Fiction Addict

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Publication Date: 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Loveliness abounds in nature. We all know this. But have we taken the time to recognize what exactly entrances us? Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman expressively examines one such aspect of creation—spirals found in nature and their beauty, purpose and fluidity.

Text notes subtly placed in the illustrations let readers become acquainted with the plants and creatures portrayed. Languorous language makes this book a great read during quiet times, while the variety of things to look at, point out and learn will transition into daytime reading as well. An explanatory spread in the back of the book delves further into the mysteries of the spiral by detailing the how or why of each example used in the book, e.g., hedgehogs roll for protection, two ocean currents meet to form a whirlpool, etc.

Caldecott Winner Beth Unique uses scratchboard illustrations to create a gorgeous, wondrous atmosphere with which to discover the spiral. The black backgrounds add a deep richness to the book’s design.

A fascinating treatment of an overlooked shape. Even adults will enjoy encountering the seemingly familiar in a fresh, new way. Swirl by Swirl reminded this reviewer of nature’s stunning power to surprise!

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: StoneGate Ink

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Ancient mythologies spoke of a bird called the phoenix that, upon death, resurrected itself from the ashes of its former life. Emery Phoenix has been burned several times in her life—the scars on her face leave the physical scars but it’s the scars on her heart that brings her real pain. She thought healing might begin, ironically, when she met a boy named Arson, but that only caused her life to spiral to the point it’s at now.

Arson Gable always knew he was a special kid, a freak, an outcast who could create fire. Nobody truly understood him. Until Emery came along, that is. Together the two outcasts worked together to discover the meaning of their existence, to hope amidst the brokenness, and to find love amidst hate. But all that led them to a place of utter despair.

Estevan Vega begins Ashes where he left off in Arson. Arson and Emery have been abducted after Arson’s powers manifested itself on a major scale. Now they find themselves a part of an underground experimental facility, human lab rats on which power-hungry scientists can feast. As Vega’s tale twists and ties itself together, the reader learns the true purpose of the facility, all while learning more about the nature of Arson’s past.

Emery’s parents—their relationship broken and nearly destroyed before the abduction—struggle to pull things together and find hope in a doubly hopeless situation. Joel takes off on a whim to find his daughter. He’s not sure why, but something seems to be calling to him. Maybe he just wants to escape from the wife he neither likes nor loves.

Everything builds to a resounding crescendo as the full purpose of the underground facility known as the Sanctuary is made known. In the end, Vega leaves readers with a breathtaking ending that leaves reading hoping it’s only the beginning for more of the story. Like Arson, Ashes takes a little while to build the context of the story. So much new is thrown in that must be tied to book one, that—just like Arson and Emery—the reader is left with his head spinning, trying to figure out what’s going down. But once the story latches hold, it rockets toward a pulse-pounding finish, full of twists and turns and unexpected events.

Vega is setting himself up to be a vanguard in the realm of speculative fiction. His stories are bizarre, out of the box, and brilliant. Ashes is a strong testament to Vega’s ability as a Storyteller—he keeps getting better, which means I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Review copy provided by author.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Today is the day! Hamster’s birthday has arrived and he’s all set to party! Unfortunately his friend, Dog, seems to have forgotten all about his special day. Dog drags him around town, running errands, but unbeknownst to Hamster, a surprise awaits.

Happy Birthday, Hamster by Newberry Honor author Cynthia Lord repeats the genius of jaunty rhymes, audience participation and jubilant acrylic illustrations that brought Hamster and company to life in Hot Rod Hamster. This sequel continues its tradition of supplying readers with choices and asking them, “Which would you choose?” Children will leap at the chance to join Hamster in his exploits and revel in the exquisitely crafted rhymes.

While Birthday lacks some of the intensity of the former book’s car race, the team of Lord and illustrator Derek Anderson brings a new tension to this book: readers are clued in to the surprise awaiting Hamster, while he remains oblivious. How is he missing the signs? Readers will laugh and cheer for Hamster as he goes about his day believing no one remembered him. A sheer delight of a book and sure to become a beloved favorite.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Publication Date: 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Who wants their vegetables? After reading Rah, Rah, Radishes! by April Pulley Sayre, children will shout “Me! Me! Me!”

This picture book takes readers on a veggie voyage through the author’s local farmer’s market. Rollicking rhymes explore the diversity of the vegetable kingdom and joyfully express enthusiasm for healthful eating. Vibrant photos capture the beauty and appeal of produce at its best—the gleam of peppers, the texture of sweet corn, the filmy parchment of shallots. Readers can nearly smell the freshness through the pages. A true celebration of nature’s bounty!

