narrative (even of high-intensity scenes) seem downright authorial. Too much of the novel is comprised of comic bits strung together with first-person exposition, and laughs fall flat when they depend on British slang, as with know-it-all William of Anorak. The obvious and clearly broadcast message (“Greed is all powerful; greed conquers all,” tempered by Jennifer’s innate goodness) further impedes the effect of the broad, sometimes ingenious humor. The second volume may fare better as it promises to highlight the aging, odd wizards and world rather than the less-than-sparkling Jennifer. Mostly for Fforde’s fans, although fantasy readers with a taste for the silly should appreciate the subverted tropes. (Fantasy. 12 & up)
her trademark vibrant collages, in this case, made from string and handmade paper. A single triangle forms the body of each mouse, while a second triangle perches on top to form the head. Add pink circles for ears, bright white rectangles for teeth, more colorful circles for eyes and strings for arms and legs—with knots serving as wrists and ankles—and you’ve got two majorly adorable mice. A consistent black background emphasizes the nighttime setting and allows the textures and colors of the handmade paper figures to really shine. Children will delight in following the mice as they enjoy the run of the house: using art supplies to create their own collages; playing with lipstick, a toothbrush and dental floss; scampering over fruits and vegetables; chowing down on crackers, cupcakes and cereal. They will also be tickled to discover that the narrator of the poem turns out to be none other than a big, grinning cat with a gleam in his eye. No wonder he insists that mice “are rather nice.” The simple, rhyming text, very large print and crisp, vibrant images make this one an excellent choice for sharing with your favorite group of toddlers or preschoolers. (Picture book. 3-5)
SANCTUM
Fine, Sarah Amazon Children’s Publishing (432 pp.) $17.99 | $9.99 e-book | Oct. 16, 2012 Series: Guards of the Shadowlands, 1 A paranormal romance confirms that, indeed, hell is hell. A convoluted sequence of events finds university-bound foster kid Lela, 17, dead. She wakes up in a paradisaical countryside—which she rejects in order to enter the Suicide Gates to save her best friend, Nadia, who killed herself a week before. Within the gates, hapless embodied souls wander aimlessly in an urban landscape of utter misery, kept in by Guards and threatened by Mazikin, who steal their bodies and condemn their souls to who-knows-where. Lela quickly draws the attention of both Guards and Mazikin, persuading the incredibly hot Malachi, human Captain of the Guard, to help her rescue Nadia. Fine’s gloomy city of suicides and the rules that govern it will draw readers in, though the motives of the thoroughly evil Mazikin are unclear. Her theology is equally fuzzy; readers who want to find the overt Christianity implied by the concept may need to wait for subsequent volumes. Theology be damned, though: Lela and Malachi are both likable protagonists, and readers will be happy (though not surprised) to find them drawn together; the supporting cast among the Guards is also strong. A touch of homoerotic creepiness to hammer home the evil of the Mazikin will distress many readers. This flaw notwithstanding, this trilogy opener has a lot going for it. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)
FOOD The New Gold
Gay, Kathlyn Twenty-First Century/Lerner (96 pp.) $23.95 e-book | PLB $31.93 | Oct. 1, 2012 978-0-7613-4607-4
An intelligent examination of food that probes how it is produced, procured and delivered to consumers—or not. While many Americans and citizens of other wealthy nations take food for granted because of its abundance and availability in seemingly endless variety year-round, millions elsewhere, even in the United States, fare terribly. Gay explores the topic of food as a commodity in a way young readers have perhaps never encountered. Writing with skill, clarity and a finely tuned sense of fairness on all sides of issues, she conveys what a complicated business getting food to the table is. The word business is not to be underestimated, as today’s food culture involves multinational corporations in addition to governments and politics, science and technology, and the environment and global warming. Excellent color photographs and illuminating, easy-tounderstand charts and diagrams enhance readers’ comprehension. Some of this may be difficult to digest: Descriptions of the treatment of food animals before and after slaughter and the handling of industrial waste might turn some stomachs; photos of starving youngsters are heart-wrenching. Yet the outlook isn’t completely dire. Gay points to optimistic news, such as the sustainable-agriculture movement, for example. Documentation is sound, though the bibliography offers few child-friendly titles—which perhaps speaks to this book’s singularity. A sobering, thought-provoking discussion that provides, yes, much food for thought. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, websites, index) (Nonfiction. 12 & up)
MICE
Fyleman, Rose Illus. by Ehlert, Lois Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster (40 pp.) $16.99 | $12.99 e-book | Oct. 16, 2012 978-1-4424-5684-6 978-1-4424-5686-0 e-book This fresh interpretation of a classic poem is a charmer. Ehlert illustrates Fyleman’s simple, well-loved poem with |
kirkus.com
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children ’s
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teen
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15 september 2012
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