Book Beat & the Baldwin Public Library present a Spring Break Special:

Young Adult author LAUREN MYRACLE

Thursday, March 27th from 2:00-3:30 PM at the Baldwin Public Library, 300 W. Merrill in downtown Birmingham. For more information please call Book Beat at: 248-968-1190.

Lauren Myracle is one of today's most exciting and well-loved writers of middle-grade and teen fiction. She has been praised for her honest and realistic stories that perfectly capture the world of contemporary young adults. Today's computer-savvy reader will love her novels, TTYL ("talk to you later") TTFN ("ta-ta for now") and L8R, G8R ("later-gator") - a group of highly inventive novels composed around a group of friends "instant messaging" each other. Publisher's Weekly has called them, "creative...engaging, and a surprisingly poignant tale of friendship, change and growth."

Born in 1969 in North Carolina, Myracle always wanted to become a writer and grew up with a love of reading inspired by her parents. After many years of hard work, her first novel Kissing Kate was published in 2001. Asked about her favorite book, she said, "My books are like my kids--I love them all. However, if you want to know which book best describes my real life, check out Eleven, Twelve and the [newly published] Thirteen. Myracle is a New York Times bestselling author who holds an MFA in writing for Children and Young Adults. She now lives in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Myracle is also author of the acclaimed fiction trilogy; Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, a series about friendship in junior highschool and the books Rhymes With Witch, The Fashion Disaster and Kissing Kate. All of Myracle's books are available from us online and are featured in this, our special "Lauren Myracle" newsletter. We recommend her titles for mother/daughter book clubs and this "spring break" event will make a wonderful outing (even if you haven't read them, yet).

We are thrilled to be able to present this outstanding young writer to our community and hope you will be able to attend. Your purchase from Book Beat allows us to continue bringing great authors to our area. Books can be personalized if bought in advance and you are unable to attend. Just email us or call 248-968-1190 and we can arrange it. Please pass along this information to any YA readers you know. It is sure to be a fun, fabulous and memorable event. We highly recommend her books! Visit Myracle's online blog and learn more at: Lauren Myracle.com

Twelve (paperback) » Eleven was big--a new best friend *and* and new worst friend--but twelve is going to be HUGE.

Last year everyone else changed, but now it's Winnie's turn to "develop"; junior high, pierced ears, sleepaway camp, and bra shopping with Mom--in public. Ack!

It's a whole new year of big changes and small moments for Winnie, the beloved, quirky-cool heroine of ELEVEN. Funny, sweet, real, and sometimes really awkward, being twelve is fabulous! Ages 12 and Up. TWELVE Available in Hardcover HERE.

Thirteen » New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle has a growing reputation for knowing exactly what teens want to read both from an entertainment and emotional perspective. Her work has been described by teens as "awesome", "the best ever" and "sooo funny."

Myracle concludes her enormously popular trilogy about a winning young heroine whose humor, daring, and compassion for others is infectious and unforgettable. As in life, the year closes with a new beginning.

ttyl (paperback) » Audacious author Lauren Myracle accomplishes something of a literary miracle in her second young-adult novel, ttyl (Internet instant messaging shorthand for "talk to you later"), as she crafts an epistolary novel entirely out of IM transcripts between three high-school girls. Ages 13 and up

Far from being precious, the format proves perfect for accurately capturing the sweet histrionics and intimate intricacies of teenage girls. Grownups (and even teenage boys) might feel as if they've intercepted a raw feed from Girl Secret Headquarters, as the book's three protagonists--identified by their screen names "SnowAngel," "zoegirl," and "mad maddie"--tough their way through a rough-and-tumble time in high school. Ages 13 and up

ttfn (paperback) » " This sequel to the popular ttyl (2004) is just as satisfying as the first book. Now 16, Atlanta teens Angela, Zoe, and Madigan continue to cope with the issues related to romance, family problems, and their own friendship. Once again the story is written mostly in instant messages, with the narrative unfolding in three distinct voices and in the girls' interactions on the screen....Fans of ttyl will want this second helping, but readers need not have read the first book to enjoy it. " --American Library Association Hardcover TTFN available HERE!

