Hughes was motivated to adopt Barbie when her behavior deteriorated at the dog shelter. She was not just withdrawn; she shied away from any and all contact, especially from men. This was in stark contrast to most shelter dogs, who are eager for human contact. She was days away from being euthanized when Hughes' friend Jenny, who acts as a sort of Greek chorus in this telling, urges him to adopt. In clear, resonant language, Hughes details everything that he tried with Barbie in order to make her feel comfortable, noting that he made many mistakes along the way.
Some of the difficulties include aggressiveness toward other people, frequent house-training accidents, and Hughes’ own sleep deprivation, before Hughes accepts that he’s out of his depth and turns to trainers to help—and even then learns that not all dog experts are created equal. The result is that after many patient weeks and months, Barbie both bonds with him and is conditioned out of most of her negative behaviors. Hughes has written a touching memoir of the relationship between human and pet that offers an unflinching look at the real doubts that plague adopters of animals. It also offers hope, plus helpful and concrete solutions, for people facing similar challenges.
Takeaway: Touching memoir of adopting, training, and loving a dog with behavioral issues.
Comparable Titles: Amy Sutherland’s Rescuing Penny Jane, Cara Sue Achterberg’s 100 Days and Counting.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
But as they journey across the war-torn land, Jade and Soran fascinate and frustrate each other, so much so that when she at last faces her chance to head home she’s tempted to do something reckless: to stay. Blending intense attraction and deep distaste, Jade and Soran’s combustible dynamic is the draw and focus of this series starter. Readers of romantic fantasy who relish a will-they-or-won’t-they—especially one where the thing they will or won’t do could be either love or kill each other—will relish Cancel’s dialogue dust-ups, moments of surprising intimacy, and eventual literal sparring.
Their arguments have snap and wit, as Soran strives to keep her distant. He hungers for her flesh, as both vampire and man, and also knows secrets about her past that, for complex reasons, he will not spill to her. Descriptive passages and scenes of action tend toward the wordy and even awkward, and the novel’s pacing is slow, with something like half of this long book passing between Jade’s arrival in Layol and the party reaching Bharath, and revelations about a prophecy and Jade’s “gift” are familiar but offer promising ground for future volumes.
Takeaway: Slow-burn portal fantasy romance with killer chemistry.
Comparable Titles: Hollee Mands’s Little Fire, K.A. Tucker’s A Fate of Wrath & Flame.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
Danbury takes pains to be sure that readers new to the Phoenix Martinsen series will understand X. Although human trafficking is the theme, and a young girl faces horrific danger throughout, no explicit abuse scenes occur. However, this traumatic topic always warrants a trigger alert. Still, humor abounds with villains’ bumbling capers, Curt’s inner dialogue as he teaches first graders, and even some playful puns: “With apologies to the proverb’s originators, it could be said that Missouri loves company.” This lightness balances Phoenix’s anguish as she searches for her child. Danbury keeps the pages turning and readers on their toes by frequently hopping from one character’s point of view to another, but well-labeled, crisply written chapters clarify where and when the action takes place.
Most villains are recognizable types: An overbearing, repulsive mother browbeats a cunning son while coddling his intellectually challenged brother, and child abusers twirl their metaphorical mustaches as they anticipate debauchery. What stands out, again, is Phoenix, whose undaunted mama-bear heroism and strong Christian faith are so persuasive that readers will expect Rose’s safe recovery. With Phoenix’s husband, father, and a former military chum as back-up, the narrative emphasizes the strength of family. Readers will cheer for this lovable group of rescuers.
Takeaway: A mother hunts for her abducted child in this family-driven page-turner.
Comparable Titles: Patricia Bradley, Jennifer McMahon’s Island of Lost Girls.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Flipping the Record
Bennett quickly lures readers into the story with the first meeting between Jeff and Cass, whose attraction is palpable from the start, and brings the intensity of rock and roll culture to life through vivid depictions of the personality clashes between musicians, the stress that accompanies recording an album, and the toll that touring takes on band members and their significant others. When Jeff’s drug abuse spirals out of control, Cass ends their relationship, but seven years later bumps into a sober Jeff in a Los Angeles studio—where she must decide whether to walk away or to risk her heart on the one man she could never forget.
