Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording your Degree explains how college-bound students, as well as current students, can slash the cost of getting their degree. Authors Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro provide many strategies to help readers make college more affordable. They include reducing the amount that families are expected to pay, finding scholarships, getting loans, accessing grants, and more. There are literally hundreds of tips. As anyone who has waded through financial information knows, it can be complex and confusing. So Walter and Thro wisely use bullet points, numbered lists, charts, tables, and graphs to explain the information. All the terminology is explained in simple terms. Furthermore, they provide many real-life examples. In short, Walter and Thro break difficult-to-understand information down and make it easy to digest. The book concludes with five appendices that provide valuable additional information and a financial aid glossary specifically targeted to the topic of finding money for college.

I wish this book had been available when I started applying to colleges! It literally would have saved me thousands of dollars. It’s not too much to say that Pay Less for College: The Must-Have Guide to Affording your Degree would have changed my life. Although the book pulls no punches about the cost of college and the difficulty of navigating the financial aid system, Elizabeth Walter and Debra Thro approach the subject with a positive attitude. They say, “You can do this.” The book is not light reading because the subject matter precludes that, but Walter and Thro did a masterful job in making it as easy to understand as possible. One fact to be aware of: just reading this excellent book isn’t going to save you money. You’re going to have to put the advice into practice. But if students and their families read this book and follow its guidance they could save thousands of dollars on college costs. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite

Children learn according to their natural abilities, but they have to be motivated to acquire new skills. Teachers must also learn to connect with each student individually. Childhood education prepares them for a better future and real learning begins in an efficient classroom. Connect for Classroom Success: A Mentoring Guide for Teachers K-12 is a work that explains to them how to relate to students, co-workers, and parents. This guide points out that being a teacher is not only about getting along with children, but also involves interaction with all those adults who are part of the community. R. Janet Walraven M.Ed. provides a complete perspective on creating a healthy learning environment for students and teachers.

In Connect for Classroom Success, R. Janet Walraven, M.Ed. shows her love for children and education. She understands that sometimes problems don't originate in the classroom but flow from external situations that stress children. Teachers can help by talking with family members or tutors. I liked this perspective because Walraven doesn't limit herself to teaching tips. She cares about helping children and creating a healthy environment. She also discusses taking advantage of the available time to be more productive in and out of the classroom. There are other important tasks such as grading tests outside of class time. What I liked most is that this guide provides many examples of common scenarios and suggests answers to all kinds of challenges. It doesn't matter if you have been a teacher for years or are new, because this guide will help create an excellent framework for learning.

Reviewed by Cassie Widjaja for Readers' Favorite

All Kids Can Thrive by Sheena L. Smith is a comprehensive guide for those working with children or having children with or without disabilities. Educators and parents will discover various approaches, tools, and strategies to wholly empower each child to strive for balance within their mind, body, and spirit. Having been a special education assistant for over 20 years and raising four children, including two with special needs, Sheena understands fully the challenges children face daily, whether at home or within the educational system. Several takeaways for educators include how your intuition is one of your best assets when working with children and the secrets to building positive relationships and connections.

All Kids Can Thrive is an absolute lifesaver for educators and parents seeking advice on helping children reach their full potential. Sheena L. Smith identifies the main areas for development and provides practical strategies for tackling the problem. By including groundbreaking research from top individuals such as Maria del Carmen Salazar, Sheena made her book as comprehensive and informative as possible. Sheena also did an incredible job of explaining how having empathy and good personal relationships do wonders for a growing child. With smooth transitions between each section, I found myself unable to tear myself away from the book. Above all, though, I love how Sheena sees children as complete the way they are, and her vision shines through her writing. For those planning to engage with children in any way, this book will remind you of the incredible opportunity and responsibility to guide a young child into their future!

Reviewed by Cassie Widjaja for Readers' Favorite

One Coin. Two Coin. What Coin? Bitcoin by Elaine Wilkes, Dan Hollings, and Daniel Hall is an incredibly informative and fast-paced short read. Packed with illustrations by Lisa Rothstein, the book serves as an introduction to cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin and Ethereum, for the absolute beginner. Divided into three easy steps, it aims to guide the reader through learning the basics, buying Crypto, and earning high interest while cutting chances of loss. As cryptocurrency is explored more, information is constantly updated, hence, the authors have opted to provide website links rather than run the risk of outdated information.

Crypto is all the rage right now! As said by Elon Musk, paper money is going away. Anyone can and should jump on the Crypto train as you only need the Internet and a good understanding of cryptocurrency. Despite its popularity, I have rarely found a good book on cryptocurrency as other books are often complicated and use terms that are impossible to understand if you are a newbie. Elaine Wilkes, Dan Hollings, and Daniel Hall definitely have achieved their goal of making the book simple to understand. With its eye-catching cartoons, you will not forget One Coin. Two Coin. What Coin? Bitcoin anytime soon. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive guide into cryptocurrency, this beginner's guide is not for you.

Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite

Mike Kimmel puts his years of experience into Monologues for Adults. This book is written with new and upcoming performers in mind to help them prepare for their auditions. He decided to write new and uplifting monologues to help young stars be born, and all of these monologues are family-friendly. This book is much more than just monologues, however: it is also full of advice from Mike based on his years of experience and observations. Actors/actresses must be able to shine as an individual during their monologue and, at the same time, show that they would make great team players. These monologues are fresh and unique: a perfect showcase for performers to audition for different directors. Any entertainer should find it easy to learn and present these monologues on stage.

Mike Kimmel has been around the block more than once. In those times, he has learned much about auditioning. He has a genuine desire to help others who are coming behind him. In Monologues for Adults, Mike presents monologues that are upbeat and clean. They exude hope. He has written them so that any budding actor will have no problem adapting them for an audition. The monologues come in a variety of topics, with each one being easy to memorize. Mike knows when to add seriousness as well as when to add levity. He understands how to reach his audience. His years of experience shine through in his monologues. His goal to help is clearly seen in his writing and permission is granted to adapt each monologue as the actor/actress sees fit.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

What is literary fiction? And what makes it different from memoirs or genre fiction? Literary fiction is something that will stand the course of time; it will make a bold statement and allow the individual reader to grow in his or her experience merely by reading the story. Basically, literary fiction is a complex work of art, something to be savored, studied and analyzed. So, how does one write literary fiction? It must be assumed that any writer can write a good story, but is it literary fiction? Does it have the potential of becoming literary fiction? There are many elements essential in the creation of a good piece of literary fiction. First of all, characterization is important. “The author who wants to create great stories must characterize well.” The characters give the story focus, meaning, direction and so much more. And that, in the art of literary fiction, is what makes it. In effect, “Meaning and purpose are crucial.”

Author William H. Coles’ Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a powerful tool to help writers, both beginners and established, to create their great work of literary fiction. Starting with a discussion and comparison of literary fiction versus memoir or genre fiction, the author proceeds to outline the important elements of a good work of literary fiction. Step-by-step, he leads the reader through the complexities of characterization, narration, dialogue, conflict, point of view and so much more. Using examples from classic literature, each important element is explained and compared to help the reader comprehend the complexities of the story’s structure. This is a must-have guide for all writers. Well written and laid out, this is an interesting read.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Learning in Lockdown by Dylan Meikle is a non-fiction guide for parents and guardians who have had to pick up the baton during the race to curb the global COVID-19 pandemic, working with the children in their home who are no longer able to safely return to the classroom. Homeschooling is not new but for many American households, it was neither expected nor desired. It is difficult on adults and children alike, tossing them into unfamiliar territory with mixed results in both the learning aspect and the emotional stress that added fuel to the fire. In the course of over a dozen distinct and interconnected chapters, Meikle provides practical advice, encouragement, the different emotional phases as a “schoolwork manager”, structure, strategy, and self care, among many other things.

Dylan Meikle presents a well-timed and thoroughly well-compiled manual for the home education part of sheltering in place in Learning in Lockdown. I found the narrative to be extremely relatable and Meikle makes himself easy to connect with almost immediately. I haven't met a single adult wading through the new learn from home model who doesn't have heaps of frustration, compounded by unimaginable exhaustion. The most refreshing part to me was on self-care, something I have started focusing on as I let the things I truly cannot control go. Of particular note and an area I have struggled in is knowing when enough is enough. We all know how difficult it is to get a child to finally hunker down and work, and when it does happen and there is progress we are tempted to keep it going. Meikle tells us not to. Don't push burnout. Move away on a high note. I feel like I need to print this section out and tape it to my mirror. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Cosmic Queries: StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going is television-astrophysicist and author, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s attempt to do the seemingly impossible – explain the formation of the Universe and the creation of life, to science-virgins and novices like me. When asked to review this book, I wondered if the author, in his usual inimitable manner, familiar to StarTalk viewers, would be able to translate his down-to-earth television approach into the written word, despite the incredibly complex scientific concepts involved – the answer was a resounding, yes! Neil deGrasse Tyson covers a staggering array of concepts and scientific discoveries in this work, ranging from the history of scientific theory and the universe, philosophy, and science, right through our current scientific perception of the Big Bang and culminating in the possibilities for future discoveries, especially in the field of quantum physics. As well as looking at purely scientific discoveries that help us define our place in the Universe, the author also considers where we are currently at in our quest for knowledge, what still can be achieved, and ultimately how it may all end for us, billions of years from now. From atoms to quarks, to Leptons and Neutrinos; from DNA to RNA, to Natural Selection, to Synthetic Life, and Alien Life; from what existed before the Big Bang, through to the end of the Earth and even the possibility of Multiverses existing, this book covers it all and gives the reader an in-depth, yet understandable view of our world and our place in the Universe.

