School Library Journal : Starred Review. Gr 5–9—This biography covers enough of Samuel Clemens's youth for readers to appreciate how autobiographical Twain's later novels were, but the seven years that the writer spent meandering the Wild West are at the heart of the book. Fleischman chronicles Clemens's various bouts of gold fever and get-rich-quick schemes in the Nevada Territory and the San Francisco area, but shows that it was always his newspaper writing that provided stability. At age 30, Clemens was reborn as Mark Twain when his short story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" was accepted by a magazine and drew popular acclaim. An "Afterstory" provides brief information on Twain's subsequent marriage and the publication of the novels for which he is most famous. Although similar in scope to Kathryn Lasky's A Brilliant Streak: The Making of Mark Twain (Harcourt, 1998), Fleischman's account is more engaging as he slips easily into Twain's drawling cadences. The illustrations and photographs are rich and varied, and the back matter is a work of art in itself: the time line, annotated bibliography, and references will prove useful to report writers, and the inclusion of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog…" is an extra treat.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

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School Library Journal : Starred Review. Gr 4–8—Another stunning work from the nonfiction virtuoso. In a gripping, gritty account of the months that General Washington and his troops spent camped at Valley Forge, Freedman deftly brings to life this storied, nearly mythic period of the Revolutionary War. Vivid depictions of the harsh realities, not just the difficult winter weather, but also the lack of food, supplies, and clothing, all came together to create a perfect storm of misery that led to low morale, desertions, and death. Using first-person accounts from a variety of sources, Freedman offers a stirring portrait of a man who not only demanded that Congress step up its support of the troops, but who also brought in military experts to help transform the ragtag militia into a unified, trained military force. Everything—from quotes to images—is impeccably sourced, and a thorough, annotated bibliography is appended. Interwoven throughout are sepia-toned images that range from photographs of historical sites to reproductions of period artwork, which help to immerse readers in the era. Pair this with Thomas B. Allen's George Washington, Spymaster (National Geographic, 2007) and the man behind the legend becomes more intriguing and real to budding historians. An excellent choice for every collection.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

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Publishers Weekly : Starred Review. Filkins, a New York Times prize–winning reporter, is widely regarded as among the finest war correspondents of this generation. His richly textured book is based on his work in Afghanistan and Iraq since 1998. It begins with a Taliban-staged execution in Kabul. It ends with Filkins musing on the names in a WWI British cemetery in Baghdad. In between, the work is a vivid kaleidoscope of vig-nettes. Individually, the strength of each story is its immediacy; together they portray a theater of the absurd, in which Filkins, an extraordinarily brave man, moves as both participant and observer. Filkins does not editorialize—a welcome change from the punditry that shapes most writing from these war zones. This book also differs essentially from traditional war correspondence because of its universal empathy, feelings enhanced by Filkins's spare prose. Saudi women in Kabul airport, clad in burqas and stylish shoes, bemoan their husbands' devotion to jihad. An Iraqi casually says to his friend, Let's go kill some Americans. A marine is shot dead escorting Filkins on a photo opportunity. Iraqi soldiers are disconcerted when he appears in running shorts (They looked at [my legs] in horror, as if I were naked). Carl von Clausewitz said war is a chameleon. In vividly illustrating the varied ways people in Afghanistan and iraq have been affected by ongoing war, Filkins demonstrates that truth in prose. 5 photos. (Sept. 17)

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Publishers Weekly : This promising first in a new series from bestseller Baldacci (First Family) introduces Beth Perry, chief of the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police, and Beth's younger sister, Mace Perry, a former police officer dubbed the Patty Hearst of the twenty-first century after she was seized by bandits, drugged and taken along on a series of armed robberies around Washington. Mace, who's just getting out of prison after serving a two-year sentence, is willing to risk everything to clear her name and reclaim her life as a cop by cracking a big case on her own. The rape-murder of a powerful lawyer as well as the killing of a prominent U.S. attorney provide Mace an opportunity to vindicate herself. While Baldacci draws his characters in bright primary colors, and some of the action reaches comic book proportions, he delivers his usual intricate plotting and sets the stage nicely for highly competent Beth and impulsive, streetwise Mace to take on more bad guys. (Oct. 27)

