Reviewed by Tom Han, Teen Advisory Council

The Way of Kings by experienced fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is the first book of the epic, ten novel Stormlight Archives series. It’s set in the unique, magical world of Roshar with its own vibrant culture, people, and history. The novel follows three main characters and their individual, seemingly separate stories. Kaladin was a gallant soldier who was betrayed by his comrades and sold into slavery; Shallan is a noble scholar who must steal a magical relic to save her family; and Dalinar is a renowned “Highprince” who begins to receive disturbing visions and prophecies. Each character is related to and impacted by the main conflict in the novel: The War of Reckoning. After the former king of Alethkar, Gavilar, was assassinated by the Parshendi people, the ten princedoms of Alethkar unite to wage a war of vengeance and punishment against the Parshendi on the Shattered Plains. The war shapes the stories of all three main characters and slowly ties their lives together as the story progresses.

By Samya Kullab

This tale gives a fictional but all too real account of a family’s flight from war and the terrors of a refugee camp. Told from the point of view of Amira, it gives some light background to the war and the reasons why so many people fled. Once out of Syria, the family settles in Lebanon, but Lebanon is fearful of war coming to them, and does not allow most Syrians to work or own homes. Out of money, the family are forced to live a meagre existence in a refugee camp.
This story also touches on the difficulty of getting out of the camps to a safe country, of getting medical attention, of educational opportunities. It doesn’t take sides, just tells how things are. Though moving to Europe or North America means having access to these things, it also shows a new set of difficulties, learning a new language, new rules, new geography and climate.

Joe Kein's new book Charlie Mike: a true story of heroes who brought their mission home is a story of two decorated combat veterans linked by tragedy, who come home from the Middle East and find a new way to save their comrades and heal their country.

Four men.  Four Secret Service Agents.  Later, Four CIA directors. 

There are so many instances when reality far outweighs the creation of our imagination.