What about Cimmaron?

What About Cimmaron? by Lauraine Snelling

Children’s Fiction, Published 2008

Read May 2012, 96 pp.

2/5 Stars

Book Blurb:

Sarah loves living in the pristine Toutle Valley with her parents, her sister Kathy, and her horse, Cimmaron. They are all used to occasional tremors from nearby Mount St. Helens. But when the volcano erupts, Sarah’s family is forced to evacuate, leaving behind their house, their chickens, their cows and Cimmaron.

As Sarah hears the news of hot ash and mud flows covering her valley, she wonders why God would let such a terrible thing happen. Since He doesn’t seem to be answering her prayers, Sarah decides to solve the problem herself. Somehow she will get back into Toutle Valley to save Cimmaron.

Thoughts:

The 1980 explosion of Mt. St. Helens happened 22 years ago.  Sarah and her family live in the Toutle Valley when the volcano explodes.  Like most large natural disasters, Sarah’s family never thought their mountain would really explode.

While I really loved the premise behind this story, it was hard to love Sarah’s character.  While she is understandably worried about her beloved horse Cimmaron, she displays no respect for the people’s lives she puts in danger when she goes out to search for him.  Sarah has many doubts about God’s love and it takes her until the end of the story to really grasp the feelings of everyone else around her.

I think it could be used as a learning tool in several ways, but I just didn’t enjoy the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and BJU Press/JourneyForth for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: The Humming Room – inspired by The Secret Garden

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

Children’s Fiction, Published February 28, 2012

Read: Feb 2012, 192 pp.

Challenges: 2012 NetGalley Reading Challenge

5/5  ❤❤❤❤❤

Book Blurb:

A novel inspired by The Secret Garden–classic!

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw’s special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment’s notice. When her parents are murdered, it’s her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn’t believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle’s assistants, Roo discovers the house’s hidden room–a garden with a tragic secret.

Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write.

Thoughts:

I loved it! The book really stays true to the original Secret Garden, yet adds a new spin to the story.  Roo is a very independent character, much like Mary Lennox, and she definitely makes this story stick out from the original.  After she is orphaned and sent to her new home on an island that was once the place where tuberculosis patients were sent, she is often left alone to her own devices.  She is very good at hiding and listening to the tiniest of sounds.  She is immediately interested in going outside to explore – she even catches sight of the island’s notorious wraith. Many of the islanders were great additions to the story.  When Roo is left alone in her room, she often hears humming, and soon goes to investigate its source.  While her uncle’s home looks huge on the outside, it does not seem so large on the inside and she soon starts noticing little things that help her solve the mysteries of the old sanitarium.

I loved how the story was set up.  I kept wondering when Roo would discover the “garden” and wish Roo could have spent more time there.  However, there were a few number of mysteries throughout the book that will leave you hanging until the very end!  Young and old readers alike will enjoy this story!

Highly recommended!

Quotes:

She can slip through the narrowest gaps like a ferret.  Like all good thieves, she understands space.

Squinting through the curtain of rain, she watched the shadowy form on the roof.  Suddenly, the wind changed directions, as though someone had summoned it.

The silence in the house had a sound of its own.  Thick, pulsing.  Waiting.  She listened hard for the humming, but it never came.

If there were ghosts in this house, she thought, this is where they would live.

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: Magyk

Magyk by Angie Sage

Septimus Heap Series #1

YA Fiction/Adventure/Fantasy, Published 2005

Challenges: YA, Series IV

Read: Oct 2010, 560 pp.

Shelf Life: 2.5 years – Purchased: 3-19-08

Verdict: 5/5

Book Blurb:

Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, disappears the night he is born, pronounced dead by the midwife.  That same night, the baby’s father, Silas Heap, comes across an abandoned child in the snow – a newborn girl with violet eyes.  The Heaps take her into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own.  But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?

My Thoughts:

Once again I have found a gem of a book hidden in my stash!  Thanks to Angie on yafictionfreaks on youtube for her awesome reviews of the first four books of the series, which made me go grab my copies out of the stash.   I have recently discovered a lot of YA book reviews on Youtube…dangerous stuff! ;D

I really enjoyed Magyk.  It’s the first in the series and sets up a new fantastical “magykal” world.   There are wizards, witches, ghosts, swamps and boggarts, Message Rats, and lots of magic.  In this book, Jenna finds out that her family isn’t exactly who she thought they were and they must set off on an adventure with the castle’s ExtraOrdinary wizard to flee from the evil ex-ExtraOrdinary wizard who comes and takes over the castle.  There is also a mystery surrounding Boy 412, a member of the Young Army who essentially unwillingly gets entangled with joining Jenna and her group.  Half of her family has flown to the forests with the Wendron Witches and Jenna and the other part of her family have set off by boat down the river in search of the Marram Marshes to hide at their Aunt Zelda’s cottage.  I read this one during the 24 hour read-a-thon and could not put it down.  I loved the adventure with all the twists and turns and learning more about the world they live in.  I can’t wait to see what happens next in Flyte.

