A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko

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Each year, over six million people visit Grand Canyon National Park, but most people’s visits are brief and they only see a small part of this national wonder, mostly from the vantage point of one of the rims. There is a small group of individuals who hike more in depth parts of the canyon, but since it can be a grueling experience it is not for everyone. If one were to attempt a traverse of the entire canyon, it would total more than 750 miles, and typically require years of preparation and training. 

In 2014, Kevin Fedarko’s best friend, National Geographic photographer Peter McBride, proposed they hike the entire length of the Grand Canyon, as a sectional traverse.  The one hundredth anniversary of the Grand Canyon was coming up, in 2016, and McBride billed the project as a way of creating the capstone story of the Grand Canyon, in which they would help National Geographic make others aware of the beauty of this public land and the threats to it. They would need time to chronicle and document, with Fedarko writing and McBride photographing; hence doing it in sections.

Fedarko had previous experience with the canyon, but it was in the form of rafting on the Colorado River, not hiking. Neither man knew anything about hiking, but McBride assured him they could simply do the hike “off the couch.” He said they would build up their stamina on the trail and there would be no need to train in advance. From Fedarko’s past experience working with McBride on National Geographic assignments he knew things did not normally go as planned, but McBride has a way of convincing people of things, and in the end Fedarko agreed to go.

Soon the pair find themselves tagging along on the first segment of another group’s epic continuous hike through the canyon. Misadventure ensues and very quickly the pair begin to understand they are in over their heads, but instead of admitting defeat, what develops is a slow motion collapse, where each is soon fighting for survival.   

From the perspective of someone who has never seen the Grand Canyon, I thought this book did an excellent job describing the canyon and its landscape. I enjoyed reading about the adventure of the two friends and especially enjoyed the many elements covered by the book –  various branches of science as it relates to the Grand Canyon (geology, archaeology, biology, botany, etc.); the history of the canyon; how and why the Grand Canyon National Park was created; information about the area’s indigenous people; Fedarko’s experience with the Colorado River; the slot canyons; what the Grand Canyon National Park is like today; and what the Canyon means to Fedarko. 

In fact, the author is so comprehensive in his coverage, it can be hard to describe the book and its premise to others. However, all the detail creates a beautiful portrait of a special place. It seems wild to me that the two men thought they would be able to hike, even a section, of the Grand Canyon without properly preparing, but it makes for a fun, entertaining read. 

Review written by: Jeana Gockley, Joplin Public Library Director

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Fable by Adrienne Young

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This book is for any reader that has pretended to be a diver, diving deep into the ocean on the search for treasure, while in actuality diving in a swimming pool. Or for any reader that has pondered how enticing it would be, really, to say no thank you to current life and become a pirate, instead. If you’d rather not get water up your nose or say goodbye to stable income, Fable by Adrienne Young can provide similar high seas adventures from the comfort of your reading chair. Throw in a really cool protagonist, some slow burn romance, seafaring politics with a little bit of mystery, a ship crew that might have you thinking “squad goals”, and some child abandonment, and you have a favorite young adult novel of mine. The first in a nautical fantasy duology, Fable follows seventeen-year-old main character Fable as she navigates the unforgiving world of the Narrows, a collection of islands in the Unnamed Sea, after life has dealt her an unfair hand. 

Fable, at first introduction, seems unshakable. She lives a hard life on the port island of Jeval, known for its thieves and lack of resources, where she survives alone as the most skilled dredger on the island; in other words, she makes dives into the ocean in search of gems and anything else of value lodged in the coral surrounding the island. Unlike other dredgers, Fable has a secret she keeps: the gems sing to her. She can identify every gem she comes across, and can sense them when they are nearby, a dangerous ability in a world propelled by greed and survival. Fable learned these skills from her mother, who taught her the ways of being a gem sage. 

It doesn’t take long to learn that being unshakable is surface level; Fable is in survival mode. Fable grew up on the seas with her mother and father, Saint, on Saint’s ship until one night when Fable was thirteen the ship tragically sank, taking the life of her mother with it. Instead of doing, you know, something normal like caring for his grieving daughter, Saint instead abandons Fable on Jeval the following day with nothing to her name and no promise of return, telling Fable that if she gets herself off the island, he will give her everything she is due as his heir. That was four years ago. Now, Fable dredges to survive, selling what she dredges to the same trader that always comes to port, West, until she has enough coin to get off the island. 

