Hello from Spokane, Washington! I’m up here (25 1/2 hours in the car getting here… not fun, but we survived!) reunioning with Hubby’s family. I thought I’d get this off before the reunion got underway (too much; Hubby’s off playing D&D with his brothers today…) too much.

I should probably call this the fluff edition of the jacket flap-a-thon, since I don’t think I cracked open a serious book all month. (I topped it off with a trip to see Mamma Mia… let’s just say that my cup of fluff runneth over…) I think I got the fluff out of my system, though I have to admit, it was just perfect for the heat of July. (um. No pun intended there.) So… for the best flaps that fluff books have to offer:

5. The Exiles (Margaret K. McElderry Books): “Nothing ever happened in their family. The four sisters — Ruth, Naomi, Rachel, and Phoebe, ranging in age from thirteen to six — knew that they were faced with another boring summer at home when school ended in a week. They were quite unprepared for the horrid truth. They were being sent instead to spend the summer with their formidable grandmother, known as Big Grandma. Big Grandma was larger then life. She was tall and she ate a lot. She gave orders like a drill sergeant. Though she did not have a dog, the girls found cans of dog food in the kitchen. “Probably it’s for when she turns into a werewolf and hasn’t any grandchildren to chew on,” Naomi suggested. Big Grandma believed that her book-loving granddaughters were lazy and in need of fresh air and hard work. The girls had other ideas, and when every available scrap of reading material had been devoured (including the two books apiece they’d been allowed to bring from home and all of Big Grandma’s cookbooks), they set out in search of alternative entertainment. If Big Grandma thought she could reform her wayward granddaughters, she was mistaken. The adventures and misadventures of Ruth, Naomi, Rachel, and Phoebe, in exile with their Big Grandma, will make readers laugh out loud. This first novel, filled with unforgettable characterization and hilarious incident, is a truly funny book that will be read over and over with delight.”

Cute, if a bit long. Actually, there wasn’t much to work with in the book. I’m impressed that they did this well.

4. An Abundance of Katherines (Libri): “When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun — but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl. Love, friendship, and a dead Austro-Hungarian archduke add up to surprising and heart-changing conclusions in this ingeniously layered comic novel about reinventing oneself by Printz medalist John Green, acclaimed author of Looking for Alaska.”

This captures the quirky cuteness of the book quite well. And it makes it sounds as interesting and funny as the book really is.

3. Right Ho, Jeeves (Barrie & Jenkins): “Gussie Fink-Nottle’s knowledge of the life and habits of the common newt was unparalleled throughout the county of Lincolnshire. Drop him in a pond of newts and his behavior would be exemplary, but introduce him to a girl and see him turn pink, yammer and suddenly stampede for the great open spaces. Even when Madeline Basset came into his life, he could not summon up sufficient courage to put the all-important question. Then there was Tuppy Glossop, too, whose distressing lack of tact on the subject of sharks threatened to end forever his romance with the fascinating Angela. With so many broken hearts lying about him, Bertie Wooster could not sit idly by; the happiness of a pal — two pals, in fact — was at stake and the situation called for action. But somehow, Bertie’s best laid schemes, like those of mice and men, went “aft a-gley“, and it was as well that Jeeves was ever at hand, not only to pour oil on the troubled watered of the young master’s machinations, but to give further evidence of his never-failing powers and resource. Right Ho, Jeeves is yet another example of Mr. Wodehouse’s inimitable humor.”

Wodehouse’s inimitable humor. This blurb is quite oojah-cum-spiff, if I do say so myself. Right, ho.

2. The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Henry Holt and Co): “Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn’t remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers? This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson’s vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.”

I found this one to be intriguing and enticing with just enough of the plot to make me want to read more.

