The Believer within You by Tyrone Burnett

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MWSA Review

The Believer within You by Tyrone Burnett focuses on the issue of homelessness of children due to unjust eviction. The plot centers around a fraudulent scam in a local community with dishonest people in the banking and real estate industries as well as local government, who put financial gain above all other principles.

Burnett introduces a 12-year-old girl, Brenda Sue, who overhears a conversation that doesn’t sit right with her. Eventually, she shares it with her mother, Ida Jean, who works for the county’s tax commissioner’s office. Ida Jean takes the information Brenda told her to federal, state, and local authorities, and an investigation begins.

While the subject matter is relevant, serious, and a topic for discussion, I found the language to be far above the level of young adults. However, The Believer within You is illustrated throughout with brilliant depictions of the major plot events, and the quality of the book shines through on every page. The main storyline shows that young people can affect real change in their communities.

Review by Nancy Panko (June 2024)

Author's Synopsis

Over 10 million children across the nation teeter on the brink of homelessness or unjust eviction due to wrongful foreclosures, even before they can call newly constructed homes their own amid a global financial and housing crisis. Enter Brenda Sue Bellamy, an ordinary 12-year-old with her trusty notebook by her side. She uncovers alarming information, sparking a daunting realization: “This could happen to my family.” Driven by her invigorated spirit, she delves deep, documenting each revelation in her trusty notebook. Through her journey, she presents invaluable financial and educational insights, enlightening both young minds and adult readers. Now, faced with a pivotal decision, Brenda Sue stands at a crossroads: to stay silent, or to speak out and risk being silenced.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 82

Word Count: 4701

Luke Under Fire: Caught Behind Enemy Lines by D. C. Reep and E. A. Allen

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MWSA Review

Luke Under Fire: Caught Behind Enemy Lines by D.C. Reep and E. A. Allen is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of World War I. In Michigan, seventeen-year-old Luke becomes embroiled in a fight that could lead to repercussions, but his father sends him to stay with his cousin in England until the uproar dies down. The two cousins decide to enlist shortly after war is declared and deploy to the trenches in Belgium. While the battle is raging, Luke’s company is told to hold their position. Battlefield communications being what they were, they never receive the orders to fall back. What follows is a harrowing story of Luke’s attempts to keep what’s left of his unit together, while trying to reconnect with the British army.

World War 1 seems to be a forgotten war, so this story for a young adult audience gives a good glimpse into what it was like for the combatants. The setting is well drawn, there is good emotional content for the characters, and a great use of present tense throughout to put the reader in the main character's shoes. Of note, the author deftly handles the use of swearing by the soldiers so that the reader is not inundated with F-bombs. ("He takes out his water bottle, drinks, and swears an oath that would shock even my dad.")

Review by Betsy Beard (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Michigan teen Luke Sawyer and his English cousin enlist in the British army to see the world. But it's 1914, and they are caught in WW1. Ordered to resist to the end and outnumbered, the teens face the advancing Germans. On the roaring battlefield, in a German prison, with a desperate escape and a race to freedom, Luke fights to save his friends and survive The Great War.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 200

Word Count: 66,422

The Outlaws: In Pursuit of Gold by Tim Deal

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MWSA Review

The Outlaws: In Pursuit of Gold is a young adult novel by Tim Deal. This novel is stand-alone in the Colin, Gert, Gannon, and Tye Adventure Series. The story is a fictionalized account of Marshall Bass Reeves and the search for lost gold in the Utah Territory in 1884.

The novel opens in the past when Bass Reeves, a compelling character of historical significance, tracks down a pair of bank robbers, siblings James and John Reynolds. Reeves captures one brother while the other one escapes and hides the gold. Fast-forward to a present-day when a distant relative of the bank robbers is determined to track down the gold he claims is rightfully his.

Enter the main characters, Colin, Gert, Gannon, and Tye, a tight-knit group of friends united in their loyalty from their prior adventures together. When the group find an old journal among the effects of U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, they embark on a classic treasure hunt across the Old West. Whether by jeep, train, horseback, or boat, they follow the clues through a series of misadventures. Along the way, they learn the most valuable treasure of all is the one found in their friendship with one another.

