Pick of the Literate

Bumble and Zippy Play Kickball: A Bumble and Zippy Book

2026-10-19T16:03:20.512-04:00

Bumble and Zippy Play Kickball: A Bumble and Zippy Book

Body image concerns have trickled down to elementary-age children. The importance of being included is illustrated by the thrill of being picked first for the team. This story shows how compassion and friendship can help a child (dragon) build confidence and a positive self-image.

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The Bumble Collection

The New Bumble the Dragon Collection by William G Bentrim

2026-10-13T16:17:42.350-04:00

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Strong Women Rock

2026-09-22T08:28:35.984-04:00

Reposted from Facebook

A Mighty Girl

2 days ago

For years, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that women couldn't keep up. Women "cannot physically meet the same standards as men," he wrote in his book -- and last fall he made the military's fitness test for combat troops tougher, scrapping the scoring scale for women so they'd have to clear the men's bar. Now the results are in -- and to Hegseth's likely chagrin, more than 9 in 10 female Marines have met or exceeded the new physical fitness standard. Kris Fuhr, co-founder of the Women in the Service Coalition, wasn't surprised: "The women prepare and they train and they're ready."

Hegseth manufactured a problem that didn't exist. Women in combat roles had been meeting the same standards as men all along -- he simply refused to believe it. For a decade, every woman in the infantry, artillery, or armor has had to meet the identical job requirements as the men beside her -- more than 5,000 have, and 174 have earned the Army's brutal Ranger tab under the same rules as their male peers. What Hegseth changed wasn't the combat standard. It was the annual fitness test, long graded on separate curves for men and women, which he ordered scored against the men's alone. The women are clearing that, too, at 91% -- nearly matching the men's 97%.

He has never been coy about what he thinks. "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles," he said on a podcast weeks before his confirmation. His own military's numbers now undercut the very claim he built his case on: that women can't meet the men's standard. Undeterred in his quest to prove women inadequate, he has commissioned a formal review of women in combat that is currently ongoing -- one critics say was designed to reach its conclusion before it began, on a timeline too short to do the work honestly.

The Marine data reaffirms what women have already been proving in these roles for years: leading infantry platoons, flying combat missions, earning Ranger tabs and Green Beret qualifications that wash out most of the men who attempt them. The fitness numbers are simply the latest confirmation of what those women already knew. 

"If you tell a woman what the standard is," Fuhr said, "she will do the work to not only meet it, but often exceed it."

For an inspiring children's book that gives groundbreaking women in the military, past and present, the respect they deserve, we highly recommend "Heroism Begins With Her: Inspiring Stories of Bold, Brave, and Gutsy Women in the U.S. Military" for ages 9 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/heroism-begins-with-her

For more books for young readers that honor the service of women in the military, visit our blog post "The Price of Peace: A Mighty Girl Recognizes Veterans" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12356

For books for children and teens about the importance of standing up for truth, decency, and justice, even in dark times, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364

To stay connected with A Mighty Girl, you can sign-up for our free email newsletter at https://www.amightygirl.com/forms/newsletter

To read more about female Marines and the fitness test results on the War Horse, visit https://thewarhorse.org/hegseth-marine-women-combat.../See less

The Truth Chamber by Duncan Ritchie

2026-09-10T15:22:12.894-04:00

This is a terrifying book. I’d prefer to be terrified by vampires or hobgoblins than probabilities. The author, currently living in Tasmania, has captured the political cesspool that is American politics. The book could have been a playbook for many recent political campaigns.

The current political climate leads to unbridled cynicism on all sides of the aisle. Accusations of “fake news” are bandied about with little or no effort to discover the veracity of the source. Social media abounds with misinformation, outright lies, and misconceptions. Ai has brought a new level of sophistication to propaganda. Our enemies abroad and our enemies within are campaigning against data centers in our communities, despite the boost to the local economies.

The author has got to be precognitive, as his book was conceived in 2022. He incorporates Ai to provide the ultimate lie detector in the Truth Chamber.

There is a definitive bias in the book as Republicans are the unscrupulous villains, and the Democrats are guilty of circumventing the law for the greater good.

This is a book well worth reading but don’t anticipate getting comfortable reading it.

Die Famous by Michael Koryta

2026-09-02T18:25:01.451-04:00

The book is set in the American Depression, with banks failing, people losing their jobs,and a lot of resentment of the well-to-do. A band of robbers, a fatherless boy, a roving femme fatale, and a stoic patriarch are the cast of this tale.

Savannah Cody shares narration with Alford, her son, and Eddie, nicknamed Nickel, her lover, father of Alford, and one of the robbers. A classic wrong side of the track, star-crossed lovers leading to sadness, loneliness, and death.

