In the third installment of his Masquerade series, (after The Detour), Hiemstra delivers an action-packed mystery centered on CIA agent Luke Stevens—currently undercover as a pastor thanks to North Korean terrorists—who is still reeling from his ex-wife’s death but hopeful he’ll have a chance for love again. Meanwhile, North Korean Yong Dae Chû, known as Ruth in America, is a law student working as a courier for North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). The two are drawn to each other, but both are wary of new love—and when international tensions start to rise, it throws the couple into a dangerous mix of intrigue and betrayal.

Hiemstra favors a lightning pace and rapid-fire dialogue, fashioning scenes that turn on a dime with the craftiness that can accompany international politics. Ruth is desperate to help her family back home, a desire she’s granted in exchange for helping North Korea set up a meeting with CIA agent Tom Roberts, who, in the course of that meeting, learns that China’s preparing to invade Taiwan—and Havana, Cuba plans to help out with diversionary attacks on major shipping ports. The subterfuge grows more elaborate from there, with a rogue Chinese operative, Lei Han, approaching Ruth for intel and suddenly working his way up to RGB director, a move that ends with a contract on Luke’s life.

Amidst all the intrigue, Luke and Ruth grow closer, quietly supporting each other, even when that means opening up about their troubled pasts. Their united front renders an interesting counterpart to the political machinations playing out on a bigger stage, as Hiemstra hints at “impolitic actions by the current U.S. administration” that only serve to shore up China’s designs on Taiwan. Hiemstra relays the action with little emotional investment, but for those enticed by political scheming—and familiar with characters in his previous books—this will entertain.

Takeaway: International politics and romance intertwine in this lively mystery.

Comparable Titles: Graham Moore’s The Wealth of Shadows, Lauren Wilkinson’s American Spy.

Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: B

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Both open-minded and rooted in faith, Lindberg’s thoughtful followup to God’s Existence: Truth or Fiction? The Answer Revealed finds the author continuing to explore fresh intersections of science and scripture. Lindberg digs deeper into his conviction that God’s existence is clearly affirmable, arriving at points of reconciliation between evolution and the creation of Genesis, and examining the first two books of the Old Testament with an eye toward the biggest—but often most overlooked—questions: who actually wrote them, when, and why? And why, despite occasional sensational headlines, has archaeology failed to dig up definitive proof of the existence of, say, Moses?

“I don’t know if we will ever find archaeological evidence” of Moses, Lindberg notes, “but that does not mean he did not exist.” Driven by a passion for the historical and scientific methods, plus classical reasoning, Lindberg’s approach to Genesis and Exodus is an informed and awed acceptance of their errancies—they were written, he argues, by humans inspired by God, but only one human, in his reckoning, has ever been perfect, so there’s no reason to get hung up on points of confusion like whether Moses parted the Red or the Reed Sea. Rather than reject complexities or confusions in the Bible’s accounts of history, Lindberg brings logic to their mystery. His passages concerning the possibility that a “day” of God (as in the six days of creation) could in fact span millennia is impassioned apologia, a demonstration of faith stoked hotter through the challenge.

This title expands on arguments from Lindberg’s first, especially his “Directed Life Hypothesis,” which in its contention that life’s complexity and diversity demands a conscious creator echoes Intelligent Design. Lindberg, though, challenges ID proponents as much as he does “modern scientific people” by not disavowing evolution entirely. In fact, he argues “that evolution was a principal way God conducted the entire creation.” This is encouraging middle ground.

Takeaway: Thoughtful reconciliation of the creation in Genesis and evolution.

Comparable Titles: Bruce Glass’s Exploring Faith and Reason, Peter Enns’s The Evolution of Adam.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+

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Raichle’s vibrant account of her experience caring for her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s reveals the life-affirming power that art offers to those affected by this disease. “When my sister said to me ‘Mom left us years ago,’” Raichle writes, “I asked myself, ‘If she left, who’s there?’” Though “dimmed,” Raichle’s mother still lived a rich, complete life. Despite her mother’s previous insistence that Raichle “walk away” from the burden of her illness, Raichle chooses to get to know “the wonderful woman who was with me in the moment; not suffering from dementia, but living with it.”

