R.P. Blackmur (21 January, 1904 – 2 February, 1965) was one of America’s foremost critics of literature, and a distinguished professor in Princeton University.

Edward Stratemeyer (4 October, 1862 – 10 May, 1930) was a writer, publisher, and creator of the Stratemeyer Syndicate that produced over 1,300 beloved novels.

Albert Einstein Speaking by R. J. Gadney is a part biography / part historical fiction about the most famous scientist of our time. A strange, but charming book

The British are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775 – 1777 by Rick Atkinson describes the first 21 months of the Revolutionary War.

Bel Kaufman (10 May, 1911 – 25 July, 2014), born as Bella, in Berlin, Germany, was an American author and educator known for her novel Up the Down Staircase.

The story evolved from a cool origin story of a unique heroine with unshakable core beliefs, which one can’t help but admire her for sticking to them, to a cliché “teamwork saves the day” ending.

This is an enjoyable and fresh story with great artwork and interesting, new characters.

I thought this was a sweet, short book. No 12-year-old I know would use the language or vernacular you Mr. Friedman of New Jersey would use, but I understand the mechanics of trying to convey so much information to a young audience.

Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson is a biography of the famed scientist. Einstein lived a tremendous life full of science, math, politics, religion and love; I admire Mr. Isaacson’s courage in tackling such a project.

The start of the buildup of the Gulf War (1990) is where the book takes off to relevancy not only when published, but today also since we are still facing some of those issues, as well as many others. General Schwarzkopf was assigned to Central Command not long before Iraq invaded Kuwait, in this book the General states that he prepared his troops for war in the Middle East since, to his estimation, a war in Europe is unlikely. As Bush 41 made it clear that Iraqi aggression will not go unnoticed, General Schwarzkopf realized that he might be at the center of fight.