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American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award Honoring Tim Tingle Page 8
House of Purple Cedar Page 4
60
INSIDE
MARCH 2017
that make our world work and applies those concepts to other more advanced work. The objective is to show that the same concepts that drive the mundane are the underpinnings for the complex. Each of the nine chapters is devoted to a specific aspect of physics, and the chapter tries to explore all facets of that aspect. While the anecdotes do make the subject matter more relatable, the narrative does get longwinded and sometimes grating. For readers without prior background in the topic, following the conceptual discussion may be difficult. What this book does well is link the mundane with the complex, and for that reason it is a book worth having on the shelf.
Category
Science & Nature
ICE BEAR: THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF AN ARCTIC ICON By Michael Engelhard University of Washington Press, $29.95, 288 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out!
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WILD THINGS, WILD PLACES: ADVENTUROUS TALES OF WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION ON PLANET EARTH By Jane Alexander Knopf, $28.95, 352 pages Reviewed by D. Wayne Dworsky Check this out! The observation of wildlife has dwindled in past decades except for such narrator naturalists as the late George Page, Marty Stoufer, and David Attenborough (who is still going strong at 90), et al. It is, therefore, a delight to see interest in the world of the wild rekindled once more. Jane Alexander has done just that in her new book, Wild Things, Wild Places. These are tales of observations in the wild that are so important to be given life in our time. This author impresses me with a dazzling display. She’s done a comprehensive job of discussing pertinent issues in most wild places throughout the world. The content appears to be a collection of anecdotes. Although the content is a little wordy at times, Alexander’s prose is articulate and clear, denoting a powerful perspective on wildlife. It appears Ms. Alexander enjoys an extensive notoriety with movie roles and connections with influential people. This will help propel her motivation to support wildlife further down the road. Her many involvements with various organizations also help propel her career as a concerned supporter of wildlife and wild places, making her book inevitable. I certainly applaud her incredible efforts.
This expensively produced, glossy book feels like an encyclopedia on a single subject, the polar bear, also called the white bear. Michael Engelhard has done exhaustive research on every aspect of the polar bear in Ice Bear. It is profusely illustrated with a visual of some sort on nearly every page: photos, sketches, maps, cartoons, advertisements, and illustrations of sculptures and etchings, all related to the polar bear. The illustrations have good captions with explanations and acknowledgements for their use. We find facts about the bear and stories related to it from prehistoric to modern times as well as stories of bear in zoos and circuses, and even a recipe of what to do should you have polar bear meat available to you. Engelhard’s writing is very enjoyable, and readers interested in the polar bear will have months of reading material. Apart from those in captivity, the polar bears’ range is mostly within the Arctic Circle; thus people who come across them are from northern Canada, Russia, Greenland, or Norway or are explorers of the Arctic. This book is both an academic treatise, with number superscripts referring to extensive notes, and reading for the interested public. AMERICAN HOOKUP: THE NEW CULTURE OF SEX ON CAMPUS By Lisa Wade W. W. Norton & Company, $25.95, 304 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! This is a very serious, well-researched and informative academic study on the sexual hookup culture of colleges and universities. Sociologist Lisa Wade obviously spent many years to research the topic of hookup culture and to write American Hookup, a formidable volume backed by countless student interviews. Starting with student assignments in her sociology classes regarding the students’ sexual lives and experiences and continuing with collecting data on sex and romance on her on campus, her research further continued on a tour of twenty-four campuses in eighteen states. This book is a detailed treatise of Wade’s collected data. As an academic study, few average See HOOKUP, cont’d on page 7
WHAT THE F: WHAT SWEARING REVEALS ABOUT OUR LANGUAGE, OUR BRAINS, AND OURSELVES By Benjamin K. Bergen Basic Books, $27.99, 288 pages Reviewed by D. Wayne Dworsky Check this out! In my youth I never thought twice about shouting out the most vulgar profanities to other boys, but I kept them guarded from girls. And in front of adults, such usage was unthinkable. Yet, here we are with Benjamin K. Bergen’s new book, What The F. Bergen takes a deep look at how and why profane language came about and raises rather important and provocative questions about the use and significance of vulgar language. Bergen uses “profanity,” “cursing,” and “swearing” interchangeably. The author also points out that profanity occurs in all languages and tends to identify similar body parts to dramatize the importance of the terms to which they refer. Although there are some subtle differences in meaning, simplification serves our interest best in this discussion. Among the various points that the author makes light of, he covets the many nuances these words convey. Here profanity adds depth and color to language in a way quite different from other literary structures. Bergen holds an optimistic view of the case for cursing and feels that it must have evolved to placate the frustration we share in societal pursuits. It’s a fun read, providing insight and joy.
THE TCCL SEED LIBRARY is a collection of open-pollinated and heirloom seeds that you can borrow to plant and grow at home. Use your Tulsa City-County Library card to check out up to five packets per season and save seeds from your best plants to return. DON’T HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? Apply online at www.TulsaLibrary.org/ application and get instant access to many services.
STORM IN A TEACUP: THE PHYSICS OF EVERYDAY LIFE By Helen Czerski W. W. Norton & Company, $26.95, 288 pages Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali Check this out! Physics is one of those topics that is math-heavy, requires students to memorize a ton of formulas, and expects them to pick out the appropriate formulas for any given problem. Most students learn enough to get their grades and forget a lot of it after the final exam. Given our technologically advanced (and advancing) world, anything that simplifies science and provides us with a conceptual understanding of our world is warmly welcomed. This book is one of those that shuns the formulas and focuses on physics concepts. Each chapter starts with something common that we can observe. It then explains the physical concepts
Visit http://guides.TulsaLibrary.org/TulsaSeedLibrary for more details. Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 2
Tulsa
Book Review
IN THIS ISSUE Science & Nature.......................................... 2
Tulsa City-County Library 400 Civic Center Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103 Ph. (918) 549-7323
Start Your Spring Planting Today................ 2
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Historical Fiction......................................... 4
Ross Rojek Ross@1776productions.com
American Indian Resource Center
Biographies & Memoirs............................... 5
EDITOR/COORDINATOR Jackie Hill Tulsa City-County Library
Science Fiction............................................. 5
GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT
Mystery, Crime & Thriller............................ 6
Heidi Komlofske-Rojek COPY EDITORS Heidi Komlofske-Rojek Danielle McManus
Romance...................................................... 7 American Indian Festival of Words.............. 8
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Christopher Hayden WEBSITE
Kids’ Books.................................................. 9 Teens........................................................... 9
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Cooking, Food & Wine............................... 10 Fiction....................................................... 11 History...................................................... 11 Youth Fiction Coming Soon....................... 13 The Tulsa Book Review is published monthly by City Book Review. The opinions expressed in these pages are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Tulsa Book Review or City Book Review advertisers. All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders. All words ©2017, City Book Review
Nonfiction................................................. 14 Youth Nonfiction Coming Soon.................. 15 Check This Out........................................... 16
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One faints constantly, and the other is hyper-religious. Neither can reach out to the children in a meaningful way. At risk of losing custody of the two children to his dour grandmother, Ward kidnaps Eugenia, who takes on the task of teaching the children herself. The younger brother, who carries a pet rat with him at all times, and the sister, who is obsessed with death, instantly welcome Eugenia, who has just as much improper useless knowledge as they do. Seven Minutes in Heaven is part bodice-ripper, part heartfelt story. The chemistry between Ward and Eugenia is sweet, and the way they bicker, make up, and divide the responsibilities of childrearing is idyllic. The complex emotions that arise from complicated scenarios propel the story forward. I’m never disappointed by an Eloisa James story, and you won’t be either.
Category
Historical Fiction
THE SIGNAL FLAME: A NOVEL By Andrew Krivak Scribner, $26.00, 288 pages Reviewed by Margo Orlando Littell Check this out!
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HOUSE OF PURPLE CEDAR By Tim Tingle Cinco Puntos Press, $16.95, 326 pages Reviewed by Teresa Runnels, coordinator, American Indian Resource Center, Tulsa City-County Library Check this out! It would be difficult not to be affected by Tim Tingle’s House of Purple Cedar. Fire, hatred, murder, domestic abuse and culture clashes all have a place. The story revolves around the memories of Rose Goode, a Choctaw Indian, as she was growing up in the once vibrant town of Skullyville in the late 1800s. The many storylines are woven together in a captivating style. If you listen closely, you can almost hear Tim telling the story in his soft and gentle voice from the Indian perspective. The story highlights the tensions between the Choctaw people and the non-Indian community, or nuhillos. It begins with a fire at Rose’s school, which kills 20 girls, including one of Rose’s best friends. The townspeople of Skullyville are victims of the evil Marshal Robert Hardwicke, who terrorizes anyone in his path especially when he is drunk. The marshal publicly humiliates Rose’s grandfather by striking him for no reason, brutally beats his wife, kills an innocent man and commits other terrible acts. There are positive characters in Skullyville, too, such as Rose’s grandfather, William Goode or Amafo, who chooses good over evil. How Amafo chooses to handle his public humiliation sets the stage for future events. Maggie Johnson, a store assistant who befriends Amafo, the stationmaster John Burleson, and Samuel Willis who quietly assists the marshal’s wife Ona Mae Hardwick after one of many beatings, are other key characters. House of Purple Cedar is beautifully written. It brings back to life the struggles and triumphs of a once thriving community. THE LADY OF THE LAKES: THE TRUE LOVE STORY OF SIR WALTER SCOTT By Josi S. Kilpack Shadow Mountain, $15.99, 352 pages Reviewed by Randy-Lynne Wach Check this out! Before he became Sir Walter Scott, Scotland’s most famous writer, he was just Walter Scott, a young man with an average job, dreams for the future, and a devoted love for the beautiful Williamina. Mina’s affections, however, were not so constant, and while she enjoyed Walter’s adoration, her wealthy father’s disapproval was also difficult to ignore. Would Walter continue always in a mostly one-sided passion, or was there another more satisfying path to love? A trip to the lake country provides new possibilities in the form of Charlotte Carpenter. I haven’t read a romance based on real historical figures since Mary Higgins Clark’s Mount Vernon Love Story. Much like the other, I have doubts about this story’s historical accuracy, but chapter notes indicate which details were pulled from history and which were invented for the story. A minor complaint is that the outcome was obvious from the beginning; though since it’s pretty simple to look up the real-life players, I can hardly fault the author for not keeping more of a mystery. However predictable, this was an incredibly sweet story and encouragement for a love based on mutual interest and respect rather than instant passion. SEVEN MINUTES IN HEAVEN By Eloisa James Avon, $7.99, 416 pages Reviewed by Caryn Shaffer Check this out! Eugenia is a lady who runs a governess’s agency and faces societal censure from it. Ward is a demanding aristocrat who needs a governess for his much younger half-brother and sister who were long separated from Ward and who lost their mother and father. The governesses Eugenia sends to Ward’s estate can’t handle the complicated ways the children deal with their grief.
Some families have more than their fair share of sadness. The Konar family, of the Endless Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, has been bludgeoned by three generations of men going off to war. The family patriarch, Jozef Vinich, emerged from World War I and moved to America. His daughter, Hannah, married Bexhat Konar, who was imprisoned for desertion during World War II--and was then killed by a neighbor back home who thought he was shooting a deer. When the novel begins, we find that Bexhat and Hannah’s younger son, Sam, is MIA in Vietnam. Now Hannah and her older son, Bo, are alone on the family homestead, doing their best to move forward in a life mired in endless waiting. When Ruth, Sam’s pregnant fiancee, suffers an unimaginable tragedy and moves in with Hannah and Bo, the waiting takes on a new shape. Old feuds begin to heal, and unanswerable questions are, finally, set aside. The violence that has jolted their lives begins to settle, and what emerges in its wake is almost enough to make up for the past. Taking place between Easter and Christmas in 1972, The Signal Flame draws readers deep into one family’s plodding determination to make it from day to day, and that they rarely dream of happiness makes it all the sweeter when it appears. THE KID: A NOVEL By Ron Hansen Scribner, $26.00, 320 pages Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Check this out! Henry McCarty, when a boy, was small and fair and could charm his way out of almost any trouble he got into, which was often. He also was extremely dexterous with his hands, something that got him both into and out of many difficulties throughout his short life. But it was his childhood that really defined him. He was moved around the country from New York with stops along the way to New Mexico as his tubercular mother sought an elusive cure. He lost his mother while very young and made his way into his infamous life of crime. Ron Hansen shows a great talent for deft writing and grand storytelling but with unfortunate inconsistency in this book. He seems to have fallen into a trap writers of historic fiction are wont to—feeling like they have to use every bit of research they have done in their novels. There are a great many insignificant characters brought in who bog down the story and do little to enhance it or move it along. This is a flaw that will stop many a reader from finding their way through to the sections of wonderful writing and great intensity that exist. MACK HAMMEKER: COLORADO BOUND By C. Michael Tressler Dog Ear Publishing, $16.99, 340 pages Reviewed by J Aislynn d’Merricksson Check this out! Tressler’s Mack Hammeker: Colorado Bound was my first foray into “Westerns.” Despite loving historical fiction, I never really got into this era and place. I’m really glad I gave this book a try! Mack Hammeker is a fascinating glimpse into a world just past, when the US nation was still young and growing. Living in a fixed place had its risks. Drought and storms could wreak havoc on a farm. Yet for all of that, attempting the journey west was fraught with peril at every turn. Floods, tornadoes, scarcity of game, broken wagons, injured animals/people, and trail fever are just a few of the calamities awaiting intrepid pioneers. Mack Hammeker is a retired bounty hunter who now lives on a quietly failing farm with a wife and four children. When a terrible tragedy cloaked in hypocritical goodness takes Margaret Hammeker from her family, Mack must re-evaluate what is best for them. What he really wants in life is to go back west and set up a cattle ranch of his own, a legacy he would be able to leave his children. Manna from heaven in the form of unexpected bounties gives Mack the means to make his dream reality. Joining with a wagon train, Mack and his family embark on the long, deadly journey west. Complications leave Hammeker, his family, and their travelling companions, Samantha and Allister Hamilton, stuck in the town of Laporte, beside the Cache le Poudre River. Mack and company decide to make Laporte their home, but a recently arrived Jack Slade, and his wife, who are running the newly built Virginia Dale stagecoach line station, take umbrage at the former bounty-hunter and set out to do him in. Along the way, Hammeker and his family make new friends with the Hamiltons, with Antoine Janis, Texas Hank, Red Feather, and several native Arapaho, among others. This story really drew me in, making me feel I was a part of it, not an outside observer. It was fast-paced and well-written, and, so far as I know, the historical points were well-researched. I loved that reading this recalled to me my youthful grade schools days playing Oregon Trail. FaSee MACK, cont’d on page 5
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 4
Book Reviews miliar places from the Oregon Trail game showed up, too, like Fort Laramie and the Platte River. One of my favorite parts is when old Red Feather carries out a vigil for the sick travelers where he asks the ancestral spirits to heal them or help them move on. Two owls land on the infirmary roof, and, after they fly away, a large raven lands on the roof as well, telling Red Feather that two of the sick ones would heal, but one would succumb to the trail fever. My only dislike was that from “The Reckoning” to the end of the book, things seemed a little disjointed. But it didn’t really detract from the book. Recommended, especially if you enjoy westerns or historical fiction.
