As she keeps exploring, Lilly encounters an eleffump, which is what she called elephants when she was very young. When questioned by Lilly, the eleffump confirms that it cannot jump, but the lumbering animal does not sound upset. Instead, it kindly helps Lilly reframe her question: “So, it’s not about what we can’t do, but what we can do that makes us special?” With this guiding thought, the eleffump introduces Lilly to magical creatures in the forest who all have unique abilities, and they work together to achieve a common goal that will benefit everyone. This will encourage kids to look at their own strengths and how they can be useful to the world around them.
Anil Yap’s lively illustrations follow Lilly on her journey, showing her as she prepares for her trip, leaves her neighborhood, and ventures into the colorful, shimmering magical forest. Teeming with butterflies, bees, and other wildlife, the forest is vibrant and welcoming, particularly the ethereal, glowing eleffump, which grins and lets Lilly hold its trunk as they walk side by side. Each creature is also clearly shown alongside an explanation of its special skills, drawing a parallel between this fantasy world and the real people kids will meet.
Takeaway: A girl named Lilly explores a magical forest and learns the power of being different.
Comparable Titles: Bess Kalb’s
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B
The Do No Harm Dog Training and Behavior Handbook: Featuring the Hierarchy of Dog Needs
Michaels packs this hefty volume with much practical advice and wisdom: to assist with house training, scatter treats around thoroughly cleaned areas where a dog has urinated or defecated to reinforce desired behavior. For a stress-relief activity, create a “sniffer patch” with dog-friendly plants. All this is laid out in a polished, user-friendly design allowing readers to quickly find specific sections of interest (like the fundamentals of “force-free training” or clear advice on preparing a pup to greet guests), though the text rewards thorough reading, especially chapters like “Setting Your Dog Up For Success,” which should be mandatory reading as part of adopting.
A significant feature is Michaels's Hierarchy of Dog Needs (HDN), inspired by Abraham Maslow. This adaptation emphasizes positive reinforcement, choice, and the inherent wholeness of animal nature, driving forces behind Michaels’s advice throughout. The HDN serves as a foundational framework for Michaels’s force-free alternative to traditional training methods, making it a valuable tool for both pet owners and industry professionals. Michaels's approachable style ensures that every dog owner—and every dog—will feel supported.
Takeaway: Thorough, illuminating guide to force-free dog training attuned to dogs’ emotional needs.
Comparable Titles: Zak George's Dog Training Revolution,. Marty Becker’s From Fearful to Fear Free.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Garcia’s direct style is refreshingly honest, and she acknowledges early on that it’s not easy to lead, urging readers to “experience the relief that will come from getting real with the people you serve.” Her own personal catharsis—which she admits was a long overdue turning point in her life—served as a springboard, leading her to develop an “authenticity map,” outlined in the guide, to help readers “navigate through the mess” that comes with life’s ups and downs. Garcia also forays into handling rejection and rightly describes the harmful effects sexism, discrimination, and out-of-control egos can have on organizations and the individuals working for them.
The bulk of the guide draws from Garcia’s personal experiences, with several eye-opening statistics sprinkled throughout, building a somewhat intimate framework that allows her to explore weighty topics in a companionable manner. She addresses the idea of “quiet quitting,” includes self-assessment sections at the end of each chapter, and shares her personal recipe for resolving the shame (“remove the secrecy, silence, and judgment”) that can accompany failure. “You will never not be messy,” Garcia writes, but that’s part of the journey—one that, once undertaken, deserves celebrating.
Takeaway: Uplifting guide to mastering—and celebrating—life’s messy moments.
Comparable Titles: Paula Caligiuri and Andy Palmer’s Live for a Living, Karla McLaren’s The Power of Emotions at Work.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Beyond Gabayan’s scientific-based research, this guide offers readers several opportunities for personal reflection, in the form of journaling prompts and interactive questions, that drive home the advice Gabayan gleaned from each interview. Her interviewees are an eclectic group—ranging from scientists to ministers to authors—with dynamic pointers that cover an array of topics, including the need to understand others’ perspectives when resolving conflict, how tolerance can enhance self-esteem, and why “creativity is essential to our growth as a people.” Also important, writes Gabayan, is the skill of playfulness in the face of life’s difficulties: “have a sense of humor about yourself as much as possible. Doing this will lighten any mood” she encourages.
