Editorial Reviews for Nominees
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 Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
The Old Man and Me: Book 2 is another personable, charming, and heartwarming memoir by R.C. Larlham. It is the direct sequel to our 2023 Non-Fiction Book of the Year (1st Runner-Up)! This book, with the subtitle Stories I Didn't Get to Tell You the Last Time, continues covering the author's incredibly eventful and fascinating life. It is a life packed-full of ups, downs, twists, turns, triumphs, heartbreaks, drama, and shenanigans galore! Like the first book, the sequel has a distinctly rural, country charm. That's evident even when the author leaves the country such as when he's deployed during the Korean War. You can take the boy from the country but not the country from the boy. Indeed, we get to read a lot more about the author's farm-life shenanigans, akin to the farm-life shenanigans that we fell in love with in the first book. For example, we read about the time when Chuck accidentally started a compost fire. We read about the time when folks at the country fair tried to milk a cow without a contraption to hold the cow still, creating quite a humorous predicament. Speaking of cows, we read about the time when a cow got loose and wandered the neighborhood! We read about the intricate process of canning tomatoes and peaches, which the author describes in visceral detail, describing the fuzziness of the peach skins and the unpleasantness of the scalding/boiling water used to prep them. This is especially interesting to us after reading all these rural Civil War books by Ellen Murphy in which people were already canning these fruits in the 1800s, pretty much in the same way! The intertextuality is quite interesting in that regard. You also really get an idea of what society and America were like in the mid-20th century, which was probably the most appealing thing about the first book. In one of this book's most interesting little stories, the author describes how, in his little town in Ohio, there was a “Negro Night” at the local skating park. Negroes only got to use the skate park on Wednesdays due to segregation. It was such a precarious situation that there needed to be security on staff to make sure Blacks were protected. The author, who became the designated security guard, noted how exceptionally talented several of the Black skaters were, regretting the fact that most of them couldn't reach their full potential because they were denied the right to practice on the ice on most days. Not only does this story introduce us to the frustrations and intricacies of racial segregation at the time, it also shines a light on one of the book's other themes: tragedy and loss. See, Larlham got the position of security guard when the first guard, a friend and auxiliary sheriff, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Despite being terminally ill, the auxiliary sheriff was determined to live the best life he could and to do the most good he could in the time he had left. That's very touching, and it goes along with an even bigger loss that occurs later. Another exceptional thing about this book is how personable and conversational it is. You literally feel like the author is talking to you and telling you this story in person. A lot of that has to do with the exceptional writing and how the author describes things. For example, he calls the family home the “being-forever-remodeled house.” He refers to first-gear (on a manual vehicle) as being “behind-reverse.” After learning of a partner's potential other lover, he comments, “I don't care about your other guy” but then says in his head (and to us, the reader): “(If we’re ever in the same state, I’ll kill him” before concluding “I love you” as if those negative thoughts never passed through his mind. When a priest talks about the “vicissitudes of life,” the author comments “yes, I had to look it up too.” It's hard not to get behind someone—whether a real-life person or a character—who conscripts you like this. Anyway, this book takes the reader through the author's schooling days with the Crestwood High School Class of 1960, in which—despite low grades, he still scored the fifth highest SAT score in the state and getting kicked off the football team for swearing. On that note, we also get one of the best passages of the book (about his football days): “I tried to play football... twice. The first attempt, I was too short, too heavy for my height, too slow, too scared and too uncoordinated. I couldn’t run, couldn’t throw a football and couldn’t catch one.” In terms of his academics, the book really shines a light on the failures of the American education system—even 64 years ago—to adequately teach kids and accurately assess their intellect. There's actually a lot to learn from this book! Speaking of learning a lot, this book becomes a bit of a travel guide as it takes us on a multi-state trip with the Smithsonian to visit sites like Gettysburg and Washington D.C. Eventually, Chuck finds himself enrolled at Hiram College, the so-called “Harvard of the Midwest” due to his aforementioned SAT scores. And hijinks ensue. In probably the funniest story in the book, we're told that Chuck's psychology professor (who was a prison psychologist) was quite crazy himself, even staging a robbery with two ugly, dangerous-looking men in the classroom that almost gets people hurt or even killed when an actual U.S. Marine emerges from the classroom and treats it like the real thing! Not only is this humorous enough, but we get this hilarious description of the supposed assailants: “...one of whom had survived the worst acne attack ever (or smallpox) and the other of whom had a knife scar from the corner of his eye to his earlobe... which was missing” So, the psycho psychology professor literally had dudes dress up like pirates to pull off this prank just to prove a point. We also learn about the unfair yet somewhat humorous way that the professor grades assignments (on a skewed bell-curve) on which Chuck barely misses an A by one point on a subjective assignment. However, perhaps the most important story that comes out of Chuck's experiences at Hiram College is his relationship/spring-fling with a girl named Trish, a sorta-foreign-exchange student from the UK. He calls kissing Trish, appropriately, “the best laugh of the summer.” We also get the hilarious nickname “Chuckleberry” and Trish's reminder for Chuck to “keep your pecker up” from these scenes. Although the relationship isn't super-serious, it sets the precedence for two very important things: 1. Chuck's interest in people, events, and places outside of the United States, and 2. Arguably the most important relationship later on in the book, that being with Laura, his wife of over four decades. The next major section covers Chuck's experiences as a medic during the Korean War. If you thought the hijinks and shenanigans were out of control in college, then you need to read about the ones that happen in this section! Where do we even start with that? Well, there was his feud with a captain over a court-martial springing from alleged missing rifles. There was the time when a guy kept challenging Chuck to fights, then kept backing out until he finally got himself beat up and forced to admit defeat. There was the time when an arrogant lieutenant fired a sidearm into the air, putting a hole in his ceiling, spraining his wrist and being forced to repair the ceiling despite the rank difference. There was the time when the camp thought it was under a chemical attack due to an awful smell and tear-inducing substance in the air which turned out to be rotting radishes from a radish farm, a “storm of tears.” It should be noted that both the knowledge of guns/sidearms and of radishes forming the “storm of tears” both come from Chuck's rural upbringing. Chuck has many other funny stories about serving in Korea including a mass-influx of circumcisions and vasectomies, the latter of which caused all sorts of problems. Perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of this section are the stories of war veterans and heroes including medal recipients. Chuck recalls the “three heroes” who made an impression on him including a corporal who served in World War II but kept being demoted due to alcoholism triggered by PTSD (“bad dreams”) and a member of the Flying Tigers, a mercenary group that aided the Chinese in fighting the Imperial Japanese during World War II. We also get the interesting story of the “USS Off Limits” on the way back from the war. Now, it's after the war that this book really starts to become a bit long-winded and disjointed. It might be a case of too much going on or too much crammed into one book. That's not to say that there's an absence of interesting or exciting things. For example, Chuck describes experiencing a huge 300-yard-wide tornado in Kansas. He discusses a really weird driving story which at least gives us the good passage: “ looked ahead for the beginning of the next curve – and realized that the lights weren’t just the lights of cars! They were also the lights of a strip of buildings along the highway!” We then segway into the author's life in Utah, particularly enjoying the camping life of fishing, snowshoeing, squirrel tracking, and hunting. It kinda brings the author back to his roots. He also attends Utah State, where he studies Environmental Science including entomology, the study of insects (despite being afraid of insects, bugs, and spiders). However, the most important thing that happens in this final section of the book is that Chuck's relationship with “Lovely Laura” blossoms into a beautiful, long marriage after a series of tense, dramatic scenes. People don't live forever, but love does. Chuckleberry's relationship with Lovely Laura is the highlight of the entire book, and Laura's fate is one of the most emotional experiences we've ever had reading a book. Check it out on Amazon!
