“A Trio of Responses to Jerry Coyne’s Attack on Unscientific America - DISCOVER” plus 2 more |
- A Trio of Responses to Jerry Coyne’s Attack on Unscientific America - DISCOVER
- Team Launches New Website for Writers - PR-USA.net
- Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly
| A Trio of Responses to Jerry Coyne’s Attack on Unscientific America - DISCOVER Posted: 24 Oct 2009 07:26 AM PDT Two months have passed since the prominent journal Science published a highly misleading review of our book, Unscientific America, by Jerry Coyne. From the very first sentence, Coyne misrepresented the text, charging that according to Unscientific America, the problem of American scientific illiteracy "derives from two failings of scientists themselves: their vociferous atheism and their ham-handed and ineffectual efforts to communicate the importance of science to the public." This is not what we argue, nor what we think, nor a position we could possibly defend. When the review first came out in August, we were surprised to see it, as Coyne had already attacked our book online, and we had felt compelled to blog a response that corrected several of his errors and misrepresentations. However, we did not immediately respond to Coyne's Science review, both because we didn't want to blog our response to something published in a journal and also because we were very busy. Chris got married. Sheril completed a manuscript. But we were not the only ones surprised by what Coyne had written; Joshua Rosenau, who had read our book and reviewed it, felt compelled to rebut Coyne's Science review at length, observing the following: A review in the top scientific journal is a fairly rarified entity, one with various rules and expectations. Not least among those expectations is that the reviewer will give an honest account of the book as written, and will take issue with the authors' actual claims, not with imagined enemies. I took classes with Coyne as an undergraduate at Chicago; I know him to be an honest and honorable man, a scrupulous researcher, and dedicated to thoughtful and open discourse. Thus, my expectations for his review were rather high. I hoped he would rise out of the muck which has surrounded the book online, and give a fair look at it, however assuredly critical it might be. Instead, I cannot characterize his review as anything but bullshit [note: Rosenau is using the word "bullshit" in the sense made famous by Harry Frankfurt, e.g., not lying, but simply not caring about the truth or accuracy]…. Rosenau detailed the many ways in which Coyne misrepresented our book on fundamental matters–e.g., what is the problem it identifies, what are the causes of that problem, and so on. We encourage readers to go through Rosenau's entire post, which contains numerous rebuttals, followed by more accurate descriptions of what Unscientific America argues. And that's just the beginning. On Friday, Science published two eLetters in response to Coyne's review, one by a doctor and professor who has read our book and a second by us. Let us quote from the former first, for it parallels Rosenau's reaction. The letter is from Donald Marcus, who is at Baylor College of Medicine and who opens with the following: J. Coyne's Book Review of Unscientific America by C. Mooney and S. Kirshenbaum ("Selling science," 7 August 2009, p. 678) doesn't serve the basic function of describing the scope and contents of a book. His review is a dismissive rant that misrepresents the text. Marcus then substantiates his assertions; please read his own words. (Indeed, anyone wishing to really follow this matter should ideally read not only our book, but all of the links in this post.) Marcus concludes as follows: The book [Unscientific America] is clear and lively, and it includes 66 pages of notes containing references and citations. In addition to providing little information about the book, the review is an example of an intemperate style that is an obstacle to civil discourse. It is unworthy of Science. Finally, there is our own reaction. You can read it at the same link. It starts like this: The late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan once remarked that "Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own facts." A similar rule applies to book reviews: Every reviewer is entitled to dislike a particular book, but not to misrepresent its arguments and contents. Unfortunately, J. Coyne has taken the latter course with our book Unscientific America ("Selling science," Book Reviews, 7 August 2009, p. 678). He calls our work "shallow and unreflective," but virtually every time he tries to describe it he makes an error–either attributing to us views and positions we do not hold, or claiming the book lacks content that it actually does contain. We then proceed to correct Coyne on many points, but here is a typical example: Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Coyne's review is his use of our own arguments to attack the positions he incorrectly attributes to us. For instance, take Coyne's observation that "The public's reluctance to accept scientific facts may reflect not just a lack of exposure but a willful evasion of facts due to conflicting economic agendas (e.g., the case of global warming) personal