In ShockWaves by Suzanna Williams, a high-octane YA novel that clips along as fast as our thrill seeking free-runner hero, English teen and foster kid Lee finds himself tangled in a nasty web of kidnapping, terrorism, and explosions. Told in head-long cinematic fashion, ShockWaves is...

In Caution: Witch in Progress by Lynne North, we meet Gertie who comes from a long line of witches, the kind with a wart on the end of their crooked nose. However, Gertie’s appearance is a bit of a disappointment; her nose is straight without...

Stick's Masterpiece by Spencer Hanson is about a cute girl, Stick, who tries to paint small things but ends up creating absolutely beautiful pictures. The underlying message is also a sort of motivation for children to try out new things. Apart from the colors and...

The Hex Hunt (Vol.1) by Michelle Lowe is an adventure story of Rain, a farm girl and Sage, the magical fox. Sage is sent by the sorceress when a spell goes wrong. The adventure takes readers to an island, a town of caves where Rain...

Pen or Discipline by Dominique Wilkins is the story about a mother raising two daughters very strictly and how both of them grow up to have totally different characters. Dorothy and Danielle, both raised by the same mother, bring up their sons in a contrasting...

Drinking the Poison and Waiting on Your Neighbor to Die by Dominique Wilkins is about how attitudes can change lives. Savannah hates everything about Kaleena. She tries to make Kaleena's life miserable with her scheming ways and hatred. But Kaleena's attitude of not being bothered...

Kea, The Third Way by Alki Nea is an adventure story about Kea and Leo who are childhood friends. They find their lives on a fast track after Kea changes. Gone are the sleepy lives they led in the suburbs. They see themselves in a...

After her boyfriend dumps her on her birthday, Clara is having the inevitable break up blues like a normal person would. However, a mysterious woman, who introduced herself as Lucilla, is having none of it. She criticizes Clara's old car and gives her a new...

In The Burning Time, an unbearable heat wave is affecting Hastings Mills, a small town of 15,000 in upstate New York. Meanwhile, strange suicides baffle the small community. All the young women jumped from a bridge into the Allegheny River. As if that isn't enough,...

Faceless by Dawn Kopman Whidden is a riveting mystery/thriller. Pretty teenage girls are murdered and found mutilated. The case is being handled by Detective Jean Whitley and her new partner Marty Keal. Jean discovers that most of the targets for the next attacks are her...

Season of Doom is a collection of dark and macabre tales, poems and poetry by author, William P. Robertson. There are stories for everyone in this arrangement: tales from ancient Rome, Viking sagas, American Indian lore, Civil War battles, and stories of everyday life, each...

Ava’s Secret Tea Party by Donna J. Shepherd is a delightfully whimsical children’s picture book. Little Ava knows that very special people often visit her, but unfortunately she never gets to see them. Late at night, on days she has lost a tooth, she knows...

Like many male and female friendships in high school, Jill Hale found herself in love with her lifelong best friend Brian McConnell. As graduation rolls around, Jill finally gets up the nerve to tell Brian how she really feels. However, as these things tend to...

As a teacher for 50 years, I found Teaching in Elementary Schools by Regina Long Southall a well written and informative book. The author correctly points out that those who have never taught in a public school or those who quickly moved from the classroom...

Hotey by Josephine Bailey is a wonderfully told story of a young donkey who has to find his way in the world. After leaving the herd while following a dream, Hotey learns many lessons that life has to offer - the good and the bad....

After a dragon destroyed his village and killed his grandfather, Ragg swears that he will hunt the beasts down throughout the land until every last one of them is dead. He inadvertently worked together with another dragon slayer, Trallian, whilst hunting a young dragon. Trallian...

I thoroughly enjoyed this British story although it brought many deep issues to the surface. In Holding On, Mel Morton writes about the village of Heatherton, with a woman named Beth who is holding on to a secret. I wanted to know what happened next...

Little Miss History Travels to Mount Rushmore, written by Barbara Ann Mojica and illustrated by Victor Ramon Mojica, is both a fun children’s book to read and a learning experience. Little Miss History takes the reader to Mount Rushmore in Dakota. Little Miss History shares...

Tall Tales from the Small Folk Clan (Small Folk Tales) by Christine Larsen is a set of stories and rhymes for our little readers. The stories and rhymes, along with the illustrations, are absolutely delightful and endearing. The author has kept the child audience in...

For the Sake of Hugh the Manatee: Maddie and Hugh's Big Adventure is written by Pete Hodgson and Udo Wahn M.D. with artwork by Ron Croci. It is a creative and unique piece, written with imaginative characters and plot but conveys the reality of truth...