An additional section, labeled “A Few More Bites,” defines the term “vegetable,” explains what a healthy diet looks like on a plate and offers a few other tidbits as well.

Sayre’s creation is perfect for encouraging the sampling of new tastes. The book delights the ear and the eye, as well as making the mouth water, resulting in a refreshing change from the kid-favorite pizza and confections so often found in kids’ books. The combination of rhythmic text and succulent photography will entice youngsters to take a bite out of this book!

Genre: Magical Realism

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Sheridan Riddler is the greatest painter of modern art in the universe. We know that because he screams it to the world at every possible turn. No one can capture reality, his reality, like Riddler. His muse and subject for all of his nudes is the love of his life, Suzanna. Yet she, the most beautiful woman he can imagine, remains faceless in his paintings. Even she cannot be allowed to cause people to think of anything but the great Riddler.

When Suzanna refuses to be painted nude again and walks away, Riddler pursues her deep into a Harlem of years gone by. But, as he walks in a drug induced stupor across the bridge above the Harlem River, Riddler is struck by a car and falls into the dark waters below. What happens in those waters is both revelation and curse. From the moment he awakens on the bank of the River with a river rat of a boy attempting to rob him, Sheridan Riddler is a man obsessed. The greatest artist in the universe saw something that is so immensely beyond him he will spend the rest of his life trying to recapture what he only knows to call “the Glory.”

From Buddhist monasteries, to time with a Muslim wise man in Turkey, to Tel Aviv on the verge of Sadam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, to the Sistine Chapel, to the shrines of Mexico, Riddler spends the next decades of his life searching for what he thinks he saw in the now fleeting pale memories of “the Glory.” At every turn he is disappointed. Michelangelo’ s grand paintings of God and man are frauds. Nothing comes close to what he saw as he sank in the dirty waters of the Harlem.

And now, someone knows Riddler must still be alive. A daughter he never knew has seen new paintings that could have only come from the hand of her father. And, an obsessed collector/assassin is following her to find Riddler. The collector has spent those years hoarding up Riddler’s masterpieces and doesn’t want any new paintings on the market. For him that means killing the artist the world still thinks is dead. All of their lives, father, daughter, beloved Suzanna, and assassin, are bound up in the artist’ reconciling what he has spent a lifetime trying to recapture and what he must finally die to – The Opposite of Art.

The Opposite of Art by Athol Dickson is one of those rare novels I can manage such a detailed synopsis and yet have no fear of giving away the story. Any attempt to relate what is found within its pages in a review is as humbling as Riddler’s pursuit of “The Glory.” At best I can sketch a vague outline but only a writer with Dickson’s depth can paint the masterpiece.

This is magical realism at its best. Most of Riddler’s story is related through his remembrances as an aging man traveling with a quirky Mexican circus through the wilds of West Texas and New Mexico. Sometimes it is difficult to know if all that happens in the odd circus is the visions of a man with a mind rotted by drugs as a youth and addled by a fruitless pilgrimage.

One of the hallmarks of this kind of writing is that what is real is only known through the eyes and mind of its characters. What are we to think of an art collector assassin who believes justice is playing Russian roulette with himself before killing his target? Did Riddler really enter a circus trailer that in reality is an immense place of worship? Some of it seems wholly implausible but then again so is much of what we call reality. Magical Realism only works when the reader ceases to care if what they are reading could be true. It is true because that is the way the characters see it.

A synopsis barely scratches the surface of what The Opposite of Art is about. Take the time to read it. Read it slowly. Gaze at it like standing before the Grand Canyon for the first time. Ponder its images as Riddler does a canvas seeking to capture “the Glory.” My guess is a good number will grow impatient, flip a few pages in a book store, and go on to lighter fare. But for those brave and persistent enough to pursue the images and messages of this novel of a different kind the reward will prove more than worth it.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Clarion

Publication Date: October 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

For centuries books have spoken to us. But in Bookspeak! by Laura Purdie Salas, books actually do the talking! In this poetry collection from a book’s point of view, readers discover anew the joys of the written word. Salas’ verse tackles subjects from the conflict component of story, to life as an index, to the publishing process and right through to bookstores. The book plate swears he is not a dish, while one book bemoans his fear of wetness. A character begs for a sequel and one book goes on vacation! Wildly inventive and delightfully clever, puns dot the pages. Salas’ wordplay is delicious.

