Blue Exorcist, Vol. 15

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 15. 2016. 202p. ISBN 9781421585079. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

With Professor Gedoin's defeat in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 14, the first battle between the Knights of the True Cross and the Illuminati is won by the Knights thanks to the efforts of the Exwires. But the revelation that Shima was a traitor continues to haunt Rin and the rest of the students at True Cross Academy, who believed Shima to be their friend. When Shima returns to the Academy, everyone is shocked. An interrogation by Mephistopheles and Lightning reveals that Shima was a deep plant inside the Illuminati, sent there by the Knights as a double agent. But now the Illuminati has sent him back, so that he can continue to spy for them. Bon, Rin, and the rest of the Exwires are now entirely confused. Is Shima a double agent, a triple agent, or what? Can they trust him at all?

After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations

Cline, Eric H. After 1177 B.C.: The Survival of Civilizations. Book 12 of the Turning Points in Ancient History series. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9780691192130.

Climate change, social fractures, wars and famines are currently plaguing the world, worrying some that humans are forever modifying the planet, and not for the better. Dr. Cline points out in After 1177 that we have been here before. During the late Bronze Age of the 1200s BCE, the climate shifted, and areas known as the fertile crescent suddenly suffered massive droughts, causing a collapse in food supply and reducing the population by more than half over three hundred years.

A process that began in 1200 BCE culminated in the collapse of empires, with Egypt and Crete sinking into poverty and strife, while the Hittites simply melting away and never returning. Prosperous cities fell into disuse and eventually disappeared. Trade routes were abandoned, and commerce all but stopped over long distances. The civilizations in the Aegean and in the Eastern Mediterranean sputtered along for another three hundred years until decades of rain ushered in a renewed prosperity, with new empires such as the Assyrians. new kingdoms such as the Israelites, the Phoenicians, and the resurgence of old countries like Egypt and Greece. 

Along with renewed commerce ties, the exploitation of iron and the constant food surplus led to a renewed interest in massive buildings. A simplified writing system spread throughout the Mediterranean, influencing ancient Greek and Latin. New cities were founded, and prosperity was restored. 

After 1177 explores how some societies were able to transform themselves in the face of catastrophic climactic, geographic, and political events, while others failed to do so and were consigned to the dustbin of history. The resilience of these societies point to possible avenues for us to explore as we attempt to maintain our own societies in the face of drastic changes coming our way.

Lost in Taiwan

Crilley, Mark. Lost in Taiwan. 2023. 256p. ISBN 9781368040990. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Paul is not happy. He was shipped halfway around the world by his dad to spend two weeks with his brother Theo, who settled in Taiwan two years ago, and has learned much of the language and culture. Paul, however, would prefer to stay on the couch and play video games with people he barely knows. Paul is not like his brother, and he does not like people. He doesn't want to get attached, and this whole vacation is nothing but an annoyance for him.

When Theo leaves with his girlfriend for an overnight trip, Paul is left alone. His friend back in the state convinces him to go looking for a brand new videogame console not yet available in the United States, so Paul googles directions, and heads out with his smartphone as a guide. He walks for miles throughout the city of Changbei before locating the store and discovering that the video game is in fact a game for children. 

Then, as if things couldn't get worse, Paul drops his phone in the sewer, and it stops working. Without directions on how to return to the apartment, Paul is lost in a city he doesn't know, and he does not speak the language. Meandering and looking for landmarks that would guide him back, Paul despairs to find his way again. His luck changes when Peijing asks him if he's okay. Peijing did a homestay in England the year before, and would love to open a teashop when she's older.

Despite the fact that Paul is completely lost, Peijing knows just the person who can help Paul get back home. But first, she has errands to run, and Paul better hang on tight as they drive through Changbei at full speed on a moped!

Beautifully illustrated, Lost in Taiwan shows that taking risks and making new friends is worth the experiences you will get out of it, and that life's accidental meetings can lead to lifelong friendships.

South

Shackleton, Ernest. South. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9780760350256

In the early 20th century, one of the few remaining frontiers was Antarctic, the vast landmass sitting on top of the South Pole. Many expeditions had been mounted, including Roald Amundsen's team being the first to reach the South Pole in December 1911. But no one had crossed the continent from one side to the other. Ernest Shackleton, a polar explorer, was appointed in 1914 to mount such an expedition. Setting sail from England in August 1914, a few days after the beginning of the First World War, Shackleton, who commanded the Endurance, a coal powered icebreaker, hoped to land in the Weddell Sea on the Atlantic side of Antarctica, then cross through the South Pole to Cape Evans, on the Pacific  side of Antarctica. This was his third expedition to Antarctica, and it would prove to be the most dangerous.

Everything that could go wrong did. The Endurance had expected smooth sailing deep inside the Weddell Sea, but early ice floats blocked the path, and despite several attempts to move south the ship soon found itself stuck in ice, unable to free itself. Hoping for rescue, the crew continued to conduct science experiments and collect samples, until it became clear no one was coming for them. As the ice slowly crushed the ship, a decision was made to abandon it and trek to land. When this proved impossible, the crew found itself stranded on an ice float. As the ice drifted north, they eventually escaped the now dangerously thin ice and made for Elephant island, where they erected a shelter but lacked food and warmth. 

