The Jewish Brigade

In October 1945, with World War II now ended in Europe, Leslie Toliver, formerly a British racing driver, leads a team of the Jewish Infantry Brigade to rescue survivors from the Nazi death camps. Bewildering and challenging are but two words to describe this graphic novel representation of the courageous young volunteers serving with the British 8th Army. As they cross the desert from Alexandria to southern Italy in a progressively more battered jeep, they confront precarious adventures, encountering belligerent Russian and German soldiers, still armed and unwilling to concede defeat. Barely escaping with their lives over and again, the three-part saga is at first bewildering and challenging but unequivocally exciting.

When the inception of the State of Israel nears, and the story gathers yet more momentum, the identity of the Brigade’s enemy changes, leaving Europe’s armies behind to be replaced by the conflict between Arabs and Jews begins. Anyone naïve enough to assume a “graphic novel” is lighthearted will be shocked by the The Jewish Brigade, a profound interpretation of a critical period in world affairs. The story of the Jewish Brigade is familiar to many; this unique version is brilliant.


Sourdough Culture: A History of Bread Making from Ancient to Modern Bakers

Although this book has a few recipes, it is not a cookbook; it is a deliciously written object history of bread. The author weaves two histories together: One, the story of his personal sourdough starter, which came to him ostensibly and ultimately from a gold miner during the Cripple Creek, Colorado, Goldrush; the other, the story of bread-making from its earliest beginnings to how it may have been led to that starter in Cripple Creek. As he follows the threads backward and forward, he leads you around the globe and in and out of his own kitchen, all with a sense of wonder and growing appreciation for bread and especially for sourdough. Recent, renewed interest in making delicious bread from sourdough raises the question – why did sourdough fall out of favor, and when? You'll be surprised at the answers, and you'll find out a lot about grains and flours, baking techniques, and even a little chemistry along the way. Bread has been the staff of life for endless ages, and continues to nourish our bodies and our souls; a freshly-made loaf is one of life's great pleasures. Reading this book is another.


Cold the Night, Fast the Wolves: A Novel

Tundar is known for only two things; it's storms and the race. Sena won't have anything to do with the race, where teams compete on sleds pulled by genetically engineered wolves, not after her mothers were killed on the trail. But it may be her only chance to leave Tundar and it's storms. When she not so accidentally steals a fighting wolf from a very powerful man, Sena has no choice but to join a team and train them to survive the wilderness.

From the first page I was hooked. The story is fast paced and exciting. Though, the race doesn't start till half way through, there's a lot that leads up to it. The characters are interesting and easy to tell apart. There's also not too many to keep track of. One thing that was kind of annoying was repeated information. Something is heavily implied then a couple pages later it's stated, sometimes with more information, or things are just repeated multiple times. It is a science fiction that takes place on another planet, but it feels a lot like a fantasy as well. I really enjoyed reading this and have already recommended it to several people.


David Copperfield's History of Magic

Award-winning magician David Copperfield and his coauthors have pieced together a historical record of performers who have bewitched audiences with their magic from the 1500s to the present age where currently the eponymous Dickensian reigns. More than two dozen of these artists are described along with some of the paraphernalia they devised. These objects, whether books, trunks, spinning saws, cards, costumes, along. with photographs of these male and female wizards are juxtaposed within  the stories of these versatile conjurers. Whether. they are mentalists (mind readers), prestidigitators (using sleight of hand with the playing cards), conjurers (magicians) toying with disappearing animals, objects, even persons; these spellbinding charmers bewitch their audiences as the viewers gasp and try to solve the mysterious conundrums. In this dramatically illustrated edition of magical materials from photographs taken from the author’s museum collection of collected artifacts from past performers, learn about Robert-Houdin and ‘Ethereal Suspension’, remember the escape artist, Houdini who adopted the name of the aforementioned admired colleague. For everyone delighted by the frisson that magical mystery induces, read more about these illusionists and the tricks they learned to play on our minds in this current publication.


Supermouse and the Big Cheese Robbery

The big cheese has gone missing and Supermouse is the only mouse that can help. The whole town is counting on him. The villains are counting on him failing. The town calls the hero using a mouse cheese light! Supermouse is expected to save the big cheese and bring it back to Mouseopolis. Supermouse will use his superpowers and super sniffer to sniff out the stinky bad guys as well as find the yummy cheese. Can he find the cheese in time before the villains eat the cheese?

This book is super fun with cut-outs, lift the flaps, and extra details on every page. I like this fun interactive book, and I think this would be a great book to entertain all ages with the lift the flaps. The story is very interesting and my most favorite part is being able to help throw the bad guys in jail with the fun interactive pages.


The Falling Girls

Shade and Jadis are best friends, and they share everything with each other. That is, until Shade joins the cheerleading team. Jadis feels betrayed; Shade is her friend, not anyone else’s. Shade wants to hold onto her best friend, but she also wants to chase her dream. Her life is complicated by the Three Chloes, the trio of best friends with their own dark pasts. The cheerleading captain has taken Shade under her wing, and Shade doesn’t want to leave this new life, but what about Jadis?

Then one of the girls dies, and Shade finds herself thrust into a tangled web of deadly secrets and lies, with no apparent suspect. Was it one of the cheerleaders? Or was it the person Shade doesn’t want it to be, Jadis herself?

Wow. This book was a dark, twisted exploration of friendship and what happens when those boundaries are crossed. It nailed the complexity of a teen girl friendship, and the spiteful, ugly fallout that results when such relationships end. I loved the clear focus on Shade and Jadis’s toxic relationship, and the ending was a good conclusion to the story. I will definitely read more from this author in the future!


The Ex-Husband

Sam is The Ex-Husband, or at least he would be, if Charlotte could get ahold of him since he disappeared on her eighteen months ago. He left her high and dry after a disagreement about their last con. Now, Charlotte has turned legitimate as a travel party planner and has accepted a job offer of a personal assistant for an engagement party aboard a luxury yacht. But someone on the yacht knows about her past and is sending threatening messages wanting her to return the money she stole. Unfortunately for her, Sam stole all the money from her before disappearing. Charlotte will need to figure out which person on the yacht is harassing her before she doesn’t return from this luxury cruise.

A surprisingly fun story, even though it’s hard to really like any of the characters. Most of the people in the story are rich and exceedingly annoying, while Sam and Charlotte are hard to like since they are criminals who con people thinking no one will get hurt. It’s not very surprising that it comes back to haunt them. If you enjoy travel tales and stories where the main character tries to escape their past, you’ll love it.


Cook Once Dinner Fix: Quick and Exciting Ways to Transform Tonight's Dinner into Tomorrow's Feast

I was a big fan of Cassy Joy Garcia’s previous book, Cook Once, Eat All Week, so I was excited to read her new book, Cook Once: Dinner Fix. Cook Once, Eat All Week was a workhorse of a book, twenty-six weeks’ of three main dishes organized around the same protein, vegetable and starch. Cook Once: Dinner Fix takes this concept to a smaller size: chapters organized around proteins, with two dinners using the same or similar components.

Garcia’s tone is warm and approachable – she knows families want to cook delicious healthy food, preferably in thirty minutes, and she also knows what a holy grail it is when you find recipes that fit that brief.

I enjoyed the structure of how the recipes were set up: first photos of each meal and then instructions and ingredients on the following corresponding page, designated as "Meal 1" and "Meal 2".  Tips and substitutions are also given on each recipe. The recipes I am excited to try are Chicken Sloppy Joes with Ginger Carrot Slaw and white Enchilada Casserole with Tomato and Avocado Salad; as well as Classic Meatball Boats and Wedding Soup with Orzo. I know my whole family will enjoy them and I know they won’t be super complicated to prepare which is indeed the Holy Grail!


Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

The old monsters still exist, though they are rarely seen. Vampires, mummies, werewolves, and those who continue the works of Dr. Frankenstein still walk the streets of London. They run the city’s underworld. Drugs, pleasures of the flesh, and the trade in human body parts are all the business of these creatures. And one old monster wants to stop them. Mr. Hyde, Edward to those he employs, has assembled his own force of Hyde beasts to take down London’s underground. Danial, an ex-policeman, and Tina, both powered by Dr. Jekyll’s elixir, are just the monsters needed to kill the monsters.

From the mind of best-selling author Simon Green comes a new urban fantasy tale set in the streets, and underground of London. Jekyll & Hyde Inc. is not just another novel filled with yesterday’s lore. In Green’s own macabre style, he borrows the characters of the old horror stories and reintroduces them in this exciting new crime drama. With London’s own gruesome history as home to many legendary and literary monsters, the setting is fitting. Fueled by many fight scenes, punchy one-liners, and Green’s own shadowy humor, this book is hard to put down. It is exciting from start to finish, with thrills and monsters waiting behind every dark corner.


You might know that Louisa May Alcott was the writer of Little Women, but did you know what her life was really like? You will after you read Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots: The Life of Louisa May Alcott.

I enjoyed the movie of Little Women, but I didn’t realize much about her actual life. Through this book, I discovered fascinating details. I didn’t know that she was an actress as well as a writer. She was, to her family, sometimes seen as behaving inappropriately. She used slang so badly (it would be like foul language today) and didn’t do what girls were supposed to do at that time. Like a popular phrase tells us, “nevertheless, she persisted.”

I enjoyed learning about how her own life connected with the books that she wrote, especially how the character of Jo in Little Women is so much like the author. For instance, “The two are so closely aligned that it’s sometimes hard to tell where Louisa leaves off and Jo begins.” Louisa wanted to be free. Her story is told in a poignant way throughout this book, just like she did in Little Women and more. Fans of Louisa May Alcott will want to read this special book.


