Adam (author of How to Become An Intelligence Analyst) delivers an action-packed race against the clock in his fiction debut. Abu Ishmael al-Rashid, Muslim leader of the terrorist group Al-Baghdadi Brigade (ABB), is on a quest to restore the Islamic Caliphate’s power in the Middle East. As he recruits followers in Syria and Iraq, and the resources to construct a dirty bomb capable of mass destruction, al-Rashid lands in the crosshairs of the United State Government and President Addison Hopewell, who must decide whether a strike on ABB is warranted.

The narrative, set in the not-so-distant future of 2026, is starkly realistic. Thanks to his background as an intelligence officer, Adam delivers behind-the-scenes footage of military intelligence, political warfare, and White House situation room meetings that feel intensely authentic. As President Hopewell and her advisors keep tabs on the action happening in the Middle East—and try to devise a plan that avoids “policy indecision on how to counter Islamic fundamentalism”—newly appointed IC worker Jaylen Hayes stumbles onto evidence of ABB’s activities. When he starts digging deeper, he’s shocked to discover his childhood friend Amit Masry appears to be working for the ABB, and their connection may cause him problems. The chase that ensues builds nail-biting tension, with thousands of lives at stake, and Adam masterfully delivers a climactic conclusion that is both shocking and a realistic outcome of war.

Though brimming with violence, death, and high risk missions, Deadly Sands is fueled just as much by Adam’s inside knowledge of the tough, on-the-spot decisions American military personnel and the commander-in-chief must make in the midst of war. As the story unfolds, and ABB’s zone of terror expands into Israel and potentially beyond, the stakes become increasingly dangerous. Fans of military and tactical thrillers will be captivated by the ever-moving plot and rich characters in this engaging actioner.

Takeaway: A true-to-life, rapid-fire story of terrorism and military action.

Comparable Titles: Tom Young's The Warriors, Alex Ryan's Beijing Red.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

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“Would you be willing to destroy David to get them back?” one woman says to another in this pained, aggrieved romance from Crawford (author of Mariner Valley). “An accusation can work wonders.” The woman considering an accusation is BMW-driving yacht-seller Kim Lecture, seeking revenge and custody of the children after her divorce from David Nobile, a blue-collar single-dad who loves Hemingway, opera, and squirreling away what little money he earns to send his and Kim’s 12 year-old son to hockey camp. Kim has wanted to bring their pre-teen daughter, Breanna, to live with her, but that’s not the final impetus for her eventually leveling at David a formal accusation of sexual abuse of the children.

What sets her off is David’s surprising first post-divorce romance, with an up-and-coming singer with a breakout radio hit and a soft spot for soulful David and his “‘man muscles,’ built up from hard work.” Crawford dramatizes that burgeoning romance with warmth and wit, and scenes between David and Riley, the singer, pulse with longing and the pleasures of an unexpected connection. Also strong are moments showcasing David’s efforts to balance work and parenting, a portrait of a man doing his best even when overwhelmed. David’s eventual handling of son Nick’s refusal to get out of bed in the morning evinces a charming shrewdness.

But as David Nobile’s name suggests, he’s too good for this world, and so he’s smeared by Kim Lecture, whose own improbable name suggests, accurately, that she’s a caricature, powering the plot out of pique but rarely coming across as convincingly human. Even hockey coach Hank turns on David once Kim makes her outrageous accusations, but David has true support from Riley, who believes him—she notes that lies like Kim’s “just makes the next legitimate case that much harder to prosecute.” A tragedy late in the book reveals new layers in Kim and stands, besides David’s first encounter with Riley, as the strongest, most engaging passages of this lengthy novel.

Takeaway: Clean romance and unjust accusations power this unexpected love story.

Comparable Titles: Ken Jones’s Guilty Until Proven Innocent, Karen Robards’s One Summer.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about A Noble Paradise

Scientist and seeker Hayter’s debut tackles quantum physics and mysticism to explain our world with a refreshing tour beyond our perceptions. It’s a challenging endeavor she meets with grace. She started this journey, young, after reading Capra’s The Tao Of Physics, which piqued her curiosity. Then, while enrolled in a physical chemistry PhD program, she immersed herself in contemplative practices, and ever since has sought the truth through scientific foundation while simultaneously experiencing her spiritual side to discover how the two worlds connected. Now, she invites readers to explore those intersections, to “play” with physics, entanglement, and more “in a friendly way and begin to unpeel the congealed edges around our hearts, awaking the mystic within our being who can begin to sense its meaning for us.”

