Leading book discovery Vol. 118 No.

16
5/1/22

Spotlight on
Mysteries
& Thrillers
Focus on
True
Crime

Cover art by Gregg Kulick,

from The Thousand Crimes
of Ming, by Tom Lin
 Sections
May 1, 2022 4 Adult Nonfiction
Volume 118, Issue 17
17 Adult Fiction
Editor / Publisher In This Issue
George Kendall 35 Youth Nonfiction
37 New Series Nonfiction
Editorial & Production Staff Showcase
Donna Seaman, Editor, Adult Books
Susan Maguire, Senior Editor, Collection Spotlight on 39 Youth Fiction
Management and Library Outreach
Annie Bostrom, Associate Editor, Adult Books Mysteries & Thrillers 59 Audio
Bill Ott, Contributing Editor, Adult Books
Sarah Hunter, Editor, Books for Youth 25 New Mysteries & Thrillers
Maggie Reagan, Senior Editor, Books
for Youth 26 Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers
Julia Smith, Senior Editor, Books for Youth 27 Top 10 Debut Mysteries & Thrillers
Ronny Khuri, Associate Editor, Books for Youth
Carolyn Phelan, Contributing Reviewer, 28 Read-alikes
Books for Youth Women as Spies
Heather Booth, Editor, Audio by Bill Ott
Candy Smith, Contributing Reviewer, Audio
Terry Hong, Contributing Reviewer, 53 New Mysteries & Thrillers for Youth
Adult, Youth, Audio
On the Cover
Ben Segedin, Production Director
54 Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers for Youth From The Thousand Crimes
of Ming Tsu, by Tom Lin,
a Top 10 Debut Mysteries
Carlos Orellana, Production Editor 55 Navigating Newbery & Thrillers title (p.27) and
Michael Ruzicka, Operations Manager Revisiting Holes (We Dig It) winner of the Carnegie Medal
Chris Anderson, Editorial Assistant by Maggie Reagan for Excellence in Fiction.
Illustration and design by
Sales & Marketing Gregg Kulick. Used by
Grace Rosean, Marketing Specialist
56 Trend Alert permission from Little, Brown
Daniel Kaplan, Subscriptions
Investigative Journalism in Mysteries and Company, a division of
Hachette Book Group.
(312-280-5715)
by Sarah Hunter
Linda Cohen, Advertising Sales, New York 60 New Mysteries & Thrillers on Audio
(914-944-0135)
Ryan King, Advertising Sales, Midwest & West 61 Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers on Audio
(773-414-9292)
Cynthia Harden, Ad Traffic
Biz Hyzy, Marketing Specialist
Features
Taylor Crossley, Marketing Coordinator
6 Focus on True Crime
Advisory Board 8 Read-alikes
Montoya Barker Crime and Punishment Close to Home
Crystal Chen by Annie Bostrom
Katie Clausen
Aryssa Damron
39 Crafts and Witchcraft Index to Advertisers
Sarah Hashimoto Melissa Albert’s Our Crooked Hearts Baen Books 23
by Ronny Khuri Bethany House 33
Brian Kenney Crooked Lane 30
Jamie Kurumaji 47 Focus on Pride DC Comics 42, cover 3
Shamika Simpson HarperCollins 29
James Tyner 59 Classics Corner Lerner 43
Macmillan cover 4
Printed in USA 62 True Crime on Audio Orca 49
www.booklistonline.com Penguin cover 2, 1
64 Booklist Backlist Severn House 3
Sourcebooks 9
Music-Loving Sleuths Tor/Forge 31
by Bill Ott

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Adult Nonfiction
Journalism & Publishing
Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris
Saved Me.
By Sutanya Dacres.
June 2022. 320p. Park Row, $27.99 (9780778333036). 070.
In the midst of a midtwenties slump, debut
author Dacres found her life shifting dramati-
cally when she happened to meet a Frenchman
in a Soho bar. The two started a long-distance
romance and, after writing love letters to each
other for months, Dacres went to Paris to be
with her crush in person. Love ignited, Dacres
quickly moved to Paris and the two eventually
married. Three years in, though, the romance
was over, with both Dacres and her husband
unhappy and pretending to want to be in the
life they built together. Their breakup calls into
question everything that Dacres thought she
knew, but it’s during the breakdown of her re-
lationship that she learns to truly love herself.
Dacres, whose Dinner for One podcast is in its
fifth season, writes honestly about identity and
the pressures we put on ourselves. Sharing the
ways she creates a home in Paris that fits who
she truly is, one meal at a time, her work speaks
directly to readers. —BoDean Warnock
Rough Draft.
By Katy Tur.
June 2022. 272p. Atria/One Signal, $28 (9781982118181);
e-book, $14.99 (9781982118204). 070.
Last time out, (Unbelievable, 2017), MSNBC
anchor Tur wrote about covering the first Trump
campaign. Here she offers a more personal take,
beginning with her unconventional family life.
Her father, Bob, was a macho daredevil who
along with his wife started the first helicopter
news service, covering such high-profile events
as the O. J. Simpson Bronco chase and the L.A.
riots. Tur idolized her father, but she also en-
dured his violent rages. Then, when Tur was in
her twenties, her father told her he was transi-
tioning into a woman. The relationship became
even more problematic, though Tur was sup-
portive of her father’s transition. The family
story is thoroughly involving, but Tur has a lot
more pages to fill, and here she struggles a
bit. There’s her romance and marriage to CBS
Mornings coanchor Tony Dokoupil and plenty
about the c-section birth of their son, Teddy.
Her COVID-19 years are as boring as everyone
else’s COVID-19 years, and she fades to black
with the events of January 6. Still, Tur (and her
husband) are high profile, so this will attract at-
tention. —Ilene Cooper
Philosophy & Psychology
A Life in Light: Meditations on
Impermanence.
By Mary Pipher.
June 2022. 320p. Bloomsbury, $28 (9781635577587). 153.
For psychologist Pipher (Women Rowing
4 Booklist May 1, 2022
North, 2019), the light found in nature, car-
ing relationships, work, and books has always
been the key to happiness. In this beautifully
written memoir, her memories of childhood
in Nebraska are vivid and
poignant. Her mother was
a doctor who had a suc-
cessful practice but not a
lot of time for her children;
her father served in WWII
and came home angry and
haunted. But Pipher was a
resilient child who found
warmth in her encounters with relatives and
neighbors. Her tales of shelling peas with her
grandmother and the kindness of a neigh-
bor who listened patiently to her fears are
heartwarming. As she entered high school,
Pipher realized that she loved working and
observing others. The 1960s find her leaving
college for life in San Francisco, where she
celebrated the counterculture. But memories
of home and her sometimes dysfunctional
family pull her back. Her own marriage and
children bring more light. Life is a series of
changes, and Pipher eventually comes to
terms with children growing older, mov-
ing out on their own, and having their own
families. The pandemic adds other lessons
on impermanence. This lovely book teaches
gentle lessons on gratitude and celebrating
life. —Candace Smith
Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for
the Woman Who’s Trying to Live and
Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to
Take a Nap).
By Kirsten Watson and Ami McConnell.
May 2022. 240p. Tyndale/Momentum, $24.99
(9781496456809). 158.1.
Author Watson declares that her debut is
not a how-to book, it is an act of sisterhood.
She shares her Christian faith, life experience,
and sage thoughts, speaking with a confi-
dent, encouraging, authentic voice to women
navigating marriage with children. Marry-
ing 16-year NFL veteran Benjamin Watson
meant leaving the corporate ladder to move
around the country. Early on, Watson and her
husband committed to always being on the
same team, building a marriage that would
survive their childrearing years. Watson shares
the memorable and mundane experiences of
motherhood, the joys and messy work of hav-
ing seven children. She gives sisterly advice
for readers to say yes wholeheartedly, while
she also supports saying no when called for.
And she tells hard truths—about experienc-
ing miscarriages, having “the talk” with her
kids, and helping kids understand and op-
pose racism. Each chapter ends with distilled
wisdom and practice in “Your Turn to Take a
Breath.” In Watson’s sisterhood, readers will
find valuable help for living out faith and tak-
ing in healing breaths. —Kelly Fojtik
Religion
Evangelical Anxiety.
By Charles Marsh.
June 2022. 256p. HarperOne, $27.99 (9780062862730). 243.
Marsh grew up a preacher’s kid with an
evangelical upbringing in the Jim Crow South,
where he suffered from an anxiety disorder.
“Of course, I needed Jesus,” he says in retro-
spect. “I also needed professional help. But we
[his family] did not do therapy.” All of that
should have changed when, during his first
semester at Harvard Divinity School, Marsh
suffered a doozy of a nervous breakdown. “Ev-
ery defense failed . . . I had lost the capacity
for happiness.” He soldiered on until he had
a second breakdown and finally gave himself
over to analysis. Much of the second half of
this arresting memoir is devoted to a careful
parsing of that experience. Stylishly written,
the book demonstrates the author’s fondness
for offbeat words (jarbled, propaedeutic) and
sometimes-obscure literary allusions (Camus).
Happily, substance matches style, as Marsh
dives into the life of his mind. If it is true that,
as he writes, “our lives are a marvelous mys-
tery,” readers will be fascinated watching him
solve his. —Michael Cart
Journeys toward Gender Equality in Islam.
By Ziba Mir-Hosseini.
May 2022. 272p. Oneworld, paper, $30 (9780861543274). 297.
Muslim legal tradition draws from prece-
dence and scripture to formulate legislation,
and is seen by some as divine (and hence
immutable). Some Muslim clerics view mod-
ern notions of gender equality and personal
freedoms as constructs of Western civiliza-
tion, outside Muslim tradition. Across eight
chapters, this book explores avenues of reinter-
preting the process of formulating legislation
such that it is compatible with notions of hu-
man rights, equality, and freedoms. The first
chapter explores the gap between religious
ideals and practice primarily in the area of
family law. The next six chapters are dialogues
with six progressive Muslim scholars aiming to
carve a pathway to reform Sharia from within
the Muslim tradition so that modern notions
are not seen as foreign constructs. The last
chapter explores a trajectory for reform as well
as some of the major barriers to that reform.
Blending conversational narrative with schol-
arly discussion, Mir-Hosseini renders complex
topics presentable to general readers without
diluting salient nuances. Recommended for
readers with a cursory background in contem-
porary Sharia law and an interest in Muslim
legal tradition. —Muhammed Hassanali
YA Recommendations
Adult titles recommended for teens are
marked with the following symbols: YA,
for books of general YA interest; YA/C, for
books with particular curricular value; and
YA/S, for books that will appeal most to
teens with a special interest in a specific
subject.
www.booklistonline.com
 Truth’s Table: Black Women’s
Musings on Life, Love, and
Liberation.
By Ekemini Uwan and others.
May 2022. 320p. Convergent, $26 (9780593239735).
277.30089.
Theologian Ekemini Uwan, pastor Michelle
Higgins, and educator and facilitator Chris-
tina Edmondson, hosts of
the hit podcast Truth’s Table,
deliver a long-overdue col-
lection of essays for and by
Black Christian women.
Black women are arguably
the largest demographic
of professing Christians in
America, yet their point of
view is often sidelined. However, these self-
professed midwives of culture and advocates
for grace and truth have created a table with
many seats, around which Black Christian
women can gather. Focusing on the themes of
life, love, and liberation, the trio writes with
radical honesty and vulnerability as they openly
discuss topics usually whispered about among
congregants and rarely addressed by leadership.
Uwan’s “Decolonized Discipleship” explores
what it really means to decolonize Christianity,
while Edmondson’s “Disciplining the Church”
addresses the tangible impact a just and disci-
plined church could have, and Higgins’ “Love
and Justice in Multiethnic Worship” is a self-
aware exposition on what true diversity across
ethnicities might look like. The authors bare
their souls and create a safe space for readers
to explore these essential topics presented with
powerful injections of love and grace. If the
church is experiencing the birthing pains of re-
newal, then these are the women to have by its
side. —Enobong Tommelleo
Social Sciences
Bad Gays: A Homosexual History.
By Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller.
May 2022. 368p. illus. Verso, $29.95 (9781839763274). 306.
Every community or movement redefines
itself as society and culture change over time.
The LGBTQ community is no exception to
this. It’s helpful during such redefinitions to
be aware of history to provide much-needed
context to aid in clarity. This is Lemmey and
Miller’s premise here. They look at various
gay, historical figures and not only examine
their lives but examine the cultures in which
they lived and functioned. Their subjects are
all problematic from a modern perspective:
tyrants (Hadrian), despots (James VI and I of
England), Nazis (Ernst Rohm), megalomani-
acs (J. Edgar Hoover), or just plain evil creeps
(Roy Cohn). The purpose is not to excuse
them but to understand them and their cul-
tures, out of which the present day evolved.
We see how same-sex relationships started as
acceptable (within strict social-status rules), to
being a sin, to being a crime, and how that
Continued on p.8
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High-Demand Hot List
Look for reviews of these high-demand titles in forthcoming
issues of Booklist.
S ummer’s end and fall will bring some suspense, a few big memoirs and one huge biog-
raphy, and the return of beloved characters, series, and authors. —Susan Maguire
Daisy Darker. By Alice Feeney. Flatiron, $28.99 (9781250843937). Aug.
A family gathers to celebrate Nana’s 80th birthday, but at the stroke of midnight, she’s
found dead, and then another family member dies, then another in this nod to Agatha
Christie from a rising-star thriller writer.
Daughters of the New Year. By E. M. Tran. Hanover Square, $27.99 (9781335429230).
Oct.
This debut, billed as Homegoing meets The Immortalists, traces the lives of five genera-
tions of Vietnamese women, from present-day New Orleans to twentieth-century Saigon,
revealing long-buried secrets and thwarted expectations.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. By Matthew Perry. Flatiron, $29.99
(9781250866448). Nov.
In his first book, which has a one million print run (you read that right), Perry, who
played Chandler on Friends, takes readers inside both the sitcom and his personal battle
with addiction.
It Starts with Us. By Colleen Hoover. Atria, $17.99 (9781668001226). Oct.
Hoover returns to the world of New York Times best-selling and fan-favorite It Ends
with Us (2016), this time telling the tale from the perspective of Atlas, Lily’s first love.
Less Is Lost. By Andrew Sean Greer. Little, Brown, $29 (9780316498906). Sept.
In a follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize–winning Less (2017), lovable sad sack novelist Arthur
Less is back, this time running away from his problems in a rusty camper van on a criss-
cross tour of the U.S.
Little Eve. By Catriona Ward. Tor Nightfire, $27.99 (9781250812650). Oct.
Eve and Dinah are raised among the Children, a clan ruled by the mysterious Uncle on
an island off the coast of Scotland. As they each recount the events of one fateful night, it
is clear one of them can’t be trusted.
Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. By Kelly Ripa. Dey Street, $28.99
(9780063073302). Sept.
In the first book from the cohost of Live with Kelly and Ryan, Ripa shares the wisdom
and absurdity of her life as a wife, a mother, and a daughter, and proves that, mercifully,
you cannot die of embarrassment.
Other Birds. By Sarah Addison Allen. St. Martin’s, $27.99 (9781250019868). Sept.
Readers haven’t heard from the author of the beloved best-seller Garden Spells (2007)
since First Frost (2015), and her fans will snap up this story of a woman who comes to a
small island off the coast of South Carolina to claim an inheritance.
The Revolutionary Samuel Adams. By Stacy Schiff. Little, Brown, $35 (9780316441117).
Nov.
The author of Cleopatra (2010) and The Witches: Salem, 1692 (2015) turns her biogra-
pher’s eye to the overlooked founding father Sam Adams; with a print run of 750k, expect
a lot of media attention.
Walking in My Joy: In These Streets. By Jenifer Lewis. Amistad, $28.99
(9780063079656). Aug.
The author of The Mother of Black Hollywood (2017) and costar of NBC’s Black-ish is
back with a collection of essays that recount her adventures around the world and reflect
on challenges both personal and universal.
The World We Make. By N. K. Jemisin. Orbit, $30 (9780316509893). Nov.
The six avatars of New York City must work with other Great Cities in the world to take
down the Woman in White, who wants to destroy the universe. Fans have been waiting
for the follow-up to The City We Became (2020).
May 1, 2022 Booklist 5
 Art from Hitmen: The Mafia, Drugs, and the
East Harlem Purple Gang, by Scott M. Deitche.
Focus on True Crime
The Colony: Faith and Blood in a Promised Land.
By Sally Denton.
June 2022. 288p. Norton/Liveright, $27.95 (9781631498077). 364.152.
When investigative journalist and author Denton (The Profiteers,
2016) heard about the horrific massacre of nine Mormon women
and children in Mexico in November 2019, she knew the topic of
her next book; the world was shocked by the brutal murders of in-
nocents. No stranger to uncovering intrigues and distantly related
to the principals in this account, Denton tackles drug cartels, con-
voluted governments, and a dizzying array of family entanglements,
beginning with an unflinching examination of LDS history from its
inception by Joseph Smith through its migration westward to Utah
and the defection of fundamentalist members to Chihuahua, Mexico,
when the official church leadership rejected the practices of polygamy
and blood atonement. In Colonia Le Barón, deadly family rivalries
splintered the groups even further, as the Americans alienated their
Mexican neighbors by growing lucrative crops, encroaching on
community land, and obtaining questionable water rights, while os-
tensibly coexisting among criminals who jockeyed to fill the vacuum
left by El Chapo’s imprisonment. Reminiscent of Krakauer’s Under
the Banner of Heaven, this is exhaustively researched and riveting.
—Karen Clements
Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape
Cod.
By Casey Sherman.
July 2022. 464p. Sourcebooks, $26.99 (9781728245959). 364.
Cape Cod is a place of mutable beauty with a stormy history
anchored to a rough and rowdy settlement known as Helltown, un-
dergirding Provincetown. Journalist and best-selling author Sherman
grew up on Cape Cod, and now exhumes the full, horrifying story
of serial killer Tony Costa’s grotesque 1969 rampage.
A charismatic drug dealer and user, Costa attracted
young disciples and easily reeled in the gentle women
he murdered. Sherman portrays Costa with ferocious
intimacy, tracking his every move and channel-
ing the inner voice that propelled his macabre acts.
Sherman also illuminates the minds and lives of two
Cape Cod writers and fathers—one flamboyantly
pugnacious and famous, the other brooding and still
struggling—who were galvanized by the killings, mixing avidly re-
searched facts with what he calls “elements of fictional storytelling” to
portray Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut to vivid if sometimes du-
bious effect. On firmer ground, Sherman incisively aligns the shocking
Cape Cod killings with the even more diabolical violence of Charles
Manson and his followers, the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, the
Apollo 11 mission, and the tragic scandal of Chappaquiddick. Readers
will not soon forget Sherman’s gripping and elucidating web of true
crime and literary history tracing the personal, communal, political,
and artistic repercussions of gruesome killings during a time of indel-
ible ferment. —Donna Seaman
6 Booklist May 1, 2022
Hitmen: The Mafia, Drugs, and the East Harlem Purple Gang.
By Scott M. Deitche.
May 2022. 198p. illus. Rowman & Littlefield, $36 (9781538153567); e-book, $34
(9781538153574). 364.14.
On November 15, 2013, the body of Michael Meldish was discov-
ered in his car in the Bronx. Suspected in nearly 60 gangland rubouts,
Meldish possessed an extensive criminal record and was a reputed
member of the Purple Gang, a loose confederation of criminals op-
erating out of East Harlem beginning in the 1970s. East Harlem’s
organized crime associations date back to the heyday of the American
Mafia. Members of the Purple Gang were often the sons or other rela-
tives of made men in one of New York’s five crime families (Colombo,
Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese, Bonanno). The Purple Gang differ-
entiated itself from the five families, however, by its lack of top-down
leadership. Substantially involved in the drug trade, particularly of
heroin, the group became known for resorting to violence to ensure
successful operations as scores of bodies (often associates of the gang)
dropped in the ’70s and ’80s. In this latest scorching true-crime thriller
from Deitche (Garden State Gangland, 2019), the author’s writing is
as entertaining as his real-life characters are ruthless. —Philip Zozzaro
Jimmy the King: Murder, Vice, and the Reign of a Dirty Cop.
By Gus Garcia-Roberts.
May 2022. 496p. PublicAffairs, $29 (9781541730397). 364.1.
Garcia-Roberts (coauthor of Blood Sport, 2015) introduces two seem-
ingly unconnected cases separated by decades on Long Island: the
startling murder of 13-year-old John Pius in 1979, and a 2012 break-in
by a pair of drug-addled thieves. The link between the cases is the pres-
ence of James Burke and Thomas Spota. Burke had been a key witness
in the Pius case, which was tried by then Assistant District Attorney
Spota. Burke and Spota’s paths would diverge, but they’d meet again later
when Burke served as a top cop in the Suffolk County Police Depart-
ment and Spota was elected district attorney. Before the Pius case, Burke
had been on a wayward trajectory; afterward, he assumed a charmed
life, ascending rocket-like through the police-department hierarchy de-
spite rumblings of malfeasance. The ramifications of Burke’s criminal
behavior would be felt for years. Reading like a potboiler noir, yet all too
true, Garcia-Roberts’ exposition of the corrupt foundations of a troubled
Long Island justice system leaves no stone unturned. —Philip Zozzaro
Killer amidst Killers: Hunting Serial Killers Operating under
the Cloak of America’s Opioid Epidemic.
By Billy Jensen.
July 2022. 256p. William Morrow, $28.99 (9780063026537); e-book, $14.99
(9780063026568). 364.1.
Journalist and cohost of the Murder Squad podcast Jensen returns
with another exhilarating true-crime book after his bestselling Chase
Darkness with Me (2019). Killers amidst Killers follows Jensen as he
travels to Ohio in search of answers concerning a series of disappear-
ances and murders in 2017. What begins as an inquiry into the tragic
deaths of best friends Danielle and Lindsey becomes a quest to find
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information about countless other victims sharing similar backgrounds
of drug abuse and sex work. The amateur detective connects the dots
and pinpoints potential serial killers while shining a bright spotlight on
the deceased mothers, sisters, and daughters. This isn’t a glorified study
of a murderer’s psyche but an analytical look at the circumstances that
led to these horrific tragedies, including the opioid crisis, police and
media neglect, and society’s disregard towards addiction. The part-
memoir and part-investigative project is a personal, introspective,
heartbreaking, and at times infuriating account of women forced into
hardship, the system that failed them, and a man relentlessly looking
for the truth. —Verónica N. Rodríguez
The Missing Cryptoqueen: The Billion Dollar Cryptocurrency
Con and the Woman Who Got Away with It.
By Jaime Bartlett.
June 2022. 320p. Hachette, $29.99 (9780306829161); e-book (9780306829185). 364.1.
While cryptocurrency was booming in the mid-2010s, regulation
around this new monetary system was lagging, creating prime opportu-
nity for scammers. OneCoin, created by Dr. Ruja Ignatova, combined
cryptocurrency with a multilevel-marketing platform and launched
one of the biggest pyramid schemes in history. Investigative journalist
Bartlett (The Dark Net, 2015) once again dives into the darker parts
of technology and the corrupt wealthy by outlining the rapid rise and
fall of Ignatova and OneCoin. Pulling from sources including court
testimony, internet-sleuth investigations, and interviews from past in-
vestors, The Missing Cryptoqueen is extensively researched. Equally as
impressive given the complicated subject matter, Bartlett unfolds the
increasing drama in an accessible and engaging narrative. As Ignatova’s
story remains open with her missing status, Bartlett carefully weighs
plausible theories around where she may be while responsibly empha-
sizing the research, tips, and logic that led to each theory. While the
brief conclusions about the victims of Ignatova’s scheme are at times
lacking nuance, this remains an insightful, riveting investigation into a
shocking enterprise. —Samantha Randolph
The Science of Murder: The Forensics of Agatha Christie.
By Carla Valentine.
May 2022. 432p. Sourcebooks, paper, $16.99 (9781728251844). 823.
Agatha Christie might not have been a forensics expert by trade, but
she did have a working knowledge of poisons as a nurse and pharmacist,
an incredibly clever mind, and a penchant for crime, which she used
to pen some of the best mysteries ever written. Forensic scientist and
Christie expert Valentine unravels the forensics behind the many mys-
teries solved by the likes of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Blurring
the lines between true crime, science, and mystery novels, Valentine
expertly outlines forensics at large and its evolution through the lens
of the myriad of complex murders in Christie’s novels. Crime-scene
forensics from fingerprints and forgeries to ballistics and autopsies are
clearly outlined. Christie’s fictional murders aren’t the only examples
used within the book, either. The biggest true-crime accounts of Chris-
tie’s day are examined, showing not only the evolution of forensics into
what we have today but also how these crimes shaped Christie’s fiction,
in a book perfect for fans of true crime, Agatha Christie, and science.
—Kathleen Townsend
Unmask Alice: LSD, Satanic Panic, and the Imposter behind
the World’s Most Notorious Diaries.
By Rick Emerson.
June 2022. 384p. BenBella, $26.95 (9781637740422). 813.
In 1971, Go Ask Alice became an instant sensation. The anonymous
diary detailed the life of a teen girl who tries LSD and is seduced into
the fatal world of addiction. Emerson unveils the woman responsible
for the book, Beatrice Sparks. Sparks, a “psychologist,” claimed to have
met Alice at a convention and published the diary as a cautionary tale
at the request of Alice’s parents. This story has never been corroborat-
ed. Go Ask Alice’s success inspired suicide victim Alden Barrett’s mother
to send his journal to Sparks with hopes that she would raise awareness
about mental health. Alden’s story was twisted into 1978’s Jay’s Journal,
a ludicrous tale about a young man driven to madness by devil wor-
www.booklistonline.com
ship. The fictional work, published and marketed as fact, tore apart the
Barrett family and ignited the Satanic panic, ruining countless lives.
An absorbing and unnerving read about how one conniving con art-
ist’s unquenchable thirst for acclaim fooled the publishing world and
fed two cultural panics with lasting fallout, this book demands to be
finished in one sitting. —Michelle Ross
Victor Lustig: The Man Who Conned the World.
By Christopher Sandford.
May 2022. 320p. History, $34.95 (9780750993678). 364.163092.
Victor Lustig was one of the most prolific confidence men of the
early half the twentieth century, a time that was filled with confidence
men. His individual story is not well known to modern audiences,
but Sandford’s biography will especially strike readers unfamiliar with
Lustig. Of his many cons, the most famous was selling the Eiffel Tower
to a scrap-metal dealer, then trying to do it all over again weeks later.
Lustig also peddled his “Rumanian box” many times over, claiming the
device would clone authentic currency after a few hours, providing the
perfect cushion for its inventor to leave town. Sandford’s ambling style
of storytelling offers assiduous documentation of Lustig’s travels and
scams while also finding the absurd humor in his subject’s astonishing
life, including his many close calls with law enforcement and impor-
tant figures of the day. This book would be a unique addition to larger
biography collections, where it will find interest from history enthusi-
asts looking for a new take on an oft written-about era. —Jeff Connelly
When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad
Daybell, and a Story of Murder, Wild Faith, and End
Times.
By Leah Sottile.
June 2022. 320p. Twelve, $30 (9781538721353); e-book, $15.99 (9781538721346). 299.
Lori Vallow was a picture-perfect Mormon mother, raising her teenage
daughter, Tylee, and seven-year-old son, JJ, with her husband, Charles.
However, in 2018, Lori’s faith took a turn. She became obsessed with
the book of Revelation and the second coming of Je-
sus Christ, befriended doomsday preppers, and began
speaking about visions from beyond. After meeting
gravedigger turned doomsday novelist Chad Daybell,
the two began a relationship predicated on Chad’s be-
lief that they had been married for eternity. Chad and
Lori also believed they were chosen to lead the true be-
lievers who would be spared from God’s wrath during
the apocalypse. Chad convinced Lori that dark spirits
had overtaken many of their loved ones, including Lori’s husband and
children. When Tylee and JJ went missing in late 2019, extended family
members quickly alerted authorities of Lori’s newfound religious beliefs.
This book, wide in scope and remarkable for its timeliness, is a riveting
account of the entire case (which is currently awaiting trial), including
an exquisitely researched history of LDS and its fringe offshoots. The
story of Vallow and Daybell is disturbing for both its callous gore and its
reflections of dark corners of American extremism. —Courtney Eathorne
Who Killed Jane Stanford? A Gilded Age Tale of Murder,
Deceit, Spirits, and the Birth of a University.
By Richard White.
May 2022. 384p. Norton, $35 (9781324004332); e-book, $29.73 (9781324004349). 364.152.
Reading like a conversational history lecture in book form, Stan-
ford professor emeritus White’s (California Exposures, 2020) mostly
captivating book chronicles the deception around the death of Jane
Stanford, cofounder of Stanford University. More than 100 years after
Stanford’s death from strychnine poisoning, White seeks to uncover
why the university, citing Stanford’s death as “natural causes,” covered
up the details all those years ago. At the same time, he digs into the
politics of the university’s founding, and it’s here that White at times
gets bogged down in responding to all the questions presented by the
mystery. Outside those chapters, though, this is an eminently clear,
sharp, and readable account, featuring staccato sentences and breezy
chapters. As he interrogates the past, White leaves the reader wonder-
ing if the truth is always in the answers. —Emily DuGranrut
May 1, 2022 Booklist 7
 Continued from p.5
Booklist
shaped the lives and personalities of each
Read-alikes era’s “bad” gays. The historical perspective is
fascinating, and the bits of salty gay humor
sprinkled throughout liven the proceedings
Crime and Punishment Close to Home considerably. —Gary Day
by Annie Bostrom
Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and
Art from I Can Take It from Here, by Lisa Forbes. Science of Bisexuality.
By Julia Shaw.
I n Lisa Forbes’ I Can Take It from Here (review adjacent), the author recounts her har-
rowing experience serving prison time for stabbing the father of her child, who later
died, and her near-impossible climb to re-enter civilian life afterwards. The true-crime
June 2022. 304p. Abrams, $26 (9781419744358). 306.765.
London-based criminal psychologist Shaw
memoirs below are all courageously written by people convicted of crimes or by indi- explores a topic that has personal ramifications
viduals otherwise touched by crime, whether by location, personal connection, or both.
for her—bisexuality. She surveys and analyzes
studies historical and contemporary, looking
Better to Have Gone: Love, Death, and the Quest for Utopia in Auroville. By Akash at how bisexuality’s place outside of the sexual
Kapur. 2021. Scribner, $27 (9781501132513). binary of heterosexual and homosexual has
Kapur (India Becoming, 2012) attempts to unravel the mysteries of the “aspiring utopia” very real individual and cultural repercussions,
in southern India where he and his wife grew up, and of his wife’s parents’
deaths in this moving, complex combination of social and personal history. I Can Take It from Here: A Memoir of Trauma,
Catch the Sparrow: A Search for a Sister and the Truth of Her Murder. Prison, and Self-Empowerment.
By Rachel Rear. 2022. Bloomsbury, $27 (9781635577235). By Lisa Forbes.
Rear methodically unravels the death of her stepsister, Stephanie, in the June 2022. 256p. Truth to Power, paper, $16.95 (9781586423049). 365.
Growing up, Lisa Forbes felt like an outsider in her own
Rochester, New York, area in 1991. Readers will appreciate the detail and
family. Her mother and siblings singled her out for verbal
care Rear takes to reach the culmination of the case, which reads like a
abuse and punishment, her father was an
love letter to Stephanie. alcoholic, and her older brother molested
I Cried to Dream Again: Trafficking, Murder, and Deliverance. By Sara her for years with no repercussions. Raised
Kruzan. 2022. Pantheon, $27 (9780593315880). in the Jehovah’s Witness faith, she was
At age 16, Kruzan shot and killed the man who had assaulted, groomed, continually told that she would not be
and sexually trafficked her since she was a preteen, and was later sen- one of the saved. Her escape was a man
tenced to life without parole. Now Kruzan is an advocate for young people named James. Soon after they had a child
together, he turned out to be as cruel as
who face similar struggles, and her hopeful, loving fighter’s spirit is cap-
her family. When Forbes discovered that
tured on every page of her unforgettable memoir.
James married a woman she thought was his cousin, she
A Knock at Midnight: A Story of Hope, Justice, and Freedom. By stabbed him; he died the next day. After a sham of a trial,
Brittany K. Barnett. 2020. Crown, $28 (9781984825780). Forbes was sentenced to 25 years. She had always excelled
Capturing both the precision of law and the emotion of seeking free- as a student, even skipped two grades—so she read every-
dom, Barnett’s moving story of growing up in East Texas and becoming thing she could and took every class possible. But even as
an advocate for those serving life sentences offers a personal look at the a model prisoner, she found it near impossible to succeed
crisis of permanent incarceration. on the outside. Working piecemeal through her lifetime of
trauma, she dedicated herself to helping fellow “restored
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir. By Natasha Trethewey. 2020. citizens.” Forbes’ clear, honest, and inspiring memoir proves
Ecco, $27.99 (9780062248572). she is a champion for herself and the struggle against mass
In this work of exquisitely distilled anguish and elegiac drama, poet incarceration and recidivism. —Kathy Sexton
Trethewey confronts the horror of her mother’s murder. She writes, “To
survive trauma, one must be able to tell a story about it.” And tell her tragic story she from “bi-erasure” to the rejection of asylum
does in this lyrical, resounding remembrance. seekers. While bisexual people face discrimi-
The Names of All the Flowers. By Melissa Valentine. 2020. Feminist, $17.95 nation from both sides of the binary standard,
(9781936932856). Shaw points to positive findings, such as how
Valentine digs into the trauma and grief that resulted from her brother’s tragic death bisexual people feel more free. Her inquiry
at age 19 from gun violence. This result is a stunning tribute to a life that ended too soon, is expansive, including her original research
into many aspects of bisexuality in culture
and a brave, honest call for justice.
and society. For example, Shaw challenges
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row. By Anthony Ray old ideas about people becoming circumstan-
Hinton and Lara Love Hardin. 2018. St. Martin’s, $26.99 (9781250124715). tially bisexual in settings such as boarding
Hinton served nearly 30 years on Alabama’s death row for crimes he didn’t commit. schools or prison. Even as she delves into sci-
His memoir is a troubling, moving, and ultimately exalting journey through the decades ence and statistics, including those revealing
he lived under the threat of death while an unjust system failed him repeatedly. that, though often hidden, bisexuality is more
common than homosexuality, her writing re-
What Happened to Paula: On the Death of an American Girl. By Katherine Dykstra. mains colloquial and engaging. The book ends
2021. Norton, $26.95 (9780393651980). with her identifying six stages of “bidentity”
Dykstra took over the project of writing about the 1970 death of 19-year-old Paula development as she acknowledges fear, joy, dis-
Oberbroeckling from her mother-in-law, Paula’s contemporary, who had long been illusionment, and, ultimately, acceptance and
gripped by the case. The author follows many leads, but ultimately examines “the bigger hope. Forthright and empowering, this is a call
mystery of how society could have allowed her to die.” for understanding and supporting bisexuality.
—Cynthia Dieden

8 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com

Fire Island: A Century in the Life of an
American Paradise.
By Jack Parlett.
June 2022. 306p. Hanover Square, $28.99 (9781335475183);
e-book, $14.99 (9780369720474). 306.76.
Fire Island is about 60 miles from Manhat-
tan, a long and thin strip of land populated
by various vacation communities, including
to take on male guises, masculine names, or
let others assume they were men in order to
pursue their dreams. Writer and actress Daw-
son outlines the lives of over twenty women
who broke every rule to accomplish things
men deemed weren’t allowed. From Maria
 
Toorpakai defying the Taliban to compete
in squash to the ancient Egyptian queen
 

Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, which,
Parlett writes, have a “rich queer history.” An
Englishman who moved to New York to do
research for his PhD thesis on cruising, Par-
lett initially went to Fire Island to “commune
with its ghosts,” specifically that of poet Frank
O’Hara, who tragically died there in a dune
buggy accident in July 1966. Here Parlett ex-
amines the history of the island and how it
came to be a gay haven. He notes that unmar-
ried male and female New Yorkers have been
going to Fire Island since at least the 1930s,
along with bohemians and Broadway stars,
but his focus is on the artists, writers, and ac-
tivists who owned cottages, spent weekends,
or merely passed through, including W. H.
Auden, Carson McCullers, Patricia High-
smith, Edmund White, Larry Kramer, James
Baldwin, and Maurice Sendak, who began
writing Where the Wild Things Are on the is-
land. A fine account of an important place in
gay cultural history. —June Sawyers
Hollywood in China: Behind the Scenes
of the World’s Largest Movie Market.
By Ying Zhu.
June 2022. 384p. New Press, $28.99 (9781620972182);
e-book, $28.99 (9781620972199). 330.973.
Zhu (Two Billion Eyes: The Story of China
Central Television, 2012), professor emeritus
at the City University of New York and direc-
tor of the Centre for Film and Moving Image
Research at Hong Kong Baptist University,
explores the Sino-Hollywood relationship
from the turn of the twentieth century to now.
From film censorship to business partner-
ship, this evolving relationship has often been
fraught and complex owing to economic and
ideological tensions between the two coun-
tries. Zhu—drawing on extensive research
using numerous archival sources, interviews,

Hatshepsut, women from every time period
grace these pages. While not all are “good
 
guys,” such as witch-pricker Christian Cad-
dell, each is an undeniable revolutionary. Not
only are women who physically dressed like
  
men included in this anthology, but women
who let others assume they were men as well,
either by using initials or with their anonym-
ity. Whether describing how women escaped
enslavement, defined literary movements,
ensured women can compete in judo on an
Olympic level, or take to the high seas as pi-
rates, Dawson’s biographies are as informative
as they are entertaining. Full-color illustra-
tions by artist Tina Berning beautifully round
out the collection. —Kathleen Townsend
YA: Dawson’s humorous tone, colloquial
language, the host of badass women, and
wonderful images make this a book perfect
for teens. KT.
Meet Me by the Fountain: An Inside
History of the Mall.
By Alexandra Lange.
June 2022. 320p. Bloomsbury, $28 (9781635576023). 381.
In this spry architectural history, Lange (The
Design of Childhood, 2018) tracks the Ameri-
can shopping mall’s postwar origins, evolution
during the second half of the twentieth centu-
ry, and twenty-first-century collapse and future
possibility. Beginning with personal memories
of the North Carolina malls near where she
grew up—the piercings and the Muzak, the
  
angst and the miniskirts—she seems to invite         
readers to map their own mall experiences
onto the chronologically organized accounts
of architects, developers, and specific sites
that follow. To chart overarching trends over
time, each chapter is brought to life by a topic
(like the downtown mall of the 1970s or the
amusement-park mall of the 1980s) and a few
 


statistics, and publications both scholarly and
popular—addresses the implications of Hol-
pioneering protagonists. Throughout, Lange
is attentive to the ways in which twentieth-  

lywood being beholden to China’s interests
and its audience(s) of 1.4 billion as well as the
political, cultural, and global ramifications
of the U.S. film industry. Researchers of film
history, Chinese media and popular-culture
studies, and China–U.S. business relations
will find this densely written book both useful
for consultation and fascinating for its study
of the historical influence of Hollywood on
China and vice versa. —Raymond Pun
Let Me Be Frank: A Book about Women
Who Dressed like Men to Do Shit They
Weren’t Supposed to Do.
By Tracy Dawson.
May 2022. 224p. illus. HarperDesign, $29.99
(9780063061064). 306.77.
Throughout history, women have needed
www.booklistonline.com

