Entries Categorized as 'Fiction'

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Our rating: ***

Out in the country of early America, Anna and Caleb’s father puts an ad in the newspaper for a wife. His previous wife died not long after Caleb’s birth. A woman named Sarah answers the ad and comes to live with them for a month for a trial period. But often she misses the sea, where she came from. Will Sarah stay, or will she return to the sea?

A somewhat simple, short story. I read Sarah, Plain and Tall in about an hour, if I remember correctly. This book might be a little better for people younger than me. It’s alright, but not my favorite. Oh, and Sarah, Plain and Tall is the beginning of a trilogy. There are two more books after this one.

Reasons and Raisins

Our rating: ***½

“Don’t eat the raisins,” says Little Fox’s mother. She wants to make pudding for dinner. But Little Fox disobeys and takes the raisins on his bike. And so begins a series of events with several people who have reasons for what they do.

Here’s a great story to read aloud. Not only does it teach that people have reasons for what they do, it also shows that some people have a reason entirely different than the reason they tell. Young children will love the fun story line in Reasons and Raisins.

The Great Blueness and Other Predicaments

Our rating: ****

A wizard, who lived in a time in which there were no colors except black, white, and gray, invents the color blue. The rest of the people see him painting his house and want some blue. The wizard gives them his invention and they paint everything blue, which after a while, makes everyone sad. The wizard then invents yellow and red in turn, each having a different effect on everyone.

The Great Blueness, just like all of Arnold Lobel’s books that I’ve read, has a hint of silliness. Don’t forget to look at the pictures because a lot of the silliness is in the pictures.

The Door Within

Our rating: ****½

Aidan Thomas has just moved to Colorado and is friendless once again. While exploring his grandfather’s basement one day, he discovers three mysterious scrolls that beckon him to enter another realm. He takes the plunge and finds himself in the land of Alleble, where he has been chosen to be the Twelfth Knight of the King’s Elder Guard. Aidan’s training is swift and the twelve knights set out on their mission to warn the kingdom of Mithegard against allying with the evil Paragor, the betrayer from long ago.

Adventure, excitment, and the battle between good and evil! A decidedly enjoyable story, and while I found many parts predictable, it didn’t take away from the plot at all. It is easy to relate to (and sometimes chuckle at) poor Aidan and his mishaps, and a strong allegorical thread runs through the entire book. (And it might be noted that this is one of the few fantasies I have read that actually includes unicorns in addition to dragons!)

Otto in Africa

Our rating: ***

Otto the giant otterhound lives with his master in France. One day Duke, the owner of Otto, decides that Otto is too big to live in France and takes him to Africa. At a fort in Africa, Duke and Otto learn that Abou the Fierce and his bandits are planning an attack on the fort. Duke offers to fight them with only Otto to help.

The ending of Otto in Africa is rather funny. It is well worth your time to read this book. Otto is unfortunately out of print.