Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci

It was very frustrating reading this latest novel by Plum-Ucci. It is a real page-turner, but unfortunately, I couldn't devote all my time to reading it. Be prepared to only want to read when you pick up Streams of Babel. Set in New Jersey in 2002, it is the frightening, but all too plausible circumstance of bio- terrorism that is at its center. Cora Holman's mother, Aleese, has suffered a debilitating injury, is addicted to morphine, and has died of an overdose. But did she really? The autopsy indicates it really was a brain aneurysm. How coincidental is it that the mother of one of the paramedics responding to the emergency call is also sick with the flu and exhibits the same symptoms as Cora's mother. Determined to ward off the bug, Mrs. Ederman downs an extraordinary amount of water. It is to no avail and she also succumbs. Results of the autopsy - brain aneurysm. But how much does the water she and Cora's mother drank have to d0 with their deaths?

The novel is told in alternating voices of Cora Holman, Scott and Owen Ederman, Rain Steckman whose father is head of USIC (US Intelligence Coalition), Shazhad Hamdani, a young Pakistani who is v-spying for the USIC, and Tyler Ping, a young Korean who eats pills and hacks computers. Shazhad has intercepted chatter about Red Vinegar and the intent to kill a significant number of people in Colony One. But will he be able to get information to the U.S. officials quickly enough to save the lives of Rain, Cora, and Owen?

The friendship and interaction among the teens is natural and believable. The idea of water supplies being targets for terrorists is more than frightening and credibly portrayed. As the terrorists are exposed the reader has a sense of urgency to finish the book and find that they are aptly punished. But, is that reality? The suspense will hold the reader beyond the final page of the book. A great solid teen-read!

Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva

Last year I discovered Daniel Silva and I spent last summer reading all 7 of his Gabriel Allon novels. I couldn't wait for his new book, Moscow Rules to come out this summer. I wasn't disappointed. Allon is an agent for the Israeli Mossad and is also an incredibly gifted art restorer. Silva tackles world issues through the activities of Allon and has earned his place, in my opinion, next to Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsythe, two of my favorite authors in the spy and international intrigue genre. Moscow Rules begins with the horrible death of Aleksandre Lubin, a Russian journalist, in France. He has information about a Russian plot to sell arms to terrorists. Allon is called from his honeymoon in Umbria to make contact with a another Russian journalist in Rome to get information about Lubin's death and of the impending terrorist activities. The meeting goes sour and Allon becomes fully involved in the investigation, much to the chagrin of his new wife, also an Israeli agent.

The action moves from Rome to London to Moscow all with lightning speed. On the journey Ari Shamron, Sarah Bancroft, Eli Lavon, and Uzi Navot, characters from previous Silva novels, join the investigation. It is journey that keeps you on the edge of your seat as Allon, the English, American, and French governments attempt to capture ringleader Ivan Kharkhov and intercept the shipment. Adding to the intrigue is the willingness of Kharkhov's wife Elena to cooperate with Allon. As the plan is fabricated and the mission becomes clear, we know that the danger to all involved is life-threatening and we are fascinated as to how Ivan will be thwarted and Elena and intelligence agents will get out alive. Mindful of the "Moscow Rules," the rules of engagement developed by the CIA during the Cold War Period, each of the operatives knows his or her role and must not deviate from it.

There is no shortage of plot twists and turns in this novel as we revel in Silva's magnificent use of language and description. One feels the quiet and comfort of Umbria, the rich life of Saint-Tropez, and the tenseness of clandestine meetings in Washington, London, and Moscow. You just can't get enough. And so the wait commences until the next thriller by Daniel Silva is published.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