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 Score: 95/100 (9.5 out of 10)
Abbey's Special Gift by Diane Capogna might just be the perfect little 10-minute bedtime/circle-time children's book! Like a refreshing cool breeze, it's brief, gentle, yet incredibly satisfying. Abbey's Special Gift is the direct sequel to Puppy Comes Home, a heartwarming, adorable, emotional, and beautiful book that concerned the life and times of Abbey Rose, a beloved Great Dane pup who was born with a unique and special white pattern on her fur as well as being the biggest of her whole litter. She was also born with an exceptionally big heart (literally) due to a rare condition which severely limited the length of her life. However, it did not limit her incredible, compelling experiences and the impact she had on others. She made the best of every moment! It was a multi-time OCA award-winning book for a good reason—rather, for a lot of good reasons! Abbey's Special Gift shines a light on one of the most precious, powerful, and beautiful moments of Abbey Rose's life: Abbey Rose's 2nd birthday and gaining the company of a new puppy sister, Gypsy May! What's incredible about this story and the character dynamics is that Gypsy May serves as a bit of a foil and point of comparison for Abbey Rose herself. Gypsy May is also a special pup with the same coloration/pattern and discovered rather spontaneously (found among a collection of lost and unclaimed dogs in an animal control truck on the road). Similar to Abbey Rose, Gypsy May is also a sort of blacksheep, giving Abbey Rose someone she can relate to. It's amusing to also see Abbey Rose interact with the other animals in book including her dogs friends, Emma, Rudy, and Bullet, as well as her cat friends, chief of which is Precious, whom she considers her cat-sister. The book does a very good job at establishing and putting forward the idea that Abbey Rose has many relationships with other pets and animals, but none that fully fulfill her in a way that a true doggy sister would. This leaves Abbey (and the reader) with a sense of longing that she will find someone—another dog just like her. So, when it finally happens, we're ecstatic! It's also adorable and hilarious how Abbey Rose isn't immediately sure or comfortable with Gypsy May being around. It's not an insta-love. Abbey Rose takes quite a while to acclimate to Gypsy May being around and taking up a lot of the attention. She also needs to get used to the fact that Gypsy May smells bad (in her opinion) and that she'll be playing with a lot of Abbey's old toys and eating Abbey's food. In a sense, it seems like Abbey Rose becomes a bit territorial (as many of us would be). In probably the funniest panel of the whole book, Abbey Rose holds up a sign on the bed that reads, “New Dogs Not Allowed” so that she can hog the space on the bed, something that domesticated animals are known to do. However, the sisters gradually grow closer, bonding over time through playing together and sharing gifts. It is truly beautiful and heartwarming to see these two cuties connect with each other as the book goes along. It should be noted that this book is illustrated by Anthony Richichi, our 2023 Artist of the Year! This may be one of his better works. Abbey Rose, in particular, always looks lively, adorable, and excellent overall. Gypsy May & Precious also look cute, expressive, and adorable. There are times when the Jason's (the husband) neck appears too short or his traps appear too large. This is especially apparent on the first page he appears on and the last. Maybe he has a shorter neck or large traps in real life. It's not the biggest deal. Diane looks great and consistent throughout the book. It should also be noted that the book also does a good job at showing us how Abbey Rose desires to be a contributing member of society, aspiring to be a therapy and/or service animal for the sick and disabled. One of our favorite panels involves Abbey Rose researching service animals on a computer as if she's a human. This is a beautiful and heartwarming book with very little text, making it perfect for reading times with younger children. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 92/100 (9.2 out of 10)
Imagine... a child has gone missing, and your childhood best-friend may be involved! There's No Cure for Impossible is a contemporary fiction, suspense, and mystery (missing person) novel by Carolyn Summer Quinn, an author who wowed us with Until the Stars Align. While this book doesn't quite have the oomph that Quinn's World War II-era novel did, it is still poignant and compelling nonetheless. So, what makes it a poignant and compelling read? Well, it starts with the characters and their dynamics. This book follows Selena Lawrence, a young woman trying to climb the career ladder at a news station, working in the publicity department. Similar to Matt in To Outwit Fate K.E. Adamus, Selena is someone who always seems so close to her goals yet still so far. Part of that is that she's had a ball and chain—a dead weight—around her ankle for years in the form of her childhood friend, Mila Gannon (no relation to Rich Gannon, unfortunately). Mila is a very troubled individual who can be considered both the deuteragonist and main antagonist of the novel. In that sense, she's very similar to Devon (the troubled twin brother) from Secrets in the Mirror by Leslie Kain or Rachel (the prodigal sister) from A Sister Ago by Caitlin Buhr. In fact, all three of these novels and their characters share a lot of the same beats and themes. The ending and ultimate fate of Mila also reminded us a lot of what went on with Desirae from Perfectly Imperfect by Darlene Winston. That's not to say that this book doesn't have some originality of its own, but we couldn't help but be hit by a profound sense of deja vu as we read it and compared it to these other works. Mila becomes the most wanted person in New York City after she becomes the primary suspect in the kidnapping of a baby girl named Sadie Atchison. Selena is shocked yet not surprised by the news that her former best friend has gotten entangled in another serious crime. Throughout the book, Selena reflects on Mila's turbulent life and past. In particular, she reflects on Mila's propensity to choose poor romantic partners like Ajax Morrison, a convicted felon convicted of armed robbery, and Phineas Marquez, who was involved in sending drugs hidden in a package to Selena's house. These men were terrible influences on Mila, yet she continued to make progressively worse choices. According to Selena, Mila “couldn’t be trusted as far as she could be thrown.” The book also explores Mila's upbringing and school days alongside Selena. Mila, it turns out, came from a relatively wealthy family with both of her parents, Sylvia and Curtis Gannon, being highly-paid, greatly-respected lawyers. Mila had a privileged upbringing including various white-collar activities like horseback riding lessons, ballet classes, and expensive trips to Europe. However, money isn't everything and it doesn't guarantee a good, happy life. Mila suffered from a deep need for attention and validation. She struggled with self-worth and constantly sought to find love and acceptance, even with dangerous and unsuitable men like