Editorial Reviews for Nominees
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 Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
Author Jaybie D, the award-winning author of Haunted House Day and Night, returns with another spirited and inspired children's book in Donkey Dell! Donkey Dell follows the titular donkey as he goes from being a rather carefree, lackadaisical, irresponsible, and immature little donkey to discovering the power of friendship, relationships, love, and responsibility. From the very first page, Donkey Dell is immediately a captivating character. Based on the author's dad, this rambunctious donkey is charming in all his flaws and imperfections. His nonchalant, I'll-do-what-I-want-when-I-want attitude is something that a lot of us perfectionists and overachievers wish we had—the ability to not care so much that it drives you mad. At the same time, Donkey Dell has a lot of room for learning and growth. One of the motifs of this book is Donkey Dell's earlier desire not to want to help in carrying bags. This reflects his level of immaturity, self-centeredness, and apparent laziness. However, he gradually grows out of this and steps up to the plate when the situation (and his character arc) calls for it. It could be argued that his growth and development as a character is the heart and soul of the book. Donkey Dell is a character who will put smiles on the faces of kids and adults alike. Kids will love him because he's a cute animal character who often does silly and goofy things including driving an airplane at one point! Adults will love him because they will be able to relate to his desire to be free of responsibility, travel, adventure, and to do his own thing (and on his own terms). They'll also relate to the fact that, despite all of these characteristics, he still pulls up his figurative pants and ultimately gets things done, the same way that parents have to in order to provide for their children. Outside of Donkey Dell himself, there's also Jane the mouse who helps to teach Donkey Dell out to break out of his hard outer shell and form attachments, relationships, and friendships. He ultimately uses this to join a circus and become one of its star attractions! Now, while this seems a bit random and out of nowhere, it does effectively set the stage for the climax in which Donkey Dell must overcome his less savory character traits in order to save the circus and his friends. It has to be said that the illustrations really vary in quality. Some illustrations at the beginning and the end look outstanding! Even looking past the file compression clearly affecting the visual quality, the illustrations there look great! However, the illustrations in the middle portion fluctuate in both style and quality. There are times when it looks like some drag-and-drop/cut-and-paste stock art were included, similar to in Haunted House Day and Night. It definitely isn't as egregious in that regard as Haunted house Day and Night. Something else that is notable is the text. Similar to the author's last book, the text is extremely stylized, often fluctuating in font and size. It almost reminds us of some of the tricks that we tried to do in the early 2000s with PowerPoints. You know, like when you give the fonts a boarder or make them look curved or wonky to stand out? There are times when we were torn about how to feel about it. On one hand, it adds some pizzazz to the book. On the other hand, it seems a bit tacky. Again, think back to those early 2000s PowerPoints. For example, there are pages like page 12 that feature fantastic art in the background, but there's a big, bold, somewhat-tacky line of text shown above it. It's kinda like if you had the Mona Lisa but you wrote the label over it in Comic Sans font. There's a real clash in styles and presentation there. One is classical, the other is comical. However, this book excels where it needs to. Donkey Dell is a really fun, cute, and compelling character who is presented in an appealing and charming way! Check it out on Amazon!
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 Score: 91+/100 (9.1+ out of 10)
Eye of God is a fascinating, controversial, and thought-provoking book by Aeternus Costin. It takes both a skeptical and conscientious glimpse at the scientific, religious, theological, and philosophical arguments for and against the existence of God (or a god). Now, this book is sure to raise some questions as well as some eyebrows. It might even raise some fists. Not everyone is going to agree with some of the statements, arguments, and conclusions drawn herein. However, we live in a country in which freedom of speech, thought, and opinions are not just allowed but celebrated. The same with healthy debate and discussion. This book centers heavily on a statement made by the late great physicist, Stephen Hawking: “Because there is a law such as Gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist.... It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.” (This statement was written in Hawking's book titled The Grand Design) The author draws the bold conclusion that Hawking made an oversight in making this statement: that gravity doesn't disprove the existence of god, but that gravity is god himself. Don't shoot the messenger, ok? We're just reporting what the book says. Let us do our best to explain what the author is trying to say. Phew... here it goes... In 1983, Stephen Hawking and James Hartle co-authored a work titled “Wave Function of the Universe.” In this work, Hawking and Hartle concluded that time did not exist prior to the Big Bang and that all the known universe originated from a singularity (an area of infinite density and gravity) like the center of a black hole. Furthermore, we have religious, theological, and philosophical descriptions of God like him being a mysterious force that is all-powerful (omnipotent), omnipresent, and eternal. The author then looks at gravity and concludes that it fits all of these criteria. It's actually a very interesting assertion and argument, albeit a pretty strange one. However, consider this: of all the powers and fundamental forces in the universe—gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear, and weak nuclear—gravity is the one that outlasts the rest. It is the only force that always, eventually, wins. Event the nuclear forces fail against gravity eventually, as what happens during the end of a star's life. Gravity is also the only force that doesn't involve particles, as the author so eloquently explains. Lastly, if we're taking Hawking's earlier claims at face value, gravity was also there in the beginning before time as we knew it began—before any of the other forces came into being. It is also always acting and, thus, is omnipresent. So, according to the author, gravity doesn't invalidate the argument of God's existence, it is—in a sense—the actual God. The author further argues that a lot of the other problems with the existence of God, like the fear of judgment/hell, divine wrath, and the problem of evil, become inconsequential when coming to the realization that God isn't a conscious person but a cold, dark, invisible, mysterious force. Well, we found ourselves thoroughly amused! Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 90/100 (9.0 out of 10)
