Readers Be Advised

It was solidified after the most recent read of The Steep and Thorny Way that came out last month. A story based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, our female protagonist is struggling with the purported ghost of her late father and the return of the convicted killer , a young man who hit him with his car. There is also a very real struggle of race in their town– Hanalee is biracial– her father was a black man and her mother is white and their marriage was controversial. And since Hanalee’s father’s death, her mother had married a new man, a white man, that seemed to settle the town a bit. It’s historical, it’s mysterious. As are the other two that I’ve read, including my first experience with Cat Winters’ beautiful writing in In the Shadow of Blackbirds.

Winters’ ability to create a moody, atmospheric setting is just as powerful as her characters and plots. Add to that her insistence on incorporating history and she creates magic. And she can do that in a condensed version as well when I read April Genevieve Tucholke’s curated collection Slasher Girls & Monster Boys where Winters’ short story “Emmeline” stole the show.

There is no denying Winters is unique but without playing to a specific readership. Her books are accessible and fascinating to a variety of readers. We can only hope she continues to write as eloquently as she already has. I can’t wait to discover the others that I haven’t read to fall more in love!

Originally posted to YALSA’s The Hub where I contribute

The best kind of science books are the one that share information without getting too technical, are not monotonous, and have a unique angle: that it factor that makes it special. Humor is a draw, especially in nonfiction and, double-points if the book reads like fiction too. So set aside the baking soda volcanoes and egg drop tests to read some of these humorous science books.

Guinea Pig Scientists : Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine by Mel Boring, Leslie Dendy, and C.B. Mordan (Illustrator)

This book showcases a handful of scientists who advanced medicine by first starting with themselves, then others, then animals, until their theories were proved. Tenacity was the key for all of these innovators of such things as laughing gas or what caused yellow fever. Now we know!  

How to Fake a Moon Landing: Exposing the Myths of Science Denial by Darryl Cunningham

Useful for any STEM curriculum this graphic novel is for conspiracy theorists, science buffs, and graphic novel fans. It discusses topics like autism and vaccines to fracking. For many teens, some of the topics will build new knowledge.

Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach

Roach has a talent for incorporating solid research, witty observations, and her own brand of intrigue on life, death, and the gastrointestinal system. Written for adults, her books are the kind that are entertaining to any reader not wanting to break out Grey’s Anatomy of the Human Body.  

Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks

Genius, fun, and empowering, Ottiaviani and Wicks teach readers to follow their passions by sharing the stories of Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas without glorifying their adventures. It’s arduous and difficult working tirelessly in the jungles. Coupled with the vivid colors of the graphic novel, no one would think their work was easy. It’s fighting against politics and civil war and their own critics and bosses that made their work so rewarding and renown.

The Killer Book Of… by Tom Philbin

• Serial Killers: Incredible Stories, Facts, and Trivia from the World of Serial Killers

• True Crime: Incredible Stories, Facts and Trivia from the World of Murder and Mayhem

• Cold Cases: Incredible Stories, Facts, and Trivia from the Most Baffling True Crime Cases of All Time

• Infamous Murders: Incredible Stories, Facts, and Trivia from the World’s Most Notorious Murders

Each of the books written by Philbin, and sometimes his co-written with his brother Michael, seem like odd titles to be in a post about humorous science books but the dose of light-heartedness through which they share the worst about humanity is necessary. Reading it myself, I sometimes stopped to ponder the downfall of humanity and question everyone from my co-worker to my own husband and the possibility that they were serial killers, murderers, or arsonists. Yet, presenting the facts as Q&As, guessing “who is this?”, and providing definitions and examples of all types of crimes showcase the literary versions of some of the best crime show dramas on television like Dexter and Bones, and reality shows like Dr. G.: Medical Examiner and Cold Case Files.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgie Bragg and Kevin O’Malley (Illustrator)

This collective biography is just as scientific as it is biographical, detailing the ways in which historical figures died. Yes, death is not necessarily funny, but knowing how preventable many of their deaths were based on 21st century science and medicine makes them seems outlandish. Hence, the humor.  Bragg combines facts and quotes, but scientific discoveries, odd illustrations, and easily read chapters.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t throw a children’s book in here for good measure. Let’s all remember 1991 when Shinta Cho and Amanda Mayer Stinchecum wrote Gas We Pass: The Story of Farts. Everyone does it but rare is the person who admits it, so we all are fascinated by the story of how gas works and that many an animal deals with it. So here’s to the writers and illustrators that teach us with a side of laughter. They say it is the best medicine.

I can say that most of my e-reading comes from the galleys I receive through Netgalley, not because I prefer e-reading over traditional books or that I seem to get the most talked about books sooner that way– it’s just the way it is.

The way I’m making myself feel better about missing BEA this year is knowing that many of the books I get in book form there end up appearing in a month or two on Netgalley. Again, it’s only making me feel slightly better.

Here’s what on my reader now:

• Awakening by Catrina Burgess
• Amaranthine by Lanie Jacobs
• Welcome to Hell Damini by John Otis Biggs
• The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchock

So here’s to Netgalley for championing authors and books by getting them into the hands of those making purchase decisions and those who can spread the word about great books to come!

I’m excited to now be part of a team of bloggers for the Young Adult Library Services Association’s blog, The Hub. Check out my first post!