The US Review supports the Eric Hoffer Award and the Eric Hoffer Project by presenting the annual winners of the Eric Hoffer Award for Books. In addition to the grand prize, Hoffer honors are bestowed by press type and category, as well as to the Montaigne Medal and the da Vinci Eye recipients. Award coverage is updated in May when the results are released to the public.
The Eric Hoffer grand prize is the highest distinction awarded each year.
Maggots in My Sweet Potatoes: Women Doing Time, Susan Madden Lankford, Photography by Susan Madden Lankford, Humane Exposures Publishing - It is easy to be dismissive or—on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum—romantic about women in prison. Photojournalist and first-time author Susan Madden Lankford shoots for realism instead. For two years, Lankford visited the San Diego County women's jail to learn what life was like for inmates and staff. Lankford's frequent presence encouraged extraordinary confidences. The result is a candid and artful depiction of who is in jail (i.e. thirty percent are pregnant and two-thirds have children under the age of eighteen), why they are imprisoned (i.e. drug convictions top the list), and what can be done to break the generational cycle of crime (i.e. education, mental health programs, halfway houses, and programs for juvenile offenders). On the outside and in the streets where their stories typically begin, most women are never given a chance to properly heal or re-acclimate themselves to society before they are shuttled back to confinement for new offenses. Brutally honest yet never sensational or judgmental, Maggots in My Sweet Potatoes is a well-researched and enlightening narrative backed by statistics, analysis, and input from incarceration experts. Hundreds of black-and-white photos convey what inmate interviews alone cannot. Lankford brings a complete and stunning journalistic investigation to fruition through salient voice and a clear eye for the core of the story. Turning the pages, it is difficult to look away. This book is not lurid, but real, and above all, it is not what we or anyone else might expect.
The Montaigne Medal is awarded to the most thought-provoking titles.
Disputed Truth: Memoirs, Vol. 2, Hans Kung, Continuum International - Those in power almost always fight change, and whether it is a passion for a certain idealized version of history or a need to latch onto old power structures, resistance to change flies in the face of an evolving society if not in the face mankind. As time marches on, the powerful become increasingly myopic and contradict their original mission. This is the milieu of Hans Küng, professor, author, and Roman Catholic priest. Disputed Truths covers the latter portion of Kung's life as he becomes a bestselling author and broadens his view of God and religion. He seeks an open dialogue and clearer vision of Jesus' message, but it will put him in direct conflict with the Vatican and exact a devastating loss of his privileges. Küng is dignified and clear-eyed throughout his retelling wrought with ironclad details and honesty. His personal vigilance becomes an open letter for change.
Generation We, Eric Greenberg with Karl Weber, Pachatusan - The millennial generation is preparing to steward America. Right now, the peak of the millennial bell curve is attending high school and college, but by 2015, the first wave will be ascending to power and challenging the baby boomers. The millennial children were born to technology, terrorism, and trash. They have been pushed closer to the edge of disaster than any previous American society, and very soon they will have their say. Will they bring the next revolution? Will they fulfill America's fledgling vision of peace and democracy? Greenberg and Weber take an analytical and educational approach at introducing and invigorating the We Generation.
Red Zone: Five Bloody Years in Baghdad, Oliver Poole, Reportage Press - Among the problems reporting from Iraq are the unclear direction for the troops, the seemingly random attacks and killings, and the heavy political overtones from everyone and everything attached to the conflict. Poole spent five years in Baghdad reporting on the insurgency and following occupation. His is the inside story that was to inevitably emerge from the ruins. His agenda is one of pure journalistic integrity. Getting the story straight and delivering the facts and nuance of this bloody campaign is only part of the story. He captures the character and emotions of life in Baghdad as well.
The da Vinci Eye is awarded to titles with superior cover artwork.
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A Road More or Less Traveled, Stephen Otis & Colin Roberts, Sunnygold Books (cover by Ben Brezina) |
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Cloisters, Kristin Bock, Tupelo Press (cover by William Kuch) |
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Faces of the Earth, Elizabeth Searls Almy, Wishflower Press (cover by Charlotte L. Searls) |
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Leaving My Found Eden, Ron L. Zheng, Literary Road Press (cover by Ron L. Zheng) |
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The Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake, Chris Dickon, The History Press (cover by Marshall Hudson) - also a reference category winner. |
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Tough Boy Sonatas, Curtis L. Crisler, Wordsong Press (cover by Floyd Cooper) - also a poetry category winner. |
This award is given to a title from a press with an educational institution affiliation, such as a college, library, or museum.
The President's House: A History, William Seale, The White House Historical Association - The White House stands today as an icon of the democracy it represents, as was the intention of George Washington when he commissioned the project over two hundred years ago. This structure represents democracy, liberty, and stability. The author skillfully documents and describes all the politics, ideals, and compromises that shaped the design of the actual structures over the years. He goes on to record all the additions, renovations, and furnishings made up to the year 1992. Even more fascinating are the stories of the people who lived in the President's house. Each President had a part in shaping the use of the private and public facility, and the book provides their highlights of office while there, from their inaugurations until each left office.
This award is given to a title from a press producing twenty-five books or more per year.
Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?, Mary J. Lore, Ferne Press - We have all been told to become the master of our own destiny, but this is often perceived as a long journey toward an unknown horizon. Lore, an entrepreneur and corporate mentor, says the journey is close at hand, embedded in the way we perceive the future and ourselves. The key is, as the title suggests, managing our thoughts by training our brains to think as we desire, unencumbered by the disabling negativity that often grounds our better intentions. Lore begins by fostering self-awareness and a study of our thought patterns and behaviors. From there, we learn to retrain our thinking and “to become calm and receptive to our ideas." Lore doesn't bog down the discussion with mind-bending jargon. She offers a series of exercises, case studies, and supportive techniques to help us attain a new, more productive level of thinking.
This award is given to a title from a press producing twenty-four books or less per year.
Tai Chi Dynamics, Robert Chuckrow, PhD, YMAA Publication Center - This is more than a book covering the principles and practice of Tai Chi, but a guide to this ancient exercise in a context of greater health, awareness, as well as physical and spiritual well-being. Ample illustrations detail how Tai Chi compliments everything from balance to self-defense and the ways that massage, stretching, and diet augment Tai Chi practices. With decades of experience, author Robert Chuckrow, PhD places great importance on the basics while leading into more advanced stages of Tai Chi, diet, and movement through personal experience, to include examining—and often contradicting—conventional wisdom. Excellent for the beginner as well as the long-time Tai Chi aficionado, Tai Chi Dynamics is sure to excel readers understanding and appreciation of the eastern practice and its numerous benefits.
This award is given to a title that was financed by the author and/or not by the publisher, regardless of press size.
Gattorno: A Cuban Painter for the World, Sean M. Poole, Arte al Dia - Antonio Gattorno, born in 1904 Havana, is a central figure in Modern Cuban Art. He was a master of painting and drawing, employing various media such as oil, watercolor, etchings, sculpture, and even furniture. While in his third year at the Academy of Alejandro, Gottorno won a five-year scholarship to study in Europe and became a contemporary of Salvador Dali and friends with Ernest Hemingway. Gattorno took up residence in the United States in 1939, and thanks to the support of his wife, Isabella, Gattorno had the luxury of never having to sell a painting from 1940 until his death in 1980. However, Gattorno's lack of recognition today might be due to his inability for self-promotion, the inadequate management of his career, and his uncompromising candor. Sean M. Poole builds the case for Gattorno's importance in art history through this exquisite coffee table book.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Titles in this category capture the experience, execution, or demonstration of the arts, including art, fine art, graphic art, architecture, design, photography, and coffee table books.
Winner
All the Saints of the City of the Angels, J. Michael Walker, Heyday Books - The saints of Los Angeles converge in this eclectic collection of art and words. Walker roams the roads of LA, telling stories of each street's genesis alongside accounts of the saints for which they are named. Like the city itself, the result is achingly contemporary and rich in history, but it is not a dry accounting of the facts or a high-order travelogue. Walker takes time to observe, letting each street tell its own story of construction, and not until the story emerges does he retell it in rich collage and gripping prose. It is a face of the city that is not often portrayed in the media. Perhaps it is a more accurate portrait LA's past and present.