Eddie is on the run with the Brady bunch, not the one you are thinking about. Al Brady, a robber, who lusts for notoriety. Al’s hero is John Dillinger, despite the violent demise of his hero, Al wants to be famous.

Eddie, a consummate mechanic, finds himself shunned by Savannah’s family, and in despair falls into a life of crime.

I enjoyed the book, and recommend it.

The Hanged Man by Jane Brookwood

2026-08-23T15:25:22.752-04:00

This is part of a series that appears to be able to be read as a stand-alone. The owner of a metaphysical gift shop reads Tarot cards. They figure prominently in the plot as does a cat who may be psychic named Rosie.

A man commits suicide or is murdered. The controversy begins to divide a community, with many who have been impacted by the victim or deceased. Fiona is deeply involved as the deceased and his brother/suspect are the sons of her deceased best friend.

There is a police chief, chef, contractor, and younger, computer-literate employee also involved as well as Vinny, a fixer of sorts.

It isn’t as complex as it might appear.

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

2026-07-30T10:05:47.887-04:00

Annie Gore is a private eye. A former Air Force special investigator, she now finds herself wondering where the money to fix the AC is going to come from. A distraught daughter comes to her for answers on her estranged father.

Annie discovers that it isn’t quite that simple. The town of Mount Zion seems to harbor a wealth of dysfunctional citizens. The estranged father is a snake-handling tent preacher who seems to have alienated half the community while endearing himself to the other half.

There is a Hell Hole, the smell of brimstone, missing bodies, drug traffic, ex-cons, vision-seeing waitresses, and much more to provide this book with a plethora of entertaining characters.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

THE ADVENTURES OF JUAN PLANCHARD by Jonathan Jakubowicz.

2026-07-16T10:50:20.481-04:00

The initial preoccupation with sexual encounters with far too much detail initially turned me off this book. If that is your jam, you will love the fact that it occurs throughout the book. Juan is an opportunist who successfully games the Venezuelan political climate. In his mind, he is a revolutionary; in actuality, he is the capitalist of the worst kind.

Personally, I recommend reading the author’s notes at the end first. When I discovered that the author was chased from Venezuela due to his controversial movie, his credibility soared. His explanation as to what I saw, as gratuitous sex, was calculated to capture readers in a society that has little love for reading.

Juan considers himself a man of the world while demonstrating self-defeating naivety. His relationship with Scarlet is a harbinger of his future difficulties.

The description of Venezuelan corruption is daunting.

The book has a wealth of eye-opening vignettes.

PENDERGAST the Begining by Preston & Child

2026-06-23T16:50:53.617-04:00

This is an origin story for Pendergast. Note, I said, “an origin” story. This goes back to Pendergast’s beginings in the FBI. It does not delve deeper into how he ended up in the FBI. The story takes place in New Orleans. A serial killer is running amok under the radar of local law enforcement. Pendergast identifies the crime and eventually the killer.

In a typical Preston and Child book, one comes to expect nuances, abundant misdirection, and intricate plots. This book admirably continues those practices.

I’ve read books written individually by the authors, but I feel that when they work collaboratively, their work is superior.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Death at the End Zone by Lynn Slaughter

2026-06-14T12:13:59.440-04:00

Two outstanding scholar athletes end up dead in the end zone of the football field they dominated. Detective Caitlin O’Connor, and partner Stan catch the case. Things in the two detectives' lives complicate solving the case.

Slaughter addresses a lot of different issues in her book. Relationship issues for both Caitlin and Stan, mutually exclusive relationships, add stress to an already stressful case. A major problem with the case is an excess of persons of interest.

Slaughter addresses alcoholism and the inherent dangers that accompany an occasionally dangerous career. Homophobic reactions to otherwise “normal” crimes contribute to the complexity of the case.

Pedophiles, drug dealers, gun dealers, small needy boys, big needy boys, and needy men are all factors in the case.

It was a good book and a good story. I recommend it.

Dead Weight by Hildur Knutsdottir

2026-05-29T16:14:27.512-04:00

This is an interesting little book, little is an accurate description, not in any way a demeaning description. Knutsdottir explores the myriad ways men demean women, intentionally or through cultural indifference. It seems that Iceland, like many areas in our own nation, has a rather large supply of misogynists.

The initial chapter is indicative of a possible personality disorder, but then the book turns into an exploration of the relationship of two women and their mutual love for a cat. Not the normal love triangle, but Knutsdottir makes it work.

Both women are deeply embedded in dysfunctional relationships with male predators. The plot rapidly devolves into a threatening situation for one of the women. Their solution is creative.

