Reviewed By Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

Sinful Purity by K. A. Standen, is a coming-of-age story of a young girl, Mary Elizabeth (Liz), who was orphaned at the age of four and placed under the care of Mary Immaculate Queen Orphanage. Not having remembered anything of her life before the age of four, her identity was wrapped up within the walls of the “prison” of the orphanage and the nearby St. Matthew’s church. Along with a friend, Kelly, they begin to dream of a life outside the walls and iron gate. Kelly’s brother Bart even helps feed Liz's dream by sneaking “unauthorized” reading material to her. When Liz finally escapes the iron gate of MIQ to go to college, she is still shackled by its spiritual bonds. With the help of two good friends, Caleb and Lucy, and the unfailing love of Zack, the love of her life, she begins to see what life outside the physical and spiritual constraints of MIQ and St. Matthew's is really like. She has to fight not only the forces of the institution, but her own inner demons in order to hold onto her new found freedom as she grows to discover her true identity.

In Sinful Purity, K. A. Standen expertly contrasts the issues of bondage and freedom on two different levels: the institutional and the inner spiritual. It is a story filled with deep inner tension as Liz works her way out of the darkness of hidden childhood and into the light of freedom. The plot is thoughtful and well-developed and the reader will feel the inner conflict and tension that grips Liz. It is almost impossible to put this book down as the reader pursues each of the suspenseful twists and turns which Liz faces as she unravels the identity that lies beneath. This is a thought provoking masterpiece which will serve the reader well as it questions the deeper truths of bondage and freedom. An honest book. Highly recommended reading.

Reviewed By Kelly Atwood for Readers' Favorite

“Out of Bounds” by Bob Moseley is the gratifying and intriguing story of Jason Jefferson, an injured high school football player who turns to journalism while recovering from a torn ACL. Jason begins writing for the school newspaper after being inspired by a film in his journalism class. Naively Jason dives into investigative reporting trying to emulate his heroes Woodward and Bernstein, and ultimately uncovers a real scandal at his school that lands a little too close to home. Jason must grapple with his desire to hold on to his friendships, or save the people he cares about while investigating a story that could affect the lives of everyone at Hillsboro High School.

Bob Moseley really hit home on a heartfelt and unique coming of age story, and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the story. I couldn’t put it down. I felt myself become nervous for Jason, and eager for him to uncover the plot. Even though the story breached some more serious topics plaguing professional and high school sports today, it made me feel content and relieved when the last page was read. The story proved that doing the right thing, even though it may not necessarily be what everyone wants, can be exactly what you need. I would recommend this story to readers of any age, because you are never too old to learn to have the courage to do what is right. Had me from the very first page!

Reviewed By Dianne Bylo for Readers' Favorite

Set in a world that is similar to our own, “January Black” by Wendy S. Russo is an intriguing mystery, a sweet love story, and has a twist at the end that will bring a smile to your face! Young Matty Ducayne has caught the eye of King Hadrian with his brilliant mind, intense curiosity and his ability to think outside of the box. Hadrian gives Matty a deceptively difficult question to answer: What is January Black? Matty has no time constraints, but there is only one correct answer and with the help and support of Iris, he undertakes a two year journey to find the solution to the king’s question. Throughout his search, Matty comes to many wrong conclusions, finds a sweetly sincere love shared with Iris, opens his eyes to the reality of the world around him, and learns that knowledge should always be shared. Once Matty realizes he has the answer, he makes a daring move that could cost him his life. He must trust in what the answer means, how it will affect the actions of those closest to him, and that his life will be changed forever!

I was completely enthralled by the world Wendy Russo created in this story and kept hoping that I would magically find more pages after reaching the end! With its unique plot-line, smooth prose, and charmingly brilliant characters, I can highly recommend "January Black" to anyone who loves a book that can be read and re-read, again and again!

Reviewed By Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

When twelve year old Samantha wakes up to a dead mother, she and her fifteen year old brother Jacob have to hide the body and scramble fast to leave their West Virginia home or face the possibility of being forced into being charges of the state. The prospect of being separated in foster care is not an option. They have to make a run for it, leaving Jacob in control of their destiny. They pack their personal belongings, raid their sparse pantry, collect what money they can find, and flee the confines of their tattered mobile home to ride off into the sunset in their junky Chevy. Days turn into nights and then into days as they struggle to drive on gas fumes, camping in the car and surviving on canned foods. Jacob is aware of the danger of his budding sister’s appearance. He cuts her hair and insists that she dress as a boy. Samantha is not happy with this dysfunctional transition into teenage years, but does as her brother says. Their dwindling finances forces them to halt their travels in Arizona long enough for Jacob to find work and for Sam to meet Jesus.