agendas (vaccines), or religious agendas." Yes, but how is this a strike against our book? We deal with such factors from the outset; Coyne even quotes our observation that "college-educated Democrats are now more than twice as likely as college-educated Republicans to believe that global warming is real and is caused by human activities." Coyne writes that "the problem of an 'unscientific America' may be far more complex than the authors let on," but in truth, we describe the problem with far more complexity than Coyne lets on. You can read our full letter here. We regret having to respond at such length, but we felt that the need to set the record straight was that compelling. Indeed, we are not the only authors who have felt compelled to respond in this manner to one of Coyne's book reviews. As Robert Wright has put it: Here is a partial list of false or misleading things Jerry Coyne says about my book The Evolution of God in his review of it in The New Republic. I want to emphasize that I think these are innocent mistakes…If Coyne wants to write a devastating review of my book—and there can be little doubt that he wants to—he's going to have to start over. Like Wright, we do not know why Coyne misrepresented our book so badly. But again: we had already corrected several Coyne's misrepresentations online before his Science review appeared. Secondly, Coyne has been in a very heated debate with us (and was before the Science review came out); and has called our work "shallow, unreflective, and not worth buying or reading," among other denunciations contained in the Science review and elsewhere. In a forthcoming post, we plan to say more about the broader context in which Coyne's attack on Unscientific America needs to be understood. For now, let us close by saying that we're saddened at the need for these responses, but we're also fortunate that others have come to our defense, unasked, and have been willing to further set the record straight. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. | ||
| Team Launches New Website for Writers - PR-USA.net Posted: 24 Oct 2009 06:36 AM PDT Like most industries, writers are feeling the pinch of today's tough market. Neilsen BookScan reports that sales in 2009 are down anywhere from 1.7% to almost 20% depending on market segment over last year. And while sales are picking up in 2009, many publishers are finding it hard to stay open for business, let alone make money. But rather than hunker down and wait for the storm to pass, two authors are focusing on what writers can do to now. | "As writers ourselves, we just could not find an online community that contained the full spectrum of information we needed," says Melissa Thomas-Dubois, Co-founder and Editor at WritingSnacks.com. "Our mission is to provide a central repository where writers from around the world can share best practices and information." With a focus on areas including improving your writing craft, new markets, marketing tips, and book reviews, the website it already getting positive reviews. Monthly interviews with successful writers who share how they sold that first manuscript or met just the right editor provide real-world advice for the writing community. "We are so pleased to offer this service to others," says Dana Cleveland Konop, Co-founder and Editor at Writing Snacks.com. "Our approach of value-added benefits with success stories has been a winning combination for the site thus far." About Writing Snacks.com Founded by Dana Cleveland Konop and Melissa Thomas-Dubois, the site strives to help writers world-wide realize their potential. Visit their website at http://www.writingsnacks.com.
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| Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly Posted: 20 Oct 2009 01:26 AM PDT Picture Books Whoo Goes There? Jennifer A. Ericsson, illus. by Bert Kitchen. Roaring Brook/Porter, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-59643-371-7Compelling pacing, dark colors and an air of mystery lend significance to a series of events that might otherwise go unnoticed. Sitting on a bare tree limb under a full moon, Owl hears a rustling noise. "Whoo goes there? thought Owl. Is it a mouse—a fat little mouse just right for my dinner?" But no, it's a cat. The sequence is repeated with different animals: Owl's prospect always turns out to be either an unappetizing animal or prey that another animal has gotten to first—a useful lesson in the series of near misses that constitute the life of a predator. Ericsson's (A Piece of Chalk) sentences are short and spare, but the tension builds as Owl keeps getting fooled. Kitchen (Animal Alphabet) is master of the whisker-thin paint stroke—readers can almost see the porcupine's quills quiver in the velvety night. His paintings of the animals are a little like solemn American primitive portraits, though more detailed—and they add a layer of complexity to a deceptively simple book. Ages 2–6. (Oct.)  