NW Books: Local Black Panther memoir; Olympic Peninsula guide

New releases

"My People Are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain" by Aaron Dixon (Haymarket Books, $17.95). The author, who co-founded the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1968 at the age of 19, recounts his story and the triumphs and trials of others who pushed for racial justice. Dixon "presents a visual picture of the courage, commitment, and sometimes shocking brutality of life as a Panther activist," writes King County Councilmember Larry Gossett on the back cover.

"Moon Handbooks: Olympic Peninsula" by Jeff Burlingame (Avalon Travel, $14.99). The popular travel series issues a new guide to the Olympic Peninsula's rain forest and waterfalls; hiking, fishing, kayaking spots; wineries, eateries and more. Divided into sections — Hood Canal and Kitsap Peninsula, Port Angeles and the Northern Peninsula, Hoh Rain Forest and the Coast — the book features maps, history and cultural notes; itineraries; and the inside knowledge of Burlingame, who was born and raised on the peninsula.

"Devine Intervention" by Martha Brockenbrough (Arthur A. Levine, $17.99): Ages 13 and older. To stay out of hell, Jerome Hancock, a guardian-angel-in-training, must watch over his assigned soul, Heidi Devine. "Jerome's bumbling logic and wickedly funny observations are what make (Seattle author) Brockenbrough's first book for teens so much fun," says Publishers Weekly.

"Augie to Zebra" by Kate Endle and Caspar Babypants (Sasquatch, $16.99). Ages 2-5. The Seattle husband-wife duo offers an alphabet book with Endle's colorful paper collages and a free MP3 download of Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States) singing along to "Josie jams with jaguars" and "Willy washes the walrus."