Vastly more than a poetry collection touting the joys and wonders of reading, Bookspeak! gives personality to the world of words in a fresh, new way.

Josée Bisaillon’s mixed media illustrations demonstrate both the abstract and concrete nature of the poetry. The illustrative diversity within the collection crosses from stark and spare to bold and bright, but always a little offbeat, filled with movement and somehow still unified.

A true friend and companion for the bibliophile or writer, young or old.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Erynn Mangum has been one of my favorite authors ever since a friend recommended Miss Match to me a couple years ago. Sketchy Behavior continues to deliver the quirky humor and drama of life while moving into some new territory.

Kate Carter loves art. Even though her dad wants to see her follow in the Carter family name and become some kind of engineer, that doesn’t set too well with Kate. But now she’s rethinking her passions. When a simple class assignment in sketching criminals leads to the arrest of a major serial killer, Kate doesn’t know what to do. News reporters cover her front lawn. The police applaud. The world seems grateful and relieved. But the killer wants revenge. And now he’s sending his friends after Kate. The question is: how long can Kate keep up her “I’m fine” excuse before everything crumbles? And how long will it take before the killer finds his next target: Kate Carter?

Sketchy Behavior aims to please a slightly different crowd than her previous two series did. Mangum leaves behind the twenty-something world of romance and life and enters a more suspense-driven young adult realm. Coming in less than 250 pages, this is definitely for a younger crowd, and older fans might not go for the more high-school-esque feel. The book is much more plot-driven than any of Mangum’s previous titles, and she pulls off the smattering of action scenes fairly well. There’s even a couple of interesting twists near the end that will leave readers flipping pages faster and faster to see what happens next. Romance doesn’t make it’s way into this novel, and fans of Cool Beans or Rematch might miss these elements.

Mangum’s strong suits are always in characters, and she definitely delivers here. Kate is fun to follow around, and just as spunky as Maya Davis or Lauren Holbrook. Some of my favorite moments take place in Kate’s first interactions with church — trying to understand the different quirks and nuances of the service. And as usual, I found myself laughing out loud at Kate and her antics. The surrounding cast is just as fun — from a psychiatrist mother to a logical and over-protective father — Mangum gives us plenty to laugh along with. Her villain is pretty terrifying, and definitely sounds like something stepping right out of the news and into Kate’s backyard.

This book felt like a step in a good direction, keeping a complicated and realistic main character, while giving us a little action and suspense. Teen fans of light-hearted suspense will enjoy this latest Mangum outing and be left hoping for more.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Clarion

Publication Date: November 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Every Thanksgiving, Americans gather around the television to view a traditional event—the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, complete with charismatic balloons. Today we take these gravity-defying wonders for granted, but where did they come from? Balloons over Broadway by Caldecott Honor-winner Melissa Sweet tells the story of Tony Sarg and the Macy’s balloons.

As a lifelong student of how things move, Tony Sarg naturally became a puppeteer when he grew up. Called upon to create marionettes for the Macy’s window in New York, he created amazing displays for window shoppers. When Macy’s decided to host a parade for its employees, management turned to Tony for assistance. At first, he designed costumes and floats. Later, he created large puppets attached to sticks. But when the crowds had difficulty viewing the low-suspended characters, Tony returned to the drawing board to find a better solution.

Balloons uses clear, accessible language and just the right amount of information to share this slice of Americana. The combination of gouache, collage and mixed media (old-fashioned toys and fabrics) results in an eclectic charm with a touch of whimsy and a smidge of the antique. The endpapers feature further history about Tony Sarg as well as an original Macy’s advertisement from 1933 featuring the Macy’s balloons.

Both enlightening and enjoyable, the book is well suited to home or classroom. Little mechanics and engineers will find a like-minded friend in Tony Sarg.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Chess is a simple and yet intensely complicated game. With just six types of pieces, each with distinct restriction on how they can be used, an older child can begin to play in less than an hour yet those same six pieces can consume the entire lifetime of a genius. And that is why it is so fitting that Steven James has carried us along on his journey of move and countermove in the Patrick Bowers Files with the continuing analogy of chess.

The Queen is the author’s latest in what has become a mainstay in late summer reading for many an adrenaline junkie in need of a thriller of just a bit different flavor than the run of the mill. One of the geniuses of Steven James’ writing is that one need not have read any of the other novels in the series to understand pretty quickly what is going on. In case you haven’t read previous installments, Patrick Bowers is a geospatial profiler who considers the Criminal Minds version of profiling to be little more than educated guess-work.

