Books for All Seasons

  True Kindness is Unconditional Capsule  is a book by Mel Torrefranca. Its plot revolves around three teenagers with different personalities. Although they all attend Brookwood High School, these students are not friends with each other.  Jackie Mendoza is an aloof girl. She prefers spending most of her time playing computer games with her virtual friend, Eugene. Even inside the classroom, Jackie hardly leaves her attention from her cell phone. Peter Moon is a quiet and studious guy. But, he has a penchant for bashing every other person in his blog. Most of the students despise him for being nosey. He sits beside Jackie in Math class, but they don’t communicate with each other. Kat Pipe is the girl with an attitude. She loves to stand out among the rest with her unique lifestyle. She enjoys receiving positive reactions from her followers everytime she posts her pictures on Instagram. The Unlikely Friendship Develops The story begins with a news report about the sudden di...

Who Leads Who? It’s a stormy night in May but Tom Olsen is all set for his trek to the backcountry. He intends to visit his grandfather’s grave with his Indian friends, William and Myra. As they prepare their gear, Tom’s ex-wife, Ruth, suddenly shows up at his house. She brings along a teenage girl and declares to leave her with Tom. Ruth introduces the girl as Sarah, Tom’s granddaughter.  This is how the story of  Strong Heart  begins. Written by Charlie Sheldon, the book is a historical fiction set in Washington’s Olympic National Park. The Conflict Begins The stormy weather serves as a premonition of the things to happen next. Tom’s life takes a new turn as soon as Sarah arrives. He never expects a granddaughter from Becky. Now, he is torn between bringing Sarah along on his hike to the wilderness or canceling the trip. William and Myra suggest it’s better for Sarah to tag along. And so, the trip is now composed of three adults and a teenage girl. Even if the adults ha...

  The Thief Who Personally Encounters Jesus Redemption at the Eleventh Hour  is a historical fiction by Andrew Crown. Set during Roman Empire’s rule over the Jews in Israel, the story revolves around the life journey of Dismas. Dismas is a 30-year-old man who works at an olive grove in Thella. He runs away from his cruel employer and intends to flee to Jerusalem. But, before leaving, he steals some of his master’s money and one of his horses. He leaves in haste as he is afraid the Roman soldiers might come for him. Unfortunately, his mount dies of exhaustion and frailty. Thus, Dismas is compelled to continue his journey on foot. Eventually, for some reason, he finds himself in a fishing village near the Sea of Galilee. He stays in the house of Asher, a fisherman. Asher lives with his daughter Leah. To compensate for his accommodation, Dismas helps Asher catch fish. Life for these characters is simple and peaceful. Until something remarkable happens that eventually shapes Disma...

  When a Child Knows Better Clarissa  is a middle-grade fiction featuring an 11-year-old girl named after the book title. The book begins with Clarissa Gentle in a bad mood. Something happened in her school that upsets her. Plus, her father doesn’t seem to care for her anymore.  Almost three years prior, Clarissa’s mother died giving birth to her brother, Edmund. Since then, the Gentle family has never been the same again. No more family play time together. Clarissa’s father focuses his attention on his work and seldom talks with the children anymore. The girl feels lonely. She cannot hold a conversation with her brother, either, as Edmund doesn’t talk yet. To cope with loneliness and relieve her frustration, Clarissa hangs out with the Oak tree. Her tree friend listens and converses with her. Clarissa Begins Her Adventure In one of their conversations, the Oak tells Clarissa to dig in the ground beneath it. She obliges and finds an odd-looking key. Although unsure of its...

Life After the War The American Civil War displaced many civilians as well as scattered countless animals. With no one to tend to them, the cattle stray everywhere, making them free to own. Jack Donaldson sees this as an opportunity to collect the animals for himself. He wants to set up a ranch. This is basically what consists of James E. Doucette's novel, Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning. It’s the 19th century, and America is engaged in Civil War. Two individuals in the battlefront take the center stage in James E. Doucette’s novel,  Flat Top Mountain Ranch: The Beginning . The story begins with the armed conflict between the Confederates and the Union. In one camp, there is Tiberius “Ty” Jones. He is a multiracial man, but a freeborn. He fights for the Confederates. While in the enemy camp is Jack Donaldson. He’s a white man who defends the Union. So to speak, the two men are total strangers to each other. They both stand on different political views. Life Journey to the Mo...

by Dr. Monica Young Andrews God Works in Mysterious Ways The title itself gives s hint on what  All in Divine Order: Nothing Happens by Accident  is all about. Written by Dr. Monica Young Andrews, the book contains the author's personal and spiritual journey. Andrews shares her personal experiences to show how God manifests in and intervenes for her. Apparently, she uses her life journey with God to inspire and motivate others, especially those who are facing difficulties in life. Actually, her experiences are not of the extraordinary kind. In fact, the difficulties she encounters in life are relatable to the experiences of every other person in this world. But by writing her story, she tries to convey her empathy with those going through similar situations as she had. In this book, the author attempts to guide people on how to arrive at possible solutions to their problems. She poses some practical questions for reflection and recommends activities that might help l...

