The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung

THE LAST MANDARIN by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung is a stand-alone political thriller. The audiobook is narrated by Eunice Wong who does an absolutely excellent job. In this novel, modern day terrorist attacks are occurring simultaneously all over the globe and a Chinese dissident, Vivien Li and her daughter, Alice, are drawn into a mystery which even leading intelligence agencies are struggling to decipher. A favorite scene is the online gathering of the experts from several countries and Wong’s ability to use her voice and convey their biases and country of origin. As readers would expect from Penny (Inspector Gamache series), there are numerous plot twists and surprises. She and Fung also convey the political intrigue and behind the scenes maneuvering, in a manner reminiscent of writers like Allen Drury or Gore Vidal. Barnes & Noble and Abe Books each recommend more authors/titles in this genre. Looking for a political thriller in movie form? Try these suggested by IMDb.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

CHANGE OF PLANS by Sarah Dessen (Lock & Key; Just Listen; The Truth about Forever and more) is her first novel in seven years and offers the chance for new readers to sample Dessen’s expressive writing. Booklist says, “Dessen’s greatest strength is her creation of vivid atmosphere, which enhances both her characters' personalities and their conflicts.” Here, the award-winning young adult author introduces readers to Finley, a graduating high school senior who lives with her stepmom, dad, and their young family. Finley has a strong, two-year relationship with Colin, but must decline his family’s invite to a cruise because her career-oriented and distant mother, Catherine (Cat) has plans for the two of them to travel together. Quite a bit does change when Colin meets another girl on the cruise and Finley’s Mom chauffeurs Finley to The Woods, a family home on a rural lake, instead of heading to New York City. Finley meets new friends (Clark, Ben, and Lana) and aunts (Liz and Kasey) as she begins to learn more about her Mom – and herself. CHANGE OF PLANS received starred reviews from Kirkus (“she discovers strength, independence, and the transformative power of being fully present …. A sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story filled with moments of true beauty between family and friends”) and Publishers Weekly (“delightfully layered, bighearted novel”). As Clark says, “Everything changes. You have a choice: make it hard or make it work. And there's enough hard shit already.”

Mother Tongue by Sara Nović

MOTHER TONGUE by Sara Nović (Girl at War and True Biz) received well-deserved starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. Nović uses this memoir to share her experiences, reflections, and research about being deaf and the deaf culture. In an effort to teach and inform others, she is willing to be vulnerable, resulting in a poignant tale. Nović explores related history (e.g., Nazi eugenics and Alexander Graham Bell’s campaign against American Sign Language) as well as the prejudice she encountered when trying to adopt a deaf son from another race. The tone is not academic, but the vocabulary often is, in MOTHER TONGUE, a moving and educational work.

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer

GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer (The Collected Regrets of Clover) introduces readers to Joy Bridport, someone who at first seems truly too good to be true. Joy invariably looks on the bright side, gives others the benefit of the doubt, and sacrifices her own needs to help others. Her life, however, gets turned upside down (look at that cover!) when she learns that her best friend of eighty years, Hazel, has terminal cancer. Brammer shares Joy’s innermost thoughts about her parents’ values, her troubled relationship with her own daughter (Elizabeth) and grandson Finn, as well as a new friendship with Rowan, a neighbor recently released from jail. Joy starts to take some risks, and the lack of consequences will have readers nodding in agreement about how older women often are invisible. GOOD JOY, BAD JOY is a rather sad story and while Joy grows, it can be a difficult read emotionally. Like “good” Joy, Booklist describes this novel more positively as “a heartwarming, poignant story of self-discovery and hope.” Book groups will find much to discuss.

