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.