"Rife with the daily drama of modern-day high school, the book's appeal is widespread. As before, the story is told through a series of instant-message and chat-room conversations and is written entirely in that "language," which also adds to its appeal. Suddenly, 200-plus pages don't seem like a lot, and reluctant readers gain a sense of achievement having breezed through what appears to be quite a lengthy novel" -- Publisher's Weekly Hardcover l8r,g8r available HERE

Rhymes With Witches (paperback) » There are Gossip Girls and Mean Girls but no one has come as close to the dark heart of high-school girl politics as Lauren Myracle does in this shivery smart, wonderfully strange story of a high school where popularity can be stolen. " a believable blending of magic, desire for popularity and school cliques... a fun read with an ultimately deeper message of self-acceptance." -- The Ultimate Teen Book Guide

"What if the ruling teen queens at your school really were, well, witches? And not the Glinda the Good kind, either. Lauren Myracle assumes this sinister premise in the darkly humorous Rhymes with Witches. High school freshman Jane is more than plain -- she’s practically invisible." - Catherine Ensly, Librarian Hardcover RHYMES WITH WITCHES available HERE!

Kissing Kate (paperback) Lauren Myracle's couragous and controversial coming-of-age novel on teen love, emotions and sexuality. "Myracle's sensitive coming-of-age story speaks honestly, and at times humorously, to teens who are in the same struggle to understand themselves and their feelings."-- Michele Winship.

Lauren Myracle addresses writing her first book: "It came neither quickly nor easily. When I pick up books at the bookstore, they always seem so glossy and enticing, so polished, and sometimes, I have the despairing thought that words leapt cleanly from the author's mind to the page—snap, just like that. This was certainly not the case for me. I mention this because some of you are writers, too. Keep plugging away, and keep the faith!" Hardcover KISSING KATE available HERE!

Fashion Disaster » "Out of all the people in the world, why do I have to be the freak who went to school on the very first day of the year with a pair of PANTIES stuck by static cling to the leg of my pants?!!!” Seventh grade was supposed to be Alli’s breakout year—only her big debut ends up being a big disaster. Then queen bee Rachel Delaney takes Alli under her wing, and Alli finds herself in the inner circle of seventh-grade cool. But the inner circle is nothing like Alli expected, and ugliness lurks behind the prettiest faces. Can Alli figure out where she fits in, or will she get caught up in the glamour of running with the in crowd?

"Her "fashion disaster" has unexpected consequences when Rachel, queen of the popular clique, defends Allison against her classmates.... Readers negotiating changing friendships of their own will find themselves in this honest, comical tour of middle school." --American Library Association

March is READING MONTH! New, Unusual & Hot Titltes:

Library Mouse (hardcover) » Every child can be a writer—and Library Mouse shows them how! Beloved children’s books author and illustrator Daniel Kirk wonderfully brings to life the story of Sam, a library mouse. Sam’s home was in a little hole in the wall in the children’s reference books section, and he thought that life was very good indeed. For Sam loved to read. He read picture books and chapter books, biographies and poetry, and ghost stories and mysteries. Sam read so much that finally one day he decided to write books himself! The joy of reading, writing, and sharing is brought to life in this warmhearted tale.

"This is ready-made to introduce a classroom writing activity, though some of the pictures are too small to be appreciated in a large-group readaloud. Even so, this is fun, fun, fun." - Booklist Ages 8-12 Hardcover $15.95

The Ultimate Teen Book Guide » Stuck for something to read? Whether you’re searching for a book to blow your mind and change your life, or just a light read for the beach, The Ultimate Teen Book Guide is the perfect place to start.

The book includes recommendations from teen reviewers and your favorite authors—over 700 books total—so prepare to be inspired! Whether you like fantasy, horror, chick lit, graphic novels, sci-fi, crime . . . From true classics to must-read cult fiction, from the top award-winners to up-to-the minute bestsellers, there’s something for everyone. Each rave review comes with suggestions for what to read next. Our visiting author Lauren Myracle is a featured author in the guide. $14.95 paperback

A house is no home unless it contain food and fire for the mind as well as for the body. ~~ Margaret Fuller

Incredible Book Eating Boy (hardcover) Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesn’t like to read books, he likes to eat them. Big books, picture books, reference books . . . if it has pages, Henry chews them up and swallows (but red ones are his favorite). And the more he eats, the smarter he gets—he’s on his way to being the smartest boy in the world! But one day he feels sick to his stomach. And the information is so jumbled up inside, he can’t digest it! Can Henry find a way to enjoy books without using his teeth?

