Reviewed by Joanne Ang for Readers' Favorite

Monologues for Teens II is a collection of 60 monologues written by Mike Kimmel. The collection of monologues is curated for teenagers interested in the acting field. It is also suitable for film, television, and theater training for young and aspiring actors. It consists of gender-neutral and realistic everyday pieces that cover a wide range of topics that anyone can perform, anytime, anywhere. Rest assured, with Monologues for Teens II, you can polish your acting skills in no time with one of the best resources available. In other words, Monologues for Teens II is a handy book that will have you covered for every possible monologue scenario.

Monologues for Teens II is a wonderfully written collection by Mike Kimmel. I thought that the range of topics covered by the monologues was extremely vast, yet it never strays from one of the book’s main purposes – to provide gender-neutral and scene-neutral monologues. Personally, when I had acting class for my undergraduate degree, I found it difficult to find a monologue that could be performed by any gender without needing a specific prop or costume. I was amazed at the variety and the simplicity that Monologues for Teens II offers without compromising the quality of the monologues. Not only that, but this collection also highlights inspiring life lessons that will surely help the actors shine in an audition! I would definitely recommend Monologues for Teens II to early blooming actors or anyone who simply loves acting!

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Everyone at some time or another has faced trauma, problems, or obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. Pain and problems are part and parcel of life - these experiences help us learn and grow as individuals. From the author's personal experiences, mentors, and her own clients, discover how we can face our problems positively, change how we interpret them, and use the negative experience in an empowering way. The principles outlined in Happy, Joyous, and Free by Melanie Yates have been tried and tested and will bring clarity to your own thought processes and behaviors that could be working against you. Explore how your brain has been programmed to deceive and misinterpret situations; then learn the techniques to question your thoughts and actions so you empower yourself. Discover why success, happiness, and love may have been eluding you and how you can fix it. Love plus choices equal peace; it is time to end the inner war within ourselves and decide to make life work for and not against you.

The content in Happy, Joyous, and Free by Melanie Yates is some of the most thought-provoking and life-changing I have ever come across. In fact, I laughed out loud through many of the chapters because the author absolutely nailed how negatively we talk to ourselves. I admired her brutal honesty as she spoke of her own personal journey and her destructive emotions of blame, criticism, and judgment of others. The wall analogies which cover your mindset when trying to reach a goal were visually powerful and I imagine many readers will recognize themselves in one of the examples. The line that we often create dramas around problems we have no control over will stay with me forever; this was such a simple but powerful statement.

There were so many golden nuggets of information, guidance, and wisdom throughout the book. I thought the questions to ask yourself to validate negative self-talk or situations were incredible and the section on why we continue to engage in negative behavior truly enlightening. I thought the tip to replace should with could is so beneficial. My favorite chapter covered gratitude and how we can learn to be grateful for any given situation. Anyone who reads this book will definitely be armed to distinguish facts from feelings, set healthy boundaries with toxic people, and learn to question every negative thought. This book will help you to cease hiding from the truth to take accountability for your actions and give you the steps to work through negative emotions.

Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite

Everything About Astronauts—Vol. 1: Fascinating Fun Facts and Trivia about Astronauts for Teens and Adults is a combination of history, biography, and science. Author Marianne Jennings says she’s writing for both “space geeks” or simply anyone who wants to learn new information. Some chapter titles are “So You Want To Be An Astronaut?” “Astronaut Candidates & Basic Training,” Training for the Moon,” and “Astronaut/ Cosmonaut Firsts.” The book also includes space trivia, such as the “Eagle” and “Columbia” not being the original names for the command module and lunar module on Apollo 11. Humor is used when appropriate. Under the “Cash for Cosmonauts” section, Jennings writes, “Cosmonauts are docked pay for complaining, so they don’t complain.” At the end of the book, there is a quiz on topics covered, a glossary of space-related terms, and a list of recommended resources. The book is documented with extensive footnotes and endnotes. There’s also a link to a free copy of part of Vol. 2.

This book could be called “everything you always wanted to know about being an astronaut.” But even that doesn’t begin to describe the depth of the book and the amount of knowledge that it imparts. Author Marianne Jennings must have done a tremendous amount of research, and her hard work and attention to detail show on every page. I’m extremely interested in astronomy and have followed the many space missions launched by multiple countries, yet I found myself continually learning new and fascinating information. Furthermore, the entire book serves as inspiration for those who may be interested in a career as an astronaut or related fields. As I write this, Christmas is approaching and this book would make a wonderful Christmas gift. It would also make an excellent birthday present for anyone. I give Everything About Astronauts—Vol. 1: Fascinating Fun Facts and Trivia about Astronauts for Teens and Adults my highest recommendation.

