“Putting aside all religious affiliations, 80 percent of Americans say they still believe in some notion of God or a greater spirit being," writes Bonair in this thoughtful guide to using mindfulness, meditation, and prayer to seek a true connection to the Spirit of God. While Bonair acknowledges that using the term “God” can be limiting, he aims to help those who are “spiritual but not religious” understand the divine nature of a “universal Creator” by exploring religious misconceptions and developing a fresh understanding of God’s character. That character, according to Bonair, is compassionate and gracious, the opposite of the angry and unforgiving deity often depicted in organized religion.

Readers will find this a valuable resource to quiet the noise of the physical world and tap into a deeper understanding of the spiritual realm. Bonair starts by breaking down the historical representations of God, touching on the interplay between science and faith, the ancient roots of Western religion, and the barriers created by spiritual myths—and he contends those barriers should be stripped away in order to see the “human attempt to connect and identify with the spirit phase of reality” underneath. To help readers experience a “personal spiritual experience,” Bonair offers a host of meditation and self-reflection techniques that will cultivate an open mind, including positive visualizations, developing meaningful prayer habits, and a convenient nine-step spiritual problem-solving method.

Bonair’s accommodating style allows readers the grace and opportunity to grow in a way that will align with their unique spiritual beliefs, and throughout the guide he contends that spirituality is a basic human need (it’s “ironic that millions of people who openly reject religion also profess to live spiritual lives, or at least to entertain spiritual ideals” he writes). This insightful debut is the perfect resource for anyone seeking to enhance their spiritual self.

Takeaway: This perceptive guide explores God and spirituality outside the conformity of organized religion.

Great for fans of: John Bartunek’s Spiritual but Not Religious, Linda A. Mercadante’s Beliefs Without Borders.

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

Click here for more about The God Experience

This first short story collection from Fountain Dead author Braun offers 13 horror tales complete with ghosts, jilted lovers, mysterious figures lurking in the night, and even a disheveled guardian angel in desperate need of an attitude adjustment. Braun masters the art of visceral writing by bringing the haunts to life through the sizzling of “biological slop” and frightening moments filled with oozing blood, chilling apparitions, and grotesque medical experiments. The unique combination of seemingly unrelated individual tales forms an eerie and unsettling menagerie of terror sure to entice horror fans.

The stories explore a variety of themes, such as love and kindness, religion and faith, and breaking cycles of abuse. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is a fast-paced warning to be careful what one wishes for, and “Guilty as Cell” explores the dangers of texting while driving. “Heirloom” blurs the line between fantasy and reality when a therapist contemplates the meaning of power, while “Legend Trippers” cautions readers that thrill seeking can come with disastrous consequences. Braun keeps her audience engaged while blending genres with offerings like “Lost Time” and “Stillborn,” mixing horror with a dash of speculative fiction, while “Dying for an Invitation” summons readers to Transylvania for a tale of twisted gothic love.

Several of Braun’s dynamic characters draw inspiration from familiar lore, such as vampires or ashrays—mythic creatures with ties to Scottish folklore, rumored to absorb their victims. Others skillfully toy with modern twists on familiar protagonists, including a loner teenage who happens to be a Satanist and a nurse who ends up at the center of a disturbing secret. Braun’s main players often find themselves in battles not only for their lives but for their souls, which heightens the stakes and conjures nail-biting tension. Horror fans will appreciate the variety of characters, themes, and scares in this unsettling collection.

Takeaway: A collection of fast-paced horror stories with memorable characters and terror galore.

Great for fans of: Laura Diaz de Arce’s Monstrosity, Bora Chung’s Cursed Bunny.

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

Click here for more about The Broken Darkness

Bowles’s fifth entry in his Westward Sagas series (after Comanche Trace) bursts with all the trappings of a classic frontier adventure—but also confronts the more subtle socio-political dynamics of mid-19th-century Texas. Will Smith, Texas Ranger turned sheriff of newly formed Starr County, is charged with maintaining the law of the land in a brutal zone along the Nueces Strip, a scorched territory rife with violence. As Will fights to preserve peace between the Tejanos and the Anglos, he must also round up dangerous fugitives, handle a brewing cholera threat, and act as political agent in a boundary dispute that has the potential to turn into civil war.

