own restaurant and laundry in abound, and interspersed text boxes, diagrams, and maps pace Montana. Bass Reeves escaped enslavement and was recruited the flow of information with salient data, distilling contex- as the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi, tual background on related topics including cave formations, boldly pursuing and outsmarting over 3,000 outlaws in his makeshift hydraulic engineering, Buddhism and spirituality, career. Bob Lemmons, also born enslaved, was a living legend local geography, and the plight of Thailand’s stateless people, for his unmatched skill and unique method for safely capturing which included the coach and several players. Masterful sto- whole herds of wild horses. The somewhat romanticized stories rytelling fleshes out the complex human emotions behind key of these three remarkable figures are balanced by rich backmat- decisions, illuminates diplomatic and political negotiations, ter providing timelines, photographs, and historical informa- and underscores an unwavering faith—in maintaining hope tion that situate each one in the context of an entire generation and in harnessing powers of the mind. of non-White settlers. Smith is also intentional about the inclu- Thoughtfully researched, expertly crafted. (author’s sion of Native Americans in stories otherwise centering Black note, source notes, bibliography, image credits, index) (Non frontier folk. Nevertheless, brief cameos of unspecified Native fiction. 10-15) peoples and factual though unexplored mentions of unceded land, displacement, and cultural violence peppering the narratives and backmatter are not quite enough to provide necessary ARITHMECHICKS TAKE AWAY nuance—namely that we can reclaim Black heroes of the Old A Math Story West while also acknowledging their roles in a devastating fron- Stephens, Ann Marie tier expansion. Illus. by Liu, Jia It’s about time. (timelines, references, further informa- Boyds Mills (32 pp.) tion) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12) $17.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 978-1-62979-808-0

Arithmechicks discover that (as Ste- phens puts it) “bedtime – chicks = later bedtime!” Together with the new mouse friend they met in Arith mechicks Add Up (2019), 10 diversely hued and patterned chicks respond to Mama’s “Time to hit the hay!” with a wild scramble to hide—first one, which leaves nine to go, then three more, leaving six, and so on in unpredictable groups until there are “0 chicks” (nor any mouse) to be seen. Then, just to change things

134 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | Casting a loving, sympathetic pet as the protagonist makes the story accessible, comprehensible, and upbeat. levin the cat

up, no sooner does Mama find her chicks than a cry of “Again! LEVIN THE CAT Again!” touches off a second round of disappearances in differ- Tao Jiu ent groupings. Each successive subtraction comes with an open- Illus. by Yang Shanshan ended line, as in “10 chicks minus 1 chick equals…,” with the Trans. by Wang, Helen answer not immediately adjacent but visible on the facing page. Cardinal Media (32 pp.) To help readers arrive at solutions, Liu tucks into her cartoon $9.99 paper | Oct. 20, 2020 pictures various strategies, including a traditional arithmetical 978-1-64074-119-5 equation, a “ten frame,” a number line, or even fingers (feathers); these are all summarized in small type in a closing section. These are the times that try everyone’s Stephens uses alliteration and internal rhymes to set up a cozy souls—even a cat’s. rhythm, and she brings the brouhaha to an end with a final Levin, a rambunctious feline, lives with Jane, a nurse. The henhouse snuggle (Mouse gets a sleeping bag): “All found and Covid-19 pandemic is raging, and Jane, like other medical pro- winding down / with cuddles and bedtime books. / Stretching fessionals, works at her hospital for long hours and isn’t at home starts, yawns are next, / dreams are coming soon.” (This book was much. Levin misses her. Then Daniel, Jane’s friend and another reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at community first responder, tells Levin that Jane’s assigned to 75% of actual size.) the isolation unit and won’t be home at all for a while. Daniel Feathery fun for the newly numerate. Take it away, Arith- cares for Levin and helps him “visit” Jane via phone conferenc- mechicks! (Informational picture book. 3-5) ing. Eventually, Levin moves elsewhere and makes new animal and human friends and enemies. He also willingly becomes something of a community helper himself, knowing that every-

OOPS, I DROPPED THE one must pull together in a crisis. This gently told, hopeful, young adult LEMON TART nonfrightening tale, translated from Chinese and obviously set Swerts, An in the present moment, isn’t so much a story as it is purpose- Illus. by van Lindenhuizen, Eline driven: It aims to help youngsters easily understand what the Clavis (48 pp.) current emergency is about and what it demands of everyone. $18.95 | Sep. 15, 2020 Casting a loving, sympathetic pet as the protagonist makes the 978-1-60537-579-3 story accessible, comprehensible, and upbeat. Children who know frontline workers will find support here. Illustrations Lucy was once a happy and cheerful are sweet and lively; Levin is spunky, energetic, and personable. girl, but shortly after she started school, she often found herself Common-sense recommended guidelines about social distanc- worrying…a lot. ing and mask wearing are incorporated into a spread; the pas- Lucy’s new withdrawn behavior concerns her grandmother. sage of weeks is depicted with digital clocks. Jane and Daniel Lucy and Nonna talk to her teacher, who assures Lucy that both have pale skin and straight, brown hair; background char- everyone makes mistakes. Later, Nonna recommends that Lucy acters are diverse. help her father, a chef, in the kitchen. With best friend Evan’s A useful narrative that, one fervently hopes, will become help, Lucy becomes quite a good helper. When a food critic obsolete before too long. (Picture book. 4-7) comes to her father’s restaurant and a nervous Lucy drops his lemon tart, her father and Evan marvel at the artistic beauty of the broken tart on the miraculously intact plate. (The critic NOAH GREEN SAVES judges it “highly original.”) The illustrations are charming and THE WORLD particularly creative in an early spread in which the children go Toffler-Corrie, Laura from standing beside a swimming pool to a page two-thirds the Illus. by Pamintuan, Macky normal size on which Lucy stands, uninterested and apart from Kar-Ben (280 pp.) the other children, who swim and dive into the pool. Puzzlingly, $17.99 | Oct. 1, 2020 this clever design does not carry on throughout. Perhaps it’s the 978-1-5415-6036-9 translation from the Dutch, but this section reads awkwardly. When the instructor asks, “Who wants to jump off the diving Jewish summer camp adventures get board?” the students cheer, “Yippee!” It’s an odd response and a little too goofy. one that children will likely point out. A concluding poem from Budding director Noah is certain he’s Nonna to Lucy about making mistakes feels unnecessary. Lucy, on his way to film camp—after all, he’s Nonna, and Lucy’s father present White; Evan is a child of color. been nagging his parents about it nonstop. But instead, he and Though wonky in places, this book makes important his sister are shipped off to Camp Challah, where the socially points about mitigating anxiety in young children. (author’s awkward tween is not confident about making friends. Just note) (Picture book. 4-8) before going away, Pops, Noah’s grandfather, tells him he needs Noah’s help saving the world. But the alter kocker is known for his bombastic pronouncements, so not even Noah takes him seriously until a carrier pigeon arrives with a note from Pops.

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 135 An appealing, quick read and an engaging introduction to a formidable literary tradition. the scroll quest

Whatever anyone else expects—or doesn’t expect—of Noah, THE SCROLL QUEST his real plan is to do what Pops says. Somehow he ends up mak- Tsai, Luther & Vittachi, Nury ing friends who go along for the ride, nonsensical and unclear Reycraft Books (128 pp.) though it is. The first half of the book takes a more realistic $12.95 | Sep. 30, 2020 tone, with typical camp activities, and it’s not until halfway 978-1-4788-6930-6 through that Pops reappears in the flesh to take Noah along. Series: Magic Mirror, 5 Not only is the pacing off, but it’s odd when the antagonist threatening the world turns out to be an asteroid—not what Two siblings search for an ancient fig- readers might expect from a grandfather who regularly claims ure in this fifth entry in The Magic Mir- to have been a secret agent during World War II. A supporting ror series. character described as part Navajo makes wartime Code Talkers As the book opens, Marko and Mira less the undersung heroes they are and more another goofball are being investigated for their vastly plot addition. improved academic attainment, which has affected the whole Uncomfortably frenetic for something so devoid of plot. school’s grades. The kids tell the truth about the magic mir- (Mystery/adventure. 7-10) ror that enables them to travel through time to the era they are studying, but authorities do not believe them. Meanwhile Marko and Mira receive a new assignment from Ye Ye, their ATTACKED AT SEA paternal grandfather, in the form of an old scroll encased in an A True World War II Story of intriguing container. When Mira becomes distracted by social a Family’s Fight for Survival events, Marko attempts to engage her by researching the assign- Tougias, Michael J. & O’Leary, Alison ment. It turns out that the scroll is tied to The Journey to the Henry Holt (224 pp.) West, a seventh-century novel that is well known in East Asian $19.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 cultures. The pair must restore the scroll to explorer Xuanzang, 978-1-250-12806-5 who is said to be at the Nalanda University in India and will Series: True Rescue become the protagonist of The Journey to the West. The quickly evolving narrative explains how the siblings find themselves The true story of a family caught in a transported to the middle of a vast wilderness, meeting the U-boat attack in U.S. waters. scholar/explorer as he heads toward the university and accom- In May 1942, the White American panying him on his adventures. The fast-paced combination of Downs family—8-year-old Sonny, 11-year-old Lucille, and their time travel, history, and action makes for an appealing, quick parents—boarded a nonmilitary freighter for a one-week jour- read and an engaging introduction to a formidable literary ney from Costa Rica to New Orleans. However, just hours tradition. Aside from Ye Ye, the children’s Chinese heritage is before reaching Louisiana, their ship was attacked by German downplayed in this installment. U-boat commander Erich Würdemann and his dedicated crew An enthralling romp that touches on the origins of leg- in the Gulf of Mexico. Part of Operation Drumbeat, their goal ends. (author’s note) (Fantasy. 8-11) was to sink as much seafaring tonnage, military or civilian, as possible. When the family was separated during the U-boat attack, it took all of their courage, hope, and luck to survive. DRAGON MOUNTAIN A stand-alone book in the True Rescue series, this title is the Tsang, Katie & Tsang, Kevin young reader’s edition of So Close to Home (2016). A prologue Sterling (240 pp.) establishing characters and settings is followed by three parts: $16.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 before the attack, during and immediately following the attack, 978-1-4549-3596-4 and the aftermath. Filled with details from primary sources, Series: Dragon Realm, 1 including letters, interviews, newspapers, war diaries, and more, the third-person narrative swiftly switches, highlight- A group of friends find themselves ing different members of the Downs’ family and two U-boat in the middle of a war threatening both commanders. The Downs family’s upright wholesomeness and Dragon and Human Realms. their complete belief in the American dream bypasses many Instead of surfing waves at home in opportunities for authentic emotional exploration. Although San Francisco, Billy Chan’s parents have the tone feels academic at times, quotes from letters and diaries sent him to a summer language camp in China, led by an elderly evoke the historical era. man nicknamed Old Gold. Billy’s dad is from Hong Kong and A well-researched account of one American family during his mother is White and American, and his Mandarin skills a little-known episode of World War II. (authors’ note, bibli- are limited. He quickly makes friends with campmates Dylan ography) (Nonfiction. 11-16) from Ireland, Southern belle (and martial artist) Charlotte— both of whom are White—and Ling-Fei, a local Chinese girl. Before long Billy notices some paranormal activity around the camp. The plot quickly progresses as the group experiences an

136 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | earthquake—apparently the children inadvertently opened a LUNCH BOX BULLY mountain populated by four dragons who tell them that they Wilhelm, Hans are their matches. If the kids agree to bond with them, their Illus. by the author combined powers can defeat the evil Dragon of Death, who Holiday House (32 pp.) threatens to conquer both Dragon and Human Realms. The $15.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 kids agree, with varying levels of trepidation, but upon enter- 978-0-8234-3933-1 ing the Dragon Realm, they encounter seemingly impossible Series: I Like To Read obstacles. The Dragon Realm features magical elements drawn from Chinese and European folktales, including winged drag- Schoolyard animals take on a bully—with lemons. ons and rock trolls. While the story contains enough excite- While the other animal “boys and girls” like their class- ment to maintain readers’ attention, solutions sometimes seem mate Max (a rabbit), Big Jim (a warthog) does not. He relent- to present themselves too conveniently along the way. A sequel lessly steals Max’s “good lunch,” making Max cry. Max’s friends is promised with a cliffhanger ending. encourage multiple tactics to deal with this bully. First, Max A high-interest read. (Fantasy. 9-12) simply avoids Big Jim. The bully still takes his lunch. Next, Max buys Big Jim a lemon ice as a peace offering. The bully dumps the beverage over Max’s head (he doesn’t like lemons). Out- TEATIME AROUND raged, Max rushes to fight Big Jim. The scuffle is short-lived— THE WORLD and lands Max in the branches of a lemon tree. But Max gets a Waissbluth, Denyse sneaky idea. The next day, Big Jim steals Max’s lunch as always, Illus. by O’Byrne, Chelsea but his teeth crunch on a big, citrusy surprise (“Yuck!!!!!!!!!!”).

Greystone Kids (48 pp.) The victory has Max coining a new adage: “A lemon a day keeps young adult $17.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 the bully away.” But what about Big Jim? With a vocabulary of 978-1-77164-601-7 around 90 words and at most five lines of text per page (eight words per line), the text maintains accessibility to beginning The leaves are only the beginning in readers. Wilhem’s cartoony watercolors are soft against the this world tour of teas and tisanes. white backgrounds, adding a friendly quality even to the tense Readers whose definition of “tea” begins and ends with a scenes. A scripted scenario about how to deal with a real-life bag and boiling water are in for a horizon-broadening read. bully in the backmatter expands upon the story’s lessons. (This Between serving up Moroccan mint tea (green tea, mint, and book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-18-inch double-page spreads sugar) and Jamaican sorrel (roselle hibiscus buds, ginger, cloves, viewed at 62% of actual size.) and sugar), Waissbluth pauses to savor masala chai (cinnamon, A solid (if a bit basic) primer. (Early reader. 4-7) ginger, cloves, cardamom, pepper, milk) in India, po cha (milk, yak-milk butter, salt) in Tibet, pink chai (pistachios, almonds, salt, milk, spices, baking soda) in Pakistan, and bubble tea I WANT TO SLEEP UNDER (powdered milk, syrup, tapioca balls) in Taiwan. She also peeks THE STARS! in to tea ceremonies in Japan and China as well as a British- Willems, Mo style formal tea and marvels at tea brewed in a samovar (Rus- Illus. by the author sia), served in bags (Thailand), and sipped from hollow gourds Hyperion (96 pp.) (South American maté). In a closing note about her travels and $12.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 research she writes that tea is nearly everywhere “a symbol of 978-1-368-05335-8 hospitality,” and O’Byrne echoes that theme by posing her tea Series: Unlimited Squirrels drinkers—all bearing a broad range of skin tones, facial features, and regionally distinct casual or ceremonial dress—in pairs or A star-themed bedtime story—and groups. The author provides ingredients but not recipes, and so much more! her claim that “Indigenous cultures in North America prepare The Unlimited Squirrels’ third series tea from berries, plants, and roots” is unwontedly vague. Still, entry offers a “BIG Story!” along with a smorgasbord of squir- this wide-ranging tally of teas and methods of serving it may relly miscellany (jokes, a quiz, and facts). In the “BIG Story,” offer a strong temptation to look beyond the soda can. Zoom Squirrel dreams of sleeping under the stars for the first A refreshing cuppa conviviality, brewed and served many time. So, Zip Squirrel summons five other pals to help make it ways. (Informational picture book. 6-9) happen. At first the squirrels are uncertain how to help, but one suggests they all offer encouragement since Zoom Squirrel is trying something new (“Being encouraged gives me courage!”). The friends form a squirrel pyramid and chant “GO, ZOOMY!” and “YOU CAN DO IT!” But their encouragement doesn’t quite land. Zoom Squirrel wants “PEACE and QUIET,” not encouragement. The friends assume they’re simply using the wrong cheer so they split up into teams to shout “PEACE!” and

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 137 whisper “Quiet!” By the time Zoom Squirrel corrects them ONCE UPON A again, it’s morning and the stars are gone! Having established WINTER DAY the series formula, Willems is now free to explore it, and the Woodruff, Liza installments get better and better. The smart design and layout Illus. by the author uses color-coding and “emote-acorns” to help emerging readers Holiday House (40 pp.) decipher not only words and textual features, but feelings. The $18.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 fact-based sections playfully combine photographs with Wil- 978-0-8234-4099-3 lems’ cartoon illustrations. In lieu of a bibliography to support the informational content, Willems thanks experts—a nod at When a child’s mother is too busy citation but one that, unfortunately, doesn’t help readers who for stories, he follows some tracks in the want to investigate further. (This book was reviewed digitally with snow and makes up his own. 9-by-13-inch double-page spreads viewed at 76% of actual size.) Milo’s angry face as he stomps out the door speaks volumes Go, Unlimited Squirrels! Go, readers! (Early reader. 5-8) about his disappointment. But it isn’t long before he spies a mouse’s tracks under the birdfeeder and begins a journey of discovery. At the winterberry bush, Milo observes that all the red LIGHTS, CAMERA, DANGER! berries are gone and finds a single feather; “What had happened Winkler, Henry & Oliver, Lin here?” A page turn allows readers time to guess: A flock of cedar Amulet/Abrams (256 pp.) waxwings (identified on the endpapers along with tracks and a $14.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 few animals that readers will have to look very closely to find) 978-1-4197-4099-2 flies over the tiny mouse, a single red berry falling to the ground. Series: Alien Superstar, 2 This pattern repeats, with Milo finding fallen hemlock branches (porcupines), clods of dirt (grazing deer), a smooth trail to the The alien superstar returns. creek (otters), and wing prints in the snow (a narrow miss with a Now that he’s traded life on an red-tailed hawk). The call of “Dinner time!” has Milo following oppressive planet for the glitz and glam- the trail back to a hole in the snow by his house; a cutaway view our of celebrity, Buddy Berger is excited shows a second mouse waiting under the woodpile. As Milo lays to spend his time acting on the hit series his treasures—a feather, an acorn, a hemlock branch, and a fish Oddball Academy and learning more about his new home: Holly- skeleton—on the table, he declines his mother’s offer of stories: wood. There’s nothing Buddy can’t accomplish with his friends He’s got one to tell instead. Both have pale skin and straight, by his side and hope in his heart. But everything Buddy holds dark hair. Pair with some children’s nature guidebooks to ignite dear is threatened when Citizen Cruel, the ruthless enforcer imaginations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5-by- from the evil Squadron, arrives on Earth to bring Buddy back 19-inch double-page spreads viewed at 30.1% of actual size.) to his home planet by any means necessary. Can Buddy fend off Nature tells good stories if we only get outside and look this villainous pursuit and keep his secret? The breathless pace around. (Picture book. 4-8) that made the previous installment such a charmer wears out its welcome here: Buddy bounces from mishap to mishap, the momentum allowing for plenty of jokes but no characteriza- DEAR MOON tion for any of the players beneath the surface. Plenty of things Wunderli, Stephen happen but it doesn’t really amount to anything other than a Illus. by Di Gravio, Maria Luisa clothesline the authors are able to hang gags on. The result is Familius (32 pp.) a mixed bag for readers: a fun time that won’t inspire any deep $16.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 attraction beyond the book’s end. Readers will find this entry’s 978-1-64170-269-0 ending much more satisfactory than its predecessor’s, however; there’s a solid conclusion with a tease for what’s coming next. The moon moves through the night Buddy presents himself as a White teen when he isn’t in his sky, and another day inevitably arrives. natural blue skin while previous titles indicate diversity among Max and Ely need to stop that from his friends. happening so Ely won’t have to leave. A mixed bag of a sequel. (Science fiction. 9-12) They build a rocket that will lasso the moon and hold it in place. The scheme doesn’t work, but Max refuses to give up. His anger at the moon intensifies with each setback. But morning arrives anyway, and Ely must go to the hospital. Max promises never to give up “not ’til the end of the end of the very end of the world.” Finally he begs Moon to watch over the friend he misses so much. When Ely comes home, he and Max build a new and better rocket, and they take off for the moon. But only Ely stays. Max returns sadly to Earth and tearfully sends a message telling Moon he’ll always be watching. Max’s sadness and confusion

138 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | Gong’s artwork is a riot of colors and odd juxtapositions and compositions, a cross between Elisa Kleven’s and Maira Kalman’s work. dandan’s dream

are treated with gentle compassion. Wunderli withholds a HOW DO DINOSAURS SHOW great deal, only gradually hinting at the seriousness of Ely’s GOOD MANNERS? illness, which is not named, and the word death is never used. Yolen, Jane Di Gravio’s illustrations provide more information. Max has Illus. by Teague, Mark brown skin, and Ely presents White. Ely is seen in a wheelchair Blue Sky/Scholastic (40 pp.) from the beginning. He is hairless when he comes home, and $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 he appears weak and tired. Young children are literal, and this 978-1-338-36334-0 presentation of death and loss may be too subtle for many. The Series: How Do Dinosaurs…? work definitely calls for young readers to have an adult at their side for reassurance and explanations as they read together. A guide to better behavior—at home, Tender, loving, and sad. (Picture book. 6-10) on the playground, in class, and in the library. Serving as a sort of overview for the series’ 12 previous exer- EVERYTHING NAOMI LOVED cises in behavior modeling, this latest outing opens with a set Yamasaki, Katie & Lendler, Ian of badly behaving dinos, identified in an endpaper key and also Illus. by Yamasaki, Katie inconspicuously in situ. Per series formula, these are paired to Norton Young Readers (48 pp.) leading questions like “Does she spit out her broccoli onto the $18.95 | Sep. 15, 2020 floor? / Does he shout ‘I hate meat loaf!’ while slamming the 978-1-324-00491-2 door?” (Choruses of “NO!” from young audiences are welcome.) Midway through, the tone changes (“No, dinosaurs don’t”), and

A community archive is preserved in good examples follow to the tune of positive declarative sen- young adult a unique mural. tences: “They wipe up the tables and vacuum the floors. / They Community sits at the heart of Naomi’s life—evidenced by share all the books and they never slam doors,” etc. Teague’s the city panorama on the title spread. Naomi, a beige-skinned customary, humongous prehistoric crew, all depicted in exact young girl with straight brown hair and a big smile, pokes her detail and with wildly flashy coloration, fill both their spreads head out the window to see her world, full of bustle and life. Cars, and their human-scale scenes as their human parents—no bicycles, and buses rush by, past the hair salon, the mechanic, same-sex couples but some are racially mixed, and in one the the pizzeria. A ribbon of musical notes swirls around Naomi man’s the cook—join a similarly diverse set of sibs and other and her busy block, denoting the noisy joy of urban life. With children in either disapprobation or approving smiles. All in all, her best friend, Ada, a Black girl, Naomi climbs a tree, rides it’s a well-tested mix of oblique and prescriptive approaches to scooters along the block, and draws pictures in sidewalk chalk. proper behavior as well as a lighthearted way to play up the use At dusk, Naomi and her family say goodnight to the lively neigh- of “please,” “thank you,” and even “I’ll help when you’re hurt.” borhood. All seems well until Naomi’s world begins to change. Formulaic but not stale…even if it does mine previous The tree is cut down, Ada moves away, and stores begin to shut— topical material rather than expand it. (Picture book. 6-8) falling victim to gentrification and urban renewal. With help from her shopkeeper friend Mr. Ray, a Black man, Naomi paints what she loves most about her neighborhood in a mural on her DANDAN’S DREAM building. Little by little, though her world has altered, her mural Zhu, Xiaowen grows until at last her community is preserved in vivid colors. Illus. by Gong Yanling Yamasaki and Lendler’s straightforward yet poignant text nicely Reycraft Books (40 pp.) complements Yamasaki’s whimsical yet grounded illustrations $17.95 | Sep. 30, 2020 that depict this portrait of urban connection. Her bright, bold 978-1-4788-6853-8 palette is eye-catching, with carefully portrayed diverse neighbors, young and old. When the post office announces that Naomi’s home—its sights, smells, sounds, and interac- children can now be mailed, Dandan is tions—is forever a place of love. (Picture book. 4-8) excited to finally visit her father at the South Pole. On huge, colorful spreads filled with surreal details and bold brush strokes, Dandan embarks on a dreamy journey by affix- ing winged stamps to her clothing and taking off on the back of a magical blue horse. The Chinese girl with a bowl haircut flies exuberantly over landscapes dotted with whimsical details (such as clothed animals doing jobs and a cage full of colorful birds several times larger than the houses) until she spots trouble. A whale has trapped a ship against an island! Fantastical sea creatures ogle the disaster from below. Discarding stamps like petals, Dandan descends to rescue the boat and its crew but

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 september 2020 | 139 Seamless inclusion of Spanish idioms and phrases lets Spanish- speaking readers hear themselves on the pages. felíz new year, ava gabriela!

then realizes she has no more stamps for flying. Of course, she JACK AND SANTA finds a very creative solution, and the delightful sight of a little Barnett, Mac man in his green parka waving from an iceberg will not fail to Illus. by Pizzoli, Greg bring a smile to any reader’s face. Gong’s artwork is a riot of col- Viking (80 pp.) ors and odd juxtapositions and compositions, a cross between $9.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 Elisa Kleven’s and Maira Kalman’s work. Every page includes 978-0-593-11398-1 charming details scattered across dynamic and bold composi- Series: Jack Book, 7 tions, especially delightful when paired with Zhu’s absurd plot conveyed through expressive font sizes, shapes, and colors. Jack is back, and he’s on Santa’s (This book was reviewed digitally with 11.4-by-18-inch double-page “BAD list.” spreads viewed at 60% of actual size.) Barnett and Pizzoli’s rascally rabbit Pure fantasy in the best sense. (Picture book. 4-8) Jack returns in a seventh title in their early- reader series. This time, readers discover that while the Lady and Rex the dog (with whom Jack lives) are on the nice list, Jack is on Santa’s naughty list. (In deference to emergent readers’ skills, winter holiday the text labels these the “GOOD” and “BAD” lists.) There’s also another list in this story—Jack’s wish list, which spills over from picture books one page onto the next two. “Oh boy. That’s a long list,” reads the wry text, which then goes on to speculate as to whether Jack will receive anything but coal. The story that ensues is well paced and accessible to new readers, its brief chapters cleverly interrogat- FELÍZ NEW YEAR, ing the very premise that anyone might be wholly good or bad. AVA GABRIELA! Barnett’s textual restraint allows Pizzoli to ramp up the humor Alessandri, Alexandra as pictures highlight just how bad Jack has been—and how good. Illus. by Sonda, Addy Rivera The result is a humane and humorous secular Christmas story Whitman (32 pp.) that offers the gift of supporting readers’ burgeoning decoding $16.99 | Oct. 1, 2020 abilities with a well-developed, comical story. Both the Lady and 978-0-8075-0450-5 Santa present White. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by- 13-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) It’s New Year’s Eve at Abuelita’s finca, You better watch out for this excellent early reader. (Early and Ava struggles to overcome her shyness. reader. 5-8) Ava is excited to cook and play with her cousins and to join in family fun on the farm during her visit. Every time she wants to speak up, though, she finds that it’s much harder than she COMET THE UNSTOPPABLE thinks it should be. Ava’s mamá reassures her that “There’s noth- REINDEER ing wrong with being shy. When you’re ready, your voice will Benton, Jim come out and play,” which gives Ava the confidence she needs Illus. by the author to slowly come out of her shell. Colombian New Year’s tradi- Two Lions (40 pp.) tions, such as eating 12 grapes at midnight for 12 months of good $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 luck, are woven into the story for an added holiday experience. 978-1-5420-4347-2 Delicious Colombian foods are depicted in joyful illustrations that add even more cultural details. The story’s seamless incor- An intrepid member of Santa’s team poration of Spanish idioms and phrases lets Spanish-speaking saves Christmas. readers hear themselves on the pages and provides support for When weary elves get into a fight just those interested in learning more. Shyness isn’t portrayed as a before Christmas Eve, Comet the reindeer steps in to break up negative trait, and Ava is given the space by her family mem- the fisticuffs and is injured. The rhyming text describes how the bers to find her voice on her own terms. Ava and her family are doctor tells him he needs to rest and can’t help pull Santa’s sleigh depicted with shades of brown skin and hair. that night, and then it reads, “Comet watched Santa get ready. / This gentle family story lets readers know that shyness (His spot had been filled by / a rookie named Freddy.)” The sing- is nothing to worry about. (author’s note, glossary) (Picture song cadence and goofy phrasing of these lines is representative of book. 3-8) the text as a whole, which goes on to reveal that Santa forgets to bring his bag filled with toys on the journey. No one notices this oversight since Freddy keeps them all entertained with silly songs. Injured Comet decides he must deliver the toys himself, and a comical sequence shows him struggling to lift an enormous bag onto his shoulders before giving up. Then he reads a tear-jerker of a letter to Santa from a selfless child, which inspires him to persist. He