Reviewed by Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite

Remember Your Name, by Erik G LeMoullec, relates the life story of Teddy Znamirowski and his family before and during the German occupation of Poland. Hayden, the great-granddaughter of Teddy, and her parents are on their way to celebrate Teddy’s eighty-fourth birthday. During the car ride, Hayden asks her father why Teddy speaks the way he does. This triggers a time when Hayden’s father asked Teddy the same question. This book tells of the atrocities, hatred, and horrors that Teddy, his family, and the Jewish people experienced during the war. Teddy and his family were transported into the ghetto of Lodz at the age of ten, then after a few years were transported by cattle car to Auschwitz. It was at this time Teddy lost everyone except Kwart, a friend and former neighbor. The two kept each other alive. After surviving the death march to Görlitz concentration camp, Teddy and Kwart, along with other prisoners were finally liberated. Teddy is recruited by the Bricha and becomes one of their lead operatives. He smuggles survivors across Russian, German and Polish borders; he is arrested many times but always set free because of his connection to the Bricha. Finally, Teddy is unable to continue his work and asks them to send him to Palestine. He wants an education, to have a family, and make a life for himself. What he does not know until later is who his wife truly is and what his connection to her was during the war. As horrific as the inhumanity of this story is, LeMoullec has captured the truly human side of surviving one of history's darkest times.

Remember Your Name by Erik G LeMoullec is a powerful story everyone should read. I fell into the story and did not come up for air until I was finished reading. I found myself trapped in the story with Teddy. The writing is so captivating, emotional, and heart-breaking that tears came to my eyes. This story is so well written, the reader will feel everything Teddy feels, hear and see what he does, and your heart will break at the horrific injustice of what happened to the people sent into the concentration camps. Auschwitz was brought to life in this book. The reader will go with Teddy into the pigsty as he searches for food, or into one of the trucks he drove across the borders when he worked for the Bricha. This is the most moving story I have read for many years. LeMoullec is brilliant in storytelling. He brought his characters and his locations to life while giving the reader a brief glimpse of what existing within Auschwitz must have been like for the prisoners. The reader will not be able to set this book down. It is exceptional.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

God’s Gift (Woman) is a work of non-fiction in the inspirational genre. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by Freddie Floyd Jr. The book is a spiritual reflection on the role of women in God’s plan for the human race, encouraging women to feel empowered by their faith in God and find their value in today’s society. Focusing on a positive message for women that reminds them that God intends for them to be loved and respected by their partners, the book sets forward a very clear mantra; do not settle for a partner who does not treat you the way God wants you to be treated.

This book does an excellent job of articulating the argument for equality in relationships, taking apart the old-fashioned idea of women subjecting themselves to the men in their lives and instead highlighting that women are an equal part of the marriage equation. Freddie Floyd Jr.’s mission is to see that women in Christian marriages understand they are equal members of the team, people who deserve to be valued, and have as important a role in God’s plan as any man does. Through this book he achieves his goal, backing his arguments with scripture and coming from a place of power for every one of God’s children. God’s Gift (Woman) is a must-have book for women who feel that the relationships they’ve experienced have taken their power instead of enhancing it, and I recommend it to all readers interested in gender equality and scripture.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Smarter Than You Think: Accessing Your Personal Powers to Triumph in College by Suzanne Liff is a self-empowerment book for young adults who are about to embark on the first stage of their higher educational life. Liff taps into the different aspects necessary for success, all of which are built upon the foundation of social and emotional intelligence (SEI). Broken down into eleven distinct and interconnected chapters, Liff emphasizes the importance of personal capacities that are not often recognized by students or even measured. These include the diverse ways to be smart in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, self-awareness and emotional control, time management, accountability, and empathy, among many other dominions.

I wasn't entirely certain what to expect when I picked up Smarter Than You Think, but as a parent with a daughter entering her first year of college in September, the timing of Suzanne Liff's book falling into my lap couldn't have been better. I found genuine value in almost everything contained in these succinct chapters, and the examples and anecdotal stories personalized the book on the whole. My favorite section is titled Turn Your Back on Dangerous Coping Methods, and it is chock-full of alternatives to quitting, self-medicating, or withdrawing when faced with stress. Outlets that channel energy into positive mechanisms are provided, and the advice is universal as it can be applied to my own life as well as my daughter's. Smarter Than You Think is an excellent book with so much to offer and I am so glad to have read it.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Dirty Science is an unusual and thought-provoking work of non-fiction by author Bob Gebelein, which attempts to explain ‘How Unscientific Methods Are Blocking Our Cultural Advancement’. The book begins a discussion on the nature of the absolute faith we, in the modern day, place in science, and how this can sometimes prove unwise and prevent progress and new philosophical thinking in other areas of the discipline. Whilst science has its place in the world, the examples chosen in this complex read are intended to help its audience see the genuine nature of science and identify the ‘unscientific’ elements where pride, politics, and empiricism may stand in the way of explorations of the mental and spiritual realms in which we also abide.

