Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

Review by Emily, DCR's Head Mama

whimsy

I receive quite a few Review Copies of books I don't request. Because they are not books I choose to fit my personal tastes, few really appeal to me.

Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy is one that did.

Schoolmarm Grace Calhoun may seem like just another tightwad teacher at first, but there is so much more to her. Adopted by an abusive father, she has overcome many trials and discovered how brave she can be.

She always wanted to be a teacher, but now that she is realizing her dream, she can't get the 5 Reeves brothers in her class to behave. Their father is no better. She calls him the leader of the rats. "The man had the intelligence of the average fence post, the personality of a wounded warthog, and the stubbornness of a flea-bitten mule. Grace silently apologized to all the animals she'd just insulted."

When Grace's father shows up intending to kill her, she makes a wild escape that leads her to a winter she'll never forget...stuck with the Reeves family.

Calico Canyon is a great romantic comedy. It is apparently the sequel to Petticoat Ranch, which I've never read. So, I'd probably start with that one, although this book can stand alone.

It is set in the year 1867 in a small town in Texas.

The story reminded me of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at times. So, if that is your kind of thing, try this one out. It's a lot of fun.

The GollyWhopper Games by Jody Feldman

Feldman, Jody. 2008. The Gollywhopper Games.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews

If Gil Goodson was to have a chance, any chance at all, he would have to run faster than he was running right now.

I enjoyed The GollyWhopper Games. It's part Chasing Vermeer. Part Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Part The Mysterious Benedict Society. In other words, it's a whole lot of fun. The Golly Whopper toy company is having a contest, a true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thousands and thousands of kids want to make it, hope to make it, but no one wants it more than Gil Goodson. His father was fired from the GollyWhopper company--falsely accused of embezzling the company's funds. He's been proven innocent, but the Goodson family is still the town's scapegoats. Gil Goodson wants to win, and if wanting gives you power, then he's fully charged and ready to go. But is he ready to face all of the obstacles and challenges in his path?

Gil is a likable narrator. He is. He's a kid--much like Charlie Bucket--who you want to win. I should note that the other contestants aren't as detestable as Charlie's competitors. The games, the challenges, require mental, emotional, and physical prowess. The finals of the game--for example--require each team of five to solve a logic puzzle. After the mind has been stimulated, then there is a physical stunt required. The puzzles are puzzling. Meaning, the reader can have just as much fun as the characters themselves. For those that love the puzzle-solving elements of Chasing Vermeer and Mysterious Benedict Society, The GollyWhopper Games might be just what you're looking for.

A book that encourages higher thinking skills? A book that encourages team work? A book that encourages determination and diligence? What's not to love?

W

e

e

Little

S

p

o

i

l

e

r

Some--but not all--readers might find it a bit predictable. Some might not be on the edge-of-their-seats waiting to see if Gil wins the big game. But even if it is a wee bit predictable on that front, it is satisfying. And being satisfying is important too. After all, I wouldn't want anyone other than Gil to win!

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

Peck, Richard. 2000. A Year Down Yonder.

Review by Becky Laney.

A Year Down Yonder is the sequel to A Long Way From Chicago. However, this is not a novel in stories. Nor is it narrated by Joey Dowdel. No, A Year Down Yonder is the story of Mary Alice, the little sister that is almost-but-not-quite all grown up. The year is 1937. The Depression is making life difficult both in urban and rural areas. It is economic necessity which prompts Mary Alice's parents to send their daughter away. (Joey is sent away also, but not with Mary Alice.) Mary Alice is being sent to live with the vivacious, one-of-a-kind, sometimes embarrassing Grandma Dowdel. How will this "city" girl fit in with these country bumpkins? Will they accept her? welcome her? Not if the Burdicks have their way!

A Year Down Yonder is a treat. It's rich in detail, rich in humor, rich in heart and humanity. The characters, the place all come alive. Richard Peck is a pro when it comes to capturing the good, the bad, the ugly, and the laughable. Mary Alice does have a few adjustments to make, but this book captures her unforgettable journey, her coming-of-age in small town America.

If you haven't read A Long Way From Chicago, this book does stand alone. In case you're wondering. But I would recommend reading both books. Both books are such a joy, a treat, a delight.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tolkien, J.R.R. 1937, 1966. The Hobbit.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews

Young Readers
Reading with Becky

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. (3)

Hobbits do like to be comfortable. That is a fact. But in The Hobbit, we read of one hobbit in particular, a Mr. Bilbo Baggins, who leaves his life of comfort behind him to go on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with thirteen dwarves and one wizard. It is the story of how he went from being a respectable hobbit to a very unrespectable, "odd" little hobbit. Bilbo never meant to have an adventure. He was quite clear on that. But never say never. It all starts with a visit from a wizard, Gandalf. That visit leads to another visit--a visit by thirteen dwarves--who call upon him unawares and give him the surprise of his life. They want him--they expect him--to be a part of their expedition, their adventure, their journey to go off and kill a dragon, Smaug by name, and steal his treasure. It's laughable almost, at least at first, but slowly and surely Bilbo gets carried away with it all. And the adventures that follow--oh my!

