#Bookreview of Journey Back to Self: Reclaiming the Woman Within

By: Sara Jodoin

Publication Date: June 28, 2026

ISBN: 979-8184496665

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: October 20, 2026

In Journey Back to Self: Reclaiming the Woman Within, Sara Jodoin shares a deeply personal story of pain, resilience, and the difficult journey to reclaim her identity.

Behind the appearance of having life under control, the author describes a struggle shaped by childhood trauma, bulimia, depression, heartbreak, and the emotional toll of trying to meet expectations while losing touch with her own needs. Motherhood, loss, and the collapse of dreams she once believed would bring happiness become part of a larger reckoning with the patterns that have shaped her life. Rather than presenting healing as a simple transformation from suffering to happiness, Jodoin explores the complicated space between recognizing that something must change and finding the courage to make those changes. Her journey ultimately becomes about learning to listen to herself again, confront painful truths, and discover that reclaiming her life does not require becoming someone else. It requires finding her way back to the woman she has always been beneath the hurt, expectations, and self-doubt.

One of the memoir's central strengths is its exploration of ways people can gradually abandon themselves while trying to earn love, maintain relationships, or fulfil the roles expected of them. Jodoin's personal experiences provide the foundation for examining how destructive patterns can become deeply ingrained and how difficult it can be to recognize them while living through their consequences. The author herself is the central character in this journey, and her development rests on a growing willingness to face uncomfortable truths rather than continue repeating familiar patterns. Motherhood, heartbreak, and loss add further emotional dimensions to the narrative, highlighting the tension between caring for others and acknowledging one's own needs. Readers who have struggled with self-worth, people-pleasing, or feeling disconnected from themselves may find aspects of Jodoin's story particularly relatable. The memoir's message is not that painful experiences can be erased, but that the past need not determine every decision made in the future.

The themes of self-acceptance, resilience, personal responsibility, and emotional healing give this memoir its inspirational purpose. Jodoin encourages readers to question the beliefs and behaviors that keep them trapped in cycles of self-neglect and to begin rebuilding trust in their own judgement. An important lesson is that healing is rarely a straight path. It involves honesty, patience, boundaries, and the willingness to make different choices. The book's emphasis on returning to oneself rather than constructing an entirely new identity is particularly meaningful. Its reflective subject matter suits readers who appreciate memoirs that combine personal experience with opportunities for introspection. The memoir's impact ultimately depends on how readily individual readers connect with its experiences and reflections.

Journey Back to Self: Reclaiming the Woman Within offers an honest, compassionate invitation to examine relationships with ourselves and the cost of continually placing our needs last. Sara Jodoin's willingness to address difficult subjects gives the memoir emotional weight, while its focus on self-trust and personal renewal provides a hopeful counterbalance to its darker experiences. Readers looking for an inspirational account of overcoming adversity and understanding destructive patterns may find this a worthwhile addition to their reading list. Overall, the memoir will appeal most to readers who value vulnerability, reflection, and the possibility of finding strength without denying past pain.

Quill says: Journey Back to Self: Reclaiming the Woman Within is a heartfelt memoir about confronting painful truths, rediscovering self-worth, and finding the courage to return to the woman within. Sara Jodoin's story will encourage readers ready to begin their own journey towards healing and self-trust.

For more information about Journey Back to Self: Reclaiming the Woman Within, please visit the author's website at: sarajodoin.com

 #Authorinterview with Arthur Russell Smith

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Alma Boucher is talking with Arthur Russell Smith, author of The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail.

FQ: The title The Robe Squad immediately creates a sense of warmth and coziness. How did you come up with the title, and what does the “Robe Squad” represent to you?

SMITH: I love bathrobes and was thinking it’d be fun to come up with a team of people and/or animals that all donned robes when they were together. Additionally, in being a “squad,” they’d represent a team that had intention and objectives, which would be centered on being kind to others, and looking out for those who need help.

FQ: Artie and Gizmo immediately respond when they discover the frightened mouse. What do you hope young readers learn from the way they treat him?

