Alex Kellar, 14, longs for WW II to be over and his soldier brother, Oliver, to come home. When he and a friend find a body on the coast of their New London, Connecticut, town, the dead man's wallet leads Alex into a confrontation with two Nazi saboteurs whose mission is to blow up Electric Boat, a manufacturer of submarines and one of the town's major employers. Nostalgic details of the home front make for a slow start, but the narrative builds to a swift pace as Alex finds himself enmeshed in new promises to elderly neighbors (who are in the hands of the Nazis) and in old vows to his brother (if he breaks them, will he ``jinx'' Oliver's chances for survival?). The evil Nazi and his slightly softer (though still duty-bound) comrade give Aaron ample opportunity for pointing out the impossibly gray areas of war and soldiering; his story is based on large-scale true events, grounded in solid motives and characterizations, and loaded with suspense. (Fiction. 10+)
Pub Date: Aug. 31, 1991
ISBN: 0-8027-8098-9
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Walker
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
Examining carefully selected, crisply reproduced works by 21 modern Americans, the authors develop an intelligent approach to appreciation based on awareness of the artists' techniques and intentions. From its elegantly simple title-page spread—bold, harmoniously combined sans-serif types balanced by a Lichtenstein painting that spells ``ART''—this is a notably handsome book that impels the reader to take a fresh look. Grabbing the young reader's attention at the outset with a Frankenstein's monster entitled Made in Japan, Greenberg and Jordan carefully define terms and elucidate concepts in relation to specific paintings, using special vocabulary accurately while commendably avoiding academic jargon. Photos of the artists at work and quotes from interviews and their published works not only illuminate the art but make the process of creation more accessible. Suggesting a wealth of insights and interpretations (and a rich language to convey them, including words for colors, effects, and emotions and even several poems inspired by paintings), the presentation attunes the reader to the painter's question: ``This is what I see. What do you see?'' Beautifully designed, organized, reasoned, and presented, an outstanding, mind-expanding book—not easy, but rewarding. Thumbnail sketches of the artists, grouped by seven movements (abstract expressionism, minimalism, pop, etc.); glossary; bibliography; further reading; index. (Nonfiction. 11+)
Pub Date: June 1, 1991
ISBN: 0-385-30319-X
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1991
Not a self-help book but an intriguing report on how we got into the international drug mess and our chances of getting out. Readers are told about different modi operandi among various gangs; drug houses, even in rural areas and small cities; the infuriating political constraints that have kept the drug war from even marginal success; and corruption among narcotics officers. They may be stunned at some of the smuggling methods, e.g. paddling on surfboards or stuffing goldfish with dope. If some of this highly informative inside view seems glamorous, it's balanced by sad stories of grandparents raising children, the relationship between crack and syphilis, and the difficulties of getting treatment. Any initial attraction should be nipped by contemplating the short careers of teen dealers: an average of six months, to be cut off by death, injury, or arrest. Bibliography. (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: May 30, 1991
ISBN: 0-02-742745-5
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Four Winds/MacMillan
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1991
BOOK REVIEW
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