November 2022 Review Issue
Fantasy & Sci Fi
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
And Heavenly
Things
Kim Cousins
Resource
Publications
978-1666742688
$44.00
Hardcover/$29.00 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-Things-Clashing-Kingdoms/dp/1666742686
And Heavenly Things adds the Christian
theme of a spiritual battle
between heaven and earth to a sci-fi story of apocalypse and redemption
as it
adds a second book to the Clashing Kingdoms series.
Christian
audiences
will find the injections of scripture from Zondervan’s
New International Version (NIV) Study Bible add to and
reinforce the story's
spiritual components, making them accessible to readers through a
minimum of
paraphrasing and a heady injection of Biblical references.
An opening
list of
characters identifies family ties (from Army veterans to animals) and
leads
into the first week of events, which opens with Beth's being bitten by
a
rattlesnake while picking blueberries in the Comstock Mountains.
At the same
time,
teen TJ is also facing life-threatening circumstances, as evil demons
drag him
into Hell.
These two
events present
a riveting contrast in worlds as TJ realizes that his future is now set
in
stone ("TJ realized he would never
receive relief from this excruciating pain because he
would never die again. This was the end of the road, the
result of his choices!").
As disparate
spirits
enter kingdoms of heaven and hell, events on Earth evolve, as well.
The contrast
between
these playing fields and the forces that influence them create an
unusual
interplay between good and evil that will enlighten and attract
Christian
readers. Thought-provoking passages comment on modern culture and
trends: “Wizardry books, pornographic videos,
sadistic music, gory movies—all the corruptible areas of adolescence
that
parents ignore—feed our coffers with blood. Do you know what we hear
parents
saying? ‘Well, I’m glad Suzy’s finally reading books!’ or ‘I don’t care
what the
rating is for that movie or video game, I just want my kids outta my
hair for a
few hours.’”
Satan rocked with laughter. “And how do you use those few hours?”
Smirking, the demon responded, “We fill young people with fear,
desensitize them to violence, teach them vulgar language, instill
distrust for
God, bolster their vanity.”
“Splendid!” Satan remarked, unsurprised by human ignorance and pleased
with parental indifference."
While Heaven
and Hell
introduce the story, it by no means resides in these places, but rises
to the
occasion of juxtaposing the interests of man with the higher-level
promises,
opportunities, and conundrums introduced by spiritual conflicts in all
realms.
The story
embeds
these spiritual reflections in all kinds of situations, prompting
Christian
readers to think about their beliefs and actions: “What
do you mean Christianity isn’t a religion?”
“It’s a personal relationship. A pure religion is one that cares for
orphans and widows in their distress, and keeps a person from being
polluted by
the world.”
The
faith-centric
foundations of this apocalyptic struggle will find a fine home in
Christian
sci-fi circles and collections catering to them, offering food for
thought that
also can become part of Christian discussion groups about life purposes
and Biblical
meaning.
Return to Index
The Bane of
Yoto
Joshua Viola, Mario
Acevedo, Nicholas Karpuk
Hex Publishers, LLC
979-8986219431
$19.99
www.HexPublishers.com
The Bane of Yoto represents an awakening
force in which one deemed
a coward for his interest in timidity and not making waves falls into a
role of
newfound power which accompanies the courage to confront his world's
oppressors.
On the face
of it,
Yoto has moved from a minion to a monster. But The
Bane of Yoto imparts much more to its transformation than a
tale of a mild-mannered youth turned superhero, because it also
embraces the
dilemmas faced by repressed levels of society that hold the chance and
power to
become the beasts they defy.
The
foundations of
Yoto's transformation are explored from the beginning as the stage of
his
peoples' imprisonment is described: "These
were the boundaries of Yoto’s universe: More shadow than
light. Walls that imprisoned rather than protected.
More stench than fresh air. Yoto’s family huddled in the cramped,
crowded cells
the olokun forced his people to carve for themselves out of rock,
imprisoned
behind gated doors. Yoto remained alert to the other numah prisoners
among
them. He took in every scrap of their legends, their histories, their
memories,
learning as much as he could of what had been and what was taken from
them."
Boundaries
never
appealed to Yoto, so this is a special form of hell, where witches and
magic
have consigned people to work in the mines in thrall to oppressors who
seemingly cannot be defeated. Nurturing
dreams and the hope of a world without boundaries, limitations, or
oppressors
feels both impossible and necessary under these conditions.
As violence
and
tangled plots on both sides come to light, readers receive a gripping
story
graphic in its gory confrontations, psychologically gripping in its
unexpected
twists and turns, and philosophically thought-provoking. The
previously-diminutive
Yoto becomes a force to reckon with, assuming a mantle of
responsibility for
his new powers and actions that threatens his potential heroic actions.
Joshua
Viola, Mario
Acevedo, and Nicholas Karpuk have created more than an epic fantasy as
they capture
Yoto's world and transformation. They have evolved a plot that is
steeped in
violence, action, and change that ultimately becomes the first book in
an epic
story of courage, hope, and despair. Its gripping and thought-provoking
action
makes it a real standout.
Libraries
will find
that The Bane of Yoto crosses
genres
to appeal to sci-fi and fantasy and horror readers alike, promising
high-octane
adventure mixed with a series of revelations about social and
individual
barriers, responsibilities, and potentials for becoming greater than
anyone
originally envisioned.
Return to Index
Embracing
the
Darkness
Cassie Sanchez
Silver Labs Press
979-8-9868224-1-9
$14.95
www.cassiesanchez.com
There's a
reason why
Cassie Sanchez's opening fantasy series title Chasing
the Darkness was a finalist in the 2021 American Fiction
Awards for Fantasy. That reason continues to power events in Book 2, Embracing the Darkness, which relies on
the same conjoined brand of fantasy and romance that made her first
book so
notable.
Four years
after the
Vastane War, Jasce Farone and his younger sister Jaida are escaping an
enraged
father's wrath, moving into the forest where their mother guides them.
She
tells them a story about magic, manipulation, and a bit of crystal that
belongs
to the Empower Stone of the Heart. The four Stones of the Heart affect
magic
differently.
Fourteen
years later,
Jasce is a commander searching for his missing sister. His need for
revenge has
earned her hatred, and his failures are mounting as he struggles with
the
aftermath of Drexus Zoldac’s influence and his own inadequacies.
Prior fans
of Chasing the Darkness well know
the
adventure that set Jasce on this path, alienating him from his sister
and
creating dilemmas to test his heart and soul. They will be the best
audience
for this continuation of the saga, which focuses on his warrior status
and his
draw to spend time with the Baltens, learning about their ancestors and
magic
while searching for his sister.
He needs his
magic
now, more than ever. So why would he willingly suppress his powers?
Because he
also needs his sister.
Cassie
Sanchez
displays creative prowess as she weaves a complicated, compelling story
of a
leader who comes to question his decisions and path through life. She
builds
not just a believable, but an emotionally convincing, flawed character
in
Jasce, placing him in key positions and moments of anguish and
adventure that
will keep her prior fans thoroughly engrossed in Jasce's life and world.
Even more
importantly,
the tale is replete with satisfying twists and moral, ethical, and
social
inspections that keep readers on their toes and wondering about various
outcomes. These include Azrael, who plots revenge once his magic is
freed; the
cruel Queen Siryn, who overtakes Jasce's mentor (blacksmith Amycus) and
tortures him; and Drexus's forceful presence as a world-changing
figurehead.
As the
struggle
involves the Heart of Pandaren and threatens the main characters with
death and
change, readers will find many cliff-hanging moments throughout to keep
them
thoroughly engaged in (and often surprised by) the turns of events.
Forced to
confront
his own inner darkness, Jasce finds his relationship with his sister
once again
on the line, powering his strength and discoveries.
Readers and
libraries
anticipating a powerful compliment to the story begun in Chasing
the Darkness will find the fantasy and romance components
in Embracing the Darkness continue
to
drive a powerful saga of change, redemption, and transformation.
Return to Index
Only Afraid
of Nothing
Willem Indigo
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-411-7
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Only Afraid of Nothing tells of Dave Von
Wolfgang, who has survived
his suicide attempt only to steal his therapist's car, rejecting his
diagnosis
and threatening to once again wind up in the psych ward of the hospital.
There's more
going on
than a story of psychological struggle, however, because Wolfgang's
frolic with
death and imprisonment is only the beginning of his romp with an alien
girl who
lures him into an adventure that is literally out of this world.
It's unusual
to find
a story which opens with the allure and trappings of a novel, only to
segue
into a sci-fi world-hopping adventure that leaves the insane asylum for
an
equally hazardous trip embracing both mystery and the possibility of
higher-level encounters with life.
Willem
Indigo
juxtaposes humor, philosophical reflection, and wry observation in his
tale: "Perception reigns supreme, and only a
rare few have the bigger picture, but none like Wolfgang and his
strange state
of being."
Think One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest—if the
inmates were loosed upon the universe. The psychological insights are
every bit
as intriguing as the adventure that unfolds: "Recovering
from a mind riddled with hallucinates and intoxicants,
Wolfgang lived a life that he was destined for but couldn’t quite
grasp, only
seeing a part of the picture. Where he was lost was at the cusp of
dying from
nine different types of overdoses, pulsing in and out of a very intense
coma,
and the universe kept on rolling with a slight caveat of angering the
single
most easily to enrage person in the known universe."
Is it an
escape
attempt, a venture into unknown universes, or a descent into insanity?
Wolfgang's choices and associations broaden with a cast of characters
that each
makes their own mark on his perceptions and objectives.
Indigo is
especially
adept at winding this world-hopping caper into bigger picture thinking
about
anti-social moves, job opportunities, and responsibilities to others.
Readers who
choose Only Afraid of Nothing for
its sci-fi
components will find much more going on than another human-alien
encounter.
Also
reminiscent of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the
Galaxy,
Wolfgang's frolic represents an ironic journey through fate and
absurdity that
piques the mind and invites an intellectual discourse. Subjects include
the
nature of nefarious intentions, status quo, and one man's ability to
move
through kidnappings, mysteries, and compromises that are otherworldly
in
nature.
Libraries
looking for
sci-fi that operates on a different intellectual level than most will
appreciate the opportunity to acquire a multifaceted first contact
story that
injects suspense and wry humor into its alien invasion tale.
Return to Index
Only Half
Human
Nathaniel Wright
Battle Crow Books
979-8-9867098-2-6
$3.99 ebook
Website: https://natewrightsbooks.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9K9C7B5
Few
teenagers want to
be different. It's an age where even a zit is cause for alarm, much
less
suddenly sprouting wings, a tail, and devil horns. Such is the dilemma
once-ordinary teen Lesley Robinson faces on a day which changes
everything.
Only
Half Human introduces the mythology-based fantasy series for
teens ("The Cambion Tales")
with the first-person confession of a young half-demon who moves from
average
high school sophomore concerns to tackling bigger-picture issues.
Forced to
flee to an
enclave of mystical creatures with her witch mother, Lesley still
stands out at
her new school, where she's the only half-demon amongst the likes of
elves,
fairies, and centaurs.
All she
wants to do
is become human again.
This is
achievable
with magic, too: but it comes with a steep price tag—her soul. Is
Lesley
willing to give up her basic humanity to become human?
Nathaniel
Wright
creates a compelling story about a girl who is "sick of being a
loser." The path towards becoming more human, and a winner, is fraught
with conundrums and special challenges that draw young readers into
Lesley's
story through her eyes and experiences.
This creates
a fine
tension and psychological insights throughout as Lesley moves from
wanting to
be more popular to simply longing to become
more human.
Wright also
gives
good attention to the changing mother/daughter relationship that comes
from
Lesley's evolutionary process: "My
mom shook her head in disbelief. 'I’ve never seen you act this way
before. What
has gotten into you?'
My tail lashed. 'What has gotten into me? Oh, I don’t know… maybe it
has something to do with how I’m fed up with the way everyone looks at
me—' I
drew in a ragged breath, 'Mom, why didn’t you tell me I can do magic? I
felt
its presence in your workshop and in the woods. It’s magic! I know it is!' "
From issues
of
bullying that stem from being different (and threatening) to the
addiction
issues caused by magic and an obsession with its power, Wright injects
many
real-world issues into this fantasy milieu.
These all
serve to
attract and maintain reader interest as Lesley struggles with
unexpected
dilemmas in her new life and vastly revised perceptions of her place in
it.
The result
combines a
winning fantasy, a coming-of-age saga, and a story of power and inner
strength
to create both a compelling leisure read and much food for thought and
discussion.
Libraries
and book
clubs looking for appealing fantasies that circle around real-world
issues will
find much entertainment and educational value in Only
Half Human. It ideally will attract the attention of teen
book
clubs and classes looking for fantasy-based action stories filled with
discussion
opportunities about handling life.
Return to Index
Retribution
Michael J. Farlow
Wolf Press
978-1-7327306-6-3
$12.95 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://amzn.to/3SQirWL
Retribution, Book 2 of the Records of the Argos series,
follows Crucible and continues the quest for
justice as the crew of the
Argos and Captain Nick Hall receive orders to undertake an intelligence
mission
to assess the planet Azel and its possible threat to the Consortium.
One ship cannot do much, other than observe
(or, it's not supposed to). But, as in the previous book, the captain
and his
team assume a more active role in matters than their assignment
requires. Thus,
Nick's mission to observe and watch for an Arkon Red and a Blue, to
capture
them and return them for trial, takes on an expanded life and purpose
of its
own.
Michael J. Farlow creates a fine story based
on strong characters, first-person presentations, and encounters that
neatly
juxtapose action and intrigue.
An AI, a negotiator, and a doctor join Nick
in preliminary ground investigations that quickly grow to involve Arkon
warrior
Sif, while other crew members are charged with keeping an eye on the
away team
and monitoring the planet.
As individual crew members step up to
expanded roles of importance to the team effort, readers receive a
series of
encounters and challenges that demonstrate flexibility and new
abilities and
reactions from them all.
Farlow is especially adept at capturing the
moments that challenge both Commander Nick's prowess and the nature and
composition of his diverse crew.
An innocuous space rock begins to change the
ship’s AI, introducing advantages and conundrums into the mission as a
search
for justice turns into a cat-and-mouse game of discovery.
As Nick buys time by spreading rumors about
the rebels and pursues his own interests, readers receive the lively
story of
an assignment that changes focus and direction through its encounters
with a
diverse set of special interests.
The characterization and dialogue are
particularly notable, with humor adding value and comic relief: “Wizzy!”
I
yelled, startling Doc.
“You bellowed
again?” Wizzy’s voice rang out without his avatar. “Didn’t anyone tell
you
growing up that isn’t nice?”
As emotional manipulation comes into play,
readers receive a thought-provoking story about subterfuge, ploys, and
plots
that keep the events fast-paced and the interpersonal revelations in
line with
not only past events, but with the development of Nick's crew.
While Retribution could be read
as a
stand-alone story, it will best be enjoyed by prior fans of Nick Hall
and his
crew. This audience will find Michael J. Farlow's attention to
expanding the
personalities, objectives, and political influences of this universe
enhance
both books with new developments that keep readers guessing.
Fans of military sci-fi and space opera seeking
strong stories that excel in universe-building description, and
libraries
catering to them, will find Retribution an
excellent saga of justice,
redemption, and intrigue that paves the way for yet another in the
series.
Return to Index
The Shadow of War
Timothy S. Johnston
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
978-1554556007
$21.95
https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-War-Rise-Oceania/dp/1554556007
The
Shadow of War opens somewhere in
the Pacific Ocean in
January, 2131; but the timeline that begins in 2020 (with the note that
global
warming is rising, but nothing is being done to combat it) sets the
stage with
notes about the strife that has evolved since.
People have begun living on the ocean floor
after markets crashed and the land dynamic radically changed both
physically
and politically.
What remains a constant are the rising
national tensions that evolve as the oceans are claimed in a new way
and
borders bump up against one another.
War is in the air. Or, more specifically,
under the waters, which simmer with the frustrations, dreams, and the
usual
trappings of mankind that include ambition, murder, and new weaponry.
From entwined underwater colonies that face
rising disparate interests from struggling surface nations to
operatives on all
sides that vie for a new underwater weapon that will prove as deadly as
any
nuclear force, Timothy S. Johnston injects the same special blend of
nonstop
action and techno-thriller elements into this story as in his previous
writings.
From submerged military bases and tsunami
studies that are increasingly pertinent to this new world to covert
actions
that affect humanity's ability to employ technology to survive rather
than to
kill, Johnston weaves an engrossing tale that opens with third-person
description of an Indian Ocean setting and history, then moves to the
more
personal observation of the first person usage and a Gulf of Mexico
backdrop.
From the start, Johnston's ability to
capture high drama and emotion offer captivating scenarios: "The
first
attack occurred on 28 January. There would be three more before I
deciphered
the clues and figured out what was happening. And when I did . . . I
needed to
kill. I’d never felt revenge that hot, that intense. It would turn into
a fire
burning within me, impossible to extinguish, impossible to quench. I’d
learned
that even murder didn’t put out flames that angry—it only made the
trauma
burrow deeper within, where it festered and boiled, only to emerge
later in
some other toxic form."
The story unfolds from the perspective of
Truman "Mac" McClusky, a young mayor of the underwater city of Trieste
who's also secretly a Director of Intelligence charged with staying one
step
ahead of enemy nations.
The shadow of war also holds the same shadow
of death that affected his early life. It's a mission he's lived with
as a
family inheritance as the world seethes in and responds to climate
change and
reinvents its cities and lifestyles.
As his relationship with sibling Meg becomes
embroiled over issues of who to trust and who might betray their cause,
personal and political struggles come to light that pressure each of
the
characters to betray their own special interests.
Johnston masterfully weaves these conundrums
into bigger-picture national and international thinking, setting all
struggles
against the specter of new world orders that seek not just to define
humanity's
future, but direct it.
As interpersonal promises collide with
political maneuvering, the story evolves a thought-provoking
progression
whereby the individuals who trust and rely upon one another find their
ethics
and morals challenged by conflicting loyalties.
With such strong social, political, and
technological undercurrents set against the backdrop of cat-and-mouse
games
that challenge psyches, relationships, and perceptions, it's easy to
highly
recommend The Shadow of War as an outstanding and
gripping sci-fi techno-thriller.
Driven by the ambitions and ideals of
characters who sacrifice personal values for greater purposes, The
Shadow of
War draws a precise, involving futuristic scenario that
relies as much on
family ties and different ways of handling past trauma as it does on
how these
translate into political choices and maneuvers.
Libraries seeking a stand-alone story that
adds to the Oceania series, yet requires no prior familiarity with the
previous
books, will find The Shadow of War a powerful
survey of what it means to
be a leader whose personal and political values seem to diverge.
Return to Index
Wizard's Masquerade
Jay Pellegrin
Pellegrin Books
978-0-6454413-0-7
linktr.ee/jaypellegrin
New adults interested in the
intersection of fantasy and
romance will find Wizard's Masquerade
a delightful study in both. The saga opens with Leyna, "the last one
left," who is trying to escape a monster pursuing her through a hedge
maze
of death.
She's a young wizard newly
in her twenties who dreams of
glory and achievement in her forthcoming career with the Royal Guard,
but she
finds her dreams in shambles when the king and his court are attacked
on one of
their journeys.
Shorn of her ambitions and
determined to uncover the
truth behind the attack, Leyna becomes privy to royal secrets and court
conflicts which not only challenge her powers and perceptions of the
world, but
test her newfound attraction to the court jester (who may be something
other
than he seems).
As Leyna pursues the truth
about the attackers, the
reality of rule and domination emerge to test her moral and ethical
mettle, as
well as her magical powers.
Jay Pellegrin creates a
powerful saga that plays on the
idea of the masquerade on many different levels. The story of sexual
and social
awakening, deadly attractions, and the Jester's mercurial personality
which
ripples between flamboyant and deadly serious makes for an intriguing
contrast
between personalities and purposes.
The magic of this story lies
just as much in the shifting
relationships of love and anguish as it does in the magic that also
shifts in
purpose and strength.
As Leyna, the jester, and
others around them adapt to
much-changed circumstances, readers receive an evocative story that
moves from
a love story to a study in deception.
Fantasy readers looking for
stories of kingdoms and
hearts rocked by changing circumstances, special interests, and
interpersonal
growth will find Wizard's Masquerade
an outstanding choice.
Firmly rooted in the
realistic, compelling personalities
of Leyna and the jester, the story evolves a firm sense of place,
purpose, and
changed lives in a world where magic is only the icing on the deeper
cake of
growth and the evolution of moral and ethical decisions based on new
knowledge.
Return to Index
Berth
Megan Stratford
Crystal Publishing, LLC
978-1-942624-76-9
$15.95
www.amazon.com
Poetry readers seeking poems
connecting human
understanding and emotion to the earth will find Berth
a study in transformative experience and perception. Its
links between the two use evocative free verse imagery to cement
observations
that are striking in nature: "Water
spills from canyon’s crevice/snow spitting her first freeze in
October/an early
shower of silver cells."
From back country coyotes to
volcanic landscapes
seemingly barren but teaming with life, Megan Stratford displays a
powerful
voice that captures these visions of nature and her place within this
backdrop:
"Any moment now the dark/will divide
the firs in two/sun setting her flame in the riffles/where the water
plies and
swashes into bedrock."
Seasonal observations are
just as deep-seated in nature
as Stratford's sense of place, as in the poem "Summer:" "new
life unfolds on the bodies of
cacti/while the sun’s/orange-red heat crawls alongside the wild’s
floor."
As the collection evolves,
the focus moves from a
nature-centric observational piece to a human-centric heart driven by
emotion
and considerations of cities, angels, and a different sense of place
and
purpose.
Line drawings accompany
these works to bring their
descriptions to visual life, but it's the power of the pen that moves
these
pieces, creating a collection highly recommended for libraries looking
for
contemporary poetry firmly rooted in a sense of nature and connection.
Ideally, the collection will
also appeal to non-poetry
readers interested in literary descriptions of the natural world. This
audience
will find a special flavor to the word paintings offered in Berth that dance on tongue and mind.
Return to Index
Casualties
&
Survivors
Len Joy
Independently
Published
979-8839788343
$9.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Casualties-Survivors-Stories-Len-Joy/dp/B0B92QYYYV
Short story
readers
who look for literary pieces about individuals who lose and find their
paths in
life will find the overall impact of Casualties
& Survivors to be thoroughly engrossing.
Its diverse
representations of lives in flux is presented with an astute, literary
eye that
captures fragments of world experience and lives and juxtaposes them to
create
powerful examples of casualties and survivors in life—especially when
taken as
a whole, in this collection.
Take "Good
Neighbors" for one example. Here, an unemployed at-home neighbor
observes
his neighbor's tipped trash bin, decides to help, and stumbles upon a
scene
that provides him with more information about them than he'd wanted.
As Pete's
good
intentions take an unexpected turn, readers will delight in the
unexpected
connections made in two disparate lives.
"Dancer, 14
Hours Later" moves into quite a different world of southern Missouri
and
Dancer Stonemason, who is attempting to manage his grief over losing
his son.
Their relationship represented an odd dance of disparity: "Clayton was struggling with his new business and
Dancer was
desperate for work. They needed each other. Dancer returned to the town
where
he had achieved his greatest success and then thrown it all away."
Now that
Clayton is
gone, Dancer finds minor comfort in the changes time has brought: "In their ten years working together,
Dancer, to his great surprise, discovered he not only loved his son,
but liked
him, too. Against all odds they had become best friends." But
the real
changes come from others who have been left behind, too.
Len Joy
weaves the
themes of casualties and survivors so intricately that readers will
find it
hard to define which element drives each story. The characters evolve
to
embrace some of both qualities, representing contrasting slices of life
that
sport different countenances, personalities, and ways of absorbing the
slings
and arrows of the world around them.
This lends
both a uniformity
and disparity to the collection as a whole, givingit a fine flavor of
enlightenment and surprise as the short works evolve.
Libraries
looking for
literary short stories that represent vignettes of hope, struggle, and
lives of
quiet desperation will find Casualties
& Survivors a fine choice, while reading groups
studying the fine art
of representing psychological twists in fiction will find these modern
pieces
excellent examples of creative writing's art.
Return to Index
Distant
Flickers: Stories of Identity and Loss
Rita
Baker, et.al.
Paul
Stream Press, LLC
978-1-7359292-3-1
$2.99 Kindle
Website:
https://paulstreampress.com/distant-flickers
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Distant-Flickers-Stories-Identity-Loss-ebook/dp/B0BCXMPP5B
Distant
Flickers: Stories of
Identity and Loss is an anthology circling
the
experiences of characters that stand
at a crossroads in their lives due to loss and change. Its fictional
representations of this pivot point offer diverse inspections that
juxtapose
the raw emotions of those emotionally flayed with the distant flicker
or spark
that emerges to create new beginnings from endings.
Take,
for example, "The Coveting" by Carol LaHines. Here, Francesca has
"wanted always what was not hers," from childhood into adulthood. Her
crossroads takes place when she is driven to support the lies which
have closed
in on her only to find that, via an extraordinary journey and
circumstances,
she is even more deeply entangled in lies that hold increasingly
disastrous
results.
The
beating heart that ends this story provides an unexpected revelation
from a
different direction than readers might have anticipated.
Joyce Yarrow's "Idaho Dreams," in contrast, is about a different kind
of flicker of realization which emerges in a contemporary Idaho world
when a
move to a farm leads Seattle girl Cora to surrender to dreams that
"become
more a prison than a refuge."
As
sacrifices, gifts, and family paranoia rise to the surface to bring
readers the
hearty sense of a reset button that introduces isolation into the
process of
survival, an engrossing story of subterfuge and a "constricted life"
emerges that examines the promise of dreams and the presence of
nightmares.
Each
one of these ten diverse stories tackles a different choice,
consequence, and
promises gone awry.
Each
is laden with emotional draw as the tales move between past to
present-day settings,
presenting life through the eyes and hearts of characters that struggle
to find
the flicker of new possibility and hope in their lives and realizations.
Dark,
brooding, enlightening, and emotionally compelling, Distant
Flickers sports the rare countenance of an anthology that
comes together on different platforms of experience and realizations to
create
a powerful literary anthology of life inspection.
Libraries
strong in short stories cemented by emotional ties will find Distant Flickers a powerful collection
and a solid acquisition. But its primary draw will be to book reading
groups
interested in stories of pivot points of choice and the consequences
stemming
from these moments in time. The wealth of discussion opportunities
offered by Distant Flickers is
endless.
Return to Index
Face Up
Suzanne Nielsen
Oleb Books
978-1-7323127-5-3
$3.99 ebook
www.olebbooks.com
Face
Up: A
Collection of Outlaw Poems is highly recommended reading for
fans of poetry
and, perhaps especially, those who believe themselves adverse to this
format.
The latter audience would seem an unusual choice for recommending a
poetry
volume, but Face Up's promise of
passion and fire refutes the typical perception of poetry as either
staid or
too literary to be readily understood by the general populace.
It tackles the angst and
abuses of modern society, from
illness and addiction to rebellion and confrontation, taking on these
causes
with a scorching charge that belays any notion that poetry is too
complicated
for the average reader to grasp: "You
hear the river; life ebbs and flows; you knew all along/your DNA was a
crapshoot."
The poems don't speak to the
heart. They roar with fiery
reflections that admonish readers to rebel, take charge, and defy the
mundane: "You can’t keep deformities hidden
behind stockings,/closed closets,/and lonely laundry lists forever.
Plant your
feet firmly on/the ground,/and do not hesitate to sink into the dark,
cool
mud,/spreading/your toes across relationships and looking for love
on/solid
ground."
Replete with nature
observations, social inspection, and
descriptions of individual lives touched by anguish and violence, these
poems
soar, defying any notion of staid free verse inspections: "She lights another cigarette while the phone rings
in
the/background./The cloud of smoke she exhales forms the shape of
a/grenade. A
grenade/powerful enough to leave behind shadows of memory/that soon
evaporates./She gets up, turns off the television and vows to see
her/son’s
body as whole..."
Face
Up: A
Collection of Outlaw Poems is a powerful testimony of
survival.
It's a force to reckon with,
deserves to be in any
library strong in contemporary poetry and women's writings, and ideally
will
assume its place of power in book club discussion circles. There,
poetry can
take on a new role as a major influence in and focus on living a
passionate,
rebellious life that eschews the mundane:
"I
see
snapshots of defeat as I rewind the decades,/a true bricoleur with a
lifeguard
certification who stood/stoic/at the water’s edge as a man fled into
the frigid
waters/one early/March afternoon, the sun starting its descent, his
bobbing/head/hallowed, his words reassuring me that this is his/moment
of/glory
as he goes under the third and final time."
