Blog Archives
All She Knew
All She Knew tells the story of Charity, a twelve-year-old girl whose world turns upside down after the sudden death of her mother. In a voice that feels both tender and raw, the book walks us through her grief, the disorienting changes of moving in with relatives, and the awkward navigation of friendships and school life in the shadow of loss. The narrative is intimate, almost like leafing through Charity’s private diary, showing her memories of her mother, her inner thoughts, and her small moments of joy and sadness as she tries to make sense of a life she didn’t choose.
The writing is simple but honest, which makes the emotional weight even heavier. There’s no filter on Charity’s feelings, her anger, her loneliness, her confusion, and it hit me how rarely we allow young people that kind of space in real life. I found myself protective of her, frustrated with the adults who clearly cared but sometimes didn’t know how to show it, and touched by the fleeting, sweet moments that gave her hope. The book doesn’t rush her healing, and I liked that. Grief is messy, and the author lets it stay messy.
Some scenes linger in places that are uncomfortable, but those moments are often the most truthful. I appreciated how the book showed the push and pull between wanting to hold on to the past and needing to step into something new. It’s not a dramatic, twist-heavy story. It’s a quiet one, built on small shifts in emotion, and that’s where its strength lies.
All She Knew is for anyone who has had to start over after losing someone they love, especially teens and young adults trying to figure out who they are without that person. It’s heartfelt, gentle, and painfully real. This isn’t a book you race through. It’s one you sit with, maybe with a box of tissues close by, and let it remind you that even when the shape of your life changes completely, the love you carry stays with you.
Pages: 157 | ASIN : B0CZJT6HDT
Forever Fly Free: One Woman’s Story of Resilience and the Power of Hope and Love
Forever Fly Free is the gripping, raw, and deeply human story of Jenny Brandemuehl’s life turned upside down after her husband Mark is severely burned in a horrific plane crash. Told in five parts that span panic, heartbreak, healing, and rediscovery, the book chronicles the emotional and physical toll of trauma, not just on the person injured but on the entire family. Jenny lays bare the sleepless nights, medical jargon, ICU beeps, and gut-wrenching decisions, all the while weaving in threads of love, humor, and a whole lot of grit.
Jenny’s voice is steady and clear, and even when she writes about the most painful moments like her husband’s bandaged, unrecognizable body, or the moment her son learns about the accident. There’s a grace in the way she keeps moving forward. Her writing flows naturally, like a close friend confiding in you. It’s not fancy, and thank God for that. It’s real. There’s also unexpected beauty tucked in the folds like a stranger’s prayer, a nurse’s quiet courage, or a joke Mark cracked in the ER that made me laugh through tears.
What I loved most was how this book is as much about healing as it is about survival. It’s not just medical updates and hospital visits. It’s about rediscovering hope when everything falls apart. Jenny lets us witness the mess of it all, like family tension, career stress, and the fear of the unknown, but she also shows how small acts of kindness and love carry her through. I was especially touched by the moments of spiritual reflection and how Jenny manages to hold space for both science and mystery. Her faith isn’t preachy; it’s personal and quietly powerful.