The good news is that, in Hayter’s hands, understanding the full complexities of string theory, M Theory, the Luminous Web of Barbara Brown Taylor, or Indra’s Net, isn’t required to appreciate the hyper dimensional interwoven universe. Her explanations dig into these topics, expanding the mind, but also explore what she has found in her “‘extracurricular’ Wisdom studies,” drawing from a host of spiritual and religious traditions, to make the case that teachings like “I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” suggest that Jesus knew more about quantum physics than most of the world today. In her Cosmic Web of Life, there is no separation between the spiritual and the scientific.

While some science-first readers may balk at the mysticism, Hayter stands as a clear, impassioned, open-minded guide, demonstrating throughout the value of setting aside preconceived notions. This bold, compact book asks probing questions (“What events in your life remind you of the glistening “spider’s web” of connection, beyond limitations of time and space?”) while arguing, with warmth and in inviting clarity, that science only bolsters the conviction that we share “an inherent oneness with all beings, and with the Source.”

Takeaway: A scientist’s inviting uniting of the quantum and the mystic.

Comparable Titles: Sabine Hossenfelder’s Existential Physics, Tara Swart’s The Source.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Cosmic Web: Hope for Our World Through Science and Spirituality

Joseph takes readers on a deeply personal spiritual quest in this contemplative debut. Her inquisitive nature—often at odds with her scientist parents’ more factual perceptions—prompted her continual wonder at the world around her from a young age. Joseph shares, with candid transparency, her early experiences growing up in that environment as well as her “lifetime of exploring the meaning of life.” She focuses heavily on the insights gleaned from her spiritual mentor, Dr. Kenneth Mills—a musician and philosopher she first encountered during her last year of high school—while weaving those insights into her own transformative beliefs on God, organized religion, and spirituality.

“Perhaps palate cleansing is the first phase of rebranding God” Joseph, who was intensely curious about religion long before she crossed paths with Mills, writes. She goes on to share, "I was seeking answers while also seeking acceptance and belonging," and through Mills's unique style of public speaking, which incorporated "the oral tradition of spontaneous poetry and prose," Joseph discovered “God-consciousness,” a sense of Oneness and connection to a greater whole. She acknowledges struggling initially with conventional religious constructs, but through much soul-searching, Joseph eventually “rebranded” her own spirituality and initiated a research project to identify how others were doing the very same thing.

Joseph is a skilled writer, able to explore the nature of organized religion and spirituality from a global perspective while modeling how to personalize spiritual beliefs at the same time. Though the research statistics she includes are heavily focused on Canada (Joseph’s birthplace), any spiritually curious readers will find a wealth of information here. "The stigma and cult label surrounding spirituality outside of religion [has been] replaced by a new openness… to find meaning and satisfaction beyond what the material world or religion [has] to offer," Joseph pens—a convincing reminder that “releasement from the impediment of otherness” is the ultimate freedom.

Takeaway: Transformative exploration of God, organized religion, and spirituality.

Comparable Titles: Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now, Stephen Shaw's I Am.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Releasement

In this straight-forward, eye-opening guide to eating healthy, Fast offers an informative and honest exploration of rising obesity rates—and what can be done about it."The cure for obesity is not to focus on weight; it's to focus on health," Fast writes. With a high focus on actual consumption over calorie-counting and exercise, Obesity is a no-nonsense exploration into food, health, and human relationship with it. Highlighting the culprits, the causes, and the cure, Fast shares much practical advice, plus interviews with big food companies, examinations of the impact of “ultra-processed foods” (which Fast notes are “NOT food” at all), and scientific case studies with real results about food intake and its subsequent health impact.

Correlating one's intake of processed foods and the effects of addiction, Obesity sheds light on how processed foods can create an addictive type of craving in the human body and rewire the brain to want more, simulating the effect of never feeling fully satisfied. Citing the easy access people have today to processed foods, Fast makes the case that it’s not how much one eats that determines weight gain but what one is eating. The key, explored in clear, inviting language: eating whole, natural foods, as opposed to processed foods which lack natural nutrients, can drastically change one's health and overall body composition. Obesity also delves into the business of "big food" companies, such as Coca Cola and Nestle, whose profits can come at the cost of consumer health.

