Sunday, February 7, 2010

“Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News” plus 3 more

“Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News” plus 3 more

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Business book reviews - Dallas Morning News

Posted: 06 Feb 2010 08:14 PM PST

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The Most Successful Small Business

in the World

Michael Gerber (John Wiley & Sons, $24.95)

Michael Gerber provides advice for entrepreneurs who think big.

His 10 principles are interrelated, but the first two stand out as the cornerstones for growth:

1. "Think in terms of replicating what your business does 10,000 times." That could mean opening numerous locations or adding droves of customers. If you don't think you can play in the major leagues, you're destined to play in the minors all your business life.

2. "A small business is not more effective than the idea upon which it is built." Ideas demand action. Gerber believes ideas scalable to 10,000 times are the only ones worth pursuing.

His bottom line: Growth is not an option. Seventy percent of all small businesses fail. By staying small, they don't have the substance to seize opportunities.

The Story of

American Business

Edited by Nancy Koehn (Harvard Business Press, $29.95)

History repeats itself. This collection shows how New York Times stories, though written decades and centuries ago, apply to business today. Here are a few examples:

April 29, 1928: "Uncle Sam Now World's Business Man"

"Like the spider who leaves his trail of silk behind him, every American dollar that has gone abroad – and the number is almost 15,000,000,000 exclusive of war loans – has tied the United States with the other nations of the world in an intricate and sensitive web of mutual interest and obligation. A pull here, a break there sets up stresses and strains at every other point."

July 8, 1928: "Huge corporations serving the country through countrywide chains are displacing neighborhood stores"

The article deals with national distribution systems and economies of scale that make neighborhood stores uncompetitive.

The editor respects our short attention spans when selecting articles; most are only one page. They're brief, but they make us think about how we got here.

Jim Pawlak reviews business books for The Dallas Morning News.

bizbooks@hotmail.com

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Book Reviews - Egypt Today

Posted: 06 Feb 2010 09:25 PM PST

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Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the SunAgnieszka Dobrowolska and Jaroslaw Dobrowolski, AUC Press, 2006


Five thousand pounds and a dream. That's all it took for Belgian Baron Edouard Empain to go ahead with his 'green oasis in the desert.' Today, walking down the magnificently tree-lined streets, under impressive buildings emanating a palpable aura of history and tradition, it's hard to believe Heliopolis was nothing more than a desert plateau just over 100 years ago.

Agnieszka Dobrowolska and Jaroslaw Dobrowolski's beautifully crafted Heliopolis: Rebirth of the City of the Sun pays the perfect tribute to the leafy suburban city, succinctly encapsulating a century of history without bearing down on the reader with a ton of unnecessary facts. Indeed, 'Heliopolitans are likely to tell you there is actually very little to be gleaned from this book, with barely a few snippets of information they didn't already know.

For those who have a passion for architecture, however, this book is a treasure trove of information. It traces at length the technical process by which the city came to be, the local and international architectural influences, while highlighting Heliopolis' major landmarks: The Cairo Palace Hotel (then the largest in the world), the Basilica and of course the palatial residential buildings.

The work is broken up into five sections, the most enjoyable of which is the chapter entitled "The People Speak." Flip first to this series of mini-profiles of veteran Heliopolitans who talk fondly of their personal experiences of living in the Sun City. Meet Edward the bartender at perennial favorite Le Chantilly, diamond tycoon Berge Touloumbadijian and photography buff Emad Baki, from whom many of the book's illustrations come.

Dobrowolska and Dobrowolski — themselves Heliopolis residents for 15 years — approached the European Union to help fund this AUC Press publication. The couple's passion for the city permeates every page of the book, with an impressive cache of antique and present-day photographs lovingly arranged alongside reprints of official documents, plans and permits.

There is one glaring inconsistency readers are sure to immediately pick up the minute they turn to the last page. Despite the "Rebirth" touted in the title of the work, there is very little mention of any "rebirth" save for the work done in the run-up to the 2005 centennial celebrations. In fact, Heliopolis makes a point of chronicling how over the years the turn-of-the-century villas have been torn down for nondescript residential blocks, its streets jam-packed with traffic day and night and its once-abundant greenery eaten up by expanses of concrete. If anything the book ends on more of a sad note — nostalgia for Baron Empain's long-gone oasis in the desert. (NM)

MuntahaHala El-Badry, translated by Nancy Roberts, AUC Press, 2006

Hala El-Badry's deft attention to detail is the hallmark of her fifth novel, Muntaha. Famous for A Certain Woman (AUC Press, 2003), which was awarded the prize for best novel of 2001 at the Cairo International Book Fair, El-Badry's descriptive prose exudes the cool, damp scent of the Egyptian countryside — one can almost hear the crickets chirping in the distance as the story unfolds.

Set in a village, the book opens with a return and an escape. There is a truce in the 1948 Palestine War and Rushdy Al Musaylihi (brother of the village mayor, Taha) returns in the middle of the night. As Taha gets up to greet him, he catches Bashir — the household coffee server — sleeping with one of the servant girls. Naked, Bashir rushes up to the roof where Taha locks him up in a shed, only to be released by Taha's sister Ni'ma.

This dramatic opening serves a double purpose; it throws the reader straight into the heart of domestic life in Egypt on the one hand, and puts a spotlight on the dynamics of gender relations on the other. In El-Badry's unique handling of these intricate bonds, she creates a whole spectrum of characters corresponding to a range of social standards.

The village and the trials and tribulations of the mayor's family represent a microcosm of Egyptian political life during the turbulent events that led to the end of British presence in Egypt.

