books.
Book Review: The Sea Island’s Secret
The Sea Island’s Secret: A Delta & Jax Mystery
by Susan Diamond Riley
by Susan Diamond Riley
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Delta and her little brother, Jax, are visiting their grandfather on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina for the summer. Their grandfather, Pops, runs a local history museum that is losing its funding, and Delta and Jax want to help save the museum. They discover a skeleton from the Civil War, and launch a treasure hunt for the missing “Jasper’s Gems” with the help of a ghostly presence that seems to guide them.
I enjoyed this story because of the rich history and the Southern culture. Many of the historical elements in the story are true, although the plot itself is fiction. I loved how specific places on Hilton Head and Charleston, and historic events from the Civil War are featured in the story.
The writing is good, and the plot is amusing. It’s not amazingly life-changing or anything, but a good story.
I liked the characters and the way the two siblings bicker and fight, but ultimately love each other. They have a lot of spunk and energy, and they keep the story moving forward with their decisive action and risk-taking.
Old Southern towns are known for their chilling ghost stories, and that is one of the best things about this book! I really enjoyed how the mystery of the skeleton unfolded along with the history of the ghost. It’s not too scary, but just creepy enough to make it enjoyable.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
Book Review: Treasures from Grandma
Treasures from Grandma (Grandma’s Attic, #4)
by Arleta Richardson
by Arleta Richardson
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Mabel and Sarah Jane are at it again, dreaming up trouble and childish shenanigans in their little country town. Mabel is determined to sew her own dress for the ice-cream social, but has difficulties sewing a seam correctly. Sarah Jane tries to help a boy at school to lose weight by stealing his lunch. Mabel resolves to make a perfect score on her math test at school, just to prove to the boys that a girl can be smart too. A family of gypsies visits the area, and Mabel’s family allows them to squat on their land despite the dire warnings of their neighbors that all gypsies are thieves.
I love the old-fashioned writing and the wholesome innocence of the stories. Each chapter has its own plot with a neat moral at the end where Mabel and Sarah Jane learn a valuable lesson about friendship, honesty, and compassion to their fellowman.
I just love how energetic and plucky Mabel is. She is forever getting into scrapes, but remains as bold and high-spirited as ever, no matter the disappointments that come her way.
I can’t wait to read more from this adorable series!
Book Review: Montmorency
Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman? (Montmorency, #1)
by Eleanor Updale
by Eleanor Updale
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Montmorency is a common thief, who devises a plan to use the new London sewer system to carry out plans for bigger and better burglaries, launching him into London’s high society as a gentleman. He masquerades as his own servant, Scarper, to sneak out through the streets and alleyways to stage robberies and escape the police undetected. Then he cleans up and dresses for high society as the wealthy gentleman, Montmorency, leading a dual life of villainy and affluence. The plan works a little too well, and Montmorency begins to despise the lower classes, and starts feeling guilty about his crimes. But will he ever be able to truly join the high society he mimics, or will he forever be a common thief?
I liked the many layers of this story, as Montmorency goes from a hardened criminal to a more educated and cultured individual. He wrestles with ideas of honor and honesty, and reads books to expand his knowledge and manners. His character development is gradual and believable with a satisfying conclusion. It’s as though, while he is cleaning up from roaming the sewers, his mind also starts to clean up and his ideas change, throwing off the old ugly ideas like the dirt getting scrubbed off his soul. The imagery is wonderfully subtle.
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Book Review: Hurricane Treasure
Hurricane Treasure
by Clare Bice
by Clare Bice
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Shad lives in the small town of Ship’s Cove, where he and his friends are enjoying the last few weeks of their summer vacation. Everyone is listening to the weather reports throughout the week, watching the progress of a hurricane up the coast toward Nova Scotia. On Gull Island, the Crawleys are continuing their work to excavate a hidden pirate treasure that has been lost for a century in caverns flooded with seawater under the rocks. Something strange is going on in Ship’s Cove, including boats that mysteriously disappear, a makeshift dock that is being built on a secluded beach, and Shad and his friends are on the lookout for a gang of smugglers. When a tourist arrives asking questions, Shad is suspicious, but agrees to take a group of tourists out to Gull Island to see the Money Pit, a 100-foot shaft that the pirates dug to reach the caverns below.
