The Alamo

Nardo, Don. The Alamo. Part of the World History series. 2013. 103p. ISBN 978-1-42050861-1. Available at 976.4 NAR on the library shelves.

With Americans spreading westward in the 1830s and Mexico imposing its own law following its independence from Spain, the two powers were bound to confront each other. The spark that lit the fuse was the desire of the new Mexican dictator, Santa Anna, to disarm all state militias and collect weapons so only the federal Mexican government had an army. Texians, however, were opposed. The population of Texas having changed in the 1810s and 1820s as Americans moved in droves for free land, a majority now felt that the far away Mexican government was taking their rights away.

When a Mexican army entered the state, it headed to San Antonio, where it was switfly defeated in a siege by the local militia. Santa Anna himself took command of another army and marched to San Antonio. The Texians who had seized the town shored up the Alamo, an old Catholic mission, and were ready to defend themselves and their families. As Santa Anna’s army approached, messages were sent to request help, but none came.

Over the next thirteen days, the siege of the Alamo became widely known in the United States. Texians bravely resisted, but were eventually overrun and all defenders perished. The Alamo’s fall sparked outrage and galvanized the state militias, which, under Sam Houston’s leadership coordinated their efforts and successfully defeated Santa Anna. This led to the area’s independence from Mexico and the establishment of the Republic of Texas.

Many famous people, including Davy Crocket and Jim Bowie perished at the Alamo, leading to the battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” Though the memory of the event remained in the nation’s consciousness and was made into movies countless times, the building itself was not maintained and eventually fell in disrepair, until steps were taken to secure it for posterity. Though a defeat, the Alamo directly impacted American politics, leading to the spread of slavery in the southwest, and changed American culture to provide the model of rugged American individual standing up for his rights.

Black Butler, Vol 11

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol 11. 2012. 176p. ISBN 978-0-316-18967-5. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

With the storm abating and all of the guests gone, Sebastian reveals to the Professor what his role was in the murders of three people at Phantomhive Manor. Sworn to protect Ciel Phantomhive, Sebastian had anticipated all but the death of the young Mister Phelps. Which leads him to finding the real thirteenth member of their group during the storm. Having escaped Noah's Ark Circus, Snake has been hunting Ciel and Sebastian for their role in making his adopted family disappear. Ciel convinces him to abandon his quest of revenge and tells Snake he should stay close, as his missing family will surely turn up. Snake agrees to join the staff as a footman, much to the dismay of the personnel below.

Meanwhile in London, a hospital has accomplished the miracle of defeating death. The Aurora Society, led by Rian Stoker, has managed to bring people back from the death. Warned by his agent of the potential for paranormal activity, Phantomhive decides to investigate. The Aurora Society plans a demonstration of its skills aboard a luxury liner heading to New York, so Phantomhive agrees to board the ship, knowing that his fiancee, Elizabeth, who had tried to convince Ciel to take a vacation with her aboard the same ship.

Joining the members of the Society, they witness the impossible. A young woman is brought back from the dead in front of the assembled audience. Unfortunately, she is very hungry ...

The story continues in Black Butler, vol. 12.

Walking with Miss Millie

Bundy, Tamara. Walking with Miss Millie. 2017. 227p. ISBN 978-0-399-54456-9. Available at FIC BUN on the library shelves.

It is 1968, and Alice and her family are moving to Rainbow, Georgia. Rainbow is a sleepy little town, and Alice, her younger brother Eddie and her mother. Her father has remained behind in Ohio, but they haven’t seen him for six months, ever since Christmas last year. Alice is upset that the family has to move down to her parents’ birthplace so they can help grandmother. After all, grandmother looked fine the last time she came to visit. Rainbow is small, it is hot, and it is in the middle of nowhere.