Return to Index
I Made a Place for You
Damian White
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-570-1
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
I
Made a Place for
You is a poetry collection that resides firmly in a sense of
place,
embracing readers with an invitation to explore psychic and physical
connections to the world.
Its free verse is
emotionally charged with powerful
description and metaphor from the start: "We
abracadabra our flaws/into a mausoleum of deceit/for a semblance of
redemption/in shelling our leprosy aside."
Damian White's inspections
of these places which reside
betwixt nature and the follies of man create intersections of faith,
fate, and
freedom that move from earthly to celestial inspection and from outer
to inner
worlds.
The variety of themes
tackled in this story pay tribute
to emotional, philosophical, and psychic senses of place and purpose ("Depression is gluttonous./A ravenous
sin/with startling gusto.").
Readers can navigate White's
terrain with a sense of
unfolding lies, secrets, and revelations that coexist under the veneer
of
truth, understanding, and reality both within and outside self, in the
greater
world.
Lovely color images
throughout by Francesco Orazzini add
intriguing, artistic embellishments to the poems that reinforce their
underlying meaning, yet add another layer of expanded perception to the
written
word.
"Never
dare
the devil to sing," White warns as he cautions "no
war is won in worry."
White not only describes and
transmits a sense of place
for his readers. His reflections represent a unique and formidable
blend of
psychological tension and free verse that capture special moments in
the hearts
and minds of poetry readers who would find their perceptions of self
and the
world tested, torn, and reassembled thanks to the compelling lure of
these
observations.
Libraries seeking
contemporary poetry that arrives
emotionally and descriptively supercharged will find I
Made a Place for You an excellent study in contrasts,
addressing
a fractured world and the healing and survival processes that take
place within
it.
Return to Index
Like
Fire & Ice
Eli
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-433-9
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Poetry readers interested in
candid (sometimes stark) representations
of modern American women's working lives will find that Like Fire & Ice comes
with a
special flavor of inspection that translates to a
sometimes-uncomfortable, raw
honesty.
Themes include
trauma, suicide, "happy pills," and remarkable and unremarkable
truths that lead readers through sections entitled "Fire,"
"Ice," and "Ash," reliving the pain Eli feels as vignettes
move between anguish and angst, embracing fire, flame, and feelings
with equal
abandon. These leave marks on those around her (trigger warning:
including the
reader): "I am sorry you lived
through hell,/but like fire and ice/trauma left a mark on me."
As poetry
readers
move through fire and ice into the aftermath of ashes alongside the
poet, the
emotional journey both stokes and soothes the flames of discord and
self-inspection via works that enlighten as much as they transmit pain:
"I came back from hell/and the first
thing you ask of me/is to allow you to enter a body/that has been
repeatedly
violated/and expect me not to bite back."
As the poems
move
between inner anguish and outer adaptation, they represent both
discovery and
recovery, carrying their readers on journeys that reflect the
revitalization of
self: "Merry Christmas,/to
me/because I’m finally deciding to stay alive --/not for you or anyone
else./But because I deserve this right."
Literary
readers
looking for a tough, candid, raw inspection of the synthesis between
poetry and
psychological turmoil will find Like Fire & Ice
a powerful
representation of a life growing up in and mirroring a broken America.
How does one
heal
from trauma and actively choose life?
The journey
begins by
working through the pain. Like Fire & Ice
captures the first step of
this process for readers who would follow in Eli's footsteps and better
understand the choice to live, and its origins.
Libraries
and book
reader groups seeking the intersection of literary works and
self-analysis will
find much to discuss by making Like Fire & Ice
an active discussion
point about the process of discovery and emotional growth.
Return to Index
Rainbow
Weather
John Curl
Vagabond Publishing
(Small Press Distribution)
978-0-9885023-9-0
$16.00 Paper
www.vagabondpublishing.net
Rainbow
Weather: Poems for
Environmental Healing
represents an unusual marriage between conservation message and poetic
reflection, surveying the intersection between these two worlds with an
inspection of climate change and its impact on the planet.
If this sounds like
exhilarating reading, it is. These
are "songs for the road ahead" and represent the poet's interest in
using the deconstructive threat to segue into constructive thinking.
Take the opening poem
"Conjuring Realignment,"
for example. Here, John Curl poses the astute question "who cares/about
a
poem in a time of civilization/collapse?" His own answer to this query
represents a call to action that evolves from what is perhaps a last
gasp for
life on Earth: "Now is the ancient
boiling point, now/the ancient breaking point, now/the ancient flash
point of
rebellion!"
The vanquishing of negative
energy in all its forms,
whether in thought or action, is one theme that This may feel
surprising, given
the usual dark inspections of climate change and human actions.
The poems
move from
the initial creation of life to the sonnets of "meaningful
vibrations" that carried the world to this point in time. They pinpoint
the tenacity of the human spirit as evidence of the kinds of
determination and
survival instinct that can turn around virtually any given situation: "...in the thick of it all, you/and I,
direct descendants of/the long stream of life back through/the first
pre-humans, and/before that to whatever form we/took way back when, you
and
I/have somehow made it/through all this chaos and murder..."
The
frightening
countenance of failure and despair permeate many of these visions of
transformation: "...time is short
and death/lurks everywhere, they look longingly/toward the burnt-out
paradise
that once/was home, take a quick glance over/their shoulder, then sigh,
and
carry on."
As Curl
traverses the
opportunities for transformation and the power of defeat and despair,
readers
receive a psychic journey tinged with both possibility and devastation
that
elicit an emotional draw in their call to action and acknowledgment of
possible
futures.
The process
of
transforming the world and its trajectory begins with an
acknowledgement of
human connections and roles in the process. Curl's poems survey the
undercurrents of hope and adversity that permeate this process,
creating a
study rich in psychic examination and social evaluation, as well as
environmental awareness.
The result
will
attract libraries strong in contemporary poetry, but most of all should
gain an
audience from environmental issues and climate change readers
interested in a
literary, poetic inspection that pulls no punches in assigning blame,
guilt, or
opportunity for change and healing when reviewing toxic conditions and
their
origins.
The
wellsprings of
hope stem from these inspections. Ideally, book clubs will find much
fodder for
discussion in Rainbow Weather.
Return to Index
Unquiet Spirits
Lee Murray and Angela Yuriko Smith, Editors
Black Spot Books
978-1645481294
$22.95
Hardcover/$18.95 Paper/$6.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Unquiet-Spirits-Essays-Asian-Horror/dp/1645481298
Unquiet
Spirits: Essays by
Asian Women in Horror
is a
study in cultural influences on the concept and presentation of horror.
It
should be considered a mainstay not just for libraries strong in horror
literature, but those interested in Asian or women's history and
cultural
influences, and folklore.
These collections will
especially appreciate essays that
explore connections between Asian heritage and women's perceptions and
depictions of horror which explore the boundaries and connections
between
culture, gender, and horror representations.
From editor Lee Murray's
introductory discussion of the
Asian diaspora and her memories of her "ghost whisperer" mother (whose
perceptions of ancestors maintained ties to family long beyond the
grave) to
Nadia Bulkin's powerful Indonesian examination "Becoming Ungovernable:
Latah, Amok, And Disorder In Indonesia," which explores the connections
between social and political rebels and perceptions of such women as
monsters,
the diversity of subject and cultural roots that tie these works
together will
surprise and delight readers who anticipated a singular progression or
subject.
Each essay is a powerhouse
of cultural revelation that
examines not just the perception and presence of horror in Asian
culture, but
how these elements are transformed by women's experiences, through
women's
eyes, and by feminist thought that would make monsters out of ordinary
progressive
thinkers.
Readers who look for ghostly
encounters won't be
disappointed by such pieces as Benebell Wen's "Ghost Month in
Taiwan." They will just be surprised by the literary, social, and
political inspections that blend these horror elements into
bigger-picture
thinking: "I learned about demons
before I learned about angels, and of preta—hungry
ghosts—before I heard of buddhas or bodhisattvas. One childhood summer
my
sister brought home from Taiwan our dead uncle’s demon, the demon he
inherited
from Grandpa. Maybe it was my fault. Over the years I’ve gotten
creative with
how I convince myself it wasn’t."
Perhaps most notable of all
is the ability of each and
every one of these twenty-two essays to share, from different Asian
cultures
and perspectives, the foundations of what it means to reside alongside
the
unquiet spirits (ghosts, demons, witches and vampires) common in the
Asian
experience and tempered by the female eye.
Unquiet Spirits is
a
literary social inspection that should be in the libraries of a diverse
range
of collections, from those featuring horror literature to libraries
looking for
expanded insights into women's history, Asian women's experiences, and
the
power of supernatural forces in cultural representations.
Return to Index
The Backpack Years
Stefanie Wilson and James Wilson
Tucky Buddy Books (Ingram Spark, Dist.)
978-0-578-38623-2
$8.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: thebackpackyears.com
Ordering: https://www.amzn.com/B09TVH5RCH
The
Backpack Years:
Two Memoirs, One Story is a chronicle of travel, romance, and
experience
that combines two life stories in a joint journey of mishaps and magic.
Stephanie and James were
both driven by the same passion:
to travel and experience new things. So, their coming together felt
logical and
purposeful despite their very different upbringings and life
perspectives.
The story opens with James
in a bar, ordering more drinks
that get him further in debt. Angry and rigid, he leads a life far from
his
dreams, and seemingly far from the flexibility travel demands from its
adventurers: "I always stood in this
exact spot, at this exact time, surrounded by these exact people. At
work, I
liked the rules, regulations and boundaries of accounting, but its
rigidity had
infiltrated my social life."
His life feels like one of a
preordained inevitability
not necessarily of his choosing: "As
I stumbled under a decrepit railway bridge, I envisioned a future I had
no
control over. I’d pass my exams and become a fully qualified Chartered
Accountant at age twenty-two. Next up, a pay rise. I’d spend it on a
new car,
clothes and flat to reflect a professional life I was already
disillusioned
with. Debt repayment would devour the rest. Many kids from my
neighbourhood
ended up either addicted to drugs or selling them. I escaped an
inevitable
path, just to replace it with another one."
This would seem an unlikely
beginning for an adventure.
Surprisingly, the wellsprings of discovery often hold their roots not
just in
mundane lives, but frustrations and unrequited dreams. That is just the
point
James is at when his life really unravels (or begins, depending on the
point of
view).
Stef, too, is introduced in
a bar, but her frustrations
are different. She wants to make her parents happy, but there is also a
stark
difference between her reality and its motivation for continuing, and
her
dreams: "As a nurse and mechanic,
they worked long hours to provide me and my sister Cassie with a safe
and
stable life in Pittsburgh, and I owed it to them to be good and work
hard, too.
For as responsible as I was, I’d also craved adventure for as long as I
could
remember."
The
Backpack Years
is as much about the process of joining dreams and forging new, more
meaningful
paths in life and relationships as it is about the journey that carries
Stef
and James into foreign realms.
Readers interested in how
relationships evolve over
shared dreams that also change by the very nature of interpersonal
interactions
will especially appreciate that The
Backpack Years represents more than just another travelogue
of foreign
encounters.
These do drive the adventure
component of their story,
but within the outward challenges and excitement is an inner journey of
growth
and new ways of interacting, loving, and living which proves just as
vibrant as
the backdrop of exploration that will attract travel readers to this
memoir.
The result is a candid saga
of drinking, loving, laughing,
and everything that lies between. It's a heart-pounding road trip
through life
that is delivered in a gritty, revealing tone: "Though
we were broke, and our future uncertain, James and I carpe
diemed the shit out of London."
Libraries looking for travel
stories that embrace
interpersonal relationships as much as new places and perspectives will
welcome
both in The Backpack Years. Its
journey through alcohol, angst, love, and learning carries readers, via
a
streetwise voice and experiences, far from the beaten path of tired
travelogues.
Discussion groups interested
in stories of growth and the
pursuit of happiness will find The
Backpack Years holds plenty of insights and topics suitable
for broader
life inspections.
Return to Index
Family
Matters
Lance Lee
LWL Books
979-8218025397
$34.99 Hardcover/$14.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Family-Matters-couldnt-dysfunctional-Americas/dp/B0B9QM992N
Family
Matters: Dreams
I Couldn't Share - And How A
Dysfunctional Family Became America's Darling, The Addams Family covers several generations of family
dysfunction and ties from 1865 to 1971, surveying interlaced dreams,
failures,
and transformations.
The vast stretch under
examination allows for a focus
that departs from the usual family memoir by considering the myths
handed down
between generations and how these perceptions were not only
transmitted, but
broken.
More so than most, Lance Lee
pinpoints how myth and
falsifications "found a permanent place in our collective psyche" and
transmitted damage from past to future until its grasp was finally
identified
and the trajectory altered.
Many words of philosophical
and psychological wisdom
permeate this account: "Truth can't
be taken for granted; it can be overexposed. It can require nurturing.
Yet at
other times it can strike with the force of revelation and we realize
it was
always there, only waiting for the right time. But there aren't any
guarantees
about there being a right time, are there?"
The
appearance of Family
Matters proves there is a right time, represented by its very
incarnation
beyond family boundaries and into book form for the reading public to
absorb
and learn from.
What begins
as a
singular family experience evolves into precise descriptions of
dysfunction,
myths, and magical thinking that centers on the author's parents and
siblings
that reflect on how these traits and perceptions were handed down and
incarnated between generations.
Illustrative
material
that might have made the book too weighty or expensive are provided
through an
online link that further enhances the story's impact.
As readers
absorb
Lee's family dreams and disparate myths, they will be prompted to
consider
broader questions about public and private personas, the promise and
lure of
new beginnings, and opportunities tinged by past experience.
Lee takes
the time to
produce bright, flowing descriptions that attract readers to this world
and its
evolutionary process: "I'd stepped
out of a nightmare of stone, strangeness, impersonality, strife, deceit
bordering on weirdness, and alienations into a sunny reality."
From
emotional black
holes of disconnection and their involvement in the popular TV show The
Adams
Family to how the show reflected some of the family's dysfunctional
operations
("The Addams Family was the perfect
vehicle by which my father could at last pour his long festering
emotional
reality into characters waiting for names and relationships to be
created but
metamorphosized by the magic wand of creativity into the
"enchantment" of comedy frequently running to farce, with the denials
of reality we saw that are essential elements of these genres."),
the
swings between private anguish and public representation are especially
well
done.
Of
particular
fascination to psychology readers who are interested in both family
dynamics
and media representations are the astute comments and connections Lee
makes in
this area: "The superficially
fictional nature of The Addams Family not only allowed him to project
his real,
festering family experiences freely that normally he did his best to
repress,
deny, or portray as the opposite of what they were, but freed his
imagination
as well to embroider these projections and take advantage of others'
contributions, like bear rugs that growl..."
While the
result will
attract libraries strong in psychological profiles of family
dysfunction, it
also is very highly recommended for media studies students and
libraries
interested in the psychological entanglements between creative
representation
and dysfunction.
It took a
traumatic
break to shake the roots of this family tree. Family
Matters will ideally earn debate and discussion in book
clubs and psychology groups devoted to family issues and popular
culture movie
and film analysis alike.
Return to Index
Finding Us
Kristin Rohman Rehkamp
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-525-1
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Finding Us: A
Mother’s Memoir of Braving Mental
Illness with her Young Daughter is
a chronicle that intersects mental illness struggles and parenting
issues. It
neatly dovetails the two concerns in a chronicle of options and anguish
that
will enfold any parent who also struggles with their child's health and
changing perceptions about it.
The
memoir
embraces challenges and responses from mental health systems and
citizen
perceptions of mental illness alike as it follows Kristin
Rohman
Rehkamp's efforts, beginning with her young daughter's panic attacks.
The idea here is to capture
the look, feel, and daily
challenges of parenting a mentally ill child. From the start, Rehkamp
focuses
on the emotional impact this has on the entire family structure. This
approach
sets her memoir apart from the already-numerous treatises about mental
illness
already on the market (often written by those facing mental illness
themselves).
The idea is that this
personal journey will help
normalize and educate audiences about family and parenting experiences
with
mental illness. In this, Finding Us
achieves its goal by detailing a sudden shift in family circumstances
brought about by a panic attack that arrived out of the blue at an
11-year-old
daughter's well child visit.
Before
that
occasion, Rehkamp's daughter had exhibited no signs of mental illness.
The
sudden, drastic change careened the entire family into new areas of
challenge
in uncharted waters nobody could navigate well.
Lessons
were
learned, efforts were made, and the parenting process was adjusted and
challenged time and again by frantic parents who observed their
formerly-healthy daughter spiraling into a dark place where every life
experience threatened to set off a panic attack response.
Mental
illness
affects the entire family. Yet, too many memoirs focus on the
individual alone
and not the process by which families adjust to impossible new
circumstances.
In
reviewing the
family unit as a whole and the special issues that buffeted them from
all
directions, from community to mental health systems, Finding
Us does
fellow parents in similar circumstances a big favor. It both validates
emotional experiences and charts a way through the morass of emotional,
legal,
and social paperwork and responses that arise in response to a child's
mental
illness.
These incidences,
descriptions, and adjusted family
relationships are described in detail: "...mental
illness does not just impact one person. It impacts a family…a
community. There
were times my husband and I had to ask our nine-year-old son to take
his
five-year-old sister into her bedroom. He knew to grab a movie and
headphones
and to close the door to avoid the unwelcome sounds and sights of the
panic
attacks that plagued our oldest. I cannot begin to describe how that
felt as a
parent recognizing the insanity of the ask and the horrible reason for
the
ask."
Finding Us
is a memoir about finding the entire family a revised place of safety
in the
storm. While libraries can choose the book to compliment others in
biography
sections that address mental illness issues, ideally it also will be
chosen for
parenting collections and psychology groups, to become part of any
group
discussion about the nature, impact, and processes of parenting a child
and
growing a family when mental illness strikes.
Its multifaceted approach
moves it beyond singular
experience, making Finding Us
highly recommended for a wide audience.
Return to Index
Junkyard Girl: A
Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets, and Second Chances
Carlyn Montes De Oca
Goose Hill Press
978-0-9997812-2-7
$18.95 Print/$6.99 ebook
https://animalhumanhealth.com
Junkyard Girl: A
Memoir of Ancestry, Family Secrets,
and Second Chances represents an
imagination and life ablaze with dreams of escape and renewal: "Like
ice water, the aircraft jars me from my reverie, reminding me that the
only way
I can get a ticket on board that flight, or any vehicle that might take
me away
from here, is to grow up. Something that, at eleven years old, feels as
unattainable as the plane above, already disappearing into the horizon."
The
first thing
to note about this memoir (and its greatest strength) is that, under
Carlyn
Montes De Oca's hand, the tastes, smells, and sense of her past come
vividly to
life against the logic of her actions and choices: "Two large
beehives
stood on either end of the dirt path that ran parallel to the back
fence of our
property. My father collected the honey, and we enjoyed it over peanut
butter
on toast or pancakes on Sunday mornings. Except in the early hours and
at
night, the winged inhabitants of these white crates flew in and out of
the hive
entrance, swarming across the path. There was only one of me and an
army of
bees, so I always gave them their space and walked the long way around.
“The bees?”
Dad asked, surprised by my response “Why don’t you just walk through
them?” I
couldn’t answer him because I didn’t know why. Countless times I’d
watched my
parents, siblings, and even my dogs trot through the swarm as though it
was
invisible. It had never dawned on me I could do the same thing. Walking
through
a cluster of bees was a superpower I hadn’t been born with."
Too many
memoirs
simply narrate a life story. Montes De Oca invites readers to live in
her world
and experience memories alongside her, capturing the passionate overlay
of the
past with an attention to detail that is the hallmark of excellence.
From forays
into
delinquency to the fallacies of youth in not realizing opportunities
for escape
and meaningful change, her life is narrated via a series of vignettes
which are
both thought-provoking and entertaining. These stories often culminate
in
realizations that keep her readers thinking: "I
didn’t consider then that my grades would one day be my golden
ticket out of Escondido Road—toward a future I’d never even imagined,
and far
away from my mother’s rule."
Coming-of-age stories
typically are studies in contrasts and evolutionary processes, but Junkyard Girl's ability to
candidly inspect the narrator's family's life and her own heart as she
grows
into adulthood to repeat many of the patterns of the past she's escaped
from
makes for especially thought-provoking reading.
Memoirs
are
usually singular and often relatively staid. Not this one. From a
search for a
birth mother to the author's rebuild of her own life, readers are
thoroughly
engaged, and walk in the footsteps of the author from youth to
adulthood.
Junkyard Girl is a cut above the ordinary. It is very highly
recommended for memoir
readers and libraries that seek not just an exploration of past links
to
present-day choices, but a vivid inspection of life that constantly
presents
solid reflections and captivating scenarios of change.
Return to Index
Keeping Up
With God
Donnetta Wilhelm
with Connie Zimmerman
Capture Books
978-1-7324457-4-1
$19.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/KEEPING-UP-GOD-Colorado-Homeless/dp/1732445745
Keeping
Up With God: Thirty
Years and Running with Colorado Homeless Families is a memoir about keeping up to God's
activity to rescue people experiencing extraordinary need in dire
circumstances. It will reach Christian readers interested in the
intersection
between fellowship and personal involvement as a representative of
God's will.
Each step of this process is
outlined in chapter titles
that highlight what happens "when God" channels the river, has a
plan, stirs the heart, and more.
This step-by-step coverage
allows readers to draw more
direct connections between God's will and the response it can generate
in
followers to make a difference in the world.
Moving through adversity and
loss to growing positive
seeds of change in daily life, Donnetta
Wilhelm and Connie Zimmerman provide case histories that capture the
psychological and spiritual insights at work in different lives in
substantive
ways.
Vignettes include the creation and revitalization of the Colorado Homeless Families’ Education and Resource Center and action-oriented programs designed to change peoples' lives.
These
case
histories explore how different people came to the center, experiencing
homelessness from very different circumstances, and how they often
lived up to
their potential and to make greater contributions to the community at
large.
Keeping Up With God provides uplifting
accounts of social change
blended with spiritual introspection that gives it a special flavor
making it
recommended beyond Christian circles. Readers interested in stories of
individual struggles to grow beyond their life influences or
circumstances will
find the collection replete with examples of how this process
translates in the
real world.
While Keeping Up With God will earn the
attention of religious libraries, ideally it should also serve as a
basic
instructional manual as an example of how God's word and God's will can
be
reflected in the community to change the world.
Discussion
groups
interested in issues of homelessness, recovery, and spiritual
enlightenment
will find Keeping Up With God an
inspirational blend of memoir, social inspection, and religious
reflection.
Return to Index
Namwayut—We Are All One
Chief Robert Joseph
Page Two
978-1774580059
$24.95 Hardcover/$9.99 Kindle
Publisher: www.pagetwo.com
Website: www.namwayut.com
Namwayut—We
Are
All One: A Pathway to Reconciliation
blends Indigenous autobiography with social inspection as it considers
the life
and words of peacemaker and Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk People, Chief
Robert Joseph.
It opens
with a
memory of the 2013 Walk for Reconciliation in Canada, introducing the
history
and legacy of Indian Residential Schools and the path that led Chief
Robert
Joseph to this point in time.
It's unusual
to find
an Indigenous memoir that embraces both personal experience and
bigger-picture
thinking about the changing status and role of Indigenous Peoples and
their
outlooks on world events and peacekeeping efforts, but Namwayut represents such an intersection of
subjects. Its specific and unique focus drives a story that flows
between
Kwakwaka’wakw traditions and experiences and ways of cementing values,
methods
of viewing the universe, and maintaining cultural and world connections.
As Chief Joseph becomes "more aligned
with his purpose," readers learn about the ceremonies, rituals, and
growth
processes that lead him to write and speak about his peoples' hearts,
minds,
and spirits as a force of positive influence on the broader world.
Philosophical, spiritual, and social issues
coalesce in this memoir to bring his nation's narrative and connections
to
life.
His evocative words cement these
experiences, bringing various pivot points to life: "What has
allowed
me to find my way, and to heal, is that I remembered the magic. I
remembered
seeing the universe open up to me through the eyes of the dancers
behind their
beautiful masks. I remembered who I was, as a Kwakwaka'waku man. But I
did not
know myself, my strength, and how to find my way back home until I
truly
learned how to love myself."
The lyrical
language,
psychological and social inspections, satisfying blend of collective
and
personal history, and broader perspectives about life purpose, peace,
and
intercultural relationship-building proves a powerful testimony to the
ability
of one man to create and revise connections in the world.
Like ripples
in a
pond, these spread outward from a central point to transform
relationships on
an individual and society-wide level.
Libraries
looking for
Indigenous ways of viewing and embracing the world will find Namwayut—We
Are
All One an inspirational choice.
But it will truly find a home and will shine in various discussion
groups that
can debate social activism and change based on Chief Joseph's
revelations and
their ability to trigger challenging new perspectives leading to
positive
personal and social change.
Return to Index
The Search:
Adventures of a Restless Soul
George Biondic
Independently Published
978-1-7779039-0-9
$12.95 Paper/$3.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/SEARCH-Adventures-Restless-Soul/dp/1777903904
The
Search:
Adventures of a Restless Soul charts the making of an
ultrarunner in a
memoir that opens with a backache (diagnosed as the result of an
'overloaded
life') and evolves to explore the influences upon and formation of an
athlete.
In order to explain the
present, the past needs to be
understood; and so the introduction rewinds to 1957 Croatia, adopting a
third-person exploration of family history to explore this immigrant
family's
heritage and journey to Canada.
Black and white family
photos and European history
peppers the account to help modern-day readers absorb the sense of
place,
purpose, and social and political influences that buffet this family.
As George Biondic moves into the
world
of marathons and relationships, his heart, mind, and body blossom.
Readers
receive a concurrent examination of immigrant roots, changing
aspirations, and
the increasing importance of physical sports in the author's life.
These elements
are tempered by a rugged outdoors personality's forays into love and
life which
are rich in dreams, and a 'once in a lifetime' trip that changes
everything.
Part of the attraction of this
story lies in
its past influences and how they dovetail with Biondic's present-day
choices
and experiences. The contrast provides many thought-provoking moments
about the
origins of a desire to run, compete, and live a high-octane life of
heady
experiences and risk-taking choices.
This provides a satisfying "can
do"
atmosphere as the humor-dotted memoir explores the depths of despair
and the
heights of hope.
Biondic could not possibly have imagined a
future such as he literally ran into. As he tackles prejudices
(others', as
well as his own), anxiety and depression, and the kinds of approaches
and
solutions that lead to a better life, readers facing their own
life-altering
circumstances will find inspiration, hope, and revelation in The
Search.
More than a search for peace
and meaning, the
memoir chronicles Biondic's quest for self-satisfaction and achievement
versus
cultivating a busy life for the purpose of tamping down depression and
angst.
The blend of memoir,
psychological insights,
and examination of the evolution of a marathon runner create a
compelling
story. The
Search will appeal to a diverse
audience,
and to libraries building collections strong in immigrant experience,
psychological self-help, and sports stories.
Return to Index
Trailblazer
Mary Ann Horton
Red Ace Press
979-8-9865205-1-3
$16.99
paper/$9.99 ebook
www.redacepress.com
Trailblazer:
Lighting the Path for Transgender Equality in Corporate America
may sound
like a how-to lesson in civil rights and equality, but it is a memoir
of author
Mary Ann Horton's life and efforts.
It opens with the stormy
confrontation of a marriage on
the rocks as the then-cross-dressing author faces an emotionally
withdrawn wife
who fears that her husband's habit will threaten their children.
As events unfold, Mary Ann
narrates the process of
transformation from man to woman that allowed her the freedom to match
what she
felt inside with her outside appearance.
For many transgendered
individuals, the story would end
here. But thankfully, for Mary Ann's readers, this is only the
beginning, setting
the stage for the struggles she would experience at home and in the
business
world as she navigated and faced a new glass ceiling already more than
familiar
to women and which is applied to transgender workers, as well.
As Mary Ann moves into
activism and became involved in
LGBT legal rights, she also moves from undercover and part-time living
as a
woman to full-time presenting as female, coming out to her family and
explaining her views to foster understanding and acceptance.
In some of these efforts,
she succeeded in forging new
opportunities and paths of understanding. Other times (as in the case
of her
mother), tolerance was the best that could be achieved. Candor is a
hallmark of
this memoir, which explores a crumbling marriage and the costs of
living
full-time as a woman, as well as the pleasures of finally choosing to
live as
who she really is inside.
Mary Ann's focus on being a
working woman forms the
backbone of her memoir, offering insights not just into trans
obstacles,
rights, and conundrums, but many of the challenges all women face in
the
corporate workplace and in stepping into their power and identities.