Despite the lucid English version, much is lost in translation. Native Arabic speakers — especially Egyptians — will catch themselves doing instant interpretations in their heads as they read this colorful portrait of rural life. The images are not only true to life, but will resonate with anyone who has even the most superficial experience of that unique culture — even if only through Ramadan soap operas. (RM)

Scribbling the CatAlexandra Fuller, Penguin Press, 2004

Author Alexandra Fuller's first book, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, recounts her childhood in Zimbabwe (the former Rhodesia), during its civil war. Her second book, again set in south-eastern Africa but this time revolving around her adult adventures and musings, begins with a visit to her family's home in Zambia. Fascinated by her parents' mysterious neighbor and further enticed by her father's warning that "curiosity scribbled the cat" ("scribble" is Afrikaans slang for "kill"), Fuller befriends the reclusive neighbor, a white Rhodesian war veteran whom she simply calls 'K.'

Troubled by her own past experiences, namely guilt for her unconscious involvement in the war, Fuller hopes to find answers by journeying with K through the shateen (the African back country) of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

As the trip progresses, she quickly discovers that although she and K have similar roots (both grew up in Africa), 30 years of civil war have scarred them, and the people they encounter, in remarkably different ways. While K relies on his faith to deal with moments of weakness, personal demons and nightmarish war memories, some of his war comrades have turned to alcohol and isolation, and the locals attempt to mend emotional wounds as they struggle to economically survive. All of this is in sharp contrast to Fuller's current place in life as an American "mommy," which seems at times superficial and unfulfilling.

Through vivid prose, unique description and the incorporation of Afrikaans and local Shona slang, Fuller brings to life the realities of Rhodesia's war, complete with personal pains and victims' scars, without delving too much into political history. It is her own connection, interaction and relationship with K that the story revolves around.

Although married, Fuller is attracted to K. She's enamored by his power and rugged handsomeness, and mesmerized by his contradictions. He can be both violent and emotionally vulnerable, cruel and generous, repentant and angry. But Fuller sees him as a decent man, a man troubled by war-fueled rage, a failed marriage and painful memories of the death of an only son.

His newfound Christianity provides him with only partial absolution. Gradually, K confesses the sins of his past soldier self to Fuller, unknowingly turning the trip into a journey of atonement for her complicity as a white girl in Rhodesia's war of white supremacy.

K reminisces grimly about his war deeds, tales involving nightmarish tortures and gruesome murders from his days of leading soldiers through the bush to launch attacks on forces hostile to the Rhodesian government. His emotional testaments cause the duo to cover as much mental landscape as physical African bush country but in the end it is unclear if these confessions hurt or healed K. The story seems to be less a tale of reconciliation, and in fact, more an account and warning of what can happen when a person tries to look too closely into their own past. (NAS)

The Loved OnesAlia Mamdouh, AUC Press, 2006

In a Paris hospital behind door number 44 lies Suhaila, in a coma, and unaware of the world around her. Her close friends and son, Nader, fly from all around the world to stand by her, watching and hoping that she will recover, immersed in their stories and letters.

The Loved Ones, by Alia Mamdouh, clearly portrays Suhaila's pre-Paris life through the eyes of her son. Suhaila comes alive for the reader as we find out about her past: an abusive husband, her exile from her home country of Iraq, a difficult and painful separation from her only son and a love for dancing and the arts in general.

Suhaila's close friends crowd around her bed to exchange stories and reminisce about the lives they had shared with her. They read passages from her diary of her days spent in Paris, illustrating her vibrant personality, the pain and hurt she has endured, and the strong woman she has come to be — all the while hoping that if she has been able to endure all of that, she will make it through this.

Although it takes the reader a few chapters to realize what's going on and who the narrator is, the story does pick up in pace. Eventually more of Suhaila's history, including how she ended up in Paris, is unveiled. The relationship between Suhaila and her friends and each friend's perspective of her also becomes clearer as the story progresses.

Mamdouh, an Iraqi, has written many other books covering the Iraqi experience from different points of view, including: Layla wa Al-Dhib (Layla and the Wolf), Habbat Al-Naftalin (Mothballs) which was translated into seven languages, and Al-Wala (Passion). The Loved Ones, originally titled Al Mahbubat, received the Naguib Mahfouz Award in 2004. (YM)

Palestine: Peace not ApartheidJimmy Carter, Simon & Schuster, 2006

The number of books that have addressed the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is countless, but until a year ago none of them had ever been authored by a former United States president and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Jimmy Carter, who successfully negotiated the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel in 1978, provides a unique vantage point through his book Palestine: Peace not Apartheid. The politician's constant involvement in the region, even after leaving office, has resulted in insightful, first-hand knowledge and a deep understanding of the complex issues that need to be resolved in order to achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Through vivid descriptions and humorous comments, Carter provides the reader with a behind-the-scenes look at his term in presidency, laying special emphasis on the Camp David negotiations between Sadat and Begin. Rather than offering a day-to-day account of that period, he focuses on the pertinent elements and factors that form the roots of the present crisis in the Middle East. Making excellent use of his personal notes taken during meetings with various Arab leaders, Carter proceeds to evaluate the main players in the conflict by briefly reviewing their historical background and assessing their respective influence on both the Israelis and the Palestinians.

In a chapter entitled "My Visits With Palestinians," Carter speaks from the heart about his regular trips to the region, giving poignant voice to the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation to air their grievances and talk about the suffering and injustice they face in their daily lives — not only at the hands of the Israeli military forces but also at the hands of the settlers.

In the second part of the book, Carter examines the Middle East peace process from its hopeful beginnings in 1993 until today's stalemate. He argues that any step-by-step approach to peace, such as the Oslo Agreement or the Roadmap for Peace, is doomed to fail because the Israelis typically use it as a stalling technique. Insisting on an endless list of preconditions that the Palestinians can never realize, he continues, they have simultaneously changed the reality on the ground to their advantage with the building of the Imprisonment Wall. The resulting frustration and desperation on the Palestinian side usually leads to acts of violence against the Israelis who in turn respond with more oppression and reprisals.

