John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Tender in its depiction of starting over and processing trauma, Haven by Valerie Biel is an uplifting reminder that family comes in all forms. Leaving behind a broken home, Mardella and her mother begin again in a senior living center, which means a colorful cast of charming new neighbors and unexpected friends for the curious and artistic youngster. Rediscovering a childhood of peace, support, and companionship, Mardella begins to settle into this new chapter of her life, but the emotional shadow of the past is longer than she expected. Biel writes sensitively about the delicate subjects of abuse and drug […]

Making the compelling case for revolutionizing language practices across the Arab world, Classical Arabic and the Hibernation of the Arab Mind by Walid Khalil is a well-argued proposal for a necessary paradigm shift. Drawing on history, philosophy, linguistics, and raw logic, the author outlines the increasing limitations of Classical Arabic, and argues that adopting written forms of everyday spoken languages would propel the Arab world into a modern renaissance. With the aim of greater sophistication, nuance, and competitiveness that such practices would bring, while also acknowledging key cultural traditions surrounding language, this is a measured and thought-provoking plea for progress.[…]

A unique and visually engaging journey through many of the pressing concerns of the younger generation, Black & Brown Gen Z by Edwina Louise Dorch is a lesson-heavy burst of self-help written as a vivid graphic novel. From discussing the importance of living sustainably and practicing self-care to protecting yourself against bullying or bigotry, each animated chapter brings a critical issue to light, leaving the interconnected characters to navigate the challenges and grow from their experiences. The comic book style doesn’t always lend itself to diving deeply into each issue, but the underlying messages are critical, and the creative layout […]

A warning for our age of digitally addicted consumers looking for the newest life hack, Synthetica: The Dystopian Future of Digital Existence by Sophia M. is a prescient work of sci-fi, with a shrewd take on the current moment. A few decades in the future, free will has been seized by the titular megacorporation and its domineering Algorithm, allowing them to restructure society and mind control the vast majority of the population. However, there are those who resist the oppressive reign of these digital overlords, and seek to free society from this collective nightmare. Heavy on dystopian exposition, but comparatively […]

Challenging readers to take a more active role in changing their lives, Don’t Settle, Choose to Feel Good: 20 Keys to Achieve It by Pablo Tricci is a creative guide for taking control of your free time and unlocking your potential. An allegorical and philosophical journey that treads familiar themes like gratitude, healthy lifestyles, and goal-setting, the book also delves into less common fare, such as the inherent reward of effort, the power of expressed thought, and the pursuit of meaning in our relationships. The book methodically introduces complex ideas and builds to an inspiring thesis: by cultivating awareness and […]

A newly crowned empress must balance the responsibilities of her reign with a devastating loss of love in Hachi + Araine: Falling by Michael G. Hurston. Reshaping a diverse and divided solar system to uphold justice, peace, and cooperation is a daunting task for Hachi, but achieving domestic bliss and a stable family with her remaining partners may pose an even greater challenge. Fortunately, she won’t be alone in navigating these emotional tangles and complex commitments, even as the immensely powerful First Children threaten to disrupt her hard-won peace in their obsessive pursuit of new life. Combining reality-shaking future-tech and […]