Entries Categorized as 'Review'
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Adventure, All Ages, Fiction, Incredibook!, Review
Tags:Arthur Ransome, expedition, imagination, North Pole, Swallows and Amazons, Winter
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Dick and Dorothea are staying at Dixon’s farm for their winter holiday. So when they meet the Swallows and Amazons, it’s time for some imaginative adventures! The itinerary? Expedition to the North Pole. The problem? The lake hasn’t frozen yet, and nobody can properly make an expedition to the North Pole without a frozen lake. Will the lake freeze in time? Find out in this excitement-packed fourth Swallows and Amazons book.
I’ve never been a big fan of winter. But when I finished this book, I almost wished I was. The children have so much fun and do so many exciting things that even I, a self-proclaimed winter humbug, couldn’t help wishing I was with them. There’s not really anything to complain about here, either, making this one of my favorites in the Swallows and Amazons series and a book that’s easy to recommend.
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Incredibook!, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Bryan Davis, Dragons, Starlighter
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Dragons from another world who kidnapped humans into slavery? Jason Masters has never held much regard for the old myths, but when his temporary promotion to castle guard takes an unexpected turn, he discovers more than enough evidence to sway his views. In danger and determined to solve the growing mysteries, Jason sets out with a few others to find the hidden portal and rescue the captives. Meanwhile, Koren, a slave girl on the dragon planet, discovers that her unique storytelling ability is very powerful—and very dangerous. Events propel her into a tangle of intrigue, dragon secrets, and prophecies. Her desire to help the slaves is strong, but it could come at great cost.
Excellent start to a brand-new series! I’ve been looking forward to Starlighter for some time, and the combination of Mr. Davis’s familiar writing style with new characters and a new story was delightful. The pacing was good, and I enjoyed the “double fantasy” feel with both Jason’s world and the dragon world. Worthwhile for fans of Bryan Davis and newcomers alike. Can’t wait for the next book!
Posted by Ruth
Categories: Advanced Readers, Historical Fiction, Review
Tags:Bodie Thoene, Brock Thoene, World War II
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Europe, 1936, and Nazi darkness is beginning to descend. Elisa Lindheim is a violinist in the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra, and while she is half Jewish, she is protected by both her German Aryan looks and the stage name Elisa Linder. Though situations are worsening in both Germany and Austria, Elisa refuses to believe that Hitler’s Third Reich will gain as much power as it claims. But her family has to escape, and her father goes missing, and so many of her friends are in danger. Before she knows it, Elisa is involved with something much bigger, along with members of the orchestra and an American news-reporter, John Murphy.
This is overall a worthwhile book, providing a good look at what life was like for so many during the events that led to World War II. It also covers some of the bigger picture views involving the politics and problems that leaders in England and America were dealing with at the time. I do have a few complaints about Vienna Prelude, though, the primary one being that Elisa’s romance occasionally bogged down the main story to the point of frustration. Also, I cannot at all recommend this book to young readers, as the sheer brutality of the Gestapo and the concentration camps are not watered down. That said, it was still a fairly good read, and I will likely look into the rest of the series.
Posted by Jordan
Categories: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Older Readers, Review
Tags:Anne of Green Gables, L. M. Montgomery, World War I
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Rilla Blythe is Anne’s youngest child and practically fifteen. Her very first party is ruined by the news of World War I. One by one, her older brothers and friends leave to fight, leaving her at home to wait and watch through the war. Of course, Rilla being Anne’s daughter means that she must have her share of mishaps, including bringing home a war baby in a soup tureen.
The Anne of Green Gables series takes a plunge into historical fiction for its final book and does remarkably well. I felt that some of the previous books in the series were missing out on a through line, so Rilla was a welcome surprise. It possibly has the biggest story arc in all eight books. I remember disliking it when I was younger, but this time around, I think it may be one of my favorites in the series.
Posted by Becca
Categories: All Ages, Fiction, Review
Tags:Animals, Archie Binns, Out of Print, Puget Sound, Seals
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Clint Barlow goes on a sailing expedition one day and finds an orphaned harbor seal. Unwilling to just leave the animal and interested in all things having to do with the ocean, Clint takes the seal home and gains permission to keep it until it makes trouble. The seal, Buster, becomes a good friend to Clint, but soon becomes a nuisance when he steals milk from cows, “helps” fishermen with their catches, and scares a family who have never seen a seal, much less a tame one. Clint also finds that Buster is always in danger because almost everybody in the area considers seals as pests to be shot on sight. The Barlows try sending Buster to Alaska, only to have the seal return. Clint is torn between keeping his friend forever and finding a place where Buster will be safe from harm.
Sea Pup presents a fairly good take on the “adopt an orphaned wild animal” theme. There are times when Clint seems to act young for his age and, with his interest in science, there are some references to the evolutionary origin of seals. Thankfully, these do not dominate the story. The ending could have used some work, but on the whole the story is an enjoyable light read.
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