SMITH: Simply, I hope the learn how much good one can do by looking out for the “little guy;” whether it’s another person or an animal, small actions can go a long way in ensuring they are cared for.

Gizmo and Russ

FQ: What qualities of Artie and Gizmo do you think make them good role models for young readers?

SMITH: Their friendship, empathy, compassion, and kindness.

FQ: Empathy and kindness are central themes in the story. Why were these particular lessons important for you to introduce to children ages 2–6?

SMITH: Generally speaking, I believe things introduced at a younger age tend to be more “sticky” and so that’s part of it however I’m also a firm believer in the power of empathy and kindness; embracing and practicing these will not just make you a better human, but they’ll help ensure others around you can experience those things too. Lastly, while it’s a bit of a cliché to say the world needs more kindness, I do believe that too and so I’m hoping to help address that, at a very small scale of course 😊

FQ: The story focuses on helping a scared and vulnerable character feel safe and welcome. How did you approach writing about emotions in a way that would be understandable to very young children?

SMITH: This is a great question and admittedly, I think I tried to have the illustrations serve as the foundation for the understanding versus relying on the prose to drive this home; my editor (Ann Koffsky) was instrumental in helping me strike this balance, along with my illustrator (Craig Orback). I’m a visual learner myself and know young children are often in visual learning mode too, so I’m hoping they can appreciate and understand the emotions and stakes through the pictures themselves.

FQ: How involved were you in the visual or illustrative side of the story? Did you have a specific picture of Artie, Gizmo, and the mouse in your mind while writing?

SMITH: Prior to working with Craig, I’d used AI to draft initial images and sketches I wanted to have authentic (i.e., human-generated) illustrations of; thus, I had a vision for what I wanted to portray but needed a real expert to bring them to life. Craig is wonderful at detail but also humanizing the characters, and had a great approach to colors and tones. One specific picture I had in mind which he really brought to life was the three characters together at the end, in the armchair.

FQ: Do you see The Robe Squad as the beginning of a larger series featuring Artie and Gizmo? If so, what adventures might you like them to have next?

SMITH: I do and I’m already working on the second book; it’s tentatively titled The Robe Squad: A Maine Tail, and will involve the characters traveling to Maine, a favorite place of mine, to have another adventure together. I hope that through additional and varied adventures, the squad can demonstrate how powerful kindness can be.

FQ: Were there any challenges involved in keeping the story simple enough for very young readers while still giving it a meaningful message?

SMITH: There were indeed! First, I’d never written a story for young readers so I had to learn what level of text and grammar would be a strong fit with that audience. Additionally, I initially worked up a story using rhyming however pivoted to prose, as I learned that would be one way to help ensure the message came through clearly and simply.

FQ: If you could give parents and caregivers one message about reading The Robe Squad with their children, what would it be?

SMITH: Always lead with kindness.

FQ: What do you hope readers, both children and adults, take away from the story about welcoming someone who may feel alone or different?

SMITH: That leading with empathy and kindness can help to build communities and friendships you might not otherwise have an opportunity to experience. And, it can have a “trickle down” effect among others.

For more information about The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail, please visit the author's website at: arthurrussellsmith.com/

 #Bookreview of Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale (Prequel to Mortal Vengeance)

By: Alejandro Torres De la Rocha

Publication Date: January 6, 2026

ISBN: 979-8263589110

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: October 21, 2026

Alejandro Torres De la Rocha's Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale (Prequel to Mortal Vengeance) is a story about how a corrupt, abusive school created its own monster, a monster that preys on the guilty, specifically those who commit cruelty and then hide behind power, faith, and silence. The story's dedication: "To all those who fear raising their voice. Speak up. Speak out. Speak truth" is the voice of the entire novel, and a warning wrapped in a welcome. It asks the reader to read every "welcome" as a potential trap, because in this book, hospitality always comes with a catch.