140 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult - (This book page spreads viewed - 7) - inch double - 18 - by - A Swiss import with a Christmastime a with import Swiss A WOULDN’T RING NorthSouth (32 pp.) NorthSouth Conradi, Heike Conradi, $17.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 $17.95 THE LITTLE BELL THAT THE LITTLE BELL THAT Illus. by Dusíková, Maja Illus. Trans. by Wilson, David Henry David Wilson, by Trans. 978-0-7358-4386-8 A Christmas Story A Christmas 6) - Nice words, indeed. (Picture book. 3 words, Nice A church with a bell tower stands in a cozy town square, and square, town cozy a in stands tower bell a with church A A A homemade, homey Christmas story for animal lovers. blue sky.) blue Nevertheless, sky.) this message of peace finally inspires languages, but this doesn’t work; nor do the names of various learned from (asWhite a do young allcouple who appear other look on. The sometimes-clumsily photo-collaged scenes show ple, appears White) arrives with baskets of provender for the which nice words will move the little bell to ring? Felidia and world learning to say Christmas”“Merry in different European none of these nice words provoke chiming. Birds fly around the fly around Birds chiming. provoke words nice these of none message the whole world. for very in are that four tower old. bellsExcept for that “were very, inspired by the creators’ life on a farm in Vermont. songs, but as anticipated by the title, the little bell won’t ring. goes all around the world with a message of (Also peace.” unfor was reviewed digitally with 9 text text describes “a tiny light…crossing the the sky.” art Unfortunately, doesn’t clearly show this “light from Bethlehem [that] the smallest one, which wasThe old new.” bells ring out their try “Christmas pudding, fairy tale, chocolate, snowflake,” but tunate is the low-contrast placement of black text on evening- the tale. to a satisfying conclusion ring, delivering the bell to the seasons changing from fall to winter as Farmer John measurements,cuts hammers and uses the makes other wood, tools, other birds and sun” chirp, crumbs!”“Cake “Morning and even cheeses listed by a group of mice, nor the words “I love you,” evergreen boughs Farmer John uses to decorate it. Then, on a wise old crow tells her that “nice words always help.” But animals, a veritable Santa Claus delivering gifts. When alpaca and then he starts working with the wood as dogs Laddie and and the barn is painted a cheery red, which nicely offsets the and ultimately raises a new barn for the animals, just in time depicted depicted people). On Christmas Eve, stillness descends, and for the season’s first snowfall.A neighbor helps along theway, Christmas Eve, another neighbor (who, like all of the other peo- other the allof like (who, neighbor another ChristmasEve, Joy gives Joy birth to a new cria that names John night, her Farmer Hope. Backmatter explains the true backstory behind the book, the behind backstorytrue the explains Backmatter Hope. at 25% of actual size.) at 25% Maisie, Maisie, cat Mo, sheep Finn and Sweet Pea, and other animals (Picture book. 2 A A dove named Felidia wants to encourage the bell to ring, and - - - | 1 september 2020 | 141 picture books holiday | kirkus.com | winter 5) Photo-collaged illustrations help tell Little Hedgehog and his friends - Series: Little Hedgehog Series: Little Hedgehog return to realize the Christmas wish of a ONE CHRISTMAS WISH Churchman, John & Churchman, Jennifer Churchman, John Little Bee (48 pp.) Butler, M. Christina M. Butler, $18.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 $18.99 | Sep. 15, $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 | Sep. 15, $17.99 THE CHRISTMAS BARN Tiger Tales (32 pp.) Tales Tiger Illus. by the authors Illus. Illus. by Macnaughton, Tina by Macnaughton, Illus. 978-1-4998-1019-6 978-1-68010-212-3 7) - Not one to stop for despite the appeal of the cartoony art cartoony the of appeal the despite for stop to one Not The friends are all at Little enjoying Hedgehog’s some pre- A A weak holiday entry for Butler and Macnaughton’s When a tree falls in the woods, Farmer John of Moonrise Squirrel to decorate his tree and some to the Beavers for a snow a for Beavers the to some and tree his decorate to Squirrel but the spring-green grass looks distinctly unseasonal, and the ball fight. The remainder—along with the hat—is put to use as a as use to put hat—is the with remainder—along The fight. ball until he finally finds the house he’s searching for in At Oahu. this undercuts the message of selflessness and aims over the heads of prickly pal. (Picture book. 3 point Santa calls “full of thanks-yous and praise, / so quick-thinking quick-thinking so / praise, and thanks-yous of “full calls Santa point pattern of snowmelt will strike many as many unrealistic. of snowmelt willpattern strike page to add a tactile element They to the pack reading. the hat most child readers. Santa presents White, and his elf employees mas “magical” for the baby mice with sparkly decorations. (The decorations. sparkly with mice baby the “magical”masfor snow-mice snow-mice ambition is elided.) outdoor Macnaughton’s scenes selflessness, and Little Hedgehog works hardto make Christ style. (Picture book. 4 the window. Their hopes of making snow mice on a white tle Hedgehog’s stocking tle cap, Hedgehog’s rendered in red flocking on every cold cold compress when sprains Fox an The ankle. ending is as pre- couple of baby mice. of baby mice. couple are diverse. animals.” He and his wife, Farmer Jennifer, “dr[a]w up the plans,” the up “dr[a]w Jennifer, Farmer wife, his and He animals.” a Christmas story set on a farm. and they decide to find what they can and carry it home in Lit feature bare branches and snowy mountains in the background, dictable as it is sentimental: The baby mice are praised for their for praised are mice baby The sentimental: is it as dictable full, but on their way home the baby mice give some to Grandpa Grandpa to some give mice baby the home way their on but full, Comet / mentioned getting a raise,” an attempt at wit that both Christmas are dashed, however, when it melts the next day. Christmas cheer when the mice observe falling snow through flies around the world in search of this child’s home, delivering toys delivering home, child’s this of search in world the around flies Farm decides to use it a Farm to special “make Christmas gift for the Little Hedgehog points out that there is still a little bit of snow, points out Little that Hedgehog there is still a little bit of snow, MOUSE’S NIGHT BEFORE feast for the four of them. A sly twist offered in the cartoon art CHRISTMAS at the final page turn provides readers with a final treat to savor. Corderoy, Tracey Deliciously funny. (Picture book. 4-8) Illus. by Massini, Sarah Nosy Crow/Candlewick (32 pp.) $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 CHRISTMAS IS JOY 978-1-5362-1440-6 Dodd, Emma Illus. by the author What if a mouse was stirring on Christmas Eve? Templar/Candlewick (24 pp.) Corderoy’s text opens with lines from “A Visit From St. $14.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 Nicholas,” but it quickly shifts to tell quite a different tale: 978-1-5362-1545-8 “On that night before Christmas, / dear reader, you see, / there Series: Emma Dodd’s Love You Books was one little mouse / as awake as could be.” Sadly, this stirring Mouse is lonesome on Christmas Eve, so he makes a wish on A reindeer introduces its calf to the meaning of Christmas. the star at the top of a Christmas tree for a friend. No sooner The reindeer and calf depicted on the book’s cover move does he do so than “a clatter” arises outside. There, Mouse through a winter wonderland of snowy mountains and for- finds Santa calling his reindeer by name to make sure they’re ests. Certain elements of the illustrations (the reindeers’ hides, all accounted for after his sleigh is grounded by a storm. Santa snowy ground, and fir-tree branches and bark) have a soft visual and his team are lost, so Mouse offers to help guide them texture while others (the distant mountains, the changing sky, through the neighborhood to make sure all of the children the sun and stars) have a flat smoothness to them. These con- receive their presents. Massini’s art makes terrific use of rich, trasting visual effects combine to create a sense of peaceful bal- black, nighttime skies in contrast with the white snowfall, ance and perspective in the scenes. The accompanying rhyming rooftops, and landscape below, and Santa’s sleigh itself seems verse can be read as the voice of the adult reindeer telling its calf made of starlight as it sails through the air. Mouse’s wish is about Christmastime, focusing on emotions and atmosphere granted at the book’s end, with Santa gifting him not one but rather than religious or secular traditions associated with the two pairs of skates—the second pair for a new friend who holiday. For example, there are no references to the Nativity, shared the very same wish Mouse made earlier. and Santa never makes an appearance. One verse does mention If you give a mouse a friend, you get a happy ending to a gift giving—“Christmas is giving / gifts under the tree / and time new take on an old Christmas favorite. (Picture book. 3-7) spent together, / just you and me”—but the illustration that goes along with it doesn’t anthropomorphize the reindeer to show them exchanging presents. Instead, they’re depicted nuz- THE CHRISTMAS FEAST zling noses in a forest of snow-covered fir trees. Dargent, Nathalie Calm and bright. (Picture book. 1-4) Illus. by Le Huche, Magali Eerdmans (32 pp.) $17.99 | Aug. 11, 2020 HAPPY LLAMAKKAH! 978-0-8028-5537-4 Gehl, Laura Illus. by Nichols, Lydia This turkey is no turkey. abramsappleseed (24 pp.) When Fox absconds with a turkey for his Christmas feast $14.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 with his wolf and weasel pals, he gets more than he bargained 978-1-4197-4314-6 for. Although the turkey is alarmed when she’s snatched away from the farm, she’s more than pulled herself together by the Members of the camelid family cel- next double-page spread. In this picture, Le Huche depicts her ebrate Hanukkah. perched atop a chair in Fox’s disorderly home, berating him In a cozy house, llamas and alpacas perform all the standard for the mess. By the time Wolf and Weasel arrive, everything holiday activities, including lighting candles, spinning dreidels, is tidied up, and Turkey sets her sights on bossing them around, frying latkes, and wrapping presents. The action is written in too. Appalled that they’d even consider turning her into pâté tercets, with three rhymed lines: “Latkes to fry. / Ribbons to tie. before fattening her up, Turkey sends the befuddled trio out / Friends stopping by.” The title of the book is the oft-repeated to gather food. She then cooks up a delicious “frog and sprout refrain, with llama and Hanukkah combining for an amusing stew” for dinner, further solidifying her unexpectedly empow- portmanteau. Unfortunately, the innate appeal and soft, wooly ered position in the household. By the time Christmas Eve rolls hugginess of llamas and alpacas are lost in the spare, stylized around, Turkey has fully incorporated herself into the group, digital illustrations. Even those characters who are presented and Wolf, Weasel, and Fox are dismayed when she asks them with a bit of extra fleece don’t look particularly fluffy. One scene “how would they cook her?” True to the dry humor of this trick- of a menorah on the windowsill depicts the candles placed left ster tale, she continues, “‘I would like to be flambéed.” Needless to right, instead of the traditional right to left. All in all, there’s to say, this does not come to pass, and Turkey instead cooks up a not enough substance built around the refrain to fill out even

142 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult - - - - by - 6) - 6) -

How How do children’s letters to Santa reach their Peppermint destination? Via PEPPERMINT POST Harper/HarperCollins (32 pp.) (32 pp.) Harper/HarperCollins Hale, Bruce Hale, $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 | Sep. 15, $17.99 Illus. by Laberis, Stephanie by Laberis, Illus. 978-0-06-284717-1 (This book was reviewed digitally with 11 page spreads viewed at 31.8% of actual size.) - Sadly, the storytelling runs (Picture aground. book. 3 Sadly, Funny—but not funny enough. (Picture not funny enough. book. 3 Funny—but Buck, an anthropomorphic polar bear, is postmaster of inch double - be left wondering. book scratching their heads rather than laughing as Santa, the leave her Christmas-shop home for the North Pole. Other toys toys Other leavePole. Christmas-shopher North the for home haps. Buck and his team eventually catch up with St. Nick at the at Nick St. with up catch eventually team his and Buck haps. house of the child who wrote the misplaced letter. More slap- handled and Santa departs for his Christmas Eve trip, he finds pily-ever-after ending pily-ever-after shows a note from Santa that thanks the penguins are flightless birds).Hijinks ensue in the chase, with would would build her life one up child spreading at joy, a Will time.” without any indication of what’s become of the backup sleigh. of the backup become without any indication of what’s ment and counsel patience. When a storm descends after the She do. to meant was she what understood she last “At year. next is crestfallen she didn’t reach the North Pole. A convoluted hap- convoluted A Pole. North the reach didn’t crestfallenshe is reindeer, the reindeer, penguins, and Buck all depart the house together, she were big, fast, and powerful like them, they offer encourageoffer - they them, like powerful and fast, big, were she sleigh strikes out on her own, an unnamed girl playing in snow brings her a to group of children who turnsall riding take the ily, he has ily, a team of penguins to assist him (the text eventually is especially demanding during the Christmas rush, and luck she leave the girl’s house to be gifted to other children? Will she Will children? other to gifted be to house girl’s the leave she stay and somehow also reach ever more children? Readers will sleigh for giving children joy and invites her to the North Pole stick scenes arise in this setting, though readers may close the suit of Santa and his reindeer (the text also acknowledges that the sleigh down a hill. When the girl brings her home, the sleigh sleigh the home, her brings girl the When hill. a down sleigh the the Peppermint Post, which means he’s in charge of ensuring that Santa receives all the letters children send him. His job Alas, the just North!”). when Buck thinks all the mail has been the penguins to pull him in a backup sleigh to go off in pur of “a hairy shortcut” through a train tunnel, among other mis acknowledges that these birds “belong at the South Pole, not an errant letter. Buck scrambles to right this wrong, enlisting discourage but her, she perseveres despite creeping self-doubt. Post, of course! Post, Laberis’ cartoony art working overtime to augment the humor 18 A A train and truck help the sleigh along, and when she wishes - - ming’s christmas wish christmas ming’s (This book was page spreads viewed at page spreads - 8) - 5) - | 1 september 2020 | 143 picture books holiday | kirkus.com | winter inch double - history usual fare. beyond the that goes 16 - A thoughtful take on Chinese American on Chinese take thoughtful A A A little red sleigh has big Christmas Although the detailed, full-color art by - Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) Wonderland Sourcebooks Shadow Mountain (48 pp.) (48 pp.) Shadow Mountain dreams. LITTLE RED SLEIGH Guendelsberger, Erin Guendelsberger, MING’S CHRISTMAS WISH CHRISTMAS MING’S $17.99 | Oct. 1, 2020 $17.99 Gong, Susan L. Susan Gong, Illus. by Tretyakova, Elizaveta Tretyakova, by Illus. $18.99 | Sep. 29, 2020 978-1-72822-355-1 Illus. by Tateishi, Masahiro Tateishi, by Illus. 978-1-62972-779-0 Not a must-buy. (Picture book. 2 a must-buy. Not Ming wants a Christmas tree, but her mother refuses, - tell Accompanied Accompanied by golden- and sepia-toned depictions of A thoughtful take on Chinese American historygoes American that Chinese on take thoughtful A beyond the usual fare. (Picture the usual fare. book. 4 beyond reviewed digitally with 8 reviewed but human figures areinconsistent, facesthe at times either likely likely identify as a sled and not a sleigh), a close third-person long arc of a bittersweet history in the context of the strength kah miracle and then provides further information on the - vari ward, Ming and Pop visit a sequoia grove where many immi- recovering from setbacks with resilience and strength. After nese roots. Most illustrations depict beautiful landscapes and nature. Pop also has a compromise for Ming and her mother, ing her, “Christmas trees are not Chinese.” ing her, sleigh,” reads an early line establishing the sleigh’s motivation to to motivation sleigh’s the establishing line early an reads sleigh,” she listens to them tell stories about panning for gold, traveling stories them tell to she listens settings illustrated with intricate details and glowing warmth, gold rush. Little Ming feels like an outsider, ostracized at school at ostracized outsider, an like feels Ming Little rush. gold grants before them escaped their troubles and connected with text text affords the object thoughts and feelings while assigning the West, the and West, surviving the San Francisco earthquake, always tions. Why does Mama so vehemently refuse to participate? the lives of families who arrived in the United States during the the during States United the in arrived who families of lives the this slim book. A two-page author’s note describes the Hanuk too too bland or a And bit while frightening. the plot is simple and early-20th-century life, Gong’s text gives readers a glimpse into into glimpse a readers gives text early-20th-centuryGong’s life, ous Hanukkah traditions on lighted ous in Hanukkah the book. of human character that readers will remember. that readers will remember. of human character a new Christmas tradition that does not forsake Mama’s Chi- feminine pronouns. “She longed to become Santa’s big red doesn’t anthropomorphize doesn’t the protagonist (which readers will for being Chinese yet wanting to take part in American tradi- actual size.) Mama’s Mama’s motivations are unclear, it is Gong’s depiction of the Then Pop takes her to visit some her old to friends of takes and his father’s, Then Pop Readers are invited to play an I spy sort of game with the pages. 12 days of christmas

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN presentation, though a marvelously spare double-page spread CHRISTMAS illustrating “five gold rings” eschews the finely detailed, more- Hattie, Ellie distant scenes to instead present a close-up view of hands hold- Illus. by Warnes, Tim ing those rings laid out on small cloth decorated in red, green, Tiger Tales (32 pp.) and blue. This visual pause evokes the slower pace of that line in $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 the song, clearly demonstrating the thoughtfulness with which 978-1-68010-208-6 Hawthorne approached her illustration. Encore! (full lyrics, author’s note, game) (Picture book. 2-12) Little Bear loves everything about Christmas, but there’s one thing he loves even more. CLARIS The Bear household is busily getting ready for Christ- Holiday Heist mas. Mommy Bear wraps and bakes; Daddy Bear brings home Hess, Megan a humongous tree; Little Bear exults in it all. With each new Illus. by the author Christmas tradition that’s introduced, from opening Christmas Hardie Grant Books/Trafalgar (48 pp.) cards to receiving carolers, Little Bear sings a song that cele- $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 brates it. “I love ornaments, and garland, and lights on a string, / 978-1-76050-495-3 candy canes, stockings—and all of the things / that make Christ- Series: Claris Collection mas perfect—oh, yes, I do! / But the thing that I love more than Christmas is—” But before Little Bear can complete his rhyme, The fourth title in the Claris Collec- each time he is interrupted by a new element of Christmas to tion features a Christmastime crime. celebrate. Since that terminal rhyme is always set up with one Claris the Parisian mouse is delighted to be in New York that ends with an “oo” sound, readers will not be surprised in the City with her feline pal, Monsieur, and their human family— least when Mommy and Daddy interrupt him one last time with though the child in the family is called “the Brat” and she lives an emphatic “YOU!” It’s all so uber-idealized readers may find up to the name. While this moniker may be off-putting, the themselves gagging on the syrup—it even seems to get at Hat- rhymed verse peppered with French phrases largely focuses tie: Daddy Bear’s smug “What an exceedingly talented family on Claris and her escapades in the big city. The rather cloying we are” has a whiff of irony to it. Warnes’ cartoon bears inhabit tone seems aimed more at adult fashionistas than child read- a cozy, middle-class home; while the carolers are clothed, the ers, as designer name-dropping abounds, and Hess uses her Bear family is not, but readers may notice a white marking on background in fashion illustration to depict Claris getting all Mommy Bear’s chest where a string of pearls might rest. gussied up to go shopping. While she and the family await their Like marshmallow on top of caramel. (Picture book. 3-5) driver, the très chic rodent spies homeless mice shivering in the cold and begging for food. Their plight weighs on Claris as she heads to Cartier, but her attention soon shifts to the titular 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS holiday heist: While in the glamorous shop, she and Monsieur Illus. by Hawthorne, Lara see another pet, this one in a carrying case, swipe a ruby ring. Frances Lincoln (32 pp.) They pursue the thief and reclaim the jewelry before the person $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 who brought it to the shop notices it’s missing. The book ends 978-0-7112-4540-2 with Claris giving aid to the homeless mice, though this subplot seems forced and superfluous to the rest of the book. Claris and A veritable holiday feast for the eyes. Monsieur’s human family presents White; there are some char- Hawthorne’s illustrations have a acters of color in the background. busy, folk-art style that will invite read- Not one to hurry to swipe off the shelf. (Picture book. 4-7) ers to pore over pages to find the animals, items, and people named in this old Christmas carol. Foil detailing on the cover art adds festive flair to the book’s SANTA.COM design, but readers who associate Christmastime with wintry Hicks, Russell & Cubberly, Matt scenes will not find snowy landscapes here. An abundant use Illus. by Garcia, Ryley of light green in the grounds around the country house where Familius (32 pp.) the action unfolds lends a fresh feel to the picture book, per- $17.99 | Sep. 29, 2020 haps offering a reminder that people in warm climes and in the 978-1-64170-289-8 Southern Hemisphere celebrate Christmas, too. Also welcome is the artist’s inclusion of a multiracial cast of people in later Upgrades at the North Pole go awry verses. Readers are invited to play an I spy sort of game with in this Christmas story. the pages, seeking out everything from the single partridge in This poorly written story with dimly lit, subpar cartoon a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming at the book’s end. illustrations is both difficult to follow and oblique in its mes- In most cases, the art, like the song itself, is cumulative in its saging. The opening pages reveal that an overwhelmed Santa

144 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult - - - 5) - HANUKKAH Holiday House (48 pp.) House Holiday Doubleday (24 pp.) Kimmelman, Leslie $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 | Sep. 15, $17.99 $10.99 | $13.99 PLB | Sep. 22, 2020 | $13.99 $10.99 THE EIGHT KNIGHTS OF THE BUS THE WHEELS ON CHRISTMAS AT Illus. by Bernstein, Galia Illus. Illus. by Kieley, Sarah by Kieley, Illus. 978-0-8234-3958-4 978-0-593-17485-2 978-0-593-17486-9 PLB A A mix of medieval derring-do and Hanukkah preparation map A of a castle and its environs opens the The tale. eight A familiar children’s song gets a Christmas-carol reboot. children’s familiar A A title-page map highlights various locations in a North Yuletide fun for the youngest ones. (Picture for the youngest fun book. 2 Yuletide latkes. latkes. Sir Margaret assists with making applesauce. Others knights, diverse in gender and race, are siblings, the children knockout type againstknockout the dark blue sky. perform the “mitzvah of bringing chicken soup to the hungry,” presentations) go “Let’s make toys!” then reindeer go “Jingle! while guests and brave deed-doers fill the seats. And readers will readers And seats. the fill deed-doers brave and guests while we we find inside?” Each verse features a different group of pas with the realm’s Hanukkah celebrations. Their weapons are not be surprised to see who lights the The candles. narrative is replacement replacement for a charred dreidel. Sir Gabriel helps prepare rior seems magically cavernous as compared to illustrations of its exterior. The book concludes with a magical scene of the bus the of scene magical a with concludes book The exterior. its mas Eve. / Let’s ride the bus on Christmas Eve— / who will so their is Table Round filled with tasty treats and a menorah sengers with accompanying illustrations showing them riding scenes don’t show riders getting on and off, and the bus’s - inte go, “Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!”) serviceableThe busy, cartoon they discover that it is just a “baby dragon” named And Rosie. taking flight, the reindeer no longer passengers but harnessed to its front bumper and pulling it upward through the stars. the passengers on a Christmassy bus driven by St. Nick himself. the passengers on a himself. Christmassy bus driven by St. Nick this bus. First elves (pleasingly depicted with a range of racial ticularly silly touch, sentient cookies with tiny arms and legs of Lady Sadie. She sends them forth on great steeds to foil the ensuing pages, however, focus less on locale than they do on and celebration. and Sir Rugelach—prepare to do battle with the dragon until fry doughnuts, and clean the castle. The last two—Sir Isabella Jingle! Jingle! Jingle!” snowmen go “Brr! Brr! Brr!” and so on. (In a par Pole Pole village, including Santa’s house and a toy workshop. The Where are they going? “NEXT STOP: YOUR HOUSE!” reads Where YOUR are they STOP: going? “NEXT “dastardly “dastardly dragon named Dreadful,” which is wreaking havoc “awesome kindness and stupendous bravery.” Sir Alex carves a “Let’s “Let’s ride the bus on Christmas Eve, / Christmas Eve, Christ (Picture book. (Picture 6) - | 1 september 2020 | 145 picture books holiday | kirkus.com | winter A friendship story for under the tree. A Schwartz & Wade/Random (40 pp.) Wade/Random Schwartz & MISTLETOE Hills, Tad Hills, $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Sep. 29, 2020 | $20.99 $17.99 Illus. by the author Illus. 978-0-593-17442-5 978-0-593-17443-2 PLB Not nice, not naughty—not good, either, alas. alas. either, good, naughty—not not nice, Not Warming through and through. (Picture through. and book. 3 through Warming “Finally it “Finally Christmas,”feels like the Mistletoe mouse thinks 7) - based on seeing her enjoying the snowfall. But readers’ favorite because she’s held a grudge all these years. Other details are too too are details Other years. grudgethese alla held she’s because bizarre and haphazard to mention, and the illustrations sug- book is being read to by an his elf grandfather. named Yo-Yo lots of knitting. In fact, Hills devotes several spreads to the pro- the severalto spreads devotes Hills fact, In knitting. of lots like like a book within this book, and it shows a little White girl has but of visited, instead opening her gifts, she hurries out the have been hacked and Christmas is imperiled. Plot points fail to to fail points Plot imperiled. is Christmas and hacked been have picture will likely be the one that reveals Norwell all dressed up up alldressed revealsNorwell that one the be willlikely picture wintertime wintertime snowfall, Mistletoe devises a plan to help him be won’t won’t come outside to join her. Instead, Mistletoe visits him which explains exactly nothing. Santa and Yo-Yo which both explains present exactly nothing. Santa and Yo-Yo who apparently is taking a break after his big mistake (which, readers eventually learn, was giving Suzie the wrong gift). Lo in the enormous, colorful knitted bodysuit that Mistletoe made Mistletoe that bodysuit knitted colorful enormous, the in more comfortable outside. That plan involves lots of yarn and inside his cozy house for tea before heading home. Eager to see him outside with his friend. she awakens on she Christmasawakens morning, Mistletoe finds that Santa sadly looking at a gift labeled “SUZIE.” It turns out that this gest that Santa hires Suzie to take over operations in the end. the Patchwork the Elephant; Patchwork all readers will be delighted to finally to Norwell. He, too, hastoo, made Norwell. He, to something for her: a painting he toe toe finallycompletes her gift friend’s on When ChristmasEve. to to herself as she walks through the snow to her friend Norwell the elephant’s house. But Norwell doesn’t like the cold and the job only to discover that their ultra–high-tech operations ers may liken Norwell’s appearance to David McKee’s Elmer cess cess of knitting and buying more colorful yarn before Mistle- encourage her friend to experience the peaceful beauty of a connect as Yo-Yo travels around the world trying to find Santa, connect as Yo-Yo about the Christmas spirit and giving with love,” opines Santa, and behold, Suzie is now an adult, and she’s behind the hack for him. Though his outfitfor is somehim. striped, read- not checkered, door with her enormous present tied up with a bow to deliver Pole operations. The accompanying illustration is made to look illustration to made is accompanying The operations. Pole Directly after, Yo-Yo goes to the workshop for his Directly Yo-Yo firstafter, day on White, and the elf workforce is diverse. and the elf workforce White, 4 “Christmas isn’t about deadlines or shiny production lines. It’s “made a BIG mistake” and decides he needs to modernize North North modernize to needs he decides and mistake” BIG a “made laced with medievalesque wordage as in “Hark! Methinks” and story of the holiday with the dog. Kugel, in his enthusiasm to “Worryeth not.” Colorful cartoon illustrations portray happy light the holiday lights, holds out a Shabbat candlestick. “Put encounters between the knights and the ordinary folk, inter- that away. Please?” Kayla pleads. Kugel keeps up his frolicsome spersed with hints to the dragon’s whereabouts. ways until Kayla concludes her retelling with the word “miracle!” For those on a quest for a different take on a holiday tail— In a colorful double-page spread, Kayla, her mother, and her oops!—tale. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-7) father (who is holding a baby sibling) light the first candle with Kugel watching attentively. He then reverts to his lively self by spinning around like a dreidel. Young listeners who learned THE TWELVE UNICORNS about Shabbat from Kayla and Kugel (2015) and Passover from OF CHRISTMAS Kayla and Kugel’s Almost-Perfect Passover (2016) will enjoy this Knapman, Timothy spirited offering with its colorful and lively illustrations. The Illus. by Grey, Ada pages retelling the story of Hanukkah are depicted in sepia Aladdin (32 pp.) tones. The family presents as White, and the father wears a $17.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 kippah. 978-1-5344-8019-3 A very happy Hanukkah for little listeners, candle light- ers, and dreidel spinners. (author’s note) (Picture book. 3-5) If you give a kid a unicorn, Christmas chaos ensues. Although clearly inspired by the carol “The Twelve Days of THE HANUKKAH MAGIC OF Christmas,” the text largely eschews the song’s cadence, not to NATE GADOL mention any real attempt at cumulative structure. The result is Levine, Arthur A. a merry mess of a picture book without much to recommend Illus. by Hawkes, Kevin it to anyone except the most die-hard unicorn fan. The text Candlewick (40 pp.) is ostensibly written in the voice of a child narrator: “On the $19.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 first day of Christmas, / my parents gave to me… / 1 sparkling 978-0-7636-9741-9 Christmas tree! / And a real-life UNICORN!” The text proceeds to count up through the 12 days of Christmas to list vari- A mysterious gift-giver brings holiday ous things and people who make appearances, often interacting cheer in the form of presents for all. with the unicorn. There is no obvious rhyme or reason to the With a nod to the late-19th-century immigration of Jews order, and at the book’s end Santa brings another 11 unicorns to to America, Levine creates a pourquoi tale for the exchange of make the solitary one who showed up on the first day feel better. gifts on Hanukkah. The larger-than-life titular character floats (It had sneezed glitter on the 10th day, which apparently was above and around the action wearing a smartly styled blue over- a symptom of loneliness for its kind?) The cartoony art is per- coat and ornate leather boots with a matching leather satchel. haps stronger than the haphazard text, but it doesn’t succeed His name is taken from the acronym for the four letters on a in magically transforming the book into one worth gifting. The dreidel, Nes Gadol Hayah and Sham, which translates to “A Great narrator and most other people, including Santa, appear White Miracle Happened There” and is the very essence of the great in the illustrations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.8-by- Nate. “He made things last as long as they needed to.” His pow- 19.2-inch double-page spreads viewed at 27.7% of actual size.) ers were evident a long time ago, “like that little amount of oil,” Don’t bother putting this one under the tree. (Picture book. and continue as he makes a small amount of chocolate become 3-5) more than enough for Mrs. Glaser and her children, a Jewish family in steerage, bound for America. Nate helps her son help their Irish neighbors, the O’Malleys, during the terrible winter KAYLA AND KUGEL’S of 1881. He also helps his old friend Santa in a rooftop encoun- HAPPY HANUKKAH ter. Now, both the O’Malleys and the Glasers have piles of pres- Koffsky, Ann D. ents for their holiday celebrations, a tradition for the former Illus. by the author and something new for the latter. Hawkes uses richly textured Apples & Honey Press (24 pp.) acrylic paints and eye-popping swirls of gold to create illustra- $17.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 tions that are at once grounded and otherworldly. All characters 978-1-68115-560-9 have pale skin, Nate’s a tad more olive than the others’. A new, entertaining, and thoughtful addition to the A little girl and her puppy celebrate Hanukkah canon. (author’s note) (Picture book. 4-8) the holiday. Pigtailed Kayla and her dog, Kugel, are preparing for Hanukkah by busily searching through boxes for the menorahs and dreidels. Kugel jumps ahead on the calendar, though, and starts rooting through a box labeled “Purim.” Kayla finds the correct box and, as she unpacks it, shares the

146 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult - - - (Picture book. 7) - The striking cover art for this reimag- A A newly illustrated version of an old Series: Little Mole Series: Little Mole CHRISTMAS GIFT LITTLE MOLE’S Nellist, Glenys Nellist, Beaming Books (32 pp.) BEFORE CHRISTMAS BEFORE Christmas poem. $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 $17.99 Illus. by Garland, Sally by Garland, Illus. $17.95 | Oct. 6, 2020 $17.95 978-1-5064-4875-6 THE NIGHT Illus. by Wuerbs, Kai Wuerbs, by Illus. 978-1-64690-005-3 Moore, Clement C. Moore, Arctis Books (48 pp.) Bring this one ho-ho-home. (PictureBring this one ho-ho-home. book. 2 Little Mole has a great big heart. Little Mole Little has Mole found an enormous mushroom in the woods At At turns beautiful and frustratingly opaque. 8) - keeping with other versions, parents are depicted as the “I” of the of “I” the as depicted are parents versions, other with keeping posed with a dark, close-up of a lit candle in a holder, with nothingwith holder, a in candle lit a of close-up dark, a with posed with care” seems utterly redundant. Artistic decisions of the for readers who find the results unfinished rather than engaging. Still, mer ilk might provoke a mysterious but air, they may also stymie making narrative contributions or supporting characterization ining of Moore’s poem Visit From “A St. Nicholas” (sometimes seems better suited to gallery walls than a picture book, as it resistsit as book, picture gallerya than wallsto suited better seems sity in their characterization as he switches among show settings them encountering These Santa. to shifts follow don’t a rigid sequence, and seasonal details in décor (several stockings, trees, crèche and even a scenes, menorah on the mantelpiece in the ture from is breathtaking in its simplicity. the scene, to to instead present studies of details from the verses. For example, the opening lines evoking the stillness of Christmas Eve are juxta- the bottom of the picture over a low hilltop, at which point a red- text, and text, Long maintains his commitment inclusion to and diver else depicted—not even a mouse. If this art seems too far removedfar too seems art this If mouse. a even depicted—not else clad figure disappears at the slope. Whilesometimesart Wuerbs’ book, the into readers invites this pictureand curiosity provokes evidently offer additional visual interest. bicultural urban home) a later close-up of Santa (who White) is presents visually arresting, and a closing image, paint streaking to show Santa’s quick depar and decided to give it to his beloved for Mama After Christmas. attributed attributed to Henry Livingston) eschews typical visions of SantaWuerbs Instead, against sky. night the silhouetted reindeer his and from the text, the next page with stockings “hung by the chimney depicts a snowy landscape with sleigh-runner tracks leading from 4 - - the night before christmas the night | 1 september 2020 | 147 picture books holiday | kirkus.com | winter A A visual treatment of an old poem outside of snowy, rural, Rockwellian settings. rural, Rockwellian of snowy, outside Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) Wonderland Sourcebooks CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM CHRISTMAS ON BEFORE CHRISTMAS BEFORE Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) Harper/HarperCollins $18.99 | Sep. 15, 2020 $18.99 | Sep. 15, $10.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 | Sep. $10.99 THE NIGHT Illus. by Long, Loren by Long, Illus. Illus. by Collina, Sumi by Collina, Illus. 978-0-06-286946-3 978-1-7282-0625-7 Moore, Clement C. Moore, Manning, Craig Manning, ’TWAS NIGHT BEFORE THE 5) - This revisitation of familiar holiday fare doesn’t stand The cover art focuses on St. driving Nick his airborne sleigh In In their cadence, rhyme scheme, and word choices, Manning’s A visit from St. Nicholas with a trip to the barnyard, too. the barnyard, too. with a trip to from visit St. Nicholas A It’s refreshing to see artistic see refreshing Christmastime of acknowledgement to It’s Santa (who appears White) laughs “Ho, ho, ho.” As she watches himwatches she As ho.” ho, “Ho, laughs White) appears (who Santa brown-skinned children draw a large fireplace scene; and three lishes four settings that Santa visits: a cityscape, a farm, a trailer before leaving the little lamb settle to in again sleep to away the rest however; the original poem’s “wondering eyes” are recastare aseyes” “wander “wondering poem’s original the however; hears that moves her from befuddlement to understanding, when park, and a palm-tree–dotted neighborhood. It’s refreshing to place place presents under the tree in the house, she hopes he’ll have gifts veggies, and other animal-friendly treats he puts into their stockingstheir into puts animal-friendlyhe veggies, other treats and rates a tree; a child who appears Black drafts a letter to Santa; two Santa; to letter a drafts Black appears who child a tree; a rates rural, Rockwellian settings, and the endpapers show characters style establishes an old-fashioned look. Long’s central artistic ing eyes,” for example. of Instead using the original poem’s first-per see artistic acknowledgement of Christmastime outside of snowy, snowy, of outside Christmastime of acknowledgement artistic see mation studio. Eventually, mation it’s not studio. what Eventually, the lamb sees but what she sional word choices can read like missteps rather than innovations, son narrator, this version employs the omniscient third to introduce to third omniscient the employs version this narrator, son that’s both nostalgic and fresh. that’s tive stature, and presents White with a ruddy complexion. In to to be as diverse as their homes: an interracial sibling pair - deco the farmhouse roof. No one joins her in her observations, but read- the full-bleed, rather flat art that seems like something from an ani- out. (Picture book. 2 conceit conceit is revealed at the bottom of the picture, where he estab- cover’s cover’s right edge, leading into the book. The illustrations’ soft of Christmas Eve. It’s all but hardlysweet novel. It’s of Christmas Eve. ers are invited to do so as she tries to figure happening out in what’s against the full moon. Flying reindeer pulling the sleigh break the break sleigh the pulling reindeer Flying moon. full the against adapted adapted verses borrow liberally from the original poem credited to a little lamb who awakens and observes Santa Claus’ sleigh landing on landing sleigh Claus’ Santa observes and awakens who lamb little a for her, too. He does, of He too. course, and the illustrations for show her, the fruits, Clement C. Moore (and sometimes to Henry Livingston). Occa- The “right jolly old elf” himself is decidedly elfin, with a diminu- White-appearing children, one using a wheelchair, make cookies. make children, White-appearing one using a wheelchair, This pleasant tale will be as useful on a community-helper shelf as in the holiday collection. the ninth night of hanukkah