Readers who would better
understand the challenges and
promises of coming out and embracing their true selves will find the
transitioning
process explored in full in Trailblazer,
providing illuminating, enlightening reading highly recommended for
memoir
audiences.
Return to Index
Wolf
Carter
McNamara
Authenticity
Consulting, LLC
978-1933719405
$15.99 Paper/.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Memoir-Atonement-Carter-McNamara/dp/1933719400
"Before
we can talk about
getting your family back, we need to start with you."
Wolf:
A Memoir of Love and
Atonement
is a study in dysfunction, recovery, and relationships that pulls no
punches as
it presents a powerful example of how love can overcome trauma.
Carter
McNamara begins by acknowledging that the very act of writing this book
was a
"soul-ripping experience" because he grew up in a culture and time
when "people rarely talked about their personal problems."
The
crisis that prompted his recovery process and acknowledgement of the
damage
he'd inadvertently inflicted upon his own family, and his process of
atoning
for it, makes for riveting reading that will prompt many members of his
audience to better understand their own impact on their loved ones.
As Wolf
unfolds, the threads of dysfunction
are traced between generations and their presence and impact are
studied
through the personal lens of experience. Why read this book if you have
also
either experienced such trauma or meted it out? McNamara offers a solid
example
of not only how to face personal demons, but how to build a loving,
healthy
relationship.
Victims
of such a heritage receive hope and examples of how to move through
trauma into
a better life, while those who have spread trauma through their own
responses
and choices can learn how to "gain forgiveness from them—and perhaps
from
yourself."
The
story comes steeped in much personal reflection that in fact follows
the
processes of questioning and healing—an intrinsic part of recovery.
The
step-by-step portraits of McNamara's pivot points and life are studies
in
meticulous behaviors and analysis which translate to minute
descriptions of
people, conversations, and places that all hold nuggets of wisdom.
The
logic behind his choices is brought to life through these close
inspections: "Nothing to gain if I go in, but
something to lose if I don't. Teri would be disappointed. She'd wish
I'd done
what I promised. I'd better stay in her good graces."
Wolf
is a solid example of good
storytelling that takes a step-by-step walk through the process of
relationship-building, reconstruction, and lasting "cure."
Readers
who have or have not faced their own trauma and recovery will find many
of
these paths familiar, yet here they come reinforced by the wisdom of
self-examination and experience that outline pitfalls and possibilities
for
others still on the road to healthy life interactions.
The
result is a memoir that offers much beyond one man's experience. Those
who walk
a similar path of struggling to reconcile their past and build a better
life by
acknowledging and atoning for their actions and choices will find Wolf a blueprint for identifying and
following a better road.
Libraries
strong in memoirs and self-help will be attracted to Wolf,
but ideally it will also assume a prominent role in book club
discussions and perhaps even twelve-step programs as a candid, raw
example of
healing and recovery.
Return to Index
Apogee
Lou
Earle
PHiR
Publishing
ASIN:
B0B92KRRWZ
$7.49 Kindle
Website:
https://phirpublishing.com/titles
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92KRRWZ?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
Apogee
is a Mac Sisco novel opening a
trilogy about a worldwide conspiracy. It sets the stage for a social
and
political inspection by introducing the efforts of Ex-Navy Seal and NSA intelligence agent Mac
Sisco, who finds himself in over his head when Team Apogee is called
upon to
thwart an evil government-busting conspiracy.
The story
opens with
an acknowledgement that will feel familiar to modern Americans: "Something was wrong in America. Very
wrong. As the ISIS/ISIL rampage was becoming a distant memory, tensions
across
the globe were elevating in other ways."
This
leads to the first note that makes Apogee
exceptional: its grounding not just in modern-day political and social
turmoil,
but the kinds of perceptions and atmosphere that feel familiar to
Americans no
matter their political ilk.
As
Lou Earle creates this story of a shadowy cabal's underlying threats to
democracy and world order, readers will be even more attracted to Mac
Sisco's
character, efforts, and importance as he enters the arena of world
struggle and
tries to get at the heart of why so many governments seem to be poised
on the
brink of chaos.
As
events unfold, the probe widens to embrace further involvements that
take place
not overseas, but within the very institutions that are in place to
oversee and
protect the nation: "In the last
several weeks we’ve spoken with credible sources. They revealed to us
that
certain three-letter agencies stood up compartmented operations to
manage
certain elements of widespread aberrant public behavior. The rioting, for example.
By itself, that
would not be news, except that our sources are telling us that instead
of
trying to investigate and arrest the perpetrators, they are possibly
encouraging it. Maybe even funding it. While these assumptions are
somewhat
speculative, they are based on specific human intel and these sources
are
historically credible, so we have high confidence their reports are
accurate.”
Sisco's
efforts aren't entirely political in nature. His personal life lends
both a
tone of familiarity and insights that support his character and life
experiences, as in his invitation to Jasmine for a date, which holds
additional
subterfuge because he knows who she really is and what she stands for.
As
loyalties and liabilities are tested in a series of events, other
characters
step in to expand the scenarios and nature of the evolving conflicts.
Lou
Earle does an excellent job of crafting a cat-and-mouse game that plays
out on
a mercurial arena both at home and abroad.
The
intrigue and suspense are well done, represented by characters whose
purposes
and objectives are brought to life and supported by current events.
The
result is a thriller that takes on not a new threat, but one which has
been
simmering for over half a century.
Patterns
of government actions and interactions, special interests and
influences, and
questions about who is really in charge and overseeing events create
pleasing
moments of discovery and revelation that invite readers to entertain
bigger-picture thinking.
Libraries
and book groups interested in the ability of such a thriller to spark
debates
over underlying issues in modern society and government will find Apogee a fitting introduction that holds
the opportunity for important discussions.
Return to Index
Azabu Getaway
Michael Pronko
Raked
Gravel Press
978-1942410287
$18.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Azabu-Getaway-Michael-Pronko/dp/194241028X
Prior fans
of Michael
Pronko's Detective Hiroshi Shimizu series and the four books
chronicling his
adventures as well as newcomers (especially those who harbor a special
affection for Japanese backdrops) will find this fifth adventure
mystery, Azabu Getaway, a
compelling new story.
An
introductory list
of characters enlightens newcomers to the major players in these
events, which
open with a break-in: "Patrick Walsh
waited outside, tired of the cold, of the dark, thinking it through,
worried
that the key wouldn’t work.
In case it didn’t, he’d brought along a mini cordless drill, three
sizes of drill bits, a screwdriver, a pick, and needle-nose pliers
packed into
a drawstring bag. He’d watched a few online videos on how to ream out a
lock."
Michael
Pronko slips
the atmosphere of urban Tokyo into subtle observations which educate
those
unfamiliar with the city's culture, setting the stage for the
challenging
mystery that evolves as Detective Hiroshi investigates the
disappearance of two
girls from the home of a financial manager, and the murder of a wealth
management executive.
Tracking the
trail of
financial clues leads to Hiroshi's better understanding of Tokyo's
undercurrents of money and mayhem, drawing him into murky waters that
seem to
lead away from his investigative strengths and into financial circles
he
navigates with increasing alarm.
Pronko's
juxtaposition of the investigative mystery and Tokyo's atmosphere is as
delicately wrought as in his other stories. This means that readers
receive
wonderful interludes of description that embrace not just Tokyo's
atmosphere,
but relationships and work conducted in that city: "Hiroshi
shrugged. “Something was off at Nine Dragons and
something was off in their marriage.” “Something was off? That’s all we
have?”
Sakaguchi stared through his thin eyes at Hiroshi and Takamatsu.
Takamatsu
smiled and Hiroshi waved for another drink. Ishii spoke up. “No news on
the
girls?” Sakaguchi shook his head. Two plates of deep-fried eggplant
bathed in ponzu sauce
arrived and two more of
pumpkin, the orange meat grilled brown on both sides."
From
physically
diminutive but effective female new detective Ishii to new
complications that Hiroshi
experiences with his girlfriend Ayana, Pronko creates a multifaceted
mystery. It
draws readers on many different levels, icing the cake with Tokyo's
social and
political atmosphere to make its financial circles feel realistic,
lively, and
fraught with danger.
As Hiroshi's
homicide
team confronts the outcome of greed and deception in different circles,
readers
receive a story that embraces many layers of discovery as Hiroshi moves
through
his private life and professional worlds with a growing sense of dread.
While
mystery
libraries and readers will choose Azabu
Getaway for its strong trail of revelation and financial
misconduct, it
also should attract readers not normally drawn to mysteries, who harbor
a
special affection for Japanese culture and urban backdrops.
This
audience will
find much to appreciate in Pronko's exquisite rendition of Hiroshi's
latest
investigations in matters of money, mind, and heart.
Return to Index
The Body in the Barrel
Richard G. Opper
Konstellation Press
978-1-7346421-9-3
$14.99
paperback, $3.99 ebook
www.RichardOpper.com
"Sticks" and "Stones" open
this crime
novel with a 1943 setting. They are gang members in the Navy town of
San Diego
in The Body in the Barrel, and
participate in money-making scams, thanks to Sticks' being 'born to be
a
businessman.
Fast forward from this
prologue to 1973, where veteran
Gary is back home from Vietnam with a few scars to show for his sojourn
there,
working for the Harbor Police. He's 28 years old and feels he has
little to
show for his life in the way of achievements. His feeling of going
nowhere in
his life is mitigated by a crime that challenges him to tap his
survival skills
and his analytical abilities alike.
Gary never imagined joining
forces with a producer of
porno films in order to solve a mystery. He never imagined moving
ashore from
his comfort zone of nautical investigations to enter a world replete
with gang
activity, Chinese Tong influences, and conservative businessmens'
secrets,
either.
But crime has a way of
reaching out into ordinary or
staid lives, and Gary is changed by these circumstances and the
consequences of
an investigation that goes awry in too many ways.
Gary is not the only
character whose perspective is
explored and challenged. Bar owner Mona Oakheart, real estate tycoon
Frank
Reines, and other business interests find their lives and purposes
entwined in
events that range from a body's theft from a morgue to evidence that
winds up
in a monk's graveyard as testimony to nightmares that came true.
Readers familiar with crime
scenarios will find a
different kind of inspection in The Body
in the Barrel. It weaves a compelling saga of interlaced
jigsaw puzzles
through changing perspectives which are clearly identified and
carefully
developed.
Under Richard G. Opper's
hand, each character's feelings
of success and failure, their nightmares and ambitions, and the
different ways
they reconcile their pasts and presents come to satisfying life.
As equally powerful as the
fine character development is
the attention to details that successfully entwine to create a
surprising
bigger picture than solving crime alone.
These elements contribute an
excellent tension and
overall atmosphere to a San Diego-based story that builds not just
individual
perspectives, but communities that operate both above-ground and
underground.
The result is a crime story
especially recommended for
readers seeking memorable female leads whose lives and abilities equal
their
male counterparts, atmospheric settings firmly centered in a sense of
place,
and purposes that develop not just from monetary ambitions, but from
the heart.
Libraries will find The
Body in the Barrel rich in all these features, and attractive
for its
thought-provoking probe into how people lie to themselves, then live
with and
build upon these illusions.
Return to Index
Christmas in
Newfoundland 2: Memories and Mysteries
Mike Martin
Ottawa Press and
Publishing
978-1-990896-03-3
$19.00
www.ottawapressandpublishing.com
Christmas in Newfoundland 2: Memories and Mysteries
blends the cozy
mystery with seasonal holiday celebrations in another Sgt. Windflower
collection that builds on the first Christmas
in Newfoundland book,
offering
more experiences. These will prove especially inviting to both prior
Windflower
mystery readers and newcomers unused to finding a seasonal theme
blending
mystery with holiday backdrops.
Here, the
magic of
Christmases past and present mingle with a sense of place and purpose
to
capture the season not just through Windflower's eyes and experiences,
but from
the perspectives of his two little daughters.
This lends a
special
flavor to the collection which represents more than mystery alone—and
more than
seasonal reflections, as well.
From Winston
Windflower's very first Christmas as part of a couple and his wife
Sheila's
passion about the season to the process of creating new Christmas
traditions,
Mike Martin juxtaposes warm memories and relationship-building with the
standard Windflower penchant for investigating trouble.
These create
an
intriguing and satisfying juxtaposition between acts of kindness and
relationships that grow new connections over the holiday season.
These
traditions and
memories are personal, and embed their own special brand of holiday
warmth intotheir
descriptions: "There were toasts to
dear departed Dad and to Mom for an excellent turkey. To the turkey for
being a
willing and tasty participant. To Linda and her mother for
accommodating our
Christmas cooking crisis. And cheers when the Christmas pudding was set
alight
at the end of the meal."
The result
is a
series of vignettes that celebrate the season while expanding
Windflower's
personality, approaches to life, family connections and experiences,
and the
Christmas season's ability to introduce new opportunities.
Libraries
will find
an excellent choice in Christmas in
Newfoundland 2: Memories and Mysteries. It's a collection in
which the
mystery takes second place to the memories and connections. And, after
all,
that's what Christmas is all about:
"Christmas taught us a few things. First, don’t
take things for
granted. Things that you rely on may not always be there when you need
them.
Secondly, that you really don’t need much to have a good time or a
great
Christmas. Finally, never underestimate the power of friends at
Christmastime.
Or maybe all year, for that matter."
Return to Index
Dead Winner
Kevin G. Chapman
Independently Published
978-1-958339-05-3
$4.99 ebook/$14.99 Paper
www.amazon.com
Dead Winner's mystery opens with a call
that involves Rory McEntyre
in a suicide. Tom was his old law school classmate, and Rory was a
groomsman at
Tom's wedding to Monica Bettger eight years earlier.
The couple
was just
in his office three days ago. Suicide was the last thing on anybody's
mind—or
so he thought. Now it's the first thing he thinks about daily as he
embarks on
a mission to solve a death whose cause feels impossible on too many
levels.
Complicating
matters
is a winning lottery ticket that seems to place Monica in the
crosshairs of
suspicion. But, Monica was his old flame—she couldn't have committed
murder.
Or, did she?
As he is
forced to probe
deeper into their relationship to uncover facts about Tom's
questionable
business practices while the winning ticket disappears, too many
possibilities
arise that swirl around Monica and Tom. These place Rory in
uncomfortable,
changing positions as he defends Monica on several levels but begins to
feel
that he is being pulled into a puzzle beyond his ability to solve.
Kevin G.
Chapman's
story is as much about entangled relationships and perceptions as it is
about
solving a crime. The attention to revealing personal details, motives,
and
relationships makes for an involving murder mystery that engages its
readers on
many problem-solving levels.
As loner,
Rory finds
himself more connected to his former flame's life than he ever could
have
imagined, while readers gain a sense of his proactive attitude not just
towards
crime, but life: "...the more we
prepare for different situations, the better we’ll be able to deal with
whatever does happen.”
Rory excels
in anticipating
many scenarios. But perhaps his great challenge lies in preparing to
revise his
relationship with client and past love Monica and his ideas of who she
is and
her relationship with Tom.
As Rory
becomes more
deeply involved with Monica's dilemmas over money management, vanished
lottery
tickets, and a huge sum of money, he finds himself inadvertently taking
charge
on a level beyond the usual attorney-client relationship.
Chapman's
story
features many satisfying twists and turns that seasoned crime readers
might
anticipate, but most won't see coming. Rory has back-up help, and their
interactions prove essential to solving the surprise that places Rory
in a
life-threatening position.
Mystery
readers who
look for more than whodunit elements will find Dead
Winner compelling. It takes the time to build relationship
puzzles into its overlying mystery; creates a strong, likeable, but
flawed
character in Rory McEntyre; and develops realistic atmospheres to
support its
action and inquiries.
Libraries
seeking
stand-alone investigative stories that excel in interpersonal action as
well as
crime-busting events will find in Dead
Winner a winning ticket.
Return to Index
Deadly
Repercussions
Karen Black
Independently
Published
9798725019353
$17.99 Print/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDT4L1FC
Trouble is
coming.
That's the
opening
portent of Deadly Repercussions, a
suspense/mystery story that introduces brothers who are dual citizens
of the
United States and Mexico.
Alejandro
and Manuel
have chosen different paths in their lives, but their loyalty and
family ties
to one another remain consistent until death breaks them and leads one
brother
to exact revenge while a son left behind is indoctrinated into a street
gang.
The fight
for justice
continues into new generations and a conflict as the story evolves,
following
Juan into adulthood. A daughter's safety is left to New Jersey boy
Jerod
Ventura, who moves from his initial burglary as a young man to become
one of
Juan's trusted friends.
The
repercussions of
murder resonate through different generations, relationships, and
experiences.
Karen Black weaves a powerful saga of disparate special interests,
kidnappings
and threats, and forces that clash as times change.
Black is
particularly
adept at following children into adulthood, from Elaina and Juan to
Jarod,
showing how family and friendships evolve against the threat and
backdrop of
violence and change.
Deadly Repercussions moves deftly
between and among these disparate
lives in a dance with death that keeps altering the characters in
unexpected
ways.
The
mercurial
timeline of shifting experiences and interests keeps readers thoroughly
immersed in events that challenge relationships with heartache, love,
adversity, and wasted lives changed by destructive impulses.
“Life
is a
masquerade with repercussions that can be deadly.”
Libraries
that choose
Deadly Repercussions for its special
brand of suspense paired with inspections of generations that grow and
change
under the influence of violence and bad choices will find this story
replete in
not just suspense and mystery, but murder, loss, and the resonance of
events
that change future generations.
Book clubs,
too, will
find its winding progression through choices and consequences sparks
lively
discussion over the pursuit of justice and its end results.
Return to Index
A Diet of
Death
Jinny Alexander
Creative James Media
978-1-956183-86-3
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Diet-Death-Jess-OMalley-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0B9KBZV4R
A Diet of Death is a cozy animal mystery
set in the small Irish
village of Ballyfortnum that revolves around dieting, death, and dogs.
It also
revolves around (and opens with) food, as Jess helps herself to food at
a wake
and listens to Kate complain that three of her students have already
dropped
dead.
Fletcher,
Snowflake,
and other pets are as involved in matters as the diet focus of the
local slimming
group which is seeing its members succumb unexpectedly.
Jess
suspects a
murderer is at large, but she has her hands full trying to convince
authorities
that this peaceful small village may harbor a threat.
Jinny
Alexander embeds
her murder mystery with the satisfying atmosphere of rural Ireland.
This comes
to life as Jess navigates murder and the village's culture, with
precise
descriptions permeating the story of a growing threat: "Jess
waved back, and tugged Fletcher away, Daisy’s barking
abating as they rounded the bend out of sight. Enjoying the spring
blooms of
the village, thinking of the riot of colour in Henry and Elizabeth’s
garden,
and the soft greens of Breda’s, Jess remembered her suggestion to Linda
to join
a gardening course."
From Jess's
absent
love life to a series of lively older characters who are meeting their
maker
too early, Alexander cultivates a wry observational style that brings
not only
the dilemma, but the small town to life: “You
can’t lock yourself away in a dead-end street full of old ones for the
rest of
your life.”
With cat
captures to
dogs and a trail of treats and intrigue, Alexander builds a warm story
based on
not just murder and mystery, but personalities who have formed
connections and
habits that lead to satisfying lives.
The result
is a cozy
mystery packed with animals and intrigue that, most of all, excels in a
warm
sense of place and purpose lending to the underlying conundrums.
Cozy mystery
readers
who enjoy stories of friendships and murder possibilities will find A Diet of Death unusually strong in its
atmosphere, which does equal justice to both the murder mystery
component and
the entwined lives of a small village which provides a satisfying
backdrop for
retirement and friendships.
Return to Index
Don't Look
Back
Stephen Winn
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-555-8
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
In the
opening stages
of Don't Look Back, Mackenzie
("Mack") Sampson's life is in shambles. His fiancée is dead. He's
lost his job at Boston Homicide. He's addicted to alcohol and Xanax and
his
life appears to be over.
But, that's
just life
as he knew it. Something else simmers on the horizon of purpose, driven
by his
need for money, and so Mack starts a private P.I. business, only to
find that
easy money isn't so easy after all. A lucrative investigation of a
wealthy
businessman in downtown Boston leads him into another series of
conundrums that
test both his tenacity and his ability to set aside the traumas of his
own life
to enter those of another's.
Stephen Winn
powers
his investigative mystery with insights into Mack's thought processes
and
experiences:
“I was up most of the night—hardly had any sleep
since Friday. My mouth
feels like I ate mud, and I probably look even worse than I sound. I’m
afraid
to go near a mirror—even my dog won’t look at me. Hey, it was John F.
who said
life is unfair, wasn’t it?”
“Kennedy? I think so…”
“His damn quote has been bouncing around in my head lately—I can’t seem
to shake it. Lewis said something like that
when he fired me.”
Time is not
on his
side in this new venture with his partner: it's working against them.
Also
working against them is Mack's own psyche, his struggles with past
trauma, and
a present-day case that rises up to haunt him, testing his abilities to
stay
sane in different ways.
This depth
of
psychological tension and introspection is part of what makes Winn's
story so
accessible and compelling. Readers receive more than a murder mystery
whodunit—they are immersed in Boston's underworld as Mack navigates
street
hookers, the Boston Marathon, thefts, and the consequences of a
high-tech trap
he sets.
"There is no
way
in hell they could afford to lose this case." But there may be no way
to
win it, either.
With its
broad cast
of characters supporting and accenting Mack's efforts, Winn has created
an
intriguing story that will attract readers interested in more than just
a tale
of discovery.
As the
Whiting case
plays out with some unexpected developments, murder mystery fans will
appreciate the reality of Mack's world, which is injected into his
moves and
perceptions.
Libraries
and readers
seeking a psychologically powerful murder mystery investigative story
will
appreciate Don't Look Back's
ability
to follow Mack into not just looking back, but using the strength of
his trials
to power him into a different future.
Return to Index
The
Guardians of Truth
Barry
Finlay
Keep
On Climbing Publishing
978-1777139544
$15.95
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1777139546
The
Guardians of Truth is a Jake Scott mystery
that
adds a second book to the series. It opens with an intriguing vision of
doomsday and an underground bunker that promises survival of the
fittest (or
the smartest).
Cassie
Wright is determined to confront Julian's fraudulent claims of building
a
refuge, but she's made a big mistake by confiding her suspicions and
intentions
to Robert Weatherby, the new man in her life. It's a mistake that will
cost her
dearly, because his membership in the organization The Guardians of
Truth
allows no room for disbelievers, much less those who would thwart its
mission
to preserve humanity.
As
Jake's investigation carries him into the wild world of online dating
in an
effort to catch a perp who eludes conventional P.I. methods, readers
receive an
involving mystery as he probes Julian's community, life, and
contentions.
Jake's
world and Julian's collide in different ways as Julian's allure and
promise
reaches out, along with his threat: “All
these people have similar issues. They have trouble living in a
material world
without truth. These people are the cream of the crop, handpicked by
Julian and
me. You will be compatible with them, and we already have a
relationship. I
knew you would want to be a part of the awakening. This is the first
time
Julian has been specific about the coming doomsday, but there have been
hints.
We have the chance to be saved."
As
he pretends to go along with the Guardian of Truth's sales pitch in an
effort
to get at the real truth behind the group and their leader, Jake finds
himself
embroiled in the mystery of Cassie's disappearance that challenges his
growing
involvement with Dani Perez, who also finds herself drawn into the
investigation.
The
result blends romance, special interests, and cult processes in a story
replete
with broken promises and new possibilities.
Barry
Finlay crafts a dual story of Jake's increasing involvements in matters
over
his head. This expands Jake's personality and leads readers to find him
even
more likeable and appealing as the mystery component dovetails nicely
with his
personal relationships and changing life.
Readers
who look for engrossing mysteries that are rich in a sense of place and
divided
purposes will relish the solid pairing of action, tension, and
disparate
characters which make this mystery especially intriguing and compelling.
Libraries
looking for a good stand-alone mystery that also serves to expand the
setting
and character of the first book will find The
Guardians of Truth rich in intrigue, romance, and social
inspection.
Return to Index
High
Crimes
Montana Kane
Bird On A Head
979-8986807423
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: montanakane.com
Ordering: amazon.com/author/montana.kane
High
Crimes is a Brandy Martini novel
that introduces
the character of a private investigator from Chicago who finds herself
in a
small town facing big problems.
Brandy's story opens with a bang of a
prologue that captures a threatening atmosphere and poses many
questions
designed to immediately pull readers into her puzzling dilemma: "I
think I just heard something. I close my eyes and concentrate and I put
my
respiratory system on pause so I can listen. Yes, there is definitely a
sound.
The sound of something brushing past a branch or a bush. Then, that
rustling
sound stops, and now I can hear breathing. There is a presence. Out
there in
the darkness, there lurks something that probably wants to get closer
to my
tree. I know it can't be human. All the humans left after the carnage.
It's just
me and my tree now."
The blend of "you are here" feel
and the immediate dramatic threat, spiced with Brandy's first-person
observations, creates a gripping draw. It's like being suddenly
immersed in
freezing cold water and feeling compelled to swim to safety.
As powerful as the depiction of threat is in
these opening lines, so is the underlying mystery that leads readers to
want to
know more about Brandy and her peril; especially since this scenario
also comes
tinged with humor: "...as someone who left the big city
hoping to enjoy
some peaceful small town living, I certainly never imagined that a
community of
2,656 souls surrounded by glistening snowy peaks would turn out to be
the
breeding ground for so much wickedness and brutality."
The smell of weed wafts over this small town; so perhaps it's not totally unexpected that Brandy's first job involves delving into the marijuana community. And, again, wry humor peeks out to add a fun flavor of irony to unfolding events, such as when Brandy is arrested at the local Laundromat while trying to buy detergent:
"Drop
the
Tide!"
All my years on
the force, I swear, I never once belted out such an order.
"Drop the Tide?
Seriously? I gotta say, the whole
small-town thing—"
As amusing descriptions permeate the story
to augment serious situations, readers will find themselves doing
something
uncommon in a mystery read: simultaneously laughing while being drawn
by the
unfolding drama and threats.
The special flavor of High Crimes
makes it a particular delight for readers who would laugh as well as
follow the
trail of an extraordinary situation. From its Colorado mountain setting
to a
small community filled with in various characters both nefarious and
zany,
Montana Kane crafts an exceptional character and circumstances that
demand
attention on different levels.
As readers pursue the intriguing discoveries
Brandy makes about the undercurrents of her new community, they will
find
themselves thoroughly engaged and delighted by twists and turns that
evolve
within a rollicking adventure replete with wry observations.
The result is a suspenseful read that goes
above and beyond the usual scenario to attract readers who look for
humor as
well as thought-provoking mysteries.
Libraries looking for examples of genre
reads that stand out from the crowd, as well as book club discussion
groups
that would consider how humor can be injected even into the direst of
situations, will find High Crimes a real winner.
It's highly recommended
as a refreshingly original, witty mystery.
Return to Index
The Insignificant
Girl
Tom Fitzgerald
Mascot Books
978-1-64543-852-6
$19.95
www.amplifypublishinggroup.com
The Insignificant Girl is a social and
political thriller about an
Iranian girl left motherless after car bomb. Raised by her stern father
in a
culture that demands female conformity, Raji's rebellion carries her
into a
stormy adulthood.
When her
beloved son
Yasser is killed in San Francisco by a bullet meant for Jewish American
agent
Myk, the two find their lives connected by tragedy and rebellion as
they
uncover a deeper meaning to the event that involves each on a desperate
mission
to save the world.
Events alter
between
Iran, Lebanon, and various locales in the U.S. as the action plays out.
Tom
Fitzgerald also shifts the perspectives of the main characters and
their
changing lives as he follows their convoluted connections and moves
between
world-changing forces and the individuals who would stop them.
A virus
threat keeps
emerging in different places and is barely contained, and so the clock
ticks
with action and shifting alliances and intentions, swirling around the
characters to create a tense atmosphere packed with many possibilities
and not
enough time.
Great
sacrifices are
made by each character as the action and interactions unfold with
heart-stopping scenarios: "Jamal
gripped Raji’s neck tighter. Jaafar was only making him angrier. Jamal
yelled
at Jaafar, 'Step forward right now, traitor, or she dies! It’s time for
you to
answer to Allah!'”
Aside from
its
action-packed thriller components, The
Insignificant Girl maintains a gripping atmosphere of social
and political
inspection. This offers insights into the choices and consequences of
individuals and societies that find themselves boxed in by their own
belief
systems and perspectives.