This books is appropriate for younger readers, around age 8 or so.  The main kids involved in the story are 10 years old in this book.  It was an easy read, but I didn’t feel that the author “dumbed” down the language at all, which is hard for me to get through and enjoy as an older reader and I don’t think it’s really necessary for younger readers either.  I really loved the chapter names and of course, the included map of Septimus Heap’s world.

Readalikes: Harry Potter series (the early years) by J.K. Rowling, Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini

♥ emme

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from the shelves of mel: The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #1

Children’s Fiction, Published 2005

Read April 2010

3.5/5

Back Cover:

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school…again.  And that’s the least of his troubles.  Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy’s Greek mythology textbook and into his life.  And worse, he’s angered a few of them.  Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus’s stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus.  But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Short Review:

I liked it pretty well, much better than Inkheart, but not “oh my gosh this is so awesome.”  An enjoyable story and I’m not mad at myself for buying #2 and #3, yet.  The target audience for this book is age 9 and I would hesitantly recommend this for those who enjoy mythical fantasy.  I know I would not have been allowed to read this due to its content of gods, demigods, and the underworld at that age group, however there are many raving reviews.  Looking forward to seeing the movie!

Thanks Mel!

Other things for parents to consider:

• Greek Mythology – find and identify references made in the book
• Environmental Issues – effects of urban sprawl
• Learning Disabilities – ADHD and dyslexia
• Violence – fantasy violence (swordplay, monsters), marital abuse
• Sexual Situations – Gods have affairs with mortal women and men, creating “half-blood” children or demigods

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Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Children’s Fiction, Published 1961

J. Kaye’s Book Blog – 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge #2

Read Oct 2009

5/5

Recommended for anyone who loves dogs.

From the cover:

A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country.  Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains – and Billy had the will to train them to be the finest hunting team in the valley.  Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too.  And close by was the strange and wonderful power that’s only found…Where the Red Fern Grows.  An exciting tale of love and adventure you’ll never forget.

Review:

My Mom told me that my Grandmother said if you wanted to know about her childhood, read this book…so I did…  My Grandmother grew up in the early 1920s in the Ozarks of Arkansas. She said Billy reminded her of her brothers. I really loved this book and it reminds me a lot of Old Yeller and The Incredible Journey. Billy’s family cannot afford to buy him what his 10-year-old heart desires, two red hounds.  So remembering his father told him to work for what he wanted, he sets out and works hard for 2 years to buy his own red hounds.  Little did Billy know these two dogs would forever change him.

Quotes:

It’s strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man’s mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you’ve seen, or something you’ve heard, or the sight of an old familiar face. -Ch 1

Lying back in the soft hay, I folded my hands behind my head, closed my eyes, and let my mind wander back over the two long years. I thought of the fishermen, the blackberry patches, and the huckleberry hills. I thought of the prayer I had said when I asked God to help me get two hound pups. I knew He had surely helped, for He had given me the heart, courage, and determination. -Ch 3

Although they couldn’t talk in my terms, they had a language of their own that was easy to understand. Sometimes I would see the answer in their eyes, and again it would be in the friendly wagging of their tails. Other times I could hear the answer in a low whine or feel it in the soft caress of a warm flicking tongue. In some way, they would always answer. -Ch 7

Regardless of all the discouraging talk, the love and belief I had in my little red hounds never faltered. I could see them now and then, leaping over old logs, tearing through the underbrush, sniffing and searching for the lost trail.My heart swelled with pride. I whooped, urging them on. -Ch 16

I’m sure the red fern has grown and has completely covered the two little mounds. I know it is still there, hiding its secret beneath those long, red leaves, but it wouldn’t be hidden from me for part of my life is buried there too. Yes, I know it is still there, for in my heart I believe the legend of the sacred red fern. -Ch 20

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Review

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Children’s Fiction, Published 2007

