April 2022 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature Mystery & Thrillers
Annihilation
Kaylin Mcfarren
Creative Edge Publishing LLC
9781685640569
$18.95
Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/ANNIHILATION-Gehenna-Kaylin-McFarren/dp/1685640567
Readers of occult fantasy will find Annihilation
a revealing tale that explores the stuff of nightmares. It opens with a
prologue that recaps past events affecting protagonist Samara
Daemonium,
explaining why she keeps a demon-killing knife in her bedside drawer
and why
this threat still looms over her world.
It reviews her relationship with Legend and the
current nightmare she
lives with day and night: "For
whatever reason, guilt was eating her alive, making her believe she was
responsible for killing her best friend, a conniving slut, and the
amber-eyed
demon she wasn’t supposed to love anymore."
Although the prologue is unexpectedly long and
detailed for a recap
introduction, it segues neatly into the next scenario, in which demons
from
Hell assemble to mount their latest surge, presenting quite a different
milieu
in which Queen Lucinda and Hecate discuss awakening dormant powers to
find a
path to freedom.
As the story moves between human and demon realms,
it develops powerful
characters on both sides, whose intentions and perspectives are
revealed
against the backdrop of violent confrontations both psychic and
physical.
Kaylin Mcfarren does an excellent job of
juxtaposing these special
interests in a way that makes both adversary and angels feel realistic
and even
relatable, melding both with a sense of unexpected humor that emerges
at
different points in the saga: "As
the car rolled down the street, Samara rocked from side to side in the
back
seat, overwhelmed by what she was seeing. “I can’t believe I’m really
here. ON
EARTH! None of my friends will ever believe this! A REAL CAR!”
Eliza glanced at
Damian.
“Yeah, good idea, Bro. She’ll have no problem fitting in…if we’re going
to a
sanitarium.”
From horrible mistakes and efforts to change
attitudes set in stone to
Samara's encounter with Lucifer and the false promises which lure her,
Mcfarren
crafts a winning chronicle that holds many subplots, twists and turns,
and
inspections that keep readers not only on their toes, but wondering
about the
ultimate definition of good and evil intentions.
Eventually, Samara comes to question her family
roots and the
transformations that have affected them all: "Tyrus
closed his eyes and bowed his head, breaking her heart.
What had happened to her strong, brave uncle? To the remarkable
creature that
protected their family for years? They had laughed and joked, despite
their
differences in age. He would never say that he loved Ariel, but he felt
happier
in her presence. And as for her father, they were closer than brothers.
Where
in Hell were they? How could they allow this to happen?"
Readers seeking more than a classic
good-versus-evil scenario will
delight in the complex psychological streams of thought in Annihilation. Its danger doesn't just
come from outside, but from
within.
As changing hearts bow to adversity and the weight
of new realizations, Annihilation evolves
a fine personal
focus that will keep readers engaged in the outcome of more than just
primary
protagonist Samara and her choices.
It's unusual to find an occult fantasy title that
touches psychological
revelation readers, but Annihilation
achieves this and more, providing not just an engrossing foray into
courage and
self-realization, but an investigation of the foundations of good
intentions
gone awry and the gray area that exists between good and evil.
Readers seeking more than one-dimensional action
will relish the
questions and answers that arise in the course of the rollicking good
read that
is Annihilation.
Return to Index
Another
Century
Barton Paul Levenson
RoseDog Books
9781638678267
$21.00
www.rosedogbookstore.com
Another Century is an alternate history
novel set in a world where
the Viking-controlled Vinland occupies North America and rules with a
rigid
hand.
Thorvald
Winchester
leads a good life in this world. He is courting the pious but pretty
Jenny
Nilsson (despite the fact that he's a confirmed atheist), he has a good
job as
a programmer of the Lundqvist and Chesterfield Analytical Engine, and
he is
living a life uncomplicated by the changing politics of his times. Then
the
Vinland government recruits him to program simulations of a device that
could
defeat the dictator-led country of Puustinia.
In the midst
of
testing his creation, Thorvald finds himself dropped into the center of
a
controversy which creates turbulence in his formerly-predictable life.
Barton Paul
Levenson's alternate history scenario features elements of steampunk
sci-fi
paired with astute political and social analysis to keep readers
involved.
These attractions are cemented by an attention to strong characters as
Thorvald
encounters ideas and political challenges above and beyond his
scientific
duties, and finds his life changing as a result.
The changes
he
experiences move into his habits and exchanges with others, pairing
alternate
history with recognizable social encounters: "The
girl stuck her head out the window. 'You're off yer bleedin'
nut, you are!' Thorvald started to tip his hat to her, realized he
didn't have
it any more, and converted the move into a salute."
As war
emerges and
the prototype aeromobile becomes the heart of controversy, readers
receive a
story that operates on many levels, from political and scientific
confrontations to personal faith: "Forgive
me, Thorvald. I cannot marry an atheist. I do respect your position,
but my
faith is very important to me. The bible says not to be unequally yoked
to an
unbeliever." Only a short while later, Thorvald reflects "God
help me" as he steps into a gunner's role.
Levenson's
ability to
blend issues of faith, science, political change, and personal
evolution
creates a fast-paced story steeped in a quasi-Victorian atmosphere.
Replete in
personal
and political conflicts as a Victorian culture confronts the threat of
totalitarianism, Another Century is
a
highly recommended read for sci-fi enthusiasts who like their alternate
histories firmly rooted in conundrums that change hearts, minds, and
societies
alike.
Return to Index
The Heir of
Lemminkäinen
David Allen Schlaefer
DartFrog Books
978-1-953910-79-0
$16.99 Print/$4.99 ebook
www.dartfrogbooks.com
Book II of
the Far
Northern Land Saga, The Heir of Lemminkäinen,
continues an epic
fantasy based on heroic figures in Finnish mythology and reflects David
Allen
Schlaefer's long-standing interest in and studies of Finland's
folklore.
Readers who
harbor a
similar interest in folklore and myths won't be daunted by the
unfamiliar words
and letters that pepper the story, and will find the diacritics, the
attention
to details that reflect how the peoples of Iron-Age Finland lived, and
the
adventures that embrace goblins, mortals, and mages to be
thought-provoking and
absorbing.
Under
Schlaefer's
hand, the world of the Kalevala comes to life, continuing the rich saga
that
began in the first book, The Mark of the Bear Clan, as King Egan tries to unite
seven disparate clans in a common endeavor to survive.
His efforts
to assume
command as Finland's High King involve overcoming witches and magical
creatures
in powerful clashes, and unraveling the complex and sometimes twisted
purposes
of men.
Betrayal is
the last
thing he needs on his plate, but it's the first thing that will truly
challenge
his mission and his heart.
While Egan
confronts
his destiny, the tale’s other protagonist, Ulla, embarks on her own
journey to
become a wizard. Both her budding love for Egan and her deep-rooted
fear of
loss complicate her efforts to live up to the ancient prophecy that
foretold
her pivotal role in the fight for the Far Northern Land’s freedom.
Schlaefer is
a master
at weaving Finnish mythology into the evolving story of a battle that
tests all
of the characters.
The action
is
constant and swift, the cultural and mythological references are
challenging
but engaging and emotionally compelling, and the story is replete with
satisfying twists and turns that most readers won't see
coming.
Most of
all, The
Heir of Lemminkäinen charts the course of a leader
and other
characters who face challenges to their objectives, perspectives, and
attempts
to hold their worlds together.
The
interplay of
myths, magic, and minds is spiced with strong action, making The
Heir
of Lemminkäinen a fantasy epic that’s accessible to
a wide audience.
But it's the reader who enjoys culturally-based fantasy and battles
that test
all of the characters, and who holds a special interest in Finnish
legends and
cultural influences who will find it
an especially compelling read.
Return to Index
Jade, Daughter of the
Wasteland
Stephen J. C. Andes
Apotheosis Press
978-1-953366-60-3
$12.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.apotheosispress.com
Jade,
Daughter of
the Wasteland provides a speculative story set in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana.
It depicts a world in which an Event has altered the environment that,
fifteen
years later, houses Jade, who faces a pack of Feral children at the
story's
opening.
This is a post-plague milieu
of virally-deranged
Twitchers, Anti guard patrols, and survivor efforts which hinge on
finding safe
places in a wreck of a world. Jade is an 'Older' in the eyes of the
Ferals
around her, but unlike most, she isn't intent on controlling or
manipulating
them. Her brother, Samuel, is committed to non-violent methods of
survival that
embraces methods learned during their time with the Sisters of the Way
of
Absolute Hospitality.
During one of her house
searches for safety or survival
tools, Jade finds a mounted saber in a glass case. It just so happens
that her
father had taught her how to fence. And so Jade holds her first real
tool to
navigating and surviving her world: "I've
been without a weapon too long. Finally, once again, a part of me has
been restored.
I'm a woman with a sword."
Jade evolves as the story
moves between past and present
experience to consider her uncertain future survival in the wastelands
of Baton
Rouge as it falls apart.
Stephen J. C. Andes does a
fine job of creating powerful
characters who move through this revised environment surveying
different
options for survival. Jade is not the only main character making
decisions
about how to control it. Others, including a fifty-five-year-old woman
who is
somehow immune to the Twitch, also consider how to finish what they
have begun
in revamping their lives and interacting with others.
A lesbian Librarian central
to the developing plot
presents an alternate set of experiences, motivations, and choices that
contrast well with Jade's evolution. As betrayal, nightmares, and
violence
threaten both of their dreams, Andes creates a vivid story of a future
world
that's falling apart in different ways.
The Librarian is rebuilding
her Library. Jade is building
a reputation for herself in The Wasteland. Both are on similar
trajectories
that cause them to rely on one another to bring their families together
and
build new safety into the world, post-virus.
Given COVID-19's presence
today, there is no better time
for choosing the evolutionary adventure that is Jade,
Daughter of the Wasteland. It's a hard-hitting story of
survival and transformation traverses different cultures and social
elements in
a vivid manner that keeps readers guessing about the nature of survival
and
that new world vision until the end. It is highly recommended reading
for
anyone interested in dystopian survival tales.
Return to Index
Kat's Cradle
Karuna Das
DX Varos Publishing
978-1-955065-27-6
$19.95 Paperback/$4.99
www.dxvaros.com
"How
do you
anticipate the inconceivable?"
Kat's Cradle is the first book in the
Webolution series. It's
billed as sci-fi, but will also attract readers who enjoy stories of
awakening,
transformation, and self-discovery that lead to a new chapter in
evolving human
consciousness.
The prologue
introduces a bodiless observer who observes a solar flare that erupts
and speeds
towards Earth. This first-person observation of a powerful event blends
into
the third-person story of Kat, who is teaching bored college
Millennials about
the Earth's weakening magnetic field when she collapses mid-lecture.
What seems
like a
simple blackout portends new abilities that bring with it expanded
possibilities and new restrictions, and Kat embarks on an unexpected
journey
far from the scholarly educational trajectory she was on course to
realize.
From
arguments about
God, free will, and belief systems to the nature of human consciousness
and
possibilities in how the mind may take another evolutionary leap
forward, Kat's Cradle creates a
dichotomy between
characters that approach cosmic inquiry from very different
perspectives.
Agents
investigate
mystical communities and both capitalists and thinkers consider
different paths
in connecting to the universe, testing belief systems within many
circles as
Kat finds herself the voice of a consciousness operating within and
beyond her
own mind.
Vivid
chapters intersperse
Kat's life with the perspective of the "conscious conscience" in a
story that comes full circle between awakening, revelation, and abiding.
To bill Kat's Cradle as a sci-fi read alone
would be to do it an injustice. It's an inquiry into the nature of
consciousness, evolution, and perspective that makes Kat just one of a
series
of strong characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
Karuna Das
creates an
unexpected conclusion to the story that takes the usual focus on a main
protagonist and shifts it. This demonstrates that the events of Kat's Cradle are only one step in a
Webolution
series that needs no single protagonist or entity in order to prove a
continuing lure.
Libraries
strong in
not just sci-fi, but novels of expanding consciousness and discoveries
about
the universe and humankind's place in it, will find that Kat's
Cradle reaches across genres. Book clubs should also consider
it for its paradigm-changing inspection of humanity, spirituality, and
forces
beyond human ken.
Return to Index
Light Giver
Mike Slade
Independently Published
9798795339542 $14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PPQGCS5
Author website: www.ascribecalledslade.wordpress.com
Light
Giver,
the first book in The Chaos Apostles series, gives sword and sorcery
fantasy
readers a fine story about Kaine, who is the only one of his generation
to
inherit healing powers. His quest for direction leads him to the
Kingdom of
Yanasu, where he falls under the tutelage of a priest and meets
princess Na’Serra, who is also on
the cusp of
evolving her magical abilities.
Given instruction,
both will ease into their revised roles to make the most of their
abilities;
but underlying their transition is community pushback
and questions that each have about their place in the world and
the purpose of their lives: "Twice
already, Kaine had observed actions that he could not explain. Moments
where he
felt they were just pieces on a King’s Gambit mat, that the Gods were
moving
them around for their desires."
Part of this
self-realization process is the ability to
guide, follow, and understand the paths of men, Gods, and their revised
roles
in their communities. The other half of the equation lies in how well
they
learn their lessons about their powers and how best to wield them.
As Kaine moves within the
court circles of King Tristin
and learns to navigate political and social conflicts (as well as his
abilities), he receives wisdom from its rituals and tests: “My only alteration to the second stage was
the burning rocks underneath. The hand climb is exactly the same
otherwise; it
is only the fear of falling that is making these men fail.” His
lessons
involve training himself how to attune to Na’Serra’s energy as he hones
his
talents and considers the possibility that he will step into the role
of
becoming the next Light Giver.
Those with magic are being
hunted. It's time for them to
leave. The journey begins with Light
Giver, setting the stage for a quest that embraces coming of
age rituals,
empowerment, and issues of social and personal transformation.
Mike Slade creates a winning
introduction to battles both
lost and won and events that both challenge and prepare Na'Serra and
prompt
Kaine to reach inside himself to unleash a force neither anticipated.
Mike Slade's attention to
building the details of both
this fantasy world and the particular bonds that link two disparate
young
people creates a story that is invitingly appealing to fantasy readers
from
young adult into adult circles.
Book One set the stage.
Future books will follow this
journey as both characters, individually and together, set out to
confront and
change their world and themselves.
Light Giver's
ability to weave a fine tale based on two strong characters'
evolutionary
processes makes it a highly recommended fantasy pick suitable for a
wide
audience of genre readers and libraries catering to them.
Return to Index
Man
on Mars: The
Wake
X. Quinn
Independently
Published
978-1-7378564-0-5
$14.95 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P8C3536
"We all have things we hold dear and we
all have our reasons." Even aliens.
The Wake, the first book of the Man on Mars series,
provides a satisfying hard sci-fi story set in 2057, when Earth overrun
by a
virus. Survivors fled by escaping to Mars, but new confrontations arise
when an
alien race that has terraformed the planet to make it habitable for
their
interests confronts the human immigrants who seek to call Mars their
new home.
An
Alien War has
left some with lasting injuries...including the protagonist of this
story, Don,
who lost his memory and now leads a human resistance movement against
the
aliens, called the Wake.
The
alien Gatti
harbor their own heroes and fighters, and these are also profiled in
the course
of emerging action between alien and human factions.
X.
Quinn is
adept at portraying various conflicts that emerge between individuals
and races
which embrace both military engagements and genetic engineering
challenges. The
science and military aspects of the story are cemented with strong
characterization from both sides of the picture.
This
lends to a
plot that is vivid in its imagery and unpredictable in its twists and
turns,
which add intrigue and problem-solving mystery into the evolving
situation that
brings the two races into conflict.
Don's
missing
memories may be the key to understanding not just the past, but his
relationship with the Gatti and his role between the two opposing
forces...if he can recover them in
time.
Quinn
creates a
large cast of characters whose special interests play out on Mars. The
struggles, triumphs, and failures of all involved contribute to an
engrossing
story that operates on different levels: psychological, scientific, and
sociologically.
The
personal
interests and feelings of Aria and other supporting characters makes
the stakes
in the battles more personal and engrossing than in most military
sci-fi
stories.
The
result is a
Martian conflict like no other. Man on
Mars is highly recommended for sci-fi readers who like their
military
battle action tempered by both hard sci-fi and social and psychological
inspections. It will keep them both engaged and educated about the
diverse
perspectives and purposes of all involved.
"We all have things we hold dear and we
all have our reasons."
These
interspecies revelations and struggles contribute to the greater good
of the
story, making The Wake a powerful,
strong recommendation for sci-fi libraries seeing interest in either
hard
science or military alien/human encounters.
Return to Index
This World
of Love
and Strife
Shawn Mackey
DX Varos Publishing
978-1-955065-23-8
$18.95 Paperback/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/This-World-Strife-Shawn-Mackey-ebook/dp/B09LYGLT2F
This World of Love and Strife is a
supernatural thriller that will
appeal to readers of both suspense stories and paranormal fantasy. It
tells of
a secret organization called the Vanguard, whose purpose is to blur the
lines
between human perceptions and the supernatural world that exists
alongside our
own.
The
Vanguard, having
done its job almost too well, is now failing due to inner corruption,
as
disgraced former member Cato discovers. He's not the only one to have
fallen
from grace with the Vanguard. Aldous, too, is on their 'dubious assets'
list.
His newfound appetites as a vampire seem to make him more of a
candidate for
the dark side than the Vanguard's efforts...and yet, his skills are too
valuable for him to be rejected outright. He operates somewhere on the
borderland, supporting the Vanguard's ideals, but outside of their
control.
The story
focuses on the
conflict that evolves between Cato, Aldous, and the Vanguard as both
outsiders
and insiders begin to put the puzzle pieces together to arrive at the
truth.
Aldous is
behind some
of these evolving disasters, but he's not the only one circumventing
the
Vangard's mission. From Vanguards who kill werewolves "for the sport of
it" to questionable alliances between Aldous, Rebecca, Cato, and others
who also hold their own agendas, the secret war between demons and
within human
factions comes to life.
Shawn Mackey
is skilled
at creating and pitting characters against one another and, sometimes,
their
own special interests. Lucien, Rebecca, and others face loyalty
questions,
suicide missions, and conflicts that require them to make difficult
choices. Their
psychological profiles and interactions drive a story replete with
action and
interpersonal inspections.
This World of Love and Strife is a
suspenseful horror/fantasy story
about forces unleashed in the world that move beyond their stated
objectives
and boundaries to force characters to change and grow.
While This World of Love and Strife will reach
horror audiences, it also should be included in fantasy and thriller
library
collections as a strong example of the strengths that can emerge from a
story
that embraces different genres with powerful characters and scenarios
that are
unpredictable and engrossing.
Return to Index
А́
Deux
Alexey L. Kovalev
Atmosphere Press
978-1639881468
$16.99
Paper/$7.99 ebook
www.atmospherepress.com
А́ Deux
provides a literary, philosophical
inspection of God and the phenomena surrounding a deity's presence and
influences. It probes both the concept of God in general and the
specifics of
Christian belief systems in a manner that is thought-provoking,
controversial,
and revealing.
Alexey L. Kovalev's
historical, social, and spiritual
inspection pulls no punches: "I am
not talking of Second Coming. I often think there was no First one
either, at
least in a way it has been rendered. God’s sons come all the time. I am
not for
miracles, but for honest cooperation. I would take it to be
inconspicuous if
you wish."
It presents a give-and-take
dialogue between the narrator
and probable readers which questions, replies to, and raises further
ironies
and insights about God and the literary, philosophical, and religious
sentiments that have risen around the concept over human history.
As these inspections evolve,
it becomes evident that they
are presented in a unique blend of free verse poem and literary
discussion that
runs the gamut between essay, drama, and poetry.
Kovalev questions status quo
in many different ways, as
the prologue to this venture points out: "A
name needed to be found. So, he acquired quite a few since none of them
fully
embraced all his estimated features. But his existence was still
indubitable,
at least his participation in creating the Universe, in which a man
discovered
himself living. The Creator, Demiurge—these were some of the names.
Equally
unquestionable seemed to be his might and therefore power, so they also
called
him the Master, the Lord. However, the most popular and widespread
became the
generalized name, God, yielding a plethora of interpretations, but in
its core
meant abundance, good, and the ability to dispense it."
As hard as it is to neatly
peg the literary wellsprings
of these reflections, one thing is certain: readers who enjoy literary,
religious, and social considerations of mankind injected with a subtle
sense of
irony and rebellion will find А́ Deux appeals to
the literary,
psychological, and spiritual components of the soul with a penetrating,
thought-provoking, and unique voice.
А́ Deux
may defy easy categorization, but what it
demands of readers in the way of intellectual prowess is more than
rewarded by
a powerful, wide-ranging consideration of subjects that move from God
to chaos:
"You should not be afraid of chaos;
it is full of living force and waits for your will to organize it one
way or
another. But instead of rational analysis, employ vivid, sensible
concepts of
Behemoths, Leviathans, rejoicing morning stars, and forego following
the laws
of a formed, artificial, problematic system. Do not fight it, just quit
developing it."
Libraries strong in
literary, religious, or philosophical
inspections will find А́ Deux a fine intellectual
journey.
Return to Index
All the Rivers Flow
into the Sea & Other Stories
Khanh Ha
Eastover Press
978-1-934894-73-6
www.EastOverPress.com
All the Rivers Flow into the Sea & Other
Stories is a literary
collection of short stories that capture love, life, and Vietnamese
culture.
Many of these stories have appeared elsewhere, from anthologies to
literary
magazines; but having them all under one cover gives readers a
powerfully
interconnected set of voices that, when read together, form a
compelling bigger
picture of lives under siege in various ways.
Take the
introductory
"The Woman-Child," for example. Here, twenty-three-year-old narrator
Minh reflects on his return from America to Vietnam with a youngster
who has
many questions for him about his heritage and life.
The
contrasts between
these very different worlds come to life in the course of their
conversation: “You should wash your hair
every day, too.”
“Easy for you to say, chú.
Clean water is treasured here.”
Minh
questions the
child (“Why are you so kind?”), and
the answers influence his purpose in visiting his native country (to
study
Vietnam’s environmental degradation caused by shrimp aquaculture some
twenty
years after the war).
His study
would seem
to preclude knowing much about the human lives affected by these
events. In
fact, it is everything, as scientific and cultural revelations evolve.
Contrast
this with
the title story "All the Rivers Flow into the Sea," which doesn't
introduce, but concludes the collection. Here, a different encounter
between
American Jonathan and Vietnamese girl Phuong depicts a jungle journey
where the
realities of survival prove quite different for each character.
These
stories draw
close connections between disparate cultures, Vietnam's changing
environments,
and the American and Vietnamese people who engage on a different
playing field
than the war which brought them together in the past.
The stories
provide
vignettes of history, beauty, and inspection that capture different
perspectives of life, death, love and growth in Vietnam. "The Girl on
the
Bridge" is one such example of a fierce contrast between the nation's
beauty and the clashes between man and nature that affect the
environment and
everyone in it: "We had moved with
our school out of the city after the Americans began bombing North
Vietnam. On
this morning, we had heard the air raid sirens, and we were biking
toward the
bridge into the city before the planes showed up. We were on the bridge
just as
the American jets came roaring over. I had barely jumped off my bicycle
when
the explosions blasted the air with a furnace heat. The river gushed up
as a
bomb hit the water, then the bridge shook and clanged. Dirt stung my
eyes, my
nose. The air singed. Stinging hot on the skin. Suffocating me with its
burned-match odor."
Readers who
think
they know Vietnam's people and culture (albeit from afar and through
studies of
history) would do well to pursue the living history in these literary
pieces.
Each captures a facet of Vietnam and interactions with the nation that
bring it
to vivid life. Each is another step towards understanding and
reflecting on the
peoples, politics, and experiences unique to that nation.
Libraries
strong in
literary short works that cultivate cultural inspections, as well as
those
interested in stories of Vietnam's people and places, should place All the Rivers Flow into the Sea & Other
Stories high on their reading lists.
