O'Keefe, Susan Heyboer. Frankenstein's Monster.

O'Keefe, Susan Heyboer Frankenstein's Monster
Three Rivers Press see Random House 2010 344p 15.00
978-0-307-71732-0 hs/adult E-BN


This novel is a sequel that takes place 10 years after the original. The monster is more articulate and sensitive now and is being pursued by the explorer Walton to avenge the death of Victor Frankenstein. The "monster" seeks his own revenge and romance, suspense and horror ensue in this gothic page turner that explores the meaning of humanity.
This novel is a sequel that takes place ten years after the original story. The "monster" is more articulate and sensitive now. He is being unrelentingly pursued by the Arctic explorer and friend of Victor Frankenstein, Walton, to avenge his death. Walton wants nothing more than to kill the monster. The monster plans to go to England to kill Walton's family for his own revenge at being chased around the globe and not being able to live life as a man. When he arrives at the estate of Walton's sister's family, he falls in love with Walton's niece, Lily, who is not what she seems. The monster, renamed Victor Hartmann, believes he can live as a man once Walton relents. He finds a brief respite from hatred while with the family, but it is short lived. He realizes that he is not accepted by anyone except Lily due to his horrid looks and his monstrous size. The subject of ╥humanity╙ reverberates throughout the story and the theme is true to the original. Like a bona fide gothic novel, this story offers romance, suspense, and horror and is a real 344 page turner that will lead the reader to read to the very end. The writing is impeccable and the characters are authentic to Shelley╒s depiction. There are scenes of bestiality, gore, and sex. It would do best in a high school and would be of interest to those students who have read the original (which was an AP English selection for our school). This title is recommended for Tristate Books of Note for 2011. Weinraub, Tina

Jacob, Matthew & Mark Jacob. What the Great Ate

Jacob, Matthew & Mark Jacob. What the Great Ate
Three Rivers Press see Random House 2010 310p 14.00
978-0-307-46195-7 ms/hs VG-BN

A fascinating smorgasbord of culinary oddities of famous and not so famous people throughout history. The book proves that food is often much more than an edible creation.
The authors have concocted a wide variety of enticing anecdotes about the likes, dislikes, and peculiarities of various notable people in history from different walks of life.

In “What Edvard Munched” you learned that Renoir always had his wife hire cooks whose face retained light so that he could use them as models. We also learned why Andy Warhol chose to paint Campbell’s soup cans and the trouble Georgia O’Keefe had over painting or not painting pineapples.

In “Hail to the Beef”, we find out that Thomas Jefferson was probably the original foodie because he introduced eggplant, ice cream, planting and eating tomatoes, and lastly established new standards for the presidential dinners. We also learned that G.W. Bush stated that since he was the president of the United States he didn’t have to eat broccoli anymore. And his aides stated that “junk food is his lifestyle”.
In “Experiments for dining”, Galileo got into an egg fight with a Church scholar over whether a projectile would heat up or cool off in flight.
In “Business Lunch”’ we learn that “Steve Jobs is a vegetarian who named his company after his favorite fruit.”
The authors have done a wonderful job of researching and compiling interesting facts and oddities to satisfy the palettes of discerning readers. I would advise to nibble some of your favorite tidbits as you devour the book.
This is a very well written book that will relate well to many young readers. It is recommended as a basic book for any upper elementary/middle school library. It would make an excellent selection for a basic books list for school libraries. McNeil, Linda

Ali, Nujood with Delphine Minoui. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

Ali, Nujood with Delphine Minoui I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
Three Rivers Press see Random House 2010 188p 12.00
12-0007-58967-5 ms/hs E-BN
Nujood Ali has no birth certificate but she has been told she is 10 years old. She loves dolls, chocolate cake and learning how to read. Then one day Nujood was married to a man twice her age. It was then that she learned the true meaning of the word cruelty. Although from a very poor family, Nujood, 5th daughter in an ever increasing family, is very happy playing with her sisters and other playmates. Poverty is very hard for her family but they all help in many different ways. Nujood helps by taking care of the younger children and she is learning how to cook flatbreads and other things. Then her father looses his poorly paid job and they need to resort to begging.
In Yemen women have no voice. Men are in charge of everything including marrying off their daughters. Nujood’s two sisters were barely in their teens before they were married off. Nujood dreamed of her turn but she always imagine that it would be something to celebrate and there would be sweet cakes. Then the day came and it happened so fast, Nujood was dressed in an old brown dress two sizes too big and surrounded by very unfriendly people, she was given in marriage to a nasty looking individual who promised not to touch her for at least two years. No sooner was she taken away to his house was she violated and later beaten.
Nujood decided she wanted a divorce and she also decided she was going to get it as quickly as possible. And so began her trek to the courthouse where she declared her desired to get a divorce and the authorities could not believe that a ten year old was already a married woman.
This story made news and was brought to the attention of the world by Nujood’s lawyer Shada, who worked for women’s rights in Yemen and this story made it possible to start working towards the crime of marrying girls as young as 9 year old to old men. Diaz, Magna