Intentions by Deborah Heiligman

The last thing that Rachel thought she would find in the sanctuary of her synagogue was the Rabbi having sex. But there he was, up on the bima, having sex...and with a woman who is not his wife. The foundation of Rachel's world starts to crack. Her parents are fighting more than ever. Her grandmother isn't always lucid (and doesn't always know who Rachel is). And now the Rabbi, the man who she respected and who guided her spiritual life, has been revealed to be a terrible sinner. How can she face him? How can she continue to listen to him talk about God and religion and faith? How can anything in her life be the same?

This was a new spin on the betrayal aspect for me; I don't think I've seen a storyline where a girl loses faith in her Rabbi and then acts out in frustration and anger. The cover, while attention-grabbing, doesn't quite match the book; I find it to hint at darker content (I'm not sure why...the model's eyes, perhaps?) than Intentions actually has. Rachel as a character is grown up in many ways and so young in others. Many of her ideas about sex and relationships are naive but she's also recognizing very adult desires in herself. Characters like that are intriguing to me because there's so much potential; they can go in almost any direction because their whole worlds are shifting. There are a lot of interesting ideas mixed in with the storyline: the intention behind your actions, putting good out into the world, fixing a broken world, taking responsibility for your actions, trusting people who have wronged you, and what it means to be a good person. I was a big fan of Deborah Heiligman's Charles and Emma and I really enjoyed reading a novel from her (and I hope there will be more - of both her fiction and non-fiction).

See more at Deborah Heiligman's website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman
Gravity by Leanne Lieberman
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt

The End: 50 Apocalyptic Visions From Pop Culture That You Should Know About...Before It's Too Late by Laura Barcella

There are some days where it seems like the end of the world could happen at any time. Global warming, terrorism, zombies: the end is near...at least in the movies. Films, books, plays, and art show some of the ways that people have expressed their views on the end of the world. In The End, 50 different visions of the apocalypse are explored in detail, examining how the world ends (and how likely it is to happen in real life).

There was something oddly reassuring about reading this book. Almost every scenario, whether it included viruses or zombies or the flooding of the entire earth, was said to be extremely unlikely to happen in real life - or, if it did, to have very different results than are shown in pop culture. I knew that I was going to like this book when one of the first things Laura Barcella talked about was the scarcity of women in strong, leading roles during "the end." Why is the apocalypse such a male-dominated event? Where are women while the world is ending? I also love serious explorations of popular culture; while this book maintains a light, often humorous tone, it does believe that there is something to be gained from examining how authors, directors, and artists have positioned the end of the world. Like many of Zest Books' other titles, this just screams "high interest" and is worth considering for inclusion in a library's non-fiction collection.

Check out Laura Barcella's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Zest books.

Find it at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's website.

Read it with:
The Stand by Stephen King
How to Fight, Lie, and Cry Your Way to Popularity (And a Prom Date) by Nikki Roddy
Reel Culture by Mimi O'Connor
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien 

The Mystery of the Messed-Up Wedding by Elspeth Campbell Murphy illustrated by Chris Wold Dyrud

Sarah-Jane, Timothy and Titus are cousins who also like to solve mysteries. That's why they formed the Three Cousins Detective Club! They're visiting their grandparents and there's going to be a wedding a their Grandpa's church (he's a Pastor). Sarah-Jane is excited, because she thinks weddings are wonderful; Timothy and Titus think that weddings are weird. Before the wedding, the groom shows up to say that the wedding ring is missing! The three cousins are on the case! But instead of finding the ring, they discover that the bridge/groom topper has been inverted into the cake, and someone is popping the balloons on the wedding car. Someone is out to stop the wedding, but can the T.C.D.C. stop that person before it's too late?

Caution: spoilers below!

When I was younger, I read one of the books in this series (mysteries based on the Ten Commandments); I think it might have been The Mystery of the Laughing Cat.  Later, when I realized what the word meant, I wondered how a children's book would cover the topic of "You shall not commit adultery." The answer is: vaguely.  Before heading to the wedding, the family discusses their favourite Bible verses (including the Ten Commandments). Titus asks what adultery is, and Grandpa answers: "That commandment is a special law for husbands and wives, Titus. When two people get married they make an important promise to God and to each other. They promise they will love each other - and only each other - in a special way. That's why people wear wedding rings The rings show that the people have made a promise. Adultery is when the promise is broken." The ring is used in this book as a promise between the bride and the groom. When the ring went missing I had hoped (foolishly) that the real thief was someone the groom was having an affair with, but of course it wasn't. This book does a great job at balancing a grown-up topic in a children's book. The mystery is a bit flimsier, mainly because aside from the cousins, their grandparents and the groom there's really only one other character who's even introduced. But, at only 40 pages, what more could really be done in this book? The series is long out of print but if you're curious about it you might be able to find it at a library or bookstore.