With a stunning new artistic style and a die-cut surprise, Oliver Jeffers celebrates the joys of reading in this charming and quirky picture book. It’s almost good enough to eat. A Book Beat STAFF FAVORITE!

Marshmallow (Hardcover) » Oliver is a tabby cat who is always the center of attention. Marshmallow is a baby rabbit who moves into Oliver's home. At first Oliver does not welcome Marshmallow, but the little bunny's charms are impossible to resist. This is the true story of how Oliver and Marshmallow become friends.

Clare Turlay Newberry's lifelong passions for cats and for drawing come together in this elegantly illustrated book, winner of the 1943 Caldecott Honor. Her legacy as an author of more than fifteen picture books, most of which feature cats, still endures. Ages 3-6

Zen Ties (Hardcover) » Stillwater, the giant panda who taught Zen parables to siblings Karl, Addy and Michael in Zen Shorts, continues to combine his slow-moving grace with genuine spiritual tranquility... Muth's brush is as sure as ever; Stillwater's big, blunt paws and hunched-over listening posture are irresistible, and Miss Whitaker's delicate face and snow-white hair beautifully counterpoint the vignettes of youthful play. From a religious tradition that makes no theological demands and that will be unfamiliar to most readers, Stillwater offers a model of pure saintliness, and children will instantly respond to him." -- PW, All ages. JUST IN: Stillwater: The Zen Shorts Panda (plush doll) » Stillwater is the featured Panda in the books Zen Shorts and Zen Ties written and illustrated by Jon J Muth. He is 6" tall, wears shorts and holds a yummy stalk of bamboo. Too cute!

Elephants Never Forget Crraack! Flash! Boom! When a terrible storm scatters a group of elephants, one tiny member of the herd is left behind in the loud, chittering jungle. Where can he turn? The water buffalo look nice enough, but he couldn't become a part of their herd...could he? Dubbed "Indias's Dr. Seuss," Anushka Ravishankar is the author of eleven comical and delightful verse tales for children, including "Tiger on a Tree".

"A two-color scheme-black and periwinkle on cream-colored paper-and bold, simple spreads focus attention on the ponderous forms of the elephant and buffalo. Varied compositions as well as printed letters that grow and shrink and dance across the pages match the dexterity of the text with a visual sprightliness." - PW, Ages 4-8.

"Illustrations...suggest woodcuts, their bold and craggy black and appropriately watery blue lending the story energy." The Horn Book, March/April 2008

Owen and Mzee Friends Forever (Board book) » Owen and Mzee's true story of friendship continues! Owen the baby hippo, who was separated from his mother during the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia, chose Mzee the giant tortoise as his friend--and the pair's bond only continues to grow.

This story of survival and hope has captured the hearts of people the world over who marvel as the two unique friends spend their days together. As any good friend knows, you don't need words to show you care. Hardcover $6.99 THIS JUST IN: Owen and Mzee Doll Pair » Owen and Mzee are a plush doll pair based on the bestselling titles OWEN AND MZEE: THE TRUE STORY OF A REMARKABLE FRIENDSHIP and OWEN AND MZEE: THE LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP. The Owen doll is 9" and the Mzee is 7.5" Teachers, storytellers, children and parents will enjoy these cuddle-cute best friends as a plush doll set.

Silent Music (Hardcover) » WHEN BOMBS BEGIN TO FALL, Ali drowns out the sould of war with a pen. Like other children living in Baghdad, Ali loves soccer, music and dancing, but most of all, he loves the ancient art of calligraphy. When bombs begin to fall on his city, Ali turns to his pen, writing sweeping and gliding words to the silent music that drowns out the war all around him. Gorgeously illustrated with collage, pencil and charcoal drawings and, of course, exquisite calligraphy, this timely and yet universal story celebrates art and history but also offers young children a way to understand all they see and hear on the news. Ages 4-8

Max's Dragon (Hardcover) » "Another winner from the pair that introduced Max in Max's Words. Amusing wordplay and impish illustrations play off each other in perfect syncopation." —Starred, Kirkus