century visions of the mall as a kind of town
square were deliberately conceived to keep out
people of color and of lower incomes. This re-
minder of how the smells, sights, sounds, and
spatial layout of the nation’s malls are carefully !"# $%&%'(#)
controlled is an important counterpoint to the
highly individualized experiences that animate !"# $*&+&,#"$('-)
them. —Maggie Taft
Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past
"-."++/'-&0$1 2
and Imperiled Future of the Vote; A
History, a Crisis, a Plan. 
By Eric Holder and Sam Koppelman.
May 2022. 304p. One World, $26 (9780593445747). 320.
Civil rights leader and former U.S. attorney
general Holder, with coauthor Koppelman
(coauthor of Impeach: The Case against Don-
ald Trump, 2019), examines historic and
May 1, 2022 Booklist 9
current challenges to voting rights in the U.S.
Drawing on this country’s history of disen-
franchisement, Holder details how voting
rights began with white, landowning men and
were expanded to women and Black Ameri-
cans through struggle, perseverance, and
violence. Based on his direct experiences as
the first Black U.S. attorney general, working
under the first Black U.S. president, Holder
describes the ongoing threats against U.S. de-
mocracy and, responding to policy changes
leading to voter suppression, argues for new
protective measures and processes to safe-
guard and expand voting rights for millions of
Americans. Readers will find important, com-
pelling episodes in U.S. history and politics,
along with hope for the future in the form of
the opportunities Holder outlines for chal-
lenging voter suppression and other threats to
our democracy. —Raymond Pun
Raising Raffi: The First Five Years.
By Keith Gessen.
June 2022. 224p. Viking, $27 (9780593300442). 306.874.
In his author’s note for this advice-free col-
lection of essays about parenting, Gessen (A
Terrible Country, 2018) says that he “wrote
this book out of desperation,” when he “was
supposed to be doing other things.” Driven by
a desire to understand fatherhood, parenting
styles, and his own relationship to his son (he
would have a second before this book’s publi-
cation), Gessen felt a lack in the available “dad
literature,” so he wrote his own. Undertaking
his project with curiosity and humor (“To
write about parenting when you are a father
is like writing about literature when you can
hardly read.”), Gessen writes about choosing
a school amidst rampant gentrification in his
Brooklyn neighborhood, attempting to raise
toddler Raffi to be bilingual in English and
Russian (Gessen’s native language), and dis-
covering the lives of the writers behind his
favorite children’s books. Then the pandem-
ic arrives and makes parenting new all over
again. Gessen dissects these subjects and more
without moralizing. Fellow parents will find
his bracing look at modern fatherhood a sight
for sore, sleep-deprived eyes. —Annie Bostrom
Somewhere We Are Human: Authentic
Voices on Migration, Survival, and New
Beginnings.
By Reyna Grande and Sonia Guiñansaca.
June 2022. 336p. illus. HarperVia, $27.99
(9780063095779). 304.8.
Writers Grande and Guiñansaca have cre-
ated an anthology of poems and short essays
by a diverse group of contributors telling sto-
ries of immigration to the U.S. Introduced
by Viet Thanh Nguyen, it covers a wide geo-
graphical range as the authors recount their
physical and emotional journeys predicated
by the heart-rendering circumstances that led
to their families leaving home. The emphasis
is on the struggle to belong and what exactly
that means at a time when immigration is not
only highly politicized but also presented as
yet another line of demarcation in America’s
10 Booklist May 1, 2022
fracturing national identity. The immense va-
riety in the contributors’ personal experiences
is impressive, ranging from those who have
obtained citizenship and green cards to those
under the DACA program or seeking asylum
or having been deported or exiled. They touch
on so many different facets of the immigrant
experience that readers will find much to pon-
der, while the varying styles and approaches
provide opportunities to learn from the lives
of others and also to experience how creative
writing enriches our understanding of each
other and our lives. —Colleen Mondor
YA: Many contributors recount stories
from their youth, making this an accessible
approach for teens to an important
subject. CM.
Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in
North America’s Woods.
By Lyndsie Bourgon.
June 2022. 288p. Little, Brown/Spark, $28
(9780316497442); e-book, $14.99 (9780316497428). 333.75.
With illegal tree harvesting, or poaching,
accounting for as much as 30 percent of the
global timber trade and as much as $100 billion
annually, according to Interpol and the UN,
Bourgon zeroes in on the Pacific Northwest,
where the poaching of redwoods, Douglas firs,
maples, cedars, and other trees is having a ruin-
ous impact on forest habitats. Bourgon is not
unsympathetic to the perpetrators, who are
often members of those generational logging
communities most adversely impacted by for-
est-conservation laws, but she also shares the
frustrations of law enforcement in their efforts
to catch and prosecute them: “They don’t leave
fingerprints on these tree stumps,” as someone
pointed out. Bourgon also reports on hopeful
advances in DNA research to tie specific tree
specimens to suspected illegal wood products.
Bourgon, who’s written on the topic for Na-
tional Geographic and Smithsonian, brings a
nuanced understanding to an important, over-
looked environmental issue. —Alan Moores
Business
Break the Internet: The Truth about
Influencers.
By Olivia Yallop.
May 2022. 288p. Scribe, paper, $20 (9781950354870). 658.
Harkening back to an all too apt medieval
influencer definition, “the radiation of an oc-
cult power from the cosmos that had the power
to alter human decisions and impact destiny
down on Earth,” author Yallop connects read-
ers to the rapidly evolving, volatile world of
digital influencers. With a tell-all vibe, she
moves through the debris of marketing entities
that stagnated and focuses on start-up agencies
and individuals that capitalized on constantly
shifting platforms. Yallop leads readers through
an exploration of influencers, going so far as
to move through the process of becoming one
via a YouTube camp where the ultimate goal
is to encourage users not only to consume but
to harness the technologies with which they
engage. The featured, real-life experiences
of being an influencer run from angsty teen
creators to manipulative political operatives
navigating dangerous waters. Topics run the
gamut from hype houses, Influencer Awards,
and influencer coverage of the January 6 riot.
Break the Internet will find a broad audience
from social media marketers and strategists to
teens and young adults. —Val Edwards
YA: A good choice for teens curious about
the business side of influencers. VE.
Climatenomics: Washington, Wall
Street, and the Economic Battle to Save
Our Planet.
By Bob Keefe.
May 2022. 240p. illus. Rowman & Littlefield, paper, $19.95
(9781538168882); e-book, $19 (9781538168899). 333.7.
Climate change is a hot topic, and one that
can no longer be ignored. Keefe, executive
director of E2, a nonpartisan environmen-
tal organization, presents Climatenomics to
demonstrate the economic impacts of environ-
mental change. For many years, the thought
was that job creation and climate improve-
ment could not happen simultaneously, but
that thinking has changed. He shows how cli-
mate change is an industry disrupter, affecting
everything from cars and oil to utilities and fi-
nance. Entrepreneurs have new opportunities
to improve the future of the planet using tac-
tics such as low-carbon economy, clean energy,
and a focus on greenhouse-gas emissions. En-
deavors like these have created a $26 trillion
global economic benefit. Keefe covers a range
of topics including how people and economies
are responding to climate change, financial im-
pacts, and the politics of saving the planet. He
explains how catastrophes like Hurricane Ida
and raging wildfires leads to monetary effects
like lost productivity from loss of power and
the cost of rebuilding. Readers will be engaged
by the interspersed examples, interviews, and
studies. The book will appeal to environmen-
tal activists and those studying climate change,
economics, and politics. —Jennifer Adams
Science
Endless Forms: The Secret World of
Wasps.
By Seirian Sumner.
July 2022. 304p. Harper, $28.99 (9780063029927). 595.79.
Sumner, a professor of behavioral ecology,
provides a fascinating introduction to the
much-maligned wasp. She laments the focus
and emphasis placed on bees, which she de-
scribes as “wasps that have forgotten how to
hunt.” Sumner’s research has taken her around
the world and introduced her to many other
“wasp whisperers.” Her passion for wasps and
their global importance as both predators and
pollinators is compelling. In one instance, she
frames using wasps as a biocontrol agent in
place of pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa as a
humanitarian issue. The text is full of intrigu-
ing facts about wasps, ranging from cultural
references to their complex social lives. The
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writing is engaging and humorous; Sumner
describes a certain species of wasp as feasting
“like a hungry teenager at a sushi bar.” While
entertaining, sections describing imagined
conversations with wasp whisperers of the
past and a dinner party with Aristotle seem
slightly out of place. The book concludes
with a detailed notes section. This interesting
and entertaining work is sure to leave readers
buzzing. —Maren Ostergard
How the World Really Works: The
Science behind How We Got Here and
Where We’re Going.
By Vaclav Smil.
May 2022. 384p. Viking, $28 (9780593297063). 500.
The author of may works concerning en-
ergy and the biosphere, Smil seeks to dispel
misunderstanding of how our lives are sus-
tained, physically, in light of the call for a
carbon-zero, fossil fuel–free economy by 2050.
While acknowledging steps that can promote
zero-carbon emissions, Smil argues that it is
unrealizable. To make his case, he analyzes
energy-consuming arenas of modern econo-
mies, beginning with energy production itself.
Even under national policies to substitute re-
newable sources for fossil fuel, the latter will
still dominate at 70 percent of total energy pro-
duction in 2050. To explain why, Smil delves
into the energy requirements of food produc-
tion, materials production (steel, ammonia,
cement, plastics), and global transportation,
all of which have increased markedly. With
an eye to the accompanying increase of green-
house gases, Smil offers assessments of risk
incurred by individuals and in terms of the
global environment’s ability to support life’s ex-
istential requirements of water and air. While
not sanguine about climate warming, Smil
equally dismisses predictions of catastrophe
and technology-driven salvation, providing an
information-dense presentation that will ben-
efit open-minded readers engaged with climate
and energy issues. —Gilbert Taylor
Lakes: Their Birth, Life, and Death.
By John Richard Saylor.
May 2022. 240p. illus. Timber, $27.95 (9781643260488);
e-book (9781643261676). 551.48.
Depending on how they’re measured, there
are as many as 117 million lakes in the world,
according to Smithsonian magazine. Saylor,
professor of mechanical engineering at Clem-
son University, delivers
science in a layperson’s lan-
guage to detail their forms,
how they’re created, how
they’re miraculously sus-
tained, and, yes, how they
die. Revelations abound: 45
percent of the Earth’s lake
water is found in salt lakes;
Lake Vostok, a subterranean body of water
beneath Antarctica that’s roughly the size of
Lake Ontario, hasn’t been exposed to the at-
mosphere in as many as 10 million years; a
lake “overturns” once, maybe twice, a year,
enough to supply a year’s worth of oxygen to
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its plant and animal life “in one great gulp”;
and the surface tension created by the de-
sire of water molecules to stay close together
allows some 1,200 different creatures to
literally walk on water. Millions of lakes not-
withstanding, Saylor warns of the dangers to
the world’s freshwater supply by human activ-
ity, citing, as just one example, the fated Aral
Sea. An excellent primer for libraries of any
size. —Alan Moores
Te c h n o l o g y
Escaping Gravity: My Quest to
Transform NASA and Launch a New
Space Age.
By Lori Garver.
June 2022. 304p. Diversion, $28.99 (9781635767704).
629.40973.
America’s space program has undergone a
seismic shift in recent years, from a partnership
between the government and the aerospace in-
dustry to an open, competitive field for private
start-ups like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Garver,
a self-proclaimed “space pirate,” was a primary
architect of this change, in a career spanning
her time with the nonprofit National Space So-
ciety through two stints at NASA from 1996
to 2013, culminating in her confirmation as
deputy administrator of the agency in 2009.
Frustrated by NASA’s lack of vision and prog-
ress in the decades after the Apollo program,
Garver believes that expanding our space pres-
ence is essential to proper stewardship of the
earth and a healthier future for humankind.
She championed a more innovative and vi-
sionary direction, fueled by the conviction
that private industry is better suited to devel-
oping cost-effective launch technology, which
can free the government to pursue large-scale
science and exploration. Her changes at NASA
haven’t been without controversy and criti-
cism. She makes a compelling case and offers a
hopeful vision for the future of America’s space
program. —John Keogh
How to Fix Stuff: Practical Hacks for
Your Home and Garden.
By Tom Scalisi and others.
May 2022. 192p. illus. Thunder Bay, $19.99
(9781645179467). 640.
This handy fix-it manual from a trio of
authors (repair and construction specialist
Scalisi, DIY blogger Watson, and former This
Old House editor Martin) offers step-by-step
directions for more than 50 common house-
hold tasks. The overall tone is helpful and
encouraging, and general cautionary warnings
and safety reminders are followed by five the-
matic sections: “Home Repairs” (burst pipes,
replacing windows and screens), “Decorating
& Upcycling” (painting, building shelves),
“Domestic Hacks” (removing stains, sewing
buttons), “Backyard and Shed Hacks” (build-
ing a barbecue pit, fixing a bicycle tire), and
“Exterior Fixes” (installing a deadbolt, fixing
a sagging fence). Directions identify needed
materials, offer clear and detailed instruc-
tions supported by line drawings, provide tips
on completing jobs successfully, and suggest
ways to avoid future problems. The authors
end with advice on buying tools, followed
by a glossary and an index. Despite the bar-
rage of home-improvement advice and videos
readily available through social media, there
will always be demand for print versions of
instructions, directions, and general support;
this accessible guide meets that need hand-
somely. —Kathleen McBroom
Child Care
How to Raise an Antiracist.
By Ibram X. Kendi.
June 2022. 288p. One World, $24.99 (9780593242537).
649.
No child is born racist, but in the U.S.,
racism is ingrained into multitudinous ele-
ments of childhood, from growth charts and
maternal care to doll preference and academic
expectations. Kendi—professor, MacArthur
fellow, and National Book Award–winning
author of Stamped from The Beginning (2016)
and coeditor of Four Hundred Souls
(2020)—continues to offer
antiracism education here
by addressing parents, teach-
ers, family members, and
mentors, anyone involved
in raising children. By turns
conversational and scholarly,
relating personal anecdotes
that range from heart-
warming to anger-inducing, shifting tone
between self-deprecating and impassioned,
and covering a child’s life from pregnancy
to adolescence, Kendi’s work spans quite a
range. Throughout, he is primarily focused on
naming the problem of racism as it relates to
children and child-rearing, then on encourag-
ing personal reflection and offering avenues
for self-improvement. There is no one answer
and no magic wand, just continual awareness
and hard work. Kendi talks at length about his
own parenting journey, noting his own errors,
false assumptions, lessons learned, and inten-
tions for the future. His humility in modeling
continual self-improvement helps make this
a readable and approachable guide. Because
of its scope, nearly all readers will come away
from Kendi’s message more aware and having
found a point of resonance in their own lives.
—Heather Booth
HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-
selling Kendi is an antiracism trailblazer and
parents, educators, and everyone else who
cares for children will seek his guidance.
Wanting What’s Best: Parenting,
Privilege, and Building a Just
World.
By Sarah W. Jaffe.
May 2022. 256p. Parenting Press, paper, $18.99
(9781641607674). 649.
Once she had a child, Jaffe quickly devel-
oped a sense of whiplash between her work
May 1, 2022 Booklist 11
as an attorney and her homelife. Represent-
ing children in the foster-care system, she
bore witness to children in
truly tragic circumstances,
but was raising her own
daughter in a very privi-
leged world, surrounded
by parents worrying about
iron-fortified cereal and
preschool waiting lists. Jaffe
observed, “The rules of be-
ing a parent in this country are simple: You
owe your own children everything. You owe
other children nothing.” While acknowledg-
ing the challenges and fears of being a parent
today, Jafffe talks with fellow parents who
believe there doesn’t have to be a choice be-
tween being a good parent and being a good
citizen. Concerning childcare, schools, college
applications, activism, and charitable giving,
Jaffe challenges parents of privilege to exam-
ine the choices they make on their children’s
behalf and learn how they can make decisions
“guided by their deepest values rather than
fear”—decisions that could lead to systems
working better for all children. As Jaffe writes,
“No one individual, or one family, can solve a
systematic problem. But collective action, par-
ticularly when it’s undertaken by people with
privilege, creates change.” —Melissa Norstedt
Health & Medicine
Blood Orange Night: My Journey to the
Edge of Madness.
By Melissa Bond.
June 2022. 288p. Gallery, $27.99 (9781982188276). 610.
Because benzodiazepines like Ativan and
Valium are addictive, it’s a bad idea to take
them for long periods of time. In 2010,
Bond, a journalist and mom with two very
young kids, including one with Down syn-
drome, starts taking Ativan for insomnia.
She gets hooked. She blogs about it and gets
interviewed by ABC World News Tonight for
a piece that never airs. Over time, she grows
skinnier and weaker, and she and her husband
drift apart. She switches doctors and takes Va-
lium because it stays in the body longer and
causes a less severe “freak-out” when she tries
to withdraw. At the close of her memoir, with
her kids ages 11 and 12, Bond admits that
she still takes 5 milligrams of Valium nightly.
At least she’s alive, unlike Soundgarden lead
singer Chris Cornell, whose death was ruled
a suicide but whose wife sued the doctor
who gave him so very many Ativan prescrip-
tions. Bond’s story, with lines like “the blood
orange night turns red and screams through
my eyes,” is an eloquent cautionary tale.
—Karen Springen
Future Tense: Why Anxiety Is Good for
You (Even Though It Feels Bad).
By Tracy Dennis-Tiwary.
May 2022. 256p. HarperWave, $26.99 (9780063062108).
616.85.
Anxiety enabled cavemen to escape preda-
12 Booklist May 1, 2022
tors by sharpening their focus, speeding up
their hearts, and heightening their senses.
Now anxiety is considered a disease. But can it
still be a good thing? The future tense, accord-
ing to psychologist Dennis-Tiwary, is made
up of uncertainty, anxiety, and hope. Anxiety’s
role is to provide information about a situa-
tion and spur action. Unlike worry, which is
the other side of the coin, anxiety is the body’s
reactions to uncertainty. The difficulty comes
with our attempts to destroy this alarm system
instead of paying attention to its warnings.
Often this leads to addiction, panic, isolation,
and depression. Parents, so eager to remove
all anxiety from their children’s lives, often
don’t allow their kids to learn how to har-
ness the body’s energy. Dennis-Tiwary uses
examples from her life and practice as well as
scientific studies to support her theory that
anxiety is a positive and necessary force. The
result is a fresh, hopeful approach to anxiety
that will soothe readers facing a world filled
with pandemics, war, and political turmoil.
—Candace Smith
Ill Feelings.
By Alice Hattrick.
May 2022. 352p. Feminist, paper, $17.95 (9781558612303).
616.
Hattrick’s mother suffered from chronic
fatigue syndrome, then Hattrick received the
same diagnosis. Their pain and struggles were
so similar and intertwined to such an extent
that doctors insisted, Hattrick writes, that “we
had a shared hysterical language,” prompting
them to contemplate the sexist connotations
of “hysterical.” Phrases such as and then I got
ill and the word relapse are ongoing cries from
the heart. Hattrick also evokes the words and
stories of other writers and artists who wrote
about their confounding health issues, includ-
ing Alice James, Elizabeth Barrett Browning,
Emily Dickinson, Louise Bourgeois, Susan
Sontag, Florence Nightingale (who was both
a nurse and a victim of a painful disease),
and especially Virginia Woolf. Woolf ’s diary
notes, letters, and On Being Ill are discussed
and referenced throughout this chronicle.
Hattrick’s descriptions of their and their
mother’s symptoms are visceral, even pain-
ful to read. Sickness, they note, changes the
patient’s notion of time. Part memoir, part
medical history, part diary, Ill Feelings is an
unsentimental, angry, and ultimately brave
account of living with relentless suffering.
—June Sawyers
The Wine-Dark Sea Within: A Turbulent
History of Blood.
By Dhun Sethna.
June 2022. 384p. Basic, $32 (9781541600669). 611.
Knowledge of the heart’s function is now
so basic that even elementary school children
grasp it. But the road to understanding the
workings of the heart, blood vessels, and cir-
culation was difficult, long, and sometimes
dangerous for investigators. Knitting together
history, biography, and physiology, cardiolo-
gist Sethna reviews how scientific and medical
advances were pitted against the oppressive
forces of tradition and theology (particularly
Catholicism). All kinds of roles were once
ascribed to the heart. Some likened it to a fur-
nace that generated heat for the body. Both
Aristotle and Plato thought the heart housed
the soul. The surgeon Galen had great influ-
ence on Western medicine for more than a
millennium. But much of his dogma was
erroneous. Leonardo da Vinci, anatomist An-
dreas Vesalius, and others set the stage for the
paradigm-shifting work of William Harvey,
who proved “the heart moved like a muscle
and its essential function was to propel blood”
in “a unidirectional circulation.” There are
some sluggish passages, but Sethna presents
a useful and intriguing work of scientific his-
tory and appreciation of the arduous path to
cardiac discovery. —Tony Miksanek
Cooker y
Plant-Based India: Nourishing Recipes
Rooted in Tradition.
By Sheil Shukla.
June 2022. 256p. illus. Experiment, $30 (9781615198535);
e-book, $22.95 (9781615198542). 641.5.
Physician and food blogger Shukla skill-
fully upends traditionally dairy-rich Northern
Indian cooking with this collection of plant-
based dishes. Blending the cooking rituals
of his family’s native Gujarāt province with
American tastes, he showcases everything
from gravies (curries) and dals to roti (flat-
breads) and mithāi (desserts), emphasizing
good nutrition and satisfaction with each bite.
Dābeli crostini and green-pea kachori toasts
exemplify fusion cuisine, while more widely
recognizable dishes like tikka and mattar fea-
ture tofu and nondairy yogurts or cashews in
lieu of dairy. Bright, neatly styled photographs
make dishes pop, providing a strong visual
reference for nearly every plate. Aimed at the
busy home cook, some recipes offer prep-time
estimates that seem overly optimistic, given
the inclusion of homemade chutneys or spice
blends requiring advance preparation. None-
theless, this book’s vibrant photography and
regional focus make this a standout, inviting
cooks to covet strictly plant-centered Indian
cuisine, refresh their spice cabinets, and fire
up their stoves. —Jessica Levy
Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World:
A History.
By William Alexander.
June 2022. 320p. illus. Grand Central, $27 (9781538753323);
e-book, $13.99 (9781538753316). 635.
Alexander chronicled his own frustrating
and hilarious experiences growing tomatoes
in The $64 Tomato; here he plunges into the
history of this amazing fruit. Given the to-
mato’s ubiquity in global cuisines, one might
assume it’s been a part of daily diets the world
over since the dawn of history. But like corn,
potatoes, and chocolate, tomatoes originated
in the New World. The Spanish brought
tomatoes to Europe in the early sixteenth
www.booklistonline.com
century, and tomatoes appeared in Florence
in 1548. In the former British colonies, they
were considered practically poisonous until
New Jersey farmer Robert Gibbon Johnson
ate one publicly in 1820 in what later became
a highly mythologized account. The rise of the
canning industry in the nineteenth century
preserved tomatoes on their own, in soup,
or in ketchup, an American staple. Italians
cultivated tomatoes in the particularly rich
volcanic soils near Naples. From there, toma-
toes transformed Italian (and world) cuisine
with their marriage to both bread (pizza) and
pasta. Culinary history buffs will revel in the
myriad anecdotes Alexander unearths here.
—Mark Knoblauch
The Arts
Cosplay: A History.
By Andrew Liptak.
June 2022. 352p. Saga, paper, $24.99 (9781534455825).
746.9.
Once limited to specific events meant to
share participants’ love of costume, cosplay
is now embraced as a mainstream passion for
many. With the increased popularity of sf/
fantasy television, movies, and other media,
cosplay is now more popular than it has ever
been. Seasoned writer, journalist, and histo-
rian Liptak dives deep into the research and
history surrounding cosplay with this debut
book. Delving into cosplay’s past and present,
he also writes in detail about how this genre-
bending art form will continue manifesting
itself into the future. Cosplay’s complex his-
tory spans from the beginning of sf as a genre,
and Liptak connects these beginnings to to-
day’s conventions, which bring in thousands
of cosplayers to show off the pieces they have
created. Adding to his book’s interest and
potential use, Liptak even includes chapters
detailing how to create your own costume.
Above all else, Liptak proves that cosplay is
(and long has been) more than a hobby; it is
a way to share stories and create community,
one piece of art at a time. —BoDean Warnock
Fame-Ish: My Life at the Edge of
Stardom.
By Mary Lynn Rajskub.
May 2022. 224p. Abrams, $26 (9781419754791). 791.43.
Rajskub may not be a household name,
but you have probably seen her in one of her
many film and television roles, most notably
as Chloe O’Brian, the loyal, techy colleague
to Jack Bauer in 24. In this memoir, Rajskub
relates her strange and wandering path to be-
ing “fame-ish,” from her young adulthood
and art-school days to her time as a perfor-
mance artist to finally finding herself in her
career as an actor and comedian. While not
necessarily painting herself as relatable (like
that time she bought a mansion in a failed
attempt to start a women’s commune), Ra-
jskub’s antics make for entertaining reading.
She offers plenty of Hollywood insights—
like the time she was tested opposite Harrison
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Ford in front of casting to see if she would
freak out around him—that will delight fans.
Rajskub may be a comedian, but you can tell
she takes her work seriously, whether that’s
making out with Tom Cruise or writing this
book. A great read for any comedy or TV fan.
—Diana Platt
How You Get Famous: Ten Years of
Drag Madness in Brooklyn.
By Nicole Pasulka.
June 2022. 336p. Simon & Schuster, $27.99
(9781982115791). 791.43.
Like its subjects, this first book by journalist
Pasulka is a national treasure. Authentically,
sensitively, and expansively recording the
personal and sociopolitical
realities of drag in Brook-
lyn from 2011 to 2021, this
compendium preserves the
people, places, and evolv-
ing culture that made drag
famous. Important is the
differentiation between
high-polish, high-femme
drag that “tourists and straights” watch in
Manhattan and the by-queer-for-queer,
genre-and-boundary-defying drag performed
for beloved nonconformists in Brooklyn. Fo-
cusing on the actual human players, Pasulka
generously considers the complex and multi-
layered effects of RuPaul’s Drag Race on the
show’s Brooklynite stars like Thorgy Thor,
Sasha Velour, and Aja. The book opens and
closes with Aja, who grows from a teen in
survival mode in 2011, ascends to RuPaul
heights, and redefines themself continually
over time. Pasulka also charts the contribu-
tions and essential presence of queens not
cast on Drag Race, such as Merrie Cherry
and Krystal Something Something, and in-
clusively details the impacts of drag kings,
cisgender women, nonbinary performers,
and the hosting venues. The book’s impres-
sively broad lens is matched by its zoom-in
on the details of drag. Readers will learn
drag-specific lexicon and cultural compe-
tencies that make this subculture unlike any
other and influential beyond any expecta-
tions. —Emily Dziuban
Isn’t Her Grace Amazing! The Women
Who Changed Gospel Music.
By Cheryl Wills.
May 2022. 240p. illus. Amistad, $40 (9780063050983);
e-book, $19.99 (9780063051003). 782.42.
Emmy-winning journalist and talk show
host Wills pays tribute to 25 trailblazing
and soul-stirring African American women,
past and present, who have made signifi-
cant contributions to gospel music, uplifting
churchgoers and music lovers alike. She pres-
ents vivid profiles based on interviews and
deep research, accompanied by beautiful il-
lustrations, of such gospel treasures as Shirley
Caesar, Willie Mae Ford, Aretha Franklin,
Yolanda Adams, Mahalia Jackson, and the
Drinkard Sisters. Many African American
female gospel artists faced sexism and rac-
ism; they were also underpaid, while their
male counterparts often received the most
accolades and fame. Collectively, the women
Wills showcases created a plethora of the
greatest gospel hits and are winners of mul-
tiple honors, including the Grammy Lifetime
Achievement Award, Kennedy Center Hon-
ors, and induction into the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame. Wills also recounts how some
women of gospel music created the song and
performance blueprints for such legendary
artists as James Brown, Little Richard, Eric
Clapton, and many more. Readers interested
in gospel and its influence on all of American
music will appreciate this informative and en-
joyable history. —Sharon Wyatt
The Stage Actor’s Handbook: Traditions,
Protocols, and Etiquette for the
Working and Aspiring Professional.
By Michael Kostroff and Julie Garnyé.
May 2022. 160p. illus. Rowman & Littlefield, paper, $19.95
(9781538160435); e-book, $19 (9781538160442). 792.0280.
Actors, directors, and writers Kostroff and
Garnýe draw on their own experience as well
as those of 26 contributors, including Jason
Alexander, Raúl Esparza, Harvey Fierstein,
Bebe Neuwirth, Chita Rivera, and Sam Wa-
terston, to present a thorough compilation
that codifies the unwritten rules of the the-
ater as handed down through generations of
players. They break it all down in 11 chapters
packed with insights about a rich variety of
topics, from table reads to technical rehears-
als, cues to curtain calls, and dressing room,
performance, and stage door etiquette.
Kostroff and Garnýe even cover theater
superstitions. Throughout this invaluable
handbook, the words of the contributors are
set off in text boxes like so many pearls of
stage wisdom. All are presented with aplomb
in an approachable and informative style that
serves as what the authors call “written men-
torship.” There is also a glossary of theater
terms and a short list of recommended read-
ing. This compact guide should be required
reading for theater students and profession-
als alike. Theater fans may also enjoy this
glimpse into the workings of the actor’s craft.
—Carolyn Mulac
This Woman’s Work: Essays on Music.
Ed. by Sinéad Gleeson and Kim Gordon.
May 2022. 272p. Hachette, $29 (9780306829000); e-book,
$15.99 (9780306829024). 780.
The 16 writers in this excellent female-fo-
cused essay collection evoke the mystery of
music with indelible precision. Fatima Bhutto
considers how for her Pakistani father, exiled
in Syria, Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock
of the Bay” is about not only a man far from
his home but also a lost homeland. Bhutto
wonders, “What is it about song that threat-
ens dictators so much?” The passage of time
changes the resonance of music. As Leslie
Jamison confesses, listening in her bedroom
to the Indigo Girls’ “Galileo” as a 10-year-old
is quite different from hearing it 30 years later
as a divorced mother. Some of the most mov-
May 1, 2022 Booklist 13
ing pieces are also the most personal, such as
Ottessa Moshfegh’s gentle homage, “Valen-
tina,” to the lifelong impact her piano teacher
had on her. Here, too, are Anne Enright on
Laurie Anderson, Jenn Pelly on Lucinda Wil-
liams, Margo Jefferson on Ella Fitzgerald, Liz
Pelly on Sis Cunningham, Rachel Kushner on
Wanda Jackson, and Simone White on trap
and drill music. A fresh and affecting look at
women and music. —June Sawyers
Crafts & Hobbies
How to Zoom Your Room: Room Rater’s
Ultimate Style Guide.
By Claude Taylor and Jessie Bahrey.
June 2022. 256p. illus. Little, Brown/Voracious, $25
(9780316428125). 747.
Combining Taylor and Bahrey’s offbeat
yet straightforward commentary with fun il-
lustrations by Chris Morris, this is a smart,
savvy, and just plain charming guide to
decorating your Zoom-viewable rooms. The
authors—who got their start on Twitter
shortly after the pandemic began, ranking
the backgrounds of well-known celebrities
and media folks in video interviews—start
by pointing out what’s special about de-
signing spaces for video (other than seeing
through a computer camera’s eye). They
comment on violations (electrical cords
showing, matchy-matchy décor) and top 25
décor items (pineapples—really?), and share
best-of lists, for instance, classic chairs, use
of small spaces, and bookshelf styles. Read-
ers can expect on-trend notes about design
today, touching on the popularity of wallpa-
per, book display (forget arranging by color),
lighting, and more. Loosely organized and
branching out from the various rooms read-
ers may want to stage (attic, kitchen, den),
this is the easiest way yet to absorb design
advice. —Barbara Jacobs
Natural Kitchen Dyes: Make Your Own
Dyes from Fruit, Vegetables, Herbs
and Tea, Plus Ten Eco-Friendly Craft
Projects.
By Alicia Hall.
June 2022. 152p. illus. Casemate/White Owl, paper, $22.95
(9781526793096); e-book, $9.99 (9781526793102). 746.6.
In her second book, Hall (Seasonal Plant
Dyes, 2020) concentrates on overall how-to’s
and projects rather than on the details in
this increasingly popular craft. For instance,
rather than listing all the materials that do
or do not take dye well, she describes the
stick-to-it properties of natural, semisyn-
thetic, and synthetic fabrics in general. She
uses this same approach for other aspects of
dye making, such as the necessary tools (she
does explain using magnets to differentiate
aluminum from stainless steel), dye ba-
sics, plants to collect, and the like. A dozen
recipes for both dyes and mordants (fluids
that ensure colors will bond) will encourage
experimentation—what would a dye from,
say, carrot tops and rooibos look like? Hall’s
14 Booklist May 1, 2022
ideas and ten projects venture far beyond
clothing: a chickpea necklace, raffia bas-
ket, paint made with squashed berries. Hall
outlines a kid-friendly craft that just might
engage adults too. —Barbara Jacobs
Literature
Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My
Father, and Me.
By Ada Calhoun.
June 2022. 272p. Grove, $27 (9780802159786). 818.
Calhoun (Why We Can’t Sleep, 2020) has
shared some aspects of her bohemian child-
hood in her previous books, especially in her
vital work of New York City history, St. Marks
Is Dead (2015). Here, in
this fluidly morphing, mag-
netically candid chronicle,
she ends up scrutinizing
her often bewildering re-
lationship with her father,
the New Yorker art critic
and poet Peter Schjeldahl
(Hot, Cold, Heavy, Light,
2019). When Calhoun discovered recorded
interviews her father conducted with people
who knew the poet Frank O’Hara, whom
Schjeldahl and his peers revered, she learned
that he intended to write a biography until
O’Hara’s younger sister, Maureen, stood in
the way. Discouraged, the habitually reckless
Schjeldahl abandoned the project. Believing
herself to be his opposite—reliable, pro-
ductive, determined—Calhoun decides to
complete the project. She dives in, sharing
riveting excerpts from the tapes, profiling
each interviewee, and bringing O’Hara into
ever-sharper focus. But each foray resur-
rects distressing memories; she runs into the
same unbreachable fortress surrounding the
O’Hara archive; and she is assailed by a stag-
gering run of emergencies, from cancer to a
fire to COVID-19. Ultimately, Calhoun of-
fers an arresting and provocative carousel of
family dynamics, creative paradoxes, literary
history, unnerving dilemmas, thorny ques-
tions of inheritance and legacy, wry humor,
and love. —Donna Seaman
Embrace Fearlessly the Burning
World.
By Barry Lopez.
May 2022. 352p. Random, $28 (9780593242827). 814.
“Perhaps the first rule of everything we
endeavor to do is to pay attention,” writes
Lopez, a deeply ethical writer for whom pay-
ing attention was an article of faith and an
art. Lopez (1945–2020) ob-
served the world with ardent
and inquisitive concentra-
tion and shared his findings
and musings in works of
tensile strength, lambent
beauty, and descriptive
and moral precision. He
wanted, no, needed to
know the world, traveling to nearly 80 coun-
tries, often participating in scientific field
work and reveling most in places remote,
extreme, and clarifying, from Antarctica to
the Mojave Desert. In Horizon (2019), the
last book he published during his lifetime,
Lopez chronicled many of his extraordinary
adventures. In this precious posthumous col-
lection of recent and previously unpublished
essays, he reveals many more dimensions of
his quests and discoveries. His intimacy with
place brings buried history to full life; his
immersions in art deepen understanding of
our species and our planet. Lopez remembers
mentors and friends; recounts with courage,
generosity, and artistry how nature helped
him survive prolonged boyhood sexual
abuse; and chronicles the tolls age and illness
exacted. For all his journeys, Lopez cherished
his longtime home beside Oregon’s McKen-
zie River, and readers will treasure this hearth
of a collection from a crucial and profound
writer of spirit, commitment, benevolence,
and reverence. —Donna Seaman
The Flag, the Cross, and the
Station Wagon: A Graying
American Looks Back at His Suburban
Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell
Happened.
By Bill McKibben.
May 2022. 240p. Holt, $27.99 (9781250823595). 818.
In 1970, when longtime climate activ-
ist and rock-steady writer McKibben was
10, his family moved to Lexington, Mas-
sachusetts, a town key to
the American Revolution
and a bastion of white sub-
urban security, prosperity,
and conformity. As a teen,
McKibben worked as a
guide to Lexington’s histori-
cal sites; now he investigates
the contrast between what
he was taught then and the long-obfuscated
truth about enslaved people in New Eng-
land and the “genocidal destruction” of the
continent’s Indigenous nations. This leads
to a clarifying discussion of why racism
is systemic in American society and what
remedies can be pursued. McKibben also
tracks the decline of the authority of main-
stream Christianity and the intensification of
deleterious “hyper-individualism” and mate-
rialism which spurred the carbon-burning
supersizing of suburban homes and vehicles
and the reduction of support for urgently
needed public urban institutions. A wild tale
about President Carter’s White House solar
panels leads to an examination of the unholy
influence of corporations on Congress and
the overt politicization of the courts. Adept
at factual storytelling and connecting the
dots, earnest, caring, and funny, McKibben
dovetails personal reckonings with an astute
elucidation of our social justice and envi-
ronmental crises, arguing wisely that facing
the truth about our past is the only way for-
ward to a more just and sustainable future.
—Donna Seaman
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The Life and Death of a Minke Whale
in the Amazon: Dispatches from the
Brazilian Rainforest.
By Fábio Zuker. Tr. by Ezra Fitz.
June 2022. 240p. Milkweed, paper, $18 (9781571311818).
869.4.
In poignant, lyrical, even fable-like essays
written primarily from the perspectives of
Indigenous people, Brazilian journalist Zuk-
er chronicles the destruction of the Amazon
rainforest. Sparked by massive fires burning
through the states of Rondonia and Mato
Grosso and the further destruction of forests
for soybean fields, many people have been
forced to abandon traditional ways of life,
causing the loss of both ancestral knowledge
and a vast, thriving, complex ecosystem.
The titular whale was an ocean-going ani-
mal found beached on the banks of a major
tributary of the Amazon, hundreds of miles
from the sea. Covered with mud and moss,
it was initially thought to be a tree trunk.
The subsequent attempts at rescue and the
eventual death of the whale lead to a discus-
sion of global trade, starting with the hunt
for whale oil. By mixing in interviews with
Venezuelan migrants escaping corruption
back home and coverage of how the web of
Brazilian “modernization” impacts all kinds
and all strata of people, Zuker presents an
in-depth depiction of massive environ-
mental and social decimation conveying
urgently needed information and insights.
—Nancy Bent
YA: Zuker’s legend-like style and vivid
ecological descriptions will compel teens.
NB.
Miss Chloe: A Memoir of a Literary
Friendship with Toni Morrison.
By A. J. Verdelle.
May 2022. 368p. Amistad, $27.99 (9780063031661). 813.54.
A writer by definition engages in eternal
self-reinvention; a literary genius sparks that
reinvention in others. Chloe Wofford recreat-
ed herself as the literary titan Toni Morrison,
and as Verdelle (The Good Negress, 1995) dem-
onstrates, became the catalyst for a generation.
”I have seen folk take definite action, in their
own best interest, as a result of a Toni Mor-
rison book,“ writes Verdelle, who developed
a worshipful, decades-long literary friendship
with Morrison, whom she valued as a men-
tor. Yet there remained a distance between
them. “She did not want to ‘help me’ with
my writing . . . She wanted me to deploy my
own agency.” Morrison abruptly told a gush-
ing would-be writer, “Well it sounds like you
don’t know what you’re doing.” While Mor-
rison did not suffer fools, she did celebrate
Black courage and artistry with every shim-
mering word. Verdelle captures Morrison’s
appreciation for Black female labor in a lov-
ing tribute to baking yeast rolls—a lengthy,
intricate ritual that nourishes and connects
generations and is a tangible embodiment of
Black family strength. Verdelle has created
a remarkable literary portrait and memoir.
—Lesley Williams
www.booklistonline.com
Serious Face.
By Jon Mooallem.
May 2022. 320p. Random, $28 (9780525509943); e-book,
$13.99 (9780525509967). 814.
In his third book, following This Is Chance!
(2020), journalist-at-large Mooallem brings
together the best of his journalistic essays to
create an intellectually moving collection. To-
gether, the survival stories
and treatises on environ-
mental and social traumas
offer a meditation on how
various systems—from hos-
pice care and the greater
American medical system to
the prison-industrial com-
plex, conservation efforts,
and the current COVID-19 pandemic—cause
and exacerbate problems with sometimes dev-
astating and irreversible results. In the one
previously unpublished essay, Mooallem con-
siders what the pandemic has revealed, from a
lack of accountability to the burden of stress
pushed onto individuals and guilt about the
state of the world we’re making. Other essays
that sing are those in which he examines his
own experiences, such as accepting his dop-
pelgänger, a famous bullfighter, or spending
hours of COVID isolation with one of today’s
premier filmmakers. Also included are his
signature deep dives into idiosyncratic lives,
from a man who created his own museum
to a pigeon-based Ponzi scheme and a fer-
vent community inspired by clouds. Readers
will laugh and tear up as Mooallem makes us
care about his subjects and feel better off for
knowing their stories. —Amanda ReCupido
Poetr y
Dream Drawings: Configurations of a
Timeless Kind.
By N. Scott Momaday.
May 2022. 128p. illus. Harper, paper, $17.99
(9780063218116). 811.
Add another entry of mystical lyrics to
the still-expanding oeuvre of prolific Kiowa
folklorist, novelist, and illustrator Momaday
(The Death of Sitting Bear: New and Selected
Poems, 2020). One hundred short poems
serve as “dream drawings,” snapshots that
range from lullaby rhymes (“Rather would
I gather dreams / And find in dreaming
more than meaning seems”) to imagined in-
teractions with well-known writers, such as
William Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson,
who, the speaker claims, “read to me a poem
she had written about crickets.” Some may
find these reflections quaint or too subdued,
but many unexpected moments await recep-
tive readers. One poem opens with a partially
petrified tree that conceals a fracture in the
space-time continuum. Another poem re-
counts a haunted portrait, “the image of a
round, bald head with / blood red lips over
uneven teeth and vacant white eyes,” which
literally speaks to its creator. Despite the
wide variety of subjects addressed over the
course of these one hundred oneiric sketch-
es, the book’s long view and even pace bring
out the best insights of this octogenarian’s
flourishing career. —Diego Báez
G e o g r a p h y & Tr a v e l
Italian Lessons: Fifty Things We Know
about Life Now.
By Beppe Severgnini. Tr. by Antony Shugaar.
May 2022. 224p. Vintage, paper, $17 (9780593315637);
e-book, $12.99 (9780593315644). 945.
Prolific author Severgnini (Off the Rails,
2019) is known for his thoughtful observa-
tions about his home country and his fellow
Italians. This current offering consists of 50
lessons Italians have learned about life and liv-
ing and how to manifest this societal wisdom,
especially when facing a global pandemic. His
engaging essays explain why everyone should
be Italian (“Because the rest of the world looks
at you: Italians see you”; “Because we smile
in spite of everything.”) and revolve around
Italy’s response to COVID-19. Severgnini
incorporates history lessons, quotes from phi-
losophers and statesmen, critiques of art and
contemporary culture, and commentary on
everything from poetry to preschool to pro-
nouns. He employs sympathetic humor and
genial personal anecdotes (he’s a university
professor, newspaper columnist, and world
traveler, among other titles). He addresses
world events through comparative national
lenses, raising thought-provoking questions.
Ranging in tone from didactic to amusing to
evocative, these essays are always interesting.
Severgnini’s ultimate reassuring takeaway for
the future? There’s hope—especially if you’re
Italian. —Kathleen McBroom
The Last Resort: A Chronicle of
Paradise, Profit, and Peril at the Beach.
By Sarah Stodola.
June 2022. 352p. Ecco, $27.99 (9780062951625). 910.
Journalist, travel writer, and founder of
the digital magazine Flung, Stodola (Process,
2015) guides readers through the history of
beach resorts, places that once frightened lo-
cal populations, then marketed themselves
as curative locales, becoming playgrounds
for the wealthy and now de rigueur hon-
eymoon destinations. She visits numerous
global properties in various stages of what
one geographer called “tourist area cycle
evolution”—exploration, involvement, devel-
opment, consolidation, stagnation, decline,
and occasionally rejuvenation—and shares
her findings. Invariably, natural beauty, once
“discovered” by Westerners, is exploited and
even endangered, as the quest for paradise
and commercial endeavors to create the per-
fect beach wreak havoc on environmental,
social, and economic fronts around the world.
Stodola details both the disastrous effects of
overdevelopment on multiple beachfront
sites as well as hopeful instances of conser-
vation, charting the steps needed to curtail
the devastating consequences of unchecked
May 1, 2022 Booklist 15
development: difficult, expensive measures
that may save a quite different beach resort
for future generations. Avid travelers and
environmentally conscious readers alike will
appreciate this treatment. —Karen Clements
Tough Women Adventure Stories:
Stories of Grit, Courage and
Determination.
Ed. by Jenny Tough.
June 2022. 208p. illus. IPG/Summersdale, paper, $11.99
(9781787833005). 910.9252.
In first-person narrated essays, 22 women
from around the world tell stories of the un-
usual, exciting, and truly dangerous activities
that drive their lives. Mountain climbing,
cycling, running, and swimming are all activi-
ties that any reader might participate in, but
here they are taken to the extreme. Climb-
ing the highest mountain in each country in
Europe is daunting enough, but to do it in
one year adds that edge that takes it beyond
special. Swimming the English Channel, an
exceptional challenge, is made even more so
when the swimmer spends her time on land
in a wheelchair. Some of the women are sin-
gle, some with partners, some with children.
Their careers are often freelance and related to
the activities they pursue. Each essay begins
with a photo and brief introduction from the
editor along with the information needed to
find more about these women online. There
is an unevenness in the quality of the writing,
but it is not a fatal flaw. Women’s studies and
general adventure collections will find this a
worthy addition. —Danise Hoover
History
The Facemaker: A Visionary Surgeon’s
Battle to Mend the Disfigured Soldiers
of World War I.
By Lindsey Fitzharris.
June 2022. 336p. illus. Farrar, $30 (9780374282301).
940.547573092.
In this commendable biography of Har-
old Gillies, Fitzharris (The Butchering Art,
2017) describes the beginning of modern fa-
cial reconstructive surgery amidst the ghastly
violence of WWI. Gillies was a devoted, in-
novative surgeon who repaired severe facial
war wounds at Britain’s Queen’s Hospital.
There he led a multidisciplinary team, includ-
ing dentists, doctors, and even an artist. The
utilization of skin flaps, bone grafts, weighted
dentures, and other procedures were the start
of plastic surgery. Maxillofacial damage often
impairs the ability to eat and speak. Facial dis-
figurement can negatively affect personality,
mood, and relationships. Some patients re-
quired dozens of operations followed by long
recoveries and lasting distress. Stirring stories
of maimed soldiers and the compassionate
hospital staff who cared for them enrich the
narrative. Fitzharris vividly details mutilated
faces and the savagery, suffering, and slaugh-
ter of war. “The dead hung like laundry over
barbed wire, covered inches deep with a black
16 Booklist May 1, 2022
fur of flies.” The empathetic, groundbreak-
ing Gillies bemoaned the consequences of
warfare. He prohibited mirrors on his hos-
pital wards, and Fitzharris tells readers why:
“Broken faces frequently led to broken hearts
during the war.” —Tony Miksanek
In the Houses of Their Dead: The
Lincolns, the Booths, and the Spirits.
By Terry Alford.
June 2022. 320p. Norton/Liveright, $27.95
(9781631495601). 973.7.
The Lincolns’ obsession with reaching out
to their beloved son Willie after his early
death from typhoid has been extensively re-
ported, but historian Alford demonstrates
that it wasn’t just Abraham Lincoln’s fam-
ily who turned to spiritualism. Ironically,
the thespian family of Lincoln’s assassin John
Wilkes Booth had something of a parallel in-
terest in communicating with the departed.
Alford, having written a definitive biography
of Booth (Fortune’s Fool, 2015), knows the
territory. He explores Lincoln’s own religious
sensibilities, which ran deep but were un-
moored to any particular creed. Mary Todd
Lincoln sought the advice of different spiri-
tualists who might bring her some solace by
convincing her of the ongoing life of her de-
parted son. Other contemporaries hungered
for similar assurances, and some charlatans
even went so far as to attempt to blackmail
the First Lady. Alford introduces readers to
many spiritualist-devoted characters who held
influential posts in both military and govern-
ment. This may hold special appeal for fans of
George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo (2017),
since it provides factual background for the
popular novel. —Mark Knoblauch
The School That Escaped the Nazis: The
True Story of the Schoolteacher Who
Defied Hitler.
By Deborah Cadbury.
July 2022. 448p. PublicAffairs, $30 (9781541751194).
940.54.
Resistance to the Nazis caused many indi-
viduals to flee Germany and its conquered
territories, but rarely did institutions as a whole
abandon Nazi lands. In 1933, to escape the
darkness descending over Europe, one teacher
transported her entire boarding school from
south Germany to Britain’s Kent country-
side. Anna Essinger had read Mein Kampf and
took seriously the dangers to Germany’s Jews
it implied. As headmistress of Landschulheim
Herrlingen, Essinger committed herself and
her Jewish students to progressive education
and humanistic values. Ferrying her charges
out of Germany proved less difficult than an-
ticipated, but she faced troubles from initially
skeptical British educational inspectors. The
school’s neighbors were equally suspicious for a
short time, until they realized the depth of the
Nazi threat to Britain. As the years progressed,
more and more students from Nazi-controlled
lands appeared on the school’s doorsteps. Cad-
bury (Princes at War, 2015) tells the story of
this remarkable school and its courageous
leader as she details the lives of many of the
children who made their way out of horror to a
safe haven. —Mark Knoblauch
Scorpions’ Dance: The President, the
Spymaster, and Watergate.
By Jefferson Morley.
June 2022. 336p. St. Martin’s, $29.99 (9781250275837).
973.924.
Morley (The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA
Spymaster James Jesus Angleton, 2017) shares
more of his insights into the role of the CIA
in America’s recent history. For much of the
mid-twentieth century, Richard Helms was
director of Central Intelligence. A trusted ad-
visor to Lyndon Johnson, Helms was regarded
by Richard Nixon as part of a Washington
establishment lined up against his new presi-
dential agenda. Conflict erupted with Nixon’s
1972 reelection. As Morley characterizes their
relationship, Helms and Nixon became like
scorpions engaged in mortal combat. The
need to end the Vietnam War made each
more wary of the other. Then came Watergate
and the revelation that the arrested burglars
had worked closely with the CIA. As the Sen-
ate Intelligence Committee prodded the CIA
over all sorts of issues, including the JFK as-
sassination and attempts on the life of Fidel
Castro, Helms became increasingly defensive
of his agency’s conduct over the years. The
centrality of Nixon and Helms to so many
pivotal moments in history makes Morley’s
revelations about their sparring even more in-
triguing. —Mark Knoblauch
Unsettled Land: From Revolution to
Republic, the Struggle for Texas.
By Sam W. Haynes.
May 2022. 464p. illus. Basic, $35 (9781541645417); e-book,
$19.99 (9781541645400). 976.4.
Historian Haynes’ history of early Texas
goes beyond the usual focus on battles at the
Alamo and San Jacinto, widening his scope
to include all who lived in or emigrated to
Texas. Instead of discussing Native Americans
as a monolithic bloc, he portrays individuals
from different tribes. Haynes also identifies
the shifting policies of various factions in the
complicated politics of newly independent
Mexico, and explains how they affected rela-
tions with Texans. He illuminates the lives of
Mexican settlers, African American freemen,
and enslaved people, some of whom were il-
legal immigrants after Mexico passed a law
to restrict American settlement. Through-
out, Haynes is sad and frustrated that white
American settlers overpowered a multicul-
tural society in Texas, marginalizing Mexican
settlers and Native Americans and bringing
enslaved people to the region. He describes
Texas landscapes that are sometimes beauti-
ful and often nearly uninhabitable. With over
100 characters, the narrative can be challeng-
ing, requiring rereading or a visit to the index.
Three maps and 30 illustrations complement
the text. Haynes generously acknowledges the
help of librarians and archivists in research, es-
pecially during the pandemic. —John Rowen
www.booklistonline.com

