THE WAR BETWEEN US 
BY SARAH CREVISTON LEEPublication Date: December 14, 2015
Paperback & eBook; 330 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Editor’s Choice Award from the Historical Novel Society.
Alex Moon is not the enemy.
Six months after Pearl Harbor’s tragedy, Korean American Alex Moon is sent away from his home in California for refusing his father’s request to join the fight against the Japanese. On his journey, Alex is attacked and stranded in the small town of River Bluff, Indiana just for looking like America’s most hated enemy.
Unexpectedly, Alex is befriended by a local girl, Lonnie Hamilton, who comes to his defense, saving him from doubt and despair while placing herself in the cross hairs of prejudice. Alex falls in love with his ally—a love that is clearly forbidden. Torn between his dual identities, Korean and American, and grappling with how everyone sees him, Alex must wage the war within himself—of defending who he is, resolving his tortured feelings about the war, and fighting for the woman he loves.



AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUNDPraise for The War Between Us“Sarah Creviston Lee crafts a smart, fast-paced, uncensored, and quite moving story of embattled love and obstacles overcome. Even her unsavory characters are warmly, believably drawn, and the character of Lonnie Hamilton herself is wonderfully authentic. I read hungrily as the story picked up pace. Highly recommended.” -Laura Fahey, The Historical Novel Society
“Lonnie and Alex are perfect renderings of their time, cultures, and upbringings. Anyone familiar with multicultural literature will find a new author to love, and readers new to a beautifully developed look at a culture unlike ours will find a new genre to love. Lonnie isn’t immune to her town’s prejudice against Alex, but she is able to think things through before reacting. Alex is a moving and heartbreaking picture of a young man caught between two cultures and hated for events not of his making. Together, they are remarkable.” -Julie York, InD’Tale Magazine
“Debuting author Sarah Creviston Lee bursts into the historical fiction market with The War Between Us, a distinctive glimpse at post-Pearl Harbor America and the Asian American citizens caught in the resulting backlash of heightened nationalism and fear. Her honest and empathetic handling of the issues, as well as her complex characters, make this a read that remains with you after the cover is closed.” -Laurie L. C. Lewis, award-winning author of the Free Men and Dreamers series

Review:
​Six months ago the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and life changed for many people.  Alex Moon, a California native with Korean Ancestry is encouraged by his father to join up immediately to fight the Japanese. But Alex has seen what the American people have done to the Japanese-American citizens and refuses his father's request.  Because of this, Alex's father sends him on a train to his uncle in Washington, DC.  Alex gets off on a train stop in the small town of River Bluff, Indiana only to be accosted and beaten up by locals who see the enemy in Alex's skin color.  After being shipped to the police station, Reverend Hicks and his niece, Lonnie Hamilton come to check on Alex and offer him some kindness.  Alex finds himself stuck in River Bluff and seeks out a friendship Lonnie.  However, the rest of the town is determined to see Alex as one of the men that is fighting their sons overseas.  Tensions mount in the small town as Alex and Lonnie's friendship grows into something more.  Alex must face his identity as a Korean and American as well as his family's wishes for him.  

The War Between Us is a wartime romance that will sweep you off your feet.  This is a sweet and clean romance that develops into something much more as the prejudices of an entire town are brought to light.  Alex and Lonnie's characters are what brought me into the story and kept me interested.  On the surface, this is a simple love story.  However, both Lonnie and Alex are complex characters with intriguing stories.  From Alex I learned about the feelings and prejudices that Korean and Chinese Americans went through after the Pearl Harbor as well as the complexity of emotions he faced when dealing with people who despised him for what they believed him to be.  I did enjoy learning about some Korean customs and food as Alex introduced his culture to Lonnie.  Lonnie was also an amazing character who faced a different adversity of not living up to what others had planned for her.  Lonnie's grows a lot during the story as her mind shifts and realizes that you can not choose who you love.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author

Sarah Creviston Lee was born and raised as a proud Hoosier. She can usually be found tinkering in the kitchen with WWII ration recipes, haunting local antique shops, homeschooling her kids, clacking away on her laptop writing one story or another, or watching old school movies with her family.
She currently lives in Maryland with her husband, three children, and flock of feisty chickens.

