Entries Categorized as 'Fiction'

The Spell of the White Sturgeon

Our rating: **

Ramsay Cartou, formerly from Chicago, is on his way north to take a job in a tannery. However, during his trip through Lake Michigan, the boat sinks during a storm. Ramsay makes it ashore and arrives at Three Points, ready and eager for the job at the tannery. Unfortunately, his potential boss turns out to be a man who Ramsay wouldn’t work for in a million years. Due to the man having most of Three Points under his thumb, Ramsay finds refuge with a farmer and eventually learns to be a fisherman.

I didn’t tell you half the story! There’s a lot more. The White Sturgeon is dreaded because it is commonly believed that his appearance heralds disaster. While Ramsay is learning to be a fisherman, someone begins destroying the local fishermen’s nets, so Ramsay and his fishing friend Hans have to catch the vandal before their livelihood is ruined.

Frankie and the Secret

Our rating: ***

Michael Sutherland has been jailed for life, but he claims that he hasn’t done anything wrong. The townspeople of Mansfield, however, believe the young man is guilty, all because his father was a barn-burner. When the jail catches on fire, Michael escapes to go back to Mansfield so he can prove that he was jailed unjustly. Frankie Frank, a mentally retarded man who is one of Michael’s only friends, knows the truth about Michael’s alleged crime. Unfortunately, he was told that it was a secret, and “Frankie don’t tell secrets.” Frankie can’t decide on what to do. Should he tell his secret? Or should he keep quiet?

Quite a book. The characters are realistic and the plot gets very exciting, especially at the end. There are some sad parts and some tense moments. The Younguns are, of course, the comic relief. I enjoyed this book very much, despite the fact that there is some language.

In This Mountain

Our rating: *****

Things are always happening in Mitford, that busy little town in North Carolina. Fanny Skinner and Joe Ivey start a haircut price war, Cynthia wins another award for her books and gets to tour the country with a reading program, Percy risks a new menu item at the Grill, and Father Tim tries to keep busy by writing essays, battling the inevitable moles, half-heartedly following his diabetes requirements, and, of course, the hunt for Dooley’s missing siblings.

There seems to be something about the Mitford books that makes it almost impossible (or difficult, at best) to set them down and do something else. You think, “Oh, just one more little section.” Then another, and, um, another, and another. And before you know it, it’s a half-hour later. Ah well. A small sacrifice for an enjoyable book.

The Black Stallion’s Filly

Our rating: ****

With Satan retired from racing, it looks as if Henry is out of a job. Or is he? Black Minx, the Black’s first daughter, is up for sale at auction and Henry buys her with the Kentucky Derby in mind. Though spoiled by her previous owners, Black Minx can be cured of her bad habits. But when she shows a lack of enthusiasm for racing, will she really be able to enter and win this classic race?

I haven’t read this book for a while, so it was fun to read it again. And, despite the fact that I’m not really a horse-lover, it kept me quite interested.

Cracker Barrel Trouble Shooter

Our rating: *****

When Bill Rawl’s uncle dies of a heart attack, Bill is left with a little money and a general store. Bill decides to leave college and work the store out of debt. With his new friend, Rifle Eye Smith, and a stray dog called Lamb Chops, Bill must learn fast and avoid his mysterious enemies.

This is, so far, my favorite Kjelgaard book. My review does not do it justice. There’s plenty of action, and the way Bill and Jan (the store’s employee) get along is great. Lamb Chops is hilarious!