Forever Fly Free left me with tears, yes, but also with warmth. It reminded me how resilient people can be when they are fueled by love. I’d recommend this book to anyone facing loss, anyone caregiving for a loved one, or anyone simply looking for a true story that stirs the soul. It’s not just about burn recovery or trauma, it’s about the big stuff like love, family, and what it means to keep going when you’d rather not. I finished the last page and sat still for a while, grateful that Jenny let me into her story.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B0F281H16L
The Opioid Epidemic
Flirting With Extinction is a raw and unapologetic mosaic of personal essays and stories that chart a life punctuated by grief, recklessness, resilience, and searching. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I needed to process my grief in some way, and I thought that by analyzing it and finding the life lessons in all that had transpired and writing about it would help me navigate my pain as well as the pain of others who have lost cherished loved ones to the opioid epidemic sweeping America’s youth.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
My love for my sons was not as powerful a motivating force in their lives as the cultural zeitgeist they lived with. They had moved away from their Land Before Time and Pokémon mindset into what their peers were doing in the Seattle music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The 1960s bohemian fashion was in style along with designer drugs I had never heard of until one of my sons died after using the latest drug on the scene, fentanyl. And then even after rehab, the other one followed suit several years later, killing himself on meth. I was absolutely devastated.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The deaths of my sons, I cried every time I worked on that aspect of the story. It took multiple edits with my tears running into my coffee and ruining the taste.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
If you value life, and even if you believe in an afterlife, after experiencing the death of a loved one, it’s important for one’s sanity to find the positive in the negative and nurture those seeds of positivity in everything, to make the pain more bearable. In my sons’ memory, I wear the Jewish Chai symbol that serves as a reminder to embrace life’s inherent beauty, to cherish the present moment, and to recognize the profound interconnectedness of all life.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
After converting to Judaism and adopting her new husband’s name, she moved to Washington state and together with her husband, Joanna helped create a utopia on their island home, far from family feuds. As a family they explored the Pacific Northwest wilderness and played sports. Their children thrived in an environment filled with art, music, and freedom. But the idyllic life they built took a dark turn when their teenage son Micah, along with his friends, defaced a yeshiva, with one drawing swastikas and the chilling message, “this way to the gas chambers”—a reckless joke that would lead to devastating consequences.
As the law came down hard on Micah, the family faced the unbearable loss of their other son, Seth. In Flirting with Extinction, Joanna Kadish explores the deep-rooted trauma inherited from Holocaust survivors. Micah’s great-grandfather was killed in a German labor camp, and Micah’s grandfather, with his mother and sister, fled Germany shortly before Kristallnacht. Decades later, that trauma continues to haunt the family, proving that the wounds of history are not so easily healed.
These are Joanna’s stories of survival, loss, and the enduring impact of generational trauma.
Where Eagles Fly Free
David A. Jacinto’s Where Eagles Fly Free is an immersive historical novel that whisks readers back to 1868, following Tom Wright and his family as they embark on a grueling transatlantic journey from England to America. Their story is one of resilience, hope, and unyielding determination as they flee the oppression of the British aristocracy in pursuit of a dream to live freely on their own land. Throughout, the narrative teems with vivid imagery, from the breathtaking Irish Sea to the cramped, unsanitary ship conditions, and highlights the toll of physical and emotional hardships faced by immigrants.
Jacinto’s writing made me feel present in every scene. His descriptions of the Colorado ship, the swaying wooden masts, the pungent smell of mildew, and the ever-present threat of the Atlantic’s fury were so vivid I felt seasick myself. One standout moment was when the ship endured a violent cyclone, complete with cracking masts and desperate sailors. It was heart-pounding and terrifying, yet it highlighted Tom’s courage under pressure. At the same time, the book’s pacing allowed for reflective moments, particularly during the extended inner monologues about America’s promise, which offered a hopeful and idyllic vision of the future that added depth to Tom’s dreams.
The novel shines brightest in its portrayal of human relationships. Annie, Tom’s pregnant wife, was a standout character for me. Her compassion and sheer grit stole the spotlight repeatedly. I found myself rooting for her during the scene where she faced off with the ship’s detestable cook, Mr. Bunnings, over the rotten food being served to sick passengers. Her determination to improve conditions for everyone, even as she battled her own exhaustion, was inspiring. Tom’s interactions with his wife left me conflicted. While his dreams for America were noble, his occasional dismissiveness of Annie’s struggles added a layer of tension that felt unresolved.
The bonds of family and the pain of loss are central themes. Tom and Annie’s shared grief over their son Henry’s death added a poignant layer to their relationship. Scenes like Annie comforting her ill nephew or witnessing a mother and child being buried at sea were gut-wrenching. These moments grounded the story in raw emotion and reminded me of the immense sacrifices immigrants made for the hope of a better life.
Where Eagles Fly Free is a deeply evocative tale of perseverance, filled with memorable characters and stirring imagery. While it occasionally leans into idealism, the novel’s focus on family, faith, and the pursuit of freedom will appeal to readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction. I’d recommend it to anyone with a taste for emotionally charged narratives, particularly fans of stories about immigration or survival against the odds.