Review by Rebecca O’Bea (February 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Rocky Mountain News, May 6, 1888 Outlaw John Reynolds, leader of the Reynolds Gang, died at the end of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves’ famous revolver!!! Witnesses say that on his dying breath he told the marshal the location of the stolen gold from one of Colorado’s greatest heists. Reeves, the West’s most feared and cunning marshal denied the claim. Present day - Colin, Gert, Gannon and Tye stumble upon an old, black book owned by the late Marshal Bass Reeves. The discovery leads them on a hunt for long-ago hidden treasure deep in the vast, unforgiving landscape of the American West. Unraveling century-old clues, the four adventurers must follow the footsteps of the notorious bandit John Reynolds, on a journey fraught with danger. In a race against time, they must battle a deadly foe from their past, Abigail Younger who is ruthless, smart and deadly. In the high stakes gamble for treasure, Colin, Gert, Gannon and Tye team up with the marshals of the Four Corners Region to find the gold and bring Abigail and her posse of criminals to justice. They must be as fearless and cunning as Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves to survive and return home.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Young Adult (Fiction or Nonfiction)

Number of Pages: 302

Word Count: 70,540

Ashur’s Tears by Bill Riley

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MWSA Review

Author Bill Riley in his book Ashur's Tears has introduced us to a new world of magic and magical creatures. From a goddess disguised as a cat to demons the size of a car with gnashing teeth to octopus-like tentacles, Ashur's Tears will stretch your imagination and have you reading all night. The book, aimed at the Young Adult audience, is an easy, fast read. As young Toby and his sister strive to find out what happened to their missing father, they find themselves thrust into a world of deceit, magic, and danger. Evil magic has found its way to Earth and has possessed one man already. Now, it's only a matter of time before it will take over the world. That is unless Toby, his sister, and a cat can stop it. I think any fan of Young Adult fantasy will enjoy this book.

Review by Bob Doerr (March 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

Toby Cypher has it pretty good. He’s on the cusp of success with his mimics (programmable morphing robots advanced enough to be indistinguishable from humans), he’s got a side gig volunteering in the Air Force Museum, and a new job tutoring the coolest girl in school, Rachel Majeski. Toby’s world falls apart when he learns that his father, Dr. Erasmus Cypher, a scientist who runs a mysterious lab, has gone down in a plane crash over Iraq. But then Toby’s sister, Katie, uncovers a secret message… one sent after the plane crash that draws Toby and Katie into a dizzying world of untold danger and profound betrayal, where the two siblings will need all their wits, dark magic, and help from an unlikely feline to survive and maybe save the world.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 320

Word Count: 87,000

A Girl's Guide to Military Service: Selecting Your Speciality, Preparing for Success, Thriving in Military Life by Amanda Huffman

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MWSA Review

A Girl’s Guide to Military Service by Amanda Huffman is a must-read for any young woman considering a future in military service. Ms. Huffman walks the reader through the history of each service branch and what they have to offer. She challenges the reader to seek within themselves what they really want for their future and explores that with them. The pros and cons of life in the military are laid out—touching every facet, from basic training and benefits to challenges women still face.

There are testaments from many female service members (past and present) on the issues and stresses they experienced during their careers. The advice they give is worth its weight in gold. The book is a straightforward factual roadmap for joining the military. The author poses deep and insightful questions throughout the book, which dare readers to consider the consequence of each decision they make.

A Girl’s Guide to Military Service is insightful and encouraging. The author provides further resources at every turn and helps navigate the alphabet soup of acronyms of the military. I highly recommend this book to any young woman who feels the military life might be for her.

Review by Sandi Cathcart (March 2023)

 

Author's Synopsis

For any young woman considering a job or career in the military.

With information, tips, and perspective gathered from a variety of women who serve, this introductory guide will help you:

- Discern if military service is the right choice for you

- Evaluate enlisting or commissioning as an officer

- Select a service branch and career field

- Prepare for training, mentally and physically

- Integrate personal life, relationships, and motherhood with military service

- Manage stress and increasing mental toughness

- Navigate unique challenges as a woman in the military

- Thrive in your military career!