First Runner-Up
Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride, William Kloss, White House Historical Association - While the days of open accessibility to The White House are long gone, the entire collection of White House art is in view thanks to Kloss' detailed retrospective. This is not just a collection of Presidential portraits. Each Presidency has attempted to make significant additions, and Kloss tours the important works as well as the artists. The book is wise not to ignore the building itself as an architectural work of art and reveals many of the rooms and key renovations.
Honorable Mentions
Klan Rally: A Photographic Essay, James R. Holland, A Bit of Boston Books - Often the job of photojournalism is to capture the essence of what we do not want to view the most but must. Holland goes into the heart of two Klan rallies during mid 1960s, which was akin to being a war correspondent during those turbulent times. There are no words needed. The players indict themselves—the cops, the businessmen, the everyday Joes who gathered in what they believed was mighty righteousness but in fact resemble a flock of frightened birds, albeit dangerous.
Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses, Carol Walker, Painted Hills Publishing - The relationship with the horse and the American west is undeniable. The west was unconquerable without the horse, and the American Indian mystics dream of its arrival. Walker, too, has spent years with the horse, watching and observing, capturing them in brilliant photographs. She wants us to know that this vital creature, which holds so much of our own indomitable spirit, is under siege by man's eternal battle with nature.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Why We Look at Art, What Happens When We Do, Sherrye Cohn, Dog Ear Publishing - Instead of focusing on the artwork's genesis or the minutia of the artist's life, Cohen turns the mirror on us and discusses how art is received. She understands that, without the eye of the beholder, art is nothing, a perception unregistered and devoid of meaning. While touring primarily paintings, she confesses her own perceptions in hope of igniting your understanding and appreciation of major artworks over the past five hundred years.
The Peace: A History in Photographs, Donald A. Pettit, Peace photoGraphics - How many regions and towns mark the globe without an accurate accounting of time and place? And how often are they portrayed in cursory or forgettable fashion where the buildings and celebrities seem to be the only landmarks of importance? Neither is the case with Pettit's retrospective of The Peace Country, a 75 million-acre watershed spanning British Columbia and Alberta. Using archival photographs, Petit not only marks the progress of Peace, but also the people, which is why Peace exists in the first place.
Sending Flowers to America: Stories of the Lost Angeles Flower Market and the People Who Built an American Floral Industry, Peggi Ridgway and Jan Works, American Florists' Exchange - We all send flowers and with little concern of the process, but there are stories that stretch for one hundred years or more in the development of one of the country's most beloved industries. In journal-like form, Ridgway and Works tell the inside story.
Titles in this category contain poetry or highly stylized prose.
Winner
Blues and Bliss: The Poetry of George Elliot Clarke, Selected with an introduction by Jon Paul Fiorentino, Wilfrid Laurier University Press - Clarke's poetry is imbued with a vital lyricism. The poet explains in his afterword to this volume, published as part of a series seeking to widen appreciation of Canada's most worthy poets, how his teen passion for listening to popular music became a desire to write songs of his own which led to writing poetry. A reading of Ezra Pound's translation of Li Po's "The River Merchant's Wife: A Letter," sent him to the library to study poetry, where he discovered Dante, Shakespeare, and such great African-American poets as Langston Hughes, Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Ismael Reed. But it was outside the library, located in the hubbub of a downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia neighborhood, amid the military brass bands, street corner balladeers, bluesy street rhythms, and infectious immigrant accents that his love for raucous polyphonies took hold. Over the years these compelling and diverse influences contributed to his concept that "Everything can be poetry." His collection hums with the beauty of urban hustle; the street beat and the story songs he shares stay with you.
First Runner-Up
Prima Pagina, Poetry from the Latino Heartland, Latino Writers Collective/ Kansas City, with a preface by Rane Arroyo, Scapegoat Press - Fourteen perceptively creative poets define their immigrant communities. This primarily in English anthology of distinguished and distinctive Latino voices flows with, in poet Jose Faus' words "…the grace of song." Within each artist's particular memories, dreams and geographic heritage, the poems can, by turns, be clarifying, edgy, sensitive, angry, sorrowful, sexy, and contagiously witty—see poet Gloria Vando's "new shoes and an old flame." The multi-voiced longings, influential incidents, and profound observations in this collection reflect the historically repeated situations embedded in the lives of residents of immigrant neighborhoods. They also connect with a familiar catalog of universal experience.
Honorable Mentions
The Baseball Field at Night (last poems), Patricia Goedicke, Lost Horse Press - How would we speak in the daily presence of the angel of death? Patricia Goedicke's beloved husband has died; she has been diagnosed with cancer. Her language is aristocratic and austere. Her phrasing is incandescent, yet within her beautiful illuminations her anger bursts forth and her grief-laden memories are laid bare. She clearly cherishes our rich physical universe and her life. Her poems move from intimate reflection into infinity. We are immersed in the sensual; our feet feel the grass and our heads are spangled with stars. She connects us to immortality by a restless search for consolation in the joy of living. She confirms that loss and separation are brutal; her path through absence is to embrace and magnify the mundane. Between the twin thralls of life and death, her grace was to clarify until her very end. The poet died in 2006.
Tough Boy Sonatas, Curtis L. Crisler, Illustrations by Floyd Cooper, Wordsong - To open a book and see and hear yourself and your neighborhood revealed confirms your reality even if your days are spent in the risky, tough boy streets of the post-industrial neighborhoods of Gary, Indiana. The poet's diction is uncompromising and expressive. He writes vividly about the necessary and creative strategies for survival in a place where moments of harmony and equilibrium are fleeting. His tales offer rich accounts of growing up in a place rife with challenges. Chrisler and Cooper portray the totality of these boys' lives with spare, sensitive and commanding knowledge of the details. The essentials communicated in this handsome volume are the revelation behind the daily headlines we encounter about city poverty and crime. These poems and pictures are not the new news but they are crucial. The boys they depict are born into troubles, live difficult days, and die too soon every day in America.
Lightning and Ashes, John Guzlowski, Steel Toe Books - Guzlowski bridges the distance of time and circumstance with this stark and tender account of his Polish parents' horrific ordeals in the Nazi death camps of WWII and their subsequent lives in America. Between a prologue and epilogue, he relates his family story in three parts; beginning with the end, then relating their arrival in America, finally ending with his haunting visions of the catastrophe of the camps. The poet's ability to convey his report with simplicity and lucid compassion pains us. We can't help asking if the endurance of such suffering can ever be redeemed. His caution that: "Sorrow is the only gift that God bestows." is not his only message. This elegant chronicle serves to remind us that such harrowing realities are always happening somewhere in the world. Redemption can be in the prevention.
Titles in this category are non-genre specific fiction, including literary, short story, and mainstream.
Winner
The Demise of Luleta Jones, Mark Allen Boone, Blacksmith Books - An investigative reporter on a local newspaper and the woman who is the subject of his interest are the central characters in this engaging story set in a gentrified African American neighborhood in Chicago. Theo Pugh's search for who Luleta Jones was, and what she was about, consumes him. He knocks on doors, asks people who knew Luleta to tell him about this controversial woman, known to be peculiar in dress and manners. He learns that Luleta was both respected and hated, a new hire who stepped on a few toes as she attempted to raise the standards of the school where she was a teacher. Theo is viciously attacked and almost killed as he comes close to uncovering how she died and who killed her, but in each instance, the real killers get away. In many respects, this is about a neighborhood in transition, underscoring the fact that a country with so much potential for creativity and beauty often degrades to base means.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
First Runner-Up
The War Years: Dutch Clarke, Brian Ratty, AuthorHouse - It is a treat to be transported to not only another time but another frame of mind, in this case Guadalcanal in 1942. The result is a suspenseful and brisk read. Dutch Clarke defies his well off family and enlists in the United States Marine Corps. This sprawling epic takes Dutch from boot camp to Japanese POW camp. In between, Ratty (a renowned photographer in his own right) shows what war photographers went through. Also explored in this novel is the clashing of cultures: "Do you guys speak English? I'm American. We're friends." It becomes a deeper story about prejudice and the dark forces that sometimes drive us.
