ArcaMax

Jerardyn sat quietly on the bus, her mood relaxed as her eyes scanned the fleeting horizon of Southern California one August afternoon.

But as the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a towering barrier of steel pillars, came into view, she began taking big, deep breaths. Her heart began to race as she clutched her immigration documents and tried to hide ...Read more

'THE SMASHING MACHINE'

Rated R for language and some drug abuse.

What it’s about: A biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, following his career in the late '90s.

The kid attractor factor: This is a serious adult drama, not for younger audiences.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Some of those with the most guts don’t get all the glory.

Violence: ...Read more

Q. This is sort of an ethical question. My ex-wife remarried two years ago and even though this sounds a little weird, I find I like him, poor unsuspecting sap. I can tell he cares about my kids and he’s actually a good influence.

Here’s the deal. My ex has always liked her wine, and I suspect it’s causing some problems over there. Her ...Read more

I am an accidental gardener. If anything I plant grows to maturity, and by some fluke of nature becomes edible, it is sheer accident.

If we had to survive on what I grow, we would both be very, very thin. Spaghetti thin. We are not spaghetti thin; we are more like rigatoni.

Several years ago, I dreamed of growing potatoes. I threw some ...Read more

There’s something about a small town that makes it the perfect setting for a thriller. On the surface, you’ve got quiet streets, neighbors who wave as they pass, kids riding their bikes without a care. But scratch just a little deeper and you’ll often find lies stacked as neatly as wood piles, secrets pressed down tightly, hidden well, ...Read more

It’s always a treat as a reader to find a book that delivers a powerful social message as well as tells a good story, and that’s exactly what we get in "Under Their Watch" — Charlie Ketchey’s compelling and moving novel about the challenges facing a pair of dedicated child-care workers.

Child-care caseworker Cameron Springer and John ...Read more