The Wild Robot is a middle-grade science fiction book about a robot shipwrecked on an island and forced to survive among the island’s wildlife. Interestingly, it is about survival, community, and family. I first watched The Wild Robot movie and really enjoyed it. However, the movie ended on a cliffhanger, and I wanted …

The Return of the King is another great book in the Lord of the Rings series and the final volume in the epic quest to destroy the One Great Ring of Sauron. I read this book years ago and watched the movie version, but I remembered that there were a number of parts I did not fully understand, such as the Paths of the …

The Two Towers is the second book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. After more than 15 years since I last read it, I found it amazing to pick up on more details and themes—and to appreciate just how well-written this series truly is. The narrative splits into three interwoven storylines: (1) Aragorn, Legolas, and …

Passion Flowers in Bloom is a beautiful collection of art and poetry centered on the Gospels and the Christian spiritual life. The book contains 51 poems, each well-suited for contemplation and prayer. The poems serve as meditations—focused on the truths and mysteries of the faith—and reflections on creation, personal …

Megan says, “I’m always troubled when I hear about people dying.” This is one of the reasons I love this book—and the Astral Alliance series—so much. At the Speed of Mind takes on the evil of child trafficking with love, mercy, and resolve. Megan is determined to fight for the kids without compromising her moral …

Engineering Design: A Survival Guide to Senior Capstone contains a wealth of information about the engineering design process. One of the goals of this textbook is to bridge the gap between academia and industry. To that end, it draws on project management resources and provides extensive insights from an industry …

This is another good book and a very enjoyable read! I must say, I’m perhaps even more hooked on this series now than when I first started it. The story is pretty action-packed. You know that saying about real-life events where all you can say is “You can’t make this stuff up!”? Well, that’s exactly how this series …

This story takes place in space and weaves an intriguing narrative around the main character, Megan, who is branded a pirate. She fights for survival and strives to do what is right, especially after learning about child trafficking and making it her mission to free the enslaved children. Although still a child …

It has been over a decade since I last read The Lord of the Rings, so I decided to pick it up again. It is amazing how many details stand out upon rereading, even though I am already very familiar with the story. I chose to revisit this book as a way to relax—what could be better than a great novel? This story is …

This is an excellent spiritual read! Msgr. Rossetti, an exorcist, and his prayer team regularly perform exorcisms to drive out demons from people and places. Nothing is done by his own power but only through Jesus, the sacraments, and the intercession of the saints. An exorcist has a special authority given to him to …