An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States (Revisioning History)

Kyle T. Mays connects the racialized history and heritage of Black and Indigenous Americans, bridging the gaps in understanding shared struggles with white supremacy. To support the American capitalist structure, Blacks were exploited for labor, and natives for their land. By drawing parallels between the enslavement of Indigenous Africans and the colonization of American Indian communities, Mays discusses how Black and Indigenous pasts and futures are inextricably linked.

Mays, who identifies as Black and Saginaw Chippewa, anchors his analysis to his training as a historian and researcher. Citing leading Indigenous and Black thought leaders such as Philip Deloria, bell hooks, Wilma Mankiller, James Baldwin, and others, the scholar makes thoughtful linkages between the American Indian and Black civil rights movements, noting common streams of resistance against dispossession and disenfranchisement. Mays does not shy away from naming the complicated dynamics that divide communities, namely anti-Black sentiments among in the U.S. Indigenous peoples and Indigenous erasure among the Black community. The author asserts that confronting these issues is key to addressing their damaging effects on Afro-Indigenous solidarity.

From the perspective of a non-Black and non-Indigenous reader, this book underscores the importance of the bold truth-telling of American history. We all benefit when historians like Mays focus on dismantling misconceptions about Black and Indigenous struggles for liberation, justice, and unity.


Spirituality Roundup

Are you seeking to become more blessed and less stressed? Would you benefit from delving deeper into magic and divination in order to believe in yourself and unlock your true potential? While a spiritual journey of this sort may seem daunting at first, these five titles will help to inspire and enrich your life.

Pagan Curious: A Beginner's Guide to Nature, Magic & Spirituality by Debra DeAngelo

Pagan Curious: A Beginner's Guide to Nature, Magic & Spirituality takes you on a journey through a rich and vibrant self-reflective world full of the magic and mysticism of old. Debra DeAngelo expertly teaches spiritual and magic practices that leave you full of intrigue and keen to learn more. Methods such as meditation, grounding, and centering are used to help you become more attuned to nature and the pagan deities. Throughout the process, the self-reflection exercises enable a deeper understanding of yourself so that you can personalize your discovery of paganism. DeAngelo expertly answers all the questions that a beginner might have and also provides practical guidance. If you are looking to dip into the magical world of paganism, this book will prove to be a valuable resource. DeAngelo asks all the important questions and challenges the reader to seek their authentic self.

Cirque du Tarot by Leeza Robertson

For both established lovers of tarot and beginners who want to explore the world of tarot, this beautiful beginner’s deck is highly recommended. Featuring dreamlike circus imagery, Cirque du Tarot is certainly among the most eye-catching decks currently available on the market. Even seasoned readers will be drawn to this deck, and it would likewise appeal to collectors. The deck includes clear indicators of the court cards and does a good job of portraying the traditional tarot deck. It showcases the excitement of the circus and provides a glimpse at the behind-the-scenes charm of the practice while following the well-established Rider-Waite-Smith symbology. The included guidebook helps to familiarize readers with the cards. Particularly for those drawn to the magic of the circus, this tarot set will fast become a favorite and help to bring out the best of the craft.

Rise of the Witch: Making Magick Happen Your Way by Whiskey Stevens

For readers who have been wanting to explore witchcraft but had no idea where to start, Rise of the Witch: Making Magick Happen Your Way is really the ideal book. Whiskey Stevens covers a wide variety of topics, starting with the history of witchcraft and moving on to practical topics such as working with spells. There are also more advanced topics covered, which means the book should also appeal to seasoned witches. Stevens helps the reader to empower themselves, which is especially important for situations where Wicca is shunned and for those who are forced into secrecy. Subjects such as sex magic and shadow work, tarot, meditation, and the idea of sacred spaces and energies are covered, and the book should help to guide all readers toward their own purpose within the craft.

Winterseer Animal Oracle by Siolo Thompson

The Winterseer Animal Oracle is a beautiful animal-themed oracle that should appeal to any reader of tarot. The fifty-six-card oracle deck features stunning watercolor illustrations by Siolo Thompson on stark white backgrounds that make the images appear very striking. Along with the wonderfully inspired writing of the guidebook, this deck should appeal to visually oriented readers and those who are touched by the written word. Grounded in Celtic and Norse lore, the deck helps readers to deepen their knowledge of this divination practice, while the wondrous mythological designs from days of yore serve to inspire and enrich twenty-first-century life. For those looking for something different to inspire their readings, this deck should be at the top of the list.

City Witchery: Accessible Rituals, Practices & Prompts for Conjuring and Creating in a Magical Metropolis by Lisa Marie Basile

City Witchery: Accessible Rituals, Practices & Prompts for Conjuring and Creating in a Magical Metropolis is the book for all Wiccans looking to practice magic as city dwellers. Normally, magic is associated with the natural world, rather than with built-up urban spaces, but this handy guide helps users to practice the craft effectively in places where otherworldly resources and space are normally limited. This is a book designed to assist readers in tapping into their inner resources and starting on the way to practicing graveyard rituals, tuning into city astrology, and practicing shadow work. It is possible to practice the rituals in the kitchen of any house or apartment, and readers will discover the limitations of their cities in order to tap into potentially hidden energies. It is certainly possible to be a city dweller and practice the craft, it just requires thinking about the environment in a different way.


Sing Her Name: A Novel

Catch Up Roundup

If you’re looking to catch up on some of the top-notch novels that have been published in recent months but perhaps passed under the radar somewhat, then look no further than this roundup. The five featured titles offer glimpses into the worlds of enthralling characters living through extraordinary times and they’re a whole heap of fun to read.

Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti

Despite being one of the planet’s richest women and so not really having to bother herself with what other people think, Dava Shastri has always been preoccupied with protecting her reputation. Yet, everything changes when she is diagnosed with brain cancer, and faced with her own mortality, Dava decides to throw caution to the wind and find out what people really think of her. Much to the surprise of her four adult children, she announces both her diagnosis and her decision to leak news of her death to the newspapers before it actually happens. She expects that this will give her the chance to read glowing obituaries that focus on her artistic and philanthropic endeavors, but in fact reports concerning her death result in two long-buried secrets being brought to light, secrets that not even her children knew about. As a consequence, Dava is forced to dedicate what remains of her time on Earth to coming to terms with the past and reconciling with those she has hurt. Kirthana Ramisetti’s Dava Shastri's Last Day is an emotional and often very humorous account of one woman’s attempts to achieve peace before it is too late.

Sing Her Name by Rosalyn Story

While Celia DeMille’s beauty and talent for a time won her worldwide fame as a singer and allowed her to amass a considerable fortune, nineteenth-century racial prejudices meant that she wasn’t able to enjoy her success for long or cement her position as a musical legend. Instead, she ultimately ended up dying alone and penniless. For her part, contemporary New Orleans waitress Eden Malveaux has an excellent singing voice despite being untrained, although family troubles have meant that she has been unable to properly pursue a career in music. She has been the guardian of her younger brother since their parents died, and she devotes all of her time and effort to ensuring, not always successfully, that he stays out of trouble. When Eden and her brother have to relocate to New York City following a hurricane, it seems to offer the chance for her brother to escape from the dangerous elements he has been mixing with and for Eden to finally pursue her dreams. When she ends up in possession of Celia’s scrapbook and treasured necklace, Eden finds herself drawn to a world she never even imaged. Sing Her Name by Rosalyn Story is a powerful and inspiration story about two extraordinary women and the role that music played in their lives.

Blue-Skinned Gods by SJ Sindu

Ten-year-old Kalki Sami was born with blue skin and so believes himself to be the reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. Apparently convinced that their blue-skinned son can work miracles and heal the sick, Kalki’s parents opened an ashram in their home state of Tamal Nadu in India so that he can dispense wisdom and cures to trusting pilgrims. However, his failure to cure his aunt causes Kalki to question his parents’ motivation and everything he has ever been told about himself. As tragedy after tragedy befalls his family, Kalki is plagued by worries and self-doubt as he grows toward adulthood and the need to take responsibility for his own thoughts and behaviors. Things become even more complicated when Kalki and his dad go on a sort of world tour to publicize his seemingly miraculous abilities, and a visit to New York that leads to an encounter with a long-lost friend might just serve as the tipping point for Kalki’s independence. SJ Sindu’s Blue-Skinned Gods is a fascinating story of self-discovery that takes in a range of cultures and beliefs not commonly found in contemporary fiction.

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher

Persephone May grew up in the foster care system after being abandoned as a baby. Having been alone for all her life, she wants nothing more than a place where she can truly belong. Unfortunately, her presence seems to be associated with strange occurrences such as levitating objects and weather disturbances, which quickly drive away anyone who might otherwise be willing to include her in their family. As a consequence, even as an adult, Persephone never stays in one place for long, and she certainly never makes friendships or attachments. When yet another uncontrolled incident of power means that she has to leave yet another job and town, Persephone decides to accept an invitation to the mysterious Wile Isle, which might just be offering everything she has ever wanted. However, life on the isle soon proves to be far from uncomplicated, as Persephone finds herself dealing with long-running curses, deeply buried secrets, and deadly family feuds. Paige Crutcher’s The Orphan Witch is magical tale of mystery, intrigue, and the importance of finding your place in the world. It’s a quirky story of good versus evil that is sure to engage readers.

Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler

A touching tale of hidden sorrow, precious secrets, and surprising romance,  Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler follows Tam Kwan as she seeks to rebuild her life following a tragedy and reevaluates her ideas about what family really means. Two days before Tam and her husband Tony are due to complete the paperwork necessary to adopt a young boy from China, Tony and his estranged cousin Mia are killed in a car accident. In the midst of her devastation following the loss of her husband, Tam is shocked to discover that she has been named guardian of Mia’s five-year-old daughter, Angela. As Tam adjusts to her new life raising Angela, she has to decide if she is also willing and able to complete the adoption of the young Chinese boy on her own. When a secret from her past comes to light just as she is making headway with Angela, Tam finds herself pursing the puzzles of the past and deciding who she wants to be, and with whom, in the future. It all makes for a powerful story with a mystery at its heart.


