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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Mindful Fundraising
Sagi Melamed
Gefen Publishing House
c/o Storch
255 Central Ave #B-206, Lawrence, NY 11559
www.gefenpublishing.com
9789652299741, $30.00, PB, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Fundraising-Sagi-Melamed/dp/965229974X
Synopsis: In an exclusive chapter on fundraising during crisis, "Mindful Fundraising" expertly and informatively deals
with all of the major issues faced by organizations around the world as they attempt to fund raise for their particular cause
during the COVID-19 crisis -- and how to prepare for the post-Corona era.
Beginning with the basic question of where do I start? "Mindful Fundraising" provides 'real world practical' answers
including: How can I ask others for money? Should I travel to make my pitch? What kind of materials should I distribute?
These questions and many more are addressed in this practical, nuts-and-bolts guide to fundraising by seasoned
professional fund raiser Sagi Melamed.
For everyone from novices to CEOs, volunteers and lay leadership, "Mindful Fundraising" is the ultimate insider's DIY
guide to raising financial support for any cause and any organization.
Critique: Of particular and special note are the chapters on 'Preparing a fundraising Work Plan'; Publicity and Marketing',
and 'Fund Raising During a Crisis'. Simply stated, "Mindful Fundraising" is an absolute 'must' for anyone charged with a
fund raising responsibility and the best $30 investment any organization can make who is in need of help with financing
their particular cause, endeavor or project. While an essential, core addition to community organization, community
library, corporate and/or academic library Money/Finance collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
social/political activists, non-profit organizations and charities, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "Mindful Fundraising" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Currently residing in Hoshaya, Israel, Sagi Melamed is an internationally in-demand keynote speaker,
instructor and writer on mindful fundraising, bringing over 20 years of experience leading international fundraising
operations and teams, and training and instructing executives and lay leadership in the science and art of fundraising.
Dear Bob...
Martha Bolton & Linda Hope
University Press of Mississippi
3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
www.upress.state.ms.us
9781496832658, $28.00, HC, 328pp
https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Bob-Hopes-Wartime-Correspondence/dp/1496832655
Synopsis: For five decades, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and entertainer Bob Hope (May 29, 1903 - July 27, 2003)
traveled the world performing before American and Allied troops and putting on morale-boosting USO shows. "Dear
Bob...: Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II" compiled and written by the team of Martha
Bolton and Linda Hope, tells the story of Hope's remarkable service to the fighting men and women of World War II who
wrote personal letters and postcards, sent packages and more, back and forth among Hope and the troops and their loved
ones back home.
In the pages of "Dear Bob..." we learn of soldiers, nurses, wives, and parents who shared their innermost thoughts,
swapped jokes, and commiserated with the "G.I.s' best friend" about war, sacrifice, lonely days, and worrisome, silent
nights. The Entertainer of the Century performed for millions of soldiers in person, in films, and over the radio. Bob
visited them in the hospitals and became not just a pal but their link to home.
This unforgettable collection of letters and images (many of which remained in Hope's personal files throughout his life
and now reside at the Library of Congress), fully capture a personal side of both writer and recipient in a very special and
often-emotional way. This unique volume heralds the voices of those servicemen and women whom Hope entertained and
who, it is clear, delighted and inspired him.
Critique: An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Bob Hope fans, "Dear Bob: Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with
the G.I.s of World War II" is an inherently fascinating and emotionally moving read. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community, college, and university library American Biography and American Military History
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Dear Bob: Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the
G.I.s of World War II" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.99).
Editorial Note: Martha Bolton was Bob Hope's first female staff writer, writing for his television specials, personal
appearances, and military shows for approximately fifteen years. She is an Emmy nominee, Dove Award nominee, and
WGA Award nominee. Linda Hope became Bob Hope and his wife Dolores Reade's adopted daughter in 1939.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Book and Baby
Milda M. DeVoe
Brooklyn Writers Press
www.brooklynwriterspress.com
9781952991073, $19.99, PB, 314pp
https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Managing-Becoming-Successful-Writer-Parent/dp/1952991072
Synopsis: "Book and Baby: The Complete Guide to Managing Chaos and Becoming A Wildly Successful Writer-Parent"
by author and parent Milda M. DeVoe is an inspiring, practical, and effective writing craft book that deftly addresses the
various stages of parenthood and how a writing career can be affected at every stage.
Drawing on her personal experiences gleaned from ten years of running a literary nonprofit that helps writers stay on
creative track after starting a family, Milda M. DeVoe (founder of Pen Parentis), put her Columbia MFA to good use in
creating a fun, readable, helpful and inspiring instructional reference book for parents, caregivers and others who feel they
lack the time needed to write.
"Book and Baby" shows how aspiring writers who are also committed parents : How to write in short spaces of time; How
to make time out of no time; Provide guidance for nurturing a writing career along with children. Additionally, "Book and
Baby" will inspire parents who want to be writers with true-life stories drawn from an archive of interviews with serious,
professional and even bestselling writers (all who have kids) and introduce resources that will keep those parents
writing.
Critique: A unique and seminal DIY instructional for writers who are parents (and parents who aspire to become writers),
"Book and Baby: The Complete Guide to Managing Chaos and Becoming A Wildly Successful Writer-Parent" must be
considered a mandatory read. A thoroughly comprehensive and 'user friendly' instructional manual in both organization
and presentation, "Book and Baby" is especially and unreservedly recommended for professional, community, college and
university library Writing/Publishing collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Book and Baby" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).
Editorial Note: M ilda M. DeVoe earned her MFA at Columbia University as a Writing Fellow under Michael
Cunningham and Helen Schulman. Her explorations of identity through creative writing have brought her to publish in
nearly every genre: literary fiction, poetry, science fiction, urban fantasy, horror, even musical theater. She has won or been
a finalist for more than 20 writing awards. She won her first grant for Pen Parentis from NYC's Department of Cultural
Affairs in 2009 and remains its founding director.
Bookstores: A Celebration of Independent Booksellers
Stuart Husband, author
Horst A. Friedrichs, photographer
Prestel Publishing
www.prestel.com
9783791385815, $45.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bookstores-Celebration-Independent-Stuart-Husband/dp/379138581X
Synopsis: Independent bookstores offer treasure troves of knowledge and ideas, are invaluable for the imagination, and
often reflect their owners' unique personalities in ways that internet behemoths like Amazon could never re-create.
With an impressively informative and descriptive commentary by Stuart Husband, "Bookstores: A Celebration of
Independent Booksellers" is enhanced with the full color images of photographer Horst A. Friedrichs as he visually opens
the door to a world of bricks-and-mortar bookstores, showcasing their variety, quirkiness, and vitality with lavish
photography. It celebrates the passion and commitment of the owners with interviews and anecdotes.
Bibliophiles will fully enjoy exploring William Stout Books, a specialty store for architecture and art books in San
Francisco, and Baldwin's Book Barn in Pennsylvania, a 5-story bookstore housed in a dairy barn open since the mid-1940s.
Discovering Gay's the Word, the UK's first and only dedicated LGBTQI bookshop and Livraria Lello, whose Art Deco
interior is a temple to reading in the middle of Porto, Portugal.
Some of the featured bookstores specialize in a certain genre, some are massive with vaulted ceilings, some are tiny and
filled to the brim with books, some are in historic buildings that evoke a different time and place, and some are brand new,
hightech, architect-designed spaces. What all these bookstores have in common is that they are all dedicated to spreading
the written word to their communities.
Critique: A browsing bibliophile's delight, "Bookstores: A Celebration of Independent Booksellers" is an original, unique,
and ideal armchair travelogue and guide for anyone who loves to read, browse, or simply linger in the analog world of
books and bookstores -- and an ideal, unreservedly recommended Memorial Fund acquisition for community, college, and
university library collections.
The Social Issues Shelf
Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries
Katie S. Martin
Island Press
2000 M St NW Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781642831535, $28.00, PB, 280pp
https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Food-Banks-Pantries-Hunger/dp/1642831530
Synopsis: In the US, there is a wide-ranging network of at least 370 food banks, and more than 60,000 hunger-relief
organizations such as food pantries and meal programs. These groups provide billions of meals a year to people in need.
And yet hunger still affects one in nine Americans. What are we doing wrong?
In "Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger", Katie Martin argues that if handing out more and
more food was the answer, we would have solved the problem of hunger decades ago. Martin instead presents a new model
for charitable food, one where success is measured not by pounds of food distributed but by lives changed. The key is to
focus on the root causes of hunger. When we shift our attention to strategies that build empathy, equity, and political will,
we can implement real solutions.
In the pages of "Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries" Martin shares those solutions in a warm, engaging style, with
simple steps that anyone working or volunteering at a food bank or pantry can take today. Some are short-term strategies to
create a more dignified experience for food pantry clients: providing client choice, where individuals select their own food,
or redesigning a waiting room with better seating and a designated greeter. Some are longer-term: increasing the supply of
healthy food, offering job training programs, or connecting clients to other social services. And some are big picture:
joining the fight for living wages and a stronger social safety net.
These strategies are illustrated through inspiring success stories and backed up by scientific research. Throughout, readers
will find a wealth of proven ideas to make their charitable food organizations more empathetic and more effective. As
Martin writes, it takes more than food to end hunger. Picking up and reading insightful, lively book like "Reinventing Food
Banks and Pantries" is a great first step.
Critique: One of the ironic differences between the bread lines of the Great Depression and the bread lines of the Great
Pandemic is that the first were lined up standing on their feet, the latter are lined up sitting in their cars. But the one thing
they both have in common is the feeling of desperation and the hunger, the despair of parents struggling to put food on the
table for their children.
Simply stated, "Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger" needs to be closely and attentively read
by political activists, governmental policy makers, non-profit organization managers, and every voting citizen regardless of
their political affiliations. To that aim, "Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger" should be a part
of every community, college, and university library Contemporary Social Issues collection.
It also should be noted for personal reading lists that "Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.39).
Editorial Note: Katie S. Martin is the Executive Director of the Foodshare Institute for Hunger Research & Solutions. She
is recognized as a thought leader on food security issues, and has presented her research at dozens of regional and national
conferences.
The American History Shelf
New York's War of 1812
Richard V. Barbuto
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806168333, $39.95, HC, 364pp
https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorks-War-1812-Commanders/dp/0806168331
Synopsis: The popular history of the War of 1812 known to most of us ranges from the beleaguered Fort McHenry, to the
burning of the White House, to an embattled New Orleans under the military leadership of Andrew Jackson. But the
critical action was elsewhere, as "New York's War of 1812: Politics, Society, and Combat" by Professor Richard V.
Barbuto reveals in a clarifying historical study that puts the state of New York squarely at the center of America's first
foreign war after the American Revolution that created our country.