A Dance Between Light and Darkness is the magical, spellbinding sequel to M.C. Ryder's previous romantic fantasy novel, The Darkest Side of the Moon! A Dance Between Light and Darkness picks up right where the previous book left off, benefiting from characters and plot-threads that were already well-established. Although the author may disagree, we don't feel that this is a pick-up-and-go, standalone book. You HAVE to read the previous book. We highly recommend it. Otherwise, you're probably going to find yourself lost, wondering who is who and what is what. This book is actually more complex, complicated, and convoluted than the last one, which can actually be to its detriment and its benefit. As far as this being a positive thing, the last book, quite frankly, was rather cliché and predictable as a Twilight-inspired werewolf-vampire romance novel. Like we said in the review of that book, if you've read one, you've pretty much read them all. This book on the other hand builds on the events of the last book, especially its violent, tragic, and chaotic ending. Characters like Vince, Camille, Lamont, Cameron, Leo the cat, Kumal, and Max/Maximilian are thrown at you again, and if you don't know who they are or what their deal is, you're going to be lost. People like Nadine, Vladimir, and Marc who are sidelined (in a matter of speaking) are also frequently mentioned and still have a impact on the characters and the plot. You need to be caught up and up to speed on the lore, especially as it pertains to Maximilian, one of the central antagonists and villains of the novel (and series). If you don't know who he is or why he's a big deal, you're going to be wondering why it's such a big deal for them to find the other half of the wand and stop him. If you must know, Maximilian (or “Max” as he's frequently called in this book) is pretty much the Sephiroth or Ganondorf of the lore. It was because of him and the problems that he created that witches were forced to come to an agreement that split them being light magic and dark magic, attempting to ensure that no one could become so powerful and disrupt the delicate balance of magic again. Of course, you had guys like Vladimir and Immilla's dad who took that agreement and pretty much wiped their fannies with it, but for the most part that separation was respected. Through a very complicated (perhaps overly so) set of circumstances, wolves and vampires became at odds with one another, likely due to the blood feud between Vladimir and Gabriel, the first vampire and the first wolf/werewolf. Or something like that... it's a lot to take in, ok? Even the characters admit that. Anyway, the ending of the last book... [INSERT SPOILER WARNING HERE] Saw vampires and werewolves set aside their differences and unite behind the prophesied one, Nadine/Nadia, to stop Vladimir. Let's just say that a lot of people died on both sides, kinda leveling the playing field and restoring balance in a sense. And it's pretty much here that we start this second book. Well, sorta. This book starts off with the turning and introduction of a new protagonist: Melia. A lot of how you feel about this book is going to depend on how you connect with and view Melia. We hate to admit this, but she's a notable step down from Nadine/Nadia in terms of being a protagonist. Yes, Nadine/Nadia got on our nerves from time to time. She made dumb decisions like making Lamont forgive Caden and being rude and dismissive of Vince, but Nadine was still THE MAN. Ok, well, she was technically “THE WOMAN.” She was a strong, powerful, capable, bad ass female who stood up for the weak and vulnerable. She was essentially a female power fantasy akin to Alice from the Resident Evil movies or Beatrix from Kill Bill. Melia, on the other hand, is just not that. She's more like a blank slate, perhaps allowing the reader to put themselves in the character's shoes to explore what it must be like to be a newly-turned vampire, being scared, confused, vulnerable, trying to maintain a semblance of humanity while being a monster dependent on blood. Here's what we mean in comparing the two characters... There are passages like: “She was powerless” “She looked so small. So fragile. So vulnerable. The complete opposite of Nadine.” “If Nadine was here, she would face fire head on. Walk through it even. She was fearless. Melia was fearful.” This actually isn't 100% a bad thing. You don't want a Mary Sue. You don't want a perfect character who can't be hurt, can't be killed, can't be outsmarted, and can do no wrong. Ideally, you want a character you can relate to. You want a character with flaws and weaknesses. You want a character who can fail. Why? Well, because it creates more tension. What's the point of following a character's journey if you know their journey is always going to be easy, effortless, and that they're going to get everything they want in the end? No one wants to see someone be given something they haven't earned. We want to see the hero/heroine have ups and downs. We want to see them struggle. We want to see them overcome the odds. That's why characters like Rocky are so beloved. Now, there was a time when Nadine was this kind of character. In the first third of The Darkest Side of the Moon, Nadine was just a normal human, bullied and vulnerable. She worked at the bank. She went to school. She wasn't extraordinary. However, things really changed when she became Nadia. On the other hand, Melia remains this kind of character for the most part: vulnerable, unsure of herself, confused, fearful, and mostly average. In fact, even as a vampire, she seems to be a mostly-average vampire. There's not really much extraordinary about her, and that can be a good thing for the reasons described above. Thankfully, Vince is back to balance things out. Vince is still strong, capable, fast, but a bit of a goofball. Best of all, he is familiar to us. Vince was (and is) a favorite character of many readers, and his presence helps to add continuity to this series while we're having characters like Niles, Tommy, and Cecilia popping up out of the woodwork to make this already-complicated book even more complicated than it needs to be. Now, going back to Melia for a minute... Melia does have some wrinkles to her character that make her interesting. Firstly, her parents are fanatically hyper-religious. So, her vampirism and magic put her at increased and perpetual risk of ostracism, being kicked out, and even being persecuted. She can't even wear the clothes she wants to wear or braid her hair a certain way. This helps to make her relatable. Everyone knows what it's like to feel controlled—to feel the desire to rebel and break free. If there's one thing that substantially sets this book apart from the last one, it's that this book is far superior in terms of writing quality. It's a noticeable and HUGE improvement. You can really tell that Ryder's writing skills improved over time, and we're hoping that's reflected in book three as well. First of all, the author thankfully and mercifully got away from the second-person perspective that plagued the previous book. Hallelujah! This book is written in third-person, which is so much easier and more pleasant to read. Rather than the reader feeling like they're forced to feel, see, or act a certain way (while in the direct shoes of the character), the reader can now make their own interpretations and choices. There are also far less errors, showing that either the author improved as a writer and/or did additional proofreading, editing, and/or rewriting. That doesn't mean that there are no errors. Here are a few: “He watched, memorized” should probably be “He watched, mesmerized.” “She stared at herself in a trans-like state“ is probably supposed to be “She stared at herself in a trance-like state.” “He stared at her with conflict” should probably be “He stared at her, conflicted.” (By the way, there are far too many mentions of people staring at other people or themselves) “He had that same feeling with Kumal when he smelled the overpower aroma of fish” should be “He had that same feeling with Kumal when he smelled the overpowering aroma of fish.” “...out of jealously” should probably be “out of jealousy.” “To be taught one thing that wasn’t necessary right” should be “To be taught one thing that wasn’t necessarily right.” “His blue eyes studied her. She tore hers away with self-conscious” should be “His blue eyes studied her. She tore hers away with self-consciousness” or "His blue eyes studied her. Self-conscious, she tore hers away” or “His blue eyes studied her. She tore hers away, self-conscious.” Ok, this is probably half as many errors as the previous book. Also, to be honest, it's kinda funny. It actually added to the entertainment factor of the book, believe it or not. We know the author is still growing, developing, and improving. We commend them for that. So, while the writing in the previous book was maybe at the level of a high school junior, this book is about at the level of a freshman or sophomore in college. We've read a lot worse. One last thing that needs to be noted is that this book is still a romance, and Vince (a character we all loved from the last book) finally gets to have someone who can fill the huge hole and void that was unfairly and tragically left in his heart. However, this came with its own set of problems. For example, there's a line that states: “His love for Melia was much stronger than his love for Nadine. He realized it when Melia talked about destiny. He had wanted a future with Nadine, but it was not their fate.” This really bothered us, and it will probably bother shippers of Vince and Nadine because it kinda cheapens their relationship in the previous book. It would have been far better if the author had said that Vince loved Nadine, but in a different way. To say that he outright loves Melia more is almost sacrilegious if you're big on the Vince-Nadine pairing. That would be like if Cloud told Tifa one day “I never really loved Aerith, I only ever loved you” or if Bella told Edward “Jacob is no one now, he means nothing to me.” That's like a dagger to the back and hearts of fans of these pairings, don't you think? There's also a quote about Marc having been Nadine's “soul mate.” And, yes, there is a big reveal about Nadine and Vince that puts the final nail in the coffin as far as that shipping goes. The case against the Nadine-Vince pairing just piles on and on. Anyway, this book is ultimately a much-improved sequel. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 90/100 (9.0 out of 10)
