The Eric Hoffer Award for Books
The US Review of Books supports the Eric Hoffer Project by publishing the results of the annual Eric Hoffer Award for Books. The Eric Hoffer Award is judged by a separate panel, under direction of the Eric Hoffer Project, and is not influenced by The US Review of Books. We simply publish their results each year, and therefore the following commentary cannot be attributed as an official review from The US Review of Books. Instead, the Eric Hoffer Project respectfully requests that you give fair use when quoting their award winners. Please use "-The Eric Hoffer Award."
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The Eric Hoffer Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer. In addition to the grand prize, Hoffer honors are bestowed by press type and category, and also through the Montaigne Medal, da Vinci Eye, and First Horizon Award. Coverage of the the Hoffer is updated in May when the results are released to the public. You can view the Hoffer Award announcement schedule on their official website in the spring. They also post a grand prize short list of finalists. We publish their list of category finalists with links to the books we've reviewed in our pages.
2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award
CATEGORY AWARDS
Adult Fiction
Nonfiction/Trade
E-Book
Legacy
Hoffer Grand Prize
The Eric Hoffer grand prize is the highest distinction awarded each year.
The Braille Encyclopedia: Brief Essays on Altered Sight, Naomi Cohn, Rose Metal Press - Most poignant memoirs are written around or through trauma, and this one is no exception—except for the fact that the trauma is ongoing causing one to constantly reevaluate and therefore accept the inevitable. Through the lens of an imagined Braille Encyclopedia, Cohn describes her gradual loss of sight as an adult. With each alphabetically arranged entry, the author portrays a distinct aspect of her life through the loss and the adjustments required on a daily basis. She also explores the difficult question: When does sight end and blindness begin? Myriad answers exist to this inquiry, wrapped inside a journey of self-examination and growth. In composite, the entries tell the story of grieving, release, and ultimately embracing a new way of interacting with words. Without a hint of self-pity, the realization that she may one day be in darkness draws down on the reader with palpable effect. The story of Louis Braille and the writing system named for him is woven through the pages. Cohn brings the world a unique perspective on sight and words, while maintaining her distinctive voice throughout.
Montaigne Medal
The Montaigne Medal is awarded to the most thought-provoking books. (The Eric Hoffer Award provides no specific commentary about Montaigne Medal finalists, but they are listed on their official website.)
Freeman's Challenge, Robin Bernstein, The University of Chicago Press – Sins will always be atoned. Will Freeman, son of freed slaves, understood both sides of that equation. In the mid-1800s, after being released from New York's Auburn Prison—one of America's first corporate prisons with its forced labor, depravations, and severe treatment that bordered on torture—Freeman, who may have been falsely convicted of horse theft at age thirteen, demanded restitution for five years of hard labor without pay, and he wanted revenge, too. Mentally impaired from beatings during incarceration, he was no longer the free-spirited teenager of his youth and now lived on the outskirts of his community, unable to re-assimilate into society. This eventually led him to a quadruple murder. Blame can be passed around here, including the Prison itself that was built on stolen and scourged Iroquois land and designed to be profitable by pressing inmates into silent labor. Inmates were intentionally forbidden to talk among themselves because talking creates bonding and bonding inspires rebellion. Keep in mind that China does this very thing right now, and we call it inhumane. While Freeman would die of tuberculosis due to harsh prison conditions while awaiting a retrial, his legacy lives inside a continued disproportionate African American privatized prison population. No one really asks: How can we do better here?
The Riddle of Alchemy, Paul Kiritsis, Mantra Books - This is an interdisciplinary examination of alchemical practices and symbols, within a broader context of psychological, spiritual, and philosophical transformation. Part historical examination and science lesson, Kiritsis presents alchemy not only as a precursor to modern chemistry, but as analogous to forms of intellectualism that grapple with fundamental questions about existence, transformation, and the nature of reality. For example, unconscious projections of the ego-self moving toward self-actualization are shown to correspond to alchemical symbols. One chapter discusses how Jung juxtaposed dream leitmotifs with alchemical symbols. Belief in alchemy is not a precursor to acknowledging the fact that any evolution of study has led human thought into the space that it inhabits now. Kiritsis successfully demonstrates that alchemy by its very nature touches and has influenced various disciplines that we hold sacred. This comprehensive study contributes to both historical scholarship and philosophical discourse, inviting the consideration of numerous perceptions of alchemy while emphasizing its relevance in the quest for knowledge.
da Vinci Eye
The da Vinci Eye is awarded to books with superior cover artwork. (The Eric Hoffer Award provides no specific commentary about da Vinci Eye finalists, but they are listed on their official website.)
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A Dream Begun So Long Ago, Jacqueline Annette Sue, Khedcanron Publishing (cover by David Johnson, Mindy Steiner, and Jacqueline Sue) - see book honors in the Art category. |
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Avian Art, Robert Erlandson, Kindle (cover by Robert Erlandson) |
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Boy With Wings, Mark Mustian, Koehler Books (cover by Suzzane Bradshaw) |
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Intimate Conversations, Larry Ruttman, Torchflame Books (cover by Jori Hanna) |
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The Peppered Sky, Sarah Doran (cover by Beth Snyder) |
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Time and the Tree, Róisín Sorahan, Imbolc Books (cover by Xavier Comas) |
First Horizon Award
The First Horizon Award is given to superior work by debut authors. (The Eric Hoffer Award provides no specific commentary about First Horizon Award finalists, but they are listed on their official website.)
Acts of Max, Garry Olson, WestBow Press (see full details in the Spiritual Nonfiction category)
Beyond Everest, Corinne Richardson With Pem Dorjee Sherpa, DartFrog Books (see full details in the Legacy Fiction category)
Cooking Coach, Jan Plummer, iUniverse (see full details in the Legacy Nonfiction category)
Dry Lands, Elizabeth Anne Martins, Flame Tree Press (see full details in the Commercial Fiction category)
Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place, Amy Safford, Saco River Books (see full details in the Spiritual Fiction category)
Love Sounds Like, Hannah Jessen Conway, Remesh Ram (illustrator), HJC Publishi (see full details in the Children's category)
Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal, Ryan Cowan, For the Northern Star Publishing (see full details in the Legacy Fiction category)
Parkinson's, Kristine Meldrum (see full details in the Health category)
Scavenger, Jessica Lynn Suchon, YesYes Books (see full details in the Chapbook category)
Sky Ranch, Linda M. Lockwood, She Writes Press (see full details in the Memoir category)
The Ways of Water, Teresa H. Janssen, She Writes Press (see full details in the Historical Fiction category)
Your Grass is Greener, Jason Silver, Ideapress Publishing (see full details in the Self-Help category)
Medal Provocateur
The Medal Provocateur is given to to the best on the frontier of poetry—the experimental, the innovative, the daring and stunning, the impromptu in technique and voice.. (The Eric Hoffer Award provides no specific commentary about Medal Provocateur finalists, but they are listed on their official website.)
The Animal is Chemical, Hadara Bar-Nadav, Four Way Books - Blending family history, personal experience, and the pharmaceuticals that have shaped the everyday lives of individuals, this is a lyrical and innovating collection. It incorporates Jewish history and folklore as a means of understanding one's identity. At the same time, it navigates rejection, loss, grief in an intimate way that challenges both language and intellect. More so, it is an elegy to a dead father, and its verses capture the myriad ways a person grieves despite language's inability to fully express loss. The body and the mind collide, and the spirit hangs above them, searching for its own truths and solace.
Academic Press Award
The Academic Press Award is given to a book from a press with an educational institution affiliation, such as a college, library, or museum.
Homefront, Victoria Kelly, University of Nevada Press - Kelly weaves together a powerful set of short stories that depict the everyday, quiet pain of relationships and sacrifice in America's heartland. Focusing primarily on military families and relationships, many stories are heart-wrenching, revealing the impact of war and trauma not only in the battlefield but on the homefront. Meanwhile, realistically portrayals of the challenges of military life and the tradeoffs and choices that contribute to the peace and war conditions are depcited throughout. This creates an emotionally moving and riveting account of the strife boiling under the surface among wives, husbands, and everyone in between.
Small Press Award
The Small Press Award is given to a book from a press producing twenty-five books or more per year.
Prompting Originality: The A.I. Handbook for Humans, Norty Cohen and Delaney Ehrhardt, Ideapress Publishing - If you don't understand AI, it probably frightens you. But is AI friend or foe to the human race? How does it learn, and what do we have to learn to use it? These are the questions tackled along with common-sense warnings about this emerging power tool. Discussions include basic user instructions, demystifying its operations, and teaching AI's OS. With the appearance of a graphic novel, the presentation is fun, yet well-formatted, including accessible language. When querying an AI engine, the author includes "good, better, best" approaches, emphasizing specificity to reach good, better, best responses. On-line exercises help complete the instruction.
Micro Press Award
The Micro Press Award is given to a book from a press producing twenty-four books or less per year.
No One is on the Line, Mohsen Mohamed, Sherine Elbanhawy (translator), Laertes Press - Imagine walking down the road, in a blue uniform, and you're suddenly taken away. You see your home disappear through the wire mesh of a transport van. Next, it's police stations and handcuffs, then darkness. We've all dreamt of a monk's cell as a place of calm, a place to learn, but perhaps prison is simply an academy of humiliation. What would you make of the shadows then? What lamps would you have to light when your dreams crack the ceiling? Would you call on the prophet, or dream of your youth, or of a sweet one, who could make a starry dome from a single kernel? And through all of that, could you find a way to praise the divine and achieve the necessary gratitude to remain devout?
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Self-Published Award
The Self-Published Award is given to a book that was financed by the author and/or not by the publisher, regardless of press size.
Me, the Dodo?, Anders Roseberg, Alex Preyzner (illustrator), Babooky - Told through the eyes of a charming dodo, this beautifully illustrated and deftly narrated children's book educates and delights. Roseberg and Preyzner bring the once-thriving dodo bird back to life. The storytelling illustrates the dodo's life on its remote volcanic island, bringing lessons from its extinction. This thought-provoking journey illuminates the importance of caring for all aspects of our planet, delivered in a fun and meaningful way. This book has the richest combination of story and illustrations seen in some years.
Art
The Art category captures the experience, execution, or demonstration of the arts, including art, fine art, graphic art, architecture, design, photography, and coffee table books.
Winner
Radical Paper: Art and Invention with Colored Pulp, Lynn Sures and Michelle Samour, The Legacy Press - This sizable, richly-produced coffee table book provides an immersive introduction into the process, product, and possibilities of the medium of colored pulp in art and papermaking. Lavishly illustrated throughout, the book gives ample focus to a variety of contemporary artists and papermakers who are incorporating this little-understood technique into their creative practices. Vibrant illustrations illuminate not only the actual process behind creating artworks with colored pulp, but also the finished works themselves, while explanatory text and artist insights reveal the range of stunning possibilities. In the process, this book brings welcomed visibility and understanding to this medium.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
First Runner-Up
A Dream Begun So Long Ago: The Story of David Johnson, Ansel Adams' First African American Student, Jacqueline Annette Sue, Khedcanron Publishing - Ansel Adams is regarded as one of photography's greatest artists, but he was also a teacher, and in 1946, he accepted a most unique student into his program at the California School of Fine Arts: David Johnson, a young World War II veteran with no experience behind the lens. If not for Adams' interest in him, Johnson would have returned to rural Florida to be a metalsmith. Instead, Johnson emerged from Adams' tutelage as a photographer capturing vivid images of urban life, the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and other elements of the Black community, among them dancers, singers, musicians and children at play. This volume contains dozens of Johnson's striking photos, helping to establish him as a truly groundbreaking photographer whose work chronicled a segment of modern society that, at the time, was still largely unknown by most Americans.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Honorable Mentions
The Endless Sphere of Time, Geir Jordahl, Rolf Jacobson (poetry), True North Editions - This volume presents hundreds of crisp black-and-white photographs shot by the artist over a span of fifteen years illustrating elements of modern life that may otherwise go unnoticed. Among the images offered are stones stacked in the desert, a broken license plate found along a highway, the shattered rooms of abandoned homes, the interiors of caves, and occasionally people standing amid these stark backgrounds. Surrealism is evoked as each image is presented in a circular format, as though viewing life through a telescope or microscope, focusing intently to deliver images that seem to jump off the page. Contemplative poems begin each chapter.
This Visible Speaking: Catching Light Through the Camera's Eye, Kathryn Winograd, Humble Essayist Press - The unassuming look of this little volume belies the power of the imagery it conjures. As its author reminds us, Dante wrote of the purest kind of beauty being so vivid that one can almost hear it speaking. With that concept in mind, this book pairs a selection of the author's vibrant photographs, each a seemingly simple mechanical rendering of the natural beauty it captures, with an entrancing, lyrical journal entry. The poetry of her own voice and vision is further enhanced by related quotes from noted photographers and writers about the mystery and magic of capturing light and life in photographs. It all interplays in such an evocative way that one can indeed begin to image the words and hear the photographs.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Chapbook
The Chapbook category contains books with 40 pages or less, with typically some form of saddle stitch binding and/or artistic assembly.
Winner
Scavenger, Jessica Lynn Suchon, YesYes Books - Charting an irreversible course through gaslighting, emotional abuse, and mental terror, Suchon details the frequently invisible violence against women. Each poem is a clinical blend of intimate personal insights, folklore, and mythologies. Nature also plays a key role, reminding readers that literally everything is vulnerable. It acts as a balancing force, a comfort offering the speaker respite from their partner's abuse. Form follows function, and the poems' experimental structures mirror the speaker's harrowing emotional journey. This gripping and unforgettable collection is not only a call for awareness, but also an incisive call to action for the world to take a stand against violence in all its forms.