Carter identifies two interconnected factors that have allowed this tragic cycle to continue: "The condoning of illegal Israeli actions from a submissive White House and US Congress during recent years, and the deference with which other international leaders permit this unofficial US policy in the Middle East to prevail."

Carter instead calls for a more comprehensive strategy that allows for immediate final status negotiations and deals decisively with major postponed issues such as the settlements, permanent boundaries, the right of return of the Palestinians and the territory of Jerusalem.

Mixing sharp political analysis with candid personal impressions, Carter delivers a profound book that is, in its essence, a passionate plea for leaders on both sides to accept painful but inevitable political concessions, ignore extremists and militants and listen to the voice of the majority of their own citizens who merely crave a peaceful future. (IS)  et

Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly

Posted: 01 Feb 2010 04:49 AM PST

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Picture Books

Don't Spill the Beans! Ian Schoenherr. Greenwillow, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-172457-2

The cast from last year's Read It, Don't Eat It! is back, albeit with a much slighter premise in tow. Bear has a secret and can't keep it quiet ("Don't spill the beans!/ Don't let it slip!/ Don't give it away!/ Just button your lip!"). Given that Schoenherr did such a great job putting a fun spin on sensible-but-boring rules for handling books in his previous picture book, readers (and grownups) may be surprised by the direction this story takes. The narrator quickly changes gears and gives Bear permission to tell all to everyone he knows: "Blurt it to Turtle./ Also Baboon./ Blab it to Rabbit./ Alert Raccoon." This chain of confidences ends on the final spread, where the secret is revealed: a "Happy Birthday" wish for the reader. Once again, Schoenherr's vintage-styled animal portraits are wholly endearing; he's particularly good at giving very big animals (the hippo, elephant, and kangaroo) the earnest mannerisms of very small children. But the slender plot and highly specific punch line offer little to anyone who isn't being feted in the near future. Up to age 4. (Mar.)

Boom Bah! Phil Cummings, illus. by Nina Rycroft. EDC/Kane Miller, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-935279-22-8

"Ting!" a kitchen mouse discovers that striking a teacup with a spoon makes the most marvelous sound. Soon, a bevy of farm animals are raiding the cupboards to create their own homemade instruments ("A box, a bowl/ A spoon, a stick./ Tap! Tap!/ Clickety-click!"), and the ensemble is off and strutting: "BOOM BAH! Here we go!" A bona fide band with spiffy uniforms and real instruments (but still staffed by animals) suddenly appears; the amateurs, far from being, um, cowed, join in the parade and seem to beckon readers to come along. There's no real story—it's basically a flash mob assembled by sound rather than cellphones—and first-time author Cummings's simple, exclamatory rhymes are like blasts from a trumpet. The infectious joy of spontaneous music making comes through loud and clear, thanks to newcomer Rycroft's effervescent watercolor and pencil drawings. Composing all her images along the same stagelike plane, Rycroft creates a sense of a genuine happening, driven by giddy energy and unstoppable momentum. Readers will want to keep turning the pages and see who's with the band next. Ages 2–5. (Mar.)

I Can Be Anything! Jerry Spinelli, illus. by Jimmy Liao. Little, Brown, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-316-16226-5

Newbery Medalist Spinelli (My Daddy and Me) again demonstrates his versatility as a writer in this buoyant riff on a familiar theme. "When I grow up, what shall I be?" asks the young narrator, answering this question with blithe, whimsical options, pictured with playful exaggeration in Liao's (The Sound of Colors) energetic watercolor and acrylic art. Accompanied by frolicking bunnies, the boy envisions himself as a "puddle stomper/ apple chomper/ mixing-bowl licker/ tin-can kicker," among numerous other "professions." Though often clad in overalls, in some scenarios he wears more fanciful attire, hovering in a butterfly costume as a "honeysuckle smeller" or performing in a clown suit for a sad lion as a "silly-joke teller." Liao's artwork runs with the simple, evocative phrases, striking a balance between the classic and the contemporary (on many pages, the boy resembles nothing so much as a modern-day Little Boy Blue, yet he's equally comfortable commanding the stage as a jester or magician). It's an uplifting, imaginative vision of life's possibilities that suggests that there are no limits—not even the sky. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

Granny Gomez and Jigsaw Deborah Underwood, illus. by Scott Magoon. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7868-5216-1

Granny Gomez feels lonely in her big country house: " 'Maybe I will get a cat,' she said to her petunias. The petunias didn't say anything. They never did." Underwood (Pirate Mom) and Magoon (Spoon) pack wry humor and slapstick into this appealing tale of a granny and her new pet pig, Jigsaw, who quickly becomes her pal: "They both liked cooking shows. They both liked watermelon. And they both liked jigsaw puzzles." As Jigsaw grows, though, he creates havoc ("A little pig couldn't poke his head through Granny's bass drum. But a big pig could"). Granny—a mountain-climbing, drum-playing, can-do type—builds him a barn, complete with TV and kitchen, but finds that life isn't as fun without him. Colorful, cartoon-style illustrations ratchet up the laughs with comic details (such as Jigsaw and Granny facing off over the last slice of watermelon), but are equally endearing at other times. Jigsaw's floppy ears and lopsided grin are irresistible, as is Granny's spunk, in humorous contrast with her conventional, demure appearance (including a tidy gray bun)—further proof that friends can come in all kinds of packages. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

Baby Shower Jane Breskin Zalben. Roaring Brook/Porter, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-59643-465-3