I loved this old-fashioned story! Shad and his friends, Michael and Willie, are ready for adventure, poking their noses into every nook and cranny around the cove, and keeping a weather eye out to sea. They are spunky and rambunctious, good-hearted and brave. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: How Winston Delivered Christmas
How Winston Delivered Christmas: An Advent Story in Twenty-Four-and-a-Half Chapters
by Alex T. Smith
by Alex T. Smith
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Winston is a little mouse, just trying to stay warm on the streets of the city. On Christmas Eve, he finds a letter addressed to Santa, and determines to make sure the lost letter reaches Santa before it’s too late! Along the way, he meets other creatures who advise him on his journey, and finds help in the most unexpected corners.
I loved the story! Winston is so adorable and sweet. He’s very brave and spunky, and I loved all the quirky characters that he meets. The plot really moves along with different twists and turns, and lots of descriptions of beautiful holiday decorations and food and toys that Winston gazes at longingly.
The illustrations are beautiful and colorful and entertaining! I love the cute expressions on Winston’s face, and how each character comes to life in the artwork. Continue reading
Book Review: Anna of Byzantium
Anna of Byzantium
by Tracy Barrett
by Tracy Barrett
4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads
This historical novel tells the story of Anna Comnena, daughter of Emperor Alexius I, Princess of the Byzantine Empire in 1083 AD. Anna is in line to inherit the throne and someday rule the entire empire, until her grandmother plots against her to undermine Anna’s right to rule and establish Anna’s little brother, John, as the next emperor.
Anna is incredibly intelligent and well-educated, spending hours pouring over history books in the palace library and learning from the scholars there. She also becomes very good at seeing to the heart of people’s character, using her emotional intelligence to understand their hidden motives.
There are so many manipulative people in the palace, using their words to influence Anna and secure their own futures. Since she is surrounded by lies, Anna becomes obsessed with cherishing the truth, seeking truth in religion and philosophy, and also finding truth in her books and manuscripts. Because others use words as their weapons, Anna learns to play a strategic game with her words, using her speech as a way to protect herself and assert her dominance and power in the political games. Continue reading
Book Review: The Monster’s Ring
The Monster’s Ring
by Bruce Coville, Katherine Coville
by Bruce Coville, Katherine Coville
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Russell visits the Magic Shop and gets a magic ring that turns him into a monster, and uses it to help him stand up to the bully in his school. But the Monster Ring makes Russell feel wild and feral, and not just when he’s wearing it! He starts howling at the moon at odd times, he terrifies his classmates during their Halloween party, and he growls at the school principal. Can Russell keep his wildness under control before he becomes a monster for good?
This story is fast-paced and has good development. Russell goes through such a transformation, not as a monster, but as a character. He starts out as this frightened, timid little boy, and discovers that power and strength are not about having big muscles and fangs. He learns how to express himself better, and his life changes because of his courageous honesty with his family and friends. I really loved the character development and the story arc!
The story is also funny, with crazy scenarios and magical shenanigans that made me laugh!
Book Review: The Griffin’s Feather
The Griffin’s Feather
by Cornelia Funke (Goodreads Author)
by Cornelia Funke (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Firedrake is back! Along with dragon rider, Ben, and the incorrigible Scottish brownie, Sorrel, the whole gang is off on an adventure, with new friends and some new enemies too. They are trying to acquire a rare griffin feather, the only magical way to save a nest of baby Pegasus eggs. Ben worries that this adventure might be too dangerous for Firedrake, since the griffins have a history of warfare with the dragons. It will take fierce courage and loyalty to bring them through this magical adventure together!
I love this author’s writing! The plot is imaginative, full of dry humor and magic. There are wild and wondrous settings all over the world, full of fascinating creatures, both mythical and real.
The main characters (Firedrake, Ben, Sorrell, Twigleg, and Barnabas Greenbloom) are magnificently written, with backstories, deep motivations and fears, and hidden longings that push them forward in the story, shaping their decisions and interactions with others.
Board Book Review: Yum Yummy Yuck
Yum Yummy Yuck
by Amanda Jane Jones, Cree Jones
by Amanda Jane Jones, Cree Jones
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This baby board book teaches little toddlers what is okay to eat and what is yucky! Fruit, veggies, icecream, donuts, and pizza are all good to eat, but boogers belong on a tissue, NOT in your mouth. Coins go in a piggy bank, NOT in your tummy. Crayons are for drawing, NOT digesting; and even toothpaste has to be spit out.
Each page has a simple silhouette of an item with the caption of “yum, yummy,” or “yuck”, perfect for teaching little hands to keep certain things out of their mouths.
I can really imagine reading this with a young child, and making faces as we read each page together; licking our lips and rubbing our tummies for the yummy pages, and making gross faces and gagging at the yucky pages. haha! Even a simple book like this is fun when read with a child! Continue reading
Luminous Libro 