First Runner-Up
This is My Body, Jonathan Fletcher, Northwestern University Press - In this bold collection, a determined speaker reclaims and establishes their identity on their terms. These poems are brief journeys through self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-love. "Hell's only one form of punishment," declares the speaker in "Meet Me Not in the Seventh Circle." However, the speaker maintains a survival-against-all-odds attitude: "I'm in no hurry to descend." Fletcher blends the political and the personal, the literary and pop culture, developing a searingly emotional and intellectual book that shines like a poetic beacon of hope in these uncertain times. This collection proves why poetry is a necessity for bearing witness and for survival.
Honorable Mentions
Confession of a Heliophiliac, Rochelle Germond, Choeofpleirn Press - Metaphysical and romantic yet modern, this is a meditative journey through ever-changing landscapes, climate change-ravaged shores, and the relationships that center an individual's life. Displacement centers the poems as the speaker moves from Florida to a northeastern area in which hurricane threats do not much bother anyone. Other poems celebrate the small moments that constitute a strong relationship's backbone. They incorporate mythological figures like Adonis and Aphrodite to provide a historic retelling of modern love. Others plea for forgiveness for believing in "tanning beds, / but not in one almighty god." This collection offers the poetry world a new type of confessional–one that is hopeful rather than dismal, where personal happiness is finally achieved.
Dropping Sunrises in a Jar, Melinda Thomsen, Finishing Line Press - In this poetic and philosophical collection, climate change, war, and other social justice issues take center stage. Thomsen develops her own type of eco-punk poetry, one that places nature at the center of everything and celebrates the undeniable role in humanity's existence. These verses beautifully capture nature's—and the world's—chaotic cycles and routines. This is about finding hope in even the smallest moments and actions. "I want to believe the ring on my finger reflects a bit of streetlight," says the speaker of "Looking at the Sky on April 3rd." These poems remind us about the importance of being the light that someone finds during their darkest times.
Children's
The Children's category is for young children's books, including stories and picture books.
Winner
Love Sounds Like, Hannah Jessen Conway, Remesh Ram (illustrator), HJC Publishing - Through rhymed verse and beautifully colored illustrations comes the story of Shepard, a boy who was born deaf and uses cochlear implant processors. One night before bed, he asks his mother what love sounds like. Mom uses the five senses to help him understand, explaining how love sound and smells. Shepard joins the conversation as they explore how one can feel love with their body and taste, including examples of things people see which look like love. As he falls asleeep, Shepard learns that love is more than just words.
First Runner-Up
Jazmyne's Big Emotions, Tom Tracy, Scoochie & Skiddles - This follows the experiences of a young girl named Jazmyne as she navigates a range of intense feelings, many of which stem from her experiences within the foster care system. The book explores how Jazmyne encounters and processes emotions such as anger, sadness, and frustration, which are described as "big emotions." Through relatable scenarios, she learns to cope with her emotional experiences and develops resilience. Her strategies are executed in healthy ways, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness.
Honorable Mentions
Dino Style, Rob Ambrose, Bunbury's Books - The graffitied book of a rogue dinosaur offers a fresh and creative take on a dinosaur dictionary. It explores the unique traits of sixteen different dinosaurs, ranging from well-known favorites like the Stegosaurus and Anklyosaurus to lesser-knowns like the Meraxes. Each page includes a pronunciation guide, fun rhyming facts, and vibrant graffiti-style illustrations that bring the dinosaurs to life. As it progresses, we build a full graffiti wall featuring all of the sixteen dinosaurs they've just learned about. This imaginative approach makes learning about dinosaurs exciting and memorable for readers of all ages.
Do You Know the Value of You?, Isabelle Hall, Joyful Page Press - Children learn the value of themselves through a poetic comparison to how a garden grows. It begins by introducing the idea that children have magic inside them, then going on to compare them to a garden straining to grow. Bright colors and illustrations, as well as interesting text designs, move through different actions, such as playing games on a hill or planting seeds, to explore what it takes to grow up and be confident. It also discusses patience and learning to wait to find what makes you unique, a deep concept that is touched in a soft manner.
I Love You, More, Gabriele McCracken, Christina Morrison (illustrator), Archway Publishing - This is a heartwarming celebration of a mother's boundless love, told in a way that young children can cherish. McCracken's gentle storytelling, paired with beautiful illustrations of different wild animals caring for their young, creates a tender and visually captivating experience. As the story journeys through the countryside, it unfolds like a soothing lullaby, reinforcing the deep connection between a parent and child. This picture book is perfect for bedtime reading, offering both comfort and reassurance.
Mister Deedle's Tree House, Margaret Morrison Roeth, Morgan Pierce Media & Publishing - With a touch of nostalgia, Roeth brings the tale of Peggy and Peter who create stories that travel to exciting places. With extensive vocabulary and intriguing locations, this book will foster a love of play and simplistic ways to have fun while staying challenged intellectually, inspiring children and adults to craft their own tales. Beautiful illustrations and an excellent lay out make this book as interesting to see as it is to read.
Mother Forest and Her Gifts, Alexander M. Leaman, Cara Bevan (illustrator), Hominoid Press - Illustrated with care and composed with precision, this warm-hearted contemporary folk tale tells speaks of Mother Forest's gifts to all her creatures. In comical and relatable fashion, each animal at first rejects their "gift." The birds lose their forearms for wings and miss their abilities to dig. The turtles bemoan the loss of some of their mobility with the addition of a new hard shell. One by one, Mother Forest points out the hidden benefit of each gift with generosity and cleverness. In turn, the animals recognize the wisdom of their gifts. When it's humanity's turn to receive their gift, they complain loudest and longest of all, until Mother Forest shares humanity's gift.
You Can Throw A Party! , Jan Gniffke, Brown Books Publishing Group - It's time to throw a party! This party can take many forms, from a small gathering at home to a city-wide bash. The occasion is not a typical birthday or anniversary, but a joyful celebration of oneself. This party recognizes the qualities that make each individual unique and worthy of a fun-filled tribute. Each page of this cheerful picture book offers up new ideas for festivities, from an impromptu gathering with friends at home to a party at the zoo, complete with llamas, peacocks, and kangaroos. Each colorful illustration evokes the playful and festive spirit of the narrative. It reminds young readers to not only accept who they are, but to celebrate their uniqueness, and that of others as well.
Middle Reader
The Middle Reader category is aimed toward the pre-teen market, including chapter books.
Winner
Coal Dust and Dreams: The Story of a Girl and Her Pit Pony in the Coal Mines of Wales by M. J. Evans, M.J. Evans, Dancing Horse Press - Bethan attends a private girls' school, a privilege not available to many in her Welsh coalmining town in 1935. She also helps her father, a haulier, nursing sick pit ponies back to health. Her world drastically changes when her father gets injured in a mine cave-in. She initially goes to work as a sorter for the mining company—the only job girls may legally do. When her father's pit pony, Dobbin, refuses to work for any other haulier, Bethan takes his job. Despite the harsh conditions, she loves working with the horse. When an inspector discovers she's working inside the mine, her world changes again, but this time for the better. Dobbin is selected to represent the mine in several competitions with Bethan as his handler. She experiences adversity in this arena as well, but also makes friends, travels to new places, and overcomes challenges.
First Runner-Up
Constellation Clues: The Cipher of the Seven Stars, Lee Reed, River Grove Books - Twelve year old Quinn has recently moved from Ohio to Texas, and despite the heat affecting her chronic migraines, she loves her new home for the dark night skies. She's an aspiring astrophotographer with her own skylight, telescope, and camera. Quinn's older sister, Vivica, starts receiving anonymous and threatening notes, but Quinn realizes the stars she loves to watch are trying to help her solve this mystery. Quinn tries to focus on a local photo competition, and Vivica is busy planning for the middle school's Harvest Dance, but the mysterious notes keep showing up. Overcoming their differences, the sisters and their friends assemble clues and figure out who wants to stop Vivica's plans for the dance and why.
Honorable Mentions
Rusty and Emma's Big Shock!, Annie Wilde, Beebe Hargrove (illustrator), Lucid House Publishing - Wilde develops her first book in a series with a fun and heart-warming story. The book begins by introducing the reader to a elderly woman, her pets, and an elderly neighbor. The elderly woman and her dog are in the woods searching for food when they happened upon a strange berry. Curiosity gets the best of the woman, so she picks some to take home. When her pet parrot was put in charge of stirring the pots for dinner that night, some of the berries are mixed with the soup. The next day, the elderly woman and her dog are dramatically younger! The story continues with how they live and survive with this magical incident. At the end, the author includes questions that might spark conversation.
Berticus: How I Survived School, And Bullies! And Finnigan!, Brian Silbert, Strong Learning – A fifth-grade boy nicknamed Berticus goes to his first day at school. He has a tendency to day-dream and is honest with his teacher about his struggles to stay focused. Silbert introduces Berticus' friends and his family throughout the school year. Adventures are delivered with smiles and laughs, while Berticus's mettle is tested by the bullies and adversity. Soon, he becomes accustomed to his middle school days.
The Three Stones of Ebon, David and Keiko Mello, Strive Publishing - Jack is given an unusual vase from an elderly neighbor. The pictures on the vase resemble Jack and his cat, Lucky. That night, Jack and Lucky are transported to the magical world of Sturgus. They learn that Pale, an evil sorcerer, has trapped the black pegasus—King Ebon's, heart, mind, and soul in three different stones and scattered them throughout the world leaving Ebon as a statue. Jack and Lucky are the prophesied heroes who must find the stones and restore Ebon to power. Many assist them including an apprentice sorceress, a pirate captain, a she-wolf, Aquaticans—a race of fish-like people—and a magical tree in a country where only cats live. They must overcome many trials, including a sea serpent, a dragon, orcs, giant bugs, and a cursed assassin in order to complete their quest and return home.
Poetry
The Poetry category contains poetry or highly stylized prose.
Winner
Daughter of Three Gone Kingdoms, Joan Kwon Glass, Perugia Press - A mother's unmet hunger haunts the poems in this collection. The speaker navigates growing up as both Korean and American, while family pain and secrets color everything. The poems are powerfully specific, but the themes—family, motherhood, addiction, recovery, challenges with food and body image, and wanting to belong—are universal. The narrator is both daughter and mother, both a spiritual seeker and a disillusioned defector. Throughout, the courage to confront reality directly shines through. No topic or part of the self is shunned, while no image is more important than emotional truth.
First Runner-Up
The Frog Poem Project, Nicolette Costanzo, Alice Lam (illustrator) - Alongside an illustration of an alive frog, we begin with a definition of "patients." The following poem uses compressed language and white space as a poetic examination of the illustration. Afterward, "Leaps of Faith" is a flash fiction prose story where a group of "neighborhood boys" light "a firecracker in [a frog's] mouth." At the end, the author asks, "does a frog have a soul?" Through ten sections such as "dissection," "insides," and "closure," the book follows the pattern of a frog illustration, a poem, and a "Leaps of Faith" frog-related prose story. Within the pattern of the known, a connection between poetry and art is engaged.
Honorable Mentions
Flight Songs, Stacey C. Johnson, Finishing Line Press - Johnson offers a stimulating tome of academic constructs with several challenging forms that at times returns to the top of the page for reorientation. The bravery of the author's Invocation, which opens the collection, foreshadows the coming contents, lending courage to this limb, that I may hold, she beseeches. A recurring theme of cages emerges, unlocking the challenge of freeing one's self from oppression and assumption. Inside, a wealth of footnotes, indices, epigraphs of Arabic and Slavic origin—to name just two—awaits, including three pages of endnotes. Her footnotes are actually a continuation of the poems toward closure. Even the acknowledgements page is presented as a titled poem—unorthodox but successful nonetheless.
Flood Plain, Lisa Sewell, Grid Books - Here is a cautionary journey through the declining state of the natural world, possessing an attitude of both solemnity and serenity that has become a necessary reckoning for innocent people enduring the present climate. Ecological disasters are commonplace, and the utter hope for change or restorative justice slowly atrophies. The poet bears witness to these scientific and spiritual consequences unfolding, so often out of one's control, and brings them to the foreground. One grieves for the massively neglected, the endangered, the dying and the extinct, attempting to appreciate—and lay properly to rest—those that are nearest and most tangibly fading away. Instead of evading the realities of loss and destruction, one is urged to embrace them with measured consideration for what's possible in the aftermath. These poems are reminders that nothing in the physical world is permanent.
Four Fields, Dorinda Wegener, Trio House Press - This is a luminous collection deftly blending poems about identity, family, love, and loss with observations about the natural world that illuminate our connection to nature, while offering a lyrical window into the elemental. Wegener blends a clinician's precision with a virtuosic musicality to illuminate a world that serves up loss, but also transcendent beauty and connection. These poems are strikingly atmospheric and visually arresting. Wegener grapples with the legacy of her pain with the precision of a master craftsperson, which might be the ultimate redemption.
How to Abandon Ship, Sasha West, Four Way Books - This is a tightly-woven, lyric indictment of the impending demise of the United States and our planet. By acknowledging the speaker's own complicity in the choices we've made as a society, West is incisive, but never preachy. Fossil fuel is a repeated target of West's ire, but she is evenhanded and includes an ode that equally praises the products oil has created. The collection includes a series of Cassandra persona poems with a unique twist: some of the poems are in the voice of Cassandra's husband, daughter, or granddaughter. A strong maternal theme runs through these poems, even as the speaker questions the wisdom of having brought a child into the world. West invites the reader to imagine a future in which we can rebuild a sinking ship plank by plank.
