I used to read Arnold Lobell’s stories a lot when I was really little. At home, we probably have almost every book he wrote! So I was excited to see what Frog and Toad: A Little Book of Big Thoughts was about.

First of all, I’m not sure it’s really for kids. It isn’t a story. It’s illustrations from different Frog and Toad stories with a quote on one side. On the other page somebody has added comments like “Friends tell you the truth,” or “Friends are there for you.” One page says, “Friends can be sweet,” and the picture shows Frog and Toad sitting in chairs and drinking tea. The quote reads, “Frog made a fresh pot of tea.”

The original stories are so much better. This book just made me want to read our old books again. Maybe this is the kind of book a grown-up person, who used to like Frog and Toad, would give to a friend. It shows you scenes from all the Frog and Toad books.


Firefighter Zen: A Field Guide to Thriving in Tough Times

I chose Firefighter Zen by Hersh Wilson because I wanted to understand volunteer firefighting better. My husband has been a volunteer firefighter for almost three years, and while I value volunteer service, I also resented the time he was spending away from our family. Part memoir and part self help guide according to firefighters, Wilson’s book is a moving account of love, life, and loss.

Wilson and his wife Laurie became volunteer firefighters nearly by accident. Previously professional ballet dancers, they were recommended to join as volunteers as a way to keep advanced first aid techniques sharp.

Now 30 years later, Wilson reflects on what he has learned from volunteer firefighting. The book is organized in standalone chapters. Each chapter starts with an inspirational quote and a vignette from a “call,” a fire or emergency response. Wilson then relates the story to larger themes in firefighting and in life. He skillfully explores the murky waters that come with a life of service: judgement, compassion fatigue, and the eternal question “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Wilson doesn’t offer any easy answers. He highlights appreciating the simple things in life and coming to terms with your own mortality as pivotal. The themes of acknowledgement and acceptances also play a large role.

There were a lot of layers to this book-with five parts, 28 chapters, and numerous inspirational quotes and field notes; I got a little lost in the organizational structure. However, I know I will be dipping into this book whenever times get tough.


Garden Alchemy: 80 Recipes and Concoctions for Organic Fertilizers, Plant Elixirs, Potting Mixes, Pest Deterrents, and More

Looking to start a garden, expand or enhance a garden, or learn all about neat plant solutions? Well look no further! Garden Alchemy is your one-stop shop on your way to having a bonafide flourishing homestead. Every page is chock full of tips and tricks for how to create happier growth in your garden and how to use every part of that garden to create new and exciting things. All the recipes are easy to follow, and the accompanying pictures are engaging and informative. From soil composition and compost building to pest deterrents and weed tea, Garden Alchemy is truly a home gardener's dream resource.


American Poison: How Racial Hostility Destroyed Our Promise

Former Wall Street Journal and current New York Times reporter Eduardo Porter delves into the greatest divide in American progess—race—in his latest book American Poison.

The book does not solely examine race, though—it contextualizes it. Part historical primer and part argument, the book studies and discuses race through American history at it intersections with issues of class and gender. Porter explains how stereotypes like that of “welfare queens” have perpetuated myths that breed racial hostility while also confronting the reality of how these myths have been politicized and weaponized to drive the country apart. The book is not a meditation on the problems, however; it is a call to do better, to live up to the promise of the American dream for all people and to move beyond these myths and stereotypes that hold us back. Porter is particularly interested in the need to improve for the sake of American children. He writes, “regardless of the skin color of American children, the future prosperity of the country depends on them.”

The book has its dry moments--especially when the statistics overwhelm the storytelling. It is certainly necessary and important to include data, but in some cases, it could have been more deftly handled or even abbreviated to allow for more of the powerful narrative Porter is able to craft with personal stories like the ones of his own family in the tapestry of America. Overall, those looking to understand how the country has become so divided along racial lines would be well served in reading American Poison.


Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist

Allison Crotzer Kimmel, with illustrations by Joanie Stone

Betty shows how to persevere when you have a dream, and not to let anything get in your way, even an injury. Betty knew she was a runner, but in 1928 people believed women were too weak to run. Back then, women had not had the right to vote and many still did not think women were as capable as men, but Coach Charles Price knew a runner when he saw one and he wanted to coach Betty, even if she had to run on the men's team. During every race, Betty pumped her legs and was determined to make it her track. She soon headed for the Olympics where she scored a gold medal for the U.S.A. After the Olympics almost a tragedy happened and Betty was severely injured and in a wheelchair, no one thought she would be able to walk or even run again. Betty did not let anyone stop her, and she learned how to walk and run again. She persevered everyday through the pain and grew stronger. This is a great story to show that no matter what anyone else thinks, that you can do hard things, you can overcome any obstacle if you put your mind to it. I loved the brightly-colored pictures.


A Stroke of Malice (A Lady Darby Mystery)

In Scotland in 1832, Lady Kiera Darby and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have been invited to an opulent ducal estate for a twelfth night celebration. Not usually one to partake in large festivities, Lady Keira is looking forward to finishing a portrait of the duchess and to spending time with new friends. However, as luck would have it, they stumble upon a dead body, and so begins a murder mystery that requires her and her husband’s investigative experience to solve.

Even though this is book eight in a series, I was in no way lost and I didn’t feel that the information regarding the past experiences in other novels was repetitious or too vague. The beginning was a little confusing because the grand party had a lot of guests, who all had a lot of titles, and I had a hard time keeping it straight, but the author did a wonderful job of reiterating the information throughout the story so that as I kept reading, I was able to follow along.

I really enjoyed this story. There were a lot of twists and turns and the information was artfully revealed a little at a time to really keep you guessing until the end. I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical mysteries and I am looking forward to reading the whole series.


American as Paneer Pie

Lekha, an Indian sixth-grader at a nearly all-white Michigan school, has been bullied as long as she has been there. Her parents and her only friend, Noah, are supportive but can do nothing. A new Indian girl, Avantika, moves to the neighborhood, and when she is bullied she stands up for herself. Lekha is shocked and uncomfortable but wishes she could do that. When Lekha makes the swim team, she hopes for acceptance but finds her teammates are cruel and xenophobic. Trying to fit in with the team, Lekha lies to friends and family, making her feel worse. A local politician bases her campaign on xenophobia, opening the door to a stunning act of cruelty. At the same time, a teacher makes an assignment that helps Lekha find her voice.

Author Supriya Kelkar has written an important and compelling story of middle-grade life and what kids face daily while introducing young readers to a rich and fascinating culture. A good glossary and pronunciation guide, perhaps with some drawings, would be a welcome addition. Readers may derailed by so many unfamiliar words, but otherwise this is a beautifully written, terrific story deserving wide readership.


Pete the Cat: 5-Minute Bedtime Stories: Includes 12 Cozy Stories!

Pete the Cat: 5 Minute Bedtime Stories was a really fun book. This book had a lot of different stories in it. Pete has a lot of adventures. In a lot of the stories, Pete uses his imagination with his friends. All the stories were short to read at bedtime and made me smile. There were so many stories, and they were groovy. I liked reading one of the stories at bedtime. It was a fun way to go to bed. One of my favorite stories in the book was when he goes to the library and reads all kinds of books. He pretends he is in the books. I also liked the stories when he has a caterpillar and the treehouse. I love reading Pete the Cat books! I hope there are more Pete the Cat books that have lots of different stories in them. I think a lot of kids will love reading this book with their parents.


Pete the Cat's Groovy Guide to Kindness

I love Pete the Cat, and so do my children. We had never read a Pete the Cat guide before, so my children and I were a little surprised that there was not a storyline, just quotes. I think this is an excellent book for a thought-of-the-day in a classroom or religious class. It would be a great Kindergarten graduation gift.  It is an excellent book on teaching children ways to be kind. My six-year-old sat through the entire book, and my three-year-old became uninterested a few pages into the book.

My children’s favorite parts:

My six-year-old liked the page where Pete was wearing sunglasses sitting on a beach and says “Kind Cats are Cool cats.” He said that he liked the whole book.

My three-year-old liked the page where Pete is handing his friend a green cupcake and the friend is giving Pete a flower. She really enjoyed the pictures too. She did not like that there was not a storyline to the book, however I think the is book is aimed more towards Kindergarten-to-second-grade students or five-to-eight-year-olds.


The Book of Longings: A Novel

Ana wants to have a voice, but for a Jewish woman in the region of Sepphoris, this was not permitted. She finds her voice, and her heart's truest mate, in Jesus ben Nazareth, later known as Jesus Christ. In The Book of Longing, Sue Monk Kidd has created a character so full of hope that to see Ana's heartbreak is to feel your own.

Her indulgent father allowed for Ana's education, but her mother resents her daughter's literacy and wishes only for Ana to marry. When Ana is presented with a potential husband, a much older man whose political position and land ownership would be a boon to her family, Ana is crestfallen. She does everything she can to stop the marriage from happening, including writing down her own prayers in a sacred bowl given to her by her wise and unorthodox aunt Yaltha. Yaltha's encouragement to know herself helps Ana to pursue the man her heart truly desires, Jesus, and to eventually become his wife.

The story of Ana is one of the longings women face to be more than mothers, more than wives, more than daughters. It is the story of Ana's becoming; as she listens more to her heart and honors who she truly is, the more honest and devastating her life becomes.

The Book of Longings is brilliant as an imagination of the life of Jesus as a husband, but it is Ana's story that makes this novel one of the most important books of the last ten years.


Grown Ups: A Novel

This book is written in short chapters, nearly every one with a different style. Some are told in a stream of consciousness, some are text exchanges, like scripts, some are little vignettes. Taken as a whole, they paint a picture of the life of Jenny, a young woman who’s trying to get by in life. She’s quirky, addicted to her phone and social media, and she hasn’t found the right guy yet. Her best friend, Kelly, has a life of her own that Jenny seems none too interested in. Jenny also has a tumultuous relationship with her mother.