British demands to move the northern border as far south as the Ohio River put New York on the first line of defense. But
it was the leadership of Governor Daniel D. Tompkins that distinguished the state's contribution to the war effort,
effectively mobilizing the considerable human and material resources that proved crucial to maintaining the nation's
sovereignty. "New York's War of 1812" shows how, despite a widespread antiwar movement and fierce partisan politics,
Tompkins managed to corral and maintain support -- until 1814, when Britain agreed to peace.
Retrieving New York involvement in the War of 1812 from the fog of military history, Professor Barbuto describes the
disproportionate cost paid by the state in loss of life and livelihood. "New York's War of 1812" draws on in-depth research
of the state's legislative, financial, and militia records, as well as on the governor's extensive correspondence, to plot the
conduct of the war regionally and chronologically and to tell the stories of numerous raids, skirmishes, and battles that
touched civilians in their homes and communities.
Whether offering a clearer picture of the performance of the state militia, providing a more accurate account of the
conflict's impact on the state's diverse population, or newly detailing New York's decisive contribution, "New York's War
of 1812) is a deeply researched, closely observed work that revises our perception and understanding of the American
nation's arguably least understood war.
Critique: An impressively informed and informative work of detailed and meticulous scholarship, "New York's War of
1812: Politics, Society, and Combat" is an extraordinary and simply outstanding contribution to community, college, and
university library 19th Century American History collections in general, and War of 1812 supplemental curriculum studies
lists in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "New York's War of 1812: Politics, Society, and Combat" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $32.95).
Editorial Note: Richard V. Barbuto is Professor Emeritus of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General
Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the author of "Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada" and "Long Range
Guns, Close Quarter Combat: The Third United States Artillery Regiment in the War of 1812".
George Washington's Final Battle
Robert P. Watson
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781626167841, $32.95, HC, 400pp
https://www.amazon.com/George-Washingtons-Final-Battle-Struggle/dp/1626167842
Synopsis: George Washington is primarily remembered for leading the Continental Army to victory, for presiding over the
Constitution, and for forging a new nation, but few know the story of his involvement in the establishment of a capital city
and how it nearly tore the United States apart.
In "George Washington's Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation", Robert P. Watson
(Distinguished Professor of American History, Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida) brings this tale to life, telling how
the country's first president tirelessly advocated for a capital on the shores of the Potomac. Washington envisioned and had
a direct role in planning many aspects of the city that would house the young republic. In doing so, he created a landmark
that gave the fledgling democracy credibility, united a fractious country, and created a sense of American identity.
Although Washington died just months before the federal government's official relocation, his vision and influence live on
in the city that bears his name.
This little-known story of founding intrigue throws George Washington's political acumen into sharp relief and provides a
historical lesson in leadership and consensus-building that remains relevant today. "George Washington's Final Battle: The
Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation" will prove fascinating and informative reading anyone interested in the
founding period, the American presidency, and the history of Washington, DC.
Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented, "George Washington's Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a
Capital City and a Nation" is an invaluable contribution to our growing understanding of the formative impact George
Washington has had upon the American nation - an impact that still continues to this present day and into the foreseeable
future. "George Washington's Final Battle: The Epic Struggle to Build a Capital City and a Nation" is especially and
unreservedly recommended for personal, academic, community, college, and university library American History
collections in general, and George Washington supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular.
The World History Shelf
Forgery and Memory at the End of the First Millennium
Levi Roach
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
http://press.princeton.edu
9780691181660, $45.00, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Forgery-Memory-End-First-Millennium/dp/0691181667
Synopsis: In "Forgery and Memory at the End of the First Millennium", Levi Roach (Associate Professor of Medieval
History at the University of Exeter) takes a fresh look at documentary forgery and historical memory in the Middle Ages.
In the tenth and eleventh centuries, religious houses across Europe began falsifying texts to improve local documentary
records on an unprecedented scale. As Professor Roach illustrates, the resulting wave of forgery signaled major shifts in
society and political culture, shifts which would lay the foundations for the European ancien regime -- also known as the
Old Regime and was the political and social system of the Kingdom of France from the Late Middle Ages (circa 15th
century) until the French Revolution of 1789, which led to the abolition in 1792 of hereditary monarchy and of the feudal
system of the French nobility.
Spanning documentary traditions across France, England, Germany and northern Italy, Professor Roach examines five sets
of falsified texts to demonstrate how forged records produced in this period gave voice to new collective identities within
and beyond the Church. Above all, he indicates how this fad for falsification points to new attitudes toward past and
present -- a developing fascination with the signs of antiquity. These conclusions revise traditional master narratives about
the development of antiquarianism in the modern era, showing that medieval forgers were every bit as sophisticated as
their Renaissance successors. Medieval forgers were simply interested in different subjects -- the history of the Church and
their local realms, rather than the literary world of classical antiquity.
A comparative history of falsified records at a crucial turning point in the Middle Ages, "Forgery and Memory at the End
of the First Millennium" offers valuable insights into how institutions and individuals rewrote and re-imagined the
past.
Critique: An extraordinary and seminal work of original, groundbreaking, and meticulously detailed scholarship, "Forgery
and Memory at the End of the First Millennium" must be considered a core and essential addition to college and university
library French, Germany and English medieval history collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "Forgery and Memory at the End of the First Millennium" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$31.99).
The Military Shelf
Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars: A Concise Dictionary, 1792-1815
Kevin F. Kiley
Frontline Books
Pen & Sword Books / Casemate
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781848329539, $62.95, HC, 632pp
https://www.amazon.com/Artillery-Napoleonic-Wars-Dictionary-1792-1815/dp/1848329539
Synopsis: Napoleon began his military career as an artillery cadet and artillery played a fundamental part in all his great
battles. Until the Napoleonic Wars artillery had been seen merely as a supporting arm to the infantry, but Napoleon
changed everything. He massed his guns in huge batteries to blast holes in his opponent's line. He even used the artillery to
charge the enemy, the gunners galloping up to the enemy to open fire at point blank range.
Napoleon's opponents did not all follow suit, choosing other tactical deployments. As a result, the Napoleonic era, more
than any that preceded or followed it, was one of fascinating artillery maneuvers and critical actions that changed the
course of many of the key battles. As the Prussian Field Marshal Blucher once observed, "Against Napoleon you needed
guns - and lots of them!"
The Napoleonic Wars was also a time of innovation, with the introduction of shrapnel shells and military rockets.
"Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars: A Concise Dictionary, 1792-1815" by Kevin F. Kiley will examine the artillery arms of
all sides from 'muzzle to butt plate'. As well as the significant artillerymen of the period, the innovators, scientists, and
innovators, military and civilian (individuals such as Robins, Belidor, Gribeauval and his colleagues, Maritz, Liechtenstein
and his collaborators, as well as the du Teil brothers) will all be examined, as will the important battles and sieges,
significant memoirs and documents, and artillery terms that soon became part of the military lexicon.
Critique: Compiled with expert commentary, impressively informative and exceptionally well organized in presentation,
"Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars: A Concise Dictionary, 1792-1815" is the definitive history on the subject and must be
considered essential reading for students of the Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as researchers in the military history of
battlefield artillery -- making it a very special and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, college, and university library collections in general, and Napoleonic Wars supplemental studies curriculums
in particular.
Editorial Note: Kevin F. Kiley is a retired US Marine Corps artillery officer. He is a graduate of West Point and has a
Masters Degree in Military History from Norwich University. Kevin is a Fellow of both The Massena Society and also the
International Napoleonic Society.
Stalin's Armour, 1941 - 1945
Anthony Tucker-Jones
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526777935, $34.95, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stalins-Armour-1941-1945-Soviet-Tanks/dp/1526777932
Synopsis: Stalin's purge of army officers in the late 1930s and disputes about tank tactics meant that Soviet armored forces
were in disarray when Hitler invaded in 1941. As a result, during Operation Barbarossa, the Wehrmacht's 3,200 panzers
ran circles round the Red Army's tank force of almost 20,000 -- with the predictable result that thousands of Soviet tanks
were disabled or destroyed.
Yet within two years of this disaster the Red Army's tank arm had regained its confidence and numbers and was in a
position to help turn the tide and liberate the Soviet Union. This is the remarkable story Anthony Tucker-Jones relates in
"Stalin's Armour, 1941 - 1945: Soviet Tanks at War", his concise, highly illustrated history of the part played by Soviet
armor in the war on the Eastern Front.
Individual chapters cover each phase of the conflict, from Barbarossa, through the battles at Moscow, Stalingrad and Kursk
to the massive, tank-led offensives that drove the Wehrmacht back to Berlin. Technical and design developments are
covered, as well as the changes in tactics and the role of the tanks in the integrated all-arms force that crushed German
opposition.
Critique: Enhanced for academia and military history buffs alike with the inclusion of a number of illustrations, two
Appendices (Red Army Tank Units 1941-1945; Soviet Tanks and Tracked Armoured Fightin Vehicles 1941-1945), a four
page Bibliography, and a seven page Index, "Stalin's Armour, 1941 - 1945: Soviet Tanks at War" is comprehensively
informative and an exceptionally well organized and presented work of meticulous research and outstanding scholarship.
While a core and essential addition to community, college, and university library World War II Military History collections
and supplemental curriculum lists, it should be noted for students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that "Stalin's Armour, 1941 - 1945: Soviet Tanks at War" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Anthony Tucker-Jones is a former defense intelligence officer and a widely published expert on regional
conflicts, counter-terrorism and armored and aerial warfare. He is also the author of over thirty books and a security and
terrorism correspondent for intersec - The Journal of International Security.
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
Peter C. Smith
Air World
c/o Pen & Sword Books / Casemate
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526759269, $59.95, HC, 448pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fairchild-Republic-10-Thunderbolt-II/dp/1526759268
Synopsis: The Fairchild-Republic A-10A Close Support aircraft has become a legend over its long front line life. Known
as the Warthog due to her unusual appearance, this little military aircraft has built up an awesome reputation in the
specialized ground-attack role, where her accuracy and deadliness are widely recognized as the best of their kind.
Hard lessons from the Second World War, that were reinforced by the bitter experience of the Vietnam War two decades
later, showed that it was both impracticable and highly non-cost efficient to use supersonic fighter jets in the close air
support mission. A requirement was therefore drawn up for an aeroplane capable of carrying a heavy and varied load of
ordnance, which had good endurance and unprecedented maneuverability, and which could survive heavy ground fire --
thus the A-10 was born. But, by the time it came into service her role had changed to that of a tank-buster in the defense of
Western Europe in the face of the overwhelming numbers of Soviet battle armor.
With her straight wing, twin tails and turbine engines mounted high on her rear fuselage, this single-seat aircraft certainly
presented a unique appearance. But all these features served a vital role, as Peter C. Smith explains in his highly detailed
study "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: The 'Warthog' Ground Attack Aircraft".