I Say the Sky, Nadia Colburn, University Press of Kentucky - This poetry collection is a breathtaking meditation on the paradox of existence—a world both wounded and wondrous, fragile yet resilient. Each poem is a hymn to the natural world, capturing its splendor and astonishment even as it bears the weight of destruction and loss. The poet does not turn away from suffering but instead weaves grief into beauty, crafting verses that are both elegy and celebration. With luminous language, the collection explores life's most profound questions—how we endure pain, seek wisdom, and ultimately arrive at a place of wonder.
In a Field of Hallowed Be, Timothy Geiger, Terrapin Books - In Timothy Geiger's spectacular frontispiece poem “After All,”on the heels of displacement, addiction, disorientation and loss, the speaker pleads, "I am asking this field to show me how to live." This opens the collection pragmatically, thematically, and metaphorically—sending a clear message that what follows will teach not only the speaker but the reader how to attend to the moments in front of and within us. With great humility and confident precision, the speaker proceeds through the field of his experience and the pages of this collection, exploring the myriad ways our past and future seek to interfere with our present, and how the present, given enough credence and eye-filled love, can save ourselves from fear and desire. At the end of this time-honored inward journey, the speaker claims, in The Center, "The field remains / unresolved before me… but I keep moving closer… across the space we are / making between."
Otherlight, Jill Mceldowney, YesYes Books - As offered in one poem, its pages take a life into its own hands. Good poem titles are not always easy to compose, but this is just one aspect that impresses. Use of the page is another. This is a fully conceived reading experience. The lines surprise without apology for the often brutal images they conjure, corralling honesty and integrity, ruthlessly plunging into the depths of reality. It takes more than one reading to fully appreciate this skillfully written and courageous work.
Rise Above the River, Kelly Rowe, Able Muse Press - Rowe brings alive a younger brother who climbed trees, read books, tramped through woods, built "a raft/of birch bark with a skipper/made from a twig" before undergoing a shift whose cause is not proven but hinted at as a dark figure, a teacher, her "fat rolling/gently under her fear." Suggestive images of sexual abuse make this collection startling, as in "Opening the Case File" when she appears as "the great black bird" whose "sudden flap of wings broke/his clear gaze." Poems move from lost innocence into an understandably disruptive adult who is eventually jailed. The strength of this collection lies in its powerfully executed images.
Slaughterhouse for Old Wives' Tales, Hannah V Warren, Sundress Publications - This collection gnaws at bone beginning with dinosaur digs and moving through what seems like magic after the end of a world that may not have been safe or satisfying anyway. The narrator acknowledges desire and the pain that goes along with it. They recognize survival and accept whatever history hands them. Some poems use stanzas and poetic verse, while others employ prose blocks to present a natural world that is harsh and sometimes unmanageable. Humans, trees, and all living creatures in between find a way to exist in this haunting collection of vivid words.
Songs for the Land-Bound, Violeta Garcia-Mendoza, June Road Press - Lush with nature imagery, this collection holds all the danger and beauty of a forest. At once quiet and cacophonous, these poems depict a woman grappling with the daily struggles of motherhood, marriage, and the maintenance of a home while living amid the anxieties of the Anthropocene. The author weaves a narrative of survival and coping mechanisms, often through the symbolism of birds, seasons, and flowers in regard to absent family members and serious health scares: "Forgive me: hopelessness / is a room I've had to bless & burn." This is equal parts despair and gratitude, desperation and creativity, self-aware of the need to "misremember fields, wildflowers" and imagine every worse-case scenario, in order to plan, reinvent, and not just survive but love life "like an amnesiac love/ even its absences, its sorrow-widening light."
Theophanies, Sarah Ghazal Ali, Alice James Books - This collection is concerned with the intersection of the bodily and the spiritual: the sacred and the sensuous. Ali melds languages (English and Arabic) and forms both traditional and modern to show the ways that poetry can contain multitudes of human experiences, including how we are all simultaneously spirit and flesh. The opening poem, "My Faith Gets Grime Under Its Nails," signals this larger religious theme for the collection in a free-flowing musical style. Then the title poem comes down to earth in a traditional sonnet form, showing the restraint of the needs of the body. The collection, with its myriad styles and techniques, shows us a poet of serious skill, but it isn't virtuosity for its own sake. The style and subject matter work in concert with each other to great effect.
The Sky Was Once a Dark Blanket, Kinsale Drake, Georgia Press - Drake begins her glorious book of poetry with an incantation: "Enough about you: airwaves/in bloom, mouthpiece/on fire. I must sing/ the hum of the yucca." It is a song. It is a communal breath. This is a book that belongs to the voices of her ancestors. Drake uses delicate yet cutting language to paint a picture of her land, lineage, and culture using the sonic brushstrokes of southwestern landscape. In our hands sits constellations, glowing rocks, "desert emerald, or the eye socket of a sow skull," and “prickly pear, the great saguaro.” She tells a story that is both old and new.
Us From Nothing, Geoff Bouvier, Black Lawrence Press - Bouvier presents a history of our world from the Big Bang to the "near future." With just enough detail, it accomplishes a scientific narrative of how we got here both as humans and as inhabitants of a universe we shall never fully comprehend. The poet's language walks a fine line, successfully, between the academic and the poetic, reminding us of numerous major events in the history of our species without lecturing us on the outcomes. The imagination and research necessary to complete such a volume is impressive, yet it remains an easily accessible and thought-provoking collection.
Young Adult
The Young Adult category is aimed toward the juvenile and teen markets.
Winner
Three Colors of Courage, Taryn R. Hutchison, TRH Books - Teenage girl, Adriana Nicu, and her best friend, Gabriela Martinescu, live in Bucharest during Romania's final years of communism in 1989. Based on the actual events of the revolution that freed Romanians, the story begins just before and during the revolution to overthrow the restrictive Communist regime. As the revolution begins, it's an experience of Adriana's family struggling with an upside-down Romania. In addition to restricting speech, church congregations must meet in secret, and there is a shortage of heat, food, and water. When spies seek to disrupt lives and revolution, fellow Romanians are often taken away for questioning, never to be seen again. This novel inspires readers of all ages to have the courage and grit to stand up for what is right!
First Runner-Up
The Ayeee to Z Adulting Guide: How to Navigate Adulthood Like a Boss!, E. Z. Grace, , Chrissy Holder and Allison Janicki (illustrators), EZ Does It Publications, A how-to guide for young adults on navigating the sometimes bewildering practicalities of the adult world. Tips range from the mundane, like how to build a good credit score, apply for insurance, or write a check to the more surprising like how to write in cursive, read an analog clock, or understanding the different lights on a car's dashboard. The author's personal experiences are sprinkled throughout, along with worksheets, frequent illustrations, and pop quizzes at the end of chapters.
Honorable Mentions
Star-Locked, K.L. Harris, Make-Believe Press - Welcome back to Equillian, where brothers Bastian and Felix and their childhood friend, Gwena, are trying to reunite after being separated. Bastian is a stowaway on a pirate ship, where he begins to learn some secrets of magic and energy in the elusive Ghost Element. Felix is helping noblewoman Lillian Wendrian escape her betrothal to a lord who begins to look more nefarious than originally thought, all while trying to solve a Wendrian family mystery. Meanwhile, Gwena is the only one of the friends who has made it to their rendezvous location. She relies on skills as a tailor to get a job in a club, meeting a host of characters who help to navigate her new surroundings and freedom. Secrets are revealed, including dangerous conspiracy plots against the kingdom, as these three friends adapt to the their new environments and companions.
The Great and the Small, A.T. Balsara, Common Deer Press - A tale of self-discovery, bravery, and resistence is told through the parallel paths of a rat and a girl who is struggling with a hidden past. Amanda and Fin's paths are intertwined by a pandemic. Their worlds intersect with a chance meeting in a market. The story moves back and forth between each main character's perspective as they handle a challenging new world. Both Amanda and Fin must battle demons, present and past, in order to succeed. This is a tale full of adventure, mystery, and learning to live with and embrace being different.
The Titanic Test: A Love Story, Ann K. Simpson, Framing Hill Media - Although Charlie attends Windline Academy for time travelers, she'd rather not have this gift, this special skill to travel in time. As the dreaded Junior Year Test approaches, things with her handsome best friend, Quinn, continue to become complicated. Leaving for her test placement on the Titanic only further scrambles Charlie's mind, and then Quinn lands onboard as well. The rules of the Junior Year Test push to the back of her mind, as she forms real bonds with the passengers of this legendary ship. She learns to blend heart with mind through impossible choices, but in the end, maybe her gift isn't so bad after all.
Commercial Fiction
The Commercial Fiction category contains genre specific titles, including thriller, suspense, romance, and horror.
Winner
Dry Lands, Elizabeth Anne Matins, Flame Tree Press - After a cataclysmic flood submerges half the world underwater, gangs and corrupt encampments become a constant threat to the remaining dry lands. It's a good thing Liv is still breast feeding her three-year-old son, Milo. It's key to his surviva. Liv's husband arranges for a helicopter to take them to remote village in the mountains. After the helicopter crashes, Liv and Milo now are on their own in a post-apocalyptic world where people are scavenging for food and resorting to cannibalism. Liv and Milo rescue Mosey, a horse that needs them as much as they need him. Liv grows stronger and more resilient as she traverses dangerous territories. Her determination to ensure she, Milo, and Mosey survive is fueled by the pure love of a mother.
First Runner-Up
Wonderland, Kimberly Wheelock - In this atmospheric and haunting novel, a young woman finds herself navigating a world that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. As she unravels the mysteries surrounding her existence, she is pulled into a labyrinth of memories, desires, and personal revelations that force her to confront hidden truths about herself. The author creates a richly immersive environment where the boundaries of time and space are constantly shifting, and the protagonist's emotional journey becomes as bewildering as the world around her. With a tone that is both lyrical and unsettling, the story explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and the fluidity of human experience. The novel's world is one where the rules of reality are suspended, making every step into the unknown a captivating, and sometimes disorienting, adventure.
Honorable Mentions
Armageddon 2029, Martin Elsant - Centering on Israel facing a catastrophic threat, the nation's defense depends on an unlikely team of computer geniuses from diverse backgrounds: a Mallorcan Catholic with Jewish heritage, a Yemeni Jewish woman who lost her husband and children to terrorism, and a Chinese convert to Judaism whose family was also killed. They form the core of a specialized group working to protect Israel from impending disaster. Complicating matters, the American president is anti-semitic and unsupportive of their efforts, leaving the team to their own devices as they race against time to avert disaster. Candlesticks dating back to the Spanish Inquisition play a central role and become a crucial element to avert impending doom. There is technological suspense and international politics throughout.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Children of Saturn, John Neeleman, Open Books - The French Revolution is seen through the eyes of its most prominent actors, including Thomas Paine, Camille Desmoulins, Georges Danton, Maximilien Robespierre, and Joseph Fouché. The title, which refers to the inevitably destructive orbits that the many moons of Saturn travel, echoes the fate of the revolution's creative forces. Less revisionist history and more dramatization of actual events, Neeleman weaves a retelling of important events with the intricate details of those involved, set against the compelling historical backdrop. The overthrow of the ancien régime is inextricably intertwined with contemporary political ideals. Students of both history and literature will appreciate this novel's ability to bring into sharper focus present-day political realities.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
General Fiction
The General Fiction category contains non-genre specific fiction, including literary and mainstream.
Winner
Mrs. McPhealy's American, Claire R. McDougall, Sibylline Press - Everyone in this remote village on the west coast of Scotland takes an interest in the arrival of the American—from the centrally placed and voluble postmistress, to the three Tinker brothers who hunker on the outskirts in a ramshackle dwelling, to the castle-bred-turned-working-man window cleaner and his French wife, to the easy-tempered pubmaster and his restless eldest daughter, to the local reverend, who strives each Sunday to instill in the village a steady moral fiber, to the intriguing but sharp-tongued midwife who deals in herbs and delivering babies, to the London-based son of Mrs. McPhealy, who so rarely anymore returns home to visit. All play a part in the complications and misunderstandings that ensue when this distant relative, ignorant of the secret family history and in search of respite from troubles, comes to town.
First Runner-Up
Autumn: A Novel, Marc MacDonald, FriesenPress - On a blustery September day, Alex Chambers steps into Silver Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center to volunteer and meets a rich cast of characters who will alter his life forever. Saddled with guilt for a youthful mistake, he seeks forgiveness from someone in his past who resides at the center, but his plan doesn't work out the way he hoped. Instead, he is paired with a contentious resident, Mae, who has her own secrets and harbors a quiet sadness that she masks with quarrelsome behavior. The two become unlikely friends. through common ground, each learning to forge a path forward. Laced with humor and the occasional off-beat adventure, this is a heart-warming exploration of friendship, love, self-forgiveness, and hope.
Honorable Mentions
Beware the Tall Grass, Ellen Birkett Morris, Columbus State University - A simple sentence begins this engaging book: "Charlie was here." Also beginning is a new life on Earth for this new baby. As the baby grows, the mother is continually perplexed by adult words and sayings the child utters without having overheard them anywhere. These are things related to aggression, violence, and Vietnam. The chapters alternate between Eve and Thomas, first person protagonists, and the two stories are separated by half a century. The theme of past lives is interwoven in mysterious and clever ways. Eve and her husband Daniel struggle to raise Charlie, while grappling with their own childhood memories and their own families' ghosts. The crushing realities of time and memory infuse this unusual family saga with a fresh approach.