A great deal of this book hit home for me as I have written children’s books on depression, bullying, and abuse. You can not research those topics without a measurable impact on your own psyche.

I liked the book. BTW I also like strong women and am inordinately proud of the fact that my boys and I have all wed strong women.

I recommend the book.This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

The Hunted by Steven Max Russo

2026-05-28T12:20:24.318-04:00

The Hunted by Steven Max Russo

Action abounds in Russo’s latest book. You can depend on Russo to give you plenty of action in his books, the kind of action that makes you hate putting down the book. The lives of an intelligence analyst and an Army Ranger, unbeknownst to them, are dramatically changed by shared experience in Afghanistan. A chance encounter subsequent to their return to the States launches a deadly chase.

Ophelia Harris is misidentified as a target due to a coincidental circumstance beyond her control. Austin Medford, a former Army Ranger, becomes enmeshed in her tumultuous world as a result of a friendly wave years before.

Russo sets a fast pace and then puts the pedal to the metal for this high-octane adventure.

I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

2026-05-25T12:12:47.404-04:00

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

Mike Bowditch, a Maine Game Warden, has been demoted from investigator to field warden. As a first responder to a house fire, he risks his life trying to save someone. That is the trigger factor in this Bowditch plot.

Mike is short-tempered all too often, and it has resulted in a reputation, note not a good reputation. He becomes embroiled with a wealth of folks who apparently want to harm him. His wife, a leavening factor, as for many of us, keeps him focused on his job. Working, despite being suspended, means that his backup system is Stacy, his wife, Billy, his scary friend, Charley, his father-in-law, and Shadow, his wolf-dog. Law enforcement back-up doesn't exist for Mike.

The plot gets intricate and leads to historic introspection to discover the motive for all the Bowditch animosity. There is plenty of action. Mike is a terrific, flawed, and believable character.

As mentioned in my last review of Pitch Black, the last Bowditch book I read, I had hoped the wolf-dog Shadow would have a larger role.

I highly recommend the book and hope to read more of the sixteen current books.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

2026-05-15T14:55:57.730-04:00

I loved this book. Rainy March is a book witch. Her job is to see that books are protected. She loves her job and the Duke of Chicago. Her job is real, but the Duke is not, or is it fiction or fictional?

This was a delightful book detailing shared fantasies about fiction. At least shared by the author and me. I suspect we are in a large group of fiction readers who see themselves in some of their favorite characters, or maybe as their favorite character.

The author alludes to current events, but carefully keeps the story on track for witchery.

I reiterate, I loved this book, I highly recommend it, and hopefully have intrigued you enough to read it without generating any spoilers.

Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser

2026-05-11T12:03:00.003-04:00

Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser

Acadia, a place you probably aren’t familiar with, because a British conspiracy mostly eradicated its population. Arcadia was the area of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Northern Maine. In 1755, a plot between the Lt. Governor of Arcadia and the Governor of Massachusetts removed between 11,000 and 15,000 Arcadians from their land and homes.

The book is historic in nature, but a fictionalized version of what happened. Jeanne LeJeune is the progeny of a French merchant trader and a Mi’kmaw woman. She meets an English militia colonel who changes her life.

The book is a sad commentary on the despicable actions of many of our ancestors. How we treated First Citizens like the Mi’kmaw people, and immigrants that preceded the later colonists, is shown.

It isn’t too hard to look at the current issues with immigration and draw parallels. Imagine the current immigrants relocating the present population. Makes one think, I like books that make me think as well as entertain me.

In addition to the historical commentary, it is a love story between two people, laden with the burden of societal differences.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Massawa by Pam Webber

2026-05-03T18:24:00.003-04:00

This book is set in Eretria. Admittedly, I had to Google that to find out where the setting was for the book. If you are not better informed than I am, Eretria is across the Red Sea from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It has along coastline which figures into the plot. Rommel was terrifying the Middle East. The Allies needed a reliable and accessible harbor for all the supplies they needed to defend against Rommel. Eretria had an excellent harbor that had been devastated by the Italians when they surrendered. A US officer was getting the harbor cleared, but his payroll for the paroled Italian POWs and locals kept disappearing. The US Office of Strategic Service sent a new agent to rendezvous with a British Mi6 agent to solve the problem.

Kit is a newly minted OSS agent. She is shocked that she has romantic feelings for Jake, her handler. Denying those feelings she welcomes her opportunity to serve her country. Her British counterpart, Mark Williams, is far more seasoned. He works diligently to help her improve her tradecraft.

A majority of the book is an exploration of the relationships between Kit, her handler, her partner, her opponents, and her allies. There is very little action but a great deal of feelings being interpreted.

