The Contender

 The Contender
By Robert Lipsyte

If I had seen this book in a bookstore or a library, I never would have thought of reading. But I was assigned this book for school this year. And I found it very enjoyable.

Alfred is a teen who dropped out of high school. He doesn't have the greatest life. One night he is almost beaten by some kids. He decides he needs to be able to defend himself. He signs up for boxing. He says he wants to b a champion. But before anyone can be a champion they must first be a contender.

This book was intriguing. It had some topics that are not for younger children. It is not a light read. A lot of the content is depressing.
I did enjoy it.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

By Brian Jacques

Brian Jacques is one of my favorite authors because of his writing style, wit, and his ability to be able to portray good and evil in a realistic but hopeful strain. He is most famous for writing the Redwall series, but shows that he is able to carry his talent for character development and wit into other worlds as well. 

In Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, we are introduced to a mute boy and a stray dog. Through a set of bewildering (and frightening) circumstances, they are blessed by an angel to stay forever young and help around the world. The book jumps ahead about 130 years and we experience one story of how the boy and his dog help make the world a better place.

I really liked this story, because it was a light-hearted book, though it dealt with some heavy elements at times. The boy and his dog are innocent, though they have seen so much in the world, and truly fight for good. It gives one hope for the world and hope for good people, even when there are bad ones all around.

I have two issues with Brian Jacques writing; firstly, he writes so well and keeps me so entertained that I am always sad when I finish one of his books because I want it to keep going. Secondly, his characters tell white lies without seeing a problem. So long as there is no harm done, there is nothing wrong with lying. His characters often see consequences for other sins, such as stealing or gluttony or being rude, but very rarely for lying. 

Overall, this is a fantastic book. The only concern would be for people who are uncomfortable with the idea of ghosts (there are bad guy pirates who are also never allowed to die). 

Review by Beckyelsie

Princess Academy

Princess Academy

By Shannon Hale

First of all Shannon Hale is one of the greatest author I think. Her books are so enchanting.

The Princess Academy was the first Shannon Hale book I read. And I thought it was excellent.

It tells the tale of Miri, a young girl who lives up in the mountains. Miri has never been allowed to work in the quarry like everyone else her age. Miri loves her life and her sister, Marda, and her father.

But one day, Miri's life changes forever. A Messenger has come to Mt. Eskel to tell the folks of Mt. Eskel that the next princess is to come from that town. All the eligible girls must travel to a Manor that was built a ways down the mountain, to learn to be a princess.

This book is so spectacular. I suggest everyone to read it.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Nancy Drew; Clue in the Diary

By Carolyn Keene

So I used to read Nancy Drew books all the time. But after a while they started becoming repetitive.
I will occasionally read one just for the sake of it.

This particular Nancy Drew book is one if my favorites because it introduces my favorite character, Ned Nickerson.

However I cannot rave about this book. With reading as a young adult, I now realize how cheesy it really is.

The plot itself is border line on mediocre and good. The dialogue is cheesy. Ned always seems to be in the exact place Nancy is. It is not natural.

This book is entertaining in a cheesy kind of way.

Its is still a good Nancy Drew book and all the little girls would enjoy it.

Review By Sweetie Pie

The Help

The Help
By Kathryn Stockett

I had heard so much about this book before I had a chance to read it.
The first time I heard about it was when the movie come out. My youth pastor, David, was in the movie. I then looked into reading the book.

Last December I finally got a chance to read this book, and I was impressed. It is a captivating story written in the eyes of three woman from Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962.

Aibileen Clark is an African-American woman who works for Miss Elizabeth Leefolt, a young mother who doesn't really know how to run a family. Aibileen has raised many children in her life time, she takes care of Mae Mobley, Elizabeth's daughter.

Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young, white woman who just graduated from the University of Mississppi. Skeeter is a tall, 5'11, young lady who should have everything going for her. Instead she has never been on a date. Her frizzy doesn't fit well in a time where your hair had to be perfect. Skeeter makes the best of her life though.

Minny Jackson is a strong sass-mouthed African-American woman, who has a hard time keeping her mouth shut. At the beginning of the book Minny works for "Missus Walter" who is the mother of the "villian" in this book, Hilly Holbrook. Minny is fired from her job because of the Terrible Awful. And hired by Miss Celia Foote.

Skeeter decides to write a book from the point of view of the Help, or the African-American maids. She recruits the help of Aibileen and Minny to write it. The three of them become fast friends.

This book was amazing. There is so much the goes on in this book that you need to read several times to get the full value of it. It is not a difficult read. It is actually rather easy, but the content is most definetly for older people, meaning it is not a children's book. There is a large amount of cussing in the book. But it did not over power the book. There are also some topics that are not for young readers.

 It is devastating the way people act to those whose skin is a different color. I grew up in a place where there was absolutely no segregation. I never realized that in the south, caucasians are still bitter against African-Americans.

I loved this book and would highly recommend everyone to read it.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Heart of Darkness

By Joseph Conrad

This book is consider piece of art. And I can see it. The way Joseph Conrad wrote this book was very elegant and beautiful. The book itself is somewhat of a hard read but not that much, I just had to get used to the writing style.

It is a narrative, so it is in first person, with a second first person. Sounds tricky. Joseph Conrad starts the story with a bunch of people on a boat, and the person actually telling the book was some person in this group of people. It is in first person. Then he is listening to a guy tell his story of the time he was in Africa. Most of the book is in this story, it goes back to the boat at times.
I was so confused by that. It was so confusing.

But other than that this book is pretty easy.

I would suggest this book to those who enjoy beautiful writing.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The Outdoor Girls of Deepdale

By Laura Lee Hope

I sometimes don't understand why I love a book so much. Sure I know why I love Jane Eyre but why I should I love a book like this one or even Through the Postern Gate. But I am pretty obsessed over this series although I did not like this book a whole lot. This book is not as good as the later books in the series so I would totally encourage you to read books seven through twelve in the series.
  This story revolves around four girls who start a hiking club and decide to go on a long camping trip alone. This is in 1913 so that is pretty radical. There is Betty who is probably an early version on Nancy Drew but I find more emotionally realistic. Mollie is obviously like George although she is less of a tomboy and Grace is like Bess except that she is thin not plump. Amy is really just a saint of a girl but I still like her.
  There are of course boys but I won't bring them up because they don't appear much in this book. I know that this is a short review but trust me when I get to my favorites I will have plenty to say.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

On Sparrow Hill

By Maureen Lang

This is a very good book that I enjoyed reading. It's well-written and moves nicely. Rebecca is a commercial manager for an estate in Britain and used to have a crush on the owners' son, Quentin. When he returns and they become friends, she must once again contend with these feelings. When he becomes interested and involved in the work that she does at his home, she feels a bond with him that will be painful to break. Worked throughout the story are the stories of the past and a genetic gene in Quentin's family that is very rare and is difficult to deal with. Through helping her friends, Rebecca finds the answer to her own problems with Quentin. A good, quick read with a Christian values that aren't overkill.

Review by Beckyelsie

The Invisible Man

“The Invisible Man” By: H.G. Wells is a haunting book about what happens when science is used without moderation, moral, ethics, or any thought to humanity. The theme of ignorance is very evident in this book and the mood is very fearful and dark. This book was skillfully written and as the plotline unravels you find out many new mysteries that keep you engaged and interested.

This book opens on a dark and snowy evening in February. In the first chapter you are introduced to a mysteriously bandaged man. The plot unravels as strange things begin to happen around the town of Iping, West Sussex. The townspeople become increasingly frightened and curious of this abnormal man as robberies and shadowy murders ensue. Fingers are instantly pointed towards the unwelcome new stranger. The people demand that the man, Griffin, show himself and explain all of the bizarre occurrences that seem to be connected with his presence. Griffin confesses that he is invisible and flees when the police try to arrest him.

As he is fleeing from the law Griffin meets unsuspecting, Mr. Marvel at a railroad station. He threatens Mr. Marvel and coerces him into helping him take revenge against the townspeople of Iping. The next few chapters are focused on Griffin as Mr. Marvel describes how low Griffin sinks. Griffin is revealed as the evil killer that he truly is. He commits many horrendous acts and even confesses to murdering his own father just to get the potion that made him invisible. The word of the infamous Invisible Man spreads and fear strikes every heart; especially those of the small town of Iping. Griffin made it clear that he would take his revenge on the ignorant, fearful townspeople. Many events come to pass and eventually Griffin is hunted down and killed by a mob.
This book is a perfect example of what fear can do to people. Griffin was a very disturbed and insane scientist. He was driven mad by a terrible, powerful invention gone horribly wrong. H.G. Wells uses the third person so we, thankfully, don’t have to delve into Griffin’s mind. This book is so well crafted and it teaches so many good things not to mention it’s quite a thrilling read. I would highly recommend it for anyone. Even though it is very impossible and fantastical in nature it is truly one of a kind. Bravo H.G. Wells.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

By Judith Kerr

This book follows Anna, a young nine-year old living in Berlin at the time of the War. Anna's father is a well known author, but he is also Jewish.