The structure of this book is almost like its own character. Not knowing from one chapter to the next how the story will be told is both interesting and aggravating. Jenny herself is relatable, if a little crass. She reads like an edgy comedian telling a self-deprecating story. It seemed like the short chapters and brief writing style would make for a fast read, but it was hard to get grounded in the story and I found my attention waning just as Jenny’s did. I’d expected a funnier, more light-hearted take on the pitfalls of modern adulthood. This was more acerbic and angsty. Not a bad read.


A Space for Me

I enjoyed this book because I relate to the situation very well. I am an oldest child, and I read this to my son who is my oldest. The story is about a boy named Alex who gets tired of sharing his room with his younger brother, so he goes and makes him a fort in the backyard out of blanket. He has some quiet and dreams about dragons and other fun things. He also realizes that he has made his brother sad. When he asks him about it, his brother says, “but I want to play with you.” So, they figure out a way to make a space for Lucas too. Alex figures out that sometimes it’s okay to play by yourself and sometimes it’s fun to play with others too.

I enjoyed the illustrations. They were full of life, color, and emotion. I appreciated the detail of the pictures from the large trees to the small squirrels and shoes. I appreciated that this book is about a boy because it is sometimes hard to find books for my son these days.

My six-year-old son really enjoyed this book. He liked the idea that there was someone like him who had to figure out when to have his own space and when to share his space with his sister.


A Hundred Suns: A Novel

Historical fiction novels can tend to have trouble fitting fictional characters into real-world events, or if profiling a real person trying to make them sound authentic when not much might be known about them. This book tells the story of Jessie Lesage who is married to Victor who is an heir to the Michelin rubber fortune. They arrived in French Indochina in the 1930s, before war breaks out across the region, so Victor and Jessie can escape scandal back in Paris. Jessie throws herself into the world of colonial Vietnam, as scandal and war break out around her.

This book was confusing at times, and it was hard to follow certain times of what was happening, who was talking, thinking, or doing something. Also, the main characters are not exactly people I would call heroes. Her ruminations frankly almost stop the book cold and do not add much more than more pages to read. Victor is pretty much a non-entity for most of the book, except when it comes to money. Jessie’s look at colonialism is a particularly American view, that it is a civilizing force in the world.


The Year of the Witching

Bethel belongs to the Father and His light; the Darkwood belongs to the Mother and Her Darkness. These are the truths that everyone in the community knows, and to protect them from the evil of the Mother and the four witches in the wood, everyone follows the Prophet’s every command.

Everyone, that is, except Immanuelle Moore.

Born from an illegal union between her mother and a man from the Outskirts, Immanuelle has always been an outsider within Bethel, even though she has lived there all her life. It isn’t only the people around her who notice: she feels a pull to the Darkwood despite knowing the danger lurking under the trees. When the witches’ magic begins to threaten the community, Immanuelle realizes she may be the only one to save it, though the real danger may well come from within.

I had no idea I was in the mood for this book, but The Year of the Witching blew me away. It’s a masterpiece of Puritan-esque dark fantasy, filled with an air of delirium. Alexis Henderson has created a full, believable world populated with living, breathing people, and nestled within it is the vital lesson to be wary of who we hand power over to.


Awesome Dog 5000 vs. Mayor Bossypants (Book 2)

Awesome Dog 5000 vs. Mayor Bossypants is a funny story  about a robot dog with an RPG strapped to its back. The book stars three kids, a robot dog, and a three-foot-tall mayor who cries about everything.

The book is very entertaining and hilarious! My favorite part of the book is the mayor. I like all the characters a lot. They are funny, entertaining, and very lively. The language flows really well. The moral of the story is "Vote wise." The book also has plenty of illustrations. They are well done and go well with the story.

Anyone who can read will enjoy this book because it is funny and punny. It would definitely make great series. I would totally recommend this book! I did not like this book, I LOVED it! The story is super funny and I almost died laughing!!


Seeing Ceremony: A Novel with Recipes

Meena has always been against the idea of arranged marriage, especially after the one “seeing ceremony” she agreed to attend in order to appease her mother ended in disaster. Instead, she goes to college in America, where she not only develops a greater appreciation for the wider world, but also learns a lot about tea cultivation, knowledge that she brings home with the intention of building up her family’s plantation. On her way back to India, Meena meets Raj, a businessman whom she feels an instant connection with, but she expects she’ll never see him again. Then a financial threat rises against her family, and it seems that the only solution is for Meena to agree to an arranged marriage after all.

Seeing Ceremony: A Novel with Recipes by Meera Ekkanath Klein is a charming story of love and independence, with the delights of food and cooking woven throughout the narrative. Readers will enjoy getting to know Meena, a strong woman with a fierce sense of personal freedom that’s at war with her sense of familial duty. The descriptions of India are gorgeous, and the included tested-and-true recipes make this book a true feast for all the senses.


Female Husbands: A Trans History

An absolutely stunning deep-dive into historical transgressions of gender. Female Husbands: A Trans History is one of the first in a hopefully long and noted trend of research into gender. Author, professor, researcher, and activist Jen Manion has done extensive work for the LGBTQ communities throughout the country during their career, and this latest book serves as an extension of that. Manion takes the readers through an empathetic yet thoroughly researched journey through the lives of historical queers. Female husbands—those that were assigned female at birth but lived their lives as men and married women—were people who defied gender norms in a time when those norms could not have been more suffocating and all-consuming. However, what makes this such a pivotal literary development is that this book contains stories of people who lived full and happy lives as men, sometimes for the entirety of their adult lives.

The predominance of trans history has come from a place of asylum records and violent newspaper headlines. This inherited trauma is still being incrementally rewritten in the LGBTQ community today, and Manion’s literary treatment of the historical figures found in the pages of this book I believe will serve as a crucial continuation of that healing. The importance of knowing that there are also trans stories of success, bounty, and love is one that cannot be measured in real time but I urge you to get the word out about this phenomenally written piece of LGBTQ historical research.


Charleston Green: A Novel

Tipsy Collins can see ghosts, but most of the time, that’s just fine. Most of the time, they leave her alone, and she leaves them alone. When she moves into an old house with her three children and a looming divorce, however, things change. The dead in this house, Jane and Henry Mott aren’t content to keep to live and let live, so to speak. They’re glad to have someone who can see them after almost one hundred years of death, and they can’t quite bring themselves to keep out of Tipsy’s way. They also can’t quite leave behind their former animosity or the fact that, as far as anyone knows, Henry killed Jane, then himself.

Despite dealing with such heavy matters as decades’ old murder and failing marriages, Charleston Green is a delightfully cheerful novel, full of all the warmth of a South Carolina summer. Stephanie Alexander finds just the right balance between serious moments and the fun, relatable characters. I’ve always been a fan of fantasy invading what might ordinarily be a completely realistic novel, and Charleston Green is the perfect read for summer. It’s breezy without being vapid, spectral without being creepy, and full of all the right points for fans of fantasy and realism alike.


Tad

Tad has to swim twice as hard as his brother and sister tadpoles to keep up with them. They urge him on, warning of the evil creature that lurks in the deep, dark parts of the murky pond. They say Big Blub is “as old as the mud” and unmatched in his ferocity. Tad decides he’s not going to believe in him but will roam the waters with caution nonetheless. His siblings begin disappearing rapidly. He wonders where they have gone. Then, one day, he’s the only one left. With time, his little body develops and up, up, up he goes to the surface of the water and beyond, all the way to some nearby lily pads. There he finds an amazing surprise: his family.

This is a precious story about growing up the smallest of the lot, having real and imagined fears, and yearning for togetherness from the depths of loneliness. It’s sure to touch the hearts of those late bloomers out there as well as those who feel alone in the world. It’s just as likely, though, to be adored by young children who see themselves as ordinary, because the tale is filled with life and vibrancy, color and allure. Author and illustrator Benji Davies has a unique and welcoming style. Tad is written at approximately a second grade reading level, although it is perfect for all children aged four to nine.


Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen: A Novel (Six Tudor Queens)

Katheryn Howard, The Scandalous Queen as she would come to be known, was the fifth wife of King Henry the VIII. Only nineteen when she meets the king, he is immediately taken with her and her family does everything in their power to pursue the match. Even though he is still married to his fourth wife, Anna of Cleves, Henry pursues an annulment with her in order to marry Katheryn. Katheryn learns very quickly the politics involved in the court. Her scandalous past cannot stay buried and she knows it is only a matter of time before she faces a similar fate as her cousin Anne Boleyn.

Out of the six books of the six Tudor queens, this was my second and I think I liked it a bit better than the first. It is a little bit hard to relate to Katheryn, but at the same time, you can’t help but feel sorry for her. I can’t imagine the stress of trying to seem perfect and virtuous all the time as well as knowing your only worth is in producing an heir. At the same time, it’s hard to understand why she made the choices she did when the threat of a beheading was always hanging over her. I don’t doubt Ms. Weir does her research, but I was pretty shocked at how scandalous most of the women were in the book for that time period. Overall, an entertaining look at another poorly chosen wife of Henry the VIII.


Places I've Taken My Body: Essays

Known as a gifted poet, Molly McCully Brown shows off her talent for writing illuminating nonfiction as well in her first collection of essays. The seventeen pieces that comprise the book offer a window into Brown’s life as a writer and disabled woman growing up in Virginia, traveling abroad, and moving from place to place. Brown provides a nuanced picture of her complex relationship to her body and to herself as she recounts such experiences as traversing the largely inaccessible streets of Bologna, visiting a Virginia institution that historically sterilized disabled people, and, in a striking final essay, watching a ballet adaptation of Frankenstein.

