Dykstra, Laurel and Ched Meyers. LIBERATING BIBLICAL STUDY: SCHOLARSHIP, ART AND ACTION IN HONOR OF THE CENTER AND LIBRARY FOR THE BIBLE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, VOLUME I. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2011 (252 pages, $31).

From Ancient Near East classism to modern mortgage crises, this is an accessible and rare bringing-together of postcolonial theologies, creativity, and cultural criticism. This book exhibits rich pedagogy bringing Biblical texts to life, constructively engaging modern quests for justice. Contributors include Gale Yee and Elsa Tamez.

Fedele, Anna. LOOKING FOR MARY MAGDALENE: ALTERNATIVE PILGRIMAGES AND RITUAL CREATIVITY AT CATHOLC SHRINES IN FRANCE. Oxford: University Press, 2013 (320 pages, $36.95).

Mary Magdalene seems to invite creativity both in how people find their way to her shrines and what they do when they get there. Feminist ritual studies like these challenge assumptions and add new layers of meaning to the evolving scriptural and theological explorations of this fascinating figure.

Haskell, Ellen Davina. SUCKLING AT MY MOTHER’S BREASTS: THE IMAGE OF A NURSING GOD IN JEWISH MYSTICISM. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 2012 (203 pages, $24.95).

In this discussion of Kabbalistic imagery of a nursing God, Ellen Haskell explores the possibilities offered by thinking of the divine as nurturing, loving, and dependable, and rejecting the traditional models of a god who is a father, king, and judge. This book is an accessible work, ideal for anyone seeking a spirituality that centers on a positive relationship between humanity and God.

Miles, Margaret R. BEYOND THE CENTAUR: IMAGINING THE INTELLIGENT BODY. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2014 (148 pages, $16.20).

Margaret Miles offers a stunning treatment of human experience, coaxing humans to leave dualisms behind and embrace our intelligent bodies. In a foundational text, she draws on the arts, philosophy and theology, and her experience as a hospice volunteer to explore concrete alternatives to privileging the rational mind. Her erudition, wisdom, and graceful writing are compelling proof of the intelligent body.

Moraga, Cherríe. A XICANA CODEX OF CHANGING CONSCIOUSNESS: WRITINGS, 2000-2010. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011 (280 pages, $19.22).

Through personal essays, poems, and striking cultural critiques, Cherríe Moraga spins a vivid narrative of Xicana and lesbian identities in flux during the first decade of the 21^st century. This sophisticated codex grounds the tensions among race, sexuality, queerness, and feminism in complex discussions surrounding Indigenous American belief systems and identities. This is a stunning contribution to Chicana/o studies.

Schneiders, Sandra M. BUYING THE FIELD: CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS LIFE IN MISSION TO THE WORLD. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2013 (800 pages, $27.26).

This is the third volume in a trilogy that has shaped contemporary Catholic religious life. Sandra’s unique combination of scripture and spirituality, and her clear-eyed look at how communities function in the twenty-first century result in valuable insights for the whole church.

Silvestro, Marsie. GRIEF WALKS THROUGH ME LIKE A RAKE. Kennebunk, ME: MoonSong Press, 2013 (75 pages, $13.95).

Marsie Silvestro illuminates the complexities of loss, depth of pain, and struggle to find hope in the midst of great sadness. With a unique talent, Marsie finds words to name the contradictions of life after death. These raw and rich poems speak to anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. Savor this beautiful work.

Stokes, Jeanette. FLYING OVER HOME. Durham, NC: Word&Spirit, 2013 (188 pages, $23).

A memoir that deals with the hard stuff: parental ineptitude, figuring out what love is, living with loss, finding a way to love despite some poor role models. Jeanette does it as a southerner who keeps place and people, journey and outcome in creative tension. This book deserves a wide audience.

Talvacchia, Kathleen T., Pettinger, Michael F., and Larrimore, Mark. QUEER CHRISTIANITES: LIVED RELIGION IN TRANSGRESSIVE FORMS. New York: New York University Press, 2015 (256 pages, $21.16).

What is transgressive changes so quickly that even the “promiscuities” essays in this volume seem fairly tame. A valuable collection for staking out the contours of contemporary religion in conversation with gender/sexual diversities. Authors include Yvette Flunder, Heather White, and Mary E. Hunt, among others.