The Hobbit is a charming and delightful though-not-a-thin adventure book that everyone should read. (Or at least attempt to read! By that I mean, while I loved it--while I think many many people love it--I suppose no one book can please everyone. But this one should at least be attempted, tested to see if you like this sort of thing.)

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Riordan, Rick. 2008. The Battle of the Labyrinth.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews
Christian Reviews

Young Readers

Reading with Becky

Oh my. Trust me it's good. Really really good. The Battle of the Labyrinth is the fourth novel in the Percy Jackson series, a contemporary fantasy series built around the premise that the Greek gods are alive and well and living in modern-day America. The others include The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, and The Titan's Curse. Rick Riordan is one of my favorite authors. His Percy Jackson novels in a way illustrate the ultimate when it comes to the can't-put-downability experience. Once you start, you really can't stop. They're just that good, that suspenseful, that magical.

What can I say about The Battle of the Labyrinth? It's good. It's intense. It's very intense. There really isn't a calm or dull moment in its 361 pages. The story? The plot? Well, I won't be spilling that here. For one, I don't think you'll need the incentive to go and read this one if you've read the other three. You'd read it no matter what I said. You might already have a copy in hand or on order. If you haven't read any of the Percy Jackson books yet, you really need to correct that...and soon! It's fun and educational. The weaving of Greek mythology into a modern-day adventure story starring unforgettable characters...is just brilliant. Each novel adds more depth, more substance, more meaning into the story. New characters, new plot twists, new ways of making this series oh-so-magical.

First sentence: The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school.

Last sentence: "Come inside for cake and ice cream," I said. "It sounds like we've got a lot to talk about."

Bronte's Book Club by Kristiana Gregory

Gregory, Kristiana. 2008. Bronte's Book Club.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews
Becky's Christian Reviews
Young Readers
Reading with Becky

Bronte's Book Club is a fun title that is just right for the eight to ten crowd. Bronte Bella has just recently moved with her family from New Mexico to California. Wanting to use the move to her advantage, Bronte is determined to make a new start. Typically shy and hesitant in the friend department, she wants more than anything to make a few friends before school starts in the fall. She's nervous but brave. After a few days in her new house, she's inspired to start a book club. A club that will meet every Wednesday for the rest of the summer. She makes fliers and hangs them up around town. But what Bronte realizes is that the perfect book club doesn't just happen overnight. Friendships don't happen overnight either. The book Bronte chooses? Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell.

Books. Friendship. Summer adventures. And snacks. This is perfect light reading for young readers.

Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor

O'Connor, Barbara. 2008. Greetings From Nowhere.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews

Becky's Christian Reviews

Young Readers

Reading with Becky

Greetings From Nowhere can be described in many ways: charming, delightful, satisfying, sweet, and a general all around feel-good treat. It's a story told by many narrators. (Aggie, Willow, Kirby, Loretta) Each voice is unique and just right. This isn't a story of one person, it's a story of a whole community of characters. It's a story about humanity, about life. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you're a fan of Because of Winn Dixie, I think you'll just love this one. It just resonates with rightness.

This one would make a great read aloud to share with the whole family.

Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park

Park, Linda Sue. 2008. Keeping Score.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews

Becky's Christian Reviews
Young Readers

Reading with Becky

I have read most of Linda Sue Park's novels, and I've enjoyed all of them. Some more than others, but I've enjoyed them all. (It's just a matter of degree.) I liked--really liked--this one. I didn't know quite what to expect. It is about baseball. Not about playing baseball necessarily, but about being a fan of the sport. About being a fan of the game, the players, the teams. Our narrator, our heroine, is Maggie, or "Maggie-O" as her father likes to call her. She's a Dodger's fan, a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. The novel is set in the early to mid fifties. (1951-1955). Her mother and brother are Dodgers fans as well. But her father is a Yankees fan. (Hence her name "Maggie-O" and his son, Joseph Michael.) Her father was a fireman. But after a serious injury (all occurring before the novel's start) he now has a desk job. Maggie, however, still visits the fire house, the firemen regularly. Not a week goes by when she doesn't go to hang out with her father's friends, her father's coworkers. She loves to listen to the baseball games on the radio with them. One of the men is new. His name is Jim. He's different from the others--he's a Giants fan. But oddly enough, though he's a fan of the wrong team, it's him that Maggie is most drawn to. He teaches her how to keep score, how to follow the game play by play on paper keeping precise records. Their friendship is real though sports-based. So the news that he has been drafted into the army effects her quite deeply.
Maggie has led a sheltered life. But Jim being sent to Korea opens her eyes a bit to the world around her. Not all at once. But slowly and surely, she is growing and changing and coming of age.
Baseball. War. Friendship. Family. This novel has a little bit of everything to offer readers. It is deeper than I thought it would be. The first half of the novel is just a sports novel. But the second half, it's about so much more. Anyway, I think Keeping Score has something for everyone. Even if you're not a big sports fan.

