Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri. Lee and Low Books, 2010. 85 Pages.

Fictionalized account of the true story of the short life and death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, a young gangbanger whose death at the age of 11 came to symbolize the crises of poverty and violence overtaking US cities in the 1990s. 11 year old Roger, the fictionalized narrator, tells a documented and factual story of Yummy. Roger is also dealing with the fact that his older brother is also deep into the street life. While this end badly for Yummy, the additon of the fictionalized Roger allows for a hopeful note -- important for middle school students-- the main audience for this book. Recommended.

Captain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005. 253 pages.

Romantic and swashbuckling, the first in a series, Captain Alatriste was recommended to me by a homeless man in the library--and he was right. Set in 17th century Spain, Diego Alatriste, veteren of the 30 years war, is hired by the Grand Inquisitor to kill a traveler who turns out to be the Prince of Wales...and the plot thickens! Pérez-Reverte is a master storyteller-- weaving a tale of intrigue and adventure and romance-- with Alatriste he creates a hero who every man wants to be and every woman wants to be with. Pérez-Reverte deftly adds plenty of historic detail that enhances the tale, but never overwhelms. I haven't loved an adult series like this in a long time. A great book from a phenomenal writer. Read it.