New At the Mid-Columbia Library System….
February is the month for lovers and love can take many forms. Whether it’s the love between parents and children, siblings, friends and lovers or even enemies, love is a constant source of conflict and frequently a source of hope. This month’s new titles cover a gamut of emotions, but first and foremost they illustrate the truism that humans (and sometimes little machines) need love.
SPACER AND RAT
by Margaret Bechard, c. 2005; Roaring Brook Press,
On a futuristic space station called Freedom, Jack learns that appearances can be deceiving. Spacers (those born in the Big Black) live on a maintenance station where humans (techies, mechs, geeks and miners) pass through on their way to the colonies. They hold contempt for the Earthies who have contaminated their planet and now flood the colonies with abandoned and orphaned children, or Rats. A favorite pastime with Jack and his friends is to hunt down and torment the Rats before they turn them over to the authorities (the Company.)
Jack’s existence is mostly
routine. He works at the Pub for Big
Gert, avoiding the lawless junkyard where junkies, (criminals) hang out. He looks forward to moving to
Kit is a Rat stranded on Freedom Station. Her late father was a tech geek who developed a unique enhanced maintenance bot that Spacers and Earthies would like to acquire by fair means or foul. Kit is trying to get to New Seattle where her father had contacts with other geeks working on artificial intelligence. When Jack helps her escape a gang of Spacers, he discovers Kit is nothing like he expected a Rat to be. Not only is she smart, brave and fully capable of hiding from the authorities indefinitely, she loyally guards the secret of the little bot, Waldo.
In this humorous and fast-paced sci-fi thriller, Spacer and Rat join forces to escape the bad guys and to protect a tiny mechanical being from exploitation by unscrupulous space pirates.
Author Bechard creates a vivid landscape of futuristic life and individuals who fight against the stereotypes and prejudices prevalent in a post-apocalyptic society.
This book is recommended for teen readers in grades 6-10.
--Reviewed by Marsha Bates, employee of the Kennewick Branch of the Mid-Columbia Library System.
NO SUCH THING AS A SECRET: A Brandy Alexander Mystery, by Shelly Fredman,
c.2005 by AuthorHouse,
For those
of you who can’t wait to get your next Stephanie Plum fix, the comparisons
between Fredman’s debut mystery and Evanovich’s loony bounty hunter are
obvious. Brandy Alexander is half
Jewish, half South Philly Italian, sassy and cute. She’s a television news personality in
When her friend, Johnny Marciano picks her up at the airport, it’s obvious he’s twitchy about being followed. There have been two unsolved gay murders in the city recently. The mayor is up for re-election and trying to keep the moral majority happy. Unfortunately for Johnny, his job as a photographer put him squarely in the wrong place at the right time. His photos of the latest victim threaten to break the gay bashing case wide open. He turns the photos over to the Philly police and suddenly a black SUV shadows Johnny every where he goes.
Brandy doesn’t take Johnny’s worries too seriously until his boat is blown up and he turns up missing. It’s clear something is rotten at the Philly P.D. and the only officer Brandy trusts is her ex, Bobby DiCarlo. How can she solve her first criminal investigation as a real reporter while trying not to lust after her old flame, dodging deadly characters in black SUV’s and getting fitted for the world’s ugliest bridesmaid dress? No one is telling the truth and there’s no such thing as a secret among the close-knit Italian community of South Philly.
The scene is set for crooked cops, prevaricating politicos, and one really inexperienced crime reporter with two deliciously gorgeous guys looking out for her.
Sound
familiar? Give it a try and find out how
a Philly investigative reporter differs from a
--Reviewed by Marsha Bates.
SLEEPING FRESHMAN NEVER LIE by
David Lubar, c2005, Dutton Books,
Scott Hudson is about to embark on the most dangerous journey of his life...high school, freshman year. From one of the tallest kids in his class, he now becomes one of the smallest, a victim of bus abuse, lunch money extortion, and sleep deprivation unlike any he’s ever known. To add to the desperate uncertainty of his life, his mom is pregnant and his circle of close friends has begun to drift apart. And when did childhood pal, Julia Baskins, become such a babe?
After hours of mind-numbing homework each night, Scott records tips for his sibling-to-be. His parents have decided on the names Sean or Emily for the baby, which Scott shortens to Smelly. In his lists of insider information for surviving freshman year, Scott includes a “guide to bus driver types, a guide to things that are worse than gym, a guide to teacher types, a list of safe cafeteria foods, and finally, good things about getting beaten up.”
Through a series of hilarious escapades, Scott loses some friends, gains some new friends and chases the elusive Julia in hopes of renewing their once-close relationship.
Author, David Lubar, has created a rare find in the genre of teen fiction, a story about real parents who love and protect their sons and real freshmen trying to survive the craziness of high school without totally looking like dweebs. Protagonist, Scott Hudson has a wicked sense of humor, understands the shortcomings of freshman boys, and holds a tender spot for his unborn brother or sister. This book is recommended for readers in grades 8 and up. --Reviewed by Marsha Bates.
THE MERMAID CHAIR by Sue Monk Kidd, Viking,
You would not be wrong to conclude quickly that The Mermaid Chair is a love story with a twist. After all, in the very first sentence a discontented married woman admits to falling in love with a Benedictine monk.
But be forewarned. Romantic love is not the true heart of this new novel by Sue Monk Kidd, who is much admired for her earlier work, The Secret Life of Bees.
Self-discovery and spiritual
searching are the drivers in this contemporary novel, which is set on an
imaginary island off the coast of
Kidd’s inspiration led to this novel about a love
affair that is overshadowed by religious and societal constraints. The married
woman, Jessie, grew up on the island but she lives now in
She is called back to the small fishing village to care for her mother, who’s inflicted a gruesome injury upon herself. Discovering the truth behind that injury becomes the key to Jessie also discovering the truth about her own unhappiness.
Shortly after her return to the island she visits the monastery next door, where for many years her mother cooked for the monks. There Jessie meets Brother Thomas, mysterious, virile and decades younger than the other monks. They are drawn to each other with an irresistible attraction.
Back at home Jessie has a husband and away at college she has a daughter. But those complications for her love affair are small compared to the secrets behind her mother’s strange behavior.
By now you can see this is no sweet, idyllic romance. And, it’s a distraction that somewhere about mid-way through The Mermaid Chair you also will sense how the novel is going to end. Chances are you will finish it anyway. Why? Kidd is a fine writer. And, you will care about Jessie, her family, and her lover. As endings in life are often not totally satisfying, neither is the ending of this novel, but it’s honest.
--Reviewed by Bonnie Taylor, author and trustee of the Mid-Columbia Library Board.