While there is a large cast of characters, this episode is very much Patrick’s story. Called away to northern Wisconsin from the case he so desperately wants to close, Special Agent Dr. Patrick Bowers must face a conspiracy of global proportions and a very personal ghost from his past that will not allow it to be ignored. This may be the most vulnerable we have seen Bowers. We see him barely overcoming childhood fears and nearly losing his life on more than one occasion. As always, there is plenty of pulse pounding action with plot twists at just the right points. But none of the dangers he confronts are as formidable as what he faces in his estranged brother and the secret that has separated them for years. Just as it seems Bowers has finally managed to sustain a relationship with fellow agent Lien-Hua, his past with both his brother and his brother’s wife threatens to derail the one mystery he has failed to crack in the past – women.

There is no way for me to review a Patrick Bowers novel without considering my favorite character. Tessa, Bower’s step-daughter, is dealing with the aftermath of events in The Bishop, and fighting demons of her own. Though she is barely present in the first half of the novel, Tessa’s search for the meaning of forgiveness and redemption intertwines itself with scenes of the basest of human character to form a contrasting tapestry of the human condition.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t some truly impressive villains. Richard Basque is back but only as an elusive shadow. Front and center is Alexei Chekov, the most interesting and multi-dimensional villain yet to spring from the creative mind of the author. Sure, there is the enigma known only as Valkyrie, a rogue CIA master hacker, and a band of misguided eco-terrorists. But Alexei Chekov stands out as what should serve as a prototype for the kind of villain that makes this kind of story rise above the ordinary.

What impresses me most is the patience the author has taken over five novels to develop the underlying themes of the nature of man’s heart, guilt, and forgiveness. Human nature, like chess, is simple at one level and utterly complex at another. James doesn’t insult our intelligence by having Patrick or Tessa resolve that complexity in some formulaic way. Instead, we are given characters with depth, hard questions and longings. And for at least one, hopefully, the only real answer to the human condition.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Listen to our recent interview with the author here. 

Steven James joins us to talk about the new Patrick Bowers thriller, The Queen.

Read our review of The Queen here.

More about Steven James:

Critically acclaimed author Steven James has written four other award-winning Patrick Bowers novels as well as many works of nonfiction. He has a master’s degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative storytelling on three continents. He lives near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee with his wife and three daughters.

To learn more about Steve visit him at: stevenjames.net 

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed in the audio player below.

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Howard Books

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by: Melody Ballard

Childhood friends Meg and Anne share many adventures and much of their young lives together. Born in a time when women’s destinies were controlled by men, both longed for a future filled with love and happiness.  Beginning with in 1518 with the mischievous escapades of their youth, and ending in 1536 at the tower of London, we follow the story of Meg Wyatt and her closest friend, Anne Boleyn.

Both Meg and Anne were born into titled lives of privilege, but it is here that the similarity ends. Meg’s father, Lord Wyatt was a vicious, cruel and demanding man. He did not hesitate to abuse Meg with frequent beatings.  She was also subjected to the maliciousness of her brother Edmund. Her brother Thomas sympathized with her plight but would offer little support as he often stood silently by. Meg once said that both her father and brother Edmund responded to torment by tormenting others.

It was at the wedding of Anne’s sister Mary, that both Meg and Anne begin their journey within the court of King Henry VIII.  Anne was as ambitious as she was beautiful and her charms and courtly manners soon caught King Henry’s eye. Anne was as loyal as she was charming and she saw to it that Meg was in the protective embrace of court and away from the stranglehold of her family to the greatest extent possible.

As Meg watches the transformation of Anne’s life she is acutely aware of the precarious nature and dangers of the court. Meg sees Anne rise in favor with King Henry, become his Queen, and succumb to treachery; we see those around her as they really are. Throughout this novel there is woven the silver thread of possibility for what Meg has always wanted: a future filled with love and happiness. Throughout this novel there is an even greater story woven within: the Reformation.

Written from Meg Wyatt’s point of view, this well researched and historically accurate novel is mesmerizing.  Filled with elegant prose, vivid imagery and an expert blending of fiction and fact, author Sandra Byrd presents a refreshing point of view on the life of one of the words most fascinating women, the Reformation Movement, and the court of King Henry VIII.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Fantasy                            

Publisher: Center Street             

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Tim George

Imagine a world, our world, where every person on the planet is dead and doesn’t know it. Not zombies according to the current literary fad but rather a planet populated by people who are but shells of what they were created to be. Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee paints a picture of what might happen to a world so bent on eradicating its inner demons that it strips itself of all emotion. All that is, except fear.

