Noah Chases the Wind, by Michelle Worthington, illustrated by Joseph Cowman

Noah knew he was different.  He could see things that others couldn't. . . . 

Children with sensory integration disorder (SID) can't always express and communicate the different ways they see and feel and hear and smell their surroundings.  In Noah Chases the Wind, little Noah is curious about the weather and how it effects him.  He reads and reads, and one day decides to follow the wind to see where it goes.

Michelle Worthington, with the assistance of Joseph Cowman's fanciful illustrations, gives some insight into Noah's mind, as he explores the real and imagined world around him.  Worthington doesn't focus is specifically on kids with SID.  Clearly they, and kids on the autism spectrum, have very specific responses to sensory stimulation, but Noah Chases the Wind speaks to children everywhere who are curious and whimsical.

I enjoyed seeing a glimpse of Noah's view of the world.  Cowman's illustration perfectly bring to life Worthington's text.  This book is a delight.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

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Beyond: Our Future in Space, by Chris Impey

If you have a taste for space and a desire to fly beyond the moon, Chris Impey will whet your appetite and leave you wishing for the future to hurry up and get here.  Impey, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, lays out the current state of space exploration and speculates about our possible futures in Beyond: Our Future in Space.

Generations ago, mankind began spreading out from the cradle of civilization in Africa.  Tribes migrated to the unknown, covering distances that took them decades or centuries to travel.  In a similar way, we are poised to explore worlds beyond our own.  Impey is realistic about the timing: it ain't happening anytime soon.  But he's also optimistic about the drive and the technology to get started.

The Space Shuttle program demonstrated the weakness of a bloated government bureaucracy looking to space.  The Shuttle "launch rate ended up ten times lower than originally planned and the cost per launch twenty times higher," not to mention two of the five shuttles blowing up.  Impey compares the early, government and military dominance of the space program to the early days of the Internet.  "The government and military have deep enough pockets to develop technology with no eye on profit or return on investment.  Once the field has been prepared and tilled, the private sector can scatter seed and see what grows best."  The moon landings and the Space Shuttle program tilled the field.  Now private companies are moving us forward to space.

Impey covers a lot of ground (and space!) in Beyond.  He's not shy about discussing the logistical, practical limitations we live under now that seem to make interplanetary travel and colonization a pipe dream, but he writes, "We have the technology and the means to live and work in space, gain a permanent toehold off-Earth, and explore the Solar System and beyond.  No laws of physics stand in our way."  He envisions a near future of a commercial space industry, of colonies on the Moon and Mars within 30 years, asteroid mining in 50 years, and, in a century, a generation of people who are born in space and live out their lives off Earth.

Impey's vision is a great combination of science and speculation, of dreaming and reporting.  I hope the children of today can catch his vision and reach heights never reached.


Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

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What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoung

The cultural shift in attitudes toward homosexuality has been staggering in my lifetime.  We've transitioned from "don't ask, don't tell," to "accept and embrace gay people, or else you're a lousy bigot."  In the course of one presidential administration, we've seen a shift from "Of course marriage is only between a man and a woman," to "If you don't endorse and embrace gay marriage, you're a lousy bigot!"

The church is stuck in the middle.  More and more churches and church leaders are endorsing, even practicing, a homosexual lifestyle.  If a Christian has decided to come out of the closet, he or she won't have to look far to find a church where homosexuals are not only embraced but where homosexual activity is approved.  The question is, is there any biblical justification for condoning homosexual acts?  In What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality?, Kevin DeYoung cogently and definitively answers that question: No.

DeYoung, a pastor in the Reformed Church in America, unapologetically defends a traditional view of marriage between one man and one woman while presenting a biblical view of "homosexual practice" as "sinful because it violates the divine design in creation."  Surveying scriptures that address homosexuality and marriage, DeYoung points out that "no positive argument for homosexuality can be made from the Bible, only an argument that texts don't mean what they seem to mean."  Following Paul, he affirms that "homosexual activity is not a blessing to be celebrated and solemnized but a sin to be repented of, forsaken, and forgiven."

This message comes through loud and clear, not only from DeYoung, but from the defenders of homosexual behavior from whom he quotes: a Christian defense of homosexual behavior relies on a rejection of the historical Christian stance as well as scripture itself.  Supporters of same-sex marriage and defenders of homosexual activity openly reject scripture on the topic of sexuality.  DeYoung concisely meets the objections to the biblical, historical position point by point.