Brown’s poetic background shines through in her prose—each sentence is musical and feels as though it has been carefully and lovingly crafted. Though Brown writes about pain in many forms, the collection never turns bleak or dark. Instead, with deep humanity and a soft hand, Brown weaves hope and light into her narrative, never turning away from the reality of suffering but also never relinquishing her belief in the beauty life can offer.


Up and Down Mom (Child's Play Library)

Sometimes people will act happy, and then at other times, they act sad. Most people don't have a problem with going from happy to sad, but other people do. In Up and Down Mom, a boy is telling the reader about his mom. He says that they can have a lot of fun together and do things like cook together or play dress-up; then other times, his mom stays in bed all day or at least doesn't act very happy throughout the day. The boy's mom's behavior is tiring for him sometimes, but even though this happens to his mom, he still loves her because she's his mom. The boy's mom has bipolar disorder that makes you act super happy when you're in a good mood, and then super sad when you're feeling bad. I did not know about bipolar disorder before reading this book; I don't know anyone that has this, so it's not something with which I'm familiar. I feel better now that I know what it is for if I see someone that acts like this mom. I think this is a good book for anyone because it's a good story and also teaches you.


I'm NOT A Mouse (Child's Play Library)

Sometimes moms or parents have a name that they like to call their child(ren); sometimes the child likes it, sometimes they don't. For the girl in this book, she knows I'm NOT a Mouse!. This story is about a little girl whose mom keeps calling her "Mouse," when the girl doesn't like being called that because it makes her feel like an actual mouse. When she turns into a mouse, some funny things end up happening to her. The girl never tells her mother though, maybe because she doesn't have time between when she is called "Mouse" and when she turns into a mouse! The girl knows that she has to say or do something. She lets her mom know that she doesn't like the nickname or pet name, and then the girl learns that her mother only calls her that because she loves her. The end of the book shows kids called nicknames by their family members, even in different languages! I noticed that the people in the book are all different, with different colored skin and some with disabilities. I think that any kid would like this book because it has a fun story; you can also learn about keeping people's feelings in mind when you want to call them something.


Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks is about a young girl who grows up to be a poet and wins the Pulitzer Prize for her amazing poems. The book makes me feel happy for Gwendolyn, who accomplished her goals, just like I hope to do someday. It’s an absolutely inspiring story that all children should read because it will make them work even harder to accomplish their dreams even if they seem impossible. The book is easy to understand and has really detailed pictures. The illustrations are beautiful, and they almost make you feel like you’re right there with Gwendolyn.


Writing Wild: Women Poets, Ramblers, and Mavericks Who Shape How We See the Natural World

The twenty-five women writers Kathryn Aalto introduces share a yearning, a need to be embraced by the natural world. They reveal their poetry and their lives, in individual eloquence, words carefully measured and selected, not serendipitously plucked from the trees and the fields that nourish their messages. She has chosen the celebrate some writers known to us all and others whose voice we meet for the first time, and long-ago voices like Dorothy Wordsworth’s, unrecognized for many years though almost her brother’s equal.

Aalto refrains from mentioning collectively that almost without exception the writers have achieved a PhD, several teaching at colleges and universities, making the collection a singular experience. Like a child trying to decide on a birthday treat, readers will deliberate their favorites. Perhaps the writer’s style will determine the choice, or their background, or the places they recreated, or a parallel lifestyle. I chose without a moment’s hesitation Gretel Erhlich’s passion for the West, for Wyoming’s big sky and the rugged people who belong there. Then, too, the short reminder of Isabella Bird who in the nineteenth century strode alone across the untamed west, rented a horse, tackled the Rockies in winter, then challenged another corner of the world. And standing alone, Rachel Carson, the maverick who became a hero.

Writing Wild is exciting, inspiring, intimidating, bold, a worthy successor to Aalto’s enchanting debut, The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh.


Village of Scoundrels

During WWII the German’s had started taking over other countries in parts of Europe, as people escaped the Germans they moved to safer towns and villages to be safe. Les Lauzes is a small village in a remote part of France, since it was far away the Germans had not come to the town in 1942 and the town had become a safe place for people who had escaped the Germans. Most of the people who have come to Les Lauzes are children, they live in boarding houses and go to school, there are both Jewish and non-Jewish refugees. The kids are also working with the resistance against the Germans. Everything in Les Lauzes changes in the Spring of 1943 when German officers come to Les Lauzes and start to realize that the citizens of the village may be going against the Germans.

Reading about the role of young people during a time like WWII was very interesting, it helps to show you that if you believe strongly in something that you can be an important part even if you think you are too young. It was interesting to learn about each character, their history, what brought them to Les Lauzes, and what their role in the resistance is.


Raising Boys to be Good Men: A Parent's Guide to Bringing up Happy Sons in a World Filled with Toxic Masculinity

After the recent #MeToo movement across the globe and current events, parents need to understand the importance of Raising Boys to Be Good Men: A Parent's Guide to Bringing up Happy Sons in a World Filled with Toxic Masculinity. Aaron Gouveia, a father to three young boys, offers parenting advice with the intent of it applied to our modern society. Phrases such as "man up" and "real boys don't cry" are shown the error of their logic. Through soul searching and revealing life stories, Gouveia discloses how he used to participate in toxic masculinity, but has since seen how this way of living does no good, only much harm.

Gouveia touches on many topics related to raising boys in today's society: the gender wage gap, LGBTQ+, politics, religion, and much more. He starts from the preconceived gender stereotypes people possess of children even before conception and how that can affect the child after birth and works his way up to the child dating and issues related to that (porn, mutual consent, etc.). Reminder: this is one person's point of view, and it is liberal and atheistic.


The Hidden Rainbow

The health of the bee population is critical to our survival, and bright, healthy flowers are critical to the bees' survival. It is never too early for children to learn the importance of the symbiotic relationships between plants and insects, particularly bees. Author and illustrator Christie Matheson has provided a book that will help the very youngest of listeners to see bees with appreciation rather than fear. The interactive story asks youngsters to help the bees find the colorful flowers by brushing snow away, blowing buds dry, or even just pointing the way. At the same time, the bee population grows one by one, encouraging young listeners to count. This is all done with rhyming couplets, although many are broken up on the pages rather oddly. The story also has a rather irregular meter, which makes this a bit difficult for oral reading. The illustrations with bright colors and wonderful details are the real star of this book; they will keep little ones’ eyes on the pages and their attention on the story.


Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000 is one of the most thorough books on business available today. As an entrepreneur, I am always reading books on business growth, but I feel like so many books on the subject are repetitive and sometimes even outdated. Susie Carder is a business expert. From starting a business to growing a business (as the title says), Carder not only tells you that you can do it, she also shows you how to do it.

What I appreciated the most about this book was the worksheets and spreadsheets Susie includes. There are so many moving parts in a business, and if you don't have your systems in place, it could be a recipe for disaster. Susie teaches you how to create your systems, whom to market to, how to hire employees right for the job, how to do the math, how to prioritize what you should be doing as a business owner, and so much more. This book should be purchased, read, and followed by both new business owners and old. It is one of the best and most relevant business books on the market.


The Sisters Grimm: A Novel

The Sisters Grimm tells the tale of four half-sisters, girls whose only connection is their demon father. Goldie, Liyana, Scarlet, and Bea have not seen each other since their shared dreams of Everwhere some five years ago. During the intervening period, the girls have forgotten their dreams, although a part of them still misses Everwhere and the elemental powers they were learning to control there. Their paths begin to cross again as they near their eighteenth birthdays and the night they will have to prove themselves to their father in battle.

The Sisters Grimm is a twisting story that follows the girls’ journey through magic, family bonds, and romance, as they find their way back to each other. Although mature themes are explored, readers of adult fantasy will love the way that Menna van Praag weaves fairy tales into a thrilling story about the quest for power and love. Fans of Van Praag’s The House at the End of Hope Street, Sara Holland’s Havenfall, and darker fantasy books will love The Sisters Grimm.

With only 33 days to rediscover Everwhere and each other, will the sisters be able to recover their powers in time? Find out in this tale of mystery, love, and magic that you won't want to miss!


Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars: A Vietnamese War Orphan Finds Home is a non-fiction book about an eight-year-old orphan named Tuyet. In 1975, during the Vietnam War, Tuyet was airlifted out of Saigon and brought to Canada, where she was adopted by the Morris family. Tuyet had polio as a child, and her foot was turned in and she had trouble walking. Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars: A Vietnamese War Orphan Finds Home is her memories of life in the orphanage, the night she was brought to the plane that transported her and many babies to Canada, the early experiences with her new family and the surgery that she had to help her foot and allow her to walk. Tuyet came to Canada, not speaking English and not always knowing what was happening. We see that everything was so new for Tuyet in Canada, but she was hopeful and grateful to be part of a family.

Sky of Bombs, Sky of Star: A Vietnamese War Orphan Finds Homes was so well written that I pictured it as a movie, playing in my head. I could picture Tuyet, the events, and the feelings she was experiencing like I was watching it all happen. It made me sad to think at first that Tuyet hid food out of worry that her family may forget to feed her, or that when a plane flew overhead, she thought it would drop bombs.

I would say it was an easy read, and I want to share this book with my ten-year-old sister. I thought it was funny that the first time Tuyet saw lans, she thought that every house was surrounded by rice fields because that was what she knew in Vietnam. When Tuyet was alone in the hospital, after her surgery, she didn’t fully understand what was happening since she didn’t speak English, and I felt sad for her. It must have been so hard. But I could also see how strong and determined Tuyet was when she used crutches and got her new brace and shoes to help her walk. I am so happy that I read Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars: A Vietnamese War Orphan Finds Home and it makes me want to learn more about the orphans who were airlifted out of Vietnam.


