Saga of the Sioux, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman

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MWSA Review

This adaption of "Saga of the Sioux" by Zimmerman is an excellent book for young adults and children. Marvelously written and containing maps and pictures to keep their interest. Clearly a book that belongs in history classes as it tells a story more to the truth than is found in most history taught in schools today.

Reviewed by:Dick Geschke (2013)

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Author's Synopsis

This new adaptation of Dee Brown's multi-million copy bestseller, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, is filled with photographs and maps to bring alive the tragic saga of Native Americans for middle grade readers. Focusing on the Sioux nation as representative of the entire Native American story, this meticulously researched account allows the great chiefs and warriors to speak for themselves about what happened to the Sioux from 1860 to the Massacre of Wounded Knee in 1891. This dramatic story is essential reading for every student of U.S. history.

Believing in Horses, by Valerie Ormond

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MWSA Review

Believing in Horses holds more than one lesson for readers. One held within the other. Sadie the focus of the story has to deal with and cope with her Dad’s deployment to Afghanistan, a difficult event for families in general, more so for children. The overarching story is one of change and how a young girl rises above hardship to help horses. 

Today far too much is in the media about how “kids” are just not responsible, to interested in themselves, music and cell phones. Sadie takes on a job that many adults would walk away from and many horse owners would run from and do. Overcoming the hardships, roadblocks, bad people and even good meaning people, she moves forward with her goal of helping horses.

There is a less publicized story of what happens to unwanted and poorly cared for pets. Ormond has spun a story that inspires. This is a book that all school age children should read and in light of the economic situation in this country shows what dedication and determination can accomplish. If a twelve year old can do this each of us could.  

Reviewed by: jim greenwald (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

Horse-crazy Sadie Navarro moves for the sixth time to Bowie, Maryland, only to find out her Navy dad is deploying to Afghanistan for a year.  To ease the transition, Sadie's parents reward her with her dream of a lifetime, her own horse.  “Lucky,” her beautiful tri-color pinto, quickly becomes her best friend and equine learning partner.  Via the internet, Lucky and Sadie come across ten horses in a holding pen waiting to be sold at auction, and Sadie commits to saving them before harm comes to them.

With the help of her new teacher and classmates, a Maryland State Delegate, a local Washington TV reporter, a mounted policeman, her family and other colorful characters, she pursues her mission and faces unexpected roadblocks, some very dangerous for both her and her horse.  Sadie faces head-on the challenges experienced by military families and demonstrates how young people can act to bring about change if they believe in what they are doing.  In just a few short months, Sadie meets both good and bad people, and experiences joy, fear, disappointment, self-doubt, lost horses, and a level of responsibility she has never known before.

When Grandma’s False Teeth Fly, by Mary Lee

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MWSA Review

Being picked on seems to have become a common practice today and none suffer more from it than young children. When Grandma’s False Teeth Fly is a life lesson written for those children. Coping skills are often overlooked by parents and teachers alike. The lack of those skills can and does cause lifetime issues for those children into adulthood.

Mary Lee has put a simple to understand message out there for all children and it would go even further if the adults in the child’s life read them.

Reviewed by: Greenwald, Jim (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

Katie is not a little girl anymore--she is six years old!  But some mean girls at school still tease her about her chipped baby tooth.  Katies seeks advice from her grandma, who will tell her a hilarious story that encourages her to use humor instead of anger or sadness to solve her problems. Join Katie and Grandma for a touching, funny, and inspiring story about...

Jack & the Dragon, by Lynn Salsi

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MWSA Review

Lynn Salsi's book, Jack and the Dragon is a clever re-telling of an old, much-loved, classic fairytale. Jack's hard work and with the help of a damsel in distress outsmarts the voracious dragon, and the true villains of the story - his rascally brothers.

This action-packed picture book weaves a dragon-tail of adventure; James Young's bright and engaging illustrations add texture to Lynn's colorful words.