A Skeleton in Bone Creek by Baer Charlton is a detective mystery & crime drama following special agent Nash “Running Bear” of the FBI's Special Investigations in Special Operations division, a fiery military veteran (US Marine) of Native-American descent. In this specific book, the first in the series, Nash finds herself entangled in a case that grows from the discovery of a single skeleton submerged in a limewater pool (the titular Bone Creek). This mystery then snowballs into a possible serial-homicidal/serial-killer investigation as skeletons are similarly found in various locations—dozens of them—many showing signs of being victims of the same perpetrator(s) including missing parts and potentially having been moved. Adding to the depth of the mystery is the unique stage of decay /preservation that the skeletons are found in due to the conditions of the water including temperature, alkalinity, and the presence of lime that apparently helps to replace the degraded calcium of the original remains similar to a fossil. Furthermore, many of the skeletons are found to be military service men/woman and/or of Native American descent, making this a particularly personal mission for Nash.' Nash is joined on her investigative quest by her wife, Mina, the talkative Cindy Lou Brady of the sketchy Harkin County Sheriff's Department; the wise uncle simply known as “Uncle” and his sniffer dog, Powder. She receives further help and tips from various people with various skills and experiences along the way from law enforcement to photographers to environmentalists and even epidemiologists. Oh, yeah, and Tom Brady is in this, or at least someone with the same name and pretty much the exact same background. That had to have been one of the many inside jokes that the reader may or may not get. This book attempts to provide representation of both Native Americans and military veterans. Ironically, the latter was the topic of the book we'd read just before this, Hiring Veterans by Matthew Louis. Come to think of it, Harry Taylor from Deadly Game by Michael Caine—another book we read this season—also featured a hardened military veteran who turned to law enforcement to continue their fight for good. So, how does Nash the Running Bear size up against a comparable character like Harry Taylor. On one hand, you could say that Nash is a bit more down to earth. Well, except for the apparent ESP/Native-American-magic-prophetic-vision-powers she kinda has. But there's something that didn't quite sit right about Nash or a lot of the characters. She kinda seems... forced or contrived. It's almost as if the author wrote her to be this uber-woman. No, not “Uber” like the rideshare company, uber as in OP (overpowered). She really does come across like a Mary Sue at times. She just inexplicably knows things. She always seems to be at just the right place at the right time to find just the right hint or clue. The other thing that's a bit unsettling or off about Mary, the other characters, and this book in general is that it can't seem to decide on a tone. These are very serious topics/subject matters. We're dealing with profound tragedy, death, homicide, violent murders, families left without answers, families torn apart, people robbed of their future, dignity, and lives; bodies mutilated, human remains desecrated, etc. That's some deep, nasty, disturbing, and sad stuff! And yet... this book seems so... comedic and funny. Should it be? We already mentioned the Tom Brady inside-joke. Well, there's a bit more comedic relief in here like that. In fact, this book almost seems childlike and playful. Look at the style of the font. Pay attention to the way the characters joke, tease each other, and react in such animated, cartoonish ways (like screwing up their faces or furling their lips/mouths). It's kinda bizarre how little that fits the circumstances that the characters are in. We're not saying that ever y moment of a story needs to be super-dire and super-serious, but you'd expect there to be some consistency. There's a part of us that kinda thinks this is an unintentional comedy. Take this character introduction for example: “Mandy, this is Uncle. Not your uncle or my uncle or anyone’s uncle—just everyone’s uncle. You might say he’s kind of slutty in an uncle sort of way.” Yeah, that's kinda funny, but should we really be laughing? The body-count rises exponentially while the characters are having lighthearted, playful banter like this. First there's one body, then there's two bodies, then there's 17 bodies plus one unidentified, then all of a sudden there are 48 bodies! Ok, they're skeletons not full bodies, but the point remains—they're... remains. See, we can make somewhat inappropriate puns too. Then, there's this somewhat awkward, seemingly forced relationship between Nash and Mina. We commend the LGBTQA+ representation to an extent. However, Mina just pops out of the page as Nash's wife like it's supposed to be some kind of virtue signaling “gotcha” surprise in the opening pages. It kinda reminded us of that awkward scene in Doctor Who when the reptile alien lady (Vastra) just shows up, introduces herself, and just bluntly introduces the human behind her, saying, “And THIS is my wife...” It just seemed so... manufactured and unearned. It didn't help like that woman (Jenny in Doctor Who and Mina in this book) just seemed more like a sidekick, afterthought, or even a bit of a pet. It was the same kinda feeling. It just didn't feel right. It doesn't help that the characters keep calling themselves things like “Mama” and “Secret Squirrel” which you'd think would come across as cute (people who love each other do make nicknames/pet names for each other), but—again—it doesn't fit the tone of the other things going on in the book. This is more like baby talk. Things like this make it challenging to take these very serious and very dark subject matters seriously. Again, we should not be laughing. We should be smiling. We should not be thinking “aww, how cute” or “aww, how sweet.” We should be going, “OMG! Look at the boooooones!!! Those poor people!” or “We need to stop the culprit before they kill again! It's life or death!” That seems lost in the midst of all the jokes, humor, and baby talk. Like, maybe since this was the first book in the series, the narrative probably should've built up their relationship, developing it until it led to marriage. Maybe have Mina meet Nash and cheer her up or comfort her when she's having war flashbacks or something. Maybe let them go to dinner or have a few encounters first, don't just introduce them as an item—especially a married item—within the first few pages of the very first book in the series. That just seems so unearned. Like, neither the characters or the reader had to work for it. Imagine if in Rocky, Adrian and Rocky were already together at the start of the movie, in the very first movie of the series. Wouldn't that seem a bit off? A bit rushed? A bit unearned? That robs the impact of the closing scene of Rocky because so much of their relationship would've happened off-screen. It's the same