“On the glossy surface of his black pupils, the police lights were mirrored as we glided by, and beyond that something else lurked, like a shadow, a flicker of weakness cowering in the depths of his soul.” The novel, The Border Between Us, by Rudy Ruiz, takes us into a coming-of-age tale of Ramón Lopez as he contends with the turmoil of his passions and dreams, codified in his artistic talent, in contrast to the hardworking struggle exhibited by his father and expected of Ramón. Though his father is determined to succeed in the American dream through a multitude of business endeavors, Ramón witnesses the painful reality that our struggles may never truly relinquish, despite relentless grit and determination. The Border Between Us reveals the limitations children have in appreciating the many sacrifices of our parents and the tireless support that we take for granted for far too long.

“He felt numb, emotionless, and detached. He had no capacity for empathy, and those around him suffered for it.” The novel, Land Shadows, by R.J. Striegel, leads us through the lives of the McNeil family, focusing on the childhood and rise of its leading protagonist, Murdoch McNeil, who survives an unfathomable family trauma when forced to leave his home in Scotland to only find himself as the solitary survivor on the docks of New York City. Through a family saga of betrayal and tragedy, Murdoch uses his intellect and determination to claim ‘new’ land in New Mexico in efforts to reclaim some of what his family had stolen from him in Scotland, seemingly unaware that his actions continue a similar misfortune that targeted his family. Striegel deftly portrays the struggle we have against our worst impulses in the guise of success with characters difficult to loathe, notably in the contrast of the adoption and encouragement that Murdoch shows Kewanee, a Potowatomi girl, tackling the many shades of honor.

“I’m telling you it isn’t worth anything to begin with. I’m telling you it’s an illusion. Money won’t buy you respect from the people who lived with it their whole lives. It won’t buy you a world you can’t already touch. It won’t give you anything that won’t exact something from you in return.” The novel, The Invisible Hand, by Douglas Cole, delves into the depths that actions, both benevolent and malevolent, resonate within society via an invisible hand. As is the tendency of human nature to act without regard for said hand, we mar its course through our emotions, needs, or desire for more. Cole exposes the weight of self-interested acts, even those necessary for a character’s mental or physical survival, and the detrimental results that may occur. Through a flowing narrative, The Invisible Hand explores a broad array of touching character-drive situations and the limited level of impact we may actually have in fighting against a system barely sustaining many of us.

“Her smiling boy, untouchable now by waves and storms, and sheltered from disagreements, disappointments, and heartache.” The novel, The Things They Didn’t See, by Angela Shaeffer, places us soon before an unfathomable tragedy as the protagonist, Jill, a high school Spanish teacher with a compassion for her students, attempts a relaxing vacation with her family. Once a sudden death occurs, anguish soon follows each family member, as they must endure the guilt of their individual survival. As they blame each other while repressing their grief, the family begins to spiral in conflict, reflecting over their perceived mistakes. The Things They Didn’t See masterfully captures the heartache and courage involved in reaching out to others during hard times and shows how connection can lead to healing and hope, once we decide to quit running from the pain of our loss.

“She was my neighbor for a spell. A hustler. Nose always on the money. The Gorgon of Los Feliz.” The novel, The Gorgon of Los Feliz, by Nolan Knight, depicts an array of perspectives in the sudden disappearance and effort to find a strained couple’s daughter, Tiffany, primarily centered on the efforts of a hired young woman, Cameron Kilbride, to aid in the search. In contrast with Cameron’s moniker as a gorgon by those that she has wronged through her various hustles, she suddenly exhibits a sincere quality of compassion as she seeks to entice Tiffany to voluntarily return to her parents. However, once circumstances suddenly change, Cameron quickly reverts to her typical fleeting pretenses. The Gorgon of Los Feliz portrays differing shades of selfishness through its use of multiple characters’ viewpoints, ultimately showing us the ongoing repercussions that can result from our shortsightedness in seeking instant gratification.

“He envisioned himself rising with the sun, tending to the vines, nurturing them as he would his own child. He imagined the satisfaction of bottling his own wine, the pride of sharing it with others. This land would provide not just sustenance, but a legacy for Nikos.” The novella, The Water Beneath, by Ayis A. Caperonis, introduces us to the life of Dimitros in 1920s Greece as he struggles to support his family in a land that refuses to relinquish its reserve of water. As tragedy reveals the source of his father’s toil masked in betrayal, we see the courses Nikos will opt for in fitting retribution. The novella explores the bonds of family and the values we must overlook to satisfy our need for retribution.

“‘I guess I’m just worried, deep down, that your life is better than mine,’ I said. ‘I think that’s what everyone worries about, that someone else’s life is better than our own. I think that’s why we just want everyone to fall in line with our decisions of conformity.’” The short story collection, I Wanted To Be A Bluesman, by David Joseph, guides us through multiple perspectives of the impact that music can have in the human experience and the healing power that can be gained through developed bonds and fond memories. I Wanted To Be A Bluesman explores the different viewpoints that are developed amongst the backdrop of distinctive lives and upbringings that modify our perception of similar, if not the same, artforms, such as the blues, that help us better appreciate each other.

“Ellie Vogel walked into the darkness beyond the river, carrying with her everything that remained of Demmin—not just memory and grief, but the stubborn, defiant insistence that even from the greatest horror, something might yet survive.” The novel, Demmin, by Nick Nichols, explores part of the aftermath of World War II and the Nazi propaganda that all of Germany’s people must fall in tide with that regime by the distribution of a means of mass suicide. In spite of this internal strife in tandem with the external turmoil of the looming Russian troops, a young couple, Ellie and Wil, seek to survive by leaving the remains of their war-torn hometown in hopes of discovering a more peaceful life together. Demmin depicts the struggles of all those encouraged with this decisive decision and the sorrowful ease it holds over its protagonists, family members, and general society that pains them throughout the novel.

“Jack turned from the store display with a quiet sense of loss—not just for the animals that had vanished, but for the unpredictability and rawness of life itself, dismantled invisibly by AETERNIRIS, one subtraction at a time.” The novella, The Consent of Shadows, by Naza Semoniff, leads us through a dystopian society in which present-day fears that artificial intelligence will succeed human life has occurred in sorts. We discover that life is a mirage of freedom, when thought is already anticipated before it occurs and must follow protocol or risk being forcibly forgotten and extinguished.  The novella explores the importance of memory and the necessity in having the ability to make everyday choices in even the most mundane acts of our lives.

“Even in moments of friction and guilt, I reminded myself that the things I cherished – living in a comfortable house, spending time with my children, making sure they were fed and clothed well – were made possible through that splintering.” The novel, A Splintering, by Dur e Aziz Amna leads us through the life of its protagonist, Tara, as she seeks to escape the confines of so much of her surroundings in rural Pakistan: family life that constantly propounds upon the violence and expectations of her gender, the class she was born into despite her hunger and aptitude for higher learning, and the ties that forever haunt her burden of knowing that she deserves more. A Splintering explores the resolve of an endearing character through vivid language that compels us to yearn for her ultimate triumph, as she is driven to pursue what is touted to be unattainable.