Author: Bergers Book Reviews

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beauty, health

Looking Like You

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Barry Hendrickson
Publisher: Bitz-n-Pieces Publishing Co.
Genre: Beauty / Health
ISBN: 978-0-615-30064-1
Pages: 177
Price: $24.99

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A woman’s ability to care for herself is at an all-time low when she begins chemotherapy. If she also has to face the prospect of losing her hair, her self-esteem may plummet. Taking steps to maintain her appearance before beginning treatment is essential, and Barry Hendrickson has provided a plan for using medical hair replacement.

Today’s wigs can be nearly undetectable, if handled properly. Hendrickson explains the process of choosing synthetic or natural hair, and making sure the wig is cut to most closely resemble your own natural style. The goal is to continue to look just like you. Cleaning, styling and storage techniques are discussed in detail, to be sure your wig continues to look great. And tips on varying your look when necessary, for weather, exercise or fun, are also provided.

Making the decision to wear a wig can help a woman keep a more positive attitude during a time when her spirits may drastically dip. Although no one wants to contemplate losing her hair, having a wig ready and waiting before it happens can make the transition easier and a little less traumatic. In Looking Like You, Barry Hendrickson handles this painful subject in a sensitive and caring way that reassures a woman that no one needs to know her secret. She can still be beautiful and look just like herself.

Reviewed by: Alice Berger

literary

Autumn Shadows in August

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Robert W. Norris
Publisher: Lulu Press
Genre: Literary Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4116-7297-0
Pages: 207
Price: $13.92

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David Thompson made an irrevocable decision when he declared himself a conscientious objector during the Vietnam war. Spending time in prison did not rehabilitate him as the authorities expected, but instead made him realize he would never fit into American society. So he made his home in Japan, married Kaori, and settled into his new life as an expatriate.

But now, many years later and after both he and Kaori fight life-threatening illnesses, David wonders about his time on earth. Has he really made the right choices? He and Kaori decide to take a journey through Europe, reliving David’s past, hoping to lay old ghosts to rest.

Autumn Shadows in August was modeled roughly on Malcolm Lowry’s Dark as the Grave Wherein My Friend Is Laid, and is richly peppered with Norris’s own life experiences as an expatriate. In this story, David takes a magic mushroom trip back in time, visits with Lowry’s ghost, and shares his heart and soul with Kaori. And when the trip comes to an end, both Kaori and David have a new understanding of themselves and their relationship.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

The Haunting: Ebram’s Story – Book 1

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Esther Locascio
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Tween / Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-61566-164-0
Pages: 212
Price: $13.99

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The Casas-Treski family has just moved into a new home in a new neighborhood. Ebram is having more trouble than his siblings in getting used to their new surroundings. But soon they all find themselves settled in with new friends and new schools. Although it’s not the home they left behind, Ebram starts to accept it. Then the family notices strange things happening, as someone called Mazie starts talking to the children.

One of Ebram’s new friends, the family babysitter, calls herself a shrouda. The members of this youth group wear distinctive items of clothing, and strive to live their Christian faith by doing good in the world. Ebram like this idea, and wants to also do his part in helping. When he attempts to do something for the community, it backfires, but who is the one who thwarted him?

The author pulls off a nice surprise ending, when we find out who Mazie is – and she’s not at all what we expect. It’s also great to read about kids who want to help others, rather than focusing only on their own wants. But these characters are very hard to relate to. Although this is called Ebram’s story, it’s told from multiple perspectives, and we don’t get to know Ebram as well as we could. And the constant use of the parents’ proper names, Mrs. Casas-Treski & Mr. Treski, rather than simply “mom and “dad,” pulls us out of the action and feels tedious. Overall, this is an interesting plot, but it would have worked better if written entirely from Ebram’s point of view.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, humor

Are You My Guru?

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Wendy Shanker
Publisher: New American Library
Genre: Health
ISBN: 978-0451229946
Pages: 304
Price: $15.00

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Wendy Shanker was living the high life in Manhattan. Working in television, she had landed with the Oxygen channel, hoping for the chance to host her own show. But when an annoying sinus infection turns out to be a rare auto-immune diseases called Wegener’s granulomatosis, her world suddenly spins out of control.

Initially optimistic that she might have a mild case of Wegener’s and live a mostly ordinary life, Wendy takes the prescribed steroids to help her condition. But the Wegener’s has other ideas, and she’s forced to take more drastic measures, including a nasty chemotherapy drug she endures on a daily basis.

Over the six year period this book covers, Wendy shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about dealing with Wegener’s. While mostly following her doctor’s orders, she also explores some natural healing techniques, and good doses of Madonna help her keep a better attitude.

Somehow, Wendy keeps her sense of humor about the things that happen as a result of the Wegener’s. Her body and face bloat due to the steroids, her hair falls out when she starts chemotherapy, and her bowels never quite function correctly. But she has good friends and family in her life, and somehow she smiles through her pain and attempts to keep going on.