The Boatman and Other Stories

The emotion of grief and feeling of loss weigh heavily in a person’s heart. The coping involved in dealing with loss is unique to everybody. Loss is the running theme in “The Boatman and Other Stories”. “The Border Fox” brings the reader on a dangerous mission with the IRA, the lead character dodging bullets, yet not escaping the thoughts of his beloved. The titular “Boatman” shows us family suffering through recent losses while traversing the routine of the day to day existence. “The Ruins” revisits a prior relationship and how the passage of time may not dim the flames of passion, maturity and responsibility of commitment overwhelm desire. “Beginish” packs a gut punch of love and romantic adventure coupled with foreboding tragedy and crushing loss. “Love is Strange” highlights that love possesses unimaginable depth and feeling, even in the little things.

The Boatman and Other Stories tears at the heartstrings of the reader with each story. Billy O’ Callaghan doesn’t pull punches in evoking profound feelings as each tale reaches its conclusion. Sadness is prevalent throughout, yet doesn’t sully a strong effort of storytelling. The endings vary in each narrative, yet an appreciation for life and love shines through. An excellent body of work to be enjoyed.


Saving Tuna Street (A Blanche Murningham Mystery)

A threat has come to the quaint neighborhood of Tuna Street, which includes Blanche's very own home on the beach. These Chicago tycoons have another thing coming when Blanche gets on the case and she's not about to let some land-grabbers buy up her home. After someone close to her is murdered, she dives into her journalist field to catch a killer. What she discovers is beyond anything she expected to find on their small island of Santa Maria. Their idyllic home has been a safe place, but now, Blanche uncovers that even their paradise has secrets when she's thrown into a world that pulls her into greed, drugs, murder, and kidnapping.

Nancy Nau Sullivan delivers a top-notch mystery that has it all: great characters, gorgeous setting, and a thrilling murder. The location of Santa Maria Island creates a brilliant catalyst for storytelling when this idyllic community is flipped on its head when Blanche discovers a growing underbelly of corruption and drugs. Sullivan weaves these darker elements into this island life of peace and tranquility that Blanche adores, which throws it into a murder mystery that finds her world thrown into a storm of drugs, murder, and kidnapping. The mystery has lighter elements that balance out against the darker elements woven throughout. The tycoons provide an excellent villain as they represent greed and corruption, and their presence is what seeps these elements into their small island life and threatens their peaceful existence. Tuna Street is Blanche's paradise and a place that adds to her drive and determination. Blanche has the sharp wit and mind for details of a journalist, which makes for an ideal sleuth and is woven into how she investigates her friend's murder. Saving Tuna Street is a delightful mystery with a charming location, enjoyable characters, and a plot that will have you hooked from the first page.


Willow the Armadillo

Willow is fascinated with picture books. The library is her refuge, the place she goes to find peace in the world. Her greatest dream, though, is to be the lead character in one of her own - the admired hero that somehow saves the day. Despite discouragement from those around her, this determined and courageous armadillo enrolls in classes at Picture Book Academy under a revered instructor. She studies feverishly and graduates successfully, but when it comes time for auditions, she fails to meet the expectations of the judges. Terribly saddened by her fate, she sets off for her favorite place. When she arrives, the library is filled with creatures of all kinds. A power outage suddenly occurs, and with skill and kindness, Willow turns chaos into calm. This thoughtful armadillo unexpectedly becomes the hero she’s been longing to become.

This is a noteworthy picture book covering an array of topics pertinent to young children. Willow the Armadillo is about bravery and persistence, disappointment and broken dreams, generosity, and compassion. It’s ideal for classrooms and libraries of elementary school-aged children, and namely children ages five through nine. It has a strong binding and will endure the test of time. It has a precious cover and is masterfully illustrated with vibrant, detailed illustrations throughout its entirety. Additionally, this charming story will likely leave readers feeling inspired inside and ready to overcome their own, unique challenges.


The Last Lie (The List)

After the great Melting, John Noa created the city of Ark. One of the rules in Ark is that people can only use 500 words because John believed that language was the downfall of the world. Now John is dead, and his wife Amelia is the new leader. She is even more strict; she wants less language. Letta is a wordsmith who has been secretly teaching words to students. She is part of a group that is trying to save Ark from the strict laws. When babies start to go missing, Letta and her group must try to stop the Ark government and save the babies from a life without any words.

This book is the second in the series; therefore, some of the story was a little confusing until the author explained what had happened to the world and why Ark was created. Although she doesn't think she is strong enough to be a true leader, Letta is a strong character. The way that Letta and her friends work together really shows that anything can be possible as long as you stick together, even if you don’t always agree with one another.


Crave

The moment Grace walked through the doors of Katmere Academy, she instantly knew that her life was about to change. With its old-world opulence, Katmere stood out like a gothic fairytale castle. Instantly, she is approached by the terrifying, intense Jaxon Vega who prickles with disdain, and yet she can’t get him out of her head. However, it’s not just Jaxon that she needs to worry about; Katmere has an ancient secret that everyone is bound to protect, and Grace quickly realizes she is the only human in a school of paranormal beings. Now, with their undeniable connection, Jaxon and Grace will have to discover if their love is enough to save Grace’s life and protect them from a hidden enemy.

Crave is the newest, young-adult paranormal romance that everyone has been waiting for, giving readers a new thrilling story of life, death, love, humor, and revenge. By taking the age-old dilemma of forbidden love, Tracy Wolff delicately unfurls the tempting bloom of angst, want, need, and desire and puts them up against betrayal, loss, and duty.  This book is filled with authentic, relatable characters that will leave readers divided with whom they believe they should align with as well as a strong heroine that exemplifies strength and perseverance. The tug-of-war between right and wrong, human versus vampire, and vampire versus shapeshifter takes this book on a thrilling tempo that will make readers want to sit and read as fast as they can.


Good Guys, Bad Guys

Joanne Rocklin, with illustrations by Nancy Carpenter

I liked the book Good Guys, Bad Guys by Joanne Rocklin. The pictures by Nancy Carpenter made me laugh. She draws really well. I liked the doggie in the story and the cowboys and how the kids switch who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy. The kids look like they are having a lot of fun playing in their backyard. And so does their dog! The whole story was my favorite and the fun-est part was rustling the steers. I also liked when they head to bed and the good guys become the bad guys. That was my favorite picture. It’s a really interesting spin on good versus bad. I liked how the book rhymed, but not too much. I think it would be fun to play like the kids in the book, taking turns being good guys and bad guys. The good guys save the day, but the bad guys sure look like they have fun, especially when they all eat the pizza! Good Guys, Bad Guys is a really fun book.


The Glass Hotel: A novel

Fans of Station Eleven may be disappointed to know that Emily St. John Mandel’s newest book is a complete departure from the post-apocalyptic genre. But rest assured that Mandel’s writing is as captivating and evocative as ever in The Glass Hotel. While bartending at a luxury hotel on a secluded island, Vincent is startled by a threatening message written on a nearby window. She suspects that her half-brother Paul, a recovering addict and wannabe composer who also works at the hotel, is somehow involved. That same night, Vincent meets hotel owner Jonathan Alkaitis; they quickly begin a relationship, which launches Vincent into the realm of the upper class. But a Ponzi scheme will tear them apart, sending Vincent to sea as a cook on a container ship until she falls from the deck and is never seen again, a tragic plot point that bookends the novel.

The Glass Hotel is a stunning tapestry of interconnected stories that explore corruption, alternate lives, haunting pasts, and consequences. The way Mandel gets inside the heads of her characters and puts their thoughts on the page is masterful. Mysterious, philosophical, and intricate, The Glass Hotel is literary fiction at its finest.


Copy Boy: A Novel

Jane Hopper was born with a twin, her brother, Benjamin, but she was the only one to survive. Growing up traveling from Amarillo to Sacramento and scraping to find work and get by during the Great Depression made her lean and scrappy; her father’s genes made her tall. Both would help her make a new life when she had to flee after a fight between her mother and father went horribly wrong. From Sacramento she would flee to San Francisco, where she would wind up making a new life for herself: as Benny Hopper. Her buried twin would live again.

From the very start of Copy Boy, I was sucked in, and Blanton-Stroud didn’t let me out until the epilogue. Jane is a compelling character, all sharp edges and Midwestern grit, and I was thrilled to see just how far she would go to get what she wanted. Jane is not your traditional historical fiction character, who always has a moment when she subtly reasserts her femininity by acting soft. She digs into what she wants and digs in hard. This means she has to make difficult choices, and not everything she does is laudable. Jane is no hero; she’s just a young woman trying to make her way, and that’s why I loved her so much.

In fact, that’s why I loved the book as a whole. Jane isn’t the only tough character. This is the Great Depression, and people scraping by for a living can’t afford to be delicate. Even people in the city don’t have that liberty. Blanton-Stroud has created a picture of the past that feels as real as any book set today, one where every detail feels necessary. The one complaint I have might well have been my fault; the climax felt rushed, but that could have easily come from my being wrapped up in the narrative as from any fault of the author. If I’m enjoying a book so much that I find myself losing track of everything, it might not really be a problem. If anything, it means I’m due for a reread sooner rather than later.

Copy Boy is, in short, a wonderful read and an intriguing look at a protagonist who is, as the epigraph says, a brave man and a good woman. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, and even many who don’t. Blanton-Stroud brings California in the 1930s to life in a way that doesn’t require scads of detail. It only requires humanity, which this book has in spades.


Sheep Dog and Sheep Sheep: Baaad Hair Day

Sheep loves to put her wool in different hairstyles until it gets too long for her to be able to see. She figures out she needs some help when she starts falling into things. Sheep Dog tries to help out but ends up going on the hunt to find Sheep Sheep. Eventually, she finds out that getting sheared doesn’t mean her wool is gone forever, but that it simply just get shorter and grows back.