In 2016, her book, The War Between Us, received the Editor’s Choice Award from the Historical Novel Society.
​
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A LIGHT OF HER OWN BY CARRIE CALLAGHAN
​Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Amberjack Publishing
Hardcover; 320 Pages
Genre: Fiction/Historical/Biographical


In Holland 1633, a woman’s ambition has no place.
Judith is a painter, dodging the law and whispers of murder to become the first woman admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guild. Maria is a Catholic in a country where the faith is banned, hoping to absolve her sins by recovering a lost saint’s relic.
Both women’s destinies will be shaped by their ambitions, running counter to the city’s most powerful men, whose own plans spell disaster. A vivid portrait of a remarkable artist, A Light of Her Own is a richly-woven story of grit against the backdrop of Rembrandt and an uncompromising religion.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | INDIEBOUND


​

Review:
Haarlem, Holland 1633, Judith Leyster is an apprentice painter to Frans de Grebber.  Judith is one of the only female painters along with Frans' daughter, Maria.  Judith will do anything to be admitted to the Guild so she can sell her work.  However, no female has ever been admitted.   Maria is working on a secret painting, although art is not her passion, religion and atoning for her own perceived sins comes first.  Judith is set on clawing her way to the top, and having independence.  Maria finds herself when she sets off on her own and discovers the art of healing and helping others.  The two women will need to find one another again as the men of the city decide to plot against the young, up and coming painters.


A Light of Her Own explores the lives of two little known female painters of the Dutch Golden Age.  I love learning about new and important female historical figures, Judith Leyster and Maria de Grebber were real painters.  History would obscure Judith's work and sell it under a man's name.  In the book, I enjoyed that the plot focused on the strained friendship of the two women and their faults.  The writing through Judith's eyes engaged me, the way Judith saw color, light and other features in the world around her transformed scenes that would typically be dull or boring into something magical.  Judith's ambition was also refreshing.  Though what she did was sometimes illegal or immoral, it was nothing that other male painters at the time weren't doing as well.  Maria's point of view shed light on the religious tones of the time in Holland as well as the social system.  The mystery of the disappearing linseed oil did help move the plot along, but was a little weak for me.  However, I did enjoy how Judith brought the truth out in the end. Overall, an engaging story that helps bring to light the lives of female Dutch Golden Age painters. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author
​
Carrie Callaghan is a writer living in Maryland with her spouse, two young children, and two ridiculous cats. Her short fiction has appeared in Weave Magazine, The MacGuffin, Silk Road, Floodwall, and elsewhere. Carrie is also an editor and contributor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She has a Master’s of Arts in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.



For more information, please visit Carrie Callaghan’s website and blog. You can also connect with her on Twitter and Goodreads.

About the Book:
Seventeen-year-old May Convery, unhappy with her privileged life in turn-of-the-century New York City, dreams of becoming a poet. When she meets the talented young Mike Bernard, an aspiring concert pianist, she immediately falls in love. But after their secret liaison is discovered, neither is prepared for the far-reaching consequences that will haunt them for decades. As Mike abandons serious music to ruthlessly defend his hard-won title, Ragtime King of the World, May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. It is not until years after their youthful romance, when they cross paths again, that they must finally confront the truth about themselves and each other. But is it too late?

The world of ragtime is the backdrop for a remarkable story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. From vaudeville’s greatest stars to the geniuses of early African American musical theater, an unforgettable cast of real-life characters populates this richly-fictionalized historical saga. 

Review:
May Convery is a young woman living in New York City's upper class neighborhood in 1895.  More than anything, May wants to make decisions of her own, including her love life and pursuit of poetry.  May plans on going after her dreams beginning by sharing her romantic poetry with her piano teacher and love interest, Mike Bernard.  Mike is faking it in the world in order to become a renowned musician. Mike and May's romance comes crashing down quickly as May's parents have other plans for May as Mrs. Theodore Livingstone.  Meanwhile, the world is being overtaken by ragtime music.  Mike quickly picks up the style and makes a name for himself as the Ragtime King of the World.  Mike and May go their different ways, but will never forget what they once had.

