Erin Morgenstern Also in This Issue

Home , Middlegame, Nadine Jolie Courtney, Themyscira (DC Comics), The Sound of Spring, This Light Between Us

Featuring 275 Industry-First Reviews of Fiction, Nonfiction, Children'sand YA books

KIRKUSVOL. LXXXVII, NO. 21 | 1 NOVEMBER 2019 REVIEWS

Erin Morgenstern The author of The Night Circus is back with The Starless Sea— a sprawling, fantastical novel about the power of stories. p. 14

Also in this issue: André Aciman, Jeanine Basinger, Ken Follett, Oge Mora, and more from the editor’s desk:

Chairman Listmania! HERBERT SIMON

President & Publisher BY TOM BEER MARC WINKELMAN #

Chief Executive Officer MEG LABORDE KUEHN [email protected] John Paraskevas Book lists—love them or loathe them, they’ll be part of our literary Editor-in-Chief TOM BEER coverage for as long as the internet exists and people want to click, [email protected] Vice President of Marketing click, click through eye-catching covers and pithy descriptions. Seven SARAH KALINA Books to Read Before They Become Movies This Fall. Ten Essential [email protected] Managing/Nonfiction Editor ERIC LIEBETRAU Literary Thrillers. Nine Sad Girl Books for Your Sad Girl Autumn. [email protected]

Twenty-Three Books That Freaked People Out So Badly, They Actu- Fiction Editor LAURIE MUCHNICK ally Had to Stop Reading. At Newsday, where I was books editor for 11 [email protected] Children’s Editor years, my favorite list was Books You Can Read in a Weekend, which VICKY SMITH started small and kept growing as we discovered bingeable new nov- [email protected] Young Adult Editor Tom Beer els under 200 pages. Of course, we at Kirkus produce a hefty share of LAURA SIMEON [email protected]

book lists, too—try 10 New Books by Women That Everybody Should Read Now or The 12 Editor at Large MEGAN LABRISE Most Addictive Books of 2019 (So Far). [email protected] Vice President of Kirkus Indie Sometimes such lists have higher ambitions—for example, the ubiquitous Best Books KAREN SCHECHNER of the Year lists that start cropping up in late fall and become something of a parlor game on [email protected] Senior Indie Editor Literary Twitter. For the super nerdy, there’s even the blog (the brainchild DAVID RAPP Largehearted Boy [email protected]

of David Gutowski), which compiles a master list of online Best Books lists. Meanwhile, Indie Editor MYRA FORSBERG our friends at Literary Hub have begun the ambitious project of reviewing the past decade [email protected] Associate Manager of Indie and making claims for what they believe are the greatest books published between 2010 KATERINA PAPPAS and 2019, starting with The 10 Best Debut Novels of the Decade. [email protected] Editorial Assistant ’s list, compiled by Emily Temple, includes outstanding novels by Viet Thanh JOHANNA ZWIRNER Lit Hub [email protected] Nguyen (The Sympathizer), Nicole Dennis-Benn (Here Comes the Mysteries Editor THOMAS LEITCH ), and Kirkus Prize winner Ling Ma ( ) along with a gen- Sun Severance Contributing Editor erous helping of Dissenting Opinions and Honorable Mentions. I GREGORY McNAMEE Copy Editor weighed in on Twitter with my own dissenting opinion—where BETSY JUDKINS

Designer was Anthony Marra’s unforgettable first novel, A Constellation of ALEX HEAD

Vital Phenomena?—as did many others. Director of Kirkus Editorial LAUREN BAILEY And here is where the haters really get up in arms: How can [email protected] Production Editor you make such a sweeping claim? What about [fill in title here], CATHERINE BRESNER which is obviously the best debut of the decade? Naysayers argue [email protected] Website and Software Developer that all these lists are nothing more than clickbait, pandering to PERCY PEREZ [email protected]

short attention spans and dumbing down our literary culture. But Advertising Director MONIQUE STENSRUD I don’t see them as a substitute for reviews and criticism so much [email protected] Advertising Associate as a complement—something to generate lively discussion and argument among people TATIANA ARNOLD who care about books. [email protected] Advertising Coordinator Let a thousand lists bloom! We at will keep creating them—and keep KELSEY WILLIAMS Kirkus Reviews [email protected]

publishing the reviews that are the lifeblood of the magazine. Our Best Books of 2019 cov- Graphic Designer LIANA WALKER erage begins in the next issue, offering lists and sublists for every kind of reader—please [email protected] Controller stay tuned. MICHELLE GONZALES [email protected] for customer service or subscription questions, please call 1 800 316 9361 Print indexes: www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/print-indexes Submission Guidelines: www.kirkusreviews.com/about/submission-guidlines - - - Kirkus Blog: www.kirkusreviews.com/blog Subscriptions: www.kirkusreviews.com/subscription Advertising Opportunities: www.kirkusreviews.com/about/advertising- Newsletters: www.kirkusreviews.com/subscription/newsletter/add Cover photo by opportunities Allan Amato

2 | 1 november 2019 | from the editor’s desk | kirkus.com | you can now purchase books online at kirkus.com contents fiction INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 4 The Kirkus Star is awarded REVIEWS...... 4 to books of remarkable EDITOR’S NOTE...... 6 ON THE COVER: ERIN MORGENSTERN...... 14 merit, as determined by the INTERVIEW: ANDRÉ ACIMAN...... 24 impartial editors of Kirkus. MYSTERY...... 35 SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY...... 43 ROMANCE...... 45 nonfiction INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 47 REVIEWS...... 47 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 48 INTERVIEW: JEANINE BASINGER...... 62 INTERVIEW: KEN FOLLETT...... 68 children’s INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 75 REVIEWS...... 75 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 76 INTERVIEW: OGE MORA...... 84 INTERVIEW: ANTHONY ZUIKER...... 96 VALENTINE’S DAY PICTURE BOOKS...... 105 young adult INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 109 REVIEWS...... 109 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 110 INTERVIEW: NADINE JOLIE COURTNEY...... 114 INTERVIEW: ANDREW MARANISS...... 118 Vivian Gornick’s ferocious but principled SHELF SPACE: THE RIPPED BODICE, CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA...... 124 intelligence emanates from each of the indie essays in a distinctive new collection. Read INDEX TO STARRED REVIEWS...... 125 the review on p. 57. REVIEWS...... 125 EDITOR’S NOTE...... 126 Don’t wait on the mail for reviews! You can read pre-publication reviews as INDIE Q&A: REUBEN “TIHI” HAYSLETT...... 132 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 FIELD NOTES...... 146 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 APPRECIATIONS: LAURA ESQUIVEL’S LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE AT 30...... 147 emailing [email protected].

| kirkus.com | contents | 1 november 2019 | 3 fiction A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO These titles earned the Kirkus Star: FREE FALL Abramowitz, Andy THE ILLNESS LESSON by Clare Beams...... 5 Lake Union Publishing (396 pp.) $24.95 | Jan. 1, 2020 A BEAUTIFUL CRIME by Christopher Bollen...... 9 978-1-5420-1465-6 AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins...... 13 A narcissistic man is kicked out of HOUSE ON ENDLESS WATERS by Emuna Elon; the house by his wife after a one-night trans. by Anthony Berris & Linda Yechiel...... 15 stand while also having trouble at work; his tentative sister seeks success in her THIS IS PLEASURE by Mary Gaitskill...... 18 career. THE BLACK CATHEDRAL by Marcial Gala; Davis Winger, who’s in his mid-30s, is confident that he’s a trans. by Anna Kushner...... 18 good guy. The kind of guy who helps neighbors move and has sex with his wife of eight years “thrice weekly” without need- THE END OF THE OCEAN by Maja Lunde; ing to picture “a tangle of tipsy sorority sisters.” Sure, he has trans. by Diane Oatley...... 27 sex with a co-worker while on a business trip. But she came on to him and he apologized for the “lapse.” Why can’t his wife BLACK LIGHT by Kimberly King Parsons...... 30 understand that she belongs to him? And why is his boss put- FOLLOW ME TO GROUND by Sue Rainsford...... 31 ting him on leave during the investigation of a malfunction on a brand-new amusement-park ride he designed? Unfair! After SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid...... 31 being kicked out of the house, Davis moves into a nearby apartment complex, where he commences an ongoing physics tutor- SHUGGIE BAIN by Douglas Stuart...... 33 ing/ogling situation with a high school teen. He is derisive of housewives and their “nicotine spots and low-swinging labias OLIGARCHY by Scarlett Thomas...... 33 [sic]” who dare sit by the pool as he lifeguards to fill his now- THE HOCUS GIRL by Chris Nickson...... 41 empty workdays. Davis’ overt sexism is understood as such by himself and others and yet allowed to stand because, you know, LADY HOTSPUR by Tessa Gratton...... 43 he’s a good guy. Half of Abramowitz’s (Thank You, Goodnight, 2015) book revolves around Davis’ younger sister, Molly, 32, and THE VANISHED BIRDS by Simon Jimenez...... 43 her love life and career trajectory as a soft-news journalist. But COME TUMBLING DOWN by Seanan McGuire...... 44 don’t worry, she recognizes that her own career opportunities are really due to the much younger man she’s dating. And when THE BEST OF UNCANNY edited by Lynne M. Thomas & she starts dating someone new, her brother grants his permis- Michael Damian Thomas...... 44 sion after making sure the guy hasn’t slept with too many other women. Characters in this book rarely smile, they smirk. The LOVE LETTERING by Kate Clayborn...... 45 prose is turgid, the story repetitive, the characters clichéd, and THE VANISHING by Jayne Ann Krentz...... 45 juvenile sexual innuendo abounds. It’s a man’s world and women exist as second-class citizens in this skippable novel.

4 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | TWO BLANKETS, fictionalized in one of the period’s most popular novels, The THREE SHEETS Darkening Glass. So when Samuel gets the idea to found a rigor- Al Galidi, Rodaan ous school to teach girls about their “deepest selves” on the site Trans. by Reeder, Jonathan of the failed community, Caroline, now in her late 20s, is appre- World Editions (400 pp.) hensive. This apprehension deepens when one of their pupils, $16.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 Eliza, turns out to be the daughter of the man who wrote The 978-1-64286-045-0 Darkening Glass. Eliza’s presence is even more disruptive than Caroline and Samuel feared: Though an intelligent and mature Fleeing conscription in Saddam Hus- student, Eliza seems more interested in prying into the secrets sein’s army, an Iraqi refugee finds himself of the Hoods’ past than in her studies. When Eliza suddenly in a different kind of hell after he applies begins manifesting strange physical ailments—seizurelike fits, for asylum in the Netherlands. mysterious markings, hysteria—the other girls soon come By the time Samir Karim lands in Schiphol airport in 1998, down with them, too. Caroline assumes some kind of manipula- he has already spent seven years trying to set down anchor tion; that is, until they start happening to her. When her father somewhere in the world. The Dutch, he has heard, are lenient calls upon a physician, a family friend who seems to share Sam- with asylum. Coming from war-torn Iraq, Karim has a pow- uel’s forward thinking, to treat the girls, the world that Caroline erful case. The problem is the Dutch have heard it all before, and her father tried to build is in danger, once again, of crashing and Karim’s application soon gets snared in bureaucratic pro- down. Beams (We Show What We Have Learned, 2016) takes risk cedures. He whiles away years, waiting with his assigned two after risk in this, her first novel, and they all seem to pay off. blankets, three sheets, a towel, a pillow, and a pillowcase, to Her ventriloquizing of the late 19th century, her delicate-as-lace

obtain an official residence permit. Karim meets close to 500 young adult fellow refugees at the asylum seekers’ center. Waiting in the center, not knowing when the all-important letter from immigration will arrive, is modern-day purgatory. Al Galidi, himself an Iraqi refugee in the Netherlands, leans on his experiences to describe the cacophony that’s the ASC. A parade of colorful refugee seekers fills in a striking picture of what life’s like on the inside. Does conversion to Christianity help? Rumor has it that it might. “Whoever goes to the mosque gets sent to the jihad, and whoever goes to the church gets a residence permit. I think the church is better,” says Fatima, with a sardonic sense of humor. Karim is an entertaining—if occasionally coarse—protagonist who expertly dissects the statelessness that plagues today’s refugees. In one of the more touching moments, a 7-year-old born at the center claims it as his country—he has seen nothing else. The nuanced narrative does not hide darker currents of depression or loss of personhood. A blunt and surprisingly humorous peek at an aspect of global displacement that remains largely hidden from public view.

THE ILLNESS LESSON Beams, Clare Doubleday (288 pp.) $26.95 | Feb. 11, 2020 978-0-385-54466-5

A progressive all-girls school in 1870s Massachusetts is thrown into chaos when its residents begin to experience inexplicable maladies. Caroline Hood is the daughter of one of the most prominent thinkers in New England. Her father, Samuel, is a widowed essayist best known for a failed social experiment—a sort of utopian village—he attempted when Caroline was a child. This failure was lightly

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 5 small is beautiful

One of my favorite parts of work- on, City Lights, Dalkey Archive, ing at Kirkus is the opportunity to Feminist Press, Fomite, Godine, meet small press representatives Melville House, Milkweed, New from around the country—and oc- York Review Books, Red Hen, casionally from around the world— Subterranean, Tin House, Tor- who come to the office to intro- rey House, Two Lines, World duce themselves and their books. Editions, and many university They’re invariably passionate about presses, among others. what they do, and I love learning For a sampling of this year’s how they started out and how their small press books, let’s start presses work. Do they have an of- with Bloomland by John En- fice, or do they work from home? (Or maybe from a ga- glehardt, published by Dzanc. rage?) Do they specialize in a particular kind of book? I Exploring the reverberations like to hear the nitty-gritty, and another way I sate my of a mass shooting on a college campus, the book is “a hunger for details is through Anne Trubek’s newsletter. culturally diagnostic achievement in the same way that Anne is the founder of Belt Publishing, which focuses Don DeLillo’s White Noise and Libra are culturally diag- on books from the Rust Belt, and her newsletter covers nostic achievements,” according to our review, which issues like whether printing galleys is worth the money; concludes: “Hugely important, hauntingly brutal—En- how much money an author can make from publishing glehardt has just announced himself as one of America’s a book; and the eternal question of why books are pub- most talented emerging writers.” lished on Tuesdays. (Spoiler alert: “No one really knows.”) Or take Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage by Bette How- Belt will be putting out a compilation of these essays in land, the very first book from the literary journalA Pub the spring under the title So You Want To Publish a Book. lic Space’s new publishing arm, Belt is still fairly new on the small press scene. There which our review calls “a re- are also bigger small presses like Graywolf and Coffee markable literary voice redis- House, both of which have been around for decades and covered….This achingly beau- regularly publish a full list of innovative and high-quali- tiful book throbs with life, ty books. Some small presses have banded together into compassion, warmth, and hu- larger groups, like Counterpoint, Soft Skull, and Catapult, mor; hums with an undercur- giving them extra heft in the marketplace. There are sev- rent of existential despair; and eral distinctive presses that spe- creeps into your soul like the cialize in works in translation, slushy-gray-yellow light of a including Open Letter, Archi- wintry Chicago morning.” And pelago, and Europa—I wrote don’t forget Mostly Dead Things about these and others last year. by Kristen Arnett, from Tin Archipelago, Bellevue Liter- House, about a woman who ary Press, Biblioasis, Counter- takes over her father’s struggling taxidermy shop after point, Dorothy, Dzanc, Europa, his suicide. Our review says, “Arnett brings all of Florida’s Felony & Mayhem, Graywolf, strangeness to life through the lens of a family snowed New Directions, Open Let- under with grief.” Or Degrees of Difficulty by Julie E. Jus- ter, Restless Books, Sarabande, ticz, from Fomite Press, about the way “caring for a pro- Soho Press, Transit Books, Two foundly disabled child 24/7 is both exhausting and ten- Dollar Radio, and Unbridled sion-producing for every member of a family…. A stun- Books all had entries on our list ning, heartfelt, and poignant debut.” I can’t wait to see of the 100 Best Fiction Books of 2018. (Tune in for the best what small-press surprises next year will bring. —L.M. of 2019 in our next issue.) We’ve also recently run great reviews of books from Akashic, & Other Stories, Bitter Lem- Laurie Muchnick is the fiction editor.

6 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | sentences, and the friction between the unsettling thinking of historical novels based on the lives of influential women too the period and its 21st century resonances make for an electrify- often overlooked. The children of neglectful mothers, both ing read. Clemmie and Winston Churchill are immediately drawn to A satisfyingly strange novel from the one-of-a-kind each other. Once married, they seek security in their marriage, Beams. not only producing five children, but also charting together Winston’s phenomenal career. Cat and Pug, as Clemmie and Winston affectionately called one another, navigate nearly every THE TEACHER political crisis together. On the homefront, Clemmie must face Ben-Naftali, Michal down dangers of a more domestic sort, too, including managing Trans. by Zamir, Daniella houses on shoestring budgets and defending her husband from Open Letter (184 pp.) angry suffragists wielding whips and jealous women vying for his $14.95 paper | Jan. 21, 2020 affections. Keeping Clemmie by his side helps the notoriously 978-1-948830-07-2 brusque Winston navigate stormy domestic and international waters, from the disasters of the WWI campaign in the Darda- One woman survives the Holocaust; nelles to the heights of his service as prime minister defeating decades later, another imagines what her Hitler. Throughout it all, as half of a power couple, Clemmie life might have been like. faces criticism from her own friends and sister for the unwom- Elsa Weiss survived the Holocaust by anly nature of her work. Indeed, she questions her own fitness obtaining a seat on the “Kastner train”—a as a mother, as she finds more passion in her work than in rais- train that smuggled more than 1,600 Jews to safety after Rudolf ing her children. Benedict capitalizes on the Churchills’ long,

Kastner, a Hungarian Jewish journalist and lawyer, negotiated young adult with Adolf Eichmann. Kastner’s train was real; in this novel by Israeli writer Ben-Naftali—her first to be translated into Eng- lish—the reality of Elsa Weiss is up for debate. Once she arrives in Israel, Elsa works for decades as an English teacher before stepping off the roof of her apartment building. The novel is narrated by one of her students, who goes unnamed and who makes a project out of understanding Elsa’s life. That’s not easy to do. No one, it seems, knows anything about Elsa. What follows, then, is a work of the narrator’s imagining—a kind of novel within a novel. Why Ben-Naftali chose this framing device isn’t entirely clear, since she doesn’t make full use of it. The vast majority of the book is taken up with descriptions of Elsa’s experiences; only occasionally are we reminded that the real Elsa was a cipher, that these descriptions are the narrator’s imaginings. But Ben-Naftali doesn’t fully explore what it might mean to imagine another person’s life or what these fictions illuminate about the narrator herself. Then, too, the narration hovers at a distance, favoring third-person description over dialogue or scenes in the present. The constant exposition makes Elsa into an abstraction and the other characters into less, even, than that. Ben-Naftali doesn’t make full use of her material, and the result feels more tired than fresh.

LADY CLEMENTINE Benedict, Marie Sourcebooks Landmark (336 pp.) $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-4926-6690-5

Determined to support her husband in his political work through two world wars, Clementine Churchill becomes a powerful role model for women. Benedict (The Only Woman in the Room, 2019, etc.) continues her series of

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 7 storied lives to generate a fast-paced narrative: Gallipoli leads MOLLY BIT to Winston’s stint on the front lines of WWI swiftly followed Bevacqua, Dan by 2-year-old Marigold’s death, Winston’s campaign against the Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) Nazis, and finally his triumphant return to the House of Com- $26.00 | Feb. 4, 2020 mons. The thrilling ride is marred only by repetitive scenes of 978-1-9821-0458-0 an impassioned Winston lashing out at Clemmie, whose stern looks immediately remind her Pug to take better care of his Cat. A portrait of the actress as a young A rousing tale of ambition and love. woman. We meet Molly Bit in a chapter called “College: 1993.” It’s an arts school where “everybody wanted to be famous…and if they didn’t get famous, they might die right there in their beds.” Unlike the other kids, Molly Bit has no doubt that she will hit the mark, and after a brief second chapter called “Dues: 1997,” we arrive at “Success: 2001.” By now, Molly has made two movies with her best friend and has appeared in a three-page photo spread in Vanity Fair titled “Girl From the Future: Why in Six Months Everyone Will Know Who Molly Bit Is.” This proves to be no exaggeration—she soon reaches mega-star status, with the action figures and tabloid exposés

8 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Fans of crime fiction will delight in this marriage of knowing aestheticism and old-fashioned mayhem. a beautiful crime

to prove it. By “Venice: 2006,” she’s got a publicist, a personal RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE assistant, and a bodyguard she’s paying 50,000 euros for four Brown, Karma days—because she also has a very persistent stalker. The plot Dutton (336 pp.) of Bevacqua’s debut has a dramatic twist two-thirds of the way $26.00 | Jan. 21, 2020 through, but there’s something a bit mechanical about it, and 978-1-5247-4493-9 subsequent sections lose momentum. Though the author sets out to reveal the human being inside a Hollywood legend, Molly A wife in 2018 discovers letters and never quite comes into focus. We spend a fair amount of time a cookbook from her house’s previous inside her head, but her thoughts have a generic quality: “South- inhabitant—and realizes that their lives ern California tried to rob you of your deep interiority. LA did. might not be so different. Hollywood. It was impossible not to lose at least some of it, for Alice Hale doesn’t want to move shallow thoughts and conversations to cast a spell that sealed a from her tiny Manhattan apartment to a layer off. For six months she’d been contemplating an ass lift.” fixer-upper in the suburbs. But her husband has long wanted to This feels more like a hypothesis about what an actress would move out of the city, and Alice, recently out of a job, feels like think than what one specific, fully realized character thinks. she doesn’t have a reason to say no. The free time may even give Most enjoyable for its smart, often humorous details her more of a chance to start her novel-writing career. But when about moviemaking and celebrity culture. Alice discovers a cookbook and letters left behind by the house’s previous owner, Nellie Murdoch, she gets more inspiration than she bargained for. Alice pores over Nellie’s letters to her mother A BEAUTIFUL CRIME (mysteriously never mailed) to learn the minutiae of her life as

Bollen, Christopher young adult Harper/HarperCollins (400 pp.) $28.99 | Jan. 28, 2020 978-0-06-285388-2

André Aciman meets Patricia High- smith in this satisfying exercise in literary crime. “No mythical city should be judged by its airport.” So we read as 25-year- old Nicholas Brink, an Ohioan by way of New York, lands in Venice in a “Gobi of concrete.” Nick is cut out for finer things, and he has come to Venice to take his part in a con game of his own devising. Bollen (The Destroyers, 2017, etc.) skillfully lets the details out bit by bit: We learn on one page that he has a boyfriend, Clay Guillory, on another that Clay is an Italian speaker who knows Venice well, on still another that Clay is an African American who, Nick hopes, will find the city of Othello less ethnically fraught than a white America that sees Clay “as a blur of black skin.” The crime is delicious, a sale of counterfeit antiques to an American expat who has more money than he knows what to do with. As must happen in stories of this sort, mistakes are made, and Nick, who presents himself as the affable good guy, gets greedy—and, Clay protests, “Getting greedy is what will get us into trouble.” Instead of selling a bunch of old silver and such, Nick wants to sell a whole palazzo that only partly belongs to Clay by virtue of a friendship with a now-deceased bohemian artist—only partly, the rest being tied up in a family squabble of epically Venetian proportions. Cons turn into countercons as a private investigator–cum-strongman turns up, and when that happens, Bollen’s relatively gentle game of cat and mouse takes a bloody turn that’s not entirely unexpected. Clay’s warning to Nick turns out to be exactly right, as Nick sheds any vestigial boyishness in the course of a would-be swindle that goes exactly wrong. Fans of crime fiction will delight in this marriage of knowing aestheticism and old-fashioned mayhem.

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 9 a slightly bored housewife—the cooking, cleaning, and Tupper- An engaging and suspenseful look at how the patriar- ware parties. Alice even enjoys testing out the cookbook, making chy shaped women’s lives in the 1950s and continues to do vintage recipes like Baked Alaska. But as readers see in chapters so today. from Nellie’s point of view, her life wasn’t just a parade of fancy desserts and dinner parties—she was harshly controlled by her cruel and physically abusive husband. Nellie spent as much time THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES hiding her bruises as she did making a home, being sure to keep Burdick, Serena the sordid details of her life a secret. Meanwhile, Alice is keeping Park Row Books (336 pp.) a few secrets of her own from her husband. He doesn’t know that $16.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 she was really fired from her last job or that she has no desire to 978-0-7783-0873-7 get pregnant with the child he wants to have immediately. But as Nellie gains the courage to take control of her life, so does Alice— In the early 1910s, the House of even if both of them might have to resort to dramatic mea- Mercy, a home for wayward girls, looms sures. Brown (The Life Lucy Knew, 2018, etc.) skillfully alternates over the posh Tildon estate in upper between Alice’s modern world and Nellie’s in the 1950s. With Manhattan. Will the Tildon daughters plentiful historical details (including recipes and depressingly fall into its clutches? hilarious marriage advice), the pages devoted to Nellie come to Born with a heart condition that life. As both women both start to feel even more stifled in their should have ended her life in infancy, 13-year-old Effie Tildon marriages, Brown ratchets up the tension and pulls off a surpris- adores her older sister, Luella. When they discover a band of ing—but satisfying—ending. Roma camping near their home, their curiosity is sparked, and the two sisters begin sneaking out to sing, dance, and have their fortunes told. Even though their parents would be shocked, Effie and Luella know they are simply having some fun, exploring a new world. But discovering that their father, Emory, has a shameful secret drives Luella from home. Convinced that her parents have had Luella incarcerated in the House of Mercy (an American version of the notorious Magdalene laundries that plagued unfortunate Irish girls), Effie contrives to rescue her. Once inside the House of Mercy, she meets Mable Winter, who has plenty of secrets of her own to hide. Yet Effie has grossly miscalculated, and her rescue mission quickly sets in motion a series of fateful events that imperil her life. The bleak lives of women in early-20th-century New York spring to life through Burdick’s (Girl in the Afternoon, 2016) deft sketching. Whether born to privilege, as the Tildon girls are, or tossed into the ten- ement slums, as Mable is, each girl must fight bitterly for any kind of freedom. As for the House of Mercy itself, Burdick shrewdly lets it loom in the background for a bit before pulling it to the foreground, like an urban legend suddenly brought to life. Burdick is especially adept at slowly revealing the motiva- tion of the ominous figures around Effie and Mable while ratch- eting up both the girls’ vulnerability and courage. A spellbinding thriller for fans of Gilded Age fiction.

TOM CLANCY CODE OF HONOR Cameron, Marc Putnam (512 pp.) $29.95 | Nov. 19, 2019 978-0-525-54172-1

Jack Ryan is a hands-on president in Cameron’s latest Tom Clancy techno- thriller (Oath of Office, 2018, etc.). Developers have built artificial intelligence into a computer application called

10 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Calliope. Nearly sentient and thought of as female, she’s “no the Clancy yarns always are, but some backstories feel like filler ordinary gaming software” and can take over any connected elec- necessary to reach 500 pages. Cameron’s writing channels the tronic device and perform any mission asked of her. But don’t great man’s style to a T, but one day maybe Calliope will get the call her just a virus. Calliope is a predator, “fairly bursting at the mission to take over the series and continue it forever. Imagine seams as she sought new challenges.” Of course the Chinese three generations—hell, four—of Ryans in the White House. military lusts after her like Dr. Strangelove lusted after nukes, This one’s as good as all the others and those to come. so their spies are “all over the damn place.” Meanwhile, Sen. Read and enjoy, Clancy fans. ’Til next time. Michelle Chadwick, who harbors a “visceral hatred of all things Jack Ryan,” is shown a video of herself in the sack with a Chi- nese agent (oops!) and is persuaded to get close to Ryan. That’s a bit awkward, but she agrees to approach the president with an olive branch and then politically destroy him. The Chinese plot spreads a wide net, entrapping Father Pat West, an ex–CIA agent and friend of Ryan’s, who’s thrown in jail in Indonesia. The poor guy is falsely accused of proselytizing Muslims and faces an uncertain future, and Ryan wants to go to Indonesia and personally get him released. First lady and ophthalmologist Dr. Cathy Ryan plays an important role by assisting on a little girl’s eye surgery. And somewhere out in the field Jack Junior does his bit, making this a Ryan family affair. Of course the story is fun, as young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 11

BIG LIES IN A SMALL TOWN $50,000 to restore a mural painted by one Anna Dale in 1940 in Chamberlain, Diane time for a gallery opening on Aug. 5, 2018. If Morgan misses this St. Martin’s (400 pp.) deadline, not only is her deal off, but Lisa will, due to a puzzling, $27.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 thinly motivated condition of Jesse’s will, lose her childhood 978-1-250-08733-1 home. In an alternating narrative, Anna, winner of a U.S. Trea- sury Department competition, has been sent from her native A tale of two artists, living 78 years New Jersey to paint a mural for the Edenton post office. Anna apart in a small Southern town, and the has zero familiarity with the South, particularly with Jim Crow. third artist who links them. She recognizes Jesse’s exceptional talent and mentors him, to The fates of two white painters in the ire of Edenton’s white establishment. Martin Drapple, a Edenton, North Carolina, intertwine local portraitist rejected in the competition, is at first a good with the legacy of a third, that of Jesse sport, when he’s sober, until, somewhat too suddenly, he’s nei- Jameson Williams, a prominent African American artist with ther. Issues of addiction and mental illness are foremost in both Edenton roots. In 2018, the recently deceased Jesse has left a past and present. Anna’s late mother had manic episodes. Mor- very unusual will. In life, Jesse paid his success forward by help- gan’s estranged parents are unrepentant boozers. And Anna’s ing underdog artists. Morgan Christopher, the last, posthumous mural of civic pride is decidedly strange. One of the strengths recipient of Jesse’s largesse, can’t imagine why he chose her, a here is the creditable depiction of the painter’s process, in complete stranger who is doing time for an alcohol-related Anna’s case, and the restorer’s art, in Morgan’s. Despite the crash that left another driver paralyzed. Released on an early fraught circumstances challenging all three painters, conflict is parole engineered by Jesse’s daughter, Lisa, Morgan will receive lacking. The 1940 racial tensions are unrealistically mild, and

A thriller MIKE BROGAN

“A frighteningly realistic, entertaining story. Well-developed characters in a convincing real-world menace!” – Kirkus Reviews

“Compulsive new page-turner from a Writer’s Digest award-winner. Suspense from a master...” – Midwest Book Review

“Tense and engaging journey through corporate espionage and revenge. A timely mystery thriller.” – Foreword Reviews

“Buckle up for a wild ride!” – Loren D. Estleman, Four-time Shamus Award Winner

How to order: Ingram, Amazon, mikebroganbooks.com

12 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | This terrifying and tender novel is a blunt answer to the question of why immigrants from Latin America cross the U.S. border— and a testimony to the courage it takes to do it. american dirt

Jesse’s testamentary testiness is not mined for its full stakes- more to it, that her friendship with a courtly older man who has raising potential. become her favorite customer at the small bookstore she runs An engaging, well-researched, and sometimes thought- is a secret key, and that she and her son are marked for death. provoking art mystery. Cummins does a splendid job of capturing Lydia’s and Luca’s numb shock and then panic in the aftermath of the shootings, then their indomitable will to survive and reach el norte— A BEGINNING AT THE END any place they might go in Mexico is cartel territory, and any Chen, Mike stranger might be an assassin. She vividly recounts their harrow- Harlequin MIRA (400 pp.) ing travels for more than 1,000 miles by bus, atop a lethally dan- $26.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 gerous freight train, and finally on foot across the implacable 978-0-7783-0934-5 Sonoran Desert. Peril and brutality follow them, but they also encounter unexpected generosity and heroism. Lydia and Luca A grieving father, a British pop star, are utterly believable characters, and their breathtaking journey and a wedding planner cope with the moves with the velocity and power of one of those freight trains. aftermath of a flu pandemic in this post- Intensely suspenseful and deeply humane, this novel apocalyptic novel by Chen (Here and Now makes migrants seeking to cross the southern U.S. border and Then, 2019). indelibly individual. Six years after a virus wiped out 70% of the U.S. population, Rob Donelly, Krista Deal, and Moira Gorman are still unable to move forward with their lives. Rob,

a news censor at San Francisco–based PodStar Technologies, young adult hasn’t told his 7-year-old daughter, Sunny, that her mother died during the pandemic, instead saying she’s in “treatment”; Krista, a financially struggling wedding planner, faked her own death to escape her dysfunctional family. Moira, Rob’s co-worker and Krista’s client, is really Johanna Moira “MoJo” Hatfield, a former teenage pop star who ran away from her controlling father. Rob, Krista, and Moira uncover one another’s secrets as they struggle with the consequences of their past decisions. A lot of backstory and confusing subplot told in document fragments detract from an imaginative premise, likable characters, and an uplifting ending. A refreshingly nondystopian end-of-the-world story that falls short of Chen’s smart debut.

AMERICAN DIRT Cummins, Jeanine Flatiron Books (400 pp.) $26.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 978-1-250-20976-4

This terrifying and tender novel is a blunt answer to the question of why immigrants from Latin America cross the U.S. border—and a testimony to the courage it takes to do it. Cummins (The Crooked Branch, 2013, etc.) opens this propulsive novel with a massacre. In a pleasant Acapulco neighborhood, gunmen slaughter 16 people at a family barbecue, from a grandmother to the girl whose quincea- ñera they are celebrating. The only survivors are Lydia, a young mother, and her 8-year-old son, Luca. She knows they must escape, fast and far. Lydia’s husband, Sebastián, is among the dead; he was a fearless journalist whose coverage of the local cartel, Los Jardineros, is the reason los sicarios were sent, as the sign fastened to his dead chest makes clear. Lydia knows there is

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 13

ON THE COVER Erin Morgenstern

FANS OF THE NIGHT CIRCUS HAVE WAITED EIGHT YEARS FOR THE AUTHOR’S NEXT NOVEL. IT’S FINALLY HERE By Connie Ogle

Erin Morgenstern ness of this tour, so I needed to chill and thought: ‘I’ll play for an hour.’ I played for six hours!...It’s fascinating to me on a narrative level. You make choices that affect where the stories go. It reminds me of fairy-tale retelling, all those old myths that have different versions.” This appetite for stories in every possible form fu- els The Starless Sea (Doubleday, Nov. 5), a sprawling, absorbing, fantastical novel that imagines a vast underground library that’s more than a library. Think of it as “a labyrinthine collection of tunnels and rooms filled with stories,” Morgenstern writes. “Stories written in books and sealed in jars and painted on walls. Odes in- scribed onto skin and pressed into rose petals. Tales laid in tiles upon the floors, bits of plot worn away by passing feet. Legends carved in crystal and hung from chandeliers. Stories catalogued and cared for and revered. Old stories preserved while new stories spring up around them.” At the center of the novel is Zachary Ezra Rawlins, the son of a fortuneteller. Zachary is a gamer, a reader, and a graduate student in Emerging Media Studies Erin Morgenstern knows good stories can be working on his thesis. Zachary stumbles upon a pecu- found anywhere. In books, of course, but also in video liar book with no title on its cover in the college library. games and on television. Just ask her how she relaxes He takes it back to his dorm—and finds a story about before a book tour or how obsessed she was with Game himself in its pages. of Thrones (she’s still miffed about the ending: “I was The discovery leads him on a quest that begins at a angry about how we got there. It was too much too lavish masked ball in Manhattan and leads to astonish- fast”). The story, not the medium, is what draws her. ing subterranean adventures involving life and death, This open-mindedness explains the admission fierce protectors and threatening enemies, disdain- you’ll find in the acknowledgements of her new book: ful cats and helpful bees, dripping candle wax and the She’s madly in love with the role-playing video game sweet, sticky scent of honey. “Dragon Age: Inquisition.” The Starless Sea is one of the most anticipated books “You can get so absorbed,” explains Morgenstern, of the fall thanks to the popularity of Morgenstern’s who grew up playing “Super Mario” and “Duck Hunt” beloved first novel, The Night Circus. The devotion of and rediscovered the joys of gaming in her 30s. “The her fans is a blessing, she realizes, but it also exerts a other day I was stressed about all the upcoming mad- certain amount of pressure.

14 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | “I know so many people were waiting for this,” she says of the new book. “The Night Circus was more positively received than I ever imagined it would be. I thought it was something only weird people would like. There are way more weird people than I imagined.” The Night Circus was published in 2011, so it’s no surprise readers are eager for its follow-up. But they might be surprised to learn that the image of the underground library in The Starless Sea has floated around in Morgen- THE CAPTAIN AND THE GLORY stern’s head for at least 20 years, “right down to the tiles Eggers, Dave Knopf (128 pp.) and the lighting,” she says. $15.95 | Nov. 20, 2019 “Everything I start, I start with the space,” she says. 978-0-525-65908-2 “I don’t start with plot. I have to pull plot out like pull- A boorish ignoramus takes command ing teeth….In On Writing, Stephen King says writing is of a noble vessel and heads full speed telepathy. He’s taking a picture and has to choose the ahead into chaos. Yes, it’s an allegory. right words to put a not exact but comparable picture Eggers has developed an affinity for in your head. That’s how it is for me.” fablelike tales that sound alarms about global economics (A Hologram for the Referring to other writers’ works comes naturally to King, 2012), technology (The Circle, 2013), and authoritarianism Morgenstern. The narrative twists and turns in The Star (The Parade, 2019). This shallow, needless Trump parable is the less Sea, but her characters still find time to read, which worst of them. That’s mainly because the metaphorical veneer gives the author a chance to sneak in references to some is so thin it all but renders the book unnecessary. When the commander of the ship Glory retires, a corrupt (not to men- of her favorite titles: Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, tion “large and lumpy”) kitsch merchant nominates himself for Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, Sarah Waters’ The the job, enchanting some and horrifying others. (Among his cronies are “a patsy named Michael the Cohen” and a daughter Little Stranger, Raymond Chandler’s Playback. he lusts after.) Once the “known moron” takes over the Glory, young adult But then, the fact that the author of The Starless Sea he delivers crazed messages to passengers on a whiteboard loves stories and those who tell them isn’t surprising. (“People who ‘run’ engines are your Enemies”), flings the ship’s The novel rewards patient readings and rereadings by manual overboard, and then begins to do the same to anybody who crosses him. Immigrants who could assist are denied per- design. Morgenstern has great faith in her readers and mission to board; minorities are cast out to cheers of “Drown doesn’t worry that the book’s literary complexities re- the Brown.” A Robert Mueller–esque “Sheriff of the Seas” quire close attention. proves an ineffectual counterweight; in time, the shallow, gull- “I never wanted it to be easy,” Morgenstern admits. ible captain falls under the sway of a Putin-ish “Pale One.” (The captain “liked particularly the way he murdered his enemies, or “I didn’t want a nice fluffy read. You have to assume the ordered the murder of his enemies.”) Soon, the Glory is pillaged right reader is going to trust you to tell the story.” for all it’s worth. Anybody who needs the Trump administration explained to them in lightly fictionalized, fifth grade–primer The Starless Sea prose is probably beyond Eggers’ help. But there’s little to Connie Ogle is a writer in Florida. received appeal to anybody else: The deliberately simple, would-be a starred review in the Aug. 15, 2019, issue. comic style softens the dangers Eggers means to call out, and his concluding messages about how to right the ship are cloying. (“First, dignity.”) An ill-advised take on “The Emperor’s New Clothes” that’s limp when it isn’t condescending.

HOUSE ON ENDLESS WATERS Elon, Emuna Trans. by Berris, Anthony & Yechiel, Linda Atria (336 pp.) $27.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-9821-3022-0

A celebrated Israeli novelist’s visit to Amsterdam, the city where he was born, triggers the search for his origins that— unknowingly—he has been waiting to make his entire life. Paying thoughtful homage to the Jews of Amsterdam, trapped in the Nazis’ inexorable vise of persecution, Israeli

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 15 writer Elon (If You Awaken Love, 2007, etc.) has composed a when Esther attempts to draw the killer out, it puts her firmly story of love, loss, and yearning, expressed through the cre- in the crosshairs. Engberg’s background as a former dancer ation of a novel within a novel. Her central character, writer and choreographer gives a boost to her considerable flair for Yoel Blum, was instructed by his mother never to visit the the dramatic (keep an eye out for a theatrically staged murder city from which she, Yoel, and his sister fled, but after her at the Royal Danish Theater) and highlights a strong focus on death he makes the trip and accidentally sees a clip of prewar Copenhagen’s creative community; even Jeppe wanted to be film that opens up questions of identity he feels compelled to a musician before he became a cop. His fairly recent divorce explore. So Yoel settles in Amsterdam, in a tacky hotel right almost ruined him, and Anette’s upbeat and pragmatic style is near the hospital where he was born, and begins to accu- no small annoyance to her moody partner, which is played for mulate notes for a novel through which he will try to make light comic effect (as is Jeppe’s reawakening libido), leavening sense of the past. This second story features Sonia, a mother, the heavier subject matter. Overly familiar plot elements keep and her two children, Nettie and Leo, characters who both this from being a standout, and some twists require a signifi- animate Yoel’s knowledge of the past and accompany him cant suspension of disbelief, but Engberg’s fast-paced narra- into the present as he wanders the streets, accumulating tive is bolstered by an interesting and quirky cast as well as an information, acquaintances, and atmosphere, while slowly intriguing setting. coming to terms with the truth. Heavily shadowed with the A bit over-the-top but still a lot of fun. creeping horrors of the Holocaust—in particular the heart- wrenching choice to hide children and the consequences of that choice—the novel is given weight by its focus on Yoel’s HOW QUICKLY SHE psychology and the mood of a beautiful capital flowing with DISAPPEARS symbolic dark water. Lyrically phrased and often power- Fleischmann, Raymond fully visual, the novel has a slow pace, unlike other, perhaps Berkley (320 pp.) more conventional war stories. However, this deeply felt tale $26.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 offers a rewarding meditation on survival and on digesting 978-1-984-80517-1 the emotional burdens freely or unknowingly carried. Blurring the edges between history and fiction, this An Alaska woman is drawn into the achingly mournful work impresses with its grave empathy. web of a murderer when he promises to explain her twin sister’s disappearance in Fleischmann’s debut novel. THE TENANT It’s 1941. Elisabeth Pfautz has moved Engberg, Katrine from Lititz, Pennsylvania, the small German immigrant com- Scout Press/Simon & Schuster munity of her childhood, to Alaska, where her husband, John, (368 pp.) has accepted a job teaching children of the Athabaskan tribe. At $27.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 first Elisabeth, John, and their precocious 11-year-old daughter, 978-1-982127-57-2 Margaret, adjust well to life in the village of Tanacross. But when Alfred, a substitute mail pilot, flies in, Elisabeth can’t quite A vicious killer follows a writer’s mur- identify the root of his strangeness. It’s not just that he once derous manuscript to the letter in Dan- flew missions for the kaiser, claims to have seen spaceships, and ish author Engberg’s U.S. debut. picks a very bad time to extol their common German heritage. It’s only been about a year since Uni- In periodic dreams, Elisabeth relives the year 1921, when she versity of Copenhagen professor Esther and her twin sister, Jacqueline, were 11. Jacqueline was obsessed de Laurenti retired, and she’s been writing a novel, something with a man named Jacob, another German Great War veteran, she’s always dreamed of. When Esther’s tenant, 21-year-old who wrote her letters and gave her an ornate dagger. Then one Julie Stender, is murdered, Esther is shocked. Heading up the day, Jacqueline disappeared, and so did Jacob. Now Alfred, the investigation is Copenhagen detectives Jeppe Kørner and his mail pilot, tells Elisbaeth that he holds the key to her sister’s partner of eight years, Anette Werner, and it’s proving to be a disappearance and will disclose her whereabouts—for a price. doozy. The murder was particularly heinous: The killer stabbed Alfred murders an Athabaskan man, apparently in cold blood, Julie and carved strange designs into her face and, frustratingly, and is sent to prison in Fairbanks. Through letters and prison seems to have been very careful not to leave any physical evi- visits that arouse John’s ire, Elisabeth is given tasks by Alfred dence at the scene. Of course, as investigators start digging that are increasingly intrusive and risky. Soon she is forced into Julie’s life, they discover some suitably shady secrets in into a stark choice between protecting her current family and her past, and it’s suggested that one of her boyfriends might reclaiming her past. This is a page-turner, keeping us glued to have felt scorned enough to resort to murder. Perhaps it was Elisabeth’s struggles as she tries to turn the manipulations of a her new boyfriend, who is supposedly a much older, sophisti- psychopath to her own ends. But if it weren’t for technological cated man. Too bad nobody knows who he is. When Esther advances that might have obviated its premise, this book could reveals that the details of the murder closely mirror her work have been set in the present. The World War II milieu is glanc- in progress, it opens a whole new avenue of investigation, and ingly and unconvincingly evoked. The language, particularly the

16 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 17 dialogue, does not even attempt the parlance of the day; instead, THE BLACK CATHEDRAL it is replete with anachronisms like “You’re venting,” “Give me Gala, Marcial the bottom line,” and “I am here for you,” to cite only a few. Trans. by Kushner, Anna However, the Alaskan setting is vividly detailed. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (224 pp.) A historical thriller minus the history. $26.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-0-374-11801-3

THIS IS PLEASURE Award-winning Cuban writer and Gaitskill, Mary architect Gala links the fate of a com- Pantheon (96 pp.) munity with the doomed construction $18.00 | Nov. 5, 2019 of a cathedral in this dark, violent, often 978-1-524-74913-2 comic novel, his first to be translated into English. This insightful fictional take on a The Stuart family’s arrival in a rough part of Cienfuegos, #MeToo scandal offers fresh perspec- Cuba, sparks the neighbors’ interest: “If you’re born black, tives and avoids easy answers. you’re already screwed; imagine if, in addition, you have to The #MeToo movement is arguably live in the squalid rooming houses of a neighborhood like this.” not known for nuance; common nar- Graffiti here in Punta Gotica reads “NO ONE GETS OUT OF ratives often portray victims, villains, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ALIVE.” The two Stuart sons are and little in between. In her novels, essays, and short stories, smart but odd, the beautiful daughter artistic. Their father, a however, Gaitskill (Somebody With a Little Hammer, 2017, etc.) religious zealot, is obsessed with building a cathedral. The archi- frequently explores the shaded contours and subtle seesaws tect hired to design it dreams of the city of the future, viewed of sexual power dynamics and conjures complex characters from the back of an angel: “I saw the Cienfuegos of the future, that resist our urge to fit them into delineated categories of a beautiful city, full of elegant buildings...the celestial Jerusalem.” morality and culpability. In this novella, originally published Events don’t unfold that way, to say the least. Later the archi- on the New Yorker’s website, Gaitskill introduces two char- tect comes to believe “that it was called the Black Cathedral for acters swept up—one directly and one indirectly—in a could- those with darkness in their hearts.” Told by a shifting, overlap- have-been-ripped-from-the-headlines #MeToo moment and, ping multitude of voices, the novel explores the interconnected in brief, alternating chapters, allows them to tell their own lives of the local characters: kids, petty criminals, politicians, stories. Quin is an elegant, eccentric, well-connected New artists and writers, ghosts of people murdered by a serial killer, York book editor who, although married to a beautiful fash- and the killer as well, speaking from death row. Though some ionista and the father of a precocious daughter, enjoys engag- move abroad, all find themselves affected by the violence and ing with women he meets, at work and elsewhere, intimately desperation of Punta Gotica and by its strange, unfinished and sexually—toying with them, his friend Margot suggests, building. As Arturo Stuart labors over “the first cathedral that in a “vaguely sadistic” yet ultimately harmless way. But is it is truly for and by the meek,” one of his sons is initiated into harmless? Are the women emphatically victims and Quin the the Cuban religion Palo, and the other finds work at a Russian culprit? And if so, is the punishment Quin is facing—losing mobster’s brothel. The two sons eventually commit a terrible his career and social standing—commensurate with his crime? crime together (though worse crimes have already been done Margot, who rebuffed Quin’s sexual advance early in their long by an African Cuban character nicknamed Gringo). A retired friendship, before she acquired her own publishing-world principal of the Cienfuegos school laments of his former pupils, power, believes the young women who have accused Quin “They practically all turned out bad. Even the good ones aren’t of wrongdoing were, at least in some cases, willing partici- like we expected. I would call them the Black Cathedral genera pants in and beneficiaries of Quin’s sexual game-playing and tion.” Trying to make sense of the Stuart boys’ crime, one char- that he does not deserve to be punished so harshly. Is Margot acter says, “They were children, wicked children like all of us, correct, or is her judgment clouded by friendship? Does she children without a childhood.” herself deserve disdain as an enabler? Gaitskill provides room A raucous, anguished, fast-paced story, tautly written for readers to disagree, ultimately raising more questions than and deeply rooted. answers. “The best story is one that reveals a truth,” Quin asserts, “like something you see and understand in a dream but forget as soon as you wake up.” The indefinite article is everything there. In this novella, Gaitskill reveals two truths— Quin’s and Margot’s—and reminds us that the truth can be painfully elusive. Gaitskill’s willingness to ignore common wisdom and consider controversial and complex questions from different viewpoints is a true literary pleasure.

18 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | In the murder of a teenage beauty queen, many suspects vie for the crown. the prized girl

THE PRIZED GIRL from school. Jenny’s guidance counselor, Hunter Willoughby, Green, Amy K. ignored the warning signs. So did her father, who keeps a sepa- Dutton (384 pp.) rate residence in New York. Her mother coped with the news $26.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 by drinking herself into a stupor. At school, Jenny faced back- 978-1-5247-4510-3 lash from Christine Castleton and Mallory Murphy, the popular girls she rejected. And Benjy, of course, was heartbroken when In the murder of a teenage beauty she quit. But Virginia has a secret too. When she was in high queen, many suspects vie for the crown. school, she had an affair with a teacher, Mark Renkin, and has Who would want to kill a 13-year-old never recovered. Every week, she drinks until she blacks out, girl like Jenny Kennedy? The most likely making her wonder where she was and what she was doing on suspect is Benjy Lincoln, a developmen- the night Jenny was murdered. tally disabled man who had an inappro- This disturbing tour behind the scenes of a stolen priate crush on Jenny and followed her from pageant to pageant. childhood exposes cringe-inducing truths—and leads to a But Jenny’s half sister, Virginia, doesn’t believe he’s guilty. So she shocking conclusion. teams up with Detective Brandon Colsen to interview Benjy and other people Jenny knew. As Virginia digs up her sister’s sordid history, the last days of Jenny’s life unfold in alternating chapters. It’s unclear who’s guilty, but no one in town is innocent. By the time Jenny was found dead, she had already quit her beauty pageants and was planning to run away with JP, a boy young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 19 FANDANGO & resolves in uncertainty: The narrator will not kill anyone that OTHER STORIES day, but what he’ll do the next is an open question. Other sto- Grin, Alexander ries are specimens from what Soviet critics called “Grinlandia,” Trans. by Karetnyk, Bryan an exotic South Seas–like location where people call guests Columbia University Press (312 pp.) “Señor”—and some of those inhabitants are in fact exiled con- $16.95 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 victs, such as the founder of the titular “Lanphier Colony,” who 978-0-231-18977-4 “issued phrase after phrase, [which], correctly divided by invisible punctuation marks, evaporated into the air, like clouds of A trove of centrifugal stories by long- smoke released methodically by an inveterate smoker.” Some forgotten Soviet writer Grin. of Grin’s fantasies must have seemed unbearable to contem- Grin, ne Grinevsky, was born in porary readers, like his imagining of a vast banquet, discovered a town in north-central Russia where by the protagonist of the story “The Rat-Catcher,” consisting exiles were dispatched in the czarist era; his father was a Polish- of cheeses, cakes, eggs, and “hams, sausages, cured tongues, born detainee. As soon as he could, he made for Odessa, worked and minced turkey,” all from a story written in 1924, a time of in the port and at sea, and joined the Social Revolutionary deprivation after civil war. Other of the stories are surpassingly Party. Sent out on a mission of assassination, Grin had second strange, then and now, set in imaginary places “well clear of any thoughts, a matter at the heart of the first story here, “Quar- shipping lanes,” that are redolent of Poe and Verne and whose antine,” written in 1907. Claustrophobic and full of the anxiety happenings sometimes reach into the distant future, as in the that “was like someone else’s bothersome cargo, which could title story: “I saw those same magic-eyed travelers, the kind this not be unloaded until it had been dragged to a certain point,” it very city will see in the year 2021, when our progeny…will alight the cabin of his electric automobile onto the surface of an alu- minum aerial causeway.” Strange and memorable. Students of modern literature should greet this as if discovering hidden treasure.

PURGATORY BAY Gruley, Bryan Thomas & Mercer (332 pp.) $15.95 paper | Jan. 14, 2020 978-1-5420-9288-3

Twelve years after a young woman’s family is killed by the mob, she orches- trates an ambitious revenge plot in Gruley’s (Bleak Harbor, 2018, etc.) action- packed novel. Jubilee Rathman was just 17 when her parents and sister were murdered days after the Detroit Times ran a story implying that her father was a money launderer for the local mob. Former reporter Michaela “Mikey” Deming has carried the guilt for what happened to the Rathmans ever since. Twelve years after the hit, Jubilee lives behind protective walls on a private island in Purgatory Bay near Bleak Harbor, Michi- gan, where she has been remorselessly planning a complicated revenge scheme to punish all those she believes were involved in her family’s deaths. Her mysterious partner, Caleb, has been trained to use a fleet of weaponized drones, and she’s found a way to lure some of her targets to Bleak Harbor; Mikey and her family are coming to town for a hockey tournament. The night they arrive, Mikey’s sister goes missing, and then someone kid- naps her daughter from the rink. The local police chief, Katya Malone, and investigator Gary Langreth must fight against the clock to save the Deming family—as well as the rest of the town—from Jubilee’s wrath and to discover who was really responsible for the original tragedy. There’s so much happening in this novel—every chapter situates us in a specific time, such

20 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Harris proves she still has the magic touch. a longer fall

as “Friday, 3:12 a.m.,” and then there are flashbacks to explain DEEP STATE the past as well—that it’s easy to lose track of a few more reso- Hauty, Chris nant themes. Mikey’s decision to take responsibility for her Emily Bestler/Atria (288 pp.) actions and stop being afraid is one of these, as is the power of $27.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 compassion to combat violence. It takes a long time, though, 978-1-9821-2658-2 for any of the characters to earn our sympathy because of all the driving action, so for most of the novel, there is little human A White House intern saves the depth or connection. republic. Give up all suspension of disbelief; this is one crazy ride. Hayley Chill is no ordinary intern: She comes to the job from the military, after life experiences more varied than A LONGER FALL her companion interns, and is more Harris, Charlaine self-possessed and focused than they are. In fact, she is more Saga/Simon & Schuster (320 pp.) self-possessed and focused than almost anyone. She’s assigned $26.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 to the chief of staff’s office, and when, in the course of- flirt 978-1-4814-9495-3 ing with hunky Secret Service Agent Scott Billings, she assists in the apprehension of a White House intruder, she becomes In the second installment of Har- a minor celebrity. But then the chief of staff, Peter Hall, dies ris’ weird Western series set in an alter- of an apparent heart attack, and only Hayley has evidence his nate former United States (after An death may not be a natural event. As she tries to investigate this,

Easy Death, 2018), gunslinger/bodyguard young adult for hire Lizbeth “Gunnie” Rose must accompany a mysterious crate to its des- tination, but things go terribly wrong. A long train ride east to the country of Dixie isn’t 19-year- old Lizbeth’s idea of a good time, but it is a job, and she needs it, especially since her last job left her with a long recovery and no crew. Her new troupe, the Lucky Crew, seems competent enough, and when Lizbeth spots some suspicious folks on the train, she’s pretty sure they’re about to be tested. A shootout precedes an explosion that engulfs the train. Someone must really want the Lucky Crew’s cargo. Lizbeth has been shot, her crew has been decimated, and the contents of the crate are gone, but she’s still got a job to do. When a blast from Lizbeth’s past— Eli Savarov, a grigori, or Russian wizard—shows up, Lizbeth discovers that he’s in search of whomever hired the Lucky Crew to deliver the crate. Lizbeth agrees to take a job as his bodyguard, and the two, posing as a married couple (it’s only proper) poke around the Louisiana town of Sally for clues that will lead them to the chest. They quickly realize the town is in racial turmoil: Slavery doesn’t technically exist, but it might as well considering the backward attitudes of the townsfolk and their shabby treatment of Sally’s black citizens. It all seems to lead to a powerful family that holds the town in its thrall, and, of course, the explo- sive contents of that troublesome crate. Lizbeth and Eli spend quite a bit of time on old-fashioned sleuthing (and, delightfully, between the sheets), but the action ratchets up exponentially in the surprising last half. Lizbeth is a no-nonsense, dryly funny narrator, and while this installment lacks a bit of the spark of the first book, it’s still a shoot’em-up, rollicking ride. The indomitable, quick-on-the-draw Lizbeth remains an irresistible heroine, and Harris proves she still has the magic touch.

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 21 she begins to uncover a vast conspiracy—the deep state is not REGRETTING YOU happy with her boss, the president—and just as she recognizes Hoover, Colleen this, she also realizes that Scott Billings is involved. She escapes Montlake Romance (400 pp.) from his murderous attention and then manages to elude or $14.95 paper | Dec. 10, 2019 otherwise neutralize the deep state’s agents until she has the 978-1-5420-1642-1 opportunity to warn the president. These superhuman feats are told in slightly clunky prose, but the novel’s biggest weakness is When tragedy strikes, a mother and its reliance on Hayley Chill and her somewhat implausible array daughter forge a new life. of talents, strength, training, intelligence, and grit. Cute and Morgan felt obligated to marry her savvy as a Swiss Army knife, there’s nothing she cannot accom- high school sweetheart, Chris, when she plish, except being believable. got pregnant with their daughter, Clara. A workmanlike plot, but the main character lacks But she secretly got along much better human depth. with Chris’ thoughtful best friend, Jonah, who was dating her sister, Jenny. Now her life as a stay-at-home parent has left her feeling empty but not ungrateful for what she has. Jonah and THE CONVERT Jenny eventually broke up, but years later they had a one-night Hertmans, Stefan stand and Jenny got pregnant with their son, Elijah. Now Jonah Trans. by McKay, David is back in town, engaged to Jenny, and working at the local high Pantheon (304 pp.) school as Clara’s teacher. Clara dreams of being an actress and $26.95 | Feb. 4, 2020 has a crush on Miller, who plans to go to film school, but her 978-1-5247-4708-4 father doesn’t approve. It doesn’t help that Miller already has a jealous girlfriend who stalks him via text from college. But A Christian woman and a Jewish man Clara and Morgan’s home life changes radically when Chris and fall in love in medieval France. Jenny are killed in an accident, revealing long-buried secrets In 1088, a Christian girl of Nor- and forcing Morgan to reevaluate the life she chose when early man descent falls in love with the son motherhood forced her hand. Feeling betrayed by the adults in of a rabbi. They run away together, to her life, Clara marches forward, acting both responsible and disastrous effect: Her father sends knights after them, and rebellious as she navigates her teenage years without her father though they flee to a small southern village where they spend and her aunt, while Jonah and Morgan’s relationship evolves in a few happy years, their budding family is soon decimated by the wake of the accident. Front-loaded with drama, the story a violent wave of First Crusaders on their way to Jerusalem. leaves plenty of room for the mother and daughter to unpack The girl, whose name becomes Hamoutal when she converts their feelings and decide what’s next. to Judaism, winds up roaming the world. Hertmans’ (War and The emotions run high, the conversations run deep, Turpentine, 2016, etc.) latest novel is based on a true story: The and the relationships ebb and flow with grace. Cairo Genizah, a trove of medieval manuscripts preserved in an Egyptian synagogue, contained an account of Hamoutal’s plight. Hamoutal makes up about half of Hertmans’ novel; the other BURN THE DARK half is consumed by Hertmans’ own interest in her story. When- Hunt, S. A. ever he can, he follows her journey: from Rouen, where she grew Tor (384 pp.) up, to Monieux, where she and David Todros—her Jewish hus- $17.99 paper | Jan. 14, 2020 band—made a brief life for themselves, and all the way to Cairo, 978-1-250-30643-2 and back. “Knowing her life story and its tragic end,” Hertmans writes, “I wish I could warn her of what lies ahead.” The book A punk YouTuber takes down has a quiet intimacy to it, and in his descriptions of landscape witches in the first volume of a new hor- and travel, Hertmans’ prose is frequently lovely. In Narbonne, ror/thriller series. where David’s family lived, Hertmans describes “the cool of the Robin Martine, better known as paving stones in the late morning, the sound of doves’ wings Malus, spends her life hunting down flapping in the immaculate air.” But despite the drama of Ham- witches and documenting it on her You- outal’s story, there is a static quality to the book, particularly in Tube channel, Malus Domestica. Everyone watching on the the sections where Hertmans describes his own travels. It’s an internet thinks they’re seeing a clever amateur drama, and odd contradiction: Hertmans himself moves quickly through Robin is happy to play into that for the revenue, but witches the world, but his book doesn’t quite move quickly enough. are painfully real, and all her fights are, too. When she heads Constructed with delicacy, lyricism, and care, Hert- back to her hometown of Blackfield, Georgia, to track down mans’ novel still feels occasionally static. the witches that killed her mother, she finds that things have been happening while she’s been away. A new family has moved into her old house and is dealing with some demons that are not quite gone, and friends old and new have need of her help. With

22 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 23 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES André Aciman

THE AUTHOR OF CALL ME BY YOUR NAME REVISITS ITS CENTRAL CHARACTERS 20 YEARS LATER IN A ROMANTIC SEQUEL By Mark Athitakis Chris Ferguson [Writing a sequel] was with me forever, except that suddenly it became sort of necessary to do it, and it was the right moment.” Find Me catches up with Elio and Oliver 20 years after the events of Call Me—Elio has become a con- cert pianist in France, Oliver an academic in New York. But the first half of the novel is focused on Sami, who falls fast for a woman he meets on a train. Deepening Sami’s story, Aciman says, allowed him to further explore the father-son relationship that was key to the first book. André Aciman’s exquisite 2007 novel, Call Me by “I think this is what happens between every fa- Your Name, turned on a summerlong romance be- ther and every son: At some point it’s the son that tween Oliver, a handsome American graduate stu- begins to give advice and from the son that the fa- dent, and Elio, a precocious Italian teenager whose ther learn[s] some of the things that normally your family invites Oliver to stay at their villa. Aciman’s father should know already,” he says. “Whatever the sensitivity to young love, a charmingly rendered father said in the first volume now takes on a differ- Italian setting, and insight into lust and heartache ent inflection, and it’s the son who has to teach the made the novel a sleeper success; the 2017 film ad- father certain things about life and love.” aptation, peach and all, turned it into an even bigger Aciman says the film version ofCall Me had no real phenomenon. So when Aciman announced on Twit- influence on the sequel, partly because novels oper- ter last December that he was writing a sequel, tens ate in a different sensory register: “Sometimes it’s of thousands swooned. the sense of smell that’s more powerful than the vi- Aciman says the new sequel, Find Me (FSG, Oct. sual,” he says. But the movie made one thing easier: 29), came about by accident. In 2016 he was on a “It erased from my visual field what you might call the train headed to Rome, working on a story about his face of Elio as I had imagined him and of Oliver, be- father, when he experienced what would inspire the cause suddenly I could see an older Elio in the faces of new novel’s opening scene. “I sat next to this woman Timothée [Chalamet] and of Oliver in Armie Ham- who was with a dog, and I suddenly said, there it is…. mer,” he says. “They have overwritten the faces that I I’m not writing about my father, I’m going to write had originally had in my head, but then the faces that about Sami [Elio’s father]. That’s where it took off. I had in my head changed all the time.”

24 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | While Find Me updates Elio and Oliver’s story, it also maintains Aciman’s gentle, aphoristic descriptions. The novel plays with notions of time, missed opportunities, faith lost and regained, but it consistently returns to its central characters’ cravings for intimacy. “If I could open your body and slip into it and sew you back from the inside, I would do it, so a terrifying vision of a spirit called the Red Lord haunting her I could cradle your quiet dreams and let you dream movements, Robin has to figure out what’s going on so she can move forward. The first in a new series from Hunt Ten( Thou mine,” Sami tells his new infatuation at one moment. sand Devils, 2014, etc.), this novel spends a lot of time setting up Lines like that are one reason why Aciman gets action to come. While there are a few action sequences, most of the novel is devoted to exploring Robin’s background through so much correspondence from readers asking for re- flashbacks, introducing new characters for her to interact with, and inserting suggestions of menace without actual exploits. lationship advice—even if he says he’s ill-equipped The witches Hunt sets up are new and interesting but need to to give it. be further explored. The father and son occupants of Robin’s childhood home are interesting characters to be expanded on, “There are kids who write to me, adolescents, peo- and her childhood friend and new crush are fun additions to the ple who are in college and are confronting their sexu- solo adventurer’s crew. Future books will undoubtedly further the ideas presented in this novel, but ultimately, there is a lot of ality, maybe for the first time, and don’t know what setup with no payoff. to do, so they write to me,” he says. “I never give ad- A good foundation for a series but ultimately unfulfill- ing on its own. vice because I am not the kind of person who knows enough….I can only be generic because, first of all, I STAY don’t like to speak about my own personal history— Hyde, Catherine Ryan young adult Lake Union Publishing (298 pp.) that sort of remains taboo. But second of all, I don’t $24.95 | $14.95 paper | Dec. 3, 2019 know anything. There are people who are in college 978-1-5420-4240-6 978-1-5420-4238-3 paper who know far, far more about sex than I ever will.” In the summer of 1969, 14-year-old Lucas Painter takes up running in the Mark Athitakis is a regular contributor to Kirkus Re- woods behind his house and ends up saving three lives, one of them his own. views and author of The New Midwest. Find Me was It all begins when two enormous reviewed in the Aug. 15, 2019, issue. dogs start chasing him one afternoon, and Lucas is delighted to discover that Rembrandt and Vermeer, two Weimaraner– Great Dane mixes, are out to play rather than attack. Running with them is a great way to escape the tension in his own home, where his parents do nothing but argue while his big brother, Roy, has been drafted to fight in Vietnam. But one morning the dogs won’t budge from the porch, and Lucas discovers that their owner, the mysterious Zoe Dinsmore, has tried to take her own life. By fetching help, Lucas saves Zoe’s life, and in the months that follow, Zoe saves Lucas’ life, too. Ostracized by the town for an accident years earlier, Zoe keeps to herself. But as Lucas shows up every day, the two slowly forge a profound friendship. Meanwhile, Lucas’ best friend, Connor, is struggling with his own demons. Rather than helplessly watch Connor slip deeper into depression, Lucas introduces him to Zoe, whose ability to listen without judgment becomes a lifeline. So when Roy returns, wounded and troubled, it’s only natural that Lucas and Zoe find a way to help him, too. A master of tales shaped for the human heart, Hyde (Have You Seen Luis Velez?, 2019, etc.) deftly balances tears against courage, avoiding trite sentimentality. Lucas and Connor both come from troubled homes, but the troubles ring true, never gratuitously abusive; and Hyde never plays Zoe’s and Roy’s tribulations for melodramatic effect. A compelling tale of damage and the healing powers of acceptance.

