Birding Minnesota

For serious bird enthusiasts, here is an in-depth guide to Minnesota birds.  Did you know that Minnesota is home to  over 400 bird species?  Arranged by biome (northern boreal, prairie, southern hardwood, northern deciduous, and the Twin Cities), the guide focuses on towns, cities, parks, and other locations around the state where birdwatching is especially good.  There are detailed maps, birds to be found at each site, food, lodging and camping information, and any hazards (poison ivy, etc.) for each area.  Written by Jay Michael Strangis, this is a resource for hard-core birdwatchers, and it might be a resource for high school biology classes.

Hole in the Sky

If swine flu didn't scare you enough in 2010, you need to read this tale of a deadly flu virus that has killed most of the earth's population between the years 2028-2031.  There are 'survivors who are immune to the virus, but they all sufffer losses ranging from sensory impairment to being completely delusional.  A few people have avoided exposure by living in isolated areas, including the Grand Canyon, where this story is set.  The story is told from the viewpoint of four teen characters, giving readers several perspectives on the actions taking place.  It's a little science fiction, and a very good adventure/survival story by Pete Hautman.