From 1985, where no states had an obesity rate over 15%, to 2020 where 35 states had an obesity rate over 30%, Fast shows through data and research the alarming trends in obesity rates while digging deeply into their causes. Blending the polemical with pragmatic self-help, Obesity showcases steps to becoming healthy through eating high nutrient foods and changing the way one views what one eats. This is a helpful guide for anyone in need of a health overhaul or those interested in well-researched food studies and how it pertains to weight gain.

Takeaway: A no-holds-barred look into the rising obesity rates and ways to get healthy.

Comparable Titles: Jason Fung's The Obesity Code, Jonathan Engel's Fat Nation.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Obesity: It's NOT what YOU THINK it is!

In this informative guide on making good decisions, Fast (author of Obesity…It’s NOT What YOU THINK It Is!) advises “the degree of happiness and satisfaction you’ll get out of life will ultimately come down to the quality of the decisions you make.” He cautions readers to avoid relying solely on intuition, offering instead a seven step decision-making process that outlines how to approach decisions scientifically, obtain objective feedback, and differentiate facts from bias and assumption. Good decisions are in everyone’s reach, Fast writes, asserting that “Becoming a skilled decision-maker is not about constantly striving to be right––it’s about being right when it really counts, and that is something every one of us can learn to do.”

Readers will appreciate the hands-on assessments, quizzes, and exercises Fast offers, making this resource not only technical but also well-rounded and accessible. He begins with an evaluation that identifies cognitive weaknesses, pointing out that everyone can fall prey to “lazy thinking” and bias that will negatively influence decision-making. Readers will find other handy tools throughout, namely a quiz that assesses current decision-making skills, case studies to illustrate the guide’s concepts, and a glossary of relevant terms. Fast breaks down the different facets that can impact decision-making, including groupthink, heuristics ("simple, efficient rules that help us form judgements and make decisions"), and cognitive biases—such as the tendency to ignore information that contradicts current beliefs and a preference for the status quo to remain unchanged.

Ultimately, Fast makes a decisive argument for why decision-making skills are crucial, and his straightforward guidance can be applied across a variety of settings. In his own words, decision-making is both a necessity and a privilege: "The defining feature of being a member of the human race––as opposed to any other creature on our planet––is our singular ability to make choices.”

Takeaway: Comprehensive guide on the art of choice.

Comparable Titles: Patrik Edblad's The Decision-Making Blueprint, Joseph Bikart's The Art of Decision Making.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Challenge of Choice

Jacobson’s debut is an elegant, engaging account of her life as a wife and mother facing a harrowing marriage, then as a single parent and eventual successful business executive. Unappreciated, obese, and struggling with an undiagnosed eating disorder, Marsha accepts Peter’s proposal even when she knows instinctively that “this marriage would nail me into a very bad box.” Later, even while dealing with divorce and a vengeful Peter, and mothering two little girls, she joins Harvard Business School. Though plagued by illness, she completes her course as “a decent student … but not a star,” and then starts work, happy to provide for her daughters. (Promised support from Peter never comes.) She marries longtime friend Jay, who is recovering from his wife’s suicide, but Jay’s traumatic childhood comes to haunt their marriage.

Jacobson’s excellent storytelling skills make the memoir riveting. She plunges us straight into the heart of things right from the beginning and is able to maintain this steady pace through the book. At the same time, the narrative is thoughtful and reflective when the story demands. Unpredictable and domineering, Peter is the most interesting character in the book, though for negative reasons. So is Judge Samuel. Marsha’s second husband Jay, meanwhile, endures the far-reaching consequences of childhood abuse, sensitive material that Jacobson handles with insight and empathy. Minnie and Julia, Marsha’s grandmothers, are incredibly strong and empathetic women who with their kindness and help support their neglected grandchild.

Jacobson’s career takes her to fascinating places, such as Mattel headquarters in Japan, and she captures them and their cultures with nuance and welcome bursts of wit. She addresses work challenges and the several ways in which she tackled them. Her obvious passion for her chosen career is evident in these anecdotes. Jacobson’s never-say-die attitude, her immense love for her two girls, and her strong narrative skills make this memoir an absorbing and rewarding read.