here. Then there's Cindy, who is irritating and seems to waste a lot of page time chatting. In fact, a lot of this book just seems a bit too chatty. Yes, dialogue is a great literary tool, but it often seems like these characters meander. They outstay and overstay their welcome. They just keep talking and talking and talking. Meanwhile, the plot meanders. It seems to be stuck in a rut for the middle portion, and there was a part of us that just wanted us to move on from this conversation or that conversation—to just get back to moving the plot along. Again, this is a book about freakin' skeletons of freakin' dead, innocent victims being discovered with a likely culprit still at large! Yet, the feeling we get isn't serious, pressing, or urgent. It's so relaxed, so light, so... nonchalant. There's also Powder, the dog, who is cute and all, but who really seems superfluous. This might really be a case of a very incredible author having an amazing concept/idea, but just trying to accomplish too much at once. There was no reason this first book in the series needed to be so bloated. There's putting your best foot forward, then there's throwing everything but the kitchen sink into one basket that's already full of eggs. It's kinda overwhelming. Now, with all that said, this is still a solid or good book. Again, the premise is phenomenal. It's inspired. It's meaningful and deep. There are also incredible “aha” moments like when it's discovered that there's something wrong with the pelvis of one of the skeletons or that the injury to one of the skeleton's arms seems to suggest they were once a baseball player. There's also a moment of misidentification—either due to negligence or intentional tampering. There's also representation of (and discussions of) Native Americans and an LGBTQA+ couple in this book, which can be a positive. All of our constructive criticisms of this are just that: constructive criticisms. This doesn't disparage the incredible person who is Baer Charlton, whose humorous and adventurous personality may have overshadowed the content of the book itself. This is someone who has spent time with big, exciting, and sometimes even dangerous animals for much of his life—a real adventurer! Charlton might just be someone who is incapable of writing a simple, straight-forward, linear story due to these big, grand, epic experiences. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 88/100 (8.8 out of 10)
Once upon a time there were two kinds of magic: dark magic and light magic. After a violent struggle with a powerful sorcerer named Maximilian, witches were obligated to divide themselves between one of these types of magic or the other. They were never allowed to overlap for fear of breaking the truce and, worst of all, disturbing the delicate balance between the light and dark, creating another monster like Maximilian. A particular witch named Immilla pledged herself to dark magic and became especially powerful in it. She was also keen enough to discover that her father, a member of the council of witches, was siphoning the powers of other dark witches to empower himself. This enraged and concerned her father so much that he cast a spell on her to fall in love with a mortal named Vladimir. Vladimir was wounded by a wolf and healed with the power of Immilla's blood and subsequently turned into an immortal creature by her father as part of his manipulative ploy. Through the power of her blood magic, Immilla was able to discover the truth about her father's manipulation and also that Vladimir himself had been responsible for the death of the wolf's mate. All of this resulted in Vladimir, a former mortal turned monster. He continued the malicious, malevolent will of Immilla's father and had become both bloodthirsty and power hungry in his own right. A prophecy emerges in the midst of this: “For I saw Vladimir’s other path written clearly in the stars on the night sky. He would meet his doom and burn at the hands of the one marked by the Dragon’s Eye.” Now, if that sounds both very awesome and very convoluted, it is! And as cool, epic, and incredible as that backstory is, it is actually a huge tonal juxtaposition to how this book actually reads and how information is presented. This is really a tale of two very different books: 1. The first half which is more like a teenage/high school drama and 2. The second half, which is more like a power fantasy. If you love Twilight and other books blending romance and fantasy with vampires and werewolves, you may enjoy this book! The Darkest Side of the Moon M.C. Ryder puts you in the shoes of Nadine/Nadia Drexel, seemingly an average high school student who works an unfulfilling and dissatisfying job at a bank. At school, she is frequently a target of the school bully, Greg. And at work, she is frequently micromanaged and written-up for the slightest of errors, such as being a few cents short on her till. Thankfully, she has a good friend named Camille, a somewhat awkward girl who despises healthy foods, to whom she can confide. Their lives are shaken up when an attractive new student, Vinsent Weber (often just called “Vince”), enters the school. It can't be that much of a spoiler to say that Vince is pretty much the Edward Cullen of this book, for better or for worse. He mostly fills the same archetype. You kinda have to know this to progress with and understand the rest of this book because otherwise it comes across like you're watching Bring It On, American Pie, or Not Another Teen Movie. At its core, this is really a romantic fantasy novel, not another teen novel. Vince gains the eye of many girls throughout the school including Camille, but he seems especially drawn to Nadine, whom—as you may have guessed (with her being the main protagonist and all)—has a special destiny linked to the aforementioned prophecy. This really isn't rocket science or a spoiler for anyone who has read a fantasy novel with a prophecy in it. Some of the early interactions between Vince and Nadine range from awkward and creepy to cute and even funny. One especially funny interaction is when Vince tries to use his power of suggestion, which is similar to a Jedi mind trick or that flashing thing from Men in Black, to get Nadine to forget the unsavory aspects and information from their interactions. However, he accidentally spills the beans that his mind trick doesn't work so well when the target has consumed asparagus. So what does Nadine do? She loads up on and over consumes asparagus in an attempt to circumvent Vince's power! This demonstrates both Nadine's cleverness and her stubbornness. She is never one to just go with the flow and to just let things happen, even when they seem to be in everyone's best interest. This also shows that Vince isn't some clairvoyant or infallible being who doesn't make mistakes. He can actually be a clumsy klutz and slips up from time to time, showing that he still has a human side to him. Now, the second half of this book is far different than the first. We want to emphasize that it's almost a 180-degree turn—like night and day. While the first half of the book was rather light, drab, simple, and strangely... “normal”... (well, aside from the appearance of a knife and a vampire or two), the second half is action-packed, violent, and pretty epic in scope. The second half of the book also heavily features new relationships for Nadine/Nadia, chief of which is her relationship with Marc, who is pretty much the Jacob Black of this novel. The relationship that Nadia has with Marc is arguably even more intense and intimate than her relationship with Vince. In fact, you could even argue they have better chemistry—at least from a physical or sensual standpoint. Camille actually takes a backseat during the second half of the book, almost becoming an afterthought. That's a little unfortunate because we really empathized with her, perhaps more so than some of the other characters who get introduced to us. She gets almost completely supplanted in her tritagonist role by Marc, and at one point we're even coaxed by the narration to consider her to be akin to an antagonist or even villain, a sort of backstabber or traitor. It's a bit unfortunate because it really did seem like Camille was a charming Samwise Gamgee-type character. Speaking of other characters, Nadia also encounters