Glimpses of Time and Magic by Ariel Paiement

Genre:  Adult, Historical Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This anthology of fantasy stories is historical because the stories take place in different time periods.
There are nine stories and that means there is something for everyone. "Maiden of Embers" explains the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. I have always loved the story of Pompeii. "Excal'byr" explains the beginnings of Excalibur. "In Leap of Faith a woman, wounded in the heart by a man trusts no man. It isn't until she meets a stranger and takes a leap of faith into another world that she learns about true love.  In "Rise of an Empire" we see the final battle before Rome falls. Then we travel with the remaining soldiers as they travel north to try to re-establish their empire. "Misted Love" was one of my favorites. It is the classic tale of a woman of high breeding falling in love with a man of a lower station in life. When her family's finances take a downward turn her father makes a decision to save his own wealth. He will sell his daughter to the one man she detests.  This story pretty much explains the fog of England.  I won't say too much because I don't want to give anything away.   "Paradoxeffair" is one that felt familiar but fresh at the same time. We have a young man who has run off to join the circus only to learn it isn't what he thought. No one can leave the circus until their contract is up and only if other conditions are met. Most of the people of this circus are true "freaks or have natural magic". The magician has magic that was taught and yet it was enhanced by this special circus run by an evil mermaid.  One of my favorites was "The Heart of the Phoenix King".  This is the retelling of the disappearance of the people of Roanoke. Let's just say it is full of betrayal and revenge.  "The Apprentice of Amadan Dubh" is written by an author I am very familiar with. Kandi J. Wyatt often writes stories of Dragons and other worlds.  I was extremely pleased to find something completely different and refreshing. In a small village a mage takes on an apprentice. The apprentice has always wanted to use his power for good. But, what happens when his master decides to use his magic and his apprentice's magic to get rich?  What is the line between right and wrong, good and evil?   Maybe your tastes run more toward the time period of Pirates.  In "The Heart of the Coast" a young boy whose father was responsible for the death of Blackbeard finds that his father despises him. When given the opportunity to run away to sea he does, promising his one remaining brother he will see him again. But Blackbeard's curse may have more to do with how his life changes than he ever understood.

I have truly found some new authors to check out. I have always loved anthologies because you get to sample different author's work as well as have stories with a common theme.  I would whole-heartedly recommend this book. 

The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

 Children, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing

I loved this book. However, my loving this book doesn’t mean my students will. All my recommending won’t make them love it unless they can connect to it in some way. The same thing is true for adults. This is one of those books I think everyone, young and old can connect to.  A few years ago I had a student write in his journal, “Most teachers don’t understand how hard life can be. I go to bed every night wondering if a stray bullet will come through my house and kill one of us. I go to bed every night wondering if I will still have my friends when I wake up.”

That student like so many of my other students will find many things to connect with in this book. After Lowen’s friend is shot and killed Lowen goes through a period where he can’t seem to draw his comics anymore. He is going through both guilt and grief. When his parents learn of a lottery to buy a house for a dollar in an old mill town they enter and win. There are some things they must do though. They not only have to fix up the house but they have to start a business.

 While Lowen’s dad stays in Flintlock to work, his mom starts a business called Cornish Eatery. Things still are not going smooth. Like a lot of small towns, not everyone is welcoming. Some people will do anything they can to keep others from being successful.  Unless people of the town realize how much they need this new life their own livelihood will disappear. This story looks at how everyone has to change to survive. It looks at learning to move on through any situation. It is all about second chances. I wish I’d had this book back when I had this student. Maybe he would have found a way through this book to deal with what he had to deal with.  I whole heartedly recommend this book.

Sea Change by Iain Rowan

Middle Grade, Young Adult, Horror

Source:  I won a copy from LibraryThing

John knows what it’s like to be bullied. Yet he does nothing when another kid is bullied. Plagued with guilt his mother sends him to spend some time with his sister in a fishing village. Have things really changed? When he arrives and gets off the bus the first thing he sees is a boy with a snarl.  Then he meets Simon and Sal. The three become best friends. But something is seeking John out. Something needs his help. It seems to be the worst bully of all.  Will John help or will he finally stop running?

This book starts out with a bullying incident that leads to John being shipped to his sisters for a while. Then things turn creepy.  You have a small fishing town. Dark legends and tales.  What I loved about this story was the message of learning to stand on your own two feet and face your fears. The idea of standing up to bullies. The idea is that if you take revenge on the bullies then you yourself become the bully.  I also loved that John is introduced to an old man through his sister’s friend Alan who runs the local bookstore. This is where John learns about the town's legends and the evil that is there. 

