The Sand Elephant

The Sand Elephant is a good book about meeting a new friend beyond your imagination. An elephant says a little rhyme and then voila, there is a huge sandcastle in front of you. There is a little boy in the story who is lonely and wants somebody to play with. Kids eight and younger would enjoy this book because as you grow older your imagination gets less and less. The illustrations are imaginative. It seems like you’re in a land of your own when you’re reading it. It's nice to read a book that is not like any other story you've ever read or heard before. If you like this book you might also like the original Olivia and Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Splash! because there are sandcastles in both of them.


Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration is a story about loving the skin you are in. It celebrates being happy with your skin color and comparing it to different things that the character really enjoys. This book had pretty pictures but it was hard to read. There are a lot of words that need an adult to help with pronunciation or defining. Even after my mother read the book out loud, it still did not appeal to me. I think this should be a teenage level book.


Gloria's Big Problem

Sarah Stiles Bright, with illustrations by Mike Deas

Gloria loves to sing. She sings opera, she sings rock, and she sings musical theatre numbers. But she only sings when she is alone. She would like to sing for other people, but she has a Big Problem that follows her everywhere, and that Big Problem fills her head with all the things that could go wrong if she were to, say, go to the movies with a friend, or stay at a friend’s house overnight, or sing out loud in music class or at a birthday party or anywhere else. Her brother and his friends laugh at her; her parents are dismissive. When there is an open call for the town musical, kids from all over town are going to audition and Gloria finds herself in the auditorium with her Big Problem. Can she find a way to fulfill her desire to audition?

Sarah Stiles Bright has written a clever story for young people to help them overcome their fears and insecurities. Illustrator Mike Deas has created a very cute representation of the Big Problem many kids have that completes this cute picture book nicely. This text-heavy picture book is perfect for youngsters six to eight years old.


Why We Can't Sleep: Women's New Midlife Crisis

It’s impossible to recommend this book highly enough to anyone who identifies as a Gen Xer or to those who love one.

Why We Can’t Sleep is a story with GUTS. It explores why women of a certain age and generation have been largely marginalized, partially by society and partially by their own choices, facing a world they were not prepared for. It addresses those big feelings women face in middle age—namely, I have everything I wanted (or, conversely, I have nothing that I wanted) so WHY am I so unhappy?

The experience of Gen X women in middle age is a unique one, smashed between the “you can have it all” message and the reality of feeling constant inadequacy and failure. Calhoun lets her readers know that it’s not their fault they feel like they do, gives context to their suffering, and offers light at the end of the tunnel that doesn’t have to do with death and taxes. She doesn’t flinch from brutal truths as she explores the context of how Gen X found itself in this situation. She leaves readers feeling that Gen X women are not irrelevant and have not been forgotten.


Fatal Roots: A County Cork Mystery

Maura Donovan is busy trying to manage her pub in the Irish village of Leap. Her estranged mother has just returned from Chicago with Maura's half-sister, Susan, in tow. It's the first time Maura and Susan have met, and Maura's hoping Susan will be able to spend some time in the pub while her mother tends to business dealings in Cork. At the same time, three graduate students arrive at Maura's cottage, looking for fairy forts. Maura doesn't know anything about these prehistoric sites, but it appears she owns the land where at least one fort exists. When one of the students disappears without a trace, Maura and her friend Mick decide to take a look around the fort. That's when they find a decade's old body, which might hold some clues to Maura's past.

Although I felt this one started a bit slowly, it did get better the further I got into the story. The best thing about Connolly's writing is that she can make the reader feel like they are just as much a part of the community in her book as the characters she creates. This is a cozy and charming mystery. Fans of this series will feel like they've returned home to reconnect with old friends.


100 Easy STEAM Activities: Awesome Hands-On Projects for Aspiring Artists and Engineers

100 Easy STEAM Activities is the ultimate no-bored-day type of book out there, especially for those who love conducting experiments and learning something in a fun way! As the second half of the title explains, it is for the "aspiring artists and engineers" in the world. The activities are broken up into sections for easy retrieval; great for those interested in science experiments, technology, engineering challenges, art projects, math activities, toddler steam ideas, seasonal steam activities, and sensory STEAM ideas. Each section contains multiple activities, all of them being on the simpler side to perform. The materials are all ones you'd either already have around the house or would be easy to obtain. Complimentary to this book is Andrea Scalzo Yi's website, Raisingdragons.com, that includes pictures and video of many of the activities to ensure that you have no excuses for not engaging in these fun and educational activities.

I can see this book working in a variety of settings, basically any environment in which you deal with kids. These activities would work for mothers as well as teachers, daycare workers, and therapists. The pictures are bright and informative—the whole book is a sure-fire hit for the little ones!


Nesting

Nesting is a book about little robins and how they grow up. It helps you to learn a bit about their lives and about a predator they fight off. You’ll also learn more about what a mama bird does, from laying the eggs to teaching her babies to fly.

This book is good for young naturalists who are interested in birds. The kids who will be most interested are aged 6-9 years old, depending on their attention span, but everyone can read it. The illustrations are clever even though they are only in black and white with some blue. The author has been really clever about weaving a story around teaching kids about birds.


The Moon Keeper

The night creatures have appointed Emile the new moon keeper, and it is a very important job. Emile climbs a ladder to meet the moon and realizes for the first time how beautiful and round it is. Emile keeps watch for several nights, shooing away a few clouds and fruit bats, but there isn’t a lot to do. He does find the moon nice to talk to. One evening, he notices that the moon is getting smaller. His neighbors notice, too, and Emile even calls his cousin to find out if the moon looks different in the jungle. It isn’t good news. The moon seems to be disappearing.

Written and illustrated by Zosienka, The Moon Keeper is a story about change and how scary it can be, especially for the youngest of readers. Emile must go on a journey. He doesn’t understand what is happening to the moon, but he knows that he doesn’t like it. Emile learns from a large green bird that things come and go. The darkness is only temporary, and the light of the moon eventually returns. Zosienka gives readers a gentle bedtime story with a new perspective on the moon, and her illustrations' soft colors against a dark backdrop give the book a classic feel.


I Believe I Can

Children of every race, creed, and gender have great potential to become whatever they want to be. They will discover their potential through imagination and play, through trying and believing. This book will open children up to the idea of exploring their ideas and stretching their virtual wings. They will see themselves in the charming, vibrant illustrations and hear their voices in the simple rhyming couplets that express the imaginative thoughts of youngsters: “I am like the lion’s roar. I am like a dragon’s flames. / I’m worthy because I’m me, and there is value to my name.” Each couplet is designed to remind children of their valuable contribution to society and their worth as part of the human story. The illustrations capture the tapestry of humankind and represent the true diversity of our country. There are several instances of near rhymes and sometimes the meter is a little off, but the messages are all good for kids to hear and will build confidence and encourage youngsters to try new things. This will be a good read-aloud in kindergarten and early elementary classrooms as well as at home.


Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime

Derek Fridolfs, with illustrations by Dustin Nguyen

Batman has one of the most eclectic and colorful rogue's galleries of villains in all of comics, and more than a few of them—like the Mad Hatter, the Clock King, Crazy Quilt, and Kite Man—are cartoonish in the extreme. Still, it should come as no surprise that both the Dark Knight and his myriad foes make perfect fodder for a fairy tale reinvention.

And that's just what Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen have in store for readers with Batman Tales: Once Upon a Crime. Delightfully mashing up fairy tales and children's stories with the world of Batman creates not only the opportunity to lighten up an often grim storytelling universe but also allows for surprising insight and clever juxtaposition. After all, it's easy to forget that the deadly Damien Wayne is still a child, so seeing him live out the life of Pinocchio isn't just funny, it's poignant.

The art is vibrant and welcoming, a cheerful departure from the usual Gotham palette, and with four fairy tales to retell with the Batfamily involved, there are numerous chances for Nguyen to put his own silly, but often beautiful, twists on both the characters and the stories. (The closing tale is particularly gorgeous and haunting.)

Longtime readers of Batman have seen all sorts of different variations on the character, from the malicious Batman Who Laughs to a bloodthirsty, vampiric Batman, from a Victorian-era vigilante to the World's Greatest Detective. But you've never seen Batman or his litany of villains quite like this.


Two Little Trains

Margaret Wise Brown, with illustrations by Greg Pizzoli

Two Little Trains was a good book. The puff puff and the chug chug parts were my favorite part. It’s the story of two trains, the streamlined train and an old-fashioned train, on their trip to the West and the hazards and obstacles they face on their journey. They head from one stop to the other, then stop in the West.

This book is a lot like Margaret Wise Brown’s other books, like Goodnight, Moon and The Big Red Barn. I like how it rhymes and is really soothing and calming. The cadence sounds like trains on the track.
This is a great book for other kids who love Margaret Wise Brown. Or kids who love trains. Parents can like it too. I know mine did!


Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality

The idea of gender inequality is not a new problem, it has been an issue for thousands of years. In 1929, the esteemed British novelist Virginia Woolf posed a question and statement that will forever be remembered among feminists. In her time, Woolf was concerned about why there were no women mentioned as authors or main contributors to literacy in Shakespeare’s era. Thanks to her comments, the modified phrase, and the title of this informational piece are rightly said as Anonymous is a Woman. Nina Ansary has committed her research in this book to helping women receive the recognition they deserve by delivering statistics to prove her points and recognizing women from history who accomplished amazing feats for their time and received little to no praise. The statistics that Ansary delivers are astounding; even taking into account the statistics from a decade ago, so many countries around the world still practice gender-based discrimination, and by doing this they are degrading women. Even in the area of death, women are underrepresented in obituaries compared to men! Pulling from different worldly theories, Ansary compares gender inequality to the Chinese yin-yang to illustrate how men and women must be able to work together in order to make a successful whole instead of mediocre halves. To break down the barrier of gender inequality will allow for our society to function at its peak performance (which we’ve yet to see) by bringing in more money for the economy and increased self-esteem among all the citizens of the world.

