Category Archives: Nonfiction

Review: Boy vs. Shark by Paul Gilligan

By | | , , , , ,
13 Comments

Boy vs. Shark by Paul Gilligan

Boy vs. Shark
Paul Gilligan
Tundra Books
Published October 15, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Boy vs. Shark

A hilarious middle-grade graphic memoir about boyhood, toxic masculinity and a shark named Jaws. For fans of Guts and New Kid.

In the summer of 1975, 10-year-old Paul Gilligan doesn’t have a whole lot to worry about other than keeping his comic books untarnished, getting tennis balls off roofs and keeping up with the increasingly bold stunts of his best friend, David.

And then Jaws comes to town.

Suddenly everyone is obsessing over this movie about a shark ripping people to pieces. And if you haven’t seen it, not … Continue reading →

Review: Why We Read by Shannon Reed

By | | , ,
Comments Off on Review: Why We Read by Shannon Reed

Why We Read by Shannon Reed

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out
Shannon Reed
Hanover Square Press
Published February 6, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Why We Read

A hilarious and incisive exploration of the joys of reading from a teacher, bibliophile and Thurber Prize finalist.

We read to escape, to learn, to find love, to feel seen. We read to encounter new worlds, to discover new recipes, to find connection across difference, or simply to pass a rainy afternoon. No matter the reason, books have the power to keep us safe, to challenge us, and perhaps most importantly, to make … Continue reading →

Review: Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Review: Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle

Cherished Belonging by Gregory Boyle

Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times
Gregory Boyle
Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
Published November 5, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Cherished Belonging

At a time when society is more fractured than ever before, beloved Jesuit priest Gregory Boyle invites us to see the world through a new lens of connection and build the loving community that we long to live in—a perfect message for readers of Anne Lamott, Mary Oliver, and Richard Rohr. 

Over the past thirty years, Father Gregory Boyle has transformed thousands of lives through his work as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest … Continue reading →

Review: True or False by Cindy L. Otis

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Review: True or False by Cindy L. Otis

True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News by Cindy L. Otis

True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News
Cindy L. Otis
Feiwel & Friends
Published July 28, 2020

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News

“If I could pick one book to hand to every teen—and adult—on earth, this is the one. True or False is accessible, thorough, and searingly honest, and we desperately needed it.” —Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“Though billed for young adults, this is a book that every adult should read.” –The Washington Post

A former CIA analyst … Continue reading →

Review: Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Her Work, Her Home by Fransisco de la Mora

By | | , , , , ,
Comments Off on Review: Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Her Work, Her Home by Fransisco de la Mora

Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Her Work, Her Home by Fransisco de la Mora

Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Work, Her Home
Fransisco de la Mora
SelfMadeHero
Published April 11, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Frida Kahlo: Her Life, Her Work, Her Home

Endorsed by the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City, writer, and illustrator Francisco de la Mora’s full-color graphic novel explores the public and private faces of the iconic artist.

Frida Kahlo, remembered as one of the most inspiring personalities of the 20th century, was a woman of two intertwined: she was both a charismatic and empowered artist exploring themes of resistance, authenticity, cruelty, and suffering and a … Continue reading →

Review: The Urgency of Slowing Down by Laura L. Smith

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on Review: The Urgency of Slowing Down by Laura L. Smith

The Urgency of Slowing Down by Laura L. Smith

The Urgency of Slowing Down
Laura L. Smith
Our Daily Bread Publishing
Published December 3, 2024

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Urgency of Slowing Down

If Jesus took time away from the demands of life for stillness, rest, and prayer, shouldn’t His followers do the same?

Yet living in a whirlwind of constant motion is all too familiar. Our many responsibilities and relationships are important: we want to go to our child’s game and say yes to that assignment at work and help lead that group at church. But when we go, go, go at the world’s pace, the anxiety … Continue reading →