Category
Biographies & Memoirs SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
SCRAPPY LITTLE NOBODY By Anna Kendrick Touchstone, $26.99, 304 pages Reviewed by John Murray Check this out! Anna Kendrick may be one of the most relatable celebrities today. Step inside her life and as deep into her mind as she’ll let you with her first essay collection, Scrappy Little Nobody. This frank and incisive foray into Kendrick’s world and her perspective on nearly everything is incredibly entertaining. Each essay chronicles a major event in her life, perfectly told with refreshing humor and occasional social commentary. She details her childhood and steady rise into fame—one she is incredibly proud of because she worked doggedly toward whatever goal she set. Movies, theater, awards shows, and more are covered in an all-too-short read. Regardless of your opinion on Anna Kendrick, this is a fantastic book. She writes with her distinct voice and subversive humor. She’s funny and quirky, with fierce intelligence and a deep passion for her craft. It’s an infectious read that will have you laughing out loud, pausing in thought, and considering how likely it is you could befriend her. Scrappy Little Nobody is simply a great read. Pick up a copy and share it with your friends--you won’t regret it. BIRDS, ART, LIFE: A YEAR OF OBSERVATION By Kyo Maclear Scribner, $25.00, 240 pages Reviewed by Aron Row Check this out! Author Kyo Maclear presents a fragile fluid commentary of her inner impressions as she spends a year taking note of birds in her urban setting. Following a pied-piper leader who is part musician and part ornithologist, she comes to appreciate the winged flyers in her environment. The observations associated with their sightings trigger her reflections on her relationships, family, and outlook. As a voracious reader, the writings are seeded with quotes from past masters. Her background is reviewed while looking at her relationships with her barn-storming journalistic father and her reticent, delicate, creative mother and how she has become the product of her parents. Reviewing past loves, she now is tranquil with her supportive, musical husband and two young, expressive sons. The twelve chapters, one for each month, read like a diary as her sensitive impressions are recorded in a lyrical format. The reader can relax in the solitude of her musings as the words gently flow into the consciousness. Some of the pages are graced with quick sketches or photos related to the subject. Read about the connections elicited from birds and their links to life and art. AMERICAN ULYSSES: A LIFE OF ULYSSES S. GRANT By Ronald C. White Random House, $35.00, 864 pages Reviewed by David Lloyd Sutton Check this out!
chronicles events from his boyhood to his early army time and civilian struggle through to the Civil War and his heroic presidency. White provides an awesome scope and a view I thoroughly enjoyed, despite it not letting go of me for three long days. What could have been a tedious recounting proved an engaging immersion. Notes comprise almost a hundred pages, done, as seems common, in a minuscule font. But those notes detail sources, source authorship, and abbreviations employed and add immense resources for any who might want to explore this superlative achiever’s life and times in greater depth. Maps with just sufficient detail that they allow following the text with complete understanding are very welcome. Photographic plates and portraiture bring characters to visual life while we read of their actions and relationships. In detailing his schooling, early distaste for public speaking, and outstanding talent for horsemanship, the book cultivates the reader’s attachment to the lad who would play such a gigantic role. Following an upper education at West Point, an institution that had yet to achieve the reputation he and his fellow cadets later earned for it, young Ulysses found himself serving in the Mexican War, becoming enamored of the beauty of that country and its people. That attraction later motivated his presidential support for freedom for Mexico’s people. Though he saw enough direct combat to season him, the young lieutenant found himself performing as a quartermaster for massive movements of troops. Though he disliked such tasking at the time, he excelled at it . . .which helps to explain his masterly ability to sustain great movements of men and material years later. Several post-war assignments were stressful, often because he was separated from his wife and love, and abuse of the bottle joined his profile. That would give him difficulties later, though his biographer has been careful to demonstrate later restraint in that direction. The underpaid young officer failed in a couple of business ventures involving flooded potatoes and trying to sail tons of ice against prevailing winds. There were family conflicts: Grant had fallen for the daughter of a slaveholder, which caused an estrangement with his own abolitionist father. Despite that, having left the army, he found himself working for the family shoe factory. Yes, Ulysses S. Grant was a shoe clerk when the Civil War broke out. The story of Grant’s rise in rank, interactions with subordinates and commanders, maneuvering in two theaters, and eventual triumph is a large part of his life tale. The military history of those campaigns and glimpses of personalities--everyone from Lincoln to Seward to Sherman to McClellan to Longstreet--are a complete course on that conflict. Then Grant’s almost forced accession to the presidency found him fighting for civil rights for freed slaves and for Amerindians, some of whom were still fighting federal troops. His first term was the epitome of reconstruction, battling the KKK and other reactionaries in the South. In his second term, there were scandals, largely because the man gave trust unreservedly. And of course his successor allowed Jim Crow to emerge, sorrowing the former president. He and his loving wife toured the world, meeting adulation at every stop. U.S. Grant had become a respected citizen of the world.
Category
Science Fiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP By Greg Cox Tor Books, $15.99, 288 pages Reviewed by Rebecca Williams Check this out! It’s 2006. Flynn Carsen, the original Librarian, is in Scotland retrieving an original manuscript of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The thief has found the recipe for the concoction that will unleash his inner beast. After removing the manuscript and ruining the elixir, Carsen returns to the Library in New York, where he is immediately sent to the Middle East to retrieve Aladdin’s Lamp. Fraught with danger and already exhausted, Carsen deals with the Forty, the band of thieves that once attacked Ali Baba and Sinbad for the lamp. Far in the future, in 2016, the new group of Librarians have gone to Las Vegas to secure the Lamp, running into some of the same characters as Carsen did and potentially letting loose a genie with revenge on his mind. A fun romp through time with enough librarian jokes to entertain readers, this is either an excellent introduction to The Librarians series or a way to whet appetites while waiting for new episodes. Cox created a story that blends in with the series while giving fans something new. The style is more plot driven, taking after the show, but the characters are likable and the action is packed. See SCIENCE FICTION, cont’d on page 15
A gift! A biography done with the carefulness and gentleness that characterized its subject, Mr. White’s work glows with polished maturity. In this treatment, Grant’s formative years are given the same loving attention as his later, post-presidential period. The book Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 5
story, especially since his betrothed disappeared not long after his death. While I am always up for a good Scottish mystery, I have to admit that this one was not a favorite. It did have a good plot, and there were some surprises at the end, but it seemed too slow and dull to me at times. The historical tidbits were interesting, and the famous Scottish weather made for an impressive background; however, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a tad boring.
Category
Mystery, Crime & Thriller SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
WHEN SHE’S GONE: A THRILLER By Jane Palmer Crooked Lane Books, $25.99, 304 pages Reviewed by Christina Boswell Check this out! Ara Zuyev is the bodyguard for Samantha Harper, the stepdaughter of a billionaire businessman. Ara has a lot of secrets, many of which come to light when Sam is kidnapped. Luke Patrick of the FBI is called in to investigate, and he immediately suspects Ara. Now Ara has to prove her innocence to him and race the clock to find Sam before it’s too late. Ara discovers you can’t keep your past hidden for long in When She’s Gone. It is always nice to see a female lead saving the day, but I found this book to be anticlimactic. Each chapter turns out the way you think it will, making it fairly predictable and not much of a thriller. All the women in this book seem to be ruled by emotions, which they try to fight, but apparently it is not possible when you are a woman. I found that to be a little bit insulting, but maybe my emotions are just getting the best of me. This definitely wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read; however, I don’t think I would read it again. THE RISING: A NOVEL By Heather Graham, Jon Land Tor Books, $25.99, 400 pages Reviewed by Christina Boswell Check this out! Alex is just a normal kid. A senior in high school and captain of the football team, he’s got everything going for him. School is more of a challenge for him, but he’s got Samantha as his tutor. Sam is top of their class and hopes to be an astronaut someday. One night at a football game, Alex has an accident that lands him in the hospital. Things start to get really weird after that. His doctor is murdered, and then his parents. Sam witnesses the death of Alex’s parents and follows his mother’s instructions to get Alex and run. It was always apparent that Alex was adopted, but he had no idea he might not even be from this planet or that he could be the key to saving it. So Alex and Sam go on the run to find some answers and to stay alive. Along the way, they meet Raiff, who has watched over Alex his whole life. They also discover they are being hunted, both by those who killed his parents and by a wealthy tycoon who has vowed to exterminate all aliens since they killed his father. And so The Rising begins, a new series about the fate of two worlds in the hands of a young man. For some reason, this book had a very similar feel to me as the James Patterson Maximum Ride series–possibly because they are both about teenagers who are different, but I think it also had to do with the writing style. The authors of The Rising write in a manner comparable to James Patterson. The chapters are very short, making it easy to keep reading and hard to put down. I love James Patterson books, and I found this to be equally entertaining. I look forward to finding out if Alex and Sam can save both worlds. THE REEK OF RED HERRINGS: A DANDY GILVER MYSTERY By Catriona McPherson Minotaur Books, $26.99, 304 pages Reviewed by Susan Miller Check this out! Dandy Gilver and her assistant Alec Osbourne have taken on a case for Mr. Birchfield who owns a fish cannery in Gamrie, Scotland, a quaint fishing village on the Banffshire coast. Body parts have been turning up in barrels of packed herring, and they have been engaged to find out who the body parts belong to and to locate any missing parts that haven’t surfaced yet. First, the pair will have to pass themselves off as brother and sister philologists to get the villagers to open up about their daily lives. They soon discover that several strangers were spotted in the village the previous summer, but it’s unclear if one might be the victim in question. A local fisherman also drowned during summer, and Dandy wonders if there may be more to his
DEATH AMONG RUBIES: A LADY FRANCES FFOLKES MYSTERY By R. J. Koreto Crooked Lane Books, $25.99, 288 pages Reviewed by Tamara Benson Check this out! Death among Rubies, the second installment in R.J. Koreto’s Lady Frances Ffolkes Mysteries will not be a disappointment to those who loved her first. Koreto masterfully tackles the mores and language of Victorian Britain and gives the reader insight into the many issues an independent woman would have faced at that time. Lady Frances is an attractive, aristocratic woman who has caused quite a stir in her circles by living alone and doing work for the suffragette cause. While traveling with her friends, Gwen and Thomasina, back to Gwen’s family’s country estate, Frances finds herself once more caught up in a murder investigation when Gwen’s father is found stabbed with a Turkish blade in his study during a house party. To make matters even worse, Thomasina has received vicious threats to expose her and Gwen’s relationship and thus destroy her reputation and call into question her suitability to inherit the estate. Lady Frances must once more do her best to convince the local police that her deductions are valid. Luckily, this time she has Scotland Yard on her side. I was quite surprised to discover that the author, Koreto, is, in fact, a gentleman. He has created female characters who are quick witted, intelligent, and determined, and I applaud him! I cannot wait to see what Lady Frances gets up to next! CHAOS: A SCARPETTA NOVEL By Patricia Cornwell William Morrow, $28.99, 400 pages Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro Check this out! The city of Boston is experiencing an unusual heat wave in September. This is where we find Dr. Kay Scarpetta, who is at Harvard to give a presentation on a Space Shuttle disaster with a former mentor when a dead body appears and consumes her every movement. Her mind had previously been occupied with her sister’s impending visit and harassment from an unknown source. The death of a young girl is mysterious, as the exact cause of death appears to have come from nowhere. Meanwhile, Scarpetta’s husband has been called away on a possible homeland security threat. Scarpetta is perplexed by a visit from her niece that leaves her with more questions than answers. As the hours pass and the body gets colder, Scarpetta senses dangers from a former enemy and puts all her time into solving the death of the young victim. But will she be successful? The twenty-fifth book in Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series is a pulse-racing tension-builder from the first page. The story is fast moving, original, and the medical speak is clear to understand. As a first time reader of this author, it was a pleasure to dive right into the saga of Kay Scarpetta. A MEASURE OF MURDER: A SALLY SOLARI MYSTERY By Leslie Karst Crooked Lane Books, $25.99, 336 pages Reviewed by Tamara Benson Check this out! Sally Solari leads a deliciously complicated life. She has inherited Gauguin, an upscale restaurant, from her aunt, complete with all of the headaches that brings with it, including staffing issues and the odd kitchen fire. Meanwhile, she’s still helping her father at Solari’s, their family’s Italian restaurant. Combine that with taking care of an inherited dog, house, and vintage auto, landing an alto spot with the local chorus, and dealing with an ex-boyfriend, and it makes one wonder how she would find the time to become involved in another murder. However, when the lead tenor in the chorus dies during the first rehearsal and his grieving girlfriend begs Sally to do some investigating, she finds it impossible to say no. Leslie Karst bring whips up another tasty story in the second in her Sally Solari Mysteries, A Measure of Murder. Her wit is as razor sharp as chef’s knives, and with the liberal toss of red herrings into the mix, this savory story is sure to be as much of a hit as the first. The addition of the recipes is a lovely touch, and I must admit to doing a little damage to the book as I was cooking and reading! Truly a pleasure! A DEATH AT THE YOGA CAFÉ: A MYSTERY By Michelle Kelly Minotaur Books, $26.99, 272 pages Reviewed by Susan Miller Check this out! Keeley Carpenter has a lot on her plate at the Yoga Café in Belfrey, England. The mayor of the village has been murdered, her difficult mother has just arrived in the village, and her boy-
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 6
Book Reviews friend, local detective Ben Taylor, suspects the mayor’s girlfriend and Keeley’s nemesis, Raquel, of the murder. Keeley isn’t so sure about that. While she doesn’t care for Raquel, she can’t actually see her as the murderer. Meanwhile, Ben is determined to stop Keeley from investigating on her own, but Keeley just can’t stop what comes naturally--until there’s another death. Balance at the Yoga Café is soon shattered, and it might take more than a few yoga poses to help Keeley find the murderer. This charming, cozy mystery has it all: eccentric characters, a likable heroine, and enough twists and turns to keep mystery readers turning page after page. The inclusion of the cafe’s recipes and a few yoga instructions just adds to the fun.
Category
Romance
For those not familiar with Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles, A Promise of Fire and Breath of Fire are intricate fantasy and mythology melded with steamy romance into one engaging read. Bouchet’s two novels are easily the most interesting, creative romances I’ve read all year. This is coming from someone who reads upwards of sixty books annually, most of them romance. <In Breath of Fire, Cat and her significant other, Griffin, spend most of their time on a quest to acquire the Ipotane, a herd of strong mythical beasts. They want the Ipotane to protect the borders of their country from Cat’s evil mother, Andromeda. From Cat’s misunderstandings with gods and demi-gods to her relationship woes to her struggles within herself, it is the persistent, roiling conflict that keeps the story moving. Even in the face of danger or on the brink of death, Cat still manages to be plucky, smart, and independent. That’s something every romance reader should want in their heroine. HOOKUP, cont’d from page 2
SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
readers would likely enjoy this study unless seriously interested in the subject. This volume includes the result of many interviews and numerous quotes from students. We have such topics as the seven steps of hookup, sex in the drunkworld, cunnilingus and fellatio, sexual assault, orgasm and masturbation, falling in love, and pregnancies. The book starts with a lengthy introduction and an equally lengthy conclusion. As an academic volume, it has extensive notes, bibliographic entries, and resources. American Hookup will find a useful place on university library bookshelves.
