Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History (Y)
Formatted like an oversized picture book, this is a high-school level investigation of how six major plagues shaped the course of history. Excellent research, writing, illustration (by the author), and great variety of ideas raised. Guns Germs and Steel, but a little less thick. Five stars and a hearty hurrah.

Flush, Hiaasen (Y)
Well, it’s not a horrible book, but hoo boy it compares so very unfavorably with Hiaasen’s last book for the younger set, Hoot. Two stars and here’s hoping he goes back to his tip-top style again.

Peeps, Westerfeld (Y)
Damn! This is officially the book that I will ramble on and on about how great it is at the slightest provocation. Parasites. Hipsters. Vampires. Eldritch beings swarming up from the depths of New York. Yee haw! It kept me up late and gave me scary dreams. One hundred thumbs up and five stars.

Assassination Vacation, Vowell (on audio)
Again Vowell’s massive brain and interest in things impresses the heck out of me. I wish I even knew how to start going about getting such a good grip on US history as she seems to have. The book is also funny and tragic, too. The audio is really well done, and I want Brad Bird to narrate an audiobook on the life of Emma Goldman. Five stars.

Roadstrips: a graphic journey across America
Good selection of artists, but not a very exceptional collection of graphic stories. Two stars.

Pyongyang: a Journey in North Korea, Delisle
Not only a fascinating trip in the strange country of North Korea, but a very well-told and illustrated graphic nonfiction. Four stars.