Fable’s environment on the island becomes increasingly dangerous, eventually forcing her to barter for passage on West’s ship. Thus ensues seafaring adventures as Fable aims to complete her only goal: make it back to Saint and claim what is hers. Yet Fable must be careful, as her father isn’t just anyone, but the most successful trader in the Narrows with a large trading business, and should anyone discover who she is to him, it means certain death. And of course, the trip back to him is not easy, danger lurking at every turn. West’s crew is a tight knit, small group with secrets of their own, and Fable knows she shouldn’t trust them. But the more time they spend together, the more Fable thinks they might be what she truly needs: a family and people to call her own. Fable is smart and has clearly grown up learning how to navigate the harsh reality the dangerous world of the Narrows presents, and with everything seeming to work against her, can she persevere to find ultimate happiness and security? 

This is a book I’ve reread several times and always enjoy. While there are plot points that don’t truly make sense to me (like, what father dumps his pretty teenage daughter on a dangerous island because he is “scared for her safety”, and how, exactly does a crew of teenagers seem to defeat every obstacle a very hard world throws at them) I nonetheless find myself loving this book. It’s an easy, accessible read, with enough plot turns and excitement to keep me hooked. The descriptions, especially the underwater scenes, are beautiful. Adrienne Young brings the setting of the Narrows to life, which I always picture to be something like Pirates of the Caribbean. Fable is an easy book to dive into and devour, the combination of the plot, setting, and characters never disappoints me, and I enjoy it every time I pick it up and sail the Unnamed Sea. 

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Review by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

WILL WE ALWAYS HOLD HANDS by Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King

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After I read a good book with my son, he’ll often say, “you should write about that one in your review.” Inevitably, something comes up or I’ll have a more timely book I want to review, and he’ll ask why I didn’t write about his suggestions.

I am happy to say that his time has come! His first suggestion (which I wholeheartedly agree with) is Christopher Cheng and Stephen Michael King’s 2022 picture book WILL WE ALWAYS HOLD HANDS? This sweet picture book features a loving friendship between a panda and a rat. This book follows the pattern of other heartwarming stories on unconditional love, like LOVE YOU FOREVER or THE RUNAWAY BUNNY while managing to feel fresh. While on a trip out in nature, Rat presents Panda with a series of hypothetical scenarios that could make Panda want to let go of Rat’s hand: when Rat is sick, when Rat is cranky and hurt, and, finally, when Rat has to go away for a long time. Each time, Panda promises to hold Rat’s hand. Although Cheng and King’s book is a perfect read aloud for younger children, it shines a light on a universal fear: being unworthy of love. When Rat asks, toward the end of his questioning, “what if I do something really really bad?,” I thought I might cry. Of course, Rat isn’t asking about something as simple as holding hands. Rat wants Panda to say, “I will love you no matter what.” When Panda does say as much, it might bring a tear to your eyes, too.

Cheng’s story is poignant without being saccharine, and simple while still holding emotional weight. King’s watercolor and pencil illustrations have the same effect. Panda and Rat are primarily white, black, and shades of gray, and their soft, sketch-like quality adds to the vulnerability of the story. Pops of color appear in small forms: Panda’s bright red umbrella, Rat’s yellow umbrella, and the blue winter sky. King effectively illuminates the tumultuousness of the world around through blowing leaves and waving grass, thereby highlighting the stability of Panda and Rat’s friendship.

WILL WE ALWAYS HOLD HANDS? would be great for a storytime, a bedtime read, or a gift to your favorite young reader. It was a gift to my favorite reader, and it is now a favorite for our whole family.

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Lazarus Man by Richard Price

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If you’ve watched HBO’s The Wire, then you’re familiar with Richard Price. As one of the show’s writers, his story lines were like urban sociological studies. Price’s novels, such as Clockers, Lush Life, and Samaritan, also display the constant pressure-cooker environment within high-density neighborhoods. Plus they are just flat-out fun to read, as is his latest novel, Lazarus Man. For example, if you’re amused when coming across a random character being described not merely as “thin,” but as “thin as a home-rolled reefer,” then Price might be for you.