Bennett keeps the rock and roll scene front and center, alongside Cass and Jeff’s heated romance, but, ultimately, Cass steals the show with her complexity as a strong female lead, determined to succeed in a male-dominated industry while searching for lasting love with Jeff. Her resolve to achieve success in the music scene and refusal to accept an abusive relationship are admirable, as is Jeff’s pluck when it comes to staying sober in the gritty backstage world of rock and roll. Music lovers will be thrilled.
Takeaway: Magnetic, one-of-a kind romance between a rock and roller and an up-and-coming guitarist.
Comparable Titles: Jade C. Jamison’s Tangled Web, Xio Axelrod’s The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
It's clear that Quaver’s a pro at spinning elaborate stories with vibrant characters. As Elly and Jimmy settle into Cripple Creek, they move in with a family that has connections to Liddie—and shocking news for Jimmy about his sister’s disappearance. Elly quickly gets a job playing piano at a dance hall, while Jimmy falls for Sara, a local girl forced into prostitution to make ends meet. When Elly meets Lucas, a quiet but talented hand at the town’s machine shop, the two build a connection that opens up new experiences for her. But when Elly and Jimmy find themselves embroiled in the aftermath of a tragedy committed by a mysterious coal miner years earlier, Elly suspects the mystery is more complicated than she originally anticipated—and when their newfound friends seem to be involved, she’s more determined than ever to solve it.
Though this is the second installment, readers new to the series will easily be drawn into the story and feel an immediate connection to Quaver’s characters. The narrative teems with mystery, action, and romance, and the ending leaves space for future exploits with Elly and Jimmy. Readers with a hankering for spirited adventure will be pleased.
Takeaway: Rousing historical fiction featuring mystery, romance, and thrilling adventures.
Comparable Titles: Kathleen Karr’s The Great Turkey Walk, Vera Cleaver and Bill Cleaver’s Where the Lilies Bloom.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Men play a central role in changing gender dynamics in the workforce, argues Reed, especially given their overwhelming numbers in the upper echelons of corporate America. Her interviews shed light on just how many of those men support the idea of gender equality but often remain silent when it comes to progressing the cause. “We are more afraid to say anything that might offend people,” one interviewee states. “Way too many topics are completely off-limits now.” Reed explores this "spiral of silence theory" in great detail, giving men a platform to express both their support of and discomfort with the topic of gender equity. She goes beyond general conversations to more specific issues as well, including how race, life events (such as pregnancy), and miscommunication can all have significant impacts on conversations between men and women in the workplace.
"When men don’t speak about gender, we miss… an invitation to engage the very people who are in positions to influence change” Reed writes, and while she makes it clear she understands the reasoning behind their silence, she also urges men to stop “perpetuating the status quo of inequity.” This is a bold, empathetic approach to a complex topic.
Takeaway: Bold, thoughtful perspective on the complexities of gender equity in the workplace.
Comparable Titles: Anneli Blundell’s When Men Lead Women, Joanne Lipman’s That’s What She Said.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Readers who have faced self-doubt will recognize themselves in Marmet’s struggles. While relating how her raspy voice during sixth grade choir tryouts led to years of embarrassment, Marmet muses “How do you learn that what you have to say is important, that your stories matter?” That sentiment forms the backbone of the memoir, as she delves into her father’s addiction treatment and eventual sobriety, her own early career strain, and her marriage to Jordan—a decision that requires her to put her plans for a master’s degree on hold and instead move with Jordan to Tel Aviv, Israel, for his medical school studies. In time, Marmet understands the need to pursue her own passions, though she never presents that transformation as easy. When her love of yoga becomes a critical tool for her own peace amidst life’s struggles, she builds on that knowledge to become a certified health coach and co-create a podcast focused on authentic, healthy living.
