Books for All Seasons

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...

Chains of Fate: A Novel by Melissa Cole T he transatlantic slave trade was widespread between the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily due to the burgeoning large plantations in North and South America. To reduce costs and maximize profits, plantation owners had to employ slaves. Most of these slaves were shipped from Africa, although there might have been others transported from different countries. In the book "Chains of Fate," the indentured slaves were taken from London. Chains of Fate follows the life journey of an orphan in London named Thomas Everhart. Thomas lives on the streets with a few other kids. One night, while they were sleeping, some thugs came to their squalid dwelling and announced their intent. The thugs told them that they had been recruited for the New World. Defenseless, the orphans were forcibly taken from their place and shoved into a vehicle. The orphans, including Emily, the only girl in the group, were put on a ship to Jamestown, Virginia, and eventu...

Harriet Tubman: A Life from Beginning to End by Hourly History 1619 marked the beginning of slavery in the United States, as the first African slaves were brought to Jamestown, Virginia by Dutch traders. Amid the silent suffering of these slaves, there was one woman who courageously rose and risked her life to help others gain their freedom. She was Harriet Tubman! Hourly History presents a concise history of the woman who facilitated the escape of many African slaves in America. Her name is Harriet Tubman. Born Araminta "Minty" Ross, Tubman's family was owned by different slaveholders. As a slave, she suffered whippings from her master that left her scarred for the rest of her life and also injured her health. Due to the injustice she suffered, Tubman learned to resist and ran away. After gaining her freedom, Tubman decided to work to free other slaves, including her own children. She used ingenious methods to carry out her mission, such as working at night and during w...