Ailanthus Park.

Ailanthus Park

Marina Snow

Lost Coast Press

155 Cypress St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437

9781882897964, $19.95, www.cypresshouse.com

City parks are refuges of nature in the wild urban jungle. "Ailanthus Park" follows Claire Patterson, a single woman making her way in Sacramento. Involved heavily in the push for a new park, Claire finds herself in an utterly intriguing plot that will reveal much about Claire and the town around herself as she grows as a person. "Ailanthus Park" is a fine novel of humanity, highly recommended.