The Grand Escape

Bascomb, Neal. The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th Century. 2018. 275p. ISBN 978-1-33814034-7. Available at 940.4 BAS on the library shelves.

During the First World War, captured soldiers were interned in prisoners of war camps. The first duty of a confined soldier was to attempt to escape and rejoin friendly forces. The escape of one or more individual consumed an inordinate amount of resources and manpower for the jailers, which detracted from the war effort. Those soldiers who repeatedly escaped and were captured became known as escape artists, and were sent to the prison camp of Holzminden, reputed to be unescapable.

By 1917, some Allied soldiers had been POWs for over two years. Many were itching to escape and rejoin the fight, especially considering the poor treatment they were receiving from their German guards. In Holzminden, a high concentration of soldiers with previous attempts at escaping made such an attempt all but a certainty. A plan was hatched to dig a tunnel from the officers' barracks to the outside, digging under walls, barb wires, and guards, with the mouth of the tunnel emerging in a rye field.

It took months of planning and digging to secure 60 yards of tunnel, but by July 1918, with the rye harvest only days away, it was time for the escapees to go. This large of an operation had created some rumors around camp, but the Germans never managed to discover the tunnel and the people involved in it. On July 24th, during a dark and stormy night, officers crawled through the tunnel and managed to escape the prison before the tunnel collapsed. In the morning the tunnel entrance was discovered, and roll call revealed that 29 officers had escaped.

Though many were re-captured, ten officers successfully evaded the Germans' search efforts and managed to return to the United Kingdom through Holland. A great nonfiction book, The Grand Escape showcases one of the most daring escape attempt in history! Fans of the First World War will appreciate this little known aspect of the conflict.

Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules

Cliff, Tony. Delilah Dirk and the Pillars of Hercules. Book 3 of the Delilah Dirk series. 2018. 247p. ISBN 978-1-62672-804-2 . Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

In Delilah Dirk and the King's Shilling, Delilah and Selim made a powerful enemy in Major Jason Merrick, who planned to sell the United Kingdom to the French. Humiliated, Merrick withdrew to France and awaits his chance to avenge himself. An opportunity soon presents itself when he discovers the tales of the female daredevil and her companion, as documented by a Dutchman journalist.

Following her adventures in Europe, Delilah headed back to the Middle East and quickly becomes involved in a quest to discover the third pillar of Hercules, a fabled city built somewhere around the Mediterranean that could provide command of this once Roman sea to the first country to claim it. Aided by able and rational Selim, and by a self-promoting journalist, Delilah and her companions criss-cross the Mediterranean world in search of hints that will reveal the location of this secret city.

Archaeological investigations can be dangerous, however, and the closer they get to the city, the closer they get to Merrick ...

Fans of Indiana Jones and adventure capers will love this third book in the Delilah series.

The Unicorn Quest

Benko, Kamilla. The Unicorn Quest. Book 1 of The Unicorn Quest series. ISBN 978-1-68119-245-1. Available at FIC BEN on the library shelves.

Claire Martinson and her older sister Sophie move into Windermere Manor, their great aunt’s following her disappearance. An explorer who traveled the world, their aunt vanished without a trace, and the Martinsons inherited a house that is more museum than residence. Stretching over an inordinate amount of rooms, the house is filled with souvenirs and items that were acquired during their great aunt’s travels. The tasks of cataloging and moving the estate helps Claire forget that last year her sister almost did not survive a mysterious illness akin to cancer.

While exploring Claire loses Sophie, and finds her climbing a ladder she discovered in a chimney. Claire joins her, but is worried as the light dims and vanishes. When they emerge out of a dry well into a different land, Claire and Sophie find themselves attacked by a monster. They quickly return to their own world, and Claire makes Sophie swear she will never return. Claire eventually has to climb the chimney when it becomes obvious that Sophie lied and has returned to that magical land.