Adult Fiction
The Angel of Rome and Other Stories.
By Jess Walter.
June 2022. 288p. Harper, $27.99 (9780062868114).
Closely following his historical novel, The
Cold Millions (2020), Walter’s second short-
story collection features 12 sparkling, neatly
varied pieces that range from Europe to the
small towns of rural Washington State, and
from the 1970s up to the present. The ram-
bunctious title story shows Walter at his best,
as his naive hero—a college student and as-
piring writer from Nebraska adrift in Rome
in the early ’90s—falls in by chance with a
beautiful Italian actress and her boisterous
American costar. Walter also reveals a gift for
darker, more surreal humor, as in “Town &
Country,” in which the narrator deals with
the consequences of his father’s dementia,
as he places him into a “manufactured Ida-
ho motor hotel of nostalgia and denial.” At
times, Walter overreaches: the concluding
story, “The Way the World Ends,” is freighted
with more meditations on climate change and
racial divides than one antic short story can
safely handle. But Walters’ compassion, wit,
and general charm redeem even this story,
and the volume as a whole is a fizzy delight.
—Margaret Quamme
A Blind Corner.
By Caitlin Macy.
June 2022. 224p. Little, Brown, $27 (9780316434195).
Returning to short fiction following her
novel Mrs. (2018), Macy (Spoiled, 2009)
introduces characters unified by a sense of
disorientation and outsider status in her sec-
ond collection. In “Residents Only,” a woman
takes her two daughters to a vacation condo
in Acapulco, trying not to draw the attention
of the building’s other residents while keeping
the housekeeper’s grandson entertained. Fran-
ces hopes that renting a house in Leicester will
give her, her husband, and their young son
community roots in “One of Us.” Wishing to
be someone whose friends casually crash with
her and her husband, the narrator of “The
Taker” stresses over hosting a friend’s ex-boy-
friend for several days. In the title story, Alison
dreams of living in Tuscany, yet is disturbed
by the fellow guests and the owner’s treat-
ment of the horses at the agriturismo where
she vacations. Macy renders each character’s
emotional complexities in thoughtful detail.
With nuanced storytelling and memorable
settings, she draws readers into the minds of
people struggling to live as different versions
of themselves. —Laura Chanoux
Brisbane.
By Eugene Vodolazkin. Tr. by Marian
Schwartz.
May 2022. 384p. Plough, $26.95 (9781636080451).
His livelihood stunted by Parkinson’s dis-
ease, a celebrated guitarist gropes for the
latent melodies of his life. Born in Kyiv to a
www.booklistonline.com
Russian mother and a Ukrainian father, Gleb
Yanovsky isn’t a born talent on the four-string
domra. But in adolescence he discovers the
guitar, with its sensual curves and perfect
responsiveness to his fingertips. Propelled to
international stardom by his “magical” trem-
olo, the uspekh (forward movement) of his
life obscures an unresolved Ukrainian past.
Gleb’s German wife, Katya, provides endur-
ing stability, but it isn’t until Gleb takes on
a terminally ill young protégé that he finds
meaning within the cacophony. Using two
narrative voices—Gleb’s and the guitarist’s
alcohol-sodden biographer Nestor’s—this
novel counterposes past and present, self
and other. It can be defined as an exercise in
Dostoyevskian polyphony, and certainly few
contemporary writers are as steeped in the
Russian greats as Vodolazkin (Solovyov and
Larionov, 2019). But it’s also a sophisticated
and frequently moving study in dissonance,
dedicated to pointing out contrasts between
art and life, beauty and decay, intention and
outcome. And, yes, between Ukraine and
Russia. —Brendan Driscoll
Community Klepto.
By Kelly I. Hitchcock.
June 2022. 240p. She Writes, paper, $16.95
(9781647423735).
At 25, narrator Ann finds herself alone,
anxious, supported by her parents, and deeply
rooted in kleptomaniac tendencies. More
often than not, she fulfills her need to steal
at the Percival O’Shaughnessy Community
Center. One day, while pounding on the
treadmill and pondering what item to take
next, she meets Joe, who invites her to play on
his community dodgeball team. This seem-
ingly random invitation ends with Joe asking
Ann on a date. Their relationship progresses;
so too does the search for the community-
center thief. Forced to make a decision about
what she wants her future to be, Ann must
also grapple with the fact that Joe might not
be who he seems. As readers get to know Ann,
her true self begins to emerge as a person
searching for a path forward to heal. In this
quick-paced read, Hitchcock creates charac-
ters who are well developed and humorous.
She weaves complex psychological topics
with a lighthearted, romantic story line in a
way that proves to be both entertaining and
thought provoking. —BoDean Warnock
Dog Friendly.
By Victoria Schade.
June 2022. 352p. Berkley, paper, $16 (9780593437391).
Morgan Pierce wanted to be a veterinarian
since she saved a sparrow as a young girl. Now
an adult, she finds that dream turned upside
down when the practice where she works is
bought by a corporation focused on numbers
over patient care. Add to that the loss of Mor-
gan’s own beloved dog six months ago and the
suicide of a fellow veterinarian and former
classmate, and Morgan is beyond distraught.
When friends invite Morgan to dogsit their
schnauzer at their Nantucket vacation home
for two months, she jumps at their offer, and
her soul quickly settles in all the sun and sand.
Romance is just up the street in the form of
handsome surfer slash entrepreneur Nathan,
whose model looks and sweet nature are
just what the good doctor needs. But then
Morgan’s brother visits, bringing with him a
shocking discovery that threatens paradise.
This latest doggie tale from Schade (Lost,
Found, and Forever, 2021) is a great read, with
descriptive style, beautiful flow, captivating
characters, and an HEA. —Cassandra Smith
Elsewhere.
By Alexis Schaitkin.
June 2022. 224p. Macmillan/Celadon, $26.99
(9781250219633); e-book, $13.99 (9781250219619).
In a mountainous, isolated town reminis-
cent of a German village, some mothers vanish
into thin air. When a mother disappears, the
villagers come together in a ceremony to burn
all the woman’s photographs
and share the rest of her pos-
sessions among them. Vera’s
mother disappeared when
she was very young, and
she’s alone with her taciturn
father. Her best friend has
become distant, and Vera’s
violin playing and interest in
photography are the only things that comfort
her. When a stranger arrives, someone from
elsewhere, Vera’s worldview changes. Until
then, Vera had assumed she would join the
mothers, since she longs for the tradition of
marriage and parenthood. But the events of
the stranger’s appearance change her, and she
will never be the same. Schaitkin (Saint X,
2020) has written a compelling, poetic, and
chilling novel that examines fate and fear. The
town’s unique and eerie culture indoctrinates
its people, but Vera moves through this en-
vironment with both doubt and confidence.
The mothers’ disappearances are also a meta-
phor for the pain and pleasure that come with
motherhood itself. Suggest to readers of Jessa-
mine Chan’s School for Good Mothers (2022).
—Cari Dubiel
The Emma Project.
By Sonali Dev.
May 2022. 416p. Avon, paper, $15.99 (9780063051843);
e-book, $10.99 (9780063051850).
Dev cleverly concludes her Jane Austen-
inspired Rajes quartet with the unlikely union
between the youngest and most attractive of
the Rajes siblings, Vansh, and the spurned
ex-fiancée of the previous novel, Naina. This
final book in the series picks up where Incense
and Sensibility (2021) left off. Yash Raje has
been elected governor, and Vansh needs a new
project to occupy his time, a vanity project
according to Naina Kohli, whose funding for
her own charitable cause is threatened when
her billionaire donor revokes his support in
May 1, 2022 Booklist 17
favor of Vansh, simply because of his name.
Spurned again, normally nonchalant Naina
is furious and starting to come undone, but
Vansh is not in competition with this sexy
and statuesque beauty. What seems like a mis-
match at first turns out to be an unstoppable
team when they discover their shared passion
for philanthropy and their fierce sexual chem-
istry. Dev satisfyingly wraps up her diverse
collection of characters, squeezing in another
love story between ethereal Esha Raje and Sid
Dashwood to round out the happily-ever-af-
ters, leaving devoted fans eager to see what she
does next. —Kristina Giovanni
Girls They Write Songs About.
By Carlene Bauer.
June 2022. 320p. Farrar, $27 (9780374282264).
Bauer’s follow-up to her debut, Frances and
Bernard (2013), is a gimlet-eyed look at the
complexities of the friendship between two
women over decades as they wrestle with ca-
reer ambitions and romantic entanglements.
Charlotte and Rose meet in their twenties in
the twilight of the 1990s at a music magazine
where Charlotte is assigned to edit Rose’s
work. Their initial adversarial relationship,
given Rose’s resistance to Charlotte’s edits,
and their shared attraction to their hand-
some but remote boss soon give way to a deep
friendship, in large part predicated on their
similar writing ambitions and predilection
for artistic, soulful men. But Charlotte’s writ-
ing career soon eclipses Rose’s, and then Rose
opts for a marriage that offers more financial
security than it does passion, pulling their tra-
jectories further and further apart. Told from
Charlotte’s point of view, Bauer’s second novel
questions the choices women are forced to
make as they age, and the way those decisions
unite or divide them. Bauer offers no easy an-
swers nor pat conclusions, and her layered tale
is all the stronger for it. —Kristine Huntley
YA: Advanced readers will be drawn in
by the powerful bond that forms between
Charlotte and Rose. KH.
Hurricane Girl.
By Marcy Dermansky.
June 2022. 240p. Knopf, $26 (9780593320884).
Dermansky’s latest, following Very Nice
(2019), focuses on Allison Brody, who, at 32,
is adrift after she leaves a screenwriting career
and an abusive boyfriend behind in Los An-
geles only to have her Plan B derailed when a
hurricane destroys the small North Carolina
beach house she just bought for herself. Ren-
dered homeless, she goes home with an older
man, only to have him hit her over the head
with a glass vase. Injured Allison makes her
way to her mother in New Jersey, who gets her
to a hospital, where Allison finds herself under
the care of Danny Yang, a college classmate
who still carries a torch for her. Aimless once
again, Allison finds herself recovering from
brain surgery in Danny’s fancy apartment and
spending her days swimming in his rooftop
pool, trying to decide whether she loves him
or just the comfort he offers. Allison might be
18 Booklist May 1, 2022
a hot mess, but she’s also eminently relatable
in a world filled with pitfalls for women who
try to figure out what they want for them-
selves. —Kristine Huntley
Jobs for Girls with Artistic Flair.
By June Gervais.
June 2022. 384p. illus. Penguin, $26 (9780593298794).
It’s 1985, and Gina Mulley has graduated
from high school with the dream of becom-
ing a tattoo artist. She’s worked in her brother
Dominic’s tattoo parlor for the past three
years, but her work has been limited to me-
nial tasks. Reluctantly, Dominic agrees to host
Gina as an apprentice in his shop, but his new
investor (and girlfriend) has a different vision
for the place Gina has so loved over the years.
Blue Claw, on Long Island, is a gritty yet hom-
ey town, not an upscale vacation destination.
As Gina fights to learn her trade, she meets a
beautiful girl named Anna, who assists a local
fortune teller. She swiftly falls in love, but the
relationship may not survive this challenging
summer. Gervais’ debut is a thoughtful and
tender coming-of-age story. While Gina faces
a great deal of trauma, including rape—she’s
exploited in more ways than one—she has a
tenacious drive and hope for future healing.
Gervais’ gorgeously detailed illustrations are
interlaced with the text, showing off Gina’s
intricate designs and talent. —Cari Dubiel
Lapvona.
By Ottessa Moshfegh.
June 2022. 320p. Penguin, $27 (9780593300268).
In Lapvona, a grim sort of fairy-tale place,
in an unspecified long-ago time, motherless
young Marek lives with his father, Jude, a
shepherd of lambs and Marek’s brutal op-
posite: physically strong while Marek, who
“had grown crookedly,”
is “fragile;” simple in his
faith while Marek obsesses
scrupulously. With Marek’s
mother lost in childbirth,
he, like Jude and many
Lapvonians over the last
century, has grown up re-
lying on blind, ancient
medicine woman and wet nurse Ina, though
her milk has finally dried up. Readers soon
learn that no one is quite who he first seems
in the latest wicked tale from macabre master
Moshfegh (Death in Her Hands, 2020)—ex-
cept, maybe, for Lord Villiam, a ridiculous
buffoon whom Lapvona’s villagers are pow-
erless to ridicule. The novel begins with an
Easter-time attack and spills across the four
following seasons, after Marek’s violent
choice sets into motion chaotic change that
leaves almost every Lapvonian in new stand-
ing and the entire village facing drought
and starvation while Villiam diverts moun-
tain runoff to his idyllic manor’s moat and
lake. Sculpting an eerily canny fabular world
of contrasts and evil, cartoonish cruelty, in
her signature way, Moshfegh conjures a gro-
tesque, disturbing story of gross inequality
and senseless strife. —Annie Bostrom
Last Summer on State Street.
By Toya Wolfe.
June 2022. 224p. Morrow, $27.99 (9780063209749).
Children, cued to joy like flowers to the
sun, learn to navigate the perils of South
Side Chicago’s Robert Taylor Homes, an
enormous high-rise public housing project,
forging friendships and
having fun in spite of pov-
erty, drugs, police brutality,
and gang warfare. Twelve-
year-old Fe Fe (Felicia),
raised by a diligent and
loving mother along with
Meechie, her older brother,
is smart and bighearted,
extending her close friendship with equally
well-loved Precious to the less-fortunate Sta-
cia and Tonya. But their already precarious
lives turn even more treacherous in 1999 as
the city starts tearing down the towers. First-
time novelist Wolfe writes with lacerating
precision and authenticity, building her re-
verberating tale on bedrock Black Chicago
history and her own experiences growing
up in this besieged community. While Fe Fe
dreams of being a teacher in the sanctuary
of her book-filled bedroom and Precious is
enfolded within the Seventh-day Adventist
Church, Meechie, Stacia, and Tonya are
subjected to violation, violence, and ruth-
less gang pressure. In a fictional counterpart
to Dawn Turner’s memoir, Three Girls from
Bronzeville (2021), Wolfe’s deeply compel-
ling characters, sharply wrought settings,
and tightly choreographed plot create a con-
centrated, significant, and unforgettable tale
of family, home, racism, trauma, compas-
sion, and transcendence. —Donna Seaman
YA: Young Fe Fe’s story of survival and
her determination to do good in a harsh
environment will reverberate with teens
who can process descriptions of violence
and sexual abuse. DS.
The Long Answer.
By Anna Hogeland.
June 2022. 304p. Riverhead, $26 (9780593418130).
Pregnancy has a funny way of attracting
others’ stories—strangers on the bus offer
unprompted advice, colleagues share tear-
jerking tales of wonder and horror, and fellow
parents in the pediatrician’s waiting room
are quick to compare mea-
surements and milestones.
Narrator Anna, a writer
pregnant for the first time,
is mostly happy to hear
these stories. She under-
stands that many mothers
feel silenced, and there’s a
certain freedom in sharing
your deepest secrets with a complete strang-
er, or a friend-of-a-friend you’ll likely never
see again, or the woman struggling with the
same poses in prenatal yoga class. Describing
Hogeland’s debut as a book about pregnancy
would be overly simplifying, because it en-
compasses something much larger. A novel
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that blurs the line between author and narra-
tor, and at times reads like memoir, it takes
true-feeling stories and expands them into a
compelling, often-heartbreaking tale of be-
longing, loss, and rebirth. Looking beyond
pregnancy’s physical transformations, Hoge-
land explores what it means to feel parental,
to choose a life bigger than your own, or to
lose a precious gift. Never veering into the
maudlin or histrionic, The Long Answer is a
heartfelt, finely wrought journey for fans of
Suzanne Finnamore, Erica Jong, and Marian
Keyes. —Stephanie Turza
The Lovers.
By Paolo Cognetti. Tr. by Stanley Luczkiw.
June 2022. 208p. HarperVia, $26.99 (9780063115408).
The latest novel from Italian author Cog-
netti (The Wild Boy, 2019) is the story of
a man’s transformative year in the Italian
Alps. After ending his ten-year relationship
with his girlfriend and moving out of their
shared home in Milan, 40-year-old writer
Fausto finds his way to the mountains.
Funds dwindling, he takes a job as a cook
at Babette’s Feast, the only local restaurant
in Fontana Fredda. As winter arrives, he
meets Silvia, who is waitressing while fig-
uring out what she wants out of life. Soon
Fausto and Silvia become lovers, continu-
ing their relationship through the summer,
when Silvia takes a job at a climbing refuge
farther into the mountains. Fausto develops
a friendship with Santorso, an elderly for-
mer forest ranger who has lived in Fontana
Fredda for decades. With precise details of a
landscape both idyllic and dangerous, Cog-
netti invites readers into Fontana Fredda and
the lives of his characters. Written in simple
prose, seamlessly translated by Luczkiw,
The Lovers is a thoughtfully crafted series of
character studies firmly rooted in its setting.
—Laura Chanoux
The Men.
By Sandra Newman.
June 2022. 272p. Grove/Atlantic, $27 (9780802159663).
Newman’s (The Heavens, 2019) latest, a
dystopian tale, opens with a shocking event.
Everyone in the world with a Y chromosome,
men and trans women, disappear all at once.
Jane Pearson is on a camping trip in Cali-
fornia with her husband and son when both
vanish. After looking for them everywhere,
she drives to the nearest city and learns the
scope of what’s happened. As women begin
to step into powerful positions once inhabited
by men and enjoy the freedoms of living in a
world without the dangers some men present,
Jane reconnects with a college friend, Evange-
lyne Moreau, who, like Jane, has a scandalous
past, and who is now gaining political power
in this new world order. Newman follows
several other women who are having a tough
time in the wake of the men’s disappearance
and who soon get caught up in watching a
mysterious video feed that shows the lost men
struggling in a hellish landscape. Readers
might feel a bit let down by the denoue-
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ment, but this layered, introspective tale will
give them plenty to think about and discuss.
—Kristine Huntley
YA: With its exploration of racism and
sexual grooming, teens will find much to
engage with here. KH.
Mid-Air.
By Victoria Shorr.
May 2022. 192p. Norton, $26.95 (9780393882100).
Two families reflect the yin and yang of
the American dream, their ascendancy and
decline writ large in minute details in paired
tales. In “Great Uncle Edward,” the company
of a patrician, old-school gentleman delights
a young bride recently mar-
ried into the family. Dinner
parties at once fashionable,
still respectable restaurants
give the extended clan rea-
son to gather, their reduced
circumstances glossed over
as they ponder glory days
spent swanning along Fifth
Avenue. The White family of “Cleveland
Auto Wrecking” has no such renown to
protect or defend. Sam White is a master of
math and commerce, seeing riches in others’
trash. He first builds an empire out of the
plentiful scrap metal discards in working-
class Youngstown, Ohio, then relocates to
the undeveloped desert east of Los Ange-
les, where rocks and rubble conjure condos
and golf courses. In style and substance,
Shorr summons the works of Anne Tyler
as she rejoices in her characters’ day-to-day
experiences, dropping pearls of insight into
crystalline vignettes. Her characters are more
recognizable than remote, their struggles
more mundane than mighty, evoking sym-
pathy while challenging assumptions. The
novella format can be a thorny one to em-
brace, either too short or too long. In Shorr’s
hands, it is just right. —Carol Haggas
The Most Precious Substance on Earth.
By Shashi Bhat.
June 2022. 272p. Grand Central, $28 (9781538707913).
Bhat’s portrait of Nina, a young girl from
an Indian immigrant family growing up in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, moves quickly from its
irreverent opening tone to big plot develop-
ments. Nina’s experiences in high school, her
relationship with her parents and her best
friend Amy, her subsequent return as a high-
school English teacher—all map the steady
progress of a young woman carrying a deep
secret into adulthood. This coming-of-age-
novel references the complexities of growing
up in a Hindu family in Nova Scotia with-
out resorting to slick stereotypes, while
Nina’s Hindu Christmas pageant embodies
her casual amalgam of influences without
overt analysis of her feelings about her im-
migrant identity. Bhat captures the moods of
each stage of Nina’s life as she moves from
high school to grad school to her working
and dating life. Youthful curiosity, the desire
to be cool, the self-focus of teenagers, and
the ensuing period of self-doubt and a quest
for life’s purpose are universal. Bhat suc-
ceeds admirably and enjoyably in balancing
dramatic moments and comic asides while
maintaining the emotional integrity of a
character grappling with confusing contexts.
—Shoba Viswanathan
YA: YAs will find Nina’s coming-of-
age as a Hindu Indian immigrant in
Halifax, along with her later life choices,
intriguing. SV.
Nora Goes Off Script.
By Annabel Monaghan.
June 2022. 272p. Putnam, $27 (9780593420034); e-book,
$14.99 (9780593420041).
Nora Hamilton is slowly getting out of
debt after her husband left her and their
two children. She makes a living writing for-
mulaic scripts for the Romance Channel, a
Hallmarkesque network, in
the little tea cottage behind
her crumbling old house.
Except after Ben left, she
wrote a different kind of
script, and now it is being
made into a prestige film
starring Leo Vance. Film-
ing only takes a few days,
but Leo doesn’t leave. He needs a break from
Hollywood, and he’s charmed by Nora’s small
town and her mundane days picking up kids
from school and grocery shopping. They start
an affair, and it’s just like one of her movies,
until it’s not, and Leo is called away to test
for a big-budget superhero flick. If this re-
ally was one of her scripts, he would roll back
into town, but the longer he’s away, the less
likely that seems. Columnist and YA author
Monaghan’s first adult novel is brimming
with compelling characters. Nora, especially,
is relatable, a practical woman who keeps her
feet on the ground even as she is romanced
by a movie star. Readers will connect with
the warmth and humor of this relationship-
fiction gem. —Susan Maguire
The Novelist.
By Jordan Castro.
June 2022. 192p. Soft Skull, $24 (9781593767136).
Taking place over a single morning, Cas-
tro’s debut is told from the perspective of an
unnamed protagonist as he struggles to get
back to writing his fledgling novel. How-
ever, he keeps being distracted by Instagram,
Twitter, and Facebook as well as a persistent
need to check his email. He details the obses-
sively pretentious way he drinks his morning
coffee, the bizarre politics of social media
“likes,” and the awkward envy of distant ac-
quaintances, many of whom feel doom while
scrolling. With a wry knowingness remi-
niscent of Ben Lerner’s characters, Castro’s
protagonist spends more time texting friends
about his ablutions than writing and even
more time fantasizing about completing his
novel than writing it. While Castro has his
narrator openly state a debt to Nicholson
Baker’s The Mezzanine (1988) and Thomas
May 1, 2022 Booklist 19
Bernhard’s Woodcutters (1984), his tale often
echoes the later books of David Markson,
and the metafictional elements do work
supremely well. This is a confident, unique
take on autofiction, a form that lends itself
well to Castro’s focus on the endless distrac-
tions of modern life, and it is hilarious and
enthralling, to boot. —Alexander Moran
Nuclear Family.
By Joseph Han.
June 2022. 320p. Counterpoint, $26 (9781640094864).
Grace, 21, and Jacob, 25, are Korean
Hawaiian on their father’s side (three Cho
generations are currently islanders); mater-
nally, they are both South and North Korean,
with their closest Jeong relatives in Seoul.
College senior Grace lives
at home and works at their
parents’ Cho’s Delicatessen.
Jacob recently moved to
Korea to teach English, al-
lowing him to reunite with
extended family he hasn’t
seen since childhood—his
mother’s older sister, his
other grandmother, and, well, his estranged
late grandfather. Tae-woo is hungry, lonely,
and desperate to return to North Korea, but
he’s trapped “by the politics of the living and
the laws of the dead,” unable to cross back
home. Possessing, strengthening, and con-
trolling his grandson’s body could be his only
chance. Images of what seem to be Jacob’s at-
tempt to traverse the DMZ get blasted back
home, where even the faraway hint of North
Korean connection causes havoc in the
Chos’ lives. Vandalism happens, customers
dwindle, roaches appear; meanwhile, Grace
approaches addiction. Tragic, funny, and
strikingly ingenious, Han’s prodigious de-
but is a spectacular achievement. Seamlessly
dovetailed into his sublime multigenerational
saga are pivotal history lessons, anti-colonial
denunciations, political slaps. For Korean
speakers, Han’s brilliant linguistic acrobatics
will prove particularly enlightening (Jeong is
a homophone for jeong, something akin to
empathic connection) and shrewdly enter-
taining. —Terry Hong
A Postcard for Annie.
By Ida Jessen. Tr. by Martin Aitken.
June 2022. 180p. Archipelago, paper, $18 (9781953861221).
Renowned Danish writer Jessen’s short-
story collection shows her penchant for
writing about everyday lives as they’re dis-
rupted in ways, large and small, that alter
her character’s trajectories. Quite satisfied
with her single life, a middle-aged woman
meets a suave and charming man whom she
loves despite his tendency to berate her. In
the titular story, a series of unplanned events
leads a young woman to witness a terrible
accident that will affect her both directly and
indirectly. In more than one story, mothers
have difficulties with their withdrawn and
violent sons. While large events occur—a
murder, even—Jessen’s writing remains sub-
20 Booklist May 1, 2022
dued and detailed, ensuring that readers will
be drawn into each story and feel emotion-
ally connected to the characters. Danish life
is simply and realistically woven through-
out, with hints that some of these stories
may be set in the same small town. Expertly
translated by Aiken, Jessen’s language flows
beautifully, making this a collection readers
could easily devour in a sitting; its characters
and themes will stay with them long after.
—Kathy Sexton
A Shoe Story.
By Jane L. Rosen.
June 2022. 316p. Berkley, paper, $17 (9780593102121);
e-book, $11.99 (9780593102138).
A pair of shoes can take you where you
need to go, but what if you don’t know where
that is anymore? In Rosen’s latest, Esme Nash
hopes she can figure it out, one gorgeous pair
of shoes at a time. Esme is about to graduate
from Dartmouth College and can’t wait to
wear the coveted Louboutins that she’s been
gifted across the graduation stage and into
the life waiting for her in New York City.
But a tragic accident keeps Esme at home,
where her dreams—and the Louboutins—
stay boxed up for the next seven years. When
circumstances finally take her to New York,
dog watching for a client with a stunning
shoe closet, Esme finally has the chance to
live the life of her dreams. But is it the life
she still wants? Balancing complicated love
interests all while finding herself proves
to be difficult—but doesn’t hurt too badly
in the right pair of shoes. While predict-
able, A Shoe Story is about finding yourself
after loss, which will resonate with readers.
—LynnDee Wathen
Sleeping Alone.
By Ru Freeman.
June 2022. 216p. Graywolf, paper, $16 (9781644450888).
Too often, graphic violence in fiction is
garish and showy. It takes a deft hand to
portray the more subtle kinds of cruelties
that shape these spectacular stories. Freeman
(On Sal Mal Lane, 2013) possesses just that
sort of talent, the kind that
can massage touches of the
unwelcome into everyday
incidents to unsettling ef-
fect. Most of the primary
characters in the collection
are displaced from familiar
terrain. In “The Bridge,” a
vein of menace lurks within
a seemingly peace-loving, war-protesting
schoolteacher. In “The Irish Girl,” a Sri
Lankan immigrant harbors a lingering crush
on the Irish boarder who shared a slice of her
home during his early days in the country. In
“Matthew’s Story,” the main character treads
on a different kind of foreign soil after the
death of his dear brother. And in “Retain-
ing Walls,” a contractor’s visit to an elderly
couple’s home strikes a raw nerve in the fam-
ily. Set around the world and grappling with
themes of race and class, Freeman’s stories
work precisely because they are full of the
drama and the ordinariness of life. Here is
proof that there is tragedy and beauty in the
everyday; you just have to know where to
look. —Poornima Apte
Historical Fiction
The Grand Design.
By Joy Callaway.
May 2022. 400p. Harper Muse, paper, $17.99
(9781400234370).
Dorothy Draper, née Tuckerman, has al-
ways loved the Greenbrier resort in White
Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Her family
summered there with the other major families
of the day (think the Vanderbilts and the As-
tors). In 1908, what is to be her last summer
there is interrupted by the arrival of an Ital-
ian diplomat and his race-car driving nephew,
Enzo Rossi, with whom Dorothy has an in-
stant attraction. The feeling is mutual, but
a match is impossible since she is practically
promised to Warren Abercrombie III, and
she’s not sure if she trusts her intense feelings
anyway. In 1946, the Greenbrier is reopen-
ing after being used as a hospital during the
war, and the great Dorothy Draper is hired
to decorate it. Though the hotel is different,
the project brings up memories of that fate-
ful summer and inspires her design with the
theme, “romance and rhododendrons.” Mov-
ing between the two story lines, Callaway’s
latest showcases the glamour of the Gilded
Age as well as Dorothy’s real-life postwar de-
sign for the resort. A treat for historical fiction
fans. —Susan Maguire
The Last White Rose.
By Alison Weir.
May 2022. 544p. Ballantine, $28.99 (9780593355039).
Following her landmark Six Tudor Queens
series, Weir moves back one generation with
this comprehensive fictional take on Henry
VIII’s mother, Elizabeth of York. The adored
eldest daughter of Edward IV during the tu-
multuous Wars of the Roses, Elizabeth spends
part of her childhood in sanctuary with her
mother and siblings. The early sections move
slowly, with outside events largely recounted
to her. However, her personality blossoms
over time, and Weir provides a realistic feel
for the worry Elizabeth’s family experiences
as their fortunes shift, especially after Richard
III usurps the throne following King Edward’s
death, and her brothers disappear while in
his custody. The story gives a coherent, con-
vincing picture of the treacherous political
climate and its many players and reveals why
Elizabeth plots to marry Henry Tudor. Weir
doesn’t anachronistically superimpose a femi-
nist viewpoint on Elizabeth, who knows her
value yet prefers being a supportive wife and
mother, but her female characters are overly
prone to weeping. Weir’s thorough approach
to her subject is impressive, as is the sumptu-
ously recreated atmosphere of late-medieval
royal life. —Sarah Johnson
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The Surgeon’s Daughter.
By Audrey Blake.
May 2022. 432p. Sourcebooks/Landmark, paper, $16.99
(9781728228754).
History comes to life in the dramatic ac-
count of Nora Beady’s ascension in the
medical world of Bologna, Italy, in the mid-
1840s. Picking up right where The Girl in His
Shadow (2021) left off, Nora is struggling
to find her place as the only female student
among Italian doctors. Her informal educa-
tion under Dr. Horace Croft and alongside
Dr. Daniel Gibson goes unrecognized, until
she encounters Magdalena Morenco, the only
female doctor at the university, who practices
a new procedure still considered controversial
and dangerous: the cesarean section. Nora
witnesses the importance of medical discovery
and how her experience with ether can aid Dr.
Morenco’s. Meanwhile, London continues to
batter the brilliant and aging Dr. Croft who
awaits Nora’s return to his practice, and Dr.
Gibson longs for his love to return as well.
The depiction of women earning their place
amongst the medical community and the ev-
eryday concerns of young professionals will
appeal to lovers of historical fiction, and the
dash of passion and yearning will appeal to
romantics. —Monica Garza Bustillo
Woman of Light.
By Kali Fajardo-Anstine.
June 2022. 336p. One World, $28 (9780525511328).
Luz is a young Chicana woman in 1930s
Denver who reads tea leaves to help her aunt
and brother Diego pay the rent. But when
snake charmer Diego has to flee the city due to
white violence, Luz asks old childhood crush
David, now an upstart lawyer fighting for jus-
tice for marginalized communities, for a job.
Their fiery chemistry wars with Luz’s solid,
kind love of horn player Avel. Meanwhile,
Luz is being overwhelmed by her visions,
which are growing stronger. Bears attack,
orange groves scent the air. Luz glimpses her
Indigenous homeland in the Lost Territory
and unspools the tale of how her grandparents
lost their land after the discovery of radium.
While her story is the light at the center, the
story of sharpshooter Simodecea and her en-
terprising Pidre is the real star, impossible to
put down. Fajardo-Anstine’s compelling writ-
ing paints a convincing portrait of a city in
flux, haunted by white violence, and portrays
a complex female friendship, a vivid love story
(or three), and a story of family and memory
in the American West. —Leah von Essen
Romance
Bet on It.
By Jodie Slaughter.
July 2022. 320p. St. Martin’s/Griffin, paper, $16.99
(9781250821829); e-book, $10.99 (9781250821836).
Aja Owens moves to a tiny town in South
Carolina to manage her anxiety. She doesn’t
expect to meet the key to her future while hav-
ing a panic attack in the Piggly Wiggly. Walker
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Abbott grew up in Greenbelt, and never
planned to return, but his grandmother, who
raised him, needs his help while she recovers
from an injury. He struggles with PTSD and
anxiety from his troubled past. Aja sees him
again at a bingo gathering. They end up flirt-
ing and, reluctant to get involved, especially
since Walker is only in town temporarily, they
make a sex pact stating that they will only get
together if one wins bingo. Debut romance
author Slaughter provides plenty of humor to
prevent the serious challenges her protagonists
grapple with from overwhelming the appealing
love story. Their struggles are realistic, adding a
layer of depth to a memorable story. The com-
bination of a small-town setting, comedy, and
sexual attraction are reminiscent of Jennifer
Crusie’s style. —Amy Alessio
Blame It on the Brontës.
By Annie Sereno.
May 2022. 384p. Forever, $15.99 (9781538721438); e-book,
$9.99 (9781538722688).
In Sereno’s charming, contemporary ro-
mance debut, the love of literature takes center
stage with fresh and witty references to the
works of British and American literary icons
combined with subtler stylistic nods to con-
temporary popular culture. English professor
Athena Murphy is a struggling academic who
returns to her hometown, Laurel, Illinois, to
uncover the identity of a secretive romance
novelist, then, hopefully, write a best-seller
that will save her career. She unexpectedly runs
into her former lover, Thorne Kent, who owns
the town’s main hangout, the As You Like It
Café, where our frenemy protagonists trade
Amy Sherman-Palladino–like barbs to the
delight of the gossip-loving patrons. Sereno
deftly captures the cozy essence of Midwest-
ern life, and the quirky residents of Laurel are
as fully realized as Athena and Thorne. While
Sereno excels at dialogue, some readers may
find the excessive head-hopping within scenes
difficult to follow. Additionally, the mash-up
of several competing romance tropes and an
overstuffed plot is a bit dizzying. But Sereno
is a gifted writer and readers will watch for her
next book. —Kristina Giovanni
Bloom Where You’re Planted.
By Darby Baham.
June 2022. 288p. Harlequin, paper, $5.99 (9781335408587);
e-book, $4.99 (9780369710901).
Jennifer Pritchett feels like she is stuck in
a rut. On the personal side, Jenn loves her
boyfriend, Nick, but lately their relation-
ship seems to lack the romantic sizzle they
enjoyed when they first met three years ago.
Professionally, Jenn loves her job as a third-
grade teacher, but there are times when she
thinks she could be doing more for the kids
and herself if she took full advantage of her
academic training. Now, backed up by her
girlfriends and with some support from a new
therapist, Jenn decides to chart a fresh course
both at work and at home. But will embark-
ing on this new path lead Jenn to a brighter
future, or will she risk losing what she has
now? In the second empowering addition to
her Friendship Chronicles series, following
The Shoe Diaries (2022), Baham once again
displays her mastery of insightful character-
ization and her ability to write with heart and
hope about life’s ups and downs, all of which
are made better with a little help from our
friends. —John Charles
Eight Weeks in Paris.
By S. R. Lane.
June 2022. 320p. Carina, paper, $15.99 (9781335623928);
e-book, $9.99 (9780369719393).
Actor Nicholas Madden has spent years
trying to bring The Throne, a long-lost novel
set in Belle Epoque France, to the big screen.
Now just as Nicholas is set to bring Freder-
ick, the book’s closeted protagonist, to life, he
considers walking away from the whole pro-
duction when he hears that Christian Lavalle
is booked to play Frederick’s lover, Angelo.
Nicholas is convinced that Christian, who
is better known for his high-fashion model-
ing career, is nothing more than a pretty face.
However, as the cast and crew begin eight
weeks of filming in Paris, Nicholas discov-
ers that Christian is not only open to taking
acting notes, there are things he can teach
Nicholas about life and love as well. Lane
effectively frames her stunningly romantic,
exquisitely sensual debut against a perfectly
evoked Parisian backdrop, while at the same
time deftly charting Nicholas’ realistically nu-
anced journey to naming and claiming his
sexual identity. As heart-wrenching yet in-
finitely hopeful as any ballad sung by Edith
Piaf, this prompts the exclamation: c’est mag-
nifique. —John Charles
From Bad to Cursed.
By Lana Harper.
May 2022. 368p. Berkley, paper, $16 (9780593336083);
e-book, $9.99 (9780593336090).
Rarely is the second book in a series bet-
ter than the first, but as Harper continues
her Witches of Thistle Grove series, following
Payback’s a Witch (2910), the world building
and exploration of family cultures enhances
this already fascinating setting. The magical
community of Thistle Grove is preparing for
the Flower Moon festival that starts off with
the choosing of the May Queen. When Holly
Thorn starts conjuring her gorgeous tapestry
of strawberries and foliage on the stage of the
competition and is attacked by a withering
spell, she fights it but is injured, and much
of the orchard is destroyed. Emmy Harlow,
presiding Victor of the Wreath, pairs cos-
tume-and-set designer Isadora Avramov with
veterinarian Rowan Thorn, enemies since
they worked together at an animal shelter
in their youth, and orders them to find the
culprit. Their search takes them into deadly
supernatural danger. Can these two—one a
witch who works with ectoplasm and spirits
of the dead, the other a witch who is all about
growth and healing—find common ground,
let alone romance? Harper’s latest is imagina-
tive and captivating. —Diana Tixier Herald
May 1, 2022 Booklist 21
0 The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes.
By Cat Sebastian.
June 2022. 352p. Avon, paper, $15.99 (9780063026254);
e-book, $10.99 (9780063026261).
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Which is exactly why Marian Hayes, Duchess
of Clare, turns to Rob Brooks, the very con
artist and highwayman who tried to unsuccess-
fully blackmail her, for help. After shooting her
deplorable husband, Marian
needs Rob’s unique skill set
to help her slip out of Lon-
don and make her way safely
to her father’s home in Kent.
Rob can think of a million
reasons why he shouldn’t
help Marian, starting with
the fact that she left him tied
up in one of London’s more disreputable inns.
However, Rob is also developing a grudging
admiration for Marian’s pluck, leaving him to
surmise that he could do worse than Marian
as a potential new partner-in-crime. From its
brilliantly crafted opening, in which the book’s
perfectly matched protagonists engage in a
deliciously acerbic, epistolary duel of wits, to
its blissfully romantic conclusion, everything
about Sebastian’s (The Queer Principles of Kit
Webb, 2021) latest exceedingly sensual, superb-
ly nuanced Georgian-set historical romance is
perfectly on-point. —John Charles
Where the Road Bends.
By Rachel Fordham.
June 2022. 336p. Revell, paper, $15.99 (9780800739744);
e-book, $11.99 (9781493436309).
After losing her parents and her reputation,
Norah King would do anything to save her land,
even if it meant a loveless marriage promising fi-
nancial relief. After she finds handsome Quincy
Barnes, a tormented, bankrupt, and now nearly
dead prize fighter, on her property, they bond
during his days of recovery. But Norah’s dream
of keeping her land prevents their mutual spark
from becoming something more. Two years
later, Quincy’s success as a businessman is owed
to a secret he kept from Norah. He is deter-
mined to make amends, but when he returns,
it is Norah who needs rescuing and the freedom
that can only be found in truth. Returning to
the Iowa heartland in this 1882 inspirational
romance about second chances and self-worth,
Fordham again sparkles as an adept storyteller,
from a thrilling hook on to the ache of deferred
desire, years of regret, and, finally, the experi-
ence of redemption grounded in honesty and
acceptance. Where the Road Bends celebrates
the victory of facing one’s imperfections with
grace and extending that empathy to others as a
meaningful legacy. —Kate Campos
SF/ Fantasy & Horror
All the Seas of the World.
By Guy Gavriel Kay.
May 2022. 528p. Berkley, $28 (9780593441046); e-book,
$14.99 (978059344106).
International best-selling author Kay (A
22 Booklist May 1, 2022
Brightness Long Ago, 2019) returns to his
richly drawn fantasy world resembling fif-
teenth-century Europe, serving readers a
suspenseful story of war, love, trauma, reli-
gion, sabotage, death, and friendship. Rafel
and Nadia work together
first as seafaring merchants
and corsairs, then as some-
thing else entirely when
fateful choices send them
careening down a path of
violence, money, and pow-
er. Rafel and Nadia’s story
tangles with many flawed
characters, and each adds value. The char-
acters also serve the impressive purpose of
reminding the reader that even if characters
are just passing through this story, they have
their own complicated stories to tell of trag-
edy, happiness, humor, and love. Depending
on what the characters or settings need, Kay
will jump between first and third person,
past and present tense, and into the minds
of different characters’ thoughts, feelings,
and choices—all in the same chapter. This
is an immersive reading experience; readers
will taste the dust in their mouths, see the
high seas from the deck of a merchant ship,
feel the bustle of the city market. What re-
sults is necessary sustenance for the starving
reader. A masterpiece from a master of the
craft. —Sal A. Joyce
The City Inside.
By Samit Basu.
June 2022. 256p. Tor.com, $25.99 (9781250827487);
e-book, $13.99 (9781250827494).
Joey is among the top in her field of Real-
ity Controllers managing and producing her
Flowstars. She works in near-future Delhi
just after the Years Not to Be Discussed. The
Pandemic and world events have broken In-
dia into ill-defined factions run by shadowy
oligarchs that she navigates with the help of
apps and smarttatts. All is going fine when
she runs into Rudra, the prodigal son re-
turning for his powerful father’s funeral.
His older brother wants him in the family
business, which may involve human traffick-
ing for body parts. He is resisting and Joey,
not sensing the dangers, tries to help. The
reader’s immersion into their world is truly
felt in the conflicts that follow in trying to
find a way to be true to oneself when, as one
character sums it all up, “What is the point
of this tech if it can’t tell us the truth?” Un-
like a lot of cyberpunk novels, which seem to
contain a fair amount of physical violence,
Basu explores spiritual violence in this first
American publication of his 2020 novel,
Chosen Spirits. —Don Vicha
Drunk on All Your Strange New Words.
By Eddie Robson.
June 2022. 288p. Tor.com, $26.99 (9781250807342);
e-book, $13.99 (9781250807366).
Lydia is translator for Fitzwilliam, the Logi
cultural attaché. The fact that translating the
telepathic Logi language makes humans feel
drunk isn’t generally too much trouble; they
test for that in the training program. When
Lydia punches an overly pushy young man at
an after-theater gathering, Fitz suggests that
she take a vacation back home while the dust
settles. She returns to Manhattan, does a par-
ticularly grueling event, and wakes up with a
nasty hangover to find Fitz murdered in his of-
fice. She calls the police and is whisked away for
questioning, and when she returns, she hears
Fitz’s ghost. The voice in her head sends her on
a wild, independent investigation to find his
killer, which leads to a web of conspiracy, bi-
zarre plots, misinformation, red herrings, and
exploration of this future version of New York.
The truth in this story is both far simpler and
far more interesting than the many lies people
would like to believe, and Lydia is just the right
kind of inquisitive character to keep the narra-
tive entertaining. —Regina Schroeder
Eyes of the Void.
By Adrian Tchaikovsky.
May 2022. 608p. Orbit, $28 (9780316705875); e-book,
$14.99 (9780316705882).
Idris Telemmier survived his second en-
counter with an Architect in the first book of
Tchaikovsky’s fabulous trilogy (Shards of Earth,
2021). The size of a moon and capable of re-
shaping an inhabited planet
into a lifeless work ot art,
Architects are an implacable
enemy. Idris is working at
a site created by another
mysterious race called the
Originators in order to un-
derstand why the worlds of
the Hegemony have been
immune to such demonstrations of “artistry.”
When an Architect appears and begins dis-
mantling the site, all the players who survived
the previous book scramble to keep Idris from
harm for their own reasons. His knowledge of
how to end the Architects’ reign of terror is
incomplete, but taken to an ancient research
station positioned above a hellish star that al-
lows him to see the structure and relationship
between Unspace and the Thoroughways that
allow interstellar travel, he has a precarious
chance. Tchaikovsky’s artistry is focusing on
a few key, well-wrought characters facing im-
possible odds in keeping Idris safe while allied
races turn against each other. This is space op-
era on the grand scale of Alastair Reynolds and
Stephen R. Donaldson, leavened by humor
and remarkable world building. —Don Vicha
The Ghost that Ate Us: The Tragic
True Story of the Burger City
Poltergeist.
By Daniel Kraus.
July 2022. 300p. illus. Raw Dog Screaming, $31.95
(9781947879423); paper, $18.95 (9781947879553).
On June 1, 2017, six people were killed at
Burger City #8 at Exit 269 off I-80 in Iowa.
Books and movies were produced about the
massacre. Was Kit Bryant a murderer, or were
they all the victims of an evil poltergeist?
Best-selling author Kraus (The Living Dead,
www.booklistonline.com
2020) sets out to write the definitive true-
crime account, visiting the charred remains
of the crime scene, interviewing survivors,
who have all experienced considerable weight
loss, and Bryant himself,
plagued by uncontrolled
weight gain, incarcerated in
a high-security mental-health
facility. Crisscrossing miles,
following leads, battling CO-
VID restrictions, supporting
his findings with research,
documentation, and foot-
notes, Kraus recounts his exhaustive work.
Except none of it happened. The entire
book—the crime, the YouTube videos, the
intimately detailed humans at the center of
this immersive story of relentlessly escalating
dread—is a work of fiction. The verisimilitude
is disorienting, forcing the reader to question
everything on the page, their own memories,
and at times, their sanity. Add to this anxiety-
rich meal an ending so creepy it will induce
a full-body shiver. For fans of titles as varied
as I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, by Michelle Mc-
Namara (2018), or Reprieve, by James Han
Mattson (2021). —Becky Spratford
YA: Because this book features high-school
aged characters, Kraus’ many teen fans will
line up for a chance to taste a Beefyburger,
no matter the psychic cost. BS.
Little Bird.
By Tiffany Meuret.
June 2022. 226p. Black Spot, paper, $15.95
(9781645480617).
In the wake of parental death and marital
collapse, Little Bird’s protagonist, Josie, may
not be happy, but she has her routine. Mas-
sage client egos while helping them deal with
their own problem customers, feed her dog,
and drink too much vodka. But her days of
endless emailing while limiting contact with
her also-grieving mother and disappointed ex-
husband come to an end with an unexpected
set of visitors—mysterious vines, a new neigh-
bor, and a talking skeleton. Neighbor Sue’s
cheerful weirdness and Skelly’s cryptic pro-
nouncements force Josie to confront trauma,
pain, and suppressed desires. Can Josie figure
out why Skelly visited her? Can she handle the
increasingly aggressive vines? And can she do
it before potential catastrophe strikes? Despite
some confusion concerning the main source
of urgency in the novel, the ending promises
fascinating adventures for this world. The fo-
cus on Josie’s internal life brings her to life as
a full and flawed person, one the reader can
only hope pulls herself together in time to
save herself, her dog, and maybe the world.
—Sarah Rice
Lost in the Archives.
By E. Saxey.
May 2022. 236p. Lethe, paper, $18 (9781590217238).
In their deft debut collection, Saxey delivers
stories ranging from the touching and poi-
gnant to the eerie and disturbing. Though the
16 stories are diverse in tone and cross many
24 Booklist May 1, 2022
genres, from historical fantasy to (as Saxey puts
it) near-future pessimism, a common motif is
the characters’ preoccupation with what each
of them can or should do to change the course
of the future for themselves, for their loved
ones, for their communities, for the world.
Standout stories include “No Children,”
featuring a family with a business locating sel-
kies’ stolen sealskins to enable them to escape
back to the sea; “Missing Episodes,” following
a washed-up actor, known for a past role on a
beloved sf series, who finds new purpose after
catching a glimpse of a possible future; and
“Red Kite Kindred,” in which a woman with a
mind bond to a bird of prey is horrified when
the children of her community’s colonizers
begin bonding with animals in a very untradi-
tional way. This collection will be enjoyed by
readers who like character-driven, speculative
fiction that is light on world building but big
on ideas. —Elena Gleason
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance.
By Foz Meadows.
July 2022. 544p. Tor, $27.99 (9781250829139); e-book,
$14.99 (9781250829146).
Political intrigue and personal redemption
are central to Meadows’ latest, a queer, ro-
mantic fantasy rife with violence, hope, and
emotional healing sparked by the arranged
marriage of two protagonists from countries
with vastly conflicting cultural mores. Velasin
vin Aaro, a third son with few prospects, is
called home by his father and unceremoni-
ously betrothed to Laecia Aeduria to solidify
relations between his home country Ralia and
its neighbor Tithena. When a graphically
described sexual assault dredges up parts of
his identity that are outlawed in Ralia, Vel
is given the option to wed Laecia’s brother
Caethari instead—which he does, effectively
exiling himself in Tithena. As Vel struggles
with the emotional and physical aftermath
of his assault while also learning to trust the
stranger he has wed, escalating violence from
an unknown source threatens not only their
lives but the very real possibility of lasting
love. While certain plot points are rather
too neatly concluded, readers will still find
themselves captivated by Meadows’ sumptu-
ous, well-crafted world and the healing and
growth ultimately experienced by the two
protagonists. —Judith Utz
A Taste of Gold and Iron.
By Alexandra Rowland.
June 2022. 480p. Tor.com, $27.99 (9781250800381);
e-book, $14.99 (9781250800404).
Kadou, prince of Arasht, finds himself at
odds with his sister Zeliha, the queen, and
must prove his loyalty to her and their land.
He’s also at odds with her lover and the bio-
logical father of her child, and when Kadou’s
right-hand man ruins an activity meant to
help them bond, she assigns Kadou a new
bodyguard to look after him. There’s also a
sinister plot to undermine their currency by
creating counterfeits, considered heresy in
their kingdom, to weaken their stance in the
world and bring them to ruin. Kadou is de-
termined to find who’s responsible and put
a stop to it, but this turns out to be compli-
cated and messy. Kadou’s coping with anxiety
and personal growth are a joy to watch as he
fully embraces his talents and comes out of
his shell with the help of Evemer, his body-
guard. The slow-burn romance between
them is beautifully done and adds a thrilling
element to the story that readers will savor.
While the plot is wrapped up nicely, Rowland
leaves room for a much-anticipated sequel.
—Carrie Rasak
We Can Never Leave This Place.
By Eric LaRocca.
June 2022. 110p. JournalStone/Trepidatio, $13.95
(9781685100230); e-book, $5.95 (9781685100247).
A young girl adrift in the grief caused by
her father’s death is confronted by monsters
known and unknown. Mara’s father was the
only one that loved her. Upon his death, she
is left with her mother, whose hatred of her
daughter is clear. It also quickly becomes clear
that the world around them is collapsing.
Outside of their house, men are patrolling and
killing anyone out on the road and resources
are scarce. A family friend offers to help them
get out of the country, but the mother has
other plans. She invites a monster, Rake, into
the house under the pretense of helping with
the grief. It quickly becomes clear that Rake
is there for other reasons. In the midst of up-
heaval, this figure swoops in to take what he
can from this mother and daughter. There
are moments of light, but primarily, this is
a story of darkness. This surreal horror story
is a journey of trauma, family secrets, grief,
and the unique ways people handle situations.
—Emily Whitmore
Witch 13.
By Patrick Delaney.
May 2022. 320p. illus. Oblivion, $17.99 (9781735525150).
Delaney (Silver’s Hollow, 2021) returns with
a tribute to the Grimms’ darker fairy tales
mixed with the grit of Stephen King’s The
Stand. After the disturbing chain of events
that sets off the narrative, the reader is intro-
duced to Sterling, a female officer tasked with
investigating a missing-person case. Although
starting off with linearity and a straightfor-
ward plot progression, the story fragments as
it goes on, switching points of view between
characters. Delaney highlights all the pockets
of Sterling’s life: the things she holds dear, all
her regrets, and most of all, the mysterious su-
pernatural attacks that keep happening to her.
As the story continues, more violence occurs
under bizarre circumstances. Sterling has to
deal with an enemy 10 steps ahead of her. She
must work harder than she ever has to save
those dearest to her from this witch entity—if
that is, in fact, what it is—even as her san-
ity hangs on by a thread. With supernatural
twists to enhance the psychological horror
and stunning artwork throughout, Witch 13
is a great choice for public-library collections.
—A. E. Siraki
www.booklistonline.com