Make no mistake, Price’s work has depth, often finding its way into university course catalogs. Still, we read novels not for outright edification. It’s the story and characters that earn our attention. And Price always delivers on that front, replete with his trademark snappy dialogue. Where Lazarus Man moves a little differently is how the novel unfurls. There’s an initial event, and then we just follow four main characters as they carry on. It’s not unlike Robert Altman’s film Short Cuts, where we shadow characters just out living their lives. In Lazarus Man, it’s not 1990s Los Angelinos we’re tailing, but four East Harlemites in 2008. Maybe their paths will cross. Or maybe they won’t. Regardless, it’s their proverbial journeys we’re joining.

The anchor character is Anthony. He’s forty-two, unemployed, well on his way to a divorce, and attempting to kick a cocaine habit by trying out every bar on Lenox Avenue. Like some “80-proof Goldilocks,” he’s seeking the one bar that’s just right.

Then comes the event that sends the novel on its way: a tenement building collapses. Nearby, Royal, a down on his luck, third-generation mortician—who pretty much loathes his job—dozes in one of his unsold coffins. In order to make some extra cash, he’s playing the corpse as a group of film students shoot a horror film in his parlor. The sound of the building’s collapse sends Royal bolt-upright in his casket, properly freaking out the film students. Royal then has his young son put on an ill-fitting suit and go out into the chaos to hand out mortuary business cards.

Felix is a taciturn 20-something photographer who moved into the city from upstate. He grabs a camera and gets to work around the wreckage. Emergency personnel arrive as both survivors and nearby neighbors mill about, the “ash-coated” and the unscathed roaming together. The neighborhood becomes like some sort of “hallucinating block party.”

Mary, a beleaguered detective, is charged with finding out if an unaccounted for man is either somewhere in the rubble or is passively trying not to be found. A few years earlier, a freak elevator accident almost killed Mary. The event seems to have rattled her enough that she’s leaned back from most human relationships. It’s not that she doesn’t care. It’s more that she cares too much.

A victim of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, no one thinks to look for Anthony in the debris. When he’s eventually unearthed, he becomes a minor local celebrity, called upon to speak at various community events. He’s good at it, providing an outlet for pent-up community grief that goes beyond a collapsed building. The real question is whether Anthony believes what he’s saying.

Anthony’s mother was Black and his father white. Both are recently deceased, with Anthony now living in their apartment. Anthony’s long spiral began when he was kicked out of Columbia University for selling drugs. Someone suggested that he claim the university singled him out because of his race, but Anthony wanted no part of it. He knew that wasn’t the reason. Besides, his father was constantly charging racial discrimination on behalf of the Black community. Sometimes he was correct, yet at other times he wasn’t even close. Either way, he was always making a public scene about it. In many ways, Anthony wanted the same thing as his Black neighbors: for his father to shut up and mind his own business.

There is a surprise development at the end of the novel, underscoring the epistemological breakdown that fact and truth cannot be used interchangeably. Throughout, all the characters strive to do the decent thing in a difficult world. A good example is a mother who shows up to a community event to complain about how the cops harass some of the neighborhood teenagers. When a police officer at the meeting points out that her son often hangs around known gang members, the mother says that fact doesn’t mean he’s doing anything wrong. She continues, “You live in a certain place you got to be crewed up to not be a target. It’s a negotiated life.”

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Review by Jason Sullivan

A Dream of Death by Connie Berry

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Connie Berry’s debut novel, A Dream of Death, finds Kate Hamilton traveling to the remote Scottish Isle of Glenroth, a place she had vowed to never return. The birthplace of her husband, Bill, it was also the place he died three years ago.

Bill extracted a promise from her to help his sister if anything ever happened to him. Even though Kate and Elenor didn’t get along it was a promise easily given as Kate envisioned a long life with her husband. With that promise in mind, Elenor’s sudden plea for help couldn’t be ignored.

Glenroth is small, population 238, but attracts lots of tourists because of its history and a recent best-selling novel. Elenor owns one of, if not the, grandest manors on the isle and turned it into the Glenroth House Hotel. Tourist season has passed but the hotel is getting ready for the Tartan Ball.

