From That Flame

Author: MaryAnn T. Beverly
Publisher: Kallisti Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction / Biography
ISBN: 978-0-9761111-8-4
Pages: 348
Price: $19.95

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In September, 2001, just two days before terrorists struck the United States, Ahmed Shah Massoud was assassinated. This great Afghan military leader, known as the Lion of Panjshir, had been fighting the Taliban and Osama bin Laden before most of us in the US even knew of that terrorist’s existence.

When MaryAnn T. Beverly read about Massoud, she was instantly captivated by the heroic actions he had been taking in valiantly and steadfastly fighting for his country’s freedom. From That Flame attempts to capture the essence of his personality through a fictional account of an interview with a female journalist, Michelle Garrett.

Michelle initially approaches Massoud because of his strong stand in favor of women’s fair and equal treatment. But she switches the slant of her article after being caught up in several battles with the Taliban, as his forces try to fend off their sneaky foe.

As Michelle interviews Massoud, we learn more about him as a person. History will show him as a brilliant military man, but there was a softer and gentler side to him that the author also wants people to see. A devout Muslim, he would pray with his men and alone, and he condemned the radical beliefs of the Taliban. He grieved each man’s death, even after many years of fighting. And Massoud was a loyal friend to those worthy of his friendship.

Although at times I felt the relationship between Michelle Garrett and Massoud didn’t ring quite true, I did agree with the author that a fictional account was the most appropriate means of showing us more about this extraordinary man. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, since I’ve never had much of an interest in what went on in the Middle East, but From That Flame is a surprisingly interesting story. Reading about the struggles in Afghanistan and how the people are affected puts US involvement there in a whole new perspective.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Author: Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. & Zoe Francois
Photos by: Mark Luinenburg
Genre: Cooking / Bread
ISBN: 978-0-312-54552-9
Pages: 336
Price: $27.99

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Homemade bread is a wonderful accompaniment to any good meal, but making a fresh loaf can be so time-consuming. We pick up a loaf at the store because it’s too much trouble to make one from scratch. But we don’t have to settle anymore with the five minutes a day system of creating artisan bread.

In the follow-up to Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, authors Hertzberg and Francois introduce a healthier loaf of bread, using whole wheat and grains. With their system, a large batch of dough is mixed, and then each day a section can be broken off to form a loaf. This batch can be stored up to two weeks, making several loaves over that time period. The five minutes refers to actual effort in shaping the ball of dough, but it doesn’t account for resting and baking.

A master recipe is provided, along with variations on that basic loaf, and some other healthy whole-grain options. I tried their method, and it made yummy bread as easily as described. With Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, bread-baking is easier and healthier than ever before.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Day & Night in the Forest

Author: Susan & Peter Barrett
Illustrator: Peter Barrett
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-0843-709438
Pages: 38
Price: $14.99

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The forest is a magical and mysterious place, both by day and by night. Day & Night in the Forest shows us the different kinds of forests and the animals that live there.

This beautifully illustrated book includes a four-page spread for both the daytime and nighttime scenes. Then, following the spreads, the conifer forest, dense forest, mixed forest and forest edge are shown in detail, along with the animals that live in that habitat.

Each forest type is explained in greater detail, and a paragraph for each animal describes a little about his activities in the daytime or at night. Eating habits, nesting behavior, and the ability to camouflage themselves and blend into their surroundings are some of the topics covered.

While this is not a comprehensive guide to forest life, Day & Night in the Forest is so beautifully illustrated that it will join our bird and wildlife books as a reference. Anyone who loves nature and forest animals will enjoy this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Posed For Murder

Author: Meredith Cole
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-312-37856-1
Pages: 256
Price: $24.95

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Lydia McKenzie’s photography is unique. Fascinated with the unsolved murders of young women in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, she recreates these scenes posing her friends as models. But she never anticipated these photos would lead to someone’s death.

When her friend, Marie, is murdered and posed exactly as she had been in one of the photos, Lydia is spooked. Someone had access to her work, and used it not only to kill her friend, but also to frame her for the murder. At times working with the homicide detectives assigned to the case, but also occasionally withholding information, Lydia tries to figure out who would want to murder Marie.

The killer is hot on her trail, and she needs to prevent the murders of any more of her friends, or herself, as she’s been warned. It’s a battle of wits that she’s determined to win.

Posed For Murder uses a clever background for murder, setting this story in the arts community, with an unusual form of art. The characters are believable and well-developed. But the one flaw I found with this mystery was the conclusion and revelation of the killer. Without giving too much away, I was a little disappointed at who this turned out to be. But overall, this was an enjoyable and intriguing story, and I look forward to seeing more of this new author’s work.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Pemba Sherpa

Author: Olga Cossi
Illustrator: Gary Bernard
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9768655-8-2
Pages: 32
Price: $15.95

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Kang Yi is only seven years old and a girl. But although her culture forbids her to be a Sherpa – a porter and guide through the Himilayas – that’s what she wants to do more than anything else.

Her brother, Pemba Sherpa, must go down the mountain every day to carry firewood up to his schoolroom so they can have heat for their classes. But one day she follows him down, determined to carry wood, too. What happens on the path that day changes both of their lives forever.