After the Lights Go Out.
By John Vercher.
June 2022. 288p. Soho, $26 (9781641293310); e-book,
$14.99 (9781641293327).
The greatest boxing novels, from W. C.
Heinz’s The Professional in 1958 through
Willy Vlautin’s Don’t Skip Out on Me in 2018,
don’t need much overt crime to make them
noir, though there’s usually
a crooked manager involved
somehow. The brutality
of the fight game and its
inevitable downward arc
provide enough darkness, as
in Vercher’s tragic tale (fol-
lowing Three-Fifths, 2019)
about mixed-race MMA
fighter Xavier Wallace. The locked cage in
which MMA combatants do battle is hardly
the only confining element in Xavier’s crush-
ing life. He’s alienated from his Black mother,
Evelyn; his white father, Sam, is drifting
into final-stages dementia, spewing long-
suppressed racist venom; and Xavier himself
is fighting chronic traumatic encephalopathy
(CTE), or pugilistic dementia. And, yet, he
must climb into the cage one more time if
he is to free himself from the debt he owes
his cousin (the crooked manager). The fight-
game story is enough to drive most novels,
but this one goes way beyond that. The scenes
involving Xavier and his father are agonizing
in their soul-shattering horror; the portrait of
the Black nursing-home worker who absorbs
Sam’s abuse is breathtaking in its complexity;
and Xavier’s internal battle as his brain func-
tions fail him brings home the quintessential
noir emotion of powerlessness. This is a dif-
ficult novel to read, but there is a deep and
sustaining humanity at its core. —Bill Ott
Ashton Hall.
By Lauren Belfer.
June 2022. 416p. Ballantine, $28 (9780593359495).
Belfer’s (And After the Fire, 2016) first fully
contemporary work may seem a departure for
the acclaimed historical novelist, but she hasn’t
left the past behind. Her exquisitely illumi-
nated story offers the vicarious indulgence of
a stay at an English country house combined
with an Elizabethan-era mystery and a medi-
tation on women’s age-old struggles between
independence and motherhood. Circum-
stances involving a beloved, ill relative bring
American Hannah Larson and her neurodi-
vergent nine-year-old son, Nicky, to Ashton
Hall, near Cambridge. Exploring the manor’s
long-abandoned upper floors, Nicky discov-
ers a woman’s skeleton. She had been sealed
into her room, alongside a prie-dieu or prayer
desk, books, and other comforts. Was she im-
prisoned, or had she lived there willingly? This
isn’t a standard Gothic tale of suspense; there
are no supernatural elements. But this mystery
does haunt Hannah. While contemplating her
husband’s infidelity and her lack of financial
autonomy and grappling with Nicky’s difficult
behavior, Hannah reassembles the woman’s
life and times via centuries-old letters, house-
www.booklistonline.com
Art from The Thousand Crimes
of Ming Tsu, by Tom Lin.
Spotlight on Mysteries & Thrillers
hold accounts, and library records with the
help of new friends. Belfer shows how history
is a tangibly close presence. —Sarah Johnson
Backstory.
By William L. Myers.
June 2022. 320p. Oceanview, $27.95 (9781608094905);
e-book, $14.95 (9781608094912).
An attractive theme: a man awakens from a
bout of unconsciousness and can’t remember
anything, including who he is. Noir master
Cornell Woolrich did a haunting turn on the
same idea in his 1941 classic The Black Cur-
tain, having his victim walk the streets by day,
hoping to meet someone who will tell him
his name. This one’s a little different. Myers’
hero, Jackson Hunter, comes out of his fog
with a vision. He’s at his wife’s funeral. He’s
sure she’s been murdered, and he begins re-
grouping with a vow to find and destroy her
killer. There are heartbreaking scenes, as when
Hunter lays her clothes out on a bed and sleeps
next to them. And a tantalizing mystery, too:
Who entered Hunter’s house and left a key on
his desk, and what does it mean? This delight-
fully shuddery mix of detection and woo-woo
gives way suddenly to more-hard-boiled turf
with Hunter exploring a world of crime and
corruption. Readers who like the idea of mix-
ing Woolrich with Chandler will be right at
home. —Don Crinklaw
Bad Actors.
By Mick Herron.
May 2022. 360p. Soho, $27.95 (9781641293372).
Herron’s Slough House series, starring a
group of MI5 rejects written off to the deep
minors of British espionage, has long been a
critics’ favorite, but this eighth installment,
buoyed by a new TV series, may be the one to
launch it to the genre strato-
sphere. The “slow horses”
of Slough House are mired
in busywork as usual (“You
could spend all day shovel-
ing sand, but if you were
standing on a beach, the
results weren’t noticeable”),
but their foul-mouthed, ill-
kempt leader, Jackson Lamb, both the biggest
reject of all and an eccentric genius, has a plan
to get some of his own back while bedevil-
ing one of his many antagonists, MI5 chief
Diana Taverner. “Superforecaster” Sophie de
Greer, the prodigy of the PM’s chief advisor,
has disappeared amid rumors that she may
be a Russian spy. Can Lamb turn the slow
horses loose to find de Greer, simultaneously
embarrassing Taverner and bringing down
Adult
the power-hungry chief advisor? Lamb on
the rampage is a joy to behold (“Get the bit
between my teeth,” he explains, “I’m like a
dog with a boner.”), and Taverner’s enlarged
role here is an additional delight, as she fights
against becoming a high-level slow horse her-
self. If le Carré brought moral ambiguity to the
spy novel in place of Bondian glamour, Herron
one-ups the master by showing us that ambi-
guity has its uncouth comedic side. —Bill Ott
HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The
recently launched Apple TV series Slow
Horses, starring Gary Oldman as Jackson
Lamb, will bring Herron an avalanche of
new readers.
The Change.
By Kirsten Miller.
May 2022. 480p. William Morrow, $27.99
(9780063144040); e-book, $14.99 (9780063144064).
Miller, the author of the Kiki Strike se-
ries for young readers, has woven a pointed,
punchy, and potent thriller for adults. The sto-
ry of three suburban women reads as though
Rebecca Solnit’s The Mother
of All Questions (2017) col-
lided with Tana French’s
Dublin Murder Squad series
and a dash of the TV show
Charmed and produced
a tale that is both a well-
paced, supernatural crime
novel and a keen examina-
tion of modern misogyny. The change occurs
in a homogeneous Long Island town where
Nessa, Jo, and Harriet are grappling with the
variety of challenges that accompany middle-
aged womanhood. They are brought together
by both these typical changes of midlife and
the unusual changes of emerging supernatural
powers, which include Nessa’s ability to hear
and see the dead. Led by Nessa’s encounters
with the ghost of a young girl, the three un-
cover a terrible darkness that has long harmed,
and often killed, women and girls in their
town. They band together to use their unique
gifts to discover the sources of this darkness
and enact revenge. The Change is wry and
clever, serious and exacting, and masterfully
suspenseful in its conveyance of a deeply pro-
found and feminist message. —Julia Maxwell
Death and Hard Cider.
By Barbara Hambly.
June 2022. 256p. Severn, $28.99 (9780727850744); e-book
(9781448308989).
It’s 1840, and William Henry Harrison is
making his run for the American presiden-
cy. Professional pianist and amateur sleuth
May 1, 2022 Booklist 25
 Benjamin January has been hired to play at
festivities in New Orleans. When a woman is
Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers murdered, and Benjamin’s friend is accused
Spotlight

of the crime, he discovers

that the search for the truth
T he best crime novels reviewed in Booklist from May 1, 2021,
through April 15, 2022, breathe new life into some genre sta-
ples—the extended chase story and the psychosexual thriller, for
will put him up against
some of the most powerful
people in the country. This
example—while confronting contemporary social and racial issues and is the nineteenth Benjamin
delivering a remarkable range of fully fleshed characters. —Bill Ott January mystery, but it is
Billy Summers. By Stephen King. 2021. Scribner $30 (9781982173616). in every way as fresh as the
first in the series, 1997’s A
In this take on the one-last-job trope, King has multiple elements in
Free Man of Color. January is a wonderful
play—a thriller, two coming-of-age stories, and a road novel—and he character: he was born to enslaved parents
knits them together beautifully, never missing a stitch. but was freed when he was a child, received
City on Fire. By Don Winslow. 2021. Morrow, $28.99 (9780062851192). his medical training in Paris (he’s a surgeon),
and now makes his living as a musician. He’s
This immersive first volume in a trilogy, set in 1986 Providence,
not a professional sleuth, and in fact we get
Rhode Island, combines a gang war with a passionate family drama the impression he’d be perfectly content if he
centered on conflicted Irish Mob leader Danny Ryan. never had to involve himself in another crime,
Dream Girl. By Laura Lippman. 2021. Morrow, $28.99 but a good man can’t ignore an injustice. As
always, the historical backdrop is vivid, and
(9780062390073).
the writing is exquisite. One of the best in a
Lippman’s stunningly intricate stand-alone, about a writer accused not-to-be-missed series. —David Pitt
of stealing the plot of his breakthrough novel, is both a beguiling look
at the mysteries of authorship and a powerful #MeToo story, but Death and the Decorator.
that’s only the tip of a devilishly jagged iceberg. By Simon Brett.
July 2022. 192p. Severn, $28.95 (9780727850676).
Five Decembers. By James Kestrel. 2021. Hard Case Crime, $22.95 A boarded-up alcove in a falling-apart
(9781789096118). Victorian rectory leads to mystery in this
Kestrel’s magnificent debut traverses not only Hawaii in the days twenty-eighth installment of Brett’s Fether-
before December 7, 1941, but also Hong Kong at the time of the ing series. Back again is the fiftyish detective
Japanese invasion and Tokyo through the course of the war. A tran- duo of Carole Seddon, retired from the Home
scendent love story and a gripping thriller. Office and extremely rigid
in attitude, and the super-
The Island. By Adrian McKinty. 2022. Little, Brown, $28 relaxed New Age healer Jude
(9780316531283). Nichols. Their cottages in the
During a vacation gone horribly wrong, Heather Baxter and her two coastal village of Fethering
stepchildren find themselves on the run across a forbidding Australian are next door to each other,
landscape. McKinty combines an expertly choreographed chase with a but their opinions and life-
wonderfully textured family-in-peril story. styles remain galaxies apart.
Much of the fun in the series
One-Shot Harry. By Gary Phillips. 2022. Soho, $26.95 (9781641292917). continues to come from the ways in which
In 1963 L.A., Black photographer Harry Ingram investigates the death Brett portrays his heroines’ relationship—
of a Korean War buddy. Phillips vividly captures the politics and popu- they can’t understand each other, but they
lar culture of the era as well as the ubiquitous racism and police brutality that threatened band together to solve tiny Fethering’s amaz-
everyone in the Black community. ing number of murders. This time, Jude
consults with Pete, Fethering’s well-respected
Razorblade Tears. By S. A. Cosby. 2021. Flatiron, $26.95 (9781250252708). decorator, on a color scheme for her cottage.
Two ex-cons, a Black businessman and a white alcoholic, are brought together after She meets him at the old rectory, which has
their sons, who were married to each other, are murdered. A pulsing thriller and a nu- gone through any number of changes and is
anced reflection on racism and homophobia. now being converted into holiday flats. As
they consult, Pete hammers opens a plywood
Secret Identity. By Alex Segura. 2022. Flatiron, $27.99 (9781250801746). panel, revealing a woman’s handbag contain-
Carmen Valdez comes to New York in 1973, hoping to break into the comics industry, ing little except a passport. Police dismiss the
only to be denied credit for the superhero she helps create. A compelling, noir-shaded case as not just cold but dead, since the wom-
thriller. an disappeared more than 20 years ago. Jude
and Carole plug away, using their contacts
Shoot the Moonlight Out. By William Boyle. 2021. Pegasus, $25.95 (9781643138251). to tap into the vast reservoir of village gossip
Boyle returns to the stunted yet fleetingly hopeful lives of various working-class charac- and history, and eventually uncovering secrets
ters in 1990s southern Brooklyn, exploring bad choices made by essentially good (or not of cruelty and abuse held within the much-
altogether bad) people. converted rectory. An edgy cozy, filled with
dry wit and deft plot twists. —Connie Fletcher
The Turnout. By Megan Abbott. 2021. Putnam, $27 (9780593084908).
In her latest look at the athletic obsessions of teenagers, Abbott examines the psycho- December ’41.
sexual undercurrents lurking at the Durant School of Dance, where two sisters groom By William Martin.
aspiring ballerinas to perform The Nutcracker, “a young girl’s dream of peering over the June 2022. 304p. Forge, $27.99 (9780765384249); e-book,
precipice into the dark furrow of adulthood.” $14.99 (9780765384263).
Americans, still reeling from Pearl Harbor,

26 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com

may have another shock coming. FDR insists
on sticking with the plan to turn on the lights
of the national Christmas tree in a public cer-
emony scheduled for December 24 on the
White House lawn. But Nazi agent Martin
Browning is sticking to another plan: assas-
sinate the president just before he pulls the
switch to light the tree. And, now, it looks like
Browning may be able to get two for the price
of one: Winston Churchill is in Washington
and will be at FDR’s side on the lawn. On the
road to the Christmas Eve showdown, Martin
concocts a devilishly complex and lusciously
detail-rich thriller that winds its way from
Hollywood, where script reader Kevin Cusack,
who earns extra money posing as a member of
the German Bund, picks up chatter about an
assassination plot. Could it involve the Leslie
Howard look-alike (Browning) working in a
Los Angeles clothing store? Echoing Ken Fol-
lett’s classic Eye of the Needle, Martin builds
tension superbly while surrounding the as-
sassin and his pursuer with a rich panoply of
supporting players and backstories. —Bill Ott
The Disinvited Guest.
By Carol Goodman.
July 2022. 336p. Morrow, $28.99 (9780063248991);
e-book, $11.99 (9780063020719).
“Go back where you came from!” Lucy
Harper’s party of six receives this warning en
route to her husband’s fam-
ily’s retreat on an island in
Maine. It’s been 10 years
since the 2020 pandemic,
and a new, even-deadlier
virus is forcing people into
isolation. Lucy has health
issues, including PTSD
from her battle for life the
first time around, and the eerie setting makes
her feel “that the death I’d avoided 10 years
ago has been waiting here for me all along.”
The island was ostensibly cursed by a colonial
witch who was buried alive there, and in the
mid-nineteenth century, it provided plague
quarantine for Irish immigrants. One of the
nursing sisters is said to appear as the Grey
Lady. An old journal that Lucy discovers tells
of satanic rituals and an antlered man, a “stag
on two legs.” The journal entries are heart-
rending and mingle perfectly with Lucy’s
first-person narrative. Real-life issues begin
to drive the party apart. Apparently, there
was a great deal that Lucy wasn’t told about
what happened on the island in 2020. Good-
man, a master genre-blender, has integrated
elements of Mary Roberts Rinehart’s “had-
I-but-known” gambit and Agatha Christie’s
“alone-on-an-island” theme to come up with
a real winner. “The island ties a knot in your
heart that binds you to it.” —Jane Murphy
The Drowning Sea.
By Sarah Stewart Taylor.
June 2022. 352p. Minotaur, $27.99 (9781250826657);
e-book, $14.99 (9781250826664).
The Maggie D’arcy detective series contin-
ues with this third installment. After resigning
www.booklistonline.com
Top 10 Debut Mysteries & Thrillers
Spotlight
T his year’s top-10 crime fiction debuts, reviewed in Booklist over
the last year, showcase domestic thrillers—perhaps today’s hot-
test subgenre—along with some noir and several gripping historical
mysteries. —Bill Ott
The Bangalore Detectives Club. By Harina Nagendra. 2022.
Pegasus, $26.95 (9781639361601).
Set in colonial India in 1921, this first in a projected series makes
effective use of the oppressive British rule of the time to highlight
the ingenuity and bravery of a young woman determined to solve a
murder.
Don’t Know Tough. By Eli Cranor. 2022. Soho, $27.95
(9781641293457).
Driven by the crackle of Cranor’s electric prose, this hard-edged but
deeply moving noir, set in the world of high-school football, pits a star
running back against an uncompromising world looking for its pound
of flesh.
The Favor. By Nora Murphy. 2022. Minotaur, $27.99 (9781250822420).
Leah, a woman in a psychologically abusive marriage, happens to see
that another woman is in a situation even more dangerous than her
own and takes desperate action to protect a person she’s never met.
Five Decembers. By James Kestrel. 2021. Hard Case Crime, $22.95
(9781789096118).
Kestrel’s stunning WWII thriller has earned the Booklist Spotlight on
Mystery daily double: in addition to appearing on this list, it’s also one
of our 2022 Top 10 Crime Fiction titles. (See description on opposite
page.)
A Good Mother. By Lara Bazelon. 2021. Hanover Square, $16.95
(9781335916099).
Hard-nosed public defender and new mother Abby Rosenberg
jumps at the chance to represent another new mother, a magnetic
19-year-old accused of stabbing her husband.
Greenwich Park. By Katherine Faulkner. 2022. Gallery, $27
(9781982150310).
Four Cambridge students observe something shocking but are
afraid to tell anyone; years later, with the four now living in London, that decision comes
back to haunt them in this highly imaginative thriller, which packs punch after shocking
punch.
Never Saw Me Coming. By Vera Kurian. 2021. Park Row, $27.99 (9780778311553).
Someone is killing university students taking part in a study of people exhibiting psy-
chopathic behavior. Chloe, one of the students, needs to find the killer quickly, lest she is
thwarted in her own plans for a revenge murder.
Pay Dirt Road. By Samantha Jayne Allen. 2022. Minotaur, $22 (9781250804273).
Annie McIntyre, a recent college grad, joins her grandfather’s detective agency in her
hardscrabble Texas hometown and sets out to find the killer of a young woman. A tex-
tured coming-of-age story, rich in both atmosphere and character building.
The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu. By Tom Lin. 2021. Little, Brown, $28
(9780316542159).
In Lin’s Carnegie Medal–winning debut, set in 1869 Utah, Ming Tsu is on his way to kill
the five men who had him sentenced to forced labor building the Central Pacific Railroad.
The Violin Conspiracy. By Brendan Slocumb. 2022. Anchor, $28 (9780593315415).
In this this galvanizing blend of thriller, coming-of-age drama, and probing portrait of
racism, Black violin prodigy Ray McMillian is preparing for the celebrated Tchaikovsky Com-
petition when his violin, a Stradivarius inherited from his great-great-grandfather, is stolen.
May 1, 2022 Booklist 27
 from her job as a Long Island homicide detec-
tive, Maggie rents a cottage for the summer
with her boyfriend and their teenagers on the
Spotlight

remote coastline of West Cork, Ireland. She

Booklist is immediately intrigued by the abandoned
Rosscliffe manor house, the former Crawford
family estate. Is someone watching from the
Read-alikes window? Could it be a ghost? When the re-
mains of a missing man wash ashore near the
Women as Spies big house, Maggie unofficially involves herself
in the investigation. Was it murder or suicide
by Bill Ott or a terrible accident? When another dead
body is found at the same location, the inves-
Art from Transcription, by Kate Atkinson. tigation intensifies amid speculation that the
two deaths are connected. In this atmospheric
Gothic mystery, Taylor weaves Irish history

W hen the Iron Curtain fell, pundits predicted the death of the spy novel. How wrong
they were. We now know that Russia would remain an adversary of the West long
after the Berlin Wall came crashing down, but beyond that, the pundits forgot that the
and folklore together with secrets and hid-
den relationships to reveal potential motives,
such as xenophobia. This story, which could
best spy novels have always been about secrets and questions of loyalty to ideology or to be read as a stand-alone, is perfect for readers
individuals, human concerns that will be with us forever. They also failed to realize that a of Wendy Webb, Ellie Griffiths, Sarah Waters,
new generation of writers would deepen the resonance of spy stories by focusing on a and Simone St. James. —Jayme Oldham
different kind of protagonist—women. Like The Lunar Housewife (review
adjacent), the books on this list feature women as spies and women thrust
into the perfidious world of those seeking to exploit the secrets of others. The Lunar Housewife.
By Caroline Woods.
Our Woman in Moscow. By Beatriz Wiliams. 2021. Morrow, $27.95 June 2022. 320p. Doubleday, $28 (9780385547833).
(9780063020788). Woods’ historical thriller tells two related stories, one
In 1952, New Yorker Ruth Macallister receives a plea for help from her about the CIA’s audacious plan to use American literature
sister, Iris, who defected to Moscow with her husband after WWII. Ac- as propaganda against the Soviets, the other about one
companied by a CIA agent posing as her husband, Ruth travels to Moscow, woman’s attempt to escape the cloister in which men are
a reluctant spy. Williams, effectively juggling the narrative between the determined to confine her. Louise Leithauser is an aspir-
points of view of Ruth, Iris, and a Russian KGB agent, moves back and forth ing writer in 1950s New York whose articles for a literary
in time to build all the principals into full-bodied characters while deliver- magazine, Downtown, based partially
ing a detail-rich portrait of grayed-out Moscow. on the Paris Review (one of the journals
actually funded by the CIA), can only
Safe Houses. By Dan Fesperman. 2018. Knopf, $26.95 (9780525520191). appear under a male pseudonym. On
In 1979 Berlin, Helen Abel is a low-level CIA agent when she witnesses the side, she is writing an SF romance
a source attempting to rape a suspect. Helen intercedes and escapes called The Lunar Housewife about a
the inevitable blowback, but it catches up to her eventually. The level of woman who defects to the USSR. Her
treachery and betrayal, personal and otherwise, depicted here is byzantine boyfriend and one of Downtown’s edi-
in its complexity, burrowing its way into inner lives. tors, Joe Martin (loosely based on Peter
Matthiessen), derides her novel and
The Secrets We Kept. By Lara Prescott. 2019. Knopf, $26.95 then radically edits her interview with Ernest Hemingway.
(9780525656159). More examples of not being taken seriously as a writer, or
Like Caroline Woods’ The Lunar Housewife (review adjacent), Prescott’s could someone else be pulling a different set of nefarious
best-selling debut deals with the CIA’s real-life scheme to use literature— strings at Downtown? And did Joe’s fellow editor really die
of an accidental drug overdose? Chunks of the sf novel are
in this case, Pasternak’s Dr. Zhivago—to help fight the Cold War. The core
interspersed along the way, and while this tactic effectively
of the book concerns a group of women in the Company’s typing pool, displays Louise’s growing feminist point of view, it tends to
who work on the Zhivago project, some of them recruited to become pull readers out of the thoroughly fascinating main plot,
double agents. That the women of the typing pool know more about who in which a determined woman spies on suspected spies.
keeps which secrets, personal as well as political, is the driving force be- The tantalizing slice of literary history, combined with the
hind this totally absorbing tale. revealing look at good-old-boy sexism in postwar publish-
ing, will draw readers across multiple genres. —Bill Ott
Tightrope. By Simon Mawer. 2015. Other, $15.95 (9781590517239).
Marian Sutro, a WWII British spy, is gradually drawn into the game again,
after she’s recruited to turn a Russian spy she knew in the war. But is Mar-
ian a British agent, a Russian double-agent, or is she pretending to be both while actually Fatal Conflict.
By Matt Hilton.
being neither, a woman with no real identity, trolling for an elusive sense of self lost after
June 2022. 240p. Severn, $28.99 (9780727850751); e-book
too many years of tradecraft? (9781448309009).
Transcription. By Kate Atkinson. 2018. Little, Brown, $28 (9780316176637). Hilton was a policeman in England, where
Juliet Anderson worked for MI5 in WWII as a transcriber, boring work until suddenly it he now devotes his time to writing American
private eye novels. His success is on display
wasn’t. Now, in 1950, she’s a radio producer at the BBC when the past crashes back into
in this ninth in the Tess Gray series featuring
her life. Evoking Graham Greene’s The Human Factor, this is a wonderful novel about the Maine PI and her associate and fiancé,
making choices, failing to make them, and living, with some degree of grace, the lives our Po Villere. Many familiar genre themes are
choices determine for us. here: redemption, revenge, poetic justice.

28 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com

 MYSTERIOUS READS
FROM HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS!
 And there’s blood, too, drops “the size of ripe
cherries” falling from a wound. Po, who spent
years in prison after killing the man who mur-
Spotlight
dered his father, now spends his days seeking
justice for the meek, a word that doesn’t de-
scribe Tess, who starts this whole shebang
going by kicking a bad guy in the shin. Turns
out the bad guy is looking to harm a man Tess
and Po know, so they decide to find the man
first. Hilton reveals the story behind the story
gradually leading up to an epic bloodbath
that’s just right for the hard-boiled crowd.
Hilton has the American tough-guy lingo
down, too, but with delightful Britishisms
salting the pages. —Don Crinklaw
Forever Past.
By Marty Ambrose.
June 2022. 192p. Severn, $28.99 (9781448308576); e-book
(9781448308842).
The finale in the Claire Clairmont trilogy
has Claire, Mary Shelley’s stepsister and the
sole surviving member of the Byron/Shel-
ley circle, looking for her daughter, Allegra,
whom Byron, the girl’s father, sent to live in a
convent in Bagnacavallo, Italy, before he went
off to fight in the Greek revolution. Claire,
now 73, was told that Allegra died in a ty-
phus epidemic, but there are indications that
she may have survived. Meanwhile, people
close to Claire and her niece, Paula, may be
conspiring to obtain Claire’s letters from both
FELIX FRANCIS RETURNS
TO THE U. S., JULY 2022
HC | 9781639102921 | 7.12.2022
30 Booklist May 1, 2022
Byron and Shelley. Someone clearly wants se-
crets from the circle’s time together to remain
hidden. Claire and a group of friends set out
for the convent determined to confront the
abbess and learn the truth. But can Claire
trust her supposedly faithful companions?
Readers who have been following Claire’s ad-
ventures will be anxious to find the answers,
and those new to the series will want to catch
up by reading the first two installments, A
Shadowed Fate (2020) and Claire’s Last Secret
(2018). —Barbara Bibel
The Gatekeeper.
By James Byrne.
June 2022. 304p. Minotaur, $27.99 (9781250805768);
e-book, $14.99 (9781250805775).
Let’s start with the hero’s terrific name:
Desmond Aloysius “Dez”
Limerick. Makes you think
a book has to be pretty
cool if its main character
has a name like that. And
you’d be right. This story
of a retired mercenary who
foils assassination attempts,
rescues women, and busts
open conspiracies is everything fans of over-
the-top adventure would want it to be. Dez
has seen action (he’s covered in “scars, burns,
tattoos, and bullet wounds”), but right now,
he just wants a little down time in a nice
“Irresistible.”
—The New York Times
“Riveting throughout.”
—Booklist,
starred review, on Pulse
AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
penguinrandomhouse.com
California hotel. Unfortunately, he can’t sit
idly by while a team of armed men swarms
through the hotel, and, of course, he can’t let
them murder an innocent woman. It’s hard
to believe this is Byrne’s first novel: it’s so
sure-handed, so cleverly written, so very dif-
ficult to put down. Dez has a bit of Die Hard’s
John McClane in him and a bit of Lee Child’s
Jack Reacher, too, but he is much more than
an amalgam of other characters. In a genre
packed with burly, think-on-your-feet heroes,
Dez is something new and fresh. He leaps off
the page and into our imaginations. We can
only hope there will be more Dez Limerick
books to come. —David Pitt
Good Husbands.
By Cate Ray.
June 2022. 352p. Park Row, paper, $16.99
(9780778333203).
Jess, Priyanka, and Stephanie are three
women who have never met each other, but
unknowingly share a terrible secret from the
past. When a stranger writes them each a let-
ter revealing their husbands’ participation in a
terrible crime 30 years ago, each woman must
choose how to move forward with this new-
found knowledge. Their emotions range, with
Jess pushing to do the right thing, Priyanka
earnestly seeking the truth while still hop-
ing her husband is innocent, and Stephanie
hoping they can continue on as if they nev-
www.booklistonline.com
 MYSTERIES, MURDERS,
AND MAYHEM
THRILLING NEW MUST-READS FROM FORGE
9781250839107 | 5.24.22
Evan Ryder returns to uncover
an international conspiracy
against American democracy.
9781250773982 | 7.12.22
“Heart-stopping danger will make
you race through the pages.”
—LIV CONSTANTINE
9781250810144 | 5.31.22
Family, memories both golden
and terrible, and secrets too
dangerous to stay hidden.
9781250814975 | 7.19.22
A timely account of the
lengths those with power
will go to preserve it.
9780765384249 | 6.7.22
“Another masterpiece
from a master.”
—STEVE BERRY
9781250843272 | 8.9.22
Next in the bestselling series that
Stephen King calls “without a
doubt the most original mystery
series currently available.”
9781250827197 | 6.28.22
“An enthralling tale of
disappearances, deaths, dark
secrets, and corporate evil.”
—DOUGLAS PRESTON
9781250834225 | 10.18.22
“Rosen’s smart, bittersweet
tale plays with the oldest
truth of all: the price we pay
for our identity in America.”
—WALTER MOSLEY
 er received the letters. As the women begin
to work together to uncover the truth, they
are each forced to choose whether to protect
Spotlight
the men they love, or seek out justice for the
victims of the crime. Cate Ray, who has pub-
lished previously under the pseudonym Cath
Weeks, does a good job building the story
through the revolving lens and voice of each
of the three women. Good Husbands is a good
fit for readers of domestic mysteries bordering
on suspense. —Margaret Howard
Harlem Sunset.
By Nekesa Afia.
June 2022. 304p. Berkley/Prime Crime, $16
(9780593199121); e-book, $11.99 (9780593199138).
In this second Harlem Renaissance Mystery
(following Dead Dead Girls, 2021), Louise
“Lovie” Lloyd is still coming to grips with
her kidnapping, her sister Celia’s death, and
the killing of the man responsible for it all.
It is now 1927. Lovie is turning 27 and has
found the perfect gig, managing a hot new
club called the Dove, owned by her friend
Rafael Moreno. Louise is in a romantic rela-
tionship with Rafael’s sister, Rosa Maria. On
the morning after Lovie’s birthday celebra-
tion, a woman is lying dead in the middle of
the Dove’s dance floor. None of the party has
any memory of the previous night. The po-
lice point the finger at Rosa Maria. At once
brazen and riddled with self-doubt, Lovie,
determined to clear Rosa Maria and solve the
crime, comes under attack. Her apartment
is vandalized, she’s almost run over, and she
receives scandalous photographs of herself,
which are published in a newspaper. She tri-
umphs and makes a decision that will change
the course of her life. Lovie’s fans will follow
wherever she goes. —Jane Murphy
Hatchet Island.
By Paul Doiron.
June 2022. 320p. Minotaur, $27.99 (9781250235138);
e-book, $14.99 (9781250235145).
If you can’t make it to coastal Maine this
summer, let Doiron take you there in your
armchair. The aromas and seascapes are
intense when Maine game warden Mike
Bowditch and his girlfriend,
Stacey Stevens, kayak across
some turbulent waters to
Baker Island, where the at-
mosphere matches the surf.
Stacey was once a summer
intern there at a sanctuary
for seabirds, including some
endangered, roly-poly puf-
fins. One of her former colleagues, a biologist,
has reached out to her, concerned that she and
others are being stalked at night by a trespasser
from a neighboring island. And the project’s
founder has gone missing. After a restless
night of camping, Mike and Stacey are awak-
ened by a gunshot. They find two members of
the sanctuary’s team brutally bludgeoned and
left in macabre poses. Mike looks for answers
on nearby Ayer’s Island, home to a legendary
and eccentric photographer. Is it possible this
32 Booklist May 1, 2022
man, or his peculiar protégé, would kill for
art’s sake? The island’s inhabitants, living there
free at the photographer’s behest, are reluctant
to share any information. The awful truth is
revealed on a third island, Hatchet Island,
site of an abandoned quarry. Following Dead
by Dawn (2021), Doiron again delivers what
we’ve come to expect from this series: bril-
liant characterizations, relentless action and
suspense, and an intricately plotted narrative.
The perfect vacation read. —Jane Murphy
The It Girl.
By Ruth Ware.
July 2022. 432p. Gallery, $28.99 (9781982155261).
April Clarke-Cliveden was the It Girl.
“Whatever it was, she had it.” She was daz-
zlingly beautiful, rich, and
irrepressible. Her propensity
for playing practical jokes
knew no bounds. After her
roommate, Hannah, finds
April strangled in their
shared quarters at Oxford,
a university porter is con-
victed of the murder, thanks
in part to Hannah’s testimony against him.
He dies in prison 10 years later, still assert-
ing his innocence. Hannah is now pregnant
and married to April’s former boyfriend. The
media are after her, making her life miser-
able once again, and then one of their former
classmates tells Hannah something that leads
her to doubt what she saw—or thought she
saw. The narrative is related in brief alternat-
ing chapters, from “before” and “after.” Ware
develops both the reader’s doubts about and
concern for Hannah as the suspense builds
gradually under a masterful barrage of red
herrings. Hannah is certainly vulnerable, but
how reliable is she? Seasoned mystery read-
ers will ache for a vintage Inspector Morse to
magically appear in the vivid Oxford setting,
but Hannah must go it alone, determined
to learn the truth, through a harrowing con-
clusion. Like Ware’s earlier novels, this one
employs another closed setting, although it
eventually opens up to a wider world. Rivet-
ing. —Jane Murphy
The Last to Vanish.
By Megan Miranda.
July 2022. 352p. Scribner/Marysue Rucci, $27.99
(9781982147310); e-book, $14.99 (9781982147334).
This eerie thriller, in which the setting it-
self may be actively malevolent, can stand
next to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill
House and Stephen King’s
The Shining. Over the past
25 years, a string of visi-
tors has vanished from the
trails around a lodge in
Cutter’s Pass, North Caro-
lina, a mountainous region
that includes access to the
Appalachian Trail. The dis-
appeared include four fraternity brothers
(the first to vanish), a young woman who
completed her hike and then went missing
once she left the trail, and a journalist who
was investigating the disappearances until he
himself vanished. The past and present his-
tory of Cutter’s Pass is narrated by Abby, a
woman who has worked at the lodge for the
10 years since her life derailed. The miss-
ing journalist’s brother turns up, growing
increasingly paranoid and unhinged, and
Abby forms a very uneasy alliance with him
to solve the mystery. Abby is somewhat of a
mystery herself: What is the draw she feels
to this isolated area and to the people, at the
lodge and in town, whom she feels may be in
on a terrible secret? Expect shivers and lots of
them. —Connie Fletcher
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies.
By Misha Popp.
May 2022. 336p. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (9781643859958);
e-book, $13.99 (9781643859965).
Daisy has the magical ability to infuse
her pies with feelings. She can also use pies
to kill people, specifically men who have
harmed women. In addition, she makes pies
for a diner and to sell out of her van. When
she is blackmailed about her murder-pie
sideline by someone who wants her to kill
three women, she wonders if the culprit is
her purple-haired friend, Melly, whom she
met on the college campus, or Noel, the
farmer who owns the stall next to hers. She
is attracted to both and can’t believe either
wants to hurt her. As she uncovers clues,
Daisy realizes that the blackmailer may be
much closer to her than she believes. Daisy’s
family history, including the origin of her
magical abilities, add layers to a fascinating
heroine. The pie descriptions (aside from the
deadly ones) will leave readers hungry, and
the rapid pacing and tantalizing plot will
keep them engrossed in this strong debut.
—Amy Alessio
Monkey in the Middle.
By Loren D. Estleman.
June 2022. 192p. Forge, $25.99 (9781250827173); e-book,
$13.99 (9781250827180).
Trends in crime fiction wax and wane, but
Estleman’s Amos Walker, a hard-boiled PI
straight off Chandler’s mean streets, keeps
shuffling along well into the twenty-first cen-
tury, burning shoe leather, lighting cigarettes,
and sipping rye as if it were 1947. In his
thirtieth adventure, the Detroit gumshoe is
grieving the death of his ex-wife while trying
to protect two people: his client, a naive inves-
tigative journalist and former researcher for a
celebrated crime novelist (clearly based on
Elmore Leonard), and a whistleblower, Abe-
lia Hunt, who has raised the ire of the NSA.
It’s a complex story, full of switchbacks, but
the real joy here is watching Walker employ
old-school detecting techniques in a decid-
edly new world of cell phones and high-tech
tracking devices. Estleman can sling simi-
les with Chandlerian brio (driving through
a rainstorm, Walker notes that “the wipers
whooshed and thumped like idiots, signify-
ing nothing”), and his flair for describing a
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bedraggled cityscape is as razor-sharp as ever the suspense and visceral reality, they will if readers are familiar with the Austen crew,
(“Roofs sagged, chimneys leaned; every porch be sustained by the gallows humor and the but even without that, Gray (the pen name
was seceding from the rest of the house.”). warmth and caring that has developed be- of YA author Amy Vincent) provides plenty

Those who can’t get enough of fast-talking PIs
are in for a treat. —Bill Ott
The Murder Book.
By Mark Billingham.
July 2022. 416p. Atlantic Monthly, $26 (9780802159687);
e-book, $26 (9780802159694).
For a police detective, a murder book is
the file of a murder investigation, includ-
ing photographs, sketches, forensic reports,
witness interviews, etc. London DI Tom
Thorne’s murder book on
Stuart Nicklin is thick. An
absolute monster of a man
who lives only to inflict
pain on others, Nicklin is
at it again. A spate of grue-
some murders by a young
woman seemingly begging
to be caught turns out to
have been engineered by Nicklin. Thorne
caught him once, only to be tricked into let-
ting him escape, and this time he intends to
lock him up forever. A cacophony grows dai-
ly inside Thorne’s head, an “angry static,” as
those around him are threatened, and Nick-
lin takes to sending the inspector messages
carved into corpses. The narrative moves rap-
idly, and readers will find their own “static”
growing stronger with each page. Despite
tween Thorne and those closest to him. This
is the eighteenth book (after Cry Baby, 2020)
in a series that began in 2001 and has estab-
lished Thorne as one of British crime fiction’s
most iconic characters. Billingham is a mas-
terful plotter, and here he supplies a few
alarming teasers before delivering one of his
most amazing endings ever. —Jane Murphy
The Murder of Mr. Wickham.
By Claudia Gray.
May 2022. 400p. Vintage, paper, $17 (9780593313817).
What a splendid conceit! Emma and Mr.
Knightly are having a house party, and a
number of other characters from Jane Aus-
ten’s books have been invited. Among those
visiting Donwell Abbey are
newly married Colonel and
Marianne Brandon; clergy-
man Edmond Bertram and
his wife, Fanny; the Darcys,
along with their handsome
son, Jonathan; and young
Juliet Tilney, the clever
daughter of Northanger Ab-
bey’s Catherine and Henry. But then the
dastardly, uninvited Mr. Wickham arrives,
and his dark history with almost all of the
guests makes for no end of suspects after he
meets his demise. Of course, this works best
Spotlight
of backstory and enough depth to her char-
acters that even those who mix up their Pride
and Prejudice with their Sense and Sensibility
will delight in the Agatha Christie–style mys-
tery, nineteenth-century version. One of the
book’s surprising elements is Gray’s decision
to focus on Jonathan Darcy’s personal habits,
which today would put the young man on the
autism spectrum. It’s Jonathan’s ability to see
things differently that allows him and Juliet
to take the lead as the tale’s sleuths. There’s so
much fun to be had in this reimagined Austen
world—and the mystery is so strong—that
one can only hope, dear reader, that more
books will follow. —Ilene Cooper
Murder on the Spanish Seas.
By Wendy Church.
June 2022. 320p. Polis, $26.99 (9781951709853).
Fired again, Jesse O’Hara has reluctantly
agreed to join her girlfriend, Sam, on a luxury
cruise around the magnifi-
cent Iberian Peninsula, rich
in history and regional cui-
sine. The cruise hosts an
international crowd, with
lots of what Jesse calls “Ver-
sace this and Gucci that.”
What’s not to enjoy, espe-
cially for Jesse, who prides

“This action-packed thriller

is sure to please.”
IRENE HANNON, bestselling and
award-winning author

With over 700,000 copies of her books sold,

bestselling and award-winning author Dani Pettrey
continues to be a top name in romantic suspense.
She ratchets up the tension in her series conclusion
and delivers a heart-pounding story full of snappy
dialogue, thrilling romance, and unexpected
plot twists.