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Library Journal : Perry's fourth entry in her World War I series finds army chaplain Joseph Reavley and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, coping with the horrors associated with the battle at Passchendaele. Joseph is then called upon to investigate the death of an incompetent officer who may have been murdered by his men. The story drags a bit at times but picks up considerably during the climactic trial. Perry's usual attention to detail and passionate depiction of loyalty and honor in wartime help overcome Michael Page's flawed reading. Page makes the concern and anger of the characters seem, at times, more like peevishness and hysteria. Still, recommended for collections where this series has proven popular.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.

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Library Journal : Perry's fourth entry in her World War I series finds army chaplain Joseph Reavley and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, coping with the horrors associated with the battle at Passchendaele. Joseph is then called upon to investigate the death of an incompetent officer who may have been murdered by his men. The story drags a bit at times but picks up considerably during the climactic trial. Perry's usual attention to detail and passionate depiction of loyalty and honor in wartime help overcome Michael Page's flawed reading. Page makes the concern and anger of the characters seem, at times, more like peevishness and hysteria. Still, recommended for collections where this series has proven popular.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.

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Library Journal : Perry's fourth entry in her World War I series finds army chaplain Joseph Reavley and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, coping with the horrors associated with the battle at Passchendaele. Joseph is then called upon to investigate the death of an incompetent officer who may have been murdered by his men. The story drags a bit at times but picks up considerably during the climactic trial. Perry's usual attention to detail and passionate depiction of loyalty and honor in wartime help overcome Michael Page's flawed reading. Page makes the concern and anger of the characters seem, at times, more like peevishness and hysteria. Still, recommended for collections where this series has proven popular.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms

Library Journal : Perry's fourth entry in her World War I series finds army chaplain Joseph Reavley and his sister, Judith, an ambulance driver, coping with the horrors associated with the battle at Passchendaele. Joseph is then called upon to investigate the death of an incompetent officer who may have been murdered by his men. The story drags a bit at times but picks up considerably during the climactic trial. Perry's usual attention to detail and passionate depiction of loyalty and honor in wartime help overcome Michael Page's flawed reading. Page makes the concern and anger of the characters seem, at times, more like peevishness and hysteria. Still, recommended for collections where this series has proven popular.—Michael Adams, CUNY Graduate Ctr.

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Library Journal : A village mender's love for his dead wife leads him in his dreams to the dry lands of the dead where a kiss from his wife's spirit begins a chain of events that shakes the foundations of the realms of Earthsea. Le Guin's first Earthsea novel in ten years blends old themes and familiar people from previous series books with new characters and fresh stories, demonstrating once again the power of storytelling to transform the known into the unknown and the ordinary into the extraordinary. Le Guin remains a master of subtlety and grace as she finds new and surprising ways to express deep truths cloaked in the trappings of fantasy. A priority purchase for libraries of all sizes. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/00.]

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Publishers Weekly : What a year it's been for Le Guin. First, there was The Telling, the widely praised new novel in her Hainish sequence, followed by Tales from Earthsea, a collection of recent short fiction in her other major series. Now she returns with a superb novel-length addition to the Earthsea universe, one that, once again, turns that entire series on its head. Alder, the man who unwittingly initiates the transformation of Earthsea, is a humble sorcerer who specializes in fixing broken pots and repairing fence lines, but when his beloved wife, Lily, dies, he is inconsolable. He begins to dream of the land of the dead and sees both Lily and other shades reaching out to him across the low stone wall that separates them from the land of the living. Soon, more general signs and portents begin to disturb Earthsea. The dragons break their long-standing truce and begin to move east. The new ruler of the Kargad Lands sends his daughter west in an attempt to wed her to King Lebannen. Even Ged, the former archmage, now living in peaceful, self-imposed exile on Gont, starts to have disturbing dreams. In Tehanu (1990), the fourth book in the series, Le Guin rethought the traditional connection between gender and magic that she had assumed in the original Earthsea trilogy. In her new novel, however, she reconsiders the relationship between magic and something even more basic: life and death itself. This is not what 70-year-old writers of genre fantasy are supposed to do, but then, there aren't many writers around like Le Guin. (Oct. 1)has won a National Book Award, the Kafka Award and a Pushcart Prize.

