The Wishing Pearl by: Nicole O'Dell

Sixteen year-old Olivia Mansfield dreams of a land far, far away...

A land far away from her stepfather's abuse and torment.

A land far away from her mother's blind eye.

A land far away from the haunting memories of her past.

No one can be perfect, but it does seem like Olivia's parents could both do some things better. When Olivia's dad was alive, everything was different. Her mom would never have needed a spa day. Or had the money for it.

But he's gone. Forever. And with change, people change. Olivia's mother included. There's no way to talk to her, no way to have a glimpse of the mother she once knew.

In a confused state, Olivia makes some poor choices and finds herself in the middle of her best friend's unexpected death, leaving her at a crossroads.

She can choose to get help, or she can let life work itself out. Will the demons from her past prevent her from having a happy future? Or will she go down the right path, towards eternal hope and healing?

Watch the trailer for The Wishing Pearl...



My thoughts:

The Wishing Pearl is seriously amazing! I could not put it down. Everything in it is so nicely done. The cover art is gorgeous. I sat there staring at it for probably fifteen minutes before I actually opened the book.

One thing I did not like, however, was the little Kira-being-pregnant-thing. The romance between Olivia and Justin is innocent and cute, but Kira's pregnancy kind of spoiled the book for me. I know a lot of people would probably laugh at me for that, but it does matter. It was kind of necessary to the book, but it still bothered me.


Objectionable Content:

Language: I don't remember any...
Romance/Sexual Content: Kira is pregnant before she comes to Diamond Estates. She tries to make everyone believe Justin is the father.
Justin tells Olivia he loves her.
Violence: Olivia is in a car crash.
Drugs/Alcohol Content: Lots of drinking. One girl sneaks in some marijuana. Another girl is trying to lose weight, so she eats speed, which I have read a lot on, and it's really not good.

I reviewed this book for

Team Novel Teen.

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction. Check out other posts about The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell by clicking on the links below , and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

 My Life with a Mission • ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • The Librarian's Bookshelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • Virtuous Girlhood

Want to buy the book??? Click HERE.

You can also check out Nicole O'Dell's website, HERE.

Replication: The Jason Experiment by: Jill Williamson (win a copy for FREE!)

Martyr - J:3:3 - is only one insignificant clone out of hundreds kept in a facility - or prison! - called Jason Farms. He is content as he is, helping the brokens and learning new things, because he is told he has a purpose... to save humanity.

But Martyr has a natural curiosity to see outside the facility he is kept in. He knows he will "expire" soon... and his one last wish it to see the sky.

Abby Goyer weighs the pros and cons of living in Alaska and so far it would seem that the bad outweighs the good. Her dad may be caught up in something illegal, a guy in school just won't leave her alone, and then, if that isn't bad enough, she finds a clone in her bedroom!

Martyr must decide if living with Abby is worth giving up his purpose, which is starting to look like one big lie.

My thoughts:

I am a huge fan of Jill Williamson, and so I awaited this book in the mail with much anticipation. It didn't leave me wanting. The concept is amazing. I love scientific stories. The characters are unique. I love Abby because she is spunky and Martyr because he is so sweet and curious.

I was a little disappointed, however, as I felt some of the romance-y things puts in here were not necessary. I felt the book would have been a much better read without them.

Objectionable Content:

Language: None
Romance/Sexual Content: Three kisses. A guy in Abby's school takes an unhealthy romantic interest in her and in one sentence it specifies his eyes "wandering where they shouldn't be wandering." Talk of marriage.
Violence: Some fighting, not in detail. Some of the clones have needles inserted into them.
Drugs/Alcohol Content: None.

Some extras:

Visit the book's website.

Find out what your expiration date is.

Watch Martyr's book trailer.

Watch Abby's book trailer.

I reviewed this book for:

Team Novel Teen.

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction.

Check out other posts about Replication: The Jason Experiment by: Jill Williamson by clicking on the links below, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.

Read other people's thoughts on Replication.

ADD Librarian • Audacious Reader • The Book Fae • Books I Recommend • Book Nook 4 You • Bookworm Reading • Christian Bookshelf Reviews • Fiction Fire • Gillian Adams • Jill Williamson • Katie McCurdy • Kurly Katie's Ruminations • My Story Shelf • The Pen and Parchment • Rachelle Rea • SLY Games • Terri Harr

The giveaway:

The part you've all been waiting for, eh? :)

So. Jill Williamson has offered to give one commenter a hot-off-the-press copy of Replication: The Jason Experiment. For FREE! Due to the realities of shipping, this will only be open to the people of USA. Sorry, Canadians. I feel your pain (I'm one of you! :).