"Suffused with a golden light... a celebration of child imagination wherein words do indeed have power." —School Library Journal

"The unusual perspectives in the bright, textured artwork greatly enhance the story’s drama and, in the active spreads of endearing dragons and goofy dinosaurs, the blurring of the real and imagined worlds." —Booklist, Ages 4-8

Monarch and Milkweed (Hardcover) » Every spring the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles in search of the ideal milkweed plant. When she finds it, she lays her eggs on the plant, so when each egg hatches, the baby caterpillar can feed on the milkweed leaves. The milkweed plant then provides the perfect protection as the caterpillar turns into one of nature's wonders, a chrysalis, before transforming into an even greater wonder: a monarch butterfly. And once the newborn butterfly soars away, the milkweed seeds fly away on the wind and start this cycle over again.

The exacting prose and jewel-toned illustrations echo the harmony of monarch and milkweed in this carefully researched book, explaining one of nature's most spectacular displays in a refreshingly simple manner. Helen Frost is the author of The Braid, featured at a Book Beat signing this past fall. Ages 3-8

Grace for President (Hardcover) » When Grace's teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides to be the first. And she immediately starts off her political career as a candidate in the school's mock election. But soon, she realizes that she has entered a tough race. Her popular opponent claims to be the "best man for the job" -- and seems to have captured all the male votes --while Grace concentrates on being the best person.

In this timely story, author Kelly DiPucchio not only gives readers a fun introduction to the American electoral system, but also teaches them the value of hard work, courage, and independent thought -- and offers an inspiring example of how to choose our leaders. Kelley DiPucchio lives in the metro-Detroit area. Ages 5-9 years.

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one. ~Chinese Saying

A Kid's Guide to Giving (hardcover) » "In this inspiring and motivating book, Zeiler challenges teens to make a difference by contributing to charitable causes. Her enthusiastic, personal appeal offers advice on selecting a charity and deciding whether to donate money, useful items, or time. No matter how grand or small the offering, the author stresses the intrinsic and tangible rewards of giving. Sidebars present tips on getting started, checklists for fundraising, positive quotes from teen volunteers, and blurbs on historical nonprofit successes like the March of Dimes. A helpful and lengthy annotated directory of well-established charities is arranged by category ("People," "Animals," and "The Environment") and ranges from Adopt-a-Minefield to the Wilderness Society." -- Publisher's Weekly review, grades 6 and up

Keeping score (Hardcover) » "In 1950s Brooklyn, everyone is baseball mad. Maggie says daily prayers and follows careful rituals to "help" the Dodgers. She listens intently to games on the radio, often with her friends at the firehouse. With firefighter Jim's help, even if he is a Giants fan, she learns to score the games meticulously. Jim is drafted and sent to Korea, where his experiences lead to a severe breakdown. Maggie writes to Jim faithfully, scores Giants games for him and says heartfelt prayers for his recovery... As Maggie matures from age nine to 13, she never loses her compassion and openhearted nature. An author's note adds historical information. A winner at every level." -- Kirkus Review (Historical fiction. 9-12)

Dear Dumb Diary #7: Never Underestimate Your Dumbness (paperback)» The wedding Dear Dumb Diary readers have been anxiously anticipating is about to become a reality: Jamie's aunt and Angeline's uncle joined together until death do they part -- or until the divorce Jamie has been feverishly wishing for since they started dating finally happens. Now, three of Jamie's most dreaded nightmares are about to be combined into one unbearable event: 1) Very VERY poofy brown dresses 2) Wedding clogs 3) A lifetime of being related to Angeline, a.k.a. Blondewad Jamie has just one word for this kind of horror: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" " Never Underestimate Your Dumbness." is the seventh book in the series. Jim Benton is a local Detroit area author.

