"Playing With Matches"and "A Piece of Blue String" by Lee Strauss

 

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: I purchased a copy

This is one of those World World II books that looks at what it was like for young boys trained to believe everything they were doing was for the Fatherland.  They were trained in school to believe that they were superior to the Jews and that the Jews were the cause of the loss of World War I and anything else they wanted to blame them for.   When young Emil is made aware of an illegal radio, he and his friend question what they are being taught. They decided to let people know. How far are they willing to go? What happens when they are sent to fight in a war they no longer believe in?  Who will survive? What will they lose?  This is one of those books I had to read non-stop. I can't wait to recommend it to my students and the history teachers at my school. I will also check out what else this author has written.

Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Short Story
I purchased a copy

This is a follow up companion short story to "Playing With Matches". In the first story Emil the main character falls in love with Johann's sister. Before being shipped off to war he asks her to marry him and she accepts. He has nothing to give her as a promise so she tears a loose thread from her coat and he ties it around her finger as an engagement ring. This book is the diary she keeps during the time they were together. There is nothing new in this book about her feelings toward Emil. However, we do get clarification on questions that may be brought up in the first book. 

Dying to Forget by Trish Marie Dawson

 

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy

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

This is one of those books whose premise sound awesome. Then when I began to read it I wasn't sure. Let me get my few negative remarks out first. Trish has killed herself after accidentally killing her best friend in a car accident. She arrives at a place where she must make a choice. She can decide to be sent on assignments to help people like her before they take that final step of suicide. Her other choice is to move on where she will have to live with everything that brought her to that point in her life, such as all her pain about being raped, her anger and other feelings of depression. She decides to  go back to help others. Her first assignment is in the head of a male. In fact she spends a lot of time making comments that shows she is lusting after him. This is where I had a major issue.  Up to this point I was okay with everything. Her second assignment is a bit better for her.  I liked the characters. I like the setting within reason. I would have liked the author to spend a bit more time on the world building instead of just describing buildings. It didn't feel like a place I would like to visit under any circumstances.   I kind of expected the ending.  I don't think most people would have felt that same way. It did leave it open for the next book in the series. I haven't decided if I liked it enough to read the next one or not. I am one of those who will re-read my review in a couple of days and then make that decision. All in all it was a pretty good book.

The Race to Krakatoa by J.D. Peabody

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

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

To say I have found a new author that I absolutely love would be an understatement. J.D. Peabody has created a series that not only kids will love, but educators and book lovers everywhere will love. In the second book in his series we find several things have happened. First, Mrs. Crimp is back, but loveable and protective of the children. She learned some valuable things while she was Inkased.  Everett has found a strength he didn't know he possessed. Bea has learned how much of caring person she is. She feels she is inadequate, but she is not. We have most of the same characters from the first book, including the villains with a few extras thrown in. One in particular is nasty. He was an Inking but used the ink for illegal purposes. He was shunned by the other inklings. He creates his own ink, a mixture of the ink from the first book with his own additives and gets it funded by the very people who hate the Inklings. But we all know that evil has a way of backfiring. The only thing I can say I hated is the ending of the book. I love that it ended in a cliff hanger.  That was brilliant writing. What I hated is that I will have to wait at least a year probably to read a continuation of the story. I could see people forming lines like they did for the Harry Potter books to purchase the next one.  They are that good. I want to jump into the story the way Everett is able to Leapread. I want to become a part of that world. THAT is how good these books are.  The author's nod to other authors and their works, which you can find out more about on his website, have made me want to check out some of the books I was unfamiliar with. It gave me a warm feeling to have him sprinkle in books I grew up with. That is why I say this is a book for young and old alike.  You have got to check these books out.