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

Title: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices From A Medieval Village

Author: Laura Amy Schlitz

Illustrator: Robert Byrd

Genre: Juvenile Drama

Pages: 85

Date Finished: 17 March 2008

My Rating: A +

Newbery Medal Winner 2008

Review by Jeanette from A Comfy Chair and a Good Book

In the forward to this wonderful collection of one-person plays, Laura Amy Schlitz said that these plays were written for the students at park School, where she works as a librarian. "They were studying the Middle Ages, and they were going at it hammer and tongs. They were experimenting with catapults and building miniature castles, baking bread and tending herbs, composing music and illuminating manuscripts. I wanted them to have something to perform."

Something to perform is exactly what she gave them! These monologues are absolutely fascinating and delightful.One of my favorites was Thomas, the Doctor's Son."

After the prayer, let the patient rest,

And tell his family, 'I will do my best

To fight this sickness, but I fear his fate-

It may be that you called me in too late'

Then shake your head, look serious and wise-

This sort of talk protects you if he dies.

If he recovers, it was all your skill

That brought him back to life. And that's better still."

Another was Barbary, the Mud Slinger."It made me think

how all women are the same-

silk or sackcloth, all the same.

There's always babies to be born

and suckled and wiped,and worried over.

Isobel, the lord's daughter,

will have to be married,

and squat in the straw,

and scream with the pain

and pray for her life

same as me.

And thinking of that,

I added one more prayer-

sweet Jesus, come Christmas,

don't let it be twins."

I also really enjoyed Mogg, the villein's daughter, Piers, the glassblower's apprentice and Mariot and Maud, the glassblower's daughters.

This little volume is storytelling at its best. Not only do you get a wonderful, captivating story (or 22 of them in this case,) but you are also learning about the life of children in the Middle Ages. Through these monologues we learn about farming, pilgrimages, marriage, religion, freedom, hygiene and the crusades of the Middle Ages. And Schlitz definitely did not pretty-up the Middle Ages for her young audience. There are fleas, dung, polluted rivers and religious intolerance.

I can only imagine how fun it must be for school children to perform these little plays.

I can not forget to mention the wonderful illustrations by Robert Byrd.

They are beautiful and fit the piece perfectly.

Brief interview with Laura Amy Schlitz on the Today Show

The Jane Austen Handbook by Margaret C. Sullivan

Title: The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World

Author: Margaret C. Sullivan

Review by Jeanette at a Comfy Chair and a Good Book

Genre: Non-fiction, Jane Austen
Pages: 224
Date Finished: 29 Feb 2008
My Rating: A

This is a delightful, charming, humorous and informative book, packed with information on Regency England. As the publisher said, this book is "for all those readers who dream about living in Regency England, The Jane Austen Handbook offers step-by-step instructions for proper comportment in the early nineteenth century. You'll discover:
How to Become an Accomplished Lady
How to Run a Great House
How to Indicate Interest in a Gentleman Without Seeming Forward
How to Throw a Dinner Party
How to Choose and Buy Clothing

Full of practical directions for navigating the travails of Regency life, this charming illustrated book also serves as a companion for present-day readers, explaining the English class system, currency, dress, and the nuances of graceful living."
You'll also learn just how rich Darcy really was and how much he would be worth today. I thought Sullivan explained entail better than anything else I have ever read about the subject. I feel like I finally understand entail and the hows and whys of its use.
All of the little day to day things that made up the life of the landed gentry during Austen's life time are covered. The writing is light and easy, less scholarly and more fun but just as informative and accurate as a more scholarly book.
I loved the tongue-in-cheek references to the novels that are found throughout the book. I found this approach humorous and enjoyable and almost felt like I was sharing an inside joke between myself, Margaret Sullivan and Jane Austen. For example, when writing about child rearing, Sullivan wrote that "if all else fails, liberal slices of cake solve many child-rearing problems." Could she be referring to Mrs. Musgroves approach to her grandsons that is found in Persuasion? This is just one example of such humorous little tidbits found throughout the book.
The illustrations by Kathryn Rathke make the book even more delightful and the wonderful appendices complete the book. There you find a short bio of Jane Austen, a glossary of Regency terms, synopses of each novel, a listing of film adaptations, a bibliography and a list of web site and discussion groups.
I checked this wonderful book out from the library but will be adding it to my Jane Austen book collection soon.

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James

Title: The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen

Author: Syrie James

Genre: Fiction, Jane Austen

Pages: 303

Date Finished: 27 Feb 2008

Review by Jeanette

My Rating: A"Do you mean to say, that if I believe in your story as you have told it, then it is as good as if it were true?" (303) So asks Jane Austen's nephew in this fictional account of her life and so sums up my feelings for this book. While I know the story is fiction, it was written in such a true and believable fashion that I had to remind myself that it wasn't actually a recently discovered memoir of Jane Austen.

What fan of Jane Austen has not, at some point, lamented the fact that Cassandra Austen destroyed so many of her sister's letters? Who amongst us has not harbored a wish that maybe Cassandra had not destroyed them but just hidden them away really, really well and someday they will be unearthed? Or that some other forgotten and lost work by Jane Austen would be discovered?

