John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

An homage to fatherhood, history, and America’s beloved pastime, Shadows of Swayne Field by Ronald R. Harrington is a masterful journey of memory and a nostalgic adventure into the past. Family secrets and paternal legacies give this book a looming sense of mystery, while Harrington’s patient storytelling and creativity will appeal to readers of all genres, whether they’re sports fans or not. While there are some editing errors and occasionally heavy-handed passages of exposition, the narration is charming and the characters are relatable. Ultimately, this book is a love story to baseball, a celebration of forgotten history, and a narrative […]

A bilingual adventure through memorable moments of childhood freedom, The Last Day of School? by Jordan Saez is a unique and timely children’s book that opens children to the possibilities of education and new languages. This simple read not only explores the rapid changes for children in elementary school, but also highlights the fundamental joys of education – even when we are forced to study apart. The author takes her real-life experience as a teacher and transforms it into a colorful memento of these unprecedented times, imbuing the book with both charm and a sense of authority about everything school […]

Adapting the legendary battlefield wisdom of Sun Tzu for the conflicts of the inner self, The Ordinary Leader by Geoff Lew is an original and easy-to-read guide for personal improvement. Profound mantras and insights abound, not only from Sun Tzu’s classic advice, but also from Geoff Lew’s anecdotal storytelling and depth of research. Told partly in parables, history lessons, and practical lectures on attitude and resilience, this book is both existential and academic. While the writing occasionally takes tangents, this is part of the ultimate message – “victory” can take on many forms, as can the profile of a good […]

A powerful and timely children’s book, My Black Life Matters (What I Tell Myself) by Michael A. Brown is a celebration of community, friendship, and open communication. Told through a cast of young African-American characters, each of whom are struggling with their own sense of purpose and value, this book reminds young readers that adversity doesn’t diminish personal worth. Touching on a number of delicate issues, from physical and sexual abuse to self-esteem, truth-telling, and cultural stereotypes, Brown is unafraid to look modern problems square in the face and produce work that challenges unfair norms. The dialogue and prose could […]

Dr. Barbara Koltuska-Haskin, a neuropsychologist and skillful author, unravels the mysteries of brain health and improvement in How My Brain Works: A Guide to Understanding It Better and Keeping It Healthy. This nonfiction book offers a comprehensive look at her field of study, but also presents broader knowledge on cognitive behavior, wellness practices for the mind, and more abstract concepts of internal philosophy and the power of mindset. Along with the doctor’s clear expertise and matter-of-fact prose, there are also personal anecdotes and emotionally engaging stories that feel relatable to readers of all kinds. A deep dive into all […]