debut YA author Kent Raddatz on bullying

The Boy Who Dreamed

Kent Raddatz

Young Adult

Fantasy

Kent Raddatz, publisher

May, 2020

Ebook - $2.99

Paperback - $7.9197 pp

ISBN: 979-8638-8225-07

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About the Book

Twelve-year-old Jacob Tannin is being bullied by Willard and doesn’t know what to do about it. He pretends to be invisible in the hopes that Willard will pick on someone else. It doesn’t work. And sometimes, while he’s being picked on, something sarcastic pops out of his mouth—which never goes over well. But Jacob’s also a dreamer. And when his dreams take him to another world called Chimeran, things begin to change. In Chimeran, he’s attacked by Haggeldies, a new set of bullies. But he also makes friends who try to teach him how to stand up for himself. As he goes back and forth between these two worlds, he’s forced to see others in a new way. And he’s encouraged to believe in the power that comes from what he thinks about himself. Will Jacob ever stop being afraid? What will give him the courage to speak up for himself? And how will he learn what he’s worth when bullies in both worlds say he’s nothing?

My Review:

Debut author Kent Raddatz has produced a winner for kids who like to read, especially those who read to escape problematic reality.

Jacob is every boy, on the verge of becoming a young man who is learning about the tough side of life, and deciding his path. Will he join the side that walks over those who are different, or will he develop empathy, no matter how much it hurts?

When Jacob takes that first step of reaching outside of his own insecurity, and wondering what life is like for others and realizing that everyone is a potential friend, life doesn’t get easier. Every encounter with someone in his greater, wider world shows him another piece of his developing life puzzle. Even family members become heroes when viewed through his newly maturing sight.

Raddatz’s story is told through young Jacob’s eyes, in the well-drawn voice of a twelve-year-old learning that life is bigger than himself. Reminiscent of my favorite book of all time, Dandelion Wine, readers, both boys and girls, who appreciate coming-of-age tales, watching their narrator get the big lessons and grow, will enjoy The Boy Who Dreamed.

About the Author:

Kent Raddatz is a writer and author of The Boy Who Dreamed, the story of twelve-year-old Jacob Tannin whose dreams transport him to another world. Yet the most important thing to know about Jacob is that he’s being bullied.

Professionally trained as a Pastor, Kent worked with many children who were bullied in a variety of ways. Some were physically attacked while others were verbally abused. All were forced to put up with angry people. He listened to their stories and encouraged them to accept and love who they are.

He is well suited to write about this subject because, in his own words, “at times I was bullied; while at other times I did the bullying [I was too small to use anything except my words].”

A member of SCBWI and the Wisconsin Writer’s Association, he attended the 2015 and 2017 Novel-In-Progress Book Camp where he was awarded the Fox Ridge Scholarship.

The Lacquered Talisman by Laurie Dennis

The Lacquered Talisman, A novel of 14th-Century China by Laurie Dennis 

Historical fiction, 300 pp

Published by Earnshaw Books Ltc. (Hong Kong), March 1, 2020

Reviewed by: Bill Mathis,

https://wiwrite.org/book-reviews/8954247

$19,99 Print

$9,49 eBook

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About the Book

A sweeping coming-of-age epic, The Lacquered Talisman launches the story of one of the most influential figures in Chinese history. He is the son of a beancurd seller and he will found the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368-1644. Known as “Fortune” as a boy, Zhu Yuanzhang has a large and doting family who shepherd him through hardship until drought ravages the countryside and heralds a plague. Left with nothing but a lacquered necklace from his grandfather, Chen the Diviner, Fortune is deposited in the village temple and is soon wandering the countryside as a begging monk. He encounters pockets of resistance to the ruling Mongol dynasty, studies the stars, and tangles with Taoists as he seeks to understand his destiny. Signs and dreams leave him convinced that he has a special fate. Is he to be the abbot of a monastery? A general? What matters most is that he prove himself to be a filial son.

Bill Mathis’s Review

A fascinating and intriguing historical novel of tragedy and fortitude! 5 Stars!

From the poorest of families emerges the filial son; From the worst of times emerges the hero…

Called Fortune as a boy, later called Vessel as a teen Buddhist monk wandering the country side, Zhu Yuanzhang did not appear to be destined for greatness. At least not to my Western mindset. Yet, later he grew up to found China’s Ming Dynasty.

The autumn dew has just turned white,

The moon is the same one shining on my old home.

I have brothers but they are all scattered,

No place remains for me to ask after their fate.

Zhu’s extended family made and sold bean curd, something he probably would have continued as an adult if his family wasn’t forced to leave the city due to drought. Moving from their tiny shop to the countryside, Zhu’s father sold a younger son to a farmer for money to purchase food. Tragedy upon tragedy occur in this well written and detailed novel. A plague kills most of the family and the orphaned Zhu is taken to a Buddhist monastery where his life is still a struggle due to the plague and political turmoil. He wears a lacquered box around his neck, a small talisman given to him by his beloved grandfather who bestowed much wisdom on the boy. The box serves as his constant remembrance of his family.

We part on the road, mist rising in the air,

Around the pavilion, leaves are now rare,

I sigh – oh, how we differ from the wild geese,

When they set off to travel, no one is left behind. (Bidding Elder Brother Goodbye)

A coming-of-age book, we follow Zhu from childhood to young adulthood. He makes several lasting friends that will later appear when he leaves the monastery. Along the way, he learns from the monks to read and write, to study the stars and become a leader.