Egmont Key A History by Ronald H. Thompson and Carol Thompson

Genre:  Non-fiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Egmont key is a place I have wanted to visit since I was in college. My history class was going to take a field trip to Egmont one Sunday. Unfortunately due to church and my job I was unable to go. I had to write a paper about it. This was difficult because there isn’t a whole lot written about this island.  Egmont can only be reached by boat. Originally it was the home of Fort Dade and a lighthouse.

The book is full of history.  However, like other resources I have found on Egmont Key. I felt it was somewhat lacking. I guess if I truly want to learn about it then at some point I am going to have to take time to visit the island.

4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss

Genre:  Adult, Magical Realism

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Johan Twiss has created two characters that anyone could relate to. You want to cheer them on.

Aaron is a young teen who is living in a nursing home. His body doesn’t work right but his brain does. He has created a place in his mind he calls his “Mind Palace” to keep himself from going crazy. Unfortunately, his parents are unaware of this since he can’t communicate with them.  I felt so sorry for him.  When he described his condition as being turned to stone by Medusa, you truly understand how it is. His character reminded me of the character Shawn in Terry Trueman’s book, Stuck in Neutral. For me having a working mind but not body would be horrible. I guess I feel this way because I had a cousin who was in a terrible accident. Her eyes were open and she could hear the nurses talking about how she was nothing but a vegetable. They had no idea until a month or two later how much her brain processed.

Solomon is the other main character in this book. He is elderly and has been placed there due to dementia.  Solomon can hear Aaron’s thoughts. Because they can communicate through their minds, Aaron gets to learn about Solomon’s earlier life. There is a historical aspect to this book as we learn about Solomon. The connection between Aaron and Solomon was simple. Aaron played trombone in his school’s jazz band and Solomon was a Jazz musician. Solomon takes Aaron on trips back into his past.

I have read several books  by this author and this one is right at the top of my list. I highly recommend it.

The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin by Susan Goldman Rubin

Genre: Children, Biography, Holocaust
Source: I own a copy

When Ela Stein was a young child she and many other family members were shipped to Terazin. This was a Czech ghetto.  Shortly before they were shipped to Terazin her father was taken away for expressing his opinion about Hitler. That was the last that Ela saw of her father. In the ghetto her mother made a hard choice to send Ela and her sister to a barrack that was specifically for girls around her age. The living conditions were somewhat better and they received a little more food. The girls in room 28 formed a tight group. Soon someone decided they were going to present an opera. They practiced and practiced.  At one point the Nazis used their production for propaganda.  This book is a book that shows us what friendship and music can do to help people survive. It was a ray of hope in their lives.   This is a short book to read, but filled with so much information and lots of pictures to help understand.

Advanced Reading Instruction In Middle School: A Novel Approach - Janice I. Robbins, Rh.D.

Genre: Educational

Source: I received a copy from LibraryThing

I received this quite some time ago. I took it to school with me and completely forgot to write my review. So many books I have on my school shelves or have shared with other teachers are all about working with reluctant readers. This book is all about working with those gifted students who read well but don’t respond to the same types of lessons. 

The book starts off with information to help students choose a variety of books. From there it shows you how to help students interact with the books. I have my students keep a notebook. One of the things they use the notebook for is to write down things that pop into their head as they read. They also write down words, phrases or sentences that they find interesting for whatever reason.

There is a section that talks about asking questions about the novel. For those teachers who think that it is ridiculous that someone should talk to them about asking questions, I am here to tell you that after almost thirty years of teaching it is easy to fall into a rut. We need books like this to help remind us of all those great ideas we had when we first started teaching.

For me this book, full of ideas for the gifted reader, but  has ideas that will work for those reluctant readers as well. I loved the sections on different genres. This book is something that every beginning teacher should have.

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Genre:  Adult, autobiography

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.

