Notable Books

During the past year, WORLD received more than 100 self-published books for possible review. This past May we had our 14 students at the 2015 World Journalism Institute each choose the books that most appealed to them—and from those to choose one to review. For the WJI students, that’s useful experience for future work in publishing or book reviewing. For the authors who sent their books, thank you. Although some of you will be disappointed not to find your book reviewed here, you have helped in the training of these budding journalists.

If I’m a Christian, Why Am I Depressed?

Somerville offers a holistic perspective on depression, combining experience with biblical objectivity. The book intersperses Somerville’s personal struggle with depression and the testimonies of others. It also considers the experience of biblical figures like Elijah, the prophet who longed to die in the wilderness, and historical figures like Spurgeon, the prince of preachers who often wept without cause.

Debt-Free Living in a Debt-Filled World

The Thomases write about how a high-school teacher and stay-at-home mom/part-time employee can support a family of six on a modest income. The book offers a treasury of biblically based, practical advice about getting and staying out of debt. It covers everything from reducing credit card balances, purchasing a car, building a house, homeschooling, couponing, and more. It would make a practical gift for recent college graduates or newly married couples.

A Small Cup of Light

Palpant addresses his search for meaning as he struggles with a serious illness. Palpant, a husband, father, and teacher, stubbornly breaks free of his self-reliance and learns to trust God in the midst of his crisis. Each chapter begins with a poem that connects to that chapter’s content. He offers a hopeful message of God’s presence, even in the darkest times.

The Simplified Guide

Hazelton, a lawyer, offers a topical trip through Paul’s letters to the churches. It’s a straightforward compilation of the central issues the churches faced. In simple style, he cross-references Paul’s main topics in a concordance covering everything from family relations to faith-vs.-works dynamics.

Katie, Will and the Global Detectives

What’s a grandfather to do when his granddaughter develops cancer and he can’t find any children’s books where the protagonist is confined to a wheelchair or bed? He starts telling his own stories. This book is a compilation of the stories about the girl, her brother, and a special friend called Robert P. Rabbit—as told by GrandDad.

The Master’s Tree

Bishop tells a classic fairy tale about a sparrow and the great master who sends him on a mission to get a seed from a special tree, bring it back, and plant it in his lovely vegetable garden. The sparrow must overcome dangers, sacrifice his lovely vegetables as the tree eventually shades them out, and watch as things take an unexpected turn.

Olympia On-Time!

Olympia On-Time! is a character book the size of Mr. books. Each page has several frames in which cartoon-style characters tell a story focused on a character trait. Olympia never gets up on time, so she’s late to work, in a bad mood, and hurting her co-workers. The colorful pages are busy with cues pointing out rhyming words, shapes, colors, etc.