Local books on Jimi Hendrix, Seahawks, Al Franken

New releases

"This is Not Florida: How Al Franken Won the Minnesota Recount" by Jay Weiner (University of Minnesota Press, $24.95). A blow-by-blow account of the eight-month recount in Minnesota that ultimately led to Al Franken's election to the U.S. Senate. Kevin J. Hamilton, a Seattle lawyer who reviews books for The Seattle Times, was a key member of Franken's legal team and is prominently featured in the book.

"Spooner" by Pete Dexter (Grand Central Publishing, $14.99). New in paperback: the Whidbey Island author's autobiographical novel about a wayward kid who develops an unlikely bond with his stepfather, a former naval officer. Seattle Times reviewer Ellen Emry Heltzel wrote of the hardback: "The story ebbs and flows but always returns to the quiet chemistry between a boy who becomes a man and the only real parent he ever had."

"Jimi: Sounds Like A Rainbow — The Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix" by Gary Golio, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe (Clarion Books, $16.99). For ages 6-9: The story of the young Jimi Hendrix, concentrating on the creative flash points of his Seattle childhood: "A boy who played air guitar with a broomstick and longed for a real guitar of his own. A boy who asked himself a question: Could someone paint pictures with sound?"

"Christmas Eve in Friday Harbor" by Lisa Kleypas (St. Martin's Press, $16.99). Set in the San Juan Islands, this novel by a Bellingham author tells the story of a man who becomes guardian of his sister's 6-year-old daughter after her mother dies, then meets a toyshop owner who's dealing with loss in her own life.

"The Spooky Wheels on the Bus" by J. Elizabeth Mills, illustrated by Ben Mantle (Scholastic, $3.99). For young readers: a variation on the "Wheels on the Bus" song with a Halloween theme. Mills is a Seattle resident.

"100 Things Seahawks Fans Should Know & Do Before they Die" by John Morgan (Triumph, $14.99). Billed as the "ultimate resource guide" for fans of Seattle's professional football team, the Seahawks. Morgan's work can be found on the blog FieldGulls.com.