First Review of the New Year: The Ink of Elspet by J.D. Peabody

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Source: I own a copy

Kids today need more books with creativity woven through the plots. My middle grade students are always telling me they don’t have any imagination. Maybe if there were more books out there like this, they wouldn’t say that as much. Marcus is a preacher and the creator of a comic book. He has left them at home to go on a secret trip. After the train he is on crashes and he is whisked away, Everett and Bea are on a journey to try to find and save their dad. They have his pen and magical ink. They slowly learn about their father and the magic ink and “inklings” who must find and protect it. The characters are easy to like and believable. The world building is phenomenal. We travel on mysterious, magical mysteries along with the characters. The explanation of how the evil characters came to be was awesome. Everett reminded me so much of some of my students who think they have no talent and doubt everything they do, often sabotaging themselves. There are lessons to be learned that don’t hit the reader head on.  I definitely recommend this book and will make sure my grandkids get a copy.  I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

40 Lives in 40 Days by John MacArthur

Genre: Christian, Inspirational, Informational

Source: I purchased a copy

The author takes us on a trip through the lives of forty different Biblical people. He starts with some of the disciples and continues to other important people. I found his description of Thomas, also known as “Doubting Thomas” funny. He said that Thomas was a worrier. It was pointed out that he was so connected to Christ that he would rather die with him than be apart from him. The author compared him to “Eeyore” from the “Winnie the Pooh” book.  He speaks of Abraham’s wife Sarah as an example of what happens when we try to take matters into our own hands. It never works out right.  Rahab is an example of how God reaches down to the lowest of the low.  I was surprised by how many women he spoke about. This is a wonderful book that can be applied to all of our lives.

Student Saturday: Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss- Know-It-All by Rachel Renee Russell

 

Student Reviewer:  Sabrina S.

Genre:  Middle Grade Realistic Fiction

This is a great series and overall a good book. The author Rachel Renee Russell does an amazing job of making you feel like you're involved with the drama.

The main character, Nikki J. Maxwell, is a teenage girl who has two best friends, Chloe and Zoey, and her biggest enemy Mackenzie, who is a snobby rich girl that thinks she's better than everyone. Her crush, Brandon, is popular and nice but Mackenzie likes him too! Nikki and Makenzie have a big rivalry against each other. They are always trying to outdo one another. In this book, Nikki wants to join a newspaper club for her school, mostly to get closer to Brandon but also for fun. All goes well until her position in the news crew has no action and no one writing messages to it, so she makes it better and gets very well-known across the school. Then comes Brandon's birthday party and Nikki has waited forever to get him his gift but a few problems happen while trying to afford his present. This book is good for anyone who likes high school drama and plot twists. Rachel Renee has written a very good series. 

Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner

 

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

Source: I won a copy for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Katie McCabe is a rebellious teen. Her father is the town sheriff. She loves him dearly. She lost her mother at a very young age. He is all she has. She and her best friend Tommy accidently set a shed on fire. When she gets home she explains to her father it was an accident. She is made to pay for the damages. Then the next morning she is put on a bus and shipped to her uncle’s house. Her dad tells her it is because he has been sick lately and the doctors want to do some tests. Her beginnings with her uncle and cousins is rocky. She meets  a young man named Logan who seems to have her back even when she is trying to sabotage herself.  When her father dies and they pack up her former house and move her into her uncle’s house permanently she really rebels.  She has convinced herself that they have taken her in out of obligation and not out of love. What will it take to prove her wrong?  What happens when she makes enemies with someone who believes  they are powerful because of their family name? What will it take to survive?

I read this book in just a few hours. It is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I have read other books by this author and highly recommend this book and all her others.  I will tell you that you will need a box of tissues all through this book.

TenMore Picture Books, Some of My Favorite Stories and Authors

 A few more picture books that I reviewed right after Christmas.  I purchased each of the picture books and the opinions expressed here are my own.

The Adventures of Scotty Claus by David Scott Fields II

This was probably my favorite read over the two days I tried to read down my picture books on my Kindle. This is the story of a young man whose dream is to meet Santa Claus. One night his wish comes true. He learns that Santa has known his parents for years. Santa asks for him to help him deliver presents that night. As the night goes on he learns there is more to Christmas than receiving gifts.  He meets a special young girl named Ruth who is very sick.  Santa takes Scotty back to his workshop and lets him make a gift. He decides to make a snow globe for Ruth. Then Santa comes out to tell him who and what Christmas is really about. He even gives Scotty his personal Bible. He explains that he hopes one day Scotty will come to know the true gift that was given.   The end  of the book tells the story of the author and how for years his father played Santa for real. This is one of the most heart -felt and touching stories I have ever read. I highly recommend this book.