Raichle initially meets her mother’s dementia diagnosis with despair, but “everything changed in an instant” once Raichle’s mother starts painting. Beautifully displayed throughout the memoir, Raichle’s mother’s paintings are vivid, strange, and fantastical, depicting mischievous creatures, but also sunsets, flowers, and in one particularly touching piece, a portrait of Raichle’s mother and the author, with a limb connecting their heads. The paintings allow Raichle to view dementia from a different perspective and learn that “there is more to this disability than pain and sorrow” when the care partner meets the person with dementia where they are, in the present.

Raichle’s description of her journey into this new space of joy, gratitude, and presence is both visceral and reflective. Her anecdotes of her visits to her mother’s assisted living facility depict the residents’ lives of abundance, despite all they’ve lost. Raichle’s mother and the community of people there may not be able to remember each other’s names or the meal they last ate, but their days are filled with laughter, spontaneity, creativity, and music—in one story, the room erupts in spontaneous singing and drumming, an exuberant display of the primal pleasure of shared creation. For readers who have loved ones with dementia, Raichle’s debut is a beacon of hope in the shadow of dementia’s bleak fog.

Takeaway: Joyous, hopeful account of living with Alzheimer’s.

Comparable Titles: Allison J. Applebaum’s Stand By Me and Kari Berit’s The Unexpected Caregiver.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Casteele spins a rousing debut tale about the infamous Prince of Pirates, Samuel Bellamy, narrated by a seasoned seaman named Loyd, speaking to his curious grandchildren, Clarissa and Charlie, as a tempest brews over present-day Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Drawing heavily from historical accounts, Casteele humanizes the legendary figure of Sam—from his tragic birth and his mother's subsequent death, his mischievous escapades with his ragtag crew of friends, The Scalawags, to his passionate love affair with the unconventional Maria Hallet, and his rise as the wealthiest pirate in the Golden Age of Piracy after a 12-year stint in the navy.

Brimming with energy and thrilling depiction of pirate life—racing with ships, battling storms, smuggling furs, linen, silver, gold, and other treasures, posing as faux traders, keelhauling, and enduring the stench of slaver ships—Casteele masterfully portrays the gritty reality of 18th-century naval life, when ships were the arteries for global trade, without romanticizing its unlawful glory. Sam is not ignorant that The Whydah Gally—his most coveted prize to prove himself worthy to Maria and her disapproving Puritan parents—originally served as a human cargo vessel for 600 slaves. Breaking the tradition of ruthless pirates, he treats his crew fairly and without prejudice, earning him the title of an honorable captain.

While the storytelling is slightly unrealistic—compressing a lengthy saga into a single stormy day—its strength lies in its sharp contrast to modern-day living. Readers, alongside Charlie and Clarissa, are transported to a time when families of seamen have no means of communication other than awaiting their return, people are commodified, and uncommon women are branded as witches "in league with the devil" and hanged. Casteele unearths unflinching truths of a bygone age, reminding us of the progress—and the pitfalls—of our own time, all while readers anticipate the curious end of Sam's voyage and his reunion with Maria.

Takeaway: Humanizing tale of history’s wealthiest pirate.

Comparable Titles: Angus Konstam's Blackbeard, Richard Zacks's The Pirate Hunter.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

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Writing to readers who might feel “locked” in cycles of negativity and arguments about alcohol with their partners, Palmer and her co-author and own partner, psychotherapist Michael Pond, offer clear, encouraging strategies to help loved ones drink less. Palmer demonstrates effective methods of communicating with partners about alcohol dependence through empathy, compassion, and an emphasis on results—and on how partners can be “a powerful force for positive change” in the lives of those they love. As the title suggests, You Don’t Have to Quit roadmaps achievable change rather than total abstinence, with Palmer making a persuasive case that “a harm reduction approach to alcohol improves your chances that you both feel successful in your efforts and keep your dignity intact.”

To that end, Palmer’s 20 chapters each present steps for helping reduce a partner’s alcohol consumption, from seeing the signs of addiction and understanding what a partner is going through, to finding ways to diminish the harm that alcohol dependence causes—practical techniques include introducing a Sober Sunday, adding a glass of water between each drink, and encouraging the tracking of how much alcohol is being consumed. Later chapters prompt self-reflection on the part of the intervening partner, with Palmer explaining the efficacy of not laying blame and calling names, plus the urgency of positioning oneself as ally rather than victim. Allies, Palmer writes, “can collaborate with your partner, help them create goals, and figure out how to meet them.”