Morrison and Marquez. We are often told, “that was Mila for you...” You can almost hear the protagonist sighing and see her rolling her eyes as she says or thinks this. All the while, Selena did her best to be a good friend and support Mila, constantly trying to guide her back onto the straight and narrow. In a lot of ways, Selena was like Gavin (the good brother) from Secrets in the Mirror by Leslie Kain, who—despite much lower expectations and humbler beginnings—made something of themselves while their counterpart floundered due to poor decisions and emotional instability. Both Selena and Gavin (in these separate books) often bail out their counterpart and sacrifice a lot of themselves and their lives to helping them. You also get a sense, in both these books, that the main characters have a misplaced sense of duty and obligation to care for their friend/sibling, becoming entangled in an abusive, parasitic, one-sided relationship. It's almost like a kind of Stockholm syndrome. At a certain point, it becomes too much even for the angels among us. And, so, we get the title of the book: There's No Cure for Impossible. We can't fix everyone. We can't control people. We can't force people to change. They need to want it. They need to want to get better. They need to take responsibility for their own choices, emotions, actions, and decisions. This book does a good job at putting that message forward. And Mila isn't the only character with an impressive amount of depth. Selena herself is a rather interesting character. You really get the sense of how tantalized she is being so close to the televised side of things yet off-screen and untelevised. It doesn't help that some of the news anchors and established cast, like Lana “the barracuda,” are rude and condescending to her, treating her like a peon. Something that really stood out to us about Selena is that she doesn't take s***t from anyone, it doesn't matter who they are. She speaks her mind no matter what. She isn't afraid to talk back to someone who is insulting or rude to her, which we respected and appreciated. It should also be noted that some of that strength and outspokenness might actually come from being around Mila for so long, being forced to be the responsible one. So, maybe there are some positives that came from all this darkness. Now, this book does have some flaws. There are some minor grammatical errors like: - “The whole subject of Mila and Sadie still disturbed me no end” (in which the word “to” is missing) However, that's small fries. What we think really held this book back was the tone. There were times when it was serious, discussing serious topics like kidnapping, mental illness, and drug use. At other times, it became almost comical. It almost reminded us of one of the hokey comedies at times. For example, when the parents of Sadie (the kidnapped girl) are interviewed by the news media, the dad goes on an over-the-top belligerent rant in which he starts threatening Mila on national TV, saying something along the lines of, “even if you return my daughter, I'll find you and whoop you anyway.” Thanks, Dad, that helps a lot. There are also scenes, especially in the news studio, that seem more like high school teenage drama than a bunch of people trying to report on a serious issue in which a girl's life is on the line. We understand that may have been the point (since the news media can be pretty biased and more concerned with views/clicks that doing the right thing), but it gave us tonal whiplash. Shouldn't we care about the well-being of the kid? Shouldn't we be thinking about how troubled and disturbed Mila is? Part of the issue is that we've seen this kind of character and this arc too many times in the last couple years. There have been a lot of Milas come through our contest. And, to be fair, there are a lot of Milas in real life. Maybe you can relate? Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
COLORWORLD: The Adirondack Adventure is a fabulously inspirational & educational children's book by Anthony Richichi, our 2023 Artist of the Year! It accomplishes two very important tasks at once:
The direct sequel to COLORWORLD, this book rejoins the imaginative young artist, Henry, and his imaginary superhero friend, Captain Tony (likely a stand-in for the author). In this book, Henry and his family are disappointed by the poor weather that has hampered their family field-trip plans to explore Adirondack National Park. However, Henry—being such a great character and a problem-solver—determines that he might not be able to physically go on the trip, but he can imagine it and bring it to life with his art and illustrations! With the help, guidance, and inspiration of Captain Tony, Henry uses his canvas, papers, and coloring materials to bring the journey to life! Together, they visit a lot of the different locations in the Adirondack including a pond (during the day and night) and Lake George. They also visit the forested areas during the fall, winter, and spring! They get to see and learn about all sorts of incredible animals there including bears, beavers, otters, owls, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, deer, wolves, fish, raccoons, snakes, possums, ducks, skunks, eagles, turtles, frogs, and more! What really impressed us about this particular book is how much educational content and educational value it had. Children get to learn something about over half of the 50 animals as well as their environment, habitats, and ecosystem. We also loved the self-aware humor such as when the fish comment on how Captain Tony (while swimming) is like a fish wearing a cape (from the fish's perspective) or how Henry's drawings/papers must be wet in the water, breaking the fourth wall a bit. Perhaps our favorite part of the book is when a raccoon tries to relieve Henry's anxiety of being out at night by offering to play with some trash with him. This book really puts forward the idea that creativity is a powerful avenue to relieve anxieties and to improve situations. Creativity is able to solve problems and fix things that were previously broken. It can reframe situations that were previously bad and make them better. The personalities of the characters really come through the pages of the book. The positivity of Henry and Captain Tony is infectious—contagious! However, one other characters that unexpectedly shined was Olivia, the little sister. She is so hyperactive, expressive, and energetic! She is constantly popping out and exclaiming. It seems like everything gets a reaction from her. She kinda reminded us of Deedee from Dexter's Laboratory. We greatly admire what the author/illustrator accomplished with this book.  Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