For those of us who grew up reading the “Little House on the Prairie” series, this book is a must read. When I first started student teaching almost thirty years ago I created a whole unit around Laura Ingalls Wilder and her books.  I had just about anything that had been written about her. One flood took all of that away. When I saw this book I knew it was a must read. After reading this book you will discover how much of her series was true to life. Like any author, things were changed in her children’s books to fit the age, theme or character she had created. This is not a book for the younger child. However, the older teen who like me fell in love with who this author was would really enjoy this book . For me I grew up in the country. I lived in a house that got an  indoor  bathroom not too many years before we moved in, so I was very familiar with and hated, outhouses.  A lot of the things Laura grew up with, I did too. We lived in a modern house, yet so much from my great-grandmother was there and we were expected to use it. I think having that connection is what made the books so real and special to me. Knowing the extra’s I’ve learn through this book and others helped me reconnect.

This book is full of pictures and references. That is one thing I really enjoy because it adds another layer to my learning about this most beloved author. I knew from years back that Laura’s daughter Rose helped her turn her story into the fictionalized stories I read as a child. For me that made it even more special.  There was just something  special about Laura  taking her own life events and putting them into a story that children in future generations would be able to connect.  For anyone who has every read “The Little House Series” and want to know more about the author and their creation, then this is a must read.  This book is special enough to me that I have directions that it will go to my granddaughter Haylee when I am gone. When she first started reading chapter books I introduced her to Laura’s series. I wanted my granddaughter to grow up know what a wonderful story looked like. We discuss her books all the time.  So I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who has loved Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I Escaped the California Camp Fire by Scott Peters and S.D. Brown

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Adventure

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers

For a small book this packs a powerful punch. Fourteen-year-old Troy is left in charge of his younger sister while his parents are away for twenty-four hours. Troy wakes to his cell phone ringing, his dog tugging on his sleeve and pitch blackness.  Unable to reach their parents Troy goes next door to the neighbor for advice. Mrs. Jones makes it clear they should stay put. When Troy sees houses on their street erupt in flames he decides they have to leave. Unfortunately he can’t convince Mrs. Jones. Troy loads up his sister and their two pets in their dad’s Bronco and heads for what he hopes is safety. 

This book is full of realistic action between the older brother and younger sister. He takes his promise to his parents to protect his sister even when she becomes annoying. This is fast-paced, on the seat of your chair action from the very beginning.  For those who are fans of the “I Survived “ series by Lauren Tarshis, I guarantee that you will enjoy this series. I highly recommend this to all adventure readers.

Behind the Bookcase by Mark Steensland

Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Mystery

Source: I purchased a copy

If you like creepy mysteries then I recommend this book to you. Sarah and Billy will be spending their summer fixing up her late grandmother’s house to sell. Sarah’s mother just wants to get things done and the house sold. She has never liked the house and she believes that her own mother was a little crazy. The reason it that Sarah’s grandmother used to tell some pretty crazy stories to her mom. While cleaning things out Sarah finds an unfinished letter from her grandmother. She states that “strange things are happening behind the bookcase.”  When Sarah finds an opening behind the bookcase she just has to see where it leads. Unfortunately it dumps her into the land of Scotopia. But things aren’t what they seem in Scotopia either. Why would her grandmother leave her an unfinished note and what is it that she is supposed to do or learn?  Why is there a locked door in the basement that no one seems to have the key to?

This book is full of secrets, a talking cat with his own evil agenda and fantastic worlds.  More importantly the message of the importance of family with all of their quirks is a main theme running throughout this book. I am sad that I had the book with me at home when we were forced into online school. None of this year’s students got the opportunity to read this wonderful book. However, I will make sure that next year’s students hear all about it.

Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Source: I purchased a copy

Sasha is a young girl living in foster care. For a long time it was Sasha her brother Michael and her father. The coal mines took her father. Michael is her everything. He tells her that one day they will leave the small town of Caboose. Before that can happen her firefighter brother is killed on the job.

Sasha’s reflex reaction is to run away. Sasha is introduced to poetry. Through this she finds a way to find herself, to deal with those shadows in her soul. This book was so much more than I expected. I thought it would be a simple book with some nice poetry. Instead I found a girl who has lost her way. While in foster care she learns she is related to the neighbors.  This story is full of different layers. There are so many things for readers to relate to, loss, death, foster care, finding your way through the hardships of poverty.  There are so many things this book can teach.  I absolutely loved it.