Temptation Rag is a look into the lives of some of the real-life stars of the ragtime era and is written by the wife of Mike Bernard's grandson.  While the story takes us from 1895 through 1920, the writing gives a good sense of the feeling of the ragtime era.  One of the most interesting themes of the book was the cultural appropriation of ragtime  music and how it persisted through time.  Mike Bernard, crowned the Ragtime King of the World and his competitor Ben Harney, dubbed the creator or Ragtime were both  white men.  The African-American pianists, such as Scott Joplin, Strap Hill and Otis Saunders had to fight for their recognition.  May's story, though fictionalized showed another side of the time period, though part of the upper class, May had no rights. Through time, May participates in the Women's Suffrage Movement, embraced her poetry and befriended African American artists.  With this, she was finally able to take control of her life and forgive events of the past.  Overall, a sweeping historical novel of the Ragtime era.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About The Journal of Angela Ashby:


I have great power.
That’s what she told me. The old fortune-teller at the school carnival.
I thought I was doing the right thing … with the magic journal she gave me. But nothing could prepare me for what happened next.
Or, for what I unleashed.

At a school carnival, a mysterious fortune-teller gives twelve-year-old Angela Ashby a journal and warns her to use it wisely. Nothing prepares Angela for the journal’s power—when she pours her heart onto its pages her desires come true.  

She tests the journal by conjuring a gnome, a unicorn, and a farting fairy and then uses it to stop the school bullies in their tracks. But the unintended consequences alienate her best friend and puts her favorite teacher in danger of losing her job.

After she shares her deepest desire of all—that her parents get back together—her adversary steals the journal, and Angela fears she will use it to bring mayhem to the entire school if she doesn’t get it back.   


Buy the Book:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY  

Review:
​
Twelve Year Old Angela Ashby is dealing with a lot at the moment.  Her parents are divorced and neither her mom or her dad seem to have time for her anymore. At school, there is a bully that loves to pick on Angela and her best friend, Mallory.  Things begin to change, however when Angela and Mallory attend their school's carnival.  A mysterious fortune teller gives each of the girls a gift, a necklace for Mallory and a journal for Angela.  The journal comes with a warning though, "With great power comes great responsibility."  It takes Angela a while to figure out what the warning means as the hopes and dreams that she writes down in her journal begin to come true in her life.

The Journal of Angela Ashby is an exciting and magical middle grade drama.  Angela and Mallory were wonderful main characters and the inclusion of fairies, gnomes and unicorns helps to keep the book entertaining.  The characters were realistic as pre-teens in their actions and motives.  I enjoyed that the journal was not only a source of fun, but also responsibility that helped Angela to realize the impacts of her actions on those around her as well as help her grow into a caring person.  There are also many good lessons on friendship, family and bullying.  As an adult reader, the middle of the book got a little boring for me as Angela continued to test out journal entries to see what would happen, although this is also where many of the fun characters come in, so middle grade readers may be more entertained.  Overall, an entertaining, supernatural adventure for middle grade readers.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 
​
Praise for THE JOURNAL OF ANGELA ASHBY

"Gardner has created a likable character in Angela, who faces off with the class bully in defense of herself and her best friend. Alternately full of sass and seriousness, Angela quickly learns that writing in her new journal may lead to some unintended consequences, some hilarious and some grave. An enjoyable tween romp about the familiar world of bullies mixed with a bit of magic, this one would be great for a class read or group discussion." ―Seattle Book Review