The Singularity of Hope is a thought-provoking, eye-opening, and insightful book about A.I. technology by Dr. Sam Sammane! Dr. Sammane is a highly-respected advocate and expert in the fields of A.I., nano, and emerging technologies. He has a PhD in Nanotechnology, is the CEO of TheoSym, and is a Forbes Technology Council member. So, why wouldn't you want to learn about emerging technologies from this guy?! This is genuinely a book that kept us interested, engaged, and pumped from beginning to end! A.I. (artificial-intelligence) is the cool new kid on the block. First, it was the Internet. Next, it was social media. Now, A.I. has got all of the Internet and social media buzzing. How much of this attention is just hype? How much is warranted? Is A.I. just a gimmick? A fad? A spellcheck/search engine on steroids? Perhaps the question that most want to ask: Is A.I. a friend or a foe? Is it dangerous? Or can it positively change the world? Save it, even. Well, according to the wealth of information in this book, the answer to many of those questions is: yes AND no—it depends. It depends on how humanity embraces and manages A.I. technology. Are we going to set rules, standards, and guardrails? Or is it going to be a free-for-all? Are we going to build an A.I. that's smarter, more capable, and more powerful than us? Something out of our control? Something like Skynet, which could destroy and/or replace humanity? Are we going to introduce A.I. to replace human beings in certain jobs like data entry and project management? The consequences of A.I. are huge; however, the opportunities and possibilities may be even bigger! This book is full of hope, optimism, and possibilities, and that's one of the best things about it! Notice how so much of this review so far consisted of questions? Well, that's one of the best things about this book—it gets you thinking! It gets your wheels turning. It really makes you wonder about the many different uses that A.I. could have to make us and our lives easier, more efficient, and more effective. According to Sammane, we're at the intersection of humanity and technology, a critical moment in time where the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (A.I.) and automation is increasingly influencing all aspects of human life—socially, economically, and ethically. This intersection signifies a point where the capabilities of machines, particularly A.I., are becoming so advanced that they start to deeply integrate into human activities, potentially reshaping the future of work, creativity, mental health, and our understanding of intelligence. At this crossroads, there are significant questions about how A.I. will either complement or replace human roles in society. The book presents this as a moment for humanity to make key decisions about whether we allow A.I. to dominate or guide its development in ways that enhance human life. It’s an opportunity to shape A.I. as a tool that augments human creativity, ethics, and decision-making, rather than letting it diminish or replace human contributions. This idea stresses the need for deliberate actions and decisions to ensure that technology serves humanity’s best interests, rather than becoming an autonomous force that could displace jobs, erode mental well-being, or create ethical dilemmas that we are unprepared to manage. In this context, humanity is challenged to work with A.I. to create a future where technology amplifies human potential instead of overshadowing it. A.I. offers many advantages over humans including faster computational speeds, faster and more efficient decision-making, never getting tired, and not asking for a raise (making it economical). However, humanity brings value of its own: things like hope, optimism, emotional intelligence, creativity, ethical and moral judgment, intuition and common sense, love, and ambition. Perhaps the biggest human value that Sammane emphasizes is hope. Sammane imagines a world in which humanity and A.I. live harmoniously, with A.I. elevating and augmenting human capabilities. If you're imagining cyborgs, that's exactly what we were imagining while reading this! A.I. should elevate and complement our positive attributes. One of our favorite quotes from the book compares A.I. to a trust sidekick: “Look, just think of me [A.I.] as the ultimate sidekick. I crunch the numbers like a pro, handle the data like a wizard, while you prop those feet up and bring that creativity and empathy of yours to the table. It’s really less about me taking over the world and more about us co-directing a future where both of us get screen time.” There are some brilliant key passages from this book. Here are a few: - “Picture this—a world where AI's immense capabilities are harnessed, directed, and amplified by human wisdom and insight. This is a future where AI becomes an extension of our will, not a replacement for it. A world where the symbiosis of human intellect and computational power solves our greatest challenges, elevates our creativity, and enriches our lives.” - “Necessity is the mother of invention.” - “In simpler terms, the word 'singularity' refers to a future time when technology, especially artificial intelligence, becomes so advanced that it starts changing our world in ways beyond our control and understanding. At that point, technology could become an independent force that operates without human guidance, which means it could make decisions and solve problems that are too complex for us to comprehend. At this juncture, singularity represents a tantalizing vision that surpasses human intelligence across various domains and can transform the world we live in entirely. So, in this 'singularity' future, technology becomes not just a tool but a transformative force that could reshape our lives and the world in unimaginable ways.” - “The concept of a 'singularity' in economics could theoretically describe a situation where economic output grows exponentially while the labor required to produce that output approaches zero. This would be a hypothetical scenario where automation, technology, or other factors make human labor almost entirely unnecessary for producing goods and services. An economic 'singularity' would be the point where traditional economic models and theories may no longer apply, much like how the laws of physics break down at the singularity of a black hole.” - “The telescope didn't replace the astronomer; it extended their vision to the far reaches of the universe. The calculator didn't replace the mathematician; it made complex calculations more manageable and accurate. In the same spirit, the real Super AI will not replace human intelligence but extend it, allowing us to reach heights unimaginable alone.” Perhaps the section of this book that amazed and intrigued us the most was—surprisingly—the section about TAXES. No one likes doing their taxes. The workers at the IRS itself probably don't enjoy wading through all that information and all those files. Taxes are notoriously complicated. That's why tax specialists, tax centers, and online services like H&R Block and Turbo Tax exist. That's why people take entire days out of their year just to crunch the numbers and fill out forms to file their taxes. Well, in this book, Sammane explores the possibility of A.I. solving all of that: computing everything for us. It would even be able to determine things like the economic burden on the individual or their positive contributing value to society. For example, it would be able to determine how much a cancer clinic contributes to the society in which it's being taxed, being able to lower the tax burden to compensate or even reward the clinic. How cool would that be? This is such an interesting and exciting book. If there was anything about it that we would consider negative, it's that it's repetitive and redundant at times. However, it's easy to look past that. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 88/100 (8.8 out of 10)