Gabayan consistently returns to her eight wisdom elements throughout the guide, with accessible language that makes the counsel easy to follow. She closes by revisiting her initial quest to define wisdom, identifying her emerging elements of wisdom as universal (“incorporating them will enrich your life in ways you might not even have imagined. They will give your life more meaning and a greater purpose” she writes), while still urging individuality and balance when mastering them. Above all, she reminds readers that the “search for wisdom is just the beginning of a journey to a better life.”
Takeaway: Researcher defines wisdom through a scientific lens.
Comparable Titles: Paul Roden’s 5,000 Years of Wisdom, Ervin Laszlo’s The Wisdom Principles.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Hiemstra favors a lightning pace and rapid-fire dialogue, fashioning scenes that turn on a dime with the craftiness that can accompany international politics. Ruth is desperate to help her family back home, a desire she’s granted in exchange for helping North Korea set up a meeting with CIA agent Tom Roberts, who, in the course of that meeting, learns that China’s preparing to invade Taiwan—and Havana, Cuba plans to help out with diversionary attacks on major shipping ports. The subterfuge grows more elaborate from there, with a rogue Chinese operative, Lei Han, approaching Ruth for intel and suddenly working his way up to RGB director, a move that ends with a contract on Luke’s life.
Amidst all the intrigue, Luke and Ruth grow closer, quietly supporting each other, even when that means opening up about their troubled pasts. Their united front renders an interesting counterpart to the political machinations playing out on a bigger stage, as Hiemstra hints at “impolitic actions by the current U.S. administration” that only serve to shore up China’s designs on Taiwan. Hiemstra relays the action with little emotional investment, but for those enticed by political scheming—and familiar with characters in his previous books—this will entertain.
Takeaway: International politics and romance intertwine in this lively mystery.
Comparable Titles: Graham Moore’s The Wealth of Shadows, Lauren Wilkinson’s American Spy.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: B
“I don’t know if we will ever find archaeological evidence” of Moses, Lindberg notes, “but that does not mean he did not exist.” Driven by a passion for the historical and scientific methods, plus classical reasoning, Lindberg’s approach to Genesis and Exodus is an informed and awed acceptance of their errancies—they were written, he argues, by humans inspired by God, but only one human, in his reckoning, has ever been perfect, so there’s no reason to get hung up on points of confusion like whether Moses parted the Red or the Reed Sea. Rather than reject complexities or confusions in the Bible’s accounts of history, Lindberg brings logic to their mystery. His passages concerning the possibility that a “day” of God (as in the six days of creation) could in fact span millennia is impassioned apologia, a demonstration of faith stoked hotter through the challenge.
This title expands on arguments from Lindberg’s first, especially his “Directed Life Hypothesis,” which in its contention that life’s complexity and diversity demands a conscious creator echoes Intelligent Design. Lindberg, though, challenges ID proponents as much as he does “modern scientific people” by not disavowing evolution entirely. In fact, he argues “that evolution was a principal way God conducted the entire creation.” This is encouraging middle ground.
Takeaway: Thoughtful reconciliation of the creation in Genesis and evolution.
Comparable Titles: Bruce Glass’s Exploring Faith and Reason, Peter Enns’s The Evolution of Adam.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Brimming with energy and thrilling depiction of pirate life—racing with ships, battling storms, smuggling furs, linen, silver, gold, and other treasures, posing as faux traders, keelhauling, and enduring the stench of slaver ships—Casteele masterfully portrays the gritty reality of 18th-century naval life, when ships were the arteries for global trade, without romanticizing its unlawful glory. Sam is not ignorant that The Whydah Gally—his most coveted prize to prove himself worthy to Maria and her disapproving Puritan parents—originally served as a human cargo vessel for 600 slaves. Breaking the tradition of ruthless pirates, he treats his crew fairly and without prejudice, earning him the title of an honorable captain.