The
characters are
constantly reinventing themselves and their purposes, carrying readers
into an
atmosphere of both proactive choices and self-examination that set
plans in
motion and invite both violence and redemption.
These
inspections
supplement the action with higher-level thinking worthy of book club
and group
discussion as the events play out against an international backdrop of
threat
and conflict.
The result
is a
gripping thriller that is also a study in human emotion, intention, and
response to extraordinary circumstances.
The Insignificant Girl's ability to draw
readers with an
action/thriller plot, then lead them into circles of interpersonal and
political inspection, makes for a notable achievement that's highly
recommended
for libraries seeking thriller stories with added value.
Return to Index
Paper
Targets
Steve
S. Saroff
Flooding
Island Press
979-8985703818
$15.99
Hardcover/$9.99 paper/$4.99 Kindle
Website:
http://saroff.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RP7JCF8
Mystery
and thriller readers who look for psychological tension and
technothriller
elements will find Paper Targets: Art Can
Be Murder a solid work of noir art. It marries a realistic,
compelling
protagonist with scenarios that challenge both his abilities and the
reader's
ideas as an intrinsically flawed character who becomes a criminal
computer
hacker and falls in love with an artist.
Steve
S. Saroff's literary prowess is demonstrated in haunting descriptions
from the
opening lines of the novel: "I grew
up with the soft sounds of words and the metal hardness of tools. But
as I
grew, letters kept flipping, reversing, and tormenting me. When I tried
to
explain, I st-stuttered. But looking at trees, the clouds, or the
cracks on the
sidewalks, I saw patterns that did not have to be deciphered or
explained. And
those patterns flowed into each other. Looking up, through the
branching limbs
of an oak, into the turbulence of a storming sky, then looking down at
the rain
splashing at my feet as I walked home from school, I felt connected to
what I
then had no words for."
The
story of evolving romance and "pretend love" winds through this world
with powerful descriptors designed to immerse readers in lovely words
and
challenging moral and ethical questions. The narrator faces and
captures these
dilemmas in succinct, powerful lines: "I
did take the cash, and I did bury it. So, I must say, true and clear as
starlight, “I did it. I stole.”And I caused death by doing so. But this
writing, this tense changing back and forth - past and future - hurts
and
cramps my hand, which holds this pencil. Difficult stories have more
tense
changes and points of view than the bright stars in a studied night
sky. But
those truest of points have no shame and no regrets. In my real tense,
at this
moment as I’m writing, I wonder if these words will become the
coordinates, and
the bearings, to a history of what went wrong."
The
changing scenarios of characters using one another in different ways;
of
imprisonment and freedom; and of choices gone awry that hold
consequences that
make life and love difficult creates a gripping story that is nearly
impossible
to put down.
Saroff's
power of the pen drives the plot, building extraordinary characters and
circumstances that flow from one dilemma to another much like life.
It's
rare to find a thriller and crime story that also embraces such
literary
foundations; but Paper Targets
represents art in and of itself. It ideally will be used in creative
writing
classes as an example of how literature can evolve even in genres
usually
associated with entertainment value alone.
Paper
Targets holds the rare ability to
become much more than another genre read, making it a highly
recommended choice
for thriller, psychological suspense, and literature readers and
students
alike.
Libraries
seeking a standout in all three areas will find Paper
Targets fits the bill, and should be profiled as an
exceptional read.
Return to Index
Pilot Who
Knows the
Waters
N.L. Holmes
WayBack Press
978-1-7352916-7-3
$5.99 ebk, $14.99 pbk
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZQWK45J
Pilot Who Knows the Waters is Book 6 of
The Lord Hani Mysteries
series, providing a historical mystery and suspense piece that will
attract
newcomers as well as prior fans of Lord Hani's uncanny ability to get
into (and
out of) trouble.
Here,
Egyptian
diplomat and investigator Hani faces a political conundrum. He's
charged with
secretly obtaining a Hittite bridegroom for Queen Meryet-amen despite
the
opposition of forces who would do anything to prevent this.
Family,
politics, and
ambitious murderers collide in this Egyptian mystery, set in 1335 BC.
An
introduction of historical notes offers newcomers and mystery fans
background
information about the times and its symbols of power, while a list of
characters and glossary of terms eliminates any possibility of
confusion over
the many influences affecting Hani's decisions and world.
While these
introductory segments may feel daunting to casual mystery readers
looking for
immediate immersion in action, they prove essential to understanding
the plot,
which is both satisfyingly complex and inviting for its foundations in
historical facts.
Hani's world
opens in
the spring. He reflects that all seems well in his life: "Despite
Hani’s misgivings about the politics of the kingdom, he
had to confess life was good. The harvest would be rich that year. His
granaries would be full. He might even have to build another one."
This neatly segues into a sense of dread and doom as political pressures and events lead Hani into an unexpected series of challenges that pose Egypt on the brink of war. Only his efforts to solve the mystery can keep his nation and loved ones from chaos.
The juxtaposition of
mystery and history is nicely balanced in Pilot Who
Knows the Waters. Readers of both genres will find their
intersection in Hani's investigations and involvements to be
particularly well
done. The flavor of the times and its political and social changes is
steeped
in Hani's efforts in a way that both educates and entertains.
The result
is another
Lord Hani novel that stands nicely on its own, while adding to the
series as a
whole.
Libraries
looking for
powerful intersections between mystery and history need look no further
than Pilot Who Knows the Waters to
satisfy
this need.
Return to Index
The
Smallest War
Mark
Sheehan
Independently
Published
978-0-6454901-1-4
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7P4ZKMF
The
Smallest War is a legal techno-thriller
featuring powerful characters, political subterfuge, military
engagements, and
ruthless skirmishes that center on a big oil discovery and nations
vying for
its control.
On
the surface, The Smallest War represents
a classic battle between ideals and realities; but look beneath the
obvious to
discern the undercurrents of social and political snafus that drive the
characters to participate in a special form of cat-and-mouse games on
an
unusual and dangerous playing field.
As
the Small War plays out with political special interests vying for
ultimate
control, readers receive a fast-paced story that offers an intriguing
alternative to conventional warfare: “Your
Honor, the process reflects the importance of the indigenous nations to
the
United States. It was used by the Hawk tribe of the Lakota People and
is called
Khuwá. It translates to ‘hunt’ or ‘chase’ and requires one party to
pursue the
other party. If a combatant is caught within time, the pursuers win. If
time
runs, the pursuers lose.”
A
dangerous game becomes a serious contest in which the players fight for
their
lives, with exquisite tension permeating a story filled with
checkpoints and
countermoves, rough terrain, and a collision course with the Russians.
Readers
who look for thrillers that move back and forth across a playing field
of
individual competition and national tensions will find all these
elements and
more in The Smallest War, which
describes interactions both physical and mental.
As
Danny "The Beef" Wellington navigates drugs, Russians, and unexpected
endgames set against a futuristic backdrop, readers will appreciate the
contrasts between Danny's opening life and Irish heritage and the
challenging
scenes which evolve later. He's carrying on the legacy passed down from
his
father (also Danny Wellington - a.k.a. "Chuckles"), whose own life
reflects both dedication, pride, and poverty: "Danny
Wellington. The man who worked tirelessly each weekend at
Trinity Church. The man who danced a jig on the drop of a hat and would
give
you the shirt off his back. The God-fearing teetotaler who sipped
lemonade at
the East End Bar, before heading home to his small house:
three-kids-to-a-room
small. Danny’s house was freshly painted, and well maintained, unlike
the
neighboring houses, which had sprung weatherboards and broken windows,
but the
neighbors topped Danny when it came to décor. Church mice all, love was
their
only expense, whereas Danny would have none of it. And that’s why his
kids
called him Chuckles: because there was nothing fucking funny about
Chuckles."
Danny's
father's influence as "referee and
judge rolled into one" continues into the broader world as
events
unfold between and beyond father and son, and as a budding romance
between
Danny and Native Amerian girl extraordinaire Kimimela Thunderhawk
evolves into
a world-hopping adventure.
Readers
receive a lively, action-packed discourse that navigates social and
political
worlds which rely on an international marathon game to settle life
issues.
Libraries
and readers seeking thrillers that circle around fiery confrontations
and
nanotechnology threats will welcome the multifaceted and swift action
that
makes The Smallest War almost
impossible to put down, injecting a warm atmosphere based on
present-day events
and futuristic possibilities alike.
Return to Index
Henry Hoffman
Melange Books
979-8886530513
$10.99 paper/$4.99 ebook
Ordering: Solitaire:
An Adam Fraley Mystery
Solitaire is mystery that opens in 1997
with a middle-aged
financial investor's decision to move off-grid and away from the
successes and
failures that have dominated his life. Lured by mysterious lights and
promises
of better choices far from the rat race, Jeb Lanigan drops out, and
then
vanishes completely.
Enter PI
Adam Fraley,
tasked with locating Jeb and his hideaway in the remote Sierra Nevada
foothills. But more is hiding in the wilderness than Jeb, as Adam
discovers
when he becomes the target of a sniper, having unwittingly stepped into
a
secret that the shooter is determined to keep against all odds.
Henry
Hoffman employs
the image of solitaire on many levels: as a cat-and-mouse game of
chance in
which cards are unfolded and surprises emerge; as an effort to stay
hidden or
expose underlying purposes and intentions whether good and bad; and as
a
comment on solitary choices and actions that dovetail into impossible
secrets and
situations. It also just so happens to be the name of the town and area
under
inspection, which is a haven for refugees of all kinds.
Adam's foray
into
this new case lands him in a dangerous position as another's solitary
ways lead
to closely-held mysteries that draw him in and threaten his life.
Hoffman
cultivates a
fast pace that leads readers through nonstop twists and turns as Adam
explores
this strange new world and finds help from an unexpected source that
emerges
from the past to assist him in his time of need.
Readers will
find
themselves engrossed by not just Adam's evolving conundrums and
realizations,
but the choices of Jeb and those who eschew modern life to live on the
margins
of a different world.
With its
sniper fire
and murder as well as a wounded dog and the involvement of FBI agent
Lauren
Staley, readers will appreciate both the engaging suspense and the fast
pace of
the story, which create intrigue that holds attention through a
well-developed
sense of place and mercurial cross-purposes.
Certainly
not in this
mystery, which provides a satisfying Nevada backdrop, realistic
characters, and
mercurial events to keep readers both guessing and engaged.
Libraries
looking for
strong, action-packed, quick mystery reads will want to add Solitaire to their collections and
recommended reading lists.
Return to Index
The Fearless
Moral
Inventory of Elsie Finch
Lynn Byk
Capture Books
978-1-951084-49-3
$18.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Moral-Inventory-Elsie-Finch-ebook/dp/B0B9V2LYX4
The Fearless Moral Inventory of Elsie Finch
is a highly recommended
work not just for religious collections, but for readers of literary
suspense
stories. The tale revolves around the carefully-arranged legacy of
parents who
threaten to inject chaos into the next generation.
Some
families leave
legacies of positivity and gifts. Others leave behind angst and
confusion.
As Elsie
navigates
her particular family maze, a series of consecutive vignettes emerge to
capture
the family's psyche.
Lynn Byk
writes with
a lyrical hand that captures passion and emotion with equal aplomb: "She didn’t shed a tear into this
river. Instead, she began to breathe. It was time to figure out what
had
happened, and when. To finally begin to live her own life without guilt
or
compunction, she needed the timing of things. Timing was the only way
to get a
feel for each family member’s motives and to answer this: how had her
warm,
vibrant father died a broken stick of a man washed to the riverbank by
the
runoff? Her aim was to learn how to get past these wretched years since
she
first fled the nest and later, when
she tumbled headlong into the rushing waters."
From her
childhood's
evolution and her early passion for reading books, to her church
connections,
her experiences with youth leaders and guideposts of faith, touchstones
of
building a connection with her higher power, Elsie's journey and coming
of age
details her psychological family dynamics and community influences.
Byk builds
her story
with the passionate search for God's will and mounting tensions in the
story of
evolving personality disorders that ripple across the landscape of
America.
As grief,
redemption,
and human follies weave through the life of this faith-rooted
protagonist,
readers will appreciate the persona and challenges Elsie navigates as
she tries
to change her family's catastrophic legacy.
Christian
fiction
collectors looking for literary novels will find The
Fearless Moral Inventory of Elsie Finch replete with
thought-provoking moments. Certain to spark a variety of soul-searching
conversations about faith, family, and the evolution of both, Christian
fiction
collectors looking for literary novels will find The
Fearless Moral Inventory of Elsie Finch replete with
thought-provoking moments, but it's the book club interested in
discussing and
exploring these special revelations that will find The
Fearless Moral Inventory of Elsie Finch of special interest.
Return to Index
The Fifth Daughter of Thorn
Ranch
Julia Brewer Daily
Admission Press, Inc.
978-1-955836-11-1
$29.99 Hardcover/$16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: www.juliadaily.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Daughter-Thorn-Ranch-ebook/dp/B0BC27KXXB
The
Fifth Daughter
of Thorn Ranch is a contemporary Western that revolves around
mothers,
daughters, and a woman who inherits the largest ranch in Texas, a
million acres
called The Thorn.
It's rare to read a story
centered on powerful women who,
for generations, have passed down a legacy of authority and capability,
much less
in the traditionally-male-oriented Western; so it's a special pleasure
to
absorb the opening lines of a narrative that embraces such a heritage: "Three mornings before, she had lifted
her great-grandmother’s saddle from its post, yearning for a connection
to her
long-gone Abuelita. The leather, hand-tooled by a master artisan, was
exquisite, but the worn seat verified someone used it for more than
horse shows
or parades. Emma imagined her tiny great-grandmother herding cattle
from this
same perch and shouting commands to the vaqueros. She now fidgeted in
her
relative’s saddle. Will I ever have
her instincts? Emma often questioned her mother about
what they required
of her."
As the real impact and
promise of this weighty legacy
unfold, women receive the draw of family and interpersonal connections
that
place Emma and her clan at the forefront of modern-day changes
happening in the
Southwest in general and in Texas in particular.
A special flavor of past and
present times winds through
the story to bind generations with secrets, revelations, and conundrums
that
challenge their values and ability to adapt. Emma finds herself cut off
from
her people and involved in a culture and relationship that tests her
resolve,
mettle, and everything she's been taught about her role in life and how
to best
grasp its power.
As family and friends search
for the now-missing Emma,
they also face their own failures and potentials and are forced to
re-examine
their cultural perceptions and relationships.
Julia Brewer Daily spices
these life-changing events with
colorful descriptions of the Southwest and ranch life: "Josie
introduced the woman carrying the food as Flora. She
brought mammoth-sized dishes to the table, far more than four people
could eat.
Warm corn tortillas piled high, steaming chopped brisket, pico de gallo
in
bowls, sour cream, cheese, fresh tomatoes, and a pot of pinto beans
dotted the
table. Tall glasses of iced tea with limes completed the meal."
Daily's ability to capture a
"you are here"
feel throughout lends to a story that doesn't just tell—it immerses.
This
process leads to a fascinating education about the cultures and
influences of
Texas and its high-stakes ranching world, with realistic, memorable
characters
and atmosphere bringing this milieu to life.
Different viewpoints are
explored to expand the range of
possibilities and perspectives, while family influences on choices and
heritage
receive central attraction as thought-provoking revelations unfold over
Emma's
choices and their consequences.
The result is a work
blending women's literature,
cultural inspection, and a contemporary Western backdrop in a manner
that
places female characters at the forefront of change and adversity.
Libraries looking for
women's literature and Westerns of
a very different ilk will find The Fifth
Daughter of Thorn Ranch a standout, while book club
discussion groups can
choose it as a solid example of a well-done representation of women who
stand
in both powerful and vulnerable positions as they manage their
heritage, wealth,
and future.
Return to Index
Found
Irene Cooper
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-549-7
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Found is a novel about crime, recovery,
and redemption. It tells of
Eleanor Clay, who makes her living finding bodies for the police in the
Colorado River ten years after her own daughter drowned.
Eleanor is
still
grieving, and the success of her grisly talent doesn't quite mitigate
its
impact on her psyche—until she discovers one of the missing still
alive:
three-year-old Lizzie.
This sparks
a sea
change in Eleanor's work and involvements as she becomes increasingly
drawn
into a strange circle of violence that holds the potential of
resolution by her
very involvements.
Irene Cooper
creates
a powerful story that moves beyond its origins as a crime/detective
tale and
into psychological examination and recovery processes: "Eleanor
didn’t search so much as make herself available, put her
body and its senses in the way of the lost article until a glint or
break in
the pattern of the landscape drew her attention. Every recovery felt
like a
conclusion. Restored to the one who suffered the loss, the object fell
without
a trace from her consciousness, as if it had never held it."
The psyches
of first
responders, detectives, and those who find grizzly indicators of
violence are
all presented in the course of a story that weaves a tight
psychological
tension into its crime backdrop: "Around
her she could sense the hard hum of the men and women who had arrived
at the
scene to help, whose job it was to arrive at these scenes. Never
business as
usual, this business of responding; with chilling regularity, people
were
caught up in and mangled by the machinations of the world. More
incomprehensible when it is a child, least so when that child is a
target."
As the tale
unfolds,
so Eleanor's personal life and world expand to embrace both hopeful and
soul-destroying outcomes as a result of her unique talent and job.
As she moves
from
identification and recovery to prevention, she assumes a more active
role.
Readers will appreciate the many ways Eleanor quietly changes and moves
into
being a more powerful force in others' lives.
A trigger
alert might
be issued to those who struggle with murders involving children. But,
the story
holds so many more insights than just this scenario that many readers
will find
the venture into uncomfortable waters to be more than worthwhile, for
the gems
it returns on the subjects of healing, adaptation, and change.
Readers of
crime
stories seeking psychological depth and evolution as well as a solid,
intriguing mystery will find Found
involves more than finding bodies and identifying perps. It revolves
around
finding self and renewed purpose in adversity, and is highly
recommended for
libraries seeking crime thrillers thoroughly grounded in psychological
discovery and growth.
Return to Index
The Fundamentals
Lydia Gordon
Wells Street Press
978-0-99888906-1-9
$15.99
Paper/$5.99 ebook
Website: lydiagordon.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Novel-Lydia-Gordon-ebook/dp/B0BHF78HKP
The
Fundamentals
opens in 2019, where a mother and daughter barely avoid a car accident
during a
move that daughter Lucy never wanted, and has resisted.
When Alexa accepts help from
kindly young man Ben Miller,
she opens the door for a series of changes that stem from new
environments and
new people.
Lydia Gordon captures this
milieu in a story that also
includes references to different relationships and the expectations and
prejudices that drive them: “'You gals
could have been killed,' he insisted, 'traveling alone like that.'
Alexa lost her job because
of being confrontational and
not acquiescent to the responsibilities of motherhood (or so her
mother,
Sheila, maintains). She has failed as a wife and in her career—will she
also
fail her daughter by introducing changes neither of them are prepared
to
handle?
Lydia Gordon builds a
compelling story of unexpected
encounters and transformation upon an initial foundation of unrest and
change,
tapping into the logic, motivations, and community of Esctasy, where
Alexa
hopes for a different outcome and positive new opportunities.
As Alexa Moss runs for the
school board and becomes
involved in a battle over intelligent design and educational paths, she
finds
herself confronting not just traditional thinking and new
opportunities, but a
new set of obstacles that have their roots in her past choices. Her
self-inspection and determination permeate an account which reflects
many
modern scenarios, capturing Alexa's weary determination to overcome all: "Every
limb ached, yet it was time to climb this mountain of rubble and see
what could
be salvaged."
Gordon injects many
perspectives on the community issues
that reach out to involve Alexa and her peers. Another overlay of angst
and
change that affects stances and encounters is the introduction of COVID
and
disparate social and political reactions to the spreading virus.
All this makes for an
absorbing probe into lives
transformed not just by stances on community issues, but by forces from
the
outside which affect choices in education, belief systems, and
interactions.
Gordon is as astute at
showing how these processes
connect people as she is at charting how they divide.
The result is a novel
steeped in a realistic backdrop of
growth as it surveys a community whose school board lies in the eye of
a storm
shaking the nation.
Readers who look for
realistic, absorbing stories of
social issues and personal revelations will find The
Fundamentals a believable, eye-opening novel that deserves a
place in any library's contemporary fiction collection; particularly
those
strong in social issues.
Return to Index
Holy Parrot
Angel A
Angel's Leap
978-0-9876222-5-9
$5.99 Kindle
Website: www.angelsleap.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8SL82J6
In Holy Parrot, Maria is a pregnant teen
virgin and the possible future mother of a legend. Angel A sweeps
readers into
this multifaceted story with a plethora of insights that reveal just
how
special Maria is, opening with Maria's pregnancy and thwarted attempt
to marry
in order to preserve her reputation and name.
As events
unfold in
Buritaca, a small fishing village in Columbia, they are narrated from
the point
of view of Leonard Lumière, an undergrad science student who meets
Maria and
comes to adore her.
Leo's job is
to
"to discover something special in the region," but he had no clue
that this special discovery would involve both genetic research and a
possible
religious second coming event.
Leo's
initial mission
is clear: he's to find out why the people of this particular village
live so
long. The answer is not the science-based reality he's come to embrace,
but
offers powerful insights into life, death, and spirituality as Leo
probes this
"blue zone" for its secrets (blue zones are defined here as
"regions where the resident population appeared to live long, healthy
lives beyond the normal expectations of other world territories.").
As Leo's
involvement
with Maria challenges his science, his perceptions of God, and his
other
relationships, Holy Parrot embraces
a
myriad of thought-provoking themes that weave an intense story of
closely-held
secrets, truths and lies, social and cultural changes, and one young
girl's
world-changing mystery.
Maria's
evolving
mystique captivates a growing, wide audience as Leo learns from her,
supports
her, and takes bigger risks than he's ever made before in his life.
Angel A
creates a
compelling story replete with life-changing moments and revelations: "A distinct chill rippled down my
spine. I looked across to Robin, who clearly knew exactly what was
going on. He
had mentioned the air baptism, “to know thyself.” Was this what he was
referring to? Was Maria about to share revelations with each one of us
about
our personal identities that we may have never contemplated previously?"
The tension
is as
well-developed as the captivating aura surrounding Leo and Maria and
the paths
they forge that change belief systems and values alike.
Spiritual
readers who
enjoy stories of beacons of hope, paradigm-changing experiences, and
social and
personal transformation will find Holy
Parrot vivid and involving.
While
libraries
strong in spiritual novels will be the ideal audience for Holy Parrot, it should also assume an
active role in any book club
or reader group interested in the intersection between science and
faith, the
resulting drive for a better life, and the miracles that can power such
convictions.
Return to Index
Icarus Never Flew ‘Round Here
Matt Edwards
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-552-7
$15.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Icarus
Never Flew
‘Round Here is a novel about
Dale,
whose isolated life ranching in the Oregon High Desert has resulted in
a
psychic and theological dilemma that increasingly immerses him in
questions
about his choices and lifestyle.
From the opening lines of the story, readers
receive powerful philosophical and theological inspection couched in
moving
metaphors that indicate just how far-ranging this isolated life's
inspection
will bring them:
"Dale thrusts the posthole digger into the shallow
soil. The
impact of hitting yet another rock reverberates through his hands,
arms, and
shoulders. He pulls the handles apart, and the blades scrape together
more of
the earth. Looking up through parted hands, he notices the sky salted
with
clouds stretching all the way to the horizon. He pauses, focusing on a
fixed
point between land and sky. The inconstant, white forms float by in a
languid
current; Earth’s rotation appears momentarily tangible.
“Whatta ya want from me?” Dale asks. “I know yur out there.” He lifts
the dirt out and dumps it in a pile. “Ya got nothin’ better ta do?”
As Dale
moves from
the mechanics of daily chores (digging and fence-building) to following
well-honed instincts when a heifer miscarries, readers receive
interactions and
inspections loaded with life observation that connect this high and dry
life to
bigger-picture thinking.
On the
surface, Icarus
Never Flew ‘Round Here is a staid
life. However, it's one that experiences a sea change as Dale descends
into
erratic behaviors and the specter of bodies and bad decisions emerge to
change
his world.
Matt Edwards
moves
readers from the expected into the unexpected as he follows Dale into
the
descent of a man who looks for God within and outside himself, only to
unearth
tragedy and death.
A gritty
form of
irony permeates this exploration and carries readers through startling
psychic
realms in a story that sets its foundations in the earth, then returns
various
characters to the loam of the unforeseen.
Atmospheric
claps of
thunder and descriptions of nature and place set the scenes for Dale's
own
simmering insanity.
The result
is a
literary reflection of the effects of isolation, theological
examination, and
one soul's descent that offers a thought-provoking read that surprises
on many
different levels.
Libraries
looking for
novels replete in psychological revelation will find Icarus
Never Flew ‘Round
Here an intriguing study in
insanity and wonder that will hopefully find its way into book clubs
and
psychological readers' circles with its intriguing portraits of
discovery and
downfall.
Return to Index
I'll Be
Seeing You
Joanne Kukanza Easley
Red Boots Press
979-8-9867133-1-1
$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Seeing-Joanne-Kukanza-Easley-ebook/dp/B0BC4TYT56
I'll Be Seeing You is a novel that spans
five decades of a young
woman's life. It opens with her life at age 14 on a Texas cattle ranch,
as the
only girl and the middle child in a family of four brothers.
Lauren
doesn't want
to grow into the cattle industry by marrying a fellow rancher. Her
ambitions to
become more seem to be fulfilled when she is discovered by a modeling
scout at
the 1940 Fort Worth Stock Show Parade and moves to Manhattan to begin a
glamorous big-city life far from her family's ranching heritage.
Mama had
told her to
"face up to reality," but she rejected that future, only to find its
replacement leads her into heartache, alcoholism, and a downward spiral.
As she burns
bridges,
moves back and forth between despair and opportunity, and searches for
an
elusive happiness that never quite lies within her grasp, readers
receive a
vivid story of a young woman who grows into a misguided life and career
never
quite certain that the path she is on is the one she really wants.
Readers will
find her
first-person story and reflections inviting and
thought-provoking—especially
the passages which review her trajectory and choices: "During
the long, tedious trip, my history played to an audience
of one, like a failed B movie. Alcohol had a starring role in each of
my
personal disasters. Determined to learn from my missteps with men and
alcohol,
I promised myself I’d exercise restraint in both areas. How hard could
it be to
have a social life without booze and sex?"
These lend
especially
well to book club discussion as well as psychology circles where
individuals
reflect on life's influences and their responses. The latter will find
Lauren's
self-inspection process intriguing and worthy of debate: "Until
you can love yourself. Was self-hatred my problem?"
As loss,
love, and
angst coalesce, readers will appreciate the realistic turns Lauren's
life takes
as a ghost from the past emerges, presenting newfound opportunities.
Joanne
Kukanza Easley
cultivates a special air of self-discovery and enlightenment in
Lauren's life,
tackling hard questions and equally challenging courses of action as
she
appears to come full circle, then moves away from new choices that
would change
her life.
The
psychological
survey of an alcoholic woman who finds ways to make amends to others
and to
herself is particularly well-done, reinforced by a first-person
examination
that captures important contrasts between ideals and reality.
Libraries
looking for
powerful stories of alcoholism, recovery, and revised destinies will
find the
powerful protagonist's realistic life experiences make I'll
Be Seeing You a winning example of past influences and future
possibilities in love and life.
Return to Index
The Journey
Mark T. Rasmussen
By The Pure Sea
ASIN: B0B8B426VJ
$7.99 ebook
Website: https://marktrasmussen.com/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BLGLRKVQ/
"Today I am breaking the heart of the woman I love."
It's
a choice that threatens to haunt the first-person narrator for the rest
of his
life.
The Journey represents an unusual novel
form, in that it is
"semi-interactive." Song references sprinkled throughout are linked
(in the ebook) to music, allowing for an instant backdrop of audio
enhancement
that adds to and enhances the reading experience.
It's a
rollicking
road adventure made not by the usual teen or new adult, but
40-something
father-to-be Raiden, who looks to escape fatherhood by embracing new
life
experiences far from his familiar routines or his previous life.
Raiden's
journey is
difficult from the start because he's not only choosing to leave a
relationship, but to escape the fatherhood which has been thrust upon
him, and
life in a "frigid city" which holds no lasting attraction.
He's certain
that his
choice to vagabond will not only break others' hearts (and his own),
but will
lead him on an uncertain path to better know himself.
Raiden
leaves this
past behind, his journey carrying him through familiar forms of musical
interludes that capture new worlds like sound bites of cultural
revelation.