Return to Index
Classic
Monsters Unleashed
James Aquilone
Black Spot
Books (print) & Crystal Lake Publishing (ebook)
978-1645481218
$31.99
Hardcover/$21.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Monsters-Unleashed-1/dp/1645481212
Horror libraries and
collections catering to patrons who enjoy horror literature will find Classic
Monsters Unleashed a
fine
addition. It's an anthology that pairs big-name authors (Joe Lansdale,
F. Paul
Wilson, Richard Christian Matheson and Dacre Stoker) with
lesser-known writers who offer their contrasting takes on classic
monster themes.
The
horror
atmosphere is enhanced by black and white illustrations throughout that
capture
the murky horror visually with compelling embellishments.
These
stories
are diverse in subject. All reinvent and re-imagine classic horror
figures from
Frankenstein and the Invisible Man to the Wicked Witch of the West.
With their
foundations in the classics, each story provides a satisfying
contemporary twist
and interpretation that many readers won't see coming.
Owl
Goingback's
"Blood Hunt" is one example of this diversity under the horror
umbrella. It is set in the Dakota Territory in 1885 and tells of an old
Indian
medicine man Sitting Bull, a friend of William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The
tale receives compelling visual portraits by Colton Worley as it
explore a
changing West that affects both of them: "Like the Indian, he
too
mourned the loss of the Western frontier, hated the changes brought by
too many
white men and too much civilization, knowing it was the closing chapter
for his
way of life and for all the native people."
The
horror
component builds slowly from its Western roots as a train engineer
faces Count
Dracula, who has turned this train into a death ride.
As
Cody and
Sitting Bull face different demons, the story becomes a study in
slavery,
freedom, and efforts to survive.
Each
story in
this collection features both a familiar backdrop and a contemporary
twist to
delight reader of the unexpected.
These
classic
monster stories are unleashed into the modern world via a collection
designed
to appeal to literary horror audiences who want creative approaches to
the
genre that build upon past themes, but layer them with contemporary
experiences.
Classic
Monsters
Unleashed is to be celebrated for its diversity and ability
to stay true to
the monsters of its origin while featuring stories that are
delightfully
original.
Return to Index
Sea
Creatures and Poems: Plus Some Other Fish Rhymes
Richard Merritts
Independently Published
979-8404601664
$25.88 Hardcover/$15.10 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Creatures-Poems-Other-Rhymes/dp/B09QNV6XPQ
Sea Creatures and
Poems: Plus
Some Other Fish Rhymes
illustrates the fun that poetry can embrace, providing a zany
collection for
all ages that is both ocean-focused and whimsical. The operative
description
for both poems and pictures is "silly," and the book fulfills this
promise with a series of engaging observations that belay the usual
staid
approaches of too many poetry books.
Art combined with poetry is "a delicious
combination," as
Richard Merrits reflects in the collection's introduction. The poems
inspired
the author to add illustrations which are just as whimsically
touched...and,
also, quite artistically rendered.
These aren't demanding works. Take "Pompano Pompano
Pompano,"
for example. Its very short observation concludes with an ironic twist
after
identifying the "flat fish from Florida" outside of its normal sea
environment. Succinct? Yes. But the poem really...snags readers,
landing a
winning insight on both the pompano and its ultimate fate.
Readers trawling for humor will find plenty in this
book. Even the
poetry titles present original, fun observations, as in "By Jove, I
Hooked
a Snook."
Aside from its delightful observations, the poems
represent diverse
structures, from free verse to rhyme: "From
the depths of the sea;/Came a fish that could be;/From a prison did
flee;/Dressed
in stripes, so you see..."
From redfish and ahi to the anglers who long for
them, Sea Creatures and Poems will
appeal to a
wide audience, especially those who do not view poetry as an
opportunity for
philosophical and psychological analysis alone.
Its blend of natural history info, inviting color
illustrations, and
accompanying fun insights is recommended for those who fish to those
who enjoy
eating or studying them, as well as poetry lovers who will appreciate
the very
different approaches, poetic variety, and whimsical inspections within.
Libraries catering to these audiences will want to
include it in their
collections, but Sea Creatures and Poems
will prove a delightful choice for adults who seek to instill in the
young an
appreciation for poetry's capability for fun and its diverse structural
representations.
Return to Index
Tolstoy
& the Checkout Girl
Lis Anna-Langston
Mapleton Press
978-1957730011
$14.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
Tolstoy
& the Checkout Girl: Second Edition: Anna-Langston, Lis:
9781957730011:
Amazon.com: Books
The literary short stories in Tolstoy
& the
Checkout Girl represent award-winning pieces that have earned
acclaim
elsewhere, but when read together, under one cover, they emphasize
powerful,
diverse structures that use the short fiction format to best advantage.
From 'flash form' quick vignettes to works such
as
the opening "The End of the Century," in which roommates grow and
change, Lis Anna-Langston excels in capturing attention with
descriptions that
are hard-hitting from their opening lines: "Stuart
was my
favorite roommate. Once he discovered gin our apartment was a revolving
door of
busted romantic encounters." Contrasts between adversity
and
appreciation; between love and struggle; between propriety and
risk-taking are
all delightfully outlined in these unique observations: "His
kisses were like a good bottle of scotch. I never got enough of them.
Never
loved kissing anyone but him, not in my whole life. No one trueness in
his
voice lured me in. Lonely, consumed out under the bright, blue sky a
fierceness
in his eyes swept me across the landscape. In the last fading rays of
twilight
we disappeared into the shadows of the parlor, far from my napping
aunt."
As Anna-Langston graphically captures these
experiences, readers are treated to a wealth of imagery and
psychological
insights presented with a literary twist in wordplay that both
tantalizes and
delights: "A naked searching
for feelings just below our
skin exposed our layers to the world. Our hands were a wild catalog of
exploration."
The result is a series of stories fuelled by
references to alcohol, changing senses of place and people, and
relationships
that move from family to lovers and friends. From the magic of
childhood to the
inspections of adulthood, Anna-Langston creates a medley of feelings
superimposed
on experience to delight the mind and heart.
Tolstoy
& the Checkout Girl needs to be in any literary
short story
collection where psychological and social observation intersect with
literary
inspection: "I didn't exactly
need a feeling, nor did I
have any idea where I'd put one."
Return to Index
Z is for
Zapatazo
Ruben Rivera
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-247-2
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Z is for Zapatazo is a literary
collection of poetry and writings
that is steeped in family, faith, and Puerto Rican culture. It is
highly
recommended reading for those who look for contrasts between social,
political,
and psychological experiences.
Ruben Rivera
explores
the paths between and through these experiences. One example is his
poem
"Miss Rice": "You
resembled water seeking the best path/through the hot, compacted
asphalt/that
was school..."
Those who
guided him
and led the way, and the milieus that birthed his cultural and literary
roots,
are reflected in imagery that allows both poetic and essay forms to
burst
forth, embracing political angst as much as social and personal
reflection: "Americans, they love freedom but
not
for brown people. They love him who had “no place to lay his head” but
not poor
people. And they sure love Indians – that defeat rival football teams,
and win
baseball pennants, or faithfully assist a masked, Clorox-clean avenger
of
justice of a yesteryear that never was, but they do not love Indians.
America,
the Houdini of republics."
As he
"re-merges
with the brimming world," so do the passionate observations, anger, and
moments of discovery of these writings.
Z is for Zapatazo is particularly highly
recommended for literary
collections where social and political reflection is of interest. More
than
just a gathering of philosophical insights, Z
is for Zapatazo holds the ability to hit—and hit hard.
Teachers of
poetry
and essays who want to make solid connections between social and
political process
and individual pursuits (especially those interested in the "in
between" connections linking revolution and learning) will find that Z is for Zapatazo a unique, powerful
example
of how literary and social interests can neatly dovetail.
Return to Index
Chasing
bin
Laden
Barbara K. Janik
Independently
Published
978-1734978902
$29.99
Hardcover/$23.99 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-bin-Laden-Notorious-Terrorist/dp/1734978902
Website: http://chasingbinladen.com
The
title Chasing bin Laden: My Hunt for the
World's
Most Notorious Terrorist feels like an incongruity because,
at one time,
many disparate forces were chasing bin Laden, and these usually didn't
include
individuals. It builds upon an unusual "secret truth": that in 2006,
bin Laden was arrested in Brooklyn, NY by the New York FBI terrorism
task force
based on a tip that came from historian Barbara Janik, the author of
this book.
With that fact comes an authority and special perspective that no other
book
can claim, making Chasing bin Laden a
"must read" for anyone interested in not just bin Laden history, but
lay investigations conducted by those outside the usual criminal task
forces.
Barbara
K. Janik
opens the story by admitting that writing this book exacted an
emotional toll
she still pays today. No research piece or emotionally guarded search
through
public records, Chasing bin Laden
is
a very personal foray into the heart and mind of terrorists that
involved the
author's six-year journey of reliving the events from 2006 and beyond.
Some
may believe
this memoir a work of fiction, but luckily, Janik obtained copies of
all the
phone conversations between herself and authorities, which support the
timeline
of events and facts in Chasing bin Laden.
This evidence has been placed on a website, along with documentation of
the
author's conversations in an online forum.
Readers
receive
more than a focus on bin Laden, here. The process of calling in
anonymous tips,
interacting with authorities, and conducting independent research that
supplemented FBI activities and investigations makes for revealing
reading
about how lay investigators can add their research savvy to the efforts
to
track down even the most seasoned criminals.
Readers
who
expected a focus on police procedurals will find that this memoir
embraces
Janik's life and relationships as much as it does her methodology and
interactions with authorities. This gives her story a personal tone as
it not
only explores her life and its influences, but the special challenges
of
juggling family and outside forces: "In
a moment of panic, I regretted all the long hours I'd spent looking for
Osama
bin Laden and others. I was neglecting my children. They needed their
mother,
and they needed easy access to sustenance. Why was I such a bad mom?"
The
constant
focus on breakthroughs took a toll on her family and relationships, and
yet she
persevered, always feeling like she was on the cusp of locating a
terrorist who
actually remained one step ahead of her.
These
personal
life stories add professional and social reflections to round out this
decade-long story of pursuit. Even more ironically, Janik did not
receive the
promised reward for the arrest that was based on her tips. Even worse,
bin
Laden's arrest was not widely known public news, placing her role in it
in a
questionable light: "I had found the
most wanted man on the planet, and it looked like no one would ever
know about
it. My efforts may
have saved lives, but
bin Laden would still be out there as the "boogie man" fanning the
fires of war. Meanwhile, I was left trying to prove he was no longer
out
there."
The
events of
2006 and Janik's successful efforts to chase down the most wanted
terrorist of
modern times should not be forgotten. Nor should the sacrifices made
and emotional
toll she took and endured during the pursuit of her convictions.
While
Chasing bin Laden: My Hunt for the World's
Most Notorious Terrorist fits into the memoir label with its
focus on
Janik's life and family, it's also a powerful testimony to the lasting
impact
of lay investigators on providing the tips and information that can
lead to a
safer world.
This
book didn't
just ask to see the light of day. It demanded it. It provides a
compelling,
riveting story that will encourage others to stay the course in
following their
research and convictions to fruition, even if the rest of the world
can't
listen, doesn't know, or has a vested interest in burying that
information.
Chasing bin Laden: My Hunt for the World's
Most Notorious Terrorist deserves to be featured in library displays strong
in true crime and
terrorist activities, and should be a part of discussion groups about
lay
investigators, family life, and following one's dreams against all odds.
Return to Index
Daddy
Issues
Camisha
Broussard
Camley
Publishing Company
978-1737534501
$19.99 Paper/9.99 Kindle
Website: www.camleypublishing.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Issues-A-Memoir/dp/1737534509
Daddy Issues is a memoir about the author's life growing
up in Chicago sans a father, and opens with the "two things" the
author loves most in her life: dancing, and her father.
From
the first
paragraphs, it's evident that this memoir holds and projects a special
form of
strength as Camisha Broussard traverses love, loss, and life's
adversities.
This is evident in the passage about her youthful observation of older
dancers:
"The young women moved with the
strength of African queens and the grace of God's angels, each one in
step with
the sister next to her. They were a well-refined machine, carefully
exhaling in
unison. They were beautiful, strong, and flawless. I admired them. I
wanted to
be just like them. I wanted to be beautiful too. I wanted to be strong
too. I
wanted to be flawless too, but I wasn't them. I didn't have what they
had, and
life made sure that I never forgot that fact."
At
this point,
it should be said that if only one book were included in a library
interested
in the impact and ramifications of father/daughter relationships, it
should be Daddy Issues. More so
than most books
about absentee fathers, it points out the lasting impact of a parent's
absence
on a child as it traverses Broussard's life both with and without her
dad.
Even
when he was
part of the family, her father would come and go before divorce
separated them.
She astutely charts her mother's attempt to adapt to his mercurial
ways, then
organize their family life without him.
As
Misha loses
her father and his gift one post-Christmas day, she includes many
philosophical, social, and personal reflections about this process: "All hard endings have soft beginnings.
The beginning of my life is no exception."
She
also
presents a seasoned and surprising acceptance of her father's failures,
acknowledging that "Dad tried to be
a good man. Youth is full of promises that life might grant, and it
might
not."
Her
mother is
not left out of the discussion, despite its main focus on "daddy
issues": "I did more
"changing" that year than any young girl should ever be allowed to do
alone. But I wasn't alone at all. I had my mom. She knew what I didn't.
Although she knew that she wasn't who or what I wanted, still, with
what little
she had, she truly tried to be there for me."
With
these
passages it's evident that Broussard cultivates a sense of not just
experience,
love, and life challenges, but forgiveness. Perhaps this is the most
important
lesson of all as her memoir explores love, anger, and the resolutions
her
father's return, sick with cancer, introduces to her mother and herself.
The
passion and
conundrums presented by both his presence and absence are captured in
vivid
language that will educate men, especially, about the impacts they have
on
their daughters' lives whether they are present, absent, or coming and
going: "After everything he'd done to her,
how
could she still be good to him? How could she feed him? Nourishing
someone is
such an intimate thing. How could she give up her bed for him and plan
to sleep
downstairs on the couch, right beneath her bedroom, so she could hear
him if he
woke up in the middle of the night and needed her for something? What
was it
about her that still cared? I had no idea how she functioned in
whatever space
she was in that allowed her to move around him so freely and
peacefully. I had
no idea what ailed her. I was also now certain that I didn't want to
catch
it."
The
language and
descriptions are vivid portraits of a community, an era, and lives that
are
focused on family connections in various ways.
Through
the
years, the author faces her fears, embarks on a lifelong healing
process, and
eventually comes full circle about her daddy issues and life.
Unerringly
truthful about her own choices, failures and successes in
relationship-building,
Broussard's command of the language and her ability to express
conscious and
subconscious feelings and messages pulls no punches as it embarks on a
journey
to forgive and love him.
Readers
interested in absentee fathers, the life impacts, and a young woman who
grows
into a more conscious adulthood will find the social, psychological,
and
cultural inspections in Daddy
Issues makes for a powerful story...one very highly
recommended for a wide range of audiences and library collections, from
those
interested in family makeup and analysis to others who just want to
learn about
the process of healing, recovery, and forgiveness.
Return to Index
Free
Dancing:
Random Stories from an Accidental Life
Ken Brigham
Secant
Publishing, LLC
978-1-7359957-1-7
$28.00 Hardcover/$8.99
ebook
www.secantpublishing.com
Free Dancing: Random Stories from an
Accidental Life is a
memoir from a physician and academic researcher who reflects on the
evolution
of his life and his inquiries into its meaning and progression.
It
captures
circumstances of inquiry, discovery and change in chapters that bristle
with
powerful descriptions of life's happenstances and educational
encounters: "Upon this first introduction to
India,
I was assaulted with the mind-bending reality of intimately juxtaposed
contrasts so enormous that stepping across the threshold of the Taj
Mahal Hotel
felt like taking Alice’s hand and passing, in an instant, through the
looking
glass. Such shocking juxtapositions came to define my experience of
India."
Readers
anticipating a staid story focused on the medical world will find the
insights
into other cultures and academic circles is especially lively,
unexpected, and
well-done: "As the consequences of
consumption of the generously supplied wine and champagne took hold,
conversations gained volume and intensity. Interesting conversations,
not all
amiable. That’s what happens in a crowd of university folks. Strong
minds,
boundless confidence, compulsions to play to the audience, and often
extreme
opinions, sometimes clash in repartee that is less than friendly."
Brigham's
ability to capture these experiences with metaphorical description and
mind-catching detail sets this memoir above and beyond from most
others: "Breathlessness and leg cramps aren’t
so important when you stand on top of the world. I was reminded of my
first
view of the Taj Mahal, confronting suddenly the devastating beauty of
the place
on passing through the marble gate. But this was different. The power
and delicate
beauty of this Earth Dragon floated off into eternity reflecting
sensations
that were difficult to fully comprehend and impossible to describe.
Ghosts of
pagan hordes from times past whose acquisitive ambitions were thwarted
by the
structure must still hang around to shake their spears in frustration
at the
gawking tourists. If only,
they
must echo ceaselessly into the vast ethereal space. As trite as the
reaction
is, it is impossible not to gawk."
His
focus on
capturing and bringing to life all kinds of encounters, from social,
cultural,
and paradigm-defying moments, creates a memoir that examines life with
the
seriousness scholarliness of an academic and the whimsical inspections
of a
traveler.
Whether
he's
considering the physical impact of his journeys or the mental
challenges of
aging and maintaining relevance and a presence in the world, Brigham
provides
succinct, hard-hitting inspections that readers will find
thought-provokingly
intimate and revealing: "When I age,
present me with a sinecure and I will either take it, relinquish any
vestige of
intellectual curiosity, park myself out of the way and get about the
business
of dying, or I will refuse to accept the notion that I am worthless and
look
for something productive to do. Neither does much to protect the
integrity of
the academy."
Free Dancing's multifaceted examination of what it means
to be a changing force in the world results in a memoir that stands out
from
the crowd. It deserves a place not only in libraries strong in
autobiographies
and memoirs, but looking for books that resonate on many different
levels.
Return to Index
Mom
and Dementia
and Me: A Caregiver's Journey
Leona Upton
Illig
Secant
Publishing, LLC
978-0-9997503-8-4
$12.00 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.secantpublishing.com
Mom and Dementia and Me: A Caregiver's
Journey
offers an
especially poignant story with facets not seen in many competing books
about
either dementia or caregiving. It addresses denial, evidence, coping
with
different stages of dementia as it progresses and changes, and life
"after
the crowd goes home."
These
considerations juxtapose both personal revelations and practical tips
for
navigating the complicated world of dementia, providing readers with a
blueprint of what to expect and what to do as it tells of Leona Upton
Illig's
experiences caring for her mother during the throes of evolving Lewy
body
dementia.
Many
dementia
memoirs cover its devastating effects, providing the same focuses that
will be
familiar to those experienced in reading the literature. Mom
and Dementia and Me explores a daughter-turned-caretaker's
perspective as she navigates the special caregiving challenges of this
condition, documenting a journey that presents knowledge the author
wished
she'd received earlier.
Unexpectedly,
it
also contains humor. One doesn't expect humor from such a serious
subject, but
Illig's mother enjoyed laughter, and her intentional (and
unintentional) humor,
as well as her family's ability to support and maintain it against all
odds, is
yet another facet that makes Mom and
Dementia and Me special.
From
the
necessity of obtaining legal documents to support Illig's efforts to
care for
her mother as her mental condition declined to a daughter's early
(impossible)
promise to her mother that they would never place her in assisted
living or
force her to leave her home (a promise that became increasingly
difficult to
keep as her mother's dementia evolved), Illig explores all the
decision-making,
options, challenges, and changes that dementia brings to sufferers and
the
entire family.
The
advice given
along the way is the information Illig would have benefited from, had
she the
opportunity to receive it earlier. Readers of Mom
and Dementia and Me now have a chance to learn from her
experience to better understand the kinds of decisions dementia brings
to
caregivers and families.
This
is why Mom and Dementia and Me
should be in any
library strong in stories of illness, health, mental health, and family
interactions. It's much more than another story of dementia. It
provides a road
map for caregivers struggling to find answers and understand what kinds
of
options face them, both now and in the future.
Few
dementia
surveys on the market offer such specific insights into these choices,
making Mom and Dementia and Me a
winner.
Return to Index
Stardust
by the
Bushel
Brent Lewis
Secant
Publishing
9780999750339
$30.00
www.secantpublishing.com
Stardust by the Bushel: Hollywood on the
Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore is the first in-depth focus on the region's
attraction to Hollywood
stars who were born, lived, or are buried in the area, and provides a
vivid
survey of Eastern Shore history that embraces these many famous
personalities.
The
biographical
sketches range from profiles of Linda Hamilton, Robert Kearns, and
James M.
Cain to surveys of Harriet Tubman and the films Misty
of Chincoteague and Failure
to Launch.
It's
difficult
to envision an effort that blends cinematic history with actor
biographies as
well as the culture and lure of the Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore, but
Brent
Lewis captures all these facets in every chapter, showing how (and
demonstrating why) a land cultivated by farmers and fishermen has lured
Hollywood directors, movie stars, and screenwriters over the years.
As
the
introduction states, "...the Eastern
shore is a state of mind. Its historic remoteness from the mainland and
all
these meddlesome state bureaucrats in Annapolis and Richmond lent the
Shore its
distinctive character. Eccentric. Independent. Even a bit gnarly."
Stardust by the Bushel is a whimsical, fact-filled survey of the
region's culture and allure that celebrates its famous visitors and
residents
while imparting a sense of place that is lively and personal: "Eastern Shore folk talk different.
Where on the Shore a person comes from influences their accent, but as
a whole,
local speech patterns tend to come off as part Southern, part Northern,
and
part lazy Shakespearean."
Any
library
collection interested in Hollywood biographical sketches and Eastern
Shore
history will find Stardust by the Bushel a
fitting tribute to the place, its people, and the personalities who
called it
home.
Return to Index
When Love Sticks Around
Danielle Dayney
Belle Isle Books
978-1-953021-20-5
$14.95
Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/When-Sticks-Around-Danielle-Dayney/dp/1953021190
When
Love Sticks
Around is a memoir shrouded in transition points that are
presented as a
series of essay vignettes.
This format allows for a
back-and-forth fluid movement
through Danielle Dayney's life as she brings forth childhood and adult
recollections based on themes, presenting them in a literary inspection
that
feels as much like a literary story as a memoir.
The result is that readers
will enjoy a memoir that feels
like a picture-in-picture representation of a life's ups, downs, and
movements
in-between.
The background is set in
"What's in a Name?," a
concise review of her father and mother's histories, their meeting, her
birth,
and the reasons behind her parents' separation and her mother's journey
as a
single parent: "She had no money, no
furniture, no husband—just me: Danielle Renee Ruth. She promised to
give me the
best life she could."
This vignette segues neatly
into "Space
Heater," in which child Danielle provides a vivid memory of her first
calamitous encounter with fire.
Each story builds an
evolving life as viewed through the
prism of memories and experiences. Each piece is a building block to a
stormy
search for normalcy in a life buffeted by change, circumstance, and the
repercussions of an era replete with racial violence, which reaches
into her
life: "Transplants (like myself )
don’t get it at first, but the people born and raised in Detroit have
hot blood
coursing through their veins, fifty years later."
Danielle Dayney's memoir
thus assumes the aspect of a
ballet dance of survival that recalls her mother's support and choices
and the
social and familial influences that direct her life both with and
without her
mother.
Read as a memoir, this story
is delightfully evocative,
calling forth memories (such as a beach day with Mom) using a concise
precision
that captures the moment.
Read as a literary
inspection of short stories, though, When
Love Sticks Around especially
shines as a representation of how life's moments may be captured in a
blend of
evocative imagery and bigger-picture thinking to juxtapose personal
revelation
with social observation.
Libraries strong in memoirs
will, of course, find this
collection invitingly appropriate. But, literature readers who enjoy
short
story formats will find especially inspiring the vignette form, which
captures
the author's life experiences in a moving documentary of the highs and
lows of
interactions with her family and the world.
Return to Index
Burning Bridges
Frank F. Weber
Moon Finder Press
978-1-63821-356-7
$18.00
Paper/$9.49 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Bridges-Frank-Weber/dp/1638213569
"The
line between good and
evil cuts through the heart of every person."
Burning
Bridges will appeal to readers of
crime thrillers,
with its investigative probe into a missing biological father who turns
out to
be a psychopath who has vanished after a rampage.