This book is fantastic! From the end papers to the story inside, this was a treat to read to my children multiple times. My kids loved that Sheep Sheep calls the ducks “water chickens.” My daughter really loved Sheep Sheep’s hairdos. They both thought her stepping into the cow poop and when Sheep Dog got underwear stuck to his head after Sheep Sheep is looking for something to keep her wool out of her eyes was hilarious. This was also very appropriate for them because they needed haircuts and couldn’t get them during the Covid-19 for several weeks past our appointment. So, they really felt like Sheep Sheep.

I think the characterization is fantastic. I love Sheep Sheep’s personality. She is outspoken, joyful, and just fun to read. The play back and forth between the serious dog and spunky sheep was fun. I laughed when the sheep blames the dog for not watching out where she was going when she couldn’t see. I feel like that dog has to be the most patient sheep dog in the world.

The illustrations depicted the text so well. They are detailed but have great spacing at the same time. Sheep Sheep and Sheep Dog’s personalities shine through so well in the pictures. Starting the end papers with Sheep Sheep’s hairdos was my favorite. My favorite scene is when she is wearing the Texas-sized cowboy hat and takes if off, revealing her wool to be in the exact shape of the hat. I appreciated the subtle details of the Texas license plate and the paper Sheep Dog is holding that says “Shearing Day: Today.”

The text was sparse but meaningful. It powerfully conveyed exactly what the author/illustrator wanted the character to say and sound like. Sheep Sheep and Sheep Dog’s voices come through very clearly. “Holy begonias” and “water chickens” are my two very favorite lines.

The social, emotional, and educational value of this book is taking something that kids are familiar with and turning it into a fun lesson. It answers the following fun questions: How does a sheep get a haircut? What does the sheep think about getting a haircut? Is she scared about the haircut like kids are about haircuts? Does hair grow back when it is cut? What is it called when a sheep gets a haircut? Does she like it in the end? I think this is important because many kids do get anxiety about haircuts. They do need fun characters to go through the experience and find out it is okay.

In conclusion, I loved this book and I think everyone should buy it for their kids because it is fun, funny, and teaches us that haircuts are okay. I would recommend it for three- to eight-year-olds. I think every age will find something they love in this book. Very well done.


The Night Is for Darkness

The Night Is for Darkness describes nighttime as a multitude of things. It’s beautifully mysterious and full of creatures of all sorts -- some seen and some delicately hidden amongst the shadows. Night is for traveling by streetlight and for discovering the vast unknown. It’s for stories by candlelight and special bedtime kisses. The night is for long kept secrets and heartfelt prayers. It’s for restful sleeping and entering the land of dreaming. All these things make nighttime a unique and sacred time of adventure and restoration.

Written in prose, this is a lovely bedtime story for young children. It’s written at approximately a second grade level, but will likely be enjoyed by children as young as three or four. It contains many of the things youngsters hold dear -- animals in the midst of the forests and among the enormity of the skies, read aloud tales illuminated by bright candlelight, and treasurable time with loved ones. Children will be drawn to the illustrations throughout this sweet story. They’re filled with dark, nighttime hues and lively, nocturnal critters. They are plentiful and add richness to the text. The brevity and content of this original picture book make it an ideal pick for a bedtime treat.


Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

Linda Skeers, with illustrations by Marta Álvarez Miguéns

Dinosaur Lady is about one of the first lady paleontologists, although during her time women were not thought to be as smart as men and were not allowed to go to college like men or have jobs. Mary Anning was determined to learn about the curiosities she found on the beach to sell at the market. Mary loved to walk on the beach to find buried secrets from long ago. Mary rushed home to find out more about the fossilized trinkets she had found. Mary would research and take notes on everything she found. One day on the beach after a storm, Mary found an entire skeleton of an animal. Mary researched, and many geologist and archaeologists came to view her incredible find. Mary continued to learn about the fossils she would find one the beach. I enjoyed this book because, like Mary, I like to find fossils and things of the past so we can learn about the creatures that used to roam the earth. This book was very informative and funny. I enjoyed the illustrations of the fossils of the creatures that was found. I hope to someday find a fossil of a creature and can name it on my own.


The Final Deception (New York Confidential)

Psychologist Kieran Finnegan has an enviable life. She is close with her brothers who run Finnegan’s Pub, home of the finest Irish brunch in New York City, her work is interesting, and her handsome fiancé Craig Frasier is as dedicated to her as he is to his job with the FBI. Lately, though, her work life and home life are entangled as she and Craig both pursue the case of the Fireman, a violent criminal who murders and sets his victims on fire.

Heather Graham’s latest novel The Final Deception is gripping from the very first page. As Craig and Kieran hunt for the Fireman, they discover he may not be working alone. After his initial arrest, more bodies begin to stack up and everyone is a suspect. Is the Fireman truly so brilliant that he could have orchestrated these new murders, or is someone framing him for crimes he didn’t commit? Kieran strongly suspects the latter, especially as she comes to know the Fireman, a devoutly religious man whose convictions are as disturbing as they are singular. She’s certain someone else is to blame for the more recent crimes, but it will be hard for her to find the answers as she becomes a target herself.

As Craig tries to keep the city of New York and the woman he loves safe, he must question everything he knows. An engrossing page-turner from beginning to end, The Final Deception is a wildly taut thriller for any fan of mystery and intrigue.


Nonsense! The Curious Story of Edward Gorey: The Curious Story of Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey was one of the most creative and unique authors/illustrators of modern times. Few who have seen his work will ever forget it. He had the wisdom and foresight to trust children to “get” what he was writing and drawing and to understand what the phrase “tongue in cheek” means.

Author Lori Mortensen has decided to give young readers the gift of learning about this fascinating man. Illustrator Chloe Bristol does not copy Gorey’s signature style, but instead magically and brilliantly evokes his art in a fresh way. The text is lively and friendly in tone, and children, whether reading it themselves or having it read to them, will find this a fun and interesting book. The author’s note fills in some gaps that can’t be addressed in the text, and it is equally accessible for youngsters.

This book would be great read aloud during class as well as read one-on-one, and it belongs in every classroom and school library. Author biographies in picture book form are difficult to do well, but Mortensen and Bristol have partnered to make this one as good as it gets. Do not miss this book!


The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee

This is a story about a boy who has a dream about becoming a diver. Sammy Lee loved to dive, but he couldn't use the public pool unless it was Wednesday because only white people could use it whenever they wanted. Still, he was determined to learn how to dive.

Sammy eventually got a coach to help teach him, but they had to use a sand pit in the coach's backyard to learn how to dive. Sammy's father wanted him to become a doctor because he wanted people to respect him. Sammy wanted to go to the Olympics. Will Sammy become a doctor and give up his dream of diving? Will Sammy be able to go to the Olympics?

This non-fiction book was very interesting. I did not know who Sammy Lee was before reading this book. This is a very educational book, and I learned about some of the prejudice and discrimination Asians had to go through in the US. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a story about Sammy Lee, who made his dreams come true against all the odds.


For Love and Country: A Novel

When Lottie Palmer runs away the day before her wedding to join the Navy WAVES program, she leaves behind not only a fiancé but also the pampered lifestyle that she has known as the daughter of one of the most important manufacturers in Detroit's auto industry. Spurred by a desire to contribute to the war effort, Lottie pours all of her focus into becoming the best airplane mechanic in the division, working harder than she’s ever worked before. Her grit and sheer talent impress her instructor, Captain Luke Woodward. But when the war ramps up, and she is assigned to Pearl Harbor, she must fight her growing feelings for Luke and navigate her role as the only female mechanic among a group of men.

For Love and Country is a wonderful book, focusing on strong female characters doing everything they can to defend their county and their families—despite having to leave them behind. By far, I enjoyed reading about the Navy WAVES and all that they did during the war effort; especially since the Navy WAVES, and all those serving in WAVES ranks, don’t get as much spotlight as they deserve. Although there are many more things that I loved about For Love and Country besides the strong female characters and learning a bit more about the WAVES program, I could not help but feel as though there were times in which the story was a bit predictable.


Ollie's Backpack (Carefree Ollie Book 1)

Riya Aarini, with illustrations by Virvalle Carvallo

Ollie’s Backpack is the first book in the Carefree Ollie series. Ollie is a little boy who collects things in the backpack that he carries around daily. Ollie picks up anything from drawings and crayons to trying to carry an igloo. Ollie encounters multiple situations throughout his day in which he adds cares to his backpack. These cares are both positive and negative. The story focuses on the weight of the cares that Ollie carries with him and how they eventually weigh him down. Ollie has to learn how to let these cares go in order to feel lighter and happier. As a teacher, I like to find stories that focus on the social and emotional well-being of children in order to teach skills. However, Ollie’s Backpack may create some confusion with children since the story includes positive experiences as weight we carry throughout our day. I believe this story can be used as a tool for children to learn about not letting the weight of their worries to bring them down. I also believe parents and teachers need to add some teaching to let children know it’s okay to hold onto the positives a little longer, but not to let them overshadow other aspects of life.


What Can I Do When I Grow Up?: A young person's guide to careers, money - and the future

People are always asking the same question: What do you want to do when you grow up? It is a hard question for someone such as myself because there are many things I would like to do when I grow up. This book is fascinating because it has so many different kinds of jobs in it, some of which I didn't know existed, such as a cloud chief architect, which is nothing like it sounds like and actually has to do with how computers store information. This book has twenty job profiles that tell about each job and what you have to do for each. This book also has information on how to get a job and why a job and money are important. It also asks the question, “what do you enjoy?” which I think is important for a job. This book has some colorful illustrations and some very interesting information on jobs. I especially like the small journal entries or questions that are asked at the end of every chapter. I think this is a fun book to read to learn about what I would like to do when I get older. Game designer and safari guide are on the top of my list.