"The Journal of Angela Ashby is a middle grade fiction by Liana Gardner and is perfectly written for the target audience. A combination of magic, childhood troubles, social messages, and the need to think before acting is prevalent, and a lesson well ingrained into the pages, There is some good tension building, injections of humour, and character development. Angela and Mallory make a great team, perfectly complementing each other in the way close friends do. This is certainly a book I will read with my son when he is older, as I think it instills some important lessons and values,much like the old 80's and 90's cartoons used to do. While the book itself has a clear beginning and end, there are hints that a sequel may follow, and it's certainly something I would consider picking up. If you're looking for a story of friendship, childhood problems, and a healthy sprinkling of magic in everyday life, then look no further." ―K.J. Simmill, Award-Winning British Author

"The Journal of Angela Ashby by Liana Gardner is a charming story of action and consequence. Gardner presents her characters and their problems with an equal touch of magic and reality. This allows the message of the tale to come through while entertaining instead of preaching. Gardner does a great job of taking what could be a clichéd story and putting a few twists in it to keep it fresh and humorous." ―Kris Moger, Readers' Favorite

"The Journal of Angela Ashby is an engaging and fun coming-of-age story about a twelve-year-old girl who is suddenly the possessor of great power. I loved following as Angela began to appreciate her journal's powers and realized the importance of carefully considering everything she wished for.Throughout the story, Gardner addresses the issue of bullies and bullying, which is something all kids and most adults have to deal with at some point, and she shows how Angela learns to differentiate between solving the problem and descending into bullying behavior herself.Gardner also admirably addresses the stress and confusion felt by kids and tweens when their mom and dad get divorced. The Journal of Angela Ashby is a marvelous fantasy that brings up real-life issues without lowering the magic and fun potential for a moment, and Sam Shearon's illustrations really make it all come alive most brilliantly." ―Jack Magnus, Author    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Liana Gardner is the award-winning author of 7th Grade Revolution and the Misfit McCabeseries. Daughter of a rocket scientist and an artist, Liana combines the traits of both into a quirky yet pragmatic writer and in everything sees the story lurking beneath the surface. Engaged in a battle against leukemia and lymphoma, Liana spends much of her time at home, but allows her imagination to take her wherever she wants to go.

She fostered her love of writing after reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and discovering she had a great deal in common with the character Jo. The making up of stories, dramatic feelings, and a quick temper were enough for her to know she and Jo would have been kindred spirits.

Liana volunteers with high school students through the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP). ITEP unites business people and educators to prepare students for a meaningful place in the world of tomorrow. Working in partnership with industry and educators, ITEP helps young people “think globally and earn locally.”    


PHOTO CONTENT FROM LIANA GARDNER  


WEBSITE: http://lianagardner.com/
TWITTER: @lkgg
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16959433.Liana_Gardner
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/lianakgardner
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/liana.gardner/ 

MIAMI DAYS, HAVANA NIGHTS
BY LINDA BENNETT PENNELL
Publication Date: June 18, 2018
Soul Mate Publishing
eBook; 302 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romantic Suspense

Sometimes our biggest debts have nothing to do with money.
1926. When seventeen-year-old Sam Ackerman witnesses a mob hit, he is hustled out of New York under the protection of Moshe Toblinsky, A.K.A., the mob’s bookkeeper. Arriving in Miami with no money, no friends, and no place to hide, Sam’s only choice is to do as the gangster demands. Forced into bootlegging, Sam’s misery is compounded when he falls in love. Amazingly, the beautiful, devout Rebecca wants only him, but he cannot give her the life she deserves. When Prohibition ends, Sam begs the mobster to set him free. The price? A debt, as Toblinsky puts it, of friendship. A debt that will one day come due.
Present Day. History of American Crime professor Liz Reams has it all—early success, a tantalizing lead on new info about Moshe Toblinsky, and a wonderful man to love. Life is perfect. So what’s keeping her from accepting her guy’s marriage proposals? Confronting a long-standing personal debt sets her on a journey of self-discovery. While she delves ever deeper into Sam’s and Toblinsky’s relationship, her understanding of her own relationships increases as well, but the revelations come at a price. The emotional and physical dangers of her dual journeys may prove too big to handle.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Review:
​Sam Ackerman is a 17 year old Jewish boy trying to help his family with money in New York, 1926.  Sam finds out he can make an extra two dollars working for a gangster in a speakeasy.  Usually Sam is only tasked with cleaning up, however when Sam witnesses a hit and is tasked with dumping the body, he is seen by the police.  Sam is hurried out of New York and sent to a contact in Miami, Moshe Toblinsky, the mob's bookkeeper.  Indebted to the mob and Moshe, Sam continues working for the mob, now running alcohol back to the mainland.  Sam is housed with the Scheinberg family and can't help but take notice of their daughter, Rebecca.  Sam wants out of the mob in order to marry Rebecca, but is too far in.  It seems that he will always owe someone a favor.

