Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
Book Awards, Editorial Reviews & More!
The perfect mix of optimism, transformation, ingenuity, and whimsy. In the summer of 1893, the widow Juna Lewis is granted the opportunity of a lifetime, a trip to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, courtesy of her sometimes prickly, yet always practical, father-in-law. Filled with equal parts apprehension and excitement, Juna packs her bags and […]
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
An intelligent guide to keep you grounded and leave you feeling refreshed. To say that life in our fast-paced, digitally connected world is challenging would be an underestimation of modern problems. We all face obstacles in our personal lives, but the pressures mounting against the entire human race can feel suffocating at times. From environmental
Humor, drama, and fantasy in an expressive manga world. Children are born with an innate curiosity. Why is the sky blue? What is a cloud made of? Parents can usually cobble together an answer with a reasonable level of accuracy and sensibility. But sometimes the questions get trickier to answer when parents are put on
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,
Will touch the heart and capture the imagination. If you like comics with heart, ones that offer a fun, retro feel, this book was written for you! Throwing off subtle Star Wars vibes, Kenny Loui’s autobiographical manga journey begins where all epic journeys begin, with a sobering self-examination and a worthy goal too noble for
A fun and inspiring book that celebrates friendship, kindness, and determination. Frogathan Spots is a cheerful and energetic young amphibian who loves his life on Harmony Lane. He enjoys creating and playing games with his friends, but his dream is to win the annual community obstacle course at the upcoming neighborhood fair. However, every time
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
