Month: August 2009

literary

Maria’s Tango

Bergers Book Reviews

tango
Author: Anna Barcos
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Genre: Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 142510828-8
Pages: 325
Price: $21.97

Author’s website
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Maria has always wanted to be a famous tango dancer, so when Uncle Ruben offers to bring her to Hollywood, she jumps at the chance. She’s just turned 15, but she knows what she wants, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes.

What Maria doesn’t know is that Ruben has other plans for Maria – plans that include dancing in his brothel and turning tricks on the side. And when Maria meets the dashing Dario, her life is turned completely upside down.

Life seldom goes as we plan, and Maria learns this the hard way. Turning to alcohol, sex and drugs, she numbs her feelings and copes as best she can.

It’s hard not to feel for a girl who wants to follow her dreams, but at times Maria comes across as a selfish woman who always puts her own needs ahead of everyone else. Her careless actions hurt those she loves, and puts them very much at risk.

The first half of Maria’s Tango is well-written, but the second half seems jumpy and disjointed, much like Maria’s life has become. Though this story couldn’t have ended any differently, the last chapters felt somewhat out of place. Overall, it’s an interesting and disturbing read, but I felt it could have used a little more polishing before being published.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

The Liberation Diet

Bergers Book Reviews

liberation
Author: Kevin Brown CPT, NC & Annette Presley RD, LD, CPT
Publisher: BookSurge
Genre: Health / Diet / Fitness
ISBN: 978-1439207390
Pages: 260
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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There are so many diet books on the market, that one can’t help but be frustrated by all the conflicting information. The experts can’t seem to agree on what’s best for us, so how can we choose? But one voice of reason has emerged in The Liberation Diet.

Intuitively, we all know nature didn’t intend for us to eat processed foods full of chemicals that come in a box. But in the last 100 years, more and more food options have become available to us, and most of those new choices have not been in our best interest.

Eating low-fat and high-carb has been touted as the healthiest choice we can make, but the results have shown otherwise. As we continue to eat “healthfully,” we also gain weight at alarming rates. Authors Kevin Brown and Annette Presley suggest this is not the healthy diet it claims to be, and they show us another option, backing this up with studies that support their ideas.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what to put in your body. But with The Liberation Diet you’ll be eating foods that are all-natural, and not full of toxic chemicals. I think that’s always a wise choice.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Tomato Turtle: A Trip to the Park

Bergers Book Reviews

turtle
Author: Thomas Strock
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60696-371-5
Pages: 20
Price: $6.99

Author’s website
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Tomato Turtle has always done what turtles do, until one day he sees some children playing in the park. He thinks it looks like fun, and decides to play in the park every day, too.

But, as most folks find out, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and Tomato Turtle misses his old life of turtle games. Will he be willing to give up the fun he’s having at the park?

As an eLIVE story, access to an audio download of this book is available through the publisher’s website. The illustrations are bright and well-crafted, but the plot is very simplistic. Author Thomas Strock is twelve years old, and Tomato Turtle is his first book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, spirituality

Nine Ways God Always Speaks

Bergers Book Reviews

9 ways
Author: Mark Herringshaw & Jennifer Schuchmann
Publisher: Tyndale House
Genre: Religion / Christian Life / Prayer
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2226-1
Pages: 352
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
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Has God spoken to you? Would you know it was Him, if He did? Or could it be coincidence, random encounters, or even just indigestion? Authors Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann believe God can and does speak to us. Nine Ways God Always Speaks shows us how He does this, and shares stories of those who have heard Him speak.

At one time God spoke through His prophets, and His people got clear directions in making decisions. If God told them to go to war against a neighboring country, they could be certain of victory. But today He guides us in more subtle ways.

We may hear from Him through our dreams, a little voice in our heads, our conscience, or a Bible verse. Chance meetings and a comment we feel is meant only for us could also be God speaking. And some of us have heard God speak through nature.

Our infinite God is capable of communicating with us in many ways, but we don’t always hear Him. In sharing other people’s experiences in hearing from God, Nine Ways God Always Speaks inspires us to be on the lookout for our own messages from God. Some of these stories may seem far-fetched to you, and you may question if He really did speak to them. But you’ll probably also find yourself wondering if maybe they could be true, and if He may even be trying to speak to you right now.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

Slob

Bergers Book Reviews

slob
Author: Ellen Potter
Publisher: Philomel Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-399-2705-7
Pages: 208
Price: $16.99

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Owen Birnbaum is 57 percent fatter than the average twelve-year-old. But this isn’t self-pity speaking. It’s just the facts. When Owen introduces himself in the first pages of this novel, the reader immediately knows we’re also meeting a boy with better than average intelligence and a wry sense of humor.

Along with battling his weight, Owen has some other problems. One is the puzzle of who keeps stealing his Oreo cookies from his lunch sack. Another is the bullying gym teacher who revels in humiliating the fat kid. And the most important is building Nemesis, which will help him solve a mystery that took place two years ago.

At times Slob touches on serious matters no twelve-year-old should have to deal with. But Ellen Potter handles them in a sensitive manner, and Owen’s pain rings believable and true. I really enjoyed this well-written story, and I hope we get to see a lot more of Owen Birnbaum, who’s truly a delightful character.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

The Lost Sister

Bergers Book Reviews

sister
Author: Megan Kelley Hall
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2680-8
Pages: 272
Price: $9.95

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At the conclusion of Sisters of Misery we learn that Cordelia is still alive, and she plans to come back to find Maddie. In this sequel, The Lost Sister, we find out what led to Cordelia’s disappearance, and where she’s been hiding for the past year.

