book review – Page 21

July 27, 2012July 26, 2012

Book Review: Runaway (Starlight Animal Rescue)

Wherever we’re going, I won’t be staying. That much I can promise.

Dakota doesn’t have any intention of loving or staying with her new foster family. She has runaway from all her previous foster homes and this one shouldn’t be any different. Then she meets Blackfire. Can the Coolidge family and the animals they rescue win Dakota’s heart?

I first read this book several years ago and loved it right away. My heart went out to Dakota. You can’t help but root for her. Definitely recommend this book. Good, wholesome (and fun!) reading.

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall
Audience: 9 and up
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Pages: 224
Publisher: Tyndale

Come back on Wednesday for an interview with author Dandi Daley Mackall.

Book Review: Finest Kind

“We have to believe it’ll be all right, Jake,” said Mother, reaching out to touch his hand. “Cousin Ben has found us a place to live, and Father has a job. It will be different from Boston, but we’ll be fine.”

After his father looses his job, Jake and his family head north to Wiscasset, Maine. Their new life is hard. Mother is afraid their new neighbors will find out about Jake’s brother, Frankie. Father is rarely home. Their new house is small and dark. Jake has difficulty making friends. Worse of all, he feels responsible for the family and he knows they don’t have enough food for the coming winter. Will Wiscasset ever feel like home? Will Jake’s family ever be together again?

I picked this book a few weeks ago. I intended to read one chapter before going to sleep, but several hours later (at midnight) I finished the last page. Finest Kind brings history to life.

Author: Lea Wait
Audience: 9 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 246
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Join me on Wednesday for an interview with author Lea Wait.

Book Review: A Dog’s Way Home

“Tam!” I said, cutting her off. Panic turned my insides to ice. “Where’s Tam?”

Abbie and her Shetland Sheepdog, Tam, are best friends. They are on their way home from an agility event when Tam is thrown from the back of their truck. By the time Abby returns to look for him, Tam is gone. As months go by, Abby’s family moves and Tam continues his search for “his girl”. Will they every be reunited?

This is a wonderful story told in the tradition of Lassie, Come Home. A librarian friend of mine saved it for me, thinking I might enjoy it. She was right! If you like dogs this book is definitely for you.

Author: Bobbie Pyron
Audience: 9 and up
Genre: Contemporary Animal Fiction
Pages: 321
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Join me on Wednesday for an interview with author Bobbie Pyron.

Book Review: Spy!

The young man looked down from the cart at the people in front of him. Jonah felt his teacher’s eyes meet his own, and for a fraction of a second a smile played on the prisoner’s lips. Then he glanced toward heaven and spoke. “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

Twelve year old Jonah has an obligation to remain loyal to the King of England, but it’s hard to be a loyalist in 1774. The fact that his beloved school teacher is leaning toward the rebels doesn’t make matters easier for Jonah. For a time he determines to remain neutral, but eventually he will have to make up his mind. What impact will his decision make?

I highly recommend this book. I was crying my eyes out by page six and read the book as much with my heart as my eyes. If you read Spy!, you’ll finish it feeling like you were personally acquainted with Nathan Hale. As John Adams once said,

Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it.

Author: Anna Myers
Audience: 9 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 211
Publisher: Walker Publishing Company

Join me on Wednesday for an interview with author Anna Myers.

Book Review: Breaker Boys

More laughter. No surprise. Among all the boys, Nate didn’t have a single friend.

Expelled from school, Nate Tanner has no friends to leave behind and doesn’t expect to find any friends when he arrives home in disgrace. Even his father seems to be against him. Then Nate meets Johnny. Johnny and his family work in the coal mine Nate’s family owns. An unlikely friendship springs up between the two boys, but Nate doesn’t dare reveal his true identity. When Johnny finally finds out, Nate fears their friendship is over for good. Can he do anything to make things right?

I read this book quite a while ago. It caught my imagination and still hasn’t let go. Reading Breaker Boys will introduce you to the fascinating but heart-rending world of coal mining 1890s. A lot of facts and historical events are mixed into this gripping story. The one downside is Nate’s penchant for lying, but he learns the consequences of his actions and owns up by the end of the book. definitely recommend Breaker Boys.

Author: Pat Hughes
Audience: 10 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 256
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Join me Wednesday for an interview with Pat Hughes!

Book Review: Interrupted

Mama stood by my bed, clad in a milky-white nightgown, her long, dark hair falling down her shoulders. She held a finger up to her lips.

When Allie’s mother dies, she blames one of the few people who really cares for her. When she leaves her home (against her will) and is taken to Maine to live with an adoptive mother, Allie assumes she will never see Sam Carroll again. In Maine, Allie pulls inside of herself, blocking out her Miss Beatrice Lovell, her adoptive mother, and Miss Beatrice’s faith. Her heart seems impenetrable…until Sam shows up. Will his example of unconditional love help Allie to live again?

I definitely recommend this book. It does have a slight love element, but it was tastefully handled. As a homeschool graduate, I was thrilled to read such a well written book from a homeschooler.

Author: Rachel Coker
Audience: 12 and up
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
Pages: 256
Publisher: Zondervan

Join me Wednesday for an interview with Rachel Coker!

Book Review: Worlds Unseen

When they see beyond the sky,
When they know beyond the mind,
When they hear the song of the Burning Light;
Take these Gifts of My Outstretched Hand,
Weave them together.
I shall come.

When Maggie promises to deliver a mysterious scroll to Pravik, she does not realize the magnitude of the journey she is embarking on. A clash between the forces of good and evil is beginning. A struggle that will change the seventh world. Maggie soon realizes that the scroll she carries is an important part of something she does not understand. Whatever happens, she must get it to Pravik. But will fulfilling her promise be enough?

I found this story about a year ago and was hooked from page one. This book is a riveting fantasy story with allegorical elements woven into it. I definitely recommend it. And there’s a bonus. You can read this book free by downloading the pdf file from Rachel Starr Thomson’s website. Be warned, once you read Worlds Unseen you’ll want to buy the other two books in the trilogy!

Author: Rachel Starr Thomson
Audience: 12 and up
Genre: Christian Fantasy
Series: Book one of The Seventh World Trilogy
Pages: 321
Publisher: Little Dozen Press

Join me on Wednesday, June 13th for an author interview with Rachel Starr Thomson!

Book Review: Gunner’s Run

“Pilot to gunners. Keep your eyes open. We’re almost to target. By now every German fighter in the area knows where to find us.”

I pressed the intercom button to respond to Lt. Conover. “Bring ’em on. We’re ready.”

Nineteen year old Jim Yoder has his life under control until he ends up a fugitive in Hitler’s third Reich. As he journeys across Europe Jim encounters other fugitives, traitors and resistance fighters. Will he make it home to tell his father and the girl he loves that he trusts God?

I have read this book three times. Once on my own, and twice out loud. I started reading it to my dad while we were on vacation, but we didn’t finish till we got home. Then I had to start it again because my mom and brother wanted to know what happened before the part they heard! Everyone enjoyed it, and I highly recommend Gunner’s Run.

Audience: 10 and up

Make sure you come back on Wednesday for an interview with Rick Barry, author of Gunner’s Run.