John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Bursting with visionary creativity and ominous warnings, The Festival of Sin and Other Tales of Fantasy by J. M. Unrue is a riveting collection of fantastical tales, some that feel prophetically torn from the near future, and others tapping into ancient existential questions. Whether dissecting the ethical implications of immortality among the stars or musing on the destiny of souls still seeking release from tragedy, the author weaves history, myth, and morality into wildly original stories. With a storytelling style reminiscent of Ursula K. LeGuin, and a profound yet straightforward narrative flow, Unrue’s deft pen is confident, clever, and timely, […]

A classic coming of age novella set in the magical world of The Ember Files, Vizard by Shari Marshall is a fantasy parable with a lovable heroine at its heart. After her magic-wielding parents are killed by a vicious Spellbinder, Juniper Berry must embark on a perilous journey – fortunately, her powers seem to be growing with each narrow escape. Fast-moving and fun for sorcery-loving YA fans, this quick read bounces from prison break-ins and romantic dabbles to fairy magic and soul-smashing battles, woven neatly with focused and animated storytelling. Packing an impressive amount of adventure into a compact […]

A time-travel adventure packed with mystery and hard lessons, Mysteries of a Middle Schooler: Let the Adventures Begin by Dr. Tonmar Johnson is a thrilling hyper-modern fantasy for middle grade readers. The start of fifth grade for tech-savvy Marcus and warrior-poet Evie Wilkins is exciting, but their ChatGPT-fueled plan to crack time travel takes them where they don’t expect. Redefining the concept of extra credit, Evie’s trip back to 1862 gives her everything she could ever need for their history presentation, but the lessons learned extend far beyond the classroom. Exploring deep concepts of bloodlines, inequality, loyalty, and the uncomfortable […]

Demystifying a revolutionary technology in both the classroom and the broader realm of teaching, ChatGPT Hacks for Teachers: A Comprehensive ChatGPT Guide for Educators for Teaching and Learning with Step-by-Step Instructions, Practical Demonstrations, Examples, Prompts, and Video Outputs by Keshav Jha is a thorough and useful guide for this new paradigm of education. Harnessing the power of AI for better educational outcomes of students and teachers alike is the utopian goal for many fans of ChatGPT, but understanding how to use the program effectively is the important first step. Whether you are seeking to develop more interactive learning modules, multilevel […]