A Daring Life: A Biography of Eudora Welty by Carolyn J. Brown

Eudora Alice Welty was born in a small Southern town in 1909. After spending time at school, as a photographer, and exploring other paths, she started gaining recognition for her writing and later became a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In many ways, she lived a daring life - a life that spanned most of a century. Learn more about this woman, her life, and her writing in this new biography published by the University Press of Mississippi.

For many years I have been meaning to explore the works of Eudora Welty. I don't think that I've actually read any of her writing, although I do have a photograph of her library hanging in my living room. When I saw this new biography, I jumped at the chance to read it. It's concise and direct and informative; it provides not only a great introduction to the life of Welty but also the world in which she lived. There are lots of photographs to illustrate her family, her homes, and her work, and in particular her work as a photographer. I did briefly pause to think of who this book would appeal to; it's positioned as a biography for young adults, but how many young adults have read Eudora Welty? Is she on school reading lists? Is there a demand for a book like this? But then I decided that there is always a demand for well-written and well-researched biographies of accomplished women. It might take some handselling from librarians and booksellers to help people to be aware of this book, but it would be well worth including this in a non-fiction collection to have on hand for the right reader.

Check out Carolyn J. Brown's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of University Press of Mississippi.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef
The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
Eudora Welty: A Biography by Suzanne Marrs

How to Watch the Olympics by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton

In one sense, it's easy to figure out how to watch the Olympics: find a TV station that has the broadcast rights or stream it online, and you're watching the Olympics. But what exactly are you watching? How does one score points in a judo match? What's the difference between kayaking, canoeing, and rowing? What are the events that make up the decathlon? What about the heptathlon? What makes the modern pentathlon so modern? And what exactly is a repechage? With chapters for each of the sports (as well as the opening and closing ceremonies, medal ceremonies, past Olympic games, and discontinued Olympic sports), How to Watch the Olympics aims to be your go-to reference book during the 2012 London Olympic Games.

As a big fan of the Olympics, the cover of this book caught my eye as I was browsing in an airport bookstore. I initially hoped that it would be a critical socio-political at the games (with possible topics including American broadcasting strategy, the amount of money spent on the games, gender equality and inequality). Instead, though, it was a history-slash-introduction of the games and the sports on display, something I was also interested in checking out. As a young girl I latched onto a copy of one of David Wallechinsky's Complete Book of the Olympics and read it over and over until the pages started falling out. That was almost twenty years ago, though, and  as I often feel with reference books, I wondered about its use in a world where so much information is available online; as I sat on my couch with my iPhone and this book, how many times would I reach for each one? I didn't keep track, but there have been times where I was reaching for the book (particularly during the cycling events). While I do think that this book would only be enhanced in some kind of ebook form that would allow links to video footage, maps, and more photographs, it can easily stand without these things (and, in fact, has to - it's very clear that this is an "unofficial" Olympic book and as such does not have any pictures of the Olympic rings, flames, or mascots). The intended audience is the average Olympic watcher - someone who might know something about a few of the sports but has little knowledge of others. It strikes a tone somewhere between chatty and instructional (and uses a lot of British expressions along the way). It could be read through from beginning to end, but also works if you want to pick it up and dip into sections as needed. I'd really love to see a companion version for the Winter Olympics as well as updated versions for future Games.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Complete Book of the Olympics 2012 Edition by David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky
The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer by David Goldblatt
Gold by Chris Cleave
Inside the Olympics by Nick Hunter

The Mount Rushmore Face that Couldn't See by Steve Brezenoff

Cat and her friends Egg, Gum, and Sam are on a field trip to see Mount Rushmore. It was a long, hot trip to get there, but once they see the presidential faces carved into the side of the mountain, it makes the journey all worthwhile. But then things start going wrong. Their tour guide is tied up - literally tied up - in his cabin, people start shouting about a ghost, and spooky stuff starts happening at night. Cat might only be in the sixth grade, but it's up to her to solve this mystery...before things get even worse!