Apparently There Were Complaints: A Memoir

Sharon Gless has been an actress for five decades, beginning as a contract player for Universal Studios. She paid her dues in small roles in television and movies, her talented presence just waiting to emerge for a larger audience. The opportunity came when she was cast as the co-lead in television drama Cagney & Lacey.

From the early 1980s through to now, her fame and stature have only grown. However, by her own admission, her path to success was anything but a given. She possessed a rebellious streak from her youth that derailed an opportunity here and there. By twenty-six years old, she was at an impasse, until her grandfather asked her what she wanted to do in life. She responded that she wanted to act. Her perseverance and toughness would see her garner roles and critical acclaim, becoming an icon in the process.

Apparently There Were Complaints is a candid and honest autobiography that will make the reader smile, laugh, and even cry. Author and actress Sharon Gless provides an entertaining view into her storied career, from the small screen to the big screen to the stage. Amusing doesn’t begin to truly describe her insights on life under the media microscope.


The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne

After a successful bank robbery, Scarlett is on the run. It's nothing that she is not used to. But just when she thinks she's in the clear, Scarlett runs into the naive, useless Albert, who has his own reasons to run. Scarlett can’t bring herself to leave him behind, no matter how much trouble he gets her into. Between bank robberies, grumpy sailors, and danger at their heels they forage an unlikely alliance that could get them killed.

With a hint of the Wild West, zombies, and a post apocalypse world, The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne is a wild tale from the first page. The characters, though, are lacking and I found much of the story predictable, but that's because a lot of hints are dropped. It's a fast-paced story, however, I couldn't read it in one sitting until the middle of the book where I really began to get dragged into the story. This is the first book in the series, so there are questions left unanswered and the promise of more adventures to come.


The Island of Missing Trees: A Novel

Tucked into a core narrative about a teenage girl trying to uncover the secrets of her family’s painful past, the true story in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees is an expansive account of Cyprus as an ancient love story and modern war wound. Like the branches of a fig tree, the novel’s plot reaches and bifurcates into different stories that come from the same center—born on an island torn between two ethnic communities, a once-thriving ecosystem struggling to survive in a 20th century environment of deforestation and rapid economic growth.

One of the branches holds Kostas, Defne, and their daughter Ada, a family born despite (or perhaps because) of the rift between their warring communities. Flashing back between Kostas and Defne’s dangerous teenage love affair during a brewing war period and the quiet melancholy of their adopted country, England, after Defne’s death, the reader journeys with Ada as she reconnects with a past and heritage that had been calloused over and hidden away from her. The fig tree is another central character in the story, recalling her own ancient pains as observer, resident, and refugee of Cyprus’s civil war and ecological deterioration. Shafak’s voice is tender but piercing, laying out each character’s joy and hurt as the novel unravels and reweaves itself across generations, borders, and butterfly migrations.


Ready, Set, Cook: How To Make Good Food with What's On Hand (No Fancy Skills, Fancy Equipment, or Fancy Budget Required)

It would be nice to feel one could make a good, tasty meal at the drop of a hat with no mad rush to the store or a lot of preplanning. It can be done, and this clever book can show you the way. Of course, it does require already having your kitchen set up with a well-stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. But no worries, Dawn Perry has everything laid out for you with easy-to-follow instructions for what to buy, how to make and store your own spice mixes, dressings, and other condiments, what equipment to have available, and more. In fact, the first half of this book is dedicated to getting everything in place one would need. This is followed by one hundred and twenty-five well-written recipes for a wide variety of things from Breakfast recipes (don’t miss the Scallion Corn Cakes!) to Starchy Sides  (The Sweet Potato Grits are great) to Seafood Mains (check out the Shrimp and Chorizo with Crushed Croutons) to Sweets (including Half-Baked Peanut Butter Pie). There are, however, a couple of missing elements that keep this from perfect. There is no index and no nutritional information. Otherwise, this is great.


Gifted storyteller Rick Bragg strikes again with The Speckled Beauty: A Dog and His People an utterly unexpected and absolutely delightful love letter to his dog, Speck.

A known criminal entity around the Alabama haunts of his owner, Speck is a locus of trouble. Thrown in “jail”—code for getting penned up rather than allowed to run free—twenty-three times in his first month with Bragg, Speck wreaks a kind of darling havoc on the farm and the animals he encounters. Much to the chagrin of the farmers, and likely the animals, he is boisterous, troublesome, and too full of life to be contained by the traditional rules of civility. But he is also a rescuer, specifically of Bragg, who found a renewed hope and presence when Speck came into his life after Bragg’s battle with cancer.

Told in hilarious detail and with a warmth that radiates right off the page, The Speckled Beauty is the kind of book that makes you want to hug every single dog—and maybe even person--you see, no matter how ornery or old.


An Impossible Impostor (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery)

Veronica Speedwell and Stoker are once again called to solve a mystery at the behest of Sir Hugh Montgomerie, this time as a personal favor. His goddaughter, Euphemia, has let Sir Hugh know that a man has shown up at their family estate claiming to be her brother Jonathan, who supposedly died six years earlier. Veronica and Jonathan were once traveling companions, so Montgomerie asks her to verify his identity. What Veronica and Stoker find when they reach the estate is An Impossible Impostor. Veronica will have to face her past and, once again, face jewel thieves and survive abductions. Excelsior!

This is another great addition to the series. After so many adventures, you would think it would be hard for Raybourn to surprise you, but she still manages to throw some twists in there and leave you wanting more at the end. If you enjoy mysteries being solved in Victorian England as much as I do, I highly recommend you read this series. While the author does explain things that have past significance well, I would suggest you start at the beginning to have a deeper enjoyment of all the characters and their wild adventures.


How Magicians Think: Misdirection, Deception, and Why Magic Matters

If you want to know how magicians' tricks are done, this isn't the book for you. Magicians, after all, don't reveal their tricks. At least, ethical magicians don't reveal other magicians' tricks; they are free to reveal their own as they wish. This is one of the many interesting tidbits encountered in this delightful book about magic and magicians by world-renowned magician Joshua Jay, who shares his musings on honing his craft, the evolving state of magic, and so much more. His writing is personal and engaging, giving you a glimpse into his endlessly curious, inventive mind and drive. Essays address questions ranging from the psychological (“How are we fooled exactly?”) to the sociological (“Why is magic still so male-dominated?”) to the practical (“Seriously, how do you saw someone in half?”) (He still won't tell you!) No matter the theme, all are extremely personal. The answer to “Who is the hardest audience to fool?” delivers a set of musings on the wonder of childhood and how magic seeks to recreate the sense of possibility we lose as we age, in an essay both funny and poignant. Perhaps the idea that magic is purely superficial entertainment is truly its greatest illusion.


Competing with Idiots: Herman and Joe Mankiewicz, a Dual Portrait

Does success elicit happiness? Can the accolades and admiration bestowed by your peers erase the doubts instilled in you since childhood? Herman and Joseph Mankiewicz set their minds to overachieve in their respective fields, Herman as a Writer and Joe as a Director. Herman and Joe grew up in a household dominated by their stern Father Franz. Franz expected only the best from his brood and discounted anything less. Herman had a vivid imagination, spurred on by solitary confinement as a punishment. Herman grew to rebel and served as a protector for his younger brother Joe. Herman left home and honed his writing talents in Berlin then back to New York. Hollywood was soon calling and his destiny was set. Joe would soon follow, Herman assisting him in obtaining a writing job. Their prosperity would be overshadowed by a growing rift, Herman’s addictions, and jealousy.

Competing with Idiots probes the complicated depths of two complex men who defined Hollywood royalty. The body of work between the two brothers spans five decades and includes Citizen Kane, All About Eve, and other renowned classics. The fragile egos behind the typewriter and camera make for an emotionally charged dual biography that proves fascinating and cathartic.


Sheep Count Flowers

Sheep Count Flowers is the story of what sheep do to help them fall asleep. I have tried counting things to fall asleep, but it doesn't really work for me. Reading Sheep Count Flowers might help me, though.

The story doesn't always make sense to me; it mentions that sheep can fly when they sleep. I'm pretty sure they can't fly anytime. The story isn't too exciting either. It talks about sheep counting flowers, lying in the grass, and their dreams being in different colors. I was thinking it would be a funny story, but there wasn't anything that I laughed about.

The pictures are different and hard to know what they are. On one page there are parts of sheep and parts of humans (arms or legs) on the same thing that make them look really weird. I like that the pictures look like they are painted, but I don't like that the pictures aren't completely done, like the boy on the cover who looks like he's missing his body.

Maybe kids older than me will understand or enjoy the book better.


Everything and Less: The Novel in the Age of Amazon

Amazon has taken over the book-selling business, influenced the tastes of the reading audience, and orchestrated marketable writing styles, a practice bemoaned here for its pernicious effect on the literary world. In this rather lengthy diatribe bewailing the domination of Bezos’s company in the literary arena, Stanford University literature professor Mark McGurl dissects the strategies employed to capture the reading marketplace and influence the publishing world.

From the Kindle e-reader to Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon has provided easy and inexpensive access to reading material. Through electronic devices, the company collects data not only on purchases but also on the public appetite for specific genres. Authors freely publish without critical editing, encouraged to act as entrepreneurs to cater to the tastes of the customers. The sales history of Fifty Shades of Grey has served as the online model for the erotica that currently clogs the Kindle offerings.

While chastising Amazon and especially its founder Jeff Bezos for modifying the prevailing literary status, this bombastic repetitious diagnosis of the changes makes for a tiresome read. And consider, if Amazon did not forge these changes, some other capitalist mogul would have effected similar revisions.