The Mitten Jim Aylesworth, illus. by Barbara McClintock. Scholastic Press, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-439-92544-0Aylesworth and McClintock's (Our Abe Lincoln) retold folktale about a lost mitten opens sweetly, with a playful boy wearing the tomato-red hat, scarf and mittens his grandmother has knit for him. After a carefree sled ride, he returns home, gazing disconsolately at his mittenless hand. He gets a comforting hug and hot chocolate while, outside, a delighted squirrel crawls into the mitten. Soon a rabbit asks to share the warmth: " 'Please!' begged the rabbit./ 'My toes are cold as ice!/ Your mitten looks so cozy,/ and warm toes would feel so nice!' " The tale grows sillier as a fox, then a bear, repeat the rabbit's rhyme to humorous effect and persuade the mitten's occupants to let them in the tight space, massively distending the mitten (they soon discover its limits—with explosive results). McClintock adapts her 19th century–style pen-and-ink imagery to the slapstick, emphasizing the animals' gestures and facial features in a Currier & Ives winter wonderland. The lifelike animals recall Joel Chandler Harris's folktales, and the naturalism—which is an unlikely but inspired vehicle for comedy—is full of surprises. Ages 3–6. (Oct.) The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater... That Grandma Knit Debbie Macomber and Mary Lou Carney, illus. by Vincent Nguyen. HarperCollins, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-165093-2Young Cameron is counting on Grandma Susan to come through with a cool gift for his birthday. Instead, he gets a hideous sweater—one that defies all the boy's attempts at eradication (including donating it to the church rummage sale and dousing it in condiments). But Cameron changes his tune when Grandma explains the significance behind each of the colors in the sweater's lovingly stitched stripes (green commemorates a winning soccer goal, yellow signifies that he is "the sunshine of all our lives"). Macomber, a bestselling romance novelist making her picture book debut, and Carney (Tyler Timothy Bradford and the Birthday Surprise) do little to freshen up a chestnut premise—the narration feels like a well-intentioned youth sermon, and Cameron's efforts to rid himself of the sweater never gain comic momentum. Nguyen's (Gorilla Garage) characters tend toward a Plasticine quality reminiscent of the humans in the Toy Story movies, but his paintings pick up a considerable amount of energy and beauty whenever the story moves beyond its domestic confines. Ages 3–7. (Oct.) The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom Steve Smallman, illus. by Nick Schon. Good Books, $16.99 (26p) ISBN 978-1-56148-668-7This rhyming folktale asks readers to imagine a time when "the world was new" and almost all the animals had coats and skin "as dull as an elephant's poo"—all the animals, that is, except the birds, who flashed through the sky "like feathery rainbows." Finding a box of paints and seeing his chance during afternoon naptime, an envious and mischievous monkey does a jungle-wide makeover—he paints a leopard bright yellow (dripping black spots on it accidentally) and add stripes to both the zebra and the tail of the lemur. Appropriately, as the title hints, the monkey gets his own cosmetic comeuppance. Smallman's (The Lamb Who Came for Dinner) chipper verse doesn't have much in the way of wordplay, but it moves along at a crowd-pleasing, bouncy clip ("And still to this day when the monkey goes by,/ The animals giggle, they laugh till they cry"). Similarly, Schon's (Look What I Found!) workmanlike characterizations and standard-issue environments are buoyed considerably by his festively tropical palette and a wide repertoire of expressions. Ages 3–7. (Oct.) The Smallest Snowflake Bernadette Watts. North-South, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7358-2258-0As she listens to the big plans of other snowflakes ("I'll ride the wind to the most beautiful mountain in the world"), the Smallest Snowflake wonders where she will land; she's searching for "someplace special." With the delicacy of embroidery, Watts's ink and watercolor spreads show snowy landscapes around the wintry world: rosy-cheeked women in red scarves hurrying past the domes of St. Basil's Cathedral, Mount Fuji standing against a pink sky swirling with snow, ice-dwellers fishing by igloos and icy peaks. Some may wonder how an object as ephemeral as a snowflake can think of searching for a place to settle down, but the Smallest Snowflake does just that, landing in the window box of a stone cottage. "There was a fire glowing in the fireplace and... on the table, a picture being painted" (an image from Watts's version of Little Red Riding Hood sits on the table). As spring comes, the inevitable conclusion brings not tragedy but elation for the snowflake: "Love filled her heart with such warmth that she melted away with joy." A gentle celebration of winter beauty. Ages 3–up. (Oct.) The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia Patricia Lee Gauch, illus. by Barbara Lavallee. Holt, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8050-6535-0Gauch (the Tanya books), in an unusual but touching story, introduces a girl whose mother knits her out of wool "just the way she wanted her," giving her "a sky-blue petticoat that she never had to take off." As Elizabeth Amelia grows, she goes off to school, is universally beloved for her softness and bounce, and eventually marries. Only then, without children, does she feel a void. Using a piece