Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Why Zarmina Sings: 18 Steps to Live and Learn Beyond Anxiety is a non-fiction educational text written by Therese Ayla Kravetz. The author has been an educator for years in primary schools as well as on the collegiate level for over 15 years. Many of her students are from other countries and are taking her ESL courses on writing, reading, and conversation. As well as having some challenges learning a new language, those students are also balancing the demands of family and work, and many are culturally challenged when asked to perform in a classroom setting. Kravetz utilizes her own background in drama and arts therapy to get students involved and excited in the classroom. She does that through setting them innovative assignments that include oral presentations, preparation of class lessons, and participation in performances of Shakespearean and other plays as well as teaching them relaxation methods. She provides a detailed appendix of end notes for the material presented in each chapter.

While I am not currently involved in the teaching profession, I was fascinated by Therese Ayla Kravetz' non-fiction educational work, Why Zarmina Sings: 18 Steps to Live and Learn Beyond Anxiety. I do have some background in ESL and appreciated her awareness of the cultural differences ESL students bring to the educational table and thought her solutions were creative and inspirational. I was especially intrigued by her use of Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and other playwrights' works in the classroom and enjoyed reading about how her students were able to transform themselves through acting.

Why Zarmina Sings is more than a pedagogical aid, however; it's filled with anecdotes and techniques that are valuable for anyone who wants to reignite their creativity, heal old traumas, and find their own voice. I tried many of the exercises Kravetz included and plan on integrating them into my own daily schedule. Why Zarmina Sings is well-written, highly accessible, and a joy to read. The author is a gifted communicator who can instill enthusiasm both in the classroom and via her writing. Why Zarmina Sings: 18 Steps to Live and Learn Beyond Anxiety is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 5: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill is a continuation of a historical look at Alaska’s past. In this book we take a look at the years 1960 through to 1984, brought alive in a series of photographs and stories. We look at how the people started their very first government and follow it through 25 years of history. We talk to people who survived the Good Friday Earthquake in 1964, a massive 9.2, and the tsunamis that wreaked havoc afterwards. We look at the discovery of black gold on the northern slopes and how the Natives fought the biggest battle for their own land and won. The settlement they got paved the way for an oil pipeline to be built through the Alaskan wilderness, stretching for 800 miles. And we look at the evil that tainted the 1980s with no less than six mass murderers.

Aunt Phil’s Trunk Volume 5: Bringing Alaska’s History Alive by Laurel Downing Bill is an amazing addition to the series, all of which I have read and would read again, over and over. Alaska is top of my bucket list and this book, covering more recent times, has brought it all the more to life for me. I love the addition of the photos; they add so much to the book, making it more than just a historical narrative. Together with the entertaining stories, you can really feel the emotions coming off the page, the horror of the earthquake and the tsunamis, the joy of winning the settlement, and the terror of the mass murders; it is all brought vividly to life. An amazing book and I would strongly recommend that the entire series is read in order, although you can read this as a stand-alone.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Deciding to read Writing Tips and Tricks by Kim Lambert was one of the best and most timely decisions I've made in the past year! Why? Because I'm a writer who's paralysed my writing by procrastinating for some months now. Then I picked up Writing Tips and Tricks, and suddenly I recognized what had been holding me back, knew where I needed to go and what I needed to do to get there. What a brilliant book!

Now I'm not going to say that I haven't heard all that Kim Lambert has to share. I have. But the best feature of Writing Tips and Tricks is the way this book is laid out. For starters, it's short, meaning a quick read. Second, its appearance facilitates reading: lots of white space between short paragraphs. That's not just easy on the eyes: it's easier to assimilate and remember. Third, and I think this is what pleases me most, is seeing that Kim Lambert does exactly what she advises us to do. That is utterly powerful. If Kim says keep the language simple, she keeps it simple. If she suggests you need to keep the reader uppermost in your mind as you write, she does that. I know from years of experience that the best way to show someone how to do something is to do it yourself. Kim Lambert practices what she preaches.

Kim Lambert is no novice at writing these types of "how-to" non-fiction books. She is an 8-times Amazon award winning writer. I can tell she also knows a great deal about good copy writing. So many of her suggestions are the tenets of writing good sales copy. But does this book only apply to those who write non-fiction? Not at all. Kim Lambert bounces back and forth, showing how what she's explaining applies to and works for both fiction and non-fiction. Those interested in writing fiction will find themselves refreshed by her ideas on how to get going, find characters, and create realistic dialogue and effective descriptions. As someone who teaches creative writing, I most certainly plan to use some of the ideas she presents in my upcoming workshops, along with recommending that participants immediately purchase a copy of Writing Tips and Tricks.