The State of Israel vs. the Jews

This work is translated from French and has received high marks among the European Left for speaking out against Israel's nation-state law, which has been labeled apartheid against the Palestinians. Originally written during the time of the Trump administration and its cooperative relationship with Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, the work itself underwent a decided shift after Joe Biden won the presidential election in 2020.

Cypel seethes with moral outrage throughout the book at the hypocritical policies that render second-class citizenship to the Palestinians and label anyone who dissents as anti-Semitic. From the prospective of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, the very fact that Cypel speaks out at all is unusual.

While well informed, the issue remains in flux as the Biden Administration continues to waffle on both sides of the Middle East dilemma: what to do about Iran's nuclear threat. Should they or should they not sabotage the political gains made by the Trump administration with Israel? The whole world remains divided on whether or not a duel state solution is viable. What Israel decides might potentially spark international unrest.


"Being Weird Is a Wonderful Thing": Inspiration for Living Your Truest Self

In Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing, Kathryn and Ross Petras assembled a thoughtful but wild collection of quotes from writers, philosophers, artists, poets, creatives, scholars, and influencers touting the value of celebrating one’s own uniqueness and idiosyncrasies. Contained in this compact book are affirmations about embracing the “inner oddball,” the idiosyncratic self that yearns to be free of judgment from the outside world.

In an age of constant social comparison, when the need to conform to be just like the others is so strong, it’s not surprising that this book is needed at all. The themes of standing out, non-conformity, authenticity, and self-censure are prominent in the quotations. People from diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities may feel the need to assimilate to be accepted, and it’s helpful to heed advice from queer and/or icons of color like Laverne Cox, Audre Lorde, Megan Rapinoe, and Margaret Cho.

Those looking for deeper meanings behind the collection of witty quips may ponder why similar sentiments about differences are shared by people across timeIf you relish your unique approach to life, buy this book for yourself or for that friend who needs a cheerful reminder about valuing their gifts. As Mae Jamison points out: "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations."


Bounce Back

Lilico receives news that she and her family will be moving to New York City in the summer. While settling in her new school in NYC, Lilico wants to join the girls basketball team. Afraid to speak up and stand up for herself, Lilico tries to join the team but gets into an argument with Emma, the captain of the basketball team. With the help of her new friends and her cat, Nico, will Lilico be able to speak up for herself?

I love the plot, the story, and all the drama! While the plot revolves around joining a basketball team, the story is about friendship and fitting in. I didn’t expect Nico to be a talking cat, but he is super kawaii and funny. I like how he was so protective of Lilico whenever she talks to Noah. I really like the illustrations because I love manga. I highly recommend readers to check out Misako Rocks’ social media channels for drawing tips and to watch her draw Lilico and the other characters. I recommend this graphic novel to manga lovers because it is such a cute and beautifully drawn book.


Vespertine

Artmesia just wants to spend her days as a Gray Nun, assisting the dead in attaining their final restful sleep.  Even when given the opportunity to become part of the Clerisy, she prefers the dead who keep to themselves. When her convent is attacked by soldiers overcome by dark spirits, she only survives by accepting the help of a malevolent spirit, a revenant, who would as soon take over her life force as to help her.  Artemisia must stay vigilant so she doesn’t lose herself to the revenant, even as she needs it to save herself and her world, though the power is exhausting to wield. Can she become the Vespertine, trained to use the revenant for good, with only the same dangerous revenant for help?

While it lacks the romantic interest and interactions of previous books, Rogerson has kept the quick and witty dialogue that is her trademark, making it a story of enemies turned almost friends, very similar to the story of Venom and Eddie Brock. This entertaining friendship promises to be back in a sequel, in which Artemisia will surely be as ruthless and stubborn as ever, with more impulsive acts designed to annoy her revenant.


Manga Classics: Macbeth (Modern English Edition)

Macbeth is a famous tragedy written by William Shakespeare. Macbeth himself is a thane who devises a plan to murder King Duncan in order to overthrow him. One murder leads to another, with Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, also getting involved. As the body count mounts, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are consumed with guilt and the psychological effects of their actions.

Manga Classics’ Macbeth is a fully adapted modern English version of the classic play. Since the story is about murder, power, and politics, it is obviously a darker story. Compared to Romeo and Juliet, the illustrations are darker and more ominous. Even the illustrations of the characters are pointier and more angular.

While it is among the most popular of Shakespeare’s plays, Macbeth is one of my least favorites. I’m just not a fan of Macbeth’s power-hungry, murderous character. While it’s been a long time since I had to read Shakespeare for school, this version helped me understand the story more. Anyone who is studying Shakespeare should really consider reading this Manga Classics’ adaptation.


The Best of Archie Comics: 80 Years, 80 Stories

The Best of Archie Comics: Eighty Years, Eighty Stories is the comic franchise’s first “memory lane” celebration in five years. The retrospective highlights some of the most memorable adventures and capers featuring Riverdale teenagers Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and others, with introductory, behind-the-scenes commentary by writers Mike Pellerito and Jamie L. Rotante. The selected stories are presented in reverse chronological order, starting in 2021 and ending with the comic’s debut as America’s “laugh sensation” in 1941. Each five-year section starts with a discussion about the artists, writers, and collaborations that have defined Archie for eight decades.

Having followed the gang’s hijinks and misadventures over the years, it was interesting to see how the preoccupations of American teenage life have changed, and how they’ve remained the same. In Archie’s world, there's always a love triangle, misunderstandings with grownups, and complicated friendships. Stories touch on themes of fitting in, dating, and getting by in school. Through the years, Archie showed more diversity in characters to reflect the reality of multicultural high schools. The 2010s saw the appearance of Harper, a Black girl with a disability, and Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character. While comedy is at the center of the Riverdale universe, recent stories depicting diverse characters have been tastefully done.


Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison

This book purportedly demonstrates the injustice perpetrated by the American prison system, but by detailing the abuses therein, the author inadvertently depicts the degradation of the inmates and their bestial-like behaviors. Whether they have been reduced to such circumstances by the cruelty of the system or they are inherently evil, the result is that this reader would not like to meet up with any inmate so described.

Unlike other books about the prison system, notably the work of Dostoevsky, who described his fellow inmates as fellows just like ourselves, Hedges recounts shocking instances of cruel and inhuman behaviors. This works against his thesis of the cruelty of the system rather than the cruel behaviors of the incarcerated. The author seems mesmerized by viewing the inside of the prison system and elevated by his status as the great educator. Hedges relies heavily on iconic writers such as James Baldwin as he digresses to label the Black church complicit in the hypocrisy of our society.

This is the fourteenth book by Hedges, who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. One would hope that other books would bring more of a human voice to those society has abandoned.


In the Heart of Paradise

“Readers will find themselves wrapped up in this tried and true love story. In The Heart of Paradise follows a group of friends and family as they navigate their way through the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century facing complex topics such as women’s inclusion into male-dominant fields, new motherhood, and of course, young love. Fans of Pride and Prejudice and Little Women will enjoy this beautiful tale.” --Kristi Elizabeth, Seattle Book Review


Hælend's Ballad

After the jealousy-inspired murder of a young orphan, he reappears in a foreign land and mystifies the people there with his outstanding looks. In his new environment, Søren, the orphan, is mistreated and made to suffer the harsh realities of the unfortunate in a land that imprisons them, tortures them, and forces them to work laboriously in coal mines. However, he makes it difficult for his attackers and captors to complete their evil plans and they get more than they bargained for. Meanwhile, a group of people plan a war to break free from the oppressive rule inflicted by another. Interestingly, the oppressed are guilty of past atrocities themselves. Furthermore, rumors about monsters springing up from the "depths" put fear in the hearts of the people. Will the world ever know peace, or does it only exist in the afterlife?

Hælend's Ballad features an impressively large and well-developed world. However, the direction of the story seemed unclear, and the different events are not well linked. Like a true grimdark fantasy, it has an amoral, brutal, and dystopian setting that requires a strong stomach to get through. The dystopian theme is apparent in the quest to be free from the daily life-threatening and inhumane circumstances experienced by the oppressed. Also, the book contains violent, action-packed scenes with gory war details, intense sword fights, and ferocious beasts. Some disturbing issues such as rape, prostitution, and trauma are major parts of the story.

Besides these dark themes, Hælend's Ballad also contains more friendly elements, like hope, divinity, the afterlife, orphanage, justice, love, forgiveness, and more. I was greatly moved by Søren's abuse because he's portrayed as a gentle, likable character who didn't deserve what he got. Since I had contemplated some questions about life, suffering, and the concept of God before reading the book, I was excited to see similar questions discussed in the book—like, “Even if everything gets better after we die, why must we be tortured until then?” Religion is a strong theme in the book as there are several discussions about divinity and the gods of Varghoss.

I wished to see an overall goal that the story was driving toward, but it appeared to focus too much on irrelevant events and information—including prolonged discussions about the economy, excess details about the environment, and other elements that seemed distracting. Yet, Ian V. Conrey gives us a poignant, intricate, and profound story with several deep questions about religion and the flaws and shortcomings of humanity in Hælend's Ballad. It should appeal to fans of historical fiction and grimdark fantasy who don't mind its episodic feel.


With its blend of scientific and theological histories, Sherry Rind’s The Store-House of Wonder and Astonishment speaks of age-old histories through the tender wisdom of the Earth’s animals and philosophers. The varying perspectives of each poem and section solidify an underlying truth: while the vessel for each “voice” might be different, the message remains universal.

