Norah Vincent checked herself into a mental institution at the end of her writing for Self-Made Man, her NYT bestselling book in which she lived eighteen months disguised as a man. Voluntary Madness is her subsequent exploration of herself and other participants at three kinds of institutions: a big city hospital facility, a fancy facility and a healing retreat. During her stays, she blends what is going on around her with what is happening inside her. With a history of clinical depression, she has much to explore and an insider's perspective into the various types of treatment. She is opinionated but honest, emotional but realistic. She doesn't offer the answer to what our society needs for all people in need of mental help, rather she offers what works for her and what she thinks may work for others with depression and other mental issues. Vincent does a good job of exposing the basic flaws of humanity which have caused the various kinds of institutions in existence. ~Spring

"I suppose I ought to warn you at the outset that my present circumstances are puzzling, even to me. Nevertheless, I am sure of this much: my little story has become your history. You won't really understand your times until you understand mine."
With that declaration, Mary Doria Russell opens her fourth novel and second work of historical fiction. Dreamers of the Day is the story of Agnes Shanklin, a forty-year-old school teacher from Ohio whose small inheritance allows her to leave behind her dull and predictable life for an adventure of historic importance. Agnes' "little story" is the creation of the modern Middle East at the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference where she befriends the larger-than-life T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Lady Gertrude Bell.

Agnes is still struggling with the loss of her parents to the influenza epidemic, her brother to the Great War, and her beloved missionary sister when she boldly takes her new wealth and embarks on a trip to the Holy Land and Mesopotamia. Her introduction to the powerful elite of the conference puts her center stage as the countries of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan are created. Though Agnes is on the sidelines of the action, she develops a strong attachment to Lawrence and is privy to the eccentric habits of Churchill and the outspoken Gertie Bell.

I was, for the most part, comfortable with Russell's construct: the creation of the fictional Agnes who is placed in an historically-accurate time and place. Agnes is intelligent, curious, and quite capable of holding her own in the company of such notable historical figures. Drawn from historical sources that offer insight to the personalities and quirks of Lawrence, Churchill and Bell, Dreamers of the Day is relevant, to say the least. Russell's new novel succeeds on several levels: she provides a detailed historical backdrop that sheds light on today's Middle East crisis, and creates an engaging character in Agnes, who for the first time in her life listens to her own voice (not that of her oppressive "mumma"). ~ Wendee

What a story! Eon is a small cripple boy who is one of twelve boys competing to become the apprentice to the ascendant of the Rat Dragon. Only one boy is chosen and the odds are stacked against Eon and his master. Their biggest problem, a potentially deadly one, is a secret: Eon is actually Eona, a 16-year- old girl! The big ceremonial day comes and Eon is in fact not chosen by the Red Dragon, but to everyone's surprise, the Mirror Dragon who comes out of hiding after five hundred years to choose Eon/Eona. So begins Eona's journey into the intricate life of the empire, struggles for power, and Dragon magic.

This is an amazing fantasy story of a girl taught to suppress her true self, the struggle to hide her secret, shoulder responsibility, and to find the courage to discover and show her true strong self. Set in an ancient Asian-inspired empire, the author truly transports you to a place and time that is rich in details of the senses. The plot which is intricately woven is at the same time tense and fast paced. Recommended for ages 12 and up. ~Mara

Check out the website for Eon.