by Tim Butcher  A Do or Die Adventure Two centuries after Henry Morton Stanley made an expedition, another brave man attempted to penetrate the jungles of the Congo. His name is Tim Butcher, the author of   Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart . This non-fiction book is a chronicle of Tim Butcher’s journey to the African country and across the massive Congo River. But unlike Stanley, however, Butcher takes the journey to the Congo alone.  The Journey It’s the 21st century. Tim Butcher decides he wants to retrace the journey that his fellow Daily Telegraph correspondent did in the 19th century. Is it curiosity? A journalist’s obsession? Or, a sense of adventure that leads him to do what he did? Only the author knows the answer to these questions. But, whatever his ulterior motives are, Butcher’s trip to the Congo is truly a do-or-die adventure of a lifetime.  And so, after making the necessary preparations, Tim finally flew from Johannesburg to the Congo in...

by David Chernushenko     The Risks of Telling the Truth Four individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, looking together in the same direction for a common cause. They are the major characters in David Chernushenko’s   Burning Souls . They meet in Cambridge University to pursue a Master’s Degree in their respective fields. Simone Cohen, a journalist from Canada pursues an 11-month course on International Relations. She works on this thesis topic: “Motivating broad support for a sustainable model of global development depends less on delivering facts or persuasive cases for change than on emotional and values-based triggers”. To support her thesis, Simone conducts research on environmental stewardship and resource management. Sagan Cleveland, a Natural Scientist specializing in Atmospheric Chemistry is from Detroit, USA. His Masteral thesis is about the impact of methane release on the atmosphere. For those who believe in his cause, Sagan is a respected speaker ...

by Hourly History   A Civilization That Came Before the Maya The Olmec is an ancient civilization that existed around 1,600 BCE. They abruptly came and settled in Mesoamerica. But they just disappeared as mysteriously as they appeared, baffling many historians. However, the most important legacy the Olmec civilization left behind is the massive stone heads with unique facial features. Hourly History presents a concise history of an ancient civilization that settled in Mesoamerica around 1,600 BCE. In  The Olmecs: A History From Beginning to End , the author introduces a people called Olmec. It’s a tribe that existed even before the Maya came. What’s fascinating about these people is that they just disappeared as mysteriously as they came. Even to this day, the Olmecs’ abrupt arrival and disappearance in Mesoamerica leaves baffling questions. Fundamental disagreements arise among mainstream historians regarding these people’s origins. Some of them believe the Olmecs developed f...

by Stu Cork   The Boys Outwit Herobrine Herobrine is Watching  is a children’s book by Stu Cork. Its story revolves around two schoolboys who dare to venture into a haunted building. The story begins with Adam and Marky walking home together from school. They talk about the Math test they just had when Marky proposes an idea. He suggests that they take a shorter way to get home faster. This means, however, that they pass by an old shoe factory. Adam is not inclined to the idea at first. He gets a spooky feeling about the old building. People in the area believe that the factory is haunted.  But, Adam eventually decides to give a little adventure a try. They cut through a field and soon reached the place where the old factory stands. Marky suggests further that they go inside the building. He’s curious to know why people call it a haunted place. As soon as they are inside, the two boys notice something strange. Suddenly, the creaky floors give in, causing Marky to fal...

The Annexation Treaty Vanished Korea’s Sovereignty and Culture by Pejay Bradley Korea’s five thousand years of heritage and culture vanished with just one treaty. This is what happens to the Asian country according to Pejay Bradley in her historical fiction,  The Vanished . Set in the early 1900s, the book focuses on Korea’s political and social climate.  The story of  The Vanished  begins in the summer of 1912 with Lady Sougyon giving birth. The new mother names her son Embon. But she is worried about the time and season the baby is born. Embon is born in the Year of the Rat, in midsummer, and at high noon. In Korean culture, this combination is a sign of bad luck. Nonetheless, Lady Sougyon is determined to raise her baby albeit single-handedly and against cultural taboo.  Meanwhile, the political situation in Korea during this period is tense. Since the signing of the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty two years earlier, Koreans have been anxious about their future...

by Chip Jacobs Two Stories, the Same People  at Different Eras   A novel by Chip Jacobs,  Arroyo  follows the story of Nick Chance, an aspiring solar lamp inventor, and his clairvoyant dog. First set in the early 1900s, the plot revolves mainly around the people and events in Pasadena, California. Nick Chance first worked at Cawston Ostrich Farm. Aside from his main job, he also rides Mrs. Grover Cleveland, an ostrich. Nick’s showmanship and agility as an ostrich rider earn a following, especially among sick children. It’s also through one of his riding routines that Nick meets Reginald Plant.  Nick’s stint at Cawston is short-lived, though. An incident led him to move to another job assignment. He gets a promising career at the construction site of the Colorado Street Bridge. It’s a job closest to his heart since it is here that he gets the opportunity to work on his passion. At the Mercereau Company, he develops his solar-powered lamps and successfully set the...

  by  A.K. Frailey Stepping Back in Time Three human tribes and one non-human group of beings. These consist of the plot of A.K. Frailey's Oldearth Aram Encounter. The book is a combination of Historical Fiction and Science Fiction. Set in ancient times, the story begins with Aram leading his tribe out of their land in the forest. Wild animals attack their members, and so they need to move to safer ground. After an arduous journey through uncertainty, the tribe eventually settles on land by the lake. Their new settlement is called Lakeland. On the other hand, the second tribe lives on fertile land, where the inhabitants grow their own food. Settled in Grassland, they are an organized and peace-loving people. Their leader is Onias, a respectable woodcarver. His wife is Jonas, a kind-hearted woman with motherly authority.  Meanwhile, the third tribe lives on Riverland and is led by Neb, a greedy and warmongering individual. The men of this tribe, except Ishtar, are warriors...