Check out Elspeth Campbell Murphy's website. 

Find it at Amazon. 

Read it with:
The Mystery of the Laughing Cat by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of the Gravestone Riddle by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of the Carousel Horse by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

The Mystery of the Silly Goose by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Timothy, Sarah-Jane, and Titus are more than just cousins; they also solve mysteries around their neighbourhood. They've created the Three Cousins Detective Club (TCDC) and often find themselves in the middle of one mystery or another. When Lyddie, an older girl who isn't always very nice to the three of them, tells them that she needs their help, they have no idea what to expect. Lawn ornaments have gone missing from lawns all over the neighbourhood, including Lyddie's grandmother's darling goose. She wants the TCDC to find out what happened and bring the goose back. The TCDC isn't sure where to start, but the lawn ornaments won't be gone for long once they're on the case!

Years ago, when I was a young girl, I read a series of books that were based on the Ten Commandments. Years later this information surfaced to the front of my brain and I discovered the work of Elspeth Campbell Murphy. I don't think that I read any of the Three Cousins Detective Club books as a child, but there was something about them that seemed like it could have been familiar. The book started with a Biblical quote from Proverbs, but that was really the only overt mention of The Bible or religion in the book. There were themes of living an honest life and being true and fair with your actions, but it was worked into the life and behaviours of the characters. The mystery isn't too scary and the kids are never in danger; they use their head to piece information together and never do anything that goes against their moral compass. This series is, I believe, out of print, but if you are looking for Bible-inspired titles or books like that for young readers, do look up the work of Elspeth Campbell Murphy.

Find out more about Elspeth Campbell Murphy at her website.

Find it at Amazon. 

Read it with:
The Mystery of the White Elephant by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of the Silent Nightingale by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
The Mystery of Wrong Dog by Elspeth Campbell Murphy

Women Will Save the World by Caroline A. Shearer edited by Sarah Hackley

Inspired by a quote from the Dalai Lama that "The world will be saved by the Western woman," Caroline A. Shearer had a vision to bring together accounts of feminine traits such as collaboration, nurturing, creativity, strength, and intuition. Women Will Save the World is filled with biographies of historical women who made a difference as well as essays written by women of today who have faced many different obstacles - medical, financial, spiritual - and survived.

Many of the women profiled were new to me, and I always appreciate the opportunity to read about successful women and learn how they have accomplished what they have. I also enjoyed the short biographies of the more well-known historical figures. This approach helped to ground the essays in a feminist and historical context. At times I did feel that the focus of the book was narrowing; without taking anything away from the contributors who are profiled in this book, I would love to hear more from other women from many different backgrounds.  I sometimes lost the thread of how this was going to "save the world" while at other times thinking that it veered into self-help territory. I think, though, that ultimately those two go hand-in-hand. How can women 'help' themselves? By using the traits and behaviours of positive female role models. Women Will Save the World isn't trying to be everything to everyone; its focus is on sharing stories of strong, successful Western (in this case, American) women. Read this in connection with some other explorations about female power and see all of the ways that women have been and will continue to contribute to the world.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Absolute Love Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
No Excuses by Gloria Feldt
Women of Color and Feminism by Maythee Rojas
Feminism and Pop Culture by Andi Zeisler
Dead End Date by Caroline A. Shearer

Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

When a modeling consultant comes to Lily's school, the last thing that Lily thinks is that she might have the chance to become a model! Her wild hair is what everyone always notices, and it's not exactly something that models are known for. She's excited to learn about beauty, poise, and taking care of herself. Her parents, on the other hand, aren't quite as excited, and wonder if Lily is able to find God in her modeling. Lily isn't sure what that means, and before she has a chance to think about it, she gets sidetracked by dealing with a mean kid in her class who makes other people feel bad. Lily's life has gotten really complicated; is this a chance for her to figure out who she really is?

 Lily is a very likeable character. Yes, she does get up with the whole modeling thing, but her sudden interest comes from a believable place. Less believable to me was the idea of a modeling agent coming to a school under the guise of health, but I'm sure it has happened somewhere at some point. There are some strong messages in this book about standing up for yourself, believing in yourself, and how the important beauty is on the inside. These ideas are woven around the idea of serving God and doing His work on earth. There will be more books in this series, so look for more of Lily's adventures to come.

