We Learned to Live in the Castle: Stories by Theresa Griffin Kennedy is an incredibly raw, unflinching look at a side of Portland that most people never see. Kennedy doesn’t hold back as she traces her life from a childhood spent in the foster care...

Dr. Derrick Perdue doesn't pull any punches in The Instructional Coaching Effect: How Coaching Builds Confident and Committed Teachers. He looks straight at the "revolving door" of modern education and asks what it actually takes to keep teachers in their classrooms. Instead of relying solely...

Are We Having Fun Still? by Joseph Blackhurst hits on a question that feels relevant in 2026: why does our downtime suddenly feel like a chore? The author starts with a simple conversation in a Target checkout line that spirals into a full-blown autopsy of...

There is absolutely no sugar-coating in The Book of Common Sense, and honestly, that is exactly why it works. It’s clear from the start that Daniel Hart’s intention isn't to give you a fluffy "pat on the back." Instead, this is a direct, unapologetic manual...

In Bad Dreams and Bad Memories, Keith Thorn explains how these two issues continue to influence everyday reactions when the body responds to stored impressions, as if those earlier conditions still exist. He tells us that these responses begin before conscious thought and reflect patterns...

I’ve read my fair share of self-help books, but Making Sense of Life: Develop Your Own Theory for Happiness and Achievement by Simin Cai, PhD (with Mikaela Ashcroft) is in a league of its own. It actually respects the reader's intelligence, which is a breath...

Some people find a way to overcome the hurdles that life throws their way and use these as foundational pillars to help others. In Light Up Your Life, author Candace Gish presents inspirational stories of teenage girls who brought light into the lives of others...

Like Father, Like Son? by Alix Lee is the true story of what happened to a son who refused to conform to his father’s ideas. In the 1970s, racism and homophobia were rife, and children had no rights. Raised by a strict, authoritarian father, it...

Life Skills: A Handbook for Parents & Teachers of the Intellectually Disabled by Shari Pierce is one of those books you wish you'd found sooner if you're working with or raising someone with developmental needs. Pierce spent decades in the classroom, and you can really...

Fifteenth Summer by Laura Campbell follows her fifteen-year-old self, who is sent to the Norris Home after her mom finds out she is pregnant. It all happens really fast, and she’s nervous, embarrassed, and unsure of what's ahead. The Home is all about routines—chores, meals,...