Nearly five centuries have passed since a select group of scientists worked to tinker with humanity’s genetic code. Their discovery of a way to eliminate all emotions save fear gave way to a unified world ensured peace by the Order. But then, on one seemingly uneventful day, 24 year old Rom, finds his life altered forever thus beginning the first installment of what will ultimately be a trilogy called The Book of Mortals.

Ironically, Rom is a funeral singer. A funeral in which, like with most of his world, there is no body and no real sorrow. When Rom leaves the funeral he witnesses the unthinkable, a murder. As the old man who has been attacked is dying he gives Rom an ancient vial of blood that can grant something Rom did not even know he was lacking – life. The kind with real emotions: love, hate, jealousy, betrayal, passion, joy, ecstasy and despair. Real life. A life the world does not even know it is missing. To tell more would be to rob the reader of embarking on this journey with Rom and seeing it unvarnished through his eyes.

As with any fantasy or epic there is a fairly large cast of characters. Central to Book One is Rom, the ultimate unlikely hero. With no frame of reference to understand the emotions he now feels all he knows to do is to employ aid from the few friends he has. And he will need them because someone else has discovered the secret of emotions as well. Saric has to be one of the most unsympathetic villains ever created. His discovery of emotion only proves what man’s heart is capable of when all boundaries are removed. Other characters of note include Feyn the soon-to-be Sovereign of the world and sister of Saric, Avra, Rom’s best friend since childbirth, and though only introduced late in the story, the boy Jonathan.

Many collaborations fail miserably but not this one. Read the rest of this entry »

Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee recently joined us to talk about their new novel, Forbidden. Join us as we talk about the collaboration process, this exciting new series, and things to come.

Check out our podcast review of Forbidden here and our print review here.

More about Ted Dekker:

Ted Dekker is a New York Times bestselling author with more than five million books in print. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between unforgettable characters. You can find him online at Teddekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker.

More about Tosca Lee:

Tosca Lee is the author of the critically acclaimed DEMON: A MEMOIR, HAVAH: THE STORY OF EVE, and the Books of Mortals series with NY Times bestselling author Ted Dekker (FORBIDDEN, September 2011; MORTAL, June 2012; and SOVEREIGN, October 2012).

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below.

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Book 1 of The Books of Mortals is finally here and we are breaking it all down. Join Jake Chism, Lori Twichell, Josh Olds, and Tim George as we talk about this much anticipated collaboration. Did they pull it off? Does this series have the potential to be bigger than The Circle Series? Are the rumors about Josh Olds true? Find out in this exhilarating, can’t miss installment of the Fiction Addict podcast.

Don’t miss our podcast interview with Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee and our print review of Forbidden.

This podcast can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below:

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Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Touchstone

Publication Date: July 2011

Reviewed by Josh Olds

Rosemary Thomas is about to face death. Execution. Lethal injection. Found guilty of murdering her estranged husband—God (and the jury) knows she had the motive—but she didn’t commit the crime. At least that was her claim. Of course, that’s what they all say.

Christopher Thomas had been the curator of San Francisco’s McFall Art Museum, which, by all appearances, should have been a rather posh and cushy job, relatively free from worries or stress. He, was a philanderer, yes, and used his wife only to gain power within the world of art, but really, she should be the one thanking him for putting her higher up on the social ladder. In the end, it would matter for nothing, as both ended up dead.

But ten years later, the cop who oversaw the arrest of Rosemary Thomas is now convinced of her innocence. Somewhere, a killer still lurks, and his investigation reveals a tangled web of lies, deceit, and double-crossings. Jumping between timelines of the present and ten years prior, No Rest for the Dead, takes what seems to be an open-and-shut case and peels back more and more layers to reveal a grand scheme that could implicate any number of people. Christopher Thomas was a ruthless man with shady dealings in both his personal and professional lives. As Nunn unravels the case, he finds himself shocked by how deeply tied and twisted his new suspects actually are.