How to enter:

1). Leave a comment on this blog post either asking Jill Williamson a question or telling her how awesome this book sounds (leave your email address on the comment!).
2). Blog about the giveaway (and leave me a link!).
3). Facebook about the giveaway (tell me if you do so).

Be sure to leave your email address!!!

Giveaway ends February sixth at midnight. I'll try to post the winner as soon as possible! :)

The Crimson Banner by: Jennifer Sauer (and an author interview!)

First off, I thought I should say, the author of this book is an amazing girl and I am proud to call her my "adopted sister."

So. That's taken care of.

Now, this is her book. The Crimson Banner.

Lady Melinda Llewllyn thought she was just escaping her betrothed - Lord Pemberton - when she boarded the Cosette. She did not realize that she was fulfilling her destiny.

Captain Jack Breen knew there was something special about Melinda the moment he saw her. He did not realize just how much he would come to love her.

Selena wants to marry the man who will one day take over the throne, she never realized how hard she would have to work for true love.

Felicia "Toby" Pemberton is sister to a hated man. Will anyone ever come to trust her?

This group of unlikely friends come together along with several others to put the right man on the throne.

But at what costs?

My thoughts:

This is a very sweet book and was WAY too short. I wanted more!!

It is amazing how Jennifer has used this book to glorify our Creator. She incorporates scripture with expertise and I look forward to seeing what the Lord has planned for her in the future.

The Crimson Banner has got a mix or mystery, romance, and suspense. The characters are realistic, too. Each person has their own role to play, no matter how big or small.

Objectional Content...
Language:  None.
Romance/Sexual Content: Marriage, one or two kisses.
Violence: None that I remember.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.

An interview with the author, Jennifer Sauer!

When did you first start writing?
I’ve been telling tales ever since I could talk and before that I probably told them to myself. When I was about nine or ten, I realized that writers actually got paid to write and that I could make a career out of it. Then, I was probably thirteen when I started taking my writing seriously and trying to improve it.

That's very neat, Jennifer! Did you take any classes?
I took several classes for school but the one that most influenced my writing was the One Year Adventure Novel. Even though I didn’t agree with everything to curriculum said, it challenged me to strengthen my writing and to make it much more realistic. It emphasized on the importance of the story rather than structure so, there was a lot of things that I had never thought about and I hadn’t learned in other classes.

But, mostly, what strengthened my writing the most was me just simply writing. For, the only thing that can truly make a writer a writer is that they write.

The One Year Adventure Novel curriculum is excellent. I've been using it myself. So, who or what most inspired your writing?
First of all, what most inspires my writing is the burning passion within me to write words and create stories. It’s a God-given desire to tell tales and I love the feeling of joy and satisfaction that the simple putting together of words to form sentences gives me.

As for who inspires my writing, I would say it’s all the authors who wrote so beautifully and- in my opinion- used their talents to write junk. I’ve read too many books that had great storylines but were filled with inappropriate content. So, I was inspired to write the books I couldn’t find- ones with good storylines and nothing objectionable content-wise.



That's awesome! That desire certainly took you a long way. What was your first reaction when you found out you were going to be published?
I literally jumped up and down and screamed with excitement!!

Haha, I'm sure. :) Do you have any hobbies aside from writing?
Besides reading and writing, my hobbies (or, my passions, as I call them) are sewing and baking.

You've told me about your sewing projects before; They sound awesome! And are you working on any novels right now?
A few months ago, I finished writing my second novel, a western called The Sheriff of Colsen Creek. Now, I’m working on a science fiction called The Colony about a group of people who live in a Colony under Governmental control and the sequel to The Crimson Banner, called Walls of Refuge, furthering the adventures of Tom Rogers and Toby Pemberton.

Well, that's very exciting. I would love a sequel to The Crimson Banner!  Thanks for doing this Jennifer! And you all be sure to check out her book!!

The Merchant's Daughter by: Melanie Dickerson

Click HERE to read my review on The Healer's Apprentice, also by Melanie Dickerson.

