(NewsUSA) - “High Tea and Misdemeanors” by Laura ChildsWhen a wedding is tragically averted by the death of the bridesmaid, Theodosia is determined to prove that it was murder in the latest entry to this New York Times bestselling Tea Shop Mystery series.Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Connelly, are tapped to cater the elegant wedding of Bettina and Jamie. Theodosia and Drayton are setting up when they hear a crash from the greenhouse. Shockingly, they discover that part of the roof has collapsed, trapping a bridesmaid and the groom. He will pull through, but the bridesmaid is no more. Theodosia is convinced it was murder.As an added feature, the book includes delicious recipes and tea-time tips. Purchase at https://bit.ly/4fvTGtK.“Why Wolves Matter: A Conservation Success Story” by Karen B. WinnickWhere did all the wolves go? The birds, the fish and the beavers?When the top predator was wiped out, the balance of nature in Yellowstone National Park was disrupted. The circle was broken. Written in a lyrical style, “Why Wolves Matter” is an ecological tale that helps children understand the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world. Once all the wolves were gone, the elk population grew so large that the trees and vegetation on which they fed disappeared, throwing the Park and the remaining wildlife into disarray.Supplemented with a timeline and bibliography, the non-fiction picture book “Why Wolves Matter” is about the importance of the top predator in nature, how balance was restored in Yellowstone National Park and the circle made whole again — with important historical and scientific relevance for children. Purchase at https://amzn.to/415gGKV.“Gather, Ye Heroes” by C.S. BrownIn this first book of an exciting new fantasy series, securing victory against his enemies, Tianis is thrown into a world he is ill-prepared for. Confronted by a dragon, he is informed that he must lead mankind against an ancient foe returning after nearly 1,000 years.Torg, 16, is looking forward to being released from his apprenticeship and taking his place in society. But his path leads him toward something completely different. He encounters a dragon, who brands him as the chosen leader of the armies of man and dragon.Elsbeth, the daughter of a master weaponsmith who works alongside her father in the armory, makes an accidental discovery that brings her face to face with a dragon. She is told that there is more to the world than she ever imagined and that she is to be a leader on that stage.But can prophecy be trusted? Purchase at https://bit.ly/4fSfe3Y.“Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles” by Jeannie NicholasThis tale is told from three distinct points of view: a young teenager, her mother and their landlady. Kalayla is a bi-racial girl determined to teach adults a thing or two. Her mother, Maureen, has been disowned by her Irish family and works as a waitress. Their Italian landlady, a widow, is retiring as CEO of her family’s business.Their deepening friendships provide a scaffolding of support and show the transformative power of connection as they each risk new adventures with laughter and courage. Their stories touch on race, sexuality, marital abuse, exasperations of adolescence, single motherhood and self-discovery.Kirkus Reviews describes the book as “an eloquent tale about real-life people with difficult problems.” Purchase at https://amzn.to/40RaLcq.

Reading and maintaining a human connection have a vital role to play as extreme events that have long served as the stuff of dystopian fiction simply become a part of everyday life.