In The Pursuit of the Personal Renaissance Experience: Finding Opportunities for Happiness in the Ever-Present Now, author Peter Justus, shares insights into how to capitalize on the here and now, living each moment to its fullest. For him, it begins with what seems like a self-defeating journey to improve his continually declining dental health. No matter what he tries, what effort he puts forth to improve the condition of his oral hygiene, the reports he receives are nearly always the same: You have excessive tartar build-up and need to return for frequent scrapings and cleanings. One day, after visiting a new hygienist and feeling especially discouraged from their interaction, Peter decides to try another approach - to go back and carefully read the manual for his Sonicare. Perhaps, he thinks, he’s missed something important. After following the instructions for several weeks, trying to focus intently on the task at hand and only that, the tartar on his teeth lessens substantially for the first time in years. From this seemingly simple discovery, he decides to apply this concept - that of which he coins “personal process development” to other areas of fundamental importance to his life. He begins with his professional life, honing in on his role, with its various sub-roles, as a physician. He tries to maximize his personal interactions and communications with his patients, treating each one as capable and informed individuals. As he continues to apply the concepts of mindfulness and personal process development to more and more areas of his life, he finds something remarkable - that his contentment with life increases markedly and the “existential voids” that existed before have narrowed considerably. He experiences one personal renaissance after another.

There is an inherent desire to increase one’s sense of personal happiness in life, especially today in the fast-paced society in which we live and in which contentment is often lacking. Through telling his own story, the author offers readers a model of which to follow in order to find greater meaning in their lives. The concepts he introduces are not unique in and of themselves, but the depth to which he covers them and from the angle of which he approaches them is. The necessity of carefully identifying the roles and sub-roles that define one’s identity and the activities associated with them is critical to his approach. He provides detailed diagrams to illustrate how to complete such an analysis. To elucidate his points throughout, he often refers to beloved sports, well-known movies, and persons of admirable quality. These references aid in adding meaning and points of connection to the text as are several of the analogies that are made. “When we improve ourselves as an operator of any process, we essentially become an artist who, working with elements of his or her own thoughts and actions, changes oneself in a very specific way, from a state of relative chaos to one of the Opportunities for Happiness in the Ever-Present Now relative order. And we, as the controllers of these processes, experience the same sense of fulfillment that the artist experiences when he converts a block of stone into a stunning representation of a person.” This is just one example of a plethora of them.

In summary, The Pursuit of the Personal Renaissance Experience: Finding Opportunities for Happiness in the Ever-Present Now is a helpful guide to learning how to immerse oneself at the moment, while continually trying to improve upon oneself. There is a considerable amount of science, namely in the form of biology and human physiology, that is included and used to further delineate concepts the author introduces. He is philosophical in his approach and describes things in microscopic detail which may lend to a narrower audience. However, those who appreciate scholarly, philosophical works will likely find him to be well-written, thought-provoking, and thorough.


Imagine Me (Shatter Me)

Juliette Farrars. Ella Sommers.

Which is the truth and which is the lie? Now that Ella knows who Juliette is and what she was created for, things have only become more complicated. As she struggles to understand the past that haunts her and looks to a future more uncertain than ever, the lines between right and wrong - between Ella and Juliette -- blur. And with old enemies looming, her destiny may not be her own to control. The day of reckoning for the Reestablishment is coming. But she may not get to choose which side she fights on.

First off, I would like to say that Imagine Me is apart of a series, and I would suggest that you read all previous installments of the series before you read Imagine Me; but if you're into reading series out of order, feel free to go ahead and read this book. Imagine Me was beautifully written - from the wonderful characters, the well-built world, and even down to the plot. Although I have many positives about it, I couldn't help but feel as if the ending was a bit rushed, and in all honestly, I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed because of that - especially since the events of the last chapter left me with so many questions that were brought up due to the events of the last chapter.


The List of Things That Will Not Change

Bea is ten and in fifth grade when her dad tells her that he and Jesse are going to get married. A couple of years earlier, Bea’s parents had told her that they were divorcing because Bea’s dad is gay, although certain things would never change. They made a list and kept that promise.

Now Bea not only has to get used to having Jesse as a parent, but also to the fact that he has a daughter, Sonia, who lives across the country. She will be coming to visit and she will be Bea’s sister! Bea loves that idea. But with the wedding coming soon, Bea discovers that not everyone is as happy about the marriage as she is. Some kids at school say mean things and act differently. Also, Bea finds out that Jesse has a brother whom he hasn’t seen in years. She decides to do something about that and learns some hard lessons about families.

Author Rebecca Stead seems fully in touch with her inner child. This book is told from a first-person point of view. Bea’s telling of her story perfectly reflects a ten-year-old girl in terms of the language, feelings, frustrations, and more, which are all spot on. This is a moving story, an important story, and it deserves wide readership.


Help Yourself: A Guide to Gut Health for People Who Love Delicious Food

The main reason to buy cookbooks is to get new recipes that one can try and enjoy.  The first criterion is that readers can make the intended dish.  If the recipes are not duplicated or contain ingredients that the reader does not consume, then the book’s utility increases. If those recipes are from faraway lands or provide a health benefit, so much the better. This book contains original recipes that promote healthy living and are quick and straightforward to prepare for the average reader.

After a long introduction, the recipes start with the breakfast category. Categories include snacks, three main sections (vegetable, seafood, and meat and poultry), sides, soups, and desserts. The recipes are clearly laid out and coded to help readers determine, at a glance, which (health) category the recipe fulfills. Unfortunately, not all recipes have a picture of the finished product (useful for those making the dish for the first time). Nutrition labels for each recipe would be helpful for those readers combining these recipes with other diets, as would preparation time.

Overall, the book is useful for those looking for a change from everyday recipes, but looking for dishes that are delicious and slant towards the healthy side. It is geared towards readers who like to cook, but need simple and quick recipes with ingredients that can be found in most supermarkets.


Yosemite Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Yosemite National Park (Wildflower Series)

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Besides having spectacular waterfalls and cliffs, it is filled with wildlife and amazing plant-life. For those who love wildflowers—and really, who doesn’t?—this book will be a real treasure. It includes native and non-native plants as well as trees and shrubs that have conspicuous flowers. After a good introduction and a how-to-use section, the main part of the book is broken into six sections arranged by colors: white to cream; yellow; red and orange; pink, rose, and magenta; blue, purple, and lavender; and green and brown flowers. The tops of the pages are colored to make finding the sections easy. There are two flowers on each page with a gorgeous close-up photo, common name, scientific name and family, description flowering time, habitat/range, and comments and/or similar plants. Back-matter includes an excellent glossary, a family index, and a general index. There is even a handy little ruler on the back cover. For those who appreciate wildflowers and those who enjoy visiting Yosemite, this book will be an invaluable guide.


All We Buried: A Sheriff Bet Rivers Mystery

Small-town sheriff Bet Rivers has big city dreams. Having spent some time as a cop on the streets of LA, coming home made her hometown seem small and boring in comparison. That is, until she finds herself at the head of a murder investigation, her first. She had plans in the city, moving up in the ranks of the LAPD, but she was called home to finish some family business. Little did she know that the town that was so familiar to her was full of secrets, and the people she thought she knew she didn’t really know at all.

The first third of this novel was full of great character development and background info, but then it becomes extremely hard to put down. The cliffhangers at the end of the chapters were fantastic. The author does a great job of building the suspense. Even though the plot is intricate it was easy to follow, and don’t worry, all the questions you have will be answered as the story unfolds. The end of this novel definitely leaves you wanting more. I would love to read more about Sherriff Bet Rivers’ adventures and would recommend this to anyone who loves mystery thrillers.


Dog Town

Dog Town is a story about big dogs who live in Big Rover as well as little dogs who live in Little Rover. A little dog named Harry discovers something incredible. Everyone thought cats were extinct, but they were wrong. Harry accidentally discovers that Cat World really exists. But many dogs living in Dog Town want to destroy Cat World. In order to save Cat World, Harry must win a race swimming across the bay, but there is just one problem: Harry is afraid of water.

I loved this story. It was a little slow at the start, but then very quickly was full of action. The story has no boring parts like other stories. Harry is tons of fun and loves to race, and he can be daring and he will do anything to protect his friends.

This book would make a great series because it is an action-packed adventure that you don’t want to end. This story is good for people who love cats and dogs. I would recommend it because it’s fun and full of action.


Anthropica

LOCAL AUTHOR

David Hollander's Anthropica is a collection of stories between characters that intertwine with each other in unusual ways. The word Anthropica that Hollander uses is from the word anthropic, which means: relating to human beings or the period of their existence on earth; the Anthropic Principle sums up the premise of Anthropica. Included in this book are characters such as novelists, philosophical thinkers, robots, mole-people, and Ultimate-frisbee players. Each of these characters develops higher thinking throughout the story and seeks to discover the truth of our existence.

Honestly, I was confused during much of the story. The audience should be mature adults who enjoy and are familiar with the style of writing from Hollander. I didn't appreciate the continuous use of foul language and sexual dialogue included in nearly every character's story; I understand that this is a style of writing that is familiar and normal to some readers, but not for me. There are many references to God and religion throughout the story; it was unclear to me whether the characters (the author) were for or against Him. I felt the text was wordy, but I understand that for readers who appreciate descriptions and detail, they will enjoy this book.


