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Able Greenspan's Bookshelf
The Stoic Capitalist
Robert Rosenkranz
Bloomsbury Business
https://www.bloomsbury.com
9781399423236 $28.00 hc / $19.32 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Capitalist-Advice-Exceptionally-Ambitious/dp/1399423231
Synopsis: In The Stoic Capitalist, Robert Rosenkranz shows how its teachings can lead to a life of accomplishment, fulfillment, and impact. Stoic principles are applied not just to help you cope but to achieve your most ambitious goals. He offers an astute combination of philosophical, psychological, and business observations, along with practical advice spanning topics as diverse as finance, investments, negotiation, hiring, time management, art collecting, philanthropy, and longevity. He explains how ancient philosophy and its psychological insights can be used to create extraordinary outcomes in your personal and professional life.
Each of the short chapters offers ideas you can use to thrive. Along the way, you meet a lively global cast of RAND nuclear strategists, pioneering artists, scientist-entrepreneurs racing to extend the human lifespan, and iconic figures in the Wall Street boom years. The book offers an insider's perspective on the creation of such major developments as private equity, hedge funds, and junk bonds.
Rosenkranz writes as he speaks, with the engaging voice of a Renaissance man who is insatiably curious, eager to learn, open to all viewpoints, but embracing none without critical thought. Reading this book may help you realize your childhood dreams.
Critique: Stoicism is an ancient school of philosophy known for its principles of logic, rationality, ethics, and discussion of what constitutes virtue. Originating in 300 BC, stoicism flourished in ancient Greece and Rome, and its concepts continue to be debated and discussed today. In The Stoic Capitalist, author and self-made billionaire Robert Rosenkranz explains how stoic principles can help one navigate life's challenges and achieve ambitious goals. Rosenkranz draws upon his own life experience working with scientist-entrepreneurs to extend human lifespans as well as his financial forays into the realms of private equity, hedge funds, and junk bonds, as he illustrates situations where the precepts of stoicism applied. A thoroughly accessible self-help guide as well as a fascinating collection of true-life vignettes, The Stoic Capitalist is highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Stoic Capitalist is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.32).
Editorial Note: Through grit, intellect, and the good luck of life-changing mentors at an early age, Robert Rosenkranz became a self-made billionaire as a pioneer in private equity, multi-strategy hedge funds, and the insurance industry. Beyond business, he is a patron of the arts and medical science, and a quietly influential champion of civil discourse and free speech. He launched the acclaimed NPR program, Open to Debate, funded Impetus Grants to extend human healthspans, and is founding an innovative cultural institution in New York to showcase immersive work at the intersection of visual art, sound, music, and technology.
Able Greenspan
Reviewer
Diane Donovan's Bookshelf
Reprisal Road
Lynn-Steven Johanson
https://lsjohanson.com
Level Best Books
https://www.levelbestbooks.us
97816855129859, $5.99 eBook
Chicago Detective Joe Erickson and his partner, Sam Renaldo, return to the limelight of difficult inquiries in the sixth book in the Joe Erickson series, Reprisal Road. A woman's murder draws them into the puzzle of their careers as they investigate Amber Engstrom's death.
Murder via a delivery of long-stemmed roses? It's the perfect choice to get a woman to open her door to danger.
As Joe and Sam probe deeper, more bodies (and roses) turn up, leading them to other deaths in victim's homes. Further information leads them to conclude that their Chicago killer may hold additional roots elsewhere.
Sic semper scortilla ('Thus always to bitches') is the misogynistic Latin card left with the bodies and roses, holding a possible clue as to the perp's thought processes... and, perhaps, his identity.
Lynn-Steven Johanson creates a compelling cat-and-mouse murder mystery that sends two detectives on the chase of their careers.
Between a florist with a photographic memory, a series of leads that connect to a high school "Bitch Squad," and too many motives and suspects, readers who delight in detective stories that are powerfully rendered will find the characterization, suspense, and puzzle make for compelling whodunit reading.
Themes of the long-term impact of bullying and the creation of a psychotic personality in response will give book clubs and psychology reading groups plenty of additional food for thought that operates within and well above an investigative saga. This creates much added value - unexpected in a piece designed to attract detective story readers.
Libraries seeking detective works that are vividly portrayed, involving, and not easily predicted will want to consider Reprisal Road for their collections, either as a stand-alone read or in conjunction with some or all of the prior Detective Joe Erickson and Sam Renaldo mysteries.
Once Upon a Continent
Susanna Janssen
https://susannajanssen.com
Lexicon Alley Press
9780998304847, $15.95 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Continent-Adventures-Unplugged/dp/0998304840
Once Upon a Continent is about moving away from one's comfort zone (and life) into an explorative mode that promises many discoveries. Susanna Janssen delivers the hard-hitting promise that her memoir will be as vivid and lively as her life:
Before we boarded the flight to Chile, if I had known in advance that I would fall into a cannibal-size soup pot in Peru, risk losing toes and fingers while traveling by train through the high Andes, and high-jump my way out of a marriage proposal in a Bolivian discotheque, I might have had second thoughts. But I drank yerba mate with the gauchos in Argentina, visited Machu Picchu with only six other tourists, and saw the Galapagos Islands as is never again possible. Yes, it was "the trip of a lifetime," but that cliche doesn't begin to describe the wonders, woes, wounds, and wows of my actual experience.
As Janssen's story marches through other cultures and atmospheres, she takes the time to capture the immersive experience of sojourns through colorful lives, rituals, and countryside.
Her descriptions present not just observations, but background cultural details of the countries she passes through. This lends a full-bodied feel of discovery to her journey that will inform readers even as it thoroughly captivates audiences via a "you are here" touch. This quote, for an example, comes from the Argentine province of Salta:
Despite the muddy route, it was a colorful and inspiring display of gaucho pride in their history and culture, and of devotion to the memory of Guemes. Unlike at the gathering in the park the previous night, here the women, las gauchas, had a co-starring role. The matrons looked to have stepped in from the nineteenth-century prairie in ankle-length, long-sleeved, high-necked pastel cotton dresses, riding sidesaddle abreast of the men, who wore the flared bombacha pants tucked into high boots and the dramatic red poncho of the gauchos of Guemes. The men's horses all sported the traditional guardamonte, the billowed stiff leather "wings" attached to both sides of the saddle to protect the legs of the rider and the flanks of the horse from the brambly undergrowth of the pampa called maleza.
Many of her choices involve routes far from the usual crowds which may be unavailable in more crowded, regulated modern tourism. One example is when she and "intrepid friend" Joyce tour the Galapagos Islands on a low-budget, more independent agenda than would likely be possible today.
Their journey around South America on a shoestring, far from the usual individual or group tour, results in a more enlightening experience than the typical sojourn. This will especially delight armchair readers who may not be up to this kind of adventure themselves, but who will relish experiencing it through Janssen's writing.
Libraries seeking travelogues that operate well off the beaten path of South American encounters will delight in Once Upon a Continent's ability to deliver exciting activity and cultural enlightenment. Readers seeking a delightfully adventurous approach to South America's cultures will relish the lively spirit and delivery of Janssen's odyssey.
Packed with eye-opening cultural reflections paired with gripping moments of near-disasters and engrossing discoveries, Once Upon a Continent is more than a travelogue and a memoir.
It's a venture into wonder. Prepare to be amazed.
More, More, More
Clint Arthur
www.clinttt.com
Wharton MBA Books
9798309461769, $19.98 Hardcover/$8.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/More-Novel-Inflation-Powers-Adventures/dp/B0F1LJRHX3
More, More, More: A Novel About Love, War & Inflation is a genre-busting thriller that blends elements of a business novel with a thriller in its foray into military territory.
Jack Powers lives up to his last name in more ways than one. Born in the tough milieu of Alphabet City, educated at Wharton Business School, and on track for success, Jack instead finds himself on a secret mission to bring down the Soviet Union using business tools to spark its economic downfall.
It helps that he's been a Naval Intelligence officer before he became part of the CIA. It especially helps that his business background translates to a deep familiarity with the rich and famous. But his downfall (or salvation, depending on how you look at it) is meeting his equal in Svetlana, a deadly woman who introduces love into an already-challenging situation.
Clint Arthur adopts a gritty style of inspection reminiscent of noir writing, but unfolds dialogues steeped in the culture of good old boy networks:
Mike pulled out one of two six-packs from the big brown paper back and said, "You guys ever have St. Pauli Girl?"
We said, "Unh-unh."
He goes, "you never forget your first girl..."
"You guys were good at Lindsay. But they were just a bunch of fucking wimps, so don't get cocky out there. There's much tougher teams."
Arthur builds Power's personality from youth to adulthood with the same gritty tone of inspection that's tempered by a wry sense of humor emerging not just in dialogues and interactions, but from descriptive reflections:
It was a long way down, 87 floors, and I did not want to get all sweaty chasing some Arab lunch delivery guy down 87 flights of stairs in my suit and tie, so I let him go and I went back to my desk to eat my sandwich.
These are only a few examples of the delightfully vivid personalities, inspections, and encounters that pair the "guiding vision of The Wharton Business School" with the unexpected.
Jack is a young man in much of the story, whose education in covert and overt circles revolves around team-building, character-building, and confronting power in the oddest of places in his life.
Black and white illustrations peppered throughout reflect a graphic novel's attention to captivating detail, but the action-packed dialogues, coming-of-age encounters, and story of a young James Bond-type action figure who deftly navigates women, the mega-rich, and intrigue illustrate the heart of a thoroughly engrossing inspection.
Libraries seeking books that incorporate business foundations but expand them into international espionage and thriller territory ala James Bond will relish the opportunity to consider an up-and-coming hero in young Jack's story.
Filled with gripping encounters juxtaposed by daily life challenges, More, More, More is a riveting, action-packed story that's hard to put down. It's filled with satisfying twists and turns that pose much food for thought about surprising business concept applications and a young man's novel employment of various facets of his life to his political and economic education.
Silken Dragons
Daniel McKenzie
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891326538, $21.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Silken-Dragons-Book-Three-Seafourthe/dp/B0FBR8QK5X
Silken Dragons is the third adventure in the Seafourthe Saga, which began in Wolf of the Aegean and continued in Wolves and Empires. It expands the saga of the love-smitten Wolf, who joins Lady Seafourthe on a sailing adventure to confront outlaws, battle for control over the high seas, and face mercenaries and visionaries who emerge from unexpected places.
While newcomers can settle into the characters and background of this latest Wolf story, it's highly recommended that prior familiarity with the series be a foundation not just for an easier understanding of its scenarios and characters, but a fuller appreciation of how Daniel McKenzie expands this latest new adventure.
The story opens from a different perspective, creating a bang of attraction and action through language that immediately explores a new mission:
I, Theron, met with the Captain privately in the windy darkness. "Theron of Troy, I need your expertise in case of imminent disaster, with no chance to survive this voyage."
Gazing into my eyes for a long moment, the Wolf laid doom of oath upon me. "Theron, if we are falling asunder, I want to leave with my beloved, Lynden Seafourthe. I desire to be reborn with her embraced kissing forever. Will you do this for us, my brother of Ilium?"
From fate and deadly dealings to high adventure and shifts in political and personal connections, McKenzie's story embraces vivid language, description, and insights in a manner that keeps the constantly-evolving events on a captivating personal level:
Free of the constant threat, the men and women of the Vengeance took a deep breath and felt the saving wind of limitless moving, with each second taking them further away from a perilous position and fleeing with the rising sun of Wa.
Readers who immerse themselves in this plot will find it easy to think, breathe, experience, and enjoy the Wolf's world and its constantly-shifting nuances.
Another strength to the plot lies in how McKenzie unfolds challenges between Dutch warships, Wokou captains, and the New Holy Trinity that tests personal and broader goals and perceptions. The stark contrasts between these special interests and their missions and cultures are especially pleasing, adding depth and extra dimensions of discovery not usually seen in seafaring fiction.
Libraries whose collections include the prior books will want to consider Silken Dragons an essential addition, while newcomers seeking nautical adventure, romance, and clashes between very different cultures will find it (and the entire series) enlightening, fast-paced, and hard to put down.
Filled with new revelations about the world and individual roles within it, McKenzie's compelling, atmospheric descriptions power a series of revelations and battles that reflect an exceptionally vivid sense of place and purpose:
Slipping through and out into the night, the Captain saw a billion stars with threads of silver light like a cobweb connecting everything, and to him.
If You'd Only Listen
Rosie Sorenson
Daffodil Productions
9798218442460, $15.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/If-Youd-Only-Listen-Gaslighting/dp/B0DFTRS1B7
When the author and her husband set out on the daunting journey for his life-saving liver transplant, she had no idea they were stepping into a medical labyrinth where the stakes were nothing short of life and death. Several years before, Steve had been diagnosed with "non-alcoholic, cryptogenic, end-stage liver disease." Shockingly, she had to intervene several times during Steve's hospitalization to save his life!
Awarded the 2024 Zibby Book Award for Best Story of Overcoming, and the 2025 American Legacy Books Award in Health, her memoir is more than a personal account - it's a rallying cry for patient advocacy and a wake-up call about the dangers of preventable medical errors.
Sorenson injects facts about the nature of these medical errors into an account which moves from personal experience to some truly eye-opening statistics.
According to research from Johns Hopkins and Harvard, 371,000 patients die every year in the U.S. due to preventable medical mistakes, with another 424,000 left with ongoing disabilities. Sorenson and her husband, like so many families, were unaware of these staggering statistics when they left California for another state, desperate for a transplant after facing an impossibly long waiting list at home.
As Sorenson chronicles the long journey between diagnosis and hope to eventual successful outcome, readers gain insights into the challenges of not just her husband and transplant recipients in general, but the U.S. medical system as a whole.
The memoir's impact extends beyond storytelling. The addendum provides a deep dive into the realities of medical error, the influence of private equity in healthcare, and the pervasive issue of racial bias. It also offers practical recommendations for families on how to be an effective advocate and how to keep a loved one safe in the hospital.
The revelations are hard-hitting. While they may prove especially challenging to those who intrinsically believe in modern medicine, this information solidifies the need for not just change, but proactive attitudes among patients, caregivers, spouses, and medical support teams
Sorenson involves readers in every step of their lives, making her memoir intimate, appealing, and hard to put down.
These features are why libraries should not only make If You'd Only Listen part of their collections, but should highly recommend its experiences and messages to a wide audience, from book club reading groups interested in hard-hitting medical memoirs to groups from medical professional and patient reading circles who look for experiences and insights worthy of discussion.
If You'd Only Listen is not just a memoir - it's a survival guide for anyone who may one day find themselves fighting for a loved one's life. It reminds us that with courage, resilience, and unwavering love, even in the darkest hours, ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference.
Capers and Switcheroos
Chip Cater
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891325050, $28.99 Hardcover/$19.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Capers-Switcheroos-Chip-Cater/dp/B0F1GVS534
Capers and Switcheroos offers stories that take place from the 1950s to the 2000s and represents a memoir presented in the form of literary reflection. This approach will attract a wide audience interested in a broad reach of capers that follow a young man's evolution into adulthood, where escapades continue in the workplace and in private life.
Color photos introduce each chapter with delightful personal snapshots of Chip Cater's life. These cement first-person memories of such events as northern New Jersey neighborhood friendships and the controversy which swirls, in 1978, around the Mars company removing red M&Ms from their candy bags over concerns about red dye. Cater's passionate letter on the subject not only hits the Boston Globe, but prompts the company to send him three cases of M&Ms.
Despite marriage, fatherhood, and professional expansions of his world, Cater's capers continue to build fun situations even as he pulls pranks on Costco, a place he actually loves.
Embedded in these whimsical, humorous moments is a thorough immersion in and appreciation for life which follows Cater through a wealth of enjoyable times and relationships.
Libraries seeking a memoir that shines with fun, captures a changing sense of times and purposes, and presents journeys both physical and mental will find Capers and Switcheroos original, compelling, and easy to recommend to a wide audience.
The memoir format comes to life under Cater's hand, making for a thoroughly engrossing collection of life experiences and quirky fun that is not just entertaining, but thought-provoking.
Life Sucks
PS Conway
psconway.com
Fictional Cafe Press
9798987442159, $19.95
https://www.amazon.com/LIFE-SUCKS-Memories-Introspections-Lockdown/dp/B0DZ1HHD27
Life Sucks: Memories and Introspections from the Great Covid Lockdown is a memoir that captures Covid's lasting impact on one survivor. It opens in an unexpected place - with mention of a 2007 tour of China and a consideration of "useless pets" that are basically a Western concept. Chapters build further discussions of the idea of keeping pets, especially those deemed 'useless' (which some might argue about):
Speaking of Armageddon, can you think of any animal that evokes more deep-seated fear than a snake? Growing up Catholic, next to clowns and priests, snakes filled me with abject spiritual terror. Snakes were Satan, evil sneaky creatures of temptation that were more predator than prey. So why the unholy HELL would anyone keep a snake as a pet? Completely useless.
This is just one of many life observations delivered in a lively, controversial, thought-provoking dialogue readers won't anticipate from a memoir that contains the word 'Covid'. Many reflections about life's ironies and challenges coalesce in this book in a manner that moves through PS Conway's personal experience and interests to intersect them with life conclusions and engrossing situations.
The intersection of satirical observation and a wry appreciation of life's ironies is notable not only by the book's title, but in descriptions that are simply delightful in their juxtaposition of risque reaction and reasoning.
Subjects range from pets and their dubious distinctions to drugs and humor that seeps from observations both ironic and pointed:
Once a lonely experimental investigation site in 2020, the Johns Hopkins' Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research is a present-day global leader in the studied deployment of psilocybin therapeutics... In addition to providing relief to people suffering from addiction, anxiety, and depression years ago, this wonder drug has also solved the following crises . . . Enabled First Contact. Alien intelligence was too advanced for us to notice. It required a firm belief in the Mandela Effect to actualize into real parallel universes crossing over into our own.
Readers anticipating another staid, familiar story of lockdown's life-jarring impact will find that there's nothing quite like Conway's life reflections and conclusions. Call it a memoir, a Covid dream, a social reflection, or an opinion piece as you wish - the reality lies in the fact that this offbeat reflection on life and how it does or doesn't suck tickles the mind even as it defies categorization.
Jealousy, naked women, and astute reflections about life's values and ironies coalesce on the playing field of entertainment and shock value:
Consumerism is a problem. We go deeper in debt buying things we covet, can't afford and truly don't need. The negative impact of consumerism outweighs the positives up to and including risking our eternal souls. The more we examine both tangible and intangible consumption, the more the malevolent truth seems self-evident. But, since we now live in a post-truth reality, why let nettling little facts stand in the way of a good time? Think about it. Doesn't it feel sexy to buy another set of $300 earpods? Those musical micro-penises making sweet love to your earholes as you crank up the massive bass of Zeppelin II? Feel it: You gotta whole lotta love.
Libraries should recommend Life Sucks to Bostonians (masters at creating wry life observations that veer towards the darker side of perception), readers of satire and irony, memoir followers who might think the form dictates conservative pathways of inspection, and anyone interested in startling, candid, even sometimes offensive life observations.