While the storytelling is slightly unrealistic—compressing a lengthy saga into a single stormy day—its strength lies in its sharp contrast to modern-day living. Readers, alongside Charlie and Clarissa, are transported to a time when families of seamen have no means of communication other than awaiting their return, people are commodified, and uncommon women are branded as witches "in league with the devil" and hanged. Casteele unearths unflinching truths of a bygone age, reminding us of the progress—and the pitfalls—of our own time, all while readers anticipate the curious end of Sam's voyage and his reunion with Maria.
Takeaway: Humanizing tale of history’s wealthiest pirate.
Comparable Titles: Angus Konstam's Blackbeard, Richard Zacks's The Pirate Hunter.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
You Don't Have To Quit: 20 Science-Backed Strategies to Help Your Loved One Drink Less
To that end, Palmer’s 20 chapters each present steps for helping reduce a partner’s alcohol consumption, from seeing the signs of addiction and understanding what a partner is going through, to finding ways to diminish the harm that alcohol dependence causes—practical techniques include introducing a Sober Sunday, adding a glass of water between each drink, and encouraging the tracking of how much alcohol is being consumed. Later chapters prompt self-reflection on the part of the intervening partner, with Palmer explaining the efficacy of not laying blame and calling names, plus the urgency of positioning oneself as ally rather than victim. Allies, Palmer writes, “can collaborate with your partner, help them create goals, and figure out how to meet them.”
Throughout, Palmer offers encouragement and wisdom drawn from case studies as well as personal experience, all written with grace and sensitivity, plus up-to-date research on addiction and its treatment, and deep insight into the sources of alcohol dependence and how couples depend on each other—and push each other away. Palmer’s strategies are flexible, easy to understand, and presented with persuasive power, though she makes clear throughout that achieving these goals is a challenge.
Takeaway: Clear-eyed guide to helping partners reduce the harm of alcohol dependence.
Comparable Titles: Jeffrey Foote, Carrie Wilkens, and Nicole Kosanke’s Beyond Addiction, Candace Plattor’s Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Raichle initially meets her mother’s dementia diagnosis with despair, but “everything changed in an instant” once Raichle’s mother starts painting. Beautifully displayed throughout the memoir, Raichle’s mother’s paintings are vivid, strange, and fantastical, depicting mischievous creatures, but also sunsets, flowers, and in one particularly touching piece, a portrait of Raichle’s mother and the author, with a limb connecting their heads. The paintings allow Raichle to view dementia from a different perspective and learn that “there is more to this disability than pain and sorrow” when the care partner meets the person with dementia where they are, in the present.
Raichle’s description of her journey into this new space of joy, gratitude, and presence is both visceral and reflective. Her anecdotes of her visits to her mother’s assisted living facility depict the residents’ lives of abundance, despite all they’ve lost. Raichle’s mother and the community of people there may not be able to remember each other’s names or the meal they last ate, but their days are filled with laughter, spontaneity, creativity, and music—in one story, the room erupts in spontaneous singing and drumming, an exuberant display of the primal pleasure of shared creation. For readers who have loved ones with dementia, Raichle’s debut is a beacon of hope in the shadow of dementia’s bleak fog.
Takeaway: Joyous, hopeful account of living with Alzheimer’s.
Comparable Titles: Allison J. Applebaum’s Stand By Me and Kari Berit’s The Unexpected Caregiver.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The Playbook: A Novel
The novel's strength lies in its well-developed characters and their intertwining storylines. Chelsea, a refreshing protagonist who brings a unique perspective to the male-dominated football world, boasts a journey from big-city lawyer to small-town coach that is both believable and inspiring, and the young players under her wing are equally compelling, each grappling with personal demons that add depth and relatability to their characters. Parker's attention to detail in describing the atmosphere of high school football in a small Southern town is commendable, from the crowded diners to the tension on the sidelines, allowing readers to feel as if they’ve stepped onto the fifty-yard line themselves, dazzled by bright lights and the roar of the crowd.
