Hawkeye: Hawkeyes. Vol. 6

Lemire, Jeff. Hawkeye: Hawkeyes. Vol. 6. 2016. 136p. ISBN 978-0-7851-9946-5.

Both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop are much older. Time has passed since Hawkeye, Vol. 5, and their stormy relationship has not aged well. Past mistakes have broken their mutual trust, but a present danger once again pits them together to stop the Mandarin's dastardly plot. Reluctantly reunited once again, Clint and Kate need to work together and fix the mistakes they made in the past to deal with a threat that could destroy them both!

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

White, Kiersten. The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein. 2018. 304p. ISBN 9780525577942. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Orphaned, Elizabeth Lavenza was entrusted to a group home where she was abused by the woman who was supposed to care for her. Rescued by Mrs. Frankenstein, who wishes her to be her young son's friend, Elizabeth meets Victor, and immediately realizes that the boy is very odd. He seems incapable to actually caring for other people. However, even at six years old Elizabeth realizes that Victor is her way out of the gutter, and she agrees to care and play with Victor.

Adopted by the Frankenstein, Elizabeth is not allowed to go to school across the lake from their manor residence, so she reads every book in the house, and listens to Victor retell his day and what he learned. They both are fascinated by how bodies work, and Victor is morbidly fascinated by death and how to prevent it. In their teens, they meet Henry, the child of one of the Frankensteins' creditors, and they soon form a trio of adventurers. Along the way Elizabeth rescues Justine, a child that was just like her, and Justine becomes the governess to Victor's two young children.

When Victor finally goes to University in Ingolstadt, Elizabeth is left behind with Henry. When he asks for her hand in marriage, and not having heard from Victor in months, she dispatches Henry to find Victor and secure his agreement, knowing that Victor will not give it. Henry does not return home, however, and Elizabeth despairs at not hearing from Victor. Along with Justine, they travel to Ingolstadt to track Victor. Elizabeth soon realizes that Victor has been experimenting on creating the perfect human being, but that instead he created a monster that is now causing havoc on the town.

As the monster gets closer to the Frankenstein, the family suffers one death after another. With her life in danger, will Elizabeth manage to escape the clutches of the Frankenstein monster?

Fans of Frankenstein will love this retelling, which, like the original story, explores what it means to be a monster, and what it means to be human. 

Suriname

Beatty, Noelle Blackmer. Suriname. Part of the Major World Nations series. 1997. 96p. ISBN 9780791047484. Available at 988.3 BEA on the library shelves.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover what would become Suriname during his third trip to the Americas. Soon colonized by the Dutch, the fertile coast became known as Dutch Guiana. Sandwiched by the French to the east and the British to the west, the small colony nevertheless prospered due to its profitable sugar plantations exploited through slave labor. Colonial powers traded the colony back and forth through wars in the 17th and 18th century, and the abolition of slavery in 1863 led to the importation of cheap labor from Java, another Dutch colony, as well as from China and India, leading to what is now a vibrant community of mixed racial and cultural heritage.

The discovery of bauxite, which is used to make aluminum, made Dutch Guiana an essential part of the war effort during the Second World War, and the colony was occupied by U.S. forces while the Netherlands were themselves occupied by Nazi Germany. Following the war, local residents gained the right to administer their own country, but the Dutch retained defense and international relations. It wasn't until 1975 that Dutch Guiana gained its independence. Renamed Suriname, the country experienced civil war and military governments, but has returned to a more democratic government. 

Still underdeveloped, the country struggles with a high foreign debt and a lack of transportation infrastructure. As 90% of the population lives on 3% of the land, most of the country remains forested, with over 2,000 species of trees making their home in Suriname. The culture, due to its ethnic mix, is vibrant but remains insular. Suriname has a lot going for it, and its future could be bright.

Teen Idol

Cabot, Meg. Teen Idol. 2004. 304p. ISBN 9780060096168. 

Jenny Greenley is everyone's friend at Clayton High School. Regardless of cliques, sports, or tastes in music, Jenny gets along with everyone, and no one has a bad thing to say about Jenny. She's so good, in fact, that no one has ever asked her out on a date. Who would want to date their friend? Despite this not so little hurdle, Jenny is enjoying her junior year. Her favorite activity is to serve as the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist, a position that she takes very seriously. In fact, not even her best friend knows she's the person behind the Ask Annie column.

Jenny is surprised to be called to the main office to attend a hush hush meeting. During this meeting, the principal reveals that America's favorite actor and teenage hottie Luke Striker will be attending Clayton High School for a few weeks as an undercover student, and the principal would like Jenny to be his buddy. Luke is getting ready to film a high school comedy, and he wants to immerse himself in the life of a high school to prepare. Jenny is sworn to secrecy, but she's confused as to how no one will know it's Luke Striker, especially best friend Trina, who knows everything there is to know about Luke Striker! 

Surprisingly, however, though everyone notices Luke, no one identifies him as the actor. Everyone wants to know who the cool guy is, but that's about it. Luke, however, is surprised at the behavior of students in the cafeteria in particular, and in classrooms in general, and he points out to Jenny that she could effect changes if she wanted. Will Jenny accept advice from a stranger, change life at her school, and find true love in the process?

Fans of romantic comedy will appreciate this fun story. Though it's hard to believe Luke would not be recognized, the characters are all too human, with their strengths and weaknesses, and their foibles are entertaining throughout the story. Let all jazz hands unite and enjoy Jenny's junior year!

Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama

O'Reilly, Bill. Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama. 2010. 288p. ISBN 9780062010605. 

Every person can be a pinhead or a patriot, sometimes at the same time, but most often each individual tends towards one side of the spectrum over the other. Designed as a critique of the presidency of Barack Obama, O'Reilly examines several factors that, according to him, make the 43rd president mainly a pinhead, though he does acknowledge that the president also has strengths. From bungling the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to pushing through Obamacare, O'Reilly compares Obama to other presidents and scrutinizes these decisions before claiming that they are hurting the country.

O'Reilly also takes aim at other presidents and influential historical figures, however, and dissects their performances as being more pinhead or patriot. Presidents who did not hesitate to use the machinery of government to improve America are considered patriots, while those who, in O'Reilly's view undermined it are pinheads. Though leaning conservative, the author's point of view are grounded in historical facts.

Fans of history will appreciate this early look at the Obama presidency, and can, with the passage of time, decide for themselves whether Obama was a pinhead or a patriot.

The Pretenders

Harris, Charlaine. The Pretenders. Book 1 of the Cemetery Girl Trilogy. 2014. 128p. ISBN 9780425256664.