Anna's Father is concerned that he won't be able to write in germany anymore. So he moves his family to Switzerland.

But he can not find work in Switzerland so the family moves to Paris and then to London where they finally settle down.

I  enjoyed this book. It is a semi-autobiography. Judith Kerr was a young girl living in Berlin at the time of the War. She and her family moved all over Europe before residing in England.

I enjoyed this book. It is not so much a depressing war book, then a book about a little girl and her family.

Review By Sweetie Pie

The Wave

By Todd Strasser

The book is about the incident that happened during the 1960's when a history professor tried an experiment on his students.

Ben Ross teaches History, and on of his senior classes, he tries an experiment on them. He introduces him to a kind of discipline that most people don't see or know. In his class, everyone must sit up straight, stand when answering a question, end each sentence with 'Mr. Ross'.

The experiment progress until a group is formed called The Wave. By the end of the week almost the whole school is a part of it. People are paying better attention in school because of The Wave. But is the Wave a good thing or a bad thing? That is the question Ben Ross must ask himself.

Something of this sort happened around 1966 in a highschool, the seniors were studying WW 2, and one of the students asked why the Nazis did all those horrible things when it was obviously wrong.

That question has never been truly answered. But this book was a depiction of something similar occurring in a highschool.

I enjoyed this book, it gave me insight to what exactly happened during the war. I would suggest  this book to everyone. It is not a happy book, it is actually rather depressing, but good.

North to South

By Elizabeth Gaskell
I want to begin by saying that this book is not about the Civil War and is in fact set in England during the Victorian Age. Elizabeth Gaskell was most famous for her biography of Charlotte Bronte, who was also a friend. If you ever felt like me when you read Pride and Prejudice, that the characters don't seem to ever do anything of substance, you will be relived to find that North and South is Pride and Prejudice's less glamorous and more gritty friend. By gritty I mean that the hero is a self made man with a northern accent. Margaret Hale is the heroine and she is the daughter of a Vicar in the south of England. At the start of the story her cousin Edith gets married and Margaret who has been living with her Aunt goes back to the south to live with her parents.Then her Father makes a very shocking decision to quit his job and move to the north as a private tutor. Her Father can no longer follow the Church of England's doctrines. So Margaret and her family move to the town of Milton, a manufacturing town based on the town of Manchester.

  Her father's first student is a Mr. John Thorton, owner of a textile mill. Margaret takes an instant and rather unreasonable dislike to him on the account of him being shockingly a "tradesman." Margaret at first hates Milton and everyone in it but she befriends a girl named Bessie Higgins and her father Nicholas. Nicholas works in the local cotton mills and is a leader in the union.

  Margaret and Mr. Thorton have rather frequent debates over his workers and how they should be treated. Things are so coming to a head and it is likely that there will be a strike. Well, there is a stike and things between Margaret and John Thorton come to a head.

  After risking her life to save him from some violent strikers he realizes that he loves her. But she is so not into him. It is really cute to see how crazy he is about her.

Please Note this report was not finished. 

Maid to Match

By Deeanne Gist

I loved this book! It has romance, history, honor, respect, and hard work all wrapped into an entrancing story.

Tillie is a hardworking maid working her way up the heirarchy of the Vanderbilt's servants. One day Mack gets hired and turns her world upside down. She endeavors to keep her attraction to him under control but he is struggling as well. They become friends and though her emotions are a mess, she misses him terribly once he leaves. Together, they have the potential to change their society for the better, but is Tillie willing to give up on all her hard work at the Vanderbilts? Is Mack the right man for her, and what secrets are the local officials hiding?

Gist's writing style was enjoyable, and reading about what it would have been like as a maid in those days was a very interesting perspective to have.

This book was a joy to read, but there is a lot of romance in the book, which is mostly descriptions of the chemistry between Tillie and Mack.

Review by Beckyelsie

Inheritance

By Christopher Paolini

So the long journey has finally come to an end. Eragon must finish his quests as the readers must finish this series.

It started with Eragon, it continued with Eldest then progressed in Brisingr. And it ends with Inheritance.

Around two years have passed since Eragon found a strange stone in the Spine. Eragon has had to cope with the deaths of several friends. He has had to learn the ancient language in a short amount of time.
The only question is will his training pay off. Will it be enough to defeat the evil king Galbatorix.

It was bittersweet to read this book. I have been a part of this adventure for over six years. I read Eragon right after the movie, I read Eldest soon after that, I waited for Brisingr to come out. And then I waited three years to finish the series. Though I felt sad about leaving Alagaesia, I must say that this book did an amazing wrap up of the story.

Christopher Paolini's writing has improved since he wrote Brisingr. I was enchanted once more by the story of Eragon and his friends.

This series is one of my favorites.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Enna Burning

By Shannon Hale

This is the second installment of the Books of Bayern Series by Shannon Hale, my report for the first book can be found here.

This book follows Enna, the best friend of Ani from the other book. The book includes many loved characters, such as Ani, Geric, Finn, Razo, and others.

Enna returned to the forest shortly after the ending of The Goose Girl. Her mother was sick and Enna felt she should take care of her.

Her mother has died and Enna is usually home alone and it is quite deary. At times her older brother Leifer will come home. Finn also visits fairly often. But she misses everyone in the Capitol.
To make matters worse her brother has been acting in strange ways. He has said he found a way to control fire.

Enna is frightened by what her brother can do. But more dire situations have aroused. Tira, a nearby kingdom, is attacking Bayern. Enna must stay strong to survive this battle.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The Phantom of The Opera

By Gaston Leroux

Most people have heard of The Phantom of the Opera, but that is because of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Enchanting musical.
Not many know about this book. Or that the there once was a Phantom of the opera.
This book was written by a french author who heard about the Phantom and thought to make a book of it.

The books mainly follows Raoul, the young Vicomte de Chagny, who was Christine's childhood sweetheart. He is still madly in love with Christine, but something has changed since he last knew her.

Christine is somewhat of a hostage to the Phantom. She wants so badly to please her angel of music that she has trapped herself in a tangled up mess of fiction and truth.

I enjoyed this book, I thought it was well writtenv(it was a translation though, I can't read complete french yet) But I enjoyed. I will probably have to read it again to truly understand everything that goes on. But I know enough to know I like it.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Mockingjay

By Suzanne Collins

This book is the final installment in the critical acclaimed series "The Hunger Games". You can see the reviews for the previous books here: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire.

It was extremely bitter sweet to read this book. I didn't want to leave Panem but then I had to know what happened.

It is hard to write a review about this book because I don't want to spoil anything from this book and the other books. But I will do my best. But please caution yourself there will be some spoilers.

Katniss has made out of the Quarter Quell. But only barely. Peeta has been taken by the capitol, and along with him Johanna Mason.
District 12 was destroyed. The survivors, that included Katniss's mother, sister and friend Gale, have taken refuge in District 13, which was not destroyed at all. It was just made to look like it did.
The leader of District 13 is President Coin, and she is the leader of the Rebellion, even though Katniss is the Mockingjay, Coin operates behind her. Coin will ultimately take over Panem when they destroy President Snow.

This book was amazing. I could not stop reading it. It was the most violent of all the books. Somethings happen to many beloved characters that is devastating. I found myself asking why in the world did that have to happen. But I knew it was good, well good for the story not really good for the characters. My favorite character changes in a brutal way its disturbing. But the one thing I have been waiting for finally happened at the very end of the book. I was so happy.
A lot of people did not like the ending, but I did. A lot of people liked a character I did not really like(not that I hated him either) so they did not like the ending.

I loved this series and I very sad it came to an end. But I look forward to see the movie when it comes.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Princess Of Glass

By Jessica Day George

This is the sequel to Princess of the Midnight Ball. I found it just as good.

This book does not have the same protagonists as the first. Rose's little sister Poppy is the leading protagonist in this book, the leading male is Prince Christian of Danelaw.

It has been three years sense the events of Princess of the Midnight Ball. And Poppy is staying with relatives in Breton. She has been there for a while and does not know when she will return. Though she acts tough and strong in front of people, she misses her sisters dreadfully and has nightmares about the King Under The Stone.

Poppy has sworn never to dance again, and so far she has held true to it. But when Prince Christian visits Breton, she may have to dance once or twice.

This book is exciting and intriguing, it is loosely based on Cinderella (very loosely) and is an exciting tale.
Though I missed Rose, Lily, Jonquil and the other princesses it was exciting getting to know Poppy better.

Jessica Day George is not a popular author like Suzanne Collins or Christopher Paolini, but I enjoy reading her books. I can not wait for the third and final book in her princess series.

The Little White Horse

By Elizabeth Goudge

Maria Merryweather is a young girl who just lost her father. She and her governess must travel to the country to live with Maria's only living relative, Sir Benjamin of Moonacre.