See more at Nancy Rue's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Thomas Nelson.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Beauty Book by Nancy Rue
S.A.V.E. Squad #1: Dog Daze by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Damp Wright
Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams by Cecelia Galante

Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean by Yael Mermelstein with illustrations by Carrie Hartman

Izzy the Whiz loves to invent things. His mother is worried because it's almost Passover and there's still so much to do, but Izzy tells her not to worry: his new invention, Passover McClean, will have the house clean in no time! But Passover McClean doesn't quite work as Izzy was expecting...will he have everything back to normal by the time his mom comes back?

There are two things that I love about this book. One is that it is so deeply immersed in Jewish life and tradition, and the other is that it has the power to reflect anyone's life. The celebration of Pesach and the ritual cleaning of hametz is unique to Jewish people who observe this holiday, and it's wonderful to see a children's picture book that reflects this. At the same time, though, there's a wonderful universal quality about the book. Whether or not someone fully understands what hametz means (I did not) is not needed to enjoy this book. It's about a boy who invents a machine that doesn't work as he planned. It could be anyone's story, but it's specifically Izzy's story, and his story includes Passover and hametz and other aspects of Jewish life. That makes it accessible to all readers and provides the opportunity to learn more about another religion and culture. The illustrations are soft and fanciful, and it's always cool to see a kid who's interested in science (and science experiments). This is a great pick for public libraries looking to diversify their picture book collections; it might end up in a holiday collection, but it's worth checking out at any time of the year.

Yael Mermelstein is the winner of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award.  Carrie Hartman has a website and a blog where you can see more of her illustration.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Books / Kar-Ben Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Barnyard Purim by Kelly Terwilliger
Hannah's Way by Linda Glaser
Going on a Hametz Hunt by Jacqueline Jules

The Other Side of Suffering by John Ramsey

John Ramsey knows why you know his name. On December 26, 1996, his daughter JonBenet was reported kidnapped from her bed; she was later found murdered in their basement. While John and his family lived in a world of grief, they also lived under the shadow of suspicion by the Boulder Police Department. The police thought that John and his wife Patsy were the most likely suspects, and tabloids soon published all kinds of outlandish stories naming John and his family as the guilty parties. Over a decade later, John and Patsy were finally cleared of all suspicion in a formal announcement where it was revealed that there had never been any evidence that connected them to the crime. How could a family stand it? How could John Ramsey deal with so much tragedy in his life and come through to the other side of suffering? This is his story of how his life changed and shattered and how his faith in God helped him to put the pieces back together.

I was twelve at the time of Christmas 1996, so I have very strong memories of the Ramsey murder case. I remember the way that the media tore into the story; I remember the images splashed all over televisions and tabloids. This book, while about John Ramsey's journey of suffering and healing, starts out with and spends a fair amount of time on the loss of his youngest daughter. There are details that I knew along with things that I had known at the time but forgotten (such as John losing his oldest daughter in an accident only years before) and things that I never knew about the family (like how they never went back into their Boulder home after leaving it after the murder was discovered). The book talks a lot about John's religious faith and how it has provided comfort and guidance to him over the last two decades. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he frequently goes to the book of Job, but it's clear that his faith is something that is very deeply a part of his identity. This will be a book that will be of interest to readers of true crime as well as people looking for spiritual guidance through tough times.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of FaithWords.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Death of Innocence by John and Patsy Ramsay
JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation by Steve Thomas with Don Davis
Madeleine by Kate McCann

Kasher in the Rye by Moshe Kasher

The book subtitle pretty much sums it up: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16. Born to deaf parents, Moshe Kasher's life was different from the norm from the start. After they divorced, his parents went in very different ways. His mother (Kasher's primary custodial parent) became a student with a strong feminist streak that manifested through bashing her ex-husband at every opportunity. His father threw himself into his Judaism and eventually married into the Satmars, a Chassidic sect. Before he was five, people were already trying to figure out what was 'wrong' with him, and in what might be considered a self-fulfilling prophecy, Kasher later turned to drugs, alcohol, and crime. This is the story of how a kid with a seventh-grade education and a very smart mouth navigated the dark hole that he went down - and how he got back out.

Kasher in the Rye is more than just an awesome title with a clever cover. It's a very funny, very honest, very compelling memoir. In writing about his early life, Kasher points out the factors that had an impact on his life without getting bogged down in assigning blame. The candor with which he writes gives this book an authenticity and it made me root for this messed up boy who was doing such terrible things. There's a part of me that would love a counterpoint memoir from his brother, not because I want to disprove anything in this book or poke holes in it, but I am just so genuinely curious about what things were like from his brother's perspective. Some of the scenes just scream cinematic potential  (the secret intervention from an interpreter, the discovery of a deaf kid at one of his schools), which again speaks to the pictures that Kasher is able to paint with words. I want more from him and his point of view - there is his comedy, of course, but I'm also greedy enough to want more books from him.

