Month: December 2013

children

A Great and Complicated Adventure

Bergers Book Reviews

A Great and Complicated Adventure
Author: Toon Tellegen
Illustrator: Jessica Ahlberg
Publisher: Boxer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-907152-39-9
Pages: 160
Price: $14.95

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In the simple world of Toon Tellegen, animals talk and live in perfect safety. The ant and the squirrel are good friends, elephants climb trees, and cakes can fly. Interesting philosophical discussions about thoughts, laughter, letters, and other such weighty subjects are the focus of the animals’ attention. Nothing upsets their happy existence.

A Great and Complicated Adventure is a collection of charmingly and simply illustrated short stories, in a style similar to Beatrix Potter or Winnie the Pooh. These gentle and peaceful tales would be a perfect read on a lazy summer afternoon, while lying half-asleep in a hammock, sipping iced lemonade.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, children

Al and Teddy

Bergers Book Reviews

Al and Teddy
Author & Illustrator: Neil Waldman
Publisher: Dream Yard Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-72969-5
Pages: 48
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
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In the evening, once everyone is asleep, Teddy’s big brother, Al, flies off to outer space. In this magical place, he is King Alejandro, ruler of his own kingdom. He has a pony waiting for Teddy, who will be known as Prince Teodoro.  But Teddy is too young to travel with Al, and he must wait until he turns five.

Teddy doesn’t realize it, but Al is really traveling through the drawings he creates. Once Teddy discovers Al’s secret, he asks for artwork depicting his very own travels. Although it would be fun to actually fly off to space, Al and Teddy have discovered the ability to travel through their own imaginations, which can take them anywhere they want to go.

Al and Teddy is beautifully illustrated, with moon monsters, space ships, and castles. Kids will delight in the ability to travel to any place their imaginations can take them, through the magic of a pencil and paper. All profits from this book will be used to support the young artists of the Fred Dolan Art Academy, a free Dream Yard school.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Willie the Taxi Cat

Bergers Book Reviews

Willie the Taxi Cat
Author & Illustrator: Eva M. Sakmar-Sullivan
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4436-7
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
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Willie, the Taxi Cat, drives cool critters and carousing creatures everywhere! So begins this unique counting book, full of delightful alliteration. One wildly whiskered, whistling weasel, two toe-tapping, tuba-toting turtles, and others join Willie as he drives around town in his yellow cab.

On each page spread, Willie is shown with his interesting passengers, along with the number to be counted. Kids can count the animals, while also admiring how the words are portrayed in the illustrations.

Willie the Taxi Cat is one of the best counting books I’ve come across, because there is so much more to see than just the counted objects. Kids won’t become bored easily with this book as they continue to discover new items with each subsequent read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

A Matter of Trust

Bergers Book Reviews

A Matter of Trust
Author: Lis Wiehl
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-59554-903-7
Pages: 320
Price: $26.99

Author’s website
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Mia Quinn is on the phone with her friend and co-worker, Colleen Miller, when she hears a gunshot, and Colleen goes silent. In investigating Colleen’s murder, Mia and homicide detective Charlie Carlson begin to suspect that Colleen’s death could be linked to another prosecuting attorney’s murder five years ago.

In addition to this murder investigation, Mia and Charlie are looking into a cyber-bullying case involving a teen boy’s suicide. Mia’s personal life is a mess, as she struggles to make it as a working single mom, buried in debt. And now it looks as if Colleen’s murder investigation is putting Mia’s life at risk.

A Matter of Trust is a fast-paced murder mystery, pulling the reader in from the first page. Mia is someone women can look up to, as she attempts to raise her kids with honesty and integrity. She looks out for the underdog and tries to make sure justice is served. I highly recommend this well-written and engaging mystery.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Night Terrors

Bergers Book Reviews

Night Terrors
Author: Dennis Palumbo
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0131-8
Pages: 250
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Daniel Rinaldi has settled back into his psychotherapy practice after his last case with the Pittsburgh police department (Fever Dream). So he’s surprised when the FBI suddenly pulls him into a new case, this time involving a serial killer.

After a serial killer of prostitutes is killed in prison, those who had been directly associated with his arrest and murder are now being targeted by someone who calls himself “Your Biggest Fan.” But even though those suspected to be on his hit list are being held in protective custody by the FBI, someone seems to have immediate access to their wherabouts. A retired FBI profiling agent, Lyle Barnes, is high on the hit list, and Rinaldi is asked to help him deal with his night terrors. But Barnes isn’t interested in FBI protection, and quickly escapes.

Meanwhile, Rinaldi is also involved in another case involving the killing and brutal dismemberment of a businessman. A young man comes forth and confesses to the crime, but his mother insists he’s innocent. Something about the case bothers Rinaldi. Is it possible this murder is somehow linked to the serial killer?