1. The Juliet Club (Greenwillow): “Italy . . . Shakespeare . . . but no romance? Kate Sanderson inherited her good sense from her mother, a disciplined law professor, and her admiration for the Bard from her father, a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she gets dumped, out of the blue, for the Practically Perfect Ashley Lawson, she vows never to fall in love again. From now on she will control her own destiny, and every decision she makes will be highly reasoned and rational. She thinks Shakespeare would have approved. So when she is accepted to a summer Shakespeare symposium in Verona, Italy, Kate sees it as the ideal way to get over her heartbreak once and for all. She’ll lose herself in her studies, explore ancient architecture, and eat plenty of pasta and gelato. (Plus, she’ll be getting college credit for it—another goal accomplished!) But can even completely logical Kate resist the romance of living in a beautiful villa in the city where those star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet met and died for each other? Especially when the other Shakespeare Scholars—in particular Giacomo, with his tousled brown hair, expressive dark eyes, and charming ways—try hard to break her protective shell? ‘In fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . . ‘”

Oh, this one is just perfect. Completely had me wanting to read the book. Which totally lived up to the flap.

And the one worst:
Actually there are two this month, and both for the same reason. I’ve harped on it before… there are two things I hate about blurbs: using something that doesn’t come until the end of the book, and placing too much emphasis on the beginning. Both of these are the latter. They’re not bad; they just put undue emphasis on the first few chapters of the book, skewing the reader’s perceptions of the plot. Not good.

13 Little Blue Envelopes (HarperTempest): “Inside little blue envelope 1 are $1,000 and instructions to buy a plane ticket. In envelope 2 are directions to a specific London flat. The note in envelope 3 tells Ginny: Find a starving artist. Because of envelope 4, Ginny and a playwright/thief/bloke-about-town called Keith go to Scotland together, with somewhat disastrous — though utterly romantic — results. But will she ever see him again? Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.”

The Exiles in Love (Aladdin Paperback): “Romantic love enters the lives of the four Conroy sisters when Ruth develops a crush on the school bus driver. Next she finds herself pining for Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, smitten with the Temporary English teacher (to whom sister Naomi is attracted as well), and infatuated with Aland Adair from the butcher’s shop. Meanwhile, the younger girls have other things on their minds as Rachel longs to become May Queen and Phoebe practices to become an international spy. But when Big Grandma arranges for Philippe, a French boy, to stay with the Conroys, will all the girls fall head over heels for his charms?”

I’m suffering from a cold/allergies, and I feel like I’ve got a head stuffed full of cotton. I’m not sure how coherent this is going to be this month, but I’ll try.

5. Ever (HarperCollins): “Falling in love is easy… even for Kezi, though she knows her days are numbered. And head-over-heels, come-what-may love is inevitable if her heart’s desire is Olus, the Akkan god of the winds. But accepting death is hard, especially when romance is new. Falling in love is easy for Olus if his beloved is Kezi, a beautiful mortal, a dancer and rug weaver from the city of Hyte. But facing Kezi’s approaching death is unbearable. Love brings Kezi the will to fight her fate. Love gives Olus the strength to confront his fears. She questions her faith and seeks truth in dark places. He suffers a god’s trial when she needs a champion. Together — and apart — they encounter spiders with webs of iron, the cruel lord of the land of the dead, the mysterious god of destiny, and the tests of the Akkan gods. If they succeed, they will be together; but if they fail, Olus will have to endure the ultimate loss, and Kezi will have to make the supreme sacrifice. Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens. Her story about love, destiny, and belief is spellbinding.”

Actually, it was this jacket flap that made me want to read the book. (Well, that and a couple bloggers’ gushing reviews.) Always a good sign.

4. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Pantheon):“Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman’s Maus, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran: of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life and of the enormous toll repressive regimes exact on the individual spirit. Marjane’s child’s-eye-view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a stunning reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, through laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.”

I thought this does a good job of giving the reader an overview of the book, illuminating the fact that it’s a graphic novel, and yet not giving away too much of the plot.

3. The Penderwicks on Gardam Street (Alfred A. Knoff): “The Penderwick Sisters are home on Gardam Street and ready for an adventure! But the adventure they get isn’t quite what they had in mind. Mr. Penderwick’s sister has decided it’s time for him to start dating—and the girls know that can only mean one thing: disaster. Enter the Save-Daddy Plan—a plot so brilliant, so bold, so funny, that only the Penderwick girls could have come up with it. It’s high jinks, big laughs, and loads of family warmth as the Penderwicks triumphantly return.”

Short, to the point, and immediatly grabs the people that loved the Penderwicks. I’m not sure how well it’ll do getting readers not familiar with the first book interested, though, and for that reason it’s not higher on the list.

