Blog Archives
Everyone Is Valuable
Santa’s Last Ride follows the Claus family after Santa throws out his back feeding the reindeer and decides it is time for his twelve-year-old son to take over; however, he does not want the job, but his sister does. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The story originated with James. Getting tired of Christmas songs on the hours long trip to Iowa for Christmas, he began to tell this story to his kids to pass the time. He has two children – an older son and younger daughter also aged two years apart. They were his greatest inspiration.
I loved the interactions between Christopher and Kristy; they were believable and entertaining, with heartwarming moments as well. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
James and I are siblings. There were five more of us growing up. We are stuffed full of sibling interactions, mostly of a humorous nature. We grew up in a rambunctious and laughter filled environment.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Most important is the idea that everyone is valuable in their own way and not even a disability or a perceived disability changes that. In fact, I got involved in this book when James sent me an email of a very bare bones version of the story and asked me to put it in legible form. James has dyslexia, which was why he asked for my help. After much internet interact, we added to and filled out the story until it became ‘our’ book.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
We have had feedback from a number of fans asking what comes next. Some want to know when the movie is coming out. There are a number of issues we see that could be addressed in future. Considering their new positions in the Claus family how do Chris and Kristy, still quite young, handle the adults in the world they will have to interact with? From the North Pole how do you go to school, college, or date? With the planet warming up what will the family do about a shrinking North Pole? There’s no ground under the North Pole ice. What’s next for Mr. and Mrs. Claus?
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
While Santa’s mind is fixed on training Christopher, Mrs. Claus, daughter, Kristy, and Christopher are determined to find a way to tell Santa the obvious – which he seems to be stubbornly ignoring – that Christopher is unsuitable for the job. The family is keeping Christopher’s secret and it will only be sprung on Santa on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile Kristy, just ten years old, feels she is up to the task of taking Santa’s place.
Christmas Eve finds Santa and his trainee taking off for high flying adventures around the world, including natural disasters – angry dogs, cracking ice – and some disasters not so natural – smoking chimneys, frightening encounters with jets. When Santa discovers his family has tricked him, he nearly turns the sleigh around, to end the flight. Christopher and Kristy have to impress their father with their talents. Kristy especially has to believe in herself enough to convince Santa that, working together, they just might be able to save Christmas.
Santa’s Last Ride
Santa’s Last Ride tells the story of a family at the North Pole where Santa Claus is nearing the end of his career. His son, Chris, is expected to take on the role of Santa, but he has little interest in reindeer or flying and harbors a deep fear of heights. His daughter, Kristy, however, adores the reindeer and dreams of soaring through the skies. The story unfolds with humor, family tension, and a lot of heart, exploring tradition, expectations, and the possibility of change in a world bound by old rules.
I found myself grinning through the opening chapters. The playful back-and-forth between Kristy and Chris had the messy, real feel of siblings who know exactly how to get under each other’s skin. What struck me most was how ordinary family dynamics were woven into this magical setting. The North Pole felt less like a faraway fairy tale and more like a farm kitchen or workshop down the road. The dialogue often landed with warmth. I liked that it didn’t shy away from showing Santa as tired and even vulnerable, weighed down by age and pain.
The story leans on familiar Christmas imagery, but the book is charming. I would have liked more moments where the tradition of Santa collided with the modern world. Kristy’s longing to step into a role she’s told isn’t hers felt both funny and frustrating, and I caught myself cheering her on. The writing had a cozy rhythm that made the chapters fly by.
This is a story about family, tradition, and courage dressed up in the glitter and frost of the North Pole. I would recommend it to middle-grade readers who enjoy holiday tales that mix humor with heart. Kids who love Santa stories will find a lot to laugh at, and adults might smile at the way it reflects the small struggles of growing up and letting go. It’s best suited for anyone who wants a warm, lighthearted read in the glow of Christmas lights.
