The Narrowing Path – David J. Normoyle

Pages:  262

Genre: YA, Dystopian

Sources:  I received a copy to review, the opinions expressed here are my own

Warning: Extreme Violence

From Goodreads:

Only the strongest, smartest and most ruthless will survive.

Every six years, the world draws nearer to the sun. In Arcandis, those who want to live must claim the limited places in the Refuge, a series of underground caverns cooled by the sea.

The teenage boys of noble birth are sent out into the city to demonstrate their wits and strength. Some prove themselves in combat, others display their empire building skills, still others attempt to kill off their rivals. Out of over a hundred, only six will be selected by the leaders of the great families and allowed a place in the Refuge. The rest will perish, one way or another.

Not only is thirteen-year-old Bowe younger and weaker than most of the other boys, he has no family to support him. He is expected to die on the very first day of the narrowing path. Instead he begins a journey no one could have anticipated.

My Thoughts:

I have to say that the synopsis drew me in and the story finished me off.  This was a wonderful book.

Bowe Bellanger was the only survivor of his family.  As an infant his entire family committed suicide. He was of noble birth and raised  to participate in the Green Path.  He must win one of the coveted spots if he is to survive the Infernam, the time when the sun bakes their planet and the lucky ones survive for those two weeks in the Refuge, a series of caves under the ocean.  Bowe was raised in a caste society where he needs the help of those beneath his status, yet looks and talks down to them.  However, as the story moves along we see Bowe begin to change and question those in charge of this competition.  He is a leader.  No one thought he would survive.  They figured he would be the first to die.  They were wrong. He begins to think about others who might not win a spot. He wants to find a way to save them all.  What will he do?  Is it possible? Read to find out, then watch for the second and third book both due out in 2014. The second book is called the Treacherous Path and is due out in February. The third book is called the Collapsing Path and is due out in August.

You can find out more about the author and his books at:  http://davidjnormoyle.com/

Water’s Edge by Jane Riddell

Publisher: ThornBerry Publishing (UK)

Pages: 273

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Fiction

From Goodreads:

When Madalena invites her four children to Switzerland for a family gathering, she isn’t prepared for the excess baggage of their lives they bring along – secrets they are compelled to keep and those that must be divulged; the compromises they make, and, ultimately, what can and can't be resolved – for Madalena, too, has things about her past that she would prefer not to reveal.

Set against a backdrop of mountains and lakes, Water's Edge is a tapestry of love, lies and family

My Thoughts:

This is more than just a great story.  It is a story that makes us look at our relationships with our own family members.  In this story we have Madalena who owns a lake resort in Switzerland. She is wanting to pass the business on to one of her children and retire.  She invites them up for a celebration of their 40^th year in business.  She has three daughters and one son. 

Portia is a divorced lawyer with a rebellious daughter.  Her daughter unexpectedly ends up at the reunion because she is kicked out of boarding school.

Vienne is a famous concert pianist.  All of her fame doesn’t make her happy  because she isn’t sure if her husband really loves her.  There are definitely some issues between Portia and Vienne.

Annie is part owner of a café. She is a chef.  She is having personal relationship issues.

Lawrence is the only son and is a journalist. 

All three of the girls live in the UK, Lawrence lives in Scotland.  They all go back to Switzerland, but not without bringing their issues with them.  Not only do we learn about their issues, but we learn that some of their underlying problems go as far back as to when they were younger and sent to boarding school.  Add to this the fact that their mother has always felt guilty about sending them off to boarding school and you have the setup of a lot of drama. 

Some of the issues get resolved and some of them don’t.  Anyone reading this book will be able to find themselves in one of the characters or situations.   The author does a great job of bringing us along to Switzerland.  The reader feels like they are there.  This is a book I would definitely recommend to other adults.

Student Saturday: The Secret Country - Jane Johnson

Hailey M.