Kate arrives on the day of the ball and her first stop is to see Elenor. A surprisingly cheerful Elenor who doesn’t have time to talk as she has a hair appointment. She shows Kate a beautiful small footed chest or casket. Kate’s reaction to it is one she has when recognizing an object of great age and beauty.

Back in her Ohio hometown, Kate owns an antique shop. She has a gift for being able to recognize a true antique in a room full of objects. Her reaction tells her that this is a special piece but Elenor won’t tell her about it or why she is scared and needs help until after the ball. Before she hurries off she informs Kate that she left a package in Kate’s cottage that she should open right away.

Kate will get to the package but her first order of business is to find something to wear to the ball. Her luggage took a side trip to the Dominican Republic and all Kate has is the jeans and shirt she has on. The hotel chef, Nancy, comes to her rescue with an offer of help and Kate just has time to open the package before Nancy arrives with dresses.

The package contains the novel that is drawing tourists to the island, The Diary of Flora Arnott, Volume One by Dr. Hugh Parker Guthrie. Also in the package is a note from Elenor and two newspaper clippings. One from 1810 on the murder of Flora who was shot through the neck with an arrow. The other is from 1811 on the death of Flora’s husband, James Arnott.

Kate heads to the ball puzzled as to how an old casket and the island’s history are cause for Elenor’s fright and request for help. The ball seems to be a great success until Elenor takes the stage. She has two announcements – she is selling the hotel to a Swedish chain and she is marrying Hugh Guthrie.

The sale is cause for great distress for many of the attendees as their livelihood depends on tourists coming for Scottish history not whatever a Swedish hotel will bring. The engagement is met with angry disapproval by Hugh’s mother who demands he take her home immediately and to Elenor’s embarrassment he does.

Elenor leaves the ball herself after a few minutes without talking to Kate. After helping with clean up, Kate goes back to the cabin where another surprise awaits. Someone has searched her cottage. Nothing is missing but now the note she found in the pocket of her borrowed dress takes on new meaning. Kate dismissed the GO HOME message as something the owner left in the dress but maybe it was meant for her.

Before she can leave the cottage the next morning to get answers from Elenor she is summoned to the hotel by the police. Elenor was murdered during the night. She died in the same manner as Flora – shot through the neck with an arrow.
Elinor’s murder is shocking but a mystery for the local police and Kate is ready to go home. However during her interview with the police she learns she is the executor of Elenor’s estate. Then they tell her the prime suspect is Bo, Bill’s childhood best friend. Bo is a gentle giant and wouldn’t hurt anyone except he confesses to hurting Elenor. Bo was born with cognitive disabilities and completely shuts down when being questioned.

His hospitalization and evaluation will buy Kate some time as now she has to find the killer. Despite his confession, Kate knows Bo is innocent. Unfortunately for Kate even on this small island there are plenty of suspects.

Flora’s story is integral to the mystery and Berry does a nice job weaving it into the narrative. This cozy mystery has a feisty intelligent protagonist, lots of suspects, and a touch of romance. And for those who like to read series (me), this is book one of A Kate Hamilton Mystery.

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Review by Patty crane, Reference Librarian

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

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Ganymedes Piscero is in the last place he would ever want to be: on a magical ship traveling toward the most magical place on the continent, surrounded by the heirs to the provinces of Concordia – who all have magical gifts, and who all hate him.

Ganymedes – he prefers Dee, actually – is also the heir to a province: Fish Province. They govern the ocean-side beaches and have a duty to provide fish for the empire. As the heir of Fish Province, Dee should also have a Blessing, but one has never manifested for him.

Dee’s father has forced him to pretend to have a Blessing, to cover up his own infidelity. Luckily for him, no one is open about their gifts. Most of the twelve heirs refuse to share them, unless they are impossible to hide. The heir of Ox Province has the ability to breathe fire and a hot temper to match.

This pilgrimage was organized to celebrate the emergence of the twelfth heir: a tiny six-year-old from Grasshopper Province who recently manifested her Blessing. With the completion of this new generation of leaders, it is time for them all to journey to the mountain where the first Blessings were bestowed.

