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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Miracle Grow of the Mind
Carol LaHines
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646037704, $19.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Grow-Mind-Carol-LaHines/dp/1646037707
Regal House Publishing
https://regal-house-publishing.mybigcommerce.com/miracle-grow-of-the-mind
The birth of a baby is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but when Amy and Michael's son Griffin is born prematurely, a host of medical issues thrust the new parents into a medical nightmare filled with difficult choices, new realizations, and a version of parenthood they'd never imagined. Miracle Grow of the Mind charts all these experiences as it focuses on Griffin's developmental delays, constant evaluations, and a host of therapeutic options that keep Griffin in the maelstrom of sometimes-conflicting choices and perspectives.
Meanwhile, life goes on. Michael's mother has a form of dementia that leads her to insist Michael is the adult version of a baby that died in infancy, Griffin's babysitter becomes embroiled in an affair with a psychoanalyst who is immersed with his special needs child, and Griffin's condition forces everyone around him to get on board the train of idealistic, hopeful thinking and alternative living. Readers who think this novel's focus will spotlight the adults' situations will be especially pleased to note that Carol LaHines takes the time to juxtapose these with Griffin's navigation of an often-confusing world:
"Michael tried to pry Griffin's hand from the toy. Griffin's grasp was exceptionally strong; his muscles rigid, spastic. The world awash in sensations he could not process, information he could not parse, words the meaning of which eluded him."
From the challenges of appearing in public and navigating meltdowns to the ultimate impact of too many choices and too much speculation about raising a special needs kid, LaHines creates a vivid story that any parent involved in medical conundrums with their children will readily recognize:
"She didn't want to think about hyperbaric treatment options, about specially-constructed furniture available from the Conductive Therapy Institute, about vestibular righting systems and orthotics designed to prevent ankle eversion. She didn't want to think about the insidious effects of Phenobarbital (nervous system depression, small teeth, hirsuteness, hirsuteness!). She didn't want to think about the benefits of brushing a hyposensitive child with horsehairs and sandpaper and other textures to awaken their deadened receptors, to contemplate a future beyond get him to Sensations, pack his gluten-free lunch, hope to avoid meltdown."
Life will throw you curveballs - and the ultimate message of Miracle Grow of the Mind is that how these are perceived, navigated, and hopefully turn out for the greater good is what living is all about. And what happens if there turns out to be an expensive miracle that insurers refuse to acknowledge or pay for? Thought-provoking questions about special needs kids, the medical system, parenting, and hope are raised that will immerse all readers - whether parents coping with special needs children or parentless readers.
Librarians and readers seeking novels that promote better understanding, hope, and new realizations about parents and families will find Miracle Grow of the Mind thought-provoking and worthy not just of individual pursuit, but book club discussion. Groups from general parenting to psychology circles addressing the needs of the special needs community will discover Miracle Grow of the Mind enlightening, realistic, and hard to put down.
The Cookbook Shelf
On Fish: A Seafood Handbook
Nathan Outlaw
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9781804193211, $39.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Outlaw-Fish-Handbook-Techniques/dp/1804193216
On Fish: A Seafood Handbook surveys the species, techniques, and recipes that use different types of fish to best advantage. It is the perfect choice for readers who have cooked seafood, but want to expand their fish dishes with new flavor combinations and methods specific to different fish such as hake, raw tuna, mullet, or mussels. Color photos on facing pages accent such recipes as Tuna Fishballs in Tomato Sauce with Pesto & Parmesan or Smoked Mackerel and Baked Red Onions with Mint, Tarragon & Caper Crème Fraiche. These are recipes one won't find elsewhere, making this fish cookbook a standout lesson in usage and pairing fish with its best flavor accompaniments.
Eat Like a Greek
Marina Georgallides
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk
9780600639299, $29.99
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Like-Greek-Delicious-Recipes/dp/0600639290
Eat Like a Greek: 100 Quick, Easy, Delicious Recipes comes from an author whose exploration of her Greek roots reveals Greek and Cypriot dishes from her childhood. These recipes, passed through her family for generations, represent some basic dishes that will serve as a fine introduction to newcomers to Greek cuisine, pairing authenticity with dishes easy to produce and appealing to all. Facing pages of color photos of finished dishes accompany such fare as Roasted Aubergine Salad, a Cordfu Orzo Stew, and Baked Meatballs spiced with cumin, cinnamon, and chili flakes in a delicious introduction to Greek fare that should be in any library and cook's collection.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
A Series of Opinionated Animals
Michelle Lerner
Bancroft Press
https://bancroftpress.com
9781610887069, $27.95
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Opinionated-Animals-Memoir-Michelle-Lerner/dp/1610887069
A Series of Opinionated Animals is hilarious, thought-provoking, unique memoir. It follows animal lawyer Michelle Lerner's more bizarre cases, probing the psyches and conundrums of creatures whose odd habits influenced her profession and her life.
Readers who love animals (and, perhaps secondarily, the law) will relish learning about both through vignettes that romp through the animal world. From bedding in an eight-foot-tall loft to keep the dogs from joining her to canines with squirrel obsessions and building a temporary shelter space for FeLV+ cats in a detached garage, Lerner's interactions with a variety of animals and oddities translates to a rollicking, fun journey through animal and human worlds.