Calexa doesn't remember who she is. That's not even her name, but rather the name of someone dead she borrowed as a temporary identity until she can discover who she really is. When she woke up battered and bloodied, finding herself in a cemetery, her first thought was that she was dead. Whomever had hurt her clearly wanted her dead, given the amount of blood and her injuries, yet Calexa managed to survive, making the cemetery her home and adopting names from the dead that lay beneath the ground. Calexa found refuge in an old crypt, and she set to avoid human contact like the plague, not knowing who out there would know her and would want to finish the job they had started.

Calexa also noticed something unusual. She can see the spirits of those who have passed on, so as she observes many burials, she learns more about this power. The cemetery grounds keeper knows she's here, and he leaves food out for her to steal. Calexa has also made a friend in an elderly woman who lives near the cemetery, and who provides her with food and some of life's necessities.

 One night, a group of teenagers trespasses in the cemetery and, after vandalizing a grave, they sacrifice one of their own, a girl unwilling to be killed to bring back her dead brother. Her departing spirit invades Calexa, who was watching the scene, and demands justice. Calexa now faces a difficult choice. Bring those responsible for the girl's murder to the police would reveal that she exists, but doing so would jeopardize her safety. Can Calexa devise a plan to reveal the dead girl and her assassins while remaining hidden?

The Forgotten Girl

Brown, India Hill. The Forgotten Girl. 2019. 250p. ISBN 9781338317244. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

As an Indian-American, Iris is used to be ignored at her middle school. Her parents do not receive the email that there was a ceremony acknowledging all of the sports captains, and Iris is not invited. When the school's clean-up group is interviewed by the local television station, Iris is not invited. Is it the color of her skin? Iris consoles herself in the presence of her best friend, Daniel, who lives across the street.

One night, both of them leave their homes to play in the freshly fallen snow, despite the misgivings that Daniel's grandmother, Sugar, has about winter. She believes the spirit of the snow kills, and she does not want Daniel to play outside during the dark months of the year. While making snow angels in the woods near their home, Iris and Daniel realize they are standing in a small cemetery. They had no idea it even existed.

Soon Iris finds herself plagued by the ghost of a girl not much younger than she and Daniel are. Her name is Avery, and she died over 70 years ago. No one seems to remember Avery in town. Iris senses that Avery's ghost is angry, and she resolves to help her find peace. Using a social studies project at school, her and Daniel research abandoned cemeteries where African-Americans were segregated, even in death. As she finds more information, the danger posed by Avery grows. Will Iris discover the secret of the forgotten girl before the spirit of the snow takes her?

A thrilling mystery and ghost story, The Forgotten Girl is a page turner that middle school readers will enjoy.

Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit

Estabrook, Barry. Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit. 2011. 240p. ISBN 9781449401092.

Most of us enjoy a red juicy tomato, especially when it comes from the garden. However, there are times where we need to purchase them from the store, and for the most part, those tomatoes are pale imitations of the vegetable we think of when we think tomato. The grocery store tomato industry is a $5 billion enterprise based in Florida that takes many shortcuts in order to achieve profitability, at the expense of both its workers and its customers. 

Among some of the practices that are deleterious to health, tomato fields are sprayed with more chemical per square foot than any other vegetable, and the safety application procedures are often ignored because they slow down the work. Tomatoes are harvested while they are still green, and are then artificially turned red by the use of additional chemicals in warehouses, before being shipped to the grocery store. Today's grocery store tomatoes have measurably less amounts of calcium and vitamins A and C, while containing over fourteen times the amount of sodium than tomatoes from thirty years ago.

Workers are also being exploited on tomato farms, with most of the workforce being undocumented. Workers are at the mercy of work gang chiefs, who exploit and oppress their laborers, leading to several documented court cases and guilty pleas of modern-day slavery.

Readers who enjoy knowing where the food in their plate came from will appreciate this sordid tale of exploitation, and may make better informed choices when they go to the grocery store. Consider taking a look at The Dorito Effect or The Truth Behind Factory Food for additional looks at this topic.

Grand Theft Horse

Neri, G. Grand Theft Horse. 2018. 240p. ISBN 9781620148556. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Gail Ruffus was one of thirteen children. Her father was a military officer, and her mother managed the household. The family moved a lot due to her father's postings. As far back as she could remember, Gail loved horses, and when the family moved to Texas and purchased a ranch, her dream finally came true when her parents offered her Spice, a beautiful horse.

Unfortunately the stay was too short for Gail, and soon the family was uprooted to move to Spain, so that her father could manage a military base there. Gail was forced to sell Spice. While living in Europe, Gail took dressage lessons, and learned to manage and train horses. Returning to the United States, Gail eventually found herself training horses. When she met a horse called Urgent Envoy, she immediately knew he was a race winner. Soon, Gail and Clayton, her lawyer, become co-owners of Urgent Envoy, and Clayton agrees to let her train him until he is ready to race.

However, Clayton soon starts thinking that Gail is taking too long to get Urgent Envoy ready, and through legal maneuverings he takes the horse away from Gail, and bans her from the race track. Urgent Envoy is raced, and is injured. Despite the doctor requesting months of recuperation, Clayton plans on racing Urgent Envoy again, which could lead to an even more serious injury, and possibly even death. 

So, on Christmas eve, 2004, Gail broke into the race track, and she took Urgent Envoy. What followed became a legal and emotional rollercoaster, with Gail accused of stealing her own property, and brought in on charges of Grand Theft Horse, a statute that had not been prosecuted since the 1850s in California. Through heart-ache and dedication, Gail eventually triumphs over Clayton, but Urgent Envoy never races again.

A wonderful story, Grand Theft Horse tells the true story of Gail Rufus and Urgent Envoy, and explores the seedy side of horse racing. Beautifully illustrated and quick-paced, fans of graphic novels will appreciate this story of grit and resilience.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin

 Larson, Erik. In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin. 2011. 448p. ISBN 9780307408846. 

Following the ascension of Hitler to power in Germany in 1933, a new US ambassador was named to represent the American government in Berlin. William E. Dodd, a professor from Chicago, becomes President Roosevelt's man in Berlin at a time where Nazi Germany is rearming and threatening its neighbors, along with its Jewish population. Dodd moves to Berlin in the middle of an economic Depression, with limited funds and almost no support from the State Department back in Washington. 

Accompanied by his wife, his son, and Martha, his adult daughter, Dodd soon grasps that the portrait Germany is broadcasting of a society reordering itself and crushing the Depression hides an uglier truth, with opponents imprisoned, disappeared, or shot, and all forms of oppositions eliminated. The new Germany is a violent Germany that doesn't respect the rights and the customary laws of foreign affairs.