Applicable for enlisted and officer careers in any US Armed Forces service branch and type of service commitment, including:

- Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, Space Force

- Active duty, National Guard, Reserves

"... a solid, factual, and practical guide to help young women make a major life decision with confidence ... Strongly recommended."

—Mari K Eder, Major General, US Army (Ret)

"... a perfect guide to help any woman considering life in uniform get straight talk on how it all works ..."

—Jose Velazquez, Sergeant Major, US Army Public Affairs (Ret)

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 176

Word Count: 48,498

Believing In Horses Out West by Valerie Ormond

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MWSA Review
Believing in Horses Out West is an excellent follow-on to award-winning Valerie Ormond's Believing in Horses (2012) and Believing in Horses, Too (2014). The story continues with Sadie, who turns fourteen in this story, seeking and finding her true purpose in life. In this book, the author enlarges the storyline to include animal cruelty and human trafficking. She also continues with the coming-of-age experiences of a teenage girl in today's complex society, with emphasis in this book on interaction with boys.

Both overcoming fears and the transition to teenage years are central themes in Believing in Horses Out West, and it should appeal to readers beyond the YA set. Sadie faces her fears, never gives in, asks for help when needed, wins by working hard and not by luck, accepts kindness, and is rewarded for her efforts.

Ormond is clearly a passionate horse person and a gifted author who draws the reader into the story with characters that show numerous equestrian techniques. She writes well, and readers of all ages will have no problems enjoying the book. I particularly appreciate the use of chapter titles as a way to provide a clue to the next phase of the plot. I also loved the resolution that is complemented by tying up all the loose ends to make a most satisfactory outcome.

The book is sprinkled with additional gifts of wisdom passed on from one generation to the next – primarily from the grandmother character. Among those are: faced with what appears to be insurmountable obstacles you can find solutions, rely on your instincts, you have to believe you can do it to succeed, everyone needs a helping hand at some time, constantly beating yourself up over mistakes does no one any good, you need situational awareness, not all parents do a good job, being on your own is exhilarating but can be fraught with danger, there are temptations in life, jealousy and envy are normal but need to be monitored, sometimes not everyone needs to know what happened, being with a horse is a partnership, teenage girls have difficulty understanding themselves and it is normal, boys have difficulty understanding girls, boys have a sensitive side but are reluctant to display it, older brothers can be a pain in the neck but they (like dad) always have your back, every life has a purpose, and the most important is crime does not pay.

I highly recommended the book for those who enjoy children's horse books, coming of age fiction, teen and young adult equestrian fiction, teen and young adult family, and equestrian sports.

Review by Jim Tritten (January 2022)
 

Author's Synopsis

Sadie Navarro rescued a mare from an auction accomplishing what she thought was the most important mission of her young life.

Now, that mare is headed to a ranch in Montana and a home Sadie knows nothing about.

She wants to make sure the horse is in good hands, but Montana is far away and a different world from Maryland.

Will fourteen-year-old Sadie need to stand up to rugged cowboys to protect her special rescue horse?

ISBN/ASIN: 9780985187422, B09H3V1V2Q, 9780985187415

Book Format(s): Soft cover, Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 260

The Irish Skateboard Club by Brinn Colenda

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MWSA Review
The Irish Skateboard Club is a perfectly charming coming-of-age novel that takes traditional young adult themes and reworks them to reflect the challenges of 21st century “teendom.” The hero is an undersized, adopted, extremely intelligent, well educated, multilingual skateboarder from Bolivia, who is growing up in New Mexico and finishing high school in Ireland. He meets a beautiful Irish lassie with similar interests—and the story revolves around their budding romance. There are bad guys and good guys and a mystery to solve. Of course, surly Irish boys challenge Michael to a skateboarding dual…which was pretty dad-gummed cool if you ask me. The kids go through physical, moral, intellectual, and romantic ups and downs. Given that this tale was written by experienced author and pilot, Brinn Colenda, The Irish Skateboard Club is a great read—whether you are a sulky adolescent skateboarder or septuagenarian skateboarder-wanna-be like me.