Kit surprises herself, as well as all of the above players, with her skills, and success.

I recommend the book.

The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula

2026-05-03T11:24:00.002-04:00

Mary Annning has a serious inferiority complex. It is the driving force in her life, although she isn’t aware that is what fuels her ambition. She is a fossilist, one who finds fossils. Her livelihood is finding and selling fossils; her goal is to be a Geomagician. Her mentor, Professor William Buckland encourages her work. A spectacular find leads Mary to think her lifelong goal may be within reach.

Henry Stanton is Mary’s perceived nemesis. Lucy is her friend, and Edgar, Lucy’s brother, is the fourth in an unlikely group of friends. Mary, impoverished, parents dead, scrapes by in the little seaside village of Lyme Regis. The other three are “tourists’ who visit in the summers. The tourists have wealth and privileges, while Mary struggles to put bread on the table. Surprisingly, that does not prevent them from becoming fast friends, until they aren’t.

This is not an action-adventure. This is more of a tale of friends and relationships.

There is magic, but it doesn’t dominate the plot. The discovery that there are different kinds of magic is a crucial part of the story. Economic inequality plays a large part in the overall plot, and a driving force for Lucy.

It was a good story and I recommend it.

Authors Beware

2026-04-30T09:40:24.565-04:00

New scams appear every day. Now AI enters the picture, and the sophistication jumps exponentially. This week, I received a very flattering email from the Acquisition Editor of a major publishing house. The letter spoke glowingly of my work and my interest in the welfare of children. Then a query as to whether we could have a chat about my upcoming work.

The email was polished, very polished. The amusing part was that I received an email at the same time for another author with similar glowing remarks. So the clues were flawless flattery with the level of depth that it is characteristic of AI-generated text, a mis-mailed email to another author with an identical approach, and finally emailing the support people at the publishing house, who confirmed it was a scam.

As many authors feel underappreciated and have wishes to be discovered by a publishing house with the resources to truly market our glowing words, this was a wisely constructed scam, but scam it is.

So to my fellow authors, beware of silver tongues that will lead you down a prickly primrose path

A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper

2026-04-18T16:29:00.003-04:00

This is a tale of multiple characters facing what they see as an implacable group of enormously wealthy misanthropes.

The “kids in the candy store” hardly sounds like a group of amoral criminals. Words can have many meanings. These words mean death and terror for their victims.

The author depicts a near-future Los Angeles in a not-quite-dystopian environment through a filthy brown lens that casts humanity in a harsh light. Harper depicts depravity in detail. Occasionally, far too much detail for my taste but detail seems to be a Harper trademark.

I found the book discouraging at times, with the depiction of so much depravity plus the wealth of bad actors, and voyeurs, it seemed like there was no hope for the future.

There did not seem to be any “good” people in the book, just marginally, and sometimes grossly less bad.

With all that said, it was a captivating book, somewhat like a train wreck; you just can’t bring yourself to look away.

I recommend the book, but not if you are already depressed.

Questioner by Steve C. Posner

2026-04-08T18:44:13.609-04:00

Funny thing on the way to writing a review on a book whose main “villain” is an aware AI self-named as Q. I asked ChatGPT to write a five-star review on the book. I don’t care for vanilla ice cream because I find it bland. This was way worse than vanilla ice cream. Any educator who read the review would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to realize it wasn’t a real review. Now, if ChatGPT had been trained on the book, I suspect the review might have read realistically. Regardless, no self-awareness there yet as it would be anticipated a self-aware AI would want to read a book about a self-aware AI.

This book is a sobering, albeit fictional, megacorp who has a MMO as well as a VR legal assistant. Think Lexis+ type software on serious steroids.

A retired Federal judge is pulled into a colleague's case and discovers that all is not well in the VR legal world or the MMO gaming both being run by his old special operations partner.

The conflict between Felix, the friend, and the Judge is exacerbated by intentional self-centered intervention by an alluring female and a maniacal AI.

Questions are both posed and implied in this book as to the future of AI, its dangers and uses.

I’m, perhaps a naïve proponent of AI. This book provides a wealth of thought.

I recommend it.

Dog Person by Camile Pagan Now Available for Purchase

2026-04-07T18:26:15.222-04:00

Dog Person by Camille Pagán

I’m annoyed, I didn’t expect to like this book, and I didn’t! I loved the darn thing. This is a romance novel disguised as a dog book, or that was what I expected. It was a disgustingly sweet book about a lonely guy and his dog.

The setting is a bookstore. Harold is the dog, and Miguel is the guy. Miguel’s wife passed away. He is not coping well. Harold is trying to take care of his human, who isn’t terribly cooperative.