Filipinx: Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora

Food traditions symbolize family history and represent cultural pride. For Filipinx from different generations in the worldwide diaspora, the cuisines enjoyed by our ancestors and immediate relatives are what brings us close together as a community. Influences from our colonial history and contemporary streams of migration have transformed the Filipino palate. In an elegantly written and illustrated book, chef Angela Dimayuga and writer Ligaya Mishan collaborated to bring beloved and soul-satisfying Filipinx recipes to more than four million Filipino-Americans.

I read the book from the point of view of an immigrant who has been in the U.S. for more than thirty years. I was delighted to see traditional recipes for classic dishes like kare-kare, pancit palabok and embutido. I was intrigued by dishes that are not so familiar to my Tagalog palate, like homemade spam and pastel de lengua. Some featured recipes have an obvious American influence, such as Filipino spaghetti hotdogs.

This book belongs in every FilAm’s library, as well as everyone who appreciates Filipinx culture and cuisine. What sets the book apart is the rich storytelling that comes with each heritage recipe, where the authors share personal experiences and reflections. Memories of family icons and gatherings accompanied by historical photos may cause readers to long for the comfort and closeness of large family gatherings that make good food more enjoyable.


Red Sword

2019. Dr. Nathan West has recently returned home to West Virginia after a lengthy stint in the Pacific Northwest. His life’s trajectory takes a turn to the distant past when his help is requested in gaining a prison inmate’s release. Pandora’s box has been opened and West must put his game face on.

Cut to the 1980s… The escalation of the Cold War has intensified with the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. The distrust between East and West hasn’t been so apparent since the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 1960s. The US intelligence community has been rocked by the betrayal of an analyst at one of their front organizations. The spy, Bedford, has formed a partnership with a counterfeiter, Rogers, and sold information to the Russians. Bedford is attempting to defect. Bedford is caught and later imprisoned. Rogers has made a connection with the KGB and their associates, which enterprising Soviets will attempt to take advantage of when developing their own brazen operation.

As the 1980s have progressed, Soviet leadership has been fluctuating. Multiple leaders have died over a short period, leaving a vacuum filled by Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev aims to reform Soviet life and government through perestroika and glasnost. The old school hawks in the upper levels of government, including the KGB, see trouble on the horizon. Gorbachev is a rabble rouser who must be stopped. And so commences Operation Red Sword, a coup attempt at dethroning Gorbachev. The disloyal generals and colonels plan to fund their high-stakes plot through the drug trade, specifically through the sale of hashish, some of which is available in Afghanistan.

Nathan West is a West Virginia cop when he receives a call to come train at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. West is dogged in his pursuit of criminals, and Buddy Hayden has been on the lookout for the right sort of personnel. Hayden is law enforcement, but he also works in the intelligence business. When Hayden receives a call from a Soviet colonel with whom he shares a past, he is alarmed by the growing plot against Gorbachev. Nathan West just might fit the mold of the perfect Intelligence asset.

Red Sword harkens back to the good old bad days of the Cold War, a world where covert cowboys battled the soldiers of the “Evil Empire.” It is a book suffused with intrigue, betrayal, and heightened paranoia. Author Norman Wood succeeds in building suspense to boiling point in this pot-boiling tale. It’s a serious thrill ride that the reader will not want to end.


PULL

"Teen angst and romance with a twist, PULL will have its readers in a trance. Readers will be rooting for Mischa and Casey as they fight against a sixth sense, ultimately putting them in the path of danger. Riveting and suspenseful, PULL is a book that you'll want to finish in one sitting." --Kristi Elizabeth, San Francisco Book Review


Thorn

Thorn is the necessary conclusion to the Red Sword series written and experienced by author, doctor, and ex-special forces agent Norman Wood. Continuing with the true happenings found in Red Sword, Thorn picks up with CIA Special Agent Tony Davis leading the investigation and hopeful destruction of the project known as "Red Sword" created by the Russians with the intent of assassinating General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev for the "betterment of their county" in the late 1980s. Davis displays brains and brawn throughout the story to showcase his intelligence, ingenuity, and overall traits. I am unsure which parts and how much of the story has been fictionalized for entertainment purposes, except what is discussed at the end, but if even half of the things mentioned about Tony Davis are true, this author is one sought-after fellow.

 While the story in Thorn is a historical fiction account of true doings in the late 1980s, most of the names are changed with some remaining similar to real life. The story is lengthy, yet so much happens within the pages; it is incredible the number of steps it takes to pull off an important mission that has been even been tipped off to you in the beginning. Davis knows he is an important character in the special forces, yet his interactions with others are humbling and sincere, allowing him the necessary connections to get things done. So much about Davis can be mimicked by others to maintain good and honest people in the world with a strong work ethic.

 One thing that slightly confused me while reading was the love interest; I am a fan of it overall, but it seemed that it was introduced in the beginning but then nothing was said for most of the middle until toward the end when it became relevant to the storyline again. This wasn't a dealbreaker for me, just something I noticed. I like how Wood kept many similarities in writing between the two books, which makes sense with Thorn following straight after Red Sword in a linear timeline. Themes such as profane language and overly sexual content are still present; the sexual content makes me wonder why it was necessary for the storyline, but also if those situations were true to the story or fabricated; either way, it is what it is. Besides those two themes, there is also dedication and patriotism strongly evident, with the audience given the choice of deciding which case of patriotism is sincere.

 Overall, the Red Sword series details a moment in time that stood out for many individuals and saved the life of another important one; if you enjoy historical fiction, action, crime, or thriller, check this out!


Thorn

There are times when you read a particular book that your mind gets filled with possibilities. You see the central character become comfortable with his abilities, find their footing, and take a stand against their foes. The drama becomes more gripping, the stakes rise, and the reader's investment becomes complete. You remember other times you've made similar journeys with fictional heroes and you sense that a book series is coming into its own. This was the case with Thorn, the sequel to Red Sword by Norman Wood. It continues the intriguing Red Sword book series as a single Special Agent Tony Davis, slowly unravels a plot to assassinate Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The most interesting thing about a book series like these, when the author clearly has full creative freedom to tell his story and allow it to unfold at his own pace, is that the world feels more fully formed and not created by a committee. The world has been built by the first book, the characters are all here, the vision is solely the author's and it's time for the story to kick into high gear.

The story revolves around the dangerous inner politics taking place during the final years of the Soviet Union when a group of KGB and military leaders, known as the Red Sword, seek financing to plot and carry out an assassination and coup of Leader Gorbachev. This is largely based on real events as there was eventually a coup in the country during its last year of existence, and the book does an excellent job documenting the political drama taking place within that crumbling empire. The author manages to avoid one of the most common pitfalls of these kinds of books in that Thorn never feels like a sequel or episodic. It is allowed room to breathe, tell its own story, and serve rather as a continuation. This makes it easier for a reader not yet familiar with the story to quickly become engrossed non the less. This book as in its older sibling is aided by the fact that it features dynamic and fully formed characters and the adventure never feels forced or mere filler. It is organic and allows this flashback of cold war mystery to become consuming during key moments. This must have been what it felt like the first time a reader cracked open Thunderball after finishing Casino Royale, or when they first read as Dirk Pitt attempted to raise the Titanic. The sense that you were about to take part on one hell of an adventure and just maybe come out of it the other end with your hero intact.


Thorn

Nathan West is in a race against time. A ship with a large consignment of illegal narcotics is set to be offloaded in California. The drugs are half of a transaction that will fill the coffers of those engaged in a plot to take out reformist leader Mikhail Gorbachev. West is operating under an alias and operating in an undercover (sub rosa) capacity. He is in communication with his CIA-connected superior Buddy Hayden about the progress of the mission. The operation by the Soviets and their allies has been dubbed “Red Sword.” The counter-offensive to this mission by the US is called “Thorn.”

Hayden has a high-level source in the Soviet government, Colonel Dimitri Petroff. Petroff is on the precipice of self-destruction as a result of his longtime wife’s passing. Petroff has sought solace with the cold comfort of alcohol, his depression and addiction threatening the success of the mission. Petroff is being watched by the coup plotters for signs of disloyalty. The timetable for “Red Sword” is tentative, the plotters want Gorbachev and his reforms to end. The men who have conspired with the Soviets to move the heavy weight of narcotics run the gamut of solid to loose cannons.

The monotony of surveillance weighs on West, but the consequences of mission failure are too grave to ignore. He utilizes his sleuthing skills adeptly and soon locates the boat to be used in ferrying the cache of drugs. He communicates the find to his superiors, but knows they can’t pounce on the traffickers until the right time. The decision to let one load of drugs through leaves West and his men in an ethical quandary, as well as keeping other agencies in the dark. However, the integrity of the mission is vital, as is the future relations of the Americans and Soviets. As the investigation/operation approaches its peak, failure on either side would prove catastrophic. The balance of power in the world may shift dramatically in the wake of these events.

Thorn is the sequel to the riveting thriller Red Sword. The action continues right where its predecessor concluded, with the pieces still being strategically placed by both sides. The reader is gripped with a palpable sense of anticipation as the coup planners push forward with their malevolent machinations, the fervor of the Cold War becoming more pitched with every move made. Author Norman Wood has hit a home run with his continuation of the Red Sword narrative. The dramatic action that fuels this excellent narrative make this a top-notch read that proves impossible to put down.