Back out of the well, Claire is captured by members of one of the four magical guilds that live in the land of Arden, and she’s accused of stealing a magical unicorn artifact. Unfortunately, it is a case of mistaken identity as they are confusing her with Sophie. With Sophie in trouble, Claire is joined by friends who have their own reasons for chasing the unicorn relic. Will they be able to save Sophie and discover the secret of the unicorns’ power?

The Truth Behind Soft Drinks

Quinlan, Julia J. and Adam Furgang. The Truth Behind Soft Drinks. Part of the From Factory to Table: What You're Really Eating series. 2018. 48p. ISBN 978-1-47778992-6. Available at 663.62 QUI on the library shelves.

Over the last fifty years, soft drinks have evolved from an expensive treat seldom consumed to an ubiquitous beverage consumed by billions of people. Brand names like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have become part of the cultural lexicon everywhere. But soft drinks, which displaced healthier drinks like milk and water, have contributed to worldwide epidemic of obesity striking rich and poor countries alike.

This book reveals how soft drinks are made. Emphasis is placed on the fact that there are over ten teaspoons of sugar in every can of regular soft drinks, while diet drinks contain ingredients known to cause cancer. From acid to benzene, the list of ingredients contained in soft drinks represent a chemical nightmare, yet people continue to consume soft drinks. Health issues related to consuming soft drinks are explored, possible consequences are advanced.

A warned consumer is always better than someone who doesn't know. If you like soft drinks, read this book to know what it is you consume!

Other books in this series include:

• The Truth Behind Manufactured Foods
• The Truth Behind GMOs
• The Truth Behind Antibiotics, Pesticides, and Hormones
• The Truth Behind Snack Foods
• The Truth Behind Factory Foods

World War II

Alisha Bains, Ed. World War II. Part of the Political and Diplomatic History of the Modern World. 2017. 306p. ISBN 978-1-68048-360-4. Available at 940.4 WOR on the library shelves.

The end of the First World War, which concluded with an armistice and not a capitulation, only masked the pent-up European resentment and anger for another generation. Weimar Germany's government structures were not able to successfully implant themselves following harsh peace terms, and the economic crisis of the 1930s brought the Nazis to power. Bent on German expansion and motivated by racist ideology, the Nazis quickly rearmed Germany and positioned themselves to effectively bully their neighbors. Unfettered by France, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, the Nazis assembled a greater Germany. Too late did the Western allies decide to oppose Germany, and when the Germans attacked Poland, Europe became engulfed in war.

In the Pacific, meanwhile, Japan had emerged victorious from the ashes of the First World War, and had expanded its colonial reach. Wishing to acquire more resources, the Japanese invaded and conquered parts of China. Witnessing France and the United Kingdom's weaknesses in their fighting against the Germans, the Japanese invaded European colonies in Asia and seized valuable resources. Inevitably, the United States was drawn into the conflict after a surprise Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.

Over the course of six years, untold death and destruction plagued the world. Death camps were discovered. Major tank battles were fought, and entire cities were obliterated through aerial bombardment. World War II explores the events that led to the Second World War. Organized chronologically and geographically, major battles, events and issues are presented. History buffs will appreciate the conciseness of this volume on the war that redefined Europe and the world.

Black Butler, Vol. 17

Toboso, Yana. Black Butler, Vol. 17. 2014. 155p. ISBN 978-0-316-37670-9. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Ciel Phantomhive's investigation in the disappearance of several well-to-do students from the elite Weston school has been stymied at every turn, so in Black Butler, Vol. 16 he came up with an elaborate ruse to finally meet the enigmatic headmaster. This required Blue House, of which he is a member, to win the fabled cricket championship held on June 4th. Blue House defeated its first rival and ended up in the championship against Green House. But then Sebastian ended up chasing the Headmaster, leaving Ciel and his team to compete without supernatural assistance.

Fortunately, Ciel and his team have been training and are using their knowledge of physics and math, and manage to triumph over the much more athletic Green House. Meanwhile, despite Sebastian's powers, he is unable to catch up to the Headmaster, and realizes that the Headmaster is more powerful than a mere human being.