he works hard to pick it, he encounters several woodland crea- MILO’S CHRISTMAS PARADE tures in need as he carries the large, red-and-white mushroom Palmer, Jennie home to his mother. Bit by bit, he gives away parts of the stem Illus. by the author to hungry Little Squirrel and to tired Little Mouse, who needs Abrams (40 pp.) somewhere soft to rest his head. Then he gives the cap to Lit- $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 tle Chipmunk to use as an umbrella. By the time he reaches his 978-1-4197-4499-0 mother, Little Mole has only a tiny piece of the mushroom left for her. She is nonetheless pleased and says she will make them An opossum with a love for Christmas hoopla realizes a life- soup for their Christmas dinner. Her gratitude only increases long dream. when Little Mole sadly tells her what happened to the rest of the Milo’s family likes the Christmas parade for all the goodies big mushroom. A proud Mama says, “your kindness is the big- spectators drop: popcorn, nuts, candy. Milo loves the parade gest, most perfect Christmas gift I have ever received,” which for its spectacle. It just so happens that Milo and his passel live provides Little Mole with affirmation, reassurance, and a holiday near the building where the balloons and floats for the parade lesson about the importance of generosity. The softly textured are designed and built. Inexplicably (to Milo), every year he is illustrations reinforce the gentle coziness of the story. The ani- overlooked for inclusion in the parade, so finally he decides to mals are anthropomorphic, though only Little Mole and Mama make his dream come true himself. With a little help from his are fully dressed; most of the animals Little Mole encounters passel, he works all year long to design and build a float with a wear nothing, underscoring their relative neediness next to the giant skiing opossum on it, to be drawn by loyal members of his moles’ evident prosperity. (This book was reviewed digitally with passel. When the float collides with a balloon handler’s rope and 9.3-by-18.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 39.1% of actual size.) is destroyed, Milo is devastated—but his passel comes through A warm wintertime read with a message for any time of to jury-rig a new float. Racing to catch up with the parade, they year. (Picture book. 3-6) come across Santa’s float, which has encountered problems of its own, and Santa and Milo ride to triumph together on Milo’s float. This quirky story features a decidedly unusual protagonist, THE LITTLEST CANDLE but it meanders. Palmer’s line-and-color cartoons are frequently A Hanukkah Story hard to parse, unable to fully shoulder the narrative load left by Olitzky, Kerry & Olitzky, Jesse openings in the sparse, wry text. Occasional footnotes offer some Illus. by Kostman, Jen explanation but not enough to carry readers seamlessly through Kalaniot Books (32 pp.) the story. Santa presents White; other parade workers and par- $17.99 | Sep. 1, 2020 ticipants are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by- 978-0-998-8527-5-1 21-inch double-page spreads viewed at 68.6% of actual size.) Doesn’t quite make it despite an abundance of enthusi- Which candle will have the place of asm. (Picture book. 5-8) honor on the menorah? Nine anthropomorphic candles are at first overjoyed to welcome Hanukkah but then face a crisis. Who is to be the shamash, or THE NINTH NIGHT helper candle, who glows the highest? As Waxy the wise candle tells OF HANUKKAH the story of the holiday, the others, all primped and groomed, nois- Perl, Erica S. ily push themselves forward. All except Little Flicker, that is, who Illus. by Kober, Shahar has a big heart and a solid work ethic. Even Sparky and Sparkle, the Sterling (40 pp.) Shabbat candles, put forth their fitness for the position. (One sports $16.95 | Sep. 15, 2020 a pink bow in its wick and the other a blue bow tie.) Then Ms. Wicks, 978-1-4549-4088-3 the Havdalah candle lit at the conclusion of Shabbat, presents her qualifications. Little Flicker softly reminds them that the number Hanukkah is celebrated with some of candles lit increases nightly so “the light in the world should only differences and an addition. grow brighter.” All the others now know that pious, modest Flicker With boxes strewn about from their recent move to a new apart- should be selected. The Hanukkah candles are depicted in the car- ment house and the one labeled for Hanukkah missing, a family toon illustrations in different colors and with variably expressive adjusts their holiday routines. When Mom can’t find the menorah faces. What is certain to confuse observant readers is that a box of and candles, siblings Rachel and Max make a menorah, and a new Hanukkah candles actually contains 44, because after they are lit the neighbor supplies candles. When Dad can’t find his “lucky latke candles burn down completely each night. Problematically for read- pan,” the super shares his French fries. When the children can’t ers who are shomer Shabbat, the text states that Shabbat candles are find their dreidel, the twins upstairs share a hula hoop. A package of lit “exactly at sunset” when in fact care should be taken that they be chocolate chips replaces the gelt, and newspaper becomes wrapping lit several minutes earlier. The tale ends with a family scene of glut- paper for gifts. No jelly doughnuts? Have a peanut-butter–and-jelly tony-filled latke and jelly-doughnut consumption. sandwich offered by still another neighbor. Happy with the make-do Alas, there is no holiday illumination here. (authors’ note) results, the children determine to have a thank-you party for their (Picture book. 4-7) new friends and dedicate it to the ninth candle on the menorah, the

148 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult

- -

inch (Pic - Most 17 - by - 8) - page spreads viewed at 92.3% of actual size.) - CHRISTMAS Convergent/Random House (40 pp.) House Convergent/Random $12.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 ALL THE COLORS OF ALL THE COLORS Illus. by Gamble, Gillian by Gamble, Illus. Turner, Matthew Paul Matthew Turner, 978-0-525-65414-8 (This book was reviewed digitally with 11 inch double - 7) 17 - - by - page spreads viewed at 30.5% of actual size.) - Like Like so many books commemorating the season, sweet Funny and Funny fun with a fundamental, if not fatal, flaw. Rhyming verse describes various Christmas symbols and The dominant color in Gamble’s palette shifts accordingly fromaccordingly shifts palette Gamble’s in color dominant The but unremarkable. (Picture book. 4 but unremarkable. be cancelled, but they rally around Santa Baby, who also gets help gets also who Baby, Santa rallyaround they but cancelled, be jingling bells ARE/ and warm, YOU yummy heirlooms smells. / It’s his transformed, titular Santa Baby self. Seeing his ineptitude (heineptitude his Seeing self. Baby Santa titular transformed, his ture book. 3 pasted pasted onto a space rather than painted into it. A little mouse in a playful tone for some readers when Santa summons Christmas participate in a Nativity play, participate among in other a The activities. play, Nativity children’s phrase and Fox’s uproarious comic illustrations depict a decid- who may be preschoolers or early-elementary children, one Asian weary Santa who seems ready to throw in the towel frets that racially diverse. red through green, gold, blue, and white to brown before - conclud relationships as they will: They could be siblings, two sets of cous magic to make him young again. His wish comes true to an ing pages shift from hues to “you.” The children, two White kids ins, or good friends. Other children of varied racial presentation sometimes awkward, the children sometimes seeming as if they are snowsuit appears in many spreads. (This book was reviewed digitally good to reinforce Christmas as universally celebrated. Such tex with 8.5 tual erasure of non-Christian children may undermine the story’s story’s the undermine may non-Christianchildren of erasure tual toddler, decorate the tree, go to a Christmas fair, go ice-skating, the and tree, decorate go a to Christmas fair, toddler, two two spots. “Christmas is / GOLD. bright It’s ribbon unrolled. / It’s extreme degree, and the North Pole is left in the tiny hands of will Christmas fear initially elves the Ho!”), Ho “Ho say even can’t children reading this book will undoubtedly be among those who those among be undoubtedly will book this reading children celebrate Christmas; but it does neither them nor others any events, grouped by color, as four children celebrate the season. as celebrate four children events, grouped by color, child about the same age, and another Asian child who is a young caregivers are largely absent, leaving readers to parse the children’s edly The old opening St. pagesNick. are so strong and funny it’s and Christmas is saved. Santa presents White, and the elves are appear in the background. verse Turner’s makes some odd and twiststurns, with forced rhymes and/or scansion in more than one or a shame to see a textual misstep when, just before Christmas, a from a child bighearted in one of the homes they eventually visit. day trappings. / It’s nutcracker crowns day nutcracker / trappings. and / ChristmasIt’s Eve gowns. / double NOT ALLOWED TO HOLD. / It’s dancers all tapping among holi- among alltapping dancers It’s / HOLD. TO ALLOWED NOT By the book’s end Santa is restored to his status as jolly old elf, It’s glitteryIt’s gift wrapping.” Like the verse, the illustrations are also “all “all the children in the entire world were counting on him.” - (Pic page - inch double - 8) 17 - - by - (This book was reviewed digi-

| 1 september 2020 | 149 picture books holiday | kirkus.com | winter page spreads viewed at 69.8% of actual size.) actual of 69.8% at viewed spreads page Poor Poor Santa is struggling with major A A babe in toyland spells trouble for An unusual origin story for Santa - burnout at the beginning of this laugh- SANTA BABY SANTA Christmas. Claus. Stutzman, Jonathan Stutzman, Snow, Alan Snow, Henry Holt (48 pp.) Henry Holt Pavilion Children’s (48 pp.) Children’s Pavilion $18.99 | Sep. 8, 2020 $19.95 | Nov. 3, 2020 $19.95 | Nov. THE THREE WISHES Illus. by Fox, Heather by Fox, Illus. Illus. by the author Illus. 978-1-250-25561-7 978-1-84365-386-8 A Christmas Story A Christmas inch double - 17 - by 7) - - (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.5 This pleasant tale will be as useful on a community- A lump of coal for this one. (Picture lump of coal book. 5 A “Long, long ago in the very north a group of people lived with helper shelf as in the holiday collection. (author’s note) happiness, and time—experiencing them each once year when he is tally with 11 ture book. 4 permitted to return to his family and their clan, who lie in suspendedin lie who clan, their and family his to return to permitted very but clever, in borrowing the traditional habits of the Sami and reacting to the various goings-on and seeing the furnishings gradu- many readers’ understanding of a real, extant, and marginalized cul- ing his visit, his family allleaves him a red suit trimmed in It’s white. into a cave that leads deep underground to a magical land of Summer. Summer. of land magical a to underground deep leads that cave a into is a plus. The family presents as White while cat the family’s the assemblage. watching multiracial willenjoy Children neighbors are a story are Sami, but he does nothing to keep readers from making shamash, or helper candle. The arrival of their own Hanukkah box ture. the inside of their lodge. One year, a guardian of Summer gives him ahim gives Summer of guardian a year, One lodge. their of inside the the association. The story relates how, one winter solstice, the the The association.mainstory relates how, to his home but who grant him three wishes. He asks for freedom, the reindeer.” Snow never states that the nomadic people in his character, an discovers character, unnamed the boy, family’s precious reindeer out-loud out-loud Christmas book. Stutzman’s skillful, witty turns of animation during his visit. Each year he leaves gifts, even decorating are missing. He goes out into the snow to find them, following them them, find to snow the into out goes He missing. are ally replacing boxes over the course of the Instructions story. for a feather that will enable andhis anticipat onreindeer another, to fly, cloudingrisks Snow original, is mythmaking his that clarify to failing spreads viewed at 68.6% of actual size.) DIY DIY “Shamash Night” close the book. It’s guarded by three creatures who tell the It’s boy he may never return THE MOUSE BEFORE try to make it take off and fly so they can deliver the presents CHRISTMAS around the world. Alas, Sebastian’s doubts are fulfilled, and Turner, Tracey the cart stays firmly on the ground. Ultimately, it’s Sebastian’s Illus. by Løvlie, Jenny urging that they try one more time to make the cart fly that Sunbird Books (40 pp.) sparks the Christmas magic to fulfill Samantha’s vision. They $10.99 | Sep. 29, 2020 fly around the world delivering gifts to animals, and the book 978-1-5037-5495-9 closes with a scene of them opening presents, too. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed A murine version of the classic at 10.6% of actual size.) Christmas poem. Joy to the animal world, too. (Picture book. 2-5) “ ’Twas the night before Christmas, / when all through the house / Not a creature was stirring / …except for one mouse.” A little white mouse clad in a fur-trimmed red suit winks at read- THERE WAS A YOUNG RABBI ers and holds a shushing paw to its mouth. Turner goes on to A Hanukkah Tale give “A Visit From St. Nicholas” a mouse-themed spin, casting Wolfe, Suzanne M. the reindeer as red and green stag beetles and sending her Santa Illus. by Ebbeler, Jeffrey “through / a crack in the wall” rather than down the chimney. Kar-Ben (24 pp.) Although she supplies the stag beetles with appropriate names $17.99 | $7.99 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 (“On Scatter and Skitter!” urges Santa), curiously, she omits 978-1-5415-7607-0 the narrator character from the tale, which gives the proceed- 978-1-5415-7608-7 paper ings an incomplete air. Readers may be so busy looking at the details in Løvlie’s illustrations they may not feel the absence. A rabbi and her family enjoy a food- and fun-filled holiday. She depicts snoozing mouse children in a tiny shoe, a matchbox, “There was a young rabbi / who read from the Torah. / She and a flour scoop; gives the stag beetles pink cheeks, black but- read from the Torah / and lit the menorah. / She lit the menorah, ton noses, and smiles; and festoons the mouse hole with paper- / as we all know, / to remember a miracle / from a long time ago.” mouse chains and dried fruit rounds. It’s all extremely cozy but To the rhythm of the familiar cumulative rhyme “There Was kept from being cloyingly so with a limited palette of muted an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly,” the rabbi then makes (rather than forest) green, red, and dark blue; the swooshes of herself busy in the kitchen frying latkes. These are “latkes so snow Santa leaves in his wake give a bracing, fresh feeling. yummy” that “filled up her tummy.” She also makes applesauce For mouse-loving children and families looking for an for the latkes and a “nice brisket” that is “kosher, of course.” alternative to the well-known poem. (Picture book. 4-7) Dessert comes in the shape of chocolate gelt that is “so sweet and so tasty, / in her mouth it did melt.” Along with eating all the requisite food (Ashkenazic style), the family lights the candles A VERY QUACKY CHRISTMAS on the menorah, spins the dreidel, and exchanges gifts. The Watts, Frances long, repetitive text invites participation. The family presents Illus. by James, Ann as White, and colorful illustrations convey a busy home and Doubleday (40 pp.) cheerful folk. With the exception of one scene of the miracle in $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Sep. 29, 2020 the Temple and a set of elderly visitors, human characters, both 978-0-593-17377-0 male- and female-presenting, all seem to wear kippot. However, 978-0-593-17378-7 PLB aside from this and the rabbi’s feminine pronouns, the book does not meaningfully question gender norms: The rabbi’s A determined duck sets out to prove that Christmas is for male-presenting partner helps with none of the cooking. (This animals, too. book was reviewed digitally with 8.875-by-21.25-inch double-page Samantha Duck is unmoved when Sebastian the turtle spreads viewed at actual size.) repeatedly tells her that “Christmas is not for animals.” Despite Hanukkah happiness for the very young. (author’s note) his repeated attempts to discourage her, she persists in deco- (Picture book. 3-5) rating for the holiday and saying, “We wish you a quacky Christmas.” Soon she enlists the help of other animals in making presents for “animals all over the world,” even persuading a doubtful Sebastian to help her. Throughout, loose linework reminiscent of Jules Feiffer’s or James Stevenson’s lends vitality to the animal characters; they are not fully anthropomorphic, but their human postures, particularly loyal friend Sebastian’s, are winning. The scenes are warm and sunny, perhaps indicat- ing a Southern Hemisphere setting familiar to the Australian author and illustrator. A generous donkey agrees to share his cart, and then Samantha and Sebastian fill it with gifts and

150 | 1 september 2020 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult THE IMPEACHMENT OF These titles earned the Kirkus Star: PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP Allen, John CITY OF THE UNCOMMON THIEF by Lynne Bertrand...... 154 ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 MY HEART UNDERWATER by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo...... 163 978-1-68282-901-1

ODESSA by Jonathan Hill; illus. by Jonathan Hill & Xan Drake.. 164 A matter-of-fact account of the LONG WAY DOWN impeachment’s proximate causes, course, by Jason Reynolds; and outcome. illus. by Danica Novgorodoff...... 172 Making a try for evenhanded language, Allen describes how an “alleged

quid pro quo” in a July 2019 phone conversation between Don- young adult ald Trump, “one of the most polarizing presidents ever,” and Ukraine’s newly elected leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, sparked a whistleblower complaint that, along with the White House’s subsequent stonewalling, led to a congressional scrimmage and, after much sound and fury, a 2020 Senate trial with a “foregone conclusion.” Arguing that said conclusion was based not on principle but party, the author notes and quotes many more logical and impassioned arguments for the impeachment than against it, so leaving the “anti” side relatively silent. Nor, beyond a few passing references, does he give readers willing to make their own judgments about the merits of the case much legal or historical background to work with. Still, by diligently wrestling an array of published documents and news reports into a coherent narrative and closing with several pages of resources, he does give report-driven students a leg up in their research. Color photos add interest, and text boxes provide additional context and quotes from experts and key individuals. Straight-up assignment fodder, staid but steady, stronger on reportage than analysis. (source notes, key figures, further reading, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-15)

THE FUTURE OF FOOD New Ideas About Eating Allman, Toney MY HEART UNDERWATER ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 Fantauzzo, Laurel Flores Quill Tree Books/ 978-1-68282-927-1 HarperCollins (320 pp.) What adjustments in attitudes, prac- $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 tices, and technology might end world 978-0-06-297228-6 hunger and slow climate change? The introduction begins with a strong quotation from members of the World Economic Forum, warning of the challenge of providing enough nutritious food to a burgeoning world population

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 151 american dreams and realities

There can be no doubt that the hometown near Mexico City and United States is currently at a pivot- experiences at home in Colora- al stage of its history. People across do have provided him with in- the country are discussing like never sights into the interconnected- before what American ideals are— ness of our lives and our impact and what they should look like in on the planet. While we may cre- practice. What does it mean to be ate political and social borders American and to have access to full between people, he persuasively participation in American society? and urgently argues that we must Who truly feels a sense of belong- transcend them in order to miti- ing in a country that has long prid- gate the climate crisis. ed itself on welcoming those in need? How can the nation Call Me American (Adapted for come to terms with centuries of inequitable treatment of Young Adults): The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Soma- some, including the members of hundreds of Native na- li Immigrant by Abdi Nor Iftin with Max Alexander (Dela- tions whose forebears were here long before there was a corte, June 16): Like many works by United States? immigrants, this memoir is fasci- The often discussed global society we inhabit, one that nating both for the remarkable tale brings shared benefits as well as risks, requires a very dif- Somali-born Iftin relates as well as ferent set of skills from young people than was expected for his observations about America of their parents or grandparents. The well-documented upon his arrival. From expectations benefits of cross-cultural experiences and diverse groups— based on pop culture (he learned among them, enhanced creativity—can seem sadly at odds English by watching movies) to with the less inclusive realities young people encounter in settling in and experiencing both their daily lives. great hospitality and the harsh re- It’s no wonder that many works of YA literature pub- alities of American racism, his keen lished this year wrestle with these questions of identity observations and broad perspec- and inclusion in ways that strike at the heart of our visions tive hold up an invaluable mirror for America. Each of the following recent releases is a rich- we can all learn from. ly rewarding read that is engaging in its own right and ideal Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From for prompting discussion. by Jennifer De Leon (Caitlyn In Search of Safety: Voices of Refugees by Susan Kuklin Dlouhy/Atheneum, Aug. 18): (Candlewick, May 12): Discussions about asylum policies This probing work of realistic often focus on generalities or are fiction follows Liliana, a high framed in terms of current resi- school student who is the daugh- dents’ perceptions of the impact ter of immigrants from Guate- on their own lives. What is fre- mala and El Salvador. This bright quently lost is an understanding teenager is offered the opportu- of all that refugees themselves nity to attend a mostly White have experienced and hope for. school in the suburbs outside This remarkable work looks at the Boston. There she encounters personal histories of five refugees the stark realities of the very dif- from around the world, now set- ferent educational opportuni- tled in Nebraska. They share their ties American students receive—along with the emotional stories with dignity, putting an indelible, unforgettable hu- stress of her father’s undocumented status. man face on a subject that is often depersonalized. Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez with Rus- Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor. sell Mendell (Penguin Workshop, June 2): A young Indig- enous (Mexica) environmental activist speaks up in this powerful work. Martinez’s frequent visits to his father’s

152 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | Lilting prose carries along the story as characters seek to return balance to a broken world. soulswift

without destroying the planet. After defining food security and QUIET NO MORE positing that world food production must double by 2050 to Barthelmess, Nikki meet dietary needs and tastes, the text assures readers that peo- Flux (352 pp.) ple and practices will very likely meet the challenges successfully, $14.99 paper | Oct. 13, 2020 aided by the scientific community. Similar banal statements 978-1-63583-063-7 show up in the five short chapters, which contain quotations Series: The Quiet You Carry, 2 from a variety of people who have some professional connection with food. The result is an uneven read leading more to The sequel to The Quiet You Carry glazed eyes than whetted appetites—and a downplayed urgency (2019) explores what happens to now– around real concerns that is more fit for younger readers. college freshman Victoria after she told However, browsers can find many topics for further research, the truth about her father’s sexual abuse. including aquaculture, vegetarian burgers, cricket chips, and Victoria’s father is in jail awaiting the emerging science of nutrigenomics. The choice of which sentencing after pleading guilty, and she has aged out of foster topics to emphasize seems arbitrary: A full sidebar highlights an care, tentatively reconnected with her stepmother and step- unsupported claim that Asian fish farmers fed feces to tilapia. sister, gotten her own apartment, and enrolled in community The final chapter is reminiscent of futuristic claims from the college. There, Victoria joins Students Against Sexual Assault 1950s—and ignores lifestyle and income disparity—as it asserts and Harassment and begins to make new friends. Disturbing that an upcoming, better way of life will include kitchen robots, revelations and a request from an aunt she never previously 3-D food printers, and smartphones that signal if meat has knew existed force Victoria to agonize anew over her victim spoiled. A variety of full-color photographs elevate the work. impact statement. Her many drafts reveal how challenging this

Barely digestible. (source notes, further reading, index, young adult picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

SOULSWIFT Bannen, Megan Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (480 pp.) $17.99 | Nov. 17, 2020 978-0-06-267418-0

An examination of faith, doubt, and trust wrapped inside a stirring fantasy plot. Gelya is meant to serve the Father, an all-powerful deity, until she dies. When she does pass away, she will transform into a soulswift, an immortal bird tasked with carrying worthy souls to the afterlife. These beliefs have been instilled in her at the patriarchal Ovinist convent ever since leader Goodson Ans- kar rescued her as a child from her supposedly uncivilized place of birth. But when pale-skinned Gelya witnesses a knight of the faith murder her mentor in cold blood to cover up an ugly truth, she must run from the religion she holds most dear. Through her escape, she unwittingly becomes a vessel of an entity she’s been made to believe is a wrathful, apocalyptic demon. Now, she must team up with Tavik, a light-brown–skinned enemy soldier (and, in her world, a heathen), in order to survive. During Gelya and Tavik’s journey to find answers, a touching romance blossoms. Lilting prose carries along the story as both main characters examine the biases, truths, and complications present in their respective faiths and seek to return balance to a broken world. Though a little heavy on exposition in the beginning, thrilling plot developments quickly speed up the pace until the story reaches a heart-rending conclusion. This deeply moving and thought-provoking adventure enthralls on multiple levels. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 153 A macabre marvel of a tale. city of the uncommon thief

statement is for her to write. Victoria faces other dilemmas as HOW THE KING OF ELFHAME well. Is she still in love with her high school boyfriend? What LEARNED TO HATE STORIES should SASAH do about the student government leader who Black, Holly wants to shut them down? This volume stands on its own, and Illus. by Cai, Rovina Victoria’s first-person voice remains as strong and appealing as it Little, Brown (200 pp.) was in the previous book. Occasionally the characters’ dialogue $17.99 | Nov. 24, 2020 can feel stilted as they talk about sexual assault statistics and 978-0-316-54088-9 the emotional impact of abuse. But the plot moves quickly— Series: Folk of the Air, 3.5 and believably—as Victoria sorts through her options and acts with the help of friends old and new. Except for two relatively Once upon a time.... prominent secondary characters, all characters are White. In Faerie, a cruel prince met his A sensitive and satisfying story of surviving sexual abuse. match in Jude, a human raised in his (resources) (Fiction. 12-18) world. An entire trilogy tells their tale from her perspective; now the prince gets center stage. This lavishly illustrated tome, more a series of vignettes than a complete novel, shows criti- CITY OF THE cal moments in Cardan’s life, including moments previously UNCOMMON THIEF seen through Jude’s perspective. The entirety is framed within Bertrand, Lynne a moment that takes place after the end of The Queen of Noth Dutton (400 pp.) ing (2019), providing a glimpse into the maturing relationships $19.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 between Jude and Cardan and between Cardan and his respon- 978-0-525-55532-2 sibilities as High King of Elfhame, a land whose multihued, multiformed denizens cannot lie. Woven throughout are three In this dark fantasy, a malevolent iterations of a story, initially told to a young Cardan, each ver- power lurks in the bowels of a nameless, sion different in specifics and moral but all centered on a boy placeless, timeless city. with a heart of stone and a monstrous, cursed bride. Readers Runner Errol Thebes is handsome, familiar with Cardan and Jude’s tumultuous and sometimes heroic, talented, and charismatic; outcast troubling love will recognize notes within this repeated tale, Jamila Foundling is clever, fearless, selfless, and uncanny; bard but each telling also stands alone as a complete tale, one that Odd Thebes is brilliant, lazy, witty, and selfish. A mysterious pair feels both inevitable and fresh. Black continues to build an ever of iron needles draws the three teenagers into a twisty web of expanding mythos with her Faerie stories, and while this vol- magic and intrigue. This trio (and dozens of supporting char- ume requires prior knowledge of The Folk of the Air trilogy, it acters) may be compelling, but the true protagonist is the city: offers new delights along with familiar moments retold. Bounded by massive walls and 1,000 high towers tied together Fan-service? Yes—and fans will rejoice in every dark, lus- by an intricate net of fly-lines and rooftop runners, it’s a city cious moment. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18) where no one enters or leaves. The rich, dense prose is studded with lists of names, products, artifacts, even smells, construct- ing a mosaic world from fragments of languages, a kaleidoscopic INTO THE REAL narrative from legends and myths, which dazzles, confuses, and Brewer, Z exhausts—until suddenly the pattern shifts and coheres into a Harper/HarperCollins (432 pp.) macabre marvel of a tale. Odd’s sarcastic voice threads seduc- $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 tively throughout the labyrinthine structure, though he’d be the 978-0-06-269138-5 first to admit that he’s a mess, consumed by jealousy, self-pity, and spite. The city’s polyglot culture suggests ethnic diversity, Fractured among three worlds, a but physical descriptions defy specific identification. While the genderqueer teen faces monsters as they society lacks racial or gender bias, there is an oppressive class struggle to solve a paradox. system in addition to life under a brutal quarantine. Seventeen-year-old Quinn exists in Requires extraordinary patience and attention but pays three alternate realities. Each provides off with an immersive reading experience that will linger. distinct traumatic trials—flesh-eating (maps; elements of clock and calendar; guild towers of Gallia monsters, conversion therapy, and civil war. In all of the realities, district) (Fantasy. 15-adult) Quinn grapples with defining their gender identity and -rejec tion due to their queerness while longing for Lia, a cisgender girl. In one life, Lia is viciously transphobic while proclaiming support for other queer identities. As Quinn awakens to the connection among the realities, they must decide which one they want to inhabit. The human characters default to White; although Quinn’s resistance army claims to fight White supremacists, no people of color play a role. The fighters

154 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | espouse blatantly sexist and homophobic views, and as their THIS IS NOT THE JESS SHOW hero, Quinn champions a peaceful compromise with fascist Carey, Anna enemies and wrestles with internal discomfort over not speak- Quirk Books (304 pp.) ing up against their soldiers’ blatant bias. In one reality, the $18.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 sacred Indigenous practice of burning sage is carried out by 978-1-68369-197-6 White characters for protection from monsters. Despite the Series: This Is Not the Jess Show, 1 fast-paced action, explicit violence, and suspenseful appeal of the premise, the novel feels flat, with long expository passages A teenager uncovers a secret that disrupting the flow. Perhaps because the characters play dif- alters her entire reality. ferent roles in Quinn’s life in each reality, they feel distant and It’s March 1998. Jess Flynn is think- underdeveloped, lowering the emotional stakes. ing of college and longing to leave the An ambitious undertaking weakened by its execution. confines of her small town. Her mother (Fantasy. 14-18) is overprotective; her sister, Sara, is receiving palliative care for an incurable disease; and Jess is falling for her best friend, Tyler, whom she’s been close to for 6 years. Every year the month of FINDING A WAY HOME March brings Jess anxiety that something major is going to hap- Mildred and Richard Loving pen: Three years earlier, Sara received her diagnosis; the next and the Fight for Marriage year there was a tornado; and one year ago, Jess’ family’s home Equality was burglarized. Now Jess is hyperaware of her surroundings, Brimner, Larry Dane and she notices many things too strange to be ignored: far-off

Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills (112 pp.) voices chanting outside, a mysterious flu spreading around town, young adult $18.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 and her closest friends keeping secrets. The strangest of all? Jess 978-1-62979-751-9 discovers that her dog has been replaced with a look-alike and her parents have no explanation. Jess decides to investigate, An overview of the landmark 1967 but she must tread cautiously because someone is watching case of Loving v. Virginia that legalized her every move. Pop-culture references from the ’90s are par- interracial marriage in the United States. amount to the story’s façade, and the final plot twist packs a Richard and Mildred Loving didn’t set out to change mar- punch. This is a fun stand-alone, but the ending leaves room for riage laws. Richard was White and Mildred was Black and readers to explore more of Jess’ world in the next series entry. Native American, and the young couple only wanted to live The main cast is assumed White except for Jess’ friend Amber, together as husband and wife. Married in Washington, D.C., in who is cued as Black. 1958, the newlyweds couldn’t cohabitate in their home state of A thrilling and thought-provoking ride. (Speculative fiction. Virginia because interracial marriage was still illegal there. What 12-18) followed was almost a decade of arrests, legal battles, and separation until their case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court. Brimner presents the facts in no-nonsense prose while RENT A BOYFRIEND providing context for the couple’s plight: The history of seg- Chao, Gloria regation, the impact of the civil rights movement, and back- Simon & Schuster (400 pp.) ground on the judicial system are woven throughout. Brimner $18.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 presents the debate about whether Mildred was multiracial or 978-1-5344-6245-8 only Native American without drawing a definite conclusion. The concluding chapters show how the Loving case had a direct Chloe hires the perfect Chinese impact on the legalization of same-sex marriage, bringing home boyfriend to thwart—and appease—her the lasting effect of this historic Supreme Court decision. This parents. thoroughly researched, attractively designed work is rich with College sophomore Chloe Wang primary sources, making history tangible. The placement and is horrified by her parents’ latest mis- size of the photos, including intimate family shots, increase the guided endeavor: relentlessly pushing narrative’s appeal and add momentum to every page turn. her to accept a proposal from the insanely well-off—and deeply Brimner adds another strong text to his growing oeuvre sexist—golden boy of their Palo Alto Chinese community, of social justice–themed informational texts. (author’s note, Hongbo Kuo. So, Chloe enlists the help of Rent for Your bibliography, source notes, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. ’Rents, a “Match.com on steroids” providing fake boyfriends 12-18) who pass even the most traditional Asian parents’ standards. But even with his perfect Taipei-accented Mandarin and pre- med major, it’s an uphill battle for Andrew Huang to earn enough “mooncake points” to win over the Wangs. Masquer- ading as Andrew, 21-year-old Drew Chan’s operative training as a winsome boyfriend is severely tested. Over the course

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 155 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Darcie Little Badger

