The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

 

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Historical fiction.

Although the Magnolia Palace is the home of Henry Clay Frick and the book uses him and his family as main characters, it is definitely a work of fiction. Not until the author's note in the back will readers know what is real and what is made up.

A beautiful model whose face and body are on sculpture and buildings all around New York City comes to be a private secretary to Helen Frick in 1919. Another model in 1966 takes a job that will be shot at the home, now a museum. Their stories collide as a magnificent pink diamond is the center of a mystery that even involves murder.

Readers who are interested in history will want to search for more information on the Fricks and to find photographs of the treasures of the very real collection. 

Seed by Maggie Li

 

 Seed by Maggie Li. Little Life Cycles series. Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press. Board book. 2022.

School librarians are often asked for books on life cycles. From corn to frogs to apples, children need nonfiction titles to help them understand life itself. This smallish board book takes explanation to a minimum with the story of Pip, one of the tiny seeds inside an apple. A bird spreads the seeds when it eats the apple. Some seeds get too cold, others land in too salty water. When a little girl finds Pip, she plants him. Colorful pictures show the growth of the seed into a tree that produces its own apples. A center cut-out in the shape of a seed shows the little smiling face of Pip and will intrigue the youngest readers. This book would also be useful in talking about the seasons. 

The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

 

 The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah. St. Martin's Press, 2021. Adult historical fiction.

In the Panhandle of Texas in 1921, Elsa Wolcott is determined to be an Old Maid by her family. Elsa is determined to make a life for herself. She hooks up with handsome Rafe Martinelli. Then comes the Great Depression. Rafe hates that his plans for college and a better life were made impossible. He abandons the family. Elsa becomes a hard worker, desperate to improve life for her daughter Loreda and son Ant. She earns the love and respect of Rafe's parents but leaves them because of Ant's health.

When the little family of three head to California, it is no silver lining. Picking cotton, doing field work, trying to survive in worker camps, and just existing is no easy life. Communist sympathizers try to organize the workers. Loreda resents her mother and longs for the never present Rafe. Tony and Rose, Rafe's parents, stay on the farm in Texas and letters between them all give even more realities of hard living. 

The book continues until 1940 when the family is updated and readers learn what happens to them all.  A depressing look ala Steinbeck's GRAPES OF WRATH era, this novel portrays events and people that might have existed in America during the past.  The women are strong. The times are tough. 

The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail

 

 The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail. John Scognamiglio Books, Kensington Books, 2022. Adult Historical fiction.

In about 1900, Alice has led an uninteresting life until she marries Howard. Life after marriage does not improve much.  He is a traveling salesman and abandons her. Alice soon discovers she is pregnant and, with few choices, heads south to find Howard. 

Constance is a young mother in New Orleans. She suspects her husband is up to no-good and soon finds her suspicions are correct. 

Their lives collide when, of course, their husbands are really the same man, but they don't realize it. As "widows" in New Orleans, the women come together to create their own futures. In the Mardi Gras tradition, Alice is hired to make a spectacular gown for Constance to be in a crewe of all women.

With the help of servant Analee, kind Dr. Birdsong, and a social leader encouraging them both, the women show grace, strength, and courage. Will they share their secrets with each other? 

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont. St. Martin's Press, 2022. Adult fiction.

When Agatha Christie disappeared for almost two weeks in 1926, she left behind her husband Archie and her young daughter. She never answered questions about where she was, what she did, or why she was gone. Nina de Gramont has written a fascinating exploration with her own ideas about it all. The book's main character, other than Agatha, is Nan O'Dea, Archie's mistress. Nan's background and time spent in Ireland are crucial to this tale as is Nan's great love, the handsome Irishman named Finbarr. Even policeman Chilton who investigates gets more than just a minor role! 

Those familiar with the real details of Mrs. Christie's disappearance and the "Great Hunt" for her will revel in this imaginative tale. It is never clear why Nan O' Dea is used rather than Nancy Neele. Rosalind Christie is referred to by her nickname, Teddy.  The Harrogate Hydro, the real hotel, is renamed the Bellefort. The real policeman in charge was Kenward. One suspects all this is connected to copyright regulations since so much is fictionalized. The novel winds its way back and forth in time and supplies tidbits of life after the Christies' divorce. Chapters about the disappearance are cleared labelled chronologically. The chapters from Nan's view of point are called "Here Lies Sister Mary" and that title is explained.  The writing is clear and, at times, simply stunningly lyrical. Even the ending takes the reader to new heights of imagination. 

Readers of this blog will be aware that I love going down the rabbit's hole with biographies and fictions about Agatha Christie, but this title is, by far, my favorite peek at the disappearance. Over a hundred years has gone by, but Mrs. Christie is still thrilling us with her work and her life. This is my favorite book of 2022 so far. 

* If you are interested in historical accounting, read Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson (Pegasus Books, 2018). Its 534 pages covers the life of Agatha Christie and gives a quite credible surmise about the disappearance. It also provides details about Agatha's marriage to Max Mallowan as well as Mr. Christie and Rosalind's later lives and includes photographs of relevant people. 

John's Turn by Mac Barnett

 

 John's Turn by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Kate Berube. Candlewick Press, 2022. Children's picture book.

John's school has a traditional that on Fridays in the cafeteria, one student is able to perform for the whole school. One student played a tuba. One student did a card trick. One student told jokes. Now, it's John's turn. 

After breakfast, John puts on his costume: a leotard, pants, and slippers. John is going to do a dance. When Mr. Ross presses PLAY, John begins. Multiple pages show the dance steps as John glides and sways and jumps. He bows, the audience claps. The performance is a success!

In simple words, Barnett tells this story. He tells of John's nerves, but readers will also feel John's confidence. Barnett lets readers know what is expected at a performance. Illustrator Berube does a grand job of adding more to the story with subtle colors and emotions. The dance pages are filled with detail and sequence. The audience members are so typical of an elementary school that many adults will feel they recognize some children! John's smile and the excited clapping of the audience signal John's success. 

Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh

 

 Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh. Scarlet (an imprint of Penzler Publishers), 2022. Adult fiction. Mystery.

Chloe Cates is the fictional persona of young teen Abby Scarborough. Abby's mom, Jennifer, is the mastermind of a web series that features her daughter and that pays many of the family's bills. On the verge of real stardom, the whole family seems covered in glittery sparkles. Father Jackson and older brother JJ seem impossibly wonderful, and, of course, Mom Jennifer is Mother of the Year online.

But, Jennifer had her own problems as a teen and thinks she has left it all behind her until "Chloe Cates" goes missing. Has Abby just tired of the charade and run away? Or has something more sinister happened to her? When the detective Emilina Stone arrives on the scene, she and Jennifer realize that they were best friends as middle schoolers and share a secret. Will their past influence this case? 

Debut novelist McHugh hits a home run with this twisty modern tale. Told in multiple viewpoints, the fast paced story moves to find the missing girl, dead or alive! McHugh is definitely a talent to watch.