The Wiloughbys (hardcover) » "Sly humor and a certain deadpan zaniness give literary conventions an ironic twist, with hilarious results." -Booklist starred review

"Lois Lowry, who casts her noble and enviable shadow wide across the landscape of children's literature, from fantasy to realism, here turns her quick, sly gaze to parody, a word which in this case means "a short novel mocking the conventions of old-fashioned children's books stuffed with orphans, nannies and long-lost heirs." These clichés are ripe if familiar targets, but Ms. Lowry knocks off these barrel-dwelling fish with admirable aplomb in The Willoughbys, in which two wicked parents cannot wait to rid themselves of their four precocious children, and vice versa, and vice versa versa, and so on." -- Review by Lemony Snicket

The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. ~~Oscar Wilde

Robot Dreams (paperback) » Without words, Sara Varon’s simple, moving, and instantly endearing artwork tells us all a story of friendship, loneliness, and forgiveness. "Varon’s masterful depiction of Dog’s struggles with guilt and Robot’s dreams of freedom effectively pulls readers into this journey of friendship, loss, self-discovery, and moving forward. Use this as Exhibit A to prove that graphic novels can pack an emotional punch equal to some of the best youth fiction." --PW

"Varon spots her book with little shout-outs to her various interests and inspirations. Canny readers will notice that near the end the robot and its raccoon friend are reading books like "The Rabbi’s Cat", by Joann Sfar. I was intrigued by this mention of a fellow graphic novelist. Yet as my husband was quick to point out, Varon is rather similar to Sfar in that her stories are about extraordinary creatures doing relatively mundane things." --Library Journal.com All ages $16.95 paperback.

Green This! Greening Your Cleaning » We all grew up thinking chemical smells like bleach and ammonia signaled "clean." But as Deirdre Imus reveals, some of the chemicals we use to maintain our homes are doing us and our families much more harm than good. In Greening Your Cleaning, the first in her Green This! series, Deirdre shows how cleaning house the environmentally responsible way can be as effective and often cheaper than the more traditional, toxic, means.

"Packed with practical insights and solutions to protect our families. Deirdre Imus asks the provocative question, 'Is the way we clean really good for us?' Read on to find the startling answer."-- Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., author of You: An Owner's Manual

The Mojo Collection fourth edition (paperback) » Quite simply, the greatest albums of all time—and how they happened. The smartest, most keyed-in music critics from London’s best rock magazine provide opinionated, funny, insightful portraits of the best pop music records ever made. Redesigned and updated to include the most recent releases, and with a new section of artists contributing their top-five albums of all time. Informative, gossipy, and wide ranging, The MOJO Collection is an essential purchase for those who love and live music. $24.95, paperback.

J-rock Groupies: 200 Photographs of Unique Japanese Girls (Paperback) » Japanese rock bands are hot! And Japan leads the world in rock band fashion. Girl fans dress up in unique and wild styles and concept clothing and display their creations, en masse, at rock concerts. Here, hot and absurd groupie fashion girls tell readers in their own words why they do it. This collection of 200 photos and interviews delves into this unique world, bringing readers the unique fashions and musical passions from the streets and live rock houses of Tokyo. $19.95 paperback.

Bomp! : Saving The World One Record At A Time » "Bridging the gap between psych and punk, BOMP! magazine presided over the burgeoning power-pop scene of the 1970s, featuring contributions from the likes of Lester Bands and Greil Marcus and becoming the paper of record for rock 'n' roll-addled nerds the world over." -- LA Times

30 years of rock 'n' roll viewed from the garage. Features full color reproductions of the first rock 'n' roll zine Mojo Navigator (1966 to 1967) as well as its successors, and reproductions of Bomp! fanzine and magazine (1970 to 1979)... Features in depth interviews and major features on The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Ramones, Blondie, The Standells, The Troggs, The Runaways, Sky Saxon and The Seeds, Barracudas, Janis Joplin and Big Brother and The Holding Company, and a lot more.

Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.~~ Barbara Tuchman

Yiddish Folksongs from the Ruth Rubin Archive (paperbck and CD) » Among researchers and collectors of Yiddish folksongs, Ruth Rubin was unmatched in both her expertise and enthusiasm. Over the course of her career, Rubin collected some 2,000 songs from generations of people who had grown up in a flourishing Yiddish-speaking environment, an environment which was mostly ruined by Nazi annihilation and Stalinist repression. The songs in this collection were gathered in oral interviews with Yiddish-speaking men and women who came to North America from Eastern Europe throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Rubin presents her commentary on these treasured songs, along with the sheet music for all of the songs. An audio CD is also packaged with this collection.

