Ground Zero: Prequel to Numbered Series
by Magus Tor
My rating: 4 .4 of 5 stars
In a future society, by the age of eight, children are tested and sent to schools for their specialized vocational tracks. The first day of Med Worker Training, Aurelia and Marnee find each other and a deep and lasting friendship begins. But all is not roses and sunshine in this new world. Those that can not work, who are sick and frail, are injected.
As we follow Marnee and Aurelia through their years of Med Worker Training, we watch them deal with confidence issues, learn to study, have faith in themselves and find that Aurelia is unique in that her parents actually are involved in her life. Aurelia and her father have many talks through the years about things that upset and bother Aurelia.
This is a short book, but a quick look into what society could evolve into with specialized testing and training, euthanasia and select population reduction. It is just enough to get you thinking about this world the author, Magus Tor has introduce and make you want more. Great, quick read for any reader!
**Please note in the spirit of disclosure, I received a copy of the book in return for my HONEST review.**
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Life Bank
by Magus Tor
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
**Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an HONEST review**
What if you were given a bank book, told your life was worth a little over $7 million dollars, and yet you didn't have to work for that money? Would you take it? What would it really cost you?
Daniel is a bit down on his luck after yet another bad job interview when he is approached by a man who offers him a bank book. It's his Life Bank. If he signs in blood, he can withdrawal money against the value of his life and when the balance hits zero he dies. Sounds interesting. Problem is, Daniel doesn't ask any questions, but then again if you are greedy enough to think about using a Life Book how much are you really going to question it.
What follows it the story of Daniel's life. The twists and turns, from what he thinks it could be, to what it really turns out to be. He calculates how long he thinks he will live on that $7 million, and yet doesn't take into consideration lifestyle, smoking, drinking, sex, etc when figuring his lifespan. So many other things come into play, life is not a simple math calculation, and yet he wants to live from a Life Book.
The story is well written, and as a reader you find yourself understanding the decisions that Daniel makes, agreeing with them at times, arguing with them at times, shaking your head at him at other times still. Everyone will be able to relate to different parts of Daniel and to relate to different parts of this book. It gives you pause to think, and reasses some of the things you hold in top spots in your life.
It is a quick read, but I recommend it for all readers. Thought provoking and discussion worthy!
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Children's Book : Friends Through Sand And Stone: (Children's Picture Book On The Value Of Forgiveness And Friendship)
by A. M. Marcus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Author Assaf Marcus has once again managed to take a wonderful concept of forgiveness, and put it into a story that children of all ages can comprehend and understand. This is definitely a must read of parent, teachers, anyone who deals with children.
Although this is written for younger children. I am planning to share this with my junior high daughter. This is a tough time for that age and they are going to have a lot of issues in school this year where there are going to be hurts from their friends. This is the perfect book to help them through these hurts. I wish I had known about this book when my older daughter was in junior high!!
As an added bonus for those people using this with the younger children, the author included a free coloring book to help to reinforce the lessons of the book. Wonderful idea and perfect way to get everything across!
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Children's Book : Granny's Guitar: (Children's Picture Book On How To Raise An Optimistic Child)
by Assaf Marcus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sometimes bad things happen, we lose things we love, or break things or they get stolen. How can you help a young child deal with that kid of heartbreak? Teach them optimism, that something good can come from the bad. This is the book to do that!
Author Assaf Marcus has found another wonderful story to tell and use to teach children about something good coming from something bad. As this one has a bully in the beginning of the book, I am going to be telling my teaching friends about it. This is good for the kindergarten and first grade classroom!! This book would be great summer prep for those kids getting ready to go to school in the fall, parents!!
Going above the call as a writer, Assaf Marcus is offering the Free Coloring book with this one also, which will also really help reinforce the lesson in that kindergarten to first grade age set.
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Golden
by Melinda Michaels
My rating: 4.7 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
For Hanna, life has always been a bit, difficult to say the least. She lives with her grandparents while her parents travel the world researching one animal or another, and to make matters worse she has blackouts. Well she used to have them, she hadn't had one in over ten years until today. Golden! When she first had one all she remembered was waking up from it with no memory of anything before the blackout, nothing, no matter how hard she tried! Now she is having them again, and her only friend, newcomer to town Owen Pierce, who just happened to be a police officer, is now acting strange and then there is the stranger in town William Vann, who saved her life. She feels a strong connection to him somehow. The more she asks her grandparents about before the blackouts, the more they tell her to leave it alone, but Hanna feels a need to know, that something is going on, but what! Author Melinda Michaels gives the reader a wonderful fantasy, coming of age tale to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Although Golden is writing in the fantasy genre it is definitely a coming of age story, one where Hanna must come to terms with her past and her future. To learn what is most important and right and to do that very thing. It is not always easy and takes bravery and courage to do what needs to be done. Author Melinda Michaels gives you a strong main character that is tried of being outcast for reasons she doesn't have a clue about, she just wants to be herself, whatever that may be. Wonderfully engaging tale for teens, young adults, and adults alike. Would even be willing to recommend it for middle school readers.
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Fluid Veracity
by Nicole M. Scott
My rating: 4.1 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
A beautiful summer day, June 8th to be exact, and Mykal is moping in her house over the break-up with her true love, she claims of Nixon almost two years ago. She should be over it, but it is worse today because Nixon is marrying her cousin today! Enter Taranj, Mykal's best friend since childhood who is determined to get her out of the house and take her to a club. Only issue for Mykal is that it's a gay club, and Mykal is a little homophobic even if she won't admit it. Yet she clings to Taranj as a best friend, even to the point of other relationships, which makes people wonder about their relationship. Fluid Veracity is more about the way relationships weave and evolve, that you can be a best friend and always there for someone, yet not be the same sexual orientation. Nicole M Scott writes a modern tell of the working woman, with complicated family dynamics to deal with, still trying to find her own way in the world.
Fluid Veracity was at times a bit hard to follow, but having said that and now that I have read it through once, I think on a second reading it would not be near as hard to follow. Mykal truly believes that her lost love Nixon was her only chance at love, and when she meets Aaron she finds a guy who loves she, maybe a little too much. Preconceived notions, family dynamics, rumors, lies and half-truths all interact to turn what could be into something completely different. Author Nicole M Scott uses the modern world as a backdrop to this novel, and it turns out to be something everyone can relate to in one way or another. Great read for adults.
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Kara's Christmas Smile
by Assaf Marcus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Don't let the title fool you, even though the book is called Kara's Christmas Smile, this book has a meaning a lesson for every day of the year!!
Kara's Christmas Smile is just another of author Assaf Marcus' wonderful books for children (and adults alike) telling the effects a simple smile can have on people. In this story, it is Christmas time, so people are super on edge, that one little smile can mean even more during these times. The thing is, any day could be a super stressful day to someone, and a simple smile from you may be the one thing that makes all the difference in their day!
Another thing that the author, Assaf Marcus has started doing to reinforce the concepts of the story is to provide a FREE coloring book with each book! I love it! Especially for my friends that are preschool teachers and Daycare Center Teachers, I think this is a wonderful added benefit!!
If you haven't figured out that I am a fan of Assaf Marcus yet, you will. I love the books, and I share them with teachers, preschools, daycare centers, new parents, grandparents and other friends that I think would enjoy them!! That is my favorite part about reading a book, being able to share it with someone else. After reading his first book, I looked for more,l and so once I find an author that has something I like, you will find I try to devour everything they have to offer!
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