When Harper Rowe discovers the truth about
her father's past, she
finds herself probing and uncovering numerous secrets about her father
Billy
Blaze and the trail of devastation he's left in his wake.
More so than most crime stories, Burning
Bridges holds a solid
foundation in real-world events. This lends it an authentic touch as
Harper
works with the first-person investigator and narrator of this story.
Her search
begins in modern times, where “My mom had the dubious
distinction of being
one of the first coronavirus deaths in New York. My heart ached for
Harper. She
was in the same boat as the
loved ones for the
victims of homicides I’d investigated..."
The investigator Harper has hired, Jon Frederick,
has a firm knowledge
of professional boundaries that doesn't temper either his empathy or
his acknowledgement
of politically correct approaches to relationships and female clients: "It
bothered me that there were so many books about adult women, Girl on
the Train,
Gone Girl, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc. that referred to women as
girls. I
never used girlfriend or boyfriend when discussing adult relationships.
When I
was with the BCA, and an offender would talk about his girlfriend, I
would
respond, 'Isn’t it illegal for you to date girls?'”
As the story unfolds, Frank F. Weber labels his
chapters with each
character's name (the point of view changes to embrace multiple
perspectives)
and the timeline of events. This provides a clear progression as
readers absorb
a changing investigative milieu and revelations that move through a
Minnesota
replete with COVID restrictions and the Minneapolis riots of 2020.
These contemporary backdrops root these events in a
sense of place and
purpose that embraces not just past lives, but present-day challenges.
Harper faces her own mortality at the hands of sex
trafficker Riezig
“Zig” Ziegler as she and Jon face a case that strains their concept of
good and
evil and their ability to survive. Readers will enjoy a compelling set
of
insights that weave ethical and philosophical inspections into the
revelations
that each character confronts.
Burning
Bridges is a detective story that
will neatly move
beyond the mystery shelf to attract readers who want contemporary
inspections
of social dilemmas, crime, and, ultimately, the choices everyone faces
on where
to draw the line: "We are left to our own accord to determine
the people
we are going to be, which makes expressions of gratitude and grace even
more
amazing! We choose to express heartfelt kindness and love, despite our
demons,
and that makes it so much better."
Return to Index
Dark Obsessions
Marie Sutro
Pismo Press
978-1-7357488-1-8
$17.00
https://www.mariesutro.com/
Fans of police detective
Kate Barnes who found her a
riveting, effective problem-solver in Dark
Associations will
welcome her return in Dark Obsessions,
which is set in the small
town of Eagle’s Nest, Washington.
Here, Kate navigates worlds
that move from her hard
childhood to adult events that test her abilities. Marie Sutro takes
the time
to succinctly portray this sense of place and past: "In
addition
to being Kate’s mother, Chloe Barnes had also been a corruption of
nature. She
was a mother who had not given a damn about her two daughters—a mother
for whom
prescription drugs had trumped maternal instinct."
Until six weeks ago, Kate
had excelled in her position as
a detective in the San Francisco Police Department's Special Victims
Unit. Her
encounters with the Tower Torturer, who exploited Kate's
vulnerabilities before
she finally overcame them to win the dangerous game, has resulted in
her leave
of absence from the department to track down the mother who traumatized
her in
childhood.
Sutro's neat summary of
these events in just a few
paragraphs helps newcomers easily enter Kate's world without prior
familiarity
with her recent trials, armed with the full knowledge of the
wellsprings of her
past successes and failures.
As Dark
Obsessions unfolds, readers are
treated to an intriguing story that contrasts Eagle's Nest with San
Francisco's
culture as Kate pursues a murderer and a conundrum: "Eagle’s
Nest
isn’t like San Francisco. We are a tight community. People don’t walk
around
with sticks up their asses here!”
Sutro moves the story from
Kate's perspective to mother
Chloe's, employing a multifaceted approach to expand Kate's experiences
and
influences. Her attention to creating a fast-paced story is based as
much on
psychological interplays between an estranged mother and daughter as it
is on a
murder whodunit. This creates a vivid scenario that demands Kate more
closely
examine circumstances she'd spent years purposely avoiding.
From Washington's rugged
natural beauty to the
"necessary killings" that emerge from it, readers receive a heartfelt
exploration that juxtaposes detective work with criminal activities
that force
an entire community to confront serious truths.
The result is a gripping
thriller that rests firmly on
both psychological and social examination. Dark
Obsessions will
delight both prior fans and newcomers to Kate, adding depth to her
background
and responses to crime with a powerful story of heroism and new choices.
Mystery and thriller fans
are in for a real treat.
Return to Index
Desert
Getaway
Michael Craft
Brash Books
1-954841-16-1
Kindle B09PSN4KJ1
Price: $5.99
Print editions to
follow
www.brash-books.com
Dante
O’Donnell made
the wrong relationship choices and followed the wrong dreams. Now he
makes ends
meet as a concierge for a vacation rental outfit in Palm Springs. Jazz
Friendly
is an ex-cop whose career was challenged not just by racism, but by her
own
addiction. Now she's honing her skills in a new career, as a private
eye.
Both are
starting
over. The last thing they need is each other. For one thing, they are
polar
opposites in race, sexual orientation, and temperament. What they do share is a new beginning and new
aspirations...and being misfits who aren't yet in solid positions in
their
revised lives.
They also
share a
common goal when circumstances draw them together over the puzzling
murder of
the director of a local art museum. Motivated by their jobs and special
interests to become involved in the investigation that follows, Jazz
and Dante
find their clashing lives at odds even as their objectives dovetail in
strange
ways.
In the
typical
mystery genre read, the investigation often is the major draw of the
story. In Desert Getaway, it's the
often-stormy
relationship between these two investigators which drive the action and
drama.
This makes for a psychologically astute inspection that will especially
please
readers who want their stories motivated by emotion and stimulus beyond
perp
and victim relationships.
Michael
Craft's
ability to inject humor into the intrigue provides comic relief at
unexpected
moments as each character employs their typical modus operandi to
inspect
possibilities, often injecting snarky observations of each other into
the
process: "When I switched on my
computer, I spotted an email from Jazz, which was unusual, as she
seemed to
prefer phoning. Opening it, I found that she had sent me an enlarged
screen
grab from the video of the presumed hit man who had apparently drowned
Noreen—a
naughty pool boy, indeed. Jazz wrote, “Arcie says this was digitally
enhanced.
Still looks like crap. Call me.” When she answered my call, she said,
“Where
were you all day?” “Working.”
“Banging another client?” She broke into a belly laugh. “Now, don’t you start. I’ve been taking care of
business. And you?”
As the
first-person
narrative traverses the possibilities of money laundering, real estate
and
banking deals, and the lives of various staff members of M3A who
attended the
pool party (including Hannah, the soft-spoken wife of CFO Howard
Quince), the
intrigue strengthens with too many suspects, secrets, and possible
motives for
murder.
Jazz and
Dante are
challenged at many crossroads by not just the characters they interview
and
consider, but each another and their disparate viewpoints.
Craft brings
these
personalities and perspectives to life in a murder mystery which
captures the
underside of Palm Springs life and its art world, bringing into
question the
possibility of justice for the victims and a friendship which evolves
from
seemingly dissimilar roots.
Readers who
are
interested in the interactions and shared objectives of a misfit team
that must
draw together the threads of many special interests to uncover the
truth will
find Desert Getaway a compelling
romp
through fiascos, fairy-tale lives, and organized crime.
Return to Index
The Family Curse
Derek and Tyronza Waithe
J. Kenkade Publishing
9781955186148
$16.99
https://www.amazon.com/Family-Curse-Derek-Waithe/dp/1955186146
The
Family Curse
is a study in what happens when a family curse affects family
interactions and
relationships. It's also a study in streetwise affairs and revenge as
Jake,
head of the Johnson crime family, embarks on retaliation after his wife
and son
are shot by (he presumes) his long-time rival.
Cousin Shannon Johnson is
also caught in the crossfire in
a different way as Jake proceeds down a dark path that only reinforces
the
family curse and brings further trouble to them all.
Derek and Tyronza Waithe
embed their story with
streetwise observations and encounters that move from inner family
circles to
the world which surrounds and cements the notion of a family curse.
The dialogue is rich in this
crime culture and family
affairs and reinforces the family's movements through their community
and
lives: "They just lied to our
faces." Ruby nodded in agreement. "I don't know what's going on Sis,
but the devil is a lie. He is trying to tear our boys apart. I can feel
it in
my spirit. So, we're going to the Chapel, put on our spiritual armor,
touch,
and agree according to the word of God, and bind this devil."
As Jake faces
earth-shattering revelations about those he
loves and has chosen to trust, Shannon steps up as a force who operates
effectively in the center of gangster and family angst alike.
Jake's ability to receive
the truth about not only his
enemies but his family and friends, as well as the presence of God
(which
operates as a backdrop of influence on the evolving situation), makes
for a
gripping story that will especially appeal to readers of urban fiction
who want
a real-world, streetwise, church backdrop to a tale of curses, evil,
and
redemption.
The Black Lives Matter
Movement adds thought-provoking
passages about belief systems and violence as Jake struggles with the
idea that
rival Tone may not be the cause of all this pain and sorrow.
The Waithes create a strong
story firmly embedded in the
culture and experiences of the Black community with a crime story that
considers different personalities and their struggles.
The result is a study in war
and peace played out on both
the streets of competing gangs and in their inner circles, where
loyalty,
faith, and love are tested by uncertainty.
Readers seeking a crime
story that departs from the usual
white bias and experience will welcome The
Family Curse's ability to depict a different crime family's
community and
interpersonal experiences.
The
Family Curse
is especially recommended for library collections strong in urban
fiction and
mystery.
Return to Index
Gambling With Murder
Lida Sideris
Level Best Books
978-1-68512-086-3
$16.95
www.LevelBestBooks.us
The fifth book in the
Southern California Mystery series, Gambling With Murder, will especially appeal to mystery fans who
enjoyed entertainment attorney Corrie
Locke's previous stories and their Southern California setting. But it
will
also reach those who have little prior familiarity with either, who
just want a
compelling story.
In
her latest escapade, PI Corrie goes undercover to locate a missing
senior citizen who has vanished from a wealthy community.
Both
the community and her investigative choices are somewhat
unorthodox and add an unexpected sense of wry humor to many of her
endeavors: “Ninja One, see anything yet?”
Veera
Bankhead’s voice sputtered through the walkie-talkie cinched onto my
belt.
Dressing up like ninjas had been Veera’s idea. To help us blend into
the night.
We wore matching black tunics over black slacks. The hood hid my long
hair. A
facemask rendered me incognito. Only the slit across my eyes kept me
from
tripping. Veera was posted in the parking lot outside to discourage
unwelcome
visitors. “Looks like a hoarder’s paradise.” I stepped over a pile of
well-used
sneakers."
The
insights about gambling and investigative information provide
delightful interplays between characters and revelations about their
approaches
to gambling, life, and each another:
“Dom
baked his dice in the oven long enough to melt a small portion down to
weigh
them in his favor.”
Veera sucked in her breath. “That
legal?”
“If you’re playing for fun, it
is. Other players will get mad if they discover it, but that’s a big
if.”
Seniors wouldn’t be paying close attention, so he probably got away
with it. “Playing
for money could get dicey, pardon the pun, if he got outted.”
Veera passed the dice to me. “I
figured weighing a little more or less wouldn’t matter. See what you
do? You
make me think about stuff I’d never think about. You’re making me
productive.
How come nobody figured out what Dom was doing?”
Readers
need not have any familiarity with gambling in order to enjoy
the nuances of this story, as it unfolds. Corrie's discoveries about
the art of
gambling and the crime surrounding a senior community present
intriguing facts
and unexpected revelations that keep readers guessing.
The
humor replete throughout this story provides a satisfying backdrop
as characters interact over everything from a bombing threat to
responses that
defy Corrie's inherent pacifist tendencies.
Lida Sideris's fast-paced series of encounters
challenge her characters
on more than one level. This is a story of gambling, redemption, and
attempted
murder that not only challenges her protagonist's life, but those she
loves.
Readers who enjoy murder mysteries steeped in both
threats and wry
observations will find Gambling With
Murder a winning pick that's also steeped in Southern
California culture
and the dilemmas a senior community faces when they try to effect a
cover-up
that tests their loyalties and ethics.
Murder mystery libraries will find this
multifaceted story a fine
selection.
Return to Index
A Gathering
Storm
David E. Feldman
EFace Media
978-0578358994
$11.95
https://www.amazon.com/Gathering-Storm-Gripping-Mystery-Thriller/dp/0578358999
A Gathering Storm is the second book in
David E. Feldman's Dora
Ellison mystery series. Dora is enrolled in the police academy, but is
struggling with her experience, independent spirit, and the rigors of
an
instructional approach that would place her efforts and problem-solving
skills in
a routine police procedural box.
Her prior
success in
solving a local corruption case isn't helping her present milieu as a
student
who is supposed to be subservient to more experienced instructors. It
also
doesn't help that Dora is pulled into yet another mystery when Jesse
Burrell,
the brother of a city council member, vanishes hours after a family
gathering
and is murdered.
As Dora's
unofficial
probe into the murder brings her in conflict with police department
official
procedures, she finds herself navigating a fine line between her
convictions
and standard operating procedures.
Complicating
matters
is the fact that the victim's brother-in-law Rudy may hold a clue to
events
that he doesn't even know he possesses.
David E.
Feldman
writes a fine mystery that revolves as much around family relationships
and
personal and professional clashes as it does on a murder puzzle that
challenges
Dora on many different levels.
There's an
unusual
romance, too many possible perps, and Jesse's own life, which also
holds clues about
what really happened. Developing all these threads in one mystery
involves a
dance between subplots and character-building—one that Feldman deftly
performs
as he leads readers to question not only Dora's modus operandi, but the
victim's relationships and choices.
From
instructors who
reject Dora's abilities and consider her protests "backtalk" to
Dora's penchant for refusing to give up when the going gets tough,
readers will
be immersed both in her personal revelations and trials and the
professional
conundrums she faces in pursuing the truth against all odds.
Murder
mystery
readers interested in a full-flavored story that embraces not just a
whodunit
but the evolving trends of Dora's life will find A
Gathering Storm both a worthy compliment to its predecessor
and
an excellent stand-alone read.
Dora's
pursuit of her
life purpose and passion is a draw that will attract beyond the usual
genre
audience, as well: "She loved police
work. She loved solving crimes. In a way, she had always known that.
She loved
puzzles that manifested in real life, and she loved delivering justice
where it
was needed. Where she was
needed."
Return to Index
A Life with
Beasts
Courtney Davis
DX Varos Publishing
978-1-955065-25-2
$18.95
Paperback/ $4.99 ebook
www.dxvaros.com
A Life with Beasts presents a paranormal
mystery revolving around
Fawn Malero, whose magician father heads the supernatural community in
Seattle.
Fawn and her brothers were supposed to help in its management, but
she's been
largely ignoring her duties...until dead cats begin appearing, along
with childhood
friend Logan.
Suddenly,
Fawn's
responsibilities to her father, the community, and herself assume new
importance as she's faced with a mystery and threat that resonates with
her
strong bond with animals and her goal to become a vet.
As a liaison
between
human and supernatural species, her father has served the community
well. Fawn
never saw herself quite in his position before, but circumstances both
supernatural and human draw her to do so as new developments challenge
and
change her uncertain relationship with Logan and other supernatural
forces.
Courtney
Davis does
an excellent job of blending supernatural and mystery elements,
cementing these
facets with the strong personality of Fawn, who finds herself buffeted
between
forces that attract her in different ways.
There are
also
moments of comic relief, as when powerful werewolf Logan confesses to a
fear of
flying in a plane.
Apparently,
Fawn
didn't know her boyfriend as well as she'd thought. Nor does she really
know
Logan. The processes of discovering truths about both lead Fawn to
analyze her
own ideas about friendship, romance, and what lies between the two: "If it was both what made me thrive and
die, then could it also be tangled into what I thought of as attraction
and
love?"
A Life with Beasts is a story of intrigue
and attraction that is
especially recommended for mystery readers who enjoy more than a light
dose of
paranormal encounters and a touch of romance.
Library
collections
strong in any of these genres will find A
Life with Beasts exceptional because it takes the time to
build the
community and world of a circle of supernatural beings living alongside
humans,
following the investigations and revelations of a woman who
subconsciously
seeks a new direction in her life even as she's forced to reconsider
possibilities she'd once rejected.
Return to Index
A Message in
Poison
BJ Magnani
Encircle Publications
978-1-645990-325-4
Hardcover: $26.99/Paperback: $16.99/ebook: $4.99
Publisher: http://encirclepub.com
Author Website: Home | BJ Magnani
A Message
in Poison
provides another Dr. Lily Robinson thriller to delight
both prior readers of her medical and political exploits and newcomers.
It adds
to the original short story collection, Lily Robinson
and the Art
of Secret Poisoning, as well as the novels The Queen of All Poisons and The
Power of Poison, and will especially attract prior fans of
these stories as
Dr. Lily faces yet another crossroads and choices that will change the
trajectory of her life and vocation.
The story
opens with Beibut Khan,
President of the Republic
of Jokovikstan, who is comfortably ensconced in front of a home fire,
reading a
weighty economics book, when he begins to feel ill.
A world
away, in Boston, toxicologist
Dr. Lily Robinson
reflects on the purpose and price of her vocation, which has been taken
over by
government special interests: "I’ve
spent much of my life taking care of patients as a physician and taught
a
generation of medical students. But it was this very expertise in
toxicology
that captured the attention of our government. They seduced me and then
orchestrated a transformation from consultant to assassin."
Her
transformation has led to closing
her eyes on the
Hippocratic Oath, using her expertise in poison to assassinate
potential
threats to the world.
Newcomers to
the good doctor's
transformative process
receive a fine recap of past events in Chapter 2, which sets the stage
for her
latest confrontation. Here, Lily faces the intersection of truth and
deception
(as do Adrienne and medical student Rose Moreau, Lily's birth daughter
and
Adrienne's adopted daughter) as the truth unfolds about Adrienne's
other
daughter Bella and how Rose wound up adopted.
BJ Magnani
does a fine job of weaving
imagery into powerful
passages that capture Lily's life and perspective: "I
lost my memory, and my little girl, and didn’t find out she was
alive until recently. Nature has a way to fool your brain when the
facts don’t
add up, and you only see a fraction of life, like seeing the world
through a
prism. All the spectrum’s bright colors dazzle you; maybe you only
focus on one
particular wavelength and therefore miss the fact that together, the
colors
form a single beam of white light illuminating a path forward."
As Alexis
Popov (nee Bella) is
captured by the Russians and
finds her world transformed yet again, Lily, Rose, and Adrienne are all
drawn
into a struggle involving a Russian poison plot when
connections are
made between the deaths of a U.S. Senator and the President of
Jokovikstan. As
in the previous novels, the action takes place around the globe (here,
primarily in Boston, D.C. and the fictitious Jokovikstan).
Under the
onslaught of life-changing
events, can her
romance with lover JP survive? Adding a romantic component to the
action
creates a satisfying connection between personal and political
conundrums as
the story evolves.
The
fast-paced action juxtaposes
nicely with the personal
dilemmas Lily faces as she uncovers a new plot that forces her to
reconsider
her talents and place in the world.
Adrienne,
Rose, Bella, and JP are all
powerful characters
whose influences and lives are also explored during the course of a
story that
traverses international plots and personal confrontations alike.
Readers who
enjoy medical thrillers
will find that A Message in Poison
holds more political
suspense than the usual medical-world-based story, but adds satisfying
interpersonal dilemmas to bring these events to life.
The result
is another engrossing tale
that is highly
recommended for political thriller readers. A
Message in Poison ends with the promise of more stories to
come, while
neatly resolving Lily Robinson's latest predicament.
Return to Index
Not
Your Child
Lis Angus
Wild Rose Press
978-1509241187
$17.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: https://lisangus.com/
Ordering: https://books2read.com/notyourchild
Not Your Child will please suspense story readers looking for
tales about children
who represent the heart of conflict.
The
prologue
opens the story with the aftermath of a head-on collision. The vehicle,
found
in a snow bank with two dead people inside, sports an empty baby car
seat in
back, while the remains of footprints tell investigators that someone
was at
the scene before they arrived.
Chapter
One
introduces another conundrum: Daniel, a sixty-three-year-old man, is
captivated
by a young stranger who looks like the spitting image of his daughter
Kelly.
Could this girl be his lost Hannah, who vanished all those years ago?
As
Daniel
follows his obsession with Maddy and Ottawa and psychologist and single mother Susan
Koss deals with the
threat to her daughter, this story's progression seems evident.
When Maddy
vanishes,
Susan faces her worst nightmare as Daniel awaits DNA test results that
will
prove his suspicions are correct, only to find the results mercurial.
He
doesn't need proof to know what his heart feels about the missing
Hannah's link
to Maddy. Or, does he?
As each
character
pursues their dreams and nightmares, readers receive a tense story of
abduction
and obsession from portrayed two different perspectives.
Lis
Angus goes
beyond depicting a desperate search for the truth, investigating the
impact of
the quest on all involved: "She was carrying on as if nothing
had
changed—and for her it hadn’t. But for him, everything was different.
Yesterday
he’d taken her love of drawing as something she’d gotten from Kelly.
Now he
knew he’d been fooling himself."
Angus
portrays
events that move beyond black and white depictions of victims and perps
to
examine the gray area in which no singular character is completely
wrong or
evil.
Her
story moves
into deeper waters by investigating how family ties, unresolved
mysteries, and
unexplained events lead to overwhelming realizations that affect
everyone.
The
impact of
DNA testing on an unsuspecting child; of kidnapping, confusion, and
change; and
of seemingly good people turned dangerous in the eyes of a young girl
makes for
a tense story that moves through different lives and generations.
Not Your Child embraces issues of ownership and questions about
truth. It's a
hard-hitting thriller that will keep readers engrossed to the end,
adding
unexpected twists and turns to provide delightfully intricate
inspections of
motive and reality, and deserves a place in any collection where
suspense
stories and tales of abduction and family ties are popular.
Return to Index
A Trail of Vengeance
Marvin Levine
Independently Published
ASIN: B09PKGVNDN
$4.99
ebook
Website: https://www.marvinlevine.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Trail-Vengeance-Marvin-Levine-ebook/dp/B09PKGVNDN
“Where
do you think
you’ll be when you die?”
A
Trail of
Vengeance opens with a discussion between high school
sweethearts who
embark on a conversation about last wishes. These come frightening,
suddenly
true when Ben dies in what appears to be an accident.
Or, is it murder? And why
did Beth's friend Shannon
vanish in the midst of this event?
Fast forward seventeen
years, when Shannon returns with a
new name, identity, and a thirst for revenge which results in more
bodies
piling up.
The atmospheric South
Carolina Low Country is a backdrop
for these events as Beth uncovers new truths about not just the past,
but her
husband Jake. She comes to realize that her choices and relationships
are part
of a complex situation of ongoing deception and angst.
Marvin Levine not only
places his characters in solid
scenarios of intrigue and discovery, but takes the time to describe the
Low
Country culture and build the psychological profiles of Beth and
everyone
around her: "Beth drifted off and
wondered what exactly comfort was — did she ever really have it? Could
she ever
find it again?"
These moments create a
strong mystery that evolves on
both a personal and an intrigue level to grab reader interest, weaving
a story
of revenge into that of a woman struggling to maintain equilibrium
while
overcoming past crises.
As her lifelong relationship
with Shannon McKay is
revealed, readers come to realize that Beth's involvement in this
dangerous
game embraces a traumatic association with an evil that emerges from
the past
to affect everyday affairs.
Readers who embark on Beth's
journey towards realization
and redemption will find much to enjoy about her processes of
discovery, from
her analysis of her marriage to Jake to her growing understanding of
the
special form of malevolence that Shannon represents.
The result is an engaging
story of love and monsters that
unfolds many surprising twists and turns before Beth's shaken world
rights
itself in a satisfyingly definitive conclusion.
Mystery libraries and those
appealing to women's fiction
readers will find A Trail of Vengeance
spins a fine yarn not just of vengeance, but evolving truths and
interpretations of them.