If you have ever been to London, you will have seen that the London Eye dominates the skyline along the Thames River across from Parliament. When one flies the Eye, you experience breathtaking views of the city and on a clear day, the countryside for roughly 20 miles. Siobhan Dowd sets her mystery around this landmark. Ted and Kat are on half-term break and are really not looking forward to a visit from Aunt Gloria and their cousin, Salim who are on their way to relocating in the United States. From the onset of the novel we know that Ted is a very special kid. He is consumed with meteorology and numbers and thinks outside the box. As the book progresses we see that he most likely as Asperger's syndrome. Salim has always wanted to fly the Eye and so Aunt Gloria, Ted, Kat and Ted and Kat's mom, Faith, set out the day after their arrival to do so. While Gloria and Faith have coffee, the 3 young people stand in queue for tickets and boarding. But, what luck! A stranger approaches them and offers a free ticket. He bought it and realizes that being claustrophobic, he could never get into one of the pods.

Since Kat and Ted have flown the Eye, Salim takes it and boards for his flight. The flight takes exactly 30 minutes and Kat and Ted wait for him. The people in his pod disembark, but Salim is not among them. Maybe it was the wrong pod. Could they have missed him? Where is he?

The mysterious disappearance has everyone puzzled and the story that ensues takes the reader on a very wild ride. Ted is certain that he can figure it out. He and Kat develop some nine theories as they try to find Salim. The police become involved. But time is ticking away and throughout the next 3 days the family becomes more frantic. To test a few theories Kat and Ted venture out on a trip through London and the Tube. As they develop and test the hypotheses, we get an incredible and fascinating insight into how Ted's mind really works.

This is a great mystery, full of Britishisms, some laughter and some very tense moments. I tried to pick up on some clues through the course of the story, but must admit, I missed one that would have helped me solve it. It is a page-turner and would be a fun book for both boys and girls. Siobhan Dowd was a wonderful author and it saddens me that she will write for us no more.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

I must say that I was a little more than skeptical when I heard that The Invention of Hugo Cabret had won the prestigious Caldecott Medal for 2008. How could a 500+ page book qualify for this honor that is awarded for the most distinguished "picture book" of the year? I am NOT skeptical NOW after reading Hugo. What a gem that is surely to go down as a favorite for generations to come.

From the opening page's picture of a moon and then the sketches of Paris at night, the reader is entranced by the charcoal drawings and words have yet to appear. We learn that Hugo has taken over keeping the clocks wound and synchronized at a train station in Paris after his uncle disappears. He lives in a small room, also occupied by an automaton that was rescued from the ashes of a fire that killed Hugo's father. Hugo forages for food since he has no way to cash his uncle's paychecks. Our empathy builds for this young orphan as he tries to do the right thing, but who is eventually caught stealing a small wind up mouse from a toy store in the station. He needs some parts to fix the automaton because he knows from his father's notebook that the mechanical creature holds a deep secret. The shop owner takes his notebook and holds it as ransom. Hugo will need to work in the shop to try to make amends.

Enter Penelope, the shopkeeper's godchild. She befriends Hugo and the two embark on the journey that will lead them to discover the secret. Through magic, a bit of cinematic history, and the exploration of days gone by, the two friends eventually share their deepest thoughts and feelings about their lives with each other. Not all of them are happy.

This book can be read on many levels. It is an insight into cinema and the contributions of Georges Méliés, the tragedy of young people left to their own devices for survival, and some real history as illustrated by the train crash at the Gare Montparnasse. As the Caldecott committee stated, "Neither words nor pictures alone tell this story." Pick it up and you will be lost and enchanted for a good couple of hours.

For background and history of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, click here.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie is a well-known author of adult books and poetry. His first novel for Young Adults is an absolute winner, literally. It won the prestigious National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2007. Based on Alexie's life it is comedic, tragic, and poignant in so many ways.Told in the 1st person, the novel recounts the year that Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, leaves the rez school to attend a white school 20 miles from his home. Junior is a Spokane Indian who suffers from multiple physical issues. He was born hydrocephalic, he stutters, and he lisps. In addition his parents are alcoholics and the family is extremely poor. When handed a book in math class on the first day of school, he sees that his mother's name is listed on the inside of the book. It had been used since his mother was in school and that was not fair. He heaves the book and it hits his teacher in the face. It was at this point, after his suspension, that Mr. P. encourages him to attend the white school. "You've kept your hope. And now you have to take your hope and go somewhere where other people have hope."