More Old Jewish Comedians (hardcover) » This comprehensive collection of portraiture of Jewish comedians is a sequel to 2006's wildly popular Old Jewish Comedians, which earned Friedman raves from Jerry Lewis, Howard Stern, The Believer, Entertainment Weekly and more, and earned Friedman his own roast at the legendary Friar's Club... Friedman, one of the great caricaturists of his age, presents a thorough visual history of the 20th century's greatest Borscht-Belt comedians through 28 full-page portraits; every crease, mustache hair, and liver spot looks utterly real. "A festival of drawing virtuosity and fabulous craggy faces. Drew Friedman might very well be the Vermeer of the Borscht Belt." -The New York Times Book Review.

Reading Month SUPER SALE! some recent arrivals:

Hiding the Elephant:How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear (Hardcover) » Magicians advertise deceit, then perform it. Unlike political chicanery, which Steinmeyer dubs dishonest trickery, magic is a kind of pure trickery. Audiences pay for a ruse, not a lecture on fraud. Do we believe movie special effects are real? Of course not, but it doesn't detract from our enjoyment. Similarly, while many 19th-century spiritualists were rightfully debunked as frauds and charlatans, audiences loved the antics....Steinmeyer diagrams famous tricks, celebrating their science and ingenuity. Readers meet characters as colorful as their acts. Buyer beware: If you want to keep your illusions, go to Las Vegas. But for magic lovers who revel in learning the magician's art, this book part research study, part salute is a find. 8 pages of b&w photos and diagrams. --Publisher's Weekly was $26.00 now $7.99

Gangster Speak: 30 Movie Flashcards » Film Noir Fan Alert: Gangster Speak -- Get a line on this racket: flashcards featuring famous one-liners and movie stills from gangster classics as well as the skinny on the films. Dish out some gangster speak and soon your pals and enemies will think you were made for the silver screen.

These cards have lingo from classic b/w gangster films on one side, and an explanation with a film still on the other. The cards also give the character's and star's names, the movie, the release date, and the director. Was $12.95 now $5.99

Italian Film Posters » Thanks to a variety of factors--among them a culture uniquely rich in the visual arts, an artisanal pride in fine printing, and an innate predisposition toward the grand and passionate--Italy produced perhaps the finest film posters in the world for much of the 20th century. Though the distinctive tradition of Italian film posters is well known to European collectors and cinephiles--and the work of poster artists such as Anselmo Ballester, Alfredo Capitani, and Luigi Martinati is displayed in museums and commands high prices at auctions--this national genre remains largely unknown to the American public. Italian Film Posters is the first collection of these inventive, colorful, and highly evocative images to be published in English by the Museum of Modern Art. Was $40.00 now $14.99

After all manner of professors have done their best for us, the place we are to get knowledge is in books. The true university of these days is a collection of books. ~~ Albert Camus

A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them » Originally conceived as a U.C.-Berkeley doctoral dissertation, this thoughtful, fluent book contends that female blues singers, through their creative innovations, artistic successes and unconventional lifestyles, have inspired American women to express their individuality for decades. Jackson shows how high-spirited blues exponents Ma Rainey (later deemed the "Godmother of the Blues") and Bessie Smith ("a legend in her own time") set the stage in the early 20th century by celebrating their unconventionality, bisexuality, and racial pride; they were also instrumental in opening up the recording industry to African-Americans. Was $25.95 now $6.99

Barcelona » The center of the Catalan region of Spain, Barcelona was founded as a Roman settlement over 2,000 years ago, taken over by the Moors, invaded by Christians, and revitalized for World's Fairs in 1888 and 1929, as well as for the 1992 Olympics. Barcelona today takes pride in its constant reinvention, striving to be the most beautiful and cosmopolitan of places. With introductions in English and Spanish, this album depicts this city of many languages and cultures in its architecture—ancient palaces stand side-by-side with ultramodern civil structures and the organic, almost living buildings of Antoni Gaudí—and its lifestyle, cuisine, nightlife, seaside, and gardens. Was $19.95 now $7.99

