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The US Review of Books connects authors with professional book reviewers and places their book reviews in front of subscribers to our free monthly newsletter of fiction book reviews and nonfiction book reviews. Learn why our publication is different than most others, or read author and publisher testimonials about the USR.

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Recent Book Reviews

 

Focus Review

Inner Trek: A Reluctant Pilgrim in the Himalayas by Mohan Ranga Rao "On a journey to a great destination, the body and soul should not be concerned with the considerable challenges of the trip." Embroiled in difficult business dealings, author Rao is convinced by his devout Hindu wife, Mamatha, to vow to Lord Shiva that he will go to sacred sites at Lake Manasa Sarovar and Mount Kailash in Tibet. He gradually acquiesces, and she books the tour. Preparations are paramount: pilgrims of any age might die from the continual cold and extreme altitudes. Crossing into Tibet on a narrow, swaying suspension bridge is the first taste of challenge, followed by cramped sleeping quarters shared with fellow pilgrims and no toilets or hot water. The couple bathes ritually in the beautiful blue, icy Manasa, a prelude for deeper spiritual connectivity that will infuse Rao's mind and heart as he and Mamatha hike the entire circumference of Kailash that rises out of the rocky landscape like a divinely formed pyramid. By the end of their adventure, Rao expresses that he has "surrendered to a higher intelligence." ... (read more)

• And She Wasn’t Damaged by Hagit Vardi
• And Union No More by Stan Haynes - RECOMMENDED
• Aunt Dollie’s Remedies and Tips by Clementine Holmes Bass - RECOMMENDED
• Awesome Untold Story, The by Gary Alan Rothhaar
• Big Feet by Michael Rubel
• Bones of Skull Island by A. Remlov
• Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen - RECOMMENDED
• Computer Love by Ricardo Pierre-Louis
• Coyote by Charles Combee - RECOMMENDED
• Disrobed by Syl Tang - RECOMMENDED
• Distance Between Us, The by A.C. Burch - RECOMMENDED
• Entanglement by Evan Frank
• Fern and Her Not So Puffy Tail by Shanell Sager
• Flight by W.R. Blocher - RECOMMENDED
• Gathering No Moss by Don Feeney - RECOMMENDED
• Gentle Shadows Fierce Wings by Nikita Kapoor - RECOMMENDED
• Ghost Comes Out, The by The Sisters Spurlock
• God’s End-Time Puzzle by William C. Edmondson - RECOMMENDED
• Guff - The Journey Continues by Carole Eglash-Kosoff
• Guidance To Death by Daniel V. Meier, Jr.
• History and Mystery by Bernie L. Calaway - RECOMMENDED
• Horse to Water by Peter Bailey
• Incredible Essence of Elephants, The by Changaram S. Venugopal and Jacob V. Cheeran - RECOMMENDED
• Into the Canyon with Mary Colter by Dr. Barbara ten Brink
• Journey, The by Colonel Vaughan Witten, PhD
• Lifeline to a Soul by John K McLaughlin
• Light in a Dark Void by Michael Markevich
• Magdalene by Marissa Dike
• Mary Magdalen by Judy Barnes - RECOMMENDED
• Norman Rockwell's Models by S. T. Haggerty - RECOMMENDED
• Notunol: A Study of Christism by Mac R. Cabanilla
• "on that day" A Trilogy by Thomas Fitzhugh Sheets
• One of Ours by Lynn-Steven Johanson - RECOMMENDED
• Pack of the Lost by Nikita Kapoor
• Paradise Broken by Rob Marshall - RECOMMENDED
• Paris Spoken Here by Christine Candland - RECOMMENDED
• Phoenix Career Principles, The by Tony Pisanelli - RECOMMENDED
• Poems of Divine Power by Annielean
• Provenance Unknown by Sonia Nicholson
• Rainbow, No End by Lloyd Knight - RECOMMENDED
• Reading Homer's Iliad by Kostas Myrsiades - RECOMMENDED
• Sacred Writings of St. John the Apostle, The by Rev. Dr. Henry B. Malone
• Salt Island by Lisa Towles
• Saving Alezia’s Baby by Carole Love Forbes and Gary G. Love
• Semi-Gloss by Joe Barrett
• Sound of Animals, The by Mark A. Mullens
• Submitted Unto Perfection by Jo Gwost
• Swamp Water Tales by John Tuminello
• Tales of a Spiritual Sun by Paul Kiritsis
• Tall Moon Diaries by Robert Bollendorf
• Tears of Hope, The by Peter A. Hubbard
• Terrifying Tales Unleashed by Scott D. Gottschalk
• Tomorrow We Will Know by Sandra Worth - RECOMMENDED
• Tree of Life, The by Daniel G. Miller - RECOMMENDED
• Violet by Sabrina Simon
• Who Held the Door Open? by Raejean Kanter
• Working Like a Man by Jessie Eldora Robertson