Presently, Liz Reams is trying to fish out the next big discovery in American Crime.  She is desperately trying to keep up to her early career success from her last discovery about Al Capone, but keeps coming up empty.  Liz finally gets a break when she finds a news article with pictures, but she still needs to identify the man with the scar on his face and his connection to Moshe Toblisnsky.  However, now she is indebted to the man who lined up all of her contacts.

I always love a good dual time story and Miami Days Havana Nights is no exception.  The chapters alternated between Sam and Liz's points of views and each chapter always seemed to end on a small cliffhanger making me devour the next chapter so I could see what would happen next.   Both Sam and Liz had equally compelling stories and I'm glad that their relationship was only historical figure and researcher, what tied their stories together was simply their sense of obligation to those who have helped them.  Sam's story showed how kids were pulled into the mob and kept there.  Sam never had any intention of joining, he just wanted extra money to support his family, because of his ideals and work ethic, he was the perfect person to fulfill mob tasks.  From Sam's story, I also learned of the extent of the Jewish people within the mob.  Moshe Toblinsky's character is loosely based on Meyer Lansky.  LIz's story dives into the high pressure in the world of academia and research, especially as a female researcher looking into American Crime. I appreciated how Liz grew more aware of her actions and how she felt as she was digging deeper into Sam's life.  Overall, a fast-paced dual-time story exploring Florida's Jewish mob connections.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

About the Author
have been in love with the past for as long as I can remember. Anything with a history, whether shabby or majestic, recent or ancient, instantly draws me in. I suppose it comes from being part of a large extended family that spanned several generations. Long summer afternoons on my grandmother’s porch or winter evenings gathered around her fireplace were filled with stories both entertaining and poignant. Of course being set in the South, those stories were also peopled by some very interesting characters, some of whom have found their way into my work.
As for my venture in writing, it has allowed me to reinvent myself. We humans are truly multifaceted creatures, but unfortunately we tend to sort and categorize each other into neat, easily understood packages that rarely reveal the whole person. Perhaps you, too, want to step out of the box in which you find yourself. I encourage you to look at the possibilities and imagine. Be filled with childlike wonder in your mental wanderings. Envision what might be, not simply what is. Let us never forget, all good fiction begins when someone says to herself or himself, “Let’s pretend.”
I currently reside in the Houston area with my sweet husband and a German Shorthaired Pointer who thinks she’s a little girl.

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About Field Guide To The Birds Of North America
​
• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 7 edition (September 12, 2017)

This fully revised and updated edition of the best-selling North American bird field guide is the most up-to-date guide on the market.

Perfect for beginning to advanced birders, it is the only book organized to match the latest American Ornithologists’ Union taxonomy. With more than 2.75 million copies in print, this perennial bestseller is the most frequently updated of all North American bird field guides. Filled with hand-painted illustrations from top nature artists, this latest edition is poised to become an instant must-have for every serious birder in the United States and Canada.

The 7th edition includes 37 new species for a total of 1,023 species. Sixteen new pages allow for 250 fresh illustrations, 80 new maps, and 350 map revisions. With taxonomy updated to recent significant scientific rearrangement, the addition of standardized banding codes, and text completely vetted by birding experts, this new edition will stand at the top of the list of birding field guides for years to come.