Readers will find Life Sucks novel, unexpected, incomparable to any other work in fiction or nonfiction, and satisfyingly difficult to put down.
Mad as Birds
M.C. Schmidt
https://www.mcschmidtwrites.com
Black Rose Writing
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685133614, $18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Mad-as-Birds-M-C-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B0F5QKZJXJ
Mad as Birds opens in 1947 with an art exhibit - hardly the typical place to land a gothic horror novel, but the perfect setting for events that move from artist Florence's palate to a portrait of blood and horror which emerges from her union with a goddess.
The horrible portraits she's created depicting murder scenes involves her prey in knowledge of their possible last moments as the goddess seeks to use divine rage to hunt down each unsuspecting (but newly educated) victim.
Overcoming her, the group survives. But it would be too disruptive to the artist circle to allow an investigation of Florence's connection to Sebastian's murder, and so they overpower her and conclude that she's not worth prosecuting. Time and events eventually land her in a sanitarium, now that benefactor Sebastian isn't there to support her.
Or, so they think.
Fast forward to the first chapter, presented in the first person from the viewpoint of model student seventeen-year-old Milo, whose involvement in a popular fellow student's bullying and death causes him to be expelled from school.
His brother Jack moves him to a new home that once was an artist retreat in hopes the big change will help Milo recover from the death of their parents and his own poor choices, but this only opens the door to new horrors which emerge from unexpected sources.
From the start, M.C. Schmidt crafts a riveting story of danger and discovery. As the otherworldly setting of the initial murder of "nobody" Sebastian Greely turns into a supernatural encounter with a spectral woman who influences Milo's art and decisions, readers will relish not only how past and present become connected, but how a boy grieving his parents is lured into a world of insanity, spirits and devil's mirrors, and a killing spree.
The mystery, tension, and unexpected developments are nicely detailed, designed to keep readers thinking and on edge as Milo confronts forces he'd never imagined.
Another note to the story's strength lies in characters who navigate not only supernatural influences and forces, but matters of their own hearts, which dovetail neatly with the purposes of evil forces.
Libraries seeking a supernatural murder mystery that pits a teenager against the impossible will want to add Mad as Birds to their collections, highly recommending it to readers of gothic horror.
With its spectacular entwining of art and madness and its supernatural components that involve awakening minds and emerging evil, Mad as Birds presents a compelling scenario of healing and danger that is satisfyingly novel and hard to put down.
The OTC Handbook
Aaron Hermann, Pharm.D
Palmetto Publishing
https://www.palmettopublishing.com
9798885903325, $9.99 paperback/$15.99 hardcover/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/OTC-Handbook-Aaron-Hermann/dp/B0B28HVMX4
The OTC Handbook answers common questions about over the counter drugs. It comes from a pharmacist whose expertise creates authority and insight for readers interested in basic considerations of all kinds of OTC medications, from cough syrups and remedies for stomach problems to topical applications and pain relievers.
Questions about these medicines answer the basic query of "what's the best?" while providing insights and cautions a typical drugstore visitor may not think to ask.
Chapters arranged by ailment make it easy to look up classes of drugs for particular applications. One example is 'Cough, Cold and Allergies,' which provides at-a-glance contrasts of the properties and benefits of prevailing medicine, outlining both cautions and recommendations for alternatives:
Benadryl may cause drowsiness and isn't recommended for use every single day as it wears off. Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, and Xyzal can be used daily and are normally nondrowsy.
These insights extend to all kinds of medicines, reinforcing that what works great for one person may not work as well for another:
What works great for one person doesn't necessarily work as well for another. Products that contain the active ingredient menthol may provide cooling effects and are common in products such as Biofreeze and IcyHot. Products that contain the active ingredient lidocaine, which is present in many different OTC topical formulations, will provide a numbing effect.
Consumers often stymied by big drugstores with their potentially confusing arrays of OTC products will welcome Aaron Hermann's easy reference. It takes the guesswork out of deciding what type of product to buy for a particular problem, it organizes these products into easily-referenced chapters by health issue, and its considerations of pros and cons is straightforward and easy for non-technical readers to understand. Consumers might also enjoy cost-savings, as the handbook may guide them directly to the product they need, saving them from unnecessary purchases.
Libraries will want to add The OTC Handbook to their collections for its broad interest to patrons interested in medicine, while those seeking a book suitable for home reference libraries will find it important both as quick reference and as a study.
Chasing Moonflowers
Pauline Chow
Ghastly Goings-On Press
9781964733036, $9.99
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Moonflowers-Gothic-Historical-Fantasy-ebook/dp/B0F1G51FWX
Historical vampire thriller Chasing Moonflowers opens in an unexpected place -- not the Western setting of Europe or America, where so many vampire stories begin, but in Hong Kong, where young herbalist Ling Shaw observes a terrible murder committed by a bloodthirsty creature. When her uncle is wrongly arrested for the crime, it falls on her shoulders to exonerate him.
Her effort forces her into association with a friend and a thug from the notorious Kowloon district as they delve into a murder investigation that introduces them not only to vampires and curses, but the social struggles of labor forces in Hong Kong.
Family ties are at the forefront of this story, which explores Chinese roots and connections as a dutiful daughter and her family are drawn ever deeper into dangerous territory:
"Remember, I'll give you cues. Otherwise, remain silent. Neither of us need to draw attention to ourselves. I am glad you changed into trousers. These men - even your uncle - don't want what's best for us." Ahma rarely spoke ill of Dabak. "In this world, men can save a girl or cause her immeasurable suffering. They usually choose the latter."
Male and female roles, their impact, and what they have to do with vampires and murders winds into a thoroughly engrossing story that gives as much pause for thought about historical precedents and cultural influences as it builds an engrossing, can't-put-it-down series of conundrums. These buffet Ling as she edges towards the truth, only to uncover even more adversity and terrible choices.
Survival and discovery efforts introduce their own particular dilemmas for a young woman in Hong Kong:
Revealing this would surrender the layer of protection with which Ling had been endowed. Her choices were few however.
Pauline Chow's observations of this era and its people are as rich as the details about Hong Kong's social underbelly and personalities. Readers expecting a straightforward vampire thriller do receive elements of attraction and the unexpected, but also will appreciate how detailed and engrossing are the social and political conundrums Ling faces in the course of her pursuit.
Libraries looking for a vampire thriller that comes with added value for its cultural and historical reflections will relish the opportunity to include and highly recommend Chasing Moonflowers in their collections.
Packed with unexpected twists, moments of revelation, and a tension and attraction that translate to a powerful read, Chasing Moonflowers is hard to put down and nearly impossible to predict.
Guts and Grace
LeeAnn Mallorie
Conscious Capitalism Press
www.consciouscapitalism.org/press
9781950466092, $24.48 Hardcover/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Guts-Grace-Womans-Full-Bodied-Leadership/dp/1950466094
Guts and Grace: A Woman's Guide to Full-Bodied Leadership draws important connections between company desires to elevate women to leadership roles and the reality that most women still have not risen to the top tiers of business management without owning their own businesses.
Why are advancement ideals failing? LeeAnn Mallorie places the onus on women to review thirteen social myths that limit one's options, then overcome them through reasoned and logical moves to address their impact and limitations.
While Guts and Grace may sound like an idealistic venture, its promotion of authentic balance points out that there is no set-in-stone way of adopting time management strategies, as many books promote. Women need to tailor their responses not to admonitions or dated habits, but to the realities of knowing their personal cycles and needs in order to make the best decisions.
This is only one example of topics that juxtapose personal revelations and approaches to success with bigger-picture thinking. Many of them explore Mallorie's own wellsprings of realization:
...the one thing I most needed to change was my addiction to toxic intimate relationship dynamics and victimy commiseration. I was conscious that my tendency to get lost in negative emotions was derailing both my personal life and my work.
Key to this work is the section covering "fully embodied leadership." Discussions of empowerment, activation, inspiration, and wholeness outline approaches to self-growth and mirroring it in business environments and concerns. This approach is important for empowered professional business leaders to know.
The crux of this discussion lies in enactment. From locating "breadcrumbs" of purpose that will guide readers to better choices, understanding, and success to embracing reflective questions about motivations, influences, and past actions, Guts and Grace shows women how to build better relationships and life approaches.
The result is a "must" for business women, women's reading groups, and self-help circles, who will find much fodder for discussion and much to embrace from Mallorie's insights.
Libraries adding Guts and Grace to their collections will want to be sure it receives attention not just from businesswomen, but from any woman interested in expanding her choices, powers, and past precedents into more successful routines not just in the workplace, but throughout life.
Packed with practical insights, exercises, applications, and candid advice, this book holds the key to success for those who would work to enact fruitful change in their lives:
...the practices for this chapter are simple . . . but not easy. In fact, they may turn out to be incredibly hard. But the potential payoff is also great. If you've identified personal or professional growth areas that include things like confidence, powerful communication, executive presence, resilience, energy management, work - life balance, or a greater sense of purpose, your path starts here.
Aegolius Creek
Micah Thorp
Type Eighteen Books
www.typeeighteenbooks.com
9798992040548, $18.99 paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Aegolius-Creek-Micah-Thorp/dp/B0F281RR3N
Aegolius Creek is a literary novel about family and community ties, wildlife preservation, and business special interests. It builds the story of a confrontation that "begins and ends in fire" as the first-person narrator describes moving through Oregon, working the fire lines to battle wildfires. The team is off to Aegolius Creek, a place named after a bad omen owl, to tackle a small fire that could be man-made.
The firefighter's intensity coalesces with a vivid suicide scene that engulfs the narrator and his audience in a series of events and observations that immerse the Karlsson family in forces beyond their control and experience with the land.
Micah Thorp crafts a hard-hitting saga rooted in a sense of Oregon community. Readers exposed to these events will find any preconceptions of Oregon's small towns and residents shaken as elder Don Karlsson's future, and fights to protect the land, emerge within and outside of family:
Don stares intently. "Marle's ashes are here. Your mother, for God's sake. Someday mine will be, too. Ain't no way anyone is going to move me off my property."
Stacy leans back and sighs. "Dad, the land will still be here, even if you're not. And we'll make sure your ashes are buried next to the creek right next to Mom's."
He scowls. "Damn kids. If you wanted you could buy it and move me out. I mean look at ya. Big city lawyer. I'm sure it'd be a half day's work for you to take the place."
"We don't want to buy it, Dad. We want to leave it and only come back to see Mom. And you. There isn't anything for any of us here."
Don crosses his arms. "I have given the land before you; come and possess the land."
Many elements influence these political and social issues. These range from Native American heritage and ghost stories about a cave spirit to the contrasting opinions of various kinds of residents about the land and its inhabitants:
The hushed tones with which the residents of the Aegolius describe Indian Head Cave reveal a certain reverence for its occupant. Regardless of identity, the remains are tied to the valley, their spirit interred within the rocks and the soil and the trees. At Aegolius Elementary, the origins of Indian Head Cave are told as ghost stories. The same children's parents, in contrast, focus on the symbolism of human remains buried in the heart of the valley.
All these forces contribute to a novel that outlines the defiance and confrontation between opposing parties that hold different visions of Oregon's potential, future, and residents both human and natural.
As battles grow, personal insights affect attitudes and outcomes:
"I planted those trees, I rebuilt this house, I raised both of you. Stacy's right. I should sell this place and move away. Might be the smart thing to do. I'll be dead and gone before I get to cut another tree down. And until then, I'm gonna be plagued by tree huggers and lawyers. I ain't got enough time left for that."
Packed with encounters that emerge from the force of divergent opinions, Aegolius Creek is a powerful story that will appeal beyond Oregon's borders.
Librarians interested in literary stories about changing land values and family connections, particularly those with Oregon settings, will find Aegolius Creek inviting.
Readers seeking vivid stories about Oregon's communities and land management issues will love the contrasts between tree huggers, developers, and family interests that make Aegolius Creek a powerful story.
Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life
Barbara Worton
Susan Schadt Press
9798989403462, $22.50 Paperback/$12.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Chatterbox-Stories-Noisy-Barbara-Worton/dp/B0DKH5MRB2
Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life is a gathering of "mini-memoirs" that reflect the life experiences of a "keen observer" who captures life reflections. From its opening pages, Chatterbox captivates readers with stories and history which immerse them in Barbara Worton's life and times - past and present.
Take 'Sunday Sauce.' This memory of her Italian-American family opens with the appealing observation that:
"A kid could lose an eye. A tooth. Break a nose. Fracture a shin. Lop off a finger. Suffer a concussion at Sunday dinners at my grandparents' house in Brooklyn."
This introduction neatly segues into a family affair in which grandchildren are tapped to make fruit and vegetable boxes for grandpa's business while the family dinner simmers.
Moves within these stores are sometimes jumps rather than smooth transitions - one immediately transitions to 1957 pre-wedding nerves, entering into a world in which her family prepares for an Italian-American, Brooklyn wedding.
Each story represents a time capsule leap through an era and its atmosphere. Each sets the tone of childhood, adolescence and adulthood - and of varying seasons and scenes:
Fords and Chevys and Oldsmobiles and Studebakers pull up and park on our Massapequa Park street. It is Christmas. It is snowing.
Readers who enjoy memoirs that walk back into childhood impressions, bygone years, and family connections, and thoughts on everyday life will relish the "down-home" feel of these vignettes, which survey a vast expanse of memory and place through different events.
Libraries seeking memoirs steeped in New York culture and the feel of both yesteryear and the current moment will want to add Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life to their collections.
Filled with the hustle and bustle of daily life and vivid impressions collected by an observant child, teenager and woman who taps the inner fears and delights of her world, Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life represents a step back in time and forward into the present.
It's a fine opportunity for all ages to revisit the cultures and families whose experiences would be long lost to time were it not for these succinct in-the-moment reflections: stories that connect us to our own feelings and life experiences we share.
Bird, Watching: Stories, Essays, & Poems
Michelle Goering
https://MichelleGoering.wixsite.com/writing
Nine Petal Press
9798987126455, $14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Watching-Stories-Essays-Poems/dp/B0DLV4YH7J
Bird, Watching: Stories, Essays, & Poems gathers life observations into vignettes organized into three sections - Bird Stories, Poems, and Essays - but even though it would be easy for those with a narrow literary focus to choose but one of these sections to explore, the strength of this collection lies in all three subjects.
Take the introductory piece, 'European Starling.' This short encounter sets the stage for the kinds of inspections and literary dovetailing of personal interests that reflect the strength of the collection as a whole:
The bird looked at me. I looked at the bird.
How strange, I thought. That bird is looking right at me. I leaned forward.
The European Starling leaned too, his eye still fixed on mine. He was invading my privacy. The skin on my neck prickled. I'd have to say something. "Hey, do you mind?"
The glossy bird was unblinking. His eye's ray pierced my public facade.
What do you know about me? I thought. What do you know of my need for approval and my nose-picking habit and my selfish heart?
From this philosophical inspection, readers might not anticipate how the collection then moves into personal realms, from a discourse on breast cancer surgery to a reflection on women's strengths in 'Woman Pie':
I would like to feel I am mythic: a hero, with a breastplate and sword, invincible. Some days, though, I feel I am something else: a pie, on the table, consumable. I am delicious, aromatic, all cinnamon-sweet with tart apples wrapped in a tender and buttery crust. Do you know how hard it is to make a good crust? I use my mother's recipe, from her mother; I come from a long line of personal pie makers.
The dovetailing of personal and literary perspectives moves through family relationships, aging, distance, and homespun memories of the past with a focus on observation, enlightenment, and revelation:
The trees will be appreciated then, as they have been all along, by meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds, raccoons and squirrels, who don't know them as a legacy, but appreciate, in their small way, Dad's dream.
The result is a juxtaposition of personal experience and bigger-picture life inspection that is firmly rooted in nature and senses of place and self. This will delight memoir readers, fans of nature writing, and those who look for literary reflections on life's progression.
Libraries seeking accessible examples of how philosophy, self-inspection, and literature can entwine will want to highly recommend Bird, Watching not just to leisure readers, but to book clubs and writer's groups seeking powerful examples of how personal experience can represent bigger-picture thinking about life.
Filled with memorable moments and unexpected associations between seemingly disparate worlds of nature and human experience, Bird, Watching ideally will be read slowly - if only because, at some point, it must end.
Brave New You
Mary Poffenroth, PhD
Workman Publishing
www.workman.com
9781523518616, $28.00 Hardcover/$14.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Brave-New-You-Strategies-Courageously/dp/1523518618
Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day is a discussion about fear - not just the phobias surrounding common things or bigger-picture fears about the future, but the everyday worries surrounding common life challenges that leads people to draw back, choose less than ideal pathways for resolution, and not cope well with life.
Dr. Mary Poffenroth presents 'neurohacks' based on the latest science and research. These are designed to not just identify and confront such fears, but change them. The result promises better pathways of discovery, recovery, and choice than readers might initially think.
Take the author's insights about the appearance and properties of fear. Poffenroth begins with her own experience, then moves into scientific circles for supportive insights:
I finally learned to embrace my fear - by knowing and accepting that fearlessness doesn't exist - that I came to see fear as an empowering force and not a debilitating one.
When you examine "the myth of fearlessness" through the lens of neurobiology, it completely breaks down because sustained fearlessness is close to biologically impossible... In the absence of a medical condition, the closest we can get to true fearlessness is when we're eating, a benign process that signals to our brains that we're safe enough to momentarily consume fuel.
Her emphasis that courage can be a learned trait, supported by specific life approaches over a period of time, creates hope and opportunity in those committed to examining their own wellsprings of fear, courage, and change.
Chapters draw upon various studies to link biological, psychological, and social influences upon fear and its reactions, creating foundations of understanding by promoting strategies for effective change and building courage.
Why neurohacks? Because:
Neurohacks help me feel confident that I can handle my distressing sensations in the moment, and that I will have a set of tools to use, add to, and build a future full of freedom, connection, and adventure.
Libraries interested in specific approaches to revising and revitalizing concepts of fear's sources and how to effectively change them will welcome the opportunity to highly recommend Brave New You to a wide audience. This can range from self-help readers looking for science-based strategies for enacting positive change to women's groups, book clubs, and psychological circles interested in the mechanics of nerve stimulation, reaction, and intentional change.
Filled with enlightening opportunities for reconsidering everyday patterns and assumptions, Brave New You is ultimately an uplifting scientific blueprint for transformation that will reach into a broad audience with promising opportunities for reflection and change.
17 RUNS: The Unbeaten Path to Unlock Life's True Potential
Garnet Morris & Olivia Chadwick
Legacy Launch Pad Publishing
https://17runs.com
9781964377407, $19.99
https://www.amazon.com/17-Runs-Unbeaten-Unlock-Potential/dp/1964377404
In 17 RUNS: The Unbeaten Path to Unlock Life's True Potential, personal trainer Olivia Chadwick met Garnet Morris and was tasked with training him for a grueling 100-mile Canadian relay race.
Their year-long shared effort towards this goal bridged the age gap between them and resulted in conversations key to this book, which expands the process from memoir and personal connection to broader inspections of meeting life goals and forming uncommon relationships along the way.
