Category: Blog

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

What should Mabel do now that her piggybank is full to the brim? Buy lots of candy? Spend it all on that toy she’s been eyeing? Finally get that unicorn sprinkler that sprays water from its horn?

When Mabel pulls her piggy bank out from under the bed, it’s stuffed. She can’t fit one more coin inside–Piggy is bursting!

What should Mabel do with all that money? Buy candy? Toys? Games!? Mabel’s so excited that her bed becomes a trampoline and she wants to spend it all. But then her mother explains that money doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket—a lesson that sends Mabel on a journey to learn what it means to become “moneywise.” Follow her as she takes her first steps to independence by opening a bank account!

Teach your school-aged kids fundamentals about money management with this approachable, fun, and charming debut from Kalee Boisvert, full of colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand concepts.

Review

I loved having a piggy bank as a kid, and my kids loved having theirs. When they would get full (or even half full), they would want to immediately go to the store and spend it all. As parents, how do we teach them that there are other things you can do with your money? It’s easy to tell them, but do they really listen? Having a story to read with them (more than once) helps teach a great lesson that your kids might actually listen to. 

The author uses simple language and keeps the book at the perfect length for little ones. Teaching them this lesson at a young age will help them as they grow. Plus, the drawings are very colourful and eye-catching. Hopefully, this book inspires open conversation about finances (something that is a life long learning journey). 

If you have a little one, this might be a great book to teach them an important lesson.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thanks for the support)

Synopsis (taken from Amazon)

Dive into the explosive, raw, and vulnerable story of a man’s search for sanity amid his increasing dependence on DXM (dextromethorphan), the active ingredient in Robitussin and other cough suppressant medications. In Volume One, you’ll enter the underbelly of York, PA, as the narrator navigates the streets and his new normal.

In 2007, Ryan Gray was on and off the streets-living the last days of his existence as an active addict. He stayed in several halfway houses, had friends who were kind enough to let him sleep in their homes, and sometimes stayed at a nearby shelter.

Volume One of his autobiographical narrative chronicles the events leading through the ‘twilight’ of his addiction, from meeting a native of York who became like a brother, to when Ryan began to inwardly sense his own futility, to making the choice to leave behind the middle-class life he knew.

Twilight in York: Volume One is written in the style of Jack Kerouac, with a stream of consciousness effect as well as grammatical alterations. Heavy with explicit drug use, this read is best suited for adults.

Though heavy and dark, Twilight in York, Volume One has a simple, easy-to-follow plot that appeals to the masses. Drug addicts, family and friends of addicts, homeless (and formerly homeless) people, and the mentally ill will resonate with Ryan’s down-to-earth voice and relatable stories.

www.twilightinyork.com

Review

Those who know me know that I am an advocate of mental illness, and drug addiction is a mental illness. Drug addiction is rampant throughout our society, and I lost my brother to it, so this book hits home on a personally deep level. The further into the book, the more I wanted to scream for the author to seek help, knowing what drug use can lead to.

Ryan Gray does an excellent job of describing the need for drugs. The compulsion not to change and continue to get high even when he knows that they are making him ill. The other mental illness discussed is schizophrenia, one that society deems as scary and potentially violent. Ryan describes it as scary (not violent), though he does it eloquently, placing the reader in his mindset. Giving us a sense of fear in our minds that we couldn’t otherwise understand.

This is more than an autobiography. This is a reality that many face when mental illness is pushed to the edges of society. Too many think, ‘I want to help but not in my backyard,’ that those suffering are forced onto the streets and forgotten about instead of receiving the help that they need. Luckily, Ryan Gray is still here to share his story and help bring a voice to those who are still struggling.

Everyone who is of the age that they may be thinking about trying drugs should read this book. There is explicit content, but that adds to the importance of this message.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for your support).

Synopsis (Taken from Amazon)

Impenetrable walls. Ethnic division. A ruthless dictator.

Escape. It’s all eighteen-year-old Marcos Sanchez can think about as he stares at the towering walls of Queenstown in the Federated Republic of America, the ruthless dictator Supreme Commander Martin’s stronghold. But with Marcos’s father controlling his life, freedom seems like an impossible dream. That is, until one daring move lands him in a secret labor camp, facing a future worse than death, and he encounters a secret rebel movement – The Underground.

But their rebellion won’t come without consequences. Martin and his toadies will stop at nothing to crush the Underground’s uprising, and the stakes are higher than ever. Will Marcos and his diverse group of friends’ determination and bravery be enough to free the camp, or will they too fall victim to Martin’s iron fist?

With thrilling action, unexpected betrayals, and a relentless quest for freedom, Divided is perfect for fans of classic YA dystopian fiction.

Review:

CC Robinson did a fantastic job bringing this harrowing story to life. The reader is transported into Martin’s territory and completely immersed in the post-apocalyptic world. This world is unique in that it is divided into areas, and yet beyond Martin’s reach, other areas might be better off.

The characters vary in mannerisms and knowledge, growing throughout the book with the new knowledge they gain. It is interesting to see how they connect when they finally meet others from different areas. I could feel the character’s emotions as they struggled to fight back. 

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic novels, this is an excellent book for you. I am excited to see what’s next.

Get your copy here (affiliate link – thanks for your support).

Synopsis (Taken from Amazon)

Chuck is one miserable, racist, nasty, and downright troubled person. He’s also a diehard foodie that takes great pride in making the last meals for death-row inmates. But when some of those prisoners begin haunting Chuck, making him explore his inner workings, things get uncomfortable, intense, and somehow appetizing.

Review

Like all of Peter Topside’s books, this one starts strong and keeps you entertained all the way through. He knows the world he created, and though this is in a different town, I love that it is still in the same world. Don’t worry, though—you don’t have to have read the other books to know what is happening here.

This is a delicacy of a book with a unique spin on a prison cook. Based on the first chapter, I thought I knew where it was leading, but I am glad it went in a different direction. The author immerses the reader into the story with imagery, which sometimes makes me cringe.

This is not too long of a novel, but it packs a full punch of entertainment. If you love something different and freakish, this is a great read.

Pick up your copy here (affiliate link – thank you for the support).