Though the opportunities afforded Marmet may not be available to everyone, there are moments of loss, tragedy, and heartbreak in these pages that will resonate with any reader—and Marmet’s willingness to be vulnerable is refreshing. The overarching message is crucial: celebrate that inner voice—it deserves to be heard.
Takeaway: Passionate memoir of discovering one’s true voice.
Comparable Titles: Glynnis MacNicol’s No One Tells You This, Amy Turner’s On the Ledge.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Snow Monster
This charming wintertime story highlights the importance of appreciating others’ strengths, as Amia’s penchant for eating snow goes from being a disaster to a superpower when an epic storm buries Tuttle Town. The townspeople have a sudden change of heart, prompting them to beg Amia to eat the snow trapping them in their homes—to which she immediately obliges, saving the day and changing her status from a “Snow Monster” to “a gift to [the] town.” Readers may long for more insight into Amia’s point of view, particularly her feelings when the town banishes her to the inside of her home during her favorite season, but Dee (The Dirt Girl) still crafts an emotionally resonant narrative, and Tuttle Town is vibrantly rendered in jeweled tones and crisp colors in the immersive digital illustrations from Dee and Chandrani Das, effectively evoking the small town feel, especially with the twee cottages sprinkled throughout the neighborhoods.
Younger readers will relish Amia’s imaginative talent, and Dee’s simple lesson of self-worth, paired with a reminder to be sensitive to others, lands well. Just as Amia learns to value her individuality, the townspeople must also learn to embrace the strengths of even their youngest residents. There’s no snow necessary to appreciate this heartfelt ode to self-acceptance.
Takeaway: A birthday wish gone wrong leads to a lesson on embracing personal strengths.
Comparable Titles: Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s Also an Octopus, Sara O’Leary’s This Is Sadie.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Quinn's spirited breaking of the fourth wall, with Oscar talking directly to the readers, will engage and hold young audiences’ attention from the opening pages. Oscar just wants to be accepted by his father and make him proud, but it seems to him that he faces constant disappointment and unfair orders, a pattern that persists when he’s tasked with shadowing Silver. He’s a believably flawed character, indulging in jealousy, but his heartbreak at being overlooked is resonant and relatable. "I’m an outcast here—an outcast, in my own home," he declares, in a typically heated moment. When Oscar does the unthinkable he is forced to either own his mistakes or run away. Shrouded in secrecy for unknown reasons, the reasons behind the ring master's decisions and rules creates unresolved tension between father and son and throughout this fast-paced middle grade novel.
Lily and the Ringmaster boasts, fun, lively prose, an exciting big top milieu, and an ambitious, discontent young narrator who struggles with a sense of duty, father issues, and following his dreams. Oscar’s battle of wills with his father and as he struggles not to join the rest of the circus in falling under Silver's spell is compelling, inviting readers to guess at who is right—and even whose story this is to tell—as it all builds to an action-packed conclusion.
Takeaway: Engaging story of a circus scion’s jealousy at the arrival of a mysterious girl.
Comparable Titles: Lorelei Savaryn’s The Circus of Stolen Dreams, Lori R. Snyder’s The Circus at the End of the Sea.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Despite the police investigation subplot, Home Out of Ashes is a brisk, emotional domestic, one where the characters are good, relatable people who strive to do right and fear disappointing each other. A new grad-student colleague, Marie, may hold Harry’s hand a little too long upon meeting him, but his devotion is never in doubt. Instead, Ballard finds drama in this couple’s efforts to rediscover who they are and what they want out of life when suddenly their circumstances have changed.
And things do change. After suddenly losing her income, Rett elects to rent out the family home and move into a fixer-upper in tiny Stella Mare, not far from her father’s house. She and the kids embrace a new life of goats, chicken coops, and fresh blueberries, with love and support from the sisters—and dogs!— that have given the previous books in this series such spark. Meanwhile, Harry faces injury, uncertainty, and the possibility that he may not know what he wants. His heartache is touching, especially as captured in Ballard’s inviting and incisive prose, but even more so is the trust and partnership he shares with Rett, even when out of reach.