Pages: 105 | ASIN : B0DD4LR8QP
The Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish: Zero Gravity
The third installment of The Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish: Zero Gravity takes the story to a whole new level, literally out of this world. Arya, Krishna, and their colorful band of fishy friends get launched into space by accident, joining astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center before being swept away into an intergalactic adventure. Along the way, they meet Ishaan, a shape-shifting alien longing to return home, battle micrometeorites, travel through wormholes, and encounter entire alien civilizations, from giant octopuses to crab tribes on the edge of survival. It’s a cosmic leap in the series that blends science fiction, family, and playfulness in a way only this series can.
The depictions of zero gravity within the spacecraft, such as Arya and Krishna gliding through floating spheres of water while Shivam played his small guitar, were both imaginative and delightful. These moments carried a whimsical quality without diminishing the awe that space exploration inherently evokes. I also appreciated the way the narrative integrated real scientific concepts, such as micrometeorites and the distinctions between solar systems and galaxies, while remaining accessible and engaging. It is evident that the author intended for readers, particularly younger audiences, to come away not only entertained but also enriched with knowledge.
At times, the book relied heavily on its quirky humor, which I found surprisingly effective. The crab king declaring, “Tonight we dine on fish!” only to be interrupted by a giant octopus mom swooping in was pure chaotic fun. I found myself laughing out loud at how seriously absurd the situations could get. And yet, behind the silliness, there was heart, like when Arya and her friends risked swimming through scalding waters to save the crab princess Kristin from boiling lava. Those moments balanced playfulness with courage, which gave the book more weight than just an endless string of zany encounters.
The character of Ishaan, the alien blob-turned-octopus-turned-who-knows-what-next, added an emotional thread that surprised me. His longing to return to his family while forming bonds with the betta fish gave the story a bittersweet undercurrent. I especially liked the scenes where he tried to help his new friends, whether by updating NASA’s star charts or communicating telepathically with his mother. It grounded the story in a sense of belonging and homecoming, which I think both kids and adults can connect with.
I recommend The Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish: Zero Gravity to young readers with a taste for adventure, to parents seeking engaging and imaginative bedtime stories, and to anyone who has ever gazed at the night sky with a sense of wonder. The narrative is both whimsical and heartfelt, with an educational undercurrent that enriches the reading experience.
Pages: 119 | ASIN : B0FHKP2DP4
The Tralls of Maruchus
After reading The Tralls of Maruchus, I found myself swept up in a world that’s tender, rich, and surprisingly grounded despite all the magic. The book, third in the Trall series, follows Maya, a spirited young trall, as she faces devastating fire, looming danger, and mysterious encounters that test her courage and shake her world. Set in a fantastical version of Australia, the story braids together environmental themes, tribal lore, and coming-of-age elements through Maya’s eyes. There’s action, but it’s deeply emotional too, with family bonds, old legends, and new friendships all playing their part.
I really liked Torrens’ voice throughout the novel. It’s gentle, like someone sitting cross-legged and telling a story by the fire. At times, the descriptions lingered, but I found that endearing more than distracting. It gave me time to breathe and soak up the world. There’s something powerful about a book that doesn’t rush to its next battle or twist. What I liked most was how seriously the book takes emotions like fear, grief, guilt, and wonder, especially for a younger audience. Maya’s guilt over Ellie and her deep respect for her elders felt incredibly real. This is a story where consequences matter, and that hit me in the heart more than once.
There were moments when the pacing slowed, especially as the action started to build. At times, Maya’s reflections and the revisiting of earlier events felt a bit familiar, and I found myself eager to move forward. I wanted to see more dialogue and dynamic scenes rather than internal reflection. Still, I appreciated the emotional honesty. The way the natural world was treated, fire, water, and wildlife, made me ache. It’s rare to see ecological themes so woven into fantasy without feeling preachy.
I think The Tralls of Maruchus would be a lovely read for kids around ten and up, especially those who like nature, fantasy, or heartfelt adventure. It’s got an old-fashioned charm to it. Not flashy, not fast, but quietly magical. If you’re someone who remembers what it feels like to climb trees, get grass-stained knees, and dream of creatures in the river, then this one’s for you.