And so he does and he meets people who give him some of that hope. But he still has to go home to the rez. The year goes by and Junior tells us of trying out for the basketball team, facing his good friend, Rowdy, on the court, trying to understand why is sister Mary has runaway, and lamenting the countless funerals he must attend. He is fourteen and already has attended forty two funerals. "That's the difference between Indians and white people." His talent on the basketball court allows him ,finally, to be accepted, tho the process is not without pain. His coach reminds him of the Vince Lombardi quote (no not the win or lose one), but "the quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his chosen field of endeavor." That should be a mantra for us all.

The book is enhanced by the cartoon-like drawings Junior draws. Some are just hilarious as he attempts to get his thoughts down on paper. Drawings are understood by everyone and transcend speech and language. And these drawings do that for this book. This was an amazing book and one that stays with the reader long after the last page is turned. Yes, in times it is raunchy and earthy, but it is blatantly honest and captivating and should be a must read by all.

A Death in Vienna by Frank Tallis

A Death in Vienna is a very absorbing novel that is set in turn of the century Vienna. Charlotte Lowenstein, a very attractive medium, has been shot. But there was no bullet. She is found in a locked room - locked from the inside and there is no evidence of an escape by the murderer. Could it be an illusion or is a supernatural being the perpetrator? Enter Dectective Oskar Rheinhardt who enlists the aid of a cutting edge psychoanalyst, Dr. Max Liebermann to try to solve the murder. There are numerous suspects, many of whom have participated in seances with Charlotte. They include a banker, a locksmith, a count, and a well-to-do couple. Tallis masterfully develops each character and sets them against the back-drop of the beautiful and bustling city of Vienna, almost allowing the city to become a character in herself. The investigation becomes a study of forensic and criminal methods versus psychological. Several additional story lines become interwoven within the main story line, the engagement of Max, the treatment a very disturbed Amelia Lydgate. And then in the midst of all the action, one of the prime suspects is bludgeoned to death and is found in a room locked from the inside. Is it the same killer or a different one?

The crimes are solved in a very clever manner as a result of some ingenious twists and turns of the plot. Tallis weaves the historical into the novel as we witness a symphony conducted by Mahler and an exhibit opening of Klimt's paintings at the Secession. And, of course, no novel set in 1902 Vienna would be complete without an appearance by Sigmund Freud whose influence of thought at the time is quite evident. We also get a glimpse of a Freud who is trying to push the sales of a book of jokes, no less.

A Death in Vienna transports the reader to the titular city in every way. We can taste a sachertorte at Demel's, hear the works of Beethoven and Wagner as conducted by Mahler, smell the coffee at the Imperial and other cafés, be awestruck at the beauty of the Hoffburg Palace, and lose our breath as we ride high above the city on the Riesenrad. It was a very good trip indeed. A great combination of thriller, historical and psychological fiction.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

There are books that, when you read them, you know will stay with you for a long time. Jay Asher's first novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, is just such a book. Clay Jensen receives a package of tapes that detail the thirteen reasons why Hannah Baker has committed suicide. Recorded before her death, the tapes are Hannah's own accounting to the thirteen people who contributed to her decision to end her life. Just as Clay must know why he is involved and listens to the tapes without a pause, we want to know what has happened to this young woman that has caused her to make such a decision.

Hannah's taped voice appears in italics, interspersed among the the thoughts of Clay. Although he has had a crush on Hannah for a time, he cannot figure out what has caused him to be included in the persons who will be receiving the tape. Also among those receiving the tapes is the boy who was her first kiss and ruined her reputation, the one who labeled her as having the best a-- in the school, the girl who pretended to be a real friend and a peeping Tom who stalks her outside her window. All of them have played a major role in her high school life, but were their actions enough to really put Hannah over the edge.