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 25 THE BETTER LIAR get it at any cost, and she manages to track Robin down. Her Jones, Tanen plan to bring her sister home hits a snag, though, when she finds Ballantine (320 pp.) Robin’s body in her squalid rented room in Las Vegas. Instead $27.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 of calling the authorities, Leslie leaves the scene. A possible 978-1-984821-22-5 solution to Leslie’s new problem arrives in the form of waitress/ aspiring actress Mary, whom Leslie meets outside a Vegas res- A darkly complex relationship between taurant. They strike up a conversation, which eventually leads two sisters lies at the heart of Jones’ debut to a proposition. Mary looks a bit like Robin, so Leslie asks psychological thriller. her to put her acting skills to good use and pose as Robin to Leslie Flores has a problem. For the help her collect the inheritance, offering Mary half the money past seven years, she’s taken care of her for her trouble. One dye job later and Mary, posing as Robin, father as he wasted away from thyroid accompanies Leslie to Albuquerque to meet her husband, Dave, cancer in New Mexico. Now that he’s died, Leslie must sort out and their little boy, Eli. Leslie’s scheme should go off without a his estate by herself since her younger sister, Robin, fled the hitch, but she didn’t count on the dangerously magnetic and family home a decade ago, when she was 16, checking in only quietly cunning Mary using her new persona to dig into Robin’s when she needed money—which her father, to Leslie’s frustra- life (and then some), Leslie’s marriage…and her secrets. Readers tion, would send her. But it turns out that their father split the also get a disturbing look at the sisters’ strange bond and the $100,000 he left behind between Leslie and Robin, saying they circumstances surrounding their mother’s death. Of particular would have to appear together at his lawyer’s office in Albuquer- note is Jones’ depiction of how Leslie’s relationship with her que to collect it. Leslie needs that money and is determined to troubled mother indelibly influenced how she relates to Eli. A nicely noir, if not completely surprising, couple of twists round out this feverish thriller. A blistering debut from a promising new talent.

THE WHISPERS OF WAR Kelly, Julia Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster (336 pp.) $27.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-1-9821-0779-6

When Samantha’s beloved grandmother Marie passes away, her will sends Samantha from her home in Chicago to London, where she learns of Marie’s vivid life during World War II. Born in Munich, Marie met her two best friends, Nora and Hazel, at a British boarding school. Inseparable, the three women stay together long after graduation. As the secretary to the German Department at Royal Imperial University in London, Marie finds herself drawn to Neil Havitt, an ambitious graduate student eager to make his mark in politics via the Communist Party of Great Britain. Married but distraught over multiple miscarriages, Hazel has found meaningful work as a matchmaker. Nora works in the Air Raid Precautions Department of the Home Office , where she is privy to national secrets. And once Hitler invades Poland, those secrets include plans to intern German nationals. As events in Europe escalate, Kelly (The Light Over London, 2019) deftly threads harbingers of domestic danger into the friends’ lives, first via radio and newspaper, then through suspicions of their associates, and finally converging on Marie. Hazel and Nora risk everything to keep Marie out of the internment camps, but Kelly has strewn villains in every corner: Once Neil drops Marie—how can he have a German girlfriend in this time of war?—can she trust that her visits to Communist Party meetings will remain secret? What

26 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Two stories on the impact of climate change intersect in this thoughtful and suspenseful novel. the end of the ocean

of her dissolute cousin Henrik, who is eager to throw Marie out QUALITYLAND of the house? Will he turn her in to the authorities out of sheer Kling, Marc-Uwe spite? Nora and Hazel are not entirely safe either, especially Trans. by Romanelli, Jamie Searle when it turns out that Hazel set up a wealthy British widow Grand Central Publishing (320 pp.) with a German professor—a German professor who is now $27.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 missing and presumed a Nazi sympathizer. Throughout, Kelly 978-1-5387-3296-0 skillfully balances narratives from all three friends’ perspectives, building parallels to Samantha’s own budding romance with An outcast in a supposedly utopian Nora’s grandson. future tries to figure out what’s wrong with Women’s friendship overcomes the villainy of war in the world and how to fix it. Join the club. this engaging historical fiction. Well, sure, why not? Kling, the author of a bunch of texts about living with a kangaroo that got translated into a podcast and then THE RABBIT HUNTER turned into three books (all in German, so Google Translate Kepler, Lars is your friend), enters mainstream author mode with this Trans. by Smith, Neil bitter satire of consumer culture and the modern political Knopf (528 pp.) sphere. In this kind of book, there’s typically an ordinary guy $27.95 | Jan. 14, 2020 to represent us, the reader—think Arthur Dent as opposed to 978-1-5247-3228-8 Ford Prefect in The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Our main guy here is Peter Jobless, although the point of view bounces

More Scandinavian psychopathy from around all over the place. Welcome to QualityLand, where young adult the pseudonymous husband-wife team. everything, from your stuff to your love life, has been opti- Sometimes a boy needs his dad. It mized for you by algorithm. If you couldn’t tell from his moni- being a Shakespearean world, sometimes ker, Peter is a bit of a screw-up, just coming off a long-term a boy just needs to kill his dad, even if the relationship with Sandra Admin, who’s happily dumped him paternity is not firmly established—in which instance you can based on the admonishment of QualityLand’s dating service, bet on plenty of collateral damage. In Kepler’s newest, the bod- QualityPartner, which matched them up automatically in the ies stack up quickly. The first to fall is Sweden’s foreign minister, first place. Black humor abounds: There’s John of Us, the polit- who is decidedly not a nice guy and has his eyes shot out for ical candidate who happens to be an android, and TheShop, his transgressions. That’s not the least icky of the ugly fates vis- which essentially serves as the company store for the world. ited on the so-called Rabbit Hunter’s victims, as when the killer The interstitial bits—news bulletins, guidebook entries, and gazes meaningfully at one of them and “decides that he’s going the inevitable comments section—are particularly funny and to cut his legs off and watch him crawl like a snail through his give context to QualityLand’s odd rules and tics. Despite the own blood.” Against this gruesome backdrop, only Joona Linna, novel’s comic approach, the nature of the narrative is heavily the ethnically Finnish Swedish supercop, stands a chance of political, holding up a black mirror to our own troubled times. sussing out what’s going on. Trouble is, he’s in the slammer, hav- In addition to the pitch-black political satire, the novel’s poring been locked away in a maximum security prison for the last trayal of economic inequality highlights a problem that wreaks two years for his part in events that unfolded in Stalker (2019). havoc on our own lives. The characters aren’t particularly lik- It’s only when the prime minister, suspecting that his foreign able and the narrative is a bit unhinged, but these days, a little minister’s death has come at the hands of terrorists, intercedes comic relief might do us all some good. to make Joona “a highly unorthodox offer” that he can swing How much you enjoy this is in direct proportion to how back into action with Stockholm cop Saga Bauer and figure out much trouble you think we’re all in. Sleep tight. why it is that the trail of blood leads to a TV studio by way of a Chicago psychiatric hospital. As always, along with the many bodies left behind by the “spree killer,” there’s a shoal of red THE END OF herrings in Kepler’s narrative—human smugglers here, Afghan THE OCEAN refugees and the FBI there—and all sorts of ancillary unpleas- Lunde, Maja antries, from rape to evisceration and the chilling thought that Trans. by Oatley, Diane when the Rabbit Killer’s victims finally die, various bits of their HarperVia/HarperCollins (304 pp.) bodies removed, “the world becomes completely still, like a $25.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 winter landscape.” 978-0-06-295136-6 Fast-paced and fluent, with all the authors’ trademark stratagems. Sure to be a hit, though best read by those with Two stories on the impact of climate strong stomachs. change intersect in this thoughtful and suspenseful novel. In 2017, feisty Norwegian journalist and environmental activist Signe, “an aging woman, a little

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 27 shabby and unkempt in a worn-out parka,” returns to a home- more focused on pro wrestling’s notion of kayfabe, of keeping town that has been changed for the worse by the building of up appearances to advance a narrative, a sustained theme in a dam that harnesses what used to be a beautiful waterfall to Ruben’s and Avo’s lives outside of Armenia. On that front, he produce hydroelectric power. A nearby glacier is vanishing, and fully inhabits the cousins’ lives with passion and Slavic dark to add insult to injury, Signe’s estranged lover Magnus, now a humor. The truth, McCormick writes “is the only thing that can capitalist, is sending large quantities of the ice to Saudi Ara- pin a heart open or seal it off forever.” The pathos of this story bia as a luxury item. With the help of a sailboat she has owned comes from the struggle of its protagonists to do either. since childhood, Signe conceives a plan to shame Magnus. Her A busy but well-constructed tale about new lands and story alternates with that of 25-year-old David, who, in 2041 the ghosts of an old one. France, has been forced to take up residency with his 6-year-old daughter, Lou, in a refugee camp for those attempting to escape a drought that has been going on for five years. He is hoping THE COCKROACH against hope that his wife and infant son will join them there McEwan, Ian and that then they will be able to make their way to the “water Anchor (112 pp.) countries” up north, but they haven’t been seen since the fire $11.00 paper | Oct. 8, 2019 that destroyed their town. Both halves of the story are convinc- 978-0-593-08242-3 ingly detailed and quietly wrenching, and Norwegian author Lunde (The History of Bees, 2017) gradually and subtly draws Kafka is brought up to date for the them together to powerful effect. Signe’s story moves between age of Brexit and Trump. her earlier life, clearly revealing how it shaped the woman she Never mind that in his Lectures on is, and her present struggles as she navigates a tiny sailboat on Literature Vladimir Nabokov protested the ocean. David’s story widens out to include other residents that “he approaches a cockroach in only in the camp as it slides into an increasing state of chaos and as one respect: his coloration is brown”: David and Lou begin to come to terms with a new normal and Gregor Samsa, or, that is, Jim Sams, emphatically starts life as a find their way out of the camp and into the countryside. cockroach in McEwan’s (MachinesLike Me, 2019, etc.) reimagin- Global problems soundly grounded in the particular. ing of The Metamorphosis. Then he awakens to discover that he has just four limbs as well as, revoltingly, that “an organ, a slab of slippery meat, lay squat and wet in his mouth.” That unwonted THE GIMMICKS tongue will come in handy, but for the moment Jim has other McCormick, Chris things to attend to, for he’s not just a human, but also the prime Harper/HarperCollins (368 pp.) minister of the United Kingdom. Instead of leaving the Euro- $27.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 pean Union, he has another item on his agenda: He’s backing 978-0-06-290856-8 a weird economic notion called reverse-flow economics, or Reversalism, whereby “the money flow [will] be reversed....At Two cousins emigrate from Armenia, the end of a working week, an employee hands over money to finding their destinies in backgammon the company for all the hours she has toiled. But when she goes and pro wrestling. to the shops, she is generously compensated...for every item she You needn’t be well schooled in either carries away.” It’s easy to get the American president, a fan of sport to appreciate the debut novel by “fleet-footed liberation from detail,” to sign on to immiserate McCormick (Desert Boys: Stories, 2016); the taxpayers once Jim explains that he can take all the money both serve mainly as metaphors for the mix of smarts, luck, and slated for the Pentagon and make it flow up the chain into his fakery that are essential to every immigrant survival story. In the own pocket, with the magical result that “seven hundred and early 1970s, cousins Ruben and Avo were as close as brothers in sixteen billion dollars would be his.” Why bother small-scale a rural Armenian town that promises nothing but endless repro- looting when there’s so much pelf to be had? Of course, Jim secutions of the country’s genocidal past. One escape hatch is twigs, the American president is on board only because he was competitive backgammon, and the game has a prodigy in Mina, once a cockroach himself, as were the rest of the world’s rul- a young woman who earns a spot in a tournament in Paris. If ing and governing class, who flourish wherever people tolerate Avo knocks down her teacher, killing him, was it an accident, or “poverty, filth, squalor” and choose to live in darkness. McEwan was Avo angling for a seat on the flight? Regardless, Ruben finds sweeps wide but hits home, Nabokov aside: He does a pitch- his way to France while Avo heads to California; both become perfect Trump, pegs Angela Merkel’s bewilderment that her involved in secret terrorist plots against Armenia’s Turkish former allies are “inflicting these demands on your best friends,” aggressors. A falling-out with those terrorists gets Avo a scar and highlights the venality of the Leave crowd in Britain today. on his forehead and a gig in pro wrestling, where he’s known A grimly effective entertainment, at once broad as a as the Brow Beater. The busy plotting (Avo’s former manager saber and pointed as a pike. narrates chapters that move the story into the late 1980s) makes the novel a bit sodden, and anybody looking for lively depictions of wrestling bouts will be disappointed. McCormick is

28 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | young adult

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 29 DARK MOTHER EARTH could find a sentence worth quoting on every page. “The first Novak, Kristian rule of filing is…nothing comes before something.” “There are Trans. by Elias-Bursac, Ellen tricks to coping with a surly person you’ve brought into the AmazonCrossing (304 pp.) world. Focus on the positive.” “I have no idea why sports and $24.95 | $14.95 paper | Jan. 14, 2020 religion intermingle—they just do. It seems some people take 978-1-5420-1610-0 Jesus for a jock.” Two characters at the Starlite motel in Hous- 978-1-5420-9356-9 paper ton: “There are only two things people do in places like this…. And we’ve already done all the drugs.” Only they haven’t—co- In Croatian novelist Novak’s Eng- workers Jill and Rick are taking a holiday from their lives and lish-language debut, a young novelist is from their spouses (code-named Eyelash and Kneecap at a pre- forced to confront the terrible moment vious happy hour), and new baggies of powder keep turning up in his childhood when his career as a right till quittin’ time. They are one of many memorable pairs in fable-maker began, not by choice but by necessity. these stories, several of which are about the blurry line between Matija is a writer with two well-received novels behind him, friendship and love. The narrator of “Glow Hunter” is crazy but he’s been floundering for more than a year now on a follow- about her friend Bo, who is just “more brightly lit than the rest up, and one by one his trusted readers are confirming what he of us.…I’ve seen strangers stop what they’re doing to watch her has suspected: It’s going nowhere. Meanwhile, Matija’s girlfriend, shake sugar into her tea.” Bo and the narrator have both been Dina, with whom he’s been happy, issues an ultimatum: He has involved with a guy named Jeff, but what they really want is each to keep his inventions confined to fiction, has to stop being so other. The narrator of “Black Light” is in love with a point guard deceitful—or is it just evasive?—about his childhood. As a test, on the girls basketball team; she is counseled, then consoled by Dina brings several old photos for him to explicate. Matija does her older brother. (“ ‘Dick,’ he said, done with subtlety. ‘She so, at length and feelingly, before Dina tearfully informs him that needs dick.’ ”) Comparisons have been made to Denis Johnson, the photos are fakes; she has doctored them herself, and they Karen Russell, Carmen Maria Machado…and we’ll add Angela have nothing to do with him. After Dina dumps him, Matija Carter. The Angela Carter of Lubbock, Texas. It has a ring to it. reluctantly decides to revisit an epoch he has utterly expunged Just keeps getting better as you turn the pages. from memory—the years before, at age 7, he and his family left their village in Međimurje for Zagreb at the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991. Coming to grips with that past requires A SMALL TOWN him to excavate the lonely, awful, bewildering period immedi- Perry, Thomas ately after his father’s death, a stretch whose agonies culminated Mysterious Press (336 pp.) in an epidemic of eight suicides in Matija’s village. That suicide $26.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 cluster attracted attention not only to the village, but to a partic- 978-0-8021-4806-3 ular little boy, in the research called M.D., who knew all the victims and who was thought by some (perhaps including himself) to Perry’s large-scale update of The be obscurely responsible. Novak captures well the way that grief Bride Wore Black stars a small-town cop may isolate, dislocate, and unmoor the bereaved, especially if it’s who’s paid $1 million to track down and a child left largely to fend for himself. The boy Matija wanders kill the 12 inmates who organized and the countryside looking for his dead father and trying to negoti- spearheaded a massive prison break. ate for his return—from the police, from the land itself, and from Two years after a diabolically plot- the folkloric “will-o’-the-wisps” who inhabit the region. ted escape from the local prison loosed hundreds of inmates in A search for the painful and awkward wellsprings of the little town of Weldonville to rob, rape, and kill before most the novelistic imagination. of them were re-arrested, the verdict is clear: “They murdered Weldonville.” The place has never recovered from the trauma of the breakout and its aftermath; nearly everyone knows some- BLACK LIGHT one who was murdered or widowed that night, and no good Parsons, Kimberly King news has arrived to counterbalance the memories. So the town Vintage/Random House council comes up with a plan that’s novel, neat, and logical: Take (224 pp.) $1 million in grant money that’s been given to rebuild the town $15.00 paper | Aug. 23, 2019 and make it all available to Detective. Lt. Leah Hawkins, a local 978-0-525-56350-1 who’s ostensibly taking a leave of absence to brush up on state- of-the-art police procedure but who’s actually being asked, if not Stories that can make you believe exactly authorized, to find the ringleaders, scattered across the that doing cocaine all day in a cheap country, and visit summary justice on them. Once this germ has motel is fun or that catching bugs is a been planted, the story virtually writes itself. Following the best great way to spend your childhood. leads she can find, Leah travels to Florida or Buffalo or Califor- Parsons’ debut collection is not long nia, waits patiently for the escapee at the top of her list to show on plot, but wisdom and humor are so thick on the ground you his face, and then executes him. Though it’s deeply satisfying to

30 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Strange, lyrical, and arresting, this novel will draw readers into its extraordinary spell. follow me to ground

see the first few ex-cons get their just deserts, Perry The( Burglar, FOLLOW ME 2019, etc.) is too wily a pro to follow Leah passively down the TO GROUND list. Careful as she is to avoid creating the kind of publicity that Rainsford, Sue would alert the other escapees to their peril, some of them get Scribner (208 pp.) wind of her vendetta, putting them on high alert and eventually $25.00 | Jan. 21, 2020 encouraging them to take arms against her themselves. 978-1-9821-3363-4 A superior live-action version of the Road Runner cartoons with 12 coyotes and noncartoon violence. An otherworldly young woman and her father cure townsfolk in this bewitching debut about desire, power, and the body. HIDE AWAY Ada and her father have lived out- Pinter, Jason side the village for as long as anyone can Thomas & Mercer (368 pp.) remember. The strange pair don’t seem to age, and they have $15.95 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 extraordinary healing powers that come from The Ground. 978-1-5420-0590-6 “The garden is long and mostly grass but back then, close to the house, we kept a patch of moist, fragrant soil,” Ada recalls. In the aftermath of a horrific crime, a “This was as much ground as Father had managed to tame, and it woman makes herself over into a power- was where we put Cures that needed long, deep healing.” With ful protector—or perhaps an avenger. a sweep of her hand, Ada puts Cures, or sick people, to sleep Pinter (The Castle, 2019, etc.) already and reaches inside their bodies to remove whatever illness lurks

has the Henry Parker thriller series there, encouraging the sickness to clot in a bowl or slide down a young adult under his belt. In this book he intro- drain. “This is something Cures don’t know about their curing,” duces another potential series character, Rachel Marin. The Ada reveals. “The sickness isn’t gone. It just goes elsewhere.” story opens with a warm domestic scene of a young woman When Ada falls for Samson, a handsome villager unafraid of making dinner for her husband and two kids when a shattering what makes Ada different, Ada’s father attempts to protect her. (but undescribed) discovery intervenes. Jump ahead seven years, But Ada bristles at Father’s accusation that Samson’s fascina- and single mom Rachel is living in another town several states tion is dangerous, potentially even draining her healing abilities. away. When a mugger jumps her as she’s walking home from Is Samson a worthy suitor, or is his attraction to Ada evidence work, she leaves him bleeding in the street and hurries home to of a different kind of illness? Will Ada’s desire for erotic and her bookish son, Eric, and sweet little daughter, Megan. Keep- personal freedom attract the scrutiny of villagers, putting her ing them safe is her mission in life. But when she sees a news and Father in danger? Or—worse—distance her from Father report about a body found on the ice beneath a nearby bridge, forever? Rainsford pursues these questions with deft lyricism, she’s riveted. The cops assigned to the case, detectives John Ser- weaving Ada’s story with observations from townsfolk who are, rano and Leslie Tally, are shocked to discover the body is that of by turns, grateful and wary. Rainsford’s fairy and folktale sen- the town’s disgraced former mayor, Constance Wright. They’re sibility blends seamlessly with horror as Ada’s powers begin to even more shocked when Rachel, whom they don’t know, sends shift in unpredictable ways and take on a darkness all their own. Serrano a message that the death was no suicide: “Constance While Rainsford rushes to the novel’s ambiguous conclusions, Wright was murdered. And I can prove it.” When Serrano and this is nevertheless an astonishing debut heralding the career of Tally go to question Wright’s sketchy ex-husband, Rachel shows an exciting new writer. up at the same time, and they don’t know whether to order her Strange, lyrical, and arresting, this novel will draw away or be grateful for her help. Pinter builds a complex plot on readers into its extraordinary spell. the dual mysteries of Constance’s murder and Rachel’s transformation from suburban mom to crack investigator and lethal streetfighter. But the story has so many subplots and timelines SUCH A FUN AGE that it can feel overstuffed, and some crucial questions asked Reid, Kiley early on are answered so late the reader might be surprised to be Putnam (320 pp.) reminded of them. Pinter creates engaging characters, though, $26.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 and keeps the suspense taut. 978-0-525-54190-5 Determined to shield her family from violence, a woman becomes a fierce freelance crime fighter in this The relationship between a privi- mostly satisfying thriller. leged white mom and her black babysitter is strained by race-related complications. Blogger/role model/inspirational speaker Alix Chamberlain is none too happy about moving from Manhattan to Philadelphia for her husband Peter’s job as a TV newscaster. With no friends or in-laws around to help out with her almost-3-year-old,

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 31 Briar, and infant, Catherine, she’ll never get anywhere on the her younger brother’s death, events associated with goat stew. book she’s writing unless she hires a sitter. She strikes gold Instead she ran 1,000 miles away from her hometown to Istan- when she finds Emira Tucker. Twenty-five-year-old Emira’s fam- bul and was quickly trapped into prostitution. More taste mem- ily and friends expect her to get going on a career, but outside ories follow her life as a sex worker as well as her happy marriage the fact that she’s about to get kicked off her parents’ health to a leftist artist, cut short by his death during a protest march. insurance, she’s happy with her part-time gigs—and Briar is her Tastes also represent the five friends central to Leila’s life and “favorite little human.” Then one day a double-header of racist their individual stories of being mistreated, victimized, and/or events topples the apple cart—Emira is stopped by a security made to feel invisible. Sexual abuse, political corruption, and guard who thinks she’s kidnapped Briar, and when Peter’s pro- religious fundamentalists’ intolerance have been the tropes in gram shows a segment on the unusual ways teenagers ask their so many Shafak novels that her outrage here, however heartfelt, dates to the prom, he blurts out “Let’s hope that last one asked feels shopworn. And her plotting can be overwrought. Yet Sha- her father first” about a black boy hoping to go with a white girl. fak’s ability to create empathy for her cast of sex workers and Alix’s combination of awkwardness and obsession with regard social outcasts can be irresistible, especially when a character is to Emira spins out of control and then is complicated by the allowed more complexity, like Leila’s oldest friend, Sinan, who reappearance of someone from her past (coincidence alert), hid his love for Leila until her death. where lies yet another racist event. Reid’s debut sparkles with An uneven mix of charm, melodrama, polemics, and sharp observations and perfect details—food, décor, clothes, cliché that doesn’t represent the prolific Shafak at her best. social media, etc.—and she’s a dialogue genius, effortlessly incorporating toddler-ese, witty boyfriend–speak, and African American Vernacular English. For about two-thirds of the book, THE SWEET INDIFFERENCE OF her evenhandedness with her varied cast of characters is impres- THE WORLD sive, but there’s a point at which any possible empathy for Alix Stamm, Peter disappears. Not only is she shallow, entitled, unknowingly racist, Trans. by Hofmann, Michael and a bad mother, but she has not progressed one millimeter Other Press (144 pp.) since high school, and even then she was worse than we thought. $14.99 paper | Jan. 21, 2020 Maybe this was intentional, but it does make things—ha ha— 978-1-59051-979-0 very black and white. Charming, challenging, and so interesting you can A novel about a novelist who has hardly put it down. apparently obliterated the distinction between life and literature. The narrator, a writer named Chris- 10 MINUTES 38 SECONDS IN toph, enjoyed breakthrough success with a novel detailing his THIS STRANGE WORLD romance with an actress named Magdalena. He had arrived Shafak, Elif at a crossroads, in both his relationship and his fiction, where Bloomsbury (320 pp.) he felt he had to choose between romantic happiness and lit- $27.00 | Sep. 24, 2019 erary fulfillment. The novel which had begun as a love story 978-1-63557-447-0 thus became a story of that love falling apart. “I didn’t wreck my life...I decided in favor of literature, and made certain sac- In a novel circling a murdered wom- rifices,” he explains to a younger woman named Lena, which an’s last moments as she recalls key inci- is, of course, short for Magdalena. She is also an actress and dents from her life, Shafak (The Three is in love with an aspiring writer named Chris, who appears Daughters of Eve, 2017, etc.) highlights to be writing the same novel that Christoph had already writ- Turkish society’s treatment of women ten. What’s going on here? Lena thinks she knows: “There are and outsiders. simple explanations for everything, she said in a cheery voice. Tequila Leila, a middle-aged sex worker, lingers at the bor- What’s that then? I asked. You’re mad, and this is all a product der between life and death inside a metal garbage can on the of your imagination.” Maybe so, but, if so, Lena might also be a fringes of Istanbul—to which Turkish-born Shafak has written product of the novelist’s imagination, and perhaps Magdalena a highly ambivalent love letter; lyrical prose embraces the sen- as well, just as all of these characters are the products of the sual, sordid, and corrupt city she no longer visits for political imagination of the Swiss novelist who has made a career out reasons. Speaking of sensual, Leila’s final minutes are structured of such literary postmodern gamesmanship (All Days Are Night, around remembered tastes, from the salt on her skin as a new- 2014, etc.). This novel we’re reading might well be the same one born to the single malt whiskey sipped with her last customer the fictional novelist has written, or is rewriting, the one that before recklessly getting into a car with strangers. The flavor of brought him the breakthrough success, the one that he could watermelon returns her to a childhood complicated by confu- never follow with another. This is the novel he is explaining in sion over her birth mother’s identity and irreparably damaged great detail to Lena, in short chapters alternating with other by an uncle’s repeated sexual abuse beginning when she was 6 in short chapters that detail what is going on between them, and 1953. In 1963 Leila faced an arranged marriage while mourning what is going on between her and her Chris, and what parallels

32 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece. shuggie bain

there are between these lives they are leading and the life with OLIGARCHY Magdalena that inspired his novel some 15 years earlier. “Maybe Thomas, Scarlett I was just imagining everything,” the novelist as narrator pon- Counterpoint (208 pp.) ders at one point, recalling a period of his life that “was all so $26.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 long ago now that it seemed unreal in my memory, like a bad 978-1-64009-306-5 dream on waking up.” Art imitates life, or life imitates art, or something. Eating disorders and suspected murder fuel the latest novel from the author of The Seed Collectors (2015, etc.). SHUGGIE BAIN The title of this slim book is as sly Stuart, Douglas and slippery as the narrative itself. Our Grove (416 pp.) protagonist, Natasha, is whisked from $26.00 | Feb. 11, 2020 penury in Russia to a British boarding school when her post- 978-0-8021-4804-9 communism, new-money father takes an interest in her. She also establishes herself as one of the girls who leads the student Alcoholism brutally controls the des- body into disordered eating and light debauchery. Natasha’s tiny of a beautiful woman and her chil- transformation includes a fairy godmother in the form of Aunt dren in working-class Scotland. Sonja, a London-based operator who gives Natasha an iPhone The way Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting with unlimited data, a black American Express card, and world- carved a permanent place in our heads weary advice about food and men. But Natasha keeps much

and hearts for the junkies of late-1980s of her own tale to herself even as she learns the folklore of her young adult Edinburgh, the language, imagery, and story of fashion designer school. Someone named Princess Augusta appears in portraits Stuart’s debut novel apotheosizes the life of the Bain family of hung throughout the classrooms and residences, and her story— Glasgow. Stunning, raven-haired Agnes Bain is often compared or, at least, the story that the students tell each other—is both to Elizabeth Taylor. When we meet her in 1981, she’s living with a cautionary tale and an inspiration for girls striving to be the her parents and three “weans” in a crowded high-rise flat in a thinnest. Thomas does a fantastic job of capturing the mental down-and-out neighborhood called Sighthill. Her second hus- and verbal style of a contemporary teen without being precious band, Hugh “Shug” Bain, father of her youngest, Shuggie, is a or exasperating. She also imbues Tash with a signature feature handsome taxi driver with a philandering problem that is racing of all adolescents ever, probably: a desire to grow up faster. alongside Agnes’ drinking problem to destroy their never-very- While Aunt Sonja is cooing over her perfect complexion, Tash is solid union. In indelible, patiently crafted vignettes covering thinking, “But everyone has it, this skin that says I’m young and I the next 11 years of their lives, we watch what happens to Shug- know nothing. Literally everyone she knows apart from Lissa has gie and his family. Stuart evokes the experience of each charac- the same skin—and even Lissa’s would be OK if she used the ter with unbelievable compassion—Agnes; her mother, Lizzie; right toner—and so to compete she needs something else. Why Shug; their daughter, Catherine, who flees the country the do adults not understand that?” The Amex might allow Tash to moment she can; artistically gifted older son Leek; and the baby buy Balenciaga boots, but what she really wants is adventure. of the family, Shuggie, bullied and outcast from toddlerhood She wants to “go into the woods and fight monsters”—a wish for his effeminate walk and manner. Shuggie’s adoration of his that sort of comes true when people at her school start drop- mother is the light of his life, his compass, his faith, embod- ping dead. This is a weird, twisty book, and anyone familiar with ied in his ability to forgive her every time she resurrects herself Thomas’ oeuvre will expect the kind of dark humor that is only from a binge: “She was no use at maths homework, and some possible from a writer of profound compassion. Strong stuff. days you could starve rather than get a hot meal from her, but Another strange delight from one of the United King- Shuggie looked at her now and understood this was where she dom’s most interesting authors. excelled. Everyday with the make-up on and her hair done, she climbed out of her grave and held her head high. When she had disgraced herself with drink, she got up the next day, put on her THE GOD GAME best coat, and faced the world. When her belly was empty and Tobey, Danny her weans were hungry, she did her hair and let the world think St. Martin’s (464 pp.) otherwise.” How can love be so powerful and so helpless at the $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 same time? Readers may get through the whole novel without 978-1-250-30614-2 breaking down—then read the first sentence of the acknowledgements and lose it. The emotional truth embodied here will A band of teenage outcasts must crack you open. overcome demons both personal and You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this virtual when they stumble into an aug- book is a masterpiece. mented-reality game. Like Tobey’s debut (The Faculty Club, 2010), this thriller pulls influences and

| kirkus.com | fiction | 1 november 2019 | 33 styles from both other books and other mediums, in this case a quiet young man named Leonard Angsono, whose possessive- borrowing liberally from Stephen King, Stranger Things, and ness is at first charming. By the time Estella realizes that Leon- what academics dub “social problems novels,” this one echoing ard’s insecurity and need to control her are dangerous, she is so Rona Jaffe’s Mazes and Monsters (1981). The high schoolers here invested in the relationship that she doesn’t know how to save are Charlie, who lost his mom to cancer; Harvard-bound Indian herself. Tsao’s writing shines when she depicts the ways that the American prodigy Vanhi; Kenny, a bit of a cipher; Alex, who’s two wealthy families choose to ignore domestic abuse in their under way too much pressure; and Peter, who’s rich, privileged, midst, revealing the misogyny at the heart of the patriarchal and high. They’re a losers’ club who retreat to their high school’s clans. As Doll recalls, “A marriage alliance with the Angsonos tech lab, where they can code, game, and tinker under Charlie’s would benefit our fortunes. It would pave the way for joint ven- invented moniker, the Vindicators. Things get weird when they tures and favorable partnerships with Leonard’s clan....” As the stumble onto an old-school text game run by an omnipotent, novel races toward its violent denouement, the tone changes omniscient artificial intelligence who thinks it’s God with a again, however, and veers back into broad satire. Tsao was big G. It’s an evil bargain, too, and the AI seems to have the born in California but lived in Singapore and Indonesia in her power to make its deals happen: If you win, all your dreams childhood. come true, and if you lose, you die. Actions the game likes earn Readers may be thrown by the abrupt shifts in tone, but players “Goldz,” currency they use to buy privileges and powers, Tsao’s depiction of domestic abuse is powerful. while other behaviors earn “Blaxx,” demerits that might get you killed. Over time, the kids are awarded “Aziteks,” glasses that augment reality so they can see what God has in mind for the THE DEAD GIRLS CLUB world. There are other banal things going on—bullies who are Walters, Damien Angelica complete dicks, as happens, as well as crushes and the novel’s Crooked Lane (288 pp.) central theme: the complicated relationships between parents $26.99 | Dec. 10, 2019 and children. There’s a great thriller in here, but you have to 978-1-64385-1-631 carve off the excess to get to it. The mythology of The God Game, originating with a 1990s-era squad something like the Dark secrets haunt a guilt-stricken Vindicators, gets too complicated, and the rules of this universe child psychologist in this twisty super- are never really clear. By the end it’s all a bit dizzying and not natural thriller. entirely satisfying. When somebody mails Dr. Heather Great characters, a novel concept, and scary set pieces, Cole one tarnished half of a heart-shaped but it never gels into something memorably terrifying. “best friends” necklace, she panics; the last time she saw this particular bit of jewelry, she was 12, and it was hanging around the neck of her dead BFF, Becca Thomas. THE MAJESTIES Heather tells herself that nobody could know she killed Becca— Tsao, Tiffany the girls were alone when it happened, Becca’s body was never Atria (256 pp.) found, and Becca’s drunken and abusive mother, Lauren, served $26.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 time for the murder. Then more overt threats follow, prompting 978-1-9821-1550-0 Heather to fixate on identifying her tormenter at the expense of her marriage, her career, and her sanity. Flashbacks to the sum- A sobering look at the dark side of mer of 1991 stud Heather’s first-person, present-tense narrative, extreme wealth among Chinese families chronicling the formation of the Dead Girls Club, whose mem- in Indonesia. bers gather to read true-crime books and share scary stories; the Tsao’s (The More Known World, 2017, deterioration of Heather and Becca’s relationship; and Becca’s etc.) novel begins in the aftermath of growing obsession with a vengeful spirit called the Red Lady. a crime as the narrator, Doll, tries to Although Walters (Cry Your Way Home, 2018, etc.) offers know- understand what has caused her sister, Estella, to poison every- ing nods to Slender Man, The Shining, and The Turn of the Screw, one in their rich, extended Chinese Indonesian family. At first her own attempt at a terror-filled tale of adolescent trauma the novel takes a Crazy Rich Asians–esque satirical tone celebrat- falls flat. Manufactured conflict, preposterous plotting, and ing the Sulinado family’s wealth, power, and, above all, material characters lacking in complexity and verisimilitude sap drama possessions as Doll recalls a life of great privilege. However, and tension while the half-baked legend of the Red Lady fails after Doll and Estella move from Jakarta to Berkeley, Califor- to frighten. Stilted dialogue and bloated prose further frustrate nia, to attend college, the tone deepens. The middle part of the the pacing and drive. novel becomes a sly study of the stereotypes of Asians and Asian A sterile, shrugworthy take on long-form horror from Americans that the sisters face for the first time as minorities in acclaimed short-fiction writer Walters. the United States. Still the sisters are able to enjoy their relative freedom and come to study entomology, which later becomes the inspiration for business success for Doll. Meantime, Estella starts dating another rich overseas Chinese Indonesian student,

34 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | An invitation from a friend introduces an Edwardian couple to yet another odd murder. in the shadow of vesuvius

THE COMMITTEE a neurologist writing a book about criminal psychopaths and Watson, Sterling eager to pick Sinclair’s brain. She’s not the only one who can Akashic (420 pp.) benefit from his experience; the local vicar has lost his organ- $32.95 | $17.95 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 ist, Greta Hartmann, who fell while crossing a stream and hit 978-1-61775-783-9 her head. But her landlady insists that Greta was always care- 978-1-61775-768-6 paper ful when she crossed the stream, and Sinclair performs his own experiment that strongly points to murder. Greta was the In 1958, a professor at the University widow of a brave German pastor who stood up to the Nazis, and of Florida learns that bigotry, hatred, Sinclair wants to find out if someone from her past is her killer. and corruption have consequences far Through Ann, he meets Julia Lesage, a champion downhill skier beyond the confines of the classroom. who was injured in an accident and confined to a wheelchair. Professor Tom Stall seems to be When Sinclair’s investigations strand him in a snowstorm, Julia an average English professor, perhaps a little priggish—when sends her chauffeur to bring him back to her luxurious home. talking to a traumatized student, he mentally corrects her use In the meantime, his erstwhile colleague John Madden (The of “can” with “may.” When well-liked professor Jack Leaf sup- Death of Kings, 2017, etc.) and his wife, who is Sinclair’s doctor, posedly commits suicide, Stall learns that he was suspected of return home from holiday with a mystery of their own: where is being gay. A secret committee of men (based on the real-life Sinclair? Madden calls on his ex-colleagues for help and meets Florida Legislative Investigation Committee under the control Kriminalinspektor Hans-Joachim Probst, who briefs Madden of Gov. Charley Johns) is operating on campus. “The Commit- about a con man with a link to Greta’s death and a history of tee has police powers, subpoena powers, a team of lawyers and preying on rich, vulnerable women like Julia, who’s snowbound

investigators, and they’re all hell-bent to root out Communists, with Sinclair and a potential killer, but no power and no tele- young adult homosexuals and other undesirables in our schools,” the univer- phone, in her own mansion. Madden and Probst have to fight sity president tells Stall. But as events proceed, with betrayals, both the clock and the winter weather in Madden’s sixth delib- secrecy, and violence, Stall realizes he has no idea whom to trust. erately paced procedural. The author (Suitcase City, 2015) lets Stall ruminate a little too As usual, Airth takes his sweet time setting up the plot often, but he does an excellent job of portraying a time, place, before making the pages fly at last. and culture without assigning contemporary values where they didn’t exist. When Stall’s wife realizes her pregnancy means she’ll have to quit teaching, for example, she doesn’t like it but IN THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS doesn’t fight it, either. The dialogue is realistic, and the pacing, Alexander, Tasha especially toward the end, is quick and intense. Minotaur (304 pp.) Any reader wanting a history lesson wrapped in a com- $27.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 pelling, believable novel will find much to contemplate here. 978-1-250-16473-5

An invitation from a friend introduces an Edwardian couple to yet another odd murder. Lady Emily Hargreaves and her hus- mystery band, Colin, agent of the British Crown, are no strangers to unusual murders (Uneasy Lies the Crown, 2018, etc.), but they expect no more than a pleasant vacation when their friend Ivy Brandon invites them THE DECENT INN OF DEATH to visit Pompeii. They rent a villa and get a scholarly tour of the Airth, Rennie ruins from Ivy’s new friends. Callie Carter is an archaeologist Penguin (368 pp.) who got her job only because her artist brother, Benjamin, is on $16.00 paper | Jan. 14, 2020 hand to chaperone her. While exploring the ruins, they discover 978-0-14-313429-9 that one of the many bodies apparently preserved when Vesu- vius erupted is disconcertingly modern. As Emily and Colin An apparent death by misadventure investigate the contemporary murder, alternating chapters evolves into a country-house scenario explore the ancient story of Quinta Flavia Kassandra, a Greek with three veteran detectives in play. slave and talented poet whose father, a tutor for a wealthy fam- Since Chief Inspector Angus Sin- ily, buys their freedom in the year 79. Kassandra has fallen under clair’s retirement from the Metropoli- the spell of Titus Livius Silvanus, but he marries Lepida, her tan Police, he doesn’t have much to do former mistress. Although Kassandra thinks he’ll seek to bed except mind his blood pressure. An invitation from his former her, his actual desire is to have her secretly write poetry he can supervisor, also in retirement and living in nearby Hampshire, claim as his own. Back in 1902, the newly dead man is identified offers a change of scenery and the chance to meet Ann Waites, as journalist Clarence Walker, who seemed more dutiful than

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 november 2019 | 35 enthusiastic about the story he was writing. The Hargreaves’ FATAL ROOTS lives are turned upside down by the arrival of a young woman Connolly, Sheila named Katharina von Lange, who announces herself as Colin’s Crooked Lane (288 pp.) daughter. Her mother, Kristiana, who died when Katharina was $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 a child, was a fellow agent Colin was in love with before meeting 978-1-64385-239-3 Emily; she’d refused to marry him and never told him about the pregnancy. Kat is a manipulative loose cannon who resents and A long-buried corpse lies patiently ignores Emily while trying her own hand at sleuthing and seek- waiting to be discovered in this slowing her father’s approval. Questioning the crew at the archaeo- moving tale. logical site reveals a trove of hidden secrets. Which of them will After more than a year in Ireland, provide a motive for murder? Boston transplant Maura Donovan is A captivating story of Pompeii in which the city’s still trying to get her public house ready mysterious past proves more engaging than the modern for serious business. Michael Sullivan, an old friend of the mystery. American grandmother who raised Maura, left her a cottage, a pub, and bits of property in the West Cork village of Leap. Although Maura’s main concern is whether to serve food in the FROM THE GRAVE pub, she can’t help being intrigued when Ciara McCarthy, a grad Brandon, Jay student in archaeology, wants to explore Maura’s property for Severn House (240 pp.) ring forts, early Middle Age monuments otherwise known as $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 fairy circles. Although Maura’s skeptical about those fairies, she 978-0-7278-8900-3 allows Ciara to explore. Then Maura’s mother, Helen, who’s fulsomely and frequently apologetic about abandoning Maura A disbarred Houston attorney is as a child, arrives with her other daughter. While Maura’s get- offered one more chance at the gold ring ting to know her half sister and trying to work out her tentative if only he can manage to lose the case romance with the pub’s barkeep, one of the two students work- that’s his ticket back. ing with Ciara on the fairy-ring project disappears. Joining the And it looks like an easy case to lose. search for him and finally visiting one of the rings, Maura digs Donald Willis, whom the police caught down and finds a skeletal hand. After she calls in the local garda, inside a house in which socialite Diana Greene says she was Sean Murphy, with whom she’s worked on previous cases (The held against her will, has already served eight years for kidnap- Lost Traveller, 2019, etc.), all he can tell her from the autopsy of ping a football player’s son. He’s eager to have Edward Hall, the hand and the rest of the body is that it’s male and 40 or whose performance in that earlier case he believes won him a 50 years old. However, two of Leap’s older residents seem to light sentence, represent him again. Even though Edward has know something about the corpse, and they and Maura talk since lost his license over his defense of his sister on a murder about how they’re going to talk about it, and then talk some charge (Against the Law, 2018), Harris County D.A. Julia Lip- more about talking, until they finally reveal all in a denouement scomb makes him an offer he can’t refuse—to reinstate his that makes you wonder if Connolly, in her eighth County Cork credentials for this one trial, with a more definitive return con- installment, is running out of inspiration. tingent on his performance. And Edward knows exactly what Most likely to appeal to readers who love Irish settings, kind of performance the district attorney, who just happens Irish folklore, and Irish chatter. to be Diana’s sister, would like him to give: One that ends in resounding failure. The case seems so hopeless that losing it should be a cinch. Donald’s story that Diana’s husband, wealthy BREWED AWAKENING River Oaks developer Sterling Greene, had hired him to serve Coyle, Cleo as a bodyguard for his wife’s trip to a dubious neighborhood to Berkley (368 pp.) pick up some equally questionable jewels sounds weak from top $27.00 | Dec. 3, 2019 to bottom, and the evidence against Donald can be measured in 978-0-451-48887-9 tons. Edward’s only hope seems to be to tie the alleged abduc- tion to another possible crime that very day: the fatal shooting A coffeehouse manager awakens on a of Antonio Alberico, the painter who’d recently completed a park bench minus much of her memory. portrait of Diana Greene. Putting together the pieces, a task Clare Cosi wakes up stiff and cold in so difficult for Edward, should require considerably less effort Washington Square Park. Though there from most readers, who are well advised to stay the course any- are lots of things she doesn’t remember, she way for a satisfying double twist at the very end. does know that she’ll be safe at the Village Highly accomplished midgrade work from a pro. Blend coffeehouse, where she’s greeted with joy and told that she’s been missing for four days. When her ex-husband, Matteo Alle- gro, and his mother, Madame Blanche Allegro Dubois, the coffee shop’s owner, arrive on the scene, they realize she’s forgotten the

36 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Can a 50-year-old secret ruin an aspiring politician’s campaign? bound for murder

last 15 years of her life and thinks she’s living in New Jersey with her MATCHMAKING CAN young daughter, Joy. Hospitalized, she fails to recognize both Joy, BE MURDER now a grown-up, and her current fiance, Detective Mike Quinn. Flower, Amanda Celebrity psychiatrist Dr. Dominic Lorca takes over Clare’s care Kensington (336 pp.) and insists she be moved to an upstate facility. Despite pulling every $7.99 paper | Dec. 31, 2019 string available, Mike can’t free her from Lorca even though she’s 978-1-4967-2401-4 a witness in the case of missing heiress Annette Brewster. Clare, no shrinking violet, pretends to take her drugs but is dying for a An Amish sleuth goes all out to save cup of coffee. Madame Blanche, Matteo, and Tucker Burton, the her niece from a murder charge. Village Blend’s assistant manager, hatch a plan to bust Clare free After many years away caring for an and find a place where she can be relaxed and open to stimuli that ailing sister, widowed, childless Millie will help revive her memory. But Clare is loath to go with Matteo, Fisher has returned to Harvest, Ohio. who cheated on her repeatedly, even though their current relation- She lives in a small house outside town ship is good. Talking with her friends evokes memories of her past with her two mischievous Boer goats, Phillip and Peter, who do detective work (Shot in the Dark, 2018, etc.), and she struggles to a bang-up job of keeping her property weed-free. Millie, who relive her most recent days, some of which she spent with Annette, has an uncanny ability to tell when two people are right for each who’d arranged a private tasting of wedding cakes in the hotel she other, is deeply concerned that her beloved niece Edith Hoch- owns. Clare, Mike, and Matteo end up hiding out in the Hamptons stetler, a widow, is about to marry Zeke Miller, who’s emphati- from the police and a killer who’s stalking her. cally not right for her. Edith’s been wonderfully successful in An unsettling, often scary account of how memory loss running Edy’s Greenhouse, her late father’s business, but now

affects a strong woman’s life. something seems to be going wrong. After she admits to Millie young adult that she doesn’t love Zeke, her decision to call off the wedding has dire consequences. While visiting a new “Englisch” cafe WHEN OLD MIDNIGHT in Harvest, Millie runs into her childhood friend Lois Kenny, COMES ALONG married four times and grandmother of cafe owner Darcy Estleman, Loren D. Woodin. In addition, Millie sees that her nephew, Edith’s twin Forge (272 pp.) brother, Enoch Lapp, has returned to Harvest. Enoch, who left $26.99 | Dec. 3, 2019 to become Englisch, blames Millie for some of the problems 978-1-250-19717-7 he had as a youth. When Zeke’s found beaten to death at the Greenhouse, Millie and her goats chase away a hidden man. Amos Walker looks under every rock Seeing Edith become a suspect, Millie resolves to clear her. in greater Detroit to locate a woman Luckily, one of the investigators is Deputy Aiden Brody, whom missing for six years. Millie’s met before (Assaulted Caramel, 2017) and who’s familiar If he waited just one more year, with Amish ways. When they learn that Zeke was romancing Grosse Pointe contractor liaison Francis both Edith and Darcy, Millie and Lois team up on a wild adven- X. Lawes could have his wife, a PR consultant, declared dead and ture that uses their local knowledge to help pin down a danger- collect on her million-dollar insurance policy with no fuss. But X ous killer. doesn’t want to wait a year: He wants to marry Holly Pride, office A sentimental view of Amish life complete with two manager at The Lawes Group, the moment he legally can. So charming goats makes for easy reading. Walker reluctantly agrees to look for Paula Lawes, whose car was found abandoned in a rough neighborhood a world away from her moneyed suburb, knowing full well that there’s no bonus for BOUND FOR MURDER finding her alive. He talks to her clients George Hoyle, an audio- Gilbert, Victoria book producer who admits to having been her lover, and Andrea Crooked Lane (320 pp.) Dawson, a spokesmodel with a secret of her own. He crosses $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 words with Oakes Steadman, a former gang leader who parlayed 978-1-64385-243-0 his arrest into a position as a police consultant on youth violence; with Inspector John Alderdyce, the head of the original investiga- Can a 50-year-old secret ruin an tion, who retired to work with the Reliance private-investigation aspiring politician’s campaign? agency, a rival of Walker’s; and with Albert White, a commander Amy Webber, Sunshine Fields’ best from the Allen Park police station who retired into a more defini- friend and boss at the Taylorsford Public tive haze of alcoholic apathy. He gets framed for murder and Library in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is nearly murdered himself before he’s rescued by an unlikely sav- engaged to Richard Muir, dancer, cho- ior. And somehow, after the dust has cleared, he’s come up with a reographer, teacher, and her next-door neighbor. Amy wants solution as logical as it is unexpected. the wedding to be simple, but Richard’s mother is determined Estleman could crank these out in his sleep. Come for that it will be a tasteful extravaganza. Meanwhile, Sunny’s cam- the snappy patter, stay for the surprises. paign for mayor is rudely interrupted when a skeleton is found

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 november 2019 | 37 on her grandparents’ farm. P.J. and Carol Fields run Vista View him. Rescuing Selina, he sends her on the dangerous trip back as an organic farm, but for a while in the 1960s, it was a com- to New Orleans while he and Hannibal stay to help Valentina, mune housing a motley crew of people with varying drug habits. who’s been accused of murdering her husband. The success of Amy, whose research skills have helped the police solve several January’s mission requires him to use Hannibal as a frontman murders (Past Due for Murder, 2019, etc.), finds a 1965 newspa- to cut through the lies and political intrigue raging in a divided per article mentioning the disappearance of Jeremy Adams, a Texas, where land is everything and murder an easy way to talented musician who’d lived on the commune but left to pur- improve fortunes. sue his career. Chief Deputy Brad Tucker, Sunny’s ex-boyfriend, A riveting exploration of a little-known period of Texas asks Amy to do a little more research but to keep it quiet since history intensified by gut-wrenching depictions of people’s the case could involve Sunny’s grandparents, who Amy’s sure are enduring inhumanity. hiding information. Once they’ve given Amy a list of all the former commune members, she starts digging into their histories. One of them recently died in what seems to have been an acci- SELL LOW, SWEET HARRIET dent. When the skeleton is identified as Adams’, reporters stake Harris, Sherry out the Fieldses, but after a rough start, Sunny, encouraged by Kensington (304 pp.) Amy, makes friends with handsome Daniel Dane, an investiga- $7.99 paper | Dec. 31, 2019 tive reporter digging deep into the past because his own aunt 978-1-4967-2251-5 went missing from the area in 1964. When another commune alumnus is shot dead, Amy redoubles her efforts, searching the A winter garage sale provokes cold past for clues. A little help from her friends, including a former chills in the manager, who’s also grap- drug dealer who helped keep the commune mellow, sets her on pling with a murder. the right track, prompting dire warnings from the killer. Sarah Winston, who divorced her Historical research wins out over romance and mystery husband but stayed in the Massachu- in this pleasant cozy. setts town near the Air Force base of their last posting, attends the funeral of Alicia Arbas, an officer’s wife found dead on the base, possibly LADY OF PERDITION murdered with a large chunk of ice. Knowing that Sarah has Hambly, Barbara many friends on base and a nose for murder (Let’s Fake a Deal, Severn House (256 pp.) 2019, etc.), Special Agent Frank Bristow and local police officer $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Scott Pellner ask her to keep her ears open for gossip. In fact, 978-0-7278-8909-6 she goes much further, and her curiosity soon involves her in a potentially dangerous situation. Sarah’s also been hired by Jean- A former slave with a highly devel- nette Blevins to price and sell the contents of her parents’ home oped sense of justice risks everything to after they were killed in an accident in Senegal. The house is serve it. packed to the rafters with items from all over the world that In April 1840, Benjamin January, the parents, who were CIA agents, had collected. Sarah’s boy- a Paris-trained physician and music friend, local district attorney Seth Anderson, is unhappy to hear teacher, leaves his family in New Orleans that Sarah’s involved in yet another murder case, but she sol- (Cold Bayou, 2018,etc.) to try to rescue Selina Bellinger, a former diers on with both her time-consuming projects. Shortly after student of his. Selina ran away with a scoundrel named Seth Javel, Jeannette’s brother, Troy, shows up saying he wants to make sure who took her to the Republic of Texas and sold her as a slave. he hasn’t left behind anything he wants from his parents’ col- January follows, pretending to be the slave valet of his friend lection, he’s attacked in another room. When she comes to the Hannibal Sefton, whose ownership will protect him. Accompa- hospital to visit him, Jeannette says that he’s not her brother, nying them is tough Kentuckian Abishag Shaw, who terrorizes and the imposter declines to stick around to explain himself. Javel into revealing the name of Selina’s purchaser, a slave trader Although there are plenty of valuable items in the house, no one who thinks nothing of giving prospective buyers a chance to try knows which of them the man was looking for. Back on base, out the young women he sells. One of his slaves secretly tells Sarah hears scads of gossip about Alicia Arbas. The officers’ jeal- January that Selina was sold to a rancher named Gideon Pol- ous wives, who’ve spread wildly varying stories, resent Sarah’s lack. They hope to buy Selina back, but before meeting Pollack, questions. Now she’s in danger from both a killer and a thief they run into Valentina Taggart, a woman they know who turns unless she can solve both cases. out to be married to Pollack’s neighbor and knows that January Canny hints for garage-sale success blend nicely with is no slave. Valentina, a wild and stunning young woman who two difficult mysteries for the intrepid heroine to unravel. agreed to marry Vin Taggart even though she knew her land was her main attraction, agrees to help, but her freedom to act is hampered by the presence of her husband’s hateful mother and aunt. When Pollack, who denies having bought Selina, is badly wounded in a duel, January uses his medical skills to save

38 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | A private eye doing her civic duty gets embroiled in several nasty cases. poppy harmon and the hung jury

WINTER OF DESPAIR with Rod Harper, she’s launched the Desert Flower Detective Harrison, Cora Agency, whose staff includes Poppy and her 60-ish sidekicks, Severn House (240 pp.) pushy Iris and retiring Violet, whose 12-year-old grandson, $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Wyatt, is a talented hacker who helps them after school. Find- 978-0-7278-8912-6 ing that three golden age females don’t inspire confidence among their target clientele, they’ve hired handsome aspiring Now that they’ve bonded over the writ- actor Matt Cameron, aka Matt Flowers, who does a bang-up ing life and homicide investigation, eminent job pretending to be a detective. Poppy’s serving on the jury in Victorian Charles Dickens and eminence- the trial of famous crooner Tony Molina, who stands accused in-training Wilkie Collins tackle a second of assaulting celebrity chef Carmine Cicci over an overcooked case of murder. steak. Elected as jury foreman, Poppy persuades all but one of No one thinks Edwin Milton-Hayes the jurors to vote guilty in the open-and-shut case, but the last was a particularly outstanding painter. So why did whoever juror, a young man named Alden Kenny, refuses to budge, hang- slashed his throat in his studio take the trouble to slash one of ing the jury and fueling Poppy’s suspicions that Kenny was paid his last paintings, as well? The answer, Dickens swiftly decides, off. Those suspicions are left to simmer when Rod Harper, Pop- is that Milton-Hayes, whose plummy name isn’t the one he was py’s former co-star, hires the agency to find his missing daughter, born with, was a blackmailer with a novel approach. Paintings Lara, a wild child who vanished after an argument. Her credit like The Night Prowler, Forbidden Fruit, Taken in Adultery, Den of card has been used nearby at several places in the Coachella Val- Iniquity, Root of All Evil, and Winter of Despair, commissioned ley, but when Lara turns up, she claims to have been on a spiri- by the monumentally clueless Canon Rutter, showed compro- tual journey to Nepal. Poppy must also deal with Rod’s renewed

mising situations in which Milton-Hayes’ society acquaintances interest in pursuing a relationship with her and her daughter young adult had placed themselves, with the actual portraits of subjects, like Heather’s release from prison after an involuntary manslaugh- talented young artist Walter Hamilton, flirtatious wife Molly ter charge. When juror Kenny calls begging for her help, she French, schoolgirl Florence Gummidge and her mother, gal- goes to his house and finds him dead in his pool, renewing her lery owner William Jordan, and his wife, Helen, to be revealed interest in Tony Molina. The cases turn out to be related in a later unless the painter’s financial demands were met. What’s number of surprising ways. particularly alarming to Wilkie is that his troubled younger An amusing cozy with quirky characters and a down- brother, Charley, seems to pop up everywhere Wilkie and Dick to-earth heroine with plenty of moxie. look—making Inspector Field, of London’s Detective Force, all but certain that Charley is the killer. As in the Victorian sleuths’ debut (Season of Darkness, 2019), Harrison alternates chapters SPITFIRE narrated by Wilkie, who’s constantly fretting over his lack of Huie, M.L. progress on Hide and Seek, his second novel, with distinctly less Crooked Lane (320 pp.) successful third-person chapters presented from the viewpoint $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 of Sesina, the fearful, impressionable, curious Collins house- 978-1-64385-245-4 maid. Sadly, Dickens himself cuts a much less impressive figure this time, playing a supporting role till the very last minute, Post-Blitz London has no place for when he’s on hand to pull a rabbit from his hat—a surprise that a former Resistance fighter—until a no doubt pleases him as much as his readers. brand-new intelligence network puts her More ingenious than Season of Darkness but altogether skills to use at the dawn of the Cold War. less striking. Best wait and hope for two out of three. Lancashire girl Olivia Nash volun- teered to do her part for the war effort in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, but her superiors soon spotted POPPY HARMON AND THE that French was her mother tongue and pluck was her middle HUNG JURY name. Livy trained in lock-picking and marksmanship, then Hollis, Lee landed in Vichy France to support the Resistance. But now, with Kensington (320 pp.) the war over and her comrade and lover, Peter Scobee, dead, $26.00 | Dec. 31, 2019 Livy is stuck proofreading at a third-rate newspaper and drink- 978-1-4967-1391-9 ing too much cheap vodka until her talents are requested by none other than a highly polished gentleman named Ian Flem- A private eye doing her civic duty ing. His “newspapers” need a new “foreign correspondent” to gets embroiled in several nasty cases. track the spiderweb of Nazi spies who betrayed Livy and Peter, Retired TV star Poppy Harmon was spies now selling their services to the highest bidder as the alli- forced to go back into business when ance between the Soviets and the British and Americans rapidly her cheating husband left her a penniless unravels. After receiving remedial etiquette lessons and an ele- widow (Poppy Harmon Investigates, 2018). Drawing inspiration gant new wardrobe, Livy infiltrates an embassy ball to acquire a from Jack Colt, PI, the well-received show in which she starred list of the operatives. She gets the list only to be robbed of it at

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 november 2019 | 39 gunpoint by a mustachioed man. To retrieve the list, she must THISTLES AND THIEVES fly to Paris—where she meets up with a handsome American MacRae, Molly with a knack for good timing—and seek her nemesis. Pegasus (288 pp.) Huie’s debut is an old-fashioned mystery shot through $25.95 | Jan. 7, 2020 with tragedy; for aficionados of the glamour and romance 978-1-64313-321-8 of spycraft. A box full of old books may hold the secret to a mysterious death in a small HINDSIGHT Scottish town. Johansen, Iris & Johansen, Roy American-born Janet Marsh and Scot- Grand Central Publishing (368 pp.) tish-born former social worker Christine $28.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 Robertson have moved from Illinois to 978-1-5387-6292-9 open a book shop, bakery, and B&B in the lovely coastal town of Inversgail, where Janet had spent many vacations before her Sparks fly as a woman with extraor- divorce. Joining them is Janet’s daughter, Tallie, and Tallie’s dinary abilities fights her attraction to a friend Summer Jacobs, whose purview is food and lodging. Janet, dangerous freelance consultant. returning to biking after many years, is determined to finish the Dr. Kendra Michaels has worked Haggis Half-Hundred. While she’s out for a ride, she discov- with former FBI Agent Adam Lynch ers a body in a stream. This is the third corpse she’s discovered before (Double Blind, 2018), but she’s (Scones and Scoundrels, 2018, etc.), so she knows to call Constable furious with him for getting her tossed out of Afghanistan after Norman Hobbs to the scene. Her self-satisfied neighbor, best- she sustained a minor wound while trying to root out corrup- selling author Ian Atkinson, identifies the dead man as Dr. Mur- tion. Kendra, who was blind until an experimental operation ray, a retired general practitioner whose sister, Florrie, lives with restored her sight at 20, has highly developed senses of smell, him and whose brother, Gerald, lives nearby. A visit to Florrie hearing, and spatial awareness that she’s used to help the FBI finds her vague and not very upset about her brother’s demise. and CIA in many difficult cases. Now, as she returns to the The Road Policing Unit in charge of the investigation is not at U.S., they have another one she can’t resist investigating. Elaine all interested in the amateur sleuths’ input, and Hobbs, who Wessler and Ronald Kim, both staff members at her old school, does listen to their ideas, claims to know little of the investi- the Woodward Academy for the Physically Disabled in Oceans- gation. Returning to Yon Bonnie Books after another bike ride, ide, California, have been found murdered for no apparent rea- Janet finds a box at the front door with a note asking her to son, and FBI Special Agent Michael Griffin is anxious to use look after the books inside. Seeing that most of them are old her skills and inside knowledge. Elaine had been fostering an and well-used, and suspecting that some may be valuable, Janet unusual guide dog, Harley, who’s had problems adjusting since puzzles over who left them and wonders whether they could the child he was working with was killed in a gas-main explo- have belonged to Dr. Murray. When Janet and Christine visit sion. Now that Elaine is gone, his unearthly howls are upset- Gerald Murray’s home, their discovery of him dead in a pool of ting the students. Kendra talks her best friend, Olivia, who’s blood only encourages them to delve deeper into past and pres- blind, into sharing custody of Harley until they can find him the ent motives for murder. right home. Meanwhile, she turns up clues the FBI team missed This slow-paced look at a Scottish backwater is best for and is rewarded for her efforts with a bomb planted in her car. those who eschew action in favor of cerebration. It turns out to be fake, but it’s still a potent warning to walk away. Returning from Afghanistan to help Kendra, Lynch finds her still angry with him and intent on resisting his charms. Her THE HOLLOWS friend Jessie Mercado, a private eye, turns up to help extricate Montgomery, Jess her from a dangerous situation and sticks around to join the Minotaur (352 pp.) hunt for the killers. It will take all of them, including Harley, to $27.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 solve the violent, complex case and get the school Kendra loves 978-1-250-18454-2 back on track. Mystery, danger, and sexual tension abound in an After the violent death of an elderly action-packed thriller that breaks plenty of heads but no woman in 1926, a young sheriff’s inves- new ground. tigation inadvertently reveals the deeply contentious history of her Ohio county, tracing back to the Civil War. Lily Ross, a widowed mother of two small children who was appointed to fill out her husband’s term as sheriff after he died, and then won her own election, is barely holding her life together in her small Ohio town. When she is notified that a woman has died after a fall from the tunnel

40 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | over the railroad tracks, she learns quickly that many in town, In this he’s helped by Jane’s uncanny ability to know when she’s including her best friend Hildy Cooper’s mother; her rival can- being followed. He finally hears about Dodd, a mysterious sus- didate for sheriff; and the employees of the Hollows, the asylum pect who’s traveling with a woman. But this intelligence comes the woman escaped from, would all prefer the death quietly be too late to stop Whittaker from going on a killing spree simply declared accidental with no questions asked. Lily’s investiga- because he enjoys it. Soon after Jane removes her savings from tion is increasingly complicated when she finds a white robe a box she’d hidden in the woods and brings it to the home of belonging to a local Women of the Ku Klux Klan group at an Catherine Shields, a motherly woman who’s the only person abandoned house the victim passed through the night she died. she loves, she sees Charlotte digging up the empty box. When These current events grow even more urgent once the victim is Catherine, who refuses to reveal the hiding place, is beaten identified as Thea Kincaide, a relative of Hildy Cooper’s, who by the thief, Jane cannot fathom how anyone could know her witnessed her father’s murder as a child and testified that an secret. Using every resource at their command, she and Simon escaped slave committed the crime. Montgomery’s second work to free Davey and take revenge on the people who are kill- novel in a series about Kinship, Ohio (The Widows, 2019), and ing to cover up myriad crimes. Lily Ross is a skillfully told murder mystery that features a This historical tour de force reminds readers who rich array of characters and a sophisticated portrayal of a small come for the mystery that life hasn’t changed for the town grappling with its own racist past and ongoing conflicted disenfranchised. present. Secondary plots, including Hildy’s affair with a miner despite the objections of her overbearing mother and the white schoolteacher’s relationship with an African American man SCRIPT FOR SCANDAL seeking to integrate the union of mine workers, are equally well Patrick, Renee

developed and deeply connected to the larger story about the Severn House (240 pp.) young adult tensions in Kinship. Despite such complex plots and characters, $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 the novel moves along briskly without sacrificing eloquence in 978-0-7278-8910-2 its prose. A satisfying historical murder mystery set apart by its Three years after a 1936 bank robbery compelling female cast. turned lethal, a Hollywood production based on the story fans fatal flames for costume designer Edith Head (Danger THE HOCUS GIRL ous To Know, 2017, etc.), her buddy Lillian Nickson, Chris Frost, and several other less fortunate Severn House (224 pp.) denizens of La La Land. $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Within two days after the $20,000 heist at the California 978-0-7278-8935-5 Republic Bank, all three robbers were dead along with Detec- tive Teddy Lomax, whose LAPD partner, Detective Gene Mor- A thief-taker—someone hired to row, is Lillian’s beau. So Lillian is understandably outraged when “find what had been stolen and return it she realizes that the screenplay of Streetlight Story, the picture for a fee”—and his assistant risk their Paramount’s making about the crime, fingers Gene as the inside lives to help friends. man who set up the whole job and betrayed his partner. George In 1822, Leeds is already crowded with Dolan, the former newspaperman who shares script credit, says factories staffed by the desperately poor, that he was only brought on to lighten the dialogue and pro- and the wealthy owners are worried about revolution. Although vide comic relief; the bones of the story were the work of ex- thief-taker Simon Westow and his wife, Rosie, understand what con burglar Clyde Fentress. Since Lillian, the social secretary it’s like to have nothing, they’ve made a good life for themselves, to semiretired industrialist Addison Rice, doesn’t even work for their twin boys, and Simon’s assistant, Jane, who lives in their the studio, she can do nothing to keep the project, under the house. Simon and Rosie know nothing of Jane’s past but recog- direction of Aaron Ludwig, ne Ludwig Aaronofsky, from mov- nize her ghostlike abilities and her skill with a knife as valuable ing forward. Someone else, however, seems to have more deci- assets in solving mysteries (The Hanging Psalm, 2018). Siblings sive plans to meddle with the production. In short order two Emily and Davey Ashton often fed and housed Simon when hangers-on with a special stake in the story—hotel handyman he was a penniless teen. So when Davey, who dreams of equal- Aloysius Conlin, an aspiring actor who did time with Clyde in ity, is arrested for sedition, Simon will stop at nothing to save Folsom, and Clyde’s writing protégée, Sylvia Ward—are mur- him. Ambitious magistrate Thomas Curzon seems to be spy- dered. Producer Max Ramsey is undeterred: “All I needed was ing on and arresting people who protest the awful conditions some gossip in the newspapers!” he announces jubilantly. But they must endure; his vicious bodyguard, Whittaker, does the Lillian has to wonder what sort of Pandora’s box she’s opened dirty work. Busy with well-paid jobs of recovering stolen prop- in peering once more into the abyss of the California Republic erty from people like Charlotte Winter, a hocus girl who drugs job, till Edith, initially buried under all the subplots and cameos men and steals their valuables, Simon resolves to track down (Fred MacMurray! Ben Siegel! Billy Wilder!), uses her sharp eye the spy who helps Curzon get people arrested on bogus charges. for fashion to come up with a pleasingly unexpected solution.