Takeaway: Compelling memoir of breaking free of a controlling relationship to find business success.

Comparable Titles: Anne Theroux’s The Year of the End, Indra Nooyi’s My Life in Full.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Wrong Calamity

Young readers will delight in Marlys Gadow’s charming holiday debut, edited by Carl Gadow, that follows Santa and his reindeer as they diligently work to deliver Christmas gifts on time. It’s Christmas Eve, and while Santa doublechecks his nice list, Mrs. Claus worries—she’s concerned the list is too long for Santa to handle this year, and she wonders if the reindeer can manage the workload. “What if you have to wait until they eat and rest? If you’re not home by dawn, I’ll worry,” she tells Santa. But Donner is quick to reassure her the team is up for the challenge, and off they fly into the night.

Mrs. Claus was right—there has been an unusually high number of nice kids this year, and Santa has his work cut out for him. His cheerful attitude keeps the reindeer (and this sweet story) going, but when the last toy is delivered, they’re desperate for a break. Santa agrees to a short rest, but, of course, the reindeer are understandably exhausted and fall into a deep sleep. Santa sets about unwrapping a present hidden in the bottom of his bag—a present with no name tag—which turns out to be a winsome rocking horse, just his size. Gadow’s story invites readers to join Santa in the fun surprise of anticipating and discovering a gift, and the rocking horse turns out to have some Christmas magic in it—a lucky break, given the reindeer are too sleepy to fly him home on time.

Arif’s brightly hued illustrations paint a pretty picture of snow-covered hills and twinkling stars while Santa and his crew fly all over the world, and kids will chuckle at the story’s festive ending. A hand-quilted wall hanging served as inspiration for the story’s background, a fun touch that gives the book extra meaning. For those little ones with vivid imaginations, this holiday story will warm hearts.

Takeaway: Even Santa needs some Christmas magic in this warmhearted holiday tale.

Comparable Titles: Caroline Crowe’s Santa’s New Beard, Laura Bunting’s Another Book About Santa.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+

Click here for more about Santa's Magic Rocking Horse

This spry novel from Light, writing under a pen name, vaults into one of perennial frays of English literature: contesting the authorship of the works we know of as Shakespeare's, the plays and sonnets that are the very headwaters of the English language. In lengthy prefatory material, Light identifies Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, “the most well-rounded advanced scholar of the English Renaissance,” as the true bard, arguing—like many before—that the historical record, the complex cultural and political dynamics of the Elizabethan era, and richness of reference and knowledge in the plays themselves simply don’t match the long-established attribution of the works to “the Stratford man.” The novel itself finds Harry Haines, a contemporary playwright who has researched “the consequences of Elizabethan literary controls,” striving to save the Trenton, New Jersey, Shakespeare festival and resolved to investigate the truth behind the possibility of the earl’s authorship, challenges that Light cleverly binds together.

Light takes on the theory with his director, Lance, as they create a production of a modernized Hamlet while convincing the rich, egotistical wife of their former wealthy patron to fund the festival by offering her the role of Queen Elizabeth. Light’s erudite, engaging novel explores contexts of authorship, theater, and intrigue in this age and in Shakespeare’s, blending historical enigmas, contemporary stage drama, and a welcome sense of play. While the prose at times edges into the essayistic, Light is clever and involving throughout, offering deft wordplay and a sense of the politics of theater, then and now.

The dramatic juxtaposition of medieval and modern, spurred by conspiracies and drama, provides plenty of insight on the importance of studying history and literature. Lovers of the mysteries of Shakespeare—and anyone fascinated by why those mysteries and the work itself remain so urgent—will enjoy and be challenged by this crisply stimulating literary experience.

Takeaway: Playful novel of theater, mysteries, and the question of Shakespearian authorship.