The book The Secret Country, takes place during the summer in the small town of Bixbury, England where a twelve year-old-boy named Ben Arnold lives with his mom, dad, his older sister, Ellie, and his younger sister, Alice. Ben is walking to the local pet shop, Mr. Dodd's Pet Emporium, to purchase two Mongolian Fighting fish, which he has spent more than two months saving up for. When Ben is in the pet shop a talking cat named Iggy pleads for his help. Ben purchases the cat and brings him home. Iggy tells him  of a magical land called Eidolon and the wild roads to take in order to get there. A few days later, Ben and Iggy go on one of the wild roads and end up in Eidolon. However, Eidolon has changed drastically since Iggy left it a few months ago after being kidnapped by Mr. Dodds, who had been kidnapping creatures from Eidolon to sell them at his pet shop. It is no longer the magical paradise that it once was. Ben discovers that his mother is Eidolon's queen, and now that she has left to raise her own family,  the magic is slowly draining out of it. Ben, Iggy, and the creatures of Eidolon must defeat Eidolon's new evil ruler, the Dodman, and restore Eidolon's magic.

What an exciting turn of events for Ben. he went from going to buy some pet fish to finding out that he was the prince of an entire world, and that the world needs to be saved. I think it would be very cool to be the prince of an entire world, especially a magical one. I wish a world like Eidolon really did exist. If it did, humans would get to see what dinosaurs looked like, and ride on dragons!

I connected with the main character, Ben, because I too have two siblings. I also live in a small town like Ben, who lives in the small town of Bixbury. I love animals and have many pets. Ben is twelve years old, and I will turn twelve in December, which isn't that far away. I feel that we have a lot in common.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes exciting books about magic. I think it is appropriate for readers ages nine and up. It had some challenging vocabulary. I think this book is amazing.

The After Girls by Leah Konen

Pages: 304

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Source:  I won a copy from Kids Buzz

From Goodreads:

Ella, Astrid, and Sydney were planning the perfect summer after high school graduation. But when Astrid commits suicide in a lonely cabin, the other girls' worlds are shattered. How could their best friend have done this--to herself and to them? They knew everything about Astrid. Shouldn't they have seen this coming? Couldn't they have saved her?

As Ella hunts for the truth, and Sydney tries to dull the pain, a chilling message from Astrid leaves them wondering whether their beloved friend is communicating from the after life. The girls embark on a journey to uncover Astrid's dark secrets. The answers to those questions--questions they never dreamed of asking--will change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:

I found this review in the middle of some papers I was grading.  I thought I had already posted it.  Better late than never.

Sydney, Ella, and Astrid have been best friends for years. They make plans for the future. Those plans are ruined when Astrid commits suicide.  Sydney and Ella are left to pick up the pieces.  They both believe they should have seen it coming.  They should have been able to see the signs.  They knew she was often dark and moody, but they chalked it up to just her personality.  After her death they each deal with it differently.

Ella starts getting phone messages she believes are from Astrid.  How can that be?  She’s dead. She keeps searching for the reasons, sure that Astrid would have left her a message as to the reason.

When they say opposites attract they were not kidding.  Sydney was very outgoing and not always in a good way. Astrid was the opposite of Sydney.  She was always withdrawn and kept a lot of secrets from her friends.  She valued each of them for different reasons.  Ella was the one who seemed to balance out the trio.  She was the level headed one, the strong one.  In real life if I had to pick one of them to be my go-to person it would have been Ella.  It is funny that I had friends like this.  They ranged from one extreme to the other.  I was a very shy person and would occasionally do things I knew my parents would not approve of because my outgoing friend Patty would encourage me.  I don’t mean bad things.  Simple things such as wearing my skirts rolled up to right below my butt. I went to school every day with dresses below my knees.  I also wore makeup at school knowing I was not allowed to wear it.  Montana was my friend who was my voice of reason.  She was not over the top like Patty but would try to show me that I was fine the way I was.  This book hit many cords in my life.  Some of them were painful.  It was a great book caused me to reflect on my teen years.  I believe this book can be a big help to teens with the issues they have today.  If I had to compare it to a book I would compare it to books by Jay Asher or Laurie Halse Anderson. 

I am pleased to see an author who is willing to take on those tough topics for teens.  This is one I definitely recommend to teens.