Things My Way by Sarah Read

Dominic is a young boy who likes to do things his way, or as he says it, "to the beat of his own drum." He does this at school, in sports and at home. Things down always go the way he planned. Mom has a way to teach Dominic that there is a time and a place to follow the directions. Read this wonderful and simple book to see if Dominic learns that lesson.

My Body Bubble by Michael Gordon

I loved this story. Annie is playing with her best friend Max when he falls down. She hugs him and doesn't get the reaction she expected. Her hug made him feel uncomfortable. This story is learning about personal spaces, or as the book calls it personal bubbles. I think I like this book so much because I have had people step too close to me and I take a step back and then draw a square in front of me saying, "Sorry, this is my space." They usually apologize and take a step back.  Great lesson to be learned and explained in a manner that all children, and adults can understand.

I Get Angry Like a Tiger by Michael Gordon

Once again the author has created a book that helps children deal with very common situation. Most young children get angry. If there is no one there to teach them how to handle those different emotions they usually handle it incorrectly. This book is great at teaching a strategy to deal with anger. In addition there are several common situations that kids get angry in and these situations and solutions are addressed in the book.

Georgie’s Long Goodbye by Bri Kozlowski

This was a strange but good story. Georgie has lost his grandmother. However, before she passed she became a part of a holographic computer program. She was sent back to the family for a time. Georgie does everything  with her. Then one day he can't find her. His mother explains that he has to learn to say goodbye. Georgie doesn't want to. He and his mother come to an agreement. This is a strange yet wonderful book about grieving for those we've lost.

Stories for Children 10 by Francois Bissonnette

I have always loved this author's stories. This is the story of Emily and Arabella. Emily is a human child whose parents read to her about Fairyland every night. One day Emily can't find her book.  The wise fairy visits Arabella and sets her on a quest to find the Fairyland Book. Without it Emily begins to forget the stories of Fairyland and Fairyland is beginning to disappear. Arabella must find this book and return it to Emily. The world building is awesome and the characters are lovable.  I recommend this author's books to everyone.

A Colorful Beginning by Raven Howell

A wonderful book to read to a child before they begin their first day of school, or to read to a class on their first day of school.  It shows them that no matter what their differences they are all better together. Plus, you get the added bonus of teaching children about mixing colors. A win, win if you ask me.

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

I love learning something from a picture book. This is the story of how we got the Macy's Day Parade. It started with a young boy who loved puppets and making things move. Tony Sang worked with Marionettes for years. Mr. Macy wanted to create a window display and hired Tony. Then he decided to create a parade for his employees and Mr. Sang helped with that. You will need to read the book to see how a simple window display evolved into the Macy's Day Parade we have today. I loved this book.

Bigger Than Alexander by Christopher Francis

A fun story of a young boy who is bigger than all of his classmates. Unfortunately he grows so big he no longer fits in the classroom or school.  However, the teacher knows there is something different and special about Alexander. There is something about him that is bigger than his size. Read the book to find out what it is that makes Alexander so special. Read this book by one of my favorite authors.

The Best Gift For Bear by Jennifer A. Bell

Hedgehog bakes gifts for all of her friends, but she doesn't know what to bake for her best friend bear. She sees the snow on her house and decides to bake bear a gingerbread house. She gets it all decorated and heads to bear's house. As she gets near the wind tears up her gift to bear. What will she give bear now?  Read this wonderful book about friendship.

Nine Picture Books from Emily Hartmann

Continuing my review of children's picture books.  Here are several by author Emily Hartmann

Cuddle Up: Children's Book about Emotions and Feelings, Valentine's Day by Emily Hartmann

This is a wonderful book. Each animal parent in rhyme tells their child how they will protect them and how much they love them as they tuck them into bed for the night. This is a wonderful story to read at bedtime to your youngest child.

Grateful Hearts by Emily Hartmann

A cute book full of beautiful pictures that show animal families expressing their gratitude for what they have each and every day. Great for bedtime story.

