Calico Joe
By John Grisham
$24.95
Summer's winding down, but who wouldn't want to squeeze some extra fun into your scorching sunny days watching the Rangers knock balls out of the park? OK, so maybe trekking down a busy highway every other evening doesn't strike your fancy, but you can still get your baseball kicks at home.
John Grisham, New York Times best-seller veteran, hits at America's heartstrings with Calico Joe, his latest adventure reminding us that Grisham has the "not what it seems" façade down pat in his literature. Grisham, who enjoys baseball along with writing legal dramas and digging into tough topics, shows that he can tackle any subject in his surprisingly lighthearted baseball-inspired hit.
Joe Castle, a modern Babe Ruth of sorts, joins the Cubs in 1973 following a series of career-halting injuries plaguing the team. Formerly a nobody from little Calico Rock, Ark., Joe shows his muscle and becomes the envy of everyone from young boys playing catch in the backyard to rivals trying to match his talent. Sure, America is in love with him on the field, but what's happening on the sidelines?
Paul Tracey, baseball fan and son of Mets pitcher Warren Tracey, finds himself intertwined with Joe's fame. When Warren, who can throw as hard as he parties, meets Castle on the field, a showdown ensues.
Grisham's legal dramas usually appeal to a whole different crowd than Calico Joe's target audience, so if Grisham's legal mumbo-jumbo turned you off in the past, don't be too discouraged to try the author out again in this new setting.
The Cranes Dance
By Meg Howrey
$14.95
Riding on the fame of Natalie Portman's talented young girl-turned-maniac in Black Swan, The Cranes Dance follows a near identical route and explores the relationship between two ballerinas. The two danced together for years, compete as peacefully as they can, and even share an apartment because, well, they're sisters.
As anyone who's seen Black Swan knows, ballet can push a woman to her limits and then right off the edge. Howrey, a former ballerina, knows this better than anyone else. Howrey uses her insight into the profession to flesh out her characters, from detailing the muscles impacted by injury to sneaking in just enough French terms to make you think you've learned all the ballet moves yourself.
Kate Crane, dedicated and beautiful, narrates the story of her sister Gwen's sudden and drastic demise. Gwen has just as much talent, but her taped X's on the wall suggest there's a side of her not even Kate can relate to. When Gwen slams her knee through a door, injuring her far beyond performance acceptable, Kate is left to navigate the treacherous ballet world alone.
The touching novel about sisterly love and the most intense career pressure imaginable takes a turn for the worse when Gwen, after months of therapy, turns up again. And despite their parents" insistence, Kate knows she's not all right just yet.
If you loved Black Swan, caught The Breaking Pointe bug or just can't wait for The Nutcracker to roll around again, this is your book.
But be prepared that you just won't want to put it down.
Math + Art = Fun: Activities for Discovering Mathematical Magic in Modern Art
By Robin A. Ward, Ph.D.
$16.95
So your child isn't a math whiz. Maybe it was that last addition test they brought home with red X's coloring the page that was your first hint. Maybe you remember your struggles through probability as a child and fear that, somehow, this mental block was passed down to your child like your eye color.
Perhaps you're a kindergarten teacher trying to explain numbers to children who would much rather draw or paint. It's quite challenging to make a counting lesson as fascinating as coloring. Sure, you receive your fair share of cute pictures, but have your students received their fair share of math knowledge?
Robin A. Ward can relate. After earning her doctorate of Mathematics Education, she used her experience to craft Math + Art = Fun, one of her many published educational tools to guide children through mathematics in a painless, fun way.
The book subtly slips in a math lesson while your child creates. For example, as your child recreates a famous artwork, he or she will need to conduct measurements and estimate lengths to begin painting.
In addition to picking up on helpful math skills, children will learn about the art and artists themselves. Just imagine your next dinner party when your child chimes in about Andy Warhol's use of color or shares his or her favorite Jackson Pollock work with the group.
