A columnist and author of several essay collections, Mary Lou Sanelli writes about everyday life, but does so in a way that feels like a friend sharing stories; it’s the details more than the circumstances themselves that stand out. "A... Read More

Some of the experiences Craig McLaughlin writes about in "Passing on Curves" could provide enough material for an entire book. He spent much of his childhood on a farm where his mother’s boyfriend collected jaguars, tigers, monkeys,... Read More

Peter Rupert Lighte is a natural storyteller, and "Host of Memories" collects short stories from throughout his life to form a memoir. Some of the childhood memories are as simple as searching for supplies for a family gathering or... Read More

One of the worst wildfires in history hit Texas in 2011, and Randy Fritz was among those who lost his home to the blaze. Rather than a mere account of the fire, "Hail of Fire" is the story of Fritz and his family, told with the fire as... Read More

Since the early 1980s, documentary filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson has crossed the border between the United States and Mexico to tell stories, and she recounts those experiences in "The Haunting of the Mexican Border". She writes about the... Read More

The safety of two worlds—both equally complex and populated by equally interesting characters—is at stake in this exciting story that will pique the curiosity of mechanically minded kids. Clunky robots, centuries-old mysteries, and... Read More

In a large bowl, add a pinch of Alice in Wonderland, a spoonful of Gulliver’s Travels, and a smattering of Treasure Island. Stir slowly while pouring in a cup of The Wizard of Oz. Now douse the whole thing with clever tomboy snark, and... Read More

Most of us don’t have a friend like Arjun to explain to us about sanatana dharma, varnas, samskaras, and atman, but Cameron’s Hindu pal shows him that we only fear what we don’t know. In this concise, approachable story, Khadija... Read More