Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
If you are looking for a lively educational book for all the kids in your life, check out A Hero Answers 9-1-1 by Steve F. Schubert. It’s career day in Mr. Best’s class and the bright-eyed students meet Chris, a Sheriff’s Office dispatcher. Chris has plenty of exciting information to share with the inquisitive students
Her mother is an alcoholic with a taste for expensive things. Her father has a gambling problem and spends too much time at work. And Laura Johnson is the vulnerable teenager struggling to hold things together within this dysfunctional family. More acrimony than matrimony, the relationship between Laura’s parents is a constant source of frustration
Will bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face. Growing up in a big city might mean different things for different people. For Olivia Dunham, her mom was the center of her privileged New York City upbringing. Coming from a wealthy family with all the best opportunities, Olivia had everything going
A highly stylized novel that is not to be missed. Unable to move past the earth-shattering events in Astoria, Charlie West exists as a prisoner of his extraordinary circumstances. Plagued with guilt, grief, pain, and unrelenting nightmares, Charlie keeps mostly to himself and lives quietly among Portland’s vulnerable homeless population. And it’s no wonder Charlie
Particularly earnest and incredibly powerful. How would you sum up the American experience? There is really no simple answer to that question, as we are all shaped by our background, upbringing, experiences, and outlook. And these criteria differ wildly from one person to the next, one location to the next, one time period to the
At seventeen, Adamo Di Cristo has reached a nominal milestone, high-school graduation. But with abandonment by his mother in the name of her faith, this Massachusetts native will have to get creative in order to survive. Subsistence on meager rations and an unethically paltry salary quickly become the norm, so Adamo enrolls in the military
A gripping and exciting read that will make you feel like you are part of the action. It is his seventeenth birthday, and everything in the life of James Coffey seems to be in order. An evening of celebratory drinking with friends lands him in the usual trouble with his parents, but it’s nothing he
A gentle holiday-themed mystery that is as absorbing as it is enchanting. Cave Creek, Virginia, is home to hearty southern cooking, otherworldly caves, and Lucy Vaughn. Tired of the social limitations imposed by her small town life, however, Lucy uses her sweepstakes winnings to move across the country to California. In a city known for
A heartwarming and inspiring juvenile chapter book. Franklin Middle School is no place for the faint of heart. Fortunately, Silas Fitzgerald doesn’t lack courage. True, he lacks physical height due to a frustrating growth hormone deficiency, but that only makes him look smaller and younger than his nearly 12 years might indicate. On the inside,
A powerfully authentic young adult novel. The idea that we have complete control over our lives is a treacherous illusion, one that offers a false sense of security. But not everything is left up to chance. There are endless choices to be made, some done without much deliberation, some so significant they can alter our
Awash with emotion but never drowning in sentimentality. It wasn’t just a husband that died in the accident. When a drunk driver struck the car, it not only took the life of Sam’s husband but also of her mother-in-law, leaving both Sam and her father-in-law completely bereft. Sam hasn’t yet found the energy to fight
“You know things are not going well at the precinct when you get called in despite being signed off with injuries.” But in New York City, crime doesn’t take a sick day. A freelance journalist preparing funeral arrangements for her late husband is abducted from her home. A fitness instructor doesn’t show up at the
A bustling, contemporary collection of vibrant fiction. A hapless college grad from Pittsburgh finds herself in over her head when she follows her childhood dream and moves to Rome. A small-town girl and a man who thrives on precision take a romantic holiday to soothe their failing marriage, changing the dynamics of their relationship. A
An intriguing story where good and bad overlap. Seventeen-year-old Tudor seems unbothered by convention. Despite the tendentious rules governing society, this 19th century Romanian boy manages to break from tradition at every opportunity. His closest friends, a well-off Hungarian and a compassionate gypsy, are civically inappropriate companions for this young man of humble means. But
Diverging myths, gods, fables and legends integrate into one singularly unsettling story. This second volume in The Valor of Valhalla series does not disappoint, as the author continues to explore realms uncertain on either side of the veil. David’s tectonic tale proceeds with a distinct air of approaching doom in The Sands of Akhirah. Pressing
Plenty of intrigue and unexpected danger, along with enough authenticity to stimulate the most discerning reader. Equally feared and respected, Tyson Edwards is at the top of his game as an enforcement attorney for the SEC. True, his career could have taken him down a more illustrious path, but Tyson, with the help of a
A dark and addictive novel that will leave you lusting for more. When the worst has happened, what memory will you treasure most? For Avery Winters, it’s cartoons and sugary breakfast cereal on a typical Saturday morning, enjoyed within the safety of her childhood home. But there’s little time for nostalgia when the planet has
A collection that is bursting with heart, dynamic energy, and unbounded creativity. Years after the initial outbreak of Covid, this deadly disease is still an invariable topic of conversation. With lingering effects that include diminished life expectancies, volatile economies, increased fear for public health, and widespread mistrust of medical experts, this disease has had far-reaching
A mystical story that boasts the perfect blend of drama, humor, and adventure. Linden, once a young mage apprentice who struggled to control her abilities, now finds herself in a position of authority, wielding more power than she’s ever wanted. Despite her grand position as Liege, she is not one to sit idly behind the
A magnetic novel that cuts right to the heart. Dancing, then her twin brother Benny, and lastly, her best friend Warren. Or maybe it’s Benny first, then dance and then Warren, in that order. These are the things, the only things, that August truly loves and can depend on in her life. When her mother
The Regency era novel your heart has been yearning for. With his dear sister in a state of despondency after the vile advances of the audacious Mr. Wickham, Fitzwilliam Darcy leans into the familial obligations and expectations imposed by his shrewd father. Wanting to avoid the grave misjudgement of character the senior Mr. Darcy made,
Engaging, exciting and filled with seemingly impossible complexities. Extraordinary imagination is on exhibition in Karen A. Parker’s The Art of Capturing Phantoms: Definitive Edition. The author gathers wisps of ideas, fragments of thought, and creative writing prompts and turns these into a quirky digest of dodgy characters, bizarre situations, and action that moves at the
A gift to young readers, providing reassurance and a tangible thread of optimism. Jasmine and her brother Frankie deal with the real world as seen through the eyes of these inquisitive pre-teen siblings. With a hard-working Mama and a less than compassionate Stepdaddy to guide them, Jasmine and Frankie tackle questions and dilemmas common to
A pulsating story that is just waiting to pull you into its chilling depths. When Sloan left the backwater town of Mallowater, Texas, in her rearview mirror, she had no intention of returning home. Ever. And it’s hard to blame her. Twenty years ago was the beginning of the end for her family. Her good-natured
