Reviewed by Amanda Rofe for Readers' Favorite

Out of Rushmore's Shadow by Lou Del Bianco is the true story of a 25-year struggle to give a charismatic and talented Italian immigrant, Luigi Del Bianco, the recognition he deserved as Chief Carver on the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial, one of America's grandest monuments. The book, written by Luigi's grandson, explains how he and his uncle, Caesar Del Bianco, fought to uncover the critical and historic work carried out by Luigi. Once they found documentary proof pertaining to his work, they repeatedly presented it to the authorities at Mount Rushmore but to no avail. It eventually became apparent that there was a deliberate attempt to suppress Luigi's story. Luigi Del Bianco had been written out of the history of Mount Rushmore! The only classically trained carver on Mount Rushmore and his skills were not recognized.

What an amazing story! Lou Del Bianco writes a very moving account, full of personal recollections and precious historical details including his grandfather's incredible work as a stone carver. This is a fascinating tale providing insight into how the monument was actually constructed. There are evocative photographs of stone carvings and work being carried out on Mount Rushmore as well as original documents such as letters from the world famous sculptor, Gutzon Borglum. It is important to mention that there are two very special stories here; one is Luigi's life and work, and the other is the journey his family took to ensure he was recognized as Chief Carver. Both are part of the narrative of Mount Rushmore and as such should now be firmly assigned to the history books.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Counting on America: A Holocaust Memoir of Terror, Chutzpah, Romance and Escape is a nonfiction historical memoir written by Kurt Reiner and his son, Gary Reiner. Kurt began writing his memoir when he was 62 years old, and he continued working on it until his death in 1985. Kurt wanted to bear witness to the impact the Nazis had on Viennese Jews, beginning with the German invasion of Austria in March of 1938. His son, Gary, who retired four years ago, continued his father’s work on it and saw the memoir through to publication. Gary worked through his father’s text as well as 66 original source documents to complete their joint task.

Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, marked a major change for European Jews and caring people across the world, and was the night that Kurt was arrested. The growing power of Germany’s Nazi movement had caused no small amount of concern, but many thought it would, dwindle out and leave Europe relatively unscathed, as had happened in the past. As history shows, this was not to be the case, and the rise and short-lived regime headed by Adolf Hitler would not be vanquished until over 6 million Jews and countless others deemed undesirable were slaughtered, and untold millions of lives were forever changed. The viciousness and random violence of Kristallnacht was a harbinger of worse things to come.

Kurt had been an engineering student studying at the Technical University in Vienna until Germany annexed Austria in March, 1938. After that, Jews were no longer permitted to study or teach at any institution, and Kurt was forced to leave school with his degree requirements nearly fulfilled. Employment was scarce in Vienna for everyone, especially Jews, and he made do with the part-time and day work he could find. Several days after Kristallnacht, he was arrested and sent, along with thirty other Viennese Jews, to Dachau. His wife, Hennie, met with Gestapo officials bearing false documentation that showed they would be leaving Austria for South America in a matter of days, and she was able to effect his release from Dachau. The young couple thus began their two-year odyssey to reach America.

Gary Reiner and Kurt Reiner’s nonfiction historical memoir, Counting on America: A Holocaust Memoir of Terror, Chutzpah, Romance and Escape, shares Kurt’s experiences from the time he was a child in Vienna through to his successful career in the defense industry in the United States. Their story is an enthralling one; one filled with last-minute hitches and changes of plan, and endless fortuitous escapes from danger. While I’ve read many historical accounts of Holocaust survivors, I was struck by the immediacy of Kurt’s story. He showed me a new side of Vienna before the war, and I was fascinated by the Red Falcon youth group he belonged to and the other activist movements of the young and socially conscious Viennese citizens who valiantly sought to curtail the growing fascist threat to their society. He also shed light on the earlier uses of places like Dachau and the farm where he and Hennie sought refuge while they worked out an escape plan; places where one could still leave during those early years, if indeed, you were able to survive, places not yet simply an endpoint.

Kurt’s personality shines through loud and clear in this sometimes angry, but very human account of those two years which were so filled with fear, elation and love. As I read his account, I felt as though I was getting to know someone I would have like to have known in real life. I too cannot understand the viciousness of racism, and the indifference many show toward the openly expressed hatred and victimization of the “other”. The Reiners’ book is especially relevant in this day and age when boats filled with refugees are routinely turned away and allowed no safe harbor, and when those refugees are considered as having no value, no place in a country known to be a home for the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.

Each of the Holocaust survivors' accounts that I’ve been privileged to read has been illuminating and invaluable as witnesses to what happened and must never be allowed to happen again. Kurt’s story filled so many voids in that tapestry of memories. He shows his reader a glance at the vibrancy, culture and political activism of pre-war Vienna, and shares so much of his early life with his family. I finished reading this book both inspired by his courage and resilience and infinitely saddened at the realization, once again, that the millions of voices of those who died in the camps would never have a chance to be heard. Counting on America: A Holocaust Memoir of Terror, Chutzpah, Romance and Escape bears witness for them, and it is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Jeff Chase and Jon Zilber's 3Com is the true story and “unsung saga of the Silicon Valley start-up that helped give birth to the internet—and then fumbled the ball.” With an impressive foreword by 3Com daddy Bob Metcalfe, the all-important threshold of authenticity required in a non-fiction account is met. The book covers the company's thirty-year lifespan from its conception in 1979, its growing pains (there were few, initially), the development of the Palm Pilot, multiple acquisitions, and its ultimate demise in a spectacular fall from grace, relegated to the memory of....well, almost nobody. I might be one of the few, which is why this book was an immediate stand out for me.

