Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham

June 13, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Sphere Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

His first three victims ended up dead. His fourth was not so fortunate . . .

Alison Willetts is unlucky to be alive. She has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skillful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear, and feel and is aware of everything going on around her, but is completely unable to move or communicate. Her condition is called locked-in syndrome. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer made his first mistake.

Then DI Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth; it isn’t Alison who is the mistake, it’s the three women already dead. The killer is getting his kicks out of toying with Thorne as much as he is pursuing his sick fantasy, and as the detective zeroes in on a suspect, he finds himself pushed to his personal and professional limits . . .

When three young women appear to die suddenly from a stroke with no other signs of damage to their bodies and no real prior indicators they were at risk the medical community thinks there might be something else occurring. Only a sharp pathologist notices sedatives in a recent case’s blood and damage to the ligaments on the young woman’s neck. When DI Tom Thorne begins to investigate, he soon is told that the most recent case – where the woman survived but has locked in syndrome – is not the “mistake” but indeed the crowning glory and exactly what the killer has been trying to achieve, Thorne realizes that what appeared to be a fairly standard case is anything but.

I greatly enjoy British Police procedural style of murder mysteries but this first book in a new to me series is slightly different. I admit it took me a while to get used to the slight jumping around in the perspectives – usually an author stays fairly close to one style of telling the story, but this book has quite a few different voices going on. While I admit it definitely added to the story this did take me a little to get used to and grasp what all the different perspectives were on about. I’m not sure this will appeal to all readers, but I would strongly recommend the reader stick with it as the story definitely is worth getting a handle on the narrative style.

I was also pleased that Tom wasn’t all-powerful and made mistakes. A few times I really did wonder if the author had maybe given a bit too much perception to Tom, but I was pleased he got some things wrong and other things right. This seemed fairly realistic to me and helped me connect a bit better with Tom’s character which I admit I struggled with in a few places.

On the one hand the plot is quite straight forward – find the killer who is murdering young women but causing them to stroke out and die. Yet really this book is quite a bit more complicated than that. Tom has a very layered and complex relationship with his colleagues and managers in the police force, and I enjoyed watching him sort some of that out with a few key colleagues throughout the story. Tom also has some unresolved baggage from a life-changing case over a decade ago and while this history doesn’t overshadow the current case and issues – it’s there filtering and shadowing Tom, nevertheless.

I also enjoyed that Tom might need a few home truths really hammered in to him – but when this did occur in the book he finally sat up and took notice. In all I found this book to be well written, intensely plotted and quite addictive to read. I’m certain I’ll pick up the next in the series because I’m deeply curious how Tom will pull up after the events in this case.

A different and somewhat complicated story I felt this was an excellent first book. I can believe the writing style (and characters) might not suit everyone but for readers who like a slightly gritter British police procedural style of story and their stories told in layers and not necessarily in a linear function this is probably a good book to try out.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

For Love’s Sake by Kelli A. Wilkins

June 12, 2025 By Leave a Comment


For Love’s Sake by Kelli A. Wilkins
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

She left everything behind to be with him.
He risked losing everything to stay with her.
They were willing to sacrifice everything… for love’s sake

Through a case of mistaken identity, Prince Kevan of Alborg narrowly avoids an assassination attempt and wakes to find himself trapped in mad King Torok’s rat-infested dungeon. Just when he is about to give up hope, he is rescued by an unlikely ally—Torok’s daughter, Princess Adrianna.

Adrianna is desperate to flee her father’s kingdom and agrees to help the handsome stranger escape, but only if he takes her with him when he leaves. Although Kevan knows bringing Adrianna home will not sit well with his father and lead to other complications, he agrees.

They make their way to a waiting ship captained by Kevan’s brother, Mikhael, and set sail for Alborg. Along the way they are lost at sea during a ferocious storm, battle a murderous mercenary sent by Adrianna’s father, and try to deny their intense romantic feelings for each other.

When they arrive in Alborg, Kevan’s father, King Lenard, disapproves of Adrianna and drops the bombshell that Kevan is already engaged to be married. While Kevan tries to get out of the arranged marriage, Mikhael introduces Adrianna to members of the nobility in an effort to win over the king.

At his engagement ball, Kevan is forced to choose between his duty to his father and his loyalty to Adrianna. Soon after, Adrianna is kidnapped and Kevan and Mikhael band together to hunt down her abductors and rescue her before it’s too late.