Winning the championship allows Ciel to secure a spot at the Midnight Tea Party, where he finally meets the Headmaster. He announces his purpose in being at Weston, and one of the missing students is produced. Unfortunately, he is now one of the walking dead, similar to those who were aboard the Campania. Who is this mysterious headmaster?

The story continues in Black Butler, Vol 18.

The Splintered Light

Johnson, Ginger. The Splintered Light. 2018. 404p. ISBN 978-1-68119-623-7. Available at FIC JOH on the library shelves.

Ishmael lives in a gray world. His life has been drab since twin tragedies struck his family. His father died when the well he was digging collapsed, while Luc, his older  brother, disappeared shortly afterwards. Life is always the same on their farm, and consists of hard work and too little food. His world completely changes when Ishmael catches glimpses of a strange color on one of the stall of the barn. With possibilities of a better world out there, Ishmael decides to leave the farm and search for his brother to bring him back home.

A door in a stone wall outside his village takes him to a new world, the Commons. The Commons is the space where all other worlds are created, and every sense is represented in a Hall. Ishmael finds his brother in the Hall of Hues, where all color apprentices reside. Other Halls include the Hall of Gustation, the Hall of Motions, and the Hall of Shapes. When the Commons produce a new door, one apprentice from each Hall are appointed to work together to create a new world, and will be it first residents. Luc has just completed his new world, and is ready to become one of the founders. Unfortunately, Ishmael causes Luc to miss the gate closing on his new world. Luc is now worldless, a condition that has never happened in the history of the Commons.

As Luc falls deeper in despair, Ishmael is appointed by the Hall of Hues to color a Jubilee World, an occasion that happens only once every twenty-five years. Angry at not being selected, Luc is determined to undermine the efforts of his brother’s team. Ishmael himself remains conflicted between returning home to help his mother, and heading out into this new world when it is finished. Facing demands from his past and an uncertain future with an increasingly irrational brother, Ishmael must decide whether a world with colors is worth sacrificing his old life.

The Splintered Light offers a unique fantasy world building by allowing Ishmael and his friends to build their own world. Fans of fantasy will appreciate the well-defined environment in which the Commons’ apprentices operate and the depth of details required to build a successful world.

World War I: A Political and Diplomatic History of the Modern World

Mann, Tara L., ed. World War I: A Political and Diplomatic History of the Modern World. 2017. 290p. ISBN 978-1-68048-359-8. Available at 940.3 WOR on the library shelves.

European nations have always felt threatened by their neighbors. In the early 1900s, this fear of the other led nations to ally themselves in two large blocks, the Triple Entente of France, the United Kingdom and Russia, and the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Both groups were designed to protect members from the other groups. The assassination of the heir to Austria-Hungary in 1914 sparks a war that all projects to be short, but that was anything but. Over the course of four years, millions of soldiers and civilians died, empires collapsed, and military bureaucracies emerged the wring out ever more efficiencies out of the state at the expense of the citizens.

Tensions had been building before, however, and remained even after the conflict was concluded. World War I provides an excellent summary of the war, its causes, and the changed face of Europe and the world when soldiers finally emerged out of the trenches. The war's major events are covered, with a focus on the technologies that changed the battlefield and the human costs associated with such a long and dramatic conflict. It revises the notion that Germany was stabbed in the back by its civilian leadership and allocates faults with all participants, though some more than others. Fans of history will appreciate the extensive details and the shape of relations between these nations throughout this period of history.

Wuthering Heights

Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. 2004. 444p. 895 mins. ISBN 0-7434-8764-8. Available at FIC BRO on the library shelves, as well as an eBook and an audiobook from Overdrive.

A young and rich lad, Lockwood needs a vacation from his busy life in the South of England, so he rents a house in Yorkshire. Desiring to pay his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, Lockwood heads to Wuthering Heights, a lonely farmhouse in the foggy and damp moorlands. Upon his arrival, he discovers Heathcliff has surrounded himself with his miserable daughter-in-law, mean-spirited servants, and a lonesome youth.