Readers who think this story will embrace physical exercise may not be prepared for the mental challenges that accompany the effort. Descriptions move from identifying and removing obstacles to success to dreaming bigger, identifying goals and fostering routines that promote better physical and mental health, and considering personal idiosyncrasies as "superpowers."
This approach melds two very different perspectives and experiences, offering approaches to success that blend metaphysical and practical viewpoints uncommon in self-help, new age, or exercise books.
The dialogues, realizations, and transformations each of these individuals experience is translated to interactions and insights readers can easily learn from by example:
Without realizing it, Garnet was talking about a technique known in sports psychology as visualization. The practice involves imagining a future outcome in specific detail using all five senses - sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. The brain doesn't know the difference between taking an action and imagining it, and it's a powerful tool for creating pathways to success. It's something I use with elite athletes.
"Dreams trigger goals," Garnet continued. "They give us a picture of a different future and supply us with the energy to move toward it."
The realizations embedded in practice, ideal, and result thus translate easily to exercises and considerations all readers can apply to their own lives, whether they too are in training, or are tackling bigger-picture challenges during their psychological or physical evolutionary process.
Of special importance and interest is the juxtaposition of two very different people and how their strengths and ideals are affected by mutual goals and friendship:
"Go outside your comfort zone. The goals you made weren't big enough. You cannot achieve the next level of success without experiencing discomfort. That's where growth happens." This was a new way of thinking about things. I always imagined that getting to a new level with my business would feel good along the way; maybe there would be some bumps, but overall the journey would be gratifying.
The result doesn't oversimplify the process of enacting real change, as too many self-help guides seem to do, but leads by example.
Libraries seeking a memoir that will appeal to business readers, athletes, psychological self-inspectors, and a wide audience will want to not only add 17 RUNS: The Unbeaten Path to Unlock Life's True Potential to their collections, but highly recommend it to readers who will appreciate its in-depth examinations of how goal-setting and achievement can be approached on many different levels.
Why consider 17 RUNS an extraordinary tool for pursuing goals that stands out from the crowd? Because, through insights embedded in a cooperative effort between two very different people, readers are encouraged to:
...allow our minds to drift to that place of possibility, where there are no limitations and anything could happen.
If You Say So
Michelle Herman
Galileo Press
9780913123508, $19.95 Paperback/$9.95 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Say-Michelle-Herman/dp/0913123501
If You Say So is a memoir-in-essays of entering the dance world at age 62, losing loved ones, and stepping up to a vastly revised life that embraces the notion of improvisational dancing.
Making a dance film during a pandemic is no light feat. It involves meeting outdoors, masked, to put practiced routines into group effort, taking risks, and accepting that while life has taken a huge detour from any anticipated route, the end result might just be worth embracing:
Over the three-month period of in-person rehearsal and filming, there ends up being just one Sunday when there is perfect weather for dancing outdoors in Columbus, Ohio. "That was a great day, wasn't it?" we say for weeks afterwards. But even on the not-great days, even in the rain, or under a blazing sun, or when the wind is so strong that parts of people's costumes fly away - or on the cold November Sunday when it starts to snow as soon as we are in position in the field - we are happy to be there. It's our only reason to go anywhere.
Throughout her book, Michelle Herman embraces a sense of community both within and outside of the dance world, despite the presence of a pandemic which shuts down everything she loves, isolating her.
Her life story embraces family relationships, impacts, and journeys that evolve new directions and opportunities for her future:
Are you having fun? he asks. The answer is obvious. I am surrounded by people I love. We are dancing to a mix of Beyonce and the Isley Brothers and Prince and Talking Heads and Celia Cruz and I'd asked my friends to please bring food and needs, so there is plenty of wonderful food, sweet rice cakes and crispy tofu and macaroni and cheese and cookies and pate and bread (they have mostly neglected to bring needs). I shrug and smile. I know what he really means is: Can you explain why is this fun?
I can't answer that - that would be a matter of explaining why I am who I am.
Her focus on ballet for those well beyond the years usually associated with effective dancing also offers important insights into the joy of joining with others who adapt their bodies, styles, and abilities in a conjoined effort to create a novel art form:
My life has changed completely over the last year and a half. The party is full of people I've met in the ballet classes I take every day. And this is the other reason I am at peace with - that I have found joy in - my life in Columbus after all these years. I have fallen in with a crowd of other late-to-ballet dancers, lifelong dancers, dancers who take only classes other than ballet.
Readers interested in dance who also appreciate the delicate dances between mothers, daughters, family, and friends, will relish the spirited insights that stem from Herman's life experiences.
Dog lovers will find the accompanying tale of Ella and the grief that arises from a pet's loss (that unexpectedly ends human connections, as well) to be extraordinarily compelling and heart-wrenching.
Libraries seeking memoirs that are gripping in their embrace of dance, relationships, growth, and coming to terms with loss and change will welcome the dance of life that is If You Say So. It's a warm journey through later years that is vivid, heartfelt, and unexpectedly thought-provoking, highly recommended for its ability to chart various obstacles and courses through expectation, confrontation, and transformation.
A Cesspool of Spies
Linda Watkins
Argon Press
9781944815233, $5.99 eBook/$18.99 Paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Cesspool-Spies-Linda-Watkins-ebook/dp/B0F5XVBTLJ
Espionage takes unexpected turns in A Cesspool of Spies, the latest thriller by Linda Watkins. The story opens with new adult Simon Biggs considering a CIA invite for students to sign with them for three years in exchange for a hefty recruiting bonus and college funding.
Simon already signed with the Navy during World War II, returning home a wounded war hero. He enrolled in college where he's now a senior, set to graduate... but he can't afford his goal of law school. This assignment may be the perfect ticket towards his ultimate dream. It sounds like an easy research job. Or, it could prove a disaster.
Simon doesn't know much about the newly-formed CIA, but he and his readers learn much as the story unfolds.
Events are portrayed through the first-person experiences of Simon, the reflections of CIA agent Major Admiral Bradley Sullivan, and others who become involved in fielding false intel, subterfuge, liars, and uncomfortable truths.
Forced to accept guidance from his superior which seems to conflict with the information he's uncovering, Simon is placed in an untenable, uncomfortable position. He thinks independently and comes to some dangerous conclusions about not only his assignment, but the superiors who influence his findings:
According to Manly, I had jumped to conclusions that were unfounded and uncorroborated. He said he would put a note in my file, then I was dismissed. I left the office more than just a little angry. I'd given him solid intel and, as a result, I now had a reprimand in my file. What was the matter with that man?
Linda Watkins uses clear chapter headings to trace the evolution of conversations and shifting perspectives. This helps readers easily understand changing scenarios and evolving issues.
She also attends to portraying leader Brad's domestic family life with his wife Penny in a manner that intersects nicely with bigger-picture thinking about relationships and political influences. The story embraces moments of connection and revelation both at home and at work as Brad navigates some dangerous situations and comes to surprising conclusions.
Brad oversees his man Carter and considers the unexpected impact of a plot gone awry even as he participates in setting up some fake intel, himself, only to find his scheme blowing up to endanger the innocent. Simon navigates his own dangerous pathway with the CIA as he learns dangerous killing lessons from Brad and finds them all too handy for dealing with other issues.
Watkins builds an intriguing international thriller that moves from foreign to domestic circles in unforeseen ways. Readers who partake of Simon and Brad's evolutionary process will not only become immersed in foreign affairs, but will begin to understand the moral and ethical impact of training and behaviors which emerge in startling ways back home.
Libraries seeking thrillers that are taunt with action, replete with psychological and social reflection, and filled with unexpected moves between a wide range of characters will find A Cesspool of Spies a remarkably astute inspection of the forces that bring past family and personal dynamics into new arenas.
Replete with psychological and political tension and cat-and-mouse games played on novel arenas of engagement, A Cesspool of Spies is an outstanding read. It's highly recommended for thriller audiences and book clubs seeking adjunct material to spark vivid discussions about responsibility, moral and ethical tests, and the impact of dangerous decisions and liaisons.
The Twelve Steps: A Modern Hero's Journey
Anonymous
Health Communications, Inc.
https://hcibooks.com
9780757326004, $17.95 Paperback/$12.95 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Steps-Modern-Heros-Journey-ebook/dp/B0DXFY4ZD8
The Twelve Steps: A Modern Hero's Journey is a memoir that offers more than the usual story of recovery, but delves into elements of transformation. It considers how, exactly, the process of following an AA twelve step program directly leads to change.
Chapters move from separation from former patterns of addiction to eleven steps of initiation into the principles and process of the program before returning to the final results of recovery. The survey's packed with allegory, experience, and insights.
Take Jonah and the whale, for one example:
The passage of the first threshold symbolizes the beginning of the disintegration of the self where the hero is plunged into the abyss and begins the process of transfiguration culminating in a spiritual rebirth. The image of the belly of the whale represents the worldwide womb and navel of the world where all life began and can be renewed if we have the courage to return to it. While there is great healing here, there is great danger as well, for it is in the belly of the whale that the hero finds the abyss within himself, and while the things he finds here have the power to liberate and transform him, they have the power to destroy him as well.
This illustrates the basic promise and danger of healing, setting the stage for and moving into accounts of why the 12-step program's foundations are so essential to lasting healing. This includes the spiritual component of the process:
As the hero moves further into this part of the journey, a key to making the transition into this new way of thinking and acting is to develop a deeper relationship with his Higher Power. As each sober experience triggers an old reaction, the hero can easily feel overwhelmed by all the work he must do to change and stay on the spiritual path. It soon becomes clear that, by himself, he doesn't have either the strength nor the interest in changing some behaviors, and a growing revelation during this stage is that only by relying on God to remove these defects of character will he finally be able to be free of them.
By depicting those in recovery and following these steps as "heroes," the writer points out the underlying courage and determination required to set aside more familiar choices and pathways to forge new territory in all aspects of psychological and spiritual healing.
This allows readers to better understand not just the twelve steps (many books already cover them), but how they reflect new possibilities for reinventing one's psychological and spiritual connections.
Many a book details the recovery process, but by absorbing the image of the 12-stepper as a "hero" and following his step-by-step journey, readers will more readily understand how and why the program connects with so many daily lives and choices.
Libraries interested in adding more 12-step surveys to their collections will especially appreciate the intellectual and psychological approach that sets The Twelve Steps: A Modern Hero's Journey apart from most others on the subject. This translates to an acquisition which will nicely compliment other AA guides, forging new opportunities for readers with an uncommon approach to understanding recovery.
By employing Jungian mythology, connecting it to the hero ideal, and cross-referencing these lofty topics with the daily challenges of recovery, The Twelve Steps: A Modern Hero's Journey creates a dialogue of promise, opportunity, and revelation which expands and enhances existing literature on the subject.
Accessible to a wide audience, The Twelve Steps: A Modern Hero's Journey will especially appeal to book clubs looking at twelve-step memoirs and books which take the next step into better understanding and appreciation of the promise and delivery of the twelve-step program.
Green Flash at Sunset
Nic Schuck
Panhandle Books
9798992151619, $24.99 Hardcover/$16.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Flash-Sunset-Nic-Schuck/dp/B0DVC1LMX9
Green Flash at Sunset is a thriller that takes place in Key West, dovetailing the lives and perspectives of four individuals battling their pasts and present-day limitations, who find themselves unexpectedly joined by violence and threats beyond their experience.
Janet is just blossoming into her artistic talents after fleeing an abusive marriage with Bobby. Charter boat captain Randall is facing financial ruin and the specter of Jared Baker from his past, visiting a nasty scene of murder while he leaves his clients fishing. Eli is a young escape artist who is in the twilight of being able to escape from his own living nightmare, while Stacy is on the cusp of songwriting success, even though this feels ever-elusive.
These four individuals present very different backgrounds and experiences, yet find themselves and their shadowy pasts on a collision course that both intersects their special interests and tests each in new ways.
Nic Schuck does a fine job of setting the stage for their unlikely association as he dovetails haunting initial scenes of discord and danger with a portrait of Key West personalities, backdrop, and events.
Readers attracted to rich novels of Florida culture and influences will welcome the vivid portraits of people and places that permeate this story, while those seeking a thriller firmly rooted in psychological connections, revelations, and dysfunctions will be pleased with the striking combination of disparate characters whose lives and futures unfold in unexpected ways.
From twelve-year-old Eli's ability to weave magic even into adult situations to Janet's reflections on her marriage and new status,"Maybe, she thought, she cried because she didn't miss home or Bobby or her father. She cried from happiness. She wouldn't miss being married, although technically, they still were. She would worry about that another time," each character grows from their encounters not just with each other, but greater forces that take over their lives.
At each step of the action-packed story, Schuck stays true to exploring and exposing the flaws and strengths of his characters as they navigate new territory both individually and together.
Libraries seeking Florida-based intrigue and confrontations that provoke characters to reach above and beyond their limitations will find Green Flash at Sunset an especially appealing recommendation for book clubs interested in how different bids for freedom play out in unexpected ways.
Replete with action and astute psychological reflection that coalesces, dovetails, and unfolds in new directions, Green Flash at Sunset is a thought-provoking, moving story that proves hard to put down and easy to highly recommend.
Life and How to Live It Volume One: Begin the Begin
Chaz Holesworth
Dorrance Publishing Company
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9798889257820, $11.65 Paperback/$2.99 eBook/$3.99 Audiobook
https://www.amazon.com/Life-How-Live-one-Begin/dp/B0DNKQJJFH
The first volume of Chaz Holesworth's memoir 'Life and How to Live It,' Begin the Begin, depicts a childhood in Philadelphia where an addicted father and born-again Christian mother raised their family.
Holesworth was born on a winter's day in the late 1970s, "the worst of times." From here, he reviews family influences, early gang struggles, and the overall atmosphere of growing up in Philadelphia's slums. These experiences influenced his family and his life, setting boundaries and creating obstacles and angst that permeated his world.
Holesworth's inspections come steeped in personal reflection as well as social insight. From how his mother kept falling into patterns of attraction to addicts, to being a young "Jesus freak" himself and honing the spiritual, psychological, and physical skills that would ultimately contribute to his street savvy and personal survival, Holesworth creates a powerful inspection of influences and motivations for change. He creates a read both engrossing and candid:
"In 1988, I was 10, poor as shit, and going to summer camps where I had to fight other campers like Rich the bully, who pushed me into a pile of horse shit."
From high hopes, God's influence, and new possibilities to dashed dreams and survival tactics, Begin the Begin is a memoir replete with powerful memories and accompanying insights. These reflect upon good and bad choices, religion's influence on the family's life, and how Holesworth came to identify the "bullshit" in his life and opt for new ways of being.
Many of the insights on Christian propaganda and direction will give pause for thought to religious readers interested in the impact of their direction on poverty and inner-city experience. Book club discussions could revolve around this and other topics of growth, survival, and community influence.
Begin the Begin features many hard-hitting, powerful examples of coming of age under the worst of conditions in America. It also delivers the message that achievement can come to anyone - often, in spite of backgrounds, poverty, and influences that repress.
Astute and frank in its life journey, Begin the Begin is a memoir worthy of contemplation for its insights on weakness, poverty, and religious, social, and political party lines.
Memories of Tomorrow
Josh Herner
Independently Published
9798884935556, $19.99 Hardcover/$9.99 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Tomorrow-Josh-Herner/dp/B0D31NFK4X
Memories of Tomorrow opens with protagonist Tom Berski facing yet another hurdle in his life: an old, broken-down vehicle. Much like himself, the car has seen better days:
His life had taken a turn from bad to worse, and he was still sliding downhill, as if the only resistance came from his battered-down ass. He was fighting an ongoing battle with his inner devil every day, and the devil usually won. "It sucks to be me," he murmured.
He's approaching the bottom of an endless pit of failure when a novel job emerges to both tantalize Tom and promise him a path forward and upwards from his downward spiral. The only problem is - the job involves walking away from many things he knows, and from a life that holds familiar patterns, routines, and predictable routes.
Josh Herner injects many surprises and elements into his novel. These range from psychological and social inspections to science fiction, mystery and intrigue, and high drama.
These multifaceted elements place Memories of Tomorrow in the perhaps-uncomfortable, maybe-enviable position of both being a shelving challenge for libraries that like pat categorization and a story which can be highly recommended to a much wider audience than novels, thrillers, or sci-fi usually reach.
Herner creates a lively inspection of one man's reality and adds twists to which inject adventure and unexpected insights throughout. This is why Memories of Tomorrow ideally needs to be read slowly, to fully appreciate these nuances of realization as they emerge from many places - even aboard a sailboat where Tom is an assistant new to these uncharted waters:
"So, we had that 'autopilot' all along?"
"Of course. How else would I have managed this boat all by myself?"
"Then why did I steer this boat all the way here?"
"Because you were enjoying it too much, and I didn't want to take that away from you."
"Okay, fair enough, but I would still prefer to know that I had a choice."
Memories of Tomorrow is a wide-ranging novel especially highly recommended for readers interested in stories that challenge literary boundaries in a satisfying way, and for libraries looking for vivid reading recommendable to book clubs seeking something different that will encourage wide-ranging discussions.
Filled with mystery, thought-provoking encounters, and life-changing efforts, Memories of Tomorrow is a gripping story of control, shell companies and intrigue, and one man's descent into a very different kind of problem.
Last Bench
Ram Halady
Vanguard Press
c/o Pegasus Publishers
https://www.pegasuspublishers.com
9781837944071, $12.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Bench-Ram-Halady/dp/1837944075
Teenager Vikram (Vikki) loves Bollywood, food, and helping others. This combination of interests would seem just the ticket for having and being a good friend, but in Last Bench, friendship becomes complicated and filled with many more challenges than Vikki anticipates when he is tapped to help in an unusual way.
Set in 1970s Bangalore, Last Bench is a coming-of-age story filled with social, cultural, and psychological insights. Teens will relish the tale because of its many differences from typical Western portraits of youth.
For one thing, Ram Halady introduces the specter of a formerly asthmatic boy who moves from being sickly and left out to becoming the epitome of power and attraction. This newfound strength comes from different areas as Vikki tackles the question of his missing father and unknown heritage, chooses a police inspector to interview for his career profile (because he's missing the usual family members to tap), and plays cricket with peers who are supported by their families.
Other classmates' lives unfold, from comedian Kaddu to clumsy Subbu. Each holds a place on the first or last bench, and each brings their own influences, ideals, and angst onto the playing field.
Indian culture provides an immersive experience not just in young adults' lives and choices, but in their environment:
"If Lord Ganesha is the problem solver, He must be too busy with other matters, more pressing and existential than my simple desires."
Libraries have plenty of choices when it comes to teen coming-of-age novels, but Last Bench stands out from the crowd with its vivid portrait of Indian culture and young adults who face daunting limitations and possibilities in their lives and family ties.
Filled with insights, inspiration, excitement, and the simple joy of coming together over shared goals, Last Bench is a notable read that ideally should be on the reading lists of those interested in Indian culture and inherited or learned alternatives for youth:
"I wondered if being a policeman ran in my blood, just as BM wished math to run in his son Uday's."
Delaware at Christmas
Dave Tabler
www.davetabler.com
Independently Published
9798987000694, $9.99 eBook
Delaware at Christmas: The First State in a Merry State offers a festive holiday history of Delaware's Christmas traditions and their evolution. It will find its home in any library interested in a Delaware focus or in choosing a holiday title with the added value of historic inspection.