UNDER PRESSURE: BUILT FOR LOVE BONUS By Lori Foster HQN Books, $7.99, 480 pages Reviewed by Debbie Suzuki Check this out! Lori Foster is back with a new series that is a spin off of her Ultimate series. Fans of the Ultimate series will recognize the hero, Leese Phelps, but readers new to Lori Foster will be able to jump into Under Pressure without a problem. Leese is a former MMA fighter who is now working for an elite security agency and is assigned to protect Catalina Nicholson. It does not take long for the sparks to start flying between Leese and Cat, but with someone out to kill Cat, Leese knows he should not give in to temptation. Cat is not the most likable character when we first meet her. Her personality bounces around between being practical, flighty, suspicious, and naïve, so it is hard to nail down her character and feel invested. Leese is much more likable, and for those who read the previous series, he has changed quite a bit. The story line itself has a few twists and turns that always makes a story more intriguing, and it will keep you guessing until the end. With a weaker heroine, this isn’t the best of Lori Foster’s books but still promises to be a great new series.
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HONOR: THE BREAKING POINT By Jay Crownover William Morrow Paperbacks, $14.99, 368 pages Reviewed by Michelle Tan Check this out! Okay, confession time…Honor is the first book that I have read from Jay Crownover. I know, I know…Jay Crownover fans are probably screaming at me. Why did it take me so long to finally read one of her books? Well, don’t worry. After reading Honor, Jay Crownover has my complete, undivided attention now. Honor was a gritty, intense, emotional, and sexy romance read. Crownover beautifully blends intrigue, steam, and sensuality in such a gripping fashion that readers like myself can’t help but be mesmerized with her words and characters. Right from the opening pages, I was hooked. Crownover’s prologue was all it took to suck me into the proverbial rabbit hole where I wanted and needed to know who is Nassir. Who is this man? Is he the devil? The hero? The monster? Or is he the unlikely anti-hero who will steal our hearts as he proves his loyalty and love for Keeyln? The strong pull of Keelyn and Nassir is one connection that can be described as magnetic. They are total opposites, and yet put them together and the electric charge is so strong. This connection that they feel for one another is indescribable, and loving a man who is dangerous will test any relationship. Behind the rough edges and his complex personality, can this unlikely anti-hero steal our hearts? Honor was one of those romance reads where the anti-hero steals the spotlight. Nassir’s bold and enigmatic personality draws readers to see him as a complex man but also as a man who has heart and affection for one woman only. So if you are looking for a romance that is full of complexity, intrigue, badass characters, and suspense thrown into the mix, then Honor is definitely the book for you. Crownover surely held me hostage with her wicked prose and vivid, raw characters. BREATH OF FIRE By Amanda Bouchet Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99, 448 pages Reviewed by Caryn Shaffer Check this out!
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Breath of Fire continues Catalia Fisa’s trials and tribulations as she attempts to overcome the trauma of her past and come to grips with her destiny as Kingmaker. Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 7
Celebrating American Indian heritage, culture, arts and achievements Saturday, March 4 • 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Hardesty Regional Library • 8316 E. 93rd St. • 918.549.7323
Festival of Words Writers Award Honoring
Food Concession National Champion Indian Tacos by Monie Horsechief of Horsechief Catering
Tim Tingle
Genealogy Research 11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M. • SECOND FLOOR Tulsa City-County Library’s Genealogy Center houses one of the largest genealogy collections in Oklahoma. One of the highlights of the collection is American Indian resources. Discover the many services and resources available to family history researchers at the center.
Native Culture Maker Spaces 11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M. • FIRST FLOOR Come and enjoy a day of make and take! You will get to take home the projects you make! Projects include: • Cherokee pottery by Crystal Hanna • Finger weaving by Michel Laudermilk • Cherokee basket weaving by Choogie Kingfisher • Sculptures with Lisan and Dana Tiger • Pony bead key chains by Stella Foster
Children’s Crafts 11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M. CHILDREN’S AREA, FIRST FLOOR Families can enjoy a variety of different crafting areas to make mementos to take home.
10:30-11:30 a.m. • Connor’s Cove Tim Tingle (Choctaw) is a storyteller and award-winning author of books for children, teens and adults. His works include Walking the Choctaw Road, How I Became a Ghost, Crossing Bok Chitto, House of Purple Cedar and his latest release, Danny Blackgoat: Dangerous Passage. A book signing will follow. Copies of his works will be available for purchasing.
Third Annual Preserving Our Tribal Languages Forum 11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M. FROSSARD AUDITORIUM FIRST FLOOR The Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission and the American Indian Resource Center will showcase the rich culture of native languages while focusing on native youth and children. All tribes are invited to participate. Presenters include: • Travis Mammasety (Kiowa) • Robin Soweka (Muscogee Creek) • George Blanchard (Absentee Shawnee) • Paul Barton (Seneca-Cayuga) • Tracy Moore (Osage)
Traditional American Indian Dance Exhibition Presented by All Nations Indian Youth 1:30 P.M. • FIRST FLOOR All Nations Indian Youth, coordinated by Alice White Cloud, is a group of intertribal dancers who perform a variety of traditional American Indian dances representing their different tribes.
Zoo 2 U: Oklahoma Wild 11:30 A.M. & 12:30 P.M. STORYTIME ROOM, FIRST FLOOR This family presentation from the Tulsa Zoo will bring a better understanding of the natural world while encouraging a healthy appreciation of Oklahoma wildlife and conservation. Audience limited to 50 participants per session.
Hearing loop available in Frossard Auditorium and Connor’s Cove. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.
Sponsored by The Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Dr. Frank and Mary Shaw, Friends of the Helmerich Library, Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, Tulsa Indian Community Foundation, Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa City-County Library’s American Indian Resource Center. Additional support provided by the Mary K. Chapman Foundation and the George Kaiser Family Foundation
Free and Open to the Public • www.TulsaLibrary.org/airc If you are hearing-impaired and need a qualified interpreter, please call the library 48 hours in advance of the program.
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 8
www.TulsaLibrary.org
918.549.READ
MARCH 2017
A FREE MONTHLY GUIDE TO YOUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY, ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
adults & all ages BIXBY LIBRARY PAWS for Reading for Adults Saturday, March 18 • 10 a.m.-noon Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Adults are invited to read for 20 minutes to a furry, four-pawed friend. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Bixby Adult Book Discussion Wednesday, March 29 • 2-3 p.m. Read the novel "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd and then join us for a lively discussion. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the library. Light refreshments will be served.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY Open Book Discussion Tuesday, March 7 • 6:30-7:45 p.m. Read Colm Toibin's novel "Brooklyn" and then join fellow readers for a lively discussion. Copies are available for checkout at the Broken Arrow Library. For adults.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH Great Decisions Discussion Group Wednesdays, March 1, 22 • noon-3 p.m. Join us for a lively conversation about "Conflict in the South China Sea" on March 1 and "Saudi Arabia in Transition" on March 22. Broken Arrow Sidewalk Astronomers Thursday, March 2 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us as we find out about the Pinwheel Galaxy. Discover how an early 19th century toy inspired the naming of a galaxy. Construct a pinwheel with a NASA image of the Pinwheel Galaxy on it. For ages 5-adult.
BROOKSIDE LIBRARY
Brookside Book Discussion Monday, March 13 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Read "The Couple Next Door" and then join us for this lively discussion. You never know what's happening on the other side of the wall. Read this page-turner and tell us what you think about it. For adults.
CENTRAL LIBRARY Books Sandwiched In Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 12:10-12:50 p.m. Location: Aaronson Auditorium Sponsored by the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. March 6 • Sloan Davis will review "The Hamilton Affair" by Elizabeth Cobbs. March 13 • Eldon Eisenach will review “Patriotic Betrayal” by Karen M. Paget. March 20 • Kalpana Misra will review “The Architect’s Apprentice” by Elif Shafak. March 27 • Vane Lucas will review “How Not to Be Wrong” by Jordan Ellenberg. An Evening With Author Chris Cleave Wednesday, March 8 • 7-8:45 p.m. Location: Pocahontas Greadington Learning & Creativity Center New York Times best-selling British author Chris Cleave joins us for his first-ever Oklahoma event. Cleave took the reading world by storm with his megahit "Little Bee." He returns with his new novel, "Everyone Brave Is Forgiven," a heartbreaking, insightful novel that tells the story of three lives entangled during World War II. Presented in partnership with Tulsa Literary Coalition, Booksmart Tulsa and Magic City Books. For adults. Show Me How Business Series: Profiling Your B2C Target Market Thursdays, March 9, 23 • 4-5 p.m. Location: Computer Lab Learn how to build a profile of your ideal B2C (business to consumer) customers using the library’s Reference USA Consumer Lifestyles and Demographics Now
databases. Registration is required. Contact the Research Center at 918-549-7323 or askus@tulsalibrary.org to register or for more information.
COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY All Thumbs Knitters Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 12:30-2:30 p.m. • All levels of knitting expertise are welcome to join us for this fun and instructional afternoon. Collinsville Book Discussion Tuesday, March 14 • noon-1 p.m. Read "Still Life" by Louise Penny and then join us for a lively discussion. Copies of the book are available at the library's circulation desk. For adults.
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Start-Up Basics Thursday, March 2 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Location: Oak Room Want to start a business? Get the help you need with SCORE experts. Learn the essentials of business start-ups, get action steps for your business and receive one-to-one mentoring. SCORE is a nonprofit association of volunteer business experts. Registration is required. Go to www.tulsa.score.org to register. 2017 American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award Honoring Tim Tingle Saturday, March 4 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. Location: Connor’s Cove Tim Tingle will receive the 2017 American Indian Festival of Words Writers Award. Tingle (Choctaw) is a storyteller and award-winning author of books for children, teens and adults. A book signing will follow. Copies of his works will be available for purchasing. Sponsored by the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Dr. Frank and Mary Shaw, Friends of the Helmerich Library, Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs
Commission, Tulsa Indian Community Foundation, Tulsa Library Trust and American Indian Resource Center. 2017 American Indian Festival of Words Saturday, March 4 • 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. The free festival celebrates the history, traditions and contributions of American Indians through enlightening family programs and activities, including native culture make-and-take projects, children's crafts, dance exhibition and more. A food concession featuring national champion Indian tacos also will be available. Sponsored by the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Dr. Frank and Mary Shaw, Friends of the Helmerich Library, Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, Tulsa Indian Community Foundation, Tulsa Library Trust and American Indian Resource Center. For all ages. Third Annual Preserving Our Tribal Languages Forum Saturday, March 4 • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Location: Frossard Auditorium The Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission and the American Indian Resource Center will showcase the rich culture of native languages while focusing on native youth and children. All tribes are invited to participate. Presenters include Travis Mammasety (Kiowa), Robin Soweka (Muscogee Creek), George Blanchard (Absentee Shawnee), Paul Barton (Seneca-Cayuga) and Tracy Moore (Osage). For adults. Genealogy Workshop With Judy Russell Saturday, March 11 • 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Location: Frossard Auditorium A genealogist with a law degree, Judy Russell (aka “The Legal Genealogist”) will discuss legislative petitions, resolving conflicts in records, prison records and how knowing the law makes us better genealogists.
Hearing loop available. Switch hearing aid to T-coil.
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HELMERICH LIBRARY Books People Are Talking About Wednesday, March 15 • 12:15-1:15 p.m. Join us for our monthly book discussion. We will highlight unsung heroes in events surrounding WWII and the Holocaust in the following books: "Village of Secrets: Defying the Nazis in Vichy France" by Caroline Moorehead, "The Righteous" by Martin Gilbert, "50 Children" by Steve Pressman and "Once Upon a Town: The Miracle of the North Platte Canteen" by Bob Greene. Light refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Helmerich Library.
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nutrition, and simple, fun ways to introduce movement and exercise into everyday routines. This class also will help you develop a plan that will enhance the quality of your life. Presented by the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
SCHUSTERMAN-BENSON LIBRARY Mystery Readers Roundtable Thursday, March 2 • 2-4 p.m. Come for coffee and find out what other mystery lovers are reading. For adults.
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We Built This City: Create Shoe-Box Cities! Wednesday, March 15 • 11 a.m.-noon If you were in charge of planning a city, what would it look like? What buildings or businesses would you include? Join us as we create our own shoe-box cities. The possibilities are endless! For third- through sixthgraders. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Bixby Teen Manga/Anime Club Tuesday, March 21 • 6-7 p.m. Discuss your favorite manga characters and books while making a craft. For ages 10-18.
Mainly Mysteries: Discover Authors Julie McElwain and Emily Littlejohn Tuesday, March 28 • 6-7:15 p.m. We will discuss "Inherit the Bones" and "A Murder in Time." Light snacks provided by the Friends of the Helmerich Library.
Starting Your Spring Garden Thursday, March 9 • 6-7 p.m. Get helpful tips and techniques for starting your spring garden from Tulsa Master Gardener Bob Vaught. Learn about borrowing seeds from TCCL's Seed Library.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY
SKIATOOK LIBRARY
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY
Confident Parenting Series: Healthy Baby Food Made at Home Thursday, March 9 • 6:30-7:15 p.m. Location: Lecture Room • Learn about infant nutrition and how to save money by making your own baby food. Watch a chef make baby food and then receive samples of the finished product. This program is presented by the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma and OSU Extension Community Nutrition Education Program. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust.
Osage Language Class Thursdays, March 2, 9, 23, 30 • 6-7 p.m. This class is presented by the Osage Nation Language Department. For all ages.
Adventures in STEAM Friday, March 3 • 2-3 p.m. Want to learn more about how computer programs work? Join us for a hands-on coding workshop for ages 9-12. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Reading Across Genres Tuesday, March 28 • 11 a.m.-noon Read "The Bone Clocks" by David Mitchell and then join us for this lively discussion. Copies of the book are available at the library. For adults.
OWASSO LIBRARY Radical Home Economics Lunch Hour: MIA Monarchs Thursday, March 2 • noon-1 p.m. Why are monarchs missing in action and why should we be concerned about their decline? Join us for a lunch hour discussion and discover why there has been a sharp decline in the monarch population, learn what hazards monarchs face and how you can help. You may bring your lunch. For adults. Eat Better, Move More Mondays, March 27; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15, 22 • 11 a.m.-noon This nine-week class for older adults and/or caregivers focuses on improving nutrition and introducing movement and exercise. Instructors will share ways to improve your
SUBURBAN ACRES LIBRARY Award Ceremony: Black History Month Essay Contest Saturday, March 4 • 1-3 p.m. We will recognize winners of the 2017 African-American History Month Essay Contest. Winners may read aloud their submissions. Light refreshments are provided. Bikes and Books Saturday, March 18 • noon-2 p.m. Meet 918 Riderz Motorcycle Club members and see their bikes up close. We will have giveaways, plus lots of library information. Motorcycles will be on display at the Gibbs Shopping Center. Youth ages 16 and younger will receive a free book and the chance to win one of five gift cards provided by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. For all ages.
teens & tweens BIXBY LIBRARY Teen Tech Take Apart Saturday, March 11 • 2-3 p.m. TEEN We’ll take gadgets TECH apart to see what's inside. For ages 12-18.
www.TulsaLibrary.org
Cubelets for Teens Tuesday, March 28 • 6-7 p.m. TEEN What are Cubelets TECH and what can you do with them? Come to the library and find out! For ages 12-18.
BATAB Meeting Thursday, March 9 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join the Broken Arrow Teen Advisory Board for snacks and activities while giving input for future library programs and displays. For ages 12-18.
into pictures or patterns on a plastic pegboard and fuse to create unique art. Supplies are provided. For ages 10-18.