A startled and sick Lockwood then hears the story of what happened at Wuthering Heights from his housekeeper Nelly, who was once the housekeeper of Mr. Earnshaw, the previous owner of Lockwood’s residence. She recounts how Heathcliff was adopted by Earnshaw and fell in love with his daughter Catherine, and how he was abused by Catherine’s brother, Hindley. Believing that Catherine did not love him back, because who could love someone so wretched as he, Heathcliff leaves the moors, much to Catherine’s dismay for she did in fact love him.

Heathcliff returns years later a richer man, determined to wreck the lives of those who mistreated him. Using his wealth and influence, Heathcliff begins to undermine the relationships of those around him, forcing Catherine’s daughter into an unhappy marriage with his weak son, and stealing her fortune. However, Heathcliff is never truly alone, with his own demons and the ghost of Catherine haunting the moors.

A psychologically violent novel centered on the selfishness of all concerned, Wuthering Heights remains a great literary example of a complex plot designed to exact revenge. Fans will also enjoy The Count of Monte Cristo, where a similarly wronged individual implements deadly steps to avenge himself.

Common Core Standards in diverse classrooms : essential practices for developing academic language and disciplinary literacy.

Zwiers, Jeff, Susan O'Hara and Robert Pritchard. Common Core Standards in diverse classrooms : essential practices for developing academic language and disciplinary literacy. 2014. 288p. ISBN 978-1-57110-997-2. Available at PRO 428 ZWI on the library shelves

The adoption of the Common Core State Standards implemented significant changes in education, including a progression of learning standards from kindergarten to 12th grade. These standards were designed to ensure that students acquired the skills necessary to be proficient in college or at work. Students must now learn more academically rigorous language and demonstrate their knowledge through creativity, criticism, and communication across all of the academic disciplines. These new demands can be intimidating for students, and even more so for English language learners, who must struggle both with acquiring a new language while at the same time mastering concepts and standards.

Common Core Standards in diverse classrooms : essential practices for developing academic language and disciplinary literacy proposes seven teaching methods identified through research to assist all academic language learners in meeting the Common Core State Standards, whether they be proficient in English or not. The ultimate goal of each method is to promote and accelerate the growth of their communication skills to allow them to be more successful academically. These methods can be used daily by teachers in any grade or discipline to develop better communication. Numerous examples of application in the classroom are provided, along with helpful rubrics and concrete examples of implementation.

Professionals will appreciate the breath and width of techniques and modeling provided and will be able to enhance their own practice by becoming more inclusive with all language learners, not just English natives.

The Divided Earth

Hicks, Faith Erin. The Divided Earth. Book 3 of The Nameless City series. 2018. 265p. ISBN 978-1-62672-160-9. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following the assassination of the General of All Blades by Erzi, his own son, in The Stone Heart, Kaidu and Rat had to find shelter in the Nameless City, while Kaidu's father, a Dao general named Andren, barely escaped the purge with his life. The monastery was burned down, and the monks' secret, the power the ancients used to blow a tunnel through the mountain, fell into Erzi's hands.

As a Yisun force moves on the city, Erzi is desperate to unleash the explosive recipe contained in the book, and plans on deploying it against them. His faithful servant, Mura, however, plans to release the secret formula to everyone so that the entire world becomes engulfed in the flames of war. Thinking they have some time, Kai and Rat come up with a plan to infiltrate the palace and steal the book back, but unfortunately they are too late, and Napatha weapons are used against the first wave of attackers.

Meanwhile, Andren and the monk Joah are captured by Dao forces led by Andren's wife Kata. He convinces her of the need to conclude an alliance with the besieging Yisun forces to prevent further bloodshed in the Nameless City and to implement the Council of Nations he had suggested in the Nameless City.