and starts working with the werewolves of the novel led by Lamont and joined by Caden and Cameron. That's a whole other can of worms, but in summary: the werewolves still share a blood feud with the vampires, causing added tension between the characters and their fragile alliances. Lamont will do anything and everything to protect his pack and keep them together. Meanwhile, a secondary antagonist emerges in the form of the wolf Caden, a Starscream-like character who seems to want to supplant Lamont as leader and rid the group of all vampire influence including Nadia. Caden is such a huge pain in the butt! He fights with both Cameron and Lamont while constantly threatening Nadia, Marc, and Vince. Just kill him or let him die already! He's not the kind of guy you want to keep around. Just cut the cancer out already. It's weird too because Nadia stands up for him and protects him from Lamont's wrath and judgment at one point even when he's completely ungrateful and still threatens to act out in the future. The villains of this book also range in quality and influence. There are minor annoyances like Greg and Caden, and then there are big-bads like Jomar and Vladimir. Jomar could probably be considered Nadia's arch-nemesis or most direct adversary in this book. He's the one with whom Nadia shares the most personal and direct animosity with similar to Cloud and Sephiroth (as opposed to Cloud and Jenova). Jomar is pretty much the leading, imposing, needlessly-brutal and sadistic creep of the enemies. He's like every character Peter Stormare or Michael Ironside ever played. The last thing we'll say about the characters is that Nadine does become Nadia in the course of this book, and it is jarring! While Nadine could be tough and strong-willed, she wasn't the kill-crazy, bloodthirsty, and often mean character that Nadia is. She keeps saying (or thinking about) how much she wants to hurt and kill people, to spill their blood. Whether they deserve it or not, she definitely becomes a much darker character as Nadia. Nadia also treats Vince noticeably worse than she did when she was Nadine, such as when she is ungrateful when he helps her, rolls her eyes at him, and ignores him. At least a part of Nadine is still alive in there such as when she chooses to spare Caden or when Vince still recognizes that she's a person who stands up for people in need. It's a very colorful cast of characters! And the premise is pretty good, though comparable to something like Twilight. Now, this book has some huge, glaring weaknesses that we couldn't overlook. First of all, it's written in second-person and present-tense. That might sound unique and cool, but it can be jarring to the grand majority of readers who are accustomed to reading in first-person or third-person. It's hard to explain how bothersome this perspective can be, especially in the first hundred or so pages when you're trying to adapt and get used to it. Maybe we should try to describe second-person to you in simple terms: it's when YOU are the character or are taking their immediate perspective. You are told what you're seeing, what you're feeling, and what you're doing as the character. This is going to sound strange, but it's almost like being directed and led. It's like someone forcing you to feel a certain way or do a certain thing. It's kinda... uncomfortable and oppressive. This might work in one of those create-your-own-adventure novels in which you can make your own choices as the character (like flip to page 18 to date Andy, flip to page 43 to punch Nate), but it doesn't work very well in this context. Here are some examples of how the second-person perspective seems uncomfortable and oppressive: “...you are happy for her.” Wait a minute! What if I don't want to be happy for her? What if the characters are making a mistake by allowing this troublesome dad back in the home or I really disagree with the direction this is going? Why am I being forced to be happy when I'm not? “It was one of your pet-peeves” Since when?! Why am I, the reader, being told I have a pet-peeve that I don't have? “It’s hard to admit but you didn’t really doubt him in the first place.” Wait a minute! What if I did doubt him and had reason to doubt him? Why am I being told as a reader that I can't feel the feelings I felt? Why am I being forced to trust this guy's word when I don't want to? Why is the author telling me to feel a feeling that I don't feel? Where is my autonomy as a reader to interpret and decide? Another frustrating aspect of the second-person perspective is that not only does it take away your autonomy as a reader, it also leaves you in the dark about who the heck you are or what character you're supposed to be. Like, we had to get pretty deep into this book to finally figure out: “YOU” are Nadine, later known as Nadia, a 5'6” brown-haired, hazel-eyed high school student who went fishing with your dad, likes Camille, hates your job at the bank, and hates Greg (for good reasons). In the meantime, before you put that all together, you might find yourself unmoored, ungrounded, disoriented, and lost, which is ironic because the plot itself is really not that different a so many other fantasy-romance novels. It's just extra challenging because of this perspective and the way information is presented. It's like being in one of those old first-person shooter games in which you're shooting at enemies you don't know while in a body you're unfamiliar with and being a person you don't know. The last thing we'll say about the second-person perspective is that it kinda reads like a cross between instructions from a D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) dungeon master and discovering clues in a survival-horror game. You know? Like, “You find a red ruby gem. You place it on an altar. You feel tingly.” That might sound cool in concept, but it kinda comes across as unintentionally funny and silly. This book has one other huge weakness: aside from the writing (as we mentioned), the editing leaves a lot to be desired. There are so many typos and grammatical errors in this novel. It really could've used an edit, another round of proofreading, and a rewrite (preferably in first or third person). However, you could argue that this created some unintentionally hilarious passages, which arguably added to the entertainment factor of the book. Here are a few: “You should get to class before you’re late. I’ve got to take care of my massacre.” (“Massacre” is used instead of “mascara”) “...snail's pass” should be “snail's pace." “Do not oversight my hesitation as weakness” should be “do not mistake my hesitation for weakness” “...and approach with cautious” should be “approached with caution” “...not going down without a fighting chance” should be “...not going down without a fight.” “You had forgotten all about him but that same creepy feeling resurfaces in his presences” (“Presence” is plural for some reason) “How many lives had been tortured?” (Lives can't be tortured because lives aren't entities unto themselves and thus can't experience pain. People with lives can be tortured, so can demons, vampires, werewolves, or animals if they have... lives) “...for the meantime” should be “in the meantime.” “...never give up on hope” should be “never give up hope” “They are inferior of your power” should be “They are inferior to your power” “...dominate and powerful” should be “dominant and powerful” The passage that reads “We must all come together if we are to accomplish our shared undertaking. A common goal. One that requires us to work together which we shall” is unintentionally hilarious because it's superfluous, wordy, and redundant. The narrator is basically stating the exact same thing three separate times in three separate ways. You could argue that it's for emphasis, but you could argue that the author was probably buying time and filling space while they were thinking of what to write next. That kinda passage usually doesn't make it through many rounds of edits. There are also some strange, bizarre, and unintentionally funny issues in this book that disrupt the pacing and flow. For example, there's a dining room scene in which Nadine is trying to rally the protagonists to put their differences aside and join together to fight evil. Then, seemingly five minutes later, two of the characters