Cara’s life seemed to be in a shambles. She and Todd had just divorced, and soon her only child, 18-year-old Winnie, would be leaving to start her freshman year at UCLA. Although it was only a few hours away from Cara’s San Diego home, she...

Truth and The Serpent by J. Rutledge is a compelling retelling of the myth of creation from the point of view of one of the characters of the “fall,” the serpent himself. Throughout the course of history, the myth of the fall has been propagated...

What do you do when you wake up in a small box, in a small room, with no idea who and where you are. After some disorientation, you discover that your name (at least part of your name) is Al Clark. But really, who...

Playhouse is a cooperative pre-school, but it is so much more. It is a community, a place where parents too can learn. There is so much more to early years education and the effects on the child that a holistic approach is essential. Children can...

Beautiful Imperfections is a literary fiction novel written by Marjorie Vernelle. Some might think that the Survey of Art History class that Keith James took to fulfill the Religious Knowledge class in her first year at the University of Toronto was the defining moment in...

The Shnoos and Panoos Are Lost and Confused by Catherine Copplestone introduces young readers to the Shnoos and the Panoos, adorable and whimsical little creatures that have a wonderful life, doing exactly what they know they want to do in a garden where marshmallows grow....

November Third is the second volume in the Gatekeepers of Democracy series by Bill Lewers, a story revolving around election drama and featuring a strong conflict. The story follows Carl Marsden, who joins the team of county “rovers,” the group responsible for testing voting machines...

Hoffnungslose Ziele: A Dark Journey of Lost Causes by Kevin Reinholz is set against the backdrop of 19th century Europe, with most of the action taking place in Prussia. The reader is immediately introduced to Anna, a young girl who is excited about her friend....

The Mysterious Life Inside a Closet by Mrs. D. is the wonderfully colourful story of a collection of characters living in a closet. The main character is a broom, who is bored with being shut in the closet all day. While looking for something to...

Faces Behind the Masks by Thomas J. Brodeur is a comedic tale full of action and adventure. Travis Warnofski is 12 years old and, as far as he is concerned, his uncle is nothing short of a superhero. That doesn’t mean that Trav likes him...

What strikes one most deeply while reading I Miss My Best Friend - a condensed tale of love, friendship, and loss – is Penelope Lagos’s decision, decisively well executed, of telling a most personal family story. This is not a generic rendition of “our family...

Wicked in a Kilt: Hot Scots, Book 2 is a sizzling romance novel written by Anna Durand. Calli Douglas wasn’t interested in romance. She had three rules that she lived by: no sex, no love, no marriage, and she wasn’t ashamed of the fact that...

Shadows, Shells, and Spain is a literary fiction novel written by John Meyer. While others basked in the sun and warmth of Palma, Jamie was indifferent to the charms of Mallorca. He had been searching for his wife for ten months now, with no word...

Compose Your Soul: How to Turn Your Daily Chaos into Calm Control by Angela Nuttle is an uplifting and insightful read about composing one's soul, which requires deep reflection, brutal honesty, and the willingness to accept that we have unique DNA. It works differently for...

Is there really a monster lurking in the waters of Riverdale Lake? Sheriff Williker to the rescue. In The Adventures of Sheriff Williker: The Case of the Riverdale Lake Monster by Kim Hansen, the reason there may not be a Riverdale Fall Festival next year...

Fear of the Tide: The Untold Story of a Cuban Rebel by Analise M. Oliver is a riveting biography that follows the life of one of Cuba’s rebels, David Fuentes Martinez. When he bought a train ticket from his native, underdeveloped rural Las Matinas to...

Brandon Makes Jiǎo Zi (餃子) by Eugenia Chu is an illustrated children’s story that mixes American and Chinese cultures, bringing not only traditions together, but also the two languages. Brandon’s parents live in the United States, but the boy’s grandmother lives in China, and she...

Two Journeys Home is a historical fiction story by Kevin O’Connell. In 1767, widowed Eileen O’Connell returns to Derrynane, Ireland after spending over five years in Austria. She acquired European traits and customs considered presumptuous by a few relatives and locals. Eileen meets Lieutenant O’Leary...

A Spooky Tale: A Walk With Our Teacher by Sue Wickstead is a great book to help pique your child’s imagination. Children of all ages will enjoy reading through the pages of this picture book. What originally started out as a project over 10 years...

Oh How I love You by Mary Rincon is a story of a mother who feels sorry for her daughter because her divorce ruins all the special plans she has for her daughter. She tells her daughter that the branches of the family tree...