The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey

TP | 978-0-7642-3086-8 | $15.99
HC | 978-0-7642-3345-6 | $24.99

A division of Baker Publishing Group | bethanyhouse.com | Available from your sales rep or by calling Bethany House at (800) 877-2665
In Canada, contact Parasource Marketing and Distribution at (800) 263-2664

www.booklistonline.com May 1, 2022 Booklist 33

 herself on being able to order a drink and
curse in eight languages. But the Gold Sea
Explorer is no Love Boat. Yes, it offers plush
Spotlight
accommodations and high-end food, but
from the very beginning, when two men
try to force their way on board, the cruise is
plagued by one strange or dangerous experi-
ence after another. There are furtive Russians,
a backpack full of explosives, drug smugglers,
engine sabotage, a man overboard, Basque
resistance graffiti, and an emergency security
code in the night. Then, when Jesse and Sam
are returning from their first shore excursion,
a body is being brought down the gangplank.
Everyone is fortunate to have Jesse, a seasoned
investigator and expert witness in corporate
malfeasance cases, on board. With her pho-
tographic memory, her lockpicking set, and
access to the ship’s makerspace—full of Ar-
duino kits and components—Jesse is ready
to save the day. Fans of Janet Evanovich will
enjoy meeting the freewheeling Jesse, and this
debut gives an enticing hint of more adven-
tures to come. Armchair travelers and foodies,
rejoice! Go, Jesse. —Jane Murphy
The Next Time I Die.
By Jason Starr.
June 2022. 256p. Hard Case Crime, paper, $14.95
(9781789099515).
Starr follows Too Far (2019) with this
mind-bending, genre-blending tale of a law-
yer, Steven Blitz, who is stabbed to death in
a gas station parking lot, wakes up in a hos-
pital bed with no signs of injury, and quickly
discovers that the world is now very different.
Al Gore is president, and the events of 9/11
never happened. His phone is now a Sam-
sung, not an iPhone. There is no Google, no
Facebook. His wife, who had only yesterday
demanded a divorce, is now deeply in love
with him. Oh, and he has a daughter now.
What the hell is going on here? As Blitz navi-
gates his way through this new version of his
life and discovers he seems to be a nastier ver-
sion of himself in this altered world, we have
to wonder if we should be rooting for this guy.
Should we even like him? This won’t come as
any surprise to Starr’s fans, but the story is
dark, twisted, funny, frightening, and—in a
strange way—uplifting. —David Pitt
Playing Their Games.
By Kiki Swinson.
June 2022. 256p. Kensington/Dafina, $26 (9781496734129);
e-book, $22 (9781496734181).
Following the events of Playing with Fire
(2021), Yoshi Lomax is interning at the Man-
hattan law firm of twins Aaron and Noah,
who are friends of her parents. She is dating
Troy, a young attorney at the firm, and all ap-
pears to be going well until—following an
an evening of dinner with the partners and
a client—Yoshi is drugged and wakes up in
bed, naked and with no memory of what hap-
pened. Troy becomes violently angry with her,
and the client now wants to date her, raising
more questions about just what took place
after dinner. Meanwhile, Yoshi suspects the
34 Booklist May 1, 2022
twins of shady dealings and begins to look
into what’s really going on at the firm. Soon
she’s in the middle of a murder investigation.
The plot zooms along agreeably in this rap-
idly paced, surprise-filled thriller, and Yoshi is
a flawed but appealing heroine trying to get
beyond a life littered with the wrong men and
too much drama. —Amy Alessio
Point Last Seen.
By Christina Dodd.
June 2022. 384p. HQN, paper, $17.99 (9781335623973);
e-book, $9.99 (9780369720078).
Adam Ramsdell has retrieved a number of
different things from the Pacific Ocean, but
this is the first time he finds himself dragging
a woman’s dead body out of the water. How-
ever, it quickly turns out that
the woman in question only
seems to be dead. Once re-
vived, she has absolutely no
memory of anything except
that her first name might be
Elle, and she is certain some-
one tried to kill her. When
it comes to nerve-shredding,
edge-of-your-seat suspense, Dodd (Wrong
Alibi, 2020) consistently delivers the goods,
and her latest, the first in a new series set in
the small Northern California beach town of
Gothic, is no exception. Graced with a gutsy
yet realistically vulnerable heroine and a hero
with a tortured past, it is also enhanced with
a cast of ingeniously quirky supporting char-
acters that includes a Hollywood psychiatrist
turned psychic and a lifestyle doyenne who
could give Martha Stewart lessons in brand-
ing. Punctuated with delicious bursts of
Dodd’s diabolical wit, Point Last Seen is a gob-
smackingly great read. —John Charles
Seeing Strangers.
By Sebastian J. Plata.
June 2022. 304p. Polis/Agora, $26.99 (9781951709792);
e-book, $11.99 (9781951709983).
Greg is a 34-year-old translator married to
Spanish artist Cristian. Since the two, who
have been together for 11 years, have an open
marriage, Greg is no stranger to Grindr, the
gay hookup site. It’s there that he encounters
Russell, a successful TV producer. The two
meet, have several dates, and then Greg breaks
off the relationship, leaving Russell in tears.
Since “my libido has a life of its own,” Greg
moves on, meeting 22-year-old Elijah and be-
ginning an increasingly intense relationship.
What he doesn’t tell Elijah is that in three
months, when his and Cristian’s baby will ar-
rive, the open part of their marriage will close.
It appears there will be more tears before bed-
time, but in the meantime, the abandoned
Russell has begun to insinuate himself into
Greg’s life in increasingly dangerous ways
that reveal— to Greg, at least—that Russell
is a psychopathic stalker. In his first thriller,
Plata (Freak ’N’ Gorgeous, 2018) has written
an intriguing exercise in abnormal psychology
with enough twists and turns to keep readers
captivated to its teasing end. —Michael Cart
Shifty’s Boys.
By Chris Offutt.
June 2022. 272p. Grove, $27 (9780802159984); e-book, $27
(9780802159991).
Mick Hardin is still at home in the Kentucky
hills, on leave from the army and nursing a
shattered leg. As in The Killing Hills (2021),
he finds himself obligated to deal with a mess
driven by “killing for vengeance,” the plague
of the hill people. This time it’s Shifty Kis-
sick, matriarch of a drug-dealing family that
includes three sons, who comes calling, look-
ing for the murderer of her son Barney. Mick
reluctantly agrees to poke around—Shifty
may be the local Ma Barker, but there’s a heart
beating somewhere beneath the shotgun she
habitually holds at her chest. Then another of
Shifty’s brood, Mason, is found dead, raising
the ante dramatically (“Graveyard dirt ain’t
even tamped down yet,” Shifty says, “and I
got to dig another hole.”). When Shifty’s re-
maining son, gay marine Raymond, who, like
Mick, escaped the confining life of the Hills
in search of personal freedom, arrives in Ken-
tucky to help his mother, the two outsiders
team up, tracking the killers to an abandoned
mushroom farm now being used to stash toxic
materials. The stage is set for a firefight, with
Mick and Raymond keeping Mick’s coun-
try-sheriff sister well out of the loop. This is
country noir at its most powerful, combin-
ing cracking action with crystalline portraits
of rough-hewn but savvy characters tragically
forced to become “retribution killers” to stop
yet another cycle of violence. —Bill Ott
Two Nights in Lisbon.
By Chris Pavone.
May 2022. 448p. Farrar/MCD, $28 ( 9780374604769).
As was stunningly evident in his two Kate
Moore thrillers (The Expats, 2012, and The
Paris Diversion, 2019), Pavone has that spe-
cial ability to construct plots that are artworks
in their own right, marvels of architecture
and intelligence. He’s at it again in this jaw-
dropping thriller about a woman, Ariel Pryce,
who wakes up in Lisbon to find her husband,
financial consultant John Wright, missing and
possibly kidnapped. Much frustration follows,
as the Lisbon police and those at the American
Embassy doubt Ariel’s version of what hap-
pened. As we learn more of Ariel’s backstory,
including the reason why she is reluctant to
ask for help from a politician she knew in her
life before John, we go all in for this woman
who has survived abuse from multiple men
and who has reinvented herself several times,
moving from a failed actress to rich man’s wife
to “pregnant woman with no money and no
assets and no skills and no job.” And, through-
out it all, she has been “a disbelieved woman.”
Not this time, we think, even though we sort of
know Pavone could be setting us up. (Pro tip:
Pavone is always setting us up.) However, like
the great Ross Thomas, Pavone uses byzantine
plotting to do more than exhaust his readers;
with all their surprises, his plots are finally tools
to reveal character. Another jewel in an already-
bedecked crown. —Bill Ott
www.booklistonline.com

Youth Nonfiction
Older Readers
The British Are Coming: (Young
Readers Edition).
By Rick Atkinson.
June 2022. 208p. illus. Holt/Godwin, $19.99
(9781250800589). Gr. 6–9. 973.3.
That 45 tons of tea were thrown overboard
during the Boston Tea Party is just one of the
fascinating details that brings history alive in
this extraordinary survey of the Revolutionary
War, which covers from the Battle of Lexing-
ton and Concord in 1774
to the Battle of Princeton in
1777. Pulitzer Prize–win-
ning Atkinson (Battle of the
Bulge, 2016) writes with
beauty and insight in this
young-readers’ adaptation of
his adult, best-selling history.
Deeply researched, the book
constantly surprises in the telling of its story. For
example, King George’s reaction to the news of
the rebellion is “I am much hurt”; Louis XVI
of France is “indecisive and a bit dim-witted”;
and the Continental Army is “threadbare and
dying.” Parts of the book are familiar (those
covering Revere’s ride, Washington’s crossing
the Delaware, the Battle of Bunker Hill), but
others, such as the portion on the rebel efforts
in Canada, are less so. Though his campaigns
were not always successful, George Washington
emerges as the clear hero of the book, although
Benjamin Franklin, “burly with wispy gray
hair,” runs him a close second. Atkinson is cin-
ematic in his recreation of battles and candid in
acknowledging rebel defeats. The book gets a
further boost from historical portraits and ren-
derings of battles, a time line, and a helpful list
of key figures. A superb history, invaluable for
classroom use. —Michael Cart
Gender Inequality in Sports: From Title
IX to World Titles.
By Kirstin Cronn-Mills.
2022. 120p. illus. Lerner/Twenty-First Century, $37.32
(9781728419473). Gr. 7–12. 305.3.
Cronn-Mills begins this comprehensive
overview of the treatment of women’s sports
with an introduction to the problem of in-
equality, related terminology (e.g., equity,
feminism, systemic sexism), and the ultimate
question: “Why don’t we value women in
sports?” Persuasive text, supported by facts,
statistics, and quotes, leads readers through
the evolution of Title IX and how it im-
pacted the involvement of girls and women
in sports. Contending that Title IX has only
been “a Band-Aid,” however, the author con-
tinues to demonstrate persistent inequalities
in women’s sports, such as lower professional
pay and media coverage, and suggests chang-
ing mindsets to advocate for women’s sports.
While she primarily compares women’s and
men’s sports, Cronn-Mills also addresses
www.booklistonline.com
transgender and nonbinary athletes and is-
sues of acceptance and inclusivity. Enhancing
the narrative are lengthy spotlights on historic
and newsworthy topics in women’s history,
from the development of the sports bra to
the sexualization of women’s athletic wear to
Serena Williams as an intersectional athlete.
A thought-provoking look at women’s history
and its ongoing debates. —Angela Leeper
Glowing Bunnies!? Why We’re Making
Hybrids, Chimeras, and Clones.
By Jeff Campbell.
May 2022. 208p. illus. Lerner/Zest, paper, $19.99
(9781541599307); lib. ed., $39.99 (9781541599291). Gr. 7–12.
179.3.
Ligers (the product of a lion and tiger mat-
ing), aurochs resurrected from extinction,
self-destructing mosquitoes, spider goats,
and, yes, glowing bunnies are no longer fod-
der for science fiction but are genetically
engineered animals already in the works.
Rather than simply explaining the science
of genetically engineered animals, Camp-
bell uses a variety of projects and scenarios
to get readers to consider whether scientists
should genetically engineer animals. Divided
into five parts, this fascinating, detailed text
focuses on how genetic engineering could
help animal conservation and the extinction
crisis, restore damaged ecosystems, make ag-
riculture more efficient and less polluting,
create unusual and useful pets, and fight or
eliminate disease in both animals and hu-
mans. As Campbell takes readers through
different cases, such as bringing back the
woolly mammoth to restore the steppe in
the Arctic and modifying pig hearts to use
as transplants in humans, he presents safety
and ethical pros and cons, raises legal con-
siderations, and asks guided questions but
ultimately allows readers to decide for them-
selves. Periodic photos of already modified
animals further enhance this high-interest,
debatable topic. —Angela Leeper
Quake Chasers: 15 Women Rocking
Earthquake Science.
By Lori Polydoros.
2022. 224p. illus. Chicago Review, $16.99 (9781641606462).
Gr. 7–10. 551.22.
From Wendy Bohon, a geologist who has
mapped faults on massive peaks in the Hi-
malayas, to Clara Yoon, a mathematician and
computer programmer who developed soft-
ware to monitor seismic activity in Southern
California, to Peggy Hellweg, a geophysicist
who has studied seismic activity inside a
Chilean volcano, this collective biography
spotlights 15 women whose careers focus
on earthquake science. The profiles briefly
describe each woman’s formative years, inspi-
rations, education, research, and special job
skills. Most of the profiles also address gen-
der bias, sexism, and other inequities these
women have experienced in male-dominated
STEM careers. Although the book doesn’t
feature any photos or other visuals, each pro-
file offers related sidebars on topics such as
the San Andreas fault zone, tsunami science,
fracking, and even how to earn a PhD, and
concludes with that individual’s top three
tips for earthquake safety and a website or
social media link. Including seismologists,
physicists, volcanologists, professors, social
scientists, and communication specialists, the
book spans a variety of approaches to earth-
quake science and reinforces that there are
many paths in STEM. —Angela Leeper
Middle Readers
Fever: How Tu Youyou Adapted
Traditional Chinese Medicine to Find a
Cure for Malaria.
By Darcy Pattison. Illus. by Peter Willis.
2022. 32p. Mims, $23.99 (9781629441955). Gr. 2–5. 615.19.
This tells the story of Tu Youyou, a scientist
who found a cure for malaria and the first
Chinese woman to win the Nobel Prize. The
book is about how she achieved her dream of
helping the world and how ancient Chinese
medicine aided her in finding the cure. Start-
ing in the late 1960s, Tu tirelessly extracted
compounds from hundreds of plants in Chi-
nese medicine manuals and tested them,
sometimes even on herself. Failure after fail-
ure never deterred her. A breakthrough came
when she found a new method of extraction,
and after 190 more testing failures, her team
finally found a chemical that killed the virus
that causes malaria. Back matter tells more
about the huge personal sacrifices Tu made
to do her research, including not seeing her
two young daughters, at times for years.
While the outcome of this tale is inspiring
and triumphant, the emphasis on the hard
work and the costs Tu faced—and her stub-
bornness in the face of defeat—is a worthy
lesson. —Lydia Mulvany
Sky Wolf’s Call: The Gift of
Indigeneous Knowledge.
By Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger.
2022. 120p. illus. Annick, $24.95 (9781773216300); paper,
$14.95 (9781773216294). Gr. 6–8. 306.42.
This enlightening book explains how Indig-
enous people learn, practice, and pass along
traditional Indigenous knowledge of the
natural world. That knowledge weaves in the
idea that “everything is connected, the world
is a gift, the sacred is a vital part of knowing
and we are always learning.” It emphasizes
how important it is that this understanding
is retained and used to help combat some of
the issues facing Indigenous people today.
Did You Know?
We flag books published for adults with
notable teen appeal. Look for YA, YA/C,
and YA/S in the Adult Books section for
titles we recommend for YA readers.
May 1, 2022 Booklist 35
Yellowhorn (Piikani Nation) tells traditional
stories and uses contemporary examples to
illustrate these ideas. Chapters focus on the
knowledge of protecting the water, the sky,
the sacred role of fire and smoke, food se-
curity, healing ways, and the importance
of knowledge keepers
such as Elders. There is
great emphasis on being
in harmony with one’s
body for health and with
the earth to combat the
effects of climate change.
Throughout the book,
readers “meet” notable
and influential Indigenous people who have
made a difference, like water protectors
Wilma Mankiller (Oklahoma Cherokee),
George Heron (Seneca), and Autumn Peltier
(Anishinaabe, Wikwemikong Unceded Ter-
ritory). This relevant, timely, and appealingly
designed book is highly recommended for
young readers who are looking to learn more
about the knowledge and contributions of
Indigenous people. Included in the source
material are fact boxes, full-color photos, art-
work, a glossary, selected reading materials,
and an index. —Sharon Rawlins
So Much More to Helen! The
Passions and Pursuits of Helen
Keller.
By Meeg Pincus. Illus. by Caroline Bonne-
Müller.
2022. 32p. Sleeping Bear, $17.99 (9781534111516).
Gr. 1–Gr. 4. 362.4.
This picture book celebrates the many
accomplishments of Helen Keller, empha-
sizing remarkable achievements throughout
her entire life that are
often overlooked in fa-
vor of the story of her
early years. After a few
lines of introduction
(“Deafblind girl, no one
could reach her. / First
word ‘water,’ thanks to
teacher”), double-page
spreads offer sprightly rhymed couplets
that describe her various qualities (“Helen
was a student . . . / Reading, writing, crav-
ing knowledge. / Braille and signing, first
through college.”). These lines float near the
tops of pages, appearing in bright colors and
large font; brief small, black-font paragraphs
with three or four sentences of explanatory
context rest near the bottoms. (There’s also
additional information in the back matter.)
The muted-palate illustrations are colorful
and cozy, filled with eye-catching details,
and almost always show Keller surrounded
by people, in happy, content circumstances
(“Helen was a dog-lover”; “Helen was a
jokester”). Whether adults sharing this book
choose to include the biographical asides
or just concentrate on the engaging, lyrical
lines describing Keller’s attributes, it’s an
inviting read-aloud about one of the most
influential women of the twentieth century.
36 Booklist May 1, 2022
It also serves as powerful advocacy for in-
dividuals with disabilities. A lovely way to
expand picture-book biography collections.
—Kathleen McBroom
Yo u n g
Dig, Dance, Dive: How Birds Move to
Survive.
By Etta Kaner. Illus. by June Steube.
2022. 40p. Owlkids, $18.95 (9781771474399). K–Gr. 2. 598.
Birds are known for flight, but they are ca-
pable of so many other amazing movements:
they walk and run and dive, of course, but
some of their other actions are hilariously
unexpected. Adélie penguins toboggan
through the snow, phalaropes spin in the wa-
ter to whip up a snack, and birds-of-paradise
dance wildly to attract a mate. There’s an
equal amount of variety in the species, cov-
ering all climates and corners of the world.
Steube’s pencil-and-watercolor illustrations
are a riot of movement and color, marvel-
ously conveying the exuberance of a mating
dance or sneakiness of an egret stalking its
prey; the exaggerated avian expressions are
incredibly amusing. Each spread gives a
snappy summation (“birds dig / birds dab-
ble”) in large text, while a smaller paragraph
offers a more in-depth description, making
the book accessible to a wider range of ages.
It’s a thrill to meet a flock of lesser-known
birds, marvel at their movement, and strug-
gle to pick a new favorite from the beautiful
bunch. —Emily Graham
Do Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks?
Amazing Ways Animals Are Just like
Us.
By Ben Lerwill. Illus. by Katharine McEwen.
June 2022. 32p. Candlewick/Nosy Crow, $17.99
(9781536224047). PreS–K. 591.392.
This appealing book looks at what baby
animals have in common with young chil-
dren. Most double-page spreads feature one
or more baby animals with their mothers.
The text poses a question and then offers
an answer along with related information.
In response to the question posed in the
title, baby elephants often suck their trunks,
just as young children suck their thumbs.
The book’s Q&A approach lets teachers
and parents engage children by waiting for
their responses before providing the answer
and some additional facts, which might be
amazing or amusing. Some parts of the text
seem to target toddlers (“Did you wobble
when you first walked?”), while other parts
will make more sense to a first- or second-
grader (a newborn humpback whale calf is
“about the same size as an adult hippopota-
mus,” and calves drink the equivalent of two
bathtubs full of milk daily). The digitally
scanned collage illustrations create a warm,
inviting look and show up well from a dis-
tance during classroom read-aloud sessions.
An attractive informational picture book.
—Carolyn Phelan
The Supreme Court and Us.
By Christy Mihaly. Illus. by Neely Daggett.
2022. 32p. Albert Whitman, $17.99 (9780807576649).
Gr. 1–3. 347.73.
In a format somewhere between a graphic
novel and a picture book, Mihaly and Daggett
introduce readers to the Supreme Court. Two
cheerful young girls act as guides, asking ques-
tions, telling riddles, and offering general
commentary in their speech bubbles. A per-
sonified U.S. Constitution and a lawyerly man
explain the basic structure and function of the
court, and portraits of historical figures (Chief
Justice John Marshall, Linda Brown, Mildred
and Richard Loving, Richard Nixon) speak in
the first person about landmark cases. Cases
involving children and school contexts get spe-
cial attention. These include not only Brown v.
Board of Education but also cases about wheth-
er Jehovah’s Witnesses should be required to
say the Pledge of Allegiance in the classroom
and one involving young people suing the U.S.
government over climate change. In addition
to reviewing important historical cases, the
book introduces key judicial concepts such as
precedent. A unique, fun introduction to the
“nine noses and ninety toes” of the Supreme
Court, which have “the power to change your
life.” —Miriam Aronin
Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who
Shaped This Country.
By Kelly Yang.
May 2022. 40p. illus. Dial, $18.99 (9780593463055).
PreS–Gr. 2. 973.0495.
This sure-to-inspire offering by best-seller
Yang features a parade of Asian American
changemakers throughout the decades, as well
as a history lesson on relatively little-known yet
crucial contributions of
Asians to the U.S. In a
sweeping manner, Yang’s
story covers everything
from the Chinese immi-
grants who helped build
the first transcontinental
railroads and the dis-
crimination they faced to
the superstars in succeeding generations, mak-
ing advancements in everything from sports to
politics and fashion. There are the ultrafamous
like Vice President Kamala Harris and basket-
ball great Jeremy Lin, but readers also get to
know the likes of skyscraper architect I. M.
Pei, astronaut Franklin Chang-Díaz, and Peter
Tsai, inventor of the N95 mask. Seeing all the
accomplishments compiled in one place, in so
many fields, gives the sense that history was—
and is still being—made. The book itself is
something of a parade of achievement, as each
illustration is done by a different Asian Ameri-
can artist. The pages are colorful and action
packed as well as poignant; there are images,
for example, of the government’s incarceration
of Japanese Americans during WWII. With the
recent rise of violence toward Asian Americans,
this book and others like it are an antidote—
and can show readers how Asian Americans
helped make the U.S. great. —Lydia Mulvany
www.booklistonline.com

Aliens! Series. Bookstaves/12-Story. Gr. 3–6. (6 titles)
Alien Sightings and Encounters. By Jenny Mason. 2022. 32p. illus.
lib. ed., $34.25 (9781632359315). 001.942.
Alien Sites. By Jenny Mason. 2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $34.25
(9781632359322). 001.942.
Aliens in the Movies. By Jenny Mason. 2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed.,
$34.25 (9781632359339). 791.43.
Searching for Aliens. By Jenny Mason. 2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed.,
$34.25 (9781632359353). 576.839.
Information on UFOs, satellite arrays, the Klingon language, crop
circles, and Area 51 can all be found in the Aliens! series. Each themed
volume contains 12 topical double-page spreads full of trivia, photos,
and numbers-driven stat boxes. Alien Sightings and Encounters will tan-
talize alien-obsessed readers, as it pulls in strange events from around
the globe, ancient aliens, and secret military operations. While Alien
Sites features famous locales, like Area 51 and Roswell, and some home-
grown operations, such as South Carolina’s UFO Welcome Center,
many of its entries feel tangential. For instance, the book highlights the
Denver International Airport’s purportedly cursed statue and rumor-
sparking renovations. Aliens in the Movies provides a fun pop-culture
survey of sci-fi films (Dune, Alien, Avatar), TV shows (Star Trek, Doctor
Who), and literature, paying particular attention to the contributions
of women and people of color. Searching for Aliens looks at past and
current efforts to discover life beyond Earth; it includes work done
by the SETI Institute, NASA missions, and Breakthrough Listen as
well as technology like China’s FAST telescope. Though all the books
include information on alien theories or sightings that have been de-
bunked, none of the volumes defines UFO or separates it from aliens.
That’s not necessarily a criticism, but this browsable series is definitely
tailored to alien enthusiasts rather than skeptics. —Julia Smith
Bumba Books: Mighty Dinosaurs Series. Lerner/
Bumba. PreS–Gr. 1. (6 titles)
The Mighty Brontosaurus. By Brianna Kaiser. 2022. 24p. illus. lib.
ed., $26.65 (9781728441078); e-book, $39.99 (9781728444468).
567.9138.
The Mighty Stegosaurus. By Jackie Golusky. 2022. 24p. illus. lib.
ed., $26.65 (9781728441054); e-book, $39.99 (9781728444482).
567.9153.
The Mighty T. Rex. By Brianna Kaiser. 2022. 24p. illus. lib. ed.,
$26.65 (9781728441023); e-book, $39.99 (9781728444499).
567.9129.
The Mighty Velociraptor. By Percy Leed. 2022. 24p. illus. lib. ed.,
$26.65 (9781728441047); e-book, $39.99 (9781728444512).
567.912.
Many children become enthusiastic about science through di-
nosaurs, and the Bumba Books: Mighty Dinosaurs series responds
www.booklistonline.com
with succinct introductions to some of the most popular. In an over-
sized, early-reader format, each book uses short sentences of text
and accompanying full-page images to describe the dinosaur’s size
and weight, physical characteristics, diet, and North American ter-
ritory. Colorful visuals range from illustrations and lifelike digital
representations to photographs of dinosaur skeletons and fossils and
paleontologists at work. Periodic questions, such as, “What other
animals have long necks?” encourage critical thinking. The Mighty
Brontosaurus calls attention to the long neck of this dinosaur and its
use in reaching food. The Mighty Stegosaurus spotlights this dinosaur’s
spiky tail and pointy back plates and describes how they may have
been used. The Mighty T. Rex explains how this predator walked on
two legs and used its powerful jaws and teeth as a meat eater. The
Mighty Velociraptor emphasizes this chicken-sized dinosaur’s speed
and birdlike characteristics, like feathers and laying eggs in nests. The
volumes conclude with a full-page labeled diagram of the dinosaur’s
main body parts and a picture glossary of more difficult words, such
as extinct, fossil, and prey. Young dinosaur fans will not be disap-
pointed. —Angela Leeper
A Day in the Life Series. Macmillan/Neon Squid.
Gr. 2–4. (3 titles)
Big Cats: What Do Lions, Tigers, and Panthers Get Up to All Day?
By Tyus D. Williams. Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. 2022. 48p. $16.99
(9781684492077). 599.75.
Bugs: What Do Bees, Ants, and Dragonflies Get Up to All Day?
By Jessica L. Ware. Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. 2022. 48p. $16.99
(9781684492114). 595.7.
Sharks: What Do Great Whites, Hammerheads, and Whale Sharks
Get Up to All Day? By Carlee Jackson. Illus. by Chaaya Prabhat. May
2022. 48p. $16.99 (9781684492190). 597.3.
Books in the A Day in the Life series tell of several different ani-
mals’ activities and characteristics within the framework of a single
day. Short sections of narrative, which follow particular creatures
at a certain time, are bolstered by factual sections that comment
on topics such as the animals’ senses, special abilities, and notable
physical attributes. To create dramatic tension, the writing some-
times plays up the creatures’ predatory actions, but it discusses their
other activities and physical characteristics as well. Bugs opens at
7:00 a.m. with a hungry green darner dragonfly approaching some
flies. Darting quickly left, then right, it evades the sticky tongue of
a hungry frog that is also looking for breakfast. In the 5:00 p.m.
section of Big Cats, a tiger tracks another by scent, then realizes
that she is his sister. They touch noses in recognition before going
their separate ways. The 11:00 p.m. spread in Sharks introduces a
cookiecutter shark. Small, nocturnal, and luminescent, he attracts
a nearby dolphin, bites into its flank, and escapes unharmed. From
action scenes to tidbits of intriguing information to paragraphs of
explanation, the text has plenty to offer animal lovers. Varied in
layout, these fully illustrated books feature vibrant, stylized artwork
with distinctive palettes. An attractive series for kids intrigued by
animals in the wild. —Carolyn Phelan
How to Build Our World Series. Bearport/Fusion.
PreS–Gr. 2. (4 titles)
Create a Coastline. By William Anthony. 2022. 24p. illus. lib.
ed., $26.99 (9781636914824); e-book, $41.36 (9781636914923).
551.432.
Organize an Ocean. By William Anthony. 2022. 24p. illus. lib.
ed., $26.99 (9781636914831); e-book, $41.36 (9781636914930).
577.7.
Raise a Rain Forest. By William Anthony. 2022. 24p. illus. lib.
ed., $26.99 (9781636914848); e-book, $41.36 (9781636914947).
577.34.
Set Up a City. By William Anthony. 2022. 24p. illus. lib. ed., $26.99
(9781636914855); e-book, $41.36 (9781636914954). 307.76.
This cheerful How to Build Our World series helps young readers
understand environments, layer by layer. Each title builds a particular
May 1, 2022 Booklist 37
setting by adding elements one at a time: foundation, surface details,
inhabitants, climate, and conservation. Pages are filled with bright
graphics, illustrations, photographs, captions highlighted in bright
blocks of color, and a sentence or two of straightforward text. Creating
a Coastline is one of the more sophisticated titles, as it considers coastal
variations (rocky vs. sandy beaches; the presence of cliffs, dunes, or
marshes) and how both animals and tourists enjoy the shore. Orga-
nize an Ocean is quite accessible for very young audiences; it works its
way down, from the ocean’s sunlight layer through the twilight and
midnight zones, the abyss, and trenches. In like manner, Raise a Rain
Forest begins at the bottom, with the forest floor, and logically works
its way up through the understory, canopy, and emergent layer; the
wide selection of animals is appealing, too. Setting Up a City examines
an urban setting, tackling infrastructure (water, electricity), build-
ings (homes, shops, places of worships), and services (transportation,
parks, emergency services). All selections emphasize protective green
measures, include a glossary, and end with invitations to create ad-
ditional environments. This visually appealing set reinforces technical
vocabulary and will help readers understand how systems connect to
explicitly discusses two- and three-dimensional shapes, such as the
one another. —Kathleen McBroom
triangle shape of a cardinal’s wing, before asking more about them
in the Try It! questions. How Many Dolphins in a Pod? introduces
iCivics: Grade 4 Series. Teacher Created Materials.
various sea creatures, with Try It! questions encouraging readers to
Gr. 3–5. (10 titles)
count up to 10 by adding clownfish and other creatures and then
Citizens of Planet Earth. By Monika Davies. 2022. 32p. illus. paper, count animals, such as jellyfish and rays, by 10s. How Many Penguins?
$11.99 (9781087615424). 323.6. presents facts about penguins, giraffes, and other critters before ask-
Making Decisions. By Selina Li Bi. 2022. 32p. illus. paper, $11.99 ing readers to count the animals and further explore their answers.
(9781087615387). 153.83. How Slow Is a Sloth? focuses on rain-forest creatures and asks readers
Media Matters. By Heather E. Schwartz. 2022. 32p. illus. paper, questions about given measurements, including calculating elapsed
$11.99 (9781087615455). 174. time, counting, and working with comparative size. Back matter in-
What’s the Deal with Voting? By Ben Nussbaum. 2022. 32p. illus. cludes additional activities (not limited to the book’s math concept)
paper, $11.99 (9781087615417). 324.973. and answers to the Try It! math questions, as well as a glossary and an
The iCivics: Grade 4 series explores important topics that will help index. A fun and unusual take on early elementary math topics for
readers learn how to become more involved in and educated about both number and nature lovers. —Miriam Aronin
issues that have global impacts. Titles are well organized and clearly
explain the topics being discussed, with large color photographs cor- The World of Greek Mythology Series.
responding well with the information provided. Citizens of Planet ReferencePoint/BrightPoint. Gr. 6–9. (5 titles)
Earth explores the ways readers can become global citizens by examin-
Greek Mythology Goddesses. By Clara MacCarald. 2022.
ing their personal values and building empathy as well as steps readers
80p. illus. lib. ed., $31.95 (9781678202569); e-book, $43.29
can take toward tackling global issues. Making Decisions discusses the
(9781678202576). 398.20938.
wide variety of decisions people make every day, the part of the brain
Greek Mythology Heroes and Villains. By Maddie Spaldling.
involved in this process, and the steps of the decision-making process,
2022. 80p. illus. lib. ed., $31.95 (9781678202583); e-book, $43.29
such as considering options and possible consequences. Media Matters
(9781678202590). 398.20938.
discusses the news media, entertainment media, fake news, clickbait,
Greek Mythology Monsters. By Clara MacCarald. 2022.
and the importance of researching news in order to verify its valid-
80p. illus. lib. ed., $31.95 (9781678202606); e-book, $43.29
ity and avoid spreading misinformation. What’s the Deal with Voting
(9781678202613). 398.20938.
details the importance and history of voting and the struggles women
Greek Mythology Stories. By A. W. Buckey. 2022. 80p. illus. lib.
and Black men faced in obtaining the right to vote. The voting process
ed., $31.95 (9781678202620); e-book, $43.29 (9781678202637).
is discussed, as well as current barriers to voting. Each title contains a
398.20938.
“Jump into Fiction” section that serves as an excellent way to engage
The books in The World of Greek Mythology series dig deep into
young readers. Additionally, “Civics in Action” and “Read and Re-
classic tales and the famous figures therein. Each book begins with
spond” sections help readers reflect on each topic and will serve well as
a handy “At a Glance” section that lists the topics and themes that
discussion starters. —Selenia Paz
will be covered. Four chapters follow, giving an overview of the
book’s topic, a selection of stories or figures from mythology, and
Nature Numbers Series. Scholastic/Children’s Press.
a look at how Greek mythology has impacted human culture. God-
K–Gr. 2. (4 titles)
desses divides these powerful women into three categories—“Female
Can You See a Circle? Explore Shapes. By Ruth A. Musgrave. 2022. Olympians” (Hera, Athena), “Titanesses” (Rhea, Metis), and “Minor
32p. illus. lib. ed., $25 (9781338765151). 516.154. Goddesses” (Fates and Furies). In Heroes and Villains, readers learn
How Many Dolphins in a Pod? Counting by 10s. By Ruth A. about gods, such as Zeus and Heracles; powerful duos (Jason and
Musgrave. 2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $25 (9781338765243). 513.21. Medea); and villains, like Medusa and Apollo, as well as the Trojan
How Many Penguins? Counting Animals 0–100. By Jill Esbaum. War. Monsters presents creepy mythological creatures, which ancient
2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $25 (9781338765182). 513.21. Greeks believed came from the disorder of early creation, and classic
How Slow Is a Sloth? Measure the Rain Forest. By Jill Esbaum. battles of good and evil. Stories arranges its tales by themes of nature
2022. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $25 (9781338765212). 530.8. and history; beauty, love, and fate; and those with morals and lessons.
These brightly illustrated books in the Nature Numbers series bring Greek mythology is perennially popular, and these introductions are
together math activities with facts about animals and the natural perfect for readers daunted by denser books and those whose first
world. A Try It! feature on each spread asks a math question loosely language isn’t English. With well-crafted and clear text, source notes,
based on the content of the page. The mashup is occasionally awk- and research tips, this series will appeal to fans of mythological tales
ward but more often appealing. In Can You See a Circle? the text and those doing research. —Aurora Dominguez

38 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com


Craft and Witchcraft
With her haunting new contemporary fantasy, Albert casts a powerful spell.
by Ronny Khuri
I
n 2018, Melissa Albert arrived with The Hazel Wood, an
auspicious debut that handed readers a delicately cracked life.
looking glass, giving jagged edges to the fairy tales of our
collective unconscious. Albert three times lured us into the
Hinterland, enchanting fans with a witches’ brew of eerie
urban fantasy, complex mother-daughter dynamics, and
needle-tipped prose—ambitiously honing her craft along the pense. The frequent interruptions prevent either story arc
way. Now, with Our Crooked Hearts, her first
foray outside the Hazel Wood, she employs
familiar themes and techniques, but at a
new level of mastery, producing a standalone
novel so precise and enthralling that the only
possible explanation is that Albert herself is
a witch.
This time around, the brew features Ivy,
a white 17-year-old whose suburban life is
corrupted by a series of unsettling events:
a naked young woman, strangely familiar,
stumbling through the woods; a rabbit
carcass stretched out on her driveway; a
cabalistic concoction buried by her mother,
Dana; lost keepsakes found in her parents’ Our Crooked
safe; and a nagging feeling that something Hearts.
is out of place. As Ivy begins pulling at the By Melissa Albert.
June 2022. 352p. Flatiron, $18.99
secrets threaded through her life, the story
(9781250826367). Gr. 9–12.
branches apart, introducing intermittent
chapters of a teenage Dana, her hard-knock
Chicago upbringing, her bond with best friend Fee, their
fated meeting with the ambitious Marion, and the trio’s ill-
fated descent into the occult.
The story casts its spell at once, ensnaring readers with
incantatory language and a wickedly slow-burning plot. The
heavy use of metaphor—always on point—adds a subtly
otherworldly layer to the text. Meanwhile, Albert carefully
adds tension, one element at a time, to the mysteries sur-
rounding Ivy, but revelation isn’t the point. It’s made clear,
early on, that Ivy suspects her mother of being a worker—an resonant emotional reality, as well as a fully realized, wonder-
occultist, a witch—and as Dana’s backstory is layered in, as
her coven develops their nascent powers and heads toward
a violent break, that theory is confirmed for the reader. The
tension continues to thicken, however, out of the fraught, if
distant, relationship between mother and daughter and the
question of what deeper secrets lie hidden, of how Dana’s
www.booklistonline.com
Youth Fiction
history ties into the missing pieces of the puzzle that is Ivy’s
Here, in the pacing and structure, Albert’s meticulous
craftwork shines. As the short chapters alternate between
Ivy in “the suburbs, right now” and Dana in “the city, back
then,” a pattern emerges of rising and sharply falling sus-
from making a more dramatic climb, and
while that may frustrate thirsty readers, it
lends a serrated edge to the knifing tension
that grows with every section. More impor-
tantly, the two time lines don’t simply run
parallel but rather inform one another, work-
ing in harmony as information is revealed in
one thread that adds crucial context to the
other. This slow-burn approach gives consis-
tency to the pacing and keeps readers solidly
under Albert’s simmering spell.
And while the novel is bookended by Ivy’s
anchoring point of view, the greater story
proves to be as much Dana’s as hers. It raises
questions about the line between our parents’
stories and our own. Here, as in life, they
overlap—and even echo one another, at times.
The result is a nuanced and emotionally epic
exploration of the characters through their
relationships, through the choices they make
and the ensuing consequences. Albert manages to infuse the
text with the agonizing pain of a parent reckoning with her
mistakes and holding onto the hope that our children can
save us—and themselves. Which, of course, Ivy does, in a
scorching-hot full-boil finale.
“I didn’t know joy and sorrow could lodge together so
tightly.” Me neither, Ivy. But with evocative prose, attention
to detail, and patient pacing—not to mention a beautifully
understated romance—Albert is able to conjure a deeply
fully creepy reality-reality, and for a horror-tinged fantasy,
that is especially engrossing. This is a novel that will be
devoured as well as savored. It takes risks and, magically, suc-
ceeds. Of course, the magic is in the execution, in the craft.
And whether or not Albert is in fact a witch, one thing is for
sure: her words are magic.
May 1, 2022 Booklist 39
Older Readers
Baby Teeth.
By Meg Grehan.
June 2022. 192p. IPG/Little Island, $16.99 (9781915071019).
Gr. 8–10.
Immy has been in love before, but her
relationships always end—because she’s a
vampire. She’s had many lovers, and she
remembers them all. Sometimes these mem-
ories are a curse: every day is filled with
nostalgia, memories of those who have died,
and reminders of who she used to be. She’s
never certain if she’s good or bad. When she
meets Claudia, who works in a flower shop,
she falls in love again, but in a way she doesn’t
remember feeling before. Claudia accepts
Immy as a vampire in a way she’s never been
accepted before. Claudia even lets Immy feed
off of her, which is also new—Immy’s vampire
family has always supplied her with blood. As
Immy struggles to know herself and her own
history, can her love for Claudia last? Though
the through line of Immy’s story, which is told
in verse, is sometimes hard to follow, queer
vampire stories are still relatively uncommon,
and this will be welcomed. —Stacey Comfort
The Days of Bluegrass Love.
By Edward van de Vendel. Tr. by Emma
Rault.
May 2022. 208p. Levine Querido, $18.99 (9781646140466).
Gr. 9–12.
Weary of people asking about his plans for
the future, 18-year-old Dutch teen Tycho
decides to take time off and go to America
to work for a month at a
camp for international chil-
dren. At the Amsterdam
airport he meets Oliver,
who’s from Norway and
also working at the camp.
The two sit together on
the flight and by the time
the plane lands, they’ve be-
come fast friends. A week later, they become
much more. Shortly after this, the teens are ex-
pelled from the camp—in part because of their
relationship—and Tycho flies to Norway to be
with Oliver, whose mother is on vacation, giv-
ing the boys the house to themselves. At first
their time together is idyllic, but then some-
thing unexpected happens. In its wake, Tycho
decides to take action, but will his decision
threaten the boys’ relationship? This superb
novel is beautifully written (“a few stars here
and there, scattered glitter in someone’s hair”),
with apposite mood and tone as well as unfor-
gettable characters that make the story a richly
realized exercise in empathy. First published in
the Netherlands, this book has become a clas-
sic in Europe. It should absolutely become the
same here. —Michael Cart
Echoes of Grace.
By Guadalupe García McCall.
May 2022. 400p. Lee & Low/Tu, $21.95 (9781643794259).
Gr. 8–12.
In this riveting contemporary novel with
40 Booklist May 1, 2022
a splash of magic realism, García McCall
explores the nature of sisterhood between Gra-
ciela (“Grace”) and Mercedes (“Mercy”) Torres,
as well as shared intergenerational trauma, fa-
milial dynamics, and love when all seems lost.
After a tragic accident befalls the sisters, Grace
tries to piece together both the past and the
right path for their future through visions,
premonitions, omens, and “echoes,” a power
inherited from her mother. Unearthed memo-
ries and mysterious figures from their family
arise, all while Grace is balancing college, dat-
ing, and taking care of her healing sister. When
it becomes clear that a specific time period—a
week three years prior—may hold the key to
the family secrets, Grace becomes determined
to forge forward and extricate the slivers of
truth from the lies, secrets, and deceit around
them. As the Torres mystery unravels, García
McCall plumbs these difficult experiences and
sisterly conversations through Grace’s intuitive
and compassionate, yet impassioned, perspec-
tive. —Stephanie Cohen
I Kissed Shara Wheeler.
By Casey McQuiston.
May 2022. 368p. St. Martin’s/Wednesday, $19.99
(9781250244451). Gr. 9–12.
Shara has been Chloe’s academic nemesis
since the day Chloe started at Willowgrove
Christian Academy in False Beach, Alabama.
Chloe refuses to feel at home in False Beach,
where she and her moms
moved to care for Chloe’s
grandmother and win vale-
dictorian over Shara, the
principal’s daughter. But then
Shara kisses Chloe and dis-
appears, leaving behind one
clue to her whereabouts. Sha-
ra also kissed her boyfriend,
football player Smith; and her next-door
neighbor Rory. As Chloe, Rory, and Smith
begrudgingly work together to find Shara, the
three peel back the layers of who she really was,
doing the same with themselves in the process.
McQuiston’s YA debut is a compassionate look
at what makes people who they are and what’s
left of us when we take away everyone else’s
expectations. Chloe and the supporting cast of
witty, lovable characters are given the necessary
space to be flawed and imperfect teenagers,
and False Beach is a character itself, with Chloe
discovering the ills and joys of what it’s like to
grow up in an Alabama suburb. Chosen fam-
ily and LGBTQIA+ elders are given weight to
the central romantic story lines in this thought-
ful meditation on LGBTQIA+ identity, pride,
popularity, academic success, jealousy, and
idolization. A must-read for fans of dark aca-
demia with a hopeful spin on the premise that
students can create real change in their envi-
ronment. —Alaina Leary
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches.
By Kate Scelsa.
May 2022. 320p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99
(9780062465030). Gr. 10–12.
Eleanor Anderson used to have it all: a best
friend she was in love with, good grades, and
social status at Salem High School. Now she
has dropped out, taken a job at the tacky Salem
Gift Emporium witch store, and started smok-
ing weed to get through each day. And as she
travels through the year, falling for new witch
friend Pix, she’s also reliving her failed relation-
ship with her ex–best friend Chloe. There’s
more to that story than just a bad breakup,
though, and as the details unravel, so does
Eleanor. But things with Pix will be different:
they’re in love, and Eleanor doesn’t have to have
nonstop anxiety about their relationship. But
when Pix finds out the truth about Chloe, will
she still love Eleanor? More important, will she
ever forgive her? Cleverly arranged as a jour-
ney through the Major Arcana of a tarot deck,
this is a solid story with a queer romance and a
witchy flourish. —Stacey Comfort
Kings of B’more.
By R. Eric Thomas.
May 2022. 416p. Penguin/Kokila, $18.99 (9780593326183).
Gr. 9–12.
This lyrical, contemplative novel follows
Linus and Harrison, two queer Black best
friends so in tune they can communicate
without words. They attend different high
schools in Baltimore and hang out among the
statues at a beautiful old hillside cemetery.
Linus gets caught up in history. Harrison
loves musical theater. When Linus reveals that
he is moving to Charleston, South Carolina,
Harrison creates a surprise for Linus modeled
on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ferris Day begins
with a train to Washington, DC, and a visit
to the National Museum of African American
History and Culture. Back in B’more, they at-
tend Pride, connect with friends new and old
at a public pool, and stumble onto a mysteri-
ous Tea Dance. Through the day, Linus and
Harrison weigh how well they really know
each other. They meditate on an uncertain
future and face up to family issues. Music,
poetry, humor, personal insecurities, and per-
sonal style are recurring themes. Ultimately,
the two enlarge their worlds, break free of pa-
rental restrictions, and make one summer day
gloriously their own. —Angela Carstensen
Scout’s Honor.
By Lily Anderson.
2022. 416p. Holt, $18.99 (9781250246738). Gr. 8–12.
Between the tea parties, community car
washes, and prim pink uniforms, Ladybird
Scouts seem the very definition of decorum,
and this provides them the perfect cover for
their true (top-secret) purpose: hunting mon-
sters, aka grubs. Invisible to
most, grubs feed on excessive
emotions until they grow big
enough to start snacking on
humans, so scouts—who can
see these monsters, either
from birth or after drinking
the Ladybirds’ special tea—
keep their communities safe
by patrolling for and hunting grubs. Three
years ago, Prudence was setting Ladybird re-
www.booklistonline.com
cords and itching to take on Carnivore-class
grubs with her sister scouts. But then one such
grub killed Pru’s best friend, and she swore
off scouting forever. Or so she thought. Now
16, Pru has been roped into training a few
new scouts by her mother and her tía, both
high-ranking Ladybirds—her panic attacks
and PTSD be damned. Lovable characters
and imaginative details surround Pru as what
begins as a lousy summer job becomes fulfill-
ing work that unexpectedly helps her healing
process and fosters new friendships. Ander-
son (Undead Girl Gang, 2018) has written
a ridiculously fun and campy horror romp,
which also incorporates thoughtful com-
mentary about mental and emotional health,
inclusion, and facing your fears. Hand to fans
of Christian McKay Heidicker’s Attack of the
50 Foot Wallflower (2018) and Destiny Soria’s
Fire with Fire (2021). —Julia Smith
and wants to talk with Lou. She grapples with
personal secrets, humiliation by white boys
and men in town, her identity, and confusion
over her sexuality (she comes to realize she’s
demisexual)—all while trying to piece togeth-
er information about her family. Ferguson’s
frank and powerful debut opens readers’ eyes
to the multiplicity of daily traumas faced by
people of color, especially Indigenous women
and girls. Ferguson, herself Michif/Métis and
white, boldly writes on many challenging top-
ics, including racism, physical violence, sexual
identity, sexual assault, and teen alcohol use.
High-Demand Hot List for Youth
Look for reviews of these high-demand titles in forthcoming
issues of Booklist.
Lou is complex, smart, and honest, and a nar-
rator readers will trust, love, and learn from
as she works to repair friendships and gain
security for her treasured family. This also is
the debut teen novel under the Heartdrum
imprint, which centers intertribal voices telling
contemporary stories. —Jeanne Fredriksen
This Vicious Grace.
By Emily Thiede.
June 2022. 448p. St. Martin’s/Wednesday, $18.99
(9781250794055). Gr. 8–12.
Together, the Finestra and Fonte make a

The Silence That Binds Us.