Yes, it’s true that the heroine, Adrianna, left everything behind to be with the hero, Kevan—but the reality is, she didn’t have much to leave behind. Her father certainly wasn’t winning any “Father of the Year” awards. On the other hand, Kevan risked everything, including his life, to be with Adrianna—and that kind of sacrifice was utterly swoon-worthy. Since both of them were putting so much on the line, I felt compelled to put my own life on hold and read For Love’s Sake uninterrupted.

Kelli A. Wilkins is one of my favorite authors, and this book is another perfect example of why. Her writing is fast-paced, vivid, and always emotionally gripping. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! With a whirlwind of mistaken identity, being lost at sea, abduction, and a steamy romance, there was never a dull moment. I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen next—and I loved every second of it.

In fact, I feel like I need to read this book a second time just to savor it properly. I devoured it the first time, rushing to the next scene because I couldn’t wait to see what came next. If you enjoy historical romance filled with drama, danger, and a deeply satisfying happily-ever-after, I highly recommend For Love’s Sake.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Lincoln by Alisa Jean

June 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Lincoln by Alisa Jean
Los Angeles Quakes Hockey – Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

L.A. Quakes’ fans stomped their feet to cheers of “Caveman!” when I made incredible saves in the crease, leading the team to two Stanley Cup victories. I thought I could go on forever, but at thirty-six, the clock’s counting down even for Lincoln Cavanaugh. Social media and fan sites are filled with rumors of me being traded. Or worse. My future looks as uncertain as a loose puck on the ice.

My fate rests in the hands of Catherine Bishop, daughter of the team’s owner and a power to be reckoned with. And what fine hands they are, along with everything else about her. A chance encounter leads to sparks between us, but is falling in love with this incredible woman worth the risk?

Because with her by my side, I’m once again an unstoppable force between the pipes, and victories pile up like never before. However, our love is a ticking time bomb because Catherine has dreams of making history as the first female and person of color to own an NHL team. Sleeping with a player would make that all go up in smoke. I fear when the truth comes out, it will be the final buzzer for us.

A romance story where the hero is a hockey player? I had to read this book! I love hockey—I actually met my husband at a hockey game, and he used to play when he was younger. I put my phone on silent and read this book faster than it takes to make a trick shot.

It was easy to relate to Lincoln Cavanaugh because I understand what it takes to play a sport at a professional level. The dedication, commitment, and perseverance are never-ending. The physical toll is unimaginable, and the responsibility to the team, family, friends, and fans can feel overwhelming. The author, Alisa Jean, did a fantastic job writing a realistic and relatable character in Lincoln Cavanaugh.

I fell in love with Lincoln for many reasons, but the biggest was how he never lost sight of the joy he felt when he played hockey as a kid. He stayed grounded throughout his successful career and humbly gave back to his local youth hockey programs. Often, what begins as fun, competitive, and character-building sadly turns into a business, and players can lose the love for the sport—or worse, become arrogant. Alisa Jean also nailed this reality by creating some arrogant teammates on Lincoln’s NHL team, the Quakes, which added even more authenticity to the story.

Catherine, the heroine, was a perfect match for Lincoln. Their chemistry was strong throughout the story, and the drama between them kept me intrigued. I’ll admit, at first, I found Catherine a little selfish, and there were moments when I felt she wasn’t good enough for Lincoln. However, as their relationship evolved, I saw how they balanced each other out beautifully, and Catherine won me over by the end.

I’m so excited this is Book One in the Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series because I’m already eager to dive into Book Two!

One thing that was new to me: at the end of the book, there was a QR code to scan for a bonus scene. To get it, you had to sign up for the author’s newsletter. I’ll be honest—I felt a little manipulated. I wouldn’t have downloaded it if I hadn’t loved the story so much. Thankfully, the bonus scene (which felt like an epilogue) was absolutely worth it and gave the book a truly satisfying happily-ever-after.

I’m officially a Quakes fan, and I’ll be eagerly stomping my feet and cheering for the second book in this series!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven

June 10, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven
Publisher: Constable
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of . . .

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant, but socially awkward, civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he’s ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive …

Washington Poe has been suspended from his police duties for almost eighteen months after taking the blame when his final case goes pear-shaped. While it took some time, he has settled down well into his remote croft and picking up odd jobs from the rural locals in his surrounding areas. Poe’s life is different now, but he’s very happy. Until his previous police colleagues urgently reach out to him. Poe’s name has been carved into the latest victim of a serial killer. Clearly there’s a link between the murderer and Poe and no one will rest until the case is solved.