Pemba Sherpa was dedicated to Pemba Doma Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest via the North Face. It shows the courage even a young girl can have in the face of adversity, and how she can rise above her cultural limitations. Beautiful watercolor drawings accompany this delightful and inspiring story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

I AM Says, “You Are…”

Author: CJ Rapp
Publisher: Infusion Publishing
Genre: Christian / Inspiration / Devotional
ISBN: 978-0-9824790-0-1
Pages: 180
Price: $12.95

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Women often struggle with self-esteem issues. This general feeling of unworthiness is a message from the world, and does not come from God. If we study the Bible closely, we can see just how much God really treasures us.

In I AM Says, “You Are…”, author CJ Rapp has provided a 30-day devotional study designed to show women their true value as God’s children. Each day’s study touches on one message God has for us, such as “You are significant,” “You are beautiful,” and “You are royalty.”

These messages are accompanied by relevant Bible verses which back up the statements and provide positive reinforcement. Questions that guide us to “take out the trash” help remove our negative thinking about ourselves.

God truly loves us, even though the world often sends us messages that cause us to doubt our worthiness. This wonderful devotional reminds us that we are princesses of His kingdom, and God cares about us more than we can ever know. I highly recommend this study.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

My Story Bible

Author & Illustrator: Jan Godfrey & Paolo Bertolini Grudina
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Genre: Children / Bible stories
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2671-9
Pages: 142
Price: $12.99

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Children love to listen to and read Bible stories. But reading from the actual Bible text is too hard for small children, so it’s great to have a simplified version that kids can understand.

My Story Bible contains 66 of the most loved Bible stories, condensed into two page snippets that kids can read in one sitting. Bright and cheerful illustrations fill the pages, showing the happiness and love God’s people feel.

Kids can’t easily grasp the deeper meaning of Bible stories and they need to have them written in words they can comprehend. But I felt this Bible story book may have gone a little too far. Many of the names like the Prodigal Son, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments were removed to make reading easier. But in losing these titles, I felt the stories lost some of what made them unique.

Children will enjoy these stories, since they’re written in a very upbeat and kid-friendly manner. But those who revere the Bible as it’s written might have some issues with the changes made in My Story Bible to make it easier for kids to read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Running With the Bats

Author: Chris Holaves
Illustrator: John Goomas
Publisher: Astakos Publishing
Genre: Children / Bilingual
ISBN: 978-0-9792991-1-7
Pages: 64
Price: $15.95

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A boy is invited to play baseball with his friends, but before long, night creeps in. Now he’s all alone, and suddenly flying creatures swoop down. They chase him around, following him home, as he runs in terror through the darkness.

This boy has never seen a bat, and as they dive for mosquitoes, he panics and tries to shoo them away as he madly dashes away. The illustrations by John Goomas in pencil drawings of flying bats, trees with no leaves, and silvery moons peeking through wisps of clouds, create a spooky scene reminiscent of Halloween.

Running With the Bats is a rhyming story in English, translated into Spanish for a completely bilingual experience. Although bats seldom act the way they did in this story, the “attacking bats” made for a more scary read that kids will most likely enjoy. The last few pages explain some bat facts so these fuzzy winged creatures won’t seem so threatening.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy

Author: Martine Groeneveld
Illustrator: Brad Kunkle
Publisher: PT Book Publishing
Genre: Children / Touch therapy
ISBN: 978-0-9822959-0-8
Pages: 48
Price: $19.95

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One of the best things a mother can do for her child is to touch her. Hugs and kisses go a long way in the parent-child bonding process, but children can also benefit from other forms of touching. In Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy, registered nurse and licensed massage therapist Martine Groeneveld shows us other fun ways to connect with our children.

Kids love rhymes, games, songs and stories, and all of these are provided, along with some special touch techniques. Ants play while mom touches and rubs the child’s ear. “Guess the letter or number” can be played by touching the child’s back and drawing the symbol with your finger. And the itsy-bitsy spider can crawl up legs or arms while mom and child sing.

Touching children in a loving and appropriate manner has been proven to have many health benefits, including stimulating weight gain in babies, improving alertness and responsiveness, improving cognitive performance and brain development, and reducing aggression.

If you’re looking to help your child through touch therapy, or you’re simply looking to bond more closely with your child while having fun, Mommy, Draw Stars on My Tummy will be a valuable resource. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name

Author & Illustrator: Timothy Battle
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Children / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-60696-938-0
Pages: 28
Price: $9.99

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A handsome cat waits in a cage at the animal shelter. Although his tag says he’s Linus, only he knows what his real name is. Trouble is, he just can’t tell anyone!

All Linus can do is try to be his most winsome self, hoping to attract someone to his cage. He knows what a great cat he is, and he tries to show it to the people that visit. Finally, the magical day arrives, and Linus gets to leave the shelter and go to his new home.

Everyone loves a happy ending, and seeing a cat go home makes the reader feel good. So if you’re looking for nothing more than a sweet animal adoption story, Mr. Bo Finds a New Home and a New Name fits the bill. But this book lacks the action and tension that would have made it more memorable.

Reviewer: Alice Berger