Read the US Review of Books Previous Edition

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Featured Book Reviews

 

Learning to Read

Highlight Review This May Be Difficult to Read: But You Really Should (For Your Child’s Sake) by Claire N. Rubman, PhD Education & Parenting Matters book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott "Children construct knowledge from the world around them. If we provide the ideal tools, we need only leave the construction up to our children." Author, educator, and parent Rubman has gathered a bounty of research and personal experience focused on helping children learn to read. In doing so, she explores and puts to rest many “myths” regarding this process, with the purpose of guiding her audience to the best, most potent methods available. The concern that prompted her to bring these issues to light is simple, straightforward, and undeniably disturbing: statistically, as many as 67% of American eighth graders can’t read as well as required, and a surprising number of college students must enroll in remedial reading classes in their freshman year. It is notable, too, that nearly half of those included in the collected data come from middle- and upper-class home environments. ... (read more)

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JadeAnne Continues

JadeAnne Stone, an investigative journalist whose main interest is human trafficking, is being hunted by the devious Anibal and ruthless cartel members who wish to retrieve her and fifteen-year-old Lily after their escape. With the help of JadeAnne’s biological father, Quint, the two females are hiding out with an array of security. However, how can one know who to trust in a country where law enforcement is easily bought off, and even government agents may not be trustworthy? Though the two are American citizens, they find no help from the American Embassy and must find another way to return to the States safely. The handsome Dr. Dylan Porras and his family become involved as he and JadeAnne begin a budding romance. With the help of friends and colleagues, they eventually create a feasible but dangerous escape plan. However, the question remains: Who can they really trust? ... (read more)

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Ambitious Story

Highlight Review The Quest to Overthrow Heaven by Bolko Zimmer Outskirts Press book review by Sarah Poulette "Victory is at hand! Retrieve the slain angels in the water below and use them as shields! We will now attack heaven!" Lucifer is a celebrated prince of Heaven, favored by many angels for his agile racing on celestial winged horses. But while the other divine inhabitants of Heaven are content to follow directions from the Supreme Spirit without question, Lucifer develops a curiosity that will become his downfall. Lucifer’s pride and inquisitiveness lead to him stealing from Heaven, corrupting the new denizens of Earth, and eventually ruling over demonic forces in his own dark territories. All the while, he schemes to take the diamond throne of Heaven for himself. ... (read more)

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The Real Deal

The author of this ingenious, self-satirizing, and surprisingly sagacious work is a man who has patronized casinos for many years, won some money, lost as much or more, and wants to share his experiences for the guidance and potential benefit of others. His own gambling daydreams have always included the possibility of winning a huge sum after thousands of hours playing slot machines and sitting at blackjack tables. But he also deals with fascinating facts, such as the tale of Archie Karas, who began his gambling foray in Las Vegas with just fifty dollars, managed to transform that into a notable forty-million-dollar bankroll, and gradually gambled it all away. The sandwich, the author tells his readers, was invented by the Earl of Sandwich, who wanted food brought to the casino table so he wouldn’t have to break for a meal. ... (read more)

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Working Together

Highlight Review Building Communities of Hope: How People are Making Positive Change by Rev. Dr. Anne Hays Egan Marcon Press book review by Yousra Medhkour "Building hope is both individual and collective. We have our own inner work to do in our spiritual development as we tend to our inner landscapes and build from our most deeply held values and beliefs." Ever wondered how to make a positive difference in the world? This book helps answer that question as Egan delves, with anecdotes and personal experience, into how every single action toward this goal, whether small or big, is impactful to the world. Even the simple act of hope and maintaining gratitude can go a long way in influencing a person’s attitude toward the world around them, thereby positively shaping how they react to it. In other words, hope begets change. The smallest acts of kindness, love, and compassion have rippling effects. ... (read more)

