Stacy Russo is a community college librarian and professor at Santa Ana College who sees the importance of accessibility to gaining knowledge every day. In the introduction to A Better World Starts Here: Activists and Their Work she highlights the fact that while there are academic writings about activism and social justice, that this style of writing is often difficult for readers to access or connect with. Through her writing she hopes to be able to provide a source that will make accessing information about social justice easier. Another important element is the use of storytelling, which allows readers to gain insight into various social justice warriors and their work. Continue reading “A Better World Starts Here Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Millie Chase is devastated by the loss of her mother and in her need to escape from her sort of step father, while married to her mother he never adopted her officially, she decides to run away. At 14 she doesn’t really know where she can go until she remembers that her mother had a friend named Ginny Baker and she thinks she could be her salvation. Ginny and her husband, Nate, both live in Yellowstone National Park and while they love each other deeply their life is not easy, especially with so little work available in the 1930’s and Ginny’s family struggling with monetary issues of their own. The Winterkeeper showcases strength against all odds, especially when love is there. Continue reading “The Winterkeeper Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Buddy Cordova is a small time criminal defense lawyer who thinks of himself a modern day Atticus Finch. He is the sort of attorney who represents people who are often viewed as “probably guilty” and many of his clients will indeed wind up spending some time in jail, even with his help. While he is often painfully awkward around women, he falls deeply in love with a part time Kindergarten teacher and army widow with a young daughter. This love brings the three together into a loving family, but Buddy has a dark secret and when tragedy strikes the idea of what makes a father will be questioned in the pages of Good Buddy. Continue reading “Good Buddy Book Review from @kleffnotes”

Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD, wrote From Madness to Mindfulness: Reinventing Sex for Women due to a strong desire to correct the seeming madness women in America are faced with continuously in connection to sex and their gender. Even as a child she remembers being taught about puberty and menstruation in a way that led her to become ill. As an adult she notes she still feels that sense of humiliation and that her goal is to confront this discomfort in order to help women ultimately embrace their passion and sexuality. She does not that some women may be comfortable owning their own body and being, but a vast majority of women don’t feel that sense of confidence. Madness to Mindfulness is meant to help you sit with and work through your discomfort to find your way to acceptance and owning your own sexuality. Continue reading “From Madness to Mindfulness Book Review ( @cleispress )from @kleffnotes”