Oh, honestly! When most people have a tough time at work they blog more. I just get behind.

Code Talker, Bruchac (Y)
It’s a fine book– I’ll start with that because I had a lot of little complaints about it, but they all made more sense when I read the author’s note at the end where he mentions that he started out with a doorstop worth of research he had done for this and related projects. I hope he writes one with all his research so he can really go to town. In this one he’s reigned it in pretty well, considering. But books shouldn’t have to have that “considering” tacked on the end. Three stars.

Bar Mitzvah Disco, Bennett
The pictures are a hundred times more eloquent than the text, or at least that’s my excuse for only skimming the text after about halfway through. A glorious clash of tradition, the cusp of puberty, parties with odd themes, and over-the-top photography. Two stars.

Bodies from the Ash, Deem (Y)
Not just the story of how Pompeii was buried, not just photos of what has been excavated, but a history of how the site was rediscovered and excavated over the period of more than 300 years. Some of the material in this book is unavailable to the average tourist, and some is even drawn from historic photographs of museum pieces that have deteriorated or been distroyed. Wow. Four stars.

Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students, Jurmain (Y)
Excellent story of a woman who dared to educate black girls in early 1800s in Connecticut. Not only is it interesting and accessible, it covers really cool personal details about Crandall that would not usually show up in a biography for young readers. Four stars.

Buildings in Disguise: Architecture That Looks Like Animals, Food, and Other Things, Arbogast (Y)
With lots of history and detail, a neat book on buildings that look like things. Not enough info to be a tour guide, but neat as a history. Three stars.

Strong Stuff: Herakles and His Labors, Harris
Really fun retelling and great groovy illustrations. Four stars.

A Certain Slant of Light, Whitcomb (Y)
Wow. Hard to believe this is a first novel. Well-crafted and gripping from the start. Five stars.

John, Paul, George & Ben, Smith
Another great picture book from Lane Smith, this one on the amusing childhood antics of founding fathers. Three stars.

The Time Machine Did It, Swartzwelder
A style-filled piece, but clearly minimally edited. Worth the read. Three stars.

Extraordinary Exhibitions, Jay
Ricky Jay presents selections from his collection of historic broadsides, commenting on the history of the performers as well as the pieces themselves. Totally excellent. Five stars.