find themselves in a dungeon with one of them being tortured to death and characters whom we hadn't seen in seeming ages (and whom we'd forgotten were even in the book) suddenly there and relevant all of a sudden. It's arguably a powerful and important scene, but its sandwiched in a very strange place with very little build or explanation for how we got all the way from a dining room table to there. Another example is when Nadia is just frolicking along with her new companion, Cameron (the runt of the wolves), and they suddenly witness—and we're not making this up—some random boys randomly tying up a random girl, randomly accusing her of being a witch and randomly wanting to burn her alive. It's just so random! Like, we get that the exposition earlier in the book explained that witches were burned at the stake in the past due to Immilla's dad and stuff, but this just seemed so out of place and out of left field given that this book appeared to be heading a completely different direction. So, this scene just seemed so out of place and unneeded. It's also weird that Nadia basically lets these boys off easy after they just showed homicidal, sadistic, and sociopathic tendencies in having just tried to burn an innocent person to death! Like, if you just watched Ted Bundy kill someone, then apprehended him, would you then turn him loose and say, “You be good from now on!” Like, there's grace and mercy, and there's pure stupidity and a lack of common sense. And then, not ten minutes later, we suddenly find out that 16 of the wolves have been captured by another villain named Bryce, they're starving and near death and we have to save them! Where did this all come from? It's like the author wanted to write like 15 different short stories but they all needed to be in one narrative. This kind of side-questing is cool for video games and D&D, but it doesn't really work when you're trying to tell a clear and coherent story. However, this book does have its bright spots outside of the colorful characters. There are passages like: “The dagger words” “He’s beautifully broken but still strong. Sometimes when you have nothing else left, strong is all you have.” While a work-in-progress in terms of writing, this book features a complex & compelling lore, some great romantic pairings, as well as one of the best characters of the contest: Nadine Drexel. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 96/100 (9.6 out of 10)
We're all going to die. It's a harsh truth. It's a harsh reality. However, it's the truth. Death is as inevitable as rain and taxes. Everyone gets to die, at least once. Despite that fact, death is also not something that most of us concern ourselves with on a daily basis. Most of us live like we'll always be alive, like we're always going to wake up the next day and that the sun will always rise to greet us. Now, there's a certain positivity and an optimism to that, but there's also a blindness it creates, either willingly or unwillingly. It creates a sense of entitlement that can eventually lead to discontentedness and carelessness. When we go through life thinking that we'll always have our lives and everything in them, it's a lot easier to take those things for granted. We forget that all of that can be taken away at the drop of a hat. We neglect to plan for the worst (or plan at all). It's like going into a huge business decision without doing a SWAT analysis. It's like making a huge purchase without insurance. It's like going into a big battle without a battle plan. Are You Ready? by Dr. Kimberly Harms is a book that concerns the reality that we will die someday and that what we leave behind for our family, friends, loved ones, and the rest of the world all matters—our legacy (or legacies). Have you walked past or through a cemetery lately? It's sobering to think that every single one of those graves represents someone who lived a life and died. Every single one of those headstones represents someone who left things and people behind when they died. And some of the most important things the dead leave behind are their legacies. What is a legacy? Well, after reading this book, we might describe a legacy as being an impact that you had or something that you are know for or made a difference in. Gandhi's legacy, for example, is the sovereignty of India from a colonial power. Lincoln's legacy includes the freeing of the slaves and the saving of the Union. Steve Jobs's legacy includes the existence of Apple and advancements in computers, software, and other technologies. Jesus' legacy includes the founding of the world's largest organized religion and, from a spiritual sense, the freeing of humanity from the chains of sin. Not all legacies are good or beneficial like those of murderers and genocidal tyrants. Just think: what kind of legacy are you leaving behind to humanity and to future generations? Harms herself was born into extreme disadvantage with a mother who struggled with severe mental illness, being institutionalized and taking her own life when Harms was just 17. She was also born with several disabilities including only having seven fingers and having severe spinal abnormalities, all of this due to her mother taking a medication (thalidomide) that was later found to cause birth defects. One of the best quotes from this section of the book is “Mental illness does not disqualify you from being a good parent. Lack of love does. Love is the greatest legacy. The love you leave lives on in those left behind.” This speaks volumes given the shear amount of trauma and mental illness literature we read every year. We don't choose how we come into this life and into the world, but we do have some say and control in how we leave it. Do we want to leave it a better place or a worse place? Life is a gift that should be valued and treasured, not take for granted. It's a privilege and a blessing. Setbacks, disappointments, and challenges are also opportunities, it's how we respond to them that matters. One of the best quotes in the book, in fact, states that “When you break a leg, be glad you didn't break both legs.” This book discusses multiple inspirational stories of people who overcame adversity, hardships, and extreme suffering to make their lives count in big ways. This includes Harms herself (who eventually became a dentist), a Holocaust survivor, and a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Harms discusses the incredible, exceptional, amazing, and inspiring people that she has either met in person and/or read and researched about. Those parts of the book were some of the best parts! We couldn't help but be enthralled and captivated, particularly when reading about Ron Hauptman's family (Etta, Ignatz, and their daughter, Carol) who suffered through the Holocaust. Etta's story is arguably the highlight of the book, although there are a few contenders. According to Harms: “Etta Hauptman and her family show the rest of us that recovery is possible, forgiveness is possible, love is possible, and even joy is possible, no matter what catastrophic losses you may have suffered.” There's also the example of Rosemond “Rosie” Sarpong Owens, a Ghanian woman who became an exceptional talented comedian with her keen sense of humor. Rosie calls herself a “CEO” which, in this case, stands for “chief encouragement officer.” Rosie is an example of taking life in stride, not taking yourself too seriously, being willing to laugh at yourself, and being positive and uplifting. Lastly, she's a champion example of leaving people better than you found them. What a motto to live by! A third story is of Pastor Maurice, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus which led to upwards of a million deaths—exceptional in their savagery, severity, and brutality. Pastor Maurice and Senior Pastor Sam's stories about Rwanda tell us that divisions between people are the result of ignorance and darkness. The United States is not immune to this happening to us. In fact, it is happening as the culture war continues to grow into a monster splitting the country in two the way Rwanda was. Rwanda is an example of a country that emerged from the darkness and recovered quickly. Part of that, according to the narrative, is forgiveness and reconciliation. It sounds simple, but forgiveness and reconciliation are some of the most