2. the mysterious edge of the heroic world (athenum books for young readers): “Amedeo Kaplan seems just like any other new kid who has moved into the town of St. Malo, Florida, a Navy town where new faces are the norm. But Amedeo has a secret, a dream: More than anything in the world, he wants to discover something — a place, a process, even a fossil — some treasure that no one realizes is there until he finds it. And he would also like to discover a true friend to share these things with. William Wilcox seems like an unlikely candidate for friendship: an aloof boy who is all edges and who owns silence the way other people own words. When Amedeo and William find themselves working together on a house sale for Amedeo’s eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Zender, Amedeo has an inkling that both his wishes may come true. For Mrs. Zender’s mansion is crammed with memorabilia of her long life, and there is a story to go with every piece. Soon the boys find themselves caught up in one particular story — a story that links a sketch, a young boy’s life, an old man’s reminiscence, and a painful secret dating back to the outrages of Nazi Germany. It’s a story that will take them to the edge of what they know about heroism and the mystery of the human heart. Two-time Newbery winner E. L. Konigsburg spins a magnificent tale of art, discovery, friendship, history, and truth.”

I always like it when the jacket flap reflects the style of the book, and I think this one captures E.L. Konigsburg perfectly.

1. The Fall of the Kings (Bantam): “In an ancient city full of dreams, no king rules anymore. And some thing that it’s for the best… Generations ago the last king fell, taking with him the final truths about a race of wizards who ruled at his side. But the blood of kings runs deep in the land and its people, waiting for the coming together of two unusual men: THE GENTLEMAN. Heir to an ancient house and a modern scandal, Theron Campion — a young nobleman of royal lineage — chooses his lovers with reckless abandon. Tormented by his twin duties to his family and his own bright spirit, he seeks solace in the precincts of University. But no one can live in two worlds forever. THE SCHOLAR. A brilliant and charismatic teacher ruled by a passion for knowledge, Basil St. Cloud is in love with the ancient kings. Of course, everyone now knows that the wizards were charlatans, the kings their dupes and puppets. Only Basil is not convinced. Against a rich tapestry of artists and aristocrats, students and strumpets, scheming spies and renegade royalists, Basil and Theron will find themselves playing out an ancient drama destined to blow open their society’s smug vision of itself — and reveal that sometimes the price of uncovering history is being forced to repeat it….”

Not my favorite book this month — actually, it was probably my least favorite — but every time I read this jacket flap copy, I think “wow, that’s gotta be a good book”. That’s got to count for something.

The One Worst:
Sword of the Rightful King (Harcourt, Inc.): “The newly crowned King Arthur is unsure of himself; worse, the people are unsure of him. Too many people want the throne, and treachery is everywhere. Merlin must do something before the king is betrayed, or murdered, or–worst of all–gets married. So Merlin magically places a sword into a slab of rock, lets it be known that whosoever removes the blade will rule all of England, and invites any man who would dare, to try to pull out the sword. After a bit of showmanship, Arthur will draw the blade (with a little magical help, of course), and the people will rally around the young king. Except someone else pulls the sword out first. . . .”

Biggest complaint (yet again): when the jacket flap includes one sentence from the plot that doesn’t happen until the last 30 pages. I kept expecting the whole plot to revolve around the “someone else pulls the sword out first” when that was really an afterthought in the book.

This was the month of mediocre jacket flaps. There wasn’t much that was really super inspiring, fun, clever, interesting or eye-catching. Ah, well. I guess there’s bound to be months like that.