Review by Joyce K Faulkner (June 2021)
 

Author's Synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Michael Callahan has no idea who he is—born in Bolivia and adopted as a baby by an over-achieving Irish-American family in New Mexico where neighbors think he’s Hispanic or Native American. 

Desperate to lock in a self-identity, he enrolls in a prestigious Irish high school for a semester where his skateboarding skills help make friends and catch the eye of the feisty and fascinating Ciara Harrington. 

Together they discover Russian Red Mafiya members trafficking young girls through Ireland. Unable to convince Irish and American authorities of the trafficking, Michael, Ciara, and their skateboard friends are faced with a dangerous choice—pursue the murderous Russians and save the girls or simply ride away to save themselves.

ISBN/ASIN:1647461790, 978-1647461799, B08DR5C1MR

Book Format(s): Soft cover, Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 278

Sheltered: When a Boy Becomes a Legend by Jacob Paul Patchen

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MWSA Review
James, a young teenager, finds himself alone in the world during a national insurrection led by home-grown anti-freedom terrorists and their juvenile ignorant recruits. James survives in a bunker built and stocked by his father, a former Marine. During many months of living off rations and hunting, James recalls all the lessons his father taught him. When insurgents come to sack his family home, he defends it and is forced to use his firearms. Eventually, he becomes a leader of a ragtag group of hurt and frightened children who call themselves The Risers. Their goal is to rise up, take back their country, and restore the freedoms they once enjoyed.

During his fight with the terrorists, James learns his sister has survived, as well as his father, who he thought had deserted the family. But Dad had been fighting the internal enemy in secret.
As the story comes to a climax, James defends the shattered school he and the other Risers call home, and together, they set out on a tactical plan to free prisoners (freedom-loving Americans who appreciate American beliefs and values) held in concentration camps by the internal enemy. In the process, he learns much about himself and even more about his father.

Ultimately, it is James who becomes the legend as he refuses to stoop to barbarism. He recognizes the trauma that years of being a warrior have inflicted on his father, and it is his father who recognizes his son’s innate leadership skills. James had been a sheltered child, but he now shelters other children and nurtures his beliefs during a time of crisis. In this timely tale of national turmoil, he evolves from a child caring about waging fake battles with Nerf ball guns to a reluctant defender of freedom using real bullets and armament.

As a cautionary tale that reflects the current state of tyranny at play in the United States, this dystopian novel is not just for teenagers or young adults. Nor is it only for male members of society. Women also play important warrior roles in taking back their country. Anyone who loves our country will appreciate what could happen, if we let it, and author Jacob Paul Patchen pretty much lets us see what that would be like.

Review by Patricia Walkow (June 2021)
 

Author's Synopsis
“We are all given a space in life to fill, a roaring emptiness in time… and it’s how you choose to fill that void, that will determine the difference in becoming a man or a legend.” That’s what my father said to me a few years ago before he walked out on Mom, Emily, and me. If I would have had any sense back then, I would have asked him exactly what that meant. Instead, I’m out here learning it the hard way – dodging bullets and bombs while America is at war – my friends fighting back with all we have, while trying to keep these orphaned children safe and our dreams alive.

They call us The Risers. Well, okay… so we call ourselves “The Risers.” But either way, we’re out here doing everything we can just to survive and rise up from our nation’s ashes with honor, integrity, and justice. Now, with smoky memories of a lost childhood, and the horrible, lingering, cardboard taste of MRE crackers (still left over from living in Dad’s bomb shelter), my mini army and me march forward, taking back what was once taken for granted.

But to be honest, I’m really just out here winging it. Wish me luck.