Honorable Mentions
Dragons and Garden Peas, Burt Jacoby, iUniverse - Property Developer Burt Jacoby has much on his plate. Cancer, a struggle for beachfront building permits that includes a liaison with his adversary's daughter, reconciliation with his ex-wife who dies in a yachting accident and, yes, his trial for her murder. The title is apt; Burt faces his dragons and still seeks peace and tranquility. The story is so absorbing and well paced that one hardly pays attention to the technical merits of the book. This is almost a shame because the craftsmanship deserves attention: well controlled writing, a range of characters—some likeable, some not, but all believable—an eye for description and flair for narrative are all in there, but I just kept on turning pages to see what happened next. The trial scene alone would give Scott Turow a run for his money.
The Fire and the Light, Glen Craney, Bridget's Fire Press - This work of historical fiction is an ambitious novel to which the author has given a great deal of time and research. He has helped to maintain the myths and legends of the Cathars. St. Esclarmonde de Foix is the central figure, wrought with exceeding scope and detail that it should be read for pure enjoyment alone. The subject matter is probably unfamiliar to most readers, except for theologians or historians who will appreciate (or critique) the author's accounts of the Cathars and other heretical movements, but this should not detract from the authors labor and skill.
Hide Your Life Away, Carol Little, Meanwhile Studios - This is pure pop, pure fun, and pure realism all at the same time. Author Carol Little has managed to give us an instant camera portrayal of life lived at the extremes of modern society's extensions. Little crafts a snapshot of the outre' lifestyles of the young and underachieving, "slackers" in the common parlance, fully immersed in the pop-speak and pop-think of popular culture, of youth culture, of the truly democratic on account of being cheaply affordable. Our main character Jason, a thirty-two-year-old stock boy who has no immediate plans together with a fear of emotional commitment, is a perfect embodiment of what pop culture, as a product of corporate culture, prizes. An eternally unsatisfied consumer of goods, of disposable constructs, of easily obtained and used products that need to be replaced. This is undoubtedly one of the embodiments of Western society's ideas of freedom and it is indeed seductive and appealing, especially when we are young and susceptible to such marvelous tastes and colors and sensations. Author Little has deftly played with that sensorium of the consumable to let us playfully romp through its imagery and language and gently come to the realization that there comes a time when this is not enough. The characters are, after all, not so much different than ourselves, especially for anyone who grew up staring at a screen where a dancing clown and some electric arches cast a magic spell that still lingers.
The Love Song of Monkey, Author: Michael S.A. Graziano, Leapfrog Press - Jonathan is terminally ill with little hope for a cure until he meets Dr. Kack. The doctor has patented a machine capable of curing any disease with only one minor side-effect: excruciating pain and almost certain death. Reckless and secretly longing for his own demise, Jonathan submits to Dr. Kack and his patented Kwark King 5.7. As a result, Jonathan both loses and regains his life. The Love Song of Monkey is a surreal exploration of the nuances of love and a commentary on the absurdities of modern medicine, matrimony, and materialism.
Katherine's Wish, Linda Lappin, Wordcraft of Oregon - Linda Lappin's historical novel is a peasant surprise. Katherine Mansfield was a marvelous short story writer whose life was filled with much tragedy, not the least of which was her death at such a young age. Lappin's book is researched to epic proportions, boasting a cast of characters such as D.H. Lawrence "Lorenzo," Virginia Woolf, and John Middleton Murry "JMM." As Mansfield passes her last days suffering from a lung illness, this book is delicately nuanced yet well paced. The last line will break your heart, revealing that there is never enough time to live when it is lived at a distance from others.
Love Letters from a Fat Man, Naomi Benaron, BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas - These short stories aim for the heart and, unfailingly, hit their mark. The writing is spare and unsentimental, but often lyrical. The stories share themes that resonate, including loss and the tenuous connections that bind us. In the title story, a man who has lost his wife and son decides to eat himself to death but, in the end, chooses life after all. In "Directions," a young woman gets the call that her mother is dying and boards a plane to go home, wishing she could be the person she was before she answered the phone. In "God Spends the Day Everywhere," a young child in Rwanda witnesses the murders of her parents and small brother and her "own voice fled forever into her fingertips." In "A Matched Pair," a young woman struggles with a disintegrating marriage, feeling that in her life she was "almost loved," first by her mother, then by her husband. Each story in this collection is like a jewel, one more lustrous than the last.
Titles in this category are genre specific titles, including mystery, thriller, suspense, science fiction, romance, and horror.
Winner
Black Market Truth - The Aristotle Quest: Book One, Sharon Kaye, Parmenides Fiction - Just outside the walls of Rome, a guard is murdered and five ancient scrolls are stolen from St. Paul's sarcophagus. Behind the theft, a group of Muslim extremists wait to profit from the scrolls' volatile contents—proof that Christianity is a fraud. When Dana McCarter, director of NYU's Advanced Institute for the Study of Antiquity, is called upon to identify one of the pilfered scrolls, she's inadvertently drawn in to a treacherous conspiracy to conceal the truths detailed in Aristotle's lost dialogues. Based on actual information from Aristotle's life and times, this first book in the Dana McCarter trilogy takes the reader on a tense international chase to find the ancient texts and expose the true villains at the heart of the cover-up.
First Runner-Up
Whistleblower, Richard Hicks, Xlibris - Mike Stratton does not remember killing anybody. In fact, he doesn't remember anything about the last two days, except for waking up in county jail under suspicion of the rape and murder of a high-school flame. How do you clear your name when you don't even know if you're innocent? Half mystery, half courtroom drama, Whistleblower has a plot that keeps you pinned to the pages and a twist ending that surprises while staying grounded in the story. Hicks understands his characters, the genre, and how to entertain readers from start to finish.
Honorable Mentions
Eyes of the World, Rob Palmer, Leisure Fiction - Mike Stanbridge and Lynnie Connor are childhood friends who have remained close—very close. But when a woman near Lynnie is murdered, Mike faces a dilemma: How far to go to save a friend who happens to be the US President? Archie Pasco knows more about the couple and secrets than anyone. He, along with law enforcement, believes Mike is guilty of many things, including murder. The author's well-developed characters offer readers an inside look at the results of power and corruption. Will Mike succumb to political assassins or be arrested by the FBI? What will happen to Mike and the Prez? Rob Palmer's fast-paced writing style keeps you reading until the satisfying conclusion.
The Spirit of Antoinette, Michael Ramseur, Broken In Books - Michael Ramseur describes The Spirit of Antoinette as "a gothic horror story," but the truly frightening aspects are not the spirits which haunt the State Lunatic Hospital at Danvers, but the depictions of both the modern and the antiquated mental health industries. Psychiatric institutions of the 1920s and the 1980s are disturbingly similar. Though treatment methods may have changed, both are overtaxed and unable to care for those in their charge, despite their best efforts and desires. Ramseur draws on careful research, personal experience, and perhaps his own madness. The line between fiction and history is thin here, which may be this book's most chilling quality.
The Eden Proposition, Kurt Dahl, Booksurge - Earth is massively over populated in 2020. Billionaire, Duval Dixon, calls a summit of eleven powerful, brainy people to consider a solution to reduce the population to a few hundred survivors through the use of a manmade virus. What will such a decision mean to the world? Dahl's futuristic thriller rings with a feeling of truth. The author explores the beliefs of a people who find themselves captives of a genius (or a madman) and his argument against society. Readers can expect an engrossing, generous helping of trouble, suspense, and a sprinkling of romance before the riveting ending.
Project June Bug, Jackie Minniti, iUniverse - Dealing with problem student Michael Tayler is a walk in the park compared to dealing with his father. When Jenna Bianchi suspects that Michael may have ADHD, she sets out to try and help him improve, without provoking the ire of the influential Mr. Tayler. Competently written, and clearly based on Minniti's experience and passion for teaching, Project June Bug functions best when focusing on how the parents and teachers deal with a student like Michael, rather than on the personal details of said teachers.