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate:

Genre: Children, Middle Grade, Realistic

Source: I purchased a copy

Katherine Applegate has another winner with this book. Bob is a dog we first met in the book, “The One and Only Ivan”. Bob lived in the mall with Ivan and Ruby. Now Ivan and Ruby live in a zoo not too far from Bob’s new house. He was adopted by Julia whose father works at the zoo. Through this book, we learn how Bob became the dog he is. We understand how his personality was developed.  He is a scrappy dog who has learned to survive on his own. He feels guilty about his survival when all his siblings did not survive.   Bob goes with Julia and her dad to the zoo to visit Ivan and Ruby while Julia’s dad is making sure things are ready for an approaching hurricane. No one expected a sudden tornado. Once again Bob has to survive.  Then he is given a second opportunity when he thinks he hears the bark of one of his siblings.

I love this story that is told from Bob’s perspective. It is funny, sarcastic and his view of humans and the world around him make this so fun to read. We see Bob change throughout the book the way a human character changes. This makes him so believable. Not only will this book be on my shelf at school at the beginning of next year, but my grandchildren will also be receiving a copy. Everyone should have the opportunity to read this book.

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Horror

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

While going through a notebook I found a handful of book reviews I had written but had not posted. What you will find for the next few days will be those reviews.

In the first book we find a situation that has gone terribly wrong. By gathering up zombies, werewolves and vampires and putting them into one area and opening it up to the public Victor Konrad has created a situation that almost destroys the world.

Reading this is like watching a movie. I think it would make a wonderful movie.  You have it all, governments that do things for the wrong reasons, scientists who have their own agendas, people who are greedy and looking for power. You know in the movies when all of these things come together you are going to have the ride of your life. This book is no different.  The author even addresses the issue of stereotyping people.  Wyatt and his friends and family are out to save their town from what is coming.  The author introduced a new monster to the book, the Glob.  I grew up watching every Saturday night a show called, “Nightmare Theater”. One of the most terrifying things a young middle school aged kid can watch, ALONE, is a blob that devours people.  This book brought back those horrifying, yet wonderful memories.  This is a book you can easily lose yourself in and read in one sitting. Highly recommended.

Nevers Sara Cassidy

Genre: Elementary, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Source: I purchased a copy

This was a fun and funny book. I would say this is perfect for upper elementary and lower middle school. However, as an adult I found this a pleasure to read.

Odette is a  young girl who must take care of her mother Annalise. Annalise seems to have a habit of accidently killing people. They have come into the small French town of Nevers.  All Odette wants is to find a place they cans stay and call home and to fit in, maybe have a friend.  Odette finds a friend in a young boy named Nicois. The town is full of strange people. There is man who likes to smell people’s hands, and a man who wants to be a chicken. There is a pig and chick that have become inseparable, and then there is the donkey that brays in Latin every night. The strange thing is that Odette understands him. Odette’s mother has brought about some trouble for them because she has been looking for a box she hid under a bridge years before. Someone else is looking for it as well.

The book is a mixture of some fantasy, mystery and a bit of historical fiction all rolled into one great book. Kids will love this because they will be able to identify with the characters. This is a book I would highly recommend to readers of all ages.

Broken Roads: Returning to My Amish Father by Ira Wagler

Genre: Adult, Amish, Memoir

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Ira Wagler left his Amish background. This is something he did with lots of thought. For those who are not familiar with the Amish, leaving results in shunning. Essentially there is not much interaction between the family and the child who has decided to leave.  This doesn’t mean they can’t visit. The family always holds out hope that the one who left will come to their senses and return to their faith.

In this second book by Ira we get what I believe is a deeper look into his life after leaving. It begins with his reason for telling this story. On this occasion, he is preparing to go back home because his father is dying. He wasn’t the only one who left.  He is representing those siblings who left and can’t go back. He would go back to visit his family. There was always an admonishment to come. The title is very appropriate. Through the book, we see how the path he traveled through life was like a broken road. Through sharing his life with the public we see that no matter what our path looks like, no matter how broken it is, there is always hope. He shared both the good and bad decisions he made. He showed how far he strayed and how God always led him back.  This is not a book that is written in a strict chronological order. It felt more like sitting and having a conversation with the author where he shares stories as one thing connects to another.  I read this in just a couple of hours. I didn’t want to put it down.

Angry Books by Tacee Theobald

Genre: children's picture book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this book. I think every parent and every elementary teacher should have this book. This story is told from the perspective of a book. It teaches children how to properly handle books. It not only explains what they should or shouldn't do but actually asks how would you feel if I did this to you. It makes them think about it in a way that they connect.  I teach middle school and I don't know how many times I say some of the very things to my middle school students. Let's start teaching kids at the youngest age how to treat a book.  My favorite in the whole book talked about fake reading. Yes, you can tell she was a former teacher. To all those kids out there who think you are getting away with it, forget it. She nailed it.