For Martha, however, the Third Reich is filled with young vigorous men who are zealous Nazis but who are attracted to her. Enjoying their presence, she has several affairs, including with the head of the Gestaop, Rudolf Diels. She also meets a Soviet agent whom she falls in love with, and eventually travels through the Soviet Union with him.

Dodd and his family have a front-row seat at the establishment of a Nazi dictatorship, and his warnings to the State Department and to his fellow Americans about the dangers that this new Germany pose remain ignored until it was too late.

This scholarly yet riveting account of the decade between 1933 and 1940 showcases the blindness that affected many leaders at this time, who sought not to understand what Hitler was really up to. Fans of history will appreciate this descent into madness and the cruelty that will eventually lead to the Second World War.

Soul Eater, Vol. 9

Ohkubo, Atsushi. Soul Eater, Vol. 9. 2012. 208p. ISBN 9780316071130. Available in the graphic novel section of the library. 

Tasked by Medusa to discover the vault where the demon tools are stored under DWMA in Soul Eater, Vol. 8, Crona is slowly breaking under the pressure of divided loyalties. He doesn't really want to help Medusa, but her psychological hold on him is too powerful to override, so he searches desperately for the vault, hoping she will leave him alone after he finds it.

Death tells Frankenstein to step up the training of the level one students. Kid, Maka, and Black*Star must learn to attune together so that they can work more effectively as a group, but Black*Star's desire to be the best is undermining this training. Their conflicting egos are standing in the way of them becoming DWMA's best team ever.

Meanwhile, Arachne dispatches a team to retrieve another demon tool, this time in Alaska. DWMA sends an assault team, and the students must stand guard outside while Stein and Marie infiltrate the ancient witch facility. Not everything is as it seems, however, and while the forces of Arachne and those of DWMA fight each other, the witches wait in the wings ...

Brian's Winter

 Paulsen, Gary. Brian's Winter. Book 3 of Brian's Saga. 1996. 144p. ISBN 9780440227199.

What if, in Hatchet, Brian had in fact not been rescued by the end of the summer? What if he had to spend the winter in the wilderness? In Brian's Winter, this is exactly what happens. As summer days slowly go by, Brian at first does not notice that the days are getting shorter and the temperature cooler. But one morning, when he wakes up shivering and able to see his breath, he suddenly realizes he will have to content with the unforgiving winter without any cold gear.

His first order of business is to make his shelter as weatherproof as possible. With too much of a draft, he will need significantly more firewood than if he uses mud to seal all the cracks. Then there's the question of clothing. His t-shirt, pants, and sneakers will not be enough to survive the drop in temperature. He will need to salvage furs, and sew his own clothing with rabbit and deer pelts to resist the below freezing weather. Finally, he will need food. Lots and lots of food. With the lake freezing, Brian is not able to fish, so he must quickly find a new source of food. Using his ingenuity and his creativity, Brian builds arrows and a better bow, able to take down bigger game. Which is a good thing, because the wolves are sniffing on the border of his land, and bears don't care about borders at all. 

With night getting longer, Brian abandons all hopes of rescue, and instead focuses on surviving a winter in the wilderness. Will the lessons learned during the summer in Hatchet be enough for him to make it through?

The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History

Wood, Thomas E. The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History. 2004. 270p. ISBN 9780895260475.

Taking a right-leaning political view, this history book reviews seminal events in American history and reveals how we may not have been learning our history correctly. Starting with the Revolutionary War, the author examines several historical myths and unravels what really happened from the beliefs that sprung alongside each of them. 

Drawing from books and from scholarly research, the author reveals that in his opinion students and the general public have been misinformed about several key events in the history of the United States. The Revolutionary War was not revolutionary at all, but rather a conservative exercise in maintaining the rights and privileges of the landowners and prosperous colonists against English interference. Unlike the French Revolution, or other bloody coups in world history, the American Revolution sought to protect what already existed in the face of dramatic changes. In the First World War, the United States professed to be neutral, but its transfer of munitions and its attacks on German submarines prior to the Congress' declaration of war made it a belligerent in everything but name. Speaking of Congress, the President has usurped the Congress' power to declare war, and now routinely commits American military actions without approval from the proper constitutional authority.

Fans of history will appreciate this perspective on several key moments in American history and will enjoy comparing what they learned in school to the views portrayed in this book.

The Final Reckoning

Jarvis, Robin. The Final Reckoning. Book 3 of the Deptford Mice series. 2003. 304p. ISBN 9781587172441.

Having escaped from his oblivion in The Crystal Prison, Jupiter has returned to once again destroy the world. Now even more menacing than ever, the ghostly cat is slowly regaining his physical shape, and this time he means to destroy both the moon and the sun, plunging the world in eternal darkness. 

Audrey has barely enough time to return home and enjoy life that this new threat presents itself. First, the bats fly away, sensing Jupiter's return to London. The Starwife, leader of the squirrels, is then attacked by ghostly figures and barely survives, warning the mice of the danger that awaits them. Morgan the rat returns, this time in command of an army he voluntarily delivers to Jupiter so they can be turned into ghosts. And Picadilli continues to long for Audrey, despite all indications that she does not like him. An epic battle is brewing, one that will change the mice's lives forever!

The conclusion to the Deptford Mice trilogy, The Final Reckoning ties up some loose ends, and manages to drop hints about subsequent events. Favorite characters meet their death in this book, but it helps propel the story forward. Fans of fantasy will appreciate that the story does not end with "and they live happily ever after," but rather features a satisfying and realistic ending.

Fascism: A Warning

Albright, Madeleine. Fascism: A Warning. 2018. 289p. ISBN 9780062802187.

The word fascist has regained currency in the last decade, and is being bandied about to label one's opponent with a wide brush indicating that they are against liberty. As a result, the word has lost some of its historical importance, and its power has been diminished. Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State and a survivor of the Holocaust, wrote Fascism to remind us of the ugliness and evil behind the word and to provide a historical perspective on its return to the political scene in the United States and abroad.

Albright defines a fascist as someone who is unconcerned with anyone's rights but their own, who claims to speak for the whole nation, and who is willing to use violence or any other means necessary to achieve their goals. Fascists sought to harness the power of the nation in an us versus them mentality, with anyone opposing fascists being labelled as unpatriotic and enemies of the nation. The 20th century saw the trend of early fascists like Mussolini and Hitler, only to be replaced after the Second World War by neo-fascists governments in South America and Africa. Ideas that should have been rejected as wrong and evil continue to thrive to this day, and are being advocated by governments and political leaders around the globe.