River Bones, Mary Deal, iUniverse - A serial killer is casting a net around and, if Sara Mason, isn't smart enough, the psychopath will dig a grave for her. Deal gives us a glimpse of the history of the California Sacramento River area as she creates an ever-climbing path from house renovations, eccentric Esmerelda's friendship, up to the discovery of bones in river sand. Readers will enjoy a believable tale of old wounds, lasting friendships, and crimes of passion. Sara, once known as white trash, home to revenge old hurts, finds she has become her own person. These characters will remain memorable long after the mystery has been solved, leaving readers with a hope to hear more from this talented author.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
The Wandering Heart, Mary Malloy, Leapfrog Press - Artfully written, this story moves through centuries, following historian Lizzie Manning on her quest to unearth the Hatton family history. On the way, she learns about her own surprising past, mixed with the Hatton tale of mystery, intrigue, and romance. This story is in many ways an exploration for the truth. The author's own experience as a historian shines throughout, making this no ordinary read. A terrific debut.
Titles in this category are for young children, including stories and picture books.
Winner
Butt Ugly, Lynn Montgomery, ZuZu Petals Publishing - A heart-felt story of how damaging words can be to a young person's ego, or in this case a young dog. He hears only negative things about himself until it soon begins to damage his self-image. He sees the other puppies go to loving homes and assumes that no one could ever love such a "butt ugly' pup. His future seems bleak and his self-worth diminishes. Butt Ugly decides that the only person who could possibly love him is his mother and concedes to the idea of staying with her for the rest of his life. It takes the arms of a young boy and boundless love to show this pup how special he truly is.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
First Runner-Up
The Little Man in the Map, E. Andrew Martonyi, Schoolside Press - Written in rhyme, this creatively ingenious book gives readers hints to remember all 50 states. The journey begins with meeting the 'man in the map,' and then relates all memorization prompts to him. The book then goes through each region of the United States giving effective visual cues to help readers remember. After each region is presented, the tour continues with a regional review. This is an excellent book for remembering the states for any age.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Honorable Mentions
Willow, Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, Sleeping Bear Press - A self-confident little girl named Willow uses her imagination to encourage others to think outside of the box. Willow's artwork is never black and white, circular or boxed. Although those around her choose to follow the rigid ideas of their teacher, Willow's blue apples and pink trees, along with her giving spirit, motivate her teacher to finally rediscover her own creativity. It is a reminder that we can become inspired and amused by a child's imagination.
There's a Kid Under My Bed, Lisa Funari-Willever, Franklin Mason Press - An entertaining pun on the classic childhood saying, "There's a monster under my bed!" Written in rhyme, this story purports the idea that there is a monster world that mirrors ours. A little monster, named Marshall, must go to bed but is extremely reluctant, as most little monsters are at his age. He becomes afraid when his older brother teases him: He will have a kid under his bed when he goes to sleep. Marshall's mother and father must prove that there is no such thing as "kids," and he should go to sleep like a good little monster.
Roonie B. Moonie: Lost and Alone, Janan Cain, Illumination Arts Publishing Company - We are all told by our parents not to speak with strangers and to think with our heads. Roonie B. Moonie, a bumblebee, has been given the same advice by his own mother a thousand times but never thought he would need it. One day he decides to go exploring, but runs into a bit of trouble and becomes lost. Roonie recalls his mother's advice, which helps him get back home, but first, he has some detailed problem solving to do. He must trust his gut feelings to do the right thing and return to safety.
Titles in this category are aimed at the juvenile and teen markets.
Winner
Eclipsed By Shadow: The Legend of the Great Horse, John Royce, Micron Press - Meagan has loved horses her entire life. When a beautiful foal is born to her aging mare, she is ecstatic. But, she is given a dire warning about riding a horse born before dawn on the summer solstice of the millennium. Protecting her beloved horse from a man whom she believes will harm the it, she jumps astride, forgetting the prophecy and promptly disappears. As Meagan disappears into the shadows, she discovers the reality of the "Great Horse." The Great Horse is actually a Pegasus who drops her into ancient history to fend for herself. Perils await a young girl with no money, no family, and only her wits and knowledge of horses to help her survive as she battles to return to her own time.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
First Runner-Up
A Cord of Three Strands, Holly Moulder, White Pelican Press - In 1838 America, two lives intersect. John, a thirteen-year old, crippled Cherokee boy, is torn between his responsibility to The People as their new medicine man and helping a new friend in her desperate run toward freedom. Annie is a twelve-year old runaway slave traveling the Underground Railroad. How do a wooden horse, the "world's most learned pig," and a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln figure into their lives? This historical fiction account moves the reader through a variety of experiences including Cherokee customs and medicine, plantation life of a slave, steamboat travel, and the dangers along the Underground Railroad. Moulder has done an excellent job incorporating vast amounts of detail into a compelling story that shows there are always at least two sides to any account.
Honorable Mentions
Narwhal, Margaret Gill, iUniverse - Gray has been an outcast on his island home since he arrived as a young boy. When his father and older brother are lost in a storm, his aunt comes to live with him on the island, and his life goes from bad to worse. Before he had been merely taunted as an outsider. Now his aunt makes enemies of everyone and they take their anger out on Gray. Finding the narwhal tusk and trying to figure out the strange carvings on it, changes everything. As the tusk brings fear to the superstitious islanders, they revive ancient rituals that make Gray fear for his life. Mystery, ancient magic, and a fight for survival make Narwhal a page turner to delight all ages.
Path to Punishment, Jeanette E. Alsheimer and Patricia J. Friedle, Ivy House Publishing Group - In the wake of the Boston Tea Party, Parliament plans retaliation, spies have infiltrated both sides, and Anne Wentworth is following love. Anne secretly leaves her family and home in Boston to surprise her betrothed in England. Met with hostility and surrounded by deceit, Anne learns of Parliament's reaction. When a childhood friend arrives in England under mysterious circumstances and accidents might be more than they seem, Anne begins to examine her own political beliefs. Will she have to choose between her betrothed in England or her love of family in Boston? As the web of deceit closes in and mysteries begin to come to light, her decision may mean life or death for those closest to her and maybe for Anne herself. In this wonderfully researched fictionalized account of Pre-Revolutionary politics, Alsheimer and Friedle bring the time and people alive. It is a cautionary tale: Things are not always as they appear and knowing whom to trust is sometimes the most difficult decision of all.
The Throwaway Piece, JoAnn Yolanda Hernandez, Arte Publico Press - Jewel is the throwaway piece of her mother's life, the part she can live without. Jewel becomes a "state kid" at 14. By that time, she has seen more of life and cruelty than most children see in a lifetime. It is no wonder she becomes withdrawn and defensive. Mrs. Clarke, her social worker, tries to break through the barriers Jewel has erected, but Mrs. Clarke is dealing with problems of her own. Following Jewel through her transition from fearful child to rebellious teen to finding her own place in the world makes for a stirring story.
Women Astronomers: Reaching for the Stars, Mabel Armstrong, Stone Pine Press - Armstrong combines passion and research into an accessible, interesting, and highly readable biographical history of women in astronomy. Beginning in 2350 BCE with Astronomer-Priestess EnHeduanna through 2004 with Jill Cornell Tarter searching for extraterrestrial intelligence, Armstrong shows the incredible contributions made by female scientists—the original "computers." The 36 women profiled all fought through controversy and resistance in a male-dominated field to revolutionize the industry through building larger telescopes, cataloging new stars, discovering pulsars and dark matter, searching for extra-terrestrial life and authoring several catalogs and guides that were used around the world by the leading astronomers. A must read for all students thinking of pursuing science and a fascinating read for all who have gazed at the night sky and been mesmerized.
Nonfiction titles demonstrating the human or world experience, including multicultural, essay, women's issues, sexuality, gay, lesbian, aging, travel, recreation, true crime, social commentary, and current events.
Winner
The New Nuns: Racial Justice and Religious Reform in the 1960s, Amy L. Koehlinger, Harvard University Press - This book is a mosaic of written and spoken narratives, archival research, and insightful analysis of the logic that fueled the work of the "New Nuns"—the Caucasian sisters who crossed geographic, religious, and racial lines to address the basic human needs of African Americans in a decade fraught with racial prejudice and injustice. Reaching beyond an audience of academic theologians and students, the New Nuns illuminates the personal challenges, confusion, tensions, and contradictions navigated by a group of women religious stereotyped as sheltered and naive recluses who chose to enter the unchartered territory of public activism.