Rind is gentle, taking her reader through her thought process. With each poem, Rind introduces the speaker through its title, and the poem’s epigraph acts as a summary. It’s as though Rind sat with each animal and philosopher, considering the depth and genuine evocation in these persona poems. The varying schools of thought, such as Greek myth and fables from the third century CE, presented in this book show Rind’s careful consideration and great respect for these philosophies.

The sentiment with which Rind writes adds to the authenticity of her voice with each poem. “Elephants, Their Capacity” is a perfect opening, with its balance of soft and ancient, the elephant voice decreeing, “we mark the years / of ascending & descending on earth [...] you will never speak our language / which is of the earth.”

Though a highly intellectual read, involving different schools of thought concerning the medium of poetry, the collection is still reader-friendly to newcomers to philosophical and literary theory. However, there are folks who would be intimidated by the sheer amount of references made within the book. There are nods to Ovid, Aristotle, the Torah, etc. While not necessary, it certainly enriches the reading experience to have a background in these different historical texts and figures.

Outside of the books intersecting reflections, Rind is also a great poet, akin to Mary Oliver. There is a crescendo in the observing voice, and her imagery is enough to immerse the reader thoroughly inside her poems. For example, in “Dolphins,” there is a warmth in her voice, unveiling the wonders of the world that lie just ahead of us if we only took the time to look.

Ultimately, The Store-House of Wonder and Astonishment is a question of amalgamation. What if our individual beliefs were right in some way? What if we were allowed to take the best of our teachings to combine into something beyond myth, religion, and philosophy? What if pantheism were a synonym for the full acknowledgement of history, for human and animals alike? Rind asks readers to return to a state of child-like wonder to be receptive to these truths, none of which feel forced and are instead a reminder that knowledge is a welcoming power.


Good Night

Natalia Padilla’s Good Night is a picture book that aims to teach young children how to master English pronunciation as well as to inspire in them a love of both the activities of daily living in general and music in particular.

The story follows a cheery young girl named Mary as she first drifts off to sleep and then dreams of climbing up the clouds. The next morning, Mary tells her parents about her dreams and they suggest that she travels to the city of Grady to meet a lady called Lily who hails from Philly. The story then takes a surprising turn, as the narrative seems to be taken over by a lady (not Lily from Philly) playing a piano who explains the different keys that can be used. The music and lyrics to a short song by Padilla are included at this point so that children can sing and play along.

After the musical interlude, Mary resumes the story (albeit this time in the first person) and explains that she has fanboys, which turn out to be the seven coordinating conjunctions: “are,” “for,” “and,” “not,” “but,” “or” and “so.” She explains that these fanboys can be used to join the elements of a sentence together, and she also provide an example of how a comma can be used. Mary then talks about visiting friends and the importance of getting everything ready before bedtime. After a busy day, she again drifts off for a good night’s sleep, and the closing pages of the book show some of the fun she has outdoors the next day.

Good Night should probably be described as a series of short vignettes or episodes that Padilla hopes will serve as teaching moments, rather than as a single coherent story. The book initially seems like it will follow a traditional picture book format, but that changes from the point Mary wakes up on the first morning and the narrative branches off in various surprising directions. The book is predominantly written in rhyming sentences, although there is not a consistent rhyme scheme throughout. Some of the rhymes are fun and work well for young readers, while others are unfortunately less convincing, with the vocabulary choices not really being suitable for the target age range. In addition, the grammar and capitalization of the story require further work.

Padilla has also illustrated Good Night and her bright, colorful illustrations really enhance the story, giving the book a decidedly positive and upbeat feel. Many of the captured scenes include a nice amount of detail for young readers to consider, and the vibrant colors should draw and maintain their attention. Padilla’s skill as an illustrator is particularly impressive given that she is only twelve years old.

Although it could still use some work, Good Night is a good attempt to convey how the adventures of youngsters, whether real or dreamed, can involve both the mundane and the extraordinary.


Good Night

The children's story Good Night by Natalia Padilla is about a young girl's journey through day and night. Mary embarks on adventures both in her dreams and in real life; she plays on the clouds, enjoys her favorite things, and meets impressive people. Through it all, she has a smile on her face and everything positive to say. Mary immerses herself in activities not commonly thought of among young children, such as playing piano and having fanboys.

Mary invites her readers to play a song titled Good Night using the keys A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Mary spends time with friends in a place with an elevator and understands the correct use of a comma after the appropriate word in a sentence. Mary enjoys the little things, such as sleeping under the stars at night and being outside with nature. Mary also knows how and when to end a story by notifying her readers of its end.

Padilla's portrayal of Mary's positivity is infectious, making this reviewer's mood stay and continue to be positive throughout her story. Mary doesn't come across situations too deep or difficult to explain to children, which is a relief in today's world. It is calming to read about simplicity in a character's life and nothing but happiness happening; there is too much complexity today.

As much as I enjoyed the story, I had difficulty following along the first couple of times I read it. Not fully grasping its simplicity, I was expecting a more complex storyline not found in the pages. After taking some time to research the author and clear my head, I developed a better understanding of the author's vision. Incredibly, the author was a mere nine years old when she wrote this story some years ago, and she also composed the song included in the book!

Padilla has created a world appropriate for any age reader by striving to bring enjoyment to her readers as well as education. This reviewer was not initially aware of what a fanboy is, so this section seemed odd and out of place from the rest of the story, especially when it comes immediately after the story about the piano. I researched what a fanboy is and read about her mission to educate her readers, and then it made sense, although there could be a better segue.

While reading Good Night, I kept comparing her writing to that of Dr. Seuss; both styles include rhyming and some out-of-the-box ideas. Who am I to say something because it's not my style, but I can say that with Good Night I feel comfortable reading it to my kids and letting their imaginations run wild.


Good Night

Good Night by Natalia Padilla is an adorable children’s book that follows the story of a young girl through her daily rituals. Definitely for very early or beginner English readers, the story has a simple and direct plot told through easy-to-read sentences and words. The lines rhyme, a wise touch, as Padilla’s goal is to teach readers to pronounce English vowel and consonant sounds correctly. Beautifully illustrated with rich colors and hand-drawn graphics, I loved the unique look to each character. Vibrant outfits, unique expressions, and so many people of different shapes and sizes, I loved the diversity of Padilla’s character choice.

Mary, the young protagonist, pronounces at the beginning of this story, “Good night, sleep tight,” as she settles off to sleep with her pink polka dot comforter and a beautiful arrangement of stars in the window behind her. The next morning, she wakes up and tells her mother and father about her cloud-filled dreams. They then proceed to send her off to the city of Grady to find Lily from Philly. Lilly from Philly is a music teacher. Playing the piano, she introduces the reader to the keys A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Accompanying this page is a short paragraph of sheet music created by Padilla entitled Good Night. This song presents a cute opportunity for the reader to sing the song along with Lilly from Philly and Mary.

Continuing on through Mary’s day, the reader is then introduced to “fanboys” who are “jam boys.” Otherwise known as “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so,” Padilla explains that fanboys connect sentences together with commas. At the end of Mary’s day, she wishes the reader once again, “Good Night sleep tight,” as she falls asleep with the cheese-colored moon and stars behind her.

The next day, Mary wakes up to the beaming sun in her window and goes outside to play. It is springtime, so naturally, Mary tends to her flowers and frolics in the sunshine. Depicted in this scene along with Mary are a chirping bird with her chicks, two adorable bunnies, and the smiling sun, showing Padilla’s creative touches enhancing the springtime scene.

Overall, I thought Padilla’s story was well done. I think she accomplished her goal of presenting a pleasant read that also helps listeners learn to pronounce difficult-to-say English words and phrases. However, I do wish the story was a little longer. I felt the ending of Mary’s tale was a little abrupt and the book would have been enhanced by having a few more days and scenes added in.


Good Night

I was very excited to be able to read and review a copy of Good Night by Natalia Padilla. From the author's description of the book, I was expecting to find some hard-to-pronounce English words, a cute story about bedtime, and some funny rhymes to help young readers remember some of the rules of the English language. I was sadly disappointed as I read through this book, however, as the story itself did not make very much sense. The book starts out with a little girl who is in bed sleeping. On that very first page I noticed the word "Stars" is capitalized. Because this is not a proper noun there is no need for this to be a capitalized word. We learn that the name of the little girl is Mary and the author uses words that most children will probably never use until they are in high school. The words "shrouds" and "aligning" are a bit advanced for the age group this book is geared towards. On the next page, there is more unnecessary capitalization as "Good Night Dream" is capitalized. Much of the rhyming seemed very forced as if the author was trying to find any word just to complete the rhyme. The rhymes do not run smoothly as far as context goes. The author then makes up what seems like a random city named Grady just so it could rhyme with "lady". The punctuation is very off in this book too. Just because the story is made of rhyming prose does not mean that the punctuation should be incorrect. For example, the punctuation of the line "She came from Philly, so go find her Silly." is two sentences, not one, and why is "Silly" capitalized? The next part of the book consists of a song that the author has written complete with the musical score. Then, the author inserts a grammar lesson about words that connect sentences together such as for, and, nor, and but. I wish the author had included more of this type of content in her story. Overall, the book is a bit all over the place. The illustrations were really the only enjoyable part of this book as they were simple and colorful. Some of the sentences are just plain silly and I didn't quite understand what the whole story was about since the book is called Good Night. I feel this book should be reorganized to be directed to the author's intended demographic and rewritten with proper capitalization and grammar. With these improvements, this could be a really cute story.


Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities is a collection of pieces that explores a notable historical moment and four fictional stories. The first section focuses on the part David Bowie played in the fall of the Berlin Wall. The following story, Venice to Venice, depicts the clashing of two sides connected to an Iraq war from the past, and Brian and his family are right in the middle of it all. THE MYSTERIES OF GAME THEORY portrays a character's search for his sister in a post-pandemic Western society plagued by a subtle dictatorship. Inside ’75 and Seeds from ’79 are two coming-of-age stories centered on a boy's experience of friendship, romance, and enmity in the late '70s.

As a musician myself, I found it amazing and inspiring that a song about difficulties could be a sort of soundtrack for fighting against oppression. I was definitely convinced that Bowie was an important piece in the fall of the Berlin Wall as the book provides an in-depth look into Bowie's impact—dissecting his song lyrics, his popularity, and how he interacted with the people and lived in the environment as far back fourteen years before the fall. I was glad to learn several things about that crucial moment in history.

 No dull moments! The four stories in the book are, generally, fast-paced as they move from one unpredictable event to another. I especially liked the worldbuilding and suspense in The Mysteries of Game Theory as it hints at a secret government operation and a lover's deceitfulness. I was mightily eager to discover the truth. Several themes are explored in the vibrant and inspiring narratives: youthfulness, terrorism, family, survival, love, trust, mental health, war, rivalry, and more.

I disliked how the stories appeared rushed. The characters seemed somewhat lacking in depth. Also, too many things are packed into each page, and the moods and themes are quickly changed for new ones as the stories progress. For example, a particular page moves from statements about eating pizza to conversations about school, a terrorist attack, practicing yoga, and maintaining an FBI agent's identity.

Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities showed me that whatever you're passionate about can be used to create a great positive impact, like how David Bowie's voice contributed to opposing oppression. Joseph Raffetto's book contains stories that portray fighting for freedom, a striving for peace, and the dark sides of humanity. It was an entertaining and educational experience; however, a calmer pace would probably have been more enjoyable.


Joseph Raffetto’s Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities is an intriguing and timely collection of writings inspired by the dichotomy between freedom and oppression as well as questions concerning the feasibility and form of a more equal society. It includes an essay, two novellas, and two short stories, which all explore these issues and more. Given the seemingly precarious nature of contemporary society and the increasing distance between the haves and the have-nots, the included works are relevant and thought-provoking, in addition to being entertaining.

The collection opens with “Bowie and the Berlin Wall,” an essay that examines David Bowie’s legacy in terms of the various walls he helped to break down during his life. Of course, the most well-known of these demolitions concerns Bowie’s 1987 concert in West Berlin, which was so loud that thousands of citizens of East Berlin gathered on their side of the Wall, risking life and limb to hear classic songs such as “Heroes.” The concert is now recognized as the catalyst for the movement that would eventually end the partition of Berlin. However, Raffetto also considers Bowie’s impact on more abstract walls, including his openness about mental health and sexuality and his outspokenness regarding racism.

The first novella, “Venice to Venice,” follows Brian, a former intelligence agent haunted by the failings of the Iraq War, as he comes to realize that life in sunny California is not all it’s cracked up to be. He moved to Venice Beach to start afresh and live near his daughter, but he finds that plague and pestilence have followed him there. The sins of the past also follow him when he attempts to take a vacation in Venice, Italy. Although the action can be difficult to follow at times, there are certainly strange and puzzling things afoot in this atmospheric story.

“The Mysteries of Game Theory,” the second novella, centers on former Facebook employee James as he attempts to navigate a world being rebuilt following a deadly pandemic. After spending two years alone in an underground hideout, James wants nothing more than to find his missing sister, but he is quickly recruited as a data analyst for the government. Attempts to balance his work responsibilities with his desire to locate his sister bring him into contact with various suspect individuals, and it seems the new world order might not be quite what it seems. It’s a suspenseful dystopian tale of what could have occurred in something like a post-COVID-19 world.

The short stories that close the collection, “Inside ‘75” and “Seeds from ’79,” are coming-of-age tales that follow Jay as he moves from relatively clean-cut fifteen-year-old baseball player to disaffected youth who might just make it to college. Along the way, he deals with the end of friendships, family breakdowns, and thwarted romances. The love of reading that permeates the entire collection, as well as the thread concerning Bowie’s music that ties all the pieces together, are particularly strong in relation to Jay, who ends up being more sympathetic than he really should.

Ultimately, Mysteries of Game Theory and Other Oddities leaves its characters apparently reconciled with the status quo, although there are indications that the spirit of rebellion still burns within them.


Time and the Tree: A novel

Time and the Tree by Roisin Sorahan is truly a masterpiece. From beginning to end, my attention was fully captivated, savoring every moment of the story’s richness. Truly a book of wisdom and peace, I felt lighter after this read having been transformed to a place of tranquility.

The story takes the reader through the seasons; summer, autumn, winter, and spring, which all bring new stories and new situations. The tale follows the growth of a young boy who lives under a magnificent tree. The Tree is symbolic of peace, light, and knowledge; all within her forest revere her. Many travel to see the Tree, to learn of her wisdom and have her counsel on their problems. The boy, having lived under the Tree for as long as he can remember, has been taught her ways since his birth. Radiating the joy of his teacher’s wisdom, he is so full of love and purity. The boy loves the Tree, and the Tree loves him. Together, they face the quests that come their way.

In summer, the boy meets a man named Time. Time is a large man, with a buttoned waistcoat, a checkered jacket, and full of unwanted opinions and anxieties to give. Time comes to the Tree with a slave whom he calls his Shadow. This creature, enslaved to Time, does his every bidding despite cruel beatings, hardships, and misery. With Time its master, the shadow never has to think for itself, only follow Time’s bidding. Although the boy is horrified by the way Time treats the Shadow, they become friends, and Time comes back to their home many times throughout the story to meet with the boy and the Tree.

Two more important visitors come to the Tree in the following seasons: the Wanderer and the Weaver. The Wanderer is a warrior woman; full of rich tales of adventure, her bravery radiates from within her and fascinates the boy. The Weaver, however, is another story. Full of darkness and riddles, she spins webs of evil and lies, trying to take down the Tree’s light and the boy’s purity. Both of these characters become crucial in the final plot; will lightness always win? Or will those who trap others in deceit find a way to drown out all light?

A fable full of thought-provoking metaphors, knowledge, and awareness of the bigger picture, this story truly is a delight. I would recommend it for all who relish beautiful literature, especially stories with a deeper meaning.


Time and the Tree: A novel

/Time and the Tree begins in the summer. The forest is alive and thriving. A young boy wakes up under a large tree. The Tree guides him to water and observes him playing in the woods, providing shelter and a shoulder to lean on when needed. One day, Time arrives, traveling with his slave, The Shadow. But he is always in a hurry and has no time for the Tree's wisdom.

As the seasons change, other visitors come to seek the knowledge of the Tree. Some wish the Tree well, like the Wanderer. But some, like the Weaver and the Woodcutters, have other designs on the Tree. But the Tree is ancient, and it has no fear. It is well versed in the ways of the world. In this tale, the seasons have a way of coming full circle, as do the characters who come to the forest. And while the fates of some saddened me, I was happy about the outcomes for others.

This is a lovely story that, on the surface, appears like a simple fairy tale. But it is much more than that. It is full of symbolism and knowledge. It reminds us to be playful and open like a child, But also to listen to the wisdom of the Tree, who teaches that life is beautiful even though it involves changes, some of which may be good or bad. It is there to take us on a journey of our choosing. And as we learn in one part of the story, Time takes everything until there is nothing left. A clever line that made me think of the meaning behind our lives. We are here, but only for a time.

One line struck me from the Tree's message to the woodcutter who wanted to give his life to the Tree after discovering the light: "To be alive is to be extraordinary." And through this magical tale, I think that is what readers will come to understand. We live in a magical place; we are the light. All we have to do is look inside to find it.

Time and the Tree is a beautiful debut from a talented author. There were so many wonderful scenes in this book, but the one that touched me the most was the journey of the mother bird who couldn't let go of her dead chick. It was sad, but luckily the Tree showed her the way to overcome her grief. Overall, this book has a beautiful message that is sure to stay with me.


He Said Never (The Lost Corisis, 2)

Romance Roundup

Whether you prefer your romance contemporary, historical, or paranormal, the five books included in this roundup all feature compelling characters and sizzling storylines that are certain to set your pulse racing.

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

Believing it to be the only way to end a decades-long war, Princess Isolde de Lara agrees to marry her mortal enemy, King Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, although she also intends to kill him at the first opportunity. Such an attempt at mariticide would have been difficult in the best of circumstances, but when the fact that Adrian is a vampire is factored in, Isolde’s plan seems pretty much impossible. As it happens, he catches her when she attempts to pull off the assassination and threatens that, if she tries it again, he will turn her into one of the undead, just like him. Knowing that she can’t risk being turned into the thing that she hates most in the world, Isolde looks for other ways to thwart her new husband and survive in the vampire court. However, none of her schemes can fully distract her from either the growing attraction she feels toward Adrian or the gnawing doubt she has regarding why he would choose her as his bride. Scarlett St. Clair’s King of Battle and Blood is a paranormal romance packed with plenty of trysts, twists, and turns.

An Impossible Promise by Jude Deveraux

In 1844, when known thief Liam O’Connor fell in love with shy squire’s daughter Cora McLeod, he unwittingly changed history. Fate had decreed that Cora would marry another man, and a group of angels have been waiting to set things right ever since the fateful moment Liam and Cora first met. Although Cora doesn’t remember it, she and Liam have lived through several lifetimes since then, ultimately both winding up working as cops in modern-day Providence Falls, North Carolina. Liam knows the truth and has done his best to avoid her, but when the pair of them are partnered to work on a murder investigation, they end up being increasingly drawn to one another. The angels decide that it is time to more forcefully step in and ensure that Cora falls for Finley Walsh, but she is no longer the timid and naïve young woman she once was. In <An Impossible Promise, the second book in the Providence Falls series by Jude Deveraux, Cora is a headstrong woman who is used to making her own decisions, including in all matters concerning love. It makes for a thrilling time-traveling romance.