Albright's warning that fascism remains strong and alive in today's American society is a warning shot to us all not to drop the ball and allow the return of a murderous ideology aimed at gratifying the ego of the leader, not. as it usually implied, in saving the nation. Fans of history will appreciate this deep dive into a political trend and the dangers that it presents for us today.

Naruto, Vol. 1

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 1. 1999. 187p. ISBN 9781569319000. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Born an orphan, Naruto aims to be the best ninja ever, so that he can protect the village but, more importantly, so that everyone will finally acknowledge him. In his village, Naruto has the reputation of a troublemaker, a mischievous kid always going the extra mile to be outrageous. But that's just his way of getting attention.

What Naruto doesn't know is that twelve years ago, a spirit in the form of a nine-tail fox attacked the village and almost destroyed it. When the inhabitants were finally able to defeat it, the spirit was bound to a newborn, and the villagers were instructed to never speak of it. So they didn't speak to Naruto, Naturally, their children noticed this, and they also didn't speak to Naruto, so he's lead a lonely life.

Attending Ninja Academy, Naruto is eager to pass the course and become a shinobi, but even his ninja centerforld move is not enough to let him pass. In danger of flunking out, Naruto is convinced by another instructor to steal the village's sacred scroll, so that he can learn a new move to impress the school. But that instructor wants the scroll for himself, and Naruto soon discovers the truth about himself and about that instructor's true nature.

Finally awarded membership in the ninjas, Naruto sets out to train with Sakura and Sasuke, two other ninjas from his school. His goal? To become the best Hokage, leader of the village!

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 2.

The Last Command

Zahn, Timothy. The Last Command. Book 3 of the Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy. 1993. 467p. ISBN 9780553091861.

In Dark Force Rising, Grand Admiral Thrawn displayed masterly tactical skills, employing his dark Jedi to facilitate the destruction of the New Republic. Having gathered to him what was left of the Imperial forces. and having recovered the technology to once again clone soldiers, Thrawn is making a bid to restore the Empire. With Princess Leia pregnant with twins and barely holding the Alliance together, Hans and Luke are tasked to once again reverse a hopeless situation.

While Hans gathers smugglers and criminals, with the plan of making one last stand against Thrawn, Luke leads a small team inside the cloning facility with the aim of destroying it and cutting the flow of Imperial soldiers. But with the Emperor's assassin still on the loose, and a dark Jedi to contend with, Skywalker might finally have met his match!

A vivid conclusion to what should have been the trilogy that followed Return of the Jedi, The Last Command delivers fantastic action, plenty of space battles, and a satisfying conclusion. Fans of Star Wars will love this book!

Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms

Walker, Timothy D. Teach Like Finland: 33 Simple Strategies for Joyful Classrooms. 2017. 240p. ISBN 9781324001256. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive. 

Back in 2001, students from countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development participated in a brand new test, called the PISA, which was designed to determine skills in the fields of math, reading and science, and provide an ranking. To everyone's surprise, Finland came out on top, with Finnish students netting top scores in all three categories. How did Finland, with a small population, significantly less educational spending than the average American school, a significantly lower amount of hours spend in classes per year, and with teachers that rarely work longer hours than the students manage to outshine everyone else?

Timothy Walker started his teaching career in the United States, before moving to Finland with his wife and child so they could be closer to her family. There, he joined the Helsinki public school system, and got a job teaching 5th grade students. Walker thought he was well-prepared to take on this assignment, but it turns out that he had to forget many of the habits he had acquired in American schools in order to become a successful teacher.

In this book, Walker outlines 33 strategies he observed in Finnish schools that may explain why Finnish students are on average more proficient than American or even Asian students despite spending less time and money. From assigning less homework, to sticking with more traditional lecture formats but then providing more time for students to explore on their own, from a more relaxed educational environment where the pressure to perform and to pursue further professional learning opportunities are not present, and from a system where teachers are encouraged to leave school very soon after the students, Finland can teach a thing or two on how to offer a more peaceful, focused, and conducive to learning school environment.

Murder of Crows

Ancrum, K. Murder of Crows. Book 1 of the Lethal Lit series. 2022. 288p. ISBN 9781338742923.

High-schooler Tig Torres is the popular podcast host of Lethal Lit, where she documented her efforts at uncovering who was behind the serial killings of the person known as the Lit Killer. With the murder resolved and the killer behind bars, the town of Hollow Falls is breathing easy. Tig and her reporter friends from the school newspaper caught the attention of the Murder of Crows, a local group of amateur detectives who enjoy a mystery. Tig presents the Lit Killer case to them, and is received by a mysterious old man, who gives her the strange gift of a book.

As Tig enjoys refreshments, the man plummets to his death from the top of the house, smashing into the cake. He has clearly been pushed down! Once again, Tig and her friends find themselves in the middle of a mysterious chase, with another murderer. This time, the murderer is seeking the treasure that a group of town founders hid more than 160 years ago, leaving mysterious clues behind. Armed with gumption and a healthy dose of courage, Tig, Max and Wyn resolve to unmask this murderer, and find the treasure themselves!

Murder of Crows is fast-paced and features plenty of action and mystery, along with an underlying currents of romance. Fans of the whodunnit genre will enjoy watching Tig navigate dangers and murderers to solve the town's greatest mystery!

Never Quit: From Alaskan Wilderness Rescues to Afghanistan Firefights as an Elite Special Ops PJ

Settle, Jimmy. and Don Rearden. Never Quit: From Alaskan Wilderness Rescues to Afghanistan Firefights as an Elite Special Ops PJ. 2018. 320p. ISBN 9781250102997. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Jimmy Settle loved running. Born in Alaska, Jimmy would run or bike anywhere, as his single mother, a hairdresser, was always busy working to support her family. In high school, Jimmy excelled at track and cross-country, even winning the state championship. Following his mother's wishes, he joined the military and headed off to the War College, only to suffer a heart attack following a race. Honorably discharged, he worked hard to regain mobility and resume his activities. 

Lost and depressed, Jimmy reconnects with a high school friend who also joined the military, and who now serves as a para jumper, the elite unit tasked with saving lives in the Alaska wilderness and on its choppy waters. Once again motivated, Jimmy gets back in physical shape, joins the ranks of PJs wannabes, and starts working through the excruciating course of studies that will take him through survival school, diving school, parachuting school, interrogation and imprisonment school, and paramedic training, to finally achieve the status of PJ and be granted his maroon beret.