Maria soon realizes that her new home has many secrets. Maria tries desperately to entangle the mysteries that lie on Moonacre Manor. Marie meets many friends that will help her along the way.
Loveday, a middle aged women with a sad past.
Robin, a young boy who wasn't supposed to exist. And many others.

This book was thoroughly entertaining. It is an easy read and would be perfect for the age range 10-13. Older than that it is a little cheesy at times but still a really good book.

There was nothing immoral about this book. It is a sweet, innocent story.

Review By Sweetie Pie

Princess Of the Midnight Ball

Review by Sweetie Pie

Twelve princesses all named after flowers have had to dance every night for The King Under Stone, an evil sorcerors who has twelve sons that are the suitors for the sisters. But no one outside of the sisters knows about the ball.

Princess Rose is the oldest at 16. Lily is next at 15. Jonquil, at 14. Hyacinth at 13, Violet at 12, Daisy and Poppy at 11, Iris at 10, Lilac is 9, Orchid is 8. Pansy is 7, and Petunia the youngest is 6.

Rose is one of the protagonist. The others is Galen, a young soldier turned royal gardener who strives to free the princesses from what ever is plaguing them.

Galen meets Rose in the garden, where she falls into the fountain, catching a cold. A cold that transfers into a fever in which she is not able to get up to go to the ball. One night Galen sees one of the suitors visit the Princess window. He is mystified by it.

Will Galen succeed? Will Rose and the others be fated to marry beasts? What will happen?

I enjoyed this book so much, it was so good.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Faith

By Lori Copeland

The phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" is not one that I generally live by, but in this case it proved true. This book is not a shallow, simple, feel-good book that the cover portrays. Rather, it follows the heart of a mail-order bride and the trying family she is placed into.

Faith Kallahan travels to Texas in answer to an ad for a God-fearing woman. What she meets when she gets there is a man 15 years older than she who is moody, ignores her, and allows his mother to run his life. His mother, who lives with him, is ornery and neither care about Faith. Her wedding gets thwarted four times and she gets kicked out of the house, and all for what? Was she really following God when she answered the ad? Did He send her here, or should she go back home? Is this what He had planned for her?

I loved this book, and it's a wonderful quick read. It is the first in the Brides of the West series, and the rest of the series should prove as good. The writing was good, the characters sought from the Lord, and each chapter was from a different character's perspective. I personally liked this because then instead of seeing through Faith's eyes, one sees through her fiance's eyes and understand what he's going through and how he's struggling and thus acting out towards Faith. It was enjoyable and I never once got lost or had to slow down. There were enough characters to infuse merriment and variety, but few enough so that I never got confused. I loved it, and heartily recommend it.

Review by Beckyelsie

Catching Fire

By Suzanne Collins

This is the second book in the Hunger Games series. In this review there will be spoilers for the first book. So if you have not read the first book and want to keep the ending secret, then do not read this review. I will not be spoiling much, only things that could be discovered without reading the book.



Katniss and Peeta survived the Hunger Games but now the Capitol is furious. Who is the girl on fire that thinks she can defy the Capitol.
President Snow is considered that by what Katniss did in the hunger Games, people will start rebelling. Snow fears a Rebellion.

All Katniss and Peeta want to do is forget the Hunger Games and live a normal life in District 12. They haven't spoken to each other except when absolutely necessary. Katniss had to act as if she was head over heels for Peeta during the Hunger Games. She doesn't want to have to do that anymore. What is sad is that Peeta's devotion goes solely to Katniss.

Katniss and Peeta are preparing for the Victory Tour. Where the winner or in this case winners tour Panem. Before they leave, Katniss gets a surprise visit from President Snow, he tells Katniss to lay low a bit. Don't cause any uprisings.

Katniss is not thrilled bout the Victory Tour, she will have to face the families of the people she killed, and she will have to act as if she is head over heels for Peeta.
Katniss and Peeta leave to tour the other eleven Districts and the Capitol. At the Capitol, they are interviewed. And at the Capitol Peeta proposes to Katniss. Hoping the any fights would settle down.
Katniss fears walking down the aisle. She doesn't want to spend the rest of her life with Peeta, she wants to live her sister and mother.

She also knows that the Annual Hunger Games are approaching. This one will be one of the Quarter Quall.  Ever since the Hunger games began 75 years ago, every twenty five years there was something slightly different.  To mark fifty years, the doubled the amount of tributes.
She and her sister and her mother watch the announcement of what i to take place at the 75th annual Hunger Games. The Reporter says "That the Tributes for 75th games will be chosen from the existing pool of Victors."
That means only one thing to Katniss. There are only three victors from District 12, two male, one female. Katniss is going back to the Hunger Games.

This was an excellent sequel to The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss with a twist. Katnis has become the Face of a Rebellion, and she has to decide which side she is on. This book along with the Third are much more political than the first book. But I did not feel drowned out by politics, it still a very entrancing story. The books are very violent too. The Third one is the most violent, stay tuned for my report for it. I read this book in twenty-four hours or less. I would suggest the series to everyone who enjoys action.

Review by Sweetie Pie.

Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen
This book is considered to be one of the classic books of English Lit. and with good reason. Most people think that Pride and Prejudice is a romance but more importantly it is about family, friends, and that people are not always what we thought at first. In fact the original title was "First Impressions." Austen can skewer silly, rude and mean people with very little trouble and without losing her beautiful prose.
  The story revolves around the Bennett family of five girls and their mother who is determined for them to marry rich men. The problem is that she and three of her daughters are vulgar and stupid. Jane and Elizabeth are the only sensible daughters and the story is mostly about Elizabeth.
  Mrs. Bennett finds out at the start of the story that a rich man named Mr. Bingley has moved into the neighborhood. Of course she immediately decides that Jane must catch his attention, which she does easily. His best friend Mr. Darcy is not so impressed with the Bennett family and makes a slightly remark about Elizabeth. So starts one of the most famous of love stories, one that manages to be real without being anything but completely pure.
  If you have only watched the movies of Pride  and Prejudice than you probably think that Mr. Darcy is something like a Mr. Rochester. Someone with an unsavoury past who looks depressed and angry all the time. The truth is he is a bit boring at the beginning, someone very proud and ill tempered but not someone you would think has a crazy wife upstairs. Nor does he rant and rave and act homocidal. You would not be afraid to get caught with him in a dark alley. Jane Austen is not a Bronte and don't expect crazy plot twists.
  Elizabeth is the real main character and someone you can't help but like. She is a bit saucy and impish but she is always in good taste. She likes to go on walks in the country and is not afraid of speaking her mind. But she does it in a way that is quite in keeping with the times.
  There are a whole host of other characters who all add a bit of humor or intrest to the plot. I was always curious to know exactly who Mr Darcy really was. For that matter who Mr. Bingley was. Many of the characters are not what they seem at first and others change as the story moves along.
  This book is perfectly suitable for any child but I don't think most children under ten would wish to read it as it has rather complicated language and a slow moving plot. But if you enjoy period stories this is a book worth reading.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

A Hope Undaunted

By Julie Lessman

This was a very enjoyable book, but it must be read with a bit of caution. This is a Christian book, and a well-written, entertaining read, but there is a great deal of love and description of the love and physical attraction that the characters have towards each other. Lessman is a good writer and the book was fun, quick, and easy to read. There are many characters to keep track of at first and can be confusing.

One tends to sympathize with Katie as she struggles with independence and breaking out from under her dad's thumb. When she finds out she must work for orphans all summer she is reluctant, but she is horrified when she finds out that her boss during the summer is her old childhood rival. Will they be able to reconcile? And will Katie be able to find God in her sought-after independence?

I recommend this book, but only if you're ready for a lot of romance. This is definitely a romance novel, but is a very fun one that may leave you guessing as to the ending.

Review by Beckyelsie

The Wrong Box

“The Wrong Box” by: Robert Louis Stevenson is a rather old book written by a classic author. This book is a rather ridiculous, hilarious look at what happens when a naughty young man switches all of the labels on boxes in a train. The contents of all of these boxes include a classic sculpture that is worth a great deal of money and a dead body. As everyone knows everything is more interesting when there is a dead body involved.

The plot revolves around a Tontine an organization in which many young men, including two brothers, subscribe money. By chance the last two surviving members of this organization are the two brothers; Joseph Finsbury and Masterman. Whoever lives the longest will inherit all of the money that was put into the Tontine. When the book opens they are both old men with sons of their own.

Old Joseph Finsbury is kept under lock and key by his two sons Morris and John, who only think of their father as an investment. They are determined that he will outlive his brother, their uncle, so that they will inherit the whole Tontine. Morris keeps a strict watch on his father, making sure that he always dresses for the weather, and visit’s the doctor often to make sure he is healthy. Joseph Finsbury resents his son’s efforts though. He views Morris as confining his freedom.

However, everything changes when Joseph and his two sons Morris and John are traveling and are in a deadly train wreck. When Morris and John wake up they find themselves in the midst of chaos and their father is nowhere to be found. Both search around briefly only to find a dead body that they think must be their father, Joseph.