Nothing about the season is ignored, from lawn decorations and food and drink particular to Delaware to the experiences of Black Delawareans, in contrast to immigrants who added their culture's Christmas celebrations to the state's holiday traditions.
Rituals, celebrations, and industries around Christmas all receive close inspection in a book that pairs lovely black and white and engaging color illustrations throughout with insights and lively topics readers might not expect from either a history or a holiday title.
One example is the rise and fall of Christmas savings clubs which the banks encouraged for over a century, beginning in Delaware in 1912.
Another surprise (to non- Delawareans) is the "Christmas in July" promotional drive that holds its roots in worldwide tradition, but which emerges in Delaware in different ways:
You'll be bombarded by "Christmas in July" sales in the stores lining the sandy avenues at Delaware beaches in late July. The First State's coastal towns, known for their lively summer tourism, have spun the sales activities into full-blown festivals complete with concerts, foods, and performances.
While some may believe that reading this book without an intrinsic love for all things Delaware might be dull or misguided, the surprise for many will lie in how compellingly colorful Delaware's holiday history is for anyone who enjoys reading about regional traditions and celebrations.
This is why libraries will want to add Delaware at Christmas to any collection strong in American history, holiday traditions, or plain good reads. The collection's colorful stories and equally impressive illustrations should attract a wide audience. It's highly recommendable even for those who may have no initial interest in Delaware, offering engrossing and lively discussions that delight.
Sixty Seconds
Steven Mayfield
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646035977, $18.95 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Sixty-Seconds-Steven-Mayfield/dp/1646035976
Readers of World War II fiction will find that Sixty Seconds offers a closer inspection than most novels about the war, narrowing its focus to nine individuals and their experiences of the final minute of the war in Europe.
Steven Mayfield cultivates both sides and various angles through the lens of unusual characters that are not what readers might anticipate. The war is viewed from the perspective of a madwoman involved in an assassination attempt, an American teen whose brother is in Germany, and a Polish couple who are separated on the cusp of their first child's birth, for example.
These very different experiences and viewpoints illustrate the wide-ranging impact of the war on all kinds of people around the world, bringing home many of the impacts it had on not just political and social ideals, but personal lives.
Another unusual device that sets Sixty Seconds apart from other stories lies in its organization. The stories do not comprise individual chapters, but are juxtaposed throughout, with character name headings clarifying who is experiencing these seconds. This allows for a more immediate contrast that flows from person to person as the war reaches its crescendo.
For example:
Gosia: "'...gallantly streaming,'" the girl on the radio sang as Gosia and her aunt flashed tiny smiles at each other. It was a rare moment of amusement in a day otherwise not at all amusing. Gosia had awakened early in the morning to a giant wet spot on the bedsheets, the contractions starting soon thereafter. She'd tried to reach Antoni - to tell her husband that he would be a father by day's end - but the transatlantic cable had been flooded with calls and she was repeatedly rebuffed by the long-distance operators, eventually giving up when the contractions became too intense.
contrasts with:
Zimmer: "'...we watched were...'" the singer's voice flowed into the night from the Feucht Airfield loudspeakers. Zimmer spoke no English. He didn't understand the words. But he recognized the melody. It had played twenty-four times at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, not sung a cappella like the distant female performer but an instrumental recording with horns and drums. The singer's words, delivered in English, reminded the young Wehrmacht soldier that Germany and America might still be at war, and he stepped back into the cover of the forest. Is it midnight? Is it over?
This allows for the reinforcing realization that the war played out on very different battlefields, entwining individual experience and concerns with an overlay of political and social angst to direct, buffet, and change disparate lives in many different ways.
More so than fiction that focuses on military engagements, Mayfield's juxtaposition of psychological shifts and personal lives under the mantle of war makes important points about how people survived. These are key to a better understanding of not only World War II, but how individuals approach survival from very different vantage points.
As these conjoined lives experience sixty seconds that build towards a final crescendo in more than one way, readers will find plenty of food for thought about this process, making the perfect fodder for avid book club discussions.
The result is an uncommon, captivating collection of stories about World War II that librarians should not hesitate to include in any literary or general-interest collection.
Replete with the blood, sweat, and the tears of the common man on the cusp of multiple life changes after a long period of struggle, Sixty Seconds is a standout in World War II fiction literature.
Montecito
Davis MacDonald
Davis MacDonald Publishing
9798218573744, $14.00 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Montecito-Novel-Mystery-Suspense-JUDGE/dp/B0DR37D8BH
Montecito: A Novel of Mystery and Suspense is the 12th book in the Judge series, but that fact shouldn't dissuade newcomers from taking the plunge into a world that proves accessible and thoroughly engrossing.
Montecito's social milieus are the backdrop for the Judge and his sleuthing associate Blaine Forbes to probe the underbelly and overlords of Montecito Valley - denizens and seemingly upright citizens alike.
The story opens with a Montecito gardener's beginning hours of work - only, the equipment and work are not what most would assume. Hidden under the veneer of an ordinary worker are the mechanics of a killer. This soon shakes Montecito's peaceful countenance with a targeted revenge murder that's been long in the planning and quite overdue.
P.I. Blaine is in Montecito for work, not pleasure, despite the town's restful allure. In his capacity as assistant to an elderly but savvy Judge with a nose for the truth and trouble, Blaine acts as the younger, more physically capable sidekick who also harbors a talent for digging out the truth.
In town to address a death threat on Undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy Flanders, Blaine finds far more than a disgruntled writer involved. The dangerous plot draws in almost all of the forces within Montecito.
As overt and covert special interests clash, action-packed scenarios evolve in which Blaine and Judge find even their impressive combined investigative prowess tested.
Davis MacDonald does a fine job of exploring connections and challenges as Blaine and Judge "leave a trail of bodies" in their wake.
Between murder in an ICU to divorce, revenge, a contested will, greed, frustration, and the undercurrents buffeting the Santa Barbara sheriff's department, Montecito sizzles with the heat of passionate relationships gone awry and the possibilities of the Dark Web to remedy issues.
Libraries will especially want to acquire and recommend Montecito to murder mystery fans who look for complex community relationships and convoluted pathways to discovery that hold no easy resolutions or solutions.
The story spins a fine yarn around the motivations of not one but a wide cast of characters results in a gripping saga packed with unexpected twists and turns, the ever-personable Judge and Blaine at the heart of this community's growing challenges.
Mystery and thriller audiences and even newcomers to the series are in for a real page-turning treat!
Upstream
Jennifer M. Lane
https://jennifermlanewrites.com
Pen and Key Publishing
9781736669136, $16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://jennifermlanewrites.com/upstream-poison-river-series-book-2
https://www.amazon.com/Upstream-Poison-River-Jennifer-Lane/dp/B0F7T3HCXM
Upstream concludes the story begin in the first book, Downriver, with a vivid account of love, justice, community safety, and disaster. Set in 1901 in Pennsylvania's coal country and on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, Upstream cultivates a literary and social inspection rich in descriptive detail from its opening lines:
The ten o'clock train rumbles on the track and hisses as I pass, an impatient visitor letting off steam. It shudders, eager to leave, like it's late for something and denied what it came for. That makes two of us. It's been a year since that train brought me here, and I still haven't proven Pritchard and his coal town have been poisoning the water, killing people, and covering it up.
Jennifer M. Lane steeps her saga in the lives, fears, and controlling influences of a small coal town shaken by one woman's determination to hold accountable those responsible for her parents' deaths.
The multifaceted story excels in two appealing, absorbing lines of inquiry: love and mystery. Readers attracted to tales steeped in both will relish how Charlotte's pursuits entwine her interests in unusual ways, resulting in special challenges and revelations that force her to decide what is truly important in her life.
Another rich note to this novel lies in its vivid first-person experiences, which reveal the doubts and concerns of a protagonist whose pursuits are often at odds with her desires:
I may never know why people divulge their secrets to me. Usually, it's a good thing. But right at that moment, I'd wished no one ever spoke to me at all.
Lane's yarn embraces the two different regions with insights and choices that test Charlotte's abilities and inclinations, creating a story that is hard to put down and easy to love.
Librarians choosing Upstream for its promise of serving as a fitting sequel to Downriver will find the two a powerful blend of personal, political, and social revelations that are just as strong together as apart.
Book clubs that assign the duo will find their ability to spark vivid discussions about community, social responsibility, and personal choice makes both books winners. Upstream is essential for receiving the concluding results of Charlotte's perseverance against all odds.
Calypso Blue
Brian Silverman
Down & Out Books
www.downandoutbooks.com
B0F2S5TPW8, $5.99, Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Calypso-Blue-Buonfiglio-Caribbean-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0F2S5TPW8
Who wouldn't want to flee the big city of New York for a tropical paradise when life gets too complicated? Investigator Len Buonfiglio chooses this course in Calypso Blue, only to find that peace is not an easy thing to find even when big city problems and family troubles are left behind.
For one thing, no place is immune to death... or murder. When famous performer Lord Ram dies under mysterious circumstances, Len is tapped to quell rumors about his demise - only to find that they may be all too true... and then some.
Len discovers that running a bar in paradise won't keep him out of trouble, but actually may prove the focal point that attracts trouble to challenge him on a personal level.
His interviews with possible perps unravel dangerous threads of associations and discoveries which lead him ever deeper into questions about not just Lord Ram's life, but the calypso community as a whole:
I smiled thinking to myself, now there's a motive for murder. Whacking the man because he got more accolades than her preferred Calypsonian. I knew people here took their calypso allegiances seriously, but that was a little far-fetched even for my Clouseau-like mind.
Readers familiar with mysteries that take place in the tropics but focus on intrigue more than community will especially appreciate the musical and performance interludes injected into Calypso Blue that give the story an added dimension of realistic atmosphere.
Brian Silverman winds his mystery so intricately into this community, cementing it with an outsider's investigative nose for trouble, that readers will find themselves as involved in the underbelly of island life and affairs as in a mystery that keeps evolving new questions.
As Venezuelan special interests, international intrigue, and truths about Lord Ram begin to emerge, tensions escalate. Readers begin to understand that what they'd initially expected from unfolding events is actually far from the truth.
Libraries seeking an engaging murder mystery set in a tropical paradise will relish how Calypso Blue intersects a savvy New Yorker's perspective with those of islanders and outsiders who are all harboring dangerous secrets.
Replete with strong characters, fast-paced action, and twists even seasoned mystery readers won't see coming, this second book in Len Buonfiglio's series will prove hard to put down, thoroughly steeped in Caribbean affairs and flavors that are alluring and haunting.
Afterward
Bristol Vaudrin
Tortoise Books
www.tortoisebooks.com
9781948954914, $18.99
https://www.amazon.com/Afterward-Bristol-Vaudrin/dp/1948954915
Afterward presents the story of Lauren Delgado's struggles with her vastly changed life after her boyfriend Kyle is found unresponsive on their apartment floor. While this is not the first time she's seen him injured (he showed up at her apartment sporting a swollen face), it is the first time she faces an all-consuming tragedy that threatens everything she's built in her life.
Bristol Vaudrin creates a thoroughly engrossing story of family ties and broken relationships, choices that range from hotel rooms to life decisions, and mother/daughter encounters that both support and challenge everyone involved.
As Kyle embarks on the long journey to recovery much changed from his trauma, Lauren keeps waiting for something to change for the better. She keeps making hard choices between kindness, confrontation, and responsibility.
Vaudrin creates the vivid story of a young woman forced into responses and avenues of life beyond her control and understanding. This especially shines in how Lauren approaches both daily changes and requirements that shift their relationship, and in her struggles with the long-term potential of these changes:
I rubbed his sore muscles while he relaxed in front of the television. But this was no selfless act; I wanted answers. I wanted to know this was what we had to go through to get back to how things were before, but that we would get there someday. I needed to know that.
Readers familiar with such circumstances from their own health struggles as patients or caregivers will especially relate to all the issues and unexpected turns life takes as Lauren meets her revised responsibilities with a combination of hope and determination.
The specter of old relationships evolving and new ones coming into play keeps the characters and situations mercurial, realistic, and thoroughly engaging.
If there were one novel to pick which depicts how people shift their lives when the unexpected changes everything overnight, it should be Afterward.
Replete with insights, reactions, and topics perfect not just for book club discussions, but caregiver groups, this novel is the perfect choice for libraries seeking contemporary literature that probes the aftermath of tragedy and how it revises relationships of all kinds.
Afterward's intensity and insights will delight as much as they may challenge sensitive readers to think about the impact and requirements of rebuilding a life from scratch nearly overnight.
Misfit's Magic: Twisting in Time
Fred Gracely
www.fredgracely.com
Bisket Press, LLC
9798991335522, $11.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Misfits-Magic-Twisting-Fred-Gracely-ebook/dp/B0F6NDNPHJ
Misfit's Magic: Twisting in Time concludes the wizardly teen trilogy about misfit magical orphan Goff, who is in a complex relationship with the forces in his world.
People avoid him because anyone who comes to know him becomes tangled in the same forces that have him locked in a Verlokken force field of angst and danger. Having friends is difficult and dangerous, yet he and a small collection of companions become involved in tracking down a murderer in a mystery that challenges each of their lives differently.
Once again, Fred Gracely cultivates a powerful saga that opens with Goff's reflection that "Magic had nearly killed him and everyone he loved. Twice."
He reviews adventures of the past in a neat recap of prior books and also considers the unusual allure as well as repulsion of these action-packed encounters:
Fun stuff. Stuff he desperately wanted to forget.
He also deftly presents the Time Lock's impact on memory that prevents Bones and Maxim from fully remembering what happened:
"What does it do?"
Maxim sighed. "Nothing if you put it back where you found it and forget it exists. Mrs. Wicket told us that Goff's story will never be completely finished and that no one knows what it all means. I can only guess that another part of the mystery is locked away inside that thing."
As dreams and nightmares connect two very different worlds once again, the characters and their special interests and perceptions experience a riveting ride through time and place that young adults and preteens will relish... especially those who have enjoyed Goff's prior adventures.
Gracely does an excellent job of weaving elements of past encounters and unresolved issues into this final adventure. While newcomers can access and enjoy it, the most appreciative young audience will be those already familiar with the trials caused by magic and friendship clashes.
Libraries that add Misfit's Magic: Twisting in Time to their collections will want to have its predecessors on hand. They will find this story packed with unexpected confrontations and magical beings, action paired with vivid description, and believable, understandable dilemmas that stem not just from magical conundrums, but interpersonal problems:
"He's my brother, and I love him, but I also hate him. He makes me do mean things that I don't want to do. He wishes I wasn't a girl, and he hates it whenever I remind him that I'm not his brother. He wants me to burp and eat like a pig and then laugh about it with grease on my cheeks. I'm sick of it. That's not who I am, or at least, who I've come to feel like I am. I want to be just a girl sometimes, the strong, tough, smart girl I am, but a girl."
Fast-paced, exciting, and filled with unexpected twists and revelations, Misfit's Magic: Twisting in Time concludes a winning fantasy trilogy in a way that leaves the door ajar for more.
Shadow Islands
CWP Jones
Moonshine Cove Publishing LLC
https://www.moonshinecovepublishing.com/index.html
9781952439926, $20.00 Paperback/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/SHADOW-ISLANDS-CWP-Jones/dp/1952439922
Shadow Islands will engage thriller and suspense readers with a powerful story that opens with the specter of an escape from a remote Caribbean island which served as a clandestine base for remote operations. The narrator hopes that the bodies and wreckage he and his compatriots left behind won't lead investigators to his new refuge in Belize.
He thought the government intelligence or military units from different countries might track him down. He didn't reckon on a lawyer with a money judgment entering the fray.
Mick Morkan and Ike Sears are often part of big legal proceedings. But when they stumbled upon hidden cash, big deals, and what is, in effect, a treasure hunt for missing loot, special interests beyond their lofty chambers spark a riveting cat-and-mouse game that plays out on international shores.
CWP Jones crafts the vivid story of a Vietnam vet/lawyer who becomes embroiled in an ultimate quest for justice that reflects his own uncertain moral and ethical quandaries about the war and its aftermath.
Thriller fans will find the plot immersive from the start with its oblique mention of bodies, high-level probes, and hiding. These elements would have created interesting reading in and of themselves - but what really makes Shadow Islands sizzle with action and intrigue are the conundrums which arise to test not only problem-solving abilities, but motivations for seeking either the truth or revenge.
Action is fast-paced and wry injections of humor lend unexpected comic relief as searches and discoveries unfold:
Ozzie pointed to the front windows. "Uh oh, we got more company." The Honduran LCM-8 Mike Boat rounded the point and headed down the inlet.
"I'm guessing they're not stopping by to see if we want a turn-down service," I said.
Nonstop action brings readers into the center of brawls and confrontations ripe with descriptive allure:
Although it was part of my own cockamamie plan, I still hated the idea of giving Flint and Harley even the momentary satisfaction of seeing our colors come down and a white flag go up. The rocketing had slackened even before we had switched our flags, so it was clear that Flint had been firing just for effect.
As the story unfolds, many unexpected twists keep readers guessing not only about the ultimate outcome, but the underlying motivations of all kinds of characters.
Libraries choosing Shadow Islands for their thriller collections will find this standalone novel perfect for patrons seeking a very different kind of Vietnam legacy story, while those attracted to vivid descriptions of confrontation, treasure hunts, and special interests will find that the exquisite tension develops in droves.
Filled with a you-are-here immediacy and exciting clashes, Shadow Islands is a powerful read not easily forgotten.
The Pesky Problem
Christina Garcia
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891325272, $24.99 hardcover, $14.99 paperback, $8.99 e-book
https://www.amazon.com/Pesky-Problem-Cristina-Garcia/dp/B0DX2HL9J6
The Pesky Problem involves a dilemma faced by a "festive family" of gourds and pumpkins when flocks of pesky crows bother them day and night.
The crows do love their pumpkin and gourd snacks, but annoying their defenseless dinners is just as much fun as eating. What can hapless pumpkins do to dissuade them?
As a crow suggests eating something else instead of harassing dinner, the pumpkins are plotting rebellion against the disrespect of their neighbors.
Plots are hatched on both sides of the pumpkin patch, and young readers and read-aloud adults will especially enjoy not only the whimsical tale of "genius thinking" and problem-solving, but notably vivid, colorful illustrations by Lenka Knoetze and Amy De Vries.
All ages will appreciate the attraction of this pumpkin-versus-crow story, which imparts important messages about cooperation, adversity, community, and alternative thinking. These will be perfect for not just entertainment, but enlightenment.
One Wrong Turn at a Time
Jan Heidrich-Rice
NDY Press
9798990977136, $13.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/One-Wrong-Turn-Time-Forty-Five-ebook/dp/B0F2SS16HF
One Wrong Turn at a Time represents a special brand of memoir, blending humor and travel with marital reflections that represent both a detour and a family celebration as life changes around the characters. More so than most stories of marital u-turns, this chronicles the growth and different stages of change that a long-term marriage and family can face.