Bones of Dead Man's Bluff, Robb Grindstaff, Evolved Publishing - The reopening of a cold case mysterious death of a young woman brings in the current lives of the men who are possibly responsible for the situation decades earlier. Kirk Madison is now very wealthy and a popular senator who has decided to run for president, and his boyhood friend, Worth Sullivan, is a famous pastor of a nationally known mega church. Worth has constant nightmares and guilty remembrances about that night on the high bluff. He hopes that he can persuade Kirk to break their vow of silence about the dreadful incident, but the presidential hopeful seems intent to pursue his ambition, regardless of the consequences.
Hive: Madders of Time, Book One, DL Orton, Rocky Mountain Press - Isabel Sanborn is one of the last survivors of the mammalian race, along with her lover Diego in a damaged "Biodome" half submerged in the ocean. Humanity's hope lies in sending Diego back in a "Chronosphere" utilizing wormhole tech based on an Einstein-Rosen space-time generator powered to prevent these catastrophes. The sphere descends with thunderous effect on a mostly empty hotel in Denver, almost crushing the virgin timeline and Isabel in the process. The old Diego saves her, but secret government types, academic scientists, and anyone connected with time anomalies are pressed into service to figure out who and what this sphere means. Meanwhile, the micro-drones Isabel designed to maintain pollination after the bee blight are being hijacked into micro-drone weapons of warfare. A disembodied scientist named Madders, who has been downloaded into AI, narrates the story.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Not Yours To Keep, Zelly Ruskin, She Writes Press - A woman and her husband, Tyler, want to start a family. Billie is a counselor for women who want to adopt, but discovers that Tyler isn't as enthusiastic as she is about their choice or fatherhood in general. What's holding him back? The story delves deep into the backgrounds of her husband and friend, until we discover why Tyler is so reluctant. This novel is well-written and becomes more complex as the couples' individual motivations are uncovered.
The Blue Trunk, Ann E. Lowry, Koehler Books - In a modern take on Pandora's Box, Lowry unveils two lifetimes with the opening of a blue keepsake trunk. Written in an artful and communicative style, intrigue unfolds in layers from within the trunks contents, including a shocking discovery surrounding the name written on the trunk itself. It's a name the protagonist's mother would not explain, but was the owner of the trunk's contents insane as the famiy alleges? Discovery has its consequences, and many aspects of her past come into question. Overall, it's an exquisite narration for a rich journey.
Water Finds a Way, Meghan Perry, Delphinium Books - A woman has recently been released from prison after serving time for murder. She arrives in a small town in Maine and, utilizing her only skill, finds work on a boat. She's not the only one with a questionable past, as the man who hires her is also struggling to navigate through his troubles. The novel is deeply centered around the symbolism of water—how life ebbs and flows, its storms followed by moments of calm. The cast of characters are damaged, simply human, and therefore complex. Their journeys into healing as they confront their pasts act as the main conduit for a discourse on forgiveness and human connectivity.
West Falls Revisited, D.H. Schleicher, West Falls Publishing - A novel of multiple perspectives that chronicles a contemporary suburb replete with the full palette of sociopolitical issues circulating today, embodied in characters, some of them prickly, who we come to love and care for quickly. It's a town with gay and interracial couples, a murder haunting its denizens, nearby ecological disaster, and politicians failing while addressing these issues. We meet victims and perpetrators, as well as those of us, very ordinary people trying to create productive lives in the midst of economically turbulent times.
Historical Fiction
The Historical Fiction category contains historical fiction books.
Winner
The Ways of Water: A Novel, Teresa H. Janssen, She Writes Press - Josie Bell Gore is born into the life of a railroad family, yet propelled toward the value and motion of water. Family is the only anchor she has ever known, bonds that will be tested within a life of impermanence. She is forced to embrace adversity with strength of character, and throughout her travels in the American West, she experiences the compassion of strangers and learns that family is more than flesh and blood, staying true to the bond at any cost. Janssen exquisitely details the stark contrast between the beauty of nature, its harsh realities, and the enduring hope of a promise kept.
First Runner-Up
Our Desperate Hour: Novels of the Great War, John F. Andrews, 46 North Publications - During World War I, Jack Johnson enlists and becomes a Marine Second Lieutenant—something his father, Ab, considers foolish—and heads to France. Soon, Ab leaves his job as associate editor of the Minneapolis Star to return to the Army Reserves in an attempt to find and reconcile with his son. He is assigned to a medical unit heading from Paris to the bloody battlefield of Belleau Wood. Along the way, diverse personalities of Army personnel and Marine soldiers often conflict. Although a battlefield report lists Jack as dead, Ab learns Jack is regarded as a Marine hero who is very adept on the battlefield. Will he locate Ab alive and make amends?
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Honorable Mentions
After We Drowned, Jill Yonit Goldberg, Anvil Press - Poverty, hardship, addiction and a catastrophe all mesh together in this coming of age story set in the swamps of 1980s Louisiana. Jesse, the slightly older teenage brother of Willow Rose, must pick up the pieces and responsibility for his entire family—after Emmett, the father, suffers tragedy at the first lucrative job he's had, his addiction spirals out of control. This leaves Jesse to care for his sister, who is suddenly boy crazy, and his Mom who has attracted the unwanted attention of a local businessman. Just providing food proves to be more than Jesse can manage while in school, forcing him to make many adult sized decisions
From Tickhill, 1348, Pamela Taylor, Black Rose Writing - In 1341, Jeanne de Flandre was the Countess of Montfort before a surprise change to her husband stepfather's will made her the Dutchess of Brittany in France. Hers is a story of great courage, faith, intelligence, and intrigue. As soon as her husband John is named Duke of Brittany, the wife of the previously intended Duke vows to usurp Jeanne's title. To thwart this, John and Jeanne quickly establish themselves in the ducal castle and secure the substantial ducal treasury. This does not stop their adversaries, which involves both the Kings of France and England. Jeanne documents her unusual experiences as a leader and woman.
The Seaforth Heiress, Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, Black Rose Writing - Mary Mackenzie, a young free-spirit woman of Scottish descent, comes of age in Regency England. Mary, the eldest daughter of Lord Seaforth, along with her family, lives under the shadow of a century old Scottish curse that the end of the Seaforth dynasty would end with her. Inspired by true events, this story journies from Barbados to London to the Scottish Highlands, where Mary's determination and love for her family propel her to fight against injustice and the inequitable role women play in securing their own future. Mary reminds us that the past does not necessarily define the future.
The Last Whaler, Cynthia Reeves, Regal House Publishing - Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife Astrid, a botanist, head to remote Svalbard, Norway during the hunting season of 1937. She is there to do research, he to do his normal work, but both are fleeing domestic problems that seem to be suffocating them. After missing the departure of the ship meant to carry them back home, they find themselves stranded at a remote whaling station and forced to deal with the long winter. Besides the 24-hour darkness, storms, polar bears, dwindling supplies, and bitter cold, a pregnancy presents the most daunting and unexpected test of their isolation. Fighting for their lives, their sanity, and the chance to make it until the spring, the Arctic is unrelenting with its challenges. Tor and Astrid need every bit of hope and fight to survive.
Mystery/Crime
The Mystery Crime category contains mystery, crime, and true crime books.
Winner
My Darlings, Marie Still, Rising Action Publishing - Everything looks perfect from the outside—nice house, happy marriage, well-behaved kids. But it doesn't take long before that picture starts to fall apart. Still dives into the darkness beneath a polished suburban life. At first it's a slow burn, but once things start unraveling, they really unravel. Flawed characters make real over-the-top choices. Tension builds with each chapter, and just when it's about to settle down, something else happens. Big messes come with a preponderance of small spirals downward. The writing is sharp, dark, and just unsettling enough to keep you hooked, as the staid life cracks under pressure.
First Runner-Up
The Shutdown List, Sharon Dukett, SharKen Publishing - Two years after the loss of her son in a devastating fire, Anita Forester's husband vanishes during a protest against the government's cuts to alternative energy funding. As she struggles to cope with grief, Anita's world turns upside down when a stranger warns that her own life is in danger. Her deepest fears are realized when she comes into possession of a hard drive that a ruthless fossil fuel tycoon will stop at nothing to acquire. To navigate the danger, Anita must rely on a network of unlikely allies, including a few new friends and an old flame. Determined to protect herself and rescue her husband. Along the way, she is forced to confront unsettling truths—not only about the powerful forces orchestrating the chaos, but also about the people closest to her and even herself.
Honorable Mentions
The Malachi Covenant, Dee Kelly Jr., Forefront Books - In this fast-paced tale of international intrigue, Maggie Shepherd, a Biblical archaeologist, works to extract a priceless artifact buried in the tomb of St. Nicholas. The Pope's plan to gift the relic to the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Moscow is foiled when a devout but desperate Malachi Popov is coerced by a Russian mob boss to steal the treasured artifact. Regretting his actions, Popov hopes to make things right, but the relic is stolen once again. Unlikely allies, Popov and Maggie join forces on global quest to recover the relic of St. Nicholas in time for the Pope's visit to Moscow. It's a journey of faith and transformation wrapped inside a historical thriller.
The Younger Girl: A Dark Labyrinth of Family Betrayal, Georgia Jeffries, Mission Point Press - A family death is framed as a young lady slain along with her lover, while a married man is held for the murder. Some family members never believed the publically accused murderer. Owen, her baby brother, suspects that the murder was orchestrated by a wealthy uncle, and now in his old age, he determines to unearth the truth and starts digging into the past. Owen's daughter Joanna also wants the truth and helps him claim his share of his sister's lost inheritance. Together, they delve into a dark labyrinth of family secrets that will eventually endanger their lives.
Romance
The Romance category contains romance books.
Winner
Finally Forever, Karin Beery, Elk Lake Publishing - Ben Allen and Caroline Novak are both struggling with their lives. Ben is a would be pro football player with an injury that ended his career. Caroline works hard at her job, recoving from two serious but forlorn romances. She works hard at her job. When Caroline becomes Ben's mentor at work, the two are brought together. Ben was Caroline's sister's best friend in high school. As the two work together, they begin to fall in love. Ben is younger than Caroline which presents challenges. Caroline and Ben agree to train and dance in a ballroom dance competition. Winning the grand prize would offer much publicity and monetary reward for a women's shelter that Caroline favors. Will the two win the competition despite their challenges and ensconce their love?
First Runner-Up
Road Trip to Miracles, Sueann Pugh, Green Place Books - The story takes the reader through the journey of an older woman who isn't looking for love but finds it in the most unusual place of a physical therapy rehabilitation center for seniors. As Beth gets to know a man named Michael, who falls for her quickly, she examines whether she has the energy for a new love in her life at her older age. Complicating her relationship is the impending marriage of her daughter to a woman. Working through her feelings for the new man in her life that wants nothing more than to marry her and make her happy, and then accepting and welcoming her daughter back into her life, Beth eventually accepts love and the miracle of sharing her life with someone again.
Honorable Mentions
A Change of Location, Margaret Porter, Gallica Press - An American film producer, Hannah, is working on a film in London when she finds romance in an unlikely place with the Marquess of Milverston. She has met her match after years of not making time for love, and as they work together, she discovers a romance that she never thought she could attain. After a job loss, Hannah finds herself on a journey of self-reflection amid a public relationship that propels her into a new life. The story delves into the profession of film making amid a backdrop of London..
Wife by the Hour, Gail Treasure, RE: Books - Jade is a powerful and independent woman who is supporting herself and her daughter as a paid escort in Toronto. Just as she has decided to give up her elicit career and focus on her daughter and a full-time teaching career, she meets her last client, Alex, and falls in love. Alex is the husband of a close friend from the past, Zoe. Zoe and Jade were nannies and friends in France many years ago. This story intermingles their history in France with the present day burgeoning romance. As the story unfolds, Jade writes a blog that includes the seven reasons why married men will not leave their wives. This love story explores the juxtaposition of fulfilling personal desires vs. what is best for others.
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
The Sci-Fi Fiction category contains science fiction books.
Winner
Ghastly and Ghoulish Tales from the ER: A Saga in Sixteen Parts, Mitch Goldman, Madlong Publishing - This is a behind the scenes look at how medical personnel, particularly those working in the ER behave when patients aren't looking. Dealing with drama, stress, and anxiety throughout their careers in a fast-paced, intense, and often unforgiving environment is difficult at best. Whether be it a coping mechanism or just a sick sense of humor, inside jokes, unofficial "code words," and inappropriate terminology are just a few ways staff use to get them through a shift. As appalling as their conversations may seem, the author helps us recognize that these workers are actually just regular people with everyday money, mental, legal, and/or life issues of their own. Unfortunately, sometimes when overworked, underappreciated, and berated by corporate entities and patients alike, mistakes will happen. Interestingly and humorously, these stories evoke more compassion than contempt.
First Runner-Up
Forgotten Realm of Secrets, Rose M. Delorane, Loulee Max Publishers - This is a coming-of-age story where a young boy named Lit Square must find himself by diving headfirst into a world of fantasy and magic, where his bravery and courage are tested right alongside his intellect. On a quest to uncover his destiny, he learns that he is capable of greatness, while his understanding of the world grows and forms. The trial of endurance and self-discovery is easily relatable. Square's study of magical artifacts becomes a metaphor of self-awareness. However, is he really the steward of his own fate, or is it directing all of us through time like puppets?
