Struth Mate! by Ava Forme continues the search for meaning by building on a model of existence introduced in the first book of the Struth! series. Drawing on history, religion, science, and philosophy, the stories lean into a structured framework based on actual historical events...

Merlin's Magical Music Island by James T. Campbell is a well-written book that introduces kids to the beauty of music. Melody and her twin brother, Mute, are the youngest notes in the piece, and they were excited to perform. While waiting for their staff placement...

Recalibrating Gravity by Mary Keating is written in verses that capture poignant stories of her life. The author survived a car accident at age fifteen, which left her paraplegic. She begins the story with memories of sitting in the church pew with her family. The...

Body in a Barrel by Aaron Mead follows the story of a former gangster as he tries to bury the sins of his past. Leonardo "Lenny" Battaglia thought his mob days were behind him when the discovery of a body in a barrel turns up...

Agents Scorned by Ephraim Clark is an action-packed thriller set around 1975. The story follows Brad James, an intelligence operative, and his partner Chuck, an ex-Marine, who are suspicious about the death of Georges Papachristoy, a financier. He is reported to have committed suicide, but...

Bittersweet as Angel's Fruit by Bennie Russchen documents Ethan's diary in the year 2090. The world is on the brink of collapse due to human activity, which has negatively impacted nature. Earth has become uninhabitable due to numerous disasters such as pollution, climate change, shortage...

Radical Ray by Bobbi Chegwyn follows Ray Roxby, who learns and practices Radical Love from his grandmother, Leila, and applies it through the R.A.D. Framework of Reach, Act, Discover. Ray notices classmates, neighbors, and community members who feel isolated or need help, like Jack, Tarek,...

Radical Ray: A Father's Return by Bobbi Chegwyn explores the complexities of family, identity, and the power of love. The book follows nine-year-old Ray Roxby as he navigates the unexpected return of his estranged father, Matthew, and embarks on a school project called The Heritage...

STEAMed Off to China: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math Adventure in a Foreign Land by E. B. Davidson is a well-written novel about Eleanor "Ellie" Brown, a senior engineer with a great skill for solving complex technical problems. A Chinese mobile company, Cphone, is...

R. Morello’s Upside Down is a one-of-a-kind, beautifully layered work that merges grief, trauma, and redemption in a surreal mirror world setting. The story follows Caleb, a man shattered by the loss of his sister, who finds himself literally living beneath the world he once...

Saving Cottonwood by Lisa Page follows a recently divorced middle school librarian named Iris, who was seeking a fresh start in an old adobe house near the bosque. This landscape of cottonwood trees and winding riverbanks seems to hum with its own quiet spirit. In...

The Mori family’s book, Tiny Backyard Discoveries: Explore Nature, is part of a series of encyclopedias. It’s a lovely read for the curious-minded nature lover, and is packed with stunning pictures personally captured by the family. Each page is full of information about the smallest...

Phoenix (Intertwined Souls Series Book 9) by Mary Dee is a historical romance that explores the difficulties of living a life outside of accepted societal norms. Eva and Zoe Lambros live a life of privilege and extreme luxury due to their business empire, as well...

In Correct But Wish To Explain by Grant Hall, Ethan’s father was an abusive man who beat not only his children but also his wife. This affects Ethan and his brother greatly, as they couldn’t protect their mother. Things become worse when their parents divorce,...

Letters to Evelyn by John Selman is a prolific odyssey of love and redemption, a tale that takes readers on a journey through the author’s life — both illuminating and unsettling at times. The memoir is written for Evelyn Tuskegee, and the author invites readers...

Hedgehog's Halloween by Sara Louise Kelany is a lovely children's picture book about a grumpy hedgehog who is ready for his long winter retreat. It's late autumn, and Harry Hedgehog is about to hibernate. Yet what he doesn't know is that it's also time for Halloween. Thus,...

Gregory M. Carroll's 11 Minutes is based on the infamous Great Bookie Robbery in 1976 and the men behind it. The robbery at the Victoria Club is still the largest armed robbery in Australian history. In a coordinated strike, six masked men in overalls burst...

In I Will Walk With You, Julie Thomas Tullos shares a deeply personal story that feels like sitting down for a long talk with a close friend. The book follows the life of Susan and David Lee, starting all the way back with their blind...

Vuk: Legend of a Fanged Guardian Angel by Dan Božinov had me spellbound. In New York in 1983, Alex inherits two unusual legacies from his late father. One is a big dog, and the other is a mysterious journal. In the journal, he discovers the...

Mask of Romulus by Mark Jamilkowski tells the story of the first emperor, Caesar Augustus, and the seer, Kamala. When Atia remarries, Augustus is sent to live with his grandmother, Julia, who introduces him to her brother, Julius Caesar. Augustus and Julius form a deep...