Return to Index
The Trouble with Murder
Vanessa A. Ryan
DX Varos Publishing
978-1-955065-21-4
$18.95
Paper/$4.95 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Murder-Hetty-Carson-Mystery/dp/1955065217
How does a slim woman
decapitate a large, barrel-chested
man? In The Trouble with Murder,
Hetty Carson is being accused of killing Gerry Delaney. She didn't do
it. But
the cops think that she did.
Hetty is a part-time private
investigator when she's not
working as an account manager. This professional role is about to serve
her
well as she tries to juggle a sales route while assembling evidence to
support
her innocence.
Vanessa A. Ryan takes the
time to not only explore the
crime and its evolution, but Hetty's personality as she interacts with
her
environment: "For the first time in
a while, I felt peaceful and safe. Although I wished I could live on a
street
like this, I didn’t feel envy or sorry for myself. Maybe it was because
no one
knew me here, or because I realized I didn’t gain anything from
wallowing in
self-pity. I just enjoyed the moment."
As she faces shooters,
accidents, and choices she neither
thought of nor wanted, Hetty finds herself accused of interfering with
an
investigation even as she draws closer to a strange truth. The effort
of simply
living her life without getting shot at, mugged, or involved in a
murder seems
to be linked to solving a crime she had nothing to do with.
As she considers Officer Ed
Malone's dubious connections
and a scheme designed to make her believe that the bad guy is the good
one,
Hetty is challenged both by her desire to run away and the consequences
of her
choices.
Ryan's story takes many
unexpected turns as Hetty follows
the clues into a trap. As she purposely places herself in danger,
readers
receive a surprise outcome that culminates in a terrible shock that
tests her
ability to stay focused in the midst of a traumatic encounter.
Forced to save her own life
through her investigations,
Hetty finds herself facing several conundrums that test her skills and
her problem-solving
abilities.
If this first book in a
Hetty Carson series is any
indication, murder mystery and detective fiction readers are in for an
ongoing
treat. Hetty is both proactive and reactive as she considers who she
will trust
with her life and who is telling the truth.
Readers will find The
Trouble with Murder a compelling exercise in reason and
reaction which
considers how a series of increasingly close brushes with death give
Hetty the
strength to survive.
Return to Index
Adobe
Daze
Tom Tatum
Wolfpack
Publishing, LLC
978-1647347376
$16.99
https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Daze-New-West-Tatum/dp/1647347378/
Adobe Daze
features an unusual format: it's a Western story set in modern times
(2019),
focusing on a family's struggle to save their ranch.
Because
of its
modern setting, the Western story features contemporary social
trappings that
appear alongside horses, cowboys, and ranches: "Trey
Stuart’s hands were on the leather covered steering wheel of his
father’s very
nimble and dangerously fast black Maserati 650 GT coupe as the pump
jacks in
the New Mexico San Juan Basin’s natural gas field flew by on Highway
550 north.
The Ferrari engine’s three hundred and ninety horsepower V-8 Atom motor
sling
shot the 650 GT to a 130 miles per hour."
As
in old-style
Western novel environments, "...life was in balance in the
big
empty western United States. Freedom still flowed like a raging river
under the
forever-blue sky, which was still punctuated with snow-capped
mountaintops in
spring."
At stake is
more than
a family heritage. Also on edge is the survival of Native American
tribes and
the legacy of white settler achievements, evolving threats between
these forces
and rival cartel drug gangs as the bullets fly in rural New Mexico.
From early
Pueblo
history to modern-day rehab and rebellions, the contrasting milieus of
white
and Native American worlds and the special interests of different
peoples
operating within these cultures come to life against a Western
backdrop. Few
others Western incorporate this feeling and these nuances of past and
present.
Tom
Tatum is
particularly adept at capturing the social and political contrasts and
conflicts between different people who all have visions of what
opportunity,
freedom, and achievement could look like in the West. Equally appealing
are the
contrasts between characters as Trey faces the equally appealing Maria
Duran
("M"), a formidable force in her own right who drives a restored
Shelby Mustang, drag races, and rides fast horses.
Tatum also builds intrigue over the possibilities
of secret colonial
Spanish gold mines, fosters a romance, and acknowledges cultural
differences: "Too
many white boys play with pretty Apache girls and disappear once a
parent finds
out.”
The
result may be billed a Western, but to view Adobe
Daze as
a traditional story of the past
would be to do it a disservice. It's both a contemporary examination of
the
roots and results of long-standing cultural attitudes and interactions
and a
story of love, struggle, and intrigue as modern-day issues in New
Mexico and
Colorado come to life.
Adobe
Daze is recommended for libraries
strong in
contemporary cultural stories of struggle, Native American experience,
or
Western fiction. Ideally, it will also be chosen by book reader groups
that
look for contemporary stories that redefine the Western genre.
Return to Index
American Faust
Rick Brown
Ibex Press
9781957510019
$16.95
https://Ibex-Press.com
American
Faust is a novel about evil's
manifestation in
modern times. It incorporates the influences of heaven and hell's
deadly wager
over human decision-making processes, and tells of an entrepreneur
whose need
for cash to foster his world-changing technology leads him to intercede
in a
relationship between a beautiful, hapless woman and nefarious demon
lover
Lawrence ("Worthy").
As James enters a place that was abandoned
and burned years ago (but rebuilt to house this strange couple), he
also enters
into a relationship that evolves into a three-way dilemma.
Rick Brown moves history back and forth
through time as events unfold. Readers move from
a cocktail party in Henry Miller's Cabin in the year 2000, where we
meet the protagonist James Harris, to Hearst Castle, where James meets
a
mysterious investor known as the Chairman. Then to World
War I on
the Italian Front, where German Baron Memphis von Topheles and demon/soldier Lawrence P.
Worthington confront one
another. The Baron informs Lawrence
that he is a "darker version of The Wizard of Oz" as they debate the
spoils of a war between good and evil which includes wealth, love,
lust, and
more.
In modern times and circumstances, the heroine
of the story, Sharon Peters, a suburban
housewife in Connecticut, innocently attends a party with Lawrence at Club
Heaven and Hell in
Greenwhich Village only to wake up and find herself living on a Country
Estate
under the thumb of Lawrence, where she faces
unpredictable changes as she involves James
in her dilemmas
on many different levels. Through their
ordeal in a timeless world, readers receive
a close inspection of sins and redemption and good and evil as James, with the aid of a wise 'spirit of
the statue', navigates and questions his motives
in an effort to
overcome greed, hate, and the Devil's influence on their lives.
Will James live—and how will he live? Is his
idea that "God is not enough. I must rely on the devil’s advice too"
really a suitable way of juggling life? Is a partnership with the devil
an
issue of control, or an opportunity for salvation?
As readers move back and forth through
times, perceptions, and conclusions of Worthy and James, they receive a
thought-provoking story that takes the classic Faust tale to another
level.
Filled with engrossing interplays between
past and present, the devil, and a soulful spirit, American
Faust
juxtaposes literary allusion with modern-day inspections, weaving
fantasy and
reality into a layering of events that keep readers not just engrossed,
but
thinking.
While general-interest audiences will be the
likely readers of American Faust, it's especially
recommended for
literary students of the classic story, who will find this modern take
an
intriguing perspective. Classes who study Faust's dilemmas and choices
will
want to include American Faust in their debates.
Return to Index
Baseball
Immortal
Roland Colton
Evergreen Press
979-8-9859614-0-9
$9.99
http://rolandcolton.com
At
the heart of Baseball
Immortal lies a dilemma which sports fans have
long debated: How
would an immortal superstar from the past perform in today's game?
Well, Roland
Colton's novel answers that question . . . or does it? Is the
man who
awakens in a present-day Georgian hospital, after suffering a nearly
fatal
hit-and-run accident, truly the legendary Ty Cobb (who has been
inexplicably
thrust forward in time), or is he a man suffering from a severe
psychosis and
delusions of grandeur, who has hijacked Cobb's identity as his
own?
Roland
Colton
presents compelling, moment-by-moment replays of baseball's past and
present,
blending descriptions of the game's drama with vivid imagery that will
delight
baseball enthusiasts: "Burly catcher
Ed Sweeney crouched in front of home plate, preparing to snare the
horsehide
sphere surging his way. In the corner of his eye he glimpsed the speedy
Bush’s
cleats plowing up dirt, bracing for the impending collision. Bush went
airborne
feet first, just as the ball struck the catcher’s glove. Bush slammed
into the
catcher’s feet as Sweeney shoved the gloved ball into the charging
runner. The
force from the collision knocked the catcher onto his back, but the
ball
remained lodged in his glove. In triumph, Sweeney raised the ball in
the air
for the third out, an instant before the arbiter thrust both hands out
wide,
signaling and shouting “Safe.” The crowd ignited in a deafening roar.
Tie
game."
The
accident
victim claiming to be Ty Cobb awakens in the modern world in a state of
bewilderment and suspicion. Having made enemies during his
career, he
wonders if a conspiracy has led to his present predicament as he
befriends
Savannah Cain, a sports journalist who rescues him from the hospital
just hours
before his commitment to a psych ward. Baseball is Savannah's first
love. Is
there room for more?
Within
the
auspices of a historical probe of baseball history melded with the
present day
lays a provocative, unexpected story of baseball history and uncommon
encounters that will delight those who expected just the customy recap
of
sporting history in novel form.
The
romance,
claims of time-travel experiences, underlying conspiracy theories, and
psychological issues wrought by these unique challenges test the man
who
believes himself to be Ty Cobb even as Savannah uncovers clues
that he may
actually be Chase Ripley, a supremely-talented college star who
recently
disappeared. But, even more importantly, Colton includes many
psychological
self-inspections that consider the emotional impact of sports and life
challenges alike: "All Cobb wanted
to do was leave the room, run away. He had to get as far away from this
suffocating, humiliating world as possible. He couldn’t bear to show
his face;
he couldn’t bear to face the media, not after the way he had performed
during
the past few weeks. He would devote all of his energies to finding his
way
back. Suddenly his mind seized on an idea—he would contact the
parapsychologist
he had encountered on the Jason Coventry talk show–Dr. Sterling. Maybe he could help. After all, there were
apparently others who had experienced a similar time displacement."
Because
Colton
creates a story of intrigue surrounding the sport, Baseball
Immortal will attract more than just baseball enthusiasts.
It's a full-bodied tale of strange attractors, challenging scenarios,
and a
struggle for mind and identity that keeps baseball's reality in flux as
Cobb
struggles for his sanity and Savannah tries to help her friend.
Readers
who want
more than a taste of baseball that embraces the trappings of intrigue
and a
growing relationship will find this first book in the series compelling
and
hard to define. Yes, sports fans will enjoy its baseball details...but
so will
those interested in conspiracies and time-travel stories.
It
should be
noted that the tale ends in a cliffhanger, readying readers for the
second book
in the trilogy.
Baseball Immortal will prove especially compelling reading
for sports enthusiasts starved for both vivid depictions of the game
and
engrossing intrigue surrounding it.
Return to Index
Blood in the Low Country
Paul Attaway
Linksland Publishing
978-1-7354016-2-1
$28.99 Hardcover/$18.99 Paper/$8.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Low-Country-Paul-Attaway/dp/1735401625
Blood
in the Low
Country captures the Low Country atmosphere of South Carolina
and angst
faced by a successful middle-aged man, Monty Atkins, when everything
suddenly
changes in his life.
Murder and betrayal affect
time-honored traditions such
as dinner at the Atkins house, with its family routines of food and
interpersonal interactions, even reaching into his successful business
life to
threaten everything he's built and the foundations of these
achievements.
The messages of perseverance
that used to work so well in
the past now are stymied by Monty's exhaustion ("Don’t
let your hard work go to waste. Don’t lie down.”) This
tiredness stems as much from his battles with himself as in the outside
influences that have changed his life's trajectory: "Monty,
on the other hand, was struggling in part because he
couldn’t define what ailed him. His battle was with himself."
Even his faith in God is
rocked. As Paul Attaway carries
readers through the life-changing series of events that lead Monty to
question
everything he's ever done, a fine mystery unfolds that is steeped in
Southern
traditions and religious perceptions. The thriller thus hits hard, on
many
levels.
As he pursues a real killer
and reopens a case that turns
into a can of worms, Monty discovers new purpose and approaches to life
that,
in turn, further challenge and change his perceptions.
Part of why Blood
in the Low Country works so well is because it's steeped in a
sense of
community and place as it reveals the psyche of a hard worker who has
spent his
life cementing perceptions that are all called into question at once.
Many satisfying twists and
turns emerge from the story as
a young man is accused of murder and the press and FBI become involved.
Attaway
is adept at placing Monty's life and evolving concerns within the wider
scope
of a community rocked by a series of unpredictable events as Monty's
underlying
family dysfunction and attitudes affect everyone around him.
Readers who choose Blood
in the Low Country for its mystery and intrigue will be
especially
delighted to find that it's equally well rooted in these insights on
family
dynamics, and will find the psychological interactions between
characters
involving and compellingly depicted.
Library collections strong
in tales of intrigue that are
firmly rooted in a sense of place, Southern culture, faith, and
identity will
find all these elements and more as the characters and situations in Blood in the Low Country are brought to
life.
Return to Index
Bone
Deep Bonds
B.G. Arnold
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-180-2
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Bone
Deep Bonds features a child's
kidnapping and a
father's determination to rescue his son. It will appeal to readers of Girl
Missing and other
fictional accounts of vanished children and efforts to find them.
A father's conviction in both his ability to find
his son and in the
Spirit who guides him in this endeavor forms the foundation for his
determined
pursuit, fueling a journey that many around him try to discourage.
B.G. Arnold creates a fine interplay between past
experience,
present-day events, and a father's entanglements of faith and
perseverance as
he attempts to find the truth about his twelve-year-old son's
disappearance.
The truth is stranger than a simple abduction as
the wealthy kidnapper
adopts the boy as his son and teaches him sensual and scientific
lessons about
life and the world around him...teachings that his real father may not
be able
to undo, even if he does find him.
The roots of Bone Deep Bonds
lie deep in a story about family
relationships, anxiety, faith, and recovery as son Brian navigates his
new life
and learns very different lessons about the world.
The story also delves into what happens when Brian
confronts the
reality of his capture and experience: "No, he just couldn’t
make sense
of it all. It was like that artist’s school Phillip had taught him
about. Yes,
that explained it. He was caught in the middle of a surreal picture
that was
being painted around him. None of this was really happening."
Bone
Deep Bonds is as much a story
about the psychology of
abuse as it is a novel about a father and son relationship threatened
by forces
that introduce different values to each.
While it's a gripping tale that will be chosen by
readers of detective
fiction, it would be a shame to limit Bone Deep Bonds
to this audience
alone. Thriller readers as well as those interested in evolving
parent/child relationships
and outside threats will find its psychological revelations both
involving and
thought-provoking.
Libraries interested in adding books that are a
draw both for their
intrigue and their psychological evolution will find Bone
Deep Bonds a
winning acquisition.
Return to Index
Church and School Days
Charlie Green (originally authored by his father, Clifton Bullock)
Mountain Arbor Press, an Imprint of BookLogix
978-1-63183-661-9
$12.95
paperback, $6.95 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Church-School-Days-Clifton-Bullock/dp/1631836617
Church
and School Days continues to
publish the fiction of Clifton
Bullock (Charlie Green's father), who wrote this story of a young
gangster's
coming of age in the '60s and adulthood in the 1970s.
Clifton's story follows a youngster's movement
through community and
family influences as he grows from childhood to adulthood to absorb
values,
cultural shifts, and challenges unique to his community and the times.
Clifton Bullock excels in crafting first-person
observations that
capture this young man's sentiments and passion. Even the language
reflects
this culture; not being the precise grammatical rhythms of literature,
but
fully embracing the lingo of the streets: "I began learning
things long
before I knew what learning was. If I wasn’t picking it from Momma or
Daddy, my
oldest brother Junior or sister Geraldine or my young brother, a year
under me,
Raymond, was teaching me one thing or another. Then there was much I
learned
while roaming the streets. My keen observation of all that was
happening around
me, families who had plenty of everything and families who struggled
from one
day through the next, like mine. How language varied from the homes
which was
harmony, into the streets where vulgar ruled. Home and the streets were
two
different worlds. One of love, peace, and concern, and the streets, a
million
and one nightmares. Entrapping us all, closing every door of escape.
But it
would be years later for me to learn how I got trapped, and how slim my
chances
of ever escaping would be. Yet I will never stop trying."
As the boy grows to be a "strong man" and grows
into new
roles, values, and opportunities, readers will find themselves immersed
in
church, family life, and culture which captures the logic, obstacles,
and
success stories of a different era.
Bullock's writing is astute and realistic, and is
especially strong in
using dialogue which is powerful and true to its culture: “Oh,
man, my
stomach ’bout to bust open,” I said out loud.
“Nigger, ain’t nobody force
you to eat all that chicken.”
“Yeah, you right. Since you
was so nice about going to get it, why don’t you go out there and find
two
young call girls and bring ’em back.”
As readers move through this life, they will come
to realize that
gangster and street action aren't the story's only focus. It's equally
adept at
depicting the treacherous choices that buffet the protagonist, both
building
character and luring him with dubious opportunities—some of which could
lead to
disaster.
Its ability to capture the social influences of a
community which lead
a young man to form new goals and values in his life makes for a
thought-provoking read which will reach out to those interested in
urban
fiction. This story of a life's progression also offers a surprise
conclusion
one does not see coming at the beginning of this experience.
Readers of urban fiction, whether they be mature
teens or adults, will
find Church and School Days a powerful reflection
on Black culture and
influences which come from a variety of directions.
Return to Index
Deadly Declarations
Landis Wade
Lystra Books & Literary Services, LLC
978-1-7363055-8-4
$18.95
Paper/$1.99 ebook
Website: www.landiswade.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Declarations-Landis-Wade/dp/1736305581
Followers of historical
intrigue fiction will find Deadly Declarations
just the ticket,
with its a blend of mystery and history revolving around a retirement
community
resident's missing study about the Mecklenburg Declaration of
Independence.
The colonial mystery lies at
the heart of both a will
that's being contested in court and a legacy that involves a truth that
has
been hidden for decades.
Landis Wade opens with an
Author's Note that clarifies
the historical facts and controversy surrounding this document ("If the Meck Dec did exist, who copied from
whom?"), reviewing its history in a satisfying manner. This
opens with
John Adams’ Letter to Thomas Jefferson
in 1819 and continues to probe modern-day retirement living in an
evolving
situation that intersects the lives of historical conspiracy enthusiast
Chuck
Yeager Alexander and banished trial lawyer Craig Travail (among others).
Readers
who
wonder at the relevance of history to modern-day life will find the
connections
between the two are prominent and involving as Deadly Declarations evolves.
Wade creates both a cast of
characters who interact with
and view the mystery from very different perspectives and a historical
backdrop
that demonstrates how past decisions have lasting impacts on the future.
As Travail finds himself
being used as 'live bait' and
tackles the mystery of a handwritten will which suddenly disinherits a
beloved
granddaughter in favor of a widely-hated retirement community resident,
Deadly Declarations creates a
cat-and-mouse game that is delightfully unpredictable.
With so many subplots and
characters involved, readers
might expect this story will be complex and demanding. Not so. Deadly Declarations is a fine example of
how historical precedents can neatly weave into modern times to create
a
dilemma that is captivatingly contemporary.
The puzzle
is interlaced with a dash of humor and strong
psychological profiles and inspections which make for a compelling read
indeed.
Deadly Declarations is highly
recommended for readers of historical fiction, who will find the
mystery
component of added value; and for fans of legal fiction and intrigue,
who will
find the history surprisingly relevant and involving.
Return to Index
The
Discontent of Mary Wenger
Robert Tucker
Tell-Tale Publishing
Group, LLC
978-1952020193
$35.00 Hardcover/$4.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Discontent-Mary-Wenger-Robert-Tucker/dp/1952020190
The
Discontent of
Mary Wenger is a work of historical fiction that follows Mary
Wenger's
pursuit of happiness in becoming a middle-class housewife and mother.
Born in
1922 in a Pennsylvania coal-mining town, Mary is living at the cusp of
post-war
social changes that will affect her status and opportunities as a
female.
Whether her efforts lie in
feminist ideas or traditional
women's roles, Mary is constantly thwarted and disappointed in her
objectives
and their incarnation under a shifting social structure.
Her
discontent, in turn, affects her family as she
strives to reinvent her dreams only to find that her legacy of longing
passes
equal vision and frustration to the next generation.
The origins
of that
restless spirit lie in her childhood, and are presented in the opening
lines of
the novel: "Since I was a young
girl, I have always believed that death is stalking me. It lurks and
hovers in
the dark recesses of my mind like a virus waiting to strike and destroy
when I
least expect it."
Mary
believes she
knows what is best, not only for herself, but for those around her. She
finds
out otherwise as she navigates new territory to find all of her dreams
being put
to the test of time.
The
Discontent of
Mary Wenger is a work of historical fiction, but it's also a
thought-provoking psychological profile of a daughter of immigrants who
forges
her own new paths in life.
Robert Tucker is especially
adept at employing the first
person to capture Mary's background, perspective, philosophy about
life, and
the tumultuous undercurrents of feminism and tradition that buffet her
evolution and her family's structure.
He also is particularly
astute in how he captures Mary's
ideals and reactions to the cultural and social norms of her life: "Other than an occasional hug from my
Dad, I had never been held so closely by a man...The romantic waves of
the
music washing over us made me wonder if I were falling in love."
Tucker brings to life the
social milieu Mary traverses,
blending historical references with personal observations to bring
Mary's
entire world to life; not just her emotional forays into it.
As she
raises her
family and "makes every effort to support and be involved," Mary
continues to evolve in response to her childhood lessons, her adult
convictions, and the social winds of change that buffet them all.
The result
is a
fictional memoir based on facts that brings to life one woman's ongoing
evolution as America changes.
The
Discontent of
Mary Wenger's vivid
recollections
of the past make it a winning choice for not just historical novel
readers, but
women's fiction and literature audiences. Groups interested in how
women absorb
social changes which contrast and sometimes collide with their
upbringing and
moral compass will find it gives much fodder for discussion and debate.
Return to Index
The Nosferatu
Conspiracy: The Sommelier
Brian James Gage
KDK 12, Inc.
978-0-578-98963-1
$6.99 ebook
Website: www.nosferatuconspiracy.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Nosferatu-Conspiracy-Book-Two-Sommelier-ebook/dp/B09JM2MQ6C
The
Nosferatu Conspiracy: The Sommelier is the second book in
the series, but allows newcomers easy access through a succinct
two-page
summary of events in the first book. This neatly sets the stage for the
ongoing
struggles which evolve here, in a paranormal thriller centered on the Battle of Arras in March of 1917.
Part of the strength of The
Sommelier lies in the flavor of reality it's based on. The
historical events surrounding World War I and the involvement of
individuals and
nations throughout Europe is expanded upon through a survey of the
occult
activities of Kaiser
Wilhelm II and his pursuit of immortality. In this story, this takes
the form
of a supernatural army of the undead, with an evil demon/Hungarian land
baroness involved in the outcome of events.
Brian James Gage
evolves these tenuous relationships and battle-charged scenarios with
the same
attention to depth and detail as in his previous book.
The prerequisites for
enjoying his unique style and high-octane occult drama include an
affection for
historical detail, a cursory familiarity with the backdrop and
influences of
World War I, and an ability to appreciate a paranormal battle which
here
evolves to contrast with "traditional history" and its take on what
happened before and during the conflict.
Vivid aerial battle
scenes with the Red Baron are just one example of how the action drives
the
story in a compelling manner.
Gage's story is replete
in Hellhorses, hexes, demon's spells, and more. From efforts to raise a
Black
Sun to shine over the realm to an unholy alliance between the creature
Elizabeth has become and Wilhelm's special interests and lusts,
outsanding
imagery and action keep paranormal history readers thoroughly engaged
and on
their toes.
Gage takes the time to
craft striking details, both gruesome and graphic. These feel like an
accident
one cannot look away from: "Brodeur
cried out as he felt the blunt pierce of human bites rip into his
hamstrings
and calves—the monsters chewing his muscle clean from the bone with
their dull,
rotten jaws. “Help, Mother!” were Brodeur’s last words as his face was
pushed
into the muck and he began drowning in a puddle of mud. Another bite
tore into
the back of his neck and his vision fell to black. Brodeur would
reawaken
moments later—starving, rabid, and thirsty for human flesh."
