The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

Labeled “one of the best debuts of the year,” THE DEEP SKY by Yume Kitasei is a work of science fiction deftly wrapped around a mystery and a story of damaged relationships. The adventure begins with Asuka and Kat taking a spacewalk, but an explosion means multiple people are killed and the ship veers off course. Asuka, part Japanese and part American, was a last minute addition to the crew of 80 on the Phoenix which is a desperate international effort to resettle humans on Planet X. It becomes Atsuka’s task to find out what and who caused the explosion while also trying to help the engineers reorient the Phoenix so that the mission can continue. The crew tries many plans including one with “more holes in it than an old T-shirt and certainly not as comfortable.” Kitasei alternates chapters (there are 72) between tension on the spaceship and the conflict in the many years before when Atsuka, Ruth, Gabriela, Miki, Treena, Ying Yue, Hao Yu, Lala, and the others were students competing for a chance to join the final team. That background provides reasons for believing that eco-terrorists could be involved and also offers insights into personal animosities and motivations. Puzzling and entertaining, THE DEEP SKY received a starred review from Kirkus (“a strong, character-driven, and accessible tale”).

Beijing Rules by Bethany Allen

BEIJING RULES by Bethany Allen, an award-winning China reporter at Axios, deals with China’s role as a world power, arguing that China has “weaponized its economy.” Allen begins with the coronavirus pandemic and notes that “China was the only major economy in the world to expand in 2020;” she further says “with the West flailing, he [Xi] saw a window of opportunity to go on the offensive.” Allen outlines a concept she calls “authoritarian economic statecraft” and argues that Beijing uses gatekeeping, legal and economic leverage (e.g., tariffs), and channels of influence to shape behavior beyond its borders. One of Allen’s key points is that Western attitudes towards China will need to change and are changing. The content is fairly academic and generally sophisticated, making for a rather dry read. However, the work is well-documented - at least a third of the book is devoted to Notes and an Index. BEIJING RULES received a starred review from Kirkus (“A disturbing, insightful book about China’s hidden, multitiered war—and how the West can fight back.”).

Mrs. Porter Calling by AJ Pearce

MRS. PORTER CALLING by AJ Pearce is the third in the Emmy Lake Chronicles following Yours Cheerfully and Dear Mrs. Bird. This time, Emmy Lake, a young advice columnist at the magazine named Woman’s Friend, grapples with unwanted changes in the publication due to its recent inheritance by Mrs. Cressida (call me Egg) Porter. Mrs. Porter is totally clueless about the magazine and the value it brings to its readers who are bravely dealing with numerous personal issues while scrimping and saving in wartime. Instead, she wants to add her own poetry, fashion layouts, and society weddings – all of which necessitates cutbacks in the more established sections. Emmy and her colleagues (editor Guy Collins, Mrs. Mahoney, young Hester and more) form a solid, caring team who strive to remember the readers in all they do. So much focus on publishing had me thinking about The Lady and its niche market in the UK. The first part of MRS. PORTER CALLING, chronicling many unattractive actions by Mrs. Porter and firmly establishing that unlikeable character, is a bit of a slog. Heartwarming shenanigans by three children from a family who moves in with Emmy and her friend Bunty (who experiences a new romance) add humor. The second half turns inspirational after a personal tragedy galvanizes everyone and that is more of the caliber of Pearce’s earlier titles. MRS. PORTER CALLING and this entire series is suggested for readers who enjoyed Jennifer Ryan’s The Kitchen Front, another book about friendship and pulling together on the Homefront in England during World War II.