It is a twelve-day journey, but on the first night, Eudora – heir to Dragon Province and the Empire itself – is murdered.

As the bodies of the other Blessed begin to pile up, Dee, Grasshopper, and Wyatt of Bear Province team up to uncover the killer.

VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED by Frances White is a magical locked-room mystery. The Blessed are isolated from the rest of the world while they are onboard this vessel, but they are far from helpless.

Apart from Grasshopper, they have all known each other for a number of years. They have had time to form alliances and enforce the provincial hierarchy. And with so few of their powers known, it will be difficult to determine who is capable of hiding a murder.

Despite spending the entire novel on the boat, readers are able to get a good sense of the world. Each of the provinces of Concordia has its own terrain and culture, and the Blessed from each province has been shaped by their region.

White does an excellent job writing characters. Each of the twelve has their own unique voice and perspective. As Dee travels around the ship, trying to solve the murders, we get to experience each of them in their own environments. Dee’s voice is able to bring a lot of humor to the book, even in the face of mortal peril.

VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED works well as both a fantasy book and a mystery. When I read mystery fiction, I like it to be slightly unpredictable while also feeling solvable. Like I could have figured it out, given enough time. This book threads that needle for me. I had some suspicions that turned out to be accurate and there were also surprises waiting for me at the end.

 

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Book review by Alyssa Berry, Technical Services Librarian

Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

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This multi-generational, sweeping tale begins with the arranged marriage of a young girl. Her wedding day commences with a long journey by river, with her mother, and ends in the village of Kerala. The girl is quickly joined by marriage to the Parambila family, a Malayali family living in southwest India. The groom, who she has never seen before, is a 40 year-old widow, with a young son.  

Unbeknownst to the young bride, her husband’s family has a mysterious “Condition.” A genetic trait causing certain members to have strange reactions to water. An affliction of which no one speaks. It is only through tragedy that she learns the true reach of the “Condition” and spends her lifetime praying for someone who can shed light on its true nature and cause. 

Through the lens of the Parambila family, the author uses his extraordinary command of lyrical prose, to weave together a multi-part, compelling family drama.  One that also includes information on Indian life, medicine, the elements, colonial and post-colonial rule, the country’s social, political and economic climate, the caste system, religion, and much more. All of this must have been complicated by the novel’s seventy-seven year time span, but Verghese makes it look effortless.  He cleverly employs the young bride, who eventually becomes known as Big Ammachi, as the story’s anchor and matriarch of the family. 

In addition to the loving, generous, down-to-earth character of Big Ammachi, the author builds a large cast of richly drawn characters that possess depth and humanity.  They are the highlight of the book. Each character, and there are many, is complex and unpredictable, just like people in real life, but the author manages to avoid making villains. There are choices along the story’s path, and the characters make them, for better or worse.  

Much of the novel has to do with the training and practice of medicine, and Verghese, a physician himself, does an excellent job of explaining technical medical issues and terms in a practical and easy-to-understand way. These elements only add to the story.  

This is a story of family, love and life.  As with real life, the story is occasionally marred by loss and tragedy, but overall Verghese has created a prevailing sense of optimism and hope.  Also, as the title suggests, the theme of water is a central focus of the story – its destructive nature is showcased, as well as its ability to create and sustain life. 

At over 700 pages, or 30 hours of listening, THE COVENANT OF WATER is an undertaking. It requires a commitment, but once started it is nearly impossible to put down.  Eager readers will be rewarded with a richly layered narrative that is as unforgettable as the characters who inhabit its pages.  Fans of literary epic fiction should be thankful to have another tome to add to their shelves. There is much to love in this sprawling, informative, heart-gripping historical-fiction tale.