Throughout, Palmer offers encouragement and wisdom drawn from case studies as well as personal experience, all written with grace and sensitivity, plus up-to-date research on addiction and its treatment, and deep insight into the sources of alcohol dependence and how couples depend on each other—and push each other away. Palmer’s strategies are flexible, easy to understand, and presented with persuasive power, though she makes clear throughout that achieving these goals is a challenge.

Takeaway: Clear-eyed guide to helping partners reduce the harm of alcohol dependence.

Comparable Titles: Jeffrey Foote, Carrie Wilkens, and Nicole Kosanke’s Beyond Addiction, Candace Plattor’s Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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This heartwarming and inspirational tale by Parker (author of The Constantine Conspiracy) offers a unique perspective on small-town dynamics, personal growth, and the transformative power of sports. Set in a picturesque mountain town where football is more than just a game, Parker’s compelling narrative centers on three characters whose lives intersect on and off the field: Chelsea Deal, interim head football coach for Georgia’s Rabon Knights; new transplant Palmer Norman, whose music holds “a touch of darkness born by suffering”; and quarterback Ty Rogers, brimming with natural talent—and haunted by a dark, threatening disease.

The novel's strength lies in its well-developed characters and their intertwining storylines. Chelsea, a refreshing protagonist who brings a unique perspective to the male-dominated football world, boasts a journey from big-city lawyer to small-town coach that is both believable and inspiring, and the young players under her wing are equally compelling, each grappling with personal demons that add depth and relatability to their characters. Parker's attention to detail in describing the atmosphere of high school football in a small Southern town is commendable, from the crowded diners to the tension on the sidelines, allowing readers to feel as if they’ve stepped onto the fifty-yard line themselves, dazzled by bright lights and the roar of the crowd.

Though some of Parker’s sports drama feels predictable, he avoids clichés by focusing on the characters' personal growth rather than just their athletic achievements, granting them the space needed to navigate their troubles and accept each other for being flawed, and, above all, united against the heartbreak life pours their way. The pacing slows at times, especially during the more reflective moments, but those sections ultimately contribute to the story’s emotional payoff, and Parker’s skill at capturing the essence of teamwork and the impact mentorship can have—as when Palmer notes that Rabon “[became] my family… [lifted] me up when I fell down”—resonates.

Takeaway: Thoughtful exploration of community, personal transformation, and believing in yourself.

Comparable Titles: H.G. Bissinger’s Friday Night Lights, T.L. Simpson’s Strong Like You.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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A great wizard faces off against the forces of darkness with the help of his unexpected teenaged apprentice in this realms-crossing middle grade debut. Mythral is widely known as the greatest living wizard, but when he casts his mind into the future via a sensing spell and foresees his own death at the hands of the evil magician MorKano, who aspires to rule the Realms and defeat the council of WISDOM. Mythral’s only chance to avert this future, according to his “very large, frowning, furry, four-footed feline” companion, Cat, is to take on a seemingly ordinary apprentice named Kit, a 14-year-old girl of “no special skills” from the nonmagical Realm One.

Self-important and still pained by a great loss, Mythral is unconvinced a girl could succeed as his apprentice, though he does admire the spark and wit she demonstrates when he first begins testing her and offers her the role of assistant shopkeeper in his bookshop. After all, he thinks, the unexpected choice might buck the future timeline—and “one had to look beyond an individual’s limitations and hope for the positive exceptions and surprises in life.” Soon, Kit is studying spells—including through a talking book called Remedial Spelling—and wondering how she’ll fare in the face of a real threat, as Mythral prepares for the “impending battle” and begins introducing her to the three Realms (via “translocation”).

The buildup to a “final test” is tense and fun, with lessons about personal biases and procrastination, though some stiff transitions and an abundance of adverbs often slow down scenes. With occasional explanations from the opinionated Cat about the worldbuilding and stakes, Thomas keeps the story moving and concepts like the Law of Equilibrium and much mucking with timelines clear. Still, for all the universe-threatening magic, what resonates most here is the cozy relationships, especially Mythral’s slow thawing toward Kit, Kit’s friendship with the wizard’s friend Perci, and the slow building of trust.

