Reviewed by Jessyca Garcia for Readers' Favorite

I really enjoyed The Blue Chameleon: The Life Story of a Super Cop by Daril Cinquanta. This book is filled to the brim about Cinquanta’s experiences while working as a police officer in Denver, Colorado. It also tells why Cinquanta finally retired. Daril Cinquanta certainly had many exciting experiences while working as a police officer. I am glad that he decided to share his experiences in The Blue Chameleon. In this day and age, police officers are greatly misunderstood and often portrayed in a negative light. It is nice to read positive stories and see how an officer has improved his community.

Not only did Cinquanta chase bad guys, but he did it all while having lupus. Never once did he let it affect his job or complain about it. Cinquanta also had a unique way of doing police work. Memorizing faces and facts about people is pretty clever. Reading this book has also given me a new view on police departments and how they always make one of their own pay. That is the only thing I did not like about this book. It is not always fair how they punish their own.

I liked how Cinquanta organized his stories based on the years he worked in each department. I also learned something about Elvis Presley. I never knew he collected guns! I do not think they make cops like Cinquanta anymore. If they do, we could sure use one in Chicago! Overall, I really enjoyed The Blue Chameleon: The Life Story of a Super Cop by Daril Cinquanta. I hope that Cinquanta continues to share his stories from on the job.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Reflections In the Key of Life is an autobiographical work focused on and penned by trumpeter Steve Madaio, along with the assistance of Tad Sisler. Recording his life as a musician through the turbulent social changes of the 1960s, through pivotal events such as Woodstock and his work with plenty of famous faces, this unique portrait gives us insight into the figures who work alongside those stars on whom we so often shine the spotlight. Here, Steve Madaio’s influence on popular music is unveiled and appreciated in the context of the shifting sands of the music industry, teaching important lessons about talent, hard work, opportunity and life in general.

I really enjoyed getting to know Steve Madaio through this intimate portrait of his life and work. Focusing heavily on the music, it’s easy to see how passionate a musician Steve was throughout his varied and exciting career. There is plenty of appeal in this work for aficionados - for example, the tales of how he worked with John Lennon and the Rolling Stones - giving us a special insight into the music industry and exciting artists that we know from afar. Steve’s experience is really brought to life, however, by his insightful reflections on the big and small moments that shaped him throughout his career, and it’s here that we find the real golden nuggets of empathy, wisdom, and inspiration in the work. Overall, Reflections In the Key of Life is an accomplished work by Steve Madaio and Tad Sisler which music fans are sure to love.

Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite

Diary of the Dragon's Daughter: Painting as a Window into Chinese History by BiLan Liao is her autobiography from growing up in China during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution to resettling in the US. She is an extraordinary artist, with achievements in painting, photography, fashion design, and sculpture. When she settled in the US, she created paintings of her life in China. Those paintings and others of her life in the US form the heart of this book. Her paintings and narrative cover three time periods: her life in China from 1954 to 1976 and from 1977 to 1999; and her life in the US from 1999 to 2018. Two major art collections depict her life in China, “Painting as a Window into Chinese History” (over forty-four paintings) and "Coming into Tibet" (twelve paintings). She has also included paintings from her teaching years in Indiana and Kentucky. Her collection “Return” won praise and comparison of her art style to those of Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso.

I was deeply moved by BiLan Liao's autobiography. I became immersed in her narrative because of her multifaceted paintings. I liked her inclusion of windows in her compositions as a way of looking into the past. I found the captions illuminating because I would otherwise have overlooked significant details in the paintings. Each painting became a story in itself, of individual lives and of the devastating impact of the Cultural Revolution on China as a whole. Many of the paintings depict her family's struggles to survive poverty, hunger, and fear through love, kindness, courage and an adventurous spirit. Paintings like “Voices of Freedom” and “I Wanted to Be a Nun” capture unforgettable turning points. A remarkable and compelling story of life, art, and the courage to never give up on dreams.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Employee Millionaire: How to Use Your Day Job to Become a Millionaire with Rental Properties by H.J. Chammas is a book that provides readers with tools they need to build a solid investment in real estate. In this book the author helps readers identify the big "why," develop habits that allow them to create a strong awareness of their financial situation, and insight to beat limiting beliefs while unearthing their potential. Readers learn how to set objectives and the three-step journey to financial freedom. What makes the book so useful is that the author doesn't limit himself in proposing steps to take towards real estate investment, but identifies the most profitable areas in which to invest. The pitfalls to watch against are brilliantly discussed. Here is a book that teaches readers to run real estate investment as a business, creating an effective profession that is measurable and that drives results.