Once in the PJs, Jimmy is sent to Afghanistan, where he helps rescue wounded heroes from the battlefield. Shot in the head during an attack, Jimmy nevertheless perseveres and saves the lives of the men entrusted to him. Awarded a medal for his courage, Jimmy is once again honorably discharged.

A page turner filled with action scenes and Jimmy's struggles to achieve his goals, Never Quit demonstrates that determination and grit can accomplish amazing feats, but, more importantly, that one's team or family is essential to success! Fans of military history and of the military in general will love Jimmy's story of dedication.

The Crystal Prison

Jarvis, Robin. The Crystal Prison. Book 2 of the Deptford Mice series. 2002. 256p. ISBN 9781587171611.

With the death of Jupiter in The Dark Portal, the rats have been thrown into disarray and no longer represent a threat to the Deptford mice. The community is recuperating from the ravages committed by the rats. Oswald is still very sick, however, and every day his health declines a little more. For his part, Twit is contemplating returning home to his fields. Audrey and Twit are summoned by the Starwife, the leader of the squirrels, and they are accompanied by Twit's friend, the old sailor mouse. There, they learn that Madame Akkikuyu has survived the collapse of the rat empire, but that her mind has gone. She doesn't remember her role in Jupiter's reign, and the squirrel queen wants her out of her territory. Audrey is therefore tasked with accompanying Akkikuyu to the countryside, and in exchange she will be provided with an healing potion that will save Oswald. Audrey reluctantly agrees, only to learn that she will need to live with Akkikuyu until the old rat dies.

Accompanied by a merchant, Audrey, her brother Arthur, and Twit head out on boats, and eventually arrive in Fennywolde. Audrey and Arthur are introduced to the local mice. Twit's best friend Jenkins is being beaten by his religious father, Isaac, who considers every action to be heretical against the Green Mouse. They also meet Mr. Woodruffe, the the King of the Field, and Alison Sedge, a local beauty who instantly takes a dislike to Audrey. 

When young field mice are attacked by an owl, Akkikuyu intervenes and saves their lives, and even brews a potion that heals them, earning the admiration of the village. Audrey is bitter at having to stick with the rat, and they drift apart. She consoles herself by building a doll from corn stalks. Akkikuyu begins to hear a voice, that of a spirit called Nicodemus. Nico is attempting to escape his prison, and he promises the rat much magical powers if she helps him. As a trap is set for Audrey, who will serve as the sacrificial mouse that will release Nico from his current existence, the unsuspecting mouse is unaware that an old enemy lurks nearby ...

The story concludes in The Final Reckoning.

Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones

Campbell, Greg. Blood Diamonds: Tracing the Deadly Path of the World's Most Precious Stones . 2002. 280p. ISBN 9780813342207. 

Though diamonds are beautiful, they, aside from a few industrial uses, have no particular economic value aside from what we ascribe to them. It is therefore amazing that an entire ecosystem rose on the discovery of diamonds in Africa in the 1800s, and that these discoveries would make some men extremely rich, while impoverishing the local inhabitants and causing strife and war.

Diamonds were discovered in the 1930s in Sierra Leone, a country founded by the British to act as a home for freed slaves, and at the time still a British colony. International concerns like De Beers, the company responsible for the slogan "Diamonds are forever," entered the market. Exploitation of diamond mines were hard, however, for there were no roads and no effective way to provide security. Warlords and rebel groups stepped into the void, and began exploiting their own mines using slave labors. The diamonds were sold through middlemen, and weapons were bought with the proceeds, furthering war and instability as various groups fought each other and outside forces for control of the diamond mines.

The conflict has lead to mass casualties, including rape, slavery, amputations, and people being shot. Diamonds traded this way were revealed to have financed Al Qaeda and the 9/11 terrorists attack on the United States, and soon became referred to as blood diamonds for the violence inflicted on those who mined them and lived in the area. Despite promises to clean up their act and to provide transparency on the provenance of their diamonds, large companies continue to exploit a resource that is portable and easily hidden, that can be smuggled and laundered to show a different provenance. Until diamonds lose their attraction in the United States and elsewhere as an expression of love, people will continue to be hurt and die during their exploitation.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 6

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 6. 2012. 192200p. ISBN 9781421541747. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following the theft of the left Eye of the Impure King in Blue Exorcist, Vol 5, the whole of True Cross Academy and its exorcists are on high alert for an attempt on the right Eye, but none of them suspect that this attempt will come from inside their own rank. Mamushi, an exorcist, seizes the right Eye and reunites it with the Left, causing some destruction as she escapes.

Tatsuma, Suguro's father, seems to be assisting Mamushi, and he refuses to defend himself, causing Suguro to renounce his father. Rin is not so sure that the holy man is in league with Mamushi, however, and a letter from him reveals information about his adoptive father and about Rin himself.

At the same time school continues, and Rin must spend his summer cramming information into his head so he can pass the Exorcist exam. Tasked to follow his brother to observe him stopping a demon train, Rin and Shemi decide they can't let innocent spirits die, and they join the fight despite express orders not to do so ...

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 7.

Defending Taylor

Kenneally, Miranda. Defending Taylor. Book 7 of the Hundred Oaks series. 2016. 304p. ISBN 9781492630081. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

As a senior in an elite private academy, Taylor had everything going for her. She was the captain of her soccer team, had excellent grades, and was looking forward to early admission at Yale, following in the footsteps of her sister and father, the senior Senator from Tennessee. Unfortunately, everything unravels for Taylor when she gets caught in the woods near the school with a backpack containing pills. The backpack belongs to Ben, her boyfriend, who is on scholarship and will most likely get expelled if he's caught, so she takes the blame, thinking she'll receive some punishment.

To her surprise, she is expelled from the school, and her father does not lift a finger to help her. Engaged in a heated reelection campaign, he can't afford to be seen as soft on illegal drugs, even if it is to help his own daughter. Even if he could help, he would not as he is a big proponent of taking responsibilities for your own actions. Taylor is thus forced to attend the local high school, Hundred Oaks. There, she attends mandatory daily meetings with the school counselor, and joins the soccer team where the captain, Nicole, attempts to make her life miserable.

Meanwhile, Ezra, who is the best friend of Taylor's older brother and who was Taylor's first crush, is back in town. He has taken a leave from Cornell, and currently works in construction. Even though his parents are wealthy, he lives in a rundown apartment building, and he has issues of his own. Taylor and Ezra reconnect, and she soon learns that he is dyslexic, and cannot read well enough to keep up with college work. Plus, he doesn't want to study business per his father's wishes, but would rather learn to be an architect. 