Straight upon arrival Alice notices that her grandmother is not well. The house smells, the garden is mostly dead, and she is wearing her nightgown outside in the afternoon. Alice’s hope for a reconsideration of their move is dashed. Then her brother Eddie runs in the neighbor’s yard. Eddie is deaf and sometimes does not pay attention to what he does. Alice goes get him, and she meets the next door neighbor, Miss Millie. Older even than her grandmother, Miss Millie seems stern. When the telephone rings, Alice picks up, forgetting that it is a party line. She eavesdrops on a conversation between Miss Millie and a friend. Told to apologize by her mother, she goes over there the next morning and is asked to walk Clarence, Miss Millie’s dog. Unfortunately, Clarence will not walk if Alice holds the leash, so Miss Millie goes with them.

Over the course of the summer, Alice gets to know Ms. Millie and her struggles as a black woman in a white neighborhood in the South. She learns of her family history, of segregation, and of the racism that still pervades the town. In turn she’s able to share with Miss Millie the pain and anxiety that comes from being rejected by her father, who neither calls nor writes.

As their friendship grows, Alice realizes that life in Rainbow might not be as bad as she thought it would be.

1984

Orwell, George. 1984. 1983. 314p. ISBN 0-15-166038-7. Available at FIC ORW on the library shelves.

The Party and the government of Oceania are one. There is only one Party, and the Party provides for everyone. Big Brother is the face of the Party and of the State, and he encourages people to work hard to support the Party and Oceania against its enemies, Eastasia and Eurasia, both superpowers like Oceania. Winston Smith is a member of the Outer Party, the organization that supports the Party and implements its directives. As a worker in the Ministry of Truth, Winston’s job is to modify news report and articles so that they always match what the Party has said. Thus, if the Party predicted five years ago that the number of boots produced would be up by 5% but was down by 2%, it is Winston’s job to make sure that the newspaper reports from five years ago reflect the 2% decrease and not the 5% increase. This ensures that the Party is always right.

Winston is very dissatisfied with his life. Big Brother is spying on all of the population and the Thought Police is very active making sure everyone conforms to the Party’s ideals. When Winston meets Julia, he suddenly feels hope and love rekindled in his heart, and they begin secretly dating in a seedy part of town to escape Big Brother’s surveillance. As their relationship grows, so does their hate of the Party and of Big Brother. Encourage to join a seditious group, both of them forget that Big Brother is always watching. Caught and made to confront their worst fear by the Ministry of Love, can Winston and Julia’s love triumph over the totalitarian Party?

Read a review of the graphic novel adaptation of 1984 here.

Yellow Dog

Korner, Miriam. Yellow Dog. 2017. 288p. ISBN 978-0-8899-5546-2. Available at FIC KOR on the library shelves.

Winters in Northern Saskatchewan are cold, and there isn’t much to do. Jeremy spends a lot of time with Justin, playing hockey and video games, but Justin’s home life has been sliding lately, and he’s more into hurting animals. When Justin dares Jeremy to pull the tail on a yellow dog who lives at the end of the road, he does so but instantly regrets it the moment he sees the dog’s hurt eyes and fear.

Returning to the site of his mean prank, Jeremy feeds the dog and slowly builds a rapport with him. The old man who lives in the shack notices Jeremy playing with his dog, but he doesn’t say anything. One day he invites Jeremy inside. The old man’s shack is a single room, with no bathroom, running water, or electricity, but it is full of memories. The old man was a musher, and ran his own teams of dogs. Now all that remains of this is the yellow dog in the yard and a few dog houses by his broken-down barn.

As Jeremy learns more about the old man and the way of life before the snowmobile, he realizes that he would like to run dogs too. His mother warns him not to, however, because his father died of an accident in the bush. Jeremy is convinced this is what he needs to do, so he finds other dogs, and begins to train them to pull a sled. With the old man’s help, Jeremy manages to get his team of four dogs and even takes them out on the lake.