Shackleton and three other crew members then departed in one of the lifeboats, hoping to strike South Georgia 800 miles away in open and choppy frigid waters. Miraculously, they reached land 16 harrowing days later, only to discover they were on the wrong side of the island, and now needed to trek through the unchartered mountains to reach the whaling station that was their ultimate destination. An additional 36 hours of dangerous climbing through glaciers and crevices sapped their remaining strength, until they reached the whaling stations called Stromness. 

Finally rescued, Shackleton and his men were not at the end of their labors, for the rest of the crew remained on Elephant Island. Shackleton mounted a rescue, but had to turn back due to lack of fuel. He returned with another ship, and finally rescued his remaining crew members 128 days after leaving them behind. Despite the odds, no one died, and all of them survived this incredible ordeal.

Told by Shackleton himself, this story remains one of extreme survival against the odds. Fans of survival stories will appreciate the grit and determination it took to survive and to rescue a stranded crew.

Naruto, Vol. 18

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 18. 2007. 192p. ISBN 9781421516530. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following the confrontation with Itachi and Sasuke's subsequent injuries in Naruto, Vol. 17, it is now more imperative than ever for Naruto and Jiraiya to track down Lady Tsunada so that she can come back to Konoha to heal Naruto's frenemy. Jiraiya is also hoping that Tsunada will accept the title of Lord Hokage and lead the village.

But they are not the only ones who seek Lady Tsunade. Orochimaru and Kabuto also want to find her, and Orochimaru has an intriguing proposition to make. Finding her first, Orochimaru confronts Tsunada, and makes her an offer: Heal his arm, and he will bring back her younger brother and her lover from the dead. Orochimaru then admits with his restored arm he will destroy Konoha. He gives her a week to make a decision.

Jiraiya and Naruto find her soon after, and realize that Orochimaru has already been here. Naruto has continued his training, and mastered the first and second levels of the Rasengan, a secret jitsu controlled by few. But he struggles with the third and final stage of controlling the energy and the its containment. When Tsunade disparages and refuses to take the title of Lord Hokage, Naruto challenges her, for that has been his life goal. Tsunada agrees, and quickly stops Naruto. But she then makes a bet with him. Learn the third stage within the week, and she will offer him her necklace.

Coincidentally, that is the same week she has to reach a decision with Orochimaru. Torn between the two options, what choice will Tsunada make?

And Then Boom

Fipps, Lisa. And Then Boom. 2024. 256p. ISBN 9780593406328. 

Joe Oak's life always seems to explode at the worst possible moment. Not literally, of course, but life keeps throwing Joe curveballs, and Joe doesn't often know how to handle these. Like a superhero confronted by challenges, Joe is often knocked over, but he always falls back on his feet. Joe's mother comes and goes as she pleases, sometimes for weeks, sometimes for months or longer, so Joe has always lived with his grandmother. His mother was arrested, and grandmother, who's originally from England and who would like to go back someday, posted bail for her. But then she left again, and grandmother lost her house, throwing her and Joe out on the streets. 

Living in a car is not fun, but Joe made the most of it. Thank goodness, Joe has great friends and teachers at school who recognize his distress, and soon Joe and his grandmother have a new home in a trailer park not far from his friend Nick. Sometimes there's enough money to pay rent and buy food, but sometimes a car repair or a medical appointment means both Joe and his grandmother must do without. And then boom, Joe's grandmother dies, leaving him an orphan. Scared of the horror stories he heard about child protective services, Joe tries to survive alone with no money and no support, and he even adopts a dog and her two pups to remind him there's always hope. And just when things can't possibly get any worse, they do. Joe will have to show how resilient he really is as the challenges pile on him like blows from a supervillain.

A great middle-school story, Joe's life is hard but reflect the realities that many kids experience today. The characters are realistic, the incidents could happen to anyone, and Joe quickly learns that friends can help, if only he will let them. Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy this fast read!

The 60's: Mods & Hippies

Powe-Temperley, Kitty. The 60's: Mods & Hippies. Part of the 20th Century Fashion series. 2000. 32p. ISBN 9780836826012. Available at 391 POW on the library shelves.

The 1950s ended with the beginning of the space age, as both the Soviet Union and the United States placed satellites in orbit. During the 1960s, a space race took place to see who would get to the Moon first. This race saw the creation of new materials to design space suits, and inspired fashion towards the modern and streamlined look. The 1960s also saw the rise of the fight against the establishment, as protests over the Vietnam war erupted on campuses across the United States. Corporate attire came under assault as hippy prints, loose clothings, and the miniskirt appeared on the fashion radar of teenagers.

The rocker look continued to evolve in the 1960s, but was counteracted by the mods, or modernists, who preferred minimalist clothes inspired by jazz musicians. Famous designers such as Coco Chanel and Mary Quant continued to propose clothes inspired by events and by trends, but second hand shops and boutiques suddenly found a market for cheap clothes. Fashion icons from movies and music further influences dress styles in the 1960s, including the Beatles' more and more outlandish outfits and haircuts.