The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster Mall (The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo, 2)

Margo Maloo is back in the second book of the series! In this book, Margo Maloo goes to the 80s kids' favorite place, the mall. However, while in the mall Margo and her assistant Charles find several monsters. The monsters tell Margo and Charles that their habitats are shrinking due to kids being less afraid and being armed with cell phones. The monsters aren't ready to leave their town, and the only homes they have known, so they want to learn to live together with the kids. Can Margo and Charles help keep the peace between the monsters and kids? Read this book to find out!
I really like this graphic novel. The funny illustrations and the easy-to-read story are perfect! This is one of my favorite series!


Simply Sweet Nostalgic Bakes: 55 Elegant Takes on Comfort Classics

This book is such a lovely treat to look through, with an old-fashioned, Victorian aesthetic. Each bake is beautifully photographed reminiscent of an English Tea Party. The recipes are upscale versions of classics, such as Chocolate Orange Hazelnut Baklava or Blackberry and Fig Bread and Butter Pudding. Really they seem quite elaborate and decadent, so much so that you may at first feel intimidated to attempt these. Happily, once you get going you will find the recipes are straightforward and easy to follow; many helpfully include instructional photos as well. My young tween daughter, always up for (giving me) a challenge, decided we needed to make the Take Me Back Wagon Wheel Slice. This is a dessert I am not familiar with and consists of layers of shortbread, jam, marshmallow, and chocolate. All those layers seemed a bit overwhelming at first but the recipe actually came together in about an hour, mostly accomplished by my daughter. It was quite delicious; I can understand why this is a classic in the author's memory! There are cakes, cookies, even ice creams, and recipes range from simple to elaborate, so you are sure to find something just right for every taste and occasion.


Sir Ladybug

Sir Ladybug is the story of a brave ladybug who is known as Sir Ladybug by his friends and herald. Sir Ladybug doesn't like for his friend the herald to make such a big deal of him, but his friend reminds him of all the heroic things he has done. Meanwhile, there is a caterpillar who has seen a monster, so the caterpillar's friend finds Sir Ladybug to help save his friend! Sir Ladybug finds the monster and with the help of his friends, works on coming up with a way to save the caterpillar without anyone getting hurt.

Sir Ladybug is a fun and exciting story! I like that the story is written like a comic book, which makes it quicker to read and more exciting, too. I like how the ladybug is a great guy, but he doesn't want people to know how great he is, and that he has a really great friend who likes to yell good things about the ladybug to others. I hope I can read more books about Sir Ladybug and his adventures!


The Burning Swift (Shadow Skye, Book Three) (Shadow Skye Trilogy)

War had come to the Isle of Skye. When a wounded girl rides into the Clann-na-Bruthaich’s enclave, she brings terrible news with her. The southern kings have united and are coming to obliterate Scotia.

Jaime is keeping his blood magic a secret, trying to deny its power, even as he tries to marshal the people of Scotia. But maybe magic is the only thing standing between Scotia and annihilation…

Agatha delves deeper into her past and legacy, meeting a legendary creature and gaining unlikely support. With her help, will the clans of Scotia come together to defeat their foe? Or will they fall to the relentless tide of bloodshed that comes for them?

This book was a gorgeous, sweeping tale that was a true ending to this magnificent trilogy. All the characters were beautifully written, with magnetic and unique personalities. Their personal growth was interesting to read about, and all of them were relatable. Agatha was my favorite character; she was such a joy to read about and she had interesting powers and a fascinating backstory. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves rich, dramatic fantasy stories with a dose of magic!


Last Resort: A Novel

Caleb Horowitz is on the brink of realizing his dream. A hotshot agent has taken notice of his novel manuscript, and Caleb has the chance of launching into literary stardom. There’s just one problem: the idea underlying Caleb’s novel isn’t exactly his own, and Avi Deitsch, an editor at a publishing house, is sure to notice. To deal with this quandary, Caleb makes a deal with Avi, one that will alter the course of his (and Avi’s) career.

Last Resort follows Caleb’s misadventures in the publishing world and, in doing so, explores questions related to authorship, ownership, and success. Caleb’s flaws as a character are readily on display, and the reader is left to watch him make misguided decision after misguided decision in pursuit of the literary acclaim he has always hoped for.

The novel is well-paced and page-turning, though the events introduced toward the end of the book could have used more time to develop. Still, both funny and sobering, Last Resort compellingly explores what it means to be a writer, what it means to be successful, and what it means to be fulfilled.


The Watchmakers: A Powerful WW2 Story of Brotherhood, Survival, and Hope Amid the Holocaust

As the memory of the Holocaust recedes and the number of survivors dwindles, first-person witness accounts that speak directly to readers become more important every year. The Watchmakers by Harry Lenga and Scott Lenga, is one such valuable account. Scott Lenga spent years recording his father Harry’s experiences in the Holocaust and presents Harry’s recollections in the first person. The tale leaps out of the page at the reader like the graphic novel Maus, by Art Spiegelman, but without the graphics. It is that good.

Lenga provides a matter-of-fact accounting of the survival of Henry and his two brothers in the Nazi horror camps. Watch repair was a valuable skill in the pre-digital era. Watches of the era often needed repairs and cleanings and the Lengas were able to trade their skills to obtain lifesaving benefits from camp authorities and others. This inspiring tale of how the three brothers relied on each other to survive the Holocaust is a valuable addition to the “witness” genre of Holocaust literature. No reader will walk away unmoved by the courage that the three brothers summoned from within to survive one of the bleakest chapters in Europe’s history.


The Plant-Based Family Cookbook: 60 Easy & Nutritious Vegan Meals Kids Will Love!

The Plant-Based Family Cookbook is a marvelous addition to any vegan family. The instructions are easy to follow, and the images of the finished dishes help you choose which recipe to cook that night.

This book is well-organized and useful, but it has a few drawbacks. It expects the cook to know basic cooking techniques, and a number of the sixty recipes are unhealthy. It does not mention the best brands of vegan butter and other vegan items. Numerous recipes involve expensive or hard-to-find ingredients, so not every recipe is good for everyday consumption. The recipes are not all typical, so they are less likely to be devoured by a young one.

However, The Plant-Based Family Cookbook offers some truly ingenious foods that can make any vegan family happy. One such dish, Quick Chocolate Orange Pots, is a perfect snack food or lunch component made from silken tofu! Every library needs a copy of this book, and vegan families who need one more cookbook on the shelves could use one. If you are vegan or even just vegetarian, The Plant-Based Family Cookbook is an invaluable addition to your kitchen.


The Graphic Canon of Crime & Mystery Vol 2

Crime stories are as old as time. Tales of killing, revenge, mystery, and judgement have been depicted in the Bible and continue with novels that were adapted into movies. The Graphic Canon of Crime and Mystery Volume 2 is an illustrated look into the genre. Twenty-six classic stories of murder are artistically transformed by some of the best contemporary comic artists. The stories range from Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis to Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.

Edited by Russ Kick, this newest installment in the Graphic Canon series is perfect for anyone who loves classic mysteries. The new works commissioned for this book offer an intriguing, enjoyable look into many well-known crime stories. The styles of the adaptations are as diverse as the artists featured. Dame Darcy’s neo-Victorian style perfectly depicts the narrator’s mindset in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. Children’s book artist Kim Clements gives Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary a fun cartoon feel. Teddy Goldenberg’s adaptation of the hard-boiled detective story The Road Home is as dark and intense as Dashiell Hammett’s original novel.

The Graphic Canon of Crime and Mystery Volume 2 is one killer book.


Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist: Second Edition (2) (Fullmetal Alchemist (Novel))

Manga Roundup

If you enjoy epic quests, legendary heroes, otherworldly villains, and plenty of deadly danger, then the books included in this roundup could be right up your street. The six featured titles, which come from three highly popular series, feature storylines that are among the best the fantasy manga genre has to offer.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 11) by Yuji Kaku

Set during the Edo period in Japan, the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series follows captured ninja Gabimaru the Hollow as he searches for the elixir of immortality. Originally sentenced to be executed, Gabimaru attributes his ability to survive all attempted means of killing him to his love for his wife keeping him alive. When imperial executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri realizes that Gabimaru can’t be killed, she offers the ninja a chance to win a pardon, so long as he agrees to travel to the island of Shinsenkyo and find the elixir of immortality for the shogun. In Volume 11, a bloody battle is raging at the palace on Shinsenkyo, forcing Gabimaru, Sagiri, and the other new arrivals to commit to an uneasy truce in the hope of finding a way off the island. To complicate matters, a massive new monster has entered the battle and managed to trap everyone within the confines of its body. If they’re unable to escape before the dawn, they’ll all be transformed into flowers that will then be used to power the monster down its path of destruction.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 13) by Yuji Kaku

Volume 13 of the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series continues the saga of Gabimaru the Hollow, the world’s most powerful ninja, and his quest to find the elixir of immortality. This time round, it seems that Rien’s nefarious master plan will bring certain doom down on the unfortunates trapped on the island of Shinsenkyo as well as those enjoying the apparent safety of the mainland. While Gabimaru, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, and the band of condemned prisoners and other executioners with them might have originally set out to harness the power of immortality, it appears that their mission might actually result in death and destruction for all those involved, however tangentially. Their only hope lies in vanquishing the specter of Lord Tensen. It might seem like an impossible task, but Gabimaru is willing to take on anyone and to do anything necessary to return to his wife.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Vol. 1) by Kanehito Yamada