"Desert Rice" is a heart-wrenching tale of two youngsters fighting to stay together and doing whatever is necessary to escape an abusive past. I applaud Angela Scott’s depiction of one brother’s loyalty and devoted sense of responsibility to his sister. The guilt he feels in not keeping her safe is palpable in every turn of the page. This book is character-driven. The plot flows smoothly with excellent pacing. This book will stay with you long after you close the cover.

Reviewed By Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

The year was 1944 and twenty year old Rudolph Meier was a Nazi POW working in local cotton fields while he was held at Camp Papago Park near Phoenix, Arizona. He was serving as a radio operator on a German submarine stationed near the eastern coast of the United States. After it was bombed the survivors were taken captive. Rudolph, or Rudi, still believes in Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich of Germany; he was convinced that Hitler had put food on the Germans' tables, given them work, and made life better for them than it was under the Wiemar Republic and the injustice it brought Germany from the Treaty of Versailles. Rudi was a twelve year old boy when he became a willing member of the Hitler Youth, despite the unspoken caution of his grandparents with whom he lived. He even had a swastika tattooed on his right arm. As a POW, Rudi met Bob Feller and his mother and sickly father Vern who owned the cotton farm where he worked. Rudi was adamant in his beliefs that America is a country of mixed races with a foolish love of individual freedom. Then, he got to know the Fellers, who were Jewish, and watched the American guards at Papago Park. Will Rudolph Meier rethink his hardened beliefs and the intolerance of other people and their cultures?

"The Swastika Tattoo" by Geraldine Birch is a brilliant, extremely well-written book that demonstrates how a young German POW, indoctrinated by his school teachers and leaders came to question the intolerance of other people and cultures. The characters and dialogue are fine. Rudolph, Bob Feller and his mother, Ruth, Rudi's friends, his grandfather and grandmother and all the other characters are all believable and highly relevant in the story. The plot proceeds realistically to the story's end. The author's glossary of German words and their meaning is a terrific asset to readers. The essay questions help reinforce the message behind this book. This book is a potential classic, for it portrays the world so accurately.

Reviewed By Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

Nathaniel, Orah, and Thomas, best friends since childhood, live a peaceful, bucolic existence in Little Pond, a place as small as its name suggests. Their lives are simple, governed by the teachings from the Temple, and the ministrations of the Vicars and their squadron of Deacons. Hints of the past, the ‘darkness’, are resolutely squashed by the Vicars who explain that to doubt is to reject the ‘light’ of their teachings. Subsequently, the perceived ‘magical’ elements of the past are crushed in favor of so-called mystical teachings. For a thousand years, this peaceful existence continues. Nevertheless, secrets have a way of revealing themselves. Nathaniel doesn’t accept the Vicars’ teachings; he believes there is more to life. A legend exists of earlier magic, hidden away in a place called the Keep. The secret path to the Keep has been preserved by Keepers, who will pass on the clues to a group called Seekers. But of course no one dares question the Temple, until Thomas is taken away for a ‘teaching,’ and he comes back broken in mind and spirit. Seeds of rebellion grow in Nathaniel, and come to fruition when his friend Orah is taken. Determined to save her, Nathaniel ends up in the prisons of Temple City, and finds out the truth from a long-time prisoner. Armed with knowledge, he sets forth with Thomas and Orah to find the Keep. Can they survive the journey, and can they inspire their people to realize the truth behind the Temple? Will the fulfillment of their mission destroy their world?

Author David Litwack has created a believable dystopian world devoid of technology. Technology overtook humanity (perhaps a salutary lesson here?) and led to social collapse. Hints of the hideous effects of indoctrination in a totalitarian society remind us of the dangers of the suppression of knowledge. This is a coming-of-age story, a tale of friendship and loyalty, and of self-discovery and self-belief. Each of the friends discovers their own talents, and with that, their purpose in life. The author takes a philosophical approach and engages readers in ideas of freedom and choice, both personal and of thinking. This is such a well-written book, with so many thought-provoking concepts, that I am sure readers will thoroughly enjoy it and appreciate the author’s message.

Reviewed By Lynette Fowlston for Readers' Favorite

"Abby" by Lisa A. McCombs is a delightful read that is appropriate for teenage girls as well as well as adults. The reader is taken on a journey through the school year by seventh grader Abigail Van Buren Masterdon. Abby, her mother, and little brother Joey have come home to Monongah Virginia. Abby’s father died when she was young, her mother has done her best considering she is a single parent. They had to move around a lot. In Monongah everyone seems to know them or at least her mother. While working on an English assignment to research a newspaper story, Abby just happens to come across “Dear Abby.” She writes in her journal to Abigail Van Buren almost daily, Abby is finding out more and more things about where they are living. This is where her mother is from as she discovers aunts, uncles, cousins and most of all grandparents, but what is most devastating is that she learns her mother has MS. From her mother’s heath and school work to boyfriends and cheerleader bullies the reader lives an interesting and often trying year with Abby.