First Runner-Up
Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America, Nathan J. Winograd, Almaden - Redemption will shock animal lovers to the core as it exposes how a collection of agencies founded to save animals becomes one that kills them. In a heart-rending blend of facts and personal experience, author Nathan J. Winograd (former Director of Operations for the San Francisco SPCA and no-kill advocate) traces how the SPCA and other agencies evolved from animal protection to killing machines fueled by money, politics, ignorance, draconian animal control laws, and Catch-22 legislation. Winograd shows that pet overpopulation and public irresponsibility are myths and excuses to kill, and he thoroughly explains the No Kill movement, which comprises Trap-Neuter-Release programs, foster care, and public outreach campaigns. Bonuses are a glossary, bibliography, and appendices, including a nine-page "No Kill Blueprint for Shelters."
Honorable Mentions
Days Like Floating Water: A Story of Modern China, Susan Edwards McKee, Oak Leaf Impressions Press - Part Memoir, part candid travel journal, this is the poignant and often witty story of Susan McKee's and her husband Robert's personally transforming year and a half long journey through the unfamiliar communist culture of China in the late 80s and 90s. Serving on a Mormon humanitarian mission to teach English at a rural college in Chuga, the McKees leave their family, friends, religion, politics, and a comfortable retirement to teach English to wary Chinese students. Intimately exposing her fears, worries, and opinions of the day-to-day primitive village life of the Chinese people she lives among, Susan McKee's narrative illuminates the heart and soul of China that has often been overshadowed by the massacre at Tiananmen Square, where thousands of students died protesting against the authoritarian and economic policies of the Chinese Communist Party.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Loneliness, Thomas Dunn, Harvard University Press - This book might alternately bear the title, "No Easy Answers." Dunn takes deliberate, purposeful strides through some very tall, thick grass intellectually and emotionally to bear us on his shoulders through his journey both as a deeply gifted thinker and as a man touched by loss. He bears with him on this journey no simple tools, but guides: Emerson, Shakespeare (specifically Lear, whom Frederick Buechner has so wonderfully evoked through the years for spiritually import), and W.E.B. Dubois. He provides an accessible yet challenging look at a topic that colors American culture at its very core.
The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez: The Voice of Santa Anita, Rudolph Alvarado, Caballo Press of Ann Arbor - This is an in-depth biography of a Mexican-American who became thoroughbred horseracings greatest race caller during Americas Great Depression—a time when large numbers of Mexican Americans were repatriated to Mexico. Inspired by Joe Hernandez's trusted friends and family members, Alvarados biography forges beyond the fabrications of Hernandez's life preserved in newspapers and articles. It forms instead a new portrait of the man who called 15,587 consecutive races at Santa Anita from its opening in December 1934 until his death in April 1972. Accompanied by a CD with Hernandezs most famous race calls, The Untold Story of Joe Hernandez is the first biography written about a Mexican-American involved in the sport of horseracing.
Titles in this category capture specific personal experience.
Winner
Kafka Comes to America, Fighting for Justice in the War on Terror. A Public Defenders Inside Account, Steven T. Wax, Other Press - This is an eye-opening and captivating read. Oregon Public Defender Wax looks inside Guantanamo Bay, the U.S. military prison in Cuba where we store terrorists. He follows two of his clients, one an American lawyer, the other, a Sudanese hospital administrator, both falsely accused of terrorism. As Wax writes, "I have spent much of the last six years fighting against the assault on civil liberties and the corrosive effect of fear." This is a book to read while fully awake, one that will rivet you.
First Runner-Up
Rock me on the Water, a Life on the Loose, Renny Russell, Animist Press - Renny Russell and his older brother, Terry, wrote On the Loose, a narrative of their travels in the Western wilderness in 1967, which is recently back in print, and it became a New York Times bestseller, remaining the Sierra Clubs most popular book. Unfortunately, Terry drowned in a later adventure on Utahs Green River. Rock me on the Water is a sort of sequel: a tribute to Terry and the brothers, their friends and their mentors environmental ideals. This is a beautiful and thoughtful coffee table sized book, both deeply private and entirely universal.
Honorable Mentions
Buffalo Gal, Laura Pedersen, Fulcrum Publishing - Pedersen is a funny young writer, and President Bill Clinton named her One of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. The author, also a novelist, grew up in Buffalo, New York, which she exploits to its fullest. Her memory is prodigious. She hysterically captures mishaps, place names and descriptions, and terrible weather. She is especially good at dialects and listing local foods of the times (mid 60s into 70s). Irreverent and witty, Buffalo Gal presents a clear picture of a certain time and place.
A Persistent Peace: One Mans Struggle for a Nonviolent World, John Dear SJ, Loyola Press - Father John Dear, author of more than 20 books, has spent his entire adult life, almost 30 years now, performing acts of nonviolence, despite his Jesuit orders lack of approval of his activism. In this time, he has been imprisoned for civil-disobedience violations, has visited Central America and Iraq, and has befriended the most famous pacifists and civil rights workers: Daniel and Phil Berrigan and Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, among them. Archbishop Desmund Tutu nominated this book for a Pulitzer Peace Prize in 2008.
Farm Friends, From the Late Sixties to the West Seventies and Beyond, Tom Fels, RSI Press - This will be a nostalgic read for Baby Boomers who came of age in the radical, highly charged 60s. It is a memoir of a generation of friends, beginning in the 60s and bringing them into the present day. These were the famous days of drugs, rock'n'roll, free sex, and a heightened creativity and social consciousness. Many of the friends lived on a communal farm in Vermont. Most remain friends although their lives have greatly changed. Several have become successful writers, movers, and shakers. Thorough reminiscent, this book explains those transformative, unusual times in our history and how a select few bridged to the future.
Titles in this category provided application to today's business environment and emerging trends, including general business, career, finance, computer, and the Internet.
Winner
Some Assembly Required, Marny Lifshen & Thom Singer, New Year Publishing - Women network differently, and they should. They have been networking with success for centuries. Marny Lifshen & Thom Singer bring the techniques and tools of networking to both a new light and higher level in Some Assembly Required. While sales and marketing has traditionally been about introductions and problem solving, complete networking for women involves selecting the right associations, building relationships, adding value to any system, and ultimately manufacturing self-confidence. The book begins with a brief discussion about how networking is different between men and women, not to put the sexes at odds, but to illuminate the pitfalls for women attempting to replicate male successes. Women need to play to their strengths, which often involve empathy and service, as opposed to courage and sacrifice. For example, joining an organization is essential, but becoming an active member as well as a leader raises your profile and accessibility. Another key hint is to multitask by introducing clients and referral sources to new events, places they would not normally go. Women, much more than men, are branded by perception and the visual, which are key components of image, and these factors must be careful managed. Networking, as Lifshen and Singer say, is not just for businesspeople. The tools and technique work anyone needing to expand their circle of contacts.
First Runner-Up
Stand Out When You Stand Up: An A to Z Guide to Powerful Presentations, Barbara Busey, Presentation Dynamics - It is well know that many people fear public speaking more than death. Barbara Busey, owner of Presentation Dynamics, shares her experience as a communications trainer by touring her advice and techniques from A to Z. First, you have to address what you fear the most. These anxieties—failure, vulnerability, and embarrassment—are the disabling factors that need to be overcome. Busey employs physical and mental techniques, such as preparedness, props, breathing, etc. to adjust your attitude. She wants you to be audience focused as opposed to “me” focused, by concentrating on the value given opposed to the result gained through public presentation. Value is all about credibility, content, and connecting with the audience. There have been many books written on oral presentation, but Busey's collection of entertaining and practical examples makes you realize that you are not alone and can, indeed, give an effective presentation.
Honorable Mentions
No More Rotten Eggs, Debra Thompson and Bill Greif, TG Publishing - Hiring the right person is a difficult undertaking. The conundrum is that we need to see the person on the job before we actually hire them. Thompson & Greif assert that as many as one-third of all new-hires are a failure, not because they are unqualified but because they cannot integrate with the existing office structure. No More Rotten Eggs offers thirteen steps to hiring “grade AA talent,” including how to define the job, the person, and the interview. It is not just enough to find the right employee, you must also figure out how to nurture and retain that employee—or in Thompson & Greif's case, the golden egg.
