Editorial Reviews

Bringing storybook history into sharp and fascinating focus, Awesome Battles for Kids: The Ancient Wars by Ryan Rhoderick is a thrilling peek into epic conflicts of the ancient past. From chariot clashes in Egypt and city-state strife in Greece to the brilliance of Alexander the Great and the legendary defeat of Xerxes, this book is a perfect blend of backstory, strategy, and classic heroics, offering a thorough introduction for kids. While some of the writing may be too advanced for younger readers, the pages are packed with compelling imagery, military analyses, and historical context, making it an engaging and eye-opening read for curious minds of any age.

In a stirring and unique memoir, I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey with Liver Cancer, E. Adrienne Wilson captures the essence of her teenage years, her battle with cancer, and her profound reflections on life through journal entries and vibrant artwork. Put together by her sister, this compilation of writing and artistic output is incredibly moving, celebrating not only Adrienne’s life but life itself. While relatively little attention is given to the complexities of her medical journey, the book’s main aim is to focus on her humanity and talent rather than solely on her illness, skillfully balancing humor and gravity, and letting her singular voice continue to leave an indelible mark through art and prose.

A uniquely crafted self-help memoir, Body Wisdom: A Guide To Connecting With Your Intuitive Self by Cathy Williams invites readers to tap into the interconnection of mind and body, learn to trust their instincts, and develop better forms of self-love and protection. Featuring a visually stimulating format of illustrations, poetry, and essential featured text, this is an interactive read that engages and challenges the reader well beyond standard works of text-based self-help. With a comforting and conversational writing style, anecdotal storytelling that is both relatable and impactful, and vital existential questions proposed throughout the book, Williams’ work resonates long after the final chapter.

An unassuming yet continually compelling poetry collection, Telling It All: Trauma And the Unspeakable Truths by Jenna Casey, PsyD is a minimalistic exploration of unavoidable suffering and the need for resilience. Varied in poetic form and style, but sharply focused on past trauma, pain, grief, and loss, Casey’s vulnerable poetry is raw and relentless in its message. Though some of the pieces can feel too brief for the complexity of their subject matter, there is a cathartic power in the stark style. Empowering and comforting for readers who have experienced similar hardships and heartbreak, these visceral short-form pieces carry a surprising amount of weight.

A dimension-bending, time-leaping adventure through past lives and nightmare realms, Simon’s Dream of Tomorrow’s Structure by Jeremy Howe is the sprawling second piece of a genre-defying series. Simon Verner may have bested his brother Mubiru once, continuing their ancient cycle of epic conflict, but the villains of the dying Dark Dimension have a new scheme to bring an end to the human world. Relying on strong friendships and the generations of wise warriors before him, Simon becomes embroiled in more corporal mysteries as sinister forces descend on his new home. Whimsical, mystical, gritty, and creative, this unassuming novel patiently plays with genre tropes to elevate a seemingly straightforward fantasy novel into something truly visionary.

Delivering a mind-bending, sensorial, and wildly enjoyable read, Divergent Realms: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories About Neurodivergence, compiled by Riley Odell, is a collection of meticulously crafted cutting-edge fiction. From rescue missions outside reality and century-long space journeys to picking cursed flowers in twisted fairy tales, these visionary stories blur the fringes of science and speculative fiction, boasting an award-winning lineup of uniquely gifted writers. Exploring the nuanced complexities of psychology and human physiology through eclectic storytelling and boundless world-building, this is a celebration of the mind, the future, and the magic that remains undiscovered in our own world.