BookTrib’s Bites: Fall In Love With These Four Fascinating Reads

(NewsUSA) - You Are More Than: A Primer for Finding the Light in Your Heart by Amy L. Stark, Ph.D.

Award-winning and inspirational for the whole family. You are More Than: A Primer for Finding Light in Your Heart explains with clear examples “who you are is more than what you see on the outside.” The book gives children and teens an opportunity to explore how they are part of the world around them. It helps them find the connection by breathing, and connecting with the energy of the planet, and learning that when they do this, they will feel attached to everything around them.

You are More Than explores the idea that this life-affirming connection gives a person purpose and a chance to be of service. The prestigious Nautilus Book Awards presented You are More Than with a 2024 Silver Award in the Children's Picture Book category. Purchase at https://bit.ly/4f3Bt7W.

Marvelous Jackson by Laura Anne Bird

After losing his mom, a struggling thirteen-year-old boy in northern Wisconsin rediscovers the love of baking he once shared with her and decides to audition for the world-famous Marvelous Midwest Kids Baking Championship television show in Chicago. Jack is sure that his new sense of purpose will help him stay out of trouble, so he throws himself into learning the finer points of sprinkles and scones—and hopefully even mending his broken relationship with his dad.

Marvelous Jackson is about taking risks and making mistakes, and it celebrates the power of humor, friendship, and sweet treats to make any situation better, even a broken heart. It's the perfect story for 8-to-12-year-olds who love to bake, who feel like they don't fit in, or who are trying to figure out what ignites their interest and passion. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3WncW6N.

Recalibrating Gravity by Mary Keating

Welcome to the world of Mary Keating, a quick-witted, fun-loving paraplegic. (Note, however, that she cringes at being labeled.) Fifty years ago, Mary's wide-open world instantly contracted at age fifteen when a teenager drove her into an oak tree at maximum speed. With a wheelchair as a permanent accessory, she was no longer seen as "hot" or one of the "in" crowd. She found herself transported into an alternate reality— defined now by her disability.

When life becomes overwhelming, Mary jokingly pretends she's trapped in a bad B movie waiting for a new director. Her poetry collection reminds us that no matter how hard life may seem, grace, love, and humor will save us from despair and allow us to live our best life under any circumstances. Purchase at https://bit.ly/49hw3SR.

Between Islands by Robert Coburn

Detective Joe Cheo comes from a family with a history of crime and corruption. Though he has never taken part in any criminal activity, the reputation has been a burden to carry throughout his life. And never heavier than now as a member of the Honolulu Police Department, where he is forced to walk a fine line.

But events conspire to present a crossroads of right and wrong. And the decision of which one to take becomes even more difficult for him. Set in Hawaii during the 1980s, join Detective Joe Cheo on a journey through his past and the present as he searches for the answer, only to be surprised at its conclusion. Says one reviewer, "Terrific characters and a riveting storyline...couldn't put it down." Purchase at https://bit.ly/3VXb3wY.