Morris and John decide to hide the body so that they can still win the Tontine by concealing their father’s death and waiting for their uncle to die. But of course, somewhere along the way the body is mislaid when the labels are switched on the train. Morris and John are afraid that the body will be found. The body meanwhile is being passed from hand to hand in a chaotic manner each owner more panicky than the one before.

Little do Morris and John realize, though, that the body that they so painstakingly concealed is not even their father. Joseph Finsbury survived the accident, and saw his chance to escape the unhappy and oppressive life that his sons forced upon him.

Many things happen and by the end you feel very confused. Overall I would label this book rather silly and eccentric. It lacks the polish and suspense that Stevenson usually employs with his work. The plot seems carelessly thought out and the characters although well thought up are clumsy and confusing. You never really get to know them or find out how they all intersect. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book. Although written by a classic author it definitely is not Stevenson’s’ best.

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games has been getting a lot of attention lately. With the movie coming out early next year, the books have been in the hot spot. Teens have been ripping these books apart.

The story takes place in a fictional world of 12 districts and one capitol. The Capitol controls everything. To make sure everyone knows they are in control, they have these yearly games called The Hunger Games, where two teens, between the age of 12 and 19, from every district, one female and one male, compete for survival. They are made to kill each other in order to make it out alive. But the deal is that only one person makes it. Out of 24 people one survives.

Katniss is sixteen and a expert bowman, and from District 12, the poorest district. She is the sole provider for her sister and mother. Her father died in the mines when she was eleven, and ever sense then she has had to find food for the three of them. Usually she and her friend Gale go out into the forest right out side the district.

This Hunger Games is different for Katniss because her little sister Primrose is now eligible as tribute to the games. When the tributes for District 12 are being picked, Katniss worries that she will be picked because her name is in the drawing 32 times, she isn't that scared about Prim because her name is only in there once.
But when Primrose is called, Katniss is shocked and quickly volunteers to take her place. Katniss doesn't have much time to think about it but she knows that she can't let Prim got to The Games.

I love this book. It was so good. I read it in 24 hours, And that includes sleeping, eating, and going to church.
It is not a children's book.  It is very violent, and at times disturbing. I see this book being more of a teen to young adult book. I would suggest this book to anyone and everyone.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Lady in the Mist

By Laurie Alice Eakes

I loved this book. It was well-written, very descriptive, imaginative, and had an interesting link with history and different cultures. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it's not one of those couldn't-put-it-down books. It's a romantic Christian novel but had mystery sprinkled throughout the book, and had my favorite: the happily ever after. :) This is a good book for leisure reading, but isn't a must-read fiction.

Tabitha Eckles is a midwife but is single and had lost her lover. So when a stranger comes to town and she starts to fall in love, what could be wrong? Except that he's English, and has strange mysteries that shroud who he is. Will Tabitha go with her heart? Will her heart split in two?

Review by Beckyelsie

The Snow Goose

By Paul Gallico

This short novella was very sweet. It was a little story of love. I enjoyed this short book. It had the light heart-ed feeling about it that was enchanting.

It is about this cripple who lives in a light house all by himself. He is a lonely, ugly man.
One day a little girl comes knocking an his door hold a white bird. She says that the bird is hurt, and asks the man to help. The man takes the bird into his care, and the girl continues to visit him. She is the one friend he has. One time when the girl comes, the man sees her and is slightly shocked, she has grown up. She is no longer a little, she is a young lady.

This was a sweet little book. I enjoyed reading it. It is a very easy read and very sweet.

Review By Sweetie Pie

Warrior

By Bryan Davis

This is the sequel to Starlighter, in the series Dragons of Starlight. It has more answers than it's predecessor, but opens up more questions as well. Koren and Jason are both separate from the other, but both end up in the Northlands, where the White Dragon dwells. Taushin also grows more powerful and wraps Koren more firmly into his grasp. His character was well drawn, making me confused as to whether he is a bad guy or a good guy, with me deciding in the end that he is bad. But the third book, Diviner, will decide whether or not he is as evil as he seems. Also, there is more traveling between the worlds. I found this book more gripping than the first, but leaving me desperate to read the third one, which just came out in August. Overall, this is a fantastic must-read, but must be read after Starlighter or it won't make any sense at all.

Review by Beckyelsie

My Father's Daughter

By E.L. Konigsburg

E. L. Konigsburg is an author I have been reading for some years. My mother read one of her most famous books to me "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler". And so far that has been the best, but I am impressed by her other books.

My Father's Daughter was a very intriguing story. It follows a young boy by the name of Winston. Winston lives in a rich family and he has pretty much anything he wants, but he feels trapped. He has overprotective parents, and a sister who is not normal. Something isn't right with her.

Then when a lady shows up at his door claiming to be Caroline, his father's daughter from another marriage, Winston's whole world is thrown upside down. This Caroline knows everything that the Other Caroline should. She has a back story and everything. But is she really Caroline.

 Winston' sister Heidi is not doing so well but when Caroline starts helping her, it leads Winston to think she might not be his stepsister after all.

This book was an interesting read. I did enjoy it, but at times it was a little confusing to what was going on. But I would suggest this book to people who enjoy E. L. Konigsburg books, but for someone who has never read one of her books start with "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" and then come to this book or "The View From Saturday".

Review By Sweetie Pie

Through the Postern Gate

by Florence Barclay

I really like this book. I will admit to reading it two times in the last few months. Probably more than I should considering the fact that it is a very sentimental and old fashioned. But I just love it and I have good company because I have heard that the last Empress of Russia also liked it.

  The plot of the story revolves around Guy Chelsea and Christobel Charteris, the main characters. Guy is rarely referred to by his given name; mostly he is called "Little Boy Blue."
  The story starts out with Guy proposing to Christobel. There is a problem though, she is ten years older than he is. This age gap is made even more awkward by the fact that she knew him when he was six and she was sixteen. The age gap is super obvious at first and it is not until the very end that the story loses the strangeness of such a plot. It is a plot twist not often seen, we think nothing of a ten year gap if the man is older than the woman but I have never seen one the other way around.
  I really like Christobel because she is serious and Christian but she is also pretty liberated for her time. She lives alone with an old house keeper and she is not only very well educated she has also went to college and is a star tennis player. Guy is totally different, he is a pilot, quite ordinarily educated and not at all serious. Then to add further conflict Christobel is sort of committed, though not engaged, to the "Professor." By that I mean that his sister has talked about the fact that he loves her and that he as been waiting to ask her to marry him for twelve years because he did not have the money.
  The romance between these two seemed pretty real although it was super clean. That is something I am always thankful for. I really liked how Florence Barclay made the characters grow throughout the book and how their feelings gradually changed and developed.
  On the whole, if you like old fashioned romances with unusually plot lines I would definitely recommend you pick it up.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

Brave New World

By Aldous Huxley

Well where do I start. Beckyelsie wrote  a review for this a while back and you can view it here.
I agree with her review. This book was disturbing and wrong. People were not conceived in the normal way, people are raised in hatcheries. Each person is assigned a rank; Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta,and Epsilon. Alpha is the highest and are able to live as you and I do. Beta are also able to live as you and I do. But the rest are inferior. They have no rights and are pretty much the servants. And the head of the hatcheries decides were the "eggs" go, whether or not the will be Alpha or Beta and so on.
That right there sounds very wrong to me. Everyone was created equal, so hatching the "eggs" into different ranks is wrong.

Then another thing that bugged me was the thought that "everyone belongs to everyone". Now that means there is no marriage. There is no love. There is no pregnancy. And women and men sleep with many different people. There is no sanity. These people are on a drug called soma, the use it whenever the feel grim. It is disheartening.

I would not suggest this book to anyone. I did not enjoy it. I did dislike it though. You don't need to know anything about the plot(which is a little confusing) just know its disturbing, and you should avoided this book.

Review by Sweetie Pie

God Spoke Tibetan

By Allan Maberly

This book follows the progress of the Bible being translated into Tibetan.

It was a very intriguing book. Learning about Tibet was pretty cool.

There were many set backs to the Bible being translated into to Tibetan. It took over  hundred to complete the task. It went through many different people. It took a long while to get it in production. And then the effort to get back into Tibet was long.

If you enjoy reading about things like missioners. I don't really enjoy books that don't have a protagonist. This was one of those books. It followed the Bible not people who helped with the Bible. Which is good. But it made the book a little boring for me.

Review By Sweetie Pie

The Metamorphosis

By Franz Kafka'

The question that came into my mind after reading this book was "Is it really a master piece?" This book is thought highly by many people, what people that would be I have no idea. I did not enjoy this book. It is disturbing, it is creepy, and just wrong.

As a christian girl was truly disturbed by the ideas of this book. It follows a young man who wakes up one morning as a insect. A big insect.

Its as disturbing as it sounds. I really disliked this book. And would suggest that you stay away from it.

Review By Sweetie Pie

The Great Gatsby

By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Well this book is some what of a classic. The writing style of this book is really fascinating. I enjoyed that part of the book.

