#BookReview - The Cat Who Saved Christmas

Oliver: The Cat Who Saved Christmas

By: Sheila Norton
Publisher: St. Marin’s Press
Publication Date: October 2016
ISBN: 978-1-250-10847-0
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: November 3, 2016

In a small quaint pub in a little town outside of London lives a sweet orange and white cat named Oliver. Ever since he was picked up as a little kitten by the pub’s owner, George, the two had become inseparable friends. Oliver loved his life living with George in a little apartment above the pub and even enjoyed spending time downstairs with all of the customers who came in, although he kept his distance when it became too crowded. One terrible night however, Oliver’s world is turned upside down as the pub catches fire. Luckily Oliver is able to warn George early enough so they are both able to get out, but in his frightened state Oliver runs off into the woods and becomes lost. Now, with no home, no owner, and no food in sight, a feeling of hopelessness comes over this poor little cat as he wonders if he will ever see George again.

Fortunately, before Oliver lost all hope a man named Daniel came upon him in the woods and seeing that Oliver was in distress, gathers him up and takes him home. When Daniel gets home and shows Oliver to his wife Nicky, it does not take them long to realize that this is the same cat that lived in the pub down the road and belonged to George. Wanting to let George know that the cat was safe they called him up and gave him the good news. He was so glad to hear the news that his wonderful cat was safe but sad to tell them that he would be unable to take George for a while as he was living with his sister in London while the pub was being rebuilt.

Not wanting to leave Oliver out in the cold but also not having the finances to take care of a cat full time, Nicky and Daniel ask for help from their neighbors, Sarah and Martin, in taking care of Oliver. They decide to split the responsibility of taking care of him, giving Oliver the choice to go back and forth to each of their homes until George is able to come back to take care of him. Oliver can’t help but think that he is such a lucky cat as now he not only has one family to look after him but two homes that he is welcome at. However, as Oliver observes the lives of these two families he notices that not everything is going well for them. Soon Oliver is determined to help these humans who have been so kind to him. Oliver vows to help make this the best Christmas season for everyone.

With the holiday season coming up I could not think of a sweeter or more heartwarming book than this story about Oliver. The way author Sheila Norton describes everything from Oliver’s point of view is wonderful and had me laughing out loud at parts where this cat is trying to figure out what we crazy humans are doing. As the holiday season progresses I am going to suggest this book to so many people for a perfect "curl up by the fire read" that will not disappoint.

Quill says: A perfect holiday book that makes you remember what makes life special.

#BookReview - A World At Risk

A World at Risk

By: Jochanan Stenesh
Publisher: Merriam Press
Publication Date: May 2016
ISBN: 9781576385027
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Date: October 2016

Stenesh offers a warning of future world events in his debut read.

The year 2020 sees the beginnings of an ominous wave of worldwide cataclysmic events, initiated by Iran's first nuclear test and establishment of full control over the southern section of the Tigris/Euphrates Delta (TE-Delta). A new cold war appears to be on the rise in Russia and piracy on the Indian Ocean is at an all time high. The termination of the Israel-Palestinian conflict spells bad times ahead for Palestinians. ISIS is stronger than ever operating out of four large land bases. China overtakes the once-independent SAR (Special Administrative Region) Macau in 2024, Hong Kong five years later, and then in 2035 launches a full-scale invasion of Taiwan.

Protesting in Tahrir Square goes awry in 2027 when the Muslim Brotherhood attempts to call all like-minded Egyptians to join them in their non-dictatorial "let us work together" campaign. Two years later, extremist groups unite to attack Jews throughout Europe. In 2031 war breaks out between North and South Korea. Meanwhile in the United States, Religious Right groups' precedence creates a chain of shocking circumstances, such as the tearing of the wall of separation between church and state, creationism on par with evolution in high school science classes, and the banning of abortions. And to round out this unnerving glimpse into a twenty-year period, the effects of global warming create cataclysmic worldwide disasters including a shortage of drinking water.

Stenesh's newsworthy digest of "what might happen in the world in the next two decades" is reminiscent of Wells' War of the Worlds and Orwell's 1984. Like the aforementioned notable titles, Stenesh presents a near believable narrative. Contrary to Wells' and Orwell's writing style, Stenesh has replaced the typical science fiction plot with a compilation of twenty-one newspaper dispatches. Stenesh opens with a section addressed "To Our Readers," which explains the origins of the selection of popular articles penned by three fabricated veteran bureau chiefs from the equally fabricated World View series of The Daily Independent Courier. Now morphed into book form and bearing the same moniker as the title of Stenesh's book, the collection covers imagined "flash points and controversial issues around the globe."

