Christ Child Helps Calm an Anxious Lamb Review by Deborah K. Frontiera There are thousands, maybe millions, of “Christmas” books out there—but most of them focus on the secular aspects of the holiday, rather than Christmas as the birth of Jesus. Among the books with Jesus as the center, it’s…
Men of Conscience Imprisoned in the U.P. Review by Deborah K. Frontiera My first reaction to Jane Kopecky’s book, World War II Conscientious Objectors: Germfask, Michigan, was, “Wow! I never knew that.” As I dove into the book, I realized what an incredible amount of research the author had done…
Novel Documents an Historic Experiment in Faith and Society in the U.P. Review by Donna Winters What happens when a compassionate, homesteading preacher invites a power-hungry visionary to transform his community into a product-sharing village? Such is the case in Eden Waits, by Maryka Biaggio. This author, the great-great-great-granddaughter of…
Eino Koski’s Legacy Reviewed by Victor R. Volkman Allan Koski’s book Another Time, Another Place is a heartfelt and compelling memoir about his father Eino Koski’s contribution to the Pacific theatre in World War II. Although Eino passed away in 2009, his son Allan managed to complete the manuscript with…
Kawbawgam Finally Tells the True Tale of Marquette’s Most Famous Chief Reviewed by Victor R. Volkman Kawbawgam: The Chief, The Legend, The Man by Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD, is the first woke history of Native Americans in Upper Michigan that I have read. I’ll go so far as to presume…
Wildlife Photography was Born in the U.P. EDITORS NOTE: George Shiras III always referred to himself as George Shiras 3d in all matters so that convention is used here. Outside of Marquette County, there may be few people who understand the full legacy of George Shiras 3d and his contributions…
A Delightful Supernatural Tale of Mystery on Lake Superior Craig Brockman’s debut adult novel Dead of November is a spine-tingling psychological and supernatural thriller which spans both American and Canadian shores of Lake Superior. The story follows psychologist Adam Knowles whose grief for the loss of his wife Julie LaFevre…
Could a Small Town in the U.P. be the Origin of the World’s Premier Winter Sport? Dr. William Sproule, a recently retired professor of civil and environmental engineering from Michigan Tech University, wrote the new book Houghton: The Birthplace of Professional Hockey with the hopes of cementing the Keewenaw’s crucial…
Lively Retelling of a Biblical Standard Review by Victor R. Volkman The Hungry Kitten’s Tale (Rivershore Books), written by Elizabeth Fust and illustrated by Mary MacArthur, is an imaginative fresh take on the old biblical story of the “loaves and the fishes” from the Gospel of Matthew. In case you…
A colorful and educational romp in Michigan’s National Park I Spy… Isle Royale, by Susanna Ausema, is a colorful and educational romp through the flora, fauna and geology of Michigan’s only remaining national park. Isle Royale is unique in so many ways it’s hard to list them all. The island…
A Playful Introduction to Swedish Culture Review by Victor R. Volkman A to Zåäö: Playing with History at the American Swedish Institute, by mother-and-son team Tara Sweeney and Nate Christopherson, is a playful introduction to Swedish culture and language. This coffee table quality hardcover from University of Minnesota Press is…
Native American Novel for Middle Grade Readers Entertains and Educates Review by Victor R. Volkman Ann Dallman’s debut middle grade novel Cady and the Bear Necklace is an enthralling tale that is equal parts mystery and first-love pangs. Cady Whirlwind Thunder is a Native American girl in the 8th grade…
Into the Digital Abyss.. and Back Again Review by Victor R. Volkman Ed. Note: “Into the Digital Maw” is currently out-of-print Ryan Hansen’s journeyman novel Into the Digital Maw is a sprawling, high-concept story of a lone hero attempting to free a society imprisoned in a post-apocalyptic digital landscape. In…
Murder Most Foul in Les Cheneaux Review by Victor R. Volkman Revelation at The Snows is the second book of the Sherriff George Kaughmann mysteries. Kaughmann is based in Cedarville, the town closest to the Les Cheneaux archipelago in Mackinaw County and about 30 minutes east of St. Ignace. Les…
Shining a Light on Life in the U.P. Review by Victor R. Volkman The Sunshine Room, by Jan Stafford Kellis, is a meditation on family and the search for who we really are. Kellis skillfully mixes equal parts mystery and family drama – with a dash of humor – to…
Stories of Broken Men and Shattered Lives in the U.P. Review by Victor R. Volkman Hunter’s Moon, by Philip Caputo, is a nihilistic romp through the lives of military veterans set against the backdrop of a bleak Upper Peninsula. Caputo, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, is still probably best known for…
Children Can Appreciate Their Own Unique Talents Reviewed by Victor R. Volkman Jacqueline Briggs Martin’s Bim, Bam, Bop, and Oona (University of Minnesota Press, 2019) is a large-format, hardcover book lavishly illustrated by Larry Day. The seemingly nonsense words of the title are the character names of Indian Runner ducks…
Alpacas of the Upper Peninsula! Reviewed by Victor R. Volkman Get ready for a great day out with A Field Trip to the Alpaca Farm (Stinky Sneakers Media, 2018), written and illustrated by Kathy Kuczek. This “field trip” is a large-format, hardcover, professionally produced children’s book with edge-to-edge full-color illustrations,…