No Rest for the Dead is a unique collaboration of twenty-six top-notch writers, each submitting a chapter or more for the book. The old saying goes that too many cooks spoil the broth, but editors Andrew and Lamia Gulli do an excellent job of bringing the novel together into a cohesive whole. A few chapters here and there stand out as mildly out of place in technical areas such as character vocabulary or tone, but overall the authors do well in understanding the characters they’re given. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Satire/Classics

Publisher: Quirk Classics

Publication Date:  March 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Following up to the hit, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Dreadfully Ever After catches up with Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy as recently married.  Elizabeth is not looking forward to starting a family, and even with her love Fitzwilliam with her, she feels something is missing.  Since it is socially unacceptable for a married woman to fight zombies, she must play the part of the gentleman’s wife.  Her husband is unexpectedly bitten by a zombie, and she fears the end is near until she hears of a possible cure.  Willing to do anything to protect her beloved, she travels to London with her father and sisters Kitty and Mary in order to get that serum at all costs.  Of course adventures ensue while the family works to carry out its plan.  They meet colorful characters, reunite with previous acquaintances, and learn terrible secrets.

Fans of Jane Austen will have a rousing adventure reading about the new path that the Bennets have undertaken.  Written in fun and colloquial language, the book is difficult to put down because it is so entertaining.  Austen herself would probably enjoy seeing her masterpiece re-written in such a tongue-in-cheek manner that is so against social proprieties of the time.  Readers of “monster” stories will get a kick out of seeing familiar villains written into classic literature in an updated and quirky fashion.  All in all, this is a fun story that will make readers guffaw out loud.

Because of the nature of the subject, the book does contain fairly graphic violence.  Teen readers will appreciate the “grossness factor,” but for those readers who don’t like gore and violence, it may not be the book for them.  In addition to describing the fetid, nasty zombies, Hockensmith also talks about the methods of their demise.  There is no sex or profanity to speak of, as the book is written in the times of King George III, in the late 1700s and early 1800s.  Other than the violence, which some parents might object to, there is nothing that would prevent a mature young reader from enjoying this book.  Adults as well will find the book humorous and fun.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Children

Publisher: Harcourt

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

A parade of pooches is preparing to pass by! In Dog Parade by Barbara Joosse, readers meet a host of spunky mutts who must climb into their costumes if they are to make it to the parade in time.

Language stars in this book with playful verbs and fun-for-the-ear word choices, like “La-dee-da” and “Diggity, dig, diggity.” Plenty of onomatopoeia also makes for pleasurable listening. The rhythms in the book build tension through abbreviated sentences, creating an atmosphere of “Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!”

Joosse provides each pet with a personality all its own, in keeping with its breed. From the somber Saint Bernhard to the jumpy Jack Russell, the dogs sport temperaments as unique as humans’. Readers encounter fun surprises at the page turns as they wait to see what costume each dog will wear, and will no doubt enjoy searching for their favorite breeds among those illustrated.

Gouache illustrations keep the animals looking realistic, yet playful, while zany fonts keep the text visually interesting.

A delightful book that grows on its audience with each reading. Even cat lovers will enjoy this one!

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Children

Publisher: Harcourt

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea by Tony Johnston relates a new folk legend (pardon the oxymoron) of an American inventor.

During the California Gold Rush, miners scurry to make their fortunes, but the rough lifestyle wears out their britches so fast, they must walk around in barrels. Enter Levi Strauss, who heads west as well. Having missed the gold rush, he figures he can do better selling the miners durable pants. But what to make them from? He decides to create pants from the canvas of his tent!

The language in this book is pure gold (excuse the pun), and besides telling a strong story, engages the senses as well. Written in a folksy style, Johnston incorporates touches of humor that will make readers smile. Illustrator Stacy Innerst lends visual comedy with naked men in barrels and toothless miners.

It’s important to note that this story, although based in a grain of fact, is largely a tall tale. (The author states as much in his endnote.) The book can be used to encourage young people to dig deeper into the facts of Levi Strauss. Teachers could easily share this book in a compare/contrast lesson of truth vs. fact. Or readers may simply pick it up in order to enjoy a good tall tale.

Truly original (and appropriate) illustrations consist of acrylics painted on denim. They provide a scratchy rugged feel to the western setting of the book and draw the eye with their textures.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Genre: Drama

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Olmedo

Austin and Mercy’s lives collide in the wake of September 11. Pain, anger, and regret threaten to wreck their lives. Austin Finley is a New York City cop haunted by the horrifying images of that day and the phone call he had ignored. Mercy Samara is the shrink who holds his job in her hands. When she deems him unfit for active duty, Austin resigns from the department, refusing to be trapped behind a desk.