Although the Warthog's expected missions on the plains of Germany did not materialize, she did destroy hundreds of
Soviet-built tanks during the Gulf wars. The A-10 has also flown almost continuous missions over the Balkans, against the
Taliban in Afghanistan, and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
"Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: The 'Warthog' Ground Attack Aircraft" is a beautifully illustrated and
comprehensive history that brings the A-10's incredible story in military aviation up to date.
Critique: Along with an informative Introductions, as well as a listing of Tables and Diagrams, "Fairchild Republic A-10
Thunderbolt II: The 'Warthog' Ground Attack Aircraft" is enhanced for scholarship and military aviation fans with three
Appendices (Specifications; 'Friendly Fire'; Preserved Hogs: Museums and Gate Guards), twenty-three pages of Endnotes,
and a sixteen page Glossary. Expertly written, organized and presented, "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: The
'Warthog' Ground Attack Aircraft" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and
university library American Military Aviation History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted, especially for military aviation buffs, that "Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II: The 'Warthog' Ground Attack
Aircraft" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Peter C. Smith is a Member of The Society of Authors, London, and has worked as both a book and a
magazine editor, and has been a full-time historian and author since 1968. Details of all Peter's books can be found at:
www.dive-bombers.co.uk
Mission Command in the Israel Defense Forces
Brig. General Gideon Avidor, editor
University of North Georgia Press
P.O. Box 5032, Dahlonega, GA 30597
https://ung.edu/university-press
9781940771762, $19.99, PB, 388pp
https://www.amazon.com/Mission-Command-Israel-Defense-Forces/dp/1940771765
Synopsis: The Israel Defense Force have relied on mission command since their foundation. Expertly compiled and deftly
edited by Brig. General Gideon Avidor, "Mission Command in the Israel Defense Forces" is comprised of an erudite
collection of essays by experts who collectively explores Israel's military strategy through the understanding of mission
command and its relation to command and control. "Mission Command in the Israel Defense Forces" provides real-world
scenarios that used mission command-written by the acting officers themselves.
Critique: Absolutely essential reading for anyone studying the history and command structure of the Israel Defense Force,
"Mission Command in the Israel Defense Forces" is accessibly organized and presented in five major sections: Theory; An
Army is Born; Leaders Talk; Mission Command Put to Test; Mission Command Over the Horizon. Additional enhanced
for academia, "Mission Command in the Israel Defense Forces" also features an informative Introduction by Brig. General
Gideon Avidor and two Appendices (Terminology; Abbreviations). A seminal study, "Mission Command in the Israel
Defense Forces" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college,
and university library Military History collections in general, and Israeli Military History supplemental curriculum reading
lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Brig. General (Ret.) Gideon Avidor recruited to the I.D.F. in 1957 to the Armored Corps. He commanded
Tank Company, Battalion, and Brigade. He participated in the Six-Day War as Tank Brigade G3; in the Yom Kippur war,
he was the 252nd Division G3. During the Second Lebanon War, he was the Chief Armored Officer. He also commanded
the School of Armor, was the DY Armor Corps Commander, the Israeli Defense Attache, and the Ministry of Defense
representative to Singapore, Australia, Papua-New Guinea, New Zealand, and the Philippines. He graduated from the U.S.
Army Command and General Staff College and the I.D.F. National Defense College. He holds a B.A. in History and an
M.A. in Urban Geography.
The Caribbean Front in World War II
Jose L. Bolivar Fresneda
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
www.markuswiener.com
9781558769540, $68.95, HC, 286pp
https://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Front-World-war-II/dp/1558769552
Synopsis: The conventional view of World War II as an otherwise world-wide conflict but not one fought out in the
Americas is debunked in the pages of "The Caribbean Front in World War II", an inherently fascinating and impressively
presented study by Jose L. Bolivar Fresneda.
German submarine warfare was sinking one oil tanker or merchant ship per day in Caribbean waters in the worst months of
1942. The US merchant marine suffered heavy losses of ships and men, while the Allies struggled to contain the damage
done to the supply of oil from Venezuela and airplane fuel from Curacao to the United States.
Puerto Rico experienced food shortages on account of German U-boat warfare in 1942, while Martinique suffered near
famine in the aftermath of a British and American blockade induced by the Vichy government's control of the Caribbean
island.
The US invested billions in military installments on the British and American islands and transformed Puerto Rico into 'the
Gibraltar of the Caribbean.' "The Caribbean Front in World War II" is a compelling and documented study based on
contemporary newspapers, doctoral dissertations, and primary archival sources.
Critique: A fascinating and informative history of a particular World War II theatre of action that is now rescued from
obscurity, "The Caribbean Front in World War II" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of twenty-six pages of
Notes, a ten page Bibliography, and a four page Index, must be considered a critically important and essential core addition
to personal, professional, community, college, and university library World War II military history collections. It should be
noted for students, academia, and dedicated World War II military buffs that "The Caribbean Front in World War II" is
also readily available in a paperback edition (9781558769557, $26.95).
The Education Shelf
Stop Leading, Start Building!
Robyn R. Jackson
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416629849, $31.95, PB, 180pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Leading-Start-Building-Resources/dp/141662984X
Synopsis: You are a school administrator -- a principal or maybe a district leader. You're doing everything "right" from
poring over data, to trying new strategies, and launching annual initiatives, bringing in outside trainers. So why do the
outcomes you seek still seem so far away? The problem isn't you; it's that you were trained in school leadership, and school
leadership just isn't up to the challenge.
"Stop Leading, Start Building!: Turn Your School into a Success Story with the People and Resources You Already Have"
is an instructional guide for showing school administrators how to stop wasting time and energy on flawed leadership
approaches that succeed only with the right staff, students, parents, budget, and boss. It underscores that it's possible to
transform your school with the people and resources you already have. The secret? Stop leading and start building!
In the pages of "Stop Leading, Start Building!", you will learn to use Jackson's breakthrough Buildership Model to escape
the "school improvement hamster wheel" and finally create the school your students and teachers deserve. The work
involves a handful of simple shifts in how you approach.
When you stop leading and start building, you let go of the idea that you need to work harder to make your school "work
better." You no longer settle for incremental improvement when what you really want is dramatic change and better
learning outcomes for all. It's time to make the shift from leadership to buildership. Get ready to turn your school into a
success story.
Critique: A complete course of practical and effective instruction under one cover, "Stop Leading, Start Building!: Turn
Your School into a Success Story with the People and Resources You Already Have" is an extraordinarily 'user friendly'
DIY instruction guide and manual that is especially recommended for school district, college, and university library
Education Administration collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Stop Leading, Start Building!" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.49).
Editorial Note: Robyn R. Jackson, as the CEO of Mindsteps(R) Inc., has helped thousands of K - 12 administrators and
teachers develop the clarity and confidence to turn their classrooms and schools into success stories -- most recently
through her Builder's Lab workshops and her online training program, Buildership University. A former National Board
Certified high school English teacher and an award-winning middle school administrator, Dr. Jackson is an internationally
recognized keynote speaker and consultant who has worked in schools and districts worldwide to help teachers and
administrators develop rigorous instructional programs that provide students with the support and motivation they need to
reach or exceed the standards.
The Comprehensive Guide to Working With Student Teachers
Elizabeth Soslau & Monique Alexander
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807764954, $105.00, HC, 208pp
https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Guide-Working-Student-Teachers/dp/0807764957
Synopsis: An essential instructional guide and resource for clinical and field experience coordinators and all educators who
find themselves in the position of guiding teacher candidates, "The Comprehensive Guide to Working With Student
Teachers: Tools and Templates to Support Reflective Professional Growth" by the team of Professor Elizabeth Soslau and
Professor Monique Alexander provides a comprehensive toolkit for the complex work of field instruction, including
mentoring approaches; conversation stems; conferencing techniques; lesson debriefing questions; understandings of
programmatic goals; observation, assessment, and feedback methods; and more.
"The Comprehensive Guide to Working With Student Teachers" also demonstrate how to use video viewing and
conferencing to adapt support for candidate growth in digital environments. It also clearly defines what field instruction
entails and shows how to move from a pre-prescribed technical approach toward one that fosters candidates' abilities to
embody the roles of empowered, self-directed, and agentic teachers. With the help of "The Comprehensive Guide to
Working With Student Teachers" new and seasoned teacher educators will guide candidates to not only learn how to
meaningfully reflect on practice, but to also internalize these competencies for their own future professional development
and continuous self-improvement.
The chapters comprising "The Comprehensive Guide to Working With Student Teachers" are accessibly written and filled
with concrete examples, tips, worksheets, activities, and feature: Clear directions, tools, templates, and protocols for how
to do the job of field instruction; A "Voices From the Field" chapter with practical advice from field instructors across
multiple programs; Annotated sample conversations with candidates.
Critique: Comprehensive and throughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Comprehensive Guide to
Working With Student Teachers: Tools and Templates to Support Reflective Professional Growth" must be considered an
essential and core addition to professional, school district, college, and university library Teacher Education instructional
reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists and in-service training curriculums that "The
Comprehensive Guide to Working With Student Teachers: Tools and Templates to Support Reflective Professional
Growth" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780807764947, $34.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.22).
Editorial Note: Elizabeth Soslau is Associate Professor of Education, University of Delaware. Monique Alexander is
Assistant Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania).
The Science Shelf
The Origins of Modern Science
Ofer Gal
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781316510308, $99.99, HC, 412pp
https://www.amazon.com/Origins-Modern-Science-Scientific-Revolution/dp/1316510301
Synopsis: "The Origins of Modern Science: From Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution" by Ofer Gal (Professor of History
and Philosophy of Science, University of Sydney) is the first synthetic account of the history of science from antiquity
through the Scientific Revolution in many decades.
Providing readers of all backgrounds and students of all disciplines with the tools to study science like a historian,
Professor Gal covers everything from Pythagorean mathematics to Newton's Principia, through Islamic medicine, medieval
architecture, global commerce and magic. Richly illustrated throughout, scientific reasoning and practices are introduced in
accessible and engaging ways with an emphasis on the complex relationships between institutions, beliefs and political
structures and practices.
Readers will gain valuable new insights into the role that science has played both in history and in the contemporary world
of today -- placing the crucial challenges to science and technology of our time within their historical and cultural
context.
Critique: A complete and comprehensive course of instruction in the history and accomplishments of science, as well as
the application of the scientific method of inquiry in diverse cultures around the world, "The Origins of Modern Science:
From Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college,
and university library History of Technology & Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "The Origins of Modern Science: From Antiquity to the Scientific Revolution" is also readily available in a paperback
edition (9781316649701, $32.99) and in a digital book format (eTextbook, $26.00).
Cosmic Messengers
Martin Harwit
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108842440, $44.99, HC, 396pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Messengers-Limits-Astronomy-Universe/dp/1108842445
Synopsis: In the pages of "Cosmic Messengers: The Limits of Astronomy in an Unruly Universe", Martin Harwit
(Professor Emeritus of Astronomy at Cornell University and Director of the National Air and Space Museum in
Washington, D.C. from 1987 to 1995) asks key questions about the scope of observational astronomy. Humans have long
sought to understand the world we inhabit. Recent realization of how our unruly Universe distorts information before it
ever reaches us reveals distinct limits on how well we will ultimately understand the Cosmos.
