Before Shin Dong-hyuk, no one born in a North Korean political prison camp had ever escaped. As far as can be determined, Shin is still the only one to do so. He was 23 years old, knew no one, and had never before seen the outside world. Author Blaine Harden’s homepage features a quote from Canada’s National Post which says Escape from Camp 14 “makes The Hunger Games and its fellow dystopias read like Fantasy Island.” This story has teen appeal in spades. The book grew out of the author’s 2008 Washington Post article. Take a look at Sunday’s Wall Street Journal for a long excerpt, which ends with information on how Shin’s story has been vetted. Shin and Harden are scheduled to appear on the Diane Rehm show on Wednesday, Read more…

from graphic novel guest blogger Francisca Goldsmith: The character allotted the leading role in Rachel Hope Allison’s nearly wordless comic is the world’s largest garbage pile, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. She descends neither into kitsch nor sermon while turning this gelatinous mass into an expressive, and rather cheerful, being, alienated from all but visiting gulls and giant squid, creatures who have no sentimental use for the giant’s bursts of “speech.”  Beautifully hued and balanced panels—many full page but some as small as Post-it notes—show how intrinsic to the garbage pile’s shape and construction and reconstruction are the natural forces of weather and ocean, just as its contents necessarily flow from the Read more…

Her mother named her Sweet Judy Blue Eyes, because Crosby, Stills & Nash were playing it when Judy was born in a tent at Woodstock. This unorthodox beginning heralded a childhood several steps removed from ordinary. Cassie filled her daughters life with the exuberance of a free spirit. Young Judy cherishes the memories of her mothers bright skirts swirling as she dances; the fragrance of fresh herbs mingling with marijuana and incense filling their apartment; and the big-hearted adults happy to sit and play with her. When Cassie whisks Judy to a communal farm, however, her father comes to take her back home, much to her relief. Now she thrives in a stable life of school, birthday parties, and family dinners. Cassie remains Read more…

Catherine Chung’s widely acclaimed debut novel is about Janie’s search for her sister after she disappears. Janie’s family has lost a daughter in every generation, the aspect of the story emphasized in its haunting book trailer. The author weaves Korean history, including the war, into her family narrative. Chung was named a Granta New Voice in 2010, and there is an interview with the author featured on the Granta website this month. Sara Campbell, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC     Adult/High School Like Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (Putnam, 1989) and Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake (Houghton, 2003), Chung’s graceful debut novel portrays immigrant family life in modern times. Tied to the traditions of Korea, Read more…

  Kathryn Harrison’s latest novel centers on Rasputin’s daughter, Matryona Grigorievna Rasputina. After Rasputin’s death, his 18-year-old daughter, Masha, is sent to live at the imperial palace with Tsar Nikolay and his family. When the royal family is placed under house arrest, Masha begins telling stories (both true and imagined) to distract young Aloysha, a hemophiliac, from his suffering. Robert Alexander’s Rasputin’s Daughter (Viking, 2006) focused on events surrounding Rasputin’s death. The Enchantments tackles the later experiences of the same historical figure. The storytelling aspect, and the love that develops between the two young people, make this one special. Connie Williams, Petaluma High School, Read more…

  from graphic novel guest blogger Francisca Goldsmith: Hermann, a Belgian born nearly 30 years after his countryman Hergé, presents a grim but realistic view of today’s African wilderness.  Where Tintin could escape scary situations through the kindness of being placed within stories for children, Hermann is writing for a hardier audience.  His protagonist in this particular independently standing story is a credibly hard bitten white man who takes his responsibility for a wild animal preserve more seriously than any other aspect of his life. We see the raw savagery inflicted by poachers, the guerilla tactics employed by government agents and Ferrer himself, and the highly visual contrasts between plush, European-style Read more…

  The publication of a new novel by Anne Rice is always an event, and especially when she begins a new series. The Wolf Gift is a werewolf novel that displays her unique combination of philosophy, sensuality and gothic horror. I was thrilled to interview Anne Rice for the AB4T blog, and Random House is also featuring a giveaway of the novel — be sure to read to the end. Without further ado, enjoy! The Wolf Gift combines philosophical questioning and headlong action. Is this a balance that you consciously nurture in your writing? How do you maintain the story’s pacing so effectively? I go by instinct when writing.  I pretty much focus on my main character, on his point of view, his journey, and the philosophical Read more…