His relationship with Justin has suffered, however, since all he wants to do is torture the dogs. When dog culling day comes and Jeremy hears gunshots, he’s sad but not worried about his dogs, which are tied in the old man’s yard. However Justin gives him a note that makes him reconsider his earlier assessment, and he rushes out to discover that his dogs were untied and let loose in the town. Jeremy manages to track all of his dogs, but Lightning was hurt during the hunt. To atone, Justin joins Jeremy to help him with the dogs, and the two develop a truce. The two of them head out on the lake with three dogs, but a snowstorm soon strikes and they become lost. Will the two of them survive the night out with their dogs?

Fans of animal stories will like how Jeremy gets to know his dogs and how he trains them. For another take on dog racing and survival, take a look at Ice Dogs.

The Arab Spring

Bodden, Valerie. The Arab Spring. Part of the Turning Points series. 2017. 48p. ISBN 978-1-60818-745-4. Available at 909.09 BOD on the library shelves.

In 2011, the Arab world was shaken by a series of uprisings that toppled one dictator after another. The anger and resentment that had built up over the previous fifty years boiled over and led to massive protests in Arab capitals. The self-immolation of a Tunisian following the stealing of his property by the government quickly spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain. The dictator of Tunisia was the first one to fall, followed by the dictators of Egypt and Libya, and Yemen. Protesters were violently repressed in Bahrain, while in Syria what started as peaceful protests against the Assad regime exploded into civil war after the regime opened fire on the protesters.

The impact of the Arab spring continues to be felt throughout the Middle East. Tunisia remains the only country where protests peacefully transitioned into a democratic government. Egypt held elections but the army intervened a year later. Libya is now split into more than three hundred militias fighting each other. Civil wars continue unabated in Syria and Yemen. ISIS arose out of the ashes of Al Qaeda in Iraq and quickly took over parts of Syria and Iraq, and instaured a radical interpretation of the Koran. Terrorism spread out and impacted countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States with individuals claiming to be disciples of ISIS.

Despite this negative outcome, young people in the Arab world quickly realized the impact that social media, which is difficult for the government to control, could have on protests and the demand for more rights and freedoms. This part of the world continues to be plagued with corruption and sectarian conflicts, but there is also the hope that, like Tunisia, other Arab countries could one day achieve a peaceful transition away from dictators.

Other books in this series include The Great Recession.

Musnet: Impressions of the Master. Book 2

Kickliy. Musnet: Impressions of the Master. Book 2 of the Musnet series. 2016. 54p. ISBN 978-1-94125013-6. Available in the graphic section of the library.

Musnet pursues his studies of painting, but all is not well at home. First, his home has been hijacked by a spider who attacks him. Rémi continues to slow Musnet’s training down. Mya’s family is being bullied by the rat landlord. Mya is mad that he’s not spending any time with her. And Monet’s cat has closed many of the access points to Giverney, making Musnet’s life harder.

Musnet tackles his spider problem, and he soon realizes that Chiby the Japanese spider is friendly and ready to help him. He’d been gone on vacation for a while, but upon his return had discovered that Musnet had taken over the room. He’s more than willing to share with Musnet. The two intrepid companions intervene when Mya’s father is mousenapped by a red-eyed owl. They develop an effective plan and manage to free him, and Musnet is even able to regain his paints that the owl had stolen in the first book.

The relationship with Rémi is harder to mend. Clinging to his classical style, Rémi is upset to discover that Musnet continues to take lessons by observing Monet. He gives him an ultimatum: classical, or impressionism, but not both. He also breaks Musnet’s brush. Rémi is not well, however, and Musnet soon discovers that the old master is dying ...

Tumble & Blue

Beasley, Cassie. Tumble & Blue. 2017. 390p. ISBN 978-0-525-42844-2. Available at FIC BEA on the library shelves.

