Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time

Meg Murry, a strange girl, has difficulties in school. She is a bright girl, but sometimes she can get a little overboard. She is the oldest of four children. The twins, Sandy and Dennys, are quite normal, but Charles Wallace (the youngest) is also very strange. He always seems to know when Meg is sad, happy, worried, or any emotion. Life is boring, as usual, until one day they find a tramp at their door, and there is where the adventure begins. Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin embark upon a journey with the tramp, Mrs. Whatsit and Co. They must save Meg’s dad and, as they do, they all become better friends.

I think this book is very interesting. It is definitely written for children, but it has some things in it that older people might enjoy, such as lots of adventure and mystery. Like, how can Charles Wallace know what’s going on with Meg? Will they find and rescue their dad? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Series: 1st of 5

 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

After his parents die, Harry Potter goes to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. But after a while, peculiar things start to happen. Then a letter shows up for him! The letter invites him to a school, but not just any school. This letter invites him to Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards! Nervous and unsure, he buys his books and packs his bags. With his friends Ron and Hermione, he starts on an adventure. What he doesn’t know is that this year and adventure will change his life.

I like how the author makes the characters believable. They’re not doing anything a normal 11-year-old couldn’t do or anything extreme. Also I like how there is friendship. Like Harry tells his friends everything and he confides in them. Even though there is some magic, it isn’t very dark magic. As there is a class against dark magic, the author keeps in mind that the characters must have some defensive magic and spells. You won’t be able to put it down until you finish it! 

Author: J. K. Rowling

Series: 1 of 7

Book Review: Escaping Titanic

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ruth, a twelve-year-old girl, is excited about going on the new cruise ship, the Titanic. But on one terrible night, her excitement vanishes. As the ship is breaking, her mother and siblings are safe on a lifeboat. But she is still on deck. Will she get to safety? Will she be left on the boat?

This true story is very inspiring for me. The young girl faces a terribly hard night when her siblings and mother have to leave her on the Titanic. But she has faith. She prays and asks God to help her. The story’s moral is that you have to have faith in God and he will help you through trials and hard times.

Escaping Titanic is written for children, and the colorful artwork will keep their attention. The author has won many awards for the children’s and biographical books she’s written. The illustrator who did such a great job at capturing the excitement of this story is Kory S. Heinzen.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the netGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: Garden of the Purple Dragon

AUTHOR'S DESCRIPTION: Ping thinks she is safe hiding in the shadow of the Tai Shan mountains. Here she struggles to care for Kai, the baby dragon she is responsible for. But even in her remote mountain hideout, Ping's enemies find her. It is Kai they want.

Who can Ping trust? It is impossible to distinguish friend from foe. The easy road beckons. Will they find sanctuary in the Garden of the Purple Dragon? Will Ping embrace her true destiny?

MY REVIEW:  In a land far away (ancient China during the Han Dynasty), Ping and her purple dragon Kai live in peace. But not for long. The necromancer attacks, the empire arrests them, what more could happen? They must avoid hardships and escape danger.  Can they escape the necromancer? Will they go free from the empire?

I love this book because it is full of adventure and danger and because I love dragon books!  It tells the story of friendship, love, hate, and fear. I would recommend this book for ages 6 and up, adults and kids.

Author:  Carole Wilkinson (click here for her blog)
Series:  Dragonkeeper Trilogy (2nd in series)

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving! Other than Christmas, my birthday, Valentine’s day, and Hanukkah, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the pumpkin pie, the macaroni and cheese, turkey, and stuffing and gravy, and biscuits and the chicken and dumplings. But what I love more is our family tradition of going around the table and saying one thing that you’re thankful for. I know it’s hard sometimes, but its fun! When my grandparents came over a couple weeks ago, we had an early thanksgiving with them. (Poor Camille was sick, so we saved her some leftovers.) It was so good! The Mac and cheese (with real cheddar cheese) and the biscuits and chicken and dumplings. OH SO YUMMY!!!  I realized that Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating good food and dessert and remembering dead people, but about being thankful. I hope all who read this have a great Thanksgiving!

Book Review: The Bridge to Never Land

Aidan and his sister Sarah have found a magical paper in their dad’s antique desk. Aidan and Sarah head off on an adventure, never knowing what it has in store. They encounter various troubles, like monsters, shadows, fantasy creatures, and flying boys. Have some fun with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell in this bestselling book.

I am in love with the Peter Pan series and, when I found this book, pounced on it. This is definitely one of my favorites. The adventure, danger, and returning characters were all so thrilling that I couldn’t put the book down.  I recommend this book for anyone who has read the Peter Pan series or seen the movie.  Because this is part of a series, it would be hard to understand without reading the first three books.

Authors:  Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion
Series: Starcatchers -- Peter and the Starcatchers (2004), Peter and the Shadow Thieves (2006), Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (2007), and Peter and the Sword of Mercy (2009), The Bridge to Never Land (2011)                                                  

Book Review: Lily Renee

Lily Renee, a talented artist, is a Jewish girl who has to escape her home when the Nazis arrive to attack. It's a normal day when she thinks she had a dream where she can hear screaming and marching. She wakes up only to find that it's real. She kisses her parents good-bye as she hops on a ship that will take her to a British friend's house. When she arrives, she finds out the lady of the house is cruel. She runs away in search of a way to fulfill the promise she made to her parents, to bring them to America. Will she ever see her parents again? Will she find a way to bring peace? Will she use her artistic talent to help her family?

It surprised me when I opened the book to find a comic, but that didn’t make a difference on how inspiring and interesting the book was. The drawings are great—very realistic and descriptive. I like the book because it shows how even young people can help others by using their talents. Even though we have trials, we can ask God to help us and He will. I would recommend this book to 11 to 14 year olds. 

TITLE:  Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer
AUTHOR:  Trina Robbins
ILLUSTRATORS: Anne Timmons & Mo Oh
PUBLISHER:  Graphic Universe