Winter Solstice Winter - E.J. Squires

Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages: 438
Genre: Fantasy, YA/New Adult
Source: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review

From Goodreads:
It’s not easy being a seventeen-year-old adopted peasant girl in the Viking-inhabited Northlandic Kingdom, especially when you have terrifying mare dreams of an evil Empress named Eiess, and when your friends oust you because they think you are cursed. But Ailia's on the verge of discovering that she hasn't even seen the tip of the iceberg that sleeps below...

On Winter Solstice Ailia visits her favorite place to ponder: a large cliff overlooking her hometown. On her way home, Eiess and an army of Vikings capture her before attacking the Northlandic Kingdom. After usurping the Northlandic Throne, Eiess immediately suspends the seasons on the darkest and coldest day of the year and begins her preparations for the prophesied battle to end all battles.

Princess Lucia, sole heir to the Nothlandic Throne, is taken prisoner by Eiess and is thrown into the castle’s tower. For months, Lucia wastes away, never knowing when this nightmare of beatings, starvation and bitter cold will end. But when she miraculously escapes, she learns that she has a twin sister she must find before Eiess completely destroys the Northlandic Kingdom.

Months later, Ailia wakes up in a glacier cave with no memory of how she ended up there. On her way home, a handsome, yet mysterious young man named Soren rescues her from wolves and a dangerous shape-shifter. Ailia is immediately drawn to Soren, thinking she knows him from somewhere, maybe from her dreams of another life? He reveals he is a Sentinor sent by the gods to defeat Eiess and is waiting to be reunited with his soul mate, Lucia, so they together can defeat the Empress.

As Eiess continues to amass her forces, Ailia, Lucia and Soren are about to discover that their destinies are intertwined behind a veil of dark secrets and lies. If they are to take back the Northlandic Throne, they must work together and form an alliance.

But their mission to overthrow the Empress is stalled when the secrets and lies surface. And when a strong love develops between two, jealousy and duplicity arise between them, causing one of them to betray the others – a betrayal which puts their lives and the lives of humanity in grave danger. 

WINTER SOLSTICE WINTER is a Young Adult/New Adult fantasy romance set in the Viking Era. With Suspense, Norse paranormal elements and a breathtaking soul mate love story, it's a great read for those who enjoy a page-turning story. This is the first book in its series.

My Thoughts:
I was intrigued by the thought of a fresh story line involving Norse mythology and vikings.  I'm game for reading things I haven't read before if the story line seems interesting.  The synopsis I read could not hold a candle to what I actually read.  This is one of those books that once you start it you really don't want anything to interrupt it.
The author has created a world that you get wrapped up in and don't want to leave.  The details she adds, as well as the twists and turns makes this a fast paced read and one you will want to recommend to everyone you know who loves fantasy. We find three lives entwined in an age old tale of good versus evil. But just when you think you know it all, you realize you don't.  I look forward to the second book in the series.  It is definitely a must read.

Watch the Book Trailer here
Visit her website here

Four More Picture Books

Ann's Cupcake stand by Jennifer Ogden

This is a "sweet" story told in rhyme. Ann is a young girl who gets this great idea to make and sell cupcakes. She gets her friend Fran, who likes her brother Dan to help her. They make the cupcakes and sell them, quickly running out. They end up getting more help and make a lot more as the line for their delicious cupcakes grows.  They learn that running their own business is not enough, they must clean up after themselves.
The story teaches children to plan and follow through with whatever they attempt to do. Great and colorful illustrations enhance the writing. This is a book to recommend to every young child you know.

T-Bone The flying Horse by Janice Virant

T-Bone was a small lonely horse. He wanted to be a racehorse. He wanted a friend and someone to love him. One day he gets adopted by a young girl who loved him. She taught him how to jump and leap. The one day T-Bone starts to grow wings.When the wings grew large enough, because of the girls love for him, she is taken on a flying trip around the world. When their world trip was over he left her knowing he would always be in her heart.

