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book review
Book Review: Alanna: The First Adventure
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)
by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)
3.5 out of 5 stars
Alanna switches places with her twin brother, so that he can study magic with the priests and become a sorcerer, and Alanna can study to become a knight in the royal palace. She pretends to be a boy, and joins the pages in the palace. She learns to fight and begins to control her magical abilities. But it’s difficult keeping her biggest secret, her true gender, from all the boys around her!
I really enjoyed this book, and I read it in one sitting! Couldn’t put it down. The writing style has a few flaws, but the memorable characters and fascinating plot make up for it. A few trite “fairy tale” sort of things pop up (King of Thieves, a horse named Moonlight, a sword named Lightning), but I like them anyway. Not exactly original sometimes, but the oldies are the goodies. Continue reading
Book Review: Lorna Doone
Lorna Doone
by R.D. Blackmore
by R.D. Blackmore
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Young John Ridd is called home from school when his father is murdered by notorious highwaymen, the Doones. Although others cry out for revenge, young John focuses on working his mother’s farm, and growing up tall and strong, without bitterness in his heart.
While he is fishing one day, he comes across the lovely Lorna Doone, the innocent granddaughter of the leader of the Doone clan. The two children become secret friends, and as they grow up, their love blossoms. Lorna is promised in marriage to her violent cousin, Carver Doone, but John vows to rescue her from the clutches of the Doone family. Continue reading
Book Review: The Haunting of Granite Falls
The Haunting of Granite Falls
by Eva Ibbotson, Kevin Hawkes
by Eva Ibbotson, Kevin Hawkes
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Young Alex, the laird of Carra, is forced to sell his ancient and dilapidated Scottish castle to an American millionaire. Poor Alex is heartbroken to be leaving his ancestral home, but worst of all is the parting with his ghostly friends who haunt the Castle of Carra. When the millionaire tears down the castle and transplants it in Texas where his ailing daughter, Helen, can enjoy it, the ghosts accompany the ancient stones of their home, and uncover an evil plot to kidnap Helen. The good ghosts befriend a mysterious phantom hand, and rely on Alex to help save poor Helen from her kidnappers!
This has all the charm and silliness that I’ve come to love in Ibbotson’s books! The writing is fresh with a whimsical story-telling style. I love how weird and wacky the characters are, and how every detail about them carries weight in the story. The plot is full of preposterous surprises and plenty of action.
One of the best things about Ibbotson’s writing is how she takes ordinary things and turns them upside down to the astonishment of the reader.
Book Review: Dead Man’s Folly
Dead Man’s Folly
by Agatha Christie
by Agatha Christie
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Poirot is invited to give away prizes at a staged murder mystery hunt planned by the scatter-brained Mrs. Oliver, but when an actual murder occurs, only Poirot can unravel the real clues from the fake ones staged in the game.
I really loved the cast of characters in this book! The three or four main suspects are quite interesting and strange characters with forceful personalities, but the remaining extra characters are fairly nondescript, staying in the background.
Poirot is absolute perfection, of course, and the delicious Mrs. Oliver is a wonderful oddball, full of imagination and half-finished thoughts.
Continue reading
Book Review: Strawberry Girl
Strawberry Girl
by Lois Lenski
by Lois Lenski
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
I liked this book about a family who moves to a new farm in Florida, during the pioneer days, determined to make the farm a success with a beautiful orchard and strawberry grove.
Birdie is excited to become a Strawberry Girl, but is worried that the disgruntled neighbors will make trouble for her family. When the neighbor’s pigs and cows trample over the new strawberry plants, Birdie’s father is outraged and vows to fence in his property to keep them out. This begins a feud between the two farmers, but the farmer’s children are eager to make friends. Only Birdie and her forgiving mother can make peace between the warring neighbors, and make both farms a success! Continue reading
Birdie is excited to become a Strawberry Girl, but is worried that the disgruntled neighbors will make trouble for her family. When the neighbor’s pigs and cows trample over the new strawberry plants, Birdie’s father is outraged and vows to fence in his property to keep them out. This begins a feud between the two farmers, but the farmer’s children are eager to make friends. Only Birdie and her forgiving mother can make peace between the warring neighbors, and make both farms a success! Continue reading
Recent Reads: Classics, YA, MG
Book Review: Martin’s Mice
Martin’s Mice
by Dick King-Smith
by Dick King-Smith
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This adorable story follows Martin, a farmyard cat who doesn’t want to eat mice. Instead, Martin begins keeping a pet mouse confined in a bathtub, until he learns just how awful it is to imprisoned as a pet.
I loved the delightful writing style with all the humor and silly situations that Martin goes through. Poor Martin is quite clueless when it comes to the workings of a farm, and forgets the proper place of each animal. This leads to a lot of ridiculously funny dialogue with various farm animals.
This would be a wonderful book to read aloud, with different voices for the cows, sheep, pigs, and ducks all around the farm.
I found the plot to be interesting and surprising, despite its simplicity and straightforward story-telling style. A very enjoyable read!
Graphic Novel Review: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Dark Tales: The Hound of the Baskervilles: A Graphic Novel
by Arthur Conan Doyle
by Arthur Conan Doyle
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
A good retelling of the Hound of the Baskervilles in comic book form! The artwork is dark and creepy, giving deep shadows to everything, and perfectly reflecting the mysterious nature of the story.
I thought that Holmes’ character is represented beautifully both through the artwork and the dialogue. His austere personality and furtive energy comes across strongly on every page! Continue reading
I thought that Holmes’ character is represented beautifully both through the artwork and the dialogue. His austere personality and furtive energy comes across strongly on every page! Continue reading
Book Review: Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland
Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland
by Patti Wheeler, Keith Hemstreet (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Gannon and Wyatt are working on a farm in Ireland, soaking in the rich Irish countryside, when they discover water pollution in the nearby river. It’s up to the twins to speak out, and bring the illegal pollution to the attention of the authorities. While they are gathering evidence, a dangerous suspect is determined to stop them, and the twins find themselves on the run in a mysterious Irish forest.
Gannon is certain that fairies, elves, and maybe even leprechauns, are stalking them in the forest. But Wyatt, ever the scientist, is only focused on getting their evidence of the pollution safely away, so they can be used to convict the suspects.
Another exciting book in the Gannon and Wyatt series! I am loving all these travel books! Continue reading
Luminous Libro 