The story itself was not what you should base your life on.

Jay Gatsby is a wealthy man who lives in New York. The Narrator becomes his neighbor. (The narrator is not Mr. Fitzgerald, it is a fictional character, as long with all other characters).

Nick's cousin Daisy knew Gatsby way back when. In fact they almost got married.

This book was not the best morally but the way it was written and the style was terrific. I did enjoy this book. I would suggest it to young adults and adults not young children. They would not really understand whats going on.

Review By Sweetie Pie

You want WOMEN to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?

By Jean Fritz

This is a book I had to read for school. It was a really easy book. But interesting. Elizabeth Stanton was one of the major influences in the Women Rights Movement way back when.

This is a small little Biography about her. It was a really easy read. I had read some of Jean Fritz books already and they are not hard books. Sometimes when your reading deep books its nice to have a break with an easy book. And it was. I did like this book. If you need a light-heart-ed book than this is a good one.
Review By Sweetie Pie

Fablehaven; Keys to The Demon Prison

By Brandon Mull

The fifth and final book to this amazing series is no disappoint-er.  I loved this book, it is my favorite in the series.

Kendra and Seth continue with there friends to try find the last of Artifacts and stop the Sphinx. Danger and threat keep rising. And Time is running out.

On an attempt to recover one of the last Artifacts that is not is in Shinx's custody, Seth gets taken hostage. He is taken to the last Secret Preserve which is under the control of the one and only Sphinx. Well in prison Seth meets Bracken, a powerful ally.

Meanwhile Kendra and the rest of the team confront Vanessa about her secret. Once the secret it known, a plan is set up to rescue Seth. the plan backfires and everyone is captured. And the Demon Prison is almost ready to be opened.

Will Kendra and Seth escape? Will the Demon Prison open? Will the Sorensons and Friends Die? What will become of Fablehaven?

All will be answered in this final book of the Fablehaven series.

Starlighter

By Bryan Davis

This is the first in the series of Dragon of Starlight series and it is an excellent read. It has suspense, a bit of romance, and plenty of mystery. When you reach the end of the book, you still have plenty of questions, a lot of which are cleared up by the second in the series, Warrior. You meet a lot of characters in this book and the fact that it happens in a fantastical world makes it a bit difficult to understand, though more fun. Bryan Davis is an excellent writer and makes the reading very enjoyable and intriguing. It easily gets you hooked and it's hard to pull yourself into reality after reading it. One of the stranger elements of the book is in the relationships that the main guy, Jason, has with the females. The romance and falling in love with someone is downplayed a good deal. It's almost looked at as no big deal when Jason falls for Koren. The interesting thing about Bryan Davis' writing style that makes it an intriguing and mysterious book is that he never gives a proper introduction to this fantasy world - the readre is just dropped into it and must learn about the world through the character's eyes and thoughts. This is a Christian book, but there is little reference to God (the Creator) in the book. However, underlying Christian themes and worldview come through shining brightly - for instance, the conviction that we all here for a purpose and can make things better with our gifts and talents is an enormous part of the plot.

Finally, this book could make some people queasy because it's about dragons and humans; however, the dragons are portrayed about as dastardly as any human villain in other books (with the exception that there is a hint about them eating their victims...).

Overall, I love this book and highly recommend it to fantasy-lovers.

Review by Beckyelsie

Fablehaven; Secret of the Dragon Sanctuary

By Brandon Mull

This book Starts with Kendra at school, well after school, going to help at the day care for the elementary kids. The teacher at the day care tells Kendra about the activity that they are going to do. Guess the Object. When Kendra sticks her hand in one box she gets pricked and guesses a Cactus Fig.
Kendra then spends the rest of the afternoon at the day care. When she is about to leave, the teacher calls her into his office. And there Kendra is surprised to find herself behind a cabinet.
Kendra is kidnapped and taken to a Lectoblix. While captive Kendra encounters The Sphinx and discovers that he has more artifacts then first supposed.

Meanwhile the faux Kendra stands in the place of the real Kendra. Seth starts realizing that Kendra (fake Kendra) has been asking weirdly. When Warren and Seth approach Kendra (fake Kendra) she poisons herself and dies. Seth has no idea that it wasn't really Kendra. Seth goes to Fablehaven with his grandparents after the funeral.

Kendra finds herself in a need of an escape, when she is given a three dimensional knapsack that she can escape in.

This book as some pretty epic events. We find out the true identity of some supposed friends. We find out who else gets get kidnap. And many other secrets. This was a good book.

Review By Sweetie Pie

Fablehaven; Grips of The Shadow Plague

By Brandon Mull

The third book of Fablehaven. This is another great installment. I was entrance all the way through.

After defeating the traitor in the second book (sorry spoilers, I'll keep it discreet) Kendra and Warren are summoned to a Knights of Dawn meeting. Kendra has been invited to join the Knights of Dawn.

But at the end of the second book, you find out that The Sphinx might be a traitor. And it had long been supposed that The Sphinx was the leader of the Knights of Dawn.
After saying agreeing that Kendra should go with Warren to the Knights of Dawn, despite the risk, She and Warren travel to a house of fairy collectors where Kendra meets Dougan, the brother of someone else she met at Fablehaven, and Gavin, the son of a great Dragon Expert, Chuck Rose.
Kendra is sent on her first assignment to recover one of the artifacts. Kendra along with Warren, Dougan and Gavin head to Arizona to recover the artifact that is supposedly there.

Back at Fablehaven Seth, Grandma and Grandpa have there own problems. The creatures of light are turning dark and attacking the others. Grandpa and Grandma are desperate. Eventually the house is compromised and Every at Fablehaven take refuge in two places that are guarded from the 'Shadow Plague', The Pond of the naiads, and the centaurs home.

This book was an amazing book. The twist and turns were unexpected and great. This is a great third installment of Fablehaven.

A Heart Revealed

When I found out that this book was coming out two months ago I was super excited because the premise of the story sounded right up my alley. Jessman has added her now signature edginess to the story along with a strong Christian message. Despite being a lot more controversial than Siri Mitchell she packs more of a spiritual punch.
  This book is the second volume in the Winds of Change series and A Heart Revealed continues the O'Conner Saga. I wrote a review of the previous book, you might want to check it out to understand a little more about the characters.
  A Heart Revealed centers around Sean O'Conner and, Emma Malloy, a women who fled Ireland ten years before from her abusive husband. Sean is the super dependable type of bachelor who has no intention of ever marrying. But he has a violent temper hidden underneath his easy-going exterior. Emma has a world of trouble and heartache that holds her back.
  They have been very close friend for years and both are shocked and horrified when they fall in love. Even though Emma has a biblical reason to divorce she can't because they are both Catholics. Emma tries to push Sean toward Rose, a girl he is attracted to but does not love because she wants him to be happy.
  Emma is a wonderful character, sweet and gentle with a little bit of sass. I felt so sad for her because she had such a terrible life but her faith in God stands true. I was quite pleased that Lessman held such a strong case against adultery, not just with a preachy message, but with characters that seem real.
  If you want to find out how the story ends you will have to read A Heart Revealed. I probably not recommend this book to a junior higher because of the slightly more sexual content but it is a clean book with a strong Christian message.
  Reviewed by Elizabeth

Fablehaven; Rise of the Evening Star

By Brandon Mull

This is the second installment of the great Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. My review for the first book can be found here. I enjoy these books very very much. I have read three of these books recently and am going to be starting the fifth and final book(oh so sad).

This book starts with Kendra at school. It has been a year sense her excursions at Fablehaven last year. Kendra has come to realize that when the Fairies kissed her last year, they changed her. She no longer needs the milk to see the true image of the magical creatures. So when a new students enters her class in finals week, and all the girls in the class seem to fall in love with him, all Kendra sees is a ugly, disgusting, stinky goblin.
All Kendra can think about is how to get ride of this goblin, who poisoned her teacher.
Kendra meets Errol and he says he knows how to get ride of the goblin. So Kendra and Errol and Seth go one a little expedition in which Seth gets bit by a stone frog.

After finals are over, Seth and Kendra go back to Fablehaven, where Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson have recruited help to find the secret artifact that is somewhere in Fablehaven.
During there first day on the preserve, Kendra and Seth get to meet Warren, Dale's younger brother. A couple years ago Warren  went out on the preserve alone and came back an albino, as the people on the preserve call it. It means that he is been brainwashed or something and does not have any thoughts of his own and is very white(hence the term albino). He has not responded to any help that Dale, Grandpa, or anyone has given him. But when Kendra touches him he feels it. And for the first time in a long time there is hope for him.
One of the help that Grandpa has hired turns out to be a traitor, in fact a narcoblix (it is kind of like a vampire but instead of sucking the blood out it can control its victims in there sleep). Kendra and Seth are the only ones who are not in the custody of the traitor. Seth decides to go to where they think the artifact is. When there Seth must battle a crazy, disturbing creature who most likely turned Warren albino. After defeating the creature, Seth is unconscious some where in Fablehaven, and Kendra is suddenly surprised when Warren gets up and talks to her and look some what normal.
Kendra and Warren then go for the artifact.