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The Journey

Using a blend of historical fiction and poignant truths, the narrative delivers a spirited discourse on conservation, our environment, oneness, and, chiefly, the concept of coming full circle. With authors whose credentials speak for themselves and their commitment to Mother Earth, the beauty of this book lies in how easily it is brought to life for audiences. Titlow, whose background in natural history and photography, and Tinger, who helps future leaders fuse business with sustainability at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, leave no stone unturned in delivering a truly comprehensive commentary on the origins and imminent threats our planet faces. ... (read more)

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Vietman Retreat

Highlight Review The War Within by Sharlene Leker Covenant Books book review by Michelle Jacobs "I shouldn’t be here. My plans have nothing to do with being in the Army, much less being involved in a war." Rick begins his life in a small farming town in California and comes of age during the Vietnam War. He hopes to become a preacher, attends college for a year, and meets the woman he will eventually marry. But when he can’t afford tuition for his second year of college, he is drafted, trained as a medic, and sent over to Vietnam. There, his life takes a devastating turn as he witnesses the horrors of war, takes drugs for the first time, and questions the existence of God. His life is forever altered by his tour of duty. He returns home to try to resume his life, but he brings with him the guilt and anguish inflicted by the war. He settles into a pattern of drinking and drug use with stints in jail marked by periods of remorse and steady employment. His family suffers alongside him, buoyant with hope when he starts fresh but crushed with despair when he succumbs to his addictions. This absorbing narrative explores the impact of war on one man’s life and captures the vicious cycle of personal destruction and self-sabotage. ... (read more)

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Faith

Basing her tale around biblical references and her own finely honed understanding of Christian lore, author Barnes has created a biography of one of the few, and probably most notable, female followers of Jesus of Nazareth. The Mary of Barnes’ research was likely designated as Magdalen because of her home place, a coastal city on the Sea of Galilee, known for its preserved and pickled fish that would have been taken to Jerusalem for major festivals. Mary is here styled as the child of respectable parents who were distressed when this beautiful baby girl cried incessantly and, when the crying finally wore off, began to bite other children so that friendships were difficult to sustain. Because of her remarkable appearance, Mary finds prostitution among the fishermen of the town to be a reasonable occupation, garnering attention and wealth, until she hears of a prophet named Jesus of Nazareth and believes he may relieve her of the evil spirits that have plagued her since birth. Once she realizes that a brief encounter with Jesus has indeed cleansed her, allowing her to repent, she wants nothing more than to follow him wherever he goes. Thus begins her life as one of his chief disciples. ... (read more)

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End Times

Highlight Review The Awesome Untold Story by Gary Alan Rothhaar Smart Ribbon Press book review by Boze Herrington "The Roman Empire was (in Jesus’ days), is not (for many centuries, including now), and yet is (poised to rise again in the end times) headed up by the antichrist and his coalition of ten evil kings." Rothhaar offers a chapter-by-chapter summation of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament from a Christian Evangelical perspective, presenting a chronological timeline of events he believes will take place during the earth’s final days. A figure known as the Antichrist will arise, leading a confederation of kingdoms and pretending to be the Jewish Messiah. A number of Jews will fall for the deception, but a faithful remnant will hide in an underground network of nuclear bomb shelters in the mountains of Israel. ... (read more)

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Innovative

This innovative book blends fiction and fact to address what the authors see as a Marxist takeover of America. The chapters are written as distinct types of prose: normal narrative or general reading; non-fiction discussions of threats, such as a New World Order and The Great Reset; action or suggestions to regain freedom, prosperity, and safety; and heroic fiction in which the authors' theories are presented as a predictive thriller. Throughout the non-fiction portions, the authors expound on the current state of American politics and what is seen as an effort by the liberal wing of the Democratic Party to change America into a Marxist state. This theory is reinforced by the fictional part of the book, which tells a terrifying story of the assassination of a sitting American president. ... (read more)