The
characters he
encounters, some memorable and others bordering on appalling, influence
his changing
perspective of life and the character traits he admires: "...as
much I am shocked and disgusted by his behaviour, I am also
completely captivated by it. I have to profess; I actually admire his
nonchalance. While it won’t win him many friends, if any, Lou is a man
who
plays by nobody’s rules. You have to give kudos to a man who lives like
that in
this day and age."
Physically
and
psychologically, Raiden finds himself in unexpected milieus that
constantly
challenge his notions of people, life, and his place in the world ("Little Rock, Arkansas, now there’s a place I
thought I’d never wind up.").
The 22-song
play list
that accompanies this journey includes references to and cuts by a wide
variety
of popular musicians and groups, from Moby and Jeff Buckley to Rod
Stewart,
Pink Floyd, and David Bowie.
Ultimately,
the story
comes full circle; in the process helping Raiden and his readers better
understand life options, choices and consequences, and the one facet
that keeps
them in flux: change.
Libraries
seeking
novels about middle-age revelations that incorporate the flavor of a
coming-of-age saga with the maturity of a character who undertakes a
life-changing journey will find The
Journey epic on a psychological level that draws all ages.
Return to Index
The Lone Leopard
Sharifullah Dorani
S&M Publishing Hous
978-1739606909
$23.99 Hardcover/$13.99 Paper/$.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Leopard-Sharifullah-Dorani/dp/1739606906
The
Lone Leopard
is a literary work of historical fiction exploring Afghanistan's
culture in the
1990s. More so than most novels about the country, which tend to focus
on
broader political confrontations alone, Sharifullah
Dorani's story takes the readers into the neighborhoods,
streets, and psyche of the nation's residents by focusing on the world
and
perceptions of 15-year-old Ahmad.
Part 1
begins in
March 1992 and the second part ends in the summer of 2013. Betwixt the
two is a
world of difference, evolution, and social and political turmoil,
reflected in
the life of Ahmad as he faces tumult both in his own heart and in the
world
around him.
From an
introductory
edict to "follow Sharia law and stay away from lundabazi," the first
time the young narrator experiences an adult speaking openly in school
about
using religion to punish immoral behaviors, to another first—an imam
who heads
the school instead of a pro-Communist—the personal impact of the rise
of new
forces in Afghanistan receives front-row feature in this compelling
saga.
No prior
knowledge of
Afghanistan is required in order to appreciate the winds of change
which buffet
Ahmad as his story unfolds. That's the beauty of this particular
coverage,
which adds history so subtly that readers won't realize the attention
to
education and explanation that accompanies the "you are here" feel of
these experiences.
As Ahmad
struggles
with new lessons, the notion that Kabul is now perceived as "the
capital
of corrupt behavior" (with the school considered a microcosm of that
evolutionary process), and his own feelings and attitudes, readers
receive an
exact blueprint of the process of changing the psyche of a nation.
The
departure of the
Russians has left a moral vacancy the new rulers have deemed it their
job to
rectify, starting with the young. As Ahmad reconciles his perceptions
with
these altered visions of the future, he grapples with a range of
influences
that collide with his personal growth and interactions with the
opposite sex.
More so than
most
novels about Afghanistan, The Lone
Leopard represents an uncanny ability to represent the
political influences
of competing outside nations that operate on the stage of Afghani
experience.
The social effects of these political special interests come home to
roost in
unusual ways which are represented in Ahmad's life, choices, and family
and
friendships.
Ahmad's initial disinterest
in politics reflects an
attitude which also shifts as discussions around him swirl around
invaders and
their influences, national identity, and the end result of forces that
trickle
down into daily life.
Sharifullah
Dorani is
especially adept at displaying the interactions and influences of
different
levels of Afghan society, presenting these through the first-person
eyes of a
young character who still has much growing to do. Readers who may have
very
little prior familiarity with Afghanistan thus receive an eye-opening
story
that saturates the mind and heart on many different levels.
The result
is a
compelling blend of history, social and political examination, and
coming-of-age saga that reflect the growth processes of a nation.
Libraries
looking for
literary fiction that can reach an exceptionally wide audience will
find The Lone
Leopard hard-hitting, attractive, and educational, all in
one. Ideally, it
also will reach into book club discussions with its special brand of
personal
and political reflection.
Return to Index
Lying Eyes
A.K. Kulshreshth
Balestier Press
9781913891374
$13.99 USD/$11.99 GPB
www.balestier.com
It's easy to
see why Lying Eyes was longlisted
for the
Epigram Fiction Prize 2022. It represents the intersection between past
and
present worlds which brings narrator Ah Ding into new possibilities at
a pivot point
which may portend the end of life: "From
somewhere in the folds of my memory, my teacher Mr Cheng’s words come
back to
me: you can be cautious of the future, but not of the past. Wrong
again. That
Mr Cheng—he was so wrong, so often. And with such confidence. I have to
be
cautious of my past still. I would like to believe that enough time has
flowed,
that the past is behind me. But that chance meeting with the woman
proves again
that it is not."
The culture,
atmosphere, and backdrop of Singapore permeate this story with a sense
of place
and purpose that draws even those unfamiliar with the region into the
fold of
realization and understanding.
As the past
returns
to suffocate Ah Ding, an uncertain future looms, negating the thought
that he
will simply "glide into a peaceful death."
The process
of his self-inspection
moves between first-person observation and third-person description. As
Ah Ding
moves through past and present and negotiates revised perceptions of
his love,
life connections, and life's meaning, readers are brought into a milieu
of
festering secrets and evolving conundrums.
Lying Eyes cultivates the ability to
inspect one man's life
trajectory through various intersections of experience.
It is
especially
strong in its representations of different characters and cultures that
interconnect
and grow, from Ah Ding to the Chengs, Colonel Oishi, and others who
confront and
influence the changing face of Asia from the 1940s to the 1970s.
From
inequality and
racism to relations between men and women and the perspective of
hindsight
provided by an elderly narrator, A.K. Kulshreshth provides a vivid
inspection
of a region buffeted by the tides of change.
Readers of
Asian
fiction and culture will find the emotional, cultural, and political
tides of
the region are astutely represented as the novel traces the changes
characters
experience as their world vacillates flux: "Singapore
in those years was no place for kind men."
The mirror
Ah Ding
looks into is one that affects not just his perception, but proves to
be a looking
glass that also reflects a changing world.
Libraries
who choose Lying Eyes for its
astute historical
journey through Singapore and Asia's changing socio-political milieu
will find this
story a literary achievement of social inspection that provides
enlightening,
thought-provoking, and hard to put down.
Return to Index
Make Me Whole
Angelina Disano
Disano Dreams
978-1-7377612-3-5
$14.95 paperback/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Whole-Broken-Worlds-Book-ebook/dp/B0BDVTXKPJ
Make Me Whole is a romance story that
probes Grace O'Leary's
close-held secret, which is the reason why she doesn't pursue romantic
entanglements or relationships. Even with attractive, perfect men like
Joe
Mura, who has also been avoiding commitment—until he meets Grace.
Together,
the two
represent a fire of contention and possibility that flames high. Their
deadly
combination of attributes creates an attraction that defies either
secret-keeping or closely held notions of safety and achievement.
Angelina
Disano
shifts the viewpoints between these two disparate characters to balance
their
psyches, perceptions, and lives: "Unbidden,
his thoughts drifted to Grace, but he vehemently pushed them aside. If
he was
going to test the waters in a relationship – and that was a big if – it
couldn’t possibly be with Grace. They had said no strings. Plus, she
lived in
New York and last time he checked, New York was not Boston. No, if he
were
going to consider taking the plunge, Grace could not be a candidate."
As their
trajectories
continue to dovetail in unexpected ways, the layers of defense each
have built
over their expectations, desires, and personal strengths (which
represent walls
as well as bridges) begin to fall.
Grace finds
herself
wanting to reveal her lifelong secret to Joe, unburdening herself and
making
herself especially vulnerable for the first time. But she is better at
evasion
than confession, and she suspects that if she does come clean, Joe will
be out
of her life forever. As much as she doesn't want him close enough to
discover
the secret that cloaks her life, she also doesn't want him to leave.
Disano's
ability to
contrast two seemingly disparate lives to bring forth the similar
concerns, limitations,
and the objectives that power them lends to a story of coming together,
immersion, and discovery.
Romance
readers will
find the relationship's currents and changes contrast nicely with the
concerned
friends who want to contribute solutions to an impossible dilemma.
As Grace's
fear that
she will be treated differently if her secret is known seems to come
true,
readers will find themselves mesmerized by the process of Grace's
growth and
self-realizations about not only her own life, but her choices and
involvements
with others.
Disano
creates a
story of revelation and love that tugs on the heartstrings. Make Me Whole's ability to resolve
dilemmas between two characters that are equally powerful and resolute
makes
for an appealing tale of coming together and breaking apart.
This makes
it a
strong attraction for libraries catering to romance readers. This
audience will
find the concurrent story of growth experienced by both characters to
be
particularly powerful and revealing.
Return to Index
Place of
Cool Waters
Ndirangu Githaiga
Bon
Esprit Books
978173504172
Paperback: $13.99; Ebook:
$4.99
Website: www.ndirangugithaiga.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Place-Cool-Waters-Ndirangu-Githaiga-ebook/dp/B0B94QVQ46
Sojourns
begun from
small towns such as Clarksville to Nairobi, Kenya offer opportunities
for new
realizations and revitalized perspectives. Both facets are captured in Place of Cool Waters, where Jude Wilson
makes a pilgrimage to visit the graves of his childhood heroes. There,
he finds
answers to questions he'd never really considered before.
Place of Cool Waters opens not with
Jude's perspective, but with an
abandoned baby brought to a hospital by discoverers who want nothing to
do with
their find. It then segues seven years into the future, where Jude has
been
adopted into and raised by a family that enjoys camping and cultivates
a circle
of faith and conviction that lends to a stable home.
Neither of
these
circumstances would seem to give Jude the inclination to immerse
himself in
another culture, but both give him strength of character that serves
him well when
he searches for truths about his scouting heroes, only to uncover facts
that
challenge his mindset and perceptions.
The events
lead Jude
to become a wanted man in a foreign country, embedding the story with
hard-hitting revelations that make Jude a suspect in a dangerous plot.
Readers
receive a
fine story that moves from U.S. upbringing, convictions, and roots
across the
seas to an environment which tests the mindset and perceptions of a
young man
who finds himself in a strange position.
The culture,
politics, and atmosphere of Nairobi create a realistic backdrop upon
which Jude
finds himself considered a criminal rather than the victim of
unfortunate
circumstance.
Tension is
well
crafted, the adventure component is nicely done, and readers will find
Jude's
character and dilemmas maintain a satisfyingly fast pace without moving
too
quickly for complete understanding.
The result
is a
literary story steeped in cultural interaction and revelations. Place of Cool Waters is highly
recommended for libraries seeking a novel written by a native Kenyan
who makes
his story the crossroads between two very different cultures.
Understanding
intersects in unexpected environments and manners as Jude finds a
revised place
in a foreign land and his own heart.
Return to Index
Polaris
Coyote
E.M. William
New Street Publishing
978-0-9654118-8-2
$2.99 Kindle
https://amzn.to/3JP53Po
Polaris Coyote is a novel about loss, recovery, and transformation. It follows the romantic and personal trials of law student Annie Alsonado after the deaths of her parents, but opens with a cosmic pre-history surrounding the Native American trickster legend Coyote.
The
gritty streets and feel of 1991 Manhattan that follows this
introduction may
feel disparate, but a strong contrast in life stories and experiences
is
created between Coyote and Annie, which comes to life as Annie's
romantic
entanglements evolve.
Annie's
boyfriend Jon is replete with an adventurous spirit that attracts her.
In
comparison, classmate Dave is much more staid and ordinary. Or so she
thinks,
until he involves her in a legal struggle that tests both their legal
studies
and their relationship.
What
does a legendary coyote spirit have to do with modern-day conundrums?
The
figure steps into lives to touch and influence them, creating changes
as Annie,
Dave, and those who become embroiled in the legal struggle of a
defendant tied
to the crack cocaine epidemic find their causes and perceptions under
siege.
E.M.
William does a particularly notable job of juxtaposing the trickster
coyote
figure's actions with the impact they ripple into human lives, as well
as
following the changing mindset of a young woman who comes to perceive
the dangers
in certain types of attraction: "He
called her several times after that, trying to win her back, wanting to
know
what had happened. Annie couldn’t help sensing, as guilty as she would
feel for
thinking it, that he was as much drawn by the visceral intensity of
what he was
experiencing, almost like the thrill had by some degenerate gamblers in
losing
money rather then winning it at a card table, than by whatever stake
he’d had
in the relationship."
Readers
attracted to stories of diverse and dovetailing relationships affected
by
circumstance, chance, professional aspiration, and growth will find
Annie's
stormy path through life to be thought-provoking and engrossing. But
Annie is
not the only focus, here. Jon continues his trajectory in life, drawn
to
Katherine and continuing the pursuit of the adrenaline rushes that
marked his
relationship with Annie.
William
also connects the dots between celestial observation and these evolving
lives: “Polaris is the only star that doesn’t
move
during the night,” said Katherine. “The other stars constantly shift
around.
The North Star burns brightly at a single point in the sky. That’s why
it has
been a beacon to night-time travelers throughout the centuries.”
As
Annie's efforts to help Fernando Garcia win his case begin to change
her, the
years pass. Dave, Annie, and other characters find themselves coming
full
circle. Readers who follow the North Star and these individuals'
changing
aspects will find the story evolves a satisfying moral, ethical,
romantic and philosophical
perspective that attracts on different levels.
William
is truly adept at crafting a story of growth and discovery.
Readers
who choose Polaris Coyote for
either
its romantic realizations or its elements of self-realization will find
in the
characters of Annie, Dave, Coyote and Jon a fine set of experiences
that
dovetail, clash, and create new possibilities.
Libraries
looking for novels grounded in both romance and interpersonal evolution
will
find Polaris Coyote replete with
the
kinds of revelations and changes that also will charge book reading
groups to
discuss relationship-building and the influences of time and social
inspection
on individual choices.
Return to Index
The Prodigal
Daughter
Maria Ereni Dampman
Lickenpoodle Press
978-1-7371770-2-9
$19.95 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Daughter-Daughters-American-Revolution/dp/1737177021
Book 2 of
the
Daughters of the New American Revolution series, The
Prodigal Daughter, opens with a potent first-person sense of
place and purpose that will draw prior fans who have read The Governor's Daughter to Emma's new
dilemma: "I’m face-down in slimy, putrid mud
with the thick sole of a soldier’s
boot lodged between my shoulders. A dozen or so sweating, panting
servicemen
surround me, their weapons aimed and ready to fire. Judging by their
muttered
oaths and eager taunts they can’t wait to pull their triggers and
reduce me to
a wet stain on an already sloppy and water-logged mountainside. Part of
me
understands their fury. They believed us to be easy pickings. They
thought we
would just politely give ourselves up without a fight. They never
expected us
to run. They never dreamed I’d give myself up to save the men I was
with."
This
audience will
welcome the ongoing mix of dystopian setting and the political and
social
struggles that have led Emma to sacrifice herself to allow her brother
and
husband to escape.
Emma is
realistic
about her prospects for survival: "With
my actions, I’ve proven I’m no longer the Governor’s timid daughter,
nor am I
the subservient future wife of a dissolute, drunk and murderous world
leader. I
am now a fugitive, a subversive, and a traitor ..."
But, within
the
tumultuous world of this dystopian future lays the lure and
cross-connections
of political purpose that offers new promises, possibilities, and
different
anguish to a prodigal daughter. Even one who resists her heritage and
the
efforts of her angry father, Interim Supreme Archon Edward James
Bellamy, to
draw her back into the fold of an increasingly repressive regime.
Readers of The Governor's Daughter will find this
sequel thoroughly engrossing, expanding Emma's character, intentions,
and the
choices and consequences that bind her to her father.
The question
of
whether she will cave in and sacrifice an entire community to save
those she
loves injects moral and ethical conundrums into a plot that is nicely
entwined with
many surprises readers won't see coming. As Emma's courses of action
changes
lives and hearts, readers will be drawn to a world replete in not just
adversity, but love.
Steamy
sexual scenes,
graphic battles, and psychological twists mark a tale that grips
strongly on
different levels.
Readers of The Governor's Daughter who appreciated
its special delivery of a dystopian power struggle will find The Prodigal Daughter marked by the same
attention to juxtaposing strong characters and political processes as
its
predecessor.
Libraries
strong in
dystopian political fiction who look for engaging and powerful female
characters will welcome The Prodigal
Daughter's opportunity to involve a wide audience in new
dilemmas, action,
and love.
Return to Index
Richter the Mighty
J.B. Manning
Encircle
Publications
978-1-64599-432-9
$19.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook
Website: jamesbmanning.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Richter-Mighty-J-B-Manning/dp/1645994325
J.B.
Manning's
debut novel Richter the Mighty is a study in irony,
politics, and personal lives. It features humor from the start, even as
it
portrays the dilemma Cody Richter faces when she awakens in an
operating room: "Her migraine exploded
again—the
telephone! What the
hell kind of
ringtone—The Star-Spangled Banner, with violins and tubas."
The move
from a
medical scenario to the Oval Office occurs quickly, creating further
mystery
about Cody, Russians in the White House, and a reelection that
threatens to
turn up the long-buried skeleton of a prior wife's death (or, was it a
disappearance?).
The Richter
legacy
involves thirteen-year-old Billy, who is concerned about his sister
Cody. She
rescued him from his father's rampages, but now needs his help.
As a cast of
characters surround Billy, Cody, and a Presidential figurehead steeped
in
corruption, a dangerous game plays out which threatens them all.
Intrigue,
mishaps,
and even biting snakes permeate the tale with unexpected encounters and
challenges that test each of the characters in different ways.
J.B. Manning
creates
an excellent romp through politics, individual lives, and the ironies
of
holding office and wielding power, moving through a host of influences
from
insider trading to Russian intrigue and warped family relationships.
Richter the Mighty cultivates a fast pace
and a host of supportive
characters who each enter the story with their own special interests at
heart.
But it's the winningly wry inspections and interactions that will keep
readers
involved, offering whimsical, thought-provoking scenarios that test the
mighty
Richter and his entourage.
These
cultivate many
unexpected moments as the action heats up and moves between seemingly
disparate
lives: "When they got down to the
patio, Udolf’s big corpse was laid out on his back, his foamy mouth
gaping
open, his left hand still clutching the carcass of a lobster.
“I’m
not sure why he got those braces,” Rayanne said.
“Looks like a lot of his teeth were rotten.”
“Lot of pain for nothing,”
Georgina said.
“What happened?” Richter
asked.
“I don’t know,” Rayanne
said. “Peanut
allergy?”
“Maybe gluten,”
Georgina
said
Richter burped in grief,
and then said, “Get him out of here.
We
don’t want any trouble.”
The result
is a
unique, multifaceted story of friendships, family, and politics that
engages
readers on different levels.
It's not a
singular
story, and might stymie readers seeking a logical progression of
events. But,
therein lies its strength—in the unexpected; whether it be
relationships,
motives, or political ambitions.
Richter the Mighty deserves a spot in any
library strong in
original, creative contemporary novels that aim to both please and
engross on
different levels.
Return to Index
Seeking Forgiveness
Lea Rachel
Writer's Design Press
978-0-9908616-2-1
$9.99
https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Forgiveness-Semi-Autobiographical-Narrative-Interracial-ebook/dp/B0BB3HBR46
Seeking
Forgiveness
is about interracial adoption and winds a memoir of experience into a
novel
with insights into racial relations that not only hit home, but wound
up
becoming Lea Rachel's world.
It opens with a candid bang:
"I want him to know how sorry I am. I want to
beg his forgiveness.
For all I didn’t understand, for all I never knew, for all I still have
to
learn. But the police have him and I can’t reach him. My baby. My
child. My
son. Why am I hesitating to say it? To use the most obvious
description?
Because I generally gloss it over, try to act like it doesn’t matter -
why make
everyone uncomfortable and bring it up? But it does matter. It is
important. So
here it is: My beautiful Black boy."
Rachel's story offers
readers a sometimes-uncomfortable
journey through racial awareness from the perspective of a biracial
family,
surveying parenting challenges that represented many racial divides and
challenges in modern America. Her narrative might prove uncomfortable
to
readers who may not have previously considered the extent to which bias
infiltrates every segment of American society: "Miles
was only six years old at the time and Black Panther hadn’t
yet made it to the movie screen. When my son mentioned the concept of a
Black
superhero, I’d literally been struck dumb by the notion. I’d stood in
the
middle of the kitchen with my hand on the refrigerator door and my mind
spinning, trying to both picture the novel idea of a Black superhero
for the
first time, while also deriving a reasonable explanation for why my son
hadn’t
yet seen one."
While the truth can set you
free, it's also often one
people in positions of inherent privilege don't want to hear. And so
her
stories of experience too often earned her rejection among colleagues
and
friends: "...most of my co-workers
turned away at my stories, changed the subject, or most remarkably of
all, got
angry with me for bringing up irrelevant parenting stories."
Racial considerations aside,
the adoption process is
often fraught with influences of the past and their incarnation in
present-day
events. History can be a challenge to overcome. Combine that history
with
racial disparities, and the parenting process becomes even more an
experience
of walking on eggshells.
As Seeking
Forgiveness unfolds, readers will find themselves confronting
engrained
prejudices, perceptions, and underlying myths through in this
memoir/novel that
reflects Rachel's experiences and realizations. Its characters are well
done,
but the discussions and confrontations between them over racial issues
form the
compelling meat of an engaging read.
By blending autobiography
with the drama of a novel
revolving around an adoptive mother's realizations about racial issues
engrained in her life and America as a whole, readers receive an
engrossing
story that encourages thought and debate.
Libraries looking for
memorable accounts of biracial
experience and issues will find Seeking
Forgiveness a persuasive story that ideally will invite
biracial debate on
all kinds of issues, from parenting to justice and biracial relations
in
America.
Return to Index
Ten Thousand
Rocks
Ndirangu Githaiga
Bon Esprit Books
9781735041728
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook/$19.95 audio
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Thousand-Rocks-Ndirangu-Githaiga-ebook/dp/B092LC8H7K
Ten Thousand Rocks opens with a
thought-provoking prologue in which
Will and Laura comment on the logic of a man convinced the ocean is
evaporating
because the earth is heating up. Additionally, he believes that
dropping a rock
into the ocean daily can save these vanishing seas, empowering his
belief with
a special flavor of wild explanation that pairs brilliance with illogic.
This
peculiar form of
life inspection is also what drives the characters in Ten
Thousand Rocks with a unique transformation that takes place
when Will and Laura move to his hometown to confront in-laws who didn't
even
know he'd been married for eight years, much less to a white woman.
The sounds
of pebbles
and rocks striking the wider oceans and undercurrents of change
continue as an
accident both brings together and threatens to separate an
already-divided
family and couple teetering on the brink of emotional disaster.
As Ndirangu
Githaiga
pursues this saga of lives under siege, readers receive an intensely
emotional
and reflective story of divisions, reunification efforts, and
unexpected
changes in life that continue to resonate with challenge.
Pushed to
extend
their strengths and abilities beyond their comfort zones, each
character finds
a way of coping with life's adversity: "As
she headed down the dimly lit hallway towards the exit, Laura was
surprised at
how she’d managed—to all outward appearances—to maintain a sense of
calm
throughout the entire episode."
As recovery
on a
physical and emotional level evolves, readers are treated to an
absorbing story
of transformation that operates on psychological, philosophical, and
creative
levels, bringing each character full circle into a different way of
viewing and
interacting with one another.
These
psychological
observations are nicely presented, with the growing tension between
Will and
Laura illustrated in realistic detail that draws readers into their
thoughts
and dilemmas.
Disability
heightens
dangerous undercurrents of anger and resentment, and is portrayed with
a
sensitive and enlightening hand that keeps readers immersed in the
various life
changes that force the characters to adapt.
As the tides
of a
threatened ocean move through these experiences, readers will
appreciate the
literary reflections that supplement these psychological conundrums.
On its
surface, Ten Thousand Rocks would
seem to be
about a couple's tempestuous transformation. But, look beneath these
stormy
waters to find a summary of life encounters that is compellingly
presented and
thought-provokingly analyzed.
Libraries
looking for
inviting stories of cross-cultural encounters and family ties will find
Ten Thousand Rocks a winning
acquisition.
Return to Index
Transgression: Hitler, Mirka, Mireille and
Me
Ben Stoltzfus
Atmosphere Press
9781639885176
$15.99
www.atmospherepress.com
"We
are all
exiles…"
Transgression:
Hitler, Mirka, Mireille and Me is
a novel about coming-of-age and a family's escape from the
Nazi-occupied
Balkans during World War II. Its harrowing account of survival blends
with
social inspection from the eyes of a boy whose family faces repeated
dangers
from the Nazis in the course of their journey.
Ben Stoltzfus presents this account using
the first person to bring the experiences to life: "I hear
the roar of
another airplane coming in low. There is a swastika on the tail and a
black
cross on the fuselage. I pick up the rifle, aim at the cross and pull
the
trigger. Click. There is no bullet in the chamber but it pleases me to
pretend."
This lends
the novel
a sense of growth and perspective that captures not only adversity, but
what
this young boy perceives about his world (and what escapes him): "We know that Germany has invaded
Poland, and later, that France has fallen. We hear about the British
humiliation at Dunkirk, but know nothing about the Vichy government’s
collaboration with the German authorities, rounding up Jews and
deporting them
to death camps."
This lends
perspective and insights into the experiences which explain points of
realization and ignorance as the populace adapts to political changes
and the
entry of war into their lives.
"We are all exiles…" that's the shared
language,
experience, and role of different peoples as they attempt to flee what
their
lives have become, only to find that some of the angst and challenge
lies in
their own hearts and minds. Especially this young man: "Fear
is evil. Evil is hell. Therefore, if I get rid of fear, I
will be rid of hell. I have work to do! It’s time to tear up old tracks
and lay
down new ones. If I can make the idea of sin disappear, I will be
cured."
As the
family moves
through a much-changed Europe and contemplates spending Christmas in
Jerusalem,
readers receive a journey that is spiritual, psychological, and social,
all in
one.
The
inspections are
nicely wound into the elements of growth and realization that both
challenge
this boy and his family and lead them to become survivors.
"Some things are not acceptable. Hitler’s actions
prove it."
Can Mireille
Dantec
save him and save "love from the hell into which I had fallen"? As
relationships grow and change, so do the forces of good and evil which
influence the young narrator's perspective about his role in life.
Libraries
and readers
looking for coming-of-age stories that embrace the sweeping changes
Nazis
brought to Europe and the refugees who stormed across the continent in
search
of freedom and new ways of thinking about the world will find Transgression:
Hitler, Mirka, Mireille and Me a
literary, multifaceted examination that moves beyond definition of
either a
coming-of-age story alone or a historical re-enactment of World War
II's
impact.
It's a vivid inspection of lives under
revision and tumult that offers many thought-provoking moments to
readers, and
is highly recommended for book discussion groups that look for stories
about
maturity achieved during times of social, political, and personal chaos.
Return to Index
Trust
Lee Chappel
Bleau Press
978-951796-14-3
$12.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
leechappel.com
Beth
Sullivan has the
life she's always wanted. She has love, a new marriage to David
Cheshon, a beautiful
new home, and is awaiting their first child. The last thing she
expected was to
become a murder suspect. Trust
explores this event when she is thrust into a world of danger and
deception
which is apparently being fueled by her biggest decisions.
Her best
friend Abbie
Barnes believes her, doesn't quite trust David, but is facing big
changes of
her own, in the romance department. Her problem? Adam Foy is not only
the
prosecutor in Beth's case, but appears to harbor his own ties to the
Cheshon
family. Adam can't afford to have questions sullying his reputation, so
he taps
Sargent Tara Williams to help him keep the case out of the public eye
and on
track.
The last
thing Abbie
wants is to see her friend wrongly accused, her life in shambles. The
last thing
Beth imagined for her future was a stint in jail. The last thing Tara
wanted
was a high-profile murder case, replete with special interests and
influences,
shoved into her lap in her first months of a new job.
All three
find their
lives in shambles and challenged as events unfold from different
perspectives.
Adam always
thinks
things through. But, perhaps he hasn't thought about this case enough,
because
as the problems escalate, he finds himself caught in the middle between
several
impossible situations that hold no clear avenue of resolution.
Did Beth
kill her
sister? Could this have been predicted? Would Beth's death resolve
matters and
close the case?
A host of
characters,
from David's mom Gail to Larry, Janet, and Zack, find their lives are
also
caught up the drama that spills from Beth and David's union and lives.