The Autobiography of Medgar Evers: A Hero's Life and Legacy Revealed Through His Writings, Letters, and Speeches (hardcover) » In an era filled with charismatic leaders, Evers (1925–1963) came to national attention primarily as the victim of "the first political assassination of a major leader of the modern Black Freedom Movement." As NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, Evers recruited NAACP members, desegregated schools, registered voters and organized boycotts.... "In an Ebony magazine essay, Evers explained why he continued to live and struggle in the racial cauldron of Mississippi. The collection includes correspondence with luminaries such as Martin Luther King Jr and Roy Wilkins, but is most revealing of the man who is less celebrated yet helped to lay the groundwork for the modern civil rights movement." - American Library Assocation Was $26.95 now $7.99

In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. » In the Spirit of Martin is the companion book to the first museum exhibition -- that opened in January 2002 at the Smithsonian Institution -- to demonstrate the compelling outpouring of responses to Dr. King’s life. This richly illustrated, large-format book features the work of more than 150 important African American artists as well as other prominent traditional and visionary artists. Original essays by Bernice Johnson Reagon, Julius Lester, June Jordan, John Lewis, Stanley Crouch, and others enrich this celebration of the leader of the Civil Rights movement, one of history’s most important figures. Oversized hardcover was $40.00 now $17.99

Jacob Lawrence:The Migration Series » Full-color, full-page reprints of the 60 dramatic paintings of Lawrence's "Migration Series" fill half the pages of this catalog for the traveling exhibition. The text includes essays by various historians who relate the series to the time period and supply critical material about the painter's work. Quotations from Lawrence himself are particularly meaningful. Large oversized hardcover, was $40.00, now $17.99

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Curioddities » is a thick, heavy square shaped collection of pages about odd things covering a range of topics from around the world and even beyond it. The reader is taken on nine different journeys starting with Ripley's World where the history of Robert Ripley is explained in great detail along with the 27 museums spread across nine countries throughout the world. Curioddities' is an eye-catching silver chunky book of more than 1,500 incredible facts from around the world, full of surprises from the instant you open the cover! Outrageous images scattered throughout with unbelievable stories. A cornocopia of weirdness! Was $17.99 now $8.99

Hino Horror #2: Bug Boy » Rejection and revenge when a victimized schoolboy is transformed into a huge poisonous bug.

Hideshi Hino, Japan's master of horror manga, was born in China in 1946 and soon moved to Tokyo. The apocalyptic post-war landscape and grotesque, twisted characters recur throughout his work. Best known for his semi-autobiographical, Panorama of Hell, he has 200+ titles in print. "I really loved these graphic novels, and I would have say they're some of best manga I've read in months. Obviously, they are not for everyone, but horror fans are going to eat this up. Kudos to DH Publishing for making the dynamite talent of Hideshi Hino available in America. -- Review by Chris Puzak, Blog Critics.org We have two other Hino Horror collection titles available on sale: Oninbo and the Bugs from Hell (part one) and its sequel: Onionbo and the Bugs from Hell (Part two) all were $9.95 now $4.99-$5.99

Japanese Box: Redstone Matchbox postcards » 24 Collectable Postcards. Calligraphic charm and graphic wit inspire the spectacular and beautiful art of this Japanese matchbox. Postcards come in an oversized facsimile of a slideout match box. Artwork from early 20th century through 1920s. Production by Redstone in the UK pub. at $12.95 now $5.99

Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 26th at 7:00 PM at Gayles Chocolates in Royal Oak. Our discussion will be on Nada by Carmen Laforet.

Carmen Laforet’s Nada ranks among the most important literary works of post-Civil War Spain. Loosely based on the author’s own life, it is the story of an orphaned young woman who leaves her small town to attend university in war-ravaged Barcelona.Our discussion group is FREE and open to the general public. Reading group books are discounted 15% at Book Beat, this discount will also apply to online purchases through the month of March.

Nada (paperback) » "The author was 23, and it is hard to understand how someone so young, within the isolation of Franco's Spain, should have been able to produce such an accomplished novel, so powerful in its story and so polished in its style."-- The Guardian

"A dark, beatifully sparse piece of fiction... Its eerie relevance to today's political climate and social attitudes is difficult to ignore." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"The spirit of sly resistance that Laforet's novel expresses... has lost none of its power of persuasion." -- The New York Times Book Review

Try out the first chapter of Nada excerpted in the New York Times here: Nada Chapter One

"Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." - P.J. O'Roarke