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Shear Force: An Image-Maker's Memoir by Allen Edwards
By Christina Pembleton

From superstardom to near bankruptcy experiences, Allen Edwards uses his 2008 memoir Shear Force to reveal exactly what cuts it in the hairstyling industry. Edwards compiles his greatest victories and lowest defeats into a captivating book and proves that persistence withstands even the darkest hour.

Though Edwards's career began in the San Fernando Valley, his innovation landed his name amongst lips of celebrities worldwide. Taking credit for some of the most prominent 20th century looks such as Farrah Fawcett's shapely locks, Edwards flaunts his repertoire of creative designs for the reader to gape at.

He leads his audience on a walk through the decades, describing how his masterpieces relate to the movements of each era. The 70's, for example, were crazy years of "sex and wild abandon" where simple haircuts led women to embrace glamour and individual identity. Since Edwards's career spans the board, he has been able to truly watch style evolve from tousled to tame, perm to platinum.

Edwards explains battle by battle how he climbed to the top in his industry. Failed relationships, untrustworthy partners, and even his stutter pushed him to fight for a top dog title. But the push wasn't always easy. He insists that every low point forced him to evaluate his true purpose and position.

The book includes a vulgar and uncensored glimpse of Edwards's crazy affairs during his styling days. His seemingly endless list of clients that he had relations with is a stark difference from the faithful love that he has for his late wife, Lisa. Nevertheless, these issues that brought down his first marriage make Edwards the controlled man that he is today. Truly, the memoir shows the struggle for constant control in many aspects of his life and all facets of his career. After dabbling with drugs and watching some of his colleagues and friends get involved in serious illegal substances, Edwards discovers his own addiction. "Power is…a powerful drug," he says.

So, why did "image-maker" Allen Edwards decide to reveal the behind-the-scenes drama of his successful business? "Keep reinventing yourself and your talent and you keep going forward," he says of writing his memoir. Edwards is ready to be back in the spotlight, but in a fresh and reworked way.

His ego contributes largely to the readability of this book. Edwards admits to having a "distorted ego," but the constant self-affirmation is inescapable. "Hairdressers have to be careful not to let their egos get too overblown," mentions Edwards.

Though he seems like a jerk throughout his book, he owns up to every possible judgment the reader might have, giving valid reasons and responses for each instance. After facing multiple job-threatening obstacles, it's no surprise that Edwards is confident after picking up the pieces and reestablishing a successful enterprise time and time again.

The book is sure to hold everyone's attention, and it brings light to the cut-throat world of hair. Shear Force is in incredibly intriguing piece that keeps the reader rooting for Edwards's well-being.

Brushing Mom's Hair by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Nicole Wong
By Allie Costa

Ann's mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The book begins with her homecoming, following surgery in which both of her breasts were removed. This non-rhyming verse novel describes her recovery from surgery and her chemo treatments from her daughter's point of view.

Ann, almost fifteen, is the youngest child in this otherwise happy household; her older sister, Jane, is also in high school, while her older brother, Nick, is currently away at college. She also has a grandmother, a best friend, and other concerned people in the picture, and her parents are still very much in love.

During the course of this slim novel, ballerina Ann continues to find joy in dancing after school, almost wishing the barre were there whenever she needed to alleviate her anxiety and dance her worries away. She also has a growing appreciation for fine arts. She knits leg warmers with her grandmother, cuts and fringes scarves with her cousin, and creates pots, dishes, batiks, and other things in Ms. Smith's art class at school.

This wonderfully heartfelt story was inspired by the author's daughter and how she reacted when her mother was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The text is aided with black-and-white illustrations by Nicole Wong, which are as lovely as the story itself. I will definitely be seeking out more books from both Andrea Cheng and Nicole Wong.

Brushing Mom's Hair is appropriate for a wide range of ages. Teenagers will relate to Ann due to her age, and dancers and dancers of any age will enjoy her artistic endeavors. Younger kids will be drawn in (no pun intended) by the illustrations. Families, especially those who have been touched by cancer, should and will share this book.

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