Blue Montgomery is a loser. Not in the metaphorical way, in the real world way of losing at everything. Blue always manages to lose any game or activity he participates in, even if it is a one-player game. His father, by contrast, is a winner and never loses. A car racer by profession, Blue’s father is always on the move, looking for another race. This year, however, he decides to drop off Blue at his grandmother’s house in on the edge of the Okefenokee swamp in Georgia. Abandoned in Murky Branch (population 340), Blue discovers that the Montgomerys have been cursed. An ancestor decades ago entered the swamp on a red moon and made a pact with a strange golden alligator named Munch. But the wish went wrong. Half of the Montgomerys are blessed with abilities or talents that make them the envy of the world. The other half? Their talents are deadly, obnoxious, or, like Blue and losing, completely dangerous to their lives.

Now the red moon arises again, and Montgomerys from all over the world are congregating once again in the hopes of being the one to whom Munch will give a wish. Blue finds himself in the frenzy that plagues his grandmother’s house as more and more relatives arrive. Trying to escape them all, he runs into Tumble, a girl who has moved down the street. Her parents are renting a small cabin but Tumble has decided to continue living in their RV. Upon seeing Blue, Tumble makes the decision to save him from his curse. For, you see, Tumble herself follows Maximal Star’s advice to always be the hero. Let the heroing begin!

As they learn more about the curse, Tumble and Blue realize that it will not be as easy as they thought to rid Blue of his bad fate. Great-grandmother Myrtle Montgomery is the only one that knows exactly when the red moon will occur, and she’s making everyone entertain her before she tells her handpicked choice the time. With no hope of being picked, Blue must discover how he can transform himself from a loser to a winner without depending on a mythical golden alligator. But what if that alligator really did exist?

Lyrical and beautifully written, Blue and Tumble’s adventures through the small town of Murky Branch show that fate is never fixed and can always be altered, with a little help from friends and family.

The Haunted House Project

Clasen, Tricia. The Haunted House Project. 2017. 215p. ISBN 978-1-5107-0712-2. Available at FIC CLA on the library shelves.

A year ago, Andie’s mother was hit by a truck and was instantly killed. The tragedy has impacted her family life. Her father has lost his job and is gambling away the insurance settlement. Her older sister Paige now works full time on top of going to school, not so she can afford to go to college but so she can buy groceries for her family. And Andie still miss her mom terribly every day, and her friends have long lost any semblance of commiseration for her and are now just plain annoyed she is no longer the fun free spirited girl she used to be.

At school Andie sees a counselor during the week, sometimes in group sessions, sometimes one on one. Andie is scared that the school counselor will discover how bad her homelife is, and that she will be wrestled from her father, who hasn’t done much fathering in the last year. Still, what you know is better than what you don’t. When she and her partner Isaiah are assigned a project in science, they decide to investigate ghosts. Andie has always read ghost stories, and she often feels like her mother is right here with her. As they discuss the project, a brilliant idea occurs to Andie. What if their project involved faking ghostly communication? Could she pull off making it seem like her mother is talking to Paige and to her father? She could document their reactions and keep track of what happens next.

As Andie and Isaiah begin implementing their haunting project, Andie realizes that her mother truly was the glue that held the family together. She sprays her mother’s perfume on the couch. She moves a picture slightly so it is more visible. She changes the television channel and the radio station. All subtle signs, but they all seem to have an impact on her sister and father.

Meanwhile, her own social life is crumbling as her friends, led by beautiful Becky, snub Isaiah and make demands on Andie she can’t fulfill. Plus, what exactly is the nature of her relationship to Isaiah? As she brings back her mother’s memory from the grave, can Andie save herself as well? A well written story about broken family dynamics, readers will appreciate Andie’s efforts at restarting the pulse of her own family and ensuring that it has a future.

We Are Okay

LaCour, Nina. We Are Okay. 2017. 234p. ISBN 978-0-525-42589-2. Available at FIC LAC on the library shelves.

Marin’s single mother died when she was a young child, so she moved in with her grandfather. Living near the beach in San Francisco, Marin met her best friend Mabel in elementary school, and their relationship has over time grown to more than just friendship. During the summer following her graduation, her grandfather dies, which sends Marin into a tailspin. She immediately leaves her house and her possessions to report to college weeks early, and broke contact with everyone including Mabel.

