The Mysterious Benedict Society #2

Mysterious Benedict Society, Number 2! by Trenton Stewart

Review by Amanda Snow from A Patchwork of Books

I loved the first installment (reviewed here) of Trenton Stewart's Mysterious Benedict Society books and this second installment was pretty fantastic as well. Lots of adventure, thrills, and more of those brilliant children we've all come to love!

Book two, titled The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, does in fact, take the reader on quite the journey! Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance reunite about a year after the first book finished, ready to go on a scavenger hunt their beloved Mr. Benedict has set up for them. Unfortunately, once the pair gets together, instead of a fun game, they must complete the scavenger hunt in order to find Mr. Benedict, who has been kidnapped by the evil Mr. Curtain. The quartet boards a ship and ends up on a journey around the world, searching for their leader. All of the enemies from the first book are back and extra nasty, but the tricks the kids have up their sleeves are even more impressive, making for an awesome adventure.

I love these books and I'm already looking forward to the next one. If a book keeps me turning pages, involves me in the minds of the characters, and puts a smile on my face, it's a definite winner. Children will love this book, whether or not they've read the first book.

The Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry by Henry Neff

The Hound of Rowan by Henry Neff

Review by Amanda Snow of A Patchwork of Books

While on a trip to an art museum with his dad, Max McDaniels comes across an interesting tapestry that seems to glow when he looks at it. Soon after, he receives a most unusual invitation to a school, far away in New England. So starts The Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry the first title in a promising new series by Henry Neff. After much debate and discussion with a strange representative from the school, Max makes the decision to attend Rowan Academy, where he will take care of a magical creature, train his newfound abilities on the Course, make friends with kids from all over the world, and ultimately build up power against the Enemy. Filled with ogres, crazy classes, and intimidating teachers, from page one this book had me turning pages, earnestly wanting to find out what was to happen next. I am now a huge fan of Max McDaniels!

Do we have any Harry Potter fans out there? I'm sure there are lots of you! When I first picked up The Hound of Rowan: Book One of the Tapestry by Henry Neff, I was afraid of a miserable Potter rip-off. The similarities to the much-loved series seemed quite high and I was really worried that I would end up putting the book down after only a couple of chapters, disappointed with a failed look alike. The exact opposite happened. True, the similarities to the Harry Potter premise are somewhat high. A boy, a school, an enemy, becoming friends with outcasts, having extreme powers, etc. There is still a uniqueness to the story and even with the similarities, the writing is excellent and is bound to draw you in. I fell in love with a new series, but unlike Harry Potter, where I now have seven books at my disposal, this one is fairly new, the second book (came out last month).

Head to your library or bookstore to check this one out, I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Review by Amanda Snow

A Patchworks of Books

As one of my favorite thrill-evoking authors, Margaret Peterson Haddix has swayed from her norm in this novel, based upon the horrible Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy in the early 1900's. I was instantly intrigued at the topic, especially with Haddix being the author, however I think in the end I was left just a little disappointed.

Uprising is told through the eyes of three main characters, Yetta, an outspoken Russian Jewish immigrant, Bella, a young Italian immigrant, having just arrived in America, and Jane, a rich, spoiled American girl, considered of marrying age, yet still living under the watchful eye of her nanny. All three girls become intertwined though the novel, through the famous Triangle Factory strike, poverty, running away from family, and eventually the horrid fire that ravaged the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, leaving many dead due to poor and hazardous conditions within the factory itself.

Though very historically accurate and throughly explained, this book just lacked the spark (no pun intended) that all of Haddix's books contain. It was a little long in the sense that the strike took up 90% of the plot and the fire and aftermath only were described at the very end of the book. I was hoping for a little more on what the fallout was afterwards. The content was a little above middle grade level, which I do believe it is aimed towards, and though I'm sure middle grader's could read it, I think the story may do better with young adults.

I certainly still enjoyed the novel and will always look forward to reading books by Haddix. I may not have liked this one quite as much as her others simply because it was so different. Everyone needs variety though, even me!

Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman

Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman

Review by Amanda Snow, regular contributor

A Patchwork of Books

Kathy Herman is an excellent author of Christian suspense and Ever Present Danger, the first installment in the new Phantom Hollow series, is no exception. It is a story of family, love, and the difficult path to escaping one's past.

Ivy Griffith made some horrible decisions in her life. When she was a teenager, she and her friends chose to do something that would have her living in fear and guilt for most of her life. Ivy ultimately runs away from her home and her parents, turning to drugs to ease her pain. When she returns to Phantom Hollow, many years later with her seven year old son, Montana, and a clean lifestyle, she is determined to set things straight with the people she has hurt over the years. Unfortunately, before she can bravely clear herself of her guilt, a tragedy strikes at her high school reunion, setting in motion the ultimate mystery.

Kathy Herman has this way about her, in which she can create characters that her reader can connect to, but spinning those characters into thrills and mysteries like no other. She also weaves great Christian values and Scripture into the stories, without being "preachy." I really love that most of her books are parts of series, that way I can keep up with the characters and still gets the thrills I love! If you've never tried Kathy Herman, I definitely recommend you giving it a try!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

THE GIVER by Lois Lowry

Review by Amanda Snow, regular contributor

http://www.apatchworkofbooks.blogspot.com/

I didn't read this book for the first time until a couple of years ago, being that I was often put off when it was described as a "science fiction" novel. I hadn't yet broadened my genre taste to include something of everything and passed by this wonderful book for too long. This was my second read of it and it was just as amazing this time around.

The Giver is written by the amazing, wonderful, incredible Lois Lowry and tells the unique story of Jonas, a young boy living in a Utopian society. Everyone is the same in this society, they all have the same color skin, though none of them can see color anyways, so that doesn't matter. There is no such thing as love in this society, as it is an emotion that complicates things. In fact, emotions in general are non-existent in this society. When Jonas is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory, the most prestigious assignment in the entire society, he is shocked and somewhat angry to have been singled out in a world of sameness, though intrigued to learn that through The Giver, he can experience feelings, emotions, and the concept of colors in a manner never before experienced by a resident of the society. What Jonas must decide is whether or not he wants to participate in what the society is making its citizens go through or if he wants to remain within his new found perspective of life's opportunities.

I must admit that I have not read Gathering Blue or Messenger, both books that follow The Giver, but you can bet I'll get them read before the year is done!

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

I really need to stop being judgemental about books, I'm always wrong! The plot description of this book just didn't really interest me, but after seeing positive reviews on several blogs I decided to give it a try. What a surprise it was when I was sucked in from the first page and absolutely fell in love with this book. I cannot wait for the sequel! Not only was the book awesome, but it took place only 10 minutes from my house, which was also very cool.

The Green Glass Sea, written by Ellen Klages, is a book of intrigue and companionship. Dewey is used to being left alone. Her mother has been gone since before she can remember and since the war started her father has been all over the country working on "secret Army stuff." Dewey has stayed with her grandmother during that time, however when her grandmother has a stroke, she must go and live on the Army base in New Mexico with her father. When she arrives, she learns that the Army is working on a secret gadget that is supposed to help them win the war, a gadget which older kids and adults will realize is the atomic bomb. Dewey is left alone a lot of the time while her father is working and though she tries to make friends, most of the girls on the base find her and her obsession with mechanics strange.

When Dewey's father gets called away to Washington, Dewey must move in with the Gordon's. Unfortunately, one of the Gordon's is a girl Dewey's age, Suze, one of Dewey's most notorious tormentors. As the war rages on and their parents are busy trying to fight it, Dewey and Suze work on their friendship and learn that despite their differences, they may just be meant to be friends and their common strengths can help them get through.

Though many tragedies are spoken of in the chapters of this book, all of them are incredibly realistic and many are true. Though the story is fiction, the history is all fact and these events really took place. I live only 10 minutes from the Trinity site in Alamogordo, where the atomic bomb testing was done. I loved reading a book that described my home and surroundings so well and it was very interesting to read it from a child's perspective. This book was amazing and because of the cliff-hanger at the end, I can't wait for Klages to put out the companion novel.

This book is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Review by Amanda Snow, our newest regular contributor!

A Patchwork of Books