By Joanna Ho.
June 2022. 448p. HarperTeen, $17.99 (9780063059344).
Gr. 9–12.
Maybelline Chen’s brother, Danny, a fun
young man who has just been admitted to
Princeton, is the shining star of the family. But
when Danny suddenly ends his life, the Chen
family is thrown into endless shock and grief.
Their pain is compounded when an overly
privileged white businessman blames the recent
spate of teen suicides on parents who pressure
their children academically, specifically calling
out Chinese families, which include the Chi-
nese Taiwanese American Chens. So angered
by this overt racism, Maybelline and her friends
mount a Take Back the Narrative campaign at
school, despite parental and administrative ad-
monishment to leave it alone. Inspired by the
recent rise in hate crimes against AAPI and a
rash of teen suicides in Palo Alto, CA, Ho’s
story of inclusion, diversity, and social action
rings true. Maybelline is a multifaceted narra-
tor whose drive to right wrongs and stand up
to injustice deserves applause. Ho illuminates
both activism and mental health in marginal-
ized communities, showing that even a bright,
young achiever can experience depression
without anyone knowing. —Jeanne Fredriksen
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet.
By Jen Ferguson.
May 2022. 384p. HarperCollins/Heartdrum, $17.99
(9780063086166). Gr. 9–12.
Lou is working at her Canadian family’s ice-
cream joint to earn money for college. What
should be a low-key summer hits the first of
several bumps when her uncle also hires her
white ex-boyfriend, Wyatt,
and her long-absent, for-
mer best friend, King, who
is Black. Worse yet, after
her mother leaves to sell her
beadwork on the powwow
circuit, Lou learns that her
biological father, the white
man who raped her Métis
mother when she was a teen, is out of prison
T he big fall books are on their way, but don’t miss the high-profile titles still to come
this summer from best-selling, award-winning authors. —Sarah Hunter
Chester Keene Cracks the Code. By Kekla Magoon. Random/Wendy Lamb, $16.99
(9781524715991). Gr. 3–7. July.
In this puzzle-driven mystery by award-winning Magoon, routine-loving Chester teams
up with slightly chaotic Skye to solve a series of cryptic clues.
City of Magic. By Avi. Scholastic, $17.99 (9780545321976). Gr. 3–6. June.
In this companion to Midnight Magic and Murder at Midnight, Magnus the Magician and
Fabrizio are on the hunt for a groundbreaking method for bookkeeping, and they’re not
the only ones.
The Door of No Return. By Kwame Alexander. Little, Brown, $17.99 (9780316441865).
Gr. 5–10. Sept.
Expect a long hold list for this forthcoming title from best-selling Alexander, the first in
an epic historical fiction series focused on one African’s boy’s firsthand experience of the
slave trade.
I’m the Girl. By Courtney Summers. St. Martin’s/Wednesday, $18.99 (9781250808363).
Gr. 9–12. Sept.
Summers revisits themes from her immensely popular Sadie (2018) in this story about
a teen girl who investigates a murder and finds herself confronting disturbing truths
about the world.
Maya’s Song. By Renée Watson. Illus. by Bryan Collier. HarperCollins, $19.99
(9780062871589). PreS–Gr. 3. Sept.
Two kid-lit powerhouses join forces for this gorgeously illustrated verse biography of
Maya Angelou, thoughtfully telling her story in a series of artfully written poems.
Moonflower. By Kacen Callender. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781338636598). Gr. 3–6. July.
National Book Award–winning Callender’s latest centers on Moon, a child with all-
consuming depression who finds an escape in an otherworldly realm.
Odder. By Katherine Applegate. Feiwel & Friends, $16.99 (9781250147424). Gr. 3–6. Sept.
Children’s literature favorite Applegate offers another animal story, this time about an
adorable, sprightly otter, inspired by a real otter-rescue program at the Monterey Bay
Aquarium.
Three Kisses, One Midnight. By Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon, and Evelyn Skye. St.
Martin’s/Wednesday, $18.99 (9781250797230). Gr. 9–12. Aug.
Three best-selling YA authors team up in this collaboration about three witchy teens
trying to make the most of a Halloween legend that promises true love.
The Weight of Blood. By Tiffany D. Jackson. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegan, $18.99
(9780063029149). Gr. 9–12. Sept.
With a cover image evoking Carrie and a masterful writer like Jackson at the helm, this
novel about a Georgia high school’s first integrated prom is sure to thrill.

www.booklistonline.com May 1, 2022 Booklist 41

divine and powerful pairing, capable of fend-
ing off the demon army coming to attack the
island of Saverio. Eighteen-year-old Alessa is
this fictional Italian island’s current Finestra,
but rather than wielding a gift that increases
her Fonte’s own magical power, as she’s sup-
posed to, she possesses a lethal touch that has
killed the first three Fontes she married. Now
she needs to choose a new partner, one who
will stay alive and help her keep Saverio safe.
There’s only a month left until the Divorando
(demon invasion), and the chapters count
down to that deadline, as Alessa attempts to
select a new suitor while evading the treachery
within the Citadella and growing close to her
ruffian bodyguard, Dante. Secrets, action, and
the looming attack create a taut atmosphere
throughout, and Alessa and Dante’s slow-
burn romance simmers tantalizingly behind
the scenes. Readers will be drawn to Alessa’s
kind and independent spirit as she grapples
with duty versus agency, love and betrayal—all
situated within a well-crafted world. An eerie,
magic-infused debut. —Aurora Dominguez
This Wicked Fate.
By Kalynn Bayron.
June 2022. 320p. Bloomsbury, $18.99 (9781547609208).
Gr. 8–12.
In Bayron’s lushly written sequel to This
Poison Heart (2021), Briseis finds herself on
a mission to track down a mythical plant—
which has been both a legacy and a burden
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42 Booklist May 1, 2022
for generations of her biological family, the
Colchis clan—to save her mother from the
underworld. She has just one moon cycle to
find it. Thankfully, her aunt Circe and found-
family Marie and Persephone have spent years
searching already, so they’re not far from suc-
cess, but traitorous Karter and his family are
also searching for the plant and just as close.
Bayron cleverly slips feminist versions of Greek
mythology into the novel, explaining the ori-
gin of the Colchises’ gifts and responsibilities
as well as the long-simmering conflict between
the families. Her descriptions of the plants and
environments are deliciously tactile, and the
implicit questions about how cultural touch-
stones like myths skew history are thought
provoking. Sharp banter, dynamic characters,
and a warm sapphic romance give this even
more verve. Teens who grew up on Rick Rior-
dan’s mythology-based fantasies will appreciate
this earthy, perceptive novel, which satisfyingly
wraps up the duology. —Sarah Hunter
We Weren’t Looking to Be Found.
By Stephanie Kuehn.
June 2022. 320p. Disney/Hyperion, $17.99
(9781368064101). Gr. 9–12.
Two girls from different backgrounds meet
in a mental health treatment center and, after
a rocky start, become supportive friends in this
compelling psychological drama. Colombian
American Camila has finally been accepted into
her dream dance academy, only to learn that
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her parents spent her tuition money. As danc-
ing is her reason for living, this leads Camila to
attempt suicide. Wealthy, high-achieving Dani
is sick of living up to her politician mother’s
performative vision of Black excellence. She
relaxes with drugs and alcohol and, after tak-
ing things too far, lands at Peach Tree Hills,
where she rooms with Camila. Neither be-
lieves therapy will help—Camila is convinced
she’s broken, and Dani doesn’t think she has
problems with addiction—but that changes as
they learn to undo the toxic patterns that led
them to this point. Both teens narrate in the
first person, giving an intimacy and immediacy
to their struggles with depression and addic-
tion that feel authentic. This may be triggering
for some teens but a lifesaver for others, as the
bittersweet ending is hopeful while acknowl-
edging that recovery is rarely straightforward.
—Krista Hutley
Middle Readers
Camp Famous.
By Jennifer Blecher.
May 2022. 272p. Greenwillow, $16.99 (9780063140684).
Gr. 4–6.
After a particularly embarrassing play-
ground incident draws the sympathy of
her well-connected teacher, lonely Abby is
given the opportunity to attend Camp Sum-
merah, a remote summer camp for starlets
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escaping the spotlight. An ordinary child
suddenly surrounded by performers and a
princess, 11-year-old Abby pretends to be a fa-
mous author with a pseudonym, allowing her
to fit in among the camp’s UFCs (unrecogniz-
able famous campers). As the lies build, Abby
crumbles, recognizing that “lying, faking, pre-
tending to be somebody different was not the
answer.” A second chance from her new camp
pals helps Abby realize that being true to your-
self is enough to make you special, and genuine
friendships follow. Although close readers may
pause over gaps in time and superficial char-
acterizations, the short chapters, generous
margins, and relatable themes of insecurity
will broaden the book’s appeal. Blecher (Out of
Place, 2019) delivers a satisfying middle-grade
story showcasing the makings of real friendship
and the possibilities that await over a summer
of growth (even if your summer doesn’t include
a royal BFF). —Kit Ballenger
the problems and conflicts she encounters. Un-
familiar names for foods, spirits, and creatures
will likely lead readers to search for more stories
that inspired this fantastical world within Cas-
tle Mila. A story encouraging readers to believe
in magic all around us. —Kristina Pino
The Clackity.
By Lora Senf.
June 2022. 288p. Atheneum, $17.99 (9781665902670).
Gr. 4–7.
Senf ’s atmospheric tale will make the hairs
on the back of your neck stand up. Evie is
12 and came to live in Blight Harbor with
her aunt Desdemona after her parents died.
Blight Harbor has a lot of supernatural prob-
lems as the seventh-most haunted town in
America. When Aunt Des disappears, Evie
meets a scary presence called the Clackity
hiding out in a slaughterhouse. He sends Evie
on a quest to save her aunt, during which she
must cross over into an eerie realm and search
seven houses to find the only family she has
left, all while being chased by an evil ghost.
The setting of Blight Harbor is already strange
and intriguing, with its witches and lost souls,
but Senf ’s adventure story is hard to put down
because of its grounding emotional impact,
especially the importance of facing some of
life’s darkest truths in order to move on. Fans
of David Almond’s Skellig, Holly Black’s Doll
Bones (2013), or Katherine Arden’s Small

Caprice.
By Coe Booth.
May 2022. 256p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9780545933346). Gr. 5–8.
Caprice should be over the moon; she recent-
ly finished an academic summer camp at the
prestigious Ainsley International School, and
now she is being offered a full scholarship to
attend the school not only for the rest of mid-
dle school but for high school as well. Caprice
knows that this is a once-in-a-lifetime oppor-
tunity, but she is torn; she doesn’t want to leave
behind her family and friends in Newark, but Dino Board Books
New Series • Grades PreK-K Grades K-3
she also has a secret that haunts her, and go- 978-1-7284-1920-6
ing to Ainsley could help her to run from her
past. When Caprice’s grandmother becomes ill,
Caprice finds that her secrets will come back
to swallow her whole. Booth’s novel takes on
sexual abuse, a topic that has been seen as a
taboo but is nonetheless necessary in middle-
grade novels. Caprice’s character is startlingly
realistic, and her moving journey ends with the
reclaiming of her power and her voice. This
novel is a heartbreaking tribute to the young
Black victims of sexual abuse who often get
overlooked and forgotten. —Nashae Jones
Grades PreK-2 Grades K-3
978-1-5415-9913-0 978-1-7284-3029-4
The Castle of Tangled Magic.
By Sophie Anderson.
May 2022. 304p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781338746211);
e-book, $17.99 (9781338814309). Gr. 3–6.
Olia is no princess, but she lives in Castle
Mila with her baby sister, grandmother, and
parents, who are the castle’s caretakers. After
a fierce storm breaks part of the castle’s main
dome, Olia embarks on a magical journey with
the house’s guardian spirit into another realm
to try and save the structure. The realm is full of
spirits and creatures beyond her imagination,
and, to her dismay, she learns that it, too, is in Grades 4-7 Grades 5-8 Grades 6-12 Grades 7-12
danger of destruction. Anderson describes the 978-1-7284-1567-3 978-1-5415-9928-4 978-1-7284-1582-6 978-1-7284-4288-4
fantasy world beautifully, with engaging prose Kirkus
that guides readers through. She blends Slavic
folktales and cultures beautifully as Olia ex-
MK154-0522

plores her castle’s secrets, meets new denizens,

and acquires magical objects on her quest to
save everyone. Bighearted Olia is easy to cheer
lernerbooks.com
on and always tries to find ways to resolve all

www.booklistonline.com May 1, 2022 Booklist 43

Spaces quartet won’t be disappointed by this.
—Bobbie Peyton
The Golden Swift.
By Lev Grossman.
May 2022. 272p. Little, Brown, $16.99 (9780316283540).
Gr. 4–7.
Kate still thrills at her responsibility as con-
ductor of the Silver Arrow, ferrying threatened
animals to safer habitats via her enchanted
train. But regular-world distractions are com-
peting for her attention: more schoolwork, a
never-ending onslaught of natural disasters,
and, alarmingly, a missing relative. Uncle
Herbert vanished months ago, along with the
timetables Kate relies on to make her magical
trips. She heads out to find him but promptly
runs into more mysteries, including another
train conductor with nebulous—but possibly
nefarious—intentions. This Silver Arrow (2020)
sequel retains the magic of the first installment
but goes deeper, revealing more of the secretive
train world while raising the moral stakes. The
story doesn’t shy away from people’s increas-
ingly complicated place in the natural world,
but Grossman doesn’t let humans off the hook,
insisting that Kate and company continue to
do their best, make mistakes, and try again.
It’s both encouragement for young readers
navigating this fraught, fascinating world and
a vital reminder that every day is a new chance
for humans to change. —Emily Graham
Golden Ticket.
By Kate Egan.
June 2022. 240p. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99
(9781250820334). Gr. 4–6.
As a member of her school’s gifted and tal-
ented program, Ash McNulty starts her day
in Ms. Connors’ classroom but spends most
of her time in an accelerated, multigrade
class taught by Mr. Lopez. Worried because
her recent report card included a “Needs Im-
provement” grade, she feels pressure to win
the upcoming Quiz Bowl, and she does win,
but only because she photographed the an-
swer sheet, discovered in a teacher’s drawer. A
conversation with a new classmate who saw
Ash take the pictures leads her to confess that
she cheated. Demoted to Ms. Connors’ class,
Ash begins to wonder whether the gifted-and-
talented designation was mainly a benefit or a
source of unwanted pressure for her. Insight
comes from unexpected sources. Egan creates
a high degree of tension in the early chapters,
mirroring the conflict within Ash, a good kid
who makes some bad decisions and has to live
with the consequences, but just as involving is
her later exploration of who she is, where she
fits in, and what she really wants. An engaging
chapter book. —Carolyn Phelan
Hazard.
By Frances O’Roark Dowell.
May 2022. 160p. illus. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy, $17.99
(9781481424684). Gr. 5–8.
Hazard’s dad is back from serving in Af-
ghanistan, and Haz should be happy about it.
Instead, he’s not sure what to think. His dad is
44 Booklist May 1, 2022
in a hospital, missing a leg, and doesn’t want to
see Haz or his brother. After a rough hit gets
Haz suspended from football, he has to at-
tend counseling. While he isn’t convinced he
has anything to talk about, the more he learns
about his dad and himself, the more Haz learns
to cope and let out the rage that has been brew-
ing inside of him. Told through emails, journal
prompts, text messages, and family interviews,
Hazard’s story unfolds as he starts to recognize
the pain and emotions in himself and his dad
and the hurt with which they’ve both been
dealing. Haz’s voice and sarcastic wit keep the
tone light while dealing with deeper topics of
trauma, mental health, and PTSD. The for-
mat and length, along with the engaging plot,
makes it an appealing choice for less experi-
enced readers. —Sarah Bean Thompson
The Hurricanes of Weakerville.
By Chris Rylander.
June 2022. 432p. HarperCollins/Walden Pond, $16.99
(9780062327505). Gr. 4–7.
Smart but easily flustered, Alex can scarcely
put two coherent sentences together when
speaking with anyone but his parents, his best
friend, or 86-year-old Grandpa Ira. Everyone
in Weakerville knows Ira, who seldom sits in
the owner’s box at Mustard Park, where the
Hurricanes play independent league baseball.
Instead, he roams the stands, talking with fans
and especially with Alex, who analyzes the
Hurricanes. After Ira’s death, Alex learns that
he is to manage the team, which is in a slump,
and that the Hurricanes’ future existence de-
pends on making the playoffs. He takes on the
challenge with help from his best friend, who
knows nothing about baseball but everything
about Alex, and a 13-year-old girl who un-
derstands pitching better than many seasoned
players. Readers will quickly warm up to Alex,
whose self-deprecating humor brightens his
perceptive first-person narrative. The story’s
pace is leisurely until he starts managing the
team, overcoming obstacles while trying to
live up to his beloved grandfather’s example of
caring about people. A middle-grade baseball
novel that’s more heart-to-heart than play-by-
play. —Carolyn Phelan
The Kaya Girl.
By Mamle Wolo.
June 2022. 336p. Little, Brown, $16.99 (9780316703932).
Gr. 5–8.
Abena and Faiza, 14-year-old girls living in
Ghana, have very different experiences and
expectations in this middle-grade story, in
which they learn that the ways society fixates
on differences can’t hold a candle to the bright
flame of friendship. Abena, the daughter of a
wealthy doctor, spends the summer working
at the Makola Market with her auntie, where
she meets Faiza, a kaya girl who navigates the
streets carrying shoppers’ items in the pot
upon her head. Despite the only commonal-
ity being their age, Abena and Faiza quickly
become friends, and Abena learns that her
worldview must be broadened if she wants to
be the kind of journalist she dreams of becom-
ing. With such a focused take on a common
middle-grade plot of discovering class differ-
ences, the novel may feel simplistic, but it is
laced with wonderful descriptions of food and
dress that will transport readers to Ghana. A
second part, set 15 years later, is a special treat
that will especially appeal to readers on the
upper end of the recommended grade range.
—Aryssa Damron
The Last Fallen Moon.
By Graci Kim.
June 2022. 384p. Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, $16.99
(9781368073141). Gr. 5–8.
Kim continues the Gifted Clans series,
which incorporates elements of Korean my-
thology into contemporary settings, in this
exciting new installment that follows the God-
realm’s last fallen star, Riley Oh, as she grapples
with the truths behind her
newly revealed identity as
a nonmagical person born
into the gifted world. With
most of her friends and fam-
ily unable to remember her,
things are difficult enough,
and certain folks from her
past are still out to get her,
branding her a clan wrecker, but when a co-
ven of angry witches curses Riley’s home, she
will do anything to help restore the balance
and the magic in her community—even if that
means going to extremes, like popping back
into the dangerous Spiritrealm. Kim’s fantasti-
cal narrative introduces new faces—like Dahl,
a heaven-born boy whose mysterious back-
story will eventually be discovered, for better
or worse—and reintroduces familiar favorites,
like Riley’s beloved sister, Hattie, a steadfast
ally. Folklore enthusiasts will rejoice at the re-
turn to monster-filled lands and new whimsical
worlds where anything can happen, and Riley’s
signature fun attitude and relatable voice will
captivate readers who are just meeting her here,
as she continues to search for a sense of belong-
ing in a world that constantly challenges her
identity. —Stephanie Cohen
The Natural Genius of Ants.
By Betty Culley.
May 2022. 240p. Crown, $16.99 (9780593175774). Gr. 3–6.
Harvard is a funny guy; he loves wordplay
and figuring things out. But after his father
loses an infant patient and, unable to forgive
himself, discontinues his medical practice,
Harvard is stumped as to how to get his old
dad back. Then Dad decides
to take his two sons to the
small hometown in Maine,
in hopes that he can come
to terms with “The Mistake”
and his guilt. While there,
Harvard is befriended by
the girl next door, Nevaeh,
whose mother has recently
died, and they become supports for one an-
other. The story’s central adventure revolves
around building an ant farm as a family,
which Harvard hopes will distract his dad and
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help him move forward. When the mail-order
ant colony arrives dead in the post, ingenu-
ity comes into play with plenty of ups and
downs along the way. Harvard is driven to
distraction with anxiety about his dad, the
ant colony, and Nevaeh’s problems, but the
story meaningfully examines how to iden-
tify the things in life one can’t control, figure
out where control can be regained, and find
the ability to forgive. Culley (Down to Earth,
2021) gives readers characters that are natural,
fallible individuals, which add credibility and
tenderness to the story. Endearingly executed,
this gentle tale will see readers applauding as
they reach the end. —Beth Rosania
Rainfish.
By Andrew Paterson.
May 2022. 272p. Text, paper, $11.95 (9781922330963). Gr. 4–7.
Aaron, 12, lives with his mother and older
brother, Conner, in Queensland, the north-
eastern state of Australia. Possessed of a
vivid imagination, Aaron is good at entertain-
ing himself, but he longs for “cool” friends. So
when when Conner’s friend Damon invites
him to hang out, Aaron jumps at the chance.
Unfortunately, Damon’s idea of hanging out is
to burgle the church, taking a handful of small
items, including the priest’s gold rosary. Sworn
to secrecy, Aaron is immediately wracked with
guilt. Later, when torrents of rain flood the
town, he feels as if it is his fault. Finally, when
Damon stands by when a “cooler” boy bullies
Conner, Aaron finds his courage to stand up
for Conner and for himself. Told from Aaron’s
point of view, the novel is both tender and
funny, conveying Aaron’s struggle with his con-
science, which he envisions as a black panther
stalking him. Surrounded with characters who
are quirky but convincing, Aaron realizes that
his life is what he makes of it, and his dilemmas
have a universal quality. —Donna Scanlon
Secret of the Shadow Beasts.
By Diane Magras.
June 2022. 336p. Dial, $17.99 (9780735229327). Gr. 4–7.
Percy Jackson meets The Witcher in this
fast-paced middle-grade fantasy filled with
creatures of the night. Brannland has been
overrun by Shadow Beasts, or Umbrae, who
come out at night and whose attacks are quick
and deadly. Only young knights immune to
Umbrae venom are able to fight them, and
they train for years to do so. After an Um-
brae kills her father and attacks her and her
mother, immune 12-year-old Nora decides
to join the knights and help fight the shadow
beasts. With no formal training, Nora has a
rough start, but her natural talent and courage
help her prove that she has what it takes to be
a knight. As she trains, the knights become
close friends and begin to search for answers
as to why so many Umbrae are appearing.
Nora proves to be an endearing and coura-
geous protagonist, even as she struggles with
loss and the initial friction with her team, and
readers will be equally enchanted by the world
of Brannland and the mythology behind the
Umbrae. A thrilling fantasy. —Selenia Paz
www.booklistonline.com
Seed.
By Caryl Lewis.
May 2022. 224p. Holt/Godwin, $16.99 (9781250832023).
Gr. 4–6.
Marty’s mother, who struggles with hoard-
ing, works hard to clear out the house, only
to relapse, weeping and dragging everything
back inside. The next day, Marty moves into
his grandfather’s small apartment for a while.
When Grandad gives him a large seed for his
birthday, the amount of enthusiasm the boy
conjures is proportional to his love for his
grandfather, a gardener and inventor with big
dreams. Marty has recently made his first real
friend: Gracie, an aspiring dancer who copes
well with deafness thanks to her lipreading
skills and cochlear implant. Gradually re-
vealed to Marty and Gracie, Grandad’s latest
mad scheme involves a gigantic pumpkin and
a perilous journey. Lewis creates interesting
characters, young and old, and vividly por-
trays them with well-chosen words. Beguiled
by Grandad’s charm offensive at a parent-
teacher conference, the school administrator
is described as “looking like she’d been in
an accident with a charismatic steamroller.”
The well-paced story gathers momentum as
it moves toward the fulfillment of Grandad’s
mysterious plan through a grand adventure,
and it concludes with contentment and hope.
—Carolyn Phelan
Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster
Hunter.
By Zoraida Córdova.
June 2022. 368p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781338712711). Gr. 4–6.
It is the last day of school before summer
vacation, and 11-(and-a-half!)-year-old Val-
entina Salazar still can’t seem to stay out of
trouble. Unable to gel with the other kids at
school, Valentina spends her school days rem-
iniscing about the “Before
Times,” when her family
went on monster-rescuing
adventures—and her dad
was still alive. After hear-
ing of monsters roaming
around, Valentina makes it
her mission to get back to
monster saving; however,
her mom, brother, and sister want nothing
more than to move on with their lives. An un-
expected, ominous visit from their estranged
uncle, Rafael (a monster hunter), sends chills
down everyone’s backs. Upon learning that
a rare orü puma egg is in danger of being
destroyed by monster hunters, Valentina de-
termines to continue her father’s work—even
though it was an orü puma that killed him—
by saving the egg and, hopefully, reuniting her
family. The author who created the Brooklyn
Brujas trilogy, Córdova brings a new fantas-
tical adventure to younger readers. Córdova
crafts an adventure story to explain a standard
lesson that monsters (like humans) are not all
bad and can be misunderstood. A wonderful
read that shows people should never underes-
timate the power of family—or their youngest
siblings! —Beronica Puhr
Yo u n g
Again, Essie?
By Jenny Lacika. Illus. by Teresa Martínez.
May 2022. 32p. Charlesbridge, $15.99 (9781623542054).
K–Gr. 2.
Rafael’s baby sister, Essie, is a toddling terror
who doesn’t understand boundaries and keeps
grabbing all of his toys. So Rafael decides to
build a wall to protect his belongings. He uses
shoeboxes, paper rolls, and other found objects.
Through trial and error mixed with a grasp of
3D geometry and spatial reasoning, Rafael
builds his fortification. But is it Essie-proof?
This question is answered as soon as naptime
ends and Essie comes busting through the wall.
The toys, however, are safe because Essie loves
knocking down the wall—and playing with her
big brother—most of all. Lacika and Martinez
do a wonderful job in this Storytelling Math
title of bringing a STEM topic to life, and the
illustrations clearly depict Rafael’s thoughts
and building process. Because Rafael’s family is
Chicanx, the text smoothly incorporates Span-
ish vocabulary, which is defined in a glossary.
The back matter also includes an “Exploring the
Math’’ section featuring math notes, activities,
and a link to additional STEM support mate-
rial. —Rosie Camargo
Baby Squeaks.
By Anne Hunter. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Tundra, $17.99 (9780735269095). PreS–Gr. 2.
At first, Baby Mouse is completely quiet.
Mama Mouse greets her baby’s first utterance,
squeak, with joy, and the second, squeak squeak,
with happiness. But the squeaks increase in
number until her baby is talking nonstop,
and Mama needs “a little quiet.” Settling Baby
Mouse at the base of the tree where they live,
she falls asleep. Baby Mouse spots a baby bird
nearby and talks cheerfully until it flies away.
Seeing a rabbit, Baby Mouse chatters until it
hops away. Next, Baby Mouse talks to a fawn
until it falls asleep. Mama Mouse awakens.
Where is her baby? Following the distant sound
of squeak, squeak, squeak, she finds Baby Mouse
and carries her little one home. Reading the
story aloud is a pleasure, except for the balloon-
ing number of squeaks in the speech bubbles, a
challenge easily met by asking children to help
with the squeaking. Created with ballpoint pen
and colored pencils, the pleasing illustrations
were skillfully created using expressive draw-
ing, cross-hatching, and pale shades of blue
and yellow. A simply written, amusing picture
book. —Carolyn Phelan
Ballewiena.
By Rebecca Bender. Illus. by the author.
June 2022. 32p. Pajama, $18.95 (9781772781373). PreS–Gr. 2.
Dotty, a spotted dachshund, longs to dance
ballet on stage, but Ms. Austere (her owner) just
doesn’t understand her. After Dotty responds
to the command “roll over” with a quick pir-
ouette, she finds herself enrolled in obedience
school. After class, she runs off whimpering to
the park. A friendly squirrel acrobat offers to
train her in the discipline she needs for bal-
May 1, 2022 Booklist 45
let. She practices long and hard until one day,
accompanying Ms. Austere to an outdoor pa-
vilion, she slips away, sneaks onto the stage,
and wows the audience with her dancing. Ms.
Austere replaces Dotty’s obedience lessons with
canine ballet classes. The phonetic pronuncia-
tions of terms for basic ballet moves are readily
available on the endpapers, along with draw-
ings of tutu-clad dachshunds performing each
action. The story is well paced, and the lively
pictures, created with gouache, watercolor, ink,
pencil, and digital elements, portray Dotty as
a determined ballerina, performing impressive
feats while balanced on her tiny yet strong back
legs. A picture-book romp for children who
dream of ballet. —Carolyn Phelan
The Best Bed for Me.
By Gaia Cornwall. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 32p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9781536207156). PreS–K.
It’s bedtime, but a pair of patient mothers
is having trouble getting their child to calm
their body and nestle down to sleep. The child,
restless, suggests sleeping in a tree like a koala
or upside down like a bat or snuggled with
piglets in the mud. Eventually, however, they
realize that the best bed for them is their big-
kid bed. It’s a simple tale, dotted with animal
facts—whales keep swimming while they sleep,
puffins sleep in underground burrows, otters
sleep holding hands—but the real thread of
the story is the tender, loving dance of coaxing
a child to sleep. Cornwall (Jabari Jumps, 2017)
puts the child in fire engine–red pajamas that
energetically pop against the muted, nighttime
hues of pea green, gentle mauve, and denim
blue on the mothers, the seafoam bedroom
walls, and sky-blue bed. Same-sex couples
and mixed-race families will appreciate seeing
themselves represented, and the child (and the
bountiful terms of endearment used for them)
is kept deliberately ungendered. A sweet tale
for sweet dreams. —Becca Worthington
Bharatanatyam in Ballet Shoes.
By Mahak Jain. Illus. by Anu Chouhan.
2022. 36p. Annick, $18.95 (9781773216157). K–Gr. 3.
Paro and her mother are Bharatanatyam
dancers, fluent in the language and gestures of
this traditional Indian dance form. So when
Paro joins a ballet class, she should be confident
in her ability to learn a new kind of dance. In-
stead, she is nervous and feels out of place. Her
anxiety is heightened when she observes the
other dancers, Marco and Dana, skilled at the
pirouette and helicopter, respectively. When
Paro demonstrates a Bharatanatyam move, the
others don’t understand it and ask her to teach
them. Their newfound companionship leads
to much chatter about favorite dancers with
names that sound like desserts and fanciful
imaginings of themselves as dancing desserts.
Paro’s insecurity surfaces with every chang-
ing interaction, even among these friendly,
nonjudgmental peers. Ultimately, peers and
adults are all supportive, and Paro learns that
with time and practice, she can apply her old
dance skills to her new learning journey. This is
a sweet story with charming illustrations. Back
46 Booklist May 1, 2022
matter adds an interesting backstory and in-
structions for making ghungroo (anklets used
in Bharatanatyam). —Amina Chaudhri
The Book That Kibo Wrote.
By Mariana Ruiz Johnson. Illus. by the
author. Tr. by Lawrence Schimel.
2022. 32p. Eerdmans, $17.99 (9780802855893). K–Gr. 3.
Each evening, rhino Kibo writes about liv-
ing on the savanna—of “the silhouettes of the
birds, the buzz of the bugs.” Eventually, there’s
enough for a book, which crane Naki reads and
creates a cover for before flying it to the city
and leaving it in a random place. Lion Camilo
finds it, and the descriptions of “the acacias
that shook and sang in the wind” remind him
of his childhood home. He brings the book to
rabbit Simon, and from there, it makes its way
to others and eventually to Nanuk, a bear at the
North Pole, who becomes filled with warm sa-
vanna dreams after reading it. Vibrant, blocky
illustrations depict the expressive, anthropo-
morphized animals and various settings with
whimsical details in playful layouts. Through-
out, the lyrical narrative highlights different
elements of Kibo’s words and how they vari-
ously affect each reader, from evoking nostalgia
to inspiring imagination and introducing new
perspectives. While it ends somewhat abruptly,
this overall delightful story, translated from the
original Spanish, celebrates discovering joy in
books—and sharing the experience with others.
—Shelle Rosenfeld
Brave Every Day.
By Trudy Ludwig. Illus. by Patrice Barton.
June 2022. 40p. Knopf, $18.99 (9780593306376). PreS–Gr. 2.
Camila tends to withdraw into herself when
she’s worried about doing something wrong,
having no one to play with at recess, or making
mistakes in front of others. Often intimidated
by what-if scenarios, she doesn’t see herself as
brave, but the narrator assures us that she is,
though she hasn’t realized it yet. On a field trip
to the aquarium, she feels overwhelmed until
she discovers a kindred soul. Her classmate Kai
is fascinated by stingrays but afraid to approach
their tank. When he asks Camila for help, she
agrees, overcoming her fears and making a
friend. In the final scene, she’s back at school,
confidently making a presentation about octo-
puses to her class. The simply written text uses
terms familiar to children, from the first double-
page spread, in which a group of children are
playing hide-and-seek and Camila “just wants
to hide.” Cloudlike blue-and-white clusters of-
ten appear within the expressive illustrations
when Camila’s emotions take control. Another
sensitive picture book from the creators of The
Invisible Boy (2013) and Quiet Please, Owen
McPhee! (2018). —Carolyn Phelan
The Daily Bark: The Dinosaur Discovery.
By Laura James. Illus. by Charlie Alder.
May 2022. 128p. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (9781547609550).
Gr. 1–3.
Welcome back to the town of Puddle,
where journalistic-minded pups live with
their oblivious owners. This turn focuses on
stationmaster sidekick Bob, sporting a tiny
conductor’s hat. Longing to impress a new
dog, the elegant Diamond, Bob sets about
digging for a worthy present. He’s thrilled
to uncover a massive bone, part of an enor-
mous skeleton. He alerts the staff of The Daily
Bark, the local dog-run newspaper, and it’s
Diamond herself who realizes that they have
a dinosaur on their hands—er, paws. It’s the
scoop of the century, but Diamond’s surly
owner catches wind of the find and attempts
to locate the skeleton in hopes of moving
himself—and his pup—away from Puddle
for good, and the canine community bands
together to thwart the selfish scheme. The
sweet, silly story charms from the first page,
and frequent, appealing illustrations will help
keep emerging readers immersed in the nar-
rative. Fans of the first installment will enjoy
glimpses of familiar characters, but the story
easily stands alone. A fetching canine comedy
sure to delight and amuse. —Emily Graham
A Day for Sandcastles.
By JonArno Lawson. Illus. by Qin Leng.
May 2022. 48p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9781536208429).
PreS–Gr. 2.
The creators of Over the Shop (2021) return
with another wordless picture book, this one
celebrating the joys of a summer beach day.
A young family arrives by bus and excitedly
scrambles down the dunes
to the water’s edge. After
scouting out the area, the
three kids take up pails
and shovels and cooper-
ate to create a sandcastle.
Throughout the day they
overcome a series of chal-
lenges: Dad warns of the
encroaching tide; a gust of wind crashes a lady’s
hat into the structure; and a toddler wanders
through, oblivious to his surroundings. With
each setback the siblings assess, problem solve,
and build it back better than before. Leng’s
watercolor-and-ink illustrations employ a
sunny palette of sky blues and sandy shades of
beige, accented with brightly hued beachwear
and gear. Paneled layouts provide ample op-
portunity for readers to view each step in the
siblings’ process, and close-ups of their facial
expressions (frustration, disappointment, de-
termination) add nuance to the story. Equally
intriguing are the other beachgoers (in various
shapes, sizes, and colors), whose details hint at
their own stories. Young readers will also ap-
preciate that these parents, while always within
eyesight, mostly leave the kids to their own de-
vices, allowing for a most satisfying beach day
for everyone. —Kay Weisman
Don’t Eat Bees: Life Lessons from Chip
the Dog.
By Dev Petty. Illus. by Mike Boldt.
May 2022. 32p. Doubleday, $17.99 (9780593433126).
PreS–Gr. 2.
This romping read-aloud, by the duo that
Continued on p.48
www.booklistonline.com
 Focus on Pride
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It.
By Lil Miss Hot Mess. Illus. by Olga de Dios.
May 2022. 32p. Running Press, $17.99 (9780762475339). PreS–Gr. 2.
Ideal for a drag-queen storytime or any dress-up and sing-along fun,
this spin on “If You’re Happy and You Know It” features glam drag
queens in sparkling and patterned outfits leading the action, which
is set against vibrant backgrounds. In the first section, various drag
queens—from a performer with brown skin and dazzling jewels to
one with light skin and a blue beard to yet another in a wheelchair,
with mauve skin and a mermaid costume—encourage young readers
and singers to “Blow a kiss!” “Strike a pose!” and “Say ‘Taa-daaa!’”
During the “Do all three!” refrain, all the drag queens appear on-
stage together. A new lineup of drag queens, including a performer
in a feathered Aztec headdress and another with an artificial leg, take
over the two successive sections and call out “Twirl around!” “Shake
your bum!” and other actions. Topping off the amusement is the fi-
nal “Do all three!” stage with every one of the book’s drag queens.
—Angela Leeper
Miss Rita, Mystery Reader.
By Sam Donovan and Kristen Wixted. Illus. by Violet Tobacco.
May 2022. 40p. Farrar, $18.99 (9781250774767). K–Gr. 2.
This sweet and reassuring picture book tells the story of a young child,
Tori, who’s worried how their class will react to their dad, the designated
“Mystery Reader.” Wise, empathetic Dad lets the child come up with
a solution: the two will do the reading presentation together, to great
acclaim and a happy ending. There’s one twist: Dad is a drag queen.
Readers follow along as Dad transforms into Miss
Rita Book through careful application of makeup
and meticulous deliberations over which wig,
gown, shoes, glitter, glamour, and glimmer will
work best. When Tori, a nonbinary child who uses
they/them pronouns, begins to have doubts about
Miss Rita’s pending reception, Dad volunteers, “I
can just be Daddy today.” Instead, Tori decides to
dress up as Miss Rita’s assistant: Miss Tori Teller.
The glittery duo is welcomed, along with their props: “They handed
out wigs and beads and glittery capes to everyone who wanted them.
And a very sparkly story time began.” Authors Donovan (of Project Run-
way fame) and Wixted include a helpful author’s note with information
(including pronouns) for drag performers and nonbinary people. The
vivid, expressive, and energetic illustrations catch just the right over-
the-top tone. This fun selection is a great way to enhance picture-book
collections. —Kathleen McBroom
The Rainbow Parade.
By Emily Neilson. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 32p. Dial, $17.99 (9780593326589). PreS–Gr. 3.
An excited little girl boards the train with both of her moms to at-
tend her first Rainbow Parade in San Francisco. As crowds flood the
sidewalks, the youngster’s body language is spot-on, as she hilariously
sighs, groans, and sits on the concrete, waiting for the action to be-
gin. And what a spectacle it is! The cartoon illustrations capture the
spirit of exhilaration and the details showing the creative styles of the
entrants and spectators of this unique parade. The jugglers, stilt walk-
www.booklistonline.com
ers, acrobats, dancers, marching performers, and bike riders pass by
with big smiles, flying the Pride flag and wearing rainbow wigs, col-
orful beads, tutus, and even almost nothing
at all! When a group of LGBTQ+ families
appear, the shy girl’s moms encourage her to
leap over the fence with them and join in the
march, assuring her that she belongs in the
Rainbow Parade, too. Her confident state-
ment affirms: “I think I’m going to practice
pride all year long.” This welcome addition to picture books for young
children directly addresses the Pride parade and LGBTQ+ community
and promotes the straightforward, positive message of recognition and
acceptance. —Lolly Gepson
The Sublime Ms. Stacks.
By Robb Pearlman. Illus. by Dani Jones.
June 2022. 32p. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (9781547607143). PreS–Gr. 2.
A librarian secretly swaps his staid demeanor for a glittery alter ego
who delivers showstopper storytimes in this energetic and affirming
picture book destined to inspire karaoke battles. Readers’ advisory and
library management are no trouble for Mr. Stephen, but programming
proves a struggle. So, for storytime and show-and-tell, Mr. Stephen
calls in the Sublime Ms. Stacks, who appears in a flourish with a fur-
trimmed apron and an abundance of creative flair. “Ta-da!! It’s nice
to see you again—and to be seen, my darlings!” Shepherding the
children through craft projects and dramatic read-alouds, Ms. Stacks
finally launches into karaoke, complete with two “librarian sisters” on
backup, before Mr. Stephen returns. Jones’ warm and inclusive digital
illustrations feature incidental LGBTQ+ representation throughout,
and Pearlman (Pink Is for Boys, 2018) welcomes everyone in with
the text’s playful and positive tone. Pair with a playlist, Lil Miss Hot
Mess’ The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish (2020), and
Jonathan Hillman’s Big Wig (2022) to fashion a sublime storytime.
—Kit Ballenger
’Twas the Night before Pride.
By Joanna McClintick. Illus. by Juana Medina.
May 2022. 32p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9781536213430). K–Gr. 2.
Get out the party hats, folks. It’s time to celebrate! It’s the night
before Pride, and two little kids and their moms are atwitter with ex-
citement. Using Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem as inspiration,
down to its metered rhyme, McClintick presents a loving survey of the
queer community in all its diversity—including bikers, drag queens,
musicians—as they make last-minute preparations for the city’s Pride
parade. And because tomorrow will be baby Sammy’s first Pride, the
mixed-race family gathers to tell them the history of the celebration,
starting with the Stonewall riots and continuing to present-day ho-
mophobia, concluding that gathering for Pride helps people “to know
that we matter, / to show all we exist / and that any oppression / we
must always resist.” Medina’s rainbow-flecked digital illustrations do
a superb job of capturing the spirit and scope of Pride and the ex-
citement it generates, while the sprightly text joins in the celebration.
With affirming discussions of togetherness and LGBTQ+ rights, the
book’s final takeaway that “being yourself is a blast” hits just the right
note. —Michael Cart
May 1, 2022 Booklist 47
Continued from p.46
produced the popular I Don’t Want to Be a
Frog series, stars a mutt with a message for all
other dogs: “Don’t eat bees.” The mutt, Chip,
who has a wide circle around one eye and a
huge snout, first establishes that he’s smart.
Chip knows that you can dig 30 holes for 30
bones or put all 30 bones in 1 hole. Experience
has taught him that just about everything is on
the menu for dogs, except for bees. Chip has
an expansive list of what’s fine for dogs to eat,
including socks, homework, and the Thanks-
giving turkey, but each cluster of “OK” foods is
followed by the refrain “But not bees.” Readers
will start to suspect that Chip is a little obsessed
with bees, and there’s a comic sequence toward
the end that shows just how Chip got that way.
The bright, bouncy illustrations carry the hilar-
ity; scenes like the wreck of the Thanksgiving
dinner table abound. Funny and involving.
—Connie Fletcher
Duck, Duck, Dad?
By Lorna Scobie. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 32p. Holt, $18.99 (9781250822734). PreS–Gr. 1.
Ralph, a dog, is enjoying a quiet stroll, com-
plete with flowers, trees, and butterflies, when
an egg suddenly cracks. Out steps a duckling,
loudly calling, “Dad!” Unsure of what to do,
Ralph ignores its cries and continues his walk,
comforting himself that at least there’s only
one hatchling following him. The illustrations
reveal that there are dozens, probably more
than 100. While mastering their mealtime,
bath time, and bedtime routines, Ralph be-
comes fond of his flock. On a family walk,
they encounter a drake, who thanks Ralph
for looking after his ducklings and takes them
home, after giving him the dozens of pup-
pies in his care. But when each dad misses his
original brood, they combine to form one big,
happy family. The ducklings’ antics and child-
like comments in speech balloons provide
much of the humor that makes this picture
book fun for reading aloud. Reflecting the
upbeat tone of the narrative, the mixed-media
illustrations capture the joy as well as the cha-
os when Ralph gives up his quiet life for one
that’s “full of cuddles.” —Carolyn Phelan
Hans Millerman.
By Bernadette Watts.
May 2022. 32p. illus. NorthSouth, $17.95 (9780735844896).
PreS–Gr. 2.
Hans Millerman lives alone at the edge of
his cornfields. On an especially lonely au-
tumn evening, he makes a wish for a friend
while gazing on the harvest moon. That same
night, he finds a caterpillar resting on a win-
dowsill in his cozy mill home. Hans doesn’t
pay it much attention but discovers the critter
likes to perch on his hat every day while Hans
works in his fields. After a month passes and
the miller believes the moon has not granted
his wish, he decides to find a friend himself.
He packs a bindle, leaves home, and begins
his pursuit for a companion. Though his trav-
els do not produce a friend, there is a surprise
48 Booklist May 1, 2022
awaiting him upon his return home. The art-
work here is the standout, with frame-worthy
views of the countryside. Both the indoor and
outdoor scenes are filled with myriad details,
and readers will want to take time to peruse
each picture. A gentle tale about appreciating
friendship in all its forms. —Maryann Owen
I Am Able to Shine.
By Korey Watari. Illus. by Mike Wu.
May 2022. 40p. Amazon/Two Lions, $17.99
(9781542031530). PreS–Gr. 2.
Keiko is a Japanese American girl with ex-
traordinary dreams. More than anything,
she wants people to notice that she can con-
tribute kindness and positivity to the world,
but sometimes she feels invisible or left out.
While the text carries a universal quality in
its affirmations and encouraging tone, even in
the face of challenges, Wu’s illustrations offer
more specificity. With heavy black outlines
and soft watercolor brushwork, scenes unfold
that show Keiko feeling self-conscious in a
ballet class of white, blonde girls and receiving
strange looks in the school cafeteria as she eats
from her bento box. But she channels her en-
ergy into strength and determination, leading
her to gain confidence in herself and thrive.
As she celebrates what makes her culturally
unique, she also sees the importance of push-
ing for equality for all girls. Each page uses
key terms that focus on building self-esteem
and a strong self-concept for children, mak-
ing this a natural choice for SEL collections.
An author’s note and explanation of Japanese
cultural objects and practices from the story
conclude. —Tiffany Flowers
I Will Not Lose in Super Shoes!
By Jonathan Fenske. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 32p. Penguin Workshop, $9.99
(9780593384541); paper, $4.99 (9780593384534). K–Gr. 2.
The competitive rabbit from I Will Race
You through This Book! (2019) returns with
another zany metafictional challenge. Sport-
ing shiny yellow-and-red high-top sneakers,
Book-It Bunny brings new kicks and tricks
to this speed-reading sprint. Peppy rhyming
couplets propel the action: “Here I go! I hit
my stride. / LOOK DOWN! Why are your
shoes untied?” Book-It launches more wily
diversions, including a banana-peel projec-
tile, “scary thing” warning, and souped-up
“SUPER TURBO BLAST” shoe modifica-
tion. When all attempts to prevent the reader
from crossing the finish line first backfire, the
bunny offers a sly clarification and assurance
of a rematch. Geisel Honor Book creator Fen-
ske’s sprightly cartoon illustrations are full of
hilarious expressions, from mischievous glints
in Book-It Bunny’s eyes to knowing glances
from a watchful snail. Onomatopoeic sound
effects (“SPROING!”, “RUMBLE!”) and
close-up sneaker details (“SUPERSNEAK
RUBBER”) provide more opportunities to
hone reading skills. With superb comedic
pacing, a large font, sight words, and sight
gags aplenty, this is a winning choice for be-
ginning readers. —Linda Ludke
I’m Not Missing.
By Kashelle Gourley. Illus. by Skylar
Hogan.
May 2022. 40p. little bee, $17.99 (9781499812640). K–Gr. 2.
Touting the end of having to earn treats
with silly tricks, wear cutesy outfits, and en-
dure diets and infringements on personal
space (“How would you like someone watch-
ing you poop? EVERY. SINGLE. TIME!”),
not to mention the cone of shame, a runaway
indoor dog righteously trumpets its new-
found freedom: “LIVIN’ THE DREAM!”
But maybe it’s not all a
walk in the park, what
with rainstorms, scary
raccoons, and the lack
of ear scratches? Plus,
a glimpse of the former
owner with another
dog (A false alarm, as
it turns out she’s only
walking it for someone else. But still.) leads
to a reconsideration and a joyful reunion.
“What?” says the prodigal pooch, dozing off
on a warm lap. “I’m still a lone wolf. Besides,
relationships are all about compromise.” Ho-
gan’s brightly colored suburban scenes show
the chubby mutt first as a puppy in a young
girl’s arms, later watching as she (teenage, or
possibly older) looks sadly at the “lost dog”
sign she’s posted, then contentedly sharing a
sofa at the end fill in the background story
nicely. The tone and elevated vocabulary, as
well as the art, may speak to older, even adult
readers, but younger ones will certainly be re-
minded of their own gleeful temporary breaks
for freedom as toddlers. —John Peters
Juna and Appa.
By Jane Park. Illus. by Felicia Hoshino.
May 2022. 32p. Lee & Low, $19.95 (9781643792279). K–Gr. 3.
Juna loves Saturdays when she can spend
the day at her father’s dry-cleaning shop, help-
ing him and enjoying his company. One day,
Appa is preoccupied, and Juna has to keep out
of his way. The warm steam of the pants press-
er makes her dreamy, and her imagination
takes flight. In her dream, she is helping her
father find a customer’s missing jacket. When
she tries to help Appa in reality, though, he
brushes her aside in his own worry about find-
ing the jacket. Gentle watercolor illustrations
mirror the text and capture the close and car-
ing relationship that Juna and Appa share, as
well as her feelings of vulnerability when she
feels she isn’t needed. In the author’s note, we
learn that the story has some autobiographical
elements, and that this is a tribute to Park’s
parents and the happy memories she had in
their dry-cleaning shop, even while they were
preoccupied with work responsibilities. This
lovely message will resonate with empathetic
readers everywhere. —Amina Chaudhri
Lion Needs a Shot.
By Hyewon Yum. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Abrams, $16.99 (9781419748295).
PreS–Gr. 1.
In this charming follow-up to Lion Needs a
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Haircut (2020), Daddy Lion hesitantly tells and dry until an emergency has him thinking tailed whimsy to young readers, this time in
cubs Luka and Lulu that it’s time to visit the of someone else instead of considering his own the story of Lizzy, a curly-haired girl who be-
doctor for a checkup. Luka, as the older sib- comfort. Little Tractor has eyes reminiscent of comes the proud owner of a cloud. During a
ling, explains what Lulu can expect during C-3PO and an expressive mouth that clearly walk in the park, Lizzy visits the cloud vendor,
her first visit—having the doctor listen to her reveals his emotions. Youngsters will enjoy the who sells his wares like balloons. While the
heart with stethoscope, getting measured, and story’s message of bravery and the brightly col- clouds come in many shapes—mainly fluffy
(gulp!) getting a shot. Their appointment goes ored illustrations of tractors and farm animals. animals—Lizzie opts for a regular puff, taking
smoothly until Dr. Brown arrives with their —Maryann Owen its string and new owner’s manual in hand.
shots, triggering Luka’s own fear and thoughts The girl follows the care instructions carefully,
of escape, until he remembers he needs to be Lizzy and the Cloud. watering the cloud (which she names Milo)
brave for Lulu. He takes his shot like a champ, By Terry Fan and Eric Fan. Illus. by the and taking it for walks, but as Milo grows it
and Lulu models his behavior, both of them authors. becomes discontent and, on one occasion,
earning stickers from Dr. Brown for being May 2022. 56p. Simon & Schuster, $18.99 (9781534483170). thunderous. It’s bittersweet when Lizzie real-
such good patients. Yum’s sweet illustrations PreS–Gr. 2. izes that an apartment is no place for a cloud
are softly rendered in colored pencils, and their The Fan Brothers once again bring soft, de- and releases it. The Fan Brothers give an origi-
childlike quality is a perfect match for the story.
It strikes a reassuring tone for little ones anx-
ious about doctor visits or getting shots (“They
keep you from getting sick! . . . [And] you get a
really nice sticker.”), while also demonstrating
a loving sibling relationship. —Rosie Camargo Be a good Ancestor with your words
The Little House of Hope.
By Terry Catasús Jennings. Illus. by Raúl
Words become expressions
Colón. Expressions become stories
June 2022. 32p. Holiday/Neal Porter, $18.99
(9780823447169). PreS–Gr. 1.
Stories become narratives
The house may be small and rickety, but Es- Narratives become truth
peranza and her family are happy to be living
in the casita, because they are together and safe.
Now far from their old home of Cuba, the ca-
sita is where they’ll make their new home in
the U.S. As family and friends also begin ar-
riving to the U.S. in search of a place to go,
Esperanza’s family opens the casita’s doors to
those that need help, and soon the small house
becomes a lively and bustling home for many.