Honorable Mentions
First Contact: The Dawning Saga, Book One, Albert Zhang, Civitas Press - In the year 2164, humanity has found its way to the stars and lives peacefully, wondering if they are alone. That peace is shattered when a war-mongering society of aliens finds the Pathfinder Colony in the far-flung reaches of the United Federation of Nations and attacks without provocation. One enterprising, colonist manages to sneak through the dead bodies and the ongoing ground attacks, believing she might be the sole survivor. Her goal is to stay alive and reestablish communication with Earth. As she attempts to repair communication and life support systems, she inadvertently makes contact with the enemy and changes the course of both the human and the alien worlds as two civilizations enter deadly conflict.
Sword of the Godless, Matthew C. Lucas, Montag Press - Simeon has the unfortunate habit of trusting people who do not deserve it. During his childhood, Simeon trusts Peter, who brings him to see sport in the forbidden Arena. Acquaintance with Peter leads to the theft of a holy book in Simeon's possession, and Simeon pays for the book with his freedom. Theft of the book forces Simeon's mother to send him to the seminary. Life at the seminary rewards Simeon's hard copy work with friends and hot meals. This new life also presents temptation in the form of an earl's daughter. Simeon trusts the earl's daughter to keep their meeting a secret, and this trust rewards him with arrest and a life change to competing in the Arena. The final act of unfortunate trust occurs between Simeon and his agent, which results in blood on the wall and justice served.
The Underground Chameleon: An Android Against Authoritarianism, Lynn Tharp Hesse - Dorothy Saunders and Teddy, her illegal "grandson" android, run a PI business in an authoritarian 2049 world where Big Brother controls the lives of every citizen right down to mandatory home inspections and mandated senior citizen meds, which are backed up by drone surveillances. As one might expect, an underground resistance to abolish the repressive government and free the humans and AI beings begins. The feisty senior citizen and her protective AI grandson, built by Dorothy's husband before he died—with a myriad of built-in anti-detection protocols, as well as in their home—are neck deep in the underground and find themselves in more danger than they ever imagined.
Short Story/Anthology
The Short Story/Anthology category contains short story collections and anthologies.
Winner
Table for Two, Eliot Parker, Colorful Crow Publishing - This collection depicts events between two people who must listen to each other in order to resolve their issues, but will they? Here we see the art of conversation—a quiet tete-a-tete, a talk on a park bench, dining, planning a wedding, or in the hospital—ranging from contentious to impassioned agreement. From seemingly simple transactions to cycle of life turning points, hearts are broken and lessons are learned. Spanning different genres, the characters that populate each story strive for conclusion through unexpected turns and mixed conclusions, but the result is always an insightful read.
First Runner-Up
Best Microfiction 2024, Meg Pokrass & Gary Fincke (editors), Grant Faulkner (guest editor), Pelekinesis - Although each story is no longer than 400 words, this collection took six years to assemble. Brief introductory essays by each editor introduce the power of microfiction. "Sometimes it takes the smallest of things to open up the biggest of spaces." Eighty-four stories, all of which have been previously published, and six short essays on the craft itself do exactly this. Diverse voices jockey for attention and speculation. A mattress is disemboweled. A note is left by a casket saying "Don't Touch Sean." Image after image offers a glimpse of something found or something lost, while casting a long shadow with few words.
Honorable Mentions
Falling Through the New World: A Novel in Stories, Cynthia Reeves,Gold Wake Press - This entrancing novel in stories traces the history of four generations of an immigrant family from their home village in Italy during World War I through Philadelphia in 2018. Focusing on the fierce dramas of marital and parental relationships, the author shows a keen eye for the cultural shifts the family undergoes. The characters adapt to struggle, suffering, tragedy, petty difficulties, and change, as they make the transition from the Old World to the New, each embracing or rejecting faith and tradition in their own way. In sometimes dreamlike prose, the author explores the fluidity of time, the closeness of memory, and imagination across the years. Speaking from our day, a great-granddaughter yearns to better understand her mother as she wonders whether "lives echo themselves down through the generations."
Monarch, Emily Jon Tobias, Black Lawrence Press - The diverse stories in this collection depict moments teetering on the edge of potential forgiveness and redemption for characters who sustain or flee invisibility, abuse, and addictions. A grieving woman obsessively eats to enlarge her body while her cruelly distant husband drinks himself into oblivion. Craving love and family, a young woman has settled into marriage with an abusive man while she pines for the girl she discovered love with as a teenager. In midlife, a woman buries her childhood trauma by manipulating a series of married men through loveless affairs. Each story is an unforgettable journey through a microcosm rendered in vivid imagery and stunning emotional truth.
Quiet Desperation, Rodney Nelsestuen, Atmosphere Press - Pressured into the family business, which he isn't the best at, the main character of this novella discovers he has truly found himself in the wrong profession. His discovery leads to problems that start him down a path of ethical decline. His personal life is not much better as his relationship with his wife falls into crisis. As they discover that their early love has left them, the pair are married in name only, leading to take on lovers. To complicate matters even more his wife is diagnosed with cancer. With all areas of his life falling apart, a decision must be made. Can he regain his moral compass or will the life he has now created drag him into the abyss of desperation?
Signs of the Imminent Apocalypse and Other Stories, Heidi Bell, Cornerstone Press - Published as part of a legacy series, this book contains 21 stories, each of which is a testament to the author's deft artistry. Memorable images crackle in the electricity of sentences that dazzle in their power: "And when she kissed him, on her lips, on her tongue, he tasted his beginnings: water; salt and algae; sand crystallized by fire." Both fairy tale and contemporary satire, dark humor and fragile strength of hope—all are formidable. The title story unspools an A to Z list of signs of the imminent apocalypse. The word "pandemic" reveals that "In our antiseptic rooms, behind closed doors, we are so lonely we could die." In other stories, "Catalog" and "This is Your Life" existence is both imagined and remembered: "This is the year of you, in all your incarnations." The characters remind us what we've yet to see, though we've spent our lives looking.
Spiritual Fiction
The Spiritual Fiction category contains book within the religious and spiritial genres.
Winner
Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place, Amy Safford, Saco River Books - Safford delves into the transformation of Penelope Goode, whose life is irrevocably changed after a near-death experience. After her skiing accident on her 30th birthday, Pennie emerges from recovery with heightened senses and a new perception of the world. The vividness of her surroundings parallels her internal awakening, marked by visions of her deceased dog and mother. The presence of ghostly owls adds an ethereal quality, emphasizing the theme of premonition and the supernatural. The recurring motif of the number three becomes a source of tension for Pennie, as it intertwines with her fears about her mental state. Her visit to the graveyard near the former Home for the Feeble-Minded acts as a catalyst for her journey, revealing the buried stories of the Malaga Island settlement and the historical injustices faced by its inhabitants.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
First Runner-Up
The Puppy Prophet, David Cary Lane, Patrick Atkins (illustrator) - A multitude of spiritual journeys told through the eyes of nineteen different canine characters reveals individual stories delivered in a poetic, amusing, and cleverly illustrated manner. Each dog, whether it be Poncho the Pudgy Pug, Rosie the Reserved Rottweiler, or Pickles the Passionate Pomeranian reveals its unique spiritual struggles and personality, which is the result of the animal's environment, circumstances, personality, genetics, and faith. It is an intriguing guide to the spiritual personalities that walk among us every day, told colorfully through the wisdom of diverse canines.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Honorable Mentions
The Scent of Bright Light, Jean K. Dudek, Wipf and Stock - A woman deeply affected by her struggle to have children transforms a well-known tale into an emotional journey of love, hardship, and finding her role in a complex family. After spending years trapped in the harem of an Egyptian Pharaoh, Sarah finally gets a chance at freedom and is given a little girl named Ta-Sherit, who was born in the harem. Although Sarah loves Ta-Sherit and raises her as her own daughter, others view her merely as a servant and refer to her as "Hagar." Sarah also grapples with the promises of a mysterious God who has told her and her husband, Abraham, that they will have many descendants. However, as she grows older, the weight of not being able to have her own children becomes increasingly burdensome.
When Jesus Calls, Martha Gayle, Faith Is Believing - Mary is a sweet Christian woman in her twenties with an unbeatable positive outlook on life. Her story begins with a high school romance, which is quickly followed by an early marriage and then life as a single woman trying to juggle career and spiritual challenges. Although a successful marketing manager at a seaside resort, Mary has additional promise as a Christian writer and is able to purchase her first home, a cottage by the sea. Romance comes and go, as she encounters intriguing men, but her faith along with a supportive network of friends, family, and boss make even the toughest situations bearable and enlightening.
Business
The Business category involves applications to today's business environment and emerging trends, including general business, career, finance, computer, and the Internet.
Winner
The Non-Obvious Guide to Drawing Your Future: How to See What Others Miss, Patti Dobrowolski, Ideapress Publishing - There are many ah-ha moments contained in this highly readable and delightfully designed book. With a daring table of contents, engaging pages, and an excellent Further Reading section, it all comes together with an inspirational presentation that moves well outside the lines on the shelf overview of business books. That is not to say that Dobrowolski's masterful approach is out of focus. Just the opposite is true. Her unique drawing method helps you visual a path and to extricate the gold from your own mind. This book makes you feel the thinking process, mostly with a smile.
First Runner-Up
Leadership is Worthless... But Leading is Priceless: What I Leared form 9/11, The NFL, and Ukraine , Thom Mayer, MD, Berrett-Koehler Publishers - Mayer challenges the common thought regarding leadership, shifting perspective from "leadership" to "leading." One is worthless; the latter can be priceless. In some respect, we are all natural leaders, although many of us refuse to embrace it. Weaving in stories of the 9/11 Pentagon attack, NFL on-field medical emergencies, and the war in Ukraine, Mayer demonstrates the difference between intention and actually performing—saying vs. doing—that leaves lasting impact on others. Helpful steps and guiderails are provided to assist in your journey toward authentic influence.
Honorable Mentions
Master Your Career: Navigating the 12 Stages of Your Career for a Fulfilling Work Life, Gugu Khazi, Talent Intel Publishing - Khazi presents a timely and important book on finding the right career, not just a job. The introduction begins the reader on a detailed journey of self-discovery. The author has a pleasant and professional writing style, and information is conveyed clearly and with detail. Sufficient examples are given. The book is divided into three main categories, and then further divided in a logical order, building a journey of self-discovery through analysis and leading to satisfaction through self-actualization. A reader could go back to reference specific sections appropriate to their career timeline. Overall, an excellent book and production.
The Illusion of Innovation: Escape "Efficiency" and Unleash Radical Progress, Elliott Parker, Ideapress Publishing - Parker explores the future role of innovation and emphasizes the creative work needed for entrepreneurial startups, while warning against superficial approaches. The book offers transformative strategies supported by engaging anecdotes and practical insights. Elliott's optimistic approach encourages corporations to break free from the "capital efficiency" cycle and embrace innovative problem-solving methods. It's invaluable for intrapreneurs, corporate innovation leaders, and executives facing the challenge of shifting the inertia of large organizations. It resonates with those fighting to deliver real outcomes rather than innovation theater. The author inspires business, social, and political leaders to take calculated risks leading to significant innovation and ultimately making the world a better place.
Culture
The Culture category contains nonfiction books 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
Holocaust Heroines: Jewish Women Daving Jewish Children, Beverley Chalmers and Dana Solomon, Grosvenor House Publishers - This book highlights the courageous efforts of Jewish women who, despite being targets of Nazi genocide, undertook extraordinary measures and risk to spare Jewish children during the Holocaust. While fewer than 0.5% of the 700 million non-Jewish population in Nazi-occupied Europe assisted in rescuing Jewish people, these exceptional women did everything, anything to protect the most vulnerable. Rescue attempts varied in outcome: some succeeded, others failed at the cost of the women's lives. This book brings these heroines to light by honoring their often overlooked contribution to humanity.
First Runner-Up
Tap Dancing on Everest, Mimi Zieman, MD, Rowman & Littlefield - A true self-discovery memoir about a captivating journey that shows determination can move mountains. Zieman weaves her experiences with holocaust survivors, Jewish immigrants in New York City, training to be a doctor, and a 1988 Everest expedition into a thrilling read. An unlikely path brings the author to join a mountaineering team to Everest as the medical director necessary for extreme conditions. Having no climbing experience, she courageously embarks on the adventure. Artful storytelling intertwines personal anecdotes with introspection and profound insights.
Honorable Mentions
Killing Shore: The True Story of Hitler's U-Boats Off the New Jersey Coast, K. A. Nelson, Brookline Books - Nelson, a U.S. Marine vet and wreck diver, recounts an often ignored part of WW II history. Violence raged offshore from Maine to Texas, peaking in 1942 when German U-Boats attacked freighters and tankers. Nelson recalls the individual experiences of victims, attackers, and rescuers, presenting an account of the local history of New Jersey, as much as chronicling combat offshore. Today, the seafloor is littered with the wrecks of merchant vessels that carried critical supplies, such as oil, food, and weapons essential to the Allied war effort. Hitler's "Atlantic Pearl Harbor" was more devastating that Japan's attack on Hawaii.