This book is a great second installment to the series. It is captivating and intriguing. If you enjoy fantasy, you will enjoy this book.

Review by Sweetie Pie

How To Ruin Your Life by 40

By Steve Farrar

This is a devotional book, and probably one of the best.
It is directed for the later teen years, Mainly to those appproaching their twenties. but any one from 15 and on will take much from this book.

Steve Farrar writes in a way that keeps his audience reading. I found that many devotional books are extremely preachy and boring. This book is not like that, it is a easy read but not in a little kid way.

It talks about the opposite of the title, he gives sound advice of how not to ruin your life by forty.
It talks about jobs and they company your with and romance and making the right decisions. It gave me much insight in what I believe. I am glad for Steve Farrar has pretty much the same views as I do. Which is great when reading a devotional book.

For me this book is one of the best devotional books ever. I loved this book and would read it again and again and again. Please check this book out of the library or better yet, buy it. You won't be disappointed.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The House of Power

Atherton: The House of Power
By: Patrick Carmen
A Review By: Christie S.

Welcome to the world of Atherton where the orphan Edgar lives in a fig grove on Tabletop. Atherton is a made world created by the mad scientist Maximus Harding. He created Atherton with three circular levels, each one smaller than the level below it. The Highlands, the lowest level, is expansive, bare, and vastly unknown. Tabletop, the middle level, contains most of the population of Atherton. It is here that all of the food is grown. The Highlands, the top level, is a beautiful place where the noblemen and people of privilege live. The House of Power is the center of the Highlands and that is where the only source of water for Atherton is held. All three of these levels are separated by treacherous cliffs.
Edgar is our main character. He loves to climb these dangerous cliffs, which I might add, is completely against the rules of Atherton.
But Atherton is changing and soon nothing will ever be the same again. People will be forced to choose sides and the world of Atherton will be forever changed...

Dragonknight

By Donita K. Paul

 This is the third installment of my favorite book series. I have written a review for the first book way back long ago, Dragonspell.

This book does not center on the same person that the other two books did. It centers now on Kale's friend Bardon, whom you meet in book two. Now in book two, Dragonquest, Kale and Bardon developed a strange connection. Kale is a mindspeaker, Bardon is not, but when Kale is near, Bardon is able to mindspeak, and with Kale its very hard to hide his thoughts from her and vice versa.

This book follows Bardon as he goes to take sabatical that is required for one who wants to become a knight of Paladin.
Bardon only just arrives in a secluded area in the mountain when he was visited by a granny emerlindian(a very old emerlindian) and her granddaughter, a naive young emerlindian girl.
They seek Bardon's help to find the young emerlindian girl's father, who was put under a trance the could result in his death in a matter of days.
Bardon reluctantly joins the two ladies on their quest.
Bardon has many lessons in this book, he must learn to cope with unexpected occurrences.

This book is my second favorite in the series. I love the character Bardon and having a book mostly about him is really cool. I would suggest this series. It is a christian fantasy series, and is so amazing!

Read these books.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The Goose Girl

By Shannon Hale

Oh! Words cannot describe my love of this book. It is very well written, which is a bit surprising because it was Shannon Hale's first book. The characters seem to jump out of the pages. This was the second Shannon Hale book I have read. The first was the Princess Academy which is another great book.

The story follows Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree. She is loved-hated by her mother, her father seems to care for her but he dies early in the book. Her siblings ignore her. The only person who seems to care for her is her aunt, but also early in the book she must leave.
Ani is alone, and she must prepare to become queen but she hasn't any idea how to do that. Her aunt once told her that some people are born with a word of a language on their tongue. And that some people can talk to animals and then some people can talk to humans and make them believe what they want them to believe in a way. Ani is one who can talk to animals, over the centuries it has become less common and more thought down of.
When Ani is sixteen and her father dies, at the funeral her mother makes a speech of how her eldest son will become king. This confuses Ani because she thought that she would become queen. She asks her mother about it and her mother says that she is going to go to the neighboring kingdom of Bayern to marry the crown prince. Now Bayern is much much bigger than Kildenree. This marriage was arranged for the hope of keeping peace between the two kingdoms.

Ani begins the six month trek from Kildenree to Bayern with many guards and her Lady-in-waiting, Selia. During the first half of the journey was calm and peaceful. But after they cross the border, many of the guards turn against Ani and kill the other guards. Ani escapes and must take the image of a goose girl.
As a goose girl Ani makes many new friends, such as Gilsa, the kind old woman who helped her, Finn, Gilsa's son, Razo, a mischievious boy incharge of the sheep, Enna, a defiant spirited hen keeper (perhaps the first friend of Ani's). And maybe most importantly Geric, a young knight who meets Ani in the pasture where she tends geese.

Ani knows she must recover her title but how?

Oh this book is so amazing. I love this book. This is a have to read. It really is.

Review By Sweetie Pie

A Heart Most Worthy

  Siri Mitchell is quite well known in the Christian book world for her inspirational fiction. While this book mentions God the spiritual element is not very large compared to most Christian novels. Also the characters in this book are Catholic.
  The narration of this book is rather unusual as it at first seems like this book is written in the third person, when suddenly the narrator inserts themselves into the story and makes comments upon the characters actions. I found it a very interesting way to write a story and it was not distracting to me.
  This book centers around three girls that work at Madame Forza's clothing shop in 1918. Julietta, Annamaria and Luciana are all Italians with very different personalities. Julietta is reckless and falls for a rather dangerous man named, Angelo. Annamarie is the oldest daughter in her family and as such she is expected never to marry according to tradition. But then she falls for the Sicilian grocer's son, something utterly forbidden. Luciana is the Count of Roma's daughter and she is literally scared for her live because her father was murdered by an anarchist. Unfortunately or fortunately Billy Quinn, the wealthy son of one of Madame's clients falls in love with her despite her impoverished state.
  This book was a bit slow at the start but the second half moved quickly. I felt that the romance element was introduced too late in the book to completely develop the plot. The romance often seemed rushed, which is a shame because the plot lines are quite good. You would think that this book would be depressing because much of it is set around World War One and the 1918 flu but somehow Mitchell manages to keep the overall tone light. Part of that is due to the fairy-tale like quality of the romance. I think that part of Mitchell's problem is that she has three main plot lines and at least one secondary one in a 400 page book. If this book had been the size of a Julie Lessman book I think the whole book would be a lot better.
  This book is quite well written and I really enjoyed it. Siri Mitchell is an author to watch and I will definitely check out her other books.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

The Hunger Games

"The Hunger Games"
By: Suzanne Collins
A Review By: Christie S.

Welcome to Katniss Everdeen's broken world. She is living in the ruins of a land that was once know as North America. Wars have ravaged this once majestic country. Now the Capitol is surrounded by 12 'districts' and Panem the 12th district is where this captivating story opens.

The Capitol. That is where the political hub of this world happens. Every year the Capitol demands that one boy and one girl ages 12 to 18 from every district come and participate in the annual "Hunger Games"

The Hunger Games are a death sentence. These horrifying games force innocent children to kill each other off one by one in an outdoor arena on live television until only one remains. The purpose? To always remind the people that wars should be avoided at all cost. At least, that was what the original intent was when the games started 73 years before this book opened. Now, the Games have been twisted and manipulated into a bloodbath of political malevolence.

This book is a difficult read in the sense that it makes you think and it makes you think HARD. You go on this seemingly futile journey with independent Katniss. She has to struggle through making choices and weighing the importance of things such as; survival vs. humanity, life against love, and government control vs. personal independence and so do you. Even though this book is engrossing it gives you the chance to think about difficult issues that even exist in our world today. Yes, the are at a lesser level but no one can deny that they still exist.

The Hunger Games is passionate, violent, jarring, engrossing, fast paced, suspenseful, and horrifying book. It makes you cry to think of the injustices of Katniss's world and our own. It presents themes such as; death, grieving, poverty, survival, governmental manipulation, and personal struggle with right and wrong; good and evil. But it is also filled with moments of personal growth, pathos, joy, and hope. Be ready for an exhilarating read that might keep you up nights even after you finish it. It was completely addicting to me. I was obsessed with it until I finished this book. So how does this book end? Read it and find out...

I Kissed Dating Goodbye

"I Kissed Dating Goodbye"
By: Joshua Harris
A Review By: Christie S.

Yes, I know, I know. Christie is doing yet ANOTHER book review on relationship/self help books. I'm sorry guys. It's just a genre I've been working through. So here we go! ^_^

Books like these can be very controversial sometimes. They say you either love them or you hate them. Although I do not agree with every jot and tiddle in this book I still say that it is a worthwhile and enriching read...

