Books for All Seasons

Geronimo: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History No person is inherently bad; however, serious circumstances can lead to a change in a person’s perspective on life. In the case of Geronimo, the death of his family fueled a deep hatred for both Mexicans and U.S. troops. Geronimo experienced a normal and carefree childhood, raised in the traditional Native American culture . He once described his upbringing as such: "I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures." As he entered adolescence, his father taught him essential survival skills that prepared him for the harsh realities of daily life. He learned how to endure long stretches without food and water. Tragically, during the early stages of his training, Geronimo's father passed away. Consequently, his official training was transferred to another relative. The ultimate test of this initial training involved parti...

Whatever Doesn't Kill You Makes You Strong: On Surviving Life and Denying Death by Kaiulani Facciani Patients' reactions to a diagnosis can vary significantly. Some may feel depressed by the doctor's verdict regarding their condition. While others might deny the reality of their situation, choosing to continue their lifestyle as if everything is left to fate or what they believe is destined by a higher power. Some are determined enough to refuse to accept the doctor's declaration. These brave individuals do not simply give up and wait for their time to come; instead, they actively seek solutions beyond traditional Western medicine. Kaiulani Facciani, the author of this book, exemplifies this type of patient. "I was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer, with my entire spine and pelvis filled with tumors, my vertebrae crumbling, my hip split, and my mobility severely limited." Given only a few weeks to live due to Stage 4 cancer, with multiple tumors and lesio...

Oracle of Helinthia by M.J.Pankey The Oracle of Helinthia is the sequel to the first Helinthia novel. In this book, political tensions grip the decision-makers, sowing doubts and mistrust among them. However, one character remains steadfast and focused on his mission to lead his people and guide them out of their current predicament. The story of the Oracle of Helinthia picks up where the first installment left off. G sends a brief message to Lithaneva stating, "We found it." This message sets the stage for the overthrow of the current anax. The primary goal of the rebellion is to free the citizens from oppression and secure the island of Helinthia, named after their goddess. Most of the island's citizens are loyal to Helinthia, their protector. Mortals of various ranks from neighboring territories come together to devise their plans, but they harbor doubts and mistrust toward one another—a typical ego-driven attitude! The anax's daughter has her own ambitions as w...

The Time Captive by R.A. Denny  Peri, who has experienced time travel, is intrigued by a certain line from an old book. She then feels the need to go back in time otherwise her very existence and that of her would be compromised. The Time Captive brings its readers back to the 18th century during the French and Indian War. The Time Captive is the fourth installment of the Pirates and Puritan series. It follows the 18th-century journey of the couple Peri and Daniel Myoxeo. While writing a novel, Peri's curiosity was piqued by a line from a book she was reading, which states: “The old widow conjured up an Indian named Myoxeo. He saved the life of Elisabeth Gerlach Hess when she was only 18.” This statement makes Peri feel it has something to do with her and her daughter. Thus, she convinced her husband to travel back to 1757. Despite the scant information she had gathered, Peri and Daniel needed to start their search from somewhere familiar to them earlier. They arrived at a settlem...

Native American History  by Hourly History  The ancestors of Native Americans inhabited the land long before the arrival of white settlers. They consisted of various tribes, each with unique survival methods and cultures. Disputes over land and territory often sparked conflicts and wars among these tribes. Such local wars allowed new settlers to advance their interests, effectively marginalizing the Native populations. In this brief book, Hourly History provides a concise narrative of how the Native Americans settled in the land and details their struggles following the arrival of the new settlers. The author emphasizes that, long before the Europeans arrived, many tribes were already living in the area, each with their distinct ways of life. Conflicts often arose from their need to control hunting grounds and food sources. When the European settlers arrived, existing tribal conflicts were intensified. The newcomers saw an opportunity to further their interests by taking sid...

Raven Elderbee and Baby Darby   By A.M. Luzzader  On the day her family plans to search and collect pumpkin seeds, Raven suggests doing extra household chores instead. Not because she loves house cleaning, but it's her only way to avoid collecting seeds. Raven dislikes the slimy, sticky, and itchy pumpkin goo. She thinks that the pumpkin seed-collecting adventure is not fun, even though she loves eating and looking at them. Raven's mother, Agatha, is delighted to hear Raven's suggestion because she could leave little Darby at home with Raven. Babysitting is not in Raven's plan, but since she does not have a choice anymore, she accepts the challenge to look after her baby brother. When her parents leave, Raven dutifully tends to her brother. Just in time, her best friend, Skye, arrives. Skye volunteers to help babysit Darby. The two friends play some games while little Darby plays with his own toys close by. Raven and Skye get so engrossed in their games that they fail...