FabJob Guide to Become a Life Coach, Brenna Pearce and Allan M. Heller, FabJob - What is a life coach? Someone who mentors the entire package, not just a single aspect of your life. “They inspire others to greatness by gentle persuasion and positive encouragement,” says Pearce and Heller. The authors have interviewed dozens of life coaches to create an informative guide that not only explains the career but defines how its practitioners work best. This entry in the FabJob series contains helpful advice and practical applications for this vital profession.
FabJob Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker, Tag Goulet, FabJob - In years past, a motivational speaker was merely the person in the office, club, or community who regularly gave inspiring talks. In the pursuing decades, this talent has become a career. It is difficult to work in a moderate or large office and not encounter a motivational speaker. A typical motivational speaker is paid to inspire and challenge people to improve their lives and therefore maximize their performance within the group. If you think you are interested in this career, Goulet lays out the groundwork from getting started to various applications and opportunities.
FabJob Guide to Become a Wedding Planner, Catherine Goulet, Jan L. Riddell, and Tag Goulet, FabJob - Modern weddings have become sophisticated events. Couple this with the fact that most people have an elaborate wedding only once in lives'. This makes the majority of prospective brides and grooms complete rookies at planning their own nuptials. Enter the wedding planner. What does a wedding a planner do? FabJob's Guide to Becoming a Wedding Planner teaches you about this multifaceted and detailed event-planning career. A wedding planner clearly takes the stress out of the process for the soon-to-be betrothed, which is certainly invaluable.
Titles in this category arrived from traditional and emerging reference areas, including history, psychology, biography, education, sports, recreation, training, travel, and how-to.
Winner
Great Peacemakers: True Stories from Around the World, Ken Beller and Heather Chase; LTS Press - Geared primarily towards educators and parents looking for positive role models for young people, this book contains short biographies and quotes from twenty people who have worked to change the world. It features a broad cross-section of historical and contemporary figures, with at least one that should be appealing to each young person. It is an excellent book for adults looking to provide alternatives to the people typically featured in the media and will likely also be a treat for adults that enjoy reading biographies. The authors seamlessly highlight both seminal events and small moments in the lives of the featured individuals, and the included photos help the stories seem more immediate to readers.
First Runner-Up
Eat Smart in Sicily: How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods& Embark on a Tasting Adventure, Joan Peterson and Marcella Croce, Gingko Press - This book, based on the idea that food is an excellent window into a culture, is a three-part look into Sicily geared toward food-loving travelers. Part one consists of brief overviews of Sicily's history and its regional food traditions, part two is a selection of recipes, and part three includes an extensive list of food-related terms, helpful language phrases, and a menu guide. It is a wonderful resource for travelers seeking for an in-depth experience of Sicilian history and culture using its cuisine as a starting point, as well as for armchair travelers who will likely find it fascinating. The authors' inclusion of many color photographs, recommended and essential dishes, and recipes for home cooking make the culture and cuisine of Sicily come alive.
Honorable Mentions
20 Things You Must Know to Write a Great Screenplay: A Thorough Primer for Screenwriters, Rick Reichman, Central Ave. Press - Written both for novice screenwriters and those looking to improve a screenplay, this book is organized as a basic course in screenwriting. It takes the reader through the major steps that are important to formulating a (hopefully commercially) successful screenplay, bolstered by examples from popular films. By utilizing the guidelines provided by this book, screenwriters will be able to improve the bones and flow of their stories and provide new robustness to their characters and dialogue. Laypeople interested in the entertainment industry will probably find this book an insightful look into what makes a screenplay work well. The author's excellent integration of creative writing lessons and real-world examples allows the reader to easily understand his teachings.
The Enduring Journey of the USS Chesapeake: Navigating the Common History of Three Nations, Chris Dickon, The History Press - Inside the romantic cover that recalls the days of sailing ships, Dickon draws the reader into an historical saga of the commissioning, building, and launching of the famous frigate. He goes on to tell of the personalities who guided the USS Naval ship through her honorable career, ending with Captain James Lawrence, who shouted his final words in defeat: Don't give up the ship! The author then guides the captivated reader into the twenty-first century where the remains of the ship's timbers are discovered in the beams of a two hundred year-old abandoned water mill, in Wickham, England. This book conveys the romance of the sailing ships, the mystery of verifying history, and the reverence of lives lost at sea.
Energy, Transportation & the Environment: A Statistical Sourcebook and Guide to Government Data, Eric Weiner, Information Publications - Today's information issues are not that we lack enough material; there is no limit to what we can find on-line, and other places. But one of the major problems is in accessing related information in a timely manner. This sourcebook offers related, relevant, and most importantly, reliable up-to-date facts on the very issues that are on every industrial, environmental, and political agenda. Researchers, environmentalists, consumers, and government agencies will be able to see with startling clarity the effects (or non-effects) of energy and transportation on the environment. When the data becomes outdated, the excellent sources are at one's fingertips for further analysis. This is a jewel of a find for information retrieval.
Titles in this category have practical applications to home or home-related issues, including general home, gardening, cooking, parenting, family, interior design, animals, pets, and home-related crafts.
Winner
Tropical & Garden Flower Identification: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, Graeme Teague, 18 Rabbit Press - This is a photographic journey into the native tropical flowers. Teague's adventurous travels have taken him to faraway tropical locations to photograph and catalog exotic the flowering plant life for this excellent, handy field guide. The photographs capture the plant's vibrant colors and shapes, while the accompanying text includes just the right level of information to not make it an overbearing tome. Each chapter begins with a detailed description of the category, including history, points of consideration, research recommendations, and useful information for the home gardener. Descriptions are given for each variety on germination, planting, drainage, and sunlight. This guide even includes safety instructions, as some of these tropical beauties are poisonous. The chapter on trees contains particularly stunning photos of the Plumeria, used to create the Hawaiian lei, the tropical flower necklace known for its fragrant flowers. Other favorite photos include the Shaving Brush Tree Flower and the Silk Floss Tree Flower. Don't miss the chapter on orchids, which is also quite exceptional. Even if you do not live in a tropical region or cannot grow these flowers in your garden, you will be happy to tour this guide and imagine living in a tropical climate surrounded by these wonderful flowers and trees.
First Runner-Up
A Thyme to Entertain, Junior League of Annapolis, Favorite Recipes Press - Although a fine stand-alone cookbook, A Thyme to Entertain is also an account of the culture, community, and history of Annapolis, MD. Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy and the capital of the state, and it is steeped in colonial through present day maritime history on the grand Chesapeake. Given the city's fine naval upbringing, the recipes wrought through these pages comprise sophisticated, but easy enough to achieve, Maryland cuisine. For example, traditional crab cakes are place in artichoke saucers. The taco is taken to a heighten palate with rockfish fillets, cilantro, avocado, cheese, and spices. The party bread is topped with onion, poppy seed, chopped ham, and mushrooms. As expected for a city on the water, there are a great many seafood recipes, but the selections are balanced and applicable throughout the day and for varied occasions.
Honorable Mentions
Peace Meals, The Junior League of Houston, The Junior League of Houston - The Junior League of Houston offers a cookbook that, not only delights the palate with delicious recipes, but also nourishes the soul through the ritual of the meal. The recipes are well-tested, proven winners that range from rich breakfasts to elegant affairs. The meals include crème brûlée French toast, herb-crusted standing rib roast with cherry port sauce, and dates stuffed with manchego cheese, and there are so many more. This cookbook is complemented by photos of not only the food but by beautiful pictures of typical services and arrangements, including entertaining ideas and tips.
The Floor is Not an Option, Sheila G. McCurdy, Sheila G. McCurdy - Dropping things on the floor is not really preferred, but in a typical house, especially houses occupied by children, the floor appears to be the preferred storage area. What parent hasn't thought for a moment to open a large green trash bag and sweep everything into the garbage? Instead, Sheila McCurdy wants to help you to get organized, transforming your life "from chaos to beauty." She takes you room by room, even entering those troublesome zones like your closets and cabinets. When the kids arrive home from school with its endless paperwork, have binders waiting and dedicated for artwork, special assignments, coveted grades, etc.—a process that can also be applied to your personal mail and paperwork as well. However, this book is not just about filing; it is a philosophy for getting and keeping organized on all levels. Organizational tasks are habits like an exercise, McCurdy suggests. You must ease into them, using a stopwatch or timer if necessary, until you develop a regular routine to achieve beauty and simplicity in your living space.