This book provides detailed information that is hard to find, stuff that successful investors want to keep for themselves. The author speaks with the authority of one with a tried and tested method, and I enjoyed the confidence with which he talks about his experience. Apart from the advice the book offers, the author’s personal testimony substantiates the arguments. H.J. Chammas’ writing is simple, a conversational style that conveys the message with great clarity. The Employee Millionaire: How to Use Your Day Job to Become a Millionaire with Rental Properties is a gem for readers interested in real estate, a blueprint on how to transform rental property into a profitable business. This is a book for anyone who wants to find the right path to success in real estate.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Time for the World to Learn From Africa: Hearing Others’ Voices is a work of educational non-fiction intended for students and young people, penned by author and academic Ruth Finnegan. Taking a break from her scholarly work, Finnegan delves deep into the heritage, culture, art and beliefs of Africa to uncover and convey that which we, as Westernized society, could learn from opening our eyes and ears to another culture. In a reversal of the idea that the cultures of the east need to look west for improvement, it is now time that we look back over the language, lore, gender roles and insights of African culture in order to develop ourselves as more rounded people.

I adored this book for its empowering presence, but also for the creative and educational possibilities it suggests. As an educator and creative practitioner myself, I really enjoyed the explanations of elements such as performance and music, how they are integral to the African culture and are valued in a different way than we see entertainment formats in the West. Linguistically, Ruth Finnegan’s sensitivity to the many languages and dialects of Africa is well explained and would be easily understood by her target age range of students aged sixteen and above. I think that opening others up to culture in such an academic and accessible way is of huge benefit to the target group, but Time for the World to Learn from Africa would also make an excellent addition to the shelves of all teachers who want to bring new perspectives into their classrooms.

Reviewed by Astrid Iustulin for Readers' Favorite

Edwin Wong’s The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy is one of those books that invite one to discover new things about old fields. In this case, the subject is tragedy, one of the classic forms of art. Wong reaffirms its importance in our time because we are living in a world that has been hugely influenced by artificial intelligence, technology, and globalization. Tragedy has some similarities with modern conducts. In our time, tragic heroes are those who take risks that have a profound impact on society. This is why Wong suggests a new model of tragedy: the risk theatre. What does he mean by “risk theatre”? Risk theatre interprets the best ages of tragedy in a modern key. Risk is the main topic of tragedy, and heroes are like gamblers who pay the price of discovery.

Through a series of interesting dissertations and examples, Wong clarifies his point of view in a persuasive way. The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy is a clear essay, where every part has been structured to make the general picture as precise as possible. Wong is an analytical writer and it is easy to follow his line of reasoning through his consistent exposition. He gives several enlightening examples that often draw to original conclusions. I appreciated the references to classic tragedies and the invitation to create the theatre of tomorrow. The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy is a book that will interest both specialists and book lovers who want to know “how it works.” It is also a recommended reading for modern risk takers.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

To some, it may be the worst subject to talk about but in fact, it creates the best fruits and vegetables. Have you tasted a tomato that has been grown in compost or filtered human waste, both used as fertilizers? Human waste, also known as biosolids, is being used by farmers all over the world as fertilizer, as well as cow manure to grow their crops. In The Humanure Handbook: Shit in a Nutshell by Joseph C. Jenkins, the reader will discover the various aspects of how beneficial waste or poop is to the planet. You will not only be entertained by the comical illustrations and educational photos but within the 15 chapters from Microbes: Friend or Foe? and Compost Nuts and Bolts to Bum Rap, you will gain a better understanding of how beneficial waste is to the planet while discovering a lot of facts that you possibly never even think about as you eat and flush the toilet every day. It all may seem gross but this book is a must-have for any library. Trust me.

I was interested in this book and this subject because this is something my dad had been saying and doing for decades using knowledge from his Southern roots. I thought it was gross personally, but when I saw fruit in our backyard I noticed how sweet and large it was, unlike anything in the grocery store. As Joseph states in this book, there is something magical about Humanure (human waste) and Compost (food waste). This book covers so much to educate you on the subject from a glossary, the connection to your toilet and the sewer system, septic tanks and Compost Toilet Manners and Etiquette to how to build a Humanure Hacienda and much, much more. Food for thought; have you ever wondered what happens when you use the restroom on a plane, train or bus? It could be sold for fertilizer.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

A Last Survivor of the Orphan Trains is a work of memoir non-fiction penned by co-authors William Walters and Victoria Golden. This inspiring tale takes a deep and personal look into the life of William Walters, who was one of the thousands of orphans loaded onto trains from the East Coast of America with the idea that they would find a better life in the emerging West. For William, aged only four years old in 1930, life was far from ideal when his new family turned out to be cruel and abusive, setting him on a path that would see him travel through decades of hardship before he could finally achieve his own version of the American Dream.