Everyone dreams of being a superhero at one time or another. Every group of people--no matter what part of the world they live in--needs its heroes! Super Super Charro by Carlos Lozano follows a fledgling police officer named Pepe Jiménez who works at the local police station in East Los Angeles, handling fingerprinting and mugshots. He is young, ambitious, and fresh out of the academy but feels underutilized. Having a good heart and a willingness to help even hardened criminals (like Roberto Guerra) to pursue a better path, he dreams of being a hero—both literally (in his actual dreams at night) and in real life. He also dreams of being a successful mariachi musician. However, his real life is far from glamorous or fulfilling. He is heartbroken over his childhood crush, Olivia, and his music career going up in flames (thanks to his father, the police chief, who pushes him into law enforcement). The book progresses as we learn about the existence of two legendary/mythological figures: Super Super Charro—a superhero with a magic lasso and sombrero who rides on the back of a horse that can transform into a Pegasus El Charro Negro/Dark Charro—a supervillain based on Mexican folklore who rides on the back of a black horse and who brings evil, violence, and corruption everywhere he goes. Essentially, you're dealing with the Mexican equivalent of Superman and Darkseid, Goku and Frieza, Batman and Joker, or Arch-Angel Michael and the Devil. They are the representations of good and evil in the mythos/lore of the story, which again is based on Mexican folklore and mythology. The main human villain, Senor Diego Mas Grande, believes that he has finally captured and can finally end Super Charro. However, Senor Diego Mas Grande and everyone else is stunned to discover that Super Charro has vanished, leaving behind only his magical sombrero. As you might expect, this is all building to Pepe being elevated to the Super Super Charro role and living his dreams. But let's go back a bit... Senor Diego Mas Grande is essentially the Kingpen or Lex Luthor of the story. While he lacks supernatural abilities or superpowers like El Charro Negro, he is imposing and intimidating nonetheless, serving as a prime example of El Charro Negro's influence on the physical world and its population. There are several good character-building moments for Pepe en route to becoming a Charro superhero. One of them is that he gains a love interest in Connie Guzman, a cunning and beautiful police officer in Mexico City who may be a nominee for “Hottest Character!” Connie is tough, confident, and competent, in stark contrast to Pepe. This gives Pepe someone to chase and aspire to impress/be with, which gives this book a bit more oomph than we would've had otherwise Connie plays hard to get, though this gives way to another great moment in the book: Pepe finally being able to perform his mariachi music publicly and being appreciated for it. Pepe has so much to prove, not just to others, like Connie and his dad). but also to himself. That makes him a somewhat compelling character. At the same time, a lot of the tension and intrigue of this book is lost simply due to its goofy, comical tone. A vigilante superhero appearing out of nowhere to save the day and wielding/playing an instrument before battle really reminded us of something like Kikaida, a super cheesy Japanese TV show from decades ago. However, with cheesiness and hokiness comes a bit of charm. This book is fun and entertaining in its own unique way.  Score: 93/100 (9.3 out of 10)
Are you up for a dark, gritty story with anthropomorphic talking animals trying to survive in one of the most chaotic periods in human history? Animal Quest by David Bush follows two cats, Jonas and Big Bertha, along with their fellowship of animal friends, as they navigate a world that is plunging into chaos, paranoia, and hysteria in the middle of the Black Death (1349 AD). Animal Quest is a direct (albeit loose) sequel to General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms, quite frankly one of the best books to ever come through our contest. General Jack was the first runner-up for 2022 Fiction Book of the Year. It was phenomenally written (sometimes even overwritten to the point of pretentiousness) with compelling characters and exceptional world-building. So, how does Animal Quest compare? Well, it's definitely a more dialed-down tale in terms of the number of characters, the action, the world-building, and the complexity of the events therein. It's shorter, simpler, and—arguably—sweeter. Unlike General Jack, it didn't test our patience and overstay its welcome. It most definitely wasn't written in the same flowery, fluffy style of prose. Yes, it did try to say a lot, but not nearly as much as the previous book (which seemed to be trying to explain the whole of human and animal existence). This book is more focused on a handful of themes like harmony and the nature of good & evil. Animal Quest is more like a historical fiction novella than a big, huge fantasy epic like General Jack was. Everything is tighter and more abbreviated, for better or for worse. Still, it maintains some similarities and themes. For example, we are reminded that this story and its characters exist in the wake of what General Jack (a human) and Meow (a cat king) had accomplished. Furthermore, one of the core theme remains the same: humans and animals living in harmony with each other and in nature. So, there is precedence for the events in this book and the arcs that the characters undergo. It's the middle of the 14th century in the land of Tailandia. A fellowship of animals lives under a kind, fair, and benevolent farmer named Sven. The group of animals is led by Big Bertha, a tiny white cat with black spots who pretty much dominates and rules over the other animals as she is Sven's favorite pet (and the only one allowed in the home). She is extremely bossy and often rude, demeaning, and condescending to the others. She calls the other animals things like “dunces” and “fools.” It's also possible that the name Lazy Bones (the old cow) possibly came from Big Bertha as a way of calling out his apparent deficiencies. The other animals have a cult-like/religious veneration of her, even convincing themselves that Big Bertha is always right and that she can do no wrong. This follows along with the themes of power and political/religious fanaticism in the book. As you might expect, Big Bertha and her followers undergo quite an arc together, eventually realizing that she isn't infallible, all-powerful, and all-knowing after all. The book is primarily narrated by Jonas, a male black cat who begins this book as somewhat timid, weak, subservient, and dependent on others like Farmer Sven and Big Bertha. Similar to Meow in the previous book, he gradually grows into a brave, courageous, and strong leader. Jonas is the lens through which we see the world of this book, and it's a pretty big, crazy, wild world! Black boats arrive bringing a mysterious and deadly illness (the Plague) to the land, which is often called the “evil spirit” and the “air monster” throughout the book. The Plague almost