difficult things to act out. Look at the continuing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians that has raged for decades. Look at the growing rift between the left and right in US politics. Another person we have to give props to (in this book) is the author's son, Eric Harms. The story of Eric is one of the most beautiful and touching parts of the book.. Part of that is because, despite the tragic end to his life, his legacy and memory is compelling and powerful. He was both a passionate and great athlete and actor: a star football player and an excellent stage performer. He had to choose between his football career and theater. He ultimately chose theater. One of the best things about all of this is the way that people like Wendy and Elliott left behind a legacy that helped Eric to live out his dreams. The author honors Eric and continues his legacy through Eric Harms Memorial Libraries and her work with Tom Warth's Books for Africa, providing textbooks for children and students who would otherwise not have access to them. What a legacy to leave behind! What a legacy to carry on! It goes with what the book says about when Tony Dungy (the NFL coach) lost his son. Tony Dungy, a man of faith, knew that God had a plan and this was part of it. Take the example of Ione Roland in the book who found something broken and could use her talents to fix it. Specifically, she fixed a broken statue of Jesus. It is said “That was Ione. She could fix just about anything with clay!” You never know how God will use you, even in unfortunate and difficult times. There's a section about David Horsager, the author of The Trust Edge. We get the great passage about trust: “...he breaks trust down into eight pillars: clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connections, contribution, and consistency.” Another point in this book is that we should always be seeking to grow and improve. We should also not be tied down to or held back by our past, like Kimberly Harms didn't let her disabilities hold her back from becoming a dentist. There's an analogy by a person named Kathy Dempsey, author of Shed or You're Dead, that says: “if a lizard does not shed its skin, it dies.” We think that probably also goes for lobsters and several other animals. So, why are humans immune from shedding? In the closing chapters of the book, the author again confronts the inevitability of death and how you should approach and prepare for it for your sake and those of your loved ones (who will carry on after you). There are a list of considerations including planning what will happen to your remains. There are actually some humorous and interesting ones including shooting yourself into space or making diamonds out of your ashes. This section also talks about getting your affairs in order while you can. Also, you should consider what you want on your headstone and what your obituary picture will be. One of the last sections talks about writing a legacy letter, outlining your closing thoughts and wishes. It is said that St. Valentine wrote a legacy letter to his love, Julia, before he was executed. These are a few things you should do and/or think about instead of “cramming at the 11th hour.” Well, this was a banger of a book with a lot to say! Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
Why are we always surprised when Tuula Pere produces another instant classic after another? Time and time again, Pere pleasantly surprises us with outside-the-box, captivating plots that go above and beyond the scope of most children's books. Friends and Rivals is a truly extraordinary, complex, yet incredibly concise children's book about two brothers—former best-friends—who end up on separate sides of a conflict caused by a hunger and thirst for power (as well as unspoken misunderstandings). As children in the book's opening, Prince Victor and Prince Otto were inseparable, often playing and day-dreaming together. They rode on hobby horses and swung wood waster swords, imagining being heroes and kings. However, this joyous, cheerful, and bright tone is suddenly, abruptly, and jarringly shattered when we're reintroduced to the two brothers as adults. Prince Victor was apparently the winner in a bloody and violent struggle for the throne akin to a Shakesperean play. He sends the defeated and dejected Prince Otto, once the closest person to him, to the palace dungeons. King Victor becomes a tyrant who uses guns and violence to get his way (which is implied but not shown) and neglects managing the production and storage of food, apparently leading to shortages that are revealed later in the story. Victor himself becomes a miserable and paranoid person who constantly lives in fear of the retribution and revenge he feels Otto will take upon him if he were to release him from prison. In one of the book's most powerful scenes, the brothers are shown on different floors of the palace, and Victor ponders how his once-beloved brother—a person who made him happier than anyone else—is only a few floors beneath him. Meanwhile, Otto becomes disheveled, unshaven, and malnourished in prison. The jail-keepers even forget his title and who he is. They forget to replenish his water and leave him with only two hard loaves of bread. At the turning point of the book, Otto meets a little boy who offers him water between the bars of his cell. This little boy becomes a central character, likely representing the power of this newer generation to make a difference and to influence government and society when they are failing and falling. The little boy bravely attempts to meet King Victor, the most feared man in the kingdom, and befriends him, welcoming him to play soccer with him and giving him someone to talk to. It is revealed that Victor wants to bury the hatchet with Otto, but can't let go of the past, his ego, or his fear. The little boy finds a mysterious old man akin to Merlin who claims to have known Victor and Otto when they were children. He gives the little boy a candle-lit lamp that apparently has magical powers to draw people together. The little boy wakes Victor in the middle of the night and lures him to the dungeons to finally reunite with Otto. The two spend the night together, just talking and eventually forgiving each other. In the morning, the agree to rule the kingdom as partners. Notably, Victor's smile returns, indicating that the weight of his guilt has been lifted and that his brother's love and forgiveness has restored his spirit and zest for life. This book does an incredible job in the confines of only 20-40 pages to tell an epic story akin to a Shakesperean play. It says a lot about young people to make a difference and how violence and conflict should be last resorts. Sometimes, it just takes people talking and coming to a compromise. Sometimes, it just takes people setting aside their differences in the interest of peace. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 93+/100 (9.3+ out of 10)
Granting Katelyn is a charming and steamy country romance novel by S.E. Reichert! If you love Jane Austen mixed with a little bit of E.L James with a side of Hallmark movies sprinkled in, this might be the book and series for you! The novel follows a beautiful, brilliant, and strong-minded horse therapist from Wyoming named Katelyn Sullivan, a 25-year-old country firecracker—a “true cowgirl.” Spurred by her mentor from the previous book, Jim Parsons, she takes on the daunting task of working with an injured and emotionally-challenged prized horse named Hugh at the wealthy Tennyson Stables Estate. No one seems to be able to bring Hugh back to his previous mental, emotional, and physical health. He fears riding, particularly with his former rider with whom he seems to share a damaged trust. Katelyn finds herself faced with the even more arduous task of working with Hugh's handsome yet hardened owner and rider, Grant Tennyson, the bastard heir to the estate. Grant, who is 40-years-old and still unmarried with few close friends, is said to have a “wall 20 feet high.” He is standoffish, coarse, rude, and seemingly antisocial. Like a prisoner, Grant lives under the oppressive and controlling thumb of his father, Ian, who views him similar to the prized horses in the stable: as expendable and a commodity with which to breed and sell off to the highest