The Foreign Service Journal, November 2012

52 NOVEMBER 2012 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL American whodunit, “The High School Crush Murder.” Next comes a series of four stories in an American summer theater setting, the “Straw Hat Mysteries,” featuring crimes ranging from murder to the perhaps even more nefarious attempted theft of a starring role! Shepard concludes the volume with five stories featuring “Crusher” Davis, a 6’6” former football star who nowwrites an advice column, “Ask Martha,” for his local newspaper. In that guise, Davis solves crimes ranging fromblackmail to embezzlement. Whatever your preference, pour yourself a hot beverage and open your Kindle for a refreshing coffee break, with a dash of mystery. You’ve earned it! Retired FSOWilliam S. Shepard, has written many books, including most recently a memoir (see p. 41) and a history of “unknown” conflict s (see p. 30). For more information, visit www.diplomaticmysteries.com. CHILDREN’S BOOKS Excuse Me, I’m Trying to Read! Mary Jo Amani, Illustrated by Lehla Eldridge, Mackinac Island Press, 2012, $7.95, paperback, 32 pages. Mary Jo Amani’s children’s book Excuse Me, I’m Trying to Read! is great fun and very clever. The illustrations by Lehla Eldrige are safari-themed—animals ranging from impalas and rhinos to dung beetles and elephants fill the uniquely drawn pages, documenting the plight of a young girl’s attempt to read in the midst of the daily busyness and fascinating distractions of the African bush. The young girl’s struggle to stay focused on her book is in earnest. Reading is so important that not even zebras should get in the way! The unique illustrations of African villages and landscape add to the appeal of each page. This winner of the 2011 National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Best Children’s Picture Book Award is a book that children will love—and one that their parents will enjoy read- ing over and over to them. Mary Jo Amani is the wife of USAID Foreign Service officer Todd Amani. She wrote the book as part of a series directed toward early readers (ages 2 to 8) for a community library program in Mozambique. The Ever Part of Always: Keely Tucker’s First Adventure Toby K. Davis, iUniverse, 2012, $24.95/ hardcover, $14.95/paperback, 193 pages. Imagination is a powerful tool. In The Ever Part of Always: Keely Tucker’s First Adven- ture , the first in a series following the life of Keely Tucker, Toby K. Davis uses her penchant for lyrical storytelling to reiterate its importance in building and sustaining self-esteem. Maine girl Keely Tucker is a 10-year-old who is constantly bul- lied by a neighborhood boy. The only thing that keeps her sense of self-worth intact is her grandmother’s stories of enchanted far- away places where angels protect children from life’s pains. When her grandmother passes away, Keely is left to fend for herself. Eventually, while on a quest to save a friend, she learns to use Mariah, an aging horse her grandmother left her, and her imagi- nation to battle the monsters and dragons disturbing both her fantasy world and reality. She begins to believe in herself. Toby K. Davis, the wife of an FSO, states that her personal and professional goals are “to inspire kids to trust and believe in them- selves and to like who they are every day.” She has presented the book, winner of the Rising Star and Editor’s Choice awards, to Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., chair of the newly formed Congressional Caucus on Anti-Bullying, and plans to donate part of the royal- ties from it to an anti-bullying campaign in the Northern Virginia area. Toby Davis has worked as a teacher of gifted and challenged students around the world for more than 10 years. The Davises reside in Arlington, Va. The Seven Fairy Mountains of Cappadocia Linda Socha Jaworski, Twinkle Truth Publications, 2011, $7.99, paperback, 16 pages. Stir every child’s inner yearning to explore with a wondrous view of Cappadocia, Turkey, through the eyes of Kücük, the smallest of the seven Fairy Mountains, who desperately wants to save her village from sure disaster. Her sister mountains each host artistic families, but trouble is about and unless something big happens, all seven moun- tains may have to be abandoned. As the only Fairy Sister with- out a family to shelter, Kücük knows the rescue is up to her. The book is richly illustrated by Serpil Ural, an accomplished Turkish children’s book author and illustrator.