He Said Never by Ruth Cardello

Ruth Cardello’s The Lost Corisis series centers on a powerful and dangerous family with more than a few buried secrets. In He Said Never, the second book in the series, Riley is keen to keep her reunion with her paternal relatives, the infamous Corisis family, secret from her mother. Her biological father had put her mother through hell, so while Riley wants to know more about her paternal heritage, she doesn’t want to spark her mother’s fear by mentioning anyone with the Corisis surname. Meanwhile, Gavin’s father has decided that it’s time for his son to find a wife and start a family, and he’s not prepared to let Gavin inherit the family firm until he does so. Gavin knows that he needs to get back into his father’s good books, but he’s not sure how to accomplish that since his relationship with Riley went disastrously wrong. At the time, Gavin hadn’t really been looking for romance, although he now recognizes that he would rather be with Riley whatever the circumstances than be with someone else in order to secure his place within the family.

The Immortal by Gena Showalter

In the second installment in Gina Showalter’s Rise of the Warlords series, the merciless son of a war god and a beautiful yet troubled harpy find themselves doomed to repeat the same twenty-four hours again and again, with the day always ending with the harpy’s murder. The Immortal sees Halo Phaninon, assassin to the gods, challenged to kill twelve of mythology’s greatest monsters within just a single day. Never one to pass up a challenge, he readily accepts the dangerous and seemingly impossible task, only to find that he wakes up each morning thereafter to discover that it is the same day, during which he must face unimaginable horror. For her part, Ophelia is used to being a disappointment to her family. As a harpy who has never killed anyone, she is considered powerless and useless by many, although she has hidden reserves of strength that no one would expect. This comes in handy when she’s forced to repeat the same day and live through her inevitable murder over and over, all the while fighting off the advances of Halo, who is at least determined to save her.

Good Catch by Jennifer Bardsley

Former ballerina Marlo Jonas has both beauty and grace, but she also has truly terrible taste in men. When her latest disastrous romance ends after her boyfriend cheats on her, Marlo’s father suggests that she should try dating guys on the basis of their personalities, rather than based on their looks. She’s willing to give anything a go, particularly if it keeps her devastatingly hot nemesis Ben Wexler-Lowrey out of sight and out of mind. Ben is also trying his luck at the dating game, although he focuses on women whose personalities outshine their looks. His mother thinks he could do better, however, and suggests that he gives online dating a go. As Marlo and Ben make it through terrible date after terrible date, they’re both left feeling deflated and demoralized. Surely it shouldn’t be this difficult to find the right person? Jennifer Bardsley’s Good Catch follows the charming yet frequently infuriating pair of frenemies as they navigate the small-town dating scene while stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the romantic possibilities right in front of them.


When the Sakura Bloom

The storyline of When the Sakura Bloom is pretty much exactly what the title makes it sound like. You follow the preparations for the cherry blossom festival and get a sense of how excited everyone is about the time of year and how short of a time the trees are in bloom.

The illustrations are well represented on the cover, but there is not much variety in what is shown—lots of cherry trees, which are prettier in person. It’s a nice story that kids from a wide age range will enjoy reading in season.

It could be particularly good for families who live in places where cherry trees are not prevalent, much the way that stories about making maple syrup appeal to southerners or stories about living in the desert interest those living in cold regions.


Nothing But Blackened Teeth

A thrill-seeking group of friends travel to Japan for a stay at a mansion with a tragic history. According to legend, buried under the historic manor are the bones of a bride-to-be whose lover died before they could wed.  The five friends start the night with food, drinking, and an ancient samurai game designed to test their bravery. As the night progresses, secrets better left hidden are revealed, not only by the friends but also by the house they are staying in.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth is the latest novelette by author and award-winning game writer Cassandra Khaw. This eerie tale combines the myths and historic fashions from ancient Japan, while set in the modern-day. Khaw masterfully portrays grief, fear, and dread in this paranormal thriller. The author enlists the ghost with blackened teeth and yōkai – spirits and demons from Japanese folklore – to claim another sacrifice for the house. Khaw introduces Japanese lore in this spine-chilling tale. This is a quick read for horror and mystery fans who like learning about ancient lore. The book may seem too short, leaving the reader wanting more, just like the house demanding more lives.


You Feel It Just Below the Ribs: A Novel

YA Roundup

If you enjoy reading young adult fiction with a side of passion, warmth, determination, empowerment, and LGBTQA+, then this roundup article includes five books that will be perfect for you. All five are compelling reads, and while some are more lighthearted than others, all are equally accomplished.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune is a tender and witty story that will undoubtedly fill your heart with warmth. Wallace refuses to let go of his life when a reaper knocks at his door. Finally, full of indignance, Wallace reluctantly accepts that he is dead. He is offered assistance with crossing over by patient ferryman Hugo, whose door to the other side is located in his tea shop. Through Hugo, Wallace meets many people with captivating stories and begins to realize that his imperious manner and work-centered life were not as fulfilling as he thought. This is a story that inspires and impresses with very skillful worldbuilding. You will quickly become devoted to the main characters and tumble into their world on a wonderful emotional journey. It will leave you reveling in all the benevolence of humanity, not forgetting the scones and tea, in addition to a chipper ghost dog!

When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez

This empowering debut young adult novel by Elisabet Velasquez will deeply touch your life, likely causing you to laugh and cry out loud. Passionate, stormy, and honest, When We Make It is a coming-of-age story that will move you and leave you rooting for the main character long after you have finished reading. Sarai is a first-generation Puerto Rican eighth-grader who sees the beauty and pain in life with full clarity and without the sentimental idealism that people normally associate with poetic talent. Along with her older sister, she takes you through the pressures of mental illness, sexual assault and toxic masculinity, poverty, and the gentrification of her home in Brooklyn. Openly questioning things around her, along with her Boricua identity, she learns to navigate through her teenage years with determination and braveness. Despite the odds appearing to be stacked against her, Sarai comes out on top, learning to embrace and celebrate herself. This book will tune into your heart and make you feel seen.

Before We Disappear by Shaun David Hutchinson

Jack Nevin is a master of thievery and trickery, and with his consistent supply of stolen tricks, he proves to be a profitable and invaluable assistant to a revered stage magician of the early 1900s, The Enchantress. However, Jack’s pilfering catches up with him and the pair are forced to make a getaway to America. Luckily, they are able to find steady work on the West coast at Seattle’s Alaska–Yukon–Pacific World’s Fair Exposition, which improves their financial outlook, although they are forced to reconcile with the fact that they are not the shining stars of the show. Jack tries to uncover the secrets of this seemingly transcendental performance, but he discovers much more than he expected. He forms a bond with the behind-the-scenes master of tricks, and due to this growing affection, he is forced to choose between his employer, who has given him everything in life so far, and the boy who promises to give him so much in the future. Shaun David Hutchinson’s Before We Disappear is a love story that provides all the twists and turns of a well-crafted heist story. Lovers of historical fiction and fantasy will also enjoy the book and be captivated by its many forms of magic.

You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor

Set in an alternative twentieth century, You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor is a haunting tale about loss and trauma as well as human attachment and betrayal. It delves into the cleverly constructed corners of dystopian fantasy, being ultimately melancholic in tone and quietly beautiful, although it has the pace of an edgy intellectual thriller. Miriam grows up during the Great Reckoning, a war than spans decades and wipes out much of humanity, including her friends and family. Alone and heartbroken by her loss, she avoids any other human contact, focusing solely on her work. Time passes, the war ends, and the New Society is founded, forcing all survivors into lives of reclusion to prevent tribal loyalties from forming, including families. Miriam, already used to a life of exile, now sees everyone suddenly being forced to live as she does. A researcher at heart, she becomes involved with organizing this detachment process. Unfortunately, she does not realize that the world as she knows it is on the brink of another dark and sinister change. Over time, she begins to see the disturbing nature of this new system and decides to take a stand against it from within.

Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Here’s to Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera is the captivating follow-up to the pair’s romantic bestseller, What If It’s Us. It is a thrilling read on its own, but it’s even better if you have previously enjoyed the first novel. A breezy tale with a tone of optimism, it is a story that wears its heart on its sleeve. Ben has been working on his fantasy manuscript with writing partner and fabulous kisser Mario throughout his first year of college. Arthur has recently returned to New York City for an internship on Broadway, although he is in a perfectly happy long-distance relationship with his boyfriend from his hometown. Yet, sparks fly when Ben and Arthur happen to come into close contact again, reviving old passions. They decide to persevere on their well-trodden, comfortable and separate paths, knowing that things between them didn’t work out the first time around. Little do they realize, however, that the universe seems to have other ideas in mind and paves the way for a series of encounters that make them both question their feelings for each other.


Disruption: New Short Fiction from Africa

As many places in the world begin adapting to a changing climate, a lot of countries will struggle with the changing climate and many of those countries are in Africa. This collection brings together a young cohort of emerging African literary voices to tell stories of climate change’s impacts and how people have adapted or otherwise in the future.

Each story is by a writer from a different African country, expanding across the continent. Twenty-one authors are presented, and each one took on the theme of environmental degradation in their own special way. Some were science fiction-like stories, with habitat domes, special suits, and advanced technology. Other stories continued the current trend of the haves and the have nots, as those with money and power have found a way to continue to live life comfortably, while the majority struggle to find sustenance and live in an environment that is incredibly hostile.