Wear Clean Underwear, Alexis Martin Neely, Morgan James Publishing - There are moments in life when critical decisions need to be made, however you may not be available (i.e. injury, illness, death, etc.) to guide those who are suddenly thrust in charge of your life. Neely wants you to be prepared. Through three exemplary and compelling scenarios, the author, recognized by Worth as one of the country's top one hundred lawyers, covers several major concerns such as estate planning, guardianship, health care directives, and other special instructions that you want implemented in your absence. These may be difficult and sticky topics to consider, but it is easy imagine how difficult and sticky they will become if those suddenly placed in charge of your life have no directives.
Discipline without Distress, Judy Arnall, Professional Parenting Canada - Disciplining a child sometimes brings a parent to the brink of their emotional capacity. In an ideal world, this should not be the case. Arnall wants you to stay positive with your child and connected to your goals. Discipline is not about punishment; it is about giving the child what he or she really needs, which may include redirection, an understanding of limits, and empathy. Much has changed in parenting styles since the parent's themselves were children. Arnall—a parent educator with vast organization experience and a mother of five children—admits that one size does not fit all. Her approach is based on both the age and needs of the child. No spanking, no time-outs, no bribery. This book is dense and wide-ranging in its discussions and approaches.
California Mosaic: A Cookbook Celebrating Cultures and Cuisine, Junior League of Pasadena, Favorite Recipes Press - California is one of the most culturally diverse states in the country. Many factors contribute to this population milieu, including geographic locale, economic diversity, and the overall desirability of the climate. The Junior League of Pasadena supports this with a diverse collection of culturally significant recipes that also delves into the League's mosaic of community activities. Recipes include Yucatan chicken lime soup, spicy cilantro flank steak, and blueberry pie with cinnamon bourbon sauce. They offer an array of ethnic flavors with an emphasis on locally grown fresh ingredients.
Titles promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being, including psychology, fitness, and sex.
Winner
White Coat Wisdom, Stephen J. Busalacchi, Apollo's Voice - Busalacchi has compiled oral histories from a wide variety of Wisconsin physicians. The author tells us in his introduction that he is an admirer of the work of Studs Terkel. Even had he not so informed us, isn't it the case that all works of this kind are compared to that of the late Studs, and most found wanting? Busalacchi makes a solid, workmanlike effort to walk in the steps of his role model, and he succeeds more often than not. He has mastered the ability to allow his subjects the floor, and the practice of medicine from the view of the dear and glorious physician is expressed with all the triumphs and tragedies that are part of that world
First Runner-Up
Secrets from the Sofa: A Psychologist's Guide to Achieving Personal Peace, Dr. Kenneth Herman, iUniverse - Dr. Herman, a clinical psychologist, wrote this book to impart the secrets of his practice to the rest of us. The chapters are organized as brief lessons followed by exercises. One might be tempted toward skepticism by this ambitious format. Isn't it likely that anyone capable of reading these chapters and performing the exercises is sufficiently well-adjusted not to need a psychologist in the first place? However, the chapters are blessedly down-to-earth and free of gobbledygook. Because Dr. Herman's particular school of psychology is cognitive behavior therapy, this book works on a level that other, more arcane schools of treatment would not.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Honorable Mentions
DIY Baby! Your Essential Pregnancy Handbook, Shelley S. Binkley, MD, iUniverse - This acts as a invaluable resource for the newly-pregnant woman or couple, covering all facets of the pregnancy—from conception to delivery and beyond. Vital for both new mothers and fathers, author Shelly Binkley, MD's work is an up-front and honest look at the multitude of facts, feelings, and considerations that come along with childbirth, and conveys clinical, insider knowledge in an easy-to-read format that both sexes can appreciate and benefit from. With a smattering of charts and plenty of pictures and diagrams, DIY Baby! provides a solid foundation for parents-to-be, alleviating the anxiety of "What now?" and making the experience full of options, not pitfalls.
Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection Into Intimacy, Mona R. Barbera, PhD, Dos Monos Press - This book follows the ebbs and flows of any relationship, making it immediately relatable and poignant to the reader. Exercises that flesh out the readers own values, attitudes, and desires furthers the relevance of author Barbera's concepts of why couples encounter hardships and what can be done to restore harmony. Written more with the woman in mind, Bring Yourself to Love still retains value to men and women, presenting gender-neutral advice backed by true-to-life stories both relevant and well-wrought. While easy-to-read, readers will find plenty to consider, with the eventual outcome of a richer, more transparent and loving relationship.
Creating a Healing Society, Susan Lawrence, M.D., Elite Books - Dr. Lawrence is an internist and oncologist who discontinued her practice to focus on the issue of personal trauma as a cause of social and political problems. Dr. Lawrence cites her personal history and that of other individuals to support this rather novel reversal of cause and effect. She writes in a moving and emotionally resonant style, although the book would benefit from a stronger connection between her evidence and her conclusions. The list of resources—workshops, organizations, books, and web sites—in the back of the book is wide-ranging and helpful to the reader who would like to know more about this subject.
Titles in this category involve the mind and spirit, including religion, metaphysical, and mystical topics.
Winner
The Pursuit of Light: An Extraordinary Journey, Sandy Brewer, Peach Tree House - If you believe you had a dysfunctional, very unsatisfying childhood, you may gain a different perspective after reading The Pursuit of Light. This heartrending and horrifying memoir takes you to places you wouldn't choose to visit, but Sandy Brewer will lead you, page by page, through an insane, unimaginable hell. Her resiliency, determination, and courage give the phrase "overcoming adversity" new meaning. As an adult, Sandy chose to honestly confront her extremely painful memories of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Her valor culminated in psychological release, as well as profound spiritual illumination. This story makes redemption not only possible, but also attainable, despite unspeakable harm.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
First Runner-Up
Transcendent Dreaming: Stepping Into Our Human Potential, Christina Donnell, Ph.D, Winds of Change Books - Can we really know where we go or how far dreaming can actually take us in relationship to time and space? Christina Donnell speaks very convincingly of her extraordinary dreaming journey that began in early childhood. Naturally at ease entering dream states that few of us achieve, she nevertheless believes they are available to everyone. Explaining the three levels of dreaming—ordinary, lucid, and transcendent—Christina makes the inexplicable both reasonable and illuminating. Using her training in psychology, martial arts, Zen meditation, and researching healing arts practiced in ancient cultures, she was able to expand her consciousness beyond her expectations. Dreaming led to life-altering phenomena such as prophecy, clairvoyance, out-of-body states, and a joyful joining with universal spiritual consciousness.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Honorable Mentions
A Beachcomber's Odyssey: Treasures from a Collected Past, S. Deacon Ritterbush, Ph.D., Ritz Dotter Publishers - Life lessons and philosophical comments are skillfully woven into a combination of memoir and a collection of fascinating, historical lore from beaches around the world. If you've never seen a Tapestry turban shell and the uncommon chocolate-flamed Venus from Tonga, sea biscuits from the Caribbean, jingle shells from Nantucket, and spotted tiger cowries from American Samoa, the stunning photographs of these luminous shells may entice you to visit an exotic location or simply take a long stroll down a familiar beach to find what treasures the ocean has to offer you.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
In Search of the Miraculous: Healing Into Consciouness, Eliza Mada Dalian, Expanding Universe Publishing - Eliza Mada Dalian's scrupulously examines her personal spiritual journey, inviting the reader to consider following the path she's taken to arrive at an enlightened state of consciousness. As a teacher, she strongly recommends observing the ego-mind, outlining ways to achieve that goal through the study of the Seven Paths of Surrender, the Seven Chakras, and the Three Veils of Illusion. Various forms of meditation and visualization to expand conscious awareness are evaluated. The last section of the book relates several past life experiences of the author.