 

Review written by: Jeana Gockley, Joplin Public Library Director

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The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

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In its third year, Joplin Public Library will again host Joplin Reads Together in April, the library’s Community Read designed for adults. Focused upon one bestselling novel, Joplin Reads Together aims to increase awareness of the Library and its services, provide a shared experience for the community, promote reading, and foster connection to local organizations. Joplin Public Library recently announced the 2025 Joplin Reads Together book selection: The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. The second of Stradal’s three published books, The Lager Queen of Minnesota became a National Bestseller in its first week of release, was named one of the best books of 2019 by NPR, USA Today, and Booklist, and won the 2020 WILLA Literary Award for Contemporary Fiction. Programs inspired by the book will take place in April, organized by Joplin Public Library and its Joplin Reads Together Community Partners, culminating in a visit from J. Ryan Stradal to Joplin Public Library on April 24th. Community partners include Friends of the Joplin Public Library, Post Art Library, and MSSU Spiva Library. Community members can participate by reading the book and joining programs offered by the Library and its community partners throughout the month of April. Copies of The Lager Queen of Minnesota are available to check out at Joplin Public Library, and the full list of Joplin Reads Together events can be found on joplinpubliclibrary.org/joplinreadstogether.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota has a lot to offer: family drama, sibling tension, humor, sadness, life in the midwest, pie baking, beer brewing, business ownership, and (if you listen to the audiobook version as I did) a slew of Minnesotan accents. One aspect that I am excited about with this novel is the setting of the midwest. It plays an obvious role in the characters lives, often being mentioned or explained as reasoning for certain customs or happenings, and as Joplin is located in the midwest I think it is a relatable, and often funny, detail of the novel. 

The novel focuses on two sisters living in Minnesota: Edith and Helen. Raised on a farm, their relationship meets with sudden turbulence when their father dies and leaves all inheritance to Helen. Helen says she intends to share a portion of the inheritance with Edith but never does. This results in sibling tension and a full stop to communication that propels much of the story, and I think would also be relatable to anyone that has squabbled with a sibling.

To make a living Edith bakes pies, but it is much more than that. Edith is a fabulous pie maker, even winning third best pie in the state of Minnesota while working at a nursing home, among other accolades. Edith doesn’t put much stock into her renowned pie baking, preferring to spend time with her husband and daughter, and granddaughter Diana, wondering all the while how different her life would be if she had received even a portion of the inheritance. 

While Edith is baking pies and living a quiet life trying to make ends meet, Helen finds herself falling into the world of beer brewing. Fascinated with the process and flavor potential of brewing, Helen takes her inheritance and establishes one of the best selling light brewing companies in the country. She’s a very successful business owner, her beer company Blotz found in every bar and brewery of Minnesota. 

But of course, things begin to go wrong and change is inevitable. Edith and Helen’s lives are each struck by tragedy. Edith becomes more involved with her granddaughter Diana’s life as a result, and Diana is intent on learning the ways of brewing beer and entrepreneurship. Helen is forced to think outside the box, taking a different look at her successful business. It might just be possible that Edith, Helen, and Diana’s problems could have the same solution: one another. 

Before reading this novel I assumed I would be annoyed by the stubbornness of Edith and Helen when it comes to their relationship, or lack thereof. I am pleased to report I was wrong; this novel surprised me with its simple yet effective presentation of life, choices, and family dynamics. J. Ryan Stradal has produced a novel that I think is very relatable and understandable for many reasons. I learned about pies and brewing, Stradal’s writing clear and not overly informative. Edith and Helen, while frustrating at times, became fun characters to read. They have different approaches to life but share parts of their personalities, including their stubborn, get-it-done attitudes. The novel presents strong midwest women and is told from the perspectives of Edith, Helen, and Diana over the span of several decades. Stradal’s writing style is captivating; I got the impression he cared for his characters and was invested in telling their story, and has the talent to evoke setting and emotions of characters. The Lager Queen of Minnesota is a smartly crafted, unique story, perfect for those interested in family sagas, multiple perspectives, and perseverance in the face of opposition. If you end up reading The Lager Queen of Minnesota, visit the Joplin Public Library on April 24th at 6pm to hear directly from J. Ryan Stradal about his novel.

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Review written by Sarah Turner-Hill, Adult Programming Coordinator

Go, Wilma, Go! by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long and The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert

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February marks the beginning of Black History Month. I have likely mentioned this in previous columns, but I like to challenge myself to be intentional about reading books by Black authors every February. I snagged a few of the books on my list from the Black History Month display in the Children’s Department. If Young Adult or Adult books are more your thing, check out the displays in the lobby or the Teen area.

