Christ is risen!

Happy Easter, y'all.

In Darkness: Review Haiku

I tried, I swear -- I
just couldn't finish. Wrong book,
wrong time, wrong reader.

In Darkness by Nick Lake. Bloomsbury, 2012, 368 pages.

Just One Day: Review Haiku

So cringingly true
to late-teenage wander/lust,
I almost lost it.

Just One Day by Gayle Foreman. Dutton, 2012, 320 pages.

Wonder Show: Review Haiku

Intriguing debut
from first Boston Lib. Writer-in-Res.
(Plus, CARNIES.)

Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby. HMH, 2012, 288 pages.

Bomb: Review Haiku

Fast-paced, impressively
detailed, and ultimately,
terrifying.

Bomb: The Race to Build -- and Steal -- the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. Flash Point, 2012, 272 pages.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: Review Haiku

Beautiful story,
but the "gay OK" vibe for
the time frame rang false.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz. S&S, 2012, 368 pages.

The Year of Learning Dangerously: Review Haiku

Down-to-earth take on
homeschooling that almost sounds
doable. (But not.)

The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling by Quinn Cummings. Perigree, 2012, 240 pages.

The Testament of Mary: Review Haiku

How Lenten to ponder
Jesus' mother saying,
"It wasn't worth it."

The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin. Scribner, 2012, 96 pages.

The Cursing Mommy's Book of Days: Review Haiku

Not as funny as
I'd hoped, alas -- although the
jean-patch bit was great.

The Cursing Mommy's Book of Days by Ian Frazier. Macmillan, 2012, 256 pages.

Listening for Madeleine: Review Haiku

Not exactly warts-
and-all, but nuanced look at
great, faithful lady.

Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L'Engle in Many Voices by Leonard Marcus. FSG, 2013, 384 pages.

Piper Reed, Forever Friend: Review Haiku

I adore these books:
such a tricky genre to
do well -- and she does.

Piper Reed, Forever Friend by Kimberly Willis Holt. Square Fish, 2013, 176 pages.

Notorious Nineteen: Review Haiku

That's more like it, Stephanie --
less slapstick absurdity,
more donuts.

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich. Bantam, 2012, 320 pages.

Hilda and the Midnight Giant: Review Haiku

I tried, I tried, but
I just couldn't figure out
what was going on.

Hilda and the Midnight Giant by Luke Pearson. Nobrow, 2012, 40 pages.

Darkroom: Review Haiku

Unique perspective
on race relations in
Jim Crow-era 'Bama.

Darkroom: A Memoir in Black and White by Lila Quintero Weaver. University of Alabama Press, 2012, 264 pages.

Little White Duck: Review Haiku

Impressive use of
kid-relevant details, but
then it just . . . stops. Huh?

Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu. Graphic Universe, 2012, 96 pages.

Marathon: Review Haiku

RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN
BATTLE SWORDS GREEKS BLOOD WHAT THE
HELL IS GOING ON.

Marathon by Boaz Yakin. First Second, 2012, 192 pages.

Because I am insane

I might accidentally be doing this RIGHT NOW.

http://www.rundisney.com/princess-half-marathon/

Big Bad Ironclad: Review Haiku

Lots of action, lots
of characters to keep straight,
lots of fun to boot.

Big Bad Ironclad: A Civil War Steamship Showdown by Nathan Hale. Amulet, 2012, 128 pages.

Ichiro: Review Haiku

Coming of age in
Japan and America --
plus shapeshifting gods.

Ichiro by Ryan Inzana. HMH, 2012, 288 pages.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller: Review Haiku

The story you know,
plus parts of it you've never heard.
Sympathetic.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller by Joseph Lambert. Hyperion/Center for Cartoon Studies, 2012, 96 pages.