ISBN/ASIN: 978-1952816352, B08V8D282P

Book Format(s): Soft cover, Kindle, ePub/iBook

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 158

Enchantment Book 3 in the Maagy Series by Virginia Stringer

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MWSA Review

Author Virginia Burton Stringer has spun a fascinating story for the young adult reader in her book Enchantment, Book 3 of the Maagy Series. This book starts off on Princess Maagy's sixteenth birthday, the day Maagy's father, the king, can finally tell her the truth behind her mother's murder years earlier. On this day, Maagy also learns of her true heritage and the dangerous destiny in front of her. She is bewildered and upset with the knowledge but soon realizes the path she needs to follow. She and friend Mary apply to the Academy to become knights, and the two are the first females to be accepted into it. The Academy tests their strength, knowledge, and determination. In her struggles, she realizes that she is developing into a young woman with emotions and a temper that she will have to better control. No challenge, however, is greater than the one she faces when her father is kidnapped. I recommend this book.

Review by Bob Doerr (June 2020)

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Author's Synopsis

Princess Maagy has had some great adventures and a few harrowing moments in her life, but none compares to what King Henry reveals to her in the forbidden east tower on her sixteenth birthday. The greatest unknown in Maagy’s life has been her mother Queen Melania, but her father’s refusal to talk about his wife has left Maagy with a growing rage. Now, to find out the truth about what really happened to Queen Melania brings that anger to the surface causing a rift in the idyllic father/daughter relationship. Maagy’s rebellion turns her stubborn determination toward becoming a soldier against King Henry’s strong objections. Maagy has always been intrigued by her own striking resemblance to the warrior woman in a portrait at Whitmore Estate, but no one seems to know her identity. However, it is obvious to Maagy that she is an ancestor. Little does Maagy know the significance of the portrait, the woman in it, or how her life will change when she takes hold of the mysterious blue crystal and discovers she is the Chosen One. Once again, Maagy’s life is cast into turmoil, as her path twists and turns in directions neither she nor King Henry could predict. Maagy’s destiny was sealed centuries before her birth with foreboding incantations and curses spoken out of revenge. A sapphire amulet, glowing rubies, and the Sword of Aradin are her inheritance from the past and are the keys to her future.

ISBN/ASIN: 978-1-4808-4911-2
Book Format(s): Soft cover, ePub/iBook
Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)
Number of Pages: 421

I Am Jack and I Am Awesome by Dennis Jones

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MWSA Review

The author of I Am Jack and I Am Awesome is a cat, and the subtitle—The World As Seen Through My Eyes—offers the reader fair warning that this is no ordinary book. Jack's human assistant, Dennis A. Jones, may have helped a bit with the typing, but the message is all cat. And while we human readers may classify the book's contents as meant for older children and young adults, cat owners of all ages will fall in love with Jack the Cat. From his days as a nameless stray, fighting for survival in the household of an old woman with more cats than she can handle, to becoming the cherished member of his chosen forever family, Jack provides daily glimpses into the secret life of the family pet.

The descriptions are not always pretty, and some of Jack’s language may be too explicit for younger readers. Jack picks mouse hair from between his teeth, suffers embarrassing digestive disorders caused by a catch-as-catch-can diet in the wild, endures a scary visit to the vet and his long needle, and agonizes over what’s meant by "getting fixed." But not all his days are unpleasant. He finds a new mom and dad, makes friends with a huge black dog, and discovers a real talent for using his paws and nose to control the TV set in his new home. His ingenuity even allows him to build a hidden set of cat “condos” in the undersides of the furniture.

As a grown-up cat, he discovers new details about the foibles of his humans. He experiences grief with the loss of his best friend and slowly learns to welcome the addition of a new member of the family. But unlike many books for younger readers, Jack's tale never tries to teach a lesson at the expense of his story. With unwavering honesty, Jack is always the cat—self-confident, cocky, impossible to embarrass, convinced of his own immortality, and always awesome.

Have fun with this one! 

Review by Carolyn Schriber (January 2020)

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Author's Synopsis

This exciting memoir is written by a new and up and coming young author, named Jack. Jack is actually a very smart feline that learned how to use the computer while watching his human companion surf the internet. Once he mastered the keyboard, he knew that he must tell his story. Jack's treatise is a fast paced adventure through the many exciting things that have happened in his life. He also introduces the reader to the various personalities that he has met along the path of his life, and provides his observation of what he considers human weirdness. The reader will experience the ups and downs, the speed bumps, opportunities and the challenges that Jack has faced and overcome. While in the end, all of Jack's very positive dreams materialize, and he ends up living the life of the rich and famous. He is Jack and he is awesome.