Even the best instruments we might conceive will inevitably be thwarted by ever more complex distortions and will never
untangle the data completely. Observational astronomy, and the cost of pursuing it, will then have reached an inherent end.
Only some totally different lines of approach, as yet unknown and potentially far more costly, might then need to emerge if
we wish to learn more.
"Cosmic Messengers" is an impressively accessible and comprehensive study that is especially written for all astronomers
and astrophysicists, as well as those curious non-specialist general readers and amateur stargazers about how well we will
ever understand the Universe and the potential costs of pushing those limits.
Critique: With its nine chapters deftly organized into four major sections (Instruments, Messengers, and Cosmic Messages;
The Bounded Energies of Nature's Messengers; Parameters Specifying Individual Messengers; The Pace of Progress),
"Cosmic Messengers: The Limits of Astronomy in an Unruly Universe" is an especially and unreservedly recommended
for community, college, and university library Astronomy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should
be noted for students, academicians, astronomers, and the general public with an interest in astronomy that "Cosmic
Messengers: The Limits of Astronomy in an Unruly Universe" is also readily available in a digital book format
(eTextbook, $19.80).
The Computer Shelf
Murach's C#, seventh edition
Anne Boehm & Joel Murach
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781943872534, $59.50, PB, 816pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murachs-C-7th-Murach-Books/dp/1943872538
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded 7th edition, the "Murach's C#" training guide and manual (which has been
a favorite of developers ever since the 1st edition came out in 2004) continues to deliver the professional skills C# users
are looking for today. In fact, it will teach C# essentials more easily than ever, as it shows how to take advantage of the
most recent releases of C#, .NET, and Visual Studio.
A self-paced DIY book, "Murach's C#" shows how to use Visual Studio, C#, and the .NET classes to develop Windows
Forms applications -- wether the reader is new to programming or a veteran user of C#. "Murach's C#" is also an
object-oriented instructional book that shows how to use business classes, inheritance, and interfaces the way they're used
in the real world. It's a database programming book that shows you how to create professional database applications using
Entity Framework and LINQ or ADO.NET.
After a careful reading of this new 7th edition of "Murach's C#", even the most novice of programmers will be able to
develop 3-tiered, object-oriented, Windows Forms applications the way the best professionals do. And have the essential
skills that you need to develop any C# application -- be it for the desktop, the web, or mobile devices.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, this new and comprehensive 7th edition of "Murach's
C#" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Computer
Science collections in general, and C# programming, Object-Oriented Software Design, and Database Storage & Design
instructional reference studies lists in particular.
HTML and CSS QuickStart Guide
David DuRocher
Clydebank Media
www.clydebankmedia.com
9781636100012, $37.99, HC, 362pp
https://www.amazon.com/HTML-CSS-QuickStart-Guide-Simplified/dp/1636100015
Synopsis: Every one of the over 4 billion webpages online today use HTML markup language to display its content.
HTML is everywhere. In the "HTML and CSS QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginners Guide to Developing a Strong
Coding Foundation, Building Responsive Websites, and Mastering ... of Modern Web Design" author, instructor, and 10+
year Fortune 500 tech company veteran David DuRocher breaks down HTML5 and CSS3 fundamentals manageable,
practical, and engaging segments designed for first-time developers.
"HTML and CSS QuickStart Guide" covers: Modern Web Design Fundamentals (How to use the powerful combination of
HTML5 and CSS3 to build functional and responsive web pages); Site Structure and Responsive Design Principles (How
to format HTML and CSS markup to produce attractive web sites and web pages that look great on any browser and any
device); Breathing Life Into Your Projects (How to incorporate forms, multimedia elements, special characters and more
into your web projects); Correct Markup Best Practices (How to efficiently use CSS and HTML together to produce clean,
professional HTML documents using industry-standard tools such as GitHub); HTML and CSS for Beginners (HTML and
CSS elements, formatting, padding, gradients, menus, testing, debugging, keeping your site's code up to date and more-all
supported with abundant visual examples and a practical hands-on project).
Critique: Expertly written, organized and presented the "HTML and CSS QuickStart Guide" is an ideal DIY instruction
manual and guide, and is an ideal textbook for beginning level HTML courses. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for community, college, and university library Computer Programming & Web Design collections, it should
be noted for personal reading lists that "HTML and CSS QuickStart Guide" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9781636100005, $27.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Biography Shelf
Matchsticks: An Education in Black and White
Fred Engh, author
Jann Seal, author
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757005053, $24.95, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Matchsticks-Education-Black-Fred-Engh/dp/0757005055
Synopsis: The year was 1961, a year marking the start of the racial unrest that would last throughout the decade. Living in
a trailer camp in Maryland with his wife and children, Fred Engh's future seemed bleak -- that is, until he heard a college
football coach being interviewed on a local radio show talking about becoming a Physical Education teacher. The coach's
words would inspire him enough to registrar at Maryland State College, a then all-black college.
The things of it was, Fred Engh was white. He would become the first white student to attend Maryland State, a segregated
college. His intention was not to break any racial barriers or make any headlines. He simply wanted a better life for himself
and his family as an accredited teacher. What he learned from attending that college however was something he had not
expected. Written with the assistance of Jann Seal, "Matchsticks: An Education in Black & White" is Fred's personal and
history making story of discovery, understanding, and personal change.
Critique: An inherently impressive and inspiring life story, "Matchsticks: An Education in Black & White" is timely when
considering today's struggle for the end of systemic racism, and timeless when considering one man's determination to
make a better life for himself, his family, and his community. While especially and unreservedly recommended for
community, college, and university library Contemporary American Biography & Memoir collections, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Matchsticks: An Education in Black & White" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.95).
Editorial Note #1: Fred Engh has been involved in youth sports for over thirty years as a coach, athletic director, and sports
educator. In 1981, he founded a program that evolved into The National Alliance For Youth Sports (NAYS), a nonprofit
organization that works to provide safe sports for America's youth. As president of the Alliance, Engh has appeared on
numerous television shows, including Dateline NBC and 20/20.
Editorial Note #2: Jann Seal attended the University of Maryland in College Park receiving her undergraduate degree in
English. After driving around the world in a Land Rover and writing about her adventures, she began her career teaching
high school English in Baltimore's inner city. With a move to Los Angeles, she became an advertising copy writer opening
the door to writing for network television soap operas. Jann currently writes and edits magazines and newspaper articles
and has published a cookbook.
God's Cold Warrior
John D. Wilsey
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
4035 Park East Court SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
www.eerdmans.com
9780802875723, $21.99, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Cold-Warrior-Religious-Biography/dp/0802875726
Synopsis: When John Foster Dulles died in 1959, he was given the largest American state funeral since Franklin Delano
Roosevelt's in 1945. President Eisenhower called Dulles (his longtime secretary of state) "one of the truly great men of our
time," and a few years later the new commercial airport outside Washington, DC, was christened the Dulles International
Airport in his honor.
With the coming of new generations, his star has fallen significantly since that time, but his influence remains indelible --
most especially regarding his role in bringing the world view of American exceptionalism to the forefront of US foreign
policy during the Cold War era -- a world view that has long outlived him.
In "God's Cold Warrior: The Life and Faith of John Foster Dulles", author and academician John D. Wilsey recounts how
Dulles's faith commitments from his Presbyterian upbringing found fertile soil in the anti-communist crusades of the
mid-twentieth century. After attending the Oxford Ecumenical Church Conference in 1937, he wrote about his realization
that "the spirit of Christianity, of which I learned as a boy, was really that of which the world now stood in very great need,
not merely to save souls, but to solve the practical problems of international affairs."
Dulles believed that America was chosen by God to defend the freedom of all those vulnerable to the godless tyranny of
communism, and he carried out this religious vision in every aspect of his diplomatic and political work. He was
conspicuous among those US officials in the twentieth century that prominently combined their religious convictions and
public service, making his life and faith key to understanding the interconnectedness of God and country in US foreign
affairs.
Critique: Assessing the life and accomplishments of John Foster Dulles through a Christian perspective, "God's Cold
Warrior: The Life and Faith of John Foster Dulles" is an inherently interesting read that is deftly written, impressively
informative, and exceptionally insightful. While highly recommended for community, college, and university library
American Biography collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "God's Cold Warrior" is also readily
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.49).
Editorial Note: John D. Wilsey is Associate Professor of Church History at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Louisville, Kentucky. He is also the author of "American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an
Idea and One Nation under God? An Evangelical Critique of Christian America".
The Philosophy Shelf
Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult, second edition
Garrett J. DeWeese & J. P. Moreland
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
9780830839148, $26.00, PB, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Made-Slightly-Less-Difficult/dp/0830839143
Synopsis: Philosophy is thinking critically about questions that matter. But many people find philosophy intimidating, so
they never discover how invaluable it can be in engaging ideas, culture, and even their faith.
Academicians and philosophy professors Garrett DeWeese and J. P. Moreland understand these challenges, and in
"Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner's Guide to Life's Big Questions" they apply their decades of
teaching experience to help to make philosophy a little less difficult.
Using straightforward language with plenty of everyday examples, they explain the basics needed to understand
philosophical concepts including logic, metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, philosophical anthropology, and philosophy of
science.
This newly updated and expanded second edition of "Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner's Guide to
Life's Big Questions" includes new chapters on aesthetics and philosophy of religion, as well as updated content on some
current issues in philosophy. Ultimately, DeWeese and Moreland argue, developing a philosophically informed worldview
is absolutely critical for Christians and for the future of the church.
Critique Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner's
Guide to Life's Big Questions" is the ideal introduction to the history of philosophy in general, and religious philosophy
from a Christian perspective in particular. While highly recommended for community, seminary, college, and university
library Philosophy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for students, pastors, campus
workers, and non-specialist general readers that "Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner's Guide to Life's
Big Questions" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.70).
Editorial Note #1: Garrett J. DeWeese (PhD, University of Colorado; ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of
philosophy and philosophical theology at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in La Mirada, California. He has
also taught at Dayspring Center for Christian Studies, University of Colorado, Denver Seminary, and Institut Biblique
Europeen (France). He is the author of God and the Nature of Time and Doing Philosophy as a Christian.
Editorial Note #2: J. P. Moreland (PhD, University of Southern California) is the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at
Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. His many books include Consciousness and the Existence of God,
Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, In Search of a Confident Faith, Love Your God With All Your
Mind, and The God Question.