Beginning with Jordan, Stenesh's essay-narratives highlight situations that take place in Dubai, Ukraine, Somalia, Africa (Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt), Israel, China (Macau, Hong Kong), Taiwan, Europe (Belgium, Germany), South Korea, United States (D.C., New York, California, Texas), India, and Sri Lanka. Readers with interest in world events should be able to identify a good handful of troubled war-torn places on the list. That said, Stenesh creates a realistic narrative pulling from past and present tensions/issues to build his imaginary predictions. Stenesh aptly bridges the gap from reality to fiction by incorporating meticulous historical details, thus brilliantly portraying quite a dystopian read. Stenesh's frightening calculations are not that far-fetched, even though there will be readers who no doubt disagree with his perspective. Regardless, A World at Risk is not only a great science fiction read, but also includes plenty of information for Stenesh's audience to ruminate on long after the book is done.

Quill says: A World at Risk is a perfect read for conspiracy theory aficionados, as well as those who have a fetish for world predictions.

#BookReview - God, Grace, Dumb Luck

God, Grace, Dumb Luck

By: Phloyd Knucklez
Publisher: Philip Gaber
Publication Date: September 2016
ISBN: 978-0-692780-99-2
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: October 2016

There are so many “golden” lessons earlier generations handed down to us: A bird in the hand...Make the best out of a bad situation...and the list goes on. In this collection of poems, short stories and ponderous prose, readers see the world through the eyes of humans who have chosen to believe that those past lessons are nothing but myths.

The reader gets on board with mainly male narrators expelling their tales. The speakers represent a large number of people across the globe: working at a job that is not what they wanted to “be when they grew up,” bored, harboring anger, and speaking frequently about disappointment. Perhaps this sounds depressing right off the bat, but the writer makes sure that the upside of the downsides that come from being that “categorical human” is shown right off the bat. If you’re normal and not a “star,” so to speak, you’ll never have to be bothered by others who want something from you. If you’re never a leader in any respect, than people will never want to waste their time finding a way to bring you down.

“Keeping My Vigil” is a tale of a man being tempted and then falling for temptation (much like falling for an apple given by a serpent in a garden.) This man is now condemned to live an ordinary, human life. “Escaping from Adolescence” shows a man out of work and how he must deal with a collection agent on the phone. You know, those guys who call to harass you night after night even when they know you have no money in the coffers. In these stories, as well as many others, readers will identify with how demoralizing life’s moments can be and how they can be made to feel bad by strangers who simply don’t care about their particular predicament.

Yet...the most difficult part of these stories comes from those missing “golden” statements handed down. You learn those. You believe in them. In fact, some of those words are what get you through the toughest of times. They also make you understand that being a normal, ordinary human – if you’re doing something you have a passion for, or are part of a bigger picture, like a family you love with all your heart – is not a negative at all.

Life is filled with humiliations. It’s filled with monsters, bigots, and others in the crowd who gain more than the hardworking, ordinary folk. However, if you go through life believing if you need help it will never be offered, than chances are it won’t be. Everything is stated clearly and concisely, which is a huge positive in this world of cover-ups and empty smiles. From losing yourself in alcohol, drugs, or simply in the inane banter all around you, the annoyances of life are told in a way that all of us can easily understand. But the after-effects of this compilation won’t bring the depressed out of a stupor. In the end, the stupor will only grow deeper.

Quill says: Life is a combination of good and evil, drama and comedy. Yet this collection leans heavily towards the darker side of the aisle.

#BookReview - The Spice Box Letters

The Spice Box Letters

By: Eve Makis
Publication Date: September 2016
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 978-1-250-09580-0
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: October 19, 2016

Eve Makis takes her audience on a journey of rich family history in her latest novel, The Spice Box Letters.

Katerina’s grandmother (Mariam) has passed. When Katerina’s mother gifts her mother’s ornate spice box to Katerina, little did Katerina know she was about to embark upon a journey that would transcend from Cyprus to New York in order to learn the many facets (and secrets) of her dearly departed grandmother. Raised in England, Katerina sets out on holiday to Larnaca, Cyprus with her girlfriend Jenny. All of the letters and diary contained in the spice box were written in Armenian and sadly, Katerina had never learned the language of her heritage. While on holiday, Katerina meets a boy, Ara, and challenges him: "...I didn’t catch your name," he says. "Katerina. And yours?" "I’m Ara." "That doesn't sound Greek." "It's not. I’m Armenian..." Suddenly, this happenstance meeting is more than a sign for Katerina. Perhaps she has found her translator for her grandmother’s letters.

As time unfolds, Katerina and Ara spend more time together as they pour over the letters and the pages of her grandmother’s diary. Even though her grandmother survived the Armenian genocide of 1915, her survival came at a grave expense. She was separated from her beloved brother Gabriel when she was exiled from her home in Turkey. The road ahead was compounded with further grief when she lost her first love. As Katerina and Ara continue to read her grandmother’s diary, it would seem miracles truly can happen as much for those in the present as those who are now memories from the past.