The facts that Ansary presents cannot be ignored, but unfortunately will fall onto deaf ears when heard among most men. The format in which they are presented in this book is pleasing; the facts that promote the issue are presented in the first half, then the lives and contributions of many women from history are briefly discussed. The beginning of each new woman to be addressed includes a gorgeous painting of them, putting a possible face to each name with wispy watercolor strokes of grays, browns, and blacks. The women presented did remarkable things, not just for a woman but for any human being. Some of the occupations of these women include being the first known, or most successful for her time, astronomer, chemist, medic, mathematician, designer of astrolabes, poet, anatomist, resistance leader, philosopher, composer, creator of aquariums, worker on global warming, painter, and surgeon, among many more. Immersing yourself in this book will prove beneficial to your historical knowledge, as well as your appreciation for women. Not only a women’s book, Anonymous is a Woman can be a learning tool for men and women alike, with insightful information galore.


Beijing: A Symmetrical City

Beijing is one of the most historically relevant antiquated cities in the world. It was built in 1046 BC, around the same time as Rome. In the early part of the first millennium, it became the capital of ancient China and became known as one of the most prosperous cities in the world with people trickling in from all over the globe. Today, it spans six thousand, four-hundred and ninety square-miles and has a population of 21.7 million. While a symmetrical layout is not a requirement for new parts of Beijing, it has kept its central axis as part of its cultural heritage. Constructing symmetrical cities has long been a trademark of Chinese culture and reflects the etiquette, order, and harmonious beauty the Chinese people hold dear.

Dawu Yu’s Beijing - A Symmetrical City focuses on this ancient city and the architecture that defined it during the reign of the Qing Dynasty (1632-1912). Yu walks the reader through the central axis of Beijing, which begins at the Forever Stable Gate in the south and ends at the infamous Bell and Drum Towers in the north. It spans a distance of approximately 4.85 miles with the Imperial Palace, otherwise known as the Forbidden City, centrally located.

Interestingly, the author grew up “in an ordinary alley inside the Stability Gate of Beijing.” As a child, he played around the Bell and Drum Towers and later participated in painting classes at the Youth Palace. It’s clear his knowledge of this archaic site is vast. The facts embedded in this children’s picture book are numerous, and the detailed illustrations are plentiful, spanning nearly every page. Some of them are relatively dull and somewhat difficult to follow, while others are beautifully displayed in pastel hues with well-labeled locales and points of distinction. The material concerning the architecture of the city itself is comprehensive, but the scope outside of that is quite limited. Due to this as well as the style of presentation of the content, only a small, select group of children will likely find interest in this non-fiction work. It may have a wider appeal to adult audiences and those specifically interested in architecture and/or ancient establishments. The fun facts and knowledge tips the author includes do assist in breaking up the monotony of the text to some degree. However, if additional ones are sprinkled throughout the content, along with child-friendly font and a vibrant color scheme, Beijing: A Symmetrical City can be enhanced considerably. Weaving in information regarding the role of children during this time in Beijing’s history may be a worthy inclusion as well. Further, illustrations of youth to accompany the supplementary text may serve to increase its significance to the intended audience. Perhaps Yan Liu, who made adaptations to the content already, may be able to provide more substantial ones, drawing in youth to its appeal.


Four Faces of Femininity: Heroic Women Throughout History

The Four Faces of Femininity is an educational and introspective jaunt through the lives and trials of women in the world. Divided into four sections—Mother, Lover, Warrior and Sage—the book mixes short history lessons on impactful women with a grander lesson about what women can accomplish when given proper support. Each section is bookended by a description of what each archetype of women means for us now and can mean in the future, as well as a brief check-in where the reader is asked to connect the archetype and the women profiled to their own life. The result is an informative, engaging and inspiring book that is impossible to put down. The Four Faces of Femininity will teach you something new, and give you hope for the feminine future.


The Legend of King Arthur-a-tops

Mo O'Hara, with illustrations by Andrew Joyner

Once upon a time, there was a swamp called Camelot where young squires trained to be knights. Arthur-a-tops tries to be a good squire, but he just doesn’t succeed at much until…he pulls the horn from the stone. Because of his lack of skills, the people question whether he should be king until he puts his horn in the stone and pulls it off, revealing golden rings around his horn.

I love this concept, combining King Arthur and dinosaurs. The text seemed too long. I would recommend this for six to eight-year-olds. Mostly, I think the text fell flat. It just did not seem to have the creativity to go with the illustrations.

The illustrations were good. I think the colors could have been brighter. They seemed more reserved, which doesn’t attract children’s attention as much. I really love the cover art.

My six-year-old listened to the book, but didn’t ask me to read it again. He said, “I thought it was going to be super funny, but it wasn’t very funny. I just didn’t like it. I didn’t like the rock from outer space at the end coming to kill all the dinosaurs.”


The Chaos Curse (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #3)

The Chaos Curse is Book Three in the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series. Kiranmala, Tuni, a tiger named Bunty, and a lizard named Tiktiki One travel to her hometown of Parsippany, New Jersey, to free her friend Prince Lal from his imprisonment inside a tree. This quest should be easy, after all; this town is Kiran’s home. But when she arrives, everything is wrong!  Her parents are tax accountants, her arch-enemy is now her best friend, her companions have disappeared, and on top of that, a strange boy named Ned claims to know her.  As Kiran tries to escape this twisted version of her home, reality around her becomes increasingly complicated. Stories clash together, and the Kingdom Beyond falls into disarray.

Will Kiran and her friends be able to fix this new horror? Or will the Kingdom Beyond and all the universe succumb to the madness that is chaos?

This book weaves a fast-paced story that takes the reader on a thrilling adventure through the Kingdom Beyond and back.  With plenty of surprises, twists, and turns, The Chaos Curse is a perfect read.


The Faking of the President: Nineteen Stories of White House Noir

The Faking of the President is a collection of vignettes by several authors, some of whom are well-known. The stories all deal with history and politics, but in the vein of historical fiction, fanfiction, and noir. For example, in one story, George W. Bush is an unwitting patsy in a global conspiracy. In another, Eleanor Roosevelt manages to change the course of history by going over her husband’s head regarding refugees in 1939. In another, a researcher finds proof of James Buchanan’s gayness. Each story takes an aspect of real history and gives it a dark spin.

In many ways, the collection is a lot of fun. There’s a schadenfreude aspect to some of it; I imagined the authors smiling and rubbing their hands in delight at the fictional moments they create. I typically enjoy short stories or vignettes, and this timely subject matter – the state of our Republic, the free press, politicians’ motives, etc. – is on most Americans’ minds. The Faking of the President offers a comical and twisted version of our history. I enjoyed looking up some of the historical background behind the vignettes, and some of the collection is creative. I smiled quite a bit. However, some of these stories seemed very rushed and incomplete. Some had a silliness to their endings that I felt was a letdown and cringy. It’s a really uneven collection. I found that I had to be in the exact right mood to find the fun in these stories, given the seriousness of our national news and the unevenness of the quality of the stories.


The Gobblin' Society

The Gobblin' Society is an exciting, bizarre, page-turning murder-mystery in the beloved Langdon St. Ives series. This time around, Langdon's wife, Alice, is the recipient of a house, Seaward, left by her uncle after his death. Excited and nervous, the couple ventures out to explore their new inheritance. People from her past emerge, as well as others unknown to them. Together, they discover a secret society, aka "The Gobblin' Society," composed of a few men with extraordinary culinary tastes who have other plans for Seaward and who will stop at nothing to keep their plans at large.

This is my first Langdon St. Ives mystery, and will hopefully not be my last. It is fun when you discover a new series, but like in the case of reading this book, I found a few parts to be confusing, probably mostly because I am unaware of these characters and their previous adventures. The adventure in The Gobblin' Society was different for sure: themes of murder, manipulation, cannibalism, and thievery were all touched on and performed very well. The setting is overseas, so there are some cultural differences in the text for readers in America, but if you're familiar with works by Agatha Christie or P.D. James then you'll enjoy this piece of art.


Struggle: No Obstacle Is Too Great

“When I meet new people, the fact that I’m an immigrant leads to all sorts of strange assumptions. People assume that I’m uneducated or that I only got my education once I arrived in the United States, as if this is the only country in the world with universities. They assume that since I was born and raised in Iran that I’m a Muslim. They assume that my marriage must have been abusive relationship. They assume that I grew up poor. And they assume that all of my problems ended as soon as I arrived in the United States. None of those assumptions are accurate.”

So starts Struggle: No Obstacle is Too Great, a memoir of a determined woman who came to the U.S. with her two sons and nearly no material possessions or money.

Her driving force was to escape Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and provide a better life for her sons. She left behind a respected and well-paying medical practice, elevated social status and extended family. This succinct memoir illuminates the powerful force of a mother’s love and how curiosity and relentless hard work can overcome nearly any obstacle.

Talla Spaul has a strong, direct voice. Reading her clear, spare prose, I could easily imagine her telling this story to a close friend or acquaintance. She conveys the difficult parts of her story (of which there are several) without lingering or analysis. As a reader, I was rooting for her, while undoubtedly knowing she would prevail. She experienced several wrenching losses before reaching U.S. soil, including the death of her mother and the disappearance of her life savings. I do wish she had explored these losses more, particularly that of her mother, who passed away on the return flight to Iraq.

