My daughter is a social worker in the foster/adoption field, and Room in the Nest by Holly Marlow does a great job of explaining how that system functions. Every child in foster care has their own story. There are many reasons a child may end...

Twisted Threads is a psychological thriller written by Kaylin McFarren. Akira used to be a geisha, but is forced to be an assassin working for the Yakuza boss. She hates herself for what she is doing. She is ordered to board a cruise ship to...

The Power of Empathy: Be the Friend You've Always Wanted is a children’s book by Ruth Maille. Orbit, a personified image of our planet, gathers a group of children together to discover a superpower: empathy. Orbit explains the emotion, and gives some examples, before asking...

Author Barbara A. Mudge grew up in rural Missouri in a family who had a special bond with their animal companions. She kept her love for her furry friends alive after moving to California, where she gained nuggets of wisdom from each of her boxers....

I Love My Teacher’s Guts! by Dr. Paul McNamara is a surprising tale about a young student taking a journey through her teacher’s insides. A science experiment that goes wrong shrinks the eagerly observing Sally into a microscopic form of herself. She enters Mrs. Trump...

Izzy jumped and ran to the Christmas tree in excitement because of the gifts from Santa. She couldn’t wait to see what new toys she got on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, Izzy saw a stuffed animal waiting for her and was disappointed. Her parents introduced the...

Operation Mom: My Plan to Get My Mom a Life...and a Man by Reenita Malhotra Hora is a perfectly accomplished coming-of-age story with a nerve-jangling twist. Ila is a teenager who grows up in Mumbai and her overprotective, almost domineering single mother doesn't allow her...

It was Kaimana's idea to go out despite their father's stern warnings. Kilikina did not see herself having any alternative option to her brother's cheeky attempts at adventure. By the time Kaimana was cutting through Chang's backyard, Kilikina knew they were in too deep to...

A Giant Comes is a literary drama novel by A.J. Saxsma. A boy lives an impoverished life working as a courier, trying to pay rent and take care of his father, who is an unemployed drunk. Promised a hundred shillings for the delivery of a...

If you ever get a chance to visit Botanica, do not hesitate. You will find a spectacular garden housing the most exotic flora and fauna. Lady Allium, the devoted gardener, can give you an unforgettable tour of the premises. Of course, you would not be...

The Apocalypto Kid Goes to College by Grant Harper Reid is an intriguing autobiography about one man’s quest to get a college education. Upon graduation from high school, Grant attends Lincoln University. However, after only three disappointing days at Lincoln, Grant returns home to Teaneck,...

In I’m Not Stupid, I Have Hearing Loss, Tracy L. Markley sheds light on the need for hearing aids. She also encourages all who have hearing loss to take advantage of the marvels of technology by using hearing aids. Tracy wears hearing aids and knows...

The Rose of Washington Square by Pat Wahler tells the fascinating true story of illustrator and inventor, Rose O’Neill. Rose lived at the turn of the century during a time when women had very few rights in comparison to their husbands, fathers, and brothers. But...

Prop is a small firefighting propeller-driven plane that lives at Zik International Airport, and every day he sees military aircraft going on special missions. Little Prop wishes he could be like them and make a difference. One day he meets Oz, a special kind of...

Moraline is alone in the forest, grieving after a cruel prank by her classmates when she encounters a scarred, magical man who tells her that the four winds of the universe are out of balance, and she must help to restore them. Although she doubts...

The Fishhook Rebellion: Hawai`i 1847 (A Swift and Dancer Adventure) by Dan Gooder Richard takes the action-adventure story to new heights of thrills and excitement. In giving an adrenalin rush to its readers, it also provides a high level of reading pleasure. Jack Dancer and...

Camera, Speed...Action! by Michael Ray Davis is intended to be read as an insider's secrets to the real world of acting. Davis harnesses a lifetime of personal and professional experiences and compiles what he can into this story. It covers what it takes to be...

Charlotte’s Shadow by Anne-Marie DePape and Christine Quaglia is a fun and informative picture book told from the perspective of a service dog. Shadow sees his owner, Charlotte—a girl who uses a wheelchair—as a superhero, and is excited to work beside her through a day...

Behind the Green Apron by R. L. Farrar is a non-fiction professional memoir in which the author details some of their most interesting stories working for twelve years as a Starbucks barista. Baristas are the coffee chain's front-of-house staff, the employees who facilitate the running...

The succinct self-help guide, Life Tech: People Skills and Self-Management by Ernest Llynn Lotecka offers techniques for achieving personal goals and development. It facilitates growth in various skills including decision-making, communication, relationship-building, emotional management, focus and goal-setting, wellness, and self-management. On the topic of emotional...