Zalben doesn't leave much to readers' imagination in this meticulously inked but rather woolly tale of wish fulfillment. Zoe wants a pet: "She'd stare at dogs on street corners, cats curled up in windows, and squirrels in the garden." Her yearnings conflate with her anticipation of an aunt's upcoming baby shower, producing the book's centerpiece, an eight-page dream about a downpour consisting entirely of adorable animal babies: "Rabbits rained on rooftops. Lambs lolled on lawns. Turtles tangled traffic!" Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs it ain't: the watercolors are pretty, but a teensy-weensy sense of scale makes the images feel overworked and visually befuddling—even young eyes may need to squint. All the loose ends are tied up in short order: the shower is a success and following a thunderstorm, a stray puppy suddenly appears at her aunt's house, ready to be adopted. Zalben (Brenda Berman, Wedding Expert) gets in some great lines—in answer to the question of whether the baby is a boy or a girl, Zoe's aunt answers, "I hope so"—but the deus ex machina ending is unsatisfying. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)

The Wild, Wide Inside: A View from Mommy's Tummy! Kate Feiffer, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith. S&S/Wiseman, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4169-4099-9

Feiffer and Huliska-Beith's pregnancy comedy gets off to a slow start: the opening pages, devoted to all the baby's possible names, doesn't have much to do with what follows. But once they establish their hook, the book cruises along. Mom, whose tummy has reached are-we-there-yet proportions, has three standard answers to the story's interrogative refrain ("What's the baby doing?"): baby is eating, sleeping, or kicking. But the in utero protagonist provides the real answers—or at least answers that show the beginnings of a first-class imagination. Mom says that the baby is sleeping while she takes a shower, but the narrator, who has somehow obtained a bright yellow slicker, begs to differ. "I was on a boat in the ocean in a big storm. A big, HUGE, GIGANTIC rainstorm." Though Huliska-Beith's (The Worst Best Friend) artwork retains the comic surrealism of previous books, some may feel she's gone too cutesy—Baby's kewpieness could be dialed back. Still, the acrylic images' sculptural feel and neon colors are a good match for Feiffer's (Which Puppy?) exuberance and may offer a welcome distraction from burgeoning displacement anxieties. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

When Lulu Went to the Zoo Andy Ellis. Andersen (Lerner, dist.), $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7613-5499-4

Four-year-old Lulu becomes sad when visiting the zoo: "The tigers were crying really big tears/ and the life had gone out of the llamas' ears." Conversations with the animals confirm her belief that they don't belong in cages; penguins dream of dancing on icebergs and a flamingo longs to fly in the sky. She brings the menagerie to her house, where they play dressup, ride a scooter, and gather in the bathroom "for a lovely hot wash./ But the bear in the bathtub was a bit of a squash." When zookeepers arrive to retrieve the animals, Lulu explains, "they just want to be free," and imagines a place called Lululand, where they can cavort in the wild. However, that fantasy disappears as quickly as it's introduced: the animals are ostensibly returned to the zoo, and she continues to sneak them out "on warm, moonlit nights." Ellis's (Scaredy Dog!) angular watercolors offer some comical details—deer antlers come in handy for stringing party lights at the festive "midnight snack" finale—but while Lulu's story has heart, its message is muddled. Ages 4–9. (Mar.)

Fiction

Finally Wendy Mass. Scholastic Press, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-0-545-05242-9

Mass revisits Willow Falls (the setting of 11 Birthdays) for this entertaining treatment of the weeks following Rory Swenson's eagerly anticipated 12th birthday. Upon turning 12, Rory begins working through a list of fervent wishes she's been compiling since she was seven: owning a cellphone, going to the mall without parents, and getting her ears pierced, to name a few. Each wish's fulfillment, however, is predictably accompanied by a minor disaster (an allergic reaction to a gold stud, an unusually aggressive pet bunny). The plot is bolstered by the filming of a movie at Rory's school, starring the "coolest, hottest fourteen-year-old boy in this or any other universe," with students playing extras. Angelina, the wizened, ageless seer of 11 Birthdays, appears to Rory early on with a prophetic warning, "You won't get what you want... until you see what you need," but Rory's wishes are trivial enough to make the final scene of self-discovery fall flat. Though long on page count, the book feels slight, but Rory's chatty, friendly voice and relentless optimism in the face of her many mishaps are heartwarming. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Magenta McPhee Catherine Bateson. Holiday House, $16.95 (176p) ISBN 978-0-8234-2253-1

With a personality as colorful as her name, Bateson's (Being Bee) eponymous heroine has a narrative voice that is smart, wry, and down-to-earth. Splitting her time between the homes of her divorced parents, 12-year-old Magenta leaps in to help them sort out their lives. Her mother is trying to piece together the particulars of her upcoming wedding, a process that can strain Magenta's patience. A higher priority is bolstering the spirits of her father, who has lost his job, is on an antitechnology kick, and spends his days holed up in the library. She and her best friend—an aspiring witch nearly as spunky as Magenta—create an online dating profile for him, which leads to some amusing but also affecting scenes. Magenta uses her real life, including her crush on an older boy, as fodder for a romantic medieval fantasy she is writing ("I wasn't sure what a parapet was. I googled it.... Perhaps a garden would have been a better place for them to make out"), and excerpts from it add a fanciful dimension to this real and ultimately reassuring story. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Knightley Academy Violet Haberdasher. S&S/Aladdin, $15.99 (480p) ISBN 978-1-4169-9143-4

