STAZR The World Of Z: The Dawn of Athir

Stazr: The World of Z is set on another planet called Stazr. Humans don’t currently exist.  The Greats have emerged as the dominant race. Other races, which range from evolved animals to human-like creatures, are frequently enslaved by the Greats. These groups also fear being captured and mutilated into a substance called Stazrdust. Stazrdust is an important part of this planet. This magical dust has many healing and mysterious powers associated with it. However, the act of accumulating the right kind of Stazrdust is questionable from a moral standpoint. Storms on the planet also consist of a different type of special dust, which is not as magical as Stazrdust but can still change things quite easily. The language used on planet Stazr is also somewhat different from ours on Earth, reflected in the text by alternate spellings of some words, with various sub-dialects used by creatures of higher and lower societal rank.

The reader will follow the protagonist, Lael, who has wished for nothing more than to be isolated and to follow his dream of achieving the status of a rising author. Out of nowhere, a messenger finds Lael and informs him that through a prophecy, Lael has been identified as "The Chosen One." Unsure of what all that entails, Lael follows this messenger throughout the planet, experiencing intense and dangerous situations all while trying to figure out his way and how he fits into the future of Stazr as "The Chosen One."

I would liken Stazr: The World of Z to situations in the Maze Runner trilogy. Both stories being "otherworldly," they include elements that are fearful and hard to imagine. Scenes of torture and murder for self-gain, racial inequality and the enslavement of "weaker" creatures, and the absence of women, except for the scenes including sex, are all features of this novel. One thing to take into consideration is that this is not a book that you can skim. With words purposefully misspelled to distinguish the dialects of characters and emphasize the alien nature of the world, the reader will need to be purposeful about their reading and understanding of the unique words. There are footnotes included that are helpful, but at least in the e-book version they are not labeled at all, making them ultimately more of a bother than help. There were parts of the story that were somewhat difficult to follow and seemingly unnecessary, but then other parts that were exciting and suspenseful.


STAZR The World Of Z: The Dawn of Athir

STAZR The World of Z: The Dawn of Athir is the first book in a proposed series of science fiction/fantasy books by debut author Anay Ayarovu. It’s a book that is rich, in terms of its worldbuilding and epic with regard to its plotting, although the character development is somewhat lacking, an issue that might well be remedied as the series progresses.

The story opens on a mundane day on the planet Stazr, as wannabe novelist Lael takes a break from his literary endeavors to enjoy an evening stroll in the nearby countryside. While out, he encounters a nervous shwine (a mutated version of what is known on this planet as a swine or pig) who claims to have a message for him from the Sy-Rak family of Treebarad. A prophecy has apparently been uncovered that names Lael as the “Chozen One” or “Stazr Fabulist” capable of reopening the gates of Stazr, which had been sealed by the Greats millennia ago. As such, his presence is required by the council of Treebarad.

Thus begins Lael’s quest to understand his role in both the past and the future of Stazr. Along the way, he meets nefarious schemers, deadly villains, fantastical creatures, and even a few allies. And despite previously being something of a hermit, he seems to enjoy every minute of the adventure he never realized he was longing for. Aside from his narration of events, which is a bit stilted in places, the text is interspersed with Lael’s stories, notes, and journal entries, which help to explain the history of Stazr, the planet’s environment, the evolution of its various species, and the mythology of the Greats.

Ayarovu has clearly put a great deal of thought into the Stazr universe and into all that Lael encounters on his quest. The history/mythology that is slowly revealed by and to Lael is really interesting, particularly the role of humans in the development of Stazr as well as the relations between the various species. There’s enough backstory and suggestions of additional strands of plot to make the world seem both compelling and convincing (while still, of course, being firmly rooted in the fantasy genre), and it definitely appears that there are plenty of avenues for Ayarovu to explore in future books in the series.

Unfortunately, the characters aren’t as well fleshed out as the world that they inhabit. Lael is clearly the main character and so carries the success of the story on his shoulders, but he’s neither particularly likeable nor sufficiently unpleasant to be an antihero. It’s nice to see just how much he, as a writer, enjoys the opportunity to engage on an epic quest and to have amazing material for the novel he’s been dreaming of writing. He’s very invested in the world of Stazr and his keen observations help to bring the environment to life. However, he’s a bit too comfortable and complacent when it comes to his own superiority and to how he perceives the lesser species. The mix of his naivety and his overinflated sense of self-importance makes it likely that he’s an unreliable narrator, something that Ayarovu might expand on in the future.

The tone of the story shifts quite dramatically as Lael progresses on his quest. While there’s plenty of humor, satire, and cute creatures to enjoy, there’s also some quite extreme violence and brutality, which might be a bit much for some readers. The darkness could have been a bit less dark, and the story would have been the better for it. That s––aying, there’s still plenty for readers to enjoy and ponder on when exploring the world of Stazr. Overall, STAZR The World of Z: The Dawn of Athir is a frequently humorous and quite engaging take on the fantasy/quest genre, and it’ll be interesting to see where the series goes next.

One peculiarity with the ebook version: Ayarovu has included endnotes in every chapter explaining the various words, terms, and concepts that she has created to add depth to the world of Stazr, but none of them are numbered, which makes locating a given endnote a bit of a pain. It would enhance the reading experience if the endnotes were numbered and/or if a footnote approach could be used. This might not be an issue with the print version.


STAZR The World Of Z: The Dawn of Athir

One could say the story of the prophesied individual who will save the world has been done and done and overdone. So how is one to write a new story in the genre? The key is to write a new and fresh story in such a way that takes the expected facets of the “chosen one” and presents it in a new light, defying and also defeating the cliché. STAZR: The World of Z does this in a wonderful new way, and readers of the fantasy and science fiction genres will delight in this new and original telling of a familiar trope.

In this first book in the series, The Dawn of Athir, our main character and hero is one Ratadat Lael. Lael has felt the calling to inscribe the printed word his entire life. He lives a simple and, some might say, easy life, but he thrives in the occupation and world he has been thrust into, marveling in the sights and sounds of Stazr and thriving. The story begins as Lael is on his travels, recounting in detail what he is seeing and experiencing, as well as telling of his strange dreams. The similarities to one Bilbo Baggins going on an adventure cannot be missed, but this isn’t Middle Earth, rather the world of Stazr, where things are very different. There are evolved creatures that were originally humans, but also other anthropomorphic beings known as Greats, as Lael is. As the reader follows along with new details of the varied and unique flora and fauna of this world, journal entries break up the ongoing plot with excerpts and accounts of what is being observed, not for the first time by Lael but for the first time by the reader. Juxtaposed with the seemingly idyllic Lael, who wishes little more than to become a renowned author, is the revelation of an ancient prophecy found in the city of Treebarad which will initiate a series of events that will draw this naive writer into a much larger role than he ever could have considered himself worthy of.

The writing is easy to follow and detailed, necessary when being introduced to a new world. Ayarovu uses endnotes for new and strange terms to help define and explain the complexities of this world. These lend the book a more official and perhaps referential feel, but at the same time give the reader the choice to look up the definition at the end of the chapter, or to keep on going with the story knowing they will discover the meaning in subsequent events. The only critique is the e-book edition lacks numbered endnotes, so it’s not always easy to tell which term or word is being defined. Nevertheless, this is a minor hindrance for a thrilling read that draws the reader in from the very beginning with a lovable and entertaining character and takes them on a journey of epic proportions in this new and fresh world.


Saving The Dragons

Tharill and his brother Rory go out to their uncle’s fields to find the cow, Chloe, for milking. On the way there, they are surprised to find a balloon has crashed into a tree and fallen to the ground. The passengers are unhurt, varying between belligerent and apologetic, and are soon on their way after bribing the boys to keep the experience to themselves. On the way back to the house, Rory finds an arrow filled with a green liquid and accidentally stabs himself. He feels faint almost immediately, so his family takes him to Urmi, who prescribes rest and special liquids. Once better, Rory and Tharill help prepare for the trip to Paraic to sell products from the farm and attend the Faire. After helping set up the family booth, Tharill and Rory are given free time, during which they meet Reesa, the daughter of a dragon specialist who likes to explore. Later, the boys and Reesa participate in games of skill with their bows against their continued rival, Prince Rutgar. During their trip, a meeting with the king to discuss the death of a revered dragon leads to the quick getaway of Tharill and Prince Rutgar while Rory informs the family of their whereabouts, not knowing when they will meet again.

Due to the generous number of characters, notes would be helpful for any reader as there is no character glossary. The main characters are likable enough though not fully developed, however, the dialogue was often quick and witty. The names the brothers call each other are humorous and reminiscent of teenage boys, though readers never find out what gnarts actually look like, more’s the pity. The developing romance is subtle but sweet, keeping so far to the background of the main plot as to be virtually forgotten. While the pacing of Saving the Dragons is quick and breezy, the story, in general, has so many unnecessary scenes that don’t contribute to the overall story, which can make the tale confusing. In addition, there was so little focus on the dragons as to make their part in the story irrelevant; they could have been cats or koalas. The change of scenes and characters is sometimes jarring with how often it happens and how short some of the scenes are. Words of Celtic and Spanish origins are splashed into the mix but without explanation or any kind of translation. Many punctuation errors, missing words, and incorrect spelling could make it difficult for some readers to finish.