At the beginning of We Are Okay, Marin finds herself alone in her New York college dorm during winter break. Everyone else has left, but she’s got no place to go so she elected to stay behind. With a snow storm coming, Marin is worried, for Mabel, whom she hasn’t seen in five months, tracked her down and is coming to visit her for three days. Three long days where the two of them will be reunited. Marin is anxious. What will they talk about? Will she be able to avoid discussing what led to her hasty departure from San Francisco?

Forced to confront her past and her relationships with her grandfather and Mabel, Marin learns that your family is what you make of it, not what you get when you are born. The isolation caused by winter break and by the storm provides the background for re-examining what it means to be lonely and whether loneliness should be avoided.

Well, That Was Awkward

Vail, Rachel. Well, That Was Awkward. 2017. 314p. 375 mins. ISBN 978-0-670-01308-1. Available at FIC VAI on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Gracie can never be mad, or sad, or angry. Not to her friends, not to herself, and especially not to her parents. Gracie had a sister she never knew. Brett died at the age of 7 when she was hit by a car while playing in the street. After her death her parents moved from Boston to New York, and a few years later Gracie was born. Gracie has always felt the weight of Brett’s absence. The perfect child, Brett was everything Gracie was not. As the new child, Gracie tries to emulate Brett, but it’s hard to live up to her parents’ expectations. Not wanting to disappoint them, she tries to be happy all the time.

When the subjects of death, sisters, or siblings comes up, Gracie always try to steer the conversation away from the topic. It’s during one of those conversations that Gracie notices that A.J. has become extremely good looking, enough to stop her from breathing. What happened? Lovable A.J. has turned into the most attractive boy at her school, and now Gracie is completely smitten. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers that A.J. is more interested in Sienna, her best friend, than in her. Disappointed, Gracie is nonetheless happy to help Sienna begin a texting relationship with A.J. Helped with best friend Emmett, they manage to get the two of them together.

But sometimes, being the supportive friend who’s always second is not good enough. And this is one of those times. As Gracie gets ready to turn 14, twice as old as Brett, she’s feeling the winds of change. It’s time for Gracie to face the music, and realize that she has the right to be angry and sad sometimes, and that she always deserves happiness, even if that means being her own awkward person and not someone else.

Buddha Boy

Koja, Kathe. Buddha Boy. 2003. 128p. ISBN 9780142402092. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

When Justin first sees Michael, he finds him rather odd. Not wearing a coat in winter, and begging for food in the cafeteria, Michael, who goes by the name Jinsen but who is mocked and called Buddha Boy by the other students, approaches life with the thoughts of being at peace with the universe. Justin doesn’t get it. Why is Jinsen always smiling, despite the insults and physical abuse other students hurl at him?

Then the worst happens. Justin is paired with Jinsen during economics. They are to work together on a game. Jinsen invites Justin over to his house to work on their project, and Justin discovers that Jinsen lives in a nice house and owns more art supplies than Justin has ever seen. Very artistic, Jinsen designs the visual elements of the game, while Justin creates the paper. Impressed by Jinsen’s art, Justin tells him he should join art class. Jinsen does so, and joins Justin’s table, much to the dismay of his friends.

As Justin gets to know Jinsen, he realizes that the boy is both talented and deeply committed to his faith. Justin begins to question himself on the value of faith and belief. He witnesses Jinsen being abused by other students on more than one occasion, but Jinsen always keeps a smile on his face. However, every instance of bullying challenges Justin to be more than a bystander. With his friendship with Jinsen deepening, Justin finds himself having to make a tough decision. Should he continue to remain quiet so he better fit in the social structure of his school, or should he stand up for someone who is so different but whose personality is such a ray of warm sunshine in an otherwise dreary life?

Friends and faith mix really well in this beautifully written book about the power of one individual to change the lives of many people. Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy exploring the world of Justin’s high school and the drama that Jinsen refuses to participate in.