The a wide cast of
characters, political interests, power plays, and shifting alliances
require of
the horror reader a prior interest in historical evolution and detail.
This
focus is richly rewarded by dialogue and twists and turns that readers
won't
see coming.
Those who enjoy
complexity and lavish detail and descriptions will relish the course
taken by
Gage in The Nosferatu Conspiracy: The
Sommelier.
The result will, of
course, appeal to its primary audience of occult action horror story
readers.
But, it also holds attraction for historical novel readers (even though
the
history under consideration here has been vastly re-imagined) and
thriller
enthusiasts who can accept more than a light touch of paranormal events
throughout.
Return to Index
One April
After the
War: Louisville to Cumberland
G.S. Boarman
Independently
Published
978-0-9600649-3-9
$13.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0960064931?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tpbk_0&sr=1-1&storeType=ebooks
One April After the War: Louisville
to Cumberland follows a
725-mile journey made in April 1870 by young woman Mary Warner
(who
harbors numerous aliases and secrets) and two Secret Service agents
(Argent and
Merritt) who come to realize that their real assignment is not what
they'd
expected.
As a
projected short
trip turns into an arduous three-month journey, Mary and her two
companions
face mystery, threats, and a spate of bad luck that challenges not only
their
different missions, but their wills to survive.
Argent and
Merritt
come to realize that the source of their assignment is difficult to
tame or
control as their task spirals out of their control: “What
is ‘off ’ is Miss Warner’s skewed since of propriety and her
complete want of judgment. One day she will say the wrong thing to the
wrong
man, and it will cost her more than a mere fine or the inconvenience of
an
arrest.”
With its
ongoing
investigation, clues, and clashes between personalities and propriety, One April After the War becomes a
compelling study in not just intrigue, but a feisty woman's ability to
confront
her world and her traveling companions.
G.S. Boarman
is
especially versed at capturing the dichotomy of this woman as perceived
by those
around her, who find themselves constantly confronting their
perceptions of how
to treat and act around women: "Soon
her eyes will come to rest upon the steep valley ahead of them and then
the
first bridge will come into sight, and her calm repose will shatter.
His first
thought should have been to shield her from the fear, but he was
ashamed to
find himself seeking to shield himself from the histrionics one could
expect
from such a volatile woman."
The result
is a study
in contrasts and purposes that uses a journey through country and
stress to
examine 1800s scenarios and a spate of bad luck that changes each of
the
characters.
It should be
noted
that One April After the War is the
first book in a series, and ends with a cliffhanger. Readers who enjoy
the
history, mystery, and women's issues that arise in the journey of One April After the War will find Book
II, which moves from Cumberland to Washington, a fine promise of
ongoing
adventure.
Return to Index
Pioneers
and
Refugees
Ernst Fischer
Archway
Publishing
978-1-6657-1516-4
$45.95
Hardcover/$34.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
www.archwaypublishing.com
Pioneers and Refugees: A Danube
Swabian Saga is a historical novel based on true events that
tells of two
very different families motivated to become part of the great Danube
Swabian
trek.
It would seem unlikely that
an orphan boy living with his
uncle in Stuttgart and a family in Kelheim, Bavaria (newly struggling
after a
father's death) would be joined in an effort to not just survive, but
make
better lives for themselves; but the Danube Swabian trek offers the
perfect
allure, and comes at the right time for them all.
Stock imagery provided by
Getty Images pepper this
fictionalized representation of events to add a sense of real history
as the
characters evolve and choose paths designed to keep their ambitions,
dreams,
and families alive.
Ernst Fischer's story of the
two families whose ancestors
participated in the great migration of the late 1700’s also includes
facts about
their descendants who lived in Yugoslavia during the years leading up
to the
Second World War, outlining the impact the trek and war had on their
lives.
One of the features that
sets this story apart from many
historical novels based on real events is that Fischer takes the time
to
include reflections on the personalities and actions of the characters
as they
navigate their changed worlds and positions in it: "Everyone
was polite and respectful of each other’s space and
although some children had a difficult time understanding the concept,
no one
was bothered by it. They understood this trip would be uncomfortable
and
demanding, but the hope of a better life would be worth the temporary
inconvenience and lack of privacy."
The focus on these shared
experiences and the forces that
drive a disparate group of people both together and, sometimes, apart
makes for
a story replete with various forms of survival and social change: "She and two of her friends were on
their way home from school when they walked past the two men going the
other
way. The two men were talking and laughing when they passed each other.
She
heard one man say to the other, “Let’s have some fun with these girls”,
he then
turned around and shouted, “Heil Hitler,” Jana paused then continued to
say,
“We all heard him, but we just kept walking on our way. Then the bigger
man ran
back to us and said in a nasty voice, “Don’t you know you are required
to
respond when someone in authority says, “Heil Hitler?”
“We all just looked
at each other, Papa. We didn’t say anything at all. The man looked mad,
so
finally Helga said, “Heil Hitler,” then Marta did too. But I did not
say
anything. I just kept walking home.”
As adults and children learn
not just how to survive but
how to confront or live with the cruelties that buffet their lives,
readers
receive a powerful saga that winds through changing times, World War II
Europe,
and the social and military forces that connect Germany and Yugoslavia.
Readers might anticipate
that Pioneers
and Refugees
would require prior knowledge of the
history of these times, but Fischer weaves plenty of social and
political
background facts into his evolving story, so no in-depth familiarity
with the
times is required in order to absorb the events surrounding the Danube
Swabian trek that affected its descendants.
The story's ability to
personalize the experiences of
these characters to bring alive their decision-making processes and
choices in
interacting with one another (and their adversaries) creates a winning
account
that is both educational and engrossing.
Pioneers and Refugees: A Danube
Swabian Saga is highly recommended for historical novel
libraries, those
strong in World War II experiences, and collections that feature
stories about
the legacy passed to future generations.
Its strong characters bring
these experiences to life and
the accompanying history becomes not just a collection of dry facts,
but a
vivid, vigorous exploration of survival against all odds.
Return to Index
Randy & Ron
& Cindi & Zeke
Keith Thye
Classic Day Publishing
978-1-59849-319-1
$16.95 Paper/$2.99 ebook
www.keiththye.com
Randy
& Ron
& Cindi & Zeke follows teens who become
involved in a murder
mystery and is set in a 1950s small town where murder is not a normal
part of
the community's experiences.
Randy grew up in San
Francisco and received early lessons
on the importance of honesty. Mostly. In 1953, the family moves to
Oswego, to a
home on a lake. Trouble follows him as circumstance brings Randy and
his
friends to confront a death which may be either an accident or
deliberate.
Keith Thye creates a
compelling story that will appeal to
mature teens into adult circles. Its coming-of-age saga marries a story
of
evolving friendship with an investigative piece that features a death
by
drowning and its impact on various local lives.
As an interconnected trio of
perps considers their
influences on the outcome of the fatal evening and face constant fears
of
discovery, the teens consider murder motives, foster relationships
beyond one
another, and find the event haunting their footsteps as time passes and
nothing
is definitively resolved.
As the influence of young
Charles Manson evolves, readers
receive a fine fictional story based on Manson's history. The career
criminal changes
the teens' lives forever, his influence reaching into Oswego's culture
and
their own evolution.
Thye is especially adept at
probing how the unsolved
circumstances of a past death serve as the impetus for all kinds of
changes in
the lives of perps, bystanders, and victims alike.
As his story evolves, far
more than the four kids are
profiled in an involving story of one murder that portends others.
The result is a saga that
examines each of the teens'
changing lives and the influence of a single event that changes their
futures.
Thye's ability to weave
facts about Manson's involvements
and 'family' into these lives creates a realistic, involving murder
mystery
that moves well beyond a singular whodunit and into the foundations of
what
makes or breaks individuals and social norms.
Those who readily recall
Manson's reign of terror and
activities will find this fictional survey of a night's murder to be
thoroughly
engrossing. Libraries strong in murder mystery and true crime history
books
will find the fictional representation of Randy
& Ron & Cindi & Zeke
thought-provoking, made all the more
powerful for its connections to the real world.
Return to Index
Sacred
Mounds
Jim Metzner
Phir Publishing
978-1-7370627-3-8
$20.99
www.phirpublishing.com
Sacred Mounds is a historical novel based on the Natchez tribe's
myths and heritage.
It tells of modern-day Lewis Salvador Samuels, who "didn't
believe in
demons and other realms. Or homeopathy." That is, until he
was sent
into the distant past where all these elements (plus telepaths) are
real to the
Indian whose body he inhabits.
Lewis
also
harbors the conviction that "We live our own mythology."
This
sentiment is about to be proven true in an unexpected twist he never
could have
predicted as he becomes involved in a rescue effort.
Jim
Metzner
moves back and forth in time in a manner that makes for smooth
transitions
between characters and past and present events and influences.
As
Sacred
Mounds builds the thriller components through suspense and
unexpected
events that influence Lewis and all those around him, readers venture
into
paranormal and fantasy realms which remain firmly rooted in action and
intrigue.
The
maelstrom of
events that challenge two very different personalities to adapt to
impossible
circumstances and revised lives creates a complex, involving scenario
that
centers upon chance and a sacred Mound's ability to transpose two
individuals
who happen to sleep upon it at the same time.
As
Lewis and his
counterpart, Natchez Indian Skyfisher, struggle with their alien
environments,
bodies, and lives, readers are fully brought into the dilemmas that
mark their
experiences as strangers to themselves.
Are
they insane?
Are they hallucinating? Each must answer these questions as they
confront
different bodies and cultures separated by centuries of time.
The
blend of
social, spiritual, and psychological insights works well with the
metaphysical
mystery and journeys that each undertake. Readers who look for
action-centered fiction
that drives its characters to reconsider the realities of their world
will find
much to like in Sacred Mounds.
The
blend of
fantasy, historical backgrounds, lives detoured from their main
trajectories
during a body swap, and the special feel of being a soul in another's
body are
all captured with evocative, compelling language : "They set
out at
first light, Skyfisher's stomach grumbling, Lewis's mind vainly trying
not to
listen to it. In the forest canopy, a wood thrush trilled, their
footsteps muffled
by the forest growth. Every now and then a twig snap would startle a
resting
bird."
Steeped
in a
sense of place, revised purpose, and impossible circumstances that
dictate new
life approaches in order to survive, each character demonstrates a
resilience
and flexibility that revises their alternate reality and sense of
themselves.
Metzner's
ability to weave so many elements into an action-packed story is
evident in a
tale which proves hard to put down. It's anchored by both unexpected
twists and
turns and the psychological insights on two lives charged with
revamping not
just their trajectories, but their perceptions of reality itself.
Fans
of
metaphysical adventure firmly cemented in Native American mythology and
culture
will relish the remarkable blends of fiction and nonfiction reflected
in
Natchez and Native American traditions in Sacred Mounds.
The book is
highly
recommended for fans of Tony Hillerman, Dan Brown, and other fiction
which
walks the line between metaphysical and real-world experience.
Return to Index
Savage City
Donald Levin
Poison Toe Press
978-0997294187
Paperback $19.95, Kindle $4.69
Website: www.donaldlevin.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Savage-City-Donald-Levin/dp/0997294183
Savage City is set in 1932 Detroit during
the Great Depression and
tells of political and social unrest that affects and interconnects the
lives
of four characters during a week of labor unrest.
Detective
Clarence
Brown is a Black police officer searching for the killer of a young
Black man.
Ben Rubin's main ambition in life is to join a notorious gang.
Elizabeth Waters
has turned away from her privileged background to enter the fight for
workers'
rights. And unemployed worker Roscoe Grissom has a new job, spreading
hatred.
As the lives
of these
four disparate individuals intersect, Donald Levin creates an
intriguing milieu
in which various Detroit ethnicities clash and face the rising tides of
social
change at a low point in America's economic history.
From
changing
concepts of what is perceived as opportunity to a plot to kill the
mayor and
the corruption that emerges at various levels to challenge moral,
ethical, and
personal belief systems, Levin outlines a realistic scenario that holds
both
familiar and new connections to modern times.
As changing
relationships are influenced by different challenges, it becomes
evident that
these four individuals represent important trends and choices based not
just on
a sense of place, but the influences of their times.
The 1930s
world of
organized crime comes to life in Levin's writing, which succeeds in
personalizing these encounters with characters. At first they seem to
operate
on different playing fields, but their special interests, backgrounds,
and
experiences eventually form the nexus of a tide of social change that
sweeps
over them all.
Library
collections
strong in novels about the Depression years, organized crime, labor
history, or
Detroit will find the intrigue, relationships, and challenges come to
life in Savage City.
Return to Index
A
Thing or Two
About the Game
Richard Paik
Atmosphere Press
9781639882403
$17.95
www.atmospherepress.com
A Thing or Two About the Game is a novel about former executive Brad, who
is charged with coaching a team of girls in softball. This unexpected
endeavor has
been foisted upon him by his ex-wife, who taps him to take her place.
He
hadn't
expected to do his ex-wife's boyfriend a favor, and even though he was
successful at coaching boys' hockey, dealing with a team of girls is
something
quite different.
His
mission is
not to put together a winning team, but to teach them how to work
together and
how to understand and work with the game's aggressive, competitive
demands...something young girls may not have been taught before.
As
Brad oversees
his team and watches them grow, he begins to struggle with outside
forces and
influences, from parents who see winning as being paramount above
ethical
behaviors, to coaches who bend the rules and special influencers who
seek to
change them.
These
are the
same conundrums he's also faced in the business world.
As
Brad comes to
realize that growing his team reflects a microcosm of the greater
world's
challenges, he too begins to grow and change along with them, in
unexpected
ways.
A Thing or Two About the Game is about much more than softball, coaching,
or teaching girls to become proactive winners. It's also about a
coach's
evolving teaching strategy as he confronts his different players and
the
struggles they face both on and off the playing field of life.
"Whether we win games or not, let’s
just try to improve and feel good about ourselves. And I’m telling you
that it
matters, because if it doesn’t matter, then pretty soon practice
doesn’t
matter, and then the next batter doesn’t matter, and then the next game
doesn’t
matter, and then Renni and Courtney and Colleen don’t matter and I
don’t matter
and you don’t matter and then what are we all going to do?”
A Thing or Two About the Game also imparts a thing or two about players,
teamwork, individual influence and struggle, and the competing styles
of
different coaches all charged with creating a winning team.
Its ability to
teach and inspire about life's progression and challenges makes for an
involving book that will appeal to a wide audience, from those who like
stories
of softball and coaching to females who seek tales of growth and
teamwork. Anyone
looking for a read that is ultimately about a quest for purpose,
meaning, and
achievement will love A Thing or Two
About the Game.
Return to Index
A
Wife in
Watercolor
B.B. Shamp
Secant
Publishing
978-1-944962-97-5
(hardcover)
978-1-944962-98-2
(paperback)
$26.95
Hardcover/$16.95 Paper/$4.49 ebook
www.secantpublishing.com
A Wife in Watercolor is set in 1747 and tells of a widowed
mother who decides to accept a practical marriage to wealthy shipping
tradesman
and slaveowner Robert Morris, Sr. This, despite her observation that
he's cruel
to his slaves. After he brands her, Sarah comes to realize that she'll
more
likely be just another one of his human possessions.
Yearie,
in
contrast, is already a slave, with limited opportunities for improving
her
life. At odds with the master/slave system that imprisons her, Yearie
is
determined to change the world around her even if it means sacrificing
what she
loves.
As
Sarah and
Yearie, freewoman and slave, find their lives bound by circumstance and
oppression, sharing an increasing camaraderie over mutual values and
objectives, they embark on a journey to challenge and change not just
one man,
but the world.
B.B.
Shamp's
account of pre-Revolutionary America closely examines the roots of not
just
patriarchy and control, but the efforts of two very different women who
come to
share similar dreams of empowerment and freedom against impossible odds.
Shamp
captures
the perceptions of these times and characters using language with also
reflects
their cultural backgrounds and times. One such example lies in Yearie's
observation: "He set out in dawn’s
shadow, his breath smoke the air. So cold not even a dog bark as he
scurry
round Front Street, and the back of the warehouse where the barque be
sittin in
the water. He load
the furniture. There
be a strong wind and I help him set one sail against it. His barque
take off
like a shot of lightning. Then we wait."
These
dialogues
and dialects are presented in many of the other characters, as well: "I started, remembering from whence I’d
been—the outside world of men and hate. 'Eat the food, wear the cloth,
open the
window to breathe the air,' I recite to get their attention. They look
at me
like a donkey vere sitting on my head. 'Stand or fight. Which it going
to be?'
I ask."
Perspectives
change, and so labeled chapter headings would have more clearly
identified
these transition points to readers who move between them. That said,
the
language of the narrators and the story's evolution lend to an
engrossing tale
that readers will find enlightening, thought-provoking, and
educational, with
its backdrop of social and political observations of the times.
Libraries
strong
in novels about early America, slavery and the roots of civil rights,
and
women's struggles for identity in a repressive and restrictive
patriarchic
society will find A Wife in Watercolor
a strong study of different women who rise to the occasion.
Its
survey of
Maryland women who struggle against both slavery and their own status
captures
the experience of women in 1600 and 1700s America, bringing history to
life as
black and white women confront and loosen their bonds and shackles.
Return to Index
Writ Reveal
Ethan T. Burroughs
Morgan James
Publishing
978-1631956799
$16.95 Paper/$9.49 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Writ-Reveal-Clayton-Haley-Novel/dp/1631956795
Readers who
look for
sweeping epic scenes in political history novels will find Writ Reveal just the ticket for a
complex, engaging saga that
follows a cat-and-mouse game played out through the Middle East.
Clayton
Haley's
adventures are designed not just to entertain (which they do,
thoroughly), but
to explore and explain the cultures and beliefs that clash in the
Middle East.
This attention to detail lends both Writ
Reveal and protagonist Haley exceptional depth as it embraces
such diverse
topics as the guiding doctrines of Islam, the influence of white guilt,
conflicts between factions and peoples in the Middle East, and suicide
bombers
and fighters: "When he gets to
paradise, there's a piece of him for each of the seventy-two virgins
awaiting
him. He was the guy who reached for the grenade."
Readers will
likely
choose Writ Reveal because of its
promise
of intrigue and action centered on terrorism and an unusual treasure
hunt. What
they receive is far more: a study in contrasts that introduces a
rollicking
adventure through Middle East antiquities, beliefs, and politics.
The novel's
prequel, Messianic
Reveal, set the stage for all
these events, but it's important to note that no prior familiarity is
required
in order for newcomers to pick up the baton and run with it, here.
As Haley examines religious chasms in the
area and the wellsprings of their ongoing angst, readers receive an
eye-opening, sweeping epic story that is engrossing, educational, and
hard to
put down.
The conclusion neatly winds up these events,
but leaves the door well open for the next Clayton Haley adventure.
Libraries strong in novels of intrigue,
Middle East politics and religion, terrorist encounters, and political
action
will find Writ Reveal
a solid
acquisition that promises to attract not only the attention of thriller
audiences, but holds much food for thought that discussion groups will
want to
consider.
Return to Index
The
Art of Fearless Living
Shirin Alavi
Goodarzi
Mascot Books
978-1-63755-124-0
$34.95
www.mascotbooks.com
"Live a life so that years later you
don't wonder about all the would haves, should haves, and could haves." That's the message Shirin Alavi Goodarzi
both imparts and reflects via this book and her own life, and it's why
readers
interested in the process of self-help and transformation need to
follow her
journey here.
The Art of Fearless Living: A Glimpse into
My Heart
is both a
memoir and a call to action for women to lead a fearless life. It
captures the
spirit of one woman's resilience and determination as she navigates the
obstacles to leading such a life and cultivates a bold leadership style
with an
important message.
Raised
overseas
in a "family of fighters" and transplanted to New York at age
sixteen, Goodarzi grew up to advocate a process of learning, growing,
and
gratitude that guided her life, and which she embraces to this day.
In
keeping with
the vibrant nature of her words is an attention to photos of her life
which are
equally packed with color and enthusiasm. These pair well with
instructions
that teach readers how to approach life with hands and hearts wide open
to
receive its joys: "Magic isn’t
something that just happens—it’s what you create."
Gorgeous
portraits of nature juxtaposed by those of her modeling poses are
accompanied
by insights on love, friendships, mentors, support systems, and advice
on how
to identify and stay true to oneself while moving through life's
adventures and
influences.
While
acknowledging that feelings and life experiences can be overwhelming,
Goodarzi
seeks to cultivate and maintain an upbeat tone throughout her
admonitions: "I’m reminded every day that
'change'
doesn’t have to mean an ending but simply a new way to pile on top of
the
amazing that already exists...Regardless of the experience, the ups and
downs,
the little detours and minor pauses, may we learn to always value them
and to
never stop dreaming, transforming, and creating...I can choose to see
hate and
systemic discrimination, or I can choose to see what binds us together.
As a
human, I choose to love and to build."
Many
books
provide memoirs, self-help admonitions, and inspirational daily edicts,
and
some even include visual representations to encourage positivity.
The
appearance
of all these facets in a book that focuses on juxtaposing supportive
imagery
with equally positive thinking makes for a gift that deserves top
placement on
any reading list and in any library where personal transformation and
positivity is of special interest.
Return to Index
The Boy Who Loved Boxes
Michael Albanese
The Weight of Ink
978-1-7328987-3-8
$9.95
www.TheWeightofInk.com
The
Boy Who Loved
Boxes: A Children's Book for Adults is an inviting picture
book story that
tells of a child who wants order and organization in his life. The
story begins
at this point, but its main focus is on when he grows up to become a
man who
loves and employs the same sense of order to his life, using bigger and
bigger
boxes to organize his belongings and keep his life together.
The boxes, too, have moved
from physical belongings to
psychological containers of emotions that he uses to neatly file daily
experiences, from faith to family.
The boxes give him a sense
of control...until the
pandemic hits and everything falls apart.
As he empties his boxes and
discovers many broken,
unneeded things have been tucked away, the nameless man struggles to
find a
different kind of box that will work better for him.
Can anything give him a
sense of peace and completion,
with everything falling apart when his previous boxes seem worthless?
Michael Albanese creates a
picture book story that will
especially appeal to adults in pandemic times whose paradigms for
understanding, coping, and love have all been buffeted by the winds of
social
isolation and change.
While it might have once
been questionable to choose the
picture book format for an adult audience, during these stressful years
where
people have very short attention spans and limited coping capabilities,
it's
just the ticket for an encouraging, stress-free read.
Its underlying message
offers particularly hopeful
insights during this trying period in history. While it is tailored for
pandemic times, it's easy to see that The
Boy Who Loved Boxes will retain relevancy (and its message)
long after the
world has changed yet again, as it inevitably will.
Libraries should file The
Boy Who Loved Boxes in the adult section, so it isn't lost
among the kids'
books. Readers of graphic novels and those who enjoy psychological
coping
strategies presented in a picture-embellished, lively collection of
digestible
concepts will relish The Boy Who Loved
Boxes.
Return to Index
Brain Boost
Your
Journey to Success
David Cherry
New Insights Press
978-1-7359344-9-5
$18.95 paper/$9.95 Kindle
https://tinyurl.com/4buzkmpx
Brain
Boost Your
Journey to Success explains
fifteen principles involved in focusing the brain for business success
and
comes from a serial entrepreneur who has employed these strategies to
achieve
exceptional financial and personal results.
There are
hundreds of
business advice books on the market today, but this one adds to the
literature
in two ways. First, it tells the fascinating personal life
story of its
author who founded two companies and sold them at tremendous profit
and,
secondly, the 15 principles Cherry espouses are grounded in actual
research
linking how the brain functions with our thinking and
performance styles.
In this way, the book goes beyond the usual business advice to consider
the
actual brain developmental processes that encourage both creative and
strategic
thinking, promoting the process of both finding passion from work and
tapping
that fervor for superior business performance.
David Cherry
learned,
formulated, and applied each of these 15 principles to his business
pursuits.
He came from neither privileged roots nor was endowed with the money to
enter
into his entrepreneurial quests. He often alludes to his roots
when
referring to how he developed the motivation that directed his path to
success: "I
began setting goals for myself when I was around
eight years old, the time when I crossed over from childhood into an
awareness
that my family was pretty damn poor." He went on
to build his
fortune based on a combination of dedicated hard work, savvy analysis,
and
astute passion, doing the kind of work that he "enjoyed more than
making
money."
