Editorial Reviews

A brutal and gritty novel of survival on the merciless streets of Chicago, Scared Silent by Neil Turner is a gut-wrenching ride through the life of a young man being prosecuted for a murder he didn’t commit. Navigating the perils of the criminal justice system, while also bearing his own recent grief and pressure to find a new family, Denzel is caught in a painful spiral, while Tony Valenti’s hunt for the real killer may place the crosshairs on his own head. Given the national spotlight being recently turned towards the unhoused populations of America, and the desperate plight of […]

Rug Bug and the Dixies are back with more heroics after a housequake devastates Mousetopia in Kay M. Bates’ The Adventures of Rug Bug Vol. II: The State of Emergency. Rug Bug and his friends must negotiate a new alliance for aid and protection between the residents of the House in order to ensure their mutual survival, for a work of middle grade fiction that deftly and sensitively mirrors real-world events. Just as the first volume subtly touched on the need for representative government and clear-eyed ideals of leadership, this second installment focuses on the aftermath of a natural […]

Ravenous animals aren’t the biggest danger in the jungle – it’s the humans you must watch out for – in Philippe’s gorgeously descriptive work about murder, love, and lust between two ancient tribes, Spirits of the Sun. When the chief of the Java tribe declares his desire to marry a much younger woman from the Malay tribe, the Malay reject the proposal, and a callous killing complicates matters further. Meanwhile, a developing relationship between a young Malay man and a banished Java woman spells trouble for both groups. Some of the novel’s crueler scenes of violence are difficult to […]

A refreshingly honest and personal guide to love and relationships, Feeling Like Your Marriage Is Dead?: A Divorce Mediator’s Guide to Ensuring a Lifetime of Love by Staci Bartley focuses on the importance of treating emotional pain as seriously as physical pain. The book begins with the provocative premise that “Marriage is dead,” referring to the idea that marriage alone can’t save a relationship. From there, Bartley tracks the history of marriage to show that the practice is malleable and urges readers to accept the fact that love can be temporary, for a down-to-earth perspective on modern romance. This succinct, […]

The first title in a series based on Celtic mythology, Corina Douglas’ Daughter of Winter sets the stage for a battle between the descendant of a winter goddess and a vengeful immortal Druid in this strong first installment to an elaborate series. Brydie MacKay is shocked when her estranged grandmother wills her a Scottish estate, but it turns out she’s inherited something far more dangerous. A cursed prophecy, impacting the next female in line, means that Brydie must travel to Scotland with a mysterious guardian and learn how to wield her magic. While repeated scenes from multiple points of view […]

Alessa Kelly’s Longing for You is a suspenseful work of romance with the very highest stakes: high-profile oil-tycoon Arianne and career mercenary Lucas must battle not just for their own relationship, and not only for their lives, but also for the safety of Lucas’s son. From the start, readers can easily find themselves deeply invested in each character, as the story’s well-woven narrative flits between the main couple’s points-of-view, and builds towards an expertly paced, perfectly executed climax. Unlike too many other romance series, Kelly’s Fearless Lovers series is improving as it goes on, and Longing for You is the […]

Two teenagers, Beth and Cameron, can see into each other’s minds, a skill that comes in handy when Cameron is kidnapped by a nefarious company, in Phill Featherstone’s gripping young adult thriller I Know What You’re Thinking. In a near future where all adult human genomes are public knowledge, a famous corporation decides to secretly use living organ donors for their rich clientele. When Cameron is targeted, Beth – alongside close friends and family – must race against the clock to try to locate and save him. The mixture of sci-fi elements with the high-stakes premise of mind reading […]

Imagination, friendship, and compassion join forces in Medieval Mashup by Charlene McIver, an entertaining book for children with vitally important messages. While preparing for a medieval costume contest, Leigh and his two friends run headlong into ideas of identity, personal limitations, courage, and creativity in their joint effort to win first place. Relying on vivid pictures by Caroline Keys to fill the narrative gaps, this is a charming story of perseverance and emotional management that is relevant for children of all ages. Featuring a child with a disability as a protagonist, this series increases representation among children’s books, and allows […]