These are commendably clear and concise histories of expansive topics. Is there anything that can be done to reverse cultural and political decline? Maybe. That is the conclusion that historian Bruce D. Thatcher reaches in his excellent... Read More

Golden, glistening, gritty grains of sand shimmer and shine in Cocoretto’s "Off to the Beach!" A tactile delight with terry towels and slick sunglasses, the textured pages, complete with embossed braille symbols, use simple words and... Read More

This thriller presents an interesting look into the edgy lifestyles of avant-garde artists and others living on the fringes of society. A wild ride through the world of custom bikes, high-end orchestras, and the daily lives of some... Read More

Ikeda has much to say about the human condition, and he does so artfully and with great understanding. Daisaku Ikeda’s Hope is a Decision gives a broad and insightful overview into the thinking of the acclaimed Buddhist religious... Read More

Maud Macrory Powell’s *City of Grit and Gold *is a historical novel that places a family conflict at the center of a political battle, raising questions about privilege, duty, and assimilation. Twelve-year-old Addie lives with her... Read More

"The Grumpface" is light and fun, and the grumpiness and daftness of its leads are sure to set children giggling. B. C. R. Fegan’s "The Grumpface" is a familiar and appealing story about a cursed forest troll, who serves as a... Read More

Combining personal narrative and climate change research, this catastrophic book is capable of shaking the most secure temperament to its core. The best way to look at "China Lake" is as a long essay. The author seeks (and obtains)... Read More

Major League Baseball has gone to war with itself—the Black Sox gambling scandal, collective-bargaining negotiations in the late 1960s, steroid use—and also against Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I when more than 1,250... Read More