With two forces facing each other, and with the prospect of destruction, can Kai and Rat prevent the city's past secret from being used to destroy it? Read the exciting conclusion to the Nameless City series!

Scream Site

Ireland, Justina. Scream Site. 2018. 261p. ISBN 9781630791025. Available at FIC IRE on the library shelves.

A freshman in high school, Sabrina desperately wants to be an investigative reporter. She hopes to earn an internship at the local newspaper, and she works closely with her English teacher to craft a piece that will amaze the editors, but the only topics she currently has either deal with fluff or are meaningless drivel. Her friend Evelyn suggests she looks into one of the most popular website, Scream Site, Sabrina is at first dubious. Who would ever care about his horror site? When Evelyn mentions that there have been rumors of local users disappearing after posting their videos, Sabrina is intrigued.

Exploring Scream Site, Sabrina discovers that one the most most active creator of horror clips is Shady99. She also notices that everytime a video becomes more popular than Shady99’s multiple offerings, that person soon goes missing, and people wearing the same clothes and shoes begin to appear in Shady99’s scary flicks. The police are not interested in investigating, as the teens that vanished are over 18 and probably left for California. When she comes across a new video posted by her older sister Faith, Sabrina freaks out. Can she use the information she’s unearthed on Shady99 to track him in time to rescue her sister?

A well-paced thriller featuring suspense appropriate for middle schools, Scream Site will be enjoyed by those who like their fear administered with a light touch. For a similar location of a run-down and closed amusement park, consider Closed for the Season.

Little monsters: The Creatures that Live on Us and in Us

Marrin, Albert. Little monsters: The Creatures that Live on Us and in Us. 2016. 200p. ISBN 978-1-51810598-2. Available as an ebook on Overdrive.

They may be very small, and for many invisible to the naked eye, but parasites of all kinds dwell on us and in us, making us sick, and in some cases, killing us. Some of the most disgusting critters, parasites have always existed, and afflict us in different ways. Even parasites have their own parasites. This book explores several parasites that continue to be the bane of humans, including bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes, and lice, which all cause itching and irritation. Other parasites, such as worms and leeches, can seriously incommodate humans. Deadlier still are diseases that are transmitted through these parasites, such as malaria and the plague.

This short book describes the impacts that parasites have had on humans, from providing some healing in the case of maggots which eat dead skin, to the death of billions from diseases. It explains how parasites attack us, what their effects are, and how we can get rid of them. Images show each parasite. Fans of medicine and those who enjoy being creeped out will appreciate the content of this book. For everyone else, you're better off not knowing.

Wonderland

O’Connor, Barbara. Wonderland. 2018. 282p. ISBN 978-0-374-31060-8. Available at FIC OCO on the library shelves.

Mavis would love to have one best friend. She and her mother has been moving from place to place so often that they don’t even bother to unpack. Her mother is always looking for the next opportunity, and usually it never works out. When they move to Landry, Alabama, so that her mother can become a housekeeper to the Tullys and live in an apartment above their garage, Mavis is once again expecting another move in short order.

Rose Tully is the complete opposite of Mavis. Where Mavis is bold and decisive, Rose flies below the radar and avoids confrontations. She’s never had a best friend either, and she is keenly aware that the other girls in the neighborhood either ignore her or are downright mean. Her only real friend is Mr. Duffy, who mans the checkpoint to their gated community. But Mr. Duffy hasn’t been the same since his dog died, and even Rose can tell that he’s lost the will to live.

Henry is a race dog whose better days are behind him. Not wanting to be confined, Henry escapes from the race track and lives in the woods behind Rose and Mavis’ neighborhood. He’s attracted to kids, but he is worried they mean him harm.

Thrown together, Mavis and Rose suddenly discover that it is possible to become best friends with someone, especially when they share the mission to help Mr. Duffy regain a taste for life by finding him another dog. Challenges and misunderstandings abound, but friendship is stronger and can overcome loneliness.