Years later, Austin has built a new life for himself in Baltimore where he now works as an EMT. With the help of his new found faith in God, Austin has gathered the broken pieces of his life and released the hurt and hatred that held him back. While responding to a 911 call at a high school, his path intersects once more with Dr. Samara who works as a guidance counselor there. This time, the interest they feel toward the other is immediate as they embark on a somewhat unconventional relationship. While their reunion resurfaces old scars, their biggest challenge is her lack faith in his God. Despite their love for each other, this is one area neither one seems willing to compromise on.

From Ashes to Honor is a story of endurance and of rising from the ruins. Loree Lough delivers characters that are both flawed and loveable. Read the rest of this entry »

Genre: Chick lit

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date:  June 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Julia and Marissa have a friendship that has endured for years: through high school, college, first jobs, many relationships, and well into their established careers.  They need one another for support, love, and laughs.  However, after Julia suffers a severe head injury from being hit by a car, they grow apart.  The accident causes Julia’s personality to change, and she is no longer the supportive, loyal friend that Marissa knows.  Marissa, always second fiddle to Julia, must learn who she is and what’s important to her- including her friendship with Julia.

Told from Marissa’s point of view, The Art of Forgetting emphasizes the human part of a serious illness or injury.  There is grief, sadness, confusion, anger, and guilt.  Marissa is afraid to confront Julia about certain issues after years of resentment, but she learns from her other friends that she needs to be honest to Julia and to herself in order to save the friendship and her other relationships.  Once she decides who she is, she and Julia both are able to recover from the accident.  Not only does this book explore the real emotions friends and family feel when dealing with a serious condition, but it also makes us realize what we want out of life and how to get it.  We see ourselves from one angle, but thanks to the support of good friends, we are able to see ourselves as others see us, good or bad.  That’s why this book is so interesting- it encourages us to really analyze our own friendships.

The book is suitable for most readers.  There is premarital sex, but nothing racy.  There is one mention of the “f word;” otherwise, the profanity is limited.  What’s really nice is that Marissa and her friends decide to mentor young at-risk girls, so there is a lot showing women being positive role models.  Readers may even learn a thing or two about how to have good self-esteem.  This is a quick, easy read with many important messages, and it proves to entertain while teaching at the same time.  In short, this is a good beach read or a good book to read while in bed before falling asleep.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD   

Publication Date: March 2011

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren

It is bad times in the land.  There was a brawl in the Inn last night.  The Chronicler is in town, making wills and the like for the townsfolk.  He is also writing down the life story of the innkeeper, Kvothe.  When the tale begins, Kvothe is a student of the Arcana at the University.  He has a small circle of friends, and one major enemy.  He is not wealthy, so his knowledge is what he has to keep his tuition costs down.  Kvothe is of the Edema Ruh, a group that sounds much like the Gypsies of our world, and as tolerated in his as Gypsies used to be in Europe.  He is very bright, both in book learning and in street smarts, but not so learned in the ways of women.

Kvothe has many adventures in WISE MAN’S FEAR, both within the confines of the University and around the country.  He learns from every experience he has.  He learns the art of fighting from the Adem, a tribe of mercenaries.  They use something that sounds very much like Tai Chi as part of their training.  Anyone not of the Adem is considered to by them to be a barbarian; their reasons for this do make sense.  He learns the art of love from Fehlurian, a faerie no man can resist; he is the only man to leave the Faey and live.

I was a little hesitant to take on a 36-CD book; I listen on my way to work, in 20 minutes chunks, most of the time.  I thought I would lose track of the people, the story.  I thought I would get bored.  I was very wrong.  I found myself wondering what Kvothe was going to do next, how he was going to take whatever trouble he was into and turn it around for himself.  The performer (as he is described on the liner notes) is Nick Podehl; he is superb.  I had no difficulty in keeping the characters straight.  His accents were subtle and distinct. I will say that the Adem tend to sound Scandinavian – not unpleasant, just consistent.

After I finished listening to this, I went to the author’s website (www.patrickrothfuss.com) and discovered that WISE MAN’S FEAR is day 2 in the Kingkiller Chronicle, of which there are at least 3 days.  I ordered day 1, THE NAME OF THE WIND, also in audio CD form.  I am looking forward to learning how Kvothe got to the University, among other things.

Warning: Minimal language issues, minor violence, sexual references. 

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Children

Publisher: Harcourt

Publication Date: September 2011

Reviewed by Jaci Miller

Pirate lass Charlotte Jane the Hearty dreams big and plays hard. She squeezes the juice out of every day and she has no time in her swashbuckling schedule for bedtime! (“Bedtime is for landlubbers!”) Her parents inform her that no one can be hearty without rest, but Charlotte Jane persists. Then, when her “oomph” disappears after a sleepless night, Charlotte Jane realizes how important sleep is to a growing young pirate.

