A Crack in the Sea

Bouwman, H. M. A Crack in the Sea. 2017. 358p. ISBN 978-0-399-54519-1. Available at FIC BOU on the library shelves.

Kinchen and Pip live with old man Ren, on the outside of Tathenn, the capital of the islands of Second World. When she returns home to discover that her 11-year-old brother has been invited to tea with the governor and the Raft King, Kinchen immediately worries. Pip can breathe underwater and can talk to fish, yet he has the worst time distinguishing between humans. They all look the same to him. For his part, the Raft King rules Raftworld, a large city constructed out of thousands of rafts that float tied together and powered by hydraulics.

The Islanders and the Raftworlders have always been at peace and meet every few years to exchange and trade. People willing to leave their home are welcomed with the other nation. The Raft King, however, is looking for a door so he can return to the First World, where his mother, Amelia, came from, and Pip is the one that can find this door by asking the fish.

Meanwhile, Thanh and his sister Sang are escaping warfare and Communist rule in Vietnam like so many, by boarding a small boat and risking the open sea to make landfall in Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines. Accompanied by two adults, a baby, and another girl called Mai, they eventually stumble upon a doorway in the open sea held open by a Kraken, and are propulsed in the Second World.

Intermingled in their stories is the story of Venus and Swimmer, two African children who escape from a slave ship and live with a man they name uncle Caesar for a while, before being captured again and taken out onto another slave ship bound for Jamaica. Able to walk underwater, Venus rescues more than a hundred slaves, including her brother and her uncle, and they walk for days underwater before discovering a door leading to a new world.

These three stories all tie in together in a beautifully told tale of hope and redemption. Fans of intriguing fantasy will appreciate the well crafted main characters and the setting of the Second World.

Mumbai

Green, Jen. Mumbai. Part of the Global Cities series. 2007. 60p. ISBN 978-0-7910-8851-0. Available at 954 GRE on the library shelves.

One of the world’s most dynamic city, Mumbai is perfectly positioned at the center of economic activity. India’s largest city, Mumbai grew up around a deep water harbor that facilitated communication and trade between the Red Sea and distant Europe to the West and China to the East. The several islands that make up the core of the old city were first colonized by Portugal in 1534 but were then transferred to Britain in 1661.

British rule brought an increase in commerce and population, and the British conquest of Western India in 1818 eased some of the pressures on Mumbai. Also known as Bollywood, Mumbai continues to grow at a frenetic pace, stretching municipal services and infrastructure to the breaking point.

Mumbai’s dynamic population keeps increasing as people from the surrounding countryside and as far away as the other side of the country move in for better economic opportunities. Land is at a premium, and millions of people live in shantytowns. There isn’t always enough water for the needs of the population, and the environmental demands of 21 million people continue to be a challenge for Mumbai’s managers.

The future of Mumbai will necessarily require that problems in infrastructure and environmental concerns be addressed by its population and that the basic needs of all be met. Mumbai’s standing as a global city requires nothing less.

Ice Dogs

Johnson, Terry Lynn. Ice Dogs. 2012. 279p. ISBN 978-0-547-89926-8. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Victoria loves to run her dogs. A dog-sledder and a resident of Alaska all of her life, she’s built a special relationship with each one of her animals. Ever since the tragic loss of her father during one of his wilderness expedition, and blaming her mother for his death, Victoria has retreated within herself, racing with her dog team, trying to dull the pain and the loss. When she hears that a new dog might be available to purchase, she decides to head out. It is a distance to this man’s farm, but she should have plenty of time to gather her gear, hook up her dogs and make the return trip.

Only, she doesn’t have enough time. Running on the trail heading to Mr. Cook’s, the sky opens up and it begins to snow. Deciding to press on, Victoria comes to the site of a snowmobile accident. The sled is destroyed, and the rider is laying in the snow unconscious. Victoria checks him for injuries, and he awakens and stands up. His name is Chris, and he reveals he thinks he lives this way, pointing down a trail Victoria is not familiar with. Unfortunately the snow, which is coming down harder, has covered any tracks, and Victoria is not even sure Chris knows which way he came from. But since he’s convinced, she goes down the trail with her sled and dogs and Chris bundled up aboard.

Soon, it’s clear that they are lost, and in the middle of a blizzard. Victoria’s survival skills are the only thing that keep death away for her dogs, herself, and Chris. But as her father’s death proved, skills are sometimes not enough. What follows is an incredible fight against nature for survival, but in the Alaskan wilderness nature reigns supreme. Can Victoria, Chris, and her dogs make it back to civilization?

