middle grade

Book Review: Shield of Stars

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Shield of Stars by Hilari Bell
Shield of Stars (The Shield, Sword, and Crown, #1) 
by Hilari Bell

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Weasel, a former pickpocket, is the trusted clerk of Justice Holis. When the Justice is arrested for treason against the king, Weasel must return to the underground community of criminals searching for the outlaw bandit, the Falcon, the only person who could help him break Justice Holis out of prison. With the help of Arisa, an escaped prisoner, Weasel finds a mysterious old shield, rumored to be the long-lost magical shield of the king. The two set out on an impossible quest, to find the Falcon, restore the shield to the rightful ruler of the land, and save Weasel’s master.

Weasel is an interesting character, and I loved that Arisa is mysterious and full of surprises. Their sturdy friendship felt real and tugged at my heart. They are both tough and smart, but in different ways.

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Book Review: In the Hand of the Goddess

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In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce
In the Hand of the Goddess (Song of the Lioness, #2) 
by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author)

2.5 out of 5 stars

Alanna is a teenage girl who pretends to be a boy so that she can train as a squire and learn to be a knight in the royal palace of Tortall. Only a few people know about Alanna’s true identity, among them, her dearest friends, Prince Jonathan, and George, the King of Thieves. In the midst of a war with a neighboring kingdom, Alanna starts out with a determination to focus on her knightly studies, but she gets distracted by the temptations of love. With the protection of a Goddess upon her, Alanna uses her magic to unmask a deadly enemy within the very walls of the palace.

I was disappointed in this book. So disappointed in Alanna. She makes very bad decisions,

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Book Review: Gannon and Wyatt: Hawaii

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Travels with Gannon and Wyatt by Patti Wheeler
Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Hawaii 
by Patti Wheeler, Keith Hemstreet (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Another fantastic adventure with twin brothers Gannon and Wyatt, this time in beautiful Hawaii. The twins rescue a drowning man, who urges them to hide a secret map for him. The map may contain clues to the ancient burial place of Hawaii’s King Kamehameha the Great, and Gannon and Wyatt set out on a treasure hunt to find it with the help of their guide, Alana. A mysterious archaeologist is also searching for King Kamehameha’s tomb, and is determined to take the map from the twins. Gannon and Wyatt survive a mountainous blizzard, explore a jungle, trek around lava flows, and delve deep into the culture and history of Hawaii. Continue reading →

Book Review: Alanna: The First Adventure

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Alanna by Tamora Pierce
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) 
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: Strawberry Girl

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Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
Strawberry Girl 
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 →

Book Review: Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland

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Travels with Gannon and Wyatt by Patti Wheeler

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 →

Book Review: Emily and the Spellstone

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Emily and the Spellstone by Michael Rubens
Emily and the Spellstone 
by Michael Rubens (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Emily hates adventures, but when she discovers a magical stone that acts as a cellphone, she is thrown into a magical adventure that proves she is strong and resourceful against the greatest of enemies. A fiery monster named Gorgo is trapped in the Spellstone, and vows to eat Emily if he ever gets free. But Emily needs his help to defeat the nasty people who are seeking the stone’s power for their own evil purposes.

I loved the wit and humor of this book! The dialogue is snappy and every new magical situation is hilariously weird. The plot is full of action and danger. The characters are beautifully written with plenty of contrast and development. Continue reading →