Comparable Titles: Charlie Lovett’s The Bookman's Tale, Julie Schumacher’s The Shakespeare Requirement.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Which of Shakespeare's Why

Malone’s adventurous debut middle-grade historical fantasy takes readers back to the California gold rush, where a fantastical myth is real and in danger of being discovered. Twelve-year-old Ben Coolahan lived a comfortable life in Boston with his aunt, until his father died in an accident in the family mine in California. Ben was sent for by his step-grandmother who now ran the mine, at his father’s request, as the only remaining heir. Upon his arrival, Ben quickly learns he’s now in a much different, much dirtier, much more dangerous world. The medallion and encrypted letter left for him by his father lead to clues he never would’ve expected: the elf-like Tommyknockers aren’t just real, they’re in danger—and Ben is running out of time to save them.

Written for middle graders, Malone instead creates a great example of a book for all ages. Both adults and children will be immediately drawn into the well-researched history of the gold rush, never shying away from the hard truths of not only how the miners lived, but of what happened to the land being mined as well. Malone keeps readers drawn in with much mystery and adventure, all seen through the eyes of an engaging, easy-to-cheer-for young protagonist, as Ben learns who he can trust and works with them to solve the equations and codes to uncover the hidden messages from his father.

The fantasy element comes from a real myth told by Cornish miners. Tommyknockers were said to have made knocking sounds in the mines to warn miners of impending danger, but are never seen. In this story, Ben’s father discovers they’re real, and they live inside what’s called a “Mother Lode”—an enormous amount of gold. They must live under this great golden dome underground, and they will die without it. While Ben works to keep the miners away as they inch closer, he also learns the effects human contact has made on the Tommyknockers, which will leave readers reflecting on humanity itself, plus fear and greed.

Takeaway: Phenomenal combination of history and fantasy in the California Gold Rush.

Comparable Titles: Avi’s Gold Rush Girl, B.B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Knocktopia

Williams draws on years of professional sales experience to deliver this concise solo debut on training sales teams to grow and expand in response to ever-changing market demands. “Diligence is both a matter of methodical, excellent work and a matter of character,” she writes, and her guide breaks down 10 “dimensions of diligence” that she promises “can be operationalized within the business to drive the best results.” Predicting continued market rebound, Williams urges leaders to prep their teams to respond proactively, an outcome that requires flexibility and, most importantly, the willingness to forgo quick fixes for long-term, proven solutions to sales problems.

Every sales team experiences obstacles, and the answer to resolving those obstacles, according to Williams, lies in her Sales Effectiveness Program—an “alignment effort” that includes sales vision clarity, training managers to perform as coaches, and helping salespeople master 10 crucial diligence dimensions, broken down into two categories: “selling dimensions” and “personal leadership dimensions.” She hits the highlights of each dimension, such as the ins and outs of growing strong, productive relationships (a crucial dimension, given the sales industry’s basis on relationship development), mastering the art of persuasive communication, adhering to a service mindset, and more. Williams lists “watchouts” and core beliefs for each dimension, and she recommends businesses spotlight their sales methodology, process, and development plan to increase overall effectiveness.

The material is tailored for those professionals with a solid basis in sales know-how, and Williams includes handy tools—such as a suggested scorecard for comparing interview performances and two-year example project plans—that leaders will appreciate. She recommends her diligence dimensions—described as “ideal seller behaviors”—are applied flexibly, according to company needs and desired outcomes, but their significance is obvious throughout, as Williams advises, “A company’s very existence will rise and fall on its sales performance.” This is a resource sales professionals will turn to again and again.

Takeaway: In-depth resource on improving sales team performance.

Comparable Titles: David Burkus’s Best Team Ever!, Michael T. Bosworth and Ben Zoldan’s What Great Salespeople Do.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Diligence Fix

An idyllic day in the life of “professional powerhouse and supermom” Rochette is shattered when a distracted driver nearly kills her in a suburban crosswalk, a nightmare experience that catalyzes this inspirational memoir debut. Her survival is miraculous but leaves her grappling with uncomfortable questions. Was she “saved for a reason?” Is it “selfish” to receive help when she’s “already so lucky?” Rochette explains her hyper-vigilance against being needy: “I was raised on self-sufficiency and independence, on the American dream of blood, sweat, and bootstrapping.” As she comes to grips with her serious physical injuries, PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injury, Rochette sees a dark side to this extreme “mentality of self-sufficiency” for the first time, beginning with the devastating realization that, for her, “dying under a car would have been much easier…than surviving with grace.”

