In Guglielmo D’Izzia’s novel The Transaction, the protagonist narrates his own story in a semi-hypnotic voice, describing his Kafkaesque venture into a remote Sicilian village, presumably as an agent to purchase a property. It’s a rough trip described in minute detail by a voice without...

The Dual Path: An Earth to Stars Adventure by AnnaMariah Nau is a wonderful and delightful tale for fans of young adult fantasy, a story with strong lessons for young readers. For twelve-year-old Zelia, a summer with her Aunt Joy is supposed to be a...

In The Tickling Tale of Smoo by Louiza Kallona, Ben and Lucy listen to their grandmother tell a story about the world’s tickle spot hidden in the armpits of Smoo. Nobody they knew had laughed in months, not even a chuckle. Their parents didn’t believe...

The Journey is a work in the science fiction, adventure, and interpersonal drama subgenres. It can be enjoyed by mature young adults and adult readers alike and is penned by Kathy Porter. In the third novel in the Gray Guardians book series, we pick up...

The Empty Kayak by Jodé Millman is a mystery with a difference. Olivia and Kyle are kayaking along the Hudson River when a storm rolls in out of nowhere. While Olivia finds her way back to shore, her fiancé, Kyle, doesn’t. Detective Ebony Jones arrives...

The Lighthouse Back Home is a time-travel adventure mystery novel by Jodi L. Auborn. Eleven-year-old Dylan Flint loves nothing more than sailing on his boat, Thunder, with his best friend, Alex. But after the two youngsters stumble across a mysterious bell, they suddenly find themselves...

The Heron Legacy by Leona Francombe revolves around Charles Fontaine, who is deeply connected to his past in the Belgian Ardennes, cherishes his uncle Theodore's teachings about their ancestral lands, including Blancheron Castle and its folklore, and has always been fascinated by the legend of...

In Kathmandu, Raghu, a 19-year-old night porter, grapples with insecurities about his slim build while dreaming of love and success. Eager to gain weight and win the heart of Neela, the girl he admires, Raghu sets out on a humorous quest to eat his way...

Many children and adults are diagnosed with autism each year. Once this was surrounded by misconception; now, there is a possibility of understanding and perhaps helping individuals with autism. It is with this desire that I chose this book, to see if I could learn...

"The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap" by Paulette Mahurin is an emotional story that shows just what effect hatred can have on not just one or two people but on an entire community. Paulette Mahurin writes a novel that will leave you emotionally involved with each...

Michael Whitworth in his book "The Epic of God" does a beautiful job of weaving together the story of creation and other biblical stories that transports the reader to a different time. The story flows smoothly and with a richness of depth into biblical meanings....

The Adventured Star by Pamela T. Chandler is a delightful story about Najma, the travelling star who moves to Abu Dhabi. During her stay there, she wishes to be the star of Abu Dhabi. The book has some excellent illustrations that complement the story. I found...

In The Serpent's Ring, H.B. Bolton introduces us to the Relics of Mysticus series, a mythical and fantastic adventure for young adults. Readers meet Evan and Clare Jones, your typical American kids. Like many kids, they get dragged around by their parents to do boring...

Evan and Clare are back again in book two of H.B. Bolton's Relics of Mysticus series. Life has gone back to normal for the two siblings, with their last adventures in Sagaas fading into memory, but Sagaas isn't going to leave them alone for long....

The Wall Breaker is a historical novella written by Olga Vasylyeva. It's set in the mid-twentieth century and is the story of Tony Esposito. Tony's fingers were damaged by the machinery he was operating when he was 16 years old. There was no compensation paid...

The Wielder Diaries: My Crystal by Ashley Scheller is a young adult fantasy about a girl with unstoppable power who cannot remember how to use it. Kayla wakes up when she is twelve years old, but doesn't remember anything about her past. She is...

The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin tells of the rise of Nazism in Germany and the concentration camps, as related by aged survivor Paulette Mahurin to a young nursing student who rents a room in her apartment. There have been numerous holocaust memoirs, but...

The Four Deadly Horsemen: Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, and Fear by Brandt Schubbe is a collection of poems that are, curiously, grouped thematically under different sentiments and moods. In these poems, the author explores different emotions of life, including terror, bewilderment, frustration, and fear. These emotions...

Twelve-year-old Lizzie wasn’t too happy about having to move. She had the best life and best friends. But when her parents pulled up in front of the new house, far from her old home, Lizzie was enchanted. Not to mention that there was a mysterious,...

Gregory Diehl breaks new ground with The Heroic and Exceptional Minority. He explores the concept of heroism with all its positive attributes and links it to the search for something beyond mediocrity. There are intelligent and talented people in the world, but they are a...