Trust
between friends, lovers, and family members lies at the heart of a
story that
tests connections between all kinds of people as the saga unfolds.
The strong
characters
interact with one another logically and emotionally, driving the story
and
supporting the mounting intrigue surrounding Beth's involvement,
choices, and
her conundrums.
Lee Chappel
presents
an engrossing analysis of truths, lies, and the murky waters that lie
between
them.
The mystery
that
unfolds in Trust is high
recommended
for its psychological, legal, and interpersonal intrigue, which asks
important
and thought-provoking questions of not just its major players, but its
readers.
Libraries
looking for
strong novels of love, heartache, loss, guilt, and redemption will find
all
these elements make Trust a
thoroughly engrossing read filled with satisfyingly unpredictable
twists and
turns.
Return to Index
Véronique's
Journey
Patti
Flinn
Gilded
Orange Books
979-8-9860600-1-9
$5.99 Print/$.99 ebook
Website:
https://gildedorangebooks.com
Ordering:
https://books2read.com/u/3n5wXP
Véronique's
Journey
opens in France in 1788, where
talented black seamstress Véronique
Clair longs for a career that supports her talents, but finds herself
in an
arranged marriage designed to elevate her social status.
It's rare to
find a
story set in the history of 1800s France that embraces the life and
dilemmas of
a young black woman who envisions more for herself than her station in
life
would offer. But another strong attribute of Patti Flinn's story lies
in the
powerful depiction of a fictional character whose experiences represent
the
trials faced by women of color during these times.
The novella
covers
much in a short period of time. This translates to a powerful saga as
Véronique
comes to defy both her parents and her heart, moving away from her
preset
status only to come full circle to many realizations about her world
and place
in it.
Her mother
cautions
her that "no one comes to our small town and no one ever leaves." The
process of being the first to move away from tradition is never easy,
but as
Véronique forges new paths and makes difficult choices, readers learn
the real
impact of her talents and radical views of her role in life.
Is Véronique
really
in charge of her destiny? Her encounter with her future husband assures
her
that those who have planned her future security don't really understand
what
they have done: “How dare you?” I said.
“Who do you think you are to come here and speak to me like this?”
“I am your betrothed. I asked your father for your hand and he has
given it to me. And he has promised you will come to your senses and be
a good
wife to me. So get in line, Mademoiselle, and don’t embarrass your poor
parents, further. They, if not you, understand what is at stake here.
You are
twenty-three years old and still living in their home, you are a burden
to
them. I am doing them a favor taking you off their hands. Don’t forget
that.
Please give them my regards.”
Collections
strong in African-American women's writings, early French history
featuring the
rare character of color, and studies in women's roles that explore and
defy
their assignment will find Véronique's
Journey not only compelling, but thought-provoking.
Discussion
groups interested in exploring social status, work, and real-world
issues faced
by women of color in the 1800s will find much food for thought and
debate in
this novella, which introduces a vivid world populated by realistic,
absorbing
characters that promises further exploration in future novels.
Return to Index
Visions of Johanna
Peter Sarno
PFP Publishing
979-8-9866266-0-4
$17.85 Paper
http://www.pfppublishing.com
Visions
of Johanna is a novel of a
relationship between two
creative spirits—an artist and a music critic, whose chance meeting at
a
concert evolves into a relationship that changes them both.
Johanna and Matt hold similar artistic
desires for success and creativity that serve as strange attractors to
offset
the forces of disparity that disrupt their lives.
The story opens with a narrator who knew
both Johanna and her daughter Faith. He puts pen to paper to help Faith
better
know her mother's strengths and the changing milieu of the 1980s,
during which
feminism's rise created both opportunities and despair.
Matt's first-person viewpoint opens Chapter
One with a discussion of changes and social issues which coalesce to
create
both new opportunities and revised perceptions of life.
As relics from the past contrast with
present-day experiences, readers are led to the Dylan concert which
introduces
him to Johanna and changes everything for them both.
Peter Sarno writes with a fine descriptive
hand that explores and processes the emotions of Matt and his
increasing,
unexpected involvement with Johanna: "I wasn't sure why I'd
raised the
subject. It could've been because Johanna had been facing elsewhere and
sketching—fully engaged in an activity she loved—and no one was around.
Perhaps
it was because of a momentary sense of security—although the wrath from
the
incoming tide had brought forth splashing waves with an ever-increasing
fury,
causing the seagulls to abandon their competition and take off. Still,
amid
that turmoil, being with Johanna allowed a sort of calm to sneak its
way inside
me—a sensation I hadn't experienced in some time, and certainly not
whenever I stood
near the shore."
Akin to life's ebbs and flows, the culture
and feel of past and present East Coast experiences merge with each
character's
perspective to create a medley of roller-coaster days that succinctly
create a
'you are here' feel: "Comfortable" wasn't the correct term.
"Contented" or "at ease" made us sound like old fogies. But
with Johanna—in between her roller coaster detours—I had encountered a
type of
stillness, a serenity I guess I hadn't known I was capable of, and if I
ever
had been, it had been too long ago to remember."
As Wisconsin renegade Johanna successfully
draws Matt from his comfortable, familiar milieu into a world in which
outside
forces intercede to change them both, readers receive a
thought-provoking,
evocative love story. Its roots in a sense of place and time lend to
explorations of each character's ability to both reflect upon and
depart from
their foundations and experiences.
Social issues reveal and change past traumas
and events as each character grows into a new force to be reckoned with
that
doesn't quite go the mile in revealing the closely-held secrets of
their lives
that could result in better connections and understanding.
Visions
of Johanna is a powerful story of
a place, time, and
characters who find their staid lives and trajectories challenged by
their
relationship and changing times.
While Visions of Johanna
deserves a
place in any library strong in novels about relationship evolution, it
also
ideally will be selected as a foundation guide for book clubs
interested in
discussions about feminism, relationships, and life-changing events and
choices
that bring unexpected growth to those who navigate their stormy waters.
Return to Index
Where the
Sun Rises
Anna Gomez and
Kristoffer Polaha
Rosewind Books
978-1-64548-080-8
$14.95 Paper/$7.99 ebook
www.rosewindbooks.com
Where the Sun Rises (From
Kona
With Love) is the
story of
an unlikely romance between spoiled rich boy Adam Yates and upcoming
Hawaiian
surfer extraordinaire Maele Moana. Were it not for their
pairing at a
wedding event, these worlds might never have come together.
But they do, for a
time—until Adam's draw to fame leads him to Los Angeles
while Maele struggles to reclaim her life in Hawaii after a surfing
accident.
Set against the backdrop of
Oahu, their stormy
relationship evolves as they come together and then move apart in
seemingly
impossibly disparate directions. Maele's heart is broken when she
realizes that
Adam's drive to success leads him on a path she won't follow.
Anna Gomez
and
Kristoffer Polaha capture the flawed character of Adam and the reasons
for the
unlikely attraction between the two. But, to their credit, the story
doesn't
center on recovery so much as independent growth experienced by the two
characters
as each struggles to overcome their inner fears.
"The sunrise had always been a symbol of birth and
reawakening. It
was also a symbol of Maele’s old life."
Readers who
look for
clean romances steeped in the atmosphere and culture of Hawaii will be
attracted to Where the Sun Rises even
though some of its outcomes are more than predictable.
The focus on
self-discovery over recovery is of particular note as the novel
progresses, as
is the strong character of Maele, who harbors her own goals in life
apart from
any possibility that a "bad boy" might divert her from her
achievements and inner strengths.
The result
is a
gentle leisure read that draws with flawed individuals who cultivate
their own
strengths both separately and as a couple, and whose time apart proves
as
interesting as their attraction and time together.
Libraries
seeking
easy reads, clean romances, and strong female characters will find Where the Sun Rises interesting for its
Hawaiian backdrop and incorporation of not just love, but the process
of catch
and release.
Return to Index
Above the
Ground
Matthew Medney &
Robert Greenberger
Heavy Metal
Entertainment
978-1955537308
$19.99 paper/.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Above-Ground-Matthew-Medney/dp/1955537305
Native
American
culture, post-apocalyptic settings, and alien invasions usually don't
appear
under one cover, whether the book be fiction or nonfiction; but Above the Ground's unusual subject and
ability to synthesize all three seemingly disparate topics into a
compelling
story makes it a standout that succeeds in telling stories that are
hard to
neatly peg and just as absorbing to read.
The story's
opening
presents a Nebraska summer and a school teacher who reflects on the
emerging
adolescence of her students. At first, the introductory setting feels
much like
modern times, but as reference to the Vanishing is made, readers
quickly come
to learn that the story is anything but contemporary in nature.
From a
changing and
challenging climate to skirmishes with Canada and a force that took all
Native
Americans from the planet 100 years prior, events unfold that captivate
with
the touch of personal observation and a setting that feels
quasi-familiar, but
overlaid with an impossible history.
As
schoolteacher
Betty reviews these events for her class, readers also receive a lesson
in
transformation that embraces loss and cultural revelations alike.
Part of Above the Ground's allure lies in its
very solid roots in modern-day concerns that range from climate
challenges to
political turmoil.
Matthew
Medney and
Robert Greenberger do an outstanding job of integrating this
contemporary feel
into a futuristic tale based on a different form of apocalypse that
changed the
world. Their technique of embedding these changes into the perceptions,
emotions, and purposes of an ordinary school teacher allows readers a
deeper
flavor of familiarity and understanding that leads to a compelling
story able
to tug on emotional strings.
As a nuclear
holocaust emerges, Betty and her husband David are charged with
carrying a new
legacy to future generations...one which is loaded not with the
aftermath of
missiles, but with knowledge of how an overriding mystery of the past,
the
Vanishings, may at last lead to new knowledge of survival in this
unstable
future, a pivot point in humanity's evolution.
Medney and
Greenberger create a survival story steeped in mystery, revelation, and
discovery. Readers who look for accounts of nuclear holocaust and its
aftermath
will find Above the Ground a cut
above the ordinary, both in its integration of a Native American
mystery and in
its representation of disaster: "A
bright array of beautifully coordinated destruction penetrated the
defenses of
the United World. It started that night, a war that would define
humanity
ignited like the fireworks on the Fourth of July."
The
attention to
world-building detail, the revised purposes and perceptions of the main
characters, and the integration of a past mystery with a futuristic
story of
survival and the coming together of different remnants of humanity is
exceptionally well done.
By building
characters who feel contemporary in nature but reside in extraordinary
future
times, Medney and Greenberger increase not only the appeal of the
story, but
offer opportunities to book club and reader discussion groups
interested in
bigger-picture thinking about survival, race relations, influences on
transformative experiences, and the processes by which societies come
together
or fall apart.
The
integration of
alien influence, cultural expression, and social and political change
creates a
heady and thoroughly engrossing story that defies easy categorization,
but
offers the sci-fi and dystopian fiction reader an absolutely original,
compelling read.
Libraries
will find Above the Ground holds
the ability to
interest a wide audience of readers looking for something refreshingly
vivid
and thought-provokingly different.
Return to Index
Bagpipes and Basil
Zoe Tasia
Independently Published
978-1-7350689-1-6
$14.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
Website: www.zoetasia.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
The second book in The
Shrouded Isle series provides
another satisfying blend of romance and intrigue with a Scottish flair
that
will leave readers with more than a light taste of the fair isles.
In the opening scene, a
mother hosting a daughter's party
is shaken from her hostess role by a scream: "I
had just put the appetizers on the table when the unmistakable,
high-pitched scream of a teenage girl pierced my skull like an icepick.
“Please, let no one be hurt,” I prayed as I raced outside."
American widow Rebecca and
her new boyfriend Greg,
charged with duties designed to keep the fae from attacking mankind,
find their
lives tested by with clues and conundrums that indicate more
involvements in
matters of fairies, the forest of the Shrouded Isle which is Greg and
Rebecca's
home, and their love for one another.
Zoe Tasia's Scottish-infused
fantasy is rich in
atmospheric description and changing mysteries that draw Greg, Becca,
and their
readers into a world flavored by both reality and fantasy elements.
Fast-paced action keeps the
tale immersive, while a recap
of past history neatly sets this stage for readers unfamiliar with the
prior
book (Kilts and Catnip).
Fine insights into the
psychological impact of the
paranormal are also wound into dialogues that reveal more about the
characters
and the extraordinary world they inhabit: “I
don’t know Conall well, but I feel sorry for him. Turning into a wolf
and being
at the mercy of the moon is a hard life. He really can’t travel very
far away
or for very long. I spoke to him briefly when I first moved in with
Kay. He
wanted to know about all the places I have visited. He confided he was
afraid
to even be on the mainland for very long. Though the change is tied to
the
moon, if he is upset enough, the change can happen. He’s afraid he will
change
and hurt someone. Also, I think that the nature of the wolf has
affected his
temperament.”
“You mean, if
Conall and Lundy weren’t Wulvers, they may be a little more congenial?”
From spells and spies to
strange things happening in the
village and on the farm, Rebecca and Greg follow the clues which lead
increasingly into danger, testing their relationship and survival
skills alike.
The rich blend of Scottish
atmosphere, romance, and
paranormal intrigue makes for a fine leisure read choice that
thoroughly steeps
readers in a sense of place and the evolving magic that embraces this
shrouded
world.
Libraries on the lookout for
involving stories that
promise to be attention-grabbing and fun will find Bagpipes
and Basil offers fine adventure paired with emotional
connections. These keep readers on their toes and involved in a clash
between
two very different worlds that barely understand one another.
Return to Index
Building High-Trust CommUNITY
Pamela
Shockley-Zalabak and Sherwyn Morreale
Atmosphere
Press
978-1-63988-350-9
$17.95
www.atmospherepress.com
Building
High-Trust CommUNITY: Lessons
Learned from the
Past and
the Year 2020 is a powerful focus on trust and the forces
which have
influenced a much-divided America in the last few years.
Unlike other surveys of the
roots of
this divide, Pamela Shockley-Zalabak and
Sherwyn Morreale analyze how basic trust is developed, promoted, or
disassembled with an eye to showing how communities not only build, but
are
broken.
Trust
begins at home, and so do the authors, analyzing the values, teachings,
and
influences that move from personal circles to societal incarnations.
From
building high-trust relationships at home to moving into the workplace
and
beyond, the authors consider various forces that both support the goal
of
openness and honesty or work against it.
Perhaps
most significant of all is an attention to accountability and behaviors
involved in trust-building which support notable contributions in
society and
encourage new contributors to the process.
Lest
readers think this involves idealistic, unrealistic thinking, the
authors offer
portraits of success stories and individual action to support these
ideals: "The first question is, what really
needs to change around us? Large or small, what is stuck? Where would
we like
to make a difference in our community? Can we commit to becoming a part
of even
one small effort in our neighborhood, place of worship, school, civic
organization, or entire community? What type of trust-building would it
take to
bring about change? We want to provide an illustration of a couple who
had an
idea that has grown over the years and has made a tremendous impact,
not only
in the community where your authors live, but in other communities
throughout
the nation."
The
call to action provided in this book's examples, stories, and words of
wisdom
empower individuals to work with and for the process of positive
change,
asking: "Have we held ourselves
accountable to make even small change?"
In
an ideal situation, there would not be "try." There would be "do
or don't do." Do read Building
High-Trust CommUNITY. It offers
the examples key to rebuilding community-based strengths, and is
especially
highly recommended for libraries looking for solid activist reading
that link
ideals to action to concretely address real community issues.
Return to Index
Climate and
Energy
Decoded
Tushar Choudhary,
Ph.D.
HopeSpring Press
979-8-9864358-0-0
$15.99 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Climate-Energy-Decoded-Low-Carbon-Transition/dp/B0B92L1MKV
Climate
and Energy
Decoded: A Realistic Overview of Climate Change, Renewable Energy
&
Low-Carbon Transition offers a realistic assessment of
climate change and
the discussions surrounding it and human energy use, and is recommended
reading
for libraries looking for reasoned debates that blend scientific with
political
analysis.
From the foundations of
climate change science and the
history of climate change to a survey of power and energy usage and
reviews of
advantages and challenges in each method (from nuclear to geothermal
and
hydropower), this book considers low-carbon alternatives, but
incorporates some
of the key debates surrounding renewable power issues and why and how
various
options either work or fail.
Of particular note here,
which sets this book apart from
similar-sounding discussions, is an attention to not only footnoted
supportive
references, but insights into why scholarly analysis often falls short
in addressing
these issues: "Despite the good
intentions, all research articles have a potential for inaccuracy
related to
data collection methods, data quality or data analysis. The potential
for
inaccuracy is higher for ultra-complex fields such as climate science.
The peer
review process used to regulate the quality of the articles has certain
limitations. A typical peer review process only checks whether the
approach
used in the article is reasonable and whether the conclusions are
consistent
with the presented data. The peer review process cannot ensure the
accuracy of
a research article because that would require several weeks to months.
Media
should not rely on the conclusions from isolated articles to make
sensational
claims about climate issues because of the significant potential for
inaccuracy. Consistent conclusions from multiple research articles are
required
to make substantial claims about climate issues."
The result is more than just
a rehashing of
familiar-sounding issues, but offers many new insights into the process
of
solid research and scholarship itself, shedding light on why so many
inconsistencies are reported (and come to be seen) as true. Decoding climate and
energy problems thus
faces the added burden of tackling the methods of investigation,
analysis,
reporting, and conclusions that lead to falsehoods that further muddy
the
waters of climate change issues.
While Climate
and
Energy Decoded lives up to its promise of providing more
enlightening
contrasts between different options, its added value lies in its
meticulous pinpointing
of how research, study, and reporting methods fail, and how readers can
conduct
better research more thoroughly grounded in a vetted approach to
critical
thinking.
Libraries strong in climate
issues and research papers
will find Climate and Energy Decoded
an excellent acquisition. Ideally, it will be chosen for classroom and
reading
group discussions about not just climate change, but the methods used
to
represent its science.
Return to Index
Crow Country
Emily Sullivan
J.A. Publications,
Ltd.
978-0-9794124-4-8
$15.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.japublicationsltd.com
Post-apocalyptic
fiction and Western genres typically don't intersect, but that doesn't
mean the
two shall never meet. Crow Country
illustrates this in providing a genre-busting read that holds elements
of
Western drama and sci-fi alike, attracting both audiences with a heady
form of
action that re-envisions a different Western milieu that emerges some
thirty
years after everything goes dark.
Readers used
to
thinking that the Old West is set in a particular time will find this
futuristic backdrop alluring and surprising. The surprises begin with
the
story's opening lines: "The end of the world . . . now that
was a beautiful
thing. Those lights drew eyes to
the
starry sky. Swaths of pink, glows of green, wild golds kissing violets.
So
lovely, so gentle. In the cold people stood, to watch that mural in
wonderment,
too awed to see the earth was black. In that moment, the auroras were
everything."
The prologue
captures
the event that instigated this societal transformation, creating a
philosophical overlay of survival that is evocatively and compelling
translated
to human endeavors and experience to draw readers into the evolving
dilemma
caused by a lasting blackout: "Shorter
days made for longer nights, when the wind came biting and the
desperate
prowled. To steal was to survive, to hoard became wise. There was no
sharing
while stomachs growled and no laws without the power to enforce them.
How free
man became, free but untaught in his freedom. And so, independence was
frightening."
As waves of
death
emulate from this single event, the compellingly unique language
continues to
capture hearts and minds: "Everyone
was, in one night, made basic again. For when the Lord snapped his
fingers, the
Devil took the stage. What tremendous music he made."
Emily
Sullivan's
attention to world-building is just as astute as her introductory
passages
about world-destroying experiences.
Readers
find the evolution of Judge, who walks a West which has reverted to
being
untamed and prey even to the vicious crows that feed on the remnants of
humanity, a thought-provoking character whose actions and choices
influence the
rise of law in the face of chaos.
Judge's
personal
vendetta with the Crows, his perception of Crow Country as a
threatening
plague, and his vision of Law as a way of returning a semblance of
order to the
world takes center stage as Judge's vision of the Devil's influence and
his role
in thwarting it lends to his personal and philosophical strength.
Committed to
fighting
to protect his enclave town of Genesis, Judge journeys towards promises
of
something better, while Sullivan maintains the threads of evocative
description
that bring the story to life: "Westward,
a sky rich with golds and greens stretched behind the range, which
donned a
blanket of shadowy gray. Afore it all stood blocks of white and brick
no larger
than flies from where Judge watched. Longmont. The land of the Harpies.
The
tallest tower was a cluster of silos, four clumped together like a slim
but
crowded castle. It wasn’t leaning last Judge saw it. Now it threatened
to make
dust no different than Denver’s."
Readers who
choose Crow Country for its dual
promise of post-apocalyptic
survival story and Western frontier justice, flavored with accounts of
the
Devil incarnate and the Crows which have assumed a position of power,
won't be
disappointed. The powerful juxtaposition of all these forces creates an
outstanding saga as moving in its sense of place as it is in its sense
of
purpose.
The promise
of a
train comes at a cost, as does most technology: “Think
it’ll be worth it?” Their train was a hellish trade. Souls for
steam, people for power, sanity for something rumored."
Crow Country's powerful sense of place,
purpose, and
post-apocalyptic Colorado backdrop makes it a top recommendation for a
wide
range of readers who will find it a literary powerhouse of a read.
Book club
groups will
find Crow Country replete with many
possible topics for debate and discussions which can range from
creative
writing illustrations to the content and character of the story's
evolving
conundrums.
Return to Index
Crow Country
Audiobook
Emily Sullivan
J.A. Publications,
Ltd.
Narrator: Will Hahn
$21.83
www.japublicationsltd.com
"Those lights drew eyes to the starry sky swaths of
pink, glows of
green, wild golds, kissing violets...in the cold, people stopped to
watch that
mural in wonderment, too awed to see the Earth was black."
The print
version of Crow Country represents
a powerful study
in survival and wonder; but an audiobook's strength rests on its
narrator. In
this, Crow Country also shines,
powered by a reader whose clear and dramatic voice does justice to the
power of
the written word by bringing it alive.
Audiobooks
can be
good or bad depending on the presence and abilities of their narrators.
Too
many fall into the sea of obscurity either through murky readings,
staid
presentations, or a toneless attention to accuracy over embellishment.
There's
a fine line between these two, but narrator Will Hahn is adept at
walking this
line with a powerful, rich voice that lends just the right touch of
drama to
the story.
Readers of
this
apocalyptic Western novel may think they already know Emily Sullivan's
powerful
work, but listening to it in audio imparts another layer of depth by
adding the
atmospheric embellishments that bring the story alive, from Judge's
cracking
bones that "beg to sit" to the evolution of a confrontation that
makes him a key figure of survival, control, and confrontation.
Hahn loses
no power
as the novel progresses. This is especially notable because Crow Country is no light or short read,
but a narrative that takes the time to build the atmosphere and
motivations
driving this dark Colorado future.
Each chapter
is
another study in revelation and discovery that is especially
recommended for
readers of the written word who can sit back and let Hahn's warm,
passionate,
descriptive voice flow over them.
This
represents the
perfect pairing between word and audio: a compelling voice punctuated
by sound
effects that bring the story to vivid life. Readers will feel the train
coming;
the whistle blow of the fate it brings; and the promise of new
opportunities
and dangers that roll along the tracks.
A good audio
will
bring to life all the underlying facets of the written word. A superior
audio
will be immersive.
The audio
version of Crow Country is such an
experience, not
to be missed by either prior print readers or newcomers who look for
extraordinary audio presentations rich in drama and timbre.
Return to Index
Dark
Refuge
Charles
Beadle, Edited with Annotations by Rob Couteau
Dominantstar
LLC
978-1-7360049-3-7
$17.95
Website:
www.robcouteau.com
Ordering:
www.DominantstarPublications.com
Dark
Refuge appears in print for the first
time since its original publication in 1938, presenting a world
traveler's
experiences with bohemian life in Paris in a novel that also serves
(thanks to
Rob Couteau) as a biography of Beadle's life.
Extensive
annotated references link Beadle's experiences to his fictional
representations, offering a literary backdrop for understanding both
the
atmosphere and progression of his fiction and its roots in reality.
Readers
should be prepared for a sexual romp that is ribald, explicit, and
thoroughly
steeped in Beadle's personal experiences of the times.
Beadle's
language is evocative, poetic, and dramatic: "I
simply slip through the other room of the café and out into the
other boulevard, laughing to twist my guts. Nobody knows that I have a
rendezvous. The coat and hat annoy me. How silly! I throw them away as
I run,
for I know it is late and I’m frightened that my beloved will not wait.
God is
crying harder than ever, and I suck in his tears. How funny it must be
to
[weep]!"
Whether
exploring drug experiments and the revelations that follow them or
descending
into the sordid and colorful world of bohemian Paris, Beadle flavors
all of his
impressions with the same attention to flowery detail that makes his
writing so
timeless: "Inexorably I was borne
along up this staircase of Time as an express lift passes floors,
glimpsing worlds
where the highest form of life was apes chattering futilely in leagues
of
simian nations of their own; where vast beasts resembling tanks plunged
through
swamp and over prairie; where the sky was of steam and gas, and
volcanoes burst
like firecrackers on a Chinese New Year amid a seething sea; and on and
on
until there were no more worlds and naught seemingly but incandescent
void."
Pair
this with the extensive notes and annotated references Couteau injects
to not
just explain but expand the story, for a sense of the unique literary
and
historical importance of this reappearance of Beadle's rare classic,
which has
been out of print for far too long.
Libraries
seeking literary representations of the marriage between fiction and
nonfiction
will find Dark Refuge a fine
example.
The almost 200 annotated notes come from previously unpublished letters
and
documents, combining with photos and historical reviews to represent a
hallmark
of not only literary fiction, but biographical research.
Dark
Refuge deserves a place in any library
strong in works of literature that represent the intersection between
fictional
devices and biographical inspection, whether or not there is prior
knowledge of
or interest in Beadle's works and importance.
Return to Index
Emma's
Army
Dan
Chabot
Independently
Published
9798439874866
$2.99 Kindle, $16.99 paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Emmas-Army-Millions-Marching-Vanishing/dp/B09ZCQB46J
Readers
seeking a satirical, wry examination of American politics and society
set in a
futuristic (but familiar-feeling) setting will relish Emma's
Army: How
Millions of Angry, Marching Seniors Saved Their Vanishing America.
This
study in ironic social inspection creates a riveting read that depicts
an angry
86-year-old grandmother who decides to rebel against the currents of
modern
society.
Her
dismay lands her in the hands of authorities, charged with assault, and
creates
a revolution of elders that is packed with both enlightening and
humorous
scenarios: "Emma supposed she
probably shouldn't have pushed that picketing, clueless kid into the
Tidal
Basin with the tip of her umbrella, especially right in front of the
Jefferson
Memorial with all those cops and tourists around, but he was asking for
it, the
way he was shoving that "Geezers Go Home" sign in her face."
Feisty
Emma strews comments about society throughout her account, which
creates
inspections and insights at once funny and thought-provoking. This dual
ability
to pair social and political examination and angst with a determined
grandmother's critical view of the country's progression offers many
points
suitable for book club or group debate as the story unfolds.
There
are no sacred cows here. Emma addresses everything from voter's rights
and
immigrant participation in democracy to Christianity and other
religions, and
the ironic trends of future sports competitions ("Most
sports now had two divisions—Men and "Other"—and
negotiations were underway to just merge the two.").
The
social commentary that permeates these observations and Emma's struggle
for a
different society emerge as fellow elders reflect on their own changed
lives:
"He just makes us feel so special,
so attractive, so desirable," one of them told Emma. "We know he's
lying, but they're such delicious lies."
The
result is a journey into a revised future where millions of angry
elders march
to protect their voices and rights, egged on by a militant Emma who
cultivates
a different perspective with "Graystock" and the battle to unite a
much-divided America.
While
sci-fi and futuristic novel readers and libraries will find Emma's
Army of interest, it is especially
recommended for book clubs and social issues discussion groups who will
find
the juxtaposition of elder rights and perceptions and the efforts to
revise
America's trajectory to be thought-provoking and debate-worthy.
Return to Index
Essential
Advice For
Buying Your First Home And Navigating Through The Mortgage Loan Process
Diana Donnelly
Independently Published
979-8986572505
$5.99 Kindle/$12.29 paperback
https://www.amazon.com/ESSENTIAL-NAVIGATING-THROUGH-MORTGAGE-PROCESS-ebook/dp/B0B92MVY53
Essential Advice For Buying Your First Home And
Navigating Through The
Mortgage Loan Process should be gifted to any first-time home
buyer who
needs not just essential advice, but a format that lends to its quick
absorption. Of added value and note is an accompanying booklet, The Strategies To Win Your House If You Are
In A Bidding War, deliverable
upon request to the author.