See You in the Cosmos

Cheng, Jack. See You in the Cosmos. 2017. 316p. ISBN 978-0-399-18637-0. Available at FIC CHE on the library shelves.

Alex Petroski is fascinated by space. He loves stars and rockets, and his an active participant on Rocketforum.org, where he knows all of the other participants. He loves his dog, named after the famed astronomer Dr. Carl Sagan. He loves his older brother, who works in Los Angeles as a sports agent, and his mother, who has good days and bad days, but mostly bad days. At eleven, Alex wants to do is to replicate Dr. Sagan’s exploit of creating a golden record containing all sort of information on Earth, then sending it to space on Voyager back in 1977. He’s built a rocket, and he plans on attending SHARF (Southwest High Altitude Rocket Festival) in New Mexico so he can fire it up in the sky, along with a golden iPod on which he has been recording his thoughts.

Accompanied by Carl Sagan, Alex leaves a bunch of ready to eat meals for his mother, who rarely comes out of her bedroom, and heads out to New Mexico on a train from his hometown in Colorado. He meets Zed, a man who has made a vow of silence and communicates with a chalkboard and who is also heading to SHARF. Since the train is late, Alex agrees to go with Zed and Steve to the festival site. There, Alex manages to fire his rocket in the C competition, but it doesn’t go very far. Steve and Zed do their best to comfort Alex, but he perks up when he discover that there is a match for his father in Las Vegas. Alex and Ronnie’s father died eight years ago, and no one really talk about him. When Alex did a family project in school, he used Ancestry.com and left some contact information if anyone else was looking around, and lo and behold there is someone with the same name, birthdate and death date a state away. Steve and Zed agree to take him to Vegas to find out more about his father. As Alex’s adventures continue, he will realize that sometimes what you are looking for is right at home.

Told through transcribed recordings, Alex has the responsibility level of a 13-year-old, as he likes to point out, but he’s also incredibly naive and talkative, often repeating himself. Though not addressed until the end, his mother’s sickness and his brother’s absence from his life overshadow everything that Alex does. The discovery of a half sister increased the size of his family, and the many contacts he makes during his trip turn into friends that help him grow and deal with his mother’s schizophrenia. Alex, who often thought he was alone, has a bigger family and way more friends than he ever thought.

Macbeth

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. 2005. 210p. 138 mins. ISBN 0-300-10654-8 . Available at 822.3 SHA on the library shelves and as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Following their great victory over the forces of Norway and Ireland, general Macbeth and his friend Banquo travel through woods when they are confronted by three witches. These witches predict that Macbeth will become King of Scotland, while Banquo will not reach as high yet will be much happier, and his own son will be royalty. Macbeth doubts the witches’ pronouncement, yet when he is proclaimed Thain by King Duncan as a reward for valor in the recent war, he realizes that the witches’ prediction will come true. Not content to wait for the crown, Macbeth conspires with his wife, Lady Macbeth, to kill King Duncan and seize the throne.

Now worried about his own fragile position, Macbeth turns on Banquo and slays his friend. Banquo returns and haunts Macbeth, causing him to lose face in front of his lords and nobles. Meeting with the witches once more, Macbeth is goaded into eliminating yet more enemies, killing entire castles in the hope of securing his throne. Those who survive regroup and launch an assault on Scotland with a multinational force. In an ultimate confrontation, Macbeth is killed and beheaded, while Lady Macbeth commits suicide.

Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, Macbeth illustrates the perils that naked ambition generates in the hearts of men. A classic of Western literature, Macbeth continues to be read and studied for the lessons that it imparts.

Nimona

Stevenson, Noelle. Nimona. 2015. 266p. ISBN 978-0-06-227824-1. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

The kingdom has been kept safe from supervillains by the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, who enforces actions against vigilantes and villains alike. Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin is the posterboy for the Institution, beloved by all and always ready to serve and protect. Lord Ballister Blackheart trained with Goldenloin many years ago, but following a joust he lost an arm to the good knight. Ever since then he has vowed revenge on Goldenloin and on the Institution.

