Dream Brother by Brian Marggraf

Toxic Combinations

 

Returning home for Jacob Gavel was bittersweet. Leaving New York and a failed marriage, Jacob reluctantly goes back home to San Francisco only to learn a deep, dark family secret. His parents remained dysfunctional, and became unglued when Jacob read his mother’s journal revealing he had a twin brother who died in her womb. The shocking news added to Jacob’s sad reality of being alone and broke. He accepted a job in a mental health facility, where his mother visited as a patient, but the money didn’t pay as well as his friend’s job offer in the drug world. Jacob’s daily drug use prompted childhood memory dreams and all he wanted to do is find love and seek revenge.

I would call Dream Brother a psychological thriller. The story is full of suspense, which kept me engaged from beginning to end. Without giving away the ending, I must say it was totally unpredictable. Brian Marggraf mastered the skill of storytelling while dealing with complicated issues involving the inner workings of the brain. I appreciated taking the journey with Jacob through his drug induced mania.

Aoleon The Martian Girl: A Science Fiction and Fantasy Saga - Part 1 First Contact

As a retired middle school teacher, I can attest that Aoleon The Martian Girl is an incredible science fiction adventure for this targeted age group. The superb writing and exquisite illustrations are more than enough to keep students engaged.

Young teenagers always complain about being bored. Reading and sharing Gilbert Sullivan’s escapades when his boring life changes after meeting a Martian girl named, Aoleon, is priceless. The friendly alien takes Gilbert for a ride in her flying saucer. What student wouldn’t enjoy such a fantasy?

The graphic illustrations not only captivate readers, but vastly enhance the story. The example set for students for writing their own adventures, and creating their own art, is invaluable.

While this is science fiction, the story integrates true science vocabulary along with made up terms. I appreciate Brent LeVasseur included a Glossary; however, to be listed in the table of contents would complement a teacher’s instruction.

A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman

Strange bedfellows

 

A Pitch for Justice is a story about the unwritten rule of baseball conveyed through the mechanism of a court forum. As stated in the book, Baseball is a game for kids – but played by adults.

As an uninformed individual of both baseball and the legal system, I read this story as pure entertainment. I was not disappointed.

I learned a couple of baseball terms, such as, beaning and chin music. As far as courtroom drama goes, it maintained the suspense of an unpredictable trial. Kasselman’s background affords him to educate readers regarding law issues, without sounding condescending.

A Pitch for Justice is thought provoking. The dilemma concerns a baseball player who kills another player throwing a bean ball.  Does this constitute murder, or a lesser degree of murder, or none at all?

I recommend A Pitch for Justice by Harold Kasselman for readers who enjoy a good story well told.

Quicksand Paradise by Mary Keith

An extraordinary read about a horrific era in America.

 A family of misogynists passes on their gruesome views to their sons. Louis desperately tries to brainwash these revolting beliefs to his son, Charles. Despite his twisted efforts, he is unsuccessful and the circle of hatred ends.

The author places her readers in Louisiana between the 1950’s and 60’s. The affluent Abellard family of men is vicious and cruel members of the KKK. The decade in history is brutal, and if the author’s purpose was not to sugar coat the period, she succeeded.

Quicksand Paradise contains all the elements of an evil family and community, while including an accurate account of history.

His Name was Ben by Paulette Mahurin

Ben, a forty year old man, loses his battle with cancer. During the last year of life, he meets Sara, a cancer patient and woman of his dreams. Uncertainty of time drives their appreciation of every precious minute.

The author accomplishes two major tasks: describing the ugliness of cancer, while writing a beautiful story of human emotion. Ben and Sara fight their disease with extraordinary courage. Friends and family issues come to the surface, resembling real life.

His Name was Ben by Paulette Mahurin is a book for all ages. Covering the hard knocks of life and the importance of compassionate relations create for a satisfying read about an unpleasant topic.

Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy

Outstanding illustrations presented throughout this wordless picture book. Because of the incredible artwork, children will be able to understand the story of Noah throughout their childhood. This book offers young readers the opportunity to recognize fresh elements of the story each time he/she studies the sophisticated images.

Each page remained creative with Mark Ludy’s choice of animals for the ark. There’s no doubt the intensity of the story will take many readings for the young reader to experience the full impact.

While the author’s interpretation of Noah and his wife’s age differed from mine, it nevertheless told Noah’s story.

Jojo's Stinky Day: A story about an elephant who doesn't want to bathe by Sujatha Lalgudi

Jojo's Stinky Day is a helpful story to motivate young children for bath time. Written in a practical, yet playful way for the targeted age group, the message that Jojo ‘stinks’ is one a child does not want to experience.

The fun characters get the point across with ease, explaining the reason to keep clean.

Less is more regarding the length. While the author did a fantastic job with illustrations, children would also enjoy a colorful book version of Jojo's Stinky Day.