The complex relationships and baggage accompanying years of conflict between the inhabitants of Texas is expertly conveyed from the beginning. Texas Ranger Will is addressed as “Los Diablo Tejanos” (devil from Texas), a title left over from the Rangers’ cruelty during the Mexican-American War, and he faces a constant threat of attack, whether from the Mexican Army, the indigenous peoples, or the clash of Tejanos and Anglos in the unsettled climate of a newly annexed state. Some readers may find the character arcs unidimensional and slightly rushed, but Bowles compensates with a richly crafted setting.

The Nueces Strip’s arid and harsh landscape is vividly wrought, and Bowles is meticulous when it comes to the details, such as the pioneering use of the telegraph and the ever-present frontier need for gunpowder and munitions. The story’s themes—friendship, law, morality, and family—evoke the romanticism of the Wild West, but Bowles is careful to interlace them with the significant battles, bills, and legislation that shaped Texas history, and he carries off a conclusion that sets the stage for the next in the series. Historical fiction fans will be pleased with this intricate portrait of a spirited and untamed Texas.

Takeaway: Rich with history, this entry transports readers to the untamed lands of Texas.

Great for fans of: Cormac McCarthy’s The Crossing, A.W. Hart’s The Ranger.

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

Click here for more about Sherriff of Starr County

Bancroft (Why Does He Do That?) makes his fiction debut with the first in his Carrie Green mystery series, following intern journalist Green as she works to solve the disappearance of a young girl and her mother. When she receives the Morriston Chronicle’s low-priority assignment to cover Lauren Harbison and her missing 10-year-old daughter, Brandi, Green throws caution to the wind while digging for clues—and immediately feels sympathy for Kelly Harbison, Brandi’s divorced father, despite his gruff exterior. When Kelly, who’s screaming kidnapping to anyone who will listen, opens up to Green and shares insider details, it quickly catches the attention of law enforcement and skyrockets to a bigger concern.

Readers will be pleasantly surprised by Bancroft’s skillful buildup of tension and eye for logical revelations that drive the plot. And Bancroft doesn’t draw the line at delivering dramatic suspense: he smoothly incorporates social themes into the novel, giving readers the lowdown on family law and divorce dynamics in the process. As Green digs deeper into the Harbisons’ history, the red flags accumulate, leading her to suspect that Kelly may be more than just a concerned father—and there may be more at stake for Lauren and Brandi than anyone imagined. Green’s passion for the truth is evident despite her questionable tactics (like entering Lauren’s home without a warrant or going undercover in a local safe project for battered women), making her an engaging, surprising character.

Readers who appreciate a sense of justice driving their mysteries will relish Bancroft’s plot development, and his reference to real-life court cases elevates the storyline. Some characters fit too easily into the tropes of the genre, particularly the law enforcement officials who take a backseat to an entry-level journalist more adept at finding and parsing clues, but the satisfying conclusion ties it together neatly and will leave readers curious for the next installment.

Takeaway: This satisfying mystery debut finds a young journalist investigating the disappearance of a mother and daughter.

Great for fans of: Samantha Jayne Allen’s Pay Dirt Road, Karin Slaughter.

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

Click here for more about In Custody: A Carrie Green Novel

Stevenson debuts with this inventive Christian thriller that pits a family of believers, charged for generations as “defenders of the Light,” against unholy threats and mysteries, including demons, back mists, and the extraterrestrial. The angel Eliel, an old family friend, comes with “a memory of the past … and a memory of the future” for Ben, the Brought family’s gifted adult son, along with a revelation: their patch of rural Michigan is home to a lost, ancient temple built by the God-defying, giant-birthing “Watchers”—a temple that will soon be unearthed. Nature-loving aliens called “Willows” appear before the Broughts with a warning: when the temple is discovered, demons will be unleashed.

Memorable characterization, a fast pace, and a thoughtful reconciling of biblical fantasy with Christian belief set this series apart. The family’s already comfortable with aliens, including the Dubheians and the Starlings, both representative of a variety of “Others” whose presence, since the time of Adam and Eve, is noted in lost books of the Bible. The Broughts keep this secret for convincing reasons, but Stevenson is thoughtful about how to fit space-faring entities into Christian cosmology: “We need to remind people that whether any of this is true or not, it doesn’t matter when it comes to their salvation,” one Brought notes during an early multi-chapter exploration of secret histories.