ISBN/ASIN: 978-1-945834-09-7
Book Format(s): Soft cover
Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)
Number of Pages: 174

Invisible Hero: Two Boys and an Exciting Tale of Honor and Valor by R. A. Sheats

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MWSA Review

 One world war and two heroes—one of whom is “invisible”—are the main ingredients of this incredibly moving and worthwhile story.

To find out who is invisible and why, you’ll have to read R. A. Sheats’s Invisible Hero. One thing is sure: the reader will be very glad they got to know childhood friends Ernest “Boots” Thomas and Jim Sledge. Invisible Hero begins with a poignant description of the upbringing and early lives of these two members of the “greatest generation.”

After covering the young boys’ early days in the small town of Monticello, Florida, almost everything changes in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. From this point on, the action centers on Boots’s initial training and his follow-on assignment as a Marine drill instructor at Parris Island, South Carolina. Young Boots immediately takes charge and impresses both his immediate superiors and the men he’s training and preparing for combat service in the now-raging battles of the Pacific Theater.

After training several classes of new Marines, the young leader finally gets his wish and is assigned to a combat unit. Boots would get his first taste of battle during the incredibly fierce fighting on Iwo Jima in February of 1945. The author’s descriptions of battle are detailed, riveting, and moving. Although Boots is involved in the iconic raising of the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi, that episode is not the main thrust of the story. Instead, we learn of a young man’s dedication and incredible bravery in the face of a determined and lethal enemy.

Although geared to the young adult audience, all ages will appreciate this story. Only a few technical problems detracted from this memorable portrait of two American heroes.

Review by John Cathcart (February 2019)

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Author's Synopsis

 From a small-town childhood to the bloody shores of Iwo Jima and a flag-raising that would be seen around the world, follow the exciting true story of Ernest “Boots” Thomas and Jim Sledge in this action-packed adventure of bravery and self-sacrifice. "Invisible Hero" captures the thrilling and dramatic story of two boys and their lives and adventures in the Second World War. Follow Boots Thomas and his best friend Jim Sledge and experience what life was like growing up in a small town in the shadow of the Great Depression, and then see firsthand how the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and World War Two transformed these boys’ lives forever. In this gripping tale of valor, self-sacrifice, and supreme love that lays down everything for a friend, learn the true meaning of loyalty, responsibility, and the solemn duty of honoring those who have fallen. The history of Platoon Sergeant Ernest “Boots” Thomas has inspired people of all ages for generations. His small-town childhood, the unswerving dedication he brought to every task, and his heroic desire to protect his family and home—joined with the wartime fame of raising a historic flag on the bloody sands of Iwo Jima—make the story of Boots Thomas an exciting and inspiring tale for young and old alike. As a young man who refused to glamorize his part in a justly historic battle and who bestowed all credit on his comrades instead of himself, Boots Thomas truly encapsulated the words of Solomon: “let another praise you, and not your own mouth” (Prov. 27:2). The history of his short life provides a stirring model for children of all ages. Thomas’ diligence in even the little things, his responsibility in positions of authority, and his willing acceptance of the difficult tasks laid before him are all examples from which generations of children can learn. As his company commander Captain Dave Severance said of him on Iwo Jima: “I know of no more appropriate praise than to say that [Boots Thomas] was a credit to his parents who raised him.” Alongside the history of Sergeant Thomas flows the story of Jim Sledge, Thomas’ closest friend. Raised in a little town in rural Florida, the two boys grew up together like brothers. When their paths diverged with college training and the coming of World War Two, they remained in contact through letters and visits. Boots joined the Marines and Jim enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After the war, Jim returned to Monticello alone. Boots’ death on Iwo Jima at only twenty years of age could easily have been regarded as the last tragic scene in a tragically short life, but for Jim Sledge the solemn duty of honoring the memory of his fallen friend drove him to a lifetime of preserving the history of Boots’ life and work and the lessons it provides to the rising generations. Jim’s selfless dedication of keeping alive his friend’s memory for over seven decades of life beautifully captures the truth of Solomon’s words: “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). Within "Invisible Hero" the history of Sergeant Boots Thomas and Jim Sledge (previously published under the title "Call Me No Hero") has been condensed and rewritten for a younger audience. Though the story has been greatly abridged, the facts remain the same, preserving the historicity of the book for younger readers.