Find out more information about him at his website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Grand Central Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Teen Angst? Naaah by Ned Vizzini
We All Fall Down by Nic Sheff

S.A.V.E. Squad #1: Dog Daze by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Damp Wright

Aneta's life has gone through a lot of changes lately. She was recently adopted and is still adjusting to having a mom and a family. She's terrified that if she's not good enough, she will be sent back to the orphanage. Her English isn't strong and she's very shy and quiet, which makes it hard to make friends. Then she ends up working with three other girls on a community fundraiser project for Founder's Day. She has nothing in common with the other girls and they're having a really hard time coming up with a great idea. Then they find an abandoned Basset Hound, and they get the idea to have a dog-themed fundraiser. But their rival group is determined to sabotage Aneta and her friends, and Aneta is having a hard time convincing her mom that she should adopt the Basset Hound. How is Aneta going to make sure that everything works out in the end?

For such a small book, there sure is a lot going on. Aneta's struggle with her new life comes through in really interesting ways. When the story starts, she's called Annette by her mother but comes to the realization that she wants to be called Aneta, her birth name. She's still getting used to the idea of being a "Jasper" and thinks that she has to mold herself into someone that she isn't in order to get to be able to stay with her mother. Even the way she refers to her mother, as Mom, is a small point that illustrated the distance Aneta was putting between herself and the idea that she had a 'forever home.' She would say things like "I have to talk to Mom before I can do that," as if the woman's name was Mom and rarely possessive phrases like "my mom." I was a bit surprised to see a very dark scene involving the discovery of the Basset Hound, later named Wink - someone attempted to kill him by throwing him into a lake. This was a very fast way to set up the 'bad guy' as a truly terrible villain - who else would want to kill a dog? The mystery of discovering the identity of the attempted dog murderer had an almost Scooby Doo-like quality about it; I almost expected the person to exclaim that they would have gotten away if not for those meddling kids. Religion and church life are threads that run through the book, tying the plot together, and at several times the girls talk about being Christians. Parents and kids who are looking for a series featuring strong girls and cute animals wrapped up in an overtly Christian message should definitely keep an eye out for this series.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Barbour Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
S.A.V.E. Squad #2: The Great Cat Caper by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Wright
What a Pair #1: Double Trouble by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Gabby's Stick-To-It Day by Sheila Walsh

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

1985 is a pretty terrible year for Apron. As if it wasn't bad enough that her mother died, her father has taken up with her mom's nurse - who's now pregnant. Her father has retreated into his academic life, leaving Apron alone with the woman who hates her. Apron's friends are growing distant and her grandmother can only help so much, and she might even have to give away her pet guinea pig. The only bright spot in her life is Jesus - not the actual Jesus, but the guy who played Jesus in a local production of Jesus Christ Superstar. His name is Mike, and his aunt lives next door to Apron's family. As Apron gets to know Mike, she learns about what a great guy he is and spends time helping out Mike and his boyfriend Chad with their flower shop. But even this happiness comes with dark clouds, because Apron learns about other people's homophobia and Chad keeps getting sicker and sicker.

I could tell when reading it that this was a story that meant a lot to its author. All books, yes, mean a lot to their authors, but this story seems like it is deeply connected to Jennifer Gooch Hummer. You don't start writing this book because you think it's going to be a fun story. And yet, saying that somehow sells it short. Parts of Girl Unmoored are very dark and sad, but it's not defined by despair. Apron in particular is a fascinating character. Her process of dealing with her grief and frustration mixed with the more conventional transitions of growing up allow for her to be a character all her own. The entire book takes place over a span of a few months, showing how quickly one's life can change.  Spoiler alert: get some Kleenex along with this book, because by the last few chapters I was definitely needing some.

Learn lots more about Girl Unmoored and Jennifer Gooch Hummer at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Fiction Studio Books.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Bummer Summer by Ann M. Martin
Positively by Courtney Sheinmel
Same-Sex Marriage by Tricia Andryszewski

The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger and illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

A young girl and her mother are moving into a new house. Her mom says it's going to be an adventure...but the girl thinks it's more like a disaster! The house is a mess, there's garbage everywhere, and the neighbours don't exactly seem friendly. The girl is ready to give up; even worse, her mom is losing her faith in having the house of her dreams. How can any good come out of this situation?