Once in the U.S., Maryam meets the director of an environmental occupational medicine firm while at a course to gain her medical license in the U.S. He offers her a job, and she leaves the course to pursue the job opportunity. Thus begins Talla’s association with William, who provides her with an income and occupation, allowing her to provide for her sons. William is also responsible for much of Talla’s later pain and illness. In spite of this, Talla manages to travel to China alone, not knowing any Chinese, to learn the principles and practice of Qigong, an ancient system of rhythmic breathing, deliberate movements, and meditation. Talla’s practice of Qigong informs her perspective of her past, present, and future.

Reading this memoir, I could only marvel at this woman’s internal strength. She endured so much, yet she succeeded in many ways and learned to let go of her anger at those who wronged her.


Struggle: No Obstacle Is Too Great

Struggle is the amazing autobiographical account of a woman who jumps through hoops to secure a better life for herself and her two sons. This is a book for anyone who takes life for granted or wants to see what it’s like for an immigrant who comes over with nothing but a few dollars and the clothes on their back and tries to make a better life for themselves. What I liked most about the main character, or author if you will, is her perseverance. When she leaves Iran, she also leaves behind her husband and the father of her two children. To be honest, I think if I have one major qualm about the author it’s that she does not pick very good spouses. Both her husband in Iran and her new husband in the United States do not give her what I think a husband should give his wife. Both men are disrespectful in their own ways. A doctor in Iran, Talla comes over to the United States to live with her sister to start a whole new life, a better life, since the religious culture in Iran is starting to become quite dangerous. Her two sons are still school-aged, and while reading the book I have to admit that I was so happy that she had her sister, Majin, and her sister’s husband, Sony, to help her through the tough times. She talks about living in a tiny apartment in Harlem so disgusting and dangerous that she sleeps on her own unpacked suitcase and about also in someone’s closet for twelve dollars a day. Humanity was not lost though, as the author finds kind people who help her out while she is going to school in New York. Struggle is a touching story that made me more thankful for all of the blessings I have in my life. The author’s spiritual journey is wonderful, and I was very impressed that she flew to China to learn the art of Qigong under Grand Master Zhu. The author is a constant learner with a never-give-up attitude even when things are in a dire state. Gratitude is something that is best taught through anecdotal stories such as this because it teaches the reader that there are others out there who have less than them and who still push through and create the lives they want against all odds. This would be a wonderful story for high school children to read to gain perspective. I fully enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to all ages all over the world.


Learning to Quit: How to Stop Smoking and Live Free of Nicotine Addiction

Learning to Quit: How To Stop Smoking And Live Free Of Nicotine Addiction by Suzanne Harris, RN, NCTTP and Paul Brunetta, MD addresses the concerns, issues, and difficulties associated with the process of quitting smoking. Parts One and Two thoroughly cover in fifteen chapters a variety of topics and questions that typically arise for those looking to quit smoking. Through the words and experiences of the authors and other former smokers, readers will find a sense of community and a support system overflowing with those that know this dependence first hand. Throughout Part One, Harris and Brunetta provide a variety of first-hand accounts that showcase personal insights into the quitting process. The authors thoughtfully set the tone from the beginning, explaining that quitting “is a very personal process. Some people want lots of medical information and explanations. Others get inspiration from true-life stories… Pick and choose which parts of this book are of use to you, trusting yourself to be drawn to what will be the most meaningful… This book is a tool, so use it like one.” These experiences illustrate how various individuals have overcome certain obstacles and how to avoid foreseeable missteps. The personal narratives fall within several helpful categories such as “What Moves You To Be a Nonsmoker,” “What Keeps You Smoking,” and “I’m Already Sick, So What’s The Difference If I Smoke?” Part Two expands on the topics raised in Part One and incorporates the medical portion of the conversation to examine how nicotine impacts cancer and cardiovascular risks. Moreover, Part Two explores highly-advertised alternatives on the market such as nicotine patches and vaping tools, as well as less-familiar options like acupuncture and hypnosis. Harris and Brunetta put together an approachable handbook that supports readers regardless of where they are in the process. Readers can look through individual chapters that speak directly to their circumstances or read the whole thing cover to cover. The “Three Key Points” at the end of each chapter provide reflective topics to encourage journaling and refocusing again and again on your individual intentions throughout this process. However a reader chooses to engage with this book, each will find reassurance and comfort within the pages of/Learning to Quit. It’s exceptional guidance and support throughout the entire process earns this book its rating. You’ll be glad you picked up a copy and took the early steps to quitting smoking. It’s never too early or too late to take a step in the right direction. Take control of your health and life today!


The Institute

Seventeen-year-old Gabriel Rucker has tried to keep his stepbrother, Michael, out of trouble. When Michael’s bad influence starts rubbing off on their younger brother, Aaron, their parents look to the Serenity Institute for help. The Institute boasts of a new therapy that will transform unruly youth into model teenagers. The place seems too good to be true, with its charming Village community and perfect lawns, but the Rucker family is desperate. They send Michael to the Institute with the hope that it can help control him.

A scientist nicknamed Scarecrow is the creator of this new therapy, which was designed to change violent and antisocial behavior in adolescents. With patient XXIX, the procedure is finally a success. Scarecrow’s seventeen-year-old protégé, Melissa, understands his passion for the work, but during an experiment with XXIX, the truth behind the new therapy is finally revealed. Scarecrow has been surgically inserting a mind-altering chip into the brain of his patients. When he pushes the buttons on a remote control, it causes them to react with calm or violent tendencies. Although Melissa is disturbed by what she sees, she is torn between revealing the truth and supporting Scarecrow. She believes him to be a man of God who thinks he’s bettering the world with this procedure. His mission is to save humankind, but Scarecrow has been experimenting on patients with the madness of Dr. Frankenstein.

Thanks to his twin best friends, Donnie and Daniel, Gabriel finds out some disturbing things about the Institute. The more he learns, the more he fears he may lose his brother. The twins start digging into the place and discover a link between it and the death of their mother and sister. Gabriel and his friends journey to the Institute to rescue Michael and join up with Melissa. Melissa finally meets the face of the boy she has been dreaming about.

J.R. Wirth’s The Institute is an action-packed story with a little romance thrown in. Told from a multi-character perspective, a group of teenagers must rescue a patient from the Institute before he undergoes a surgery that will likely destroy his mind. Wirth interweaves biblical lore with a suspenseful tale, paralleling the characters’ religious beliefs with the scientist’s moral imperative. Although there is a lot of head-hopping throughout the book as each chapter is written from a different character’s perspective, the quick pace and mystery behind the Institute make it hard to put down.

undecided no release date yet or decision on publisher


You Can't F*ck Up Your Kids: A Judgment-Free Guide to Stress-Free Parenting

Author, editor, and mother Lindsay Powers has spent a long time trying to help parents go easier on themselves, as it sometimes seems like every kid and baby-related topic is loaded with hard choices and harsh judgment. As the creator of the #NoShameParenting movement, Powers has used her influence to help, and her new book, You Can’t F*ck Up Your Kids is the logical next step in that mission. In it, the author dives into some of the most contentious issues in modern parenting, from breastfeeding to sleep training to discipline, and evaluates some of the latest research to help parents understand that truly, we need to make the decisions that are best for our families and understand that most kids will turn out just fine regardless. While the idea behind the book is sound, and nearly every parent can get behind the idea of not judging or shaming one another for the decisions we make, Powers’s tone comes off a bit abrasive at times, and her own personal views make it pretty clear that she doesn’t think much of “gentle” or “attachment” parenting practices…or the people who follow them. The book also loses some credibility based on some of the sources she cites (specifically former OBGYN Amy Tuteur, who is well-known for openly attacking people she disagrees with over the internet) and how heavily she draws on the work of others (one chapter spent a surprising amount of time rehashing the work of statistician Emily Oster, already detailed in Oster’s own book). The book has good intentions but ultimately fell short of expectations.


Lost Hills (Eve Ronin)

Lee Goldberg has graced us with yet another masterfully-written detective series. In Lost Hills, the first book of the Eve Ronin series, we follow this heroine as she ventures to solve her first case after being promoted to the homicide division. Ronin has a reputation preceding herself thanks to a YouTube video that gained much popularity. Now in her new role, she must work with her partner to solve a murder that has left a house looking like blood should be the pattern for the wallpaper and carpet, with a mother and two children as potential victims. With each new clue to the case, Ronin is discovering parallels from the single mother’s life to her own life with a single mother, all of which are not pleasant to deal with. Ronin must resolve with her own personal issues if she can hope to solve this complicated murder.

Goldberg has completed another realistic detective novel that makes the reader feel as if they are working alongside Ronin and witnessing her kick-butt attitude toward everything in life. I had read Goldberg’s Ian Ludlow series, so I was excited to start his newest one – and he did not disappoint. The story gets straight to the point and allows nothing to get in its way as you sit tight for the ride.


Witches of Ash and Ruin

Dayna cannot wait to become a witch with all the powers that it brings once she identifies with a god. For now, she is trying to appease her father, the Reverend, and avoid classmates as they continue to torment her, since someone outed her as bisexual. Her coven of witches, which includes her best friend, Reagan, is the best thing in her life right now. When Meiner and Cora arrive with their grandmother to help end the Butcher’s serial reign of terror against witches, Dayna is distracted by Meiner and concerned with whispers of dark magic while trying to ascend and become a full witch. As the group of women get closer to the force behind the Butcher’s slayings, their lives will be in danger by a power they fear may only be stopped with a sacrifice they cannot give.