9781459831407 HC • $21.95
Award-winning Colón uses a mixed medium
of colored pencils and watercolor to create his
distinct artwork that is rich in color and texture
and beautifully encapsulates the warmth the
casita provides. Jennings’ semiautobiographi-
cal story portrays the immigrant experience in
several different ways, but everyone’s story is
connected through their shared hopes, aspira-
tions, and determination, all of which will be
relatable to readers who have gone through a
similar experience when immigrating to the “A perfect read for teaching about empathy and
U.S. A valuable story about the importance of demonstrating the ways we are all connected.
Highly Recommended.”
generosity and community. —Michelle Ortega
—CM Reviews
Little Tractor Is Brave.
By Natalie Quintart. Illus. by Philippe For fans of
Goossens.
May 2022. 32p. Clavis, $18.95 (9781605377384). PreS–Gr. 1.
9781459827196 HC • $19.95
9781459827530 HC • $19.95

Sweet illustrations are the highlight of this

Dutch import geared to the very young. Little
Tractor lives on a farm with his father and a
variety of animals. Daddy Tractor plans a fun
outing with his son: “Today we’re going to do
something special together.” He suggests they
climb a hill and race down it. At first, the small,
bright red machine is excited, until he discovers
the weather has turned, and it has begun to rain.
His father encourages him, so, though hesitant, “Lovely…A gentle message that “An uplifting look at the
he decides to go along with the plan. After shows how kindness connects us impact of small moments
losing his “footing” and slipping off the trail, and reinforces our deep relations.” throughout the day.”
Little Tractor vows to remain inside whenever —Toronto Star —SLJ
it rains. He retreats to the barn and stays nice

www.booklistonline.com May 1, 2022 Booklist 49

nal tweak to the too-big-pet story line, often
seen with dinosaurs, that will charm readers
of all ages. The limited use of color—buttery
yellow, cornflower blue, sherbet green—lends
extra magic to the finely lined pencil draw-
ings, especially where a faint rainbow glistens
in the cloud’s mist. A sweet, imaginative tale.
—Julia Smith
A Mouthful of Minnows.
By John Hare. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Greenwillow, $17.99 (9780063093225).
PreS–Gr. 2.
Alphonso, a snapping alligator turtle with
a pink, worm-like tongue that baits unsus-
pecting prey, plunges to the bottom of the
pond, opens his mouth wide, and waits for
breakfast to appear. Soon one minnow arrives,
then several more, and eventually Big Betty.
Alphonso’s anticipation of his feast is keen,
until he realizes the little minnows are Betty’s
progeny, celebrating her birthday. He de-
clines to snap, the school glides towards a real
lure, and Alphonso, recognizing the danger,
swims to the rescue, preventing the demise
of his newfound friends. Hare’s digitally en-
hanced acrylic-on-hardboard paintings are
richly hued in greens, browns, and pinks,
with shading used effectively to convey three
dimensionality. His style is mostly naturalis-
tic, although prominent facial features (eyes,
mouths, and lashes, in particular) help to
convey the characters’ emotions and add nu-
ance to the story. Readers will also appreciate
the small blue crayfish, unmentioned in the
text, who observes the entire story. An ap-
pended note offers additional facts about this
Ankylosaurusesque species, including suitable
real-world cautions. —Kay Weisman
Music Is a Rainbow.
By Bryan Collier. Illus. by the author.
June 2022. 48p. Little, Brown, $18.99 (9780316537421).
Gr. 1–3.
After a serious event causes family routine
to crumble, a child finds a refuge and salve
in music. A Black boy relishes the regular
comforts of his loving family, including early
morning quiet time with Daddy and tender
kisses from Momma. Momma’s sudden ill-
ness and absence—described only as going
“away for a while”—opens a gaping hole in
the boy’s life. In his anguish, the child finds
comfort in playing the piano, its music wash-
ing over him like “a rainbow of love.” Later
separating from mischievous friends, the boy
finds additional opportunities to “relax . . .
shine . . . [and] dream” as music enfolds him,
just like his parents’ love. Setting his story
amid a tawny 1940s cityscape, Collier uses
mural-like watercolor and collage to reflect
the joyful comfort that music brings the
boy. Collier’s portraiture transfixes the read-
er with the boy’s hesitant and tender gaze
throughout. An optimistic ending reassures
the reader of the child’s healing connec-
tion to music: “The rainbow had found
him. And then that feeling lasted forever.”
—Kit Ballenger
50 Booklist May 1, 2022
My Hero.
By Brian Biggs. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Dial, $18.99 (9780525553380). K–Gr. 3.
Quicker than lightning and stronger than
steel—but disguised as a normal child—
Abigail is actually (cue superhero music)
Awesome Girl! But every time she reminds
her father that she is a defender of justice,
he just reminds her to be careful as she goes
about her derring-do. While Abigail hurls
herself into superhero work, Dad is never
far behind, making sure she stays safe. But
when an evil purple octopus kidnaps her
father, it’s up to Awesome Girl to save the
day and finally make him recognize her for
the hero she is. The pastel and colored pen-
cil artwork is softer and gentler in line and
color than traditional superhero stories, but
there are still plenty of clever nods to the
genre, including an homage to Clark Kent
in the father’s appearance and the way that
the traditional full-page picture book spreads
change into graphic novel panels for the pur-
ple octopus plotline. Above all else, this is a
sweet father-daughter story about believing
in your child, but with the bonus of a flying
cat sidekick. —Becca Worthington
Not So Small.
By Pat Zietlow Miller. Illus. by Paola Escobar.
May 2022. 32p. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, $17.99
(9780062847447). PreS–Gr. 2.
Being small can make a person feel unneed-
ed or unseen, and yet a tiny acorn becomes
a big oak, and one snowflake starts a storm.
Miller reminds readers that talking to oth-
ers, writing to express an opinion, marching
for a cause, and performing good deeds can
effect change. “Their voices form a chorus. /
Their lines turn into signs. / And their steps
become so strong they cannot be ignored.”
Escobar’s richly hued digital art is rendered in
cartoon style, with most illustrations depict-
ing an urban setting. Miller is careful not to
espouse any one cause or perspective, in some
ways making this title appropriate to a broad
spectrum of readers. However, this lack of
specificity may also confuse the young who
are unlikely to understand the particulars sur-
rounding issues such as climate change, Black
Lives Matter, and gender equality, which are
featured on protest signs in the illustrations.
This will be useful in spurring directed class-
room discussions about social justice or in
conjunction with a more specific title detail-
ing a particular cause. —Kay Weisman
Old Wood Boat.
By Nikki McClure. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 48p. Candlewick, $18.99 (9781536216585).
K–Gr. 3.
This evocative picture book conveys the
sights and sounds of sailing through descrip-
tive text and detailed cut-paper illustrations.
Told from the point of view of the boat, the
narrative begins when the boat is already
old. Having experienced many voyages, it
now rests in a boatyard, almost forgotten. A
family arrives, checks out the boat from top
to bottom, and decides they want to bring
her back to seaworthy life. After long hours
scraping, scrubbing, repairing, and varnish-
ing, the family loads her up with supplies
and prepares to launch. Everyone waits anx-
iously to see if the old wood boat will float.
She does, and when the wind fills the sails,
the reader feels the family’s excitement and
satisfaction. They take off, the boat remem-
bering the wonderful feelings of protecting a
family as they explore the water. The move-
ment of the water, wind, and sails is captured
in the flowing illustrations. Changing
perspectives give the story visual drama,
coming in close as they work on the boat,
taking a wider view when they go out to sea.
—Lucinda Whitehurst
Pineapple Princess.
By Sabina Hahn. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (9781250798367).
PreS–Gr. 2.
A headstrong child seizes an opportu-
nity she’s sought, then sours on the spoils
in Hahn’s delightfully subversive and clever
picture-book debut. “I know I am a prin-
cess, but nobody believes
me.” Tired of rejection
and recriminations for
her stately behavior, the
imperial protagonist is
sure having a crown will
help her cause. When she
spies a pineapple in the
fruit bowl, she sees po-
tential in its golden, spiky appearance. After
eating herself slightly ill, she deposits the hol-
lowed rind upon her head. “Am I sticky? Yes.
Does my tummy feel funny? Yes. Am I very
important? YES!” Donning a tutu and jew-
els, she becomes the Pineapple Princess and
quickly attracts subjects who create quite a
buzz about her rule; but life in the kingdom
is burdensome when your only vassals are
flies. Eventually the girl trades her crown for
a new prop and persona, and she’s off on her
next triumphant subjugation. Hahn’s expres-
sive watercolor illustrations playfully capture
the mischievous tyrant in a wash of soft lines
and ample white space that belie the sharp
content of the story. The artwork is a charm-
ing juxtaposition to the text, which, while
minimal, unfolds through well-paced page
turns. This witty (and slightly wicked) book
should appeal to readers who admire Elo-
ise’s and Olivia’s insouciance, as well as fans
of Jon Klassen’s deadpan, elevated humor.
—Kit Ballenger
Rafa Counts on Papá.
By Joe Cepeda. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Little, Brown, $17.99 (9780316540896).
PreS–Gr. 2.
Rafa and Papá are happiest when they are
together, counting and measuring. They spend
time measuring distances and heights, count-
ing and comparing. As Rafa marvels aloud at
the many things they can measure, he considers
something special. Can they measure love? As
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Rafa wonders how love measures up to some of
the wonderful things around them, he asks just
how much Papá loves him, and Papá has the
perfect answer. This colorful picture book is a
love letter to math as well as to the immeasur-
able beauty of love. Rafa and Papá take part
in everyday activities such as bird-watching
and sandwich-making, using math to measure
and making the day extraordinary. Readers will
have a blast identifying the many items on each
page, from an abacus to a drawer full of pocket
watches and a bucket full of baseballs. Vibrant
illustrations and inquisitive text bring to life
the wonders of math and the infinite reach of
love. —Selenia Paz
Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress.
By Leanne Hatch. Illus. by the author.
June 2022. 32p. Putnam, $17.99 (9780593354483).
PreS–Gr. 3.
At the thrift store, Rosie finds a bright yellow
dress that sparkles and shines. Back at home,
she notices a handwritten name, Mila, on the
label sewn inside and wonders about Mila. Did
she also wear this yellow dress? Was she a tra-
peze artist? Rosie loves the dress and wears it
every day until eventually she finally outgrows
it. Sad but ready to pass it on, she writes Rosie
on the label and returns her dress to the thrift
shop as a donation. Afterwards, she looks
around the shop and spots another magical,
“preloved” item to take home. Before the final
page turn reveals her latest find, viewers will be
scanning the double-page scene and trying to
guess her new favorite. Hatch’s cheerful digital
artwork reflects the tone of the writing. With a
realistic portrayal of an imaginative character,
this picture book shows both her strong emo-
tional attachment to a special item of clothing
and her healthy attitude toward letting it go
when the time has come. Another engaging
read-aloud choice from the writer-illustrator of
Unraveled (2021). —Carolyn Phelan
Sarah Rising.
By Ty Chapman. Illus. by DeAnn Wiley.
May 2022. 40p. Beaming, $18.99 (9781506478357). Gr. 1–3.
Every day opens up new possibilities—both
negative and positive. Sarah learns this first-
hand after she gets ready for a normal day
at school. Her father informs her that she’s
skipping school in favor of attending a dem-
onstration protesting the police killing of a
Black person. Sarah, a bookish young Black
girl, is introduced to the stark reality facing
many people in America who look just like
her—that those responsible for justice in
society can instead bring misery, pain, and
injustice. Sarah nevertheless finds solace in
her community’s ability to come together to
protect one another. Wiley’s expressive art
style is perfect for showing Sarah’s confusion
when confronted by a callous police officer.
At the same time, the vibrant pallet enables
the story’s hopeful end to strike true. Sarah
ultimately comes to understand that she has
an important role to play as a protector and
supporter for those around her. An inspi-
rational and timely story for young readers
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trying to understand today’s polarized world.
Back matter includes discussion prompts and
parent-educator guidance for continued con-
versations. —Reinhardt Suarez
School Is Wherever I Am.
By Ellie Peterson. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (9781250845245).
K–Gr. 2.
In this meditative book, a boy with huge,
round glasses poses the question “Where
else is school?” The cheerful digital illustra-
tions show a series of familiar school settings:
the boy’s cubby, his desk in a pod of four
bright posters, a diverse group of students
sitting on a reading rug, the class fish. The
boy starts thinking outside the box, wonder-
ing if school is only one place or if there are
other teachers and classrooms. Field trips
to places including the zoo, the aquarium,
a pumpkin farm, and his own library visits
add to the boy’s questions (and realizations)
about the expansiveness of school. An espe-
cially apt moment is when the boy is at home
on a video call with his teacher as his father
places a brownie next to the computer. The
fact that the boy asks questions throughout,
in a wide range of settings and experienc-
es, is much more effective than a didactic
approach of “school is everywhere.” Thought-
provoking, inspiring, and likely to resonate
with students adjusting to pandemic life.
—Connie Fletcher
Something Happened to My Dad: A
Story about Immigration and Family
Separation.
By Ann Hazzard and Vivianne Aponte Rivera.
Illus. by Gloria Félix.
May 2022. 40p. Magination, $16.99 (9781433839443).
K–Gr. 3.
In a colorfully illustrated picture-book
format, this Something Happened . . . title
focuses on a young girl’s experiences when
her immigrant father faces possible depor-
tation. Carmen’s papi is a magician, but
when he suddenly vanishes, Mamá explains
he’s been arrested because, unlike them,
both American-born, Papi, born in Mexico,
doesn’t have documents to live in the U.S.
“Don’t tell anyone,” Mamá says, “I don’t
want people to look down on us.” However,
after hearing her classmates’ various immi-
gration stories, Carmen eventually shares her
own. Meanwhile, Mamá decides she needs to
ask for help, too. As time passes, Carmen and
Mamá find support from friends and their
family, and while Papi’s situation remains
open-ended, there’s a glimmer of hope. This
thoughtful book sympathetically portrays
many elements of family separation, from fi-
nancial impacts to the emotional realities of
living with deep uncertainty. Extensive back
matter to help adults broach the topics with
children offers background on immigration
and deportation, as well as detailed sugges-
tions and scripts for discussing complicated
feelings and cultivating cultural sensitivity
and compassion. —Shelle Rosenfeld
To Make.
By Danielle Davis. Illus. by Mags DeRoma.
May 2022. 48p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen, $18.99
(9780063084063). K–Gr. 2.
“Gather, make, wait” is the chorus of this
picture book, which is sure to inspire all sorts
of creativity. A wide variety of children bus-
ily work on many different kinds of projects.
The children have varying skin tones and hair
types, one child uses a wheelchair, and some
of their homes are in the country, while oth-
ers appear more urban. The common theme
that unites them all is a desire to create. In
this paean to patience, the simple text and
lively illustrations demonstrate that the cre-
ative process requires first preparation, then
planning, and finally execution. Fanciful
mixed-media pictures include gnomes and
fairies assisting and encouraging some of the
children. Whether they are making a cake,
garden, sweater, painting, dance, or a plan,
building a model city, fort, or birdhouse,
writing a song, poem, or story, nothing hap-
pens easily, but the effort involved is worth it.
The final two-page spread brings everyone to-
gether in a warm, welcoming environment to
share and celebrate each unique person and all
of their achievements. —Lucinda Whitehurst
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox.
By Costantia Manoli. Illus. by Magdalena
Mora.
June 2022. 32p. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (9781250763129).
PreS–Gr. 3.
A child whose family has recently immi-
grated feels uncomfortable at her new school.
From her name, which her teachers and class-
mates mispronounce, to the whole tomato in
her lunch, which leaves stains on her dress,
everything about her seems different and
wrong. Though her mother encourages her
to make friends, she doesn’t know how. She
tries imitating a classmate, but that doesn’t
work. On the playground, Chloe asks about
her name. The child explains that it was her
grandmother’s, and remembering her beloved
namesake, she smiles. Soon afterwards, when
Chloe forgets her lunch, the girl shares her to-
mato. As the two classmates become friends,
other children begin to accept the new girl,
too. The mispronunciation of names and
the foods seen as “weird” at lunchtime are
common occurrences in tales of immigrant
children, but this picture book, narrated by
the girl, makes the outsider’s experience more
understandable to others. The illustrations,
digital collages created with inks, pastels, and
water-soluble crayons, are richly colorful and
emotionally resonant. An expressive picture
book that articulates a young immigrant’s
viewpoint. —Carolyn Phelan
Trucks on Trucks.
By Sorche Fairbank. Illus. by Nik Henderson.
May 2022. 40p. Greenwillow, $17.99 (9780062842091).
PreS–Gr. 1.
What could be better than a truck? Two
trucks, one on top of the other! That’s the
basic premise of this colorful picture book,
May 1, 2022 Booklist 51
which features a new combination or two on
each double-page spread. Usually, one is a tow
truck. On the opening page, “Blue truck on
red truck” refers to a small red tow truck lift-
ing a small blue truck, while the facing page
(“Red truck on blue truck”) shows a larger
blue truck hauling the original red truck. The
pattern varies a bit with lines such as, “Pig
truck on big rig truck. / Fuel truck on cool
truck.” Created with gouache and digital ele-
ments, the vibrant illustrations show a strong
sense of color, composition, and child appeal.
The text is brief enough to hold the attention
of the youngest vehicle fans and varied enough
to interest somewhat older ones, particularly
since the book could be used for counting,
identifying colors, or sorting by size. With
eye-catching jacket art, this book will quickly
find its audience. —Carolyn Phelan
Uncle John’s City Garden.
By Bernette Ford. Illus. by Frank
Morrison.
May 2022. 32p. Holiday, $18.99 (9780823447862). K–Gr. 3.
A Brooklyn garden plot and a family work-
ing together are at the center of this delightful
picture book. Starting with only a space of
bare, brown earth, Uncle John and his nieces
and nephew bring lush
green growth to the bor-
ough. The cycle from seeds
to succotash is playfully,
but thoroughly, brought to
life by award-wining illus-
trator Morrison. Capturing
the togetherness as well as
the wonder of working side
by side in the garden, brown faces glisten and
elongated limbs rise up toward the sun, just as
the garden itself rises. The palette of browns,
grays, and blues are punctuated by the green
growth. The characters expressively experi-
ence the changing seasons in the garden, until
harvest day arrives and culminates in a cele-
bratory BBQ. Based on memories of “almost”
summers in her own life, Ford’s look back
combines nostalgia and the dignity of life in
the day-to-day. Young readers will no doubt
be inspired to create their own gardens and
look forward to using the included succotash
recipe to experience the fruits of their labors.
An inviting story that is also a fine example of
using everyday life to exemplify science and
success. A joy to experience. —Beth Rosania
Vampire Vacation.
By Laura Lavoie. Illus. by Micah Player.
May 2022. 40p. Viking, $17.99 (9780593203132). K–Gr. 2.
Fang Vladimir Bloodgood the Third has
never been quite like other vampires. He
likes colorful clothes and doesn’t give a fig
about the Vampminster Bat Show. He also
can’t stomach the idea of another family
trip to Transylvania, so he sets about trying
to convince his parents to take a beach va-
cation instead. He pulls out all the stops,
choosing an underwater-adventure film for
movie night, putting on a swimwear fashion
show with his siblings, and turning the liv-
52 Booklist May 1, 2022
ing room into a sandy beach—all to no avail.
Finally, poor Fang breaks down and sobs, “I’ll
n-n-never feel the salty ocean breeze in my
h-h-hair!” At last, his parents give in and are
surprised to discover how much they enjoy
the beach (after the sun goes down, of course).
Kids will enjoy the silly premise of a vampire
family going to the beach, and Player takes
full advantage of the absurdity in his digital
illustrations, tucking in nods to the horror
genre amid Fang’s animated coastal campaign.
A fun summer read that nudges readers to try
new things. —Rosie Camargo
Where’s Speedy?
By Nici Gregory. Illus. by the author.
May 2022. 40p. Berbay, $17.99 (9780648953395). K–Gr. 2.
Hardly have young George and his little
sister, Lotta, brought the slug they’ve popped
into a pickle jar indoors than the grinning
gastropod oozes off while they enjoy some of
Dad’s fresh-baked pretzels. A frantic search of
house and garden ensues, as the children—
portrayed as anthropomorphic spaniels with
cute balloon noses in the cartoon illustra-
tions—enlist the entire extended family,
from Grandma in her bath to Mama, who
is out fixing the car, to join in. Each man-
ages to collect a small alternative bug or other
garden denizen (here’s a family that plainly
eats a lot of pickles) before Speedy, who has
(naturally) been visible in most every scene,
is finally tracked down—just in time to be
set free to join the rather startling number
of other Speedys chomping on the foliage.
Conveying several salutary messages to bud-
ding nature lovers, this cozy import from
Down Under opens with simple instructions
for preparing a suitable jar for holding a small
wild creature to exhibit and then release.
—John Peters
Whirl.
By Deborah Kerbel. Illus. by Josée Bisaillon.
2022. 32p. Owlkids, $18.95 (9781771474283). PreS–Gr. 2.
This wordless picture book opens in an ur-
ban park with increasingly up-close scenes of
a maple tree and its seeds as wind causes one
of the seeds to detach and float away. Softly
colored, childlike illustrations set a gentle
tone for the seed’s quiet journey. First making
its way across the yard of two children and
their mothers (one of whom is pregnant), the
seed whirls back into the park amidst active
walkers, skateboarders, and wheelchair ath-
letes. There, another pair of children finds
it and other maple seeds, turning them into
funny eyebrows, mustaches, and fangs. But
once the kids are on the go again, so is the
seed, which is picked up by a flora-collecting
girl and nest-building birds until, finally, a
dog pushes the seed into the ground. The il-
lustrations transition to lovely wildlife scenes
through fall, winter, and spring, with a culmi-
nating spread featuring a maple sapling and
the original family, this time with one of the
moms carrying a baby. Concluding maple-
seed facts round out this charming look at
seeds and life cycles. —Angela Leeper
Wildflower.
By Melanie Brown. Illus. by Sara Gillingham.
May 2022. 40p. Greystone Kids, $17.95 (9781771649063).
PreS–Gr. 1.
In this book where plants and flowers share
their differences, Daisy is put down for being
a weed. She is told that she is not as beautiful,
fragrant, tasty, important, or even wanted as
the plants purposefully planted in the garden.
Her petals droop with every hurtful word, un-
til Sweet Pea points out that even though she
smells lovely, just like Rose, she, too, gets called
a weed. Daisy soon learns that many plants
are called weeds, even if they smell nice, look
pretty, and taste delicious. And words of kind-
ness, such as “We can grow wherever the wind
takes us,” reinforce her confidence. Through
Daisy, the plants and flowers that had picked
on her discover that every plant “has some-
thing special about them to be proud of.”
Gillingham’s bold illustrations, composed of
simplified shapes on flat backgrounds, clearly
emphasize the emotional turns of the narra-
tive while still sticking close to the botanical
realities of the plant characters. Back matter
about plants and weeds bolsters the content
in this picture book simultaneously about
plant biodiversity and accepting difference.
—Vivian Alvarez
The World Belonged to Us.
By Jacqueline Woodson. Illus. by Leo
Espinosa.
May 2022. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen, $18.99
(9780399545498). PreS–Gr. 2.
In this joyful and nostalgic celebration of
young Black girlhood, multi-award-winning
author Woodson remembers fondly how, not
so long ago in Brooklyn,
when school ended for
the summer, the neigh-
borhood kids headed
outdoors to play, “free as
air, free as sun.” Moms
might shout, “Don’t
get your school clothes
wet!” but kids still ran
through the fire hydrants, shooting water at
each other. Wet hair would spring back into
natural coils, because “even hair had the right
to be free!” Every day, all summer long, kids
played in the street—drawing chalk games
on the sidewalk, building forts out of boxes,
spinning tops, and skipping rope. Jumping,
running, or playing, they felt the whole world
belonged to them, and anything seemed pos-
sible: their friends could grow up to be ball
players, singers, writers, or anything. Voices
call out in Spanish, English, Polish, and other
languages as chidren play until the streetlights
come on. Brightly colored illustrations jam-
packed with joyful details fill every page in
this positive endorsement of unstructured
play. At the end, readers can join in dream-
ing along with the child who now sits on her
front stoop, excited about the many tomor-
rows to come—not just in Brooklyn, not just
for the summer, but everywhere and always.
—Lolly Gepson
www.booklistonline.com
Older Readers
The Agathas.
By Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.
May 2022. 416p. Delacorte, $18.99 (9780593431115).
Gr. 8–12.
When Alice went missing for several days
after being dumped by her basketball jock
boyfriend, Steve, she refused to discuss where
she’d been once she returned home to Castle
Cove. But history seems to be repeating itself
because now Alice’s ex–best friend, Brooke,
has disappeared—and she just happens to
be dating Steve. While many believe Steve is
behind it all, Alice and her tutor, Iris, aren’t
so sure. Motivated by the reward being of-
fered by Brooke’s grandmother and inspired
by the classic works of Agatha Christie, Alice
and Iris take up the case and begin sleuthing.
What follows is an entertaining mystery with
a girl-detective angle that will appeal to the
Veronica Mars crowd. Full of witty writing,
banter, and adventure, the story takes unex-
pected turns, and readers will delight at the
girls’ creative ways of drawing upon Agatha
Christie to solve Castle Cove’s biggest head-
scratcher of all time. For fans of Rebecca
Podos’ The Mystery of Hollow Places (2016)
and Kit Frick’s I Killed Zoe Spanos (2020).
—Aurora Dominguez
The Black Girls Left Standing.
By Juliana Goodman.
June 2022. 336p. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99
(9781250792815). Gr. 9–12.
Goodman makes her debut with this heart-
breaking novel exploring grief and revenge
about a girl trying to clear her sister’s name.
Beau is an aspiring artist who is looking
forward to the day when she can leave her
crumbling neighborhood behind. Her plans
are interrupted, however, when her older sis-
ter is killed by an off-duty officer who claims
that she and her boyfriend were trying to
break into his home. The only person who
could tell her what happened that night is
the boyfriend, who’s currently on the run,
but Beau is determined to locate him and
get more details about her sister’s untimely
death. Goodman has penned a complicated
book; Beau is still grieving her sister’s death,
but she simultaneously has to keep pushing
forward at school, navigate gang violence,
and find her sister’s boyfriend. While there
certainly is action, the plot meanders at
times as Goodman focuses on Beau’s rela-
tionships and grief. The explosive ending
will leave readers with a lot to chew on. An
immersive novel about trying to live in two
worlds at once. —Amber Hayes
Blood and Moonlight.
By Erin Beaty.
June 2022. 448p. Farrar, $18.99 (9781250755810). Gr. 9–12.
The adventurous and preternaturally tal-
ented Catrine is grateful for having the
architect, Magister Thomas, take her under
his wing and out of the dreaded convent
where she grew up. Within the city of Col-
www.booklistonline.com
Spotlight on Mysteries & Thrillers
Art from the cover of Tae Keller’s Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone.
lis, Catrine steals into the night, inspecting
building structures for flaws or damage. One
night, while conducting her routine scaffold
inspection, Catrine hears a blood-curdling
scream, only to discover the freshly muti-
lated corpse of the young Perrete. Catrine
finds herself teaming up with the young and
handsome investigator, Simon, to conduct
psychological profiling and find the mur-
derer before they strike again. Beaty’s (The
Traitor’s Kiss, 2017) protagonist is a medi-
eval version of Clarice from The Silence of
the Lambs, and she is constantly surrounded
by chauvinistic men who underestimate her
and make crude remarks. While it may take
a while to understand the lingo and non-
linear time line, readers will appreciate this
period piece starring a heroine with un-
charted gifts and bravado. —Beronica Puhr
Dead End Girls.
By Wendy Heard.
May 2022. 336p. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano, $17.99
(9780316310413). Gr. 9–12.
Heard’s atmospheric, heart-jolting thrill-
er follows Maude, a white teenager trying
to escape a toxic family by faking her own
death. But then, despite years of Maude’s
meticulous research and preparation, her
stepcousin Frankie finds out about her plot,
and instead of ratting her out, Frankie ac-
tually wants in on the plan. Maude and
Frankie dive into the unknown of the wide,
wide world as they escape an avaricious, ho-
mophobic family that ruthlessly hunts them
down and tries to prevent their escape. As
the two of them bond, Maude notices that
she’s finally figuring out her own answers
to questions about her sexuality. Can they
outwit their relatives and continue craft-
ing their love story before time runs out?
The book alternates between Maude’s and
Frankie’s perspective as they explore their
relationship, identities, and what it means
to be truly free from people who don’t want
you to be yourself or pursue happiness.
—Stephanie Cohen
How to Live without You.
By Sarah Everett.
May 2022. 400p. Clarion, $18.99 (9780358256229).
Gr. 10–12.
Everett (Some Other Now, 2021) takes read-
ers on an emotional journey as 17-year-old
Emmy’s older sister, Rose, goes missing and
Emmy flies across the country, determined
to find her. After their parents’ divorce and
the two sisters’ consequent separation, Emmy
Youth
and Rose find ways to remain close through
phone calls and infrequent visits. But when
Rose disappears, Emmy begins to realize
that there was far more to Rose than anyone,
even she, ever knew. Told in reflective prose,
this contemporary mystery
offers important contribu-
tions to the discussion of
teen mental health, particu-
larly through a thoughtful
author’s note that acknowl-
edges the complexity of the
subject and the singular and
limited nature of storytell-
ing. Despite the seriousness with which these
themes are handled, the book still provides a
tense and entertaining narrative that’s touched
with heated romance and compelling com-
mentary on family and relationship dynamics.
Everett displays prowess in conveying imme-
diate emotion while staying true to the facts
of the story and constructing realistic circum-
stances and characters. This contributes to
an even greater sense of urgency, making this
novel hard to put down. An excellent choice
for fans of Nina LaCour, Katie Cotugno, and
John Green. —Abby Hargreaves
Murder for the Modern Girl.
By Kendall Kulper.
May 2022. 352p. Holiday, $19.99 (9780823449729).
Gr. 9–12.
Eighteen-year-old Ruby waltzes around
1920s Chicago in fabulous evening gowns,
frequenting gin joints and dancing till dawn.
She seems like any other gorgeous good-time
girl, but Ruby has a secret: she’s a mind reader.
Determined to put her power to good use,
she eavesdrops on the thoughts of abusive,
corrupt gentlemen and dispatches them with
her poisons before they can harm again. She’s
secure in her choices (and anonymity), until
a brilliant morgue employee, Guy, sets about
bringing the culprit to light. Guy is conceal-
ing his own astonishing ability, and a chance
meeting between the two sparks a series of
events that will transform their lives—and
hearts. It’s a dazzling, dramatic story, con-
juring up glittering parties and intimate
encounters, and narration duties are split
between Ruby and Guy. The liberal use of
entertaining slang from the ’20s may initially
distract, but the story settles in and unfolds at
a breathless pace, asking questions about the
importance of morality and intention along
the way. An effervescent champagne cock-
tail of a novel that packs a delightful punch.
—Emily Graham
May 1, 2022 Booklist 53
 Never Coming Home.
By Kate M. Williams.
Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers for Youth June 2022. 320p. Delacorte, $18.99 (9780593304860).
Spotlight

Gr. 9–12.
The influencer scene is on deck in this
B ody snatching, serial killers, dangerous secrets, and—French
bread? There’s a mystery afoot! Ten excellent ones, actually,
all reviewed in Booklist between May 1, 2021, and April 15, 2022.
mystery-laden thriller that places a group of
10 young social media creators on Unknown
Island, an invite-only, 21-and-under resort.
—Julia Smith Among this competitive group is a strong and
The Corpse Queen. By Heather M. Herrman. 2021. Putnam, dedicated female CEO, an energetic video
$18.99 (9781984816702). Gr. 9–12. gamer, a football player who found his true
calling through creating viral dance videos,
In 1850s Philadelphia, Molly Green endeavors to track down the
a transgender model, and a rich and pretty
man behind a series of brutal murders while also working for her TikToker. The problem is, all of these bright
aunt as a resurrection woman. Part mystery, part thriller, and part young people harbor secrets, and it turns out
family discovery, this historical spine-tingler is a treat. this free vacation comes with sinister strings
attached. When the vacationers arrive, they
Drew Leclair Gets a Clue. By Katryn Bury. 2022. Clarion, $16.99 (9780358639602). Gr. 5–8.
realize they are stranded in a hotel with no
Seventh-grader Drew is a true-crime buff, and, as such, she spends time observing staff, no Wi-Fi connection, and nothing to eat
and profiling her fellow classmates. But when her mom runs off, Drew wonders how she but unhealthy snacks. What follows is a twist-
could’ve missed all the signs. ed and twisting lesson in the consequences of
being overly hungry for fame. Gory moments
The Ghoul of Windydown Vale. By Jake Burt. 2021. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99
are interspersed in this Christieesque study of
(9781250236579). Gr. 5–8. the dark side of social media, and readers will
Fourteen-year-old Copper drives business to his parents’ inn by secretly wandering the find themselves wondering if any of the char-
roadside dressed as a swamp monster from local legend. But when two supposed mon- acters will survive. Highly recommended for
ster hunters arrive on the scene, they expose a dark secret beneath the town’s friendly fans of horror, suspense, and narratives that
surface. get the brain spinning. —Aurora Dominguez
Hollow Fires. By Samira Ahmed. 2022. Little, Brown, $18.99 (9780316282642). Gr. 9–12. Queen of the Tiles.
After an Iraqi refugee student from another school is murdered, high-school journalist By Hanna Alkaf.
Safiya is determined to find his killer. Told in alternating perspectives and interspersed 2022. 304p. Simon & Schuster/Salaam Reads, $18.99
with multimedia clippings, this is a social-justice laced story that educates as much as it (9781534494558). Gr. 8–11.
enthralls. A year after watching her vibrant best friend,
Trina, keel over dead at a Scrabble tournament,
The Pear Affair. By Judith Eagle. Illus. by Jo Rioux. 2022. Candlewick/Walker, $17.99 Najwa has returned to the scene to claim the
(9781536217032). Gr. 4–7. title Trina left behind—Queen of the Tiles. Be-
Villainous adults, bakery sabotage, underground tunnels, and a missing au pair inter- set by anxiety since the tragedy, Najwa knows
twine in this fast-paced mystery set in 1969 Paris. Readers will fall in love with 12-year-old this weekend-long tournament will be trigger-
Nell, who leads the story’s investigation. ing, but she has no idea how much Trina will
still be a part of the proceedings. Set in Malay-
A Lesson in Vengeance. By Victoria Lee. 2021. Delacorte, $18.99 (9780593305829). Gr. 10–12. sia, the story transports readers to a hotel filled
This immersive thriller muddles passion with obsession and science with the supernatu- with hormonal teenage word nerds. As Najwa
ral as Felicity and Ellis seek to unravel the case of the Dalloway Five, students of Dalloway reconnects with old friends and rivals, she is
School who mysteriously died. shocked when a new Instagram post from
Trina’s account appears, showing letters that
The Perfect Place to Die. By Bryce Moore. 2021. Sourcebooks/Fire, $10.99 anagram to REGICIDE. Could Trina’s death
(9781728229119). Gr. 9–12. have actually been murder? As the cryptic posts
When Zuretta’s sister, Ruby, stops writing to her, the 17-year-old travels from Utah to continue, Najwa joins a few others determined
find Ruby in Chicago. Zuretta’s search leads her to The Castle, which true-crime fans will to find out what really happened. Alkaf gives
recognize as the home of serial killer H. H. Holmes. A chilling, historical whodunit. equal space to unraveling the mystery and to
Najwa’s innerworkings, from coping with anxi-
The Red Palace. By June Hur. 2022. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99 (9781250800558). Gr. 9–12. ety to acknowledging Trina’s flaws. Suspicious
In this atmospheric and culturally rich historical mystery, four palace nurses are mas- characters, red herrings, a cutthroat atmo-
sacred in the Korean kingdom of Joseon. A palace nurse herself, 18-year-old Hyeon begins sphere, and plenty of obscure Scrabble words
the dangerous work of investigating the crimes. intersect to form an engaging mystery with a
compelling protagonist. Bingo. —Julia Smith
Shirley and Jamila’s Big Fall. By Gillian Goerz. Art by the author. 2021. Dial, $20.99
(9780525552888). Gr. 4–7.
Middle-grade drama rears its head in this second Shirley and Jamila graphic novel, Middle Readers
which features a gripping mystery, a school blackmailer, a heist, disguises, and long-buried
secrets. Drifters.
By Kevin Emerson.
You’ll Be the Death of Me. By Karen M. McManus. 2021. Delacorte, $19.99 May 2022. 592p. HarperCollins/Walden Pond, $16.99
(9780593175866). Gr. 8–12. (9780062976963). Gr. 4–8.
Ivy, Calvin, and Mateo skip school and head to Boston, where their day takes a grim turn Micah and Jovie were best friends who
after Ivy discovers the dead body of another student. Complex characters and intrigue began to drift apart, until one day Micah van-
make cracking this case a rewarding endeavor.
Continued on p.58
54 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com
 ewbe ry
n g N
N av i g a t i

Revisiting Holes (We Dig It)

By Maggie Reagan

I
was eight years old the first time I fell in love. Her name was
Katherine Barlow, and she was a schoolteacher who was
famous for her spiced peaches. She also became famous
for being a feared outlaw who left a lipstick print on the bodies
of the men she killed, a habit that earned her the nickname
Kissin’ Kate. I’ve never been more obsessed with a person in my
entire life.
Kissin’ Kate Barlow is not the primary Generally speaking, the Newbery award
figure of Louis Sachar’s Holes, the book has favored realistic and historical fic-
that won the 1999 Newbery Medal. She’s tion, and as a novel, Holes is difficult to
hardly a character at all, more of a mythi- categorize. While Stanley’s contemporary
cal figure whose connection to the story’s narrative is rooted in realism, the book at
central mystery slowly becomes clear. large contains elements from nearly every
In the two decades since its Newbery type of genre fiction so often overlooked
win, Holes has cemented itself as a mod- by awards committees. It’s part western
ern classic. Its plot is deceptively simple: and part romance (albeit the doomed
like his father and grandfathers before kind). It’s got elements of fantasy. And
him, Stanley Yelnats IV (“Stanley” is a then there’s the mystery.
family name—it’s their last name back- Is Holes a mystery? It’s certainly crime
wards) is cursed with bad luck. When fiction, in a middle-grade kind of way, Ultimately, what was and remains the
he finds himself in the wrong place at and while Sachar keeps the humor and true mystery of Holes is how it manages
the wrong time and ends up wrongfully camaraderie between the boys of Camp to hold such disparate stories and genres
convicted of the theft of a famous athlete’s Green Lake high, there’s a subtle, icy and braid them into a singular narrative
shoes, he’s sent to Camp Green Lake, through line that dips into the dehu- that has charmed and inspired readers
where there is no lake and the boys de- manization of systems like this and the for two and a half decades. Though this
tained there dig holes day after day under corners they cut along the way. It’s also is not a genre mystery, Sachar finds suc-
the hot Texas sun. They’re told it builds an action-adventure treasure hunt, one cess by adhering to the same conventions
character, but Stanley soon begins to that’s plotted out so skillfully that infor- that mystery writers have been using for
wonder what exactly the camp’s warden, mation is unveiled for readers just before centuries: no moment or character is too
who makes her own nail polish out of it becomes clear to the characters—what small to impact the larger story. And if
rattlesnake venom and wants to see any- remains a mystery for them becomes a you put a yellow-spotted lizard on stage in
thing interesting they pull out of the dirt, solvable, though never too simple, puzzle the first act, you better believe it will have
is looking for. for us. done something by the end.

www.booklistonline.com May 1, 2022 Booklist 55

Booklist Trend Alert

Investigative
Journalism Art by Aphelandra Messer from Tom Ryan’s I Hope
You’re Listening and Maike Plenzke from Elissa Brent
Weissman’s The Renegade Reporters.
in Mysteries
A
By Sarah Hunter t its best, journalism seeks out the truth, digging into
the facts and uncovering secrets to tell stories that hold
those in power to account. Is it any wonder that the
plucky investigative journalist is an easy stand-in for an intrepid
detective in a mystery? Much of the genre-classic plot points
still work, and there’s certainly a measure of justice to be found
in the court of public opinion, especially given contemporary
critiques of the criminal justice apparatus in our country.
The investigative journalist has made its way into mysteries
published for middle-grade and YA readers in recent years,
pitting aspiring investigators against murderers, greedy
corporations, covert government entities, and perpetrators of
sexual assault. And like the readers of these novels, these young
journalists, by and large, are solidly working in the digital era;
their work appears in newspapers, of course, but also podcasts,
blogs, and online newsletters. The mysteries and thrillers below
feature smart protagonists on the search for the truth, who
take it upon themselves to bravely use their writing and critical
thinking skills to solve crimes, occasionally risking their safety
in the process. Readers fascinated by true-crime podcasts or
inspired by the surge in grassroots journalism in the media will
find plenty to like.
56 Booklist May 1, 2022 www.booklistonline.com
Older and when her father is found dead, Jo mother runs off and an anonymous bully
searches the seedy underbelly of the city spills the news, she’ll have to use her skills
All These Bodies. By Kendare Blake. to find the truth. to get the bottom of the case.