This is a powerfully emotive story, inspiring and motivational in its message that keeping going and being resilient pays off, even when the world is unspeakably cruel. Author Victoria Golden works well with William Walters’s story, and the two together make an epic and detailed journey through the Depression, the Second World War and almost right up to present day history as William’s life unfolds. Golden provides additional research into little-known facets of American history, mirroring the issues in today’s fostering system to show that people are far from perfect and the system always needs more work done to ensure that orphans are safe and cared for. Despite his terrible experiences, William’s own inner strength and belief in a better future make him an admirable hero against the odds. A Last Survivor of the Orphan Trains is an excellent memoir, highly recommended.

Reviewed by Fiona Ingram for Readers' Favorite

For the rest of the world, the Vietnam War is over. For the soldiers who fought in it, no matter what their role, it will never be over. Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War is described by author and Vietnam veteran Patrick Hogan as “part memoir, part exposé, and part call to action against the bureaucratic and legislative negligence and indifference that has violated, and continues to violate, the trust of veterans and US citizens as a whole.” Succinct and well put, this is the perfect description of a horrific cover-up, one of the greatest crimes against humanity of the 20th century, and one that, had it happened today, would have been labelled genocide. The author served two years, nine months and 22 days in Vietnam and that was enough to poison his body to the extent that he ended up with a laundry list of ailments. These only manifested 43 years after his service ended, but confirmed Patrick’s conviction that his time in Vietnam and his numerous illnesses were linked. After all, on many occasions, among the reasons cited by medical experts for his problems were the two chilling words “environmental agents.” And thus began his exhaustive and minutely detailed investigation into the witches’ brew of potentially lethal tactical pesticides which he is sure contributed to the decline in his health and that of many other veterans.

Sidelined and pushed from pillar to post, Patrick came up against the stone-walling tactics of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) and the US government, both of which deny the effects of the toxic chemicals Vietnam veterans were exposed to during the war. The reasonable person wonders why the government and chemical companies did not set about covering medical bills and compensating these men. The answer is simple. Money and greed. The refusal of the DVA and the US administration to accept responsibility is to protect them from international liability and accusations of use of chemical warfare/weapons (which is the case) and to avoid the massive payouts they would be forced to make. This is a shameful indictment of the political administration of the time, and the current one, when reparations could but won’t be made.

I had a vague idea of the Vietnam War when I picked up this book, and of course I had heard of the infamous Agent Orange, a horrifying and deadly herbicide and defoliant chemical used to destroy jungle cover for the enemy and any food supplies they might locate there. The US government destroyed millions of acres of South Vietnam jungles. It was an environmental catastrophe beyond any natural disaster ever known. I had never heard of Agent White and the numerous other toxic and deadly concoctions, a chemical poisonous soup, used as pesticides. Vietnam is home to myriad insects, bugs, and critters all carrying their own types of bites, stings and diseases. They had to be exterminated. The problem was that daily exposure to these poisons inevitably altered the molecular structure of the cells of people exposed, but took years, even decades, to manifest. This gave the government and the DVA enough wiggle room to claim inconclusive evidence and to fudge the facts and manipulate the statistics.

Despite the mind-boggling details and chilling statistics contained in this memoir, the author has no moments of self-pity. He includes very detailed research, scientific, chemical and medical information, but all in a very readable, user-friendly style. I felt as if I were sitting with the author and chatting over coffee. He manages to intersperse facts and figures with events in a way that makes it easy to absorb the statistics and the information which is so relevant to his story. Photographs are an added bonus to help the reader visualize the location and the living conditions of the men who served in Vietnam. The facts are thoroughly researched with bibliographic and reference end notes to give credibility to Patrick Hogan’s story, one of tragedy shared by many, many other soldiers who gave their lives in a war that should never have been fought. Very impressive and highly recommended.

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! That's exactly what I thought when I finished reading Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. This intriguing and horrifying true story of the abuse that author Analie Shepherd went through at the hands of her therapist kept me reading into the wee hours of the night; I was that engrossed in the story. Analie, a woman who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, sought the help of a therapist after suffering a terrible tragedy. What she found from her therapist, instead of help, was physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Finally freeing herself from this horrible person, she finds retired psychiatrist, Laurie, through an abuse survivor's support group, TELL. The book recounts their four-year email relationship and the healing that both women are able to achieve from the past wrongs they have suffered.

I loved Mending the Shattered Mirror: A Journey of Recovery from Abuse in Therapy. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it is absolutely how I felt about this amazing book. This heart-wrenching story will definitely make you question the therapist and patient relationship, and realize how much harm a person with the wrong intentions in a helping profession can do to a vulnerable person. Author Analie Shepherd is clearly an amazing and resilient woman, and I thank her for being willing to share her very difficult story with the public. I could not give this book a higher recommendation, and I certainly hope that the author will consider writing a second volume that details her continuing life.