Dragon Ops

Dragon Ops is about a virtual reality theme park called Dragon Ops that is supposed to reenact the video game Fields of Fantasy. When gamer Ian Rivera gets the once-in-a-lifetime chance to test out Dragon Ops, a fully immersive augmented reality theme park based on his favorite video game, before its release, he leaps at the opportunity, even if he has to share the experience with his sister, Lilli, and cousin Derek, neither of whom appreciate the visit to the remote South Pacific island on which it’s situated. Shortly after the three gear up to begin their adventure, they are trapped inside; Derek is kidnapped, and Ian and Lillia are sent on a quest. They must find and defeat Atreus, the game's end boss, within three days. They have “no save points, no do-overs,” and any game-side fatality will end in their deaths! Luckily, they have the assistance of a guide named Yano and an experienced fellow place named Ikumi to help them. Ian discovers that his in-game experiences haven’t prepared him for the super physical demands of the setting.

Dragon Ops is an awesome story for fantasy lovers and gamers. To find out if Ian and Lilli are successful on their quest, grab a copy of Dragon Ops, and join them on their action-filled adventure.


Recognizing Adult ADHD: What Donald Trump Can Teach Us About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Recognizing Adult ADHD aims to bring awareness to issues surrounding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by focusing on the causes of the illness and suggesting coping strategies. The author uses Donald Trump as an example of someone who presents many of the symptoms of this disease. He explains his reason for this diagnosis in Chapter Four, where he further reveals the characteristics involved in determining whether a patient meets the required criteria of ADHD.

This work helped me understand that ADHD results from a biological brain condition, but it is incredibly complex and complicated, likely appearing in childhood. Before reading this, I had assumed patients suffered from being unable to concentrate. I did not realize that they suffered what the authors terms executive dysfunction. As he explains, they are unable to plan effectively and focus on things of importance. Instead, they concentrate on what is of immediate interest. I was also surprised that, because they are often risk-takers, these patients have a higher risk of injury or death. Dr. Kruse does a good job explaining how the patient's condition affects those around them.

Using Donald Trump as a case study, he is able to point out behavior patterns and explain why they might have occurred. As someone who often finds Trump's behavior baffling, I found the focus on him very interesting and useful. He covers instances and issues where Trump seems to lack interest in planning and executing policies. I have also wondered why Trump uses the same simple words repeatedly, and this book went some way in explaining that to me. As Dr. Kruse points out, the behavior patterns of this person affect the nation as a whole. Therefore, understanding this disease is more critical today than ever.

I also found Chapter Seventeen especially interesting. As our brains evolve and make new connections, it is essential to see that we may all be affected by the changes in our environments and should, therefore, mind how we take in information from social media, the press, or television. It certainly made me think I should slow down and be more mindful in the future.

In short, I learned a great deal from this informative study. I felt more sympathetic to those who have ADHD after having read about the condition as a whole and how it affects almost every area of their lives. This easy-to-read, thoroughly researched book is, no doubt a must for those who have ADHD, know someone who suffers from it, or for those who want to know more about this complex disease.


In this book, Dr. John Kruse explores the topic of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, as applied to Donald Trump. The author maintains that much of Trump’s publicly odd behavior, such as wandering off topic during speeches, can be attributed to ADHD, a lifelong disorder for most patients. The author writes from the perspective of a clinical psychologist who has made a career of working with ADHD patients and who has diagnosed Trump not, as is usually the case, through a brief office visit and self-assessment, but through hours spent watching his behavior on tape and reading his writings.

The book delves into subtopics such as the diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and comorbidities of ADHD, relating the topics back to Trump. Kruse maintains that much of the behavior we observe in Trump, which has been attributed to other disorders such as narcissism, is related to ADHD. For example, in the famous incident of Trump pacing behind Clinton while she was talking during a debate, which many have attributed to a narcissistic need for domination, the author sees symptoms of ADHD and loss of focus. Other behavior, such as Trump’s persistent sniffing, might be related to Adderall used to treat ADHD.

The author notes that the times during televised appearances when Trump’s pupils appeared dilated, as if from pharmaceuticals, were also the times he appeared more focused, his speech more intelligible, his hand gestures not as wild. The author also notes factors such as risk-taking that led to some of Trump’s early business success that ADHD would explain. Other topics the author addresses are the impairment of executive function, or the lack of ability to plan and carry out activities, and medical ethics in diagnosing ADHD, the topics all related, again, back to Trump. The author notes the harm to the country caused by its leader’s untreated disorder.

A limitation of the work is, as the author notes, that he has not personally examined Trump, the most recognized and ethical way to diagnose. In addition, something that occurs to me is the issue of confirmation bias: that is, once we have settled on a hypothesis, such as Donald Trump having ADHD, there is a tendency to look for evidence to confirm that hypothesis rather than first ruling out other possibilities. In the matter of pacing around the stage, for example, Trump could really have been trying to dominate Clinton or to draw attention to himself while she was speaking. Other possibilities would have to be ruled out first before determining ADHD to be the only explanation. However, the author does pull together the evidence enough to make his case as well as to hold readers' attention.


Celebrities de-stigmatizing their mental health disorders is nothing new. Using celebrities to de-stigmatize their hypothetical disorders is a different matter. While surmises about President Trump’s mental health abound, he has yet to receive a clinical diagnosis—or at least publicize one. But psychiatrist John Kruse is changing all this in his health education book, Recognizing Adult ADHD: What Donald Trump Can Teach Us about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Kruse’s intention is straightforward: educate us about a misunderstood disorder by highlighting a familiar figure. Execution may be more crucial than intent, however, and Kruse’s personal feelings occasionally contradict his clinical premise.

Kruse is an ADHD specialist, and he showcases this expertise in the book’s educational sections. He draws from decades of clinical practice to depict a range of cases, from struggling college students to career-hopping professionals to volatile romantic partners. We learn to identify the symptoms of adult ADHD through these narratives, perhaps even recognizing ourselves or a loved one in the process. Not only does Kruse persuade us that that adult ADHD is just as real as the childhood disorder, but he also demonstrates that it’s just as crippling if left untreated.

Unfortunately, Kruse’s attempt to de-stigmatize ADHD through President Trump falls short. His argument for diagnosing Trump is strong since ADHD can be diagnosed by observation rather than self-reporting, but Kruse’s ensuing analysis is ambivalent. He best succeeds at softening our criticism of the president—and more importantly other ADHD adults—when he suggests Trump’s brazen behavior isn’t as toxic as it seems. For example, Kruse urges us not to judge Trump too harshly for contradictory tweets or sexist comments since ADHD adults often blurt out fleeting thoughts even if those thoughts don’t represent underlying beliefs. Neither should we be surprised at Trump’s penchant for spectacle, he argues, since ADHD adults prioritize visual imagery above abstract concepts.

But Kruse’s sympathy doesn’t extend much beyond these macro-defenses. He describes Trump’s actions in derogatory terms like “spews” and “antics,” and devotes a chapter to coping with Trump’s presidency before likening our time under his administration to an “ancient curse” that condemns someone to live in “interesting times.” It’s hard to comprehend how portraying an ADHD individual as cursing his community could possibly de-stigmatize the disorder.

And that’s why it’s best to delineate health education and social activism. Dr. Kruse is clearly an expert in his field, but he doesn’t maintain the objectivity necessary to de-stigmatize the disorder for a general readership. We may finish Recognizing Adult ADHD more educated, but we’ll have to exercise some mental gymnastics if we want to walk away unbiased about ADHD - regardless of our political opinion.


The Nosferatu Conspiracy, Book One: The Sleepwalker, by Brian James Gage, is a well-written, fun book that I’ll call a combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and Rasputin fanfiction. Prior to reading The Nosferatu Conspiracy, I had a basic knowledge of the historical events that took place regarding the Bolshevik Revolution, the gruesome killings of the royal family, and the intrigue surrounding Rasputin. Rasputin was the faith healer who won the trust of the royal family by treating their hemophiliac son, Alexei. In Nosferatu, “documents” are used as a new factual interpretation of events, along with diaries and newspaper clippings (all from Gage’s imagination). The plot features Rasputin as a vampire antagonist along with factions that are working, in part, against each other. The protagonists range from Russian royalty to accidental vampire killers.

The backdrop is Bucharest and St. Petersburg, Russia. I don’t think that the reader needs any historical knowledge to appreciate Nosferatu, and a quick reading of events on one’s own could fill in the blanks easily, but part of the enjoyment for me was the revisionist fantasy.

I particularly enjoyed this account of the events of 1916 that explained the “real” reasons for the revolution (vampires, of course). I enjoyed the story, with its intrigue and complexity, and fully developed characters and action. Vampire book authors must develop their own vampire lore because so many vampire archetypes exist. Gage doesn’t stray too far from existing vampire literary culture, except to offer a few twists of his own. Part of what makes the book fun is the seriousness of purpose in the tone.

After reading several novels lately in which I really didn’t care about the characters, I am glad to say that I did care here, especially for Felix and Denis. These are wonderful characters. The action scenes, I’ll add, could have been quite confusing, but they are not. The novel is more than 400 pages long, seemingly long, but reads quickly. At first, I did make a cheat sheet for myself since many characters have Russian names that got confused in my head. But they are developed clearly enough that I stopped needing my notes after a while. The main characters are male, and the females, while relegated to a more minor status in the pages, do not fall into an old-fashioned, anti-feminist trope. This was a relief.  I will simply say that stereotypical vampire folklore regarding women isn’t here. I’ll be looking out for the second book in the series (dealing with the “real” reason behind WWI).


Ice Queen

This book should get pushed to the top of everyone’s list. In a world where social media has taken over and everyone has smartphones, there are still rules and regulations that we all have to follow. This book, although told in a story format, touches upon a topic that I feel is not addressed enough: teen sexting. Kids are kids, and sometimes when they do things, they don’t understand the repercussions. Back in the day a game of spin the bottle or seven minutes in heaven were the taboo games kids played without their parents knowing. Now, it’s being taken online.