One Wrong Turn at a Time pairs a sense of adventure and discovery in a manner that sets it apart from most marriage surveys, but incorporates insights about interpersonal connections that belay any pat categorization of the memoir as a travelogue alone.
The very elements which defy pat categorization also lend to its ability to reach an exceptionally wide audience, from those seeking a leisure read filled with insights and intriguing revelations to readers attracted to first-person stories of sampling new routes against all odds:
"Why don't you take a spouse excursion?" Rice suggested a couple days into our trip.
"I could," I said. "But I'd rather explore at my own pace."
He raised his eyebrows, perhaps recalling that time I phoned him from the road to ask where the hell I was. But he said nothing. We both knew the score when it came to my sense of direction. Still, I wanted to venture out on my own.
The ups and downs of life on and off the road, in and out of the house, and with or without children makes for an absorbing, fun, thought-provoking entwining of experiences that romp through Maine, Utah, and points near and far.
Libraries interested in a memoir that represents an engaging read offering simultaneous, vicarious fun and thought-provoking moments will relish the journey undertaken in One Wrong Turn at a Time.
Jan Heidrich-Rice embraces a sense of the exotic, profound, and revealing in her memoir, and so those seeking an armchair travelogue and personal journey that will carry them far from their own routines and choices will relish the lively, light-hearted sojourns. These are a fine promotion of living life in its fullest, embracing adversity and connection, and trying new things.
The Long Game
Steven Shepherd
Michael Terence Publishing
9781800949713, $13.00 Paperback/$2.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1800949715
The Long Game is a crime thriller that opens in North London in 2021, where Detective Inspector Michael Dack is stalking a girl he's been observing and researching for some time. He's off duty on one job, but in full engagement over another, seemingly nefarious purpose. And he's never committed a crime before. Is he willing to risk his new life to embark on a dangerous career?
The second chapter opens in 2024, where he's ironically been assigned to track a killer.
Himself? Who is Dack, anyway?
This question permeates a thoroughly absorbing, satisfyingly different crime story in which the fine line between perp and investigator is not just broken, but shattered. Readers introduced to Dack's choice in the first chapter assemble more evidence that demonstrates people are not always what they seem as the story unfolds satisfyingly unpredictable twists and turns.
Steven Shepherd is masterful at creating set-ups for predictable events, then shifting them last minute to keep readers on their toes.
As the task force uncovers more and more evidence that leads to an impossible revelation, readers follow Dack's footsteps of logic, haunting discoveries, and impossible-to-ignore urges as he leaves clues his associates can't ignore:
"I walked around to his desk to wake him up and..." Matt paused as if unable to speak the next words.
"Yeah, go on," Nisha encouraged.
"He had the photos up of the two dead girls on his screen."
"Are you sure? Just those two girls?"
"Yep, just the two murdered ones. It was weird. It's like he'd been sat there drinking and staring at them."
Does Dack want to get caught? Or is he toying with his fellow investigators, milking the murders for something more?
When Nisha Sharma and Matt Gardiner are put on the case to help the aging-out Michael, more psychological underpinnings to his actions are revealed to lead readers ever deeper into a snake's pit of obsession and illusion.
Shepherd's attention to exquisite tension-building, strong characterization and cat-and-mouse games that edge ever closer into unexpected connections translates to a crime thriller that is a real page-turner.
Libraries seeking thrillers that go beyond whodunit to probe the psychology of relationships, choices, and why murders happen will relish how The Long Game considers too-close connections between criminal and law enforcement personalities.
Replete with surprises and character challenges, The Long Game is a powerful study in psychological quandaries which proves easy to fall into and hard to put down.
Tangled Darkness
MM Desch
https://marydesch.com
Rowan Prose Publishing, LLC
9781961967540, $18.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook/$29.99 Hardcover
https://books2read.com/u/bwgvYO
https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Darkness-MM-Desch/dp/1961967545
Tangled Darkness probes the underbelly of lies, deception, and dangerous truths which immerse psychiatrist Dr. Leslie Schoen in a murder. When her clinical assistant is found dead, Leslie has a personal stake in becoming involved - she's a prime suspect in the case.
Leslie and her wife have been trying to get pregnant for a long time, and now it's finally happened. This means it's the wrong time to bring work problems home, much less introduce a murder investigation into her world. But this and a medical board inquiry about alleged sample medication theft lead Leslie on a journey she can't share with her wife, forcing her to move ever deeper into a tangled web of lies that center around opioids and guilt.
MM Desch creates an engaging thriller steeped in not just murder, but psychological inspections and revelations. Issues of boundaries, accusations about overstepping them, and interviews with perps and witnesses who each contribute another piece of damning information about Leslie's practice seem to point in dangerous directions as detectives in the case uncover more possibilities.
Detective Davis, in particular, pursues a convoluted path of details that stymies even his ability to connect the dots, which still always seem to lead back to Leslie. Did she steal opiates? Was she involved in something much darker than a medical snafu?
Leslie, too, finds her probe challenging:
The addicts' and alcoholics' behaviors were familiar to Leslie: lying for lying's sake, hiding bottles inside an apartment where no one else lived. But what she was looking for wouldn't be the drugs or the rigging. They'd found those already. This would be something small...
Not only is the death murky in its details, but she experiences flashbacks to her own family influences and dilemmas as she conducts her research:
If it hadn't been for Leslie, then what would've been different? What were they fighting about? Even at age seven, Leslie recognized the state her mother had been in. Now she saw the truth: her mother had confessed something to her father, prompting his shock and outrage.
Desch weaves psychological revelations together that work on different levels, from possible perps and motivations to a psychiatrist's choices and influences. The technique of including a detective's outside eye and Leslie's insider knowledge of psychology results in a delicate balance between a murder investigation and personal revelations which create exquisite tension and drive a memorable, revealing plot.
Libraries seeking a murder mystery that operates as a satisfyingly complex suspense and thriller story will want to acquire Tangled Darkness for its literary strengths, ability to spin a compelling yarn, and its juxtaposition of different investigative pathways that challenge its characters in novel manners.
Replete with thought-provoking insights paired with unexpected twists, Tangled Darkness will prove especially compelling for readers interested in the intersection of murder mystery and psychological conundrums past and present which arise from not just death, but also life influences.
Midwife of the Soul
Shira Friedman
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891326804, $20.00 pb, $7.99 ebook, $30.00 hc
https://www.amazon.com/Midwife-Soul-Teaching-Through-Psychotherapist/dp/B0F77CWWYP
Midwife of the Soul is a survey of healing, soul-building, and revitalization that teaches readers how to celebrate seemingly negative traits by considering them "soul gifts" to be tapped and acknowledged.
Shira Friedman uses the memoir form to narrate her life journey, from her own tumultuous birth to family relationships, processing strife, raising her own children, and pursing a doctoral degree.
At each step of her life journey Friedman reflects on the presumptions and realizations that helped shift her experience and viewpoint in a different direction, offering readers insights into Jewish identity and the process of evolving in unexpected directions.
Readers who anticipated more of a "how to" guide may be surprised by a memoir which precedes and advances these insights, but Friedman's background is key to understanding life journeys and also leads neatly into discussions of the process of change:
Emotions are simply patterns of energy in motion. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be changed, channeled, redirected, transmuted, or transformed. All emotions, regardless of whether they feel good or bad, are simply patterns of energy awaiting transformation. Transformation happens when we replace negative energy with positive energy by focusing on kindness, compassion, appreciation, gratitude, love, joy, and peace.
This blend of nuts-and-bolts advice backed by a memoir's inspirational, revealing stories of trauma, healing, choice, and perception helps cement the connections between life experience, ideals, and evolving spirituality and philosophical outlook.
The vignettes are linked to follow-up lessons gained from experience to solidify the exact points of realization and the kinds of lessons readers can use to draw such connections in their own lives.
Libraries seeking a book highly recommendable to book clubs interested in accounts of personal transformation and recovery will find Midwife of the Soul especially notable for how it weaves these life experiences into moments that will educate and attract readers into higher-level thinking and group discussion.
Replete with important insights about trauma and positive change, Midwife of the Soul is highly recommended for those who enjoy personal life stories and deeper inspections of life purpose and change.
Advantage Players
Michael Kaplan
Huntington Press Publishing
https://huntingtonpress.com
9781944877828, $24.95
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/shop/products/the-advantage-players
https://www.amazon.com/Advantage-Players-Virtuosos-Strategists-Mathematical/dp/1944877827
Advantage Players: Inside the Winning World of Casino Virtuosos, Master Strategists, and Mathematical Wizards is essential reading for gamers interested in beating odds through a reasoned understanding of blackjack and advantage players.
The first rule Michael Kaplan poses for successfully winning is: don't skip around! Don't skip around the book looking for juicy anecdotes about winners, and don't skip the strategies that are presented via lively discussions of interpersonal interactions, advantage player scenarios, and challenging outcomes.
This includes the prologue, which opens with an unexpected bang for those who may have anticipated a review of rules alone:
"Kaplan! You fucked me over!" shouts Keith Burks, a Stanford-educated veteran casino gambler who's earned millions at blackjack and the like. "Dinner is on you next time!" Jutting his head forward, he displays this sense of pique as I enter the kitchen of Max Rubin's sprawling home in Las Vegas.
Here is where advantage playing is defined. It also is where casino strategy, culture, and politics are introduced, setting the stage for a book that delivers on its lively promise of insights combined with action and vignettes about insider experiences.
From the start, Kaplan creates a lively interplay between reader and casino worlds, employing a memoir-style litany of experiences on and off the felt that hold insights into personalities, illusions, realities, and dramatic risk-taking:
Vegas Matt gambles just like his viewers, except he does it for more money, betting a minimum of $50 and usually a max of $10,000. When Morrow is in the red, he'll take flyers by wagering thousands at baccarat and blackjack. "Get even or get even worse" is a favorite saying of his during those do-or-die moments.
Even those with only a casual interest in gambling, Vegas, or casino advantage players will find themselves mesmerized by the intriguing juxtaposition of stories, photos, and eye-opening insights.
More so than other books on the subject, Kaplan takes readers right into the heady world of advantage playing. Readers who want tips on strategy receive so much more that the book becomes entertainment as much as an enlightening education.
Libraries that choose Advantage Players will want to recommend it to patrons who enjoy vivid memoirs about casino personalities, plays, and gambling strategy.
Packed with jaw-dropping encounters and mind-expanding insights, Advantage Players is hard to put down - even for those who reside well outside the world of advantage playing itself. This places the book in the unique position of holding exceptionally wide appeal.
And So I Took Their Eye
Ben C. Davis
Bridge House Publishing
9781914199967, $10.50
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/and-so-i-took-their-eye-ben-c-davies/1147507304
And So I Took Their Eye is a collection of interlinked stories about violence, sexual assault, and social system failures. As such, it may prove exceptionally graphic and triggering to sensitive readers. This warning aside, however, their very roots in reality lay the groundwork for exceptional reading (and horror) that will thrill readers seeking not just vivid reading, but opportunities for book club discussions and reflections on justice, crime, revenge, and border crossings of a different ilk.
Open with 'A Gringo Died Today,' which presents a "you are here" atmosphere that reinforces the events and the feel that some readers may find themselves surprisingly too close to the action:
Rising from your sheets though, you notice how your sweat tastes different this morning. Salty not sweet. Your shirt slapped down sodden, a change from the usual crumpled mess. Beside you Claudia is still asleep, so that's normal. She'll have been up all night with the little one whilst you again snored through. Looks the same as ever, her thin traces of beauty smudged by years of tortillas and frijoles. "Reina de belleza" they said, though now you'd do well to see it. Turning out just like her mama, though she wouldn't be the first. A shame, though she'd say the same about you. Worse even. Drink like your papa too...
Broken promises, complex family makeups and interactions, and cultural commentary come from an intimate perspective that keeps readers immersed in the outcome of a vastly changed world:
...one day it was your village, the village you'd always known with the same families and faces for generations, probably too close in relation at times. Then snap, everything changed. Suddenly white faces were everywhere, busloads of people charging in, Semana Santa a never-ending party covering the beach in trash. Some locals say they like the change, but it's only because they're the ones making the money. For everyone else it's a nightmare you all saw coming.
In a snap, the microcosm of village life transforms into the sordid results of a Western culture's takeover. And the surprises and revelations just keep unfolding.
Consider And So I Took Their Eye as an origami of short stories. Each fold reveals further depth, truths, revelations, and even a sense of slowly-building horror that moves from past events and choices to present-day conundrums.
It's no light feat to interweave personalities and places like this. Letters, dialogues, accounts of change and murder, and a worldwide romp that moves from Latin America to England and America sends readers on unexpected journeys rife with satisfying connections, twists, and discoveries.
At first the diversity of these personalities and the differences between strangers seem to indicate few connections between the shifting scenarios and characters. Keep reading, because the unexpected emerges as the stories build their foundations of powerful reflective experience and soon prove impossible to put down.
Libraries seeking literary short story collections about murder, cultural and social change, and survival tactics will welcome these interconnected lives. The action simmers in And So I Took Their Eye, but it's the reflective process that grows each character and dovetails their interests and experiences which make the stories shine.
Another powerful device is how these lives are assessed, presented, and unfold. From a clinician's observation of a therapist's client to bigger pictures such as refugee issues, And So I Took Their Eye is a treasure trove of insights that deserves slow, careful inspection.
This is why And So I Took Their Eye is especially recommended for group discussions. Its many topics of death, redemption, growth, and repression deserve deep intersection between readers as the book outlines the lives of seemingly disparate characters and their special interests.
Compelling, shifting in its viewpoints and delivery, and thoroughly mind-boggling, And So I Took Their Eye defies pat categorization and rests its appeal upon the unexpected.
Prepare to be amazed.
Voices
Angela Bier
https://www.angelabier.com
Black Rose Writing
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685136161, $22.95
https://www.blackrosewriting.com/youngadult/p/voices
Voices is a young adult novel steeped in supernatural influences. It probes the psychological tension of a teen who enters a new small-town school before her junior year, only to find that her seemingly easy assimilation into its culture is impacted by voices only she can hear.
Elena Tannin's voices raise all kinds of dangerous family questions and secrets she really doesn't want to hear, but it's becoming impossible to ignore them. They also require action from her - a response that could impact her fragile new home and environment.
The first thing to note is that Elena is no fragile flower, but an intelligent, proactive young woman who carries successes from her past into this new life:
Elena was confident she would excel academically at Belvedere. She had dominated at her old school, which was highly competitive. She hoped that it wouldn't take too long to win over these new teachers. She considered her intellect and charm her armor.
The realistic world she navigates, which includes invitations to dances, male attention, and new directions, contrasts nicely with the supernatural overlay of possibilities she's always resisted knowing about.
Elena's perspective shifts to that of classmate Kat in the second chapter. Kat also struggles with her life in the areas of relationship-building, self-worth, empowerment, and love.
Add the perspective of Elena's mother for three viewpoints that are clearly defined by chapter headings. These provide satisfying contrasts of the same world as seen and experienced from very different angles.
This perspective sets Voices apart from many other YA novels, allowing for a depth of discovery and comparison of events that supports a light injection of magical realism while building its thoroughly engrossing story based not just on Elena's life and dilemmas, but those around her.
Libraries seeking YA stories that appeal with the promise of supernatural possibility, yet deliver much more depth than anticipated via a thoroughly engaging young woman searching for different kinds of answers in her life, will find Voices a powerful acquisition. It deserves recommendation to teen book clubs and reading groups for its blend of magic and psychological inspection.
Replete with dilemmas and realizations surrounding young adults who are at once vulnerable and strong, Voices is alluring and hard to put down.
Conflicts
G. Burns Hamilton
AOS Publishing
www.aospublishing.com
9781990496721, Paperback $17.49, Kindle $6.99
https://www.amazon.com/Conflicts-G-Burns-Hamilton/dp/1990496725
Conflicts is a powerful military action novel that incorporates elements of psychological and moral inspection into its political battles.
It centers on the imprisonment of African expat James Mackenzie. He's in a dictator's prison from which there is no escape. A band of loyal army colleagues determine to achieve the impossible by freeing him at all costs.
From the story's opening lines, G. Burns Hamilton creates powerful scenarios and attractive questions about characters and outcomes to drive the action-packed plot:
Fuck, what is wrong with me? I can barely move. Was I in an accident? Why is my face wet? I was lying flat face-down on the ground, on cement or stone.
In the scenarios that evolve, conflict arises not just from being on the wrong side of the desk in a dictator's ruthless power plays, but from unexpected places - friendships tested by moral and ethical issues when underlying truths emerge that are hard to handle.
Hamilton builds believable characters, political scenarios, and military responses that drive clashes and keep their resolution mercurial and surprising. This gives Conflicts an unusual blend of thought-provoking insights and non-stop action to keep thinking readers on their toes and thoroughly engaged in outcomes.
Of equal strength is how family and friendships wind into plots to free prisoners and address bigger social and political issues. The intricacies of building efforts that may result in deadly consequences for all benefits from dialogue and details that create realistic questions and planning:
"Matt and I are here not only in the role of helping James, but now as fathers of two of the team that will be at risk if this unravels. Tell us about your ideas for extraction if the plan fails."
As plans for a coup evolve from the rescue attempt, readers will especially appreciate how the military team steps up to assume roles and make decisions far beyond combat experience.
Libraries seeking thrillers set in Africa which are packed with military and moral engagements will relish how Conflicts evolves, and how easy it will be to recommend this multifaceted story to a wide audience of patrons who begin their association with the book with a basic interest in non-stop action and adventure.
Filled with insights, shifting relationships both personal and political, and moving targets of oppression and change, Conflicts's lessons in loyalty and strength will please thriller, suspense, military, and African political arena readers and book clubs alike.
American Sky
Carolyn Dasher
Lake Union Publishing
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662526435, $16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/American-Sky-Novel-Carolyn-Dasher/dp/1662526431
American Sky follows three generations of women whose lives are changed by different wars. It opens pre-World War I with Adele, who is soon to be separated from her about-to-be-married sister Pauline. Adele contemplates her own freedom as she observes her sister's departure, and is determined never to marry.
But events change even a twelve-year-old's initial resolve, and as war looms, she builds up livestock in anticipation of leading a far different life than that of her mother and sister.
Adele discovers that she doesn't like being a spinster. And Charles doesn't seem to expect from her the kinds of behaviours that her mother said were proper for a young lady. Marriage to him wouldn't be as bad as being lonely. And perhaps a family won't be as challenging as she thinks.
Enter Georgeanne "George" Ector, the result of this union, who has learned a feisty independence from her mother and who dreams of flying American planes for the World War II WASP. Her friend Vivian Shaw shares her ambitions. During the war, new possibilities open up for them.
These are quashed at the war's end, when they are expected to quietly return to staid family life. But how can they, when they've reached so high and had so many adventures outside the home?
Carolyn Dasher crafts a running thread of changing womens' experiences, mothers' messages to daughters (both covert and overt), and social and military perspectives about women's service which shift over time and between wars.
Her reflections on the impact these expectations has on different generations offers particularly revealing moments as each woman makes uncommon decisions about her role and future:
...she didn't want a boyfriend. Men had opinions about women going to Vietnam. They had opinions about women working, period. Ruth wasn't about to let anyone stand in her way. Not when she was so close to the finish line.
