Editorial Reviews

Author and illustrator Stacey Penix has crafted a spirited journey through a child’s expansive imagination in her creatively illustrated book Where Do Balloons Go When They Disappear?? This engaging children’s book follows a young boy who wonders what happens to balloons when they fly away, with readers following the balloon as it possibly travels through the galaxy, across the ocean, and more. Using well-timed rhyming and coupled with brightly colored and detailed illustrations, the book is expertly crafted, while teaching a subtle lesson about loss. Some concepts may be too sophisticated for young children, such as “atmosphere,” but this can […]

Two young boys learn about the excitement, risks, and proper usage of their new high-tech toy in Drone Adventure by Chris Mather. With the increasing popularization of drones in recent years, this is an important read for a new generation of gadget-savvy children. Despite the occasional slant rhyme and awkward syllable count in the rhythmic flow, the writing is straightforward, educational, and engaging. The quality and cleverness of the rhymes improve as the book progresses, and despite being quite short, Mather packs in plenty of understandable and critical information for young drone users. Balancing simple illustrations with an instructive two-part […]

Penned with the linguistic and lyrical mastery of a trained storyteller, Rupture State by MB Bartkowski is a dramatic piece of future fiction, replete with thrilling twists and subtle philosophical undertones. Otto, a young man ostracized from everything he knows is forced to unravel the mystery of his collapsing life as he charts an unknown course to the other side of the world. While this may seem like a vague and familiar premise, it is elevated to profound heights by the skilled voice of the author. Summoning visceral environments, capturing tension with ease, and driving the story along with powerful […]

Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the technology that has revolutionized life as we know it, The Other Computer History: Amazing, amusing and expierenced stories about the Computer science from 1959-2004 by Hans Bodmer is an eye-opening and hands-on glimpse into the past. From card-punchers and encryption devices as big as filing cabinets to the earliest prototypes of the phones we now can’t live without, this memoir recounts rare anecdotes at the heart of computer science, with the personal touch of a high-spirited storyteller. Unfortunately, the prose feels choppy, disjointed, and poorly paced, largely because of the frequent grammatical errors, as […]

A young girl torn between two worlds must carve out a new home in Ghana after disaster strikes in Slaves of Men and Gods by Jacqueline Smith, a dramatic and original YA thriller. Digging into issues of adolescent development, gender dynamics, relatable questions of morality, traditional Ghanaian practices, and more, the target audience may be teenagers, but the themes are complex and mature, while never talking down to readers. With vivid characters and vulnerably emotional writing, this authentic tale about cultivating new roots is an engrossing and wholly unique read.

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An intensely rich and beautiful book written with the poetic touch of a writer whose heart unmistakably beats with Andalusian blood, Inheriting Our Names: An Imagined True Memoir of Spain’s Pact of Forgetting by C. Vargas McPherson is the devastating story based on true events of a family torn asunder by Franco’s Civil War in 1930s Spain. Tragedy mingles with religion and tradition as hunger and death approach the family’s barrio in the city of Seville. Now, their granddaughter, the author, travels to Spain to imagine their story, and uncover the truth that stays silent under Spain’s so-called Pact of […]

A whimsical fling into the fantastic realm of imagination, Magic in Windowland by Rupamanjari, with illustrations by Aliaksandra Kopach, is a fun adventure about freedom and friendship. When a fog-window doodle named Pip is brought to life with the help of a generous pixie, little does he know what challenging adventures and lessons lie ahead. The illustrations are crisp and vivid, and the chosen font is engaging, while also allowing for emotional formatting of the text. The messaging is powerful but subtle, making this delightful children’s book an optimistic pleasure to read.

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A volatile drama touching on hidden trauma and the pain that binds us to those we love, That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli is an intense, emotionally intelligent work of romantic fiction. A doctor’s dark history resurfaces, triggered by a new family crisis and accompanied by long-buried guilt, but he is simultaneously offered an unexpected chance at redemption. With life-or-death stakes and vulnerable characters that readers will find easy to support, this novel spills over with internal struggle. Capturing emotional turmoil in a believable way is a challenge, but Ossenelli hits the mark time and again. Some of […]