The plotting of this book set during WWII is used perfectly to depict the human tendency to ignore atrocities. "The Ladders of Death" is a beautifully written and compelling historical novel that’s as much a call to action against... Read More

Dark threads of racial injustice underscore the multiple plot points of this detailed historical novel. Erica Bell skillfully uses a historical backdrop for her compelling fiction in Hilda and the Ship’s Doctor. During a treacherous... Read More

Universal struggles of balancing family and work put this futuristic novel of firefighting technology into context. Many of us feel gratitude for the technological gains made in our lifetime. But with these advances come drawbacks; many... Read More

The concept at the heart of the book, spreading awareness of conservation issues through fiction and fantasy, is fresh, exciting, and meaningful. The Last Biome: And the Five Clades by Hazel R. Espinar combines magic and science in a... Read More

This imaginative dystopian thriller tackles present-day problems as it ventures to Mars and back. In "Dust in the Wind", William A. Hutchison explores a dystopian future beset by the effects of severe climate change. With few options... Read More

Amid a series of interesting twists that keep the pages turning, topics like schoolyard bullying are covered with a straightforward pragmatism that helps the moral message stand out clearly. In "Anthony", Harold J. Fischel chronicles the... Read More

A one-company town falters, and amid the human drama, nature begins to reclaim what had been lost. Elizabeth O. Dulemba’s illuminating historical novel, A Bird on Water Street, recounts the legacy of copper mining in Coppertown, a... Read More

Ethical questions give depth to the characters in this fascinating, gruesome mystery. Jake Wood travels to Los Angeles to visit his cousin, but when he arrives, she is nowhere to be found. In this engaging mystery, "Barely Breathing",... Read More