Sam can’t seem to escape the winter blues—those “dark days… [when] both the ground and the sky are the same bland gray color”—in Granger’s pensive picture book debut. Suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), Sam fights depression when the sun is in hiding, finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, exhausting to complete his daily tasks, and even tiring to hang out with his friends on the playground during recess—all a stark contrast to his bubbly, “chatterbox” ways during sunnier seasons.

Granger transports readers into Sam’s first-person narrative, offering important insight on SAD and how to treat it, along with a healthy dose of hope for those who may be struggling with the same issues. Sam’s struggles are heartbreaking to watch, but even so, his youthful explanation of how SAD impacts everyday life gifts readers with an inside view of a grueling disorder: “The worst part about SAD is that it can be lonely, so most of the time I keep it a secret. Depression is not something you can easily talk about with your friends or family.” Readers will find plenty of hands-on advice in Sam’s story too, as Granger deals with treatments ranging from light therapy to herbal remedies, all of which Sam uses to cope with feeling isolated, left out, and “down in the dumps.”

Granger’s material is heavy, and adult readers should be ready to explain the more complex topics to younger audiences, like the interplay between serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin that sometimes contribute to SAD, but Sam’s language is easy to follow and Granger’s multi-colored graphics break up the sobering text. Kids will connect with Sam’s need to “recharge” during winter—and wish to have superpowers to escape to a place of endless summer—while drawing inspiration from his willingness to open up about a disorder that too many are reluctant to share.

Takeaway: Easy-to-follow introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder, from a kid’s perspective.

Comparable Titles: Andi Green’s Don’t Feed the WorryBug, Michael Rosen’s Sad Book.

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

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“We are taught that miracles do not exist,” Los Angeles native and self-help author Price writes, but rather than accept life as miracle-less, Price urges readers to “pretend that they do and see what happens.” This playful morsel of wisdom is one of many in Price’s debut that seeks to demystify human happiness and offer readers an admittedly haphazard, yet practical, set of ideas, goals, methods, and experiments that the author believes can help readers “create every feeling that we feel.” Happiness is not a consequence of luck, according to Price, but a conscious choice that people can make regardless of their circumstances.

Price claims the key to making that choice is to “stop blaming others [...] for our place in life,” and instead take responsibility for emotions and feelings, even though people are socialized to shift blame from the self to others. Unlearning blame-shifting behavior is difficult, Price acknowledges, and she offers myriad suggestions throughout her debut to help people make a fresh start, like engaging with nature, meditation, mindfulness, art, volunteering, and more. Following each chapter, the author includes journaling prompts, questionnaires, and thought experiments, along with a brief poem, to engage readers with her subject matter via multiple mediums.

Self-help readers may find Price’s ideas to be familiar, but the author’s ultimate goal with her book is to remind people that “you are a beautiful human full of the capability to love and be loved,” which is a noble quest. In its current state, Price’s self-help guide isn’t easily readable given that it is unproofed, but for those looking for an interactive, quick read full of actionable ideas for an improved quality of life, The Quest for Happiness delivers just that with compassionate encouragement.

Takeaway: Inviting self-help guide offering ideas on choosing happiness.

Comparable Titles: Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, Russ Harris’s The Happiness Trap.

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

Click here for more about The Quest for Happiness

Featuring clones of historical figures working together to stop a world-ending event, Clark’s witty and sharp debut entertains with its intricate plot and endearing characters. Twenty-one years ago, crotchety American James Bricker and optimistic Liberian Emmanuel Kebe were geneticists on a defunct United Nations Security Council cloning project called the Phoenix Elite Initiative, until Bricker shot Kebe and stole DNA samples. Kebe survived to continue the project in secret, raising and training seven young people scattered around the world. Today, the seven are brought together for the first time to learn their true identities: anxiety ridden Adam Eberhardt is Albert Einstein, unkempt American tech nerd Brandon Freeman is Benjamin Franklin, arrogant South African scion Nigel Dillon is Nelson Mandela, and so on. Other cloned personages include Che Guevara, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, and the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut.