A LIPAN APACHE TEEN AND HER LOYAL GHOST DOG GO ON AN OTHERWORLDLY QUEST IN ELATSOE By Laura Simeon

bee and is helped by her friends, her family, and her ghost dog companion—because Ellie has the power to wake the ghosts of animals. After writing short stories, what made you turn to a YA novel? I actually found the exact moment when I decided to go young adult on Twitter. On Dec. 30, 2016, I tweeted, “Uuuuuuhhhhh whyyyyy. Realized that the main character in this book of mine needs to be in high school, so I’m re- writing the whole thing.” I think I’d written about 30,000 words, and it just wasn’t working—and it’s because the story needed the protagonist to be a teenager. I was going with the angle where she was already investigating stuff, but as soon as I made that switch, where she was in high school and she was still with her family and she had this ghost dog companion, everything just fell into place. Elatsoe has such a rich grounding in a very specific setting—both its present geography and its past. It’s set in South Texas, where a lot of my family lives. It’s the homeland of my ancestors, too. My mother was born and raised there, my grandmother, my great-grandmother, my great-great-grandmother. We moved a lot when I Elatsoe (Levine Querido, Aug. 25) is a highly original, at- was a child, but always South Texas would be this focal mospheric work of speculative fiction. Darcie Little Bad- point, especially my grandmother’s 14 acres of land where ger’s resourceful and courageous protagonist, an aspiring the family could gather. So, thinking of Elatsoe, a lot of paranormal investigator, encounters vampires and is as- these sensory descriptions [are] based on that land in sisted by her best friend, who travels via fairy rings. Ellie, McAllen, Texas. short for Elatsoe ( in Lipan), has a close-knit, hummingbird There are still far too few books featuring Indigenous supportive family and feels a strong bond with Six-Great- characters outside of historical fiction. Grandmother, whose feats are legendary. Little Badger I was a voracious reader growing up, but despite reading (Lipan Apache) is currently in Connecticut; we chatted hundreds of books, I read about a Lipan Apache over Zoom about her debut novel. The conversation has never protagonist. That’s never. After a while it gets a little bit been edited for length and clarity. discouraging. This was especially alarming when I went Your book is wonderfully difficult to categorize. to high school in Texas, because we are the Lipan Apache I usually describe Elatsoe as a fantasy/mystery genre mash Tribe of Texas, and yet I never read about us, and I cer- that’s about a teenager named Ellie whose cousin is killed tainly never learned about us in history class. It’s com- under mysterious circumstances. The authorities think plete erasure. Reading a book like Elatsoe would have it’s an accident; she knows it isn’t, so she investigates his meant something to me. The most wonderful email I’ve death in this really creepy Southern town named Willow- received [came from] a Native mother [who] gave an ear-

156 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | ly copy to her daughter, [who] loved it and read it into the der when she was a child. There have been historically a night. There’s no feedback that could be better. lot of conflicts in that area, but [the border is] also something that traditionally didn’t exist. Asexual characters are also rare. I thought it would be cool to have a young adult book What do you hope young readers will take away from where the protagonist is asexual, but that’s not a focus of Elatsoe? the plot. I’m asexual, and I’m engaged to another asexu- Something that the book returns to a couple of times is al Native. My fiance and I met [through] an undergradu- the story of Icarus. I sometimes find this sort of story [is] ate organization, Native Americans at Princeton. There almost weaponized against young adults who want to ac- were five people there, and we two happened to meet. It’s complish great things. So, one thing that I hope that Elat- got to be fate! [But] I was once told by somebody that if I soe conveys is that it is possible to do great things, even was going to have a book without romance, then I should when people tell you that you can’t or you shouldn’t. It’s go middle grade. That didn’t seem right to me, because possible to defy corrupt institutions or individuals with young adults love to read about all sorts of people so it’s power or wealth or positions of authority. That does re- not really a barrier, [and] it does provide that mirror to late to current events; it’s also something that is timeless. other asexual people who don’t see themselves very often. Elatsoe I loved the way science was woven into the story. was reviewed in the June 15, 2020, issue. I’m a geoscientist with a focus in oceanography, so that’s one reason why this ocean of the underworld plays a part in the book; there is this merging of all the creatures from millions of years ago to the present day—whales and trilobites in this ghostly ocean. I find in my fantasy and science fiction, my scientific background leaks in in interesting ways. I was an intern studying the spread of invasive plants across the United States as an undergradu- ate, and in the book there are these scarecrow monsters young adult that act like invasive plants, spreading across the U.S., dis- placing the endemic monsters. What was it like working with Rovina Cai? Her illustrations add so much. She didn’t just do the cover; every chapter of the book has an illustration, and they actually tell a story within a story of Ellie’s Six-Great-Grandmother that eventually connects to the main plot. I first provided her with a script—it was in a format similar to a comic strip. And then she provided sketches, and there was a lot of consul- tation about the outfits of the characters, because even though it’s a fantasy alternate universe, I did want the historical clothing to be what Lipan people would have worn. I [also] provided pictures of living Lipan people as references. The art is so beautiful—I’m so grateful for her. So much of the book is relevant to present-day debates over the stories we tell about this country. One of the core themes of the book is: How does a young adult like Ellie seek justice in a world that is often stacked against her? I really hope that America becomes a place that is equitable for people of all races, all sexualities, all genders. What I want it to become is a land where my people, the Lipan Apache, could once again flourish on our homeland. That’s something that people are fighting for now and have been fighting for for a while. That’s the future I want to see, and I will continue to fight for it personally. We live in that area around the Rio Grande, and I just learned from my mom a couple weeks ago [that] my grandmother didn’t know there was a [U.S.–Mexico] bor-

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 157 Even in a world with magic, quick fixes come with a cost. spell starter

of several holiday dates, it becomes progressively harder for BAND NERDS both Chloe and Drew to follow the playbook: “Always know Poetry From the 13th Chair the line between the job and reality.” And it turns out, they Trombone Player aren’t the only ones keeping up a charade. Through alternating Corchin, DJ points of view, Chao keeps up the romantic and dramatic ten- Illus. by Dougherty, Dan sion, and her characters bring welcome layers to the fake dat- Sourcebooks eXplore (144 pp.) ing trope. Both children of Taiwanese immigrants, Chloe and $12.99 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 Drew come from tight-knit communities, and Chao presents 978-1-72821-982-0 the diversity within the diaspora. Frustrating familial tensions and miscommunication abound, and the reconciliation is real- A book of rhyming poetry for con- istically complicated but also optimistic. Most of the cast of cert and marching band nerds. characters are Chinese American. This illustrated collection presents a Entertaining and nuanced. (glossary) (Romantic comedy. lighthearted love of all things band—from jokes about different 14-18) instruments (arrogant trumpet players come up several times and there’s a saxophonist who has four extra fingers) to silly rhymes. An introduction titled “Stereotypes” explains how ste- SPELL STARTER reotypes can be harmful and concludes that “we can choose to Chapman, Elsie let them shape us, or we can choose to write a silly poem book Scholastic (320 pp.) about them and laugh it off.” However, this push back against $18.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 stereotypes, such as that band nerds are awkward and undatable, 978-1-338-58951-1 would all play better if so many poems didn’t fall flat. Addition- Series: Caster, 2 ally, unkind comments about people’s appearances (including pictures that caricature someone with an overbite and a woman Even in a world with magic, quick whose too-tight top pops open) and the reliance on gender fixes come with a cost. norms (the band director is always depicted as a man) strike a In this sequel to Caster (2019), Aza wrong note. A longer poem about a group of boys and their male Wu is again thrust into dangerous tour- band director on a trip who spy on strangers being intimate in a naments. These are backed not by the hot tub—“we all remember ‘hot tub’ night / As the night we all Guild but by the ambitious Saint Willow, the Lotusland gang grew up”—feels out of place for the mostly child-friendly tone leader. This time, however, Aza does not revel in the freedom of the collection. The black-and-white line illustrations add of full magic casting; rather, she fears her uncertain control over context and additional humor to the poems. Most characters her new, ill-gotten power and the risk of endangering herself, appear White, but there is some ethnic diversity throughout. other fighters, and the world around her. Reluctantly working as A reasonably amusing gift for band students but not one Saint Willow’s squeezer and forced to compete nightly in these they’ll want to revisit. (Poetry. 13-18) deadly games, Aza is desperate to find a way out of this predicament that will also keep her parents safe and the family business intact. Though it continues to be strong in action, this second THE MARCHING BAND offering spends more time exploring familial obligation, moral NERDS HANDBOOK choices, and compromise as well as human-made (or magic- Rules From the 13th Chair made) ecological disasters. Aza’s parents, still ignorant of their Trombone Player daughter’s real job, play a greater role here and are supportive Corchin, DJ of her, from her work to being interested in whatever sexual- Illus. by Dougherty, Dan ity or relationship she may lean toward. There is some diversity Sourcebooks eXplore (128 pp.) in characters, but the book mostly highlights Chinese culture, $12.99 paper | Oct. 6, 2020 from Aza’s family’s tea business to the strategic and thoughtful 978-1-72821-976-9 use of romanized Cantonese phrases scattered throughout. Amped-up action scenes and a thoughtful look at people’s Marching band humor is on parade breaking points make this sequel a stronger read. (Dystopian in this short illustrated book. fantasy. 13-17) Band students share their own special type of inside jokes, as shown in Corchin’s collection of poetry, Band Nerds (2020), being published simultaneously. This handbook of “rules” contains one-liners that capture elements of the marching band experience and includes both practical advice and funny, pithy sayings (“It’s a salute, not interpretive dance”; “Trombone slides are not lightsabers”). The book opens with a paragraph titled “Fun,” which explains how important fun is: “If more people were having fun, there would be no reason for hate or discrimination

158 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 159 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Kate Schatz & Miriam Klein Stahl

A BESTSELLING AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM PUTS CONTEMPORARY ACTIVISM INTO FASCINATING CONTEXT By Laura Simeon

Casey OrrCasey The book takes such an inclusive approach to history. Miriam Klein Stahl: It’s about making unheard, unknown stories visible through Kate’s writing and my art, for both readers and nonreaders. Kate Schatz: We wanted to show that change doesn’t happen because of one heroic individual, to give this broader historical context to the work for social justice that we’ve been talking about in our other books. One of our goals is to make history cool—I say this as a writer, as a passionate reader. For a lot of people, looking at a 400-page history book that’s just dense text is really intimidating. We wanted to take these serious, deep, thoroughly researched histories but make [the book] look like something you’d want to pick up. One of the best pieces of feedback that we’ve gotten [came from] a Zoom visit to a friend’s class in Rich- mond, California, of mostly low-income students of color. A teenage boy said “You know, this book was really cool. I actually wanted to read it.” And then a young woman said, “I love this book because I’d never really thought about my family and people like me being part of history.” MKS: Our best hope for accessibility is that people see themselves and see their stories. KS: And, on the flip side, that White students—the young people who are used to seeing their stories always reflected in books—see that other people are not just a footnote or a sidebar in the history books, but actually a Kate Schatz & Miriam Klein Stahl main part of the story. Rad American History A-Z: Movements and Moments It must have been incredibly hard to decide which top- That Demonstrate the Power of the People by Kate Schatz ics to include. and illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl (Ten Speed Press, KS: We really leaned on a lot of other people—a virtual March 3) is a bold, beautifully illustrated, highly readable focus group with about 90 historians, high school teach- work that pays tribute—in alphabetical order—to vision- ers, and college students. Once Miriam and I narrowed aries who have had a profound impact on America over down our list for each letter, we shared with this group to the centuries. Contemporary teens will gain an under- get feedback. We wanted to make sure that we were cov- standing of how they fit into the American democratic ering a wide swath of history, but it also really came down tradition of people working to improve society, as well to compelling stories. as finding inspiration for their own activism. The author MKS: The most fraught letter for us was B because there and illustrator chatted over Zoom from California; the were so many that we felt passionate about. Do we do conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Black Panthers or Black Lives Matter? I love the Biotic

160 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | Baking Brigade, the people that throw pies in people’s KS: Every story in the book is about people who had a faces. That was hard to give up because I love that kind particular vision for America. When you have a vision, of agitprop theater and activists being creative and funny. it’s an ideal, right? It’s something that we dream. I feel KS: In the end, the Black Lives Matter story [is the one] very inspired both as a writer but also as an activist in lis- I feel most proud of, both for your art, Miriam, and also tening to people like Alicia Garza, whom we write about that at this particular moment we have the story in there. in the Black Lives Matter story, whose focus is very much [We have] R is for Riot Grrrl, which I really love, but I on envisioning the radical future that we want. This book do kind of wish that R had been for Reconstruction. I is about American history, but it’s also very rooted in talk about Reconstruction in the voting rights story, but I how we need to know those histories so that we can have feel that’s one of the most misunderstood and compelling those visions for the future that we want. time periods in American history. MKS: It’s very much standing on the shoulders of How- ard Zinn’s , which is The history of activism is rarely taught, meaning teens A People’s History of the United States the kind of book we wanted to make for a younger group may not be aware of some of the continuities. of people. Kate and I were both really inspired by that MKS: The Black Lives Matter illustration is based on book. That is what America is about for us and the com- that whole idea. When Kate interviewed Alicia Garza, munities that we come from: It’s about people getting to- she was adamant about saying they didn’t start a move- gether to make change, and it’s a real counternarrative to ment, they’re part of a movement. She, as an activist, has what is being told to us by the federal government right really consulted with her elders on the movement and now. sees herself as an extension of work that’s been done. That was important for us—to acknowledge the people Rad American History A-Z that have come before. was reviewed in the Feb. 1, 2020, KS: I think that youthful push back and rejection of the issue. old ways are essential. Every generation has done that. This book is our way of offering younger activists historical context without doing the finger wagging of “Well, you think you invented it all!” I love that we have Y is for young adult Youth Climate Movement, but E is for Earth First! It’s quite possible that a lot of young climate activists would have no idea who Judi Bari was and would not know about radical environmental activism in the ’60s and ’70s movement. The art is so striking and shows a diverse range of people without resorting to the visual shorthand of stereotypes we unfortunately too often see. KS: I wanted women’s history to be visually exciting and the illustrations to reflect these powerful women. I didn’t want them to be whimsical or children’s book–y. MKS: Kate and I have talked about not always showing feminists as serious and angry. To try to capture the expressive quality of people and their personalities means sometimes I have to watch a lot of videos. I also try to capture subcultural elements that make up a person, like how they choose to dress and present themselves, so they’re not just one-dimensional. I’m very much drawn to high-contrast imagery. I like to see that contrast and then simplify it by using [cut] paper. There’s only so much detail that you can get, so you have to pull out the things that are most important. I got tired of just adding in the digital color that we did in the other books, so [for this one] I wanted to try to create my own color. That was a big stretch, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. This book is about the past, but really it’s about the present teen readers inhabit and the futures they would like to live in.

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 161 or any other evil….Grab a cupcake and chill out. The world’s RUINSONG lost a bit of its will to have fun.” Despite that simplistic intro— Ember, Julia evoking the rebuke that people who object to bias don’t have a Farrar, Straus and Giroux (368 pp.) sense of humor—this book will prompt some good laughs and $18.99 | Nov. 24, 2020 reflection on the camaraderie of band. Simple black-and-white 978-0-374-31335-7 line illustrations emphasize the silly humor. A closing poem offers inspiration about working together and overcoming self- Two young women shift from child- doubt. The illustrations show ethnically diverse characters, but hood friends to enemies to lovers. there is some humor at the expense of fat people, and one car- In Cavalia, cruel Queen Elene has toon shows band members vomiting after eating sushi. complete control of her population. An amusing, if flawed, tribute to marching band. (Humor. Cadence is a corporeal mage; weaving 12-18) spells through song, she can manipulate others’ bodies for healing, pleasure, or pain. This is Cadence’s first year as the Principal in the Performing, an annual event WINTER, WHITE AND WICKED during which sadistic Elene forces singers to torture the king- Dittemore, Shannon dom’s nobles. Noble Remi is Cadence’s estranged childhood Amulet/Abrams (384 pp.) friend, attending the Performing in place of her chronically $18.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 ill mother. Through a series of chance encounters, the teens 978-1-4197-4023-7 reconnect. When Elene discovers their relationship, she forces Remi to become a prisoner/companion to Cadence to manipu- A motley crew takes a dangerous late them both. As their fates become more intertwined, both road trip. Cadence and Remi must decide how far their feelings for each Winter—a sentient and sometimes other go and what they’re willing to sacrifice to unseat the pow- spiteful force first used by the Kerce erful queen. Both girls’ alternating first-person narrations often refugees against the native half-rock, read like exposition, and occasionally repetitive background half-flesh Shiv and their god, Begynd, information feels underutilized. The setting—which evokes three centuries ago—rules Layce. White-haired, sylver-eyed 19th-century Europe—sometimes clashes with more contem- 17-year-old Sylvi Quine considers Winter a friend, not a foe, porary vocabulary. Uneven pacing slowly builds before racing talking to the sentient season and relying on the frozen roads to the finish. Descriptions of violence committed by corpo- to haul goods with her big ice rig, the Sylver Dragon. When her real mages are graphic but not gratuitous. Cadence, Remi, and friend Lenore runs away, Sylvi pursues her with a mysterious Elene are White; diversity is woven into the text through Black cargo in tow and three unwanted guests riding along: the smug- background characters, Remi’s body positivity, Cadence’s dys- gler and magician Mars; noble Paradyian warrior-woman Hyla; lexia, and sign language. and friendly Shiv mechanic Kyndel. En route to the rebel camp, Despite uneven craft, readers looking for inclusive Sap- Sylvi faces hostile Shiv, reanimated monsters, wrathful Winter, phic fantasy will be pleased to find this.(Historical fantasy. 14-18) and the omnipresent but dangerous magical kol that taints the air and waters. Dittemore succeeds more at the cinematic science-fiction dystopian elements than the intermittent and HOW TO PACK FOR THE END somewhat trite fantasy subplot. At times, the Kerce’s oppres- OF THE WORLD sion of the Shiv reads as an extended rumination on colonial- Falkoff, Michelle ism, though without a conclusive critique or remedy. With Sylvi HarperTeen (320 pp.) at the wheel, more concerned with mechanics and money than $17.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 revolution, this reads as Ice Road Truckers meets generic chosen 978-0-06-268026-6 one coming-of-age. Relentless action sequences propel the tale through plot-heavy patches, but an abrupt cliffhanger ending Teens prepare themselves for necessitates a sequel. Some characters read as White; the cast’s catastrophes. various skin tones are less of a factor than their magical abilities High school sophomore Amina, half- or mythical origins. Israeli and all Jewish, has had nightmares Both mystical and mundane, a typical tale via unusual ever since someone threw a Molotov transportation. (map) (Fantasy. 12-18) cocktail through her synagogue’s window. Now a scholarship student at an upscale boarding school, Amina finds solace in a new group of friends and the Eucalyptus Society, a club in which they take turns creating competitive challenges focused on building knowledge and skills that will help them survive when the world inevitably ends. This unbalanced novel offers great potential: a minor mystery, budding romance, complicated friendships, and the all-too-believable premise that today’s

162 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | Will resonate with anyone who cannot live any longer without questioning norms. my heart underwater

teens have fears about the future that extend far beyond col- BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL lege and career choices. But the way Amina’s first-person narra- Fitzgerald, Mara tion unfolds makes events feel recapped, diluting their impact Little, Brown (288 pp.) for readers. Frequent overt exposition and more attention to $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 academic, financial, and social stresses than to the plot-driv- 978-1-368-05213-9 ing challenges result in a pace much like that of a pre–climate change glacier. The final chapters, which include more focus on A ruthless young noblewoman seeks the mystery, bring a sense of genuine emotional investment for greatness by rescuing her city from Amina as well as readers and give some dimension to Amina’s drought. somewhat diverse friend group, whose complex familial situ- In the veiled city of Occhia, anyone ations often stand in for character development. Timely to a with an omen—a red mark that appears fault, the veiled but obvious references to current politics may on the body—must surrender them- age badly. selves to the ancient watercrea, who takes and transforms their Squandered potential. (Fiction. 12-16) blood into Occhia’s carefully rationed water. Seventeen-year- old Emanuela Ragno is imprisoned in the watercrea’s tower on her wedding day after her omen is revealed at the ceremony, MY HEART but she escapes and kills the watercrea, unaware that Occhia’s UNDERWATER underground well is almost empty. Without the watercrea, the Fantauzzo, Laurel Flores city is doomed. When the hunt for Emanuela commences, she Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins flees into Occhia’s catacombs with Alessandro, her meek and

(320 pp.) bookish fiance. The two emerge in an unfamiliar city where a young adult $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 mysterious young woman called the Heart provides the citizens 978-0-06-297228-6 with abundant—and bloodless—access to water. Emanuela is intrigued: If she discovers the source of the woman’s magic, Corazon “Cory” Tagubio is a South- she can return to Occhia as its savior. Cunning and ambitious, ern Californian FilAm caught between Emanuela pushes the narrative forward with confidence in her duty toward her hardworking immi- her own judgment and ability, paying no heed to Ale’s words grant parents and her sexual awakening. of caution. Her eagerness to gain power, paired with a sense of When her mother catches 17-year-old Cory kissing Ms. self-righteousness, propels her toward a path of violence and Holden, her 25-year-old White Catholic school history teacher, revenge. Flashbacks offer further insight into the characters. she sends Cory to the Philippines to live with Kuya Jun, an Emanuela and Ale express same-sex attraction and have a pla- older half brother whom she has only met through Skype. Cory tonic relationship. Characters are White by default. arrives in the Philippines heartbroken twice over: Her beloved A fast-paced debut that reaches spectacularly bloody father is in a coma, and, separated from Ms. Holden, Cory feels heights, with an ending that teases a sequel. (Fantasy. 14-18) untethered and deeply alone. In her YA debut, Fantauzzo’s gorgeous writing presents an emotionally wrought American-born teenager on a journey to define her present as well as under- BEAUTIFUL WILD stand her family’s past. The unethical relationship with Ms. Godbersen, Anna Holden is effectively used as a device for Cory’s journey of self- HarperTeen (368 pp.) inquiry and growing understanding of real love, bolstered by her $18.99 | Nov. 3, 2020 cousin’s and friends’ more developed ethical and political con- 978-0-06-267985-7 sciousnesses. One of a cast of splendidly drawn characters, Cory faces hidden truths about familial separation and lasting bonds Romance blooms on a desert island. that provide a layered backdrop for her own catharsis. In tight Vidalia Hazzard has it all planned sentences, Fantauzzo packs a punch, describing Cory’s fraught out: The teen socialite is determined emotional tightrope as she negotiates Catholic dogma of right to win the heart of wealthy adventurer and wrong, repression, and rage in ways that will surely resonate Fitzhugh Farrar aboard the Princess of with anyone who simply cannot live any longer without ques- the Pacific as it sails across the seas from tioning norms. Tagalog and Taglish are interlaced throughout, San Francisco to Australia. Vida’s plan doesn’t account for adding an atmospheric texture that refreshingly lends rarely Fitzhugh’s friend Sal getting under her skin, nor for the luxury depicted insights into authentic Filipino humor, conflict, and liner to disastrously sink, leaving Vida, Sal, Fitzhugh, and sev- expressions of love. eral other survivors stranded on a small desert island. As adven- A (home)coming out story that rides a deep undercurrent ture and romance unfold away from the repressive social norms of love. (Fiction. 14-18) of the early 20th century, Vida discovers not just her true love, but for the first time, a true sense of self. The narrative travels in bodice-ripper trappings but smartly sidesteps the saucier elements of the genre in favor of an internal investigation of Vida.

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 163 A gritty, raw page-turner. odessa

Sal and Fitzhugh are less defined, but the book knows it isn’t they recruit, and the ways they communicate. He also about them but rather what they represent. Readers (particu- describes individuals who have turned away from their larly those susceptible to romance and adventure) will be turn- involvement with hate groups and puts forth ideas on how to ing pages well into the night. The only problem is that shortly respond to the dangerous elements. Along the way, readers before the novel’s end many will have figured out how this is learn how polarization contributes to an environment of hate- all going to shake out, and the narrative doesn’t do anything to ful speech and division. Early examples of extremist groups surprise. Before this point there are a few well-plotted twists such as the KKK as well as changes among more recent coun- and turns, making the last chunk feel a bit like a story gliding on terparts are examined. The rationales extremists give for their autopilot. The cast is White. actions are analyzed, including their opposition to increased A sweeping page-turner. (Romance. 12-16) rights for women and LGBTQ+ people, the election of Presi- dent Barack Obama, economic insecurity, and distrust of the media and government. The internet, especially the dark web, FROM DARKNESS is examined for how it is used to spread hostility. The personal Hall, Kate Hazel stories of those who turned away from their involvement in Duet (324 pp.) hate groups are compelling, giving insight into what attracted $17.99 paper | Nov. 3, 2020 and then repelled them. Finally, suggestions for how to moni- 978-1-945053-98-6 tor, respond to, and confront groups and individuals are provided. This valuable narrative is enhanced by photographs and Afterlife mythology meets romantic information sidebars. The book is well-sourced, providing an fantasy in this Australian debut. overall look at the topic while pointing to additional resources Seven years after a tragic accident, for more in-depth study. grief-stricken Ari continues to blame A strong introduction that sheds light on grim topics herself for the loss of her best friend. If often in the news. (source notes, organizations and websites, she hadn’t dared Alex to swim across the further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18) channel, Alex would still be alive. Although Alex’s body was never found, she’s presumed dead. Only child Ari longs for a sibling and is overjoyed when her mother and stepfather announce ODESSA they will be having a baby. When her mother goes into preterm Hill, Jonathan labor, a distressed Ari runs outside barefoot, receiving a venom- Illus. by the author & Drake, Xan ous snake bite. A beautiful stranger brings her back from the Oni Press (328 pp.) edge of death—but this is no stranger: It’s Alex. Alex went to $19.99 paper | Nov. 3, 2020 the underworld after her death, where she was raised to be a 978-1-62010-789-8 Summoner, one who leads the newly dead to their final resting Series: Odessa, 1 place. In saving Ari’s life, Alex breaks Summoner law, knocking nature off balance and unleashing terrible events on their sleepy A bloody story of resilience and coastal town. Ari, who still seeks redemption for Alex’s death, redemption in the middle of a post-apoc- will have to travel through the unlit realm to face the evil Lord alyptic gang war. Acheron to make things right. The book’s greatest strength is Eight years ago the earthquakes its sense of place; the pine plantation and terrifying sinkholes of the Great Disaster hadn’t yet reduced the world to rubble come vividly to life. The third-person narration places distance and Ginny’s mom, Odessa, hadn’t left their family. Now 17 and between readers and Ari, and she does not stand out as a memo- sick of holding her family together, Ginny sees the arrival of a rable character. Queer Ari is wrestling with her sexuality and mysterious package from Odessa as a sign that it’s time to leave attraction to Alex. Most characters are White. home and find her mom. Ginny means to go solo, but her two An atmospheric read. (Fantasy. 12-16) squabbling younger brothers tag along. When the trio reaches their maternal uncle in San Francisco, pursued by a pissed-off motorcycle gang, they find a menacing, corrupt city rocked by THE SPREAD OF HATE a gang war. As Ginny searches, she’s caught in a web of murder AND EXTREMISM and betrayal. Rendered in a deceptively innocent combination Henderson, Robert M. of black and bubble-gum pink, panels are expertly placed to ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) use linework and sequencing to strengthen the emotion and $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 humor of the story. Subtle and exaggerated facial expressions 978-1-68282-933-2 add nuance to the intricate plot that unwinds with each new, surprising piece of the puzzle. Snarky humor, mostly from the A measured, journalistic approach to more cartoonishly rendered younger brothers, provides a coun- a critical topic that affects our society. terpoint to the action-packed graphic violence and gore. This Henderson explores a variety of title leaves a pile of bloody bodies and unanswered questions as extremist groups, their origins, how the siblings continue east looking for answers and safety. Ginny

164 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | and her brothers are cued as biracial (Vietnamese and White); glimpsed in the opposite window saw it too—but everyone says there is ethnic diversity in the supporting cast. the girl doesn’t exist. While balancing good days and relapses A gritty, raw page-turner. (Graphic dystopian. 14-18) as she investigates the girl and copes with family tension, Kasia rapidly befriends Navin, the perpetually solicitous grandson of her Indian neighbor. Interspersed with Kasia’s narration, A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, A Reema, the mysterious girl, describes her own increasingly des- LOCK IN THE DOOR perate circumstances in italicized bursts. Author Joelson, who Hörnig, Haiko has struggled with ME herself, sensitively portrays Kasia’s frus- Illus. by Pawlitza, Marius tration and determination as well as ME’s toll on Kasia’s family. Trans. by the author However, this nod to Rear Window ultimately falls flat. Emo- Lerner (120 pp.) tions are often stated rather than shown, and underdeveloped $9.99 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 secondary characters contribute to an abrupt, lackluster end- 978-1-72841-287-0 ing. Reema is more a plot device for Kasia’s emotional benefit Series: A House Divided, 2 than a fully realized person, which is particularly unfortunate given her troubling story. Kasia and her family are White Polish A ragtag crew heads back into a magi- immigrants to England. Reema may be South Asian. cal house in this follow-up to The Accursed An unfortunately shallow take on a serious issue. (author’s Inheritance of Henrietta Achilles (2020). note) (Suspense. 13-16) After being flushed out of a skyscraperlike tower due to a burst pipe, Henrietta leads a group of bandits and soldiers

back inside to fix the pipes, save the village from the flood, MASTER OF ONE young adult and continue their hunt for the hidden treasure. It’s not all Jones, Jaida & Bennett, Dani fun and games though, as Henrietta faces moments of doubt; HarperTeen (544 pp.) she’s unsure how to properly wield the keys she inherited as $18.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 the wizard’s heir. While the group splits up and experiences 978-0-06-294144-2 various attacks and mishaps, Henrietta forges ahead and finds a boy made of candle wax who promises to help her—but dan- Teenage heroes uncover fae secrets ger lurks around every corner. The striking illustrations are and fight the forces of evil. both clear and whimsical, bringing to life the wondrous crea- Rags is a skilled thief chosen to break tures and imaginative magical elements that fill the story. Rife into an elaborately guarded fae ruin. with humorous moments, this graphic novel is overall a delight. Inside, he awakens a handsome, tattooed However, the presence of a dozen or so major characters makes fae warrior who vows to protect him, and it hard for them all to shine, and the clunky introduction of Rags is thrust unwittingly into adventure. Soon the cast expands some characters’ backstories during the war years ago muddies to an ensemble of six heroes and a diverse supporting cast of the otherwise tight, action-packed plot. For those interested friends and foes. The team seeks to assemble the pieces of an in unravelling the additional secrets introduced in this install- ancient fae weapon that look like giant silver animals. They also ment, a cliffhanger ending fortunately promises more to come. have to outsmart the evil sorcerer Morien, aid the Resistance The cast appears mainly White and mostly male. against the queen, and discover the terrible secret at the heart The action and wonder never stop in this intriguing of the court. Meanwhile, Rags is trying to figure out his own sequel. (Graphic fantasy. 12-18) feelings toward the fae warrior Shining Talon. Jones and Ben- nett play the hits—magical companion animals, ethereal magic warriors, an evil queen—yet do so with skill, excitement, and THE GIRL WHO WASN’T a unique aesthetic. This world of court intrigue and immortal THERE fae with skin covered in black tattoos feels at once comfortably Joelson, Penny familiar and intriguingly new. By the end, readers will be itching Sourcebooks Fire (304 pp.) for more. Of the heroes, four are White, one is brown-skinned, $10.99 paper | Nov. 3, 2020 and one is a fantasy race with golden skin and black hair. One 978-1-4926-9885-2 has a disability, not handled with great sensitivity—he is “familiar with curses, having been born one to his mother,” readers are Housebound due to chronic fatigue, told, and his arm and leg are repeatedly described as “withered”; a teen witnesses a terrifying event. another is transgender. Since contracting myalgic encepha- A captivating and satisfying queer fantasy. (pronuncia- lomyelitis eight months ago, 15-year-old tion guide) (Fantasy. 14-18) Kasia Novak has spent most of her time in her bedroom. The slightest exertion exhausts her, and she’s terrified she’ll never get better. When she witnesses apos- sible abduction from her window, she wonders if the girl she

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 165 SOCIAL MEDIA’S STAR POWER Martin Luther King Jr., provide another layer of motivation. The New Celebrities and The font and layout are attractive and easy to navigate, and the Influencers stock color photographs feature a diverse range of people. The Kallen, Stuart A. tone is primarily inspirational, and the book also highlights the ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) social and emotional benefits volunteers receive from giving to $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 others. Volunteering during the Covid-19 pandemic is specifi- 978-1-68282-931-8 cally covered, although these sections are written in a way that makes it seem like the virus is a thing of the past. This work will An introductory look at the world of be helpful to those already interested in being volunteers as well social media influencing. as students with service hour requirements. The life of a social media star may A helpful resource for youth. (source notes, further seem glamorous and easy to attain and research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18) maintain, but Kallen pulls back the veil to reveal the real work that goes into building and sustaining a profitable brand or channel, especially in today’s saturated and competitive online FOLDING TECH spaces. Despite the odds against most individuals being able to Using Origami and Nature To succeed enough to capitalize financially on social media fame, Revolutionize Technology becoming an internet star is one of the top aspirational jobs Kenney, Karen Latchana for young people according to a recent Harris poll. As a major Twenty-First Century/Lerner (104 pp.) source of information—often dangerously inaccurate—social $37.32 | Nov. 3, 2020 media’s impact needs to be scrutinized by young viewers as its 978-1-5415-3304-2 place in society becomes cemented. From burnout to serious mental health risks to risky diet fads, the downsides of being An exploration of various modern a social media influencer are also discussed, with multiple technologies inspired by origami, the examples of former and current online powerhouses used as Japanese art of paper folding. cautionary tales. Ending with a chapter on those who profit The simple act of folding a piece of from spreading misinformation, the content in this book is not paper can become complex quickly. Even readers who have groundbreaking but rather offers a succinct overview of the made a paper crane before will be surprised to learn that ori- power of social media influencers and the potential benefits and gami techniques have also helped to create NASA’s newest and harm of social media. For readers looking to understand social biggest telescope, a fast-moving robotic gripper, and an inno- media influencing 101, this is a solid starting point. vative Swiss chapel. Peppered with illuminating photographs A helpful introduction to the basics of social media. and diagrams, the straightforward text moves from the ancient (source notes, further research, index, picture credits) (Non history of origami, through bug wings and mathematics, to fiction. 12-18) solar-powered spacecraft. The common theme, both intriguing and well expressed, is the power and complexity of folding. Included are illustrated instructions for a few hands-on projects TEEN GUIDE TO that require paper and typical household or classroom items VOLUNTEERING like scissors and a pencil. Interviews with two origami experts, Kallen, Stuart A. both appearing to be White men, offer down-to-earth advice ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) about following nontraditional career paths like theirs. Also $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 featured is the work of several Asian and/or female researchers. 978-1-68282-937-0 It’s unlikely that readers will retain an understanding of every engineering concept the book describes, but they will gain an Packed with volunteer ideas, from appreciation of the interplay between art and science and will small acts of kindness to large-scale be inspired to learn more. efforts. Effectively showcases the contemporary brilliance that Divided into five chapters, this well- can come from ancient principles. (timeline, glossary, source organized book outlines and explains a notes, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 13-16) broad range of experiences and levels of volunteering. There are ideas to inspire readers across the spectrum of volunteering possibilities, from one-time and long-term options with long-established, nationwide nonprofits and youth-run organizations to ideas for ways to create their own grassroots opportunities. In addition to highlighting specific organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and YouthLine, individual teens are spotlighted for their volunteer contributions. Short quotes from change-makers, including Anne Frank, the Dalai Lama, and Dr.

