books

Book Review: Around the World in 100 Days

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Around the World in 100 Days by Gary L. Blackwood

Around the World in 100 Days
by Gary L. Blackwood (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars

Harry, the son of Phileas Fogg, wants to prove to his father that motorcars are the future of travel. He takes on a bet that he can drive his new motorcar around the world in only 100 days. Johnny, the mechanic who designed and built the car, is along for the ride, and Charles is coming to make sure the rules are followed for the entire journey. However, they didn’t expect a plucky woman reporter to be joining them, eager for exclusive reports at every stage of the trip.

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Book Review: Heart of Midlothian

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The Heart of Midlothian by Walter Scott

The Heart of Midlothian
by Walter Scott

4 out of 5 stars

Jeanie Deans is horrified to learn that her sister, Effie, has been arrested on a charge of child-murder. Effie insists that she is innocent and that her baby was taken from her immediately after his birth. Effie refuses to tell anyone who the father is. The lawyers assure Jeanie that there is a loophole in the law and that if Jeanie will only testify that her sister told her about the pregnancy before the child was born, then Effie cannot be prosecuted under the law. But Jeanie is from a staunchly religious family and she feels that she cannot tell a lie under oath. Effie is condemned to death, and Jeanie undertakes a long and dangerous journey to London to seek a pardon directly from the king.

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Book Review: The Bookshop Book

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The Bookshop by Evan Friss

The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
by Evan Friss (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

Throughout American history, the books we read have shaped our culture, politics, and collective imagination. This book gives a broad overview of the history of bookstores in the USA, as well as anecdotes and close looks at the rise and fall of different types of bookstores. We meet the individual booksellers, and learn what inspired them to start their book business. We get a snapshot of the interior of a bookshop and the general mood and ambience of the place. We learn what purpose each bookstore has, whether focused on revenue, politics, personal expression, or community values. And we follow the dramatic stories of bookstores struggling to stay afloat, fighting against bureaucracy and unfair laws, and serving as meeting places for people of many varied creeds. Every bookstore has a place in history and maybe… in our hearts.

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Devotional Review: Hymns Vol. 1

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Hymns Volume 1 by The Daily Grace Co.

Hymns Volume 1
by The Daily Grace Co.

5 out of 5 stars

This daily devotional book gives you a traditional Christian hymn to read/sing each day, and tells about the composer/author who wrote it. There are Bible passages to read and a place to write in some of your thoughts as you answer the Bible study prompts.

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Book Review: How To Winter

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How to Winter by Kari Leibowitz

How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days
by Kari Leibowitz (Goodreads Author)

Many cultures find winter to be a restful and exciting time of year. Snow becomes a beautiful occurrence when you approach it with the right mindset. But some cultures encourage an attitude of despair and grumpiness in the winter, making summer the star of the year, and forcing winter into a narrow box of grouchy grumbling. This book will give you practical tips for enjoying winter no matter how bleak it may first appear.

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Book Review: Theater Shoes

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Theater Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Theater Shoes (Shoes, #4)
by  Noel Streatfeild

Three children are forced to live with their grandmother during the war while their father is away in the Navy. They are sent to the Children’s Academy for Dancing and Stage Training. Their grandmother and grandfather and all their aunts and uncles and cousins are actors and actresses, so their grandmother expects them to inherit this family talent. Sorrel, the eldest girl, is given a scholarship for dramatic acting, but she doesn’t know if she really deserves it, or is it just her family fame that makes everyone expect great things from her.

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Book Review: Dancing Shoes

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Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Dancing Shoes (Shoes, #9)
by  Noel Streatfeild

Rachel and her sister Hilary are left as orphans, and they have to live with their Aunt Cora who runs a dancing school. Hilary likes dancing, but Rachel is terrible at it. Rachel is determined that Hilary ought to learn proper ballet and be admitted to the Royal Ballet School someday, but Hilary just wants to goof around with her friends in tap class. The star of the dancing school is their cousin Dulcie who is spoiled rotten and makes their lives miserable. Rachel wishes that she could convince Hilary to outshine everyone with her ballet skills, maybe then Dulcie would realize that she’s not the only star of the show.

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Picture Book Review: Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year

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Let's Celebrate Korean New Year! by Michelle W. Park

Let’s Celebrate Korean New Year!
by  Michelle W. Park, Hyewon Yum (illustrator)

Two sisters get ready for the Korean New Year. They put on traditional dresses, and make delicious mandoo pork dumplings. Everything must be ready before their family all arrive to celebrate. The sisters get everything ready for the Yutnori game and make special greeting cards for their grandparents. But they forgot to write a special poem to share with the family! Quickly, the two sisters put their heads together and write a poem. When they recite the poem for the family, everyone claps in delight and they all celebrate their favorite traditions together.

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Book Review: Beastly Bones

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Beastly Bones by William Ritter

Beastly Bones (Jackaby, #2)
by  William Ritter (Goodreads Author)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Abigail Rook has a job as an assistant to free-lance detective Jackaby. Jackaby has a rare gift as a seer. He can see magical residue and detect magical creatures that are otherwise invisible. Jackaby and Miss Rook are called out to the country to investigate a murder at a dig site where some kind of prehistoric bones have been discovered. Miss Rook is eager to visit the country, since her friend Charlie has been stationed there as a policeman, but she wonders if she can balance her career and romance.

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Three Book Reviews from Nosy Crow

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This is NOT a Polar Bear! by Barry Timms

This is NOT a Polar Bear! (This is NOT a…, 3)
by  Barry Timms, Ged Adamson (illustrator)

A child befriends a wonderful creature, but be warned… it’s NOT a polar bear. It’s a roller skating bear, a viola-playing bear, a bumper cars, skiing, train driving bear. This bear can do acrobatic dives into the pool. You can play with puppets together, blow bubbles, eat jiggly desserts together, and he might even save you from a fire-breathing dragon. You could go to space, research important books, dance to disco music, and you might even find buried treasure. But this bear is NOT a polar bear. You will have to think up a good name for your bear.

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