Busenbark’s debut is a heady mix of genres, from tragedy to travel, that kicks off with the death of her husband, Rick, after 32 years of marriage. Suddenly, Busenbark is transformed into a widow, left to fend for herself, though she’s surrounded by family: “I feared I couldn’t control the sorrow consuming me. I needed to keep my hell private” she writes. In time, Busenbark meets Tim, who introduces her to sailing, sweeping her into a coastal escape where she finds inspiration for her paintings in the New England seascapes. What follows is a widow’s attempt to rediscover herself through self-sufficiency, art, and love.

The journey is incremental and unhurried, as Busenbark lingers on descriptions of her surroundings and extracts philosophical lessons from her experiences. It’s also punctuated by tragedy—not long after her husband’s death, Busenbark’s son, Richard, died of an overdose—but not in a way that is depressing; rather, it’s a slow, aching pain that gradually transcends into a deep appreciation for the small treasures in life. Busenbark’s artistic side manifests in the stunning visual imagery of her writing, as when she describes the changes she undergoes as “layers of emotion stacked up like a pile of old books, each with a story and hundreds of pages.”

The memoir’s second half is devoted to Busenbark’s sailing excursion with Tim from Maine to Florida, a meandering but vivid flow of historical landmarks, sailing jargon, and shocking weather. Family members often pop in for guest appearances, and Busenbark is candid about the fears that accompany such an immense undertaking. Her memories of Rick beat a steady rhythm throughout, as she wisely declares “there are some things you can’t fix and some thoughts that remain buried within our souls.” This is a poignant narrative about love, loss, and life that exposes the heartrending side of grief alongside the beauty that comes with healing.

Takeaway: A widow rediscovers herself through art, sailing, and new love.

Comparable Titles: Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, Meghan O’Rourke’s The Long Goodbye.

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

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Shredders, pickers, gear heads, and anyone fascinated by what’s actually happening inside their guitars will appreciate this illuminating (but advanced) introduction to the science and secrets of the instrument from Foley (author of Build Your Own Electric Guitar). This study blends history, science, and an encyclopedic knowledge of headstock and pickup designs and more. The in-depth examinations of the fundamentals of waveforms and electromagnetism are steps toward mastering what matters most: sound. That means a somewhat heady discussion of magnetic circuits lays the groundwork for an explanation of the impact of an instrument’s magnetic field conditions on guitar strings, including each’s “harmonic tonal response.” Foley’s fully illustrated history of pickups, from early “humbuckers” to classic models and beyond, likewise digs deep into how each new development altered the way currents, waves, and more thrum through a guitar.

Not that the electronics, to Foley, are the most important thing. He persuasively describes them as “symbiotic and sophisticated hitchhikers” that “contribute little to nothing positive to the mechanical voice of the instrument” but are “key to a panorama of voicings.” Foley’s brisk, millennia-spanning tour of the history of guitar development, from hunting bow to harpsichord to lute, and his in-depth breakdown of the individual components of guitars and their functions, all blend research, experimentation, and first-hand expertise in how guitar components affect tone production. Rather than settle for just explaining the function and evolution of the nut slot, he demonstrates how to calculate the gravitational force on a string in the slot to better understand tuning problems.

Foley’s commitment to showing the work, including the equations, will thrill math-minded guitarists interested in the finer points of capacitive currents, though readers looking for a more introductory approach will at times be left behind. They’ll still discover much that demystifies the workings of guitars, from the cut and structure of necks to the fact that “in guitar circuitry, it’s not where the wire goes, but what goes through the wire.”

Takeaway: Illuminating guide to the science, sound, and evolution of guitars.

Comparable Titles: Paul Atkinson’s Amplified, Rhianne Conway’s How a Guitar Works.

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

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Good dads are of vital importance, and their positive influence can have a far-reaching impact on a child’s well-being and ability to empathize with others. In Smith’s touching picture book, a young bear named Teddy learns how to be a gentle, loving caretaker through the kind-hearted attention of his father, who cooks for Teddy, changes his diapers, and helps him get dressed. Teddy passes this affection on to Bear, his favorite stuffy, who Teddy cares for like a son. “I know how to be a good dad to Bear, because Daddy is a good dad to me,” Teddy proudly proclaims.

One afternoon on a father-son bike ride, Teddy goes a little too fast and ends up falling and scraping his arm on the sidewalk. Bear is also hurt, with his stuffing spilling out at the seams. After Daddy patches up Teddy, Teddy mends Bear with band-aids—but it proves to be only a temporary fix. On the way home from the park, they stop and see Teddy’s grandfather, who carefully mends Bear with a needle and thread. These tender scenes offer an opportunity for kids and adults to discuss the power of passing kindness down through generations and illustrate the concept that our actions matter deeply to other people.

Smith’s action-packed illustrations show Teddy and his dad as they start their day, prepare lunch on the grill, race cars, and head out on their adventure. Wearing a bright yellow helmet with green spikes on top, Teddy tears down the sidewalk on his tricycle with button-eyed Bear in his handlebar basket, a cloud of dust behind him. Most powerful is the consistently understanding expression on Daddy’s face, creating a warm and safe place for Teddy to land when he inevitably falls. Ultimately this wholesome story showcases a good-natured version of masculinity that feels both refreshing and vital.

Takeaway: A young bear learns from his father to be a gentle, loving caretaker..

Comparable Titles: Terry Border’s Big Brother Peanut Butter, Anna McQuinn’s Lola Reads to Leo,

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

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Johnson’s debut examines a heartbreaking crime and the legal and emotional aftermath. On March 17, 2021, William Johnson and two dogs were killed by his ex-girlfriend, Angelee Ross, whom William met in 2014 at the mechanic shop where he was employed. William’s son, Eric, enjoyed a close and loving relationship with his father (whom he called “Pops”) throughout his life and was of course shattered by this. In My Father’s Story Eric recounts fishing trips, learning about cars, and visiting his father frequently until his dad bought a “dream home” in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan 2017. By that time, William and Angelee had broken up amicably and then reconciled, a pattern that would continue, on less friendly terms. From the outset of the investigation, Angelee never denied murdering William. She would plead eventually guilty by reason of insanity on six different felony counts, including first degree murder.

Combining personal narrative and partially redacted transcripts of evidentiary hearings and other court proceedings, author Eric relays the story of his relationship with the man he called “Pops,” a loving father who, as Eric writes, “not only fulfilled his role as a dad but also became one of my closest confidants.” These passages are touching, as are Eric’s accounts of the aftermath, finding support from unexpected quarters (including relatives of Angelee's), and learning through hearings exactly what transpired in his father’s last moments.

The bulk of the book shares testimony from those hearings. In the end, Angelee was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded to a mental health facility, likely for the remainder of her life. The narrative would benefit from more first-person storytelling; in narrative passages, Eric’s style is offhand but effective, especially when capturing what it feels like, in the moment, to face such momentous hearings. The court transcripts are enlightening but also repetitive and technical, and more summaries and some explanations of state statutes and forensic terms would provide greater clarity.

Takeaway: A son faces his father’s murder and the transcribed hearings that followed.

Comparable Titles: Rachel Howard’s The Lost Night, Sarah Perry’s After the Eclipse.

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

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