Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite

Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change, and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago by Linda Gartz was inspired by the true events of Chicago around the time of the Civil Rights Movement and by family memorabilia she stumbled upon after the deaths of her parents. Redlined follows two main points: the Gartz family’s life and the black and white Americans who were affected by an ever-evolving American society. Gartz highlights the injustice of redlining and how it undermined American citizens and created the urban myth that if a black person moved into a white neighborhood it would become a slum. But really it was the landlords who couldn’t be bothered with the upkeep, and why should they when redlining caused property values to go down. Sick and tired of losing their livelihoods, white American often fled from integrated neighborhoods. But Lillian and Fred Gartz were different; they decided to stay.

One of the best qualities of Gartz’s writing is that she doesn’t try to hide the fact that her parents weren’t perfect, and in a book like Redlined every detail counts because the fact is knowledge begins with ignorance. I didn’t just love reading this memoir, I appreciated it. Living in America in 2018 is wild; people often compare it to living in the 1960s and I understand why. Redlined is a beacon of enlightenment in our current American society. I finished Gartz’s memoir feeling educated and hopeful. I encourage others to read Redlined because it is a reminder that America is a country that only ever thrived on change and progression, not oppression.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

My Firefly by Maggie Kirton is a gritty narrative that explores one young woman’s journey through a series of abuse by her family, especially her father — physical, emotional, and sexual - told from the perspective of the house the protagonist lived in. The first sentences of the prologue are intriguing and they compel the reader to ask pertinent questions: “Fiction? Perhaps. I really can’t be all that sure. I’ve been rather numbed to reality over the years.” From the very first page of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the violence, the meanness of the father who takes every opportunity to abuse her in unimaginable ways. Readers will understand the effects of the abuse in the life of the child as she grows older. Can she ever overcome the pain? Can the emotional and psychological wounds heal? How about her self-image? How about her sexual health? These are questions that readers need to find answers to themselves.

This book isn’t an amateurish kind of work. It is clean, mellifluous and evocative in style. It’s one of the best indictments of child abuse perpetrators I have read in years, a story told in a brutally honest tone, unalloyed when it comes to capturing graphic images. Told by the house, it is a powerful reminder to readers who notice instances of child abuse and stay quiet. One can imagine the courage it took to write this book, but it is a gem of rare beauty, a work that speaks the truth about an evil to which many young boys and girls are subjected. My Firefly is an emotionally charged, compelling memoir of abuse that will bring tears to the eyes of readers while allowing them to connect with the solitude of the abused, their pain, and their deepest fears. Maggie Kirton writes about a sensitive issue with brilliance and rare honesty, and it is no wonder — given the mature language — that the book is addressed to mature readers, and especially those who are silent in the face of crimes committed against children. A book that explores the psychology of a monster in the name of a father.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

“As goes Anglophone culture, so goes the world,” is a saying that is powerfully justified in Agwu Ukiwe Okali’s Of Black Servitude without Slavery: The Unspoken Politics of the English Language (Africa Seminal Ideas Series), a work that brilliantly illustrates how language can become the new tool to conquer and control a group of people. English, the widely spoken language, has a hold on populations and that goes way beyond linguistic implications. Language always carries the soul of its people and English, undoubtedly, is a powerful vehicle of thought, which also illustrates the Anglophone mentality and ways of interpreting reality. By embracing the English language as a tool of expression, mentalities are tilted, even altered, to reflect the English culture, psyche, prejudices, and everything in-between. But how does the use of the English language reflect on the African? Such is the question that this book answers, and it does so in surprising ways.

