Month: July 2012

teen

The Girl in the Mirror

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Meg Kearney
Publisher: Persea Books
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-89255-385-3
Pages: 176
Price: $15.00

Author’s website
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Lizzie has always known she was adopted. Now that she’s old enough, she decides it’s time to find out more about her birth mother, so her parents write to the adoption agency. But on the day she receives a reply, her adoptive father dies, sending Lizzie into emotional upheaval.

Through her journal entries and poems, we see how Lizzie is consumed with grief over the loss of her father. Acting out, she starts to party with the wrong people, and lets alcohol soothe her pain. But underneath, she’s still a nice girl who just wants to be happy and doesn’t know how to handle her feelings. Lost in her struggles, she is unable to move forward in her search for her birth mother.

The Girl in the Mirror is the sequel to The Secret of Me, and gives us an intimate and honest look at a teenager trying to survive the worst possible thing that could happen to her. I highly recommend this well-written and absorbing novel.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Blue Lobster

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Robin Taylor-Chiarello
Illustrator: Lisa Bohart
Publisher: The Peppertree Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-936343-84-3
Pages: 36
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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They say one in a million lobsters is blue, and Mr. Homarus Americanus is a rare one indeed. But because he’s blue, none of the other sea creatures will speak to him. Lonely and sad, he wanders into a lobster trap, where his life will change unexpectedly for the better.

The Blue Lobster is written in fun rhyming verse, with bright and simple illustrations. Kids will learn an important lesson in not judging others by their appearance. This cute picture book is nicely done and not preachy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy

The Land of Darkness

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: C.S. Lakin
Publisher: Living Ink Books
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-89957-891-0
Pages: 272
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
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Callen, a woodworking apprentice, comes across an old drawing of a bridge with magnificent scroll work. He becomes obsessed with finding this bridge. Jadiel, a twelve year-old girl, needs to find a special tree for her wicked stepmother, or else her father will die. While they both set out on their own individual journeys, fortune unites them, and they hunt for the tree together.

As they search, they meet interesting people who help them on their quest. But not all who cross their paths have good intentions, and they discover great evil on their journey. Is the land of darkness a place to be feared, or is it true that the darkness lies only in their hearts?

In this marvelous fantasy, both Callen and Jadiel must challenge their existing beliefs and decide who and what to trust. As the quest turns more dangerous, they must forge on, putting all thoughts of personal safety aside. But, ultimately, good triumphs over evil for a satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend The Land of Darkness.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Double-talk: Word Sense & Nonsense

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Zora & David Aiken
Illustrator: David Aiken
Publisher: Schiffer Books
ISBN: 978-0-7643-3962-2
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

Schiffer Books
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Is a cat tail a fluffy feline appendage, or a tall plant with a rounded top? Is a bookworm a slithering creature, or just someone who loves to read? These and many more words with double meanings are playfully demonstrated through rhyme and pictures in Double-Talk.

Kids love word play, and they will appreciate the light-hearted touch of whimsey featured in this delightful book. And once they’ve read through the author’s word choices, they’re encouraged to discover some of their own. This would be an enjoyable read for any child with an active imagination.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

meditation, music

Tibetan Dream Journey

Bergers Book Reviews


Composer: Nawang Khechog
Label: Sounds True
Genre: Meditation
Length: 60 minutes
Price: $14.99

Website
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After a rough period of recovery and grief from an auto accident, Nawang Khechog made the decision to take his hardships and tragedies into his spiritual path. Using his own pain as the catalyst, he has tried to alleviate the suffering of others through prayer. As a result of his spiritual growth in this area, Tibetan Dream Journey was created.

The gentle flute music is healing and soothing, bringing the listener to a meditative state. In addition to the music, one track shares chanting of the beautiful message “May all be kind to each other.” The Dalai Lama’s inspirational “Chant of Universal Compassion” is included in another track.

Khechog’s peaceful and compassionate nature is revealed to us through this beautiful music that leads us on a journey to our own spiritual center. May all who listen find happiness and harmony in their own lives.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor

Kids Say the Cutest Things When They’re Drunk

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dan McQuinn
Publisher: Fauldhouse Publishing
Genre: Humor
ISBN: 978-0-9832553-0-7
Pages: 220
Price: $12.95

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The title to this book may be an immediate turn-off for some readers. I thought it impossible for someone to go so far as to actually write about such an outrageous topic. Thankfully, the title is not indicative of the book’s contents, at least not to that extent. As the cover indicates, it is “a book of pointless satire and vulgar humor.” This is McQuinn’s first published work, and he does indeed hit that mark with perfect accuracy.