Pages: 400 | ASIN : B0DZY69F2J
The Gift of Friendship
The Cabin tells the story of two children who become attached to the mystique surrounding a cabin in the woods and the sense of loss and subsequent resilience upon its destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story is inspired by a true event that took place on Hog’s Back Mountain in Upstate New York. Summers spent on my grandmother’s farm provided a real time experience of life, play, and death. Due to our wonderful experiences, we blossomed as human beings while there.
Is there anything from your own experience found in the characters of Keith and Cynthia?
Haha! Actually, yes! We are the characters and I could not be happier with what they discover through unexpected friendship, loss, and the continuance of their rhythm of farm life.
The artwork in your book is wonderful. Can you tell us a little about your collaboration with illustrator Alex Bigatti?
Alex understood and loved the story from the start. I wanted the medium of watercolor to convey a sense of wistfulness and she agreed. Neither of us knew much about doing art for a children’s book, but she was persistent and did her research. Alex’s insight and passion for her art is clearly seen in the illustrations and she was so easy to work with. She captured the emotional world of the characters and the story!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme of resilience was the top theme for me. It emerged as I did the rewrites: Resilience in the face of loss. What also came out was the importance of rhythms in our life…rhythms that can carry us through difficult and wonderful times, but are always there. The gift of friendship also seemed important. The joy and surprise as well as the fragility of them is clearly seen and felt in The Cabin.
Author Links: Instagram | Website
Angels in the Sand
Lori Keating’s Angels in the Sand offers a touching and heartfelt exploration of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of family bonds. At the heart of the story is 10-year-old Jessica (Jess) Alexander, a young girl grappling with profound loss. Her father’s tragic accident has already left a void in her life, and now, her family faces another heartbreak: her grandmother’s terminal cancer diagnosis. As Jess and her mother prepare to spend one final Christmas with her grandmother, the narrative unfolds into a poignant journey of love, remembrance, and hope.
Keating masterfully paints the dynamics of Jess’s close-knit family. Jess’s determination to make their last holiday together unforgettable leads her to create a “must-do” list for her grandmother, filled with activities designed to create lasting memories. These moments serve as both a celebration of life and a reminder of the importance of cherishing the time we have with loved ones.
This book is an essential read for children coping with loss and for parents seeking to understand the inner workings of a grieving child’s mind. Keating captures the raw emotions of grief, illustrating not only the sorrow but also the glimmers of joy that can coexist in the healing process. The story reassures readers that it’s okay to feel happiness again, a sentiment that provides comfort and encouragement. The message that departed loved ones would want to see us happy adds a layer of solace for readers navigating similar experiences. The narrative also underscores the significance of preserving memories. Through Jess’s perspective, the book highlights how easily children can forget cherished moments, urging adults to share stories and details about those who have passed. These shared memories become invaluable threads connecting the past with the present. Keating weaves subtle Christian elements into the story with grace, using biblical references to instill hope and faith. These moments of spiritual reflection are seamlessly integrated, offering a comforting perspective to readers who may draw strength from such beliefs.
Jess’s character is a standout achievement in this book. Her innocence and curiosity shine through, making her reflections feel authentic and deeply relatable. Keating’s vivid storytelling allows readers to experience the world through Jess’s eyes, capturing the sweetness of small moments and the depth of her family’s love. These tender memories serve as a beacon of light during dark times, reminding readers of the beauty in connection and care.
Angels in the Sand, by Lori Keating, carries a profound moral: cherish the people around you and remain open to the signs that lost loved ones continue to watch over us. Keating’s gentle yet powerful storytelling leaves an indelible impression, making this book not only a source of comfort but also a celebration of life’s most precious gifts.
Pages: 112 | ISBN : 978-1957656816
HOMEMADE SHRINE
Danii Jasmine’s collection of poetry is an evocative exploration of love, loss, and identity filtered through the lens of surreal nostalgia and unfiltered introspection. Each poem feels like stepping into a dreamscape—full of vivid imagery, shadowy emotions, and fleeting memories that are as unsettling as they are beautiful. From suburban settings steeped in twilight gloom to the intimate mundanity of a whispered phone call, Jasmine builds a deeply personal shrine to a fractured but deeply felt life.