Are You My Guru? is irreverent and incredibly funny at times, but Wendy also shows us her softer side. The reader will laugh and cry along with her as she shares her thoughts and struggles, and by the time we reach the last page, we feel as if we’ve known her forever. Before reading this book, I had never heard of Wegener’s, and I hope to never know someone who suffers from this debilitating illness. I applaud Wendy Shanker for sharing her story at a time when most people would crawl under the covers and stay there. I highly recommend this enjoyable and enlightening book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature, tween

Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Tween / Adventure
ISBN: 978-981-08-1077-1
Pages: 120
Price: $7.95

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Orangutans of the Mukada Nature Reserve are getting sick and heading to the coast. But what’s causing this unusual phenomenon? Is it overpopulation, as suggested by the park warden? Romy and her scientist father plan a visit to investigate, since something doesn’t feel quite right.

Soon after their arrival, Romy hears of the curse of Mukada – and she also discovers Monkey Magic. This magic helps her to communicate with the orangutans, with surprising results. Armed with new information, she and her father are able to solve the mystery and save the orangutans.

Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada also provides facts about orangutans, and how their habitats are being threatened by human encroachment. This delightful, magical tale shows us how greed can harm wildlife, and why we need to take immediate action to try to stop it. I highly recommend this enjoyable story with a great environmental message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

atlas, education

Hammond Scholastic New Headline World Atlas

Bergers Book Reviews


Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Atlas
ISBN: 978-0841-669420
Pages: 52
Price: $6.99

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Any serious social studies student needs a reliable map of the world. Hammond has updated their classroom world atlas as of 2010, to reflect the current global landscape.

This atlas includes pictures of the flags of the nations as well as an index of the major cities. Maps are shown in varying magnitudes and sizes to reflect different degrees of detail. Information on topography, population distribution, land use and mineral resources are provided by continent. But due to size constraints, these informational maps are general in nature, and can’t show the exact locations for some of these features.

The size and price of this atlas makes it an attractive addition to a classroom, since many hands may touch it over the course of the year. But unlike in the Hammond Student Notebook Atlas, the countries are outlined in color, not filled in, which makes it a little harder to distinguish them in more congested areas. Overall, this atlas is a good value and I recommend it for all students and classrooms.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

atlas, education

Hammond Student Notebook Atlas

Bergers Book Reviews


Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Atlas
ISBN: 978-0843-714838
Pages: 32
Price: $3.99

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Any serious social studies student needs a reliable map of the world. Hammond has updated their student notebook atlas as of 2010, to reflect the current global landscape.

This handy reference atlas is bound and hole-punched to fit a 3-ring binder, making it easy and light-weight for students to carry with them to class. It includes pictures of the flags of the nations as well as an index of the major cities. Maps are drawn in varying magnitudes and sizes to reflect different degrees of detail.  The United States is shown by itself on a two-page spread.

Once again, Hammond has demonstrated why they’re the leader in maps and atlases.   The convenience, quality and price can’t be beat, and I highly recommend this notebook atlas for all students.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

birds, tween

Love Lessons On Bird Beach

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Cora Kerr
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Genre: Tween / Birds
ISBN: 978-1-60860-713-6
Pages: 88
Price: $26.50

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Franny and Beth are spending the summer at a beach in Mexico. But they have no idea that they’ll also be spending time with some seagulls and pelicans that need their help.

These injured and sick birds seem to find the girls, and one by one, they are brought back to health. But Franny and Beth never know if their efforts will be successful. And as they learn about helping the birds, they also learn to relate better to each other and the boys they meet on the beach.

As an animal lover, myself, I enjoyed reading Love Lessons on Bird Beach. It was great to see these two young girls take such an interest in saving the birds, no matter what sacrifices they needed to make. And the relationship between Franny and Beth is normal and natural, as they bicker one minute, and then become best friends again. But I was surprised by the girls’ use of the Lord’s name in a way Christians find derogatory. Other than that, this is a fun summer read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Time to Get Ready… A Hurricane Is Coming to Our Town!

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jill Klaskin Press
Illustrator: Cristan Hellen
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9781935605126
Pages: 24
Price: $15.99

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Hurricanes can be frightening to kids, especially when they don’t know what to expect. What can they do to help prepare for the storm? Will they need to evacuate?

In Time to Get Ready… A Hurricane Is Coming to Our Town! the family is preparing for a hurricane. They board up windows, buy additional food, and make sure they stay inside during the storm. From watching this family get ready, kids will learn how to handle a hurricane if one should hit their town.

Although there is good information in this book, one can’t help but wonder if it might have been better if written in a non-fiction format. As fiction, there isn’t really a plot, and kids may read it once or twice before losing interest. But kids love non-fiction when facts are presented in a fun way with good photos, and I think this book would have worked better in that format.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science-fiction

Terratorva

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Laura Rotter
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Children / Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4490-3092-6
Pages: 30
Price: $12.99

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Wix, the cat, can talk, and he’s from another planet. Terratorva needs help, and Dan, Sarah, and Sean have to save it. When Wix leads them through the portal to another world, they have no idea what awaits them.

Evil dragons threaten to take over the whole planet, but the Rimoras are in hiding, hoping for someone to come and rescue them. The three kids come up with an idea, and set off with Wix to put the plan in action. But if they’re not successful, they may perish along with the Rimoras.

This novel shows some imagination in some of the beings the kids encounter. But there are several things that didn’t work for me. The story isn’t told from any one character’s point of view, and the three kids never develop distinct personalities. The book is short and the plot isn’t very well developed, either. The scenes progress quickly, with no sense of the impending danger or relief at escape. And the typeface may look cool, but it’s a little hard on the eyes – especially for children who may have difficulty reading.

Reviewer: Alice Berger