Editorial Reviews

A personal and intimate story collection, Babak Hodjat’s The Konar and the Apple is a vivid exploration of childhood memories in Iran after the revolution. Drawing on autobiographical material, Hodjat shares defining moments of his lived experience, such as inventing a soccer board game and putting on a play with friends, alongside stark descriptions of the Shah and horrifying scenes of war. This collection eloquently rides the line between upsetting defeat and inspiring triumph; although the narrator has seen appalling violence, he ultimately survives and thrives, for an inspiring and evocative work of autobiographical fiction.

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A summer stay at an uncle’s cottage in England turns into a risky search-and-rescue mission in Doug Weller’s Calico Rae: The Twisted Towers, an entertaining work of middle grade fantasy about the enduring link between people and animals. Twelve-year-old Calico Rae learns that she can command a leopard, and she must put this power to good use when her older brother is kidnapped by an abusive, nefarious being. With some elements of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, Doug Weller’s book stands out for its imaginative characters and perilous plot points that will keep young readers turning the pages.

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A mind-bending novella that will have readers questioning their own grasp on reality, The Fake Among Us by Samuel Ludke is a sci-fi action thriller like few others. A twisted tale of “resetting” one’s reality and the dangerous power that technological progress can hold, this story sees a lawman bent and broken by a sinister scientist, proving that the line between human and robot is not as clear as we might imagine. Despite the intriguing premise, the execution needs significant work, as the writing is plagued by repetitive language, stilted dialogue, unclear scene cuts, and basic proofreading errors, which is […]

A stirring collection steeped in magic realism, timeless battles, and the legendary power of cenotes, Premonitions of a Mayan American by Peter Saucier is a stunning follow-up to Premonitions of a Lucid Dreamer, bookended with an extra novella to further thrill readers. A zoologist named Mya embarks on a mystical quest of self-discovery, reining in the epic power of her dreams and bending ancient embers to her will for protection against forces both supernatural and dangerously real. Blending folklore traditions, enchanting threads of Mayan culture, and modern action, Saucier weaves an immersive collection of visionary fiction, with rich prose […]

The second title in a children’s series about the delightful adventures of a witch, Konstantinos V.E. Adamopoulos’ Badfreaky: The Cherry Snake and the Indecisive Dragon is an entertaining story about good and evil and the dangers that can cross your path. Badfreaky, a formerly bad witch who turned good, struggles against various mystical creatures on the way to achieve her goals. Illustrator Leoni Katsarou’s dynamic illustrations enhance the tale, as well as the interactive puzzles sprinkled throughout. While Badfreaky does touch on serious subjects like mental health, the book is mostly fun and games in an oral history-inflected format, which […]

A young woman time travels from 21^st century Brooklyn to the early 1900s in Carrie Hannah’s captivating work of time travel fiction, Crossing the Dateline: A Historical Novel of Time Travel, Untold Secrets and Mystery. Justine is an overworked 28-year-old whose mom mysteriously left when she was a child. After discovering a portal to the past, Justine unearths the facts about a perplexing painting that explains an enigma about her family. A fascinating historical thriller about the collision between past and present, Hannah’s entertaining work brilliantly twists the grandfather paradox into an original and inventive love story.

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Author Dedrick Moone explores the hidden superpowers of a father – along with the inevitable fears, victories, and frightening moments – in Dear Daughter: A Love Story, his latest book celebrating unique and resilient families. Vibrantly detailing his journey as a father, and showcasing the endless love and energy he poured out to care for his beloved child, this colorful read is a testimony to growth and emotional strength. That said, the prose could be tightened and edited down in certain places – there are a handful of obvious editing errors, and some passages are overly wordy or informal. […]

Author Shermaine Perry-Knights puts her lived experience as a military kid to beautiful use in I Move A Lot and That’s Okay. Utilizing affirming and confident language about the positive elements of a transient lifestyle, the book will help particular young readers adjust to the implicit challenges of relocation. Addressing everything from cultural shifts and unwarranted fears to challenging goodbyes and the potential pleasures of change, this charming story subtly touches on a myriad of psychological and emotional obstacles for military kids. The digital illustrations are colorful and engaging, and the small formatting splashes of color keep the prose […]