Leaving Fundamentalism: Personal Stories, Foreward Thomas Moore, Edited by G. Elijah Dann, Wilfrid Laurier University Press - Fifteen people with highly individual stories speak from the heart about living life from the perspective of a fundamentalist Christian. Major themes include confronting fear, guilt, shame, and the effects of charismatic zealotry. Questing for personal and spiritual relevancy, the writers increase their understanding of early conditioning, while choosing to explore other religious points of view. These frank accounts provide an insider's look at a decision to leave fundamentalism, the aftermath, and how their lives dramatically changed in the process.
The Living Buddha: An Interpretive Biography, Daisaku Ikeda (Translated by Burton Watson), Middleway Press - Many historical and biographical records don't deliver a definitive portrait of the man known as Shakyamuni Bhagavat (Sage of the Sakyas, the World-Honored One), but Daisaku Ideda brings to life the story of this beloved Master Teacher, known as The Buddha. In a spirit of loving devotion, he writes of Shakyamuni's evolution through the climate of the times, his family background, his travels, his followers, and his last days. The Buddha as a young man seeking answers, and later, the Enlightened One, brought the universal message of love and peace to the world.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
Titles in this category are fiction books over two years of age and held particular relevance to any subject matter or art form. Unlike many in the industry, we think good books last longer than one season.
Winner
Sic, Brin Friesen, and/or - Think R. P. Mc.Murphy meets Holden Caulfield and you get with this amazing read. Sic opens with Jasper, a middle-school former fat kid, wishing for his own room in the mental hospital where he's currently locked up. One of his fellow inmates has a cookie wrapped in tinfoil that his mother gave him to take to school before she kills herself. The kid now stares at the cookie—all day every day—and Jasper sees his chance at a private room by eating the kid's cookie. The other residents gang up on him, beat him to a pulp, including breaking his jaw, and it's in the justification in Jasper's mind that it was still a good idea that this book's power lies. We travel with Jasper from the sixth grade and the circumstances that played into his being hospitalized years before it actually happened when his best friend set him up for a beating by the school bully, even participating in it. We meet Jasper's rather promiscuous mother, a Hungarian immigrant with a speech impediment (Lilly from Blazing Saddles or Elmer Fudd meets Natasha), and watch as Jasper has to have her committed after his baby brother dies from SIDS. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, full of laugh out loud passages, and gut-wrenching pain. The voice is fresh and crisp and from the opening line, we're in the hands of a master storyteller.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
First Runner-Up
Dillo: A Baby Armadillo's Adventure on Sanibel Island, Kyle L. Miller, Jungle House Publications - As her jealous sisters lead her away from their mother and leave her to fend for herself, Dillo journies home, meeting animals, both friend and foe. Each chapter is dedicated not only to advancing the story, but learning about the animals native to South Florida. The story contains enough action and suspense to keep the kids interested and enough focus on ecology and animal preservation to keep any environmentalist happy. Dedicated to her grandchildren, the book has the feel of a trusted grandmother sharing what she knows with the children of the world. The illustrations are wonderfully bright and colorful, focusing on realism rather than cartoonish. At 63 pages, it is too long to be read at one sitting to a young audience, but each chapter is dedicated to an individual animal, which creates easy stopping points.
Honorable Mentions
How I became a Godman, Lana M. Ho-Shing, Publish America - If you ever wondered what happened to the mighty gods of Valhalla—to Odin and Thor—Queen Frigga and Loki—look no further. They are preparing for the battle of Ragnarok, and the fall of the Twin Towers was their cue. This book takes a chance in attempting to tie ancient religious dogmas to contemporary ones, and it works. The mortal Jared is tasked by Jaweh to bring the old gods into the final battle of good and evil, but the Scandinavian gods aren't used to taking orders from mortals, and aren't ready to hear about Christianity, nor how they help to play a part in another god's war. But Jared wins Thor and Frigga to his cause as Loki takes arms against them and the race to the ultimate battle between good and evil is on. Thought provoking, this book is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in Scandinavian mythology—an interesting twist on an old story.
Second Language, Ronna Wineberg, New Rivers Press - A strong collection of thirteen short stories, this book is a quest into beautiful prose and insight. Powerful language passes throughout, proving Wineberg to be a wonderful storyteller. The central theme of the book is people looking for their escape, but it is in the individual stories that reveal Wineberg's real talent, each showing a unique world, giving the overall work a resonating tone. Lines like: "A good piano can transport you. Not from here to there. But in your mind." are peppered throughout the work, like little seeds that sprout and grow. Initially coming across as deceptively simple, Wineberg's metaphors are anything but simple and ordinary.
Imani's Heart: The Dancing Angel, Abigail Jefferson and Chaka Bedell, CJW Associates - This book is a powerful read for anyone, but it hits even harder in homes familiar with the subject matter. Imani is about a young girl trying to come to grips with the death of her friend. Her mother tells her a story, based on African beliefs, of how her friend came to Earth to fill people's heart with joy. It is an affirmation of life in the midst of death and a strong read for anyone who has contemplated the loss of a child, although it is a story that needs to be told to everyone. It is a subtle, quiet reminder of what we have, and what we might lose.
Titles in this category are nonfiction books over two years of age and held particular relevance to any subject matter or art form. Unlike many in the industry, we think good books last longer than one season.
Winner
Strong Winds Change Lives, Eureka F. Collins, Xulon Press - Here is a remarkable journey of two people strongly in love with each other and with God and as they go through a long trial of faith. It is the story of their desire to have a child, as they struggle through the tears, tests, and experiences only to hold the child to their bosom briefly before the child dies. While the author's husband is serving overseas, God repairs their hearts and reignites their faith. Collins brings her feelings alive without the typical melodrama. It is a story written not just for those who share the same journey but for anyone who is battling adversity.
First Runner-Up
Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse, Betsy Talcott Kelleher, Pleasant Word - Betsey Kelleher was unhappily married but felt stuck because she believed divorce was a sin. She had always wanted a horse, so to cheer herself up she bought one. Fanny was a feisty colt though, difficult to train, and at first, less than loveable. Over time, Betsey saw Fanny's training as a metaphor for her own relationship with God. She grew to love Fanny and even won riding contests. Although the ending to this memoir is bittersweet, Betsey finds a man who could offer her the true love and companionship she always craved. Sometimes a Woman Needs a Horse is written from a Christian and an Equestrian perspective, but conveys a heartfelt wisdom that transcends both the Bible and the stable.
Honorable Mentions
Rainbow Remedies for Life's Stormy Times, Joanne K. Hill, Moorhill Communications - As a child, Joanne Hill was sickly, sexually abused, and shuffled from one foster home to another. As an adult, she married, had a son, and appropriately enough, manned a crisis hotline. Then tragedy struck, repeatedly. She lost her husband, son, mother, aunt, and more—a total of twelve family members died in just four year's time. Hill takes readers on her journey back from despair, sharing how she coped using the teachings of the Bible and wisdom found in the words of psychiatrists, psychologists, spiritual leaders, and motivational speakers, such as Dr. Victor Frankl, Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Dr. Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, and Anthony Robbins. Rainbow Remedies for Life's Stormy Times is packed with timely, inspirational wisdom.
Second Life, Second Chance: A Teacher's Chronicle of Despair, Recovery and Triumph, Anthony Aquan-Assee, A. Aquan-Assee Enterprises - This is a story of incredible recovery from a tragic motorcycle accident that almost took the young life of author and teacher Anthony Aquan-Assee. Suffering from internal injuries and a traumatic brain injury, the author reveals his path to overcoming life's challenges. A must-read for anyone who has suffered from long-term disabilities, especially brain trauma, and anyone who loves that person. Written from a unique perspective, the author reveals what he remembers in first person and fills in the blanks with third person testimony.
See extended coverage of this title in the US Review.
The Real Drug Abusers, Fred Leavitt, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers - Drug abuse is a huge problem in the United States, but it's not illicit drugs that are the biggest problem. According to Fred Leavitt, professor of Psychology at California State University, Hayward, the majority of the drugs abused are prescription drugs. As long as there are huge profits to be made in prescription drugs, the health and welfare of our citizens will suffer at the hands of the real abusers, the pharmaceutical companies. Leavitt exposes the erroneous methods used in drug trials, biased and routinely faulty evaluation of data, legal loopholes which allow dangerous drugs to be marketed, and the myriad of reasons doctors overprescribe or incorrectly prescribe drugs. The Real Drug Abusers is important reading for doctors and patients alike.