Review:

I use field guides almost daily within my career and personal life and know the value of a good field guide.  For bird field guides alone, I have almost an entire shelf dedicated to different types of field guides.  Each type of field guide fulfills a different role.  The National Geographic Field Guides have always held a special place with their comprehensive content and wonderful illustrations. The newest edition of National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America does not disappoint.  The first thing I look for in a field guide is how the birds are organized and how I will be able to find what I am looking for.  This edition follows our new understanding of bird lineages and categorizes families accordingly, at first glance this offers no huge changes for the birds I usually look for, but might throw me for a loop when looking for something new.  There are several ways to find birds in the guide including a quick find index in the front flap of major groups of birds in alphabetical order, visual guides on fold-out flaps, an index, contents and a thumb guide along the side.  The quick-find index worked best for me and the visual guides are a huge asset to new bird-lovers.  

As always, the illustration quality is superb and shows the average bird while pointing out special features and identifying markers.  Male and female sexual dimorphism is illustrated as well as differences in juvenile and adult birds.  Range maps have been updated and are color coded and keyed for easy use.  The information that accompanies each illustration includes size of the bird, descriptions of markings, the call or voice of each bird and description of the range.  Since this is a field guide for the entirety of North America, I would not choose this as my everyday field guide when I know I will only be seeing birds that would be covered in a more compact field guide; however, due to the extensive knowledge and expansive details compiled in National Geographic's Field Guide to Birds of North America, this is always my go to guide for traveling out of my local area. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About When Women Ruled the World
• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (October 30, 2018)

This riveting narrative explores the lives of six remarkable female pharaohs, from Hatshepsut to Cleopatra–women who ruled with real power–and shines a piercing light on our own perceptions of women in power today.

Female rulers are a rare phenomenon–but thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, women reigned supreme. Regularly, repeatedly, and with impunity, queens like Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Cleopatra controlled the totalitarian state as power-brokers and rulers. But throughout human history, women in positions of power were more often used as political pawns in a male-dominated society. What was so special about ancient Egypt that provided women this kind of access to the highest political office? What was it about these women that allowed them to transcend patriarchal obstacles? What did Egypt gain from its liberal reliance on female leadership, and could today’s world learn from its example?

Celebrated Egyptologist Kara Cooney delivers a fascinating tale of female power, exploring the reasons why it has seldom been allowed through the ages, and why we should care.

Review:
When Women Ruled the World provides an in-depth examination of six female Egyptian rulers who were able to take hold and keep power within Ancient Egypt. The reigns of Merneith, Neferusobek, Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, Tawosret and Cleopatra are investigated combining strong research and intricate story telling.  Author Kara Cooney combines facts along with what was known about the political environment, climate and world affairs at the time to weave a plausible life story of each of these amazing women. With very little sources available, the conditions under which the six women were able to take hold and continue their rule are investigated and connected in many ways to our current political scene in the United States and the realities that women in politics face today.  There were also many other comparisons to current life that made the world of the Ancient Egyptians easy to understand.  I was very interested in the ways that these women were able to come to power, often at the end of a Dynasty when there was no other choice and when everything seemed to be falling apart, the women were there to pick the pieces up and put things back together.  I am by no means an Egypt specialist, but I have always been intrigued by their way of life.  The writing style and information was presented in an entertaining way and was easy to understand.  Looking at Egypt through the eyes of these six extraordinary women gave a very different view to an often misunderstood and glamorized time of history as well as much insight into how women behave in roles that are still seen as masculine to this day.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Purchase Links: 
National Geographic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

​About Kara Cooney
KARA COONEY is a professor of Egyptology at UCLA. Her academic work focuses on death preparations, afterlife beliefs, and gender studies. She has participated in digs with the Metropolitan Museum of New York at the Royal Pyramid complex of Senwosret III and the Theban Necropolis with Johns Hopkins University. She appeared as a lead expert in the popular Discovery Channel special The Secrets of Egypt’s Lost Queen, and is a recurring team member of the History Channel’s Digging for the Truth. Her book The Woman Who Would Be King was published in 2014.
Find out more about Kara at her website, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Author Links: 
Website, Facebook, and Twitter