That is the premise of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. Workmen, repairing the roof at Chawton Manor house, find an old trunk bricked up in the wall of the attic. Inside the trunk they find several old manuscripts and a ring. The manuscripts turn out to be the long lost memoirs of Jane Austen.

The story takes place during a period of time when none of Jane Austen's letters remain for modern audiences to read. This gap in time has left many today wondering what was happening in Jane's life during those silent years. Syrie James gives us a beautiful tale of what could have happened during those years. "Jane Austen has given up her writing when, on a fateful trip to Lyme, she meets the well-read and charming Mr. Ashford, a man who is her equal in in intellect and temperament. Inspired by the people and places around her, and encouraged by his faith in her, Jane begins revising Sense and Sensibility, a book she began years earlier, hoping to be published at last."

I'll admit I was skeptical at first, but this is a love story befitting of Jane Austen. I felt James captured Austen's essence and style. James gave us a mature woman, secretly in love but still grounded in the reality of her time. There have been many who have attempted to write about Jane Austen or her characters but few, if any, have done such a wonderful job. James clearly knew her subject matter and blended the fact and fiction masterfully to give us a most enjoyable, romantic story.

I did have a few complaints. I felt that James took too much of this story directly from Austen's own novels and it read more like a novel than a memoir or journal. How many people writing about events that happened years earlier can remember such long chunks of dialogue?Withstanding these two things, the novel was wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether or not they are a fan of Jane Austen.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

Title: His Majesty’s Dragon

Series: Temeraire Book 1

Author: Naomi Novik

Review by James Barrett

Summary:
Naval Captain William Laurence is thrust unwillingly into the world of His Majesty’s Aerial Corp, after bonding with the newly hatched dragon Temeraire. The understaffed Aerial Corp places him in an accelerated boot camp designed to bring the new pair up to speed, as they are desperately needed to hold off Napoleon’s Imperial desires for Britain.

Why I Enjoyed It:
I found the dragons to be fully fleshed out characters, unlike the majority of dragon novels where they exist as talking horses. In fact I found that the characters of the dragons in the book to be better developed than the majority of the humans.
The language in the book is a treat consisting of authentic sounding(to me, having been forced to watch BBC Jane Austen dramas by the wife) 19th-century English. Novik works to maintain the language not only during dialog, but also in scene descriptions, creating a lush reading experience.
The battle scenes are engaging but don’t overwhelm the book be being every other page. Novik also shows a love for the era and an understanding of the Napoleonic wars that goes beyond that of a layman.
If you are a fan of the film Master and Commander, love to read McCaffery’s Pern novels, or just wish Jane Austen would throw a little action into her novels, I can highly recommend Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon.

I Am Not Wolf by Roger Terry

“I Am Not Wolf” by Roger Terry
Review by Natalie Smith, regular contributor

I was intrigued first because of this title, and second because of the picture on the front. It’s true that generally you can’t judge a book by its cover, but this one was really interesting to me, and I borrowed it from the library.

Because “I Am Not Wolf” was in the LDS section of our library, I was expecting to read a story about conversion to the LDS Church, and instead I came away with a very different idea of what West Germany was like during the 1970s. This book barely mentions the LDS Church, except to state how the missionaries look from the eyes of an outsider with a very different lifestyle.

“I Am Not Wolf” follows a young American, David, who goes to West Germany and meets his best friend, Wolf. They have some adventures, and while the book is somewhat formulaic in places, it’s also such an interesting study in culture and personality that it keeps the attention. I recommend this one to adults because of their comprehension of repercussions of the Berlin Wall, although it would be appropriate for young adults, as well, especially if they have studied this time period.

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Review by Emily, head mama of DCR and ...whimsy...

Ever is a brand new fairy tale brought to you by the author of Ella Enchanted, Fairest, and many other great stories.

Ever is told from both the perspective of Olus, god of winds, and the mortal girl he falls in love with, Kezi.

Olus lives a lonely life. None of the other gods are even close to his age. When he turns 17, he leaves the Akkan gods and seeks a life with the mortals. He becomes a goatherd for Kezi’s father. He watches Kezi and grows to care for her. The other gods tell Olus that it is a waste to care about mortals because they are soap bubbles. They are here one moment and die the next. But when Kezi’s life nears its end, Olus can’t stand the thought of it. He and Kezi embark on a hero’s journey to save her.

As I mentioned, Ever is an original fairy tale. The characters are fun and interesting, but I’m not sure they are as fleshed out as I would have liked. The plot is fresh. Seeing from each character’s point of view is intriguing, although occasionally confusing.

I definitely recommend Ever to teens and preteens who enjoy fairy tales. I didn't love it as much as Fairest and Ella Enchanted, but it is still worth reading.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Review by Natalie, regular contributor

From the very beginning, "Wildwood Dancing" kept me absolutely captivated. There is such imagery and beautiful language and authentic names and places and folklore – and it fulfilled every hope I had for it!