166 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | Conjures an eccentric and original world that leaves readers wide-eyed in wonder. the girl who was convinced beyond all reason that she could fly

THE GIRL WHO WAS addiction. The book discusses the high presence of addicts in CONVINCED BEYOND ALL prisons and argues for the necessity of granting treatment to REASON THAT SHE COULD FLY inmates. Racial bias in sentencing and the disproportionate Lamb, Sybil impact on Black Americans of the war on drugs are not men- Illus. by the author tioned. The last chapter focuses on recovery methods and ends Arsenal Pulp Press (80 pp.) on the optimistic note that change is possible. In a neutral, pre- $16.95 paper | Nov. 10, 2020 sentational tone, this text presents up-to-date evidence, featur- 978-1-55152-817-5 ing numerous quotes from field experts as well as anecdotal accounts from recovering addicts. The mostly stock photos, A perpetually airborne girl catapults about half of which feature White people, break up the text. into a hot dog vendor’s life. Text boxes present more details about particular issues, such as Eggs is not a bird but might as well vaping or in utero exposure. be. She observes an unnamed metropolis from various perches A no-nonsense approach of use to report writers. (source on high, hopping around the city and occasionally “borrow- notes, resources, further reading, index, photo credits) (Non ing” clothes for warmth. One day Eggs (nicknamed because fiction. 12-18) of her public service announcement T-shirt, reminding people to eat two servings a day) catches the eye of Grackle McCart, who runs a wildly popular food cart selling 100 varieties of hot KINGDOM OF THE WICKED dog. Soon, the two become close: Eggs swoops into Grackle’s Maniscalco, Kerri life when it suits her, and he provides her with all the hot dogs Jimmy Patterson/Little, Brown (448 pp.)

she can eat. Both Grackle and Splendid Fairy Wren, an aging $18.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 young adult punk hippie who prefers her own company, are captivated by 978-0-316-42846-0 Eggs’ scattered and winsome charm and build their new friend Series: Kingdom of the Wicked, 1 a nest for cold weather, but a dangerous encounter proves Eggs can never be contained. Author and illustrator Lamb conjures A vengeful Sicilian witch forges an an eccentric and original world of $5 punk hotels and multigen- unlikely alliance resulting in epic, super- erational hot dog–business families and writes with a fantastical natural consequences. style that leaves readers perpetually wide-eyed in wonder. Char- Eighteen-year-old Emilia di Carlo acters are illustrated in vivid shades of red, blue, and green amid and her twin sister, Vittoria, have a mostly black-and-white backdrops. Eggs and Wren are White; secret: They are streghe, trained from a young age to use magic. Grackle is Black. Emilia is as introverted and romantic as her sister is bold and A vivid parable reminiscent of Francesca Lia Block. irreverent, but they share a love of good food and a disregard (Graphic fantasy. 14-adult) for their grandmother’s warnings about the devil and his brothers. Known as the Malvagi or Wicked, the seven princes of Hell have not been seen in years until tragedy strikes and a foray into ADDICTION forbidden magic accidentally summons the Prince of Wrath: A Problem of Epidemic Three witches—including Vittoria—are dead, and Emilia is des- Proportions perate to avenge her sister and stop the killings. An uneasy truce Lundquist-Arora, Stephanie with Wrath soon blossoms into a tantalizing, dangerous attrac- ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) tion with an uneven power dynamic. Rich worldbuilding con- $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 structs a post-unification Kingdom of Italy in which witches, 978-1-68282-921-9 demons, and shape-shifters live—and battle—among oblivious humans in a society strongly influenced by the Catholic broth- The causes and consequences of erhood in its midst. Several significant plot points unfold in a addictive behavior are factually presented. Capuchin monastery and its eerie catacombs, and the brother- This text covers both addiction to hood’s conflation of witchcraft with the devil is emphasized substances, such as opioids and meth- throughout. Most characters are cued as White—Emilia and amphetamine, and addictive behaviors, like gambling and her sister have brown eyes and hair and olive skin—while the social media, in a balanced fashion. It begins with the nature of dark-haired Wicked have golden skin. addiction, discussing the ways it is a disease, and stresses that An intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses with a addiction is not limited to people of certain backgrounds. It dramatic cliffhanger. (map) (Historical fantasy. 12-18) then moves on to the causes of addictive behavior, from genetic predisposition to the design of technology. Devastating consequences receive their due page count, including health issues, relationship stress, and homelessness. The text then moves on to crime, from acts like shoplifting which are addictive in themselves to those perpetrated to obtain money to supply the

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 167 Informative and well-sourced. greta thunberg

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC international crusade as she was invited to address world lead- The World Turned Upside ers at the World Economic Forum in Davos and United Nations Down meetings in Katowice, Poland, and New York. The book chron- Marcovitz, Hal icles her activism—spurred in part by the post-Parkland anti- ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) gun protests in the U.S. and her parents’ own advocacy—as $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 well as the sometimes personal public criticism she has faced, 978-1-6782-0018-3 to which she once replied, “If they are attacking me, then that means they have no argument to speak of and their debate only Looks at the spread, U.S. govern- involves attacking me. That means we’ve already won.” Marco- ment response, and impact on daily life vitz concludes with various examples of “the Greta Effect.” The of the Covid-19 pandemic. straightforward, accessibly written text includes short pullout Near the end of 2019, a highly con- sections on a variety of topics and occasional photographs. tagious novel coronavirus strain was believed to have jumped Informative and well-sourced, this holds appeal for from a bat or a pangolin to a human in a wet market in the Chi- young activists. (source notes, timeline, further reading, nese city of Wuhan, leading to a worldwide pandemic. Written index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18) in the past tense just a few months into the crisis, the book uses information available through May 2020, making it a record of the early effects of this quickly changing situation. Anecdotes ONE WAY OR ANOTHER about the cancellation of major life events such as proms and McDowell, Kara baseball games and the difficulties of online schooling dem- Scholastic (336 pp.) onstrate the day-to-day effects on individuals, but important $17.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 context—such as emerging scientific understanding of how 978-1-338-65454-7 the virus is spread—is often missing. There is no mention of anti-mask agitators or those who believe the virus is a hoax or One choice leads to two pos- political ploy. Quoting mainly voices from the U.S., even when sible fates, each involving romance at discussing the situation abroad, the disproportionate impact Christmas. of Covid-19 on Black, Indigenous, and communities of color Arizonian Paige Collins struggles is not mentioned. The cover image shows a woman of East with making decisions because the voice Asian descent with a stethoscope dressed in personal protective in her head always thinks of the worst- equipment, but the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes is never dis- case scenario. With Christmas just around the corner, she has to cussed. Wet markets, which exist worldwide, including in the choose between a snowy mountain cabin getaway with her best U.S., are presented as an Asian phenomenon. friend, Fitz, or a trip to New York City with her mom. Paige is Incomplete and written too soon to be useful. (source in love with Fitz, but she’s also an aspiring travel writer, mak- notes, resources, further reading, index, photo credits) (Non ing each option enticing and terrifying. Just after using a magic fiction. 12-15) eight ball app to make the decision for her, a slippery fall leads to split timelines exploring both options, taking a cue from Sliding Doors. Rom-com–loving, grand-gesture–making Fitz is GRETA THUNBERG single for once, so at the cabin Paige finally has the opportunity Climate Activist to share her feelings. In New York, she develops a crush on surly, Marcovitz, Hal philosophy-quoting Harrison. However, in both situations, her ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) untreated anxiety threatens to ruin any chance of romance and $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 a happy holiday. Paige’s narration is endearing and authentic, 978-1-68282-923-3 negative thoughts and all. Her descriptions of anxiety and panic are spot-on, and she often uses grounding techniques to help In 2018, 15-year-old Greta Thun- her. Cliffhanger chapter endings maintain a brisk pace between berg’s personal campaign against climate each timeline all the way to the uplifting, hopeful ending. Both change moved beyond her family and led settings are filled with enchanting, romantic Christmas-related to student demonstrations around the activities. Main characters are assumed White. world. An engaging combination of delightfully over-the-top Former journalist Marcovitz ably introduces the Swedish Christmas swoons and realistic anxiety representation. teen who became Time magazine’s youngest ever Person of the (Romance. 12-18) Year in 2019. Strongly moved by a climate change video at age 11, Thunberg became totally focused on its devastating effects and seriously depressed. A diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome explained her hyperfocus, and she used this trait to challenge first the Swedish government and then world leaders. What began as her personal “School Strike for the Climate” became an

168 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | MIDNIGHT SUN happy family. Already feeling like a burden to the Andersons Meyer, Stephenie and missing her boyfriend, Mike, who used to be her support Little, Brown (672 pp.) system but is now in college five hours away, Rowan starts to spi- $27.99 | Aug. 4, 2020 ral. The author explores the obsessive thoughts that accompany 978-0-316-70704-6 self-harm and elements of mental illness sensitively and explic- Series: Twilight, 5 itly. Rowan has a well-developed, strong character arc, and the secondary characters are better developed than in the previous A long-awaited Twilight (2005) com- volume. Readers unfamiliar with Rowan’s story will find this panion novel told from vampire Edward’s novel accessible but will gain more from having read the first point of view. book. Main characters are presumed to be White. Edward Cullen, a 104-year-old vam- A piercing and heartwarming sequel. (Fiction. 14-18) pire (and eternal 17-year-old), finds his world turned upside down when new girl Bella Swan’s addictive scent drives a primal hunger, launching the classic story of vam- ANNE OF GREEN GABLES pire-meets-girl, vampire-wants-to-eat-girl, vampire-falls-in- Montgomery, L.M. & Chan, Crystal love-with-girl. Edward’s broody inner monologue allows readers Illus. by Chan, Kuma to follow every beat of his falling in love. The glacial pace and Manga Classics (308 pp.) already familiar plot points mean that instead of surprise twists, $19.99 paper | Sep. 1, 2020 characterization reigns. Meyer doesn’t shy away from making 978-1-947808-18-8 Edward far less sympathetic than Bella’s view of him (and his Series: Manga Classics

mind reading confirms that Bella’s view of him isn’t universal). young adult Bella benefits from being seen without the curtain of self-dep- A miscommunication leaves Mat- recation from the original book, as Edward analyzes her every thew and Marilla Cuthbert responsible action for clues to her personality. The deeper, richer character- for a plucky, effusive orphan girl instead ization of the leads comes at the expense of the secondary cast, of the boy they’d expected to help main- who (with a few exceptions) alternate primarily along gender tain their farm. lines, between dimwitted buffoons and jealous mean girls. Once Retold in traditional manga format, with right-to-left the vampiric threat from James’ storyline kicks off, vampire panel orientation and detailed black-and-white linework, this maneuvering and strategizing show off the interplay of the Cul- adaptation is delightfully faithful to the source text. Larger lens’ powers in a fresh way. After the action of the climax starts panels establish the idyllic country landscape while subtle text in earnest, though, it leans more into summary and monologue boxes identify the setting—Prince Edward Island, Canada, in to get to the well-known ending. Aside from the Quileutes and the 1870s. The book follows redheaded Anne Shirley from the occasional background character, the cast defaults to White. her arrival at Green Gables at 11 to her achievement of a col- A love letter to fans who will forgive (and even revel in) its lege scholarship. In the intervening years, Anne finds stability, excesses and indulgences. (Paranormal romance. 12-adult) friendship, personal growth, and ambition in Avonlea and in the strict but well-intentioned Cuthbert siblings’ household. The familiar story is enhanced by the exciting new format and lush A LIFE, FORWARD illustrations. A variety of panel layouts provides visual freshness, Meyer, Tracy Hewitt maintaining reader interest. Backmatter includes the floor plan BHC Press (216 pp.) of the Green Gables house, as well as interior and exterior views, $21.95 | Nov. 5, 2020 and notes about research on the actual location. A description 978-1-64397-150-6 of the process of adapting the novel to this visual format indi- Series: Rowan Slone, 2 cates the care that was taken to highlight particular elements of the story as well as to remain faithful to the smallest details. In this sequel to A Life, Redefined Readers who find the original text challenging will welcome this (2020), Appalachian teen Rowan Slone is as an aid to comprehension, and Anne’s existing fans will savor back and starting her senior year of high a fresh perspective on their beloved story. All characters appear school. to be White. She has big dreams for her future A charming adaptation. (Graphic fiction. 12-14) after overcoming the mess her dysfunctional family made of her junior year. Will Rowan make it to college amid the hurricane that is her life? Rowan finally feels like she has gotten things together: living with her boyfriend’s parents, the Andersons; doing well at her job at the animal shelter; and hoping to get financial aid for college. However, Rowan’s carefully rebuilt life looks like it will come crashing down when her abusive father returns and her sister, Trina, pushes for them to be one big

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 169 VICTOR AND NORA devices guided through a patient’s body by an external magnetic A Gotham Love Story field); uncanny “super mannequins” (anthropoid training tools Myracle, Lauren that approximate the bodies and reactions of human patients); Illus. by Goodhart, Isaac & Peter, Cris & surgical assistants (that allow for minimally invasive procedures Wands, Steve that reduce blood loss, recovery time, instances of infection, DC (208 pp.) and even scar size); and 3-D printers that can generate cus- $16.99 paper | Nov. 3, 2020 tom pharmaceutical dosages, low-cost prostheses, and surgical 978-1-4012-9639-1 tools. The book concludes with an exploration of telemedicine, especially in field hospitals and psychiatry. A major oversight is At a young age, teens Victor and the failure to address ethical concerns about R&D and patient Nora became all too familiar with death. privacy as well as issues of racial and gender bias that are built Several years ago, Victor lost his into technology and medical care. While this is an accessible brother and Nora her mother. Now, Victor interns at a lab starting point for report writers, the rapidly changing nature of where he is working on a technology to freeze and reanimate liv- the subject limits its usefulness. However, the subject matter is ing things, work that has led his colleagues to call him a genius. intriguing, and the writing is clear and readable. Nora, on the other hand, is battling a degenerative neurological All right but already aging. (source notes, further research, disease that will result in her untimely death. Determined to index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18) enjoy what is left of her life and to die on her own terms, Nora decides to take her life on her 17th birthday, before the disease makes her unrecognizable to herself and her loved ones. But A HOPEFUL HEART then she and Victor fall in love, and Victor proposes an experi- Louisa May Alcott Before mental strategy that could give them extra time together—or Little Women could ruin their relationship forever. While the book’s dialogue Noyes, Deborah and characterization are compelling, the plot leans on pre- Schwartz & Wade/Random (304 pp.) dictable romantic tropes—most notably a quirky Manic Pixie $18.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 Dream Girl pulling an awkward, brooding scientist out of his 978-0-525-64623-5 shell—leaving little room for surprises. The book’s illustrations are stunning, brilliantly moving between sepia- and blue-toned From birth to fame, a versatile writ- palettes to heighten the story’s mood. Victor appears White. er’s growth, education, travels, and early Nora, her father, and brother have brown skin and wavy, black influences. hair; her late mother’s name was Sulani Faria, but there are no Louisa May Alcott led a copiously clues to the family’s cultural or ethnic identities. well-documented life—her own journals, begun at age 8, were An entertaining romance that leans into tired tropes. preceded by her father Bronson’s record of his young daugh- (Graphic romance. 14-18) ters’ antics that ultimately ran to 2,500 pages. Here Noyes falls victim to that weight of available detail, embedding valuable insights into Bronson’s pedagogical methods (well ahead of THE MEDICAL REVOLUTION their time), Alcott’s independent spirit, and the Alcott family’s How Technology Is Changing connections with leading intellectual lights of the day in tedious Health Care references to neighbors, boarders, debts and payments, travel Nardo, Don arrangements, and quotidian comings and goings. The generally ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) penniless Alcotts changed addresses over 30 times in Alcott’s $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 first 20-some years, for example, and if the author doesn’t men- 978-1-68282-929-5 tion each and every move, readers will still feel as if she has. She also, disappointingly, shows more interest in detailing what A brief survey of emerging medical Alcott was paid for her potboilers than in describing what they technologies. were about and takes at best cursory notice of the themes or The introduction examines applica- plotlines of her early novels The Inheritance and Moods. On the tions of machine learning and artificial other hand, Alcott’s experiences nursing dying Civil War sol- intelligence in diagnostics, patient analysis, and treatment plans. diers in a Washington hospital make a vivid and heart-rending The first chapter compares 2020’s scramble for a Covid-19 vac- lead-up to a climactic account of the genesis of Little Women, cine to a 1964 rubella outbreak then catalogs genetic technolo- and readers who have fallen under that novel’s spell will at least gies including vaccination, gene therapy, genomic sequencing, come away with a clear picture of its author’s maverick nature. and personalized medicine. The book then takes a macro- A perceptive character study afflicted with excess and scopic look at nanotechnologies, zooming in on applications inconsequential detail. (bibliography, endnotes) (Biography. for improving diagnostic outcomes, specialized medication 12-15) delivery, and highly targeted treatments. Other topics covered include robotics, including microbots (microscopic metal

170 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | A master class in short stories. foreshadow

REBEL SISTERS These passages are a real treat, as readers and aspiring writers Onyebuchi, Tochi are given an opportunity to learn from established authors and Razorbill/Penguin (304 pp.) editors. There are a variety of genres featured in the collection, $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 although most lean toward the speculative. The crop of writ- 978-1-984835-06-2 ers and their protagonists are diverse—Adriana Marachlian’s Series: War Girls, 2 “Monsters” centers around recent Venezuelan immigrant Mila- gros, who sees monsters in the New York City subway, and Nora Ify and Uzo are connected by more Elghazzawi’s “Solace” follows Laila, a Midwestern Muslim girl than sharing an oppressive, war-torn still grieving her younger brother’s death. Each of these selec- country; they cross paths when Ify tions displays great talent, and readers will hope to see future returns on a vital mission in this sequel works by these up-and-coming creators. Extensive aftermatter to War Girls (2019). provides enriching background information. It has been five years since the Biafran War ended, and Ify— Ranging from deliciously creepy to glowingly hopeful, in the Alabast Space Colony—isn’t eager to look back. She has this collection offers a master class in short stories. (Anthol climbed her way to the top and, at only 19, is set to become a ogy. 12-18) doctor and assistant director, overseeing care for incoming refugees. When synths—humanoid machines that are given human memories—and cyberized refugee children suddenly lapse into YOU WERE NEVER HERE comas after receiving deportation orders, Ify desperately wants Peacock, Kathleen answers. Tasked with returning to Nigeria, Ify must now con- HarperCollins (400 pp.)

front the past she longed to leave behind. Uzo, a 15-year-old $17.99 | Oct. 20, 2020 young adult synth who yearns to belong, has been helping Enyemaka and 978-0-06-300251-7 Xifeng acquire and preserve memories of a war that the government wants to erase. Their paths collide, forcing Uzo and A teen with an unusual gift is Ify to work together. Told in alternating viewpoints, the story enmeshed in a small-town mystery. examines the effects of trauma in a postwar society, coloniza- Mary Catherine “Cat” Montgomery tion, immigration, and government distrust through the lens of is spending her summer in exile after two girls searching for answers. Third-person chapters that fol- a disastrous incident with her closest low Ify are juxtaposed with Uzo’s logical and precise first-person friend, Lacey, leaves her isolated and narration; both are replete with descriptions of Nigerian cul- humiliated. The 17-year-old New Yorker will stay with her Aunt ture. Ify and Uzo are Black; Xifeng is Han Chinese. Jet in Montgomery Falls, a tiny Canadian town where her family A thought-provoking, action-packed addition to the once owned a successful mill, while her screenwriter father is series. (Science fiction. 14-adult) in California. Cat hasn’t been here in five years, after she and her childhood best friend, Riley, discovered the dead body of a young woman—as well as Cat’s ability to sense things about FORESHADOW others she couldn’t know otherwise just by touching their skin. Stories To Celebrate the When Cat arrives in Montgomery Falls, she learns that Riley— Magic of Reading and whom she hasn’t spoken to since that long-ago summer—is now Writing YA missing. Cat quickly falls in with Jet’s charismatic 18-year-old Ed. by Pan, Emily X.R. & Suma, Nova Ren boarder, Aidan, and his group of cinephile friends, but when Algonquin (352 pp.) Riley’s disappearance is followed by another teen’s near death, $16.95 paper | Oct. 20, 2020 Cat must call upon the psychic skill that has thus far compli- 978-1-64375-079-8 cated her life. Peacock crafts a multilayered story chock-full of conflicts with family and friends that many teens will relate An ingenious collection of 13 short to and a chilling mystery that will keep readers guessing. Most stories that will especially be enjoyed by characters are assumed White. aspiring writers. A page-turner of a thriller with a smart, compelling hero- Stemming from the digitally published serial anthology of ine. (Thriller. 12-18) the same name founded by YA authors Pan and Suma, this print collection features contributions by some of the new voices who were featured in the monthly online issues. Each entry is pref- aced with an explanation from the well-known author for teens, including writers such as Laurie Halse Anderson and Sabaa Tahir, who selected that short story for publication. Commentary by Suma or Pan follows each one, highlighting a particular writing element on display. Topics such as imagery, voice, and emotional resonance are discussed in these accompanying essays on craft.

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 171 Some original dialogue and narration remain, edited to keep the story emotion-packed and the pace as swift as the elevator ride. long way down: the graphic novel

IN THE STUDY WITH THE of a local watchmaker. Together, they manage to not only dig WRENCH up the grave in question, they also inadvertently raise the boy Peterfreund, Diana who was entombed there. The three of them work together Amulet/Abrams (304 pp.) to solve the mysteries surrounding the boy’s death—Owen, as $14.95 | Oct. 13, 2020 the boy chooses to call himself, has little memory of his previ- 978-1-4197-3976-7 ous existence. As their investigations proceed, Catherine and Series: Clue Mystery, 2 Guy develop a romantic relationship. Simple language and light character development make this book, set in a world that With the headmaster’s killer behind evokes Victorian Britain, a quick and somewhat flat read. The bars, college prep is top priority at Black- plot, while straightforward, is enjoyable and will appeal to teen brook Academy—until another body readers. All characters are White. makes an unwelcome appearance. A lukewarm gothic fantasy with a slight touch of romance. Plum is dismayed that Headmaster Boddy’s temporary (Fantasy. 12-18) replacement, a school board member from a pharmaceutical company with long-standing ties to Blackbrook, has boarded up the secret passages in Tudor House, preventing him from LONG WAY DOWN recovering his highly extracurricular project. Evading Rosa, a The Graphic Novel sharp-eyed new student, Plum solicits Scarlett’s help. But after Reynolds, Jason school custodian Rusty Nayler’s body falls on them, their illicit Illus. by Novgorodoff, Danica activities are exposed. Already anxious about her practice- Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum (208 pp.) test scores, Scarlett learns that her escapades will carry con- $19.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 sequences. Future tennis pro Peacock, also anxious, relies on 978-1-5344-4495-9 a new life coach whose diet and meditation instructions are proffered in soothing messages. Ethnically diverse, the stu- After Will’s older brother, Shawn, is dents are wealthy with the exception of scholarship student shot and killed, Will knows he has to fol- and townie Vaughn, who’s kept his connection to Blackbrook low the rules: Don’t cry, don’t snitch, get secret. Orchid’s mostly relieved that Vaughn knows her secret; revenge. despite his strange moods, their mutual attraction grows. For The rules are so old it’s hard to know where they came Mustard, conflicted, and Plum, perplexingly free of doubt, from, but Will knows they are not meant to be broken. He gets romance is more complicated. An attempt on a student’s life Shawn’s gun and heads downstairs in the elevator to shoot Riggs, heightens the tension. The six narrators—hobbled by missteps his brother’s former friend, who he is convinced is responsible. and self-inflicted mistakes—find themselves sharing long-held As the elevator door opens on each floor, Will is confronted secrets; even master manipulators Scarlett and Plum must trust by people from his past who were also victims of gun violence. one another. These flawed but occasionally endearing charac- They question Will’s plan and motivation, and although Will ters grow on readers. As the sly plot untwists, questions are was certain it was Riggs when he first got into the elevator, at answered and new ones posed until the cliffhanger ending. some point he isn’t so sure. The ghosts, their truths, and the Witty, wicked fun. (Mystery. 14-18) fact that he has never held a gun before make the decision to enact revenge that much more frightening. Based on Reynolds’ 2017 award-winning verse novel of the same name, this full- MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE color graphic adaptation will pull in both old and new readers. Powell, Kelly Novgorodoff’s ink-and-watercolor images bring a softness to McElderry (240 pp.) the text that contrasts with the violent deaths and the stark $18.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 choice Will faces. Reynolds’ fans will be pleased to see some 978-1-5344-6608-1 of the original dialogue and narration remain, though edited to keep the story emotion-packed and the pace as swift as the Catherine Daly is able to raise the elevator ride. Characters are Black. dead, but her magic comes at a cost. A moving rendition that stands on its own. (Graphic By day, 17-year-old Miss Daly works fiction.12-18) at a print shop in the city of Invercarn. By night, her employer, Mr. Ainsworth, tasks her and her roommate, Bridget, with providing a farewell service for people in the town. Cath- erine uses small amounts of blood magic to raise the recently deceased just long enough for mourners to say a brief, final goodbye. When Mr. Ainsworth asks her to dig up the contents of a mysterious unmarked grave in search of a magical time- piece, Catherine enlists the help of 18-year-old Guy Nolan, son

172 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | MONSTERS AMONG US biggest prize, Gov. Roth, has eluded capture. Ava and Mira will Rodden, Monica go to any lengths to find him, but it won’t be easy, and they’ll Crown (400 pp.) need each other more than ever to win this most dangerous $17.99 | Oct. 27, 2020 game. High stakes and alternating narratives between the twins 978-0-593-12586-1 and others keep the pace brisk, and Ava and Mira continue to explore their individuality, and their newfound power, while A college student tries to solve the leading a revolution in a risky bid to affect change for good. The murder in the wake of her own sexual twins are White, and there is diversity among the supporting assault. cast. Catherine, a first semester fresh- An action-packed wrap-up with a timely message at its man, comes home reeling from a sexual core. (Science fiction. 13-17) assault that took place at a college party just before winter break. Shortly after her return, someone close to her is murdered in her Washington hometown. As THE SHADOW WAR the police investigation into the murder gets underway, Cath- Smith, Lindsay erine becomes determined to do her own sleuthing, desper- Philomel (416 pp.) ate for answers and an outlet for her trauma. She is helped by $17.99 | Oct. 13, 2020 Henry, an old friend, and Andrew, a young man who shows up 978-0-593-11647-0 at her house one day to return the coat she left behind in her assailant’s room the night of her assault. The circumstances of Teens rip open the universe in an

Andrew’s untimely arrival on the scene provoke suspicions— attempt to defeat the Nazis in this queer young adult was he involved in Catherine’s rape or even the murder? Yet World War II fantasy. Catherine seems implausibly quick to dismiss these suspicions It’s September 1942. Eighteen-year- out of a desire to bring Andrew into the fold due to his close old Liam, a gay, White academic prodigy connection to the local police department and thus, clues. The who recently graduated from Princeton, trio’s amateur detective work leaves much to be desired as far as has traveled to Germany (by commercial airline, one of the plotting is concerned, jumping from hunch to hunch on mini- few historical missteps) in search of a medieval manuscript he mal evidence, with the bulk of their investigation focusing on hopes will help him understand and refine his mysterious pow- abuses of power within a local church. The sexual assault nar- ers. Liam has learned to access a parallel universe full of dark rative is largely sidelined for the sake of a plodding mystery. All energy that he hopes will defeat the Nazis. Unfortunately, the major characters are White. Nazis know how to reach it, too. Liam is soon joined by Jew- Ostensibly a thriller, this debut misses its mark. (Mystery. ish siblings Daniel and Rebeka—out for revenge after they were 15-18) sent to the Łódź ghetto and the rest of their family was murdered—and two members of the resistance—Simone, an Alge- rian-born Muslim lesbian, and Phillip, a Black American from THE RULE OF ALL the U.S. Army whose secret mission is never fully explained. Saunders, Ashley & Saunders, Leslie Slimy monsters cross into our universe; the protagonists react Skyscape (348 pp.) with violence—and romance—while fighting for justice. Non- $16.99 | Oct. 6, 2020 stop action, consistent worldbuilding, and a large cast of sympa- 978-1-5420-0829-7 thetic characters, all of them marginalized in some way, create Series: The Rule of One, 3 an engaging story. A coherent and ultimately hopeful alternate reality. (His Twin sisters Saunders and Saunders torical fantasy. 12-18) conclude the Rule of One trilogy with a cinematic finale. Evading the Rule of One, which ESPORTS AND THE NEW makes having more than one child a GAMING CULTURE crime, 18-year-old identical twins Ava and Mira Goodwin lived Steffens, Bradley as one person until they were outed by the villainous Roth fam- ReferencePoint Press (80 pp.) ily, whose scion, Texas governor Howard S. Roth, presided over $30.95 | Sep. 1, 2020 his surveillance state with brutal focus. The twins’ very exis- 978-1-68282-925-7 tence sparked a rebellion long in the making. Now it’s been 21 days since the fall of the Texas government, and their home city A brief survey of professional video of Dallas—along with the rest of the state—is unofficial Com- gaming. mon territory. The Family Planning Center is reuniting fami- This overview split into five sections lies with their second- (and third-, fourth-, etc.) born children offers an uneven introduction to the instead of cruelly ripping them apart. However, the Common’s contemporary gaming scene. A timeline

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 september 2020 | 173 A welcome workbook for teens wishing to get a handle on their anger issues. zero to 60

runs from the first amateur tournaments to the professional- Analogy for a generation’s righteous angst? Derivative bildung- ized present. The introduction pairs an anecdote from an sroman? Amid a world on fire reduced to a smolder, who’s to e-sports tournament with commentary on competitive gam- say? All characters are assumed White. ing’s allure to investors and educators. Chapter 1 defines eight A high concept shakily executed. (Thriller. 14-18) professional gaming genres. Though the main focus is cutthroat, typically team-based e-sports, Chapter 2 also considers lifestyle gaming—personality-based, commentary-driven broadcasts ZERO TO 60 often pursued by those who eschew the precarious nature of A Teen’s Guide to Manage competitive gaming. The text largely ignores the astronomical Frustration, Anger, and odds against success in favor of starry-eyed preoccupation with Everyday Irritations elite players’ skills, status, and incomes. However, this section Tompkins, Michael A. admirably highlights professional gamers of varied identities, Illus. by Douglass, Chloe including “Myth,” a male lifestyle gamer of Syrian and African Magination/American Psychological American descent, and “Brolylegs,” a male Street Fighter grand- Association (288 pp.) master with arthrogryposis. In addition, the book addresses $16.99 | Nov. 10, 2020 sexism in the portrayal of female game characters and hostile 978-1-4338-3247-5 environments for women gamers. Chapter 3 examines the upsides and challenges of building e-sports teams and leagues Adolescence can be fraught with and gaming’s fusion of athletics and traditional entertainment. competing desires and expectations, often leading to anger; this Chapter 4 lays out common defenses of gaming (for example, book aims to provide the necessary tools to cope. players learn life lessons), provides practical advice on start- Firmly rooted in principals of cognitive behavioral therapy ing a sanctioned school-level e-sports program, and addresses and written by an expert in the field, this book functions as a college-level e-sports. Text boxes mostly consisting of quotes CBT workbook that can be used on its own or incorporated do little to enhance the text, and the stock photos feel stagnant. into a formal therapy plan. Beginning with helping readers iden- A jumping-off point for interested readers. (source notes, tify how their anger is expressed and what some common trig- further research, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-16) gers are, progressive chapters scaffold learning and skills to rein in angry thoughts and actions. Subsequent chapters address ways to reframe thinking, halt rumination, and improve com- BRIGHT SHINING WORLD munication, among other useful tools. Each chapter includes Swiller, Josh worksheets to help with skills practice along with a brief “In Knopf (304 pp.) a Nutshell” summary of the key points. Throughout the book, $17.99 | Nov. 24, 2020 ethnically diverse cartoon characters, seemingly based on actual 978-0-593-11957-0 teens, share their first-person experiences with uncontrolled anger, its consequences, and how the book’s tools have helped. An itinerant teen faces down a mega- While this is the sort of book that many teens are unlikely to corporation’s metaphysical machinations. pick up on their own, if trusted adults recommend it, they will Swiller’s YA debut opens with acer- find the content worthwhile. Though the homework vibe of bic narrator Wallace Cole en route from some of the worksheets might put some readers off, the content Kentucky to upstate New York. Since his and skills are excellent and accessible. The clean layout, with mother died, his father’s job has taken chunks of prose broken up by clear headers, lists, and text boxes, them to 22 states, and he’s bounced through 14 high schools. enhances the reading experience. Never mind that Wallace isn’t exactly sure what his father A welcome workbook for teens wishing to get a handle does—apparently he’s some sort of plant fixer for Jackduke, on their anger issues. (suggested reading, resources, index) the country’s second largest energy company. Wallace arrives (Nonfiction. 12-18) in the Finger Lakes town of North Homer, where high school students are succumbing to bouts of contagious hysteria. All the same, stakes escalate quickly and unevenly. Clichés abound: He meshes with misfits and beefs with a reactionary meathead. Wallace also falls for the brainy, gorgeous, high-achieving, inexplicably receptive homecoming queen, a turn of events that feels unearned. Mumbled explanations and illogical leaps ham- string the plot as Wallace suddenly discovers a grand conspiracy to destroy—well, call it what you will—the soul, spirit, human essence. The resulting text—too dense for a thriller and too anemic for science fiction—seems unsure of itself. Syntactical rollicks between utter despair and ostensible sincerity prevent tone from aligning with diction. Is this a sweeping social satire?