ISBN/ASIN: 1720050813
Book Format(s): Soft cover
Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)
Number of Pages: 175

Eugene Bullard: World's First Black Fighter Pilot; by Larry Greenly

MWSA Review
When Eugene Bullard's father told him there was no racism in France, a very young Eugene became determined to be where all people were treated with respect - France.

In his biography on Eugene Bullard, the World's First Black Fighter Pilot, Larry Greenly paints our hero with tenacity and an unyielding desire to live in a world of equality.  In his quest for France, the young run-away found not all white people were mean, and not all black people were his friend.  He finally found the respect he earned and desired for so long in the fighting ring, on the music scene, and over the field of battle. 

Eugene Bullard led a fantastic life.  Fighting against the Germans in WWI with the French Foreign Legion, Bullard excelled in every endeavor.  But, he came home to find a handful of Americans remained deeply embedded in the racism trench, never to accept him for his accolades over his skin color.

Larry Greenly's biography intrigued, enlightened, and saddened me.  To live and fight for a country during a time of intense war, only to be treated less than human, yet remain true to your dreams of tolerance and love is truly a feat for only the bravest among us.  Eugene's perseverance and drive should encourage us all to seek the good in everyone.  Mr. Greenly reminds us of the true American hero who was Eugene Bullard, the World's First Black Fighter Pilot.  
Reviewed by: Sandra Miller Linhart

Author's Synopsis
Pioneering black aviator Eugene Bullard, descended from slaves, became the world’s first black fighter pilot, though he was barred from serving the United States because of the color of his skin.

Growing up in Georgia, Bullard faced discrimination and the threat of lynching, but he had listened spellbound to his father's stories about how France treated everyone equally. He ran away from home at twelve, worked as a profesional boxer at seventeen, and eventually made his way to France, where he joined the French Foreign Legion and later the Lafayette Flying Corps. He saw fierce combat during World War I and was wounded multiple times.

In World War II, Bullard became a member of the French Underground. After the war, he returned to the United States with a chest full of medals, but once again faced discrimination. Bullard was all but ignored in the United States, even as, at age sixty-four in 1959, he was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. The next year, General Charles de Gaulle personally invited Bullard to a ceremony in New York where he was embraced by the general himself.

Eugene Bullard's is a remarkable story of accomplishment despite racial prejudice. Author Larry Greenly's biography includes numerous historical photographs of Bullard throughout his travels.

Hello, Wigwam by L John Lawrence

MWSA Review

Private Costas first gets a desk job for no apparent reason in Vietnam. Everything and anything runs out of control from there. Costas finds himself strangely ordered to join in covert field operations with real warriors, under the control of an unseen "Wigwam" command. The young soldier feels the gamut of emotions from fear to bravery in the terrifying fog of war. Triumph and disaster are never fully reported in this classic "SNAFU" as he chooses to lead the fight. In the aftermath, Costas sorts through what can't be stated - and the young man's life goes on totally changed forever.

Reviewed by:Hodge Wood (2015)

Author's Summary

Creating a most unlikely hero, the army assigned Albert Costas, the youngest and lowest-ranking soldier in the Vietnam War, to run errands and do other menial tasks for the headquarters staff in Saigon. The transition to the real world, coming of age - difficult for any young man - becomes for Albert the unreal world of Army life in a combat zone. He sees the parade of bizarre and irrational behavior of men under stress and struggles to maintain his own grasp on reality. Unknown decision-makers hiding behind the code name Wigwam, add to the confusion, where all is upside down, inside out, and backwards. Sacrifice and achievement become twisted with tragic results.