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PLOUGHSHARES AND SWORDS

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An assistant professor of international relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, Sarkar ranks among the world’s foremost experts on the history of India’s boisterous relationship with nuclear technology. In this volume, the culmination of years of international research, she offers readers a succinct history and compelling analysis of India’s nuclear program. Written chronologically, the book is divided into three parts, with the first section providing historical information on the intersection of India’s nuclear ambitions with the nation’s … Read the rest

SIMPLE ACTS

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Following on her Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back (2019), Silverstein proposes a limited program of “intentional acts of kindness and service, sprinkled throughout your busy everyday life,” geared to privileged teens. Along with an emphasis on collection drives to address a broad range of social needs, the author tallies fundraising ideas from bake sales to dance marathons without substantive practical tips on setting them up and perfunctorily recognizes that, yes, some young people don’t have much … Read the rest

IT WAS ALWAYS A CHOICE

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Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick figures at the center of the story, though he is just one player in a rich heritage of athletic activism. The author begins with Paul Robeson, who began his career at Rutgers with letters in football, track, baseball, and basketball. “Sports had put him on the national radar,” writes Steele, “but his many other pursuits throughout segregated America had kept him there.” Part of the price Robeson paid for his activism was the loss of … Read the rest

THE SCIENCE SPELL BOOK

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Florance offers an intriguing entry into scientific phenomena for middle-grade readers. She groups these magical-seeming but science-based projects into five broad categories: infusions (acids, bases, and indicators), illumination (light), sorcery (forces such as gravity and electromagnetism), alchemy (physical and chemical changes), and mimicry (biologically inspired engineering). Each section includes an introduction explaining why these phenomena appeared magical to people in the past and a brief overview of the scientific concepts. Each activity is introduced with a “spell” consisting of four … Read the rest

KILL ROMEO

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Diamond’s sleuth, having wrapped up a background check in Virginia, takes an extra day for R&R. But Freddy’s hike in the woods finds him standing over a woman’s body. He barely has time to examine the scene before a rainstorm washes away evidence and knocks out power in the town. Freddy alerts local cops, but as they’re busy handling the storm’s aftermath, there’s nothing he can do but return to his Washington, D.C., investigative firm. He does, however, hold on … Read the rest

RIO LOS ANGELES

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Globe-trotting Judah Goodwin’s latest destination is the United States. But the ship he’s on drops him off at, as the helmsman puts it, “Almost America”—the small island Rio Los Angeles sitting somewhere between Nova Scotia and Maine. Judah, a kind, capable man, quickly befriends the islanders, especially when he helps prevent a house from tipping and sliding into the ocean. Rio Los Angeles has a rich history, as some families have lived there for generations. This includes the Mirandas and … Read the rest