2008 Caldecott Medal Finalist

J. Kaye’s Book Blog – 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge #1

Read Sept 2009

5/5

From the Cover:

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Review:

Hugo, a 12 year old boy lives within the walls of a Paris train station in the early 1930s.  Hugo’s father died when he was small and all he has left of his father is a notebook of drawings and a broken automaton.  Hugo has been left in the care of his Uncle, who is the train station’s clock keeper, but Hugo’s uncle is a drunk and comes up missing, leaving Hugo to care for all the clocks in the station alone.  Meanwhile, Hugo works on his father’s automaton which he has to steals parts from a toy booth in the train station to repair it.  He soon becomes entangled with the toy booth keeper and his goddaughter. Hugo is determined to get his father’s automaton working and find out what the toy maker is so interested in his father’s notebook and what he has to do with it all.

While this book at first glance looks a little menacing, I was quickly swept away with the beautiful illustrations.  It is part children’s adventure novel and part graphic novel.  But the pictures don’t just illustrate the words, they help tell the story.  Hugo races around the train station trying to keep all the clocks in working order so his Uncle’s disappearance will go unnoticed as long as possible as well as repair his father’s automaton.  In the midst of high adventure, the story leaves off and picks up with 20 pages or more of illustrations telling Hugo’s story and then picks right back up with the words.  It’s a great bedtime story for children of all ages.

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Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables Series #5

Fiction, Originally Published 1917

E-Book from MobileRead

Read Aug.-Sept. 2008

4/5

From the Cover:

Anne’s own true love, Gilbert Blythe, is finally a doctor, and in the sunshine of the old orchard, among their dearest friends, they are about to speak their vows.  Soon the happy couple will be bound for a new life together and their own dream house, on the misty purple shores of Four Winds Harbor.

A new life means fresh problems to solve, fresh surprises.  Anne and Gilbert will make new friends and meet their neighbors: Captain Jim, the lighthouse attendant, with his sad stories of the sea; Miss Cornelia Bryant, the lady who speaks from the heart – and speaks her mind; and the tragically beautiful Leslie Moore, into whose dark life Anne shines a brilliant light.

Review:

The fifth in the Anne series finally gets around to Anne and Gilbert’s wedding and them moving off on their own for the first time. There are no crazy Anne episodes in this book as much of House of Dreams focuses on the neighbors of Anne and Gilbert, namely the lighthouse keeper, Captain Jim, their immediate neighbor, Leslie Moore, and the town gossip, Miss Cornelia.  Captain Jim really is the heart of this story as many of the beloved characters from Avonlea are not talked about much in this book.  Captain Jim is an old man who has lived in the lighthouse in Four Winds for many years and knows everything about everyone.  He also loves to tell about his adventures from when he was younger.  Then there’s Leslie, who Anne finally meets and is unsure as to why Leslie dislikes her.  Anne later discovers that Leslie has had a pretty sad life and it is up to Anne to lighten her load and bring her a little Anne-happiness.

I am a somewhat late Anne reader, as I only read the Emily books as a child.  But L.M. Montgomery has quickly become one of my favorite authors over the last few years.  So far my favorite in the Anne series is the third book, Anne of the Island , but I still really enjoyed Anne’s story as a young bride and finding about her new neighbors in Four Winds.  What’s your favorite Anne or L.M. Montgomery story? To find out more about L.M. Montgomery, check out this page.

Quotes:

The garret was a shadowy, suggestive, delightful place, as all garrets should be.  Through the open window, by which Anne sat, blew the sweet, scented, sunwarm air of the August afternoon; outside, poplar boughs rustled and tossed in the wind; beyond them were the woods, where Lovers Lane wound its enchanted path, and the old apple orchard which still bore its rosy harvests munificently. (CH 1)

That September was a month of golden mists and purple hazes at Four Winds Harbor – a month of sun-steeped days and of nights that were swimming in moonlight, or pulsating with stars.  No storm marred it, no rough wind blew.  (CH 8 )

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Children’s Book Week May 12-18

So I just saw on Amazon, which I really peruse more than I should, that this week is Children’s Book Week. Even though it’s already Wednesday, I’ve decided to put my other books aside and read a few children’s books that I have on my shelves.

To find out more about it, go to http://www.bookweekonline.com, but the main premise is for kids and adults to find a book and enjoy!

Here are a few from my shelves that I plan on reading through the rest of this week…

The Twits by Roald Dahl

The BFG by Roald Dahl

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

and possibly finishing Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

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