Charlotte Jane Battles Bedtime by Myra Wolfe plays upon the popular pirate trend while addressing typical childhood bedtime battles. Wolfe weaves the typical pirate-y lingo into the characters’ speech and includes fun words to roll around in readers’ mouths, e.g., “pomegranate,” “doubloon” and “swashbuckle.”

Bright, digitally-enhanced water color illustrations in a semi-geometrical style will instantly appeal to readers. The textures create added visual interest. As in many quality picture books, the illustrations add a second layer of interest to the story, in that Charlotte Jane lives in an actual house, but the house is arranged to look like a ship, complete with steering wheel. A companion teddy bear sporting an eye patch accompanies Charlotte Jane on her many adventures.

Wolfe chooses to make her main character a girl—a refreshing twist—and this young lady’s zest for life is infectious. Even though the book is about the need for sleep, energy fills its pages. A great book for the young.

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Genre: Mystery, Suspense

Publisher: Bay Forest

Publication Date: August 2011

Reviewed by Jake Chism

Bret and Sara Vreeland have always struggled to make ends meet. Fancy cars, luxurious homes, and exotic vacations were the stuff of dreams and never within their reach. Until now.

After one of Sara’s patients dies she discovers she is the heiress to his six million dollar fortune. While Bret and Sara always believed that God had blessed them with a beautiful family and the basic needs of life, they can’t help but think now that God has truly smiled upon them.  After all, doesn’t God always reward those who are faithful?

Unfortunately for the Vreeland’s, someone in the shadows is watching. Someone who wants nothing more than to bring them harm. As their adversary draws closer, they are brought face to face with the mysteries of their past and their world is turned upside down. Now they can’t help but wonder if their blessing is indeed a curse.

Eric Wilson’s eleventh novel is the perfect blend of his early Aramis Black novels and his recent film novelizations (Flywheel, Facing the Giants, and Fireproof). To both sides of his fan base Wilson offers up edgy mystery and suspense elements mixed with the relevant spiritual struggles of so many in our Christian culture. This is a modern retelling of the story of Job, and one that effectively challenges the “prosperity gospel” that runs rampant in Christian circles today.

I was hooked early on by how relatable the main characters are. Driving the old beater car, struggling with medical bills, wondering how you can afford to pay for your child’s sports team photo….most of us know exactly what that is like. One almost gets the feeling that Wilson is writing from experience, but surely that can’t be the case. It’s common knowledge that all writers are filthy rich.

Eric Wilson also treats us to one of the most unpleasant names in the history of villains: Magnus Maggart. And yes, this guy is as bad as he sounds. He brings a nice edge to the story with his twisted worldview and his unrelenting desire to wreck havoc. This is one baddie that won’t be easily forgotten.

One Step Away is the first in Eric Wilson’s By the Numbers series, and the perfect way to introduce long time fans and new readers alike to his new blend of storytelling styles. Never preachy, yet always profound and relevant, this is the kind of story that makes you ask the hard questions while you are flying through the pages.

What happens when God lets Satan test a family with a six million dollar blessing? There’s only one way to find out.

Don’t miss our podcast interview with the author here. 

Review copy provided by publisher. 

NY Times Bestselling Author Eric Wilson joins us to talk about his new book, One Step Away.

Read our review of One Step Away here.

About Eric:

In college, Eric took journalism courses and served as contributing editor for the newspaper. He also published travel and educational nonfiction pieces in periodicals during the early ’90s, but his first novel wasn’t published till 2004. Since that time, he has published nine additional titles.

Eric accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior in 1971. In the following years, he traveled with his parents in Eastern Europe, smuggling Bibles during the time of the Iron Curtain. Back in the States, Eric attended a Christian high school and did youth group missions trips. After graduation, Eric worked with Operation Mobilisation and YWAM in Europe and China, where he again served the Suffering Church. When his parents divorced after twenty years of marriage, however, it challenged Eric to know what he truly believed and to cling to God more than ever. Back in the US, he completed four years at a Bible college and worked as a youth pastor for five years.

Both Eric and Carolyn have a heart for the destitute, abused, and depressed. They hope to serve again on the mission field in the years to come, while still writing and using the talents God has given.

This interview can be downloaded via iTunes or streamed below.

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