Robyn Schneider (The Social Climber's Guide to High School), writing as the pseudonymous Haberdasher, delivers a cute novel that balances its simple plot with a solid lead character, witty dialogue, and a jaunty narrative voice. Henry Grim, a servant at the Midsummer School for Boys, is allowed to take the test to enter the prestigious Knightley Academy and becomes the first commoner to enter the austere school. Like the other groundbreaking commoners in his class—Adam, who's Jewish, and Rohan, who's Indian—he finds life among the elite daunting at first. However, his talent for languages and history, as well as the friendship of the headmaster's daughter, help him get by. There are the usual shenanigans involving mean classmates and teachers who appear to have hidden agendas, and the threat of war with the oppressive Nordlands looms as well. The nebulous historical setting and focus on military training and chivalry are a welcome change of pace from fictional academies that revolve around magic. If the story runs on a predictable path, Henry and his friends are lively and entertaining characters to follow. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Ratfink Marcia Thornton Jones, illus. by C.B. Decker. Dutton, $16.99 (160p) ISBN 978-0-525-42066-8

Jones (the Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series) introduces 10-year-old Logan, a fifth grader with a penchant for storytelling and a knack for finding trouble. Logan has the best intentions for his last year of elementary school, but the temptation to stretch the truth proves too great ("The words rose up inside me like a burp after chugging soda pop"), leading to misunderstandings with his best friend, Malik, and conflicts with new student Emily, who seems determined to make Logan's life miserable. Besides contending with mishaps at school, Logan has pressures at home. His grandfather, who has recently moved in, is growing increasingly forgetful, and his unconventional actions, like picking the neighbor's petunias while wearing nothing but a towel, prove embarrassing. Young readers will relate to Logan's frustrations with his family and peers, his desire to keep humiliating truths a secret, and his underlying love for his aging grandfather, who relies on Logan for help remembering. Although Logan's mishaps are often predictable, Jones's amusing and sympathetic descriptions, brought to life through Decker's pencil sketches, will keep her readers engaged. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)

To Come and Go Like Magic Katie Pickard Fawcett. Knopf, $15.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-375-85846-8

Told in beautifully crafted vignettes, Fawcett's debut is a story of smalltown Appalachian life in the 1970s and finding the courage to leave home. Twelve-year-old Chili Sue Mahoney feels suffocated by her one-road hometown of Mercy Hill, Ky., living alongside mountain people, VISTA workers, and "welfares." Adding to her claustrophobia: her pregnant sister, Myra, and her Uncle Lu, whose mind "comes and goes like the wind," have moved in after being left by their spouses. Reading is Chili's main escape until a substitute teacher, Miss Matlock, fills her mind with visions of world travel. The more time Chili spends with Miss Matlock (a stark contrast to time spent with her pragmatic family and her destitute friend, Willie), the more Chili yearns to be someone else, living somewhere else. Chili's first-person narrative stretches from poetic thoughts ("I wish the black night could alight like a moth and carry me away on its silent wings") to more down-to-earth observations. Her insights are absorbing and her setbacks heartbreaking, as she weighs the only home she's ever known against the possibilities that loom farther afield. Ages 10–up. (Feb.)

Stuck on Earth David Klass. FSG/Foster, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-374-39951-1

When an alien snail named Ketchvar III takes over 14-year-old Tom Filber's body, he tends to agree with Galactic Confederation ethicists that "we owe it to weak and vulnerable Homo sapiens to euthanize the species" before humans destroy the environment and themselves. But even though he suffers high school at its worst, he is inspired by some people he meets—a lonely neighbor; his passionate environmental club adviser—and begins drawing another conclusion. Ketchvar's cerebral narration is the book's hallmark ("My new theory is that school serves the purpose of narrowing the horizons of young Homo sapiens and conditioning them to accept mediocrity"); it becomes increasingly moving as the question arises of whether Ketchvar is real or if this is a construct Tom uses to deal with his disintegrating home life and general unhappiness. The narrator's well-timed surveillance of a polluting paint factory is too convenient, but Klass's (the Caretaker Trilogy) thoughtful, often wrenching book offers plenty to think about, from what's really going on in Tom's head to questions about human responsibility to the planet and each other. It takes "alienation" to a whole new level. Ages 11–14. (Mar.)

Borderline Allan Stratton. HarperTeen, $16.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-06-145111-9

Printz Honor–winner Stratton (Chanda's Secrets) explores the genesis of and fallout from racial and religious discrimination in this thriller about a Muslim boy's life, which is turned on its head when his father is accused of collaborating with Islamic terrorists in a plot to contaminate the water supplies in New York City and Toronto. But 15-year-old Mohammed "Sami" Sabiri has more to worry about than the resulting media circus and his father's incarceration. How can he avoid being bullied at school? How will his mother support the family after being fired? And are the allegations about his father true or are they the result of a scared community and a government embracing prejudice at its worst? When Sami goes undercover to verify his father's innocence, the story reaches a fist-clenching pinnacle before a conclusion that should defy readers' expectations. Despite the sensitive subject matter and potential for sensationalistic writing, Stratton proceeds with a steady hand. It's a powerful story and excellent resource for teaching tolerance, with a message that extends well beyond the timely subject matter. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

Brightly Woven Alexandra Bracken. Egmont USA, $16.99 (368p) ISBN 978-1-60684-038-2

Syd is a talented weaver who lives in a poor, remote village, long plagued by drought and largely removed from the politics and duels of the ruling wizard class. On the day of the first rain in decades, a handsome wizard, North, arrives and warns of approaching soldiers—a war between kingdoms is brewing and the village will soon be overrun. To save Syd, her parents promise the 16-year-old to North as a wizard's tailor, and the two set out to try and stop the war, Syd angrily so. Bracken's vivid prose and storytelling offer a fresh, fun take on magic and wizardry, with North as a tantalizing, brooding hero and Syd, as a feisty, strong woman of many talents, her most extraordinary yet undiscovered. Between her sharp tongue and emerging powers and North's grungy appearance and hipster attitude, they make a charismatic pair. Though at times the dialogue can be melodramatic and overwritten, and the plot occasionally falls out of focus, overall this fantasy novel is a delight, and Bracken is a debut author to watch. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

