*Rewind* by Jeffrey Calhoun is a dark, introspective coming‑of‑age novel that blurs the line between psychological realism and surreal horror. The story follows William Woodruff,, a teenager growing up in a fractured family marked by neglect, addiction, and handed‑down violence. After enduring emotional and physical trauma, William begins to lose his grip on reality—hears voices, experiences blackouts, and forgets entire years of his life. Doctors diagnose him with *retrograde amnesia* and later *encephalopathy*, but the true cause lies in deep psychological and generational wounds. Narrated in fragmented, time‑bending vignettes, the book weaves together visits from his troubled grandfather, memories of his best friend Toby’s persecution for being gay, and his relationship with Maya, a girl who becomes both his anchor and his mirror. As William’s perception deteriorates, hallucination and memory merge, forcing him to confront whether his “rewind” wish—a desire to start life over—is real or a symbol of psychotic collapse. Through its nonlinear structure and shifting tone—part confession, part fever dream—*Rewind* explores trauma, mental illness, love, and survival. It’s less about the events themselves than about how memory distorts them, asking what remains of a person when the mind rewrites its own story.

Clive Andrews is a typical 16-year-old boy who never had anything out of the ordinary happen until May 16th, 2020, when he was struck by several feet of ball lightning and nearly killed. After being discharged from the hospital, he realizes that he now possesses an unusual ability; he can travel time. Losing his dad a year ago to cancer, he decides to bring him back by finding a cure from the future. But everything has a cost and time travel has many. Will it all be worth the struggle, or will Clive discover something even more sinister? Only time will tell, and he hasn't got much of it. Recommended age rating: 18+ for scenes of violence, drug references, child abuse, mentions of suicide, self-harm, gambling, profanity, a use of a historically accurate ethnic slur, and disturbing situations involving mental illness. If you were okay with The Catcher in the Rye, you should be able to handle this. This book is partially based on my life.

This book follows Jody Keller, a former child star whose brief brush with fame in the 1990s never really let go of him. As a five-year-old, he played the lead in a low-budget horror film called Monsters in the Closet, where he was the terrified kid who knew something lived behind his bedroom door while the adults refused to believe him. The movie demanded raw, convincing fear from him, blurring the line between acting and genuine terror, and imprinting closets, darkness, and the idea of a human monster named Georgie Matthews Junior deep into his psyche. The film bombed and quietly disappeared, but the psychological fallout didn't.

We follow the story of Jeremiah South, a curious and imaginative ten-year-old boy growing up in an American town in Mongomery, Alabama during one of the most transformative years in history. As 1917 unfolds, Jeremiah's world shifts dramatically, both on a global scale and in his personal life. The backdrop of World War I looms large, as older boys from his town enlist to fight overseas, and families, including Jeremiah's, grapple with fear and uncertainty. Jeremiah watches as his brother joins the war effort, leaving behind his family and his home. The sense of duty and patriotism conflicts with the personal sacrifices many must make, and Tommy begins to understand the complexities of loyalty, courage, and loss. At school, Jeremiah learns about the world beyond Montgomery — from the suffragette movement advocating for women’s rights to the technological advances that are transforming everyday life. The book captures how these larger events intersect with the innocence of childhood, as Jeremiah navigates friendships, family responsibilities, and the simple joys of being a child during a difficult time in history.

1968 follows the journey of an eighteen-year-old navigating the turbulence of 1960s San Francisco. Isaac grows up in a middle-class family with traditional expectations, but as the Vietnam War intensifies, he begins to question the values he was raised with. Drawn to the city’s growing anti-war movement, Isaac becomes involved with student activists, musicians, and draft resisters who challenge him to think critically about duty, morality, and identity. When he receives his draft notice, Isaac makes the life-altering decision to refuse induction, believing he cannot in good conscience participate in a war he sees as unjust. His defiance leads to public protests, tense confrontations with his family, and ultimately his arrest. While in jail, Isaac wrestles with fear, guilt, and doubt, but also finds unexpected solidarity among other conscientious objectors. Through this experience, he learns that coming of age means not only discovering what you stand for, but being willing to face the consequences. By the end of the novel, Isaac emerges with a stronger sense of purpose and an unshakable commitment to living by his principles, even in the face of profound sacrifice.

The Princess Eliza of Eldritch has been kidnapped. In a kingdom shadowed by intrigue and unrest, hope seems lost—until Ian, a humble coal miner with dreams beyond the darkness of the earth, is thrust into a destiny he never imagined. When a chance encounter at the village tavern leads him to Oswald, a mysterious outcast with knowledge of a knight seeking an apprentice, Ian seizes the opportunity to escape his lot and pursue greatness.

The village of Colmer is devastated by a plague. Its only hope is two brothers divided by their beliefs in magic. When Jethro ventures into the depths of the forest to find a wizard who can heal the village, Arthur has to find his brother before anything or anyone can harm him. With the forest's secrets unveiling at every turn and the hopes of their people riding on their shoulders, can Arthur and Jethro find the cure and each other in time?