Despite my severe lack of a scientific bent as a child, I have always had a deep fascination with the cosmos, astronomy, and the idea of discovering our place in the Universe. I approached Cosmic Queries from the perspective of whether it would help me to grasp some of those difficult concepts of science and cosmology that I’d always struggled with. The answer was definitely yes. I won’t pretend that small parts of it still didn’t go right over the top of my head and leave me rolling my eyes in despair, but having now read Neil deGrasse Tyson’s fantastic, easy-to-read and to grasp book, I have a much deeper and clearer understanding of how the Universe began, how life was born and ultimately where we are all headed, as a species and as a planet. One concept that will always stick with me from this amazing book is the idea that it is not what we don’t know that is important, but rather what we don’t know we don’t know that really matters. I liked the idea of humanity being on a continuum of understanding, that we have only just begun with a long way to still travel. I can honestly say I gained so much insight into things I’d struggled to come to grips with in the past about science in general but also about physics in particular.

The book is so readable, partly because of the plain English it is written in but also because of deGrasse Tyson’s trademark humor and ability to explain the unexplainable, in a language even I can understand, without seeming to talk down to me or to sound patronising. I particularly enjoyed the liberal sprinkling of Neil’s tweets throughout the book which served to break up the heavier technical content with wit and deprecating humor. The photographs and illustrations are absolutely superb and add immeasurably to the understanding of the text. I’m not sure if people still have such things as “coffee-table books” but regardless, I would be proud to display this magnificent book on any coffee table of mine. If you want to understand life, the Universe, and humanity, this is definitely a good place to start. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Media Writer's Handbook: A Guide to Common Writing and Editing Problems by George T. Arnold focuses on various ways to make your writing stronger and is aimed at impatient people. The first part of the guide provides easy tips for improving your writing and speaking skills. This fact-checking tool is an ideal resource that includes words often confused with each other, tips for avoiding wordiness, and understanding trite expressions. Part two covers the required rules to keep in mind when reviewing your writing, while part three looks at punctuation. Part four is a quick go-to reference for spelling and vocabulary. The guide also includes a table of contents, index, and cross-references with several examples, and examples on syntax.

George T. Arnold aims this resource at writers, students, teachers, and professionals by creating a guide for fact-checking your writing. The goal is to improve writing and guide people on how to self-edit through tips, sentence structure, and common mistakes. The guide is well organized and includes easy-to-follow sections that will immediately help to improve how you write. Each part includes various tasks such as what to omit, avoiding the use of talking inanimate objects, and tips for being cautious with word choice. Arnold provides sections that teach how to find your own writing mistakes and how to spot common flubs which include obvious mistakes, wordiness, and imprecise word choices. This media writer's handbook covers every aspect of writing and serves as a teaching tool and a reminder for every professional to remember correct plurals and to be on the lookout for pretentious language, jargon, and cliches. Arnold features a rundown of the basics such as pronouns, noun-pronoun agreement, verbs, subject-verb agreement, adjectives, and adverbs.

This resource will make you feel more confident in your writing, whether for a business proposal, e-mail, novel, lesson plan, or media. Media Writer's Handbook is a resource that focuses on common mistakes and mistakes you may not even know you're making. This guide will quickly become your best friend and go-to resource to strengthen your writing.

Reviewed by Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

If you are considering applying for an MBA Program, then Get In, Get Out, Get Hired! by Dean Rosenwald has some valuable information to share with you. It has been subtitled “The cheat sheet to success in US MBA programs: How to get accepted, succeed academically, and land the job you’ve always wanted.” It talks about all three stages for the MBA—Applying to an MBA Program (Get In), Succeeding in an MBA Program (Get Out), and Applying and Interviewing for a Job (Get Hired). It is an interesting book written from the perspective of an MBA graduate, based on the author’s experience and recommendations for success.

In the first section, “Get In”, Rosenwald focuses on motivations on why to enter an MBA program and the steps of preparation for acceptance by a selected program. This section of the book is the most valuable as one considers whether it is worthwhile to spend the money needed to finance an MBA, as MBAs are not for everyone. Deciding on the right college with the right format based on their ratings and the right format (full-time, part-time, online) are very important factors to consider as they can affect your future career path as well as networking and job opportunities. Networking is an important aspect to consider when choosing the right program and there is more information on this within the second section of the book.

In the second section, the author explains how the Orientation is important in meeting people and forming study groups, a very valuable resource of success in selecting the right people to help you succeed. MBA Programs often focus on case analysis and Rosenwald explains some valuable success strategies. The section on courses reflects the offerings at Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh and does reflect similar curriculum as other schools, but it is important to know that not all the courses pertain to all MBA Programs. The final section is an in-depth discussion of job hunting and interviewing strategies valuable for MBAs as well as other graduates. The information in this section is practical and universal.

Overall, Get In, Get Out, Get Hired! is a valuable book if you are considering investing your time and money in an MBA Program. If you are considering selecting a program, then its practical information from an MBA graduate will be worthwhile to read and analyze your own motivations to do so.