A Spy in the House Y.S. Lee. Candlewick, $16.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4067-5

Set in the richly described underbelly of Victorian London, Lee's debut novel launching the Agency trilogy introduces feisty Mary Quinn. At the 11th hour, 12-year-old Mary is rescued from hanging (for thievery) and taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls, a school doubling as a secret training ground for female private detectives. When Mary turns 17, she is selected for a case requiring her to spy on a wealthy merchant by serving as a companion to his spoiled, petulant daughter, Angelica Thorold. Mr. Thorold is suspected of pirating valuable artifacts from India, and it turns out that James Easton, the younger brother of one of Angelica's suitors, is on Thorold's trail as well. Through the many and somewhat contrived plot twists, Mary's skills are tested; she prevails with Easton's help and attentions, partly belying the story's feminist tenor. A subplot revolves around a family secret Mary tries to keep buried. If cultural issues at times feel like they are being addressed with a modern sensibility, Mary's lively escapades, on the whole, will hold readers' attention and whet their interest for the next installment. Ages 12–up. (Mar.)

Token of Darkness Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Delacorte, $19.99 (208p) ISBN 978-0-385-73750-0

Cooper Blake's car crash left him emotionally and physically damaged—and able to see a brightly clothed teenage ghost named Samantha, who has no memory of her life when she was alive. But as high school senior Cooper begins trying to "find a way to bring her peace," he soon discovers other young people with unusual abilities, including Brent, a sensitive mind reader, and Delilah, a cheerleader casting reckless spells (the narrative shifts among the three teenagers). But Cooper is unsure who to trust—even friendly Samantha may be "something else, something bad." Some of the plot particulars seem forced, especially surrounding the book's ending, which feels rather convenient. But Atwater-Rhodes (Persistence of Memory) certainly understands how to create a mood: her story offers extreme weather, flashbacks to Cooper's mysterious and tragic car accident, and creepy, shadowy "scavengers" that feed "upon the power put out by emotions like pain and fear." Readers may not understand exactly how all the magic works in this fast-paced supernatural thriller, but there are enough plot developments to keep them engaged. Ages 12–up. (Feb.)

The Poison Eaters and Other Stories Holly Black. Small Beer/Big Mouth House (Consortium, dist.), $17.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-931520-63-8

This first short story collection from a favorite writer of dark YA fantasy features 10 previously published tales and two original stories. "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown" tells the story of Matilda, who has been bitten by a vampire and knows that the only way to remain human is to stay "drunk. Stupid drunk. Whatever drunk she could get," and avoid consuming blood for 88 days. The masterful "The Coat of Stars" concerns Rafael, a gay costume designer who, having lost the boy of his dreams to the faeries, discovers a way to regain him. And the brief but chilling "Going Ironside" concerns an elf girl who has come to our world to get pregnant ("We thought it would be easy.... Find a boy. Roll around in the grass. Dash back. What a prank!"), but has succumbed to heroin addiction. Black (the Good Neighbors series) proves equally adept at urban fantasy and more traditional fairy tales, and her stories often feature the edgy sexuality and angst that have become her trademarks. Ages 14–up. (Mar.)

The Naughty List Suzanne Young. Penguin/Razorbill, $9.99 paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-59514-278-8

Tessa is leading a secret life. She's a typical head cheerleader by day, but by night she and her squad are SOS, the Society of Smitten Kittens, who investigate guys suspected of cheating on their girlfriends. In Tessa's two years with SOS, there has never been a single innocent suspect, a fact that is eroding Tessa's trust in her seemingly perfect relationship with basketball captain Aiden. Tessa's relationship faith, as well as her pep and eternally positive attitude, are tested when Christian and his twin, Chloe, move to town, with snooty Chloe hitting on Aiden and Christian following Tessa like a lovesick puppy—and eventually uncovering her secret. Though Aiden is too perfect to be real, Tessa's realizations about first love ring true. Peppered with Tessa's frequent squeaky-clean expletives ("Sugar plum fairies!") and amusing SOS reports of cheaters caught in the act ("Note that the final photo confirms third base"), Young's frothy debut, first in a planned series, is an entertaining read despite the leap of faith required to believe Tessa and her crew capable of such Mission: Impossible–style operations. Ages 14–up. (Feb.)

Albatross Josie Bloss. Flux, $9.95 paper (240p) ISBN 978-0-7387-1476-9

Following her parents' divorce, Tess moves with her mother from Chicago to Grand River, Mich., and enters her last year of high school feeling isolated and angry about being ripped away from her old life. "I was very tired. Tired of pretending like I was fine with it all, that I was okay with being here, that I wasn't worrying about Dad and what he was doing now that we were gone." When she meets brooding and brilliant Micah, she is enthralled with his intensity and intimidated by his complex relationship with another student, Daisy. Tess's self-confidence plummets as her obsession with Micah grows and as he vacillates between affectionate and abusive. She struggles to listen to the little voice in her head that urges her—literally and repeatedly—not to be a victim ("I really hope you're not going to stand for this, the voice said.... Get up and walk out"). Bloss's (Band Geek Love) prose verges on melodrama and the message about controlling relativonships can feel heavy-handed, but her descriptions of lust and envy are honest and captivating. Ages 14–up. (Feb.)