The General Fiction Shelf
Beneficence
Meredith Hall
David R. Godine, Publisher
www.godine.com
9781567926699, $25.95, HC, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/Beneficence-Meredith-Hall/dp/156792669X
Synopsis: In the midst of a nearly perfect life, Doris Senter is thankful but wary. "We can't ever know what will come," she
says. When an unimaginable tragedy turns the family of five into a family of four, everything the Senters held faith in is
shattered. The family is consumed by sorrow and guilt. Slowly, the surviving family members find their way to forgiveness
-- of themselves and of each other.
Critique: An impressively skilled storyteller, Meredith Hall has produced the kind of novel that will linger in the mind and
memory of the reader long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. With its core theme of family
grief and recovery, "Beneficence" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library
Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of readers with a particular
interest in Women's Divorce & Domestic Fiction that "Beneficence" is also readily available in a paperback edition
(9781567927092, $16.95), in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.69), and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781665011433, $29.95, CD).
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Devil in Her Bed
Kerrigan Byrne
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250318886, $7.99, PB, 368pp
https://www.amazon.com/Devil-Her-Bed-You-Know/dp/1250318882
Synopsis: He lives in secret service to the Crown -- a man of duty, deception, and an undeniable attraction to a woman who
threatens to tear his whole world apart. They call him the Devil of Dorset. He stands alone, a man of undeniable power.
Moving in and out of shadows, back alleys and ballrooms, he is unstoppable and one of the Crown's most dangerous
weapons. However, when he sets his sights on the undeniably beautiful Countess of Mont Claire, Francesca Cavendish, he
doesn't realize that he has met a match like no other.
Francesca is a countess by day and stalks her prey (those responsible for the death of her family) by night. What she does
not expect is to be thrown into the path of the devil himself, the Earl of Devlin. She has secrets of her own and he seems
determined to lay them bare. Can her heart survive finding the love of her life and losing him when all is revealed?
Critique: "The Devil in Her Bed" is the third book in the simply outstanding 'Devil You Know' trilogy by author Kerrigan
Byrne and continues to showcase her truly impressive flair for originality and the kind of narrative storytelling style that
deftly blends searing romantic passion with cliff-hanger quality suspense. The result is a highly recommended and riveting
read from cover to cover. While highly recommended for community library historical romance fiction collections, it
should be noted for the growing legion of Kerrigan Byrne fans that "The Devil in Her Bed" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
The Western Fiction Shelf
The Burning Land
John Hunter
Sagebrush Large Print Western
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785418679, $32.00, PB, Large Print, 246pp
https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Land-John-Hunter/dp/178541867X
Synopsis: Cal Bentley has won his fight to provide water for a land that desperately needs it. Now all he has to do is
convince the local ranchers the government means business. Even the sheriff has quit rather than try to tell Boss Herbert to
get off the 500,000 acres of government land he's using. So naturally Cal gets himself elected lawman. Which ends up with
him and his partner beaten and left in the desert, with no way to get back. No way at all. And no water!
Critique: With more unexpected plot twists and turns than the Colorado River in full flood, "The Burning Land" is a
compulsive page turner of a read from cover to cover. This large print edition will prove to be a welcome and popular
addition to the personal reading lists of all western novel fans and a much appreciated addition to community library
Western Fiction collections.
When Oil Ran Red
Clay Randall
Sagebrush Large Print Western
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785418686, $32.00, PB, Large Print, 234pp
https://www.amazon.com/When-Oil-Ran-Clay-Randall/dp/1785418688
Synopsis: Stubborn family loyalty means Grant Lunsford, a roving cowpuncher, won't change his name, despite the fact of
his being the younger brother of the notorious outlaw, Boss Lunsford, costs him job after job. But when he beats up a
bartender after hearing the popular ballad about Boss being sung in the bar, John Kinsley, owner of the Paradise Ranch,
sees the fight and hires Grant as foreman.
Soon after, the other ranchers of The Strip band together to oppose the inroads of oil drillers. Kinsley refuses to join them,
declaring that he's going into oil himself and touching off a bloody feud. To complicate matters, Grant falls in love with
Kinsley's stepdaughter when the big rancher plans to marry her off to his eastern oil-promoter partner. When their secret
meetings are reported to Kinsley, the news precipitates a private war between him and his foreman -- one that can only end
in blood.
Critique: A complex and twisting storyline that will engage the reader's rapt attention from cover to cover, this large print
edition of "When Oil Ran Red" by Clay Randall is a compelling read and a highly recommended addition to community
library Western Fiction collections in general, and the personal reading lists of all dedicated western fans in particular.
Fort Hatred
Corba Sunman
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845990, $21.49, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fort-Hatred-Corba-Sunman/dp/1444845993
Synopsis: Captain Slade Moran rides to Fort Tipton in West Texas on the hunt for a deserter, Trooper Clark, who is also
wanted for the murder of two soldiers. It seems a straightforward case: find Clark and bring him to justice. But as Moran
investigates, he finds that all is not as it seems. For one thing, a lieutenant has been assassinated and the man's sister is
undercover as a saloon hostess trying to find out who did it and why. Then there is a friend of Clark's who suspects that the
trooper had been framed, and hints at a conspiracy of silence at the fort. Moran vows to uncover the truth -- though it might
just be at the cost of his own life.
Another western novel packed with suspense and cliff-hanger plot twists, "Fort Hatred" by veteran western writer Corba
Sunman is an extraordinary and thoroughly entertaining read from cover to cover. This large print paperback edition from
the Linford Western Library series is enthusiastically recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated western
fans, and certain to be a welcome addition to any and all community library collections.
Bad Blood in Kansas
Tom R. Wade
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845341, $21.49, PB, Large Print, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Kansas-Tom-Wade/dp/1444845349
Synopsis: John Carshalton, late of the British army, returns to the town of Arabella in Kansas to take up a new job as
sheriff. It's a peaceful life -- until he gets word of outlaw gangs terrorizing settlements along the Kansas-Missouri border.
That's when John, because he was once a British Army officer, is asked by a Union Army officer to leave his new wife and
his newly appointed sheriff position to pose as a deserter and try to infiltrate whatever kind of force is being raised. He
agrees and is soon caught up in a web of violence and intrigue that threatens to destroy him, and everything he holds dear -
- including the now pregnant woman he loves and the town he had sworn to protect.
Critique: Another riveting great read from western novelist Tom R. Wade, "Bad Blood In Kansas" is a inherently
compelling page turner of a story featuring a lethal madman with delusions of bloody grandeur and seeking to renew the
recently ended Civil War with an unholy alliance of former Confederate soldiers and hostile Native Americans. With a
climatic confrontation blended with unexpected plot twists to the very end, this large print edition of "Bad Blood In
Kansas" from the Linford Western Library collection is a fun and recommended addition to community library collections
and the personal reading lists of all western fiction buffs!
Whitewater Run
Caleb Rand
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845976, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Whitewater-Run-Caleb-Rand/dp/1444845977
Synopsis: Thinking that being on the run can be no worse than the torment of phoney incrimination and punishment, Billy
Finch escapes from the brutal prison of Great China Wash where he was to be hung for a murder he did not commit.
Riding many miles south, a vengeful search for the true killer leads Billy to Walnut Bench and its sheriff, Bigg Harmer,
who in a serpentine twist of fate is seeking the same man. Billy decides to strike a deal, and joins a posse of hard-bitten
gunmen and outlaws with prices on their heads in a hazardous trip across the border into Mexico that starts off with their
having to rescue a woman from Mexican bandits.
Critique: Few writers can match Caleb Rand as a writer of action packed westerns where you can almost smell the gun
smoke rising from the pages. An inherently thriller of a read from first page to last, "Whitewater Run" is one of Caleb's
best to date and this large print addition from the Linford Western Library collection is unreservedly recommended for
both community library Western Fiction collections and the personal reading lists of all western novel fans.
Shootin' Man
Bradford Scott
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785418693, $32.00, PB, Large Print, 180pp
https://www.amazon.com/Shootin-Man-Bradford-Scott/dp/1785418696
Synopsis: Secrecy, armed guards - nothing seems to stop the successful raids of an outlaw group that people of the town of
Palma call Night Riders. Nobody knows who they are or where they come from -- only that no gold and no lives are safe
while they ride. Walt Slade, undercover ace of the Texas Rangers, is the man most feared by the owlhoots and dry-gulchers
of the old Texas border. The sight of this tall lawman with the lightning-fast draw astride his great black horse, Shadow,
symbolizes an armed defense of the innocent and the end of reckless careers of lawlessness When he has been assigned the
tough job of tracking down the Night Riders he finds that it's an even tougher job of just staying alive as they lure him into
a series of death traps and seemingly are able to keep one step ahead of him.
Critique: With it's wealth of unexpected plot twists and spectacular conclusion, "Shootin' Man" by veteran western novelist
Bradford Scott is an inherently fascinating blend of mystery and gun smoke that will hold the riveted attention of all
western novel fans from first page to last. This large print edition from the Sagebrush Large Print Western collection will
prove to be a welcome and popular addition to personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction
collections.
Even Marshals Hang
Sam Clancy
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444845884, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Even-Marshals-Hang-Sam-Clancy/dp/1444845888
Synopsis: When it comes to fighting outlaws, Josh Ford, Deputy United States Marshal and the son of the legendary Texas
Ranger Bass Reeves, is hell on wheels and blinding fast with a gen -- and this time he'll need to be. Two other lawmen
have disappeared in the Moose River Mountains, and the trail leads to Stay, a small town under the heel of a brutal
vigilance committee led by a killer known only as The Judge, a man who is backed up with twenty gunslingers of his own.
After Ford is forced into a gunfight he doesn't want, and then sentenced to hang, the stench of death only gets stronger.
They were warned. They've never seen the likes of Ford!
Critique: A simply riveting, gun smoke laced, non-stop thriller of a western novel by a true master of the genre, "Even
Marshals Hang" by Sam Clancy. From unexpected plot twist to elements of unanticipated cliff-hanger suspense, this large
print paperback edition from Linford Western Library collection, "Even Marshals Hang" is an especially endorsed addition
to personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Animals
Will Staples
Blackstone Publishing
https://www.blackstonepublishing.com
9781094065885 $27.99 hc / $8.69 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Animals-Will-Staples/dp/1094065889
Synopsis: When rhino poachers kill two of his fellow rangers in Kruger Park, South African Defense Force veteran Cobus
Venter reaches his breaking point. Quitting his job, he embarks on a vigilante mission to take down the animal-trafficking
syndicate from the inside. Meanwhile, in Florida, insurance investigator Randall Knight is called to a private roadside zoo,
where a new tiger cub of suspect lineage brought a virus that wiped out all the zoo's tigers. The disease is just one species
jump away from erupting into a deadly global human pandemic. What starts as a simple insurance claim leads Knight to
discover a shocking new evolution in the business of illicit animal trafficking. Both men's journeys take them from the
darkest corners of Southeast Asia to the VIP gambling rooms of Macau, where they must stay alive long enough to stop a
vicious international triad from ending wildlife as we know it.