Takeaway: Touching family story of a first-time stay-at-home mom going rustic.
Comparable Titles: Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone, Susan Sanford Blades's Fake it So Real.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Peyton’s crusade to save her family estate is as stirring as is her quest for self-actualization, marked by complex family dynamics that muddy even the clearest waters. Burdened by evidence that her mother suffered heavily from bipolar disorder before ending her own life, Peyton sees similar struggles in her niece, Margot—though she’s unable to help much, given Margot’s mother, Lexi, is overprotective and envious of Peyton as the “privileged” half-sister. Peyton soon finds herself beset on all sides by malicious forces, but there’s plenty of friends onboard, too, most notably Blake—who offers up wisdom to combat Peyton’s self-esteem issues: “Dreaming points out possibilities a man might not have considered before.”
A fine cast of supporting characters adds to the budding romance between Peyton and Blake, and Reine’s rich descriptions of New Mexico’s architecture and natural landscape bring the setting to vivid life. Peyton’s own artistic style, which took a backseat to her mother’s rising star, in some ways parallels her journey of self-worth, as do the clues left in her mother’s paintings, eventually prompting her realization that “I’m worthy. An original. Not a copy.”
Takeaway: A troubled heiress fights to save her family ranch, rediscovering herself in the process.
Comparable Titles: Barbara O’Neal’s The Starfish Sisters, Adrienne Brodeur’s Little Monsters.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: NA
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B
Standouts include a breakdown of how Delaware developed its reputation as a haven for corporations, a fact that’s in amusing counterpoint to the fascinating story of Howard Pyle, the illustrator whose 1883 version of Robin Hood, drawn in his Wilmington studio, proved epochal. Pyle’s drawings and paintings of pirates, meanwhile, pioneered their depiction in childrens’ literature as merry, swashbuckling adventurers instead of bloodthirsty marauders, and his worldwide following included none less than Vincent van Gogh. Tabler includes photographs of objects that capture something of the texture of the past, such as shipbuilders’ tools, the first Civil War state draft lottery wheel, and the courthouse newel whose secret compartment might have held the arsenic that helped an outlaw evade justice.
While the layout and storytelling are inviting, actually reading the full accounts of the many tales, treasures, revelations, and inventions that Tabler covers demands flipping through the book, after a paragraph or so, to unillustrated pages in the back, where the text continues. This process of flipping quickly becomes tedious. Sometimes, as with the fascinating story Tabler calls “Drowned at Sea—Twice,” the key proper nouns and basic facts of the case don’t appear until after the jump. Still, the stories themselves, like the life of notorious slave bounty hunter Patty Cannon, prove worth the work.
Takeaway: Interesting, surprising, thoroughly researched survey of Delaware’s 19th century.
Comparable Titles: William Henry Williams’s The First State, Rachel Kipp and Dan Shortridge’s Secret Delaware.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Yang’s advice is extensive and specific, covering many nuts-and-bolts job-hunt topics like personal branding, addressing skill gaps, crafting compelling anecdotes from past work experiences, and even picking Zoom backgrounds. She also draws on her own experiences to demonstrate that, yes, finding a job in five days is possible—she’s done it—but also the importance of holding to one’s personal beliefs and morals, urging readers to define their core values and then stand for them. The guide’s three-part structure, split between "Possibility," "Preparation," and "Opportunity,” fits the narrative structure of many successful job searches, from a process of discovery, work on understanding and presenting one’s self, and clearly directed, results-oriented action.
Yang explains key steps to laying the groundwork to be able to present one's self as a hard worker and invaluable asset, including creating an intentional online footprint, becoming comfortable with public speaking, and increasing typing speed. Accomplishing that makes the final section, and the promise of the title, much less daunting. There, Yang explains with precision how to create potential job opportunities by applying to 50 jobs a day, crafting attention-grabbing resumes, and learning how to negotiate a salary without fear.