McQuinn covers a myriad of topics in a variety of ways. Subjects such as Christmas, parenting, and celebrities, are touched upon through letters, conversations, daily schedules and short paragraphs among others. The consistent item throughout is, of course, the low-brow, sophomoric humor.

With that, I suppose those who enjoy this type of thing may find it amusing.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

children

Cows Can’t Quack

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dave Reisman
Illustrator: Jason A. Maas
Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
ISBN: 978-0-9801433-4-8
Pages: 46
Price: $7.99

Author’s website
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“Cows can’t quack… but they can moo.” In this delightful sequel to Cows Can’t Jump, Reisman presents a sound version of what animals can – and can’t – do.

Once again, the illustrations are simple drawings that kids will relate to. And the expressions on the animals’ faces are priceless. Kids will see that the animals can’t make certain sounds, but they can make another one that suits them better. Reading about the specific talents animals have, and how they also have limitations, frees kids to stop worrying so much about the things they’re not good at, and gives them permission to excel with their natural abilities.

Many kids struggle with striving to be good at something that doesn’t come naturally. It’s great to see books that touch on this topic, done in a fun and light-hearted way. I highly recommend Cows Can’t Quack.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Kaptain Vamp

Bergers Book Reviews


Author:  Joanne Lécuyer
Illustrator: Amy Rottinger
Publisher: Topsy Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9869517-4-9
Pages: 64
Price: $12.99

Author’s website
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Allistaire Arturius Doppelganger Varning the IV is a 12 year-old vampire, living amongst humans. He knows humans are afraid of vampires, and he wants to prove that he and his family are harmless.

One day he comes up with the idea to be a superhero – Kaptain Vamp. His purpose will be to help humans whenever he can. He immediately puts his plan into action, performing super-hero rescues and a daring attempt against evil.

Kaptain Vamp is a likeable character with a heart of gold. He believes in his mission of doing good in the world, and he’s serious about doing it well. I enjoyed reading about how and why Allistaire wants to be a superhero, but I found the ending a bit confusing. Overall, Kaptain Vamp is an entertaining and positive read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Check out what Joanne Lécuyer has to say about her books and writing.

self improvement

You, Inc.

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-improvement
ISBN: 978-0-9852818-2-3
Pages: 112
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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Whether you’re working for someone else, or self-employed, the biggest product you have to offer is yourself. So why not be the best you can be? In You, Inc., Jim Randel presents 50 points to ponder in creating the value of You.

This little book touches on important ideas like handling failure and adversity, working on your people skills, providing more value than the customer expects, persistence, productivity, and integrity. As always, Randel provides a bibliography of additional reading for researching a topic in more depth.

As the creator of the “Skinny On” series, Randel knows how to chunk a big concept down to manageable bites, and this new “..and a whole lot more!” series follows the same premise (minus the stick figures.) If you want to learn how to improve your business and life skills quickly, you’d be wise to read You, Inc.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Pretty Dolls

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kimberly Dana
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-61346-416-8
Pages: 24
Price: $8.99

Author’s website
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Gracie is a doll who has been well-loved by a little girl named Tasha, but bears some of the “scars” of the process. She has purple eyes from a makeup experiment, a missing arm from when the dog grabbed her, and spiky hair from when Tasha decided to cut it. But every night, Gracie sleeps by Tasha’s side, secure in the knowledge that her appearance means nothing to Tasha.

The other dolls in Tasha’s room are jealous of Gracie, and make fun of her. Although they are far more beautiful, Gracie gets all the attention. But one day, the prettiest one of all has an accident that helps her, and the others, to see Gracie in a whole new light.

Pretty Dolls was a Children’s Picture Book Finalist in the 2011 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest. In this book, children will see that it’s possible to be kind, even when it’s obvious that others don’t like them. But they’ll also learn that it’s not okay to be mean when they’re jealous. This is a nice story with a positive message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger