Cheaper by the Dozen (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)
by Frank B. Gilbreth, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
ISBN: 006008460X

Price: USD 7.79
193 used & new available from USD 0.10

This is the story of motion-study pioneer Frank Gilbreth. He and his wife decide to have a dozen children and actually do it. Then hilarity ensues as Mr. Gilbreth applies his factory-efficiency job to raising a family.

Written by two of Frank Gilbreth’s children, Cheaper by the Dozen is meant to be the true story of the life of their father. I don’t know if they made anything up for the book, but it’s certainly a lot of fun to follow the Gilbreth family through life in America during the early 1900s.

I Know Why the Angels Dance (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0899578403

Price: USD 11.69
44 used & new available from USD 3.44

Two fathers, one an atheist, the other a former pastor, must deal with the reality of death. This book explores how they respond to suffering, and how each of them is ministered to by a young girl’s passionate faith in God.

The story contained within these pages will not fail to move you. As Bryan Davis brings this touching narrative to a close, you will be hard put to keep your eyes from brimming with tears of sadness and joy. Curl up with this powerful book and discover why the angels dance — and come away with a desire to make them dance again.

Bridge to Terabithia (Mass Market Paperback)
by Katherine Paterson
ISBN: 0060734019

Price: USD 6.99
140 used & new available from USD 1.24

Jess is surprised when Leslie, the new girl at his school, chooses him as her only friend. However, he is soon very happy to have met somebody who actually cares about his hobby of drawing and understands him. Together they “discover” the imaginary land of Terabithia and retreat there from all their problems. But how long can it last?

I found this one intriguing. It starts out as a slice-of-life story and a neat one at that. But about halfway through, with hardly any foreshadowing, the plot takes a turn you won’t expect (unless, like me, you had it ruined for you ahead of time). There’s definitely room for lots of discussion about the ending, which strikes me as sad for reasons the author didn’t quite intend.

Swords of the Six (Paperback)
by Scott Appleton
ISBN: 0615271154

Price: $2.35
29 used & new available from USD 2.35

Six sisters, human daughters of a dragon, are given a sword each from a six-warrior band that turned traitor a thousand years ago. Their task? Find one of the traitors who is still around and bring him to justice. After that, a future involving a difficult choice, especially for Dantress, the youngest and most powerful of the sisters.

It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t delve further into the depth of story here without dropping major spoilers. There’s a lot of backstory and plot going on, and the ending theme is certainly worth the read. The author states in a note at the beginning that this, his first novel, is a prequel to a much larger story to come. That may be the reason why this particular facet of the story came across as somewhat disjointed to me. Several events left me asking, “Why did that happen?” and some parts of the story felt almost random. Here’s hoping that book two will answer many of the remaining questions. I’m looking forward to reading it!

Charlie’s Raven (Paperback)
by Jean Craighead George
ISBN: 0142405477

Price: USD 6.99
102 used & new available from USD 0.10

Charlie loves to spend time with his naturalist grandfather. But his grandfather, now handicapped, is ailing, and Charlie is desperate to find something that will make Grandfather better. He remembers an old Indian tale about ravens being healing birds and decides to catch a raven chick. The young raven soon becomes part of the family, providing Grandfather and Charlie plenty to study and enjoy.

This is a great book for learning more about ravens—the different calls they use, various odd behaviors, their body language, and so on. The story is well written and engaging, to say the least. (I sat on the floor by the bookshelf and read the first half without getting up!) The only problem is that Indian myths and mysticism are predominant. Now, ravens being healing birds is shown to not be accurate, but there are still multiple references to ravens having supernatural powers. Charlie’s good friend Singing Bird is an Indian, and her family likes to demonstrate the old ways so people can see what they were like. I just wish they would differentiate a little more between showing what it was like and actually believing it. Enjoy with care.

Eternity’s Edge (Echoes from the Edge) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0310715555

Price: USD 12.02
70 used & new available from USD 0.10

Despite all hinderances, Mictar’s scheme is rolling forward and Interfinity approaches—bringing with it destruction. Nathan and Kelly must renew their efforts to stop the evil stalker, but there is already so much to repair, and Nathan’s parents still need rescuing. With the help of their friends, they travel between the dimensions to put a complex plan into action. Mysteries abound, new pieces of the puzzle come into play, and Nathan is faced with increasingly difficult choices.

The setup of the multiple dimensions and multiple characters in the first book, Beyond the Reflection’s Edge, serves to keep you oriented during Eternity’s Edge, but you’ll still need to keep your wits about you to stay on top of the twists and turns of this roller-coaster of a book. It really is incredible, and I enjoyed just as much—if not more—than I did the trilogy’s starter. I love the way music continues to tie into the story, and some of the new explored places are fascinating. But the characters are what really keep me reading. Can’t wait for the conclusion to be found in upcoming Nightmare’s Edge!

The Bones of Makaidos (Oracles of Fire) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0899578748

Price: USD 10.19
47 used & new available from USD 5.69

As war looms in Second Eden, Billy and Elam try to prepare their small army for battle. They desperately need the help of Makaidos, king of the dragons. Before they can call him, two sinister figures arrive to interfere with Elam’s plans, but are they really as bad as they seem?

Meanwhile, Bonnie, Sapphira, Billy’s mother, and Gabriel attempt to open a portal to Second Eden. When enemies attack, causing them to separate, things get even more complicated as Bonnie and Sapphira end up in a strange new dimension. Add to that mix a few unfulfilled prophecies that have been floating around since Raising Dragons, and the stage is set for the final chapter of Oracles of Fire.

It is always difficult to write a review of the final book in a series that you have thoroughly enjoyed. You know it’s the end, and that makes you sad, but you also know that everything will finally be put right. Bryan Davis effectively ties up all the loose ends remaining from both Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire, while still (delightfully) leaving a couple small things hanging. Nothing has disappeared from his usual style which convicts as often as it captivates. Themes of unending love and selfless sacrifice abound, often bringing tears to the eyes of the reader. Although I was sad to see the story end, the final chapter left me grinning from ear to ear.

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Tim Meeker lives in a small town with his parents and his only sibling, Sam. The town is sympathetic to the Tories, so Mr. Meeker is astonished to hear that Sam is going to fight on the American side in the coming war for independence from Britain. Once Sam leaves, Tim has to take on more responsibility. Not only does he have to do Sam’s chores at the family tavern, but he also needs to choose which side he will support in the Revolutionary War. Should he side with Sam, or should he side with the rest of the town?

This story, told through Tim’s eyes, is a good account of what the ordinary civilian would experience during the Revolution. I marked it for older readers because, although it doesn’t take place on the front lines of battle, there are some unpleasant details. Altogether, My Brother Sam is Dead is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read.

Inkspell (Inkheart Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)
by Cornelia Funke
ISBN: 0439554012

Price: USD 8.79
227 used & new available from USD 0.10

A year after the events in Inkheart, Dustfinger has finally found somebody to read him back to the Inkworld. However, Orpheus, a conceited man with the gift of reading, tricks Dustfinger and leaves his assistant Farid behind. Fearing the book’s original tragic end for Dustfinger, Farid asks Mo’s daughter Meggie to read him to the Inkworld as well, which she does, but she comes along. What they find is a very messed up Inkworld that seems to be writing its own story. Meggie tries to help Fenoglio (the author of the book they are now in) fix the story, while Farid attempts to save Dustfinger from disaster.

And if you think that was complicated, wait ’til I tell you that I left out two or three plot lines! In other words, Cornelia Funke’s brilliant sequel is deeper than the original. Inkspell raises multitudes of very good questions, such as, “What would it be like for a man to be the god of a world?” To find out the answer, you’ll need to stay tuned for not only Inkspell, but also the sequel Inkdeath, as Inkspell ends at quite the cliffhanger. Well worth the time to read it.

Beyond the Reflection’s Edge (Echoes from the Edge) (Paperback)
by Bryan Davis
ISBN: 0310715547

Price: USD 10.98
84 used & new available from USD 0.10

When his spy father and musical mother are found dead and he has to go into a witness protection program, Nathan Shepherd is left with only a few clues about what happened to his parents. A mysterious mirror in a strange box left him in his father’s will leads Nathan to the conclusion that his parents are really alive. But with this realization comes the discovery of some very weird parallel universes (yes, I did say universes), dragging Nathan and his new friend/sister Kelly into a mystery which only becomes more complicated as they unravel it.

Because of the complexities of the plot, you’ll have to stay focused to finish Beyond the Reflection’s Edge. It really is so complicated, intriguing, and fast-paced that I couldn’t stop thinking about the story, even when I wasn’t reading it. The characters come across as very real, and Nathan especially inspired me in a positive way. This is definitely a new entry on my favorites list, and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the next one!