This book has a heart that when you dig down is just about serving the Lord. It's about wanting what He wants. It's about valuing true, pure, loving, lasting, committed relationships. It's about becoming pure in mind, soul, body, and heart. It's about surrendering your will and gratefully, contentedly accepting His. This book isn't just about dating. It's about making Christ the center of who and why you are. I hope that you read this book! :)

Passion and Purity

"Passion and Purity"
By: Elisabeth Elliot
A Review By: Christie S.

Elizabeth Elliot first published "Passion and Purity" in 1984 and it is just as relevant now as it was back in the 1980's. This is a book with a strong message that has withstood the test of many decades despite opposition from the world. Passion and Purity is radically different from the world's vision for "relationships". The subtitle of this book is: "Learning to bring your love life under Christ's control", a formula so sadly foreign to the world today. So often dating, courtship, relationships, (or whatever you would like to call them) are all about what "feels good" or what "you decide is right" Elizabeth Elliot challenges young and old alike to "stay pure in your relationships", "wait on God's timing", and to "surrender your love life under Christ's control." This book is a convicting, challenging, courageous read that I would highly recommend. Enjoy!

The Shunning

By Beverly Lewis

This is an excellent book. I loved this book, and am avidly awaiting some free time in which I can read the rest of this series, Heritage of Lancaster County. It follows Katie Lapp as she grapples with who she is and dealing with the death of her early love. During the time span in which they were courting, he died. Eighteen months later, she joins the Amish church. She finds a mysterious item in her parents' attic, leading her to question who she is. This discovery leads to many more disturbing findings, ending with her being shunned from the Amish church. The story appears to end there, but in the last page of the last chapter, Lewis introduces a new element that makes you completely excited and infuses you with the need to continue the series.

Overall, I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes fiction.

Review by Beckyelsie

Murder on the Orient Express

By Agatha Christie,

Agatha Christie's books are always a pleasure to read. This is most likely Agatha Christie's most famous novel and one of the most beloved.
The detective is none other then Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective. He board a very expensive train with many other first class and second class guests.
But during one of the nights, one of the guests is brutally murdered. He was murdered by somone who was male and female left handed and right handed, smoker of a pipe and has a handkercheif with an ' 'H' on it. The victim was killed some time between midnight and two.
Oh and I forgot to mention that the train is snowbound, so most likely the murderer is still on the train.
Poirot must conduct a full scale investigation of who committed the murder, but he doesn't have the police, he doesn't have the necessary things he needs for an in depth search. And there is the confusion of the Male-Female-left-handed-right-handed killer.

I loved this book. Its is entrancing and captivating story. The plot keeps going deeper and deeper throughout the whole story, there is not a dull moment. It is a hard mystery to solve ahead of time, but I have this weird thing where I usually think of multiple solutions and one of them was right.
I recommend this book to all Agatha Christie lovers and non-lovers alike. And also to those who have not yet read any mystery books, this a great starter.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The Road from Home

By David Kherdian

Veron Kherdian, a young armenian Christian who lived in Turkey in 1908. Most people don't know about the persecution of armenian Christians in Turkey during 1908-1915. It was never taught in public school. It was forgotten by most Americans. David Kherdian writes about his mother's experience during this time.

Veron was 8 years old when she, her parents, younger siblings, grandfather and uncle, are deportated from their home town and their family. Her family travel in a wagon for miles, having no idea where she would be going.
When it seem like they are finally safe, the cholera infects all the children and the grandfather and uncle. Veron is the only on who survives. But her mother is heartbroken, she lost her two boys and her other daughter. Soon Veron's mother dies of broken heart.

Veron's father is having to go away and help soldiers in Baghdad, he is a doctor. Veron must live with a couple aunts that she has in Meskene, Syria, the city they were taken to. After a about a year of living in Meskene, her father returns and says that they are going to escape along with a friend of the family. They departed shortly and traveled a long way, heading back to where the rest of Veron's family was. But not long after they departed Veron's father died. Veron continued on the journey hoping to be reunited with her family.

This book really touched my heart. David Kherdian retells the the story of his mother during the Christian Armenian Holocaust in Turkey. I cried a lot during this book, it really touched me. I suggest this book to anyone and everyone.

Review by Sweetie Pie

The Great Brain

 By John Dennis Fitzgerald
Tom Dennis Fitzgerald has a great brain. He think of ways to cheat people for money. When his family makes ice cream, he tells two kids that there will be some in a spoon full for a penny. When a kid looses his leg, he helps him get back on his game for a playset. When the new greek kid gets bullied, Tom trains him up cause the kids father promised him a silver dollar.

For me this book was much like Tom Sawyer(I love Tom Sawyer), just an easier read. The book is written in a first person narrative from the author, when he was a little boy. The book is based on John Dennis Fitzgerald's experience as a young boy, and what his older brother Tom did to earn money.
As I mentioned before this book is much like Tom Sawyer but one thing that I enjoyed in this that never happened in Tom Sawyer is that Tom Dennis changed and completely gave up his bad ways.
 I would recommend this book to any one who wants a light-heart-ed-read.

Review by Sweetie Pie

Chosen

By Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is a rather well-known Christian thrill author and this was my second book by him that I had read. The first one that I had read was Immanuel's Veins (read that review here, and I didn't really like that story.

Chosen is the first of the Lost series, which is part of the Circle collection. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The story follows the adventures of Johnis, who is the chosen one - one who will lead the Forest Guard and forest dwellers in victory against the Horde, the Scabs who are controlled by the evil Teelah.

I really enjoyed how Dekker has set up his world and how his characters developed. A mystery unfolds as we learn that Johnis's success lies not in battle, but in gathering six lost books of history, which hold the power to change the world. He must convince his three other friends (who at first, don't like him at all nor wish to be his friends), Silvie, Billos, and Darsal, to help him go toward evil's fortress and rescue one of the lost books.

Overall, I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, mystery, and adventure. My only warning is that it can get dark, but the power of good over evil shines through.

Review by Beckyelsie

Immanuel's Veins

By Ted Dekker

This was the first book by Ted Dekker that I read and I don't really recommend it. It vividly portrays the power of the cross over evil, but in actuality has very little Christianity in it. It deals very explicitly with supernatural powers in a powerful, but dark and frightening way. In the end, it shows the power of God besting the powers of evil and demons by the cross and the blood of a sacrificial lamb.

One thing that I disliked about this book was that Toma, the hero of the story, is not a Christian, and we are not certain at the end whether he is a Christian. Dekker decries the church for siding with the aristocracy (this story takes place in Russia at the time of Catherine the Great) instead of acting against evil and instead of a priest helping Toma, an angel does (whether he an angel or a person from another dimension, I can't be certain). However, this book is well-written and shows how dangerous and deceptive the powers of evil can be.

I readily recommend Ted Dekker, but newcomers ought to try his other books first. (for my review of Chosen, see here.

Review by Beckyelsie

A Hope Undaunted

By Julie Lessman
If you have ever read a book by Julie Lessman than you know that she is the cause of a firestorm of criticism by various people of her books, which are controversial. While her books are very Christian she is not afraid to add a bit of "passion" to her stories which is likely to cause some heads to turn. I read "A Passion Most Pure" which is about the oldest sister of the main character in this book, Katie O'Connor. I would strongly recommend that you read at least that book first to get the "back story" on this one. There are two books in between which I have not read. This book is the first book in a new series about the other O'Connor children. I was not very favorably impressed with the first book but I find this one to be surprisingly good.
Katie is a cool character although she is very spoiled and immature. She is spunky and funny with a lot of pep. Her biggest dream is to become a lawyer which is a big deal in 1929. She has a rich, good looking boyfriend and life seems just fine until disaster strikes. Well, not really but she thinks it is the end of the world, her Father forbids her to see her boyfriend for the summer and makes her volunteer at an orphanage.
To add insult to injury her boss is none other than Luke McGee, her old childhood Nemesis. He is tall,good looking and a Christian, something Katie is not.
This story is much sadder than than the first book in the previous series which involved many of the same characters and I respect these characters much more. Luke is a great guy and in the pursuit of duty does some things that not many men today would do. His friend Parker is really a great guy and I felt sorry for him even though I felt that it was the best thing for him.
The characters in this story are Catholic which may bother some but I must admit that they sound more Protestant to me. I would probably not recommend this book to a younger than junior high kid, but then this book is 500 pages, so I don't think many kids would be reading this anyway.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

Beautiful Girlhood

By Mabel Hale
There has been a ton of books on teenage girls in the last few years. Having read the reviews on many of them they seem to lie in two camps, the "Fundamentalist" and the "liberal". The first vary in beliefs from the people that say you ought to wear only dresses, never work outside the home or go to college to the "courtship versus dating" debate that is so hot right now. The "liberal" books are certainly less restrictive but they can cross the line into giving too much freedom. This book does not address the courtship issue directly as that was the only way that "good" girls got married. But I still think that is was a lot less restrictive back then than some of the "Fundamentalist" groups which go back even further, some to Puritan standards.
This book somehow seems more balanced because it was written so long ago. It is far easier to see the difference in time periods and the good and bad things about the time. The chapters on dress, obeying parents, being cheerful and God are still very relevant. While this book is slightly old-fashioned on some of the other topics, Hale never demeans women or limits their purpose. She makes a good point that girls should be careful in getting too emotionally involved when they are still in high school as they can end up with multiple "broken hearts" before they grow up.
She also talks about what work that a girl should take up, such as being a doctor or nurse or teacher. She stresses that a girl should have some sort of useful skill that she can use to support her family if need be. Most of this book deals about attitude, what kind of attitude we have and what sort of one we should have.
On the whole this book makes so very valid points and while I disagree with Mabel Hale on a few minor points I think that it is well worth reading, maybe more than some of the more modern books.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