The past’s mysteries also get excavated more literally in exciting sequences plumbing newly revealed tombs, complete with terrifying sculptures of dragons whose role in the climax readers will enjoy anticipating. As the family works to stop researchers from setting loose demons, Stevenson offers twists, revelations, a wedding, and above all a sense of adventure. The unfussy prose stays earthbound even when the characters quite literally take flight, but the plotting, worldbuilding, and cast are all promising and will appeal to Christian readers looking for fantasy that takes their beliefs seriously.

Takeaway: This Christian fantasy pits a Michigan family against a lost tomb, demons, and ancient secrets.

Great for fans of: James Bonk’s Light of the Ark, Joe Edd Morris’s The Lost Gospel.

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

Click here for more about The Brought Family Secrets

Rich with skillfully crafted characters and tender moments, this expansive novel from Sgambati (Most Precious Blood) explores often-taboo subjects of post-World War II New York. Gianni, who discovers he’s adopted during a family quarrel, struggles with self-doubt and uncertainty, questioning his roots and his place in the world. When he realizes he’s in love with Owen, his college sidekick who’s dating his close friend Maura, Gianni slips into depression and quits school, returning home to help his father run the family bakery. An opportunity to launch a pastries counter at the local revival theatre—run by Jewish émigré Hanns—lands him the chance for new friendships—and opens up new pathways to healing.

Sgambati’s prose is fluid and evocative, capturing the nuances of characters, emotions, and events that will linger in readers’ minds long after the novel’s conclusion. Gianni’s connection with Raffaella, a middle-aged Holocaust survivor, and Gabriel, an African American drag queen who takes homeless youth under their wing, is the catalyst for his healing, and Sgambati’s mirroring of Gianni’s transformation through pivotal background events, including the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement, adds thematic depth to the narrative. Particularly moving is the connection between Gunter, Gabriel’s close German friend who was imprisoned in Buchenwald for being gay, and Raffaella, who’s certain Gunter helped her when she arrived at the concentration camp.

Sgambati’s sharp, well etched cast steals the show in this touching story, and Gianni’s reshaping is both heartrending and inspiring, as he initially finds an escape in his work at the theatre (aptly naming his business “Sanctuary”), but later acknowledges his need to move on—in Raffaella’s words, “at some point, a sanctuary becomes a prison.” The rewarding relationships Gianni gains, and loses, form the cornerstone for Sgambati’s message that “new and unexpected beginning[s]” are often the most powerful.

Takeaway: A tender coming-of-age about a gay adoptee in post-World War II New York.

Great for fans of: Margot Livesey’s The Boy in the Field, W.G. Sebald’s Austerlitz.

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

Click here for more about Sanctuaries

“I collected experiences. I absorbed wisdom. And now, I’m sharing those intersections with you” writes Spink in this three-part short story account of his time as an Uber driver. Drawing from his real-life experience with rideshare passengers, Spink’s debut recounts the meaningful intersections he witnessed: friends reconnecting, complicated family relationships, strangers sharing the intimate details of their lives, and more. Spink invites readers “to marvel at the people behind the characters [and] to find the meaning in their humanity” as he reveals a fascinating mix of personalities, each struggling with their own unique problems.

In “The Jumper,” security coordinator Ali, whose job locale moves every 10 weeks to keep its location a secret, stuns Spink when she recounts narrowly averting an employee suicide, while “Secrets” explores the complicated intergenerational dynamics of a father lamenting the loss of relationships with his children. Spink takes on the anxieties of immigration in “The Svislach,” a story that follows Nathan as he vacillates between choosing to stay in his hometown of Minsk or moving to Seattle for better opportunities. When glimpses of Mt. Rainier afford Nathan an immediate connection with his driver, his unease at being in a new country starts to fade: “Everything was foreign and new, yet for some reason it was starting to feel like a homecoming.” Spink continues that thread of community in “Magic,” with trans passenger Miranda, who finds belonging and a sliver of hope from her psychic neighbor’s words of wisdom—“We’re not meant to be alone. Working in cubicles, living in studio apartments, keeping to ourselves. We need love. Friendship. Even enemies and exes.”