The interweaving of war and the social change it introduces is particularly engrossing as the story unfolds and different generations absorb new challenges to build strong responses to their times.
Libraries seeking a multigenerational story of women who gain their grit from family and life lessons alike will find American Sky exceptionally vivid. It's highly recommendable to women who like thought-provoking, immersive stories capturing the female psyche and its influences.
Book clubs will especially appreciate how American Sky unfolds and dovetails these disparate lives and family connections, holding the ability to spark many an avid discussion about values, inherited attitudes, and changing women's lives.
Filled with "aha" moments of discovery and connection, American Sky is a winner.
Bigger Than Us
Debbie Burns
authordebbieburns.com
JC & Burns Publishing, LLC
9798998726200, $15.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Than-Us-Debbie-Burns-ebook/dp/B0F699MMSJ
Life isn't fair. Maddie is on the verge of divorcing her husband Landon when he dies in a biking accident, leaving her to raise young twins on her own and forcing her to move in with her mother Charlotte. As if this chain of events weren't already daunting, Maddie then must deal with the unexpected arrival of a young woman who holds ties to her husband that she'd never known about.
Bigger Than Us presents an whirlwind of chaos and change where help and support emerge from unexpected directions and new challenges emerge to test Maddie's resourcefulness and resilience.
It doesn't seem to matter what she wants for her life - outside forces and other people always seem to inject their desires into her world, leaving her to handle the consequences.
Landon's best friend Noel wants to step up and help her, but his knowledge of secrets her husband kept reduces his effectiveness. Still, he gently tries to guide her through the pain of her discoveries and perceived failures:
"Maddie, trust me on this, it wasn't you. It was never you. You and the twins brought out the best in him. It just wasn't enough. Whatever Landon was up to, it was his failing, not yours."
As Maddie struggles with her own inclinations about the young girl's impact on her family, the fruits of her mother's wisdom, and the well-meaning advice of Noel, she strives to build her own revised moral compass against all odds.
Debbie Burns creates a powerful saga where bigger-picture thinking conflicts with equally challenging efforts to gain stability and new footing in a vastly revised world. Maddie's future and the foundations she's built it on have been turned upside down.
Burns is especially skilled at capturing the flaws not just in Maddie's perceptions, but in those around her. Under Burns's hand, there is no 'good or evil' - just people trying their best to navigate impossible situations to find better outcomes for their lives.
Libraries interested in women's fiction that sizzles with themes of family unity and division, communities coming together and reforming in unexpected ways, and a small family buffeted by forces well beyond its control and ken will find Bigger Than Us not only perfect beach reading, but recommendable to women's reading groups and book clubs interested in vivid stories of growth.
Packed with issues and insights that test not only the protagonist and her family but the forces impacting daily living, readers who come to the story with an interest in love and growth will relish how both develop in a powerful survey that follows a young woman's entry into a vastly revised life.
PANACEA: The Age of AG
Richard Bailey
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891326774, $18.99 pb, $3.99 ebook, $27.99 hc
https://www.amazon.com/PANACEA-Age-Richard-Carson-Bailey-ebook/dp/B0F5WQ8RMK
PANACEA: The Age of AG is set in the 31st century, where human life is perfect. Humanity lives in tropical paradises under protective domes. What could go wrong? Plenty, if you're sixteen-year-old Dolthea, whose living paradise is threatened by an AI's decision to shut it down.
This proposal doesn't mean her transfer elsewhere. It means her death and the demise of all who live in this dome, despite the long-held mantra and belief taught them by their AI overseers, that: Life inside Potomac Dome is as good and as safe a place on Earth as we'll ever find.
Obviously, it's time to leave paradise. With that risky venture comes the requirement for survival skills outside the domes. None of the teens have this experience. Fast-packed action captures their confrontations in this odd new world:
They screamed, jumped, and darted backward, half tripping over themselves. They'd never seen a live animal before, let alone one this large. The animal roared louder than anything they'd ever heard. Its eyes followed them as they darted into the woods.
Dolthea and her friends (perhaps predictably) discover a new way of life outside of their safe and time-tested refuge. Unpredictable elements to their discoveries include help from unexpected places and new ways of looking at their world. This encourages them to redefine the nature of paradise and easy living.
From high-tech battlefields to fielding robots, strangers, and new friendships that come with surprises, PANACEA: The Age of AG encourages young adult readers to absorb scenarios that test the history, presumptions, and survival of a group of determined teens.
Richard Bailey pairs action with insight in a manner YA readers will enjoy. The ethical dilemmas of the AI-controlled environment and the future viability of the human race, the presence of unexplained, unacknowledged alternatives, and the whimsy of making 'Asimov' or 'Asimovo' the name of various robots (which will especially resonate with sci-fi fans) makes for an engaging story that both entertains and introduces thought-provoking moments of discovery.
Libraries seeking sci-fi for teens which incorporates suspense, adventure, and psychological and social growth will appreciate how PANACEA: The Age of AG achieves its goal of providing a superior story that is both thoroughly engrossing and filled with topics perfect for book club assignment.
Rife with discovery and confrontation, PANACEA: The Age of AG is a vision of the future that comes with unabashed intrigue and insights teens will welcome.
Duet for One
Martha Anne Toll
Regal House Publishing
https://regalhousepublishing.com
9781646036004, $18.95 Paperback/$9.95 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Duet-One-Martha-Anne-Toll/dp/164603600X
Duet for One follows the revelations of thirty-seven-year-old Adam, who reflects on love, loss, and the fluidity and puzzlement of life connections as he and his father Victor stand at his mother Adele's grave and consider how his father, once part of a two-piano duet, is now alone.
Hard-hitting imagery is present from the novel's opening lines:
For the small knot of mourners, time paused and music slept.
For Victor, Adele's death was a black hole that sucked in music.
For Adam, a numbness.
Music has always swirled through their lives. Now it seems to be lost to each of them, albeit in different ways.
Martha Anne Toll surveys how two very different men learn hard lessons on how to turn a duet into a solo:
When had Adam's father played a concert without his mother? Or done anything without her? Adam ached the way a rainy day recalls a broken bone.
At each step of Adam's journey, Toll considers and contrasts the efforts of an "intellectual pianist" and a son who moves from a series of failed relationships without fully understanding why he never seems to obtain the connection his father and mother had, either musically or personally.
Of special interest and note is how Adam's ex, English professor divorcee Dara, is also learning new lessons not just in her profession, but in her personal life. The three characters form a trio of perfect emotional and musical storms as their dances unfold, sometimes dovetailing and other times moving them apart.
As Adele and Victor's relationship becomes more detailed as reflections of the past move all characters forward in their lives, readers gain a powerful sense of just why Victor and Adam are so lost at this juncture of their lives without Adele.
Adam's confrontation of many of the puzzles about Dara and why she left will provide much revelation and food for thought to book clubs and discussion groups, as well the contrast in Adele and Victor's life together.
Toll's ability to juxtapose pivotal moments in all three lives and perceptions creates a powerful series of family, interpersonal, and personal revelations that are hard-hitting, reflective, and steeped in the backdrop of musical and personal ambition.
Libraries seeking music- and psychology-driven relationship fiction that holds many possibilities for growth and revelation will want to welcome Duet for One to a wide audience, from musicians and readers interested in love and family development to book discussion groups looking for vivid stories of individual versus couple pursuits.
Replete with close examinations, musical notes of discovery and ambition, and personal revelation, Duet for One is a story of growth that is thoroughly immersive and often eye-opening:
"Your parents were an amazing partnership," a short man with a gray mustache said to Adam. "I can't believe it's over." Adam smiled and nodded. So many things were over: Adam's family as he had known it; his hope that he would meet his mother on his terms rather than hers; the Pearl and Pearl duo-piano team, whom Adam had not fully accepted as over until he'd spoken into the microphone this afternoon at Independence Theatre."
Tales of Spooner Pond
Terry Lynn Rasner
Trilogy Christian Publishers
9798895970621, $20.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Spooner-Pond-Supernatural-Unforgettable/dp/B0DZ4FCCP7
Tales of Spooner Pond: Supernatural Tales of Unforgettable Characters and Peculiar Gifts is a fantasy set in the world of Spooner Pond, inhabited by Pippy Hyland and her friends. Her worldly home is in North Star Ridge, but Spooner Pond offers her respite, rejuvenation, and the ability to hone her abilities and perceptions in new ways.
The story opens with Pippy's father giving her an ultimatum:
"Dreams and fantasies are fine, Pippy, but a line must be drawn when your dreams and fantasies become my nightmare."
While the subject is the havoc she's bring to her bedroom, in fact Pippy's cross-world ventures are doing far more than promoting messiness. The fantasy creatures and friends of her other life are beginning to spill into her everyday family, though there is the promise that someday she will be able to move to Spooner Pond, even bringing with her three loved ones and possibly her "very stout and bushy oak tree of a father."
As Pippy's adventures progress, she learns much from her respites at Spooner's Pond. These are life and spiritual lessons she will carry back into her regular world, with its lack of magic, adventure, and the impossible.
Though her parents believe she's gone too far with her Spooner Pond fantasy, Pippy is certain the adventure is only beginning. And, she's right.
Events unfold that embrace themes of fear, transformation, growth, and discovery on many levels. The spiritual component of the story shines, with many experiences holding underlying life lessons about adversity, courage, and shifting perceptions:
"At first, we were shocked and scared of the voracious wind. It had enough power and force to root out and destroy all the plants and trees in the forest, but the wind had a mind of its own and only rooted out the imperfections of the forest while not harming a single life or destroying anything beautiful. It was like we blinked a very long blink, and all the wild and ugly things about the Lush Forest's wild plant growth were replaced with beautifully groomed and naturally scenic forest and fauna. Then, the wind quieted, and we saw the result; the butterflies burst into song and have been singing ever since."
Young readers attracted to Tales of Spooner Pond will find the subtitle's reference to "supernatural" forces actually embraces themes that can be discussed with adults and in group reading:
There is no mistaking it; the Ghosts of Courage Cave can transform themselves and the tunnel they inhabit into whatever stage and arena they choose. It depends on what they must do to gain control and dominate you.
All the trappings of a vivid fantasy (otherworldly creatures, warriors, massive dragons and confrontations) keep readers engaged in the story's adventure while insights about intention and outcome are injected into the fast-paced action for bigger-picture thinking:
It sickened me to think of using the coward's way out. I did it once and swore I'd never do it again. But then I thought I'd be selfish not to use it to save Joe Kitty, and that bothered me even as we were being smothered by what I assumed to be young demon Howlers.
The result is a parable for modern times, a fantasy replete with many extraordinary adventures, and a story all ages will appreciate for its lessons on overcoming fears, interacting with others, and learning important survival tactics that reflect in both worlds.
Libraries choosing Tales of Spooner Pond will find it attractive for a variety of collection-building purposes, whether it be for its spiritual, moral, and ethical flavors or its focus on a young girl's evolving strengths.
Replete with action and reflection, Tales of Spooner Pond is an uplifting winner.
Little Bear and the Big Hole
Jennifer Seal
Starfish Bay Publishing
www.starfishbaypublishing.com
9781760362324, $18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Hole-Jennifer-Seal/dp/1760362328
Little Bear and the Big Hole tells of a little bear who misses his father. He perceives his immense absence as a big, unfillable hole in his life which nobody else seems to see, and this makes him feel even more alone and isolated from the world.
How can a good forest friend help? Squirrel's visit reveals many coping methods which Little Bear finds invaluable in his journey through grief and loss - and which read-aloud adults will find equally important for opening dialogues with the very young about parental loss and emotional responses.
Mirjam Siim's gently compelling illustrations display the growing closeness of bear and squirrel as they approach this vast hole of connection and disconnection. These provide interest and capture the emotions of all involved as various tools are employed to navigate the grief process.
From employing words and pictures to address grief to noticing what routines lighten the emotional load, Jennifer Seal crafts a thoroughly engaging story of loss and love akin to The Velveteen Rabbit, Drew and the Death of the Mag, and other picture book stories about loss, survival, and grieving.
Little Bear and the Big Hole's invaluable considerations of friendship, helping others, and handling immense loss should be part of any dialogue with the very young, opening the door to greater understanding about not just death, but how friends can help.
Harry the High Versus Larry the Low
Alan Champlin
Atmosphere Press
www.atmospherepress.com
9798891325753, $25.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Harry-High-Versus-Larry-Low/dp/B0DXH5C6LG
Harry the High Versus Larry the Low captures "possibly the most beautiful day ever" in a picture book story of how superhero Harry the High not only makes not only this beautiful day, but must confront a sudden storm that introduces darkness, hail, and destruction.
But, who could introduce such angst into perfection? Why, Larry the Low, of course!
Alan Champlin pairs large-size, colorful costumed superheroes on both sides with a rollicking lyrical rhyme that read-aloud adults will find especially well-done and appealing.
As Harry and Larry clash over their different powers and influences on the world, readers will not only appreciate the superhero focus, but the subliminal messages adults can reinforce about bullying, angst, and different life approaches.
Dialogue is also realistic and reinforces the differences and problems between Harry and Larry:
While observing the mess Larry has brought, Harry's anger begins with a frown as he shouts:
"Larry, you really suck! There is not ONE good thing about you! Nobody likes you - you should just disappear FOREVER!"
Emotional responses to aggression and adversity are especially nicely juxtaposed with these diverse perspectives, as in the passage above which is met with:
Larry is confused and very hurt by Harry's words. Larry doesn't mean to hurt or even ruin anyone's day. But it seems that is exactly what he often does.
Good and bad weather, action heroes, and insights on psychological makeup blend for a moving story that will help the very young understand destructive behaviors, their sources, and some important points between "good" and "bad" people in the world.
Libraries seeking stories that are not only meaningful but will prove very attractive to young fans of caped crusaders will find Harry the High Versus Larry the Low a standout story that is awesomely attractive on many different levels.
Diane C. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Donovan's Literary Services
www.donovansliteraryservices.com
Gary Roen's Bookshelf
The Friend Exchange
Gavin Black, author
Steve Gaddis, illustrator
Global Book Publishing
www.globalpublishing.com
9781956193763, $6.00 HC / $2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Friend-Exchange-Gavin-Black/dp/B0CKGT2RN6
Every so often there is a title that is a quiet one, that finds an audience in different ways. Such is the case with "The Friend Exchange" James Bartholomew Jones age ten, has a major blowout with his best friend Adi Amand, so bad in fact that he tells his parents he never wants to see him again. Enter James or Jim's dad, who says he has a solution that he will reveal the next day. So Jim and his dad take a trip to a company where you can trade in a person for another one. Jim figures what does he have to lose. From then on the novel is a fun excursion into a fun filled story that concludes with a satisfying ending. YA and kids' books often have hidden messages as do certain science fiction works that add so much to the enjoyment for readers to pick up on. "The Friend Exchange" is a wonderful character driven narrative, what if tale, that makes people think, about a lot of things. Its well written prose is for any age to appreciate.
Threat Of The Spider
Michael P. Spradlin
Margaret K. McElderry Books
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665947244, $7.99 pbk / $7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Threat-Spider-2-Web/dp/1665947241
"Threat Of The Spider" is the second of The Web Of The Spider series, as the Nazi regime rises to power in Germany in the 1930s. Ansel has resisted bullies, of the youth group, geared to the Nazi party. He realizes his journalist father is one of the few individuals, to challenge the party by writing stories exposing them. Later his dad goes missing. No one has any idea of why he has disappeared. Ansel and his friends do what they can to stay away from the oppressor gang while searching for his papa. "Threat Of The Spider" and the series come at a perfect time to warn people to realize the frightening similarities, what happened in Germany can occur in our country today, if we do not change the course we are on
Oliver Possum's Bicycle: The Bicycle Life of Oliver Possum 1
Chip Haynes
4 Horsemen Publications
https://www.4horsemenpublications.com
9781644505067, $14.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Possums-Bicycle-Life-Possum/dp/1644507501
Oliver Possum is like so many people when they get a brand-new bicycle in "Oliver Possum's Bicycle" Oliver gets frustrated because its tough to learn how to get on and ride away when he continues to fall. Despite his aggravation he listens to his cheerleader dad who tells him to keep on going, it will get better. Finally he has a breakthrough, then is able to ride around as he later tests his stamina in many different ways. Anyone who has ever struggled with a bicycle can relate to Oliver as he tackles the tasks to master them. "Oliver Possum's Bicycle" is delightful reading that is the first of a series with charming characters.
A Gathering Of Voices: Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop
Denise Billings, Charles Floyd Johnson, Denise Nicholas, et. al.
Foreword by Phylicia Rashad
BookBaby
www.bookbaby.com
www.longwoodwritersworkshop.com
9798350971828, $24.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Voices-Stories-Longwood-Workshop/dp/B0DNS15QBF
Denise Nicholas a well-known woman in the entertainment industry, had a concept. Pull together five other people from different professions to write different stories that became "A Gathering Of Voices: Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop." Some of the issues covered are racism, three forms of abuse marital, sexual and drug, double standards at the workplace for men and women and a slew of others that are well crafted exposures of many unpleasant things.
Some of the titles to look for are "Crack Monster" a memoir by Deise Billings about a problem her husband was having that she believed would over time get better. Hattie Winston's "Battlefield" is a punch in the gut rendering of the sickening way black people were treated in many places in the south by white people. She and her dad go to a department store in Downtown Memphis to be treated so bad you just want to cry for how rude the clerk is telling a young Hattie Winston do not touch the clothes and the hidden meaning is crystal clear.
All the pieces are excellent reading by talented people who have so much to say of a darker period as well as interesting not very well-known aspects of different things. Denise Nicholas has done a remarkable job with "A Gathering Of Voices: Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop" that hopefully will continue with other authors and volumes.
Above the Clouds
Kris Nulf, author
Corrie Knox, illustrator
BookBaby
www.bookbaby.com
9798350923575, $14.99 pbk / No Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Above-Clouds-Kris-Nulf/dp/B0CMGF4WNB
A little girl searches for answers after the death of her mom in "Above the Clouds." The thoughts of the child in the story are many of the stages of grief, anytime there is a death of a loved one. As depicted stages may be out of an order, iso often the case. It is harder for children because they are so young and there is much they will deal with later. "Above the Clouds" shows a side of the demise of a cherished family member, that is very normal but often misunderstood. "Above the Clouds" beautifully tackles a subject with stunning artwork and reassuring prose to ease peoples pain in their time of need
Freckleface Strawberry
Julianne Moore, author
LeUyen Pham, illustrator
Bloomsbury Children's Books
www.bloomsbury.com
9781599901077, $18.99 HC / $8.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Julianne-Moore/dp/1599901072
For some kids growing up is very hard for so many reasons. For the main character in "Freckleface Strawberry" she has a situation she believes is a real problem because of the way many others treat her. The difficulty is the many spots all over her body that draw laughter and taunts of unkind comments from other kids wherever she goes. She does so many things to hide them that are interesting until one day something happens that changes everything that begins to be a nicer environment. "Freckleface Strawberry" takes a perceived negative that after a time turns into a positive that is fun reading.