CENTRAL LIBRARY Series: Introduction to CSS for Teens Monday, March 6 • 4-5:30 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab Join us for an introduction to the basics of computer coding with CSS. Registration is required. Class size is limited. Call 918-549-7323 to register or register online. For ages 12-18. Sewing for Teens Thursday, March 9 • 4-5 p.m. TEEN Location: Maker Space TECH Join us as we learn how to sew on a button and other useful skills. For ages 12-18. Seating is limited. Registration is required. Call 918-5497323 to register. For ages 12-18. Drones in the Garden Tuesday, March 14 • 2-3:30 p.m. TEEN Location: Tandy Garden TECH Join us as we assemble and fly drones in the garden. For ages 14-18. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Homeschool Workshop: 3-D Modeling Wednesday, March 15 • 1-2 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab We will explore the ABCs of 3-D modeling and 3-D printers using a free online tool. Space is limited. Register online. For ages 10-15.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH
Retro Tech Gaming Tuesday, March 21 • 6-7 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman TEEN Children’s Storytime Room TECH Go back to a time when technology consisted of record players, joysticks and VHS. We'll play games and enjoy crafting. Registration is required. Call 918-5497323 to register. For ages 12-18.
Paper Circuitry Workshop TEEN Tuesday, March 14 • 6-7 p.m. TECH Learn the basics of electric circuits in a fun, artistic way! We'll use copper tape, conductive ink, LED lights and coin batteries paired with art supplies for a truly unique learning experience. Registration is required. Program is limited to 20 participants. Call 918-549-7323 to register. For ages 10-18.
Game Development for Beginners Saturday, March 25 • 1-3 p.m. TEEN Location: Computer Lab TECH We know you love playing video games, so come and learn how to create them! We will explore how video game environments are composed and how to add elements. Class size is limited. Register online. For teens.
In the Middle Book Club Monday, March 27 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us for snacks and great conversation about "The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky" by Holly Schindler. Snacks are provided. For ages 9-12.
Not Your Average Book Club Tuesday, March 28 • 6-7:30 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab Read manga? Watch anime? Join us as we celebrate fandoms by creating our own manga/comic books on iPads and tablets. For ages 12-18.
Read or Die Anime Club Saturday, March 18 • noon-2 p.m. Hang out with us as we watch anime, talk manga (and other stuff) and eat snacks. Come in cosplay or as you are! For ages 12-18.
BROOKSIDE LIBRARY Perler Bead Art Thursday, March 30 • 3-4:3 p.m. Arrange colorful beads
TEEN Teen Tech Month events are TECH marked with this symbol.
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CHARLES PAGE LIBRARY
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Build-A-Drone Thursday, March 16 • 3:30-5 p.m. TEEN We’ll build and fly a TECH drone. For teens.
Teen Tech Build Tuesday, March 21 • 4:30-6:30 p.m. TEEN Explore Cubelets and more! TECH Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. For ages 10-18.
Teen Tech Happening @ the Library March 1-31 • Explore tech with our TEEN 8-bit opportunities: a giant TECH Tetris game, retro post-it characters and an online scavenger hunt.
COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Play It! Gaming at the Library Thursday, March 2 • 6-7:30 p.m. TEEN We will have a Wii and TECH Xbox 360. Plus, explore our free online video games. For teens and their families.
HERMAN AND KATE KAISER LIBRARY
OWASSO LIBRARY
Introduction to Kano Computers Monday, March 6 • 3:30-5 p.m. TEEN Use Kano computers to TECH learn about computer science principles, create computers and practice computer coding. For ages 10-18.
Trash Bots Wednesday, March 22 • 3-4 p.m. TEEN Turn trash into treasure! TECH This upcycling program merges circuit boards with trash. Presented by the Tulsa Children's Museum. For grades 4-7.
PRATT LIBRARY
Gizmos, Gadgets and Robots! Wednesday, March 29 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. TEEN Explore Cubelets, TECH littleBits and Raspberry Pi. For ages 10-18.
Amazing Cubelets: Minirobots Monday, March 27 • 3:30-5 p.m. TEEN Create cubed robots TECH that roll, spin and twist at the flick of your wrist. Combine Cubelets with LEGOS to create more interesting robots. For ages 10-18.
GLENPOOL LIBRARY
JENKS LIBRARY
Sukikyo! Anime Club Wednesday, March 8 • 3:30-5 p.m. TEEN Explore Cubelets, TECH littleBits and Raspberry Pi. For ages 12-18.
Tuesday Teen Lab Tuesday, March 7 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. We'll talk about new books, socialize and do a fun activity, like make and fly a drone!
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Minecraft Gaming for Teens Thursday, March 2 • 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 • 2-3:30 p.m. Put your imagination to the test building your own world in the popular game Minecraft. Hardesty Anime/Manga Club Saturday, March 11 • 1-2:30 p.m. Discuss your favorite manga characters and books while making a craft. For ages 12-18. Stop Motion Animation: Six-Day Workshop Monday, March 13-Saturday, March 18 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. • Location: Oak Room TEEN Learn how to make your TECH own stop motion animation movie. Create the script and props, edit and prepare your film using an iPad. Register online or by calling 918-549-7323, or sign up at the ASK Desk on the second floor of Hardesty Regional Library. Hurry, there are only eight spots available! Snacks provided. For teens. Hardesty Spilled Ink Teen Creative Writing Group Thursday, March 16 • 6-7:30 p.m. Develop your craft through writing exercises. Come with your own writings to share with the group, or just come to socialize and get to know other writers. All methods of storytelling are welcome.
Teen Tech Scavenger Hunt March 1-10 • Show us how you TEEN use tech in your life by TECH participating in our Tech Scavenger Hunt all month long! Get cool prizes too!
JUDY Z. KISHNER LIBRARY Get Techie with Cubelets! Thursdays, March 2, 9 • 3-5 p.m. TEEN Learn how to build a TECH minirobot toy that can spin and drive, respond to light and temperature, and so much more. You'll be amazed at what you create. For ages 10-18.
KENDALL-WHITTIER LIBRARY Gaming Thursday, March 2 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. TEEN Join us for online TECH gaming! For teens.
MAXWELL PARK LIBRARY DIY: Smartphone Projector Box Saturday, March 18 • 1-2:30 p.m. TEEN Are you tired of crowding TECH around your smartphone to watch movies and videos with your friends? Join us and learn how to build a Smartphone Projector Box that allows you to project images and videos from your smartphone without a cord, app or paid subscription service! Supplies are provided, but participants must bring a smartphone to class. Space is limited on a first-come, first-served basis. For ages 10-18.
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Fun With Cubelets Monday, March 13 • 4-5 p.m. TEEN Cubelets are here! Join TECH in the fun as we design clever robotic devices out of cute little cubes. There also will be iPads added to the mix! For ages 10-18.
RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Teen Movie Day Wednesday, March 8 • 4-6 p.m. We’ll watch “Minions,” eat popcorn and hang out. Creating Robots With Cubelets Tuesday, March 14 • 2-3 p.m. TEEN We'll use Cubelets to TECH build fun little robots. Registration is required. Call 918549-7645 to register. For teens. Bookmark Crafts Wednesday, March 22 • 4-5 p.m. We will have washi tape, glitter and markers and everything you'll need to make a beautiful bookmark. Keep it for yourself or give it away to friends or family. For teens. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register.
SCHUSTERMAN-BENSON LIBRARY Open Game Play: Wii and Board Games Wednesday, March 15 • 3-4 p.m. We'll have a variety of board and card games, plus Wii video games. For ages 10-18. The Craft Connection Thursday, March 23 • 6-7 p.m. Enjoy making crafts with your friends or family! For ages 10-18. littleBits and Cubelets Thursday, March 30 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. TEEN Experiment with circuitry and TECH electronics by playing with littleBits and Cubelets! Create robots and other fun projects. For ages 10-14.
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SUBURBAN ACRES LIBRARY Cubelets Wednesday, March 15 • noon-3 p.m. TEEN We will use Cubelets to TECH build robots. For ages 1018. Registration is required and is limited. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Free 3-D Printing for Teens March 1-31 • To celebrate Teen Tech TEEN Month, we're offering free TECH 3-D printing all month to ages 11-18. You will need to attend an orientation before using the 3-D printer. Call 918-549-7323 to reserve your time. Cubelets Robotics Saturday, March 11 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. TEEN Create your own robots TECH the fun and easy way with mix-and-match Cubelets Robot Blocks! For ages 10-18. Minecraft Night Thursday, March 30 • 6-7 p.m. Location: Computer Lab TEEN Put your imagination to TECH the test building your own world in the popular game Minecraft! For ages 10-18.
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digital services CENTRAL LIBRARY Digitize It! March 1-31 Need instruction on using digitization tools in the Digital Literacy Lab? We are here to help! You can digitize VHS, photographs, vinyl records, tapes and more. Appointments are available on a first-come, firstserved basis and generally last 30 to 60 minutes. Call 918-549-7474 to reserve your time. For adults. Intro to 3-D Printing Wednesday, March 8 • 6-7 p.m. Location: Maker Space This orientation will cover the equipment, along with software used and potential projects for you to develop. After the demonstration, this event will qualify you to use the equipment along with general Maker Space access. No registration required but seating is limited. For all ages.
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Intro to Laser Engraving Wednesday, March 15 • 9-10 a.m. Location: Maker Space This orientation will cover the equipment, along with software used and potential projects for you to develop. After the demonstration, this event will qualify you to use the equipment along with general Maker Space access. No registration required but seating is limited. For all ages. Digital Literacy Lab Orientation Thursday, March 16 • noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, March 21 • 6-7 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab Orientation is required before independent use of the lab. Class size is limited. Register online. For ages 12 and older. Intro to CNC Wednesday, March 22 • 9-10 a.m. Location: Maker Space This orientation will cover the equipment, along with software used and potential projects to develop. Attending this event qualifies you to use the equipment along with general Maker Space access. No registration is required but seating is limited. For all ages. Digital Literacy Series: Hack the News Friday, March 24 • noon-1 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab Join Luke Crouch, software engineer at Mozilla, and learn about openly licensed resources and how to create something new on the Web through remix. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. For adults. Photoshop 101 Thursday, March 30 • 5:30-7:30 p.m. Location: Digital Literacy Lab Looking to get started with graphic design? Want to perfect your Instagram post? Join us as we cover the basics of Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Creative Suite is available for library customers in the Digital Literacy Lab. You should have experience using a computer. Register online. For adults.
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY 3-D Printer Demo Friday, March 3 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 • 7-8 p.m. Saturday, March 25 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 30 • 7-8 p.m. See what 3-D printing is all about with a demonstration of the Ultimaker2 3-D printer! For all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
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MS Word 1 Tuesday, March 7 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to use toolbars and menus, set margins, apply spell check, and preview, save and print documents. You should have some prior experience using a computer keyboard and mouse. For adults. Book Your Own Travel Online Saturday, March 11 • 10-11 a.m. Location: Computer Lab Learn to make the best use of Internet resources when planning your next trip. Whether you are heading to Branson, Boston or Bangladesh, you probably have questions about how to book flights, explore destinations and plan activities online. Class is limited to 18 on a first-come, first-served basis. For adults. MS Word 2 Tuesday, March 14 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and format tables, use bulleted and numbered lists, and apply and format columns in a document. You should take MS Word 1 prior to attending. For adults. MS Word 3 Tuesday, March 21 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and use borders and shading, headers and footers, page numbering and drawing tools. You should take MS Word 2 prior to taking this class. For adults. MS Word 4 Tuesday, March 28 • 6-8 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class explores mail merge, and shows how to use tables to perform calculations and create onscreen forms. You should take MS Word 3 prior to taking this class. For adults.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY MS Excel 1 Saturday, March 4 • 10 a.m.-noon Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create formulas, use automatic fill and change basic formatting. You should take MS Word 2 and have some experience using a mouse prior to taking this class. MS Excel 2 Saturday, March 11 • 10 a.m.-noon Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create and edit formulas, and apply functions and advanced formatting to your spreadsheets and workbooks.
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You should take MS Excel 1 prior to taking this class. MS Excel 3 Saturday, March 18 • 10 a.m.-noon Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create charts, apply conditional formatting and control the appearance of printed spreadsheets. You should take MS Excel 2 prior to taking this class. MS Publisher 101 Saturday, March 25 • 10 a.m.-noon Location: Computer Lab This class shows how to create fun and colorful signs and fliers. You should take MS Word 2 prior to taking this class.
RUDISILL REGIONAL LIBRARY Really Basic Computer Class Wednesday, March 1 • 9-10 a.m. This class is designed for new computer users who have little or no previous experience using computers, Windows, a mouse or the Internet, and little or no knowledge of basic computer terms. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register. Introduction to MS Word 2007 Wednesday, March 8 • 9-10 a.m. This class shows how to use toolbars and menus, set margins, apply spell check, and preview, save and print documents. You should have some experience using a computer keyboard and mouse prior to taking this class. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register.
MARCH 1-31 Need individualized instruction on a library product or service? Whether you need to learn how to download eBooks or improve your job skills, we are here to help. Book-A-Librarian appointments are available on a firstcome, first-served basis and generally last 30-60 minutes. Registration is required.
Call 918-549-7323 to reserve your time. Appointments are available at the following libraries; please specify which library when registering. Bixby Library Broken Arrow Library South Broken Arrow Library Brookside Library Collinsville Library Hardesty Regional Library Helmerich Library Jenks Library Maxwell Park Library Nathan Hale Library Owasso Library Zarrow Regional Library
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Internet @ the Library Wednesday, March 15 • 9:30-11 a.m. This class is designed for people with little or no experience using the Internet. You will learn to navigate the World Wide Web and use the library's catalog system and online resources. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register.
PAWS for Reading for Kids Thursday, March 9 • 6-7:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
Email 101 Wednesday, March 22 • 9:30-11 a.m. This class teaches you how to set up a free account and use it to send and receive email. You should take an Internet @ the Library class or have a familiarity with the basic functions of navigating the Internet prior to taking this class. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7645 to register.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY
ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY
Preschool Storytime With Miss Hannah Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 3-5.
Intro to 3-D Printing Monday, March 6 • 6-7 p.m. Saturday, March 18 • 2-3 p.m. Get an overview of our 3-D printer equipment and software, along with a general safety overview. For all ages. Really Basic Computer Class Wednesday, March 22 • 1:30-2:30 p.m. Location: Computer Lab This class is designed for new computer users who have little or no previous experience using computers, Windows, a mouse or the Internet, and little or no knowledge of basic computer terms.
children BIXBY LIBRARY Movie in Celebration of Dr. Seuss' Birthday Saturday, March 4 • 2-3:30 p.m. Come and watch the movie "The Lorax" (rated PG) and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday! For all ages. My First Storytime Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 10:10-10:30 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 11-11:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 3-5.
Stay and Play Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger.
My First Storytime Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Wednesday, March 8 • 4-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
BROKEN ARROW LIBRARY/SOUTH My First Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 3-year-olds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Wednesday, March 1 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Broken Arrow Sidewalk Astronomers Thursday, March 2 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us as we find out about the Pinwheel Galaxy. Discover how an early 19th century toy inspired the naming of a galaxy. Construct a
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pinwheel with a NASA image of the Pinwheel Galaxy on it. For ages 5-adult. Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. Stay and Play Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. LEGO Build Monday, March 13 • 2:30-3:30 p.m. Do you like to play with LEGOS? Get hands-on experience with engineering principles as you design and build with LEGOS. For ages 5-18. Spring Break Art at the Library Wednesday, March 15 • 2:30-3:30 p.m. Bring your creativity and we'll provide supplies for making your own "amate" painting. For ages 5-18. Movie at the Library Thursday, March 16 • 2-4 p.m. We'll watch "The Wizard of Oz." Feel free to come in costume. Light refreshments are provided. For all ages. Evening Family Storytime Tuesday, March 28 • 6-6:30 p.m. Join us for songs, rhymes and fun literacy-building activities.