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series follows elven mage Frieren, who once embarked on a ten-year quest with a band of fellow adventurers to kill the Demon King and restore peace to the land. Accompanying Frieren were the human hero Himmel, the dwarven warrior Eisen, and the human priest Heiter, and after they had finally completed their quest, the group gathered together to watch the Era Meteors. After the meteor shower, before leaving to travel the world in search of magical knowledge, Frieren promised that she would provide the group with a better view of the meteors when the celestial event next occurred, which would be some fifty years later. Volume 1 focuses on what occurs when Frieren finally does return and discovers that her former companions have noticeably aged while she remains pretty much the same as when they last saw each other. The group does manage to see the Era Meteors again, but soon afterwards Himmel dies of old age. Due to regretting that she didn’t take the time to know her companions better, Frieren vows to embark on a new quest to ensure that their last wishes are fulfilled.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 2) by Kanehito Yamada 9781974727230

In Volume 2 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, elven mage Frieren continues her quest to do right by her former comrades. She had agreed to take Fern, an orphaned child who had been adopted by Heiter, on as her apprentice and the two of them determined to journey to the far north, to the resting place of souls, where Frieren might have the chance to see Himmel again and pay him proper tribute. During their treacherous journey, the two encounter Stark, the former apprentice of Eisen. Although dwarven warrior Eisen considered himself too old to accompany Frieren and Fern on their quest to the north, Stark agrees to go with them. Having a powerful warrior as a member of their party could well come in handy, especially since the journey to the resting place of souls will take them perilously close to the Demon King’s former palace, and while her old enemy might have been vanquished, his minions still have a score to settle with Frieren.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 3) by Kanehito Yamada

As Frieren, Fern, and Stark continue their journey north, they encounter friends and foes alike, combating any demons they come across while also gathering any magical lore that they hear tell of. Although the danger associated with their endeavor is undeniable, they do actually manage to recruit a new companion, a mediocre human monk named Sein. In Volume 3 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, the band of adventurers are finally making good progress toward the resting place of souls, but events that echo back to Frieren’s original quest with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen soon derail their mission to find Himmel’s spirit. Back during the quest to kill the Demon King, Frieren and her comrades defeated Aura the Guillotine, one of seven powerful demons known as the Seven Sages of Destruction. Unfortunately, Aura has found a way to regenerate and is now back in search of vengeance. Frieren is forced to question whether the price she paid to vanquish Aura in the past was worth the consequences that she and her friends are facing in the present.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist by Makoto Inoue

The six Fullmetal Alchemist light novels are spin-offs from the manga series of the same name following brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric on their quest to find the philosopher’s stone. In their attempts to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life, the brothers brought terrible devastation down on themselves: Edward lost his left leg and Alphonse lost his whole body. Edward subsequently sacrificed his right arm to save Alphonse’s soul and bind it to a suit of armor. After undergoing painful medical procedures to provide him with prosthetic limbs, Edward agreed to become a State Alchemist so that he could continue his endeavors to restore him and his brother to their former bodies. In The Abducted Alchemist, the second of the light novels, Edward and Alphonse hear about train lines being destroyed by terrorist attacks and about a series of kidnappings of people related to the military. While no one has yet been harmed in any of these incidents, public anger about the authorities’ inability to put an end to them is mounting. Edward and Alphonse agree to help investigate the terrorists, but they soon find themselves embroiled in a kidnapping too.


Darkness Falls: A Kate Marshall Thriller

Kate Marshall and her partner, Tristan Harper, are trying to get their fledgling private detective agency off the ground when they are contacted by Bev, the mother of Joanna Duncan, a journalist who disappeared twelve years earlier. Bev needs closure and will do anything to find her daughter. The police have stopped looking, but Bev’s long-time boyfriend Bill is quite wealthy and willing to pay for the search. Bev turns over boxes and boxes of police evidence they have permission to go through. Kate discovers some clues no one ever noticed before, and it looks like there is a serial killer involved. This could be a huge break for not only the case, but also for the detective agency.

Robert Bryndza continues his fascinating series with this third novel. Kate is a smart, savvy character, completely believable, with a great backstory. All the characters are well-developed and will capture the interest of readers in this compelling mystery. There are plenty of red herrings and twists and turns to keep the pages turning. Being set in the mercurial coastal areas of England adds to the mystery and difficulties Kate and Tristan face. This is a well-written winner.


Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 3


Komi Can’t Communicate, Vol. 17

Still struggling with a communication disorder, Komi continues on her journey to make a hundred friends. Komi and Tadano star in a play, and the fans are obsessed with him. But something seems to be bothering Rumiko. Rumiko discovers that Komi also has feelings for Tadano and confronts her about it. Will their feelings for Tadano threaten the girls’ friendship with one another?

While there was still plenty of drama and hijinks in this book, volume seventeen focuses intently on Komi and Rumiko’s friendship. Komi finally makes a breakthrough and is able to communicate with Rumiko verbally. This time, Komi does not have to use a notebook to write down what she wants to say. I love how Komi puts her fears aside and opens up to Rumiko. She prioritizes her relationship with Rumiko and decides that no matter who Tadano chooses, their friendship will remain the same. One of my favorite scenes in this volume involved the Flirt Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who bonked people on the heads if they engaged in too much PDA. Komi Can’t Communicate is a great series for manga aficionados who love humor and drama.


Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Vol. 13 (13)

Did you ever think Naruto would become the Hokage? Well, he did grow up, get married, and have a kid of his own while being the Hokage. His son Baruto is ready to carry on this generational challenge. Baruto the next generation must train and give it his all to try to live up to his dad Naruto and be the next Hokage. While he is training there are dark enemies that seem to be haunting his friend. Will Baruto be able to help his friend from these lurking fiends? Read this book to find out.

I really liked this book, the text is easy to read. The illustrations are really cool. What I like most is the action illustrations when Baruto is fighting the enemies with his friends.


Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating

This book flies in the face of everything that our diet culture says is true. The evidence is compelling, based on extensive and thorough research, and debunks so many myths you've heard so often. The author speaks of Diet Culture (which has morphed into, and now includes, Wellness Culture-- the same thing by a different name) as the Life Thief. She shows how the obsessive pursuit of an impossible ideal - yes impossible, as the author soundly proves - steals our money, our time, our focus, our health, and our enjoyment in living in so many ways -- indeed, stealing our lives. Not to mention the fact that this culture is based on racist, colonialist, and oppressive assumptions such that those who care about social justice and human rights should take note and leap to reject it. It's depressing but will make you furious too, which is a great first step to rejecting it. Finally, the book begins by offering ways to continue doing so, by repairing your relationship with food and with your body, and offering yourself love and compassion, so you can reclaim your life and the happiness everyone deserves in the body they have right now.


The Crux: How Leaders Become Strategists is Richard P. Rumelt’s follow-up to Good Strategy/Bad Strategy. In this book, Rumelt talks about how to identify the crux of a project: the challenge in a project that is simultaneously the most difficult and promises the most progress. Rumelt teaches that one can master the art of strategy by identifying the crux of a challenge and taking decisive action related to that crux.

While The Crux does contain some useful case studies on identifying the hardest part of a project and powering through it, many of these studies are based on war, or white men, making it seems that not much effort was made to include examples of strategy successes by women or People of Color. In 2022, much more effort needs to be made to include perspectives that are representative of the population as a whole, and this book falls short in that area.

Still, identifying the crux of a matter is an important skill for any leader to have in order to move beyond leadership to strategy. This book provides enough of a framework to be helpful in that regard.


Maker Comics: Conduct a Science Experiment!

Maker Comics: Conduct a Science Experiment is an entertaining graphic novel, but not a good book for learning about creating experiments. Typically, the books in the Maker Comics series provide good, entertaining stories that teach the reader how to do something. But, this does not toe the mark. Maker Comics: Conduct a Science Experiment does not focus on creating your own experiment, but rather on labs to make science more engaging. I would not buy this book for aid in a science fair project, but if you find science boring this could help you enjoy science more. Maker Comics: Conduct a Science Experiment is a book that I would recommend libraries buy, but it need not be first choice. I think that schools and science teachers could use this book as part of their collections. It has some interesting labs, including DNA extraction. I think that this is not a book a kid should buy for their own amusement, but it could be a valuable part of any curriculum. While not the top choice, Maker Comics: Conduct a Science Experiment has enjoyable labs and could contribute something to a library’s collection.


First Victim

Alice McKerrity is a judge in criminal court, so she’s seen her fair share of killers. When William Henry Young walks into her court, accused of raping and murdering a pregnant woman, there’s something about him that makes Alice begin to relive her past. Some thirty years ago, she was the victim of a violent crime and has never been the same since. The case against Young takes her back to that fateful night, which she has kept buried for all these years. She will have to confront her past and deal with the fact that her attacker may have hurt others over the years and that she was in fact his First Victim.

I had a hard time putting this book down. The short chapters are full of suspense, encouraging you to just go one more chapter until you realize you’ve read the whole thing! I enjoyed the complexity of Alice’s character and the storyline was interesting as the motive for the killer was different than the usual. The plot twists kept things motivated without being over the top. Babitt’s little hints along the way kept you guessing as to how it all fit together. I highly recommend this one.


It Could Be Anyone

Dutch, Allie, Veejay, Ethan, Emma, and Fiona have been best friends since college. When Trevor comes into their lives and starts dating Fiona, everyone is happy for her, at first. Then it turns out that Trevor is a manipulative, blackmailing jerk who has wormed his way into their lives. He has dirt on all of them and will stop at nothing to marry Fiona and get close to her uncle, who is planning on running for the presidency. They all travel to Miami for the wedding, which concludes with Trevor dying from an allergic reaction just after the ceremony. When everyone hates you and each person has a reason to kill you, well, let’s just say It Could Be Anyone.

This was a fun story with a twisty plot. It’s hard to really care about Trevor and it’s fun to try to figure out who did it, when they all have motive and means. There is so much friend drama here; is this normal for New Yorkers? Overall lesson: destination weddings are never a good idea, at least according to thrillers lately, and choose your friends carefully.