Animals is set in the world of global animal trafficking and follows converging story lines into a dark maze of corruption
and organized crime, and through the journeys of the main characters, the novel explores the factors driving the
exploitation and ruin of the natural world.
Though the story is fiction, the characters, locations, and plot points are almost entirely rooted in fact. They are the product
of hundreds of conversations with everyone from Jane Goodall to the CIA, to Damien Mander (an ex-mercenary turned
animal activist). To experience the issue firsthand, Will Staples took a month-long research trip spanning three continents
and seven countries. The journey was a profoundly transformative, life-altering experience.
The author's goal with this novel is to expose this issue to as many people as possible. To that end, all his income from this
book will be donated to nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting wildlife.
Critique: A suspenseful thriller heavily rooted in extensive research into the cruel underworld of global animal trafficking,
Animals uses fiction to starkly expose the repercussions of harrowing inhumanity. Intense and gripping to the very last
page, Animals is worthy of the highest recommendation for both personal and public library collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that Animals is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.69).
Fatal Intent
Tammy Euliano
Oceanview Publishing
1620 Main Street, Suite 11, Sarasota, FL 34236
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608094165, $26.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Intent-Tammy-Euliano-MD/dp/1608094162
Synopsis: When her elderly patients start dying at home days after minor surgery, anesthesiologist Dr. Kate Downey wants
to know why. The surgeon, Charles Ricken, not so much. "Old people die, that's what they do," is his response. When Kate
presses, Ricken places the blame squarely on her shoulders. Kate is currently on probation, and the chief of staff sides with
the surgeon, leaving Kate to prove her innocence and save her own career. With her husband in a prolonged coma, it's all
she has left.
Aided by her eccentric Great Aunt Irm, a precocious medical student, and the lawyer son of a victim, Kate launches her
own unorthodox investigation of these unexpected deaths. As she comes closer to exposing the culprit's identity, she faces
professional intimidation, threats to her life, a home invasion, and, tragically, the suspicious death of someone close to her.
The stakes escalate to the breaking point when Kate, under violent duress, is forced to choose which of her loved ones to
save -- and which must be sacrificed.
Critique: A ripping great read and all the more impressive considering that "Fatal Intent" is author Tammy Euliano's debut
as a novelist, it becomes even more interesting when considering that Tammy's day job as an MD is being a practicing
anesthesiologist and tenured professor at the University of Florida. Medical details are spot on, and with the creation of
memorable characters and a riveting storyline laced with unexpected plot twists and turns, "Fatal Intent" is an especially
and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Fatal Intent" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
The Night Gate
Peter May
Quercus
1290 Sixth Ave., NY, NY 10104
www.quercus.com
9781784295042, $26.99, HC, 486pp
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Gate-Peter-May/dp/1784295043
Synopsis: In a sleepy French village, the body of a man shot through the head is disinterred by the roots of a fallen tree. A
week later a famous art critic is viciously murdered in a nearby house. These two homicide deaths occurred more than
seventy years apart.
Asked by a colleague to inspect the site of the former, forensics expert Enzo Macleod quickly finds himself embroiled in
the investigation of the latter. Two extraordinary narratives are set in train - one historical, unfolding in the treacherous
wartime years of Occupied France; the other contemporary, set in the autumn of 2020 as France re-enters Covid lockdown.
And Enzo's investigations reveal an unexpected link between the murders - the Mona Lisa!
Tasked by the exiled General Charles de Gaulle to keep the world's most famous painting out of Nazi hands after the fall of
France in 1940, 28-year-old Georgette Pignal finds herself swept along by the tide of history. Following in the wake of Da
Vinci's Mona Lisa as it is moved from chateau to chateau by the Louvre, she finds herself just one step ahead of two
German art experts sent to steal it for rival patrons - Hitler and G”ring.
What none of them know is that the Louvre itself has taken exceptional measures to keep the painting safe, unwittingly
setting in train a fatal sequence of events extending over seven decades. Events that have led to both killings.
"The Night Gate" by Peter May spans three generations, taking us from war-torn London, the Outer Hebrides of Scotland,
Berlin and Vichy France, to the deadly enemy facing the world in 2020. In his latest novel, May clearly shows why he is
one of the great contemporary writers of crime fiction working today.
Critique: Another inherently riveting thriller of a read by a master of the suspense mystery genre, Peter May's "The Night
Gate" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It
should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Peter May fans that "The Night Gate" is also readily
available in a paperback edition (9781784295059, $22.17) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Warriors of the Galaxy
Garry J. Peterson
https://www.garryjpeterson.com
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
www.rdrpublishers.com
9781944297886, $14.95, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Galaxy-Steele-Novel-Stargate/dp/194429788X
Synopsis: Sara didn't start out expecting to change the world. She inherited it from her dad and grandad, but she didn't
expect it. For much of her early years, Sara thought her family was pretty weird and there seemed to be plenty of evidence
to prove it. Her late grandfather, Pete Stevenson, maybe the weirdest of all, was obsessed with chasing down proof of
aliens and time travel all over the world. Incidents through the years seemed to suggest that her family had, indeed, come
across evidence that alien presence was real. Informed speculation regarding alien presence had now become irrefutable
fact. Now, has an actual temporal alien encounter revealed that she is Earth's chosen one?
Critique: A simply riveting and great fun read from cover to cover, "Warriors of the Galaxy" is the third Sara Steele novel
in author Garry Peterson's simply outstanding science fiction series 'Stargate Earth'. While absolutely and unreservedly
recommended for all dedicated science fiction action/adventure fans, it should be noted for both personal reading lists and
community library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections that "Warriors of the Galaxy" is available in both a paperback
and a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99). Of special note is Garry Peterson's website at
https://www.garryjpeterson.com
First Team
Robbie MacNiven
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com/aconyte-books
9781839080623, $16.95, PB, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/First-Team-Marvel-Xaviers-Institute/dp/1839080620
Synopsis: Victor Borkowski (also known as Anole) has adjusted well to life at Xavier's Institute, gaining control over his
reptilian mutant powers and the respect of his fellow students. However, when he discovers that his parents have been
kidnapped by anti-mutant extremists, the Purifiers, Victor's discipline and trust in the X-Men is strained to breaking point.
Setting out alone in defiance of his instructors, he's quickly in serious trouble. It isn't just the fanatical Purifiers threatening
his family, there's a villainous scientist waiting to get hold of Victor himself. Maybe he can't do this by himself after
all!
Critique: Set in the Marvel Universe, "First Team" by author Robbie MacNiven is a Xavier's Institute Novel and meets the
high standards for Marvel stories as set by the now legendary Stan Lee. A simply riveting great read from cover to cover,
"First Team" will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to highschool and community
library science fiction collections for readers ages 15 to 95. It should be noted for personal reading lists of the legions of
dedicated Marvel fans that "First Team" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Celebrating Prairie Birds
Wayne Lynch
Fifth House Publishers
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside
www.fitzhenry.ca
9781927083574, $39.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Celebrating-Prairie-Birds-Wayne-Lynch/dp/1927083575
Synopsis: Professional wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch has been fascinated by the prairie grasslands for more than 40
years and in love with birds for even longer. His new book, "Celebrating Prairie Birds", visually celebrates the beauty and
biology of the beautiful world of prairie birds.
Lynch travelled through rolling grassy plains, wetlands, lazy, winding rivers, sculpted badlands and more to find the
amazing array of birds that make these varied habitats their home. Their complex and intriguing lives are explored and
revealed through this new and thoroughly impressive collection of superbly presented full color photographs.
The prairie grasslands are home to roughly 250 species of birds. Lynch has included birds from a variety of prairie habitats
in order to include multiple species. Bird lovers will learn about how to identify the many different species, as well as
where to find them, and about their dietary habits. From red-necked grebes and ruffed grouse to American white pelicans,
Trumpeter swans and turkey vultures, close to 100 prairie birds are featured in the pages of "Celebrating Prairie
Birds".
Critique: An inherently fascinating, entertaining and informative compendium of images and commentary that is a 'must'
for all dedicated bird watchers, "Celebrating Prairie Birds" will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly
appreciated addition to personal, professional, college, and university library Avian Wildlife collections in general, and
Prairie Bird Field Guide lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Currently residing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Wayne Lynch has been a full-time science writer and
photographer for 40 years. He is the author of numerous award-winning books including Mountain Bears, A is for Arctic,
Penguins of the World and the titles in the Nature Babies series.
Field Guide to the Birds of Argentina and the Southwest Atlantic
Mark Pearman & Juan Ignacio Areta
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
http://press.princeton.edu
9781472984326, $80.62 (Amazon), HC, 480pp
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-of-Argentina-ID-Guide/dp/0713645792
https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691147697/birds-of-argentina-and-the-south-west-atlantic
Synopsis: Argentina is one of South America's premier birding destinations, encompassing a range of habitats from
rainforests and pampas grasslands to the wetlands of the Ibera and the wilderness of Tierra del Fuego. Surprisingly, despite
the strong interest in Argentina's rich avian population, the country has until now lacked a credible, modern field guide to
its birds.
Authoritative and up-to-date, "Field Guide to the Birds of Argentina and the Southwest Atlantic" by the team of Mark
Pearman and Juan Ignacio Areta provides detailed species accounts, a plethora of distribution maps, and close to 200
stunning color plates illustrating every species and many distinct plumages and subspecies.
An essential reference book will satisfy researchers, birders, and conservationists alike, "Field Guide to the Birds of
Argentina and the Southwest Atlantic" is the only up-to-date English-language guide to the birds of Argentina and the
islands of the South-west Atlantic. Features are more than 2,300 images illustrate 1,075 species, including all residents,
migrants, and vagrants; Close to 200 color plates depict every species and many distinct plumages and subspecies,
including 28 endemics and 17 near-endemics; and Key identification features and plentiful distribution maps.
Critique: Compact and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Field Guide to the Birds of Argentina
and the Southwest Atlantic" is impressively comprehensive and informative -- making it the ideal birdwatching companion
for on-site visitors and tourists, as well as a significant addition to personal, professional, community, college, and
university library Avian Studies collections. It should be noted that "Field Guide to the Birds of Argentina and the
Southwest Atlantic" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9780691147697, $39.95).
Snake Road
Joshua J. Vossler
Southern Illinois University Press
SIUC Mail Code 6806, 1915 University Press Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809338054, $19.50, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Snake-Road-Snakes-LaRue-Pine-Shawnee/dp/080933805X
Synopsis: Twice a year, spring and fall, numerous species of reptiles and amphibians migrate between the LaRue - Pine
Hills' towering limestone bluffs and the Big Muddy River's swampy floodplain in southern Illinois. Snakes, especially
great numbers of Cottonmouths, give the road that separates these distinct environments its name. Although it is one of the
best places in the world to observe snakes throughout the year, spring and fall are the optimal times to see a greater number
and variety.