BROOKSIDE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:15-10:45 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 3-5. My First Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11-11:20 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. PAWS for Reading Friday, March 17 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Friday Movie Friday, March 31 • 3:30-5 p.m. We’ll watch "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and munch on popcorn. For ages 5-12.
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CENTRAL LIBRARY Babies, Bubbles & Books Wednesdays, March 1, 15, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes with your little one. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Hands On: Read Across America Thursday, March 2 • 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday with fun stories and hands-on activities. For ages 3-5. First Friday With Gilcrease Friday, March 3 • 4:30-5:30 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Begin your First Friday Art Crawl at Central Library! Gilcrease staff will help us explore artists featured at the museum while your young artists create masterpieces of their own! For ages 5-10. Family Evening Storytime Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 • 6:30-7 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Enjoy stories, songs and rhymes with friends and family. For all ages. Family Fun Storytime Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger. Astronomy Night at Central Library Tuesdays, March 7 • 7-8 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Explore the downtown night sky. This family friendly event will feature high-powered telescopes, an activity about the universe, constellation face painting and augmented reality star gazing. Less than ideal weather conditions will move the event indoors. Presented by the Bartlesville Astronomical Society and Tulsa City-County Library. For ages 5-12 and their families. Toddlers & Tales Wednesday, March 8 • 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Enjoy songs, stories and rhymes with your toddler. For ages 3 and younger. Hands On! Thursdays, March 9, 23, 30 • 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Busy hands, busy brain! Preschool-age children learn through hands-on activities. We will explore, experiment and create. Be ready to get messy!
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PAWS for Reading Saturday, March 11 • 1-2 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children's Storytime Room • Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-10 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-5497323 to register. Movie in the Garden: "Secret Life of Pets" Monday, March 13 • 10:30 a.m.-noon Location: Tandy Garden Watch a movie and make fun crafts. For ages 5-12.
Hands On: Spring-Break Yoga Thursday, March 16 • 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Tandy Garden This program will introduce children to yoga, help them learn healthy lifestyle habits and set the foundation for a fit future. For ages 4-8. Movie in the Garden: "Big Hero 6" Friday, March 17 • 10:30 a.m.-noon Location: Tandy Garden Watch a movie and enjoy STEAM activities! For ages 5-12. Toddlers, Trikes & Tales Wednesday, March 22 • 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children’s Storytime Room • This storytime is perfect for toddlers who like their stories while on the move. Enjoy songs
c o n t i n u e d and stories along with games and activities for ages 3 and younger. STEAM Storytime Monday, March 27 • 2-3 p.m. Location: Mary K. Chapman Children’s Storytime Room Homeschoolers, this storytime is for you! Enjoy theme-based STEAM activities. For ages 5-10.
CHARLES PAGE LIBRARY Preschool Storytime With Ms. Alice Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler.
tulsa city-county library locations 24 Bixby Library
20 E. Breckenridge, 74008 • 918-549-7323 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 12-8; Sat., 10-5 18 Broken Arrow Library 300 W. Broadway, 74012 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 22 Broken Arrow Library/South 3600 S. Chestnut, 74011 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 16 Brookside Library 1207 E. 45th Place, 74105 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 9 Central Library 400 Civic Center, 74103 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 8 Charles Page Library 551 E. Fourth St., Sand Springs, 74063 918-549-7521 • M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 10-8; Sat., 10-5 2 Collinsville Library 1223 Main, 74021 • 918-549-7528 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 12-8; Sat., 10-5 23 Glenpool Library 730 E. 141st St., 74033 • 918-549-7535 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 12-8; Sat., 10-5 21 Hardesty Regional Library and Genealogy Center 8316 E. 93rd St., 74133 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 20 Helmerich Library 5131 E. 91st St., 74137 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 17 Herman and Kate Kaiser Library 5202 S. Hudson Ave., Suite B, 74135 918-549-7542 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 19 Jenks Library 523 W. B St., 74037 • 918-549-7323 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 10-8; Sat., 10-5 3 Judy Z. Kishner Library 10150 N. Cincinnati Ave. E., Sperry 74073 • 918-549-7577 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 12-8; Sat., 10-5
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21 S. Lewis, 74104 • 918-549-7584 Mon.-Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 14 Martin Regional Library and Hispanic Resource Center 2601 S. Garnett Road, 74129 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 9-9; Fri., 9-6; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 7 Maxwell Park Library Closed March 6-11 for improvements 1313 N. Canton, 74115 • 918-549-7610 M, T, W, Th, F, 10-6; Sat., 10-5 13 Nathan Hale Library 6038 E. 23rd St., 74114 • 918-549-7323 M, T, W, Th, F, 10-6; Sat., 10-5 4 Owasso Library 103 W. Broadway, 74055 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 10-8; Fri., 10-6; Sat., 10-5 11 Pratt Library 3219 S. 113th W. Ave., Sand Springs, 74063 • 918-549-7638 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 10-8; Sat., 10-5 6 Rudisill Regional Library and African-American Resource Center 1520 N. Hartford, 74106 • 918-549-7645 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5 12 Schusterman-Benson Library 3333 E. 32nd Place, 74135 918-549-7323 • M-Th, 10-8; Fri.-Sat., 10-5 1 Skiatook Library 316 E. Rogers, 74070 • 918-549-7676 M, W, F, 10-6; T, Th, 12-8; Sat., 10-5 5 Suburban Acres Library 4606 N. Garrison, 74126 • 918-549-7323 M, T, W, Th, F, 10-6; Sat., 10-5 15 Zarrow Regional Library and American Indian Resource Center 2224 W. 51st St., 74107 • 918-549-7323 M-Th, 9-9; Fri.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
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Spring Break Fun! Monday, March 13 • 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 • 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15 • 2-3:30 p.m. Play outdoor games like horseshoes, jump rope, ring toss and more. We also have some fun indoor activities. For all ages.
COLLINSVILLE LIBRARY Stories From the Rocking Chair Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. For ages 2-5.
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GLENPOOL LIBRARY Ms. Tori's Musical Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Join Ms. Tori and her guitar for stories, songs and rhymes. Babies and toddlers learn through play, so stay after storytime for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. Geometric Bubbles With Tulsa Children's Museum Tuesday, March 14 • 1-2 p.m. Physics and geometry have never been so up in the air. Bubbles make for a fun and uplifting teaching tool in this hands-on class. For ages 5-10. PAWS for Reading Thursday, March 16 • 4-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7535 to register. LEGO Club Thursday, March 23 • 4-5 p.m. Bring your creativity; we'll supply the LEGOS. For ages 5-11.
HARDESTY REGIONAL LIBRARY Toddler Time Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10-10:20 a.m. Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 11-11:20 a.m. Enjoy stories, action rhymes, fun flannels, music, bubbles and meeting other toddlers in the neighborhood. For ages 2-3 and their caregivers. Mr. Paul's Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11-11:30 a.m. • Come and hear stories with all your neighborhood friends. Mr. Paul's Family Storytime Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 6:30-7 p.m. • Come and hear songs and stories with your family and friends. For all ages. My First Storytime With Ms. Julia Mondays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10-10:20 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Movie: "Captain America: The First Avenger" Monday, March 13 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Connor’s Cove • For all ages.
Movie: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" Wednesday, March 15 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Connor’s Cove Rated PG-13. For all ages. March Mayhem: Mini Golf @ the Library Thursday, March 16 • 2-4 p.m. Enjoy some tee time with us during spring break. For ages 7-10. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Escape the Library Thursday, March 16 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Maple Room The clock is ticking! Will you be able to find your way out in time? Figure out the clues and escape the room before time is up. Reserve your time slot by calling 918-549-7556 or at the ASK desk on the second floor at Hardesty. For all ages. Movie: "Captain America: Civil War" Friday, March 17 • 2-4 p.m. Location: Connor’s Cove Rated PG-13. For all ages.
HELMERICH LIBRARY Stay and Play Storytime With Mr. Adam Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11:30 a.m. • For children of all ages, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and stay after for toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For infants to kindergartners and their caregivers. LEGO Academy Saturday, March 11 • 2-3:30 p.m. Join like-minded Legoleers to build cool creations from your imagination. LEGOS will be available, but you may bring your own. For ages 6-12.
HERMAN AND KATE KAISER LIBRARY 1-2-3 Play With Me: A Parent/Child Workshop Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10-11:15 a.m. • Playing is learning! Join us for a five-week series for parents and children ages 1-3. Each program offers opportunities for children to play with developmentally appropriate toys in a play group atmosphere. Early childhood specialists also will be here to visit with parents on the topics of child development, speech and hearing, nutrition, movement and music. Class size is limited. Registration is required and is for all five weeks of the series. To register, please see a children's librarian or call 918-549-7542. My First Storytime Thursday, March 2 • 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right
c o n t i n u e d for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-yearolds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11:30 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. PAWS for Reading Wednesdays, March 8, 22 • 3:30-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7542 to register.
JENKS LIBRARY My First Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10-10:15 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. Stay and Play Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11-11:30 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. PAWS for Reading Tuesday, March 7 • 4-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite book to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register.
JUDY Z. KISHNER LIBRARY Family Storytime Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 11:30-noon • Come on in for some little trips with lots of zip as we travel down the reading road! For ages 3-5 and their families. Terrific Tuesday: All Aboard the Pajama Train! Tuesday, March 28 • 6-7 p.m. Passengers, don your pajamas and board the train! The Kishner Station is your fun destination! For ages 5-10.
MARTIN REGIONAL LIBRARY Family Play Date Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 11-11:45 a.m. • Toddlers love to explore and learn! Join us for imaginative play and discovery with toys and activities designed to foster young ones' early literacy skills. For ages 1-3 and their caregivers. Bilingual Flamenco Storytime Saturday, March 4 • 2-2:30 p.m. Enjoy flamenco dance and creative movement at this fun storytime. English and Spanish speakers are welcome! For ages 1-5 and their caregivers. LEGO Lab Mondays, March 6, 27 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Learn new building ideas, partner with other children during team-building challenges and explore free building. Leave your LEGOS at home and come play with ours! For ages 6-12. Bilingual Storytime/Cuentos Bilingües Tuesdays, March 7, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. • Enjoy stories, songs and activities in English and Spanish. / Cuentos, canciones y actividades en inglés y español. STEAM Workshop March 13, 14, 15, 16 • 1-2 p.m. Location: Auditorium • Enjoy fun STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) activities for kids ages 6-12. Movie Afternoon Friday, March 17 • 1-3 p.m. Location: Auditorium • Join us for an afternoon at the movies, featuring "Finding Nemo." Rated G. For ages 6-12. Movie Afternoon Monday, March 20 • 1-3 p.m. Location: Auditorium • Join us for an afternoon at the movies featuring "Finding Dory." Rated PG. For ages 6-12.
MAXWELL PARK LIBRARY Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. Storytime Tuesdays, March 14, 21, 28 • 3-3:30 p.m. Join us for fun stories and activities. For ages 5-10.
NATHAN HALE LIBRARY Mrs. Cindy's Storytime Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11 a.m. • Join us for reading adventures, music and fun. For ages 5 and younger.
TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY EVENT GUIDE
MARCH 2017
c h i l d r e n (Nathan Hale Library continued)
PAWS for Reading Saturday, March 11 • 2-3 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust.
OWASSO LIBRARY My First Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10-10:30 a.m. • Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-year-olds and their caregivers. Preschool Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler. Stay and Play Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. For ages 5 and younger. PAWS for Reading Wednesday, March 8 • 4-5 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-10 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Class size is limited and registration is required. Call 918-549-7323 to register. Spring Break Movie Wednesday, March 15 • 2-3:30 p.m. Join us for a showing of the movie "Trolls" (rated PG) and some yummy popcorn! For all ages. LEGO Lab Friday, March 17 • 2-3 p.m. Join us for LEGO building fun! LEGOS will be provided. Just bring your imagination! For ages 5-10. Bounce'n Beethovens Evening Edition Thursday, March 23 • 6:30-7:15 p.m. Join Katherine Battenberg from the Midtown School of Performing Arts for a high-energy parent/child music class that introduces children to a variety of musical instruments and styles. For newborns to 5-year-olds. Class size is limited and registration is required. Register online or call
918-549-7323. Sponsored by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. Preschool Yoga Friday, March 24 • 10:30-11 a.m. Join certified yoga teacher Jeanne Doss for a free parent/ child class featuring interactive stories and yoga poses. Class size is limited and registration is required. Register online or by calling 918-549-7323. For ages 3-5. Bounce'n Beethovens Friday, March 31 • 10-10:45 a.m. Friday, March 31 • 11-11:45 a.m. Join Katherine Battenburg from the Midtown School of Performing Arts for a high-energy parent/ child music class that introduces children to a variety of musical instruments and styles. For newborns to 5-year-olds. Class size is limited and registration is required. Register online or by calling 918-549-7323.
PRATT LIBRARY Miss Connie's Storytime Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Talk, sing, read, write and play with Miss Connie and your storytime friends! LEGO Time Tuesday, March 7 • 4-5 p.m. Builders wanted for a freestyle LEGOS party! Come and share your expertise in building some spectacular LEGOS creations. For ages 5-10.
SCHUSTERMANBENSON LIBRARY My First Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10-10:20 a.m. Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-10:50 a.m. Learn and enjoy songs, stories and activities that are just right for your little one at this lapsit storytime. For newborns to 2-yearolds and their caregivers. Stay and Play Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 11-11:30 a.m. For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! After our regularly scheduled storytime, join us for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. Bilingual Storytime/Cuentos Bilingües Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 10:30-11 a.m. • Enjoy stories, songs and activities in English and Spanish. / Cuentos, canciones y actividades en inglés y español.
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c o n t i n u e d PAWS for Reading Monday, March 13 • 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-10 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. Registration is required. Please see a staff member to schedule a reading time for your child. Open Play: Board Games and LEGOS Tuesday, March 14 • 2-3 p.m. It's playtime! Build something amazing with LEGOS or play some board games. Bring your own LEGOS and games or use ours. For ages 5-10. Spring Break Science Fun Thursday, March 16 • 2-3 p.m. Join the Tulsa Children's Museum for this fun program where we will create our own chemical reactions to produce giant colorful foam! For ages 5-12. Seating is limited.
ZARROW REGIONAL LIBRARY Stay and Play Storytime Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 10:30-11:30 a.m. • For babies and toddlers, playing is learning! Enjoy storytime and then stay after for games, toys and activities that foster critical early literacy skills. PAWS for Reading Saturday, March 25 • 2-3 p.m. Registered therapy dogs are excellent listeners. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to read their favorite books to a furry, four-pawed friend. Each reader will receive a free book provided by the Tulsa Library Trust. LEGO Club Tuesday, March 28 • 6-7 p.m. Create and build with LEGOS. We provide the LEGOS; you provide the imagination. All LEGOS must stay in the library. For all ages.
Friday Family Movie Friday, March 17 • 2-3:30 p.m. Join us for a showing of "The Secret Life of Pets" (rated PG). Bring your pillows and blankets for comfy floor seating. A light snack will be provided. For all ages.