Takeaway: Realms-crossing adventures and a great wizard test a young teen.

Comparable Titles: Lindsay Fryc’s Emma and the Queen of Featherstone, Callie C. Miller’s The Hunt for Hollower.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B-

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Penned with grace, power, and insight into the power and nature of both faith and discipline over the body, this compact memoir of recovery and mentorship packs a serious punch. At its heart is the inspiring figure of Bob Gorinski, the physical therapist whom Allen meets after an ACL tear upends Allen’s college football career. At the time, Allen, a sophomore, was a promising Christian athlete who felt out of step with hard-partying students —he recounts the “usual awkwardness of reading my Bible while [his roommate] played video games”—and some elements of the college’s curriculum. Recognizing a kindred spirit, Gorinski sprung a surprising invitation on Allen: “Why don’t you come to the house, and I’ll show you some exercises?”

At Gorinski’s house on Bonny Lane, Allen soon found himself challenged to push himself and grow stronger through simple but innovative workouts, including obstacle courses, jumping and agility exercises, weightlifting, and more, all without what Gorinski would call “fancy gym equipment.” This proved fruitful not just for recovery, though Allen faced setbacks and fresh injuries that eventually ended his dreams of rejoining the team. Gorinski also guided Allen and other friends and proteges in workouts of mind and heart, through readings and spirited discussions. Gorinski’s faith—captured in conversations and excerpts from Gorinski’s writing—proved as nourishing as his PT, teaching Allen that faith’s essence “isn’t the absence of uncertainty—uncertainty is necessary—but rather just the right amount of confidence to act in spite of it.”

Allen’s briskly told account is inviting and moving, written with an open-heartedness and a commitment to caring for the body that will inspire young people. (Even the roommates who leave dirty underpants in his bed are treated, ultimately, with a touching lack of judgment.) The story’s end will stir tears, but Allen demonstrates, through his own mentorship and storytelling, that the wisdom and lessons of those who shape us have power as long as we keep them alive.

Takeaway: Rousing story of mentorship and a Christian athlete’s physical and spiritual recovery.

Comparable Titles: Blake Sebring’s Brave at Heart, Keith E. Webb’s The Coach Model for Christian Leaders.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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In 1979, 14-year-old Suzanne Parry's mother, Alex, was murdered in their modest family shop, Zoe's Records. Since that fateful day, Suzanne's childhood gift of clairvoyance has allowed her to sense her mother's spirit—an eerie presence she calls Mom-not-Mom—warning her about Peggy, her father's old high school flame, who worms her way into their lives and starts playing mom to Suzanne's six-year-old brother, Chris. Fast forwarding to 2004, financial woes compel Suzanne’s family to return to their hometown in Denver, allowing the past a chance to rear its ugly head, when a recent kidnapping event that occurred before their move reopens old wounds that never truly healed.

"For me, Denver meant the past would encroach," Suzanne says. Still, she reluctantly approves with an agenda in mind: uncovering her dad's history may provide answers to her son Austin's undiagnosed cognitive and behavioral lapses. Suzanne's story, both past and present, is an unflinching portrayal of a family gone haywire, when, in the face of tragedy, communication lacks and secrecy builds. Swanson (author of The Glass Forest) cranks up the tension between well-drawn leads—Suzanne’s rebellious teenage daughter, Caitlin, seethes with jealousy over the attention Austin receives, their home becomes a target of a suspicious intruder, and her husband is becoming cozy with his coworker.

Despite the narrative's slow burn and somewhat predictable past, the clever use of alternating timelines keeps readers on their toes as they follow the young Suzanne sneaking to decode Mom-not-Mom's cryptic warnings juxtaposed with the adult Suzanne, who might be bordering on insanity. Alex's on-point words, "what we feared most was what we most needed to confront," overarch the central theme in this satisfying blend of supernatural and coming-of-age mystery—that children require a parent’s unequivocal attention, for childhood shapes the kind of person we eventually become.

Takeaway: Grieving, clairvoyant teen unravels the mystery of her mother’s murder.