bidder via an arranged marriage. In fact, Katelyn even stands up to Ian by saying, “I didn't realize that [Grant] was part of your breeding program.” Ian threatens to leave Grant's assets frozen and to leave him jobless and desolate if he doesn't comply to his every wish, including who to have relationships and associations with. In the middle of all this is Katelyn, now the lowly “help” as a stable girl, who catches Grant's eye with her fiery personality, honey brown hair, stout yet beautiful body, and her affinity for his beloved horse (Hugh). He also sees Katelyn as one of the few people to ever stand up to him and his father as well as someone with the adventurous, free spirit that he has been denied his whole life. The sexual tension in this book is off the charts! And this book definitely rewards you for sticking it out with some of the best sex scenes to ever come our way! Some of them involve the kinkiness of things you'd expect to find in a horse stable—really adding a layer of uniqueness to these scenes. Yeah, this definitely isn't a teen or YA book, though it appeared to be heading that way initially. The second we read “it was erotic” we had a laugh, then realized this appeals to an older, more adult demographic. That's confirmed by some of the coarse language that rears its head from time to time. With that out of the way, this is really a tale as old as time: Beauty and the Beast or a variation of that classic tale. It's the story of a brilliant girl who sees the prince—the man—behind the beast, locked away in a palace where his wealth is little more than a number and his title is little more than some words. With that comparison also comes the same Stockholm-syndrome accusations you could probably throw at Beauty and the Beast. There are times when Grant (and Ian) just aren't kind or considerate to Katelyn. There are times when they can be downright nasty to her. But Katelyn sticks around feeling that she is still able to fix Grant and improve the situation, viewing him as a tragic victim of circumstance, as the audience is also led to believe. You're either going to jive with that or you're not. What can't be denied is that the relationship is compelling. The tension is there. The chemistry is there (for the most part). And it's not sudden or abrupt, its very patient and gradual. It builds. We get hints to the way that Grant feels about her with lines like “...he felt the warmth of her joy” or the aforementioned “it was erotic” when she massages Hugh. He thanks her for dinner. He spends time with her working with Hugh and in the fields. The author did a great job of not rushing into things. They made things feel earned and deserved, at least more so than other romance books we've read. Grant is betrothed to be married to the manipulative, mechanical, and calculated Cecilia in a farce arranged marriage aimed only to guarantee future wealth. It is said that Cecilia was “bred” and “manufactured” for that very purpose. She is a clear foil for Katelyn, who is free spirited and unapologetically herself, and Grant, who—despite being raised just like Cecilia—is also opposed to that way of thinking and living. Per the fairy tale motif, he believes in being yourself and loving for love's sake rather than for money, treasures, or property. Unfortunately, he's haunted by his past and events that involve a girl named Jane and his villainous father, Ian. If you haven't caught on by now, Ian and Cecilia really aren't good people. They are effectively the villains of this novel. Not only is the romance and sex in this book great, and not only are the villains compelling, but Katelyn really stands out as a protagonist. There's something very appealing about her. She's a country girl who was literally born in a barn and has a pedigree that goes back four generations! We gathered from this book that she's on the shorter or stouter side. Blake even calls her “short-stack.” However, that only seems to increase her attractiveness as it makes her butt and breasts appear more prominent. She's one of those people who carries her weight well, in other words. Another thing that's very attractive about her is that she isn't afraid to get down and dirty, either at work or in bed. She's frequently covered in hay, dirt, and mud. She's often sweaty or wet. She sometimes smells like the animals she works with or like someone who has been out in the sun for a while. This just makes her more human and more relatable rather than being a makeup-covered, overdressed doll like Cecilia. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
Who here loves crispy bacon? What about some ribeye steak? How many of you drink a glass of milk or eat eggs at the beginning of the day? Well, do you ever wonder where these things come from and how they're farmed and produced? Do you ever stop to appreciate the animals, farmers, land, and labor that allow these things to reach your plate and dining room table? From the Farm to Our Table is a heartwarming, adorable, and eye-opening children's book about the topic of sustainable farming as a farm family gathers ingredients to make a shepherd's pie. Along the way, they encounter, feed, and appreciate a lot of the animals that make their meals possible like the pigs in their pig pen that provide the bacon, the chickens in the hen house that provide the eggs, and the cows in the barn that provide the milk. Author Sarah Rowe is better known in WWE as Valhalla of the Viking Raiders or Sarah Logan of the Riott Squad. She champions the concept of living off the fruits of your labor: hunting, raising, harvesting, and farming your own food for the sake of sustenance, survival, and sustainability. This isn't a book about eating food, it's about appreciating where that food comes from and the nutrition that food provides. It needs to be noted that this book features no scenes or depictions of slaughter or explicit deaths of animals, although that is realistically a part of rural farm life and is lightly and tactfully implied. The presentation of this lifestyle is presented in a bright, positive, and appreciative light. Appreciative is the key word. This book really focuses on the gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation that the two children, Leo and Finlay, gain from learning about sustainable farming and everything involved in putting food on their table. All of us, obviously, eat food. Most of us eat meat and other animal products like eggs and cheese. Very few of us actually stop to think about where those foods come from and what goes into farming/producing them. Talking to children about farming can seem tough at first, but books like From the Farm to Our Table can help children to better understand the idea that whole, natural foods don't come magically from out of nowhere, and they don't originate at a store. There's a whole intricate and meaningful process behind it, an intricate and meaningful process that results in making things like a shepherd's pie. One of the best things about this book are the colorful illustrations and the cute, lovable characters. This book is colorfully and beautifully illustrated by the talented Amanda Morrow, someone who deserves a lot of the credit for elevating this book and making it into something that families, children, and classrooms can enjoy. This is not just a great bedtime book, but it could also make an excellent circle-time book as well. The length, illustrations, and pacing of the story are just about perfect for those purposes. Even if younger kids get lost about the book's message, they can still enjoy looking at the animals and replicating the sounds that they make. An adorable dog also follows the characters just about everywhere they go, giving children something cute and appealing to keep up with at all times. Mama is presented as both beautiful and capable in this, a normal-sized woman in overalls as opposed to a Barbie doll or supermodel. There's something really relatable and down to earth about that. She looks like a mom, someone familiar and comforting. We did kinda wish we saw more of the handsome, red-bearded hunk of a dad in this book as he's relegated to only the cover and last page, but we digress. We really enjoyed and appreciated this children's book! Check it out on Amazon! |
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