Kurt, Gert, Jazmine, and bagel by Irene Dolnick

This book is not only a cute story about true friendship and being a risk-taker, but it has a strong phonics lesson to it. Kurt, Gert, and Jazmine are three beagles who love to play together. When the weather turns cold Jazmine is literally left out in the cold until she meets Bagel. bagel asks her to go to a warmer climate with him.  She really wants to but is afraid she will lose him by going with him.  She learns that friends remain friends no matter where they are.

Poppy and the Fat Puppy by Eli Jay

I have read many of the Poppy books and really enjoy them, as do my grand kids. Poppy the balloon finds a sad, fat puppy in the park.  He tells Poppy that his name is Fat Puppy.  All Fat Puppy wants is a home.  Poppy takes Fat Puppy to the vet. The vet tells Poppy that Fat Puppy needs to eat healthier foods, get plenty of exercise and lose weight.  Poppy works with Fat Puppy for several wees. Soon Fat Puppy is no longer fat and is healthy. Poppy takes him back to the Vet where he gets a new home and a new name.
This book is written and illustrated simply, yet the message goes a lot deeper.  It prompts discussion about eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise.  These are things we need to start talking about  with our children at a very young age if we wish them to get the message.

Four Children's Books

Cassi Da Conch by Laurel Handfield

From Goodreads:

Cassi wants to enter the Caribbean Conch Contest but she's not sure she has what it takes. She's a little conch who wants to win, but needs something to help her stand out from a sea of contestants. This colorful book encourages children to celebrate the things that make them unique and to cheer each other on.

My Thoughts:

One thing I really liked about this book was the information at the end about the different types of conchs.  I enjoy books that are entertaining, teach a lesson, such as we are all special in our own way, and has more information at the end. This book has all that, plus wonderful illustrations.

Three Books by Dustin Ross

Billy the Goat Helps His Father

Billy was always asking questions. He wanted to know what grownups did when they went to work. Billy's mom told hi that he should ask his father to take hi to work to see what his father does. He wakes up early to go to work with his father. Billy's father took them to an empty house. He learned his father was an electrician. he also learned it was important to never play around with electricity.

Billy the Goat Meets a Hero

Billy and his friends spend the day playing fireman, each taking turns rescuing the others. When he tells his father how he spent the day his father discovers Billy doesn't really know what a fireman does. Billy's father sets him up  with Charlie the Chimp. Billy learns that being a firefighter does't mean they only fight fires. He learns that everyone has a fear of something and that is okay. He learns a hero does what they need to do even when they are scared.

Billy the Goat Bakes

Billy wants to see what a baker does so he spends the day at the bakery. Billy wakes up early and goes to the bakery. Billy's first job is to help mix the ingredients for Zebra's special bread. He is told he must follow the instructions. Billy begins to mix the ingredients and can't remember the recipe and he doesn't ask for help. The bread was ruined. Billy learned it was okay to ask questions when he didn't know or understand something.

Mister Spunky and His Friends Book Tour

Book Synopsis:

Mister Spunky and His Friends is the creation of award winning author, Kelly Preston. She has taken the story line from her book, Real Dogs Don't Whisper, placing it in a picture book format for children to enjoy. Mister Spunky and His Friends is about the importance of love, friendship; and, helping those with special needs. Follow Mister Spunky along his journey to the beach, where he meets three new friends; teaching him important life lessons along the way. Parents, if you enjoyed Real Dogs Don't Whisper, your children will enjoy this book for them. There are several pages at the end of the story for coloring activities. Ages: 5+

Website

Amazon

About Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston is, first and foremost, an animal lover. Raised on a ten-acre property in a small town in Pennsylvania, she grew up with horses, rabbits, and – of course – dogs. When she left home after college, she acquired Gizmo, an irresistible Lhasa Apso that started her on a journey full of joys and sorrows, hopes and tribulations, frustrations, endless lessons in patience, and above all else, love. All of this has come at the hands (more precisely the paws) of Gizmo, Betty Boop, Buffy, Carla Mae, and the inimitable Mr. MaGoo.