Children's Comics

How I Made It to Eighteen: A Mostly True Story Tracy White. Roaring Brook, $16.99 (144p) ISBN 978-1-59643-454-7

White's story of a 17-year-old girl's ordeals with depression, addiction, and body image issues is all the more powerful because of its basis in truth. The story follows Stacy Black, whose nervous breakdown leads to her decision to check into the Golden Meadows Hospital for mental health. Given the thinly veiled name of the protagonist, it's no surprise that White is upfront about the events being drawn from her own experiences. Stacy begins with the simple goal of finding a way to be happy with her life again. What follows, though, is life-changing realizations about her drug dependency, her relationship with her mother, and her insecurities about her boyfriend. In the end, her most unexpected revelation is how serious her body image issues are, how much she'd accepted them as an ordinary part of her life, and how much damage they've done to her. White's very simple hand-drawn, b&w artistic style enhances the personal touch of the work, creating the effect of an illustrated diary. While text-heavy, the narration is clear-eyed and affecting. Ages 14-up. (June)

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities Jason Shiga. Abrams/Amulet, $15.95 paper (80p) ISBN 978-0-81098-423-3

A mathematician/cartoonist whose best works (Bookhunter; Fleep) play with form and logic, Shiga has created both an enchanting graphic novel and a delightful physical object. Building on the concept of the Choose Your Own Adventure books, Shiga allows readers to select among thousands of story lines. The first question is simple: "Chocolate or vanilla?" From there, readers follow thin tubes and tabs in circuitous paths throughout the book, dictated by their choices. Sometimes the story takes a reader right to left through panels on the page, sometimes up or down, and readers' decisions may have them skip forward or backward throughout the text. Plots include time machines, doomsday devices, quantum physics, and a giant squid. The charming, cartoony illustrations, bursting with color and energy, lend a wry counterpoint to the often disastrous outcomes of the many possible plots. In the electronic media era, it's refreshing to encounter a work that makes such unique use of the physical nature of the book. Young readers will likely spend hours finding new ways to wend a path through the pages of this innovative book. Ages 8–up. (Mar.)

The Muppet Show Comic: The Treasure of Peg-Leg Wilson Roger Langridge. Boom! $9.99 paper (112p) ISBN 978-1-60886-504-8

Langridge captures the zany energy of the beloved Muppet Show, which aired on television from 1976 and 1981, in this collection. All the usual suspects play a role, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Beaker, Fozzie Bear, the members of Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, and, providing curmudgeonly commentary, Statler and Waldorf. The volume is structured like one of the episodes of the show—there is a main plot and a few subplots, all of which are interrupted by "skits" such as "Pigs in Space," "Long Distance Toast Hurling," and musical numbers. The central story revolves around a hunt for treasure possibly hidden in the theater by Peg-Leg Wilson, a performer from an earlier era. Skulking around the edges are a Kermit imitator and some devious rats. Langridge's bright, lively illustrations capture the feel and humor of the show. The intended younger audience will find something to giggle about on most pages, but like all of the best Henson productions, there are gags and comments aimed at adults. Those jokes, combined with a hint of nostalgia, may give those who grew up with the Muppets the first time around the most pleasure from the volume. Ages 9–12 (Feb.)

Zeus: King of the Gods George O'Connor. Roaring Brook/First Second, $9.99 paper (78p) ISBN 987-1-59643-625-1

O'Connor (Kapow!;Journey into Mohawk Country) embarks on a new project: a series of graphic novels for young readers about Greek mythology (Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess follows in April, with Hera and Hades in the pipeline). While the D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths is the gold standard for illustrated introductions to Greek mythology, O'Connor offers a modern take with a new view of these "original superhero stories" with gritty yet heroic art and spare prose that lets the myths speak for themselves. The story is the one most schoolchildren know—the Titans created Zeus and Hera, as well as the Cyclopes, and adventure ensued—but O'Connor brings the young gods to life with memorable compositions and attention to detail (childlike fear on Hera's face as she navigates the treacherous new world, a bat screeching away as Zeus confronts the Cyclopes). Back matter includes notes, a bibliography, a list of recommended books for further reading, and discussion questions for readers, making it attractive for teachers and librarians for its information and depth of research. But that shouldn't stop tweens from enjoying the story. Ages 9–12. (Jan.)

Bathroom Break

Two new picture books stick to the facts (of life).

Danny Is Done with Diapers: A Potty ABC Rebecca O'Connell, illus. by Amanda Gulliver. Albert Whitman, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8075-1466-5

O'Connell (Baby Goes Beep) offers up a literary twofer, matching every letter of the alphabet to both a toilet-training related act and a child's name. With the exception of one fudge (she uses "Lexi" for X), the alliterative result brings to mind a winsome Everybody Poops crossed with "It's a Small World (After All)." Thus, "F is for Flush. Farook knows it's fun to flush" and "U is for Underpants. Usma uses underpants. She puts them on herself." Although first-time picture book illustrator Gulliver's rosy-cheeked toddlers and cozy acrylic vignettes may strike boys as overly precious, most kids (and parents) should be impressed by the book's comprehensiveness ("W is for Wipe. Wendy wipes from front to back") and how author and illustrator achieve a cheerful frankness. Poops (including a kitty's) are never hidden from view, and Quashiba poses the question, "Where does the peepee go?" while her mother sits on the toilet. Ages 2–5. (Mar.)

Potty Animals: What to Know When You've Gotta Go! Hope Vestergaard, illus. by Valeria Petrone. Sterling, $14.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4027-5996-3

Petrone's cheery digital characters and Vestergaard's decorous yet humorous rhymes invite readers to help civilize the bathroom habits of some uncouth preschool-age animals. Each exhibits a different undesirable trait (a bear, Georgie, "didn't like to wipe./ He got an itchy feeling/ that made him groan and gripe"), which is followed by a clear-cut rule ("Wipe every time, Georgie!"). Vestergaard's rhymes are a weak point; they can meander and even confuse as they stretch to make the meter work. Readers may well recognize and empathize with the animals' bad behavior: forgetting to use soap, public farting, not knocking before entering, and failing to flush. Petrone's wide-eyed cartoon animals capture a broad spectrum of toddler emotions, from the blissful daydreaming of Helga the duck, who holds up the line with her lollygagging, to the embarrassment of Sukey the raccoon, who, at a slumber party, awakens from a dream about "floating down a stream" to discover "it's not a dream"—every kid's nightmare. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

Happy Easter!