Motivated by Ezra, Taylor seeks to undo some of the damages that took place when she took the blame for Ben, but fixing a secret often leads to more troubles. As Taylor learns some hard life lessons, she eventually realizes that the way out is to come clean with her own actions and accept personal responsibility, just like her dad suggested...

A light romantic story peppered with soccer games and underlined by twin stories of drug abuse consequences and doing things for others and not for yourself, Taylor and Ezra's relationship blossoms and grow, not without encountering some turbulence, but in the end they manage to work out their differences. Fans of romance will appreciate this book.

Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control

Benjamin, Medea. Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control. 2012. 262p. ISBN 9781935928.

Drones enhance the nation's military arsenal, limiting threats to pilots and providing the ability to operate for a long time above targets. They also represent a growing menace to people everywhere, as the ability to deliver deadly missiles at a long range is democratizing the number and models of drones available on the market. Drone Warfare explores the history of drones and how they are currently used.

The United States pioneered the use of drones, and employs them to conduct surveillance on the border and in cities, to conduct attacks against military targets and those deemed to be terrorists, and to monitor environmental conditions during forest fires and flooding. Their legal use is ill-defined. Can a drone be used to target and kill an American citizen without due process? President Obama certainly thought so, when he ordered the death of a Yemeni American accused of terrorism. Would Americans approve of China using a drone to attack a person it considered a terrorist in New York City? Legal and moral discussions need to take place to guide further deployment and utilization of these deadly tools.

Dark Force Rising

Zahn, Timothy. Dark Force Rising. Book 2 of the Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy. 1992. 439p. ISBN 9780553085747.

With the destruction of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, imperial forces have regrouped following the events of Heir to the Empire. Under the leadership of Grand Admiral Thrawn, imperial forces have concocted a plan to restore the Empire. Employing a former Jedi to coordinate attacks, Thrawn has taken no chances and has surrounded himself with loyal bodyguards who are immune to mind control, as well as plants that prevent the former Jedi from manipulating him. Using information fed from the New Republic senate, his forces are on the move, looking to strike at the New Republic and probe its defenses.

Han Solo and Lando Calrissian have been tasked by Princess Leia to find out where the vital information that is being fed to Thrawn is coming from. Someone, or a small group of people, have infiltrated the New Republic and are leaking its most important secrets. Looking for evidence, Han and Lando cross the galaxy, only to discover that a large fleet warships has been assembled, ready to deliver doom to the nascent New Republic.

Meanwhile, Thrawn's former Jedi serves the Grand Admiral for his own reasons, hoping to corrupt Luke Skywalker the way Darth Vader was unable to do. And at the same time, the Emperor's assassin, who survived the collapse of the Empire, seeks Skywalker herself, so that she can avenge the death of her Emperor and fulfill her last mission. 

As Thrawn moves his forces throughout the galaxy, the leaders of the New Republic are in a race for their own survival!

The story concludes in The Last Command.

She Drives Me Crazy

Quindlen, Kelly. She Drives Me Crazy. 2021. 288p. ISBN 9781250209160. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Scottie's senior year is shaping up to be miserable. Her girlfriend, Tally, broke up with her so she could attend a prestigious suburban school and have the chance to win a basketball championship. Scottie's basketball team does not stand a chance. It barely attracts any crowd, the coach is the robotics teacher that was recruited because no one else would do it, and the Danielle, the team captain and Scottie's best friend, has to be the de facto coach. To top it all off, Scottie's car is accidentally hit by Irene, the captain  of the cheerleader team, one of the most popular girls at school, and probably the most uptight. Irene and Scottie have been enemies for a long time, and Irene even got Scottie's car towed last year.

Forced by their parents to drive together while Irene's car is being fixed, Scottie and Irene get on each other's nerves. Irene and her cheerleading squad do come and watch the girls' basketball team practice, which creates a buzz around the school, and more people begin to attend the games and the practices. When Scottie overhears Irene complain to her best friend Honey-Belle that her parents are making her pay the deductible on the car insurance for the repairs, but that she had already spent the money on cheer camp, and now she would have to quit cheer so she could work to repay them, Scottie comes up with a plan. She will pay Irene to pretend to be her girlfriend until the classic Christmas game against their cross-town arch-rivals, which happens to be the team that Tally is on. Tally is sure to hear of Scottie's new relationship, and this will make her jealous!

Except, both Scottie and Irene begin falling for each other through their pretend dating, and kisses and a memorable sleepover causes both happiness and angst. With the basketball team heading for a state championship, and with their relationship evolving towards mutual respect and possibly love, Scottie and Irene will need to navigate the choppy waters of a high school scene replete with drama and rebounds!

I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids

Schwartz, Kyle. I Wish My Teacher Knew: How One Question Can Change Everything for Our Kids. 2016. 272p. ISBN 9780738219141. 

A simple question can be a powerful motivator for change. When Kyle Schwartz asked her primary school students at the beginning what she as their teacher should know, she got many messages about loving pets, favorite activities, and best friends. But she also got heart wrenching stories about families being broken, parents being in prison, medical issues that plagued the student or a loved one, and many others. She realized that she had opened a dialogue with students by asking them a question and giving them license to answer in any way they saw fit.

Schwartz's message is that educators must ask important questions to understand the hidden realities that students experience in their lives inside, but more importantly, outside of school, as these realities impact how they learn. This powerful question allows the teacher to lay down the foundations of a safe and supportive environment for all students, allowing everyone to successfully participate as full-fledged members of the classroom and of the school.

The Dark Portal

Jarvis, Robin. The Dark Portal. Book 1 of the Deptford Mice series. 1989. 240p. ISBN 9781587171123.

In London dwells a section of town the local mice affectionally refer to as Deptford. There they live their lives in a tight-knit community that enjoy each other's company (mostly), and that is layered in culture and mythology. All of the mice fear the Grille, the entrance from their building down to the sewers, where the rats live. Jupiter, the lord of the rats, has whipped his supporters in a frenzy in the last few years, for a purpose unknown to all. 

Lured there by the magical power of the Grille, Albert Brown, an otherwise respectable mouse, met a city mouse named Piccadilly, but they soon were captured by the rats. Piccadilly managed to escape, but Albert was given to Jupiter. With her father missing in the sewers, his daughter Audrey decides she will go look for him, even though she was always told never to go there. Accompanied by Oswald the albino mouse and Twit, a field mouse visiting Deptford, the three of them enter the rats' domain, looking for Albert but discovering dark magic at work and an even darker plan set in motion by Jupiter and his lackeys. 