"Wildwood Dancing" is a loose retelling of several fairy tales, including The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Frog Prince, and Dragutsa, also realistically incorporates such elements as the fairy court and vampires. It follows the point of view of Jena, second-oldest daughter of a frail widower who is about to leave the family in the care of an old family friend as he goes away to better his health. Jena has a secret – every Full Moon, she and her sisters go to the fairy realm to dance and play with all the mythical creatures there. But their innocent revelry is about to end, as forces collide and the fate of all is in question.

My favorite aspect of this book was the attention to detail Juliet Marillier used. She employed authentic names and places and folklore to make this seem as though it really could have happened in Romania. I also felt she didn’t impose too much of the twenty-first century on Jena – so often, readers are stopped cold by an attitude that just wouldn’t exist at that time, and while Jena and her sisters have somewhat unconventional views, I never felt they were too out of place for the time period. Jena is forward-thinking, but also bows to tradition in a lot of ways.

I would recommend this book to anyone! It is certainly most appropriate for teenage readers and up, but even older children can appreciate the suspense and unmasking that goes on in this story. There are vampires (a.k.a. "Night People"), but the subject is touched upon so delicately that I feel confident people of all ages can enjoy "Wildwood Dancing".

I have winners!

I went to Random.org and got me some random integer winners. Commenters 9 and 29 are the winners.

Hil'Lesha and Jasmine! Email me at emykate03 AT yahoo DOT com to claim your copy of Courting Emma!

And to all the others who entered, sorry you didn't win this time...but if you choose to buy this book or any other through Amazon because of DCR, it really helps us out if you click my links to get there. THANKS.

And...well, as long as I'm soliciting help, I'm super low on reviews at the moment. So, if you've read any good, clean books in any genre, I'd really appreciate a review in my inbox!

Uh Oh.

Oh dear. Well, I really wanted a three-column template...and I got one, but I went and lost all my sidebar stuff. Please be patient while I rejuvenate the place.

Not as Crazy as I Seem by George Harrar

NOT AS CRAZY AS I SEEM by George Harrar

Review by our resident author, Joyce Moyer Hostetter.

HEALING WATER (Spring 2008)
BLUE (2006)
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER (1995)

Devon Brown has tendencies. He tends to be afraid of germs. To be obsessive about numbers and about how he hangs his shirts in the closet. He tends to be anxious about many things. He has his own logic for why he eats his peas in fours, why he can’t bring himself to eat in the school cafeteria, and why he walks in the gutter instead of using the sidewalk. His logic might seem crazy but it stems from his own reality which is too painful to discuss. And so Devon tucks his pain inside and keeps a tight control on his life.

Because of his tendencies and their negative impact on him, Devon ’s parents move him to a new town. They are intent on giving him a fresh start. A new beginning means a new psychiatrist, a private school, and the opportunity to make new friends.

But making friends would mean interaction. And with interaction comes risk. In spite of himself, however, Devon rather likes Tanya, the classmate who seeks him out in the parking lot during lunch period. He’s wary of Ben the purple haired boy who smokes marijuana in the school basement. Yet, following Ben into questionable activities fits with Devon ’s “crazy” logic,

Ben is trouble. When Devon finds himself in a real crisis, as opposed to those he regularly imagines, he is forced to examine the source of his pain.

Devon tells his story so convincingly that readers actually “get” his logic. So truthfully that we feel his pain, and with such humor that the pain is bearable. This is an immensely enjoyable and revealing look at obsessive compulsive disorder.

Especially recommended for upper elementary and middle school students but also of interest to anyone who wants to explore compulsive behaviors.

PS. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE CONTEST FOR COURTING EMMA. I'LL POST WINNERS TOMORROW! GOOD LUCK.

Courting Emma Giveaway!

Hey! Remember when Becky Laney reviewed Courting Emma by Sharlene MacLaren? Well, the publisher has sent me not one, but TWO copies to GIVEAWAY. Do you want one? If so, just leave a comment here at the Giveaway or on the Courting Emma review by Wednesday, May 14th and you'll be entered in! Good luck. I'll post a winner the next day.

The Host and the Twilight Trailer

Okay Stephenie Meyer fans. The Host came out today. Did you buy it yet? My review is here if you missed it. By the way, I'm rereading it now and, as always with a Stephenie Meyer book, I can't put it down. She is an incredible storyteller. Go read The Host and tell me what you think.

And, while we're on the topic of my Stephenie Meyer obsession, did you see that the first trailer is out for the Twilight Movie? AHHH. I mean, I feel like an insane teenager. I've watched the trailer at least ten times...give or take a million. You don't want to miss it! You can find the links here at the Twilight Lexicon as well as nearly 1000 comments from screaming fans.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Cleary, Beverly. 1955. Beezus and Ramona.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Young Readers: http://zero-to-eight.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Originally published in 1955, Beezus and Ramona is a true children's classic. Beezus, age 9, and Ramona, age 4, are the stars of Beezus and Ramona. This story is told from Beezus' perspective. (I believe the others in the series are told from Ramona's perspective.) This is how it opens: "Beatrice Quimby's biggest problem was her little sister Ramona. Beatrice, or Beezus (as everyone called her, because that was what Ramona had called her when she first learned to talk), knew other nine-year-old girls who had little sisters who went to nursery school, but she did not know anyone with a little sister like Ramona." If you've read any of the Ramona series, you know what she's talking about. Ramona. That love-to-hate, pesky little sister who is always into something. She has to be one of the best-loved, most-memorable characters ever created.