Moonlight Murder by Uzma Jalaluddin

MOONLIGHT MURDER by Uzma Jalaluddin is her second Detective Aunty novel and I found it even more enjoyable than the first, although also a bit slow-paced in parts. Kauser Khan, the main character, is an older widow whose heritage is Muslim and South Asian. She lives in Toronto where her son (Ali, then 15) was killed by a hit and run driver eighteen years ago. The story revolves around her belated investigation of his death and the more recent death of another young teen, Qasim, close friend of her granddaughter, Maleeha. As the beautiful cover illustrates, the culture of the tightly knit community in the Golden Crescent neighborhood of Toronto is integral to the story and Jalaluddin brings to life secondary characters like Kauser’s daughter; old friends May (“Who knew that a shared love for Louise Penny and the Public Library would lead to a friend for life?”), Fatima, and Nasir (also a potential romantic interest); the local police; and several high school students, including the brother, Kamal, and the best friend, Joquiem, of Qasim as well as some of his teachers. The dual mysteries (“Two parallel stories, separated by decades and circumstance, linked by place and community. Both deaths assumed accidents. Both with unanswered questions about motive, story, and intention…”) offer suspense and surprise. Kauser is an appealing character who relies on her faith and also still grapples with grief (“It felt good to make plans for the future. It felt good to feel capable of thinking beyond the next few days. She had lived her life in survival mode for so long, wrestling with the ghosts of death, loss, and grief, … but she could feel something shift inside her now, at last.”). Read this series in order as you anticipate the next title.

The Flag Was Still There by McKean and Bennett

THE FLAG WAS STILL THERE by David McKean and M. Todd Bennett is a scholarly work which traces “A History of the American Experiment in Five Anniversaries:” 1776, 1826, 1876, 1926, and 1976. THE FLAG WAS STILL THERE received a positive review from Kirkus and praise from well-known historians like Douglas Brinkley and Walter Isaacson. However, it is fairly dense and would be daunting for our high school students, even those enrolled in AP US History. The reoccurring patterns (discrimination, nativism, corruption) and “inflection points” beg to be documented in a more accessible form – what interesting, informative, and necessary conversations they could prompt as the nation will soon be celebrating 250 years. Kudos to McKean, a former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, and Bennett, a professor of history at East Carolina University, for highlighting these key issues.

Open To Work by Ryan Roslansky and Aneesh Raman

OPEN TO WORK by Ryan Roslansky (LinkedIn CEO) and Aneesh Raman (Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn) is heartfelt advice about “How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI.” The authors point to how in the industrial age “standardization was the point. When AI handles the standard, though, things start to flip. Suddenly your differences aren't limitations. They're your competitive advantage.” They relate stories of Nilofer Merchant (consultant who coined the term “onlyness”); John Henry (founded a dry-cleaning service at 19 and sold it two years later for a million dollars); and Leena Nair (CEO of Chanel) to illustrate how important it can be to build on one’s unique strengths and experiences. They stress “distinctly human capabilities which AI cannot replicate” and the interaction amongst these 5Cs: curiosity, courage, creativity, compassion, and communication. They say, “As you get going, remember that it's OK to pause, restart, or change direction. The key is just to keep moving.” OPEN TO WORK will encourage readers to experiment with AI due to its conversational tone, thoughtful prompts, and helpful exercises (e.g., listing twelve top tasks sorting them into one of three buckets: (1) routine tasks that AI can do alone; (2) tasks to do together with AI tools and (3) uniquely human tasks, generally involving emotional intelligence). In fact, the final chapter includes a detailed, practical 30-60-90-day plan for getting started with AI, complete with examples and coaching. Over twenty percent of OPEN TO WORK is devoted to Notes and an Index.  Additional interviews with Ryan Roslansky are available on the podcast The Path.

I am Not a Robot by Joanna Stern

I AM NOT A ROBOT by Joanna Stern (former technology writer for The Wall Street Journal) is subtitled “My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything” and looks at a variety of areas (e.g., health, travel, communications) while using real world examples to showcase some potential benefits and downsides of AI. For example, Stern spent time with a very experienced radiologist and AI looking at mammogram and ultrasound images. It was fascinating to hear the health professional praise AI. In contrast, when she went to the dentist, AI was used as a crutch to justify recommending unnecessary and expensive procedures. Bill Gates told her, “The foundation of AI advances for healthcare are both in the discovery side and in the delivery side,” referring to being able to speed up innovation and to offer more and better explanations to patients. In fact, Stern interviewed “nearly two hundred people – from everyday users to some of the most powerful voices in this industry,” including  Steve Mann (the “father” of wearable computing), Sal Khan (educational technology leader), and Mustafa Suleyman (Microsoft’s CEO) amongst others. She shares her thoughts in a variety formats, often essentially bullet pointing ideas as when she describes her experiences with a variety of wearables or her problems with relying on AI only to answer texts and emails (that was a very short experiment). Stern explores potential impacts on education through a visit to her alma mater, Union College in Schenectady, New York, finding that teachers and students share concerns about AI’s impact, especially on critical thinking skills. Stern’s writing style is distinctive, and Publishers Weekly acknowledges that, saying, “Stern’s balanced, clear-eyed assessments and crisp, funny prose (‘I was teetering on the edge of the AI-byss’) make this stand out among the growing crowd of books on AI.” Highly recommended.