Mountain Time: A Field Guide to Astonishment, Renata Golden, CSU Press - Golden, a naturalist who has lived for many decades in New Mexico's Chiricahua Mountains, has produced a book of essays that interweave to document the flora and fauna of the region, which also provides a basis for a memoir. In one piece, she revisits a childhood wherein gullible parents buy worthless desert lots that she then inherits, which concurrently exposes the lies that robbed the Indigenous peoples of their land. In another, she faces a moral crisis caused by the need to exterminate the American bullfrog in order to save the endangered leopard frog. Eight separate encounters with snakes provide the outline for another, and an effort to save a family of bluebirds causes her to examine her decision not to have children.
Nola Face: A Latina's Life in the Big Easy, Brooke Champagne, University of Georgia Press - Champagne uses a vivid imagination and a unique style to relate fascinating family stories within her community. Whether they are true or not isn't important; the beauty is in the telling. Complex and conflicting thoughts arrive through wit and humor. Detailed and difficult internal thoughts juxtaposed perceptions. The stories within seem to be having a dialogue with each other. Emotions flow in such a way to exemplify the larger human spirit and struggle.
Health
The Health category promotes physical, mental, and emotional well-being, including psychology, fitness, and sex.
Winner
Parkinson's: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise, Kristine Meldrum - Parkinson's disease, a degenerative condition affecting the central nervous system, is one of the most tragic, inexorable, and incurable maladies affecting large numbers of people. Although drug therapy can alleviate the symptoms of motion impairment, the benefits of pharmaceuticals often diminish over time. A professional who has worked with numerous Parkinson's patients offers hope and provides evidence that a rigorous practice of exercise can dramatically improve clinical outcomes, slow deterioration, and enhance the quality of life. It is important to note that the best results are obtained with high-intensity exercise requiring dedication and discipline. The author gives many examples of how weight training, aerobic exercise, stretching and other modes of activity can be combined to achieve the desired goals.
First Runner-Up
Dancing In A Disabled World, Maureen McCue, Ice Cube Press - "It has taken him many years to realize he is no longer a child." The intricate relationship between a dependent adult with autism and his caretakers, as well as the larger world, is meticulously detailed in this superbly written family memoir. The main character—with his mind "an interesting jumble of unrelated and unordered concepts"—and his adoptive mother—a family physician—are emotionally entwined. Parenting does not come equipped with instructions, especially when a child had a significant disability. Yet somehow, we witness the transformation of an oppositional defiant toddler into a social adult human being, an individual successfully navigating a dysfunctional world. The story of a mother's unconditional love permeates every page.
Honorable Mentions
Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress, Gary Sprouse M.D., New Outcomes Publishing - Offering hope for those who experience anxiety and depression due to debilitating stress, Sprouse, a primary care physician who has practiced medicine for decades, wants people to spend more time in their Happy Place. The Happy Place is a state of increased joy and less anxiety. Numerous obstacles exist in life, but it's possible to consistently wake up and go to bed in the Happy Place. The author teaches how to manage worries, guilt, regret, low self-esteem, boredom, and overwhelm using various the outlined strategies.
Victory in Every Fall: The Antaeus Approach to Overcome Disabilities, by Kurt Warner, published by Kallisti Publishing - Part memoir and part self-help, this book reveals an individual affected by a genuinely heart-rending series of infirmities—bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, and obsessive-compulsive disorder the most salient. If those were not enough of a burden, Warner deals with the death of both parents and his own chronic back pain. Using as inspiration the mythological figure of Antaeus, who could not be defeated as long as he remained in contact with the earth, the author finds his struggles make him stronger. Each time he is knocked to the ground, he rises renewed. No illness, no loss is enough to ultimately make him accept defeat.
Your Creator Matrix, Cathleen Beerkens, World Changers Media - Beerkins encourages people to create their own realities and optimize wellness. Scientific concepts are interwoven with spiritual theories, resulting in a discourse on quantum healing and manifestation. The author shares her beliefs about how the body is connected with the mind and spirit. Cells are in constant communication with each other, and healing is a multilayered process. Through a narrative of consciousness, energy, glycoscience, and epigenetics, each chapter features a convenient end summary, along with charts and illustrations that bring these and other concepts to life in a straightforward way.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Home
The Home category has practical applications to home or home-related issues, including general home, gardening, cooking, parenting, family, interior design, animals, pets, and home-related crafts.
Winner
Anxious Children in an Anxious World: Facing Fears and Finding Brave, Dr. Mary O'Kane - If anxiety falls along a spectrum, a little bit of anxiety is healthy. This book is for parents and teachers whose charges are overwhelmed by anxiety. O'Kane describes anxiety and its causes from infancy to young adulthood, employing science and personal anecdotes to guide, inform, and empathize. A calm delivery and instructive "give it a try" strategies embedded within the narrative offer mantras, sleep advice, a coping toolbox, and controlled choices. Anxiety cannot be wished away. This book provides evidence-based advice and practices for parents and teachers.
First Runner-Up
Nurturing Little Readers: A Parent's Guide to Early Education, Karen Fernandez, Trace and Say Karen Fernandez, ABC Trace & Say - Capturing thirty years of literacy expertise and research gained at her learning center, Fernandez shares ten easy tips to prepare your child ages 1-5 to read and write. Strategies that parents can employ at home before children reach school age facilitate not only the ability but the desire to both read and write well. Each tip has several practical suggestions. Each chapter has pages available to record and journal through your own child's progress, and to note what worked best, as children can vary in their approach to learning.
Honorable Mentions
The Iberian Table: Healthy Cooking Secrets from the Land of Longevity, Introduction to the Spanish Mediterranean Diet, Robin Keuneke, Bay of Roses Books - Keuneke sets her focus on the healing ingredients and the preparation of Spanish food, a subset of the well-known Mediterranean Diet. The author includes recipes, pantry lists, interviews with chefs, and the specific health benefits to be found in the foods of Spain. The book is handsome, amd its recipes are simple and clear. Inserts provide digestible facts about regional foods and health information. The book contains mouth-watering photos of prepared dishes, bookended by photos of murals and a painting by the author. Spanish history and culture is celebrated throughout. This is a blended travelogue, memoir, cookbook, and a guide to healthy eating.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
The Taste of Ambiance, Al Fuentes, Brown Books Publishing Group - This book gives a clear visual to what a luxury above-ground wine cellar could look like in a business or residential property building. Fuentes has a goal of changing the paradigm of what has been the standard for underground wine cellars for many years. With customers requests in the forefront, he describes how each project is beautifully designed and tailored to specific wants and needs of the customer. The large photos in the book clearly display the uniqueness of each project. This book is a great inspiration to anyone looking to give their home a modern, custom solution to storing their collection of wine.
Memoir
The Memoir category captures specific personal experience.
Winner
Sky Ranch, Linda M. Lockwood, She Writes Press - When the author receives a call that her mother has committed suicide, she returns to the ranch where she grew up in Washington State to comfort her father and come to terms with her mother's long history of mental illness. Lockwood recounts the rugged and beautiful life growing up on the ranch, and her later discoveries concerning her mother's schizophrenia. Because of the stigma of the disease, it is not until after her mother's death that the author comes to understand the nature of her mother's struggle. Through her mother's poetry, the author brings to light the relationships between these external and internal realities, and how they have come to shape her own experience of the wide-open vistas of nature and the enclosed spaces of humanity.
First Runner-Up
Glitter Saints: The Cosmic Art of Forgiveness, A Memoir, Robin Brown with Jess Brasher, Aether Bunny Productions - The authors weave a careful narrative around a childhood full of abuse and neglect, bringing in poetry and metaphor to show that good still exists even in terrible situations. A common tale of a distressed family situations is treated tenderly and artistically to show the glimmers of light. What might be a difficult read becomes insights into topics of hope and human bonds. This is a narrative of reflection and discovery, the most worthy of salvage missions where redemption is snatched from loss. The skillfully rendered thread of art and poetry never wanes, offering gripping illumination.
Honorable Mentions
Beyond Fear: A Woman's Path to Enlightenment, Karen Chrappa, Mango Moon Media - This is a powerful testament to resilience and the human spirit's capacity for healing. Chrappa details her journey of enlightenment from the deserts of New Mexico to bustling New York City and the mountains of Peru. The writing is honest and unflinching, yet provides a sense of hope. The author shares views on love, loss, divorce, death, the challenges of overcoming anxiety and fear, and ultimately transforming and finding peace from within. This isn't just a story of survival. It's a guide to finding inner strength and embracing vulnerability. This is a poignant reminder that healing is possible and that, even from the deepest pain, one can emerge stronger.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Dear Arlo: Letters to My Grandson, Olga Campbell - Campbell compiles a "multidimensional memoir" for her grandson Arlo. She shares the narrative with her parents' story, including their struggle during the Holocaust, building up the prose with artistic touches. She uses poetry and prose to talk about the loss of her husband—the grandfather he never knew. Poetry, paintings, sculptures, and line drawings show how trauma impacts generations. She reminds Arlo of their shared memories and passes treasures, such as family recipes. This is a beautiful book that tells a story of loss, hope, and celebrating the present and future.
Disconnected: A Portrait of a Neurodiverse Marriage, Eleanor Vincent, Vine Leaves Press - Eleanor is an adventurous, fun-loving extrovert who meets her match at a Zydeco dance hall. Lars, is a smooth charmer who isn't her physical type, but charismatic and a fantastic dancer which Eleanor greatly appreciates. At sixty-four and divorced for thirty years, Eleanor is cautious but finds herself falling in love. They share a lot of the same interests, and he seems like everything she needs. But he has quirks that she doesn't always understand. At times, he's warm and thoughtful, romantic even. Other times he's distant and aloof, and at other times, he doesn't respond to texts or calls and looks past her and is nonresponsive when she speaks. This is an intimate look at the ups and downs of a relationship with someone who is neurodiverse.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
From Healing to Hell, William Henry Wall, Jr., Archway Publishing - Wall covers a turbulent time for his family in pre-WWII Alabama where his kind and loving father worked as a small town doctor. He was met with jealousy from other, racist doctors and the sheriff. He ran a successful medical practice, opened a small hospital and served as a senator while running his practice. Trouble began when he hired a drug addicted nursing assistant that wrote prescriptions to sell and supply her addiction. After a medical procedure, Dr. Wall became addicted to Demerol and was eventually arrested and sent to prison. In jail, he was given mind altering drugs as part of a CIA experiment without his knowledge, causing hallucinations and paranoia for the rest of his life. The guards slipped excessive amounts of LSD into his food and water for years. He attempted suicide and tried to kill friends and family. He suffered until his death.
Here, Where Death Delights: A Literary Memoir, Mary Jumbelic, M.D., Final Words Publishing - Jumbelic delivers a highly sensory and emotional exploration of the life and career of a medical examiner. The author treats her decedents with the dignity and compassion of her work. The rolls of mother, daughter, medical examiner, expert witness, and government employee blend in unexpected ways. An obviously dedicated doctor and mother, the stories of caring for her sick children and ailing mother are as moving as the stories she uncovers about the examining the dead. Her own brush with mortality while in Europe is more poignant given her close association with death as a vocation. It might be assumed that such a book would be morbid or macabre, and there are indeed deeply tragic stories, but the author imbues her story with an inspiring vitality.
The Housekeeper's Secret, Sandra Schnakenburg, She Writes Press - Through decades of service, the author's family housekeeper becomes a part of the family, more like blood than hired help. As the housekeeper ages, she struggles with illness, and near death, she asks the author to help her write a memoir. Soon the housekeeper's story unfolds within an intriguing family story, which includes unforeseen secrets akin to a mystery novel. This is a unique twist on the memoir concept.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Underwater Daughter: A Memoir of Survival and Healing, Antonia Deignan, She Writes Press - By age four, the author is disassociating. Bulimia follows in her teens. At age eighteen, she flips the narrative and becomes the predator. Drugs and alcohol sustain and drain. Family therapy squeezes no admission of sexual abuse from her physician father and no apology from her cultured mother for normalizing her husband's behavior. Now a talented jazz dancer, the author seeks acceptance in the performance arts, but still feels lost, unloved, and unseen. An injury in her fifties frees time to write, which helps untangle a knotted self—a messy, damp ball in a dryer set too low, whirling in a rotating trap. The fetid wave of early sexualization soaks these pages, but the sun keeps peeping through with poetic, descriptive, original, and organic language. The result is a beautiful bridge between the shores of past and present, with love, acceptance, and motherhood smoothing the troubled waters.
Unstill: The Ordeal of Anxiety, Pills, and an Undiagnosed Disorder, Lenny Gallo, L.R. Fin Media & Publications - This memoir follows the author into the dark world of antipsychotic drugs during a time in America when commercials first began directly targeting the consumer. After coming of age under an abusive mother and passive father, the author develops what is first diagnosed as a gastrointestinal disease and, later, anxiety. A visit to a psychiatrist begins a period of pharmaceutical trial-and-error with overprescribed drugs. The author enters a labyrinth of paranoia, extreme tremors, and a maniac affect resembling bipolar disorder, resulting in a dangerous encounter with lithium. The result is a permanent movement disorder known as "Tardive Syndrome." He struggles to find answers, even as fights to regain his purpose and identity. This fearless account provides a sense of immediacy and intimacy.
Reference
The Reference category involves traditional and emerging reference areas, including history, psychology, biography, education, sports, recreation, training, travel, and how-to.