 Click HERE to read my author interview with Melanie Dickerson.

Check out Melanie Dickerson's website, HERE.

While Annabel is hard at work in the fields, her family slacks at home, unwilling to do their share of the work and dirty their white hands.

Of course, laziness like this cannot go unnoticed forever.

Annabel's family is faced with two choices. The disgusting and perhaps sometimes cruel Bailiff Tom wants to wed Annabel. She, however, will do everything in her power not to marry him. Unfortunately, he has promised to pay the fine that her family has been charged with because of their lack of work. The one thing he asks in exchange? engagement to dear Annabel.

She, of course, is completely against this proposition. Her sissy of a brother Edward, though, encourages it. And, while her mother does not insist on the matter, Annabel knows that she yearns for Bailiff Tom and her union. Her other sibling, Durand, claims that he is afflicted with too great a sickness to over exert himself. Thus, Annabel has no supporters. She knows that her father, had he been alive, would have sided with her all the way.

The only other option would be to send Annabel to work for Lord Ranulf while the rest of her family pays off their debt in the field.

Since her family wants to make her marry the disgusting Bailiff Tom, Annabel decides to leave them and offer herself to Lord Ranulf.

She is hired on as a field worker, but soon moved into the kitchens. Then when a fire occurs she is given the occupation of caring for Lord Ranulf, because she has some of knowledge of how to cure burns. Her lord is not as bad as she had first thought he might be. His hand is maimed, his face scarred, and his life a wreck. But somewhere in there he has a good heart.

Soon she is confronted with a problem. She is attacked by a man and when her friend rushes in to save her, they injure him seriously.  Despite the fact that he was injured in a case of self-defense, problems quickly come of this, leaving Annabel and Lord Ranulf's futures at stake.

My thoughts:

This book is amazing! It is such a sweet, fairytale romance.

I love Annabel's kind heart. I love how rough around the edges Lord Ranulf is. I love how Annabel's dream is so simple - to be able to hold and read a Bible without the priest telling her what to believe.

This story is based loosely on the classic fairytale, The Beauty and the Beast.

I love a good medieval romance, and this certainly is that! The honesty and love in these pages is truly amazing. I recommend this book for anyone and everyone (girls especially :) ages twelve and up.

Objectional Content:

Language: None.

Romance/Sexual Content: Kissing, forced marriages. Bailiff Tom tries to get Annabel to kiss him and teases her.

Violence: Fighting. Fires. People getting seriously hurt.

Drugs/Alcohol Content: None as far as I remember.

I reviewed this book for:

Team Novel Teen.

Team Novel Teen is a group of bloggers dedicated to spreading the word about clean teen fiction.

Check out other posts about The Merchant's Daughter by: Melanie Dickerson by clicking on the links below, and check out www.NovelTeen.com for more information about Team Novel Teen.


The Librarian’s Bookshelf • Rachelle Rea • ADD Librarian • The Book Fae • My Life with a Mission • Katie McCurdy • Terri Harr • Book Nook 4 You • My Story Shelf • Sugar Peach • Jill Williamson

If you would be interested in buying this book, click HERE.

Dragon Slippers by: Jessica Day George

She wanted dragon gold. She got a pair of shoes.

The shoes could save her kingdom ... or destroy it.

Creel's parents are dead, leaving her and her young brother, Hagen, to the mercy of their aunt and uncle. These relatives were by no means cruel, what they did was not intentionally unkind, but that does not change what they did.

Creel was sacrificed to a dragon, in the hopes that a wealthy prince would be fooled into rescuing her. Then she and the unfortunate man would have to marry.

Not that Creel was hard on the eyes. But what prince in his right mind would want to marry a poor girl with freckles?

Creel decides to not wait for a knight to rescue her. She strikes out on her own. But not before making a bargain with her captor. Dragons love to collect things - this particular dragon loves shoes. He allows her to choose one pair. Creel, of course, chooses the wrong ones. A lovely pair of blue slippers, and, surprisingly, the only pair in the dragon's overwhelmingly large collection that fit her feet.

Creel, having now escaped the dragon's cave, is on the road to the king's city, where she hopes to make her fortune. Along the way she meets another dragon, Shardas. She stays with him and his stained-glass-window collection for several months - during that time she spends her days talking, embroidering, and meeting a new dragon, one with a dog collection.