What struck me first was Jasmine’s ability to tether seemingly mundane details to existential depth. In “Sunshinelater”, for instance, the suburban setting of “empty houses” and “flower-embroidered pillowcases” morphs into a melancholic reverie, turning ordinary imagery into a commentary on fleeting happiness. Her writing radiates a blend of resignation and quiet rebellion, making the familiar feel alien.
Another standout is “Brandy Melville”, where Jasmine captures the turbulence of toxic intimacy. Lines like “I wrote five paragraphs about neglect” and “the people around me…recognize this resigned sad version” reveal a raw vulnerability. Yet, the poem avoids outright despair, weaving in a dark humor that feels both defiant and self-aware. This complexity—pain wrapped in sharp wit—is one of the book’s greatest strengths.
I also loved “The Common Emigrant”, where Jasmine meditates on the fragility of beauty through the imagery of a butterfly trapped in a killing jar. It’s a delicate yet chilling metaphor for human relationships, artistic capture, and the cost of preserving beauty at the expense of life. Her descriptive language, like “the overwhelmingly sweet stench of ethyl acetate,” lingered with me long after reading, a testament to her skill with sensory detail. The collection’s relentless introspection might not appeal to readers looking for lightness or clear resolutions. But for those who crave poetry that pushes boundaries and reflects raw human experiences, this is an unapologetically visceral offering.
HOMEMADE SHRINE is perfect for anyone who enjoys emotionally charged, visually rich writing. It’s for readers who are not afraid to sit with discomfort, who seek beauty in the jagged edges of life, and who relish peeling back the layers of language to uncover the raw, pulsing heart beneath.
Pages: 102 | ASIN : B0DJLBCSTH
The Cabin
Cynthia S. Vander Ark’s The Cabin is a poignant and nostalgic picture book of a childhood summer spent on Hog’s Back Mountain, intertwined with unexpected friendships, innocent adventures, and a quiet reckoning with loss. Through lyrical prose and wonderful watercolor illustrations by Alex Bigatti, Vander Ark tells the story of two kids, Keith and Cynthia, who fall into the magical rhythm of life with a group of gentle “hippies” building a cabin in the woods. What starts as a carefree exploration of summer days culminates in the heartbreaking yet tender image of ashes where the cabin once stood. The narrative moves seamlessly between joy and sadness, making readers feel as though they, too, are meandering through blackberry bushes and ravines.
The writing is intimate. Vander Ark’s descriptions paint the farm and its surrounding woods in colors both vibrant and melancholy. Lines like “The hippies became a part of our landscape… the warp and weave and rhythm of our daily lives” give life to the fleeting beauty of human connection. I especially loved how the text shifts from playful moments, like learning to whistle through joined thumbs, to contemplative reflections on impermanence. There’s a rhythm to the prose that echoes the seasons of the mountain itself: growing, burning, grieving, and renewing.
What really struck me was how Vander Ark handled the theme of loss. When the children return to find the cabin reduced to “ashes, laid out in a rectangle,” the watercolor scene is deeply affecting. You can feel the heavy stillness as Keith and Cynthia stand “frozen” with “lumps like rocks” tumbling in their stomachs. It’s an honest portrayal of grief. How it surprises you, settles in your heart, and becomes part of your world. I loved the watercolor scene on this page. Vander Ark doesn’t shy away from this complexity, even in a story accessible to younger readers.
The book’s simplicity is also its greatest strength. It doesn’t try too hard to impart a lesson or wrap up emotions with a tidy bow. Instead, it trusts the reader to sit with the feelings. The cabin’s fate is tragic but not hopeless. Nature persists, as do Keith and Cynthia, exploring ravines and picking wildflowers. “When we looked closely through the light and shadows,” the author writes, “we would always find flowers that had just enough sunlight to grow.” That small detail—finding flowers in the shadows—left me with goosebumps. It’s a perfect metaphor for resilience and hope, all wrapped in childhood wonder.
The Cabin is a quiet treasure of a children’s book, brimming with warmth, wistfulness, and the wisdom of letting go. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy reflective storytelling and beautifully simple prose. Parents could read this with their children to gently explore loss and resilience. Adults, too, will find echoes of their own summers and moments of grief in its pages.