Comparable Titles: Rene Denfeld’s The Child Finder, Nova Ren Suma's Imaginary Girls.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Pederson delivers an irresistible thriller centered on Madison Maxwell, the fresh-faced recruit at Know Inc. replacing a deceased ex-employee who met a tragic end in a hit-and-run incident. Hailing from Boston, Madison relocates to California to outrun her guilt and the haunting specter of her father’s demise in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center—but destiny has other plans. Enter T.J. Khan, the company's enigmatic vice president, whose first encounter with Madison sparks not just a sense of déjà vu, but a palpable sense of danger. Unbeknownst to her, the secrets embedded in her recurring dreams may hold the key to avenging her father's death.

Every chapter races in this fleet-footed debut, teeming with twists and last-minute developments that will shock readers. Even as she slogs through the grief from her father’s death, Madison discovers something sinister behind the hit-and-run—and finds she’s caught in the crosshairs of the FBI’s manhunt for America’s most wanted, embroiled in the center of a national crisis. Pederson delivers an ostensibly overwhelming array of characters—terrorists, FBI agents, CIA operatives, corporate bigwigs—while masterfully anchoring the narrative in shared trauma, humanizing the political and wartime stakes. Even the typically stoic FBI becomes engaging, with Agent Niles poignantly reflecting on his 9/11 experiences: "Suddenly the trumpet wasn’t the most important thing in the world to me—not with all that evil, that darkness, attacking, coming right at us, threatening all of us, our way of life."

Though the portrayal of terrorists might feel one-dimensional at times, Pederson skillfully splices information across various viewpoints, encouraging readers to form their own opinions on the events of 9/11. Reflecting that the fallout from the attacks lingers long after the dust has settled, Pederson takes a stand: instead of hatred and revenge that create a vicious cycle of violence, choose forgiveness and life.

Takeaway: Knockout espionage novel exploring trauma, vengeance, and self-forgiveness

Comparable Titles: Jason Matthews’s Red Sparrow, Brad Thor's The Athena Project.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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This third volume of autobiographical tales spiked with wit and wisdom finds Mister John beginning, in familiar fashion, by addressing a broad, relatable subject—in this case, his disliking the sound of his voice. From there, he proceeds in a manner that will be familiar to readers familiar with previous "Misfit" installments, telling stories about his Wisconsin childhood, his time spent teaching in the United Arab Emirates and his early retirement in rural Ecuador. Amusing asides abound, with John noting that Floridians “pick and choose what weather to brag about” and that the “they” in “they say you’re supposed to spend three months’ salary on [engagement] rings” certainly “wasn’t a financial advisor. Or an accountant.”

Several chapters deal with serious incidents: learning that his stepfather has cancer and facing the deaths of a family friend and also of a favorite teacher, whom readers of Misfit 2 will recall. These tales of loss give this collection a slightly more melancholic tone, as does the conclusion of a star-crossed romance, though that’s balanced out by wry wisdom and amusing anecdotes, some putting a new spin on familiar settings, like a pungent recollection of the rigors of cleaning the facilities of a tour boat he captained.

A few stories will seem familiar to readers of earlier entries. But there are still some surprises, including how the author got a job teaching in the Middle East. And we also get a closer look at his life in Ecuador, in a house of rammed-earth walls on a road that "aspire[s] to gravel." John's manner of exposition remains as roundabout as ever, taking unpredictable swerves— a yarn about seeing a porn film in a small Midwest town begins with Jaws and ends with an aside about UAE brothels. But the journey, however elliptical, is most of the fun, and brief mentions about witnessing an execution indicate John has more yarns left to spin.

Takeaway: Amusing, surprising stories about growing up, living abroad, and finding yourself.

Comparable Titles: V.D. Bucket’s Bucket to Greece series, Aisha Shakti Hakim’s An American Teacher in the UAE.

Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Mister John’s second in a continuing series at first appears to be an amiable collection of short, humorous essays on a variety of subjects—the difficulty of reading small print, the strangeness of foreign customs, the challenges that accompany older drivers—seemingly tailor-made for a certain cantankerous demographic. But it quickly becomes apparent that Mister John (the pseudonym for John Curran) is up to something broader and more ambitious: a cycle of vignettes detailing his eccentric life. That whiplash becomes part of the fun as readers gradually get a handle on the general timeline of John's travels and occupations.