Clark's audacious, compelling story ratchets up the tension when the clones learn that Bricker has founded the terrorist group Allied Rebel Koalition (ARK) to destroy mankind with a nuclear holocaust and replace it with genetically engineered super humans. With jibes, humor, and hard-earned trust, the clones begin physical training, learning to work together and acquiring cool equipment like bulletproof under armor, iGlass contact lenses, and a plasma bazooka. But when ARK infiltrates the facility in a show of deadly force, the clones are on their own, facing a desperate mission to Rome. Adam hopes that he will cross paths with his unrequited love, the nuclear genius Margot Czarnecki, who was among the nuclear energy scientists Bricker has been kidnapping.

Briskly told, with crisp action, ever-escalating stakes, and memorable dialogue (“Hey, Einstein, you know how to drive stick, right?”) from a diverse and surprising cast, the globe-hopping adventure, espionage, science, and twists keep readers’ attention as this diverse group of some of the greatest minds in history join the fight for humanity’s future.

Takeaway: Clones of history’s greatest thinkers race to save the world from nuclear devastation.

Comparable Titles: Steven L. Kent’s Rogue Clone, Michael Marshall Smith’s Spares.

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

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Kramer delivers a lavish, fast-paced magical quest in this prequel to his Heroes of Time series (after Murdoch’s Choice), exploring the origins of popular character Fulgar Geth, who grows up with his downtrodden working-class parents and a healthy disdain for the oppressive labor system. Fulgar, who possesses healing powers and an inner use of magnetism enabling him to exert control over physical objects, is desperate to improve his family’s life. When his best friend, Binny, receives a talisman rumored to lead its owner to magical powers, the boys vow to channel its gift, reasoning that “it’s not that we want to rule anyone. We just don’t want anyone above us, ruling our destinies.”

Kramer has a talent for writing spirited adventure, fisticuffs, magical encounters, and battle scenes that incorporate a wide cast of diverse characters, all spotlighted in the quest that Fulgar, Binny, and their new friend, Jinx, a young amnesiac shipwreck victim they rescue from slavery, must undertake. As they search for clues to the shrine—black sparkling metal they dub blarkle, a scroll from the underground caverns of a church, the reclusive Order of Aether Diamond cult—they also must dodge the violent bounty hunter Volk Vorovka and a whip-wielding sorcerer, in the process discovering what it really means to work together (and uncovering a spark of romance for Fulgar and Jinx).

The quest puts the entire group at risk, and, as the adventure wears on, Fulgar and Jinx work to jog her memory in hopes of learning who she really is—while Fulgar finds the inner strength to face some of his worst fears. Kramer deftly hits all the right fantasy notes, boosted with copious amounts of verve, betrayal, twists, and bravery against dark foes. Readers will embrace the impressive world building, imaginative magical skills, witticism, and suspense, all combining to make this well-crafted offering a hit for fans of adventure fantasy.

Takeaway: Adventure fantasy finds three opportunists on a quest for magical powers.

Comparable Titles: Elise Kova’s The Golden Guard Trilogy, Michael G. Manning’s Wizard in Exile.

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

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This impassioned debut takes on the inner workings of the American judicial system and corporatism from the perspective of a human rights attorney. “I helped humans enforce civil rights and anti-discrimination laws,” writes the author—working under the name Human and the Lights—as they detail an arduous fight to bring justice to 64-year-old Black man Theodore Brown, who was wrongfully terminated after being injured on the job. That uphill battle—and the disastrous results for Brown—highlight the climb in store not just for the marginalized populations that make up most of the author’s clients (“most of my clients were financially poor humans descended from slaves” they write), but for anyone facing a system based on deep-rooted traditions and monetary gain.

Brown’s case against the Good Paper Company is painful to read, as the corporation uses every underhanded—yet still legal—tactic to stonewall. “Good Paper treated Ted Brown like a dog,” the author asserts, ignoring his warnings of unsafe working conditions and, following his significant injuries due to those conditions, eventually fired him. But the author declares cases like these are routine, particularly for people of color and those who are “money-poor.” For corporations, the author contends, “it’s not even personal. It’s only about money.”

The book highlights statistics on rulings similar to Brown’s, and insight into judges’ determination methods when it comes to corporations versus the people, a stark portrayal that asserts “at least 80 percent of human rights cases” will be dismissed. The author also makes a compelling case for corporatism’s American roots—stretching as far back as the early 1800s, when “corporatism led humans to race-based slavery to maximize money profits”—that routinely sacrifice human values in favor of big money, emphatically stating that “corporatism is a virus that causes humans to malfunction… [and] America, the birthplace of modern race-based slavery, is ground zero.”