immediately kills Farmer Sven, leaving the animals without their owner. This compels the animals, led by Big Bertha, to embark on a perilous adventure to find a new farm and a new owner so that they can sustain themselves. They encounter numerous challenges, obstacles, and perils. They are separated, beaten, burned, prosecuted, and—at times—even killed. It's truly harrowing and dark at times. This book is full of descriptions of depressing events, savagery, and brutality involving humans and animals, demonstrating the craziness that is unleashed by a crisis like the Plague. Everyone who lived through 2020 and the pandemic can probably relate to this to some extent. The animals encounter other animals and people, each with their own motives, agendas, and philosophies/ideas/explanations about what's going on with the Plague and what should be done about it. Some advocate for killing or hurting people or animals. For example, Eloise and Elodie think they can cure the sickness through fire (i.e. burning people/animals). Some self-harm/flagellate (so be warned if this may be triggering to you). Others are actually trying to be the light in the darkness and being helpful, like Francisco and Dominico, who probably represent the Franciscan and Dominican orders at the time of the Black Death. These struggles, trials, and tribulations cause the number of animals (and people) to tragically dwindle. However, they bring Jonas and Big Bertha closer together. Jonas and Big Bertha may be nominees for “Best Couple.” While they do seem forced together at times (because who else are they realistically going to end up with?), they're still cute together nonetheless. There's kinda a funny part in which Jonas becomes sick and Big Bertha keeps making excuses for why she can't hang out with him (as if trying to quarantine). There are some other cute and/or interesting characters too like Lazy Bones (the cow), Stig (the goat), Woolly-Bo (the sheep), Magnus & Marcus (dogs), and Per (a piglet). Unfortunately, not all of them make it out of this. This is going to be a controversial statement, but we don't really think this is a book for young people. The short length and positive message(s) would suggest that it is, but there are aspects of this book that convinced us otherwise. It's actually quite violent and gory. There are descriptions of people being burned alive at the stake and self-harming. The word “bitch” is also used several times, sometimes for comedy or irony as some of the characters are dogs and one of them, Marcus, says he wants to “meet bitches” (girl dogs) and mentions a hunger for meat and “pretty bitches.” The other issue is that, unless you read the appendix beforehand, a young reader is probably going to get lost as to what is going on and be flabbergasted as to why all this wild, crazy, violent, tragic stuff is happening. Speaking of the appendix, READ IT! The appendix is arguably more interesting and a better read than the actual story in the book itself. Basically, it explains the historical events and major socio-political and religious movements surrounding the story. For example, it discusses the Black Death and fanatical religious orders and beliefs like Catharism that sprouted around and during it. It also explains why the plague doctors wore their iconic masks with the long beaks and the flowers inside of them. It's very interesting! We seriously learned a lot from the appendix. A lot of this book has to do with human nature and possibility for good & evil in all of us. Jonas concludes that all humans and animals have the possibility to do good or to do evil. You're never fully one or the other. Cleverly, he likens this to Big Bertha's fur, saying: “It’s more nuanced than that, Big Bertha. There is both good and bad in everyone. Some have more good than bad inside, others have more bad than good. It changes with the circumstances. It’s like your fur coat. It’s not all white, neither is it all black. It’s got white areas and black spots.” Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 92+/100 (9.2+ out of 10)
Are you passionate about saving and protecting animals? Does thwarting animal traffickers and poachers sound exciting to you? Are you up for some monkey shenanigans? Well, then, Cans of Cola Just Don't Cry may be the book for you! Cans of Cola Just Don't Cry is a cozy mystery and crime fiction novel by Carolyn Summer Quinn. Quinn is a previous Outstanding Creator Awards winner for her WWII-era book, Until the Stars Align. Cans of Cola Just Don't Cry follows 63-year-old Nola Carmody, a retired editor living in South Haven Key, Florida who dreams of writing and publishing her first book involving a bank robbery based on a traumatic event from her teenage years. However, like many authors and those who've been through trauma, she finds herself writer's blocked and stuck—apprehensive and unable to move forward with the story. It's not that she lacks the inspiration or even the talent; rather, she's struck by a combination of imposter syndrome, self-doubt, lingering fear from the traumatic event, and distractions like her handsome neighborhood handyman/crush, Shamus Wilder. As you might expect, Shamus becomes a major supporting character and a kind of love-interest. Anyway, if all that weren't enough, Nola's life takes a surprising turn when she hears the squeaking and cries of a little animal trapped in a cola crate on her dock: a baby chimpanzee! She names the baby chimp “Lollapalooza” which she tells us means “someone spectacular.” If you aren't oohing and awing by now, you have no pulse. This book is incredibly charming with the cuteness and adorableness of Lollapalooza and the monkey shenanigans. Lolla wears a diaper, drinks from a bottle, cries, and tries to grab/hold your hands and fingers like a human baby or child would! The author does an excellent job at putting forth Lolla's cuteness through writing. He is described as a “scared little baby” and having “chocolate eyes.” All of these descriptions evoke strong feelings of protectiveness, warmth, and comfort in the reader. He's so cute that even some of the villains gain a soft spot for him and wonder if they can feed him bananas and such. Lollapalooza has an infectious charm on the characters and on the readers. Speaking of villains, this book does center around the criminal trafficking of rare, unique, and endangered animals like chimpanzees. Like many great things, this is inspired by real events. The author says that this story is based on a documentary about the illegal trafficking and poaching of bonobos, all the way down to how the young bonobos are kidnapped and transferred to the highest bidder while their parents are brutally and needlessly killed off. Thankfully, this book maintains a mostly-light tone while briefly touching on darker things like this in a tactful way. The villains of this book include people like Esposito Krumpler, a wealthy and corrupt businessman akin to a crime lord who masterminds the smuggling operation that involves the chimp. He is supported by his henchmen, Bubba and Cletus, who mostly act like the two henchmen from 101 Dalmatians: bumbling idiots who may be way above their heads. They provide some comedic relief despite their villainous roles. Cletus is somewhat humanized in that he lives with