Book Review: Secret of Ron Mor Skerry

Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry
by Rosalie K. Fry
5 out of 5 stars
Fiona’s family left their ancient home on the Ron Mor Island, and Fiona’s little brother, Jamie, was lost. Now Fiona is staying with her grandparents on the Western Islands of Scotland. Fiona is certain that she can find her lost brother, and she befriends a tribe of seals who seem to guide her in her search. The family legends speak of a selkie woman who married into their family many generations ago, and Fiona will have to return to Ron Mor to unravel the past and bring her family together again.

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Book Review: The Courage of Sarah Noble

Posted by LuminousLibro

The Courage of Sarah Noble
by Alice Dalgliesh, Leonard Weisgard (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
Sarah Noble accompanies her father to the wilderness of Connecticut to build a new cabin before they are joined by the rest of the family. A Native American tribe lives nearby on the banks of the river, and Sarah befriends the native children. Through every step of their journey and as the family settles into their new home, Sarah’s courage is tested, but she curtails her fears, and remains steadfast and resilient through it all.

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Book Review: Heidi’s Children

Posted by LuminousLibro

Heidi’s Children (Heidi sequel, #3)
by Charles Tritten, Pelagie Doane (Illustrator)
3 out of 5 stars

Heidi is pregnant with her first child. Heidi and Peter have the village schoolteacher boarding with them, and the teacher asks if her little sister can come and stay with them and attend the school. The child, Marta, is so unhappy at her own home, and she blossoms under the love and affection that Heidi gives her. But will Marta get along with Heidi’s grandfather? The old Alm-Uncle is still hiding secrets about his past that might change the family forever.

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Book Review: The Voyage of Barracks

Posted by LuminousLibro

The Voyage of Barracks
by Stuart Petrie
5 out of 5 stars
The Gunn family love their beautiful country home, but when a nasty factory is built across the road, they decide to attach a balloon to their house and float around the world looking for a new peaceful place to live.

I adore this book. I’ve read it several times now, and it is delightful every time!

I love all the different places that they visit; a desert oasis, the top of the Acropolis, an island with cannibals, a small village in the Alps, and the beautiful beaches of the French Riviera.

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Book Review: Royal Magic

Posted by LuminousLibro

Royal Magic
by Ruth Chew
4 out of 5 stars

Cindy and Jack are visiting a museum when they are magically transported through one of the displays into ancient Africa. In the middle of the jungle, the children meet a man with a beautiful flute who escorts them to the royal palace to meet the king of the Edo empire. There they find court intrigue and a royal secret.

I loved this fun story! The history is really interesting and we get to learn about the culture of the Edo empire (also called the Benin Kingdom) in ancient Nigeria. It was an amazing kingdom with roads and infrastructure and walled cities and trade. The king was called the Oba, and Cindy and Jack get to meet the Queen as well. I loved reading about the unique customs and manners of the people, their greetings and social hierarchy. Everything from the way they built their homes to the way they ate their food had a special organization to it.

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Book Review: The Bobbsey Twins in Mexico

Posted by LuminousLibro

The Bobbsey Twins In Mexico
by Laura Lee Hope
4 out of 5 stars

The Bobbsey Twins have some new neighbors in Lakeport, a Mexican family, the Castillos. The twins make friends with the Mexican children, and even learn a little Spanish. When it’s time for the Castillos to return to Mexico, they invite the Bobbsey twins to visit them on their hacienda.

I enjoyed this book a lot, because I grew up in Mexico as a child. The Bobbsey twins visit the same area in Mexico where I grew up, Mexico City D.F. They visit the pyramids at Tenochtitlan where I have been many times, and Bert even climbs the Pyramid of the Sun which I myself have climbed many times. Reading this book made me so homesick!

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Book Review: Bobbsey Twins Own Little Railroad

Posted by LuminousLibro

The Bobbsey Twins’ Own Little Railroad
by Laura Lee Hope
4 out of 5 stars

A friend of the Bobbsey’s is moving and gives the twins a little train engine just big enough to pull a car that seats five or six people. The twins have fun setting up the tracks, putting water in the boiler, starting up the fire, and getting the steam engine running. They go whizzing around the track, and Bert learns how to operate the engine all by himself. But their fun is short lived when part of the train tracks are stolen! Can the Bobbsey twins solve the mystery of the missing tracks and find the thief?

I loved this simple story and all the fun adventures that the Bobbsey twins have! The plot is interesting and really kept my attention. There is something so charming about these books that takes me back to my childhood.

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