Fallout, by Steve Sheinkin

     My all-time favorite non-fiction author wrote a new book, a sort of follow-up to his Newbery Honor book Bomb (also an OBOB a few years back). Fallout tells the story of the Cold War, the tension between the United States and the Soviet Union (today's Russia, in large part) immediately following World War 2. In addition, Fallout describes the near-beginning of World War 3, that came within a few hours and decisions made in 1962. That may seem like a long time ago to you younger readers, but for an old pug like me, it wasn't that long ago.

    Given that we are currently (like, right now) experiencing an invasion by Russia of one of its former nations, Ukraine, the information that Sheinkin adds to this book is very, very timely. It isn't written as a warning about a nation like Russia, but more of a wake up call for a world still waist deep in nuclear weapons - any one of which would cause terrible damage to the entire world.

    As with Bomb, this book takes a few chapters to find its groove, especially given the numerous people involved in the story - national leaders, ambassadors, spies. But once Sheinkin finds a groove, watch out! You won't be able to put this book down! Recommended for anyone interested in history, national or world events, especially World War 2, the Cold War, and current events. 5 paws!

The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera

     The latest Newbery Award winning book, and the second book by author Higuera, who lives here in the Pacific Northwest! The Last Cuentista, or last storyteller, is the story of Petra, a young girl who is one of the last remaining people on Earth who board a ship bound for 300 years into the future. As Earth faces its destruction, a few families have been chosen to populate a new world, 300 years away.  They are placed on board a spaceship, "frozen" in time to stop them from aging, and hoping to arrive at a new planet, Sagan, where they hope to begin again, minus all of the problems previously faced by Earthlings (such as war, poverty, greed, disease). 

    Along the journey into the future each person is infused with expansive knowledge about one or two different fields of study, such as biology, so that they can be experts in the new world and help people survive and thrive. At the same time, all memories of their life on Earth are erased...or supposed to be. Petra somehow retains her memories, including those of her grandmother, a storyteller, and consequently Petra is the only person who has memories of a past life and of planet Earth. When she is awakened on Sagan, she discovers that the new "rulers" are plotting a sinister plan of control, and Petra is one of the disposable ones who will be used to ensure the new planet is safe for those who have taken over.

    Part The Giver, part House of the Scorpion, The Last Cuentista is an interesting blend of dystopian fiction, science fiction and storytelling, in English and in Spanish. For me it was a complicated story in a lot of places which slowed down the flow overall. I admit dystopian fiction isn't usually my go-to genre, so that may have slowed me down a bit, too. If dystopian books are what you enjoy, this book may read more smoothly for you. But even so, I would say this is for a fairly mature middle school reader, not because of the content, but for the somewhat complicated storyline. If dystopian fiction is what you thrive on, give this a try! After all, it did win the Newbery, which is given to arguably the best book of the year, so someone liked it! 4 paws!