BookTrib’s Bites: Four Books About Crisis, Courage and Consequence
(BookTrib)
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“The Captain's Clue” by Brock Eastman and Shaun Stevenson
In this hilarious action-adventure for Christian kids, the parables of Jesus literally come to life — and Parable Port is in deep water. Anthony and his friends have barely recovered from their last wild adventure when the storm of the century hits town. The rain won’t stop, the waters keep rising, and the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders has gone seriously haywire.
As flooded streets fill with electric eels and homes begin crumbling like sandcastles, Anthony teams up with Grace and Duck to find the mysterious lighthouse keeper, Captain David, who may hold the key to saving the town. Meanwhile, budding podcaster J.R. gets caught up chasing a big story and must decide whether popularity is worth risking real friendships.
Fast-paced, funny and faith-filled, this illustrated middle-grade adventure helps young readers discover what it means to build life on a solid foundation.
Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/the-captains-clue.
“Ashes of the Republic” by James Chesterton
In this chilling speculative thriller, America in 2046 is a nation transformed by surveillance technology, artificial intelligence and an increasingly authoritarian government. Former engineer Lily Osbourne knows this world better than most: years earlier, she helped create the technology that now monitors citizens, suppresses dissent and keeps those in power firmly in control.
Forced to abandon her former identity after falling out of favor with the ruling Dennison family, Lily discovers firsthand what happens to those who challenge the system. As she watches her inventions weaponized against ordinary people, she is compelled to confront her own role in creating the future she once helped build.
Blending high-stakes suspense with timely questions about power, responsibility and personal freedom, “Ashes of the Republic” is a thought-provoking cautionary tale that feels less like distant science fiction than a warning about the world taking shape around us.
Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/ashes-of-the-republic.
“The Peace Guidebook: How to Cultivate Hope, Healing, and Harmony for the Good of Humankind” by Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman
In a divided and uncertain world, “The Peace Guidebook” offers a practical path toward personal healing, compassionate leadership and meaningful collective change. Inspired by the global Percolate Peace Project, Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino and Dr. Katie Eastman draw on decades of work helping people navigate grief, transition and transformation to present Ten Principles of Peace for everyday life.
Blending reflection, storytelling and accessible daily practices, the book invites readers to quiet what is unsettled within, move through conflict with courage and grace, lead from a place of love, and build relationships rooted in shared values. The book’s prompts and exercises make the journey interactive, encouraging readers not only to think about peace but to practice it in their homes, workplaces and communities.
Part guidebook, part call to action, “The Peace Guidebook” is a steady companion for anyone seeking a more grounded, purpose-driven life — and a more compassionate world.
Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/the-peace-guidebook.
“The Alpha Trace” by J. Mayberry
A string of murders. A cryptic symbol. A small town where everyone seems to be hiding something.
True-crime podcaster Elena Coleman has spent years digging into the questions Millbrook Falls wants left alone — a decades-old serial killer known as the Alpha, a suspicious police shooting and the local forces determined to keep both stories quiet. When Elena is found dead in her apartment with the Alpha’s chilling mark left behind, Detective James Rios is pulled into a case that refuses to stay cold.
Then more bodies appear. Each one bears the killer’s signature. Each one pulls Rios deeper into a pattern of violence that grows more disturbing with every turn. To solve it, he must untangle a web of police corruption, family loyalties and evidence that refuses to point in only one direction.
A tense serial murder investigation full of twists and turns, “The Alpha Trace” is a psychological crime thriller where every clue raises new questions — and no one is above suspicion.
Purchase at https://tinyurl.com/the-alpha-trace.
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“Riptide” by Chad Robichaux with Jack Stewart
“Should Have Told You Sooner” by Jane Ward
“The Heart of Gardening: How to Have a Successful Life Through Sustainable Gardening from a Storyteller’s Perspective” by Rebecca Band
“Lili y el árbol de los colores mágicos / Lili & the Tree of Magical Colors” by Rosalba Segovia
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“L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42” edited by Jody Lynn Nye
“The Architect of Deception” by Debbie Baldwin
“What the Heart Carries” by Susan Appel
“The Overprivileged, Underqualified Manifesto: When Leadership Forgets Competence and the Emotional Cost We All Hide” by Giovi Zaro
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“The Lost Panel” by Mark Steven Hammond
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“The Woman from Warsaw” by Salah el Moncef
“Kyla's Kite Is Flying” by Simon P.J. Dorey
“Seeds of Purpose: Seven Keys to Unlock Your Gifts and Fulfill God's Desired Will for Your Life” by Marlyse Tchamko
“Fault Line: Still Standing” by Tim Smith
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Just for Love, A Moment in Time: Our Tomorrows Are Today and Tomorrow by Len Guardino
“Other People: A Memoir and Reflections on Trauma, Connection, Meaning, and the Neuroscience of Healing” by Michael S. Piraino
“Changing Cadence: Friendship, Football and the Art of Transition” by Andra Douglas
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“Strong Roots, Safe Wings” by Kalyani Gopal, PhD, HSPP
“Evil, Goodness, and Creating Active Bystandership” by Ervin Staub
“Lost in the Holler” by Michael West
“Weight Class: A Fighter's Life-or-Death Battle with an Eating Disorder” by Danny O’Connor
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“Death at a Firefly Tea” by Laura Childs
“Anchors to Ashes” by David Caraccio and Tom Seeley
“Gone in Three Seconds” by Jim De La Vega
“Tales of Revenore: The Iron Witch” by Frank J. Zanca
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“When Waiting Becomes Life” by Jeff Deaton, MD
“Choosing Emotions: Thinking with Your Head and Acting with Your Heart” by D. Earl Johnston
“Summertime & Short Stories” by Stanislas M Yassukovich
“Friday Nite at the Bucket of Blood Bar” by Bobby “Z” Zielinski
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“The Terminal Gene” by John H. Thomas
"Whiteout" by Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey
“You Know FAT Mary: Achieving Weight Loss and Optimal Health. My Journey. My Discoveries.” by Mary H. Putre
“Look Twice: Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World, Volume I” by Tim Beard