Reading the North

By Jim Proebstle (Emerald Book Co., $23.95)

The blurb: In 1943, Nick Morgan must leave his pregnant wife in Minnesota to become a pilot for the army's Air Transport Command in Alaska. As the geography draws the attention of the Manhattan Project, he and his co-pilot are tapped for classified flying duty that entangles them in a Russian plot to steal atomic bomb secrets.

Excerpt: "'Hush, hush? What das mean?" Vladimir asked, taking the last drag from his cigarette before stubbing it out.

" 'You know, like no one is supposed to know anything.'

" 'What is located at Yukon Flats area?'

" 'Not much. Just some played-out gold mines and a few trappers and Eskimos. Fort Yukon is the only town. An end-of-the-earth kind of place. There are about sixty people, and it gets extremely cold. You might have some relatives there since it came with the Alaska Purchase.' Robert smiled.

" 'Eighteen sixty-seven,' Vladimir replied in an even tone while squaring his shoulders to meet Robert's smile.

" 'What's 1867?' Robert asked, completely missing the connection in history.

" 'That is when we sold Alaska to America. Some of the old men still think it to be a huge mistake, like history-changing mistake.' "

Sassie the Seahorse Learns that She is Special Too

By Barbara E. Palmer (PublishAmerica.com)

The blurb: Sassie is a little seahorse that has been physically affected by the chemicals from a huge oil spill in the Atlantic Ocean; and Sassie is somewhat of an outcast with the rest of her seahorse schoolmates. Her only friend is their teacher."

Excerpt: "Being younger and not looking like the others really made Sassie feel sad, even though her teacher would tell Sassie everyday that she was a very special little seahorse!

"After school Sassie looked forward to the love and belonging she felt snuggled up to her Momma each evening.

"Soon Sassie would drift off to sleep forgetting the days disappointments, yet wondering 'How is it that she's so special?' For surely she couldn't see it!"

Salmon, Desserts & Friends

By LaDonna Gundersen (Todd Communications, $18.95)

The blurb: Fifty-two quick-and-easy recipes -- including more than 24 recipes involving canned salmon -- mean you can whip up great salmon dishes in your own kitchen anytime. Ideas include salmon salad wonton and salmon lasagna.

Excerpt: "As a commercial salmon fisherwoman, I am blessed to have wild Pacific salmon readily available and have been eating this majestic fish for over two decades now. Through the years, when giving salmon as a gift, more often than not, people ask, 'What do I do with it' and 'How do I eat it?'

"My goal with this book is to celebrate the extraordinary wild Pacific salmon and to help you cook salmon at home with pleasure and success."

-- Compiled by Matt Sullivan, Anchorage Daily News