Maisie Dobbs

By Jacqueline Winspear
I really thought that I would enjoy this book, unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. I found my attention wondering and the characters were never real to me.
Set in the late 1920's England, Maisie Dobbs is a detective. One of her first clients is a Mr. Davenham who suspects that his wife Celia is unfaithful. Maisie takes the case and follows Celia and finds to her surprise that she visits a graveyard. She visits only one grave, that of a man named Vincent. There is nothing else on the tombstone and the grave is rather resent. She finds out that there are quite a few such graves and that all of them belong to WWI vets who came home terribly injured. Most of them had disfiguring facial wounds and they went to live in a place called "The Retreat," a sort of commune of sorts.
Maisie is not a very sympathetic character, she seems like a grown-up version of Nancy Drew. The other characters in the story are equally hazy and boring. She also practices a great deal of "New Age" stuff which seems rather unrealistic for the time as well as annoying.
As soon as the mystery starts, Winspear takes us back to when Maisie was a teenage maid to Lady Rowan and how she gets her education. Then it goes on to show her as a nurse during "The War," and her romance with Simon Lynch, a doctor. This part of the story would have been better if Maisie had been anything but a rather cool and detached person who never seems to feel a great deal of emotion.
It is not until the last third of the book that the story really goes off the rails and becomes rather ludicrous. Now the story goes back to the 20's and Maisie suspects the Retreat of being shady since a great many of it's members died rather mysteriously. This part of the story reads like a badly done version of "Nancy Drew and The Password to Larkspur Lane". Unlike Nancy, Maisie does not even do much of the action and then the ending is so completely unrealistic it was amusing.
On the whole I am probably not going to read the next books in the series.
Reviewed By Elizbeth

Window at the White Cat

By Mary Roberts Rinehart
Mary Roberts Rinehart was often called the "American Agatha Christie." She was slightly before Christie's time and this book is decidedly Edwardian. Rinehart adds a good dose of humor to this mystery but despite this I found this book to lack the deep insight and plot twists of Agatha. Nevertheless this book is well worth reading if you like mysteries.
The narrator is a lawyer named John Knox who also serves as a detective of sorts. Except nobody really solves the mystery, it kinda just solves itself. John is a thirty five year old bachelor when suddenly in walks into his office a young woman with a interesting mystery. She is the daughter of a politician and her father has mysteriously gone missing. While John tries to solve the mystery, her Aunt Jane goes missing, pearls are stolen and then her father is murdered at the sleazy night club, "The White Cat." Many intentional accidents occur and while I did suspect some of the plot it was a surprise the way whole thing came together.
On the whole this is a nice mystery with a hint of romance.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

Secret of the Chimneys

By Agatha Christie

I think it is high time that there be a review of one of Agatha Christie's books.
Secret of the Chimneys was the first Agatha book I ever read. And I loved it. This is my review for the second time I read it.

It follows Anthony Cade a young man from England living in Africa. While helping his friend deliver memoirs of Count Styplitch of Herslovakia, Anthony is attacked. Anthony is all right from the attack, but the attacker got away with some love  letters addressed to Mrs. Virginia Revel.

What Anthony thought to be a pleasure visit to London turns into a fully-pledged murder, where Anthony is the lead suspect.

I love Agatha Christie books. She has such away with captivating any audience. Her mysteries are deep and entrancing. The character are amazingly developed and seem to come to life. This is a have to read for everyone.

~Sweetie Pie

The House of a Thousand Candles

by Meredith Nicholson
This book is one of the few books I have reviewed that I would recommend for both men and women. It is part mystery, part suspense with a bit of romance thrown in.
When John Marshal Glenarm dies, his grandson John Glenarm, who is more commonly referred to as Jack, comes home from Naples to hear the reading of the will. Jack is the narrator of the story and up until the death of his grandfather he basically is a adventurer who goes to places like Africa on a safari. His grandfather's will is a strange one; he must stay in his grandfather' partly unfinished house in Indiana for a year. If he does not agree to the terms of the will then his grandfather's house and fortune will go to Marian Devereux, a niece of one of his grandfather's friends, Sister Theresa. Furthermore he cannot marry the said Marian Devereux or the money will go to the school Sister Theresa runs.
If that sounds contrived; it is. But that is the fun of this story, it is not in the least likely to happen and surprisingly modern. So Jack goes to live in the house so aptly named, "The House of a Thousand Candles." The only other person in the house is the butler, Bates, who is slightly odd. The very first day Jack nearly gets shot at dinner and here where things get exciting. There are a few gun fights, secret passages galore and all sorts of strange things. Oh, a battle occurs in the library with Jack, his friend Larry, and the minister of the St. Agatha's school defending the house from invaders. The main point of the story is that someone wants him to not meet the terms of the will and he has to find out who.
If you like mystery of adventure I would recommend this book.
Reviewed by Elizabeth

A Wrinkle In Time

by Madeline L'Engle

Meg is a young teen, whose father disappeared unexpectedly about a year ago. Her younger brother Charles Wallace is special, new. Meg is the girl who doesn't fit in her own skin, she hates everything about herself.

Meg and Charles Wallace along with a friend, Calvin O'Keefe, are sent on a extraterrestrial adventure, filled with Whatsit, Who, Which, CENTRAL Central Intelligence, Happy Medium, Tesseract, and IT.

Meg must learn to accept who she is and embrace it. For Meg will have to save her father, Calvin, and most importantly Charles Wallace with one single word.

I enjoyed this book very much. It is definitely a Sci-Fi book, but not one of those corny ones. It is very intriguing and filled with excitment. It is not the best Sci-Fi book I have read but it is good.
I would suggest this book to any one who loves Sci-Fi. If you don't love Sci-Fi then this probably isn't a book for you.

Reviewed by Sweetie Pie

Enchantress from the Stars

by Sylvia Engdahl


In this book, there are humans that are advanced so much to telepathy and psychokinesis and space travel. Then there are human that can space travel, and then there are humans as advanced as us. Then there are humans in medieval times when they believed in Dragons. They all live at the same time on different planets.
It is important to know this because it plays a critical role in this book.

Elana is from the telepathic, psychokinesis, space-travelers. Jarel is from the space-traveling humans, and Georgyn is from the the medieval times.

in Elana's world there is the Federation(not like the Star Trek Federation), and the mission is to protect younglings(humans that are below them in advancements) for other younglings. Elana's father is part of this Federation and so is Elana's good friend Evrek. Elana is gradually becoming part of the Federation. In this world younglings are viewed as human. But they can not be told about the Advancements without consequences. If say someone(or even a whole world) who is not as advanced as Elana finds out that they are not the highest in advancement, they may just decide not to do anything. It is possible for less advanced world to become more advanced if they try. But they can not know about the others.

In Jarel's world there is the Empire. (not like the Star Wars Empire) The Empire believes that anyone below them is a primitive life form. And The Empire will invade other planets of "primitive" life form (meaning humans) for their own benefit.

Georyn's world is still in the 'Dragon' believing state. They can not space travel or anything like that.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had an interesting view on multiple things. The book is definitely not a spiritual book. But for me it wasn't blasphemy that much, if any to be counted for. It is more of a subtle Sci-Fi, for me I am not a huge Sci-Fi fan, I am more of a Fantasy and Mystery and some classics fan. But this book was so good!!!!!!!! it was written a long time ago(1970) but was reprinted in 2001, and it doesn't have the feel of an old book. I would suggest this book to anybody and everybody!

Reviewed by Sweetie Pie

A Old-fashioned Girl

By Louisa May Alcott

This is an old favorite of mine. It's written with a wealth of vocabulary. It is a slow-paced story but one falls in love with the characters and the funny situations they get into. I like it better than Little Women, but it is a lot shorter. It follows the habit of Little Women in that Alcott wrote it in two parts. The first follows Polly Milton as a little girl around the big city on her visit from the country. The second part follows her around when she returns as a determined young lady. Alcott endorses the good, old-fashioned, simple, moral decisions that people make. Polly is portrayed as a much happier and more fulfilled person than her wealthier, city-living peers. We can learn a great deal and be greatly encouraged in our moral struggle from this book, but she teaches it all in a very entertaining manner. And, in the end Polly and her friends all live happily ever after. I would highly recommend this book to any girl, probably 10 years of age or older (I'm not sure if boys would be interested in such a book).

Review by Beckyelsie