This book, part of the Field Trip Mysteries series, combines a gentle mystery with lots of facts about Mount Rushmore. When I first saw a thumbnail of the cover, there was something about the girl's clothing (her longer skirt and hairstyle) as well as the lack of cars, buildings, or anything around that made me think that this book took place in a long ago time. It doesn't, though; it's firmly set in the modern day. The book includes a bit of very balanced information about why there might be controversy over Mount Rushmore; all of the information is at a very appropriate age level for the target audience. Cat and her friends are intrepid sleuths in the way that fictional children sometimes are (see everyone from Encyclopedia Brown to Theodore Boone to the Babysitters Club) and they don't really do anything that's too outlandish. Some parts of the mystery reminded me of elements of Murder, She Wrote episodes, but being the major MSW fan that I am, I mean that in the best way possible. A solid pick for school classrooms, school libraries, and public libraries to consider for their collections.

See more information about Steve Brezenoff at his website. 

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Ghost Who Haunted the Capitol by Steve Brezenoff
The Crook Who Crossed the Golden Gate Bridge by Steve Brezenoff
On the Bus, On the Case by Steve Brezenoff

Rightfully Ours: How Women Won the Vote by Kerrie Logan Hollihan

There are many things today that women and girls take for granted: wearing pants, speaking in public, going to school, keeping their own last name when they get married. One of the biggest rights, though, has been the right to vote in elections. In the 1800s and early 1900s, women were viewed as belonging to their fathers or husbands; they were expected to dedicate their lives to their families. Many women, though, wanted more. They believed that they best way to achieve this was to push for social change - increased rights for women and ultimately the right to vote. These women included Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul, and many others. In Rightfully Ours: How Women Won the Vote, this history is presented so that the boys and girls of today can learn about the barriers that the women of the past overcame.

When I was younger I had very little exposure to books about women's history or feminist figures, so I'm always happy to see books about suffrage and women's rights aimed at a young age group. This book weaves together a narrative about the troubles and setbacks that these women faced and the accomplishments that they achieved alongside biographical sketches of the prominent figures and activities related to the text for kids to do on their own. The book illustrates how intertwined many different issues were and are; it's nearly impossible to discuss the rights of women without looking at American history in general but also the temperance movement, slavery, the Civil War, and religion. It's packed with information but also lots of great images and first-person accounts.   It was neat to discover the ties that things like The Wizard of Oz or "Mary Had a Little Lamb" had to the suffrage movement. The activities spread out throughout the book provide an interactive approach to understanding the life and times of the women depicted. It's hard to know how popular or practical these activities will be - some involve a stove or oven while others require a lot of materials that one might not have just laying around the house - but with the range of activities presented (twenty-one in total) there will likely be something that catches a reader's eye. I can also see teachers being interested in this for use in the classroom. It's a great title to have on the shelf for a school, classroom, or public library.

Check out Kerrie Logan Hollihan's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Chicago Review Press.

Find it at Indiebound.

Read it with:
Elizabeth I: The People's Queen by Kerrie Logan Hollihan
Wheels of Change by Sue Macy
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Suffragist! by Fiona Macdonald

The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean

Genes. DNA. Heredity. These are all things that people hear about, but how many of us really understand them? How do genes work, and what's their relationship to DNA? How was everything discovered, and who was it discovered by? Names like Mendel and Darwin, Watson and Crick are familiar, but who were the other people who played a role in the discovery of DNA? How did genes play a role in creating a brilliantly flexible violinist and a bronze-hued president? From the first tentative steps toward exploring the human body to the mapping of the human genome, The Violinist's Thumb takes you on an incredible journey of scientific discovery.

I was so excited to read this book. I had intended to read Sam Kean's first book, The Disappearing Spoon, but I still haven't picked it up. I wanted to read this one before anything else got in the way. I really liked the way the book was written. It's not always an easy read, but it's an enjoyable read. Some of the science can be quite dense, but I think that's to be expected. I wouldn't say that after reading this book I have a complete understanding of genes and DNA; saying that would be a disservice to the scientists who spend their entire careers learning about genes. I do, though, have a big more of an understanding about the questions that surround this branch of science. My favourite chapter was the one that discussed the impulse to retroactively diagnose famous people like John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and Charles Darwin with diseases and genetic disorders; of course, having said that that one was my favourite, I have to now think about what that means about me and my enjoyment of a celebrity-obsessed culture. If you're looking for a satisfying non-fiction read that will provide you with both information and a dry, sometimes pun-based sense of humour, definitely check out this book.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Little, Brown and Company.