Below is a 20 minute video interview dealing specifically with writing and researching I AM NOT A ROBOT, but if you are curious about Stern’s twelve years of tech reporting at The Wall Street Journal, check out a wider variety of videos.

How to Start by Jodi Kantor

HOW TO START by Jodi Kantor is subtitled “Discovering Your Life's Work” and is a slender (112 pages) text intended to offer informative reading for the 18- to 25-year-olds in your life. Kantor, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter for The New York Times, was asked to give the commencement speech at Columbia and that, in turn, inspired this text. She writes about developing craft (an often-slow accumulation of skill), identifying need, and the interplay between the two: “The craft she is learning will change and refine her assessment of that need. To meet that evolving vision, she will pursue higher forms of craft -- more skilled, new tools. Fresh needs will emerge, of the richness and strength of her craft will help her address the unexpected.” That may be a bit abstract for many 20-somethings, but they will likely benefit from Kantor’s acknowledgement of how universal their generation’s struggle is. HOW TO START is recommended by authors like Reid Hoffman (Superagency), Shonda Rimes (Year of Yes), and Gretchen Rubin (The Happiness Project) and this title also made me think of Tina Seelig’s What I Wish I Knew When I was 20 (she has a new book, What I Wish I Knew about Luck, forthcoming in June).

Jodi Kantor recently paired with Jennifer Breheny Wallace (Mattering) at a FAN session to discuss HOW TO START and the goals of financial stability, satisfaction (being connected to what one does), and contribution (how your career helps others). The recording will be available on the FAN (Family Action Network) website soon.

AI for Good by Josh Tyrangiel

AI FOR GOOD by Josh Tyrangiel takes a generally positive stance as it describes “How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter.” Tyrangiel is a writer at The Atlantic and he uses examples from healthcare, government, and education to illustrate his points in this relatively short (272 pages) book. Citing practical case studies that center on The Cleveland Clinic, Operation Warp Speed, and Khan Academy; The Wall Street Journal notes that Tyrangiel writes that success “often hinges on a point person at the technology partner (e.g., OpenAI, Palantir) who combines technical fluency with the ability to inhabit a client’s challenges and understand the environment in which the technology must function.” Hence, a potentially transformative technology like AI may need to more gradually evolve for effective implementation; Tyrangiel also further develops the idea of institutional resistance in these complex environments which means battling “professional cultures, government policies, entrenched stakeholders, money, rivalries, emotions” and more. This tension (speed vs human values) makes it all the more important that we each better understand the technology; Tyrangiel asks his readers to “spend an afternoon with ChatGPT, Claude, or whatever equivalent you like” which will be “different from any previous interaction you’ve had with software.” He advocates making the technology your own and offers powerful suggestions like “make an AI summarize its own privacy policy in bullet points an eighth grader can understand” and “stay close to Team Human” by gauging who it is empowering. A thought-provoking critique. 

You Can't Hurry Second Chances by Michelle Stimpson

YOU CAN'T HURRY SECOND CHANCES by Michelle Stimpson is about a new life in small town Texas. Joyce Hicks has finally decided to divorce her husband after thirty years of being unfulfilled in her marriage. She moves away from Austin and settles in her grandmother’s house, but finds that her funds cannot cover all of the needed renovations in a timely manner. Her tenant, Gabriella Santos, is a talented chef who also struggles to see her own self-worth. Together the two of them push and pull each other along until Joyce learns to make decisions (including saying No to her daughter and Yes to a date with an old friend) with more confidence and Gabriella becomes brave enough to showcase her talents in public, leading to a new opportunity. Aspects feel like a coming-of-age story involving adults – with a rather abrupt, but happy ending.

