children’s book

Book Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hugo is an orphan child, living and working in a grand train station in Paris. He is the son of a clockmaker, and loves to tinker with mechanical things. He meets a bitter old man and a bookish little girl, and finds that he is not the only one struggling to make sense of his past losses.

This is a story told partly in words, partly in pictures, and with reference to the beginnings of the motion picture. It amazes me how the story encompasses so many mediums!
It’s a melancholy story about loss and heartbreak, but also about finding a family of your own and owning your past. Continue reading →

Review: Redwall: The Graphic Novel

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Redwall: The Graphic Novel
Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Moore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Matthias Mouse, whose home is being attacked by the evil rat Cluny the Scourge, is on a quest to recover the legendary sword of Martin of Redwall, so that he can meet Cluny in battle. There are riddles and secret passageways, old enemies and unexpected friends, and of course, several mighty battle scenes!

I adore the full novel, Redwall, so seeing it in graphic form was exciting! There is so much more depth to the story that couldn’t be included in this format, but it still managed to fit most everything in there, although it feels a bit rushed. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye

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The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye
The Case of the Gypsy Good-bye by Nancy Springer

My rating: 0 of 5 stars

A perfect conclusion to this wonderful series! Enola is once again on the case, this time tracking down the missing Duquessa, while avoiding her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. All those mysteries that have been niggling at me for the entire series are finally resolved. Why did Enola’s mother run away with gypsies? How will Enola repair her relationship with her brothers without losing her freedom?

I was very glad to see more of Sherlock in this book, especially since the dialogue between him and Enola is priceless!
Enola is spunky and serious-minded and brave. She’s so resourceful and imaginative! I just love her character. She has a no-nonsense attitude, a kind compassionate heart, and an extra helping of independent spirit. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Dragon’s Child

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The Dragon's Child
The Dragon’s Child by Jenny Nimmo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sweet little story about a dragon child who can’t learn to fly and gets left behind when all the other dragons migrate to other lands. Poor little dragon child has a hard time because his wings are too small, and everyone is exasperated with him and losing their patience waiting for him to fly.
He befriends a bird, who tries to teach him flying lessons, and an orphan girl, who brings him a lot of comfort in friendship. Continue reading →

Book Review: Little House on the Prairie

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Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my umpteenth time reading this book, and I enjoyed it just as much as I did when I was a girl! There’s a simple charm to these stories of pioneer life that invites you in.
As always, Laura is my favorite character because she is spunky and brave and hilarious, while her sister Mary is prim and boring. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Dark Portal

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The Dark Portal
The Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I had to DNF this one. It’s boring, and the plot is trite, and the pacing is weird. I didn’t care about any of the characters, so after I stuck with it through 100 pages, I called it quits.

The writing is really condescending, and points out the obvious over and over. Continue reading →

Series Review: May Bird Trilogy

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May Bird and the Ever After
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In this book May Bird is whisked off to the land of the dead, called Ever After, and adventures her way across the land, searching for a way home. She makes some ghostly friends, and some enemies, in her quest to find the Book of the Dead which holds the answers to every question.

The writing is excellent, and there are many good characters. I just don’t like ghost stories. All the Halloween-style world building was not to my taste, but I think other people would enjoy that kind of setting.

The story takes a little while to finally get going, and then I really liked it! I loved May’s character. She is spunky and weird and brave! The people she meets are interesting and crazy and hilarious. So many wild characters! Continue reading →

MKs in Colombia

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These MKs in Colombia are discovering a new love for reading!

Here’s what one Missionary Mom wrote to me today…

“Not a day has gone by since that they haven’t wanted to read a book. This is so encouraging to me, especially as I worried about my son not being interested in reading or learning how to read before! They have a renewed interest in reading now, so thank you so much for that!  I think it really helps to have some new, exciting books rather than just the same, few old ones we had before.” – Missionary in Colombia

You can be a part of this amazing ministry, and help send books to children in need! Donate NOW at http://www.gofundme.com/booksformks

We desperately need funds to cover the cost of postage and to buy more books. Help us put a smile on these MKs faces and reading material in their hands!

Book Review: The Jewel of the Kalderash

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The Jewel of the Kalderash
The Jewel of the Kalderash by Marie Rutkoski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this last book in the trilogy so much! The plot really surprised me, and I loved the new characters and old.
In this book, Petra is still on a quest to save her father from the evil Prince of Bohemia, and naturally Tomik and Neel are along for the ride.
My favorite character is still Astrophil, the tin spider with a big brain and an even bigger heart.
Once again, John Dee makes an appearance, and of course intrigue and spying and political machinations follow in his wake.

The stakes are definitely higher in this book, with assassinations going on all over the place and various thrones of various countries up for grabs. Petra has some tough choices to make, not only in her personal friendships, but also in deciding how much she is really willing to sacrifice to achieve peace for her country and the people she loves. Continue reading →