Check out Sam Kean's website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox

Women, Popular Culture, and the Eighteenth Century edited by Tiffany Potter

The eighteenth century is quite present in the twenty-first century. It's found in the Jane Austen novels read by bookclubs and the movies that are made from those novels. It's in our ideas of performers and performance, writing and writers, and romance. It's in the way we think about the past and how the past informs the present. Women, Popular Culture, and the Eighteenth Century brings together the work of scholars from Canada, the United States, and around the world who explore the construction of culture and pop culture over the last four hundred years and what it means for women and society today.

When I saw the title of this book in NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. I love reading about popular culture and I have spent a lot of time thinking about women and femininity, so this seemed like a perfect fit. I was extremely pleased to find that the book not only covers culture in the eighteenth century but also how it exists and interacts in today's world. Recent film adaptations of Jane Austen novels, novels set in the seventeen hundreds, and mash-ups (like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) are all explored. There were also several areas that I had not read about before, including the role that women played in the development of the cookbook industry, stage performances and how they mirrored and directed ideas of womanhood, and the phenomenon of riddles and quizzing. The book has an academic tone and approach. It's been a few years now since I did a lot of academic reading for school, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this book. If you have an interest in any one of the three areas mentioned in the title make sure to check this book out; if you have an interest in more than one of the areas, this is the book for you.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of University of Toronto Press.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
Love in Excess by Eliza Haywood
Artistic Impressions by Mary Louise Adams
According to Queeney by Beryl Bainbridge

A Passion for Victory by Benson Bobrick

Every Olympic cycle, there's a new crop of hungry athletes looking to make their golden dreams come true; there's also a new crop of books about the International sporting event. Schools and libraries in particular need to make sure their collections are current and relevant and cover not only today's athletes but also athletes from games past. What sets A Passion for Victory apart from other books is that it explores the area that other books often skip over: the origins of the Ancient Olympics and the first Modern Olympic Games. Sure, many books talk about the ancient traditions or talk about Pierre de Coubertin, but it's often just a cursory look on the way to focusing on today's sports stars. This book looks closely at the Greek traditions and the people who shaped the development of the Olympics. It also stops around mid-20th century in terms of the Modern Olympics. Because of this focus, it wouldn't make sense for this to be the only book on the Olympics that you have (particularly if you're looking for something that will discuss the games to the present day), but it would make an excellent addition to any sports collection.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Battle of Nashville by Benson Bobrick
Rush For Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein
The 2012 London Olympics by Nick Hunter

All Alone with Daddy by Joan Fassler illustrated by Dorothy Lake Gregory

Ellen's mom is going out of town. That means that Ellen is going to be all alone with her father. She's looking forward to taking care of him. She tries to be like her mother. She has a lot of fun and loves getting all of his attention. When her mom comes home, though, she's not sure how she feels about sharing Daddy again.

I came across this book in a thrift store, and I knew I wouldn't be leaving without it. It's apparently part of a series that looks at psychological issues through picture books ("Children's Series on Psychologically Relevant Themes"). It was originally published in 1969, which means that even aside from the subject matter I like looking at the illustrations of the fashions of the day. I've had it for a few years now, and I still don't even know what really to say about it. Ellen's feelings are presented as normal and no one tries to make her feel bad for having them. In fact, no one tries to do anything about them at all; she deals with them all on her own. It's hard to say whether or not her parents know anything about her feelings (although dressing herself up in her mom's clothes might have given her dad a clue, neither of them now about her dream where daughters marry their fathers and have children with them). The ending of the book is a bit too retro for me (Ellen deciding to grow up to be just like her mom and marry someone just like her Dad, complete with the image of her running towards a boy) but I do find this book to be a fascinating glimpse into so many things including child psychology, gender norms, and 1969.