Pages: 306 | ISBN : 1797446037
When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy: Facing Challenges for the First Time: Providing Practical Tools for Building Resilience, Self-Awareness, and Empathy
D. A. Mintaka’s When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy is a compassionate, twelve-chapter journey through the emotional and social trials faced by tweens and early teens. Told through the eyes of various young characters, the book explores big issues like perfectionism, bullying, self-worth, emotional burnout, and peer pressure, with simplicity and warmth. Each chapter features a different protagonist navigating their “first time” through a major emotional experience. What makes this book shine is how it gently folds life lessons into compelling, relatable narratives without ever feeling preachy.
I found myself genuinely moved by how Mintaka writes children’s emotional lives. The writing is clean and clear, full of sensory detail and believable dialogue. The author has a gift for showing how kids think, their logic, their fears, their hopes, and doesn’t write down to them. What stood out most for me was the emotional layering. Each story starts with a small moment, a science fair project, a school play, a treehouse, and slowly unpacks something much bigger about trust, identity, or self-compassion. I was especially struck by the story of Evelyn and the hummingbirds. Her anxiety and need for control felt so real and raw, and her small decision to let go and live a little was quietly powerful.
There were moments where I wished the book let readers sit a bit longer with the tension before spelling out the moral. And while the language is geared toward younger readers, I craved just a touch more complexity in some of the emotional resolutions. That said, I reminded myself this book is written for kids who are in the thick of figuring things out for the first time. And in that regard, it does a beautiful job of meeting them exactly where they are.
I’d recommend When Life Knocks You Off Your Happy to kids ages 9 to 13, especially those who are navigating new or tough experiences like first disappointments, social friction, or growing pains at home. It’s also a great read for parents, teachers, or counselors who want to understand what kids might be feeling but don’t yet have words for. This isn’t just a book to read, it’s one to talk about.
Pages: 204 | ISBN : 1732342601
Never Believe a Lie Twice
Kathleen Troy’s Never Believe A Lie Twice follows the rough-and-tumble journey of Sage Christopher, a sharp-witted thirteen-year-old suddenly orphaned and thrust from a seedy life in Las Vegas into a sleepy Connecticut town with relatives he’s never met. Sage’s dad, Marty, a grifter with a knack for making terrible choices, dies in a drunk driving accident, leaving behind a duffel bag full of mysterious clues tied to a decades-old disappearance. As Sage tries to dodge the foster system, he gets shipped off to Evansville where he finds new family, old secrets, and the creeping sense that someone dangerous may still be watching. What unfolds is part mystery, part coming-of-age, all heart.
I went into this book expecting a fairly straightforward YA mystery, but Troy surprised me. Her writing is snappy and clean, with a rhythm that grabs you right from the first jail cell scene. Sage’s voice is pitch-perfect, equal parts street-smart and vulnerable. There’s a thread of dry humor running through the entire book that kept me chuckling even when things got dark. The pacing never lagged, and the scenes often flipped with just the right mix of tension and heart. Troy doesn’t dumb things down for young readers either; she lets Sage wrestle with real danger, real grief, and real moral dilemmas. That kind of honesty, especially from a young protagonist, was refreshing.
What I loved most, though, was the way Troy builds her characters. Sage isn’t just another scrappy orphan hero; he’s damaged, sometimes too clever for his own good, and constantly teetering between trust and survival. The supporting cast, especially Pops and Gram, are warm without being sappy. I found myself rooting for Sage to get his happy ending, but I also wanted him to stay a little rogue-ish. There were a few plot turns that felt slightly convenient, but I forgave them because the heart of the story was so strong.
Never Believe A Lie Twice is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. It has guts, charm, and a whole lot of soul. I’d recommend it to readers twelve and up who love mysteries with a bit of grit and a lot of warmth. Fans of Louis Sachar or Kate DiCamillo will feel right at home here. And honestly, adults could do worse than spending an evening with Sage Christopher. I did, and I loved every minute of it.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B09RQS93KQ
Dylan’s Dilemma (Dylan’s Dog Squad Book 1)
Dylan’s Dilemma is a sweet, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking story about a cocker spaniel named Dylan who starts his life in a cramped crate in South Korea and winds up on a wild adventure that brings him all the way to sunny Southern California. The book follows Dylan’s ups and downs as he finds freedom with his first owner, Aiden, faces abandonment when Aiden can no longer keep him, and eventually struggles to find a place in a new family with a boy named Casey and his no-nonsense mother. Written mostly from Dylan’s point of view, the book brings readers right into the mind of a lovable, mischievous pup who’s just trying to figure out where he belongs.
What really struck me about this book was how real Dylan’s emotions felt. Kathleen Troy doesn’t just tell you Dylan is happy or scared; she makes you feel it. When Dylan thinks, “My lungs are shrinking. I can’t breathe,” after Aiden gives him up, my heart physically hurt. Troy’s writing captures Dylan’s innocence perfectly, especially in moments like when he tries to “help” in Casey’s mom’s office by turning her important project into a shredded hamster collage. I found myself laughing aloud, though it was a bittersweet kind of laughter, recognizing that the little dog was simply trying his best.
The pacing of the story kept me locked in, too. One minute, I was giggling over Dylan’s craft skills (destroying cords, baseboards, and tables like a tiny wrecking ball), and the next, I was genuinely nervous when he was sent off in a crate across the ocean. The humor balances out the emotional gut punches really well. Plus, Casey’s character is just the right mix of loyal and goofy. His determination to keep Dylan, even when his mom is dead set against it, made me root for them both so hard. Their bond is simple but strong, like when Casey calls Dylan “Little Buddy,” giving him a sense of belonging again after losing Aiden.
One thing I noticed is that some of the adult characters are written with a playful exaggeration, especially Casey’s mom, who shifts from grumpy to affectionate with the speed of a light switch. It actually adds to the lively, slightly cartoonish tone of the story (particularly during hilarious moments like Eddie-the-Whiner’s antics at dog training). The vibrant style suits the book’s mission: to entertain first, warm the heart second, and sprinkle in seriousness just where it’s needed.
Dylan’s Dilemma is a real charmer. It’s perfect for anyone who loves dogs, funny misadventures, and heart-tugging stories about finding your forever home. I’d especially recommend it for middle-grade readers or adults who just want a sweet escape for a few hours.
Pages: 256 | ASIN : B09RQCDPG5
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space! (A Twenty-First-Century Fairy Tale)
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches from Outer Space! is part zany sci-fi adventure, part heartfelt coming-of-age story, and part sharp commentary on youth, education, and social change. It follows Violet—a strong-willed, smart, and slightly overburdened teen—who just wants to start a school newspaper and save the world from ignorance. Instead, she ends up hiking through the forest with her best friend, two chaotic little brothers, and eventually discovering what appears to be a literal alien spaceship with a sandwich in it. You can’t make this stuff up—except, of course, I.S. Noah did, and did it with charm, sass, and a lot of insight tucked under the goofiness.
I adored Violet. She’s the kind of teen I wish I had the guts to be when I was that age—smart, mad as hell about the world’s problems, and totally driven to do something about it. Her internal monologue had me nodding and laughing in equal measure. Like in Chapter 1, when she vents about classmates calling facts “fake news” and quoting Asimov? Chef’s kiss. Relatable, sharp, and kind of heartbreaking. Also, the banter between the kids feels so real. Brad, her pain-in-the-neck brother, is hilarious in that “I want to throttle you but you’re also kind of brilliant” way.
What surprised me most, though, was how layered this book is under all the humor. Sure, there are fart jokes and banana slugs and a glowing alien disc, but there’s also real commentary on truth, science, journalism, and what it means to grow up in a world flooded with noise and nonsense. Violet’s drive to bring back the school newspaper is more than just a school project—it’s her way of fighting for reason in a world full of opinions. And then you get a twist like the sandwich from space—I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say it’s both hilarious and bizarrely thought-provoking. Who knew intergalactic peanut butter could stir up so many questions?
If you’re into stories that mash up teenage drama, sci-fi nonsense, heartfelt moments, and a healthy dose of “what the heck just happened?”—this book is for you. Teachers, nerdy teens, exasperated older siblings, and anyone who’s ever rolled their eyes at misinformation or dreamed of aliens—y’all will love this. It’s smart. It’s weird. It’s got heart. And somehow, it makes space sandwiches feel profound.
Pages: 256 | ISBN : 9798887316918