To underline the influence of the English language across cultures, the author evokes the “… the ubiquitous and rapidly expanding influence, especially among the young, of pop music, pop dance, pop dressing, in fact, pop culture – carried to every corner of the globe on the wings of radio, television and the Internet.” With powerful and convincing examples, the author explores how humankind and the African, in particular, becomes vulnerable to the English spell. References to compelling historical figures like Obama, W.E.B. du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and others lends great credibility and authority to Okali’s arguments. The book is a powerful statement on how the English language has slowly become, over time, the new tool of enslavement for the African. Written in clear and highly descriptive prose, Of Black Servitude without Slavery: The Unspoken Politics of the English Language will become a timely addition to works on social anthropology, culture, history, human relations, and global economy. A well-researched, well-written, and a highly captivating book that will serve as an eye-opener for many readers. It is curious that such a work is written in English, and in very beautiful English, a powerful statement in itself. This is another powerful voice that should be listened alongside colossal figures like Achebe and Soyinka.

Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite

Road Map to Power by Syed Arshad Husain and A. Darius Husain is a thought-provoking book that examines the true source of personal power, how our quest for success and achievement originated, and how it affects us today. The authors explain that great riches, fame and success are dependent on genetics, inheritance and luck, and so 99% of people are unlikely to achieve the unobtainable goals they may set themselves. The Rule of the Road is that we are almost all average. We may measure our worth by how much we have, but this will never make us truly happy. Husain says he made this mistake – despite a successful career as a child psychiatrist in the US and a comfortable life, he was dissatisfied until he heard colleague Bob talk about his alternative contented way of living.

Road Map to Power explains what this humane, non-self-seeking and realistic way involves: We need to know that we are not all really equal, but are equal in worth; that we cannot all achieve extraordinary things, but that perseverance and development of self-esteem is good when we understand we have our own individual ‘ceiling’. Parental attachment to infants is essential for emotional strength and resilience. We all have our own personal ‘garden’ that we need to cultivate with generosity and giving to others, and we can do that when we understand that happiness stems from leading a life suited to our individual capabilities. When we stop believing we must have or achieve more and more in order to be accepted or to fit in, then we can live more authentically.

Road Map to Power is well-written and very readable. It follows a logical sequence with useful summing up sections at the end of each chapter, and includes references to many historical and significant people/events in order to explain various points. I like the assessment of the origins and role of different religions the authors make, and their suggestion that emphasizing the values rather than different theologies can have a unifying effect. Syed Arshad Husain established a trauma team to help children and families affected by war in Bosnia, and partly bases his theories about resilience, re-authoring our lives, and living to help others on the experiences he had there with some very traumatized children.

This is a book with a message that could be a starting point for transforming the lives of readers who are unhappy, stuck in pursuing something unattainable to them personally, or who are caught up in false beliefs that money, better possessions or approval will bring them the happiness they crave. The book’s message is to strive for our own best, not power or possessions. As St Francis of Assisi says: “It is in giving that we receive” - and we discover that this enables us to live fully in the knowledge that our 'best' will continue to influence others in a good way long after our own deaths. It is this way of living that is open to all of us equally.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Live to Tell: A Suicide Survivor's Struggle with Depression and Anxiety is a non-fiction self-help/memoir written by Ben Schwipps and Shelia Merkel. On July 18, 2015, Ben decided to end his life. After he pulled the trigger, he described the result as feeling as though his face had been hit with a baseball bat. Fighting dizziness, he managed to call 911 and get help before he collapsed and died. He was one of the approximately 8 million Americans who attempt suicide each year, according to statistics found by the authors. Most don't survive the experience. When Shelia Merkel went to visit him in the hospital, she was stunned by the physical injuries he sustained, but moved by the apparent resilience and spirit her long-time friend and co-worker displayed while lying there. Together, Schwipps and Merkel planned and wrote this book to share his story. They hoped others would be able to recognize the signs of depression and anxiety in those they loved, and that those fellow sufferers might benefit from hearing of Schwipps' experiences. The authors include a List of Resources at the end of their work.

