ArcaMax

Some books whisper, while others hit like lightning … then there are the rare ones that do both. Those books tend to shift something deep inside you with their quiet insistence on truth. The following 7 books are shaped by memory and sharpened by resistance. They dig deep and unearth what we’re told to keep buried. Family dynamics. Cultural ...Read more

'THE LONG WALK'

Rated R for strong bloody violence, grisly images, suicide, pervasive language, and sexual references.

What it’s about: In a dystopian America, a group of boys enter a walking contest for a cash prize. The lone survivor wins.

The kid attractor factor: While this features teenage boys as the main characters, it's a tough ...Read more

Q. I have had a drug problem for the last four years. I was arrested and have been out of the picture for years. I am now clean and sober and have begun to slowly re-enter my 5-year-old daughter’s life. Prior to that, my daughter’s father had sole custody. He has been living with his girlfriend for years and two years ago married her. My ...Read more

We used to tell our kids to act their age. Now they tell us to act our age. We try, but it’s not easy when you are 20-somethings trapped inside the bodies of seasoned citizens.

The husband spent five days last fall channeling Paul Bunyan, swinging an ax at the roots on a 60-year-old maple tree that a removal service had taken down. In ...Read more

In an era defined by shifting alliances, relentless technology races and deepening mistrust in institutions, these geopolitical thrillers feel ripped from tomorrow’s headlines. When the smallest spark can ignite global war, only the few — whether from the military or any number of alphabet agencies (or a well-trained rogue operative) — ...Read more

"Anchored by Love" by Marie-Claire Moriah Wright and David Saccoh Wright is a heartwarming multigenerational family saga. The book explores the lives of Asher and Charlotte Kingsley and their children as they grow through life’s milestones.

The story begins with Asher and Charlotte’s teenage years. Asher Kingsley, a confident and ...Read more

It happens once in a while: you think of a clever twist of phrase, one that’s not only funny but insightful. Maybe you were in the shower, in the car, doing the dishes. “I should write that down,” you think. But, of course, most of us never do.

Not so with Piotr Bardzik. He’s made a point of getting it all down on paper, and you’ll be...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS -- Scott Redd watched as five young men juked the basketball around defenders, putting up jump shots as music boomed and people trickled in and out. On a typical night, open gym at Sabathani Community Center draws 40-50 people from around the neighborhood.

To Redd, Sabathani’s chief executive, the scene in front of him is part of ...Read more

The 5-year-old child sat sullen before the birthday cake, refusing to blow out the candles. “Wishes don’t come true,” the child said. “I wish to be a boy and it’s not coming true.”

The child cried at the hairdresser’s because the cut wasn’t short enough and vomited at a kindergarten classmate’s girls-only party, pleading to go...Read more

'THE CONJURING: LAST RITES'

Rated R for bloody/violent content and terror.

What it’s about: Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of their last cases with their daughter Judy leading the way.

The kid attractor factor: This haunting horror movie is not for kids, but maybe some appeal for teens.

Good lessons/bad lessons...Read more