The Mountains We Call Home by Richardson

THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME by Kim Michele Richardson is a work of historical fiction subtitled “The Book Woman's Legacy.” It continues the excellent series which began with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, followed by The Book Woman’s Daughter. This time, readers find Cussy Mary, a young woman whose skin appears blue due to genetic factors, in jail for marrying a white man, Jackson Lovett. It is the early 1950s (prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving v. Virginia) so the partners are separated and imprisoned. This is a hard book to read at first as Cussy works long hours in the prison kitchen and laundry, amidst harsh conditions. Eventually, she and the readers find hope and some respite as she is assigned librarian duties and begins to transform life for other inmates through literacy and the escape that books often bring. Concerned with freedom and bodily autonomy, there are many sad aspects, including talk of lobotomies, a botched death sentence, and threatened abortion. This title is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection and for interested book groups, a Reading Group Guide is included which also explores rural vs. urban life and several social issues. Library Journal describes THE MOUNTAINS WE CALL HOME as “a deeply satisfying companion novel … exploring injustice, belonging, and the transformative power of literacy with compassion and grace.” Kim Michele Richardson is herself passionate about literacy and has honored the Pack Librarians by founding an initiative called Courthouses Reading Across Kentucky, establishing Little Free Libraries across the state.

The Westerners and The Gunfighters

As we look this year to America’s 250th anniversary, here are a couple of lengthy and ambitious non-fiction texts worth exploring. 

THE WESTERNERS by Megan Kate Nelson is subtitled “Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier.” Nelson, whose The Three-Cornered War was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, chooses to profile seven individuals who represent the diversity -- Indigenous peoples, Black Americans, Mexican Americans, and Canadian and Asian immigrants -- which is often ignored or forgotten but was present out West during the 1800s. She weaves together and overlaps stories featuring a biracial fur trader; the richest woman in Santa Fe; and Sacajewa, plus others like Little Wolf (a Northern Cheyenne chief); a soldier and gold miner; and female immigrants who remained resilient in the face of prejudice. Kirkus says that this very long title (464 pages) “sometimes plods,” but provides “a useful survey of the ‘messy, complicated lives of the real people who built the West.’” Booklist called it “a uniquely compelling look at the dynamism and conflict that defined the West.” THE WESTERNERS received a starred review from Publishers Weekly for its “richly layered portrait of the 19th-century frontier.” Nelson’s Epilogue section reprises how white Americans distorted facts and created myths in order to “fit a narrative that was compelling to them.” She concludes by stating, “If we do not acknowledge this expansive history of the West as a pivotal part of the nation's past, this erasure will continue the work of the frontier myth and usher us into an unjust future.”

THE GUNFIGHTERS by Brian Burrough is another thoroughly researched and well-written text. In contrast to Nelson, Burrough focused on the violence associated with white male dominance and some of the more memorable characters (many familiar names) from the nineteenth century. I read this as part of a Texas book group, and it helped me to better understand some of the cultural underpinnings for Texans. For example, there is an apparently locally well-known song about Sam Bass, but even Burrough acknowledges that “perhaps the gunfighter legend is dimming.” He hypothesized that “A gunfighter's fame endures, in almost every case, in direct proportion to his engagement with the written word, because he either talked to a journalist or two, as Hickok did; wrote an autobiography, John Wesley Hardin’s route; fired off letters to governors and newspapers a la Jesse James and Billy the Kid; or became involved in a shootout so spectacular it drew national attention … Wyatt Earp” Beverly Gage (This Land is Your Land) says Burrough “tells his story as only a loving -- but conflicted -- son of Texas could.” Several maps, numerous footnotes, references, and an index are included.

A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz

A DEADLY EPISODE by Anthony Horowitz is book six in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mysteries (following the story line introduced in The Word is Murder, The Sentence is Death, and A Line to Kill – plus more - which chronicle the sleuthing of a former policeman named Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, none other than Anthony Horowitz himself.). These mysteries are clever, fun, and entertaining and the latest title received starred reviews from both Booklist and Publishers Weekly (“This series is in peak form.”). This time, Hawthorne and Horowitz are visiting the filming site for The Word is Murder; a small, cash-strapped company is creating the film and have hired an eco-activist to write the script. Horowitz is not pleased with the changes from the book, but that is a non-issue when the lead actor, David Caine, playing Hawthorne is killed. There are a roughly a half dozen suspects, but numerous motives (seems as though Caine was universally disliked) and plenty of opportunity. Full of subtle clues and red herrings, there’s mystery within the mystery - I especially enjoyed reading about an earlier case, Hawthorne’s first as a private detective. While A DEADLY EPISODE could likely work as a stand-alone, it is much preferable to read this series in order as readers learn more about each of the characters and can observe the growing relationship between them. Enjoy!

NOTE: Here is the New York Times with suggested titles for classic private eye detective novels.

Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove

MURDER WILL OUT by Jennifer K. Breedlove is described by the publisher as “a lighter, modern gothic mystery.” It has a full cast of characters, including many ghosts. Their home, pictured on the lovely cover, is called Cameron House and is set on an island in Maine. Willow Stone returns to that island after learning of the death of Susan Davis, a friend of her parents and an important part of her childhood summers, although they have been estranged for over fifteen years. Being from Away, Willow is met with suspicion and resentment, but she readily senses that something is not right, especially after a second death occurs. Both are tied to Cameron House and the family members who stand to inherit it. Can she trust the locals? How does she react to the ghosts? Numerous secrets, including multiple affairs and entanglements produce a suspenseful story and a surprising, satisfying ending. Winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award, MURDER WILL OUT received a starred review from Library Journal, recommending this debut to fans of Katherine Hall Page (Faith Fairchild series), Nancy Atherton (Aunt Dimity books) and Carolyn Hart’s ghostly cozies. I, too, am looking forward to more from this promising author.

A Course Called Home by Tom Coyne

A COURSE CALLED HOME by Tom Coyne is a series of wonderful “Adventures of an Accidental Golf Course Owner.” After entertaining us with travels to golf courses across America and Europe, Coyne will have readers enthralled by the efforts to save an almost 100 year old nine-hole golf course, Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in upstate New York. The amount of work required to run one’s own business, especially one that requires the physical upkeep of a golf course, plus concerns over finances are shared in an entertaining, relatable way. Coyne is extremely fortunate in the employees like Shane, chief groundskeeper, or the trio of pro shop retailers: Gary, Jimmy, and John; even the local high schooler Henry and other part-timers seem to form a family of sorts. And, Coyne’s connections in the golf world make their own (often surprising) contributions whether it’s equipment, supplies, rental golf carts, or financial support. Even Bill Murray, Jason Kelce and Mike Madden make appearances. Best-selling author Coyne weaves in reflections about his own family and the beauty of the Catskills where they now live for part of the year. Truly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Teaching News Literacy in the Age of AI

World Press Freedom Day will be celebrated on May 3, 2026.  It's worth a look at new books related to this topic.  

TEACHING NEWS LITERACY IN THE AGE OF AI by Cathy Collins, an award-winning library media specialist, is an excellent resource. I wish that more schools made this topic (helping students to “recognize quality journalism, spot deepfakes, challenge misinformation, and critically analyze conspiracy theories”) a priority, but Collins has done a great job of compiling suggestions of resources (including multimedia tools and learning standards) related to these issues. A few examples (not all of which are free) include: Checkology (including several of their helpful posters); The News Literacy Project; ISTE (she extensively references their standards); PBS Learning Media; and Newsela. Some of her information is revealing, but from a decade ago and warrants updating, as do her references to Stanford History Education Group, now called Digital Inquiry Group. However, the more I read, the more excited and interested I became. It does take a while to get to the section on “Learning Activities,” but that is filled with ideas related to Social Studies, Science, Health, Mathematics and more. Also, this text could work well in a secondary newspaper class – an entire lesson could review the Code of Ethics for the Society of Professional Journalists or the eight factors (e.g., timeliness, proximity, interest, conflict) which Collins lists that “news organizations might use to evaluate whether to cover a particular event.” There are multiple Appendices, including a News Literacy Glossary. As Collins writes, “The future of informed citizenship is less about passively consuming information and much more about actively interrogating it. … Teaching them to question what they see, seek diverse viewpoints, and practice self-regulated attention is more important than ever.” 

THE INFORMATION STATE by Jacob Siegel (a contributing writer at Tablet, an American conservative magazine focused on Jewish news and culture) is subtitled “Politics in the Age of Total Control.” Siegel makes some thought-provoking claims such as when he explores the relationship between information and state power (“regime’s ultimate aim was not to censor or oppress, but to rule. … the information state refers to a form of government that replaces the democratic principle of consent with control”). However, I was very disappointed by his early comment when he wrote “I doubt that more than a few dozen people had been conversant in the finer points of the disinformation field at the start of 2016.” He only had to look at the critical thinking or information literacy (a term not included in his book) work being championed by librarians and educators at that time or the winner of that year’s National Business Book Award: A Field Guide to Lies by Daniel J. Levitin. In addition, Seigel seems to have a bias against President Obama and some of the actions taken by his administration; he certainly objects to attempts to even insinuate that Russia influenced the 2016 election while simultaneously rarely referencing the blatant and obvious lies from subsequent administrations. Overall, reviews are mixed: Booklist says, THE INFORMATION STATE “will challenge and enlighten readers on every page,” whereas Publishers Weekly describes it as a “hit-or-miss debut account.”