| kirkus.com | mystery | 1 november 2019 | 41 A meaty, densely packed presentation of Tinseltown THE WOMAN IN THE VEIL riven by potentially murderous factions on the brink of Rowland, Laura Joh World War II. Crooked Lane (304 pp.) $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-64385-241-6 SEALED OFF Ross, Barbara A crime-scene photographer in Vic- Kensington (256 pp.) torian London is drawn into the notori- $7.99 paper | Dec. 31, 2019 ous case of the Sleeping Beauty. 978-1-4967-1795-5 A foggy evening finds narrator Sarah Bain (The Hangman’s Secret, 2019, etc.), A tiny Maine island provides the along with her friend and business setting for a modern-day murder and a partner, Lord Hugh Staunton, and her assistant, young Mick puzzle from the past. O’Reilly, a former street urchin, in Shadwell prowling the dan- Julia Snowden’s family runs a clam- gerous banks of the Thames, looking for sensational images bake business whose profits rely on the to sell to the Daily World. And the group makes a sensational tourist trade. The season is almost over find: a naked female body looking like a mermaid who’s washed when handsome lobsterman Jason Cara- ashore. Even while they argue about how to proceed, they real- way causes bad feelings by flirting madly with single mom Emmy ize that the corpse is actually alive. Sarah sets out to discover Bailey, one of the servers, much to the chagrin of Pru Caraway, the identity of the mystery woman, who’s soon dubbed Sleep- Jason’s ex-wife, who also works at the Snowden Family Clam- ing Beauty. Hugh, meanwhile, struggles in his closeted romance bake Company. Also involved in this combustible brew is Terry with aristocratic Tristan Mariner, who’s unable to deal with the Durand, the elder brother of Julia’s boyfriend, Chris, who’s “sinful” nature of their relationship. Sarah gets able assistance recently been released from prison. Meanwhile, Julia is deeply from her fiance, DS Barrett. As the Daily World milks the story immersed in the renovation of Windsholme, her family’s aban- of Sleeping Beauty, who remains in a coma, people come out doned mansion, which hasn’t been used since 1929. The con- of the woodwork to claim her as a beloved relative. Dapper, tractor is starting demolition on the third floor so that elderly condescending Belgian August Legrand claims she’s his wife, family member Marguerite Morrow can make one last visit Jenny; prim widow Mrs. Oliphant thinks she’s her stepdaughter, before the house is irrevocably changed forever. Julia notices Peggy; and eerily composed waif Venetia Napier believes the that Jason seems to know one of the Russian immigrants on the Sleeping Beauty is her mother. An additional burden comes in demolition crew. The tour discloses a walled-off room still con- the person of Sarah’s sister, Sally, who insists that they work to taining furniture, clothes, and a journal dating back to the late remove the cloud over their father, who disappeared after being 1800s. Then Jason and Terry get into a fistfight that makes Terry implicated in a high-profile murder. Sarah goes to extremes to the police’s top suspect when Julia finds Jason with his head solve the case and protect her friends. bashed in—though they’re also interested in the missing Dmi- Strong in character and plot, Rowland’s fourth Victo- tri, whose excellent English made him the natural spokesperson rian mystery consistently appeals even when it veers into a for the Russians. Jason was hiding many secrets, some of which motley muddle. will prove dangerous for Julia as she continues her sleuthing in the past and present. Even though Julia has previous experience with murder (Steamed Open, 2018, etc.), the police are ambiva- TROUBLE IN MIND lent about accommodating her attempts to prove Terry inno- Wiley, Michael cent. Her whole family, meantime, is fascinated by the mystery Severn House (224 pp.) of who lived in the walled-off room and hopes the journal will $28.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 provide the answers. 978-0-7278-8981-2 The beautiful landscape of coastal Maine adds local color to two intriguing mysteries. Noir specialist Wiley (Monument Valley, 2017, etc.) auditions yet another hero with an apparently crippling pair of twists: Getting shot in the head has left him with disinhibition and autotopagnosia. Three years ago, Sam Kelson, of the Chicago PD narcotics squad, went undercover to nail a teenage distributor called Bicho. All the doomy feelings Kelson and his CPD partner, Greg Toselli, shared with each other in advance turned out to be right on the money, and when the attempted bust ends, Bicho, ne Alejandro Rodriguez, has been shot dead

42 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | The best of what science fiction can be: a thought-provoking, heart-rending story about the choices that define our lives. the vanished birds

and Kelson nearly so. Pulled back from the brink by his part- Hal is uncomfortable with her position of authority and buries ner’s timely aid, Kelson hangs out his shingle as a private eye who herself in partying and her intense romance with Hotspur. Banna sometimes can’t recognize his own body parts, still haunted by Mora secretly plans to take back the throne, eventually teaming the question of who shot first, he or the kid. A distraction arrives up with the prince of Innis Lear. Due to some thorny political in the person of Trina Felbanks, a hot-looking woman who wants issues familiar to anyone who knows the play (or just Googles it) Kelson to stop her brother, pharmacist Christian Felbanks, from and Hal’s refusal of any princely responsibility, Hotspur eventu- dealing his product to lowlifes. The distraction factor here turns ally comes to side with Banna Mora against Hal, whom she still out to be monumental: When Kelson goes to the Lakewood loves. A few references to the previous novel aside, this book isn’t Pharmacy, Raima Minhas, the druggist on duty, tells him that Fel- a sequel, nor does it have the same problems as its predecessor. banks isn’t in, and when he goes to Felbanks’ home, he finds him The strange, magical culture of Innis Lear works much better shot dead, with the police about to storm the place and arrest alongside the more practical culture of Aremoria. Readers turned Kelson for his murder. It’s a setup, of course, and although Kel- off by flowery, lyrical writing should look elsewhere, but Gratton son’s soon out on the street, things only get worse when his cli- maintains a dreamy tone that suits the story nicely. What’s more, ent turns out to be (duh) an imposter and Raima Minhas is found she writes in conversation with the bard instead of just copying fatally overdosed in Kelson’s bed. Clearly, someone’s out to get him, using the play as a starting point for a tale about love, family, him good. Who is the nemesis the client, who keeps popping up and creating space for your own story. to warn Kelson that more trouble is on the way, calls Mengele? Not for everyone but an impressive feat. The Chicago woods are so full of lowlifes that Kelson hardly knows where to begin looking. Working with an improbable team that includes ex-cop DeMarcus Rodman and Francisca Cabon, THE VANISHED BIRDS

Bicho’s girlfriend, he wades through a growing pile of corpses to a Jimenez, Simon young adult climactic revelation savvy readers will have seen coming. Del Rey (400 pp.) The hero, whose memorably disinhibited dialogue $26.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 merely exaggerates the qualities of many another hard- 978-0-593-12898-5 boiled shamuses, deserves a stronger case. In this gorgeous debut novel, love becomes a force that can shatter space and time. We first see Nia Imani through the science fiction eyes of someone she is always leaving behind: Kaeda, a boy growing up on and fantasy a backwater planet visited once every 15 years by offworlders who come to collect its harvests. Nia is the captain of a faster- than-light ship that travels through Pocket Space. While Kaeda lives a decade and a half, Nia spends just a few months traveling between various resource-producing worlds like his, shipping LADY HOTSPUR goods for the powerful Umbai Company. It’s not until a mysteri- Gratton, Tessa ous boy falls out of the sky on Kaeda’s planet that Nia begins to Tor (592 pp.) form a connection she’s not willing to walk away from. The boy $29.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 doesn’t talk, but he’s drawn to music, particularly a traditional 978-0-7653-9249-7 workers’ song from Kaeda’s world: Take my day, but give me the night. Kaeda teaches the boy to play the flute, and the music A reluctant prince is forced to choose speaks to Nia. But there’s something else about the boy, some- among friendship, love, and duty in this thing that draws the attention of Fumiko Nakajima, the woman epic fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s who designed the massive space stations that anchor this cor- Henry IV, Part I. porate-controlled empire. Something dangerous. Something Set in the same world as Gratton’s that could change the universe. Spanning a thousand years, this earlier Shakespeare fantasy retelling, The sweeping novel takes the reader from the drowned cities of Old Queens of Innis Lear (2018), this new novel is set in the neighboring Earth to the vast reaches of Umbai corporate space but always nation of Aremoria. Shakespeare’s histories are perfectly suited anchors itself in human connection. Even characters whose for epic fantasy, what with all the battles and political intrigue, lives are glimpsed only in passing, as waypoints along Nia’s but this homage is also gender-flipped. Prince Hal is a woman, time-skipping journeys, are fully realized and achingly alive on as are her “Lady Knight” friends and her mother, Queen Celeda. the page. This powerful, suspenseful story asks us to consider The titular Lady Hotspur is a brilliant soldier and commander, what we’d sacrifice for progress—or for the ones we love. and she helps Celeda overthrow the king in the opening chapter. The best of what science fiction can be: a thought-pro- Hal and Hotspur’s friend Banna Mora, the heir to the deposed voking, heart-rending story about the choices that define king, is forced to give her title of “prince” to the new heir, Hal. our lives.

| kirkus.com | science fiction & fantasy | 1 november 2019 | 43 COME TUMBLING inhabits Jack’s still-living flesh, thanks to a coerced body-swap DOWN instigated by Jill’s vampire master. This state of affairs is dis- McGuire, Seanan tressing for two main reasons: 1. Jack has obsessive-compul- Tor (208 pp.) sive disorder, which manifests in a pathological fear of being $19.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 dirty, physically and mentally, and can’t be comfortable in Jill’s 978-0-7653-9931-1 mass-murdering body, and 2. The resurrected can’t become vampires, so Jill plans to use her sister’s more vital body for The ghoulishly dysfunctional Wol- that purpose. Accompanied by her twice-resurrected lover, cott twins—mad scientist Jack and her Alexis, and several students, Jack goes home to her beloved sister, Jill, who aspires to be a vampire— world of the Moors, a blood-tinged and gothically gloomy return for the fifth Wayward Children mashup of Stoker, Shelley, and Lovecraft, to confront her nar- novel (In an Absent Dream, 2019, etc.). cissistic, body-stealing twin while her schoolmates must dodge Through a door etched by lightning, the Moors’ deadly traps and haunting temptations. McGuire Jack reappears at Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, (Middlegame, 2019, etc.) specializes in lending equal richness a refuge for those children who found a portal to one of many to her worldbuilding and her characterizations; these are real magical worlds but couldn’t cope when they wound up back people dumped into fantastical situations. In this novel, she on Earth again. Jack isn’t quite who she was when she first examines the thin line separating heroes from monsters—and left; she’s presently stuck in the resurrected body of Jill, whom then blurs that line completely. As in the other series install- Jack had previously killed in order to put an end to Jill’s tar- ments, she also argues that one’s real or perceived flaws can geted slaughter campaign at the school. Meanwhile, Jill’s mind prove to be a source of strength despite, or even because of, the pain they cause to oneself and others. Grotesque, haunting, lovely.

THE BEST OF UNCANNY Ed. by Thomas, Lynne M. & Thomas, Michael Damian Subterranean Press (688 pp.) $40.00 | Dec. 31, 2019 978-1-59606-918-3

This shelf-bending collection of 44 stories and poems from Uncanny Maga zine’s first five years highlights not only the publication’s consistent quality, but also the impressive diversity of voices and thematic profundity it showcases. Many of the selections are powered by brass-knuckle social commentary. Sam J. Miller’s paranormal-nuanced “The Heat of Us: Notes Toward an Oral History” is set in an alternate New York City on June 28, 1969, the night of the Stonewall Riots, when a police raid of a gay night club sparked an uprising and became the catalyst for the gay rights movement, and which also happened to be “the first public demonstration of the supernatural phenomenon that would later be called by names as diverse as collective pyrokinesis, group magic, communal energy...liberation flame, and hellfire.” Constructed from oral interviews with witnesses to the bloody conflict, the story explores the tensions of the time and brilliantly conveys a complexity of emotions, from unbridled rage to despair to love. The last few words will stay with you: “I believe joy is the only thing stronger than sadness.” Delilah S. Dawson’s “Catcall” is another story with impressive impact, about a young woman named Maria who experiences misogyny on a daily basis. After facing countless assaults—from a predatory father at a babysitting gig to a sexist jock in high school—Maria finally decides that she has

44 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | Fresh, funny, clever, and deeply satisfying. love lettering

had enough and becomes a vehicle for karmic retribution. Hao wonderfully unique, and their romance carves a sweet, wind- Jingfang’s Folding Beijing (translated by Ken Liu), which won the ing, and sexy path to self-acceptance and mutual affirmation. Hugo Award for Best Novelette, is a conceptually breathtaking Fresh, funny, clever, and deeply satisfying. science fiction tale that follows Lao Dao, a worker at a waste processing center, as he explores the mysteries of a megacity with three separate Spaces that fold in upon themselves and THE VANISHING share the same geographic area in every 48-hour cycle. Featur- Krentz, Jayne Ann ing standout stories by N.K. Jemisin, Seanan McGuire, and Berkley (304 pp.) Catherynne M. Valente, among others, there are no weak links $27.00 | Jan. 7, 2020 in this transcendent anthology. 978-1-9848-0643-7 A deliciously diverse sampler of speculative-fiction bonbons, created by some of the most talented literary Two women who witnessed a murder confectioners on the planet. in their hometown as teens are suddenly targets of an unknown enemy. As the danger rises, a mysterious investigator with ties to an organization devoted to the paranormal steps in to help. romance Catalina Lark and Olivia LeClair were 16 when they were exploring the caves around the tiny Pacific Northwest town of Fogg Lake. Fifteen years before, an incident in the caves

had led to a large percentage of the population’s showing young adult LOVE LETTERING paranormal abilities. Fogg Lake residents became extremely Clayborn, Kate wary of strangers, and the town’s children were “raised with a Kensington (320 pp.) degree of caution that bordered on paranoia.” That watchful- $15.95 paper | Dec. 31, 2019 ness may have saved the girls’ lives the night they witnessed 978-1-4967-2517-2 a murder in the caves. Years later, Catalina and Olivia have left home to start a private investigation agency in Seattle, A quirky romance between a New and while they don’t advertise their psychic talents, they York City woman famous for her lovely do use them in their cases. Then Olivia mysteriously disap- hand-lettering and the Wall Street math- pears. Catalina is just beginning to search for her when Slater ematician who discovers the secret mes- Arganbright arrives in the city. Catalina once worked with sages she embeds in her work. Slater’s uncle, Victor, the head of an “enterprise dedicated to Meg, an Instagram-famous hand- paranormal research,” but it ended badly, so she’s not thrilled letterer and calligrapher, couldn’t resist embedding a hidden to meet his nephew. However as the two gather information, code in the wedding program of society bride Avery and her it begins to look like Olivia’s disappearance is connected to handsome but taciturn groom, Reid. When the wedding is the murder the women witnessed as teens and may be tied cancelled, Reid, a quantitative analyst who discovered Meg’s to a frightening plot to weaponize paranormal power. Sav - message (“M-I-S-T-A-K-E”), seeks her out. Reid knows the ing Olivia will depend on Catalina’s and Slater’s talents, and breakup was for the best, but it brings home how lost and working together makes them realize what great partners out of place he feels in New York. For her part, Meg has been they are. Krentz (Untouchable, 2019, etc.) shows her wizardry experiencing artist’s block as she prepares to compete for a for worldbuilding and once again incorporates paranormal contract with a major retail chain to feature her work in their elements, which will thrill fans. stationery line. She invites Reid to walk the streets of the city A smart, creative series start from a romance master with her, looking for meaning in the words and letters around who always entertains. them. As their romance heats up, Reid has to contend with some major conflict at work, and Meg is coping with the demands of a new celebrity client and the increasing distance of her best friend and roommate, Sibby. Clayborn’s (Best of Luck, 2018, etc.) depiction of the artistry of hand-lettering and the worlds that letters open up for Meg is fascinating. Letters and signs organize Meg’s experience: “L-I-K-E, after all, is a word I’ve been turning over and over a lot in my head over these last two weeks, trying to absorb it into my being, trying to keep it from becoming something else.” Meg’s dry observations are hilarious (her drink is a “defibrillator in a cup”), and even readers familiar with New York will see the city in a new light, through its signs and symbols. Reid and Meg are

The lone man in a covert sisterhood of vigilantes nearly drowns in the waters of Dominica only to be rescued by a beautiful entrepreneur with secrets of her own. The third installment of Muñoz Stewart’s (The Price of Grace, 2019, etc.) romantic suspense series about a secret society of highly trained heroes called the League of Warrior Women picks up exactly where the second left off, which may confuse new readers. Tony Parish had an abusive and violent childhood until his adoption into a league of global justice warriors gave him a family and a purpose. But when he broke the strict family code to save a life, he was forced to fake his own death and flee to the lush, mountainous Caribbean island of Dominica. There, he meets Honor Silva, a local businesswoman with her own family mysteries to untangle. With money inherited from her movie star mother, Honor and her grandfather run “Loco for Cocoa,” a cocoa farm, lodge, and agro-touring business. In a familiar plot device, an outrageously high offer to buy the property is followed by a series of “accidents.” Tony uses his special set of skills to help Honor get to the bottom of the mystery while trying to evade capture and punishment by the League. To make room for a large cast of characters and Tony’s and Honor’s parallel suspense plots, the novel shortchanges the romance, telling rather than showing: “She’s never felt this way about a man. She’d thought it was a myth, this type of attraction—the kind that drove away doubt and common sense.” Typical of the series, graphic violence and explicit sex punctuate talky scenes about the meaning of family, loyalty, and justice. A solid romantic suspense novel in a series that should be read in order.

46 | 1 november 2019 | fiction | kirkus.com | nonfiction WE OWN THE FUTURE These titles earned the Kirkus Star: Democratic Socialism― American Style AND IN THE VIENNA WOODS THE TREES REMAIN Ed. by Aronoff, Kate & Dreier, Peter & by Elisabeth Åsbrink; trans. by Saskia Vogel...... 49 Kazin, Michael LORD OF ALL THE DEAD The New Press (256 pp.) by Javier Cercas; $17.99 paper | Jan. 14, 2020 trans. by Anne McLean...... 50 978-1-62-097521-3 THE PASSION ECONOMY by Adam Davidson...... 52 A collection of unique perspectives ONE LONG RIVER OF SONG by Brian Doyle...... 54 on democratic socialism. Aronoff (co-author: A Planet to Win: NOTRE-DAME by Ken Follett...... 56 Why We Need a Green New Deal, 2019), Dreier (Politics/Occiden- young adult tal Coll.; A BOOKSHOP IN BERLIN The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social by Françoise Frenkel; Justice Hall of Fame, 2012, etc.) and Kazin (History/Georgetown trans. by Stephanie Smee...... 56 Univ.; War Against War: The American Fight for Peace, 1914-1918, 2017, etc.) deliver a chorus of intellectual voices who describe UNFINISHED BUSINESS by Vivian Gornick...... 57 their vision for democratic socialism systems in the U.S. as well LAND OF TEARS by Robert Harms...... 57 as assessments of inevitable roadblocks. The editors’ introduc- tory essays offer a crash course in the history of the socialist ELECTION MELTDOWN by Richard L. Hasen...... 57 movement, particularly its incremental resurgence from the federal programs of the 1930s through the social activist move- BUSTED IN NEW YORK AND OTHER ESSAYS ments of the 21st century. As they warn, the mechanics of by Darryl Pinckney...... 66 socialism in other countries offer lessons but not necessarily SIDNEY LUMET blueprints. They also address how the “hidden rules of race and by Maura Spiegel...... 70 racism” must first be overcome before any kind of economic HOW YIDDISH CHANGED AMERICA AND HOW AMERICA justice can be realized. Each piece is thoughtful and regimented CHANGED YIDDISH ed. by Ilan Stavans & Josh Lambert...... 71 and includes a usable plan of action. Economist Darrick Hamil- ton hypothesizes a three-part playbook of policies to remediate UNCANNY VALLEY by Anna Wiener...... 73 our unjust financial system while historian Thomas Sugrue proposes a restructuring of the housing and transit markets to cre- BETWEEN TWO FIRES by Joshua Yaffa...... 74 ate more livable urban and rural spaces. Naomi Klein discusses how enacting the Green New Deal would prioritize and confront the issue of climate change head-on. Social justice advo- BETWEEN TWO FIRES cate Dorothy Roberts addresses the comprehensive impact of Truth, Ambition, universal health care, and journalist Michelle Chen examines and Compromise in the advantages of open borders. The contributors also survey Putin’s Russia education, sports, election systems, reproductive justice, and Yaffa, Joshua the arts. Sensible and convincing, the book takes on the coun- Tim Duggan Books/ try’s current “troubled plutocracy” and proposes ways “to build Crown (384 pp.) a kinder, more humane, and altogether freer society.” Even for $28.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 those not inclined to agree with its core objective, the book 978-1-52-476059-5 challenges and motivates readers to act and appeal for “daunt- ing but not impossible” changes. A book of inspired opinion certain to provoke spirited political debate and proactive discussions.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 47 six to seek out in november

Leah Overstreet Every month, there are at least 20 acts, but also the many struggles he has faced as a black books that I would feel comfortable musician in the South. It’s a pleasing treat for fans of the recommending to friends and fam- genre; Kirkus’ review calls it “a thoughtful autobiography ily, depending on preferred subject that takes in not just the tunes, but the times that pro- matter. In the spirit of the recently duced them.” awarded Kirkus Prizes, which feature Broke: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken 6 finalists in each category, here are Promises by Jodie Adams Kirshner (St. Martin’s, Nov. 19). my top 6 choices for November (no, I This well-documented study of can’t choose a winner), in alphabetical income inequality and bank- order by author, which cover a nice ruptcy in Detroit serves as a variety of subjects and styles. natural companion to Matthew Essays One by Lydia Davis (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Desmond’s Pulitzer Prize–win- Nov. 12). In the first installment of a two-volume set, a ning Evicted. As our reviewer master of the short story col- wrote in a starred review, “Kir- lects essays on writing and, shner is masterful at explaining especially, translating. From the predatory banking and in- Samuel Beckett and Franz surance industry practices that Kafka to John Ashbery and have led to impoverishment Thomas Pynchon, Davis pro- across the entire city (except vides “lively essays bound to for the white establishment stimulate debate among read- downtown), the heartlessness ers of global literature,” ac- of white politicians (mostly Republicans) who seemingly cording to our reviewer. operate from racist viewpoints, a judicial system that of- Dictionary of the Undoing fers little justice for the poor, and bankruptcy law, which by John Freeman (Hachette, was never meant to be applied to city governments.” Nov. 5). As the executive editor Little Weirds by Jenny Slate (Little, Brown, Nov. 5). of Literary Hub and founder of Slate is a creator and performer of many talents. In addi- his eponymous literary journal, tion to her improv work and appearances on a variety of Freeman has always demonstrated a fierce passion and dis- TV shows and films (her character onParks & Recreation is cerning eye when it comes to literature and language. Here, hilarious), she is the creator of Marcel the Shell With Shoes he expresses his palpable anger about our current politi- On and, now, a quirky book of memoiristic vignettes that cal and cultural landscape, arguing that “we need to take are not only funny, but also frequently poignant—and al- the one tool being vandalized before our very eyes—lan- ways slightly skewed. Little Weirds is, well, weird, but in guage—and reclaim it, and redefine what it means to be the most delightful way. Our reviewer calls her “a unique- an ethical citizen in the present moment.” From A to Z, he ly talented writer and performer [offering] an unexpect- examines the words that he feels edly uncommon approach to autobiographical writing.” are most potent for our time, of- The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West (MCD/Farrar, fering what our review calls “ex- Straus and Giroux, Nov. 12). The New York Times colum- uberant and inspiring clarion nist and author of Shrill is pissed off—and rightfully so. calls for activism.” In her second book, she takes aim at Donald Trump and Time Is Tight: My Life Note the poisonous social and political atmosphere he fosters by Note by Booker T. Jones (Lit- as well as countless other malignant strains of misogyny, tle, Brown, Nov. 1). In a long- racism, and social injustice. It’s the perfect book for our awaited memoir, the iconic Stax time, says our reviewer—a “satirical, raw, and unapolo- musician and composer takes getically real” set of hard-hitting, no-nonsense pieces in us behind the scenes of the mu- which the author “delivers the bittersweet truths on con- sic-making process. The author temporary living.” —E.L. explores not just Booker T. & The MG’s and other associated Eric Liebetrau is the nonfiction and managing editor.

48 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | Top-notch microcosmic World War II history and an excellent illustration of the immense power of the written word. and in the vienna woods the trees remain

AND IN THE VIENNA BETTER DAYS WILL WOODS THE COME AGAIN TREES REMAIN The Life of Arthur Briggs, The Heartbreaking True Story Jazz Genius of Harlem, Paris, of a Family Torn Apart by and a Nazi Prison Camp War Atria, Travis Åsbrink, Elisabeth Chicago Review Press (336 pp.) Trans. by Vogel, Saskia $27.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Other Press (320 pp.) 978-0-914090-10-6 $25.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 978-1-59051-917-2 The authorized biography of Jazz Age trumpeter Arthur Briggs, who spent Swedish journalist Åsbrink (1947: Where Now Begins, 2018, four of his prime years in a German concentration camp. etc.) offers new information about the founder of IKEA’s Nazi Granted access to Briggs’ personal details thanks to his ties, but that is secondary to the engrossing tale of a young Jew only daughter, Atria (co-author: Traveling Soul: The Life of Curtis in Sweden during World War II. Mayfield, 2016) fashions a sympathetic look at this thoroughly At first rejecting Otto Ullmann’s daughter’s request to write upright musician, who chose to ply his art in Europe rather than his story, the author found it as compelling as readers will. Eva America largely because of the racism and segregation that pre- Ullmann gave her an IKEA box filled with letters from Otto’s vailed at the time. In that regard, he was joined by many oth- parents dating from 1939, when the 13-year-old was one of 100 ers who crossed his path in the 1920s, such as Josephine Baker.

children sent to Sweden. The program that enabled him to young adult escape was part of the Swedish Israel Mission, led by Birger Pernow, a pastor who was devoted to converting the Jews and felt that his child relief program would be effective. The plan was to bring 100 children whose parents had good reputations. Otto embarked on Feb. 1, 1939, on the train to Sweden. At first, he and 21 children were taken to a children’s home in Tollarp, and it would be years before he was finally sent out as a farm hand and found friendship. The author then introduces IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, who grew up the son of a wealthy farmer whose family had immigrated some years before. Otto and Ingvar met and became friends even as Ingvar participated in Nazi causes. Åsbrink expertly exposes Sweden’s tendency toward Nazism at the time, with geographical proximity as well as threats pushing the inclination. Her book, she writes is “an account of Sweden before the country became a ‘good’ one.” Ingvar’s grandmother and father were both devoted Nazis and were thrilled when Hitler took over their former home in the Sudetenland. Meanwhile, Otto was a lost young boy trying to survive and learn a new language. His only support and encouragement came in the form of the more than 500 letters from his family, which the author seamlessly weaves into the narrative. Just as important were the letters they received (now lost) from their son, knowing he was safe. Top-notch microcosmic World War II history and an excellent illustration of the immense power of the written word.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 49 Born in Grenada in 1901—his birth date is often listed as 1899 European markets following the Columbian exchange: Samuel because he lied about it in order to join the military—and thus Johnson’s dictionary includes definitions for many of these nov- a British citizen, Briggs received training in classical music at elties, including agaric (“a drug of use in physick, and the dying a young age. In 1917, he moved to New York to join his sister, trade”) and nepenthe (“a drug that drives away all pains”). Breen arriving just in time for the explosion of the Harlem Renais- makes a fine case for his title, which he suggests is more appro- sance. During World War I, he joined the Harlem Hellfighters priate than the Age of Reason—and for reasons good and true. reserve band, under the mentorship of James Reese Europe, A provocative examination of the history of explora- and toured Europe with the Southern Syncopated Orchestra, tion as a quest for new and improved ways to change our led by Will Marion Cook. These were his legendary mentors minds. (35 illustrations) along with jazz clarinetist Sidney Bechet, a lifelong friend. Due to his strong work ethic, Briggs was often the organizer of his own groups—e.g., the popular Savoy Syncops Orchestra and LORD OF ALL THE DEAD others that included Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. A Nonfiction Novel Many of these bands were popular in Paris and elsewhere, even Cercas, Javier in Egypt—until the war, when Briggs chose, to his detriment, Trans. by McLean, Anne not to return to America. After trying to hide when the Nazis Knopf (288 pp.) occupied Paris, he was arrested in October 1940 as “an enemy $26.95 | Jan. 14, 2020 of the Reich.” As Atria reports in his readable, straightforward 978-0-525-52090-0 narrative, performing for the prisoners and the Nazi guards kept him sane during his imprisonment. A notable Spanish writer haunted by A clear picture of an extraordinary life of resilience, tal- his family’s allegiances during the Span- ent, and determination. (43 b/w photos) ish Civil War (1936-1939) manages to achieve a magnificent reconciliation. Having addressed the war in previous works of both fiction THE AGE OF INTOXICATION and nonfiction, CercasThe ( Blind Spot: An Essay on the Novel, Origins of the Global Drug 2018, etc.) wrestles in this “nonfiction novel” with a persistent Trade obsession: the short life and “glorious death” of a revered mem- Breen, Benjamin ber of his family, his great-uncle Manuel Mena, who died at age Univ. of Pennsylvania (304 pp.) 19 as an enthusiastic Falangist (the foe of the Republicans) in $34.95 | Jan. 3, 2020 the Battle of the Ebro in 1938. Mena had been adored by the 978-0-8122-5178-4 author’s mother, who lived in the tiny village of Ibahernando in Extremadura. She had been relocated as a young bride to live in Everybody must get stoned: That’s Catalonia, and the family had effectively buried Mena’s name. the great lesson of history, driven home Shame runs at the heart of this story, as the tragedy of the civil by this elucidating survey. war created terrible fissures between Francisco Franco’s loyal- According to Breen (History/Univ. ists and the Republicans in the tiniest towns of Spain, including of California, Santa Cruz), the quest for drugs has been a con- the socially stratified village of Ibahernando. Indeed, Cercas stant of human history, propelling the rise of empires in the had been haunted and obsessed by the shame of his family’s modern era. By “drug,” he adds by way of qualification, the Francoist loyalties his entire life, and he vowed never to write author includes a wide variety of substances both recreational about Mena, although his mother—a kind of long-suffering and medicinal, some of them quite dubious: “Eating the pow- Beckett-ian character waiting her whole life for a return to the dered flesh of an Egyptian mummy may cure the plague….Pos- lost glory of her family’s past—hoped he would. Visiting the vil- sessing an enemy’s toenail clippings may allow you to kill them.” lage and carefully enticing some of the skittish elders who had Between-the-lines reading offers intriguing possibilities: It’s lived through the war to speak with him, the author clearly illus- not hard to liken the doings of the Portuguese Empire, by far trates the deep divisions that plagued Spanish society during the most effective of all drug-seeking powers, and the British that tumultuous period. Cercas is a marvelous writer, and his Empire that overtook it as rival drug cartels. What is certain, character studies of the elusive Mena are masterly. Ultimately, argues Breen, is that the Portuguese “spent much of their first grappling with the enormously nuanced, continuing story of decades in the Americas stumbling in the dark, trying and usu- sacrifice, passion, and dishonor allowed for significant forgive- ally failing to make sense of the hallucinogens, poisons, stimu- ness and release. lants, and remedies that surrounded them.” Apply science to a A beautiful, moving story that must have been recreational substance, and you often get medicine, from CBD extremely difficult for the author to write. Thankfully for oil to morphine, with the “pristine sterility of the pharmacy” readers, he persisted. (13 illustrations) replacing the dusty shelves of the antiquarian; apply it to a rem- edy, as with quinine, and you get a lucrative patent, giving rise to the modern pharmaceutical industry. All reason enough to chase after drugs, a bewildering variety of which marched into

50 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | THE CONTACT PARADOX today agrees that intelligence on distant planets is worth search- Challenging Our ing for. Traveling the world, Cooper chronicles his interviews Assumptions in the with scientists and scholars who discuss how to do it and what Search for Extraterrestrial we might find, if anything. Throughout, the author is free with Intelligence his own opinions, and there is no shortage of surprises, the first Cooper, Keith of which is the chapter on altruism. Why should extraterres- Bloomsbury Sigma (288 pp.) trial visitors have benign intentions? “Our present beliefs about $28.00 | Jan. 21, 2020 alien civilizations are built on the basis of taking the best parts 978-1-4729-6042-9 of our humanity and extrapolating them into the future,” writes Cooper. “It’s an easy trap to fall into.” He reminds readers of the An overview of the search for intel- disastrous history of human explorers who encountered strange ligence on distant planets. cultures. Do smart aliens even exist? Experts can’t decide In his first book, Cooper, science writer and editor of if—like an elephant’s trunk or giraffe’s neck—intelligence is a Astronomy Now, emphasizes that the universe teems with extra- chance byproduct of evolution or a regular feature such as eyes, solar planets, but evidence of life remains out of reach, to the limbs, or wings. Cooper recounts the debate between “rare frustration of almost everyone, including scientists working at Earth” experts who believe we may be unique with those who the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, which has disagree, but it remains an area of pure (and frustrating) specu- been looking for more than 50 years. The sci-fi trope of the evil lation. Discussions on technical aspects of searching contain alien has largely fallen out of fashion. From the hit movie ET to more satisfying answers. Provided distant aliens possess trans- Congress, which killed SETI funding in 1993, almost everyone mitters an order of magnitude more powerful than ours, today’s young adult

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 51 Fine inspiration for entrepreneurs that should be required reading in any business school curriculum. the passion economy

receivers can detect the signal. Sending an actual message—as THE PASSION opposed to a mere signal—requires vastly more power. ECONOMY “Are we alone in the universe?” has no answer yet, The New Rules for but Cooper delivers an enlightening exploration of the Thriving in the question. Twenty-First Century Davidson, Adam Knopf (336 pp.) UNCOUNTED $26.95 | Jan. 7, 2020 The Crisis of Voter 978-0-38-535352-6 Suppression in America Daniels, Gilda R. Financial journalist Davidson explores New York Univ. (272 pp.) the new economy of pursuing one’s dreams $30.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 instead of plodding through a thankless career. 978-1-4798-6235-1 Do what you love, and the money will follow. Davidson, a New Yorker staff writer and creator of NPR’s Planet Money pod- A law professor examines the persis- cast, takes that idea and runs with it, his book predicated on tent measures that still hinder citizens the thrilling idea that a new economy is right around the cor- of color and the elderly from voting in ner, one in which “our work lives and our deepest passions can America. merge, happily, in ways that make us better off financially and There is a sad sense of history’s repeating itself in this personally.” Think of a place like a certain well-known fast-food focused, hard-hitting, and highly relevant work, which moves chain, one that makes it “immediately clear that you are not in from the historic Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act a place of joy,” a place where workers are replaceable and know of 1965, which effectively tore down hindrances to voting in the it. Then contrast that with someone with a rare skill set, some- South, to today’s newly erected voter suppression tools by the one who, as with one of his examples, took training as a naval states. How could this happen? The culprit, as Daniels (Univ. of aviator and retail consultant and turned that into a delicious, Baltimore School of Law) delineates, was the Supreme Court’s much-sought-after candy bar, successful even though the candy 2013 Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder decision, in which “the giants had a lock on the distribution chain. Another example Court found part of the [VRA] unconstitutional and removed is a woman who grew up around the people who, with callused protections from a majority of the South.” Hence, where the hands and dirty boots, did the hard work of harvesting grapes, VRA had abolished literacy tests and poll taxes and provided and she converted her in-depth knowledge into a market- voter registrars in “recalcitrant jurisdictions throughout the ing business positioning wines before discerning audiences of South,” new restrictions have been implemented in certain drinkers. There’s a new paradigm at work here, one that defies counties and states across the country. These include the early the old laws of supply and demand and that instead posits that closing of polling places, the introduction of new voter ID laws price, for instance, is one of those things that a customer under- (on Latinx voters especially), voter intimidation and deception, stands is a token of “the benefits they hope to receive: benefits and the purging of voters from rolls (usually because a person based on very specialized knowledge.” Technology and inter- hadn’t voted in the past). Daniels sees these efforts as Repub- locked global markets bring this specialized knowledge to the lican measures to suppress the opposition—i.e., burgeoning world in ways that could only have been dreamed of in the past. minority communities that often vote Democrat. As she notes, Davidson’s case studies are excellent, but the heart of the book “while whites enjoy overrepresentation at the ballot box, minor- is a set of rules worthy of committing to memory—e.g., “Pursue ity communities are younger and growing faster than white com- intimacy at scale”; “Know what business you’re in, and it’s prob- munities.” The author examines each of these factors in specific ably not what you think.” chapters with an eye toward the legal ramifications, but she also Fine inspiration for entrepreneurs that should be offers plenty of useful real-world examples. She humanizes this required reading in any business school curriculum. (first dreary depiction by illustrating the case of her grandmother, printing of 150,000) who grew up in rural Louisiana and lived through the restrictions to voting during the Jim Crow era; today, she still faces restrictions because she could not produce a birth certificate. An accessible human story of a longtime history of voter suppression.

52 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | HOW WE LEARN few minutes, which is the very quintessence of learning.” Never Why Brains Learn Better mind our opposable thumb, upright posture, fire, tools, or lan- Than Any Machine...For Now guage; it is education that enabled humans to conquer the world. Dehaene, Stanislas “We are not simply Homo Sapiens, but Homo docens—the species Viking (352 pp.) that teaches itself,” writes the author. Short-term memory of a $28.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 literate person is almost double that of someone who has never 978-0-525-55988-7 attended school. IQ (a supposedly fixed concept) increases several points for each additional year of education. In the first of Computers learn, but they will not the book’s occasionally dense but mostly accessible sections, hold a candle to humans for the fore- Dehaene defines learning as simply forming an internal model seeable future, according to this expert of the outside world. In the second, he describes how learning overview of learning. occurs. A computer leaves the assembly line as a blank slate, but Dehaene (Cognitive Psychology/Collège de France (Con a newborn’s brain already possesses circuits enabling it to gen- sciousness and the Brain: Deciphering How the Brain Codes Our erate abstract formulas and the ability to choose wisely from Thoughts, 2014, etc.) emphasizes that a fly can learn and that a those formulas according to their plausibility. The third section newborn’s brain contains a great deal of information thanks to defines “four pillars of learning” that make our brain the most several billion years of evolution. Unfortunately, he writes, “evo- effective learning device. “Attention” carefully selects relevant lution adapts each organism to its ecological niche, but it does signals. “Active engagement” (i.e., curiosity) generates hypoth- so at an appallingly slow rate.” However, “the ability to learn… eses. “Error feedback” corrects the mental model when the acts much faster; it can change behavior within the span of a world violates our expectations. Finally, “consolidation,” which young adult

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 53 This brilliant compendium of spiritual musings will resonate with people of any faith—or of none. one long river of song

involves sleep as a key component, transfers knowledge to long- ONE LONG RIVER term memory, freeing neural circuits for further learning. The OF SONG best educators, whether parents or teachers, follow these prin- Notes on Wonder ciples, and the author urges their general adoption. for the Spiritual and Dehaene’s fourth insightful exploration of neurosci- Nonspiritual Alike ence will pay dividends for attentive readers. Doyle, Brian Little, Brown (272 pp.) $27.00 | Dec. 3, 2019 HOW TO BE A DICTATOR 978-0-316-49289-8 The Cult of Personality in the Twentieth Century A posthumous collection of stunning Dikötter, Frank mystical prose from the award-winning Bloomsbury (304 pp.) author and editor. $28.00 | Dec. 3, 2019 Doyle (1956-2017) was well known as the longtime editor 978-1-63557-379-4 of Portland Magazine, but he also published multiple novels (Chicago, 2016, etc.) and numerous volumes of short stories, Comparative study of eight dictators, “proems” (hybrids of prose and poems), and essays. Though his plumbing the connections between their nonfiction appeared in many renowned publications, includ- ruthless political narratives and their ing the New York Times, the Atlantic, and Harper’s, he had a fluctuating popular appeal. cultlike following for his lesser-known writing on spirituality. Samuel Johnson Prize winner Dikötter (Chair, Humanities/ After Doyle was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor in late 2016, Univ. of Hong Kong; The Cultural Revolution: A People’s History, David James Duncan, a friend, novelist, and essayist, proposed 1962-1976, 2016, etc.) writes with academic rigor and awareness this collection to benefit Doyle’s family. While the book may that these megalomaniacal figures continue to inspire fascina- prove to be of financial value to his survivors, the richest ben- tion relevant to politically volatile times—see Putin, Erdoğan, eficiaries will undoubtedly be those who read it. Doyle’s spiri- and others. “Throughout the twentieth century,” writes the tuality defies categorization. He was raised Catholic and does author, “hundreds of millions of people cheered their own dic- occasionally draw from that tradition, but his catechism isn’t tators, even as they were herded down the road to serfdom.” comprised of doctrine or theology. Rather, much like Thornton Dikötter moves from the most notorious dictators—Mussolini, Wilder’s Our Town, Doyle employs the ordinary to catch the Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and Kim Il-sung—to the less well-known, reflection of a world that is “still stuffed with astonishments including Haiti’s Duvalier, Romania’s Ceausesçu, and Ethiopia’s beyond our wildest imagining, which is humbling, and lovely, Mengistu. Mussolini established the fascist autocrat archetype and maybe the only way we are going to survive ourselves and almost accidentally, consolidating power with a spike in state- let everything else alive survive us too.” The author looks for sanctioned violence. He received sustained popular acclaim God not in a book or a building but in a group of kindergarten- while seeking a “self-sufficient economy” to prepare for war ers, at the post office, in a doll with one arm. Doyle’s mysticism until his calamitous alliance with one-time protégé Hitler. Of is similar to spiritual writers like Thomas Merton and Henri the quintessential dictator, the author writes, “when Hitler Nouwen, but his prose is informal, instantly relatable, and quite had given his first political speech at a beer hall in Munich, few often delightfully unorthodox—e.g., “I am standing in the hos- could have predicted his rise to power….He enjoyed a bohe- pital watching babies emerge from my wife like a circus act.” mian lifestyle, reading widely and pursuing his passion for opera Though each topic spans at most a few pages, Doyle’s prose is so and architecture.” While he was a master manipulator of his expansive and dripping with visceral detail that even the brief- political circle, he channeled his popular appeal into “a costly est vignettes are often a wondrous adventure. war of attrition.” Following a chronicle of the devastation of This brilliant compendium of spiritual musings will World War II—and a similarly compelling examination of the resonate with people of any faith—or of none. ruthless Stalin—the author examines the politically complex and socially brutal reigns of Mao and Kim. “As Kim’s word became absolute the epithets used to describe him became ever more extravagant,” and “his cult extended to his family.” While Dikötter focuses broadly on the biographies of each dictator (and their crucial sycophant enablers), each chapter establishes a firm sense of time and place, capturing the palpable dread these figures established within their societies. An approachable discussion of a brand of political menace that seems both faded into history and oddly relevant.

54 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | SUFFRAGE THE THIRD RAINBOW GIRL Women’s Long Battle for The Long Life of a Double the Vote Murder in Appalachia DuBois, Ellen Carol Eisenberg, Emma Copley Simon & Schuster (384 pp.) Hachette (336 pp.) $28.00 | Feb. 25, 2020 $27.00 | Jan. 21, 2020 978-1-5011-6516-0 978-0-316-44923-6

Commemorating the 100th anni- A former resident of Appalachia versary of the ratification of the 19th reconsiders its unsolved “Rainbow Mur- Amendment, which finally recognized ders” in a genre-straddling debut that women as participants in democracy, blends true crime and memoir. historian DuBois (History/UCLA; co-author: Through Women’s Eisenberg tells two interwoven stories that span three Eyes: An American History With Documents, 2018, etc.) offers a decades in heavily forested Pocahontas County, West Virginia. lively, deeply researched history of the struggle for suffrage. The first—and by far the more interesting—story centers on From 1848, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia the unsolved 1980 murders of two young women whose bod- Mott convened a women’s meeting in Seneca Falls, New York, ies turned up in a clearing after they were shot while hitchhik- to Aug. 26, 1920, the official date of ratification, the political ing to a festival known as the Rainbow Gathering. Alarming and social climate of the nation changed, as did the suffragists’ rumors quickly spread about local farmer Jacob Beard, who leadership, membership, and strategies. “The Declaration of went to prison for the Rainbow Murders 13 years later. Then

Sentiments,” issued at Seneca Falls, modeled after the Decla- young adult ration of Independence, attested to women’s “social and religious degradation” and deprivation of legal, civil, and economic rights. Nearly 30 years later, at the nation’s centennial celebration, Susan B. Anthony, Stanton, and Matilda Joslyn Gage, representing the National Women’s Suffrage Association, issued an even stronger statement, the “Declaration of the Rights of the Women of the United States,” enumerating the “Articles of Impeachment,” the major injustices—such as the right of trial by a jury of one’s peers—resulting from disenfranchisement. By 1876, suffragists had been so thwarted in achieving a constitutional amendment that they decided to work state by state, succeeding first in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah; by 1911 in Nevada and Arizona; and by 1914 in Oregon and Montana. In 1917, Montana voters made Jeannette Rankin the first woman seated in Congress. DuBois animates her well-populated history with vivid portraits: Victoria Woodhull, “the most scandal- ous, disruptive, and transformative figure to enter the suffrage ranks”; “society queen” Alva Belmont, whose largesse funded much suffrage work in the early 1900s; beautiful young pacifist Inez Milholland Boissevain, whose death, at age 30, elevated her to martyrdom; and the defiant Alice Paul, whose prison hunger strike brought wide attention to the suffragists’ tenacious fight against virulent opposition from “conservative clergy, stubborn congressmen, nasty newspaper coverage, and the many women who feared venturing beyond their homes.” An authoritative, brisk, and sharply drawn history. (40 b/w images)

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 55 Fans of Follett and cathedrals alike will enjoy his exploration of the great Parisian edifice—and will want more. notre-dame

Charlie Rose and 60 Minutes II, having heard that serial killer all the pragmatic reasons, they’re not quite enough to explain Joseph Paul Franklin had confessed to the crimes, started pok- why we did it.” Indeed, generations of builders would die before ing around, and a judge granted a new trial for Beard, whom a the cathedral was finished in 1345, yet they threw themselves jury found not guilty. Alleging police misconduct and malicious into the godly work. The proceeds from this book, which prosecution, Beard sued and was awarded nearly $2 million. touches on such things as Victor Hugo’s novelistic celebration Eisenberg learned of the murders while working for an anti-pov- of Notre-Dame and Charles De Gaulle’s celebrated Te Deum erty program in the area after graduating from college, and she there on the liberation of Paris from Nazi occupation, are being reconstructs the case with a brisk pace and a keen sensitivity to earmarked for the restoration, another space launch–worthy a Gordian knot of kinship and other ties that posed challenges mustering of our better angels. for the police and suspects alike. The author’s compelling sec- Fans of Follett and cathedrals alike will enjoy his explo- ond story is, in effect, a memoir of her coming-of-age in Poca- ration of the great Parisian edifice—and will want more. hontas County, involving bluegrass parties, lots of alcohol, and sex with an inapt partner. “I told him I was queer and that my most recent relationship had been with a woman,” she writes. A BOOKSHOP “That’s cool, he said.” Several themes link the true-crime and IN BERLIN memoir sections—including how we distinguish lies from the The Rediscovered truth—and a related set piece explores the stereotypes of Appa- Memoir of One Woman’s lachians as either “noble and stalwart” mountaineers or “profli- Harrowing Escape From the gate” and “amusing” hillbillies. With access to Beard and other Nazis key figures, Eisenberg avoids both perils and offers a nuanced Frenkel, Françoise portrait of a crime and its decadeslong effects. Trans. by Smee, Stephanie A promising young author reappraises a notorious dou- Atria (288 pp.) ble murder—and her life. (maps; photos) $26.00 | Dec. 3, 2019 978-1-50-119984-4

NOTRE-DAME The potent story of a Jewish woman who fled, hid, endured A Short History of the imprisonment and debasement, and eventually escaped to Swit- Meaning of Cathedrals zerland in June 1943. Follett, Ken In a republished volume that has enduring relevance, Fren- Viking (80 pp.) kel (1889-1975), who originally produced her long-forgotten and $17.00 | Oct. 29, 2019 recently rediscovered work in 1945 (original title: No Place To 978-1-984880-25-3 Lay One’s Head), chronicles her life before and after the Nazis rose in Germany and invaded France. As the new title suggests, A survey of the storied history of she was a bookshop owner. She tells about her early love for Notre-Dame Cathedral, a victim of a books and her decision to go into the business—and to locate devastating fire in April 2019. that business in Berlin, where she found no shops specializing Follett (Edge of Eternity, 2014, etc.) in French literature (her love). When the Nazi oppressions grew knows a thing or two about medieval cathedrals, having struc- more severe in Germany, she returned to France, where condi- tured his Kingsbridge series around the building of one such tions were tolerable—at least for a while. Then she was forced architectural wonder. It’s for that reason that when Notre- to hide with sympathetic gentile friends, but she soon realized Dame, the jewel at the heart of Paris, caught fire, the media France was no longer safe, so she resolved to escape to Switzer- flocked to the author for commentary. He began informally, he land. She was apprehended in the process and spent time in cus- relates here, tweeting to friends and followers that it’s not hard tody before, miraculously, a judge freed her after a brief trial. A for a gigantic tower of stone to catch fire: “The rafters consist bit later, she made a second attempt to cross the border and suc- of hundreds of tons of wood, old and very dry. When that burns ceeded despite gunfire and a near recapture. Frenkel, who origi- the roof collapses, then the falling debris destroys the vaulted nally wrote the book not long after her escape, is a fine writer: ceiling, which also falls and destroys the mighty stone pillars detailed, emotional, and careful about giving her readers suffi- that are holding the whole thing up.” Though badly damaged, cient information to keep the tension taut and not overwhelm. the cathedral’s pillars held up, and French President Emmanuel The current edition features some useful additions, including a Macron has promised that the damage will be repaired within chronology and a “dossier,” a compilation of some research to five years. Follett casts some doubt on that optimistic timetable validate what the author wrote, as well as a preface by French while noting, “it is always unwise to underestimate the French.” novelist and Nobel laureate Patrick Modiano. Pictures, photo- In this slender essay, he connects the events of 2019 to the build- copies, and translations of documents comprise nearly 30 pages ing of Notre-Dame over a century, beginning in 1163. It was, he of engaging and relevant backmatter. writes, the equivalent of a space launch today, benefiting whole A compelling account of crushing oppression, those segments of the society and economy and yielding tremendous who sought to flee it, and those who, at great risk, offered technological advances. However, he writes, “when you add up help.

56 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | UNFINISHED BUSINESS As Harms (History and African Studies/Yale Univ.; Africa in Notes of a Chronic Global History With Sources, 2018, etc.) writes, the Congo Basin Re-Reader rainforest was long isolated, difficult to access, and lacking well- Gornick, Vivian developed trade routes. This changed in the 19th century, when Farrar, Straus and Giroux (176 pp.) exploration on the part of explorers like Richard Francis Bur- $25.00 | Feb. 4, 2020 ton and David Livingstone was met by the arrival, in the eastern 978-0-374-28215-8 interior, of Arab and Swahili traders who took slaves and ivory to the Zanzibar coast—and then, with the assistance of Henry Gornick’s (The Old Woman and the Morton Stanley, that of the forces of the king of Belgium, whose City, 2016) ferocious but principled intel- colonization of the Congo was among the most brutal of any ligence emanates from each of the essays in human history. The last aspect has been well documented in this distinctive collection. in works such as Adam Hochschild’s King Leopold’s Ghost, but Rereading texts, and comparing her most recent percep- Harms contributes significantly to the literature by explain- tions against those of the past, is the linchpin of the book, with ing how these various intrusions were linked and fueled each the author revisiting such celebrated novels as D.H. Lawrence’s other—and more, how Belgian colonization inspired further Sons and Lovers, Colette’s The Vagabond, Marguerite Duras’ The intrusions by other European powers. Livingstone, for example, Lover, and Elizabeth Bowen’s The House in Paris. Gornick also had been traveling with those very Arab ivory and slave trad- explores the history and changing face of Jewish American fic- ers for years while the Italian-born explorer Pietro Savorgnan tion as expressions of “the other.” The author reads more deeply di Brazza pressed French claims along the Congo, helping the and keenly than most, with perceptions amplified by the - per cause by mounting awe-inspiring fireworks shows for the local

spective of her 84 years. Though she was an avatar of “personal chiefs and their followers, after which he would “threaten to call young adult journalism” and a former staff writer for the Village Voice—a war down upon them if they did not cooperate.” The stratagem publication that “had a muckraking bent which made its writ- was effective. The intruders, writes the author, soon became ers…sound as if they were routinely holding a gun to society’s something more. They “were no longer explorers but were state head”—here, Gornick mostly subordinates her politics to the builders,” states that did not have the benefit of being built power of literature, to the books that have always been her inti- with the consultation of the native peoples. Those peoples suf- mates, old friends to whom she could turn time and again. “I fered and died in the spice plantations on the Indian Ocean read ever and only to feel the power of Life with a capital L,” she coast, in mines, and on rubber plantations deep in the forest writes; it shows. The author believes that for those willing to even as Stanley, an architect of genocide, enjoyed a funeral ser- relinquish treasured but outmoded interpretations, rereading vice in Westminster Abbey and the Zanzibari slave trader Tippu over a span of decades can be a journey, sometimes unsettling, Tip became the wealthiest man in the land save for the sultan. toward richer meanings of books that are touchstones of one’s An exemplary work of history and a somber account of life. As always, Gornick reveals as much about herself as about a colonial enterprise that has crippled Africa to this day. (11 the writers whose works she explores; particularly arresting are maps; 25 b/w illustrations) her essays on Lawrence and on Natalia Ginzburg. Some may feel she has a tendency to overdramatize, but none will question her intellectual honesty. It is reflected throughout, perhaps ELECTION MELTDOWN nowhere so vividly as in a vignette involving a stay in Israel, Dirty Tricks, Distrust, where, try as she might, Gornick could not get past the “appall- and the Threat to ing tribalism of the culture.” American Democracy Literature knows few champions as ardent and insight- Hasen, Richard L. ful—or as uncompromising—as Gornick, which is to read- Yale Univ. (208 pp.) ers’ good fortune. $27.50 | Feb. 4, 2020 978-0-30-024819-7

LAND OF TEARS A hard-hitting critique of the Ameri- The Exploration can election process as timely as it is and Exploitation of frightening. Equatorial Africa In a slim, cogently argued analysis, legal scholar Hasen (Law Harms, Robert and Political Science/Univ. of California, Irvine; The Justice of Con Basic (544 pp.) tradictions: Anthony Scalia and the Politics of Disruption, 2018, etc.) $35.00 | Dec. 3, 2019 points to four dangers threatening the voting process in 2020 978-0-46-502863-4 and beyond: “voter suppression, pockets of electoral incompe- tence, foreign and domestic dirty tricks,” and “a rising incendiary Fresh interpretation of the 19th-cen- rhetoric about ‘stolen’ or ‘rigged’ elections.” Each of these prob- tury race to colonize the interior of sub- lems causes voters to distrust the fairness and accuracy of elec- Saharan Africa. tions—the basic tenet of democracy—and may provide fuel for

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 57 A rousing, well-argued defense of global trade in a time of isolationist entrenchment. trade is not a four-letter word

Donald Trump in 2020 if he refuses to concede a close election portraits are based on SHIFT’s extensive interviews with by raising “unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.” As Michael students, focus groups, and hours of observations, and they Cohen remarked in February 2019, “given my experience work- often include lengthy excerpts of the student’s remarks. In the ing for Mr. Trump, I fear that if he loses the election in 2020 that concluding chapter, the authors offer ideas about improving there will never be a peaceful transition of power.” That fear sex education and creating campuses that support social cohe- was so great before the 2016 election that the Barack Obama sion and address issues of power, inequality, and mental health. administration, assuming a Hillary Clinton victory, “came up They also advocate taxing the pornography and liquor indus- with contingency plans,” calling for an oversight committee of tries in order to support funding for sex education, and they congressional Republicans, former presidents, and former Cab- explore the economic consequences of assault. “If prevent- inet-level officials to validate the election result. Hasen looks in ing sexual assault’s emotional and social harms is insufficient depth at Republicans’ efforts to suppress voter registration and to justify more attention to prevention,” they write, “we can notes that as the 2020 election season began, “more states passed also point to sexual assault’s vast economic impact”—in 2017, new laws aimed at curtailing voter registration drives in the face experts estimated “the economic cost of rape” at more than $3 of high African American turnout.” Addressing the problem of trillion. The authors assert that their intended readership is technological disruptions of the voting process and manipula- parents and young people heading off to college, but their pre- tion of public opinion, the author urges members of the cur- sentation of SHIFT’s findings and their discussion of method- rent administration to take seriously “cyberthreats to America’s ologies seem more appropriate for an academic journal. power grid, critical infrastructure, and voting technology, and A broad encapsulation of a significant sociological that they take defensive measures despite being led by a man who study that will likely overwhelm general readers but should has proved himself more than willing to look the other way (at interest fellow scholars. best) regarding Russian involvement in American elections, particularly when that involvement benefits him.” Overall, Hasen calls for “nonpartisan, professionalized election administration” TRADE IS NOT A and enhanced civics education about the nation’s vital “multifac- FOUR-LETTER WORD eted plural democracy.” How Six Everyday Products Required reading for legislators and voters. Make the Case for Trade Hochberg, Fred P. Avid Reader Press (320 pp.) SEXUAL CITIZENS $28.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 A Landmark Study of Sex, 978-1-98-212736-7 Power, and Assault on Campus Tariffs be damned: Global trade is a Hirsch, Jennifer S. & Khan, Shamus net good, and any consumer should be Norton (448 pp.) grateful for it. $27.95 | Jan. 14, 2020 Hochberg, former president of the Export-Import Bank, 978-1-324-00170-6 served as CEO of Lillian Vernon Corporation, the firm his mother founded “at our kitchen table.” In working there, he A serious study of the causes of cam- writes, he and his family were hot on the heels of Richard pus sexual assaults along with proposals Nixon in opening up to China, where, though modernization for tackling this very real problem. had yet to hit in 1972, they offered products and materials that Hirsch (Sociomedical Sciences/Columbia Univ.; A Court were unavailable or much more expensive in the West. Mak- ship After Marriage: Sexuality and Love in Mexican Transnational ing China a modern villain in the trade wars is misguided, he Families, 2003, etc.) and Khan (Chair, Sociology/Columbia argues. Granted that “with the largest workforce on the planet, Univ.; Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s massive state-owned enterprises, and a desire to dominate high- School, 2011, etc.) draw on the findings of the Sexual Health value manufacturing sectors, it took very little time for China Initiative to Foster Transformation, a five-year research proj- to become a formidable competitor for export business”; com- ect of which Hirsch is co-director and chief investigator. In petition is what it’s all about. Hochberg surveys several prod- their academic analysis, these two scholars use a wide variety ucts and categories to make his case: Everyone like tacos, after of specialized terminology, including “sexual projects,” “sexual all, but the components of tacos alone reflect the interplay of citizenship,” and “sexual geographies,” concepts they explain trade, with parts coming from nearly every continent. Just so, at some length in the introduction. In a nutshell, the first many people would be lost without their smartphones, which concerns the reasons a person might seek sexual experiences, are made from materials gathered in Africa, designed in the “citizenship” refers to a sense of right to sexual agency, and U.S. and Europe, and manufactured in China and other Asian “geographies” to the social power of environments. As well as nations. The author digs deeper: Consider that half a century examining the causes of sexual assaults, the authors present ago, all 50 states found it necessary to pass “lemon laws” to numerous portraits of campus sexual experiences, consensual protect consumers from badly made cars; now such things are and nonconsensual, among Columbia undergraduates. These objects of antiquity given that stiff global competition has made

58 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | every automaker up its game. There are disincentives aplenty, THE WRONG KIND on the other hand, for “nativizing” trade. One of Hochberg’s OF WOMAN most pointed examples is the Foxconn plant that will open Dismantling the Gods next year in Wisconsin through the largest subsidy (at about $4 of Hollywood billion) ever given to a firm and at the cost of seizing private Jones, Naomi McDougall property through eminent domain and breaking all sorts of Beacon (256 pp.) environmental laws “in the hope that this Taiwanese company $26.95 | Feb. 4, 2020 will prove to be a good bet.” 978-0-80-703345-6 A rousing, well-argued defense of global trade in a time of isolationist entrenchment. An investigation of how the male- dominated film industry silences women’s stories. GAY LIKE ME Drawing on more than 100 hours of interviews and abun- A Father Writes to His Son dant studies and news articles, actress, writer, and producer Jackson, Richie Jones makes her book debut with a spirited critique of the film Harper/HarperCollins (160 pp.) industry’s treatment of women at all levels. “I have lived and $24.99 | Jan. 28, 2020 experienced the harassment, the casual dismissals, the closed 978-0-06-293977-7 doors, the patronizing head-pats, the blatant sexism, the indifference toward women in film for over a decade,” she writes, A father advises his son on their mounting compelling evidence that her experiences are wide-

mutual homosexuality—the reasons to spread—and persist even after #MeToo, #OscarsSoWhite, young adult celebrate and the challenges they face— and the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Fresh out of drama school, in a book that shows what has changed in Jones knew she would have to spend a few years “furiously bat- recent decades and what hasn’t. tling to get auditions” and working for little or no money in As his older son prepared to leave for college, TV producer order to build a resume. She soon discovered that along with Jackson wrote to him, “I am enthused for the flight ahead competition and disappointment, “sexual harassment, assault, of you; I am apprehensive of the fight ahead of you.” The and degradation make up the constant, thrumming, crushing author was enthused because he attributes so much of what backdrop of being an actress.” With men predominant as cast- has enriched his life to his sexual orientation. He says that he ing directors, agents, directors, and producers, she found that would choose to be gay. He also knew early on that he would when trying out for a part, she was “being held up against a set choose to be a father, and he clearly loves that his son can of stereotypes of the type of women who are allowed to appear experience the same joy in his sexual identity as he has. How- in films and on television” and “make sense to the creators and ever, he also fears that he and his husband have minimized gatekeepers.” Frustrated as an actress, she faced gender discrim- the ongoing threat of homophobia in giving their son a safe ination, as well, as a film producer. Female film school gradu- and sheltered childhood. “You are leaving home and enter- ates, argues the author, “have a far harder time than their male ing a riptide of hate,” writes Jackson, “and we taught you as a peers acquiring even the lowest-level entry jobs in the indus- child never to swim directly into a riptide, always swim with it, try,” meaning less access to financial support and networking. parallel to where you want to be. Not so with this fierce cur- Women behind the camera, moreover, have “to fight to com- rent. Here you have to join the battle to fight just as I did. The mand the respect from typically majority-male crews.” Sexism only way to safe shore is forward.” Though the narrative only directly affects film’s cultural impact: Since 95% of movies have presents one side of the conversation, the author acknowl- been directed by white men, the images they perpetuate “have edges that his son thinks being gay isn’t that big a deal and shaped everybody’s cinematic visual language,” turning women that the emphasis his father places on it is anachronistic in a into the objects of male protagonists’ “actions, desires, and time of pride marches, gay marriage, and legal advances. Jack- gaze[s].” Jones offers concrete suggestions for change within son, however, sees abundant evidence of backsliding in the and outside of the industry, including by filmgoers who should age of Trump, who, ironically, was an enthusiastic guest at the “vote with your dollars.” author’s wedding. “The grief, the dread, the fear, the careful- A bold, convincing call for new voices and perspectives ness, is my ball and chain,” writes Jackson. “It goes where I go. in cinema. You are not weighted down by any of this. It’s a history lesson for you.” He wants his son to internalize that history. An easily digestible collection of lessons recommended for readers struggling with their sexual identities. (first printing of 50,000)

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 59 BUBBLE IN THE SUN THE LIGHT THAT FAILED The Florida Boom of the Why the West Is Losing the 1920s and How It Brought on Fight for Democracy the Great Depression Krastev, Ivan & Holmes, Stephen Knowlton, Christopher Pegasus (256 pp.) Simon & Schuster (368 pp.) $26.95 | Jan. 7, 2020 $30.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-1-64313-369-0 978-1-982128-37-1 Two academics and policy experts A well-told history of the 1920s Florida bring considerable erudition to the land rush, the developers who fueled it, and conundrum of why anti-liberalism has an environmentalist who saw its dangers. gained currency since the fall of the Writers like Erik Larson and Gary Krist have found a sturdy Soviet Union, when the world seemed happy to see it go. formula for enlivening history: Take a neglected or misunder- According to Krastev (After Europe, 2017, etc.), a fellow at stood era or incident, ferret out its colorful heroes and scoun- the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, and Holmes (New drels, and show not just their successes or failures, but the social York Univ. School of Law; The Quest for the Trinity: The Doctrine of forces that shaped their lives. Former Fortune magazine London God in Scripture, History and Modernity, 2012, etc.), once commu- bureau chief Knowlton (Cattle Kingdom: The Hidden History of nism fell, the “radiant future” of Enlightenment democracy— the Cowboy West, 2017, etc.) uses the method to fine effect in his encompassing a separation of powers, checks and balances, story of a land-buying frenzy that led one observer to note, “All free elections, freedom of the press, and so on—seemed the of America’s gold rushes, all her oil booms, and all her free-land sole alternative model. However, in chapters moving from stampedes dwindled by comparison with the torrent of migra- Central and Eastern Europe through Russia and China, the tion pouring into Florida.” The author begins with Henry Fla- authors show how imitating the “masters” created a ground- gler (1830-1913), the patriarch of Florida resort development, swell of resentment and backlash. In Central Europe, Hungary but moves on quickly to the architects and developers who and Poland were at first content to imitate the Western model. drove the 1920s rush, including Addison Mizner in Palm Beach, Unfortunately, “Central and East European versions of liberal- George Merrick in Coral Gables, and David Paul “D.P.” Davis in ism had been indelibly tainted by two decades of rising social Tampa. Perhaps no man was more flamboyant or controversial inequality, pervasive corruption, and the morally arbitrary dis- than Carl Fisher, who dredged Biscayne Bay for the sand needed tribution of private property into the hands of a few.” Krastev to build Miami Beach and whose razzle-dazzle publicity efforts and Holmes succinctly explain why this brand of populism and fed the boom and its collapse, owing to factors that included nativism would ring familiar in Russia, China, and eventually rampant overleveraging and the hurricanes of 1926 and 1928. in the United States under Donald Trump. The authors also Fisher had a small elephant who caddied for visiting President cogently explore the anti-immigration hysteria that has con- Warren G. Harding and hired black laborers who couldn’t live in tinued to plague these countries. In Russia, the authors see a his subdivisions: “The so-called Caucasian clause in the deeds convulsion of “aggressive isolationism” at work in addition to prohibited anyone but a white person from buying a parcel of an effective destabilizing revenge theory bent on revealing land on the island.” The writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas saw the mask of hypocrisy of the U.S., especially in foreign affairs. the injustices to blacks and the environmental risks of overde- Meanwhile, China, once an imitator of the Soviet Union, has velopment and later wrote the nature classic The Everglades: The ceased exporting its brand of Maoism and is reaping grandly the River of Grass (1947). In an especially strong chapter, Knowlton effects of centralized economic control. argues cogently that while the collapse of the bubble alone An informative study that conveys a subtle but power- didn’t cause the Great Depression, “the Sunshine State did pro- ful argument for the attraction of anti-liberal populism. vide both the dynamite and the detonator.” A lucid account of the human and economic factors that drove a notorious land rush. (16 pages of b/w photos) TIGHTROPE Americans Reaching for Hope Kristof, Nicholas D. & WuDunn, Sheryl Knopf (320 pp.) $27.95 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-0-525-65508-4

Pulitzer Prize winners Kristof and WuDunn (A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity, 2014, etc.) zero in on working-class woes and how to ease them.