Though some of Parker’s sports drama feels predictable, he avoids clichés by focusing on the characters' personal growth rather than just their athletic achievements, granting them the space needed to navigate their troubles and accept each other for being flawed, and, above all, united against the heartbreak life pours their way. The pacing slows at times, especially during the more reflective moments, but those sections ultimately contribute to the story’s emotional payoff, and Parker’s skill at capturing the essence of teamwork and the impact mentorship can have—as when Palmer notes that Rabon “[became] my family… [lifted] me up when I fell down”—resonates.
Takeaway: Thoughtful exploration of community, personal transformation, and believing in yourself.
Comparable Titles: H.G. Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights, T.L. Simpson’s Strong Like You.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The Bonny Lane Club: A True Story of Fitness, Friendship, and Faith Forged Through Struggle, Suffering, and Strength
At Gorinski’s house on Bonny Lane, Allen soon found himself challenged to push himself and grow stronger through simple but innovative workouts, including obstacle courses, jumping and agility exercises, weightlifting, and more, all without what Gorinski would call “fancy gym equipment.” This proved fruitful not just for recovery, though Allen faced setbacks and fresh injuries that eventually ended his dreams of rejoining the team. Gorinski also guided Allen and other friends and proteges in workouts of mind and heart, through readings and spirited discussions. Gorinski’s faith—captured in conversations and excerpts from Gorinski’s writing—proved as nourishing as his PT, teaching Allen that faith’s essence “isn’t the absence of uncertainty—uncertainty is necessary—but rather just the right amount of confidence to act in spite of it.”
Allen’s briskly told account is inviting and moving, written with an open-heartedness and a commitment to caring for the body that will inspire young people. (Even the roommates who leave dirty underpants in his bed are treated, ultimately, with a touching lack of judgment.) The story’s end will stir tears, but Allen demonstrates, through his own mentorship and storytelling, that the wisdom and lessons of those who shape us have power as long as we keep them alive.
Takeaway: Rousing story of mentorship and a Christian athlete’s physical and spiritual recovery.
Comparable Titles: Blake Sebring’s Brave at Heart, Keith E. Webb’s The Coach Model for Christian Leaders.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Self-important and still pained by a great loss, Mythral is unconvinced a girl could succeed as his apprentice, though he does admire the spark and wit she demonstrates when he first begins testing her and offers her the role of assistant shopkeeper in his bookshop. After all, he thinks, the unexpected choice might buck the future timeline—and “one had to look beyond an individual’s limitations and hope for the positive exceptions and surprises in life.” Soon, Kit is studying spells—including through a talking book called Remedial Spelling—and wondering how she’ll fare in the face of a real threat, as Mythral prepares for the “impending battle” and begins introducing her to the three Realms (via “translocation”).
The buildup to a “final test” is tense and fun, with lessons about personal biases and procrastination, though some stiff transitions and an abundance of adverbs often slow down scenes. With occasional explanations from the opinionated Cat about the worldbuilding and stakes, Thomas keeps the story moving and concepts like the Law of Equilibrium and much mucking with timelines clear. Still, for all the universe-threatening magic, what resonates most here is the cozy relationships, especially Mythral’s slow thawing toward Kit, Kit’s friendship with the wizard’s friend Perci, and the slow building of trust.
Takeaway: Realms-crossing adventures and a great wizard test a young teen.
Comparable Titles: Lindsay Fryc’s Emma and the Queen of Featherstone, Callie C. Miller’s The Hunt for Hollower.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B-
"For me, Denver meant the past would encroach," Suzanne says. Still, she reluctantly approves with an agenda in mind: uncovering her dad's history may provide answers to her son Austin's undiagnosed cognitive and behavioral lapses. Suzanne's story, both past and present, is an unflinching portrayal of a family gone haywire, when, in the face of tragedy, communication lacks and secrecy builds. Swanson (author of The Glass Forest) cranks up the tension between well-drawn leads—Suzanne’s rebellious teenage daughter, Caitlin, seethes with jealousy over the attention Austin receives, their home becomes a target of a suspicious intruder, and her husband is becoming cozy with his coworker.