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Quirky & Fun

Sammy has chosen to snub a role in his father’s multimillion-dollar business to paint houses. He can’t stand his father and likes that painting isn’t complicated. However, his life quickly becomes complicated as he wakes up to find the woman he is having a brief, physical relationship with dead in his bed. He becomes the prime suspect in her death. Meanwhile, fifteen-year-old Penny runs away from home. Her mother has passed away from cancer, and Penny has been looking up to her older sister as her hero. After a freak accident, Penny’s older sister dies, and Penny feels it is her fault. Her father has gone completely numb and doesn’t show her any emotion. She lies about her name and age and ends up as a day worker on Sammy’s eclectic crew. At night, she sneaks back into the house they are painting to sleep. ... (read more)

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Undying Message

The euphoria of graduation earmarks the beginning of Cassidy Powell’s journey into “teacherhood,” one that is marked by incredible amounts of learning both in and out of the classroom. The mystical region of Santa Fe, New Mexico, beckons to Powell as she departs from Lubbock, Texas, and begins the next phase of her life. Overall, the author’s narrative touches on many different themes, but discovery and exploration cut to the core of the work. ... (read more)

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Clear Thriller

Mari Ellwyn and Derek Abernathy are partners and private investigators in California. While Derek is focused on the deaths of two farm workers in a small town, Mari takes on a case from a former close college friend involving a multi-million-dollar IPO. However, Mari is also working on the personal mystery of her father, a missing CIA operative. Although he is presumed dead, she has received clues that lead her to believe he may be alive and in the British Virgin Islands. ... (read more)

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Keen Emotions

This novel recounts the story of Leo Kirkland. He was an Australian air force pilot in North Korea and often thinks about the good and bad moments of this period of his life. Once, he and his friend, Jack, took a one-day trip to Matsuyama. They met a young lady named Michiko. The moment Leo set his eyes on her, he was smitten. Michiko felt the same way about him. Sadly, their love story was short-lived, and Leo was sent back to Australia. Currently, Leo works as a secret service agent. His daughter, Janine, does not know about it. One day, an assassination attempt is made on Leo’s life. He realizes that his agency is behind it. Throughout this journey, Leo must protect his daughter and untangle a web of lies and deceit. ... (read more)

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Vibrancy

This rollicking crime thriller, a sequel to Burch’s award-winning debut novel, The Homeport Journals, is also set in Provincetown, on the tip of Cape Cod. Helena Handbasket, a much-loved female impersonator, heads the local art museum but must go underground while sorting out an intricate murder plot and art theft conspiracy that touches many lives in the art-centered community. This literary-leaning novel is character and setting-driven rather than plot-driven, so readers can expect a slower delivery than is normal for the mystery genre. But in this case, page-turning speed is overrated, and Burch fans will revel in his extensive knowledge of Provincetown and the well-developed, rainbow cast of characters who carry the story forward with feisty humor and many unexpected plot twists. Though marketed as an LGBTQ novel, the tale’s pathos and heartfelt communal spirit will endear Helena, Butch (Helena's spouse), and Helena’s many friends and associates to mainstream readers as well. ... (read more)

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Precision

When Elaina’s father goes missing, she is suddenly thrust into a dangerous world of cyberwarfare with far-reaching consequences for her family and for her country. She enlists the help of Ric Peters, a man with a shadowy past who helped her with a previous criminal case that occurred at her yoga studio. These two team up again in this second book in the Yoga Mat Mysteries series. Elaina is determined to unravel this new mystery, find her father, and possibly stop a cyberattack on the financial systems of Australia. ... (read more)

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Progress

This collection of short stories takes the risk of exploring Greek myths undergirding the collective unconscious. Inspired by Narcissus, Cupid, and the Fates, among others, the stories show the myths’ themes—self-love, passion, and jealousy, to name a few—as they replay across time and space. Some stories refer to the Greek characters directly, while others connect with the myths more obliquely. But all throw a spin on the ancient tales, using them to ask the brazen question of contemporary readers of how far society has come from the times when these gods ruled the world. ... (read more)

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Revolutionary

The Handmaid’s Tale meets 1984 in this timely, captivating, alternately hilarious and infuriating dystopian novel that presents a plausible scenario in a future USA. The right to terminate a pregnancy is a small facet of any woman’s worries, with birth control banned and babies the primary source of government income. The most genetically fit babies command the highest prices at auction, and no couple keeps their biological children after giving birth. Worse, there’s no right to decide when to have a child or even whom to marry. Women are forced to marry their rapists or other unsuitable mates during the thirty-eight-year-long administration of President Boyce, who declares the 1950s and 1960s to be the “Halcyon Days.” In fact, the only television options available to Americans are mid-twentieth-century programs and films that reinforce Boyce’s philosophical gaslighting. ... (read more)