5. Merlin Trilogy (Morrow): “The prophetic voice of Merlin, the mysterious enchanter of Arthurian legend, has completed his story. Written over a period of ten years, Mary Stewart’s three best-selling novels now stand together in one volume — the finest work of her distinguished career. Hers is the most extended portrait in all literature of this compelling figure of Dark Age myth and history. Merlin, the protector and tutor of Arthur, has usually been portrayed as an old man. But The Crystal Cave begins the trilogy with the story of his perilous childhood as the bastard son of a Welsh king’s daughter and the secret discovery of the magic arts that will set him apart from other men. With the birth of Arthur, Merlin’s guardianship began and the ancient legend continues in The Hollow Hills with the dramatic immediacy that is Mary Stewart’s special gift. Arthur grew to young manhood, ignorant of his royal parentage, in the deep and dangerous forests of fifth-century England and Wales, where no law was stable and fierce battle rages amongst the brooding mountains. When, in due course, Merlin guided him to the sword that tested his claim to power and the crown, Arthur became king by right, and soon Merlin, his adviser, was to emerge, however obscurely, as the architect of the first United Britain. King Arthur plunged instantly into violent warfare against the Saxons. But in The Last Enchantment there are also more dangerous and subtle enemies ranged against him: Mortgause, half-sister and seductress of Arthur; their child, Mordred; the friends and kin who will betray him. Merlin’s darkest prophecies were realized one by one, yet his bright vision of the future kingdom did prevail, and he foresaw the mystic power that would be at the King’s service as long as Arthur lived. The imaginative brilliance of the Merlin Trilogy completes the life and character of Merlin which are left untold in the early legends. At the end of each of the novels, Mary Stewart has set down the substance of the original legends and with it the sources of her own variations. Her portrait of Merlin is a new legend in itself.”

It’s long, yes, but it’s also a jacket flap for a three-in-one edition. And for that, I think this is a good summary — just enough about each book to give you a hint, but it doesn’t go on overly long.

4. The Orchid Thief (Random House): “The orchid thief in Susan Orlean’s mesmerizing true story of beauty and obsession is John Laroche, a renegade plant dealer and sharply handsome guy, in spit of the fact that he’s missing his front teeth and has the posture of al dente spaghetti. In 1994, Laroche and three Seminole Indians were arrested with rare orchids they had stolen from a wild swamp in south Florida that is filled with some of hate world’s most extraordinary plants and trees. Laroche had planned to clone the orchids and then sell them for a small fortune to impassioned collectors. After he was caught in the act, Laroche set off one of the oddest legal controversies in recent memory, which brought together environmentalists, Native American activists, and devoted orchid collectors. The result is a tale that is strange, compelling and hilarious. New Yorker writer Susan Orlean followed Laroche through swamps and into the eccentric world of Florida’s orchid collectors, a subculture of aristocrats, fanatics and smuggles whose obession with plants is all-consuming. Along the way, Orlean learned the history of orchid collecting, discovered an odd pattern of plant crimes in Florida, and spent time with Laroche’s partners, a tribe of Seminole Indians who are still at war with teh United States. There is something fascinating or funny or truly bizarre on every page of The Orchid Thief: the story of how the head of a famous Seminole chief came to be displayed in the front window of a local pharmacy; or how seven hundred iguanas were smuggled into Florida; or the case of the only known extraterrestrial plant crime. Ultimately, however Susan Orlean’s book is about passion itself, and the amazing lengths to which people will go to gratify it. That passion is captured with singular vision in The Orchid Thief, a once-in-a-lifetime story by one of our most original journalists.”

Someone answer me this: why are all jacket flap descriptions in adult hardback books really long? Just because there’s the space to fill, doesn’t mean you have to fill it. That aside, this does a decent job making a weird book about orchids, Florida and passion sound interesting.

3. The Battle of the Labyrinth (Hyperion): “Percy Jackson isn’t expecting his freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance reappears, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends will set out on a quest through the Labyrinth — a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.”

I thought this did a good job with the book; enough bones for someone who knows the books and is curious about this one, but not too much to give away the plot. Which is essential, especially for Percy Jackson.

2.. Out of the Wild (Sleuth Razorbill): “Beware the Wild: it bites. Ever since Julie Marchen helped defeat the fairytale world of the Wild, life’s been pretty much back to normal. That is, as normal as life can be for a girl whose mom is Rapunzel. Yes, that Rapunzel. Then the Wild mysteriously releases Zel’s prince (Julie’s dad) — a rescue-minded hero who crashes full-speed ahead into the 21st century (YOU try teaching a 500-year-old prince to use a seatbelt.) Julie’s over the moon, but when a wicked Fairy Godmother kidnaps Sleeping Beauty and reawakens the Wild, Julie and her dad set off on an action-packed adventure to save the distressed damsel, and the world. If they can’t, they’ll spend eternity in a fairytale.”