Takeaway: Decisive call to action pitting corporatism against human rights.

Comparable Titles: Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine, William Magnuson's For Profit.

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

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Known for its rugged landscapes, abundant forests, and pristine beaches, Maine has been rightly celebrated as “Vacationland” for generations. In Hamilton-Guarino’s adventurous picture book for children, a young cat named Blueberry is eager to check out all his home state has to offer. He sets out on a road trip with his best friend, a mouse named Jam, to hit some of the top tourist spots, notably Acadia National Park and various lakes, lighthouses, and mountains. Their itinerary includes exciting outdoor activities such as fly fishing, hiking, and swimming, with both friends eager to try new things while munching on as many wild blueberries as they can gather.

This inviting story serves primarily as a celebration of what makes the Pine Tree State so special, but it is also a testament to the power and importance of novel experiences and strong friendships. Throughout their wanderings, Blueberry and Jam never leave each other’s side, clearly taking as much delight in being together as they do from the breathtaking scenery. They also meet new individuals who take them on excursions and expand their horizons, such as a hiker on Mount Katahdin who has traveled 2,160 miles from Georgia. This will inspire kids to explore and be open to new encounters.

Irina Prisacaru’s picturesque illustrations show Blueberry and Jam grinning amidst idyllic scenery, mostly wearing shirts and hats that say things like “best friends” or “I love Maine.” Charming and vibrant, the pictures show the two friends enjoying familiar activities like roasting marshmallows around a campfire, bouncing a beach ball, or thoughtfully writing in their journals. The coastal scenery is also faithfully reproduced, with one of the most exciting stops being the Thunder Hole, where water sprays into the air from between jagged rocks. Following these two pals on their trip will inspire kids to plan an adventure of their own.

Takeaway: Blueberry the cat and Jam the mouse go on a road trip together around Maine.

Comparable Titles: Karel Heyes’s The Summer Visitors, Katie Clark’s Grandma Drove the Lobsterboat.

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

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Baier offers a compelling reflection on the evolution of environmental conservation in the United States, contrasting the era of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), passed into law in 1973, with today's fragmented political landscape, when “congressional neglect, growing political polarization, and shortsighted special interest groups have weakened the once very effective act.” The act’s history and efficacy is laid out with rousing passion and insight in Baier’s exhaustive two-volume The Codex of Endangered Species Act, while the brisk and compact Earth’s Emergency Room examines how and why the moral clarity and bipartisan spirit that once propelled environmental legislation—and helped save, via the ESA, breeds of “falcons, parakeets, sparrows, deer, kangaroo, whales, sea lions, daisies, and sunflowers”—has waned, posing a significant threat to the preservation of endangered species.

Baier vividly describes the early days of the ESA, when instead of “brinkmanship, polarization, and partisanship” congress made a unified, morally driven decision to protect the Earth's species. He notes that this era was marked by a strong national consensus on the importance of environmental stewardship, reflecting a collective commitment to safeguarding the planet's biodiversity. The author nostalgically recalls how the enactment of the ESA, deep into the Nixon administration and three years after the first Earth Day, symbolized a profound commitment by the American people, emphasizing the intrinsic value of all living creatures and the urgency of their protection.

Of course, Baier highlights a starkly different scenario as he transitions to contemporary times. He demonstrates that the national unity and clarity of purpose that once underpinned environmental policy has eroded. He digs deep into the challenges and politics of protecting predators, the business-vs.-conservation fights exemplified by the spotted owl controversy of the George H.W. Bush era, and other flashpoints, before laying out persuasive and heartening steps to honoring that now half-century-old commitment, through conservation partnerships, acting pre-emptively to conserve species before they’re listed as “endangered,” and more. There’s real hope, here.

Takeaway: Essential read on the state of the Endangered Species Act, with a hopeful roadmap forward.

Comparable Titles: Allen Crawford’s A Wild Promise, Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction.

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

Click here for more about Earth's Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter

In this riveting memoir, humorist and LGBTQ activist Gurko unpacks, with incisive wit, a bold and surprising life. Reflecting on his youth as a Jewish boy in New Jersey, Gurko draws strength and life lessons from his parents, both survivors of the Holocaust, who planted in him “the seed of awareness that would eventually compel me to understand and embrace the importance of speaking up and sharing our stories, no matter what.” The stories he shares jolt, amuse, and illuminate. From New York to California, Gurko weaves an exhilarating tale of nights at Studio 54, working as a personal trainer to the Hollywood elite, and the go-nowhere conversations one might have over dinner as an escort. (“To what country are you the Ambassador?” he asks a client at a 3-star Michelin restaurant. The response: “I’m not at liberty to discuss.”)