Three Books by Michael Gordon

Genre:  Children's Picture Book
Source:  I received a copy from the author

Michael Gordon has written a book using a dinosaur to represent every child who has ever gone through times when they are grumpy. Parents who read this with their young child can ask the question, "What is Sonny doing wrong?"  This opens the floor for gentle conversations about appropriate behavior.  In addition to a great story line you have wonderful pictures to round it out.




Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I received a copy from the author

When Josh wakes up grumpy one morning, he and his family become detectives to find out what has put Josh in such a grumpy mood. This book lets kids know it is okay to be grumpy once in a while. It also shows them ways to figure out what caused them to be grumpy so they can try to fix it.







Genre: Children's Picture Book
Source: I purchased a copy

Jamie doesn't like getting ready for bed and he tells his mother this. She tells him a story about different animals and how they all prepare for bed and why it is important. A simple and cute book that will make getting ready for bedtime much easier for the youngest one.

Chirp by Kate Messner

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction
Source:  Purchased


I absolutely loved this book. Mia and her family move to Vermont to be near and help her grandmother who had recently had a stroke. When they arrive her mother is determined to help her grandmother slip into retirement. Mia's grandmother has other plans. She has a cricket farm that she plans to expand.  Unfortunately, someone seems to be sabotaging her crickets.
Mia, a former gymnast, has been told she must join two different day camps. She makes friends, finds a way to help her grandmother, and most importantly finds herself, and her courage to speak up.  This is a book that is so important for middle school students. Middle grade years are when students are learning who they are. It is also one of the most vulnerable times for them. So many are taken advantage of at this age and some get lost and never find themselves. In Mia's case she finds her voice and the courage to help someone else.  This is an absolute must read.

Watch Hollow: The Alchemist's Shadow by Gregory Funaro

Gregory Funaro’s first book “Watch Hollow” was a book that had my students lining up to read it. It was full of everything a middle school student loves in a book. It had characters they could identify with and a mystery to be solved. When I told them that I had an advance reader’s copy of the next book "Watch Hollow: The Alchemist's Shadow" they wanted to know if I would be buying it. I will most definitely be buying it.  This is a creepy mystery that kept the action going.

The Tinker family managed to keep away the great evil and set the house right. We all know that it would be boring if things didn’t go south again. This happens when Agatha and Algeron, along with their governess show up claiming they are the heirs to the house.  Of course, you need to expect whenever something or someone strange shows up, there is going to be something that will create chaos in Blackford House once again. A new evil has created a labyrinth along with a minotaur.

The children must work together to solve this mystery, get the governess back and take care of the evil. This is a daunting task, but they will receive help from the wooden animals of the clock. I am really loving this author’s work. I am probably the biggest lover of mysteries and this one has all the elements that I love.  I am hoping there is a third book on its way. This is a must-read series.

New Book Coming Soon by Mark Restaino: Two Robots

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is not yet published. As a beta reader, I often get books to read in advance of publication. I have to say I am very impressed by this author and his work. To me, the quality of writing has always been important. However, books like this that have a message to get across is even more important. Mark writes faith-based picture books. They are not preachy in the least. I as an adult loved these books. The story is of two robots built by two scientists. Both love their creations. One of them creates a robot who obeys everything and does everything right. The other scientist creates a robot that has the ability to learn. It is only when the two robots meet that true learning happens. The lesson learned by the scientist of the blue robot is just as important. This is a modern-day parable for modern-day kids. Every kid loves robots and will be able to relate. I am looking forward to the date this is published and for sale. This along with all of his other books will soon be in the hands of my grandchildren. Finding books to recommend to parents is important to me. Finding books to give to my children and their children is even more important. When this book comes out, run, don't walk to Amazon or his website:  

https://www.authormarkrestaino.com/books

About the Author Mark Restaino (from his website)

I am a full-time youth minister and live in the Chicagoland area with my wife and two daughters. I got the idea for my first story while on a retreat with my youth group students. My other stories also seem to come to me in the quiet moments when I reflect on my life and faith. I am personally drawn to the symbolism and foreshadowing that God weaves throughout the Bible and I believe it serves as a beautiful defense of the faith. In reflection of my creator, I strive to write stories that capture readers' hearts and minds and symbolically share the faith  and gospel message. I pray that my stories kindle the fire of the faith within you, your family, and your church community.

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