Clever, funny, witty. Very well written.

1. Airman (Hyperion): ” Conor Broekhart was born to fly. In fact, legend has it that he was born flying in a hot air balloon at the world’s fair. In the 1890’s Conor and his family live on the sovereign Saltee Islands, off the Irish coast. Conor spends his days studying the science of flight with his tutor and exploring the castle with the king’s daughter, Princess Isabella. But the boy’s idyllic life changes forever the day he discovers a conspiracy to overthrow the king. When Conor tries to expose the plot, he is branded a traitor and thrown into jail on the prison island of Little Saltee. There, he has to fight for his life as he and the other prisoners are forced to mine for diamonds in inhumane conditions. There is only one way to escape Little Saltee, and that is to fly. So he passes the solitary months by scratching drawings of flying machines into the prison walls. The months turn into years, but eventually the day comes when Conor must find the courage to trust his revolutionary designs and take to the skies.”

It made me want to read the book (well, that and blog reviews…). And it does a good job of describing the whole plot (see the one worst), and not just one element of it.

And the one worst:
Exodus (Walker Books): “Less than a hundred years from now, the world as we know it no longer exists. Cities have disappeared beneath the sea, technology no longer functions, and human civilization has reverted to a much more primitive state. For the residents of Wing, an isolated northern island, time is running out. As the sea swallows precious acres and threatens to claim their very lives, they must look beyond their tiny island home for refuge. Only fifteen-year-old Mara has the vision and the will to lead them all in search of a new beginning in this harsh, unfamiliar world. She learns of sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising water, and she is finally able to convince the islanders that finding their way to New Mungo, the closest of the New World cities, is their only chance for survival. But upon reaching the mysterious high-tech civilization, they are shut out of the city, blocked from their only chance at sanctuary. Mara must find a way past the walls to save her people, even if it means risking everything. “

The thing that bothered me most about this — and you wouldn’t know it until you read the book — is that the jacket flap only covers the first 1/3 of the book. The rest of Mara’s adventures, and how she eventually escapes them all, are left unknown. Reading this, you would think that the adventure is getting to New Mungo, not getting away from it. (Oops, a spoiler. Sorry.)

So, I decided because of this post that I needed to rename my monthly feature. Therefore, it will now (and forever) be the Jacket Flap-a-Thon. That way, people will know I’m actually talking about the words on the back of the book, and not the quotes by other authors.

Picky, picky.

Anyway. On with this month’s picks. It was a difficult choice, but the 5 best:

5. Serving Crazy with Curry (Ballantine Books): “Between the pressures to marry and become a traditional Indian wife and the humiliation of losing her job in Silicon Valley, Devi is on the edge — where the only way out seems to be to jump… Yet Devi’s plans to end it all fall short when she is saved by the last person she wants to see: her mother. Instead, she cooks… nonstop. And not just the usual fare, but off-the-wall twists on Indian classics, like blueberry curry chicken and Cajun prawn biryani. Now family meals are no longer obligations. Devi’s parents, her sister, and her brother-in-law can’t get enough — and they suddenly find their lives taking turns as surprising as the impromptu creations Devi whips up in the kitchen each night. But then a stranger appears out of the blue. Devi, it seems, had a secret — on that will touch many a nerve in her tightly wound family. Though exposing some shattering truths, the secret will also gather them back together in way s they never dreamed possible. Interspersed with mouthwatering recipes, this story mixes humor, warmth, and leap-off-the-page characters into a rich stew of a novel that reveals a woman’s struggle for acceptance — from her family and herself.”

This is one of those cases where the description (a bit misleading with the “mouthwatering recipes”) is almost better than the book.