Ben Schwipps and Shelia Merkel's non-fiction self-help/memoir, Live to Tell: A Suicide Survivor's Struggle with Depression and Anxiety, is a compelling and inspirational tale. Ben's voice is strong and filled with reflection and understanding after his traumatic experience and long-term struggle with depression and anxiety. I felt his pain and frustration with the snags his career hit and the subsequent toll it took on his life, family and self-esteem, and was rocked by his account of those moments after he pulled the trigger. Live to Tell reads like a novel, and I'm hoping that Schwipps considers writing one as a future project. His voice is strong and authentic, and his message and purpose here is made very, very clear. As I read this work, I couldn't help but remember a young friend who did not survive his attempt. I'm so thrilled to see stories like this one; stories that show there's a far better way to relieve the suffering and pain. Live to Tell: A Suicide Survivor's Struggle with Depression and Anxiety is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite

In a riveting and extremely compelling memoir by author Tracey Brame, Undeterred: KKK Target, KKK Witness, readers will find a story that will grip them completely from the very first pages and won't let them go all the way until the very end! Follow author Brame's story as she details her very sad and terrible experiences with racism, first as a young female cadet at the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point, and then as an up and coming young professional in her home state of Indiana. She was first viciously physically attacked by another cadet after she expressed an interest in entering politics, after which she suffered from a rare and difficult form of dissociative amnesia, preventing her from remembering the attack, as well as post traumatic stress disorder. After her time in the military, she was harassed and targeted by the KKK after wanting to enter the political field in Indiana. This woman's story is one that you will find horrifying on many levels, but at every turn, you will hope that Tracey Brame succeeds. Will she prevail? Read this wonderful memoir to find out.

I so enjoyed Undeterred. I found that author Tracey Brame did a fantastic job in writing her difficult true life story with realism and emotion, enough to truly engage her readers and make them care about her situation. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. This book is one that will keep you up late into the night reading, so I advise that you read it on a day when you can get up late the next day! The only other piece of advice I have to give to readers is to be sure you read this book, and sooner rather than later!

Reviewed by Roy T. James for Readers' Favorite

Not In God's Name: Making Sense of Religious Conflict by Paula Fouce begins with a vivid description of the pandemonium, the aftermath of the killing of Mrs Indira Gandhi, prime minister of India, in 1984. Paula Fouce happened to witness many horrific incidents, of Sikhs being attacked and murdered, looting and arson on a big scale, the president’s (who happened to be a Sikh) car being attacked, and many other scenes of great repugnance. This made her embark upon a long journey through the spiritual essence of India, recollecting the many impressions left by previous visits, as well as letting fresh impressions evolve by making new visits. There is hardly a part of India that she hasn’t visited to experience for herself, especially the spiritual makeup. From the abodes of the yogis, swamis and others in Himalayas, the Jewish synagogues, Buddhism, Jainism and other practices, the influence from other cultures like the Chinese, and the modern challenges from the jihadists, no aspect of violence or the efforts to quell violence in our society is left untouched in her attempt to find an answer.

Not In God's Name: Making Sense of Religious Conflict by Paula Fouce exhorts India to take a prime role in saving human society. Reminding us of the importance Asoka as well as Akbar felt towards religious tolerance and the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, she ends with a quote from the ancient scriptures of India: “The different religions are like lotus flowers. They rise from the murky depths, and when they finally reach the sunlight they bloom. When a lotus opens, it represents spiritual awakening. No two buds are alike, and no one blossom is more beautiful than another. They all celebrate the divine.”

Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite

Our modern world is full of almost as many opinions as there are people to express them. The twenty-first century is truly the age of the individual. This, says Edward F. Mrkvicka, Jr., is the seed of our destruction. Our obsession with self, says Mrkvicka, is distancing us from God in ways we will not be able to fully appreciate until we have passed the point of no return. “We all love the thought of a savior who saves us, but we rebel against the thought of a lord who requires discipleship and obedience. Therein lays the crux of the matter.”

