Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Review of Grudge Tiger

A woman and her daughters fight to save their tiger and their zoo following an animal attack in this novel.

The Warrens run a zoo in Southern Illinois where the big draw is their Bengal tiger, Ms. Benni. Carolyn, the family’s matriarch, started the business with her husband, now dead. Marietta, Carolyn’s elder daughter, is a flight attendant in her early 20s; Kenny, her sister, is an accomplished high school student. Kenny has a crush on Dean Alcott, the young man who delivers feed to the zoo—often shirtless—which is what leads her to film him on her phone the day he walks into the tiger enclosure and is mauled by Ms. Benni. As a result, Dean sues Carolyn for $3.8 million, which would certainly finish the Warren Family Zoo. The Warrens are quickly supplied with a lawyer by their insurance company. Jackie Bauer—with Kenny’s aid—wastes no time in discovering that two weeks prior to the attack, Dean kicked at Ms. Benni’s head; that he was spurned by Marietta before he unlocked the animal’s enclosure; and that there are tigers who hold grudges. While the case gets underway, Carolyn worries about the family’s finances; Kenny expands her social circle; and Jackie’s trip to London for a tiger expert’s deposition may lead to more than just pertinent testimony. This story can best be described as wholesome. Helms’ writing style, with accessible but detailed prose, gives the tale an overall feeling of nostalgic comfort, a warmth and simplicity that’s present in animal-centered family movies like Free Willy and Homeward Bound. These traits pop up in much of the dialogue as well, as when Marietta tries to cheer up her sister after it becomes known that Kenny liked to secretly film Dean: “I would’ve been a jerk about it—especially because I’d have been secretly jealous of your good grades.” This simplicity is a strength and is partly what makes the story enjoyable. Another high point is the trial, particularly when Dr. Nigel Lucas, the English tiger expert, delivers passionate, clever testimony….

A charming tale about a loving family and their beloved tiger.

Kirkus Review of The Toronto Embryo

A 16-year-old girl weighs her options after a surprise pregnancy hits in this YA novel.

In January 2020, Eve Geraghty flies from her home in Chicago to spend her winter break in the Dominican Republic, where she’s volunteering at an orphanage for a church mission. One of her fellow volunteers in Adam, a tall, brown-haired 18-year-old from Cologne, Germany. Eve feels lucky when she’s assigned to work with him; besides his good looks, she likes Adam’s hearty laugh, his natural ease with the kids, and his altruistic commitment. When he invites her to stargaze with him, she gladly accepts, enjoying their conversations about constellations and mythology. They become close, and, finally, have a sweet sexual encounter, Eve’s first. When she returns home, she discovers that even though they used a condom, she’s pregnant. She’s torn about what to do, especially because her parents have opposing views: Her mother is a “pro-life feminist” and her father is an abortion-rights advocate. Diligently researching the best arguments on both sides of the issue, Eve is still undecided. Then she learns of an experimental procedure that could give her the best of both worlds—but it’s not without risks. In her novel, Helms uses Eve’s analysis of her situation to skillfully educate readers about such matters as conception, pregnancy, and abortion….

A thoughtful…tale about the abortion debate.