Kirkus Star
THE KIRKUS STAR
Awarded to Books of Exceptional Merit

BROWSE BOOK REVIEWS




Available Now (page 5)


Cover art for THE SWEET DEAD LIFE
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 14, 2013

"Hallelujah! A paranormal tale of angels that's not a romance, making it a novel that breaks the mold. (Paranormal fiction. 13 & up)"
For 13-year-old Jenna Samuels, things have been going really badly: She's pretty sure she's dying, her father has mysteriously abandoned the family, her mother is nearly catatonic with depression, and then her brother dies and becomes an "A-word." Read full book review >
Cover art for ON WHEELS
NONFICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"An entertaining personal essay, short and sweet, about the cars in the life of Holroyd."
Prodigious British biographer and memoirist Holroyd (A Book of Secrets, 2011, etc.) tells of memorable automobiles in his life and in the lives of those about whom he has written. Read full book review >
Cover art for IT'S TIME!
NONFICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"An amalgam of entertaining vignettes written in an informal, rambling style."
The veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship announcer shares his life story. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE DIMAGGIOS
NONFICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"Simon and Garfunkel famously asked, "Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?" Clavin reminds readers that Joe is not the only DiMaggio worth remembering."
A fine biography of the greatest brother combination ever to play major league baseball. Read full book review >
Cover art for LUCKY BASTARD
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"If you're entertained by sex, innuendo and a few fantasies you'd like to see played out--and who isn't?--you ought to have Lucky and her extended Vegas family (So Damn Lucky, 2012, etc.) on speed dial."
Like everything else in Vegas, the corpse is displayed extravagantly, draped over the hood of a candy apple red Ferrari, the heel of a Jimmy Choo stiletto embedded in her neck. Read full book review >
Cover art for CLOSE TO THE BONE
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"MacBride's gritty prose and righteous, reckless hero (Birthdays for the Dead, 2013, etc.) improve his overstuffed, overheated plot."
A full plate of grisly and baffling crimes challenges Aberdeen DI Logan McRae and his contentious colleagues. Read full book review >
Cover art for LITTLE GREEN
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"Whether it's the lingering effects of his near-fatal accident or the infusions of Gator's Blood, Easy sounds less like Watts' signature private eye than one of the visionaries from Mosley's Crosstown to Oblivion novellas (Stepping Stone/The Love Machine, 2013, etc.)."
The 1967 Watts riots seem to have slowed down time for Easy Rawlins, who returns only a few weeks after his apparent death at the end of Blonde Faith (2007). Read full book review >
Cover art for CUTS THROUGH BONE
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"Despite its modern touches, Hunt's down-and-dirty debut harkens back to Sam Spade and other classic private eyes. It may be a little rough around the edges, but it drags you in and keeps you reading."
The murder of a wealthy Columbia University student provides a steep learning curve for the pair investigating her death. Read full book review >
Cover art for SHOTGUN LULLABY
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"As dark, soulful and violent as the title would suggest. There's a real lullaby and some real shotguns."
Auto mechanic Conway Sax's inconsistent attempts to help a hard-used, hard-using kid, who reminds him of his estranged son, leads to disaster for both him and the kid and for a lot of other citizens of Framingham, Mass., as well. Read full book review >
Cover art for THE KING'S DECEPTION
FICTION
Released: May 14, 2013

"A Dan Brown-ian secular conspiracy about The Virgin Queen driving nonstop international intrigue."
Berry (The Columbus Affair, 2013, etc.) mixes Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and terrorists into Cotton Malone's eighth adventure. Read full book review >
Cover art for I DREAMT...A BOOK ABOUT HOPE
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 14, 2013
by Gabriela Olmos, translated by Elisa Amato

"Bibliotherapy is a tricky business, as is the desire to shield young children from images that may cause nightmares. This is sure to arouse passion in both camps. (editor's note) (Picture book. 7-12)"
Created to benefit the International Board on Books for Young People's Fund for Children in Crisis program, this picture book presents provocative images and ideas regarding the violence many young people encounter. Read full book review >
Cover art for AMAZONIA
CHILDREN'S
Released: May 14, 2013
retold by Daniel Munduruku, illustrated by Nikolai Popov, translated by Jane Springer

"As the reteller states in his preface, "Myths allow us to recognize our proper role in the web of life," but this anthology will require an intermediary who can creatively make the connections between the text and its readers. (Folk tales. 9-12)"
Twelve folk tales from various Amazonian cultures are retold, but their audience is unclear. Read full book review >