The first title I want to share is the nonfiction picture book Go, Wilma, Go: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long, with illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Because of the nature of their format, one might assume that the target audience for nonfiction picture books is preschool-aged children. On the contrary, history picture books tend to be word and concept-heavy, making them more appealing to elementary-aged students. Some of these titles would work best as book studies, perhaps in a classroom or read with a grownup over an extended period of time. Others, while still detailing big ideas and concepts, also work well as readalouds.

Go, Wilma, Go falls into the latter category. Due to its comparatively simple language and appealing papercut illustration style, a parent or caregiver could easily read it in one sitting. The book begins with Rudolph winning a gold medal in track and field at the 1960 Olympics. The authors compare her experiences in Europe, where Black and White people could ride the same buses and swim in the same pools, with her hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee in the Jim Crow South. The juxtaposed scenes provide a simple visual of what life could be like in the United States if lawmakers abolished unjust laws. The authors detail Rudolph’s brave decision to speak out against these laws, often repeating the phrase, “Go, Wilma, go!” in response to her activism. When Clarksville announces a celebratory parade in her honor, Wilma refuses to attend unless Black people can be an equal part of the parade.

I have read a bit about Wilma Rudolph and have heard about her Olympic feats, but I had not read about the parade and her role in fighting back against racism in her small Southern town. I appreciate the story is told simply but does not shy away from detailing events as they happened.

The book addresses sensitive topics like racism and segregation because they are unfortunately part of Rudolph’s lived experience. Davis and Long include an authors’ note at the end, if grownups want to extend the conversation with their young readers. Pair this with the Wilma Rudolph book in the Little People, Big Dreams series by Ma Isabel Sanchez Vegara for a full look at Rudolph’s life. I would recommend this book for children ages 6-9 who are interested in sports, history, and biographies.

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Another recent favorite read is The Blackwoods by acclaimed young adult author Brandy Colbert. In this 2024 intergenerational novel, Colbert tells the story of legendary Hollywood matriarch Blossom Blackwood and her prodigious children and grandchildren. Blossom’s story begins in the 1960s as she grows up in Hollywood and becomes an acclaimed actress. She must fight back against societal expectations, racism, relationships, and other barriers in pursuit of her dreams.

Colbert tells the story of the Blackwood family as a whole, though Blossom’s great-granddaughters Ardith and Hollis are the other main characters. Ardith and Hollis are best friends but have taken very different paths. Ardith is a famous actress in her own right, having taken after her grandmother and her mother, who she tragically lost as a young child. Hollis is figuring out how to carve her own path at her prestigious school while living in the shadow of the Blackwood name. Both girls, however, are trying to push back against societal and familial expectations while staying true to themselves. Ardith and Hollis are managing their own issues and relationships, but they also remain committed to their family. The Blackwoods are a strong family, though they are not perfect, and I enjoyed reading about how they remained committed to one another.

I love a good intergenerational story, and Colbert executes this type of story well. I appreciated all three characters’ stories, personal struggles, and their connections to one another. In her author’s note, Colbert details the research she conducted on Black Hollywood, and how the Blackwoods are an amalgamation of many Hollywood families. I appreciate the authentic glimpse into early Hollywood, specifically through the lens of an African American actress, and I am interested in learning more. This book addresses some challenging topics, but I think fans of intergenerational novels, historical fiction, and contemporary fiction will enjoy The Blackwoods.  Although it is geared toward teen readers ages 15 and up, Colbert’s novel has crossover appeal for adult readers.

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Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

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It’s little wonder that Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake made it onto numerous “Best Books of 2024” lists. Through the voice of Sadie Smith, a mercenary spy, we’re told of her infiltration into a farming commune in southwestern France. As with Sadie’s real name, her employer is unknown. But it’s clear that clandestine corporate interests view this commune as a major threat to large-scale agribusiness expansions. Regardless, it’s not the spy craft that elevated this novel to critical acclaim. It’s the uniqueness and depth of Kushner’s writing. Kushner primarily delves into two characters, taking us inward and—at times—back tens of thousands of years.