of yarn unraveling from her foot, Elizabeth Amelia knits a baby, then "borrows" yarn from other parts of her own body to knit three more. Readers may find the now legless woman's shrinking physique alarming ("You're nothing but a pillow!" exclaims her husband). With the support and help of her family, though, she knits replacement body parts so she can again dance and do "a great many things... that she hadn't done before"). Though the story is admittedly strange, Lavallee's (Grandma Calls Me Beautiful) stylized and exuberant watercolors embody the joy that comes from giving of oneself (sometimes literally) and of getting it right back. Ages 4–8. (Oct.) The Busiest Street in Town Mara Rockliff, illus. by Sarah McMenemy. Knopf, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-375-84020-3Agatha May Walker and Eulalie Scruggs are lifelong friends who live directly across from each other on Rushmore Boulevard. The aptly named thoroughfare has become so congested ("Cars zipped by. Motorcycles roared. Giant trucks rumbled and grumbled, coming through, coming through") that the simple act of visiting one another has become downright dangerous. So Agatha engages in a classic act of civil disobedience: she plants a wingback chair smack in the middle of the street and offers her homemade gingersnaps to even the rudest drivers. Page by page, the traffic retreats, neighbors emerge from their homes and soon Agatha and Eulalie are presiding over a festive pedestrian playground, complete with mariachi band. The heroines' willingness to take a stand in the name of civility and community shows that even little old ladies (and, by implication, little kids) can make a difference. It's a story that could easily turn preachy or treacly, but Rockliff (Next to an Ant) and the always buoyant McMenemy (Everybody Bonjours!) proffer their object lesson with a light touch: the reportorial prose and cheery, naïve drawings exude a matter-of-fact optimism that's genuinely inspiring. Ages 5–8. (Oct.) Dragons Love Stephen Parlato. Simply Read (PGW, dist.), $16.95 (44p) ISBN 978-1-897476-18-5Dramatic and surreal, Parlato's (The World That Loved Books) dragon collages, made up of repeated and sometimes distorted images, take center stage in this work. "Dragons love flowers, their colors and perfumes," he writes, as the corresponding spread shows a dragon composed of flaming parrot tulips and sunset-colored birds of paradise. Succeeding spreads show more dragons, their claws, snouts, wings and tails made up of rainbow hues of beetles, seashells, leaves, mushrooms—even flags of the world. The creatures recall Fabergé eggs, gilded, bejeweled and adorned with calligraphic swirls and coils. The rambling free verse is a collage, too, in which medieval-sounding expressions ("Dragons love mushrooms.... They know to choose carefully the ones they eat... lest poison be their fate") rub shoulders with modern colloquialisms ("then [they] boogie on back to their caves"), not always to pleasing effect. There's an inspirational quality to Parlato's text ("And what Dragons love most of all on this Earth... are children like You, who still believe in dragons and great deeds in great need of doing"), but it largely feels incidental to the baroque richness of Parlato's artwork. Ages 5–up. (Oct.) John Brown: His Fight for Freedom John Hendrix. Abrams, $18.95 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8109-3798-7This unflinching biography by illustrator Hendrix (Abe Lincoln Crosses the Creek), his first as author, begins with a lucid summary of the antislavery movement, pre–Civil War politics and Brown's early activities in the underground railroad. With the massacre of proslavery settlers at Pottawatomie Creek, Hendrix zooms in closer to reconstruct the abolitionist's transformation into an outlaw ("John's ruthless tactics spread fear into the hearts of the Border Ruffians and others, but also branded John a crazed madman"). The violent raid in Harper's Ferry, Va., leads to Brown's arrest and execution and is the climactic event of this compelling narrative. In an author's note, Hendrix opines why Brown should be admired as visionary, not villain ("Terrorists crave destruction and turmoil, and the seed of John's rebellion was compassion"). An aptly polarized palette of saturated amber and blue acrylic washes with pen and ink lends the folk hero's tale hyperbolic splendor (in one memorable spread Brown metamorphoses into a tornado). Hand-hewn, period-fashion fonts spell out Brown's pronouncements and biblical quotations, underlining his convictions. A strong introduction to Brown's controversial legacy. Ages 8–12. (Oct.) Fiction Return to the Hundred Acre Wood David Benedictus, illus. by Mark Burgess. Dutton, $19.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-525-42160-3Christopher Robin returns from boarding school (80 years later) in this authorized but largely forgettable third volume of stories about Pooh, Piglet and the denizens of Milne's famous forest. Missing is the charm of the first book, mediated by an adult narrator creating a tableau for his child's imaginative play with a coterie of stuffed friends. Like the first books, there are 10 stories, but they are aged up to reflect Christopher's new interests—the play here involves a spelling bee, cricket, the creation of a school, the use of a thesaurus, atlas, dictionary, etc. A new character, Lottie the Otter, joins Rabbit and Owl to make a trio of the sanctimonious. Even saintly Kanga—Kanga!