Spotlight
2021. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, $18.99
(9780062977168). Gr. 9–12. This Is My America. By Kim The Leak. By Kate Reed Petty. Art by
It’s the summer of 1958, and a string of Johnson. 2020. Random, $17.99 Andrea Bell. 2021. First Second, $22.99
strange murders has begun in the Mid- (9780593118764). Gr. 9–12. (9781250217950). Gr. 4–7.
west. Aspiring journalist Michael has the Student journalist Tracey Beaumont When 13-year-old Ruth starts posting
chance of a lifetime when a survivor and knows her father, who’s on death row, is on her blog about her investigation of
suspect agrees to tell him her story, but it innocent, and she uses her column in the some mysterious lake goo, she gets some
might be more horrifying than he’s ready school paper to cover similar miscarriages encouraging attention, but she also makes
to hear. of justice against the Black community. some big mistakes. Luckily, she perseveres
When Tracey’s brother is accused of mur- and learns some valuable journalistic skills
Hollow Fires. By Samira Ahmed. 2022. der, she uses her investigative skills to along the way—and breaks her big story
Little, Brown, $18.99 (9780316282642). uncover years-old secrets. with lots of integrity.
Gr. 9–12.
In this fast-paced thriller interspersed The Truth Lies Here. By Lindsey The Newspaper Club. By Beth Vrabel.
with multimedia clippings, some taken Klingele. 2018. HarperTeen, $17.99 2020. Running Press Kids, $16.99
from real-world sources, Ahmed tells the (9780062380395). Gr. 9–12. (9780762496853). Gr. 4–6.
story of Indian American Safiya, a high- Penny, who’s working on an article to Nellie Murrow, 11, has left the big city,
school journalist determined to find out get her into college for journalism, is not moving with her mother to Bear Creek,
who killed an Iraqi-refugee student from looking forward to spending the summer Maine, a town with a gutted local news-
another school. in tiny Bone Lake with her dad, a colum- paper. When Nellie stumbles on a crime
nist reporting on paranormal sightings. in the city park and the paper won’t cover
I Hope You’re Listening. By Tom But when her dad goes missing, stubborn- it, she starts her own newspaper to crack
Ryan. 2020. Albert Whitman, $17.99 ly rational Penny needs to accept some the case.
(9780807535080). Gr. 8–11. impossibilities to solve the case. The Renegade Reporters. By Elissa
Delia Skinner is a junior in high
Middle Brent Weissman. 2021. Dial, $16.99
school who hosts a podcast dedicated to
(9780593323038). Gr. 4–6.
tracking down missing kids—a project Drew Leclair Gets a Clue. By When Ash and Maya are kicked off
inspired by (and that helps her process) Katryn Bury. 2022. Clarion, $16.99 the school news team and start their own
her own childhood friend’s disappear- (9780358639602). Gr. 5–8. online news show, what starts as a fun
ance years earlier. When eerie clues about Seventh-grader Drew is a true-crime after-school project gets serious when the
her friend’s cold case arise, what will she buff who dreams of following in the tweens discover that the media company
have to sacrifice to find the truth? footsteps of her hero, Lita Miyamoto, a sponsoring their erstwhile show is selling
Off the Record. By Camryn Garrett. criminal profiler and author. When her student information.
2021. Knopf, $17.99 (9781984829993).
Gr. 9–12.
Teenage Josie’s a successful pop-culture
reporter, and during her latest gig, cover-
ing a press junket for a new movie, she
stumbles on a big story about the direc-
tor’s sexual misconduct. Should she stick
to her beat or find the courage to expose a
sexual predator?
Tell It True. By Tim Lockette. 2021.
Seven Stories/Triangle Square, $18.95
(9781644210826). Gr. 7–10.
Lockette, a journalist himself, brings
his experience to bear on this story of a
slightly jaded school-paper editor, Lisa
Rives, who defies her principal to report
on the impending execution of a local
murderer and eventually draws major me-
dia attention to her story.
These Shallow Graves. By Jennifer
Donnelly. 2015. Delacorte, $19.99
(9780385737654). Gr. 9–12.
Newspaper heiress Jo Monfort has big
aspirations beyond a good marriage—an
oddity in her era, 1890s Manhattan. But
Jo longs to be a reporter like Nelly Bly,
www.booklistonline.com
 Continued from p.54
ishes into thin air. Months later, the search for
Spotlight
Micah has ceased, and Jovie feels like she is the
only one who’s still looking for her old friend.
Through her searches, Jovie learns of the many
disappearances and strange events that have
taken place in her small town of Far Haven
for decades. Her suspicions are only height-
ened when she witnesses supernatural forces
and discovers that a government organization,
Barsuda, may be doing more in the town than
they have let on. Jovie, along with new friend
Sylvan, will have to uncover Far Haven’s well-
kept secrets to find Micah. Emerson’s elaborate
story will have readers theorizing as they
piece together Far Haven’s concealed history
along with Jovie. There is more to this town,
where the seemingly impossible is possible,
than meets they eye. This is an intricate sci-
fi mystery for voracious readers who love an
extraordinary adventure that transcends space
and time. —Michelle Ortega
Duet.
By Elise Broach. Illus. by Ziyue Chen.
May 2022. 288p. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano, $16.99
(9780316311359). Gr. 3–6.
Mirabelle, a goldfinch who sings beauti-
fully, enjoys listening from a branch outside
Mr. Starek’s window when he plays the piano.
A former concert pianist, the elderly man
occasionally gives lessons
to exceptionally gifted stu-
dents, such as Michael, an
11-year-old boy who is
preparing to perform at a
Chopin Festival. Unhappy
to leave his former teacher,
Michael initially refuses to
play for Mr. Starek. But one
day, the boy begins playing a piece by Cho-
pin, and Mirabelle, perched near the window,
begins to sing along. The spontaneous duet
fills them both with awe. Now eager to learn
from Mr. Starek and determined to play Cho-
pin’s music well, Michael is also intrigued by
the mystery of the composer’s missing Pleyel
pianos and sets out to find one with help from
Mirabelle. The story involves a treasure hunt,
but it revolves around the characters’ love of
music. Black-and-white art (not seen in fi-
nal form) will illustrate the book. Mirabelle’s
lively, accessible first-person narrative offers a
fresh perspective on the lives of birds and keen
perception of the human characters. A com-
panion book to Broach’s Masterpiece (2008),
this captivating chapter book is perfect for
readers who, like Mirabelle, are sometimes
spellbound by music. —Carolyn Phelan
The Hayley Mysteries: The Haunted
Studio.
By Hayley LeBlanc.
July 2022. 176p. Sourcebooks/Young Readers, paper, $7.99
(9781728251981). Gr. 3–6.
Thirteen-year-old Hayley and her best
friends, Aubrey and Cody, are excited to film
the second season of Sadie Solves It, a TV show
58 Booklist May 1, 2022
where Hayley stars as young detective Sadie,
and Aubrey and Cody play her closest friends.
The show has moved its filming to stage five
of Hollywood’s Silver Screen Studios, home
to many famous productions. After the group
hears the rumor of a ghost haunting the set,
strange things begin happening, scaring some
of the actors and delaying filming. Worried
that the show will be canceled, the three friends
work, alongside Hayley’s on-screen little sister,
Amelia, to uncover the truth. Perfect for fans of
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, this fast-paced
mystery introduces a clever girl detective, invit-
ing readers onto the set of a TV show while
also pulling them into the search for clues. Lik-
able characters, solid friendships, and a fun and
spooky story line make this a solid choice for
middle-grade gumshoes. —Selenia Paz
Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone.
By Tae Keller.
2022. 288p. Random, $17.99 (9780593310526). Gr. 4–7.
Being the new kid is never easy, and it can
be especially hard at a new school with mean
popular kids. Chinese American Jennifer
Chan moves in across the street from Korean
American Mallory Moss in small-town Nor-
well, Florida. Jennifer, full of
self-confidence, has a strong
belief in aliens, and Mal-
lory can tell that she’s going
to have trouble fitting in at
their predominantly white
middle school. As wild
rumors spread about Jen-
nifer, Mallory finds herself
stuck between becoming friends with her or
sticking with the queen bees of their seventh-
grade class. The story unfolds between two
time lines, with chapters alternating between
“Now,” set in the present-day when Jennifer
is missing, and “Then,” which involve events
before Jennifer vanishes. As Mallory searches
for Jennifer, using clues from Jennifer’s jour-
nals, she must confront the truth behind
actions that may have caused Jennifer to dis-
appear. Readers slowly uncover the palpably
painful bullying that Jennifer suffered from
Mallory and her friends. The emotionally
absorbing story is full of thought-provoking
explorations on self-confidence, forgiveness,
and friendship while illuminating parallels be-
tween alien and human struggles. An author’s
note helps young readers to reflect on their ac-
tions even further. Highly recommended for
all middle-grade collections. —Van McGary
A Perfect Mistake.
By Melanie Conklin.
July 2022. 288p. Little, Brown, $16.99 (9780316668583).
Gr. 4–7.
Middle school is rough for Max, who is the
tallest kid in class and fields misunderstand-
ings resulting from his ADHD. But it gets so
much worse when his best friends, Joey and
Will, stop talking to him, Will because he’s
in a coma and Joey for reasons yet unknown.
How did they get to this point? Max, Joey,
and Will—“The Three Brosters”—went into
the woods one morning before school, and
the last thing Max remembers is running
away from something scary and leaving his
friends behind. With the help of his sleuth-
ing classmate and budding journalist Sam, the
duo dives into the mystery of that night. The
more they dig, the more things unravel un-
til finally revealing the startling truth of how
Will ended up in the hospital and who was
responsible. Conklin expertly portrays Max’s
challenges, diving deeply into what it means
to be accountable and not to carry guilt that
isn’t yours to own. Middle-grade realistic fic-
tion and mystery lovers will gobble this one
up. —Beth Rosania
The Weird Sisters: A Note, a Goat, and a
Casserole.
By Mark David Smith. Illus. by Kari Rust.
2022. 72p. Owlkids, $16.95 (9781771474566). Gr. 1–4.
The overgrown, decrepit house on Covenly’s
Jitters Drive has just the curb appeal a trio of
witches is looking for, so Hildegurp, Yuckmi-
na, and Glubbifer (and their cat, Graymalkin)
happily move in. The sisters open a pet store
on the main level, and it’s this that brings
young Jessica Nibley to their door. Her baby
goat is missing, and she hopes the sisters
might have some idea of where to find it. But
just before they all pile onto a broomstick to
have a look around, Jessica discovers a tattered
note on which “Sisters: leave our town. or
else,” is written. As Jessica and the sisters zip
around town investigating, they have run-ins
with quirky neighbors and finally discover the
clue that leads them to the goat and the writer
of the note. This early chapter-book mystery
is light on complexity and heavy on word-
play and illustrations, an ideal combination
for youngsters firming up their reading skills.
Couched within the story’s antics is gentle
messaging against judging others, especially
before you know them. —Julia Smith
Wretched Waterpark.
By Kiersten White.
June 2022. 256p. Delacorte, $16.99 (9780593379042). Gr. 3–6.
In this first of the Sinister Summer series,
White’s middle-grade debut, twins Theo and
Alexander, along with older sister, Wil, are
whisked off for the summer to Aunt Saffro-
nia’s house. It shouldn’t be concerning that
they have never heard of her before, right?
Soon she decides to buy a weeklong pass to
the Fathoms of Fun Waterpark and drops
them off with only the instructions to “find
what was lost.” Not only is the park nearly
empty, it is just plain weird. Employees wear
black Victorian clothing, cabanas look like
mausoleums (“cabasoleum!”), and, worst of
all, there are no churros! The siblings discover
the owner, Mr. Widow, has disappeared, and
soon new friend Edgar and Wil disappear as
well. Are they the lost things that must be
found? Readers who enjoy quirky mysteries
will fall in love with the clever and relatable
Sinister-Winterbottom twins, who will solve
the mystery before their aunt shuffles them off
to their next adventure. —Lindsey Tomsu
www.booklistonline.com

Audio
Adult
Manifesto: On Never Giving Up.
By Bernardine Evaristo. Read by the author.
2022. 6. Blackstone, DD, $15.26 (9798200912261).
Growing up as mixed-race children in
London during the 1970s, Evaristo and her
seven brothers and sisters often faced overt
racism. While it would have been safer to
blend in, she was encouraged by her white
English mother and Nigerian father to dare
to be unconventional. Years of fighting to get
into theater schools, managing a theater that
featured Black women, and writing of her
experiences has led to a full, successful life.
Evaristo reads her fascinating memoir with
a strong actor’s voice and a distinct English
accent. She vividly recalls relationships that
formed her thinking and writing from tales of
home to school days to British theater in the
‘80s. Particularly interesting are the insights
into her writing process and her work to make
literature more inclusive for all races, sexuali-
ties, and ages. The challenges and setbacks she
faced because of her heritage became the im-
petus of her success, and Evaristo is a positive
force. Her story is both entertaining and in-
spiring. —Candace Smith
The Swimmers.
By Julie Otsuka. Read by Traci Kato-
Kiriyama.
2022. 4.5hr. Books on Tape, DD, $47.50 (9780593552049).
The swimmers move across the pool and
back, mechanically, methodically, each with
a personal ritual that combines with every-
one else’s and composes the overall tenor of
the underground
pool’s odd society.
When a crack in the
pool disrupts their
routines, Alice, a
long-time swim-
mer who suffers
memory loss and
relies on habit, is
lost. Otsuka’s brief novel and Kato-Kiriyama’s
narration are, like Alice’s laps, beautiful in
their purposeful, precise, meditative struc-
ture. Kato-Kiriyama employs the most subtle
of tone changes but retains a rhythmic pacing
throughout, as if each line is a stroke and each
paragraph a lap. In the first section, as she de-
scribes the various groups and quirks of the
swimmers, she projects their determined, ec-
centric outlooks. As Alice’s dementia worsens
and the narration turns to long-ago memories
and current fears, an undercurrent of worry
surfaces. In the voice of the memory-care
facility, reassuring, paternalistic, and sinister
elements are seamlessly woven together. Fi-
nally, the narrator returns to the steady but
worn tones of the book’s early moments in the
pool, a stunning and disorienting there-and-
back-again progression that leaves enthralled
www.booklistonline.com
manager and Carolina cares for the ponies.
She is excited when the ranch’s new owner
arrives with a daughter Carolina’s age and
a beautiful thoroughbred named Velvet.
listeners and focused lap-swimmers wonder- Though she envisions becoming close friends
ing how, for all the distance traveled and with Chelsie, their relationship gets off to a
emotions experienced, we find ourselves rocky start when Chelsie’s mother expects her
where we began. —Heather Booth daughter to muck the pony stalls, which Car-
olina views as her responsibility. Carolina does
not see Chelsie as a real horse girl, and rivalry
Yo u t h quickly forms between the two. Each believ-
ing that skittish Velvet is in need of special
A Blue Kind of Day. care that only she can provide, the girls start
By Rachel Tomlinson. Read by Shari sneaking out at night to visit the mare. When
Sebbens. they find themselves in a dangerous situation
2022. 10m. Listening Library, DD, $22 (9780593508954). with Velvet, Carolina and Chelsie realize ev-
Gr. 1–3. eryone deserves a second chance. Maria Liatis’
Coen is so full of gloomy feelings that he is youthful, exuberant voice is perfect for this
sure that everyone can see the blue radiating new juvenile series that will be embraced by
from his skin. Sebbens delivers Tomlinson’s horse lovers. —Jennifer Longee
story in a clear and sincere voice, and her Aus-
tralian accent is a perfect match for this story Queen’s Hope.
of an Indigenous Australian boy struggling By E. K. Johnston. Read by Catherine Taber.
with a blue kind of day. Sebbens masterfully 2022. 7hr. Disney, DD, $35 (9781368078290). Gr. 9–12.
uses her voice to underscore the mood change The third book in Johnston’s series about
of the story, using a low, heavy tone as Coen Star Wars prequel character Padmé Amidala
struggles and shifting to a lighter and more and her handmaidens takes place during the
hopeful voice as he begins to emerge from Revenge of the Sith movie time line, beginning
his blue feelings. Each character gets a dis- just before her wedding to Anakin Skywalker.
tinct voice, from the exasperated little sister It delves into Padmé’s duties at the outbreak of
to the forced-cheerful dad. The recording the Clone Wars, and the sacrifices she makes
includes an author’s note discussing depres- to put the good of the galaxy ahead of herself.
sion in children and giving caregivers signs The deluxe audio production includes music
and symptoms to watch for. This is a soothing and sound effects, but the best part about it is
and useful performance of a smart, sensitive reader Taber, who has previously voiced Pad-
picture book that can help young listeners mé in every Star Wars cartoon and video game
understand their big, complicated feelings. in which the character has appeared. She em-
—Ashley Young ploys that expertise to great effect here. The
handmaidens, supposed to be almost identical
Can’t Be Tamed. to Padmé in look and voice, are distinguished
By Yamile Saied Méndez. Read by Maria just enough to be recognizable. Taber also
Liatis. pulls off a fair take on Yoda and some droids.
2022. 4hr. Scholastic, DD, $62.99 (9781338801583). Gr. 3–7. Overall, an enjoyable and polished look at
Carolina Aguasvivas has grown up on Or- previously undocumented Padmé adventures
chard Farms, where her father is the ranch during the Clone Wars. —Matt Matkowski
Classics Corner Classics Corner highlights
new recordings of classic titles.
The Hundred Dresses.
By Eleanor Estes. Read by Bethany Lind.
2022. 1hr. HarperAudio, DD, $10.99 (9780358727927). K–Gr. 3.
This bite-sized classic and 1945 Newbery Medal honor title is surprisingly relevant 78
years later. Wanda Petronski only owns one worn dress but insists she has “a hundred dress-
es, all lined up in my closet.” The children tease her relentlessly for this claim and her
“funny-sounding name.” But in a class contest, Wanda submits
100 drawings of dresses, making the other girls recognize their
own meanness. The narrator voices each character with an im-
pressive depth of emotion, making it easy to fall into the story. A
note from the author’s daughter gives some insight into why Estes
wrote this story. Adults may need to explain some parts to today’s
children, like the use of “he” as a collective pronoun and why the
drawing contest was so heavily gendered. Readers may also won-
der about the insinuation that Wanda still liked the other girls
despite their cruelty. Even so, this book remains a great conversation starter on bullying,
making its continued use in elementary classrooms easy to understand. —Christian Lash
May 1, 2022 Booklist 59

Spotlight
Spotlight on Mysteries & Thrillers
Adult
The Cage.
By Bonnie Kistler. Read by Piper
Goodeve and Chris Andrew Ciulla.
2022. 10.5hr. HarperAudio, DD, $26.99 (9780063089198).
Two women step into an elevator; when it
reaches its final destination, one of them is
dead. Was it murder, was it suicide, or was it
something even more sinister? Piper Goodeve
and Chris Andrew
Ciulla offer dual
narration for this
modern-day thrill-
er interpretation
of a locked-room
mystery. The story
changes settings
and perspectives,
and takes twists and turns as quickly as the
narrators can read it. The dual narration
grounds the work and assists the listener
in keeping up. Goodeve and Ciulla repre-
sent their characters effortlessly and depict
accents and vocal mannerisms of other sup-
porting characters consistently. This steady
reflection of the text allows listeners to eas-
ily identify all characters, no matter who is
reading. Phone calls, playbacks of record-
ings, and voicemails play a key role in the
story. When these electronic communica-
tions are shared, a production treatment is
employed to give them an electronic, tinny
effect. While this technique is only used a
few times, it has an incredible result, elevat-
ing the audio value and impact. Covering
so many genres and with all the twists, this
audio won’t sit around unfinished for long.
At 10.5 hours this may be a bit long for a
listen in one sitting, but many may try!
—Lesley Cyrier
The Department of Rare Books and
Special Collections.
By Eva Jurczyk. Read by Hannah Cabell.
2022. 9.5hr. Recorded Books, CD, $94.75 (9781705030752).
Actor Cabell’s stage training clearly gives
her a stupendous boost in the recording stu-
dio; with a mere
dozen credits, she’s
already superb—
and proves herself
an ideal audio en-
abler for Toronto
librarian Jurczyk’s
novel debut. Liesl
Weiss’ boss, Chris-
topher, is lying in a coma, forcing Liesl into
60 Booklist May 1, 2022
Audio
Art from Tell Me Everything.
the limelight as the acting director of Depart-
ment of Rare Books and Special Collections
at an unnamed university. The library’s lat-
est, most significant, acquisition is discovered
missing from the safe just when it needs to
be displayed to high-profile donors—setting
in motion a multilayered whodunit, how-
dunit, and whydunit. Cabell imbues Liesl
with impressive full range, effortlessly adapt-
ing to the different ways she interacts with
co-workers, the administration, the po-
lice, and her husband. No less indelible are
Cabell’s supporting-cast characterizations,
including anxious co-worker Miriam, (still-)
Eton-accented colleague Francis, contentious
employee Dan, smug university president
Garber, and Christopher’s long-suffering wife,
Marie. Cabell is also deliciously deft voicing
curious caller Rhonda—the raised eyebrow
seems to burst through the recording. She’s
also undoubtedly enjoying the president’s
secretary’s short conversations, instantly
imparting (well-deserved, ahem) disdain.
Jurczyk’s narrative skews perhaps a wee bit
long—and, perhaps, mystery-savvy audiences
might figure out whodunit sooner rather than
later—but Cabell guarantees enlightening
entertainment to the very satisfying end. —
Terry Hong
Front Page Murder.
By Joyce St. Anthony. Read by Erin Dion.
2022. 8.5hr. Dreamscape, DD, $28.74 (9781666534399).
Brewing Trouble mystery writer St. An-
thony starts her Homefront News series,
introducing Irene Ingram, a young woman
charged, in defiance of the gender expecta-
tions of the day, with keeping her father’s
small-town newspaper afloat while he is off
fighting in WWII. While adept at writing
women’s columns and eager for more news-
worthy challenges, Irene is still flabbergasted
when one of her reporters is murdered, and
a robbery, evidence of antisemitism, and all
kinds of secrets surface in this quiet Penn-
sylvania town. Narrator Dion has several
nonfiction credits, and the matter-of-fact
tone preferable to that genre carries over
here, sometimes building suspense and lay-
ing groundwork and sometimes sailing past
opportunities for more drama and emotion.
Despite this, her easygoing pace and slight
variations for character voices (including
a smart choice to adjust cadence to sug-
gest, not mimic, accents) provide a clean
slate upon which St. Anthony’s clever and
satisfying cozy historical mystery unfolds.
—Heather Booth
The Houseboat.
By Dane Bahr. Read by William DeMeritt and
others.
2022. 5hr. Books on Tape, DD, $47.50 (9780593613573).
Edward Ness is a vigilante with a badge in
this rural noir set in 1960s Iowa. After a teen-
ager is murdered and his girlfriend is found
alive but bewildered, the local authorities call
Marshal Ness to the scene to assist in the in-
vestigation. Suspicion quickly turns to Rigby
Sellers, abandoned as a boy and now living on
a shoddy houseboat with mannequins as life
partners. While the narrative is interspersed
with witness accounts read by a variety of
narrators, the main third-person narrative is
read by William DeMeritt, whose very deep
baritone fills all the space in the room and is
perfectly suited to this bleak and gritty tale.
Don’t let the mid-century Midwestern setting
lull readers into a false sense of innocence;
Rigby doesn’t seem to have a kind bone in
his body, and Ness makes some ill-thought-
out decisions of his own. While thriller and
crime readers will be the ideal audience, Rig-
by reads like an amoral serial killer who may
find an audience with horror readers, too.
—Suzanne Temple
Like a Sister.
By Kellye Garrett. Read by Bahni Turpin.
2022. 12 hr. Hachette Audio, CD, $25.98 (9781549164637).
When Black reality star and socialite De-
siree Pierce is found dead of an apparent
overdose, her sister, Lena, is suspicious. Al-
though they hadn’t been in contact for several
years, they were close growing up. Lena isn’t
convinced that her sister would be using
heroin (she was terrified of needles) and ques-
tions how Desiree ended up blocks away from
Lena’s apartment. Using her insider contacts
and her “Super Black Woman” strength, Lena
pieces together her sister’s last days, uncover-
ing family secrets and Desiree’s questionable
entourage. With determination and care-
ful investigation, she begins to confront and
eliminate suspects, and the tension builds.
Lena is a strong character full of personality,
and veteran reader Turpin imbues her with at-
titude and verve. Turpin voices young, white
“Valley Girl” women with ease and reads male
characters (both white and Black) convinc-
ingly. Listeners will enjoy the interplay among
characters as well as the glimpse of Desiree’s
glamorous life and the use of social media in
this satisfying mystery. —Candace Smith
My Annihilation.
By Fuminori Nakamura. Ed. by Sam Bett.
Read by Brian Nishii.
2022. 4hr. Recorded Books, DD, $12.64 (9781705045633).
Nishii’s fluency is immediately evident
within minutes, and continues throughout,
as he reads Japanese names, places, and words
as smoothly and accurately as English text.
What’s not as initially clear is that the nar-
rative is a multilayered reveal—something
easily distinguishable in the print version
with a layout change. The committed listener
will need more than usual attention to track
www.booklistonline.com
the prongs—but rewarding, albeit utterly un-
nerving, revelations await. Nakamura, one
of Japan’s renowned noir masters, creates a
psychological nightmare of horrific manipula-
tions with . . . love (twisted as it is) at its core.
The nameless protagonist becomes obsessed
with a woman damaged by tortuous years of
abuse, whose tragic end inspires intricately-
plotted revenge—the body count won’t be
negligible. As though well-aware of unreliable
memories, details, and plans, Nishii’s per-
formance hints at a sense of casualness that
ironically encourages readers to engage more
deeply in piecing together the puzzle of pixi-
lated, devastated, vanished lives. The evil is all
too real. —Terry Hong
Nine Lives.
By Peter Swanson. Read by Jacques Roy and
Mark Bramhall.
2022. 7hrs. HarperAudio, DD, $20.99 (9780062980106).
Why have nine people been sent a list of
names via snail mail? Some of the named are
left confused, others frightened or dismissive
of the list’s arrival. Most, however, wonder
what the connection is. Narrator Roy begins
each chapter with a crisp recitation of all
names on the list, a recounting that becomes
more poignant after each death. Connectivity
begins when the first person on the list, the
owner of the Windward Hotel in Maine, is
drowned in a tidal pool. This Maine-accented
victim is followed by a Bostonian shot in the
back, and the deaths begin to pile up. Roy’s
matter-of-fact recounting of the lack of clues
or suspects ratchets up the mystery of why
these people are on a list. Police and the FBI
look for clues, often referring to the Agatha
Christie mystery And Then There Were None,
but nothing makes sense. At last, second nar-
rator Bramhall voices the letter left by the
aging executioner with a revelation that will
haunt listeners. —Pam Spencer Holley
The Old Woman with the Knife.
By Gu Byeong-mo. Read by Nancy Wu.
2022. 6.5hr. HarperAudio, DD, $20.99 (9781488213229).
Once upon a time, Hornclaw had a family . . .
but they were so poor they gave her away as a
child to be a better-off cousin’s servant. A mo-
ment of envy becomes a prolonged mistake
that gets her thrown out, where she lands with
a kind couple, and is eventually groomed into
a “disease control specialist.” Read: assassin
for hire. At 65, she’s still on the job, but she’s
hampered by aging, injuries, and, well, for
the first time in decades, a few emotional at-
tachments. Something is off at work, though,
and an uppity young colleague is becoming
more of a nuisance every chance he gets. But
why? Award-winning Korean novelist Gu
makes her translated-into-English debut, au-
rally enabled by popular Chinese Indonesian
American Wu. With so many (knife) twists,
Wu has plenty of excitement to infuse into
Gu’s dynamic narrative. That said, as though
acknowledging Hornclaw’s age, Wu’s pace
here seems to skew slightly slower than her
usual narrations. Also, as she reads, “it’s cold
www.booklistonline.com
Top 10 Mysteries & Thrillers on Audio
Spotlight
A body on an elevator? A modern Greek tragedy? A
group hiding from white supremacists at Monticello?
These top ten crime audiobooks, reviewed from April 15,
2021, to April 15, 2022 showcase stellar narrators and nail-
biting suspense. —Candice Smith
The Cage. By Bonnie Kistler. Read by Piper Goodeve
and Chris Andrew Ciulla. 2022. 10.5hr. HarperAudio, DD
(9780063089198).
Two women step into an elevator, but when the doors
open, only one is alive. A twisted plot and dramatic dual
narration keep the tension high.
Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir; Inspired by True Events. By Brent Spiner. Read by Brent Spiner
and others. 2021. 7hr. Macmillan, DD (9781250821393).
Spiner, the android Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, outwits a stalker in this
hilarious thriller read by the author and full cast of Star Trek actors.
Greenwich Park. By Katherine Faulkner. Read by Laura Kirman. 2022. 10.5hr. Simon &
Schuster Audio, DD (9781797130262).
A pregnant British woman finds her life turned upside down when she meets a new
friend at a prenatal class. Reader Kirman skillfully portrays the women’s personalities and
the escalating danger.
House of Ashes. By Stuart Neville. Read by Caroline Lennon. 2021. 9hr. Recorded Books,
DD (9781705035696).
In this atmospheric thriller straddling two time periods, a young woman is transplanted
from England to a lonely farmhouse in Ireland. Reader Lennon shifts between flawless
Irish and English accents as she voices the delicately crafted characters.
The Last Thing He Told Me. By Laura Dave. Read by Rebecca Lowman. 2021. 9hr. Simon
& Schuster Audio, CD (9781797124742).
Owen Michaels has disappeared. But who was he? And where has he gone? Lowman’s
narration is deceptively steady as the facts are revealed in this domestic thriller.
The Maidens. By Alex Michaelides. Read by Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrick-Smith.
2021. 10hr. Macmillan, DD (9781250262356).
A London psychotherapist is drawn into a modern Greek tragedy, a murder set in
academia. Readers Brealey and Holdbrick-Smith cast a spell with their finely tuned nar-
ration.
My Monticello. By Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. Read by a full cast. 2021. 7.5hrs. Macmillan
Audio, DD (9781250820723).
A talented cast of readers portray Black neighbors using Monticello as a refuge from
white supremacists in this novella, a portion of an involving collection of stories.
No One Will Miss Her. By Kat Rosenfield. Read by a full cast. 2021. 10hr. HarperAudio,
DD (9780063057043).
A young woman is murdered in a small town in New England. Three talented narrators
tell the story as the investigating detective, a social media influencer, and the victim her-
self in this grisly thriller.
Red Traitor. By Owen Matthews. Read by Mark Bramhall. 2021. 14hr. Books on Tape, DD
(9781984891488).
A KGB agent tracks a mole in this tense, historical thriller set during the Cuban Missile
Crisis. Bramhall’s dramatic narration, filled with Russian phrases and names, is frighten-
ingly bold.
A Slow Fire Burning. By Paula Hawkins. Read by Rosamund Pike. 2021. 9.5hrs. Books on
Tape, DD (9780593453155).
Suspects abound when a young artist is found dead aboard his boat. Each character,
introduced and questioned, is sensitively portrayed by English reader Pike.
May 1, 2022 Booklist 61
 True Crime on Audio
Spotlight

The Last Baron: The Paris Kidnapping That Brought Down
an Empire.
By Tom Sancton. Read by Arthur Morey.
2022. 9.5hr. Books on Tape, DD, $76 (9780593510070).
Sancton (Death of a Princess, 2017) recounts the downfall of Em-
pain, the industrial giant founded in 1881 by Édouard Empain. His
company eventually helped to build the Paris Metro and developed
major infrastructure projects in Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Congo, and
China, along with the post-WWII construction of nuclear-power
plants throughout France. Empain’s famously profligate grandson,
“Wado” Empain, might still have been able to manage the com-
pany’s success well into the twenty-first century were it not for his
notorious 1978 kidnapping. As Sancton details, it was less the kid-
napping itself than it was the oddly cool reception Wado, once freed,
received from both his family and his own company that would lead
to a change in the fortunes of both Wado and his Empain group.
If, at times, Morey’s French pronunciations sound a little strained,
overall his no-nonsense, low-key narration is perfect for delivering
this strange, complicated, politically charged, and often moving
family saga. —Alan Moores
Murder among Friends.
By Candice Fleming. Read by Angela Dawe.
2022. 7.5hr. Listening Library, DD (9780593506578). Gr. 7–12.
In 1924, Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb lured 14-year-old
Bobby Franks, a boy from their wealthy Chicago neighborhood,
into a rented car and brutally murdered him. The ensuing “crime
of the century” captured national attention due to the salacious
details, the social prestige of those involved, and the attorney for
the defense, anti-death–penalty advocate Clarence Darrow. How
could these two young men of ample means, intellect, and edu-
cation—neither killer was yet 20 but both were already college
graduates—commit such an atrocity? Fleming’s book examines the
early life of each teen and delves deeply into the trial. Dawe’s nar-
ration is straightforward yet engaging, using pacing and pauses for
emphasis over raised tones. One notable narrative choice is her use
of a slightly higher pitched voice for Leopold and Loeb when rec-
reating court transcripts; this makes their cold words and relative
youth all the more apparent and chilling. —Heather Booth
Scoundrel: How a Convicted Murderer Persuaded the
Women Who Loved Him, the Conservative Establishment,
and the Courts to Set Him Free.
By Sarah Weinman. Read by Gabra Zackman.
2022. 9hr. HarperAudio, DD, $26.99 (9780062899804).
Edgar Smith brutally murdered 15-year-old Victoria Zielinski in
New Jersey in 1957 and was sentenced to death for his crime. While
in prison, he struck up a letter-writing friendship with none other
than William F. Buckley, he of the National Review—a conservative
magazine that was widely read at the time—who believed Smith
to be a great writing talent. From death row, Smith writes a book
while having an illicit relationship with his editor, Sophie Wilkins.
The book is a modest success but is championed by Buckley, and
the spotlight provided paves the way for a review of his case and an
eventual reduction of his conviction to second-degree murder with
a sentence of time served. Smith’s story ends as expected with a brief
basking in the glory of the national spotlight; the stab at normal life;
and, finally, another vicious attack on a woman for which he is sen-
tenced to life in prison; this time, it sticks. Narrator Gabra Zackman
provides a direct and fast paced reading of the book which examines
many themes present in current media coverage of crime: which vic-
tims matter most and who gets second chances. True-crime readers,
political junkies, and history buffs alike will enjoy this fascinating
study of a cause célèbre. —Jennifer Kinnavy
Tell Me Everything.
By Erika Krouse. Read by Gabra Zackman.
2022. 9.5hr. Macmillan Audio, DD, $31.04 (9781250839213).
In the early 2000s, fiction writer Krouse—who had always been a
person to whom strangers felt comfortable revealing their secrets—
stumbled into what she thought would be a dream job: private eye
for a high-powered lawyer. His firm was pursuing leads relating to
a collegiate football-recruiting, sex-abuse scandal, connecting it
to Title IX infringements as a civil case.
Krouse and her inviting demeanor would
be his secret weapon. As the case dragged
on and Krouse became the recipient of so
many stories about trauma, memories of
her own shattering childhood abuse were
thrust into her consciousness, and grap-
pling with both the case and her own
suffering nearly undid her. Zackman nar-
rates this literary true-crime and survival memoir with sensitivity
and insight, striking the right tone—just like Krouse’s writing—
between the grit and grind of a PI and the tortured, searching,
pained reflections of a survivor. In recalled conversations, Zack-
man’s voice clearly differentiates characters and creates a deeply
empathetic connection to Krouse’s story. Like Krouse’s appearance,
Zackman’s voice seems to offer the invitation, “Tell me everything.”
Highly recommended on audio for listeners seeking true crime with
a focus on structural inequities, survivors, and artfully crafted nar-
ratives. —Heather Booth

season,” we hear the slight congestion. But the
(fatal) work must go on. —Terry Hong
The Paris Apartment.
By Lucy Foley. Read by Clare Corbett and
others.
2022. 12.5hr. HarperAudio, DD, $26.99 (9780063003088).
A late-night arrival in the city of Paris sets
the dark tone of this tale. Searching to find her
missing brother, Ben, Jess is filled with concern
and worry, which quickly turns to fear for both
of them, leaving her to doubt the motives of
everyone she meets. Building on an internal
strength from her life experiences she is able, in
a twist of fate, to bring redemption to the ma-
cabre apartment building into which she has
stumbled. Heavy accents of the six narrators
along with the use of colloquial phrases and
62 Booklist May 1, 2022
oft-times colorful language causes this riveting
novel to transport the listener directly into the
French scene. Although transitions between
characters are sometimes difficult to discern,
the use of varying voices provides continuity to
the story. Readers seeking the thriller-suspense
genre will appreciate the intertwined character
development of this intriguing and nightmar-
ish epic. —Ardith Eyring
Recovery Agent.
By Janet Evanovich. Read by Lorelei King.
2022. 7hr. Simon & Schuster, DD, $29.99 (9781797122212).
Janet Evanovich’s new series introduces
listeners to stylish and resourceful Gabriella
Rose, a recovery agent who specializes in re-
covering hidden treasures and missing items
for paying clients. When a hurricane destroys
much of her small South Carolina hometown,
Gabriella goes on a dangerous mission to find
the Ring of Solomon, a legendary artifact said
to bestow powers to its wearer. Hoping to sell
the ring for millions and rebuild the town,
she reluctantly teams up with her ex-husband,
Rafer, to search the jungles of Peru with the
help of a map passed down through her fami-
ly from the time of Blackbeard. Also searching
for the ring is the leader of a demonic cult
who will stop at nothing to obtain the relic’s
gifts. Lorelei King maintains a zippy pace as
she delivers the novel’s action and humor. She
particularly excels in performing Evanovich’s
snappy dialogue between Gabriella and her
ex-husband. Fans of Indiana Jones and Ro-
mancing the Stone will embrace this adventure
series. —Jennifer Longee
www.booklistonline.com
The Trees.
By Percival Everett. Read by Bill Andrew
Quinn.
2022. 7.5hr. Tantor, DD, $29.99 (9781666195347).
Murder is rarely something to laugh about,
and yet prolific Everett’s (Telephone, 2020)
latest will inspire at least a smirk, if not an out-
loud snort (or many) as narrator Quinn deftly
evokes characters living and dead. Welcome to
Money, Mississippi, where corpses are multi-
plying, each gruesome scene sharing a few
notable details: white victims’ pants have been
lowered and certain body parts have been de-
tached and moved elsewhere, while a deceased
Black man lies nearby. When local law enforce-
ment proves incompetent, the Mississippi
Bureau of Investigation get called in; when the
terror spreads nationally, the FBI get involved.
Here’s what else the cases have in common:
Emmett Till, who was kidnapped, tortured,
and killed at 14 in August 1955, after being
falsely accused of whistling at a white woman.
Everett turns tragedy into a dark, shrewd,
hardboiled exposé of racist legacy, legal failure,
insidious history—with perhaps one of lit-
erature’s first centenarian superheroes. Quinn
effortlessly channels a range from Tyler Perry
to Perry Mason in delivering a remarkably ver-
satile performance. —Terry Hong
Westside Lights.
By W. M. Akers. Read by Bailey Carr.
2022. 9.5hr. HarperAudio, DD, $26.99 (9780063043985).
In an unrecognizable 1920s New York City,
summertime in the Lower West Side streets is
ruled by profits, booze, and violence. When
the seagulls begin to die, Detective Gilda
Carr appears to have a tiny mystery on her
hands . . . or could it be something much
more sinister? As this noir unfolds, the plot
twists, turns, and thickens like the summer
heat. Carr portrays Gilda in an emotionally
connected manner, with the right blend of
hard-boiled detective and devastation. The at-
mospheric tone, world building, and violent
setting blend perfectly with Carr’s classic New
York accents, truly immersing the listener in
this alternate historical world. A genre-bend-
ing horror mystery perfect for long-time fans;
new listeners would benefit from reading the
first two in the series for added depth. A sure
bet for fans of Stephen Spotswood and Jim
Butcher. —Shoshana Frank
The Younger Wife.
By Sally Hepworth. Read by full cast.
2022. 9hr. Macmillan Audio, CD, $39.99 (9781250835659).
Since childhood, sisters Tully and Rachel
have thought they had an ideal family, but
when their mother Pam is placed in a nursing
home for Alzheimer’s patients and their father
plans to divorce her and marry Heather, an
interior designer their own age, old memories
bubble up and “ideal” family is reassessed. Set
in Melbourne, Australia, and told episodically
from the perspective of Tully, Rachel, or and
Heather, the tale unfolds as secrets emerge
from the lives of each woman. Brusque and
funny, straight-talking Tully gradually reveals
www.booklistonline.com
her kleptomania while her softer spoken sister,
Rachel, a noted baker, confronts the debilitat-
ing horror of a sexual assault. Determined to
disguise her lower-class childhood, Heather
speaks elegantly and carefully as she is intro-
duced to family and friends. The book opens
as the wedding party departs for the sacristy
to sign the registry, and shortly the celebrant
returns with blood-spattered pants and asks
“Is there a doctor in the house?” Listeners will
be captivated as the narrators create tension
and drop hints about the real problem in this
“ideal” family. —Pam Spencer Holley
Yo u t h
Cold.
By Mariko Tamaki. Read by Katharine Chin
and Raymond J. Lee.
2022. 4.5hr. Macmillan Audio, DD, $19.99 (9781250831569).
The recording begins with supposed-to-
be-eerie tinkling notes. By the time they
gratingly repeat 4.5 hours later, eyes might
roll, ears could need clearing, and yet Tamaki’s
dual-voiced thriller just might be immersive
enough for listeners to overlook this un-
even production. Chin opens as awkward
teen Georgia, proving especially adept with
Georgia’s resentments—against Georgia’s
mother who made her daughter an unwilling
literary character, her mostly absent father,
her popular brother Mark, and her bully-
ing schoolmates. Lee embodies Todd, the
17-year-old found frozen in a park. Todd’s
spirit needs to know how he died, much like
local detectives Greevy (“looked like a cop”)
and Daniels (“looked like a lawyer”) assigned
to the case. Lee is the weaker performer here,
not quite projecting Todd’s “deep voice. Like
adult deep.” Lee seems rather miscast, at
least misdirected, often imbuing exaggerated
affectations onto characters. However, mis-
matched the narrator pair might be, Tamaki’s
twists will likely keep audiences hooked all
the way to the tragic reveal. —Terry Hong
Drew Leclair Gets a Clue.
By Katryn Bury. Read by Devon Hales.
2022. 6.5hr. HarperAudio, DD, $20.99 (9780358669357).
Gr. 5–8.
An anonymous Instagram bully has taken
over Drew’s middle school. As an experienced
profiler and true-crime aficionado, Drew
takes the case. It is the perfect timing, be-
cause Drew’s mom just ran off with the school
counselor. Using the profiling skills that un-
masked the notorious school graffiti artist,
Drew throws herself into this case a little too
much, and her friendships and mental health
suffer. Will Drew crack the case before the
case cracks her? Arming Bury’s protagonist
with a snarky gumshoe voice, Hales brings
the story to life. Keeping the tone light for the
most part, the narrator is able to set a serious
mood in some of the more emotional scenes
with high and low volumes and a slower pace
for the more emotional moments. Highly
recommended for middle-grade readers in-
terested in criminal profiling who are not yet
ready for the more illicit aspects of true-crime
novels. —Colleen Seisser
Spotlight
The Ghost in the Third Row.
By Bruce Coville. Read by Sophia Greene and
a full cast.
2022. 2.5hr. Full Cast, DD, $19.99 (9781955324069). Gr. 4–7.
Nina is an aspiring actress in her first stage
production, The Woman in White. But the
ghostly presence of an actress who was mur-
dered 50 years prior disrupts production and
seems to create significant danger for the cast
members. Nina and her castmates embark on
a mission to find the cause of these episodes
and to determine the identity of the ghost in
Coville’s 1987 middle-grade series-starter. The
high drama is ideal for the full-cast treatment
led by Greene’s first-person narration. Her
youthful voice captures the eagerness, fear,
excitement, and wonder of the sixth-grade
protagonist and responds fluidly to the drop-
in lines from the additional cast members, all
of whom bring energy and clear vocal traits to
their characters. Atmospheric music leads off
each chapter and simple production effects oc-
casionally accent the narration, painting a vivid
picture as the young sleuths get to the bottom
of the historical crime. —Heather Booth
Live, Laugh, Kidnap.
By Gabby Noone. Read by Brittany
Pressley.
2022. 9hr. Listening Library, DD, $63 (9780593508008).
Gr. 9–12.
Welcome to Violet, Montana, where once
a peaceful group of hippies started a low-
key commune and tourists came for a good
burger and the scen-
ery. Fast-forward
to the current day;
megachurch Hope
Harvest Ministries
has taken over the
town—a shadow of
its former, charm-
ing glory—and is
working on taking over the commune as well.
Despite their vast differences, teens Genesis,
Zoe, and Holly scheme to take down the
founders of Hope Harvest, Pastor Jay and his
larger-than-life, podcaster/lifestyle-influencer
wife, Ree Reaps. All is not as “holy” as it seems
with the Reaps or their church. Told with
Noone’s usual clever style and biting humor,
a botched attempt at kidnapping the all-too-
willing son of the Reaps brings the story full
circle. Narrator Pressley has a charming lilt to
her voice that oozes youthfulness and matches
the overall tone of this amusing caper. Strong
points are made within the story but they are
not heavy-handed, and that takes true skill.
The plot has a vibe that evokes 1980’s 9 to 5,
which works very well for this teen book that
could easily be enjoyed by adults. Readers of
Carrie McCrossen, Ian McWethy, and Mon-
ica Gomez-Hira will gravitate to this title, as
will fans of Noone’s previous book, Layover-
land. —Shellie Zeigler
May 1, 2022 Booklist 63
Booklist Backlist
Music-Loving Sleuths
By Bill Ott
M
usic is everywhere in crime fiction,
sometimes at the center of the
story but most often providing the
soundtrack for sleuths whose playlists help
keep them sane amid the blood splatter. Here’s
a list of music-loving sleuths organized by their
preferred sounds.
Classical
Alexia Gordon’s Gethsemane Brown: In Death in D Minor,
the first in this charming cozy series, Black classical musi-
cian Gethsemane Brown moves to Ireland and secures
lodging in a cottage formerly owned by her favorite com-
poser. There’s a hitch: the composer’s ghost is in residence and
needs Gethsemane’s help to clear him of a decades-old murder.
Great fun for paranormal fans who enjoy the classics.
Barbara Paul’s Enrico Caruso: Only two of the titles in
Paul’s three-book Opera Mystery series star the great
tenor Caruso, but we’ll happily give him top-of-the-
marquee credit. Caruso makes a fine sleuth, particularly
in A Cadenza for Caruso, in which the tenor must save
Puccini from a marital spat and possibly murder.
Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti: I’m stretching the
premise a bit here—music isn’t a big part of Guido’s life
(he relaxes with food)—but three of the best novels in
the series, Death at La Fenice, Acqua Alta, and Fall-
ing in Love, feature diva Flavia Petrellia. She’s one of
Leon’s most fascinating characters, and the author’s
extensive knowledge of opera informs every page.
Country
Kinky Friedman’s Kinky Friedman: Yes, Kinky Friedman, au-
thor and lead singer of Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys,
writes mysteries about a country singer named Kinky Friedman.
Hard to say who’s wackier, real-world Kinky or fictional Kinky,
but does it really matter? Grab a title—maybe Elvis, Jesus & Coca
Cola—and start humming along with the Kinkster.
Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne: London DI Thorne is a hard-
bitten, hard-drinking cop, but there’s something different about
him—he’s a country fan, and he finds in his favorite twangy
tunes plenty of parallels to his work. Thorne describes Johnny
Cash’s dark baritone as like “the long slow tumble toward Hell,”
and who wouldn’t hear noir in Hank Williams’ “I’ll Never Get
Out of This World Alive”?
Jazz
Bill Moody’s Evan Horne: Jazz pianist and occasional sleuth
Horne is the go-to-guy for crimes connected to jazz history,
and the six novels in this series concern mysteries involving the
careers and sometimes deaths of such jazz luminaries as Wardell
Gray, Clifford Brown, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and Chet
Baker. The music is the draw, and for fans, that’s more than
enough.
Charlotte Carter’s Nanette Hayes:
Amateur sleuth Hayes, a street musi-
cian and Grace Jones–look-alike who
plays sax in the Paris Metro in the
first two novels in Carter’s series
(Rhode Island Red and Coq au
Vin), is a complete delight. When
she plays “Lover Man” at the
Odeon Metro stop, it’s one of the
best jazz moments in crime fiction.
Don’t miss it.
John Harvey’s Charlie Resnick: Not-
tingham, England, copper Resnick, who
fights a losing battle against societal chaos
throughout Harvey’s landmark series, combats his chronic mel-
ancholia with all variety of classic jazz, but it’s Thelonious Monk
who’s both his inspiration and solace. Just as Monk worked at a
phrase from multiple directions, so Charlie pokes at the detritus
of wasted lives, finding not just despair but also the still-smol-
dering sparks of human feeling.
Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch: Through more than 20 novels
in Connelly’s acclaimed series, L.A. detective Harry Bosch, like
Charlie Resnick, relies on jazz—usually heard on vinyl while sit-
ting on his deck in the Hollywood Hills—to provide brief respite
from the never-ending trauma of his investigations. Harry’s a sax
guy, and his favorites include John Coltrane (his dog is named
Trane), but also Art Pepper and, especially, Frank Morgan.
Rock
Ian Rankin’s John Rebus: The curmudgeonly Edinburgh detec-
tive loves his classic rock (and loves to argue about it with his
colleague Siobhan, who favors younger groups). For Rebus, it’s
the Stones, of course, along with The Who, The Animals, and
Cream. When the world is too much with him, Rebus likes to
play Black Sabbath’s Paranoid.
Timothy Hallinan’s Junior Bender: There’s always a backbeat
somewhere in this toe-tappingly entertaining comic mystery series
starring the forever-put-upon Junior, high-end burglar and low-
end investigator for L.A.’s criminal class, but in two of the entries,
Little Elvises and Rock of Ages, rock music drives the action.
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