I picked this debut book up on a whim and within about five minutes and the first chapter had settled in for an exceptional read. While on the surface this book isn’t anything too unique (disgraced mid level police officer being drawn back into that world after making his peace and getting out) there were a number of elements that I really enjoyed and found freshly unique to this story.

First up I thought it was very brave and clever for the author to have Poe come in as a Sargant to his previous underling, newly promoted DI status. While this isn’t unique – I felt it gave a good tenseness to the atmosphere. Poe and Flynn clearly have a solid working relationship but there’s also a sense of newness to them as they each get used to the other’s ways in their new pecking order. I thought this was an excellent way to sew in some tension without being cliched or having conflict just for the sake of it. I was also thrilled this was more of an “uncomfortable getting used to the new ways” thing rather than there being bitterness or grudges or something I would have felt far more detrimental to the story.

Another key factor for my really loving this story was Tilly’s character. Incredibly intelligent but equally incredibly naïve I felt Tilly was a lovely breath of fresh air. I also loved how Tilly – more than any of the other characters to my mind – grew and learned throughout the story at a much faster rate than anyone else. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and see how she’s progressed and also how she handles the emotional and mental fall out from both the case and the darker side to policing work which she was exposed to for the first time in this case.

On top of all this, I found the plot to be deeply intriguing – multi layered and strongly believable. All these items plus a great sense of atmosphere and setting made this hands down the best thriller I’ve read in quite a few months and I am very eager to continue with this new-to-me author. I’d highly recommend this for readers who enjoy a slightly grittier British Police Procedural style of murder mystery. The pace and characters do romp along at a good clip but this isn’t a spy/thriller or American style go-go-go action story – but equally the plot and bodies keep dropping at a good rate so I wouldn’t classify this as an easy-paced British mystery either.

With exceptional characters, a deliciously convoluted plot and a stark reality to it I found this book to be a wonderful debut novel, and I am eager for the next in line. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

A Loser Like Me by Nathan Burton

June 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Loser Like Me by Nathan Burton
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In the distant future, an ordinary girl from Mars has an extraordinary dream: to be the greatest bank robber the Galaxy has ever known! Experience Beth’s exciting journey first hand as she recounts how she overcame various obstacles and inconceivable odds to finally achieve her unlikely ambition.

If a little planning goes a long way, what happens when there’s a lot of planning?

Beth’s character development was strong and unique. I especially liked her relationship with Rohxann, both of whom complemented each other’s strengths and weaknesses beautifully. No sooner did I think I had them figured out than a new side of their relationship would reveal itself. This kept my interest levels high and gave Beth plenty of opportunities to share every side of her personality with the audience.

I would have liked to see more world building. For example, how did the characters learn Ancient Martian? How had the various species learned that they weren’t alone in the universe? When did people figure out how to travel between Mars and Jupiter so rapidly? These are just a few of the many questions I wondered about as I read. Answering a few more of them would have rounded things out nicely and given Beth even more opportunities to show us how intelligent, resourceful, and cunning she was.

The thriller elements of the plot were exciting and well done. I liked the way Mr. Burton prolonged the mysteries surrounding Beth’s plans until they absolutely had to be revealed. This gave me plenty of opportunities to guess what she might have up her sleeves and why she made certain key career and relationships decisions that she did early on in the storyline. There were a few moments that didn’t quite make sense to me at first, so it was fun to suddenly realize why those events needed to take place later on once I knew more about the big picture.

A Loser Like Me kept me guessing until the end.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

MOVIE REVIEW: Royal-ish

June 9, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Royal-ish
Writers: Teri Wilson
Director: Roger M. Bobb
Starring: Nichole Sakura, William Moseley
Publisher: Hallmark
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars (8/10 stars on IMDB)
Review by Dicentra

Lacey is an amusement park princess who befriends 8-year-old Rose, a real-life princess, and is recruited by her handsome father to travel to their kingdom and be the new governess.

Hallmark movies are where happily ever after lovers go for a guaranteed happy ending (usually in the last five minutes), and that’s no different in one of their newest releases, Royal-ish. Theme park princess Lacey (Sakura) spends her days delivering magical tea parties to children in her role as Princess Sweet Pea. When she befriends 8-year-old Princess Rose (and her father and heir to the throne Prince Henry (Moseley) it sets off a romance that screams meet cute and swoon.