For all Gurko’s crack comic timing, the storytelling here is at times raw in its honesty and always revealing in its emotional depth. Through challenges, tragedies, and triumphs—such as discovering life-changing family history and giving a distant relative a voice after being silenced—Gurko's life story will pull readers in with humor and humility. His childhood struggles with his weight and height, plus feeling like an “other” in a suburban Jersey school in 1968, are all moving, as is his account of beginning to wonder “Oy vey, am I a homosexual or what?” (A classic early sign: being “shaken to the core” by The Wizard of Oz.) Also powerful: accounts of addiction (“There was only one sport I excelled in: partying,” he writes”) and then getting sober amid the devastation of the AIDS crisis.

Relatable, impassioned, and moving, Won't Be Silent is an inspiring memoir of fully living one’s truth, from Gurko’s nervousness about coming out to his parents to his full embrace, in the face of the rise of white nationalism in the Trump era, of the “honor” and “responsibility” of his heritage.

Takeaway: Fierce, hilarious, moving memoir of living one’s truth.

Comparable Titles: Barry Losinsky’s Oy Vey! I’m Glad I’m Gay, Edward Enninful's A Visible Man.

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

Click here for more about Won't Be Silent--Don't Stop 'Til It Matters

Despite the title, the enemy that Davis targets as the culprit behind “why the world sucks”—that is, the “cancer,” “terrorists,” and “parasites” that push disinformation and propaganda and are willing to let the world burn to preserve their power and economic advantage—is identified in this outraged debut as “Predator”s rather than “assholes.” That’s not to say that Davis names names when singling out the “aberrant behavior pattern common to very wealthy, powerful people” that has, in his analysis, brought civilization to the brink of climate disaster, authoritarian leadership, and have suckered the rest of us into accepting—and sometimes even defending—a “Predatory society” with “poor, disenfranchised ‘enslaved’ Everyday People at the very bottom.”

While warning against conspiratorial thinking, singling out groups, or targeting and “attacking” these Predators, Davis endeavors to make the case that these Predators are the cause of injustice and inequity, and to demonstrate how they have achieved this, especially with the unwitting aid of the creators of social networks. Finally, Davis strives to show readers how to reclaim narratives, fight back, and stop “spending our lives on a treadmill going nowhere just to power the heavenly lifestyle of wealthy and powerful Predators.” As this summation suggests, Davis paints with a broad brush (“Many extremely wealthy tech people see themselves as virtual gods”) while taking care to note that Predators fit no one demographic. Still, his sweeping, dehumanizing, and sexually charged rhetoric—"Everyday People .. are getting psychologically raped by Predators”—routinely echoes propagandists he decries.

For Davis, that’s part of the point, fighting fire with fire. He acknowledges throughout that this battle is asymmetrical, as Predators feel free to “[blow] things up,” while Everyday People must strengthen and protect the institutions that have failed to stop this Predation. Still, that language clashes with his calls for civility among Citizen Activists, whom he urges to stop fighting distractions like “microaggressions” and instead take on Predators. Davis blames bad actors rather than the system itself, though his efforts to direct anger in a productive direction feel wan compared to his ferocious diagnosis of the problem.

Takeaway: Outraged call for fighting back against powerful “Predators” who profit from the state of things.

Comparable Titles: Michael Mechanic’s Jackpot, Peter Pomerantsev’s This Is Not Propaganda.

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

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This inspirational blend of faith-based fiction and Christian teachings delves deep into the lessons of the gospels while weaving together the lives of four disparate contemporary individuals, each in their way unsatisfied, who are brought together by chance—or perhaps by something more divine. Bohlen (author of Jesus Christ, His Life and Mine, among other titles) invites readers on a journey of self-discovery, faith exploration, and profound transformation through the lens of a book club slated, at the start, to meet only four times. At the helm of this eclectic group are Dave and Ellen, whose dynamic is shaped by Dave’s deception and Ellen's struggles with mental illness. Together they delve into a mysterious manuscript from an unknown author that explores the life of Jesus, finding themselves facing questions that challenge their beliefs and perceptions of reality.