60 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | Useful ammunition for an argument on gun rights at the bar or dinner table. repeal the second amendment

With an earnest blend of shoe-leather reporting and advo- militia, subsequently replaced by the National Guard and there- cacy for social justice, the married journalists send a clear mes- fore, in theory, rendered moot. Instead, as Lichtman enumerates sage to anyone who wants to see working-class Americans in just one statistic, nearly 24,000 Americans die of gun suicide, prosper: Stop blaming them for making “bad choices” and something that rarely happens in other developed nations with for failing to “pull themselves up by the bootstraps.” While strict firearms codes. As he notes, our constitutional right to acknowledging the need for personal responsibility—and for keep arms is shared only with Guatemala, “whose gun murder aid from private charities—the authors make a forceful case rate is the third highest of some 195 countries worldwide”). The that the penalties for missteps fall unequally on the rich and NRA was once a responsible hunters’ organization. Since the poor in spheres that include education, health care, employ- 1960s, not coincidentally the civil rights era, it has become a ment, and the judicial system; to end the injustices, the gov- lobbying firm that protects arms manufacturers’ interests by ernment also must act. “After Harvey Weinstein was arrested battling any efforts at gun control—and not just here, but also for sexual assault following accusations by more than eighty in places such as Canada and Brazil, the latter of which “has by women, he was freed on bail,” they write. “In contrast, a young far the most firearms homicides and deaths of any country in adult caught smoking marijuana may be unable to afford bail the world.” As for Americans, we are far more likely to be mur- and stuck indefinitely in jail, losing his job and, unable to make dered by gun than a resident of any of the G7 nations—more payments, perhaps his home and car as well.” In making their than 20 times per capita, in fact, adding Australia to those case, the authors describe what they saw in Kristof’s hometown nations. What can be done? Short of repeal outright, Lichtman of Yamhill, Oregon, where the loss of well-paying union jobs sensibly suggests strengthening background checks, limiting and other upheavals have left a community in peril. Elsewhere, gun sales, and holding gun manufacturers legally accountable they find hope in initiatives such as the Remote Area Medical for the nefarious uses of their products.

aid group, which offers free health care in Appalachia, and the Useful ammunition for an argument on gun rights at young adult Women in Recovery program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which gives the bar or dinner table. some offenders counseling instead of prison time, leading to lower recidivism rates. At times, the authors sound less like print journalists than like politicians (we’re wasting “America’s HEART OF MALENESS most important resource, its people”) or Oprah (“Ten Steps An Exploration You Can Take in the Next Ten Minutes To Make a Difference”). Liogier, Raphaël Whatever the tone, the book is enhanced by the more than two Trans. by Shugaar, Antony dozen black-and-white photographs by award-winning photo- Other Press (112 pp.) journalist Lynsey Addario. $14.99 paper | Jan. 28, 2020 An ardent and timely case for taking a multipronged 978-1-63542-993-0 approach to ending working-class America’s long decline. (40 b/w photos. First printing of 100,000) A French philosopher and sociologist examines femininity as constructed by the dominant and destructive “Wein- REPEAL THE SECOND steinian masculinity that still remains AMENDMENT dominant.” The Case for a Safer America Liogier, who teaches philosophy in Paris, reflects on how Lichtman, Allan J. “archaic [masculinity has] focused on the mastery of the [female] St. Martin’s (336 pp.) other while blinding [itself] with the fantasy of the transcendence $25.99 | Jan. 28, 2020 of the [male] self.” He writes from the perspective of a white male 978-1-25-024440-6 heterosexual disgusted by the actions of other white heterosexual men like Harvey Weinstein who is also aware of the misogyny A thoroughgoing survey of that most embedded in how he has been “conditioned to view and desire troublesome of constitutional matters. women.” The global #MeToo movement, he writes, was not Recent court decisions, from the simply an example of the mobilizing power of the internet, but a lower municipal to the highest in the land, historic groundswell that signaled recognition of a “transcenden- have held the Second Amendment right of gun ownership to be tal subjectivity” that transformed women from objects of male sacrosanct, never mind that pesky “well-regulated militia” bit. desire to subjects demanding equality before the law. Liogier The National Rifle Association, for its part, has argued that the then deconstructs the myth of “Prince Charming.” Based on a Second Amendment is the most important in the Bill of Rights, 14th-century folktale about a princess raped in her sleep by a king, protecting all others. But, writes Lichtman (History/American the myth suggests that rape is not only a “blessing,” but the means Univ.; The Embattled Vote in America: From the Founding to the by which the princess is “enabled to awaken to her true life” as a Present, 2018, etc.), Founding Father James Madison didn’t see woman. Such stories are only reflections of a capitalist Western it that way: He held instead that “the ‘essential rights’ are trial culture in which females have been denied the enjoyment of their by jury and freedom of conscience, speech, and the press.” Past own corporeality. Women are valuable only for the wealth, power, interpretation of the amendment did in fact connect it to the and/or status they bring to men. Such modern developments as

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 61

INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Jeanine Basinger

FROM SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN TO HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, THE FILM SCHOLAR SHARES HER LOVE OF THE GENRE IN THE MOVIE MUSICAL! By Elisabeth Vincentelli Jay Fishback musicians, arrangers, composers, songwriters, orchestras— they could afford to do musicals. We also had this huge vaudeville system that had nurtured this kind of entertainment. But it really is the factory system of Hollywood that brought such a high level of art form to the movie musical.

In the book, you explain the differences between the various studios’ productions. Why do you think it’s the MGM style—epitomized by Meet Me in St. Louis, Singin’ in the Rain, The Band Wagon, and An American in Paris—that has come to symbolize the classic Hollywood musical? These were the movies that won the awards. MGM had the most prestige because it had the most money because The founder of Wesleyan University’s film studies de- it had the most stars. And it specifically signed a lot of partment, Jeanine Basinger is used to watching lots of musical stars. Musicals was their thing, whereas Warner movies. But spending countless hours researching her new Brothers, for instance, had the crime movie. book, The Movie Musical! (Knopf, Nov. 5), was a particular pleasure. “These films mean a great deal to me; they’ve Why did musicals go into a tailspin in the late 1960s? been such an important part of my life,” the scholar said of The musical is essentially a joyous creation, but America musicals. “And they can be watched over and over again in is sinking: You’re getting Vietnam, the understanding of a way that a lot of other kinds of films can’t be.” the horror of our race attitude, and suddenly the musical Unsurprisingly, Basinger is a font of knowledge about seems trivial, old-fashioned. Plus, the studio system col- the musical’s golden years (roughly from the 1930s to lapses. The old studios were factories and financed their the mid-1960s)—she is an expert on Hollywood’s studio own product. In the ’70s and ’80s, they finance outside. system, which she analyzed in her 2007 book, The Star It’s a case of the world changing, a business changing, and Machine. Her takes on more recent movies are equally il- a genre having to reinvent itself. To do that it has to go luminating, however, especially when she puts in context through a process of trial and error all over again. and praises unlikely favorites such as the Outkast musi- You’ve been teaching this genre for a long time. How do cal , then dismantles critical darlings ( Idlewild La La Land your students react to it? comes in for a drubbing). Basinger took a few minutes be- I first taught a musicals class here [at Wesleyan] in 1971, tween screenings to answer questions about the book. and they were appalled at first, but they loved the films. Why did the musical blossom in the United States, of all And they change over the decades. They hated [Vincen- countries? telli Minnelli’s] The Pirate, then they loved it, then they America had the filmmaking system that could afford to hated it, and now they love it again. I have never had, at grind these things out. Each studio had under contract any point, any class not fall absolutely in love with Fred

62 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com |

Astaire. That’s the gold standard. Gene Kelly goes in and out of favor because his macho kind of persona can alien- ate people, but they respect the work. What I’ve learned as a programmer—we also run a theater on campus—is that the one movie you never worry about is Singin’ in the Rain. That’s the musical for people who hate musicals. It’s also the musical for people who love musicals. And the musical for people who are totally indifferent [ ]. It’s an infal- the internet now allow females to not only express themselves en laughs masse; they also permit women to undermine masculine control lible musical. of their bodies as they pursue their own pleasure and self-empowerment. This new situation, writes the author, leaves heterosexual The book spends quality time on obscure performers like men forced to redefine their “ambitions as men, our fantasies as Lucille Bremer. men, our behavior as men, our desires as men.” While Liogier’s work does not offer new insights into gender, it is still important Bremer’s numbers with Fred Astaire in Ziegfeld Follies and for what it reveals about how modern gender movements have Yolanda and the Thief are just exquisite. I referred to her as impacted the way respectful heterosexual men perceive them- [MGM producer] Arthur Freed’s protégée—and we all selves and their relationship to women. A brief but thoughtful, topical read. know what that means—but the Freed unit’s people re- sented her because they really liked his wife. She was not in INVISIBLE AMERICANS with that crowd, and I think it affected a lot of what went The Tragic Cost of on in her career. Child Poverty Madrick, Jeff Your unabashed enjoyment of the High School Musical Knopf (256 pp.) franchise is just as impressive. $24.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 978-0-45-149418-4 These are great musicals! They really have this wonderful young adult energy. One of the things that’s so wonderful about the An economics analyst proposes a simple solution to the complex problem of genre is that even in the dumbest musical, you can find a child poverty—give those children cash. spectacular number. In the acknowledgements, Madrick (Seven Bad Ideas: How Mainstream Economists Have Damaged You also make a case for Francis Ford Coppola as an un- America and the World, 2014, etc.), a contributor to the New York derrated director of musicals. Do you think he could have Review of Books and the Nation, thanks his publisher for supporting his work in general and “this book in particular, whose sub- done for them what George Lucas did for science fiction? ject is dense and not very accessible.” His approach, heavy on I love that! If One From the Heart [from 1981] had worked statistics and critique of policy in programs known by acronyms, seems intended more to influence policymakers, government and Coppola had been able to do what he wanted to do, officials, and liberal activists rather than tug at the heartstrings that would have revolutionized the musical. He is a real of the public at large. Yet he builds a strong case that child pov- thinker about cinema in a way that practically nobody erty in America is “moral tragedy,” with as many as 25% of Amer- ican children suffering from such deprivation. He systematically else is. His musicals really reflect that, and they don’t get traces the cycle, beginning with prenatal care (or lack thereof) enough attention. and continuing through food and housing insecurities, economically segregated schools with substandard resources, and poor employment prospects. If our economic policies are keeping Elisabeth Vincentelli is a regular contributor to the New York such a large percentage of children in such a cycle of poverty, Times and the New Yorker. why does society permit it? Because we don’t agree on the sever- ity of the problem or where the poverty line should be set. We don’t agree on whose fault it is, often blaming the poor for bad habits, little initiative, and a tendency to have children they can’t support. In other words, the “culture of poverty,” which Mad- rick attacks forcefully, particularly in regard to the black community. “Ideological battles over the origins of poverty,” writes the author, “are not an abstraction—they have consequences for the poor, for policy and for a way that Americans understand who is to blame for poverty.” We have Social Security to help keep older citizens out of poverty; we need something similar for the young. “I believe,” writes Madrick, “we should provide monthly, substantial, and unconditional cash allowances for all children through disbursements to their families.” A useful book that reveals what might be considered a secret shame but that is hiding in plain sight.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 63 A charming, informative, unique introduction to Western philosophy. how to teach philosophy to your dog

A COLLECTIVE BARGAIN in and around London’s verdant landscapes. Sauntering across Unions, Organizing, and the Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill, and along the Thames from Fight for Democracy Richmond to Strawberry Hill, the author responds to Monty’s McAlevey, Jane “earnest, quizzical look” by explaining complex ideas—episte- Ecco/HarperCollins (304 pp.) mology, nominalism, empiricism, free will, and many more—in $26.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 clear, accessible terms and with concrete illustrations to which 978-0-06-290859-9 Monty can relate. Thinking about Kant’s rule-based ethics, for example, the author reminds Monty of the time he stole a A battle cry for union rights in a time cheesecake that lay temptingly on a coffee table. Kant would say, hostile to labor organizations. “before you steal the cheesecake, ask: would it be right to univer- Longtime union organizer McAlevey salize that action?” If not, don’t do it. Unraveling difficult con- (Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell): cepts of structuralist linguistics, McGowan explains that “the My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement, 2012) is nothing if material part is called the signifier, and the mental component not a tough talker; her first chapter closes with the provocative is the signified,” which combine to form the sign. “The word phrase, “As the Parkland youth say, I call bullshit.” The objec- DOG is a sign made up of the letters D-O-G, and the idea of a tion is to the prevailing narratives about unions and the causes dog.” When McGowan gives Monty a sausage, “the sausage is of their decline—the notion, say, that unions are immaterial in the signifier, the signified is ‘I love you.’ ” Socrates and Aristo- an age of robotics and globalism or the charge that unions are tle, Francis Bacon and René Descartes, Leibniz, Hume, Locke, racist, sexist, and corrupt. “Of course,” writes the author, “some John Stuart Mill, Wittgenstein, and Spinoza are among other unions are sexist for the same reasons that they are racist: union philosophers featured in McGowan’s discussions, with cameo formation is a product of a sexist society.” She adds that women appearances by “mean, miserable, arrogant” Arthur Schopen- and people of color fare better economically with unions than hauer; the Franciscan monk William of Ockham; utilitarian without them. Even as she points out some inconvenient truths Jeremy Bentham; and Thomas Hobbes, who “famously saw life about certain elements of unions and the tactic of striking, she in a state of nature as being a war of all against all.” Organized ably demonstrates how there is nothing quite like a strike to get thematically, the chapters begin with a short recap of what the the juices flowing, as when the 20,000 teachers of West Virginia pair discussed on their last walk, which leads into topics that recently went out on strike and, in the end, emerged with higher consider how we know right from wrong, how best to live in pay not just for themselves, but also for 14,000 nonteaching a community, how we know what we know, and how to live a staff—and, still more, gave “the state police, roads workers, and good life. everyone else on the state payroll a raise those workers could A charming, informative, unique introduction to West- not have won because they did not strike.” Union busting is ern philosophy. a big business, she writes, because unions are the capitalist’s greatest fear: Whole Foods may appear fresh and organic, but its methods in this regard would please John D. Rockefeller, and IN THE LAND OF MEN even the Democratic Party, she writes, has cast its lot with the A Memoir enemies of their base: “When it comes to public education and Miller, Adrienne teachers’ unions, Democrats don’t look much different from Ecco/HarperCollins (352 pp.) red-state Republicans.” $28.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 Tough talk for tough times and a welcome guide for 978-0-06-268241-3 labor activists. A former Esquire fiction editor recounts her time at the magazine and her working HOW TO TEACH PHILOSOPHY relationship and romance with David Fos- TO YOUR DOG ter Wallace. Exploring the Big Questions Miller (The Coast of Akron, 2005) in Life was 25 with three years’ experience in editorial assistant roles McGowan, Anthony at GQ when her boss became editor-in-chief at Esquire in 1997 Pegasus (336 pp.) and hired her to be the latter’s fiction editor. During her tenure, $25.95 | Feb. 4, 2020 which ended in 2006, she edited four stories by Wallace, “the 978-1-64313-311-9 fiction writer with whom I’d work the most frequently at the magazine.” For a time, they were a couple. In her debut mem- A Londoner and his canine compan- oir, Miller recounts her years at Esquire, her struggle to grapple ion consider thorny philosophical ques- with working for a men’s publication in which the “representa- tions on their daily walks. tion of women was problematic at best,” and her relationship Accompanied by his beloved “scruffy Maltese terrier,” with Wallace. Many passages movingly recount the sexism she McGowan (The Art of Failing: Notes From the Underdog, 2017, etc.) endured, such as when, after she got the job, a male literary muses on philosophy and philosophers as they set out on jaunts agent told her, “You don’t have any authority to do this job, you

64 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | know”; or when she discovered that then-unknown Dave Egg- political traditions established in the wake of corrupt electoral ers, an Esquire colleague, received twice her salary for similar bargains.” The author effectively links the Mormon critique work. Unfortunately, much of the narrative is unfocused and to other dissidents, including the states’ rights advocates who suffers from weak prose—e.g., “He obviously didn’t exactly would lead the secessionist movement and modern-day dissi- hold me in terribly high regard”; “my grandfather, who had died dents who “flagrantly challenge the political and legal system” six years before, was still dead.” Many passages read like lines and reject the nation’s democratic precepts. from a romance novel: “His hand was firm, and soft, and warm”; A welcome contribution to American religious and “David promised he’d call. I hoped he’d call. I needed him to political history. (35 b/w illustrations) call.” Despite her focus on Wallace, we never get a satisfying sense of what made him a unique writer. For the most complete and insightful portrait of Wallace, readers should turn to D.T. A GAME OF BIRDS Max’s Every Love Story Is a Ghost Story. Miller’s experience as a AND WOLVES woman at a male-dominated magazine is unique, but her ren- The Ingenious Young Women dering is flawed. Whose Secret Board Game A scattershot glimpse into the American magazine Helped Win World War II scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Parkin, Simon Little, Brown (320 pp.) $29.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 KINGDOM OF NAUVOO 978-0-316-49209-6 The Rise and Fall of a

Religious Empire on the A New Yorker contributing writer and young adult American Frontier Observer critic tells the story of how vol- Park, Benjamin E. unteers in the Women’s Royal Naval Service helped the British Liveright/Norton (320 pp.) military win the battle against German U-boats during World $28.95 | Feb. 25, 2020 War II. 978-1-63149-486-4 As Parkin (Death by Video Game: Danger, Pleasure, and Obses sion on the Virtual Frontline, 2016, etc.) shows, in 1940, the Brit- Vigorous study of the early Mormon ish navy was struggling badly. German U-boats had sunk more settlement in Illinois, linking its found- than 1,200 vessels and done more damage to British shipping ing to a rising anti-democratic tradition. than the German navy and Luftwaffe combined. Civilians were Park (History/Sam Houston State Univ.; American Nation dying, as well, and with every ship lost, Britain had one less way alisms: Imagining Union in the Age of Revolutions, 1783-1833, 2018, to carry much-needed food and supplies back from the United etc.) joins the history of Mormonism—a term used throughout States. To protect public morale and keep the Germany mili- the book but one that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day tary in the dark, Winston Churchill imposed a blackout on all Saints seems to be distancing itself from—to that of Puritanism information regarding shipping losses from U-boats. Mean- as a breakaway political movement whose members “believed while, Gilbert Roberts, a former British naval officer forced the nation had forgotten its true purpose and was in need of into early retirement by tuberculosis, came up with an idea that, a return to divine values.” In the case of the Mormons, that though initially dismissed by members of the British admiralty, return involved a repudiation of the Constitution in favor of a eventually turned the tide of war against the Germans. Using a document called the Council of Fifty, which “rejected America’s Battleship-style game to simulate lost sea battles, Roberts rea- democratic system as a failed experiment and sought to replace soned he could help naval officers to understand each situation it with a theocratic kingdom.” Thus the Kingdom of Nauvoo, “from all angles.” His assistants included a team of exception- on the Mississippi River, a place very different from the Utah ally gifted young women from the newly formed “Wrens” unit. in which the Mormons eventually took shelter. Persecuted by Using “string, chalk, great sheets of canvas [and] linoleum,” neighbors and officials for polygamy and sedition, the- Mor Roberts and the Wrens devised and tested countermaneuvers, mon residents of Nauvoo—12,000 of them in 1844, by Park’s including one dubbed “Raspberry,” which they taught to skepti- reckoning—also suffered internal divisions, including a famed cal British naval officers. By the summer of 1942, Britain began disagreement between Mormon founder Joseph Smith and his seeing an increase in the number of U-boat sinkings, but the wife Emma over what she regarded to be widespread sexual greatest victory came in 1943, when a convoy of British ships impropriety. As a force meant to clean society of its evils, the survived attacks by “wolfpacks” that included some of Germa- Mormons attracted plenty of like-minded converts, including a ny’s most decorated U-boat commanders. With novelistic flair, handful of African Americans and Native Americans who were Parkin transforms material gathered from research, interviews, definitively second-class citizens in the new order. Park allows and unpublished accounts into a highly readable book that cel- that the Mormons had a point to make and that they were ebrates the ingenuity of a British naval “reject” and the accom- not alone in protesting a democracy that had witnessed much plishments of the formerly faceless women never officially impropriety itself since the days of the Revolution, including rewarded for their contribution to the Allied defeat of Germany. “legal precedents based on the flimsiest of judicial decisions and A lively, sharp WWII history.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 65 A deeply satisfying, beautifully crafted collection of work by a writer of uncommon excellence and humanity. busted in new york and other essays

INFORMATION HUNTERS Deutschland, 2016, etc.), who once carried around James Bald- When Librarians, Soldiers, win’s Notes of a Native Son “as if it were a training manual,” exam- and Spies Banded Together ines the African American experience, past and present, from in World War II Europe the deeply observant vantage point of a black, gay intellec- Peiss, Kathy tual. The most compelling pieces illuminate events—e.g., the Oxford Univ. (288 pp.) “shower” of self-help at the Million Man March and tensions $34.95 | Jan. 2, 2020 on the streets of “sundown town” Ferguson, Missouri, where 978-0-19-094461-2 the author bonded with protesters after the police shooting of Michael Brown. Each is exquisitely detailed, set firmly in George Clooney gave Robert M. history, and filled with personal reflections, unfurling in the Edsel and Bret Witter’s The Monuments beguiling manner of longer pieces in the New York Review of Men (2009) the Hollywood treatment; Books, where much of this book first appeared. The title essay will anyone do the same for this survey of librarians and scholars describes Pinckney’s arrest for smoking marijuana “in the dark and their activities with print materials during World War II? of Sixth Street” in Manhattan. Writing with understanding and Unlike the Monuments Men, Peiss’ (American History/ skepticism, he examines the centurieslong “surveillance” of Univ. of Pennsylvania; Zoot Suit: The Enigmatic Career of an black people, Soul on Ice at 50, the black upper class, and the Extreme Style, 2011, etc.) subjects did not operate under the aegis first Obama inaugural in ways that meander pleasingly between of one organization or agency and had more diffuse charges, distant and highly personal. The lives of his “NAACP faithful” ranging from procuring books and periodicals from Europe for parents are touchstones, as are the careers and works of Langs- intelligence analysis during the war and later gathering enemy ton Hughes, Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, and Ta-Nehisi documents and books of all kinds as the Allies swept across Coates, all considered here. The author first traveled to Europe Europe, to figuring out what to do with Nazi literature and in 1971, at age 17, and returned to live in Berlin for several years caches of Jewish books both holy and secular after it. Perhaps as in the 1980s to escape America and racism. Of the 2016 election a result of this attempt to gather disparate figures and missions and the resurgence of white supremacy, he writes: “I mind this together under the rubric of “information hunters,” the author happening when I am getting too old to run from it. Shit, do rarely goes deep, instead delivering a reasonably well-written not hit the fan.” Other essays tell the story of blacks in Rus- but nevertheless unfocused account of wartime book-related sia, explore the recent revival of Baldwin’s work, and celebrate activities. Some of the figures—most prominently the author’s the art of Aretha Franklin, whose songs remain a soundtrack in uncle, Reuben Peiss, a librarian-turned-agent in Lisbon—recur, Pinckney’s life. but far too many appear for a few pages and are never revisited. A deeply satisfying, beautifully crafted collection of Though Peiss makes copious use of her subjects’ letters, few of work by a writer of uncommon excellence and humanity. them emerge as distinct enough characters to carry their parts of the narrative. The dizzying occurrence of initialisms—R&A, IDC, CIOS, SHAEF, MFAA, LCM, etc.—serves to further EIGHT DAYS AT YALTA distance readers from the events described. Some individual How Roosevelt, Churchill, portions are fascinating. The discussion of postwar censor- and Stalin Shaped the ship’s role in the denazification of Germany has (sadly- unac Post-War World knowledged) echoes in today’s conversations about literature Preston, Diana and culture, and Peiss movingly explores the dilemma of how to Atlantic Monthly (416 pp.) make restitution to a nearly annihilated people. Overall, how- $28.00 | Feb. 4, 2020 ever, the author shows herself to be a diligent historian but a 978-0-8021-4765-3 poor storyteller. Unlikely to become another George Clooney vehicle. On the Yalta conference’s 75th anniver- sary, this insightful history recounts its enormous, if teeth-gnashing, accomplishments. BUSTED IN NEW YORK In her latest impressively researched volume, award- AND OTHER ESSAYS winning historian Preston (A Higher Form of Killing: Six Weeks Pinckney, Darryl in World War I That Forever Changed the Nature of Warfare, 2015, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (416 pp.) etc.) emphasizes that the goal of the 1945 meeting was to decide $30.00 | Nov. 12, 2019 the fate of Germany and the Eastern European nations liber- 978-0-37-411744-3 ated from Nazi domination. The author astutely points out that while Franklin Roosevelt was not necessarily a deep thinker, Fiercely intelligent essays, report- he was a master in the rough-and-tumble arena of American age, and reviews from the award-winning politics. He arrived at Yalta confident that he could handle Sta- novelist and nonfiction writer. lin better than Churchill. Many readers may be unaware that In a generous gathering of 25 pieces Churchill, despite his charisma and heroism early in the war, published since 1995, Pinckney (Black was extremely conservative, even for his conservative party. He

66 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | refused to consider social programs as long as the war continued, well documented by the author. Privatization, in Ravitch’s esti- a fact that contributed to his defeat in the 1945 election. His mation, is wrong for any number of reasons—e.g., it involves fierce opposition to independence for British colonies irritated public funds with private management; it promotes segrega- the Americans as well as many in his own party. Stalin insisted tion (race, social class, religion, etc.); it takes away funding that that Eastern Europe must provide a barrier—i.e., friendly gov- rightly belongs to the public schools; it “is a direct assault on ernments—between the Soviet Union and Germany. Since his democracy” in that it is not answerable to elected school boards. armies already occupied the area, there was little the war-weary Furthermore, there is little or no evidence that charter schools Allies could do except extract a promise to hold free elections; or the voucher system have resulted in higher test scores. In he duly promised and, within months, reneged. Almost every- response to this assault on public education, there have been one, Preston included, agrees that the two leaders betrayed successful grassroots struggles, many examples of which are Eastern Europe at Yalta. She adds that both genuinely wanted chronicled by Ravitch. a democratic postwar Europe, but this took a back seat to their A fervent defense of public education with abundant national priorities. Roosevelt’s main priority was persuading examples of how privatization has failed to deliver on its Stalin to join the war against Japan, which was proving brutally promises. (40 photos) difficult. Like his hero, Woodrow Wilson, he yearned to create an international organization to enforce world peace. Stalin agreed to both, but at a price. Churchill aimed to preserve Brit- THE SUN AND HER STARS ish influence. Stalin had no objection and threw him a bone by Salka Viertel and Hitler’s agreeing not to support Greek communist insurgents. Exiles in the Golden Age of An expert account of an unedifying milestone at the Hollywood

dawn of the Cold War. (maps; illustrations) Rifkind, Donna young adult Other Press (560 pp.) $30.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 SLAYING GOLIATH 978-1-59051-721-5 The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight Remembering a neglected woman of To Save America’s Public early Hollywood. Schools Journalist Rifkind begins her impres- Ravitch, Diane sive biography of screenwriter Salka Viertel (1889-1978) with Knopf (352 pp.) a question: How can so “large and estimable” a woman “been $27.95 | Jan. 21, 2020 more or less forgotten in America”? The author hopes Salka 978-0-52-565537-4 (as she is referred to throughout) will provide a role model for a new generation of readers, especially women, currently An urgent appeal to prevent the experiencing the same kinds of geopolitical issues of human privatization of our public schools. migration and anti-Semitism that Salka also suffered. Her early In her latest, education expert Ravitch (Education/New years in Austro-Hungary were privileged. She acted on stages York Univ.; Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement throughout Europe, and her circle of friends included Franz and the Danger to America’s Public Schools, 2013, etc.) documents Kafka and Max Brod. In 1928, with National Socialism on the the failures of the “disrupters” of public education—those who rise, Salka and her filmmaker husband, Berthold, along with wish to privatize the public system—and celebrates the work of thousands of other refugees, fled to greater Los Angeles. They grassroots activists resisting the push for charter schools and both worked with F.W. Murnau on film projects and befriended vouchers at the expense of the nation’s schools. “The purpose other immigrants like Bertolt Brecht, Arnold Schoenberg, and of public schools,” writes the author, “is to encourage students Ernst Lubitsch. Rifkind chronicles in meticulous detail Sal- to think and act as citizens of a democratic society, prepared ka’s substantial career in a hostile Hollywood studio system to do their part in making it better for everyone.” In addition that regularly ignored the contributions of women. She wrote to the curriculum, public schools teach “integrity, honesty, civil- screenplays for a number of films, most notably Queen Christina ity, industriousness, responsibility, and ethics.” Such schooling (1933), working closely with producer Irving Thalberg and the is undercut by poverty, inequality, and racial segregation as film’s star, Greta Garbo, who took Salka under her wing. Their well as by the draining of financial resources away from pub- relationship would become the “longest and most important… lic schools toward charter schools and vouchers for primarily either of them would ever have in Hollywood.” Rifkind calls religious schools. Throughout, Ravitch shows how the disrupt- Salka a “connector of people.” Her legendary Sunday afternoon ers’ emphasis on standardized testing narrows the curriculum, gatherings at her Santa Monica home on Mabery Street became encourages test preparation over instruction, and treats all stu- an intellectual “place of shelter” for immigrants, including Ser- dents as if their needs are the same. The move to privatize pub- gei Eisenstein, Aldous Huxley, and Thomas Mann and Christo- lic schools has been “funded by billionaires and financiers” who pher Isherwood, two of Salka’s best friends. She helped refugees oppose “accountability and transparency.” This lack of account- find jobs and places to stay, and she provided financial support. ability has led to numerous examples of financial corruption, all Her activities with political organizations supporting refugees

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 67 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Ken Follett

THE NOVELIST BEHIND THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH EXAMINES A DAMAGED MONUMENT IN A WORK OF NONFICTION, NOTRE-DAME By Gregory McNamee

The Follett Office asked him to write a short book about the fire in order to raise funds for the cathedral’s restoration, he jumped to it. “It took me a week to write,” Follett tells Kirkus Reviews from his home in Hertfordshire, England. “It was written, so to speak, in the heat of the moment.” It was a fitting match of book and writer, for Follett has been living and breathing cathedrals for decades, well before he began writing those novels—surprising readers, it should be remembered, who had been drawn to earlier books like his bestselling debut, the World War II thriller Eye of the Needle. “In the early 1970s,” Follett explains, “I was working as a journalist in London, and I was sent to a town up north called Peterborough. I no longer remember what story I phoned in, but I had an hour before my train to London left, and so I went to have a look at the cathedral there. That sparked my imagination. I got to thinking that I wanted to know why those things are On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out in the subroof of where they are and how it is that they are still standing the storied Notre-Dame Cathedral in the heart of Paris, 800 and more years later.” France. Perhaps caused by a carelessly discarded cigarette, The answers lay, Follett discovered, not just in the perhaps by an electrical malfunction, it burned through places, but also with the people who built them “for the ancient timber supports, tinder-dry after centuries somewhat mysterious and mystical reasons,” transcen- of use. “When that burns,” writes Welsh novelist Ken dental reasons that spanned several lifetimes. “At a min- Follett in his new book, Notre-Dame: A Short History of imum,” he says, “it took 30 years to build a cathedral.” the Meaning of Cathedrals (Viking, Oct. 29), “the roof col- Notre-Dame took a century. As Follett writes, “It re- lapses, then the falling debris destroys the vaulted ceiling, quired hundreds of workers, and it cost a fortune. The which also falls and destroys the mighty stone pillars that modern equivalent would be a moon shot.” are holding the whole thing up.” When French President Emmanuel Macron declared Fortunately, amazingly, the pillars held up. Follett, who that Notre-Dame would be completely restored in five immediately went across the Channel to Paris, did a num- years, in time for the 2024 Olympic Games, Follett ex- ber of interviews on the scene. Follett, of course, knows pressed some skepticism—allowing, however, that “it is a thing or two about how such monumental buildings are always unwise to underestimate the French.” In June of constructed, having written a bestselling three-volume this year, Follett returned to Paris and was given a pri- series, beginning with Pillars of the Earth, about the build- vate tour of the damaged church, speaking at length with ing of an English cathedral. So when his French publisher the architect in charge of the restoration, Philippe Ville-

68 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | neuve, who has been working on plans around the clock since mid-April. One problem is replacing the ancient old-growth timbers with modern trees. “It may be lightweight steel or even plastic that holds the new roof up,” says Follett. “It will be above the ceiling and not visible, so in a sense it doesn’t really matter.” Still, he notes, some of the other ideas that have been floated for the restoration are not consonant with the spirit of the medieval drew the attention of the FBI, which tapped her phones and read her mail. In 1953, Salka moved to Switzerland, where she church—including a proposal to put a swimming pool on wrote her memoir, The Kindness of Strangers. the new roof. An impassioned and revelatory biography occasionally hampered by excessive detail. In any event, Follett says, the fire has had wide-ranging effects. “It’s safe to say, I think, that every single cathedral in Europe is now under scrutiny for fire danger. WILL Self, Will Of course, Notre-Dame had a fire suppression system, Grove (272 pp.) but when the alarm rang, no one knew how to respond. $26.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-0-80-212846-1 This means either that the system was bad or the staff was untrained.” One of Britain’s most inspired writ- There have been other developments since the fire, ers employs his novelistic style in a chronicle of his addictions. including theories about its cause, but Follett doesn’t In this hybrid of memoir and novel— plan to revise the book to take them into account. “It nominally nonfiction, although one won- was important to have this book done quickly,” he says. ders how a serious addict could recall so much—Self (Phone, 2017, etc.) offers a third-person, no-holds- Asked whether he’ll be returning to the medieval-era his- barred tale of his fascinating life. The author has always worn young adult torical novels of his series, he demurs: “I’m not really sup- his influences on his sleeve, so his readers won’t be surprised by this heady stew of J.G. Ballard, Hunter S. Thompson, and posed to talk about it just now. I’m going to the Frank- Philip K. Dick. Much of the narrative falls somewhere between furt Book Fair next week, and there we’ll reveal the new Tony O’Neill’s drug-fueled ultraviolence and the grungy milieu book.” Whatever that is, Follett’s long publishing record of the self-destructive, filth-covered addicts of Trainspotting. Self’s hallucinatory journey begins in 1986 with 24-year-old suggests that it will find plenty of interested readers. For Will, with 57 pence to his name, idly pondering stealing pain- the moment, those who hold Notre-Dame Cathedral killers from a chemist’s shop. The book jumps back and forth dear in their hearts will want to read his homage to that through the 1980s as Self gets higher and higher, even while studying at Oxford, “hardly ever breaking cover.” The amount remarkable structure. and diversity of the drugs are staggering; consider this nod to Thompson: “multicoloured collection of uppers, downers, twisters and screamers…namely: ten blotters of acid, a half-ounce of Pakki Gregory McNamee is a contributing editor. Notre-Dame is black, four black bombers, twenty-odd amphetamine blues, a reviewed on p. 56. couple of Mogadons Mike’d nicked from his mum and a bottle of amyl nitrate.” The prose is consistently spectacular, but the narrative is oblique, portraying the author’s troubled youth in moments and flashes. The supporting characters, while presumably real, are mostly generic with the exceptions of Chloë, the love of Self’s life, whom he ultimately abandoned before he could inevitably hurt her; and Caius, the spoiled junkie who accompanied Self on many of his (mis)adventures. Despite the author’s inevitable trip to rehab, this is no redemption song. From London to Marrakesh to India to Australia and back, Self delivers a hallucinatory, confessional version of his life devoid of melancholy and, mostly, regret. Addiction memoirs are ubiquitous, but a tale of addiction and consequences by the singular Self earns its shock and awe.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 69 A likely definitive exploration of the director’s distinguished career—of great interest to budding filmmakers and film enthusiasts. sidney lumet

THIS BRILLIANT DARKNESS SIDNEY LUMET A Book of Strangers A Life Sharlet, Jeff Spiegel, Maura Photos by the author St. Martin’s (400 pp.) Norton (320 pp.) $29.99 | Dec. 10, 2019 $30.00 | Feb. 11, 2020 978-1-250-03015-3 978-1-32-400320-5 A well-grounded biography of the Isolated lives shine from dark American director’s expansive career. landscapes. Throughout a prolific career, Sid- After his father suffered a heart ney Lumet (1924-2011) emerged as one attack in 2014, journalist Sharlet (English and Creative Writ- of the most acclaimed directors of his ing/Dartmouth Coll.; Radiant Truths: Essential Dispatches, Reports, time, recognized for his accomplishments in theater, TV, and, Confessions, and Other Essays on American Belief, 2014, etc.) trav- especially, film Twelve( Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, eled from his home on the Vermont/New Hampshire border to etc.). In this first significant biography of Lumet, Spiegel (Lit- his father’s home in Schenectady, usually at night. “It seemed erature and Film/Columbia Univ.; co-author: The Breast Book: easier,” he writes, “the steep twisting road more likely to belong An Intimate and Curious History, 2002, etc.) offers a comprehen- to me alone; the radio, when I could find a station, less clogged sive study of this multifaceted filmmaker, thoughtfully examin- with news and yet more alive with voices. Night shift voices” ing the creative and personal forces that influenced his work. that revealed “other people’s nightmares and dreams, pro- The author traces his early years as a child actor performing jected onto the black night-glass of the car windows.” When he in Yiddish theater at age 5 through his work on Broadway as stopped for gas, food, or just to rest, he took snapshots, which a teenager and his enlistment in the Army during World War he posted on Instagram along with moving narratives about the II. After the war, Lumet’s interest quickly shifted from acting people he met during those interludes. Travels to Los Angeles, to directing for the theater. In the early days of TV, he firmly Nairobi, Russia, and Ireland yielded additional portraits of vul- hit his stride, mastering the quickly evolving technical craft of nerable “night shift voices,” individuals “around whom the veil directing for live TV, which included directing diverse groups of of the world is very thin.” One of the longer pieces focuses on actors while remaining mindfully efficient with tight schedules 61-year-old Mary Mazur, a disabled woman whose closest com- and budgets. These skills would benefit his later work on film. panion is a potted plant, which she carries with her when she Spiegel comfortably weaves elements of Lumet’s personal life forays out of her motel room, near midnight, to buy a Thanks- into her narrative, touching on his complex relationship with giving turkey. A mother at 19, her three children were taken his father, Baruch, also a theater actor in his day; his four mar- from her around 1982, when she herself entered the social ser- riages (Gloria Vanderbilt was his second wife); two children; vices system. Now, lonely and wheelchair-bound, she exclaims, and his expansive network of show business friends. Yet the “I’m not like everybody else!” Neither is Jared Miller, a “sweet author shines brightest in her illumination of Lumet’s skills as soul” who started abusing drugs in the military and died of an a director. Beyond offering knowledgeable film summaries, she overdose six months after Sharlet met him; or Charley Keunang, deftly examines the technical artistry he brought to each proj- a homeless man in his 40s, killed by a police officer who claimed ect. “Sidney never stopped experimenting,” writes Spiegel. “He he reached for a gun—a claim contradicted by body-cam foot- was constantly working with new actors, new equipment, new age. Charley immigrated to the U.S. from Cameroon hoping to genres, and new techniques. Throughout his career he drew be an actor, got involved in a robbery, served 14 years in fed- upon his earlier experiences in radio, theater, television, and eral prison, and ended up on skid row. Gentle, dignified, and film to expand beyond his comfort zones and break new ground respectful, Charley was “one black life that mattered, no more as both an artist and a citizen.” or less than any other.” A likely definitive exploration of the director’s distin- An intimate, poignant look at life at the margins of guished career—of great interest to budding filmmakers society. (116 photos in color and b/w) and film enthusiasts. (b/w photos)

70 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | HOW YIDDISH REWRITING THE RULES OF CHANGED AMERICA THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY AND HOW AMERICA An Agenda for Growth and CHANGED YIDDISH Shared Prosperity Ed. by Stavans, Ilan & Lambert, Josh Stiglitz, Joseph E. with Dougherty, Carter Restless Books (496 pp.) Norton (208 pp.) $29.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 $30.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 978-1-63206-262-8 978-0-39-335563-5

A wide-ranging, eclectic anthology of Nobel Prize–winning economist Sti- work by Yiddish writers. glitz (People, Power, and Profits: Progressive Stavans (Humanities, Latin Ameri- Capitalism for an Age of Discontent, 2019, can, and Latino Culture/Amherst Coll.; The Seventh Heaven: etc.) turns a gimlet eye on the EU. Travels Through Jewish Latin America, 2019, etc.) and Yiddish The Brexiteers may be wolves in sheep’s clothing, but they Book Center academic director Lambert (American Literature/ have a couple of points to make—e.g., the European economy is Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; Unclean Lips: Obscenity, Jews, a tangled mess that defies explanation. A number of its key doc- and American Culture, 2014, etc.) have assembled an impressive trines, writes the author, are mistaken and damaging. One is the collection of essays, fiction, drama, memoir, poetry, cartoons, “austerity doctrine,” which requires governments to keep deficits and interviews, all showing how “Yiddish is so deeply woven below 3% of GDP, an arbitrary number that doesn’t make sense. into the fabric of the United States that it can sometimes be Another is a borrowing from the U.S. that the market knows

difficult to recognize how much it has transformed the world best, when, “without strong government actions, competition young adult we live in today.” Arranged thematically rather than chrono- will erode as firms create barriers to entry…and work hard to logically, the pieces are, in some cases, written by names that reduce competition through mergers and acquisitions.” Debt general readers will recognize: Irving Howe, Emma Goldman, is, of course, a difficult issue to work around, and European Isaac Bashevis Singer, Allen Ginsberg, Cynthia Ozick, Grace economic leaders have seen it through the lens of moral hazard: Paley, Michael Chabon, Alan Alda, Leonard Nimoy, and Elliott “the risk that the debt mutualization will incentivize countries Gould. Others will be news to many readers—and mostly good to become overindebted.” That may be, but something needs news. The editors provide a brief introduction to each major to give Europe a jolt, and it won’t be borrowing from American division of the text and to each contributor. The arrangement ideas, which often yield only monopoly and inequality. Stiglitz of the text is sensible, and the editors show us that American notes, approvingly, that India has low telecom rates because Yiddish writing expands well beyond the United States; they there is so much competition, forcing prices down, while in include pieces from Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico. places like Mexico and the U.S., rates are high because com- Among all these are some stunners—e.g., “Oedipus in Brook- petition is scarce or nonexistent. The author offers recipes for lyn,” a story by Blume Lempel (1907-1999) that begins with improvement, such as shoring up the European banking union the line, “Sylvia was no Jocasta.” Emma Goldman (1869-1940) in order to “prevent macroeconomic harms to the community” writes fiercely about marriage, which she compares to an “iron and balancing competing doctrines. Europe has fallen behind yoke.” In a poem about Coney Island, Victor Packer (1897-1958) the U.S. and China in some realms of the economy because of its writes, “Beauty and crudity / Go hand in hand and / Launch a concern for individual privacy, which hampers the development united front / Right there on the sand.” Ozick (b. 1928) com- of artificial intelligence. Most pointedly, the author encourages pares Sholem Aleichem to Dickens, Twain, and Will Rogers. the EU to stick to its regard for institutional justice, fostering “He was a popular presence, and stupendously so. His lectures multilateral agreements rather than following the current U.S. and readings were mobbed; he was a household friend; he was administration’s “retreat from globalization and the global rule cherished as a family valuable.” of law,” which has benefited no country so much as China. For readers unfamiliar with Yiddish writing, a revela- A provocative and accessible case for making the EU tion; for readers and aficionados of the language, a treasure. stronger rather than allowing it to disintegrate.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 71 THE LOST GIRLS THE JOURNEY TO Love and Literature in THE MAYFLOWER Wartime London God’s Outlaws and the Taylor, D.J. Invention of Freedom Pegasus (336 pp.) Tomkins, Stephen $28.95 | Feb. 4, 2020 Pegasus (304 pp.) 978-1-64-313315-7 $28.95 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-64-313367-6 The tale of a small group of upper- middle-class young women who inhab- The Pilgrims who boarded the May ited the rarefied world of literary London flower were a diverse, disordered group of during and after World War II. religious rebels. Drawing on rich archival sources and the many memoirs, In a richly detailed chronicle, British historian Tomkins novels, and stories written by his prolific cast of characters, (David Livingstone: The Unexplored Story, 2013, etc.) exam- British biographer, novelist, and cultural historian Taylor (The ines the violent religious conflicts that roiled England from New Book of Snobs, 2017, etc.), winner of the Whitbread Prize Queen Mary’s reign to the advent of Elizabeth I’s nephew for Biography, creates a brisk, spirited portrait of the astonish- James. When Mary took the throne in 1553, she “embarked ingly beautiful women who “fizzed” around Cyril Connolly, “a on a Catholic spring-clean” that involved defrocking, excom- genuine literary power-broker, a grand panjandrum, a maker— munication, torture and mutilation, hangings, and the public and breaker—of reputations,” in 1940s Britain. Self-aggrandiz- burning to death of accused heretics. “This is where the story ing, self-indulgent, “easily wounded, unforgiving, dislikeable, of the Pilgrim Fathers starts,” Tomkins writes, “with Mary’s delightful,” according to a male friend, Connolly inspired campaign to burn Protestantism out of England.” As violently “unfeigned devotion” in his female admirers. “Whether they as Protestants hated Catholicism, many deeply opposed the were living with him, employed by him, pursued by him or Church of England, whose “whole shape and organisation,” merely wistfully regarded by him from afar,” Taylor writes, “he they believed, “were still founded on unbiblical Catholic princi- was the fulcrum on which their existence turned.” Among those ples,” with authority vested in the monarch and a hierarchy that in his orbit, the author focuses mostly on four: Lys Lubbock, a bowed to—and remunerated—the pope. The author examines devoted caretaker and survivor of a nine-year affair with Con- many reformist movements, the rivalries among leaders, and nolly; fiery Barbara Skelton, who married him; his editorial assis- the beliefs that impelled them. Presbyterianism, for example, tant, Sonia Brownell, who married George Orwell; and Janetta “raised the standard of active involvement of ordinary believers Parladé, who was 17 when Connolly anointed her his “muse.” in their religion,” requiring discipline and “promoting the vir- Christened “the lost girls” by poet and critic Peter Quennell, tues that led to success in the growing arenas of industry and they had “spent their adolescence scheming to escape” oppres- commerce.” Puritans, frustrated in their inability to transform sive, often fractured, family life. Flouting convention and the church from within, split off to form radical new sects that flaunting independence, still, they yearned for security and love. edited the Prayer Book, chose their congregation, and elected Physically, they were a type: notably attractive, “tallish, slim to pastors and elders; “lay members could pray in their own words, the point of skimpiness” (except for Sonia). Financially vulner- preach to one another and even create a new church through able, each spent the war years “moving from place to place and a communal act of covenant.” Persecuted in England, some billet to billet as the demands of work, romance and inclination established themselves in the Netherlands. However, in the took her.” Living in an unheated bedsitter, they might depend early 1600s, “life in Dutch cities seemed just too grim” for their on “an eligible or not so eligible suitor” to pick up the tab at church to survive, and young people, especially, were disgrun- upscale restaurants. “Glamorous, edgy and inimitable,” the lost tled. Longing for a brighter future, and seeing their “reflection girls, Taylor concedes, left no indelible legacy except perhaps as in countless scriptural parallels, but above all in the exodus,” pil- a link between emancipated young women of the 1920s and the grims undertook the arduous, four-month sea journey to Cape “Dionysiac hordes of the 1960s and 1970s.” Cod. There, they created a settlement “governed by consent”— Captivating, gossipy social history. (16 pages of b/w photos) “an idea,” Tomkins notes, “with a future.” A dramatic history of religious intolerance and oppression.

72 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | A funny, highly informative, and terrifying read. uncanny valley

THE AFFIRMATIVE UNCANNY VALLEY ACTION PUZZLE A Memoir A Living History From Wiener, Anna Reconstruction to Today MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux Urofsky, Melvin I. (288 pp.) Pantheon (592 pp.) $27.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 $35.00 | Jan. 28, 2020 978-0-37-427801-4 978-1-10-187087-7 A former tech worker–turned-jour- Can equality be legislated? So asks nalist gives the inside scoop on life inside this thoroughgoing examination of legal the wickedly weird and wealthy world of efforts to rectify racial injustice through Silicon Valley startups. affirmative action. Before Wiener took a customer support job at a San Many discussions of affirmative action have been derailed Francisco–based tech startup, she was a broke 20-something through simple confusion of terms, writes Urofsky (Emeritus, pursuing dead-end jobs in the New York publishing industry. History/Virginia Commonwealth Univ.; Dissent and the Supreme Friends who had left the city warned her that the San Fran- Court: Its Role in the Court’s History and the Nation’s Constitutional cisco they loved had been replaced by “a late capitalist hells- Dialogue, 2015). There’s “soft” affirmative action, which encour- cape” that catered to the “on-demand” whims of young techies ages equality by way of what amounts to goodwill, and then with “plump bank accounts.” Wiener quickly learned that the “hard” affirmative action, which imposes equality by way of quo- tech workplace was younger, more casual, and more male-

tas and makes it a zero-sum game. In the instance of hard affir- dominant than she had expected. Helping company clients, young adult mative action, he writes, consider what might happen if Jews she often felt like she was one step above artificial intelligence. were limited entrance by quota into certain professions even as, “I was an intelligent artifice, an empathetic text, a snippet or a because of educational success, they lead in several areas of law, warm voice, giving instructions, listening comfortingly,” she medicine, and the like. It’s for that reason that when, in 1970, writes. Despite bouts of existential angst, within a year of the federal Equal Economic Opportunity Commission began moving west, Wiener moved into middle management and a pushing for hard, quota-based reforms, “every single national work life that included a healthy salary as well as “an acronym Jewish organization protested.” Urofsky’s comprehensive sur- and enterprise accounts.” Still, her salary represented a tiny vey examines early efforts at affirmative action, a phrase that fraction of the total wealth—which sometimes amounted to appears for the first time in the 1935 Wagner Act but some of billions—she saw generated in the high-stakes startup world whose outlines were in place in the Reconstruction era and dur- around her. As she burrowed deeper into the tech world, she ing World War I, when women workers replaced men in facto- saw excesses that repulsed almost as much as they excited ries. Urofsky notes that while the literature has emphasized the her. Quasi-autocratic corporate cultures, including her own, African American experience, affirmative action has extended demanded body-and-soul loyalty for “perks” such as ultra- to include other groups and has occasioned enough controversy stylish workplace surroundings, interoffice skateboarding, in most instances to lend credence to Justice Harry Blackmun’s luxurious company retreats, and work-at-home privileges on observation that “in order to get past race and gender, we have platforms that looked like “video game[s] for children.” Wie- to take race and gender into account.” The author doesn’t stake ner also witnessed the ruthlessness of Silicon Valley’s quest to an advocacy position, for the most part, except to note that in control consumer behavior through data acquisition and the the strictest terms, hard/quota affirmative action is a violation way it actively promoted men while telling females to “trust of Title VII and “of the constitutional order, namely, that rights karma” when it came to advancement. Equal parts bildungsro- are individual.” He also observes that in recent quota decisions man and insider report, this book reveals not just excesses of affecting, for instance, the admission of Asian Americans into the tech-startup landscape, but also the Faustian bargains and elite universities, limiting their number has had the unintended hidden political agendas embedded in the so-called “inspira- consequence of benefiting white males who otherwise might tion culture” underlying a too-powerful industry. not have made the cut. A funny, highly informative, and terrifying read. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of affirmative action and its associated legal conundrums.

| kirkus.com | nonfiction | 1 november 2019 | 73 SCREENING REALITY BETWEEN TWO FIRES How Documentary Truth, Ambition, and Filmmakers Reimagined Compromise in Putin’s America Russia Wilkman, Jon Yaffa, Joshua Bloomsbury (400 pp.) Tim Duggan Books/Crown (384 pp.) $30.00 | Feb. 18, 2020 $28.00 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-1-63557-103-5 978-1-52-476059-5

A documentary filmmaker examines Memorable portraits of Russians liv- the history of conveying truth on screen. ing under Vladimir Putin. Drawing on his own career and In his first book, New Yorker Mos- extensive research (including viewing every film he discusses), cow correspondent Yaffa begins with Yuri Levada, a pioneering Wilkman (Floodpath: The Deadliest Man-Made Disaster of 20th sociologist whose massive survey during the collapse of com- Century America and the Making of Modern Los Angeles, 2016, munism showed plummeting enthusiasm for a strong leader, etc.), whose series Moguls and Movie Stars was nominated for desire for an honest appraisal of their nation’s history, and more three Emmys, offers an illuminating, encyclopedic history of personal responsibility. He concluded that the passive if wily nonfiction film, from Eadweard Muybridge’s 1878 images of a “Soviet Man” was disappearing in favor of a self-reliant individ- galloping horse to the virtual reality of the 21st century. While ual yearning for freedom. In 2000, Levada reversed himself. Fol- Westerns, comedies, mysteries, and romances dominated the lowing the disastrous 1990s, Russians welcomed Putin, and they entertainment industry in its early days, in 1908, in order to continue to give him approval ratings of over 80%. This is in “no meet audiences’ demand for “glimpses of the real world,” the small measure a product of the state’s monopolistic control over French film company founded by Charles Pathé and his broth- television, the media with the widest reach, and its squelching ers began distributing newsreels: short films recording events of those who would represent an alternative.” After this intro- such as a daredevil’s fall from the Eiffel Tower and a suffragette duction, Yaffa delivers eight long, engrossing New Yorker–style march in Washington, D.C. In addition to showing current profiles. One of the most significant of these figures is Konstan- events, including images of military activities during wars, non- tin Ernst, head of Channel One, Russia’s largest TV network. fiction movies became a popular means of education. Henry “Even as Channel One faithfully transmits the Kremlin’s line,” Ford, diving into movie production, offered films on topics writes the author, “it does so with a measure of professionalism such as pottery making, newspaper production, and, not sur- and restraint” and demonstrates genuine creativity in apolitical prisingly, “Ford’s way of doing business.” Wilkman creates vivid areas such as culture and history. Among Yaffa’s other powerful profiles of significant documentarians: photographer Edward S. portraits are those of a saintly doctor who became a national Curtis, who filmed Native peoples of British Columbia; the dar- hero caring for children during the gruesome Russian-Ukraine ing Osa and Martin Johnson, who filmed expeditions in Africa insurgency but found herself roped into endorsing the Rus- and the South Pacific; and Robert Flaherty, whoseNanook of the sian side in a war she hated; a patriotic Russian entrepreneur North, a lyrical celebration of Inuit culture, became an unlikely in Crimea who despised living under the inefficient, corrupt box office success. During World War II, the Army enlisted Ukrainian government—while he rejoiced at Putin’s takeover, acclaimed director Frank Capra to produce documentaries “to he discovered that life was harder under a more efficiently cor- show Americans what they’re fighting for and why.” TV ensured rupt Russia; and a human rights crusader who, frustrated at her new audiences for revelations about public issues, society, and impotence, took a job in the government human rights office, a culture, on such programs as See It Now, CBS Reports, Frontline, largely ceremonial position that now and then allows her to do Ken Burns’ histories, and a groundbreaking PBS series, An a good deed. American Family, that filmed daily life in the Santa Barbara home Gripping, disturbing stories of life under an oppressive of the Louds. The author also underscores the importance of yet wildly popular autocrat. documentary film “at a time when the foundations of evidential inquiry are under attack and virtual reality promises to change perceptions of what is accepted as real.” A capacious celebration of film’s potential to show us the world. (8-page color insert and b/w images throughout)

74 | 1 november 2019 | nonfiction | kirkus.com | children’s These titles earned the Kirkus Star: ON MY MOUNTAIN Aubineau, François Illus. by Peyrat, Jérôme GLAD, GLAD BEAR! by Kimberly Gee...... 83 Orca (32 pp.) $16.99 | Feb. 25, 2020 WE HAD TO BE BRAVE by Deborah Hopkinson...... 87 978-1-4598-2232-0 HUMPTY DUMPTY LIVED NEAR A WALL by Derek Hughes; illus. by Nathan Christopher...... 87 Told in two separate stories, the perspectives of a wolf and a shepherd living on the same mountain MINDY KIM AND THE YUMMY SEAWEED BUSINESS are presented in this picture-book import from France. by Lyla Lee; illus. by Dung Ho...... 90 Thanks to a clever design, readers can begin from either side—the physical book flips so the story begins from either CAST AWAY by Naomi Shihab Nye...... 94

end. One side presents the story from the wolf’s perspective; young adult THE MAGNIFICENT MONSTERS OF CEDAR STREET by Lauren the other, from the shepherd’s. The wolf’s story begins with Oliver; illus. by Ethan M. Aldridge...... 94 an arresting illustration depicting the wolf looking down on the shepherd and flock. “This, here, is my mountain,” the text ASTRONAUTS by Jim Ottaviani; illus. by Maris Wicks...... 94 reads. The wolf goes on to tell how it eats, sleeps, and lives on the mountain and how there is danger, but it is also where the OLD ROCK (IS NOT BORING) by Deb Pilutti...... 95 wolf feels safe and happy. The wolf relates how it is wary of VILLAGE OF SCOUNDRELS by Margi Preus...... 95 the “Other,” who has been feared for generations. The wolf is referring, of course, to the shepherd, who carries a long gun in FRED’S BIG FEELINGS by Laura Renauld; the accompanying illustration. The wolf’s story ends with the illus. by Brigette Barrager...... 98 thought that while it’s hard to share the mountain, it “surely… is big enough to fit everyone who loves it.” Flipping the book, WAYSIDE SCHOOL BENEATH THE CLOUD OF DOOM readers begin the shepherd’s story—and, in a powerfully teach- by Louis Sachar; illus. by Tim Heitz...... 99 able moment, it is exactly the same, word for word, as the wolf’s. Peyrat’s illustrations, which use delicate lines and a palette of ON A SNOW-MELTING DAY by Buffy Silverman...... 100 greens, blues, and Alpine white, never fail to impress with their THE DINKY DONKEY by Craig Smith; illus. by Katz Cowley...... 101 subtle visual linking of the two stories and their bold, atmospheric design. THE DEEP & DARK BLUE by Niki Smith...... 101 Truly a book for today and our changing future. (Picture DANDELION’S DREAM by Yoko Tanaka...... 103 book. 3-9) MOTHER JONES AND HER ARMY OF MILL CHILDREN by Jonah Winter; illus. by Nancy Carpenter...... 105 BEGINNERS WELCOME Baldwin, Cindy Harper/HarperCollins (336 pp.) THE DEEP & DARK BLUE $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 Smith, Niki 978-0-06-266589-8 Illus. by the author Little, Brown (256 pp.) Southern charm and ghostly magic $24.99 | $12.99 paper bridge the loss of 11-year-old Annie Lee’s Jan. 7, 2020 daddy. 978-0-316-48598-2 The death of Annie Lee’s vivacious 978-0-316-48601-9 paper father was sudden and unexpected. So too is moving into a cramped apartment in Durham, North Carolina, and losing her best friends in the process, and so is trying to communicate with her rigid, grief- stricken mother. Throw in the start of sixth grade, a broken

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 75 let’s get gross

Leah Overstreet The gross book: It’s a critically un- bathe. Blabey, on the other hand, reaches new heights derrated genre, but, as anyone who’s with loving renderings of his goo-spattered pup and spent time with young children will the visible cloud of stench that surrounds him. affirm, there’s a substantial slice of Noses can both detect the gross and be its source, the readership that can’t get enough as Paula Merlán and Gómez of it. Fart jokes, booger jokes, poop demonstrate in their odd fa- jokes—all are as unto a Shakespear- ble, The Finger and the Nose ean sonnet for them. (And lest we (nubeOCHO, Oct. 22), in which grown-ups forget, the Bard was not young Sophie’s finger—Tim— above the occasional windy passage tries to take up permanent resi- about breaking wind.) dence in her nose. Tim gets so But something happens between the child’s robust busy fitting out his new accom- celebration of the rude and slimy, a taste that reaches its modations that Sophie’s nose zenith in fifth and sixth grade, and adulthood. Matura- grows alarmingly, and eventu- tion, it seems, turns most of the population into stodgy ally Sophie and her finger must schoolmarms when it comes to bodily eruptions and ef- learn to cooperate in order to establish a peaceful co- fusions. Happily, a subset of the population never loses existence. Like I said, odd—but the picture of Sophie’s that taste, and while many of their literary compatriots nose’s snottily cozy interior is most memorable. are honing their craft to lyrical perfection, these heroes A fondness for the foul is not solely the province of of the schoolyard are reaching for broad humor. fiction; purveyors of informational texts can glory in Also happily, there are those among Kirkus’ re- the gross, too. Jess Keating has parlayed the juvenile viewer corps who have likewise retained an apprecia- fascination with the strange into a successful series, tion for the finer points of yuck, and they eagerly ap- The World of Weird Animals. With Gross as a Snot Otter ply their critical faculties to separating the stinky from (Knopf, Oct. 29), she takes it to the next level, offering the stinkers, if you will. Children deserve only the best profiles of 17 slime-covered, feces-festooned, vomit- gross books, after all, and this year’s crop has produced emitting, or otherwise revolting creatures. Mary Bat- some delightfully disgusting ones. ten and James Braithwaite reveal “What’s Cool About In When Unicorns Poop (Running Press, Oct. 1), Lexie Drool” in Spit (Firefly, Oct.1), exploring the science of Castle imagines just about every possible bodily efflu- saliva—a surprisingly expansive subject. As our review- ent and how its emanating from a unicorn might affect er concluded, “A lot to digest—but easy to chew, swal- its properties. They sneeze glitter, spit chocolate syr- low, and regurgitate.” up, and vomit ribbons, all illustrated by Christian Cor- Perhaps the best of the most recent crop is the nia with sherbet-colored verve. novel Hobgoblin and the Seven Stinkers of Rancidia (Hazy The book is silent on urine, Dell Press, Sept. 17), a fantasy that turns “Snow White” blood, and pus—maybe even on its head with a kingdom ruled by an usurper who Castle’s stomach turned at the dubs himself the Grossest Smelling in the Land. Au- thought. But, as our doughty thor Kyle Sullivan’s nomenclature is what an 8-year-old reviewer opined, “Lovers of all Dickens might have aspired to. There’s the evil Fiddle- things repellent can consider fart and his Burping Bullfrog along with the epony- this a sparkly, smelly present.” mous Seven Stinkers: Grody, Yucky, Icky, Musty, Fusty, With Pig the Pug, Aaron Poot, and Toot—readers will giggle through every page Blabey has created a stupen- of this smart political satire. dously unlikable protagonist, a creature who is some- Not your cuppa snot? That’s OK—they’re not for thing of an object lesson in obnoxiousness. In his new- you. —V.S. est outing, Pig the Stinker (Scholastic, April 30), the canine antihero descends to new lows by refusing to Vicky Smith is the children’s editor.