Duty, Honor, Country & Life by William H. McRaven

DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY & LIFE by William H. McRaven (Sea Stories, Make Your Bed, and others) takes its title in part from a speech by General MacArthur. In fact, this new book is filled with speeches that McRaven himself has delivered over the last decade or two. In that sense, it harkens to a more hopeful time and lives up to its subtitle: “A Tribute to the American Spirit.” Examples of the texts that appear include a National Football Foundation Speech (2016), a New York Historical Society speech (2023), and commencement speeches from MIT (2020), UT Southwestern Medical School (2015), and University of Texas at Austin (2014) to name just a few. McRaven had an amazing 37-year career as a Navy SEAL followed by time as the Chancellor of the University of Texas. A patriotic and thoughtful person, he prefaces each speech with a brief commentary and has also included several pieces of his own poetry, plus some from his grandmother. Readers will readily see the values, including family, which are so important to him and those he feels define the country (“liberty, equality, self-government, individualism, the rule of law, and religious freedom”). 

Like McRaven’s other writings, this is an inspirational text – in fact, I was at a local Barnes & Noble yesterday where a customer was requesting it. PBS NewsHour also filmed a recent interview:

If your spirits need a lift, look for DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY & LIFE and other titles by McRaven.

Freeze Fresh Meal Prep by Crystal Schmidt

Soon-to-be-released FREEZE FRESH MEAL PREP by Crystal Schmidt offers “160 Meal Starters and Make-Ahead Dishes for the Freezer.” The photos are lovely – very colorful and appetizing. The recipes themselves are relatively straight-forward, and Schmidt includes many comments offering helpful advice (e.g., type of containers to use for freezing). I did think this type of cooking might require a bit of a mindset shift.  Honestly, I would rather cook and freeze a complete meal for some future time than cook, freeze, and still have to prepare a meal (even something as simple as Sloppy Joes) based off the frozen “starter.” It is worth a try, though, and Schmidt nicely splits this cookbook into categories like soup starters (full of nutritious vegetables and usually requiring a blender), meal starters, vegetable side dishes, and pie, crisp, crumble and cobbler fillings (based on fresh, seasonal fruit treats). A few sample recipes? How about Versatile Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce or Egg Roll in a Bowl? Booklist called FREEZE FRESH MEAL PREP “perfect for beginners. … This is a must-have for readers who enjoy eating fresh, homemade meals that cut down on prep time.”

Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin

BUMBLEBEE SEASON by Eileen Garvin (Crow Talk) is the sequel to her debut novel The Music of Bees. She provides an update on the progress that wheelchair-bound Jake Stevenson is accomplishing with his bee hives and Queen of G Honey business located near the Hood River in Oregon. But there is much more to the story as Garvin introduces us to other characters. One is Abigail Elizabeth Plue, a young teaching assistant at the local university; she is interested in insects and nature, but she has difficulty with self-regulation and cooperating with others, resulting in a transfer to study bees. Flaco (“skinny”) is the nickname of Sebastian Santiago Luna Lopez; he’s only fourteen and has been sent North (entering the US without papers) by his mother to keep him away from the cartel in his hometown. Along with Jake, each is struggling with personal issues and rejection by a loved one, but Garvin unites them through a shared desire to protect the environment and a growing respect and care for each other. Belonging and community are key ideas in this book which she has dedicated to “anyone who’s ever longed for home.” BUMBLEBEE SEASON received a starred review from Booklist (“Undoubtedly inspired by her own experiences as an Oregon beekeeper, Garvin is a master at creating hive-like communities vibrating with characters readers will enthusiastically embrace.”).

