Jefferson's America Review

 I think Jefferson would have recognized himself in this book -- and that isn't true of all of his biographies. If you read a lot about him, then Jefferson's America will surprise you with a trove of fresh material, like a whole undiscovered chapter in his life. I also agree with other reviewers who said that if you thought you knew all about Lewis & Clark ... you probably didn't until you read it. The author makes the point that Jefferson was in no position, nor would he be inclined, to use government funds to sponsor an exhibition just for the sake of scientific curiosity (as we usually hear). The American frontier was in danger from European countries. We were treading on a war then, a war Jefferson was determined to avoid and so he used Lewis & Clark, along with the basically unknown Hunter & Dunbar, Freeman & Custis and by extension, Zebulon Pike to put America in the west, without gunfire. All of them are in the book, with additional depictions of ancillary figures such as George Rogers Clark (William's uncle) and Andrew Ellicott. Importantly, Native Americans are featured with specifics not usually seen in books about this era. Jefferson's philosophy on land is a running theme; it colored his treatment of Indians, which could be heinous. In the world of books about this era, I'd compare Jefferson's America to Undaunted Courage by saying that as a story-teller, Stephen Ambrose was great at simplifying and staying on a straight course. As a storyteller, Fenster revels in the complexities, which I do too, and she has a host of ways to make them gripping. I read most of it twice.

Love That Boy Review

Love That Boy is a heartwarming story that shows how powerful acceptance is. Ron Fournier is a wonderful Detroit writer, and while I am blessed to be from the Detroit area and may have been persuaded to review this book because Detroit authors have quite the history (Mitch Albom, Elmore Leonard, etc.) I really wanted to get to know Ron the person better. He at first struggles to grasp with his son's Aspergers, as he tells him to not speak out of turn and other adults find him socially awkward at first. He even misunderstands former President George W. Bush when he tells him to love that boy. He thinks he means to love him in spite of his abnormalities, but at the end of the novel he says that he loves loves him and wishes he could be more like him. It is hard not to cry at the end of this 5 star book. It also is refreshing to read a book that has politicians in it that isn't political and portrays them as the imperfect yet servant leaders they truly are. 5/5

Spaceman

Spaceman is a wonderful story that captivated me on a journey through the life of an astronaut in a way that I have never experienced before. Spoken from the heart and soul of a big kid with a bigger imagination and spirit, Mike speaks to the kid in all of us: to dream big; to take big steps; to undertake big challenges. And to persevere through it all. This is the quintessential book for any kid, big or small, who desires to be involved in space exploration in some manner; whether as an astronaut, an astronomer or an educator. Mike makes those dreams seem more attainable through his experiences and revolutions. This is a 5 star quality read and good for all ages, although parents should read to the younger ones and explain its themes.