76 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | The portrait of a boy as a young rascal. the best of iggy

washing machine, and constant signs from her father, from MARIE CURIE AND shaving cream in the sink every morning to his favorite songs RADIOACTIVITY turning on his record player, and life can be downright over- Bayarri, Jordi whelming. But in this first-person narration, the plucky white Illus. by the author preteen arms herself with an “invisibility cloak” to protect her Trans. by Ibars, Patricia & Wright, John from loving and losing again. She also changes the course of Graphic Universe (40 pp.) her life when she sees an ad at the mall for an amateur piano $29.32 | $8.99 paper | Jan. 1, 2020 competition with a cash prize. As did the protagonist of the 978-1-5415-7821-0 author’s first novel, Where the Watermelons Grow (2018), Annie 978-1-5415-8699-4 paper Lee forms tight bonds with local residents, including a white Series: Graphic Science Biographies pianist who prepares her for the competition, a black hairstyl- ist, and a white classmate with her own form of invisibility. Her A highlights reel of the great scientist’s life and achieve- interactions with these three, as well as with her overworked ments, from clandestine early schooling to the founding of War- mother, weave the storylines together and help Annie Lee begin saw’s Radium Institute. to heal and open up her heart. A blend of other racially diverse In big sequential panels Bayarri dashes through Curie’s characters creates an inclusive neighborhood. career, barely pausing at significant moments (“Mother! A let- Once again, Baldwin crafts a solid story of hardship ter just arrived. It’s from Sweden,” announces young Irène. “Oh, tempered by community and resilience. (Fiction. 8-12) really?…They’re awarding me another Nobel!”) in a seeming rush to cover her youth, family life, discoveries, World War I work, and later achievements (with only a closing timeline not-

THE BEST OF IGGY ing her death, of “aplastic anemia”). Button-eyed but recogniz- young adult Barrows, Annie able figures in the panels pour out lecture-ish dialogue. This is Illus. by Ricks, Sam well stocked with names and scientific terms but offered with Putnam (144 pp.) little or no context—characteristics shared by co-published $13.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 profiles on Albert Einstein and the Theory of Relativity (“You and 978-1-9848-1330-5 your thought experiments, Albert!” “We love it! The other day, Schrödinger thought up one about a cat”), Charles Darwin and The portrait of a boy as a young ras- the Theory of Evolution, and Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion. cal: Iggy doesn’t really mean to be “bad,” Dark-skinned Tierra del Fuegans make appearances in Darwin, does he? prompting the young naturalist to express his strong anti-slav- A narrator in an amusing direct ery views; otherwise the cast is white throughout the series. address and somewhat adult voice serves Engagingly informal as the art and general tone of the narra- as both apologist and somewhat bemused observer of three tives are, the books will likely find younger readers struggling incidents recounted in 20 very short chapters. Iggy Frangi is 9 to keep up, but kids already exposed to the names and at least and in fourth grade. He likes his teacher and tolerates his fam- some of the concepts will find these imports, translated from ily—mother, father, sisters Maribel (older) and Molly (younger). the Basque, helpful if, at times, dry overviews. Like many people his age, Iggy doesn’t realize that something is Together with its companions, too rushed to be first wrong with what he is doing until either he is in the middle of introductions but suitable as second ones. (glossary, index, doing it (and is reprimanded) or until it’s too late. Ricks’ cartoon resource list) (Graphic biography. 7-9) (Albert Einstein and the illustrations portray Iggy and his family as white-presenting and Theory of Relativity: 978-1-5415-7823-4, 978-1-5415-8696-3 paper; his lively friends as slim boys with dark skin of various shades. Charles Darwin and the Theory of Evolution: 978-1-5415-7822-7, 978- In the first story Iggy defends his own honor and dignity with a 1-5415-8697-0 paper; Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion: 978-1- strategy involving a skateboard, ladder, and trampoline in a way 5415-7824-1, 978-1-5415-8698-7 paper) that only just avoids complete disaster. In the second, Iggy’s flair for going big gets slightly out of hand when he “los[es] his mind” in an incident involving shaving cream and lipstick. The third story involves his teacher and a minor injury and is an incident Iggy regrets “even years later.” Authorial asides combine with amusing cartoons (the universal strikethrough symbol is enlivened by repetitions of “nope” forming the outer circle) to enlist readers as co-conspirators. Funny, silly, and fairly empathetic—and perhaps even consoling to young, impulsive people who hope to be better (someday). (Fiction. 7-10)

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 77 A great reminder of what is to be gained when girls appreciate their own uniqueness and that of others. just like me

THE TRUE STORY OF lists her “Memawh’s Wisdom” on how to be “a great lady some- ZIPPY CHIPPY day.” The girls are diverse in race, ethnicity, style, situation, The Little Horse That relationships, and personality, and on the final spread, they all Couldn’t link up “like a paper chain / made of every single / color / … / Bennett, Artie pulling each other up / … / until our link crosses the world / Illus. by Szalay, Dave like the change / we long to see.” Brantley-Newton’s attrac- NorthSouth (40 pp.) tive illustrations feature bright colors and layered textures and $17.95 | Jan. 7, 2020 patterns, with such variety that each page has its own feel to 978-0-7358-4396-7 suit its story. The poems are simple, upbeat, and affirming—a great reminder of what is to be gained when girls appreciate The true story of a racehorse that their own uniqueness and that of others. failed to win a single contest. A dynamic, uplifting, and welcoming world of girls. Thoroughbred racehorse Zippy Chippy comes from exalted (Picture book/poetry. 4-10) bloodlines. But racehorse genes notwithstanding, Zippy is slow on the track and, the narrative implies, not terribly competitive. “Instead of running, Zippy sometimes stood perfectly still.” I BELIEVE I CAN However, when he did (finally) finish a race, he “would prance Byers, Grace off the course, head and tail held high.” So it’s confusing when Illus. by Bobo, Keturah A. the story then tells readers that his owner, Felix Monserrate, Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (32 pp.) “felt that Zippy needed a win…to boost his morale” and tries $18.99 | Mar. 3, 2020 various ways to turn Zippy into a winner. Zippy continues to 978-0-06-266713-7 race, and the quirky, pokey horse becomes a crowd favorite. At Zippy’s last race, his 100th, he takes a moment—after the Diversity is the face of this picture starting bell—to bow to the crowd. (He finishes last.) Author book designed to inspire confidence in children. Bennett’s ending salvo, “it takes guts to compete [and] cour- Fans of Byers and Bobo’s I Am Enough (2018) will enjoy this age to dream.…[Y]ou can lose…and still be a winner,” is rally- book that comes with a universal message of self-acceptance. A ing, but the body of the story doesn’t quite get there, instead line of children practices ballet at the barre; refreshingly, two placing more emphasis on Monserrate’s attempts to turn Zippy of the four are visibly (and adorably) pudgy. Another group into a winner rather than validating Zippy’s quirky personality. tends a couple of raised beds; one of them wears hijab. Two Szalay’s full-color illustrations have a lively, angular appearance more children coax a trepidatious friend down a steep slide. with well-thought-out perspectives and effectively utilize both Further images, of children pretending to be pirates, dragons, full-page and double-page spreads. Monserrate is Puerto Rican, mimes, playing superhero and soccer, and cooking, are equally and other humans depicted are diverse. endearing, but unfortunately they don’t add enough heft to set Humorous enough in both text and illustrations, but the book apart from other empowerment books for children. the message is muddled. (author’s note, bibliography) Though the illustrations shine, the text remains pedagogic and (Informational picture book. 4-8) bland. Clichés abound: “When I believe in myself, there’s simply nothing I can’t do”; “Sometimes I am right, and sometimes I am wrong. / But even when I make mistakes, I learn from them JUST LIKE ME to make me strong.” The inclusion of children with varying Brantley-Newton, Vanessa abilities, religions, genders, body types, and racial presentations Illus. by the author creates an inviting tone that makes the book palatable. It’s hard Knopf (40 pp.) to argue with the titular sentiment, but this is not the only book $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Jan. 14, 2020 of its ilk on the shelf. 978-0-525-58209-0 Banal affirmation buoyed by charming illustrations. 978-0-525-58210-6 PLB (Picture book. 3-5) Brantley-Newton delivers a book of poems featuring girls of all kinds. The first few poems—“I Am a Canvas,” “The Day I Decided To Become Sunshine,” and “Warrior”—draw readers in through personal perspectives before “All in Together Girls” pulls out to a group perspective: “If we view each other with amazing grace / our America would be such a great place.” Characters express deep self-love in “I Love My Body” and mild angst in “Pimple.” A city girl longs to be a country girl, and a country girl longs to be a city girl. One girl is “weird,” one is shy, one is “mixed.” One girl wishes for a daddy; another

78 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | LITTLE JOE CHICKAPIG the bear’s inspiration? “A mouse who went to space.” The mouse, Calhoun, Brian in turn, found hope in a “fierce young dragon” who joined a rock Illus. by the author & Bradley, Pat band. And coming full circle, the dragon found courage from Printers Row (32 pp.) a Chickapig warrior who “tired of shields and swords to wield” $9.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 and established a farm. Chickapig game fans will appreciate this 978-0-7944-4452-5 fanciful rhyming tale illustrated in attention-grabbing colors, but readers coming to it cold will note a distinct absence of plot. Is it a book about aspirations or the backstory for the board Mouse and dragon present female; all others are male. game? Take strength from the dreamers before you and follow Chickapig is defined as “an animal hybrid that is half- your dreams. Or maybe just roll the dice. (Picture book. 4-6) chicken and half-pig” and is depicted in yellow, two-legged chick shape with pink pig snout and ears. Young Joe Chickapig lives on a farm that was his grandfather’s dream, but it’s getting Joe down. He dreams of adventure but needs the “courage to follow his heart. / But how could he do it? How could he start?” In a bedtime story, Joe’s mother shares the influential characters that helped Joe’s sailor grandfather “follow his heart against the tide.” It seems that “Grandpa had heard a story told / Of a great big bear who broke the mold. / The bear was tired of striking fear”—so he became a forest doctor and a friend to all. And young adult

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 79 THE BEST FRIEND PLAN Following this alphabet section, the book becomes an explora- Calmenson, Stephanie & Cole, Joanna tion of history, presenting photos of the previously illustrated Illus. by Burks, James objects and relaying stories of their provenance alongside side- Aladdin QUIX (96 pp.) bars of the people connected with them. While the watercolor $16.99 | Jan. 24, 2020 illustrations are gorgeous, masterfully imbuing delicate light 978-1-5344-5251-0 and shadow, and the historical information is fascinating, the Series: Adventures of Allie and Amy, 1 project bogs down in attempting too many connections. The Swedish word accompanying the object illustration is often not Best friends Allie and Amy have the object’s name (as readers may logically expect) but rather a plans for their summer, but when they simple action word (or words) that begins with the necessary are nearly separated, they have to zoom alphabet letter. Trying to connect the word and the illustration, through their summer to-do list. small pen-and-ink figures, related “historically or via…imagi- It’s the first day of summer vacation, and Amy and Allie nation” to the object, are drawn on and around the watercolor can’t wait to get started on their short list of “Things To Do (and too often in the gutter). It’s a neat concept, but it becomes This Summer.” But they’ve only completed one item when confusing and, since the figures are cumulative, crowded. Allie’s parents tell her that she got a spot at Camp Merry Moose. This ambitious project delivers fascinating history and At first she is excited, but when she calls Amy, Amy tells her she beautiful illustrations but attempts too many creative con- can’t go because then they’ll be separated. Allie tries to back nections. (authors’ notes) (Informational picture book. 8-12) out of camp, but her parents won’t hear of it. So she devises a plan to bind herself to Amy, which, predictably, doesn’t last long. The best friends decide they will have to rush through their list. EAT THE CAKE Using the alarms on their watches, they speed through their fun Clark, M.H. in time for Allie to pack for camp. Their farewell is too quick to Illus. by Glatt, Jana take seriously, but it turns out they don’t have to separate after Compendium (32 pp.) all. The large, generously spaced typeset is broken up by half- $16.95 | Feb. 1, 2020 page black-and-white illustrations, and a word list gives pro- 978-1-946873-84-2 nunciations and definitions of less-common words. The story is more fast than fun, and it sacrifices realism and emotional A festive romp of good wishes. resonance for speed. Still, it serves its narrow purpose of bridg- Although not explicitly a birthday book nor one that depicts ing the gap between beginning readers and chapter books. Allie a graduation, this title would be a suitable gift for either sort of and her family are black, Amy and her family are white, and an occasion and for recipients of all ages. Its rhyming text, writ- annoying-boy secondary character has a Spanish surname. ten almost exclusively in couplets, addresses the reader with Helpful reading practice where needed. (reading ques- celebratory declarations that make general note of achieve- tions) (Fiction. 4-9) ments made, milestones met, and wish-fulfillment on the horizon. “Choose a dream, set a path, see how far you will go. / Find out what you can do with the things that you know.” Illustrator A TO ZÅÄÖ Glatt’s accompanying art looks every bit as merry as the playful Playing With History at the text’s tone, with stylized, cartoon pictures of people, animals, American Swedish Institute and cheery, bipedal not-quite-people cavorting about the pages. Christopherson, Nate & Sweeney, Tara with The primary palette is pink, gold, red, and light blue, giving the Theissen, Inga white-backgrounded pages the look of vanilla frosting with Illus. by Christopherson, Nate & sprinkles strewn across it. Her loose style is reminiscent of Sweeney, Tara some of Maira Kalman’s work, and the playful dynamic between Univ. of Minnesota (96 pp.) art and text delivers a satisfying read even in the absence of a $24.95 | Dec. 1, 2019 story. The closing spread brings a close to the text with four, not 978-1-5179-0788-4 two, lines with the same end rhyme, culminating with the titular directive: “And whatever you do, eat the cake.” In this longer-than-usual picture book, the Swedish alpha- A book to wish—and to inspire—many happy returns. bet is paired with illustrations of selected objects in the collec- (Picture book. 3-18) tion of the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. The concept is ambitious: to give readers a taste of the Swedish language, culture, and migration story to America by organizing simple Swedish words in alphabetical order (with their English translations but no pronunciation guide) and pairing them with paintings of objects displayed in the Turn- blad Mansion, the former residence of 19th-century Swedish immigrants and ASI founders Swan and Christina Turnblad.

80 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | Gentle, fully fleshed characters are lovingly drawn. a home for goddesses and dogs

A HOME FOR GODDESSES declares the unsolved case over. Still, she invites Agent Lion AND DOGS back to her apartment for tea. Dejectedly arranging the couch’s Connor, Leslie pillows, Agent Lion finally—and unwittingly—locates Fluffy. Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins All ends well as neighbors convene for a sweet celebration. This (400 pp.) is a lightweight but humorous story; readers will chuckle at the $16.99 | Feb. 25, 2020 silly questions Agent Lion asks and the witty, knowing com- 978-0-06-279678-3 ments he makes about cats. The ending, though predictable and unoriginal, satisfies. Lion is amusing; self-confident; and, as After her mother succumbs to heart depicted in these delicate cartoon illustrations, very expressive, disease, 13-year-old Lydia goes to live as are the other animal characters (including the beady-eyed with her mother’s older sister, Aunt Brat, pigeon Lion spies on a rooftop). Readers will also appreciate the and her wife, Eileen, in their small Con- endpapers’ displays of mouthwatering doughnuts. necticut town. Readers will enjoy watching this clueless detective get Almost immediately the loving couple adopts a large rescue the “mane” job done in spite of himself. (Picture book. 4-8) dog that becomes mostly Lydia’s responsibility. The unfortunate animal isn’t even housebroken, and Lydia’s most decidedly not a dog person, so caring for Guffer is challenging. So is trying to be cordial—but not too friendly—with her 12 eighth grade classmates. Previously home-schooled, Lydia’s not quite ready for the friend thing. Secrets, like who could have been respon-

sible for maiming two baby goats or why Brat is secretly car- young adult ing for them at a neighbor’s farm, complicate life. Background plotlines (an angry neighbor who hates Guffer, Lydia’s absent father, and the cause of Guffer’s anxieties) all gradually evolve. Similarly, Lydia slowly learns to cope with her grief, sometimes aided by spending time with “the goddesses”—artistic collages of strong women that she and her mother crafted. Gentle, fully fleshed characters (most seemingly white) are lovingly drawn in this long tale of healing, but the pacing is sometimes frustratingly slow. Although she’s clearly intelligent, Lydia’s first-person narrative often seems more like the voice of an adult than a young teen. In spite of these minor flaws, her poignant tale is engaging and uplifting. An almost-orphan and a rescue dog share lots of heart in a winsome coming-of-age story. (Fiction.10-13)

AGENT LION Davis, Jacky & Soman, David Illus. by Soman, David Harper/HarperCollins (40 pp.) $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 978-0-06-286917-3

An inept lion detective searches for a missing cat. After receiving his assignment from Ms. Chief (an elephant), Agent Lion takes two hours to reach the home of Fluffy’s owner, Ms. Flamingo. (A map tracking his route from his office shows stops at fast-food joints and entertainment venues. Readers will note the more direct path he could have followed had distractions not beckoned.) Arriving on the scene, Agent Lion asks Ms. Flamingo ludicrous questions and posits absurd theories; checks for clues in unlikely places, including the refrigerator; and wreaks havoc when interviewing neighbors throughout her building. As the self-absorbed, doughnut-loving gumshoe continues his ridiculous investigation, Ms. Flamingo, patience gone,

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 81 An adorable and rollicking read-aloud about animal babies. we love babies!

CATCHING A RUSSIAN SPY costume, and Karamel zooms with her wheeled prostheses. Agent Les Wiser Jr. and the Kids with disabilities may find their furry counterparts comfort- Case of Aldrich Ames ing or cool. Though the text frames the plucky animals’ disabili- Denson, Bryan ties positively, it occasionally does so via clichés that humans Roaring Brook (176 pp.) with disabilities encounter all too often—though Vera is small, $15.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 she “doesn’t let that stop her”; Cody “may be tiny, but her heart 978-1-250-19916-4 is BIG!” The page layout is rather busy. Against a graph-paper Series: FBI Files background, bright blue, green, pink, and yellow borders and text boxes compete with photos and text; occasional blue text A true tale of counterespionage—the against blue background is somewhat hard to read. A glossary identification, stalking, and capture of a defines terms printed in the narrative in boldface, such as “sur- devastatingly effective CIA mole. gery” and “prosthetic.” The second of Denson’s FBI Files casebooks (after The A warm and fuzzy look at animals living with disabili- Unabomber, 2019) plays more like a comedy than a thriller. Ele- ties. (Informational early reader. 6-8) ments include a CIA functionary’s suddenly driving a Jaguar, fending off a shrewish Colombian mistress-turned–second- wife in recorded conversations, and missing a clandestine meet- WE LOVE BABIES! ing in Bogotá because he gets the time wrong, as well as lurking Esbaum, Jill FBI investigators who train carefully to pull quick garbage-can Illus. by Hanson, Sydney switcheroos, take 45 minutes to pick a lock at the suspect’s National Geographic Kids (40 pp.) house, and manage to lose him on Washington streets despite $17.99 | Dec. 31, 2019 a radio tracer in his car. But there was nothing funny about 978-1-4263-3748-2 Ames’ actions—for nearly nine years between 1985 and 1994 he banked nearly $2 million for feeding bundles of top-secret doc- Esbaum brings the littlest listeners uments to the KGB that, among other disasters, largely wiped an adorable and rollicking read-aloud about animal babies. out the CIA’s Soviet assets—and the author preserves an ear- Bouncy rhymes and spot-on rhythms will delight little ears nest tone as he describes the FBI unit’s methodical gathering (“Paws and claws / and little flippers, / feet that look like fuzzy of evidence, its surveillance procedures, and how Ames and his slippers. / Itty-bitty hooves and toes. // Webby footsies? / We co-conspirator wife were persuaded to confess. Still, along with love those!”), but inarguably, it is the photos that will attract being perhaps startled at how easy it apparently was to receive and hold readers’ attention; accompanying the quote above, authorization for wiretaps, break-ins, and like assaults on per- these include a black bear, a manatee with a parent, a polar sonal rights, readers may well come away marveling at how both bear, an Indian rhino, a mountain gorilla, and a trio of domes- Ames and his pursuers seemed to just bumble along. tic ducks. Whether taking up a single- or double-page spread Well, the mole was caught…but readers expecting a or simply placed in circular vignettes whose borders they fre- counterespionage thriller will be underwhelmed. (photos, quently overflow, these babies will enthrall. While the animals author’s note, glossary, source list, index) (Nonfiction. -8 12) are not labeled on the pages, the backmatter “Meet the babies” includes a circular thumbnail of each of the 54 (identical to the photo from the text), its name, and the name used for the baby LITTLE BUT FIERCE animal (calf, chick, foal, etc.). Throughout, children will spy Emerson, Joan Hanson’s tiny cartoon animals with pompoms cheering about Scholastic (32 pp.) their love for babies of all kinds. Listeners will quickly catch $4.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2020 their enthusiasm, though some rereads may be in order before 978-1-338-57619-1 they can chime in on the only thrice-repeated refrain: “We love babies! / Yes we do! / We love babies! / How about you?” Emerson profiles three animals with An eye-catching way to introduce older toddlers and disabilities featured in The Dodo’s “Lit- preschoolers to the babies of our world. (Picture book. 2-5) tle but Fierce” online video series. In two to three sentences per page, the author introduces a tiny trio. Vera, a THE BOLD, BRAVE BUNNY French bulldog, “could fit into a teacup,” Ferry, Beth and her cleft palate made eating difficult; Cody, an alpaca, was Illus. by Lam, Chow Hon too small to stand on her own; and Karamel, a squirrel, was Harper/HarperCollins (32 pp.) injured in a trap, necessitating the amputation of her four legs $17.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 (referred to as “arms”). Fortunately, patient humans nursed each 978-0-06-285031-7 back to relative health: “It only takes a little love to make a BIG difference!” Fans of cuddly animals will enjoy the cheery color An abundance of bunnies in the bur- photos as Vera mugs at the camera, Cody poses in a unicorn row propels one of their number to explore the world beyond.

82 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | Everywhere Teetu the bunny looks, there are bunnies. An inspiring look at women who realized curiosity plus “When he turned left…bunnies. When he turned right…bun- tenacity equals success. (afterword, glossary, source notes) nies.” They’re even in his books: “A IS FOR ANTEATER. B IS (Collective biography. 8-12) FOR BUNNY.” When Teetu complains, his mother counsels tolerance, but rambunctious siblings and cousins in one very small space are certainly cause for a burrow breakout. Under BLUE DAISY “sunlight…starlight…moonlight, [and] flashlight,” Teetu braves a Frost, Helen journey filled with new sights that fuel his imagination. Writing Illus. by Shepperson, Rob and sketching, Teetu creates a book of his own inspired by the Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House curious forest creatures he encounters and the inky, twisty trees (96 pp.) that surround them. “B is not only for…bunnies.” The need for a $15.99 | Mar. 17, 2020 break satiated, Teetu heads back home with some unexpected 978-0-8234-4414-4 help and an appreciation for his cozy, albeit bustling, abode and all the many meanings of B. Debut illustrator Lam’s illustrations A homeless dog transforms a emulate print techniques and stick to a palette primarily made neighborhood. up of slates, black, and white. His bendy trees that curl into the When a skinny, filthy dog suddenly shapes of animals are visual stimuli for Teetu and readers alike. appears, next-door neighbors Sam and Elliptical and circular elements recur throughout and occasion- Katie immediately notice. They watch her get shooed out of ally frame Ferry’s text. Accents of red solely adorn the band of the Wilson sisters’ flower garden. They see the Tracy twins (the bunnies and their belongings. biggest, meanest kids in their grade) throwing rocks and chas-

An enjoyable tale of the marvels of adventuring and the ing her on their bikes. As Sam and Katie search everywhere for young adult comfort of home. (Picture book. 4-8) the dog, the Tracy twins are also looking for her. Discovering the dog asleep under a table Sam’s father just painted blue, Sam and Katie are inexplicably spurred to paint a blue daisy on her BORN CURIOUS back, prompting neighbors to take notice and call her Blue 20 Girls Who Grew Up To Be Daisy. Sam and Katie feel Blue Daisy should be their dog since Awesome Scientists they’re “the ones who like her best,” but they also feel guilty Freeman, Martha about painting her. They don’t understand why Blue Daisy pre- Illus. by Wu, Katy fers the Tracy twins, but those mean kids have somehow earned Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster her trust. In alternating voices, Sam and Katie tell the story of (128 pp.) how Blue Daisy finds a home and how they find new friends, $19.99 | Feb. 18, 2020 with Sam speaking in verse, Katie in prose in a different typeset; 978-1-5344-2153-0 speech in both portions is indicated by italics rather than quo- tation marks. Black-and-white illustrations capture key events A collective biography of 20 groundbreaking women in science. and depict most core characters with pale skin; a recipe section Arranged chronologically, the compilation begins with includes a couple of Blue Daisy’s favorite treats. Ellen Swallow Richards, a white geochemist born in 1842, who An easy-to-read, heartwarming lesson in trust-build- not only became the first woman to earn a degree in chemis- ing. (recipes; author’s note) (Fiction. 7-10) try in the U.S., but used her research in nutrition, sanitation, and health to establish the first school-lunch program and first water-quality standards in the country. A few women who follow, GLAD, GLAD BEAR! such as Sylvia Earle, may be recognizable, but most will be new Gee, Kimberly to readers. Each profile starts with an anecdote that describes Illus. by the author the scientist’s childhood influences in the present tense before Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) switching to the past tense to focus on her professional accom- $17.99 | Feb. 18, 2020 plishments and impact on science. A full-page portrait with 978-1-5344-5269-5 clues to each woman’s focus and a concluding roundup of her Series: Bear’s Feelings major achievements, a reflective quote, and a “fascinating fact” accompany the profile as well. Freeman aims for diversity in Gee’s Mad, Mad Bear (2018) returns, continuing to adjust to both the range of disciplines covered and in the scientists them- and embrace his feelings as he explores music and dance. selves, who include Chinese pharmacologist Tu Youyou, African It’s a new day, and little brown Bear is very glad because he American physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, and Colombian geolo- has new leggings, dance slippers, and a tutu. Eager to wear it all, gist Adriana Ocampo. While the thematic emphasis, as the title he and his parent bear head out for ballet class. But on arrival, suggests, is on the curiosity that drove each woman to pursue Bear sees everyone else in class and begins to feel unsure about science, the profiles also highlight the role failure played in their himself; at first he’s “a little shy,” then “a little afraid,” and even paths and how they overcame such challenges as sexism, racism, feeling “a little different.” The music he hears helps to change illness, and disability to reach their goals. his attitude, and, emboldened, he begins “to feel light. / And

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 83 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Oge Mora

SATURDAY, THE SECOND PICTURE BOOK FROM THE AWARD-WINNING ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR, IS AN ODE TO FAMILY AND EVERYDAY JOYS By Hope Wabuke

Abigail Best Abigail about the special people who are in their lives. I could never have anticipated that impact.” Mora confesses that she is still adjusting to her growing career and the opportunities it affords her. As someone who had long defined herself as an artist, says Mora, “the idea of being a writer is a new kind of role that I am getting more and more comfortable with.” But, for Mora, “thinking about narrative from a visual side is something that has always been in my life; picture books were always something that I was interested in as a sequential visual medium.” Mora got into art because she loved drawing and visual storytelling. But despite going to art school for illustration, she says with a laugh, she never thought she would end up a freelance illustrator. “I thought I The artwork of Oge Mora is full of deliberate joy and would find a career that at least gets me close to art, grace—qualities that Mora herself shares. She is exuber- but I didn’t think anyone actually did art for a career.” ant, yet thoughtful, throughout our phone conversation She developed her unique collage style on the advice of during a break from work at her studio in Providence, a professor and loved it “because it combines texture, Rhode Island, on the eve of publication of her new pic- color, and other things I had always been passionate ture book, Saturday (Little, Brown, Oct. 22). about as an artist.” Mora, a recent graduate of the Rhode Island Insti- What does art mean to Mora? “Growing up, art was tute of Design, didn’t start making picture books un- a real coping thing and source of comfort to me in my til a senior year class assignment; at her senior show- life,” she says. “It was just drawing for the joy. Even to- case she was offered a book deal, and her debut picture day, it doesn’t matter how I am feeling—if I can put my book, Thank You, Omu, won the Coretta Scott King/ pen to the page for a little bit, I feel really comfortable John Steptoe New Talent Award, a Caldecott Honor, and really right.” and the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, among other Mora’s new book, Saturday, is a story about a moth- commendations. How did it feel to be the recipient of er and daughter who create joy in their lives despite such sudden success? unexpected difficulties. In many ways, it is an ode to Says Mora: “I wasn’t worried about whether it time spent with the people we love. Was this the inspi- would have so much great feedback as it has come ration for Mora? to have; I was really focusing on the craft of it. I was “I think that moms tend to underestimate how much aware that it would be a journey from idea to publi- they give to their children,” says Mora. “When I first start- cation. But there has been another journey for me, ed to figure out the story, I was wrapping my brain around from publication to beyond, in seeing my stories reso- a mother and daughter who share Saturday, and the mom nate with people and the stories people share with me is being a mom—that rock, that beacon of positivity.”

84 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | Continues Mora: “All of my work is just really steeped in where I grew up and the people that I know and the person that I am. And if you are really speaking from that space, you have to give it your all. If I’m going to speak about the people who have given me so much in my life, and I’m so grateful for them, they deserve everything because they gave me everything.” Mora, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio, is the bubbly. / And twirly,” until he is dancing freely with everyone. daughter of Nigerian immigrants who settled in his- Expressive, black-outlined drawings colored in muted tones torically black American neighborhoods. She de- make an endearing, uncomplicated, clear-cut accompaniment to the minimal text, working with it to evoke the emotional scribes being “immersed in the culture” of murals aspects of the little one’s experience. Whether he is uneasy and other aspects of community art as being founda- about participating because he is new or self-conscious of his tional to her artistic training growing up. She cites es- gender presentation (four of the other students wear tutus; one pecially the work of Nina Robinson—“her murals all wears only leggings) is never addressed, leaving this text open to interpretation and discussion. What is clear is that his non- around the city that would tell the story of life in the stereotypical gender presentation is celebrated and affirmed. A area when she was a girl.” star sticker from the teacher for his participation leaves Bear Mora admired how “these artists had a lot of sto- “very glad” he joined the class, where he has also made a new friend—a bespectacled, darker-furred bear. rytelling, not only in the work itself, but finding the A positive, contemporary view of individuality and magic element in everyday life.” As she grew up, Mora nonjudgmental acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5) realized that “there were so many stories that had been shared with me that I didn’t see in mainstream WHAT’S UP, MALOO? picture books. So it’s about taking these stories from Godbout, Geneviève the margins and celebrating them in this main space, Illus. by the author in the work.” Tundra (40 pp.) young adult “Really,” says Mora, “my greatest joy in life gets to $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-0-7352-6664-3 be my career, which is really amazing.” Series: Maloo and Friends

In her authorial debut, Québecois Hope Wabuke is a writer and assistant professor of English illustrator Godbout explores depression at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Saturday received through the movements of a kangaroo. a starred review in the July 15, 2019, issue. At first, the marsupial, clad in a short, yellow jumpsuit, is seen merrily jumping over a cluster of pink flowers. The mood quickly shifts, however, as a gray cloud settles over Maloo’s head. The ’roo’s posture compresses, and then Maloo descends into the dark burrow of a wombat. Even cake doesn’t help restore Maloo’s cheer. Hopping gives way to small steps that are counted aloud, offering a sense of the length of the mood: “Seven steps. Eight steps. Nine steps.” Five pages later, Maloo has reached 1,000. Friends try to help—playing in the water, turning on fans to propel Maloo into the sky. It is only when they launch their pal upward from a blanket that the fog lifts. Soft, warm scenes, rendered in pastels and colored pencil against a spacious white background, create a safe environment to discuss sadness. From the shift to a darker palette, the tree that closes in on creatures, and the serious faces, readers will understand that the protagonist is suffering; the spare text, written from the friends’ perspectives, describes the change in locomotion but allows viewers to identify the emotions. Although the friends are steadfast, three spreads depict Maloo striving in midair alone, suggesting that the individual has a role in healing. Provides quiet assurance to those who recognize this feeling as well as a model for supporting a friend. (Picture book. 3-6)

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 85 Geometric illustrations are chock full of patterns to spot. pitter pattern

DIANA spreads are never overwhelming, partially thanks to strategi- Princess of the Amazons cally juxtaposed colors. Hesselberth includes backmatter on Hale, Shannon & Hale, Dean pattern types (repeating vs. growing) and places to find pat- Illus. by Ying, Victoria terns (nature, time, etc.) to prompt further discussions. The DC Zoom (144 pp.) text and essential pictures offer bountiful opportunities for $9.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 reader interaction, whether one-on-one or in a group setting. 978-1-4012-9111-2 Young ones can verbally identify or point to their discoveries or participate in rhythmic clapping and repetitive dance A young Diana of Themyscira makes moves. There’s lots to discover as well as several methods to an unusual friend. access the lesson. Not quite Wonder Woman yet, this Never pedantic, this book encourages a fun, develop- preteen princess of the Amazons is find- mentally appropriate way to look at the world. (Picture book. ing it more and more difficult to find her place on their iso- 4-8) lated island. Too old to be considered the village baby but too young to be trained in combat, Diana spends her days trying to stay out of trouble. After mixing clay with wet sand to sculpt TWINKLE THINKS PINK! another young girl to talk to, Diana is shocked when her sculp- Holabird, Katharine ture springs to life. Diana and her new pal, Mona, enjoy each Illus. by Warburton, Sarah other’s company, but Mona may not be as innocent as she seems. Little Simon/Simon & Schuster (32 pp.) Ying’s comic panels move effectively, conveying action and emo- $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 tion with ease, while the Hales craft a pleasant, upbeat adven- 978-1-5344-2917-8 ture for Diana that doesn’t lean too heavily on Wonder Woman lore to work. Young readers intimidated by the PG-13 rating Reminiscent of another rosy-hue– applied to Patty Jenkins’ 2017 film will find a brightly colored loving protagonist, Twinkle can’t get enough of the color pink. and softly structured entry point here. Diana presents white, Twinkle and her friends are invited to a garden party hosted but there is racial diversity apparent in the secondary cast of by Fairy Godmother at the royal palace. It promises beautiful characters. While there’s nothing here that radically redefines roses, which are the talk of the town. Twinkle, along with fairy the character or breaks narrative ground, it’s refreshing to have friends Pippa and Lulu, can’t resist sneaking a peek before the a Wonder Woman story for kids that gives them a proper step- party begins. The roses are all the colors of the rainbow. It looks pingstone into the fandom. divine, but Pippa can’t help but muse, “What a shame there A cute and brightly rendered bit of backstory for DC’s aren’t more pink ones.” That’s all the encouragement Twinkle Amazon warrior. (Graphic adventure. 8-12) needs. She waves her wand, and (after a few missteps) suddenly everything in the garden is pink, right down to a winged rabbit onlooker and a shocked owl. Poor Twinkle still doesn’t have a PITTER PATTERN handle on spell-casting. Have they ruined the garden party for Hesselberth, Joyce everyone? The fuel for Holabird’s impetuous heroine’s flutter- Illus. by the author ing is excitement rather than common sense. But she does con- Greenwillow (40 pp.) fess to Fairy Godmother and admit her mistake. Warburton’s $17.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 intricately inked illustrations provide enough fairy magic (tiny 978-0-06-274123-3 fruit houses with even tinier doors, a poodle with gossamer wings) to have readers poring over the details. The fairies pres- “Pitter, pitter, pat! Pitter, pitter, pat!... ent mostly white (other friends are shown on the endpapers), Hey, it’s a pitter, pitter pattern!” with only black-presenting Pippa providing diversity. Spots (on a dog), nested diamonds (on the wallpaper), It’s slight on story, but there is an abundance of shim- houndstooth (on clothing)—there are so many patterns to mery glitter. And, of course, pink. (Picture book. 3-6) see! At first, Hesselberth presents sequences textually with visual support as main character Lu, with light-brown skin and dark-brown hair, helps her friends (a short, black-presenting child and a tall, white-presenting child) remove their wet boots. Then the days of the week carry the narrative along to next Sunday, when Lu can see her friends again. There are patterns to identify in each day’s activity, like the penta- gons on a soccer ball, beats in a musical piece, and intricate quilt patterns. Guided identification transitions easily into open questions (“Are there patterns here?”) for nature scenes viewed with Lu’s interracial family. Geometric illustrations are chock full of patterns to spot, but the sweeping two-paged

86 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | WE HAD TO BE BRAVE next day, an egg is found in pieces and the king declares the Escaping the Nazis on wall has won, sending out photos of the smashed egg. But in the Kindertransport his haste to dampen any glimmers of hope his subjects might Hopkinson, Deborah harbor, the king has neglected to look carefully at the eggshell, Scholastic Focus (368 pp.) and what he misses sets his subjects free. Hughes’ rhyming text $18.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 is simple, as befits its source, but its timely message is profound: 978-1-338-25572-0 Dreams cannot be stopped by a wall. Christopher’s sublimely detailed illustrations, the style of which, appropriately, harkens A vital collection of vignettes from to Arthur Rackham, strengthen and expand the story indelibly, the Kindertransport, the World War II giving it visual excitement and atmospheric impact. rescue effort that brought about 10,000 Wickedly, subversively brilliant. (Picture book. 6-10) child refugees from Nazi-controlled countries into Britain. Years before the Nazis ramped up to genocide, the anti- WHERE’S BABY? Semitic laws of the Third Reich convinced some parents that Hunter, Anne their children were unsafe. Emigration, however, was quite dif- Illus. by the author ficult. Even for those prepared to move somewhere they didn’t Tundra (40 pp.) speak the language, it was shockingly difficult to get a visa. $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 England and the United States had strict immigration quotas. 978-0-7352-6498-4 Nevertheless, refugee advocates and the British Home Office

hatched a plan to bring child refugees into Britain and settle In a hiding game led by Baby Fox, young adult them with foster families. (A similar attempt in the U.S. died Papa Fox searches the forest for his little in Congress.) The voices of myriad Kindertransport survivors one but neglects to look in one obvious place. are used to tell of this harrowing time, recalling in oral histories Not finding his offspring indoors in their den, Papa Fox and published and unpublished memoirs their prewar lives, the asks Mama where Baby might be, and she responds: “Why, Baby journey, their foster families. Sidebars provide more resources must be somewhere, Papa Fox.” Papa heads out to find Baby about the people in each section; it’s startlingly powerful to and looks in, over, under, down, up, and around, encountering read a survivor’s story and then go to a YouTube video or BBC owl, skunk, bear, mouse, toothy fish, and bull—but no Baby recording featuring that same survivor, speaking as an adult or Fox. Disheartened, Papa says, “Mama Fox, I can’t find Baby any- recorded as a child more than 80 years ago. Historical context, where.” She responds knowingly, “Have you looked behind you, personal stories, and letters are seamlessly integrated in this Papa Fox?” Readers will have seen that Mama has been in on the history of frightened refugee children in a new land and their joke all along if they noticed, early on, Mama waving goodbye to brave parents’ making “the heart-wrenching decision” to send Baby, who is quietly following Papa as he sets off on his search. their children away with strangers to a foreign country. The text is entirely composed of dialogue in speech balloons. Well-crafted, accessible, and essential. (timeline, glos- Graceful, finely sketched pen-and-pencil drawings, primarily sary, resources, index, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-14) in black and gray against a pale blue backdrop, complement this exercise in identifying prepositions. Kids will play along with Baby, easily spotting his pointy ears and rusty-orange body, HUMPTY DUMPTY which pops against the otherwise muted palette. Reunited with LIVED NEAR A WALL Papa, Baby Fox asks, “Can we do that again?”—encouraging Hughes, Derek multiple readings of this amusing story. Illus. by Christopher, Nathan Fun and instructive, this forest frolic will have kids Penguin Workshop (48 pp.) eager to play along. (Picture book. 2-4) $14.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-5247-9302-9 I LOVE YOU, FRED In this illustrated retelling of the “Humpty Dumpty” nurs- Inkpen, Mick ery rhyme, the egg still falls, but does Humpty lose it all? Illus. by Inkpen, Chloë Humpty Dumpty lives near a wall and has “no fun at all,” Aladdin (32 pp.) nor do any of the creatures who inhabit this sharp, dark world $17.99 | Dec. 10, 2019 brought to exquisite life by masterful black-and-white illustra- 978-1-5344-1475-4 tions. The king in this gloomy world has forbidden his subjects—all well-known fairy-tale and nursery-rhyme characters, The untrained, exuberant dog and a clever, nuanced touch—to dream. But Humpty has a dream his patient child owner from I Will Love You Anyway (2016) are anyway: He wants to look over the wall. He builds a ladder in back, this time exploring the meaning of a name. secret (“he couldn’t even tell his friend the Mad Hatter”), and The puglike dog with the huge eyes, sweat bands, and ten- one night, he props his ladder against the wall and climbs. The dency to run away has earned a ribbon from his dog obedience

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 87 class. The pup now responds appropriately to “Fetch,” “Sit,” CONFESSIONS OF A and “Stay” and knows “Ball,” “Walk,” “Park,” and “Bed.” But DORK LORD the meaning of the word “Fred” eludes him, the adorable tilt Johnston, Mike of his head conveying his confusion. Eager to please, the dog Illus. by Altés, Marta just wants to know how to “Fred” so he’ll earn a “Good Boy!” Putnam (352 pp.) Maybe the dog upstairs (his reflection in a mirror) knows? What $13.99 | Jan. 28, 2020 about the dog he spies in the water while chasing ducks in the 978-1-5247-4081-8 park? Trying to play with that pup leads him to trouble. Luck- ily, his child comes to his rescue, snuggling the dog close and The son of a fallen Dark Lord looks whispering his name. “A light goes on inside my head!” Fred’s for his own place in the world. his name, and he can now Fred with the best of them. A cozy Azrael Bal Gorath the Wicked— ending celebrates the love between dog and child. While Mick “Wick” to his friends—is the heir to the Inkpen’s rhymes sometime belabor the point and nearly over- throne of the grim folk. Wick’s father, the Dark Lord, ruled over stay their welcome, Chloë Inkpen’s illustrations against white ogres, orcs, goblins, witches, and warlocks alike until he van- backgrounds give readers a view from the dog’s perspective, and ished after fighting the faire folk’s champion, Galorian (a “good” his expressions and body language convey much. Fred’s child, wizard). The absent lord left nothing behind for his son, hop- the only human in the book, presents white. ing the lack of titles and status would help build Wick’s charac- Fred has certainly matured since his first outing. Read- ter. Wick (a white preteen with a shock of red hair) spends his ers may have mixed feelings about a third, though. (Picture days evading bullies and dreaming of having the power to move book. 4-7) on past his struggles in Remedial Spell Casting. The novel is a promising if curious blend of Dungeons and Dragons fantasy world and the typical “diary of an underdog middle schooler” WILL YOU MISS US IF WE GO? fare, but the enterprise never quite gets off the ground. There’s Jaeger, Paige a lot of worldbuilding up front, and the day-to-day banality Illus. by Quirk, Carol Hill doesn’t jibe well with the big-picture conflicts between the faire BQB Publishing (40 pp.) folk and the grim world. The novel also overstays its welcome, $18.95 | Dec. 1, 2019 coming in at well over 300 pages of disjointed and poorly struc- 978-1-945448-59-1 tured story. Wick is unpleasant, the world he inhabits is boiler- Series: If We’re Gone plate fantasy, and his story feels sluggish when it should be brisk and rushed when it should take its time. Fourteen endangered or threatened ani- A miscalculated satiric fantasy that treads too-familiar mals highlight their plights in perky rhyme. ground. (Fantasy. 8-12) “With a ruddy red appearance, I’m very cute. / I grow big and strong eating insects and fruit.” Frequently privileging metrics over precise language or even meaning, Jaeger adds to the gal- RUBY RED SHOES lery begun in Who Will Roar If I Go? (2018) with lyrics from the A Very Aware Hare orangutan (depicted by Quirk with pale orange hair and a woe- Knapp, Kate fully shriveled-looking arm) as well as the addax, the Eurasian Illus. by the author lynx, the tapir, the pygmy hippo, and like rarities. Along with Doubleday (48 pp.) a blithe assurance that the ivory-billed woodpecker is extant $9.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 (which is still subject to debate), the author makes some head- 978-0-593-12346-1 scratching observations. The red panda informs readers, “My feet can swivel all the way around / Which allows me to walk Ruby, a white hare, always wears red upside down!” and the orang states, “Our forest homes disap- shoes. pear each year / Due to some palm-growing racketeer.” A closing Her first pair came from Babushka section offers prose “Factoids” cast as riddles—with answers Galina Galushka, the grandmother she directly attached. The illustrations make a stronger case for lives with in a sweetly decorated caravan, evocative of East- concern, with creatures who, though looking diaphanous and ern Europe. Though the title suggests that Ruby might learn placed in even more airy natural settings, gaze up at viewers or teach a lesson about awareness in the story, this book offers with knowing or quizzical expressions as if actually asking the almost nothing in the way of plot. There is little interaction cogent titular question. between Ruby and Babushka Galushka, no dialogue outside Too many incongruities and unpacked issues to stay of the grandmother’s advice to treat feelings as “delicate birds’ on track, if well meant. (glossary) (Informational picture book/ eggs,” and no additional named characters. What this work poetry. 6-9) offers in abundance is a sweet satisfaction with the day to day. Ruby’s unhurried routine showcases the role of humble objects within it, such as capacious teacups, energetic, engaged chick- ens, and a billowing clothesline. While some readers may find

88 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | A creative and inspirational resource. dictionary for a better world

such inaction, well, boring, others may appreciate sensing the THE ONLY WOMAN IN comfort of home. A charming cadence shapes the narrative, THE PHOTO making it appealing to read aloud. Within the clean, sophisti- Frances Perkins & Her New cated illustrations, notable attention is paid to the small details, Deal for America such as holes in each individual button in a jar, tiny petals folded Krull, Kathleen tightly on flowers, and slightly rounded points on Ruby’s col- Illus. by Bye, Alexandra ored pencils. Everything about this book asks readers to go Atheneum (48 pp.) slowly, to put aside the expected, and to savor the simplicity of $18.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 the moment. 978-1-4814-9151-8 Surprisingly pleasant. (Picture book. 5-8) “When someone opens a door to you, go forward.” From shy child to keen observer, vocal activist to highly THE OCEAN effective political adviser, Frances Perkins led a life of tremen- Exploring Our Blue Planet dous worth, helping others as a volunteer, social worker, expert Krestovnikoff, Miranda investigator, workplace-safety regulator, industrial commis- Illus. by Calder, Jill sioner, and, ultimately, the first woman Secretary of Labor. Brim- Bloomsbury (64 pp.) ming with realistic detail about the difficulties of pursuing one’s $23.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 goals and making a difference while functioning as a woman in 978-1-5476-0335-0 the first half of the 20th century, this appealing volume features colorful and appealing animation-inflected illustrations pep-

An invitation to explore ocean habi- pered with ideas that inspired Perkins; these appear as banners, young adult tats from a British television presenter headlines, and signposts throughout the story. Krull smoothly who has specialized in natural history, wildlife, and the water describes Perkins’ influences and motivations, her sensitivity world. to and awareness of injustice, how she overcame some of the Spread by double-page spread, this straightforward intro- fears and constraints she faced, her development as an advocate, duction provides an illustrated overview of a variety of ocean and her many accomplishments—including her major contri- environments and their inhabitants. The table of contents is a butions to (some say authorship of) FDR’s New Deal and the simple list of topics, but the book’s nicely varied layout reveals adoption of the Social Security Act—in a kid-friendly and acces- the underlying organization: coastlines, shallow seas, the open sible manner, focusing almost entirely on Perkins’ professional ocean, the polar seas, the deep ocean, and plastic in the ocean. accomplishments. As for Perkins’ personal life, the afterword Each double-page spread introduces a different subject: habi- briefly refers to her husband and daughter within the context tats such as estuaries, seagrass beds, or hydrothermal vents; of their “significant health problems” (both experienced mental inhabitants such as seabirds, sharks, polar bears, and even deep- illness), but the text is silent on Perkins’ same-sex relationship ocean monsters. Each topic is further developed with examples, following her husband’s institutionalization. which also appear, labeled, in the illustrations. Calder’s process Overall, an appealing, informative picture-book biog- suits the subject, combining the fluidity of drawing with inks, raphy that showcases the accomplishments of a great pens, and brushes with digital textures and techniques. Appro- American heroine. (Picture book/biography. 6-10) priately, the backgrounds are mostly blue or green like the sea. The text is relatively dense and, though lightly Americanized, occasionally shows its British origins: “The limpet is well known DICTIONARY FOR A for its incredible ability to suck tightly onto a rock so that pred- BETTER WORLD ators cannot prise it off and eat it.” (Unfamiliar terms—such as Poems, Quotes, and the limpet’s “radula”—are defined in context.) But her examples Anecdotes From A to Z come from around the world, and there is an enormous amount Latham, Irene & Waters, Charles of accurate information for curious and determined readers. Illus. by Amini, Mehrdokht Clearly organized and attractively illustrated, this Carolrhoda (120 pp.) import should inspire some young readers to dive deeply. $19.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 (Informational picture book. 7-10) 978-1-5415-5775-8 Instead of an ordinary dictionary, poets Latham and Waters have alphabetized their vision of “a better world.” This compilation of alphabetized words offers readers opportunities to reflect upon vocabulary that uplifts and acts to improve human connection and community. Each word is introduced with a poem and a quote, often from children’s literature, that provide a deeper expression of the chosen word. These

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 89 Lee ambitiously takes on a number of issues and artfully manages to balance it all. mundy kim and the yummy seaweed business

are followed by an anecdote that offers personalized context. MINDY KIM AND THE “Compassion,” for instance, presents an aubade about siblings YUMMY SEAWEED who care for their sick mother before walking together to the BUSINESS bus stop. In Amini’s textured collage, two young black children Lee, Lyla “steep Mama / in hugs and blankets,” their love and concern Illus. by Ho, Dung glowing from the page. A quote from Julius Lester instructs Aladdin (96 pp.) readers that “there is nothing we need to understand to be com- $16.99 | $5.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2020 passionate with each other,” and Latham offers her musing on 978-1-5344-4009-8 what compassion means to her. Finally, under the rubric “Try 978-1-5344-4007-4 paper It!” are prompts that elicit engagement to amplify the word as action. Unlike many alphabet books, there is not always just one Young Mindy takes an entrepreneur- word per letter; some letters gather several words together. This ial approach to a new school and a new life. collection is best summed up in the last poem, “The Etymology Moving from California to Florida is tough. On top of that, of Progress”: “What makes the world / a zinger / is remembering Korean American Mindy and her father are still grieving the / we’re all in this… / together.” recent loss of her mom from a long illness. The first day at her A creative and inspirational resource suitable for a new school is discouraging, as she is teased for her lunch of broad range of ages and uses. (authors’ note, bibliography, kimchi, seaweed, eggs, and rice. The next day a white class- further reading, resources, index, thanks) (Poetry. 8-14) mate named Sally tries the seaweed and effectively flips public opinion, making Mindy’s lunch very popular. Encouraged by Sally’s enthusiasm, Mindy starts trading her seaweed, then THREE WAYS TO TRAP opts to sell it to raise money for a puppy (a long-held dream A LEPRECHAUN of hers) that she hopes will alleviate her father’s sadness. The Lazar, Tara evenly paced plot thickens when a disgruntled classmate, a Illus. by To, Vivienne white boy named Brandon, reports Mindy’s forbidden busi- Harper/HarperCollins (32 pp.) ness to a teacher, causing Sally, Mindy, and Brandon to go to $10.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 the principal’s office. Just on the verge of settling in, Mindy 978-0-06-284128-5 now must untangle this mess. Lee ambitiously takes on a number of issues with a new school, microaggressions, friendships, A budding engineer proves to her younger brother that lep- and grief, and she artfully manages to balance it all. Mindy’s rechauns are real. accessible, genuine-sounding voice is sincere without dimin- In her “leprechaun trap laboratory,” Claire sets about mak- ishing the gravity of heavy issues. Lee also knows when to ing a contraption that will give skeptical Sam hard evidence: a insert scenes of family love that prevent Mindy’s dad from laundry basket and forked stick with “something shiny” as bait. being defined solely by his grief. Ho contributes friendly-look- Readers paying attention will spy a little figure in a green suit ing black-and-white illustrations every few pages. peeking through the window, so it’s no surprise when the sib- A lovingly authentic debut that shines. (Fiction. 6-9) lings find a note from Finn instead of the leprechaun himself. Claire’s next, Rube Goldberg–esque trap is just as unsuccessful. But the third works: Some mirrors, invisible wire, a net, and a PACHO NACHO pot of gold coins catch Finn, but he uses his magic to escape, López, Silvia leaving them with a triple rainbow for a reward while taking Illus. by Pino, Pablo the coins Claire somehow had on hand. Finally believing, Sam Capstone Editions (32 pp.) makes a list of a few other mythical beasts he’d like to try trap- $17.95 | Feb. 1, 2020 ping. The final two pages offer readers some suggested supplies 978-1-68446-098-4 and advice for sketching and building their own traps (but no specific directions). Lazar introduces readers to some challeng- Librarian and author López puts a ing vocabulary (“inescapable,” “kaput,” “nab,” “vamoosed”), but Latin American twist on a classic silly Claire doesn’t always sound like the kid she is: “Oh, zip! He story. tripped the trap but gave us the slip!” In To’s shiny, cartoon When Mamá and Papá welcome their first child, no one illustrations, all three characters are white with red hair; Claire can decide on a name. Rather than pick just one, they decide wears glasses, and the pockets of her jumper are filled with tools. to string together all the suggestions from the abuelos and May trigger a flurry of STEM activity for the March abuelas, tíos and tías, primos and primas, along with their own holiday but not much beyond that. (Picture book. 4-8) favorite names into the tongue-tripping “Pacho-Nacho-Nico- Tico-Melo-Felo-Kiko-Rico.” The family and the community are proud of the name and the little boy who carries it. A new son, Juan, later joins the happy family. All goes well until, when his older brother is threatened by dangerously swift waters, young Juan is hindered in his urgent quest for help by his elder

90 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | brother’s extensive and cumbersome name. Though Pacho WONDROUS REX Nacho’s name is a string of popular Spanish nicknames, astute MacLachlan, Patricia readers will quickly recognize the similarities to the tale of Illus. by Dzubiak, Emilia Tikki-Tikki-Tembo, itself based on a Japanese folktale, a partial Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins (96 pp.) history of which is included in the author’s note. Bright cartoon $15.99 | Mar. 17, 2020 illustrations by Pino seem to set the story in what is now the 978-0-06-294098-8 United States Southwest and lend a cinematic theatricality. A glossary of Spanish vocabulary folded into the text is appended. Seven-year-old Grace knows a great As with the source material, a read-aloud that will have many words, but she can’t bring herself young audiences in stiches. (Picture book. 3-7) to string them together on paper. In her eyes, this gift is unique to her writer aunt, Lily, with whom she WANDA SEASONGOOD AND spends her afternoons. Lily, however, has found herself bereft THE MOSTLY TRUE SECRET of ideas, and out of desperation she puts out an ad for a writ- Lurie, Susan ing assistant. Enter Rex: a dog whose apparent oddities cleverly Illus. by Harney, Jenn conceal a magic that, while unexplained, is quietly remarkable. Disney-Hyperion (224 pp.) Rex inspires Lily almost immediately, and the two find happi- $15.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 ness in their new partnership. Similarly, Rex inspires Grace to 978-1-368-04315-1 turn her words into stories. Her reservations will feel familiar Series: Wanda Seasongood, 1 to any fledgling pen-pusher: not knowing how to write what

she feels, how to start, or how to press on. Those reservations young adult Wanda’s 11th birthday begins with a extend into her everyday life, as it fills and changes in ways she bluebird flying smack into her bedroom never foresaw, but her small network—loving (if busy and often window, and then it gets worse. absent) parents, the wondrous Rex, Lily and her writing group, Wanda always tries to be kind and helpful. Still, her parents the encouraging teacher Ms. Luce, and steadfast, unflappable chastise her and praise Zane, her horrible beast of a younger Daniel, Grace’s best friend—remains by her side throughout brother, no matter what happens, even when he spits peas at her her writer’s journey. MacLachlan spins from simple words an across the dinner table. Every birthday she wishes to suddenly enigmatic, gentle, but perhaps too succinct tale. While Grace’s become an orphan. It turns out that the bluebird, named Vol- first-person narration doesn’t quite ring true to her young age, (a taire, has a secret message to deliver, but he cannot remember it. lack of contractions makes the prose oddly formal), charmingly On a journey to learn what it is, the two go into the Scary Wood scratchy pencil sketches scattered throughout mitigate this among all sorts of creatures who wish her ill (and frequently alienating effect. The only physical descriptions to be found are almost succeed in doing it). Amid many magical mishaps, trans- attached to the animal characters. figurative perils, and a smooch-obsessed frog, Wanda hopes to Sweetly magical. (Fantasy. 8-12) discover her “true” family. The text is well constructed, containing odd scraps sewn together into an imaginative story quilt. There’s a supernatural cast chock-full of familiar types in fiend- NIGHT ANIMALS NEED ishly new forms, such as the Groods, chimerically composed of SLEEP TOO various flora and fauna. Wanda is by turns charmingly flabber- Marino, Gianna gasted and persistently practical but ever well meaning; readers Illus. by the author are sure to root for her along the journey. Textual descriptions Viking (32 pp.) combine with Harney’s cartoon illustrations to establish a $17.99 | Feb. 25, 2020 largely white cast; in a welcome twist for a genre that too often 978-0-425-29065-1 racializes evil, the dreadful witch has “creamy” skin. This inventive, modern fairy-tale adventure is sprin- Having a restful day of sleep proves difficult for Possum and kled with wry humor. (Fantasy. 8-12) his fellow night animals. In Marino’s follow-up to Night Animals (2015), the search for “somewhere dark and quiet” to sleep doesn’t go easily for Pos- sum. Readers meet Possum on the endpapers, as the marsupial is woken by a singing bird welcoming the new day. The problem? Possum is a night animal and must therefore sleep during the day. As Possum looks for a place to lay down his head and sleep, other nocturnal animals join the search. First, Skunk suggests a cave. Yet before even turning the page, the dangers that lurk there are visible to attentive readers. Soon Possum trails behind him a band of sleepy companions—skunk, bear, beaver, gray wolf—all night animals looking to catch some Z’s while the sun

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 91 shines. As each suggestion proves inadequate, the group must PUG’S SNOW DAY escape the dangers they encounter. Escaping is sometimes hard, May, Kyla as Possum, doing what possums do, often plays dead, and his Illus. by the author friends must carry his inert body along. Marino’s illustrations of Scholastic (80 pp.) Possum and company—struggling to stay awake, playing dead, $4.99 paper | $24.99 PLB | Dec. 26, 2019 and running for their lives—are hilarious and endearing, as is 978-1-338-53006-3 her dialogue. Beaver: “Oh, Possum! I am so sorry you’re dead!” 978-1-338-53007-0 PLB Bear: “He does that sometimes.” Brief facts on the nocturnal Series: Diary of a Pug, 2 animals depicted appear on the inside of the dust jacket. A midday bedtime book that will keep readers laughing. Bub the anxious pug tackles snow (Picture book. 3-6) days and new neighbors in his second outing. Bub, acclaimed by some as “the cutest pug on the planet,” at HOME GAMES first shares the enthusiasm owner Bella expresses about snow Markovits, Benjamin days even though he doesn’t know what they are. Then Duchess Harper/HarperCollins (336 pp.) the cat (mildly antagonistic, in typical feline fashion) rains on $16.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 Bub’s parade by pointing out that snow is water—and Bub’s no 978-0-06-274230-8 fan of rain or baths. After a comedic and disastrous first attempt, Bub learns how to properly dress for snow and enjoy it. The When his parents split up, Ben outdoor fun’s cut short by mysterious noises coming from the enters the choppy waters of his new life new neighbor, which frighten Bella into thinking there’s a mon- in Austin. ster. Bub puts on a Sherlock Holmes get-up to investigate but Ben’s workaholic dad heads to Lon- becomes afraid himself of the new neighbor’s large dog. Finally, don while Ben moves with his mother Bella meets Jack, who’s been working on a tree fort, and his from New York to her hometown. Intro- dog, Luna, who is enthusiastically friendly. The story ends on a spective Ben retreats into himself, feeling pulled between his positive note, as they all happily work together on the fort. The parents and indecisive about what he truly wants—to stay with full-color cartoon illustrations, especially of Bub, are adorably his mother or to move in with his dad. Adult novelist Markov- expressive and certain to please the age group. The generous its’ (A Weekend in New York, 2018, etc.) debut book for children font and format—short, diary-entry paragraphs and speech- starts slowly as readers live through Ben’s uneventful summer bubble conversations—create a quick pace. Bub’s stylized emoji days and he begins school. Though both his parents encour- bubbles return and are most hilarious when used to express his age Ben to express his opinions and speak up for himself, Ben nervous flatulence. Bella and Jack both present white. finds himself lonely and the target of bullies. Readers may find A strong, accessible diary story for readers seeking an themselves unengaged as the author methodically introduces adorable animal tale. (Fantasy. 5-7) story elements, but things pick up at the halfway point. Ben is coerced into managing the popular basketball team—coached by a teacher his mom is dating—while on the side, grounds- TRUE TO YOUR SELFIE keeper Sam teaches Ben basketball basics on an abandoned McCafferty, Megan outdoor court. When Ben gets the chance to participate in a Scholastic (288 pp.) playoff game, his newly acquired skills are, refreshingly, not a $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 magic fix to his problems. The story moves slowly, and not all 978-1-338-29699-0 the pieces introduced get a proper payoff, but Ben’s realistically rocky emotional journey ends on a satisfying note. The cast of Mean Girls goes to a New Jersey mid- characters is a primarily white one. dle school in the social media age. Not quite a slam dunk but an honest portrayal of a fam- Life is perfect as Ella Jane Plaza ily in transition. (Fiction. 8-12) enters seventh grade. She and her best friend, Morgan Middleton, are the local internet sensation #Morgan&Ella. With more than 10,000 followers on all the best “socials,” the duo are on their way to “global multiplatform domination.” Maintain- ing her image as the ukulele-playing “Goofball Goddess” sidekick to Morgan’s “Girlboss Goddess Next Door” isn’t easy, but as long as Ella does exactly as privileged, spoiled Morgan says, everything is harmonious. When Ella, who’s never been particularly good at anything except being epically unorganized, discovers she has a natural aptitude for fencing, she has to hide it from Morgan. Such a “terminally uncute” sport is bad for their

92 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | A breeze to reference, with helpful illustrations to boot. where’s my stuff?

brand and will make #Morgan&Ella (but mostly Morgan) look NORMAL bad. Eventually, Ella, who narrates with sincerity and uncer- One Kid’s Extraordinary tainty, must decide whether or not to continue being untrue to Journey herself in order to maintain her popularity. Ella knows Morgan Newman, Magdalena & is manipulative and cruel (particularly to Ella’s nerdy former Newman, Nathaniel with Liftin, Hilary best friend) but rationalizes Morgan’s unkind words and actions Illus. by Swaab, Neil as acts of charity and wisdom. Notably, Morgan’s meanness isn’t HMH Books (336 pp.) explained away as a result of neglectful high-power parents. $16.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 Olive-skinned Ella is of Mediterranean descent, and Morgan is 978-1-328-63183-1 white; their community is also largely white. A quick, entertaining read for fans of frenemy fiction. Nathaniel Newman and his mother, (Fiction. 8-13) Magda, recount how Nathaniel’s Treacher Collins syndrome has affected their family. In alternating passages, the authors relate how, after being WHERE’S MY STUFF? born with severe craniofacial deformities affecting his hearing, 2ND EDITION eating, and breathing, Nathaniel underwent “sixty-plus” surger- The Ultimate Teen ies before age 16. Along the way, he and his family faced kids’ Organizing Guide curiosity and adults’ insensitivity. Magda’s poignant, sometimes Moss, Samantha & Martin, Lesley Schwartz absurdly humorous endeavors to raise Nathaniel and his little Illus. by Wertz, Michael brother, Jacob, as normally as possible emphasize how Nathan-

Zest Books (120 pp.) iel’s disability shaped their family; siblings of kids with disabili- young adult $14.99 paper | $37.32 PLB | Jan. 7, 2020 ties will sympathize when Magda describes how Jacob’s needs 978-1-5415-7895-1 came second. Nathaniel is witty and matter-of-fact about his 978-1-5415-7894-4 PLB condition, concluding that “it would have been easier to be born ‘normal,’ but far less cool.” Throughout the book’s second For middle graders through high school students needing half, the authors discuss how R.J. Palacio’s book Wonder (2012) help with organization, this second edition of Where’s My Stuff? encouraged empathy for kids with craniofacial and other differ- (originally published in 2010) is a user-friendly resource to get ences, and fans of the movie will appreciate thought-provoking them started. peeks behind the scenes. Despite being dubbed “Auggie Pull- The guide begins by offering the reasons why kids should get man come to life,” Nathaniel abundantly shows that he’s his organized: extra free time, minimize costly damage, less stress, own multifaceted person. Flashbacks to Magda’s childhood in more independence. The first step instructs students to assess Poland emphasize the importance of family and imagination in their “stuff,” including books, homework, and handouts, to cre- tough times. Though their story sometimes feels disjointed or ate a School Organizing System. After establishing the SOS, the overstuffed, its breadth reflects their personally extraordinary book next demonstrates how students can efficiently schedule but emotionally universal journey. As Nathaniel observes, “I’m time and activities, starting with a Brain Dump of tasks to be not normal, and neither are you.” Swaab’s full-page cartoon- done: It’s a “proven method for turning the muffled static in style drawings introduce each chapter. The Newmans present your head into clear-signal action,” say the authors. The most white. Magda is Catholic; her husband and sons are Jewish. relevant advice to kids and teens who are constantly engaged Funny, compassionate, and thoughtful. (Memoir. 10-14) with social media are found in snippets called “Your Digital Life,” in which the authors give advice about how best to minimize social media time in order to complete work. Free online BIRDIE AND ME resources are listed for file storage as well as tips for how best to Nuanez, J.M.M. use digital planners and calendars. Though much of this organi- Kathy Dawson/Penguin (256 pp.) zational self-help information for students is readily accessible $16.99 | Feb. 18, 2020 online, this book is a breeze to reference, with helpful illustra- 978-0-399-18677-6 tions to boot. Cheery diagrams of well-organized lockers and study areas give kids concrete models to work from, although Two siblings struggle to adjust to life such privileges as sequesterable space are assumed. with their two very different uncles. Sensible information well organized and presented. Twelve-year-old Jack and 9-year- (Nonfiction. 11-18) old Birdie, white children named after Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, respectively, are happy enough living with Uncle Carl, eating Honey Bunny Buns (a convenience- store foodstuff that shows up far too often for no discernible reason) and helping him win the heart of his food-truck–operator girlfriend. Their mother died almost a year ago in a car