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Swift & Intriguing

The wintry skies around Washington D.C. are dropping more than rain, sleet, and snow in this chilly thriller that starts with death and destruction in a suburban neighborhood. A plane comes apart in midair and showers the ground with both aircraft and body parts. Is this disaster the unavoidable catastrophe it initially appears to be or something infinitely more sinister? Readers are soon to find out. ... (read more)

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LGBTQ Murder Mystery

When Ted Linden arrives home one August afternoon after working in his bank job and visiting Chicago’s Art Institute, he finds his cherished young partner, Warren Hadley, sprawled amongst the phlox in his garden with a slashed throat. Just the day before, Warren’s homophobic brother, Darrel, paid the couple a visit and stated angrily that Warren was better off dead than gay. The couple threw Darrel out even as Warren described his brother’s bark as worse than his bite. Surely the murderer must be Darrel, Ted thinks. ... (read more)

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Sweeping & Unforgettable

Lyrical prose, an expert grasp of historical detail, and deftly honed plausible imagination define award-winning author Worth’s passionate seventh novel. A historical romance set from 1448 to 1453 against the dramatic backdrop of the Eastern Roman Empire’s final days, this love story for the ages culminates in tragedy: the prophesied fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire and the demise of Emperor Constantine XI. By the time Constantine XI ascends his throne, the once great empire of eastern Christendom has been reduced to a mere blip on the map—a bit of land surrounding the city of Constantinople, the Queen of Cities. Although much has been written and recorded about the empire, emperor, and era, many facets of this history, including Constantine’s supposed secret third marriage, remain a mystery debated by scholars to this day. ... (read more)

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Transporting

So much of life is consumed by fears and a desire to stay within the convenience of comfort zones that give the illusion of fulfillment. Feeney’s personal narrative is the type of work that shows the beauty of immersing oneself in what life offers and treating it like a life-long exploration. Perhaps what makes this book so intriguing is Feeney’s refreshing authenticity and intent to really communicate with his audience, not as readers, but his own peers. As a result, readers will experience an intimate, conversational writing style that is endearing in its own right. ... (read more)

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Transformation

Pisanelli utilizes his extensive experience to deliver an insightful guide for members of today's workforce who find themselves increasingly dissatisfied and, at the same time, in fear of being viewed as obsolete. He worked in the corporate world for many years, observing character traits that enabled some people to transform from employees into entrepreneurs while others remained in an unfulfilling cycle in which work was solely a means of income. The Phoenix became his metaphor and vision of an employee who has left the "job" and started rebuilding a new career. ... (read more)

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Psychological Thriller

In this adventurous novel, readers meet Brent and his wife Janey, a couple who have been together since their youth. Brent and Janey vacation with their friends, as they have done for many years. As the couples navigate the New Zealand bush, their idyllic vacation of riding horses and camping takes a very dark turn. When a shady character named Slade appears, violence and mayhem grip each character. A series of violent events leads the characters to question not only their trust in one another but also whether or not they will survive the dramatic events and heartbreak of loss unfolding before them. ... (read more)

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Observational

Tuminello nostalgically recounts his years growing up in a small town in rural Louisiana. Hailing from a second-generation German-Sicilian family, he writes of the prejudice he encountered from neighbors in the shadow of World War II. Familiar childhood rites of passage are lovingly recorded, such as his first fumbling attempts to attract the attention of girls, the loss of his virginity in a loft he had built, dull mornings at church, and the joy of owning a real balsa wood airplane. ... (read more)

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Trying

This memoir covers the many forms of work that the author has done throughout her life in British Columbia. Robertson has worked in such motley roles as waitressing, sawing boards at a wood mill, making cement statuary, and running a daycare. She learns interesting life lessons in each occupation, some better for her than others. Each example provides insight into the ups and downs of those jobs specifically and of work in general. ... (read more)