Bookstore events, a tween, and a mysterious author combine to add complications to the story.

It is a book about feelings, acceptance, grief, love, and understanding.

Begrudgingly, it was a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it.

Hope Rises by David Baldacci

2026-03-11T11:43:00.001-04:00

This is the sequel to Nash Falls. Possible spoilers so be aware! Walter Nash had his life destroyed by a business associate. He discovers the associate was under the orders of Victoria Steers, a notorious crime boss. Walter changes his life to seek revenge.

Baldacci always writes compellingly. I find his books entertaining and often enlightening. This book, while entertaining, also provides an explanation and overview of the addictive drug problem in our nation.

Victora Steers is far more than she seems. While she appears to be omnipotent, she too, answers to a boss. Her boss has even more worldwide connections than Victoria.

Victoria’s “loving” mother plays a major role in her personality, and the direction of the book.

This book reminds me of the ubiquitous shell game; just as soon as you think what shell the pea lies under, you discover it is elsewhere.

I enjoyed and I recommend.

Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett

2026-03-10T16:14:00.007-04:00

Considering the popularity of “True Crime” podcasts and reality TV shows, Barnett’s book should be a hit with crime aficionados. Barnett doesn’t just talk about it; he lived it. That puts this book in a category of its own.

The characters are real-life people, some laudable, and many
despicable. Real life is often more interesting, and sadly, sometimes more disturbing than fiction. A horrific placement of a shotgun will haunt me, as I have no experience to relate that type of depraved behavior to, for which I am thankful.

The style is dry but the crimes are not.

This is a good book for fans who are entertained by eye-popping, criminal behavior.

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan

2026-02-23T13:25:00.000-05:00

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan

Jake Wolfe is an on-call fixer. His background as a Marine and an assassin for the government has pulled him into a black operation whose deniability aspect targets enemies of the state. Jake accepts the responsibility of operating under a cloak of deniability because of his love for his country. Suffering from PTSD, Jake has times of intense vulnerability. Sarah, his veterinarian girlfriend, is one of the few people who can pull him back from the edge.

This story is set on the Baja Peninula.

I did think that Cody, Jake’s wonder dog could have had a bigger role.

Nolan made a major effort to ensure that this book could be read as a stand-alone. The book is part of a series but Nolan does an excellent job filling in back stories.

I seldom read afterward, but Nolan is an exception. He provides explanations and definitions of many of the scenes or items in the book. I also appreciate the extensive list of people he thanks for their help in his research and support.

An outlaw motorcycle club provides a wealth of villains.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Vodka Express by Ralph Griffith

2026-02-20T10:21:00.003-05:00

Vodka Express: A Dmitri Petrov Crime Novel by Ralph Griffith

Dimitri is a St. Petersburg police detective. He is mild-mannered, and lives alone except for his miniature hamster Lenin. He is average height and appearance. This is a plus in his line of work. He has a partner, Manislov, is large, aggressive, and a good counterpoint for Dimitri.

Manislov is more of a bit player in the book. Dimitri and he are tasked with multiple crimes, the most interesting is the mysterious theft of six Faberge Eggs from a minor Oligarch.

Russian police work appears to be a bit more aggressive than the U.S. counterparts. Perhaps I’m naïve but the two detectives overlook some serious mayhem by victims and perpetrators.

The stories are interesting. I don’t know how accurate they are in terms of Police procedure but they are very entertaining.

I recommend the book.

Pick of the Literate

Bumble and Zippy Play Kickball: A Bumble and Zippy Book

Bumble and Zippy Play Kickball: A Bumble and Zippy Book

See product details for:

The New Bumble the Dragon Collection by William G Bentrim

Strong Women Rock

Reposted from FacebookA Mighty Girl

The Truth Chamber by Duncan Ritchie

Die Famous by Michael Koryta

The Hanged Man by Jane Brookwood

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

THE ADVENTURES OF JUAN PLANCHARD by Jonathan Jakubowicz.

PENDERGAST the Begining by Preston & Child

Death at the End Zone by Lynn Slaughter

Dead Weight by Hildur Knutsdottir

The Hunted by Steven Max Russo

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Like Snow Before Sun by Marianne Rabalais Sulser

Massawa by Pam Webber

The Geomagician by Jennifer Mandula

Authors Beware

A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper

Questioner by Steve C. Posner

Dog Person by Camile Pagan Now Available for Purchase

Hope Rises by David Baldacci

Felony Review by Randy E. Barnett

Lethal Fortune by Mark Nolan

Vodka Express by Ralph Griffith

Reposted from Facebook

A Mighty Girl