The Truth Behind Antibiotics, Pesticides, and Hormones

Smundak, Katharina. The Truth Behind Antibiotics, Pesticides, and Hormones. Part of the From Factory to Table: What You’re Really Eating series. 2018. 48p. ISBN 978-1-4994-3922-9. Available at 615.32 SMU on the library shelves.

Since the 1950s, the world’s food production has increased dramatically, outpacing the growth in total population and enabling billions of people to be fed. This increase is due in part to modern antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones, which have allowed faster growth in plants and animals alike. Unfortunately, these modern tools are also negatively influencing the environment, leading some to wonder whether we should continue to use them in our food supply.

Used to treat illnesses caused by bacteria, antibiotics were first developed to help humans, but quickly were adapted to treat animals. An over reliance on and over prescription of antibiotics has meant that there are now several bacteria which are resistant to treatment. This resistance threatens humans by removing one avenue of healing. Pesticides were developed to kill bugs and other pests that infect plants and animals, but their spreading ensure that they are present in the food chain through bigger animals eating smaller ones, and they end up in human diets Hormones occur naturally in the body, but can be manipulated to increase the growth rate. Traces of these hormones then transfer to humans through eating, and may lead to a decrease in the age at which puberty starts, especially for girls.

Anyone concerned about the food supply should read this book to discover how these aids to agriculture and food production are affecting not only what we eat, but our own bodies as well.

Other books in this series include:

• The Truth Behind Manufactured Foods
• The Truth Behind GMOs
• The Truth Behind Soft Drinks
• The Truth Behind Snack Foods
• The Truth Behind Factory Foods

Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 8

Asagiri, Kafka. Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 8. 2018. 173 p. ISBN 978-0-316-46820-6. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

With the Armed Detective Agency and the Port Mafia both under attack by skilled members of the Guild, Atshushi proposed in Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 7 that the Agency's president should meet with the leadership of the mafia and derive an alliance, or at the very least an understanding so that they can work together against the Guild. Faced with the likely destruction of Yokohama, the leadership of both organizations agrees to meet.

The conversation between Port Mafia boss Ougai Mori and Agency president Yukichi Fukuzawa do not go well, however, as neither side is willing to trust the other. With the failure of Atshushi's plan, Dazai, as an ex-member of the Port Mafia, decides to infiltrate the Guild and retrieve the troublesome Q, who was captured in the previous episode. The Mafia, still seeing the value of an alliance, sends Chuuya to assist. The two of them are confronted by Lovecraft, who reveals himself to be more powerful than either of them expected...

Meanwhile, the Guild plans on crashing Moby Dick, its floating base, on Yokohama and simply incinerate the entire city. Atshushi volunteers for the assignment of infiltrating Moby Dick and preventing its destruction, but once on board he is confronted by Port Mafia killer Akutagawa. The two of them have had previous violent interactions, and Moby Dick may not be big enough to survive their encounter ...

The story continues in Bungo Stray Dogs, Vol. 9.

The Forbidden Temptation of Baseball

Jones Yang, Dori. The Forbidden Temptation of Baseball. 2017. 241p. ISBN 978-1-943006-33-5. Available as an eBook from Overdrive.

Woo Ka-Leong and his brother are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. The Emperor of China has decided that in order to modernize his country, promising students must go abroad and learn English and technical skills in the United States, before returning to China with advanced degrees to guide the country into the modern age. After studying English in Shanghai for a year, the two brothers and a contingent of about 30 other students head East across the Pacific, then on a train from San Francisco to Hartford. Along the way, the train is robbed, but Elder brother stops them from stealing their gold.

In wintry New England, the students realize that America is very different than what they learned. Welcomed into the Swann’s home, Leon adapts well to his new life, but Elder Brother doesn’t. Leon becomes intrigued by the game of baseball when he discovers the glove of the Swann’s only son, Owen, who died in a tragic accident a year earlier. That accident also incapacitated Miss Charlotte, the Swann’s youngest daughter. He’s also fascinated by trains and steam engines.

