The Vanishing Act Normal evening routine: Your sister goes to her room, closes the door, and falls asleep. Normal, that is, until you never see her again. New fiction by Kevin Fanning, illustrated by Josh Allen.

Letters from Rome: Fighting Smog These are tough days for Rome, with many worried for the Pope’s health. Feeling equally worried for his own and his family’s, newcomer and author Anthony Doerr reports on days of tiny miracles, crossbow makers, and a lack of Ziploc bags.

The Non-Expert: Bacon Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week Tobias Seamon enumerates many new ways you can prepare your favorite breakfast meat. Look out, because we’re makin’ bacon.

The Non-Expert: English Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week Andrew Womack illustrates, exhibits, and displays how proper editing makes English all that more the understandable.