The Game’s Afoot Again

The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz

It is a year after the death of Sherlock Holmes when Watson again sets pen to paper to record another of his sensational investigations, a series of events so scandalous they could not be related earlier.

When Edmund Carstairs believes he and his family are being threatened by a man in a flat cap, he turns to Holmes for help. It appears that the man has followed him from America seeking revenge. The man’s murder does not solve the puzzle, but instead leads Holmes and Watson ever deeper into a dangerous London underworld of opium dens and worse with links to the most powerful and influential levels of British society. In this dark world, they hear whispers about the House of Silk. But inquiries lead to threats, and they are warned off the investigation in no uncertain terms by those in the highest levels of government. Soon Holmes finds himself in prison, accused of murder.

Die-hard Conan Doyle fans will doubtless be able to find faults where this version of Holmes does not match the original exactly. But such quibbles miss the point. The Conan Doyle estate chose well when they selected Anthony Horowitz to revisit the epic character of Sherlock Holmes. Horowitz catches the spirit of the original in a well paced, excellently written story. Once I let myself be drawn into Holmes’ world, I couldn’t put the book down.

For anyone who ever enjoyed the inscrutably clever Sherlock Holmes and his idealistic chronicler, Dr. Watson, this book is a must read! Re-enter 221B Baker Street because, once again, “The game’s afoot. . . .”

This review first appeared on the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Shelf Life blog on February 21, 2012.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Princess Celie’s favorite day of the week is Tuesday because that’s the day Castle Glower usually grows a new room or two, or a turret, or passage. Castle Glower’s favorite person is Princess Celie, the only one who has ever tried to explore and map the ever-changing structure. Castle Glower is not shy about making its opinion known. When the Castle decides he should be the King’s Heir, Prince Rolf awakes one day to discover his bedroom has been moved next to the throne room. Unwelcome guests find their quarters growing smaller and shabbier, while favored residents are housed in spacious comfort.

When the King and Queen disappear, ambushed and presumed dead, visitors from foreign lands arrive suddenly to advise Celie, Rolf, and their sister, Lilah, during the time of transition. But the Castle seems to know that something isn’t right and the plotters underestimate the Castle’s abilities. They also underestimate the courage and intelligence of the Royal children. The Castle creates a turret, stocked with useful items, that appears when Celie and her siblings need it. It provides a passage to a hidden room where the children can overhear the council’s scheming – complete with a magic cloak that muffles sound, so the children will not, themselves, be overheard. Celie’s maps and her relationship with the Castle are the keys to saving the kingdom, the castle’s inhabitants, and the castle itself.

In this marvelous fairy tale, Princess Celie shares center stage with Castle Glower, truly a character in its own right. But George does a wonderful job of bringing all of the characters to life, from the foppish Prince Lulath with his tiny dogs to the menacing Prince Kelsh.

I found myself completely swept away by this story. While written for a middle grade audience, Tuesdays at the Castle is destined to have a wide appeal and is a must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy or fairy tales. In particular, fans of Gail Carson Levine will enjoy this tale of a spunky young heroine whose intelligence and bravery save both castle and kingdom.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George. ISBN: 78-1599906447. Published by Bloomsbury USA Childrens in 2011. 240 pages. Ages 8 and up.

This review will also appear on the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Shelf Life blog.

And the winner is . . .

In my reviews of Children’s Nonfiction books, I mentioned that our library was having a Mock Sibert Awards event. That event took place this afternoon and I had the honor to be one of the presenters. My book was The Mangrove Tree, the first book in my set of nonfiction reviews. I must have done an OK job selling it, because it won!

I can’t wait until Monday to see what book wins the actual Sibert Medal.

Super Nonfiction Books for Children

As my library system gears up for our Mock Sibert Awards event, I’ve been reading a fair bit of new nonfiction for children. So often children’s nonfiction gets overlooked as families head straight to the picture books. Or elementary school aged children think that if the book is in the Juvenile section, it must be too babyish. I’ve chosen three titles that I think really deserve a second look.

1. The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore

This book is my favorite of the three because all aspects of it are superbly done. The main text alternates between verse pages reminiscent of The House that Jack Built and a prose narrative of the improvements in the life of the Eritrean village of Hargigo thanks to Dr. Gordon Sato’s project to plant mangrove trees along the shores of the Red Sea. The story of the project is fascinating, showing how small changes can have a huge impact on people’s lives. The colorful collage illustrations have a wonderful three-dimensional texture that brings the tale to life. A lengthy afterword provides additional information on Dr. Sato’s life, the mangrove project, the people of Eritrea and the spread of the project to other locations around the world. The authors also include references, websites with more information and a glossary with pronunciation guide.

2. The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle
Panamanian Golden Frogs are a national symbol for the people of Panama. But their disappearance caused worldwide concern. This book is written as a mystery story that draws the reader in as well as any fictional detective story. Theories are examined and discarded in the effort to discover the culprit. The layout and page design are well thought out and contribute to the readability of the book. The photographs of the frogs are simply stunning. As with any high quality children’s nonfiction book, there is a section at the end with additional information including sources for more information on efforts to rescue frogs and about the golden frogs themselves as well as a glossary.

3. Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrin
The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City on March 25, 1911 was one of the deadliest workplace fires in America until September 11, 2001. This book places the tragedy in its context of immigration, sweatshop and working conditions in the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. Americans today take workplace safety regulations for granted. But this well-written book reveals the tragic circumstances that gave rise to the first such laws and the role of unions in the struggle for workers’ rights. This book is definitely directed to an older audience that the other two. It is marketed to ages 10 and up, but I suspect that its appeal to middle school aged children will be slim. While I did enjoy the book overall, I do have one small complaint. At times it feels a bit didactic and “teachy,” as if the author was writing for inclusion in a school curriculum. Some young readers may be especially sensitive to that tone and therefore be turned off to the book. Still, it is well worth a look, perhaps even for adults who may need to be reminded of the history that prompted some of the government regulations we now have.

The Fallen Blade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood

In the early 15th century Venice of The Fallen Blade by Jon Courtenay Grimwood, no one is safe from the political ambitions of the ruling family – not even Giuliette, beautiful cousin of the Duke. She becomes a pawn in the schemes of her aunt and uncle who are Regents for the simpleton Duke Marco. Meanwhile, Venice faces external threats from the Ottomans, the Byzantines and the German emperor. It is Atilo il Mauro’s job as head of the Assassini to protect Venice and enforce the will of its ruling family while trying not to be destroyed by that family’s internal power struggles.

Add a touch of the supernatural in the form of the German emperor’s krieghund (werewolves), the Duchess Alexa’s pet witch, and Atilo’s new young apprentice, Tycho and you have something that is definitely not your standard werewolves versus vampires novel. At the heart of the story is Tycho, an angel-faced boy with a mysterious past not even he knows fully. Stronger and faster than any man, he seems a perfect heir for Atilo in spite of his sensitivity to sunlight. In Grimwood’s alternate history, Tycho is the ancestor of Bram Stoker’s Dracula and his story is also that of the arrival of vampires in Europe.

This is a complex plot, its twists and turns punctuated by violence. Early in the book, the shifts of time and point of view can be a bit confusing. But as the action picked up, I found that I didn’t mind. I normally don’t read vampire novels and nearly passed this one by. But I am a sucker for a story of intrigue and assassination set in Renaissance Venice and this one came with an excellent review from a source I trust. I can’t say that I’ve become a vampire fan, but I did enjoy this intriguing book and look forward to the next installment of the trilogy.

This review was originally published on the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Shelf Life blog.

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku

Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw, illustrated by Eugen Yelchin

Most books about pet adoption are told from the child’s or family’s point of view. But this wonderful picture book explores the delights of adopting a shelter cat from the cat’s perspective. During visiting hours, he pretends not to care, but can’t resist taking a peek. On the car ride to his new home, he begs to be let out, only to insist on being let back in. In true cat fashion, he is sure of his own importance. He certainly deserves a name worthy of an oriental prince. “Won Ton? How can I / be soup? Some day, I’ll tell you / my real name. Maybe.”

The author’s note explains that the story is told in a series of senryu, a form of haiku that explores human nature, or in this case cat nature, in a playful way. Anyone who has ever owned a cat will immediately recognize how well Wardlaw captures the feline personality. Won Ton will come out and play with the toy, but just to make you happy. He’ll nibble at his food if you insist, but he won’t enjoy it. Yelchin’s graphite and gouache illustrations truly bring Won Ton’s adventures to life, from a graceful stretch to a toothy yawn to the horror of being catnapped and dressed in frills for a tea party.

This book is sure to please both children and the adults reading it to them. Cat-lovers of any age will smile and chuckle at Won Ton’s antics as he settles into his new home. Eventually he does reveal his real name to “his” boy. What it is? Haiku, of course!

This review was originally published on the Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Shelf Life blog.

Who are the real monsters?

Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Benny hates zombies, or zoms as folks usually call them. Of course he does. His earliest memory is of his mother handing him to his step-brother Tom, telling him to run while their Dad, already undead, grabbed her. Benny knows that zoms are evil monsters.

Tom is a bounty hunter, though he prefers to be called a closure specialist. He ventures into the Rot and Ruin, the wilds beyond the town’s fences, to quiet zoms. People in town call him brave and respect him. But Benny knows that Tom is a coward. After all, he ran away that night 14 years ago instead of saving Benny’s Mom. Benny is sure that other bounty hunters, like Charlie Pink-Eye and Motor City Hammer, are the real heroes.

So when 15-year-old Benny must find a job or face having his food rations cut in half, he resists apprenticing to Tom and joining the “Family Business” until he has no other options. Soon Benny’s first venture with his brother into the Rot and Ruin has him questioning everything he thought he knew.

This isn’t a book about zombies. OK, it is. But it is so much more. It is a book about family, courage, and love. It is a book about what it means to be human. For in this book, the real monsters are not the zoms.