Mister John presents these tales out of chronological order, and often without context or connective tissue, which initially makes the far-flung peregrinations hard to track: readers are whisked from his time as a teacher in the United Arab Emirates to his stint as a boat pilot and tour guide in his native Wisconsin to a Canadian crabbing expedition with his wife's family, all without much fanfare or preparation. The subject matter is mostly humorous but can also be serious; one chapter briefly and effectively deals with the unexpected death of his future mother-in-law, early in his relationship with his then-girlfriend.

Not every story here feels essential—an account of kicking a UAE student out of class for playing computer games, for instance—and Mister John's style can be overly elliptical, with one chapter about a favorite professor opening with the teacher lightly mocking the author’s hat. But overall, each brief essay provides an enjoyable window into John's experiences, and readers will finish this entry eager for more. As Mister John writes: "I purposely don't tell you what the big picture, the story of my life unexpected is… I want you to figure out how the pieces fit and what they mean, freeing you to find your answers."

Takeaway: Humorous essays exploring one man’s charming and unusual life.

Comparable Titles: Maeve Brennan’s The Long-Winded Lady, Jenny Allen’s Would Everybody Please Stop?.

Production grades
Cover: C
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

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“As Christians, we must bring wisdom, not just science, to the bedside,” Hudson writes in this impassioned and practical debut that examines the gulf between expectations and in-the-field reality by medical professionals performing missionary work. As the title suggests, Healthcare and the Mission of God calls for clear alignment between, as Hudson puts it, saving bodies and saving souls. With clear-eyed candor, Hudson, an internist and epidemiologist, addresses the frustration, disappointment, and burnout he experienced in his first mission, in Ethiopia in the mid-1980s, where he and his team faced outbreaks, malnutrition, and more. He felt then that his efforts were too little, the resources too scant, the churches too disinclined to invest in nutrition, that inevitably led him to work harder and harder—and to lose his clarity of purpose.

After three decades as a medical missionary, however, he now sees that seeds he helped plant have born fruit, with the “physical and spiritual needs of the district” being met “through hundreds of churches” nurtured by those early efforts. Hudson now sees his younger self’s feelings of defeat as rooted in a misunderstanding of the mission: it’s through disciples and churches, he writes, that God changes the world. Hudson’s compact book, targeted at medical missionaries, offers compelling accounts from others who have dedicated themselves to cross-culture missions, moving anecdotes from his own experiences, and a host of deftly incorporated insights from Christian thinkers and writers.

Especially illuminating are Hudson’s explorations of the history of Christian health care and missions, dating back to Rome, and a careful delineation of how, in contemporary times, medical missions differ from healthcare missions. The cases he makes for why today’s healthcare ministries should collaborate with churches—and why “treating the whole person” body and soul is “designed to transform communities by God’s grace and for His glory”—will offer comfort and clarity to his audience.

Takeaway: A Christian doctor’s impassioned call for treating body and soul in missionary work.

Comparable Titles: Jason Baareman’s Rehab the World, Bruce Steffes’s Medical Missions: Get Ready, Get Set, Go!.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Day debuts with a provocative and timely novel delving into the tangle of political polarization, immigration, and personal transformation in contemporary America. When disgruntled conservative Jack O’Malley—injured after a fall from his roof while cleaning gutters—needs a cleaning service to get his house in shape to sell, he hires 16-year-old Sofia Rivera and her mother, undocumented immigrants from El Salvador, kickstarting an uneasy alliance that challenges preconceptions and explores the potential for understanding across deep societal divides. Sofia’s teenage defiance incites Jack’s military compulsion for law and order, propelling the two into an entertaining give and take that leaves them both deeplyreflective.

“Somehow, this train wreck of a girl has blown past the perimeter and reached command and control. She has nailed him in the worst way. She has made him see something of himself in her” Day writes of Sofia’s unique talent to crawl under Jack’s skin and leave him feeling vulnerable. Though the premise of an unlikely duo coming together to bridge ideological gaps is not new, Day's execution feels fresh and relevant to current societal tensions, and he avoids easy resolutions, opting instead for a more realistic and nuanced exploration of how people can change when their worldviews are challenged.