The highlight of Spink’s storytelling is his poignant portrayal of sensitive relationships. He avoids providing easy solutions to life’s problems, instead conferring a sense of security and solace through sharing his riders’ woes, essentially paving a “way toward being whole” for both rider and reader alike.

Takeaway: An Uber driver reveals our universal need for connection in this touching collection.

Great for fans of: Corie Adjmi’s Life and Other Shortcomings, D. Wystan Owen’s Other People’s Love Affairs.

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

Click here for more about Intersections

Refreshingly light on traditional narrative, Grose’s debut novel-length character study takes readers to Munks, a once-lively nightclub now fallen to disrepair, struggling along in 2011’s urban England. Under the inept new management, Munks decays physically as pipes burst, the sound equipment is repossessed, and employees flee the sinking ship, at the same time as “new” bands, including Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran, get their starts on the dying dance floor. The nameless manager, on “borrowed time” after three years of tenure, narrates the day-to-day crises of property destruction, alcoholism, and camaraderie in the various identities he tries on, changing names based on the situation, with an ease he can’t bring to bear against his own addictions.

The vivid, sweat-glazed alcoholic environs of Munks and its ever-rotating cast of employees and patrons reflect Grose’s past experience working in a nightclub. The titular reprobates, employee and customer alike, are as interchangeable and highly alcoholic as the selection of shots available at the bar. Munks itself—the drinks, the petty office politics, and the contemporary playlist (helpfully already compiled on Grose’s website via Spotify)—carry both the narrative and prose, with the blank-slate manager’s sparse backstory existing only to break up long sections of rubbernecking Munks’s downfall and Grose’s choice to reflect the occasional dated humor that may be off-putting to some readers.

Character/location studies of this length are unusual, particularly as debuts, but what The Reprobates lacks in narrative arc it makes up for in loving homage to grunge and the ever-bygone nostalgia of a constantly “lost generation.” Grose’s depictions of the club’s rampant alcoholism are painstakingly evocative and realistic, and Munks could easily serve as an after-work bar in any beloved police procedural. This will entertain any reader who enjoys gritty realism or longs for their bachelor days of unfettered drinking and carousing.

Takeaway: A place-as-character homage to gritty nightclubs and youthful carousing.

Great for fans of: Robert Galbraith, J.R. Moehringer’s The Tender Bar.

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

Click here for more about The Reprobates

Cardin evokes the free-wheeling spirit of 1960s America in this character-rich debut. Andy Vincent, beleaguered by his paranoid (and violent) mother and frustrated by his father’s tendency to detach from reality, harbors typical adolescent dreams: he wants to escape the small-town drudgery of Falkirk, Wisconsin, as much as he wants to end up with Sara, his beautiful but seemingly unattainable close friend. Caught in the mix are Andy and Sara’s sidekicks—Jon and Hollister—and Andy’s troublemaking younger brother, Harvey, an aspiring pool shark who’s as unruly as Andy is dreamy.

Readers fascinated by the era will be swept into the idealistic but turbulent era of Kennedy’s assassination, the Vietnam War, and the excitement of the Space Age as they follow the nebulous threads that eventually bring Andy, Sara, and Harvey to an uncertain, but hopeful, future. Andy, who’s convinced he “was trash because of his parents, his home,” finds the courage to break free and pursue Sara, who moved to California with her parents, despite his fear that he won’t measure up. Cardin draws a compelling contrast to Harvey, who manages an escape, too, in his own explosive way, only to find an unexpected family of his own, fitting the themes of disunion and ultimate hopefulness. As soon as they break ties with their parents, they’re free to discover both the joy—and the uncertainty—of new beginnings together.

The novel is on the lengthy side, and, like life, lacks a clearly defined climax, but Cardin’s character development is worth the commitment, and fans of complex interiority will be entertained. The brothers’ notable goals—“I believe I can do better than my parents. My brother Harvey says it’s his goal to not be them,” Andy declares—drive their adventure, and readers will ultimately be left with a sense of curious anticipation, mirroring the optimistic sentiment of the ‘60s that winds through the book.

Takeaway: A free-spirited 1960s adventure of young love and new beginnings.

Great for fans of: Julian Winters’s The Summer of Everything, Paulo Coelho’s Hippie.

