The lost Boy

The lost Boy

By Dave Pelzer

Main Characters: Dave Pelzer (the abused boy), his Mother, his three brothers.

Dave is a little boy who is badly abused by his Mother. She sticks him into a bathroom and closes the door with a bucket filed with two cleaning chemicals that create gas; which he calls the gas Camber. He wishes his thoughts away from his abusive life into la-la land or dream world as he calls it.

His father tries to stand up for him, but eventually he quits coming to the house all together. Dave starts to lose hope that he will be rescued and wonders if he will ever leave ‘the house’ and ‘the mother’. Will he ever be rescued from ‘the house’ and ‘the mother’? Will he ever be happy again (before ‘the mother’ turned abusive)? Read and find out!!

I feel sorry for him, but now he has a family; he served in the military and now is happy with his Brothers and family.

PG-13 for abusive violence,

and emotional trauma

Read this!!

posted by Mittens

Bumpy Landings

YA

by Donald J Carey









What a delightful read!

LDS returned missionary Jordan MacDonald has a secret. A secret he refuses to share with his mother, who has life figured out for him. It is one that he has promised his father he'd fulfill no matter the cost.


But when it becomes apparent that he can hide it no longer, life unravels and he is thrust into the cold of resentment.

Should he be true to his mother, or his girlfriend, or himself? This is a story about a young man's struggles to find the answers to his personal riddle of integrity.

 I fell in love with the storyline and understand, with all of my heart, Jordan's struggles. Life as a young person is never easy, especially when everyone is shouting out how you should live it.

I especially love when Jordan starts to realize that his life is his own, and becomes true to the most important person: himself. For, how can he be true to anyone else if not for him?

This story certainly wrenched me from my mundane tasks, and whisked me into the lush green of Hawaii's vista.

Don J Carey is masterful at bringing people, places and things to life. There wasn't a place where it felt unreal. The dialogue was natural, the characters sincere, the dilemmas unfurled with genuine believability! He has a knack with folding time without my noticing.

Hey, Carey, do you have the recipes for pani popo or malasadas on your website? I would sure love to know how to make them!

UPDATE! click here for recipes! (Thanks, Don!)

Donald is a graduate of Kahuku High School where, when he wasn't in the band room, he could be found in the library with his nose in a book.  He was awarded the David O. McKay scholarship to attend BYU--Hawaii, where he met his lovely wife, Kara. His day job involves writing computer programs, which is almost the same as fiction but with a lot more semicolons.


Watch Bumpy Landings' book trailer!

I recommend this book!



Rated G: I have no doubt my 11 year old would love this, too!

Posted by Mittens

The Sisters Grimm: the problem child

By Michael Buckley

Main Characters: Sabrina, Daphne, Puck (fairy boy), Relda, Mirror, Uncle Jake and Mr.Canis.

The parents never came back from work late one stormy night. Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are trying to find their mom and dad with the help of their grandmother, Uncle Jake, and Puck (he likes Sabrina). Sabrina doesn’t like being a Grimm because it means one thing and one thing alone: she always thinks that something bad is going to happen. But Daphne loves it. Sabrina tries her hardest to avoid Puck (he keeps teasing her). While Mr.Canis is struggling to control to big bad wolf (he is the big bad wolf). A Jabberwocky is on the lose with an insane little girl: red ridding hood a.k.a the problem child. The Grimms and Puck look for the vorpal sword to get rid of the monster. Puck faces mortal danger with the gruesome beast.

The thing I really don’t like is when Sabrina gets addicted to keep using Merlin’s wand.

And the awful thing the Jabberwocky did to Puck. The other thing is what Uncle Jake becomes after using too much magic.

I think the story is quit interesting with its plots and its Characters. It really hooks you.

This is my most favorite part of the Book: Puck kisses Sabrina. She didn’t like it though she thought it was nice. Sabrina never ever (even in her worst nightmare) thought her first kiss would be with Puck. It really surprised me when I read that part.

I really recommend you read this!!!

PG for mild violence

posted by Mittens.

I need to apologize to you for falling behind. Our venture in reading hasn't ended, we will post soon!

The Stone Traveler

YA



by Kathi Oram Peterson








Look at this cover. It's gorgeous. A promise of adventure in the South American jungle.

Does it deliver?

Yes, it does.

Sixteen-year-old Tag is tired. Tired of the way things are. The best way to break away is to be how he likes to be. Though he is fair with a spread of many freckles, he loves his hair black. Along with the spiked dog collar.

