lue veins visible beneath translucent skin, fresh scars on both her wrists. In the painting, Alicia depicts herself "in the days after the murder, standing before an easel and a canvas, holding a paintbrush. He believes he can break through to her and get her to speak-and that clues to unlocking her secrets lie within her self-portrait, a painting titled Alcestis. He lands a position at the Grove, the secure psychiatric facility in North London where Alicia was admitted after her murder trial, and volunteers to treat her.
Now forensic psychotherapist Theo Faber wants to change that. Alicia had deep knife cuts on her wrists and had lost a significant amount of blood, but she survived and hasn’t spoken a word since the night of the murder. Alicia's fingerprints were the only ones on the gun. And most of his face missing, from multiple bullet wounds. Shortly before midnight one evening six years earlier, police arrived at the Berensons' home to find Alicia blood-splattered, with a gun on the floor and Gabriel tied to a chair. They were both artists-Alicia was a painter, and Gabriel was a well-known fashion photographer." "Alicia Berenson was thirty-three years old when she killed her husband. The intricately plotted story, inspired by Greek mythology, is akin to a siren song, enticing, but with an ominous undertone and hints of deception. Though Africville is gone, young readers may find comfort in the book's final words: "memories turn to dreams, and dreams turn to hope, and hope never ends."Īlex Michaelides's The Silent Patient lures readers in with a tantalizing premise: a woman has murdered her husband in cold blood, and then refuses to say why. by Eva Campbell (Groundwood Books, $18.95, ages 4-7) Evocative art, deftly rendered in oil and pastel on canvas, brings to life the heartfelt blending of past and present that coexists in this loving tribute to the Africville community.
Colón gives background of his own loving experience with museums, artists and artworks, adding layers for exploration for anyone who cares, or dares, to imagine more.Īfricville by Shauntay Grant, illus. Imagine! by Raúl Colón (Paula Wiseman/S&S, $17.99, ages 4-8) Imagine! gives voice and makes visual the experience of finding wonder and community in art. Friendship, teamwork and an overall commitment to helpfulness give this beautifully realized picture book its warmhearted appeal. The characters all have their own distinct personalities even as they share a common goal: getting Izzy to Bear's house. Got to Get to Bear's by Brian Lies (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99, ages 4-7) Brian Lies illustrates his wintertime adventure in meticulous detail. Pick it up for the sea creatures and adventure fall in love with the exasperating, endearing characters. Salt by Hannah Moskowitz (Chronicle, $17.99, ages 12-up) While monsters pull readers into Salt, it's the siblings and their interpersonal relationships that are the true shining stars of this work. But there are so many other ways to love! In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some books for children and teens celebrating love of different kinds: of family, of friends, of art, of home. Valentine's Day is-of course-a great day to celebrate romantic love.