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 93 Nye writes conversationally, injecting humor, outrage, and reminiscence. cast away

accident following a history of episodes that some may recog- THE MAGNIFICENT nize as bipolar disorder, and Carl’s tiny town of Moser, Califor- MONSTERS OF nia, is less welcoming than their old home in Oregon. Birdie’s CEDAR STREET attendance at school is spotty; classmates and administrators Oliver, Lauren think that a young boy in pink leggings, headbands, and nail Illus. by Aldridge, Ethan M. polish is distracting, and truancy officers remove the children Harper/HarperCollins (384 pp.) to live with taciturn Uncle Patrick, who is more than happy to $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 enforce a gender-normative dress code on Birdie. A flat plot 978-0-06-234507-3 basically follows the children through this adjustment period, and much of the conflict centers on the various bullies Birdie Cordelia Clay helps her father, Cor- has to deal with, including an obligatory scene of homophobic nelius, rescue injured and endangered violence in a boy’s bathroom. Despite the young protagonists, monsters, restoring them to health in the most of the book focuses on the relationships among the vari- ramshackle family mansion; when her father and the monsters ous adults, with the children serving more as instruments than disappear, she sets out to find them. fully realized or engaging characters. Gregory, a homeless orphan whose sick zombie puppy—a A paint-by-numbers coming-of-age—it’s readable, but zuppy—she cured, insists on joining Cordelia’s dangerous quest. that’s about it. (Fiction. 10-14) The baby dragon with a broken wing and the elderly filch found hidden in the oven can’t be left behind, either, as those aware that monsters do exist advocate exterminating them. Travel- CAST AWAY ing by foot, rail, hot air balloon, and—after Cordelia resolves Poems of Our Time a pixie infestation—sailing ship, the children flee across Bos- Nye, Naomi Shihab ton, seek out a Manhattan circus featuring monsters, and visit Greenwillow (176 pp.) a Nova Scotia university, encountering anxious monsters posing $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 as humans along the way. In this grimy, Dickensian world, an 978-0-06-290769-1 alternate-history Gilded Age, vast wealth coexists with grind- ing poverty and fear of the other runs deep: Where fear rules, Nye explores what we throw away, difference is the enemy. Cordelia’s mother, author of a defini- literally (she’s a litter picker-upper) and tive natural history of monsters, held more benign views, con- metaphorically. vinced that the two evolutionary branches, Animalia (ours) and In 80-plus poems, Nye writes con- Prodigia (monsters), were relatives sharing a common origin, versationally, injecting humor, outrage, but died before proving her theory. While resourceful Cordelia and reminiscence. Unambiguously and stalwart Gregory are good company, the monsters are stand- championing the environment, she marvels at how casually outs, manifesting, like all animals, unique natural attributes and humans toss trash. “What about these energy bottles pitched proclivities (described in a comprehensive guide). Charming or by someone / who didn’t have energy to find a bin? / Fun Finger alarming, these creatures and their world, rendered in abundant, Food wrappers dropped by someone / not so fun?” An archae- imaginative detail, beg for further exploration. (Human charac- ologist of urban detritus, she ponders her discoveries, champi- ters seem to be white in Aldridge’s woodcutlike illustrations.) oning children throughout. “Blocks around elementary schools Enchanting. (Fantasy. 8-14) / are surprisingly free of litter. / Good custodians?” Nye locates the profound in the mundane: “A single silver star / on a curb by Bonham Elementary / Good work! / Glimmering / like a ASTRONAUTS treasure / stronger at this moment than all 50 / drooping on the Women on the flagpole.” She mourns the current othering of the homeless and Final Frontier refugees: “A few hundred miles from here / thousands of trau- Ottaviani, Jim matized kids / huddle in cages / … / Who can believe this? / Land Illus. by Wicks, Maris of the Free!” She keenly knits place into poems: her city, San First Second (176 pp.) Antonio; the Ferguson, Missouri, of her childhood; Maui; Hong $19.99 | $12.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2020 Kong. She castigates Trump, who “talks uglier than the bully 978-1-62672-877-6 in grade school,” and Prince Charles, who dithers ineffectually 978-1-250-76003-6 paper about plastic waste. She generously praises poets and writers: W.S. Merwin, who drafted poems on junk mail; David Ignatow, How women got mad, busy, and for a poetic image that Nye has found compelling since high finally, reluctantly, accepted into NASA’s corps of astronauts. school; Kevin Henkes, for his book Egg. Recast by the creators of Primates (2013) from NASA oral- Nye at her engaging, insightful best. (Poetry. 8-12) history interviews with ex-astronaut Mary Cleave and other eyewitnesses, this likewise lightly fictionalized memoir takes its narrator from childhood interests in science and piloting aircraft to two space shuttle missions and then on to later

94 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | educational and administrative roles. The core of the tale is a OLD ROCK frank and funny account of how women shouldered their way (IS NOT BORING) into NASA’s masculine culture and as astronaut trainees broke Pilutti, Deb it down by demonstrating that they too had both the compe- Illus. by the author tencies and the toughness that added up to the right stuff. High- Putnam (40 pp.) lighted by a vivid series of scenes showing Cleave with a monkey $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 on her chest, then a chimpanzee, an orangutan, a gorilla, and 978-0-525-51818-1 finally a larger gorilla to symbolize the G-forces of liftoff, Wicks offers cleanly drawn depictions of technical gear, actual train- A witty, engaging exploration of deep ing exercises, eye-rolling encounters with sexist reporters and time. clueless NASA engineers, iconic figures (such as a group- por Spotted Beetle, Tall Pine, and Hummingbird think that trait of the watershed astronaut class of 1978: “Twenty-six white their friend Old Rock must lead a terribly boring existence just guys and nine…well…people who were not. Pretty diverse for sitting in the same spot year after year. After all, Humming- NASA”), and astronauts at work on the ground and in space. bird flies all over the world to sample nectar, Spotted Beetle They capture both the heady thrill of space travel and the can climb to the top of Tall Pine to take in the vistas, and even achievements of those who led the way there. Tall Pine dances in the breeze. But just sitting there? As they Exhilarating—as well as hilarious, enraging, or both at describe their own, ostensibly more exciting lives, however, Old once depending on the reader. (afterword, print and web Rock relates experiences that include being shot out of a vol- resources) (Informational graphic novel. 11-14) cano, seeing dinosaurs pass by, traveling by glacier, and having a close encounter with a mastodon. These tales occupy multiple

page turns, helping to communicate both Old Rock’s great age young adult THE CHALK GIRAFFE and the eventfulness of its existence. The trio ends up being fas- Paxton, Kirsty cinated by these accounts of Old Rock’s exploits, and they all Illus. by Lötter, Megan agree that ending up together in the present day is “Not boring Capstone Editions (32 pp.) at all.” Throughout, Pilutti’s expressive cartoon art is punctu- $17.95 | Feb. 1, 2020 ated by speech balloons, some with words and some with rebus- 978-1-68446-096-0 like images, that add humor to the already witty main text, and the facial features she supplies her protagonist with are delight- From South Africa comes the story fully communicative. A backmatter timeline pinpoints Old of a cantankerous giraffe and the budding artist who created Rock’s episodic journey to the present day with precision. him. This picture book rocks! (Picture book. 4-8) A brown-skinned child, with sizable brown afro puffs and a penchant for yellow, applies yellow and orange chalk to a paved road to draw a giraffe that comes alive. Immediately, the giraffe VILLAGE OF complains that he’s alone and bored with the gray that makes SCOUNDRELS up his created world. In response, the precocious young art- Preus, Margi ist draws him an acacia tree, then bright green lush grass, then Illus. by the author stars and a sun. The giraffe volubly finds each improvement Amulet/Abrams (304 pp.) wanting, so eventually the exhausted protagonist rubs him, the $16.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 tree, the stars, and the sun out with a foot—and then regrets 978-1-4197-0897-8 the action. Re-creating the giraffe, the artist is surprised when the giraffe grabs the chalk and draws the child into the picture, The inhabitants of a village in the which allows the child to see that the giraffe is lonely. Together mountains of Vichy France quietly carry they draw the giraffe numerous animal friends and congratu- out clandestine activities as they rescue late themselves on making “great art,” underscoring the value and hide Jews. of editing, revision, and precision to the artistic process. For Adults, teens, and even younger children work indepen- most of the book, black backgrounds highlight the chalky, tex- dently and in carefully constructed networks of established tured look of the protagonist’s artwork, each page warm with residents and Jewish refugees. “Everyone in this town had citrusy colors and grounded with earthy greens that add excep- secrets.” Refugees are hidden on outlying farms. Youngsters tional brightness. The striking art helps to compensate for the attend school and live in boardinghouses. All are given beauti- pedestrian, singsong-y rhyming verse and the tedium inherent fully forged identification papers, many made by Jean-Paul, who in documenting the iterative process of revision. has forged several versions of his own papers. Some have joined Makes the burdensome process of reworking art sur- the Maquis, disguised as Boy Scouts. Céleste conveys secret prisingly engaging. (Picture book. 4-8) messages; Philippe leads refugees to safe houses and to the Swiss border while others create diversions that lead authorities astray. Ten-year-old Jules notices and remembers everything. He maintains an odd, provocative relationship with the French

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 95 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Anthony Zuiker

HIS NAMESAKE PRESS PUBLISHES ISSUE-ORIENTED GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR YOUNG READERS, INCLUDING ACTIVIST, BY PARKLAND SHOOTING SURVIVOR LAUREN HOGG By Marion Winik David Zentz “My worst day at Zui- were speaking out about gun control, he knew the issue ker Press is better than was right for the series. Since widely known students like my best day at CSI,” says Emma Gonzales and David Hogg turned out to be too Anthony Zuiker, who cre- busy for the intensive process involved in creating the ated the CBS crime drama books, David’s younger sister, Lauren, was suggested. Zui- franchise and produced ker had lunch with her and her mother when they were out all four shows for 16 years. in LA filming a segment with Anderson Cooper about Lau- “Because the work we are ren’s Twitter exchange with Donald Trump Jr. and Melania doing now actually means Trump; the vocal high school student opposed conspiracy something for the world.” theories and the idea that her brother and other activists Zuiker is the force be- were “crisis actors.” hind a series of issue-ori- Zuiker flew to Florida for his standard three-day in- ented graphic novels, the fifth of which isActivist: A Story terview with the family. Afterward, he took his notes and of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Shooting by Lauren Eliza- holed up at a “writer’s haven”—Starbucks was mentioned— beth Hogg (Zuiker Press, Nov. 5), one of the surviving stu- to produce a 22-page script in Lauren’s voice. He showed dents of the Parkland tragedy. The first four books in the this to Lauren and her family, and they had no notes for series focused on kids who have lived through divorce, cy- him at all: He had gotten it right. From there, he began berbullying, racism, and body image issues; coming soon the lengthy process of developing the graphic novel with are books about transitioning, autism, and suicide—the a group of artists (five are credited on the copyright page last of these written in collaboration with the bereaved of Activist). parents of Hailee Joy Lamberth. “We do not give young people blank pages and say, ‘write Zuiker started small, underwriting the first volumes a book.’ Completely impossible,” says Zuiker. “On the oth- with a fundraiser held at his 50th birthday party, then giv- er hand, what I don’t want to start doing is saying ‘writing away classroom sets of them to principals and teach- ten by Anthony Zuiker’ on the cover and take the thunder ers in his Southern California area. As laudatory emails away from the child. It’s her story.” If this process leads to poured in and hundreds of the books were requested, the a certain sameness in the way the stories are told, Zuiker project was picked up by Simon & Schuster; the books are thinks consistency is a positive thing for the series. now starting conversations inside and outside of middle After establishing Lauren’s background—activist school and high school classrooms all over the country. mother, FBI agent dad, close relationships with brother When Zuiker heard about the Parkland kids who David and her two best friends, alias “Heart” and “Soul”—

96 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | Lauren’s experience the day of the shooting is narrated in detail. Both Heart and Soul were among the dead. The turning point in Lauren’s story—the beginning of her path to activism—came when the school principal called for students to walk onto the football field for 17 minutes of silence to honor the dead students. Feeling this was not an adequate response to the situation, Lau- policeman Perdant, openly questioning him about the morality of his insistence on following the orders and laws of the Nazi ren tweeted out a different plan. She and her classmates overseers. The knowledge he gains allows him to provide the others with key information, warnings, and time to get to safety. linked arms and kept walking right past the field, joining Each character’s backstory is woven seamlessly into the action. with hundreds of other area students for a rally. Preus builds suspense and drama by following these brave souls as they take on dangerous tasks, facing arrest, deportation, and, Zuiker and his wife, Michelle, a former teacher, have very likely, death if they are caught by the Nazis. Named as three sons, ages 19, 17, and 12, and are directly in touch with Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, these characters are based on real people from the village of Le Chambon sur issues affecting kids. In fact, the whole idea for the press Lignon, and Preus tells their afterstories in a well-researched, comprehensive epilogue. came when their middle son wanted to do a book about Deeply emotional, intense, and thought-provoking. his struggle with autism. In the end, Zuiker Jr. decided to (pronunciation guide, list of characters, photos, documents, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 10 18) keep his story private but gave his parents the idea to start - a full-blown publishing company to tell kids’ stories. Now, RUTH OBJECTS the press is looking for a subject for a volume on vaping. The Life of Ruth Bader “Every time a child picks up one of our books, the imme- Ginsburg

Rappaport, Doreen young adult diate message is ‘I’m not alone.’ Every time I hand a book Illus. by Velasquez, Eric Disney-Hyperion (48 pp.) back to a family, it brings the family closer,” says Zuiker. $18.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 “And what I never realized is how much my wife and I 978-148474717-9 Series: Big Words would grow in the process.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg witnessed and experienced discrimination, both subtle and overt, that profoundly affected her Marion Winik, author of The Big Book of the Dead, teaches choices and the direction her life would take. Activist Her mother was denied many opportunities, but she was memoir at the University of Baltimore. received a starred determined that Ruth would achieve independence. She died review in the Sept. 15, 2019, issue. just before Ruth’s high school graduation, never seeing her daughter’s splendid achievements. Colleges had quotas for admitting women, Jews, and racial minorities. School administrators openly disparaged women, and there were severe restrictions regarding housing, dining, curfews, and studying. Women, including Ruth, had to leave jobs when pregnant. There was discrimination in hiring for positions in law firms or for clerkships. But Ruth persevered, with her husband as equal life-partner every step of the way. While a law professor at Rutgers Univer- sity she participated in a successful lawsuit seeking equal pay with her male counterparts. Many more lawsuits seeking to end gender inequities followed. As lawyer, federal judge, and the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court, her remarkable career was forged from strength, determination, and pure guts. Rappaport tells Ruth’s story chronologically, punctuating it with Bader’s own words. Differing typesets, font sizes, and colors separate the quotes from the cogent, informative narration supplied. Per series formula, there is no title on the front cover—just Velasquez’s oil portrait depicting her intensity and serious demeanor. Interior illustrations focus on Ruth in every phase of her life and perfectly match the text. An insightful and fascinating examination of Ginsburg as woman and jurist. (timeline, author’s note, illustrator’s note, selected bibliography, additional resources) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 97 Renauld’s lively, approachable text welcomes young readers in the same way that Rogers welcomed his young viewers. fred’s big feelings

FRED’S BIG FEELINGS Wormy with his missing parents and then befriending—and The Life and Legacy of ultimately having to say goodbye to—two lovely hummingbirds Mister Rogers who must migrate south as the seasons change. When adver- Renauld, Laura sity challenges Owly, he reacts calmly, communicates his feel- Illus. by Barrager, Brigette ings with Wormy, and acts with warmth and bravery. Originally Atheneum (40 pp.) published in 2004 as a wordless, black-and-white volume, this $17.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 reissue adds both color, with a cheery earth-toned palette, and 978-1-5344-4122-4 dialogue among most of the characters, with the exception of Owly, who communicates only through pictures. Runton’s An account of the life of this humble evocative characters are nothing short of huggably adorable giant of children’s television. and affirm the importance of compassion and empathy against Children know about emotions per- perceived stereotypes. Owly and Wormy both identify as male haps before any other concepts—big emotions, too, like fear, characters; hummingbird friends Tiny and Angel identify as sadness, frustration, joy, love. Fred Rogers understood this and male and female, respectively. used the medium of television to connect with children and A simple but by no means simplistic tale emphasizing help them manage and accept their emotions. From a childhood the universality of kindness. (Graphic fantasy. 6-10) often spent inside and isolated from other children who bullied him to his career change from ministry to children’s media, Rogers’ life was punctuated and driven by the emotions he felt, THE STORY OF CLIFFORD recognized, and then used to add authenticity and tenderness Rusu, Meredith to his television shows. Using second person, as well as Rogers’ Illus. by Oxley, Jen & Kepler, Erica iconic phrase, “Hello neighbor,” Renauld’s lively, approach- Scholastic (32 pp.) able text welcomes young readers in the same way that Rogers $6.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 welcomed his young viewers into his living-room set. Words 978-1-338-57713-6 describing emotions are italicized throughout for emphasis and recognition by children, and myriad details offer touchstones Clifford’s back for a BIG adventure! for grown-ups familiar with the show. Bold colors spotlight each Clifford the Big Red Dog, an iconic children’s-literature spread, especially an array of individual panels that illustrate the character since 1963, is making a reappearance on television feelings children experience daily. The book ends as it began, and in books for children, complete with a new look and a new with a message validating each reader’s intrinsic worth; it’s one ability, one even more powerful than his big size and big heart. we should all have in our hearts, every day of our lives. A note For the first time, Clifford and Emily Elizabeth can talk to each from the author offers additional biographical details. It’s an other and share stories. These two have always gone on adven- excellent companion to You Are My Friend, by Aimee Reid and tures together, but their newfound communication honors the Matt Phelan (2019), with a personality all its own. bonds many children have with their pets. It’s Birdwell Island’s Bright, well-researched, and welcome. (Picture book/biog birthday, and Clifford leads a special parade in the island’s raphy. 5-8) honor, a parade that grows and grows as all the residents join in, bringing balloons, banners, and confetti. It’s a BIG, Clifford- sized parade! Birdwell Island is full of people of all shapes, sizes, THE WAY HOME and colors—embracing and celebrating inclusion and diversity. Runton, Andy Themes of togetherness, celebration, collaboration, and com- Illus. by the author munity run deep through this book, and, if previous Clifford Graphix/Scholastic (160 pp.) properties are any indication, they will through the forthcom- $22.99 | $10.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2020 ing television show as well. Lively illustrations seek to honor the 978-1-338-30066-6 traditions of Clifford by including both the slightly rough and 978-1-338-30065-9 paper scratchy style Norman Bridwell brought to the original books Series: Owly, 1 as well as the smoother, brighter style of the previous TV show while also offering novel palette colors and facial features to A wide-eyed owl yearns to make characters new and old. friends. A new twist on a timeless classic for brand-new readers. Owly, a gentle bird of prey, just wants to help. The other (Picture book. 3-7) forest creatures fear him even when he approaches with kindness and support. Owly tries leaving seed to feed the smaller birds, but they flee when they spot him. He rescues two insects trapped in a jar, but again, they fly off when they spy the raptor. Owly’s luck turns when he aids a worm named Wormy trapped in a puddle. Wormy and Owly forge an unlikely but genial friendship, and their forest adventures include reuniting

98 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | WAYSIDE SCHOOL a leafy labyrinth around them. Luckily (if inexplicably), Heart- BENEATH THE CLOUD song’s foal is on the outside of the maze and helps them find OF DOOM their way (extremely easily) by creating magical stars, and thus Sachar, Louis is dubbed Starsong. Though Heartsong doesn’t want to leave Illus. by Heitz, Tim the forest, she obeys the girls. The next day, Heartsong’s agita- Harper/HarperCollins (192 pp.) tion to get back to the forest prompts the realization that she $17.99 | Mar. 3, 2020 likely had twins, so the girls return to rescue the missing twin 978-0-06-296538-7 from mild but inventive peril. The magic is as kid friendly as the large type and short sentences. Picturesque settings and attrac- Rejoice! 25 years later, Wayside tive equines populate the black-and-white illustrations, which School is still in session, and the chil- depict the girls as white. The book’s strongest element is char- dren in Mrs. Jewls’ 30th-floor classroom acterization: Younger Ruby’s bolder while responsible Iris must haven’t changed a bit. actively decide to face her fears and plan how to succeed. The The surreal yet oddly educational nature of their misadven- next three series titles (Unicorn Uncovered, Stolen Magic, and The tures hasn’t either. There are out-and-out rib ticklers, such as Red Key) publish simultaneously. a spelling lesson featuring made-up words and a determined Likely to be an instant hobbyhorse for young lovers of class effort to collect 1 million nail clippings. Additionally, mean equestrian magic. (Fantasy. 6-8) (Unicorn Uncovered, Vol. 2: 978- queen Kathy steps through a mirror that turns her weirdly nice 1-63163-404-8 paper, 978-1-63163-403-1 PLB; Stolen Magic, Vol. 3: and she discovers that she likes it, a four-way friendship survives 978-1-63163-400-0 paper, 978-1-63163-399-7 PLB; The Red Key, Vol. 4: a dumpster dive after lost homework, and Mrs. Jewls makes sure 978-1-63163-396-6 paper, 978-1-63163-395-9 PLB)

that a long-threatened “Ultimate Test” allows every student to young adult show off a special talent. Episodic though the 30 new chapters are, there are continuing elements that bind them—even to MY MONSTER FRIENDS previous outings, such as the note to an elusive teacher Cal- AND ME vin has been carrying since Sideways Stories From Wayside School A Big Kid’s Guide to Things (1978) and finally delivers. Add to that plenty of deadpan dia- That Go Bump in the Night logue (“Arithmetic makes my brain numb,” complains Dameon. Sarac, Annie “That’s why they’re called ‘numb-ers,’ ” explains D.J.) and a wild Illus. by Brereton, Alice storm from the titular cloud that shuffles the school’s contents Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) “like a deck of cards,” and Sachar once again dishes up a con- $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 fection as scrambled and delicious as lunch lady Miss Mush’s 978-1-4926-9367-3 improvised “Rainbow Stew.” Diversity is primarily conveyed in the illustrations. A child invites readers to uncover common childhood fears Ordinary kids in an extraordinary setting: still a recipe and describes how to transform monsters to friends. for bright achievements and belly laughs. (Fiction. 9-11) An 8-year-old kid shares experiences with monsters and fears—and the secret to handling them: Naming each monster makes the fear go away. The first sharp-toothed monster lives HEARTSONG’S MISSING FOAL on the other side of a picket fence. It turns out the first mon- Sanderson, Whitney ster’s name is Kate and is actually a sweet dog. The protagonist Illus. by Tejido, Jomike continues through the house addressing other monsters, or Jolly Fish Press (72 pp.) common childhood fears, including shadows, the dark, thunder $18.99 | $4.99 paper | Jan. 1, 2020 and lightning, and, of course, the monster under the bed. Each 978-1-63163-391-1 fear is first illustrated and described with its own dark, frighten- 978-1-63163-392-8 paper ing monster personality, but with a flip of the page it is transformed into a bright, cheery version of what it really is. This is Sisters venture into the secret a great way to start talking to young children about their fears Enchanted Realm to help a unicorn foal. and the monsters they become in their imaginations. In rhym- The Enchanted Realm is kept secret ing verse, Sarac encourages children to take control of their to protect unicorns from humans; only fears by giving them names and reimagining them as friends, the Unicorn Guardians (always two little girls) have keys to the not foes. Some of the verses do not flow smoothly, but they still Magic Gate. The current guardians are sisters Iris and Ruby, get the message across. The illustrations combine bold colors, who have newly inherited the keys from their mother and geometrical shapes, and lots of textures and patterns that really aunt. The sisters are excited for the first birth of a unicorn foal emphasize the darkness of fears—and the light of reimagining since they took over. But when the foal’s mother, Heartsong, them. The bespectacled protagonist has pale skin and wavy doesn’t return from the Fairy Forest (where unicorns birth), black hair. the two must venture in to find out what’s wrong. Heartsong A solid choice to address fears. (Picture book. 4-7) is trapped by maze weed, a magic plant that quickly becomes

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 99 PIPER & MABEL beings are all included in the signs of spring; children will relate Two Very Wild but Very strongly to soaked mittens, boots in puddles, melting snowmen, Good Dogs and swinging on a tire swing. A particularly stunning photo- Shankle, Melanie graph shows a chickadee, wings whirring, sipping water from a Illus. by Watkins, Laura dripping icicle. Explanations of this and all the early spring phe- Zonderkidz (32 pp.) nomena depicted are offered at the back of the book, extending $17.99 | Feb. 25, 2020 the age level from preschool to early primary grades. The over- 978-0-310-76086-3 all theme, as well as the creative use of noun-verb combinations to form new adjectives, also lends itself to introducing children Shankle, best known for her devotional titles for adults, piv- to the e.e. cummings poem that begins “in Just-spring.” One ots to picture books. photograph shows two humans, both presenting as white. Based on the author’s own dogs, Piper and Mabel are “two Crocus-poking, mud-luscious enjoyment. (glossary, very wild but very good dogs” who love each other and their further reading) (Informational picture book. 3-8) humans. When the family begins discussing a trip to the beach, Piper and Mabel eagerly look forward to joining in the family vacation only to discover that they will not be going to the BRIGHT IN THE NIGHT shore. Piper and Mabel are off to Happy Tails Ranch, whose Sjöberg, Lena appealing brochure summons visions of spa-like farm fun for Illus. by the author the canine companions, even if going with the family would be Thames & Hudson (48 pp.) their first choice. The actual ranch is underwhelming and even $17.95 | Jan. 14, 2020 scary for the pooches; the food isn’t great, they are forced to 978-0-500-65219-0 take baths, and there are no facials to be found, so they decide to make a break for it. Though lost for a time, they sniff their “When night falls, everything is dark. way to safety and back to their family, where they wanted to Or is it?” be all along. It’s cute and satisfying, but this ground’s been trod In this Swedish import, Sjöberg sug- many times before. Watkins’ soft edges and pastel hues lend a gests that viewers look again, and against pitch-black backdrops cozy yet energetic aesthetic, reassuring readers that even when she casts sprays of stars and curtains of ionized northern (and Piper and Mabel are lost, all will turn out right in the end. Piper southern) lights across night skies, glimmering fish and other and Mabel’s humans appear to be white, though readers never marine creatures in shallow or deep-sea settings, lambent resi- get a good view, as the illustrations focus on the protagonist dents of otherwise lightless caves, fungi and even birds glow- canines, who are mostly black but whose breed is not readily ing eerily in ultraviolet light, and empty city streets faintly lit apparent. by windows and streetlights. Mainly she focuses on the natural Family-friendly dog stories will always find eager audi- world, presenting views of astronomical phenomena, ranks of ences, although this kibble’s a bit stale. (Picture book. 4-8) fluorescent minerals, and dozens of biofluorescent or biolumi- nescent creatures. These include fire centipedes and certain shrimp that cast glowing nets of slime as a defense, the reflective ON A eyes of cats and deer, puffins with UV–reactive beaks, luminous SNOW-MELTING DAY earthworms, toothy anglerfish, and, in the near future perhaps, Seeking Signs of Spring glowing trees and textiles. Sjöberg occasionally plays fast and Silverman, Buffy loose with facts—a star will last for a bit more than “thousands Millbrook/Lerner (32 pp.) of years,” and there actually is a natural explanation for swamp $27.99 PLB | Feb. 4, 2020 lights. As well, the survey presents readers with a visual chal- 978-1-5415-7813-5 lenge by presenting much of the narrative in tiny, dim type. Still, while feeding scientific interest, the author effectively makes Full-color photography and sparse, rhyming verse offer a a comforting point that for all its feeling of scary mystery, the look at early spring in a temperate climate. dark is rarely, if ever, absolute. Text, art, and layout are clever, thoughtful, and engaging. An illuminating look at the dark’s wonders, both infor- One double-page spread gives the beginning of a sentence that mative and atmospheric. (afterword) (Informational picture will have several different endings over the pages that follow; book. 7-9) the sequence is repeated four times. The opening pages start with “On a drip-droppy, / slip-sloppy, / snow-melting day….” Each of those three descriptions is accompanied by a clear and beautiful stock photograph; contrasting black or white text over the photographs is large and legible. The pages that follow use rhyming couplets with their own photographs to end that preceding phrase: “Squirrels cuddle. / Snakes huddle. / Clouds break. / Salamanders wake.” Plants, animals, and human

100 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | Should be packaged with an oxygen supply. the dinky donkey

THE DINKY DONKEY the story momentum and help communicate the tone. Charac- Smith, Craig ters’ facial expressions and body language capture the intense Illus. by Cowley, Katz emotional shifts, from Grayce’s excitement at learning to the Scholastic (24 pp.) stabbing sorrow of sudden loss. Grayce and Hawke have beige $7.99 paper | Nov. 5, 2019 skin and black hair, and the supporting cast includes a diver- 978-1-338-60083-4 sity of skin tones. Grayce’s coming-out subplot is affirming; she is met with love and support by old family and new. While the Even more alliterative hanky-panky story can stand alone, the world is built with a complexity that from the creators of The Wonky Donkey invites further exploration and adventures. (2010). Woven with magic. (map) (Graphic fantasy. 10-14) Operating on the principle (valid, here) that anything worth doing is worth overdoing, Smith and Cowley give their wildly popular Wonky Donkey a daughter—who, being “cute and THE AMAZING LIFE OF small,” was a “dinky donkey”; having “beautiful long eyelashes” AZALEAH LANE she was in consequence a “blinky dinky donkey”; and so on… Smith, Nikki Shannon and on…and on until the cumulative chorus sails past silly and Illus. by Lobo, Mari ludicrous to irresistibly hysterical: “She was a stinky funky Picture Window Books (112 pp.) plinky-plonky winky-tinky,” etc. The repeating “Hee Haw!” $14.95 | Jan. 1, 2020 chorus hardly suggests what any audience’s escalating response 978-1-5158-4464-8 will be. In the illustrations the daughter sports her parent’s big, Series: Azaleah Lane

shiny eyes and winsome grin while posing in a multicolored young adult mohawk next to a rustic boombox (“She was a punky blinky”), When her baby sister, Tiana, realizes painting her hooves pink, crossing her rear legs to signal a need her favorite stuffed frog, Greenie, is missing, Azaleah promises to pee (“winky-tinky inky-pinky”), demonstrating her smelli- to help her find him—but will she have enough time to help ness with the help of a histrionic hummingbird, and finally Tiana and complete her school project? cozying up to her proud, evidently single parent (there’s no sign Third grader Azaleah Lane is anxious to get home and start of another) for a closing cuddle. her diorama of Nikita the tiger after a visit to the National Zoo Should be packaged with an oxygen supply, as it will in Washington, D.C. However, before she can get started, she incontestably elicit uncontrollable gales of giggles. (Picture must help Tiana find Greenie. Oldest sister Nia is of little help, book. 4-6) as she’s busy preparing to play Dorothy in her middle school production of The Wiz. In order to complete her diorama and help Tiana solve the mystery of Greenie’s disappearance, Aza- THE DEEP & DARK BLUE leah must prioritize her tasks and pay attention to the clues Smith, Niki around her. This inaugural book in the Azaleah Lane series is Illus. by the author a fast-paced and fun read, and Azaleah is a sympathetic, lik- Little, Brown (256 pp.) able narrator who, like readers, is learning new vocabulary all $24.99 | $12.99 paper | Jan. 7, 2020 the time. She thinks aloud as she works to solve the mystery, 978-0-316-48598-2 occasionally (and realistically) losing patience with the sobbing 978-0-316-48601-9 paper Tiana. Lobo’s playful, full-color illustrations every few pages are just enough to give transitioning readers needed rests so A pair of twins seeks refuge—and they’ll keep going; they depict Azaleah and her family as black. revenge on the cousin to usurp his power. The backmatter includes a glossary of vocabulary words, book- On the day of the solstice, cisgender discussion and writing prompts, and instructions for making a boy Hawke and his twin, Grayce, a transgender girl, flee for diorama. their lives when their cousin Mirelle stages a coup, murder- Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah’s acquain- ing both their grandfather, lord of House Sunderlay, and their tance. (Mystery. 6-8) cousin Reyden, their grandfather’s rightful heir. They disguise themselves as initiates of the Communion of Blue, an order of women who spin the threads that bind the world. Grayce discovers belonging, purpose, and power with the Commu- nion, but Hawke grows restless, eager for the chance to fight for justice. In her middle-grade debut, Smith (Crossplay, 2018) steeps Grayce and Hawke’s world in immersive color. The Com- munion’s bright blue pops, drawing the eye whenever it appears and illustrating the magical energy that entices the twins to the Communion’s mysterious and mystical activities. Dynamic panel layouts, particularly during high action sequences, give

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 101 Both Bob and Someone the cat have irresistible expressions. up on bob

THE BLUNDERS the Moon. With folkloric echoes aplenty (but no specific credit), A Counting Catastrophe! the plot feels very familiar, and the boys’ mother comes across Soontornvat, Christina as little more than a naysayer to Little Brother. It is the book’s Illus. by Jack, Colin illustrations that truly carry the day. Every detail is charming Candlewick (32 pp.) and ingenious—from the sumptuous gold-on-green endpapers $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 to the two boys’ joy, represented by flying birds, racing deer, and 978-1-5362-0109-3 icy mountains. Both boys are depicted with light-brown skin and fluffy, brown hair. At the end of a day spent outside, 10 siblings each take a A visual treat. (Picture book. 3-8) turn counting themselves and come up one short. What will they tell their mother? Readers may think she’ll be relieved, as the kids are outside because she tossed them out UP ON BOB after they’d “blundered” too many things in the house. And in Sullivan, Mary Jack’s cartoon illustrations, all views of her save one portray her Illus. by the author as either angry or exasperated. After a full afternoon playing HMH Books (40 pp.) by and in the creek (no adult supervision, but it’s only waist- $17.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 deep), their mom’s words echo: Keep track of each other and be 978-1-328-99471-4 home by sundown. But no matter if they count by ones, twos, or threes, in English or Spanish, every child who attempts the Dog and cat meet cute and make friends. count comes up with only nine kids (readers are in on the joke, Bob is a dachshund with huge, expressive eyes and a mis- as in every illustration the counter is missing a number). Upon sion to sleep all day on a carefully made twin bed. The under- returning home, they tell their mother an outlandish story but stated text works with the drolly humorous illustrations to quickly come clean at the sight of the table set for 10. She finds describe Bob’s “hard work” of creating a perfectly comfy sleep- the missing child, though not the missing pies, which the kids ing spot. The dog tosses stuffed animals off the bed, rumples have carefully portioned…twice! Jack’s characters have an array up the bedding, knocks over a lamp, and then settles in to the of hair colors and heights, though most tend toward light skin chaos in a cozy nest of pillows and blankets. A set of cat ears and very thin physiques; one wears glasses. Even though their appears behind the bed, and the cat is gradually revealed on names are typically associated with gender, the presentation of subsequent pages, referred to in mysterious fashion only as several kids is ambiguous. Oddly, their noses and ears are dis- Someone. The cat watches and waits and then, on a double- tractingly darker than their faces. page-spread with great dramatic impact, leaps through the This could lead to some storytime or classroom count- air toward Bob. This spread with the attacking cat has as ing fun. (Picture book. 4-8) text only the single word “POUNCE!” illustrated in huge letters with the effect of reverberating motion. Replacing “Bob” with “Someone,” the text then repeats all the steps Bob went THE CLIMBING TREE through to create the perfect sleeping spot, this time with Stith, John illustrations depicting the cat mauling Bob and crawling in Illus. by Pieletskaya, Yuliya next to the surprisingly tolerant dog for a long nap together. POW! (32 pp.) Both Bob and Someone the cat have irresistible expressions, $17.99 | Nov. 12, 2019 with their huge eyes conveying emotion on every page. This 978-1-57687-934-4 funny story will have wide appeal, from preschoolers just learning about humor right up to new readers, who will be able A meditation on being big, being to handle the brief text set in a large font little, and finding ways to share the pro- A clever twist on traditional dog-versus-cat animosity, verbial sky. with subtle overtones of sharing and tolerance. (Picture Two little boys play in their yard book. 3-7) beneath a big Climbing Tree, which Big Brother, being the bigger and stronger, is the first to scale. Little Brother is eager to join him, but his mother reminds him that he is simply too little for the big tree. Time passes, and Little Brother is allowed to climb the tree, but when he has climbed as high as a bird, Big Brother has already climbed as high as a mountain, and then higher still, to the Sun. Little Brother cannot compete, as Big Brother reminds him “there isn’t room for both of us…there’s only one Sun in the sky.” Excluded from the possibility of ever catching up, Little Brother simply weeps in his mother’s lap. The boys ultimately become lonely and find resolution when Big Brother Sun agrees to share the sky with Little Brother as

102 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | PARKED other distractions, will Snail ever make it to his lunch? Though Svetcov, Danielle snail-centric, Tabor’s story is far from snail’s pace: Deft shifts Dial (400 pp.) between double- and single-page spreads and other visual cues $16.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 heighten the drama of the fraught adventure. The cartoon illus- 978-0-399-53903-9 trations digitally combine pencil, watercolor, and ink to create beautiful textures. Careful readers may see a visual mismatch Two white preteens—one nearly between the more-detailed spreads and those set against a homeless, one affluent—connect in San white background (e.g., how big is Snail’s shell home anyway?). Francisco. Still, Tabor (of 2019 Geisel-winning Fox the Tiger fame) shines; Abruptly quitting her Chicago res- his clever reversal of expectations will replace any skepticism taurant job, Jeanne Ann’s single mom, with a fit of giggles. Joyce, drove the van they now live in to A shell of a good time. (Picture book. 4-8) California and parked among the line of vans blocking ocean views for affluent residents, including Cal and his single mom, Lizzie, owner of a trendy vegetarian restaurant. With her prison DANDELION’S DREAM record and refusal to compromise career goals, Joyce can’t find Tanaka, Yoko work. When money runs out, Jeanne Ann sells her beloved Illus. by the author books. Hunger sets in; the public restroom’s cold-water tap Candlewick (40 pp.) serves for bathing. Meanwhile, socially awkward Cal pays a $16.99 | Feb. 11, 2020 price for painting an unauthorized mural at his private school: 978-1-5362-0453-7

working at his mom’s restaurant and attending public school. A young adult neighbor, aware that Cal sketches the van dwellers and feeds In this wordless picture book, a dan- their meters—helps him slip Jeanne Ann snacks and money. A delion becomes a dandy lion before he wary friendship grows. Joyce takes a dishwashing job, Lizzie’s goes to seed. chef takes an interest in Jeanne Ann, and some mansion dwell- To call this book original is an understatement. Tanaka liter- ers plot to evict the van-dwellers. Though Jeanne Ann’s descrip- ally translates a common mispronunciation of “dandelion” into tion of food insecurity is haunting, the rambling, far-fetched a series of pictures whose adventures unfold as in a dream. The plot often resembles a clever, extended elevator pitch. Despite lemon-yellow petals surrounding a comical, toothless, wide- manifestly good intentions, little light is shed on income eyed lion face glow against detailed backgrounds in grainy, inequality; events are too unlikely, characters too exceptional gradated grays, whites, and blacks. The plant-cum-lion gazes for readers to recognize or identify with. While “good” adults wonderingly at the transformation of leaves into soft, claw- are interchangeable paragons of quirky wisdom, grumpy-but- less paws before it ventures beyond its meadow into the world interesting Joyce remains frustratingly underdeveloped. beyond. As can happen in dreams, potential dangers and sor- Intermittently intriguing, this overlong, high-concept rows are thwarted by sudden changes: The threat of falling off debut mostly plods. (Fiction. 10-14) the top of a train ends in a soft landing on the back of a sheep; when rain begins on the high seas, a bird’s wing offers shelter; in a large, indifferent city, a movie theater offers respite. The SNAIL CROSSING paneled sequence of Dandelion inside the theater is particularly Tabor, Corey R. whimsical, especially when his diminutive size is contrasted Illus. by the author with a piece of popcorn. The dream ends with realistic images Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins (40 pp.) of thousands of dandelion seeds sailing off into the night—and $17.99 | Feb. 4, 2020 then a final image that reconnects reality and Dandelion’s 978-0-06-287800-7 dream. The art produces such strong identification with Dan- delion that it will encourage young listeners to verbalize as Why did the snail cross the road? Dandelion. A subtle lesson in life cycles underlies a book that is Cabbage. How? That’s another story. gently humorous, engaging, and soothing. While “scooting around” one day, Snail spots a field of Stunning. (Picture book. 3-6) scrumptious cabbage on the other side of a dangerous road. The self-assured gastropod approaches the obstacle with a can- do attitude: “Well, you won’t stop me!” After traveling for some time—and generating a glistening trail of slime—Snail decides to take a break. Just then, a vehicle in the distance zooms closer. Snail narrowly avoids it. Further perils and delays arise, but the “cabbage bound” hero slimes his way out of them all. Despite all the stress, Snail keeps it kind: He invites a “troop of rowdy ants” inside his shell (and his vintage-decorated living room) to take shelter from the rain. But between the tea and

| kirkus.com | children’s | 1 november 2019 | 103 I SURVIVED THE SINKING OF dropped off in the woods by their father. Robin is determined THE TITANIC, 1912 to help them, and as adventures featuring a mermaid, pirates, Tarshis, Lauren kidnapping, and a candy house ensue, the quintet becomes Illus. by Dawson, Scott fast friends. Adventures are broken down into three chapters Graphix/Scholastic (160 pp.) (the book was originally published in three separate volumes), $24.99 | $10.99 paper | Feb. 4, 2020 and each one includes a map and at least one interactive activ- 978-1-338-12092-9 ity. “Dear reader,” prompts one, “please help our friends make 978-1-338-12091-2 paper the right choice! Which vine reaches all the way to the ground?” Series: I Survived Graphic Novel At least one, a connect-the-dots drawing, actively encourages children to put writing implement to book. The style and sub- A popular prose series gets a graphic stance are less like Jeremy Whitley’s comic-book series Princeless revitalization. or Ursula Vernon’s Hamster Princess and more as though Yellow Faithfully following its predecessor, the book introduces Submarine and Luke Pearson’s Hilda had an extremely European readers to 10-year-old George, an American boy traveling first baby. The scribbly crayon-and-ink illustrations have a bright, class on the Titanic with his aunt Daisy and little sister, Phoebe. bold color palette and often take advantage of the diminutive When the fateful collision between boat and berg occurs, size of Robin and her friends (all white-presenting) in their use Phoebe goes missing. As the arctic waters rise, George sets out of scale. Robin is one of only a few girl characters. to find her. Although panic mounts all around, it seems that A quirky romp but also a niche one. (Graphic fantasy. 6-9) George’s privilege will save him, until he is shocked to discover otherwise. After the Titanic goes down and he’s safe back at home, George wrestles with his anxieties in a way that is acces- HOW TO CATCH A DRAGON sibly age-appropriate, albeit a bit facile. In the vein of other Wallace, Adam graphic adaptations of bestselling series (like the evergreen The Illus. by Elkerton, Andy Baby Sitter’s Club), the first installment of Tarshis’ sprawling Sourcebooks Wonderland (40 pp.) prose disaster oeuvre for young readers is reimagined in visually $10.99 | Nov. 5, 2019 interesting full-color comic panels that support its recognizable 978-1-4926-9369-7 thrilling pace and convenient twists. Many of the most exciting Series: How to Catch… scenes are largely wordless, spotlighting the propulsive action amid growing tensions. New backmatter includes interesting A kid tries to catch a good-luck dragon hiding around town historical facts and photographs of persons and places of inter- as the family prepares for Chinese New Year following the forest, including pictures of the first-, second-, and third-class cab- mula established in How To Catch an Elf (2016) and other series ins and of relics recovered from the shipwreck. Also included installments. are lists of further reading, both fiction and nonfiction. George, After hearing Mom wish for a dragon to bring health and Phoebe, and Daisy are white, as are nearly all the secondary fortune for the new year, a boy (presumably Chinese) and sev- characters as well. eral friends (of varying racial presentations) discover a dragon A fresh and interesting adaptation, making for an lurking about town. Among the Chinese-style architecture of easy crowd pleaser. (facts, character bios, bibliographies) the town buildings, they employ various fantastical lures related (Graphic adaptation. 7-10) to Chinese culture to catch it, including a web of noodles and sticky rice, a giant red lantern, gold coins, and a dragon dance. The simple and often awkward rhyming quatrains leave no room THE RUNAWAY PRINCESS for deeper insights into Chinese culture, but each stanza does Troïanowski, Johan include one or two highlighted words whose Chinese transla- Illus. by the author tion can then be found within the illustration. The entire text is Trans. by Smith, Anne & Smith, Owen translated into Simplified Chinese with Pinyin in the backmat- Random House (272 pp.) ter for cross-referencing. Elkerton’s digitally painted, colorful $20.99 | $12.99 paper | $23.99 PLB cartoon illustrations depict a diverse cast of modern-looking Jan. 21, 2020 children against a backdrop of a traditional Chinese village. 978-0-593-12416-1 Ultimately, despite the protagonist’s failure to catch the dragon, 978-0-593-11840-5 paper it is being within the embrace of a loving family (depicted as a 978-0-593-11841-2 PLB mother and a grandmother) that is the luckiest of all. A joyful if simplistic celebration of Chinese New Year Princess Robin isn’t supposed to culture. (Picture book. 3-7) have adventures, but that doesn’t stop her in this French import. Excited for the Aquatic Carnival, happy-go-lucky Princess Robin slips out of the castle without any adults catching her. Tak- ing a shortcut through the woods, she comes across four brothers who, à la “Hansel and Gretel,” are terrified after having been

104 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult - - - - - (Picture 7) - angry…and you love won’t Chapman adds to the I-love-you- I LOVE YOU WITH ALL YOU I LOVE MY HEART Chapman, Jane Chapman, $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 7, | Jan. $17.99 Tiger Tales (32 pp.) Tales Tiger Illus. by the author Illus. 978-1-68-010189-8

7) - Less tangible than a kissing hand, though it may prove When Little Bear’s drumming gets a little too enthusias Yes, Yes, hearts are full of love, and a heartbeat can be a “Up “Up in the sky, among the stars / There’s something you book. 3 love beating on and on forever.” Chapman nicely sidesteps what sidesteps nicely Chapman forever.” on and on beating love knowledge to work the very next day to deal with a disappoint highlights, effectively show love umbrellas both imagined (stars imagined both umbrellaslove show effectively highlights, umbrella of my love show / it’s To you I’m thinking of / Wher with this, the book ends abruptly. Chapman’s signature ador wet wet pants, a lost tooth, and a parent’s rushing them. worryNo no problem empathizing with Little Bear. revealed, is clearly each loved one who shelters and soothes. The soothes. and shelters who one loved each clearly is revealed, me ” anymore! Mommy is just as quick to soothe and reassure, ment at school and to persevere while chasing her lost kite. And kite. lost her chasing while persevere to and school at ment ing illustrations, which combine an earth palette with day-glo in a the cloud) sky, and real (a beach umbrella, a rain umbrella, might not see… // But over your head and just above / There’s an There’s / above just and head your over But // see… not might same love lives in Little heart,Bear’s and too, the cub puts that soothing comfort to those in need of some TLC. share, shyness, moving, and such everyday childhood issues as umbrella.” love our Holding / near be not never will “I writes, she giving readers a mission: to count the umbrellas they find (no tic, she accidentally topples Mommy’s favorite plant. To her the titular concept may ring false or cause pain. Colpoys’ strik comforting for some. (Picture book. 3 credit, she goes right to Mommy with the snapped-off sun- could be a sticky issue by having Mommy point out that this ever you might be.” The first-person narrator, though never can last under a love umbrella, but Bell may reach too far when able, expressive animals bring the tale to life; readers will have and that Mommy will “be sad…and “my feel heart to overpaw a put Mommy’s askingto Bear Little as are their families, and are introduced opposite the title page, answer They is face revealed).scary shadows, friends that don’t a sun shade). always shelf. four children—Joe, Brian, Grace, and Izzy—are racially and diverse, Izzy—are Brian, Grace, four children—Joe, flower, quickto apologize. But she just knows it’s not enough Little Bear loves her always, even when things go wrong—and For For children whose caregivers are absent, for whatever reason, Mommy gets a dose of her own medicine when she burns a cake: cake: a burns she when medicine own her of dose a gets Mommy (Pic mother jones and her army of mill children her army and jones mother | 1 november 2019 | 105 picture books day | kirkus.com | valentine’s Readers follow four children through children four follow Readers Scribble (32 pp.) Schwartz & Wade/Random (40 pp.) Wade/Random Schwartz & UNDER THE LOVE UMBRELLA UNDER THE LOVE difficult times as the unnamed narrator describes the “love umbrella” that is MOTHER JONES AND MOTHER HER ARMY OF MILL CHILDREN Bell, Davina Bell, $16.99 | Jan. 17, 2020 17, $16.99 | Jan. $17.99 | $20.99 PLB | Feb. 25, 2020 25, PLB | Feb. | $20.99 $17.99 Illus. by Colpoys, Allison by Colpoys, Illus. Illus. by Carpenter, Nancy by Carpenter, Illus. 978-1-947534-97-1 978-0-449-81291-4 978-0-449-81292-1 PLB Winter, Jonah Winter, 9) -

A stellar introduction to an important issue. social and ongoing to introduction stellar A A stellar introduction to an important and ongoing Winter focuses on Mother Jones’ Children’s Crusade to intro- Crusadeto Children’s Jones’ Mother on focuses Winter “My “My name is Mother Jones and I’m MAD. And you’d be picture books both child marchers and onlookers. ture book/biography. 5 haired white woman in full-length black dress, white lace collar, haired woman in white full-length black dress, collar, lace white labor The practices in first the pagesearly depict 20th century. proved unsuccessful, but was it a failure? “HECK, NO!” Mother Mother NO!” “HECK, failure? a it was but unsuccessful, proved what she saw led Mother Jones to organize the central event idiom with the occasional dropped G and a great many capi- mines, and in Philadelphia fabric mills, where and white brown socialissue. (author’s photographs,note, bibliography) grind slowly” and that it took 40 more years of work to get laws get to work of years more 40 took it that slowly”and grind tal letters. Carpenter depicts Jones as an apple-cheeked, silver- changed. His changed. protagonist/subjectHis speaks with fervor in a folksy of the volume, a children’s march from Philadelphia to New children toil “for TEN HOURS STRAIGHT.” Her anger at and There an is aura racial of diversity indestructibility. among above each of them. duce young readers to the history against readers to young duce of protests child labor. Jones Jones assures readers. But Winter is careful state Jones on to the penultimate page that have“the wheels of justice Mother Jones’ first-person narrative about her long career fighting child fighting career long her about narrative first-person Jones’ Mother Jones in front of smoky factories, in West Virginia coal Virginia in frontJones of Mother West smoky factories, in MAD, MAD, too, if you’d seen what I’ve seen.” Thus begins Mother

York City to dramatize the York plight of child The laborers. march valentine’s day day valentine’s Readers would need hearts of stone not to be moved by the family togetherness on display. one hug

I WILL ALWAYS BE confusing (see above) and are largely irrelevant to the follow- YOUR BUNNY ing spread, supposedly triggered by the suggested actions. The Love From the heart, suddenly supplied with a painter’s palette and a beret and Velveteen Rabbit surrounded by blobs of color, instructs readers to “Shake the Gilbert, Frances book to see what I can be.” The page turn reveals hearts of all Illus. by Swaney, Julianna different colors, one rainbow-striped, and then different shapes. Doubleday (32 pp.) Most troublingly, the heart, who is clearly meant to be a stand- $8.99 | $12.99 PLB | Dec. 24, 2019 in for loved ones, states, “I’m always here for you,” which for too 978-1-9848-9341-3 many children is heartbreakingly not true. 978-1-9848-9342-0 PLB Skip. (Picture book. 4-7) The Velveteen Rabbit shares all the ways he’ll be there for his beloved friends. MY LOVE IS ALL AROUND “When it’s dark and when it’s sunny, / I will always be your McLean, Danielle bunny. // If the world feels like a muddle, / come on over for Illus. by Braun, Sebastien a cuddle.” Against simple backgrounds that keep eyes focused Tiger Tales (32 pp.) on the action and the relationship, Swaney places charming, $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 seemingly watercolor illustrations of diverse children interact- 978-1-68-010194-2 ing with the Velveteen Rabbit, a long, brown-and-white bunny who is, of course, “alive.” From snuggling in bed and refereeing a As Mommy and Baby Bear roam, sibling disagreement to either moping indoors through the rain Mommy points out all the love around them in the world. or enjoying the puddles, the situations will be familiar to young Just as “love is all around,” so do McLean’s messages mul- readers. Though the rabbit lacks a mouth, both the line of his tiply: to appreciate the world, to see love being shared, to chin and the area where the white of his belly meets brown sug- recognize the many small ways love is shown, or to know that gest one, and his emotions are clear through body language. The one is always loved. Each is worthy, though mixing them all tiny trim size makes this ideal for sharing one-on-one, and the together may dilute them. Love is in the butterflies, birdsong, gift plate on the front endpaper suggests personal rather than and the games played by the pair. The sunshine also contains public-library use. But the audience remains a question; some love and is a reminder of the mother’s love. The pair hears a vocabulary suits this to older children (“morale,” “BFF,” “ref”), rabbit family laughing and watches a mother fox kissing her kit: who would also truly understand and appreciate the original These are both love, and Baby Bear makes the connection, not- Velveteen Rabbit book, but the rhyming and simple pictures are ing that Mommy kisses her own cub all the time: “I must be aimed at a younger age group. SOOO loved!” Love is also helping others, kindness, cuddling, Either sweet or treacly depending on any given reader’s and the twinkling stars. As they’ve talked about love the whole mindset and love for the classic. (Picture book. 4-7) day, they end it cuddled together, their hearts full of love under a star-spangled sky and a crescent moon. Braun’s animals are adorable, though more simply drawn than many in this canon. ALWAYS MORE LOVE Their sometimes-static expressions also keep readers at a bit of Guenderlsberger, Erin a remove. Illus. by AndoTwin Too many takeaways muddle the message of love. (Pic Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (40 pp.) ture book. 3-7) $10.99 | Jan. 1, 2020 978-1-7282-1376-7 ONE HUG An interactive book works to get its Moore, Katrina titular message across to readers. Illus. by Woolf, Julia The narrator, an anthropomorphic cartoon heart with big Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins (32 pp.) eyes and stick arms and legs, is nothing if not exuberant in its $14.99 | Dec. 10, 2019 attempts, clumsy and cloying as they may be. “I love you so 978-0-06-284954-0 much, / but there’s more in my heart. / How is that possible? / Well, where do I start? // Now move in close, and you will see One family’s reunion is celebrated / just how much you mean to me. // My love is huge—below, through many types of hugs. above. / As you can tell, there’s always more love!” The page fol- As with many books on the topic, this one surveys the many lowing the instruction to move in shows a close-up of the top of types of hugs in the world: “Some hugs nuzzle nose to nose. / the heart and its eyes, one stick arm pointing skyward, though Some hugs lick and tickle toes.” But in contrast, Moore and despite the admonition “you can tell,” readers will glean noth- Woolf offer readers something more. As the pages turn, the ing about love from this picture. À la Hervé Tullet, the book Asian nuclear family of a mom, dad, and two children antici- prompts readers to act, but the instructions can sometimes be pates and prepares for what is clearly a long-awaited reunion

106 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult 7) - The Thank You Book, You (The Thank Graegin and Ray A A caregiving bear shares with its cub Silver Dolphin (32 pp.) how love has defined their relationship WITH ALL MY HEART friendship. Stansbie, Stephanie Stansbie, HMH Books (32 pp.) HMH Books (32 pp.) Ray, Mary Lyn Mary Ray, $15.99 | Dec. 3, 2019 $15.99 $14.99 | Dec. 17, 2019 $14.99 | Dec. 17, THE FRIENDSHIP BOOK THE FRIENDSHIP Illus. by Smythe, Richard by Smythe, Illus. Illus. by Graegin, Stephanie by Graegin, Illus. 978-1-68412-910-2 978-1-328-48899-2 2018) team up again for this tribute to (Picture book. 4 The text lyrically describes friendship: “Sometimes being A sweet celebration for those who don’t need to build With rhymes and With a steady rhythm that are less singsong-y Stansbie also takes care not to put promises in the adult bear’s bear’s adult the in promises put to not care takes also Stansbie both anthropomorphized animals and racially diverse people to to people diverse racially and animals anthropomorphized both friendshipskills. proximity proximity is not always possible: “Wherever you are, / even what advice is here is vague—this is unlikely to help children waiting to begin a friendship with you, and it may start with a what a friend is, what and friendsthat they do can together, be when we’re apart… // I’ll love you forever / with all of my heart.” my of all with / forever you love I’ll // apart… we’re when mouth that can’t be delivered, acknowledging that physical make/keep make/keep friends or cheer up the friendless or those missing it may help to think that somewhere, there is someone else just it may help to illustrations echo the subject matter, and Graegin again uses if there’s sunshine in your pocket. / Or inside you.” Ray shares set scenes of friends enjoying time Still,together. while sweet, simple, “Hello.” The small trim size and earthy tones of the cozy cozy the of tones earthy and size trim small The “Hello.” simple, start feeling that feeling that with comes having a friend— // as get acquainted. / But then, as some small knowing grows, you than similar books, Stansbie seems to have hit a sweet spot the adult and child as they share special moments together— the adult tells the child that the love it feels has only grown. emphasis is on the close child. Shaped peekaboo relationship windows offer glimpses of preceding between parent and a sunset, a splash in a pond, climbing a tree, a snuggle—and alike or different. Things aren’t always rosy: Things or Sometimes alike aren’t different. friends and succeeding pages, images and text carefully placed to work work to placed carefully text and imagespages, succeeding and from the first moment and through the years as the cub has grown. cub the years as the through and moment fromfirst the follow Readers shelf. I-love-you-always the on offering this for friends who are far away. disagree or get mad (“But friends”), it and one doesn’t may last. have / to be Because there they’re for the other when friends begins all at once. // And sometimes it takes awhile to The large trim size helps the sweet illustrations shine; their “they need some extra When have sunshine.” you a don’t friend, - - - | 1 november 2019 | 107 picture books day | kirkus.com | valentine’s A how-to book of love. how-to A 5) - Penguin Workshop (32 pp.) Workshop Penguin Randall, Emma Randall, $16.99 | Dec. 24, 2019 A BOOK OF LOVE Illus. by the author Illus. 978-1-5247-9331-9 6) - (Picture book. 2 The book amply demonstrates that “hugging makes us us makes “hugging that demonstrates amply book The Valentine’s Day brings a new crop of books each year about Valentine’s A nice sentiment marred somewhat by its forced verse. blingly—provide a night light for the fivechildren cozied up in being patient, listening to someone who’s having a tough day, love, including at least one that attempts to define and exem- family.” family.” hearts spangling the sky. ple with their own three children. “Some hugs wait for years pening, and by the end, readers will be searching out hugs of plify This love. is often that show book our for love 2020. “We wondering wondering about air holes.) The loosely cartoony illustrations with family that has flown in: a grandmother and anothercou- nic feast (both typical American picnic food such as hot dogs with touch, / like a great big hug or kiss. / But there are lots of ways to show you care, / and ideas not to miss.” These include is catching, and readers would need hearts of stone not to be moved by the family togetherness They on havedisplay. a pic robustly diverse crowd of people all holding hands and smiling; rhymes are meant to appeal to: “To offer a gentle word or two, / offer or a two, gentle word “To appeal to: rhymes are meant to meter meter is sometimes and off, in a few cases clear it’s words were ing past faults. In some cases, the pictures may not aid much in comprehension, especially with the younger audience the soloist at a recital—does that really illustrate selflessness?). The reallyselflessness?). that illustrate recital—does a at soloist gifts, kind deeds (like washing the dishes), “forgiving and forget and “forgiving dishes), washingthe (like deeds kind gifts, their own. the other is a starry spread over a neighborhood full of homes, the pages with adorable children readers can trace throughout a depicts One strongest: the are spreads two final The book. the ting,” sharing with siblings, standing up for people, and look chosen for rhyme rather than meaning. Bright illustrations fill and years. // Some hugs cradle falling tears.” The excitement a backyard tent. (The top is not visible, so readers will go on are filled with charming details that give clues toas what ishap- and hamburgers and Asian dishes like dumplings and noodles) and spend the evening catching fireflies, which then—trou- and consider how others feel, / are both examples of selfless acts selfless of examples both are / feel, others how consider and / that prove your love is real” (one child cheers on a frightened (Picture book. 3 whatever the context. While the die cuts on the interior pages will not hold up to rough handling, they do add whimsy and delight to the book as a whole: “And now that you’re bigger, / you make my heart sing. / My / beautiful / wonderful / magical / thing.” Those last three adjectives are positioned in leaf- shaped cutouts, the turn of the page revealing the roly-poly cub in a pile of leaves, three formed by the die-cuts. Opposite, three vignettes show the cub appreciating the “beautiful,” the “wonderful,” and the “magical.” Sweet. (Picture book. 3-5)

LOLA DUTCH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH Wright, Kenneth Illus. by Wright, Sarah Jane Bloomsbury (40 pp.) $17.99 | Dec. 31, 2019 978-1-5476-0117-2

Lola Dutch has many ways of communicating her love to her friends. When each of her anthropomorphic animal friends starts the day grumpy, Lola (a human girl) knows just what to do, and readers of Gary Chapman’s popular 5 Love Languages books will recognize them. She sews cozy pajamas for chilly Gator (receiving gifts), arranges Crane’s strewn-about books in a “Book Nook” (acts of service), organizes an outing to the park for Pig (quality time), and gives Bear a hug (physical touch). In return, her four friends celebrate just how much they appreciate and love her with a banner and a cake (words of affirmation). The rear copyright page includes a small, easily overlooked paragraph citing the book’s inspiration and asking readers how they feel loved and show love to their friends. No information is given about how to determine which love language to use in different situations or with different people. The loosely outlined illustrations are a delight because of the expressive characters and Lola Dutch’s infectious exuberance. Lola is pale-skinned with a brown pageboy. The dust jacket unfolds to show a party scene, Bear and Crane preprinted on the page. Lola Dutch and Gator are paper dolls that can be cut out along with a loving note to share with someone special. Pig is absent. Love can be shared in so many ways; reading this together is a start. (Picture book. 3-7)

108 | 1 november 2019 | children’s | kirkus.com | young adult

These titles earned the Kirkus Star: TEARS OF FROST Barton, Bree Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins THE BLUE ROAD by Wayde Compton; (480 pp.) illus. by April dela Noche Milne...... 111 $17.99 | Nov. 5, 2019 978-0-06-244771-5 WHAT I CARRY by Jennifer Longo...... 115 Series: Heart of Thorns, 2 JUST BREATHE by Cammie McGovern...... 119 Magic and sisterhood intertwine in ALL THE DAYS PAST, ALL THE DAYS TO COME the high-stakes sequel to Heart of Thorns (2018). by Mildred D. Taylor...... 122 Mia Rose awakens from her death

with gaps in her memory and her senses gone numb. Her search young adult for a mother who betrayed her trust leads her to the snow kingdom, where she hopes to find answers and a way to rescue Prince Quin from her sister Angelyne’s powerful enthrallment. Determined to seek revenge against her powerful mother, Pilar d’Aqila is on the run from the river kingdom when she runs into a recently escaped Prince Quin—the boy whose sister she killed. Pilar and Quin join forces to travel together into the snow kingdom in search of Pilar’s long-lost father. Chap- ters alternate viewpoints between Mia and Pilar, who are on a collision course that connects ongoing family secrets and betrayals, the failings of previous generations, and a thoughtful examination of agency, female empowerment, and the history of magic. In this world, “magic is born of a power imbalance,” and while this conceit showed a lot of promise in the overtly feminist first book, the sequel is effectively bogged down by an extended magical system that leads to convoluted worldbuilding, a love triangle, and trivial twists. Mia and Quin are white, Pilar has golden skin and black hair, and there are multiple queer characters. A sequel that builds on its predecessor with mixed results. (map, author’s note, resources) (Fantasy. 13-16)

SHADOWSPELL ACADEMY The Culling Trials Breene, K.F. & Mayer, Shannon Sky Pony Press (564 pp.) ALL THE DAYS PAST, ALL THE DAYS $16.99 | Nov. 5, 2019 TO COME 978-1-5107-5510-9 Taylor, Mildred D. Viking (496 pp.) In a bid to save her family, Wild $18.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 braves brutal entrance exams for Shad- 978-0-399-25730-8 owspell Academy. Texan farm girl Wild lives with her ailing father and younger twin siblings, Billy and Sam. Her mother has passed, and her older brother

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 109 diverse books: are they just for teaching?