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The Horn Book : Huey, a six-year-old basset hound, narrates this story about his pangs of jealousy when Taxi, a cat from the pound, comes to live with his family. The rivalry between the animals is believable and creates humorous episodes that almost transcend the anthropomorphic behavior.

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Book Review

The Horn Book

From HORN BOOK 1992, Copyright © The Horn Book, used with permission. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions Inc. Terms

The Horn Book : Huey, a six-year-old basset hound, narrates this story about his pangs of jealousy when Taxi, a cat from the pound, comes to live with his family. The rivalry between the animals is believable and creates humorous episodes that almost transcend the anthropomorphic behavior.

distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Book Review

The Horn Book

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Publishers Weekly : A stylized onomatopoeic sound fest marks MacLennan's impressive debut. With bright, feathery dabs and blobs of paint, she introduces a passel of almost palpable fluffy chicks, fuzzy bees and cuddly kittens, all of whom frolic across brown-bag backgrounds to the beat of rhymes like this one: "Chicky, chicky, chook chook./ Chick, chick chick./ Chicky, chicky, chook chook,/ peck... peck... pick." The eyeballs of the rambunctious characters seem to bounce off their bodies, underscoring their kinetic energy. A sudden cloudburst puts a damper on things: "Sticky, icky chicky./ Soggy, groggy moggy./ Wet. Wet. Wet./ Crazy... dizzy... buzzer!/ How will we get dry?" But the sun soon restores everybody back to their previously adorable states—just in time for a good night's sleep. The text may go on a bit long for some grownups' taste, especially since many of the sound combinations could potentially lodge themselves firmly in the brain. But youngsters will find the zippy, percussive language good fun, and plead for repeat readings. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)

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Publishers Weekly : A stylized onomatopoeic sound fest marks MacLennan's impressive debut. With bright, feathery dabs and blobs of paint, she introduces a passel of almost palpable fluffy chicks, fuzzy bees and cuddly kittens, all of whom frolic across brown-bag backgrounds to the beat of rhymes like this one: "Chicky, chicky, chook chook./ Chick, chick chick./ Chicky, chicky, chook chook,/ peck... peck... pick." The eyeballs of the rambunctious characters seem to bounce off their bodies, underscoring their kinetic energy. A sudden cloudburst puts a damper on things: "Sticky, icky chicky./ Soggy, groggy moggy./ Wet. Wet. Wet./ Crazy... dizzy... buzzer!/ How will we get dry?" But the sun soon restores everybody back to their previously adorable states—just in time for a good night's sleep. The text may go on a bit long for some grownups' taste, especially since many of the sound combinations could potentially lodge themselves firmly in the brain. But youngsters will find the zippy, percussive language good fun, and plead for repeat readings. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)

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Publishers Weekly : A stylized onomatopoeic sound fest marks MacLennan's impressive debut. With bright, feathery dabs and blobs of paint, she introduces a passel of almost palpable fluffy chicks, fuzzy bees and cuddly kittens, all of whom frolic across brown-bag backgrounds to the beat of rhymes like this one: "Chicky, chicky, chook chook./ Chick, chick chick./ Chicky, chicky, chook chook,/ peck... peck... pick." The eyeballs of the rambunctious characters seem to bounce off their bodies, underscoring their kinetic energy. A sudden cloudburst puts a damper on things: "Sticky, icky chicky./ Soggy, groggy moggy./ Wet. Wet. Wet./ Crazy... dizzy... buzzer!/ How will we get dry?" But the sun soon restores everybody back to their previously adorable states—just in time for a good night's sleep. The text may go on a bit long for some grownups' taste, especially since many of the sound combinations could potentially lodge themselves firmly in the brain. But youngsters will find the zippy, percussive language good fun, and plead for repeat readings. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)

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