a very annoying and badly tempered girlfriend named Tiffy Taplinger, an exotic dancer from Miami, who discovers he has brought a chimpanzee into their trailer, raising hell about it. It is actually quite humorous despite this bordering on domestic abuse and a toxic relationship. You'd think that if anyone deserved it, it would be Cletus. However, it also points out the motivation behind these criminals doing these terrible acts: poverty, desperation, and a need to move up in society to appease highfalutin people like Tiffy and Esposito Krumpler. They're never so sympathetic that we root for them or want to see them succeed, but we still understand them and what drives them, which makes them better characters. There's another set of characters speckled in here who seem somewhat superfluous and unnecessary, but still add some flare from time to time. For example, there's Doc MacHale, the attractive local veterinarian who helps to look after and care for Lolla. His son, Liam, is twelve-years-old. One of the key scenes in the book involves Liam being tied up when the crooks come to recapture Lolla. Now, this would be tense and interesting if it weren't run into the ground. The characters talk about this event CONSTANTLY. They can't shut up about it, as if it's the only thing of note that has happened to them. The reader doesn't need to be constantly reminded about information they already know. It becomes annoying and tiresome after a while when the narrative keeps trying to remind us that the bad guys did a bad thing to a good guy. Ok, we get it. We got it the first time. There's also Violet Culpepper, the girl who has a crush on Liam—creating some kind of romantic subplot involving the two which we're assuming is supposed to cute and funny (because Liam isn't having any of it). However, it did come across as more unnecessary fluff. All in all, though, this is a really fun, enjoyable, and entertaining read, especially for all the animal lovers out there. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
Becoming Fearless is an empowering, inspiring, and thought-provoking self-help & motivational book by Dr. Benjamin Ritter! It is an excellent read for those interested in personal & professional development, full of positive principles, affirmations, mottos, mantras, and practical advice. In other words, this book is full of words to live by! Here are a few of our favorite/key takeaways: * “The greatest lie we tell ourselves is that avoiding fear keeps us safe when it actually limits our potential.” This passage sums up the core essence of this book: not letting fear control you, limit you, and keep you from reaching your full potential as a professional and a human being. * “When you aim 10 times higher, you push yourself beyond your limits and open doors to new possibilities you never thought you could reach.” This is an alternate, enhanced version of the more popular saying “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you'll land among the stars” by Norman Vincent Peale, which is also mentioned in the same section. Basically, this is about setting your expectations higher and not limiting yourself with things like fear and apprehension. * Shift from a victim mindset to a creator mindset This was our favorite part of the whole book! In this particular section, Ritter talks about how playing the victim or adopting a victim mindset hold you back. It's true! It's along the lines of what we often say in our reviews when authors complain excessively about being a certain race or having a certain living situation. What are you going to do about it? A victim mindset is also a defeatist mindset. It doesn't accomplish anything positive, it just keeps you down and holds you back. Instead, adopt a creator mindset! Creators find solutions to problems and ways to improve their situations, even if those situations seem bad initially. They take responsibility for what they can control and make the best of it. * "If you look back at what you cared about 10 years ago, you'll probably laugh at how little it matters today." Priorities change. What you cared about 10 years ago is likely not going to be a priority for you now. This is from one of the most thought-provoking and eye-opening parts of the book, and it really got our noggins working! It's true! Anyone who has gotten married and/or had kids know that your significant other and/or kids naturally begin to supersede a lot of your old priorities like diet, exercise, showering, shaving, watching contact sports, and working overtime. So, consider the bigger, long-term picture. * "Stop when you're 75% full. The remaining 25% is for comfort, reflection, and readiness for what comes next." This is a variation of the more popular “80/20 rule” in which you commit 80% of your effort toward work and 20% into enjoying and relaxing. Notably, Ritter puts an even higher priority on enjoying and relaxing life than other advocates of the 80/20 rule do, even giving an extra 5%. In later sections, he even talks about working less and delegating responsibilities to people even if they do worse than you at the tasks. Don't burn the candle at both ends. Your mental health and well-being is important too. * Be open to feedback and ask for it to improve yourself. Interestingly, later sections concentrate on ignoring critics, which made us wonder, What about constructive criticism and feedback? The author seems to advocate for filtering our negativity and the opinions and criticisms of people who make us feel worse and hold us back. This leads to the next point... * Cut out the toxic people and things in your life. If something makes you feel uncomfortable or triggers fear, ask yourself why. Curate an environment that builds you up instead of drags you down. * Create new beliefs, even temporary ones that get you from situation to situation and keep you headed toward your goals. This reminded us of fitness and dieting advice like: - I believe that I don't eat junk food - I believe that I exercise 3 days a week These could also be things like: - I believe that I am good enough - I believe that I can do it * Every issue presents an opportunity for growth, development, and learning * Fear is like information. It is a response to information. You can use it positively, but don't let it hold you back and control you. Use it like information and take control of it. * Before you give up on a problem, acknowledge it and brainstorm 5-10 solutions * Treat everyone like it's their birthday This was an interesting bit of advice! It resonated with us. We do tend to treat people a bit differently on their big day, making them feel special. It is often said that people always remember how you make them feel. * There are three components of job satisfaction: Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Rewards, Work Environment and Relationships Evaluate these. If one (or more) of these is off, then it may be time to talk to your manager about improvements that could be made. There's no harm in asking. This is an excellent overall book. There are certain aspects of this book that keep it from being even better. It's highly idealistic and generalized. We wouldn't exactly call all of the advice in this book realistic, specific, or even practical. For example, the author constantly talks about working less and going home (from work) early. A lot of this advice would work in an ideal world. However, sadly, this is not an ideal world. You can't just magically wave your hand and work less hours and leave work whenever you like. You've got duties, responsibilities, and bills to pay. In any case, this is still a great read for some inspiration and words to live by. Check it out on Amazon!  Score: 94+/100 (9.4+ out of 10)