I Know Jesus Christ Is Real

I Know Jesus Christ is Real is Melinda Deir-Boyette's testimony to the love, security, and overall goodness in her life that have come from having Jesus Christ in it. Through stories relating to key points in her life that revolve around Jesus and accepting Him into her life, Melinda shows His power over everything worldly and spiritual. Melinda speaks of spiritual blessings that were bestowed on her since she's been a young girl; we have no way of knowing if these are true or not, but her testimonies are still working to strengthen the case of God's mercy and His word through the Bible. Melinda lived a rough life when she was younger, living on her own in Jamaica for most of it. Through her writing, we see how God had compassion on her, even when she failed to "act like a Christian."

Melinda's book is encouraging and uplifting. Readers from any background will benefit from reading her book; Melinda came from the bottom (like many others) and was moved by God’s blessing to the top. She writes humbly and makes it clear that all of the glory and praise go to God for the way her life (and now eternal life) goes.


The Next Beethoven

David Green is a talented pianist dwelling in the large shadow of his late father. David lost his father in his early years and became a piano prodigy shortly thereafter. A normal life was not in the offing, as he was homeschooled while he perfected his talents through competitions. David has his sights set on composing modern music to perform. The music of the Romantic period holds great aesthetic value to him, to the point of his shunning any other period. He is in a long-term relationship with Heather. Heather is involved in psychology studies, with an eye towards evaluating suicidal behavior. David clashes with Heather’s father over the path of David’s career, as David doesn't want to sell out in order to achieve fame and fortune. This, along with David’s irascible feelings towards modern musicians, has strained his relationships.

Determined to start a second renaissance, David looks for other like-minded artists to form a group. He puts the word out and is soon joined by Jeff, Tyler, Dan, and Shelly. They each bring their own talent and single-mindedness towards eschewing modernity in favor of true artistry. Poetry, architecture, and design are among the skills showcased by David’s new confederates. They meet and discuss common ground and look to collaborate on a project. The pall cast over New York in the first years after 9/11 is still noticeable, and this becomes the first project of the group. However, the cohesiveness of the group begins to fall apart as Jeff becomes obsessed with the literature and philosophy of Ayn Rand. Her world narrative captivates formerly shy Jeff and alienates him from others. He is soon gone from the group. David’s disdain for sell-outs, alleged or otherwise, leads him to cast Dan out once he sees a design Dan created for an art gallery. As the Second Renaissance concludes in acrimony and failed dreams, David spirals into an emotional abyss.

Heather witnesses David becoming unglued, drinking too much and disregarding everything. He attempts to get help, but a psychologist rebuffs him for an unknown reason. The mind of a prodigy risks complete unraveling, where will he turn? Can he find redemption?

The Next Beethoven strikes a deep and distinct chord with the reader. The topic of mental illness is explored in all complexity and emotion. David is not always an easy person to like, yet the reader sympathizes with his plight. The author writes his characters deftly and compassionately. This is an emotional roller coaster of a read. A-plus work.


Lulu & Rocky in Nashville (Our City Adventures)

Barbara Joosse, with illustrations by Renée Graef

Lulu and Rocky love to travel, just like me. Lulu and Rocky Fox go to visit Uncle Sparky in the capitol of my home state: Nashville, Tennessee. There are so many fun landmarks to visit in Nashville! Lulu and Rocky visit some of my favorite places, like the Adventure Science center and the Carillon Bells. Lulu and Rocky explore Music City and learn all about famous musicians that have played at the Ryman Auditorium. I like the clever illustrations that show the beauty of Music City and the many landmarks one can find when visiting. The illustrations of the many animals are adorable, and I love how they have been brought to life in a big city. Each page seems to have a different animal friend hidden on each page. This would be a fun book for anyone who wants to visit Music City or for readers who live local and love Nashville and all the many things to do and see. There were a few landmarks Lulu and Rocky visited that I haven't been to and would love to go visit. I can't wait to see what other adventures Lulu and Rocky go on in this series.


Fly, Firefly

A single firefly is driven out to sea by glorious winds. There it witnesses a strikingly alluring bioluminescent light. In its quest to join others of its kind, the firefly plunges into the deep blue sea. The innocent creature fails to realize that the glow is not cast by other fireflies but by creatures native to the sea.

With completely saturated wings, the firefly will never be able to escape the ocean. A kind child who saw what happened decides to rescue it from near certain death. She gently lifts it from the surface and thoughtfully carries it home to a place in which an army of fireflies roam the skies.

This magnificent story is sure to capture the hearts of young children whose love for nature runs deep. Interestingly, it's based on an occurrence in nature observed by ecologist and author Rachel Carson in which a lone firefly tried to unite with its “family” in the sea.

Science and reading teachers will likely be drawn to this beautifully and magically illustrated picture book. It’s ideal for children aged 5-9 and is filled with vibrant, detailed pictures that bring the story to life. They are truly unique and will fascinate all those who read it. Many will long to read it again and again, taking in new insights and observations with each new glimpse.


Montale: Poems (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)

Eugenio Montale, edited by Jonathan Galassi

This reader had not been familiar with the poetry of Eugenio Montale, although apparently, he is quite famous and acclaimed. I am happy to get to know his poetry in this beautiful and collectible edition by Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets. The publisher presents poetry in beautifully bound and beribboned editions. Even the paper and typography make reading a sensual pleasure.

While the themes of Montale’s poetry eluded me much of the time, his images are striking and elegant. When I learned that Montale had been trained as a singer, the songbook nature of his poetry was explained. He writes in the Italian tradition of poets stretching from Dante, in much the same style. Like Dante’s Beatrice, Montale writes in honor of the perfect woman. In “In the Greenhouse” this woman calls to mind “the dark idea of God.” He goes on: “Rapt, weightless, I was drenched with you.” This poem exemplifies the poet’s mastery of images which form perfect stories. Although “Lunchtime Letter” is included in the appendix, I felt that this was one of the best of his poems. The hills were “dressed in scant lace,” and he writes of believing in a pact between himself and another. Clearly, the poetry of Montale as evidenced in this volume brings us closer to this wonderful mastery of poetry. The book also includes a chronology of Montale’s long life and an explication of the poems.


At Crossroads with Chickens: A "What If It Works?" Adventure in Off-Grid Living & Quest for Home

A chicken lady and her flock find their home in rural New Hampshire.

At Crossroads with Chickens by Tory McCagg is a thoughtful memoir about the author and her husband as they search for and create various homes, seeking the place where they, and their chicks, really belong. It skims the surface of various otherworldly issues—climate change, animal cruelty, confinement, and use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers—but at its core, the book is about a search for home: where it is, what it means, and who belongs there with you.

McCagg’s transformation from weekend gardener to chicken lady and off-grid extraordinaire is an entertaining read with some really good one-liners, a lot of anxiety, and oh so many chickens. Readers familiar with the Rhode Island/New Hampshire area will be able to appreciate the geography, and chicken aficionados will empathize with aggressive roosters and the need for good fencing. McCagg’s journey from daughter to caregiver is equally poignant as she processes her mother’s battle with Parkinson’s disease. At Crossroads with Chickens is off-grid, off-beat, and a very satisfying read.


Sondheim: Lyrics (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)

I have discovered what I have been missing by not seeing Stephen Sondheim musicals. What I missed was the context of the story which is advanced so brilliantly by the libretto composed by Sondheim. By having this lovely book of Sondheim lyrics, one can appreciate the extraordinary talent that Sondheim has brought to the modern musical. Many of the musicals which I grew up with featured a collection of sing-able songs which were somewhat connected by story. With his lyrics, Sondheim tells the story and advances it seamlessly. It is quite an art and thanks to this beautiful book, the songs can be appreciated down to the lines that are sometimes thrown away in the singing of them. It is no coincidence that Sondheim began his career writing television scripts; it is clear that storytelling is a predominant part of his art. For forty-nine years, Sondheim has created a remarkable range of stories. From West Side Story to Bounce, Sondheim songs have enriched the landscape of Broadway and beyond.


Mae the Mayfly

Mae’s mom holds her tight and then let’s her go with a few words of lasting wisdom. On that warm and sunny day, Mae learns she will likely only have a day to live. After hearing her mother’s words encouraging her to bask in the moments that remain, she flutters off to explore. Early in her journey, she narrowly escapes being devoured by a famished trout. She seeks refuge in the hollow of a nearby tree, but despite her fear, she courageously travels on, witnessing the array of miracles the world and nature have to offer. By the time day has turned into night and the stars have illuminated the sky, this newborn mayfly is ready to drift off to sleep, whether for a night or for eternity.

Mae the Mayfly is a truly enjoyable read with its soft, yet brilliantly vibrant illustrations and rhythmically flowing text. Its message is beautifully rich and poignant and it will bless those who read it. Parents and teachers alike will be able to share with young children the importance of living life to its fullest as well as many notable facts about mayflies, as they are highlighted at the end of the book. There is an additional lesson gently woven through the pages of this sweet story as well. Near the end, Mae saves the life of the one who deceitfully tried to take hers. This simple act of forgiveness and compassion speaks volumes about her character.


The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another (The MIT Press)

There are several books on how humans changed their world through innovation. The reverse – how human innovations in turn shaped human society – is not as much written about. It is this aspect that this work explicitly sets out to explore by focusing on eight mundane objects.

Chapters read more like stories, with a focus on the lesser-known personalities. Edison, for example, does get a mention, but most of the narrative is devoted to William Wallace. After describing the birth of the invention, the chapter outlines its adaption and impact on society. The focus is on how human society changed partially due to innovation. In some cases, this connection is strong (as in the case of Polaroid), but in other cases, it is more tenuous.

The text is not footnoted, instead, an appendix lists page numbers and bold text from that page followed by the reference. This is annoying as looking for references takes more effort, and some areas are not footnoted. An annotated bibliography not only lists but also provides a brief description of references that may interest some readers. This book is likely to appeal to those interested in the intersection of technology and culture.