Brain
Boost Your
Journey to Success contrasts
four different thinking styles, based on right- and left-brain
research—
Conceptor, Knower, Deliberator, and
Conciliator. Cherry points out
some important rules about using these four thinking
styles:
•
If you accept
how your brain works and its speed of processing, you do not need to
make
comparisons when you see others thinking differently than you.
•
There are no bad
thinking styles. No style is smarter or better than another. Each one
has its
strengths and its advantages.
• People with the
same thinking style may function at different speeds. Learned behavior
occurs
as well when you try to think through a challenge or express your
thoughts;
it’s therefore possible for two people with the same thinking style
to appear very different.
Leaders and
executives who understand these thinking styles can use them to improve
their
own leadership skills and create high-performance teams.
This book
offers a
refreshing approach to a business book, blending solid business advice
with
life experience, showing how Cherry constructed a powerful set of
principles
that can guide ambitious executives and entrepreneurs to the same type
of
success he achieved.
Both
business and
self-help collections will gain by adding Brain Boost Your Journey to Success to
their collections for
its
fascinating content and personal story of entrepreneurial
success.
Return to Index
China's
Bending
Bodies
Mariam Ala-Rashi, MA
Modern Vaudeville
Press
ASIN: B09RQ435FQ
$9.99 Kindle
Publisher: www.ModernVaudevillePress.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Chinas-Bending-Bodies-Contortionists-Politics-ebook/dp/B09RQ435FQ
China's
Bending
Bodies: Contortionists and Politics in China is
a research study monograph that covers the theories, history, and
development
of global contortionists. It is highly recommended as a foundation
guide for
any collection strong in in-depth circus history and culture.
Cultural
anthropologist Mariam Ala-Rashi grounds her survey in a world
investigation of
contortionist history before narrowing the focus to China. She conducts
a
thorough investigation of the events and influences that have made
Chinese
contortionism a different form than in the West, creating a backdrop
for better
understanding the cultural and social influences on contortionists who
work in
different settings.
Scholars who look for the
hallmarks of a well-researched
study receive extensive footnotes and source materials listed in a
bibliography
which includes studies not just from Western resources, but around the
world.
They will especially
appreciate the critical eye that Ala-Rashi
casts upon other studies: "It should
be mentioned, however, that her publication Chinese
Acrobatics through the Ages offered only a few
references to support her findings. This leads one to the assumption
that the
data presented is based on oral history that was passed on from one
generation
to the next, the same way acrobatic skills were passed on. Nonetheless,
the
display of artifacts from various tombs of ancient China that she
presents in
her literature as material evidence underpin her research."
These comments about other
references enhance a survey
rich in vetted research as it examines the 2,000-year history of
Chinese
acrobatic theatre's development in light of other acrobatic efforts
around the
world and the studies which surround them.
Scholars interested in the
cultural influences of contortionism
will also appreciate the discussion of what separates the Chinese art
from
other approaches: "Although the
training sequential for contortion is internationally similar, the
daily
training load, repetition of exercises and choreographies of BJIAS are
still
unparalleled to other contortion institutions. This is one reason for
its
international success. The extreme repetition of exercises and
choreographies
and the aim for perfection is at the heart of Chinese training methods."
The result is a monologue
that is a fitting and
insightful survey essential for any library strong in well-researched
histories
of dance, circus performance, acrobatics, and cultural influences on
performance.
While China's
Bending Bodies: Contortionists and Politics in China is
designed to be part of a trilogy, its key inquiries
and extensive historical probe lends to its stand-alone acquisition by
any
library interested in Chinese culture, politics, and various influences
on its
arts.
Return to Index
Get
Your Career in SHAPE
Dr. Candace
Steele Flippin
Wise Ink Creative Publishing
978-1-63489-501-9
$25.99
https://candacesteeleflippin.com/get-your-career-in-shape
Get Your Career in SHAPE: A Five-Step Guide
to Achieve the Success You Need, Want, and Deserve should be on the reading list of anyone who
seeks to not just revamp a career, but revitalize it (there is a difference). Dr. Candace Steele
Flippin outlines the road to success in a book that shows how a career
may be
reinvented for optimum success.
Perhaps
there's
no better point in history for making this effort, or for reading this
book.
With COVID forcing many to re-envision their professional futures, the
program
promoted in Get Your Career in SHAPE
arrives at a time when more people are questioning tried-and-true
routines and
directions towards personal and professional success.
The
SHAPE
framework for making these changes is presented here as an accessible
series of
five interlocking steps that involve saving for the future, working
harder and
smarter, getting noticed in the right way, knowing when to stay on
course and
when to make adjustments, and making ongoing education a life pursuit.
The
book's
introduction notes that "Women’s
careers are held back by cultural norms, gender bias, sexism, and
self-policing. And too often, their self-efficacy—the belief in their
ability
to be successful—is at risk." That's why the SHAPE program is
especially directed to women (even though everyone will benefit from
its
approach).
Research
insights blend with the author's personal experiences and examples from
other
women, as well, to discuss new steps towards leadership and personal
fulfillment.
This
advice is
part of what makes Get Your Career in
SHAPE so accessible: "I am also
fortunate in that at the beginning of my career, my mentor challenged
me to
take risks. I’ve had lots of practice in getting my thoughts past
silence or
whispers and speaking up on my point of view. If speaking up or
speaking out is
new or challenging for you, I encourage you to try. Even baby steps
are a path
forward. And if you find yourself in a place where your voice can’t be
heard,
consider whether you are in the best place for you—and do something
about
it."
The
tools
provided here are also specific, from self-assessment charts that
encourage
honesty to keys to help identify what is holding the reader back and
how to
move forward from these barriers.
Charts
that
include 'red, yellow, and green' career zones provide a visual
reference to the
steps involved in moving from self-defeating paradigms to changes that
support
positive momentum.
Changes
happening in the employment world are also discussed to encourage women
to
think about their SHAPE pursuits differently: "...as
workspaces grow increasingly diverse, we see leaders
around the world rethinking how they value employees in terms of
education and
experience. This is great news for people who simply cannot afford the
degree
they have always dreamed of, as well as business owners who need more
flexible
ways to stay at the top of their game while meeting their day-to-day
demands.
So take heart as you embark on this last, never-ending path of your
SHAPE
program. Your continual education is an investment in your work and your well-being. Be curious and
take advantage of all opportunities you can that will fill you with
purpose!"
Get Your Career in SHAPE is especially highly recommended for women's
issues reading lists, business collections, and book groups discussing
the
mechanics of personal and professional transformation.
There's
no
better time in history for the concepts and action points presented in Get Your Career in SHAPE. The business
environment and the world is
changing. Get Your Career in SHAPE
prepares female workers for the next step by showing readers how they
can
empower themselves, hone new goals, and achieve maximum success.
Return to Index
How to Get Your
Act Together: A Judgement-Free Guide to Diversity and Inclusion for
Straight
White Men
Felicity Hassan and
Suki Sandhu
Penguin Business
978–0–241–48521–7
$28.00 Paper/$12.99 Kindle
www.greenpenguin.co.uk
How to Get Your Act
Together: A Judgement-Free Guide
to Diversity and Inclusion for Straight White Men discusses workplace discrimination and culture for
business managers, providing
a review of diversity issues. Felicity
Hassan and Suki Sandhu maintain that the
white male reader is not just part of the
problem, but part of the solution.
Their advice
applies
to all levels of business operations, from recruiting inclusively to
identifying underlying bias in all facets of workplace operations and
interactions.
Hassan and
Sandhu
address a range of workplace diversity perspectives and issues
affecting women,
LBGTQ colleagues, and different generations.
Of key
importance are
the insights on what discriminatory practices actually look like in the
workplace, backed by sometimes-surprising statistics that pack the
profiles and
recommendations with real-world facts from authoritative sources.
Religion is
another topic addressed in this hard-hitting
examination of various forms of workplace diversity conflicts: "Working with colleagues who have religious
affiliations reminds
us that we are endeavoring to shift behaviors and not beliefs. This
really
hinges on the overarching theme of ‘Tolerance, Understanding and
Communication’, which can surely benefit everyone in the workplace."
A major
issue in
workplace management revolves around identifying problems and choosing
better
courses for mitigating the conflicts that arise from them. Hassan and
Sandhu
focus on the business leader's responsibility to not just make and
enforce
non-discrimination rules, but to "set the tone and lead by example."
The authors
also
provide recommendations on proactive approaches that business leaders
can take:
"...embracing religious affiliation
is not as difficult as it first may seem. Your organization should have
a set
of diversity policies to support you. On matters such as dress codes
affected
by religion, including scarves and beards, employers can set certain
rules as
long as they can justify them with a clear business case, or a health
and
safety risk. But this is to err on the side of the reactive. Why not
take
positive steps to embrace religious affiliation in the first place?"
In adversity
lies
opportunity. This is perhaps the strongest message in How to Get Your Act Together. By identifying
workplace diversity goals and being proactive in crafting a positive,
embracing
culture that welcomes all workers, Hassan and Sandhu present a
blueprint for
positivity that shows how business interests and operations can
dovetail neatly
with social change and diversity goals.
Business
libraries
strong in books about workplace management, as well as psychological
collections that look for leadership books that advocate real-world
change by
outlining common issues and better ways of addressing them, will find How to Get Your Act Together: A
Judgement-Free Guide to Diversity and Inclusion for Straight White Men a study in business
transformation. It only requires an open mind and heart from business
leader
readers who seek to make their workplace better than 'average'.
Return to Index
Little
Girl Can
Dance – the Tale of Andromeda in Six Smashing Movements
Tricia D. Wagner
Independently Published
979-8792150133
$8.99
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Girl-Can-Dance-Andromeda/dp/B09QP3M9QJ
Little Girl Can
Dance – the Tale of Andromeda in Six
Smashing Movements features young
adults and a literary study in magical realism as it follows the story
of
little dancer Andromeda, who moves through an extraordinary world of
her own
that adults don't understand.
Evocative
imagery permeates the tale from the start: "Andromeda lifts
her teacup
the way it’s done if you’re filthy rich, fingers reeking of dollars,
the teacup
itself costing a father’s fortune. “These gardens on the Isle of
Messina are
nothing short of spectacular,” she says faux posh, like Grandmother. The creature Blunder hums
from across a table
clustered with delicacies, tight as the grapes overgrowing
Grandmother’s
garage; corpulent savories like what they ate at the reveling in
Grandmother’s
Shakespearean play. There are rare cuts of beef, and flutes of white
wine, and
cheeses torn, and croissants steaming warm."
From
Blunder, a
creature who "sings like a nightingale” and who "fights the moonlight
to reach her" to the nature of love for another that connects the two
with
the bonds of siblings, Andromeda makes her way through a place that
prohibits
her beloved dancing, finding ways to survive on many levels after
losing her family. Her
journey is presented as a series of
adventures that lead her past grief via dance and other evolving
relationships.
Although
the
feel and direction of the novella seem to direct it to a young
audience, adults
should not consider this book to be limited to kids alone. Its
startlingly
original, lovely mechanisms of description place it in an ageless realm
that
will be enjoyed by all: "A shade crosses inside the dark
kitchen
window. Andromeda snatches her teacup and cradles it. “Creatures are
rarely invited
to reveling luncheons, you know.” ‘Luncheon,’ another word belonging to
Grandmother. It has the right sort of feel, but it stinks of pimento
and
cauliflower. Andromeda sips tea and tries to think of a better one."
Andromeda's
art
gives her the strength to endure cruelty and loss, producing some
surprising
side-effects: "...the girls, all bright, seem changed. Some
of them
watch her with eyes full of joy. Their stares feel like bridges."
Little Girl Can
Dance is a lovely study in
magic, recovery, and new possibilities. Through
its lyrical and metaphorical visions, readers of all ages move past the
specter
of grief and angst and into new possibilities: "The voice of
the
headmistress carries power and manages to stop their feet dancing. But
not
their hearts racing. Not their lungs drawing air that tastes of
adrenaline. Not
their eyes meeting each other and knowing they’ve found a way to
dismantle the
machine."
This
powerful
novella is very highly recommended reading for literary readers, fans
of
magical realism, and those who want a short piece that doesn't just
introduce a
different world, but immerses readers in visions and observations which
are
truly unique and amazing.
Libraries
would
do a disservice to place Little Girl Can Dance in
the kids' section. It
should ideally be placed on display to attract all ages to its magic.
Return to Index
Living Grieving
Karen V. Johnson
Hay House, Inc.
978-1-4019-6344-6
$14.99
Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.hayhouse.com
Living
Grieving:
Using Energy Medicine to Alchemize Grief and Loss is both an
autobiography
and a study in techniques for employing energy medicine to recover from
loss,
and offers a different perspective than most books about grieving.
When Karen V. Johnson's son
died from an overdose of
heroin, she abruptly retired, sold everything she owned, and embarked
on a
two-year journey of self-discovery and travel around the world,
searching for
keys to building a more meaningful life after such a devastating loss.
Part of the book discusses
the special form of grief that
comes with losing a child to a heroine overdose (Karen’s son
tried heroin
for the first time with friends at a party. He was the only one that
died. The
drug dealer didn’t call 911—instead, he was getting rid of drugs),
while the
rest of the story moves to life after loss and the process of learning
about,
accepting, and employing energy medicine.
Johnson's evaluation of her
past life lead to new
discoveries about possible alternative future paths: "I
needed to change my ways to grow and be resurrected into this
new life. I needed to learn to open up and become available to people.
I needed
to become a healer. I wanted to become a teacher."
From how she used a pivotal
month of self-discoveries to
enact these changes to the exact science and approaches used to
re-envision her
world, Living Grieving covers all
aspects of this journey: "The
practice of no time is seeing time as an infinite loop, bending
backward and
forward, rather than a straight arrow. It’s a practice of stepping
outside of
ordinary time into sacred time, where the future and past reach out to
inform
present events. When we see time as an infinite loop, we learn to look
for
synchronicities, or the serendipitous occurrence of events, to guide
us. Before
Death Day/After Death Day—sometimes life seems irrevocably divided into
before
this and after that. Could I reawaken to excitement and inspiration and
possibility?"
From analyses of
psychological insights from Jung and
others to how Johnson was motivated to develop a course on living with
grief
and became a shaman, inspiring others on similar paths, Living
Grieving offers uplifting insights and solid inspections. It
even includes sixteen exercises to move people through
their journey of grief.
These simple inspections,
cemented by Johnson's own
experiences and perceptions, make for a book highly recommended not
just for
memoir libraries, but any collection strong in self-help, new age
medicine, or
psychology.
Return to Index
Lost
Coast
Literary
Ellie Alexander
Sweet Lemon Press
LLC
978-1737391524
$16.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Coast-Literary-Ellie-Alexander/dp/173739152X
"Eyre or Austen?" There are many choices open to those who
love literature, whether they lie in books or real life.
Women
who like
family stories overlaid with magical realism will find Lost
Coast Literary a fine choice.
Emily
receives a
strange bequest when she inherits a mansion that comes with strings
attached
(she must edit a manuscript in order to take ownership of the old
Victorian,
located in California's remote lost coast community).
Why
would she
inherit both a house and a task from a relative who was a virtual
stranger?
Emily's love of literature is tested when she discovers that editing
the piece
involves introducing a revised reality to the world. Who wouldn't want
to make
the world a better place?
But
Lost Coast Literary becomes a study
in
good intentions gone awry as Emily discovers that her best skill turns
out to
be her worst attribute, changing the small community around her in ways
she
hadn't intended.
Ellie
Alexander
explores not only these newfound powers, but their effect on Emily as
she is
forced to acknowledge their presence and her role in changing this
already-idyllic part of the world: "My
stomach dropped. An impending sense of doom came over me. My heart
raced in my
chest. I tried to take long and slow breaths, but I couldn’t seem to
fill my
lungs with enough air. My breathing felt shallow and forced. This
couldn’t be a
coincidence. Not twice."
She
realizes
that her legacy is far more demanding than she thought as she comes to
regret
her good intentions for meddling, which are placing her in the middle
of many
social and political challenges growing within the community: "If only I had left the forsaken
manuscripts alone, I wouldn’t be in this position."
Once
a creator,
can an influencer undo bad decisions?
Emily
finds
herself pulled deeper and deeper into more conundrums, and readers
receive an
involving story of literary passion, community interactions, and her
ongoing
determination to do the right thing even when facing bad results from
her
actions.
Alexander
does a
fine job of portraying Emily's immersion in both classic literature
circles and
in the community as a whole. The small town comes to life as much as
the
fantasy elements driving its changes in an engrossing read that
celebrates
literary foundations and present-day growth alike.
Characters
and
conundrums feel especially realistic because of Alexander's own
familiarity
with the architecture and communities of California's Lost Coast region.
The
characters
and story came to Alexander in a dream. That it is brought to vivid
life here
is a tribute to the author's skill at reaching those who love
literature and
enjoy viewing it from both a magical realistic perspective and an
influencing
editor's eye.
Women's
literature readers as well as fans of magical realism and California
settings
will find Lost Coast Literary
thoroughly engrossing, uplifting, and unexpectedly delightful.
Return to Index
Old
Testament
Readings & Devotionals, Volume 9
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books (through IngramSpark)
978-1-956475-15-9
$14.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Like its
predecessors, the 9th volume of Old
Testament Readings & Devotionals continues the
approach of linking
daily devotional readings to the accompanying wisdom of three Biblical
commentators: Robert Hawker, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Octavius Winslow.
This perspective
continues to offer the greatest accessibility by linking, in
chronological
order, books of the Bible to spiritual analysis that relates to daily
experiences.
The timeline
in this
9th volume is 687 BC to 538 BC, before and after the exile of the
people of
Judah from the southern kingdom. The books covered are 2 Kings, 2
Chronicles,
Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Lamentations, and Psalms.
Key verses
for each
day are presented in italics and are from the Christian Standard Bible,
with
scripture references sometimes linked to the key passage and other
times incorporating
other scripture. When quoted directly, the Authorized King James
Version of the
Bible is used.
These
readings are
accompanied by footnotes linking to all the Biblical references,
including
Romans, Ezekiel, Luke, and other Old Testament books. This deepens and
widens
discussions which seek to emphasize the goodness and purpose of God
through
interactions in early history.
Within this
9th
volume lie promises, insights, and analyses of prophecies and
calamities alike.
From the lessons of false prophets and keys to identifying them to the
role of
the church in leading people closer to God, Hawker, Spurgeon, and
Winslow's
reflections use Biblical stories and examples to bring their lessons
directly
into the discussion groups and minds of readers who would better
interpret and
understand God's word.
The books of
Jeremiah
help define the concept of the living God, while the inspections of
these three
wise men offer further enlightenment that Christian readers will find
thought-provoking and essential to both the effort of daily living in
keeping
with God's word and the bigger picture of how faith operates in human
affairs
and history.
Volume 9
continues
the analytical path set forth in Volumes 1-8, and will be appreciated
by Bible
students who study the passages and their connections to daily living.
Return to Index
Old
Testament
Readings & Devotionals, Volume 10
C.M.H. Koenig (compiler)
C.M.H. Koenig Books (through IngramSpark)
978-1-956475-18-0
$14.99
www.cmhkoenigbooks.net
Old Testament Readings & Devotionals,
Volume 10 is another fine
addition to Koenig's Bible study series. It expands the reflections of
scholars
Robert Hawker, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Octavius Winslow to consider
works from
Ezekiel, Daniel, Psalms, Haggai, and Zechariah.
This period
of time
covers Israel and Judah's exile from 605 BC to 518 BC. It examines key
verses
and scriptures that are accompanied by in-depth reflections by one of
the
featured scholars on God's intentions and message.
As with its
predecessors, each passage is linked to discussions designed not just
to expand
upon their underlying meaning and message, but link to the reader's
daily
experiences and efforts to become closer to God's living word.
These range
from
specific admonitions key to the passages selected to general
observations
contrasting the approaches and messages of the Biblical prophets. One
early
example lies in Hawker's thought-provoking contrast between Ezekiel's
delivery
and other prophet choices in delivering God's word. Ezekiel used lively
images
to cement his messages with visual embellishments, for example.
Hawker's
commentary
on the passages and messages in Ezekiel allow for insights that expand
upon the
evolution of the church, God's message, and the Lord's concern for the
poor and
repressed of His world.
Hawker
provides most
of the commentary in this volume as he moves from Ezekiel to
Zechariah's book
of prophecy and its importance and impact on the church.
The promise
of
salvation to representations of Christ, Israel's history, culture, and
the
impact of the prophets on the delivery of God's word and its
incarnation in
human affairs makes for many thought-provoking insights highly
recommended not
just for individual pursuit, but, ideally, Bible group discussion.
Having the
commentary
linked to specific passages and presented in a digestible daily
devotional
format lends to a study that excels in embracing the messages of God,
Jesus,
and how they were interpreted or can be reconsidered in light of
Scripture
references.
Bible
students will
find this 10th volume an ongoing journey of discovery that offers many
analytical insights connected to the word of God.
Return to Index
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Elections
Lois Ann Nicolai
Independently Published
9781098387600
$15.28
Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-People-Extraordinary-Elections-International/dp/1098387600
Book 2 of Lois Ann Nicolai's memoir trilogy, Ordinary
People, Extraordinary
Elections: A Memoir of International Democracy Builders captures
history in
the making. It follows the life and times of Nicolai as she traveles to
developing European countries, helping the OSCE/PAE create new
democracies.
Many insights into the challenges faced during
these efforts are
provided in a lively, personal inspection that follows Nicolai's
adventures,
encounters with other cultures and people, and her observations of
social and
political processes during her official role as an International
Democratic
Election Supervisor and observer.
The first book, Ordinary People,
Extraordinary Times: The Memoir of
One Citizen Activist, focused on her political work as a
nuclear
disarmament activist.
This survey of her role as an OSCE supervisor
includes
thought-provoking inspections of the evolving political processes in
new
democracies. Nicolai interacts with government and people, faces
corruption and
obstacles to democratic process and her own freedom to move within
these
nations, and involves readers in learning about the foundations of
social and
political transformation.
Photos throughout the book personalize these
experiences as Nicolai
makes astute observations that educate readers about conflicting
interpretations of democracy, nationalism, and other trends affecting
the
outcomes of elections and freedom: "It is horrible what has
happened
here. It is real madness, all in the name of "Nationalism." And for
the first time since my initial assignment here in Kosovo in 2000, I am
very
pessimistic of real stability ever coming to the Balkans. The
Nationalism is
just too strong."
The blend of "you are here" inspections into social
and
political processes and the analysis that comes from a seasoned
observer and
participant makes for a story that is enlightening and personal, all at
once.
Ordinary
People,
Extraordinary Elections is
especially recommended for library collections strong in politics,
international trends, and memoirs that embrace world travel
experiences.
Discussion groups centering on democratic principles and their
translation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Republic of Georgia, and
Petropavlovsk,
Kazakhstan will especially want to place this book high on their
reading lists.
Its eye-opening, enlightening surveys provide the
rare opportunity for
better understanding not just from a reporter's eye, but from the
efforts of an
embedded professional who was active in overseeing and guiding the
political
evolution of nations.
Return to Index
Salt & Light: The
Complete Jesus
Jonathan Geoffrey Dean
Friesen Press
978-1-03-913143-9
www.saltandlight.ca
Salt
& Light:
The Complete Jesus is recommended for readers who seek to
understand the
"authentic Jesus." While it holds many academic references that
scholarly students of the Bible will find satisfyingly authoritative,
it also
presumes that its readers have little in-depth technical foundations in
either
scholarly Bible studies or academia, making it accessible to an
especially
broad audience.
This and the tone of this
historical and religious review
makes Salt & Light
accessible to
a wider audience than most Christian research pieces, melding disparate
research from academia (complete with footnoted references and
bibliography)
with an engaging focus and tone that lends to easy understanding.
The survey begins with a
consideration of the existence
of Jesus, which has been debated in different circles: "The
idea that Jesus is merely a myth certainly stands as a
minority position in the academic arena; however, I do think I should
examine
it first, since if Jesus did not exist, there is nothing to
investigate.
Perhaps I can save myself (and you) a lot of work by making this
project
pointless. And it is always a good thing to challenge the majority
view!"