Rochette’s friends, family, and even hairstylist often model the grace she’s so eager to find. With an open, conversational style that pulls no punches, Rochette creates an intimate portrait of her recovery from trauma, and how she made peace between her faith in “bootstrapping” and the very real limitations she was left with after the accident. Though the insights in the book’s closing section (cheekily titled “My Sermon”), are familiar truisms, i.e. “be vulnerable,” “love big,” and “say sorry,” they are nevertheless hard-earned and inarguable wisdom from a survivor eager to “pay it forward.”

Following her therapist’s suggestion, “you can try to hide your cracks, or you can celebrate them for how they make you beautiful,” allows Rochette to reframe the accident as her “Unbreakable Day,” and to understand vulnerability not as a character flaw, but as “the other side of mental toughness.” Her story is rich with unforgettable details, her candor is remarkable, and her gentle humor eases tension in all but the darkest moments.

Takeaway: A survivor’s inspirational lessons in refusing perfectionism and redefining strength.

Comparable Titles: Allison Pataki’s Beauty in the Broken Places, Céline Santini’s Kintsugi: Finding Strength in Imperfection.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Unexpected Benefits of Being Run Over

Six year-old Marnie narrates this approachable and conversational introduction to the concept of inclusion in Miller’s big-hearted picture book. Covering differences such as ability, race, skin tone, and more in broad strokes, Marnie’s precociously wise narration draws readers in with questions addressed directly to readers (“What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?”) interspersed throughout the text, especially in the latter half of the book when she shares facts about herself and asks questions of the audience to engage them as well. Featuring vibrant, hyper-realistic digital illustrations, We’re the Same, We’re Different, and We All Belong is an interactive introduction to broad social emotional learning topics.

No artist is credited with the book’s illustrations, mostly of Marnie and other smiling young people of diverse backgrounds, presented in warmly lit settings with a glossy, digital sheen. At times inconsistent in style and characterization, these images sometimes look faintly familiar, especially a glimpse of a fairy and an abominable beast, though they do bring life and connection to the story and lesson.

Marnie is a memorable narrator—“I like playing with my dolls even if I’ve cut their hair off and fed them so much food they smell like egg sandwiches and tuna!”— though her age on occasion seems out of sync with the text, which builds to inspirational life lessons like “Mistakes help me learn!” Regardless, young readers are likely to appreciate opportunities to answer questions and reflect on their own lives and the ways in which they’re different or the same as their friends, classmates, neighbors, and more. While the discussion of differences is broad, We’re the Same, We’re Different, and We All Belong offers a conversational introduction to the basics of inclusion and in fact is likely best suited as a conversation starter with children.

Takeaway: Inviting introduction to inclusion as told by a six year-old narrator.

Comparable Titles: Cyana Riley’s Not So Different, Aisha Saeed’s The Together Tree.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about We're the Same, We're Different, and We All Belong

A retired military lifer and non-commissioned officer who served tours in Bosnia and Iraq, Pinion reflects on his experience with a book that’s partly a compendium of funny stories and leadership lessons, but also a sort of memorial and expression of grief for soldiers lost along the way. The book is funny, as the title suggests, but also resonant thanks to Pinion’s willingness to be vulnerable and expose issues regarding mental illness in the military. Still, it's obvious throughout that he loves the Army and believed in his missions. As a cavalry scout, specializing in frequently dangerous reconnaissance missions and house-to-house fighting—life-or-death situations for him and the soldiers under his command—he had to believe.

Each story is told in roughly chronological order over the course of his career as a soldier, and each chapter describes an experience that taught him a lesson. Early on, a “ballsy” platoon sergeant sent a company of soldiers back from a gunnery range to complete prerequisite training they hadn’t yet taken. Pinion sees the wisdom in this: you should never turn down the opportunity to train if a lack of it could prove fatal. Another story finds Pinion impersonating an officer to help his platoon sergeant get out of trouble, something he did willingly because the sergeant loved his men, while a wild incident in which a superior asked for help proving his wife’s infidelity taught Pinion to question illegal or immoral orders.