—loses her patience with Roo. There are a few inspired moments, including Rabbit's ill-conceived plan to lure his Friends and Relations to participate in a census using carrots and shortbread. (Rabbit also gets the best line: "Happy may be all very well, Eeyore, but it doesn't butter any parsnips.") Burgess's illustrations are serviceable and resemble the originals, but, again, topping Shepard's originals proves a tough act to follow. All ages. (Oct.) The Shadow of Malabron Thomas Wharton. Candlewick, $16.99 (400p) ISBN 978-0-7636-3911-2Some readers may be initially disappointed that Wharton's children's book debut, first in the planned Perilous Realm trilogy, scoops up so many common fantasy elements: someone from our world accidentally ends up in a magical world, immediately meets a helper as danger threatens and later encounters a wise older character who knows the land's geography and history. But a fun twist awaits: the world where teenage Will Lightfoot finds himself (the aptly named Perilous Realm) is the place where all of Earth's stories originate ("The storytellers in your world have always traveled to the Realm, either in the flesh, as you have, or in their dreams and imaginings," Will learns from the toymaker, Pendrake). Will and his companions seek a way home while fighting the minions of the evil Malabron, who is trying to enslave the entire realm, as well as other dangers. Most elements of the story are predictable, but the ways the characters deal with them are less so, and Will's companions move beyond their familiar tropes. Young readers will find much to keep them turning pages. Ages 10–up. (Oct.) Gateway Sharon Shinn. Viking, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-670-01178-0Daiyu was adopted as a baby from China by an American couple, and now as a teenager in St. Louis, a strangely attractive gem sends her into an alternate world where North America was colonized by Chinese settlers rather than Europeans. Daiyu is recruited by Ombri and Aurora, two "servants of the gods" who are also able to move between worlds, to help stop Chenglei, a dangerous traveler who has been elected prime minister of Shenglang (the alternate version of St. Louis and "arguably the most important city on the world called Jia"). But even as Daiyu becomes increasingly fascinated by Shenglang and attracted to Kalen, who assists Ombri and Aurora, she begins questioning everything: is the charming Chenglei truly evil? ("Were Aurora and Ombri simply interdimensional bounty hunters who had their own agenda?" she wonders. "How could she possibly know?"). Shinn's (General Winston's Daughter) fantasy finds the right balance between adventure and romance, while illuminating how seductive evil can be and that sometimes the best weapon one can possess is a skeptical mind. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) A Brief History of Montmaray Michelle Cooper. Knopf, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-375-85864-2A highly atmospheric setting on the invented European island of Montmaray and a memorably eccentric cast prove a standout backdrop for this adventure set in 1936. In personable, smart diary entries, 16-year-old Sophie FitzOsborne unveils her life of aristocratic poverty in a crumbling fortified castle with sharks below the rickety drawbridge, living with her unbalanced uncle the king, tomboy sister Henry, bluestocking cousin Veronica and eerily loyal housekeeper ("It's not my fault I'm a princess [albeit one from an impoverished and inconsequential island kingdom that is miles from anywhere]," Sophie moans). Cooper ably interweaves this fictional dynasty with historical fact, sketching details about the Spanish Civil War and growing Nazi power, the handful of villagers left on the island ("there are now as many Royal Highnesses on the island as there are subjects"), visits from friends from England and Sophie's longed-for debut. When German soldiers arrive, events take a perilous turn, and the revelation of long-hidden family secrets adds additional gothic undertones. Cooper's taut pacing and strong characters make this a powerful historical novel. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Malice Chris Wooding, illus. by Dan Chernett. Scholastic Press, $14.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-545-16043-8Toying with the menace and adventure of urban legends and comic books, Wooding (The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray) introduces readers to the bizarre realm of Malice in this novel/comic book hybrid. Every kid knows how to get there: gather certain ingredients and call six times for Tall Jake, and he may come to steal you away. When their friend Luke vanishes, Seth and Kady theorize that he was taken by Tall Jake, and begin to investigate. Then Seth disappears as well, sucked into a world where mechanical monsters stalk the unwary and the only way home is to obtain a rare white train ticket. As Kady continues to uncover secrets in the real world—including her own connection to Malice—Seth and a new friend undergo a harrowing journey seeking answers. The cliffhanger ending means that many of those answers must wait until the second book, Havoc, planned for 2010. But the fast-paced story line and whimsically dangerous setting will capture plenty of attention. Even more eye-catching are the interspersed sections where comic book panels replace textual narrative (as well as the three-dimensional cover), making this a memorable multimedia experience. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Ice Sarah Beth Durst. S&S/McElderry, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4169-8643-0Durst (Into the Wild) skillfully integrates a contemporary girl into an updated version of the tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, balancing the magical with the modern. Cassie grew up hearing the story of the Polar Bear King and the North Wind's Daughter. On her 18th birthday, she discovers it wasn't a fairy tale—it was the true story of her own missing mother, and now the Polar Bear King has come to claim Cassie for his bride. But if that part of the story is true, than the other part is, too: Cassie's mother lives. Cassie marries Bear in exchange for her mother's rescue, but finds he's more than an animal—he's a "munaqsri," responsible for the transport of souls. Cassie accidentally betrays Bear's trust and he is forced to leave her, sending Cassie on a harrowing adventure that takes her beyond the ends of the earth to save Bear and restore the essential balance of nature. While one of Cassie's many tribulations goes on a tad long, her quest for self-worth, independence, maturity and love, is twisty, absorbing and satisfying. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) The Other Side of Blue Valerie O. Patterson. Clarion, $16 (240p) ISBN 978-0-547-24436-5This slow and predictable debut elaborates the familiar theme of a young artist's coming-of-age. Fifteen-year-old Cyan is dealing with the mysterious death of her father in a boating accident the year before, as well as her mother's remoteness, during a summer vacation on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Cyan's inner dialogue as she copes with her loneliness and alienation is punctuated with extended contemplations on color: "Color is how we perceive light hitting an object," she muses, referring to a book by Goethe, a gift from her father. "The color closest to the darkness... is blue." Her struggles are amplified by the arrival of a potential future stepsister who, Cyan imagines, is everything her artist mother would like her to be—thin, beautiful and a willing protégé. Her only ally is the housekeeper, Martia, whose nurturing serves as a stark contrast to Cyan's disapproving and distant mother. During an awkward sexual encounter with Cyan, Mayur, an overbearing teenage neighbor, finally reveals the piece of information that confirms what most readers will have suspected is at the center of the family dysfunction. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Into the Wild Nerd Yonder Julie Halpern. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-312-38252-0Sophomore Jessie Sloan is having a bad year. Her two closest friends are turning punk and boy-crazed; one of them even pursues Jessie's longtime crush. To make matters worse, Jessie's beloved older brother will soon be leaving for college. Jessie feels adrift and spends her time sewing skirts and listening to audiobooks. Halpern's (Get Well Soon) story picks up pace when class nerd Dottie introduces Jessie to Dungeons and Dragons, which Jessie (to her surprise) actually enjoys, leading her to a new group of friends as well as a heartfelt, if a little clichéd, crush on a cute boy with his own nerdish tendencies. Jessie is a thoughtful, sympathetic narrator ("How is it that someone becomes a dork?... What makes some people like punk music and Denny's and other people like costumes and Dungeons and Dragons?"), and her fresh voice will reveal to readers just how independent and exceptional she is (even when Jessie can't see it herself). The relationships and dialogue ring true; readers navigating the stratified social structures of high school will relish an ending that celebrates true friendship. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Mirrorscape Mike Wilks. Egmont USA, $16.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-60684-008-5Wilks (The Ultimate Alphabet) launches a trilogy with this adventure set in a world where imagination has power and art is literally alive. Melkin (Mel) Womper, a talented young artist, is given the chance of a lifetime when he's selected to study under the famous painter, Ambrosius Blenk. This puts him at odds with the sinister Adolfus Spute, who represents the Fifth Mystery, one of five organizations with a stranglehold on everything that involves the five senses (the Fifth Mystery controls color). It also brings him the enmity of Blenk's lazy, drunken head apprentice, Groot. Together, these enemies make life difficult for Mel and his new friends, Ludo and Wren. Soon after Mel discovers the secret of passing through certain paintings into the Mirrorscape, a surreal alternate world that exists within the paintings, Spute launches an all-out attack on Blenk. Devilish angels, walking houses, impossible contraptions and monsters galore collide in a no-holds-barred battle of the brushes. Wilks creates a chaotic, whimsical romp that will appeal to the mind's eye. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Age 14 Geert Spillebeen, trans. from the Dutch by Terese Edelstein. Houghton Mifflin, $16 (224p) ISBN 978-0-547-05342-4Patrick Condon, a strapping Irish boy who, even at age 10, stood "head and shoulders" above his peers, dreams of joining the military. His opportunity comes at age 12 when, posing as his older brother, he successfully enlists as a part-time soldier with the Militia Battalion shortly before the onset of WWI. His training sessions seem like a game; the grim reality of fighting an actual battle doesn't set in until two years later when Patrick, who has advanced to the status of full-time soldier, is called to defend France and Belgium. Facing trench warfare firsthand, Patrick wonders, "What is worse? To be hit by a piece of shrapnel that tears off a limb and rips open your belly? Or to be killed right away?" Based on historical facts, this tale of an underage soldier captures the initial excitement and ultimate disillusionment of men, young and old, fighting at the front. Spillebeen's choice to reveal Patrick's fate in the first chapter may lessen the suspense, but readers will be emotionally prepared to bear the story's conclusion. Unadorned prose expresses unsettling truths in straightforward, clear terms. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Happy Hanukkah! Seven new books for the eight days of Hanukkah. Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy Don Freeman, illus. by Lisa McCue. Viking, $5.99 (14p) ISBN 978-0-670-01127-8In this board book, Corduroy, who sports a purple yarmulke in addition to his customary green corduroy overalls, entertains a pink patchwork bunny, a rag doll, a long-eared dog and a blue mouse for a Hanukkah celebration. Once his guests arrive, they light the menorah, eat potato latkes, exchange gifts, spin the dreidel and sing Hanukkah songs together. A straightforward, lighthearted introduction to the holiday, featuring a familiar face. Up to age 2. (Oct.) A Chanukah Present For: Me! Lily Karr, illus. by Jill McDonald. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $6.99 (16p) ISBN 978-0-545-14874-0This inviting board book is decorated like a Hanukkah present on the outside, with a sparkling silver ribbon and blue background with Hanukkah motifs. Inside, readers can learn about the simple joys of the holiday: they are invited to count how many pieces of chocolate gelt appear and later guess what's inside a pile of fried doughnuts. On the final spread, family members (they resemble paper dolls) display their favorite parts of the holiday. Lively and charming. Also available: A Christmas Present for: Me! Up to age 3. (Sept.) Hanukkah Lights David Martin, illus. by Melissa Sweet. Candlewick, $5.99 (26p) ISBN 978-0-7636-3029-4In this cheerful board book, five children light a new candle on their menorah for each night of Hanukkah as they indulge in activities like exchanging gifts, making shadow puppets and reading a story. The text is simple and soothing—"Hanukkah candles, shining bright./ One more candle every night"—while patterns as cozy as a patchwork quilt are featured throughout: the children are dressed in festive floral and plaid prints, and the candles they place on the menorah feature stripes, dots and curlicues. Also available: Christmas Tree. Ages 1–3. (Sept.) Hoppy Hanukkah! Linda Glaser, illus. by Daniel Howarth. Albert Whitman, $15.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-8075-3378-9A loving family of rabbits prepares to celebrate Hanukkah in its comfy home. Siblings Simon and Violet can hardly stand the anticipation as they wait for sunset. As evening approaches, readers can learn about Hanukkah activities along with the young rabbits: "Each night we'll light one more candle—for eight nights," Mama explains. The festivities continue as the family prepares latkes, plays a game of dreidel, and Simon and Violet receive a gift. The book exudes a gentle, familial warmth that should nurture readers' enthusiasm for their own traditions. Ages 2–5. (Sept.) My Chanukah Playbook Salina Yoon. S&S/Little Simon, $10.99 (10p) ISBN 978-1-4169-8957-8This sturdy, interactive book comes with eight shiny gold pieces of cardboard gelt, which can be removed from a tray in the cover via a ribbon pulley. As the minimal, accessible text describes the history of the holiday (the victory of the Maccabees, the miracle of the oil), readers can place the gelt into the Maccabees' die-cut shields, onto plated latkes and into a "tzedekah" or "charity" box (the gilt doesn't snap perfectly into theallotted spaces, but it's still a pleasing effect). On the last spread, readers can "light" the "chanukkiyah" by sliding the gelt into individual slots for each of the eight candles for a satisfying finale. Ages 3–5. (Oct.) Menorah Under the Sea Esther Susan Heller. Kar-Ben, $17.