One of the "coolest" things I discovered in this book was how to create a series of books by not putting everything I know in one book. I had never thought of this before. It explains why some of the most successful authors and bloggers that I follow have dozens of books and thousands of followers to their credit, just like Kim Lambert does. How do they find so much material for book after book? When you read Writing Tips and Tricks by Kim Lambert, you will find out how to do that too. And as Kim points out, not only do you then build a following and increase your presence and credibility as an author worth reading, but you always have another book in the works. Curious? If you really want to write, not just one book but several, you should be. Pick up a copy of Writing Tips and Tricks by Kim Lambert today and start writing tomorrow.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Maximizing Your Injury Claim: Simple Steps To Protect Your Family After An Accident is a non-fiction self-help book written by Matthew D. Dubin. The author does not show you how to pursue your own injury claim; rather his book is designed to instruct the reader on personal injury actions, discuss legal representation and illustrate the steps necessary to get fair compensation when you're injured. He recommends that drivers take a second look at the insurance they're carrying on their vehicles, and he gives recommendations for minimum coverage amounts. He explains why this is crucially important and how your PIP coverage can help pay for medical bills after an injury, whether you are in your car or not. Dubin discusses what you should and should not do at the scene of an accident, and then shows you what to expect and do at each step in the process of resolving your claim. He also demonstrates what you can and should expect from the lawyer you select to pursue your claim.

Matthew D. Dubin's educational self-help book, Maximizing Your Injury Claim: Simple Steps To Protect Your Family After An Accident, describes the entire compensation process starting from even before you have that accident or injury. His discussion on insurance coverage had me double-checking my policy and considering whether I should go for more coverage. I really appreciated his cautions on speaking to claims adjusters right after an accident. Most people feel there's nothing to hide or to lose from an honest question and answer session and are eager to get things going, but the author shows how this can work against your best interests. Dubin discusses legal representation and how he feels that a personal injury lawyer's job is to take care of the details while you get better. He discusses an attorney's obligations and what a client should expect from his or her counsel. I was most impressed with this informative and helpful book. Dubin clarifies a convoluted and often confusing legal process, and he does so in language and with anecdotal examples that are written with the layperson in mind. Maximizing Your Injury Claim: Simple Steps To Protect Your Family After An Accident is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Classics: Why We Should Encourage Children to Read Them is a non-fiction educational work written by Fiza Pathan. Pathan is an educator and author who attributes much of her career success to a broad base of classics reading, both as a child and an adult. She discusses the books that made the biggest impact on her personally and includes suggested reading lists for boys and girls. She argues that classics exercise the imagination and build a firm base for learning and living. Pathan bases much of her work as a teacher of English on the classics, but she shows how reading the classics can impact a child's performance in other academic disciplines. She shares with the reader her strategies for getting kids interested in classics, which include reading selected chapters aloud to her class, playing movies based on classic works, and having her students perform dramatic vignettes from their favorite stories.

Fiza Pathan's non-fiction educational work, Classics: Why We Should Encourage Children to Read Them, reveals the author's enthusiasm and love of her subject in every page. That enthusiasm is quite contagious, and I found myself seriously reconsidering a long-delayed intention to read more of Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure tales. Pathan's writing style is conversational and ebullient, and her ideas seem solid and eminently workable both for kids and anyone else who might be finding a diet of social media, internet gossip, and television to be getting a bit tired and dull. She made me remember the intensity of my experience reading The Black Arrow in high school and listening to my English teacher discuss the historical and cultural background of the text. Classics: Why We Should Encourage Children to Read Them does what it sets out to do, and it will probably get a goodly percentage of its readers to consider diving into a classic novel themselves. It's highly recommended.

Reviewed by Roy T. James for Readers' Favorite

The Lawyer as Leader: How to Plant People and Grow Justice by Dr. Artika R. Tyner presents ‘growth of justice,’ using the Banyan tree as a metaphor. As the tree grows, new branches extend its support system. A leader should inspire people to make dreams a reality by connecting with others sharing similar passions. Lawyers are better placed to facilitate changes through public policy advocacy. Those lawyers, instead of advocates, can be called policy entrepreneurs; well known examples being Nelson Mandela or Mohandas Gandhi. Challenges facing the marginalized sections are too many and result in a justice gap between these sections and others, as well as a gap in access to resources. There is a need for leaders to take a stand and lawyers are in a good position to do so as they are better disposed to appreciate the cause, as well as being more exposed to the tools necessary to advance their cause.

With extensive references to past dissertations and notes, Dr. Artika makes a solid case for lawyers to be adjudged as the most competent to handle this facet of socio-legal responsibility. As the author mentions towards the end of the book, “... these policy reform campaigns represent the transformative power of planting people, growing justice. Through the exercise of leadership and lifting of their voices, community members in partnership with lawyers have leveraged their collective power to lead change.”

Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite

Captivate Your Readers (An Editor's Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction) by Jodie Renner is an informative and valuable guide for all fiction writers. The author goes beyond the notion of just writing a great story and gaining instant readers. She gets really meticulous and lets writers know all of the “nitty gritty” details of writing compelling fiction, starting with the most important aspect of any book – the characters. Renner discusses what makes an interesting character, how to introduce new characters, and what information to include so readers are invested in the characters' journey. The book goes on to discuss riveting openings, points of view, style, story flow, the importance of “show don’t tell,” as well as how to write realistic and engaging dialogue. Renner concludes with three appendix exercises: Spot the POV Gaffes, What’s In a Name? Naming Your Characters, and Sketching In Your Characters to give writers a chance to apply what they’ve learned to their own writing.