Eve Makis delivers a bittersweet story that ties a family’s past tragedies to the present. There is a sense of warmth in the contrasts she portrays between Katerina’s present day life and the horrors of her grandmother’s exposure (and survival) of the Armenian Genocide decades before. Even though this is a novel, I applaud Ms. Makis for the specific historical events she weaves throughout this story when it comes to the nuance of families and their history. I found myself often wondering what my own familial history would uncover should I explore its past at some point. Her characters are not over the top heroes nor are they martyrs. Rather, she has breathed a credible life into each of them; complemented by dialogue that flows. This is a story that certainly has its moments of tragedy, but the overall tone is one of hope. Well done Ms. Makis. I look forward to your next novel.

Quill says: The Spice Box Letters is a wonderful novel that accomplishes tying the past to the present with a heartwarming theme of hope throughout the story.

#BookReview - After A While Crocodile

After A While Crocodile: Alexa’s Diary

By: Brady Barr and Jennifer Keats Curtis
Illustrated by: Susan Detwiler
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN: 978-1628558340
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: October 2016

Alexa is a young girl who lives in Costa Rica and is involved with a very important project at her school. The American crocodile is endangered in Costa Rica and she and her schoolmates are raising baby crocs so that they can be released into the wild. After A While Crocodile follows Alexa as she raises her crocodile.

Written in the form of a diary, Alexa introduces her readers to Jefe (which means “boss” in Spanish), her little baby crocodile. She describes the noises he makes and what he likes to eat. She also uses numerous Spanish words (with the English translation in parenthesis) – a nice way for kids to learn a few new words. Each entry in the diary shows Jefe a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little closer to his release date. Alexa talks about the American crocodile and the caiman, the two species found in Costa Rica. She talks about how Jefe and his siblings were collected in the wild, the importance of crocodiles in the wild and how and why she takes measurements of her little charge.

After A While Crocodile takes on the important subject of animal conservation and looks at one way an endangered species is being saved. With a nice mix of photos and drawings, the story of Alexa and her little crocodile will draw readers into the world of conservation. At the back of the book are four pages “For Creative Minds” which offers additional information on crocodiles and conservation and is an excellent starting point for those wanting to do additional research.

Quill says: An informative book that explores the process of helping save an endangered species – an excellent addition to the classroom or homeschool library.

#BookReview - The Moon Inside

The Moon Inside

By: Sandra Feder
Illustrated by: Aimée Sicuro
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Publication Date: September 2016
ISBN: 978-1554988235
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: October 17, 2016

Ella loved the daytime - the fun things she could do, the birds chirping, and the bright sunshine. Best of all, her favorite color, yellow, was everywhere during the day. But every night when darkness came, Ella grew afraid.

Each evening, as darkness approached, Ella would lead her mother from room to room, and turn on as many lights as she could. It was her attempt to keep the darkness out of the house as long as possible. Ella wanted her favorite color, and the sun that shared that color, to stay because yellow made her happy. But darkness was scary.

Ella's mother decided it was time to help her daughter get over her fear of the dark. With gentle guidance, she brought her daughter outside at dusk to see the wonders that came out at night. Ella saw the playful fireflies with their yellow bellies, she heard the crickets chirp and noticed the big, yellow-golden moon. Would it be enough to get over her fear of the dark?

The Moon Inside tackles one of those very common childhood phobias that so many parents have to deal with - fear of the dark. Without lecturing, author Sandra Feder tenderly guides her young readers on a tour of the night. She shows children some of the wonderful nighttime events (such as fireflies and a big, bright moon), which may help lessen their fear. Children will share Ella's enchantment with the various animals she sees at dusk as well as enjoy the glow of the golden moon. With a strong emphasis on the color yellow throughout, the illustrations add a lovely gentle feel to the entire story. If you have a child afraid of the dark, consider adding The Moon Inside to your bedtime reading collection.

Quill says: A sweet bedtime story to help children overcome their fear of the dark.

#BookReview - Animal Legs

Animal Legs

By: Mary Holland
Publisher: Arbordale Books
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN: 978-1628558432
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: October 2016

What can you do with your legs? Run fast and wiggle your toes? Did you know that legs are really amazing things? Many animals can do very cool, very remarkable things with their legs. What can they do, you ask? Check out Animal Legs to find out!

Animal Legs explores the varied, and useful, things different animals use their legs for. You might think that caterpillars have lots of legs but actually only the first three pair are true legs. The others are called “prolegs” that have hooks to help the caterpillars climb up smooth surfaces. The ruffed grouse, a very pretty bird, actually grows small flaps on the side of each toe in the fall to help him walk on the snow. Did you know that some animals use their legs to taste? When you read this book, you’ll learn all about them.

Author Mary Holland has done an excellent job of introducing young readers to animal legs and the many functions they perform. With easy to understand explanations, she takes children on a journey through the animal world to explore all the various uses of animal legs. There are plenty of vivid photos of the animals, and many are close up views of the legs to allow better inspection of that creatures’ appendages. At the back of the book is a section “For Creative Minds” that can be used for further study.

Quill says: With its instructional, easy to understand exploration of the animal world, Animal Legs is an excellent addition to a school or home library.