Upstream Reviews Presents….!
Spring has sprung! Let’s fill it with some new books to enjoy!
Spring has sprung, and it is time to start cleaning the house of all the clutter that has accumulated over the dark months (and perhaps years). Hoo, boy, what a Herculean task! What must we dispose of...and does that leave room where we can put new things that we actually want and/or need?
Personally, we here at Upstream hope that if you don’t want to add these items to your physical shelves, you might want to request that your library do so. There is also your digital library to consider; if you have no inclination to put new books in your house, try putting these on your digital Kindle or Apple shelves instead. If you really like them, then maybe losing that freshly opened space to their physical copies will be worth it!
Most of all, since we are coming up on summer, if you know someone with a birthday approaching, then you may want to use this as a “potential gift list.” If you have a child or know one who is anticipating summer break and you want to get them reading, this list could help you do it! We have middle grade novels, YA novels, AND comics from which to choose. Join us and see what we have that you might like. You may discover a treasure you did not know you wanted!
Podcasts
This is Jen Fulwiler, a podcaster I have begun listening to more closely. You can learn more about her through this link and the video below:
You Got This | Jen Fulwiler | Ep. 248
Then there’s the MeatEater Podcast available here, with an introductory video below:
The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 564 | Subscribe to Our New Channel | Can We Make a Mammoth?
Don’t forget Overly Sarcastic Productions’ podcast, either!
Satirizing Superman - Detail Diatribe
And for those who want to keep up with current events, here is the All-In Podcast:
All-In Live from Austin: Colin and Samir, Chris Williamson, and Bryan Johnson
Fantasy
Need some fantasy to sink your teeth into, but feeling tired of the same-old, same-old save-the-world sagas? Then try these novels on for size. They might be the relaxing read that you are looking for!
The Enchanted Princess Wakes by Mary Catelli
Once upon a time, a princess was cursed at her christening -- but not the one you heard of.
When the fairy decreed that Rosaleen would fall into an enchanted sleep, and how she would wake, the grand plans of kings, to unite kingdoms, failed. They sent her to an out-of-the-way castle in the mountains, in hopes the curse would do no harm to anyone else.
There, alone, Rosaleen lived and learned, and realized that she herself had to be ready to face the curse, and when it broke.
Guard in the Garden: A Cozy Fantasy (Fables of Finlestia) by Z.S. Diamanti
Embark on a wholesome journey of healing and self-discovery. A cozy fantasy tale of forging new friendships and overcoming fears. A quiet quest of family bonds and budding romance.
From dragon fire to garden flowers …
Felton Holdum spent his entire life training to become one of Galium’s elite dwarven warriors. When a bloody battle leaves him injured, he has no choice but to move into his eccentric twin aunts’ quaint home in the town’s quiet Garome District.
With his life of military service seemingly over, the captain of the city guard gives Felton his only chance at a fresh start in the new life he never wanted.
But when a human woman barges through his front door, the grumpy dwarf starts to wonder if there is more to life than war. The sunshine woman invites him to visit her garden, where Felton gains a new nemesis and a new purpose in life.
Take a walk through the garden and see what magic awaits.
Come enjoy the hospitality of the whimsical Garome District. Meet new friends as you sample new breads at the bakery, play a game of Castle Brick at the tavern, and taste homemade pies during the annual pie baking contest at the Fall Festival.
YA/Middle Grade Works
Need some good books to gift to that special child this summer, when school is finally out? Here are a few we think those youths will like – and that you might enjoy as well!
Storm-Dragon by Dave Freer
On the treacherous Vann’s World, Skut battles a savage wind and deadly hamerkops to rescue a mysterious, telepathic creature. Fleeing a rising tide and a menacing Loor-beast, he forms an unexpected bond with the tiny, electric-charged being that sees him as its protector. As Skut navigates the perilous tidal tiers, his impulsive escape from Highpoint Station unravels into a fight for survival—both for himself and his newfound companion.
Podge is the new kid in town, trying to keep his head down. Meeting Skut is about the only bright spot in his introduction to this strange new world. The boys bond over Skut's creature, and trying to avoid the class bullies. This is only the beginning; soon Skut finds his new friends do not ease the growing concerns of the adults around him while the town is coming under a mysterious threat. What can two boys and a tiny storm-dragon do?
Joan of Arkansas by Sarah Robsdottir
Joanie Smith’s mom is a heroin junkie who prefers a pet hamster to her own daughter. Joan of Arc’s dad once got drunk and demanded his sons kill their sister: Drown that witch! But other than dysfunctional families, what else do these teenagers have in common? Because Joanie’s grandma has been insisting they’re so much alike for years.