Among the many activities that snakes can be observed doing are sunning themselves on rocks, lying in grasses, sheltering
under or near fallen tree limbs, or crossing the road. In this engaging guide, author Joshua J. Vossler details what to expect
and how to make the most of a visit to what is known around the world as Snake Road.
In the pages of "Snake Road: A Field Guide to the Snakes of LaRue-Pine Hills" Professor Vossler catalogs twenty-three
native snake species by both common and scientific names, lists identifying features, and estimates the probability of
spotting them. Throughout this instructive reference guide there are stunning color photographs of each species' distinctive
physical characteristics enable identification by sight only, an important feature, since Illinois law prohibits the handling,
harming, or removal of reptiles and other wildlife on and around the road.
Since snakes are visually variable (individual snakes of the same species can differ tremendously in size, color, and
pattern) photographs of as many variations as possible are included. To aid in identification, eleven sets of photographs
contrast the features of similar species and point out how and why these snakes may be easily confused. Visitors can keep
track of the snakes they have identified by using the checklist in the back of the book. A list of recommended reading
provides sources of additional information about snakes in southern Illinois and beyond.
Critique: Profusely illustrated, impressively informative, exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation,
"Snake Road: A Field Guide to the Snakes of LaRue-Pine Hills" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended DIY
identification guide -- and a critically important selection for personal, professional, community, college, and university
library herpetology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: A lifelong snake watcher and herpetological enthusiast, Joshua J. Vossler, is also an Associate Professor
and Academic Librarian at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He the coauthor of "Humor and Information Literacy:
Practical Techniques for Library Instruction" and specializes in making instructional videos about research skills.
The Business Shelf
The Good Boss
Kate Eberle Walker
BenBella Books
www.benbellabooks.com
9781950665815, $24.95, HC, 228pp
https://www.amazon.com/Good-Boss-Every-Manager-Support/dp/195066581X
Synopsis: The good news for women in management positions today is that many of the things you can do to be a better
manager for women and as a woman are easier than in just the past couple of decades.
In "The Good Boss: 9 Ways Every Manager Can Support Women at Work", business leader Kate Eberle Walker draws
upon her years of experience and expertise to offer timely, practical advice based on her experiences as CEO of The
Princeton Review and PresenceLearning, the lessons she learned working her way up the corporate ladder, and the stories
that other successful women have shared with her.
"The Good Boss" shows how to: Relate to the women you work with by finding authentic connections; Know what to do
(and what not to do) when a new parent returns to work; Deal with problematic comments and behaviors from coworkers;
Use honesty, not chivalry, to show respect as a boss.
In the pages of "The Good Boss" Ms. Walker also shares insights from fellow CEOs across a range of industries who use
creative, forward-thinking methods to support women throughout an entire organization. This guide is for all managers
who want to avoid common missteps, get great results from their employees, and put them on the path to happy and
fulfilling careers.
Critique: Expertly written, impressively organized, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "The Good Boss: 9 Ways
Every Manager Can Support Women at Work" is especially recommended reading for any woman seeking or already
holding management responsibilities over other employees. While a critically important addition to community, corporate,
college, and university library Business Management collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "The Good Boss" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.39).
Editorial Note: Kate Eberle Walker is the CEO of Presence Learning, the leading provider of online special education
services for K-12 schools. In this role, she leads a majority female employee population, whose mission is not only to serve
students with learning needs, but to provide a flexible career path for nearly 1,000 special education clinicians, many of
whom are working mothers. Before becoming a CEO, Kate navigated the male-dominated world of Wall Street as a
Goldman Sachs investment banker for five years and worked her way up through management roles.
The Psychology Shelf
Getting On in the Creative Arts Therapies
Erin Partridge
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781787752634, $24.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Creative-Arts-Therapies-Partridge/dp/1787752631
Synopsis: What do you really want from your career, and how are you going to get it? How do you find the right people
and make the right connections along the way? What are the secrets of finding fulfilment in your work?
A DIY instructional guide and manual, "Getting On in the Creative Arts Therapies: A Hands-On Guide to Personal and
Professional Development" by Erin Partridge is intended to help aspiring and practicing counselors to answer these
questions -- and many more.
It was specifically written to inspire and motivate counselors as they progressed through their career as creative arts
therapist as it shares diverse stories and experiences spanning different career paths and decisions. "Getting On in the
Creative Arts Therapies: A Hands-On Guide to Personal and Professional Development" also tackles common early career
challenges including designing services, advocacy and collaborative working, exploring how adverse circumstances can be
used as opportunities for growth.
With creative and reflective exercises throughout to help counselors and therapists to identify their goals and achieve them,
"Getting On in the Creative Arts Therapies: A Hands-On Guide to Personal and Professional Development" is an
indispensable guide for any creative arts therapist who wants to flourish in their career.
Critique: Expertly written, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Getting On in the Creative Arts
Therapies: A Hands-On Guide to Personal and Professional Development" must be considered essential reading for
psychology students, academia, and practicing therapists. While very highly recommended for college and university
library Psychology & Counseling collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted for personal and
professional reading lists that "Getting On in the Creative Arts Therapies: A Hands-On Guide to Personal and Professional
Development" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.72).
Editorial Note: Erin Partridge, PhD, ATR-BC is an artist and board certified, registered art therapist. She has extensive
experience of teaching and lecturing as well as mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. She is also the author of
"Art Therapy with Older Adults: Connected and Empowered".
The Graphic Novel Shelf
The Stringer
Ted Rall, author
Pablo Callejo, illustrator
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Suite 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
www.nbmpub.com
9781681122724, $24.99, HC, 152pp
https://www.amazon.com/Stringer-Ted-Rall/dp/1681122723
Synopsis: Suffering from budget cuts, layoffs, and a growing suspicion that his search for the truth has become obsolete,
veteran war correspondent Mark Scribner is about to throw in the towel on journalism when he discovers that his
hard-earned knowledge can save his career and make him wealthy and famous. All he has to do is pivot to social media
and, with a few cynical twists, abandon everything he cares about most.
Critique: With a storyline that comes straight out of today's trends in journalism that are causing the collapse of print
newspapers and magazines -- and the emerging dominance of digital news outlets -- "The Stringer" by author/storyteller
Ted Rall and artist/illustrator Pablo Callejo is an extraordinarily entertaining and inherently compelling graphic novel.
While very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community, college, and university library
collections, it should be noted that "The Stringer" from NBM Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle/comiXology, $12.99).
The Library CD Shelf
Two Roses
Avishai Cohen
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Alexander Hanson
Avishai Cohen Productions Ltd.
www.avishaicohen.com
$16.99 CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Roses-Avishai-Cohen/dp/B08XY7TCNT
https://www.amazon.com/Roses-Gothenburg-Symphony-Orchestra-Avishai/dp/B08T4S511B
Two Roses is an extraordinary music album. Most of its songs are composed by Avishai Cohen; a few are composed by
other contributors. All songs are performed by the 92 talented musicians of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted
by Alexander Hanson. The album's title reflects its nature as a complex fusion of jazz and the interconnected elements of a
symphony performance. Extraordinarily uplifting, expansive, and inspirational, Two Roses is highly recommended for
both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Almah Sleeping", "When I'm Falling", "Nature
Talking", "Song For My Brother", "Emotional Storm", "Two Roses (Shnei Shoshanim)", "Nature Boy", "A Child Is Born",
"Puncha Puncha", "Morenika", "Seven Seas", "Arab Medley", "Overture 'Noam', Op. 1*", and "Alon Basela".
The Architecture Shelf
The Secret Life of the Modern House
Dominic Bradbury
Ilex Press
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781781577615, $34.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Modern-House-evolution/dp/1781577617
Synopsis: Over the last century the way that we live at home has changed dramatically. Nothing short of a design
revolution has transformed our houses and the spaces within them -- moving from traditional patterns of living all the way
to an era of more fluid, open-plan and modern styles.
In the illustrated pages of "The Secret Life of the Modern House: The evolution of the way we live now", architectural and
design writer Dominic Bradbury deftly charts the course of this voyage all the way from the late 19th century through to
the houses of today in an impressively informative and ground-breaking study.
Comprised of eighteen thematic chapters, "The Secret Life of the Modern House" explains the way our houses have been
reinvented, while taking in along the way the giants of Art Deco and influential Modernists including Le Corbusier and
Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as post-war innovators such as Eero Saarinen and Philip Johnson.
Taking us from the 19th to the 21st century, "The Secret Life of the Modern House" explores and reveals the progress of
"modernity" itself and reveals the secret history of our very own homes today.
Critique: Enhanced for academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject with the inclusion of a
six page Glossary, a three page Chronology & Gazetteer, three pages of Endnotes, a four page Select Bibliography, and a
six page Index, "The Secret Life of the Modern House: The evolution of the way we live now" is an especially and
unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Architecture, Home Decorating, and
Sustainable Living collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Secret Life of the Modern House" is
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Editorial Note: Dominic Bradbury is a journalist and writer specializing in architecture and design. He writes for many
magazines and newspapers in the UK and internationally, including Wallpaper, World of Interiors, House & Garden, Elle
Decoration, Architectural Digest, Dwell, Vogue Living, The Times, the Sunday Times, and the Financial Times. His books
include Atlas of Mid-Century Modern Houses, Off the Grid, New Nordic Houses, Modernist Design Complete,
Mid-Century Modern Complete, The Iconic House, The Iconic Interior, New Brazilian House, Waterside Modern and
Mountain Modern.
The Native American Studies Shelf
Teaching Native Pride
Tony Tekaroniake Evans
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874223798, $27.95, PB, 230pp
https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Native-Pride-Upward-Legacy/dp/0874223792
Synopsis: In the pages of "Teaching Native Pride: Upward Bound and the Legacy of Isabel Bond" by journalist Tony
Tekaroniake Evans (who is also an enrolled Bear Clan member of the Kahnawake Mohawks of Quebec), Native American
and non-Native American voices join together to collectively tell the story of the federally sponsored Upward Bound
program at the University of Idaho, intertwining personal anecdotes and memories with accounts of the program's
inception and goals, as well as regional Native American history and Isabel Bond's Idaho family history.
Dedicated to helping low-income and at-risk students attend college, the curriculum celebrated that heritage, and many
Native American students broke cycles of poverty, isolation, and systemic disenfranchisement, while non-Native
Americans gained a new respect for Idaho's first peoples.
Critique: With its underlying message of how just one person can make a generational spanning difference, "Teaching
Native Pride: Upward Bound and the Legacy of Isabel Bond" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition
to personal reading lists and community/college/university library Contemporary Native American Studies, 20th Century
American Education, and American Biography collections.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting
Karen Swallow Prior
B&H Publishing Group
1 LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234
www.bhpublishinggroup.com
9781462796663, $17.99, HC, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Reading-Reflecting-Mary-Shelley/dp/1462796664
Synopsis: "Frankenstein" by Maru Shelley is a universally acknowledged work of classic literature. The continuing cultural
impact of this 19th century novel can be seen in popular Frankenstein costumes, numerous film adaptations.