While the movie is very much stereotypical Hallmark in plot, it tackles some deeper issues. Lacey found work as a princess while she was working towards a graduate degree, and finds joy in bringing joy to others. She’s worried about aging out of her job (which hadn’t previously registered for me as an issue for theme park workers). The young princess Rose is struggling with the weight of responsibility after the death of her mother and a traumatic incident. And the romantic love interest (Prince Henry) struggles to balance his role as a father and the crown prince of a small kingdom. They did make some slight changes to the stereotypical ‘royal’ plot line for these movies that left me amused. And while the lines were undeniably cheesy, it remained entertaining and engaging.

Overall, this was another entertaining storyline. I didn’t realize this was supposed to be another ‘trilogy’ movie, as they didn’t connect it outright to the other movies (The Royal We and The Reluctant Royal) like they did in their other trilogies (The Wedding Veil Trilogy). I highly recommend this movie to those who like low pressure, guaranteed happily ever after stories. I don’t recommend this movie to those looking for innovative, high-stakes storylines that are harder to predict.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , ,

The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan

June 6, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Cozy Mystery
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

“I tell other people’s stories for a living. . . . I nip and tuck their excesses, soften their hard edges, polish whatever an armada of editors and publicists deem unsightly till it sparkles.”

It’s a dream assignment. Former Senator Dorothy Gibson, aka that woman, is the most talked-about person in the country right now, though largely for the wrong reasons. As an independent candidate for President of the United States, Dorothy split the vote and is being blamed for the shocking result. After her very public defeat, she’s retreated to her home in rural Maine, inviting her ghostwriter to join her.

Her collaborator is impressed by Dorothy’s work ethic and steel-trap mind, not to mention the stunning surroundings (and one particularly gorgeous bodyguard). But when a neighbor dies under suspicious circumstances, Dorothy is determined to find the killer in their midst. And when Dorothy Gibson asks if you want to team up for a top secret, possibly dangerous murder investigation, the only answer is: “Of course!”

The best ghostwriters are adept at asking questions and spinning stories . . . two talents, it turns out, that also come in handy for sleuths. Dorothy’s political career, meanwhile, has made her an expert at recognizing lies and double-dealing. Working together, the two women are soon untangling motives and whittling down suspects, to the exasperation of local police. But this investigation—much like the election—may not unfold the way anyone expects . . .

Recently toppled Presidential Candidate Dorothy Gibson has reached out to an upcoming ghost writer to discuss writing her memoirs. As the most talked about woman currently in the United States no sane person would ever turn that opportunity down. When a well heeled neighbor dies under mysterious circumstances, the author – along with an energetic Dorothy Gibson – undertake a secret investigation to discover what’s going on. Let the sleuthing begin!

I picked this book up on a whim and am delighted to say this is easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. I believe it’s the debut novel for this author – it’s certainly the first I’ve ever heard of him – and I shall absolutely be keeping my eyes open for any future works. Fun and lighthearted, this is written very much in the style of two friends gossiping over a hot cup of tea or coffee and some delicious cake.

I admit it took me a little while to get used to the voice of the story – we never really learn too much about the ghostwriter telling the story, it’s more in the style of someone telling us about their recent adventure and experience and while we do get snippets I did find this a little disorientating at first. It very quickly became obvious though that the other characters – Dorothy Gibson and the nearby neighbors – were really what the story was all about. So while I did find it a little unusual at first I was very quickly engrossed and I completed understand why the author wrote the story in this manner.

The characters are amazing – I found them all vibrant and very well written. While I would slot this book into a “cosy mystery” style of work it is very modern and relevant as well. The pace and plotline moves along at a decent clip but this is certainly more of a cosy feel rather than an action-orientated story or an espionage go-go-go sort of pace. I would strongly recommend readers who enjoy regular mysteries (as opposed to thrillers or spy novels) or small town mysteries should find this book well up their alley.

A new author with an excellent first novel this was a delightful find and one I shall happily keep an eye out for in the future for following works. An interesting and vibrant read I greatly enjoyed it and can happily recommend it to other mystery readers of all ages.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

King of Hearts by M. Jean Pike

June 5, 2025 By 1 Comment


King of Hearts by M. Jean Pike
Publisher: White Rose Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

After keeping a secret promise to a friend, Harper Blessings’ s life is spiraling out of control. Her food truck barely pays the bills, she’ s raising her rebellious brother and caring for her forgetful aunt…and she’ s four months pregnant.

When Aunt Clara wanders off at a carnival and hires the carousel operator who rescues her to do odd jobs, Harper’ s house-of-cards life begins to topple. The last thing she needs is a handsome drifter complicating her already problematic life. Or so she thinks.

