Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Elephant Wind by Heather L. Beal (Book Review #386)
When a tornado siren happens, the kids are directed towards the basement, and then questions begin to sparkle between the children on what it is all about. The content discusses what a tornado warning is and what should they do when they hear one. It also allows children to know what not to do in such an event, for example going near windows or doors.
The illustrations are not drawn and look computerized. The color combinations were nice, and it created interest for the potential child. I particularly liked the way the story went in order to teach the basics of an environmental attack.
There aren’t many books out there that allow children know the seriousness of what the impact of a natural disaster is. The literature was suitable for the age of its audience, and I believe any parent looking for an educational book for their child would benefit from purchasing this one.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The day My Fart Followed me to Soccer by Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson (Book Review #159)
The day my fart followed me to soccer is a children’s book written about little Timmy going to soccer practice. As always his imaginary companion, Fart, follows him everywhere. Timmy has no clue what soccer is and how to play it so he gets Fart to teach him a few things and practices before the game.
At the game, he realizes that there is a new girl called Sophie also clueless about the game. He tries to make her feel welcome and offers to teach her, his newly learned skills. She accepts and so they have play dates practicing the game.
The Day My Fart Followed Me To Hockey by Sam Lawrence & Ben Jackson
The book consists of colorful illustrations and the content is all about positive learning. Fart, this time around, does not play a stronger role in the story than he did before. Timmy displays the acts of kindness and willingness to help others, which makes this book sweet and suitable for kids.
If I was a Caterpillar by Ben Jackson & Sam Lawrence
I recommend this book to parents that are looking for books that are fun and still have that additional learning aspect to it.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The Road to Alexander by Jennifer Macaire (Book Review #165)
This review was kindly requested by Jennifer Macaire.Â
The Road to Alexander is a historical fiction book written about a woman named Ashley. She receives an award and is chosen to travel back in time to interview her favorite historical figure, Alexander the Great. As she arrives in what is assumed to be the past, 333-330 BC, she is mistaken for the goddess of death and is kidnapped. Unable to return Ashley then faces a culture shock.
The ancient ways are quite different to what we know now and so the novel turns to a hilarious endeavor. Reading on about Ashley’s journey, her interactions and accepting things as they were, was fascinating to read. The author manages to take you back in time with her outstanding literature skill and teach you a thing or two about love and how women should be treated like.
The character building was superbly done and as it is a historical novel, I was looking for many references to historical facts. The author did not disappoint me as the author had added enough content to satisfy the point.
I believe the success of this novel is purely based on the strong character developments within the book. Alexander and Ashley are from two completely different worlds. The distinction is quite apparent and the author manages to clearly grasp the idea of making the reader aware of it.
I recommend this book to historical fiction fans and readers that appreciate the hint of love in stories.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Things We Didn’t Ask by Shannon Smith (Book Review #385)
There are 6 stories in this short book, and as each tale has its own storyline, the reader can go by reading it in sections. Zombies, psychopaths, and other anthology submissions take over this book one by one offering insights into subjects like Violence against women, pain implied against male or a female character, the loss of a child, alcoholics, ghosts, suicide and much more.
Although generally, this would not be my kind of book to read, I still did enjoy the way it was put together. The author has talent in telling short stories, and they certainly were full of horror.
I believe people that enjoy suspense, thriller, horror stories would really find this novella appealing. One thing is for sure, you can have a story on almost every night of the week.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Between Two Worlds by Jodi Hockinson (Book Review #175)
Between Two Worlds is a fantasy novel containing time travel and shape shifting. It is the first book of the Lion Clan Series and it focuses on two characters named, Temi and John. Temi is a wonderful girl that is destined to be the leader of the Mountain Lion Clan. They are a hybrid of shapeshifters. Once her mother discovers Temi’s powers, she moves her away from the mountains to protect her. When they return after ten years of absence, Temi begins to learn more about herself and the Mountain in order to find her destiny.
There is also a mystical necklace in question that is from the heart of the mountain. Temi also has the ability to travel in time. As she does, she meets John several of times, causing her to believe that there is something more to it than meets the eye. When she does eventually meet him in the modern day, they both realize that they are both destined for bigger things.
I found the story to be quite compelling. The plot was very intriguing. The fact that it contained paranormal activity within a time travel experience, made the novel unique. The literary standard was up to speed. I barely noticed any editing issues and enjoyed the steady flow of the pace. The main characters were well invested and there was enough character development for both to be just as relatable and interesting to read.
I did feel that the added naturistic touch in the content was a very well thought out plan. It added more depth and a realistic approach to the spirit of the Mountain and everything that was connected to it. I think the only thing that could improve this novel would be less repetitive information. Otherwise, I really enjoyed reading it.
I highly recommend this book to young adult/ fantasy lovers that enjoy shape shifting and time travel stories.
Written by Jeyran Main
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“The Thoughts You Feed” by Irene Weinberg
The thoughts you feed are the ones that grow.
What this brings to my mind is the time my husband died next to me in a horrific car accident.
We were driving on the NY State Thruway when our car suddenly went into a huge swerve. “Saul!” I called out to my sleeping husband, waking him up. He saw what was happening and tried to pull the car out of the swerve, but instead, we started to flip the first of four times.
