(Temple University Press)

In this history of the relationship between African-Americans and Indians leading up to Indian independence in 1947, the author explores how Indian thought influenced African-American culture. He describes exchanges between the two groups, including the South Asian influence on the Nation of Islam and the friendship between Paul Robeson and Jawaharlal Nehru. Horne is the Moores Professor of History and African-American Studies at the University of Houston.

(Thomas Dunne Books)

In this primer on espionage, the author traces the careers and pitfalls of infamous spies such as Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames and examines why spying produced useful information during the Cold War but has been less successful in the war on terrorism. Hitz offers ideas to reform intelligence operations against terrorist targets. A former inspector general of the CIA, Hitz teaches at the University of Virginia’s law school and politics department.

(Schwartz and Wade Books)

The main character in this chapter book for young readers, Alvin Ho, a Chinese-American second-grader, is afraid of everything — especially school — and gets in trouble a lot. Publishers Weekly said the author’s “intuitive grasp of children’s emotions is rivaled only by her flair for comic exaggeration.” Look also is the author of the Ruby Lu chapter-book series.