We know this much about Sadie: she’s 34, a Berkeley PhD dropout in rhetoric, and a former (fired) FBI agent. She’s also quite the user of people. To be fair, a spy is a user by trade. But it feels different with Sadie. It’s as though she disdains the subjects she manipulates simply because they are so easily manipulated. Sadie feels little remorse, for she believes most people are poseurs of some sort when they adopt their own respective identities. “People can sometimes pretend so thoroughly that they forget they are pretending. At which point, it could even be said that they are no longer pretending.” In this instance, the group Sadie pretends to join is known as the Moulinards.

Sadie’s contacts point her to a Parisian (Lucien) who is old friends with an influential commune leader. Within a matter of months, Sadie and Lucien are living together, moving her closer to the commune. It’s yet another easy exploitation, for she already knew Lucien “believed he deserved to fall in love.” At the same time, she accesses the email account of the Moulinards’ spiritual leader, Bruno Lacombe.

For a cult to exist, it must orbit an individual who alone possesses “the truth.” As with many cult leaders, Bruno rejects civilization, known among the activist communities as an “anti-civver.” Bruno in fact doesn’t even live with the Moulinards. He spends most of his time in a cave, worshiping a failed species: the Neanderthals, or Thals, as Bruno calls them. Ostensibly, Bruno steps out of the dark long enough to occasionally use his daughter’s computer, sending missives to the group on what he’s gleaned down in the deep.

Bruno laments the world that was lost when the Neanderthals went extinct. Because we know—and live—how the human drama is playing out, the Neanderthal world is a tabula rasa for Bruno, and for anyone who wants to cleanse their mind of commodified images. This deprogramming takes place underground, by the “modalities and visions that darkness” promises.

Sound ridiculous? Of course. It’s ready-made to mock. But does Kushner give it depth nevertheless? That she does.

As Sadie winds her way closer to the Moulinards, Kushner not only returns to Bruno’s disquisitions, but to the life traumas that sent him into darkness. After surreptitiously reading Bruno’s emails, Sadie questions whether the commune’s inhabitants actually understand and deserve Bruno’s insights. Such questions are not part of Sadie’s mission, of course. But, then again, you don’t have to be a spy yourself to see that she’s at risk of losing control.

Still, Sadie performs her role well, eliminating potential threats to her mission by offering preemptive threats, as she does to an older French man who questions her identity. Her return threat leaves him looking “dejected and childish, like I had just taken something that belonged to him, and broken it, and handed it back.” However, when traveling by high-speed train through the countryside and becoming startled by the sudden appearance of another high-speed train traveling from the opposite direction, we know it means more than Sadie being startled. A reckoning is afoot.

One early morning, Sadie looks outside and says, “For all its fame, rosy-finger dawn leaves no prints.” We can substitute “Sadie” for “dawn” in that sentence. With Sadie, how long can she keep these disappearing acts up?

There’s piercing intelligence in Kushner’s writing. It’s not just her crackling writing style, where a hill left devoid of trees via logging looks “like the scalp of someone with an autoimmune condition.” Kushner writes Sadie as a scary smart individual who knows there are always sectarians among radicals, where a division can be made that will kill the whole.

It’s clear to Sadie that the existence of a charismatic leader speaks more to what the followers need to believe than what the leader is saying. Taken further, it’s why people are so credulous of the fantastical. Cryptozoology endures because people want to believe that there’s evidence of the unexplained. Why are there still Bigfoot sightings? It’s because people want to believe in Bigfoot. Even Bruno concedes as much.

The questions Bruno elicits within Sadie are more complicated. To be sure, Bruno’s theories at least point to a fossil record. After that, it’s a whole lot of conjecture. But, in the end, we’re not really talking about Neanderthals. To Sadie, it’s like waking up in the middle of the night and confronting your true self. “When people face themselves, alone, the passions they have been busy performing all day, and that they rely on to reassure themselves that they are who they claim to be, to reassure their milieu of the same, those things fall away.” It’s “the four a.m. reality of being.”

It’s fitting that Bruno exists only to Sadie through his writing and that he doesn’t even know of her existence. When orchestrated events arrive and things become tense with the Moulinards, Sadie—detaching, as always—says to herself, “You people are not real to me. No one is.” This could have been just as easily said by Bruno. In many ways, it’s time for Sadie to step into her own metaphorical cave.

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Review by Jason Sullivan