 

Read it with: 

Billy and Our New Baby by Helen S. Arnstein

I Have Feelings by Terry Berger

Things I Hate by Harriet Wittels and Joan Griesman

The Man of the House by Joan Fassler 

Death by Petticoat by Mary Miley Theobald

There are some things about history that everyone knows, right? People were shorter back then. People were painted hiding their fingers and limbs because painters gave a discount if they didn't have to paint those body parts. Apprenticeships lasted seven years, pregnant women never went outside, there was a nail tax in Colonial America - these are all thoughts that are commonly passed along as fact. This book examines those history myths and separates truth from myth, misconception, and outright falsehood.

This is such a smart idea for a book. Myths and misconceptions abound in many parts of popular culture, and of course there will be those that persist about American history. I loved learning about the truth behind custom, clothing, trades, and American life in a number of different time periods. I was amazed at how many myths are shared between different time periods and different locations worldwide. There are a number of myths here that I hadn't heard before, particularly those that pertain to specific parts of American history, but it was still fascinating to hear how the ideas have come to be a part of common knowledge and what - if any - kernel of truth is found in those myths. I also love the design of the cover. Check out those cool skulls!


Check out Mary Miley Theobald's website for a list of her other publications.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Andrews McMeel.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Colonial Williamsburg: The First 75 Years by Mary Miley Theobald
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History by Richard Shenkman

The Research Virtuoso: How to Find Anything You Need to Know by the Toronto Public Library with art by Victor Gad

Research: if you're in school, you're going to have to do it at some point. There will be a class that requires an essay or a project and you will have to know how to find information, assess it, and bring it together in a meaningful way. It can seem like a daunting task, and there are so many different ways that you can go about it. The Research Virtuoso can help you clarify your assignment, collect your thoughts, and follow through with a solid end result. This is one book that could help you get an A - and help you build some skills you can use throughout your life.

This is an updated edition of an earlier publication, which is a very smart move considering all of the ways that today's technology plays a role in information gathering. Online resources are covered (including Wikipedia and the standard cautions around using it as a definitive source) but they are found alongside print resources and subscription databases. In addition to instructions about how to research a topic The Research Virtuoso also includes templates and tips to get you started. There are definitely some ideas that I wish I knew about when I was in school. The tone is authoritative (and it should be, coming from the Toronto Public Library) but not stuffy; if this book was a person, it would be your cool older cousing who's in graduate school. This might not be a book that high school or university students run to pull off of the shelves (or maybe it is), but it's definitely a book that they should look into.

I received a copy from NetGalley courtesy of Annick Press.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Research Ate My Brain by The Toronto Public Library
The New York Public Library's Guide to Research by Deborah Heiligman
Painless Research Projects by Rebecca Elliott

Women Will Save the World by Caroline A. Shearer edited by Sarah Hackley

Inspired by a quote from the Dalai Lama that "The world will be saved by the Western woman," Caroline A. Shearer had a vision to bring together accounts of feminine traits such as collaboration, nurturing, creativity, strength, and intuition. Women Will Save the World is filled with biographies of historical women who made a difference as well as essays written by women of today who have faced many different obstacles - medical, financial, spiritual - and survived.

Many of the women profiled were new to me, and I always appreciate the opportunity to read about successful women and learn how they have accomplished what they have. I also enjoyed the short biographies of the more well-known historical figures. This approach helped to ground the essays in a feminist and historical context. At times I did feel that the focus of the book was narrowing; without taking anything away from the contributors who are profiled in this book, I would love to hear more from other women from many different backgrounds.  I sometimes lost the thread of how this was going to "save the world" while at other times thinking that it veered into self-help territory. I think, though, that ultimately those two go hand-in-hand. How can women 'help' themselves? By using the traits and behaviours of positive female role models. Women Will Save the World isn't trying to be everything to everyone; its focus is on sharing stories of strong, successful Western (in this case, American) women. Read this in connection with some other explorations about female power and see all of the ways that women have been and will continue to contribute to the world.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Absolute Love Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
No Excuses by Gloria Feldt
Women of Color and Feminism by Maythee Rojas
Feminism and Pop Culture by Andi Zeisler
Dead End Date by Caroline A. Shearer

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Libby is psyched to be spending the summer at a living history museum. She loves history and is sure that this is going to be the best summer of her life. Then she arrives at Camden Harbor and discovers that things aren't exactly like she pictured. Her uniform is way too big, she's forbidden from using modern technology while at work (including cell phones!), and she's living with someone who takes historical recreations way too seriously. There's also an annoying reporter hanging around trying to get the scoop on a ghost that might be hanging around Camden Harbor. On the plus side, though, Libby has caught the eye of a gorgeous sailor who knows all of the right things to say. Maybe this summer can be saved after all!