The book opens with a suffocating silence, a clock counting down, and a beauty that Julián Díaz sees as a mockery. He's carrying a crushing weight: guilt, the kind that defies logic and innocence. He's done nothing to earn it, yet believes he's stained. It's also the kind that Grim Cojuelo, the monster and a figure torn from Dominican carnival myth, loves to harvest. But he's not your conventional monster. His prey's death doesn't stop him, meaning there's no escape for them, even in death. He also first offers flashes of a twisted heaven before dragging his victims straight to hell. He doesn't overpower them but outsmarts them, making them walk into their own damnation while they believe they are walking into salvation. That's precisely why he is insidious.

This book captures the monster's becoming process and aftermath, and it does so through the concept of performance. The school performs holiness, the priests perform mercy, and the students perform obedience. "Performance" here is the right grounding because it names the gap between the front and the backstage: the assembly's polished piety and the abuse happening behind closed doors. The Acts and Scenes structure makes this literal. Each one of them is a moment the reader watches, knowing the backstage truth the performers can't admit. Admitting would, of course, end the play. So, the book forces them to withhold until the monster tears the last curtain down.

That's the mark of a book that knows exactly what it's doing: building an argument the reader absorbs through the structure itself. By coupling that with short, stripped sentences like "Julián screams. It is a raw, primal sound ripped from his throat, echoing in the cavernous space. He doesn't think. He doesn't hesitate. He just bolts," the novel manages to immerse the reader into the immediacy of the moment, even as the performance thins, before again picking the ritual and letting the withholding resume. Few authors manage that. Alejandro Torres De la Rocha makes it look easy. But the ease is the scary part. He performs the same trick on the readers as his villains do, only he does it better, giving them enough to keep them reading but never quite enough to make them relax.

Quill says: Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale (Prequel to Mortal Vengeance) is dense in the best way: idea-rich, not wordy. It's easy to read, thanks to its short sentences, natural dialogue, and a propulsive plot. It's also well written, begging for a second reading, particularly because once you know how it ends, every earlier scene changes.

For more information about Mortal Vengeance: A Grim Tale (Prequel to Mortal Vengeance), please visit the author's website at: mortalvengeance.com/

 #Bookreview of Never Too Late to Belong

By: Declan O'Brien

Publication Date: October 20, 2026

ISBN: 979-8170636051

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: September 21, 2026

Never Too Late to Belong: How to Beat Loneliness and Make Real Friends After 60 by Declan O’Brien is a thoughtful, practical guide for anyone whose social circle has shrunk with age. Rather than treating loneliness as an inevitable part of growing older, O’Brien presents friendship as something you can develop and strengthen through small, intentional choices.

This book is divided into four progressive parts: the first examines why friendships and social connections often diminish, while the second explores the foundations of meaningful friendships. Part Three forms the heart of the book, offering a week-by-week approach built around manageable actions, such as returning regularly to the same places, opening up a little more in conversation, and accepting appropriate invitations. Part Four brings these ideas into everyday life, addressing practical limitations such as finances, mobility, and changing circumstances.

O’Brien’s discussion is particularly effective because it acknowledges that rebuilding a social life after age 60 can involve grief, uncertainty, changed circumstances, and even apprehension about reaching out. O’Brien makes an important distinction between loneliness and depression, explaining that while the two can influence one another, they are not identical experiences. He also recognizes that moving forward after losing someone does not mean abandoning their memory or forcing oneself to socialize before being ready. The book encourages readers to progress at a realistic pace, gradually moving from reflection to action and eventually toward maintaining the relationships they have established. The emphasis on small, achievable steps makes the process feel less overwhelming and more attainable.

The central themes are connection, resilience, self-confidence, grief, and the willingness to remain open to new experiences. One of the book's strongest lessons is that friendship does not necessarily happen by accident; it often develops through consistency, repeated contact, shared interests, and the courage to reveal a little more of yourself. The advice is deliberately practical rather than abstract, with each week providing a specific focus and a selection of doable activities. This structure gives the book a reassuring sense of direction and reinforces its message that meaningful change does not require a dramatic transformation. O’Brien’s writing style is warm, conversational, and encouraging, while the four-part structure provides a steady progression from understanding the problem to taking action and preserving the connections that follow. The pacing is easy to follow, especially for readers who prefer to absorb advice gradually rather than try to change everything at once.

