Bergers Book Reviews

The Natural Laws of Good Luck

July 21, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Ellen Graf
Publisher: Trumpeter Books
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-59030-833-2
Pages: 272
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
Zhong-hua’s brush paintings
Buy it at Amazon

Ellen is forty-six, divorced and lonely, so she doesn’t resist when her Chinese friend suggests maybe Ellen and her brother, Zhong-hua, might like each other. But first Ellen must travel to China to meet him – a man who speaks almost no English. Surprisingly, Ellen and Zhong-hua get along and agree to marry. After processing his immigration paperwork, he finally arrives in upstate New York, where they live in Ellen’s house. Now the fun begins, as Ellen realizes Zhong-hua operates by a whole different cultural standard than she’s used to.

Zhong-hua believes that a man doesn’t need to let his wife know where he is going, and disappears frequently. This might not be such a bad thing, ordinarily, except Zhong-hua gets lost easily, and still doesn’t speak much English. He also doesn’t think it’s necessary to apologize, offer greetings, or do any of the other niceties Ellen expects from a husband. In fact, bumping into her is considered a form of affection.

The house falls into disrepair, several cars and various pieces of machinery meet their ends, and both of their old dogs grow feeble. But when Zhong-hua’s health takes a scary turn, these two mismatched lovers pull together to try to make the best of things.

Although this memoir is touted as being humorous, I found The Natural Laws of Good Luck incredibly touching. Ellen shows remarkable patience with her culturally inept husband, and gives in to his many demands with good grace. Living in a foreign country is hard on Zhong-hua, and Ellen allows for his comfort, even if at times it conflicts with her own. Both strive to be loving and make their marriage work, and it’s encouraging to see them look past their shortcomings to see the good in each other. I highly recommend this wonderfully sweet love story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Maisy’s Bedtime

July 19, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author& Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Produced by: Story Time Café
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5677-5
Pages: 24
Price: $39.95

Story Time Café
Buy the book at Amazon

Maisy Mouse is ready for bed. Following her normal bedtime ritual, she changes into her pajamas, brushes her teeth, and visits the potty. Both she and her bedtime companion, Panda, follow this evening ritual together before Maisy goes to sleep.

The charming simplicity of this book makes it special. Maisy is drawn in black lines, the way a child might, with color filled in. The text is also written in bold, black ink. And the plain primary and secondary colors are soothing and not too busy for a small child to look at just before going to sleep.

The unique Story Time Bundle packaging makes Maisy’s Bedtime even more enjoyable for children as they retire for the evening. It includes a crib size 36”x48” quilt, printed with a picture of Maisy cuddled with Panda in bed. A smaller, matching 24”x24” quilt can be used to tuck in a bedtime companion like Panda. This quilt set and book is a delightful gift for any child who would like to make bedtime more special.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, memoir

From Zero to Christian in Just 35 Years

July 13, 2011June 20, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Lori A. Moore
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Memoir / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-61566-081-0
Pages: 96
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Growing up, Lori A. Moore was never introduced to religion. Her parents let her decide what she believed on her own, but never taught her enough to make a decision. So she formed her early beliefs on misinformation and doubt.

Although she had no formal religious training, God never took His eye off of her, and eventually led her back to Him. The path wasn’t easy and included several detours, but now Moore is a committed Christian striving to emulate Jesus.

This short memoir shares the journey Moore took in living a Christian life. The first section is fairly chronological, starting at childhood and progressing onward. But in the second section, the story jumps around a little. Some parts are repetitive, and at times it isn’t clear exactly where on her Christian journey the incidents are occurring.

Moore intends to bring as many people as possible to Christ through From Zero to Christian in Just 35 Years. In sharing her own story of being rescued from a life in the pit, she hopes to reach other pit-dwellers and help them find the right path home. A popular bumper-sticker reads, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Moore’s testimony lets us know that we also don’t need to be perfect. We only need to let God work in us.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, international

My Maasai Life

July 7, 2011June 22, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Robin Wiszowaty
Illustrators: Marisa Antonello and Victoria Laidley
Publisher: Me to We Books
Genre: Children / International
ISBN: 978-1-55365-802-3
Pages: 36
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
Buy it here

Robin is excited to visit Kenya, the country she’s dreamed about for a very long time. She longs to see the animals and the people there, and can’t wait for adventure. But when she does arrive, she finds things are a little different than she expected.

Unlike at home, children have to work hard to make sure the family can eat and drink. Carrying wood and water on their backs, they help Mama to prepare a meal. Houses are tiny and constructed of mud and sticks, and the meals they eat are so much simpler.

Robin had such a good time on her trip to visit the Maasai people that she later went back for good. She is now the Kenya Program Director with Free The Children. This organization is a network allowing children to help other children in need.

My Maasai Life is the children’s version of Robin’s story. She has also published a full-length version My Maasai Life for adults. Me to We Books supports Free the Children by giving them half their annual profits.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Wacky Jacky

July 3, 2011June 20, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jaclyn Stapp
Illustrator: Kristine Lucco
Publisher: TriMark Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9816092-8-7
Pages: 41
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Jacky is different from her classmates. Her family is from Jordan, she eats strange food and she has crazy, wild hair. But Jacky volunteers at the children’s hospital, where her best friend lives, and she does her best to be herself.