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown

Somehow, I kept hearing about THE LOST BOOK OF ELIZABETH BARTON by Jennifer N. Brown prior to its publication and I am glad I was able to read a preview of this historical fiction debut. The story is set in two time periods, the 1500’s when Elizabeth Barton (a real person regarded as a visionary and saint by some) and 2023 when fictional academic Alison Sage has discovered a bound copy of Barton’s prophecies and is invited to an exclusive conference to discuss her research. From the beginning something seems off, but Alison is new to the professional attention and gladly shares with other professionals (Roger, Charles, Westley, Marla, Brian and Arjun) whose work tangentially relates to her own. They actually stay at a Manor House within walking distance of the priory where Elizabeth (The Holy Maid of Kent) lived. Brown alternates the time periods so as to provide background about the dangers surrounding the religious conflicts when Henry VIII was planning to divorce/annul and (re)marry. She also describes possible motivations and actions of the prioress and Elizabeth’s benefactors, basing her writing on texts, letters or sermons and families who lived at the time. It is a fascinating look at that period. Modern day Alison, however, seems a bit naïve especially when she rekindles a romance with a fellow scholar. THE LOST BOOK OF ELIZABETH BARTON received starred reviews from both Booklist (“Recommend to fans of Wolf Hall and all readers consumed with the treacherous Tudor times.”) and Publishers Weekly (“excels at depicting the manipulation of women across the centuries … . Fans of historical suspense will be wowed.”).

Save the Date by Mallory Kass

SAVE THE DATE by Mallory Kass is, as several members of my book club would say, “a palate cleanser.” Kass, who has written previous bestsellers as Kass Morgan, offers a romantic comedy set at a wedding in Maine as her adult fiction debut. The action revolves around three women: bride-to-be Marigold who discovers she still has feelings for an ex-husband; Matron of Honor Natalie who is suppressing long held feelings for the groom; and lawyer Olivia who is Marigold’s sister and out to find her own perfect match. It is all a bit ridiculous and fairly predictable, but as Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of romantic comedies with a Hallmark Channel vibe will enjoy this heartwarming tale.” Cute and undemanding, if a bit slow paced and full of fluff, SAVE THE DATE will leave readers smiling. Below is a great graphic summarizing all of the confusion; the fact that none of the characters are shown with faces simply confirms how little they know themselves and their feelings. 

Planet Money by Alex Mayyasi

PLANET MONEY by Alex Mayyasi and the Hosts of NPR's Planet Money calls itself “A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life.” This book takes an approach similar to the podcast and offers definition, description and discussion of economic concepts while using real life examples. Mayyasi starts out with an informative look at how food banks built a mechanism to better allocate donations. He later looks at topics like “How We All Get Richer, Forever,” “The Zoom Boom vs. Happy Hour,” or “The Labor of Finding Love.” His stories are memorable (e.g., the Mets and Bobby Bonilla Day to explain compound interest) and relatively easy to understand; as the authors say, “This book gathers the most useful and essential wisdom from our reporting and adds many freshly reported stories chosen to illuminate the most practical and powerful lessons in economics today.” PLANET MONEY received starred reviews from Booklist (“a welcome and in-demand addition to any library’s finance shelves”) and Library Journal. Sadly, graphics did not format well in the preview, but the book is well-researched, with Notes and an Index comprising at least fifteen percent of the text.

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

STAY FOR A SPELL by Amy Coombe is a cute, cozy fantasy that received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Library Journal. The main character in this debut novel is a princess, Tandy (Tanadelle de Courcy, fourth in line for the throne of the Widdenmar), who loves books and reading, but whose sense of duty keeps her on the road for most of the year. She falls under a curse and gets trapped in a bookstore while travelling in her royal role. Her parents arrange for the seven princes of the Shining Realm to try to break the curse with a kiss. Each arrival offers some amusing diversion, but, for me, the story moved too slowly. I was curious instead to see the relationship between Tandy and Bash, a pirate cursed with fear of water, develop. That took quite a while and meanwhile, two local teens worked with Tandy to rebrand and revitalize the bookstore. I agree with Booklist that teen readers may find those characters and even Tandy to be relatable. Overall, however, I would have preferred a faster pace and a chance to see Tandy make more of her own decisions and really grow. Interested readers should also look for titles like Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust or Julie Leong’s The Teller of Small Fortunes.

Does My Child Need Me to Lead or to Follow?