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Intriguing Issues

Tang's controversial work examines many categories and examples of the ways in which clothing has influenced world events. The reader is challenged to look beyond the work and play functions of apparel and accessories to the events that they may influence, be coincident with, or possibly discourage. The examples, which range in intensity from beach nudity to the attacks on The World Trade Center, seem to be astute observations, rather than full-scale research projects. They posit certain aspects of human psychology that are easily overlooked. Humans classify much about themselves, which indicates their overall interactions with the world. Do fashions in clothing signify greater awareness, such as "group think" or consciousness, than one thinks they do? ... (read more)

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Deep Story

The threat seemed surreal, yet Jim knew he was being hunted. He was cornered by an animal that assumed a human form. A feeling of abject terror consumed him as the creature issued a dire threat. Jim had just wanted to go for a hike in the wilds of the Utah mountains when he came across a far-fetched sight: a pack of coyotes practically frolicking. They were led by a coyote with a bowler hat. Once noticed, Jim made a break for escape. He fled immediate danger, but his pursuer was wily. A vacationing family that nearly followed in Jim’s footsteps found, to their everlasting regret, that this pack of animals would not be deterred. As news of various disappearances reached Jim, he knew he has to confront his own fears and meet this coyote once again, but on his terms. ... (read more)

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God's Love

At the core of Gwost’s compilation, which consists mostly of poetry and prose, is a desire to help others experience the depth of God’s love that she has spent a lifetime experiencing herself. Using a combination of poetic devices, inner reflections, and scripture, the narrative is imbued with Christ’s love and the sacrifice for mankind that stems from that love. ... (read more)

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Creative & Fun

Written by two veterinarians, this book explores every aspect of an elephant’s life. The authors’ ardent love for these magnificent and compassionate creatures comes across immediately in this captivating work. As well as being veterinarians and experts on elephants, both authors have a long list of achievements awarded to them from institutions across the globe, and each holds impressive titles. For example, Venugopal is a distinguished professor and author. Meanwhile, Cheeran is a pharmacologist as well as the head of the Department of Wildlife Sciences in the College of Forestry. Although Venugopal and Cheeran are both highly educated and accomplished, their writing style is straightforward and simple enough for readers of every level. The authors have included photos and diagrams to back up their research and findings. The photos, including the book cover, are heart-warming and will most certainly melt an animal lover’s heart. ... (read more)

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Essential Resource

Homer’s Iliad endures as an iconic text of the epic literary tradition and is exceedingly relevant today as it poses deep philosophical questions and seeks answers through its indelible characters: Achilles, Hector, Priam, and others. This comprehensive reading of the epic poem provides book-by-book commentary excavated through years of reading the epic in its original and in translation. The author has consulted a wide variety of resources to arrive at this personal reading and analysis of the work. Myrsiades begins with a background and summary of the poet and the poem before diving into an exhaustive exploration of each book in the epic. The result is a blend of patient retelling and resourceful scholarship. ... (read more)

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Coming Events

Author Edmondson has created a powerful treatise concerning the end times, or apocalypse, as depicted by the Holy Bible in several dynamic books of history and prophecy. His exploration begins with the disloyalty of one of God’s angels, Satan, and that being’s evil conviction that he could overcome God’s plan. Satan’s first success set the pattern for all that would follow when he convinced the first humans, Adam and Eve, to disobey God’s simple commands in the Garden of Eden. From this, the reader will surmise that humans can be deceived and will suffer if they yield to Satan’s ploys. Therefore, it behooves all thinking Christians to understand what may happen in the end times, times in which the author believes humanity is now living. ... (read more)

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Rural Life Answers

Author and educator Bass has assembled recollections from her childhood centered around a remarkable relative, her Aunt Dollie. With ancestry among the Choctaw peoples, a home in rural Arkansas, and a strong family ethic, Bass recalls the woman she so admired who had a cure or comfort for just about every ailment, symptom, or disease, along with household and gardening advice. One of the first ministrations for which she offered Bass a cure (a heavy cold) was a tea made from “cow chips” (manure). Holding her nose and drinking it very reluctantly, the little girl began to feel better immediately. Dollie’s remedies and recommendations were so beneficial and reliable that even when Bass started college, she would bring her friends to her aunt for cures for anything from tapeworms to tonsillitis, monthly period pain, and insect bites. Too, there were simple “pick-me-uppers” and “springtime tonic” for those who were not sick but just needed a boost in energy and attitude. Ingredients used ranged from homely concoctions of castor oil, catnip, turpentine, and sugar. Aunt Dollie cured the author’s mother of pellagra, a disease that had once plagued their ancestors. The method used seems implausible to those inculcated in modern pharmacology, involving a simple tea made of what was called “yellow root.” Yet it saved a life. ... (read more)