174 | 1 september 2020 | young adult | kirkus.com | indie RUNNING FROM These titles earned the Kirkus Star: MOLOKA’I Anderson, Jill P. RUNNING FROM MOLOKA’I by Jill P. Anderson...... 175 Manuscript

ANARCHY OF THE MICE by Jeff Bond...... 177 In this coming-of-age historical novel, a girl learns of a horrific leper col- BEAUTY by Christina Chiu...... 179 ony on Moloka’i in Hawaii. In the late 19th century, Mele Ben- THE SUBSTANCE OF ALL THINGS by Sam Harris...... 186 nett is a hapa-haole (mixed-race) girl. Her White father is Dr. Reed Bennett, JOURNEY OF THE SELF by Ruth Poniarski...... 191 who is with the Board of Health; her

mother, Nahoa, is a Native Hawaiian. Their marriage is tested young adult ALL THAT LINGERS by Irene Wittig...... 197 by the policy of forced resettlement to the colony on Moloka’i for all who are diagnosed with leprosy, and it is the Natives, the kanaka, who are almost exclusively susceptible. For those sent to the colony, it is a lonely life: They will never return to their homes, and they will never see their loved ones again. Moreover, conditions are barely humane. Reed is very pained by this policy, but the science of the day dictates that such isolation is the only safeguard against an epidemic. He has to follow his conscience. Meanwhile, Mele’s childhood love, Keahi, finds a suspicious rash on his chest. Like many others, he escapes into the bush, where tracking him is almost impossible. This is when Mele discovers that her father is more than she thought and she begins to reconcile her White and brown halves, something that was tearing her apart. Anderson writes beautifully. The opening paragraph about Mele’s childhood house reveals a major theme of the book in just a few brush strokes of color. The scene in which young Jacob Maila is torn from his screaming mother by the authorities is truly heart-rending. And the arrogance of the powers that be (haole—White—of course) is infuriating. The author gives Mele, the first-person narrator, uncommon poetic gifts, as in streetlights “winking like stories wanting to be told” or when her father’s “voice crawled out of his throat” in an ago- nized reply. Almost every page offers such a treat. Readers will fervently hope that Anderson has more novels in her because this one is a winner. A moving, lyrical tale of a strong young hero dealing with a terrifying disease.

BEAUTY Chiu, Christina Santa Fe Writer’s Project (278 pp.) $15.95 paper | $0.99 e-book May 1, 2020 978-1-73377-775-9

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 175 american soul

Judy Juanita, a poet, novelist, and play- RELENTLESS VISIONARY wright, was the editor-in-chief of The Alessandro Volta Black Panther, the newspaper of the Black Berick, Michael Panther Party, and has taught writing at Barbera Foundation (198 pp.) Laney College in Oakland, California, $14.99 paper | $9.99 e-book since 1993. Juanita has long chronicled Jan. 27, 2020 this country’s contradictions in various 978-1-947431-30-0 genres and has come out on the side of A biography focuses on an often hope. Here’s an introduction to her work. neglected but historically significant Virgin Soul: In Juanita’s semiautobio- Italian scientist. graphical novel, a young woman joins the When Alessandro Giuseppe Anto- Black Panther Party, meets many mem- nio Anastasio Volta was born in 1745, no one foresaw monu- bers of the Black Power movement (Stoke- mental intellectual achievements in his future—he didn’t start ly Carmichael, Eldridge Cleaver, Bobby talking until he was 4 years old, and his family considered the Seale), and critiques the movement from possibility that he was “dim-witted.” But, as Berick’s concise a feminist perspective. Our reviewer says, book shows, he eventually became an “avid, intense learner” “She runs into one of the movement’s con- and developed an interest in science, philosophy, and poetry. tradictions: that women are seen as less At the age of 18, he boldly corresponded with Giovanni Bec- caria, a well-known Italian physicist and “acolyte” of Benjamin equal than men in the fight for equality, Franklin, and Jean-Antoine Nollet, a prominent French scien- reduced to ‘sexual cannon fodder in the tist, marking the beginning of Volta’s promising career. When midst of war.’ ” Volta was about 30—in 1775—he invented an electrophorus, De Facto Feminism: Essays Straight Outta an early version of an electrical induction device, his first big Oakland: In this starred essay collection, breakthrough. His groundbreaking research thereafter would Juanita recalls a “goody-goody” childhood have a significant impact on electrical science as well as on the in 1950s America, “a Jell-O & white bread still fledgling field of meteorology. Furthermore, Volta’s early land of perfection and gleaming surfaces,” version of an electric battery “spawned an explosion of new and joining the Black Panthers. Our re- inventions almost immediately, and has continued to play an viewer says, “Her incisive comments on essential part of modern life.” At the height of his professional career, he cultivated a “unique patronage relationship” with Black life’s contradictions make this essay Napoleon, who not only provided him with material support, collection a winner.” but also got him elected to the prestigious French Institute. Homage to the Black Arts Movement: This book is part of the Mentoris Project, which focuses on This starred multigenre work considers eminent Italians and Italian Americans. Berick, with painstak- the revolutionary Black artistic and polit- ing meticulousness, chronicles Volta’s indelible scientific legacy, ical movements of the ’60s and ’70s. Our charting both his triumphs and challenges. Volta emerges as an reviewer says, “Juanita has created a dense and intriguing trib- intriguing figure—on the one hand, a “disrupter, an innovator ute to an important literary group whose influence still rever- and a visionary,” but on the other, a very cautious man, less a berates in American culture. Her works rebel than a “moderate with a rebellious streak,” someone who effectively embrace a wide variety of is- preferred to keep his unconventional views about religion and sues from gender politics to skin-color politics private. The author’s account can be dry and technical, but for those interested in the unfolding of the Enlighten- privilege within the Black community.” ment and the role of Italian science, this is an informative and Manhattan My Ass, You’re in Oakland: absorbing resource. Our reviewer describes Juanita’s most re- A thorough and engrossing account of a scientific pio- cent book, published in June, as “unset- neer and the age that produced him. tling, important, and unforgettable poetry.” Her poem “Laborers Day, 2016” ends with this hopeful, instructive note: “Let us return To music To art / To dance To sculpture To architecture / To faith in human goodness / To hope To each other / Let’s look up from our mo- biles / And return To each other.”

Karen Schechner is the vice president of Kirkus Indie.

176 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | KNIGHT BLIND not a chapbook, as it offers scores of poems on hundreds of Bienia, Alice pages. The author uses its size to her advantage, however, to Manuscript produce a powerful, wide-ranging opus that truly covers the waterfront. That being said, Birkhead’s “black mountain” isn’t In this mystery, a struggling private meant to overwhelm readers; rather, it aims to be a place of rest investigator agrees to help an elderly and respite and a shelter from the storm. She explains the sig- woman find her estranged nephew and nificance of the image in the title poem: “This is my friend the runs into identity theft, dysfunctional black mountain / No judgment or hatred from anyone else / A rental cars, and murder. safe place where I can gain my strength / Just a way of taking Canadian private investigator Jorja care of myself.” There’s a delightful bait and switch here, as an Knight is down on her luck. Work’s thin image of ominous threat is transformed into a symbol of self- on the ground and the rent’s due, so when care. Indeed, for the author, it seems that poetry in general is the chance to track down a wealthy client’s about taking care of oneself, and many of the most effective relative comes up, she grabs it. Zosia Gorwitz last saw her nephew pieces are about working through the pain and distress. “Bor- Stanislav Gorwitz in Poland in 1939, just before she and her mother derline,” for example, opens as follows: “When my mind races fled the Axis alliance. Zosia’s grandfather and father were sent to / I get lost / Incessant worrying / And constant thoughts / Like Auschwitz, and her brother died in battle. After visiting the Cana- a tickle inside / The anxiety kills / Focus on breathing / But I dian Holocaust Memorial and seeing the name Stanislav Gorwitz feel it still.” “Reaching Out,” too, hits similar notes: “I don’t in the registry, though, Zosia became convinced that her nephew understand / I don’t see any sores / But I’m in horrible pain / immigrated to Vancouver. It’s a long shot, but she wants Jorja to What’s going on Lord.” Pernicious, invisible suffering is one

find him and reunite them. Stan, it turns out, died in a shooting, of the volume’s key themes, and Birkhead dedicates her book young adult but he had a son, Johnnie, who may still be alive. Jorja traces a man to “victims” and “survivors.” But in the midst of such pain, she who seems to have the right name and credentials, but it soon seems to say, poetry can be “cathartic”; accordingly, this book becomes clear that he’s not the person she’s looking for. Where will most appeal to readers who are struggling in the trenches is Johnnie, and why is someone else using his identity—and is it but yearning to emerge onto higher ground. related to the reason that Calgary’s vagrants seem to keep disap- A healing gift from an ambitious and thoughtful poet. pearing? Along the way, an incident involving an overturned water- melon truck leaves Jorja needing a cheap rental car. This first in a planned mystery series offers a very promising introduction to a ANARCHY OF likable PI of the traditional world-weary, hand-to-mouth type. THE MICE Although readers won’t find anything particularly radical here, the Bond, Jeff novel succeeds through its warmth, its generic familiarity, and its Self (460 pp.) humor. For example, Jorja visits JumpIn Jalopies to get a rental car, $16.99 paper | $0.99 e-book where she receives a succession of wrecks whose “special” features May 12, 2020 include front doors that won’t open, alarms that go off at random 978-1-73225-527-2 times, and a particularly unpleasant smell that threatens to land her in trouble with the police. The mystery itself is tight and well A disgraced politician, a soldier of plotted, with enough twists and curveballs to keep most crime fans fortune, and a suburban mom take on a on their toes. conspiracy to wreck civilization in this A fine debut by a talented writer, featuring a well-crafted series-starting thriller. new PI. Bond’s surprisingly plausible story envisions an America that’s been destabilized by the Blind Mice, a group of hacker anarchists bent on destroying corporations. Battling them on BLACK MOUNTAIN behalf of the American Dynamics conglomerate are security Birkhead, Lesli contractors Quaid Rafferty, a former Massachusetts governor BalboaPress (286 pp.) who was impeached over a relationship with a sex worker, and $35.95 | $18.99 paper | $3.99 e-book his associate Durwood Oak Jones, a straight-arrow ex-Marine Jan. 15, 2020 from Appalachia. They recruit Molly McGill, a single mom and 978-1-982240-96-7 private eye in New Jersey, to infiltrate the Mice. This requires 978-1-982240-94-3 paper her to become a celebrated left-leaning blogger and then navigate the collective’s Byzantine security protocols and tattoo A collection of verse that speaks rituals. Molly finds their leader Josiah, a young prophet given about self-care. to long-winded rants against the system, to be a little “Crazy,” There’s something elegant about the and their member Piper Jackson, a hacktivist trying to rescue format of a poet’s chapbook—a little lon- her brother from an unjust prison sentence, to be idealistic. The ger than a pamphlet, capturing a slice of Mice’s insurrection darkens when Josiah murders a health-man- life, a moment in time. Birkhead’s sprawling work is decidedly agement company executive and Piper unleashes a computer

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 177 The unforgettable ending may leave readers reeling. iceapelago

virus that wipes out most of the world’s data. The novel then though she can’t read them, she pores over the stories from The swerves toward a more gonzo dystopia as chaos erupts, govern- Lives of Saints. Her interest spawns an ambition. “When I grew ments crumble, biker gangs set up highway checkpoints, and up and was a teenager,” she thinks, “I was going to be a saint.” Fabienne Rivard, a dastardly Frenchwoman with ties to both The gift Grace uses the most is her ability to see light coming the Mice and Quaid, positions her own sinister conglomerate off people. For instance, in the presence of pubescent teens, she to take over the world. Quaid, Durwood, and Molly duly target notices: “They had all these oranges and reds streaming out of her Paris headquarters—a cross between a postmodern office their privates and yet they still glowed the baby colours around park, a cutting-edge tech lab, and a medieval dungeon—where their hearts.” The first of the novel’s four sections collects such they face not only Fabienne’s minions, but also her organiza- family memories as an exciting summer trip to Biscotasing, her tion’s bizarre scientific experiments. father’s hometown. In the second section, Grace attends school; Bond’s yarn, the first in his Third Chance Enterprises a serious student, she challenges her teacher, disturbing the nun. series, features crackerjack action scenes as well as a sly par- In the third section, “Leaving Town,” Grace’s sexual awakening ody of the symbiosis between activist movements and the cor- unfortunately coincides with her enrollment in a convent board- poratocracy, all in vividly evocative prose: “His bones didn’t ing school. The author enumerates the miseries of the school and seem quite to fit, elbows and knees jangling liquidly,” Molly how most of Grace’s classmates attend against their will, “under observes of the oddly charismatic Josiah. “He was impossible duress.” Grace eventually changes schools; at age 16, she becomes to look away from, his gait hypnotic, his kaleidoscopic limbs a teacher. She experiences her first real romances, including an ill- slashing the space between us.” The characters are colorful fated one. Her powers help her see what’s coming: “Somewhere but rendered with complex nuance: Quaid, for example, is an deep inside was a niggling that it wasn’t going to happen for me obsequious, morally flexible showboat who’s confident that the way I would like it to.” he can talk his way out of almost any situation; Durwood This series opener is a treasure trove of details and vivid is a laconic technician with moral rectitude that can be too characters. Grace certainly has intriguing abilities, but her pow- unyielding. Bond’s writing is well observed and engrossing in a ers don’t make the book more compelling. If anything, they at range of registers, from tough-guy posturing—“I expect you’re times distract from the well-wrought and intricate story of wishing you had what hangs in my right trouser holster: a Web- a Canadian family getting by. Bradley has a keen eye for detail. ley top-break .455 caliber revolver”—to the perpetual uproar Grace describes how her Italian grandfather, her mother’s father, of Molly’s home life: “It started out smoky when I burned “rolled out the large blob of fresh pasta dough with a clean broom an omelet, distracted by the cat’s pre-vomit hacking in the handle, and with a huge butcher knife cut it in fine strips.” While hall. Then Zach and Granny had a pointless argument about miserably hungry at the convent, Grace lists the food she squir- when an egg became a chicken.” Even Durwood’s hound dog, rels away: “An ear of cold raw corn from the pantry, the starch Sue-Ann, makes an indelibly wheezy and sad-eyed impression. making it barely edible; leftover boiled potatoes already turning Faced with a world coming apart at the seams, Bond’s charac- greyish-black from having been left exposed on a pantry counter.” ters stitch it back together with a DIY verve that readers will The novel’s main achievement is Grace, whose unusual powers likely find captivating. mirror her strange temperament. The author skillfully captures A raucously entertaining actioner with a sting of social satire. the earnestness and innocence of Grace’s divine aspirations. “Please God, I didn’t mean to laugh at them,” she prays, when a pool hall proprietress falls on top of a priest. “Hope this doesn’t BETWEEN THE CRACKS ruin things as I study to be a saint?” Moving through the years, The Life of an Ordinary Bradley’s chronicle reveals the youthful impatience to mature Woman With Extra and be important but pauses here and there to sketch indelible Ordinary Gifts portraits of human triumph and tragedy. Bradley, Sandra A rich, evocative tale of growing up in Canada. Tellwell Talent (308 pp.)

In this coming-of-age novel, a ICEAPELAGO young woman grapples with faith and Brennan, Peter unusual powers. Self (328 pp.) Bradley’s bildungsroman tells the $14.99 paper | $4.99 e-book story of Grace MacGregor. A brief prologue informs readers of May 19, 2020 Grace’s gifts, which include sensing someone’s past and future 978-1-83806-390-0 and even traveling through time. But the prologue is a bit of mis- direction; Grace’s first-person narration is a detailed and largely A debut eco-thriller follows scien- realistic depiction of growing up after the Depression. In the tists who are researching troubling vol- opening chapters, she fondly recalls her childhood in Northwest- canic activity and meltwater that could ern Ontario with her resourceful mother and handy father, an prompt global catastrophes. employee of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Grace, eager to attend Over in the Canary Islands, on La school, is entranced by her older brother Joey’s books. Even Palma, twin brothers Ros and Simon Rodriguez are ready to

178 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | spend their summer at the Pico de la Nieve research center. The and ashamed.” Because of a prenup, Amy is forced to find a job two monitor dormant volcanoes, as there haven’t been eruptions after the marriage fails. Forget about making her mark on the on the island for more than 80 years. But they’re soon worried industry; now, she just has to find a way to survive in it. Unfortu- about a recent spike in sulfur emissions. Around the same time, nately for her, continued difficulties with her son, Alex, as well Norwegian climate scientist Lars Brun is eager to use Irishman as further complications with the men in her life create even Sean Pitcher’s invention of trackable golf balls. Lars wants a more drama. As she tries to navigate a world rife with subtle rac- modified version that floats so that he can monitor meltwater ism and flagrant sexism, Amy must also contend with her sexual flow at the Greenland Ice Sheet, which he believes is due for a appetites, her guilty motherhood, and the self-loathing that has disaster much earlier than most experts anticipate. Meanwhile, always sabotaged her depthless creativity. a research vessel is set to check salinity levels in the Gulf Stream. The book reads with the ease of a beach novel. Chiu’s prose The Irish navy adds technicians—and a submersive—to this rolls like fabric and pricks like a pin, piercing the politeness that planned voyage for a supplemental directive: Find possible evi- covers up the deeper ugliness of nearly every social interaction. dence of volcanic activity on the Irish Continental Shelf. An Here, Jeff attempts to correct Amy’s vision of him, just as she increase in activity in any of these three areas could be cataclys- decides she might want to love him: “ ‘And that night,’ he says. mic, including potential tsunamis hitting Ireland’s western coast ‘That wasn’t really me.’ I start to laugh. ‘You mean racist?’ ‘I was and Britain. Time, it seems, is running out for everyone. Brennan coked-up, high.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘So you’re not really racist,’ I concentrates more on historical data and sophisticated tech than say. ‘Only the coked-up you is racist?’ ‘Something like that, yes,’ characters. Accordingly, his smart, well-researched cautionary he smirks.” Amy is a memorably intricate character, empathetic tale is measured, though it’s undeniably educational. Still, there even as she is impulsive and sometimes thoughtless. The author are a few amiable character moments, such as Lars’ initial meet- deftly evokes the intensity of Amy’s desires—both physical

ing with Sean at the Masters Tournament in the United States and aesthetic—drawing readers along for every bad idea and young adult and Simon’s romance with Maria Marin-Rabella, who does simi- moment of rebellion. The fashion world is depicted with lumi- lar work with her sister, Claudine. The pace picks up considerably nous specificity—and, as a metaphorical field, it is perfectly in later chapters, during which startling “natural events” prove selected—but Amy’s story will resonate for those operating in destructive and sometimes fatal. The unforgettable ending may any industry in which the complex layers of race, gender, access, leave readers reeling, even if it’s open to interpretation. and propriety can complicate a woman’s every action. It’s a A slow but memorable environmental tale. coming-of-age story that never stops, revealing how the decisions of youth reverberate and reoccur throughout the decades of a life. BEAUTY A sexy, unflinching portrait of a woman revolting against Chiu, Christina the life she makes for herself. Santa Fe Writer’s Project (278 pp.) $15.95 paper | $0.99 e-book VALADORY May 1, 2020 DeRobertis, Richard 978-1-73377-775-9 Manuscript

In this literary novel, an ambitious but The brave Rommods help other leg- conflicted woman navigates the world of endary races battle the fierce hordes of fashion while contending with her destruc- an evil wizard in this debut fantasy. tive attraction to sinister men. DeRobertis’ rousing epic begins When Amy Wong was still in high school, she lost her vir- when Sh’vrilil, envoy of Elamendonath, ginity to a middle-aged shoe salesman in exchange for a pair king of the Elves of the Aldemy Forest, of $1,250 boots. The event foretold her career as an emerging arrives at the court of the Rommod King designer in New York’s competitive fashion industry as well as a Genonsendorus. The official bears tid- love life filled with older, predatory men. At Parsons, her White ings of huge armies of Goblins from the Deep East commanded classmates mutter about affirmative action while the resident by the 1,000-year-old sorcerer Eolgamar. The Rommods, who design mogul, Jeff Jones, exoticizes Amy’s Chinese heritage. are divided between squat, short hill-Rommods and skinny, taller That doesn’t keep her from sleeping with him, and, in fact, she forest-Rommods, are known for their warlike valor and agree to agrees to marry him shortly after graduation. Everyone assumes send an army to help the Elves. The lanky Sharborough Mor- she just did it to get ahead, but it isn’t long before she has ceased ganforal, the Rommods’ greatest general and adventurer, sets to be an up-and-coming designer and gets sidelined into being a off on a journey with Sh’vrilil, his buddy Blanchard Windswal- wife and a mother to Jeff’s difficult child. Or, at least, she hopes low, and a few other disposable Rommods, ostensibly to bring he’s Jeff’s: “Maybe Jeff sensed it, somehow, or maybe he fell into news of the alliance to Elamendonath but really to travel the his old patterns. He started to look elsewhere. He came home Middle-Earth–ish land of Valadory and get into scrapes with its reeking of sex and Coco Mademoiselle. Fashion is a small indus- sundry denizens. These include gold-crazed Dwarves obsessed try. Everyone knew, which made me feel all the more helpless with mead-drinking contests; Gnomes; molelike Dugglards,

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 179 ruled by the one-eyed King Tolgarrilium the Repellent; Trolls; asks her to be general counsel at his new tech startup. The only fire-breathing Demons; faeries; ghouls; shadowy amoeboids; problem is the new job is in San Francisco and it doesn’t start various unclassified monsters; and Dorian Pictarian, who, alas, for six months. While she mulls it over, her phone rings, and on is no Wilde-an dandy but a demonic Elf hunter. Sharborough the line is Hemingway, who died in 1961. Callie is an enormous and company fight, parley, and piece together Eolgamar’s plan fan of The Sun Also Rises and is floored when Hemingway tells to orchestrate the Goblin hosts and bring perpetual winter by her to come find him in Spain. Not questioning the supernatu- summoning the Ice Giant Bergelmer. Complicating things is ral aspect of this wild occurrence, Callie wrestles her way out Blanchard’s discovery of the magic sword Nragnrath, meant of her lease, packs her bags, and heads off to Barcelona. Once to slay the gods during Ragnarok, which can defeat any foe but there, she meets a geeky American graduate student named also brings ruin to all who unsheathe it. The heroes split up, Trevor. The two become joined at the hip until Hemingway with Blanchard and Sh’vrilil going south to fight Goblins and calls again and they travel to Madrid. There, she meets Claudio, Sharborough to the northern wastes to confront Eolgamar. a wealthy Spanish playboy with a passion for partying. He and DeRobertis’ yarn sounds many Tolkien-esque motifs—a Callie become lovers, but she still hang outs with Trevor daily. heroic quest, an apocalyptic war, an all-powerful but all-cor- As the months pass, Callie and her small entourage are drawn rupting talisman, evil as mindless essentialism (Eolgamar never to Pamplona, where the running of the bulls may lead her to explains why he hates Elves so much when they seem a fairly the answers she is seeking. Dortzbach’s wine-soaked tale of an agreeable lot)—and adds explicit elements of Norse and Greek American living it up in Europe has a wonderful first-person mythology to the mix. His writing one-ups Tolkien with polysyl- voice that charges through the narrative in an ego-driven but labic titles, archaic usages (sometimes muffed: A vassal would conscientious way that is quite engaging. Callie is not always never address his liege as “Your liege”), and curlicued trash talk. perfect, and she has serious trust issues, but her love of Spain (“You have come a long way to die. Know your bane is Fando- and devotion to friends, namely the ever lovable Trevor, make ril!”). The novel’s action is unstinting as the characters fend off the book an enjoyable read. The Hemingway phone calls add hellhounds after Ogres after harpies in fight scenes that are a light touch of mystery to a story peppered with Spanish art, well choreographed and suspenseful, including a confronta- culture, and food. tion between Sharborough and a giant spider that turns into A smart and gratifying tale about an American in Spain a white-knuckle chess match played out with soft sounds and trying to enjoy life. slight tremors. The author has a good sense of military strategy and battlefield tactics, which gives the lengthy, set-piece combat sequences an absorbing intellectual dimension to go with RADIOLAND their buckets of gore. (“As the fifth turned to face him, hissing Elzey, m.e. with hate, he cut its sword arm off above the elbow. Then, as it Little House Press (270 pp.) screamed, he turned full circle and severed its other arm.”) In $24.95 | $14.99 paper | $8.99 e-book quieter passages—“each year when the Ice Giants were beaten Jan. 27, 2020 back by the end of winter, faeries would awaken with the melt- 978-1-73405-460-6 ing of snow and help usher in spring”—DeRobertis turns his 978-1-73405-461-3 paper story’s mythic sensibility into beguiling poetry. Sharborough makes an appealing protagonist, brave yet calculating—“It was A crusading lawyer attempts to bring always important to recognize one’s own mistakes,” he muses, down a conservative-radio juggernaut in “and equally important to hide them from those who followed”— Elzey’s political novel. and resolved to control his own fate. After five decades as a lawyer, Harry An entertaining sword-and-sorcery fable with intriguing Chalberg is about to take on the most important case of his characters and cosmic gravitas. career. The 79-year-old came out of retirement after his son and daughter-in-law were murdered by a White national- ist, and Harry has searched for a way to hold the propagan- FINDING HEMINGWAY dists that inspired that killer accountable. He finally has the Dortzbach, Ken opportunity in Morton v. New Signal News, a lawsuit against Cloister Inn Publishing (390 pp.) the media company that broadcasts programs like the right- $13.99 paper | $2.99 e-book | Jul. 5, 2020 wing Cal Brown Show. It’s a long-shot case, but with the help 978-1-73362-470-1 of his longtime assistant, Mariam Katz, Harry hopes to slow the creep of extremism in U.S. politics. However, he’s going up A young lawyer who is between jobs against some powerful people, including the billionaire Austin goes to Spain on a journey to find Ernest brothers—who built an international corporate empire out Hemingway, or at least his ghost, in this of their father’s Fresno, California–based tractor supply com- debut novel. pany—and Cal Brown himself, a bombastic radio host who rose Callie McGraw is a hotshot in the from humble origins to the top of the Chicago radio world. He legal world in New York, but after a com- later conquered America with a TV show aimed at people who pany merger, she finds herself unemployed. Luckily, a friend feel the country’s conservative values are in danger. Can Harry

180 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | Giroux’s prose is intricate and incisive, though always full of warmth and humor. ring on deli

prove that Cal and his backers are contributing to the political to make you fit into that mold until you succumbed or died.” violence ripping through America? Elzey’s prose is breezy and Throughout the book, Evans effectively balances moments of smooth, and he proves to be adept at replicating the cadences humor and self-discovery, resulting in a read that’s appealingly and arguments of talk-radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh: “Ladies candid and often funny. and gentlemen out there in Radioland….Here we go again the A remembrance that offers keen observations about cul- snowflakes won’t shut up about socialized medicine and the cre- tural differences while celebrating the power of love. ation of a Nanny state. Do we want a system like Canada, the UK or France?” The novel effectively manages to dramatize not only the current state of conservative media, but also the ways RING ON DELI in which it rose to its current heights of popularity; it does so Giroux, Eric mainly by relating the backstories of various players. There are New Salem Books (290 pp.) elements of the novel that feel a bit too pat, and the characters $17.00 paper | $9.99 e-book sometimes come off as stereotypical. Overall, though, the book Aug. 11, 2020 is a persuasive piece of political fiction. 978-1-73422-400-9 A readable social novel that effectively examines the consequences of conservative media. In this debut novel, a pair of brothers weathers the changing fortunes of a failing New England town. NAKED (IN ITALY) Pennacook, Massachusetts, has seen A Memoir About the Pitfalls better days: “What they’d soon call the

of La Dolce Vita Great Recession had just unmasked itself young adult Evans, M.E. to the world, but it seemed to have gotten a head start here.” The Capybara Media (390 pp.) depressed mill town’s affordability is why Ray Markham chose $26.00 | $16.00 paper | $8.99 e-book to settle there five years ago, after his parents were killed in a Oct. 1, 2019 car accident and the recent high school graduate became the 978-1-73341-550-7 legal guardian of his younger brother, Patrick. Since then, Ray 978-0-578-49386-2 paper has worked at the deli counter of the local chain grocery store, Bounty Bag, while Patrick has made his way through the town’s Evans’ debut memoir charts her not-so-good public school system. Bounty Bag happens to be adventures in Italy, first as a graduate stu- the largest employer and the primary landowner in Pennacook. dent and then as the fiancee of an Italian (The chain may also be partially responsible for the town’s sub- man with hard-to-please parents. stantial population of wild boars.) Dr. Regina Chong, principal of The American author and her two younger brothers were Patrick’s high school, is supporting a referendum to override the raised by a single mom, and her father, who was largely absent local tax cap to fund a desperately needed new school building, during the first nine years of her life, only sporadically visited. In but for her plan to work, she needs to spur voter turnout among 2008, when she was 27, one of her siblings tragically died, plagu- the generally disengaged electorate. Her scheme is thrown into ing her with feelings of guilt and a need to seize all the possibili- jeopardy when a management shake-up at Bounty Bag—and ties that life might have in store. She arrived in the San Lorenzo the resulting push for automation—inspires the workers to rise area of Florence, Italy, on her birthday the next year to study up in protest. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Patrick has been getting painting: “I needed catharsis more than oxygen,” she writes, into trouble, showing up to track practice drunk, dyeing his hair and the vibrancy of Italy seemed to promise that very catharsis. electric blue, and “running away” to stay in a friend’s basement. She eventually found her niche as an artist; she first painted a While Ray navigates the changing landscape of Bounty Bag with series of images of vaginas in close-up and then moved on to his colorful co-workers—odd characters like Muscles Carbonara, video work in which she asked women to describe an orgasm Toothless Mary, and The Alfredo—Patrick learns a bit of Ameri- on-camera. As Evans hit her creative stride, she began a rela- can history from his terminally ill teacher Mr. Grant, who helps tionship with a handsome Italian man named Francesco. They him put the instabilities of capitalism and democracy in perspec- fell in love, but their romance was tested when she met his dom- tive. Can the Markhams manage to stay afloat, even if Pennacook ineering parents, who instantly disliked her—and weren’t afraid itself is going down? to let it be known. Throughout this wittily acerbic memoir, Giroux’s prose is reminiscent of Richard Russo’s writing: Evans offers dry humor and sharp feminist insights. She notes, intricate and incisive, though always full of warmth and humor. for example, how she felt inhibited around Francesco’s mom, as Giroux particularly shines when chronicling the rules and rule “it was a little hard to open up around someone who appeared to breakers of Bounty Bag: “Every law and the Bounty Bag Code beg God to kill you on a regular basis,” but she wasn’t willing to were against Toothless Mary’s smoking in Deli, but before the give in to her demands and assume a traditional role of a wife store opened she did it anyway and left her hair unwrapped too. and daughter-in-law. “I’d never liked the idea of packaged iden- During business hours, she smoked on the Golden Mile, the tities,” Evans writes, noting “that being someone’s wife or mom long, wide lane out back used for trash and Deliveries. Some- meant specific things to people and that they’d relentlessly try times she returned from the Golden Mile with little pieces of

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 181 24 Great Indie Books Worth Discovering [Sponsored]

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182 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | WHERE WAR ENDS BITS OF STRING TOO by Tom Voss & SMALL TO SAVE Rebecca Anne Nguyen by Ruby Peru “In this memoir, debut author Illus. by Harris Philip Voss and freelance writer Nguyen (175 Ways To Travel Today, 2014) “A girl tumbles into a fantastical tell the story of Voss’ epic journey world imperiled by toxic babies, to combat his PTSD.” a shape-shifting disease, suspicious magic, dubious technology, An offbeat and inspiring tale of a vet and greedy entrepreneurs.” trying to find a way to help himself. A wildly imaginative, occasionally haunting fantasy anchored by strong, evolving female characters.