I found Captivate Your Readers (An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction) to be a very thorough and informative read. Renner covers a wide variety of topics and does so in a logical and easy-to-follow format. I like how she introduces a topic and then gets really detailed, looking at it from every angle. For instance, in part three of the book, she discusses point of view. Renner introduces the subject, explains it, gives the pros and cons of different types of point of view, how to use it effectively, and even goes into using the character’s thoughts to enhance the story. I would recommend this book to all fiction writers looking to learn more about the individual, detailed components of a compelling read.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Classics: How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them (Volume 2) is a non-fiction educational text written by Fiza Pathan. Pathan is an educator and author who grew up loving the classics, and she views them as an essential part of a child's education. She presents a number of strategies she's developed, or adapted from her own learning experiences as a student, that can be used to encourage both avid readers and children for whom reading is a more difficult process, and anyone in between. Pathan discusses abridged versions of the classics and the value of these easier, more accessible texts when introducing classics to younger students. She will often keep track of the students reading those abridged versions and offer them the full text when they are academically and intellectually ready for them. Each chapter concludes with a classics-related quiz, puzzle or recommended reading list, and the appendix includes a complete list of the authors and works referenced in the text and a full index.

I wasn't sure how I would respond to reading Fiza Pathan's educational text, Classics: How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them (Volume 2), but I was curious because I have always loved reading and devoured the classics as a child. What I didn't expect, to be honest, was to be excited by this slim educational book. Pathan's enthusiasm for her subject and for her students is quite contagious, and I found myself smiling and brainstorming with each new topic presented. The author uses both her knowledge and intuition to point each student towards the types of books they'll enjoy, and her ideas for presenting teasers in the forms of short readings and videos is inspired. As someone who always had a 'fun' book ready for a brief break during exam prep, I applaud her study room concept. I also love her ideas for starting up book clubs and setting up classics libraries. See what I mean about enthusiasm and excitement? Classics: How We Can Encourage Children to Read Them (Volume 2) is a marvelous and innovative educational text and it's most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The 7-Step Guide to Authorpreneurship (Plan. Write. Publish!) by Rochelle Carter is a book you should not miss if you are a serious writer who would like to turn into a successful, popular writer who can make a living with his or her passion. However, this book will also show you that a lot of work is needed from your side - success as a writer, or rather authorpreneur, does not come from idly waiting for your publisher to do all the work. Rochelle Carter supplies all the information you could need if you would like your book to turn into a success story. There are seven steps (the title gives that away) and each of them is a step you need to take as a writer.

What I found very helpful about The 7-Step Guide to Authorpreneurship (Plan. Write. Publish!) by Rochelle Carter was that she tells you what you need to do and HOW you can do it. I always found the prospect of having to publish a book one day (not just having, also wanting to, of course) very intimidating. I think this might also have been one of the reasons why I never really worked hard on finishing the book. I was too worried about not knowing what to do once the book is finished. After reading this book, I actually am not that worried anymore. Yes, it won't be easy - but at least I have clear ideas about how things work now. I found that I am far more positive about my novel. If you have a book you would like to publish or are writing a book and do not know much about publishing and marketing a book to the right audience, then this is a very good read for you. You will learn a lot.

Reviewed by Suzanne Cowles for Readers' Favorite

Sex, Love and DNA: What Molecular Biology Teaches Us About Being Human by Peter Schattner PhD is an easy to follow description of the latest scientific research into the field of molecular biology. Written for a layperson, Dr. Schattner draws upon 30 years of experience as a scientist and physicist to carefully describe proteins, DNA, RNA, amino acids, hormones, chromosomes, genes, inheritance, epigenetics, DNA ownership, genetic variants, and the role that nature and family play to influence who we become. As links to our past and future, molecular biology can answer fundamental questions and explain our behaviors and emotions. In six parts, moral and ethical questions are discussed concerning scientific discovery such as in cloning, cryogenics, resurrecting extinct animals and viruses, animal experiments, mutants, and altering genetics through transcription/translation. Microscopic events can explain not only why the world is this way, but also genetic diversity in the spectrum of humanity.

Sex, Love and DNA: What Molecular Biology Teaches Us About Being Human by Peter Schattner PhD provides interesting information about hot topics such as HIV immunity, cloning a T-Rex from DNA, resurrecting an extinct virus stored in human DNA and how chromosomes can predict the lineage of Genghis Khan. However, at the heart of this well-crafted book is a no-nonsense writing style that engages the reader into a complex world of chemistry, cells and intelligent design. Anyone with a strong interest in human physiology, cures for deadly diseases and the God-complex of the scientific community will find this book simply fascinating and hard to put down.