SKIATOOK LIBRARY Storytime & Stay and Play Wednesdays, March 1, 22, 29 11 a.m.-noon • The best in children's literature, songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and other reading-related activities are shared with your preschooler.
SUBURBAN ACRES LIBRARY Award Ceremony: Black History Month Essay Contest Saturday, March 4 • 1-3 p.m. We will recognize winners of the 2017 African-American History Month Essay Contest. Winners may read aloud their submissions. Light refreshments are provided. Bikes and Books Saturday, March 18 • noon-2 p.m. Meet 918 Riderz Motorcycle Club members and see their bikes up close. We will have giveaways, plus lots of library information. Motorcycles will be on display at the Gibbs Shopping Center. Youth ages 16 and younger will receive a free book and the chance to win one of five gift cards provided by the Friends of the Helmerich Library. For all ages.
NOW OPEN at Central Library Mon.-Thur., 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri. & Sat., 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun., 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Free and Open to the Public If you are hearing-impaired and need a qualified interpreter, please call the library 48 hours in advance of the program. The Tulsa Book Review and Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide are printed on partially recycled paper.
The Tulsa City-County Library Event Guide is produced by the Public Relations Office of the Tulsa City-County Library. For questions or concerns, call 918-549-7389.
A HAT FOR MRS. GOLDMAN: A STORY ABOUT KNITTING AND LOVE By Michelle Edwards, G. Brian Karas (illustrator) Schwartz & Wade, $17.99, 40 pages Reviewed by Susan Roberts Check this out!
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Kids’ Books SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
Sophia and Mrs. Goldman make knitted hats. Sophia, who tried to learn how to knit last year, makes pom-poms for the hats Mrs. Goldman knits. Ever generous, Mrs. Goldman gives away the hats off her own head to keep others warm. Sophia worries Mrs. Goldman will get sick. At last she decides to knit her a hat. She works on it night and day, and when it is done it is bumpy and lumpy and holey! She can’t give it to Mrs. Goldman; it looks like a monster and will scare Mrs. Goldman’s dog. She thinks and thinks until at last her heart grows bigger and lighter, like a balloon. She knows exactly what to do to complete the hat for Mrs. Goldman. An endearing story, masterfully written. A good read for a cold day snuggled under the blankets. Illustrator G. Brian Karas captures beautifully the struggles Sophia experiences and how she works though them to show her love to Mrs. Goldman.
TOBY By Hazel Mitchell Candlewick Press, $16.99, 40 pages Reviewed by Susan Roberts Check this out!
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Toby, a lovable white poodle mix, is the star of the story. A boy and his dad, who just moved into a new neighborhood, decide having a dog is a good idea and go to the pound. The boy falls for the quiet-looking Toby. They take him home and Toby doesn’t do much. He appears quite shy. The boy learns to clean up dog messes and reads to figure out how to train Toby. Nothing works. Toby is even afraid of going out into the yard. In time, Toby gets a bit more interactive, but then he damages the dad’s things, and dad questions if Toby is the right dog. Desperate, the boy keeps training and loving Toby. When the boy can’t find his shoe one morning, Toby brings it to him, and they know Toby is the right dog. This heartwarming story about a new pet that is hesitant about life is based on a true story. Early listeners will be rooting for Toby and the boy. The author/illustrator captures the characters’ love, fears, and hesitations and shows how even dogs sometimes take a while to warm up to new friends. DINO-MIKE AND THE DINOSAUR DOOMSDAY By Franco Aureliani Capstone, $5.95, 128 pages Reviewed by Sarah Perry Check this out! Mike Evans is a very unusual kid. He travels the world with his father and friends looking for dinosaurs. On this particular adventure, Mike is with his friend, Shannon, and her brother, Jeff, in Antarctica. However, they aren’t the only ones in Antarctica. Their rivals, the Bones siblings, show up ready to cause havoc, and they have the doomsday dinosaur! Mike’s dad gets snowed into the lab by an avalanche, and it’s up to the kids to save the day. This is a highly action-packed adventure book for independent readers, probably best for second- to fourth-graders. DinoMike is like a young James Bond, with all sorts of cool high-tech gadgets to help him in his travels. Mike has a high-tech hoodie that helps keep him warm in Antarctic temperatures, sled down the back of an enormous dinosaur, and even scuba dive with a terrifying plesiosauromorph. This book is part of a series of Dino-Mike adventures, and, in addition to action, it also provides information about different types of dinosaurs and parts of the world. Small tidbits of fact infuse the story with a great jumping-off point for kids to seek out more information. A thrilling story for young readers. BUNNY SLOPES By Claudia Rueda Chronicle Books, $15.99, 60 pages Reviewed by Africa Hands Check this out! Bunny Slopes is the latest in the genre of hands-on interactive picture books. Not interactive in the electronic sense - no bells, tones, or apps required here. No, this is interactive like the popular book Press Here and others by Herve Tullet. Young readers play an active role in Bunny’s day in the snow: making it snow with a shake of the book and sending Bunny on a wild downhill ride with a tilt of the book. A turn of the book helps right Bunny when he has a little mishap with a tree. Bunny is very appreciative of the assistance. Overall, the ski-day adventure goes swell until Bunny encounters a surprise on the page that even little helpers can’t help the rabbit avoid. Rueda’s minimalist color palette of pale blue and white complements the light, lively tone of the story; and Bunny’s actions are accented by an effective use of lines suggesting movement. Unfortunately, Bunny Slopes falls flat with an abrupt though warm and cozy ending.
Teens SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF DASH & LILY By Rachel Cohn, David Levithan Knopf Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 224 pages Reviewed by Emma McGorray Check this out! Dash and Lily met last Christmas in a whirlwind of adventure, but this year, things aren’t feeling so magical. Lily is dealing with changes in her family’s career, living situation, and health, and Dash feels that, amidst this upheaval, they’re missing the spark in their relationship that was once there. Christmas, Lily’s favorite holiday, is approaching, and Dash sets out to restore the joy that’s missing in her life this holiday season. Though a companion novel to Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily stands on its own. With humor, energy, and heart, Cohn and Levithan depict the joy and confusion of being young, in love, and questioning some of life’s big truths. Dash, Lily, and the characters they surround themselves with, from Lily’s great aunt to a crew of librarians, are well rounded and real, and the adventures Lily and Dash go on in the name of love or self-discovery make for a fun, page-turning read. The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily has just what you want out of a Christmas story: warmth, adventure, and the magic of familial and romantic love. BLACK WIDOW RED VENGEANCE (A BLACK WIDOW NOVEL) By Margaret Stohl Marvel Press, $17.99, 416 pages Reviewed by Amy Synoracki Check this out! The ladies of Marvel Comics have arrived and are fighting crime and inner demons. In Marvel’s Black Widow Red Vengeance, by Margaret Stohl, the skills, strengths, and intelligence of S.H.E.I.L.D’s heroines Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, and her protégé, Ava Orlova, aka Red Widow, are on full display. In this novel, Black Widow appears to be being targeted, but by whom and why is unclear. When missiles are stolen and launched at various sites across Europe, Russia, and Asia, the Widows and S.H.E.I.L.D enlist the help of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, for help. When a mysterious black crystallized drug hits the streets of NYC and possibly elsewhere, the Widows and Stark find themselves piecing together a plan that can only equal disaster. As they also struggle with being haunted by ghosts and pain from the past, it is a race against the clock find the Alpha of this attack to stop it in time. Stohl has done an excellent job of writing a novel based on comic book heroines who usually play the part of sidekick and instead making them the main characters. While boys will be drawn to this novel if they are big comic book fans, girls will also enjoy reading this as well. A five-star novel that has all the action, intrigue, and suspense and is lead by strong female characters. Well done.
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 9
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Cooking, Food & Wine SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
PERFECTLY PALEO: RECIPES FOR CLEAN EATING ON A PALEO DIET By Rosa Rigby Ryland Peters & Small, $19.95, 144 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! This beautifully illustrated and expensively produced cookbook, Perfect Paleo, seems like a nice addition to the library of Paleo cooks. Rosa Rigby didn’t write this for the beginner cooks, and even the intermediate home cooks will be challenged. Most of the recipes are complex and time consuming, sometimes preparing three, even four preparations before the final step. The layout is good and instructions are easy to follow but in places ambiguous, even with errors that would be catastrophic unless you read the recipe all the way through. This is a British cookbook, but the ingredients are also given in American standards. Yet British terminology is confusing to us as well as inconvenient (like having three measurements for oven temperature settings). American cooks will scratch their heads when attempting to find some British (?) ingredients (Sweet Freedom syrup, skinless undyed smoked haddock). Another inconvenience is sporadic page numbers. For whatever reasons, many page numbers are missing. Rigby gives a nice introduction on Paleo cooking, yet in some recipes refers back to a Paleo ingredient whose information is missing (e.g. using Paleo milk of choice). The recipes are nice, and the index is perfect, yet American cooks are better off with another Paleo cookbook written for Americans. ONE-PAN WONDERS: FUSS-FREE MEALS FOR YOUR SHEET PAN, DUTCH OVEN, SKILLET, ROASTING PAN, CASSEROLE, AND SLOW COOKER By Cook’s Country, Editor Cook’s Country, $27.95, 323 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! Like most of Cook’s Country cookbooks, One-Pan Wonders is unparalleled among the countless cookbooks that appear in an unending stream. A large collection of rather original recipes is presented in this volume, all with one thing in common: they use a single cooking vessel. The recipes are given in six chapters according to the cooking container being used: skillet, sheet pan, Dutch oven, casserole, roasting pan, and slow cooker. The recipes are not hard but certainly don’t target beginner cooks (who would be intimidated by the long list of ingredients in most recipes). Each recipe gives total time to prepare and cook the dish, and these are reasonable for the average home cook. Icons indicate those that take less than an hour for weekday cooking. The ingredients are readily available, and the recipe layout is excellent, with cook’s convenience in mind. The illustrations are beautiful, and the occasional illustrated tips are helpful. The head notes are exceptional, explaining in great detail why that recipe works. Recipes range from familiar (beef pot roast, mac and cheese) to exotic (shakshuka, Korean beef, and kimchi stir-fry). This cookbook will be heavily used in most kitchens; too bad it’s not in hardback. The index, unfortunately, is not well cross-referenced. GLUTEN-FREE SMALL BITES: SWEET AND SAVORY HAND-HELD TREATS FOR ON-THE-GO LIFESTYLES AND ENTERTAINING By Nicole Hunn Da Capo Lifelong Books, $22.99, 227 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out!
not many. The ingredients are readily available, and recipes are fresh and original, well-written and easy to follow. Many are deep-fried or baked and illustrated with beautiful professional photos. Hunn gives good make-ahead options and other useful tips. Her recipe head notes are nice. In the introduction, she gives us five gluten-free bread mixes (like bread flour and pastry flour mixes). Recipe layout could be better as some recipe instructions are split to overleaf pages. These are not a serious inconvenience in your preparation. The index is nicely cross-referenced and complete. BLISSFUL BASIL: OVER 100 PLANT-POWERED RECIPES TO UNEARTH VIBRANCY, HEALTH, & HAPPINESS By Ashley Melillo BenBella Books, $21.95, 320 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! Blissful Basil is a very nice vegan cookbook with a huge selection of good, mostly original recipes from breakfast through sandwiches to desserts and beverages. Ashley Melillo briefly shares her life story in the introduction and the health problems (physical and mental) that have driven her to be vegan to solve the difficulties. Yet the cookbook is not without faults; the publisher chose a too-small font, and the recipe layout is not very good, forcing cooks to turn pages back and forth between ingredients and instructions. Also, Melillo uses as many as fifteen symbols to designate each recipe, such as gluten-free, soy-free, or oil-free option, and so on. These are a bit confusing. The recipe instructions are very good, and the ingredients are available in health food stores and conventional markets. Each recipe gives preparation time that is reasonable for an experienced cook. Yet this cookbook is not written for the beginner cooks—many of the recipes are rather complicated, with three, even four preparations required before assembly. Some staples listed at the end (like sauces and reductions) need to be prepared ahead of time when called for in a recipe. You also need a high-powered blender for many preparations. The index is good and cross-referenced. BEST FOOD WRITING 2016 By Holly Hughes, Editor Da Capo Lifelong Books, $15.99, 298 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! The annual Best Food Writing (published since 2000) is a collection of forty-eight short pieces all focusing on food, cooking, and drinks, all by different food writers. Holly Hughes has edited these and compiled the stories into eight varying categories such as “Down the Hatch,” “The Family Table,” and “Life, on a Plate.” These are not new, fresh stories—all were previously published in some printed form or online magazine. Hughes simply collected the best ones she could find and collated them for readers who enjoy good food writing. Most of these are short pieces, around two pages long, but some go on for eight, ten, even as long as thirteen pages. Needless to say, the writings vary a lot from just okay to excellent and engaging. A few even include recipes (nothing exciting) like “Mom’s Meatballs” and “Better Than Sex Cake.” Each author is introduced by a brief paragraph below the story’s title. Topics vary across the spectrum: how to write a cookbook, mangoes in Vancouver, and meal-kit companies. If you are a foodie, you’ll enjoy reading these stories and parceling them out over weeks of reading. BEAUTY FOODS: 65 NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS RECIPES THAT MAKE YOU SHINE FROM THE INSIDE OUT By Caroline Artiss Ryland Peters & Small, $19.95, 144 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! This unusual cookbook, Beauty Foods, by Caroline Artiss is written mostly for health-conscious women, with recipes for one or several areas of the body that the ingredients are said to benefit: skin, hair/nails, eyes, muscles, digestion, and bones/ teeth. In the extensive introduction, all six are discussed in detail. Artiss uses one or more of the six symbols with each recipe, showing what specifically benefits. For some, like flavored water, all six symbols are given, while for others one or a few symbols are shown, e.g. peanut butter profits your digestion. This is a nicely produced book with heavy, glossy pages and numerous professional photo illustrations. The recipe headnotes and notes below many recipes are very good, as are the recipe layouts for the cook’s convenience. Instructions are good and easy to follow, recipe ingredients are readily available, and recipes range from easy to moderately challenging. Beginner cooks should not have much difficulty. Recipes feature some easy standards, like Granola or Chocolate Brittle, and also more festive recipes ready to serve your house guests, like Miso Baked Salmon or Spirulina Green Chicken Salad. This is a British cookbook with metric and American units; not much of an inconvenience. The index is nicely cross-referenced.
