Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
business, self improvement

Breakdown, Breakthrough

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kathy Caprino
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Genre: Personal Growth / Business
ISBN: 978-1-57675-559-4
Pages: 237
Price: $16.95

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Although it’s been well documented that many men go through a midlife crisis, women have only recently recognized a similar life transition. When a woman suddenly finds herself stuck in a career that no longer seems to fit and she longs for something more, she often has no place to turn. Breakdown, Breakthrough was conceived when Kathy Caprino found herself in the midst of her own professional meltdown, and provides answers for women facing these struggles.

When a woman feels out of control in this stage of life, she needs to be empowered to make the right choices. Four areas of empowerment are covered in this book: with self, with others, with the world, and with the higher self. In all four areas, the reader is invited to step back to explore what might be causing the problem, let go of something that just isn’t working, and say yes to something new that might work better.

Caprino shares the wisdom she’s collected from women who have been through some dramatic changes that improved the quality of their lives. In addition to sharing their stories, these women offer advice and affirmations to guide us on a similar breakthrough. Action steps and probing questions are also provided.

A resource list of reading, websites, and groups is included, and Caprino suggests that you may need the support of a life coach or therapist, if you feel you can’t make these changes alone. But the most important thing you can do now is to recognize and take action to make your life the best it can be. Breakdown, Breakthrough can provide the expert assistance you’ll need on your journey.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Princesses of the World

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Katell Goyer
Illustrator: Misstigri
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0843-714456
Pages: 30
Price: $17.99

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Little girls will always be fascinated with tales of princesses and “happily ever after” marriages. In this collection, Katell Goyer tells of princesses from around the world, and how they find and marry their princes.

These exotic tales include the legendary Persian princess, Scheherazade, along with Natasha, the Russian princess, Sanyogita, the Indian princess, and many others. Misstigri’s rich illustrations in the vibrant colors of these distant lands bring these beautiful stories to life, as they enchant and entertain the reader.

Clever, resourceful, and determined to get what they want, these princesses are not just pretty faces. And when they do marry their princes, they’re wise enough to realize they’ve finally earned their happy ending. Little girls grow up so quickly, and one day they’ll have to face the fact that life isn’t as simple as these charming tales suggest. But for now, they can still dream of their own “happily ever after” with Princesses of the World.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fitness, health

Wake Up!

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Michelle Pearl
Publisher: Imperfect Fitness
Genre: Fitness / Health
ISBN: 978-0-557-27290-7
Pages: 124
Price: $14.95

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How many of us join a gym in the hopes of acquiring six-pack abs and losing the cellulite? We see the ads that tell us in only 30 minutes a day, we can look just like the model pictured. But is it really possible for us to have a perfect body or are we fooling ourselves?

Michelle Pearl provides a sensible look at exercise and weight loss in Wake Up! Subtitled You’re probably never going to look like that; How to be happier, healthier and imperfectly fit, this book is a realistic look at what we can achieve if we work out consistently.

Pearl knows what it’s like to be seriously obese, since she’s battled her weight since childhood. But after gaining and losing the same pounds, she developed a method that worked for her in keeping them off. Not perfectly, of course, but good enough. And she provides her insights on how you can develop your own plan.

If your goal in achieving fitness is the perfect body, don’t bother reading this book. But if you really just want to be healthy, have more energy, and look good at a reasonable size for your height, her encouraging words may be just what you need. Use diet and exercise for the right reasons, and lose the image of perfection you’ve been chasing. You’ll be much happier in the long run.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor, poetry

Coolhead Luke

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer White
Illustrator: Colin White
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Genre: Poetry / Humor
ISBN: 9781419661624
Pages: 54
Price: $14.99

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What do you get when you team up a son who likes to draw faces with a mom who’s a whiz at poetry? Coolhead Luke, which combines the best of both.

When Jennifer White saw her son’s drawings, they sparked the idea to work on a book together. She then matched her own poetry to the faces with surprising results. A big nose on a pedestal is Ebenezer Nooze. Chef Mahoney has only some macaroni, but he needs to make up some Beef Bourguignoney – and that’s no baloney! And the Freaky Bus full of strange passengers rides out every day at nine o’clock.