Jonathan Geoffrey Dean
presents an unusual comparison
between Jesus and Betty Crocker to draw connections between figures
that seem
real but are myth, or, conversely, which seem like myths, but were
actually
real: "Betty Crocker is a myth, yet
many people, Carrier argues, believe she is just as real as Jesus.
Other widely
circulating myths include the 1947 Roswell UFO crash, the notion that
Sherlock
Holmes was a real detective, the idea that the US government destroyed
the Twin
Towers on September 11, 2001, the cargo cults on Pacific islands, and
the
Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith’s story of the golden plates. These
all
illustrate how quickly people can come to believe unexpected things,
even in
the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Carrier does an
excellent
job presenting evidence to show how unsurprising it would be if Jesus
were only
a myth."
His discussions strive for
reasoned analysis and accuracy
as he delves into the heart of controversies surrounding Jesus,
employing
impeccable logic, footnoted historical references, and arguments to
validate
his considerations of what Jesus did, said, and who he was.
Those who expect a dry
analytical approach will be
delighted to find there are many linked references between present-day
circumstance and culture and the Jesus of yesteryear, all presented in
lively
discourses that encourage easy reading and understanding, yet remain
true to
scholarly techniques.
It's rare to see a discourse
that will satisfy both
audiences with a lively tone and well-researched documentation,
but Salt & Light succeeds
in doing so with an easy candor that melds supporting evidence with
popular
arguments, conclusions, and insights about Jesus.
Not only are Biblical and
outside references consulted
and revealed, but Dean is astute in explaining his methodology's
underlying
foundations: "I have shown that
Peter-Mark, John, and Q are, by far, the richest and earliest sources
for facts
about Jesus. Luke and Matthew are early sources as well, although
unreliable.
It is now profitable to apply the Repetition Rule to see if the
information in
any potential source, or a source already in my Source List, is simply
a
repetition of information we already have in earlier sources. If so,
the source
is redundant and can be discarded. For instance, if a source’s only
fact about
Jesus is that he was crucified, and Peter-Mark, being an earlier
source, states
that he was also crucified, then according to the Repetition Rule, the
source
is redundant and can be excluded from my Source List."
Controversial inspections
also offer much food for
discussion groups, as Dean points out discrepancies and issues with
traditional
analytical approaches: "In any case,
Jesus did not follow Judaism himself. We have no explicit mention of
him
following Jewish customs. He did not abide by the Jewish purity laws
when he
ate with sinners (Mark 2:14–17), he entered tombs and touched corpses
(Peter-Mark 10:34b), he did not fast (Mark 2:18), and he famously and
repeatedly disregarded the Sabbath."
While Salt
&
Light: The Complete Jesus will undoubtedly be chosen for
Christian
collections, it would be a shame to limit its appeal to this audience
alone.
More so than most other discussions of Jesus, Salt
& Light holds the rare opportunity to more deeply
understand the figure, message, and purpose of Jesus, and thus should
be
considered by libraries interested in biographical, academic, or social
histories of Christianity's presence and impact in the world.
It's a very highly
recommended and unusual work for its rare
ability to appeal fully to both scholarly and lay audience, and is
packed with
researched and footnoted information, appendixes, and a special brand
of
analytical inspection designed to address common perceptions and
misconceptions
of Jesus and his times.
Return to Index
Traveling Freedom's Road
John J. Hanrahan
Freedom's Road Press
979-8-9855010-0-1
$24.95
Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.travelingfreedomsroad.com
Traveling Freedom's
Road: A
Guide to Exploring Our Civil Rights History is a study in American patriotism and
achievement. It provides all ages with a road trip of a different
nature,
surveying not only civil rights history locales, but the insights and
new
discoveries to be gained from such a travel focus.
John J. Hanrahan chose to make this journey and, in
the process, came to
realize that "The trip would be much
more than standing around restored homes of civil rights legends and
walking
through new, information-rich museums. It became a collection of places
and
experiences that triggered strong reactions and difficult questions."
Some of the places where history was made looked
much the same as in the
past. Others had been completely transformed so as to be
unrecognizable. So,
also, was the sense of what had happened, as Hanrahan came to realize
during
the course of his explorations, and as readers discover while reading
his
story.
The author and his wife weren't raised in the
South. They came from the
white suburbs of two large cities, grew up with civil rights activism
and
events in the sixties, and are now retired. He undertook this special
journey
because "I wanted to learn more
about the people who advocated for change those many decades ago, to
experience
the places where triumphs and tragedies occurred, and to grow in my
understanding of this important era. In short, there was a reversible
imbalance
between what I knew about the civil rights movement compared to the
impact of
that movement on the country’s history."
That he not only made this trip but also created a
blueprint of travel
tips and engaging, factual revelations is testimony to the powerful
events that
continue to resonate through time and history. Those who
journey in
history’s footsteps will benefit from this book whether they do it by
car or
from their armchair. The benefits are particularly meaningful
for those
who did not come of age during this period of some of America's deepest
struggles.
The
book is packed with social, political, and cultural observations
that examine locales and the atmosphere of historical impact and change
that
are associated with them: "If you
combined one of the sacred places of the civil rights movement with an
incredibly comprehensive museum on that movement and its antecedents,
you would
have the National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM)."
This
approach provides both a 'you are here' feeling to the narrative
and emphasizes why each civil rights landmark (be it an address, a
structure, a
museum, or a memorial) continues to be relevant and important to modern
audiences.
Sidebars
on civil rights history and many footnoted references provide
scholarly readers with the source materials documenting civil rights
events,
politics, and their interpretation.
The
lively tone of this sojourn invites even non-history readers to
imbibe, creating an important survey that's very highly recommended to
audiences of American history buffs and travelers alike.
The
book's profits will be shared by the Legal Aid Justice Center in
Charlottesville and the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery. This is
yet
another reason to choose Traveling Freedom's Road above others, whether
for libraries
specializing in civil rights history or those seeking travelogues and
guides to
America which adopt a very different, more educational perspective than
most.
Return to Index
Tricking
Power into
Performing Acts of Love
Shepherd Siegel, PhD
Morgan James, LLC
9781631957307
$19.95 Papeer/$9.99 ebook
www.MorganJamesPublishing.com
Tricking
Power into
Performing Acts of Love: How Tricksters Through History Have Changed
the World
is a recommended read for mythology and drama enthusiasts. It provides
a close
inspection of fun and confrontations with power structures that are
based on
trickery and play.
This method of analyzing
life results in not just
archetypal examples, but the presence of adults who employ the energy
of the
Trickster to confront and affect the world around them. It's an
approach that
invites not just laughter and comic relief, but offers serious contrast
to the
structures of power and angst that influence social developments.
Dr. Siegel is clear about
his intention and subject from
the start: "...this book is about
the role of the trickster (human), and the Trickster (demigod,
archetype), in
opening our eyes and our minds to the tangible possibility of a more
perfect
and playful society, a utopia if you will."
As he surveys gags and
tricks by such icons as the Marx
Brothers, he adds contrasts between different cultures and ethnicities
throughout history: "Trickster god
Eshù Elégba plays a part in the New World experience of enslaved
Africans, just
as Trickster Wakdjunkaga does for the Native American Winnebago tribe.
And
just as Tricksters Til Eulenspiegel and Bugs Bunny influence Western
culture.
Playfulness and Trickster spirit have deep roots in all cultures and
are
especially prominent in the Afro-Atlantic (the southern United States,
the
Caribbean and Brazil)."
His survey of the archetypes
surrounding the Trickster
image and its operations within and effects upon cultures is a
satisfying study
in contrasts that covers everything from racist stereotypes and biases
to
mythological history.
While mythology readers and
ethnic studies students will
be the top fans of Tricking Power into
Performing Acts of Love, it should also appeal to social
science students
and those interested in connections between mythological archetypes and
contemporary society.
Dr. Siegel includes
situations and quotes that emphasize
the connections between Trickster myths of the past and their
present-day
appearance: "When the trickster
speaks truth to power, power’s first reflex is to dismiss. Lennon, in
Bed
Peace, confronted this dynamic directly: “Yoko and I are quite willing
to be
the world’s clowns if by so doing it will do some good. I know I’m one
of these
‘famous personalities.’ For reasons only known to themselves, people do
print
what I say. And I’m saying peace. We’re not pointing a finger at
anybody. There
are no good guys and bad guys. The struggle is in the mind. We must
bury our
own monsters and stop condemning people. We are all Christ and we are
all
Hitler. We want Christ to win."
The result is a powerful
blend of scholarly analysis,
mythology study, and social inspection that will appeal to readers of
drama,
mythology, and social issues on many different levels.
Tricking
Power into
Performing Acts of Love's ability to move fluidly through
those scenarios
makes it an unusual, highly recommended pick especially recommended for
discussion groups.
Return to Index
Wisdom:
A Very
Valuable Virtue That Cannot Be Bought
Jason A. Merchey
Values of the
Wise, LLC
978-0-578-31679-6
$15.00 Paper/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Valuable-Virtue-Cannot-Bought/dp/057831679X
Wisdom: A Very Valuable Virtue That Cannot
Be Bought
is a study
in not just philosophy, but psychology and personal growth. Its purpose
is to
examine and connect wisdom with happiness and life improvement
strategies.
Jason
A. Merchey
provides an inspirational look at gratitude, aspects of wisdom, how the
wise
perceive the world, and the components of wisdom that are associated
with
overall personal and life improvement.
One
might
anticipate the quotes and references Merchey employs to solidify the
definition
of and presence of wisdom in the world, but also included are
unexpected
scientific references and research that enlighten readers about
wisdom's
features and attributes: "If wisdom
isn’t merely a function of age, then something must act as the
leavening agent
to turn the flour of experience into bread (wisdom). The jurist O. W.
Holmes
said that “wisdom is the abstract of the past.” Holmes is proposing
that
accurately perceiving what has happened in one’s own past—and in the
history of
humankind as contained in books, myths, and stories—is tantamount to an
accurate understanding of what the true state of affairs currently is and what it might
be in the future."
From
a focus on
the future and the values inherent in present and future thinking to
how to be
open-minded while staying true to one's psyche, Merchey provides solid
reflections that examine both the promise and pitfalls of pursing
wisdom: "If I tried to become a triathlete,
it
would be a poor fit between my capacity, my desires, and the required
lifestyle; I would encounter much more frustration and embarrassment
than I
would experience flourishing."
The
delicate
balancing act between ideals, values, and enlightenment is considered
in many
ways throughout Wisdom, juxtaposing
personal experiences with added-value reflections about the nature,
role, and
presence of wisdom in daily life.
The
ultimate
message expands the pursuit of wisdom into social and political
circles, which
readers will find especially inviting and thought-provoking: "Much of this book dealt with the
here-and-now: what wisdom looks, feels, and smells like—and how it can
potentially and practically be put to good use by an individual.
However,
wisdom transcends the concerns of any one individual and can provide a
roadmap
or a toolkit, not only for individuals, but also for communities,
nations, and
the entire planet."
Those
looking to
add value to their lives through the goal of attaining wisdom would do
well to
start here. Wisdom: A Very Valuable
Virtue That Cannot Be Bought's messages, inspections, and
connections to
science, philosophy, and psychology create a discussion that will
appeal to a
wide audience, from self-help and new age readers to those interested
in modern
philosophical and psychological examinations.
Return to Index
All You Need
Sheela Word
Independently
Published
979-8480875676
$15.00
Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/All-You-Need-Sheela-Word-ebook/dp/B09NPZN9BT
All
You Need
represents coming-of-age historical fiction at its best, and will
appeal to
young adult and adult audiences alike. Set in 1968, it follows the life
of twelve-year-old Terry Morales,
who lives in
Southern California with her Mexican mom.
Revolution
is in the
air with Dr. King and Kennedy's assassinations and the rise of protests
against
the Vietnam War, but Terry is more affected by the sudden appearance of
an
absentee father who invites her to spend time with him at an Oregon
commune.
Terry looks
forward
to this transition: "...now, she
thought, a very worthwhile summer was about to happen. A summer with
her dad,
who was not like anyone else’s dad, he was so funny and original and
had such
unusual things to say."
Idealistic
about the
opportunity and its impact on her young life, Terry has yet to
understand her
independent mother's concerns about her future.
As she
absorbs her
father's unusual off-grid lifestyle and comes to realize that his
invitation
does not necessarily mean they will become closer, Terry begins to
understand
more about her mother Luisa's life and worries, her questionable role
in her
father's new life, and her own ability to handle her father's distance,
intoxication, and choices.
When tragedy
strikes
and further changes happen, Dirk begins to understand his failings as a
parent...which do not necessarily lead to him improving. Can men really
change?
Sheela Word presents a
powerful story of a young girl who
grows to better understand her parents' personalities, choices, and her
own
best interests. As she encounters different family structures and faces
new
options, Terry's inherent sense of optimism is challenged.
The flavors of Mexican
culture injected into this story
give it an unexpected atmosphere filled with revelations, with details
showing
how Terry's background influences her perception and future.
Middle grade readers will be
the most likely audience for
this novel; but adults, too, will appreciate this story of a preteen's
evolution as she faces two very different cultures, parents, and the
social
whirlwind of the 1960s that affects everything around them.
Impeccable psychological and
social inspections make All You Need
a riveting saga for all
ages. It should earn a place in discussion and reading groups
interested in
multicultural accounts that operate on social and ethnic history levels.
Return to Index
Alycat and
the
Cattywampus Wednesday
Alysson Foti Bourque
Pelican Publishing
9781455626489
$17.99
www.pelicanpub.com
Alycat and the Cattywampus Wednesday
tells of a day where
everything seems 'upside down', from the dinner Alycat gets to eat for
breakfast to a school bus which is full when it reaches her, even
though she's
supposedly the first stop it makes.
In fact,
everything
is backwards, from her locker number at school to the order of her
classes.
Isn't it fun to do things differently sometimes? Not if everything is
different, all at once!
Alycat
responds in
the best way possible. Her assessment of the day's special challenges
and how
she can confront them gives picture book readers insights into the ways
in
which attitude can make a big difference in outcomes.
From
problem-solving
and positivity to friendship revelations, Alycat
and the Cattywampus Wednesday gives many enlightening
insights during the
course of a zany day's experiences, mixing an entertaining read with
thought-provoking moments.
Parents who
choose
this simple story for its read-aloud value will find Alycat
and the Cattywampus Wednesday filled with opportunities for
discussions about adaptation and how to handle difficult days when they
seem to
go all cattywampus.
Chiara
Civati's
engaging cat drawings bring Alysson Foti Bourque's fun characters to
life in this
whimsical, Louisiana-based story about kitties who confront a very
different
world.
Return to Index
The
Amazing
Martika
Martika Daniels
KC Entertainment
Services, LLC
978-0578597324
$12.99 Paper/$5.00 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Martika-Daniels/dp/0578597322
The Amazing Martika provides picture book readers with a series of
adventures that revolve
around a little girl's fascination with the circus and its tricks and
her
increasing involvement with this environment as she becomes a performer.
Although
Martika's story is captured with the drama and passion of fictional
description
("Magically
moving in the streets of Rome, Italy, the performer was throwing flame
torches
from one hand to the other with effortless grace.
People gathered around to oooohhh and ahhh at the amazing
spectacle!"), it's actually
the autobiography of a modern day circus and sideshow entertainer. It
represents a study in achievement as it surveys the history and
presence of
African Americans in circus and sideshow history.
Damian
Blake
provides dynamic illustrations of Martika's journey that bring the
traveling
circus and its performers to life. Fun sidebars of description
accompany these
vivid, colorful drawings as Martika grows into her priorities and
achievements:
"When it was time to leave the nest, I didn’t run away and
join the
circus. I went to college first! Even in college I was no stranger to adventure."
Any
terms
particular to performance are defined during the course of the story,
so kids
are educated about colloquial expressions and performer events alike ("A
busker is an entertainer that
performs on the street.").
The
ideas that
determination and perseverance can result in all kinds of experiences
and
adventures, and that dreams can be achieved in adulthood in different
ways,
permeates a story filled with captivating revelations and experiences.
The Amazing Martika lends to adult read-aloud and young picture book
reader pursuit alike,
imparting a message that captures the circus world, its history, and
its
modern-day opportunities as it follows a young girl's dreams.
Return to Index
Andi's
Valentine Tree
Once Upon a Dance
Once Upon a Dance,
Publisher
978-1-955555-33-3
$24.95
Hardcover/$8.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Andis-Valentine-Tree-Dance-Out/dp/1955555338
Andi's Valentine Tree presents a picture
book story of young dancer
Andi, who has many friends at the dance studio, but few in regular
school.
Andi spends
the
school days looking forward to the dance studio experience, often
practicing
ballet exercises (illustrated in cameos on the side of each page, which
present
Ballerina Konora's dance steps and movement interpretations of the
story).
As the tale
evolves,
Andi's relationship with a friendly wild squirrel and an old tree
creates
inspiration as Andi translates his experiences with dance-it-out
movements that
interpret both feelings and events.
Cheerful
reflections
on ballet positions expand the translate-experience-to-dance focus of
the story
as Andi moves from school to woods to dance studio, telling his dance
friends
about the unusual forest tree that seems to covet a dance performance.
Warm-up
exercises,
dance routines and steps, and changing seasons mark a tale that also
embraces
different kinds of school relationships as Andi faces bullying from
regular
school kids who think that ballet is an odd pursuit.
Andi's
ability to
talk to the trees and dance for them becomes an exercise in surviving
teasing,
but Andi faces even more trouble when his beloved tree friend Glorianna
becomes
the target of The Gorilla Gang.
Can Andi
save both tree
and his reputation by turning to ballet for help?
Andi's Valentine Tree offers a fine
connection between dance
movements and life experiences of all kinds. It teaches kids about
ballet
terms, movement approaches, and handling life's adversity in a format
that encourages
interactive enjoyment.
Parents who
want to
immerse kids in movement and dance exercises while teaching them about
overcoming peer pressure and adversity will find Andi's
Valentine Tree just the ticket for a lesson in positivity,
problem-solving, and interpreting life experiences via dance movements.
Return to Index
The Christmas Curse of Krampus
Devin Arloski
EurownAmerica
Publishing
978-0578952390
$9.99
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Curse-Krampus-Devin-Arloski/dp/0578952394
The Christmas Curse of
Krampus
is a children's book that will appeal to
pre-teens. Eleven-year-old Max follows a light in the forest away from
the
Christmas festivities in Germany and into a world that contains the
unexpected.
There, he confronts a terrifying beast, is rescued by a friendly
stranger, and
is challenged to more closely examine his own beliefs about Christmas
and
family as he ventures into a strange world of curses and threats.
These are not the traditional trappings of a
holiday story, but provide
a storm of confrontation and accompanying wisdom that test Christmas
beliefs,
faith, and the underlying chemistry of Christmas in unusual ways.
As Santa and others interact and Max comes to
realize the real power of
Christmas, advanced elementary to middle grade readers receive a vivid
story
that is anything but the usual holiday feature.
While some might believe the Christmas spirit could
be lost within the
angst and struggle that this story embraces, one of the pleasures of The Christmas Curse of Krampus lies in
its unique ability to blend the trappings of a horror story and German
backdrop
with a holiday atmosphere: "His mom
had always taught him to help those in need, and he often found himself
agreeing to things he didn’t want to do. It didn’t matter anyway; there
was no
turning back now.“Are we going to take out your sleigh?” Max asked, a
little
excited at that thought.
“No, I only take
the reindeer
out on Christmas Eve. It’s too risky to endanger the reindeer on
Krampusnacht
when Krampus and his Darklings are at their most powerful.”
As Max learns new spells and faces his darkest
fears, the Christmas
spirit burns ever brighter in a story that will attract kids both for
its
holiday and horror themes.
Its underlying messages about family and love
(based on the folklore of
the alpine regions of Germany and Austria) and its depth creates a
standout in
Christmas literature. This warm, uplifting story is highly recommended
for kids
and read-aloud parents who look for vivid, original tales the entire
family can
share and discuss.
The door is
left more than ajar for a sequel, which is forthcoming. The
stage that's been set for this event promises another involving story.
Return to Index
Dark
Horse at
Oak Lane Stable
Kerri Lukasavitz
HenschelHAUS
Publishing, Three Towers Press imprint
978159598-887-4
$13.95
Website: https://www.kerrilukasavitz.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=kerri+lukasavitz&crid=1TPBKN8F1PXHH&sprefix=kerri+lukasa%2Caps%2C1511&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_11
Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable, the third book in a series of horse
stories for middle-grade readers, will attract enthusiasts of the prior
stories
and newcomers alike.
The
tale opens
with the first-person reflections of Cassie, who is about to
participate in her
first horse jumping competition. She's only been training a few months,
but her
hard work is paying off. Still, she is forced to admit that she may
have bitten
off more than she can chew by choosing feisty Night Hawk as her ride.
Facing
divergent
romantic interests and fielding a horse that may ultimately prove too
much for
her, fourteen-year-old Cassie finds her life lessons converging in
unusual ways
in Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable. Challenged
in different arenas and forced to reconcile her heart with her logical
assessment of the world around her, Cassie is faced with new growth
experiences.
Middle-grade
readers who like horse stories will find much to enjoy about Cassie's
learning
process, whether in the stable or the world.
Cassie
doesn't
always win or get what she wants, but these failures lend to the
realistic tone
of a story that reviews life's ups and downs and the problems young
people face
in assessing themselves and those around them.
Readers
who
choose this story for its horse foundations will find much more going
on than
competitions and horse encounters alone. Cassie encounters life issues
as she
moves outside her comfort zone, and these efforts give young readers
fine
insights into influences on growth and attitudes which evolve not just
from
caring for horses, but caring for others.
Middle
grade
libraries strong in stories about horses and coming of age will find Dark Horse at Oak Lane Stable a
multifaceted, compelling tale that lures leisure readers with
entertainment
value, but offers so much more.
Return to Index
A
Family for
Riley
Tammy Knudtson
Mascot Books
978-1-63755-057-1
$17.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Dog
lovers,
Welsh corgi enthusiasts, and picture book readers and read-aloud
parents will
all appreciate Tammy Knudtson's A Family
for Riley. It features realistic, fun illustrations by Robert
Sauber as it
explores a puppy and his family, who live idyllic lives playing on the
farm.
Sauber's
full
page, lovely paintings capture the farm, the puppies, and the activity
that
surrounds them, and will delight parents who look for artistic
renditions.
Different
kinds
of families arrive to adopt the litter of puppies, until Riley finds
himself
alone with his mother.
Young
readers
learn about love, separation, adoption, and different family
personalities and
makeups as they pursue Riley's story.
The
connections
between all these themes are kindness and love, as each puppy goes to a
loving
home and a supportive puppy mother reminds them that she will always
love them
no matter how far they travel.
There
are many
important lessons here that read-aloud parents can discuss with a young
picture
book reader, making A Family for Riley
both educational and engaging on levels beyond its choice as a leisure
read for
young dog lovers.
The
lovely
illustrations deserve repeated mention for their ability to highlight
the story
in an artistic, engaging manner. Both story and illustrations make A Family for Riley a top recommendation
over most books about animal adoption, kindness, puppies, or love.
Return to Index
The
First
Unibear
Kathleen J.
Shields
Erin Go Bragh
Publishing
978-1-956581-00-3
$19.95
Hardcover/$9.95 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
www.ErinGoBraghPublishing.com
The First Unibear by Kathleen J. Shields is a picture book
story decades in the making. The hardcover is illustrated in lovely
full color
by Aashay
Utkarsh, while its paperback coloring book version is presented
in black-and-white so kids can also enjoy a coloring book experience.
The vivid story lends to read-aloud as a
playful little bear cub explores his world. The tale is presented in
rollicking
rhymes accompanied by spiritual and psychological inspections as the
cub
stumbles upon a sad horse in the forest:
“Hello Mister Horse, are you
feeling okay?
Why look so sad on such a fine
day?
The birds they are singing,
the flowers in bloom,
why Mister Horse, do you show
so much gloom?”
It takes a kind heart to
reap the rewards of helping
another, and when little bear is given insights (which he shares with
others)
about the horse, unexpected changes take place.
Parents who choose this
inviting fantasy story for kids
will be able to not only embellish the rhymes and enjoy the colorful
forest
animals, but can explain the bear's discoveries, dilemmas, and choices
as well
as the special form of magic which evolves when the tables are turned.
