Entries Categorized as 'Fiction'

At Home in Mitford

Our rating: *****

Father Tim is the local rector in the small town of Mitford, living a normal life. Well, as normal as life can be with a dog the size of a Buick following you, a potentially valuable painting, a mysterious break-in, a hostile young boy arriving at your doorstep, a new neighbor, and an epic dinner party.

Once you enter the world of Mitford, you’ll never want to leave! The characters are so real, and everything is written in a humorous light. Jan Karon possesses a rare talent of making you actually laugh out loud while reading. When you finish this book, you’ll have to grab the next one, wishing the series never ended.

The Island Stallion

Our rating: ***

Steve and his friend Phil Pitcher (known as Pitch) go to Azul Island and discover a way to get into the interior of the island, which is surrounded by steep yellow walls. Inside, there is a pack of horses, led by a beautiful red stallion, Flame. Tom, Pitch’s step-brother, made a bet with them that if they actually stayed on Azul Island two weeks, as they planned to, he would give Steve his pick of the horses there. Will Steve be able to own Flame?

This book has underground tunnels, three stallion fights, discoveries… in other words, adventure. I found The Island Stallion to be confusing at points, but it’s still a pretty good book. The next book about Flame and Steve is The Island Stallion’s Fury.

Treasure Island

Our rating: *****

At the inn Admiral Benbow, an old sea dog appears with a large treasure chest. He stays as a permanent guest, terrorizing everybody, running up large bills, and growing sick. One day, he dies, and Jim Hawkins and his mother (who run the inn) open the chest to take the money the man owed them. However, the old man’s friends from his pirate days have the same idea, and to make up for what his mother hasn’t time to take, Jim grabs a small oilskin bag from the man’s neck. When they open the bag later, it’s found to be a map to Treasure Island!

And that’s just a summary of the first few chapters! It gets even better in the middle. Want a sample? Here you go: pirates, a dangerous sea voyage, mutiny, battles, sneaking, spying, the dreaded Black Spot, a marooned man, treasure… To name a few. I should mention that a some parts get a little intense. It’s great to read Treasure Island out loud, so the whole family can enjoy it.

Socks for Supper

Our rating: ***

A poor old man and his wife want something other than turnips to eat, so they trade socks made from the man’s sweater to their neighbors for milk and cheese.

There’s not much to say about this one, except that it’s a short, fun book with a delightful ending.

The Great Redwall Feast

Our rating: ****

“Oho!” you say. “Sarah finally gets to read Redwall books!” Not quite. This can serve as a hold-over picture book for younger readers who can’t read the Redwall Series yet. (Like me.) There’s another Redwall picture book called A Redwall Winter’s Tale. Older readers who can read the Redwall Series will probably enjoy these picture books, as well as younger readers. I didn’t have much trouble understanding the mole-talk. (Except once, and then I finally got it figured out.) And now, here is a delightful summary of The Great Redwall Feast!

The animals in Redwall are preparing a secret feast for the abbot. After the abbot wakes up from his nap, he goes with Constance, Foremole and Matthias on a Bobbatan Quest for a Weary Nod. Is the abbot turning old and silly?