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

Click here for more about River of the Red Earth People

Mickey Spillane meets James Joyce in Molloy’s Toronto-set noir debut. William, the narrator-sleuth—unnamed for most of the book—appears to be a down-on-his-luck PI, searching for new jobs on a sleazy website. There’s hints that he may be paranoid, as he’s convinced he’s being followed, and the mysterious "Father" to whom he is in debt harshly reminds him that “protection has a price.” When he meets Hera, a potential client who wants him to hunt down Colin Fowst because he owes her money, William realizes the job came through Father, and Hera’s assignment is hazy enough he wonders if she’s even real.

Molloy gives William a rich inner life, with a mind that never stops wandering and a vivid imagination, lending tension to a narrative that wavers between daydream and reality. His fantasies often feel ominously real, as when he recounts getting into a fight with another driver and strangling him with his seatbelt, or his musings over whether corporate meeting attendees are “avatars of their digital selves." In a nod to the mythological, William talks about meeting the “Goddess,” no doubt a reference to Hera, and delves into cryptic, but gripping, descriptions when pursuing a lead.

Overall, the driving force is Molloy’s powerful use of language. Every aspect of William’s journey drips with dramatic imagery, producing a dark and claustrophobic effect amplified by the blur between what’s real and what’s illusory. During a romance, William becomes "lost inside the world of her mouth." Elsewhere, Molloy applies his skill to violence when a woman is attacked, leaving a “dewy red hole where her eyeball used to be." The writing, especially surrounding sex and destruction, can become extreme and is often so shocking it interrupts the story’s flow. Nevertheless, Molloy offers readers some closure—and an opening for a sequel.

Takeaway: A sleuth plumbs the darkest corners of his city, and his mind, in this visceral noir.

Great for fans of: Daniel Woodrell’s Give Us a Kiss, Jim Thompson’s Savage Night.

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

Click here for more about Port Lands

Brasunas (Double Happiness) delivers an unusually upbeat guide surveying media bias, misinformation, and manipulation. Billed as “a history, an exposé, a guide, and a pep talk,” Red, White & Blind offers no shortage of alarming declarations—"If you can tell the people of a society what to fear and what to covet, whom to admire and whom to loathe, wealth and power will be yours”—and clear-cut examples, contemporary and historic, of bias, censorship, narrative control, and straight-up propaganda from American media on behalf of a host of powerful stakeholders. At the same time, Brasunas contends that the situation could be much worse, declaring we’re in the thick of a “New Enlightenment,” a time of “rapidly broadening access to information.”

Brasunas persuasively backs up the positives and negatives that he sees in our current press, while shedding light on media manipulation of the past. His surveys of the history of “objectivity” in journalism are engaging and provocative, ranging from the dawn of the concept to the ways that media “fact-checkers” “play a powerful ‘meta’ role in reinforcing propaganda and censorship.” (Terms like “propaganda” and “bias” are rigorously defined and distinguished from each other throughout.) Cases of the powerful narrative shaping that much of the U.S. believes in are dished with an eye for striking detail, especially the outlandish early 20th-century manipulations of Edward Bernays, the self-described father of public relations.

There’s abundant outrage chronicled here, namely what news gets reported and what gets suppressed, but Brasunas takes pains to offer tools for readers to understand how media manipulation works and how to avoid the temptation of conspiracy theories. (Brasunas is no conservative, but his critique of “corporate media” extends to its kid-gloves treatment of the current administration.) This polished, highly readable treatment of a contentious subject makes a great entry point and adds a surprising injection of optimism for readers who find the situation gloomy.

Takeaway: This sweeping and persuasive introduction to media manipulation in the U.S. is surprisingly hopeful.

Great for fans of: Daniel J. Levitin’s A Field Guide to Lies, Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer’s Myth America.

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

Click here for more about Red, White & Blind

Making the case that spirited entrepreneurship has long given the U.S. its edge, Wolk and Landry trace the history of enterprising—and disruptive—innovators back to the early days of the Republic, with an eye toward the question of why the U.S. has so often outpaced the rest of the world when it comes to “unicorns,” private ventures that achieve a billion-dollar valuation. The authors argue that the circumstances of the nation’s founding and claiming independence, and the development of “cultural, legal, and political systems [that] give entrepreneurs the room to succeed and grow,” have seeded a start-up-minded culture that still drives the global economy. Launchpad Republic delves extensively into the history of entrepreneurship and how it and America itself have always powered each other,

This is history, told with an eye on the bottom line, as the authors offer engaging thumbnail portraits of the likes of Benjamin Franklin (who “set the paradigm of the self-made man in America”) and brisk, clear-eyed accounts of the circumstances and controversies of establishing in a fractious land a federal government, a banking system, and an economy that encourages growth. Each chapter explores how entrepreneurs have benefited from, been in conflict with, or helped to shape those systems, with competition between “upstarts and incumbents” and pushback from the government crucial recurring themes.