Though it takes a little while to get your head around the text, the writings and arguments which author Bob Gebelein explores in Dirty Science truly open the mind to possibilities beyond just believing what we are told in the mainstream. The legitimacy of the scientific establishment has often been called into question as an elitist and politically-motivated organization, but Gebelein gives comprehensive and compelling explanations as to why that may be, and what can be done about it to allow science to progress beyond a simple categorization of the physical world around us. I particularly enjoyed the sections on seemingly irrational concepts like precognition and clairvoyance, as well as the comparisons made to a sense of faith in religion. Overall, Dirty Science provides much food for thought in a well-written and accessible format.

Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

In the wonderfully conceived and magnificently presented Liberty-Loving Lafayette: How 'America’s Favorite Fighting Frenchman' Helped Win Our Independence, Dorothea Jensen presents her theme in visuals and verse, alternating them page by page as she traces Gilbert’s (Lafayette’s) dedicated involvement in America’s Revolutionary War. The visuals are mostly color prints of classic museum paintings of persons and places in the full regalia of the time. The fashion styles are nothing but mind-blowing not only of Lafayette but of King George III, Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, and many others. There are also battle scenes with everything chronologically presented. On opposite pages are poems consisting of mostly iambic, rhymed couplets that often raise a smile with some intrusions of modern slang (bro, good to go) that will appeal to the present generation.

If I were a high school teacher presenting American history, this amazing volume would be center front on my desk regarding not only Lafayette but a collection of the war’s other players; Washington, Silas Dean, Rochambeau, and Benedict Arnold. And battles too—Brandywine, Gloucester, Barren Hill, Monmouth, Newport Bay, and Yorktown. And when my students finished with the pictures and verse, I’d refer them to the glossary and scholarly notes at the end. It’s as clear as the Liberty Bell that Dorothea Jensen breathes the history of our colonial period, and her reverence for and joy in the subject will inspire anyone who opens her superb presentation. Besides the history, Liberty-Loving Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen is a joy for the senses that will bring the foundation of our liberty marching proudly to the fore.

Reviewed by Paula Lynn McGrew for Readers' Favorite

It's Not Common Cent$, written by Aaminah Amin, is an inspiring financial how-to book. Her fun, engaging writing style on a topic often deemed dull and boring is entertaining and kept me interested. As I turned the pages, I felt like she was alongside me as I read, encouraging me to make responsible fiscal decisions, and coaching me on how to set a goal of putting debt in my past, where it belongs, instead of my future, where it doesn’t. Using words like depreciation, compound interest, and cash flow, she explains these terms in ways more easily understood than net asset value or the fine print on my home’s purchase agreement. Providing pivot tables and algebraic calculations for everything from tracking transactions to sticking to a budget like a pro, she lays out practical, clear steps to achieve financial freedom. I learned that simply knowing how to add and subtract in order to balance my checkbook does not necessarily mean I handle money well, nor does that knowledge transfer to making wise decisions regarding wealth management.

A cheerleader from beginning to end, Aaminah Amin highlights ways to avoid financial pitfalls. Topics of discussion include purchasing life, home, car, and health insurance; paying taxes; and employing multiple income streams to bring in revenue. She points out the need for an action plan, a budget, and consistency - all key to the building blocks that stack one upon the other to produce prosperity instead of debt. The more I read, the tougher the questions I asked myself became: Am I exhibiting good spending habits? Am I buying necessities and practicing delayed gratification? Am I investing in my future in lieu of impulse buying? By the time I finished reading the last chapter, I was confident I can attain my financial goals and assign my money a task, controlling it, instead of the other way around. Putting a positive spin on budgeting, and properly paced for maximum reading enjoyment, It's Not Common Cent$ is an empowering book written for anyone ready to put their money to work today.

Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite

The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness by Jill Grimes, MD is a comprehensive guide for students. It is not (as reminded in the Note to readers) a substitute for medical care; far from it. It introduces varied scenarios and the stories of young college students who had to deal with those issues. It is nonetheless classified into topics such as the “head, mouth, neck, chest, stomach, back…” The index will allow the reader to search for specific problems and the references to dig deeper.

The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook by Jill Grimes, MD is a wonderful family book. It is designed for college students but will be useful for all, parents and children alike. I appreciated the tone and voice of this guide: the author knows how to engage her readers. It is as though she were speaking to us and it is extremely appealing. I loved the way each problem is tackled by name first, the one we all give to it, and the medical one, then the symptoms, the treatment(s), the cases in which you should head to the doctor. There are also three additional sections that are a great plus: worst-case scenario, prevention, expert tricks. So we understand that this handbook is not only to be perused in case of need but before such a need should arise.

The sections about prevention and tips are invaluable! It offers comfort, reassurance and helps calm one down. It is the telephone call we would like to have with our family to get advice or the school nurse who always knew how to deal with the situation. It tells us "don't worry/panic, others have been here/through this before, we'll handle this together. You're not alone!" Everything about this guide is perfect: it is clear, to the point, interesting, fun to read. It should be gifted to all college students!