I love that the main character of a teen book loves Jane Austen and historical recreations. She has a lot more interests, and while  her best friend pokes fun at her for her desire to spend her summer at a living history museum, she stands strong. That's always great to see in teen books. Mixed in with history and drama is romance.  Readers should be able to figure out who the right leading man is fairly early on, but the discovery isn't the point - the journey is. Particularly when it's a journey, to some extent, of Libby getting over herself. I didn't always like how she talked to Garrett, the investigative journalist intent on getting the truth behind the ghost stories. She's not a bad person, though, she just lacked some perspective, and her growth over the course of the novel is great to see.  The setting and story would make for a great filmed version; don't be surprised if you see this soon on a screen near you.

Check out Stephanie Kate Strohm's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Graphia.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell
Into the Wild Nerd Yonder by Julie Halpern
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

Baby's in Black by Arne Bellstorf

Long before they took the world by storm, The Beatles were a band working semi-anonymously in Germany. That's where a young woman named Astrid Kirchherr first saw them and fell in love: with their music, yes, but also with musician Stuart Sutcliffe. As the boys dealt with venue issues, legal troubles, and burgeoning fame, Astrid and Stuart became engaged and encouraged each other in their artistic fields. But a happily ever after was not to be, as Stuart died of a sudden brain haemorrhage in 1962.

Not being familiar with Arne Bellstorf's work, I was thinking that this book might be a little like reading about the 'baby Beatles.' While of course the Beatles do appear, it's not like that at all. They're easily recognizable and do have a young appearance, but not in a caricatured way. It's refreshing to see them as supporting players in the story; so often it's their story that's being told, but there are a number of other people who were there at the time that have different stories, perspectives, and lives. Astrid Kirchherr is a fascinating character that I only knew about in a very limited way. The subject matter, approach, and artistic style makes this a book worth checking out.

Here's a video of The Beatles performing "Baby's in Black" in Munich:


Take a look at Arne Bellstorf's website.


I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of MacMillan.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Read the Beatles edited by June Skinner Sawyer
The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor
John by Cynthia Lennon

Death of a Dreamer: The Assassination of John Lennon by Alison Marie Behnke

The world was used to seeing headlines about John Lennon. As a member of the band The Beatles, he had sold millions of albums and had fans all over the globe who wanted to know his every move. Attention continued over the years, from his relationship with Yoko Ono to the breakup of the Beatles to his solo career and his appeals for world peace. But in December 1980 people were shocked by a new headline: John Lennon was dead. He had been murdered outside of his home in New York. How could this have happened? Death of a Dreamer looks at John, his legacy, and his untimely death.

Death of a Dreamer isn't just the story of John Lennon, even though he's the only one on the cover; a closer reading of the title makes this clear. It's about his death, or his assassination, and in order to tell that story it's necessary to tell the story of his assassin, Mark David Chapman. While many of the details of Lennon's life (both before and after the Beatles) were familiar to me, the information about Chapman was new. While still carefully written for a young audience, it's a chilling look at a very disturbed man. When the story of this man is combined with the story of a man who wanted to change the world with his music, the tragic results just seem so senseless.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Publishing.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Real Love: The Drawings for Sean by John Lennon
John's Secret Dreams by Doreen Rappaport
Pope John Paul II by Alison Behnke
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Friend Me! by Francesca Davis DiPiazza

It's hard to think about getting through the day without Facebook, Twitter, text messages, phone calls, or your favourite website. Many of the sites, devices, and technologies that we use are fairly recent. But the history of social networking goes back a long time. People and communities had their own ways of gathering together, sharing information, and keeping in touch. What does a smart phone have in common with a barn raising? It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke, but they are each a form of social networking. Learn more about the history of communication and networking in this photo-filled book of facts and stories from Lerner Books' Twenty-First Century Books series.

