Shutta Crum

In the small town of Baylor, Kentucky, twelve-year-old Jessie K. Bovey and her friends confront some of life's questions during their summer vacation in the late 1960s.

Spitting Image

Megan Merchant

Emily Hall

Robert Wood Lynn

Kimberly Ann Priest

Tamara J. Madison

Caroline Mar

West Trade Review is published quarterly (one print edition each spring and an online quarterly each summer, fall, and winter). We strive to put forth the best contemporary poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction (personal essays/memoir), photography, and artwork and publish a mix of established and up and coming writers/artists.Our mission is to perpetuate the work of artists both well known and yet-to-be-known, simultaneously enriching our world through the written word and visual arts. We strive to reflect diversity in style, content and perspective throughout prose, poetry, photography and other artwork. Our goal is to simply present to you the best art possible by both emerging and established creative minds.

Volume 14, Spring 2023

West Trade Review

A charming reimagining of Sleeping Beauty that “will appeal to younger middle grade readers who like fantasy, fractured fairy tales, and adventure” (School Library Journal)! William and his little brother, Pinch, have been left alone at their home atop the mountain. When a witch named Morga shows up, William is forced to embark on a terrifying journey, the worst part of which is Morga herself. She has three riddles for William to solve, with only the help of an odd fellow who wakes up a different size every day and a tiny yellow dragon who can dream storms into reality. Three riddles. Three chances to lift an ancient curse. Three chances to save his family. Part fantasy and part fairy tale, and sprinkled with charming black-and-white illustrations, William and the Witch’s Riddle is a loose retelling of Sleeping Beauty and an adventure that’s just right for middle graders. Praise for Shutta Crum’s Thomas and the Dragon Queen: “Both heartwarming and full of surprises. . . . A must-read.” —School Library Journal, Starred review “The quick pace, thrilling escapes, and subtly detailed medieval setting will all be appealing to early fantasy readers.” —The Bulletin “A sure-fire hit as a read-aloud, this is an engaging book featuring a hero filled with bravery, quick wits, and heart.” —The Horn Book

William and the Witch's Riddle

When the princess is kidnapped by a dragon queen, thirteen-year-old Thomas, a new--and very small--squire-in-training boldly sets out on a quest to rescue her.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen

A charming summer story that's just right for toddlers, from the team behind the critically acclaimed picture book Mine! What does a toddler say when she drops her sunglasses in the sand? "Uh-Oh!" What does she say when a seagull lands on her sandcastle? "Uh-Oh!" What does she say when she finds a crab in her pail? "Uh-Oh!" And what does she say when a BIG wave is coming? That's the biggest "Uh-Oh!" of all! This nearly wordless story of toddler adventure perfectly captures the dynamics between the youngest friends and the sheer pleasure of that favorite toddler word: Uh-Oh!

Uh-Oh!

A farm family scurries for shelter from a violent thunderstorm that brings welcome relief from the heat and also an unexpected surprise.

Thunder-Boomer!

A kingdom is at war. A princess has been kidnapped by a dragon queen. A brave squire volunteers to set out on a quest to rescue her. But there's just one small problem. He's Thomas, the shortest of all the squires. With little more than a donkey, a vest, and a sword, Thomas will have to use all of his courage and determination to battle a beast with many heads, reach a forbidden island, and rescue the princess from a most fearsome dragon-and an even more fearsome fate! Part thrilling adventure and part enchanting fantasy, sprinkled with charming black-and-white illustrations, Thomas and the Dragon Queen will delight young readers from start to finish.

"At a family reunion, dozens of 'beastie' cousins spend the day running wild, playing in the creek, filling up on food, and making mischief."

Shutta Crum

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