When we finally stopped, we had slid into a ravine and were upside down. I looked over at what was now the shell of my husband and knew all through me that he was gone. I felt the car being turned over and as the strong hands of an EMT began to pull me through the shattered window of my car, two amazing, disparate things happened to me:
An unemotional but authoritative male voice boomed into my head and told me to “be loving and kind to everyone.” A moment later, I said to myself, “I will get through this somehow, because I have to show my son that you can get hit by a grenade in life and somehow still survive.”
I certainly experienced my share of grief and despair during those dark days, but at the same time, the positive attitude I scripted for myself led me to two professionals: a wonderful, resourceful Life Transition Coach and a highly regarded spiritual healer. And as the many drops of love I was receiving from friends and family began to collect in what I called my grief-filled bucket, that now overflowing bucket of love started lifting me from my despair.
At first, my positive attitude in spite of my tremendous tragedy was all about my son. But as began to re-build my life and once again experienced JOY, it also became about me.
ABOUT IRENE WEINBERG:
They Serve Bagels in Heaven: One couple’s story of love, eternity, and the cosmic importance of everyday life begins with the amazing messages Irene Weinberg received from heaven during the tragic car accident that took her husband Saul’s life. Irene resides in Northern New Jersey, where she oversees business interests. She is a mother, a stepmother and a grandmother. The author invites readers to connect with her on her website.
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Fake News by David Hutter (Book Review #384)
What I found interesting and enjoyable in this book was that it was a fair and objective view on the situation. The approach was novel. The literature was well written and organized in chapters, each to its own merit discussing and analyzing the subject matter.
The book is funny and has some humorous content that makes you laugh out loud. I found the mixture of historical fact, US administration and everything in between to be very entertaining.
What we are currently experiencing in the world is a lot of change and to address it by any means possible, is in my opinion, the right way to go about it.
I believe this book would be suitable for people that are into history, politics and are open to some humor.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The Revolutions of Caitlin Kelman by Matthew Luddon (Book Review #166)
The Revolutions of Caitlin Kelman is a young adult & teen novel written about a sixteen-year-old named Caitlin. The story is set in an Empire where the land is categorized and well divided. The main ground is the center and prime of the city called the Dominion City. The Interior is the section after the Dominion city, which is where the second-class citizens live. Anywhere after that is called the borderlands which signify the foreigners and the poorest people. The wealth and the status of people who live within the categorized lands indicate the quality of life they possess.
The Empire executes Caitlin’s parents. Hence, she wants nothing but revenge and closure for what has happened. Pursuing this agenda she joins a group called the stateless in order to fight against the Empire. On her journey, she befriends a boy named Alec. Her world again falls apart when she realizes that Alec will be joining the Empire. She is then torn between how she is going to find revenge fighting against the person she loves.
I found the story to be a thrilling dystopian young adult novel. The adventure, world setting and plot summarizing were superbly done. The book is the first of its series to I was not surprised with how it all ended and there were enough character background and storyline fed within the content to provide more depth in the next books coming. I felt that the age of the main character could have benefited from being a little older considering the death, deception and more mature nature of the actions she conducts. However, altogether the storyline was well put together and kept my interest throughout.
I recommend this book to any young adult fiction thriller lover.
Written by Jeyran Main
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15 Year Old Girl with Chronic Headaches: Case of an AVM Written by James D. Okun, MD
15 Year O
ld Girl with Chronic Headaches: Case of an AVM Written by James D. Okun, MD
It is time for James Okun to pick our brain and inform us on some important medical matters. You can show your support by buying his books or leaving a comment here if you like- Jeyran Main
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
Fifteen-year-old TG had been having headaches for over two years. Her Pediatrician had been treating her with antibiotics, decongestants, and antihistamines but to no avail and she kept complaining of severe headaches.
I first saw her in my family practice clinic when her doctor was on vacation. After hearing her history and doing a complete physical examination, something just didn’t seem right.
I sent her for a CT scan of her brain. The results which came back were shocking. Not only were her headaches not caused by sinus problems, they were being caused by a rare (less than 1% of the general population http://www.strokeassociation.org) massive congenital malformation in the brain known as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM).
In this condition present from birth (congenital), normal capillary connections between arteries and veins are absent with veins and arteries directly connected together in a tangled mass in the brain.
The danger of this condition is that the high pressure of the arteries is flowing through the thinner walled veins and so the vessels in the mass become dilated and weakened and can rupture causing bleeding and even death. The usual presentation in children is often only after there has been hemorrhaging in the brain which can cause symptoms (headache, seizures, problems with walking, vision, memory or speech).
In TG’S case, the jumbled mass of arteries and veins had grown so large that it now involved an entire cerebral hemisphere (half of the brain). Per the radiologist who examined the CT Scan, the mass was the largest ever seen in the south, was in imminent danger of exploding and if not treated immediately probably would kill the patient.
No Pediatric Neurosurgeon in the state of Louisiana would touch the case and the AVM was even too large for the neurosurgeons at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee.
After some really quick research on Pediatric Neurosurgeons who had successfully operated on such a huge AVM, and after coordinating with her insurance coverage, TG was emergently flown out to Stanford University Medical Center where a skilled Pediatric Neurosurgeon operated on the vascular mass in her brain, treating the AVM and saving her life.
TG could have easily died if the AVM had exploded. Only by the grace of God was her life spared. An article in her local newspaper in Denham Springs, Louisiana back in the early 1990’s told her story and how she was able to recuperate and return to a normal life as a high school student after the operation.
The moral of the story is never underestimate a child’s medical complaints, especially if they are longstanding.
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
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