I Feel Worried by Emily Hartmann

This book addresses worry that children feel so often. It addresses so many different things that children fear. They fear the dark. They fear the first time in a new place. They fear performing in front of others. They fear storms. The book also talks about ways to help deal with these fears to make yourself feel better. This is an opportunity for adults to talk with a young child and reassure them. It is also a time to share that adults have some of these fears as well and how they deal with them.

My Bad Mood by Emily Hartmann

This book addresses what children can do when they are in a bad mood. They can take a walk, draw, play music or love on a pet. Each of these activities are things that children love and can do to turn their mood around.

Make Good Choices by Emily Hartmann

This book is all about choosing the right things. Everyone adults and children need to make good choices. They need to choose to be friendly, to forgive, to be kind. We all need to beloving, calm, confident. We need to make good choices to  be healthy through food and exercise, and to be  generous, caring, brave. These are things we face every day, both young and old and it is up to us to teach the younger ones to make good choices.

Snuggle Up, Little Cub by Emily Hartmann

A cute bedtime story that shows different animals, parent and child telling them in a special way how much they love them and they snuggle together for the night.

How Animals Say I Love You by Emily Hartmann

A cute bedtime story where each animal tells their young one how much they love them, and what they will do together, or how they will protect them. The book showcases in rhyme; elephants, giraffes, tigers, hippos, rhinos, lions, zebras, flamingos and koalas.

The Feelings Animals by Emily Hartmann

A cute animal book that talks about emotions, how they make us feel and what we can do to help us with those emotions.

Good Night, Little Farm by Emily Hartmann

A simple and gentle story to read to your youngest at bedtime. The beautifully illustrated pictures along with the simple rhyming of a story well told will definitely lull your little one to sleep. The author has kept it simple using farm animals and their young to prepare them and your child for bedtime. Well done.

Five Wonderful Picture Books From Different Authors

 Trying to read down books on my Kindle. I decided I would start with several of the picture books I have purchased. Sit back and enjoy them.

Source:  I purchased all of these books   Genre:  Children's Picture Books

Tree Full of Wonder by Anna Smithers

I really loved this book. I grew up on a farm and outside my bedroom window was a giant maple tree. I loved the shade it provided, the colors that came in the fall. This book shows the connections we have with trees and all the things we need them for. The pictures are beautiful.  The end of the book has a section with pictures of different types of trees and asks you to find them in the book. Then there is a page that tells what we use trees for.

Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner

This is a wonderful picture books that takes the reader on a journey to a pond. While a mother and her young son row across the top of the pond, the young boy learns about animals and insects that live both above and below the water. The reader learns the connections both have to the other. There is an author’s note at the back that tells more about these systems. There is also a page that tells the reader about four animals listed in the book.

Unspoken: Communicating Beyond Words by Cara Cusack

This book is beautiful in illustrations and in the message it conveys. We read the stories of children who do not speak verbally. Each one of them speak in their own manner, whether it is through music,  dance, artwork. They are able to communicate with the world in such a beautiful manner, showing us that we are all different and we can all communicate given what we have.

Inside the Pencil Box by Avni Saxena

I really loved this story. It is the story of how the pencil got an eraser on its end. ; This author's imagination is wonderful. She created a pencil box that had two kingdoms living in it. One was the kingdom of pencils the other was the kingdom of erasers. Each thought the other was better. It wasn't until they set out to prove it and ruined Emma's homework that they realized they were both wrong.  The solution to the problem was an imaginative genius.  I absolutely loved this book. I would definitely read more by this author.

Overcomers by Joy Ohagwu

What a wonderful book of faith. When Claudia is approached by a man who tells her if she is a woman he will kill her, she takes off running. Running away isn't enough. She prays for God to protect and hide her. She then races to warn everyone she sees. As she nears home she sees her sister running toward danger. Once she catches up to her sister she sees how much faith her younger sister has.  They both pray for the safety of their friends and family members while danger passes them by. This is a wonderful book complete with scripture that  tells us why we should not be afraid.  I will recommend this to everyone I see as well as check out any other books by this author.