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Colorful & Charming

In this colorful children’s book, young readers meet Guruto, the newest member of a giraffe herd. Despite being like the other giraffes in many ways, Guruto has a feature that sets him apart from the others. He has big feet! Because of his large hooves, Guruto is noisy, and over time he grows self-conscious about the noise his big feet cause. Eventually, Guruto becomes the subject of many jokes, and his family grows displeased by the amount of noise Guruto makes. When disaster befalls him, he finds himself alone until he meets an unlikely friend who changes his life for the better. Good fortune soon follows for Guruto and his new friend. ... (read more)

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Magical Realism

Hunter and his family travel to the Baja Peninsula for creatua summer vacation. While searching for artifacts with his amateur archeologist father, they discover a jawbone that startles them when it quickly moves toward the family’s yurt. With the help of another camper, Professor B., they contain the powerful jawbone until he can attach a tracking device to it. The jawbone is part of the remains of Surly Max, a hobbit killed by a pirate named Crazy Pete. Hunter, his father, Professor B., and another camper, Stella, follow the jawbone. The professor tells them of a curse put on Surly Max by Crazy Pete’s wife. Only after Surly Max finds all his scattered bones and reassembles himself will there finally be peace and prosperity for the creatures who live on the peninsula. What follows will take Hunter and the rest on an exciting adventure filled with mythical creatures and amazing sights. ... (read more)

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African Savanna

Mother giraffe Alezia has just given birth to a baby. After a tough day for the new parent, she is immediately smitten. She teaches her baby boy how to straighten out his legs and slowly stand. Then, she decides to give her child a name. “Tarzome,” she says, is a perfect name—and the baby giraffe agrees. Alezia teaches Tarzome about the adventures they will have living on the savanna, also stressing the dangers he must learn about. “We share it with many other friendly animals who are busy leading happy lives,” she explains, pointing out that lions, in particular, can be dangerous. Tarzome meets elephants, rhinoceroses, zebra, antelope, and other giraffe friends. Eventually, Tarzome wanders off and finds himself stuck in a muddy hole beside a hungry lion. A huge elephant comes to the rescue, scaring the lion away. As the animals celebrate, the elephant lifts his trunk into the air, trumpeting. ... (read more)

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Spiritual Journey

This charming look back at the life of Tall Moon begins when he, at the age of seventy-five, begins a diary in which he records memories from his life as a Lakota. Written from two perspectives, Tall Moon's and his dead mother's, the book follows his life from his mother's death until he is twenty-one. As Tall Moon grows, he encounters many who shape his view of the world along the way. He meets people who guide him along his journey. He discovers not only the ancient beliefs and customs of his tribe but also the ancient Chinese arts of Tai Chi and Qigong. Added to this is the Catholic influence of the monastery school he attends. As Tall Moon grows, his mother watches from the spirit world, commenting intermittently on his growth and accomplishments. Tall Moon discovers that there are many valuable lessons to learn, not only from his native heritage but also from various other cultures. ... (read more)

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Life Lessons

It was the first day of spring, and that meant one thing: it was time for all the bunnies to gather outside and show off their “shiny spring tails.” Fern, not having such a big, fluffy tail like the others, knew that meant she would be teased. Hopping out the door, she was determined to find herself a new tail. Young readers of Sager’s bright, colorful children’s picture book will meet other animals along Fern’s search: Red and Cisco, two horses running a roadside stand; Hashtag, owner of the brand new store in town; Spice, a feline pharmacist; and three delightful puppy hairdressers. And the makeshift tails with which her new friends attempt to outfit Fern include such impractical items as a stinky onion, a head of cauliflower secured with bailing twine, a plastic sea urchin and fake coral from fish tank décor accessories, and a cotton ball that turns to “squelchy mush” during a thundery downpour. ... (read more)

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Enlivening

Author Kanter once had a highly distressing day. Looking back on it for any redeeming memories, she suddenly remembered that, at some point, someone had held the door open for her. It was a revelatory moment and set her searching, and finding, life’s positives for herself and those she counsels. Here she shares engaging stories from four women she has helped. In a chance meeting, Kanter helped Stacey Kent realize her true goals. What followed was an amazing series of happenings, including overseas exploration and the chance to become a French teacher. Rhonda Ronsman faced many challenges, including a battle to overcome drinking and smoking, and writes a letter to her younger self to celebrate her victories. Born in Hanoi, Van Thanh Nguyen describes her many travels and Kanter’s assessment that she was on a “soul-seeing trip.” The author was Theresa Nemetz’s mentor at a critical time in her career; Nemetz is now a highly successful businesswoman, crediting her fresh perspective to Kanter’s mentoring approach. ... (read more)

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Humor & Prose

Author and encyclopedist Calaway has assembled a vast array of knowledge regarding Christian teaching in general and, in special focus, the Holy Bible. The result is an impressive combination of essays, terminologies, names, places, and remarkable references. ... (read more)

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Deep Dive

“Thus says the Lord” is a phrase repeated countless times from the pulpit worldwide on Sunday mornings. Yet, the author establishes through his work that the original intent and language of the author gets lost in translation, a paraphrasing of scripture rather than an exact recounting of what is said by the Lord and his disciples. Acknowledging the modern translation of biblical scripture, Reverend Malone is adamant that these sacred writings are intended to be educational and informative for committed Bible students. At the core of the work is the author’s desire to spread understanding of the truth, in its purest form, unfiltered and unhindered by any ulterior agenda. ... (read more)

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Descriptive & Witty

The list of what people are most afraid of is as varied as it is massive. Items can include murderous humans, vicious prey animals, creepy vermin, getting trapped in dark spaces, mysterious monsters, paranormal phenomena, zombies, aliens, dangerous encounters with natural elements, and more. Frankly, everyone is scared of something, and this macabre collection of horror, sci-fi, dark fantasy, and tragic suspense stories has an unhappy ending for every taste. Most of the protagonists are young adults, and the straightforward writing sans frills seems geared toward a mature young adult or new adult audience. However, the plethora of unhappy endings can certainly send shivers down the spines of older readers too. There are few dark situations that the author hasn’t considered and delivered among these terrifying tales. ... (read more)

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Band of Brothers

Survival seems impossible when The Enemy is closing in on the small band of people hiding deep in the woods. They have been able to carve out a somewhat normal existence. Each one was a stranger, but now they are a family. Their camp has remained undetected—until now. There are too many to fight this time, so they must run again. Sam, Sarah, and the other refugees have already endured unthinkable horrors. With hope dwindling, they work together to set out to sea to find anywhere in the world The Enemy is not. They make a harrowing escape into the unknown. Whatever is out there is better than the brutality and certain death that awaits them if they are caught. ... (read more)

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Ambitious

In his book, the fifth in a series, Markevich argues that there have been four major civilizations and that humanity now stands on the brink of the fifth. Many of the great spiritual and scientific giants of history—Aristotle, Jesus, Napoleon, Richard Feynman—have belonged to what he calls the fifth civilization, which will transcend those that have gone before and towards which humanity has been striving from its inception. He maintains that modern people have moved beyond the primitive idea of God espoused in the various religions, all of which pointed towards a mystical cosmic force—the “perpetuity principle” that we’re only beginning to understand. He urges readers to relinquish their hope of personal immortality and accept that the immortality of which the sages and prophets spoke was the continuing survival of the human race. He posits that the truth of his message is hidden allegorically within the world’s myths and legends for those with the intellectual boldness to seek it out. ... (read more)

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Strength & Vulnerability

The author’s self-appointed task—to write a poem for every book of the Holy Bible—began in 1996 when she decided to compose thoughts gleaned while reading Genesis. “The Beginning” speaks of God’s plan for creation: “It took six wonderful days for all to be designed…” Some of the offerings are based on Annielean’s dreams, like “Desperation to Salvation,” and many arose in the contemplation she experienced during her encounters with scripture. The book of Joel, for example, occasioned the composition “A Profound Call of the Lord,” an alert concerning times to come: “…don’t be one of the missing few!” ... (read more)

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