Fans of Hatchet and The River will enjoy this story of hope against all odds and the extreme measures Victoria takes to ensure the survival of her team. For another book on dog running, take a look at Yellow Dog.

Incredible Mollusks

Townsend, John. Incredible Mollusks. 2005. 56p. ISBN 9781410917096. Available at 594 TOW on the library shelves.

Looking for alien lifeforms? Look no further. The second largest type of animals in the world after insects, mollusks can be found in every type of environment, from the jungles of Africa to the deepest reaches of the Pacific. Members of the mollusk family include snails and slugs, sea cucumbers, octopus, and clams. Weird feeding and mating habits are explored, and facts are presented about their defenses and amazing bodies.

Stonehenge

Mass, Wendy. Stonehenge. Part of the Building History Series. 1998. 96p. ISBN 1-56006-432-3. Available at 936 MAS on the library shelves.

One of the world’s most mysterious structure is the stone array of Stonehenge. Built over two millenia, from 3,000 to 1,100 BCE, the purpose of Stonehenge remains unclear to this day. Speculations abound that it served as a calendar, as a holy site, as a druid gathering places, or to track eclipses. But how it was erected is as fascinating as what it is used for.

The blue and sarsen stones that were used in the construction of Stonehenge are not from the Salisbury Plains. They were taken and shaped miles away, then brought to the site. The blue stones, between 4 and 8 tons, came from Mount Prescelly, in Southern Wales, about 135 miles away and were probably transported by ship most of the way. In the case of the larger sarsen stones, they originated about 24 miles away, but as each rock weighed up to 40 tons, moving them over land would have been an engineering feet.

The construction of the site followed four distinct stages, with the third stage being further separated in three separate phases. Each time, the arrangement of the stones were shifted around to accommodate different uses. The erection of the lintels, the piece of stone that sat on top of two parallel sarsens, required extensive engineering and manpower to accomplish.

By the time the Romans conquered England, Stonehenge was already over a thousand years old, and its purpose had disappeared along with the inhabitants who created it. Since then, there have been much speculation about what it was used for. As these continue, however, the site is deteriorating due to weather, pollution, and human activities. Efforts are taking place to preserve the site for future generations, so they too can enjoy the mystery and the quiet majesty that is Stonehenge.

Beijing

Pellegrini, Nancy. Beijing. Part of the Global Cities series. 2007. 60p. ISBN 978-0-7910-8848-0. Available on the library shelves at 951 PEL.

The second most populous city in China, Beijing is also the country’s capital. With over 12 million people, Beijing’s population has exploded in the last quarter century, which has brought both challenges and success stories. The capital on and off for over a thousand years, Beijing lies in an arid plain not far away from mountains. It sat at the intersection of major trade routes and was protected by the Great Wall. With the economic liberation that followed the death of Mao, the country’s standard of living as increased and residents of cities have benefited the most. Hundred of millions of peasants have flocked to cities, and Beijing has seen more of its share.

An increase in population brings more economic opportunities, but also severe environmental and infrastructure costs for a city spreading faster than what is sustainable. Major projects such as canals to bring water, high speed trains, metros, highways, and pollution control are all designed to help the capital grow while ensuring that the basic needs of citizens are taken care off. As old Beijing is being demolished to make way for a new Beijing, tensions between those who are rich and those who aren’t are growing, and the local government will have to manage what has been unbridled growth.

The Kill Order

Dashner, James. The Kill Order. Book 0.5 of the Maze Runners series. 2012. 347p. ISBN 9780385742887. Available at FIC DAS on the library shelves.

When sun flares struck Earth, the climate became unbalanced, millions of people died, and the world changed forever. Following the flare came a disease so contagious and effective that even more people died, but not before becoming violent lunatics who have completely lost their humanity. Now it’s a race against time for survival.

Mark and Trina are two of these survivors trying to remain alive in a sea of diseased folks. First present in New York City when the flares struck, they managed to hole up in a building when the tsunami hits and wiped out most of the city. Captured by pirates, they escape and are hunted down by people in flying Bergs.

They discover that the flare, as the disease is becoming known, is not a naturally occurring disease but rather was engineered by someone to bring humanity to a more manageable population level. Unfortunately, the disease has mutated and now threatens to destroy all of humanity. When they come across a child name DeeDee who appears to be immune to the flare, they realize that they hold the fate of humanity. But how much is DeeDee’s life worth?

This book sets up nicely the universe of the Maze Runner and provides a brilliant introduction to the flare and its effects on people. Those who enjoyed Thomas’ adventures will love finding out how they came about. Meanwhile, Thomas' story before the Maze appears in The Fever Code.