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184 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | HEY WALKER’S KEY ADMISSIONSMOM by Frank B. Haddleton by Carolyn Allison Caplan “A debut guide offers advice about “Haddleton’s debut is a striking, the college admissions process.” multifaceted take on the family- secret novel.” A one-stop manual for the college admissions world; essential read- A well-researched mystery punc- ing for everybody from high school tuated by thrilling tension and juniors to military veterans. deep emotion.

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| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 185

Henderson’s poignant narrative is engrossing and optimistic. harley’s bootstraps

garbage attached to her.” The author ambitiously sets out to say on a series of therapy sessions. This gamble pays off well, how- something about the state of the contemporary American town, ever, as Harris expertly expands on Theo’s character over the subject to the whims of corporations, distracted voters, and course of the book, and he adroitly plays each plotline against shortsighted politicians. He manages to achieve that goal with- the other to create a gripping sense of narrative momentum. out drifting too far into didacticism or oversimplification. The Other characters’ stories also benefit from this gradual unfold- characters are believable even as they are peculiar, and readers ing—especially that of Theo’s father, who’s had to live with mas- will have no trouble sympathizing with their various attempts sive guilt, not only regarding the loss of his wife, but also for a to stay employed—or simply to remain sane. Patrick is a par- crucial decision regarding Theo’s well-being in the wake of the ticularly well-drawn figure. Readers will not regret their time car crash. The book’s villains, which include childhood bullies spent in Pennacook and will likely keep an eye out for whatever and fundamentalist zealots, are somewhat underdeveloped, as lighthearted dramas Giroux puts his pen to in the future. is the far more important character of Aunty Li. But the slow, A well-balanced comic tale that deftly grapples with controlled portrayal of adult Theo’s progress toward personal larger contemporary themes. redemption is so commanding that readers will find that such minor flaws fade away as one reads. It all culminates in a series of chapters with hefty emotional impact. THE SUBSTANCE OF A dramatic and cumulatively powerful tale of one ALL THINGS man’s healing. Harris, Sam Self (382 pp.) $13.95 paper | $9.99 e-book | Jul. 1, 2020 HARLEY’S BOOTSTRAPS 978-0-578-66878-9 Henderson, Lois C. FriesenPress (264 pp.) Harris’ new novel tells the remarkable $26.99 | $19.99 paper | $6.99 e-book life story of a modern-day miracle worker. May 25, 2020 Theodore “Theo” Dalton is a thera- 978-1-5255-6874-9 pist who helps his female clients make 978-1-5255-6875-6 paper sense out of their trauma and find spiritual healing. But as readers learn in alternating chapters, Three Canadians, wounded in dif- before Theo was a healer of psyches, he was a healer of bod- ferent ways, begin to form an unlikely ies. In 1961, when he was 6 years old, he was in a car accident family in this novel about loneliness, that crippled his father, maimed his own hands, and killed his connection, and survival. pregnant mother—although his infant sister, Lily, was saved. Harley is the youngest of 19 children in an impoverished fam- Now, in his adulthood, Theo is reluctant to revisit those memo- ily in the small town of Brandon, Manitoba. Carelessly named for ries. “The misfortune of that November night in 1961 is safely a motorcycle and born long after her family had given up caring locked away,” he thinks, “only rarely peering out—in sepia about its new members, Harley is left with the responsibility of tones.” When he’s 12 and living in Oklahoma under the care of raising herself, with the likely outcome of sinking into her clan’s his father and his imperious Aunty Li, a Native American man morass of alcohol, drugs, and apathy. But a native astuteness named Frank Kotori sees Theo heal another boy’s arm by simply and an improbable drive toward survival allow her to recognize touching it. At Frank’s encouragement, Theo goes on to heal an a lifeline when it arrives in the form of Lydia, a Winnipeg doc- injured bird, which prompts the man to bring the boy to a sick tor who is assigned to be her mentor in a well-meaning volunteer baby in a nearby part of town: “The current splayed to my fin- program for at-risk girls. When Harley finds herself in trouble gers, tiny jolts of something,” Theo recalls of holding the infant after a drunken night with friends, Lydia offers her a place to in his hands, “something charged, even voltaic.” When word of live and heal. Against all odds and their own inclinations, Harley his abilities spreads, some of the townspeople consider him an and Lydia begin to trust each other, soon looping the physician’s instrument of evil, and after a string of misunderstandings and childhood friend Meaghan into their emerging family. With tragedies, he decides never to use his hands to heal again. Later, warmth and mutual reliance, the three help one another negoti- however, his relationships with his therapy patients draw him ate abusive and neglectful relationships, disappointments, losses, deeper into his own memories. and brave reimaginings as they begin to rebuild their lives and Harris, the author of the essay collection Ham (2014), expand their circle as strong and loving women. Henderson’s poi- handles Theo’s story with a smooth confidence that belies the gnant narrative is engrossing and optimistic, depicting the inner inherent difficulties of wrangling a narrative split between two lives of her characters with savvy precision. Her language is inci- different time frames—a strategy that has brought more than a sively descriptive, as when Harley describes her extended family: few other authors to grief. His main narrative gamble is to juxta- “Jail or benders or loss of custody have left a little pile of children pose the inherently dramatic developments of the storyline set growing wild and unchecked, like suckers from a tree.” Or when in the past, involving a boy with supernatural powers and the Lydia characterizes the teenage Harley as “a lady person in purga- angry residents of a small town, with the intense but relatively tory on an uncelebrated journey with no destination.” If Harley’s quotidian developments of the present-day story, which focuses transformation and Lydia’s acceptance of her into her life seem

186 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com |

quickly accomplished, the results are so heartwarmingly satisfy- SPORE ing that few will complain. The themes of healing and forgive- Kristoph, David ness are expanded to include the redemption of even the most Self (307 pp.) unlikely characters. $14.99 paper | $0.99 e-book A perceptive, tender, and affirmative tale about women Jul. 21, 2020 repairing old hurts and forging new bonds. One man finds being a guinea pig to be a surprisingly dangerous endeavor in GUIDING EMILY Kristoph’s thriller. A Tale of Love, Loss, and John Harmon’s “sleeping problems” Courage include insomnia and night terrors, Hinske, Barbara and they’ve intensified in the last few Casa del Northern Publishing (276 pp.) months. His brother-in-law, Randy Castillo, who works with $15.99 paper | $4.99 e-book him in security at a company called NeuroDyne, has secretly Jun. 8, 2020 acquired some pills from an insomnia study, and John has 978-1-73492-490-9 taken them, but they haven’t helped. John’s situation worsens after he inadvertently sees a pay stub for subjects in a research Hinske’s emotionally charged novel study; this, along with other innocuous acts, leads his employ- toggles between the storylines of a suc- ers to accuse him of corporate espionage and terminate him as cessful programmer who has gone blind they open a formal investigation. A potential lawsuit presents

and an earnest pup determined to ace his training as a guide dog. an additional financial burden for John and his wife, Maria, young adult The tale begins with first-person narration by Garth, a whose young daughter, Annabelle, is undergoing leukemia guide dog who is excited about being introduced to “Emily. treatments. So when Randy suggests that John fill in for an The woman who would become everything to me.” On his way applicant who dropped out of a four-week NeuroDyne sleep to meet her, something on the carpet distracts him. “Is that a study, he agrees. Sure, it requires John to use a false name, but Cheeto? A Crunchy Cheeto?” he thinks. “I love Crunchy Cheetos.” the pay is substantial, and it may even cure his sleep issues. Flashback to Emily Main, who is in Fiji with her fiance, Con- His initial concern at the Skyline facility, located somewhere nor Harrington III, for their destination wedding. They are a in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is that there’s no way for him to power couple—he’s a top salesman for a large corporation; she’s communicate with his family. But a series of endurance and a lead programmer. Emily suffers from myopic degeneration, coordination tests, coupled with injections of a glowing blue which could result in detached retinas, and a fall from horse- liquid, initially have positive effects. Then John gets sick, and back causes her to lose her eyesight. Emily, a fiercely indepen- it’s quickly apparent that the doctors have no intention of let- dent woman, plummets into a deep depression from which she ting him go home. Even more alarming is the origin of the blue would not have recovered had it not been for Dhruv, a pro- liquid—and its intended purpose. grammer on her team at work. Dhruv convinces her to attend Kristoph, the author of Bathed in Light (2016), among classes at the Foundation for the Blind, where she confronts other books, aptly establishes John’s home life and growing her fears, learning skills for living independently. Meanwhile, despair. Maria is understandably frustrated by the family’s and separately, Garth undergoes his own rigorous instruction monetary woes, but she, as well as Annabelle and her sibling, and struggles, including a traumatizing incident in a restaurant Gerry, remain endearing throughout. It’s believable when John where he is attacked by another dog. The two narratives do not becomes determined to find a way to contact them from Sky- converge until the concluding chapters of the novel. Hinske line, especially in light of Annabelle’s upcoming sixth birthday. rotates third-person narration of Emily’s story with delightful The author introduces more characters as the story progresses, chapters written in Garth’s voice. Despite the dog’s own anxi- starting with fellow study participants Jennifer Swedenborg eties, he provides the novel with comic relief. During a train- and Bill Jackson, both of whom are sympathetic. As the story ing session on navigating stairs, Garth observes a “two-legged becomes delightfully more complex, Kristoph tells it from mother” with “a mass of gray curls on top of her head” approach- the perspectives of various other characters, including neu- ing, and he notes, “I’ve seen four-legged mothers with that hair- ropsychologist Susan Kendricks. Kristoph’s keen but easygo- style—they’re called poodles.” While Emily grows into a fully ing prose makes the scientific exposition not only engaging, developed character as the story progresses, Connor remains a but also convincingly realistic. As the tension rises for John, superficial player. But it is the persistent kindness of secondary readers learn shocking information that he doesn’t know. It all character Dhruv that will capture readers’ hearts. leads to a final act that’s frantic and violent and a sharp, truly A page-turning, informative read with a tender shoutout unforgettable denouement. The most potent scenes, however, to service dogs. involve John’s adverse reactions to the blue injections, including a seemingly endless migraine; at one point, he repeatedly punches a wall to distract himself from the horrific pain in his head. Likewise, the story’s unsettling atmosphere stems, at least in part, from common dilemmas in research studies; for

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 187 Lonczak does an admirable job of helping prepare kids for a family adoption. gus becomes a big brother

example, there’s a distinct possibility that John, who craves a turn their attentions to the SF and fantasy genres. Reflecting cure for his ills, may simply be part of a control group—and on the significance of SF film scores in his introduction, Lupton receiving harmless placebos. writes: “Star Trek, Back to the Future, The Twilight Zone, Termina- A wholly absorbing and often creepy tale of the dark side tor? These are some of the greatest music themes ever written, of scientific research. and for many of us, the soundtrack to our nerdy youths.” The work is divided into nine chapters: epic SF, adult fantasy, dark dystopia, action/adventure, pop, family features, comic book/ GUS BECOMES A superheroes, television, and unidentified objects. Each chap- BIG BROTHER ter features a series of color reproductions of key album covers, An Adoption Story such as Star Wars and Blade Runner, followed by detailed com- Lonczak, Heather S. mentary. Focusing predominantly on the 1970s through the ’90s Illus. by Varjotie, Claudia to maintain an emphasis on vinyl, the period covered ends in Self (44 pp.) 1999, so newer classics such as the Harry Potter films are not $16.00 | $8.99 paper | $3.99 e-book included. The volume also provides revealing interviews with Nov. 1, 2019 luminaries like the composer Christopher Young, who scored 978-0-9786093-8-2 Hellraiser. The design of the book is colorful and fittingly retro, 978-0-9786093-9-9 paper and the album covers themselves are a joy to peruse collectively. The authors offer consistently insightful commentary from a When a canine family gets ready to adopt, a young dog musician’s perspective. Describing the score of the 1979 movie learns about being a big brother in this picture book. Starcrash by John Barry, they note: “The composer also plays Although the Barker family—Buford, Winnie, and 3-year- around with some interesting rhythmic techniques, breaking old Gus—is a happy one, something is missing. Gus would love down the 4/4 time signature into more unusual chunks of 3-3-2 a puppy to cavort with, and his parents would like an addition to (such as the galloping ‘Space War’ cue).” The comprehensive the family. So when Mr. and Mrs. Barker tell Gus they’re adopt- study also delivers thoughtful recommendations that reflect ing, he exults: “I’m going to be a big brother!” As his parents go the authors’ depth of knowledge. Regarding Jerry Goldsmith’s through the process, they tell Gus what to expect. After his new score for Supergirl, they tell readers: “To hear the soundtrack brother, Pacco, arrives, Gus has more changes to navigate, such presented as it sounds in the film, with the synths, try the 1993 as sharing toys and attention. But he loves playing with Pacco. expanded re-release CD…which features music such as Gold- When others think that Pacco is a friend, Gus replies proudly: smith’s eerie choral work for the Phantom Zone sequences.” “Nope, I’m his big brother!” Lonczak, in her latest children’s book But the descriptive scope can become limited and repetitive at focused on teaching resilience, does an admirable job of helping times: “Sci-fi became sexy again”; “as much a sexy sci-fi flick as prepare kids for a family adoption. Adults, too, can benefit from it is horror.” This does not largely detract from a painstakingly how the work thinks through possible problems and offers effec- compiled catalog packed with meticulous details that will prove tive solutions; for example, while Gus will give some of his toys a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the genres. to Pacco, he can keep his favorite ones. Warmth and affection An eye-catching, enjoyable, and informative celebration underlie the story, as when Gus is reassured that “your parents of iconic SF and fantasy movie scores. have oodles of love for you. And when we add a new pup to a family…the love just grows even bigger.” Varjotie creates a friendly, relaxed atmosphere with her soft colors, rounded edges, and ani- THE ALBATROSS mals that combine realistic and anthropomorphic features. Contact Sensitive, thorough, loving guidance that helps smooth Mackay, Connor the adoption process for siblings-to-be. FriesenPress (486 pp.) $20.99 paper | Aug. 11, 2020 978-1-5255-6728-5 PLANET WAX Sci-Fi/Fantasy Soundtracks In Mackay’s debut military–SF series on Vinyl starter, an endangered alien race makes Lupton, Aaron & Szpirglas, Jeff contact with Earth and asks its inhabit- 1984 Publishing (240 pp.) ants for a favor. $34.95 | Sep. 29, 2020 In 2020, humanity has their first 978-1-948221-14-6 encounter with intergalactic aliens. Lumenarians are humanoid quasi-reptiles who are quite humanlike in their ways and atti- A sequel catalogs SF and fantasy film tudes, and they generously share their technology with Earth. soundtracks on vinyl. However, they also ask humans for a big favor in return. Their As a follow-up to their previous book, ancient race—which has forgotten its history due to computer- Blood on Black Wax (2019), which spot- memory failure—is fighting a war against a mysterious, vicious, lighted iconic horror movie soundtracks, Lupton and Szpirglas armor-plated army called the Forsaken, who are conquering

188 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | and exterminating their distant colonies. The Lumenarians the Auld Alliance deadline expires in less than two months. In have found that other space-traveling races are mostly peace- this sequel, Macreery crafts a sweet historical fiction tale that ful but that technologically primitive humans are a warlike emphasizes loyalty and perseverance for middle-grade audiences. species—so they ask for a volunteer human army to mount Mercy readily finds feverfew flowers to ease Calum’s headache. an offensive campaign. A group of human veterans and adven- And she easily disproves his assumption that she’s useless in the ture-seekers sign up for the job, and the story’s narration splits wilderness (“city born and city lived”). Throughout, the pair’s between three characters: Will Reach, an alcoholic, physically light bickering contributes to a romance that the author stokes and psychologically scarred Afghanistan veteran, who’s fitted gently, as Calum consistently proves himself the white knight to with cybernetic Lumenarian implants and tactical tech; Sarah Mercy (“Exhausted, bleeding...and definitely in pain,” he “handed Li, an orphaned science genius with command skills who signs the canteen to me first”). Scotland’s beauty is noted in lines like up with her brother; and “Arthur,” a prominent Lumenarian “The early rays of the sun danced along the water’s surface making who has many secrets. The novel’s scenario isn’t original; John the entire loch glisten like a beautiful jewel.” At the end, Silver Ringo’s Legacy of the Aldenata series, among other books, has isn’t what Mercy expected, and readers are treated to a revelation depicted Earth natives serving as military support for embat- about the famous Unicorn Tapestries. A bold final decision makes tled extraterrestrials. Mackay takes this premise back to basic Mercy and Calum’s next trek one to follow. training in a big way, however, addressing soldiers’ PTSD and Readers will be charmed and educated by this lovely his- malaise (Joe Haldeman’s classic 1974 novel The Forever War is torical novel. a stated influence) and their combat strategy (à la Robert A. Heinlein’s 1959 novel Starship Troopers). There’s also some hard– SF physics when Sarah takes over narration duties. In addition PIPE DREAMS

to plenty of action, Mackay adds the timely notion of a terroris- The Dark Secret Behind the young adult tic human-supremacist movement and reveals the existence of Massie Case, Hawaii’s Most a similar group among the Lumenarians. As the Samuel Taylor Infamous Crime Coleridge–inspired title might signify, there are also several lit- Madinger, John erary shoutouts—and a few Lucasfilm hat tips, as well. Manuscript A stirring adventure tale that adds considerable shock and awe to a familiar setup. A reimagining of an infamous Depres- sion-era crime set in Honolulu. Hawaii-based author and retired law A LITTLE NOBLE enforcement officer Madinger has inten- Macreery, Janet R. sively researched the dark details of the Outskirts Press (200 pp.) real-life Massie Affair crime of 1931, and he manages to reanimate $14.95 paper | Jul. 11, 2020 its events in a unique hybrid of true-crime drama and historical 978-1-977228-35-2 fiction. He begins his spirited version of the events shortly before it all began, introducing Jack Mather, a recent Stanford Univer- This middle-grade adventure fea- sity graduate who arrived in Honolulu via steamship to work at tures a teen whose destiny connects 17th- the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. To Jack, the area’s raging opium century France with Scotland. war is an intriguing opportunity for a new law enforcement offi- Thirteen-year-old Mercy Laroche left cer, but Honolulu still holds the same charm for him that it did London by carriage a month ago. It’s 1694, when he was a child growing up there. Madinger describes scenic and she travels the dangerous Scottish High- Hawaii fondly, but he’s also mindful of the encroaching Depres- lands to locate Kingsnot Silver. Mercy is an orphan and French sion that’s already starting to cloud the region. After Jack begins native who participates in the Auld Alliance, whereby Scot- his undercover work, he starts to wonder if his job busting drug land and France exchange learned young girls with messages as peddlers might be too dangerous. A parallel plotline tackles the a bond that unites them against England, should that nation developing story of Thalia and Thomas Massie. Four years before, ever attack either neighbor. But near Loch Eirahn, the carriage at the age of 16, Thalia got married to submariner Thomas, a crashes. Mercy wakes and finds no sign of her driver or her chap- Navy lieutenant based in Pearl Harbor. Over the next few years, erone, Mr. Willicks. Thankfully, a lad about her age steps from she became restless, mean-spirited, abusive to hired help, and the wilderness. This is Calum MacDonald, who offers to help disillusioned with her marriage. She also now has an air of arro- Mercy proceed on her journey. He brings her to Red Rob Mac- gance and superiority, which doesn’t appeal to many of the people Gregor, the local clan leader. While MacGregor hasn’t heard of she meets in the island’s social circles. By the time Thalia is 20, Silver, he believes that a famous seannachie (storyteller) named she’s rejecting her husband’s efforts to get them to socialize with Henderson may have. Yet Henderson lives in Glencoe, the site others at all. of a massacre by redcoats who killed Calum’s family. The lad However, on a September night in 1931, Thomas insists that she has vowed never to return, which is why he’s chosen life in the accompany him to the Ala Wai Inn in Honolulu, which Madinger Highlands with an adopted clan. Mercy, who has a club foot and colorfully describes as a “second-rate nightclub perched on the is supremely knowledgeable in herb lore, must find Silver before edge of Waikiki and the fringe of respectability.” There, she sulks

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 189 An absorbing and perceptive tween-age adventure with considerable literary flair. 1 for all

through the evening before she flees into the night to walk home side of a pretty English village where malicious gossip and unrealis- alone. Hours later, she’s found on the roadside—battered, blood- tic expectations can render incredible harm. ied, and claiming that a carload of four Hawaiian men, including An emphasis on mental health care and compassion a prizefighting boxer named Joe Kahahawai, raped her. Madinger underlies a charming historical romance. shows masterful skill as he alternates between Jack’s work busting opium smugglers and the developing story of Thalia’s assault, and he keep both stories moving forward at a brisk pace over 1 FOR ALL the course of the novel. When the rape case finally heads into a A Basketball Story About the courtroom, it eventually results in a hung jury and a mistrial, which Meaning of Team further enlivens the story. Later, when Thalia’s mother, Grace For- McCollum, Sean tescue, and Thomas conspire to have one of the accused men mur- Illus. by Valentino, Samuel dered, it results in a frenzy of police investigations, tempestuous Brattle Publishing Group (150 pp.) trial melodrama, and finally, the truth, along with justice. Madinger $9.99 paper | $3.99 e-book | Jul. 29, 2020 effectively draws on his expertise from his own law enforcement 978-0-9905872-3-1 past, and he writes with the same vigor that he brought to his previous detective fiction, including the novelDeath on Diamond Head An eighth grade basketball player (2008). As Jack’s and Thalia’s storylines dovetail, it only intensifies tries to turn around a losing season while this suspenseful, impressive work, which successfully and cinemat- wrestling with his worst opponent—his ically reinvents a notorious criminal case. own ego—in this novel. A vibrant and riveting fictionalization of real-life crimes J.J. Pickett, captain and top scorer of the Traverse Middle and trials in 1930s Hawaii. School Musketeers basketball team, thinks the so-far winless season will go down the drain when the team’s 6-foot-2 center, Mike Belcher, gets an ankle injury and the coach abruptly quits. FAIR AS A STAR These disappointments come on top of other stresses that J.J. Matthews, Mimi faces, including family tensions caused by his dad’s slumping Perfectly Proper Press (202 pp.) contracting business; competition with his hated rival, Belcher, $8.99 paper | $3.99 e-book | Jul. 15, 2020 for the attention of classmate Anita Garcia; and a general, sim- 978-1-73305-697-7 mering 13-year-old angst. J.J. and his teammates are dubious when Mr. Gumble, the school’s unprepossessing custodian, A young woman’s homecoming sparks takes over as coach. But the janitor turns out to be a great men- secret revelations in this Victorian romance. tor who whips the team into shape with grueling line-running Beryl Burnham suffers from clini- drills; teaches the players a scrappy, fast-break game featuring a cal depression, or “melancholy,” as it was full-court trap press defense to force adversaries into turnovers; known at the time. Though she keeps busy and institutes the corny but stirring rallying cry “All for one, to hold the sadness at bay, Beryl can never and one for all!” The Musketeers start clawing their way back fully escape it. After an overdose of sleep- against bigger teams, but J.J.’s berserk competitiveness, which ing powder, she is whisked off to Paris with her aunt to rest and channels his unhappiness with the world against his opponents, recover. Beryl returns home to her small English village and must gets him benched, and he’s forced to do so some soul-searching face her fiance, Sir Henry Rivenhall, a wealthy man who is ruled about his attitude. When Mr. Gumble is replaced by Belcher’s by practicality. He has no tolerance for Beryl’s silly “emotions” and jerk of an uncle, J.J. has to figure out a way to restore the team’s believes bearing children will cure her of her selfish sadness. While order, one that may require him to swallow his pride. McCol- Beryl struggles to cope with Henry’s accusations and ideas, her one lum’s energetic tale probes themes of self-awareness and self- refuge is her friendship with Mark, Henry’s brother and a curate at restraint, team spiritedness, and players’ love of the game. The the local church. Mark sets out to better understand Beryl’s depres- narrative features sharply drawn characters, pungent school- sion and tells her that he has “no expectation of curing” her. He just yard dialogue—“You’ve got all the class of a zit, Belchbreath”— wants to help Beryl cope and, in modern parlance, give her the nec- and plenty of vigorous play-by-play to hold young basketball essary tools to succeed. But as the days pass, it becomes apparent fans’ interest. Meanwhile, the author manages to get inside J.J.’s that Beryl and Mark have feelings for each other. Beryl accepted head with prose that’s Hemingway-esque in its spare but pen- Henry’s proposal because it was practical. But she soon realizes etrating directness: “J.J. had a face that looked younger than he that she must find a way to extricate herself from the arrangement liked. He wanted a hawk’s face, something sharp and fierce. A and embrace her feelings rather than push them aside. Matthews hawk’s yellow eyes would be cool, too, he thought. He was too constructs a romance that is built on empathy and trust, demon- small and looked too harmless for what he wanted to be.” The strating that it’s not just brute strength or power that might attract result is an absorbing and perceptive tween-age adventure with a person. In addition to offering a sweet romance, the author deftly considerable literary flair. addresses the importance of bringing mental health treatments A crackerjack sports yarn that conveys youthful psychol- out of the shadows. And just as she explores the depression that ogy in a way that feels authentic. underlies Beryl’s need to stay busy, Matthews exposes the darker

190 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | GROWLAND accidentally injures him. The narrative then flashes back to Moskowitz, Lelia Oyinkan’s childhood, growing up in her grandmother’s house. Humboldt State Univ. Press (313 pp.) When her grandmother dies, Oyinkan is sent to live with her $14.95 paper | $4.99 e-book | Aug. 11, 2020 mother’s family, where she is treated as a distant relative because 978-1-947112-34-6 her half siblings have no idea they have a sister. Oyinkan falls in love with Kole and gives birth to Moyo soon after they marry, set- A Los Angeles teacher leaves her job ting aside her own aspirations to work as a typist to care for her and her husband and moves with her two son. As Kole’s construction business grows, the couple’s marital daughters to start a new life in Humboldt tensions increase. Eventually, Oyinkan leaves him, moving into County in this debut novel. the house she inherited from her grandmother and starting a As she approaches her mid-40s, construction business of her own. Oyinkan finds her grand- Celeste feels that her life in Southern mother’s diary and learns about the complexities of the woman California is empty. She has a good career in education, but she who raised her and the woman who gave birth to her, developing is unhappy with her philandering husband, Victor. She decides a more solid sense of herself in the process. Oyinsan is a strong to leave him and take her daughters north to Humboldt County. writer, presenting a well-developed voice and inventive descrip- She is thinking of Tom, an old boyfriend from 27 years ago who tions (“Her colors were the tones of gaiety, of vibrant youth, of lives in the area. In Celeste’s memory, he’s still attractive and reli- laughter and life itself”). The diary sections, textual interludes able, but many years have passed, and his appearance has changed. in Oyinkan’s tale, are engrossing and effective, adding texture to He’s also in a relationship with Luna, a dreadlocked woman who the novel. The Nigerian setting is well imagined, full of Yoruba functions as the emotional pillar of the far-flung community. Tom dialogue translated in footnotes. While readers may grow frus-

and Luna generously offer a cabin to stay in, which Celeste gladly trated as Oyinkan and Kole’s home life becomes more and more young adult accepts even if she is perturbed by the ubiquitous presence of dysfunctional, Oyinsan does a good job of rendering the entire marijuana. Back in LA, Victor has hired a private investigator cast as both plausible and sympathetic, delivering an ultimately to find the missing trio, and up in South Humboldt, Celeste’s satisfying resolution to the many conflicts that arise. older daughter has taken a shine to Jonah, Tom and Luna’s son. A solid, well-written novel of relationships and growth. Jake, Tom’s son from his first marriage, looks enticing to Celeste despite a sizable age difference. As Celeste begins to love her new home, she unwisely gets into a relationship with Jake while the JOURNEY OF THE SELF ever present threat of the authorities looms over the isolated area Memoir of an Artist where marijuana rules all. Moskowitz’s novel is written with the Poniarski, Ruth kind of rich details and realistic insights that insiders would know. Warren Publishing (222 pp.) She deftly describes this alternate world among the redwood for- $15.95 paper | Apr. 28, 2020 ests as a place of refuge and healing, where the morality is pure 978-1-73470-755-7 but untamed and flirts with criminality. Sometimes, everything seems upside down in this realm (“In SoHum the rivers all flowed A young woman struggles to find her north, like the Nile”). Not every choice Celeste makes is stellar, place in the world while also grappling with but the tragedies are as integral to her vivid journey as the abun- her mental health in this debut memoir. dant benefits. After Poniarski inadvertently con- A compelling and candid tale about starting over in a sumed PCP at a college party, she found beguiling environment. herself consumed by the notion of an incoherent conspiracy involving socialists and alien craft— which she continued to have after the drug wore off. “My brain THREE WOMEN fed me lies,” she says of the experience, which caused her par- Oyinsan, Bunmi ents to put her under the care of a psychiatrist for the first CreateSpace (344 pp.) time. Her memoir continues from this moment, recounting her $14.00 paper | $5.00 e-book tumultuous 20s during the late 1970s and early ’80s in New York May 23, 2020 City. Poniarski struggled to finish an architecture degree as she 978-1-4610-0298-7 bounced from one program to another, unable to successfully finish courses and fearful that her peers might learn of her “psy- In this domestic novel set in 20th- chotic side.” In a similar manner, she shuttled between her par- century Nigeria, Oyinsan tells the story ents’ home on Long Island and apartments in Manhattan, her of Oyinkan and Kole, their troubled mar- independence constantly jeopardized by paranoid thoughts and riage, and Oyinkan’s relationships with mistrust of roommates and friends. Most poignant, however, is the grandmother who raised her and the Poniarski’s account of a search for a suitable romantic partner. mother who largely abandoned her. As she struggles with shame about her sexual feelings, she finds In the book’s opening chapter, Oyinkan and Kole’s separa- herself drawn to various lovers who each reject her, which only tion ends as they rush their son Moyo to the hospital after Kole fuels her desire to break out of a lonely existence. Poniarski

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 191 tells a story with heavy themes, but her prose remains graceful insistence on comedy makes the overall story feel glib. Fortu- throughout. As she recounts outrageous thoughts and actions, nately, Marcel’s character brings the emotional ballast the tale she does so in a manner that gets across not only her distorted needs to stay steady. view of reality, but also the very real emotions she felt; at one A mostly successful romp featuring Christian lore and a point, for instance, she tells of slapping a man on an airplane love of animals. after falsely thinking that he was making fun of her. In her fractured accounts of exchanges with colleagues, friends, and lovers, Poniarski also offers clever insights into sexism, the high “WOW, MY TEACHER expectations of her affluent Jewish community, and changing IS A HORSE!” attitudes toward mental health. The Strengthening of An engrossing and often beautiful portrait of living with Executive Functions mental illness. Through Experiential Learning With Horses Rutgers, Paulien LARRY’S POST-RAPTURE FriesenPress (216 pp.) PET-SITTING SERVICE $29.99 | $24.99 paper | $9.99 e-book Rice, Ellen King Apr. 20, 2020 Undergrowth Publishing (472 pp.) 978-1-5255-4700-3 $16.30 paper | $0.99 e-book 978-1-5255-4701-0 paper Aug. 8, 2020 978-1-73382-761-4 A guide to using horses in work with neurodiverse children. Child counselor Rutgers draws on her experience with In this comic novel, a man rescues children on the autism spectrum and with other conditions the pets of vanished owners. to explain how working with animals, and particularly horses, Larry Dinkelman is 34 and liv- can be a useful tool for educators and caregivers. The book ing with his mother when the rapture breaks down each element of a successful animal-assisted treat- occurs. The virtuous ascend to heaven ment plan, covering the fundamentals of executive functions in “small tornados of whirling feathers,” but others aren’t (“the skills which make it possible to show goal-orientated and so lucky: “mean-spirited and hurtful people exploded into independent behaviours”), structure, goal setting, documenta- flames.” Others remain on Earth who “knew they weren’t tion, and other elements. Case studies demonstrate concepts angels, and…were currently highly motivated not to be jerks.” discussed in the text and show how interacting with horses Apparently, all dogs go to heaven, but plenty of other house- allowed kids to learn to regulate their behavior, anticipate oth- hold pets are left behind. Larry and his mother, Marjorie, see ers’ reactions, and focus on challenging schoolwork (“Madelief an opportunity for a new business: They’ll rescue the pets of [a horse] loves to be read to. How many pages from this book vanished owners. Larry mostly saves cats, and he’s scheduled can you stand to read to Madelief while sitting on her back?”). to pick up a yowling Siamese when he meets Marcel West- The book also addresses the ethical considerations of working moreland, a 15-year-old looking for a job. Marcel’s father is a with animals and provides guidelines. Full-color photographs of pastor, but his mother, the assistant pastor, was the one taken Rutgers’ work appear throughout the book, usefully illustrating up. Larry and Marcel hit it off right away; Larry provides specific ideas and techniques. The book has a solid theoretical the wisecracks and Marcel, the brainy asides and $10 words. basis—the author provides citations throughout as well as a full Meanwhile, Abigail, a televangelist, is trying to soothe her fol- bibliography—and she does a good job of demonstrating the lowers, drum up donations, and keep a secret: Her husband, value of working with horses without treating it as a panacea: Aaron, vanished in flames. When a friend of Marcel’s miracu- “What gives horses an extra dimension compared to perhaps lously finds a dog, Abigail becomes convinced that the canine dogs or rodents, is that horses can be used to sit or lie upon.” can help save her church: “They want a dog and hope for the The book’s primary audience will be special education profes- future,” she says of her followers. The plot rumbles toward a sionals, but readers who don’t have deep knowledge of psy- showdown to decide whether Larry or Abigail should care for chology or pedagogy will find it easy to follow, and parents and the world’s only pooch. Rice prioritizes the novel’s comedic caregivers of neurodiverse children are sure to find it of use as tone, but occasional moments of sincerity soften its wry edge. well. The case studies include information on children’s specific A large and colorful cast of characters fills the novel, and their diagnoses, but Rutgers notes that animal-assisted interventions experiences and coping mechanisms in the rapture-altered are meant to be used to address specific skills and behaviors world give the story a welcome variety of perspectives. The as opposed to underlying conditions. She provides guidelines book’s moral world is simple—kindergarten teachers go to and templates for developing plans and assessing outcomes in heaven, for example, and 200 members of Congress go to hell. appendices, adding to the book’s utility. Although the moments of humor hit more often than not, the A thoughtful and comprehensive introduction to animal- sheer quantity of jokes inevitably leads to some duds. Larry’s assisted therapies. jocularity helps hide his fear and unease, but at times, his

192 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | This fun story deftly portrays the impact of compassionate neighbors. oy, elephants!