The main characters in this book, Blair and David, are actually very innocent in this case. David takes a picture of Blair while she is changing clothes and she tells him to make sure he deletes it. He tells her he will but somehow that picture is sent out to several people as well as the police. And that is how David and Blair get arrested on several counts of crime. David didn’t send the picture though. Why would he do that? And Blair is convinced that he was scheming with his ex-girlfriend nicknamed the Ice Queen to do this to her.

The story is excellently written and really makes a person think about things they’ve done that have completely innocent intentions that could be considered illegal child porn or sexting. Where is the line drawn? When a minor sends another minor a picture of themself in a seductive outfit or pose should they get in trouble? These are things we don’t think of because the intent to commit a crime is not there. So are they wrong? Well, they are certainly punishable by law.

This story digs deep. The characters are all well developed and could all be real people. You have the Ice Queen and her Things who are the mean girls. She rules the roost and divides everyone in the school into classes: Class A, B, and C. Blair is obviously Class C, and the Ice Queen is disgusted when Blair starts dating her ex-boyfriend. High school drama is just that. But with the internet in the palm of your hand, the mean girls get even meaner. This is bullying and cyberbullying explained well.

Ice Queen is a book that adults and teens, including preteens, should read. It gathers the right amount of information and makes the readers think about the consequences. I also really liked the discussion questions at the end of the book and found myself answering them even after finishing the book. A great read for many reasons.


Thieves of Weirdwood: A William Shivering Tale

Thieves of Weirdwood is a story about two thieves who are in debt. They try to get themselves out of trouble, but it is more difficult than they expect.

The plot was actually kind of entertaining and I liked all the action. I feel like I got to know the characters a little. The characters are quite lively and fun. The story is well written but there is a little too much talking for my liking. I think the moral of the story is to not get into debt. There are some pretty good pictures in the book that went well with the story. I actually wish there were more illustrations.

I would recommend this book for kids who are ten-years-old and older who like murder mysteries and adventure stories. It could probably make a good series. I can recommend this book because I kind of liked it. It was good but also sad because many people died.


Little Universes

When Mae and Hannah receive the news that their parents have died in a tsunami, their lives are completely upended. They’ve lived in California all their lives, but now they’re moving to Boston to live with their aunt and uncle, who have become their legal guardians. In Boston, both sisters struggle to get their footing. Mae, an aspiring astronaut, finds it difficult to imagine fulfilling her dreams without her astrophysicist father there to see it, and Hannah struggles with her long-distance relationship with her California boyfriend and the reemergence of her opioid addiction in the wake of her grief. Rather than growing closer in their shared loss, Mae and Hannah begin to grow apart as they hide secrets from one another, messily navigate love, and consider where their futures will take them.

Heather Demetrios paints Mae and Hannah’s lives with vivid and realistic complexity. The details of both Mae’s passion for space exploration and Hannah’s drug addiction feel well-researched and ring true, and the vicissitudes of grief are never ignored or oversimplified. In the complex picture she paints, Demetrios leads her characters and her readers to consider a number of questions: How do we forgive? What do we owe the people we love? What do we owe ourselves? These questions have no easy answers, but Little Universes shows the reader that there is beauty in the universe's chaos.


Stress-free Math: A Visual Guide to Acing Math in Grades 4-9

Stress-free Math is the answer to every frustrated parent/caregiver’s problem: helping their children with math homework. This handy guide is meant to help with math from grades 4-9. This is a helpful guide to have on hand in any family library.

The layout of the book itself is reminiscent of a math textbook, but without the practice problems. It provides definition, examples, and diagrams to explain every math concept a student could need to know. It also explains various methods of arriving at the correct answer. Therefore, regardless of how a child approaches a math problem, this book can help them find the guidance that makes sense.

The back matter is also especially helpful, including explanation of algebraic formulas, factors of numbers 1-100, multiplication chart, measurement conversion tables, and even a fun little trivia table.

As a parent who can use a refresher in assisting with many mathematical concepts for my children, I’ll definitely be pulling this guide out to make sure my children and I both understand how to tackle those tricky math assignments. Thank goodness for this book!


Crocodile's Crossing: A Search for Home

Crocodile once lived in a cool tree house with his family, but one day he had to go on a search for a new home. Crocodile needed a home that could protect his family and that was nearby to food. So he went on a journey across the globe to find the perfect home.

Crocodile found that many others did not care for crocodiles and they did not want him around. Crocodile was just about to lose hope when he woke up to being taken over by a huge colony of mice. The mice were nice and fed him a new food called cheese. Crocodile helped the mice and then he knew this was the place for him, but there was still something missing: his family.

Crocodile's Crossing is a very vibrantly illustrated book with many small details to find on each page. The incredible illustrations are sure to keep readers engaged, because there are very cute details on each page. This is a great book for readers who are moving, as although moving seems stressful at first, it just goes to show that you will find exactly where you belong in the end and that is with family.


Babbit & Joan, A Rabbit and a Phone

When the cell phones go on strike, Babbit the rabbit takes a break from technology. He finds that his own phone, named Joan, is exhausted from “taking pictures and sending texts for Babbit all day, every day.” Babbit decides that he and Joan need some time apart, so he goes out on a solo excursion. Now that he has no distractions, Babbit finds the most wondrous things in the forest. He even finds some new friends, who also have no access to technology. A blue bird ran down his phone battery, while a brown bear lost his phone in the river. Babbit and his friends have a lot of fun together, but they eventually find themselves lost in the forest. Without Joan, will Babbit be able to find his way back home?

Denise Turu’s Babbit & Joan, A Rabbit and a Phone is a tongue-in-cheek tale about discovering what the world has to offer when one looks up from one's cell phone. Turu’s bright forest colors and creatures liven up the pages, and the humor will entertain adult readers, too. Given that children in today’s world are well-versed in technology at such a young age, Turu’s story is an excellent way to encourage young readers toward low-tech adventures of their own.


All the Acorns on the Forest Floor

Alex and Jake are delighted they’re pregnant – until they learn the child is at risk for Lou Gehrig’s disease. Dina, a childless Labor and Delivery nurse, daydreams about stealing a baby from her floor. Alyssa Delgado is distraught her English professor fathered her unborn child and arranges an adoption. Kim Hooper’s All the Acorns on the Forest Floor weaves a complex web of heartbreak to promote contemporary motherhood. Although most of her protagonists desire children, not all of them achieve – or are allowed to achieve – their goal. Hooper may very well achieve hers, however. Her unconventional plot challenges what it means to be a modern woman.

Unlike stereotypical would-be moms, none of Hooper’s protagonists are religious. They’re all independent, and most have successful careers. They represent diverse backgrounds. And yet these empowered women feel empty without children. While several prefer biological children, others adopt. Some try IVF or even use egg donors. Not every woman in Acorns wants a child, however, and these alternative characters expand the novel’s relevance. Hooper invites us to imagine modern women who embrace motherhood – even obsess over it – without forcing us to become them. But whether we empathize or only sympathize with Acorn’s yearning mothers, Hooper’s point is unmistakable: A woman’s right to choose works both ways.


Hunting Teddy Roosevelt

J. P. Morgan stood at a window of his Manhattan townhouse and watched his two guests alight from separate horse-drawn carriages. Neither was aware he was about to help plan the assassination of the outgoing president of the United States.

The first paragraph of chapter one told me everything I needed to know about this book: it would be about the Great Men of the turn of the century, it would be at least somewhat ahistorical, and it would be rip-roaring fun. (The last should never have been in doubt; it would be almost criminal for a book about Teddy Roosevelt to not be a fun ride.) I have to say that Jim Ross certainly delivered on all three.

After deciding not to run for a third presidential term, Teddy goes on safari in Africa with his son Kermit, unaware that as he hunts great beasts, he himself is being hunted. While the pace of the book is at times baffling, slowing down for emotional moments in scenes I felt should be fast-paced and skipping ahead a little too far at other times, overall, this book is an exciting adventure. Anyone intrigued by the three things that the first paragraph told me will surely find it an enjoyable read.


Nerve: Adventures in the Science of Fear

Nerve is an interesting blend of scientific exploration and memoir. Eva Holland suffers from phobias, and the first part of the book discusses her own experiences with terror and the traumas that generated her phobias. The middle part deals with her efforts to treat her phobias. The final part delves into how fear affects the body, how terror leads to irrational reactions, and how emotions fuel responses.

This is a fascinating book about one person taking control back from their phobias. I applaud the bravery that goes into that. I did something similar long ago, developing and carrying out my own phobia treatment for a fear of needles (actually, anticipated pain) and spiders. The final tasks involved donating blood, getting a tattoo, and keeping a pet tarantula. Today, I suffer from demophobia as a direct result of losing an eye at age twenty.

I urge anyone who knows someone with phobias to read this book. It will help you understand them better. Holland does a magnificent job of describing what a panic attack feels like. Once irrationality is triggered, logic goes out the door.


Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America

How could we not have seen him coming is the question humming under the surface of Sarah Kendzior’s latest book Hiding in Plain Sight: the Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America.

Take heed: this book is not for the faint of heart or those on the fence about Trump. It is an out and out dismantling of him from giant ego to false religion, from limited intellect to sycophantic supporters. Kendzior’s greatest strength is in connecting the absolute horror of the Trump presidency to the very real people of America who put him in the White House. A native Missourian, she deftly attends to the people on the margins, those living in flyover country who comprise his base and are often overlooked by pundits and pollsters. As she relates to the creation of Trump as a myth, specifically in his reality TV days, she lays out why such an utter buffoon would be appealing. And, if you love democracy, it is nothing short of heartbreaking.