Based on Celtic mythology but using modern witchcraft, the story is dark and violent. Chapters alternate between characters, so readers know the direction of the story and don’t have to wait for secrets to be revealed.   While some characters and storylines are not fully fleshed out, the plot moves quickly and makes for good discussion afterward.


Flipping ADHD on Its Head: How to Turn Your Child's Disability into Their Greatest Strength

Being a parent is hard. Your mindset about how you think your child should behave will determine how you will deal with your child if it so happens that they get diagnosed with a "disability" such as ADHD. But is ADHD really a bad thing? Dr. Jim Poole wrote the book Flipping ADHD on its Head to drive it home to everyone that no, it's not. Having personal experience with ADHD, Dr. Poole knows what it is like from the perspective of the child as well as from the parent. Working with parents and professionals, he created a company named FastBraiin. FastBraiin is a holistic approach that works through the mindset of positivity and understanding how a fast brain can affect and be affected by different areas of your body.

The way that Dr. Poole writes is very professional and makes complete sense. For those who don't have a fast brain, it's harder to understand what others are going through, but it is a blessing that Dr. Poole is around to see the good, potential, and necessity in people through FastBraiin. His research and presentation are thorough, and it is clear that he cares deeply for the people he helps.


Major Impossible (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #9)

Overall, I think that Nathan Hale: Major Impossible is a good book. It is about a person named Major John Wesley Powell and his love for adventure. He decides to go on an expedition to the great unknown to find new places and claim the land. He gathers a group of people, boats, and supplies and sets out. On the journey, food is scarce, the terrain is rough, and the rushing waters can rip a boat into splinters. There is a lot of rain, making the expedition harder. The rapids get harsher as they go on. The weather is getting as hot as one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, and the walls of the canyon get even steeper and more vertical, making it harder to climb to get a good view of where they are going next. Some of the travelers are brought into a camp to wait until the South wins the Civil War, which is going on at the time. I loved the book personally, and I would recommend it to my friends, and everybody. I think it is a great, highly educational book that everybody could love.


Mananaland

This is an amazing book about a boy going on a quest to see what the future holds. Mananaland is about a boy named Maximiliano. He is almost twelve and will soon be able to try out for Santa Maria's fútbol team. After discovering a family secret, he embarks on a journey to see the future. He hopes to learn about his mother and find out if he will make the fútbol team. I really enjoyed this book, and it is now one of my favorite books. I like that Maximiliano decides to help Isadora, even though he doesn't really know what he's doing. I think he made a pretty good guardian, and I liked that his dog helped out on the journey as well. My favorite location was the stronghold La Reina Gigante, a place where the Hidden Ones would rest before moving on to the next safe place. I also liked the kitten, named Churro, and the Dog, named Lola. I would recommend this book to kids ages 9 to 13 who like adventure novels.


Mia Mayhem vs. the Mighty Robot (6)

Mia Mayhem goes to her friend Eddie’s house and discovers he has built a handy robot. Later, when she goes to Saturday class at PITS, her superhero school, she is practicing how to use two new gadgets, the Maximizer and Minimizer. Back at Eddie’s house, the Maximizer falls on the robot’s head and he starts to grow and destroy things. Can Mia Mayhem stop the robot and shrink him back down?

Mia is just a kid who learns she is a superhero, but that happens in an earlier book.   This is the sixth book in the series, so you may want to catch up on the earlier ones. Or you can just enjoy this one! I like books about schools that are different than normal, like in Harry Potter. There are different things to learn about than at regular schools, like gadgets. I also like the comic book style illustrations. Not many books do that. You can really see the action. They even have action lines showing throwing and flying. The print is large so this might be a good book for early chapter book readers. If you like robots and superheroes, you’ll like this book!

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers


Firefly Original Graphic Novel: The Sting

Delilah S. Dawson, with illustrations by Pius Bak

The crew of Serenity is on the planet Carolan to do their usual brand of work when they unexpectedly find themselves impounded. While Mal tries to sort things out, Inara takes the rest of the women on the crew to a local spa for some girl time. But things take a surprise turn when Saffron turns up with the offer of a sting operation—and she’s willing to blackmail them as needed to get their assistance. Inara, Zoe, Kaylee, and River team up to help Saffron steal a giant diamond, but can they really trust her?

Fans of Firefly will rejoice at the arrival of a new story from the ‘Verse, told in comic form that helps readers really get into the details. The ladies of Serenity are fan favorites, and it’s exciting and fun to see them teaming up like this for their own adventure in The Sting, even if it did take a questionable character like Saffron to make it happen. The story is a blast to read, and the sudden but inevitable betrayal of Saffron will keep readers engaged to the very end.


Bright in the Night

The book Bright in the Night is about light. It talks about lots of things in nature that have light, like Venus. I especially liked when it talks about mushrooms—some can glow! It was mostly about things that glow in the dark. I loved the pictures because they were really detailed. The cover was glow-in-the-dark; that was fun. The book moves from one kind of thing to another. I thought it was boring for me because I do not like books where it does not flow together. But people who like books that do not flow together might like it. It had a lot of facts. I do not recommend it for fun, but it would be good for studying things about light. Teachers or libraries would love it to look things up.


Remembering Ethan

Sarah loved her older brother with all her heart. He towered above her in height. He was handsome and able-bodied, but now that he’s gone and she so desperately wants to remember him, no one wants to listen.

The only one who seems to miss Ethan as much as she does is Buttons. She has found her feline comfort on Ethan’s bed, where she soundly sleeps with her tail gently wrapped around her body, his white and blue sock never far from her side. She’s become one of Sarah’s greatest comrades in the midst of her despair.

Then, one day, after finally realizing how deeply Sarah needs them, her parents decide it’s time to celebrate the vibrant life her brother had and the sacred memories that will always be part of their lives.

Remembering Ethan is a timely story concerning the loss of a loved one and the grief a young child and her parents inevitably experience. It is a valuable contribution to the seemingly limited body of children’s literature on the topic. It’s an ideal picture book for young people aged from five to nine who have experienced a recent loss.

Additionally, Leslea Newman’s touching story is perfect for educators to employ as a curriculum addition promoting understanding and empathy within the classroom. Therapists may find it a worthy resource for youngsters impacted by loss who are otherwise hard to reach. The warm illustrations throughout this poignant text bring it to life, adding emotion and realism to the contents.


Sidney Lumet: A Life

Sidney Lumet shined a light on humanity with his camera lens. His six-decade body of work graced the small screen, big screen, and the stage. He knew the human condition and left a piece of himself with every foot of film. His attempt to write his own history to be shared was sadly unfinished. Show business was ingrained in Sidney from the beginning, his father Baruch was an actor on the stage. Sidney received two educations in his impressionable years, school and stage. Life at home was dysfunctional, Baruch absent from his wife and children. Sidney’s mother battled mental health issues, while Baruch gallivanted with other women. Sidney and his sister attempted to run away but were unsuccessful. Sidney’s true escape would be to the army. The army provided Sidney with another education, particularly with respect to intolerance. After his service, the theater beckoned, but Sidney viewed being behind the scenes and directing as his calling. The wealth of work and quality proved this vision as prophetic.

Sidney Lumet: A Life marks what makes biographies endearing to readers. Maura Spiegel pens a moving, fascinating book about a true auteur. No stone is left unturned, the personal life mixed in with professional hits and misses. The impact of the late director and his legacy is displayed for all to view and appreciate. A+ read.


A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution

The issues surrounding the French Revolution were very complex, and there were multitudes of different players with competing passions and motivations—only some of which overlapped. The extremely rapid changes that took place over the course of only a few years are hard to follow, as power shifted from one group to the next, although always with the result of less power to the monarchy. From our vantage point, it is easy to think that the results of the Revolution were a foregone conclusion, but there were many inflection points where things could have turned out quite differently. The author here presents an all-encompassing explanation of those brief years in a weighty tome that nevertheless reads like a novel. Characters who, at first, seemed minor or merely illustrative, become major protagonists; ideas that, at first, were fringe, become seminal; and events race forward, snowballing to the death of the Republic and the rise of Napoleon. There is so much more to the French Revolution than the meager facts that confused you in school, and it is worth knowing. It is said that those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it. Those willing to look may find uncomfortably salient parallels to today.


Struggle: No Obstacle Is Too Great

Talla Spaul shares her tumultuous and captivating life story in her new memoir Struggle: No Obstacle Is Too Great. She begins her chronicle as a young mother and wife who is planning an exodus out of the country, in the early years following the Iranian Revolution. She yearns for her sons to grow up in a land of liberty instead of tyranny, where women are honored as equals and education is thought paramount. Due to Iranian law, she’s prohibited from exiting the country with the amount of money she’ll need to successfully make her voyage. She bravely formulates a plan to deposit money for safe-keeping into her cousin-in-law’s bank account in Turkey where she can later extract it, obtain a visa, and head onward to the United States with her kin. A myriad of unfortunate events prevents them from reaching their destination without losing much of what Talla has worked years to achieve. Once there, with much trepidation, she decides to leave her sons in school and in the safety of her sister’s home, while she pursues a six-month program in New York that will enable her to practice medicine in her new homeland. Just short of completing the program, she’s offered a well-paying job by one of her instructors that changes the course of her and her son’s lives considerably. Over the next several years, Talla is able to regain much of what she lost financially. She weathers the storm of divorce and later remarries. Though she never quite captures the essence of true love in her marriage, this Iranian-born woman of courage travels the globe, furthers her educational studies, and uncovers new dimensions of herself. Through her journey to find freedom, she is able to find an inner peace that previously she could only imagine.

Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, millions of Iranians fled the country, seeking refuge in lands with greater freedom. Talla was far from alone in her quest, and her memoir sheds notable light on how, in a matter of months, Iranian citizens could no longer traverse the streets without fear of arrest for exposing more of themselves than deemed appropriate by those appointed with authority. The author describes a time in which a member of the Revolutionary Guard tells her that her life will be threatened if she doesn’t cover her hair in public. The guards frequently visited her medical practice, demand it be shut down, for a woman was no longer allowed to see a man’s bare skin in public. In respects such as these, Talla’s story parallels that of many others who have written on the subject. However, it is unique in that once she and her children settle in the United States, she begins to chronicle her everyday life experiences and goals, often to the exclusion of others. Much of her story focuses solely on her and her own perceptions; while it could be enriched considerably by enlarging the scope. By including the feelings and perceptions of others around her, more depth could be bestowed upon her story. Additionally, although it may be unintentional, the negative tone she exudes at times casts a shadow of unnecessary darkness across the pages. Much to her credit, though, she does conclude her memoir on a positive and enlightening note, sharing with readers insights and knowledge she gained throughout her quest for liberty that may inevitably someday help them in their own lives. She also writes in a simplistic manner, making her narrative easy to follow and a relatively quick read.


Under the Broken Sky

Natsu is twelve and lives with her father and younger sister on a tiny farm in a small village in Manchuria. It is deep in World War II, and this little village is Japanese while surrounding villages are populated by the Chinese, Russians, and others, Manchuria having been settled by many nations. Natsu’s father is conscripted into the Japanese army, leaving the girls on their own with only an old aunty in the village to watch over them. Soon, everyone is driven from the village and must make a harrowing journey to a city where the girls lose the aunty to illness and face starvation. Natsu is forced to sell her sister to a Russian woman. Will she ever get her sister back, find their father, and make their way to Japan?

Author Mariko Nagai has written a story few young people (in fact, few adults) may know about. Her writing in verse is lyrical and beautiful, yet in no way softens the power and pain of this incredible slice of history. This is a terrific way to introduce readers to the story of Manchuria, which will engender research and more reading. This book is not to be missed.


Grow Kind

Jon Lasser, PhD and Sage Foster-Lasser, with illustrations by Christopher Lyles

Grow Kind is a story by Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser, illustrated by Christopher Lyles. This is a story all about Kiko and her garden. She uses her garden to help people. She helps her sister, her neighbors, and even a hungry lady. She also shares garden snacks with all of her school friends.

Kiko grows a garden to grow kind and teaches us how to be kind to others and grow kindness too. As my little sister says, “it’s a helping book.” And my mom likes how there are resources and how-tos for parents in the back and how even though the book is teaching a lesson, it’s still a story that makes you feel warm and fuzzy, and want to go walk through a garden.


Concussion Rescue: A Comprehensive Program to Heal Traumatic Brain Injury

The human brain is one key item in our body that is vital to our behavior and survival. Thinking of the phrase "out of sight, out of mind," our brain is covered by our skull and doesn't get as much sympathy from anyone as it should when it gets bumped or hurt. Dr. Kabran Chapek, a doctor for the Amen Clinics who specializes in traumatic brain injuries, has written Concussion Rescue  for people such as parents, teachers, and coaches to gain more knowledge when it comes to brain injuries. To show that this is a real problem, Dr. Chapek gives many examples throughout the chapters of real people who took a fall, didn't think anything of it, and then either died shortly after or began experiencing neurological symptoms.

Dr. Chapek writes with a passion for this subject, providing his readers with information such as first aid for your brain, natural treatments for chronic traumatic brain injury, and the importance of nutrition, exercise, and sleep for a healthy brain. I did not know too much about TBIs before reading this book, but after reading this worthwhile information, I am more optimistic that there are options for everyone involved to prevent brain injuries from being a permanent problem.


Scourged Souls

The time of the Civil War was devastating for everyone.  Scourged Souls, is aptly named because of the turmoil and fear that fell upon the people across the United States during the time, between the parents, families, and the men themselves who chose bravely to fight for their respective side. In this real and honest portrayal of the Civil War, readers glimpse emotions and life-changing actions made both by soldiers and their families waiting back at home. Characters from both the North and South have prominent roles. Their backstories all prove to be similar in the fact that they portray patriotism to their respected sides and choose to fight for the cause that they hold dear. Throughout the story, the characters all become intertwined, even if only for a moment, but the one thing they continue to have in common is the war. Corman has presented a story for us to be able to get an idea of what war entails for everyone physically, mentally, and spiritually. While at times hard to read and think about, especially since the time of the Civil War is so much different from our own, it is necessary to have available and reviewed so that we won’t take our current time and situation for granted.

Corman’s story plays on all of our emotions. The reader is sure to feel pride for the young men who volunteer their lives for their country, love for the relationships among families and significant others, worry for when you start hearing not-so-great news in their letters to each other (even though we readers already know the outcome), and sorrow for when not everyone arrives home after playing their part in securing our country’s correct stance on human slavery. Scourged Souls is very well written and easily understood as a fictional story, despite being a war story, which I’ve found tend to be dry and very factual. The length made it enjoyable to have as an option for a quick read. It was fun learning about the characters' daily lives and their drive for their country. Corman introduces a freed slave that is able to earn his freedom from his master. This character was interesting to read about because his freed status made him more a rarity in the South at the time. Corman is a talented writer who should be on everyone’s lists, especially those who enjoy a good war story.


Lily to the Rescue

Lily to the Rescue by W. Bruce Cameron is a phenomenal first-person volume about a rescue dog. The dog finds a crow with a broken wing, helps it heal, and teaches it tricks. The story shows an overriding friendship and how free friends can love and give back more than trapped ones can. The book is well written and captivating. It seems that Lily is real. The words are easy to read yet interesting. The book is a great read-aloud and fits all ages. The way the book is written, it seems like a realistic fiction book. It is good for reading for fun and as an early reader. The book is great as first-person books for young people and is intuitive. If you have trouble reading books this is helpful. If you like books such as Owl Diaries this is a good book for you. It is a great book for all ages of animal lovers and people who find animal smarts interesting. The book is clever and easy to read. Every animal lover should read this book.


Glorious Boy

Bound by ambition and a sense of adventure, Claire and Shep Durant journey to the Andaman Islands, a remote part of colonial India, in 1936. They dive deep into their work: Claire, an anthropologist, is studying the language and customs of the Biya tribe; Shep, a surgeon, is collecting orchid specimens, hoping for significant medicinal applications. Claire’s plans change when she becomes pregnant and gives birth to Ty, whose ability to speak never materializes and whose bond to Claire and Shep seems weaker than his attachment to Naila, a household employee. When the war escalates, the Andamans become a target, and the Durants prepare to evacuate--but Ty goes missing. Against her will, Claire goes on without her son and husband. The search for Ty is fraught with more danger than Shep could have ever imagined, and Claire must figure out how she can help from her new post in Calcutta. As the war churns on and hope dwindles, the entire family—biological and otherwise—will be forced to question their allegiances and obligations, and to determine what place is, for them, truly home.

With a mesmerizing setting and transporting detail, Glorious Boy balances tropical beauty with raw, physical risk, and dives deep into grim truths about parental love and the power and limitation of language. This is a page-turner, sometimes violent but always revelatory. Readers won’t easily forget the trials this young couple faces, or the landscape that changes them all.


Greythorne (The Bloodleaf Trilogy)

When I first read Bloodleaf, I was left in awe. It was intriguing, romantic, and written beautifully. The only problem was that I had to wait a whole year for the next book to come, which brings us to now. I just finished Greythorne a few minutes ago, and my mind is reeling! It was everything I could want in a book and more. Aurelia has grown so much from the first book until now. I loved her in Bloodleaf, but in the sequel, my love for her grows. She’s strong and so independent! It’s hard not to look up to her. This story takes place a few months after the events of Bloodleaf. As we all know, Aurelia’s younger brother, Conrad, is now set to be King. But, of course, nothing could ever be that easy—especially with others trying to take over the kingdom. There are so many plot twists—some you see coming and some you don’t. It doesn’t take away from your enjoyment of reading, though.

The only thing I’m going to have a little bit of a complaint about is that ending! I cannot believe it ended like that. Fair warning, it’s a MAJOR cliffhanger. I’m surprised I even survived the fall. Come on third book, I need you!


Privilege: A Novel

Popular Reads

The best seller lists can be a great source of new reading material, pointing interested readers toward popular, award-winning, and worthy books. The five titles included in this roundup have all won a heap of praise and sold incredibly well, and they are all highly recommended.

The Silence by Don Delillo

Don Delillo’s The Silence is a frighteningly prescient novel about an all too plausible global catastrophe. On Super Bowl Sunday in 2022, a retired physics professor and her husband are preparing to host a dinner party at their Manhattan apartment. One of the guests is a former student and, as kickoff looms, the three of them await the arrival of a couple who are due to fly in from France. Then, during the last commercial before kickoff, an unexplained disaster strikes: digital devices worldwide cease working, leaving people with no electronic means of communication and connection. Unfortunately, for those at the dinner party at least, the inability to rely on digital communication seemingly reflects a lack of interpersonal communication skills, although Delillo ensures that they have weighty monologues and plentiful internal strife to share. It’s an unusual take on a post-apocalyptic situation as the characters embrace the mundanity of societal collapse rather than seeking out the cause and solution.