There's a lovely sense of ambiguity about the set-up of the book. It's not spelled out why the mother and daughter need to move; some ideas that came to my mind were divorce or a finance-based downsizing. Similarly, the little girl isn't given a name, and neither is her mom. By not being too specific, the reader can fill in their own ideas and personalize the story. I also loved the progression of the illustration and how the pictures changed from having a gray, washed out tone to being vibrant and colourful. The illustrations will appeal to kids who like realistic styles (some of the pictures almost look like photographs), but there's also a dreamy, misty quality that's unlike many picture books that I've seen. This could be a good choice for children who are going through changes in their lives and are looking for a bit of reassurance that things can still turn out okay.

Check out Jo S. Kittinger's website for more information about the author and Thomas Gonzalez's website for more information about the illustrator.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Peachtree Publishers.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Mooshka: A Quilt Story by Julie Paschkis
14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
Rosa's Bus by Jo S. Kittinger

Gabby's Stick-To-It Day by Sheila Walsh

According to the Bible, children are watched over by angels. These angels help to keep them safe but also help them to live the best lives they can. Lately Gabby, one of God's little angels, has noticed something about Sophie, the little girl that she watches over. Sophie is a sweet girl, but she gives up on things too easily! Whenever something gets hard, Sophie just quits. Can Gabby do something to show Sophie how important perseverance is?It's not going to be easy, but Gabby isn't going to give up!

This book has the sweetness of the Precious Moments figurines that were so popular when I was growing up. Gabby is an engaging little angel, determined to take care of Sophie and help her to live a positive life. Sophie, too, is a likeable character. She seems goodhearted and genuine in wanting to help others; she just has a hard time following through when things get a bit tough or messy. It's hard to see this being a mainstream crossover success (in terms of being a bestseller), but I can easily see it resonating with parents looking for an explicitly Christian series to read together with their children.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Gabby, God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh
The Donkey that No One Could Ride by Anthony DeStefano
Jesus: He Lived Among Us by R.F. Palavicini and Steve Cleary

The Donkey That No One Could Ride by Anthony DeStefano and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey

This little donkey is very small and weak. He isn't strong enough to support people, or carry things, or really do much of anything! His owner is fed up and decides to get rid of him. What's a poor donkey to do? But when two men approach him and tell him that they have a special job for him, he has no idea how his life is going to change!

The animals in the Christmas Nativity and the donkey who carries Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem have long been popular in children's stories, so it's nice to see a new story about Christ's life as told through the eyes of an animal. The illustrations in this book are very strong; there are humorous pages (like the donkey in a ditch, or being hefted into the air by a heavy load) and there are sad pages (like when the donkey cries or is sent away by his owner). Hints in the background also suggest that while this (spoiler alert!) ends up being a joyous time for the donkey, it's a very different time for Jesus (see the determined expression on Jesus' face as they enter the city or and the three crosses in the background in the last pages of the book). This makes it a good choice for families to read and discuss together. I can see this being a favourite Easter gift for religious families, and a popular seasonal pick that public libraries might want to have on their shelves.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Harvest House Publishers.

Check out Anthony DeStefano and Richard Cowdrey's websites.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Animal Lullabies by Pam Conrad
Animals of the Bible by Mary Hoffman
The Donkey's Christmas Song by Nancy Tafuri
This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano
Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Life in Pandemonium is all that Daphne's really known. She's the daughter of Lilith and Lucifer, half-demon and half-fallen angel. Her brother, Obie, rejected Pandemonium and went to Earth - and now he's missing. Daphne is determined to find him, and she needs the help of Truman, the last person to have seen Obie. But Truman is fighting battles of his own - a dependency on alcohol and a lack of will to live. Will they be able to overcome these demons, both personal and physical, and find Obie? Or will their quest meet a very violent end?

Don't Brenna Yovanoff's books have beautiful covers? I was enticed to pick up The Replacements because of its eye-catching cover (even though I eventually ended up listening to an audiobook version), and this cover is intricately designed and hauntingly beautiful. That's also a great way to describe the story. Daphne is driven by love and fear and there are some large questions raised in this book about love, relationships, duty, destiny, and family - not to mention the whole concept of good vs. evil. There are lots of creepy, atmospheric details that expanded on these themes. After a strong beginning, I got a bit lost in the middle, but the book grabbed me back for a solid ending (so it could just have been the timing of my own reading experience). I just put the book down, and I'm already excited about reading Yovanoff's next book.

I received a review copy from Penguin Canada.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff
Paradise Lost by John Milton
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare