State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America
by Sean Wilsey, Matt Weiland
A Great Road Trip - State by State (11/4/2009)
This is not a boring public relations hype about each state. The reader gets to meet interesting characters in every location. We are introduced to the wicked and the wise.
Each author's style is so refreshing. They express pride in their state, but are honest regarding some embarrassing parts of their history.
The reader will want to visit the landscapes described in this book. Who knows what wonders we will find. Carrie Browstein ends her view of Washington State by saying, "...There will always be wilderness to discover, and wilderness we'll never know."
Start planning your adventure now and don't forget to pack State by State.
The Secret Keeper
by Paul Harris
Civil War in Sierra Leone (3/2/2009)
The action begins on line one and does not let up until the surprise ending. Through the dialogue of the characters and the use of flashbacks, Harris gives the reader a realistic view of the war and the continued corruption and disloyalty after peace is declared.
The protagonist, Danny, faces many conflicts. As a journalist, he was in Africa to report on the war. During this time, he met Maria who had a passion for helping the child soldiers. He received a letter from her four years later stating that she was in serious trouble. He returns to Sierra Leone to find that the citizens have adopted "a new set of survival skills". The atrocities of war continue to disrupt daily life in this village. The friends he met during the war, Kam and Ali, join Danny in his quest for Maria and the protection of her secret.
This is a fast-paced thriller you do not want to miss.