Fiction can be used to tell stories and bring to life what many people might find confusing and overwhelming. Africa lacks the monetary resources necessary to seriously fund adaption on a large scale, so it will come down to individuals and small groups to determine how to survive and thrive.


Finding Grace: A Novel

Something bad is about to happen to Melanie, a twelve-year-old girl who’s been in foster care her whole life. She doesn’t know what it is, but something tells her it’s going to happen soon. Grace has the same feeling about Melanie and so goes to find her estranged daughter, Louise, to help her save Melanie. Grace has been in and out of Louise’s life, and Louise does not want her to be a part of her life anymore. For some unknown reason, Louise decides to go with her mom across the country to attempt to save this girl. They are going to have to make peace with each other if they want to get to Melanie in time.

I loved how this story was told from the multiple viewpoints of the many characters. It showed excellently how we all interpret the same situation differently. I had a hard time putting the book down, and with such short chapters, it made it easy to think I could read at least one more. There are some broken people here, but also lots of redemption. I loved the supernatural element, which didn’t overpower the characters or plot. Very well done.


Two’s Company: The best of cooking for couples, friends and roommates

Not everyone wants or needs to cook for a group, especially not every day, but most cookbooks seem to assume that's the case, resulting in too much effort and lots of leftovers. This cookbook, instead, offers beautiful dishes that are a pleasure both to make and eat sized perfectly for two. Because the overall quantity of the dish is small, recipes that would be daunting to prepare for a bigger crowd are certainly manageable; it's no trouble at all to chop one small shallot or zucchini or wash less than two cups of baby potatoes. You can also splurge a little on more exotic ingredients like jumbo prawns, more often. The book has recipes for weeknight, weekend, and special meals, desserts, appetizers, and snacks. The Antipasti tart, for example, was simply made with ready-bought puff pastry and antipasti mix, but resulted in a delicious pizza that we served both as an appetizer and again for another breakfast. These recipes are not meant to necessarily be quick or easy –some take more time, some less -- but they are not difficult either; they allow you to explore and appreciate food without being overwhelmed by large quantities or unneeded excess.


Conquistadores: A New History of Spanish Discovery and Conquest

The conquistadores were men who effected change through their discoveries and on their voyages for the Spanish Empire. Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor, sought funding for a voyage to Asia. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain were his ideal benefactors. Isabella and Ferdinand were initially hesitant, as they had finished fighting a war of succession and a pitched battle against Muslims in Granada. Yet, Columbus believed his journey would prove fruitful in locating spices and gold. Columbus thought he found Asia in 1492, but had instead found the Caribbean and Cuba. However, he did locate some spices and riches to bring back to Isabella and Ferdinand. His successors in discovery looked to replicate if not better Columbus. Their results were varied. Hernando Cortes’ exploration would take him into the heart of the Mayan empire in Mexico, while Francisco Pizarro would tangle with the Incans of Peru.

Conquistadores by Fernando Cervantes travels back to the latter 15th century-early 16th century where much was still unknown about the wide world. The opportunists who trekked across the open waters in search of riches and knowledge often did so at the expense of the natives they encountered, through subjugation and plunder. Cervantes’ portrayal of the undaunted journeyman and their conquest proves engaging.


You Sexy Thing

Science Fiction for SFBR

Seeking a way to escape the madness and peculiarity that have characterized the last few years? Wanting to travel to new and exotic locations without having to worry about obtaining  a COVID passport? Then look no further than the five epic science fiction novels featured in this roundup article. Without having to leave your sofa, they’ll allow you to voyage from the far reaches of the universe to alternative realities via the Earth of the past, near future, and more distant times to come.

You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo

Located at the very edge of the known universe, TwiceFar station is a good place to lose yourself and cast off the baggage that you might otherwise be forced to carry in more populous locations. At least, that’s certainly what drew Nicolette “Niko” Larson to the place. Previously an officer with the Holy Hive Mind—a cognitively linked military force with an all-encompassing political agenda—Niko was freed from her commitment to the cause after claiming to be a “thwarted culinary artist.” After being allowed to leave, she made her way to TwiceFar and opened the Last Chance restaurant, which is staffed by a diverse group of alien beings. In You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo, what should have been a great day for the restaurant is disrupted first by the arrival of a world-hopping playboy and then by an explosion that forces Niko and her staff to flee aboard the playboy’s bioship. A double-cross sets them on a collision course with a dastardly group of space pirates and so kickstarts the first adventure in an epic space opera series.

Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

In a moment of desperation, violin prodigy Shizuka Satomi made a deal with the devil and now, in order to avoid damnation, she has to persuade seven other budding violin virtuosos to trade their souls for success. While she fairly easily manages to convince six gullible youngsters to strike Faustian bargains, she has difficulty finding a seventh until she happens upon runaway transgender teen Katrina Nguyen playing music that is truly out of this world. Convinced that she has found the final soul she needs to exchange for her own, Shizuka sets out to cultivate Katrina’s trust. However, she’s distracted from that goal by a chance encounter in a donut shop with Lan Tran, a retired starship captain. While she really should be concentrating on the business of saving her soul by sacrificing Katrina’s, Shizuka finds herself drawn to Lan Tran, and the lives of the three women soon become entangled in myriad ways. Ryka Aoki’s Light From Uncommon Stars is a captivating tale of magic, mistrust, identity, deadly bargains, and donuts. It’s also a highly satisfying story about the joy of choosing your own family.

The Actual Star by Monica Byrne

Spanning six continents and around two thousand years of history, The Actual Star by Monica Byrne takes readers on an epic journey guided by three contrasting storylines that are eventually destined to converge in a cave in Belize. At the center of the interlinking storylines are, respectively, a pair of teenage twins descended from Mayan royalty, a young women heading to South America in search of spiritual self-discovery, and two devout maniacs seeking to dominate through their new religion. Although they have no idea of their destiny, these disparate characters are fated to determine the outcome for what remains of humanity following cataclysmic climate change. As their souls reincarnate over the centuries, the central characters unite and fight, learn and change, while they unwittingly make their way toward the final encounter in Belize. Taken together, the three storylines are packed with interesting ideas about the history and destiny of humanity as well as the surprising impacts that individuals can have on the fate of a species as a whole.

The Body Scout by Lincoln Michel

In a New York City that has been devastated by climate change and recurrent pandemics, Kobo is scraping a living as a baseball scout. However, rather than working for regular baseball teams, he is employed by Big Pharma to scout for the best gene-edited talent to play for the teams they sponsor. It’s a tricky way to earn a living at the best of times, but things are further complicated for Kobo by the fact that his own cybernetics are around a decade out of date, leaving him highly vulnerable to replacement by more advanced rivals. Coupled with the fact that twin loan sharks are currently in hot pursuit of him, Kobo is left with the feeling that things can’t get much worse … and that’s before his brother, Monsanto Mets slugger J.J. Zunz, is murdered while standing at home plate. In Lincoln Michel’s The Body Scout, determined to track down his brother’s killer, Kobo has to venture further into the weird world of genetic modifications than he has ever been before, risking everything to secure justice in a world where even body and soul are for sale.

Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi

In Goliath, Tochi Onyebuchi transports readers to the Earth of the 2050s, a time when those with sufficient resources and capabilities have abandoned the failing planet in favor of new lives far away in the much more comfortable space colonies. Those who have been left behind are forced to scavenge what materials and supplies they can from Earth’s rapidly collapsing infrastructure. At the same time, whole cities are being dismantled and shipped to the far reaches of space so that the colonists can recreate the homes and environments they once inhabited on the planet they helped to destroy. Against this background, a lovelorn space-dweller hoping to reconnect with his lover, a group of laborers tasked with recreating the wonder of Earth’s cities, a journalist seeking to expose the violence that plagues what remains of Earth’s streets, and a marshal attempting to track down a kidnapper all come together to witness the final decline of the planet and offer hope for the future of humanity. It’s a disturbing and all too plausible tale of the potential future of Earth and what might occur if humans don’t rapidly change their ways.


Cocoa Bombs

This joyful little book walks you through all the steps to creating your own cocoa bombs, with variations to suit all tastes and seasons. Following the clear directions on tempering chocolate removed a lot of the trepidation about using real chocolate, and I loved the suggestion to use a pastry brush for filling molds. My favorite bombs so far are just basic dark chocolate, which have a beautiful dark gloss and look great decorated with contrasting chocolate drizzle. They taste great too! But you'll also want to try variations like white chocolate with strawberry or caramel, milk chocolate with butterscotch or French vanilla, or adding cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a Mexican twist. Then dress up your creations with festive décor and fillings– make a snowman or unicorn, or gild with edible glitter, or surprise your guests with shaped marshmallows. Once you get the hang of spheres, try other shapes; the author shows ducks and hearts, but I found Christmas tree and snowflake molds to be lots of fun too! This book gives you all the tools to make so that whatever you create is sure to please and bring fun and joy to those you share them with.


Autopsy: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta, 25)

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is on familiar ground as she returns as the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia. But nothing is the same... except the murder and mystery of a good whodunnit. A young female neighbor of Pete Marino and Dorothy, Scarpetta's sister, is found murdered in a National Park. Scarpetta's investigation finds the victim has been spying on NASA. At the same time, an astronaut bails out of a spaceship, leaving his crewmates for dead. Why did he call the dead girl from space before he fled back to Earth? And why did Scarpetta get called to the White House?

Scarpetta has a morgue full of questions and no answers when she opens a bottle of wine after a long day and nearly becomes a murder victim herself. Obvious lies and deception from her new assistant lead the determined Scarpetta to dig deeper and unearth a previous death in the same park. Her predecessor seems to have swept that death under the rug.