When the time comes to leave, Creel and Shardas part ways as good friends, and Shardas instructs her to just call his name and he will always come. And then, after telling her how to find the king's city, he is gone.

Creel finds work as a seamstress, though not before making enemies with the royal prince's bride-to-be.

She is about to find out that these slippers are more than beautiful ... they control dragon's minds!

My thoughts:

I. Love. This. Book. It's AWESOME! You have to, er, get into it a bit, but once you do ... wow.

The cover is soooo cute! Love it.

There's this guy, a prince named Luka, who is sooo sweet! He's probably my favourite character ... next to Creel, of course.

Dragon Slippers is clever, well-thought out, and fun!

Objectional Content:

Language: None.

Romance/Sexual Content: A quick kiss between Creel and Luka (I don't mention him in the review above). Some boys want to hurt Creel and tease her - flattering and flirting with her.

Violence: Perhaps some fighting, nothing in particular.

Drugs/Alcohol: None.

12 and up.

9/10 stars.

Beyond the Reflection's Edge by: Bryan Davis

Enter a fantastical world where even the mirrors tell lies.

Nathan Shepherd - a sixteen year old violinist - enjoys the life he has with his investigative father and musician mother.

Until that day.

It was all set up perfectly. His mother and he were going to do a violin duet on stage together. The song began. They harmonized together beautifully. Then began Nathan's solo. As he stroked the first notes, his mother whispered these words to him.

"It is time for a very long solo, my love. Play it with all your heart. I will join you again when the composer commands me."

When his solo ended, he opened his eyes, awaiting his mother's notes. She was gone.

Minutes later, he finds both his parents murdered. His father with a bullet hole in his chest, his mother with a slit in her lovely white throat.

Nathan is sent to a safe house, where Tony, the verbally clumsy father of his teenage daughter, Kelly, abides.

Left with a mirror and a note from his parents, Nathan struggles to get over their death. Then the mirror begins to reflect scenes and images that have never happened - almost like it has a mind of its own!

And, somehow, music seems to activate it.

Nathan finds a chest that can't be opened unless his reflection is the one doing it. The world is suddenly confusing and troubled. Especially when he finds out that he can cross dimensions and meets his mother as a young girl!

What he once thought was non-existent is suddenly his job to save. A man of magic tries to defeat Nathan as he learns the secrets to crossing dimensions and discovers new earths.

Kelly and Nathan must join together to battle against the evil force trying to melt all dimensions together.

My thoughts:

Wowzers! This book is good!

Maybe I'm a little biased because I LOVE the violin. And since I play it, I can relate to everything written in this book.

I had to start the book twice before I could get in to it, especially because the middle is a bit confusing. But it really is quite good!

Kelly is quite the girl. I love how she is so hard, and yet so soft, too.

And this sentence?

"It is time for a very long solo, my love. Play it with all your heart. I will join you again when the composer commands me."

It is so beautiful!

Objectional Content:

Language: None.

Romance/Sexual Content: Hinting at Kelly having a dark past. Hint at Nathan and Kelly having a crush on one another.

Violence: People getting their eyes sucked out by a bad guy who uses magic. Fighting. Injuries.

Drugs/Alcohol Content: None.

8/10 stars
12 and up.

Fable Weaver by: Carlie Gernhart

Linnet Fairweather's words have power. Literally.

She is a fable weaver. A fable weaver can spin a pretty tall tale ... and than make it come true!  

Gifts like these must be guarded. This is why she has guardian changelings to watch over her. There is Izar, the most mature and wise of the group. And then we have Sekker. The crazy one who wears his hair in a ponytail and has a hidden past. And last, but certainly not least, Arkose. The clown who loves video games and snicker doodle cookies.

But then everything goes wrong. The fable weavers plan a meeting ... and only Linnet shows up! Fara, head of the changelings, informs her that they've all disappeared.

Linnet is the last of the fable weavers. It is up to her to save them - if they are still alive.

However, plans must change when fiction's worst villain escapes from the prisons of Tierra Fabula - the place where characters go once their stories are over - and begins to make trouble in the real world! The barrier between true life and the story world is weakening.

Linnet and her friends know the truth - that there is only one way to beat this vile villain. They must get the help of Merlin ... a wizard who has long since been imprisoned.

No one knows where Merlin is or how far his powers can stretch, but if they want to mend the barrier between imagination and reality, they know that this is the only way.