One day Jacky learns of a local beauty pageant, and makes the decision to compete. She has no idea how much this one event will change her life for the better.

This is the real-life story of Jaclyn Stapp, unlikely beauty queen, told in rhyme with bright and colorful illustrations. While beauty is sometimes said to be skin deep, Stapp doesn’t believe it has to always be this way. Now Stapp empowers at-risk youth, champions women’s rights, and enriches the lives of underprivileged children. Wacky Jacky is truly beautiful from the inside out.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

classics, graphic novel, western

Graphic Classics Vol. 20: Western Classics

June 22, 2011January 15, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Piggy Nation: A Day at Work With Dad

June 20, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Richard Rosser
Illustrator: Shane Sowell
Publisher: Piggy Nation
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-41709-7
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Piggy behavior is all around us. Talking loudly on cell phones, failing to clean up after our pets, and littering all make life unpleasant for others. So when Sammy’s dad offers to let him ride along as he tickets these folks, Sammy is happy to join him.

Only trouble is, sometimes it’s hard not to be a piggy when you’re pointing out piggy behavior in others. Sammy witnesses some very piggy behavior, but he’s surprised to find out who’s the biggest piggy offender.

Poking fun in a light-hearted manner, Piggy Nation gets the point across. Kids will chuckle as Piggy Dad slaps Piggy Tickets on everyone, while making his own messes as he goes along. And then they’ll be able to point out for themselves, “That’s piggy behavior!”

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, children, history

Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm!

June 19, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: David Shapiro
Illustrator: Christopher Herndon
Color: Erica Melville
Publisher: Craigmore Creations
Genre: Children / History / Adventure
ISBN: 978-0-9844422-1-8
Pages: 143
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Jenna and Caleb are told not to go into Uncle Al’s desk, but when they find it unlocked, they can’t resist nosing around. Uncle Al is studying the Missoula Floods, which took place during the ice age. An interactive map and travel journal offer them an unexpected opportunity to travel back in time to see it in person.

With Ari, who joins them the next day, they make the journey back to the ice age, and immediately face a preshistoric beast intent on devouring them for dinner. But a friendly thunderbird answers their call for help, and offers them taxi service. As they fly over the area, they see many extinct animals, as well as the effects of the flooding. An ice explosion, waterfalls, and whirlpools are just some of the unique sights they see.

The ice age isn’t something most people know much about, yet this time in earth’s history contributed the most to our modern-day landscape. Terra Tempo explores this era in an interesting and informative way that kids will enjoy. Time travel, adventure and the graphic novel format of this book make it an easy and fun read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, boys, children

Two Little Savages: The Adventures of Two Boys Who Lived as American Indians

June 15, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Ernest Thompson Seton
Publisher: Axios Press
Genre: Children / Adventure
ISBN: 978-1-60419-033-5
Pages: 313
Price: $18.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Most boys have dreamed about spending a week or two camping out, surviving on what they can forage. If they’re fortunate enough to live near the woods, and they have indulgent parents, they may be able to live out their fantasy. But if they’re city dwellers, they may have to read about it instead.

Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946), who founded the Boy Scouts of America, penned this work sharing the adventures of two boys who experienced their dream of living as Native Americans for three weeks. In it, they build a teepee shelter, hunt, learn about the animals around them, and solidify their friendship.

Yan and Sam try to do everything the way the Native Americans would do it. Teepee construction, making their own arrows, and crafting a drum are all done as authentically as possible. With no Native people around to help, they rely on Caleb, a man who seems to know quite a bit about their methods.

Boys probably would not be too upset by animals being killed in this story, but the more sensitive might be turned off. Some of the animal antics don’t ring quite true, and it seems as if the author used some exaggeration to create more drama. But overall, this is a great read for all boys who crave outdoor adventures.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

The Skinny on Willpower

June 13, 2011 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-Improvement
ISBN: 978-0-9818935-3-2
Pages: 144
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Everyone has made a New Year’s resolution at one time or another. But usually by the middle of January, our goal has been forgotten, as we run into problems maintaining our willpower. If we really want to achieve this goal, we will want to press on, but if it’s not that important to us, we may let it go until the new year rolls around again.

In this Skinny, Jim Randel explains how we can develop our willpower and learn to stay the course, even when the going gets rough. Using the fictional stick-couple, Billy and Beth, he shows us how these folks make a decision to do something, and then proceed to achieve it.

If we never ran into roadblocks, we wouldn’t need willpower. Both Billy and Beth have to overcome obstacles of fear, inertia, doing too much too quickly, and deciding how important their goals are to them. Randel provides a 15-point plan to improve willpower and self-discipline, as we work toward our own goals. And a helpful bibliography of additional works on this subject is also provided. Once again, Randel has presented a wealth of information in a quick and fun read that can guide us for a lifetime.

Reviewer: Alice Berger