Cut it doesn’t break,

Straightened, it still tangles,

This sorrow of separation,

It is no ordinary flavor in the heart…

The Lacquered Talisman is a rich, detailed look into 14th century China. Filled with accurate descriptions of the poverty, military and political turmoil, along with the religious customs, family congruity, respect for elders and dedication to one’s parents, the book drew me in and held my interest. There are a lot of details, but Laura Dennis presents them in a manner that I did not feel overwhelmed. Her scholarship and research is astounding.

This book deals with Zhu’s life from childhood into young adulthood. The prologue and epilogue set the stage for the next book of Zhu’s adult life. I can’t wait for it!

About the Author:

I am a writer of historical fiction focused on the founding of China's Ming Dynasty. Why fixate on something that happened over 600 years ago? The early 1300s, when the Mongols ruled China, was an era of political crisis, lawlessness, and natural disasters. (Sound familiar?!) Zhu Yuanzhang 朱元璋, who emerged out of a large cast of contenders to claim the Dragon Throne, was one of the major figures in Chinese history. He has been written about extensively in Chinese, including fiction, drama, film, poetry, and more. And yet, his remarkable story is almost unknown in the English-speaking world. I want to change that. Visit https://www.lauriedennis.com

The Reviewer, Bill Mathis:

Bill Mathis writes about diverse families, warts and all. His fourth novel will publish in December of 2020. Follow him on Facebook—Bill Mathis Writer Etc or his website: http://www.billmathiswriteretc.com. Bill resides in Beloit, Wisconsin and is looking forward to traveling again when it’s safe.

WWA Book Review Jenny Knipfer historical series

Blue Moon, By the Light of the Moon series, book 2 by Jenny Knipfer

Inspirational Historical fiction

self-published, September, 2019, 382 pp

Reviewed by Joan Bauer of Wisconsin Writers Association

Print: $15.99

EBOOK: $5.99

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About the Book

The year is 1885 and unwed Vanessa Gulet must surrender her newborn son to her married twin sister, Valerie, to raise. A seed of bitterness grows in Vanessa. When the opportunity arises for her to have what she’s always wanted, Vanessa takes it despite the consequences to her family. Will Vanessa and Valerie remain at odds or will they allow the power of forgiveness to heal their strained relationship?

In a new town and reunited with her son, Vanessa finds more than she bargained for: love, friendship, and a home. Vanessa and Michael (the manager at her newly inherited business) feel the pull of attraction towards each other. Vanessa trusts him, but comes to question this trust when she finds he’s kept something from her.

Valerie, overcome with loss and grief, faces the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis just as her identity as a mother is threatened. Will she and her husband forge through these trials together or will these upsets cause them to drift apart?

Love seems to bloom in the most unlikely of places in Webaashi Bay for an old friend of Jenay’s and a woman who owns the local dress shop. A parallel tale of love, forgiveness, and reuniting lost things is spun by a local author adding another dimension to the tale of the Gulet twins and their saga

Joan's Review 

My mother was a twin, and while she and her sister were not identical, we always joked that they had a certain telepathy between them. This phenomenon is central to Jenny Knipfer’s Blue Moon, where the special relationship between identical twins Vanessa and Valerie--born to a life of privilege in late nineteenth-century Toronto--is perhaps irrevocably broken.

Valerie has chosen a conventional life with her husband Felix Wilson, a wine merchant. Her sister Vanessa falls in love with Renault La Rue, a dashing rail magnate, but their love does not last: she bears his child, Luis, without his knowledge, and her politically ambitious father demands that she allow childless Valerie and Felix to raise the boy as their own. Ten years later, when Vanessa inherits Renault’s business, she spirits Luis away to Webaashi Bay on the shores of Lake Superior to teach him about his father and claim her privilege as his mother.

Life in Webaashi Bay is fresh, romantic, and wild. The town “is attractively set, almost like a well-dressed lady. Superior is as her swishing gown of azure, the buildings as her waist, and the cliffs as her head and shoulders with the trees as her headdress.” Here, Vanessa finds a welcoming community of strong, independent women. But her new friend Jenay is linked to Renault’s mysterious death, and when Vanessa learns the truth, Jenay must work to overcome the harm her silence has done.

In the same way, Vanessa must find a way to repair the terrible rift she has created in her own family. Back in Toronto, Valerie is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and Vanessa is called upon to help her adjust to her new limitations. In the process, the two of them will learn new ways to parent the son they both cherish.

Each section of Blue Moon is rigorously time-stamped; while this technique ensures clarity, it can also be a little distracting. But Knipfer creates a strong sense of place, and she draws on her own experience with MS to depict the course of Valerie’s illness with great sensitivity. As the twin sisters seek to recover their special relationship, each finds solace and redemption in a faith based solidly on gratitude.

Author

Jenny lives in Wisconsin with her husband, Ken and their pet Yorkie, Ruby. She is also a mom and loves being a grandma. She enjoys many creative pursuits but finds writing the most fulfilling.

Jenny’s education background stems from psychology, music, and cultural missions. She spent many years as a librarian in a local public library but recently switched to using her skills as a floral designer in a retail flower shop. She is now retired from work due to disability.

She authored and performed a self-published musical CD entitled, Scrapbook of a Closet Poet. Jenny acquires joy in the journey as an author. Ruby Moon, the first title in her historical fiction series: By the Light of the Moon, earned a five star rating from Readers' Favorite. Her books are available in eBook and paperback formats through Amazon and Ingramspark.

Jenny holds membership in the: Historical Novel Society, Wisconsin Writers Association, and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association.

Reviewer

Joan Bauer holds a Master’s degree in English from Marquette University and has worked as a trust officer in a bank. In the course of raising three children, she has chaired fundraisers, served on boards, and volunteered frequently at church and school. She is working on her third novel.