Some readers may find the initial characterizations of Jack and Sofia stereotypical, but the narrative rewards patience, as the characters undergo a profound transformation while gaining depth and complexity. Readers will be captivated as Jack’s exterior softens and he begins to stand up for Sofia and her mother, just as much as they will be when Sofia’s interactions with Jack prompt her to reflect on her own life choices, including her excitable boyfriend, Memo—who loves bombs, overpromises, and drips emotions at every second—and her desire to return to El Salvador. The book concludes with a tender picture of reconciliation—and rebirth.

Takeaway: An unlikely friendship is the catalyst for personal transformation.

Comparable Titles: Jodi Picoult, Celeste Ng.

Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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“There is something good about each day,” Cochran declares in the opening pages of this rousing celebration of a son gone too soon—and of all that Christian, a “radiant spirit” with a “deep appreciation for the beauty of diverse spiritual perspectives,” managed to teach his parents in his 23 years on this Earth. After receiving a fatal diagnosis with a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer in 2020, Christian displayed “a superpower,” sensing and relieving his father’s “pain and fear,” continuing to be joyful and empathetic, and, as Cochran writes, looking “beyond the surface” of days of treatment and medical bureaucracy to “[embrace] the grandeur of existence.” Christian “never stopped living his life,” Cochran notes, with warmth and a touch of awe, describing how after the diagnosis the young man applied to grad school in international studies, started a podcast, continued making music, and forged a touching friendship with another recent college graduate enduring cholangiocarcinoma, becoming a “light” in her journey.

What’s Good About Today? shares similarities with other stories of medical tragedies and traumatic loss, including touching journal entries from family and loved ones, accounts of searching for meaning (“I would often ask ‘Why? Why Christian?’”) and navigating complex medical systems, and touching examples of community support. Cochran and his collaborators, though, emphasize something surprising in this story of loss: what they gained from Christian’s compassion, generosity, and commitment to living life with a “different way of keeping time.”

Readers see what Cochran calls Christian’s challenge, to the rest of us, “to reconsider our relationship with time” and measure it "in the love we spread" in anecdotes and eulogies but also touching excerpts from Christian’s own writing, especially a powerful speech in which he calls the gulf between the “experimental and expensive” care available to him and what others receive around the world “a moral failing and, in a loose sense, a crime against humanity.” Page after page, Christian’s insight, ethics, and open-mindedness shine through, stir tears, and inspire.

Takeaway: Celebration of the life and spirit of a young man who showed how to live

Comparable Titles: Alexandra Fuller’s Fi, Catherine Mayer and Anne Meyer Bird’s Good Grief.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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Playful orca Yuki learns a valuable lesson on following his mama’s advice in this striking picture book. When Yuki’s mama warns him not to swim close to shore in their Iceland home, Yuki brushes off her advice and returns to his deep-sea antics, diving and cavorting with a cascade of crustacean friends clinging to his back. But when he stumbles onto a ship near the shore, Yuki can’t help but be curious—and swims far closer than he should, netting him a quick capture by humans who force him into a performance show in Mexico.

Film director Bluth, the filmmaker and animator responsible for classics like An American Tail and The Secret of Nimh, doesn’t disappoint in this children’s book debut. The story teems with colorful, bubbly characters who immediately plunge into readers’ hearts, center of which is Yuki, of course, but his underwater pals steal several scenes as well, particularly their open-mouthed despair when Yuki disappears at the hands of humans, a moment that Bluth crafts with stunning emotion: “‘Yuki!’ they whisper. ‘Yuki’, they shout, till their tiny crustaceous voices give out.” That’s just one of several evocative scenes, and young readers will be swept into this tale of friendship and family as they learn, alongside Yuki, that some choices come with devastating consequences—but, in the end, love truly saves the day.

Bluth’s bright, splashy illustrations are the crowning jewel, showcasing Yuki in the best—and worst—moments of his life, always with breathtaking emotion. Color schemes shift from playful to dismal as Yuki works through his forced captivity (and Hollywood takes a swipe at making him the most famous whale ever), but the story’s happy ending is an absolute wonder to behold, rich with the effervescent joy of reunited friends and family. Bluth credits Yuki’s child fans for his happily ever after in an empowering windup that will thrill young readers.

Takeaway: Young orca learns the value of friends and family in this stunning underwater tale.

Comparable Titles: Andrea Zuill’s Gustav Is Missing!, Dan Yaccarino’s Morris Mole.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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