This is an eerie story. At times it feels that we are eavesdropping on a very private conversation between Hannah and Clay. But we read, anxious to get to the end because we have to have the answers. This book resonates with the truth - the truth that, even what seems as an inconsequential action, can have consequences that snowball. This novel is so well written and so powerful The lives of those who have received the tapes will never be the same. It is a guarantee that the reader's life will not be the same either upon finishing the book.

Don't wait to read this one!

The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

I have been a devoted fan of Jennifer Donnelly since I first read A Northern Light. In addition, I have had the wonderful pleasure of hosting Jennifer at our school.
Having read The Tea Rose, I anxiously awaited the second in the trilogy. I bought a copy while in the UK, but gave it to a friend as present. As the school year winds down, I couldn't put off reading The Winter Rose any longer. It is a long historical saga, but isn't that what we fans love? Reviewers have said that it went on 200 pages longer than necessary, but I disagree. I didn't want it to end.
The Winter Rose continues the story of the Finnegan family, this time with Charlie Finnegan at the center of the action. However, Charlie is now known as Sid Malone and is a seemingly ruthless criminal who controls a band of thugs in London's East End. The novel commences as India Selwyn-Jones graduates from the London School of Medicine for Women and begins work for Dr. Gifford, a quack to be sure. India is passionate about medicine and is resolved to provide the best treatment for the hordes of patients whom she sees. At the same time she is engaged to Freddie Lytton, a hardened ne'er do well, who is interested in her for her money. As is to be expected the paths of Freddie, India, and Sid become entwined and the inevitable triangle is conceived. Fionna Finnegan becomes obsessed with finding Charlie and as a result enters the picture.

From East End of London to Whitechapel to New York, California, and Africa and Mount Kilamanjaro, Donnelly weaves a wonderful adventure and romantic novel. Her descriptions of the times, characters, and setting are meticulously researched. You know what Victorian London looks like and how it smells - the pubs, the tunnels, and the wharves. You can feel the jostling of your teeth as the primitive railroad crosses the African continent. You love India and despise Freddie. At times I felt like Sisyphus pushing the rock up the hill. As close as Sid and India get to having a fulfilling relationship, the rock slides back down and you start over again. The minor characters are also well drawn, especially Ella Moskowitz and her family. They add a sense of place and also serve as catalysts in moving the plot along. Seamie Finnegan reappears and the subplot involving him and Willa Alden with their adventurous spirit and need for exploration seems to foreshadow the plot of the next novel in the trilogy.

The Winter Rose is a wonderful novel, guaranteeing many hours of reading pleasure.

New Feature

Have just added a link to my bookshelves at GoodReads. Now you can see what I am reading and what's on my shelf to read next.

Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor

Originally published in 1938, Address Unknown is a short story or novella that is immediately engaging and eventually haunting. Told in a series of letters between two business associates who are really like brothers, it chronicles the rise of nationalism and Hitler in Germany in 1934. Martin Schulz moves his family back to Germany after having lived in San Francisco where he was co-owner of an art gallery with Max Eisenstein. The two carry on a correspondence with Eisenstein, a Jew, becoming very concerned over the policies of Germany and Hitler. Eventually, Martin requests that Max no longer write him since he is afraid of losing his position in German society and politics. The story climaxes when Max asks Martin to help track down Max's sister Griselle. Max's letters to Griselle have been returned address unknown after she openly proclaimed her self a Jewish actress. In a turn of events and twist in plot that is reminiscent of O'Henry, the book leaves the reader with shock and questions as to what is really morally right in that world and even today.

According to Charles Douglas Taylor, Kressman Taylor's son, in the forward to the book, Katherine wanted to write "about what the Nazis were doing and show the American public what happens to real, living people swept up in a warped ideology." It gives evidence that we as a people were aware of what was happening in Germany and how we chose to react or not react to the situation. A must read for any introduction to the study of the Holocaust.