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A well-written and informative introduction to the world of SQL, or Structured Query Language, which is how computers and databases communicate with each other, SQL Quest: A Journey Through Data by Neha Saini is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow overview of a complex topic. Aimed at young learners at least in its initial presentation, the book may be overly detailed for many young readers, but it is a perfect level for teenagers or adults looking to learn about the intricacies of computer science. Packed with imaginative examples, challenging exercises, and clear explanations, the book may not be wholly effective in its […]

Taking place in Cheeston, a town inhabited by a mice society, Not Yo Cheeze by Amy Winfield is an exhilaratingly fun piece of middle grade fiction. Tone Provolone and Cheddar Chessman’s cheese shop, inherited from their fathers, is almost always empty, but a new catering contract with the powerful Donna Parmesan could finally be their chance to succeed. As the names and clever set-up might suggest, Winfield loves to play with language, and with some added life lessons about standing up for yourself, this is a lighthearted but meaningful read that is perfectly crafted for young readers, which rivals other […]

An extraordinary, tough-as-nails adventure novel, Desperation Island by Keith A. Hamilton is a gritty take on the pirate genre with a contemporary twist – a 21st Century Pirates of the Caribbean, as the subtitle accurately describes. After Ronald Johnson discovers he is a descendant of Francis Drake, he decides to become a pirate and take to the open sea. Renaming himself Ronald Drake, he gathers together a band of comrades, fulfilling his fantasies and his hard-edged ambitions in a series of dangerous adventures, taking cargo from smaller boats before getting on the radar of both law enforcement and the […]

The Dougherty Code: Secrets of Financial Planning in Spain Revealed by Peter Dougherty is a clearly organized and amusingly written guide about starting a financial planning business in Spain, which will be of great use to anyone in that specialized niche but also, remarkably, of genuine interest to the general reader interested in Spanish or European financial history. An American émigré in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, Peter Dougherty provides a fascinating account of how he came to live and work in a foreign country, what he has learned in his years navigating the complex and bureaucratic Spanish system, and […]

Aimed at helping women regain self-confidence and trust in their future, Owning Your Destiny: A Woman’s Guide to Harnessing the Power Within by Duncan McLauren is an effective self-help book with a uniquely precise focus. Drawing from her personal experience and research, McLauren covers meditation, breathing, visualization, and other techniques she used to communicate more clearly with herself since going through a divorce, making the information more down-to-earth and actionable than other guides of its kind, while still emphasizing the value of finding one’s place in the spiritual universe. Told with a gentle, at-times humorous tone, McLauren is a soothing […]