Taught by Miss Julia, the Swann’s oldest daughter, the two Chinese boys are often reunited with others in their educational mission, but always return to their foster home. Leon learns how to play baseball, and joins the local team. As Elder Brother’s moods continue to descend into depression and anger, Leon’s progresses quickly in English. With school entrance exams and baseball playoffs coming soon, Leon’s and Elder Brother’s acculturation to American society will be severely tested, and they will need to decide whether they wish to pursue their education or uphold their Chinese traditions.

A great historical novel, The Forbidden Temptation of Baseball presents details of life in the late 19th century New England, as well as the perspective of someone trying to learn the language and adapt to a new society. Fans of history and those interested by recent immigration debates will appreciate how alienation and integration can often go hand in hand.

Homesteading and Settling the Frontier

Morretta, Alison. Homesteading and Settling the Frontier. Part of the Primary Sources of Westward Expansion. 2018. 64p. ISBN 978-1-5026-2641-7. Available at 978.02 MOR on the library shelves.

The Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican War added a significant amount of territory to the United States, stretching the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. As a result, a significant amount of land ended up in the federal government’s hands. Eager to encourage settlers to populate this area, Congress passed the Homestead Act in 1862, during the Civil War, to ensure that anyone over 18 could claim up to 160 acres of land, including women and freed slaves.

Most fertile lands were grabbed by speculators and railroad companies, yet over 1.6 million claims were filed with the Federal Government, for land stretching over 420,000 square miles west of the Mississippi River. This created a rush for land, as people headed west in the thousands. Traveling was difficult, however, due to weather, diseases, and Native Americans who resisted the taking of their land. Once there, settlers had to also contend with primitive living conditions and a lack of lumber. Houses were built out of sod and hay. Equipment and supplies were expensive.

Though life was hard, many found freedom in the west. Women could own property and work the land. Ex-slaves could too. Women anchored the new communities, creating social groups and providing education to children. They received the right to vote earlier than their Eastern counterparts, as their contributions to society were recognized. Other consequences, however, were negative, such as the removal of Native Americans to reservations away from the best land, and the butchering of most bison.

Fans of history will appreciate the portrait of life on the prairie and the influence it had on the development of the United States.

Books in the Primary Sources of Westward Expansion series include Native American Resistance, Homesteading and Settling the Frontier, The Gold Rush, The Transcontinental Railroad, Lewis and Clark and Exploring the Louisiana Purchase, and Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War.

Breakout

Messner, Kate. Breakout. 2018. 448p. ISBN 978-1-68119-536-0. Available at FIC MES on the library shelves.

Every teen in the small community of Wolf Creek, in upper New York, is looking forward to summer vacation. With only a few days of school left, Nora Tucker and her friends are already imagining the lazy days of swimming at the pool, eating popsicles, and enjoying the many hiking opportunities around their community. Except two prisoners have just escaped from the maximum security prison located on the edge of town, and now the entire area is on lockdown with hundred of police officers searching the area.

As an aspiring journalist and editor of her school newspaper, Nora is both thrilled and horrified by this brazen escape. Her father is the prison warden, and his job is on the line and times are thus very stressful at home, especially since her younger brother was looking forward to his birthday party barbecue outside, and now it won’t happen. As a journalist, however, this is the opportunity of a lifetime to witness live coverage and learn from the best.

 For Elidee, Wolf Creek is a new place to live. Her mother and her have just moved here so they can be closer to her brother, who has to spend a decade behind the walls of the prison for a crime he committed in New York City. With more inmates in town than people, and with a large majority of the prisoners being African-American, Elidee feels the tensions in town, as one of the few African-Americans outside of the walls. She really wants to attend a prestigious school in New York City, but her application has been rejected.