Despite the narrative's slow burn and somewhat predictable past, the clever use of alternating timelines keeps readers on their toes as they follow the young Suzanne sneaking to decode Mom-not-Mom's cryptic warnings juxtaposed with the adult Suzanne, who might be bordering on insanity. Alex's on-point words, "what we feared most was what we most needed to confront," overarch the central theme in this satisfying blend of supernatural and coming-of-age mystery—that children require a parent’s unequivocal attention, for childhood shapes the kind of person we eventually become.
Takeaway: Grieving, clairvoyant teen unravels the mystery of her mother’s murder.
Comparable Titles: Rene Denfeld’s The Child Finder, Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Every chapter races in this fleet-footed debut, teeming with twists and last-minute developments that will shock readers. Even as she slogs through the grief from her father’s death, Madison discovers something sinister behind the hit-and-run—and finds she’s caught in the crosshairs of the FBI’s manhunt for America’s most wanted, embroiled in the center of a national crisis. Pederson delivers an ostensibly overwhelming array of characters—terrorists, FBI agents, CIA operatives, corporate bigwigs—while masterfully anchoring the narrative in shared trauma, humanizing the political and wartime stakes. Even the typically stoic FBI becomes engaging, with Agent Niles poignantly reflecting on his 9/11 experiences: "Suddenly the trumpet wasn’t the most important thing in the world to me—not with all that evil, that darkness, attacking, coming right at us, threatening all of us, our way of life."
Though the portrayal of terrorists might feel one-dimensional at times, Pederson skillfully splices information across various viewpoints, encouraging readers to form their own opinions on the events of 9/11. Reflecting that the fallout from the attacks lingers long after the dust has settled, Pederson takes a stand: instead of hatred and revenge that create a vicious cycle of violence, choose forgiveness and life.
Takeaway: Knockout espionage novel exploring trauma, vengeance, and self-forgiveness
Comparable Titles: Jason Matthews’s Red Sparrow, Brad Thor's The Athena Project.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Several chapters deal with serious incidents: learning that his stepfather has cancer and facing the deaths of a family friend and also of a favorite teacher, whom readers of Misfit 2 will recall. These tales of loss give this collection a slightly more melancholic tone, as does the conclusion of a star-crossed romance, though that’s balanced out by wry wisdom and amusing anecdotes, some putting a new spin on familiar settings, like a pungent recollection of the rigors of cleaning the facilities of a tour boat he captained.
A few stories will seem familiar to readers of earlier entries. But there are still some surprises, including how the author got a job teaching in the Middle East. And we also get a closer look at his life in Ecuador, in a house of rammed-earth walls on a road that "aspire[s] to gravel." John's manner of exposition remains as roundabout as ever, taking unpredictable swerves— a yarn about seeing a porn film in a small Midwest town begins with Jaws and ends with an aside about UAE brothels. But the journey, however elliptical, is most of the fun, and brief mentions about witnessing an execution indicate John has more yarns left to spin.
Takeaway: Amusing, surprising stories about growing up, living abroad, and finding yourself.
Comparable Titles: V.D. Bucket’s Bucket to Greece series, Aisha Shakti Hakim’s An American Teacher in the UAE.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Mister John presents these tales out of chronological order, and often without context or connective tissue, which initially makes the far-flung peregrinations hard to track: readers are whisked from his time as a teacher in the United Arab Emirates to his stint as a boat pilot and tour guide in his native Wisconsin to a Canadian crabbing expedition with his wife's family, all without much fanfare or preparation. The subject matter is mostly humorous but can also be serious; one chapter briefly and effectively deals with the unexpected death of his future mother-in-law, early in his relationship with his then-girlfriend.
Not every story here feels essential—an account of kicking a UAE student out of class for playing computer games, for instance—and Mister John's style can be overly elliptical, with one chapter about a favorite professor opening with the teacher lightly mocking the author’s hat. But overall, each brief essay provides an enjoyable window into John's experiences, and readers will finish this entry eager for more. As Mister John writes: "I purposely don't tell you what the big picture, the story of my life unexpected is… I want you to figure out how the pieces fit and what they mean, freeing you to find your answers."
Takeaway: Humorous essays exploring one man’s charming and unusual life.
Comparable Titles: Maeve Brennan’s The Long-Winded Lady, Jenny Allen’s Would Everybody Please Stop?.
Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