In typical Scarpetta fashion, the no-nonsense medical examiner listens to the clues and observes the obvious to find answers and justice for the dead. Autopsy strides comfortably back into the dark and dangerous work of the complicated medical examiner. Long-time readers of this series will enjoy the gritty crime details, puzzling clues, and familiar characters in Scarpetta's world. The story moves along quickly, and while not extremely inventive, is an enjoyable read.


Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Academy: No Humans Allowed! (Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Academy, 1)

There are all kinds of adventurers in Dungeons and Dragons, but this adventurer named Zelli is one that many monsters fear more than anything. Zelli is a human! Monsters are terrified of humans. In order to help Zelli blend in and not be noticed, her parents decide she needs a disguise so they dress her up as a minotaur. Zelli goes on an adventure to find out her true heritage as she must know how and why she is so different and why everyone is so afraid of her. Read this book to find out if Zelli will learn about her past to find out who she truly is.

This is a super fun book. I especially like chapter books with illustrations. The illustrations are basic, mainly black, white, and yellow, but they really help to bring Zelli's story to life.


The Simpsons Secret: A Cromulent Guide to How The Simpsons Predicted Everything! (Behind the Scenes, The Simpsons Family)

The Simpson's Secret: A Cromulent Guide to How The Simpsons Predicted Everything is fun, enjoyable, and informative for any reader, regardless of whether you're a fan or not. In the first part of the book, authors Lydia Poulteney and James Hicks present seven chapters about predictions from The Simpsons of universal events; in the second part, theories are examined regarding aspects of the show. If you've been living under a rock and haven't heard how The Simpsons has been making predictions for decades, then become educated on worldly and scripted events. Readers will learn about the real-life events that followed episodes of the show, sometimes up to a decade later, and decide if there a prediction or coincidence that took place.

Reading The Simpsons Secret was a first for me. I did not grow up watching the show but had heard about it most of my life, especially in recent years when Trump became president and when Kobe died. I thought the authors presented both types of information (factual and scripted) well. You'll need your tin-foil hat on during and after you read it!


The Next Supper: The End of Restaurants as We Knew Them, and What Comes After

Former cook and restaurant critic Corey Mintz wants to "find a better way for eating out" without supporting horrific business practices common to the dining industry. COVID-19, of course, devastated the industry and supermarkets rushed in to fill part of the void as meal providers. This further crippled struggling restaurants, as did food delivery services. The latter often reduce meager profits for restaurants rather than increasing them.

Mintz exhaustively covers the problems and issues that plague restaurants. In this respect, he continues the work begun by the late Anthony Bourdain. As he well illustrates, these problems can be made worse by customers who are not alway right. Fortunately, this is not one of those nonfiction books intended to create massive feelings of guilt and powerlessness in its readers. Mintz optimistically believes that there's a better future for restaurants and seeks to enlist every one of us in making that future a reality.

As restaurants and supermarket chains compete, they create and respond to consumer needs and demands. Informed customers can demand improvements that benefit both food workers and the American public. The Next Supper serves as more than a depressing expose. It charts out a path for a better tomorrow.


Va va Voom Vegan Cakes: More than 50 recipes for vegan-friendly bakes that not only taste great but look amazing!

If you thought that cutting out dairy and eggs meant you could no longer enjoy scrumptious desserts, think again! Food stylist Angela Romeo has applied her considerable skills to the art of vegan baking, and the result is this lovely book of delectable cakes. Va Va Voom Vegan Cakes is full of dozens of recipes for vegan-friendly desserts, from simple sponge cakes to brownies to Bundt cakes, and everything in between! You’ll find recipes for everyday cakes as well as fancier concoctions suitable for holidays and parties. Gorgeous photos by Clare Winfield highlight the majestic lengths you can take these cakes to, but even if your decorating skills are mediocre at best the results of these recipes will still be delicious! The best part is that these recipes all contain everyday ingredients available in most grocery stores, making every cake accessible to all. Whether you’re vegan, veg-curious, or dealing with food allergies, these recipes promise delicious results for everyone.


Before We Disappear


Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War

History Roundup

As Carl Sagan (1980) noted, “You have to know the past to understand the present,” and all five books included in this roundup can help you to develop just such an understanding. Examining subjects as diverse as an apparently doomed expedition to the South Pole, art portraying the American Revolution, the history of emotion, libraries from around the world, and the legacy of slavery in contemporary US society, these fives books are sure to both educate and entertain.

A Human History of Emotion: How the Way We Feel Built the World We Know by Richard Firth-Godbehere

In A Human History of Emotion, Richard Firth-Godbehere sets out to answer a couple of very weighty questions: How have emotions shaped the course of human history? How have humanity’s experience and understanding of emotions evolved with them? A major distinction that is often drawn between humans and other living creatures concerns the fact that humans are said to be rational beings, capable of reasoning and calculating in order to survive. However, even the quickest glance back at human history reveals events and situations that appear to disprove this apparent rationality, clearly hinging on emotions rather than on facts. In light of this, Firth-Godbehere guides readers through the highly important yet often overlooked roles that emotions have played in human societies across both time and geography. Drawing on fields of research as diverse as psychology, art, neuroscience, and theology, he explains how the understanding and experience of emotions have changed over time as well as how human beliefs regarding emotions have shaped both the species and the world in which people live.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton

When the Belgica set sail in August 1897 hopes were high for the voyage and the crew were looking forward to being the first scientific expedition to reach the snowy wilderness of the South Pole. However, hope fairly quickly turned to despair when the ship became stuck in ice in the Bellinghausen Sea, making it likely that the crew would have to endure an Antarctic winter and the associated months of endless polar night. Things managed to get even worse when an unidentified illness swept through the crew and, coupled with growing fears about the numerous rats that were attacking supplies in the hold of the ship, took an extremely heavy psychological toll. In Madhouse at the End of the Earth, Julian Sancton explains how two officers––Frederick Cook, the ship’s doctor, and Roald Amundsen, the first mate––hatched a daring plan to free the Belgica from the ice, a plan that would either save them or doom them all. Sancton draws on diaries, journals, and the ship’s logbook to bring to life a perilous Antarctic adventure worthy of a thriller.

The Library: A Fragile History by Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen

With The Library: A Fragile History, Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen offer the first major historical investigation of the library as both a concept and an institution (and perhaps as an obsession, too). Libraries nowadays come in all shapes and sizes, from former phone boxes to brutalist 1950s structures to glorious conversions of historical buildings, and they cater to a wide range of tastes. They also now fulfill many functions that would cause the librarians at Alexandria to scratch their heads. However, the quiet and thoughtful atmosphere that typically characterizes libraries belies their turbulent and sometimes controversial history. Pettegree and der Weduwen explore that fractured history, taking in famous collections from the ancient world, personal archives, cash-strapped contemporary resources, and everything in between. In doing so, they introduce some of the famous and infamous individuals who have contributed to compiling the world’s greatest book collections, track changing trends, and reveal the sometimes extreme lengths people have gone to in order to secure particular manuscripts.

Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War by Don Troiani and the Museum of the American Revolution

American artist Don Troiani is famed for his historical paintings, which principally focus on the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. Known for being highly detailed and realistic, his oil and watercolor works have been featured in numerous history books, art compilations, and military and government exhibitions. His most famous paintings portray crucial moments from American history, such as the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill and the American and French victory at Yorktown in 1781. Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War serves as the catalog for the exhibition of Troiani’s work currently being held at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, which runs until September 5, 2022. Highlighting key moments from America’s revolutionary history and elucidating Troiani’s research and artistic processes, the exhibition matches forty of his paintings with forty artifacts from various collections, which are all beautifully reproduced in the catalog. The book also features Troiani’s latest work, a painting of African American sailor James Forten watching as Black and Native American Continental Army troops march past Independence Hall on their way to Yorktown.

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones

When an unprepossessing ship carrying enslaved people from Africa arrived in the British colony of Virginia in August 1619, it marked the start of the barbaric practice of human chattel slavery in America, which would continue for around two hundred and fifty years. This practice has been described as America’s “original sin,” and its impacts are still being felt today. The New York Times Magazine launched the “1619 Project” in an effort to reframe understanding of American history by situating slavery and its ongoing consequences at the heart of the narrative. The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story expands that initial project by collecting eighteen essays that explore the legacy of slavery in contemporary American society alongside thirty-six poems and narratives that portray instances of struggle and resistance. Together, these works speak directly to the present moment, situating long-standing systems of race and oppression in the context of daily life today. They shine light on overlooked moments from the birth of the country as well as on upspoken issues within the constitution, and they elucidate how the legacy of slavery continues to cast a shadow over American life.


In Another Light: A Novel

It's been three years since Phoebe's life-changing accident, and everyone, including herself, wonders how she'll keep going. Three years ago, Phoebe lost everything and coasts through her days since; working in a mortuary might not help too much, either. One day, the body of a younger woman arrives at the morgue, causing Phoebe to question everything she thought she knew about herself and those closest to her and see things //In Another Light//. Phoebe feels it is up to her to discover her truth as she can't trust anyone; will she find what she needs in time or succumb to the mind's twisted ways?

I thoroughly enjoyed In Another Light; the story made me feel so much that it confused me at times. I loved the awareness it brought to mental health. I noticed similarities in Banner's current work as her previous novel, After Nightfall, along with authors Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn, and Liane Moriarty. The common theme seems to be vigorous females driven by the actions of a confused male who doesn't know how to act appropriately around women. The story is in bite-sized pieces, enough to keep you going with a dull chapter nowhere in sight.