Drifter Dalton Kingston has a few secrets of his own. Growing up as a child of privilege, he wanted for nothing…except love. Then an unspeakable tragedy causes him to walk away from it all, pushing love as far away as possible. Until love pushes back in the form of a beautiful woman who desperately needs his help, and the God he’ s not sure he can forgive.

This was a wholesome, inspirational, and heartwarming romance set in a small town where everyone knows your name.

Harper, the leading lady, is doing all she can to keep her head above water. Dalton, the leading man, is simply trying to make it through another day. They’re drawn to each other by their shared compassion and natural instinct to care for others. It’s amazing how their faith in God allows them to open their hearts again after the heartbreak they’ve experienced from people who were supposed to love them unconditionally.

I found their love story to be especially encouraging because it tackled the theme of forgiveness—-something that can be incredibly challenging. Several characters in the book demonstrate what it looks like to forgive others, and in doing so, offer hope that forgiveness is not only possible, but necessary for personal healing and the strength of relationships.

Aunt Clara is a standout character. She’s the glue that holds both her family and the town of Redford’s Crossing together. I’d even go as far as to call her an angel in disguise. Her presence is endearing and uplifting, and she brings out the best in those around her.

The writing style immediately pulled me in–from page one, when Aunt Clara wandered to the carousel and met Dalton. The plot is original, the pace is steady, and the ending is absolutely delightful.

This is the kind of story I could happily read more than once. I wholeheartedly encourage others to give it a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

June 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Publisher: Anchor
Genre: Historical, Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Review by Snowdrop

When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow “delinquent” Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades.

The Nickel Boys is historical fiction. However, it is based on a true story of a reform school for boys located in Florida. The Dozier School for Boys was opened in 1900. Even with its rumors of abuse and cruelty as well as periodic investigations, this school changed the lives of or ended the lives of many boys throughout 111 years. The main character is a young black kid named Elwood. His journey through his time there made this seem very real. Sometimes it was hard to separate fact from fiction.

This brings up my need to say this is a hard book to read. It’s difficult to think such things could live in our society in front of our faces for so long. Whitehead is called a storyteller and there can be no question it’s the perfect description.

I think you could spend a long time mulling over whether this was a good or a bad book. I don’t think you will ever wonder if it is well-written because every page demonstrates what a talent this author has. In my mind it was a good book and one I needed to read; one everyone should read. A Pulitzer Prize book that needs to be added to the mandatory school reading list as a classic.

Difficult as some of this might be to face, don’t miss out on such an overwhelming yet special 5 star read.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Spiral’s Edge by Michael Boss

June 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Spiral’s Edge by Michael Boss
Publisher: Schular Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Spiral’s Edge is more than poetry-it is a journey through unseen moments, a reflection on resilience, and homage to extraordinary individuals who navigate life’s complexities. I have witnessed in my 25 years of teaching, courage, creativity, and perseverance in ways that have shaped my perspective. This book is for those who exist on the margins, for voices often unheard. It captures the tension between fragility and strength, isolation and understanding. To the reader: may you find meaning, connection, and perhaps a reflection of yourself in these pages.

Some battles never end.

The metaphor of war was used in multiple ways, from describing cruel illnesses that gradually sap students of their strength to the never ending to-do lists teachers struggle with to non-educational stressors in life like a parent losing their job or a family not having enough food that can make it incredibly difficult for any child to pay attention to their lessons. I enjoyed taking note of the various ways in which this theme was explored as Mr. Boss talked about the difficult aspects of his profession. Teachers are on the front lines of all sorts of tragedies, both big and small, that often must be kept in mind no matter what else the class is studying that day.

Everyone has unconscious biases. “Her World of Touch and Sound” gently explored the narrator’s – or maybe the author’s – experience confronting their own assumptions about and unexamined biases against people who are blind. This was not a topic I was necessarily expecting to see covered, but it fit in perfectly and reminded me that we all have blind spots even on topics we might think we have all figured out. It takes a strong character to confront this, and the willingness to do so was one of the many reasons why this was an automatic five-star read for me.

I loved the level of detail that was included in this collection, especially in the poems that were shorter in length. If the right words are selected, it doesn’t take many of them to paint a vivid picture of what life can be like in special education classrooms. Some of my favourite moments included descriptions of students who rarely or maybe even never spoke but who still found all sorts of creative ways to communicate with other people. What beautiful and thought provoking scenes those were.

The Spiral’s Edge overflowed with compassion and joy for people who have special needs as well as for those who teach them.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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