On the shelves - April 14

The following are available for checkout at:

Clovis-Carver Public Library

“Ray Bolger: More Than a Scarecrow” by Holly Van Leuven transfigures Ray Bolger from a tall and gangling man of straw with a long face and sad-drooping eyelids, tripping over his steps in wobbling legomania, to an elegant and ever-so-smooth soft-shoe dancer. His story reveals an itinerant hoofer who survived and thrived during major media changes of the twentieth century, establishing himself as a staple of American pop culture.

“Immigrant Experiences” by Walter A. Ewing combines historical and contemporary examples of immigration to the United States that move beyond stereotypes to give a fact-based understanding of why and how immigration occurs. Ewing looks at the motivations, challenges and triumphs of various immigrant groups, showing how they have added to the American culture and way of life, and what to expect going forward.

“Calligraphy Workbook for Beginners” by Maureen Peters presents a basic, how-to book for beginners featuring five popular fonts shown in step-by-step detail. Hundreds of photos show strokes, pen position and how the characters take form. Tools and supplies are covered along with techniques, so beginners can use this workbook approach to build mastery of a full range of hands, from traditional to contemporary.

“The Girl in the Glass Box” by James Grippando pulls current events into a tense, action-filled legal thriller surrounding Julia Rodriguez and her young daughter who have escaped from bloodthirsty gangs and an abusive husband in El Salvador. While life in the United States is hard, it is safer, until Julia rejects her boss’s advances and ends up arrested. As Jack Swyteck works to help them get asylum, a ruthless enemy that has tracked Julia to south Florida bides his time, patiently waiting to strike.

“The Night Crossing” by Robert Masello blends fact with fantasy for an unsettling tale of mysterious creatures and disturbing personages. An intrepid explorer discovers a mysterious golden box and takes it back to London, unaware of its dangerous power or the evil that has already taken root in the city. She and Bram Stoker must then embark on a harrowing mission from Victorian London to the Titanic to save the souls of thousands.

“Once Upon a River” by Diane Setterfield skillfully weaves a story of magic, mystery and mayhem. On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn, the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger carrying the body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life, although mute and unable to tell anything about herself. Three desperate families — all having lost a daughter of their own — are keen to claim her, but family secrets must first be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known.

Portales Public Library

“The American Agent” by Jacqueline Winspear

In the latest Maisie Dobbs novel, Robert MacFarlane, working with both Scotland Yard and the Secret Service, calls on Maisie’s investigative skills when Catherine Saxon is found murdered in her home in London during the Blitz. Her death is covered up by the British authorities, therefore Robert, accompanied by Mark Scott, an agent from the United States Department of Justice, asks Maisie to help them expose the truth of her death. Maisie readily agrees, as Mark is not only a dear friend of hers, but also the man who had previously helped her escape from Hitler’s regime in Munich in 1938. But she must balance the case with her need to keep Anna, the young evacuee that Maisie wishes to adopt, safe in the middle of war-torn London. As the Blitz gets worse and Catherine’s death proves difficult to disentangle from propaganda and political concealment, Maisie realizes that she may end up losing Michael and the possibility of finding love once more.

“The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel” by Margaret Atwood

Now a popular Hulu television series, Margaret Atwood's best-selling novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” is the story of Offred and has now been released in graphic novel form. Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead — where women are not allowed to hold jobs, learn to read, or even become friends with each other. Each of them are delegated to specific roles and a Handmaid’s only purpose is to become pregnant in an age of declining birthrate. Offred lives under the rule of the Commander of Gilead and his wife, where she must allow the Commander to use her body in the hope of growing his family. But Offred hates her position, still holding onto her memories of the years in the United States before it was reformed into Gilead — when she had her own name, her own job, her own family and her own independence. Now with illustrations by Renee Nault, readers can not only read but see Offred’s story unfold as she struggles to rise above her new situation and fight for her freedom.

“Blood Oath” by Linda Fairstein

After a leave of absence, Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cooper is back to work in the Manhattan Sex Crimes Unit, eager to return to the courtroom and help even more women who are stepping up to name their abusers. Her first case back is a young woman named Lucy who had once testified in a federal trial years before and Lucy has now come forward with the claim that during the time of the trial she was sexually assaulted by a prominent official. As Alex delves into Lucy’s case, rumors start to escalate about one of her colleagues exhibiting abusive behavior, while another coworker collapses, putting Alex in the middle of three mysteries that may or may not be connected. With the help of her friends at the New York Police Department, detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, Alex does her best to unravel the truth from the rumors, until she, Mike, and Mercer find themselves having to fight for their lives in a new research hospital at Rockefeller University.

— Summaries by library staff