Perhaps most importantly, DeYoung makes his arguments not from a position of condemnation but of grace.  He points out that the Bible does treat sexual sin with more severity than other sins, but also points out the biblical condemnation of other sins.  Besides, all sin separates us from God and calls for repentance.  I appreciate DeYoung's making the case against homosexuality.  This book is a great resource for Christians who feel as if they are being swept up in a cultural flood, surrounded by pro-homosexual propaganda.  Stop feeling like a bigot for calling homosexual activity a sin.  It is, and should be treated as such, with conviction, repentance, and grace.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

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On the Clock, by Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport

What 2014 springtime sporting event got higher ratings than the NBA and NHL playoff games?  The NFL draft!  What is the appeal of a room full of men in suits, talking heads, and no game action?  Barry Wilner and Ken Rappoport break it down in On the Clock: The History of the NFL Draft.  From the first draft in 1936 up to the multimedia reality show that it is today, Wilner and Rappoport cover historical highlights (and lowlights), introduce the analysts who have become the stars of the draft, discuss the role of ESPN and the NFL Network in raising interest in the draft, and look at players who have been bargains or busts in the draft through the years.

On the Clock is a treasure trove of NFL trivia and history.  Football fans in their 40s or younger may not remember the days before the NFL was the corporate machine that it is today.  The competing leagues, the ad hoc line-ups, and the relatively small amounts of money involved made for a very different football landscape.  The evolution of the draft played a large role in making the NFL what it is today.

In terms of readability, On the Clock isn't great literature.  There was a sense of it being cobbled together, with random pieces of narrative, interesting tidbits, and anecdotes.  It almost had the feel of one of those "bathroom reader" books.  Maybe that's not a bad thing, but it's not what I expected.  So this may not be the expansive story of the NFL Draft, but it's a great resource that football fans will love. 


Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary electronic review copy!

The Six Million Dollar Man, Season 6, by James Kuhoric

I grew up watching the Six Million Dollar Man on TV.  When we played in the yard, I would pretend to be Steve Austin, meaning I would be super strong and move in slow motion.  I thought I might enjoy a little retro-fun with these Six Million Dollar Man comics.  I wasn't wrong.

The iconic TV show lasted 5 seasons, thus James Kuhoric has written a comic, The Six Million Dollar Man: Season 6, in which he updates Steve Austin while keeping in character with the original series.  The plot is much more intense than the shows I remember.  But I watched this when I was 7, so how would I know?  The one thing I remember for sure is the cool sound effect when the bionics go into action!  I like the way that was illustrated here.

The story was pretty wild and far-fetched.  But why not?  It's good fun, definitely a treat for fans of the classic TV show.








Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Bonita Avenue, by Peter Buwalda

I don't really know what to say about Peter Buwalda's Bonita Avenue.  Actually, yes I do.  I didn't like it.  I know it's a matter of taste, and I can see that some people might like this book.  There are some strong literary qualities.  Some of the descriptive passages and dialogue are well-done.

So why didn't I like it?  I didn't care for the characters.  Give me at least some reason to feel sympathetic and be interested in their fates.  The story was jumbled.  Jumping around the timeline can be effective, potentially powerful way to unfold the events of a story.  In Bonita Avenue, it didn't work for me.  Same goes for the shifting points of view.  And by the time the shifting timelines sorted out the tragic, climactic chain of events, it was so anti-climactic that I was just ready for it to be done.  What should have been gruesome, then emotionally powerful, was just tiresome.

So there you go.  A few thoughts.  Maybe I'm wrong.  I just didn't like it.  There is so much great fiction out there, do yourself a favor and find something else to read. 


Thanks to Blogging for Books for the complimentary review copy!

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Trailhead, by Lisa Jhung

In my opinion, if you like running, you'll really love trail running.  Trail running has all of the good elements of running, plus lots more.  Lisa Jhung brings the world of trail running to the masses in Trailhead: The Dirt on All Things Trail Running.  I don't know if there's a "Trail Running for Dummies" book, but Jhung's book could fit that bill.  She anticipates all the questions a trail running newbie or wannabe might have and breaks it down.  So it's not really a book for trail runners; if you've read a book or two about trail running, or done some trail running, and run in some trail races, this book is probably not for you.  This is a book for the runner who pounds the pavement, has worn out the local 5K and half marathon circuit, and is look to try something different.  (And for the trail runner who wants to convince his road running buddies to join him on the trail.)

Why trail running?  Lots of reasons!

Some of the sections seemed a little unbalanced.  Clothes for trail running?  Not that different than for road running.  And a big part of it was really "tips for people who don't spend that much time outside."  Plants and animals.  Preparing for different kinds of weather.  That sort of thing.  All in all, though, this is a worthwhile introduction.  Jhung is a contributing editor for Runner's World and her tone reflects that.  Good humor, practical information, and a deep enthusiasm for going for a run!  Now, let's hit the trail!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

If this review was helpful to you, please give my review at Amazon.com a helpful vote!