When Nimona shows up on his doorstep, Blackheart doesn’t know what to do with her. She looks way too young to be a sidekick. Soon, however, he realizes that Nimona is a shapeshifter who’s very interested in villainy. He takes her on, and together they plan to bring down the Institution, for it is in fact not so much concerned to protect the kingdom as to rather control it. Nimona is useful and determined, but her lack of villainous etiquette means many civilians are getting hurt. As Blackheart’s plan moves forward, casualties are mounting and he learns more about Nimona and her dark past, he realizes that Nimona powers and abilities come at a cost that might exceed what he’s willing to pay.

Originally a web comic, Nimona and Blackheart’s tale is engaging and provides a different look at villains being the “heroes” of the tale. Blackheart’s dark castle is balanced by the colorful sceneries of the town. Blackheart, Goldenloin and Nimona share similar characteristics and their relationships become complicated as the story progresses. Fans of fantasy and of villains will appreciate this tale of destruction and redemption.

The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories

Pratchett, Terry. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories. 2017. 256p. 235 mins. ISBN 9780062653116. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

How annoyed would a witch be if her vacuum cleaner was mistaken for something other than her mode of transportation? What if small people build a submarine and ended up floating all the way to the sea? What if a random encounter for directions turned into an airship adventure of a lifetime? These tales and more fill the pages of this humorous book. A total of fourteen different stories, some of them featuring recurring characters, showcase the light fantasy settings Pratchett was well known for, including his exploration of the Old West … of Britain, meaning Wales, time travel both back a few hundred years and all the way to the time of dinosaurs, and the tales of fantastic creatures including trolls and gnomes.

At age seventeen, Terry Pratchett sold his first story. While a journalist for a local newspaper, he continued to write and improve his craft. The Witch’s Vacuum Cleaner and Other Stories feature fourteen of his early tales, which have been experienced minor updates. The audio version is well engineered and feature sound effects that enhance the narrator’s delivery of voices and setting. Fans of Pratchett’s work as well as light fantasy will enjoy these tales of wizardry and magic.

Pretty

Sayre, Justin. Pretty. 2017. 222p. ISBN 978-0-448-48417-4. Available at FIC SAY on the library shelves.

At thirteen, Sophie has already experienced more abuse and worries than most kids. Her parents are divorced. Her White father is French and lives in Paris. Janet, her Black mother lives with Sophie in Brooklyn, and is a fashion editor. But she’s also a drunk, and for years Sophie has suffered in silence as Janet drinks herself into oblivion every night. Some nights Janet makes it to bed okay. Most nights Janet passes out before landing in her bed. Sometimes Janet gets violent and hits Sophie. Always Janet berates Sophie for not being good enough. Sophie lives in fear of the bad days and counts her blessing every time her mother makes it by herself to her bed. Sophie always manages to escape early in the morning and makes her way to school with her friend Ducks.

Following a particularly violent encounter, Sophie attends school and hangs out with her friend Allegra, who’s very interested in boys, especially Brian. Ryan, Brian’s friend, shows some interest in Sophie, but she’s not sure how to reciprocate or even whether she’s actually interested. When she returns home that night, she finds that her aunt Amara, a successful university professor, has moved in and Janet has left on a trip for an undetermined period of time. Suddenly Sophie doesn’t have to worry about her mother passing out, or hitting her. But her aunt also has expectations. She wants Sophie to tell her about her school day. She supervises homework. She takes Sophie to church. And as restrictive as her aunt’s way of parenting feels, it also feels comforting.

With a more stable home environment, Sophie can now fully focus herself on her school life. It’s complicated with Allegra, who seems to hold against Sophie the fact that she is pretty. She’s not certain whether she likes Ryan, but he sure talks about himself a lot and never asks questions about her own life. Her friends Ellen and Ducks are there for her, but is she there for them? Through Janet’s absence, Sophie will discover what it means to be true to herself.