Case studies exploring inflection points like the Charles River Bridge case of 1837, or examining the increasing “federal supremacy” over interstate commerce, demonstrate the challenge the nation has always faced in balancing complex, sometimes conflicting rights. This focus on the relationship, over centuries, between the U.S. government and entrepreneurs casts intriguing new light on controversies facing contemporary businesses, with up-to-date considerations of tech companies and antitrust laws a highlight. Launchpad Republic will appeal to history buffs and the business set both, as it blends illuminating history with a celebration of the entrepreneurial spark in the national character.

Takeaway: This study of entrepreneurship in U.S. history argues the nation boasts an upstart spark.

Great for fans of: Larry Schweikart and Lynne Pierson Doti’s American Entrepreneur, John Berlau’s George Washington, Entrepreneur.

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

Click here for more about Launchpad Republic

Thekkumthala weaves the supernatural with tense familial bonds in his harrowing follow up to Amballore House. Thoma and his new bride, Ann, open the story with their 1939 wedding celebration in Amballore, India, but after losing his land and wealth to the ungrateful siblings he helped raise, Thoma and his family are forced to flee his ancestral land, leaving them poverty stricken and homeless. While India works to gain complete independence from Britain, the family wanders from rental to rental before finally settling in Mannuthy, where Thoma takes on odd jobs to survive and dreams of someday returning to Amballore.

On the surface, Thoma and Ann form a somewhat sturdy foundation for a large family down on their luck, but an undercurrent runs throughout that casts a pall on the household. Thoma’s rough treatment of Ann doesn’t stop her total dependence on him, though his ongoing domestic violence and alcoholism eventually spill over onto other relationships, including his explosive fights with his landlord over the unpaid rent, which end in disastrous consequences for Ann. As the family grows, so do their troubles—some of the children are born with otherworldly gifts, including twin Jaygust, whose brutal conception leads to his superhuman strength and murderous intent from the cradle.

Thekkumthala smoothly blends the many intricate storylines and neatly resolves the book’s complex layers by its conclusion, scattering fragments of horror throughout the landscape of family drama. In the process, he manages to spotlight the family’s loyalty despite their chaotic and destructive tendencies to fracture when money and greed take root. The constant flow of plot twists and supernatural elements (think werewolves, phantom men, and goddesses spun into a family’s daily life) are well-balanced by Thekkumthala’s strong character development, resulting in an engaging and fast-paced novel that will blur genre lines and disquiet readers.

Takeaway: A resonant family drama shrouded in mystery and the supernatural.

Great for fans of: Sarah Rees Brennan’s The Demon’s Lexicon; Tashan Mehta’s The Liar’s Weave.

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

Click here for more about Amballore Thoma

Billington (God’s Goodness in You and Me) interlaces Christian beliefs with American pride in this upbeat picture book. Encouraging younger readers to notice the colors all around them, Billington highlights those that hold deeper meaning for herself—including the red, white, and blue of the American flag and her encouraging declaration that “as God’s children…we are indeed GOLDEN in His eyes!” She considers the significance of those convictions through exploring the Golden Rule, counseling children to “give to others peace, happiness, and love” to promote harmony in America and other countries.

Christian readers will enjoy the spiritual overtones in Billington’s writing, including her explanation of Luke 6:31—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”—as the basis for the Golden Rule. She advises younger readers to make an effort to help others, offering ideas such as volunteering at a local soup kitchen or caretaking pets at the animal shelter, and ties that kindness into God “smil[ing] on us from above!” The prose brims with positivity and cheerfulness, and Billington’s brightly colored graphics add to the enthusiasm: the characters are portrayed as joyful and united in their goals to give to others, particularly when they are depicted rescuing a puppy from the shelter and providing meals to the elderly, lending buoyancy and optimism to Billington’s rhyming text that, at times, feels a bit forced.