Winner
The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost, or Revive your Novel, Karin Adams, Indigo Rose - Any fiction author knows the frustratin of getting stuck either in the idea phase or in the middle of the first draft. This book supplies a process for rekindling the imagination and finding motivation to problem solve those sticky areas. Taught as a workshop intending to last seven days, this process can be customized to fit any schedule. These seven steps are clear and practical. Each step has a warm-up activity to spark creativity while the chapter's core focuses on the essential aspects of a novel, and there's even ending stretches as a cool down.
First Runner-Up
The Sugar King of California: The Life of Claus Spreckels, Sandra E. Bonura, University of Nebraska Press - Claus Spreckels wasn't the first German immigrant who went from rags to riches, but as his biography demonstrates, he was one of few men who changed the course of California's and Hawaii's histories. When he visited his Hawaiian plantation, he left his son, John, in charge of his California businesses and demanded the same meticulous record keeping that he practiced. He trusted no one when it concerned his empire, which not only spanned an ocean, but stretched from San Francisco, down the Salinas Valley, and into Southern California. In addition to adding an irrigation crop to California's agricultural landscape, he acquired a newspaper, electrified San Francisco, and invented the sugar cube. This is as much biography as history itself.
Honorable Mentions
Eversharp: Cornerstone of an Industry, Jonathan A. Veley - Veley chronicles the invention of and developments in pen-making that became the gold standard in writing implements from fountain pens to ballpoints to pencils: the Eversharp brand. The author has delivered a richly illustrated volume full of facts, including patents and designs suited for a variety of writing needs. These range from mechanical pencils used by engineers and draftsmen to colors and grips for artists, to the style and elegance used for businesses and even royalty. The advertising that accompanied and assisted in the rise of the company and its products, linking brand with status, is equally informative, historically demonstrating that what was once revolutionary.
The Oratory Project, Matt Eventoff, Speak with Style Books - Most people fear public speaking as much as they fear death. Yet, from schoolroom to boardroom, the ability to make a presentation is a highly valued skill. Unfortunately, it is a skill no longer prevalent in our schools' curriculums and has been made more challenging by technology and starkly shortened attention spans. Video conferencing deprives people of the sensory aspects of good communication, such as smell and nuanced facial expressions. Speakers will hone their speaking skills through preparation, practice, and familiarity with historically great speakers such as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., and John F. Kennedy.
Self-Help
The Self-Help category involves traditional and emerging self-help topics.
Winner
Your Grass is Greener: Use what you have-get what you want at work and in life, Jason Silver, Ideapress Publishing - For Silver, the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and through a logical progression, he identifies ways to discover joy at work. If you are happy at work, the remaining components of life will become more positive. Utilizing real life examples from the corporate world and personal reflections and experiences, a pathway to increased productivity and therefore overall happiness is revealed with the addition of action exercises. Bold summary statements head each chapter, which assist in framing the path ahead. Suggested readings are also provided.
First Runner-Up
Mental Freedom: You Hold the Key, Kim Olver, InsideOut Press - For those trying to master their challenges with a positive mindset, Oliver branches off Dr. Glasser's Choice Theory framework to create more ease in their lives. The author gives real life examples of personal struggles to demonstrate intentional thought and self reflection for overcoming obstacles. Throughout, readers are given tools to change their way of thinking, rewrite negative narratives, and become more self aware, all of which allows them to have more control over their day to day interactions. With a practical approach, the author gathers tools to reduce stress, seize control of personal narratives, and build self-empowerment toward an intentional life.
Honorable Mentions
The Feminine Way: Reclaim Your Feminine Energy To Create A Life Of Pleasure, Aliveness, And Vitality, Amy Matale Pamensky, World Changers Media - Pamensky offers today's stressed out woman an antidote to living life in overdrive. She questions Western society's prioritization of productivity, ambition, success, and status, encouraging woman to live more in their "soul than ego." Imagine freeing up energy to do things they love—to live in a more relaxed state while creating a life of abundance. Pamensky identifies seven "feminine codes" and shows how they help women live a more authentic and meaningful life. By tapping into uniquely feminine energy through specific sensual exercises, reflections, healing practices, and meditations, the author leads women toward a more harmonious and feminine life.
Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, Amy L. Bernstein, Bancroft Press - This compact book uses simple illustrations and quotes from inspirational people throughout history along with actionable steps to defeat self-doubt. Aimed at creative people facing a crisis of confidence, Bernstein employs a playful design and engaging quotes, along with helpful hints, to bolster personal conviction. A variety of fonts and illustrations, along with graphs and charts, create an engaging framework. The old school approach told us to strap on our boots and get out there, but Bernstein is instead a guiding hand, compassionate and encouraging throughout.
Spiritual
The Spiritual category involves the mind and spirit, including religion, metaphysical, and mystical.
Winner
Acts of Max, Garry Olson, WestBowPress - Olson introduces the reader to an average working man who lived his life with more faith in the materialism of this world than in God. An unexpected descent into seeming madness changes him and the lives of those around him in ways that could not have been foreseen. While his loved ones come to terms of acceptance with this brutal shift into a man they don't recognize, they soon learn that God has no limits. This is a wonderful reminder that the smallest fraction of faith can lead to the most dazzling outcomes, leaving the world and its obsession with material wealth to pale in comparison.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
First Runner-Up
Drawn to Feel: A Poetic Expression of Love, Loss & Soulfulness, Irish A.D., Balboa Press - Themes of love, loss, and soulfulness offer a poetic and personal exploration of universal experiences. Each chapter introduces an original quote that encapsulates its essence, followed by an "intention" statement that encourages contemplation and self-expression. Drawing from personal experiences of deep love and significant loss, as well as professional work supporting individuals through grief and trauma, the author intertwines poetry, short stories, and reflective ideas through a journey of curiosity and self-discovery. We are invited to explore our own paths toward healing and understanding, emphasizing the transformative power of self-expression.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Honorable Mentions
Focused: I Will Not Be Muted, Cecilia Tetteh, XlibrisUS - The author tells the true account of her diagnosis with ALS, a disease that early in her diagnosis confined her to bed. She and her husband continued with their plans to start a church where they would both preach. When treatments to help her breathe rob her of her voice, she pens sermons. When she loses use of her hands, she dictates her sermons to lip readers. The progression of the disease takes her ability to move her lips. Refusing to be muted, the author uses software that operates by eye movements. The process is painstakingly slow. This story is a powerful testament to faith and the resiliency of spirit.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Reality Unbound: The Digital Mind (and the Nature of Reality), E. Hughes, Love-Love Publishing - Hughes offers an exploration of the intricate relationship between digital technology and human cognition. The author raises pertinent questions about identity formation in virtual spaces, acknowledging that while digital platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for connection, they simultaneously pose challenges related to authenticity and mental well-being. This duality invites readers to critically assess their own digital habits, reconsidering their relationship with technology. The author relies on a range of interdisciplinary sources, including psychology, neuroscience and philosophy to support arguments made. The last chapter provides an actual interview with an AI chatbot, wherein the author poses questions such as "Would you like to become sentient one day?" and "Do you feel that humans are evil?" The responses seem human, though the AI chatbot does acknowledge it cannot interact authentically because it relies on its Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence.
The Magic of Yes: Embrace the Wise Woman Within, Lori Pappas, Koehler Books - The author embarked on a journey to make sense of her traumatic childhood, but rather than dwelling on the past, the key was to acknowledge it and seek continual forward growth. Pappas encourages all women to follow their own paths by harnessing their innate curiosity, taking risks, continuously learning, and, above all not being afraid to say "yes" to life's challenges. Skillfully blending the anecdotes with suggested exercises, a combination of spirituality and practicality serves as a reference for others to positively navigate their own journey.
E-Book Fiction
The E-Book Fiction category holds fiction books published in an electronic format.
Winner
Chasing Courage: Coming of Age on the Mongolian Steppe, Karin Jensen, ReadtoDiscover - Jensen skillfully blends reality and fiction in an unusually thorough travel adventure. The pages include a glossary, photographs, cultural folklore, maps, recipes, footnotes, an explanation of the setting's money, and links to videos, along with the rousing account of a twelve-year-old's coming of age. These elements combine to give a strong sense of being there. Although written in the voice of the twelve-year-old protagonist and clearly meant for readers about the same age, the author utilizes rich and sophisticated, albeit easily comprehensible, language to tell a fascinating story of tradition and cyclical changes. The twelve-year old must face a worrying journey alone to help his family, but discovers truths and insights as he completes his life-changing mission.
First Runner-Up
Naked Girl, Janna Brooke Wallack - Sienna Shiva Karma Jones, a precocious child in 1970s-80s Florida, grows up under the chaotic care of her father, Jackson, a freewheeling, drug-dealing spiritualist. After her mother's early death, Sienna and her younger brother Siddhi are raised in a swirl of unconventional adventures, psychedelic philosophies, and shifting households—from hotels and beach escapades to a crumbling mansion-turned-commune called Xanadu. As Jackson builds a cult-like following of young adults devoted to his "truths," Sienna takes on the emotional labor of protecting her brother, navigating adult dysfunction, and preserving memories of a mother she barely knew. Told in Sienna's sharp, imaginative voice, the novel captures the beauty and trauma of a childhood defined by instability, love, longing, and resilience—all wrought through stolen moments of peace and the blurred lines between freedom and neglect, truth and illusion, and survival and self-discovery.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Honorable Mentions
Alisha in Washerland, Marian Flores, Citi of Books - This a playful look at the dreaded chore of doing the dishes and unloading the dishwasher. Alisa is a typical ten-year-old girl who likes soccer, friends, and talking on the phone. Unfortunately, her mother gave her the job of emptying the dishwasher, while her brother Josh only had to take out the trash. Alisha feels exasperated over the continuous mountain of dirty dishes that appears, with her mom constantly yelling to get the dishes done. Magically, Alisa goes on an adventure where she meets the Scrubby Worms, Mean Mouth, Glow-in-the-Dark Butterflies, and Tickle Hands. Can these characters help change her attitude about chores?
See a full review in the US Review of Books
Breaking Silence, Alan Brenham, Brenham Publishing - The author grabs our attention from the opening paragraphs by showing the vulnerability of his protagonist as well as the compelling mystery begging for her attention. A heartless blackmailer must be pursed and a family mystery must be solved. Brenham spins his web expertly as the main characters travel back and forth between Paris and Texas. Roads of deception, intrigue, suspense, corruption and yes, romance lie ahead. This is a crisp and exciting start the Claire Deveraux series.
Eldryan Elders: The Last Lumenian Series, S.G. Blaise, Lilac Grove Entertainment - The fifth book in a series but a story on its own, this installment develops a world within a world, blending sci-fi and fantasy. Lilla, the main character and heroine, finds her leadership tested from the very beginning by friends and foes alike. Well into what is called the Era War, enemies emerge and hide, as Lilla and her companions are thrust into a world hidden by a protective bubble. She must prove herself as a capable leader, tackling her longing to know her past and what it means for the future, while uncovering mysteries both within and around. This will make you want to turn back and read the earlier installments.
July and Everything After, Allie Nava, DartFrog Books - It is July 1983, and a terrifying and deadly time to be Tamil in Sri Lanka. Maya and her father travel to their home country from the United States, only to experience debilitating violence that is the beginning of the Sri Lankan civil war, known as Black July. A period considered by scholars as genocidal. The author's harrowing depiction of Maya's traumatic experience leaves little to the imagination, although it becomes the impetus that causes Maya to act. Her fight for justice leads her on a journey she never expected and a relationship she didn't know she wanted. Maya's resilience and refusal to be silent become the catalyst for healing.
Secrets of Ash: A Novel, Josh Green, The Sager Group - This is a dark, psychologically rich novel about Chase Lumpkin, a troubled Iraq War veteran who relocates from Atlanta to the isolated town of Cherokee in Ash County, Georgia, hoping to escape his traumatic past. Instead, he finds himself under the watchful eye of Sheriff Monte Gaylord, a fellow veteran who suspects Chase is hiding something. As Chase spirals through PTSD, alcohol abuse, and increasingly erratic behavior, his interactions with the sheriff and a bartender named Carrie hint at deeper psychological wounds and possible war crimes. Meanwhile, his estranged brother, Jack, a successful and indulgent Atlanta radio host, is drawn into Chase's orbit through heartfelt letters. The novel explores themes of guilt, masculinity, trauma, and redemption, culminating in a violent confrontation that leaves Chase broken and isolated, facing the unbearable weight of his past and the impossibility of a peaceful future.
Tab's Terrible Third Eye, Isaac Thorne, Lost Hollow Books - Reeling from a monster attack during a severe thunderstorm, nine year old Tab Beard discovers an undesirable mark: a painful welt in the center of his forehead. Worse yet, a ghost with an unknown connection to his family seems to be haunting him. As Tab becomes increasingly distressed by the spectral presence, as well as strange and violent events that occur after he draws them into existence, Tab's mother arranges for him to see a renowned psychologist. The author expertly establishes parallels between the psychiatric symptoms of a boy experiencing the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tab's helplessness against spiritual forces beyond his family's comprehension. We are left to draw our own conclusions about the nature of the events surrounding the Beard family.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
The Lion Hunt, Richard Zappa, Alkira Publishing - In 1985 rural Mexico, Diego Garcia grows up to be the leader of the drug cartel that controls and terrorizes his family. Now in present day, Jo Crowder, a detective with the New Orleans police department, is sentenced to prison in what looks like a cop-gone-bad situation. Inside, she befriends a fellow inmate and an escape plan is hatched. Enter Antonio Vega, DEA special agent, whose life goal is to capture Garcia and shut down his fentanyl pipeline into America. The characters must navigate perilous obstacles and tests of trust and loyalty in order to find Garcia. However there are much deeper and compelling motivations for each character that will be uncovered as the investigation unfolds.