Jack and the Dragon is a fun and exciting read.  The southern-flavored language lends itself to any adult reading aloud to a child, with voice and action to make the book come alive as Jack conquers his fears, stands up to, and outwits his foes.  A must-have for every adventurous child’s bookshelf!

Reviewed by: Sandra Linhart (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

This is a 32-page picture book (less than 2,000 words). This is an adaptation of an ancient traditional story. Jack, the youngest brother of three, learns how to over-come the bullying ways of his older brothers. At the same time, with the help of magic gifts, he is able to best the Dragon who steals from the brothers. This is a lesson in learning how to overcome life's little (and big) problems.

Deeper Into the Pond, by Carolyn Howard-Johnson & M. Ball

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MWSA Review

In their book, Deeper into the Pond; a Celebration of Femininity, Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball have once again rewarded their fans with an eclectic selection of verse, sure to enchant  the feminine facet of any soul.

Reviewed by: Sandra Linhart (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

Part of the award winning Celebration Series, Deeper into the Pond celebrates, supports, and inspires women. "Vivid images...will speak to you of times to look forward to or to remember. These are not poems to read once. They will stay with you forever."

Emotional Mélange, by jim greenwald

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MWSA Review

jim greenwald has given us complicated, intimate visions of the emotional roller-coaster called love; its euphoria, loneliness, and void.  Memories, crisp on paper, recall the first breathtaking moment of soul's discovery and then pour bittersweet between the covers like tears from a broken heart.  If you've ever been in love, or long to be, these poems will tenderly touch, and then rip out your heart - just like life itself. 

Reviewed by: Linhart, Sandra (2012)

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Author's Synopsis

The poet distills words into emotional textures that weave themselves into and through our lives.
Lyrical in ways, covering the gamut of emotions, this his tenth book of poetry tugs at the heart strings, and illuminates the dark corridors of love.

This is a journey of life’s experiences. Sit back, relax and enter this reading journey with tissues in hand.

Depictions, by Chuck Habermehl

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MWSA Review

Novels and memoirs have the advantage of a wealth of words to tell a story, but the ability to boil down and capture the true essence of that story in a few stanzas of poetry is by far a greater art.

Author Chuck Habermehl’s book Depictions, Poems about Warriors and War, is such art. A decorated Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, his poetry describes with knowing insight the horror, camaraderie, misery, pride and commitment of men in battle that is unknown to us who are safe on the home front.

The book made me think of the great line in Anthony Swofford’s book, Jarhead:  A Marine’s Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles. All wars are different, he wrote, and all wars are the same. Indeed, technology may change but the universal human experience of combat never does.

Habermehl is deft at describing that reality in his poems whether they are about the Indian Wars, Civil War, World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and or current conflicts. His poems are insightful, honest and make you think…which is always a good thing.

One poem has stayed with me. Its opening line, “IED has changed me,” grabbed me and in 18 lines changed me as well. When a poem can do that, well, it’s art.

Reviewed by: Gail Chatfield (August 2011)

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Author's Synopsis

For the first time, close quarters battle expert Chuck Habermehl, author of Combat Proven Tactic: Small Unit Urban Warfare and other tactical-training materials, delves into poetic writing - the content of which is not for the weak at heart. In Depictions: Poems about warriors and war, Habermehl puts the reader right there - you see the tactical and violent reality of war and the grievous effects on the warrior. Battles from the Civil War to modern war are detailed, as are the segregation of the American Indian, the devastation of the wounded warrior and the travesty of the missing soldier. As expected from a tactician, Habermehl's style is blunt and unceremonious, as seen in the poem Victory released on YouTube. The visual elements created from his writing, together with illustrations, reminds the reader that the price of freedom is tremendous and the ravages of war everlasting. Depictions has over 30 poems and is 78 pages. (Net proceeds from the sales of the book go to help American wounded warriors and their families.)