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Ace of Cakes: Inside the World of Charm City Cakes offers a closer look at the people who make the cakes and the show. Not only will one find out how Duff was able to start the bakery and turn it into a success, hire such creative people, but also how the television show came about. Each chapter introduces you to charming Charm City Cakes personnel and also the talented people “behind the scenes” producing the show. Throughout the book there are a number of tips and pictures to inspire us all to make a cake as unique as ourselves.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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In Amulya Malladi’s The Mango Season, Priya Rao is returning to her home in India after a seven year absence. The reason: to tell her family that she is getting married. This is an upsetting proposition, considering that she will be informing her very traditional Indian family that she will be marrying a non-Indian American. Her greatest fear is that her family will no longer love her, and as she continues to delay telling them the news, circumstances begin to spiral out of her control. This book offers interesting insight into familial relationships and into conventional Indian culture while being a quick, cute, and humorous story.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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Parker is back in town. He wants revenge on the people who double-crossed him (and the money they owe him)—and he doesn’t care who stands in his way, or who he has to hurt. As the story proceeds, we slowly discover how he was wronged, and the lengths he will go to for satisfaction. It’s a classic crime noir tale (adapted from Donald Westlake’s novel). Parker is like a force of nature, the ultimate tough guy in a seamy world populated by them, and he pursues his goals relentlessly. Cooke captures the 1962 New York City setting perfectly, depicting just enough violence to make an impact on the reader, but without glorifying it. A terrific start to a planned series of Parker adaptations.

Reviewed by Mark S., University City Regional

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Lia has a lot of issues: with her parents, with friends, with herself. She deals with them by starving and cutting herself. Although she has been through inpatient therapy and promises to be better, her world comes crashing down once again when her former best friend is found dead in a hotel. Lia did not know that Cassie tried to call her (33 times) the night that she died, and that knowledge crushes Lia. She stops eating and starts cutting herself again in a desperate attempt to gain some control over her life and make her problems disappear. But, everything quickly spirals out of control. Laurie Halse Anderson tells the story from Lia’s perspective, confronting the topics of anorexia and “cutting” in this gripping novel.

Reviewed by Christine B., South County Regional

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North! Or Be Eaten follows the Igiby family where On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness left off. Things have gotten worse for the Igiby family and they must leave Glipwood and head for the Ice Praries where a resistance army has gathered to fight Gnag and the Fangs. But, on their way Janner and Tink get separated not only from their family, but also from each other. Both boys must escape from horrific situations and try to find their family in the Ice Praries. Full of page-turning adventures, daring fighting, and surprising revelations we see the Igiby children start to grow into their roles as Annieran royalty. A wonderful sequel that leaves the reader longing for more.

Reviewed by Jessica B., Mint Hill Branch

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