"Frankenstein: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting" is beautiful cloth-over-board edition in which author, literature
professor, and avid reader Karen Swallow Prior will guide her readers through the enduring literary treasure that is
"Frankenstein". She will not only navigate her readers through the pitfalls that trap so many contemporary readers today,
but show how to read it in light of the gospel, and to the glory of God!
This edition from the B&H Publishing Group includes a thorough introduction to the author, context, and overview of the
work (without any spoilers for first-time readers), the full original text, as well as footnotes and reflection questions
throughout to help the reader attain a fuller grasp of Frankenstein.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, impressively informative, and thought-provoking study "Frankenstein: A Guide to
Reading and Reflecting" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university
library Literary Studies collections. -- Also, another very highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and
Literary Studies collections is Professor Prior's "Jane Eyre: A Guide to Reading and Reflecting" (B&H Publishing Group,
9781462796670, $17.99, HC, 760pp).
Editorial Note: Karen Swallow Prior is the Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary. She is also the author of Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012),
Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More - Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014), and
On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Literature (Brazos 2018). She is co-editor of Cultural Engagement:
A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books. Her writing has
appeared at Christianity Today, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Relevant, Think Christian, The
Gospel Coalition, Religion News Service, Books and Culture and other places. She is a founding member of The Pelican
Project, a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a Senior Fellow at the International Alliance for Christian Education, and a
member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Humane Society of the United States.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Healthy Skin Kitchen
Karen Fischer
EK Books
c/o Exisle Publishing
www.exislepublishing.com.au
9781925820652, $27.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Skin-Kitchen-Sensitivity-Intolerance/dp/1925820653
Synopsis: Beautifully laid out with gorgeous photography of finished dishes, "The Healthy Skin Kitchen" by Karen Fischer
shows you what to put on your fork to create radiant skin from the inside out. Far from a one-size-fits-all diet, the delicious
allergy-friendly recipes include gluten-free, dairy-free, low salicylate, low histamine, vegan and autoimmune paleo options,
so you can tailor meals to suit you or simply follow your favourite menu and Karen's skin care regime.
A 90s model and television presenter, as well as talented author and informative nutritionist, Karen Fischer has spent the
past twenty years working with thousands of skin disorder patients. Karen personally knows what it's like to struggle with
embarrassing skin ailments that no one could fix. Her journey from head-to-toe eczema and hives to clear skin turned
around when she found the underlying cause of her symptoms. Now you can do this too.
Within the pages of "The Healthy Skin Kitchen" are recipes for dishes that will combat eczema, acne, dandruff, hives,
rosacea, salicylate sensitivity and so much more. Even if you have great skin, you'll experience the 'good skin supportive'
benefits of eating nutritious food that is right for you -- all while also enjoying more energy, a trimmer waistline and better
gut health.
Critique: Covering all aspects of healthy skin care, and then going on to showcase a culinary wealth of delicious,
nutritious, appetite satisfying and skin healthy recipes for dishes that would grace any dining occasion, "The Health Skin
Kitchen" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook
collections.
Editorial Note: Karen Fischer BHSc, Dip. Nut. is a nutritionist who holds a Bachelor of Health Science Degree from the
University of New England (Armidale) and a three-year Nutrition Diploma from the Nature Care College (Sydney,
Australia). She specializes in health programs for beautiful skin and for the past decade she has helped hundreds of
patients with eczema and other severe skin disorders. As well as her work with private patients, Karen is an avid health
researcher with a passion for finding new, science-based ways to create healthy skin. Karen's books with Exisle include the
bestselling The Healthy Skin Diet (winner of 'Best Health, Nutrition or Specific Diet Book' at the 2008 Australian Food
Media Awards), The Eczema Detox, The Eczema Diet, Younger Skin in 28 Days and Healthy Family, Happy Family.
The Art Shelf
Unfolding
Matthew Shlian
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500094280, $60.00, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Unfolding-Matthew-Shlian/dp/0500094284
Synopsis: Since its invention in approximately 100 BCE China, paper has been a cornerstone of civilization. The invention
of paper shaped currency, communication, history, literature, and religion. And yet, perhaps because of its widespread
accessibility today, paper is underestimated as an artistic medium.
As an artist, Matthew Shlian has always recognized paper's significance as a medium and message, and as a material for
experimentation and understanding. In his hands, engineering, science, and geometry combine to form stunning and
unexpected art. Folded, tessellated, compressed, extrapolated, two-dimensional paper becomes three-dimensional
sculpture. Since he began in 2004, Shlian's signature paper engineering has gained international recognition and led to
collaborations with Apple, SUPREME, Shinola, Herman Miller, Warp Records, Sesame Street, and exhibitions around the
world.
"Unfolding: The Paper Art and Science of Matthew Shlian" is the first monograph of Shlian's genius, compiling his most
important work over the past decade. A journey into the new possibilities of folding technology, the intricate complexities
of Islamic patterns, and the sheer potential offered by a sheet of white paper, Unfolding is the celebration of a humble
material, on the edge of its existence, elevated to timeless form and possibility.
Critique: Comprising some 200 illustrations of his work, "Unfolding: The Paper Art and Science of Matthew Shlian" is an
extraordinary, unique, and inherently fascinating coffee table style volume (10.3 x 1.1 x 10.2 inches, 3.48 pounds) that is
especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library
Contemporary Art collections in general, and Matthew Shlian supplemental curriculum studies lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Matthew Shlian is an artist, paper engineer, and founder of the Initiative Artist Studio in Ann Arbor,
Michigan. His work extends from drawings to large-scale installations to collaborations with leading researchers and
scientists. His work for the National Science Foundation explores paper-folding structures on the macro level translated to
the nano-scale. His client list includes Apple, P&G, Facebook, Levi's, Sesame Street, and the Queen of Jordan.
The Photography Shelf
The Karakoram: Ice Mountains of Pakistan
Colin Prior
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946870, $70.00, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Karakoram-Ice-Mountains-Pakistan/dp/1858946875
Synopsis: The ice mountains of the Karakoram are among the world's greatest natural treasures. At 8611 metres (28,251
ft), K2 is the second tallest mountain on Earth. There are three other mountains in the range that top 8000 metres (26,247
ft) - Gasherbrum I, Broad Peak and Gasherbrum II - and more than 60 peaks above 7000 metres (22,966 ft). Extending in a
south-easterly direction from the north-eastern tip of Afghanistan and spanning the borders of Pakistan, India and China,
the Karakoram is part of a complex of ranges in Central Asia that includes the Hindu Kush to the west and the Himalayas
to the south-east.
These mountains, however, are distinctive. This is the most glaciated region on the planet outside the Arctic and Antarctic.
But while most of the world's great peaks are almost blanketed in snow and ice, the Karakoram is an exception: the
mountains are so vertical that they rapidly shed snow, leaving their bold, jagged outlines of black granite glistening in the
sun. The name of the range comes from the Turkic term for 'black rock' or 'black gravel'.
Landscape photographer Colin Prior was initially inspired to visit the Karakoram in his early twenties: in his local library
he picked up the book In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods (1977) by the American climber and photographer Galen
Rowell, and was instantly captivated by images of the sharp, fractured peaks and vast glaciers. His first trip to the
Karakoram came in the mid-1990s, and he has been passionate about these mountains ever since.
"The Karakoram: Ice Mountains of Pakistan" is Prior's new photography book and the direct result of the six expeditions
he has made to the Gilgit-Baltistan region of north-east Pakistan over the last six years. Because the region is so remote,
there are no established base camps, and each expedition requires careful planning and miles of trekking with a large team
of guides, porters and ponies to carry the equipment and provisions. There are regular rock falls and perilous snow-covered
crevasses to contend with.
The reward for Prior is what he calls the ultimate mountain landscape: 'The scenery is graphic, with towers, minarets and
cathedrals of rock.' This beautifully produced volume showcases the breathtaking beauty of the Karakoram in some 130
duotone and colour photographs. The images are largely arranged to follow Prior's progress up the glaciers, and are
accompanied by well-chosen quotations from accounts of historical expeditions to the region. A selection of 'making of'
images at the end of the book highlights the challenges of documenting the most exceptional mountain range in the
world.
Critique: A simply gorgeous coffee table style (11.02 x 13.62 inches, 1.74 pounds) volume that is fully illustrated with
both color and black/white whole page images, "The Karakoram: Ice Mountains of Pakistan" would be an ideal and
unreservedly recommended Memorial Acquisitions acquisition for any community, college, and university library
Landscape Photography collection and the personal reading lists for anyone with an interest in mountaineering.
Editorial Note: Colin Prior is a professional landscape photographer with almost four decades of experience. He seeks out
patterns in the landscape and the hidden links between reality and the imagination. His images capturing sublime moments
of light and land are the result of meticulous planning, and often take years to achieve. His previous books include Living
Tribes (2003), The World's Wild Places (2006) and Scotland's Finest Landscapes (2014). In 2020 Merrell will also publish
Prior's book on birds' eggs and natural habitats, Fragile. Among Prior's awards are the National Adventure Awards,
Business Category Winner (2015), and the Scottish Award for Excellence in Mountain Culture (2020). He has been the
subject of three BBC documentaries entitled Mountain Man.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Big Ordeal
Cynthia Hayes
River Grove Books
c/o Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
www.rivergrovebooks.com
9781632993359, $19.95, PB, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Ordeal-Cynthia-Hayes/dp/163299335X
Synopsis: Coping with cancer is hard. It is an emotional and mental ordeal as well as a physical one, with known and
somewhat predictable psychological responses. And yet, patients often feel isolated and alone when dealing with the stress,
anxiety, depression, and existential crises so typical with a cancer diagnosis.
"The Big Ordeal" was written in collaboration with a psychologist and two oncologists, and tackles the emotional side of
the experience head-on with the intent of helping newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones anticipate, understand, and
deal with the psychological turmoil ahead. Based on interviews with scores of patients and experts across a variety of
fields, combining patient stories with medical insights and advice from those who have been there, and structured around
the typical phases of the process, "The Big Ordeal" is an accessible resource for anyone who receive a cancer
diagnosis.
Critique: Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in style, organization and presentation, "The Big Ordeal" is a 'must read' for anyone
having to deal with a cancer diagnosis for themselves, a family member, or a friend. Comprehensively informed and
informative, "The Big Ordeal" is an essential and core addition to personal, professional, medical center, community,
college, and university library Oncology/Cancer collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Big
Ordeal" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Having to deal with her own cancer diagnosis, Cynthia Hayes is a former freelance journalist, management
consultant, and marketing executive, and an adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School of Business. She also had served
as vice president and chief marketing officer for three years with Montefiore Medical Center.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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