Entries Categorized as 'Review'

The Emerald City of Oz

Our rating: ***½

When Dorothy brings Uncle Henry and Aunt Em to the Emerald City of Oz, they begin a tour of the surrounding cities and people, encountering the Cuttenclips, the Fuddles, the inhabitants of Utensia, the Flutterbudgets, and many more. Meanwhile, the Nome King is furious over the loss of his magic belt, and begins gathering an army to dig an underground tunnel to the Emerald City and capture the entire population.

This isn’t my favorite Oz book, but the hilarious wordplays and puns are thicker than ever. Especially in Utensia. I think this one was intended to be the last Oz book, but L. Frank Baum was forced to write more by popular demand.

Bringer of Storms

Our rating: ****

Hold it right there! Before you read this review, I must warn you that it gives away something from the first book, Beyond the Summerland. So if you haven’t read the first book yet, don’t read any farther!!! And I mean that! I know it’s hard, but MOVE ON TO THE NEXT REVIEW! Okay, are you gone? Alright. For those of you who have read the first one, or are disregarding my warnings, go ahead and read.

Benjiah, son of Wylla and Joriaem, is now seventeen, and Wylla still has not told him that his father was a prophet of Allfather. Aljeron and Koshti are away in Shalin Bel, engaged in a seven-year war against Rhulalin, with the aim to bring him to justice. Little do they know what Malek is about to attempt, but the urgency of the situation is brought home when Valzaan discovers that Benjiah is The Chosen One.

There. Any of you who disregarded my instructions now have a pretty good idea of how Beyond the Summerland ends. I like this one better than the first. It’s really good. Oh, those of you who despaired with me over the abrupt ending in the first one, let me warn you: this one’s even worse.

Captains Courageous

Our rating: ****

Harvey is the fifteen-year-old stuck-up son of a rich American railroad owner. He’s on a large ship, going to Europe, and bragging about never being sick. Then he smokes a rather strong cigar, goes to the railing because he’s sick, and is swept overboard. Harvey is picked up by Disko Troop’s fishing vessel, the We’re Here. Disko won’t take him back to his home in New York, so Harvey’s stuck on the We’re Here for the rest of the fishing season.

Here’s a great example of why you shouldn’t be arrogant. It’s also a great way to understand the way the fishing industry operated in the late 1800s. The sailors talk a little funny, so don’t try to read it out loud unless you can do all those different accents!

Winnie-the-Pooh

Our rating: *****

Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends have many adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. They catch a Heffalump (a honey consuming creature), Pooh goes visiting (it’s nothing like the kid’s movie), rescue Piglet from a flood (nowhere near the video), and many other fun adventures.

First, although kids love Winnie-the-Pooh, everybody can enjoy it. A. A. Milne is funny, in a subtle sort of way. If you’ve seen the movies and videos, I recommend that you read at least the first one to get the true story.

Please note that this is a review of the first book only. However, the link is to the complete collection of both books.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Our rating: *****

Kit Tyler has left her house in Barbados and has come to live with her aunt’s family in colonial Connecticut. But everything seems so different that Kit, unaccustomed to the strict Puritanical lifestyle, can’t seem to do anything right. Soon, however, she finds a friend in Hannah Tupper, a sweet old Quaker woman, whom everyone believes to be a witch, living by herself near Blackbird Pond. But if Kit’s friendship with Hannah is discovered, she will never be accepted by the colonists. She must decide between her duty, and what her heart tells her.

This is a wonderful book full of love, anger, rejection, fear, sadness, and relief. It’s also fascinating to see how the colonists lived. Once you start this book, you’ll have a hard time putting it down until you’ve finished. All that to say, I can’t decide which of Elizabeth George Speare’s I like the most: The Bronze Bow or The Witch of Blackbird Pond.