With the rats looking for Piccadilly and for Audrey, with a witch rat called Madame Akkikuyu, an evil rat lieutenant called Morgan and an even meaner rat named One-Eye Jack, the mice, along with some friends, bravely face the hardest challenge of them all, surviving the deadliest plot of all!

Fantasy told from the perspective of animals, The Dark Portal begins a trilogy with wonderful world building, an unforgettable cast of character, and actions galore. Fans of the genre will revel in the mice's grit and dedication.

The story continues in The Crystal Prison.

Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History

O'Reilly, Bill and Martin Dugard. Killing the SS: The Hunt for the Worst War Criminals in History. Book 8 of the Killing series. 2018. 307p. ISBN 9781250165541.

When Germany capitulated in May 1945, Adolf Hitler's Third Reich came to a crashing end, leaving ruins and death in its wake. Hitler, who committed suicide at the end of April, avoided punishment for his deeds, but most of the other high ranking Nazis attempted to escape. Himmler and Goering were caught by allied forces, and the first one soon swallowed a cyanide pill, while the second was condemned to death but also avoided punishment by killing himself.

However, many of the worst Nazis escaped Germany and took refuge in South America. Dreaded SS doctors, guards, and administrators all fled justice and thought they had found sanctuary. But dedicated teams of investigators pursued them across the glove, and eventually brought most of them to justice. Individuals like Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo chief in Southern France who led thousands to their death, and Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the Final Solution, eventually stood as accused and were judged.

Fans of history will appreciate this story of spycraft and justice being delivered to those who deserve it most.

This series also include Killing England and Killing the Rising Sun.

Lore Olympus, Vol. 1

Smythe, Rachel. Lore Olympus, Vol. 1. 2021. 384p. ISBN 9780593160299. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Hades is the king of the underworld, and his life is pretty lonely. The other gods make fun of him, and the guy usually is an afterthought in his brother Zeus' mind. Invited to yet another of Zeus' parties, Hades calls the nymph Minthe to see if she will join him. She declines, and Hades finds himself alone once again at a social gathering. 

Persephone is invited to the same party by her roommate Artemis, and the two girls have a good time.  Hades notices Persephone and he is instantly smitten. Wanting to get back at him for indiscrete comments he made, Hera, wife of Zeus, arranges for Eros, god of love, to get Persephone drunk and leave her in Hades' car, causing an embarrassing situation for the both of them. 

Hades doesn't notice Persephone until he arrive back to his mansion. He takes her inside and places her in a bedroom. When she awakes, she strolls through the mansion before encountering Cerberus, whom she quickly tames. Finally, Hades and Persephone spend some time together talking about live and love. But soon enough it is time to return to the world above, and Persephone leaves Hades behind. Hades is still smitten, but since Persephone doesn't have a cellphone, he has no way of contacting her.

Meanwhile, Apollo, brother to Artemis, attempts to seduce Persephone, since he's certain she deserves better than the god of death. As Persephone experiences her own tragedy, Hades finally connects some dots and realizes that Persephone has been trying to reach him ...

A modern remake of an ancient tale, that of Hades and Persephone, Lore Olympus is rendered in sharp colorful contrasts and witty dialogs. The characters inhabit our current world, and have the same tools and gadgets we use. Plus, their issues are very human ones as well. Fans of Greek mythology will appreciate this story, and graphic novel lovers will enjoy the gorgeous illustrations.

Give Me Some Truth

Gansworth, Eric. Give Me Some Truth. 2018. 432p. ISBN 9781338143546. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Maggi, 15, and her family are Native-Americans who left the reservation near Niagara Falls years ago. Maggi has worked with her mother, her older sister Marie and her twin brother Marvin, to create traditional artwork they sell at the Niagara Falls park to tourists. Marie has met a secretive man, and she wishes to move back to the Reservation, so at the beginning of the story Maggi finds herself once again living in a shack without much creature comforts. 

Carson, 17, is a great musician, and he yearns to get off the Reservation. His ticket to New York City starts with winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands. Problem is, he doesn't have a band. So he needs to convince his friend Lewis to join the band. Carson is focused on his own problems, but his abusive father keeps distracting him with his brother's foibles. Derek, Carson's brother, held up a local restaurant, General Custer, and was shot in the behind. Everyone on the Reservation knows everyone else's business, and they now calls him the Hamburglar. 

When Maggi moves back to the Reservation, Carson remembers when she was a younger kid, but now finds her attractive. Maggi, for her part, is infatuated with an older man, who works for the school district maintenance team. And that man is the uncle of the boy who has been harassing Lewis, with whom Maggi also works. 

As the three of them navigate life, form a band, and learn how to play together, they will learn some hard truths, make some mistakes, and figure out what life really has to offer.

Infectious Disease Prevention: Protecting Public Health

Mooney, Carla. Infectious Disease Prevention: Protecting Public Health. Part of the Understanding Infectious Diseases series. 2022. 64p. ISBN 978-1-6782-0158-6.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought infectious diseases back to the fore of public health policy. Infectious diseases easily spread to a population, are hard to control and prevent, and do significant damage to the organisms they infect. In order to ensure public health is protected from infectious diseases, scientists and governments take many steps, some of which are controversial, while others are not. 

Though probably currently the best known infectious disease, Covid-19 competes with diseases that continue to make people sick in the United States, but which can be deadly in less developed countries. Diseases such as polio, e. coli, and sexually transmitted infections afflict many, and can cause death. Other more exotic diseases, such as Zika or Ebola, continue to present challenges in infection avoidance. Infectious diseases can be waterborne, transmitted through food, through the air, by person-to-person contact, or through animal vectors.

In an era where international travel means any disease is potentially less than a day away from any point on the globe, it is essential to understand how infectious diseases are spread, and what we can do to stop them.

Bloom

Oppel, Kenneth. Bloom. Book 1 of the Overthrow series. 2020. 313p. ISBN 9781524773007. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

What if an alien invasion of Earth was done by plants? Petra is allergic to water. She breaks out in hives and is in danger of dying anytime water hits her skin. Imagine being a teenager and not being able to swim, or even to take a shower. Anaya has wicked asthma, and can barely breathe. She's always been sick, or on the verge of being sick. Seth has gone through more foster families than he can remember. In his dreams, he has wings and can fly. It's a persistent dream that never goes away.

All of them live on an island on Canada's west coast when a black rain comes from the sky. That rain strikes everywhere around the globe at the same time. Petra is hit by some of the water as she rushes into the car, but notices that she is not hurt. In fact, the water feels pleasant. Petra bottles some of it, and uses it to take her first bath in forever. Anaya's asthma clears up, and she can now breathe. Life for both girls, who used to be friends, is now looking up.

