"East Wing" takes an interesting approach in its look back at the significance of the changes taking place in the 70s. The author does this through the prism of her own life and an activist First Lady. Capturing the changing times and how they impacted her life and then played out on one of the leading stages in the world -- the White House -- was informative and entertaining.

A tip of the hat to the book's author Mary Hoyt for reminding us just how much we have all changed and the significance of those changes. It is a book I want my daughter to read.

I learned to fold the Origami paper crane when I was a teenager. It is something I have remembered all my life, and I have always enjoyed showing someone how to make one, or taken delight in seeing the happiness in a child's eyes as the piece of paper turned into a graceful bird.

Spread Your Wings and Fly is a positive affirmation book that you read as you learn to fold your paper crane. The beginning of the book discusses how the author learned to fold the crane and there is even a little history of the art of origami. She also discusses how to use the book and achieving the end result, a flapping version of the paper crane.

But it was getting into the story, into the folding of the crane that really grabbed me. The crane can be a difficult feat if not shown by someone who can patiently teach the art. Ms. Saunders has the pictures of folding the crane broken down into the easiest and most basic way of folding. I followed through, page by page, fold by fold, and while it is a little different than the way I was taught, I had no problem following and achieving a proper and working crane.

Then I went back and read the story. Each fold has a purpose in making the final product. Each time you fold, you are presented with a fold that life can offer you. Sometimes the fold can resemble the shape the paper has taken, sometimes there is a ripple in the fold. While a fold can remind you of a mountain, the mountain can be a big dream or it can be a small one. As you flatten the mountain out, you are reminded that dreams can be squashed also. Wonderful visuals to accompany the process of making the crane, to discovering the folds in your own life, and finally flying free with the finished crane, no matter how life folds for you.

This is beautifully written, well explained, and to top it all off, there are the excellent illustrations, quality print on glossy paper, all of which only compliments the entire work. Together, Ms. Saunders and Ms. Mihelich have given us a book that will provide parents and children with some quality time and some insightful mini-meditations for both of them. Or, if used by a child alone, it is time this child will spend exploring him/her self.

Mary Saunders uses the process of folding a flapping bird as a metaphor for the unfolding of life's journey and as a symbol of the unlimited possibilities in each of us. She continues the metaphor poetically in the directions for creating the flapping bird. "Think of two of your good points and bring them together" is the eloquent instruction to fold the paper in half.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Carla Mihelich. The diagrams clearly explain each step of the folding process. In the vibrant illustrations the bird emerges into magical, mythical landscapes and creatures guide and accompany it on its journey of becoming. As the author writes in the preface: "May you and the children in your world experience enduring moments of possibility as you fold the flapping bird and set it flying..."

A trash TV show offers medical researcher Dr. Rita Huelga several hundred thousand dollars donated to her favorite charity if she will appear and admit that rock superstar Audra Leon was once her lover. Though she would prefer to ignore the Johnny Lever show, a third high school classmate Bevin Crosswell pushes her into going on TV. While the country awaits Rita confession from Beverly Hills, all the mycologist wants to do is go to the Dominican Republic to study the recently discovered forty-million year old mushroom. However, she goes through with the show, which is done in poor taste with Rita going ballistic and beating up Johnny.

After her appearance, death threats begin to arrive. The Lever folks as a show of good will and not ignoring the Jones case hire private Investigator Emma Victor to protect the scientist. Rita objects, but finds herself attracted to her bodyguard and agrees to the plan. Death strikes, but victim turns out to be a romantic rival of Rita's. The woman violently dies from the poison given her. Emma begins to investigate the murder in order to prove her client's innocence and to insure her safety.

The latest Emma Victor mystery, SHE COMES IN DRAG, is a well-written tale that provides readers with a compelling look at the lesbian lifestyle. The who-done-it is entertaining and San Francisco is always fun, but the characters and their interrelationships make the novel. Rita is a very complex protagonist and Emma remains a mix of compassion and steel. Mary Wings talent soars high with this terrific tale.

Harriet Klausner