Henry Knox's Noble Train: The Story of a Boston Bookseller's Heroic Expedition That Saved the American Revolution

Students of American history already familiar with George Washington ascending the Dorchester Heights above Boston during the frozen night of March, 1776, may be equally familiar with the cannons of Fort Ticonderoga, which pushed the British from Boston and out of the harbor. This book focuses primarily on how those sixty tons of cannon, known as Knox's Noble Train of Artillery, got from the wilderness of the Canadian border, a journey of more than three hundred miles over mountains and rivers, in the dead of winter.

Hazelgrove writes with novel-like flare as opposed to a high school textbook approach. He sometimes goes to extremes to bring these historical characters back to life within the narrative while employing the use of letters and journal entries to weave the events together. Nevertheless, the repetition stretches the story out as if the author were under a quota. A more concise rendering might trim the book to something less than two hundred pages and greatly improve the telling. By the time the fabled guns reach their destination, the reader is exhausted from the journey.

Hazelgrove drums home several redeeming points that we need to remember these days, including the fact that our Continental Army was an integrated fighting force that offered freedom to the slaves a century before the Civil War. Hazelgrove also reminds us that American ingenuity is not limited to the well-born, but more often than not originates from those who find themselves most disadvantaged.


I Was Told It Would Get Easier

Jessica is a forty-five year old single mother who has grown apart from her sixteen year old daughter, Emily. Jessica puts in long hours as a lawyer and is partner at her firm. She knows she’ll have to work even harder to afford the sky-high college tuition that is looming in her near future. In addition to being efficient, Jessica books a college tour to scope out potential colleges and, hopefully, reconnect with her daughter. The week-long trip brings both ladies a lot more than they bargained for, but it’s exactly what they needed.

This book is fantastic. It’s witty, funny, emotional, honest, and real. Told in alternating viewpoints between Jessica and Emily, each has an authentic voice that moves the story along. Fast-paced and realistic, this book makes for a quick, engrossing read. It would be a very good book for mothers and daughters to share together as it provides relatable motivations, fears, and desires that both age groups can connect with.


Attack of the Stuff

Attack of the Stuff by Jim Benton is a fun story about a duck named Bill who can talk to and hear items around him. Bill sells hay for a living. The weird thing is that Bill can hear his furniture and random stuff talk. He gets tired of listening to them and goes to live in the wild. He gets attacked by snakes, but later they make him their king. The book is entertaining. The funniest part of the book is when Bill tells Dog the Scientist to go fetch a pencil and a piece of paper. The main character is very funny and other characters make the story more fun. The story is well written and kept my interest. I could not put it down. This is a comic book with color illustrations. They are silly and go well with the story.
This is a good book for eight-year-olds and up who like silly stuff. It could make a good series. I would recommend this book because it was really good and I like it. If you are into silly stuff, you won’t regret reading this book.


Hood

Hood is a thrilling novel about Isabelle, a young woman who joins the Merry Men for the adventure of a lifetime. When we meet Isabelle, she‘s been arrested for defending villagers from a royal soldier. Her mother helps her escape and gives her instructions to find her father, who happens to be Robin Hood.This is news to Isabelle! She finds an inn where she meets the Merry Men and ends up joining their ranks. She soon finds out that King John’s right-hand man, the Wolf, is after her family. Readers follow Isabelle as she learns to switch from the life of a sister at a priory to the life of the Merry Men. She must find Robin and rescue her mother from the Wolf.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It was exciting and had historical accuracy as well. I loved the personalities of the members of the Merry Men. My personal favorite was Helena. She was a fierce archer and had a spunky, sarcastic personality. The plot was very well written and I appreciated that the romance of the story was tied in with the rest and not the center of attention. I would recommend this book to people who like tales of Robin Hood or re-told fairy tales and history. I would suggest this book for readers aged 13 and up.


Of Literature and Lattes

Alyssa had a job at a start-up that was recently shut down for possible illegal activity. Without a job, she has no other option than to return to her hometown, Winsome, Illinois, which is the last thing she wants to do.

Jeremy needs a fresh start. He needs a new job and a chance to be near his daughter so he can be a good father. He takes over a coffee shop in Winsome with dreams of a bright new life ahead of him.

This book sounded cozy and delightful but it didn't deliver. The story itself is good, but the narrative style is distracting and confusing. It's hard to get your bearings starting right from chapter one. The narrative kind of flits around from character to character without warning. I found myself frustrated often, not realizing that the narrative had shifted perspective again until the character said something that didn't make sense. Then I'd go back to figure out which character had taken over. As I result, I was constantly knocked out of the story and never found myself really immersed in it or connected to any of the characters. If that kind of writing is your style, you'll be rewarded with a cute story. If not, it may be a frustrating read for you too.


Death Waits in the Dark

Arthur Nakai’s first love, Margaret, calls him while he’s attending the funeral of a man from Arthur’s time in the Marines in Iraq. Margaret’s two boys had been killed, and she wants Arthur to look into it. What he finds sends his thoughts to the sharpshooters the Marines trained. Since the shooting took place on the reservation, Navaho police, led by Jake Bilagody, take on the investigation. What Arthur and Jake uncover have them looking at a wide range of suspects — a strong-arm security guy, the people from a high-powered oil company who want Margaret’s land, and even a member of Arthur’s unit from Iraq. A bullet tears through Arthur’s truck nearly killing him, leaving Arthur injured and shaken and his wife scared. Can Jake and Arthur figure this out before anyone else dies?

Mark Edward Langley has written a compelling second book in his Arthur Nakai detective series. The writing is good, although the amount of description and detail sometimes gets in the way of and slows the story down in several places. The characters are well-rounded and intriguing, and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the mystery under wraps until the very end.


Deep Gossip: New and Selected Poems

The natural world, with a focus on birds, in particular, is the heart of much of the work in Sidney Wade’s latest poetry collection Deep Gossip. While the subject matter is universal and the imagery at times quite beautiful, the repetitive nature of the rhyme scheme in many of the poems keeps this collection from being fully successful.

In the first poems in the collection, the new work, lines are short, images sparse, and the effect is limited. Many of these poems feel dashed off, unpolished, and uncentered. “Nature Poets,” for instance, could be a glorified diary entry. However, the star of the most recent work is “Seeing the Ophthalmologist,” a poem so perfect the final lines develop the visceral feeling of having one’s eyes puffed at the eye doctor. The latter work of the selected section contains rhyme that distracts from a greater idea rather than adding to it, but the finest poem in the book, “Beatrice Rising,” makes wading through the lesser poems worth it.

For those who haven’t read Wade’s work before, the book does have merit. It is an excellent primer on a writer who has an uncanny ability to render nature so tangibly that you can nearly hear the birdsong and smell the bougainvillea in her poems.


The Dark Fights

Sasha is an uchi-deshi at a martial arts dojo where she learns the honor and technique of a true martial artist. That is until she finds her brother Danilo horribly injured after an underground fight run by a brutal Russian criminal. She does one dark fight to help out Danilo, saying this will be the first and last time. That is until things start to go wrong in her life and she is sucked into the chaotic life of these underground flights. Being drawn in by drugs, money, and violence, can she escape before it's too late?

This book has romance, action, betrayal, and redemption. I also like how, even though it is centered around an aggressive topic, it shows real emotion from Sasha. It also teaches you about accepting and learning from your mistakes. The author made the book very exciting and intriguing, which made me want to keep reading more. I also liked how the author explains the fighting and martial arts in a way to make it easy to understand. It does have mature parts, so I do not suggest this for young audiences. Other than that, I do recommend reading this compelling and powerful book.


Brave Talk: Building Resilient Relationships in the Face of Conflict

I avoid conflict at all costs, but I value authentic conversations. As 2020 and all its stresses wore on, conflicts were popping up more and more in my daily life. Because it was harder to run or hide like I usually do, I realized I needed to find a different approach. Brave Talk by Melody Stanford Martin is based on the concept that we don’t need to agree to have an authentic and meaningful conversation, and that impasse, deep, and unresolvable conflict can actually be the foundation for resilient relationships. This goes far beyond the” we’ll just agree to disagree” maxim. According to Stanford Martin, this involves reckoning with your own feelings around conflict and the subject at hand; being curious about the other person’s perspective; asking great questions; and assuming no ill intent.

One of the best concepts of the book was the “potluck of ideas” and determining if the “dish” or idea that someone one brought was merely not to your taste or truly “poo.”

Given the current climate in the United States, I found this framework refreshing and rigorous. It made me realize that I have gotten lazy in my discourse. A particular relevant question brought up in the book is “Does this idea resist harm and it is well meaning?”

This book broke down communication theory into easy to understand graphics and summaries. Stanford Martin also relates relevant stories from her own life and current examples. Overall, I felt this truly was a book for our times. It also has an online training/discussion component. I think I will be referencing both the book and online program for a long time to come.


Rockhounding Northern California: A Guide to the Region's Best Rockhounding Sites (Rockhounding Series)

Anyone who has ever picked up a pretty rock and admired it has the makings of a rockhound in them. This book will be invaluable for those who are true rockhounds, but it is so accessible and beautiful that it will be of interest to nearly everyone.

The book opens with a geologic introduction to Northern California, followed by sections specifically concerning rockhounding in that region, collection regulations and etiquette, how to use this book, safety, and map legend. All this good information is followed by write-ups on 85 sites. Each of these details the land type, GPS coordinates, best season, land manager, material, tools needed, vehicle most appropriate, accommodations, finding the site, and text describing the rockhounding experience.

The writing is lively and fun and shows author Montana Hodges’s love for the subject matter. There are beautiful full-color close-up photographs of some of the material found at the sites and sometimes also beautiful photos of the area. Maps are interspersed throughout. There is even a handy ruler on the back cover.

This book is a real treasure trove of information for anyone living in or visiting Northern California who enjoys the outdoors and learning about geology. Don’t miss it.