Into the Wild

Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. 2007. 207p. ISBN 978-0-307-38717-2. Available on the library shelves at 917.98 KRA and as an audiobook on Overdrive.

Christopher Johnson McCandless marched to his own tune. After graduating from college, McCandless disappeared from his family’s life and began an odyssey across the continental Western United States, Mexico, Canada, and Alaska. Seeking to discover the true world, McCandless whittled down his possessions to almost nothing, and for two years he traveled on his own schedule, making friends along the way. His dream, however, was to go to Alaska, enter the bush, and survive only on his skills.

Throwing away the literal map as well as the figurative one, he entered the Alaskan wilderness in April of 1992, hoping to experience a wilderness explored by no other and a true natural experience alone in the woods. Carrying a rifle, ammunition, and a large bag of rice, McCandless plans on spending months in the wild before heading out. What was to be a summer of reflection and contemplation in the wild turns into a tragic story of survival and deadly mistakes.

While some saw McCandless as a hero for leading his life off the beaten path, and others saw a villain who ultimately wasted his life away to reach an impossible ideal, most readers will empathize with McCandless’ purpose but shake their heads at his hubris. Readers who enjoy survivalist stories like Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm will appreciate what drove McCandless forward and guided him to that fateful bus in the Alaskan wilderness.

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. 1997. 425p. ISBN 0739467352. Available at 303.4 DIA on the library shelves.

How is it that after 10,000 years of human development, Europeans spread across the globe and conquered societies as disparate as the Incas and Aztecs, the Native Americans, Southeast Asians, Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Africans, instead of the reverse? In this extremely well-researched book, Diamond makes the argument that geography, climate, and the unequal spread of large mammals throughout the world directly influenced how societies evolved and interacted with each other, leading directly to today’s world map.

The continents of Europe and Asia are connected and share a similar climate. As a result, large mammals such as the cow and horse were able to travel far and wide. Plants likewise could be found from southern France all the way to China. In Africa and the Americas, by contrast, the continents’ north/south orientation prevented plants and animals that thrived in temperate climates to propagate to the other temperate zone across the equatorial line. Until the advent of ships that could provide transportation, these animals and plants were effectively blocked from reaching other fertile zones. Finally, Australia’s isolation and separation from the other land masses allowed native flora and fauna to grow and spread, but the arrival of man killed off the larger mammals while the unpredictability of the climate and the poor quality of the soil prevented the evolution of agriculture.

Thus, even though all humans around 11,000 BCE are Stone Age hunters and gatherers, those living in fertile areas populated by large animals were able to harness the power of agriculture and the muscles of domesticated beasts to increase the yield of food, allowing for the emergence of specialization, of bureaucrats and of states. The germs transmitted from animals to humans, the discovery and availability of guns, and the smelting of steel sealed the fate of those societies who did not develop these elements.

A powerful story about us, Guns, Germs and Steel will appeal to readers of history and to everyone who is interesting in finding out why today’s world exist as is.

Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth

Walker, Sally M. Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth. 2002. 72p. ISBN 978-1-57505-536-8. Available at 597.3 WAL on the library shelves.

In the era of dinosaurs, a large fish with armored scales and a jaw able to spring forward and open wide enough to swallow a prey whole dwelled in the depths of the ocean. Fossils of this fish, named coelacanth, were found in several places. It had strange pelvic fins resembling legs, as well as two dorsal fins. It had an extra fin placed at the end of the tail. This fish would have moved slowly but could have been able to maneuver better than most. And, like most dinosaurs, it was thought to be extinct.

Until, that is, in 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, the director of the East London Museum in South Africa, received a startling fish delivered from a local captain. With armored scales, extra fins that resembled legs, and a strange tail, she wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but she remembered from her studies she was looking at something very old, if not prehistoric. She tried to preserve the dead fish as well as she could, and she contacted a local ichthyologist, a fish expert. After examining what was left of the fish, as well as the pictures Courtenay-Latimer took, J. L. B. Smith knew he was looking at something truly unique: a coelacanth, a prehistoric fish that first appeared on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. Here was the proof that this fish has somehow survived the death of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity.

What followed over the next 60 years was the fascinating chase to discover more about the coelacanth. Even today, after nearly eight decades following its first recorded appearance in modern times, we know very little about this ancient fish. A strange but true story, this book demonstrates that discoveries remain to be found. It will also passionate readers with a scientific curiosity.

