Book Reviews

Trouble the Waters: Tales from the Deep Blue — a new anthology of speculative fiction co-edited by acclaimed Memphis writer Sheree Renée Thomas — recognizes and celebrates the boundless wealth of creative sustenance offered by our world’s bodies of water.

In Saving the Wild South, Georgann Eubanks and photographer Donna Campbell visit seven Southern states to seek out rare native plants. Eubanks creates compelling narratives of the natural history of 10 endangered species, along with the personal histories of dedicated individuals fighting to save these plants from extinction.

In Gone Missin’, the second installment in Peggy O’Neal Peden’s Nashville mystery series, travel agent Campbell Hale is not surprised when her friend Bitsy Carter decides to escape a dreary winter in Nashville for sunny Mexico. Trouble is, no one has seen Bitsy since the day she checked in at the resort. Peden will appear at a virtual event hosted by Parnassus Books in Nashville on January 24.

In Katherine Paterson’s new middle grade novel, Birdie’s Bargain, 10-year-old Elizabeth “Birdie” Cunningham is sure that her dad’s third tour of duty overseas with the National Guard will end with his death. As Birdie struggles with jealousy, loss, anger, anxiety, and the trustworthiness of both God and man, Paterson allows her readers into the inmost thoughts of this conflicted and unhappy character.

Gwen E. Kirby’s bold debut story collection connects an unlikely cast of heroines across time and space, each encountering her own series of obstacles in pursuit of survival, pleasure, and fulfillment. Kirby will appear with Kevin Wilson at a virtual event hosted by Parnassus Books in Nashville on January 11.