Most of these poems are written in some form of rhythmic meter, with some more unusual styles thrown in for fun. There is a glossary of terms included, as well as discussion questions about the overall messages and styles of verse.

These are fun and well-written poems, with quirky and unique drawings accompanying them. I admire what Jennifer White and her son, Colin, have achieved in Coolhead Luke. Not only have they created an interesting work of literature, but they’ve also nurtured the creative bond between them. Now that’s about as cool as it gets!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fiction, history

The Amen Heresy

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: W.H. Muhlenfeld
Publisher: Bascom Hill Books
Genre: Fiction / Suspense
ISBN: 978-0-9820938-4-9
Pages: 340
Price: $15.95

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Dvir Gottlieb was about to disclose a secret that would stun the religious community. But fearing his untimely demise, he sent word to two of his closest colleagues to be sure his message would not die along with him. Jack Fisher and Sami Salaa are both mystified by the unusual message Gottlieb sent them, but they join forces, along with Ariel Hadar, in solving this ancient puzzle.

Gottlieb had discovered an ancient scroll which would reveal that the Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhenaten, had been the first monotheist, and that he had in fact been the founder of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. But religious leaders in Israel are determined to squash this information before it undermines their hold on their people. And a wealthy Egyptian wants this scroll for himself, so he can start his own cult of worship.

As Jack, Ariel, and Sami search for the copper scroll, they are hunted by those who seek to keep the knowledge secret, or use it for their own gain. Their adventure is fraught with danger and intrigue, but as they get closer to their goal, there’s no longer any option to turn back.

One can’t help but admire these three unlikely seekers. Jack Fisher is an ex-priest and a man with a painful past. Sami Salaa is a Palestinian boy of the streets, with keen intelligence and loyalty. And Ariel Hadar is a beautiful woman who’s tired of men who love her and leave her, and wants something more satisfying and permanent.

The Amen Heresy is well-written and fast-paced, drawing the reader in and hooking him quickly. The plot is interesting and plausible, though one can’t help but wonder if Akhenaten’s religion was actually influenced by Joseph, rather than the other way around. Only your own faith will provide the answer.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Galaxy Pizza and Meteor Pie

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Darren Sardelli
Illustrator: Pam Catapano
Publisher: Laugh-a-Lot Books
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-0-615-28469-9
Pages: 30
Price: $12.95

Author’s website

Could your school day be brightened with a hearty laugh? Maybe you’d like to be served Nebula Nachos and Asteroid Chips by the lunch ladies from Mars. Or listen to your teacher punish the tires on a bus. If that doesn’t help, you can always dream about endless recess.

In Galaxy Pizza and Meteor Pie, Darren Sardelli has put together one of the funniest collections of poetry I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading — all about our days in school. Illustrated in bright, comic pastels by Pat Catapano, these silly poems could make even the meanest teacher grin.

This collection is schoolroom humor at its best. When it seems as if the homework will never end, and you’re sure you’ve just flunked your most important test, these cheery poems will be sure to pick you up. This book is a fun addition to any classroom, library or personal collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

classics, fiction, graphic novel

Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Louisa May Alcott
Adapted by: Tom Pomplun, Trina Robbins, Rod Lott, Alex Burrows, Antonella Caputo
Illustrators: Toni Pawlowski, Anne Timmons, Molly Crabapple, Mary Fleener, Shary Flenniken, Pedro Lopez, Lisa K. Weber, Arnold Arre
Publisher: Graphic Classics
Genre: Fiction / Classics
ISBN: 978-0-9787919-8-8
Pages: 144
Price: $17.95

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Okay, I’ll admit it. I never read Little Women as a girl, and I’m sure there are quite a few other ladies who might say the same thing. So if you’ve come to realize you missed out on a classic others simply adore, there’s hope for you now. Graphic Classics has compiled the best of Louisa May Alcott’s writings in this volume.