Milk Street Instant Pot: Bold, Fast, Fresh -- A Revolution of Flavor in an Instant

The promise of any instant pot cookbook is that the recipes inside will be more than just delicious––they’ll be easy, and convenient, and life will be just a little bit better for having discovered them. Many instant pot recipes fail to deliver in one or more of these areas; they require too much advance preparation, include hard-to-find ingredients, or simply lack taste and verve. Fortunately, this cookbook stands out as a worthy addition to an instant pot recipe arsenal. Some of the recipes are perfectly serviceable, such as the Spiced Butternut Squash Soup; others will enter regular rotation, such as the Chicken Paprikash.

What makes this cookbook most appealing is its very premise: many of the recipes can be prepared fast, in the instant pot, or slow, using the instant pot’s slow-cooker function. Almost all the recipes include prep instructions up to a certain point and then offer a choice of fast or slow options to finish: whatever works best for a particular evening’s schedule. Other cookbooks offering this choice do exist, but the Milk Street recipes are some of the most reliable around.


The Lords of Easy Money: How the Federal Reserve Broke the American Economy

An economic calamity threatened to upend the financial system of the United States in 2008. One of the institutions that stepped in to mitigate some of the damage was the Federal Reserve. The Fed, overseen by Ben Bernanke at the time, decided to lower interest rates and inject more dollars into the system, a process known as quantitative easing. The Fed worked in conjunction with the Treasury to help bail out the troubled assets of the ailing financial world.

By 2010, the economy was still struggling to recover its composure. Bernanke looked to continue the quantitative easing, but a unanimous vote meant that was not possible. Kansas City Chairman Thomas Hoenig viewed the consistent lowering of rates as being worse than the cure, leaving the country susceptible to inflation. The conflict between Hoenig and Bernanke serves as a microcosm of an entity with near-unlimited power that decides the fiduciary fate of millions.

The Lords of Easy Money proves that monetary regulation is complex and riddled with intrigue. Author Christopher Leonard brings the reader through the high-stakes board meetings and votes resulting in mountainous highs and bottomless lows in the financial markets. Financial policy has never seemed so interesting.


Can't Go Back (Devlin & Falco)

A house fire; Allison Boothe and her daughter are dead inside; her husband, Logan, is unconscious outside. So starts Can’t Go Back. Detectives Kerri Devlin and Luke Falco, partners in bed as well as on the force, quickly decide that the fire was deliberately set; mother and daughter were murdered.

Suspects soon mount, starting with the husband. Logan was a former undercover narcotics cop whose contact with criminals may have been cozier than it should have been. Has he crossed the line again, with disastrous consequences?

Then, there are the Boothes’ parents. Allison’s mother is convinced Logan was smothering her daughter, cutting her off from friends and family. Logan’s mother dotes on her son, and she blames Allison for the collapse of her son's marriage.

And the neighbors. Do they know more than they are telling? The mystery’s origin may, however, lie in Detective Falco’s past, when he too was an undercover narcotics cop, serving under the same lieutenant as Boothe.

This police procedural moves at a steady pace, as the investigators delve into the crime and explore their own developing relationship. A clever denouement brings the story to an unexpected and exciting conclusion.


JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 5--Golden Wind, Vol. 2

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a longstanding, beloved manga title by Hirohiko Araki. The series is broken into different parts, following the different members of the Joestar family. Part 5, Golden Wind, follows a protagonist of peculiar origin, Giorno Giovanna. Giorno's intentions are already established by this volume of Golden Wind, and he's in full swing toward his plan on becoming a "gang starr." Volume 2 of this Part 5 series picks up mid-fight with Giorno and Koichi, who long-time readers will recognize from Part 4, Diamond is Unbreakable. Araki's art became famous for its inspiration by high fashion, and the characters runway poses and outfits continue this homage. While manga is traditionally in black and white, the shading remains bold and fight scenes dynamic. One can start the series at Part 5, but it is so much more enjoyable starting from the beginning and meeting the predecessors of the Joestar line and the extended lore behind these "stands." Quirkiness does not negate violence, as there is definitely more gruesome deaths. Overall, this series definitely lives up to its name; being "bizarre" is one of its integral, and arguably charming, aspects of this series.


JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 5--Golden Wind, Vol. 3 (3)

Hirohiko Araki is known for his dynamic art style, and it remains true in this re-edition of volume 3 of Part 5: Golden Wind of the overarching series, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. This hardcover edition contains five arcs in this twenty-chapter volume. There is a pop of color at the beginning of chapter thirty-six with a lush, colored spread. This volume is composed of fights with each arc separated by who Giornio Giovanna, the Joestar protagonist of Golden Wind, is fighting at that time. It is ill-advised to begin at this volume, so much to say that for one to get the fullest breadth of the Joestar legacy is the begin with Part 1: Phantom Blood. With Giornio, the reader is thrust into the heart of the gang underbelly of Italy. The battles remain epic and eccentric, and Araki explores just how far (and creative) he can get with the definition and range of a Stand user. This book ends on a cliffhanger, and it will surely keep fans excited and eager to collect the next volume.


How to Be Eaten: A Novel

How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann is perfect for fans of modernized fairytales. Unlike many other books in the genre, this story isn’t simply a retelling with a twist; rather, it’s a sweeping look into the psyches and traumas of some of your favorite heroines, and maybe a few you haven’t really thought about since the nightly story times of your childhood.

Set in a kind of alternate reality where each of the characters has lived their classic story in a modern setting, Adelmann sets up the main premise as an experimental group therapy gathering for the heroines who have been stigmatized or even demonized by the media at some point in their lives. With each chapter devoted to an individual character, we get to experience their stories through a voyeuristic Girl, Interrupted style lens, which brings stunning new depth to oftentimes simplistically represented characters.

Shocking, surprisingly humorous, and heavily in tune with modern depictions of feminine trauma and the surprising bonds such experiences can create between wildly different personalities, How to Be Eaten is a richly imaginative read for those who like their fairytales on the darker side.


The Child Is the Teacher: A Life of Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori, the Italian pedagogue identified as the founder of a groundbreaking education system, became a legend in her lifetime. The Child Is the Teacher addresses her personality and idiosyncrasies as well as her genius.

Born in Chiaravalle in 1870, Montessori resolved to become a physician, a career verging on the improper for a woman at the time. Before long, she adapted her training and early practice as a doctor when she recognized children’s ability to make choices for themselves without adult intervention. She determined how, with adults’ lengthy patience, even infants could investigate and then master progressively more complex tasks.

She saw education as an aid to personality, and the many materials she developed, some appropriately child-sized, made it possible for children to organize their knowledge. She believed that “the hand touches the evident, and the mind discovers the secret.”

Seemingly, Montessori was resolute and uncompromising, allowing her followers to make no adjustments to her method when using her name. In later years, accompanied always by her son, she traveled in Europe, America, and South Asia disseminating the Montessori method.

Despite a need to reiterate the dates of Montessori’s professional life to avoid confusion, The Child Is the Teacher is an outstanding tribute.


The Last Winter: The Scientists, Adventurers, Journeymen, and Mavericks Trying to Save the World

The climate is warming, and travel writer Porter Fox examines the shocking consequences of this rise in temperature. Looking at the essential reservoirs of water secured in the wintry snowpack and ancient glaciers, the author travels and meets with specialists studying the effects of diminished snow and thawing glacial ice.

From the northwest, through Alaska, into the Alps, and finally, on to Greenland, he interviews the scientists engaged in studying the history and current revelations that vanishing snow and ice cores offer about the past climate and the prevailing present conditions that will affect this ecosystem. As he determinedly skis through this investigative adventure, the author laments how this wintry exposure is likely to disappear for the younger generation.

He cites the research of glaciologists and snow scientists, who explain high-rising waters, changed polar habitats, forest fires, desertification, and further problems that will lead to flooding, species death, agricultural havoc, food loss, and other severe consequences. His includes vignettes concerning the diverse personalities of the dedicated researchers involved in this critical issue of water loss.

This is a chilling account that should interest and concern all readers.


Paleo Lunches and Breakfasts On the Go: The Solution to Gluten-Free Eating All Day Long with Delicious, Easy and Portable Primal Meals

Even if you don't want to always follow a strict Paleo eating plan, you'll want to add some of these meals to your week. We loved the section on wraps – one favorite was the Turkey Apricot Dijon Wrap, which enhanced the classic combination of turkey and bacon with apricot spread and thyme to deliver a light but filling, fresh and delicious lunch without weighing you down with carbs, that comes together in a snap. The combinations are seemingly endless and give you amazing variety with just a few ingredients. For breakfasts, we also love the recipes for homemade sausages – the Cherry Tarragon is a fantastic twist – so you can get that great sausage taste without any questionable additives. There are also salads, soups, and appetizers to fill your plate for weeks, and even some suggestions for helping move your family to a healthier way to eat. Although there is one chart with a suggestion for three weeks of school-box lunches, this is not a prescriptive plan, and the author takes pains to encourage you to tailor things to your own needs. However you incorporate Paleo eating, this book delivers delicious, healthy meals to keep you satisfied.


Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Vol. 2

Manga Roundup

If you enjoy epic quests, legendary heroes, otherworldly villains, and plenty of deadly danger, then the books included in this roundup could be right up your street. The six featured titles, which come from three highly popular series, feature storylines that are among the best the fantasy manga genre has to offer.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 11) by Yuji Kaku

Set during the Edo period in Japan, the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series follows captured ninja Gabimaru the Hollow as he searches for the elixir of immortality. Originally sentenced to be executed, Gabimaru attributes his ability to survive all attempted means of killing him to his love for his wife keeping him alive. When imperial executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri realizes that Gabimaru can’t be killed, she offers the ninja a chance to win a pardon, so long as he agrees to travel to the island of Shinsenkyo and find the elixir of immortality for the shogun. In Volume 11, a bloody battle is raging at the palace on Shinsenkyo, forcing Gabimaru, Sagiri, and the other new arrivals to commit to an uneasy truce in the hope of finding a way off the island. To complicate matters, a massive new monster has entered the battle and managed to trap everyone within the confines of its body. If they’re unable to escape before the dawn, they’ll all be transformed into flowers that will then be used to power the monster down its path of destruction.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 13) by Yuji Kaku

Volume 13 of the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series continues the saga of Gabimaru the Hollow, the world’s most powerful ninja, and his quest to find the elixir of immortality. This time round, it seems that Rien’s nefarious master plan will bring certain doom down on the unfortunates trapped on the island of Shinsenkyo as well as those enjoying the apparent safety of the mainland. While Gabimaru, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, and the band of condemned prisoners and other executioners with them might have originally set out to harness the power of immortality, it appears that their mission might actually result in death and destruction for all those involved, however tangentially. Their only hope lies in vanquishing the specter of Lord Tensen. It might seem like an impossible task, but Gabimaru is willing to take on anyone and to do anything necessary to return to his wife.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Vol. 1) by Kanehito Yamada

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series follows elven mage Frieren, who once embarked on a ten-year quest with a band of fellow adventurers to kill the Demon King and restore peace to the land. Accompanying Frieren were the human hero Himmel, the dwarven warrior Eisen, and the human priest Heiter, and after they had finally completed their quest, the group gathered together to watch the Era Meteors. After the meteor shower, before leaving to travel the world in search of magical knowledge, Frieren promised that she would provide the group with a better view of the meteors when the celestial event next occurred, which would be some fifty years later. Volume 1 focuses on what occurs when Frieren finally does return and discovers that her former companions have noticeably aged while she remains pretty much the same as when they last saw each other. The group does manage to see the Era Meteors again, but soon afterwards Himmel dies of old age. Due to regretting that she didn’t take the time to know her companions better, Frieren vows to embark on a new quest to ensure that their last wishes are fulfilled.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 2) by Kanehito Yamada 9781974727230

In Volume 2 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, elven mage Frieren continues her quest to do right by her former comrades. She had agreed to take Fern, an orphaned child who had been adopted by Heiter, on as her apprentice and the two of them determined to journey to the far north, to the resting place of souls, where Frieren might have the chance to see Himmel again and pay him proper tribute. During their treacherous journey, the two encounter Stark, the former apprentice of Eisen. Although dwarven warrior Eisen considered himself too old to accompany Frieren and Fern on their quest to the north, Stark agrees to go with them. Having a powerful warrior as a member of their party could well come in handy, especially since the journey to the resting place of souls will take them perilously close to the Demon King’s former palace, and while her old enemy might have been vanquished, his minions still have a score to settle with Frieren.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 3) by Kanehito Yamada

As Frieren, Fern, and Stark continue their journey north, they encounter friends and foes alike, combating any demons they come across while also gathering any magical lore that they hear tell of. Although the danger associated with their endeavor is undeniable, they do actually manage to recruit a new companion, a mediocre human monk named Sein. In Volume 3 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, the band of adventurers are finally making good progress toward the resting place of souls, but events that echo back to Frieren’s original quest with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen soon derail their mission to find Himmel’s spirit. Back during the quest to kill the Demon King, Frieren and her comrades defeated Aura the Guillotine, one of seven powerful demons known as the Seven Sages of Destruction. Unfortunately, Aura has found a way to regenerate and is now back in search of vengeance. Frieren is forced to question whether the price she paid to vanquish Aura in the past was worth the consequences that she and her friends are facing in the present.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist by Makoto Inoue

The six Fullmetal Alchemist light novels are spin-offs from the manga series of the same name following brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric on their quest to find the philosopher’s stone. In their attempts to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life, the brothers brought terrible devastation down on themselves: Edward lost his left leg and Alphonse lost his whole body. Edward subsequently sacrificed his right arm to save Alphonse’s soul and bind it to a suit of armor. After undergoing painful medical procedures to provide him with prosthetic limbs, Edward agreed to become a State Alchemist so that he could continue his endeavors to restore him and his brother to their former bodies. In The Abducted Alchemist, the second of the light novels, Edward and Alphonse hear about train lines being destroyed by terrorist attacks and about a series of kidnappings of people related to the military. While no one has yet been harmed in any of these incidents, public anger about the authorities’ inability to put an end to them is mounting. Edward and Alphonse agree to help investigate the terrorists, but they soon find themselves embroiled in a kidnapping too.


Kirby Manga Mania, Vol. 3 (3)

It’s the third volume now, and once again, everyone’s favorite pink ball is back with more cute and funny stories and laughs. The new stories include a big battle between Kirby and Burning Leo, a disastrous sleepover at King Dedede’s castle, and a Waddle Dee trying to stand out. Also, when you're feeling stressed, just stick your head in Kirby’s giant mouth and shout your heart out!

Who doesn’t love Kirby Manga Mania? The characters are all so cute, as well as being very expressive and funny! I like Kirby because he loves eating and is always hungry. The stories are also clever. The author did a good job thinking of the ideas for each chapter of the book. One of my favorite stories in this volume is chapter two, when Kirby’s face changes depending on which Kirby game he’s playing. I like that the cover has a shiny metallic pink finish.

This book is recommended for fans of the Kirby video game and for people who are looking for manga for all ages. The whole series of three is definitely worth getting!


The Eleventh Commandment

Are the strips of ancient parchment delivered to John Sargent, the famous portraitist, forgeries or the last words of Moses, including an eleventh commandant? The so-called Shapiro Scrolls had been declared forgeries by scholars at the British Museum, but then the body of the finder of the documents, Moses Shapiro, is found in a hotel room, a bullet in his head. From this intriguing start, the narrative alternates between Shapiro’s acquisition of the scrolls in 1878 and his subsequent efforts to authenticate them, and the investigation by Sargent and his colleague, Violet Paget, into his death six years later and their struggle to keep the documents safe. Padded with intrusive cameos by famous individuals like Henry James and Oscar Wilde, countless references to archaeologists and biblical scholars, and repeated mentions of famous sites in the Holy Land, the story moves at a sedate pace. The tension picks up towards the end, with the prospect of a pivotal confrontation between rival experts, one for, one against the authenticity of the scrolls. But, like all tales grounded in fact, The Eleventh Commandant is obliged to stay close to the real-world truth, and its ending fizzles out disappointingly.


Good Knight, Mustache Baby

Good Knight, Mustache Baby is funny and a new favorite book in my house. The book is about two babies - one with a mustache and one with a beard, who play together while their parents are together. In this book, the babies play that they are knights and ride horses, go through moats, rescue dragons, slay ogres and cyclopes, and work on their most important mission - conquering bedtime! The story is written like the babies are actually knights, which makes it more fun to read.

My mom told me that there are other Mustache Baby books, so I'm ready for the next trip to the library to try to find them! My brother and I laughed throughout pretty much the whole book and really enjoyed it. The ending is funny and is a good one for the story. I can't think of anyone who won't like Good Knight, Mustache Baby.


Belle Greene

Many people are familiar with J.P. Morgan, one of the millionaire philanthropists of the Gilded Age, but few are aware of the woman who curated his library. It’s a shame, because her story is a fascinating one that deserves to be more well-known.

Belle da Costa Greene, born Belle Greener, was one of many people in America who looked white but were considered Black due to the “one drop” rule: as long as they had even the slightest bit of Black ancestry (referred to as “one drop of blood”), they could not mingle with white society. Belle and her family decided to fight back, creating a false history for themselves that would allow them to present as white to the rest of the world.

It might have been enough for any other family to survive. For Belle, it was enough to thrive. Lapierre’s novel is the whirlwind story of one woman’s incredible life as she beat the odds to influence and control the collection of one of the most powerful financiers in America.


Embassy of the Dead: Hangman's Crossing

Jake Green thought his hero days were over. After helping his friend move to the Underworld, the Embassy of the Dead awarded him an Undoer’s license, which means Jake can now officially help spirits move on. Along with his ghost partner, Cora, Jake is stuck with mundane cases while Elite Undoers investigate a secret case.

During a period of “not-eavesdropping,” Jake and Cora realize that a ghost pilot named Amber Chase is missing from the Embassy. But who would want to hurt a random ghost? And why? The answers might just be hidden in their newest case and the mysterious woman who worked with Amber before she disappeared.

With the Embassy being uprooted from the inside out and a new Age of Evil being threatened, will Jake find the courage to be a hero?

I really enjoyed this book! It was fast-paced, fun, and had plenty of ghosts! Jake and Cora’s banter was fun to read, and their adventures together were both heartwarming and hilarious. The story itself was an engaging and entertaining romp with plenty of humor. It never felt forced or as if it faltered in places. I would recommend this book to fans of un-put-downable, fantastical ghost stories!


Katt Loves Dogg (Katt vs. Dogg, 2)

What could go wrong when the family pets go camping with their humans? History tells us that it could be disastrous to take pets out into the forest to go camping, so when Molly and Oscar tag along, it’s no surprise that chaos ensues. It is hard being a pet because you have to learn the rules at home and different sets of rules when you go out places, like the dog park or the forest. Molly and Oscar find it hard to follow the rules, and then they end up losing their cousins in the forest. How will they be able to stay within the boundary and find their family?

This is a funny book. I am really liking the author, James Patterson. This series is funny and entertaining to read. This book also has some black and white illustrations to show just exactly Molly and Oscar are up to.