Diana
Donnelly
advises that would-be buyers need to do more than save up their down
payment
and identify their needs. They need a thorough understanding of the
entire
homebuying process in order to gain the best value for their money.
That's
where her book enters the picture.
The basics
of
homebuying which are presented here include understanding the realtor's
advice
and motivations, asking for a comparative market analysis and
understanding its
contents, considering the pros and cons of condos, co-ops, and other
housing
alternatives, and understanding the essential differences between buyer
and
seller agencies.
From finding
the
right agent to identifying market trends that affect pricing and
negotiations
and understanding homeowners insurance policies and protections,
Donnelly
covers all the basics which new buyers need to know.
She
navigates
potentially confusing topics with ease, laying out all a buyer's
options with
clear analysis that leads to a sense of not just understanding, but
confidence.
The
aftermath of
closing, from moving in to maintenance, concludes the review, offering
new
buyers everything they need to know to make the best decisions.
If only one
book were
gifted to a new adult looking to buy their first home, it should be Essential Advice For Buying Your First Home
And Navigating Through The Mortgage Loan Process. It provides
essential
advice, doing so in an organized, logical manner that successfully
touches upon
all the potential pitfalls and promises that home buying and ownership
involves.
Return to Index
Gridiron Gypsies
Tom Benjey
Tuxedo Press
978-1-936161-06-5
$21.99
www.GridironGypsies.com
Gridiron
Gypsies:
How the Carlisle Indians Shaped Modern Football is a study
of Carlisle's
team that begins in the late 1800s and delves into tradition and
development in
the team to 1918, when it ended.
Much research into archival
history, politics and social
issues, and football went into Gridiron
Gypsies to create a much fuller-faceted flavor than what
readers might
anticipate from the subject of football.
Indeed, it would be a shame
to relegate Gridiron Gypsies to
sports collections
alone, or limit its audience to sports history enthusiasts, because its
accompanying insights into a small town Pennsylvania school whose
football team
become known nationwide against all odds offers rare glimpses into the
politics
of the sport.
It's especially notable
because the only other study of
Carlisle's extraordinary achievements was made in the 1950s, prior to
the
advent of modern research tools.
School founder Richard Henry
Pratt well knew the popular
1890s admonition “The only good Indian is a dead Indian.” One would think that his
background as a
cavalry officer in the Indian wars would have led him to support this
idea, but
Pratt was convinced that Indians could be educated, established a
school
(Carlisle) for them, and fostered a liberal and far-sighted attitude
towards
their place in white society that helped belay some of the prejudice
against
them: "In great demand, the school’s
popular band marched in several inaugural parades and played at world
fairs and
other major events to show the general populace what Indians could do
if given
the chances whites had. So, even though he abhorred the violence in the
game,
it was totally in character for him to demand that, if Carlisle boys
were to
play football, they must soon play and beat the best college elevens."
As Gridiron
Gypsies
evolves, readers learn about the making of the school and its famous
team, and
will find the history of both to be fascinating and thought-provoking.
Lively descriptions of team
developments, major players
and leaders, changing times and challenges, and the politics governing
the
Indian School and its competitive abilities reveal stories that ideally
will
see the light of classroom discussions.
If there was ever a book
that should be a mainstay in
collections strong in Native American history, culture, and issues, or
early
civil rights efforts, it should be Gridiron
Gypsies. The story is about far more than sports, tackling
the subject of
integration and Native American rights in an era when most would rather
have
killed than educate them.
Return to Index
Lab Spill
Robert Rife
Deep Portal Publishing
979-898628060
$24.95 Hardcover/$18.95
Paper/$4.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/LAB-SPILL-Comedy-Maybe-THING/dp/B0B65FYB8Z
Lab
Spill: A Dark Comedy. Maybe. is part of
The Cool Thing
series and represents an uncommon and attractive blend of sci-fi and
humor
rarely seen in the genre. At this point, it's appropriate to note that Lab Spill is not exactly a sci-fi read.
It embraces mystery, horror, science, and psychology alike as it romps
through
a world of monsters, accidents, and unexpected dark humor that evolves
from
these circumstances.
Robert
Rife is a master at developing a special brand of tension based on
uncertain
outcomes and struggles that change all involved in them, from the
story's
opening lines: "Hector has been in
the old Roaton house too long. Far too long. He was to steal something
quick,
to prove he’d gotten in. Amy waits, shivering on the moonlit porch,
clutching
her car keys. Night breezes mutter darkly of evil, whispering through
the vine
covered fence… where an impaled body has been found. Hector will come
out. But
he will not be the same. Neither will Amy."
Fast-paced
switches of scene and characters and dark scenarios of a buried
starship and a
strange couple lost in the Waydowns and facing a deadly Coiler are
tempered by
a special brand of humor that permeates and offsets the horror and
sci-fi
components: "Listening as the two
bicker and sneak about in her home, Shadow turns to Proby. As her smile
creates
grey, ghost dimples, she says, “I have listened to those two who are
now
exploring. They have been in love for the longest of time, but I don’t
think
the man knows it. And one
of these two strange
beings is also in love but doesn’t know it. How typical of life and
love;
they’re always a big pain in the butt."
As
the strange environments reveal structures whose walls and realities
expand,
and monsters whose threats change everything, readers will appreciate
the
story's fast pace, powerful atmospheric descriptions, and the wry sense
of
irony that permeates the story's satisfying twists and turns.
Sometimes
the best reads are neither fish nor fowl, but adopt a unique
countenance as
they incorporate elements of disparate action to explore strange new
worlds.
Readers
who look for the uniquely creative entertainment and thought-provoking
work,
and libraries able to eschew the usual genre shelving approach in favor
of a
creative presentation that defies pat categorization, will both
appreciate the
unique and unpredictable action in Lab
Spill, which carries readers and characters into milieus
that test their
definitions of monsters, romance, and humor: "Being
in love and proposing doesn’t mean the afflicted has had a
lobotomy. Just almost."
Return to Index
The New Art
of Ideas
Robin Landa
Berrett-Koehler
Publishers, Inc.
978-1523002078
$19.95 Paper/$18.95 Kindle
www.bkconnection.com
The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential
is about
tapping into the fine art of not just creating, but observation and
action.
While entrepreneurs interested in igniting goals with creative impulses
will be
the likely audience for Robin Landa's exploration, it is recommended
across the
board to a wide audience of thinkers, creators, and would-be creative
individuals who find themselves either stuck or unable to quite grasp a
solution that leads to an ongoing approach to life, problem-solving,
and
innovation.
The survey
opens with
examples of success from the business world, from a Microsoft
engineer's
epiphany to the intersection between business and community interests
which
both benefited from this creative idea: "This
is a case where the return on corporate investment is not simply
financial—it
is a gain for a community of people."
These kinds
of
examples and links between individual and corporate interests are just
one
feature in a title that explores different creative opportunities and
the
forces that "trigger a goal" to spark innovative action. This
discussion is especially important because too many leaders lack the
ability to
formulate and direct truly innovative thinking.
Landa
maintains that
the nugget of creativity often lies in an observer's ability to see and
identify a gap that needs to be filled: "Stay
open to any enlightening bit of information that points to a solution
you
hadn’t anticipated. I can’t overstate the importance of finding an
insight into
a behavior that leads to noticing a gap." The challenge lies
in honing
attitudes and abilities that can readily identify such gaps and create
strategies to address them.
Therein lies
the
heart of business innovation—but it's a process that is too rarely
explored in
business guides that maintain that business creativity originates from
other
basics of this process that are explored in depth, here.
Here, the
observer
and observation is a central starting point to the creative process.
Landa
provides many keys to success, from tackling self-doubt and developing
focus to
changing typical thinking routines: "Ask
yourself, How can I look at this in a different way? Can I look at this
scenario, situation, object, setting, or relationship through a
different lens?
Or, can you obtain someone else’s vantage point, someone quite
different from
yourself? When you’re with colleagues or team members, obtain multiple
perspectives on your research or findings."
More so than
most
books about innovation and creativity, The
New Art of Ideas offers entrepreneurs at all levels (whether
part of a
company team or an independent owner) the opportunity to identify and
cultivate
the kinds of mental leaps that connect products and services with truly
unique
ways of seeing and delivering them.
Filled with
checklists and footnoted references for further reading, The
New Art of Ideas's key to creative thinking should be on any
manager's shelf, as well as on the reading lists and under discussion
by book
clubs and business leaders seeking enlightenment on expanding the
creative
process to link new ideas to better ways of thinking.
Return to Index
Raise Your
Hand
Robert A. Belle
Simply You Publishing
978-9914-742-21-3
$12.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Hand-Millennials-courageously/dp/991474222X
Raise Your Hand: A Millennial’s Guide on How to Ask
for Help with
Courage and Defeat the Weeds of Regret with Power is a study
in millennial
response and life challenges. It focuses on this generation's
proclivity for
eschewing support, resulting in a higher degree of burnout than other
generations exhibit.
Why is
asking for
help so difficult for this particular group?
Robert A.
Belle
offers answers both to this question and to the process involved in
asking for
and obtaining the right kind of assistance.
From an
analysis of
barriers to asking for help and reasons for accepting assistance to the
basics
of how to ask for and apply that help, Robert A. Belle's title
enlightens not
only millennials, but anyone who experiences difficulty in accepting a
helping
hand.
Different
kinds of
relationships are tackled, from romance to work and dealing with
authority
figures. Each example provides a different lesson about the helping
relationship. Belle uses case history examples from his own
relationships and
life to consider an array of points in the helper dynamic: "During our regular check in conversations, we
would talk through
what she was dealing with and going through and how I, as her boss,
could
support her. She decided to register and sit for one of her
professional
accountancy exam papers. In hindsight, she not only wanted to progress
her
career (a commendable step in the midst of a pandemic) but she also
wanted to
do something in which she could have a strong sense of control."
These serve
to not
only illustrate important points, but provide road maps to achievement
through
goal-based discussions and examples that provide concrete information
on the
entire process, from different perspectives.
The result
is a
self-help title that can apply equally to work, romance, and
interpersonal
relationships of all types. It addresses the power structure and
psychological
connections involved in asking for and receiving help, creating a
thought-provoking book that ideally will be used as a discussion point
in all
kinds of groups.
Libraries
seeking a
work that moves beyond the self-help category to address common issues
in
working relationships of all kinds will find Raise
Your Hand a compelling analysis that holds many opportunities
for self-evaluation, discussion, and transformation.
Return to Index
The Relict
DM
Gritzmacher
Piqued Publishing
979-8-9866387-1-3
$14.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
Website:
www.gritzmonster.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Relict-DM-Gritzmacher-ebook/dp/B0BB3HM4JR
Occult
horror readers will find The Relict (book
1 of the Skulldiggery
series) an intriguing story. It opens with Ethan's GPR sweep of the
forest
floor, part of the fieldwork he's involved in with his professor, in
search of
Native American artifacts. Predictably, what he unearths is something
far more
than an artifact. He's found something totally unexpected.
Retired
state
detective Tom Secrist is not one to admit defeat, but his condition
seems to
belay his effectiveness until Sherry's body is discovered. Secrist
finds
himself back on the job with a case that not only delivers bad news to
Sherry's
brother Russell, but involves him in a long-buried series of events
that once
shook the Midwestern small town to its roots and threaten to arise
again.
Thousands of
years
earlier, Norse settler Gunnar faced this same force, embarking on a
journey
that led him to escape a monster. Gunnar, too, has lost much; but he
still has
much to lose unless he can confront the evil force that sends him far
from
comfort and family.
DM
Gritzmacher creates rich descriptions that capture Gunnar's world and
others: "His
father was everywhere but no longer here at all. The enormity of the
loss
threatened to overcome Gunnar once again. He felt the tears and sobs
climbing
up his throat and clamoring to escape. Gunnar pressed the cup to his
lips in
hopes of washing these things back down."
As Secrist,
Russell,
and Gunnar's lives unexpectedly entwine, readers receive a powerful
occult
thriller that is especially adept at capturing the atmosphere of an
evolving
investigation, a strange truth, and the specter of a threat that has
never been
vanquished.
The blend of
century-hopping experiences and responses to these events keeps readers
guessing, whether it be about the geologic incongruity of finding
obsidian in
Michigan, where volcanoes don't exist, to the presence of a force that
increasingly cannot be denied.
The result
is a
gripping blend of occult horror, thriller, and investigative mystery
designed
to keep readers on edge and guessing even when some of its events are
predictable. Their outcomes are not, making The
Relict an appealing and attractive read not just for occult
horror fans,
but whose who look for investigative twists and turns in their stories.
Libraries
can easily
recommend it to horror and mystery genre readers alike; especially for
those
who like crossover stories that embrace the best elements of both.
Return to Index
Sprout
Richard P. Gleason
Bird With Fry Corp.
978-1-7371830-0-6
$24.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Sprout-Richard-Payne-Gleason/dp/1737183013
Sprout
is a
contemporary philosophical fairy tale that, on the surface, appears to
be
written for elementary to middle grade readers. In reality, its gentle
message
will reach all ages (well into adult audiences) with a compelling tale.
Sprout was out of print for years
before
a niece who had loved her uncle's book forty-three years earlier
decided it
needed to be reprinted after he passed.
Sporting new, creative
illustrations by Taylor Suzenski, Sprout
returns to the fold of timeless
classics that outlive their creators to promise added impact to
generations of
future readers with its evocative story of a coming-of-age gift that
prompts a
young boy to record life lessons and observations.
The fact that this
republication was a family effort that
involved non-writers in the process of revising and producing a work
that holds
all the trappings of a creative writer's best effort is only one facet
that
lends to Sprout's appeal. Widows,
daughters, friends, sisters, and nieces all joined together to put
their best
into this revised edition. And, it shows.
Central to Sprout's
appeal is a series of messages about life, the world, and adventures
that
impart basic insights into the nature of goodness, courage, acceptance,
and
self-discovery.
Thus, readers receive a
series of enlightening passages
that also inject unexpected humor into the story: "At
first, Sprout thought some mistake had been made, that this
could not possibly be a dragon-slaying knight. But above and behind the
Knight’s head, on a wooden plaque fastened to the wall, carved in large
bold
letters was the title Dragon Slayer. Beneath that, someone had scrawled
on the
wall with a piece of charcoal, “And slayer of many a flagon.”
In some ways, the irony of
flawed heroes and good
intentions brings to mind The Wizard of Oz, in which the heroic
adventurers
each discover that the thing they think they lack and want most from
their
journey already resides in their hearts and actions.
Sprout
offers
similar revelations, albeit in a very different story that embraces
both
appearances and the messages of underlying countenances beneath them.
Richard
P. Gleason's storytelling assumes a chatty revelation that embraces his
readers
as these insights evolve: "If you
haven’t guessed by now, the old woman wasn’t exactly as kind as she
tried to
appear. It is an unfortunate fact of life that some people are far less
than
what they appear to be. For whatever reason, some people grow up all
twisted
and turned in upon themselves so that they act badly, or are “bad
acts,”
depending on how you arrange your words. Bad-acting people are those
who do bad things. They are
people whose
lives are ruled by verbs like lying,
cheating, stealing,
tricking, and many others.
Which, I’m sure you and I know, are
things not to do."
No matter the age of the
reader, Sprout will spark debates
and thought-provoking inspections of self
and life. Ideally, it will be chosen for read-aloud by parents who
enjoy
interacting with their kids through fantasy adventures that hold more
than
light references to real life dilemmas, and will be picked up by book
clubs
interested in philosophical stories with lessons that appeal to all
ages.
At the least, Sprout
needs to return to a place of prominence on library shelves, and
displayed and
highlighted for its timeless messages and relevance.
Return to Index
Untangle
Angela McKinney
DartFrogBooks
978-1-956019-41-4
$3.99
ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9CHNYS8
Untangle:
How to
Create Big Possibilities Through Small Changes introduces
self-help readers
to process of working through confusion, entanglements, and feeling
stuck to
come out the other side of a conundrum stronger than before.
While many self-help guides
seem to have addressed this approach,
Angela McKinney adopts a different perspective through not just
exercises and
admonitions, but a discussion of links between seemingly-small
stressful
situations and their connections and contributions to bigger patterns
of habits
that trap.
Clarity comes not from a
singular path, but from a blend
of lessons and examples from others and the analysis and direction
McKinney
provides to illustrate how individuals can untangle themselves from
self-destructive or limiting patterns.
McKinney acknowledges that
this process may initially
seem convoluted or challenging: "Many
clients roll their eyes when I ask them to dramatize their problems.
The idea
that our problems are attempts to solve other problems is undoubtedly
complex.
However, it does keep with the fact that opposing forces routinely
coexist in
our biological system. Encourage just a little bit of willingness to
peek
around new doorways and engage your creative brain to gather awareness."
Notes based on the Untangle
Workshops that McKinney
conducts, provided by those who successfully employed specific
strategies to
improve their lives and modify their reactions to life, make important
connections between tapping creative potential and understanding
self-limiting
messages and approaches that have held that possibility at bay.
Without such creative
solutions, untangling unconscious reenactment patterns can be
challenging. Reality checks
cover such disparate entanglements as overwork, aggressive energy, and
self-limiting internal messages, offering methods to overcoming these
in the
form of play and creative problem-solving engagements, and venturing
into new,
unfamiliar territory on many different levels.
McKinney's proven strategy
allows participants and
readers to move ahead into their best lives. All that's required is a
willingness to absorb the messages, experiences, and guidelines in Untangle, which ideally will be readily
available in both general-interest and self-help libraries.
Return to Index
Abby's Pony
Love
Susan Count
Hastings Creations
Group
978-1-952371-03-5
.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Abbys-Pony-Love-Susan-Count-ebook/dp/B0B7VXQSX5
What does a
horse-crazy girl with no horse of her own do to satisfy her passion?
She gets a
job in a local stable. And then she falls in love.
Abby's Pony Love is a story that will
feel familiar to any horse-crazy
girl who harbors the passion (but not the opportunity) to interact with
horses.
Illustrator
Bev
Johnson adds pictorial drama to Susan Count's tale, providing a
compelling
cover and cameo images thereof to embellish the story as Count follows
Abby's rationale
for developing a strategy to satisfy her pony passion.
Humor and
spiritual
components spice the tale with added value: "She
opened her decorated box of inspirational quotes and flipped through
the
colored note cards. “There’s got to be something in here that will
help.” A
yellow card poked up and she pinched it from the others. “‘When all
your eyes
see is darkness, look for the light with your heart.’ ” She tossed the
card on
the desk and picked up another. “‘When all hope is gone, pray for a
miracle.’ ”
Hmm, miracles are good. “‘If
things aren’t going as planned, it’s because God has a better plan.’ ”
She
dropped the cards back into the box. “That’s what I need—a better
plan.” She
stood. With a deep breath, she faced her failures. To the mirror, she
said, “Be
sorry. Be sincere. Beg.”
These
elements
combine with the horse-centric passion of the plot as Abby's favorite
pony
moves on and out of her life, creating further conundrums over
something she
loves like it's her own, even though it isn't.
From
differences
between mares and geldings to horse tack and terminology, Count's story
is
steeped in the language, feel, and nature of the equine world.
Advanced
elementary
to early middle grade readers who love horses, and spunky girls
determined to
be involved with them against all odds, will relish Abby's
Pony Love, which covers the topics of love, maturity,
friendship, and determination with equal attention.
A glossary
of horse
terms (and even a carrot recipe for horse treats) follows the tale,
supporting
its atmosphere and style with practical elements of reality.
Return to Index
Baking is
Messy and
So Is Life
Steven Roberts
WmJoy Press/Alma
Pistis, LLC
978-0-9896731-6-7
$7.95 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Baking-Messy-Life-Steven-Roberts/dp/0989673162
"JJ loved her big farmhouse home that was so filled
with love and
laughter."
Middle-grade
readers
interested in a lively story of a family cemented by a bakery will find
Baking is Messy and So Is Life an
appealing story of warmth and insight.
When she
tackles the
mystery of the "muffin house" structure on their property, JJ
uncovers facts that both answer her questions and introduce new
possibilities
for the entire family.
As the
Baking House
story is revealed, so are family ties and ambitions that JJ had never
known
about. A little bakery's origins and growth, powered by an old oven
embedded
with a special magic, comes to light as the listener and her readers
absorb a
whimsical tale of a single effort that spawns a host of bakeries and
attractions in Bakerstown.
So, when did
the
magic die; and why has JJ been forbidden to explore this history?
As the story
unfolds,
readers receive a fine tale of discovery, growth, and family and
community
ties.
JJ's efforts
to bring
back the magic result in unexpected events that both mirror the past
and
introduce new possibilities for the future.
Baking is Messy and So Is Life's
lovely story of family, community, and cooperative ventures
will attract
advanced elementary to early middle grade readers with a spicy blend of
mystery
and revelation that is lined by the warmth of interconnected lives.
Adults
seeking
uplifting stories for kids will find Baking
is Messy and So Is Life an excellent choice that rests on
both the
unexpected and a special mother/daughter relationship that creates
warmth with
a powerful message: ‘Sometimes good
people do mean things and sometimes mean people do good things.
Forgiveness is
like rain—it falls on all of us the same, the good and the bad.’
Return to Index
Bethlehem Barn
Debra Westgate-Silva
Stillwater River Press
978-1955123563
$19.95
https://www.amazon.com/Bethlehem-Barn-Debra-Westgate-Silva/dp/195512356X
Debra Westgate-Silva's Bethlehem Barn is a picture book survey
that enjoys engaging
illustrations by Marcin Piwowarski as it surveys the story of Jesus's
birth
from the perspective of the barn animals that surround him.
Picture a cold winter's
night. The animals all have the
usual agendas when they enter the barn: "Cow
wanted to eat her hay. Chicken wanted to check her eggs. Sheep wished
for peace
and quiet, but Donkey had just returned from a long journey and wanted
to play.
And no one–not a single animal, not even a mouse—noticed Bird up in the
rafters
puffing her chest preparing to make an announcement. Everything was as
it
always was—until Cow reached her food trough."
It is then that they
discover their disparate animal
voices have all changed into English. And there is something puzzling
in Cow's
food trough.
A hilarious story of
revelation emerges as the animals
try to figure out what humans are doing in their
barn.
Can the baby be the holy one
that the humans anticipate?
Impossible. “'Such a great one would not
be in our simple barn,' Cow said."
As the mystery unfolds,
young readers and parents receive
an engaging and very different perspective on the spiritual events
surrounding
this special birth.
With so many picture books
covering Christ's birth, it's
unusual to see such a perspective presented in a winning story that
feels
original and light-hearted.
Parents looking for
read-aloud Christmas stories that are
inviting, engaging, and whimsically different will find Debra
Westgate-Silva
and Marcin Piwowarski create the perfect blend of fun and serious
inspection
that adds a different, satisfying twist to the events surrounding the
birth of
Jesus.
Return to Index
Daisy and The Missing Mona
Lisa
J.T. Allen
Sumus Press
978-0-9986805-3-8
$10.99
Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.daisytannenbaum.com
Daisy
and The
Missing Mona Lisa is a Daisy Tannenbaum
Misadventure that revolves
around nearly-13-year-old Daisy, who takes a break from dreaded math
homework
to become immersed in mystery and history.
The gift of an art piece
representing the Mona Lisa pops
open a can of worms as Daisy becomes involved in the world of art
forgery, Nazi
efforts to find the real Mona Lisa during World War II, and a gift that
turns
into adversity when its benefactor dies and Daisy is accused of
thievery.
From a ghost in a château
mirror who appears at her dead
friend's funeral to Daisy's exploration of Paris's underworld and the
forces
that influence the art world and efforts to monetize it that are worth
dying
for, young readers will relish the uncommon blend of a spunky pre-teen
whose
adventure embraces Parisian culture and intrigue.
J.T. Allen does a fine job
of entwining the mystery and
history in such a way that readers won't realize they are also
absorbing a
healthy degree of French culture and insights.
As Daisy faces accusations
of theft with more proactive
thinking and action, readers will appreciate how she never gives up,
even when
she finds herself deeply immersed in a disturbing situation that is way
over
her head and experience.
Filled with action-packed
moments, insights and
revelations, and powered by a girl determined to clear her name and
solve a
mystery, Daisy and The Missing Mona Lisa is
replete with atmospheric and emotional connection that makes for a
story hard
to put down.
Advanced elementary to
middle grade readers who choose
this book for its promise of intrigue will find its powerful
protagonist and
action-packed adventure a winner. Libraries will want to not only
include it in
their collections, but recommend it for leisure reading and book group
discussions.
Return to Index
Eddie the
Elephant's
Magical Ear
Suzanne Picerno
Pen & Publish,
LLC
978-1956897128
$12.95 Paper/$5.95 Kindle
Ordering: https://amzn.to/3MZktB8
Website: http://penandpublish.com/Eddie
Eddie the Elephant's Magical Ear tells
of a regular,
unextraordinary elephant who has a secret: his ear fell off, and now he
cannot
hear.
As he
searches for
his missing ear, Eddie clearly needs a little help from his friends.
That help
comes from
an unexpected place as he finds his broken ear, but also discovers that
this
still hasn't resolved his problems. He still can't hear.
Suzanne
Picerno's
story embraces the idea of a hearing aid's benefit and teaches young
children
about friendship, hearing loss, and the magic of finding a hearing
device (and
a friend) that helps sound come to life once again.
Picerno has
also
struggled with hearing loss and hearing aids. She now has cochlear
implants and
advocates for others.
Her story
provides
the perfect opportunity for young readers and read-aloud parents to
absorb the
basics about hearing loss, remedies, the impact of concerned friends
dedicated
to improving the world through their actions, and use of hearing
solutions.
Libraries looking for simple stories about hearing loss and helpful solutions will find that Picerno's Eddie the Elephant's Magical Ear opens the door for discussions about the deaf, the hearing, and friendships. It is spiced by simple, bright illustrations by the author and her assistant M. Waseem that add colorful visual attraction to the tale.
The
bilingual version of Eddie will be released late November 2022.
Return to Index
Embarrassing George
Kimber Morgan
Creative, Simple Wonder Press
978-1-7370386-5-8
$15.99
Paper/$5.99 Kindle
www.kimberfoxmorgan.com
In Embarrassing
George, young George finds his family a complete
embarrassment. His mother
can't cook. His brother is fixated by costumes and wants to go out in
public
wearing them. At the opposite end of the attire snafu is his father,
who often
goes outdoors wearing only his underwear.
Family Night at school is
certain to reveal to others
just how quirky and embarrassing his family really is. How can George
keep his
family under wraps and normal?
While acknowledging that
other families likely have their
quirks, too, George is certain that his is exceptionally embarrassing.
So he's
not feeling good at all about Family Night, when certainly all will be
revealed
to the world.
It is revealed ... and the
truth is far from George's
expectations.
Kimber Morgan creates an
appealing story about family
ties, individuality, and definitions of normalcy. The revelations
George gains
from comparing his family to others and seeing them all wearing their
public
personas will create a fine opportunity for adults to interact with
kids about
family differences and attractions.
Adults looking for
family-friendly reading to engage the
young will find Kimber Morgan's Embarrassing
George an especially attractive read, nicely paired with
Jessica Kwan's
evocative and funny, colorful portraits of family interactions and
snafus.
Return to Index
The Fate of
a Crush
Marie McGrath
Creative James Media
978-1-956183-85-6
$11.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://mariemcgrathauthor.wixsite.com/books
Teens who
choose The Fate of a Crush for its
insights
into young romance and social conundrums will find that Marie McGrath
creates a
fine juxtaposition of emotional challenges in the story of Allie, who
falls in love
with her best friend's brother.
Dreamy
though he is,
Hunter Baylor is off-limits. Allie well knows the unspoken roles about
this
kind of attraction: "The first rule
of liking your best friend’s brother was that she could never know. The
second?
I could never do anything about my feelings. But man did I want to."
Mia is like
Allie's
sister. Her home is Allie's second home. So how can Allie feel this way
about a
brother who should also be like a brother to her—and nothing more?
When she
goes on a
vacation with her best friend's family, more confusion and trouble
emerge as
communications become entangled with underlying emotions. Allie's
feelings are
crushed in a surprising manner that challenges her close relationship
with the
entire Baylor family.
The tangled
emotions
that arise from not just an attraction to Hunter, but fielding advances
in
other areas of life are given realistic inspection and attention by
astute dialogues
and encounters: "A shiver went down
my spine, but it wasn’t from Bennett. It was like an energy, setting me
on fire
from the inside. An energy I knew made no sense, until I turned and saw
Hunter
glaring at Bennett. Why would he be mad at him? Did he know something
about him
I didn’t?"