Despite the story’s America-centered focus, Billington spotlights diversity in her illustrations and acknowledges a need for community goodwill—a welcome theme for contemporary readers. Billington’s emphasis on “when I want good things to happen to me, I am good to people and animals too,” opens the door for adults and children to brainstorm ways they can help others while drawing attention to the intrinsic value of being kind, an uplifting message that forms the cornerstone of this simple story.

Takeaway: A Christian explanation of why the Golden Rule is important.

Great for fans of: Laura Wifler’s Like Me, Champ Thornton’s Why Do We Say Thank You?

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

Click here for more about You are GOLDEN!

In the first entry of an adventure series, Roth-White’s delightful, fantastical coming-of-age story brings out a child’s wonder of the natural world while developing her identity and learning about responsibility. In California in 1970, Italian-Irish American Krystal Winkle’s birth was heralded with a thundering storm. She was destined to be the most powerful magical Cristalli to be born in centuries, but her Nonna warns: “Never reveal your secret power, Krystal. It’s far too dangerous for you and everyone else if you lose control and let it slip.” The pink crystal hiding in the center of her forehead ejects pink glitter when she uses her powers. When she’s ten, Krystal has a dangerous encounter with the evil Austrian wolf-shapeshifter, Bernard, the Master of Disguise of the Cristalli Huntsmen, and his protégé, George, who see her as a threat and want to stop her.

To protect the family, Krystal’s father, who works with the Foreign Service of America, moves the family to Rwanda. There, Krystal is fascinated with the new language and culture, befriends Dusty, a African Grey parrot, and impresses the silverback mountain gorilla, Kunga, which means the Peacemaker of Kigali, who lives in Virunga Volcanoes Park. Roth-White ramps up the tension and adventure as Krystal has bad premonitions that something terrible will happen to Kunga. With the help of her flamingo feather pen that predicts the future and helps her gather information, she investigates the plight of the gorillas.

This gentle, well-crafted, and lighthearted journey of a precocious and confident middle-schooler encourages empathy for animals and understanding of one’s responsibilities. Krystal’s cleverness, resourcefulness, and growing confidence in herself and her power helps her survive those who want to harm her, but she must be careful not to use her powers in hatred or wickedness. Readers will cheer her on through her audacious trials and tribulations to a rewarding ending.

Takeaway: A wondrous adventure story of a middle-schooler and the plight of gorillas.

Great for fans of: Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan, Celia C. Pérez’s Strange Birds.

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

Click here for more about Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali

Poet Ayoade, the first African immigrant to serve as a nuclear missile operator in the United States Air Force, debuts with an inspirational memoir chronicling his childhood in Nigeria and journey to become a doctor and American citizen. Ayoade, who at the age of seven promised his mother “One day, I will take you far away from here,” details his upbringing with an abusive father and the many family tragedies he endured—along with his dedication to creating a different life: “Underground is my unusual journey from childhood poverty to where I am today. How the impossible became a reality.”

Readers will be swept into Ayoade’s vivid recollections of his early years, including his strict education, brushes with death, and a strained relationship with his father. He recounts the family’s passion for American movies that made “America seem like the perfect place,” sparking his desire for a better future, and details his decision to become a veterinarian and eventually pursue a career in the U.S. military to ensure the best life for his family (and future generations). Ayoade’s story is moving, particularly his reconciliation with his father and hard-earned American citizenship, and his message that it’s never too late to chase your dreams resonates.

That message will evoke strong emotions for readers as Ayoade highlights the importance of hard work and the benefit of a committed support system, alongside his constant “wishing, praying, and fighting to be free from all the sadness and injustice around me”—a theme that echoes through much of the book, including in his acknowledgement that the fear he experienced as a nuclear missile operator was a “cost of this freedom.” Ayoade’s poetry and personal photographs are sprinkled throughout, illuminating his deep love for family and his ultimate belief in liberty as “The reason for it all./ A foundation for a new generation,/ The best gift to any child.”

Takeaway: This stirring memoir documents an immigrant’s fight for the American dream.

Great for fans of: Ashley C. Ford’s Somebody's Daughter, Maria Hinojosa’s Once I Was You.

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

Click here for more about UNDERGROUND