This is a very interesting story, even though it is written as the daily journal of a twelve year old seventh grader. As you read it you would think that you are reading a true account although the book is fictional. The book shows how a twelve year old girl comes to terms with health issues and is grown up enough to help her mother and how writing to Dear Abby in her journal helps her overcome a problem with bullies instead of fighting them. I think all girls from twelve years old and up should read this book as it shows how they too can overcome adversity.

Reviewed By Lynette Fowlston for Readers' Favorite

"Abby" by Lisa A. McCombs is a delightful read that is appropriate for teenage girls as well as well as adults. The reader is taken on a journey through the school year by seventh grader Abigail Van Buren Masterdon. Abby, her mother, and little brother Joey have come home to Monongah Virginia. Abby’s father died when she was young, her mother has done her best considering she is a single parent. They had to move around a lot. In Monongah everyone seems to know them or at least her mother. While working on an English assignment to research a newspaper story, Abby just happens to come across “Dear Abby.” She writes in her journal to Abigail Van Buren almost daily, Abby is finding out more and more things about where they are living. This is where her mother is from as she discovers aunts, uncles, cousins and most of all grandparents, but what is most devastating is that she learns her mother has MS. From her mother’s heath and school work to boyfriends and cheerleader bullies the reader lives an interesting and often trying year with Abby.

This is a very interesting story, even though it is written as the daily journal of a twelve year old seventh grader. As you read it you would think that you are reading a true account although the book is fictional. The book shows how a twelve year old girl comes to terms with health issues and is grown up enough to help her mother and how writing to Dear Abby in her journal helps her overcome a problem with bullies instead of fighting them. I think all girls from twelve years old and up should read this book as it shows how they too can overcome adversity.

Reviewed By Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

Danny Rorro lived in the neighborhood in Queens where he has lived all his life. Danny made life fun and interesting for himself and enjoyed making others laugh. “The Domino Effect” is the story of Danny’s life and the series of painful defeats that left him scarred and isolated from his neighborhood, his parents and his childhood when he was known as “Domino”. Danny changed schools because of some problems, so he is now in Harden Academy, a boarding school in NJ. In his book “Domino Effect”, Andrew Cotto takes us inside the life of Danny through his high school years. This is a well-written, wonderful, and fast read! I liked Danny from the beginning. He reminds me of my own son. His personality is fun and witty and he is a person people enjoy having around. But life changed for Danny when he was attacked at his old school. Going to boarding school had its own quirks; a lot of issues Danny had to face and some really weren’t due to his fault. The characters in this story are fun and believable and very well developed, and they relate to each other well, keeping the reader glued to their chair because sometimes it is difficult for to take a break from reading. I just had to find out what was going to happen next with Danny!

Wow, I loved this book, and I loved Danny. I was heartbroken for him each time he had to face the difficult issues and situations that came his way. But he ended up being the hero, with his dad supporting him all the way. I think anyone would enjoy reading this fun-loving story. Why not grab a copy to read and enjoy for yourself?

Reviewed By Lorraine Carey for Readers' Favorite

"Reichold Street" is an extremely moving account of a group of boys who come of age during the turbulent 1960's. It begins as a place where young boys played ball in the street but in its later years it was riddled with suicide, thugs and crime. It starts off with a mysterious family moving into an average neighborhood where several boys have already formed a genuine bond of friendship. Within the dynamics of this family is a very tortured and angry bully who struggles to fit in with this dynamic bunch. Albert Parker and his family begin to give Reichold Street a run for their money with family issues of mental and physical abuse. As Albert becomes labeled as the bad bully here you will surprisingly see his character revealed later on as a product of his abusive father and the environment. He was a boy with a destiny already marked for failure. The early events flow as each boy in the gang holds a specific role and so many vivid details are portrayed as these boys experience the pleasures and pains of adolescence. The boys will witness such tragedy and triumph. The story will spiral as it chronicles the boys’ lives after graduation. You will be moved by Albert’s shady beginnings to find out the real story behind all the madness. Some walked away from this neighborhood in fame or defeat and some never survived the haunting essence of this place they called Reichold Street.

Ronald L. Herron is a master of the art of character development. You can hear each voice clearly as they relate relate their experiences on Reichold Street. For a work of fiction this brings to life some of the real tragedies that had occurred during that time. I believe this book will appeal to a vast audience, and as a reading specialist, I feel this is a great piece of literature for young boys and would be a wonderful addition to any school library.