Mr. MaGoois a nine-year-old Lhasa Apso and the book’s co-creator and co-writer. He is, in his own words, “the alpha and omega of all dogs – in the cutest and sparkiest, most fun-loving package ever.” Ignoring Kelly’s persistent eye-rolling, Mr. MaGoo has forged ahead with this project in an attempt to, as he puts it, “present the facts from a dog’s perspective. In other words, the correct, most accurate, most interesting, only-one-that-matters perspective,” to which he adds, simply, “Woof!”

The School of Ministry: The Windgate by Braxton Cosby

Publisher: Keith Publications

Pages: 405

Genre: Young Adult/Adult, Supernatural Thriller

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

From Goodreads:

A young man named Ziv struggles to find his place in life after both of his parents are murdered. Orphaned and alone by the age of six, he bounces in and out of foster homes hopeless and afraid, wondering if he will ever find a path to happiness. He resolves to accept a life of depravity, until one day he discovers he possesses the gift of sight: to see creatures from the afterlife, but not angels...demons! Ziv is recruited by The School of Ministry, a secret society that promises to help him find his best friend Stephanie, who has gone missing. But there is one catch: he must agree to join them in their quest to eradicate evil and protect the weak. Ziv learns that he is a "Conduit," which allow him to cross over into the spirit world and transcend time itself. When he is partnered with two other young men who have similar gifts, the unlikely trio is trained in the mastery of weapons and the art of Shouting, during treacherous challenges of the tortuous Quad in preparation for their mission: to secure the Windgate. Ziv becomes entrenched in a quest of identity, love, and will, until comes face to face with pure evil itself--Akabod, the spiritual prodigal son to the School of Ministry and a master of talents.

My Thoughts:

I know of very few people who don't love a story that pits good against evil, has a romantic side to it and then throws some wickedly great challenges in.  Braxton Cosby seems to have the recipe for creating fascinating stories that the reader can't put down.  I started reading this on my commute to and from school. I was not making much progress. My evenings were tied up preventing me from reading.  All it took was one glorious day with no school, no writing and the book was mine.  I finished it in a little under four hours.  I love the world Cosby has built inside "The School of Ministry". For every test and trial that Ziv went through I looked at my own life.  They are life lessons that we can apply to our own life.  Ziv has an issue with holding onto anger. The lessons he learned by looking within himself and the way it affected his walk with God made me to the same thing. I took these lessons he learned and learned from them myself.  I don't think this was necessarily what the author was going for when he wrote the book.  I believe this is just an added bonus. The Christian aspect was a plus for me.  The non-believer as well as the believer will enjoy this story. The action in this book is told in such a way that for a visual person like me I was carried into each battle and training.  I felt my heart pounding whenever Ziv's heart would pound.  As far as the two possible love interests in the story, I haven't made up my mind about them.  Cosby has left so many neatly tied up loose ends that the next book in the series can take many twists and turns.  All of them will be absolutely delightful. The only thing I absolutely hate, is that I will need to wait for the next book in the series to come out. To that I say, "Write faster Braxton Cosby".

About the Author:

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a vision of continuously evolving and maximizing the untapped potential of the human spirit. Braxton received a lot of his inspiration from watching the accomplishments and exploits of his famous uncle, comedic legend Bill Cosby. Braxton lives in Georgia with his wife and three children. He writes stories aimed at both entertaining and encouraging people to think and act. 

You can find out more about him:

www.braxtoncosby.com

www.theschoolofministry.com

                                         

Student Saturday: Golden Buddha - Clive Cussler

Student Reviewer: Nicolas B.

Do you like action and suspense? If you do, then the book the Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler is for you. IN the book, the Dalai Lama has been over thrown, by the Chinese invading Tibet. Juan Cabrillo (born in California) and his team must help the Dalai lama by getting the golden Buddha from the thieves who stole it. They tracked the Buddha to a billionaire in China.

I really like this book because I like the genre of the book. The ship Juan and his crew sail on is magnificent, because it's painted like an old rusty cargo ship and it's so much more. this is the first in the series, The Oregon Files. the setting of the book is in modern times because of all the technology that Juan uses. Juan is really cool because he can speak five different languages, can steer a ship, knows how to hack most computers, and he's a crack shot. He is amazing even though he is handicapped.
I would recommend this book to whoever likes spies and traps.