I grew up in San Francisco, attending Giant's games at 3Com Park. I was only a teenager but living in the Bay Area meant that we knew—we all knew—what was happening, growing, changing, developing, and dying with our tech giant neighbors to the south. It's fascinating to me to go back and read about a company that was so influential to the growth of our city. Jeff Chase and Jon Zilber write with a levity that makes 3Com comfortable for even the greatest of technophobes. Even better, there is genuine insight and lessons applicable even today into how a company can go from being king to being a ghost in less than a generation. I believe this book will find wide readership with anyone who has an interest in computer science and the history of modern technology, as well as with those who own or run a business in any industry themselves. Highly recommended as both an informative read and an intriguing story in and of itself.

Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Papa and Mama Said: Full of Dare County Folklore by Lucinda Gallop Baum is a non-fiction memoir or autobiography about the life and experiences of Lucinda growing up in the '30s and '40s of rural America. Papa and Mama Said is written in a fairly sequential manner with events following one after another over the course of a lifetime. The story starts off with Lucinda’s childhood and early years in Dare County, North Carolina. In it, Lucinda describes her parents, their backgrounds, families, the geographical and cultural aspect of the land and places they lived in, including their day to day life such as the food they ate, the love and relationships between the siblings, making a living off the land, celebration of holidays and festivals with friends and families, the challenges and hardships, as well as the joys and happy times of childhood. There are also numerous photographs throughout the book that put the people in this story into context.

I enjoyed reading Papa and Mama Said: Full of Dare County Folklore. In it, we get a glimpse of how life used to be almost a hundred years ago. Although this is relevant to America and American life, it is also applicable to how life used to be everywhere around the world—a lot slower, natural, and with much less dependence on machines. As a result, family and community ties were more important. And this fact is brought out well in this book. I liked reading about the “old way” of living and doing things such as all the different ways pig meat was used, for example. This is a good book for anyone who likes reading about history or about older customs and ways of living that are fast dying out.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Dear Willy, The True Story of a Life Well Lived is a real life biographic memoir penned by author Claire Ohlsson Geheb. Delving back into her own family history, Geheb explores the life and times of Willy Oswald Geheb, a German American immigrant who sought a better life for his family and his descendants, despite living through some of the most terrifying and difficult years in German history. Chronicling the period of both World Wars, the story begins with Willy’s training as a private in Germany. The life of the German people through war and in the inter-war period is tremendously difficult, and it’s only as the Second World War concludes that there is a tiny flicker of hope for a better future.

Claire Ohlsson Geheb has done a wonderful job of chronicling her family history by collecting and collating letters, diaries and other documents to bring Willy Geheb’s original life story into brand new being. I am a huge fan of real life stories of families living through the Second World War, and the tale of the Gehebs brings all the terrifying drama and fear to the fore whilst also showing their solidarity and spirit. They never stop dreaming of more, and that also makes this a fascinating tale of immigration success, one with extreme heart and consideration for the hardships of others. History fans will delight in real photographs and ‘at the time’ evidence from Willy himself, and overall I’d say that Dear Willy, The True Story of a Life Well Lived is a real triumph.

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

A Bee in His Bonnet by Bernard J. Fleury Ed.D. is a creative biography of his maternal grandfather, Frank King (1877-1958). Born and raised an Englishman of mixed Ojibwa heritage, Frank adopted the United States as his home and served with distinction over a long career in the U.S. Army. His life provides a fascinating study of the American and European history through which he and his extended family lived.

Dr. Fleury begins with the adventurous story of the courtship and elopement of Frank’s parents from an Ojibwa village in Canada and the raising of their large family in England. The adventure continues as Frank and his numerous siblings reach adult age and pursue their own directions, some near home; some, like him, far from it. The blending of history and creative biography provides a dramatic overview of the events and societal changes that impacted Frank’s life.

A Bee in His Bonnet is the kind of book you don’t want to put down once you start reading it. The word “adventure” hardly captures the full breadth and scale of Dr. Fleury’s treatment of his grandfather’s life. The narrative and dialog keep the pace moving at a clip, while now and then there is a slight pause to remind the reader of the historical setting. I cried at the end, as I believe any reader would. This is a magnificent tribute by a grandson to his grandfather, just as Frank King’s life stands as a magnificent tribute to the caliber of man that he was.

Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite

Banquet of Consequences: A Juror’s Plight by Paul Sanders recounts the true account of the trial of Michele Anderson for the murder of her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and her young niece and nephew. The murders took place in 2007 but it was not until eight years later that the trial took place. The murders became known as the Carnation Murders. The author - who calls himself the thirteenth juror - recounts in graphic detail what happened on Christmas Eve 2007 from his first-hand account as he sat in the gallery throughout the trial. Not only does the book cover the forensics, testimonies, and expert witnesses and opinion, but also includes the author’s personal encounter with Michele Anderson’s boyfriend and accomplice, Joseph McEnroe.

For any reader who seeks true life crime stories, this account of the trial of the Carnation Murders will certainly not disappoint. The detail the author relates transports the reader into the courtroom and each page is concisely and expertly written. It was particularly refreshing to read this account where the author was quite clearly endeavoring not to show any prejudice but to just relate the facts. Having read through the whole trial as related by Paul Sanders, it was of particular interest to read of his meeting with Joseph McEnroe and his feelings about this convicted murderer, only to learn later that perhaps not all was as it seemed. An engrossing read, excellently related, and this reader will certainly seek out other works by Paul Sanders. His dedication to learning the truth, to relating the facts, and the emotion he clearly felt in his quest come across in his writing for the ultimate benefit of the reader.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I feel lucky that I missed going to Vietnam, but sometimes I wonder how I would have performed, what it would have been like, would I have even lived through it. I’ll never know, but reading Things I’ll Never Forget by James M. Dixon gave me a pretty good picture of the experience. It is a powerful book in a quiet, no-nonsense way. I like his writing style and I sense he is a lot like me. He felt how I felt as he went through his military experience. He became a teacher after Vietnam. I am a teacher now. We experienced different conflicts, but I feel a connection with him. The connection of service. The connection of combat. I suggest all my fellow Americans read this book, but especially those who have served. It was mildly therapeutic for me. I think it can be the same for many veterans.

I liked the writing style of James M. Dixon. He calmly tells us about powerful experiences, memories, and people that he will never forget. I think we all have memories like that. I know I certainly do. Things I’ll Never Forget reminded me of those memories and helped me bring some of them into a clearer focus. I liked the way James M. Dixon tells his story. I especially liked the poignancy of the letter from Becky and the battle that came immediately after he got it. I liked the characters in this story as they came in and out of his life as so many characters do in life. I think James M. Dixon got the “feel” of Vietnam right. Read Things I’ll Never Forget. You won’t easily forget it.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Blood River Rising: The Thompson-Crismon Feud of the 1920s by Victoria Pope Hubbell, Ph.D. is a historical, nonfiction narrative that considers one of the questions about the Ku Klux Klan that has never been properly considered by any author. Every time people read about the KKK, it is portrayed as an expression of disdain or contempt for the black race or other races by whites. It is a book with a wonderful setting in post-World War I America, and with the KKK becoming more and more notorious. When murders were committed in 1924, someone had to understand why. In this page-turner, the author explains how the Ku Klux Klan set up neighbors against each other, exploring a powerful feud between two families and portraying the KKK agenda as a game of power and not of color. Told in a captivating first person narrative by a rural historian, this book transports readers to the years after WWI and events that would alter the lives of two families. One immediately gets the impression that the story is well-researched and, apart from the excellent writing that brilliantly documents these events, the author provides ample photos and maps that are as significant as the narrative.

Victoria Pope Hubbell is a great storyteller and knows how to make readers feel her story, pulling them irresistibly into the scenes through the power of her descriptive prose. She knows when to use words for dramatic effect and the paragraph breaks are impeccable. For instance, at the start of the narrative she describes an awkward moment in the following words: “The first time I met Hadley Thompson, he said 'Hello' and then nothing else for two hours.” This statement had me intrigued and there were many such moments like this one that pushed me to keep on turning the pages. The characters are well-explored and developed to be interesting to readers. Blood River Rising is a wonderful story that appraises the Ku Klux Klan from a very unique angle, one that will interest both historians and sociologists, and readers looking for an emotionally charged and gripping historical read.

Reviewed by Carla Trueheart for Readers' Favorite

Thomas Jefferson - From Boy to Man by Jayne DAlessandro Cox follows the life and times of Thomas Jefferson. If you're looking to learn more about Thomas Jefferson as a person and not just his accomplishments in writing and politics, this is the book for you. A unique take on the life of the man, this book follows him from before his birth until his death, with highlights on his family life, the women that he courted and loved, his education, and Monticello. There are pictures included in the book, introspection in the form of journals and personal, private letters penned by Thomas Jefferson, and tales of Shadwell, where he was born. If that's not enough, the reader will also learn what games Thomas Jefferson played as a child, what he looked like through physical descriptions, and how he enjoyed gardening and focused on his health. A timeline is included at the end of the book, as well as recipes that might interest the reader.

What struck me most about Thomas Jefferson - From Boy to Man was the beautiful writing. Author Jayne DAlessandro Cox has a clear passion for the topic and has obviously done unbelievable research on Thomas Jefferson, his family, and the land and structures he frequented. The introduction focuses on Virginia and events, and then dives into the story of Peter Jefferson and his land. It was intriguing to learn of these beginnings. This is a full life story of Thomas Jefferson, from start to finish, and it should please the history buff. I recommend the book to anyone interested in learning more about the life of Thomas Jefferson.