Lessons about kindness,
giving, rewards, sharing magic,
and appreciating spiritual components in life abound in the guise of a
fun
fantasy story that kids and read-aloud parents will appreciate.
There is nothing in the
children's picture book world
that's quite like The First Unibear.
Its winning messages offer much food for thought in a detailed, fun
story that
will keep young listeners engaged and thinking and read-aloud parents
delighted
by the numerous opportunities to discuss lessons about the many types
of gifts
received from helping others.
Return to Index
For the Love
of Laxmi
Bijal Shah
Mascot Books
978-1-63755-203-2
$18.95
www.mascotbooks.com
For the Love of Laxmi is a study in
Indian multigenerational
interactions. It presents a whimsical, fun series of dialogues between
family
members as they pose for a family portrait, argue, and love one another.
At the heart
of this
family encounter is Laxmi, a child who receives the loving attention of
uncles,
aunts, parents, and siblings.
Each family
encounter
causes Laxmi to question the nature of love, family support systems,
and
understanding not just between generations and the sexes, but in her
role in
her family unit and the world around her.
Fine
illustrations by
Alexa Carter personalize Laxmi's family and their experiences, bringing
her
encounters and questions to life. But it's the warm dialogues between
family
members leading to questions in Laxmi's mind (outlined clearly in
sidebars that
illustrate her thinking) that make Bijal Shah's story so compelling.
Shah, born
in India
and raised in the U.S., has always been fascinated with being raised in
two
cultures. Their contrasts (and little Laxmi's growth and evolution)
receive
center stage in a study in differences and independence which embraces
both
worlds and the choices Laxmi faces living in each as she grows up and
moves to
college and life away from home.
Picture book
collections looking for multicultural reads that contrast different
thinking,
parenting styles, and a bi-cultural child's concerns between them will
relish
the lively and clear interactions in For
the Love of Laxmi, which ultimately is a study in love.
Return to Index
The Frankie
Factor
Bruce P. Brown
DartFrog Books
978-1-956019-12-4
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.DartFrogBooks.com
In The Frankie Factor, twelve-year-old
Frankie Spril is afraid of everything—water, animals with hair, or
mixing foods
in a dish, to name just a few fears. In fact, Frankie is the least
logical
candidate for being the cause of a death, but his fears get in the way
of a
rescue and result in divine intervention.
Frankie
simply must learn to swim and
overcome that
fear.
Further
mishaps arise
because the angels who would intervene are not exactly seasoned, but
are still learning
their jobs. And Frankie's tutelage is but one of the ways in which
these novice
would-be saviors face failure.
Frankie's
life is not
the only one changed by his failure to respond. His home atmosphere
experiences
turbulence as his frustrated parents question their choices in
protecting
Frankie in the past, possibly inadvertently enabling and adding to his
fears.
Bruce P.
Brown takes
the time to capture these changes from Frankie's perspective: "He had always been able to pick up
snippets of muffled conversation from his parents’ bedroom through the
heating
vent. Before all this, these were gentle mumblings. He ignored them,
really,
except for the assurance that his parents were close by. However,
things were
now upside down. Now it was the conversation at the dinner table that
was
muffled and the words from the bedroom that were loud, most times after
a sharp
bump of the door closing, then sounds of his parents’ conversation.
Much of
this he couldn’t make sense of from his bed, so he lay on the floor,
his ear
pressed against the warm metal heating grill."
As a result
of this
attention to detail, young readers will readily understand Frankie's
too-many
fears and his perceptions of the world around him. Even those who have
no prior
experience with fearful peers or family members will find Frankie a
character
whose concerns come to life.
Humor is
replete in
this survey as the Fifty-Eighth Floor overseers exhibit human failings
as well
as divine powers, and as Frankie begins to face his fears in unusual
ways.
Brown's
choice of adding
to Frankie's story a touch of fantasy and whimsy is just the ingredient
for a
read that tempers its serious tone with moments of comic relief.
This
approach will
attract a wider audience than a more staid vision of Frankie's
challenges would
have created, as it appeals to readers from fantasy genres who might
otherwise
not have chosen The Frankie Factor had
it held a more circumspect, real-world feel.
The Frankie Factor is highly recommended
for pre-teens and teens,
whether they are interested in the story of a fearful boy's evolving
courage or
the concept of student guardian angels that face their own failings and
challenges as they study to help others.
It's a
breath of
fresh air for those who would absorb the underlying messages of
Frankie's
efforts to become part of his world and grow into his real strengths
despite
the barriers holding him back. Ideally, The
Frankie Factor will be chosen not just for individual leisure
reading, but
group and young adult book club discussion as Frankie seeks to redeem
himself
during a transformational camp experience.
Return to Index
Gordo Goo
Ruth Neikirk
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-595-2
$16.95 Hardcover/$4.95 ebook
www.mascotbooks.com
Gordo Goo uses a rollicking rhyme to
power the picture book story
of a team of basketball players who face a particularly challenging
game. It's
time to bring in Gordo Goo, who "Missed
his lay-ups by a lot;/Now is his chance to show he’s hot.”
Gordo has a
solution
to his problem. Literally. It's Magic Potion #2, a Big Blue taste that
packs a
punch and gives Gordo the confidence to become a winner. What is Magic
Potion
#2? It's an injection of positivity that Coarch Harris "makes
for the team/Every night//It keeps our bodies/Ready and
right."
While adults
may
initially balk at the idea of a magic game-changing formula for
enhancing
sports ability, it quickly becomes evident that the drink is not a
drug, but a
dose of self-confidence that taps strengths that originate from the
heart.
As Gordo
proves
himself and the magic potion is considered by others, readers gain
insights
into the real origins of achievement that stem not from magic, but from
its
perception.
Adults who
choose
this fun story for read-aloud discussion will find appealing not only
its
premise, but the fun drawings by Remell Segovia, which bring to life
the
efforts of a basketball team and a savvy coach who develops a formula
to ensure
it does its best.
Return to Index
James Bone:
The
Tremendous Triceratops Trek
Carole Marsh
Gallopade
International
978-0635135841
$22.99 Hardcover/$5.99 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/Tremendous-Triceratops-Trek-James-Graphic/dp/0635135841
James Bone: The Tremendous Triceratops Trek
is the second graphic
novel in the James Bone adventure series. It will appeal to elementary
to
middle grade readers with a lively tale of a young aspiring
archaeologist and his
paleontologist mother, Mommypenny.
Here, James
is headed
to the Dakotas to unearth a fossil. But what he uncovers is trouble as
James
and his friends explore the wintry Dakotas in search of the
triceratops, only
to find their mission thwarted by unexpected developments.
Fossils,
intrigue,
and a lively sense of humor are the attractors in this engaging story
of a
fossil dig. It introduces kids to the Dakotas while pairing facts with
action,
from Mount Rushmore's presidential carvings to navigating the slippery
slopes
of adventure.
Action-packed
wild
rides permeate a tale filled with fun, wry observations as a mishap
leads to
the find of a lifetime.
Carole
Marsh's
engaging story of discovery receives equally compelling illustrations
by Lee
Barrow. The pairing of these two results in young characters not just
engaging,
but determined and creative in troubleshooting unusual confrontations.
Its special
brand of
over-the-top adventure is designed to attract and captivate even the
most
reluctant of young readers as they follow the precocious seven-year-old
protagonist and his friends straight into action and fun.
Any
elementary-level
collection strong in full-color graphic novel adventures needs to
include The Tremendous Triceratops Trek
in its
collection. It stands out with its winning combination of educational
facts,
humor, and stories of proactive kids who uncover both trouble and
success.
Return to Index
Laddy
O'Luck
Mac Kennedy
Mascot Books
978-1-63755-319-0
$16.95
www.mascotbooks.com
Mac
Kennedy's Laddy O'Luck enjoys
engaging drawings by
Jack Cocker as it presents an Irish folk story of one of the first
leprechauns
in Ireland, telling how Laddy was tasked with bringing luck into the
world.
Laddy
doesn't
just distribute luck willy-nilly. He "leaves
his luck only in places it is meant to be found."
As
a wise
grandfather narrates a story that embraces shamrocks, pots of gold and
rainbows, ladybugs, and horseshoes, young listeners and readers receive
a vivid
tale of many legends of good luck and how they came to be associated
with the
Irish.
Mac
Kennedy
spins a fine yarn. It's a winning folk story picture book that is
perfect for
read-aloud, highly recommended for anyone looking for a whimsical Irish
tale
about one man's desire to spread fortune and happiness throughout the
world.
Libraries
seeking more Irish picture book stories will find the whimsical survey
of Irish
concepts of luck to be appealing and colorful, both visually and in the
course
of a whimsical narrative.
Return to Index
Li Na Is My Name
Lisa Wee
Dixi Books UK
978-1913680374
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Li-Na-Name-Lisa-Wee/dp/1913680371
Li
Na Is My Name
is directed to young audiences who deal with bullying and teasing. Yes,
there
is a difference, as Lisa Wee outlines in a picture book that depicts
both adult
and child methods of teasing.
Li Na is somewhat of a
tomboy, as many adults disarmingly
comment. She likes soccer, rollerblading, and activities which earn her
the
title 'tomboy'.
"Dad
says kindness
makes us beautiful," Li Na notes, but ongoing prejudice from
others
about her tomboy ways seem to refute the idea that kindness is being
shown to
her.
She muses that it simply
doesn't make sense when people
make comments that imply that a boy is somehow better than a girl—or
that their
interests should be very different.
As Li Na explores what it
means to be a boy or a girl and
why these attributes and pastimes don't make one superior to the other,
she
refutes the tomboy label that has been applied to her activities,
emphasizing
that she has a name and special abilities that should both be
celebrated.
Kids receive a strong
message not just about kindness and
teasing, but about personal strengths that operate beyond gender
identity
alone.
While adults looking for
empowerment stories to counter
bullying and teasing will find that Li Na
Is My Name more than fits the bill for this purpose, those
who want to open
discussions about girls and their abilities and possibilities should
also
include this story on their reading list.
Li
Na Is My Name
is a fine introduction to personal empowerment that is lively,
thought-provoking, educational and fun, all in one.
Return to Index
Lucy and
Dee: The
Silk Road
Kirsten Marion
Common Deer Press
978-1-988761-64-0
$13.95 Hardcover/$12.95
Paper/$8.49 Kindle
www.commondeerpress.com
Lucy and Dee: The Silk Road is
recommended for middle grade readers
who enjoy stories of adventures and quests. It follows the excitement
two
children face when they enter a land of magic and dragons to befriend a
querulous young emperor who proves a royal pain.
Lucy Banks
lives a
conventional life with too-predictable parents. Neighbor Dee, on the
other
hand, injects surprises into her life via "silly experiments" her
parents deem undesirable, and so he is her best friend—and the perfect
companion to accompany her into this other world.
Kirsten
Marion
injects elements of reality into Lucy and Dee's life which gives their
perspective a solid grounding in real-world dilemmas: "Her
parents never even tried to make things any better. They just
sailed along, telling each other stories about how the next job would
be the
one to make them all rich. All the while their house quietly collapsed
around
them."
She also
provides
surprising insights as the children encounter these magical and strange
creatures that ask questions about their possible evolution: “Are there female Xami? Are you able to
reproduce?”
“Dee! Personal question!” Lucy looked shocked.
He felt a flush creep up his neck. “Sorry, it’s just that where we come
from, mules, the product of crossbreeding between horses and donkey,
are
sterile.”
“A Xamu can be either male or female. But we have to be individually
made.” Zi sighed. “Unfortunately, the learning for that was lost four
centuries
ago. No more of us have been made since. It’s becoming a worry.”
What happens
when a
royal figure that is supposed to be protected turns out to be so
annoying that
his saviors just want to dump him? Lucy's dilemma over Yidi and her
duty is
clear: “I know the kid is in danger. And
I know our mission is to protect him.” Lucy angrily stripped plump
blackberries
from their branches stopping to suck her thumb when a thorn pierced it.
“But
right now, his greatest danger is me. I could strangle him.”
A further
test is
Dee's efforts to locate his missing parents.
Middle grade
readers
who choose Lucy and Dee: The Silk Road
will find that its action and adventure operate on several different
levels.
It's a satisfying story of growth, understanding, courage, and
friendships
which also examines danger, embarrassment, disastrous choices and their
consequences, and evolving maturity.
All the
questions
aren't neatly answered by the story's end, leaving the door ajar for
more Lucy
and Dee adventures; but many keys to success are achieved in a manner
that will
delight fantasy readers looking for a story more firmly rooted in
psychological
growth than most.
Libraries
that cater
to young patrons who like adventure fantasy quest stories will find Lucy and Dee: The Silk Road an excellent
addition.
Return to Index
The Math
Kids: The
Triangle Secret
David Cole
Common Deer Press
978-1-988761-62-6
$11.95 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
www.commondeerpress.com
The Math Kids: The Triangle Secret is the
sixth book in the Math
Kids series. It tells of fifth grader Jordan Waters, who is just
starting to
feel that the school year may not be a complete disaster after his
posse of
friends find themselves divided into different classrooms.
The Math
Kids have
used math to solve many cases, in the past. When an FBI investigation
of a
plane crash leads to a kidnapping, they are once again called upon to
demonstrate their problem-solving skills.
Intrigue and
adventure spice a story which outlines and uses
mathematical patterns to solve mysteries. Examples of math
problems and
solutions both inside and outside the classroom spice a story that
sprinkles
math throughout, whether it's counting ice cream scoops, considering a
sports
coach's formula for success, or tackling a puzzling will.
Illustrations
by
Shannon O'Toole pepper David Cole's engrossing tale, building a sense
of
adventure and excitement that pairs math concepts with problem-solving
mysteries.
The intrigue
is
nicely developed, the characters are enthusiastic and interesting, and
the math
formulas and concepts are clearly explained—but it's the mystery that
drives
the story and holds reader interest throughout.
No prior
familiarity
with the Math Kids series is needed in order to appreciate this latest
adventure. Adults seeking to strengthen math concepts and applied
learning
skills in the young will find The
Triangle Secret a great way of reinforcing mathematics
through an appealing
adventure that asks questions of readers to test their own
problem-solving
abilities.
Return to Index
Space Story
W.W. Marplot
Luminare Press/Waxing
Gibbous Books
978-1734758337
$17.99
https://www.amazon.com/Space-Story-W-W-Marplot/dp/1734758333
Space Story is recommended reading for
young sci-fi fans in middle
grades and older and presents the adventures of sixteen-year-old Bobby,
who
falls asleep in his own bed, only to awaken in a spaceship. While the
age of
the protagonist would seem to indicate this book's appropriateness for
an older
teen audience, the tone of the presentation makes it very accessible to
middle
grades.
Bobby knows
this must
be a dream, but any attempts to awaken only result in further details
about
this strange new environment: "Bobby
saw more clearly outside: outside the window, if there even was a
window.
Whatever boundary existed between inside and outside was definitely
invisible;
the view was as clear as December ice. The way, the universe itself,
opened in
front of him, and above and below, as Bobby gazed onto a darkness
unlike any he
had ever seen or known, a terrible black space that seemed alive and
moving
like a deep ocean on a black night if the gazer had their eyes closed
and was
also dead. It terrified him. It looked like forever, and it looked like
nothing. He saw no stars, only night."
W.W. Marplot
excels
at vivid descriptions throughout as Bobby faces Deepoms (beings with
"...perfect knowledge, and a very deep consciousness and rich
awareness, going
beyond that of humans, who we will soon surpass in all things. We are
smarter") and Kay, an Earth girl who also finds herself unexpectedly in
space, the victim of an "ingenious sibling."
Kay moves
far from
her comfort zone and previously sheltered life, as a result: "...no one had ever attacked her,
personally, before. It occurred to Kay, just after her third scream,
that a
sheltered existence was something to be thankful for, especially if
this is how
other beings behaved. Back on Earth her famous brother, J, had always
taken
care of her, no matter how bad things seemed to be getting. She
wondered why J
wasn’t here, therefore, and whether he knew all the dangers involved
with his
space travel “testing.”
This is what
she gets
for trusting her brother's protection. Will her carefully-honed
techniques for
coping with life (meditation, contemplation, and enlightened
understanding)
help her adjust to and survive these new conditions?
Bobby and
Kay
encounter a variety of challenging circumstances that involve young
readers in
a whimsical story of space creatures and abilities tested by
extraordinary
circumstances.
W.W. Marplot
cultivates an atmosphere of humor and adventure for middle grades as he
follows
Kay and Bobby's extraordinary circumstances and encounters with not
just
aliens, but each other.
There's also
more
than a light touch of philosophical reflection as Kay faces deeper
questions
that usually aren't part of sci-fi or fantasy reading for this age
group.
The added
value of
psychological, social, and philosophical inspection is a nice adjunct
to the
alien adventures Kay and Bobby experience, and lends an unexpected,
satisfying
depth to the story that adults will approve of.
Space Story is at once hilarious,
thought-provoking, and
action-packed. Its story of two characters transported far from their
comfort
zones in different ways will resonate with middle grade readers and
those who
enjoy sci-fi that follows character growth and the impact of individual
change
and new choices.
Return to Index
Stalking
Death and
Other Ill-Advised Dating Techniques
Mercy Hollow
Dark Daydreams
Books
978-0998947990
$13.99 Paper/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Stalking-Death-Ill-Advised-Dating-Techniques/dp/0998947997
Young adults
who
choose Stalking
Death and Other Ill-Advised Dating Techniques for its intriguing title won't be
disappointed. It fulfills its promise of offering a satisfyingly
different
approach to fantasy.
The
first-person
tale opens with a compelling lure: "I'm
five steps behind Death and not happy about it." The humor
kicks in
almost immediately as the protagonist gives a sarcastic response to
Death
herself, and the story becomes impossible to put down from there.
Mercy Hollow
cultivates a character who imparts a sassy sense of rebellion even when
charged
with following Death: "Maybe I'm not
stalking Death. I'm more like her disoriented leash-puppy, heeling on
command.
But I'm going with stalking. It lets me pretend I have a sliver of
control in
the situation."
The Grim
charges
Death's lackey with two tasks, but teen Tyro has other ambitions that
don't fit
with this revised mission. Teenage male hormones apparently have not
died, and
so the mission is revised by both a spunky refusal to submit and an
objective
that moves beyond Death's usual edicts.
Mercy
Hollow
cultivates a fine sense of contemporary rebellion and angst that
dovetails
nicely with a fantasy that's endowed with comedy and fun. Boy-and-girl
conundrums
evolve, with an unusual backdrop of Death warmed over as Tyro navigates
completely unfamiliar ground and re-envisions his own goals.
Death
comes for
everyone. Or, does it?
Hollow's
presentation of a sassy rebellion and a journey through an underworld
ridden
with rules just begging to be broken by Tyro results in a fantasy romp
that is
unpredictable and thoroughly engrossing.
Powered
by a
strong character that refuses to either accept death or be ruled by its
structures, Tyro is a likeable, engaging protagonist whose journey
through the
underworld both challenges and rewrites its purposes.
While
young
adult fantasy readers will be the most likely audience for Stalking Death and Other Ill-Advised Dating
Techniques, the story
promises much appeal to adults looking for a very different tone than
the usual
fantasy genre read.
Hollow's
ability
to create special dilemmas and environments makes for a tale that is
spiced by
intrigue and a determined young adult character who realizes the
fallacies in
the Grim's thinking...and his illusions about life, death, and the
underlying
meaning of them both.
With
its winning
writing style that doesn't neatly confirm to any formula, Stalking Death and Other Ill-Advised Dating
Techniques is very
highly recommended for all ages looking for something satisfyingly
original and
different.
Return to Index
The
Tale of
Bryan and House Painter Mervyn
Lance Lee
LWL Books
978-0-578-33830-9
$15.00
Ordering: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-tale-of-brian-and-the-house-painter-mervyn-lance-lee/1140947965?ean=9780578338309
Website: www.lanceleeauthor.com
Kids
ages 6-9
years old will find The Tale of Bryan and
House Painter Mervyn the fine story of a wealthy son of the
richest man in
Sandstone-by-the-Sea, whose fine life is stymied by a mysterious
illness that
confines him to bed.
Bryan,
used to
an active life, is completely bored. The solution? Hire a painter to
add color
and excitement into the mix.
As
Bryan
interacts with house painter Mervyn's unique ability to literally
create new
visionary worlds, he becomes involved with witches, wizards, devils,
and a
force that leads Bryan to not want to leave his room after all, after
he's
mended.
Is
Mervyn
providing magic or evil? The lawyers can't decide, but it becomes clear
that "...the Village of Sandstone-by-the-Sea was out to get
Mervyn."
Lance
Lee crafts
an engaging story filled with unexpected twists and turns, embellished
with
engaging drawings by Meilo So which are peppered throughout to add
visual
excitement to the changing story.
The
fable is
indeed as its subtitle promises ("for children and their parents")
because it evolves a somewhat complicated series of encounters that
follows how
Bryan not only recovers, but is positively influenced by Mervyn's
unusual ways.
As
father Moab
Jones and the villagers come to better understand Mervyn's unique
artistry and
its underlying influence, young readers and read-aloud parents receive
a
magical story that embraces rainbows, angst, secrets, and a special
form of transformation
that paints a very different picture.
The
underlying
influences and impacts of Mervyn and Bryan's evolving relationship
ideally
require parental participation in order to be fully discussed and
understood,
but the result is an engaging story that educates and entertains on
many
different levels, recommended both for kids past the picture book stage
and
read-aloud parents who look for complex, involving tales.
Return to Index
The War of the Woods
D.E. Night
Stories Untold
9708985378214
$12.99
https://www.amazon.com/War-Woods-D-Night/dp/1733859071
The
War of the
Woods is the fourth book in the Crowns of Croswald young
adult fantasy
series, and will be especially appreciated by prior fans of Ivy
Lovely's
adventures.
Her search for the Kindred
Stone, the final piece of the
puzzle she's tried to put together in the previous books, leads her
towards the
Dark Queen and new struggles as she faces evil and the changing
friendship with
Fyn, who supported her prior encounters.
The strong fantasy elements
Night built in previous books
are still present and are expanded upon in The
War of the Woods, where Ivy faces her final battle and
questions how she
can help the world if she can't even succeed in helping one individual.
Ivy's friends also return
and come to her rescue in a big
way—but not before everything they've built and believe in is
threatened.
As in the other books in the
Crowns of Croswald series,
Night cultivates action-packed adventure, interpersonal interactions,
and a
host of fantasy elements, from dwarfs to evil queens.
Night also refines Ivy's
ability to absorb life lessons
and insights as she confronts her deepest fears and strengths: "Pure fear cannot touch or own pure
magic."
As a dark army rises and a
vortex of magical spells
emerges on both sides, young adults are treated to vivid battle scenes,
changing relationships, and a final goal which is rocked by internal
and
external struggles.
The characters developed in
the previous books grow into
their full-faceted abilities in a manner that is sometimes familiar and
yet
often surprising, as main characters and new personalities rise to the
occasion.
Ivy steps into a revised
role that, in many ways, was
meant to be: "Just because something
always has been, doesn't mean it should be."
These characters combine
with a vivid quest adventure
through fantasy realms to create a delightful conclusion to a series
especially
recommended for prior fans and library collections seeing interest in
the
Crowns of Croswald books.
Return to Index
You
and Me in
the Trees
Amoris Walker
Mascot Books
978-1-63755-211-7
$17.95
www.mascotbooks.com
You and Me in the Trees follows families that celebrate being in
the forest and in nature. It provides a fine picture book story
embellished
with full-page, lovely illustrations by Alyssa Gnos as it explores
children and
adults who interact with each other and nature.
Diversity
is
also celebrated as characters of all ethnic origins explore the forest
backdrop. Even the dress changes, from the old-fashioned attire of a
girl who
climbs a tree to enjoy the view to a modern mountain biker who enjoys
"whooshing by" on a mountain road.
"Aren't we lucky to enjoy all the
beauty that abounds?"
The
question and
presentation not only capture nature's beauty, but the equally
beautiful
diversity of a range of people who enjoy a walk in the woods and the
gorgeous
landscapes of Mother Nature.
Any picture book library looking for stories of nature encounters and diverse characters will find You and Me in the Trees a winning standout from the usual child-in-nature approach.
You and Me in the TreesReturn to Index
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