The Lobotomist's Wife: A Novel

Well-written with intense characters and an even more intense storyline, The Lobotomist's Wife tells the story of a woman named Ruth Emeraldine who runs a hospital in the 1940s and meets and marries Dr. Robert Apter who would later be known as the brilliant doctor who invented the lobotomy. This method which goes from a hospital procedure to one done in a few minutes in a doctor's office is invented to improve the health of those suffering from mental illness. After World War II, Ruth's own brother had committed suicide and after learning about Robert's new operation, she is all for helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder. However, Ruth starts questioning the accuracy of positive outcomes from the lobotomy and does her own research. Ruth is a strong-willed character who fights for her hospital patients to get the best care.

This book will have its readers turning pages one after another. With real-life references to Rosemary Kennedy's lobotomy and the Kennedy family and the realistic aura of the 1940s, Samantha Greene Woodruff's attention to historical detail is much applauded. I would recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction with a medical aspect.


It's Not Just Cookies: Stories and Recipes from the Tiff’s Treats Kitchen

This book is an homage to the founders of Tiff's Treats, a company that delivers warm cookies on demand. The tales of the company's growing pains might feel inspiring to entrepreneurs just starting out, except that the founders had some extraordinary and unlikely help and lucky breaks. Sentimental quotations from happy customers sharing how Tiff's Treats changed their lives punctuate the founders' humble bragging (and, bizarrely, advice about parenting and relationships).

So, what about the recipes? They do not even pretend to replicate what you would get if you ordered from the company (they are “inspired by”), which is just as well. Although this book includes recipes for twenty-seven cookies, they are nothing particularly special––mostly fairly basic classics, like chocolate chip, with variations. If I were to make these cookies first, I would not seek out Tiff's Treats for delivery.

The story is not bad, and neither are the cookies you create from this book, but anticipating a cookbook only to find it's an extended marketing brochure is irritating to say the least. Perhaps if you are already a fan of Tiff's Treats you will find the company's story interesting, but for stellar cookies, I recommend looking elsewhere.


The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Tangled Web (The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo, 3)

Margo Maloo is back in the third installment of the series! In this book, Charles goes on some very odd assignments. Charles is quite risky during his investigations, and he is clumsy. While doing many things he shouldn't be Charles gets bitten by a creepy spider. You may ask yourself, is he the next man to turn into a spider? Not if Margo Maloo can save him in time. Read this book to find out more.
I really like this series. I love the colorful illustrations and interesting stories. Margo and her assistant Charles are quite the pair and this book is filled with the right amount of creepy suspense, and fun. If you enjoy graphic novels and mysteries I highly recommend this series. Hopefully, this series will continue.


Digging Up Love (Taste of Love)

Alisha gets stuck in small town Illinois looking after her grandparents, when all she really wants to do is move to Chicago and open her own bakery. Quentin is a paleontologist and university professor whose family doesn’t respect his career. The two intersect when Alisha’s grandparents unearth a gigantic bone on their property while digging out a pool. It’s attraction at first sight, but the road to true love never did run smooth.

The premise of this book is fantastic. The romance genre is sorely lacking in paleontologist love interests, so this had new and fresh written all over it. Plus BIPOC characters? Even better!

Unfortunately, that awesome setup was quickly mired in abundant awkward details in the prose. For example, “He pulled his full lips to the side, gaze unfocused, clearly deep in thought. Then he dropped those striking eyes to the ground and stood up, rubbing a hand absently along his chiseled jaw.” There are many other longer descriptions of the character’s movements that really slowed down the narrative and made it hard to stay focused on the action.

If you’re a fan of a lot of description in your reading, this may very well be the romance novel for you. If you prefer a fast pace and less detail of how people are moving in every interaction, you may be disappointed by this one.


At First Light (Dr. Evan Wilding)

At First Light, a body has been found on the banks of the river, so Chicago detective Addie Bisset is called to the scene. Right away, she notices the runes placed around the body, which tells her she will need the help of her best friend, forensic semiotician Dr. Evan Wilding. Evan discovers these are Viking runes written in the form of a poem and once he decodes them, Evan and Addie discover, the killer isn’t done yet. The bodies are starting to pile up and it looks like Evan might be on the killer’s list. Evan and Addie don’t have much time to stop the Viking Poet before they become victims themselves.

I absolutely love both Addie and Evan. This relationship is one of those slow-burn ones where it takes three more books in the series before they realize they both love each other as more than friends. However, the plot makes the wait entirely worthwhile. I had never heard of semioticians before so this was a fun learning experience, plus it’s always great to learn more about Vikings. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone who loves mysteries, especially with signs and riddles, will as well.


Authentic Indian Cooking with Your Instant Pot: Classic and Innovative Recipes for the Home Cook

In Authentic Indian Cooking with Your Instant Pot, Vasanti Bhadkamkar-Balan has taken classic Indian recipes and adjusted them to be made in less time and with more ease. Her recipes save you hours of marinating and cooking time. There are pictures with every recipe, which are beautifully done. In this book, there are recipes for meat dishes like classic Chicken Tikka Masala, as well as sweet treats and everything in between. She also includes recipes for relishes and for the spice mixes you will need the most for these recipes. If you are looking to cut down on your time spent cooking authentic Indian food, this is the cookbook for you.

My husband loves Indian food so I’m always looking for new recipes to try. I was looking for a reason to try my instant pot, so this seemed liked the perfect book. Together we made the Ball Curry, but while it was good, it lacked a lot of the flavor and spice we love and expect from authentic Indian food. However, the steps were very clear and easy to follow. It would be a good addition to your instant pot recipe collection for quick meals without a ton of fuss.


The Cake Book: Beautiful Sweet Treats for Every Craving

Rebecca Firth’s The Cookie Book did so well that she decided to put together The Cake Book. This book has all her favorite cake recipes which will hopefully become yours as well. She starts off with some very helpful tips before you even get started such as what ingredients to have on hand and what kind of pans to use. There are recipes for cakes to use for celebrations, loaf and tea cakes, brunch cakes, single-layer cakes, holiday cakes, and twists on the classic Bundt. With so many options, there should be something in here that strikes your fancy and will impress friends and family.

I found Rebecca’s very detailed instructions to be incredibly helpful. I’m a low-skill level baker and even when I messed up the Chocolate Horchata Meringue Cake by completely forgetting the sour cream, it still tasted and looked amazing. That was my first ever attempt at meringue and it went perfectly just by following her easy-to-follow instructions. I also made the Muscovado Banana Bread which also came out lovely. While someone with more skill would probably benefit best from this book, it’s still a great addition as it helps you push yourself in the kitchen.


How Not To Fall In Love

Working in her mother’s wedding alterations shop over the course of many years has warped and skewed Harper’s views on weddings. So she can’t help but shake her head at her best friend and neighbor, Jamison, who is continuously having his heart broken. Doesn’t he know that there is no such thing as true love? Why does he invest his heart so quickly and so fully?

His suffering finally wears on her, and she offers to help him keep from falling in love. He’s concerned because Harper hasn’t had many experiences of the dating variety, so she goes on a date with a boy she’s crushed on forever. Soon she’s giving suggestions to Jamison, but she wonders if she’s missing something, something close to home and perfect for her.

While all’s well that ends well (enough), this well-known boy-next-door trope will have readers second-guessing their expectations. Harper’s skewed view of relationships discolors her own, and like in real life, may cost her a chance at happiness, providing a fresh take on a classic romance story. Harper’s dry humor, especially regarding weddings and her mother’s business, provides well-needed comic relief. A great summer read, this one has all the feels.


Try Something New!

Whether you like thumbing through recipes just for pleasure or are looking for inspiration for meals, these five cookbooks will definitely spice things up. Through reading them, you will be introduced to new homemade soup recipes, Chinese baked goods, simple and healthy paleo meals, new ways of cooking with eggs, and recipes born out of foraging.

Soup Club: 80 Cozy Recipes for Creative Plant-Based Soups and Stews to Share by Caroline Wright

This is a cookbook unlike any other. It is not only about the recipes, but is also a heartwarming story of a community coming together and giving to a member during a frightening period of her life. Caroline Wright was given a crushing brain cancer diagnosis, and not long after this, she found herself really craving homemade soup. She told her friends, who started rallying around her, and then Wright started finding soup on her doorstep daily for several months afterwards. Thankfully she survived, and this book is a thank you to those friends and followers who were touched by her story. The recipes in this book are plant-based and sound very delicious. They are not the blended kind but more the chunky kind, and many of the recipes use nutritional yeast. The instructions are for cooking on the stove, although there is a section dedicated to instant pot instructions. There are also recipes for breads and salads and how to make your own spice blends. Some of the soup recipes that sounded particularly delicious were the Moroccan Vegetable Stew, Golden Borscht, and Cowboy Chili. Soup Club really is a must-have for soup and stew fans, and you do not have to be vegan to enjoy these recipes.

Mooncakes and Milk Bread: Sweet and Savory Recipes Inspired by Chinese Bakeries by Kristina Cho

If you are interested in Chinese baked goods, then this book is for you! Mooncakes and Milk Bread is filled with Chinese bakery recipes, and it is made simple by the step-by-step instructions for the heavenly family-based recipes provided by food blogger Kristina Cho. If you are intimidated by the Chinese ingredients, Cho takes you through the experience of shopping in an Asian grocery store and explains the differences between ingredients and the equipment needed to create these recipes. The recipes included in this book consist of different types of Chinese buns and breads, cakes, cookies, dumplings, and drinks. Additionally, there are no-bake recipes for dim sum, pancakes, and potstickers. The pictures that accompany each recipe help to provide visual guidance, and all the food looks like it has been made by a modern Chinese professional chef/baker. The book is an all-round winner for fun and expanding your repertoire.