The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina

Everything in Yui’s life reset on March 11, 2011––the day a devastating tsunami hit Japan. It was the day she lost both her mother and her daughter. Sometime later and still consumed by grief, she hears a rumor about a disused phonebooth that bereaved people have started to visit so that they might talk to and about their lost loved ones and, it that way, begin to heal their pain. Yui decides that she will chance visiting the phonebooth, but once she gets there, she feels unable to actually lift the receiver and start talking. Instead, she meets a grieving widower whose daughter has stopped speaking in the wake of his wife’s death. Yui’s journey through heartbreak and loss is deeply moving and, ultimately, uplifting as it portrays how those touched by tragedy have to live with the resultant feelings forever, while the rest of the world is able to move on. Laura Imai Messina’s The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World is a beautiful exploration of grief and healing. Its meditative tone makes for a quiet yet profound read.

Stolen Things by R.H. Herron

What do you do when it appears that everything you have always believed in might just be founded on lies? That’s the question that Jojo Ahmadi has to face in Stolen Things by R.H. Herron, a crime story based on real-life events. Jojo’s dad is the chief of police in her California hometown while her mom is a 911 police dispatcher, so it’s no surprise that she’s always considered the members of the police department to be her family. It’s also no surprise that when Jojo is found drugged and in pain in the house of Kevin Leeds, a professional football player, the whole police department rushes to investigate. Also in the house is the dead body of Leeds’ trainer, while Jojo’s best friend Harper is missing from the scene. Leeds seems the most likely suspect but Jojo is convinced he would never hurt her. She embarks on her own investigation and, in the process, learns far more than she bargained on. The crime and Jojo’s subsequent investigation make for a shocking thriller that certainly packs a punch as a host of secrets and lies are revealed.

Before You Go by Tommy Butler

Tommy Butler’s debut novel, Before You Go, is a life-affirming work of speculative literary fiction. It follows Elliot Chance from childhood through to adulthood as he gets ever closer to understanding why he has never felt that he belonged to this world. Although he doesn’t know it yet, the answers he seeks lie back in the time beyond memory, when humans were created with a hole in their heart and their creators didn’t realize their mistake. In the present, he finds a pair of unlikely allies in his quest for understanding in Sasha, a young woman who is compelled to send coded messages out into the ether, and Bannor, a man who knows far too much about the future. With the support of his new-found friends, Elliot at last feels able to get on with the business of living, but the problem of the hole in humanity’s heart will not be so easily solved. Elliot’s journey through depression and disenfranchisement to awakening to the beauty and possibility of life is uplifting, while the sense of magic realism that characterizes his world elevates the story to something really special.

Privilege by Mary Adkins

A timely tale of campus life and both gender and social politics in the #MeToo era, Mary Adkin’s Privilege is set in Carter University, allegedly the “Harvard of the South.” Annie Stoddard was a big fish in the small pond that was her Georgia high school, but now she’s enrolled at Carter, she realizes just how marked she is by her economically underprivileged upbringing. Similarly, Bea Powers is wondering if she made a mistake by putting aside her fears of being a biracial student in the South and deciding to attend Carter, especially as everyone seems to have a different idea of what justice and equality mean. Meanwhile, Stayja York works at a campus coffeeshop and has to cope with serving Carter students all day as she attempts to save for her own education. The lives of the three women unexpectedly intersect when Annie accuses a male student of sexual assault, and they will all be profoundly changed by their encounters. Told from the alternating perspectives of all three women, the story is thought-provoking and surprisingly tense, mixing contemporary real-world concerns with campus fiction tropes.


Missions

Unexpected and just a little bit (okay, a lot of bits) exciting. Missions is an international thriller that starts out at a steady pace, giving the reader bits and pieces of information from two sides of a story. Set in France, a realistically horrible depiction of disaster is described when there is a large explosion left with bodies, rubble, and pieces of peoples’ lives scattered all over the sidewalk. Christine DuPont, a French investigator for French intelligence agency DST, has to dig through all of the debris and paperwork to find out what, or rather who caused this massive destruction. Working with the CIA, she is careful to not give up too much information or to take information that would be illegal for the DST to obtain. This makes the relationship between the two agencies very untrusting. As the author inserts character after character into the complex web of a story, the reader also learns about the terrorists and what they have done to prepare for this day. The induction of a man who wants to do right by Allah, the mechanics behind getting the cars needed for that day, and of course, the fact that there are messages that will be transmitted to throw the authorities off the beaten path. DuPont and her team hit what seem to be dead end after dead end. The author does a great job of implanting pieces of information that seem irrelevant to the main plot but bring everything together in the end. Missions is a well-written book with all of the elements needed in a suspenseful thriller. There were even a few bits of humor written in, such as the naming of the different SIM cards and their owners. They were nicknamed Big Mac, Fromage (cheese), and Pommes Frites (French fries). The one aspect of the book that I would have improved on is the number of characters. There were a few characters that could have been left out altogether. Keeping track of all of the characters was a bit difficult at times unless that character has a lot of interaction with the other characters. Alas, this book would not be complete without a major twist towards the end. The author saves the best for last as what seems like an easy ride turns into an unexpected turn of events. The end makes a person want to reread the story because it changes the point of view of the reader and does a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. Slow and steady with a fabulous twist at the end. Just how I like my thrillers.


The Sweeney Sisters: A Novel

The Sweeney Sisters is a story of secrets, books, and sisterhood. The sisterhood aspect of the novel was probably my favorite part. Three sisters grow up as close as any sisters can get, only to be thrown a wrench in their lives when they find out that they may have more than they bargained for: another Sweeney sister! After the death of their acclaimed literary father, the sisters will be put to the ultimate test. Will they be able to trust this new sister? While I enjoyed this very much, some of the characters were less than likable, at least in my book. I thought that the father being a literary master was an interesting storyline. I also enjoyed how the sisters each handled problems. They were all so much alike, yet so different in many other ways. My favorite character was the “other” sister. She is intelligent, kind, and definitely somebody I could see myself being friends with. Overall, I think this would be a great addition for readers who take pleasure in character-centered books.


The Mountains Sing

Who is really the enemy? Huong Tran lives with her grandmother while her parents fight for North Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and alternates between fleeing bombs and imagining her family’s idyllic future once the Americans withdraw from her homeland. But her mother staggers back traumatized, her father remains MIA, and her uncle returns severely maimed. In an effort to assuage Huong’s disillusionment, her grandmother narrates the Trans’ dramatic escape from the Viet Cong during the Land Reform of the early twentieth century. She hopes that helping Huong understand the horrors her relatives suffered twice in thirty years will convince her that forgiveness is the only way to heal as well as to prevent future bloodshed.

The compelling characters and realistic plot in The Mountains Sing make it difficult to remember it’s not a memoir. The novel is also Que Mai’s first major English work; while the dialogue is generally well-executed, certain exchanges may seem a bit awkward. These moments don’t affect the novel’s larger value, however. Que Mai opens a window into the other side of a controversial war, and we would do well to consider the lessons her characters teach.


Ray By Ray: A Daughter's Take on the Legend of Nicholas Ray

In a time so far removed from the 1950s masterpiece film Rebel Without A Cause starring James Dean, the genius of film director Nicholas Ray may have melted into a digital age which cannot truly appreciate the history underscoring the movement that launched the 1960s. Nicca Ray, the youngest of the famed director's children and perhaps the most neglected, personifies the raw emotions capsulized in both the movie and the rage of the sixties with its mantra, "Sex, drugs and Rock-n-Roll." With every ounce of her passion, Nicca echoes the hollowness of a lifestyle typically portrayed in Hollywood.

Unabashed, Nicca strips away everything fashionable and glamorous about the behind-the-scenes Hollywood big-screen to reveal the stark naked truth about the devastating effects of drug addiction, alcoholism, and free sex. Try as she did with all her energy, these poor substitutes never filled her need for family, particularly her longing for a relationship with her absentee father.

Much of the book reflects so painfully on the familial dysfunction perpetuated by Nicholas Ray revealing his madness that the reader, especially readers struggling with their own family dysfunctions, become exhausted. Nevertheless, the story Nicca weaves in fits and starts with a few rare snatches of genius compels the reader to turn page after page in the hope of some resolution. For if this victim of abandonment and abuse can find redemption and reconciliation, it seems within reach for the rest of us, too.


Dragon Hoops

Bishop O’Dowd High School’s basketball team, the Dragons, is headed for the California State Championship. Gene Yang a.k.a. Mr. Yangster teaches computer science at Bishop O’Dowd and hated sports as a kid. As the Dragons fight their way to the state championship, even Yang gets swept up in the excitement of the basketball season. He documents the Dragons' phenomenal season as they fight for each win and interweaves the history of basketball into the story, including women’s basketball. But this multi-layered graphic novel is about so much more than basketball. Yang includes the trials and tribulations of the varsity players and their head coach and adds his own personal struggles to take the next big step in his teaching and comic book career.

Dragon Hoops is a graphic novel and part memoir from Gene Luen Yang, the 2016 MacArthur fellow and former ambassador for young people’s literature. Yang gives readers the intense frame-by-frame plays of each major game that gets the Dragons to the next level in the state championship. He also gives us a story with a lot of heart about identity, perseverance, and taking risks in life. Bishop O’Dowd and its legacy is a character in the story, too, and Yang doesn’t shy away from the sport’s ugly past. The book challenges young adult readers to consider the type of legacy we all leave behind, and to understand what it truly means to be a champion.