Join Joanie as she faces challenges large and small: from caring for a sick grandmother, to dealing with an abusive mom, to battling bullies at school—all while dealing with the flutters of first love and finding her unique voice in the most crucial human rights movement of our time. Get to know a different side of the infamous Joan of Arc while you’re at it—the ordinary peasant whose dad tried to force her into an arranged marriage; the simple farm girl who faced exclusion from peers and cried to go home to her family after proving herself as a soldier.
Figure out for yourself what these young women have in common and ponder how you too—an ordinary person—can be used by God (if you’re willing) to do the extraordinary.
Misplaced (Valley of Fire Book 1) by John Van Stry
Eric and his sister escaped a bloody past, finding refuge with a starship salvage yard owner who straddles the line between criminal and honorable. Now, after twelve years of hauling scrap, Eric is ready carve his own path. The streets don’t let go so easily, nor does the Solarian Empire. As Eric steps into manhood, his talents draw dangerous eyes—jealous rivals and shadowy forces who’d rather see him buried than rising. Two years after the fall of the Solarian Empire, the paranoia of a hunted life lingers, but Eric’s done running. In a kingdom where power burns bright and betrayal simmers, he’ll learn that standing tall means facing the fire head-on.
Misplaced—a tale of grit, loyalty, and defiance, set in the expansive universe of Wolfhounds. This is the full novel, compiled from the eBook serials with extra bonus material included!
Non-Fiction
Want something a bit more “realistic” to sink your teeth into? Then these books ought to scratch that itch perfectly:
The Divine Plan: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Dramatic End of the Cold War by Paul Kengor and Robert Orlando
Just six weeks apart in the spring of 1981, Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan took bullets from would-be assassins.
Few realized at the time how close both men came to dying.
Surviving these near-death experiences created a singular bond between the pope and the president that historians have failed to appreciate.
When John Paul II and Reagan met only a year later, they confided to each other a shared conviction: that God had spared their lives for a reason.
That reason? To defeat Communism.
American Flannel: How a Band of Entrepreneurs Are Bringing the Art and Business of Making Clothes Back Home by Steven Kurutz
The little-engine-that-could story of how a band of scrappy entrepreneurs are reviving the enterprise of manufacturing clothing in the United States.
For decades, clothing manufacture was a pillar of U.S. industry. But beginning in the 1980s, Americans went from wearing 70 percent domestic-made apparel to almost none. Even the very symbol of American freedom and style—blue jeans—got outsourced. With offshoring, the nation lost not only millions of jobs but also crucial expertise and artistry.
Dismayed by shoddy imported “fast fashion”—and unable to stop dreaming of re-creating a favorite shirt from his youth—Bayard Winthrop set out to build a new company, American Giant, that would swim against this trend. New York Times reporter Steven Kurutz, in turn, began to follow Winthrop’s journey. He discovered other trailblazers as well, from the “Sock Queen of Alabama” to a pair of father-son shoemakers and a men’s style blogger who almost single-handedly drove a campaign to make “Made in the USA” cool. Eye-opening and inspiring, American Flannel is the story of how a band of visionaries and makers are building a new supply chain on the skeleton of the old and wedding old-fashioned craftsmanship to cutting-edge technology and design to revive an essential American dream.
Comics and Graphic Novels
Looking for new funny papers to peruse? Try these comics and see what you think. You never know what might spark the love of reading – or relight it if you feel it has gone out!
The Catholic Cartoon Collection: No. 2 BY Joshua Masterson
Fr. Otto and friends are back with more laughs and holy moments in this second collection of the Catholic Cartoon!
Includes COLOR and black & white pages!
Artwork by Joshua Masterson (@the_catholic_cartoonist)
Father of the Fatherless: The Story of Nelson Baker
Get ready for an action-packed, full-color comic book biography that brings to life the inspiring story of Father Nelson Baker, priest of the Diocese of Buffalo, New York and founder of OLV Charities. After converting to Catholicism at 9 years old, Nelson was determined to follow God’s will in his life, under the watchful care of Our Lady. Initially he became a successful businessman, but God had bigger plans for Nelson.
God called him to open his generous heart to the poor and disadvantaged youth of Buffalo, becoming a father to the fatherless and establishing a “City of Charity” for the poor and most defenseless in society. Readers will be captivated by the heart of a loving pastor who spent his entire life for others, becoming a true apostle of charity.
There you have it, readers! Pick what you like and see if it is just what you needed today. Meanwhile, it’s time to attack that spring cleaning. HI-YA!!!! Get thee gone, ye cobwebs and dust bunnies! You heard me – BEGONE!!! I banish thee in the name of the feather duster and the vacuum…!