Image by Steve took it via FlickrBy Aaron Paul Lazar
I have sooooo enjoyed the opportunity to read all of the books this month that have so far been written by Aaron Paul Lazar. That included all of the Gus LeGarde series, and the first in his new series, Healey's Cave!
But Tremolo: Cry of the Loon took me on an entirely different trip--back to my childhood! Because, you see, Tremolo is a Gus LeGarde novel that takes us back to when Gus was just 11 and is involved with his first mystery. Yes, Siegfried and Elsbeth, the 10-year-old twins are both there and we get to know Siegfried as the little genius he was. I especially enjoyed that Elsbeth, as well as Siegfried, became "blood brothers" with Gus--while Gus was eyeing an older woman of 15!Gus' grandfather owns a summer resort/fishing camp and the family, friends and other patrons are enjoying the time in this quiet area.
At that time, children spent most of their days on their own exploring and were even allowed to swim and take boats out on the lake. In fact that's where we meet Gus and his friends. But a mist and then a deep fog fell while they were out and through a series of events, Gus' grandfather's boat capsized! At first they had trouble getting on shore and then weren't sure where they were.
Finally realizing they were on the other side of the campsite, they started through the woods and that's when Gus saw her--a young girl was coming toward them, she was bleeding around her mouth, her eyes frightened and, after almost colliding with Gus, she ran quickly in another direction.
Soon they heard a man calling, "Sharon," and running after the girl. Siegfried had quickly pulled Gus and Elsbeth into the woods until he had passed, but they could smell the whiskey and saw and heard his anger. They assumed the man was her father and hoped she would not be hurt any more once he caught her!
But Sharon never came back...
And Gus couldn't forget the terror he knew Sharon had been facing...
The summer was not to be as quiet as previous years, as thefts began to happen and a mysterious woman showed up who had men guarding her from anybody's contact. On the other hand, there was time for roasting marshmallows, sleepovers, swimming and boating, after taking on additional chores since one boat had been lost already...
So what did you do during summer vacations when you were young. No matter what, I guarantee that, like me, Aaron Paul Lazar will pull you backward as he explores the summer through the eyes of three young friends as they talk about the mysteries surrounding them and another little girl. The ending was not quite a surprise but surely was excitingly tense as the Blood Brothers solved all the mysteries, almost as accidents!
Don't expect the Hardy Boys...these children are unique and special in their own right...in fact I'd like to see a "Young Gus" spinoff for the LeGarde series! It's bound to be a hit with the younger audience, just like Tremolo is easily recommended for older children and teens, as well as adults! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these kids and you will too!
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G. A. Bixler
Dr. Dan MacNamara, a plastic surgeon, handled many breast implants for his patients. But not all surgeries were successful in the long-term. In fact, the wife of the President of the main corporation who supplied the implants had been affected by her implants—her breasts were slightly asymmetrical but those of a 25 year old. But when she touched them, she could not help but be sad and disgusted—they had lost all sensation except pain. Her breasts were hard and when they were subjected to bath water they became discolored and even more painful. Though her husband had convinced her to have them, he had not touched her since. She knew nobody would want to touch her...
It is the 1960s and somewhere in the south, readers find themselves inside a segregated prison. A new group is coming in and we see how the all-white guards treat the new prisoners. There are two who are highlighted; one is very young and has been hurt somewhere and is in bad shape. Another who was on the bus is helping him. The identity of these individuals is "13," and "12," the latter. 
Going back all the way to the time the first one was made, the Snow Globe in the story was created about Christmas time, 1880. A loving sister had commissioned it for her brother whose wife had recently died. He had been so devastated that his entire family was worried about him, so his sister who lived in France where they were just starting to make them, had sent it to Chicago with the note, that his sister hoped it would bring him comfort...
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