What sets this narrative apart from many spiritual fictions is its authenticity to the challenges of life—the characters persuasively grapple with doubts, fears, and past mistakes, mirroring the struggles of many contemporary seekers. From the weight of personal guilt to the search for purpose and meaning, each individual confronts their own demons in the light of Jesus's teachings. Bohlen skillfully invites readers to engage with the text on multiple levels: as a gripping tale of suspense and redemption, and as an exploration of Christian principles and their practical application in everyday life.

Whether readers approach Miracle at Angel’s Bend as a casual read or as a catalyst for spiritual growth, the book will resonate with Christian audiences or those feeling their way toward the faith. Throughout, familiar biblical narratives are reimagined through modern sensibilities, offering fresh insights and perspectives, especially about how these narratives intersect with the messy, complex realities of life. The storytelling reminds that the journey of faith is not about easy answers but rather wrestling with uncertainty and finding hope. Backmatter includes ample materials for fostering dialogue and reflection.

Takeaway: Inspiring story of a book club and the challenges and rewards of faith.

Comparable Titles: Kim Cash Tate’s Though I Stumble, Heather B. Moore & Angela Eschler’s Women Who Believe.

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

Click here for more about Miracle at Angels Bend

Founder of Lovetuner, a meditation device that attunes breathing to the 528 hz frequency or “the vibration of love,” miracles, “DNA repair,” and more, Berg debuts with a spiritual lifestyle guide that also serves as instructional text on proper use and integration of the Lovetuner into the lives of seekers. “This is a book for anyone brave enough to [...] understand the longing of their heart,” Berg writes, and he makes the case that the answer to such longing is alignment with the unconditional love that makes up the “Source” of the universe. “Dissonance” and “incoherence,” are the alternatives, Berg argues, and he suggests that most people live their lives at low frequencies that cause these unfavorable states of being, which include stress, discontent, and even mental illness.

“Your soul wants you to live your best, highest, and most divine form of existence,” Berg writes, and vibrational meditation work is an accessible first step to approaching that higher self. Along with clear explications of the science of the efficacy of the 528 hz frequency, such as geneticists' and biochemists’ experiments that point to it “creating a healthier cellular environment,” Berg also includes meditation and breathing guides, mantra exercises, and Lovetuner testimonials from elementary school students. Practical benefits abound, according to Berg, but the real value in his product lies in its assistance in what he calls the “one solution” to our tumultuous world: “a spiritual revolution.”

Readers familiar with New Age spiritual concepts such as starseeds and the Ascension will find the latter chapters of Berg’s debut to be a natural expansion on the discussion in earlier chapters, but others may find his espousal of multidimensional, extra-terrestrial spiritual ideas to be outlandish and unnecessary. For Berg, however, his spirituality and vibration device are inseparable; “all is one and one is all.” Readers seeking information, insight, and assistance in meditation and New Age spiritual practices will derive the most value from Berg’s One Journey, and may be inspired to “connect to a higher frequency.”

Takeaway: Spiritual guide on the efficacy of vibrational meditation and the author’s device.

Comparable Titles: Leonard G. Horowitz’s The Book of 528, Tanya Coleman’s Higher Vibrational Spirituality.

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

Click here for more about One Journey- The lovetuner book

Biochemist and immunologist Kelner offers welcome hope in this study of the history of science’s understanding of cancer, how the “distinctive genetic, biochemical, and biological nature” of the disease has made “long-term clinical success” difficult, and the series of breakthroughs that have introduced the possibility that in the 21st century cancer can be “tamed.” By that he means that the “experience” of having cancer could become “akin to that of patients with medically manageable chronic conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.” Kelner builds a sturdy, persuasive case for this prognosis, laying out the history of the science with brisk portraits of those behind key advances in cellular biology, embryogenesis, and angiogenesis, the “recombinant DNA revolution,” and more, pointing the way towards new immunotherapeutic approaches that “stimulate” the body’s immune system “to seek out and destroy tumor cells.”

“Cancer is, at its core, a disease of the genome,” Kelner writes, explaining with clarity and precision what is now known about how, why, and when cancer forms and spreads—and why sometimes immune systems stop it and other times don’t. He introduces a host of scientists, researchers, and physicians who, over centuries, have given us the foundation to begin to comprehend this “this malicious malady inherent to our biology,” describing their research and discoveries in crisp precises that readers familiar with entry-level biological and genetic sciences will be able to follow.