All the major players in this drama have received a tarot card, which seems to convey an eerie warning. Death is in the air, and the evil won’t stop until certain people are finally removed from Hawthorne, once and for all. Is this story taking place in our modern century, or have they returned to the witch trials of Massachusetts? Magic and mystery surrounds them, blending both eras until almost indistinguishable from each other.

But why is all this death necessary? For what end? Maddie will find out when she faces her enemy in the final showdown.

Once again, author Megan Kelley Hall has created a haunting novel of madness in a small, affluent New England town. In this sequel, she ties together the loose ends left open when Cordelia vanished. Although it’s not quite as well written as Sisters of Misery, readers will still enjoy this conclusion to a chilling story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Snickeyfritz

Bergers Book Reviews

snickeyfritz
Author & Illustrator: Andrea Skyberg
Publisher: Wooden Nickel Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-25177-6
Pages: 48
Price: $17.99

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Three little girls are stuck inside on a rainy afternoon. They’re bored and don’t know what to do, so Papa sends them on a treasure hunt to keep them busy. But the clues he gives them are obscure, and first they’ll need to figure them out before they can find the objects he wants.

Sprinkled liberally throughout the text are colorful descriptive phrases, highlighted in a glossary at the end of the story. Old-time gems like “nooks and crannies,” “the cat’s meow,” and “fiddlesticks” may leave kids scratching their heads in wonder.

The illustrations are photos of uniquely crafted, life-size dolls made of masking tape and paint. These dolls were then placed in the author’s home, surrounded by artifacts and souvenirs acquired on her travels.

Far better than just watching TV on a boring rainy day, Snickeyfritz stimulates the reader’s imagination and presents a team effort in solving Papa’s puzzle. Kids will find this a fun and enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

A Life Worth Living

Bergers Book Reviews

life
Author: William F. Giruzzi
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
Genre: Self-help
ISBN: 978-1935097303
Pages: 130
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
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How did our current lifestyle evolve? Was it a conscious decision, or did everything simply happen? Is this system working for you, or do you wish things were different?

In A Life Worth Living, Bill Giruzzi questions the basic assumption of life, that “it’s just the way it is.” Instead, we’re shown how our collective thinking has evolved, and our current paradigm was formed. Once we can clearly see what artificially created limits are blocking us, we can decide what to do about them.

Our thoughts have the power to change our lives, as the Law of Attraction states. Although the law is never mentioned by name, this book follows the wisdom of thinking about and determining to reach your goal, and then taking steps to move in the direction of what you most want.

If you’ve never given any thought to why you’re living the life you now lead, A Life Worth Living will open your eyes. And if you want motivation to make changes, this book will provide a gentle push. But if you’re looking for a step-by-step method of making those changes, you won’t find it here. That’s something you’ll have to determine for yourself.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

travel

GrassRoutes: Oakland & Berkeley

Bergers Book Reviews

oakland
Author: Serena Bartlett
Publisher: Sasquatch Books
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 978-1-57061-606-8
Pages: 288
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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It’s fun to travel to new places, and if you want to see all the sights that interest you, you need a good guidebook. But what if your interests are a little off the beaten path? Or a bit greener than most? GrassRoutes Guides were designed with the eco-tourist in mind.

This guide to Oakland and Berkeley shares some of the best places to visit, broken down into sections by city. Within each of these two geographical sections, things to do are organized in helpful categories like “Outside,” “Do Lunch,” “Get Inspired,” “Film Buffs,” and “Stay Up Late.”

Symbol keys identify businesses that bank & hire locally, use organic products, run a green establishment, and recycle. Costs, dog friendliness, reservation info, and other factors are also included to make planning a breeze.

If you’ve always longed to visit Oakland or Berkeley, but prefer to venture onto roads less traveled, this guide will be indispensable for you. Bike, walk, volunteer, and eat healthy, while visiting the places you most want to see. It’s easier to travel green with your GrassRoutes guide.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

With My Umbrella, I Can…

Bergers Book Reviews

umbrella
Author: Maria Pavlik
Illustrator: Holly Pavlik
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 142513200-6
Pages: 24
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
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On a gloomy, rainy day, Penelope Puddle is bored. But when she discovers a straight, black umbrella, it’s as if she’s found a magic wand capable of transporting her anywhere she wants.

Puddle Poof are the magic words, as Penelope waves her trusty umbrella, and she can travel around the world. In rhyming verse, Penelope tells of her adventures, letting her umbrella lead the way.

She never uses this umbrella to shield herself from the rain. Instead it’s a prop she carries with her to use as a broom to fly, a ski in the freshly fallen snow, a boat in the pond, and an object to dance with.

Holly Pavlik’s bright watercolors and sketches cheerfully share Penelope’s world of imagination with us. Penelope’s face is always hidden behind her windswept hair, so everyone can relate to this little girl’s fun on a rainy day. With My Umbrella, I Can… is a delightful book anyone can enjoy, especially when a dose of inspiration and playfulness is needed.

Reviewer: Alice Berger