About the Book:
Title: SHE DID IT! 21 WOMEN WHO CHANGED THE WAY WE THINK
Author: Emily Arnold McCully
Pub. Date: November 6, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 272

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD


Prepare to discover new heroes among these twenty-one women who challenged the status quo, championed others, and made their voices heard. From Jane Addams to Alice Waters, from groundbreaking artists and social justice advocates to scientific pioneers and business innovators, a strong thread of trailblazing women runs through American history. Written in compelling, accessible prose and vividly illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully, this collection of inspiring and expertly researched profiles charts the bold paths these women forged in the twentieth century.
The subjects profiled include:

Jane Addams                    Ethel Percy Andrus                           Ella Baker                            Gertrude Berg
Rachel Carson                  Shirley Chisholm                               Joan Cooney                        Isadora Duncan
Barbara Gittings                Temple Grandin                                Grace Hopper                       Dolores Huerta                            Billie Jean King                  Dorothea Lange                               Patsy Mink                            Vera Rubin
Margaret Sanger                Gladys Tantaquidgeon                    Ida M. Tarbell                         Madame C. J. Walker
Alice Waters                       Second Wave Feminism


Review:

Women are often the driving force behind positive changes we see in the world, however, their accomplishments are often overshadowed by their male counterparts or simply swept under the rug of history.  She Did It!  profiles 21 women who have inspired positive change in US history.  Each profile includes a mini-biography of the woman's life from birth to death or present time.  Their inspirations, failures, hardships and successes are all included.  Their journeys were rarely easy.  The writing is done so that middle grade readers can clearly understand, complete with definitions and vocabulary; although it is still informative for an adult reader.   Many of women who are profiled are women that I have heard of, some were not.  I was impressed with the variety of women throughout time, women from different backgrounds, ethnic groups and who led change in areas from human rights, civil rights, equality, the arts, media and the sciences.  

I was very happy that the book included some of my personal heroines including Rachel Carson, Isadora Duncan, Grace Hopper and Temple Grandin.  Many of these women are not well known outside of their own spheres of influence; however changes that were affected by their advancements are still in use today.  I was glad to read about the difficult parts of their lives, their struggles and perseverance for what they wanted to accomplish.  It is important to know that creating change is not usually easy, but still very possible.  I was also happy to learn about women who I was unaware of including Gladys Tataquidgeon, a leader for Native American rights and culture, Ella Baker, who was integral in the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King and Alice Waters, whose work with food accessibility is still being accomplished today.  As I read through these women's stories, I began to see that even as they lived at different times and were champions of different causes, that each victory they had connected to and helped fuel the next, fully revealing the meaning of sisterhood.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About Emily:
Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.


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Tour Schedule:
Week One:
11/5/2018- YA Books Central- Excerpt
11/6/2018- Such a Novel Idea- Review
11/7/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
11/8/2018- What A Nerd Girl Says- Review
11/9/2018- BookHounds YA- Review


Week Two:
11/12/2018- Novel Novice- Excerpt
11/13/2018- 100 Pages A Day- Review
11/14/2018- Texan Holly Reads- Review
11/15/2018- Two points of interest- Review
11/16/2018- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

About The Splendor of Birds
• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (October 23, 2018)

An elegant collection of the best artwork and photography from the National Geographic archives depicting the magnificence of birds.

Bird, nature, and art lovers alike will treasure this sumptuous visual celebration of the colors, forms, and behaviors of the winged wonders who share our world as they have been explored, displayed, and revealed throughout the years by National Geographic. The book moves chronologically so readers witness the tremendous growth in our knowledge of birds over the last 130 years, as well as the new frontiers in technology and observation–from luminous vintage paintings and classic black and white photographs to state-of-the art high-speed and telephoto camera shots that reveal moments rarely seen and sights invisible to the human eye. The wide diversity of pictures captures beloved songbirds outside the kitchen window, theatrical courtship dance of birds of paradise, tender moments inside a tern’s nest, or the vivid flash of a hummingbird’s flight. Readers will delight in seeing iconic species from around the world through the eyes of acclaimed National Geographic wildlife photographers such as Chris Johns, Frans Lanting, Joel Sartore, and Tim Laman and reading excerpted passages from Arthur A. Allen, Roger Tory Peterson, Douglas Chadwick, Jane Goodall, and other great explorers. Exquisitely produced and expertly curated, this visual treasury displays as never before the irresistible beauty, grace, and intelligence of our feathered friends.