Kendzior works her way through the revolutionary days that led to trumps election, including the recession and housing crisis in 2009 and 2010 and the racial unrest that still exists today but began in earnest in 2014 in Ferguson, MO. Throughout all of these examples, and with the words of the president’s own advisers and supporters as her backdrop, she explains how Trump is, without a doubt, “a threat more extensive than is widely known.”

If you want to understand how we got here, there is no better book than Hiding in Plain Sight.


West Coast Wild Babies

If you love baby animals then you will love this book. West Coast Wild Babies talks about more than a dozen animals that live on the west coast of North America, from Mexico up to the Pacific Northwest in the United States and on to Canada and all the way up to Alaska.

There are babies of all sorts, so you really get a good idea of the types of wildlife that live in this beautiful part of the world. It will make you want to travel to these places in the hope of seeing some of them in person. Each animal has a short description that’s just enough to understand the animal without getting too detailed, so you can really remember a lot of what you read.

The pictures are gorgeous! They’re realistic but also soft and very sweet, and you just want to be right there in nature with the animals. Reading this book will make you want to read more books by this author and illustrator.


Long Live the Queen: 23 Rules for Living from Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch

Elizabeth II is now the longest reigning monarch in England’s history. Whenever one sees her, she seems quite spry and fairly active. Considering she is now in her mid-90s, that is really something. So how does she do it? What is the secret to her energy and verve at her age?

Author Bryan Kozlowski has certainly done his homework to write this absolutely delightful peek into the life and times of Queen Elizabeth. He breaks the book down into six sections: Eat Like a Queen, Work Like a Queen, Play Like a Queen, Think Like a Queen, Love Like a Queen, and Age Like a Queen. Each of these sections is divided into three to four topics. It is fascinating to read about the pedestrian diet this incredibly wealthy, powerful woman eats and, to a certain degree, why. Plus, ever wondered what happens to a life-long servant who decides to write about the royal family’s private life? It can get pretty chilly in England.

Kozlowski’s writing is top notch. He has a wicked sense of humor and clearly is very fond of his subject. The footnotes are absolutely not to be missed. They add so much to this already fun book. This is a real winner.


Kid Quixotes: A Group of Students, Their Teacher, and the One-Room School Where Everything is Possible

If holding to stereotypes, young immigrant kids translating into English and interpreting the classic Spanish novel Don Quixote sounds like a highly unlikely project. But author Stephen Haff was unfazed. In Bushwick, Brooklyn, one of New York’s less-than-posh areas, he set up Still Calm in the Storm, an after-school program for disadvantaged, mostly Spanish -speaking kids struggling to cope with a new land and often a new language. His aspirations for the kids and his own education along with teaching experience in different settings brought about a near-miracle.

The program he led, in a room barely big enough to cope with the popularity it achieved, ran for years as the little kids grew bigger, the shy grew bold, the imaginative shared their stories and dreams. They became “Kid Quixotes,” exploring words as they translated, sharing memories of difficult times left behind across the border and again sometimes when reviled as immigrants. The stories they developed were about themselves and their families. They wrote sketches and poems, composed songs and staged performances to audiences in venues from the finest to the most humble. They harvested their after-school experience, listening to each other, developing ideas, testing, accepting as they advanced. Not strictly chronological, the book takes time out to follow the paths of kids who entered to the program when they were tiny, just beginning to read, and later blossomed into young teenagers.

Haff’s own recovery from bipolar depression supplied a nourishing sensitivity to his encouragement and challenges and contributed to an outstanding book.


The Book of Old Ladies: Celebrating Women of a Certain Age in Fiction

I selected this book thinking that it was an anthology of complete stories. My initial disappointment gave way to delight when I discovered that this was the author’s discovery of fiction which dealt with the aging process in women. Rather than calling these stories “coming of age,” she calls them “coming to age.” The author is so deeply erudite; her take on these stories is enlightening and delightful. She laments that fiction nearly always tells a women’s story through the lenses of marriage and family. In addition, the author feels that there are far too few stories of aging women, forgetting that until the recent past, most women died in childbirth. Only recently do we have the opportunity for old age. This reader became troubled when the author, in summary, lauded six protagonists for their independence, seemingly forgetting that one had committed infanticide.

This reader is delighted by being introduced to many stories which I have yet to read. To have these interesting stories encapsulated by a noted English professor gives one an added incentive to read all of the stories summarized in this engaging book.


A Stitch in Time

Bronwyn has inherited the manor that holds conflicting memories from childhood. It is there that she played with William each day and where a ghost murdered her uncle. Between the ghost and the fact that no one ever saw William, Bronwyn spent many years with therapists and hadn’t returned to the house in a couple of decades. Upon her return, not only has that ghost in black accosted her, but she found William, aged as she had, and oh, so yummy. Talking to Freya, a family friend from long ago, about her experiences as a child suggests the possibility that she might not have been mentally ill, but rather open to ghosts and slips in time.  Unfortunately, William is sore about his perceived abandonment, but Bronwyn will need his help and some super sleuthing skills to put the ghosts at rest so she can rest.

It is a delicious story, much like Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series and the movie Kate and Leopold. The heat between Bronwyn and William has such history, and it is tastefully written. Their romance is fast-paced, mysterious, sigh worthy. This is a quick read, making it great for beach vacations, quiet rainy nights in, or romantic dinners for one.


Captain Marvel: Cosmic CAT-tastrophe

Sam Maggs, with illustrations by Sweeney Boo

Captain Marvel and Spider-Woman are enjoying a quiet night in—complete with popcorn and a movie—when breaking news leaks a story about cats swarming markets all over town. When Captain Marvel realizes that the cats may be Flerkens, the most dangerous beings in all the universe, she leaves her cozy living room and checks it out.  While trying to make friends with the dangerous animals, she ends up in a pocket dimension where the Flerkens seem to be taking over the galaxy, with a little help from her longtime enemies.  Saving the Flerkens and ending their imprisonment turns out more complicated than she expected, but unexpected assistance from a few friends saves her from a cat-astrophe.

The artwork in this short comic is stunning: full color, edge-to-edge graphics liven up a story about one of our newest heroes. The numerous text boxes edge more toward a comic book than a graphic novel and give readers inside information from Captain Marvel’s perspective. Her puns are dad-worthy and throughout the book, leaving readers chuckling (or groaning) often. The arrival of some favorite heroes is icing on the cake.  Themes of friendship, cooperation, and humor will leave young readers purring in enjoyment.


Care Bears: Unlock the Magic

Share Bear, Good Luck Bear, Cheer Bear, Funshine Bear, and Grumpy Bear go on a mission in the magical silver lining because the evil Bluster wants to turn the silver lining into Blusterland, a fun park of chaos. The Care Bears find Wiffles there, and they seem to be arguing! Share Bear tries to help them feel better, while the rest of the gang go to Blusterland’s funhouse and meet opposite reflections of themselves. But will they succeed in their mission to stop Bluster and his minions and make the Wiffles be friends again?

The book is good, the drawings are very cute, and the story is exciting. My favorite characters are Share Bear (because she’s kind and purple) and Cheer Bear (because she’s confident), but otherwise I like all the Care Bears in the book. I also think the Wiffles are really cute but stubborn. I recommend this book to anyone who likes Care Bears as well as to anymore who might be looking for books a bit like My Little Pony books.


Star Pig

Vess is on her way to space camp when her ship gets hit and is cut in half.  A space pig swallows Vess in order to save her life. Then, an alien space ship captures Vess and the space pig, so the space pig spits Vess back out. But is the new alien a friend or foe? It turns out that he wants to include Vess in a special collection because she is a human. She tries to compromise with the alien saying that she will build him a robot in the form of a human body if he takes her back home.

When Vess unexpectedly gets injured, a doctor is called to help, but it turns out to be an alien that can look like a human. Will he actually help Vess, or be one more foe she has to fight? Will Vess ever get back home to Earth?

This graphic novel was a fast-paced, quickly evolving story. There was so much action in the story that it felt a bit distracting at times. However, the art was fantastic!


Descendants: Fright at the Museum

In this graphic novel, Evie is having a party at her starter castle with all of her friends to watch Lonnie’s first R.O.A.R. tournament. The party is interrupted when Celia and Dizzy are found sneaking around. They say that when a blood moon falls during an eclipse, like on this particular night, it causes magical items to come to life. They wanted to go to the Museum of Cultural History to see if the story is true.

Of course this leads to the entire gang going to the museum to check it out. Aladdin’s magic carpet scoops up Jay and Doug and carries them away to a room full of mirrors. Carlos finds his mom’s fur coat, and it pulls him, Ben, and Dude down. The whole museum has actually come to life!

Will the friends find each other again? Will they escape the crazy living museum? This book had a lot of funny parts. In particular, Dude the dog is very funny. I also like that it was a fast and easy book to read.


The Phantom Twin

A sad, reflective story about the separation of two Siamese twins in a sideshow. After years of being conjoined and together, the Peabody sisters are approached by a doctor who claims he can separate them through surgery. After the failed procedure and the death of her twin, Isabel is forced to live, for the first time, on her own.

This graphic novel does a nice job of balancing the speech with the personal thoughts of Isabel. Through these, we are able to identify the key traits that make Isabel Isabel and make Jane Jane. As we follow Isabel on her journey to find a way to live a life of her own we see her struggle through the loss of her figurative family of the traveling sideshow and her lack of trust in close friends who only want the best for her. This graphic novel will pull at your heartstrings as Isabel embarks on her journey. As a result, I recommended this book to anyone and everyone. This book can connect with all audiences because of its simplicity. To conclude, this was a great story, but it will leave you wanting more.


Northernmost: A Novel

It is no small feat for an author to weave two separate stories together. For the first three chapters, I was uncertain about reading further—but it was well worth the time to have the stories come together in a thematic way. Peripherally, the story includes the great Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen, who is as much a hero in the setting of Minnesota as in his home country of Norway. The descendent of Nansen is not the main character in the book. He is the spouse of the main character, who also is descended from a Norwegian hero, Odd Einar Eide. Odd Einar’s exploits compare with the Arctic exploits of Nansen, but that is where the similarity ends. The story is about the ice around one’s heart, how generations of tragedy can form a fatalistic family narrative. We do not know why, after a twenty-year marriage, Greta Nansen cannot relate to or admire her adventurous husband. They have two children, who are also peripheral to the story. Greta travels to Norway where she reconnects the disjointed family history and finds herself. We can see how the next novel will tell the story of the husband, Frans Nansen.


Wizards & Spells: A Young Adventurer's Guide, Dungeons & Dragons

This book is perfect for beginning Dungeon Masters such as myself. It is much easier to read than the typical Dungeons and Dragons guidebook. Each chapter breaks down the information into tidbits. The text is very easy to read and the vibrant and intricate illustrations are perfect for helping you to learn more about the many available classes and races that you can make for your character.

This book also has information on the many types of magic and different spells available when your character levels up. Most importantly, the book describes basic weapons, their uses, as well as legendary weapons and what spells they have, such as the many different spells that can be used with a staff.

I really like this book as it is helping me to learn more about how to play Dungeons and Dragons, which will help me to become knowledgeable enough to be Dungeon Master. I recommend this book for young readers who are interested in the magic of Dungeons and Dragons.


Days of Distraction: A Novel

Although this book seemed like it would have an interesting story, Days of Distraction really fell flat as I struggled to finish it.

Jing Jing is a twenty-five-year-old Asian American who is struggling with her identity. As a product writer, she is bored with her job and desires something more, although she does not know exactly what. Now, this may seem like it would be a story that would take off with Jing Jing going on adventures and exploring what is out there, but instead, the poor girl is so confused about what she wants to be versus what she should be versus what other people want her to be instead of just being.

Jing Jing moves to Ithaca, New York, with her boyfriend "J," quitting her job and deciding to be a freelancer. J certainly knows what he is doing with his life and Jing Jing seems to associate that with the fact that he is white. The book goes on and on and really has no good direction. Jing Jing is just a poor lost soul looking up stories about other mixed Asian/White couples and trying to make sense of it. What started out as an interesting read became quite boring as the main character was like a dog chasing her own tail.


The Operator: A Novel

Vivian is a switchboard operator who loves to eavesdrop. It’s a guilty pleasure that she believes has few consequences...until the day she overhears some scandalous gossip from Betty Miller, the snobby society woman Vivian loves to hate. The gossip, Vivian is horrified to realize, concerns Vivian’s own husband, Edward. And it’s the kind of story that will spread like wildfire.

Vivian is determined to trace the story to its root and find out not only if it’s true, but also how Betty became privy to it. Of course, the story is quickly known by everyone in the small town of Wooster, Ohio, and Vivian, Edward, and their daughter Charlotte must face the stares and whispers. Meanwhile, there’s another scandalous story gaining traction, one that has the potential to shatter the very pinnacle of Wooster society...and it might just be a switchboard operator who puts the pieces together.

Witty and wry, this novel offers a glimpse of 1950s life and society, when women and men were held to different standards and social mores didn’t leave a lot of room for choice. Open-mindedness took a backseat to trenchant ideas about race and belonging, reminding readers that the era was much edgier and more fraught than the lives of the gossiping operators might initially suggest.


Front Row at the Trump Show

Generally, books about a living president tend to come out right after they leave office, though with the current president many books are coming out about his administration and style while he is still in office with more and more of them being written by journalists. This book is by ABC News Chief White House correspondent and the times that he has interviewed sometimes successfully, sometimes not, over the past twenty-plus years. Pretty much things are different from the current president than in the past, often knee jerk reactions, off the cuff remarks and denial of things that were said, even after proof of them is delivered. Jonathan Karl's main focus of the book is the election up through mid-2018 right around when Senator John McCain passed away. A good portion of the book focuses on people who worked under Trump, such as press secretaries, Twitter feeds, Chiefs of Staff, and the revolving door that is often the West Wing with people coming and going. Depending on how you feel about Trump will color your view of the book.


Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist

Given the current political climate, many of us feel that the opposing viewpoint is evil or satanic. This collection of essays, some dating back fourteen years, represents the author’s thoughtful response to the controversies in our society. For Shermer, the best response to an opinion is to give it air. He is a staunch believer that forums should be open for free expression, regardless of how odious that expression is. Secondly, he carefully listens to and questions the opposing opinion. Thirdly, he researches the topic. Only then does he attempt to posit a thoughtful response. He approaches the topics in a scientific and rational manner.

The author is perhaps best known as the publisher of Skeptic  magazine. In that vein, his realism often approaches pessimism. For example, he does not believe that gun violence can ever be eradicated, only reduced. His view of guns is also rather patriarchal as he defines them as representing a father’s desire to protect and defend his family. This view is further shown when he decries that a gay black woman would be elected president over an atheist. Whatever his thoughts are, this book is thoughtful and thought-provoking.


Spacefarers: How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond

Have you ever dreamed of seeing other planets? This book is a trustworthy guide to a possible interplanetary future. It explains the pros and cons of different kinds of settlements as well as how humanity could survive on them. It explores in depth living in space stations or on the Moon or Mars. It touches lightly on the subject of asteroid mining and on living on the moons of the outer planets.

The descriptive writing gives in-depth detail about the different possibilities and it is a great space colonization reference book. It is very informative and has high-quality, understandable writing. The author makes it readable. His expert knowledge makes the book a good read. Even someone who is not a rocket scientist can read and explore the complex ideas in the book.

All the concepts are portrayed clearly and even if they seem far-fetched, they are at least semi-viable. It is up to date but does not mention commercial spaceflight. It mentions a lot of modern technology but omits the majority of commercial spaceflight and instead focuses on the technology, not on who does what.

This book is so good I would give it 10 stars if I could!


Seven of Infinities: A Xuya Universe Novella

Vân, a scholar, comes from a poor background, a secret that she tries to hide from everyone as she tutors a promising young woman. Sunless Woods is a mindship and a retired thief. When a woman comes to visit Vân’s student, only to die without telling her what she wants, Vân and Sunless Woods are pushed together to investigate. They follow a trail of greed to questionable teahouses and the wreck of a mindship, all the while attempting to keep their secrets from one another.

Having never read something set in the Xuya Universe before, some things didn’t make sense, or I was left wondering if I was supposed to know who a certain person is, but most things are explained and the story wasn’t so confusing that it wasn’t enjoyable. The characters aren’t all that deep, making them hard to like. However, the main two characters, Vân and Sunless Woods, are better developed than the rest.


Anna's Dance: A Balkan Odyssey

In the late 1960s, Anna Rossi travels to Europe. What starts as an ordinary trip soon becomes something far more when the friend she was traveling with decides to go home without her and she pushes on alone, diverging from her former itinerary to hitchhike into the Balkans. From there, she finds herself drawn into a history and struggle that were not hers to begin with but which she fits into far too smoothly.

We find out all of this (and most of her past) through her internal monologue and flashbacks, both of which constitute a large portion of the book. Despite her thoughts being presented in loving detail, it was hard for me to figure out exactly who Anna was. I could recite the events of her life, but I couldn’t tell you anything more about her personality than that she is impulsive yet thoughtful and has a great love for and knowledge of the Balkans.

Anna’s Dance is beautiful, with a compelling plot, but despite that, I had trouble connecting to it and understanding why Anna did anything she chose to do. This book is one readers with either enjoy greatly for the heart-wrenching prose or not care for at all.


King's Blood

Thousands of years ago, a young boy accomplished a miracle: he killed a giant to save his people.

Many of us already know the story of David and Goliath. Some know more about what comes after: David’s ascension to the throne and his lust for Bathsheba, for instance. The way we know these stories, however, often feels like the short version, more a myth than something that might have actually happened.

Daniel J. Geisel’s new novel, however, expands the short story that we know into something rich and detailed. King’s Blood is deeply researched, and the effort Geisel put into bringing this book to life shows. David is not just a hero from days gone by, whose story we already know; he is a boy, still learning his place in the world. He is eager, sometimes awkward, and driven by forces within and without himself to something greater than being a shepherd boy.

At times the narration is dry, and the amount of detail the book provides may make it more exciting to those already familiar with the Biblical tale, but even those who know only the basic story will find it an interesting tale.


The Ascension Machine

The Ascension Machine by Rob Edwards is kind of the ideal science fiction novel for any fans of the genre. Told in the first person, we know very little about who our protagonist is, but we know the type of person he is, as the book opens with him playing a trick on someone to make a little money to pay for his next meal, but soon gets caught and readers get a thrilling chase which he barely manages to get away from. But the author does a great job of giving a feel for the world with lots of simple details that give shape to everything but doesn’t slow the story down with lengthy complicated made-up words and terminology, though each alien race does have a simple-to-read name that makes it easy to distinguish them, which cannot be said for many other sci-fi novels.

Our narrator, who eventually calls himself Grey, is offered a proposition: to pretend to be Mirabor Gravane, a rich, spoiled brat, board a ship, and attend a school for a little while, and in return, will be paid an inordinate sum of money. Grey thinks it's a deal that is too good to pass up, but also knows there must be a trap involved because this isn’t his first rodeo. He plays his part well, bluffing until he learns where he is truly headed: the Justice Academy. He joins others to begin training to become . . . a superhero. Not what he necessarily bargained for, but Grey is a grifter and knows how to fake his way through anything. He soon makes new friends and begins settling in until he has a meeting with a relation of his friend named Veritas, who is a teacher at the academy because her special power happens to be that those who talk with her cannot lie.

Grey makes it through by the skin of his teeth, as readers get to enjoy some interesting class names, such as “Introduction to Grapnel Maintenance,” “Jetpack Basics,” and “Superheroics: A History,” to name a few. But then Gravane’s mother calls, and Grey stumbles through a conversation that convinces her enough and gets him on a trip to Bantus, and Grey knows there is more to this than Mirabor’s mother is letting on and gets his friends to come along with him, which is good because it’s time for them all to be superheroes.

The Ascension Machine is a fun and very enjoyable book. Edwards clearly had fun writing it. The characters are engaging, the story doesn’t get too bogged down in jargon or plot, and it’s just a fun read that leaves you with a smile on your face.


Kale is a Four-Letter Word

A quirky and fun anthology, Kale is a Four-Letter Word will have you giggling like you never knew you could about a cruciferous vegetable. With additions by several different authors and culinary experts, Kale is a Four-Letter Word is one of the most imaginative and creative books I've read this year. Whether you love kale, hate kale, or are indifferent about kale, this book will easily spark your interest.

Kale has been the superfood on a pedestal for some time now. With its different varieties—curly, Russian red, et cetera—the recipe ideas are endless. But for some, kale is just a gritty, bitter, gross, green vegetable that leaves people running from the dinner table.

The stories in Kale is a Four-Letter Word are linked together by memos that are written back and forth between Bella Hart, General Manager of Produce Magic, LLC, and her ad exec Eric after one of her clients yells at her about how kale has slipped in the superfood standings. This sparks Eric to start a marketing campaign called "Project Resurrect and Illuminate Kale", or P.R.I.K. These memos, inserted between disturbing stories of everything from disappearing husbands to murder by kale, keep the reader updated on what the group is doing to market kale. I have to say that some of these are really quite funny. Ideas such as kale vaping and using kale as diaper absorbent or as an anti-fungal foot treatment are all attempted and fail.

One of my favorite stories in the book had several parts. It consisted of a husband and wife in which the wife would try to get the husband to try kale in different forms. The first two times he tells her that he thinks he will have a turkey sandwich in order to get himself out of the slimy green predicament in front of him. The third time, however, they are at a guest's house and the hostess serves soup that contains kale in it as the starter. I laughed out loud at how quickly the husband was able to come up with an excuse to not eat it. And this time, he couldn't say he was just having the turkey sandwich instead. Kale is a Four-Letter Word is unexpectedly witty, with some fun recipes to try out (or not) included at the end. Get ready to leaf your stressful day behind with this silly, albeit engaging, book.


Wildsam Field Guides: Portland

Portland is a city that has always taken pride in its quirkiness, so finding a quirky little (6.5 x 0.3 x 4.2 inches) guidebook like this one shouldn’t be a big surprise. Every city guide has lists of restaurants and hotels and sights to see, but this book does things in a different way. For instance, rather than a long list of restaurants grouped by ethnicity or type, it has a recommended place for a wide variety of things. Sections include “Chicken & Rice,” “Corner Grocery,” “Food Cart,” and “Ramen.” The Shopping section includes things like a drum shop, where to get DIY materials, a cannabis shop while the “Action” section has everything from concert halls to dog parks. There are interviews with locals and stories about the area. Maps and listings will take you to bridges, donut shops, Thai food, wineries, bookshops, and more. A good index and plenty of blank pages for notes finish this off. This is a fun book to read through, but be sure to keep a magnifying glass at hand. This tiny book comes with tiny type and is, for those with older eyes, a bit hard to read.


Fifty-Two Stories

Anton Chekhov, translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky

Fifty-Two Stories should be subtitled fifty-two absolute delights from a master of literature. Many of these stories were written under deadline pressure in order to earn money to keep his family afloat financially, however, they each show the great capability that Chekhov demonstrated in his plays: scene-setting, character delineation, and an deep understanding of the human condition.  In the story “Grief,” Chekhov makes us hate the main character, so much so that when he receives his just desserts, we are plunged into sympathy for him, which is a total surprise. “Exclamation Point” is an homage to grammar police everywhere and aptly demonstrates Chekhov’s ability to find humor even through the distress of his characters. And his characters: Corporal Whompov, Monsieur Shampooing, and a host of other character names with allusions to characters in Russian literature. This book is a feast for anyone who delights in great stories or those of us who can’t get enough Chekhov. Fifty-two stories seem like a drop in the bucket for those dying of thirst for great literature. The book also has wonderful endnotes with great explanations of Russian words and phrases. The credentialed translators have done a wonderful job as have the publishers in rendering a beautiful and collectible volume.


Redhead by the Side of the Road

Micah isn’t one for surprises. A bachelor in his forties, he’s arranged his life exactly the way he likes it: nothing out of place, nothing unexpected. He has his small happinesses, his small successes, and since he lives alone, he can indulge his eccentricities without facing daily ridicule. His girlfriend, Cass, is content enough meeting Micah on his terms. But when her lease is threatened, Micah misses every hint she drops, and before he knows it, he’s alone, except for a teenager who shows up one day, convinced he’s Micah’s son. Micah’s stumbling actions and reactions are ineffective, and eventually, he starts to realize he might just have to do what he most fears: change.

Micah is a frustrating antihero, and his awkward attempts at human interactions are cringe-worthy and often very funny. In many instances, his ignorance is so total as to almost certainly be deliberate; he’s skated by for years on the assumption that he doesn’t need to expend much effort, and that if he loses relationships, he’s not the one to blame. What humanizes Micah is his affectionate and emotional family, who accept him as he is and love him anyway. Tyler gives us a character rife with unfulfilled potential and it’s a thrill to watch him wake up as his world tremors for the first time.


My Life as a Coder: My Life series, Book 9

Janet Tashjian, with illustrations by Jake Tashjian

This is an intriguing book for fifth-to-ninth grade coders. It tells the story of a kid who is given a code-able computer with no computer games and he learns to code. His coding partner sabotages the scoop, and he has to solve the problem. This book is properly written with funny cartoon definitions. The book has some mentions to puberty and has mild crush gossip in it, though; the youngest kids who would enjoy it are fifth graders. The book is only mildly substantive so that most teens will not find it interesting. All in all, this is a book for tweens. If you are a tech geek this is terrific. It has coding in it and the characters are well developed. For those who can read code there are some jokes in there. The main character has a vet for a mom, so animal lovers will love this book. There are miniature horses in this book and they add fun. Also, the lead coder plays pranks for the rambunctious boy. All and all, this is a great book for all the tweens who love code and pets.


Lost Department Stores of San Francisco

San Francisco author Anne Hitz, magically recalls the grand era of the fashionable department stores of San Francisco in this historic gem. Recorded here are the accounts of six former elegant shops that flourished in the early twentieth century. Think of the past images that the names of Gumps, the Emporium, I. Magnum, J. Magnum, City of Paris, and The White House evoke. Such were the times when visiting these shops demanded heels and hose, gloves and hats, and social manners.   Started by immigrants during gold rush years, most were razed during the 1906 earthquake, but were revived to become bigger and better, only to be challenged by the depression of the 1930s and finally to succumb in the last half of the twentieth century. The nostalgic story of these magnificent edifices along with descriptions of the unique personalities of the owners along with recognition of their affiliations with staff and customers is delightfully recorded. Memorable photos of the Union Square area and settings from these earlier times highlight the text. Discover the wine cellars and Eiffel Tower at the City of Paris, the Jade Room at Gumps, the ice-show on the Emporium roof, and read the comments of former employees of these establishments. Step back and reminisce about an era that has passed in this revealing and enchanting recapitulation of a world that was.


Middle School Misadventures, Operation: Hat Heist!

Middle School Misadventures, Operation: Hat Heist is about a boy named Newell who has a special hat that his dad got him. He and his dad watch their favorite show “The Captain” together. His dad got him a captain hat from the actor who plays “The Captain”. Newell loses his hat a lot. Sometimes it’s his fault, but sometimes other people take it.

The principal of his school, Mr. Todd, has a "no hat" rule and Newell’s hat gets locked away in the principal’s closet. Newell and his friends come up with a plan, a heist, to get all the hats that were locked in the principal’s closet back. The one hat they don’t get back is Newell’s captain’s hat. Luckily for Newell, it all works out for him in the end.

This is a fun story to read. There is a lot that happens, so you really have to pay attention to what’s going on from the beginning. The illustrator puts a lot of detail into the comic strips, which really makes the book interesting. I had a hard time putting the book down because it was funny and pretty easy to read. I would love to read about more misadventures and would definitely recommend this series to people.


Best Hikes San Francisco: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls

According to CBS News, San Francisco is the fourth most expensive city in which to live. To rent costs just under $3,000 and houses top $820,000.  Given that, the best most of us can do is visit this gorgeous city and learn why living there is the good life.

San Francisco is surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean, has one of the largest parks in the world (Golden Gate Park), and has managed to keep the hills decorated with charming Queen Anne houses. As this wonderful guide shows, San Francisco has great views, wildlife, and forest strolls. Biodiversity of San Francisco is highlighted in the many and varied hikes offered to the reader. This book clearly outlines the difficulty of the hikes and displays enticing photos of them along with an introduction to the area. Each hike is mapped for trail routes. They are all within an hour’s drive of the city. The hikes are located within seven regions proximate to the city, plus there is an honorable mentions section with bonus hikes. The hikes are diverse, like beautiful Angel Island and forest trails.


Take It Away, Tommy: A Breaking Cat News Adventure

//Take it away; Tommy// is the second funny book about the reporters at Breaking Cat news, and their adventures. The reporters see a ghost cat, but the people find a dead cat. This was what made the book four and a half stars instead of all five stars. They combat the infamous robber mice, and help set things right. The reporters find a barn and AV cat that helps link their broadcasts and allows them to report from Tommy’s home broadcast, finding out about an artistic female. At the book’s end there are collectable paper cats and information about the book. Children ages five through twelve could enjoy this book as long as they like comics, and cats. The book has a lot of funny parts where cats get confused about what is best for people and try to help but make things worse or miscommunicate. The kitties also have a habit of making spelling and wording mistakes that are funny. For instance, Puck says “date night” is “Day-night” and he is sort of afraid of the baby sitter. If you love cats and comics take this book and enjoy (as long as you are not as afraid as I am about the dead cat).


Seasons of War (Skulduggery Pleasant, Book 13)

Seasons of War is a book about a girl who has magic and her friend who is a living, talking skeleton. I did not like the book because the characters seemed boring. There was some bad language in the book, and I did not like that either. There is too much dialogue in the book and "he said, she said" is used too often. The book has no illustrations. I think 13-year-olds and older who are into magic might enjoy this book maybe. I can't really recommend this book. I got so bored reading it I could not finish it.


I would consider myself a fan of the hit television show The Office. When I watch a television show or a movie, I find myself at some point browsing through IMDB for the trivia about the show. In The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, I found everything I wanted to know and more. This book covers facts and opinions about the entire nine seasons of the show. Key characters, writers, and producers were interviewed by Rolling Stones' Andy Greene with their comments recorded and presented in the appropriate chapters.

Greene presents the information well. There is a plethora of information given. Greene starts from the very beginning, with the original British version of the show starring Ricky Gervais. One thing that I found interesting was that, similar to The Office, there have been many shows made in the United States that were, unbeknownst to many Americans, remakes of British shows. When you read how the show almost didn't happen because of how different it was, it adds suspense for the reader and an urgency to understand how key people turned the show around and made it the success that it is considered to be today.


Lola: A Ghost Story

J. Torres, with illustrations by Elbert Or and Jill Beaton

Lola: A Ghost Story is a story about family, loss, and Filipino folklore. Lola, the grandmother in the family, has passed away. The entire family goes to the Philippines to attend the funeral. Jess, Lola's grandson, possesses the ability to see ghosts. He is haunted by ghosts everywhere he goes, and he's especially haunted by his cousin JonJon's ghost. While in the Philippines with his family and his extended family, he hears stories about Lola and her powers. Jess is scared the entire time he is in the Philippines since his family keeps telling him ghost stories about Lola, and he keeps seeing JonJon's ghost. JonJon drowned in the lake behind the house trying to get his favorite car. JonJon's spirit is able to rest when Jess goes into the lake to find his favorite toy car. There are some religious references and moments in the story, and there are some pictures of scary demons so it may be scary for some children. I recommend this book to anyone who likes ghost stories and anyone interested in Filipino folklore.


The American Duchess: The Real Wallis Simpson

The American Duchess, one Bessie Wallis Warfield Spencer Simpson Windsor, created one of the biggest scandals in the British royal family before such scandals were so highly publicized. She was vilified for stealing King Edward away from his royal duties and into the jet set lifestyle in which she shined. In this biography, Anna Pasternak has attempted to cast Wallis Simpson in a better light. In doing so, she paints Wallis as one being ensnared by the bright lights and accoutrements of royalty. The problem with this approach, however, is that it takes more than a reader’s willing suspension of disbelief to feel sorry for one who lives a life of high society with jewels, free rent in palatial villas, unlimited spending ability, and very little concern for the ramifications of her actions. The author does mention that Wallis was a volunteer in World War II during the war effort. She cannot totally explain, however, Wallis’ friendship and solicitous behavior toward Hitler and the German Reich.  One would have to be particularly dense not to see the global ramifications of a state visit to the Third Reich.

If anyone emerges from this story as heroic, it is Wallis’ second husband who endured her social climbing, philandering, and royal adultery with aplomb, if not noblesse oblige.


How to Think Like Shakespeare: Lessons from a Renaissance Education by Scott Newstok attempts to capture what education really is, as well as what it ought to be, while also arguing where our modern system falls short, creating a disconnection from a life that is well-ordered and well-lived.

While relatively few of us can achieve anything close to the Bard, we can learn from the education and practices that formed him and influenced his work. It is not enough just to think, as we ought to strive to understand what we think and why we think it. It is the processing and ruminating on knowledge that leads us to true education.

This is a meaty book, albeit not a very long one, and it ruminates on lessons from Shakespeare’s day, linking them to modern-day equivalents, with frequent quotes along the way. It’s a dense read, meant to be chewed over and pondered, not hurried. In an age of so much technology and lack of time for thoughtfulness, a conversation with the past might prove helpful, or at the very least expand our vocabulary.


The Big Finish

Duffy Sinclair is a grumpy eighty-eight-year-old resident at Centennial, an assisted living facility. He’s carved out a peaceable life for himself amongst the other residents, and his roommate, Carl. His regimented schedule gives him predictability to see him out for his remaining days. But, as life tends to do, it still has a curveball in store for Duffy. One day, as he and Carl are preparing to head down to the dining room for breakfast, a young woman comes in through their bedroom window. She’s barefoot, dirty, has a black eye, and says she’s looking for Carl.

This book is one, big, heartfelt surprise. Given the cover art and the narrator’s sarcastic manner, I expected the book to be humorous, but I didn’t expect it to have the depth and heart that it also has. The absurdity of Duffy’s life is not lost on him, but it’s also entertaining for the reader. As things keep happening and Duffy finds himself the victim of circumstance more than once, he also has the opportunity to make choices for his remaining days. All of the characters were interesting and realistic. I especially liked Duffy. The book kept me wondering right up to the very last pages. I didn’t think Fossey was going to end the book the way she did, and while it was quite a surprise, it was also a good way to finish. A Big Finish indeed. This would be an excellent choice for book clubs.


Anna's Dance: A Balkan Odyssey

It’s 1968, the year following the Summer of Love. “There’s a whole generation with a new explanation.” Anna Rossi is one of them, a twenty-three-year-old woman from a middle-class family who describes her life as “a set of random chromosomes adrift in a meaningless life. Useless, weak, a creature of clashing impulses.” Anna is also conflicted. She’s Jewish, though loath to reveal or accept it, the anti-Semitic incidences in her life leaving her feeling “isolated, insecure, and vulnerable.”

After college, her parents pay for a summer in Europe. She heads for the continent with a friend, but when her friend bails on her in Greece, Anna has a decision to make: head home or continue on by herself.

A young man suggests they hitchhike together and her decision is made. A few days later, when they’re offered a ride by Max, a charming, attractive German with obviously more means than her backpacking partner, she decides he would make a more suitable traveling companion. Besides, Max is heading to Yugoslavia, and the Balkans have always intrigued Anna.

Though affable and unthreatening, Max has an agenda other than playing guide to an American tourist. He reveals he’s a smuggler and that his contraband is the Mercedes he’s driving. Anna will make a good foil when dealing with suspicious border officials if she’s willing. Without hesitation, or consideration of the consequences, Anna agrees. Traveling with Max through Yugoslavia, she’s introduced to Spiro and a cabal of associates and soon finds herself seduced by the rich culture and passionate people of this chaotic region of Europe. As she tries to reconcile her own identity and understand that of Spiro's, her lover, she becomes embroiled in the intrigue and violence spawned by ethnicity, politics, personal jealousy, and centuries of tortured history.

Despite the author digging deep into the dark machinations of the land and its people, I was not able to understand why Anna was so interested, especially considering the anti-Semitic undertones and her anxiety about being Jewish. Characters in the novel are well-drawn through dialogue and action. In the case of the protagonist, it isn’t flattering. The reader comes to know a young woman who lacks initiative and is passive, impressionable, irresponsible, and incredibly naïve for her age. Living in the countryside with Spiro, Anna readily takes on the subservient role of his peasant wife doing domestic chores and gardening, but I got the impression once she tired of it, which she no doubt would, she’d simply buy a ticket and fly back to her privileged life in America. Unfortunately, events overtake her before boredom does.

Anna’s Dance: A Balkan Odyssey is an ambitious undertaking. It’s part tragic love story, part history lesson, and part travelogue with well-written descriptive passages evoking a simple people living in rustic villages amidst brooding mountains. Rich with drama and passion, it’s a poignant story of love and misadventure, the clash of culture and attitudes, and how, as much as we’d like to think otherwise, we’re all captives of our personal and collective history.


From Here to There: The Art and Science of Finding and Losing Our Way

The mind has its own map mapping potential, a study that is gaining new momentum as scientists isolate and recognize the workings of place cells, boundary cells, head direction cells, grid cells, and other brain units yet to be identified. This is an engrossing area of study that science writer Michael Bond so deftly describes in this engrossing story of how we find our way and the overriding panic that engulfs those who get lost.  Navigation skills are learned, perhaps like language, through exploration when young. Travel maps can be embedded through directional markers, using compasses, the stars, or by memorizing familiar settings as the Eskimo and Indians did. Through practice, navigation skills can be honed as evidenced by the British cabbies memorizing the baffling geography of London streets. This feat demonstrably showed increased growth in the brain hippocampus. The reader is taken on the Polynesian voyages, where the winds, ocean swells, and migrating birds served to chart the route. Unfortunately, the use of GPS systems now reduces the modern user’s navigational skills. Also, aging and dementia diminish the ability to find one’s way. Stories of the terror that seizes the lost individual may remind the reader of their own feelings of anguished helplessness when lost while skiing, hiking, or in the midst of a strange city.  This is a mesmerizing book engagingly written about the science, history, and importance of gaining the skills of learning how to find our way.


How Can A Man Die Better

Lyman is a teenager in London caught robbing his former boss/tormentor. He avoids the prospect of jail by beating his boss to death and finding sanctuary in the military. Lyman is transferred to the Middle East, bearing witness to the barbaric brutality of territorial wars in Afghanistan. The great game of colonization makes an impression on Lyman, not necessarily positive. A new beginning across the sea calls out to him. Devol is a tormented youth getting by in Louisiana. He suffers a clubbed foot and the abuse of parents along with local neighbors. He nurses a grudge that explodes in a murder spree leaving both parents and others dead by his hand. Devol forms a partnership with the doctor who heals his foot. Devol embarks on a life of grave-robbing and kidnapping while employed by a sadistic murderess. Devol takes out his prior frustrations on any woman unlucky enough to cross his path. Ashok is the son of a tribal leader, soon to inherit the martial mantle of a warring empire. Manhood approaches, but so does mortal peril. At his father’s insistence, he flees home and emigrates to the United States. He is soon taken prisoner by Comanche Indians. Ashok doesn't intend to be a victim for long, exacting grisly retribution against his Indian captors.

Meanwhile in Ohio, Ardent is an abolitionist who lives with her dear uncle. Ardent is surprised by his associations with sadistic Devol and his racist brood of thieves. Ardent is offended by Devol’s manners and intolerance. Ardent is in love with Carew, who shares her feelings on slavery and the divided country. Soon, Ardent is found dead in a savage attack, Carew wants revenge on the murderer. The Civil War brings just such opportunity, as the murderer has joined the Confederacy. As the war splits the country along ideological then military lines, Devol, Ashok, Lyman, and Carew each grab a musket and assume a post, their destinies as uncertain as that of the United States.

How Can A Man Die Better hooks the reader in its inceptive pages. The shock of the violence wears off, yet the circumstances surrounding them reverberate throughout this powerful story. The protagonists and antagonists elicit countless feelings, whether sympathy to happiness, shame to loathing. The author interlaces the characters flawlessly among the epic clashes and historical footnotes dotting the landscape of the nineteenth century. This is a historical fiction epic enjoyable from start to finish.


Pyrrho's Way: The Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism

Pyrrho, an ancient Greek philosopher, is known to have traveled to India while in the service of Alexander the Great. During that visit, he encountered Buddhism and brought some of the concepts back to Greece, incorporating them into his philosophy. In Pyrrho's Way, Bates explains those concepts and how they can still be relevant today.

The author discovered Pyrrho after becoming dissatisfied with his Zen practice. Pyrrho's teachings offered him a more rational approach to achieving what in Greek is termed "eudaimonia." Eudaimonia is akin to Nirvana in Buddhist teachings and is best described by Bates as a happy or flourishing life. Throughout this book, the author highlights Pyrrho's teachings as well as those of his contemporaries. His meticulous research opened my mind to a new way of thinking. Notably, the idea of suspending judgement was something that I found appealing. Not accepting dogma as fact or truth seems to be at the heart of Pyrrho's work. By not allowing ourselves to get caught up in such concepts, we can free our minds and focus on things that are evident to us.

I think Book V, which ended with ways one could practice Pyrrhonism today, seemed a more logical conclusion to the book than Book VI, which appeared to be tacked on without reason. Nevertheless, I did not, as the author feared on page 190, want to hurl the book at the wall because it suggests that I should suspend judgement on long-held beliefs. I found the idea refreshing. Especially with regard to politics, which I thought he covered well by asking if the drama we encounter in this field adds value to our lives.

I think it should be said that this is a book to be studied. Yes, one can read through and get an idea about Pyrrhonism and what it is all about, but I think the ideas presented deserve more than a cursory view. I agree with the author that those who have had trouble following Buddhism, or who find Zen Koans vague and frustrating, will likely benefit from this more Western and rational approach of seeking eudaimonia by looking outward rather than inward. By examining Pyrrho's way, they may come to understand more about Buddhism as well. Also, the author gives some good examples of how readers can put into practice what they learn. Since meditation was not something that Pyrrho brought back from India, the author suggests long walks or other activities in nature that allow one to think and practice self-argumentation.

Overall, I think this is a well-written book. The author has been able to take a complex subject and present it in a manner that will benefit others. I think I will take away several things from this work. First, I should suspend judgement more often than not. Second, I should spend more time seeking without concluding. For me, this book offered a lot of food for thought, much of which will stay with me.


The Safe Place

Emily is a mess. Her acting career is going nowhere, she’s at odds with her parents, and she's has just been fired. And then her ex-boss offers her a job as a housekeeper on an isolated estate in France where his wife and daughter are living. Without much thought, Emily accepts the job. What could go wrong?

This is a case of a book where the marketing team have missed the mark. The beautiful cover and mysterious tagline give the false impression that The Safe Place is a page-turning thriller that will draw readers in with plenty of twists along the way as Emily discovers the secrets of the Denny family. Sadly, despite the many clues that something dark and perhaps dangerous is going to happen, so much is left unexplored.

First-time author Anna Downes creates an idyllic setting, but readers are well aware that the beautiful location is not all it seems. Flawed characters, even when unlikable, must be well-developed so the reader has strong feelings about them. However, the three main characters in The Safe Place are not unique or interesting. The story is very slow with little payoff, which is unfortunate since there were many opportunities to steer the plot in a different direction.

The Safe Place will satisfy those readers looking for a light and somewhat predictable mystery.


The Girl and the Witch's Garden

Atticus Peavey is going through another round of chemo, so his daughter, Piper, is packed off to her grandmother’s house, where her mother is currently living, the same mother who hasn’t talked to her since she left years ago on a wild goose chase seeking something more important than family.

When Piper arrives, only her mother is there, with firm rules on where Piper can go in the house, the chores that must be done, and the childhood behaviors that will be tolerated. What Piper doesn’t expect are the foster children who her mother has taken in and their talk about affinities or magic powers. With their help, she may be able to uncover a magical item that will help her father to get better and the children to find forever homes, but only if they can get past her mother.

Witches and magic abilities and secret potions combined with love and loss create an unforgettable tale. Add in friendships and parental relationships and this story has the staying power of similar favorites, such as the Charlie Bone and Percy Jackson series. The conclusion is open-ended and the story so compelling that many readers will be hoping for a sequel. This one is magically delicious.


The Kraken's Tooth

The Kraken's Tooth is the second book in The Seven Swords series. Readers of the first book, A Pilgrimage of Swords, will enjoy the same style of adventure and intrigue from Guyime and his partners as they continue on their journey to attain the legendary Seven Swords. After returning from their intense mission to destroy the Mad God, they learn about the continuation of their journey where they must embark on Carthula to collect blade number two: the Kraken's Tooth. They discover that The Kraken's Tooth is associated with the well-being of a beloved girl, meaning there is more pressure to find and retrieve this sword than ever.

Having read the first book, I found the second one simple enough to slide into; however, I believe that if you haven't read the first book, you could still understand and enjoy this one. I appreciated the extra information that Ryan provided about Guyime's mysterious history. Ryan has created in-depth characters that are exciting and enjoyable to read. The action presented in the book jumps at you from the beginning and doesn't stop until the end when you're begging for the next book to be released.


Can You Smell the Rain? Poems

While I don’t normally pick up imprints from the University of Missouri, in this case, I am so very happy that I did. This reader is aware that there are many wonderful but undiscovered poets, so I am so happy to personally find an amazing one. I hadn’t previously been aware of Patricia Cleary Miller, but her poems are superb and unique. They form a memoir of sorts. The poem “How Long” beautifully expresses a lost love affair in sensual detail. A poem about Chinese foot binding again conveys the pain of accommodating ourselves to love. A Burberry raincoat becomes a poor substitute for youth and love affairs. “Mother is Scrubbing Her Floors” brings us back (as many of her poems do) to the roles assigned to women, the immersion in those roles, and the subsequent loss of self. I think that most women will see themselves and their families in these poems. The poems hold just enough cleverness and humor to mitigate the bite that is found in such acute observations of living.


It’s hard enough to raise kids, but to raise them while still “living green” and with twenty-first-century parenting being so tied up in consumerism, waste, and All. The. Plastic, is infinitely harder. How can parents “do it all” and still be sustainable and involved in their community?

In Growing Sustainable Together: Practical Resources for Raising Kind, Engaged, Resilient Children, Shea attempts to answer this quandary and show how green living isn’t just another box to check on the to-do list but actually an essential element in raising children. In her chapters, she discusses how to cultivate kindness, connect with our food, travel, handle waste, and so much more to engage as a family in growing a more sustainable future. She includes tips, advice, and hands-on activities for children of various ages. She reminds us that there is no magic bullet here, but the journey toward sustainability, and the various relationships we cultivate on the way, are just as important as reducing fossil fuels and eating locally. She has a gentle and empowering voice that encourages families on their way toward caring for the home, the planet, we all share.


What You Wish For

What You Wish For is a story highlighting the importance of joy in the face of difficulties. This realistic fiction book follows school librarian Samantha Casey as she deals with challenges new and old. She works through the loss of their beloved principal, fights to preserve his legacy, and helps an old friend to deal with the traumas of the past. The characters were all very realistic, contributing to a good, solid plot for this book. The language also flowed well, buoyed by the well-placed dialogue between the characters. The moral of the story is clear: Joy is a choice, a choice one should make in the face of difficulties. This is emphasized through the characters’ dialogue. This is a really good book that I would recommend to many other readers. I think this book is best for older readers because it talks about mature issues and uses mature language. If you enjoy realistic fiction, you’ll really like this book, and even if you don’t read realistic fiction very often, like me, this is a great book that almost anyone can enjoy.