Karen's Witch (Baby-sitters Little Sisters #1)

Ann M. Martin, with illustrations by Katy Farina

A six-year-old girl named Karen Brewer believes that her neighbor, named Mrs. Porter, is a witch named Morbidda Destiny. She’s not supposed to spy, but she and her friend, Hannie, always spy on Mrs. Porter and her cat, Midnight. As Karen spies, she hatches a plan. Will she be brave enough to face Mrs. Porter and cast her away? Will her parents be mad if she does? This book is really great! It’s like the Babysitters Club graphic novel books, but it’s about Kristy’s little sister, Karen. I’ve already read the whole Babysitters Club graphic novel series. The illustrations are so cute too! I like how big their eyes are as well! Karen is very cute and brave and she is very determined to prove that Mrs. Porter is a witch that is going to have a witch meeting with witches. My favorite part is when Karen and Hannie pretend to be witches to practice spells with Mrs. Porter’s herbs. I recommend this book to anyone who likes cutesy books and to anyone who likes the Babysitters Club graphic novels.


Naked Came the Florida Man: A Novel (Serge Storms)

Serge A. Storms and his sidekick Coleman decide to take a road trip in Serge's 1969 Plymouth Satellite. Although a hurricane is approaching, they have decided to embark on a grand tour of Florida's forgotten cemeteries hoping for the best. Along the way, Serge will examine the local history and meet residents who are trying to find hidden treasure from the great hurricane of 1928 along with a high school student working hard to make it on the local football team. And when necessary, Serge will sort out a few injustices in unique and creative ways.

While I found some of the lines in this story amusing, I could not get into the characters and their juvenile pranks. Initially, I wasn't sure where the story was going. It seemed to ramble along, shifting back and forth in time, which made it seem like it went on forever. On a positive note, it was filled with action, and the author's style is unique, but overall this was a tossup for me. While I can see that Serge and Coleman likely have a large following of fans, I hate to say that, based on this story, I'm probably not one of them.


The Little Book of Game Changers: 50 Healthy Habits for Managing Stress & Anxiety

We know that too much stress is detrimental to our health, but especially in uncertain times we frequently turn to unhealthy strategies to cope. This book offers a better alternative: fifty suggestions for new habits you can implement to develop your resilience and calm. The book addresses the three areas of mind, body, and spirit. The largest section is for body-focused habits, such as how to deal with being "hangry" or getting proper hydration. Another section focuses on mental habits, like using positive visualization; the last section gives ways to nourish your spirit as well. None of these are really new, but it is nice to have them collated into one small volume that you can dip into as needed. Each has a great introduction reminding you why it is so important, then more details about how to implement the habit in an effective way. The author uses personal examples and anecdotes that are interesting and relevant, so it is easy to relate and feel how these would help you in your own life. Try one or a few and see how they work, then maybe try to incorporate a few more. Soon you will have a set of behaviors already in place to keep you feeling sane no matter what life throws your way.


The Little Bookshop on the Seine

Sarah Smith leaves a quiet, sheltered life in her small town. She owns a used book shop and spends most of her time lost between the pages of a good book. Her steamy boyfriend, Ridge, is like a real-life romance novel. When he’s in town, that is. He’s a freelance reporter and spends more time jetting around the world covering stories than being with Sarah. When her friend in Paris, who also owns a bookshop, proposes swapping lives and running each other’s shops, Sarah takes the plunge.

The premise and setting were delightful, but the story lost me early on when I just couldn’t root for Ridge and Sarah as a couple. The few interactions they had seemed over the top in a suspicious rather than romantic way. The narrative flow was slow, and new characters and a subplot were introduced halfway through that didn’t have much of an impact on the story.

Some of the characters were really great, and I would have liked the narrative to dive deeper into Sarah’s friendship with them, especially Oceane, TJ, and Luiz. It was a great idea with some heartwarming scenes, but overall I wouldn’t recommend it.


Greta's Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike to Save the Planet

Greta’s Story shows that no matter how young you are, you can do something big that changes the world. This book is a very well written and detailed account of Greta Thurnberg’s climate strength movement. It follows her from a nervous young school girl, who gets depressed about climate change, to a world speaker, leading strikes of millions of people. It flows perfectly with good descriptive words. It makes you feel as if you are actually there following along with Greta. It explains hard truths in a way that captures your attention and makes you want to take action. The book develops the characters in a way that makes you feel like you know and care about their goals and causes. I would recommend this book to someone who is picking a book to read with schools because it teaches you the basics of climate change and what we need to do now. I also would recommend this for children who are interested in social protest, so they can join the strike. I think this book is right for first grade through high school.


Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad

Katie and Kenny, along with their father, are taken on a tour of the local railroad yard by an engineer with the railroad. The basis of the book is to introduce children to the role railroads play in our lives, their importance, and to stress safety around railroads and their equipment: No railroads!

I could appreciate books that teach kids how to be responsible. When I picked this book and I saw what it was about, I knew this was a book I wanted my kids to read. Living in an urban city, children we do ride the subway system, which is different than the rural railroad, which runs on the street level. The NYC subway system runs above-ground or below-ground. I did notice that the same rules do apply, though.

Kenny and Katie’s father is a railroad engineer. The first thing he teaches them is safety, as they have to wear safety goggles, and it also acknowledged that girls, too, can be engineers. He teaches them about how the wheels turn. I enjoyed this book because it teaches kids that they can look outside of just being a doctor or a lawyer. They even got to see a female as the daytime operator. Through this book, children get the opportunity to see that trains not only take people from one place to another but also helps businesses carry their goods. They left being able to tell their friends that railroads are no joke and are to be taken seriously. He even teaches them about railroad crossings.

This was a fun, entertaining, and educational book that I give 5 stars and is a great book for kids storytime. I also love the pictures. They are great, and the storyline is amazing. My daughter, who is six, read the book with no problem. This was a great way to show how important trains are in the lives of other people. I also appreciate the way in which they also tell children how to cross railroad tracks. Every aspect of the book was a teaching moment. This has truly been a great read.


Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad

Katie and Kenny Cat and their dad are excited to take a tour of the railroad yard! With engineer Timothy Tabby, they get ready to start their tour and first learn about the safety involved. “Safety first!” is the motto of the story, and at the beginning of the book, the kids learn they must wear hard hats and safety goggles for their protection. On the tour, they appropriately learn first about the engine and its intricate control panel. From there, they go to the control tower and learn how the operator controls the cars on the tracks to avoid collisions. Then, they go to the containers and learn how almost everything we use will have come from a container on a train, having traveled long distances to get to us. It’s now starting to get late, so the kids, their dad, and Timothy hitch a ride with a fellow worker to get them back to the office. Along the way, they crossed over several railroad crossings; each time the vehicle was sure to stop and check for an oncoming train. At the last crossing, the lights were on and the crossing signs were down, so they had to stop and wait until the train had passed, then they looked both ways again and made it to the office. Throughout the tour, Katie and Kenny learned a lot about trains and the whole operation involved to run them properly, efficiently, and safely.
Corman has brought to us a much-needed safety book on the inner workings at a railroad yard and the safety needed to ensure maximum productivity and health. Due to the length, the information presented, and the format in which the information is given, I would say this book is better suited for older elementary kids, such as second grade and older. The subject of trains is one that kids of all ages seem to gravitate toward, but for the younger ages, I have found it helpful to have more pictures available with fewer words instead of one picture with lots of words. My five and four-year-old agreed with this. However, the pictures that are presented are colorful and represent the correct scene taking place. In the end, the formatting of the text was slightly off, with words appearing as if they were too close together and could be read as one word instead of multiple. Also, from a personal standpoint, I didn’t appreciate (although I’m aware it happens) the fact of Kenny calling Katie dumb, and Katie sticking her tongue out. This is not language or actions that we promote in our home, so I would have to skip over that when reading the story to my children to not expose them to this behavior too young.


Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad

Katie and Kenny are a couple of kittens who visit a railroad yard in Catville. Their neighbor, Engineer Timothy Tabby, works at the yard office and gives them a tour. Before stepping out into the yard, Katie and Kenny must don hardhats and safety goggles. Safety first! It’s the railroad’s slogan and railroading is a serious business.

On their tour, Katie and Kenny see huge locomotives and powerful engines. The kittens are the size of ants next to the massive locomotives. They learn about the mechanical workings of an engine and even get to step inside one of the cabs, with all its buttons and levers. These are not their grandfather’s steam engines; trains today run cleaner and faster than ever before.

Katie and Kenny also meet the workers at the yard. There is the Superintendent of Motive Power, who is in charge of all the engines. The Daytime Operator controls the yard, and they meet the cat in charge of the Intermodal Yard, where they take big containers and truck trailers off the trains. Throughout the tour, Katie and Kenny hear tips about how to keep safe around trains and railroads from each of these workers. Railroad tracks run throughout the country, with train containers hauling goods to many cities. It’s okay to watch from a safe distance, but they should never play around trains or on the tracks. The kittens even learn about safety whenever they drive over railroad tracks. Cars should slow down and look both ways before crossing, and they should stop whenever they see the red flashing lights to signal an oncoming train. Safety first becomes the kittens’ mantra as they visit all the parts of the railroad yard.

Katie and Kenny Tour the Railroad by Keith Niles Corman is an important informational book about trains and railroad safety. Through Katie and Kenny’s kitten eyes, young readers take a comprehensive and instructional tour of the new and improved railroads, and how important they are to us all. Young children, girls and boys, will discover a new fascination for trains if they don’t already have one, and some fun facts about the modern locomotive. The end of the book does a great job of summarizing what Katie and Kenny learned on the tour of the railroad yard. But the most important thing the story focuses on is safety, emphasizing the dangers of playing around trains and railroad tracks. Safety first! It should be everyone’s mantra.


Courting Mr. Lincoln: A Novel

Louis Bayard has presented a fictional account of the life of Mary Todd and her beau, Abraham Lincoln. The story is set in Springfield, Illinois in the mid-1800s. Mary Todd is traveling to her sister's to find herself a suitor. A spunky and bright lady, Mary knows her standards and is fine waiting until the right man comes along. Unfortunately, Mary is running out of time. Through acquaintances, she meets Abraham Lincoln at a party. The two find themselves running into each other regularly. With help from friends, the two find themselves in each other's arms, but not without their hardships and trials.