Photo courtesy Leah Overstreet Recently, a friend shared a di- June 4) focuses on Mariam, who verse book list for young readers tries out a virtual reality dating on social media. A white friend of app that matches her with her hers commented that she is always ex-boyfriend as well as a platonic looking for books that will expose male friend…though maybe he’s her children to diversity but that more than just a friend. Mariam she was dismayed at how many of is Persian and Muslim and an them feature characters who may NYU freshman who moves in have different names or eat differ- diverse circles. Her story is one ent foods but otherwise seemed to about love, self-discovery, and be “just like us.” I replied that want- figuring out relationships of all ing to learn about other cultures is laudable, but it is also kinds. valuable for kids to see that other people don’t exist just Sarah Lyu’s The Best Lies (Si- to be learning opportunities. When I shared this anec- mon Pulse, July 2) is a darkly thrilling tale set in Atlanta. Re- dote with a white Scandinavian friend who is married to my’s boyfriend, Jack, is dead—shot by her best friend, Elise, an Asian American man, she was more succinct, com- with whom she has an obsessive re- menting drily, “Maybe that’s the point.” lationship. This intense novel cen- All of which led me to think about what kinds of di- ters on a third-generation Chinese verse stories pass through publishing’s gatekeepers and American girl, but it is primarily a appear in print, in turn shaping perceptions about what suspenseful drama in which two certain groups of people “are like.” It can be easy to re- girls, each of whom has terrible gard diverse books as primarily educational tools for kids personal struggles, support one from dominant culture backgrounds. This would explain another, albeit disturbingly. the relative paucity of diverse genre fiction as compared In Lance Rubin’s Crying to historical fiction and realistic fiction that centers on Laughing (Knopf, Nov. 19), Win- narratives of oppression and persecution. nie is an aspiring comedian who Another true story: A colleague from my school li- had a humiliating experience brarian days shared a story about Kwame Alexander’s while attempting a routine at Newbery-winning The Crossover (Houghton Mifflin Har- her own bat mitzvah. But sopho- court, 2014). A white teacher assigned it based on his rec- more year is all about growth for this Jewish teen—both ommendation—but without reading it first (that’s a col- the welcome kind that comes from facing your worst umn for another day!). Even though the kids loved it, she fears in order to realize your biggest dreams and the kind was upset because she wanted the book to provide an op- that is thrust upon you when a portunity to teach about race; in failing to do so, it negat- beloved parent faces a terminal ed her reason for choosing a book by a black author. diagnosis. Ironically, the word “didactic” is frequently wielded Each of these books adds as a criticism against diverse books in particular (another welcome diversity to the pool columnworthy subject), giving the unfortunate impres- of romance, thriller, and realis- sion that either way, we just can’t win: that diverse books tic fiction titles for young adults. only have value in terms of their role as teaching tools—as They entertain and offer insights long as the teaching they do is not too explicit, of course. into the human condition, but It’s important that we have a wide variety of materials they don’t make their diverse with culturally diverse protagonists where the focus is on characters into instructive ex- things other than identity, including—as in the examples amples. I hope that readers of below—falling in love, getting embroiled in a toxic friend- all backgrounds will value them, ship, and taking risks in order to be true to yourself. These and books like them, just as they are. —L.S. titles are all #ownvoices works with strong reader appeal that do not exist primarily to be culturally instructive. Laura Simeon is the young adult editor. Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash (Simon & Schuster,

110 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | A touching allegory of the trials of migration. the blue road

was killed in an accident at the academy. Now another recruit- DAY ZERO ment letter has appeared, this time addressed to Billy, with an DeVos, Kelly added threat that their whole family will be destroyed if he Inkyard Press (432 pp.) doesn’t show. Wild shears off her long hair and sets off in his $18.99 | Nov. 12, 2019 place. But from the moment she heads off to upstate New York, 978-1-335-00848-0 she is faced with constant danger, finally being forced into a Series: Day Zero Duology, 1 helicopter with other captive teens. Wild is a natural contender in the perilous Culling Trials, putting her intuition for danger, A near-future political thriller about penchant for fighting, and love of puzzles to work. A team of change and agency. misfits forms around her, slowly burgeoning into friendships. In the United States, two new politi- But students begin disappearing, and an assassin may be trailing cal parties emerge from the ashes of the Wild. Suddenly, Wild’s entangled in a mystery, and she’ll do any- New Depression—The Opposition and thing to keep her team safe. Her journey leans heavily on tropes The Spark. When The Opposition, under the leadership of the derived from Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, with less charismatic Ammon Carver, unexpectedly wins the election, focus on worldbuilding or character development, leaving little the country is thrown into a state of befuddled disarray, made to propel readers through the never-ending gauntlets. Unkind worse by terrorist attacks on the banking system that soon lead jokes at the expenses of a fat character, a character on the spec- to curtailed civil liberties. Seventeen-year-old Susan “Jinx” Mar- trum, and gay people are unredeemed by character growth. All shall is a coder who just wants to have fun gaming, but her fam- major human characters are white. ily is caught in the middle of it all: Her stepfather is framed for An uninspired slog through another magical boarding the attacks, and her survivalist, tech genius father might have school. (Fantasy. 13-18) the answers to what is really happening. On the run with her young adult little brother, Charles, and her stepsiblings, MacKenna and Toby, Jinx has to remember all those weekend doomsday drills THE BLUE ROAD her father put her through if she wants to survive as the world A Fable of Migration collapses around them. Jinx’s arc from passive onlooker to an Compton, Wayde agent for change who will do anything to protect those she Illus. by dela Noche Milne, April cares about is at the core of a compelling, action-packed story Arsenal Pulp Press (128 pp.) about family ties, politics, and revolution. The villains come $18.95 paper | Nov. 1, 2019 across as simplistic, but the divisive political environment from 978-1-55152-777-2 which they arise reads as genuinely terrifying and plausible. Jinx and her family are white; one important secondary character is A journey from swampy nothingness Mexican American. to fulfillment. Fast-paced, topical, and engaging. (Thriller. 14-adult) Lacuna knows her own name and little else. She cannot remember living anywhere other than the Great Swamp of Ink, where she senses that she is being watched. Polaris, a will-o’- THE GOOD HAWK the-wisp and magical guardian of the swamp, gives her a choice: Elliott, Joseph Leave or die. Before heading north, Lacuna fills two gourds with Walker US/Candlewick (368 pp.) swamp ink and soon encounters the Thicket of Tickets, where $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 a forest of “admit one” tickets stands between her and the blue 978-1-5362-0718-7 road leading to the Northern Kingdom. Once she emerges Series: Shadow Skye, 1 from the thicket and embarks upon the blue road, Lacuna realizes her trials are only beginning. Taking cues from The Wizard Deft characterization and an original of Oz, Compton (The Outer Harbour, 2015, etc.) draws parallels protagonist elevate a fantasy set in quasi- between the confusing journey migrants face and Lacuna’s medieval Scotland. journey. Compton’s characters are intriguing; brown-skinned, Fifteen-year-old Agatha, who has a curly–black-haired Lacuna is wily, smart, inventive, and empa- Down syndrome–like disability, is proud thetic, and her internal battles are thought-provoking. Her own to be a Hawk, charged with watching the seas of Skye for dan- resourcefulness and the different objects she gathers allow her ger, despite some in her clan calling her “retarch,” stupid, and to persevere in her perilous pilgrimage. Milne’s (The Imperfect useless. Jaime has always been friendly toward her, even while Garden, 2019, etc.) loose illustrations are colorful, featuring dismissing himself as weak and worthless. When their people many gradations of blues, greens, and browns, and effectively are enslaved by brutal raiders from Norveg, Agatha and Jaime convey the intensity of the journey. As the story leaves unan- must summon all their individual strengths. This page-turning swered questions, it begs for a sequel. Characters are diverse, adventure is rich in atmosphere while dripping with grisly vio- ranging in skin tone from beige to dark brown. lence; untranslated dialogue inspired by Scottish Gaelic and A touching allegory of the unexpected and burdensome Old Norse adds extra flavor. Jaime and Agatha alternate - nar trials of migration. (Graphic fantasy. 12-16) ration, each distinctive voice unreliable in its own way: Jamie’s

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 111 A poetic love letter exploring a vast range of topics. say her name

cautious, anxiety-riddled account cannot conceal his courage SPELLHACKER and compassion; Agatha’s simple words convey passion, loy- England, M.K. alty, and cleverness. Other characters display less depth—the HarperTeen (416 pp.) Viking-ish marauders especially are shallow villains. While the $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 disability superpower trope is never overtly invoked, the only 978-0-06-265770-1 explicit magic is Agatha’s gift of communication with animals and a severely traumatized woman’s power to command spirits, A close-knit team of magic thieves which may trouble some. Nevertheless, most readers will race attempts one last job only to uncover a to the triumphant conclusion and shiver at dark hints of pos- dangerous conspiracy. sible sequels. The few physical descriptions seem to point to an Science fiction melds with fantasy all-white cast; there is one same-sex relationship. in the futuristic city of Kyrkarta, where A fresh and exciting debut. (note about languages) people use both advanced technology (Fantasy. 12-16) and magical energy, called maz. The Maz Management Cor- poration heavily regulates maz, leading teenage hacker Diz to illegally siphon the valuable resource with her best friends: SAY HER NAME spellweaver Remi, techwitch Ania, and muscle Jaesin. When Elliott, Zetta the group’s final job ends disastrously, it leads to a shocking dis- Illus. by Wise, Loveis covery—and it’s vital that Diz and her crew stop things before Jump at the Sun/Disney-Hyperion there is further damage. Action and humor combine in a com- (112 pp.) pelling narrative that is rooted in Diz’s complex relationship $18.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 to her found family. Over the course of their adventures, Diz 978-1-368-04524-7 struggles to let her walls down, hindered by trauma from her childhood. In particular, she slowly learns to give room to her A collection of poems centering the romantic feelings for Remi, who uses they/them pronouns and experiences of black women, girls, and has a chronic illness caused by contaminated maz. Readers will femmes. be hooked by the high stakes throughout, though a linear plot Elliott (Dragons in a Bag, 2018, etc.) offers up a poetic love and a sense of inevitable success deflate moments of tension. letter exploring a vast range of topics: Black Lives Matter; The cast is racially diverse and joyfully queer. microaggressions such as hair touching; violence against black Readers will want to buckle in for this high-speed, big- women and girls; the Middle Passage; what self-care and resis- hearted sci-fi/fantasy adventure.(Speculative fiction. 13-17) tance can look like; not fitting into prescribed definitions of blackness; and surviving in the U.S. (a country where, echoing Audre Lorde’s “A Litany for Survival,” she writes, “…you are THIS LIGHT BETWEEN US a miracle / because we were never / meant to survive / not as Fukuda, Andrew human beings / yet despite their best efforts / to grind us down / Tor Teen (384 pp.) still we rise / we strut / dazzle / & defy the odds…”). It’s clear that $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Elliott poured not only her talent, but her heart into this col- 978-1-250-19238-7 lection, which acknowledges race-wide struggles as well as very personal ones. True to the title, several poems allude to black Friends separated by an ocean experi- women and young people who have been murdered, though, ence the traumas of World War II. disappointingly, black trans women are largely absent. Elliott For Japanese American Alex Maki, includes a sprinkling of mentor poems that served as inspira- the world in 1935 mostly consists of read- tion to her and that form an introduction to readers unfamiliar ing and drawing comics. By mistake he is with the poets’ works (though why Phillis Wheatley’s ode to assigned to be the pen pal of Charlie Lévy, internalized anti-blackness “On Being Brought From Africa to a Jewish girl living in Paris whom his teacher believes to be a boy. America” was included without context isn’t clear). Art not seen. The two become devoted friends, and their correspondence This empowering collection belongs on every shelf. proves comforting when World War II brings anti-Japanese (notes) (Poetry. 12-adult) sentiment to Alex’s home of Bainbridge Island, Washington, and Charlie’s parents argue over whether to leave Paris following the Nazi occupation. After Alex’s father is taken by the FBI, under suspicion of being a spy, the rest of the family is sent to the Manzanar internment camp. The story, punctuated by Alex’s and Charlie’s letters, overall belongs to Alex. As the war in Europe interferes with mail delivery to and from France, Alex decides to enlist in exchange for his father’s release and, secretly, in hopes of finding Charlie. Assigned to the legendary all-Japa- nese American 442nd regiment, Alex confronts the ravages of

112 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | war, haunted by his fears for Charlie’s safety. Fukuda (The Trap, WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT 2013, etc.) artfully conveys Alex’s inner turmoil and paints vis- Ibañez, Isabel ceral combat scenes. Alex grows over time, battling internal- Page Street (384 pp.) ized racism, which is partially expressed in his negative reaction $18.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 to the recruits from Hawaii whose portrayal could have been 978-1-62414-801-9 developed with more nuance and context. An intriguing premise and fascinating tale. (author’s A rollicking political fantasy inspired note, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 13-18) by Bolivian history and filled with irre- pressible heroines, opulent settings, twisty court intrigue, bloody revolutions, and mouthwatering feasts. Ximena Rojas has been the decoy for the Illustrian Condesa of Inkasisa ever since the Llacsan King Atoc overtook La Ciudad Blanca by unleashing murderous earthquakes and ghosts. Ximena’s own parents died in the siege, so when Atoc demands to marry the condesa, Ximena, a trained assassin with weaving powers given to her by the moon goddess, takes her place. At court, she finds unlikely allies and joins forces with a roguishly handsome Robin Hood figure, but she also begins to question whether her people should rightfully young adult

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 113 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Nadine Jolie Courtney

HOW A YA AUTHOR EXPLORED AND EMBRACED HER OWN MUSLIM BACKGROUND TO WRITE ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL By Megan Labrise Brandy Menafee was very much like me, a white-passing girl of Islamic heritage, and she had this boyfriend who didn’t know she was Muslim…but then I didn’t really explore it. I was still very much under the radar with being Muslim, even understanding what that meant to me when I was alone. So I shelved it.

What made you revisit it? After Trump got elected, after the Muslim ban, I remember sitting on my couch watching CNN’s live footage of the protestors at JFK. All of these people showed up with poster boards that said “We Are All Muslim” and stood up for their neighbors as well as strangers. I literally started crying because it was so contrary to what my father had told me when I was young, which was, “People hate Mus- lims. People look down on us. People will never support us. You have to hide, hide, hide, hide, hide.” To see people in New York standing up for Muslims was a seismic shift. It At the start of Nadine Jolie Courtney’s YA novel All- was something I never believed could be possible. That’s American Muslim Girl (FSG, Nov. 12), no one at Allie Abra- when I reopened the document. ham’s new high school in Georgia knows she’s Muslim— How closely does Allie’s experience of exploring her heri- and she intends to keep it that way. The daughter of a Jor- tage and falling in love with Islam resemble your own? danian Circassian father and a white American mother, It’s very similar, but rather than falling in love with Islam Allie has been taught to hide her heritage and embrace her on my own in my teens, it happened for me in my early 30s. white-passing privilege to insulate against Islamophobia. However, as her 16th birthday approaches, she’s moved Allie is 15 going on 16, going through the process of de- to embrace her faith. What that means for her familial termining who she is, what’s important to her, and who relationships, burgeoning friendships, and romance with she wants to be. She wants to know what it means to dreamy Wells Henderson, the son of a famous white con- be a “good Muslim.” She also wants to have a boyfriend servative political commentator, is the subject of Court- (which is forbidden). And she’s hiding her religious prac- ney’s quintessential coming-of-age novel, based on the au- tice from her father. thor’s own experience of growing up Circassian American. The self-discovery process is never linear. It’s been two steps forward, seven steps back for me. It’s like, I bought a When did you start writing the story that became All- Quran and I’m praying…but I’m also going out and meet- American Muslim Girl? ing my friends for a drink. I’m doing Arabic lessons twice About 10 years ago, when I was in my 20s and had moved to a week…but I have a boyfriend. I was doing that dance in LA, I had the idea of a character named Allie Abraham. She my own life.

114 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | When you’re [Allie’s] age, your self-examination is not going to hold up under a microscope or in a court of law. Someone could pick it apart, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less real or meaningful to you. I think that messiness, the process where you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you believe, makes your convictions last. When you do have people poking holes in your beliefs—when you are tempted or you are tested—you have to confront how you rule over the denizens of Inkasisa, who are brown-skinned and indigenous to the land they’re all fighting for. Action-filled react, how you behave in the real world. It’s no longer in a scenes and steamy encounters push the narrative forward. bubble. Readers will never be sure whom to trust or which side to be on, especially as Ximena questions what she’s always learned about What’s your hope for readers of this book? her lighter-skinned race. Themes of imperialism, genocide, and citizenship are punctuated by Spanish words and descriptions My hope is that another Muslim girl who feels confused or of delectable food and lavish clothing. Atoc doesn’t hesitate to alone or just kind of weird will read this book, and it will torture or kill his enemies, which can make some scenes hard resonate and she’ll feel less alone. It’s so important to be to stomach. Secondary characters get short shrift, but readers won’t think twice as they immerse themselves in the story. seen. We’re living through this amazing time now where A refreshing, page-turning debut. (map, glossary) (Fan there’s so much pop culture that is representative. [My tasy. 14-adult) generation] just didn’t have that. I feel emotional about this book. This book was WHAT I CARRY so scary to write, because the book is me. It is all of my Longo, Jennifer Random House (336 pp.) teen vulnerability, what it felt like when I was young and $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 thought there was literally no one in the world who could 978-0-553-53771-0 possibly understand me, that I was the only girl that was young adult At 17, Muiriel needs to make it caught between cultures. This is the book of my heart. through one more placement, then she will age out of foster care and into state- sanctioned self-sufficiency. Megan Labrise is the editor at large and hosts the Fully Booked Muir is white, woke, and keenly podcast. All-American Muslim Girl received a starred review aware that her experience of not knowing any family from birth isn’t representative of most foster in the Oct. 15, 2019, issue. kids. She meticulously follows the wisdom of her hero and namesake, John Muir, and keeps her baggage light. However, it quickly becomes apparent that her new temporary home will challenge her resolute independence. The island forest beck- ons to her. Francine, her latest foster mother, is insightful and socially aware. Kira, a heavily tattooed artist, is brimming with best friend potential. And then there’s Sean, the beautiful boy who understands that the world can be terrible and wonderful at the same time. As these people show up for Muir, the survival strategy she clings to—don’t get attached—diminishes in valid- ity. This is terrifying; Muir has only ever learned to depend on herself. The trauma she contends with is not perpetrated by a villain; it is the slow boil of a childhood in which inconsistency has been the only constant. The power of relationship—both those experienced and those denied—is expertly explored throughout this novel with nuance and humanity. The central characters are immensely likable, creating a compelling read sure to leave an imprint. Most main characters are white; Kira is Japanese American. An exceptional addition to the coming-of-age canon. (author’s note) (Fiction. 14-18)

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 115 Intensely moving, at turns heartbreaking, joyful, and frightening. wildfire

TWEET CUTE inspired joyful discoveries in the wilderness, Annie’s life is illu- Lord, Emma minated through snippets of memory: how she and Pete both Wednesday Books (368 pp.) lost their mothers as children, how she has developed feelings $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 for Pete that he may not return; how Pete’s girlfriend, Preet, is 978-1-250-23732-3 too perfect to hate; and, mainly, how deep Annie’s relationship is with her best friend. Despite the somewhat disjointed story- Romance and a Twitter war brew telling, the memories are intensely moving, at turns heartbreak- between two New York teens whose ing, joyful, and frightening. Back in the present, Pete’s condition families run competing eateries in this keeps worsening, and Annie must make life-or-death decisions fresh debut. about leaving Pete behind to search for help. All characters are Though unsure of her aspirations white except for Preet, who is Indian American. after high school, high-achieving stu- An affecting combination of wilderness adventure and dent Pepper Evans is sure that good grades and entrance into poignant teen angst. (Fiction. 13-18) a top college will please her mother, co-founder of Big League Burger, one of the country’s top fast-food franchises. Classmate and funny guy Jack Campbell feels overshadowed by his gifted ECHOES BETWEEN US identical twin brother, Ethan, a feeling that grows when their McGarry, Katie father hints that he expects Jack to take over their family’s deli, Tor Teen (384 pp.) Girl Cheesing, while Ethan goes on to greater things. When $17.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 Big League Burger announces the release of a new menu item 978-1-250-19604-0 called “Grandma’s Special,” a sandwich that is a copy of a Camp- bell family classic, Jack tweets a snarky response through Girl In Veronica’s world, things are not Cheesing’s account. Unbeknownst to him, Pepper, instructed always what they seem—and she’s com- by her mother, claps back, and a battle ensues. While their pub- fortable with that. lic slam down goes viral, Pepper and Jack anonymously confide But what else would you expect from in one another through an online messaging app called Weazel, a girl who lives with the ghost of her which Jack developed himself. From meme wars to social media mother and celebrates holidays on the marketing, Lord accurately depicts various sides of today’s wrong days? Her friends are happy to go along with Veronica’s online culture. Amid all the digital hoopla is an engaging story quirks, but the other kids at school think she’s weird. When about family loyalty and pursuing one’s own passions. Most Sawyer, who is part of the popular group and struggles with characters are white except for some secondary characters his overly involved, alcoholic mother, moves into the apart- whose names suggest ethnic diversity; Ethan is gay. ment downstairs from Veronica, she doesn’t suspect that it will A just-right combination of sweet and cheesy. (Fiction. change her life. First, Veronica and Sawyer pair up to work on 12-18) a class assignment and become amateur ghost hunters. Then, they start to fall for each other as they visit haunted spots around town. But as they grow closer, there’s always the loom- WILDFIRE ing specter of Veronica’s debilitating migraines—she lives in Mac, Carrie fear of a life-threatening disease. Can Sawyer handle that? This Knopf (272 pp.) spooky teen drama is narrated in Veronica’s and Sawyer’s first- $17.99 | Jan. 28, 2020 person voices in alternating chapters. McGarry’s (Only a Breath 978-0-399-55629-6 Apart, 2019, etc.) characters are lively and sympathetic, though their circumstances often seem overly dramatic. The book is Annie’s best friend Pete is nearly also packed to bursting with a slew of issues that can feel over- unconscious with fever as wildfires whelming. Veronica and Sawyer are white, and the cast includes threaten their solitary tent in the Wash- characters who are black, Mexican American, and lesbian. ington wilderness. A sweet teen love story that is weighted by an overflow Through meandering flashbacks, of drama. (Fiction. 13-18) Annie recounts the events that led up to this dire predicament, including the recent death of Annie’s grandmother and Pete’s plan to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail to snap Annie out of her grief. The two have been campers, thrill seekers, and wilderness lovers since childhood, but Pete’s present plan involves hiking off-trail on a route unreported to their dads. When Pete gets stabbed in the leg with a branch of a shrub, neither could know that their first aid efforts would be in vain or that they would get lost with two dead phone batteries. Interspersed between scenes of incredible natural beauty and

116 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | The opposite of magical is not ordinary. young adult The opposite of magical is mankind.

Coming November 5, 2019

Hardcover: 9781338188325 | $19.99

Catch up on The Raven Cycle!

TM/® Scholastic Inc.

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 117 INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Andrew Maraniss

THE STORY OF THE FIRST U.S. OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM AT THE 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS GETS A VIVID TREATMENT IN THE AUTHOR’S YA BOOK By Mary Ann Gwinn Keith Miles winning Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South, Maraniss is an articulate advocate for accessible and relevant nonfiction for YA readers, students who “might pick up a book with basketball players on the cover who wouldn’t pick up a book about civil rights or fas- cism,” he says. “I’m trying to write the books I would have been interested in as a kid.” The Nashville-based Maraniss, son of author David Maraniss, answered some questions about his new book, Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympic Games in Hitler’s Germany (Philomel, Nov. 5).

Members of the first U.S. Olympic basketball team came from two separate teams—the Globe Refiners of When Americans remember the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, McPherson, Kansas, and the Los Angeles Universals. they think of Jesse Owens, the African American track star Most were young working-class men. How did they man- who won four gold medals, overturning Nazi notions of Ary- age to get to Berlin? an supremacy. Or the University of Washington crew team They qualified to go to the Olympics by playing in New York, immortalized in Daniel James Brown’s The Boys in the Boat, a but then they had to go back to LA or Kansas, and they were band of student athletes from modest backgrounds who won freaked that they weren’t going to get back to NYC to get gold in Berlin and defeated the Nazis’ hand-picked team. on the boat. The McPherson team sold raffle tickets. The Heroes to be sure, but the fuller story of America’s LA team didn’t think they were going to get to go until some participation in the Berlin Olympics is more complicat- famous actors donated at the last minute (Boris Karloff was ed, as vividly illustrated by the story of the United States’ a supporter). Employers told them that if they went, they first Olympic basketball team. The players, giddy with the wouldn’t have jobs when they got back—they really had to thrill of representing the U.S., had to weigh Olympic par- love the sport for its own sake. ticipation against a boycott of the games to protest Nazi persecution of Jews and other minorities. A Jewish team Sam Balter was a Jewish player for the Universals. How player faced competing in a country where Jews were ha- did he make his decision to participate? rassed, persecuted, and murdered. Several teammates Heading into the qualifying tournament, it was already be- faced a hard choice; in the depths of the Depression, they ing talked about in basketball circles and the Jewish com- were told that if they left to play for their country, their munity—what will this guy do? He was hearing such strong jobs would be gone when they got back. opinions from people who said he should not go that it Andrew Maraniss conceived their story as a great book kind of turned him off. He decided the best thing was to for middle and high school students, both a lively sports go to the Olympics and win a gold medal. What better re- saga and an indelible history lesson. Author of the award- buke could there be to Hitler than that? I think he truly

118 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | believed that. I think the African American athletes felt the same way.

You draw parallels between the Nazi persecution of Jews and minorities and American treatment of blacks and immigrants during the 1930s. I thought that was extremely important—it would be a real oversight not to address the way things were here. JUST BREATHE The Nazis came over to America to study race laws be- McGovern, Cammie HarperTeen (352 pp.) cause they were the most racist laws they could find…. $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 Anti-lynching legislation was being discussed, but we 978-0-06-246335-7 couldn’t even pass that. Two troubled teens form a deep People were talking about Jesse Owens as if his feet on friendship in a hospital room. the track dispelled Hitler’s notions of Aryan supremacy. David Sheinman is senior class presi- We don’t talk about the fact that when Jesse Owens and dent and “mascot to the pretty-girl/jock crowd.” He’s also an expert at minimiz- Mack Robinson [another track star and Jackie Robinson’s ing the life-threatening aspects of his brother] came back, they couldn’t find jobs. Plus the fact cystic fibrosis. Jamie Turner, a friendless 10th grader at the same school, volunteers at the nearby hospital. After her artist that this basketball team had no African American players. father died by suicide 18 months ago, Jamie fell into a depression so severe she required hospitalization. Now David’s wait- You’ve written for both adults and a YA audience. How ing for the lung transplant that, if successful, might extend his is the writing different for YA readers? life by a few years. In the face of his parents’ denial, he’s strug- I write in a quick pace—quick chapters, so they can feel gling to figure out what kind of life he wants given how short it’s likely to be. Alone among the people who visit him, Jamie like they’re making progress. I want a sense of momen- understands and accepts this truth. She offers him old mov- young adult tum, with interesting leads and good kickers. People have ies, origami, and the comfort that comes from having already faced death. At the same time, she realizes David is a situational short attention spans these days. Maybe an adult could friend—once he’s well enough to leave the hospital, he’ll return see this as a book they could read too. And there are so to the high school where he’s king and she’s nobody. David’s many interesting photos from the Olympic Games. I desire for some degree of normality leads them into a wholly believable, tender tragedy. Told in alternate first-person voices, wanted to place readers in the stories through my writing the novel is extraordinary for its unflinching look at both and through pictures as well. depression and chronic illness. Without sugarcoating, senti- mentalizing, or trivializing either, it never slips into pathos. The depiction of mental health struggles is profoundly accurate and Mary Ann Gwinn is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist in Se- understanding. Major characters are white. attle who writes about books and authors for several publications. A gift to readers. (Fiction. 14-18) Games of Deception was reviewed in the Sept. 1, 2019, issue. NAMELESS QUEEN McLaughlin, Rebecca Crown (352 pp.) $17.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-5247-0026-3

A teen from the lowest social class is selected as the new queen. Seriden’s population consists of Roy- als, Legals, and the Nameless, deprived of basic rights—even wearing clothing belonging to another caste is a potentially execution-worthy offense. Seriden’s ruled by a sovereign who, on their deathbed, names an heir, transferring the royal magic and a crown tattoo. A Nameless grifter who calls herself Coin panics when the king dies and the crown tattoo shows up on her arm, putting her in mortal danger from Royals wishing to usurp her. First seeking simple survival, Coin, by trial and error, figures out what power she has to improve things while also trying to determine how a Nameless could be named heir and why Nameless have been disappearing. Some world mechanics are eventually explained, but the worldbuilding tends toward

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 119 flimsy. Racial descriptors are largely absent; the focus ison ONE OF US IS NEXT class divisions. The lack of a romantic storyline strengthens the McManus, Karen M. platonic relationships the themes depend on; as outcast Coin Delacorte (384 pp.) weaves a new interpersonal network and explores her ability to $19.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 belong to society and her obligation to improve it, the result is 978-0-525-70796-7 an empowerment narrative and an appealing family-of-choice Series: One of Us is Lying, 2 focus. While the plot carries a few surprises, it’s marred by a too-obvious villain and too-easy solutions. The strength lies A dangerous texting game comes to in the characters’ emotional inner lives that help ground the Bayview High in this sequel to One of Us themes which have strong ties to our reality. Is Lying (2017). Despite underbaked elements, a socially conscious fan- Last year in a San Diego suburb, a tasy with appealing themes and tensions. (Fantasy. 12-adult) gossip app led to a death and inspired weak copycats. Now an anonymous person is sending Truth or Dare messages to the students of Bayview High, and this time no one is safe. If you choose truth (or don’t respond), one of your secrets is revealed. Complete a dare and you’ve passed. The game mostly causes an entertaining stir—until a student winds up dead. Was it an accident, or was it murder? High school juniors Maeve, Phoebe, and Knox find themselves caught up in the mystery of who’s behind the texts. The Bayview Four make appearances, but the compelling heart of the story is the three main characters’ family drama and personal struggles. Maeve thinks she’s having a leukemia relapse, Phoebe slept with her sister’s boyfriend, and Knox interns at a legal aid firm whose staff members are receiving death threats. Shifting perspectives keep the pace steady while McManus (Two Can Keep a Secret, 2019, etc.) deftly weaves in commentary on the justice system, bullying, and slut shaming. Plenty of secrets and surprises will keep readers captivated until the satisfying end. Knox and Phoebe are white, Maeve has Colombian ancestry, and Bayview is a diverse community. A can’t-put-down read. (Thriller. 14-18)

BEYOND THE SHADOWED EARTH Meyer, Joanna Ruth Page Street (400 pp.) $17.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 978-1-62414-820-0

Eda has given up everything to become empress, but making a deal with a god is dangerous, especially one as clever as Tuer. After the death of the emperor, Eda was made empress of Enduena, much to the chagrin of her (much older) advisers, who continually attempt to undermine her authority. Her first order of business was to bring back religious practices that the previous emperor abolished and recon- struct a temple in Tuer’s name: She made a promise to him that if she failed to do so, she would forfeit the life of her best friend, Niren. Wracked with guilt over gambling with Niren’s life, Eda is hit with another surprise when a new suitor arrives for her, Prince Ileem of Denlahn, her country’s greatest enemy. Could a marriage alliance save her people from all-out war with the Denlahns and give her the support she needs to finish her

120 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | Coming-of-age can happen even when you’re dead and bitter. layoverland

temple and save Niren? This ambitious book attempts to cover ASHLORDS a lot of ground but struggles with pacing and character devel- Reintgen, Scott opment. While the world is well built, with clear rituals, rules, Crown (368 pp.) and beliefs, the first part drags, readers will likely anticipate $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 the ending, and characters’ behavior at times feels inconsistent. 978-0-593-11917-4 However, the second half of the book sees Eda’s growth, more action, and some exciting magic. Whiteness is situated as the A dystopian flip of colonialism mixes norm; the Denlahns are brown-skinned, and Niren has bronze with horses on fire. skin. In the Empire, the dark-skinned Overall, a solid and enjoyable book. (Fantasy. 13-18) Ashlords are a minority but have all the power. Each year they stage a spectacular multiday race on phoenixes—horses LAYOVERLAND that rise from ashes at dawn only to die in flames each night. Noone, Gabby Pippa, the teen daughter of former winners, is this year’s favor- Razorbill/Penguin (320 pp.) ite, but she’s challenged by Adrian, a tough Longhand cow- $17.99 | Jan. 21, 2020 boy from an oppressed group of rebels, and Imelda, the lone 978-1-9848-3612-0 Dividian given free entry into the contest. The light-skinned Dividian were invaders who failed to conquer and who now Coming-of-age can happen even live subject to the Ashlords (who credit their superiority to the when you’re dead and bitter. intervention of their many gods). Phoenixes can have magical

Bea Fox dies in a car accident while young adult crying about a fight with her sister (who is also her best friend), listening to a song she hates, and wearing jeans she doesn’t like. She wakes up in an airplane heading to Layover- land, an in-limbo place for heaven-bound souls with emotional baggage or secrets to clean up before they can depart for the Pearly Gates. Bitter, pessimistic, argumentative Bea is recruited into the Memory Experience Department and can’t move on until she helps a certain number of befuddled souls clear their minds (including a guy who is supercute—and responsible for her death. Awkward). And who knew that orange would be the go-to palette for the in-between afterlife? Bea is a terrific antihero, as if the naysaying comic relief in a teen movie got the spotlight instead of the pretty ingenue. But her acid tongue and eye rolls aren’t two-dimensional or one-note; layers to her pre-Layoverland life are interspersed to give depth. The fantasy and comedy make the narrative buoyant even while bullying, tragic deaths, class struggles, and reproductive rights are faced head-on. Bea and her family are white and working class, and the majority of the cast also seems to be white save for biracial (Mexican/white) love interest Caleb and brown-skinned Lay- overland mentor Sadie. A story about death that leans toward the light. (Fiction. 13-17)

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 121 High-stakes emotionalism alongside a politically charged premise. infinity son

powers, depending on what you add to their ashes. It’s a lot INFINITY SON of stuff crammed into one novel. Reintgen (Saving Fable, 2019, Silvera, Adam etc.) fits it all in, mostly (the gods never do make sense), with HarperTeen (368 pp.) economical, crisp writing, at the expense of character develop- $18.99 | Jan. 14, 2020 ment and overall clarity. The most well-developed relationship, 978-0-06-245782-0 between Imelda and her friend Farian, is abandoned after the Series: Infinity Cycle, 1 first chapters. The worldbuilding falters, too: They have sophisticated computerized technology, including holograms and Magic goes viral in Silvera’s (contrib- video streaming, but rely on horses and carriages for all trans- utor: Color Outside the Lines, 2019, etc.) portation. It requires close reading to understand that the pale, fantasy debut. But can it win a war? invading Dividian majority are oppressed; the facts are told For brothers Brighton and Emil, piecemeal without the analysis that might have given readers their 18th birthday is “off to a rough insights into our own world’s history of colonialism start.” The two dream of being celestials (people with magic Too much hat, not enough cowboy. (Fantasy. 13-18) abilities) but are reminded yet again that they’re “painfully ordinary.” Or are they? When potions dealers attack the brothers, Emil discovers that he has phoenix fire within. Brighton STARSIGHT uploads a video of the fight online, propelling Emil—whom Sanderson, Brandon the celestial-obsessed dub “Fire-Wing”—to superstardom. The Delacorte (480 pp.) brothers find themselves caught in the crossfire between the $19.99 | Nov. 26, 2019 heroic Spell Walkers, who fight for the end of celestial persecu- 978-0-399-55581-7 tion, and the power-hungry Blood Casters, who gain magic by Series: Skyward, 2 stealing it from creatures. With its raw, complex characters, Sil- vera’s latest packs his signature high-stakes emotionalism along- As if the threat of huge, raging mon- side a politically charged premise. The alternate New York City sters from hyperspace isn’t scary enough, setting mixes current tech (e.g., virtual reality and Instagram) hotshot fighter pilot Spensa Nightshade with magical tech (e.g., wands and gem-grenades) to create a becomes embroiled in an alien empire’s richly contemporary urban landscape. Though Silvera mostly politics. switches between Emil’s and Brighton’s strong, first person, On a desperate mission to steal hyperdrive technology from present-tense narration, the perspectives of a Spell Walker and the crablike invading Krell who are threatening to destroy her a Blood Caster are also magnified. The cast primarily consists of beleaguered home colony on Detritus, Spensa, who is white, people of color, several of whom are also queer (including Emil, holographically disguises herself as a violet-skinned UrDail and who is gay). slips into a Krell pilot training program for “lesser species.” The A bright spark of a promising series. (Fantasy. 12-adult) discovery that she’s being secretly trained not to fight planet- destroying delvers but to exterminate humans, who are (with some justification, having kindled three interstellar wars in past ALL THE DAYS PAST, centuries) regarded in certain quarters as an irrationally aggres- ALL THE DAYS TO COME sive species, is just one in a string of revelations as, in between Taylor, Mildred D. numerous near-death experiences on practice flights, she strug- Viking (496 pp.) gles to understand both her own eerie abilities and the strange $18.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 multispecies society in which she finds herself. There are so 978-0-399-25730-8 many characters besides Spensa searching for self-identity— notably her comic-relief sidekick AI M-Bot, troubled human A heart-stopping plot about a charac- friend Jorgen back on Detritus, and Morriumur, member of a ter whose life has always been defined by species whose color-marked sexes create trial offspring—that her family and their land. even with a plot that defaults to hot action and escalating Readers who have followed Cassie intrigue the pacing has a stop and start quality. Still, Spensa’s Logan since Song of the Trees (1975) will habitual over-the-top recklessness adds a rousing spark, and the feel the paradigm shift as she moves first to Ohio and then Cali- author folds in plenty of banter as well as a colorful supporting fornia and Colorado, where she still suffers racism, although cast. different from that in Mississippi. In California, after Cassie Not quite the wild ride of Skyward (2018) but still great miscarries, then gains and loses the love of her life, grief fun. (Science fiction. 12-15) becomes her constant companion. Later, as a successful lawyer and the only Negro in a Boston firm, she remains dedicated to her family and their values, using her legal skills to advance civil rights, initially reluctantly but then willingly when injustice visits a close friend. Not surprisingly, Mama, Papa, Big Ma, and Uncle Hammer figure prominently in this novel, and when

122 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | Cassie falls for a white colleague, several family members bla- tantly object to the relationship. This novel places the Logans’ struggles amid historical events: Opening in 1944, it includes the integration of Ole Miss, the murders of Emmett Till and Medgar Evers, and the impacts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Taylor (The Land, 2001, etc.) refers frequently to episodes from her other novels, but this story also gives readers an up-close and personal view of key events of the civil rights movement. In this Logan swan song, Taylor is at her best. Surely the crown jewel of the Logan family saga. (His torical fiction. 12-18)

CHOSEN White, Kiersten Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster (368 pp.) $18.99 | Jan. 7, 2020 978-1-5344-0498-4 Series: Slayer, 2

Are we in the post-spoiler era? young adult Buffy the Vampire Slayer was known for its shocking plot twists, and it led to a whole generation of TV shows filled with constant surprises. So fans of the series will be on alert when they read this companion novel. Spoiler warning: In the previous book (Slayer, 2019), a character named Leo died. The main character in this entry, a Slayer called Nina, is always bringing up his name. After the 10th time, readers may actually be disappointed if Leo doesn’t come back from the dead. White (The Guinevere Deception, 2019, etc.) is smart enough to comment, right in the text, on readers’ expectations. Fortunately, the story isn’t centered around its plot twists; the focus is always on the characters. Nina is both a slayer and a trained doctor, and, touchingly, she keeps struggling over whether to kill her enemies or save them. The best jokes also emerge from the characterizations. One character is—sweetly and hilariously—distraught when he doesn’t get to name a kit- ten. The author rarely describes the characters’ races, but most of the central figures are white. There are two same-sex couples. Too many of the plot twists are predictable, but for this generation of fans, predicting them will be part of the fun. Another solid entry for Buffy fans. (Paranormal adventure. 14-adult)

| kirkus.com | young adult | 1 november 2019 | 123 Shelf Space

A Q&A with Leah Koch, Co-owner of the Ripped Bodice, Culver City, California By Karen Schechner Jenn LeBlanc One of only two romance- that they were working on the issue and improving. Now that only bookstores in the Unit- hard numbers are available, it is much harder for publishers to lie ed States, the Ripped Bod- about how well their company is doing—so we feel that we have ice was the dream of sisters been very successful in that regard. Leah and Bea Koch. They 2019 will be the fourth year of the report so far. There has raised $91,000 via Kick- been very little industrywide change, which of course is disheart- starter and opened the Cul- ening, but we do hope that eventually we will start to see some ver City, California, store in real change in the numbers. 2016. They haven’t been idle. What are the Ripped Bodice Awards? In 2017, they were named The Ripped Bodice Awards for Excellence in Romantic Fiction the Steffie Walker Booksell- are a new venture for us. We have assembled an incredible com- ers of the Year by the Ro- mittee of judges, and on Valentine’s Day 2020, we will announce mance Writers of America; the books they have selected as the absolute best romance nov- in 2018, the Koch sisters els published in 2019. Each honored author will receive a cash signed a deal with Sony Stu- Leah & Bea Koch prize of $1,000. dios; and this year, they announced that they will launch the Ripped Bodice Awards for Ex- Can you tell us about the deal you signed with Sony cellence in Romance Fiction. We talk with Leah Koch about the Pictures TV? sex-positive glory of the romance genre as well as its ongoing di- Yes! We work with Sony Studios to help them identify romances versity problem. that would make good television shows. It’s pretty much a dream partnership. We have been at it for a little over a year now and If the Ripped Bodice were a religion, what would be its have two books currently in development. We can’t tell you what icons and tenets? they are yet but hopefully soon. I’m going to make it a cult because I’m an atheist (but it’s a chill, nice cult). What are your current favorite handsells? In order to be a member of the cult you have to show your The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary and Bringing Down the Duke by membership card proving you are a sex-positive, intersectional Evie Dunmore. feminist. And you have to promise that you will uphold our prin- Anything else you’d like to add about the ciples that “love is love” and “happily-ever-after is for everyone.” romance genre? Our flag (and/or mandatory tattoo) would be a Victorian A lot of people have some serious misconceptions about romance, style heart with HEA inside of it (for happily-ever-after). We and I would urge readers to really consider why they haven’t given would buy some crumbling castle in the English countryside, romance a chance yet (if they haven’t). Once we start talking with and the biggest disagreements would be what flavor scones people, they pretty quickly come to the realization that whatever would be served that day at afternoon tea. It would be a very they have been told/internalized about romance is generally com- nice cult to be a member of. ing from a place of misogyny and sexism. Once they are free to Can you tell us about the origins and results of the come to their own conclusions, many people find they love sto- Ripped Bodice’s Diversity Report? ries that are rooted in love and hope. After we had been open for about a half a year, we started to think Additionally, the romance genre has historically not been a seriously about what we could do to contribute to the ongoing ef- very inclusive place when it comes to people from marginalized forts to make romance publishing less racist. There were already communities. If you are one of those people, just know that we so many incredible authors and readers working so hard on ad- see you, and you are welcome here. Romance still has a long way vocacy, so we really wanted to contribute something that didn’t to go in terms of making its author pool representative of the exist yet and that we were in a position to provide. We noticed world we live in, but things are getting better. that due to the lack of hard data, publishers were still claiming Karen Schechner is the vice president of Kirkus Indie.

124 | 1 november 2019 | young adult | kirkus.com | indie These titles earned the Kirkus Star: COUNT IT ALL JOY Allen, Mitchell Booklocker.com (308 pp.) THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS by Amy Andrews...... 126 $18.99 paper | $4.99 e-book Jun. 21, 2019 IN SEARCH OF AL HOWIE by Jared Beasley...... 128 978-1-64438-863-1

THE J HOROSCOPE by Sharon Chmielarz...... 130 A Texas boy wracked by constant anxiety and sadness matures into a direc- THE SPIRIT OF THE WAYNES by Ethan Cooper...... 131 tionless adult in this debut novel. Six-year-old Luke Butler is being THERE YOU ARE by Mathea Morais...... 140 raised by his grandparents in a small

Texas town in the mid-1980s. While he young adult has no idea what has happened to his parents, he realizes that he dreads going to church and school, becoming so nervous that he can feel it in his gut. His grandparents are kind, if somewhat emotionless, people who offer stability and support but have no cure for his loneliness and worries. In a story that regularly skips ahead five years, Luke finds solace in the garden of his neighbor Mrs. Bergeron. He eventually becomes a gardener in his own backyard, as the varied responsibilities give him a much needed sense of calm. He flirts with other activities, such as baseball, but very little grabs his interest, and he is averse to connecting with other people. Childhood memories are raw: “I remembered feeling like the walls moved behind me and how it felt like my brain turned upside down in my skull when I tried to make sense of things.” In college, there is an (almost) girlfriend who tries to bring Luke out of his shell. Then there is a job at Premier Home Center, a soul-destroying superstore, that pays the bills but does little to enthuse an increasingly nihilistic man. He is lost, aimless, alone, seeing no point in life and wishing for it to end. Finally, though, there is a plan, one that should bring him a brief amount of happiness as he hurtles toward an uncertain future. The structure of Allen’s insightful novel, divided into five-year increments that finish in 2020, keeps the story intriguing and mostly prevents it from becoming a downer. It is an affecting tale, one that creates genuine feelings for the protagonist but also questions life choices by parents and how they can seriously impact others. While there is kindness around Luke, wrongdoing surfaces as well. These transgressions, which THERE YOU ARE become magnified as he spends more years at the superstore, Morais, Mathea are portrayed in scenes that offer a razor-sharp indictment of Amberjack Publishing (304 pp.) contemporary workplaces and pay scales. Unfortunately, the $24.99 paper | $11.49 e-book methodical narrative mostly avoids attempts at a deep analysis $24.50 audiobook of Luke’s fragile psyche, which hinders the story’s development. Oct. 22, 2019 A perceptive, sensitive tale about the hopelessness of a 978-1-948705-58-5 disaffected young man.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 125 under pressure

Books about the treatment and study THE TROUBLE of human illnesses and injuries have WITH CHRISTMAS always held readers in thrall—Oli- Andrews, Amy ver Sacks’ , Siddhartha Entangled: Amara (400 pp.) Awakenings $7.99 paper | $7.99 e-book | Sep. 24, 2019 Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Mala 978-1-64063-819-8 dies, Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of In sight. In these nonfiction Indie books, Fake relationships, art forgery, and medical practitioners recount the de- tacky decorations abound in this small- tails and challenges of caring for oth- town Christmas romance. ers in various settings—a burn unit, a War hero and rancher Joshua Grady— known as “Grady” to his friends and war zone, and on the side of a highway. family—is notorious in Credence, Colorado, for his grouchy In From Cinders to Butterflies, Richard B. Fratianne, demeanor, which increases tenfold at Christmastime. His founder of the burn center at feisty new tenant, Suzanne St. Michelle, is a born-and-bred Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medi- New Yorker who’s taking a breather from reproducing paint- cal Center, recalls the psycholog- ings for museums and collectors; unlike her affluent art-world parents, she’s a big fan of the Christmas holiday. She doesn’t ical toll of treating burn victims. like Grady’s sour attitude, but she finds that her long-dormant Part of the treatment, which muse has been awakened by his perfect face and physique. led Fratianne to nearly quit the When Suzanne’s parents decide to spend the holidays in Cre- profession, included counseling dence to revive their marriage, she makes a deal with Grady; patients who agonized at the Suzanne will give him every painting that she’s made of him if Grady pretends to be her boyfriend—who loves Christmas. thought of returning to their He’s eager to possess the artworks, which he considers embar- routines with scars and deformi- rassing, and intrigued by Suzanne’s beauty and grit, so he reluc- ties. Our reviewer says that the tantly agrees to her terms. As Grady and Suzanne’s mutual author blends “autobiography attraction flares and their false romance becomes reality, both and spiritual manifesto…reveal- rancher and artist wonder if their relationship will last after ing how transforming the lives of the holiday decorations come down. Via alternating third-person perspectives, Andrews gives Grady and Suzanne nuances, others became possible by using what he calls the ‘super- motivations, and backstories that clearly explain their charac- natural gifts’ of faith, hope, and love.” teristics and choices. Both are likable and frustrating, by turns, Sarah Z. Mitić, a Belgrade-born Serbian physician, giving them a feeling of humanity that one doesn’t always find writes about tending to soldiers and civilians on the bat- in holiday-themed romances, and their chemistry is both sexy tlefront in the 1990s Balkan wars. In her memoir, and sweet. Scenes depicting acts of love and sex—everything Life as from a simple, closed-mouth kiss to full-on intercourse—are Trauma, the author describes leaving a comfortable life vivid and sensuous, with occasional moments of silliness that for a war zone to save Croatian children, countless an- keep the story grounded. Andrews has clearly done research guished soldiers, a suicidal young mother. “Readers inter- on art reproduction, and Suzanne’s struggle to prove her worth ested in the strife and unrest of the Balkan region…and to her sculptor mother is the novel’s most compelling sub- the plights of its refugees will find Mitić’s narrative illu- plot. The ending will generate holiday spirit in even the most minating,” notes our reviewer. Scrooge-like reader. A fun yet poignant story whose main characters are Kurtis Bell started his medical career as an Army realistic and relatable. medic. He trained to become a registered nurse and, adept at emergency care, became a flight nurse in an air am- bulance. In his debut memoir, Aid From Above, Bell recounts the day-to-day adventures of a crew contending with grisly multicar wrecks, hikers lost in the wilderness, and more. The memoir “effectively combines dramatic tension with the detachment of a veteran emergency flight nurse.” K.S.—

126 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | VIEWS FROM APPENDICES PULLED FROM A GOLD MOUNTAIN STUDY ON LIGHT History, Memory, Voices Babbitt, Geoffrey Aston, Richard Spuyten Duyvil (90 pp.) CreateSpace (740 pp.) $25.00 paper | Feb. 1, 2018 $24.99 paper | $9.99 e-book 978-1-944682-89-7 Jan. 10, 2019 978-1-72032-736-3 The impact of light on the human spirit is examined from religious, philosophical, and poetic per- Chinese migrants weather war, revo- spectives in this debut literary meditation. lution, and discrimination in America in Babbitt (English/Hobart and William Smith Coll.), a co- this sweeping historical meditation. editor of Seneca Review, arranges this text around a series of Aston combines third-person narrative, personal recol- essays on books of hours—a genre of medieval Catholic illu- lections, and interviews into a multifaceted look at Chinese minated manuscripts containing prayers, Bible excerpts, and people at home and abroad. Episodes from Chinese history sacred calendars. His loose-limbed commentaries explore provide background, starting with the 19th-century Opium the devotional content of the books and their tangible artis - Wars and other Western incursions, the nationalist revolution tic features, including the feel of the parchment pages. (Bab- of 1911 and the troubled rule of Chiang Kai-Shek’s Guomind- bitt also includes gorgeous color photographs of manuscript ang Party, Japan’s invasion during World War II, and the 1949 illustrations.) Threading through these essays is the story of victory of Mao Zedong’s Communist Party during the Chinese Ireland’s Saint Columba, who illicitly copied a psalter belong-

civil war. These upheavals, along with persistent poverty and ing to St. Finnian—an ethical lapse that seemed blessed by young adult periodic famines, sent millions of people abroad seeking bet- God when Columba’s fingers started glowing with light. Bab- ter lives. The author weaves in the saga of diaspora Chinese, bitt takes this legend as a celebration of the divine union of particularly Chinese Americans, exploring their endurance of light and language in “illuminated” religious literature. The hard labor and racial bigotry and their evasions of exclusion- essays, and especially their marginalia, wander into tangents, ary American immigration laws. (Many came to the country such as Babbitt’s boyhood memories of serving as a Catholic as “paper sons,” arranging to be falsely claimed as children of altar boy; the Norse god Odin’s quest for secret knowledge; Chinese American citizens.) The book also looks at the politi- and an anecdote about a British scholar who got so excited cal rivalries that roiled the Chinese American community. at deciphering an ancient Sumerian account of the Great Aston enriches the history with first-person reminiscences of Flood that he ecstatically tore off his clothes. Apart from a life in San Francisco’s Chinatown by his two Chinese Ameri- few lapses into academic jargon—“Scripture is the Lacanian can spouses and their extended families—a colorful bunch symbolic. God is the Lacanian real”—these meanderings are who included a professional-gambler father-in-law who was an erudite and engaging. associate of Chinese criminal gangs and two uncles-in-law who Babbitt fleshes out the prose with separate poems. Some were prominent Communist Party figures with voluminous of these have religious themes, inspired by the canon of the FBI files. He also throws in recollections of his own extensive books of hours. There are also landscapes, vignettes about travels to Asia—as a sailor on freighters in the 1950s, as a State birds and dogs, and intimate looks at relationships. Light Department employee in the ’60s, and on his own time in 1986. imagery features prominently in most of them. The poetry Aston’s lengthy, often disjointed text goes off on many tangents, is heavy going—dense with allusions, obscure asides, and including a discussion of black-lung disease among British coal untranslated Latin and Greek. Occasionally, as in “De Sanc - miners and the mechanics of shipboard smuggling. Fortunately, tissima Trinitate,” a stanza gels into a well-shaped poetic he keeps these excursions engaging with his wide-ranging curi- proposition, in this case about the mystery of the Holy osity, erudition, and evocative prose; for example, he observes Trinity: “some mysterious, reasoning thing / puts forth the that, in Calcutta, “files of dark, scrawny Bengali longshoremen, mouldings / of its features from behind / an unreasoning clad only in a scrap of dhoti around their loins and a sweat rag mask.” More often, poems unfold in disjointed sprays of around their neck, unload upcountry boats” while “vultures impressionistic imagery. In “All Along the Reservoir Road,” gorge on the carcass of a cow.” Readers with a casual interest these form a coherent tableau to catch a traveler’s eye: “pile in China will enjoy browsing this book, and scholars will find a of bones, bag o’ bones / sun bleached scattered / progress is a trove of information on immigrant lives. winter / and no one planted the flowers growing in the lawn.” An overstuffed but often absorbing journey through But sometimes, as in “Ad Laudes,” the jumble is so cryptic as the Chinese experience. to defy parsing: “something is a light—sun helps us / somewhere by taking / the eye’s capacity—quo ferrea primum / desi- net ac toto surget gens aurea mundo— / he might even constitute / the abyss—tuus iam regnat Apollo—.” One notion Babbitt discusses in a prose section is that, rather than light’s exist - ing to illuminate objects, objects exist to register the efflo- rescence of light. One may be tempted to take an analogous

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 127 Beasley achieves a fluid narrative that makes the pages fly by, like the miles beneath Howie’s feet. in search of al howie

approach to much of his poetry here—basking in the washes BEHIND THE MIRROR of vividly visual language without worrying overly much Book One about what mere things it may signify. Blossman, Bon Rapturous rumination that’s sometimes dazzling and Self (217 pp.) at other times, dimmed. $2.99 e-book | Sep. 25, 2019

A teenage girl and her friends cross IN SEARCH OF into a parallel world in this fantasy AL HOWIE adventure from Blossman (The Noxhelm Beasley, Jared Murders, 2017, etc.). Rocky Mountain Books (272 pp.) Seventeen-year-old Ella Simmons $25.00 paper | $12.99 e-book lives with her strict father in the small Oct. 8, 2019 town of Branford Falls. Her wealthy best 978-1-77160-338-6 friend Finley Poe’s dad recently bought her an antique mirror for $10,000. When Ella, Finley, and their new friend, Diane An energetic work that chases the Brooke, try to see their future in the looking glass, they find legend and captures the life story of pre- they can pass through it. The world beyond is an alternate ver- mier Canadian extreme-distance runner sion of Branford Falls, full of destitution, violence, and even Al Howie. casual murder. They manage to escape back to their own real- In an eccentric sport, Howie stood out. He would run hun- ity, but Ella finds that being in the “Dark World,” as she calls it, dreds or thousands of miles cross-country to the starting lines made her feel good. It also made the strange birthmark on her of multiday races—and then run to the next. Like a tour guide, shoulder glow and awakened strange powers within her. It turns Beasley (The Black Sheep, 2016) explores the cloistered world of out that whenever someone from her own world passes into extreme-distance running—involving races longer than stan- the Dark World, a doppelgänger from that reality travels in the dard 26.2-mile marathons—where Howie became an icon but other direction—and Finley’s double has wreaked havoc in her never a household name. In 2014, the author found Howie, a absence. Also, Finley’s delinquent brother Fallon followed them silent shell of his former self, at a group home for the mentally into the mirror; he’s now trapped in the Dark World, replaced ill. During the runner’s final two years, Beasley teased out recol- in his own by an even more aggressive sociopath. In the midst lections while tracking down documentary evidence and How- of all this, Ella finds out that she was adopted. What is her true ie’s friends and relatives, charting a path through memories and connection to the Dark World? Blossman establishes a fast mythology. Howie, a native Scot, grew up in a hiking family and pace from the outset, confronting Ella in every chapter with later enjoyed a hippie lifestyle before leaving his drug-addicted problems, mysteries, dangers, and doubts. The author has Ella wife with their preschool-age son. He moved to Canada, where tackle these with a teenager’s resilience and a breezy insouci- he was “on the run” long before his first race, which took place ance—and the latter trait is shared by superficial socialite Finley. after he was 30. His stamina, flowing hair, and penchant for Ella consistently grasps the gravity of her situation but doesn’t hydrating with beer defined him. In 1989, he became first to excessively dwell on her inner turmoil. This is a wise stylistic finish the 1,300-mile “Impossibility Race”—in 17 days, nine choice on Blossman’s part, as it keeps the tone of the adventure hours. In 1991, he ran 7,295 kilometers across Canada in 72 days, light. The dialogue, too, has a reassuring staginess that acts as a 10 hours—still the record—and two weeks later, broke his own buffer for particularly unpleasant plot points. Throughout, the 1,300-mile record. The book also reveals the relationships, per- protagonist’s appealing narration offers an array of breathless sonal demons, and twists of fate that shaped Howie, rendering fantasy twists. the legend fully human—fearful and driven, flawed but likable. A pleasant dose of alternate-universe excitement. Beasley, an actor, director, and screenwriter, writes in a cinematic fashion, interspersing flashbacks between chapters with third-person snapshots of Howie’s signature trans-Canada run. He also seamlessly shifts focus from wide-angle settings to character close-ups, packs details into scenes without slowing the pace, and uses the colorful runners’ vernacular that christens a competitor a “manimal,” “alien,” or “freak.” Some may find the style hyperbolic, but they’d likely concede that if the author described a smoke-filled bar, they’d smell it. He achieves a fluid narrative that makes the pages fly by, like the miles beneath Howie’s feet. A quirky, captivating biography.

128 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | HEY ADMISSIONSMOM THE SOUND OF SPRING Real Talk From Reddit Chen, G.X. Caplan, Carolyn Allison Back Bay Press (170 pp.) Admissions Mom (394 pp.) $1.99 e-book | Oct. 15, 2019 $28.99 | $15.99 paper | $9.99 e-book Aug. 30, 2019 A young woman in Shanghai experi- 978-1-73376-411-7 ences romance and anguish during the 978-1-73376-410-0 paper Cultural Revolution in this historical novel. At the start of 1976, Du Chun Ming A debut guide offers advice about the is already a woman wholeheartedly in college admissions process. love. The 22-year-old first met Fang Si Jun four years ago on The college admissions odyssey in the first day of her factory job. Chun Ming lives with her recent years has become so intensely, parents, including her engineer father, Jing Zi, who works so overwhelmingly competitive that it’s turned into a source of much that he aggravates his high blood pressure and heart stress for parents as well as aspiring young applicants. There disease. His job often entails updating Chinese technology, are so many variables, and at times it seems like every one of putting him at odds with the ongoing Cultural Revolution them is crucial to getting accepted at the first-choice dream that deems modernization as a sign of capitalism. Si Jun’s school. It’s probably no surprise, then, that a lively discussion stance on China’s current sociopolitical state is essentially exists online, including, of course, on Reddit: the r/Applying- to keep one’s head down and stay mum. He expresses con- ToCollege subreddit, where young people and their parents cern over apparent anti–Cultural Revolution comments

ask some of the multitudes of questions they encounter along Chun Ming’s beloved cousin, Jian Hua, and his girlfriend, Lin young adult the way. Caplan has long called herself “AdmissionsMom” on Nan, have made. Such statements are especially dangerous that subreddit, and in this book, she seeks to “smooth those when the government is searching for individuals spreading admissions-ruffled feathers and help many of you relax about “political rumors.” Jing Zi disapproves of Si Jun’s attitude, as your college admissions journey.” The author was a teacher for the young man is seemingly only invested in self-preserva- 30 years before opening a private college counseling practice. tion. But when the government designates people close to In these pages, she dispenses advice on such subjects as pre- Chun Ming as counterrevolutionaries, lives could be ruined paring for college interviews, dealing with admissions-process or even lost, and anyone linked by mere association is, in anxiety, visiting campuses, handling rejection, and living in the the public’s eyes, equally guilty. Chen’s (Back Bay Investiga- limbo of being wait-listed or having your admission deferred. tion, 2019, etc.) love story in a country of social and politi- “Colleges want to see who you are and what you have to offer,” cal unrest is, perhaps unsurprisingly, often dour. Chun Ming, Caplan writes, and she delivers clear, detailed tips on how for example, is incessantly distressed about Jian Hua and Lin to deal with that process while emphasizing mental health. Nan’s safety; her father’s worsening illness; and whether Jing “Learn more about meditation, mindfulness, or yoga,” she Zi will support her relationship with Si Jun. Likewise, the advises. “Get outside and walk or run. Listen to music.” But Cultural Revolution is an imposing presence, as characters she’s also tough and realistic, laying out facts about the hyper- are under constant threat of accusations or someone’s mis - competitive world she’s describing. “In the end,” she writes, interpreting a humble utterance or act. The author retains “there are far more students with fantastic test scores applying a simplicity that benefits the story, which centers on the to the most highly selective schools than there are spots.” Par- political upheaval adversely affecting the protagonist and ents also get plenty of useful counsel, such as this tidbit about the relatively few people surrounding her. Concise prose fur- financial aid forms: “It’s crucial to turn the CSS Profile and the ther aids the narrative’s consistent momentum, as the Cul- FAFSA in on time. Please don’t get lazy with that stuff.” tural Revolution, even near its end, continues to devastate A one-stop manual for the college admissions world; citizens’ lives. essential reading for everybody from high school juniors to An engrossing, taut story that skillfully incorporates a military veterans. real-life Chinese sociopolitical movement.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 129 THE J HOROSCOPE NICKEL DIME TOWN Chmielarz, Sharon Clark, Jack Brighthorse Books (100 pp.) Manuscript $14.99 paper | Jul. 1, 2019 978-1-944467-17-3 A contemporary novel chronicles the escapades of a Chicago private These collected poems imaginatively investigator. take the viewpoint of J, one of four writ- Clark’s (Back Door to LA, 2016, etc.) ers of the Bible’s book of Genesis. narrative follows Nick Acropolis, a Chmielarz (Little Eternities: Poems, 2017, rugged, Sam Spade–type gumshoe on etc.), an accomplished poet, initially pub- the payroll of Chicago attorney Shelly lished several of these poems in literary Micholowski, who predominantly repre- magazines, including Commonweal and The Hudson Review. This sents the local police force. An ex–homicide detective who is collection focuses on connections between contemporary expe- thriving in a vibrant, gritty city filled with “plenty of murders riences and those recorded in ancient biblical texts. According to but few arrests,” Nick is now on a Police Board case involv- the epigraph from the 1990 work The Book of J by David Rosen- ing a traffic stop and an errant cop who stole his ex-girlfriend’s berg and Harold Bloom, a hypothetical biblical writer called J was car while wearing a disguise. Also renting space in Nick’s fre- so named “for her intense interest in Yahweh’s character,” who quently frazzled mind is beautiful local photographer Kate was also called “Jahweh.” These poems are intensely interested Daniels, whom he meets accidentally and becomes instantly in the stories that J allegedly collected and wrote down. They’re smitten with. As part of a messy marriage and a convoluted connected by 13 “intersections”—poems in italics that comment entanglement springing from the sudden, mysterious death on or relate to the others. In “Intersection #1,” for example, the of her police officer husband, Billy, she retains Nick’s services. speaker considers mangoes, specifically their color and -sweet Kate wants him to find out whether her spouse was actually ness: “We danced to mango / close like lovers. Mango’s / sweetness melted unfaithful or something more sinister was taking place. Hardly us into life.” But experience can be bitter as well as sweet, as shown a grieving widow, she is now involved with her husband’s field in the poem that follows, “Yahweh the Stork re the Family.” The partner, Tommy, but secrets seem to surround the entire sor- narrating stork says, “I’ve seen it all—the father who killed his did affair. Nick soon discovers that Billy was a sketchy cop and son, / the sons who threw their brother down a well”; neverthe- that Tommy, growing violent because of the dedicated PI’s dig- less, “The next day I deliver another baby, a bundle / of trust”— ging, definitely harbors something nefarious. The case swiftly trust being the first, and first forgotten, “contract with the world.” morphs into a murder investigation. Developments in Clark’s Other poems are based on specific biblical episodes, such as Lot’s dual plots come fast and furious as Nick’s investigative spade- transformation into a pillar of salt, Noah’s Ark, Joseph’s betrayal, work produces some complex twists, incriminatory videotapes, and prophetic dreams, while others touch on primal experiences, missing witnesses, angry villains, an enlightening trip to Paris, such as giving birth or experiencing a death in the family. and a shocking arrest. The author’s rousing, dialogue-driven Several poems breathe freshness into old tales by center- detective tale is engrossing mainly because Nick is an instantly ing on a woman’s point of view. In “The Boatman’s Wife,” for likable and humorous private eye who is unafraid to sink deeper example, Noah’s long-suffering spouse wishes that she could into each dangerous case. After a few confusing opening chap- fly away from “this whole mess”; her husband finds prophecy in ters, the narrative pieces fall into place and the resulting noir raindrops and lets his beard get scraggly while she’s “corralling / mystery sets in motion plenty of suspenseful action sequences the stupid hens.” Yet her practical nature finds release, with the and beguiling character sketches. Though keeping track of both poem ending in possibility: “At least she could save the birds. // cases can be challenging for readers at times, the author skill- At least, this one dove—.” The dove becomes a potent symbol fully establishes Chicago as a bustling, crime-ridden, yet much not just of hope, but of freedom—saved by the wife’s longing to adored location and offers a serpentine series of events that escape the ark and fly up into the wild sky. Several poems speak keep things sharp and gripping. Readers should find themselves of loss, which was the focus of Chmielarz’s 2015 collection, The fully invested in Nick’s slickly written adventures and the open- Widow’s House. The six lines of “Where One Becomes Two” are ended conclusion that promises future installments. haikulike in their concise linkage of image to consciousness: A brazen, intriguing, and cleverly conceived mystery “The old fox has died. / Now his mate is alone. / Now she must that features a tough yet vulnerable detective. cross the river alone. // Look. / In the water. / Two foxes.” “Look” in the fourth line echoes the book’s epigraph, which begins “Look. A woman is writing on parchment,” which, in turn, calls to mind the more familiar translation, “Behold.” These connections, and the poem’s spare, stripped-down quality, demand that readers pay attention to the numinous link between spirit and body, so beautifully captured in the piece’s final line. Thoughtful, bold, humorous, earthy, and humane—a superb collection.

130 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | This keenly observed memoir delicately balances humor and heartache while signaling the importance of each passing moment. why didn’t i notice her before?

THE SPIRIT OF nurse practitioner examined a bump on the author’s pelvis and THE WAYNES quickly handed her a slip to get an urgent CT scan, as though Cooper, Ethan it were a baton in a “relay race.” She was later told that she had CreateSpace (314 pp.) a “fourteen-centimeter tumor” and that she must undergo sur- $14.00 paper | $2.99 e-book gery to remove “the big mass…the uterus, ovaries, fallopian Jun. 2, 2015 tubes, all of it,” and then receive chemotherapy. The memoir 978-1-5123-8409-3 describes how Cramer, a New York film editor; her husband, Todd; and their young son, Noah, came to terms with the news. In Cooper’s (Smooth in Meetings, 2014, She describes all aspects of her treatment, from awaiting sur- etc.) novel, an unemployed, middle-aged gery to having a port inserted in her chest for infusions. She man with a possible drinking problem also poses penetrating questions—one chapter, for example, is must persuade his nonagenarian father titled “Should I Fight?”—and approaches the act of wig shop- to give up driving. ping with wickedly mordant wit: “I sit down in the wig barber’s Wriston Wayne, the retired chairman of the Boreal Bancor- chair looking like my two-year-old-self refusing to wear under- poration, lives in Florida with his second wife, Cindy. Charlie, wear because it is itchy.” The book goes on to explore how the his 50-something middle son and a real estate expert, has been author’s cancer diagnosis has changed her outlook on life, ask- unexpectedly laid off from TBF Bank in New York City. While ing “will an illness as serious as this teach me that I no longer he and his wife, Jane, are visiting Wriston and Cindy, the older need to fix things, and can I finally release my grip and get on man loses control of his Cadillac in the parking garage of their with living?” Cramer’s writing is characterized by an eagle-eyed condo building. Charlie fears that a serious accident could be search for positivity: “Fuck it. I want to live my life not spend

in Wriston’s future, but running errands in the car is one of time making legacy boxes of my unfinished one.” For the author, young adult the few deep pleasures that the old man has left. The dynamic this statement is an act of personal catharsis, but her message between the father and son is thrown into stark relief: Wriston has an inspirational universality. Some readers may flinch at her loves Charlie, but he’s disappointed that he didn’t make it to bluntness, but for most, her writing will offer revitalizing guid- the top of the heap in his chosen field (“Charlie never emerged ance: “I’m told death is close, it is imperative that I take initia- from the pack,” he reflects). Charlie, meanwhile, agonizes over tive to go any direction away from stuck.” Overall, this keenly whether to stop Wriston from driving, but it’s taken out of his observed memoir delicately balances humor and heartache hands when the elderly man’s health declines precipitously in a while signaling the importance of each passing moment. matter of weeks. Meanwhile, Charlie’s late-night wine drinking A profoundly moving remembrance that’s alternately persists. The focus and interiority of this novel are truly won- sad and uplifting. derful, and Cooper takes his time exploring what goes through his characters’ minds—principally Charlie’s, but also Wriston’s as he carefully navigates his beloved Caddy from his home to THE FACE OF THE SEAL the Publix supermarket. Cooper has the old man note every Cumiskey, Jennifer turn and every lane change; it should be maddeningly boring, Bowker Identifier Services (350 pp.) but instead, it gives readers a painful appreciation of a person $13.95 paper | $4.99 e-book who knows that he must be careful because his freedom is so Jul. 19, 2019 tenuous. Interestingly, readers later get the same view of Char- 978-1-73324-781-8 lie running errands himself as he wrestles with painful issues regarding his dad. A Chinese artifact sits at the center A poignant exploration of the complicated dynamic of of an international theft and murder case fathers and sons. in this debut thriller. William Blackwell IV, the inheritor of an extensive fortune, owns a mas- WHY DIDN’T I NOTICE sive collection of Chinese art. He receives a mysterious let- HER BEFORE? ter demanding the return of a certain Empress Seal from the Cramer, Beth imperial Qing Dynasty to its rightful owner. Up to this point, Time Tunnel Media (238 pp.) William hadn’t even realized that he possessed the ruby-faced $9.99 paper | $7.99 e-book | Aug. 1, 2019 seal, but now that he does, he’s reluctant to give it up. He sends 978-1-73337-520-7 a colleague to contact Gerel Garnier, a Paris jewelry designer, about fashioning a replica of the seal. Gerel knows she should A New York City–based film editor be excited by the prestige such a job will bring her, but she’s confronts a diagnosis of terminal cancer bothered by the secrecy surrounding it. Three months later, in this debut memoir. William is found murdered in a New York apartment, and In August 2017, Cramer was told Detective Tony Ryan is assigned to figure out what happened. that she had stage 4 ovarian cancer. Dur- Ryan’s investigation quickly leads him to Gerel, though she has ing a routine medical appointment, a since learned things about the seal that she isn’t quite ready to

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 131

INTERVIEWS & PROFILES Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett

A WRITER AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST SHINES A LIGHT ON SOCIETY’S DARK CORNERS WITH HIS DEBUT COLLECTION By Rhett Morgan

When did your passion for writing begin? Most of my life, I’ve kind of like cycled back and forth between activism and writing. I felt like I always wanted to be a writer. Growing up people would say, “OK, you want to be a writer, but what’s the other thing you’re going to do?” Activism was the second passion that came to me. I went to grad school to study creative writing, but I started working in politics. I like making a good impact….