Celebrate spring with a sampling of Easter-themed books.

Here Comes Easter! Caroline Jayne Church. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $7.99 (14p) ISBN 978-0-545-11816-3

A titian-haired girl takes readers on an indoor Easter egg hunt featuring cool pastels in this touch-and-feel board book, second in a holiday series. Her Easter basket has a wicker texture in the opening spread; a polka-dotted egg hides among glitter-topped cakes; and she finds another egg in the bathroom sink, where a yellow fabric towel hangs. A lift-the-flap finale concludes this introduction to the simple joys of Easter morning. Up to age 3. (Feb.)

The Easter Egg Jan Brett. Putnam, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-399-25238-9

Brett's finely detailed watercolor and gouache art is a showstopper, spotlighting lifelike—though nattily clad—rabbits decorating eggs in hopes of winning the role of the Easter Rabbit's helper. Hoppi is awed by bunnies' creations, which include an ornate chocolate egg and a "whirling, twirling mechanical egg." But when an egg tumbles out of a robin's nest, he keeps it safe until the baby bird hatches. Borders of twigs, pussy willows, daffodils, and ferns add greatly to the warm, visually sumptuous setting of this gentle spring story. Ages 3–5. (Feb.)

Happy Easter, Curious George R.P. Anderson, illus. by Mary O'Keefe Young. HMH Books, $9.99 (24p) ISBN 978-0-547-04825-3

George and the man with the yellow hat go to the park for Easter festivities. As always, George's charm and curiosity liven things up: he experiments with mixing colors while dyeing eggs and even juggles them. Though he's initially confused about hiding eggs, when the "Easter Bunny" (a little, white rabbit) escapes, George saves the day. Fans will appreciate that Young's artwork hews to Rey's original illustrations; a page of sparkling stickers adds an interactive element. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)

Ollie's Easter Eggs Olivier Dunrea. HoughtonMifflin, $9.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-618-53243-8

Gossie, Gertie, BooBoo, and Peedie—the tiny but assertive ducks from the Gossie & Friends series—gather, dye, and hide eggs for Easter. But Ollie, wearing a pink bunny-eared bonnet, moves the eggs to a hiding spot, leading to some searching and hunting on the part of the others. The simple declarative phrases and gently humorous illustrations are just right for the age group, but the ending is jarringly abrupt. Stickers are included. Ages 3–7. (Feb.)

Easter Babies: A Springtime Counting Book Joy N. Hulme, illus. by Dan Andreasen. Sterling, $12.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4027-6352-6

This Easter counting book features cheery pictures of baby animals on a farm. One newborn foal stands "on wobbly legs," while a nest of five baby birds screech with "wide open bills," and nine newborn kittens curl up on a pile of hay. There's a sweet, old-fashioned feel to Andreasen's paintings, as 11 children search for Easter eggs in a park—"racing, chasing, swinging"—and a final scene shows church bells ringing across a quaint village. Ages 3–up. (Feb.)

Ernest's First Easter Päivi Stalder, illus. by Frauke Weldin. North-South, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7358-2241-2

This Swiss import offers a behind-the-scenes look at what happens Easter morning. Ernest is training to be an Easter Bunny, and he's assigned to Tommy's house for a tryout. There's a moment of tension as Tommy's dog, Fred, arrives, but Fred is friendly and helps Ernest find the perfect spot for Tommy's eggs. After the promising buildup, the hiding place may seem less-than-special to readers, though Weldin's warm paintings give the story atmosphere. Ages 3–up. (Jan.)

The Story of the Easter Robin Dandi Daley Mackall, illus. by Anna Vojtech. Zonderkidz, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-310-71331-9

During a chilly spring, Tressa is concerned about a robin's eggs, but her grandmother assures her that God will protect them. In a scene that readers might find unsettling in the context of the preceding, the two blow the "gooey insides" out of chicken eggs to make oschter-foggel (Easter birds). Tressa's grandmother then shares the Pennsylvania Dutch story of how the robin got its red breast—pulling a thorn from Jesus' forehead. A textured alternative to fluffier Easter fare. Ages 4–7. (Mar.)

Bunny's Easter Egg Anne Mortimer. HarperCollins/Tegen, $12.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-136664-2

Though she has one egg left, Bunny is too tired to hide it, so she puts it in her basket. When it starts to crack, she leaps out: "I can't sleep here. It's far too busy." À la Goldilocks, no matter where she tries to sleep, it's never just right: nestling with a porcupine is "too painful" and a boat "too wet!" Finally, she returns to her basket to find a new friend—a yellow duck that has hatched. Finely textured, realistic flowers and animals lend the story a classic Easter feel. Ages 4–7. (Jan.)

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Children's book reviews invaluable - News-Gazette

Posted: 05 Feb 2010 07:15 AM PST

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Children's book reviews invaluable

The Sunday children's literature book review columns, written by local authors Alice McGinty, Ruth Siburt and Sara Latta, are invaluable for all who live or work with children and young adults, or anyone who is an avid reader of a good book.

With authority, knowledge and experience, they cover various reading levels, writers/illustrators and subject matters. These informative reviews recommend classics, new titles and explore special topics, and Illinois authors often are recognized.

MARY NOURIE

Newman

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