How the Toilet Changed History

Perdew, Laura. How the Toilet Changed History. Part of the Essential Library of Inventions series. 2016. 112p. ISBN 978-1-62403-787-0. Available at 644.6 PER on the library shelves.

This review, unlike every other review I’ve ever written, starts with a personal anecdote. I have had many a conversations with students over the years about the relative merits of different historical periods, particularly with references to the “good ol’ days.” Invariably, the arguments degenerate until two magic words come out: Indoor plumbing. I’m a fan of indoor plumbing, and can’t imagine living without it in my house. You can't convince me that any historical period before indoor plumbing was better.

So when this book came along, I thought I would give it a go. I was convinced I knew just about every piece of information that this book contained. Was I wrong! Though the ancient Romans knew all about sanitation (at least, what was visible to them) and had built large aqueducts and sewer systems to handle waste, this knowledge was lost during the fall of the Roman Empire and the subsequent periods referred to the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages. Bodily functions were frowned upon by early Christians, and this distaste percolated to today, when we rarely talk about pee and poop (snickering middle schoolers, this one’s for you).

Castles and other structures featured chutes where waste could be dumped, but most had cesspools in the basement or just threw their waste out the window. Many communicable diseases were transmitted this way and contributed to the outbreaks of several plagues. The invention of the flush toilet eventually led to the creation of sewer systems to move the waste around, but politics got in the way of sanitation. In London, the summer of 1858 was particularly hot and dry, and the Thames river, where eventually all of the city’s waste ended, all but dried up. The stench was unbearable. As the river runs by Parliament, elected officials had no choice but to deal with this situation. The modern sewer was born.

Today we are experiencing a partial collapse of our infrastructure. Sewers are aged and need replacing. Treatment plants have reached their useful life. There is little political will, however, to spend tax dollars fixing a problem that is all but invisible at the moment. Perhaps another Great Stink like the one that afflicted London will convince politicians that our water and waste infrastructure deserves to be maintained and cared for, otherwise we will all need to dig up holes and dust off our old New England outhouses. I prefer my indoor plumbing.

The River

Paulsen, Gary. The River. 2008. 2 hours 31 minutes. ISBN 978-0-7393-8618-7. Available as an audiobook on Moultonborough Overdrive.

Fifteen-year old Brian Robeson is a typical teenager, except for one glaring characteristic: two years ago, he survived alone 54 days in the wilderness when the plane he was in crashed in the Canadian north. For a while Brian did the talk show circuit and was featured prominently on the news, but now his notoriety has finally died down. Brian still feels lost, however. It is impossible to relate to the world he lives in with the experience he acquired, and he really can’t talk to anyone about it.

Now, however, the U.S. government hopes Brian would be willing to do it all over again so that Derek, a psychologist who serves on the team that designs survival courses for the military, can accompany him and document the conditions of survival in the wilderness. Basically, Derek wants Brian to relive his experience. Brian shocks his mother when he readily agrees. He needs to do this, to share this experience with someone else so that he can finally talk about it.

Upon arrival to another lake a hundred miles away from his first stay, Brian tells Derek that they cannot have any of the gear they brought with them on the float plane because it won’t be real. Derek agrees, but convinces Brian to at least keep the radio. At first, everything goes well. They build a shelter, get a fire going, and find enough food to satisfy their hunger. On the third night, however, Derek is struck by lightning and falls into a coma. Brian now faces a dilemma. He can stay here and home that Derek recovers, because the radio itself has also been fried by the bolt of electricity. Or he can get Derek on a raft and navigate the river that comes out of the lake for what seemed on the map to be about 120 miles until the first trading post. Brian decides to attempt to save Derek’s life, and he builds a raft. But now, he must face the elements once again on his own in a race against time….

A companion story to Hatchet, The River will keep survivalists riveted to the edge of their seats as they watch Brian’s progress or lack thereof down the river.

How the Automobile Changed History

Bailey, Diane. How the Automobile Changed History. Part of the Essential Library of Inventions series. 2016. 112p. ISBN 978-1-62403-781-8. Available at 629.2 BAI on the library shelves.

There are many inventions that have revolutionized the way people lived and changed the course history, but the automobile had a direct environmental and visual impact on how our society changed.

The coupling of a motor to a  horseless carriage (where the word car comes from) by inventor Karl Benz allowed people a new type of freedom they did not have before: the ability to travel long distances to destinations chosen by them, at their leisure. The first cars were noisy and not very comfortable, but as features were added and got better the motorized vehicle went from an object of suspicion to an accepted mode of transportation to a beloved symbol of success second only to one’s home.