As a leader, Pinion emphasizes training and discipline so soldiers know their jobs—and strived to show his troops that he cares about them by being willing to get out in the field, unlike one commander in Iraq who never wanted to leave the base. Pinion is emotional in detailing the stories of one of his men who jumped on a grenade to save others and a beloved, enthusiastic soldier killed by a sniper. His unflinching discussion of PTSD, treatment that saved his life, and his deep concern for his soldiers all have real power.

Takeaway: Wit, lessons, and touching tributes from a career soldier.

Comparable Titles: J. Pepper Bryars’s American Warfighter, Tom Satterly and Steve Jackson’s All Secure.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about CHOP THAT SH*T UP!

“I never thought I’d be sitting on such an expensive toilet,” notes the narrator of this outraged/outrageous satire, a pitch-black, Sweeney Todd-tinged story of contemporary class, murder, deep disgust, and occasional tenderness. The title suggests what the narrator will do to secure that diamond-seated toilet for himself, his wife—known only as Mrs. Sykes—and the baby that Mrs. Sykes is suddenly, inexplicably carrying in a womb she had previously joked was so barren it's fit only for scorpions. The author of the miracle pregnancy seems to be the mysterious Mr. P, or Mr. Pyjamas, who makes the couple’s dreams come true, from sudden wealth to dazzling abs. The price? The narrator must furnish Mr. P with fresh bodies.

To meet Mr. P’s need, and to keep his family from the horrors of living in a “council estate,” the narrator targets the “mentally-ill, germ infested vermin” whose existence most pains him: his and Mrs. Sykes’s extended family, a lot of “degenerates” who can’t get through a get-together without screaming matches and public sex acts. The narrator’s deep distaste for such offenses is matched by his relish in describing them—in fact, other than showing loyalty to and providing for his immediate family (“Not many commoners are given such an opportunity”) what he relishes most in life seems to be the registering of his disgust at “pointless lives,” at “ignoramuses,” at the large breasts of relatives, at a world where “everything and everyone is pointless.”

Readers who can stomach the pointed, unrelenting repulsiveness, and who can be bothered to invest in the fate of a family murderer, will find sharp prose and a story that gets wilder and more inventive as it goes, revealing what Mr. P wants the bodies for, the shocking scope of the operation, and just how far the narrator can be pushed. Since it opens at such a pitch, the novel’s only real suspense is whether Charlton’s zeal for fresh, repugnant, quasi-comic thought-experiment horrors will ever flag. Spoiler: it doesn’t. The biggest surprise, though, is that this soiling journey arrives at an ending that achieves poignance despite the bleakness.

Takeaway: Pointedly outrageous story of class, murder, and life’s emptiness.

Comparable Titles: Michel Houellebecq, Michael Sonbert’s We Are Oblivion.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

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Eby offers readers a warmhearted debut that captures the true magic of the holiday season. Designed for children who are curious about whether Santa Claus is real—those young readers who “possess the wisdom, kindness, and strength to be trusted”—the story tackles the doubt that comes with growing up, in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Readers are encouraged to think deeply about their Santa Claus musings—how he fits so many toys into one bag, how he manages to reach so many children in just one evening—and view those questions as a sign of growing up, while Eby transforms their doubts into an uplifting message on how Santa really exists in the heart of every caring, generous person.

The idea that Santa may not be just one person but instead is “many working in unison… their cooperation and shared trust create[ing] profound beauty” is appealing—and a gentle way to help young readers through what can be a difficult transition. To provide purpose and keep the Christmas spirit alive, Eby details three promises that kids can make to become a Santa themselves: create the magic, give generously, and protect the believers. At the story’s close, readers will find the “Oath of Three,” an opportunity to be sworn in as a Santa by their adult reader (charmingly referred to as a “Santa Elder”).

Harper’s vintage illustrations, suggesting the warm Americana of Norman Rockwell, add a softly textured feel that will charm readers of every age. Whether it’s a group of kids arguing at school about Santa’s true identity, the joyous expressions on young ones opening Christmas presents, or the antique holiday decorations draped throughout, Harper paints Christmas spirit across every page. The promise to “not only experience the magic of Christmas, but now have the power to create it” is marvelous, making this timeless story deserving of a spot on the Christmas bookshelf.

Takeaway: Touching story of the importance of creating Christmas magic.

Comparable Titles: D.W. Boorn’s The Big Secret, B.K. Gendron’s The (Wonderful) Truth About Santa.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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