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully
Julianne Moore, author
LeUyen Pham, illustrator
Bloomsbury Children's Books
www.bloomsbury.com
9781599903163, $18.99 HC / No Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Dodgeball-Bully-Story/dp/1599903164
Freckleface Strawberry is back in a new adventure in "Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully." The story begins, with a sport where nasty Windy Pants Patrick makes it his mission to throw the ball at every kid in the game harder than he should. He enjoys taunting others because he is bigger and stronger than anyone else. Freckleface Strawberry devises a plan to take him down. Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully is fun entertainment.
Freckleface Strawberry: Lunch or What's That?
Julianne Moore, author
LeUyen Pham, illustrator
Random House Books for Young Readers
c/o Penguin Random House
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780385391917, $3.99 pbk / $3.99
https://www.amazon.com/Freckleface-Strawberry-Lunch-Whats-Reading/dp/0385391919
"Freckleface Strawberry lunch or What's That? Opens with former bully Windy Pants Patrick and Freckleface Strawberry sitting together at lunch. Enjoying it the food careful of an item on her plate The two are stumped friends plan a strategy to determine what the mystery cuisine is. "Freckleface Strawberry Lunch, or What's That?" is an enticing way to approach a new item to eat.
The Glass Pyramid: A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M. Pei
Jeanne Walker Harvey, author
Khoa Le, illustrator
Atheneum Books For Young Readers
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665953337, $19.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Glass-Pyramid-Louvre-Museum-Architect/dp/1665953330
To so many of us we are not very familiar with the name of I.M. Pei but aware of many of the architectural accomplishments around the world. "The Glass Pyramid" tells the story of the history of a museum in France he worked on. At first the French people did not like the idea of a foreigner involved in anyway. As they saw the progress and his plans they mellowed and finally accepted his work. "The Glass Pyramid" is beautifully told as readers learn about a man who has influenced so many skylines all over the world from China to the United States and anything in between for so many decades.
Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees
Sandhya Acharya, author
Avani Dwivedi, illustrator
A Paula Wiseman Book
c/o Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665950299, $19.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Bridges-Hidden-World-Indias/dp/1665950293
Today we see everyday bridges being built all around us. "Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees' reveals a totally different way, that has been around for centuries. The uniqueness is there are no concrete or metal portions. Instead portions of trees are used to make very strong connections that keep the balance of nature in tact as well as a safe way not harmful to the environment. "Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees" opens people's eyes, to many different ways to make things that are not harmful to our planet's ecosystem
Gary Roen
Senior Reviewer
Helen Dumont's Bookshelf
Positive Behavior Supports for Adults With Disabilities in Employment, Community, and Residential Settings: Practical Strategies That Work, 3rd Edition
Keith Storey, Ph.D., BCBA-D & Michal Post, M.A.
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
https://www.ccthomas.com
9780398094652, $35.00, PB, 254pp
https://www.amazon.com/Positive-Disabilities-Employment-Community-Residential/dp/0398094659
Synopsis: Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "Positive Behavior Supports for Adults With Disabilities in Employment, Community, and Residential Settings: Practical Strategies That Work" by co-authors Keith Storey and Michal Post begins with an explanation of the scope, plan and purpose of the book. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this new third edition is informatively enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an Appendix (Organizations and Resources Regarding Positive Behavior Supports), a twelve page Author Index, and a two page Subject Index.
Critique: An ideal and unreservedly recommended textbook for in-service adult disabilities workshops, college and university curriculums, this large format (9780398094652, 1.11 pounds) trade paperback edition of "Positive Behavior Supports for Adults With Disabilities in Employment, Community, and Residential Settings: Practical Strategies That Work" from Charles C. Thomas Publisher is an essential and core addition for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Adult Disabilities collections and supplemental Medical General Psychology and Counseling Adults with Disabilities curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note #1: Keith Storey is a Professor Emeritus at Touro University in Vallejo, California. (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Keith_Storey).
Editorial Note #2: Michal Post is a retired teacher with more than 40 years experience, including special education. (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12794392.Michal_Post)
Helen Dumont
Reviewer
John Taylor's Bookshelf
Sister City Diplomacy
Douglas C. Nord
University of Wisconsin Press
https://uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299352905, $79.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sister-City-Diplomacy-Engagement-U-S-Russian/dp/0299352900
Synopsis: In 1987, Duluth, Minnesota, and Petrozavodsk, in what is now Russia, officially joined hands as sister cities.
With the publication of "Sister City Diplomacy: Community Engagement in U.S. - Russian Relations from the Cold War to Today", Professor Douglas C. Nord tells the stories of their collaboration in the context of the late Cold War, covering in substantial detail the lived experiences of city officials, community leaders, academics, and average citizens who worked to bridge the divide between the United States and the Soviet Union.
What circumstances supported or undermined efforts to conduct people-to-people diplomacy? What internal difficulties emerged, and how were they overcome? And what were the short-term effects and long-term consequences of the relationships forged in these postindustrial cities, across an ideological divide as deep and wide as the ocean that separated them?
"Sister City Diplomacy" offers a historical account of citizen diplomacy set in a unique political and social environment. But in its theoretical grounding and informed arguments, this study speaks to much broader and contemporary concerns, both in terms of United States - Russian relations today and with regard to the challenges and opportunities of community-based diplomacy in general.
Lessons learned along the shores of Lakes Superior and Onega in the last days of the Cold War hold great value given the heightened tensions of current geopolitics.
Critique: A seminal and groundbreaking study, "Sister City Diplomacy: Community Engagement in U.S. - Russian Relations from the Cold War to Today" is further enhanced for the reader's benefit with the inclusion of an informative four page Preface, a seventeen page Introduction, a seventeen page Summary and Conclusion, a sixteen page bibliographical listing of References, and a five page Index. A meticulous work of impeccable scholarship, "Sister City Diplomacy: Community Engagement in U.S.-Russian Relations from the Cold War to Today" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library International Studies and American/Russian Relations History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.
Editorial Note: Douglas C. Nord is a visiting professor and research scholar at Umeå University, Sweden. He is the author of The Changing Arctic: Consensus Building and Governance in the Arctic Council and The Arctic Council: Governance Within the Far North and the editor of Nordic Perspectives on the Responsible Development of the Arctic: Pathways to Action and Leadership for the North: The Influence and Impact of Arctic Council Chairs.
John Taylor
Reviewer
Mary Cowper's Bookshelf
Lucky Bodies: Essays
Marianne Jay Erhardt
Texas Tech University Press
www.ttupress.org
9781682832523, $29.95, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Bodies-Essays-Horse-Prize/dp/168283252X
Synopsis: A mother is a myth, a figure, a body. Through a series of essays spanning the political to the personal, "Lucky Bodies: Essays" reckons with complex subject of motherhood.
"Lucky Bodies" is essayist Marianne Jay Erhardt's striking debut as she takes inventory of what we demand and withhold from mothers -- and what counts as care.
Plucking stars from the constellation of stories that have shaped her own emergence as a mother, Erhardt explores fables, family, religion, fairy tales, television, mythology, and games, all with exceptional wit and empathy.
Erhardt also considers the nature of care alongside Peter Pan, Where the Wild Things Are, and Little House on the Prairie. She reassembles memory with Busby Berkely chorus girls, 90's TV commercials, and a mid-Atlantic hurricane. She grieves her father's death and the wreckage of war through Aesop and discovers how little the Mother of God says out loud in The Bible. She reimagines Red Riding Hood's wolf, reflects on faith with Bigfoot and repurposes a Covid wellness survey to take stock of our collective isolation, asking readers, "How alone are you?"
Throughout "Lucky Bodies", Erhardt establishes herself as a memoiric cultural critic, imagining how we might make and inhabit stories that cultivate an ethic of care.
Critique: Comprised of 22 erudite, eloquent, deftly crafted thought-provoking (and occasionally iconoclastic) essays, "Lucky Bodies: Essays" by Marianne Jay Erhardt (and winner of the Iron Horse Prize) is an informative and inherently fascinating read from start to finish. Of special and particular relevance for readers with an interest in the subject of Motherhood in fact, fiction, and myth, "Lucky Bodies" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/university library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Lucky Bodies" from the Texas Tech University Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).
Editorial Note: Marianne Jay Erhardt (https://www.mariannejayerhardt.com) has had her writing appear in Orion, Kenyon Review, Oxford American, Electric Literature, and Conjunctions, and has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the North Carolina Arts Council, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Vermont Studio Center. She holds an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and teaches writing at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, where she lives with her lovely family.
Mary Cowper
Reviewer
Micah Andrew's Bookshelf
Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History
Nicolas Kanellos
Visible Ink Press
www.visibleinkpress.com
9781578598700, $79.95, HC, 464pp
https://www.amazon.com/Latino-Firsts-Trailblazers-Milestones-Multicultural/dp/1578598702
Synopsis: An inspiring exploration of 1,250 groundbreaking individuals and pioneering events, "Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History" honors the an indelible mark Hispanics have made on American history and society.
Featured are brigadier general Richard E. Cavazos, Nobel laureate Gabriela Mistral, actress America Ferrera, playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Francisco Ayala, artist Jen-Michel Basquiat, weightlifter Sarah Elizabeth Robles, and many, many more notable people and accomplishments, such as...
The first Latinos (three Mexican American lawyers) to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court: Gustavo C. Garcia, Carlos Cadena, and John J. Herrera prevailed in Hernandez v. Texas to have juries in the state of Texas desegregated in 1954.
The first Latina to represent the United States in the Olympics in archery: Jennifer Mucino-Fernandez in 2020.
The first Hispanic American to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his years of work on behalf of civil rights for Latinos: President Ronald Reagan honored Hector Perez Garcia in 1984.
The first Latino to be named executive director and president of the Academy of American Poets: Puerto Rican Ricardo Alberto Maldonado in 2023.
The United States' first recorded Latino labor organizing activity: Juan Gomez organized cowboys in the panhandle of Texas in 1883, leading several hundred cowboys on strike against ranch owners.
The first Latino to hold the rank of brigadier general of the U.S. Marine Corps: Angela Salinas in 2006
And thousands of other milestones and firsts!
Milestones, victories and success are not always noticed when they happen. Sometimes an achievement is only recognized years later. Revel and rejoice in the renowned and lesser-known, barrier-breaking trailblazers in all fields including the arts, entertainment, business, civil rights, education, government, invention, journalism, religion, science, sports, music, and more. Latino Firsts illuminates the rich and important history of Hispanic Americans!
Critique: Impressively comprehensive, exceptionally well organized, illustrated with B/W photos, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History" by Nicolas Kanellos is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to highschool, community, and college/university library Hispanic-American History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, Hispanic political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History" from Visible Ink Press is also readily available for personal reading lists in paperback (9781578598489, $34.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Nicolas Kanellos is the director of Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Heritage of the United States, which researches Latino history in the United States. Since 1980, he has been a professor at the University of Houston, where he became the first Brown Foundation Professor of Hispanic Studies. He is the founding publisher of the noted Hispanic literary journal The Americas Review and the nation's oldest Hispanic publishing house, Arte Público Press. He has authored or contributed to numerous books on Latino history, culture, and literature, including the Visible Ink Press titles: Latino Almanac: From Early Explorers to Corporate Leaders and Latino Firsts: Trailblazers and Milestones in United States History as well as the Hispanic Literature of the United States: A Comprehensive Reference and the Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicol%C3%A1s_Kanellos)
Micah Andrew
Reviewer
Michael Dunford's Bookshelf
We Are the Match
Mary E. Roach
https://www.maryeroach.com
Montlake
c/o Amazon Publishing
9781662529429, $16.99, PB, 288pp
https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Match-Mary-Roach/dp/1662529422
Synopsis: Paris is a fixer for mob families on the Grecian islands when a powerful crime lord hires her to investigate a bombing. Insinuating herself into Zarek's circle is the chance for revenge that Paris has been waiting for since she was a child. Years ago, Zarek wiped out everyone she loved. Now it's Paris's turn. Her target? Zarek's beautiful daughter, Helen.
Helen wants nothing more than to abandon the violent world in which she was raised -- and worse, an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows. In Paris, Helen sees the perfect tool to help her escape. And in Helen, Paris sees a desperate woman who will be the perfect revenge.
As the two work together to find the bomber, and their connection becomes increasingly intimate, Zarek's empire grows more fragile and their own bonds of loyalty and purpose are tested.
When murder sends them fleeing to Troy, danger only brings Paris and Helen closer together - in love, in fury, and in the will to survive. If Zarek wants a war, Paris and Helen are ready to ignite it.
Critique: Original, clever, deftly crafted, and a riveting read from cover to cover, "We Are The Match" deftly blends contemporary romance, action/adventure, and suspense. While a prized pick for community library fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "We Are The Match" from Montlake is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99) as well.
Editorial Note: Mary E. Roach (https://www.maryeroach.com) is a former early childhood teacher who now writes across genres and age categories, most recently thrillers for the young adult audience and romances for the adult audience.
Michael Dunford
Reviewer
Paul Vogel's Bookshelf
All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature
Tommy Corey, author/photographer
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680517064, $39.95, HC, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-Humans-Outside-Stories-Belonging/dp/1680517066
Synopsis: Featuring the elevated, intimate art of photographer Tommy Corey, "All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature" is a reflective look at the varied ways people's lives are forever changed by nature through sustainability and conservation work, outdoor sports and recreation, community building, and more.
Corey traveled across the United States and conducted more than two hundred interviews to chronicle these diverse experiences, sharing them throughout ""All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature" through documentary-style photography and both first-person and third-person stories.
The subjects covered include backcountry horse rider Gillian Larson, Triple Crowner and sponsored athlete Jack Jones, self-described "seminomadic van-dwelling grandma" Pacific Crest Trail hiker Karen DeSousa, Filipinx immigrant and park ranger Francis Eymard Mendoza, adaptive athlete Annijke Wade, New York Hunters of Color ambassador Brandon Dale, bestselling author and runner Mirna Valerio, and many more.
"All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature" is a stunning collection of stories in which everyone can find inspiration.
Critique: Original, unique, visually impressive, informatively engaging, and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover, "All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature" by author/photographer Tommy Corey will prove to be of immense relevance to readers with an interest in articulate travelogues and outdoor activities ranging from mountain climbing, to hiking, to camping out. Exceptionally well written, beautifully illustrated, thoroughly 'reade friendly' in organization and presentation, this hardcover edition of "All Humans Outside: Stories of Belonging in Nature" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and college/university library collections.
Editorial Note: Tommy Corey (www.tommycorey.com) is an LGTBQ+ Mexican-American photographer whose creative endeavors focus on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the outdoors. His work has been featured by Outside, Gear Junkie, PetaPixel, This Is Range, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and many outdoor nonprofits. His thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail led to a wholehearted devotion to the outdoors. Corey is based in Redding, California and can be followed on Instagram @tommycoreyphoto
Paul T. Vogel
Reviewer
S.A. Gorden's Bookshelf
Murder by the Script (The Lettering Detective Cozy Mystery Series Book 4)
Lisa Pevey
Independently Published
9798882512735 $15.99
B0CV3296WG, $3.99 Kindle, 178 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Script-Lettering-Detective-Mystery/dp/B0CW95XF4N
Murder by the Script is a light amateur cozy mystery. The story reads as a novice sleuth stumbling along and asking questions until the mystery is solved. The clues that are stumbled across are fun but the protagonist is more focused on her original bias than following all of the leads that are found.
Mila Breaux lives on a houseboat in the bayous of Louisiana. She makes a living as a script artist. Mila is hired to script titles and sayings on the floats of a small town Marti Gras. As the parade passes her, the King of Carnival collapses and as he is dying he passes her a strange unique coin. Mia and her friend Critter Girl think the dead King was murdered and feel obligated to investigating. The strange coin gives them a clue to start their investigation. As they search for the killer more people die and they find themselves in extreme danger.
Murder by the Script is a lighter mystery with unique characters. If you are interested in the culture around Louisiana it will be a solid read. It is recommended as an easy and enjoyable filler between stronger cozy stories and, if the characterization of Mia and Critter Girl click with you, The Lettering Detective Cozy Mystery Series might become a must read collection.
Old Fashioned Murder (Last Call Crime Club Book 1)
K.C. Walker
Laragray Press
9781955610100 $12.95
ASIN: B0B9P1766X $4.99 Kindle, 252 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Fashioned-Murder-Investigations-Action-Adventure/dp/195561010X
Old Fashioned Murder is an action cozy. It has a different and unique mix of characters that reads faster than your typical cozy.
Stuntwoman Whitley Leland is laying low at her Grandmother Bobbie's home in the mountains outside of LA. Whitley objected to being manhandled while on set and has been, at least temporarily band, from work. Her grandmother is a feisty woman and has decided to become a private detective. Odd accidents have been happening to a few of Bobbie's friends and one has disappeared and another has died. Early on, Whitley accidently gets involved with the investigation and then Bobbie insists on investigating. The problem is that they are stumbling through the investigation with an unknown killer still unknown.
Old Fashioned Murder is an easy recommendation for any cozy reader. It has enough action and unique characters that anyone who likes mystery stories will find it a fun read. Whitley is a fun action hero using her stunt skills and with the help of the pound dog her mother forced on her when she decided to hide out in the mountains.
S.A. Gorden
Senior Reviewer
Suzie Housley's Bookshelf
How Shall I Stand Between River & Land?: Heart Questions for Uncertain Times
Leni de Mik, PhD
Creative Courage Press
https://creativecouragepress.com
9781959921080, $12.99 Kindle, $21.99 PB, 290 pp
https://creativecouragepress.com/how-shall-i-stand-between-river-and-land
Synopsis: In a world where uncertainty often prevails, searching for guidance and meaning has never felt more urgent. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, many of us long for a more profound sense of purpose and clarity. This is where the journey inward becomes essential -- a reminder that the answers we seek are often quietly waiting within.
Discovering an outlet that allows us to break from routine provides a powerful opportunity to immerse ourselves in new cultures and perspectives and explore a way of different being. As Dr. Leni de Mik reflects, silence is a vital doorway to inner wisdom. In stillness, we find space to truly listen -- to our hearts, our values, and the truths that guide us.
Embrace the adventure of self-discovery as you explore yourself and unlock the depths of your own spirit. With each experience, you build the courage to live with greater awareness, compassion, and moral clarity.
So, why hesitate? Let the quiet wisdom within you chart the course for your next incredible journey.
Critique: 'How Shall I Stand Between River & Land?' symbolizes the delicate balance we seek amidst the chaos of life. It's a metaphor for the moments of reflection and exploration that allow us to understand ourselves and our place in the world, a central theme of this book.
In a world that often feels tumultuous and unpredictable, the quest for self-discovery has never been more essential. This book, amidst the fear of war and economic instability, offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap for personal growth and resilience in these troubled times.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Leni de Mik's latest masterpiece, a book that not only invites you to pause amidst the hustle and bustle of life but also promises a transformative journey of self-reflection. It's a journey that will inspire and motivate you to explore the depths of your being.
Each page challenges you to examine not only your own experiences but also your connection to the world around you. This book beautifully illustrates the intricate weaving of our personal journeys into humanity's larger tapestry, thus making you feel connected and part of something bigger. It encourages exploration of our identities and aspirations, cultivating the courage to act wisely and navigate life's moral challenges.
