Annabel Johnson (1921–2013)

Not my type of story, but I really liked the SF YA?áAn Alien Music, and this is all that I can find for a reasonable price (never mind my library system) by A&E Johnson.

Ok, done.

Very much an adventure story: about a strong man who is made vulnerable by both the bear attack and by his desire to finally be a father to his son, and a boy raised by a gentle mother who learns a bit about the different kinds of strength and courage that define a man. ?á

Unfortunately the constant sexist references spoil the story: Mom's a girl, she doesn't like that sort of thing, she'd be scared, she wouldn't understand, girls don't...." ?áI found that surprising, given that Annabel is surely a girl, and so is the MC in Alien Music. ?áI think this story would have won me over if it weren't for that sexism. ?á

The details of the setting, of learning to fish and knowing the habits of bears, and truck camping, etc, were thorough and interesting... but actually, there's another big flaw in the book: surely no experienced outdoorsman would ever be stupid enough to leave open food on the open tailgate of the truck and then go fishing, given that it's known bear country.

Well, if I ever come across anything else by the Johnsons I will read it. ?áBut I won't seek out more. ?áTo you, I recommend only An Alien Music, and that only if you like older YA SF."… (altro)

I picked this up for the author. Normally I wouldn't like thrillers, or YA marketed esp. to boys who like sports. But the Johnsons write thought-provoking stories in a graceful voice, very engaging. I especially liked learning a bit more about Dineh history & culture.

This would be a wonderful book for a teen book-club - *lots* to talk about, like the rights of the Dineh (or other aboriginal people) to their land, the difference between freedom-fighters and terrorists, father-son dynamics, class & wealth divisions, resilience, courage, second chances, etc....

Highly recommended to teen boys and just about anyone else.

(Not *everyone* else, though, because there are a few conveniences. For example, the bad guys are too ready to brag about their schemes and reveal them to the good guys, and then the good guys escape with the info. Minor imperfections, didn't distract me, might distract a person v. experienced in reading thrillers, though.)
… (altro)

Humanity's been reduced to an underground existence. Aboveground is a scorched, UV-irradiated wasteland - but underground is sterile, regimented and hermetically sealed. The great hope of the future rests on the slim shoulders of genetically created, super genius children, but unfortunately they're dying young. For K/C-4(SCI) - Casey, for short - the answer lies in the past - but he's going to have to convince the powers that be that his risky time travel experiment will succeed in the time he has left: eight months and fourteen days.

But the past is hiding more secrets than Casey dreamed. Can he uncover them in time to save not only his colony, but himself?

Time travel books aren't my thing, but after a page or two I was hooked.… (altro)