The Pact by Lisa Darcy combines two things that we absolutely love: FAMILY and SPORTS! Mix that with some drama and romance, and you've got yourself a pretty darn compelling story! The Pact follows the dynamic sibling duo of Samantha & Annie Callahan, two highly-successful Australian tennis players. A perennial top-ranked doubles teams, they were even gold medalists in the Olympics! However, the once-inseparable sisters, now in their late 20s—both disgruntled in different ways—are at a diverging point. The eldest, Samantha (age 29), is obsessed with success and being the best in the sport. She takes losing a game at the Australian Open like it's an absolute catastrophe, becoming emotional, angry, and belligerent at herself, her sister, and others. However, before you jump to the conclusion that Samantha is the bad, crazy, or troubled one, the truth is actually much more nuanced. In fact, it would be easier to argue that Annie (age 26) is more troubled, problematic, and less stable of the two. Annie is young, scatterbrained, vulnerable, and impressionable. Meanwhile, Samantha is focused, determined, and goal-driven. She is also far and away the more responsible of the two, as older siblings tend to be. Though Annie is frustrating, it's hard not to sympathize with her. Put yourself in her shoes. For two decades, the only life she has known has been tennis and tennis competitions. Alongside Samantha, she has practiced and trained tirelessly day after day after day. She has been hurt and injured (like most serious athletes). She has reached the heights of the Olympics and the equivalent of national and world championships. However, she has never gotten to truly live. She has all this fame and attention, yet no true friend or acquaintance except for her sister and their coach, Bear (Bern Devlin). Enter Erik Sorensen, a toxic tennis groupie who seems to shower Annie with all the romantic and intimate attention she has long been deprived of. Erik effectively serves as the main villain or antagonistic figure, at least in the early half of the story. Erik proposes to Annie right before her crucial semi-finals match in the Australian Open—an ill-timed, inconsiderate proposal that Samantha rightfully identifies as a distraction. Erik's lack of consideration is on full display throughout the story. However, his lack of consideration is the least of his faults. Even worse, he is possessive, controlling, and manipulative of Annie, even needing to know where she is and who she's talking to at all times. He's also flirtatious and untrustworthy. Samantha correctly identifies Erik as a womanizer, often targeting female tennis players at gatherings and parties. In fact, a few of the other female tennis players (like Dragana Lukic of Serbia) are said to have dated him. Ironically, Erik doesn't speak, read, or understand English very well. We are told that he is Norwegian and from Norway, so he often speaks in broken English and uses awkward phrasing like calling Annie his “new Koala.” Perhaps most annoying of all, Erik is a constant distraction. During practices, he often shouts advice and instructions to Annie that run contrary to her coach, Bear. Annie's toxic relationship with Erik leads her down a dark path including a meteoric plunge in her tennis career and a falling out with Samantha—who is also affected by the deterioration of her sister and doubles teammate. This leads her to make seriously poor choices that could probably warrant a trigger warning and spoiler warning all at once. In any case, this is compelling story about siblings, sisters, family, and sports. It is full of many ups and downs, highs and lows. Both Samantha and Annie are very compelling characters. Later on in the story, we are also introduced to other characters like Courtney Gold, a young prodigy who is paired with Samantha as a substitute during Annie's escapades. Courtney is snobbish, arrogant, unreliable, and even lazy at times. We're even told that she hates to move around and use any sort of quickness or agility when she plays, opting to stay put like a statue as much as possible. Despite being portrayed as unlikable and annoying, Courtney effectively serves as a foil to both Annie and Samantha. She represents the sister that both sisters are losing, the sister that both sisters miss deep down in their hearts. Courtney is also an interesting character in her own right. She's a glimpse into what Samantha and Annie might have been like when they were younger—self-assured and pig-headed. There's always a question as to whether or not Courtney will be invited or included in gatherings because she gets on everyone's nerves. There's also the aforementioned Dragana Lukic who starts to suffer from a weight problem later on in the story. It's actually quite relatable and sympathetic, oddly enough. Her increased weight slows her down and dramatically affects her performance on the court. This is also an issue that Annie, in particular, can relate to. Her own weight fluctuates along with changes in her life, attitude, and circumstances. There are a few love interests in this book aside from the villainous Erik. There's Zach Baxter, a former tennis player who had career-ending injury and who turned to being a tennis photographer. He comes to greatly admire and crush on Annie. There's also Coach Bear (Bern), who has long had a mutual attraction and affection for Samantha. It could be argued that Samantha and Coach Bear are the main couple and romantic duo of the story as a whole. There's a lot of romantic and sexual tension in their relationship. As player and coach, Samantha and Bear recognize each other as professionals and as “the best” in their respective roles. However, this makes starting and maintaining a romantic relationship very dangerous. Each of them knows that if they were to break up, it could end either of their careers (if not both), so they are apprehensive to pursue a romantic relationship. This is a story full of drama and interesting characters. We loved that involved a great sport like tennis and that it is a uniquely Australian story, all the way down to the sisters sharing a pack of Tim Tams (Australian chocolate biscuits). It does drag a little bit, especially 3/4ths of the way in. There are also errors here and there. For example: “For what’s it’s worth” It's strange how this book is actually quite good, has a compelling premise, and has interesting characters, yet we expected to enjoy it even more. Maybe it's the fact that plot became a bit too winding-and-weaving. Maybe it's the fact that the book got away from being about tennis (which we found unique and exciting) and being more of a romance/drama, which we read about all the time. In any case, it was still an interesting and compelling read. Check it out on Amazon! |
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