4. The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye (Random House):“Gillian Perholt, an independent and sensible scholar, no longer young, is given a bottle of beautiful “nightingale’s eye” glass by a Turkish friend. Inside it is trapped a huge (and very male) djinn, a magical genie who must grant her three wishes in return for his release. Gillian’s use of her wishes — she is an expert in fairy stories and in what can go wrong with wishes — is careful and surprising. The story takes the professor and the djinn from Istanbul to Toronto and Madison Avenue. The two discover each other’s worlds, with respect, and something more. Described by the London Sunday Times as “finely tuned on the twilit axis of what is real and what is unreal,” this comic and passionate new tale forms the brilliant centerpiece to this first collection of A. S. Byatt’s fairy stories. Readers of Angels & Insects and Byatt’s Booker Prize-winning novel, Possession, have already encountered some of the unforgettable Victorian fairy tales that are woven into her fiction and have asked for more. Two of these (“The Glass Coffin” and “Gode’s Story”) are included here, with three contemporary additions: “The Story of the Eldest Princess,” “Dragon’s Breath,” and the incomparable novella-length title story. Byatt’s inventive and enticing stories are both magical and very modern. They are fairy tales for adults, which retain the mystery and beauty of the world we imagine as children. Byatt readers will discover new delights and surprises, while those unfamiliar with her work will find here an enchanting introduction to the magic of her writing.”

I like that it gives me an enticing glimpse (what does “very male” mean anyway?) into the main story, as well as tastes of the shorter works. It made me want to read the book.

3. The Luxe (Harper Collins):“Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone—from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud—threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear… In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.”

Oh so decadent. Kind of like the novel.

2. The Willoughbys (Houghton Mifflin Company): “‘Shouldn’t we be orphans?’ one of the Willoughby children suggests one day. The four are, after all, part of an old-fashioned kind of family, and their parents –well, their parents are not all that one would hope for. Recalling literary heroes and heroines such as Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna and James with his giant peach, the Willoughbys concoct a diabolical plot to turn themselves into worthy and winsome orphans. Little do they know that Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have already begun to formulate their own thoroughly despicable plan inspired by another favorite bedtime story: the tale of Hansel and Gretel… Villains, benefactors, no-nonsense nannies, abandoned infants, long-lost heirs, and late-life romance all make their appearance along with the irrepressible Willoughbys as the Newbery Award-winning author Lois Lowry pays playful homage to classic works of literature in this hilarious and decidedly ‘old-fashioned’ parody.”

Delightful. It gives you just enough of the plot so you’re not surprised, but not enough so that you’re bored or misled while reading. And it captures the tongue-in-cheek elements of the book beautifully. If only they had used “nefarious” or “villainous” (though they did get “diabolical”) it would have been perfect.

1. Dairy Queen: A Novel (Houghton Mifflin Company): “When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D. J. can’t help admitting, maybe he’s right. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn’t so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two jobs and a big secret. Why her college-football-star brothers won’t even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league. When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D. J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say.”

Sort, simple, and very enticing. What does she have to say?? I, at least, want to know.

And the one worst:

Interpreter of Maladies (Mariner): “Winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, this stunning debut collection unerringly charts the emotional journeys of characters seeking love beyond the barriers or nations and generations. ‘A writer of uncommon sensitivity and restraint… Ms. Lahiri expertly captures the out-of-context lives of immigrants, expatriates, and first-generation Americans’ (Wall Street Journal).
In stories that travel from India to American and back again, Lahiri speaks with universal eloquence to everyone who has ever felt like a foreigner. Honored as ‘Debut of the Year’ by The New Yorker and winer of the PEN/Hemingway Award, Interpreter of Maladies introduces a young writer of astonishing maturity and insight who ‘breathes unpredictable life into the page’ (New York Times).”

This doesn’t tell me anything about the book. Mostly it’s just a litany of how wonderful Lahiri is, and while that’s all fine and good, I want an inkling of what the book’s about. Please?

I have to apologize for the short reviews the past couple of weeks. I was looking through them yesterday, and I realized how little I had to say. Ah, well. Chalk it up to residual flu-like symptoms. I hate being sick, it tends to slow me down and make everything (mostly my brain) hazy. I’m feeling more up to snuff today… the first time in a couple of weeks. Maybe I’ll even be able to churn out something lucid this week.

On to our flaps…

The Top Five:
5. Robot Dreams (First Second): “Richly endearing and full of surprises, Robot Dreams follows an ill-fated friendship between a dog and a robot. After a Labor Day jaunt to the beach leaves Robot rusty and immobilized in the sand, Dog, unsure what to do abandons him. As the seasons pass, Dog tries to replace his friend, making and losing a series of new ones, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. Meanwhile, Robot passes his time daydreaming, escaping to better places. . . Through interwoven journeys, the two characters long to recover from their day at the beach. Although its adorable characters and playful charm will win over young readers, Robot Dreams speaks universally to the fragile nature of friendship, loss and redemption.”