I really like non-fiction books that look at culture and society, especially when they are geared toward young readers. The beginning of the book points out that for many of today's teens and tweens, ideas around communication have been heavily influenced by the computer - whether it is a computer in the house or a computer on someone's phone. Being able to keep in touch with people around the world in an instant is something that not many other generations have experienced. The information is presented in easy-to-follow chapters, and I really liked that in looking at North American history it began with a chapter on Native Americans and their traditions around communication (something that many books overlook). All of the usual suspects are here: telegram, television, phone, computer, morse code. But there are also different modes, like songs, coded messages, Dungeons & Dragons, crowdsourcing, and mail-order catalogs. The layout is clean and clear and uses lots of pictures and images. The text breaks down bigger terms and concepts (comparing banishment to being unfriended on Facebook by all your friends at once, for example) and that means that a lot of information can be explored. This is a solid choice for school, classroom and public libraries.

I read a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Books.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
When Did George Washington Fight His First Military Battle? by Francesca Davis DiPiazza
From Typewriters to Text Messages: How Communication Has Changed by Jennifer Boothroyd
Same-Sex Marriage by Tricia Andryszewski

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Sasha is a proud member of Stalin's Communist Soviet Union. He can't wait to join the join the Young Pioneers and pledge his allegiance to Stalin and his country. He wants to make his father, a member of the secret police, proud. But then his father is arrested. Was he set up by a devious neighbour? It all must be some kind of terrible mistake. Alone, with his father arrested and his mother dead, Sasha tries to find a way to convince Stalin that his father's arrest is just a big mistake. But along the way Sasha learns many hard truths about his father, his life, and his hero, Stalin.

My favourite part of this book is how it plays with perspective. This shows up literally, as the perspective in the illustrations is sometimes skewed. Adults loom scarily over children in images that look like something out of a nightmare. Of course, the entire book (which takes place over a very short period of time) looks at how Sasha's perspectives change. He develops a deeper understanding of his father, of Stalin, and the world. Yelchin's afterward about Stalin and the USSR can help readers to put the story in its historical context. I hope Breaking Stalin's Nose's status as a Newbery Honor book brings it a larger audience.

Check out Eugene Yelchin's website to see more of his illustration and work.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Stalin's Nose by Rory MacLean
Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming

Everything You Need to Know About Everything You Need to Know About by Daniel Tatarsky

Have you ever thought you needed to brush up on your knowledge of the solar system? Or maybe on the functions of the human body? Sure, many people have those thoughts, but the idea of flipping through a text book (or skimming a wikipedia article) can seem a bit boring. That's where Everything You Need to Know About Everything You Need to Know About comes in. In one neat volume, these colourful pages are packed with facts and figures and helpful visual representations. Need to settle an argument or just wanting to improve your knowledge? This is the book for you!

I was more than a bit skeptical when I started reading this book. In my life I've had so many books about general knowledge foisted on me that I've grown tired of them. I was so happy to find out that this book easily stands out from others. The key is the pictures. Not just illustrating the concepts, they give a visual representation of things like showing religions by number of followers. Reading this on a black-and-white Kobo didn't do it justice, but in print or on a tablet the colours and pictures will be quite vivid and easy to follow. Plus, I learned stuff! (I'd never heard of 'umami' before!) This book is equally at home in a young student's bedroom or on an adult's reference shelf and can easily be enjoyed by both - including those who are wary of general knowledge books.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Thunder Bay Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Everything You Need to Know About Everything You Need to Know About the Universe by Chris Cooper
Dan Dare: The Biography by Daniel Tatarsky
I Before E (Except After C) by Susan Randol

Alien Investigation by Kelly Milner Halls

Aliens are a staple of science fiction books and movies, but they don't really exist...right? There are many people all over the world who firmly convinced about the existence of UFOs and aliens. Alien Investigation traces accounts of unidentified flying objects from the 19th, 20th, and 21st century. What's the truth about UFOs and aliens? You might be surprised.