In Beezus and Ramona, we see the family dynamics of the Quimby household and the tension between two sisters. Beezus is almost perpetually frustrated with her younger sister. And Ramona is well, Ramona. Prone to wanting what she wants when she wants it.

I must have read this series dozens and dozens of times growing up. But I haven't read it recently. I probably last read it in 1999. Ramona is just as great as I remembered it. Each chapter has a scene that I almost know by heart. From the opening chapter, where Ramona's fascination with steam shovels lead her to destroy a library book, to the last chapter where Ramona's imaginative "acting-out" of Hansel and Gretel leads her to bake her doll, Bendix, in the oven and ruin her sister's birthday cake in the process.

I highly recommend this series to readers young and old. I think they make especially nice read-alouds!

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an inspiring journey that teaches readers to follow their Personal Legend.

The story is a parable about life and how so many people settle for less than their dreams.

We follow the story of a young shepherd boy who desires to search for treasure. Will he choose to follow his dream? If he does, will he make it to his goal?

Coelho talks about “Beginner’s Luck”, saying that when a person sets out to achieve their life dreams, the whole universe comes together to try to help. Then, at the end of the journey, the universe tests everything it has taught us.

I want to share with you a piece of my favorite part of the book (being the romantic that I am), but I’m not going to share the whole scene because I don’t want to spoil anything…

“At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World surged within him…when he saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke—the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in the heart. It was love.” P. 92

I recommend The Alchemist because it is a quick, inspiring read that can be read on a very basic level or on a more philosophical level.

The Alchemist is meant for adults, but it is perfectly clean and appropriate for teens as well.

Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey

Beauty Sleep by Cameron Dokey

Review by Emily, Head Mama of DCR and Whimsy

Beauty Sleep is an original look at the well-loved tale of Sleeping Beauty. What makes it original is its voice. The story is told in first person. I pictured Aurore as a grandmother telling the story of how she fell in love. At times, the voice became a bit distracting to me. The narrator breaks in often and speaks directly to the reader. This made it difficult for me to lose myself in the story.

However, I am choosing to review Beauty Sleep here because I believe it is a personal preference that stopped me from loving this book. I enjoyed the originality brought to the tale by Cameron Dokey. The book is definitely a quick, easy read.

As you know, Aurore was cursed when she was born that at the age of 16, she would prick her finger and die. Luckily, Aurore's godmother was able to lesson the blow by promising Aurore that she wouldn't die, but would sleep 100 years.

As you can imagine, the curse made Aurore's mother a bit overprotective. Aurore was not allowed to be around anything sharp or even go outside. One day, however, to Aurore's surprise, her cousin, Prince Charming, convinced Aurore's mother that it would be beneficial to let her leave the palace. This is the start of a great, yet complicated love.

Aurore is a likeable character who wants to explore and fight her own battles. If you enjoy retold fairy tales told in first person, you may want to try out this quick read.

Papua New Guinea, Notes from a Spinning Planet by Melody Carlson

Papua New Guinea, Notes from a spinning planet by Melody Carlson

Review by Laura

This book is for older teens/adults
Christian focus throughout

Maddie Chase travels with her Aunt Sid to Papua New Guinea to write a story about the changes that have taken place on this beautiful island since it become independent. She and her Aunt quickly realize they may have gotten themselves in deeper than they thought as they learn about the growing AIDS epidemic and high crime rate, especially in crimes against women/girls.

It deals with the growing AIDS crisis, and how it is not just the ‘bad girls/boys’ who get it. Maddie and her Aunt learn that women here, as in many other countries, are devalued. They are faced with cultural issues/prejudice against women who have been raped. They learn that many parts of the world judge Americans on our TV and think that all Americans are just as they are portrayed on TV (lacking Christian values/upbringing).

As they discover the beauty of the land and people they must also discover the hidden secret of the country, AIDS. Together they find that even in the darkness there is hope, and that sometimes God can use the worst life can throw at us to overcome our own fears, and strengthen our faith.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Review by Natalie Smith, our new regular contributor

I found Daddy-Long-Legs in a paperback reprint on the shelf of the YA section of my library – and loved it so much that ten years later I special-ordered copy and ended up with a second edition, published in 1912! Daddy-Long-Legs begins on the first Wednesday of the month, the day on which The Trustees visit the John Grier Home. It’s an orphanage where Jerusha Abbot lives with ninety-six other children, but she’s seventeen and on the brink of being thrust out into the world, and doesn’t quite know what will become of her. One of The Trustees is a philanthropist, and after reading an essay she’d written about “Blue Wednesday”, decides to send her to college to become a great writer.