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8225-7386-9; $7.95 paper ISBN 978-0-8225-7390-6This picture book follows marine ecologist David Ginsburg to the McMurdo research station in Antarctica to study sea urchins during Hanukkah. Since there is no night in the Antarctic summer, Ginsburg wonders, "How can you light a menorah when the sun is still shining?" Circling underwater, he hits upon an idea, gently placing sea urchins and sea stars in the shape of a menorah on the sea floor. The vibrant color photography and surprising thematic juxtaposition—readers will learn as much about urchins as about the holiday—makes this a memorable selection, even for readers who don't celebrate Hanukkah. Ages 5–9. (Sept.) Hanukkah Around the World Tami Lehman-Wilzig, illus. by Vicki Wehrman. Kar-Ben, $16.95 (48p) ISBN 978-0-8225-8761-3; $7.95 paper ISBN 978-0-8225-8762-0This tour of Hanukkah includes information on its historical significance and the ways in which it is celebrated in places like New York City, Turin, Sydney and Warsaw. After an introductory section about the history, terminology and customs associated with the holiday, the book features a story of a child living in each city. Each section explains how he or she will celebrate the holiday and offers brief historical summaries of Judaism in each region as well as recipes for dishes like burmelos, precipizi and latkes. The informative sections are nicely balanced against the more festive elements. Ages 8–11. (Sept.) Flights of Fancy From interactive fun to rousing read-aloud, here are some winning gift ideas. Watch Me Go! Rebecca Young, illus. by Von Glitschka. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $12.99 (16p) ISBN 978-0-545-14699-9Using the same lenticular technology as the duo's Watch Me Hop!, this compact book creates the illusion of moving vehicles, including a race car, spaceship and fire engine. The movements, undeniably smooth and detailed, are "activated" when readers tilt the book vertically. Some are exceptional (an approaching train slowly floods a dark tunnel with light), as the eight machines identify themselves in bold, block print: "I'm a digger./ My treads go around./ Watch me go move the ground!" It's a simple, modest optical effect, but paired with the book's crisp silhouette backgrounds, it should hold readers' attention. Ages 3–up. (Sept.) There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Jeremy Holmes. Chronicle, $16.99 (18p) ISBN 978-0-8118-6793-1The old lady in this smart reimagining could have been designed by Dada artists: her eerie, bespectacled eyes peer at readers from atop this tall, narrow-format book and her skin is made from an antique map. To access the story, readers must remove a slipcover (which functions as her coat): appropriately enough, the darkly humorous story takes place in her midsection. Holmes delights in showing the animals' grisly successes at dispatching their predecessors (the bird sent to catch the spider dangles three of the arachnid's eyes from its mouth, but ends up a roast dinner for the cat on the next page). As expected, the old lady doesn't make it through the ordeal: her eyes close as the final page turns. A stylishly macabre treasure. Ages 4–8. (Oct.) Waddle! Rufus Butler Seder. Workman, $12.95 (12p) ISBN 978-0-7611-5112-8On the heels of Gallop! and Swing!, Seder's latest Scanimation ode to movement adds color to its bestselling formula, mostly to good effect. Like the previous books, the simple text poses playful questions ("Can you hop like a frog? flip-flop-floop!"). The level of detail on a few animals (the hopping frog, leaping dolphin and chomping alligator) is striking, but the addition of color also has the effect of reducing the contrast, and thus the detail, in others (notably the pig, hummingbird and bear), whose features are indistinct. Still, readers should find the animations mesmerizing. Ages 4–8. (Oct.) Where's Waldo? The Incredible Paper Chase Martin Handford. Candlewick, $14.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4689-9In this seventh Waldo book, Waldo and his companions conceal themselves in a prehistoric landscape (with exotic dinosaurs not exactly found in the fossil record) and hide out during a "dog fight" (warrior men dressed in dog costumes wage battle using feather-tipped spears), among other unusual settings. Readers can also engage with interactive features like a "Muddy Swampy Jungle Game," which comes with a fold-out board, counters and Waldo cards, and a punch-out "Wacky Waldo Circus," complete with performers and an audience. The extras will entertain, but purists may find that nothing beats the fun of simply spotting Waldo in a crowd. Ages 5–8. (Oct.) Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats T.S. Eliot, illus. by Axel Scheffler. Harcourt, $16 (80p) ISBN 978-0-547-24827-1This lively and accessible edition of Eliot's classic homage to felines rounds up the familiar gang, with characters like the sprightly Jellicle Cats, who dance in chorus lines on moonlit rooftops, and the vicious Great Rumpuscat, whose fearsome jaws and eyes like "fireballs fearfully blazing" send rival dog gangs scattering. The distinctive personalities of each cat—brought to life by Scheffler's expressive cartoonlike paintings—and Eliot's lyrical, tongue-and-cheek wordplay, will appeal to a new generation of cat aficionados. Ages 6–9. (Oct.) This content has passed through fivefilters.org. | ||
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