Takeaway: No-nonsense guide to forging a career path and demonstrating one’s value.
Comparable Titles: Sam Sell’s Am I Being Too Subtle?, Curtis Jackson’s Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
All Hope of Becoming Human
Meanwhile, what Duccati discovers in a possible alien library could reveal jolting truths about our planet and species. Despite its epic length, All Hope of Becoming Human surges along, boasting crisp prose, compelling characterization, and a wide variety of scenes and situations amid a tense backdrop of America boiling over toward catastrophe. Busch isn’t shy about his inspirations, but he often improves upon them, at times bringing a revisionist spirit to his classic paranoid suspense and horror scenes. That’s especially true of Demzey and Wegman’s X-Files-esque partnership (“We’re a very special branch of the FBI,” Demzey deadpans), which quickly builds to a touching connection—and also to delicious twists.
The ancient alien plotting is fun and occasionally mind-bending, though an MSNBC-style cable host’s interviews with (fictional) authors peddling Jung-flavored woo-woo fall somewhat awkwardly between parody and infodump. But Busch understands the pleasures of globe-trotting conspiratorial thrillers, writing killer scenes of investigation, exploration, revelation, and desperate escape. The monsters, eventually called Slayers, and the big secrets surprise, again and again, in a thrilling story where no character is safe.
Takeaway: Whip-smart thriller of alien archaeology and a world spinning out of control.
Comparable Titles: Michael Siemsen’s The Dig, Stephen Lloyd Jones’s The String Diaries.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Despite the brevity of this collection, Andersen (The Poetry and Writings of an Outsider) digs deep into a skillfully crafted set of social outcasts—including money-grubbers, pranksters, video game addicts, and menial job workers with financial difficulties—and pits them against political or social scenarios that probe their motives and choices, as well as readers’ reactions and senses of empathy. Through slices of life that actually slice, Andersen projects the anxieties of our turbulent political climate in contemporary America, such as in "Videohead," which mines moral tension from policies like people's easy access to guns. The thrill lies in Andersen's style of letting readers draw their own conclusion.
Andersen highlights the dilemmas and ethical challenges people confront when on the brink of desperation, the perils of isolation, and resonant social injustices, especially those endured by the economically disadvantaged. Thiscollection prompts readers to critically contemplate societal structures, the nature of deception and its ramifications, and the consequences of blind adherence to rules and ideologies. This is a pained but rewarding read for lovers of crisp, methodical stories that catch the raw textures of life while questioning the status quo in the eyes of anti-heroes.
Takeaway: Sharply observed stories of American lives in desperate times.
Comparable Titles: Lauren Groff's Florida, Colin Barrett’s Homesickness.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Charag does a masterful job with his large cast and never reduces them to mere stock figures. Even the many unsympathetic characters are fully fleshed so that readers understand why they are the way they are. In a heartrending scene, Funkenstein comes together with his Muslim employee Abu Mahmoud to discuss the problems each is having with his children, an engagingly human interaction that plays out as normal until Charag jolts readers with a horrific conclusion. We see Mark's astonishment when he's told Israeli medical examiners often don't perform full autopsies because of religious objections. Sometimes Charag gets so lost in descriptions and background the reader gets sidetracked from the main plot, but even these secondary stories are richly told.
Although the various story threads are generally grim—Charag doesn't pull any punches—Galilee also is convincing in tender moments, made all the sweeter for their setting in such a troubled milieu. While the story at times gets tangled in details readers may find extraneous, Charag does a great job of portraying a forbidden love affair. The scenes and the characters' connection are developed beautifully but given an edge by readers’ suspicions that it will end badly. It contrasts neatly with Mark's own struggle to connect with his teenage daughter. Still, amidst the seemingly intractable Mideast politics, Charag allows a welcome note of hope and redemption for the families involved, and for Mark himself.
Takeaway: Powerful thriller of an American PI and an honor killing in Israel.
Comparable Titles: John Le Carré, Charlotte Philby.
Production grades
Cover: N/A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