Except that the next day, strange seeds start to sprout everywhere, rising up as black vine plants that twine around trees and houses. These are difficult to cut, grow insanely quickly, and smell of petroleum when burned, causing toxic fumes. Reports come from around the world that more and more plants are spreading around. The plants bloom, releasing a pollen that is deadly to some people. They also form pods that resemble Venus flytraps, except that they like to consume humans through dissolving them in acid. 

But Anaya, Petra, and Seth appear to be immune to the toxic plants. They can still get grabbed, they can still get hurt, but the pollen does not affect them, nor the plant's digestive acid. Why would three Canadian kids be immune to a plant no one has ever seen before? With time ticking as the plants spread and cause destruction, these three high schoolers must discover a solution to save Earth before it is too late ...

Fans of suspense and of end-of-the-world stories will appreciate this fast-moving tale of destruction and despair as Petra, Seth, and Anaya navigate treacherous high school waters as well as attempting to save the world!

The Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin

Ryan, Cornelius. The Last Battle: The Classic History of the Battle for Berlin. 1995. 571p. ISBN 9780684803296. 

By April 1945, Nazi Germany was being attacked on two fronts, with combined American, Canadian, British, and French armies attacking from the West, and Soviet armies marching from the East. The situation was growing desperate, and the capital city of Berlin was under constant aerial bombardment. The end of the war was near, and as a result the Nazi regime was growing desperate. The defense of the city had never been envisioned, but with Soviet units mere miles away, it suddenly became a growing concern. Adolf Hitler decided to make his last stand in Berlin, and planned to take Germany down with him since it had failed him.

The Allies, meanwhile, were in a race to see who could capture Berlin first. Plans in early 1944 had been drawn that divided Germany into three conquered and occupied areas, with the Soviets in charge of Berlin. But as resistance remained stiff on the Eastern Front, German armies were less effective on the Western Front, allowing units to move up to 50 miles a day on their drive to the German heartland.

With a population already under siege, the city of Berlin would soon find itself surrounded for one last ditch attack that would essentially end the war in Europe. The Battle of Berlin was the climax of five years of war and destruction.

Fans of history will appreciate the details documented by the author, and will follow well-known individuals as well as regular inhabitants of Berlin as the city fell under the bombs and soldiers of its enemies.

Soul Eater, Vol. 8

 Ohkubo, Atsushi. Soul Eater, Vol. 8. 2012. 192p. ISBN 9780316071123. Available in the graphic novel section of the library. 

Following their trek to the Czech forest to infiltrate and destroy a facility in Soul Eater, Vol 7, Black*Star and Tsubaki confront Mifune and Mosquito, agents of Arachnophobia. Using the infinite sword technique, Mifune is able to block all of Black*Star attacks, infuriating the DWMA student. However, this is all of the distraction Sid needed to steal Arachnophobia's demon tool before destroying the facility.

Returning to DWMA, Sid follows Shinigami's request that the demon tool be placed in the secret vault underneath the school. His decision to bury the tool instead of destroying it puzzles Sid. Is Shimigami planning on building his own demonic weapon?

Meanwhile, Medusa, who in fact managed to escape from Dr. Frankenstein, decides to confront her sister Arachnophobia in her lair. Having planted agents in her sister's organization, Medusa is playing the long game, hoping to dethrone her sister.

Students at DWMA hold a party at Death the Kid's home, but Kid himself is tasked to head to the Sahara to seize another demon tool. There he confronts witches and an agent of Arachnophobia, both intent on taking the tool for their own organization ...

The story continues in Soul Eater, Vol. 9.

Dear Killer

Ewell, Katherine. Dear Killer. 2014. 362p. ISBN 978-0-06-225780-2. Available as an ebook from Overdrive.

Kat is not your typical British high schooler. She doesn't stand out at all at school, but at home, only her mother and her know that she is in fact the Perfect Killer, someone trained from a young age to kill without leaving any clue. Kat's mother was the Perfect Killer before passing the mantle to her daughter. Unlike killers who kill for money or revenge, Kat kills because she can, because she's good at it, and because she enjoys it. Killing defines who she is. Nothing is right, nothing is wrong. People reach out to the perfect killer by leaving letters in secret places, and Kat wades through the letters, deciding who deserves to have their wish met. Her call sign is leaving the request letter behind, usually identifying the person who asked for the murder in the first place. Yet, letters keep coming.

Then her mother invites Alex, the inspector charged with investigating the Perfect Killer, into their home. Kat finds him both endearing and annoying, but still feels the need to prove that she is smarter than the police by providing them information about the killer while continuing her life of crime. Kat is soon surprised when she received a letter, asking her to kill one of her schoolmates, Maggie. Maggie has been harassed by Michael, who seems to be growing increasingly unhinged. Michael is clearly the author of the letter. Worried about hitting so close to home, Kat is nevertheless thrilled by the prospect. But when Michael gets a little too close to Maggie, Kat must make a difficult decision. Should she kill Michael, even though she doesn't have a letter asking for his death, or should she wait at the risk of him killing Maggie for her? With the police searching for clues, and with time running out, Kat's game of cat and mouse is about to take a dangerous turn.

Fans of murder mysteries will enjoy reading Kat's adventures, trying to figure out how she will deal with Michael and Maggie while avoiding discovery by the police. Not for the faint of heart, this book demonstrate that moral nihilism is all relative.

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

Mann, Charles C. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created. 2011. 557p. ISBN 9780307265722.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus reached the Americas. Up to then, contact between the landmasses of Europe, Africa and Asia on the one side and the Americas on the other had been sporadic and intermittent, with potential Phoenician visits in antiquity and a short Viking stay in the 1000s. But the colonial system Columbus brought with him not only radically changed the face of these newly discovered continents, but altered the rest of the world as well. 

What became known as the Columbian exchange saw the large scale transportation of plants and animals from one side of the globe to the other, changing landscapes and forever altering diets and human history. Economic exchanges became truly global, and plants from one continent soon became staple foods elsewhere, fostering explosions in human populations but also creating tragedy when diseases and infections affected crops that had no defenses. 

Other tragedies like slavery and civil wars followed first contact, as the wealth of a continent became drained for the profits of a few. 1493 describes the impact that Columbus' so-called discovery had on the world and why we still suffer through the consequences more than 500 years later. Fans of history will appreciate the grand scope of events that led to Columbus, and, more importantly, those that then shaped the world we now life in.