I think this is remarkable — it’s a wordless book, and yet they’ve come up with an interesting (and accurate!) blurb about the book. Not an easy task.

4. Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (Scholastic): “A Hero with an incredible talent… for breaking things. A life or death mission… to rescue a bag of sand. A fearsome threat from the powerful secret network that rules the world… the Evil Librarians. Alcatraz Smedry doesn’t seem destined for anything but disaster. But on his thirteenth birthday, he receives a bag of sand, and his life takes a bizarre turn. This is no ordinary bag of sand… and it is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world by spreading misinformation ans suppressing truth. The sand will give the evil Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them!… by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.”

I liked this one primarily because it made me laugh. Kind of like the book.

3. A Curse Dark as Gold (Arthur A Levine Books): “The gold thread shimmers in the fading light. It promises Charlotte Miller a way out of debt, a chance to save her family’s beloved woolen mill. It promises a future for her sister, livelihood for her townsfolk, security against her sinuous and grasping uncle. It might even promise what she didn’t know she needed: lasting hope and true love. But at what cost? To get the tread, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner. But the gleam of gold conjures a shadowy past — secrets and bonds ensnaring generations of Millers. And Charlotte’s mill, her family, her friends, her love… What do those matter to a powerful stranger who can spin straw into gold? In her brilliant debut, Elizabeth Bunce weaves a spellbinding fairy tale, spun with mystery and shot through with romance.”

I like how this alludes to Rumpelstiltskin, without coming outright and saying “this book is based on the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin”. I also like that it works in the elements of weaving and family, which were also important to the book.

2. The Winter Queen (Random House): “Moscow, May 1876: What would cause a talented young student from a wealthy family to shoot himself in front of a promenading public in the Alexander Gardens? Decadence and boredom, most likely, is what the commander of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Moscow Police thinks, but still he finds it curious enough to send the newest member of the division, Erast Fandorin, a young man of irresistible charm, to the Alexander Gardens precinct for more information. Fandorin is not satisfied with the conclusion that this is an open-and-shut case, nor with the preliminary detective work the precinct has done — and for good reason: The bizarre and tragic suicide is soon connected to a clear case of murder, witnessed firsthand by Fandorin. There are many unresolved questions. Why, for instance, have both victims left their fortunes to an orphanage run by the English Lady Astair? And who is the beautiful “A.B.,” whose signed photograph is found in the apparent suicide’s apartment? Relying on his keen intuition, the eager sleuth plunges into an investigation that leads him across Europe, landing him at the deadly center of a terrorist conspiracy of worldwide proportions. In this thrilling mystery that brings nineteenth-century Russia to vivid life, Akunin has created one of the most eagerly anticipated novels in years.”

A bit long, but really fun — and it works in a bit of Fandorin’s personality without giving away too much.

1. Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac (Farrar Straus Giroux): “If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back. But Naomi picked heads. After her remarkable debut, Gabrielle Zevin has crafted an imaginative second novel all about love and second chances.”

Clever, intriguing and to the point. It also reflects the tone of the book really well. Very, very good.

The Worst One:
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window (Kodansha):“This engaging series of childhood recollections tells about an ideal school in Tokyo during World War II that combined learning with fun, freedom and love. This unusual school had old railroad cars for classrooms, and was run by an extraordinary man — it’s founder and headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi — who was a firm believer in freedom of expression and activity. In real life, the Totto-chan of the book has become one of Japan’s most popular television personalities — Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. She attributes her success in life to this wonderful school and its headmaster. The charm of this account has won the hearts of millions of people of all ages and made this book a runaway bestseller in Japan, with sales hitting the 4.5 million mark in its first year.”

For me, the worst crime a jacket flap copy writer can commit is to underplay a very cute book. Granted, it’s a very hard book to categorize and summarize, but, still, this blurb does not do anything to make me want to read the book, and the whole deal about the author becoming a huge TV star in Japan is just padding. Terrible.