The story is presented between the alternating voices of Mary and Lincoln's best friend Joshua Speed. As in real life, both points of view are more helpful to an audience; the same can be said of this story. Knowing that the time in which the story takes place was much different from our present-day makes it both frustrating and enjoyable to read, depending on your personal beliefs. Courting Mr. Lincoln makes you feel as if you are with Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, simultaneously, and able to gather a better understanding of our nation's sixteenth president.


Music: A Fold-out Graphic History

Music is a big fold-out graphic history book about different types of music and where they came from. One section talks about how the first violin was made and other sections talk about rock bands. It looks like it’s for kids, but probably only adults would find it interesting unless you’re studying the history of music in high school or college. I really like that all of the text has a picture to explain it better. The book is made of good quality thick paper and feels very durable. It is the kind of book you will read a little at a time.


Planet SOS: 22 Modern Monsters Threatening Our Environment (and What You Can Do to Defeat Them!)

Planet SOS is all about the various monsters that are causing the Earth harm, destroying our clean air, and harming the environments we live in. There are twenty-two environmental monsters that focus on different factors of harm, like the trash, global warming, plastic pollution, ocean oil spills, smog, and noise just to name a few. This book tells how each of these environmental problems are harming the earth and what we can do to help heal our planet Earth and make the world we live in a better place. The brightly colored illustrations help the youngest reader to understand how each of these factors are making an impact on the Earth and how they can make a difference. The illustrations portray each of the environmental factors in a way that I had never imagined, such as trash and how quickly and easily it can pile up. Not only will humans be impacted by the various types of damage we are doing to the planet with roads and other pollutants, but we are also impacting other ecosystems, including those that belong to endangered animals. Eco-heroes unite to make a difference for the Earth and all her living things!


Literally: Amazing Words and Where They Come From

Literally is about words and what they meant originally as well as what they have come to mean today. The idea of what a word means is more interesting than the book itself.

There are 12 words featured in the book, each with a lovely illustration. One word that was unexpected is "ukulele," which we know as a Hawaiian instrument, but which meant “jumping flea” originally.

Readers may wish to read just a few pages at a time and probably won’t read it over and over again because there’s not really a story, just a different word on each page. Those interested in words may also enjoy the books Max’s Words and The Alphabet Tree by different authors.


Heart of Black Ice: Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles, Volume IV

Heart of Black Ice is the recent volume in Terry Goodkind's Nicci Chronicles. It is a wonderful continuation and conclusion of the adventure, and it is also a perfectly self contained piece of high fantasy. It would serve as a wonderful starter book for those looking to enter the fantasy genre, and it can keep the attention of fantasy fans. Perhaps the most captivating feature is Goodkind's masterful abilities at world building. It is effortless for the reader to be transported in this richly created literary world.

Goodkind's book has some of the most creative and fully flushed out characters in modern fantasy. Nicci, Bannon, and Nathan battle bravely against an all-consuming dark menace, and it's impossible not to root for them. Our trio of main characters are all largely separated, which allows an extra layer of suspense for the reader.

The dialogue is both genuine and striking, never forced. The descriptive details in the general flow of the book all add to a profound sense of immersion for the reader. It is all so believable and often reads like an aged historical scroll of some distant global conflict.

Part of this book's charm is that its trio of heroes are as engrossing separately as they are united, and it makes their eventual reunion all the more rewarding. The Norukai, barbarian raiders, and slavers are the perfect manner of evil antagonist.

Goodkind is commanding with his writing, and this now complete series will continue to prove engrossing and enchanting for years to come.


Natalie's Gold

A magnificently sweeping tale, Natalie’s Gold is multigenerational, multinational, and multicultural. Innocence, persecution, tragedy, and triumph parade through a story that is obsessively gripping. Characters are not static, but evolve, their actions interacting in developments that are believable and sometimes heartbreaking.

The many faces of war and the many ways they scar all who encounter them are a rare exploration. Hatred as a cauldron for revenge is a theme, as is the surmounting of horror. Earnestly recommended.


Animal Tracks and Traces

Youngsters love animals and books about animals. This book about animals will give little ones a fresh look at some of nature’s interesting woodland denizens. First, youngsters will learn about nocturnal animals and why they are seldom seen. Next, they will learn about how to look for the tracks and traces nocturnal animals leave behind that youngsters would be able to find in the light of day. There is information about the kinds of footprints different animals leave that can help identify them. It goes on to discuss the other kinds of markings animals leave, such as marks left by moose pulling bark from trees, and the kinds of habitats they build for their families. All the well-written text is accompanied by beautiful, full-color photographs of the animals and close-up photos of the tracks and traces that the animals leave behind. Back matter includes several pages of excellent teaching materials with quizzes and further information about specific animals. This is a book little ones will want to read over and over, studying the beautiful photographs and learning more with each reading. This is a winner.


The Night Country: A Hazel Wood Novel

The Night Country is the sequel to Melissa Albert's masterful debut, The Hazel Wood. It is a richly detailed journey into a family's darkest legacy and the premise unfolds with startling grace. It has to be stated immediately just how wonderful Alice Proserpine is as a protagonist; she strikes a delicate balance between naive curiosity and muted sadness.

Alice carries with her many of her experiences from the first novel, which at times gives her a haunting and damaged quality. Similarly, Ellery Finch is a wonderful character who carries with him a determined and charming positive masculinity, making him more compelling than his many "Prince Charming" counterparts.

A large part of this book also deals with a complicated manner in which the legacies of your family members can cast long shadows over your life. It concerns the realization that the uniformity of day-to-day life and the habitual tendencies of your family unit are sometimes just a thin veneer over something much darker.

There are shades of Poe throughout the story, while the closing chapters are reminiscent of the darkest elements of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Much darker than its predecessor, this book has still retained the first volume's finest qualities. In fact, it should be noted that Albert has managed to avoid all the pitfalls that have plagued authors for centuries as they move from installment to installment, as the overall narrative becomes either watered down or a pale shadow of its past quality. The Night Country works so well as a book because it is its own book filled with its own merits and not just another in a series.

No episodic fatigue can be found in this dreamlike, strange, and lovely novel. In fact, there are moments where you are struck by how comforting and spooky the narrative is; it’s like a long, gorgeous, and gloomy dream. A dream that you never want to end. It’s a complex literary experience worth having.


Learning to Quit: How To Stop Smoking And Live Free Of Nicotine Addiction by Suzanne Harris, RN, NCTTP and Paul Brunetta, MD addresses the concerns, issues, and difficulties associated with the process of quitting smoking. Parts One and Two thoroughly cover in fifteen chapters a variety of topics and questions that typically arise for those looking to quit smoking. Through the words and experiences of the authors and other former smokers, readers will find a sense of community and a support system overflowing with those that know this dependence first hand. Throughout Part One, Harris and Brunetta provide a variety of first-hand accounts that showcase personal insights into the quitting process. The authors thoughtfully set the tone from the beginning, explaining that quitting “is a very personal process. Some people want lots of medical information and explanations. Others get inspiration from true-life stories… Pick and choose which parts of this book are of use to you, trusting yourself to be drawn to what will be the most meaningful… This book is a tool, so use it like one.” These experiences illustrate how various individuals have overcome certain obstacles and how to avoid foreseeable missteps. The personal narratives fall within several helpful categories such as “What Moves You To Be a Nonsmoker,” “What Keeps You Smoking,” and “I’m Already Sick, So What’s The Difference If I Smoke?” Part Two expands on the topics raised in Part One and incorporates the medical portion of the conversation to examine how nicotine impacts cancer and cardiovascular risks. Moreover, Part Two explores highly-advertised alternatives on the market such as nicotine patches and vaping tools, as well as less-familiar options like acupuncture and hypnosis. Harris and Brunetta put together an approachable handbook that supports readers regardless of where they are in the process. Readers can look through individual chapters that speak directly to their circumstances or read the whole thing cover to cover. The “Three Key Points” at the end of each chapter provide reflective topics to encourage journaling and refocusing again and again on your individual intentions throughout this process. However a reader chooses to engage with this book, each will find reassurance and comfort within the pages of/Learning to Quit. It’s exceptional guidance and support throughout the entire process earns this book its rating. You’ll be glad you picked up a copy and took the early steps to quitting smoking. It’s never too early or too late to take a step in the right direction. Take control of your health and life today!


The Passover Mouse

Everyone in the quaint Jewish village is fastidiously preparing for Passover. Villagers are feverishly cleaning their homes, removing every remnant of leavened bread from sight. A small, unseemly creature threatens to ruin everyone’s preparations and celebration when it steals a piece of chometz from the widow’s pile of discarded crumbs. As the mischievous mouse scurries from house to house, the townsfolk wonder if the rabbi will require them to re-search their houses. If so, how will they ever be ready for the long-awaited Seder? They soon discover that by banding together as a community of helpers they can accomplish more in a day’s time than ever imagined.

This unique tale has its origins in the Talmud, a collection of Jewish laws. The Passover Mouse shows how amongst giving, generous spirits, togetherness and cooperation can override deep fear and frustration. It also illustrates the significance of this sacred holiday to the Jewish people. For those who are less than familiar with Jewish customs and terminology, the author includes a glossary of terms in the back of the book after concluding her story with an unpredictable and fun twist. This enlightening picture book will be a welcome literature addition for educators of young children wishing to cover holiday celebrations with richness and diversity. It may serve as a special family heirloom for those of the Jewish faith as well.