The first chapter of this story is told in third person, but the rest of it is a compilation of all the letters Judy, as she decides to call herself, sends to her benefactor, whom she decides to call “Daddy-Long-Legs”. The letters are rich and full of all the innocence and excitement that comes of being seventeen in this era, and from being free for the first time in her life from her usual duties to the John Grier Home. Taking care of one person is considerably easier than taking care of eleven small children – and Judy really enjoys almost every aspect of her independent college life.

Some of my favorite things about this sweet book are the way I learned so much about the historical time period through the things Judy writes, and the similarities between my own college experience and Judy’s. There are about ninety years between Judy’s college days and my own, and while there were definitely some things that haven’t endured the years, overall I found more similarities between fictional Judy and real-life me than I was expecting.

I recommend this book to ANYONE who enjoys Anne. It’s much faster-paced, but the tone is very similar to L.M. Montgomery. And if you don’t know who Anne is (heaven forbid!), you should read her, too!

Ghost Girl by Delia Ray

Ghost Girl by Delia Ray

Review by our resident author, Joyce Moyer Hostetter

April Sloane lives a hard life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Not only is she ridiculed for her white blond hair and eyelashes but she also carries guilt related to her brother’s death. Her mother is depressed, angry, and emotionally unavailable.

But, at least, there is Aunt Birdy (actually her grandmother) whose home is a refuge and a place of joy. And unexpected hope arrives when April learns that President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover, who have a mountain retreat in the area, are building a school for the local children.

Aunt Birdy convinces April’s mother to let her attend the school. There she finds a friend in the teacher, Miss Christine Vest. April is enthralled with her teacher and surprised to learn that this refined, educated woman also comes from humble beginnings.

Miss Vest, the Trumans, and Aunt Birdie bring hope to April’s otherwise oppressive life. But ultimately, April’s brokenness is in her own hands. Only she can decide to repair or reject her family relationships.

Delia Ray has skillfully woven fact and fiction to bring to our attention an otherwise obscure bit of presidential history. Through an extraordinary main character and a compelling story Ray reveals how education and compassion transformed an isolated mountain community.

Highly recommended historical fiction for upper elementary and middle school readers.

The Shadow Thieves by Anne Ursu

The Shadow Thieves By Anne Ursu

Review by Katy, regular contributor

Greek myths are in right now. This is the second series that I have picked up where the Greek gods feature prominently (the other is Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan), and I have to admit that I've enjoyed both of them a lot.

The Shadow Thieves follows Charlotte and Zee (short for Zachary). Charlotte is a quick talking, mopey adolescent. She thinks well on her feet, but she has a difficult time dealing with the human race. Her mom calls her "prickly." Zee is Charlotte's cousin who was raised in London and insists on calling soccer balls footballs. After Zee's grandmother dies, all of his friends become very ill; they are unable to get out of bed or do anything, but no one can figure out what's wrong with them. Eventually, Zee decides that it must all be his fault, so he talks his folks into sending him to live with his cousin in America. Unfortunately, once he arrives, Charlotte's friends start falling ill. Charlotte and Zee must figure out a way to save their friends (and the world).

I have a love/hate relationship with books where the language is super informal. It really rubs me the wrong way, yet I almost always like the story, and because the language is informal, there are usually a lot of funny lines throughout. That was the kind of relationship I had with this book. The language is pretty informal, and at times the author talks to the reader ("You thought your name was bad" p 1) which drives me crazy. But, I really enjoyed the story and thought it was hilarious. Here are some favorite passages: (all pages refer to paperback ed)

"That day the topic of conversation was, not surprisingly, Charlotte and her attitude. Said topic was a particular favorite of Charlotte's mom's; no one in the history of the world ever liked to talk about anything as much as Charlotte's mom liked to talk about Charlotte's attitude" (p 8)

"Okay, so not the truth, exactly. To Charlotte, truth was a flexible instrument, one that could be readily shaped to fit her needs." (p 24)

Charon (the guy that rows the dead across the River Styx) describing a typical day at his job: "He spends his day rowing back and forth along the Styx, listening to the dead freak out because they're dead and that they had so much to live for, blah, blah, blah and where the heck were the pearly gates anyway?"(p 228)

Other than the informal language, I really enjoyed this book. I found Charlotte clever and funny, and she reminded me a lot of me when I was younger (though I never knew what to say). I struggled a bit more with Zee. He seemed like a nice enough kid, but he was so busy being stressed/feeling sorry for himself that he never seemed to grow as a character.

I loved that the Underworld was the setting for a lot of the book. The Underworld isn't all that bad unless you end are sent to Tarturus (very rare), though it's not necessarily the heaven most people are looking for. It was original and different. I also really liked the character of Hades; he didn't fit a single myth that I had ever read about him, but he seemed kind of realistic. The bad guy (err, um Evil Genius) was hilarious, and while I am glad he was soundly defeated, I enjoyed his chapters quite a bit.

I am sure there will be comparisons to Percy Jackson, but this book stands well on its own. The stories aren't even similar other than the Greek myths being real thing. It's the first of a trilogy (the second book The Siren Song, is available in hardback) but the ending should satisfy (I hate cliffhangers!). I look forward to the next installment.