Cars were expensive, but Henry Ford adapted the assembly line and managed to standardize the building process, reduce the price of each car, and mass-produce millions of model T. The car had arrived as the mode of transportation preferred by most Americans. Subsequent generations adapted the car for their own purposes, from the explosion of models and features following the Second World War to hot rods and the drive-in theatre and restaurants. Our entire society became centered around cars as an ever increasing number of roads were built to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.

Safety features had not kept up, however, and as the number of accident deaths climbed the American public clamored to make cars safer. At the same time, gas guzzlers found themselves crippled by the Oil Crisis of 1973, and Japanese cars, which were smaller and safer, made their entrance into the American market.

Today cars are safer than they have ever been, just as they continue to evolve to different energy sources such as electricity, hydrogen and natural gas. But fundamentally, Karl Benz would still recognize today’s automobile for what it was.

The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals

Pollan, Michael. The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals. 2006. 451p. ISBN 1-59420-082-3. Available on the library shelves at 394.1 POL.

When you go to a supermarket to buy food, the variety can be overwhelming. Each grocery store has on average over 100,000 different items available to satisfy any craving you might have. Unfortunately, variety of food does not mean a diversity of ingredients. In fact, Pollan argues that corn in all its forms has grown to occupy a central place in the American diet, both in its most well-known form, corn on the cob, but also as a sweet syrup, as filler and food for animals we in turn eat, as fuel to process and transport goods to market, and in a myriad of other industrial uses. Our diet has mainly become made up of corn and its derivatives.

In this provocative book, Pollan explores the disproportionate impact on the American diet, the American farm, and the American economy that corn has. From factoring farming to inhumane slaughterhouses, Pollan describes how corn and Second World War policies came to shape our current food supply and tastes. Using for basis four meals, from the industrial to the organic to the hunter-gatherer style, Pollan discusses what happens to his food from the moment it is planted to the time it arrives on his plate, and everything in between.

This book may change your mind about how and what you eat. And even if it doesn’t, at least you will understand how our food industry has so fundamentally transformed what and how we eat that our ancestors from even a hundred years ago would be hard pressed to recognize what it is a typical American meal today. Pollan literally provides food for thought on a subject most of us know next to nothing about.

Paper Trail: History of an Everyday Material

Brocker, Susan. Paper Trail: History of an Everyday Material. 2008. 36p. ISBN 978-0-531-17589-7. Available at 676 BRO on the library shelves.

Paper is one of these commodities we never really think about, but it surrounds us. In fact, without paper one could argue that our entire civilization would collapse. Consider toilet paper, for example. What did people use before toilet paper was invented and refined into a product we would recognize today?

This short book describes the history of paper and what was used before it was created. From clay tablets and papyrus, writing was reserved for government officials and rich individuals. In China, a highly secret and coveted recipe created a very coarse form of paper. It was an expensive and long process. Using wood pulp, hemp, and bits of clothings, these fibers merged together and formed a tight bond.

As the recipe for paper slowly spread throughout the world, an insatiable appetite for paper fed by increased literacy created new products, art, and sped the development and transmission of information. Now an everyday item with a myriad of uses, the paper industry remains one of the most polluting industrial products, and we still not have come with viable processes to make clean paper.

Whether we head towards a paperless society or whether paper remains with us for a long time, the history of paper is a fascinating story.

Dark Life

Falls, Kat. Dark Life. Book 1 of the Dark Life series. 2010. 304p. ISBN 9780545178143. Available at FIC FAL on the library shelves.

Most of the land has been flooded under the rising water of melting polar cap, and now the remaining land is overcrowded. To remedy this situation, the continental shelf has been opened up for settlement. Ty is the first child born in one of the underwater settlements. Rumors have it that children who live in the water have developed strange abilities due to the water pressure and conditions. When asked, Ty claims that this is not the case.

Eking a living farming underwater, Ty’s family are part of the brave new crop of settlers who literally took the plunge. Relations between those who live above the water and those who live below are tense, due to poor government policies and a lack of understanding on both parties.

When Ty comes across a derelict submarine, he discovers a Topside girl in it. Gemma is a tourist from the mainland, looking for her brother who is prospecting down on the shelf. When outlaws, led by Shade, begin attacking the settlers, however, life suddenly becomes difficult. Before the outlaws would have seized government cargo, but now they’re dealing directly against the local settlers. This group of criminal is about to make life on the frontier unbearable, and Ty and Gemma are right in the way …

Fans of this story will also enjoy Inhuman by the same author. The story continues in Rip Tide.