Quill says: Never Too Late to Belong: How to Beat Loneliness and Make Real Friends After 60 is a compassionate guide that offers hope without pretending that rebuilding friendships is always easy. Its greatest strength is its emphasis on practical, realistic steps, making the book particularly relevant to older adults navigating retirement, bereavement, relocation, changing family circumstances, or simply a quieter social life.

For more information about Never Too Late to Belong: How to Beat Loneliness and Make Real Friends After 60, please visit the author’s website at: declanobrienbooks.com.

 #Bookreview of Uplift

By: Jessica Mann

Illustrated by: Steve Habersang

Publication Date: October 30, 2024

ISBN: 979-8350968125

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: October 19, 2026

Columbina, along with her bird brothers, belong to a proud family of Clark’s Nutcrackers that were born high in a spruce tree in the mountains in Uplift by Jessica Mann.

As humans keep altering the forest around them, Columbina knows she must try to change the pattern she is being taught by her family, because if she doesn’t, they will find it harder to survive. She sets out with the hope that if she can change how humans see things around them, as if seeing everything through her eyes, maybe they will stop destroying the environment and begin working together for both birds and humans to coexist. Does Columbina succeed in her endeavor?

This story was such an uplifting and engrossing storyline presented by Jessica Mann. Immediately, I was pulled into the story right from the first page. Reading this storyline from the perspective of a bird named Columbina was not only moving, but completely awe inspiring. I can’t recall another book that was written from a bird’s perspective, and this factor immediately won this my love of the book. To see, feel, and think like Columbina made reading this endearing story a true delight.

It is worth mentioning that Mann wrote the trees, mountains, and other species into the storyline as real, living creatures that had important roles in this story. Each tree, mountain, bird, etc. all played a role in having the world continue to prosper for generations to come. Many people just see a tree as simply that – a tree. After reading Mann’s book, it gives readers a new perspective that we shouldn’t take anything for granted that is living around us. We all depend on each other, no matter human or environmental, to continue the circle of life. We are only hurting ourselves if we believe we are the only important species in the world. Every tree, bird, bug, or mountain has their role to play in this world. Who do we think we are to believe that we are the most important species in this world? After reading this story, readers will walk away with compassion for wildlife and the environment around them.

Jessica Mann is an award-winning author and naturalist who writes realistic animal fiction. Her goal is to entertain and inspire her readers to see life through the eyes of wild birds and animals. She has had a 35-year career in environmental health and safety, and this has shaped her perspective to help others see how the environment, and all that live and breathe in it, have important roles in this world.

Quill says: Uplift is one story that will entertain readers of all ages. It allows the readers to not only see the world around them through Columbina’s eyes, but also the trees and mountains too. If you love reading nature books, especially ones written from an animal’s perspective, you need to read this book. Well done, Ms. Mann!

For more information about Uplift, please visit the author's website at: jessicamann.org

 #Bookreview of The Robe Squad

By: Arthur Russell Smith

Illustrated by: Craig Orback

Publisher: Seacoast Press

Publication Date: October 1, 2026

ISBN: 979-8-952856-11-0

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: September 29, 2026

Arthur Russell Smith’s The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail is a gentle and heartwarming picture book that introduces young readers to the importance of empathy, compassion, and inclusion through a wonderfully simple story.

When Artie and Gizmo discover a tiny mouse trembling alone, they immediately want to help. Their challenge is both practical and emotional: how can two much larger characters make such a small, frightened creature feel safe, comfortable, and welcome? What follows is a sweet exploration of kindness in action, as the duo considers the mouse’s vulnerability and finds a way to offer warmth and reassurance. The story’s simple premise makes it especially accessible to children ages 2–6, while leaving plenty of room for parents and caregivers to discuss feelings of loneliness or fear.