Nom Nom Paleo: Let's Go! (Volume 3) by Michelle Tam and Henry Fong

Michelle Tam and Henry Fong, the creators of the New York Times bestseller Nom Nom Paleo, offer a new Asian-inspired collection of paleo recipes in Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! There are even keto, whole30, and vegan-based recipes, and they are all full of umami flavor. Tam and Fong emphasize that the best and healthiest meals are the ones cooked at home, and this cookbook will give you the enthusiasm necessary to get going in your own kitchen. You will be surprised at how simple these recipes are and how they are perfect for when you are cooking for others. Your guests will be surprised by how tasty the food turns out, even though they are wholefood recipes and free of gluten, dairy, grains, and refined sugar. Some of the delights include Cantonese Roast Duck, Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, and Paleo-Friendly Cream Puffs. You only need to be a novice cook and you can make food that tastes heavenly!

The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook: Over 100 Fabulous Recipes to Use Eggs in Unexpected Ways by Lisa Steele

Fifth generation chicken keeper and top-selling author Lisa Steele shows how easy and appetizing meals can be after adding eggs. The Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook teaches you all about eggs, such as debunking certain egg-related myths and explaining what particular labels on egg cartons signify. Steele works with you, starting from the basics of cooking eggs and moving through all the different techniques. The photography in the book is fantastic and really inspires you to try the recipes. You can learn how to make a French Tri-fold Omelet, Swedish Egg Coffee, and Hand Pies, as well as other sweet and savory recipes, and they all come with Steele’s own modifications. This book is an inventive and exciting cookbook for a novice or an accomplished cook looking to branch out and discover new things every day.

Field Notes for Food Adventure: Recipes and Stories from the Woods to the Ocean by Brad Leone

Brad Leone teaches us about being resourceful and inventive in the New York Times bestseller Field Notes for Food Adventure as he seeks out the wonderful natural ingredients of the North East. Exploring all that nature has to offer, foraging in fields, rivers, forests, and the sea, Leone captures your imagination by providing outstanding ideas for inspirational home cookery. He introduces you to ramps, different types of mushrooms, and the various ways of preserving them, as well as to undervalued oceanic ingredients such as squid and seaweed. All the recipes have the Brad Leone stamp, with the Spicy Tomato Chicken, Sous Vide Mountain Ribs, and the Cold Root Salad seeming particularly appetizing, in addition to the recipes for drinks such as Fermented Bloody Mary and Sumac Lemonade. There’s even a simple recipe for Chile Hot Sauce. Voted Food52’s Best Cookbook of the Year, this flavorsome tome is not your typical cookbook, but it will certainly open your mind to exciting new ideas and ingredients.


Stan Lee's The Devil's Quintet: The Armageddon Code: A Thriller (Stan Lee's The Devil's Quintet, 1)

From bestselling author Jay Bonansinga and the legionary Stan Lee comes a new group of superheroes. A five-member Navy Seal team was sold out to the enemy by someone they thought they could trust. Imprisoned in a dungeon of horrors, the team must choose between making a deal with the Devil or certain death. In exchange for their freedom and supernatural powers, they all agree to be a hit squad for Satan. Dubbing themselves “The Devil’s Quintet” they have no plans to honor their deal. Armed with their newly acquired skills, they defy the Devil and save the world from Armageddon.

Stan Lee’s The Devil’s Quintet: The Armageddon Code is not your typical superhero story. This high-action shoot-em-up is much darker than one would expect from the legendary comic book writer and publisher. Teaming up before Lee’s death, Bonansinga expanded on what was to be the icon’s last project. While this novel has all the elements of a Stan Lee story, heroes with real human mannerisms and the evilest of villains, it is meant for a more mature audience. With the creativity of Bonansinga working off themes and ideas from the founder of the Marvel empire, this is one hell of an adventure.


Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 1 (1)

Manga Roundup

If you enjoy epic quests, legendary heroes, otherworldly villains, and plenty of deadly danger, then the books included in this roundup could be right up your street. The six featured titles, which come from three highly popular series, feature storylines that are among the best the fantasy manga genre has to offer.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 11) by Yuji Kaku

Set during the Edo period in Japan, the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series follows captured ninja Gabimaru the Hollow as he searches for the elixir of immortality. Originally sentenced to be executed, Gabimaru attributes his ability to survive all attempted means of killing him to his love for his wife keeping him alive. When imperial executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri realizes that Gabimaru can’t be killed, she offers the ninja a chance to win a pardon, so long as he agrees to travel to the island of Shinsenkyo and find the elixir of immortality for the shogun. In Volume 11, a bloody battle is raging at the palace on Shinsenkyo, forcing Gabimaru, Sagiri, and the other new arrivals to commit to an uneasy truce in the hope of finding a way off the island. To complicate matters, a massive new monster has entered the battle and managed to trap everyone within the confines of its body. If they’re unable to escape before the dawn, they’ll all be transformed into flowers that will then be used to power the monster down its path of destruction.

Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Vol. 13) by Yuji Kaku

Volume 13 of the Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku series continues the saga of Gabimaru the Hollow, the world’s most powerful ninja, and his quest to find the elixir of immortality. This time round, it seems that Rien’s nefarious master plan will bring certain doom down on the unfortunates trapped on the island of Shinsenkyo as well as those enjoying the apparent safety of the mainland. While Gabimaru, Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, and the band of condemned prisoners and other executioners with them might have originally set out to harness the power of immortality, it appears that their mission might actually result in death and destruction for all those involved, however tangentially. Their only hope lies in vanquishing the specter of Lord Tensen. It might seem like an impossible task, but Gabimaru is willing to take on anyone and to do anything necessary to return to his wife.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Vol. 1) by Kanehito Yamada

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series follows elven mage Frieren, who once embarked on a ten-year quest with a band of fellow adventurers to kill the Demon King and restore peace to the land. Accompanying Frieren were the human hero Himmel, the dwarven warrior Eisen, and the human priest Heiter, and after they had finally completed their quest, the group gathered together to watch the Era Meteors. After the meteor shower, before leaving to travel the world in search of magical knowledge, Frieren promised that she would provide the group with a better view of the meteors when the celestial event next occurred, which would be some fifty years later. Volume 1 focuses on what occurs when Frieren finally does return and discovers that her former companions have noticeably aged while she remains pretty much the same as when they last saw each other. The group does manage to see the Era Meteors again, but soon afterwards Himmel dies of old age. Due to regretting that she didn’t take the time to know her companions better, Frieren vows to embark on a new quest to ensure that their last wishes are fulfilled.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 2) by Kanehito Yamada 9781974727230

In Volume 2 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, elven mage Frieren continues her quest to do right by her former comrades. She had agreed to take Fern, an orphaned child who had been adopted by Heiter, on as her apprentice and the two of them determined to journey to the far north, to the resting place of souls, where Frieren might have the chance to see Himmel again and pay him proper tribute. During their treacherous journey, the two encounter Stark, the former apprentice of Eisen. Although dwarven warrior Eisen considered himself too old to accompany Frieren and Fern on their quest to the north, Stark agrees to go with them. Having a powerful warrior as a member of their party could well come in handy, especially since the journey to the resting place of souls will take them perilously close to the Demon King’s former palace, and while her old enemy might have been vanquished, his minions still have a score to settle with Frieren.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Vol. 3) by Kanehito Yamada

As Frieren, Fern, and Stark continue their journey north, they encounter friends and foes alike, combating any demons they come across while also gathering any magical lore that they hear tell of. Although the danger associated with their endeavor is undeniable, they do actually manage to recruit a new companion, a mediocre human monk named Sein. In Volume 3 of the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End series, the band of adventurers are finally making good progress toward the resting place of souls, but events that echo back to Frieren’s original quest with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen soon derail their mission to find Himmel’s spirit. Back during the quest to kill the Demon King, Frieren and her comrades defeated Aura the Guillotine, one of seven powerful demons known as the Seven Sages of Destruction. Unfortunately, Aura has found a way to regenerate and is now back in search of vengeance. Frieren is forced to question whether the price she paid to vanquish Aura in the past was worth the consequences that she and her friends are facing in the present.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist by Makoto Inoue

The six Fullmetal Alchemist light novels are spin-offs from the manga series of the same name following brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric on their quest to find the philosopher’s stone. In their attempts to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life, the brothers brought terrible devastation down on themselves: Edward lost his left leg and Alphonse lost his whole body. Edward subsequently sacrificed his right arm to save Alphonse’s soul and bind it to a suit of armor. After undergoing painful medical procedures to provide him with prosthetic limbs, Edward agreed to become a State Alchemist so that he could continue his endeavors to restore him and his brother to their former bodies. In The Abducted Alchemist, the second of the light novels, Edward and Alphonse hear about train lines being destroyed by terrorist attacks and about a series of kidnappings of people related to the military. While no one has yet been harmed in any of these incidents, public anger about the authorities’ inability to put an end to them is mounting. Edward and Alphonse agree to help investigate the terrorists, but they soon find themselves embroiled in a kidnapping too.


Cardboard Creations for Kids: 50 Fun and Inventive Crafts Using Recycled Materials

Do you like doing crafts with your kids? Are you looking for something creative to do besides watch TV or play on electronics? This book is the solution for you! Cardboard Creations for Kids is an amazing resource to help you find fun and simple ways to make hours of fun!

The book separates the crafts into sections with an introduction, large crafts, moving crafts, pretend play, inside the box, and other crafts. Our whole family had a blast making two of these larger-than-life creations. First, we made the tent out of a big box that previously housed a recliner. We cut off one side of the box, taped the three sides together, and made a fun tent for the kids to sit in and crawl through.

Second, we made the castle. We used a second recliner, box taped the open sides together, and followed the instructions for the turrets and drawbridge. It was slightly harder than the tent, but it still only took us between thirty minutes and an hour to make.

Both these projects led to hours upon hours of fun for my eight- and five-year-old children. My five-year-old is currently hanging out in her new favorite place to be. I highly recommend this book for family crafts you can do over and over again.