Dinner with King Tut written by Sam Kean, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: Sam Kean's "Dinner with King Tut" takes readers on a fascinating journey through the world of experimental archaeology. By blending hands-on methods with historical fiction, Kean revives the sensory experiences of ancient civilizations. From the sounds of medieval cannons to the tang of Roman fish sauce, the book explores how researchers recreate past technologies, cuisines, and medicines. Each chapter focuses on a specific era, from early humans in Africa to post-conquest Mesoamerica, illustrating the dedication of archaeologists who strive to bring history to life. Kean skillfully interweaves fictional narratives with factual research, offering a vivid portrayal of ancient daily life.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is unique in that most of it is non-fiction and you learn a lot about ancient life.  But short chapters are fictionalized so that you can actually imagine people using/doing the things that archeologists have discovered. There are real-world experiments that the author puts himself too.  Some are funny, some are gross, which will probably make high school students enjoy reading this book.  I enjoyed reading this book (and I am not the first one to pick up non-fiction to relax with). The book's vivid descriptions and imaginative narratives make it a valuable resource for lessons on historical inquiry and cultural understanding. It could get students interested in the field of archeology.  I would make a book display by pulling other non-fiction books that go along with the time periods in Kean's book. By connecting students with the past in a tangible way, Kean's work encourages a deeper appreciation for the complexities of ancient life.  The cover illustration makes it attractive to high school readers, even though it's marketed for adult readers.  Sharing with history and science teachers could help promote circulation of this book.

Cicada, written by Shaun Tan, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Riccardo S.
Summary: The story begins with a green cicada. He is working at an office and seems to be bullied by his many co-workers. Throughout the entire story, he complains about the harsh working conditions and how he works harder but gets less than the rest of the workers. He is the target of prejudice as his colleagues do not understand him because he is not like them. Towards the end, the reader will see cicada start the climb the stairs to the top of his office building. Before jumping off the building, he instead gets his wings, flies away and escapes the business. The book looks to analyze the situation of the common person in the workforce. Many people work hard and do not get what they deserve. It seems as though cicada does not have much to live for and readers might jump to the conclusion that he is about to commit suicide. Instead, cicada goes through metamorphosis and it seems as though he is liberated from his drab existence and his next step in life is joyful. He flies to a place where he is most happy: the forest. He gets the last laugh on the human race.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The art showed a grey hue throughout the entire book except for the end when redness erupts from the cicada depicting growth.The art seems deceptively simple, but at the same time, when you take the time to study it, it is very detailed. There are many layers of meaning throughout this book. Although, each page only holds about 10 words, they all bring a great amount of emotion. Many of the phrases seem sad. This book seems to be a commentary on how we let our lives become caught up in society's expectations and we just live with it. If we have the courage to change, then we may change the direction of our happiness. This is definitely a picture book aimed at older teens and adults as it is a bit dark, but it will make the reader ponder their existence and what is being accomplished.