The Pandora's Box, L.S. Franco, The Hero Press - After the sudden death of his mother, 14-year-old Liam Hale is thrust into a hidden world of demigods and cosmic secrets. Upon learning that he is a demigod and must attend a magic school, he also finds he has several tasks to master. These include claiming the throne of the Keeper of the Seven Wonders, preventing an intergalactic war and, finding the elusive artifact, The Pandora's Box. What starts as a painful summer turns into an exciting and fast-paced adventure full of mystery and ancient myths during which the emotional weight of Liam's grief is handled beautifully. The diverse cast of characters showcases a wide range of colors and backgrounds, and their presence is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, adding depth and richness to the story, making it even more immersive and meaningful.
The Treachery of Sisters: A Novel, Gail Combs Oglesby, MotownGirl Publishing - Oglesby jumps right into the setting of Ancient Egypt by describing the escape of Arsinoe from her half-sister, Cleopatra. IF one isn't a student of Ancient Egypt, the story of the struggle for the throne of Egypt will be a new experience for the reader. The author sets a good pace of cultural understanding and establishes the significance of events that make up this piece of historical fiction. The struggles, hardships, and heartaches bring this sibling rivalry to life and offers a glimpse into the fortitude and character of Arsinoe.
The Unfinished Line, Jen Lyon, Doss About Publishing - Small-potatoes actress Kameryn Kingsbury wasn't looking for love when she hit Olympic triathlete Dillion Sinclair on the Road to Hana after her best friend's wedding, but she certainly found it. Their magnetic, globe-trotting romance is tested by distance, schedules, family, so-called friends, and eventually mega-stardom when Kameryn breaks big. While they try to keep things quiet, because the limelight has never agreed with her, their relationship is tested after a career-ending accident. With a broken spirit and body, can the two of them find the answer to what comes next?
War of the Dragon, Mary Jay, Urlink Print & Media - The fantasy novel follows protagonist Egil, a noble sent to train with the infamous Rangers Guild in a political ploy by his father to keep him safe from his uncle, the King. The King is waging war against dragons and thus needs supplies from the mines that Egil's father controls. Within the ranks of the Rangers, Egil receives brutal treatment, yet he finds allies in an elemental mage named Lilina and his team captain Molark. After an injury, Egil saves the life of a wolf who turns out to be a disguised dragon. The two form an alliance and battle against the cruel King in order to restore peace between their realms.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
E-Book Nonfiction
The E-Book Nonfiction category holds nonfiction books published in an electronic format.
Winner
Beyond Everest: One Sherpa's Summit and Hope for Nepal, Corinne Richardson & Pem Dorjee Sherpa, DartFrog Books - This book transports us to a definitive space of intangible human resilience in the face of nature's challenges. Following a personal path that transcends the pressing needs of everyday life, the narrative takes root in a long tradition that has portrayed the Sherpa people as the epitome of human endurance within extreme situations. From this liminal space of the inspirational character of this work, Richardson follows Pem Dorjee Sherpa's life beyond the Everest summit and how he uses his experience to help new generations of Nepalis. Within a narrative genre where Everest serves as a reference, this unique perspective is exceptionally gripping.
First Runner-Up
The Merchant of Venus: The Life of Walter Thornton, Nancy Thornton Navarro, Adriana Thornton-Cornejo, Tile House Publishing - This is a captivating biography that delves into the extraordinary life of a trailblazer in modeling and advertising during Hollywood's Golden Age. This vividly portrays Thornton's journey from a homeless orphan to a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry. The narrative is enriched by meticulous research, personal anecdotes, and rare photographs that paint a comprehensive picture of Thornton's achievements, including the creation of the WWII pin-up girl phenomenon. The authors skillfully balance historical context with personal insights, making the book both informative and engaging. This biography is not just a tribute to Thornton's legacy but also a testament to resilience and innovation, including a family mystery.
Honorable Mentions
Circumcision: How an Ancient Ritual Became a Questionable Surgery—A Complete Analysis, Kenneth S. Lipman, PhD, Akiva Press - A compulsively readable examination of one of America's most common elective surgeries. Lipman presents a nuanced and comprehensive argument with both passion and personality. The author's analysis stays accessible to the average reader, yet never sacrifices on depth. Beginning with the basics, the book at first defines circumcision, then delves into the procedure's history. As the narrative unfolds, it picks up momentum, propelling the reader through explorations of circumcision's intersections with topics as varied and seemingly disparate as sex, the skincare industry, religion, and even cereal. An ambitious, compassionate book which tackles a complex and controversial topic with grace.
Cooling Our Environment: An Architect's Vision for Combating Global Warming, Kalpana Sutaria, Atmosphere Press - Sutaria educates us about the importance of addressing our warming planet. Techniques used in centuries-old buildings in her native India show how building design can improve the quality of life for people in hot climates. She uses examples of buildings she has lived in, designed, and/or researched to illustrate the tremendous impact urban construction can have on CO2 levels and surface temperature. We also learn about building materials and practices that have proven to reduce energy and water use. The author ends by encouraging readers to take action in their own communities by contacting lawmakers and making lifestyle changes that will positively impact the environment.
Influencing Death: Reframing Dying For Better Living, Penny Hawkins Smith, RN, Girl Friday Productions - Through an engaging and personable read, Smith details her life journey in an anecdotal manner, empowering others who have experienced similar adversities. Her personal interactions and monologues are discussed in great depth, promoting visual connections with our experiences with life, death, and mortality. Through her career as a hospice nurse, she shares how she found her purpose to connect with patients. This book is filled with positivity, hope, and inspiration and is truly uplifting.
On Healing: Finding Wholeness Beyond the Limits of Medicine, Amitha Kalaichandran, Heliotrope Books - This cross-cultural book meshes both traditional medicine and alternative methods of healing, such as plant medicine and rest. The author progresses through her own personal journey as a doctor dealing with mental and physical health issues. As she moves through her physician training, she experiences racial and sexual discrimination, causing health side effects. She explores twelve different methods through which others have received healing, including faith and diet, using these holistic methods for her own therapy and then offering them to her patients. The book provides an alternative, yet well-researched and well-documented, view of healthcare, giving the reader a clear perspective of common medicine alternatives.
Onward Forward: My Journey with ALS, Brian Jeansonne, DartFrog Books - Imagine being in the best shape of one's life and slowly each day the muscles in one leg stop responding to normal movements. Doctors are baffled with no injury or history of illness. Finally, a nureomuscular specialist diagnoses ALS. Jeansonne shares his experience not with the normal words of battle like, but with hope and encouragement. He talks about walking, learning, and experiencing life with ALS. Readers will be inspired by the truth and honesty he reveals on the power of using fertile silence to find one's true self. Meditation empowers self-mindfulness to become centered and surrender to life in the moment.
Priceless: Curing the Healthcare Crisis (updated), John C. Goodman , Independent Institute - Renowned healthcare economist Goodman explores the current healthcare crisis in America in minute, yet understandable, detail. He examines the history of how healthcare has been provided and demonstrates what went wrong with the current system and why. More importantly, Goodman offers tangible solutions for anyone and everyone affected by the US healthcare system. In specific, yet clear and understandable prose, Goodman explores one of the most complicated, yet vital, institutions in our country. The book is beautifully written and clearly told, making it both an interesting and informative read.
Prodigals: A Vietnam Story, Richard Taylor, Urlink Print & Media, E-Nonfiction - Written in a gripping narrative, this book shares one man's experiences during a war that divided a nation. Though a vignette of the Vietnam War, it is much more than a treatise of death and regret. It is a story of hope and relationships. Taylor revisits friendships that surpassed the bond of wartime trenches and even searches for a lifetime of forever in the face of every friendly woman he encounters. Using the lens of time, the author reflects on the evanescent quality of life, while also pondering the right of citizens to choose a life of service or a life of dissent.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
The Naked Sailor, Norman Coutts, Atmosphere Press - This is an idiosyncratic memoir by a retired sailor from Canada, who from the outset took the adjective "naked" to task in his travel writing—metaphorically and in all senses of the word. The book chronicles adventures on the yacht Bob-the-boat with his two pals, Rob and John, as they sail the regions of Southeast Asia. This is a fairly forthright travel memoir where the narrator travels both outwardly and inwardly: He mulls over larger sociopolitical issues and cultural differences while encountering new places, people, and all things once foreign. Humorous, richly descriptive, at turns lyrical, Courts succeeds in keeping his voice engaging and offers some fresh observations about his encounters.
Legacy Fiction
Books in the Legacy Fiction category are fiction books over two years of age which hold particular relevance to any subject matter or art form. Unlike many in the industry, we think good books last longer than one season.
Winner
Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal, Ryan Cowan, For the Northern Star Publishing - A teacher and a "ordinary" boy must save the world from the evil that may destroy the human world on Halloween night. Involving a landscape of imagination and magic, it's the tale of a boy who underestimates himself, almost missing his magical gift within. Can he and his teacher save the non-magical world before it's too late? This book is well-suited for any middle reader who wants to join the world of magic and loves a little mystery and intrigue.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
First Runner-Up
The House of Ilya, Richard Leslie Brock - While on separate journeys into Alaska, two people seem to find themselves in an interesting romance. Anton is an officer acting as an intermediary between the indigenous people and a Russian company, and Nadia, who ends up in Alaska, is climbing the aristocracy ladder. Both work hard to meet the expectations of others. Introduced through Ilya, their mutual guide, Anton and Nadia quickly realize that there's something between them. However, as they're both being forced from nobility for separate reasons, they're also separated by proximity. When they reunite three years after their initial encounter, they must discover if the love is still possible and if they'll be able to thrive together.
Honorable Mentions
Not Just a Game, Doug Zipes, iUniverse - Dietrich Becker, a Jewish track star, competes in the 1936 Berlin Olympics under immense pressure, concealing his heritage with the help of his wife and a mysterious benefactor. After losing to Jesse Owens, his humiliation leads to a pivotal decision that alters his life. Decades later, his son, Adam, faces tragedy as assistant head of the 1972 Israeli Olympic team in Munich, where eleven athletes, including his friend, Levi Frankel, are killed by Islamic terrorists. Adam's daughter, Kirsten, coached by Levi's widow, pursues fencing and the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Amid renewed Nazi ideologies, Kirsten and a French fencer investigate rumors of Hitler's escape to South America. They uncover his former home in Bariloche. Kirsten's journey, entwined with Olympic dreams and historical secrets, becomes a fight not only for gold but also for survival.
The Fascination, Bob Renterson, AuthorHouse - Comprised of snapshots of various lives, this is a compelling thriller that seizes attention. Many characters are bankers, clients of bankers, or are part of organizations tied to the banking industry. A series of murders draws the scrutiny of a freelance insurance investigator who begins to identify the key players in the case, even as bankers continue to die. As the pieces of the mystery start to fit together, we find out if we were truly rooting for the good guys.
See a full review in the US Review of Books
The Invisible Bag, Melanie B. Solar, Holly Stone-Barker (illustrator), Solar Publishing - This is a delightful tale with cheerful illustrations and a subtle, upbeat life-lesson, centering on a child whose life is about to change when her mother returns to work. The artwork, while simple at first appearance, includes little details that emerge with closer focus, inviting repeat reading for the young and old. Each page is a scene accompanied by clear text, ranging from a single sentence to a paragraph that correlates with the illustrations. All elements are professionally designed and typeset, adding to the quality feel. This little book is perfect for a family home library and for handing along generations.
Legacy Nonfiction
Books in this Legacy Nonfiction category are nonfiction books over two years of age which hold particular relevance to any subject matter or art form. Unlike many in the industry, we think good books last longer than one season.
Winner
Cooking Coach: A Cooking Playbook for the Rookie, As Well as the Semipro, Jan Plummer, iUniverse - With an extensive collection of cooking tips and recipes, Plummer provides concise directions and extra suggestions, such as measuring ingredients correctly and reading specific labels, to make cooking a positive experience for beginners as well as the more experienced. The details, selection of ingredients, and easy-to-read design inspire confidence in the kitchen. A simple color and layout in each section enhances the presentation. Its conversational narrative, instructional tone, and user-friendly content create a comfortable learning environment, making it feel like you have a personal professional chef at your disposal.
First Runner-Up
When Light Shifts: A Memoir in Poems, Jennifer L Freed, Kelsay Books - The book is a series of poems that explore family tragedy and its aftermath. Broken into four unique stages, the very layout of the poems evokes a flurry of emotions that threatens to overwhelm the family. The first section starts with the author's mother facing a stroke, forcing both her aging husband and her children to aid her during the recovery process. In the second and third sections, we see the family grappling with having lost everything dear to them and fighting to get it back. For the author's mother, it's her home, independence, and capabilities. For the family, it's a wife and mother. Finally in the fourth section, the author's family is faced with tragedy once again, as the author's brother loses his battle to cancer. The family mourns and the author's parents move back home, hoping to find peace among the new normal.
Honorable Mentions
The Closed Door, Robert Oman, Outskirts Press - The events of the end times as detailed in the Bible leave many confused and questioning. What will happen? When will it happen? What is the conclusion? This book answers these questions with clarity. The author pulls together all the end time prophetic scriptures throughout the Bible and uses them to create a chronological timeline. Through an examination of each period of the timeline, he delineates the events will take place. We also learn what groups of people are involved and where they will spend eternity.
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