Artie and Gizmo are the heart of the story, and their responses to the little mouse reveal their caring personalities. Rather than ignoring a creature who is different from them or assuming they know exactly what he needs, they respond with concern and a willingness to help. The frightened mouse, small in size, becomes an important part of the story, because his vulnerability allows young readers to see the world from another perspective. The characters demonstrate that helping someone does not require grand gestures; sometimes, simply noticing that another person needs comfort is the first and most meaningful step. Their interaction creates a reassuring message about welcoming others and making room for those who may initially feel out of place.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to communicate meaningful lessons without becoming overly instructional. Empathy, friendship, generosity, and inclusion are woven naturally into the narrative, giving children the opportunity to understand that kindness can have an enormous impact even when the action itself seems small. The contrast between the large helpers and the tiny mouse also provides an appealing visual and emotional concept for young readers: being bigger does not mean being more important, and being small does not mean having small feelings. The cozy premise makes the book particularly well-suited to bedtime reading and shared reading sessions, where adults can pause to talk about emotions, helping others, and what makes someone feel safe.

Smith’s writing is clear, warm, and age-appropriate, with a straightforward pace that should hold the attention of very young children. The story does not rely on complicated language or an elaborate plot; instead, its appeal comes from its relatable situation and gentle emotional progression. The central question of how to comfort the mouse gives the narrative a natural sense of purpose and encourages young readers to think along with Artie and Gizmo. The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail is a tender reminder that compassion begins with recognizing someone who needs help.

Quill says: The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail is a cozy and uplifting story that gives young readers a beautifully simple lesson: sometimes the smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference.

For more information about The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail, please visit the author's website at: arthurrussellsmith.com

 #Bookreview of Mortal Vengeance

By: Alejandro Torres De la Rocha

Publication Date: June 25, 2025

ISBN: 979-8289696717

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: October 13, 2026

Alejandro Torres De la Rocha's Mortal Vengeance, a searing psychological thriller, dissects the corrosive power of guilt, the trauma of betrayal, and the terrifying ease with which ordinary people justify the unthinkable. The story is driven by pent-up anger and the desire to take justice into one's own hands.

Five high schoolers led by Marcos, the one who "snaps," find themselves at the edge of an irreversible act. Marcos is a young man who sees himself as an instrument of a shared grievance. He sees his rage as a scream for justice on behalf of everyone who has suffered in the hands of the teacher they call "the classroom tyrant, the purveyor of fear and humiliation." Close to him are his similarly aggrieved peers including Alex, the architect of a cold, chilling strategy; Enrique, the willing hands that carry out "the deed;" Mario, whose conscience screams "this is wrong;" and Manuel, who has decided that going along is safer than standing apart.

These are not just angry teenagers venting. They are scared ones too. They are afraid to stand apart from the pack. But unbeknownst to them, something is out there waiting to exploit this weakness. It won't allow them to hide and won't stop until it has forced them to stand apart, whether they want it or not. Perhaps most shockingly, it has an accomplice, a familiar face hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to execute a personal vendetta.

This story is structured as a series of revelations, each one re-contextualizing what came before. After "the deed," for example, the reader would want to believe the worst has happened. However, the next revelation reveals that the incident was just an inciting scene to something worse. The reader is not only shown the consequences of a previous action; they are also set up for the next revelation. And when it comes, they are sunk deeper into answers and truths that make their anxiety even worse. When Enrique and Melissa go for a date, for example, you’d expect romance. Instead, the book hits you with a truth that sends shockwaves into everything you thought you understood. That's a book that understands that the reader doesn't want to be pulled up. They came for the descent. And that is exactly what it gives them.

Quill says: Mortal Vengeance’s structure is deliberate and integral, and makes the novel go beyond what ordinary thrillers achieve. Readers who love stories with a psychological stance that force them to confront the possibility that even the most compassionate impulses can be twisted into something deeply monstrous will find this book impossible to forget. Its dialogue flows naturally, the prose is cinematic and sensory, and the pacing is quick. It's the kind of book that makes you side eye your own friend group, and wonder if anyone is holding a grudge from years back.

For more information about Mortal Vengeance, please visit the author's website at: mortalvengeance.com/