John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Wild, experimental, and difficult to stop reading, Junk Drawer at the Edge of the Universe by Steven Reed Johnson is a Pynchon-esque ramble through language and storytelling that defies classification, and at times, understanding. What reads like a memoir and feels like a documentary is also an abstract exploration of performance, writing, relationships, and reality itself. While the stream-of-consciousness style can be exhausting, there is the gleaming thread of a winding plot, and a kaleidoscopic perspective on those who live on the world’s fringe. An edit for clarity would be recommended, but the raw imperfection of this avant-garde fiction is […]

A gentle and colorful explanation of being adopted from a foreign country, The Baby with Three Families, Two Countries, and One Promise by Julie Gianelloni Connor, and illustrated by Saman Chinthaka Weerasinghe, is a unique and essential children’s book. Clearly laying out some of the key reasons, factors, and steps in the emotionally complex process of overseas adoption, this book delicately explores the subject, making it a great launching point for conversations between parents and children. The illustrations are vivid, though some of the facial expressions are a bit opaque, and the text is stripped down to its simplest form, […]

In The Next Day, a charming and steamy second installment of the Foothills series by Carrie Thorne, this sharp-tongued author turns up the heat between a haunted vet and a big-city woman looking to find a different kind of peace in the natural beauty of Washington. The plot rolls out with slowly building chemistry, as well as unexpected events that inevitably nudge the pair closer. Some of the more callous language, particularly between Zane and Asher, might be off-putting for readers, but there is also a gritty eroticism in the prose – a well-tuned tension of emotion and desire […]

A vibrant and accessible children’s book about salvation, Snatched Up to Heaven for Kids by Jemima Paul and Arvind Paul is a powerful and commanding read. Filled with vivid, detailed illustrations of Jesus, angels, and the main characters’ frequent travels to heaven, this book is a feast for the eyes. While the final chapters of the book may get a bit intense for younger readers, this is perhaps necessarily so, and underscores the authors’ impassioned devotion to their message. Complete with references to passages from the bible and Revelations, this book delivers a clear outline of Christian faith to parents […]

Michael Santino kicks his series off with an explosive start in The Frontline: Season 1 – Episode 1. Seemingly ripped from today’s tumultuous headlines, this small-town tale of crime and power runs head-on at issues like domestic terrorism, anarchists, white supremacy, law enforcement, and the judicial system. Some of the dialogue feels too explicit to be believed, particularly between law enforcement agents, but the narration is sharp, clever, and unpredictable. Along with the heavy and timely themes, this first installment is also focused on gritty character-building, setting the stage for an action-packed, twist-driven series.

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A whimsical and heartwarming children’s book about loyalty, trust, and responsibility, Illegal Beagle by Sandra Ourique Gonsalves and Nelli Aghekyan is a surefire hit for young readers. The rhyming is clean and amusing, while the illustrations are vibrant, with plenty of details to study, making it perfect for additional vocabulary practice. Strong themes of family relationships, honesty, and independence are woven throughout the text, which is wonderfully engaging while still keeping the language simple. All told, this colorful caper is creative, thoughtful, and will keep readers engaged for multiple reads.[…]