If you are a novice cook, Gluten-Free Small Bites by Nicole Hunn is not going to be an easy cookbook for you. Hunn presents a large collection of gluten-free recipes in eight different categories, but they all have one thing in common: they’re small, bite-sized nuggets, including a full dinner of lemon-sized goodies. Even mac and cheese is miniaturized in little muffin cups. These are not easy recipes. In fact, some are rather fiddly and time-consuming to prepare (e.g. phyllo dough, chicken and waffles, onion rings, pirogi). You will certainly labor over her Petit Fours, written for advanced cooks. There are a few easier recipes but Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 10
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Fiction
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THE SECRETS OF ROSCARBURY HALL: A NOVEL By Ann O’Loughlin Skyhorse Publishing, $25.99, 332 pages Reviewed by Holly Scudero Check this out! Sisters Ella and Roberta O’Callaghan have lived in old, crumbling Roscarbury Hall for their entire lives; the house was once grand, but time and lack of care have taken their toll. Now in danger of losing the house, Ella decides to open a cafe, much to the displeasure of her sister. Tension between the two, who haven’t spoken to one another in decades, heightens with the arrival of Debbie, a young woman desperate to locate her birth mother before cancer takes her life. Debbie’s search soon creates a whirlwind as the scandalous adoption practices of the local convent are finally brought to light. Author Ann O’Loughlin has spun a masterful tale with The Secrets of Roscarbury Hall, a story full of secrets and dark memories. This novel is full of twists and turns, as readers slowly learn the truth about the ugly family row that built such a wall between Ella and Roberta, as well as the truth about Debbie’s birth. There is a lot of sadness in this novel, to be sure--don’t be surprised if it brings you to tears a few times--but there is ultimately hope as well; readers will be left imagining how much better things will be for many families now that the truth is out in the open. Beautiful story. THE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT By Ella Griffin Berkley, $15.00, 352 pages Reviewed by Holly Scudero Check this out! After the stillbirth of her son, Lara poured everything she had into becoming a florist, and now her shop is thriving. Lara has a true talent for flowers, and her arrangements speak to those who are lucky enough to discover her shop. Unfortunately, much of the rest of her life is falling apart; her marriage is on the rocks, her father is sick, and she’s not sure how much more of her there is to give. Will she be able to let her passion for flowers open back up her own soul? Ella Griffin’s novel The Flower Arrangement is a fascinating glimpse into how the lives of many can overlap in unimaginable ways. Lara touches so many through her job as a florist, whether it’s the brides who come to her for wedding flowers, mourners who can’t possibly see past their own grief to plan funeral arrangements, or even just ordinary people buying flowers for those they love. In some ways, this novel is like a series of vignettes; readers will love seeing how two bouquets meant for two different women with the same name impact their lives, or how flowers assist the process of one older woman letting go of the bitterness surrounding her son’s death. This is a unique novel that will have readers hooked. STRANDED: A NOVEL By Bracken MacLeod Tor Books, $24.99, 304 pages Reviewed by Christina Boswell Check this out! Noah Cabot is working as a deckhand on his father-in-law’s ship going to resupply an oil drilling platform. Along the way they become beset, their ship completely trapped by ice. A thick fog surrounds them, and they can just make out a shape in the distance. With all communications down, their only option is to head for the shape and hope they can call for help. Most of the crew has come down with some kind of sickness, which for some reason doesn’t affect Noah, so he leads those who are able in a desperate attempt at survival. But what are the mysterious shadows they keep seeing, and what are they walking toward? They all know their fate if they become Stranded. The imagery was great in this novel. You could almost feel the chill of the ice as well as the fear and desperation. The only thing that could have made this book better would have been simply more of it. I would have liked more of an explanation and more of an ending. However, it’s a fun read that gets you thinking about what you would do if faced with the chance to have a different life than the one you have.
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History SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
WHEN CHURCHILL SLAUGHTERED SHEEP AND STALIN ROBBED A BANK: HISTORY’S UNKNOWN CHAPTERS By Giles Milton Picador, $16.00, 272 pages Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner Check this out! History is full of little known or unknown episodes that nevertheless deserve to be told. This book collects fifty of these dramatic episodes, ranging from the time when Churchill encouraged a biological weapons test (leaving an island uninhabitable for decades) to the poisoning death of Joseph Stalin to the finding of Otzi, the Ice Man. There was the time when London was duped by imagined riches from the South Sea Company and when a secret Nazi program was run to breed children for Hitler. The title might seem to imply that this would be a humorous collection of little-known history tidbits, but in fact it is deadly serious. And, although many of the vignettes are disturbing and/or tragic, as episodes in history frequently are, it is a gripping read and very enjoyable. It features great writing and stories told with force and drama and broad interest. Although it is impossible to find a unifying theme for the whole of the set, the stories are well-chosen and all are engrossing. Each is only a couple pages long, and it is easy to pick up for just a quick minute when you want to dip into a unknown corner of history. See ROGUE, cont’d on page 12
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 11
Book Reviews BROTHERS AT ARMS: AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE AND THE MEN OF FRANCE AND SPAIN WHO SAVED IT By Larrie D. Ferreiro Knopf, $30.00, 464 pages Reviewed by C.D. Quyn Check this out!
Cont’d from page 11 ROGUE HEROES: THE HISTORY OF THE SAS, BRITAIN’S SECRET SPECIAL FORCES UNIT THAT SABOTAGED THE NAZIS AND CHANGED THE NATURE OF WAR By Ben Macintyre Crown, $28.00, 400 pages Reviewed by David Lloyd Sutton Check this out! As a teen, I read Who Dares, Wins. Over the years, I paid fascinated attention to the wide-ranging post-war career(s) of Col. David Stirling. That was no preparation for this gritty, intensely realistic journey with the uncaught bandits and sometimes deeply flawed personalities who made up the early SAS. Stirling was a lounge lizard and layabout of the highest layer of Scots society. He apparently never had to be taught about it being better to seek forgiveness than permission. When he found the opportunity to take the remnants of a recently cashiered parachute group and others he gathered with the vaguest of word-of-mouth recruitment, he attempted, with manic assistance, to teach parachute work off speeding trucks. On his own first real jump, he ripped his chute, and his resulting injuries would trouble him the rest of his life. Disastrous failed attempts to air-inject on Jerry’s African coastal advance give a sense of despair to the saga. Men were left behind to die in the desert. When Stirling eventually teamed his SAS with the Long Range Desert Recon group, the great sand sea allowed land injections. Successes began, though they were hardly constant. Sheer physical strain and misery were constants. It exhausted me to read this wrenching epic. I treasure it. GAME OF QUEENS: THE WOMEN WHO MADE SIXTEENTH-CENTURY EUROPE By Sarah Gristwood Basic Books, $28.99, 392 pages Reviewed by Tamara Benson Check this out! The title of Sarah Gristwood’s novel Game of Queens: The Women Who Made Sixteenth-Century Europe refers partially to the game of chess and the appearance of the uber-powerful queen piece on the board in the 16th century. It is no coincidence that this coincides with the very powerful Isabella of France’s ascension of the throne. The line of strong female queens and queen consorts that Gristwood masterfully traces begins there and continues through Queen Elizabeth I. Gristwood takes a potentially boring historical list and turns it into a lively who’s who of European female rulers. She deftly negotiates the religious shifts and patriarchal mindset of the times to examine the many ways these women used their gender and positions to undermine the establishment in ways that were, at least, temporarily acceptable. She plots out the interconnectedness of European ruling families through marriages and the exchange of aristocratic children into neighboring houses for tutelage. Though this web of intrigue could quickly become overwhelming, Gristwood provides a number of family trees in the front of the book, which make it possible to keep track of the players. Her research is thorough enough to make this novel an asset to the student of female rulers in the Renaissance, while being entertaining enough to keep the casual reader engaged. I cannot recommend it highly enough! DAWN OF INFAMY: A SUNKEN SHIP, A VANISHED CREW, AND THE FINAL MYSTERY OF PEARL HARBOR By Stephen Harding Da Capo Press, $24.99, 249 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out! Stephen Harding researched a small part of World War II military history in Dawn of Infamy (first published in 2010) with the amazing details typical of a good journalist. This is a marine history that remains a mystery to this day—the loss of a lumberhauling army-contracted ship from the West coast to Hawaii. A Japanese submarine torpedoed and sank the ship shortly before Pearl Harbor. Harding describes the circumstances preceding the event in painstaking detail; the book seems to be written mostly as a full historic record more than as pleasant reading material, making it more suitable on a library reference shelf. Though some readers intensely interested in military history might enjoy the fine details, most readers will quickly lose interest and skip to the next chapter. Harding’s writing is good, but the book is not a page-turner, and it’s almost boring in places and filled with fluff. Few readers will resist skipping pages when he describes the history of the ship from her birth on or gives the biography of each and every lost member of the thirty-fiveperson crew. It helps to understand marine terminology. Detailed notes and a bibliography end the volume.
While most documentaries of the American Revolution focus on the action in and around the United States, Ferreiro periscopes a much more global spectrum. This narration follows the flow of what would have been considered by the British government an illegal smuggling operation of certain rebels within its colonies. “In the early battles, Dutch gun powder and Spanish, French, and Liege muskets were not winning the war, but they were certainly preventing it from being lost.” Armed with maps and an extraordinary list of ships’ manifests, Ferreiro details when and how the tons of arms and ammunition made it to America from Europe, often at enormous personal risk and always on credit. Interwoven through the gun trafficking, you will learn new backgrounds on the motivations behind French and Spanish negotiations with those representing the Revolutionaries. Seen from this point of view, the Declaration of Independence takes on new meaning, one aimed more at solidifying alliances than at listing grievances against the King of England. ”In May 1776, the French court had made the momentous decision to join with Spain in providing two million livre’s worth of arms and munitions to the American insurgents via Beaumarchais’s company Roderigue Hortalez...it was the first official step to creating what would soon become an overt alliance with America.” BLOOD AT THE ROOT: A RACIAL CLEANSING IN AMERICA By Patrick Phillips W. W. Norton & Company, $26.95, 320 pages Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro Check this out! Forsyth County sits a little ways outside Atlanta. The county was famous/infamous for its lack of diversity. A horrific attack on a young white woman in 1912, coupled with an alleged attempt on another woman, would lead to mob justice, quick arrests of possibly innocent men, and the exodus of 1200 African American men, women, and children. The racist attitudes of the population would lead to a kidnapping, a confession, a lynching of a possible suspect, and the arrest of a few others. The sheriff of the county would be active in investigating the attack but indifferent to the lynch mob mentality that would claim a black man’s life. The trials of the main suspects would end in quick convictions and hangings. The evidence was scant, but the minds were set. After the trial, further gangs of raiders and marauders would force the black citizens of the county out. The number of black citizens was few until the spotlight would be thrown on the county in 1987 with a civil rights march. The county’s population would change, but the questions remain about the ingrained attitudes about race. Patrick Phillips writes from a personal perspective, as he lived in the aforementioned area. His family’s attitude of love and tolerance was not viewed kindly in Forsyth County. Phillips performs a great service in detailing the perils of racism, mob rule, and injustice. BILL CLINTON: THE 42ND PRESIDENT, 1993-2001 (THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTS SERIES) By Michael Tomasky Times Books, $25.00, 159 pages Reviewed by Julia McMichael Check this out! President Clinton is known to be knowledgeable in almost every subject in the world. He has probably delivered addresses that would be longer in pages than this very slim volume. Also, about one-tenth of the book is devoted to the Lewinsky scandal. It would have been more interesting to learn about Clinton and his philosophical approach to the presidency. But it is of necessity that we focus on his failings because, under Bill Clinton, the partisan divide and the meanness of politics emerged more vitriolic and personal than it had been in previous presidencies. I learned for the first time that Linda Tripp had been demoted and transferred to the Pentagon where Lewinsky was also sent. That coincidence almost took down Clinton in impeachment. What is fascinating about this book is the up-close look at politics and how one must become strategic in order to shield oneself against partisan onslaughts. For example, in this book we learn that the NRA “took out” twenty Democrats because of their votes on the assault weapons ban--politics divorced from the will of the people. I’m sure there is much more to be said about this complicated president. See ANCIENT, cont’d on page 13
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 12
Book Reviews
YOUTH FICTION COMING SOON
Cont’d from page 12 ANCIENT WORLDS: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF ANTIQUITY By Michael Scott Basic Books, $29.99, 448 pages Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner Check this out!
TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY
Studies of history usually focus on the fortunes of a single group over time, but this frequently obscures associations and pressures from other groups that dramatically influenced the group’s behavior. Michael Scott rectifies this problem in his book Ancient Worlds, which connects the Western and Eastern worlds of antiquity, uncovering hidden parallels between Greece, Rome, China, India and the the empires in the middle over the course of about a thousand years. Part one discusses the various political philosophies that these states adopted, from Athens’ direct democracy to Rome’s republic to China’s well-oiled bureaucracy, including how these philosophies developed and their subsequent effect on later national developments. Part two shows us a time of military conflict, when singular leaders like Alexander the Great permanently altered history’s course. Finally, part three discusses how great empires dealt with various new religions, from Christianity to Hinduism and Buddhism. Packed with those stories that resurrect history’s greatest figures, the book is a thrilling delight that immerses you in their lives as it reveals how seemingly disparate threads were tied together after all. This book is well-written and accessible, an instructive and entertaining synopsis of the ancient world.
Search the library’s catalog at www.TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.
1666: PLAGUE, WAR, AND HELLFIRE By Rebecca Rideal Thomas Dunne Books, $27.99, 304 pages Reviewed by Gretchen Wagner Check this out! The year 1666 opened still fighting a particularly devastating plague outbreak from the fall before. Most people were eager to move on and rebuild; but others warned that the dire trials were a punishment from God -- although whether that was for the recent regicide or for the new Court’s excesses depended on who you asked. Besides the plague, Charles II had a naval conflict brewing with The Netherlands. As if this were not enough, 1666 was the year of London’s Great Fire, which permanently changed the entire country. The fun part of this book was its strong reliance on firstperson accounts, diaries, letters, and etc., which give you a real feeling for how life was for Londoners at the time. Of course the best source, and heavily weighted, was the detailed, earthy, and excellent diary of Samuel Pepys, who observed carefully and recorded faithfully details large and minute; others’ voices add the additional perspectives of bureaucrats, aristocrats, artisans, yeomen, and craftsmen. The heavy emphasis on the Dutch-Anglo war got long, but it was interesting for the insights into the rise of the House of Orange after Stuart rule. This is a lovely little history elucidating important events seminal to London and British history. A MATTER OF HONOR: PEARL HARBOR: BETRAYAL, BLAME, AND A FAMILY’S QUEST FOR JUSTICE By Anthony Summers • Robbyn Swan Harper, $35.00, 544 pages Reviewed by Philip Zozzaro Check this out!
Guardians of the Galaxy: Road to Annihilation, Vol. 1 by Tom Lyle
She’s the deadliest woman in the galaxy. He’s the ultimate destroyer. Together they’re two of the Guardians’ heaviest hitters.
Liselotte & Witch’s Forest by Natsuki
Takaya • Despite being completely hopeless at endeavors like farming and cooking, Liselotte, a young lady of noble birth, picks up and moves to a remote land with her twin attendants Alto and Anna. At the easternmost reaches of her new home lies a forest where it’s said witches roam. When Lise one day finds herself at the receiving end of an attack by one such witch, she’s saved by the sudden appearance of a young man named Engetsu. Though they’re strangers, Engetsu is remarkably similar to someone she already knows.
Spirits & Cat Ears, Vol. 1 by Miyuki
Nakayama • Neneko Iizuna is a shy girl with a secret: cat ears. Embarrassed over her feline appearance, Neneko’s retreated from the world. But when she receives a letter asking her to become the miko of an infirmary, she finds herself taking on the unexpected challenge of exorcism!
Devil’s Advocate by Jonathan Maberry Disturbed by dreams that seem more like visions that are haunted by a shadowy figure, 15-year-old Dana Scully is compelled by an unexplained force to investigate the death of a classmate who died in a car accident, and uncovers a series of suspicious deaths.
