Book Review: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy

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Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy by Jenny Nimmo

Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (The Children of the Red King, #3)
by Jenny Nimmo

5 out of 5 stars

Charlie encounters an invisible boy, Ollie, and gets his friends to help figure out a way to rescue him from the dark attics of Bloor Academy. Ollie was made invisible by a magic blue boa snake, and imprisoned in the attics by the evil headmaster of the school. Meanwhile, Belle, a mysterious and beautiful new girl, has arrived at school. She seems to be very chummy with Charlie’s mean aunts, so Charlie knows she must be up to something evil. Charlie’s Uncle Paton leaves on a mysterious journey to “stop someone from coming”, but Charlie thinks that perhaps that someone is already among them.

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Book Review: City of Fire

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City of Fire by Laurence Yep

City of Fire (City Trilogy, #1)
by Laurence Yep

2 out of 5 stars

Scirye vows revenge on the dragon that killed her sister, and she is joined in her quest for revenge by Leech, whose friend was also killed, and Bayang, a dragon disguised as a human. This unlikely crew start on the trail to find the evil dragon, Badik, and they end up as stowaways on a plane to Honolulu to track him down and retrieve the priceless artifacts he stole.

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Book Review: Alkrem

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Alkrem by Marta Palazzesi

Alkrem
by Marta Palazzesi, Christopher Turner (translator)

4 out of 5 stars

On his birthday Theo discovers that he was abandoned as a baby by Alkrem wizards trying to save his life from the Archemist government who imprisoned and executed all the Alkrem years before. Theo was adopted by Chimius, who raised him as an Archemist wizard in Paris. The Archemists hate the Alkrem and blame them for the constant war against Negato monsters that roam the countryside. At midnight on his birthday, Theo’s magic animal companion appears on his doorstep, confirming that he is indeed an Alkrem wizard. His animal companion is a ferocious and powerful Fire Fox, a rare animal even among Alkrem. The Archemists get wind of an Alkrem boy in the city, and Chimius is arrested after being wounded by a mysterious wizard named only the Shadow. Now Theo and his Fire Fox travel to the secret city of the Alkrem, hoping to find the only magic item that can cure Chimius’s wounds, the legendary and dangerous Alkrexa, a weapon that also has the power to heal.

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Book Review: With Wolfe in Canada

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With Wolfe in Canada by G.A. Henty

With Wolfe in Canada
by G.A. Henty

4 out of 5 stars

James becomes involved with the squire’s estate when he saves a little girl, Aggie, from drowning in the ocean. The child is placed with his mother’s school for girls, and they become childhood playmates. James comes to Aggie’s defense when the squire’s nephew, Richard Horton, breaks her toy boat and pushes her down, and the squire hears about the fight between the two boys. Years later, James and Richard meet again when James is pressed on board a ship going to America. James joins the militia as a volunteer until his commission in the royal army can come through from England, and he fights in the French and Indian War, joining officers like Colonel Washington, Colonel Monro at Fort William Henry, and the famous General Wolfe who led the American troops into Canada.

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Book Review: Stop, In the Name of God

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Stop, in the Name of God by Charlie Kirk

Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life
by Charlie Kirk

5 out of 5 stars

In this book we explore the observation of the Sabbath, both as a way to find rest and to honor God. We learn how, from the very beginning of creation, God set in place a separate time to cease from working. God “rested” on the seventh day of creation, not because He was tired, but because the work was complete. The whole first chapter talks about creation, and how believing in a Creator God changes our entire perspective on life, knowing that we have a purpose and our work in life also “finds purpose when it moves toward rest.” The author describes the Sabbath as a “cathedral in time.” A time of beauty and sanctuary where we can meet God.

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Book Review: A World without Princes

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A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani

A World Without Princes (The School for Good and Evil, #2)
by  Soman Chainani (Goodreads Author), Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

Sophie and Agatha are back at the School for Good and Evil, except now the schools are divided between boys and girls. The girls want to make the boys their slaves, and the boys want to kill Sophie because they blame her for all the changes in the fairy tale world. Agatha wished that she could have Tedros as her prince, and Sophie will do anything to keep them apart. Sophie tries so hard to be good, but will her witchy evil side come out despite Agatha’s friendship?

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Book Review: From Aristotle to Christ

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From Aristotle to Christ by Louis Markos

From Aristotle to Christ: How Aristotelian Thought Clarified the Christian Faith
by Louis Markos

5 out of 5 stars

Aristotle, like his teacher Plato, had a particular way of asking questions about the world and organizing information in the way that seemed most logical to him with the information he had available. Even without the direct revelation of the Bible, Aristotle intuited some universal truths that have helped Christians to examine their faith more closely and find deeper truths in the Bible than Aristotle ever dreamed of.

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Book Review: The Unknown Spy

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The Unknown Spy by Eoin McNamee

The Unknown Spy (Ring of Five)
by Eoin McNamee

3 out of 5 stars

Danny attends Wilsons Academy, a school for spies in another Lower World. They work to stop an army of Cherbs from invading the Upper World of humans. Danny makes friends among the spy cadets of the academy. Les is a thief with wings. Dixie can teleport anywhere she can see her way through. And Vandra has special healing powers. Together they learn all the skills they need to spy on the evil Ring of Five who control the Cherb army, but the most essential skill for any spy is the art of betrayal.

In this second book of the series, Danny is entrusted with a special mission in the Upper World to find the Treaty Stone that stops the Cherb armies from invading the world of humans. He must protect the Treaty Stone at all costs against the Cherb spies who would try to destroy it. Along the way, he is tempted to betray his friends, and he learns that he may have a special power that is entirely unique.

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Book Review: Unicornia: The Dance Show

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Unicornia by Ana Punset

Unicornia: The Dance Show
by Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (Illustrator)

Claudia and her friends want to enter the school dance show, but they can’t come up with a dance routine. They stumble around and bump into each other and clap on the wrong beat. Claudia says they just need more practice, but she worries that they will make fools of themselves in front of everyone at the dance show. Should they look for a magical short-cut, or just put in the work and practice more?

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Book Review: Unicornia- A Magical Birthday

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Unicornia by Ana Punset

Unicornia: A Magical Birthday: (A Magical Chapter Book for Kids Ages 5-7 about Friendship, Surprises, and Enchanted Birthday Fun)
by Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator)

On her birthday, Pippa’s parents are stranded, and can’t get a flight home because of the weather. Claudia and Sara are determined to give Pippa the best birthday ever, even if her parents can’t make it to the birthday party. They go to a magical amusement park in Unicornia, and get stuck on the ferris wheel and are rescued by emergency unicorns! They try out every ride and attraction, including a balloon ride in the clouds, and a boat ride on a magical lake. They are surprised with a special birthday picnic, complete with magical birthday cake!

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