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Here are some BalonaBooks for More Mature Readers


This set includes a couple of "junior high-level" offerings
(The Far Side of the Moon and Nobody's Fault ), but they, too, will likely be of interest to adults.

Click on any cover to reach that page and DETAILS

A Cuisine of Leftovers cover A Perched-in Soul cover Far Side of the Moon cover Serving Humanity cover Funny Vampire Teen Fiction Good for Grown-ups Buds cover Fun Reading for both Grownups and Teens

1. Nobody's Fault is narrated by an extraordinarily bright 12-year-old who has some personal and editorial problems while interviewing a 105-year-old survivor of the horrifying 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. It's young-adult historical fiction with a grown-up edge to it. "...scary but funny...thought-provoking...realistic and philosophical...." Reviewed in School Library Journal and Flamingnet Reviews

2. A Cuisine of Leftovers, not a book of recipes, consists of short stories about some stars of Balona Society (high and low). Very likely more interesting to grown-ups and more mature young adults. "mixture of wonderful and insane"

3. A Perched-in Soul is a story of a terribly damaged Marine vet who's having troubles "adjusting to life." Probably more interesting to grown-ups with plenty of life experience and more mature young adults. "startling, sad, and funny" AVAILABLE NOW

4. The Far Side of the Moon is historical fiction about a very brave young refugee woman in California of the 1870s. "touching, inspiring" Reviewed in VOYA

5. Serving Humanity presents Simon Burberry, a suave, mysterious Englishman accidentally landing in Balona. Is he safe? Is Balona? "genteel horror," "gruesome but funny" AVAILABLE NOW

6. Verga's Blessing is "vampire fiction" about a mysterious publisher who shows up in Balona, promising fame and fortune. Patella Sackworth falls for the pitch along with many others. Will she survive and prosper, or will she come down with "The Pales"?
Reviewed in School Library Journal (AVAILABLE NOW)

7. Buds demonstrates how two perhaps "spiky" young women find unanticipated friends. "funny, touching, real"

8. An Almost Private Eye: Mystery of The Starfighter offers a "dramatic sort of term paper" by criminal justice student Joseph O. Kuhl (as told to author Joaquin Peralta), wherein would-be secret agent Joe reveals how he almost captured and exposed the famous Starfighter of Balona. (AVAILABLE NOW)