The Plot to Kill God by Edward F. Mrkvicka, Jr. (with Kelly Mrkvicka) presents a point-by-point, scripturally based, impeccably well-rendered case for returning to God, not just a loving, benevolent protector but also as our Lord and master, who commands worship in absolute terms. This, says Mrkvicka, is problematic for free thinkers: “Americans in particular bristle at the thought of being submissive and putting ourselves second. We have rights. No one can tell us what to do, not even God."

Regardless of their religion or personal values, intelligent people the world over appreciate a carefully considered persuasive argument. Edward F. Mrkvicka, Jr.’s argument is compelling and reads with the grace and charm of a country Sunday sermon. There is no lecturing; no fire and brimstone; no trace of sulfur in the charismatic air; instead, there is the quiet, caring, urgent plea of a truly compassionate and God-fearing Christian who will not accept less than God’s eternal promise for his fellow human beings.

Remember who made us. Remember what we are here to do: worship … and obey. Come home.

Edward F. Mrkvicka, Jr.’s The Plot to Kill God offers an earnest, timely treatise for a woebegone and misguided age: “So often in our Christian walk we fail to nod to the power God commands, and lose sight of the true nature of our relationship. We are not His equal and shouldn’t act as if we are. When we do, we relegate God to being as powerless as we are. Conversely, when we obey and worship as commanded, He allows us to share in His power.”

Wonderful tool for reflection and growth.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement is a young adult, coming of age creative memoir written by Mary M. Barrow. The family's move from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Trenton, New Jersey, was made in two separate stages. The twins, Michael, Amelia's husband, Peter, and Mary's parents were in the family car for the long trip up north. Mary and her younger brother, Chuck, traveled by train with Amelia. It was a long journey made longer by the fact that they were unable to use the sleeping car that had been purchased by Mary's father, because Amelia was an African American. She sat up during the two-day ride and nestled a child on either side of her as they slept. Mary and Chuck would not have been anywhere else, except for home, and especially not in the car where Michael would be getting punished again. Amelia was comfort and love and strength; she was their world.

Mary M. Barrow's creative memoir for young adults, Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement, is a profound and memorable coming of age story set in the late 1950s and 1960s. Mary sees the Civil Rights Movement in a markedly different way than her racist father or even her more progressive mother does, and she shares that vision with the reader in this oh so moving tribute to the woman who became a mother, mentor and guardian. I loved reading Barrow's collection of memories, especially those concerning the summer on Block Island: Mary's turn to go out into the deep water and learn to master the waves with her mother, and the blackberry hunt with Amelia. Even more poignant were the passages detailing those times spent listening to Amelia as she shared her past memories with her two young charges. As I finished, I felt as if I had gotten to know a very special woman indeed, and I'm privileged to have done so. Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Be prepared: Homeless Hero: Understanding the Soul of Home by Mike Tapscott will forever change your view of the homeless people in our country. This book presents a thorough examination and understanding of a group of people in Phoenix, AZ – these people include the homeless, the staff (from the volunteers to the Directors) of a group of agencies addressing their needs, and even a local police officer. Mike Tapscott’s interviews with these folks do not focus on how the homeless arrived in this place; rather, he focuses on the humanity of each person. Each interview ends with the same three meaningful questions, and the answers given are truly poignant. And he includes his own thoughts and reactions during the interviews, and during his brief immersion as a homeless person.

Mike Tapscott’s book, Homeless Hero: Understanding the Soul of Home, delves deeply into the hearts and souls of the homeless, as well as the people who are committed to ending this distressing phenomenon. It is a well-written, moving account of his experiences. By revealing the human soul of the homeless, we become aware of the similarities between “them and us,” and quickly realize there are no discernible differences between them and us. By acknowledging the human connectedness each of us has to every other person - even the homeless - we learn to grow in compassion and kindness. Mike Tapscott shares his personal journey of understanding and acceptance. Any reader who spends reflective time with this book will also grow in acceptance of the homeless as worthy human beings, and perhaps be called to action in some manner.