Although Little Women is Louisa May Alcott’s best-known work, most of us are unaware she wrote some other rather unique tales. The Piggy Girl, The Rival Prima Donnas, A Whisper in the Dark, and Lost in a Pyramid may come as quite a surprise to those who expect domestic tranquility in her writing.

These dramatic stories are accompanied by detailed graphic artistry, enhancing the reader’s pleasure. If you already love Louisa May Alcott, you’ll want to include this volume in your collection, putting pictures to the words you enjoy. And if you haven’t read her work, Graphic Classics: Louisa May Alcott gives you the perfect opportunity to become acquainted with this talented author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, fantasy

Imagia and the Magic Pearls

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Monroe S. Tarver
Publisher: Wizarding World Press
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9723936-5-2
Pages: 112
Price: $6.99

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Imagia, the elf princess, has no friends. While others play in the forest, she is being groomed to be queen of the kingdom, and spends all her time studying with different teachers. One day an unexpected opportunity allows her to slip outside the palace walls. She meets a fluttery, Flutterwalk, and they play for hours with Imagia’s magic pearls. But the evil queen, Baddora, is watching in her scrying bowl, and sends one of her spies out to bring Imagia to the Green Towers.

Baddora has read a prophesy of three magic pearls, which when brought together will grant ultimate power. She holds one, and she believes Imagia has one, also. The third belongs to Treewind, the wizard. Imagia has no idea of the powers she possesses, but she finds out as she attempts to free herself from Baddora’s evil clutches. With the help of Treewind and Flutterwalk, she manages to escape.

Imagia and the Magic Pearls is the first in a series of the Tales from the Mapmaker, and features an all black cast of characters. This is a fun fantasy, with interesting creatures and a scary mission. The illustrations are beautifully done, with bright and unusual colors. But there were a couple of story points that didn’t quite work for me. Imagia ran off without giving any thought to where she was going, when she ended up at Baddora’s castle, which seemed odd. I was also disappointed that Treewind rescued her, rather than Imagia using her own wits and imagination to escape. Overall, though, this is a nice story with a happy ending.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, music

The Book About Tony Chestnut

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Laurie Monopoli
Illustrator: Wendy Sefcik
Publisher: Hug-a-Chug Books
Genre: Children / Music
ISBN: 978-0-615-31139-5
Pages: 48
Price: $19.95

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Tony Chestnut and his little sister Eileen are the new kids in town. When they arrive at the playground, they find that everyone is already playing. No one notices Tony and Eileen, so they sit on a yellow bench and watch.

When Eileen begins to cry, Tony Chestnut needs to do something quickly. His silly antics don’t stop Eileen’s tears, so he decides to sing his special song.

Tony Chestnut (Toe-Knee-Chest-Nut), the song, was released in 1997, and is a fun dance tune where kids point to various body parts while singing along. The Book About Tony Chestnut is the story of how this award-winning song originated.

A CD accompanies this book, with three read-along versions of the story, discussion questions for the classroom, and the original Tony Chestnut song. The discussion questions center on what it’s like to be the new kid, how to make other kids feel welcome, and being compassionate and kind.

The Book About Tony Chestnut has a great, positive message, while also being upbeat and fun. I highly recommend this delightful interactive teaching tool.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Red Scarf

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Anne Villeneuve
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-88776-989-4
Pages: 40
Price: $17.95


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On a very ordinary gray day, Turpin the taxi driver picks up a mysterious passenger. Upon his departure, the man in a black cape and top hat leaves behind a red scarf. Turpin immediately goes after him, trying to return it.

His determination to return the red scarf brings him to the circus, where he runs into all sorts of unusual people, animals, and circumstances. The friendly circus folk lead him to the magician, and suddenly Turpin ends up in the middle of the act.

The Red Scarf contains only eight words, and the rest of the story is told completely in pictures. Bright and colorful illustrations remind us that this is anything but an ordinary gray day. As children follow the cab driver through his extraordinary adventure, they will happily find themselves in the center of the circus performance, along with Turpin.

Reviewer: Alice Berger