Recommended for ages 10 and up, but I would guess a lot of the humor would be lost if you haven't done a cursory study of the Greek myths.

Courting Emma by Sharlene MacLaren

MacLaren, Sharlene. 2008. Courting Emma.

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor.

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Young Readers: http://zero-to-eight.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Courting Emma is the third book in the Little Hickman Creek series. (The first two are Loving Liza Jane and Sarah, My Beloved.) Each book in the series features a new heroine. Liza Jane was a school teacher. Sarah was a mail order bride. And Emma--featured in both Loving Liza Jane and Sarah, My Beloved--runs the town's boarding house. She's known for being a bit grumpy, a bit moody. But my mom and I both agreed while reading the other two that Emma needed a book of her own. She was screaming to be the heroine of her own book. So we were both ecstatic to see that Courting Emma was on the way!

If Emma has issues, she has just cause certainly. Her father--who raised her alone after her mother's death--was an alcoholic. Is an alcoholic. Known prominently as the town drunk. Emma worked hard to separate herself from her father, from her upbringing. Worked hard to make herself respectable. When our story opens, we see this immediately. It's the fourth of July and once again her father is being a drunk and causing a scene in front of everyone. Emma has to "fetch" him away and try to save face. It is embarrassing to hear everyone talk, everyone whisper about what a hopeless disgrace her father is.

The knight in shining armor? Jonathan Atkins. (Another character that deserved his own book.) A man who grew up in this community, gone away to school, and returned as preacher. He wishes that he could help Emma out. He wishes that Emma would open her heart to him and to the gospel.

Courting Emma is a story of grace, of forgiveness, of broken hearts healing. It is a novel all about second chances. A novel that proves it's never too late.

I highly recommend this series. All three books are enjoyable. I loved them all.

The End of the Spear by Steve Saint

THE END OF THE SPEAR by Steve Saint

Review by our resident author, Joyce Moyer Hostetter

In 1956 five American missionaries to Ecuador were speared to death by members of the Waodoni tribe. Since then, millions have drawn inspiration from the slain missionaries and from their wives who chose to befriend the killers.

The End of the Spear by Steve Saint, unravels much of the mystery around the event and also the motivations of both the missionaries and the Waodoni. Steve is the son of Nate Saint, one of the men who was murdered. As a boy of 9, Steve went to live with his Aunt Rachel who herself chose to live among the Waodoni. His early immersion into the culture gives him a unique perspective and a fierce love for the people who killed his father. The End of the Spear reveals which of the men killed Steve’s dad and also that Steve now loves this man as a father.

After Steve had lived apart from the Waodoni for decades, they asked him to return – to teach them skills held by outsiders – especially health related skills such as uses of medicine, treating wounds, and dentistry.

Steve agreed and took his amazing wife and teenagers with him. But he was determined not to simply make the Waodoni dependent on him or any other outsider. His affection for them was so fierce that he wanted only to preserve the tribe – not to turn them into a welfare society or to put them at greater risk for those who might prey upon them.

It took me a little while to really get into this book; there were many strange names to pronounce and Saint moves back and forth in time to unravel the story. But eventually it settles into a thoroughly absorbing read!

One of the things I especially loved is the way in which Saint writes about faith. While this is clearly a book about the expression of Christianity there is nothing cliché about it! There is no religious jargon – only the Waodoni’s beautiful way of expressing their relationship with God.

This story is deep and multilayered - filled with inspiring examples and profound truths.

For information about how the Waodani are learning to be independent and to use technology that is feasible for their setting, visit http://itecusa.org/who.htm

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brian

O'Brian, Robert C. 1971. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Review by Becky Laney, frequent contributor

Becky's Book Reviews: http://blbooks.blogspot.com/
Becky's Christian Reviews: http://stand-firm-then.blogspot.com/
Young Readers: http://zero-to-eight.blogspot.com/
Reading With Becky: http://readingwithbecky.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Frisby, the head of a family of field mice, lived in an underground house in the vegetable garden of a farmer named Mr. Fitzgibbon.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH won the Newbery in 1972. This was my first time to read it. My first impression? Slightly odd, but odd in a good way. A really good way. It took me a few chapters to suspend my disbelief. Talking animal books while aren't completely foreign to me, aren't my norm usually. But once I allowed myself the opportunity to really embrace the story for what it was--fantasy not realistic fiction--then I was more than hooked.

The story is about the Frisby family. Mrs. Frisby is the head of the family. It is winter, and one of her children, Timothy, is sick. She's told by the "doctor" mouse that to move her son would result in his death. Yet move they must if they're to survive. For spring has come. The thaw has begun. The frost is long over. And she overhears the farmer making plans to get out the tractor. Her home--their home--is in the field. Their home is a "slightly damaged cinder block" that is almost completely underground. The story is her search for help. It is this search for help which will lead her directly to the rats.

Mrs. Frisby is afraid of the rats. Almost everyone is afraid of the rats. But when her son's life hangs in the balance...it's a time for a mother to overcome her fears--all her fears--even if those fears are rats and owls and crows.

I definitely recommend this book. It was fun and enjoyable.