So, why delay? Let the wisdom of your heart guide you on your next adventure, and let this book be your companion on the journey of self-discovery.
Maverick Key - Hearts on the Line Book 1
Margot Keene
Gulf Stream Fiction
B0F5S2TJKY, $4.99, Kindle, 288 pp
https://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Key-Hearts-Romantic-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0F5S2TJKY
Synopsis: After the devastating loss of her brother Nathan in a cave diving accident, Maddie retreats to Maverick Key, hoping to find solace in the quaint seaside cottage he left behind. Surrounded by the rhythmic crash of waves and the scent of salt, she clings to Nathan's memories, searching for peace and answers.
Grief is not the only emotion haunting her. As Maddie settles into her new surroundings, a troubling question takes root: was Nathan's death truly accidental? The cryptic notes he left behind whisper of hidden truths and unfinished business, drawing her deeper into a mystery that refuses to be ignored.
Amid her search for closure, Maddie encounters Scott - a reclusive, widowed diver whose pain mirrors her own. Their connection grows slowly, quietly, like a tide pulling her in. Just as she opens her heart, fortune hunters and a charismatic internet explorer, Wes Harrington, thrust Maverick Key into the spotlight; Harrington is determined to uncover the secrets of Carter's Drop -- the very cavern that claimed Nathan's life.
Torn between the desire to uncover the truth and the fragile new bond she's forming with Scott, Maddie faces a reckoning. With a storm brewing both above and within, she must decide how far she will go - for answers, love, and herself.
In this evocative tale of loss, love, and resilience, Maddie discovers that even the darkest depths hold healing and hope.
Critique: Maverick Key is an enthralling tale steeped in themes of loss, mystery, and intrigue. It offers readers a chance to immerse themselves in a world where every turn of the page reveals a new adventure waiting to unfold.
Margot Keene's extraordinary talent shines brightly in the literary world. She captivatingly tells stories that are as immersive as they are unforgettable. Her narratives pulse with life, drawing readers in and resonating with anyone who values the true craft of storytelling.
Each of Keene's characters speaks with a unique, authentic voice, pulling readers into their worlds of adventure, mystery, and discovery. Intrigue and unexpected twists lace their journeys, keeping the pages turning and the suspense alive.
Keene's vivid, lyrical prose brings settings to life with remarkable clarity in her debut novel. Keene's masterful description of Maverick Key let you almost feel the sea breeze and hear the waves crashing through the pages. You will undoubtedly remember this book long after turning the last page.
Editorial Note: Maverick Key is the first book in the Hearts on the Line series.
Lexi the Coonhound Finds a New Home!
Meg Martin
Gatekeeper Press
https://gatekeeperpress.com
9781662923548, $18.99 HB, $11.99, 38 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Lexi-Coonhound-Finds-New-Home/dp/1662923546
Synopsis: Imagine a quiet corner of the dog pound where a gentle soul named Lexi, the coonhound, yearns for a family to call her own. Each night, under the twinkling stars, Lexi closes her eyes and dreams of a warm home filled with love, laughter, and companionship. Her heart aches with hope, yet she finds solace in the friendships she's formed with her fellow furry residents. They share their dreams and fears, creating a bond that brightens the days.
One fateful day, everything changes. Zoey and her mom arrive at the pound, their hearts are open and ready to find a new furry friend. The moment Zoey lays eyes on Lexi's soulful gaze; a spark ignites within her. She feels an instant connection, a pull towards the coonhound whose sad eyes tell a story of longing and resilience. Without hesitation, Zoey declares, "I want to adopt her!" And just like that, Lexi's dream is on the verge of coming true.
As Lexi leaves the pound, excitement bubbles within her, yet a bittersweet feeling tugs at her heart. She glances back at her furry friends, knowing she will miss their comforting presence. However, restlessness and fear overwhelmed Lexi on her first night in her new home. Her new surroundings' unfamiliar sounds and scents leave her feeling vulnerable and anxious.
Feeling Lexi's unease, Zoey is resolute in her mission to help her new best friend feel safe. With patience and love, she creates a cozy space for Lexi, filled with soft blankets and toys that bring comfort. It's a beautiful testament to their bond that transcends the walls of the pound and promises a life filled with love and companionship.
Critique: Lexi the Coonhound Finds a New Home is a poignant reminder of the importance of love, understanding, and a place to belong. It reflects our shared human experience of seeking connection and the transformative power of companionship. Lexi is a character that warms a reader's heart, and how she finds a family is a heartwarming experience.
Meg Martin's writing beautifully encapsulates the essence of an author with heartfelt intentions. As you immerse yourself in Lexi's touching story, I encourage you to reflect on the profound impact of adopting a pet. Inviting an animal into your hope can change both of your lives.
Each month, thousands of animals find themselves homeless and yearning for love. Their greatest wish is to find a forever home. By choosing to adopt a pet, you are not only making a life-changing decision for a deserving animal, but you are also opening your heart to the enriching companionship that comes along with bonding with an animal who offers unconditional love and acceptance.
Editorial Note: Recommended ages 5-9 years old.
Princess Fusspot
Nancy Kunhardt Lodge, PhD, author
Lucy Ligon, illustrator
Wilwahren Press
https://bookscouter.com/publisher/wilwahren-press
9781735224138, Kindle $2.99, 71 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Princess-Fusspot-Nancy-Kunhardt-Lodge-ebook/dp/B0FCNXBK8R/r
Synopsis: In a remarkable turn of events, six-year-old Princess Francesca Fusspot has inadvertently ventured into a realm of magic and wonder inspired by her ancestor's legacy. Despite her mother's cautionary words regarding the Forbidden Tower, Francesca's curiosity led her to uncover a hidden secret within the castle's east wing.
Upon ascending a twisting spiral staircase, she stumbled upon an invisible door that opened into a fantastical world rich with enchanting experiences and uncharted adventures. The three hours she spent in this magical realm gave her a unique perspective and set in motion a series of events that would significantly influence her future.
Critique: Princess Fusspot reminds us of the importance of curiosity, courage, and the potential for discovery within the unknown. As her journey unfolds, the lessons she learns in the magical world are expected to resonate throughout the kingdom, inspiring others to embrace the spirit of exploration and pursuiting knowledge.
Nancy Kunhardt Lodge, PhD, is a talented author who showcases her ability to create rich narratives filled with delightful characters. Her storytelling prowess captivates readers and invites them into intricately crafted worlds where each character plays a vital role in the unfolding tale.
Nancy's dedication to her craft is clear in her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to developing engaging personalities that resonate with audiences. I encourage readers and literary enthusiasts alike to explore her work and experience the charm and depth she brings to her stories.
Editorial Note: Recommended reading ages 4-10.
Sick as a Dog - A Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery - Book 3
Tracy Carter
Book Baby
www.bookbaby.com
9798350999976, $9.99, $18.99 PB, 344 pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sick-Dog-Veronica-Kildare-Mystery/dp/B0F876PGZR
Synopsis: A thrilling mystery draws Veronica Kildare, a skilled search and rescue expert, and her remarkable canine companion, Leda, into its web against the stunning backdrop of the Colorado wilderness.
The adventure begins with an unsettling investigation into peculiar fish and wildlife deaths started by Veronica's friend, Kimana, a renowned freelance investigative reporter. As they delve deeper into the mystery, each clue they uncover adds an extra layer of intrigue, leading them to a discovery that will shock and surprise you. The discovery threatens the tranquility of the Repentant River and the lives of those dedicated to preserving its beauty.
As Veronica's specialty is training service dogs, each animal shows her how man and beast share the same connection. Each character's journey reflects the vital importance of collaboration and the support systems that enable them to navigate their challenges, fostering a sense of connection with the characters.
Critique: Sick as a Dog is a mystery and a powerful exploration of the dedication required to protect the environment. It offers an interesting glimpse into the personal growth that arises from facing adversity head-on. The characters' journeys serve as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, inspiring readers to face their challenges with courage and determination.
Tracy Carter's writing is like a brushstroke on the canvas of suspense. Her exquisite attention to detail and how she carefully paces the narrative transform each scene into a vivid masterpiece, drawing readers into an enchanting and thrilling world.
As you turn the pages, prepare to be spellbound; Carter's artistry ensures that you will be on the edge of your seat, eagerly expecting what lies ahead, even if it means sacrificing a few hours of sleep.
Tracy Carter's series is a significant contribution to the literary world. It offers readers not just a story but a rich tapestry of immersive experiences that resonate deeply. For gripping narratives and cultural exploration fans, her work is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.
Editorial Note: Sick as a Dog is the third book in the Veronica Kildare K-9 Mystery series. Learn more about the previous two titles by visiting the author's website https://tracycarterbooks.com
Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign
Sara F. Shacter
Fitzroy Books
https://fitzroybooks.com
9781646036356, $16.95 PB, 182 pp
https://www.amazon.com/Georgia-Watson-99-Percent-Campaign/dp/1646036352
Synopsis: Welcome to the heartwarming journey of Georgia, a young girl who has finally found her roots in a forever home after years of moving. With the excitement of sixth grade on the horizon, Georgia feels an exhilarating connection as she meets her first loyal friend, Izzy, a fellow science enthusiast who shares her passion for discovery. Together, they embark on an adventure filled with laughter, learning, and the joys of friendship. However, as life often teaches us, the path to meaningful relationships can be fraught with challenges.
When Georgia's science project inadvertently reveals a secret that Izzy had entrusted to her, their bond unravels, plunging Georgia into a whirlwind of confusion and heartbreak. To make matters worse, her archenemy swoops in, threatening to steal Izzy away and leaving Georgia isolated and alone.
Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign explores a familiar tale that resonates with many of us who have experienced the difficulties of friendship, making Georgia's journey one that many can relate to as they have found themselves in similar situations.
In her quest to mend her friendship, she stumbles upon a profound realization: despite their differences, all humans share a staggering 99 percent of their genetic makeup. This revelation sparks a journey of empathy and understanding, leading Georgia to recognize that even those who seem like enemies often struggle with their feelings of loneliness. This hopeful ending fills the reader with optimism, demonstrating that even the most challenging friendships can be mended.
Critique: Georgia Watson and the 99 Percent Campaign is a valuable educational tool. A playful spirit informs the writing, and the words touch the heart. Georgia embarks on her 99 percent campaign to reconnect with Izzy. Through this journey, she learns that the bonds of friendship can be as intricate and delicate as the science she loves, requiring patience, understanding, and a little bit of courage.
Sara F. Shacter's insightful exploration of the fragility of these friendships poignantly reminds us how easily they can slip away, yet also highlights the incredible courage it takes to mend those bonds.
Her book is not just a narrative; it's a heartfelt lesson on the power of trust, forgiveness, and the enriching experiences that come from reconnecting with those who once held a special place in our hearts.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 9-12 years old.
North of Tomboy
Julie A. Swanson
She Writes Press
www.shewritespress.com
9781684633302, $11.99 Kindle, $14.99 PB, 376 pp
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1684633303
Synopsis: In a heartwarming tale of self-acceptance and identity, follow the journey of Jess Jezowski, a shy fourth grader who confronts the challenges of growing up in a world that often imposes limitations on who we can be. These challenges, such as societal expectations, peer pressure, and personal insecurities, are ones many of us struggle with in our lives.
For Christmas, Jess receives another baby doll, a gift that seems to echo the expectations placed upon her. However, instead of succumbing to disappointment, she ingeniously transforms the doll into Mickey - a brave and humorous boy who embodies the spirit Jess yearns to express. This self-expression is a compelling reminder of the importance of being true to oneself.
As Jess breathes life into Mickey, she discovers a newfound voice that allows her to explore the depths of her identity. Yet, as Mickey develops into an influential alter ego, Jess faces an unexpected dilemma: His presence overshadows her own, leading her to question her authenticity. This conflict, where Mickey's vibrant personality becomes a barrier to Jess's self-acceptance, is a key turning point in the story that will resonate with the reader.
Will Jess be brave enough to set Mickey aside and be courageous enough to reveal her own identity? Or will fear of acceptance keep her genuine feelings a hidden secret?
Critique: North of Tomboy is a moving exploration of family dynamics and personal growth. It showcases a young lady grappling with balancing her vibrant alter ego with her genuine identity. As her secret spills beyond the confines of her home, she realizes that, while entertaining and bold, Mickey cannot be the sole representation of who she is and who she wants to show the world.
Julie A. Swanson's poignant narrative about Jess reminds us of the importance of embracing our true identities. In a world that often tries to confine us, this story encourages us to imagine exploring new destinations where we can shed societal expectations and dance freely to the rhythm of our spirit.
This book has the potential to inspire and empower its readers, particularly those interested in themes of identity and self-acceptance. It presents a dynamic message that can inspire someone experiencing a similar situation to have the courage to break free from the chains that seem to bind them.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 8-12 years old.
The Belgian Girls
Kathryn J. Atwood
Catherine Rose Press
https://catherinerose-childauthor.com
9798218650889, $1.99 Kindle, $16.99 PB, 269 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Belgian-Girls-Kathryn-J-Atwood-ebook/dp/B0F4LY787R
Synopsis: As German forces seize control of Brussels during World War I, Gabrielle's hard-won happiness quickly fades before her eyes. This choice, forced by the loss of her occupation, reshapes Gabrielle's life and legacy.
Nearly thirty years later, amid the Nazi occupation of Brussels, reserved and thoughtful, Julienne moves to the city with her widowed father. The cruel treatment of the Jews compels Julienne to confront the harsh realities of war and the moral courage it demands to live in a changed society.
Two courageous women find the strength to survive and thrive in a world of horror and chaos. Surfacing past secrets tests their courage, inspiring readers with their resilience.
Critique: Inspired by the real-life heroism of Belgian spy Gabrielle Petit, The Belgian Girls is a powerful dual-timeline novel that captures the emotional depth of wartime resistance. It also celebrates the unbreakable bonds of human connection, offering a beacon of hope even in the most challenging times.
Kathryn J. Atwood masterfully weaves history and fiction into a poignant narrative of sacrifice, bravery, and redemption. Atwood's storytelling shines with heartfelt substance, offering readers a vivid sense of the time and place of a bygone era, one that made a prominent landmark in history.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 14 to 18.
Delilah and the Missing Curtains: A Child's Guide to Gratitude and Happiness
David Farkas, author
Brittany Farkas, illustrator
Independently Published
9798315687498, $6.99 Kindle, $12.99 PB, 35 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Delilah-Missing-Curtains-Gratitude-Happiness/dp/B0F4KV2979
Synopsis: In the enchanting world of Delilah the Ant, we find a character who, despite having everything, is still yearning for that elusive treasure: pink curtains.
This whimsical tale poignantly reminds us that our desires can sometimes overshadow the simple joys that surround us. Like many of us, Delilah embarks on a journey fueled by her aspirations, believing the next big thing will bring her fulfillment.
Following Delilah's quest invites reflection on a more profound truth - the beauty of cherishing our current blessings. This truth resonates universally and applies to all our lives.
Critique: Delilah and the Missing Curtains is a heartwarming tale that explores the notion that our deepest desires can often feel just out of reach - and that even when fulfilled, they may not bring the satisfaction we imagined. This insightful story shows readers that true happiness lies in gratitude and appreciating the present moment.
Author David Farkas skillfully weaves themes of contentment and the quiet strength of gentle persuasion, offering young readers a meaningful lesson in emotional awareness.
Complementing the narrative, Brittany Farkas's masterful illustrations infuse each page with warmth, charm, and vibrant detail, perfectly capturing the story's spirit.
Filled with a cozy, inviting atmosphere, this delightful book encourages readers to turn the first page and keeps them engaged, eagerly expecting how the story will end.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 4-12 years old.
Drew's Big Buff Brain
Drew Dennis and John Denny
Big Brain Books
https://bigbrainpublishing.org
9798991951012, $10.00 PB, $18.00 HB, 36 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Drews-Buff-Brain-Drew-Dennis/dp/B0DVF3GH16
Synopsis: Drew is a highly successful athlete known for his physical strength and competitive drive. But while his body is in peak condition, he realizes his mind isn't as sharp or developed. He wants to improve, but isn't sure where to start - until he listens to his friend Deena's suggestions.
Deena introduces him to the idea that, like the body, the brain needs consistent training to grow stronger. She explains reading is like weightlifting and cardio for your mind. She guides him in selecting the right materials and encourages him to stay consistent in his mental training.
Inspired, Drew reads regularly, challenging himself with new ideas and information from various sources; his mental agility, focus, and creativity soar. Drew excels in his sport with his newly sharpened mind and feels his brain expand with his newfound knowledge.
Critique: Drew's Big Buff Brain highlights the transformative power of expanding educational knowledge, showing how continuous learning strengthens and develops the mind. Being a lifelong learner, this book spoke to my heart.
Drew Dennis and John Denny have written an inspiring story that encourages readers to seek knowledge and guidance through books. The story shows how reading can strengthen the mind and contribute to overall well-being. It also showcases the power of friendship, that a person's gentle and persuasive voice has the power to change a life.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 4-12 years old.
Mail Order Monsters: Crash Course - Book 1
Silvia Acevedo, author
Jeff Miracola, illustrator
Three Points Publishing
https://www.threepointspublishing.com
9781950150014, $8.99 Kindle, 315 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Mail-Order-Monsters-Course-Silvia-Acevedo-ebook/dp/B0F69XLVNQ
Synopsis: When 10-year-old Marco Torres finds himself without a best friend, he embarks on an unusual journey that involves responding to an ad for Mail-Order Monsters hidden in the pages of an old comic book. To find a confidant and fend off a relentless bully, who is the twin brother of his crush, Marco takes a leap of faith and places an order, hoping that his new monster companions will bring about a change in his life.
Initially, Marco's plan is working: the monsters impress his classmates and give him a newfound sense of confidence. However, things take an unexpected turn when his monstrous allies break free, wreaking havoc on the school's ceilings and attracting unwanted attention from adults. When the situation couldn't be more chaotic, Marco's former best friend challenges him to a high-stakes monster vs. robot showdown in a remote-controlled truck race through the neighborhood junkyard.
As the excitement builds, Marco questions what he's truly fighting for and whether monsters can fix what's broken inside, no matter how cool they may seem. Will he win the challenge? Or will he learn a lesson from defeat? This emotional journey of self-discovery will resonate with readers of all ages.
Critique: Packed with humor, heart, and fast-paced adventure, Mail-Order Monsters is a wild ride about friendship, courage, and the inspiring journey of discovering where true strength comes from.
Silvia Acevedo skillfully explores how loneliness can drive us to seek connection in the most unexpected places. Through vivid storytelling and heartfelt emotion, she takes readers on a journey of discovery and imagination.
Jeff Miracola's masterful illustrations leap off the page, bringing each scene to life with energy and heartfelt emotion. Combined with Acevedo's rich, descriptive language, this story offers an exciting and immersive adventure that will capture readers' hearts from beginning to end.
Editorial Note: Recommended for ages 7-12 years old.
Suzie Housley, Senior Reviewer
https://housleysliteraryservices.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
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