Purchase Links
​National Geographic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Review:

The Splendor of Birds is a magnificent photographic history of National Geographic's work with birds.  As a bird enthusiast, I was delighted by the full page artwork and photography of birds over the years.  The book is split into four sections that chronicle the years 1888, when National Geographic was conceived through the present.  As I made my way through the years, I enjoyed reading about the change in focus from hunting birds to conserving and observing birds.  It was interesting to note how human's interactions with birds has been molded and changed throughout history with photographs comparing then and now.  I learned many things about bird behavior, feeding, nesting, mating, and the technology that has allowed us to learn about birds along with some of the major players in ornithology throughout the years.  It is clear that conservation has become the focus for birds today, and while the issue was brought up several times throughout the book, there is only one page at the very end that has information on what we can do to help birds thrive.  I thought this should have a more prominent place in the book.  Overall, an amazing collection of avian artwork and photography throughout the years that any nature lover, enthusiast or professional would enjoy.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

About the Book:
Everyone does bad things when no one is watching
Mercilessly bullied in high school, Ava knows she needs to put the past behind her and move on, but she can’t—not until she’s exacted precise, catastrophic revenge on the people who hurt her the most.
First, she watches Saanvi. Flawlessly chic and working hard at a top architectural firm, Saanvi has it all together on the surface. But everyone does bad things when they think no one is watching and Ava only wants what’s fair—to destroy Saanvi’s life the way her own was destroyed.
Next, she watches Cass. She’s there as Cass tries on wedding dresses, she’s there when Cass picks out a cake, she’s there when Cass betrays her fiancé. She’s the reason Cass’s entire future comes crashing down.
Finally, Ava watches Mel. Mel was always the ringleader and if anyone has to pay, it’s her. But one tiny slipup and Ava realizes the truth: Mel knows she’s being watched, and she’s ready to play Ava’s games to the bitter end.



Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble​
​
Review:
​Ava has a confession to make, she knows something about the disappearance of high school classmate, Mel.  As she waits to be interviewed by the detective, Ava recounts the choices that led to her sitting in the police station.  In high school Ava wanted nothing more than to be friends with Mel, Saanvi and Cass.  However, when Ava proves her worth to ringleader Mel, she begins to see the truth of the girls and their friendship.  Still, Ava does what she needs to do to stay within their good graces, even when Mel makes life more and more difficult for Ava.  After high school is over, Ava can't shake the feeling that she was wronged by the girls; she stalks them on social media and then in real life, watching for when they will make a mistake, something she can use to destroy their life, like they did to her.  Some of the players are easy to destroy, but Mel proves more difficult.  As Ava carries out the game she has created, she wonders if she has turned into the psycho that they called her in high school.


The Spite Game is a psychological thriller that is all about revenge.  There really isn't much mystery here as the book begins with Ava going to the police to confess, the suspense is built as we find out exactly what happened to Ava and what she did.  I was glued to the pages as Ava's story unfolded and her retribution is brought to fruition.  It did take me a chapter or two to realize that the book is set in Australia and to grasp language and setting differences.  The timeline also skips back and forth through Ava's memories as she attempts to piece all of the important events together in her head, which is slightly discombobulating.  This style of writing did keep me turning pages, though, as Ava slowly revealed the terrible things that happened to her and how she managed to right them, at least in her mind.  As events unfolded, I thought a lot about the psychology of what the girls did in high school along with what Ava did as an adult.  It was really interesting to read a book where none of the main character were likable and to see how everything turned out for Ava at the end.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.