After a particular unsavory incident at school, his cousin rats him out and now he is facing his consequence: spending the entire summer with old Grandpa who chats with his wife's ghost.

Perfect.


Well, not exactly. He decides to sneak away when everyone's asleep. That's when he stumbles across the stone. Unable to resist the temptation to take it, he is whisked headlong into the past. Far into the past. When scripture heroes (and villains) roamed the southern part of North America.

This was a fun page-turner for me. I empathized with Tag, though he hated everyone and everything. A hidden darkness haunts him and he doesn't realize it until the purpose of his journey into the past unfolds. I feel as if Tag lost a bit of his voice when he sailed into time, but maybe it is because he is surrounded with others who don't speak slang? I cried when Tag finally finds peace in his heart. And forgiveness.

This is a beautiful, heartwarming story. It left me with much to think about.


Kathi Oram Peterson has created a wonderful, rich world that will have you neglecting your homework!

Click on any of the links below to add this wonderful read to your library!

Seagull Book, Deseret Book, or Amazon. Hmmm, choices choices!!!

The trailer gave me chills!











Rated PG for some peril

posted by Polka Dot

Dragon Rider

Middle Grade




by Cornelia Funke

Main Characters: Firedrake (dragon), Ben (boy), Sorrel (a brownie cat), Twigleg (a mini person), Crows, and Nettlebrand (a golden Dragon)

This story is about dragons who are trying to find a new home away from people that are ruining the forest they live in. The Rim of Heaven is rumored to be a haven for all dragon kind. Firedrake goes in search along with Sorrel for this well-protected home. Firedrake hides in an old abandoned warehouse from people as he is traveling. A young boy goes in there to hide from Bullies, but they follow him in. Firedrake growls at the Bullies to scare them off. The young boy, Ben, helps Firedrake find the home he is looking for. Sorrel disagrees with this. (Sorrel disagrees with everything).

Nettlebrand, the evil golden dragon, is in search for Firedrake and The Rim of Heaven. He wants to eat Firedrake along with Firedrake’s dragon friends. Ben finds Twigleg, Nettlebrand’s spy and slave who is very friendly. He doesn’t know who Twigleg’s identity is.

The most exciding part of the book is when Nettlebrand tries to eat a cactus and the battle scene.

I really don’t like Nettlebrand because of how evil he is. I don’t like the crows because they are spies for Nettlebrand.

I think this story is interesting in its own way. There’s a sweet romance with Firedrake and Ben finds him a girl as well. I like Sorrel because she is grumpy and her cute habits (she eats Mushrooms!) Read the book and find out the simple ingredient to Nettlebrand’s downfall.

I recommend this book!

Rated G: a safe and exciting read!

posted by Mittens

An Angel on Main Street

by Kathi Oram Peterson



general fiction







My first impression when I first picked up this book was: Is this an inspirational story about a mysterious person doing random acts of kindness?

So I snuggled into bed and turned to the first page and read.

All at once, I was whisked into a boy's world where he struggled with previous life's choices and made the commitment to walk brighter pathways. Suddenly, he is faced with many trials that could possibly lead him into relapses while others believe he has lost his way. It wasn't until I was five pages into the story that I realized that I did not know his name! As soon as that thought hit me, I put the book down, surprised.

Yes, Kathi is that good a writer. I felt as if I knew Micah Conners already without the introduction of his name. I was already drawn into the story, the characters, the setting, the theme. I was hooked.

As I read, I hoped that Micah would make good choices so as to avoid the heartache of consequences that follow from poor decisions. I cheered him when he had the strength to walk away from potentially precarious situations. I wept with him when his heart broke from lost hope. My heart warmed for him when he finally found faith and peace in his shambled world.

I am rather impressed with Kathi's gift of slipping into Micah's head and making him come alive. His emotions and thoughts and feelings remained true and so believable it had me laughing in certain parts and crying in others.

Just as in real life, the closer Micah drew to his goal, the more tangled life became. With the stout heart of a warrior, he fought for his beliefs and grew stronger from them though he felt lost and alone and afraid.

This story is so wrought with faith, courage, and strength, that I am making it a part of my family's Christmas celebration this year.

So, where does the angel part come into play you ask? Find out for yourself and add this wonderful story to your family Christmas tradition!




Rated G for warm Christmas fun.

post by Polka Dot