"Gr 9 Up-Eighteen-year-old virgin Hudson lost his father to the war in Iraq in fifth grade. Now a senior in high school, he attempts to disappear by homeschooling. College just isn't for him; he dreams of becoming a graphic novelist. Eighteen-year-old worldly classmate Alana is the object of Hudson's desire; if only her feelings were the same. Hudson takes a backseat to Alana's boyfriend and school quarterback, Bryce. When not playing best friend to self-centered, manipulative Alana, Hudson operates a dog-walking service and "Distress Dial" service. Through this service, he meets 90-year-old veteran, Mr. Pirkle, whose neighbor is high school star athlete, Lauren Fritz. As Hudson's relationship with Mr. Pirkle builds, his relationship with Fritzy develops into a strong friendship. Mr. Pirkle has "incidents" during the night that involve seeing his little girl and Hudson is forced to tell Fritzy and his mom about them. Meanwhile, Alana is getting along with no one, and Hudson isn't getting what he wants out of the relationship. Hudson and Fritzy go to great lengths to prove to Mr. Pirkle that he is not seeing his little girl, but the discovery they do make holds surprises of its own. This coming-of-age novel has many threads, but the author satisfactorily attempts to highlight the hidden casualties of war and the devastating effects of dementia. The first-person narrative provides deeper understanding of the male teen mind-set. Due to language, sex, underage drinking, it is more suited to mature readers.
VERDICT Recommended as an additional purchase.-Susan Harris, Ridgeway High School, TN"
"[DEBUT] Sarah is getting by in life. Divorced, with a grown daughter, her position at a health-care marketing company in New York City provides her a living but not much extra for the overseas travel she would love to do. Miriam, breaker of hearts in her college days, fell in love but had her heart shattered and now lives a solitary existence with classic movies and teaching middle school as her passions. Beth thought she found the love of her life in Rome but came back to marry a banker. Despite Beth's profession as a psychologist and her husband's high-powered position on Wall Street, a family tragedy threatens to pull them apart. From their 20s to their 50s, these three women have relied on their close friendship to celebrate triumphs and recover from disasters. As Sarah, Miriam, and Beth face more change, their strong bond continues to support them through their struggles.
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Verdict Emory's solid women's fiction debut features relatable and believable characters experiencing realistic story lines.-Joy Gunn, Paseo Verde Lib., Henderson, NV"
(1/10) Featured review in Vermont's premier weekly newspaper, Seven Days:
Excerpt: "[the stories] make for an intimate, thoughtful contribution to the history of a vital cultural moment, in both Vermont and the nation at large."
"The Lords of St. Thomas holds an incredible story within its chapters. It evoked much emotion and thought as I read - happiness, understanding, anger, and sadness - all pulled from inside me onto the pages of the story as if I was the only witness to its tale. And while it may be just a novella, it's so well written and such a solid story from beginning to end that you don't feel as though you missed anything."
Goldens Are Here9780999076620
(12/8) Was feature in The Jewish Chronicle by American correspondent, Erika Dreifus' article "Looking Forward to a Year of Good Reading."
Excerpt:
"When discussing Goldens Are Here ... I should disclose that the author and I have been friends for about 15 years. This novel takes readers back to the 1960s, the civil-rights movement, and an historic citrus season. Through the prism of the Jewish Golden family, it promises to offer a view of the changes occurring in Florida and across the country during one of America's most turbulent decades."
"Andrew Furman's Goldens Are Here, inspired by true events surrounding an historic Florida citrus season and the lynching of a civil rights worker in Brevard County, offering a glimpse of the sea changes bearing down upon Florida and the nation in the 1960's through the prism of one fictional family's negotiations with the land, their neighbors, and with each other."
(1/9) Included in Library Journal's article "Stock up on Sports Titles; Fiction & Nonfiction for an Olympic Season"
Excerpt:
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Fans of realistic fiction and coming-of-age books will enjoy this touching tale about dealing with difficult friendships, growing up, and finding oneself. A strong choice for most YA collections."
Midpoint Spotted in the Wild
More Than A Duke (9781633921047 Spencer Hill Press), spotted at Barnes & Noble Union Square in NYC on Jan 18th.