Why did you decide to release this collection now? The Trump election hit me really hard as someone who was doing a lot of digital support for progressive candi- dates. I decided to take time off and just focus on what was really important to me. And the thing that really gets me going, the thing that is my passion, is short stories and fiction. I had written half of it already in grad school, but within one week, I finished my manuscript. Writing it was very cathartic.

Did your political experience have a big impact on the collection? Reuben “Tihi” Hayslett has already made a career for him- I feel like there’s a political angle in every single story that’s self in progressive politics, working as a campaign manager, in the collection. All human beings are political creatures. a fundraiser, and, most recently, a consumer advocate for We’re all affected by politics whether or not we’re con- Demand Progress, where he focuses on issues of surveil- scious of it. So the question then becomes: How do you get lance and human rights. In the political climate of the last it into the work in a way that makes sense for the character three years, however, Hayslett felt compelled to express and in a way that makes sense for the plot and for the story himself through his first passion: writing. His debut collec- to go forward? tion of short stories, Dark Corners, which earned a Kirkus Star, focuses on minorities, children, queer people, and As a queer writer, what do you wish you saw more of others who feel politically powerless or vulnerable. The in fiction? subjects of his eerie stories range from germ warfare to a I think one of the things that kind of bugs me is the as- mother who may be turning into a vampire. He spoke with sumption of heterosexuality within so many of the stories us about his off-kilter view into the lives of underrepre- we digest in the media. What I see is an eventual progres- sented characters. sion away from the standard stories about queer charac-

132 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | ters, which are almost always their coming-out story or the story around their first sexual experience. I look forward to the time when we can have a young adult fantasy series about a young lesbian black girl who fights dragons.

What do you hope readers take away from Dark Corners? The original idea was thinking about intersectionality. I give up. Namely, that the seal’s origins are tied to the secret history of Gerel’s own family. As a homicide investigation unfolds was thinking about the kinds of people that you meet in a in Europe and America, the true nature of the seal—both the dark corner, the kinds of worlds that intersect with each replica and the original—reveals itself, lending some credence to the old curse that whoever possesses the prize will meet a other that aren’t seen. So they’re a little bit more obscure. tragic death. Cumiskey’s prose manages to evoke the grandeur What are the things that are more possible in those spac- and intrigue of the long-gone imperial court. “I think I owed es without light? Sometimes those stories aren’t always it to myself to learn more of what really happened during that period,” says Gerel, recalling her visit to the Forbidden City, “a super happy, but they have the potential to be great, and time when court jewelry designs of the East and West influ- they have the potential to be more informative and more enced one another, and different cultures came together—or clashed.” The novel jumps back and forth between two time- illuminating even though they’re in the dark. I hope that, lines—one before William’s death and one after—making for in reading the stories, readers can start to understand the a clever means for dispensing information. In the basics of its more subterranean parts of themselves. plot, the book does not offer much that readers of this genre have not seen before. But the author is a capable storyteller, and her characters are distinct enough in their backgrounds Rhett Morgan is a writer and translator based in Paris. Dark and motivations to keep readers engaged to the end. Corners An entertaining contemporary art world mystery received a starred review in the Aug. 1, 2019, issue. involving the treasures of imperial China. young adult THE IMPORTANCE OF PARIS Davidson, Cynthia F. Time Tunnel Media (690 pp.) $5.49 e-book | Jun. 21, 2019

In this debut memoir, an Ameri- can corporate trainer moves to Paris in search of a Lebanese beauty queen who may help her write a book. Davidson, who was born Cynthia Fetterolf, had a unique upbringing in Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Lebanon that left her culturally aware, well traveled, and able to speak three languages. She became familiar with Arabic culture, and as an adult, she began a successful career as a cross-cultural trainer for corporate executives in New York City. But in 1970s Beirut, she experienced great trauma when her father was kidnapped twice and her younger sister narrowly survived a shooting. While on a 10-day trip to Paris in 1984, she was researching a novel—“an Arab version of Gone With the Wind,” as she puts it—based on the life of Georgina Rizk, a former Miss Lebanon and Miss Universe, who was widowed when her husband was killed by a car bomb. She hoped that talking to the pageant winner would help her understand her own past better. Rizk proved elusive, but the author’s fling with an Iraqi art dealer and her desire to write her book made her settle in Paris. She began to revisit key events in her past, and a new romance with a shadowy Tunisian driver named Omar gave her concerns about her future. Davidson’s belief that historical knowledge is the key to understanding contemporary problems results in a well-told, jet-setting memoir that spans decades and conti- nents. The book is rather lengthy, but its seamless digressions will keep readers’ interest as Davidson recalls important years in her journey toward psychological and spiritual well-being. A vibrant parade of people moved in and out of her life, and her

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 133 stories range in tone from joyful to harrowing. She also offers REMEMBERING YOU considerable cultural and political insight, and a little bit of Until God Whispers My Name romance, along the way as well as an intriguing take on Paris as Duncan, Marilyn R. a place of refuge and healing. FriesenPress (156 pp.) A richly told memoir that’s steeped in history. $25.99 | $13.99 paper | $4.99 e-book Jun. 7, 2018 978-1-5255-1810-2 HEATHCLIFF 978-1-5255-1811-9 paper The Lost Years Drum, David A memoirist pays tribute to a beloved Burning Books Press (392 pp.) parent and offers advice on how to live $16.95 paper | $4.95 e-book with loss. Sep. 30, 2019 In her new book, Duncan (Mom, Twice a Child, 2015) returns 978-0-9911857-7-1 to the subject of her mother, Jeannette Sealey—this time focusing on her long struggle with dementia and her death in 2016 A debut historical novel fills a mys- at the age of 95. “I felt I had been saying goodbye for the past terious three-year gap in Emily Brontë’s 12 years as she slowly slipped away,” the author writes, and Wuthering Heights. she structures the concise chapters of the book’s first section As a young, Roma-looking orphan, around the overwhelming emotions she experienced. She inves- Heathcliff is adopted by Old Earnshaw and taken to live with tigates the guilt that she felt when she placed her mother in a his family at their estate, Wuthering Heights. In this first sec- long-term care facility, her “anticipatory grief” as her mother’s tion, Drum closely follows Brontë’s description of events: condition worsened, and, lastly, her tremendous sense of loss. Heathcliff becomes nearly inseparable from Old Earnshaw’s In the second part, Duncan reveals more about her family by daughter, Catherine, but is abused and eventually forced into revisiting memories of childhood and discussing other health a servant’s role by his son, Hindley. Years pass, and one night problems that they faced; her father had lived with cancer and Heathcliff overhears Cathy claiming that it would “degrade” her her sister, with multiple sclerosis. In the third section, the to marry him; distraught, he flees the estate and vows that he’ll author offers gentle but straightforward advice to people in make himself into a rich gentleman worthy of the woman he mourning and those trying to comfort them. She expands her loves. From there, the book imagines what might have occurred observations of her own experiences to write about self-care over the next three years, which remain curiously unexplored in and communicating with family members, especially children. the classic novel. The author offers the possibility that Heath- Throughout all three sections, Duncan keeps her prose short cliff finds work as a sailor in the Atlantic triangle trade, voyaging and to the point. Each chapter feels like a contained vignette, from the western coast of Africa to Jamaica and back to England. giving readers a brief glimpse into the author’s life, her thoughts, Along the way, Heathcliff experiences the rough conditions of and her grieving process. The short poems that she includes a life at sea, the allures and hazards of exotic cultures, and the (such as “You Were the First”) are often sweet, and her advice horrors of the slave trade. He witnesses the greed and malice of in the third section offers very practical insights. However, in powerful men and stays true to his own values as a consequence. the first section, when she focuses on her mother’s last days, she But upon his return to England, he preoccupies himself with evokes something much more emotional and profound. exterior matters, hoping to transform into a fashionable society A general exploration of grief, elevated by succinct and man. It’s a credit to the author that direct lines and scenes from deeply personal prose. Wuthering Heights fit seamlessly into the overall narrative. Each locale is vibrantly rendered, from the ship’s tight quarters to the sprawl and seduction of Victorian London. Heathcliff himself THE BINDWEED BROTHERS appears somewhat less vivid, partly due to the tale’s detached The Story of a tone and its focus on adventure over interiority. In some ways, Morning-Glory Family the book openly depicts brutality, as in an effective scene where Glenn, Carrie slaves are branded. But it also shies away from hints of Heath- Illus. by the author cliff’s personal cruelty, instead envisioning him as blandly com- Apologue Press passionate, naïve, and heroic. As a result, 19th- and 21st-century framings coexist in ways both successful and distracting. A diffident but ultimately entertaining exploration of a Four Bindweed brothers travel, meet other plants, and encoun- famous literary lacuna. ter a hoe-wielding farmer in this illustrated children’s book. Many weeds grow along a roadside ditch, among them the Bindweeds. Four of the bell-shaped white flowers are brothers who decide to embark on an adventure; if anything gets in their way, they figure they’ll just grow over it and keep going. In a pas- ture, they meet a plant with large white blossoms: a thornapple.

134 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | Hitz employs a simple but descriptive prose style that captures his human and animal characters’ simplified worldviews. squirrels in the wall

The plant is unfriendly (“You’re no kin of mine! My flowers are of witnesses who track his growth from boyhood to manhood the flowers of angels!”) so the brothers move on. They rest with on the shores of Pike Lake include Barney’s dog, Herzie; his some hospitable dock weeds, observe a meadow of flowers, and brother, Charlie; and his sister, Pookie. Hitz employs a simple are astonished to discover a field where plants grow in regular but descriptive prose style that captures his human and animal rows. The field plants warn the brothers about weed-chopping characters’ simplified worldviews: “Was he the only toad in the farmers. Continuing on the road, the brothers are amazed again world? Perhaps the toad-eaters had gone on a rampage over the when they encounter their cousins, huge blue flowers on a vine winter and eaten every toad but himself....What good was it to climbing high. The siblings address their cousins with awe: be alive if no one else was?” Not every story lands, and some con- “Blues of great fame….You truly are the glories of the morn!” ceits work better than others. However, the cumulative effect Flattered, the morning glories invite the Bindweeds to stay of the tales is fairly powerful. The many different perspectives awhile. Unfortunately, just as the field plants warned, a farmer present a view of boyhood that’s alternately destructive and comes with his hoe and chops out the Bindweeds, leaving them innocent. Even more notably, the book reveals the obvious and on the roadside—but the tough plants root themselves again, hidden ways that one is shaped by one’s environment. crowing: “Ha! We’ve outwitted the hoe! We’re unstoppable!” An imaginative coming-of-age narrative that explores Glenn (Pandora, 2018, etc.), a former flower arranger at the the natural world. famous Chez Panisse restaurant in California, again shows her blend of storytelling magic and lovely illustrations. The journey motif is classic, and the Bindweeds (as is traditional) gain expe- AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN rience as they lose their innocence. The dialogue has a touch of AMERICAN ORPHAN strangeness that feels just right for talking plants. Yet the story James, Walter

doesn’t overly anthropomorphize them; it remains centered on Strategic Book Publishing & Rights young adult the plant world, taking account of each one’s particular habits of Agency (268 pp.) growth and, by extension, personality. For example, the plants $31.50 | $15.95 paper | $9.99 e-book growing by the Bindweeds’ original roadside include “Rad- Aug. 25, 2009 ishes, who were known to be wild” and “the persistent Docks, 978-1-60693-911-6 thought to be coarse.” Still, the author’s watercolor images are 978-1-60860-097-7 paper the book’s stars, capturing the delicacy but also the toughness of flowering weeds. A debut memoir reconstructs the A magical testament to perseverance. complex and volatile world of an orphanage in 1950s New York City. At just 4 years old, James and five of his siblings were hurled SQUIRRELS IN THE WALL into the Mount Loretto Staten Island orphanage. Instead of Hitz, Henry their unstable mother, the kids would now have a series of adult SparkPress (320 pp.) caretakers who alternated wildly among violence, exasperation, $16.95 paper | $9.95 e-book and kindness toward the screaming masses of children in their Oct. 29, 2019 charge. James’ childhood was spent passing from one “house” 978-1-68463-022-6 to the next with each new birthday. His days were filled with rock fights, boxing matches, and futile attempts to escape the Hitz (White Knight, 2016) explores cruel torture of older “junior counselor” boys. James would also themes of childhood and family in sto- often venture into the city to see his older sister, June, and their ries of a lake and the creatures who live mother. At one point, June even surprised him and his brother around it in this linked collection. David by introducing them to their father. (“It never occurred In these tales, set around the edge of Wisconsin’s Pike Lake, to me whether I had a father or not,” James writes.) But no all manner of animals—including a few humans—learn about one in this family ever provided a real path to a more stable the world and one another through confusing, sometimes- life. Even after leaving the city to live with his older brother fearful interactions. In “Frank and Stein,” a young field mouse Richard in Wyoming, James eventually found his way back to gets caught in a trap while searching for food and finds herself Mount Loretto and the grim realities of an impoverished exis- caged up with a brainwashed lab mouse; both are now the pets tence in ’50s New York that awaited the orphanage’s former of an 8-year-old boy who enjoys destroying stuffed animals. In residents. Overall, James’ memoir focuses most on daily life in “Life Cycle of a Toad,” a curious toad—a singer of melancholy the orphanage. He concentrates on the interactions between songs—discovers a “green earthen lake” at the edge of the forest children, delivering countless scenes of harrowing abuse as well only to be captured by a monster. The ghost of a doctor/sculp- as smaller moments, as when the siblings collectively dream of tor/inventor in “Death Masks” continues to haunt his old studio, being rescued by a rich family even though they “all knew it was where his grandson and namesake frequently goes to vent his just a bunch of lies.” In this way, James renders Mount Loretto frustrations about his father—the ghost’s son. The boy at the as a complicated and intriguing place; each adult and all the chil- center of all of these stories is Barney Blatz, an emotional child dren introduced by name offer nearly equal moments of both who collects animals and throws temper tantrums. The chorus tenderness and savagery. But the world outside the orphanage

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 135 never feels as well developed. James offers glimpses of his post- years. When she’s older, the girl tries solutions that don’t work, orphanage life in ’50s Brooklyn and Spanish Harlem—but there such as drinking, painting, yoga, and praying. But the repeti- is certainly a lot of room for him to further explore beyond tive thoughts remain stuck in her head. Hearing of a specialist Mount Loretto and its lasting effects. who might help her, she goes to see him. The specialist explains A riveting view of a truly tragic childhood that will that she has Glue Brain, in which some half-dozen thoughts leave readers wanting more of the author’s story. are stuck, such as “I can’t do it,” “I’ll never get what I want,” and “No one wants to be near me.” He suggests a thought transplant, sticking new thoughts over the old. These new thoughts KEEKEE’S BIG ADVENTURES could be, for example, “I can do it” or “I love my ideas, and I’m IN LONDON, ENGLAND excited to share them.” When the girl tries this method, she Jones, Shannon feels happier, finds that she can help others, and discovers that Illus. by Uhelski, Casey “New thoughts really do create new experiences!” In this book for Calithumpian Press (40 pp.) ages 10+, Kane (Feed It to the Worms, 2019, etc.) takes techniques Nov. 19, 2019 familiar from treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and 978-0-9990661-6-4 distills them to an elegant form that a broad range of readers can understand and use. The story is greatly aided by the A peripatetic calico cat visits London in this fifth picture author’s appealing, pared-down illustrations of a diverse cast in book in a series. a palette mainly featuring ochre yellow, brown, and red shades. KeeKee is a feline who travels the world by balloon, seeing When the girl starts practicing her new thoughts, the palette such famous cities as Paris, Rome, and, now, London. The cat enlivens the tale, as with a grocery store filled with multicolored starts out with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, where Will, a ram, bright fruit and a floor of deep, calming blue. While the clean makes her feel welcome. He offers to show her around, and they line drawings are minimal, they express much. For example, to travel by double-decker bus and the Underground, visiting such show how the girl’s thoughts persist over time, an image depicts tourist landmarks as Piccadilly Circus and the ravens at the younger to older versions of the character, each holding identi- Tower of London. After a pub lunch, they watch the changing cal phones connected by a curly cord. of the Queen’s Horse Guard and are invited to tea by the corgi A beautifully illustrated guide to replacing negative queen. KeeKee and Will look around the palace, then have a thoughts with life-affirming messages. delicious tea. A London guide, glossary, and maps are included, plus links for KeeKee fans. Jones (KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, 2014, etc.) provides a good beginner’s introduc- A KNIGHT WITHOUT A CASTLE tion to London that will be especially helpful for children visit- A Story of Resilience ing for the first time and needing orientation regarding lingo, and Hope food, and popular sights. Adults will enjoy in-jokes, such as Katende, Robert the queen’s being represented by a corgi, the real-life queen’s Made For Success Publishing (220 pp.) favorite canine. Returning illustrator Uhelski’s illustrations are $17.00 paper | $15.29 audiobook a huge plus, doing much to set the stage by depicting detailed Nov. 12, 2019 landmarks and capturing KeeKee’s friendly personality. 978-1-64146-377-5 A charming, beautifully illustrated guide to the English capital for kids. A touching debut memoir about a young Ugandan man who escapes poverty and becomes a mentor for others. THE GIRL WHO WAS BORN Katende writes that he was aban- WITH GLUE IN HER BRAIN doned by his parents as an infant and spent his early years with Kane, Jessica Laurel his grandmother, wandering from village to village in search of Illus. by the author food. To make matters worse, a terrifying insurrection against YMMSBILYA Press (48 pp.) the country’s president sent them into hiding. After the war, $15.00 | $2.99 e-book | Oct. 4, 2019 Katende’s mother returned to live with them but then died of 978-1-73286-823-6 breast cancer in the late 1980s. The author considered ending his life with rat poison when he was in elementary school, but In this picture book/memoir, a girl learns to replace he didn’t have enough money to buy it. Instead, he persevered thoughts that keep her unhappy with better ones. and began to excel at school and in sports. He eventually earned From birth, a girl is “born with glue in her brain,” meaning a scholarship to pursue an engineering degree at Kyambogo that certain thoughts seem to get stuck in her head even when University in Kampala, Uganda. Katende credits much of his she’s trying to focus on activities like sports. Other children success to an accomplished soccer player and mentor he met notice, too: “We’re in gym class, not daydreaming 101!” says an there—Aloysius Kyazze, who fostered his Christian faith and annoyed soccer player. The girl is too embarrassed to tell any- encouraged him to play sports. In turn, the author says, he was one about her problem, which becomes very tiring over the inspired to help others succeed, and he founded SOM Chess

136 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | Academy. His most notable protégé was the Ugandan chess develops supporting characters through Judith’s eyes. (Judith’s champion Phiona Mutesi, whose story was portrayed in a 2012 eventual friendship with Elliot’s second wife and her reactions book by the American journalist Tim Crothers and the 2016 to Seth, her philandering first husband, are easily some of the Disney film Queen of Katwe. The first half of this fast-paced narrative’s most memorable and captivating moments.) While account includes commentary within stories of Katende’s early the pace of the book’s second half slows down considerably as struggles. For example, an anecdote about his grandmother’s the two lovers move into old age and toward the bittersweet creative search for food is coupled with an account of chess conclusion of their long journey, Klasson fills every scene she strategy. Despite the author’s hardships throughout his life, the can with thought-provoking reflections on the nature of love, slim book’s tone is upbeat, and the second half—written with family, and romance. research partner and debut author Nathan Kiwere—presents A surprisingly complex and realistic love story deli- heartfelt testimonies from Katende’s students. The author’s cately narrated by an endearing protagonist. smooth-flowing prose is laced with poignant details; for example, in order to get hungry kids to come to the chess club, Katende says that he offered free bowls of porridge. There are FINN & BOTTS several memorable people in these stories, as well, such as Sharif Double Trouble at Wasswa Mbazira, who didn’t let severe disabilities affecting his the Museum limbs stop him from competing in chess tournaments in the Knight, Stew United States. Illus. by Meyers, Mark A quick, inspirational story of overcoming adversity. Dreamwell Press (116 pp.) $8.99 paper | $5.99 e-book | Jul. 25, 2019

978-1-73360-921-0 young adult LOVE IS A REBELLIOUS BIRD Klasson, Elayne An overnight elementary school field She Writes Press (336 pp.) trip to the local museum turns into a mys- $16.95 paper | $9.95 e-book tery-solving adventure in Knight’s (Finn Nov. 12, 2019 & Botts: Curse of the Cornfield Ghost, 2019, 978-1-63152-604-6 etc.) second chapter book in a series. Best friends Finn and Botts are caught up in another A debut novel follows a girl’s crush as spooky mystery—this time, during a sleepover with their it evolves into a lifelong tale of obsession classmates in the Dinosaur Gallery at the Kealstal City and passion. Museum. Why are bones missing from the new dinosaur Judith first met Elliot as a fifth exhibit? Where does the trail of grayish, oddly sparkly dust grader who had recently moved to Chi- lead? Who’s responsible for the secret tunnel in the museum cago’s North Side in the mid-1950s. Then, he was just a little that Finn and Botts discover, and who’s sneaking around in boy with torn trousers, but over the course of the next 60 raptor costumes? Knight weaves a smattering of information years, Elliot would become Judith’s lover, friend, and perma- about minerals and gems into this lively adventure as well as nent addiction. “Our relationship was a cocktail mix of rivalry numerous dinosaur facts. Along the way, his colorful main and loyalty—shaken with a strong dose of passion and resent- characters and their supportive friend Tess tour the exhibits, ment,” Judith writes of their time as academically competi- eat pizza, and identify the dinosaurs on the museum direc - tive sixth graders, which would set the tone for the decades tor’s scavenger hunt list. Knight’s atmospheric descriptions to come. Following the suicide of Elliot’s mother, Judith con- of the exhibits at night and of behind-the-scenes locations soles him while being overjoyed at their relationship’s shift (including a security office with a bank of video screens) into teenage romance, but college abruptly ends her dreams of will give readers an enjoyable sense of what it’s like to be in a happily-ever-after. Instead, they pursue different paths, with a museum after dark. In the humorous, full-page, grayscale Elliot transforming into a high-powered New York attorney illustrations that complement each chapter, artist Meyers and Judith becoming a divorced social worker in California. (The Baltimore Bandit, 2019, etc.) again depicts the characters Through letters and cross-country trips, they remain in each as pigs, albeit ones that are completely human in appearance other’s lives. But Judith always follows their unsaid agreement and behavior. (There’s one visual head-scratcher, however: that she not talk about her love for him. Throughout children, The caveman masks that Finn and Botts wear at one point divorces, and even deaths, Klasson brings the two characters have human, not porcine, features.) The mystery that the together again and again with the same devastating result for main characters stumble upon and solve comes to an eventful Judith, who never gives up on the “man by which I had mea- conclusion, and the book ends with a word puzzle for read- sured all other loves.” Written in the first person and addressed ers to complete themselves, with answers that they can find directly to Elliot, the novel’s prose is strikingly elegant and throughout the story. intimate. What could easily slide into a melodramatic tale of A promising series continues with a deft mix of sus- long-lost love turns into a realistic and psychological study pense, relatable characters, and well-integrated educa- of one woman’s deepest thoughts. The author also cleverly tional entertainment.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 137 The tale has eccentric charm, many moments of bravery and heroism, and humor. legend of the white cockroach

A PLACE OF SHADOWS white, sapient, and wants to be accepted by humans. When Lafferty, David he glimpses a human house across the intervening Jungle of BookBaby (466 pp.) Insects, Tuodi is sure that living there would be marvelous. $18.99 paper | $2.99 e-book Other roaches warn him that “humans hate us,” but Tuodi sings Dec. 21, 2018 to himself: “I’m gonna be a pet, not a pest. I will lose the let- 978-1-5439-5125-7 ter s.” Tuodi makes a very dangerous journey through the jungle, which is controlled by powerful ant factions. In the House of A debut YA mystery weaves together Humans, Tuodi is almost killed, but Jay Anderson, an 11-year-old threads of family and ghosts. boy, wants to keep him, never having seen a white roach before. Ben Wolf has always been special, When Tuodi shows off his intelligence, Jay’s parents alert the possessing empathic and clairvoyant government, which subjects the roach to painful testing. He abilities. Innate knowledge of the emo- survives, becoming “more powerful and wiser than all other tions of people around him as well as the locations of lost items insects.” Devoted to the Andersons, Tuodi is helpful around and the facts of events he hasn’t seen has helped him out plenty the house (finding keys, removing splinters, carrying notes); he in the past. But this talent has been hidden from everyone also brokers a peace agreement with other insects. As the story but his mother, as many might see it as freakish or frighten- ends, Tuodi has become a great insect leader, but more impor- ing. The story is told from Ben’s point of view, and his matter- tantly, he has become a pet. In his book (appropriate for all of-fact voice carries the early exposition and sets up the story ages), McCants has a tough sell in trying to make a roach, even effectively. As the narrative tension grows, readers also get a one as special as Tuodi, an appealing companion animal. As Tuo- strong sense of his emotions as well as a feeling of immediacy di’s kin Mooko sings, “We’re pests, we’re pests. We can make that drives home some of the stranger happenings. Secrecy has an awful mess.” And it seems paradoxical, even unhealthy, that allowed Ben to help people avoid disasters more than once, but Tuodi would dream of being “perfect in all human ways.” Why secrets can also be dangerous or even deadly. When Ben’s dis- should he not want to be perfect in all roach ways? They’re an tant Aunt Claire dies and leaves him and his mom a house in enormously successful species. That aside, the tale has eccen- rural Windward Cove, California, their simple life is uprooted tric charm, many moments of bravery and heroism, and humor, in more ways than one. At first, Ben is mostly concerned about as when Mr. Anderson tries to alert an indifferent Department starting high school in a new town, and he has little interest in of Agriculture: “Sir, would you be interested if I said I was plan- his family ties to Windward Cove’s founding. But strange things ning to raise thirty million of them for pets?” soon start happening: cold spots, sudden feelings of depression An amusingly quirky hero’s journey—though few will and emptiness, odd laughter or strange voices. Ben needs every be convinced that roaches belong inside the house. bit of his gift to find out why, and fast. Because, worst of all, his happy, outgoing, creative mom seems to be drawn to these haunting occurrences even more than he is, and the more time THE POOR AND THE HAUNTED passes, the more they seem to take from her, until her very life is McKissen, Dustin in jeopardy. Investigating the history of a place is a familiar trope Black Rose Writing (152 pp.) for horror fans, but Ben’s powers and his family’s connection to $15.95 paper | $5.99 e-book the town put a novel spin on this idea and raise the emotional Oct. 31, 2019 stakes. With solid, action-focused prose to drive Lafferty’s story 978-1-68433-364-6 forward, the pages keep turning and the mystery continues to unfold, offering readers of all ages a genuinely engrossing yarn. A novel examines the impact of a Wistful and intriguing, this tale dips its toes in horror father’s suicide on his son. but feels like a dream more than a nightmare. Jimmy Lansford had a hard childhood in rural Oklahoma, but he seems to have come out well. He has a well-paying LEGEND OF THE WHITE job, and he and his wife, Jill, and their children, Jonathan and COCKROACH Jessica, live in an upper-class neighborhood near Phoenix. Yet McCants, Bruce C. Jimmy is a haunted man, scarred by his past. His father, Ronnie, Time Tunnel Media (120 pp.) killed himself when Jimmy was 15 years old and his sister, Kelly, $19.95 paper | $4.99 e-book was 12. They were left living with their meth addict mother until May 26, 2018 Jimmy escaped to college. It’s slowly revealed that Kelly wasn’t 978-1-983002-20-5 as lucky. Strange things start to happen to Jimmy when Jessica is about to turn 12. First, on a business trip, he spies someone in A white cockroach aspires to gain his room through a window, but there’s no trace of anyone there acceptance by humans and become a pet, when he races back. Then, at Jessica’s birthday party, he senses not a pest, in this debut children’s book. a presence with him in his bathroom. Jimmy reaches his break- In an abandoned house live many ing point when he finds muddy, inexplicable footprints in his cockroaches. One, Tuodi, is different from his cohorts: He’s bedroom. This leads the former cross-country star to sneak out

138 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | his bedroom window and nearly run himself to death, ending Although the book’s target audience is women over 40, and por- up hospitalized with dehydration. Jimmy thinks he’s possessed. tions focus on female-centric issues, such as menopause, any- Those around him want to chalk up his behavior to survivor’s one in a similar age range will glean something of value from guilt. The truth lies somewhere in between. McKissen (The Mead’s outlook. Civil War at Home, 2018) paints a well-conceived portrait of a Sound, empowering advice for the middle-aged. troubled man, utilizing Jimmy’s journey through life. The author cleverly alternates between the present and Jimmy’s formative years, slowly unreeling the protagonist’s past so that readers can TROVE understand why such a good man is struggling despite his cir- A Woman’s Search for Truth cumstances. Kelly hangs over the entire tale, as Jimmy blames and Buried Treasure himself for her tragic fate, thinking his departure ultimately Miller, Sandra A. doomed her. His intriguing backstory is a tale of missed oppor- Brown Paper Press (220 pp.) tunities. Things would have been different if Jimmy had been $16.99 paper | $10.99 e-book willing to reach out more fervently to Mike Carlisle, the cop Sep. 19, 2019 who had taken an interest in the Lansford siblings after Ron- 978-1-941932-12-4 nie’s suicide. The effective ending involves Jimmy’s informing his family about the hurt he’s carried all these years. A writer recounts her playful search This thought-provoking tale makes a strong argument for buried treasure and a more serious for letting go of past pain. hunt for some emotional meaning that she struggles to define.

At the age of 46, debut author Miller had what most would young adult PILOTING YOUR LIFE consider an enviable life: a vibrant career as a writer and “part- Take the Controls and Be the time college English teacher,” a loving husband, and “two mad- Pilot in Your Own Life cap kids,” not to mention no shortage of friends. But she still felt Mead, Terri Hanson profoundly discontent, as if she was “made of longing”: “What Time Tunnel Media (266 pp.) is missing that will make me feel whole, and why, when I’m teetering $19.99 paper | $9.99 e-book on the brink of fifty, can I still not find it?” She channeled her quest- Sep. 1, 2019 ing energy into a gamesome “armchair treasure hunt,” an orga- 978-1-08-647192-2 nized competition in which the contestants interpreted clues in order to track down $10,000 in coins buried somewhere A debut author’s guide to charting a in New York City. She became increasingly obsessed with the “flight plan” for midlife. search and developed an unhealthy crush on her treasure hunt Mead, a commercially licensed heli- partner, David, who stimulated “unbidden longing” in her. She copter pilot, writes that she didn’t learn to fly until she was spent so much time driving back and forth between her home almost 40. When someone asked her why she chose to fly heli- in Boston and New York, her marriage to her husband, Mark, copters instead of planes, her reply was “because anyone can began to suffer. When pressed why precisely she felt such an fly an airplane”—and this willingness to try new and different urgent compulsion to find the treasure, she was exasperatingly things informs the book. Many other self-help works focus on incapable of articulating an answer. The author poignantly doc- a singular aspect of midlife, but this one covers a lot of terri- uments, in sometimes-painful vignettes of retrospection, the tory, including physical health, relationships, sex, parenting, dysfunctional childhood that surely was the principal source of friends, mental health, and money. Generational differences her midlife crisis. Miller recounts that she grew up in an emo- come up for discussion, as well, early on. Overall, she maintains tionally arid home: Her mother was coldly angry and her father, a consistent stance that midlife “shouldn’t happen on autopi- distant and uncommunicative at best and mercurially violent lot” and that it should be seen as “a journey, not a pivot.” She on his worst days. Her prose is both playfully anecdotal and includes extensive references to other books on middle-aged openhandedly confessional—the author achieves an impres- living, and although these are helpful, they occasionally distract sive balance between lighthearted banter and heartache. The from the power of her own platform. Throughout, she invites chief preoccupation of the remembrance—the author’s amor- reader involvement with reflective questions and briefing phous but devastating dissatisfaction at approaching 50—is not notes at the end of each chapter. Accounts from the author’s exactly new literary ground, and the symbolism of the treasure piloting experiences further heighten readability; a standout hunt, if that search weren’t real, would read as a clumsily obvi- passage, in which she compares a nerve-wracking midair chal- ous metaphor. But her writing style is so unpretentiously can- lenge to leaving one’s comfort zone, drives her message home. did and her childhood so grimly remarkable that readers are Mead also devotes three chapters to “eliminating drag”—a vital unlikely to mind. This is a moving recollection brimming with step, whether one is flying a plane or sorting out one’s daily life. emotional insights. Indeed, more flying anecdotes would have been welcome. Over- A stirring memoir that beautifully and humorously all, her book often feels like advice from an old friend, as when captures the pain of unresolved loss. she writes, “Don’t go full anarchist. Just remember it’s your life.”

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 139 Morais conjures a very specific milieu—urban St. Louis in the 1980s and ’90s—in a way that makes it feel lived-in, and she populates the setting with a panoply of rich characters. there you are

SWEETIEBETTER THERE YOU ARE Minchow-Proffitt, Terry Morais, Mathea Illus. by Proffitt-Allee, Hannah Amberjack Publishing (304 pp.) Middle Island Press (114 pp.) $24.99 paper | $11.49 e-book $18.00 paper | May 10, 2019 $24.50 audiobook 978-1-73359-793-7 Oct. 22, 2019 978-1-948705-58-5 Minchow-Proffitt Chicken( Train, 2016, etc.) shuttles deftly between the particu- Two St. Louis residents, united by lar and the universal in this accomplished music and a local record store, fall in love third volume of verse. in Morais’ nostalgic debut novel. A poet’s trustiest tool is his or her Although it opens in 2014, most of willingness to look—to see details that the rest of us miss and this story unfolds during the 1980s and ’90s as it follows Octa- then pin them down with words. Minchow-Proffitt has a par- vian Munroe and Mina Rose during their childhood and teenage ticularly keen eye for such details; in this collection, he’s alive years. Octavian, the African American son of a professor and a to the soft growl of a toddler doing his best tiger impression poet, comes from a more stable household, although the death (“Holding My Own”) or the plaintive tone of a cashier’s laugh of his mother from cancer and his brother Francis’ issues with (“Valentine’s Day”). But the author’s skill is not merely to drug dependency cause complications. Mina, the daughter of an point out these small touches, but to make them fulcrums attorney who’s as eccentric as she is formidable, has a less stable on which entire poems might balance and spin. Readers see home life, but she has the unquestionable advantage of being one such point in the fine poem “Signs,” in which the mean- white in a city that’s rife with race-related issues. Octavian and ing revolves around a single letter “S.” The piece lists phrases Mina’s first meeting is in the fifth grade; later, they bond with on church signs along a highway near the speaker’s home: friends at Rahsaan’s Records, where they later work, and they “One church brags: / Our lifeguard walks on water. / Another up form a friendship that not even the tidal forces of their lives the road advises: / To be lifted up / go down / on your knees […] can tear apart. Morais conjures a very specific milieu—urban St. Then, at the church / just past Bull’s Eye Sports and Shooting Louis in the 1980s and ’90s—in a way that makes it feel lived-in, Range— / God still storms.” As the speaker drives on, he sees, and she populates the setting with a panoply of rich characters from a distance, a man at a flea market strike a young girl, who express themselves with varying degrees of forthrightness. and he pulls over to gather himself before continuing. The Although readers of the main characters’ generation may relate next morning, a young pastor returns to that last sign with to the novel more than others due to its many specific cultural an “early edit: / God stills storms.” So much rests on that added references, Morais gives it universality as well as specificity— letter—not least of which is God’s role in the world and the particularly in her depiction of Octavian and Mina’s believable, ways in which human responsibilities hinge on it. Minchow- multidimensional relationship. They talk, argue, reconcile, and Proffitt is a retired pastor, so many of his poems address razz friends in language that’s heightened but never strained or such spiritual themes, but his tone usually resembles that unrealistic. Readers who have a low tolerance for nostalgia may of “Signs”: inquisitive, humble, delicate. If God storms, then want to look elsewhere, but for readers who enjoy a story of the the poet speaks in more hushed tones. Although he’s still robustness and fragility of love, Morais’ work is a must-read. actively involved in ministry, his retirement gives him more A novel that effectively intertwines ruminations on time to write, and readers are all the better for it. Illustra- race, music, romance, and history. tor Proffitt-Allee’s (Flashbulb Danger, 2018) understated but elegant black-and-white line drawings develop or enhance the poet’s themes. These accents are subtle, but they round KOTIMAA out the collection in surprisingly effective ways. Homeland Finely wrought poetry on both mundane and divine Munger, Mark subjects. Cloquet River Press (363 pp.) $20.00 paper | $9.99 e-book Jun. 25, 2018 978-1-73244-340-2

Munger (Boomtown, 2016, etc.) concludes his Finnish American trilogy with a novel that hops between a modern assassination plot and an early-20th-century immigration experience. Anders Alhömaki grows up planning to inherit his stepfather’s farm in Finland’s Kainuu region. After a failed relationship with a Kale woman, however, Anders leaves his homeland

140 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | behind and finds work in Norway’s copper mines. Here he THE MARRIAGE OF SPACE gains a reputation as a boxer, though one whose head is already AND TIME across the sea: “Aren’t you the one who’s always dreaming of Myers, Jed America?” His travels eventually bring him to the mines of Moonpath Press (114 pp.) Michigan and Minnesota, where many Finns have settled, $16.00 paper | Feb. 28, 2019 looking for a better life. Anders is given the opportunity 978-1-936657-42-1 to be his own man—and perhaps to find love in the roiling, immigrant-filled Upper Midwest. Anders’ story is offset by A poetry collection explores life’s another occurring in 2017. Dr. Janine Tanninen, the daughter delicate equation. of an African-American father and a Finnish American mother Divided into three sections, Myers’ from Anders’ Upper Midwest milieu, has married a Finnish (Between Dream and Flesh, 2018, etc.) man and moved to Finland to assist the resettlement of Syr- latest volume is both cataclysmic and ian refugees. Meanwhile, a disgruntled man plots the assassi- comforting, offering free verse poems that take a long look nation of Assistant Director of Immigration for Refugees and at time and the universe alongside the mise-en-scène of daily Migration Tarja Saariaho. Saariaho, he believes, in her role of life. The first section, “Space,” opens with a part-whimsical, resettling Muslim immigrants in Finland, is working to erase part-ominous late-night conversation the speaker has with the the country’s Christian identity. “And now I hear she’s considering forces of an inanimate bedroom. “So, sleep, dream, as you know / a run for fucking president!” he fumes. “That woman has as much the meeting is never over. Enter / the dark with us, animal,” it ends, right to lead Finland as a drunk sleeping in...downtown Stockholm shifting the tone seamlessly in a way that seems emblematic of has to be crowned king of Sweden!” With the roles reversed—Fin- the author’s brief poems that plumb the depths of the collec-

land an importer rather than an exporter of those looking for tive unconscious. Frequently, quotidian tasks give way to meta- young adult a better life—the story of the Alhömakis comes to a startling physical musings, as in “Dirge for Wanderers,” about a trip to conclusion. the market, or “Morning Rush,” about commuting to work. The Munger’s prose capably summons the stark landscapes of middle section, entitled “Time,” looks at the fourth dimension the novel, which embody both melancholy and understated in terms of the eternity of earthliness and the fluctuations in beauty: “Across the bleak land, a lantern twinkled in a win- interpersonal relationships, as in poems like “Yahrzeit” and dow. He moved quickly; the rhythm of skiing as innate as “Seasonal.” Among Myers’ strongest pieces in that section are walking to a young boy of the north.” It’s a sprawling novel, poems about the passage of time and loved ones. In “After Park- as one would expect from the third volume in a multigenera- ing at Starbucks,” the speaker describes going for coffee with an tional immigrant saga, but Munger demonstrates an impres - aging parent. The author writes: “Something fine / and brittle sive amount of control as he toggles between the historical might break as I lift it / away from its place, like that china / (sections 1 and 3) and the contemporary (sections 2 and 4). cup I fumbled,” drawing a line from the frailty of the speaker’s There is quite a bit of coincidence at work, but perhaps that mother to her inherited china set. Details like these can be read is par for this genre, which usually seeks to reveal continu- with a bit of relief. But the focus on the speaker’s self and its ities between people and across time. The Anders sections, interconnectedness with the rest of life can, at times, render in particular, manage to evoke the deliberative naturalism other characters decorative and one-dimensional, as happens of Upton Sinclair and Theodore Dreiser, and Munger effec - to the young woman a writer meets in “After the Master Class,” tively maintains this strategy even into the sections set in who is invited up to a hotel room. The final section, “Union,” is 2017. His attempts to grapple with current immigration a bittersweet ode to what’s come before, prefaced by a quote issues, including Syrian refugees in Europe and the election from mathematician Hermann Minkowski that warns that of Donald Trump, make for a complex yet appropriate end to “space by itself, and time by itself, are doomed to fade away into mere a series that is essentially a long meditation on leaving home shadows.” Poems like “I’ll See Her Turning” and “Catch” exam- and building another life somewhere else. Fans of thought- ine the banalities of life and death and are especially effective ful, probing historical fiction should enjoy this final volume, for their humanity. In over 40 poems, Myers manages to be which stands well enough on its own. both brief and expansive. A detailed, wide-lens historical novel of Finnish Ameri- Ambitious poems that deftly tackle big ideas. cans then and now.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 141 THE BOOK OF “TWELFTH It’s the “darkly sexual” element of Twelfth Night, the author notes, NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL” that’s often sacrificed for box office success. Myers concludes Musings on Shakespeare’s with several brief but well-supported chapters that explore how Most Wonderful productions have used sea motifs and the debate regarding the (and Erotic) Play date of the very first production ofTwelfth Night. A casual reader Myers, Wayne may find this study to be overwhelming aside from a chapter that Wheatmark (197 pp.) aims to refresh the reader’s memory about the play’s plot and a $14.95 paper discussion of Shakespeare’s inspirations. However, the book’s 978-1-60494-412-9 many references to act and scene numbers, as well as specific performances, actors, and venues, will make this a compelling read Authoritative commentaries on the for dedicated Shakespeare theater buffs. treatment of William Shakespeare’s A detailed critique of Shakespeare for fans and scholars early-17th-century play Twelfth Night, or that’s supported by plentiful references. What You Will. In his debut, Myers, the former features editor for the Oneida (New York) Daily Dispatch, makes a compelling case for an inter- THE DIVINE PROPORTIONS OF pretation of Twelfth Night that’s darker, more nuanced, and more LUCA PACIOLI erotic than many productions achieve. He begins by disproving Parker, W.A.W. the notion that the work is merely a “formulaic throwback to ear- Barbera Foundation (238 pp.) lier Shakespearean comedy,” as asserted by some theater histo- $14.99 paper | $9.99 e-book rians. Myers argues such a view is “disastrous…spawning novelty Sep. 26, 2019 and ‘funny’ Twelfth Nights” that miss the actual humor of the plot, 978-1-947431-27-0 which he asserts is driven by eroticism and duality. Throughout, the author refers to various theatrical productions and their criti- A fictional recounting of the life of cal reviews to support his opinions. A selection of photographs a Renaissance mathematician and cleric. from several of those performances effectively complements Parker’s debut novel, part of the Myers’ references and enlivens the text. Each of the play’s cen- Mentoris Project of historical novels tral characters receives a chapter in which the author discusses and biographies celebrating notable Italians, tells the story how well different adaptations capture his or her essence, par- of Luca Pacioli, who combined mathematics and religion in ticularly regarding sexuality. Myers also draws parallels to other 15th- and 16th-century Italy. After growing up in the town of Shakespeare plays, particularly Troilus and Cressida and Othello. Sansepolcro, Pacioli is apprenticed to a merchant who doesn’t appreciate his enthusiasm for Arabic numerals. He finds a more supportive mentor in artist Piero della Francesca, and This Issue’s Contributors this association leads Pacioli to new connections and collabo- # rations as he develops his skills and Italy goes through religious ADULT and political turmoil. He’s ordained as a friar, publishes sev- Colleen Abel • Maude Adjarian • Paul Allen • Poornima Apte • Mark Athitakis • Colette Bancroft eral books on mathematics and related topics, and works with Joseph Barbato • Amy Boaz • Catherine Cardno • Kristin Centorcelli • May-lee Chai • Carin Clevidence • Devon Crowe • Dave DeChristopher • Kathleen Devereaux • Bobbi Dumas • Daniel various artists, including Leonardo da Vinci (“We made an odd Dyer Chelsea Ennen • Kristen Evans • Mia Franz • Marcie Geffner • Amy Goldschlager • Michael couple, surely, one atheist and one devout friar”). Throughout Griffith • Janice Harayda • Katrina Niidas Holm • Natalia Holtzman • Laura Jenkins • Jessica Jernigan his career, he draws connections between math and religion, Tom Lavoie • Louise Leetch • Peter Lewis • Elsbeth Lindner • Michael Magras • Don McLeese Gregory McNamee • Clayton Moore • Karen Montgomery Moore • Sarah Morgan • Molly Muldoon particularly in his investigation of the divine proportion of Christopher Navratil • Liza Nelson • Mike Newirth • Mike Oppenheim • Jim Piechota • Margaret the book’s title—a ratio that appears throughout the natural Quamme • Amy Reiter • Michele Ross • Leslie Safford • Bob Sanchez • Rosanne Simeone • Linda world. This novel hews closely to its subject’s documented his- Simon • Margot E. Spangenberg • Bill Thompson • Claire Trazenfeld • Jessica Miller • George Weaver Laura H. Wimberley • Kerry Winfrey • Marion Winik tory, and Parker does an excellent job of imagining the rest, including cameos by historical figures, such as Martin Luther. CHILDREN’S & TEEN Some stylistic choices add to the book’s feeling of uniqueness; Autumn Allen • Kazia Berkley-Cramer • Marcie Bovetz • Ann Childs • Alec B. Chunn • Amanda Chuong • Tamar Cimenian • Jeannie Coutant • Elise DeGuiseppi • Luisana Duarte Armendáriz for instance, each chapter ends with a number in the famous Eiyana Favers • Sally Campbell Galman • Laurel Gardner • Judith Gire • Carol Goldman • Kathleen T. Fibonacci mathematical sequence. The narrative is also pre- Isaacs • Darlene Sigda Ivy • Betsy Judkins • Deborah Kaplan • Megan Dowd Lambert • Angela Leeper sented as a memoir that Pacioli is dictating to a young scribe, Wendy Lukehart • Kyle Lukoff • Meredith Madyda • Joan Malewitz • Kathie Meizner • J. Elizabeth Mills • Lisa Moore • Katrina Nye • Tori Ann Ogawa • Hal Patnott • Deb Paulson • John Edward Peters who leaves occasional footnotes throughout the text. Parker Asata Radcliffe • Kristy Raffensberger • Amy B. Reyes • Nancy Thalia Reynolds • Amy Robinson ably explains Pacioli’s theological approach to math and bal- Leslie L. Rounds • Katie Scherrer • Dean Schneider • John W. Shannon • Rita Soltan • Jennifer ances the book’s spiritual and historical elements. However, Sweeney • Renee Ting • Christina Vortia • Michaela Whatnall Luca’s frequent asides to the reader (“I want to make sure you INDIE understand this reference since it’s important you grasp my Kent Armstrong • Julie Buffaloe-Yoder • Darren Carlaw • Michael Deagler • Sam DiBella • Stephanie sense of humor and the type of playful banter Guiliano and Dobler Cerra • Steve Donoghue • Jacob Edwards • Eric F. Frazier • Lynne Heffley • Jennifer Helinek Ivan Kenneally • Dale McGarrigle • Alana Mohamed • Rhett Morgan • Stacey Morin • Brandon Nolta I had with one another”) can break the novel’s flow at times. Joshua T. Pederson • Jim Piechota • Alicia Power • Matt Rauscher • Sarah Rettger • Darlene Ricker Although some readers may be unsatisfied with the novel’s Jerome Shea • Lauren Emily Whalen

142 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | A violent novel that’s full of grim joking between comrades and terrible crimes that give the book a hard edge. stranger rituals

deliberately open-ended resolution, many are likely to appre- LAST STOP, RONKONKOMA ciate the intriguing history and well-rounded characters. Schneider, Fred J. A well-imagined celebration of Pacioli’s life and Glimmerglass Publishing (302 pp.) philosophy. Sep. 30, 2019 978-1-73295-185-3 978-1-73295-186-0 paper STRANGER RITUALS Schmidt, Kali Rose A young boy becomes caught between Time Tunnel Media (320 pp.) two parental prophecies involving the $21.99 | $12.99 paper | $4.99 e-book priesthood and major league baseball in Jul. 9, 2019 this novel. 978-1-9994916-4-2 After the Brooklyn Dodgers defect 978-1-9994916-2-8 paper to Los Angeles, Harry Sisler, an obsessive fan, feels compelled to vacate New York City as well, and he moves his family to In Schmidt’s (Cold & Blood, 2019, Ronkonkoma, a sleepy hamlet in the “hinterlands” of Long etc.) dark-fantasy series starter, an exiled Island. Harry seems lost more than ever and becomes con- blood mage returns to her home country vinced, based on his bizarrely creative and aggressively hereti- to carry out a divinely commanded assas- cal readings of the Bible, that he will die by the age of 50. At the sination—and, possibly, to find revenge. time of this morbid prophecy, he’s 37, leaving him 13 years to When Scarko Kadezska was young, her family members were accomplish something worthwhile, relieving him from a life of

murdered for heresy in Warskia, where magic-using is considered quiet disappointment. But Harry doesn’t plan on dying without young adult blasphemous. She escaped to the Vrakans’ Order of Saints, where purpose—when his second son, Tristram, is born, he announces her talents with “blood magic”—“her ability to make bones do another prophecy: It is his boy’s destiny to become a profes- what she willed with her blood, to use her blood as a literal weapon, sional baseball player, one who is twice as good as Joe DiMaggio. a poison that burned, that killed”—make her a unique addition With maniacal and relentless intent—and often against both to their force. Other members can control fire, ice, wind, and Tristram’s wishes and any sign of precocious athletic talent— shadow. The Order’s leader, Vojtech, becomes a father figure to the Harry attempts to rob the boy’s life of any distraction that could orphaned Scarko; as a bone-eating demon, he intimately under- compete with his focus on the sport. Meanwhile, Harry’s wife, stands her appetite for blood. The Order wants to restore magic Agatha, has her own grand designs for Tristram—she decides, to Warskia, and when Vojtech receives a vision from their gods, he shortly after he is born, that his purpose in life is to become a sees the Order’s chance to strike. He tells Scarko to return to War- Roman Catholic priest based on a hilariously self-assured inter- skia to kill Zephir Crista, a fighter who’s immune to the effects of pretation of an ambiguous “mark” on the boy. Schneider (Pig in magic. Obediently, she sets out for the city of Kezda to find him, Flight, 2019), in this endearingly humorous tale of frustrated but she wonders if she can find time, during her assignment, to aspirations, chronicles Tristram’s unenviable role as a kind exact vengeance on the Warskian Praeminister, who traumatized of filial wishbone, caught between the competing but equally her in captivity. Scarko isn’t the best strategist, so Zephir quickly intractable futures assigned to him by his parents. The author’s picks her out of a crowd during one of his matches. After he cor- prose is crisply game, and he manages to combine a farcically ners her, she realizes that they have more in common than she fantastical tale with a sober portrayal of an authentic emotional thought. This is a violent novel that’s full of grim joking between drama. Harry is not merely a psychotically clownish alcoholic, comrades and terrible crimes that give the book a hard edge. but also a common man who struggles profoundly with his ordi- (Readers should also be warned that Scarko has a complicated rela- nariness and his failure to capitalize on talent and opportunity tionship with self-harm.) Schmidt brings the country of Warskia when they present themselves. And Tristram’s heartbreaking to life with a smattering of fantasy language that gives it the feel of plight—wanting to be free of his father’s despotic control while a dark, snowy Eastern European land. As this novel is the first in a yearning to become closer to him—is effectively depicted. series, the story is weighed down by background material, but the A comically inventive but tenderly poignant family tale, author excels in describing the sharp tensions between her charac- both funny and moving. ters: “Scarko watched him leave, wondering as she felt the warmth of the bird skull close to her chest, what his bones would look like with her blood on them.” A bloody, gothic tale that sings when it’s not busy setting its stage.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 143 ONE NURSE UNIVERSE tennis ball-sized heel crater.” Some readers may find the writ- Turnage, Susan ing shockingly blunt whereas others will see the matter-of-fact Dog Ear Publishing (218 pp.) approach as a reflection of the realities of nursing. The mem- $24.99 | $14.99 paper | $5.99 e-book oir is given an extra dimension with a chapter entitled “Zero Jun. 10, 2019 to Ten”; its opening considers a patient’s perspective: “The 978-1-4575-6742-1 moment your butt hits the hospital bed, normal life disappears.” 978-1-4575-7064-3 paper The result is a multitextured memoir that evokes a spectrum of emotions. Furthermore, this book gives those considering A Philadelphia-based nurse recalls a career in nursing a strong sense of whether the profession is her day-to-day life tending to the sick truly for them. and dying in this unflinchingly honest A revealing look at hospital life written with affection debut memoir by Turnage. and clarity. In 1969, 17-year-old Susan Turnage was given her first task as a student nurse: to bathe amale patient. The words of her intimidatingly strict instructor rang SIMON SEEKER in her ears: “Make sure you wash the groin area.” Once behind Wallace, Frank the bedside curtain, she confessed to her patient that she had iUniverse (330 pp.) never seen a man naked before. Her patient was equally embar- $31.99 | $20.99 paper | $3.99 e-book rassed about having someone other than his wife bathe him. May 10, 2019 The two made a pact: “I do the pits, he does the parts.” Over 978-1-5320-7205-5 the course of her career, Turnage collected a satchel full of sto- 978-1-5320-7204-8 paper ries about her interactions with patients. When working at a correctional facility, one of her first jobs was to provide advice A boy watches the only life he’s ever on how to deal with an inmate who had a showerhead stuck in known burn to the ground in this novel. his rectum. Many stories are truly heartbreaking, such as that In this coming-of-age tale, 12-year- of Connie, a 15-year-old patient who had become pregnant after old Simon Seeker is no ordinary boy. Up being sexually abused by her uncle, leading to a home-induced until the fire, he had lived with his recluse abortion using cola and lye that went horribly wrong. Turnage’s father, a free-thinking former children’s novelist, on a vast farm. writing displays an effervescent, almost slapstick humor. When Their main interaction with the outside world came in the form a patient jokes that she is spilling a bedpan, Turnage has the last of monthly visits from his father’s childhood friend Roger, a laugh: “I opened my eyes wide and headed right for him, feign- city-dwelling lawyer who often had little patience for Simon. ing a stumble and saying, ‘Woah, look out! I am carrying a big When his father is diagnosed with cancer, Simon becomes his load.’ ” Turnage never holds back when describing a patient’s caretaker, executing his final wishes—or most of them, anyway. condition, and the results can be gruesome. When describing a On the night Simon’s home burns with his father in it, the boy wound on a patient’s foot, she writes: “maggots swarmed in the is supposed to stay and wait for Roger, now his guardian. He will shepherd Simon to Wind Lake School, an experimental farm- ing school where Roger and the boy’s father first met. Instead,

KIRKUS MEDIA LLC Simon sets out on his own, and his journeys, along with Roger’s subsequent search for him, bring together an unlikely crew, # including a kindly trucker named Ben Pyle and maternal figure Chairman HERBERT SIMON Jenna, a sex worker he meets while staying in what he doesn’t quite realize is a brothel. In Boston, where Simon settles, his President & Publisher MARC WINKELMAN knowledge of plants and animals astounds a popular TV host who interviews him, transforming Simon into a new star of the Chief Executive Officer MEG LABORDE KUEHN ecological movement (“The Stardust Kid”). Roger’s vaguely # nefarious scheme to whisk Simon away from his new friends and off to boarding school eventually reveals the attorney’s own Copyright 2019 by Kirkus Media LLC. complex notions of love, companionship, and home, though his KIRKUS REVIEWS (ISSN 1948-7428) is published semimonthly by Kirkus Media LLC, arc could be made more explicit. Wallace’s (The Starlight Medal 2600Via Fortuna, Suite 130, Austin, TX 78746. Subscription prices are: lions, 2010, etc.) Simon is an otherworldly enough combination Digital & Print Subscription (U.S.) - 12 Months ($199.00) of wise and naïve (“I saw his soul go up among the stars” is how Digital & Print Subscription (International) - 12 Months ($229.00) he describes watching his father’s body burn) for readers to sus- Digital Only Subscription - 12 Months ($169.00) Single copy: $25.00. pend disbelief at certain fantastical series of events. The stirring All other rates on request. story will move the audience along its many twists and will man- POSTMASTER: age to charm along the way. Send address changes to Kirkus Reviews, PO Box 3601, Northbrook, IL 60065-3601. An uplifting adventure as charismatic as its precocious Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710 and at additional mailing offices. protagonist.

144 | 1 november 2019 | indie | kirkus.com | Westover’s prose is wonderfully detailed, capturing the lushness and grit of his superstition-ruled setting. the winter sisters

THE WINTER SISTERS Solid writing and strong characters buoy this examination of Westover, Tim a captivating moment in American history when old beliefs QW Publishers (322 pp.) encountered the new. $12.95 paper | $2.99 e-book | Aug. 7, 2019 An enthralling, cozy tale set in an era when folklore 978-0-9849748-9-4 reigned over science.

A historical novel spins a yarn of a skeptical doctor and a trio of folk heal- ers who team up to try to save a Georgia town from a deadly disease. North Georgia, 1822. Savannah doctor Aubrey Waycross has been invited to the remote town of Lawrenceville to provide the locals with proper medical care—and, in his mind, to dispel some of their backward superstitions, such as a ghost panther stalking the hills. But the citizens of Lawrenceville already know where to get their healing. A few miles outside of town in Hope Hollow, three sisters—Rebecca, Sarah, and Effie Winter—are renowned for their cures for everything from sneezes to rheumatism. Some regard the sisters as witches— Pastor Boatwright insists the panther is their familiar—but Waycross assumes they are merely frauds. Charlatans, of course, can still be dangerous. “What if this supposed panther…put its teeth into human flesh?” worries Waycross. “What if, in their benightedness, the afflicted went to the Winter sisters for treatment? These so-called witches might spread the contagion with some superstition about pouring out blood at a crossroads.” Yet Waycross must admit that the Winters have a knack for unexplained healings, and there does seem to be some sort of big cat in the woods. The physician can’t help but become increasingly fascinated by the sisters, whose ways are as old as the mountains. As Waycross contends with his own ether addiction, Lawrenceville is in danger of a rabies outbreak, and the doctor alone may not be enough to save it. As the pastor preaches his own brand of unscientific cures, Waycross will have to rely on these mys - terious “colleagues” if he wants to save the people of Law - renceville from a terrible fate. Westover’s (The Old Weird South, 2012, etc.) prose is wonderfully detailed, capturing the lushness and grit of his superstition-ruled setting: “The odor was not pleasant. It smelled of too many herbs all at once, basil and rosemary mixed with an overpowering lavender, as well as the spiciness of rhodo- dendron, the sharp tang of pine, and the musk of something decocted from a toadstool.” Readers will be intrigued right from the book’s atmospheric opening, when Waycross’ reluctant carriage driver warns him of all the dangers that haunt Lawrenceville. The story is ultimately less of a gothic fantasy than a slow-moving, slightly magical realist novel that takes as its subject the denizens of a colorful little town. The time and place—antebellum rural Georgia, equally distant from the Revolutionary and Civil wars—feel refreshingly unexplored. There are moments when the story dawdles, but the author has created such an attractive world to inhabit that its conservative pace is not much cause for concern. Westover manages to stick the landing, bringing his doctor’s unlikely investigation into miracles to a wise and affecting conclusion.

| kirkus.com | indie | 1 november 2019 | 145 Field Notes Ben McCanna-PortlandBen Portland Press Herald via Getty Images By Megan Labrise Grep Hoax

“I like writing about home, because I feel like I have a sense of it. The only reason I set Rizzoli & Isles in Boston is because we don’t have the crime rate here—I couldn’t be realistic about having a large homicide unit and serial killers. Although one Maine state detective told me, ‘Oh, we’ve had serial killers in Maine! But they usually come from away.’” “They continue to be speedily read- —Crime novelist Tess Gerritsen, author of The Shape of Night, in Down East magazine able—the present tense works on Josh Huskin Josh Updike the way boutique transfu- “Writing is good for my ego. You know, sions of young blood work on bil- people tell you all the time ‘This is so lionaires—and perfectly replicate good’ or ‘This is so funny’ or ‘I wish the experience of eating a hot dog I could do that’....It makes you feel in quasi-wartime on a lush crew-cut bigheaded. So, writing is good for my lawn that has been invisibly poisoned ego. Teaching was good for my heart. by industry, while men argue politics I just felt important without anyone in the background and a Nice Ass having to tell me I was important.” lurks somewhere on the horizon, like —Shea Serrano, journalist, former teacher, and author of the presence of God.” Movies (and Other Things) in the San Antonio Current —Poet and author Patricia Lockwood (Priestdaddy) on John Updike’s Rabbit novels in the London Review of Books John Reilly “It wasn’t like I bought my friends Cadil- lacs and flew to Memphis for peanut “I’m not trying to be the archenemy butter and jelly sandwiches. The money of Marie Kondo, but perhaps we’ve was a modest influx. The biggest thing gone a little bit too far with throwing for me was finally gaining a wider read- away our things.” ership. For a long time, I’d thought many —Meik Wiking, “happiness expert” and more people might enjoy my work if author of The Art of Making Memories, on they were aware of its existence, and Virgin Media Television that turned out to be true. I’m hoping that continues but you never can tell.” Submissions for Field Notes? —Author Carol Anshaw discussing her new Email [email protected]. novel, Right After the Weather, at Chicago’s Newcity Lit

146 | 1 november 2019 | field notes | kirkus.com | Appreciations: Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate at 30 BY GREGORY MCNAMEE

James Leynse-CorbisJames via Getty Images There are matters of the heart, and there are matters of the stomach. Both heart and stomach experience pleasure and pain, and both are intimately related, with love serving sometimes as condi- ment and sometimes as the main course alongside such culinary treasures as quail in roses and an oxtail soup infused with fiery chiles. Love and food are the grand subjects of Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water for Chocolate, a masterpiece of magical realism first published in her native Mexico in 1989 and appearing in English translation three years later. The setting is a borderlands ranch in a place where rural tradition prevails. In the case of Tita de la Garza, that tradition has forbidden her from accepting their neighbor Pedro’s proposal of marriage, for as the youngest daughter, Tita is responsible for caring for her mother, Mama Elena, and keeping the ranch going.

There’s an option, though, as Mama Elena explains: Pedro can always marry Tita’s older sister Rosaura. Pedro young adult thinks it over and agrees, incurring the anger of his father, who asks his son why he’s forgotten his vow of love for Tita. Replies Pedro, “When you’re told there’s no way you can marry the woman you love and your only hope of being near her is to marry her sister, wouldn’t you do the same?” That’s a recipe, of course, for a particular kind of unhappiness. Pedro and Rosaura wed while Tita retreats into the kitchen, building on the considerable skills of Nacha, the ranch cook, a quiet but constant presence throughout the story even after her death. Tita has a sixth sense for all things food-related, knowing exactly what to cook and exactly when to do it. She is also imbued with what the Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno called the tragic sense of life. Unamuno wrote, “There is no true love save in suffering, and in this world we have to choose either love, which is suffering, or happiness.” Tita lives up to the apothegm, serving up sensory wonders while bursting into tears without any apparent reason. “For her,” writes Esquivel, “laughing was a form of crying.” So when Pedro brings her roses, she goes out onto the patio, catches half a dozen quail, and cooks them up in rose sauce. Life goes on, with all its complications and twists. Rosaura, for her part, develops both an unfortunate problem with flatulence and a “voluminous, gelatinous body.” Such a condition can’t be maintained forever, and when it ends as it must, Tita and Pedro are free to confess their love, a love that burns so ardently that the whole ranch is consumed in fire, sparing only a cookbook in the mountain of ashes. Fans of Mexican country cooking will revel in the YouTube series “De Mi Rancho a Tu Cocina” (“From My Ranch to Your Kitchen”), in which a cheerful abuelita serves up such wonders as squash with roast pork and quesadillas with freshly ground chiles and tomatoes. Watch a few episodes, cook yourself something delicious, read or reread Like Water for Chocolate, and revel in the splendor of love, heart, and innards alike.

| kirkus.com | appreciations | 1 november 2019 | 147 New from the New York Times bestselling author of Refugee ALAN GRATZ

«“Excellent...a“ fast-paced, entertaining read.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

«“A“ tour de force of war fiction.” —Booklist, starred review

«“A“ tautly paced and multifaceted portrait of the D–Day invasion.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Also by ALAN GRATZ «“Nothing short of brilliant.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review «“Impossible to “Unflinching put down.” and sympathetic.” —Booklist, starred review — The New York Times «“Suspenseful.” Over 70 weeks on the —Horn Book, starred review New York Times bestseller list

scholastic.com SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.