Night Terrors is a fast-paced thriller with great action and drama, pulling the reader in from the first page. As I’ve gotten to know Daniel Rinaldi, I like him more and more. Great characters, a well-constructed mystery, and a little romance make this a really satisfying and enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Cross Roads

Bergers Book Reviews

Cross Roads
Author: Wm. Paul Young
Publisher: FaithWords
Genre: Christian Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4555-1604-9
Pages: 304
Price: $24.99

Author’s website
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We meet Anthony Spencer on his final day before becoming critically ill. He is an intensely dislikable man – paranoid, mean, and vindictive. But things are about to change when he wakes up in a very unusual place.

Now in a coma, Tony is living an alternate existence. Somewhere “in-between,” he converses with Jesus, the Holy Spirit (disguised as a native American woman), and the Father (who appears as a little girl). He visits earth by inhabiting the bodies of people who are fully conscious of his presence. And he’s given the chance to perform one miracle while there.

Tony’s personality is so abrasive early on that it makes it hard for the reader to even care about his well-being. But as the story progresses, he changes dramatically for the better. Tony’s journey reminded me of a pre-death purgatory, as he makes amends for the mistakes he made in his life, preparing for an eternity in heaven.

Cross Roads is Christian fiction, and shouldn’t be treated as a theological discussion of the afterlife. But it does provide a good opportunity for reflection on what might happen to us if we were suddenly called to account for the way we’ve lived our lives. Book clubs will find that this story leads to some interesting discussions.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

On the Move: Mass Migrations

Bergers Book Reviews

On the MoveAuthor: Scotti Cohn
Illustrator: Susan Detwiler
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Genre: Animals / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6281
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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Birds flock together to travel south. Salmon swim upstream to spawn. Seals group together on land to mate and give birth. Some animals seek warmer climates, others a place to lay eggs. Whatever their purpose, they migrate in large quantities to get there.

On the Move: Mass Migrations explores some of the animal populations who migrate. In addition to short segments about these individual species, there are supplemental classroom materials provided in the appendix. Anyone who plans to cover this topic in class would find this book helpful.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Catholic, Christian

Chosen to Heal

Bergers Book Reviews

Chosen to Heal
Author: Laura Wright
Publisher: Immaculate Heart Press
Genre: Christian / Catholic
ISBN: 9780991086405
Pages: 130
Price: $11.99

Author’s website
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Many incredible stories of healing are recorded in the Bible, but one may wonder if God is still working miracles among us now. In Chosen to Heal: Gifted Catholics Share Stories of God’s Miraculous Healing Power, Laura Wright presents six healers who are active in the world today.

These six individuals – Domingo Setien, Tom Naemi, Father Jose Maniyangat, Stella Davis, Father Richard McAlear, and Father Dan Leary – did not ask to be given the gift of healing. In fact, they were all surprised when they discovered that they had received this gift. But after the miracles started to occur, they opened themselves to being a channel for God’s healing work. Just as Jesus used healing miracles to draw people closer to him, these individuals also use their healing ministry to the glory of God and the opportunity for evangelization.

Chosen to Heal offers a glimpse into the life and ministry of each of these gifted people. Each chapter focuses on one healer’s story, with numerous examples of people healed at their touch or command. Information on how to reach them is also provided, for those in search of their own miracle.

It’s easy to look around at our broken and hurting society and doubt that God is still active among his people, but seeing miracles such as the ones presented in this book reminds us he’s still very involved in our lives. Not only is he with us, but he cares enough about us to continue to provide us with many much-needed miracles. I highly recommend Chosen to Heal as a source of inspiration for God’s people today.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian, holiday

Little Star

Bergers Book Reviews

Little Star
Author: Anthony DeStefano
Illustrator: Mark Elliott
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-0736958592
Pages: 36
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
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An announcement is made in the heavens that a king will soon be born. The stars anticipate this wondrous event, preparing to shine brightly in celebration. But only the littlest star realizes this baby boy born in such humble and poor circumstances is the long-awaited king.

Shining with all the love Little Star can muster, he bathes the baby Jesus in warmth and light. But showing such love and devotion has consequences, and he fades from existence, never to be seen again.

Little Star is a great Christmas story with multiple layers of meaning. It provides a fairy-tale explanation of why the Christmas star was shining so brightly at the time Jesus was born, and is now no longer visible. But it also shows us how important Jesus is in our lives, and that we should never be afraid to give ourselves up in love for him. This littlest star knew who Jesus was, and was determined to let the whole world know. I highly recommend adding Little Star to your annual Christmas reading list.

Reviewer: Alice Berger