Throughout, Kelner demonstrates a keen facility for the clarifying metaphor. One passage opens “To envision what is happening at the level of our DNA, think of the world’s busiest airports,” and then deftly works the comparison for pages. Some early sections would benefit from more of that kind of context, but as Taming Cancer’s history catches up to the present and topics like the “astounding therapeutic potential of the human T cell,” Kelner proves a welcoming guide whose optimism is infectious. This book bursts with good news.

Takeaway: A close-up look at good news about the science and treatment of cancer.

Comparable Titles: Michael Kinch’s The End of the Beginning, Siddhartha Mukherjee’s The Emperor of All Maladies.

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

Click here for more about Taming Cancer

Set in the tense days just before the civil war, this thoughtful historical thriller from Aikman (author of All Things Touch) centers on Major John Gage, a resourceful Union officer and newspaperman, dispatched from Washington, which is seething with fear of traitors and rumors of assassination plots, to Charleston in the just-seceded state of South Carolina. There, as he gathers intelligence and faces some personal concerns including long-gone love and his mother’s remarriage, he makes a jolting discovery: a Confederate scheme to take Washington, that incidentally will jeopardize the life of someone close to him. Gage’s navigation of the complexities of the era will be tense and dangerous—the novel opens with him facing imminent execution in a Confederate jail—as he faces deception, treachery, and unlikely alliances in his mission to save Washington City.

With swift but engaging prose, Aikman conjures a fraught milieu and offers insight into the political and strategic landscape. Gage interacts with high-profile real-life figures, all convincingly drawn, as is the invented Gus, an escaped slave, whom Gage befriends and, in a heart-stopping encounter, shares the terror of life on the run. Gage's personal life is also deftly handled, especially his strained relationship with his brother, Aramis Gage, and moments of intimacy and confrontations with one-time love Jacqueline Cordele. Gage confronts his past and, with the help of private detective Kate Warne, the “dread” of the nation’s near future. Aikman’s suspenseful storytelling blends historical detail, sharp pacing, and bursts of action (complete with cannonballs), capturing the era's essence by contrasting the gritty industrial landscape with the lives of slaves and the opulent ballrooms of Charleston.

Aikman’s story is both exciting and illuminating, leaving a lasting impression of not just the triumphs and tragedies of the Civil War era but of the textures of living. Aikman conveys the enduring nature of human connection as a nation fights for its soul, as well as lives caught in moral and ethical turmoil.

Takeaway: Potent historical thriller of a Union reporter uncovering a Confederate plot.

Comparable Titles: Steven Wilson’s President Lincoln’s Spy, Dee Brown’s Conspiracy of Knaves.

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

Click here for more about Saving Washington City

Targeting the individual first, Cline’s upbeat debut calls for nothing less than a transformative community and global movement for justice, humanity, and the care of all this planet’s sentient beings. That sweeping vision of change can be kicked off, Cline argues, by the reader answering the call, making a pledge to “GoldenRuleism,” and then honoring and modeling its precepts in everyday life. As the title suggests, Cline’s pay-it-forward effort to “Move Humanity Towards Humane-ity” is rooted in the Golden Rule. Cline notes that the classic precept “has long been overdue for an expanded version of itself,” and he offers what we could call version 2.0, clarifying and broadening the rule: “Do for all others, both directly and indirectly, what you would want done for you. Don’t do to any others, either directly or indirectly, what you wouldn’t want done to you.”

Only the churlish will find anything to quibble with there, and Cline proves inspiring as he reminds readers that real change starts with individuals, that a moral code can bind us together despite differences in culture and religion, and that the rule applies not just to people but to other species. Cline warns against -isms (ableism, nihilism, racism) that create justifications to pit us against each other, and he urges readers not just to commit themselves to the cause but to enlist families and friends, too, using their spheres of influence to get the message out.

Pamphlet-length, this little golden rule book cheers the possibilities of GoldenRuleism, passionately stands up for animals, and boasts a dozen-plus pages of testimonials from thinkers and leaders about the possibilities. Some of those dig deeper than the text itself, as when the founder of United Poultry Concerns links GoldenRuleism to the “primal sense of the oneness of all sentient life and the ethical implications of this fact” in the novels of Thomas Hardy. Cline’s call-to-compassion is approachable, but it never addresses the likely objections of a skeptical reader, such as the actual likelihood of individual decency leading to systemic change when inequality is so profitable.

Takeaway: Booklet proposing an expanded Golden Rule as the key to making change.

Comparable Titles: Bruce Chilton’s The Golden Rule, Mike Ellerkamp’s The Simple Little Rule.

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

Click here for more about GoldenRuleism/Living A GoldenRuleism-Guided Life

This thrilling coming-of-age fiction debut from Buckingham (author of The Modern Girl's Guide to Life) pulses with teen angst, high school drama, and severed friendships, with a swift-moving plot centered on the perils of social media misuse. The story unfolds within the confines of stereotypical cliques: the athletic elite, the popular crowd (the OGs), and the marginalized misfits (nerds, cast-outs, weirdos)—among whom the well-drawn leads, Sabrina, Emily, and Brooke find themselves. Sabrina, driven since the death of her mother by an intense ambition to attend Harvard, is grappling with the weight of her aspirations, so when Emily and Brooke make the surprising choice to attend a school party, she only agrees with reluctance, unwittingly setting in motion a chain of events that threatens their friendship.

As lies accumulate and tensions escalate, Milford High becomes a battleground for the intensifying acts of @Revenge—an anonymous social media account claiming to play hero by exacting justice through clandestine pranks that blur the lines between right and wrong, like public shaming a cheating boyfriend, planting adult magazines in a teacher's desk, vandalizing someone's car, and getting someone suspended. "You get what you give," Revenge is fond of declaring. Sabrina gets caught up in the fiasco by becoming an unwilling accomplice after facing a wrenching setback. Buckingham deftly raises the stakes as Sabrina faces a new challenge: discover and reveal Revenge's true identity with the help of newfound ally, Jake, to save her only remaining best friend.

Penned with brisk power and insights into gossip, dish, and social media, the novel’s depth lies in commanding empathy, encouraging readers to let go of prejudiced assumptions and look past the stereotypical roles of people to see them for their humanity. The characters are flawed in all the right ways to emphasize this point, and self-centeredness is a key theme—the root of all lies, neglect, and miscommunications in a friendship. A tantalizing conclusion will leave readers in anticipation for the next installment of the trilogy.

Takeaway: Gripping high school drama of friendship, betrayal, and redemption.

Comparable Titles: Karen M. McManus's One of Us is Lying, E. Lockhart's We Were Liars

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

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Intimate but sweeping, this briskly humane novel of the French Revolution surveys the enslavement, coming-of-age, and radicalization of narrator Louis-Benoit Zamor, who as an Indian-born child of African descent, is presented as a gift to the “Favorite” mistress of Louis XV, the Comtesse Madame Du Barry. Raised in court as a page, Zamor’s position is fraught: he’s a slave in a nation that purports to prohibit the owning of people, even as the trade overseas has funded the corrupt extravagance of Versailles. Zamor at first roves rebellious, running away, attempting to arrange a poisoning, and even daring to tell the king, who fancies himself Zamor’s benefactor, the truth when asked “What would you like, young man?” Young Zamor’s response: “I don’t need anything … but can I go back home?”

The imperative towards freedom powers the novel, which opens with a grown-up Zamor witnessing the “Terror” of 1793, as the Revolution rages and aristocrats face “the insatiable appetite of that beast, the guillotine.” From there, we flash back via Zamor’s personal (and personable) journal, as he reports, with bracing clarity and insight, the abuse, humiliation, and political education he endured growing up “in the upper echelons of society” but not actually “a part of it.” As he makes sense of his world of kings and palaces, especially his gradual understanding of the systems of oppression, he will savvily influence the future of France by 13, and just a few years later, given some liberty in Paris, he’s among the Jacobins—the suspense lies in how far he will go to secure freedom, without drawing the ire of kings.

The novel is heftily long, but Flinn (author of Véronique’s Journey) never allows her striking period detail—chamber pots and Tarte Tatin, secret trysts and royal scheming—to diminish narrative momentum. Revolutionaries, mistresses, servants, and more all shine as fresh, engaging characters, but it’s Zamor himself, especially his insistence upon his humanity, that gives this series-starter its immersive power.

Takeaway: Powerful story of an enslaved page in Louis XV’s court, on the eve of revolution.

Comparable Titles: Sally Christie’s The Sisters of Versailles trilogy, Marge Piercy’s City of Darkness, City of Light.

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

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