Her story embraces not just animal law, but the process of rescuing creatures in different ways. The descriptions are fun and revealing: "When Buddy finally recovered from his infection, though, he became a different cat. And he was bent on revenge. He took over the cat house, er, garage, with a level of dominance that surprised everyone, including me, but no one more than Simon. Though smaller than Simon, he easily called Simon's bluff, whacking him on the head and backing him into corners, proving that attitude is everything. Simon was crestfallen. "Payback's a bitch," Terry responded when I described the situation."
A special audience for this book would include not just animal lovers, but those skeptical about the fact and nature of animal personalities. From legal advocacy for animals to caring for terminal animals and care decisions that run up against the conventional management techniques of animal rescue and sanctuary groups, many issues arise in the course of Lerner's animal encounters. These offer especially thought-provoking discussion topics for book clubs and would-be vets alike.
Libraries that choose A Series of Opinionated Animals will find it can be highly recommended for a wide range of animal enthusiasts, from those interested in animal law and rescue methodology to general-interest readers seeking fun, thought-provoking stories about animal psyches, management dilemmas, and just plain entertaining stories.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Yasuke: Dead Man Walking
Braxton A. Cosby
Cosby Media Productions. Inc.
www.cosbymediaproductions.com
9798899650789, $14.99 pbk / $4.99 eBook
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Yasuke-Dead-Walking-Duology-Book-ebook/dp/B0G4NSDKC2
Historical fiction readers interested in novels of 16th century Japan and the story of the world's first African samurai will relish how vividly Yasuke: Dead Man Walking captures the milieu of these times. This is done through engrossing, atmospheric "you are here" descriptions embedded into the story from its opening lines:
"The smoke from burning incense mingled with the heavy scent of sake and sweat, creating a haze that seemed to swallow the flickering candlelight whole. In the depths of the Floating Willow, one of Kyoto's most notorious pleasure quarters, the sound of shamisen strings being plucked lazily drifted through the paper-thin walls, accompanied by the soft giggles of courtesans and the drunken laughter of their patrons."
Braxton A. Cosby injects readers into 1500s Japan with a powerful blend of fine characterization and colorful description that requires no prior familiarity with the times or its history in order to prove absolutely compelling. Majok becomes a slave and is abused until he falls under the ownership and tutelage of Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful warlord in 16th-century Japan. There, he becomes Yasuke, fiercest of warriors, gaining the respect of emperors and the hatred of those who are prejudiced against Africans, slaves, and anyone who would challenge Japanese rule. How he achieves this near-impossible feat is revealed in a story which offers realistic insights into the experiences and fates of those who become slaves in foreign countries:
"Majok's patience finally wore thin. He had been excluded from a conversation about what was clearly his own fate, surrounded by armed men whose intentions were unclear, and kept in ignorance by linguistic barriers that grew more frustrating by the moment."
From secret sword training sessions with Nobutada to cross-cultural interactions that prove beneficial to warriors on both sides, Cosby crafts scenarios of achievement and overcoming different barriers as Majok transforms his life in response to impossible circumstances: "Majok's African martial arts blended surprisingly well with Japanese sword work, each teaching the other, each learning."
Majok's adaptation to his new circumstances is not without trials and grief, even as he builds his new persona and reputation: "As he walked away from the scene, the full magnitude of the loss began to settle over him. Every moment when he seemed to find peace, when acceptance and freedom appeared within reach, something terrible happened to shatter that hope. The pattern was becoming clear, and with that clarity came a burning rage that threatened to consume him."
From handling deadly ninja attackers to confronting the forces that would keep him oppressed, Majok faces struggles in which monks' refuges become ground zero for clashes, participating in battles and confronting betrayers as he steps into his Yasuke legendary persona against the playing field of temples and killing grounds.
Historical fiction readers with a special interest in early Japan receive thought-provoking moments of revelation and discovery as Majok navigates this world, librarians will appreciate the opportunity to recommend a novel that moves well beyond the usual early Japanese scenario, and leisure readers will appreciate how little prior knowledge of Japanese history is needed in order to become thoroughly engaged with the characters and conflicts in Yasuke: Dead Man Walking. Well-developed scenarios and historically realistic portraits make Yasuke: Dead Man Walking a top recommendation for any reader or library collection interested in authentic, immersive stories about adaptation, struggle, and achievement.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Redline Heist
Michael Mersault
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668073131, $28.00
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Redline-Heist-Michael-Mersault/dp/1668073137
The Redline Heist is the first book in the Doomsday Artifacts series, and pairs the excitement of a thriller with the absorbing possibilities of an alien treasure hunt. Set in the Confederated Worlds which house a thief, a supersoldier survivor, and a secret, a series of clashes and encounters by Warren Springer Stowe and Cherry Aisha offer a satisfying pairing of mystery, nonstop action, and alien encounters that will keep readers thoroughly engaged. The sense of discovery and shock and awe permeate a powerful saga that proves hard to put down.
Beyond the Rift
John Ringo and Lydia Sherrer
Baen Books
www.baen.com
9781668073124, $28.00
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Rift-TransDimensional-Hunter-Ringo/dp/1668073129
Beyond the Rift is a TransDimensional Hunter novel about battles, counterstrikes and forces, and Lynn Raven's realization that she isn't battling for glory, but humanity's survival. Even though her enemy can't bee seen and is hard to fight, Lynn must find a way to make her mark on their activities or feel personally responsible for the extinction of her race. A fast-paced story packed with excitement and clashes makes for an adventure that is packed with twists, turns, and moments of enlightenment and surprise.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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