Twisted Summer by Willo Davis Roberts
December 7, 1941 witnessed an attack on America that left 2,000 plus dead and the United States on the road to World War II. The first questions after dealt with preparation and foreknowledge. Why didn’t the Army and Navy Commanders, particularly Admiral Husband Kimmel and General Walter Short, have their base better suited to handle an attack? These men were quickly transferred, demoted in rank, and eventually subject to court martial. Admiral Husband Kimmel had a military pedigree. Kimmel had been successful in his endeavors, being accepted at Annapolis and would eventually be named four-star admiral overseeing the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. Intelligence signaling the coming attack would be passed around government circles but would never seem to reach Kimmel or Short. Both would be left out in the cold, neither able to repair the damage to their names. A Matter of Honor is a stirring indictment of government officials relating to intelligence gathering in the pre-World War II days. Summers and Swan detail the many opportunities that came up to derail an attack if not alert forces to the coming attack, ranging from double agent Dusko Pupov to the Magic code-breaking operation. Husband Kimmel is shown to be an honorable man who bit his tongue initially but fought a losing battle to vindicate himself in the worst intelligence failure of the 20th century. His family is still continuing the good fight. A must-read for World War II buffs.
A girl searches for the truth when two of her classmates are caught in the crosshairs of a murder mystery in this Edgar Award-winning novel.
Salvage by Alexandra Duncan
Forbidden to read or write and unable to withstand gravity, spaceship captain’s daughter Ava suffers a betrayal and flees to a floating continent of garbage in the Pacific Ocean, where she learns the true meaning of family, home and trust.
Silver Stars by Michael Grant
The second book of New York Times best-selling author Michael Grant’s epic alternate history is a coming-of-age story about three girls who are fiercely fighting their own personal battles in the midst of the greatest war of all time.
Reckless: The Petrified Flesh
by Cornelia Funke • Jacob and Will have looked out for each other ever since their father disappeared, but when Jacob discovers a magical mirror that transports him to a warring world populated by witches, giants and ogres, he keeps it to himself. Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 13
or Being Gentle. Tang Taizong set out a series of rules to be followed even after his death in 649 AD. These apply to modern leaders as well.
Category
Nonfiction SNAP IT for additional book summaries.
FASHION QUOTES: STYLISH WIT & CATWALK WISDOM By Patrick Mauries, Jean-Christophe Napias, and Christian Lacroix Thames & Hudson, $19.95, 160 pages Reviewed by Aron Row Check this out! Whether you call it an adornment, style, fad, look, trend, or even mania; the way one dresses fits a certain fashion, and now there is a book with a collection of fashion quotes by many trendsetter personalities in and out of the design world. Questioning the meaning of fashion, Lord Chesterfield quips that if you are not in fashion, you are nobody. Audrey Hepburn loudly comments on the significance of style to be the outward expression of personality. Divided into seven sections, remarks from societies hoi polloi fill the pages regarding topics such as artifice, taste, hair, heels, cleavage, and of course the folly of spending. Smile over the cutting wit of Oscar Wilde, observances by Lady Gaga, flippant comments by Diana Vreeland, asides by Balzac and Chaucer, and the more trenchant opinions of various couturiers. The layout style of the book deserves commendation; the myriad brief quotes are cleanly printed on snow white pages facing the sparkling illustrations, mostly in crisp red and black, that animate the content. Clearly the design of the book cover, which resembles a valentine card, and the colorful contents themselves make their own fashion statement. Mary Quant’s assertion that fashion should be a game best summarizes this playful publication. WALKING SAN FRANCISCO’S 49 MILE SCENIC DRIVE: EXPLORE THE FAMOUS SITES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND VISTAS IN 17 ENCHANTING WALKS By Kristine Poggioli, Carolyn Eidson Craven Street Books, $16.95, 270 pages Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck Check this out! Many think San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. And what better way to see such a beautiful place, to really soak up all the charm and uniqueness, than on foot? This book offers a terrific way to see all the highlights of San Francisco in seventeen doable chunks of two to four miles each. Each chapter contains an historical overview of the area, a map of the day’s walk facing a list of the landmarks one will pass during the walk, several pages of text explaining the details of the walk and photographs of some of the sights, a detailed turnby-turn itinerary with return options, and a clever newspaperlike spread with historical happenings for the area. Back-matter includes information on parking, public transportation, and driving directions. Authors Kristine Poggioli and Carolyn Eidson are the first people known to have walked the forty-nine-mile Scenic Drive. It started them on a combined seventy-five-pound weight loss journey, and a wonderful book was born. The writing is crisp and fun, the photographs are terrific, and the whole package is one of the best and most unique travel books out there. THE RULER’S GUIDE: CHINA’S GREATEST EMPEROR AND HIS TIMELESS SECRETS OF SUCCESS By Chinghua Tang Scribner, $22.00, 161 pages Reviewed by George Erdosh Check this out!
CHICKENIZING FARMS AND FOOD: HOW INDUSTRIAL MEAT PRODUCTION ENDANGERS WORKERS, ANIMALS, AND CONSUMERS By Ellen K. Silbergeld Johns Hopkins University Press, $26.95, 336 pages Reviewed by Axie Barclay Check this out! The link between drug-resistant infections in hospitals and industrialized agriculture has recently been recognized as two of the uglier sides of globalization. While both are relatively new developments, we need to clearly and scientifically examine the topics in order to reach some kind of plan of action. That is the purpose of the book Chickenizing Farms and Foods: How Industrial Meat Production Endangers Workers, Animals, and Consumers--to both identify the problems caused by industrial agriculture and offer a way through them. But there are some real challenges when it comes to reforming and reorganizing the current structure and to making food and the production of food safer for the people and animals involved. There are no easy outs with this one, and while the author offers reasonable suggestions, the solutions feel more suited to an ideal world, as they would be very, very difficult to implement and not entirely practical in the current environment. Still, much good can be found in these pages, and Ellen K. Sibergeld offers useful input regarding the most complicated question in globalization and food production today: what are we supposed to do about it? RAG RUGS, PILLOWS, & MORE: OVER 30 WAYS TO UPCYCLE FABRIC FOR THE HOME By Elspeth Jackson CICO Books, $19.95, 128 pages Reviewed by Rebecca Williams Check this out! Rag rugs are beautiful additions to home decor, but the possibilities do not end there. Jackson starts her book with a very brief introduction to the art, followed by tools and techniques. She even includes types of fabrics that can be used for making rag rug art and how to care for the finished project. Most projects require burlap as the base to hold the strips, and she even gives directions on making yarn from tee-shirts. She refers to the basic techniques for creating the projects, giving page numbers so readers can easily find the directions. Any project with a design includes a template or guide, and her projects vary in difficulty, with several that could be created by just about anyone. This book differs from many others in the sheer variety of projects, every single one with a photograph. Not only are there various rugs to be made, but also pillows, stools, trivets, totes, and framed art. A whole section on festive decorating includes Christmas tree decorations, wreaths, a basket, and a birthday streamer. A reader without fabric will want some, and readers already hoarding fabric will have found the perfect way to use it. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SNAKE: DRAWINGS BY ANDY WARHOL By Andy Warhol, Teddy Edelman (Afterword), Arthur Edelman (Afterword) Thames & Hudson, $21.95, 48 pages Reviewed by Aron Row Check this out! While Andy Warhol may not be described as charming, this quaint book recording his earlier illustrations for the fashion reptile leather company of Fleming-Joffe, Ltd. certainly deserves that appellation. Pastel colors trace the journey of the so-called Noa the Boa who has the “creative soul of an artist and an actor.” This sinuous scaly snake smilingly slithers its way up into society. Starting with the bejeweled Cleopatra, the reptile clings to Jacqueline Kennedy, bonds with the Rockefellers, embraces Liz Taylor, hugs Princess Grace, and visits other elite socialites. It reflects the underlying aspirations of the penholder himself. Spritely rhyming calligraphic script face the delightfully whimsical drawings of the socially climbing snake. Each and every artwork shown in this book will provoke delight and pleasure for the viewer, and one just waltzes through the pages. This is a story that will delight all ages and take the reader back in time to the 60s, when Warhol had not yet become an icon but was clinging to the leading ladies highlighted in the news. The illustrations and even the text would make a captivating children’s book. FLYING COUCH: A GRAPHIC MEMOIR By Amy Kurzweil, Illustrator Black Balloon Publishing, $18.95, 288 pages Reviewed by Aron Row Check this out!
For anyone with interest in history, particularly China’s history, The Ruler’s Guide by Chinghua Tang is a truly fascinating reading. The book is about one of the great dynasties of China, established by a celebrated emperor, Tang Taizong, in 598 AD, which lasted for three-hundred years. Tang Taizong (Taizong is his title, not his name) was much respected as a leader and was highly successful in shaping China into a great power. In this book, Tang has collated his research on this dynasty, especially with regard to the emperor. Much of the book is a series of quotes by the emperor and by his advisors the ministers as well as by others who had wisdom to share with the emperor. These are short quotes, a paragraph or two, and between the quotes author Tang adds his own comments. He wisely breaks the text into short sub-sections for easy reading. These quotes may be related to anything and everything within the emperor’s ruling, like The Root Cause of Crime
Illustrated all in black and white, graphic artist Amy Kurzweil recreates the story of three Jewish women and the culture that molded them. There is the immigrant grandmother who survived the Holocaust, a successful academic mother, and a confused and immature granddaughter who attempts to seam the family connections. With her sharply penciled drawings on crowded pages, the hectic lives of the three are boisterously sketched. Within, the humor of the narrative, the horror of the European genocide, and the survival strategies of the refugees is poignantly described. The awkward, shy Stanford graduate ignores the advice coming from her psychologist mother and cringes at the embarrassing antics of the strong-minded grandmother. Despite all the seemingly humiliating interactions, an underlying sense of belonging and love knit See COUCH, cont’d on page 15
Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 14
Book Reviews COUCH, cont’d from page 14 the relationships. The Jewish sense of family and the essential traditions of its followers is exquisitely captured in the figures and situations explosively depicted in this graphic novel. Sweetness is meshed with the cruder realities of life as the histories of the three women are portrayed. The content and style seems similar to the themes published by Roz Chast in her graphic story of her parents. THE FIRE THIS TIME: A NEW GENERATION SPEAKS ABOUT RACE By Jesmyn Ward Scribner, $26.00, 288 pages Reviewed by Mandy Nevius Check this out!
YOUTH NONFICTION NEW AND COMING SOON
TO TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY Search the library’s catalog at www.TulsaLibrary.org to reserve your copies now.
Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA by Sue
In a world full of racial hate and violence, The Fire This Time is urgent, perceptive, and essential. Deeply affected by the death of Trayvon Martin, Jesmyn Ward sought comfort in an online community that shared her fear and anger. Inspired by the thoughts of these black activists and scholars, Ward gathered a collection of eighteen reflective essays and poems, forming a book that would hopefully bring solace to black Americans. With a title that nods to James Baldwin’s formative work The Fire Next Time, this volume offers new perspectives on the inexhaustible subject of race in America. The following contributors, along with many more, have written with united ambition and great intellect. Claudia Rankine expresses the fear shared by black parents that their children may become victims of violence simply because of their skin color. Kevin Young explores blackness through the lens of pop culture, blackface, and the Rachel Dolezal debacle. Kiese Laymon examines the lyrical art of OutKast and the importance of honoring ancestors. Garnette Cadogan recalls learning to walk as a black man through the streets of America. Emily Raboteau writes about New York City’s murals and their desperate message to blacks to “Know Your Rights.” This varied anthology will inspire hope and societal change for years to come. SCIENCE FICTION, cont’d from page 5 GALACTIC EMPIRES By Neil Clarke, Editor Night Shade Books, $17.99, 636 pages Reviewed by Ryder Miller Check this out! Galactic Empires from Editor Neil Clarke is a huge anthology with stories about humanity successfully making it out into space. Here, one will find giant societies and intergalactic alliances. This is old-time science fiction, when it was still popular to dream such things were not impossible. These stories assume that we would be able to travel as fast as the speed of light and that we would find many worlds to settle. Some of these stories have very large numbers of settled planets. There is intrigue, politics, war, and adventures. As such, the book has a lot to absorb with a lot of galaxy building. Some might find it demanding, but certain stories might need to be reread by some. Collected are reprints of stories written since the millennium. The anthology, however, has some stellar writers, with a lineup comparable to some of the most qualified anthologies in the field. Robert Silverberg is a standout in this one. There also are many other stars, especially some recent award-winners, including Anne Leckie and Naomi Novik. One may find some of these stories hard to follow, but these are trips to alien worlds and strange intergalactic societies. There are planets out there for all of them. One can be amazed by the level of creativity in these stories, some of which will take you beyond gravity. THE FINAL DAY: A NOVEL (A JOHN MATHERSON NOVEL) By William R. Forstchen Forge Books, $25.99, 352 pages Reviewed by Michael Shulman Check this out! The Final Day is the conclusion to William Forstchen’s John Matherson trilogy. The trilogy focuses on the devastating electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that occurred after nuclear weapons were detonated over the United States. As a result of the EMP, every single electrical and electronic device stopped functioning, and humanity stepped back into the Dark Ages. In the third novel, it has been two years since the EMP occurred, and John and the residents of his small North Carolina town are slowly starting to rebuild and bring civilization to where it was before the attack. However, they soon find out that the government ripped up the Constitution and wants to give a large part of the United States to China and Mexico, and it wants to use the Army to suppress dissent. Now as the prospect of a new civil war looms on the horizon, the survival of the nation is at stake. William Forstchen has done it again. His two previous novels were brilliant, and this one is no exception. Just like the first books in the trilogy, this final part is very strong on character development and plot fluidity. However, this book is different from the first two as it focuses on the macrocosm, which is the United States as a whole as a whole, not on the microcosm, John’s small North Carolina town. Nevertheless, The Final Day has all the hallmarks of a suspenseful postapocalyptic novel that examines humanity’s struggle and resilience in the aftermath. Tulsa Book Review • March 2017 • 15
Edwards and Duchess Harris, Ph.D. Discusses how in the 1950s, black women made critical contributions to NASA by performing calculations that made it possible for the nation’s astronauts to fly into space and return safely to Earth.
Che Guevara’s Face: How a Cuban Photographer’s Image Became a Cultural Icon by Danielle Smith-Llera Discusses the iconic photograph of revolutionary Che Guevara taken in 1960 by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda.
Misunderstood: Why the Humble Rat May Be Your Best Pet Ever by Rachel Toor
Shares the author’s experiences with her pet rat Iris, offering anecdotes of her antics and other rat owners and discussing how to care for rats, health concerns, life spans and eating habits.
Women Heroes of World War II: The Pacific Theater: 15 Stories of Resistance, Rescue, Sabotage and Survival by Kathryn J. Atwood Collects the stories of 15 women who risked their lives to become heroes in the Pacific theater of World War II.
A Celebration of Beatrix Potter: Art and Letters by More Than 30 of Today’s Favorite Children’s Book Illustrators by Beatrix Potter
2016 marks the 150th birthday of Beatrix Potter, making it the perfect time to pay tribute to the beloved author/illustrator. With illustrious tales of characters like Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and Jemima Puddle-Duck, Potter established herself as one of the most cherished and influential author/illustrators of children’s literature. To mark her milestone birthday, this gorgeous collection features beautiful illustrations of Potter’s characters, as interpreted by well-known illustrators. Each illustration is accompanied by text from the artist explaining what that character means to them, making this a true celebration of Beatrix Potter.
Star Wars, Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide by Pablo Hidalgo
This exciting reference format accompanies the eagerly anticipated, first-ever standalone Star Wars movie: Rogue One. This beautifully detailed title features in-depth character profiles, plus five newly commissioned and fully annotated crosssections of vehicles and mapped-out locations. With clear and authoritative text, this book is packed with essential information and presented alongside stunning stills from the movie.
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