IJEOMA roommate, Jay, attempts to square this heinous act with the kind- A Mother’s Journey To Save hearted person he remembers. The prosecutor in the case, Claire Her Daughters Fields, desperately needs a win after a widely reported ethical Sacks, Richard lapse, and Henry Somerville, an old-money defense attorney, is Trimark Press (438 pp.) trying to come back from a social media scandal. At the time of $22.95 paper | $8.99 e-book the accident, Daniel was bored with his life and contemplating Mar. 2, 2020 an affair with a client; Francine, his wife, takes the incident as a 978-1-943401-69-7 sign that she should abandon a loveless marriage. Charlie Gibbs, Samantha’s boyfriend, is a car dealer who gets caught up in a In this debut novel, a young Nigerian pyramid scheme, and it’s revealed that Samantha was ready to woman helps her daughters escape the break up with him when she died. The case goes before Judge horrors of female genital mutilation. Kenneth Rhodes, a pioneering Black jurist in the Southern state. At the age of 18, Ijeoma Biobaku agrees to marry Ejikeme Sealy’s clever approach is reminiscent of the parable of blind men Madaki, an older man who is a farmer of some means in their Nige- describing an elephant, as each character brings not only his or rian village of Achi. When Ejikeme discovers that Ijeoma has never her own perspective but also adds crucial details to the chronol- undergone the tribal custom of female genital cutting, he insists ogy of events. The varying viewpoints also serve to flesh out the she have it done or the marriage will be canceled. Ijeoma fears relationships among the characters and clarify their motivations. the village will ostracize her so she relents. Her only solace during Despite the many players and multiple time shifts, Sealy keeps the gruesome, unsanitary procedure is her loving Auntie B, who the narrative running smoothly throughout. His characters are hugs her as she cries out in pain. Physically and mentally abusive, flawed, as is the American justice system as he portrays it. There

Ejikeme is angry that their first child is not a son. Kind Auntie B are no heroes or villains—just ordinary people swept up in a young adult and Uncle Simon leave for America, but several years later, they tragic situation; there’s also no uplifting Hollywood ending but help Ijeoma and her family immigrate to New York City. A second rather a truthful conclusion built on compromise. daughter has been born, and Ijeoma is determined that her chil- A thought-provoking volume about how a wrong choice dren will never be mutilated as she was. Ejikeme abandons the fam- can have huge repercussions. ily, but life in America is hopeful—Ijeoma works as a nanny; her daughters are well adjusted; and she meets a good man. Then one day there is a knock at the door from the immigration authorities, OY, ELEPHANTS! and she is hauled off to jail. This gripping story—based on real-life Stevenson, Deborah events—may spur readers into learning more about female genital Illus. by Spicer , Morgan mutilation. An admirable, heroic protagonist, Ijeoma quietly does Frog Prince Books (38 pp.) what needs to be done; for example, when her second daughter $18.95 | $12.95 paper | $5.99 e-book is born, she calmly endures an emergency C-section. Sacks’ fluid Jun. 22, 2019 prose and seamless scene transitions keep the pages turning. In 978-1-73254-101-6 fact, some scenes are edge-of-the-seat riveting, such as the final 978-1-73254-102-3 paper day of Ijeoma’s deportation trial, during which she learns shocking information about a family member. But the quieter episodes can This picture book poses a wacky question: What would also be memorable—when Ijeoma and her girls meet Auntie B and happen if a pair of circus elephants landed in a retirement home Uncle Simon in America, the encounter is touching. for people? A compelling tale of maternal strength and determination. Young Joel is spending part of his “school break” with his Grandpa Morris and Grandma Gussie. He is excited to see them but concerned that time spent in their retirement community will THE MERCIFUL be boring. He does not fret for long because two new neighbors Sealy, Jon move in during the second day of his stay—and they’re elephants. Haywire Books (306 pp.) Joel and his grandparents bring a housewarming gift to the new $17.95 paper | Jan. 21, 2021 occupants and learn that they are retired circus elephants named 978-1-950182-07-7 Lou and Martha Helfand. Grandma Gussie invites them to go swimming that afternoon; their neighbors seem unhappy with Sealy, the author of The Edge of Amer the new residents. Lou makes a huge splash in the pool when he ica (2019), examines a fatal hit-and-run in jumps in, but he and his wife are later welcomed when he saves suburban South Carolina from multiple a dog from drowning. This fun story, lovingly illustrated in full points of view in this novel. color by Spicer, deftly portrays the impact of compassionate Samantha James, a college student neighbors. Stevenson provides useful information about animal home for the summer, is struck and killed rights groups’ concerns surrounding circus elephants as well as while riding her bicycle home from her restaurant job in the facts about the creatures for curious readers. town of Overlook. Daniel Hayward, a local computer salesman, An amusing tale that shows the importance of being a becomes a person of interest in the crime, and his former college good neighbor.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 193 THE RAKE IS TAKEN truly intrigued by her on multiple levels, and he soon introduces Sumner, Tracy her to a clandestine group of similarly superpowered men and Self (258 pp.) women. As in the previous volume, Sumner seamlessly blends $8.99 paper | $3.99 e-book gaslight-era fantasy and conventional historical romance. She May 23, 2020 also perfectly incorporates detailed supernatural elements into her well-researched setting. Her two central characters are A fantasy romance featuring two compelling and believably damaged; each comes from a radi- superpowered lovers in Victorian-era cally different segment of society, and each finds themselves in a England. relationship that they weren’t expecting. Finn, in particular, is a This new installment in Sumner’s highly rewarding fictional creation—a well-drawn combination League of Lords series takes a second- of roguery and vulnerability. Readers may be initially drawn to ary character from its predecessor, The the book for its exciting paranormal aspects, but they’ll stay for Lady Is Trouble (2020), and puts him center stage. In 1855, Finn the electric dialogue between Finn and Victoria, which includes Alexander, the adopted son of a viscount, has the paranormal plenty of comic banter. (Those expecting X-Men–style superhe- ability to read people’s minds, and he’s set up a gambling den roics, though, won’t find it here.) Overall, it’s a sparkling addi- that’s become wildly popular among the well-to-do. But his spe- tion to this promising series. cial talent comes with a price, as his mind is constantly filled A spirited and compulsively readable paranormal- with the background noise of others’ thoughts. This, in part, romance series entry. leads to his deep interest in the engaged Lady Victoria Hamil- ton, whose own powers allow her to erase people’s short-term memories and block others’ powers from working. He experi- WANDER NEW YORK ences the latter power firsthand, and the experience is a first Fitz in the City for him: “Added to the bizarre circumstance of not being able Traves, Reese to read her, being close to her obscured his ability to read oth- Illus. by Traves, Jon ers, like she’d dimmed the flame on the gaslamp of his mind, Good Avenue Books (36 pp.) leaving only his thoughts to contend with.” Finn finds himself $17.99 | $12.99 paper | $9.99 e-book Aug. 10, 2020 978-1-73460-210-4 This Issue’s Contributors 978-1-73460-211-1 paper #

ADULT A young fox tours New York City in this rhyming picture Maude Adjarian • Poornima Apte • Mark Athitakis • Gerald Bartell • Sarah Blackman • Amy Boaz • Ed book. Bradley • Jeffrey Burke • Tobias Carroll • May-lee Chai • Carin Clevidence • Miranda Cooper • Emma Corngold • Dave DeChristopher • Amanda Diehl • Lisa Elliott • Chelsea Ennen • Amy Goldschlager Fitz is thrilled to visit New York for the first time. The Mary Ann Gwinn • Janice Harayda • Peter Heck • Kerri Jarema • Jessica Jernigan • Tom Lavoie fox and his mom take a taxi and visit landmarks, including the Louise Leetch • Judith Leitch • Peter Lewis • Elsbeth Lindner • Michael Magras • Don McLeese Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. On their way to Gregory McNamee • Clayton Moore • Christopher Navratil • Liza Nelson • Mike Newirth • Therese Purcell Nielsen • Connie Ogle • Cory Oldweiler • Mike Oppenheim • Deesha Philyaw • Jim Piechota the Central Park Zoo, Fitz worries because they missed their William E. Pike • Margaret Quamme • Lloyd Sachs • Leslie Safford • Bob Sanchez • Rosanne Simeone subway stop. Luckily, they make it to the Bronx Zoo in time Linda Simon • Margot E. Spangenberg • Rachel Sugar • Marion Winik to feed the penguins. Next, they tour famous places like Times

CHILDREN’S & TEEN Square. Fitz often describes what he sees (“We’re...walking on Lucia Acosta • Autumn Allen • Alison Anholt-White • Sumaia Awad • Kazia Berkley-Cramer a lawn—in a giant park with a lake that has boats to ride on”). Elizabeth Bird • Ariel Birdoff • Kimberly Brubaker Bradley • Nastassian Brandon • Christopher A. The sightseeing continues as they wander through museums Brown • Timothy Capehart • Kristin Centorcelli • Ann Childs • Alec B. Chunn • Amanda Chuong Anastasia M. Collins • Jeannie Coutant • Cherrylyn Cruzat • Julie Danielson • Maya Davis • Elise and visit Grand Central Terminal. Though exhausted from his DeGuiseppi • Lisa Dennis • Shelley Diaz Vale • Eiyana Favers • Amy Seto Forrester • Ayn Reyes Frazee jam-packed excursion, Fitz can’t wait for his next adventure. Jenna Friebel • Nivair H. Gabriel • Laurel Gardner • Judith Gire • Carol Goldman • Hannah Gomez This series opener offers a welcoming look at New York. Reese Melinda Greenblatt • Tobi Haberstroh • Abigail Hsu • Julie Hubble • Kathleen T. Isaacs • Danielle Jones • Betsy Judkins • Deborah Kaplan • Sophie Kenney • K. Lesley Knieriem • Megan Dowd Traves displays clear knowledge of the locales depicted; each Lambert • Angela Leeper • Lori Low • Kyle Lukoff • Meredith Madyda • Joan Malewitz • Michelle H. page featuring a specific attraction provides “sidebars” with rel- Martin PhD • J. Alejandro Mazariegos • Kirby McCurtis • Sierra McKenzie • Kathie Meizner Susan evant facts. For example, on a page showing the Empire State Messina • J. Elizabeth Mills • Cristina Mitra • Sabrina Montenigro • Lisa Moore • R. Moore Mya Nunnally • Katrina Nye • Tori Ann Ogawa • Hal Patnott • Deb Paulson • Danni Perreault Building, the supplemental text explains: “This building has 79 John Edward Peters • Deesha Philyaw • Susan Pine • Rebecca Rabinowitz • Kristy Raffensberger elevators…it is one of the most photographed buildings in the Amy B. Reyes • Nancy Thalia Reynolds • Jasmine Riel • Amy Robinson • Christopher R. Rogers Leslie L. Rounds • John W. Shannon • Karyn N. Silverman • Mathangi Subramanian • Jennifer Swee- world.” This wealth of information makes the book best suited ney • Deborah Taffa • Deborah D. Taylor • Steven Thompson • Renee Ting • Janani Venkateswaran as a kid-friendly travel guide as opposed to a traditional read- Tharini Viswanath • Yung Hsin • Lauren Emily Whalen • Dorcas Wong • Jenny Zbrizher aloud. The charming, creative illustrations by Jon Traves, the

INDIE author’s husband, amplify the text. Readers will appreciate the Kent Armstrong • Jillian Bietz • Hannah Bonner • Julie Buffaloe-Yoder • Jim Byatt • Darren Carlaw unique interpretations of city life with fun extras like meticu- Charles Cassady • Michael Deagler • Stephanie Dobler Cerra • Steve Donoghue • Jacob Edwards lously detailed maps. Megan Elliott • Tina Gianoulis • Morgana Hartman • Justin Hickey • Ivan Kenneally • Barbara London • Dale McGarrigle • Tara Mcnabb • Rhett Morgan • Joshua T. Pederson • Jim Piechota • Matt An entertaining, educational introduction to New York Rauscher • Sarah Rettger • Walker Rutter-Bowman • Jerome Shea • Emily Thompson for readers of all ages.

194 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | TOWARD THAT WHICH ROOTLINES IS BEAUTIFUL West, Rikki Wernicke, Marian O’Shea She Writes Press (280 pp.) She Writes Press (272 pp.) $16.95 paper | $9.95 e-book $16.95 paper | $9.95 e-book Sep. 22, 2020 Sep. 29, 2020 978-1-63152-753-1 978-1-63152-759-3 A woman recalls becoming a stem cell A young nun’s commitment to her donor for her ailing sister in this debut vocation is tested in this historical novel memoir. set in Peru. West’s book opens in August 2016 in On a June day in 1964, Sister Mary the Santa Cruz Mountains with a descrip- Katherine “Kate” O’Neill slips away from a convent in the tion of the author sparring in a muay thai boxing match. In her Andean mountains. The 25-year-old American nun has fallen early 60s, West recounts how her training “reshaped” her body, hopelessly in love with Tom Lynch, a priest. Troubled by her offering her a level of fitness that would prove vital for what lay undeniable attraction to the fiery Irishman and “afraid of ahead. The morning after the bout, she received an email from her own desire,” she flees in the night, with no money and no her older sister, Linda, revealing that she had developed diffuse destination in mind. Over the next several days, she wanders large B-cell lymphoma. Linda had been given the prognosis of “a throughout the South American country, connecting with painful though fairly rapid death” unless a highly suitable stem kind strangers who help her on her journey. As she travels, she cell donor could be found. The sisters had not spoken in months,

reflects on the events that have caused her to consider aban- having fallen out over details of their mother’s health care. young adult doning her calling. Meanwhile, flashbacks describe her child- Despite their differences and the author’s being two decades hood in St. Louis and time as a religious novice. In her novel, over the age limit for donors, West agreed to be tested and was Wernicke, a former nun who once worked in Peru, turns what found to be a perfect match. The memoir charts Linda’s journey could be a simple tale of forbidden romance into something to recovery and examines the author’s past life, from coming out far more complex. Kate’s struggle isn’t just to reconcile her as a lesbian in the 1970s to confronting alcoholism. West chan- feelings for Father Tom with her calling to the sisterhood. She nels the immediacy and energy she gleans from muay thai into also wrestles with her purpose in coming to South America her writing. The result is a vibrant, punchy narrative, exempli- and whether her work is truly helping those she aims to serve. fied by her discussion of her alcoholism: “Drinking came easily, “Why are you here? Aren’t there problems in your own country?” like bullets sliding into a chamber. My drinking was naturally a Peruvian police officer asks the runaway sister. The author destructive. I blacked out, hid bottles, stole from anyone, lied vividly captures both Kate’s difficulty adapting to life in a for- to friends, cheated on lovers.” Always candidly confessional, the eign country where she barely speaks the language and her feel- author tempers her prose style by including contrastingly medi- ings of dislocation (both physical and spiritual) upon arriving tative passages: “I find that silence calms me. That lets me sense in Peru. When she first meets Father Tom, altitude sickness myself differently….Rather than feeling isolated, as I often do causes her heart to race and makes it difficult to breathe, a in my thoughts, in silence I connect to a web of friendly energy.” preview of the way her love will eventually cause “a real physi- The narrative is deeply and admirably introspective. One minor cal hurt” in her heart. She must also struggle with unfamiliar criticism is that insufficient effort was made to consider the feelings of doubt and a growing feeling that she may have no journey from Linda’s perspective, which would have given the choice but to abandon the religious life that she chose as a teen. account a valuable extra dimension. As the book now stands, Sharply drawn supporting characters and rich descriptions of readers never get to know her fully. But this does not detract life in the Peruvian countryside add weight to the story. significantly from a well-written memoir that deftly describes A moving, emotionally resonant tale of one woman’s crisis cancer as an opponent that can be faced and beaten. of faith. A remarkable story of hope and determination passion- ately recounted.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 195 The scenes that involve supernatural elements are taut and intense, with visceral descriptions of peril. the alignment

JERSIG one’s way. Much of this message is conveyed through conversa- Whitehouse, J.B. tions between the characters—particularly between Q., Jersig, John Barnabus Whitehouse (112 pp.) and Jersig’s partner, Cadence. Although the text sometimes $23.99 | 9.99 e-book feels heavily freighted with gravitas—as when Q. writes down Jul. 4, 2020 the question, “Is there a place in the world for a man such as me?”—it 978-0-578-72125-5 also helps propel the story and clarify plot points that might have otherwise been murky. In Whitehouse’s debut novel, a man A thoughtful tale that explores a friendship between two named Quentin “Q.” Yonally Dettweiler men trying to live authentic lives. meets a mysterious and charismatic man who turns his life upside down—and helps him to discover his true calling. THE ALIGNMENT The story’s protagonist is 26 years old and working as a Wilson, Douglas L. health care consultant for a firm located near a California beach. W & B Printers (392 pp.) Although nothing seems obviously amiss in his life, he feels $18.99 paper | $3.99 e-book unsatisfied. “I was wrapped in the carousel of a monotonous May 15, 2020 existence,” he reflects early on, “a life being lived incomplete.” 978-1-63554-242-4 However, an impromptu meeting at a coffee shop with a striking, wealthy man named James Jersig irrevocably changes the Two ancient families unite in an epic course of Q.’s life. Jersig impulsively invites him aboard his yacht fight against vampires in this supernatu- for a lavish party, where he winds up hiring Q. as both an assis- ral horror thriller. tant and as his own personal scribe: “I’d like you to write for me The fate of humanity hangs in the each week. A piece that draws on the emotions, situations, and balance in the summer of 2012; the events from the week prior.” Working for Jersig provides Q. with Mayan calendar is drawing dangerously close to its end, and a glimpse into a life of luxury, which also involves tense business sinister forces are at work with deadly plans. Meanwhile, two dealings and potentially illegal associations. However, the major men from very different backgrounds are about to come draw for Q. is the fact that Jersig seems to see him for who he together in an unexpected way—and the fate of the world lies is—and that he recognizes the man that he hopes to become: upon their shoulders. Sean Dunne is a washed-up American “What you search for is authenticity,” Jersig observes; for far too homicide detective in Washington, D.C., with a checkered past, long, Q. realizes, he’s lived the life he thought he should rather and Gregor Innescu is a 72-year-old Romanian man who’s been than the one he wanted. Overall, this is a relatively brief book, studying vampires for years. The pair couldn’t be more differ- but Whitehouse maintains a clipped pace throughout the nar- ent, but when their paths cross during one of Sean’s cases, it rative that keeps it moving forward. The story is part mystery, becomes clear that they have a lot in common. The two men’s part philosophical musing, and it explores what it means to get families have a long history as partners in a fight against vam- a second chance at life and to seize opportunity when it comes pires who seek to wreak havoc on Earth, and the time has come for them to unite once again before it’s too late. The book jumps back and forth between the past and present-day 2012

KIRKUS MEDIA LLC to give readers a deeper understanding of the main characters’ histories. Gregor’s story is particularly effective at explaining # his unwavering determination to track the vampires’ move- Chairman HERBERT SIMON ments, due to his past traumatic experience. The scenes that involve supernatural elements are taut and intense, with vis- President & Publisher MARC WINKELMAN ceral descriptions of peril: “Sweat began to abate, along with the mental assault and outright fear that had practically paralyzed Chief Executive Officer MEG LABORDE KUEHN him, and he began to realize that these feelings were directly # proportional to his distance from the monster.” Equally compelling are the vampires themselves, who have complex desires. Copyright 2020 by Kirkus Media LLC. Although they’re the villains of this story, their mysterious and KIRKUS REVIEWS (ISSN 1948-7428) is published semimonthly by Kirkus Media LLC, ancient nature is intriguing, as is their connection to the Dunne 2600Via Fortuna, Suite 130, Austin, TX 78746. Subscription prices are: and Innescu clans. Digital & Print Subscription (U.S.) - 12 Months ($199.00) An absorbing read that will likely leave readers hungry Digital & Print Subscription (International) - 12 Months ($229.00) for a sequel. Digital Only Subscription - 12 Months ($169.00) Single copy: $25.00. All other rates on request.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 2600Via Fortuna, Suite 130, Austin, TX 78746. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710 and at additional mailing offices.

196 | 1 september 2020 | indie | kirkus.com | ALL THAT LINGERS struggles to subsist. White South Africans Graham Mason and Wittig, Irene Lizette Basson live in a gated compound in KwaZulu-Natal. Self (409 pp.) Graham, a hack journalist stuck in his ways, is looking ever $16.00 paper | $8.99 e-book more cynically to hold on to what little he has. His frequent Mar. 20, 2020 absences give his wife time to reflect on their relative prosperity. Lizette becomes involved with the Imbali Township Co-op—an Wittig’s decades-spanning historical impoverished but socially active collective of traditional land- novel set mostly in Vienna takes us from owners holding their shantytown against the bulldozers of cor- the 1930s to the 1970s, detailing the fall- porate “gentrification.” As the world reaches its tipping point, out from WWII. can Graham and Lizette’s marriage survive? Arthur Green is We start with three women—Emma a Black American working for the Environmental Protection Huber, Greta Bruckner, and Léonie Salz- Agency, Water Division, in California. Art and his colleagues mann—who have been fast friends since are fighting a losing battle to protect state-controlled water grammar school. Emma’s fiance, Theo, is killed early on in an reserves from corporate malpractice. Art’s efforts are all-con- uprising in Austria, and Emma has a miscarriage and cannot suming but hopeless. When one of his co-workers is killed by bear more children. Greta marries Otto Bruckner and has a corporate heavies—the “Men behind the Gold Curtain”—Art daughter, Sophie. Léonie is married to Josef, a doctor, and their is forced into witness protection. Can he survive to testify and, daughter is the lively Valerie. By the late 1940s, only Emma is in doing so, reconcile with his estranged wife and daughter? alive of the three women. For villains, we have Greta’s mother- Wood writes in the first person, past tense, cycling a chapter at in-law, the grasping Elsa; her sister-in-law, the vain, shallow a time through Graham’s, Lizette’s, and Art’s stories. Whereas

Marion; and Marion’s husband, Friedrich, Graf von Harzburg. the prose is straightforward, the plot and setting create a dense young adult All of these characters are thrown into the cauldron of Hitler’s tangle of characters and ideas. Earth in 2048 evidences some rise, the war itself, and the struggle to rebuild their world and futuristic developments—cerebral implants and emergent come to terms with the evil at the root of it. Novelist Wittig artificial intelligences—but for the most part forms a depress- has a gift for character development and for pacing. She takes ing, oppressive endpoint for current-day trends. The SF story her time, raising this story to the deserved level of saga. It is unfolds slowly and provides little hope. But the author does Emma who holds the book together, and there are many more propose a way forward. Art represents a Black America that has characters than mentioned above. Friedrich is an especially fas- risen above the prejudices leveled against it. Lizette stands for cinating piece of work. All he has in life is his aristocratic lin- open-mindedness at any age. Graham is a most unlikable char- eage (“Graf” is the equivalent of a count) and the concomitant acter, but even he is forced to change. Together, they speak to style and manners. And the Bruckners have money, so it is the unification beyond borders. The message is an important one, ultimate marriage of convenience. He does great damage, not albeit not always pleasant to digest. so much because he is immoral but because he is amoral, mor- Well-considered social SF—an engrossing, foreboding, ally lazy—as he would be the first to admit. The story plumbs and uncomfortable offering. deep sadness. At one point, Emma wonders, “Didn’t God ever have enough of death?” There are saving graces, too, including a young British army officer and a kind doctor. A standout among the many novels set in this world- changing era.

WATER MUST FALL Wood, Nick Newcon Press (284 pp.) $24.25 paper | $5.99 e-book Apr. 15, 2020 978-1-912950-61-4

In this novel, two White South Afri- cans and a Black American must open themselves to change in a near-future dystopia of chronic water shortages and a corporatocracy. In 2048, life revolves around water. In South Africa and the Federated States of America, the FreeFlow Corporation holds immeasurable power. The wealthy few have enough to drink. They hoard their privilege while the rest of the population

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 september 2020 | 197 Seen & Heard

By Michael Schaub Harris County Public Library TEXAS LIBRARY’S “CURBSIDE LARRY” DELIGHTS INTERNET An unlikely pitchman in the Lone Star State is bringing Texas-sized enthusiasm to his library’s curbside pickup service. “Curbside Larry,” who works for the Harris County Public Library in the Houston area, made his debut on Twitter in a video that’s reminiscent of old-school commercials featuring superex- cited salesmen pitching used cars or mattresses. “Hey, folks, Curbside Larry here at the Barbara Bush Library, and we’re crazy with curbside service!” exclaims Larry in an unmistakable Texas twang. “That’s right, we’ve got shelves and shelves of books, Blu-Rays, and DVDs, and we’d like nothing better than to take care of all your reading, research, and entertainment needs!” The cowboy-hatted Larry is played by library staffer John Schaffer, Houstonia magazine reports, and it’s hard not to be charmed by the way he delivers lines like “What’s it going to take to put you into a biography or a science fiction today?” and “What’s all this cost? Just three low payments of zero, zero, zero dollars!”

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Politicon HANNITY REMOVES LATIN NONSENSE FROM BOOK COVER Sean Hannity changed the cover of his new book after a classics student pointed out that a Latin motto printed underneath the book’s title was completus nonsen- sus, Business Insider reports. The conservative commentator’s Live Free Or Die: America (and the World) on the Brink originally featured the phrase “Vivamus vel libero perit Americae,” which Hannity and his publisher thought means “Live free or America dies.” It does not, as Indiana University student Spencer Alexander McDaniel pointed out in a blog post titled “Sean Hannity Does Not Know Latin.” “There is a slight problem with this particular motto, though; it’s complete and utter gobbledygook,” wrote McDaniel. “It is clear that whoever came up with this motto does not even know the basic noun cases in Latin or how they work.” Hannity or his publishers, McDaniel speculates, got the faulty translation from Google Trans- late, which the student says “is comically inept at both Latin and Ancient Greek.” Hannity’s publisher, Threshold Editions, might have caught wind of McDaniel’s blog post, because they’ve updated the Latin phrase to “Vivamus liberi ne America pereat.”

GOOD MORNING ZOOM BOOK COMING THIS FALL The classic children’s book Goodnight Moon is getting a pandemic-related remix. Good Morning Zoom, a self-published parody that focuses on life in the Covid-19 era, has been picked up by Penguin Random House, USA Today reports. The imprint Philomel Books calls the book “a clever and heartwarming Goodnight Moon parody that offers reassurance and hope in our difficult time.” “Good Morning Zoom takes the reader on a lyrical journey through our ‘new normal,’ ” the publisher says on a webpage for the book. “From ‘Zoom school,’ to watching doctors and nurses on TV, to building pillow forts and talking to loved ones from a distance, this poignant book reminds us that there are still things to enjoy and be excited about in these unprecedented times.” The book is written by New York investment banker Lindsay Rechler and illustrated by graphic designer and artist June Park. Good Morning Zoom is slated for publication on Oct. 6. Rechler plans to donate her proceeds from the book to charities that help people impacted by Covid-19. Michael Schaub is an Austin, Texas–based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.

198 | 1 september 2020 | seen & heard | kirkus.com | Appreciations: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee at 50 BY GREGORY MCNAMEE

Universal History Archive–Getty Images On the morning of Dec. 29, 1890, soldiers of the 7th Cavalry—a unit reconstituted after being destroyed at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876—surrounded a Sioux Indian encampment in South Dakota. The troops demanded that the Sioux surrender their weapons. One man objected, saying that his rifle had cost him a lot of money. A melee ensued, and cannons and Gatling guns rained down on the mostly unarmed Sioux. Some 300 men, women, and children were killed. After the slaughter, which the Army insisted on calling a battle, 20 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor. The Wounded Knee Massacre ended the Indian Wars, which had begun less than 30 years earlier. For a long time it also ended any interest in hearing the Indians’ side of the story. Apart from a few considerably embellished as-told-to memoirs by Geronimo and Sitting Bull published in books and magazines, the narrative of the conquest of the West was the province of White writers and historians.

That changed when a librarian and amateur historian told the story of the conquest of the West from the viewpoint of its young adult Indigenous inhabitants, those who suffered violence at the hands of the White invaders. Indignant, he was determined to tell their story as one of victims of institutional, racist violence, made “relevant” by what was unfolding in the news from Vietnam as well as anti-war demonstrations on the streets and the Nixon government’s violent reaction to them. In 1970, Holt published Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a book that depicted most of the invading Whites as monsters and the Indians they encountered as innocent victims, reversing the moral order of earlier narratives in a history that Brown—who was White, with no Native ancestry—deemed “a morality play of personified abstractions.” The book was a bestseller, though some critics observed that, after all, real people and not abstractions were the actors in that tragic history. Ursula K. Le Guin might have been thinking of Brown’s book when she wrote, “Writers of a dominant group who assume the right to speak for members of a less powerful one take…risks in complacent ignorance of their existence.” Brown was not ignorant, though some paternalism shows through in his suggestion at the book’s opening that White readers “may be surprised to hear words of gentle reasonableness coming from the mouths of Indians stereotyped in the American myth as ruthless savages.” Even so, eminent Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday praised Brown’s book for revealing “a dimension to our national experience that has remained relatively unknown,” calling Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee a “narrative of singular integrity and precise continuity.” Brown’s book was more than that. Along with near-contemporaneous works such as Vine Deloria’sCuster Died for Your Sins and Thomas Berger’s novel Little Big Man, it helped open the door to a wealth of narratives—historical and literary, many by Native writers themselves—that brought about a shift in received views of American history and found a wide audience of White readers. That revisionist tradition continues to this day with books such asThe Heartbeat of Wounded Knee, by the Ojibwe historian and novelist David Treuer, which continues where Brown left off, turning a narrative of victimhood into one of resistance—and of a continued struggle for justice. Gregory McNamee is a contributing editor.

| kirkus.com | appreciations | 1 september 2020 | 199 “A STORY THAT, FOR SOME, WILL BE THE DEFINING BOOK OF THEIR ADOLESCENCE.” –KIRKUS, STARRED REVIEW

Award-winning author and artist Mike Curato draws on his own experiences in Flamer, his debut young adult graphic novel, telling a difficult story with humor, compassion, and love.

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