As someone who watched a lot of X-Files growing up (and last summer, when I re-watched the series), I'm really excited to see books like this for a middle grade audience. It's a great age, where kids are thinking critically but also open to exploring fantastical concepts. Alien Investigation summarizes a lot of the historical evidence and reports about UFOs and aliens. The question is not 'will this book convince skeptics about the existence of UFOs?' (Would any book convince skeptics about the existence of UFOs?) Instead, a better question is 'what kind of information will readers find in this book, and how valid is it?' Intensely researched and brimming with eyewitness accounts, news reports, and expert opinions, this book presents a lot of information in an accessible way that can spark or flame an interest in the supernatural. It's a great addition to any library's non-fiction section.

Check out Kelly Milner Halls' website - lots of cool stuff!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Publishing. Alien Investigation is scheduled to be published on April 1, 2012.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls
Aliens by Judith Herbst
Alien Abductions by Justin Erickson

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

1985 is a pretty terrible year for Apron. As if it wasn't bad enough that her mother died, her father has taken up with her mom's nurse - who's now pregnant. Her father has retreated into his academic life, leaving Apron alone with the woman who hates her. Apron's friends are growing distant and her grandmother can only help so much, and she might even have to give away her pet guinea pig. The only bright spot in her life is Jesus - not the actual Jesus, but the guy who played Jesus in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar. His name is Mike, and his aunt lives next door to Apron's family. As Apron gets to know Mike, she learns about what a great guy he is and spends time helping out Mike and his boyfriend Chad with their flower shop. But even this happiness comes with dark clouds, because Apron learns about other people's homophobia and Chad keeps getting sicker and sicker.

I could tell when reading it that this was a story that meant a lot to its author. All books, yes, mean a lot to their authors, but this story seems like it is deeply connected to Jennifer Gooch Hummer. You don't start writing this book because you think it's going to be a fun story. And yet, saying that somehow sells it short. Parts of Girl Unmoored are very dark and sad, but it's not defined by despair. Apron in particular is a fascinating character. Her process of dealing with her grief and frustration mixed with the more conventional transitions of growing up allow for her to be a character all her own. The entire book takes place over a span of a few months, showing how quickly one's life can change.  Spoiler alert: get some Kleenex along with this book, because by the last few chapters I was definitely needing some.

Learn lots more about Girl Unmoored and Jennifer Gooch Hummer at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Fiction Studio Books.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Bummer Summer by Ann M. Martin
Positively by Courtney Sheinmel
Same-Sex Marriage by Tricia Andryszewski

50 Underwear Questions: A Bare-All History by Tanya Lloyd Kyi with Illustrations by Ross Kinnaird

Underwear. Most people use it, but how many of us know anything about its history? Underwear didn't always look like what we use today. It's changed a lot over the decades and centuries, and so have ideas about modesty and coverage. Do you have any underwear questions? This bare-all history has all the answers you've been looking for!

Underwear is a topic of perennial fascination to children. It seems a bit naughty, but it's also so common. With a funny, easygoing narrative style mixed with humorous illustrations, this non-fiction title has lots of reader appeal. It charts how underwear went from simple (loincloths) to elaborate (corsets, long johns, petticoats) and back to simple again (thongs), and all of the points in between. It hints at underwear's connections to ideas of politics and gender and talks briefly about the role that economics and climates play, but much of that is glossed over in favour of keeping the timeline moving (a solid directional choice, given the intended audience for the book). For interested readers, a bibliography and a list of titles for further reading might help to explore some of these themes. Annick Press has a number of strong non-fiction titles for curious readers that are well worth checking out.

Check out her website for a glimpse into Tanya Lloyd Kyi's brain. Ross Kinnaird also has a blog where you can see more of his illustration.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Annick Press.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
50 Burning Questions: A Sizzling History of Fire by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
50 Poisonous Questions: A Book with Bite by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
Bear in Underwear by Todd H. Doodler
The Revealing History of Underwear by Katie Daynes
Underwear: What We Wear Under There by Ruth Freeman Swain