Lizzie is a great comedian and loves to create parodies, and finds journalism little more than an afterthought. When her grandmother is arrested for helping the inmates escape, her life changes. How does one make light of a terrible decision? As racial aspects of the community that were hidden before are revealed due to the stress, Nora, Elidee and Lizzie have to figure out how they will survive a summer stuck in their now fortified and paranoid town.

 Told through text messages, transcripts of recorded conversations, lyrics, news stories, comics, and memoirs written for the Wolf Creek Community Time Capsule Project, fans of thrillers and friendship will appreciate Breakout.

 

Working the Case: Law Enforcement, Police Work and Police Organizations

Murley, Leon. Working the Case: Law Enforcement, Police Work and Police Organizations. Part of the Law enforcement and intelligence gathering series. 2017. 96p. ISBN 978-1-50810380-6. Available at 363.2 WOR on the library shelves.

Policing has evolved over the last century. What people think of as police work, solving crime and making arrests, are but the tip of what law enforcement actually does. Policing is organized in different ways around the world, with some national jurisdictions being divided into states, counties, and local law enforcement agencies, while others only have a national agency. In the United States, police officers maintain safety and the public order, perform crime prevention, investigate and solve criminal activities, and also conduct certain licensing and regulatory activities such as gun permits and criminal records checks.

In recent years, there have been some controversy regarding policing and its impact on citizens. Movements like Black Lives Matter are challenging traditional methods of law enforcement, while large-scale protests have also caused a rethinking of the way community police themselves. Policing continues to evolve and adapt to the communities they serve. Law enforcement agencies are now also involved in national security issues, with the opportunity to join international police organizations that provide communications and best practices.

Law enforcement will continue to be hotly discussed as technology continues to undermine privacy and provides new tools both to committing and solving crimes.

Titles in this series include:

• To Serve and Protect: The History of Policing
• Police Technology: 21st Century Crime-Fighting Tools
• The Spy Game: International and Military Intelligence
• Working the Case: Law Enforcement, Police Work and Police Organizations

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #8: Hard Luck

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck. Book 8 of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. 2013. 217p. ISBN 978-1-41971132-9. Available at FIC KIN on the library shelves.

Now that Rowley has a girlfriend (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #7: The Third Wheel), Greg Heffley finds himself alone. He has lost his wing man, his homework help, his cursive writer, and the guy who walks in front so that Greg does not step in dog poop. Left to his own devices, Greg has to find a way to survive by himself and avoid going to summer school. That's when he comes up with the best plan. Making decisions is hard, so Greg entrusts his decision making to the 8-ball. Now that he's leading a free-flowing life, Greg can focus on what matters: himself!

Seeker of the Crown

Lauren, Ruth. Seeker of the Crown. Book 2 of the Prisoner of Ice and Snow series. 2018. 282p. ISBN 978-1-68119-133-1. Available at FIC LAU on the library shelves.

Following the escape of Princess Anastasia in Prisoner of Ice and Snow, the Queendom of Demidova is in uproar. Prince Anatol is suspected of having freed his sister from the dungeon, and for the good of the crown Queen Ana banishes him. Accompanied by his trusted guard Nicolai, the two of them leave town. Meanwhile, Valor and Sasha are happy to have escaped their confinement at the infamous Tyur’ma prison, but are still concerned for their friends, Feliks and Katia, who did not receive pardons from Queen Ana and remain wanted criminals.

Desperate to stop her daughter from overthrowing the rightful monarch, Queen Ana asks Valor and Sasha to act as her eyes and ears and track Anastasia and capture her. Unfortunately, the Princess always seems one step ahead of the sisters, and Queen Ana herself vanishes during a public event.

With enemy troops massing on the borders of Demidova and with a regent queen now in charge, Valor and Sasha are even more at risk of being imprisoned for acts of treason to the new queen. Equipped only with determination and steadfast friends, Valor and Sasha will have to use all of their wits to defeat Anastasia and her allies and protect the Queendom of Demidova.

A great sequel to Prisoner of Ice and Snow, this light fantasy features nonstop action and an unforgettable cast of characters.