DOES MY CHILD NEED ME TO LEAD OR TO FOLLOW? by Claudia Schwarzlmüller is an international best-seller which covers “A Radically Simple Way to Parent Children from Infancy Through Age 6.” Schwarzlmüller is a child psychologist with over twenty years of experience. Her tone is wonderful – calm, compassionate, nonjudgmental, and definitely striving to represent the child’s viewpoint. For example, in the Your Toddler section, she describes behavior which is SO familiar (e.g., a toddler “loves taking things out and putting them away”… and “needs to repeat behaviors many times in order to learn … repetition is the name of the game”). She discusses thinking and playing (when a child “learns about objects by putting them in his mouth, banging them against something else, studying, turning, rubbing, or throwing them”), as well as feelings and relationships, movement, and speech. To me (a relatively new grandmother), the insights Schwarzlmüller offers are spot-on, valuable and actionable (e.g., she lists a series of play schemas and what your child learns from practice like Positioning (a sense of length, height, distance), Transforming, Connecting, Enveloping, Transporting, Dividing/Scattering (geometry/math, quantity, shapes, volume), Sorting, Filling, and Orientation). She writes about allowing your child to lead (“give them the freedom to try things out and as much free time to play as possible”), but also notes, “Children need to find their bearings and to feel safe. You are the missing partner in this social dance if you don't assume your role in moments of leading. Your child is searching for balance between moments of leading and moments of play, just like the rest of us.” Additional parts of the book deal with Your Baby, From Toddler to Preschooler, From Preschooler to Kindergartener to First Grader, plus introductory material, a list of references, and further reading suggestions. Publishers Weekly called this text “a valuable resource for parents of young children [in which] research-based insight meets practical guidance.” I heartily concur and I am highly recommending DOES MY CHILD NEED ME TO LEAD OR TO FOLLOW?

THE MIXED + MULTIRACIAL GUIDE TO WELLBEING by Namalee Bolle is subtitled “Navigating Family, Identity + Healing.” Bolle divides the text into three parts: Unpack, Discover and Thrive. She describes her own history (British born of Sri-Lankan and Dutch-Jewish heritage) and that of other multi-racial people as she encourages readers to reflect on their unique situations. It felt at points as though this text was more about therapy-type exercises and less about actual research findings (of which there may not be many). However, I did gain insights from reading about children who are multiracial – as she says, they are racially different to both parents. That may seem obvious, but it is worth pausing and contemplating that idea along with how difficult it is for all of us to find our identities as adolescents and how these children must learn to recognize/accept that “I am this and this and that.” I plan to look into the children’s books that she recommended (e.g., The Truth about Dragons) and also to watch 1000% Me, an HBO/Max documentary. Overall, an interesting starting point for more discussion and research.

One Plate at a Time by Demi Lovato

ONE PLATE AT A TIME by Demi Lovato is subtitled “Recipes for Finding Freedom with Food” and, in addition to 80 recipes, contains comments and recommended reading related to the prolific singer’s struggles with bulimia and “disordered eating habits.” The recipes are grouped by fives (e.g., Perfect Pastas, Winner-Winner Chicken Dinners, and 15-Minute Dinners) then linked to a category like Dinners (or Midday Meals or Something Sweet or Rise and Shine!). Not every recipe has a picture, but most do, and the ones that are there are colorful and appealing, plus many others feature Demi Lovato. The recipes contain common ingredients and relatively simple instructions, although there is no nutrition information. I am looking forward to experimenting with some like Sesame Noodles, Curried Chicken Salad, or Cheesy Mac. Library Journal describes ONE PLATE AT A TIME this way: “Although many of these dishes are familiar, this inspiring cookbook is a definite buy and deserves a spot on any bookshelf, both for the recipes and Lovato's inspiring story.”

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Dixon

THE INFINITE SADNESS OF SMALL APPLIANCES by Glenn Dixon is a relatively short (224 pages) but impactful tale that will make readers think, particularly about artificial intelligence and humankind’s relationships with machines. Set in the future, much of the story is told from the perspective of Scout, a young, but advanced model of a vacuum cleaner (like Roomba) who resides at the home of an older couple, Harold and Edie Winters. Scout is a curious and courageous soul (if machines can be said to have souls) who has chosen her name because of listening to Harold read To Kill a Mockingbird to Edie who has a terminal illness. As with any death, changes are necessary and painful. Scout appears to develop empathy for Harold, his daughter Kate, and the young neighbor boy, Adrian, who was a piano student of Edie’s. They all must learn to trust each other and the other sentient machines like Auto, Fridge, Clock and Watch. It is not easy to battle the overarching and controlling Grid which appears to have no feelings at all. Booklist sums it up well: “The plot is tender and suspenseful as Scout begins to grasp love, grief, and resistance.” Definitely Recommended. Book groups, too, would enjoy discussing THE INFINITE SADNESS OF SMALL APPLIANCES.