As the lies
and
confusion build, Mia finds her own sense of self and her ethical
beliefs
tested.
McGrath does
a fine
job of bringing to life the romantic conundrums of a teen who only
wants to do
the right thing—for herself, as well as her relationships. She creates a clean
romance in which
emotional ties are considered, crushes are portrayed in detail, and the
angst a
teen might feel over expectations, missed opportunities, and notions of
love are
considered against the realistic backdrop of changing relationships.
The result
is a
romance that considers secrets, challenges, and the special conundrum
faced in
changing a supportive relationship that has been part of one's entire
life.
Teens will
find The Fate of a Crush a
wholesome and
involving tale that holds important points about traditions and
interconnected,
close lives.
Return to Index
The
Happy Valley
Benjamin
Harnett
Serpent
Key Press
979-8-9867445-4-4
$19.95 Paper/$9.95 Kindle
Website:
https://thehappyvalleynovel.com
Ordering:
https://bookshop.org/books/the-happy-valley-9798986744544/9798986744544
The
Happy Valley is a true coming-of-age story
that spans the ages, from the 1990s in Harmony Valley, where a group of
role-playing teens stumble upon mysterious girl June and a secret
society, to a
2034 mystery surrounding June's disappearance, sparking a return to
"The
Happy Valley" of the past.
While
this complicated-sounding milieu would seem to indicate the story's
appropriateness for older readers, the tale actually will reach from
high
school grades into adult audiences who will find the complex story
offers fine
intrigue, sci-fi elements, historical backdrops, and mystery.
With
such a heady mix of elements, it becomes impossible to neatly
categorize the
audience or genre of The Happy Valley.
If one were to try, the first comment would be that the story opens
with a
heady blend of philosophical life inspection and reflections on
connections
between past, present, and future life that drives all ages to think
about
their own life connections: "Every story is the story of who
we are
bound to, the web of past and future relationships that constitute a
life. It
may be unbelievable for us now, this story of how everything that has
been
going wrong in the world goes right—a fantasy. But it’s a mystery, too,
I mean
how we relate to it, how it can come to be: how our little
peregrinations
around the local space-time of this cockeyed, rocky orb can resonate
together
to leave great change in their wake."
Benjamin
Harnett suggests approaching this story like a gothic tale. The
atmosphere of
mystery and suspense are certain prevalent, as is Harnett's caution
that "real
life is more gothic: more grotesque, mysterious, and desolate, but it
doesn’t
have to be."
The
story doesn't just open. It grabs: "It
was when the Sioux were dynamiting Mt. Rushmore that I heard from her
again
after so long a time. They hosted livestreams every Friday afternoon,
detonating one president at a time. Even those who affected moral
outrage at
the destruction—I was not one—would replay over and over on their
personal screens slo-mo videos of half of Washington’s face sliding
away from
the other, or watch Teddy’s pince-nez shoot out in a cloud of dust over
his
bully mustache and shiteating grin."
The
out-of-the-blue message from June, who disappeared long ago, creates a
cascade
of events that draws readers into a lively yarn that unlocks a mystery
and an
adventure the twelve-year-old narrator never saw coming.
At
this point, it's important to note that while advanced middle school
readers
will gain much from this story, its depiction of different levels of
social,
philosophical, and historical inspection, combined with its language,
would
seem to indicate better accessibility by an older audience.
From
cards containing great power to the ironies of disparate forces that
find
themselves unexpectedly on the same side, Harnett's juxtaposition of
social
discord and angst are nicely done: "Here
we were, a socialist and an anarchist ginning up a social media blitz
with a
guerrilla marketing campaign for a drug to fx the problem of “you piss
too
much.” Or was it “you can’t piss enough”? I could never remember."
The
profound realizations experienced by the characters in this story will
attract
and captivate mature teens and audiences interested in the concurrence
of past,
present, and future: "Slavery had
been a fact of New York, had been wrapped up in its founding. We
whitewashed
it, with our triumphal abolitionism, our participation on the right
side of
history in America’s Civil War. Nothing was simply good or bad, except
for
slavery, which was a universal evil. And it had lived, in a small way,
right
here in this house. I couldn’t look away. What were the shackles? They
were me.
And I would never quite be free."
The
multifaceted tale is reminiscent of the power and allure of the classic
Cloud Atlas, also a story that
intersects lives through the centuries and exposes basic connections in
humanity.
It's
unusual to see this intellectual depth tailored for such a wide age
range, yet The Happy Valley is such
a creation. It
should be included in school libraries into adult leisure reading
collections,
and ideally will be chosen by the kinds of book discussion groups that
found
many of the philosophical, social, and political components of Cloud Atlas worthy of debate.
Powerful,
gripping, and tempered by mystery and intrigue, The
Happy Valley resides in a category of its own—that of a
unique
and compelling work of art that blends social and historical inspection
with
the trajectories of everyday young lives.
Return to Index
Illustrated English-Ga
Alphabet
Flora A. Trebi-Ollennu
Amerley Treb Books
978-1-894718-31-8
$19.99
Hardcover/$9.99 ebook
www.amerleytreb-books.com
There is relatively little
on the market about Ghana's Ga
language, which makes the Illustrated
English-Ga Alphabet of special note.
Illustrations by Ljupka
Stojkova provide colorful,
attractive embellishments to this basic primer, which begins with 'A is
for
apple' (A kɛɛ aplo) and follows up the A-B-C with phrases in English
and Ga
that help reinforce the language.
As the alphabet progresses,
learners of all ages receive
descriptions that reflect the flavors and culture of Ghana.
Each letter is presented in
both upper and lower case.
The exuberance of the descriptions help capture young learner
imaginations,
teaching them about Ghana's rituals, environment, and peoples.
More than a simple A-B-C
guide, the Illustrated English-Ga Alphabet
embraces the cultural lessons that
come with learning a new language, making it a recommendation for
collections
looking for primers not just about Ga, but about those people who speak
the
language.
Return to Index
Jesse's Dream
Victor Hess
Independently
Published
978-0999564028
$12.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Jesses-Dream-Searching-Victor-Hess/dp/0999564021
Young adult
readers
of coming-of-age novels will find Jesse's
Dream: Searching for Family an evocative story of alcoholism,
redemption,
and family entanglements. While it's the third book in Victor Hess's
'Searching
for Family' series (and also marks a future series, the Wesley Club
Adventure),
Jesse's Dream can be read as a
stand-alone story.
From its
opening
lines, Jesse's Dream reveals a
sense
of place in 1957 Ohio that captures the route of a paperboy who lives
with a divorced
mother and chooses to attend the local Methodist church with his sister.
But, being
rooted in
religion won't save Jesse from his own fears and family heritage. As he
uncovers
family secrets, faces new possibilities of extraordinary talents in his
younger
sister (who may be a healer), and solidifies his own connections with
the past,
Jesse grows into his heritage and his own life.
Victor Hess
demonstrates
a strong ability to capture a young boy's concurrent evolution of
dreams and
failures as he grows up within his church and family structures. The
townspeople, support systems, and social services which bring both
opportunity
and angst introduce Jesse to new ways of thinking about his father's
condition
and possible pathways to redemption.
Readers
brought into
the fold of Jesse's evolving wonder will find the story steeped in a
sense of
discovery and insight that keeps them reading, guessing, and
experiencing some
of these revelations through Jesse's eyes: “Your
sister’s a saint,” Montana whispered to me. “Not yet,” I said."
The result
is a
coming-of-age tale of enlightenment, hope, and new realizations. It is
especially
highly recommended for libraries and readers interested in a tale of a
household run by a single parent and a boy who absorbs simple rules of
living
and how to identify good and evil in his life and the wider world
outside it.
Libraries
looking for
atmospheric coming-of-age novels that appeal to middle grades and older
will
find Jesse's Dream a powerful saga
that operates both as a stand-alone read and, even more strongly, in
conjunction with the prior Jesse books.
Return to Index
Klippe the
Viking
Bjorn Fyrre
BoogaMedia
9780648816034
$16.99 Paper/$19.99 Hardcover
www.amazon.com
Young Klippe
is
identified as a Viking, but she certainly doesn't feel like one. She
struggles
with her school scrolls, doesn't understand the jokes her peers share,
and
feels like a loner and a failure.
When
classmate Kanin
reaches out to her and learns of her frustrations, her friendship makes
a
difference as Klippe finds acceptance in shared experiences—including
ignorance
and the process of uncovering facts.
Ankitha Kini
provides
colorful, moving embellishments to Klippe's world, bringing Bjorn
Fyrre's
picture book story to life as Klippe discovers that being a Viking
involves
more than intrinsic knowledge.
The
female-centric
world of the Vikings that is presented here is a satisfying change to
the
typically-male presentation, even presenting clan chieftain Wild Oak as
a
powerful, effective female leader.
Dialogues
that
emphasize social integration, shared learning, and experiences that
connect friends
are encouraged both through the story and by questions in the back
which direct
read-aloud adults to begin the kinds of dialogues that further
enlighten the
young.
Together,
these
vignettes form not only the basis of Kippe's world, but her education
on
perseverance, problem-solving, community involvement, and friendships.
Klippe
does not need to have all the answers in order to be strong. She just
needs to
learn how to ask questions and connect the dots.
Adults who
choose Klippe the Viking for its
Viking
adventure will welcome its action, its strong female characters, and
its focus
on the evolution of strength and leadership as young people make their
ways
through life.
Return to Index
Life Support
Sarah McKnight
Independently
Published
979-843092958
$12.99 paperback,
$3.99 ebook, $19.95 audiobook
www.sarahmcknightwrites.com
Life Support is a coming-of-age novel
recommended for young adult
to adult audiences. Its characters (five high-schoolers who each
struggle with
different issues) represent some of the primary angst and concerns of
teens,
from depression and body image to facing bullying from without and
eating
disorders and self-harm from within.
The vivid
emotional
inspections of this story are evident from its opening lines, in which
Kendra
recognizes a fellow sufferer in a student who does not hide the
evidence of his
self-harm: "I see you. Two rows to
the left and one ahead of me, I see you, resting your cheek against
your palm,
the sleeve of your jacket drooping tiredly down from your wrist. I see
you,
Alec – or is it Alex? – with the red lines that start at your wrist and
disappear beneath the sleeve. I spot them easily. I have had them too,
and I am
sure those angry red lines do not stop until they reach the milky white
curve
of your elbow. Mine, unlike yours, were brought on by a blade, but I
can see
that yours were not. Your lines are too thick, too broken, too red.
Your lines
are caused by a fingernail, dragged slowly up from the wrist to the
inner arm.
The burning sensation from a fingernail lasts for days, unlike the
sweet, sharp
pain of a blade. There is no blood when scratched with a nail, but the
mark
left behind is a constant reminder of what has been done."
This example
is one
reason why Life Support makes such
a
powerful impact ... and is recommended, with caution, to mature teens
able to
handle graphic portraits of such subjects. Whether the observer is
Kendra (who
struggles with an eating disorder) or Ricky (whose rage is
uncontrollable),
each teen has cultivated a dubious method of survival and control that
ultimately injures themselves and those around them.
Readers
might expect
that shifting viewpoints between five disparate lives would result in
confusion, but Sarah McKnight identifies each speaker via changing
headings
which clarify the different voices and experiences being represented.
The angst is
shared,
but the experiences and approaches to resolving it is diverse. Take
Ricky, for
example. His response to life and his world comes from the force of
angry
defenses: "People are tossing their
lunch trays away and leaving the cafeteria, and here I am stuck in the
gym with
Coach Brennan, watching everyone through the ugly barred window on the
door.
He’s still talking to me, using that fake persuasive voice he’s been
using on
me since sophomore year. It’s been two years. When is he going to get
the
fucking hint?"
As the
stories evolve
and lives dovetail in unexpected ways, young adults receive
thought-provoking
inspections of good guys, bad guys, and those who reside in-between, in
a gray
area that embraces both, yet creates its own safe place in unique
individuality.
This joining
of
disparate lives results in new ways to resolve and interact (“We’ll find a way to see the better side of
Ricky,” Alex promises.") that makes the sum greater than its
parts.
At once a
story of
endings, new beginnings, and questionable solutions to life issues, Life Support builds its story on the
shoulders of characters who are at once strong and flawed. The story
opens with
five disasters and teeters on the edge of resolution or tragedy,
drawing these
characters and readers into an account which will serve especially well
as
fodder for book club or group discussion.
Recommended
for
mature teens able to tackle candid portraits of lives in flux, Life Support is a powerful story that
deserves to be included in young adult collections and assigned for
discussion
groups that can engage on disparate and controversial real-world issues
and
responses such as self-harm.
Friendships
can
change (and save) lives. The important central message of this
exploration
should not be overlooked, and deserves to be profiled in a variety of
discussions with teens.
Return to Index
Like a Hero
Michael J. Bowler
Independently
Published
978-0-9903063-9-9
$12.99 Paper/$2.99
ebook/$18.99 Hardcover
Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/mqXK76
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Like-Hero-Invictus-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B0B9VBLH41
Teen fans of
superhero stories and action-packed adventures tempered by insights
into the
origins of courage will find Like a Hero a
fine opener to The Invictus Chronicles series.
Dennis wants
to
become a professional comic book illustrator. His artistic ambitions
have been
stifled by growing up in his older brother Vincent's shadow of
achievement,
though creating the comic character Invictus brought them closer.
Having
created
Invictus and incarnated him into reality in the body of his older
brother,
Vincent faces new challenges as he strives to live up to being a hero,
but
instead confronts poverty, homelessness, drug addiction, abuse, and
cast-off
children in the streets.
How can a
crime
fighter live up to his name? How can a younger brother who has joined
him in
this vigilante effort live up to his older brother's ideals and persona?
Michael J.
Bowler's
novel may sound like a story of comic book-style crime-busting, but it
actually
represents a moral and ethical consideration of doing good in a world
which
pits these young people against their own ambitions as much as any dark
forces.
Bowler also
excels in
documenting the orphan brothers' changing relationship as secrets
evolve,
misguided intentions redirect perceptions and actions, and the siblings
are
forced to re-examine their relationship and concepts of each other and
Invictus.
Streetwise
encounters
and scenarios from the real world vie with vigilante efforts, drawing
others
into their circle to face many of the same conundrums. There is a
degree of
violence and graphic description that should be mentioned: "Demon flinched at the brutality. He pictured The
Hero saving
those guys at the school when he could have let them die. Then he
thought of Z
with his hair ripped out and his shattered arm." Graphic
though they
may be, these descriptions are in keeping with the story's evolutionary
process.
As Bowler's
narrative
about heroism, courage, and being on the right side evolves, young
readers enjoy
deeper considerations of what it means to be proactive and strong.
Libraries
looking for
novels that draw readers with the lure of an action-packed hero story,
but
temper these with moral and ethical considerations, will find that Like a Hero operates on a different
level than most entertaining reads, offering not just food for thought,
but
fodder for classroom and group discussion.
Return to Index
Paws in Paris
Elizabeth M. Grieco
Independently Published
979-8-218-02403-1
$7.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Paws-Paris-Adventures-Tenny-Bella/dp/B0B4HQG1P4
Paws
in Paris: The
Adventures of Tenny and Bella is a children's adventure
story of two
traveling cats who find themselves lost in Paris shortly after landing
in that
city from America.
How can they find their way
home when Atlanta is so far
away and their new abode is a mystery?
The story opens with a
Parisian museum event, a reporter,
and a flavor of Paris that steeps young readers in an alluring
atmosphere of
artistic wonder and surprising revelations.
Can a painter's muse help
these wayward cats find their
way home?
Action blends with cultural
insights as well as feline
allure as the story unfolds. Elizabeth M. Grieco displays a literary
prowess in
creating a compelling scenario of a fantasy cat's life, then
dovetailing it
into real-world Parisian scenes and backdrops that educate young
readers about
France.
Catnapping, accidents,
dubious feline associations with
fellow cats of a different ilk (more streetwise than themselves) add to
the
mystery and drama that unfolds as cats Tenny and Bella explore their
new
environment and figure out how to navigate its pitfalls and promises.
A "you are here" feel helps
young readers
explore the city's vivid life and people through the eyes of both
humans and
cats, while the story captivates with questions and revelations that
meld
fantasy with reality.
The result is a winning tale
that draws young cat lovers
with the promise of adventure, but then thoroughly steeps them in the
magic and
wonder of Parisian and French culture.
Libraries looking for
stories that lure with magic and
entertainment and spice the story with a backdrop of real-world
experience will
find Paws in Paris an acquisition
that will attract a wide audience of cat-loving readers of all ages.
Return to Index
Rolling
in the Deep
Arthur Kevin Rein
Open Books
978-1948598583
$19.95
http://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/rolling-in-the-deep/about-book.html
Rolling
in the
Deep blends a coming-of-age story
with a mystery that originates in a fishing trip discovery and expands
to
embrace and shake a small town's psyche and culture.
At age 17,
Sam is
already more than familiar with loss and grief. That's why his family
moved to
Noquebay Resort in Northern Wisconsin—to begin anew. But you can't
leave the
past behind, especially when you snag it with your fishing line and
dredge up
world-changing trouble. Fishing wasn't the original objective. It was a
legendary skull rumored to be at the bottom of Red Wolf Lake, worth
five
thousand dollars.
The points
of view
switch between narrator Sam, Diane Warren, and other teens who explore
the
shifting events that lead to debate, blackmail, set-ups, and a form of
intrigue
that young adults rarely receive.
As friends,
their
families, and local authorities find their lives entwined and their
interests
in conflict, Arthur Kevin Rein spins a yarn replete with intrigue and
investigations that embrace trouble on both
psychological and environmental levels.
Rein's
fast-paced
story offers many satisfying twists and turns, keeping the focus on a
band of
teens that seek answers, but just keep miring themselves into more and
more
questions that lead to deeper trouble revolving around a cold case
missing
person.
The
characters are
well done, with the intersecting first-person observations expanding
the
psychological draw of unfolding mystery events.
Young adults
who look
for murder mysteries that embrace both coming-of-age experiences and
small town
connected lives and special interests will find Rolling in
the Deep a fine story made all
the more realistic by
Rein's own background growing up in a resort town.
Libraries seeking stories of evolving
relationships against the backdrop of a deepening mystery will welcome Rolling
in the Deep's ability to attract on different levels, powered
by an
atmosphere that represents both adventure and changing interpersonal
relationships and perspectives.
Return to Index
The Slippery Spinosaurus Splat
Carole Marsh
Gallopade International
978-0635136121
$22.99 Hardcover/$5.99 Paper
https://www.amazon.com/James-Bone-Slippery-Spinosaurus-Splat/dp/0635136120
The
Slippery
Spinosaurus Splat is the sixth
James Bone paleontological graphic novel adventure, carrying prior fans
into a
new science-and-action-packed tale while providing a satisfying
introductory back
story to attract newcomers to James Bone's family and friends.
Here, scientist Mommypenny sends the kids
back in time to ancient Egypt in search of the spinosaurus (which just
so
happens to be James's favorite dinosaur).
As the kids travel through time, a host of
delightful creatures make humorous comments on the history and
atmosphere of
ancient Egypt, adding comedy into the kids' encounters as the story
unfolds.
Facts about the giant "spine
lizard" are revealed alongside those about ancient Egyptian culture and
society as the kids explore, bringing even the most reluctant young
reader on a
lively journey through the past.
Carole Marsh's ability to bring these times
to life through fun and humorous observations and interactions creates
an
attraction to history and science that makes this story both
educational and
amusing.
Lee Barrow's art keeps the James Bone characters familiar from book to book as these graphic novel adventures unfold.
The
result is a
fine way of introducing
learners to science and history facts, through memorable characters who
dance
through the ages as they uncover mystery and events that include a
curse, a
dangerous villain, and the possibility of returning home with something
unexpected in tow.
Adults seeking an engaging format that
introduces history and science in a lively adventure-oriented manner
will
relish this latest James Bone addition to the dino-based graphic novel
series,
which is every bit as compelling as its predecessors.
Return to Index
The Train Rolls On To The North Pole
Jodi Adams
Young at Heart Publishing
978-1-7348366-4-6
$11.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734836644
The
Train Rolls On
To The North Pole is a holiday
picture book that celebrates the season (and trains) with a rollicking
story of
the Animal Express's latest mission: to transport eight reindeer back
to the
North Pole, who have been enjoying a spa visit before their Christmas
work.
Of course, they could fly rather than taking
the train home, but Santa wants them to be well-rested.
The brave little train faces darkness, snow,
and all manner of adversity, determined to get his charges safely to
the North
Pole.
Read-aloud parents receive the opportunity
to embellish the story with flurries of train sounds and high drama as
the
train rolls on, its deer passengers increasingly worried about the
challenges
that lie ahead.
A delightful read-aloud holiday experience
evolves that parents and adults will welcome as a bright, original
story
combining two childrens' favorites: Christmas and trains.
Christina Wald's lovely, colorful drawings
bring Jodi Adams's story to life as the story unfolds, while
vocabulary-building descriptions allow for an interactive experience
that adds
educational opportunities.
The
Train Rolls On
To The North Pole's focus on
overcoming fear and adversity and achieving goals through cooperative
efforts
that move through potential disaster makes for a positive holiday tale,
spirited and fun for picture book readers looking for something
compellingly different.
Return to Index
DJ and Roni Robbins
Mommy and Me
Publishing
978-1-7366536-4-7
$14.99 Hardcover/$5.99 ebook
Website: https://www.djandronirobbins.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Wrong-Picture-Before-Christmas/dp/1736653644
Picture book readers
interested in lively holiday tales, and read-aloud adults looking for
interactive opportunities with the very young, will both appreciate What's Wrong with This Picture? 12 Days
Before Christmas Too, a "read and seek" tale that invites
attention and discovery.
Illustrations
by
Nisansala Alwis are accompanied by Holber J. Visconti Montero. They
capture the
family scene of a night before Christmas and embed ten things awry into
each of
the holiday scenes. Adults and kids can work together to review the
Christmas
holiday scenarios and the likely mishaps and mistakes presented in each
of
them, reinforcing visual acuity and mental analysis. Answers for each
scene are
in the back of the book, accompanied by added hidden object and word
search
games.
Unexpected
scenarios
are profiled in a story that is whimsically fun, capturing both the
spirit of
Christmas and the opportunity to cooperatively identify disparities in
its
representation.
The result
is a fun
survey of holiday events that invites kids with scenes that hold an
invitation:
"...something is wrong. It's just
not right. Do you see what I see? Or is it my eyesight?"
Colorful,
fun images
permeate a story that represents a whimsical countdown of the twelve
days of
Christmas and the oddities that can flavor its experiences.
Read-aloud
adults
seeking a fun, interactive holiday experience will find this
opportunity in What's Wrong with This
Picture? 12 Days
Before Christmas Too, a lively teaching tool that offers a
different take
on familiar holiday trappings.
Return to Index
When
Universes Bleed
DJ Whipple and LA
Whipple
Piroska Publishing
LLC
979-8-9863627-0-0
$16.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/When-Universes-Bleed-DJ-Whipple/dp/B0BF9L5D69
When Universes Bleed is a young adult
sci-fi story that opens in
Redbird, Kentucky in 2033. Young Amaya Atlas's "unremarkable life"
changes in a literal flash when lightning transports her to a corn
field,
bereft of memories and naked.
She's taken
to an
orphanage, where she spends the next eleven years of her life searching
for
clues about her past. Answers to her questions seem more possible as
she
teeters on the edge of adulthood. Her friendship with Spike provides an
uncertain form of support for the journey she embarks on to uncover the
truth.
Other
characters are
introduced in chapters that move into different arenas. Gaia is the
"mother of Titans," tasked with helping Amaya fulfill her fate.
Yunosho’s proclivity for wandering the world, having fulfilled his own
destiny,
leads him on a journey that intersects with danger and the sudden death
of his
mother. He, too, is an orphan, starting out as a frightened
11-year-old. Six
years later, his journey as a teen brings him in contact with a bear, a
girl
who looks like a Hindu princess, and a world steeped in possibilities
he'd
never envisioned.
As Amaya
questions
whether she is putting everyone around her in danger through her
choices and
determination, young adults receive a riveting fantasy that does an
especially
good job of creating powerful, engaging characters that learn to
interact not
just with each other, but with the world.
These
questions and
self-examinations help readers identify with Amaya's choices and the
inner
turmoil they represent: "Was she
putting everyone she cared about in danger? Sessy’s plight was surely
her
fault—the kidnapping wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t gone off in
search of
her parents. Maybe she should have ignored the dark disturbance. Maybe
she
should never have left the orphanage. Maybe she should forget about
finding her
parents. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for her abilities. Maybe, maybe,
maybe."
There are
bad guys
and good guys, flawed heroes and struggles that hold no simple
resolutions, and
sleuthing that considers the messages and possibilities embedded in the
characters' personalities and lives.
This lends a
gripping
atmosphere to the story, which moves through these disparate
individuals to
craft a tale of the Random World and those who dare move between it and
nightmares where they become stuck in dreams.
The
father/daughter
writing team of DJ and LA Whipple creates a fantasy that will be a
magnet for
readers looking for action-packed scenes and an interactive
give-and-take
between very different characters.
When Universes Bleed is a fantasy highly
recommended for young
adults looking for well-crafted action and thought-provoking scenarios
of
friendship and authority. It holds no simple or predictable plot, but
goes the
extra mile in creating a satisfyingly complex dilemma powered by
characters who
each walk out of their familiar world and into their strengths.
Return to Index
Will and the
Whisp
Ross MacKay
Creative James Media
978-1956183818
$10.99 Paper/$4.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Will-Whisp-Ross-MacKay/dp/1956183817
Will Devine
never
expected to encounter a fugitive being called a Whisp in the bathroom.
The
Whisp has eluded Hunters and she seeks a refuge. This just so happens
to be
Will, as they become interconnected in an unexpected way that allows
the Whisp
to elude her pursuers and forces Will to struggle with an entity that
shares
his body.
Ross
MacKay's choice
of presenting the Whisp as female and opening with her story of flight
creates
an engaging scenario from the start as the Whisp finds the promise of
freedom
in an unexpected place. The language is vividly compelling, drawing
readers
immediately into the conundrum: "The
Whisp propels herself forward. She has never heard the song of the
Thresholds
until this night. She didn't even exist when they were last open. But
if a
Threshold was open and singing to her, then there was a chance . . . A
small
chance, she might escape with her life."
All of her
spirit
friends have been captured by the Hunters one by one, never to be seen
again.
How long can the Whisp elude capture by her choice?
MacKay is
especially
adept at portraying the minute details of this unusual link between
spirit and
human: "The smell of mildew and the
sweet tang of urine lingers all around her. Her new prison would be
unbearable
if it were not for the noise. Because from every corner she can hear
children,
laughing."
As events
move from
the Whisp's perspective to Will's odd encounter, it looks like Will's
mission
(to enter a new school with a minimum of fuss and attention) has gone
seriously
awry. But that's not the only thing that changes in his life. His
relationship
with the Whisp introduces him to a strange world that coexists with his
own—one
that also poses a threat to teachers and other students.
As Will and
his young
readers learn about Whisps, Ghasts, bindings and unbindings, and
others'
efforts to save the Whisps from the Hunters, Will becomes involved in a
world
few knew existed.
MacKay
injects a wry
humor into these descriptions which also lend strength to the story's
unexpected twists and turns as explanations evolve: “You
need to understand what you are facing. You both do. Across every
world, in every reality, the same four elements can be found: earth,
fire, air,
and water. With the correct maths and a little bit of work, one of
those
elements can open a door to the same element on the other side. You
jump in a
fountain and whoosh you end up in a toilet bowl. Water to water. You go
through
the air in the back of a cupboard and whoosh, you fall through the sky."
The fantasy
component
is nicely wound into a tale that juxtaposes a real-world backdrop with
a new
boy's evolving foray into more than just an unexpected life. A crime component also
offsets the fantasy as
adults interact with situations they think they know (but really don't).
The result
is a satisfying
blend of coming-of-age, empowerment, and discovery tale that focuses on
connections, disconnections, and the power of unifying two disparate
forces
which share the same path for a while.
Teens
looking for
vivid, action-packed stories of survival that operate on different
levels will
find Will and the Whisp features
many
unexpected development that will keep them reading, guessing, and
thoroughly
involved.
Libraries choosing leisure reads that excel in creative scenarios and tales of unexpected connections will find Will and the Whisp an outstanding work of literature. It invites with a promise, a song, and surprising connections that carry Will into alien territory both elsewhere and in his own heart.
Will and the WhispReturn to Index