Fable weavers aren't often at a loss for words ... but it's going to be hard to find the right ones to battle the most feared character ever to be used in fiction and mend the damage done before it is beyond repairs!

My thoughts:

This book is AWESOME! I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first saw it for sale - okay, I immediately decided I didn't like it - but when I found out a friend of mine owned it, I couldn't resist asking to borrow it and get a taste of what it was like.

WOW, I'm glad I did. The writing is amazing, the plot is EPIC, and the humor is actually funny. :) Books don't make me laugh very often - out loud or not.

I love this concept. There's a place where characters go when their novel is finished, and they roam around our world freely during the day, then return to their home (Tierra Fabula) at night. Unless, of course, they're villains and are in prison.

I don't believe it's a Christian book. Come to think on it, it can't be. Not with wizards around.

Objectional Content:

Language: I believe the word "bloody" is used.

Romance/Sexual Content: None that I recall.

Violence: Fighting, magic used to harm people.

Drugs/Alcohol: None.

12 and up

9/10 stars

Pharaoh's Daughter by: Julius Lester

I saved my brother from the soldiers,
but the princess says he is hers now.
Abba and Ima will never trust me again.

Almah never imagined when her mother ordered her to go and take a watch for soldiers that she would meet the Pharaoh's daughter. She never would have believed that the Pharaoh's daughter would take in her little brother, Moses.

And she most certainly never thought that she and her mother would be asked to come and stay in Pharaoh's palace for a period of time.

As much as Almah's family does not wish to stay in the palace, they decide to accept anyway, because the Pharaoh's daughter has taken their son, and they want to be near him as long as possible.

Almah is there through the stress of Pharaoh's beloved wife passing on, and is his chief comfort as she has many similarities with his deceased spouse.

But when Almah is given the choice to either stay on in the palace or return to her home, there is no way for this situation to work out in a positive way. If she stays in the palace, where she finally feels alive, she will be dead to her family. And if she goes home, she will lose her quality of life and the love of the Pharaoh and his family.

The Pharaoh has feelings towards Almah, something most girls can only dream of, but will she except them?

Moses lives in the palace, raised by the Pharaoh's daughter. It was this woman, his adopted mother, that saved his life.

He is a happy boy, for his sister Almah is by his side at all times, ready to do anything for him, and he lives a life of luxury.


But the people of the palace do not trust him. The reason is clear: they could change his title, his family, and his beliefs, but they could not change who he really was. They are Khemetian. He is Habiru.

Because of this, Moses does not feel completely at ease. His identity is changed against his wishes, and he longs to uncover his true self. When he does, this time the answer to his problems is not something Almah can help him with. He must do it alone.

My thoughts:
This is the story of Moses, as you may have already guessed. But half is told from Moses' point of view, half from Almah's.
You have probably already read, or at least heard, the story of Moses. But I still highly reccomend this book! It puts the story into an entirely new light.

I have a feeling that if we're trying to be historically correct, Pharaoh did not fall in love with Moses' sister, but it does definitely add some colour.

I have certainly read worse books, but I have also read better. This is a thought-provoking read and I can almost guarantee you won't be sorry you read it. (I can't say the same to you boys out there, though. :)

Objectional Content:

Language: None that I remember.

Romance/Sexual Conent: Someone is in love with Pharaoh's daughter.

The Pharaoh loves Almah and wishes to marry her.

With Almah's job as priestess, she must dance naked. The description is not too vivid, but enough....

Violence: Moses kills someone. He is asked to whip someone, but he whips the man who asked him to instead.
Drugs/Alcohol: None that I remember.

Oryus by: Craig Gordon

A dream. A quest. A destiny.

Duncan's life has been one of secrets. He and his father, mother and brother have lived a sheltered life in Laynarra - the one city in Corandor that is untouched by the evils of the world. 

They do not associate with their neighbors, Duncan is not allowed to leave the town, and his father will tell him nothing. If it weren't for his mother, Duncan would probably not even be allowed to marry the woman he loves, a girl named Rhyelle.

But then everything changes.

Duncan has an encounter with Mahaylik - a man who calls himself a messenger for the Creator.

Mahaylik gives him instructions to go to Ruxallium.

It is a very puzzled Duncan that later confronts his father and tells him of the meeting.

Mahaylik told Duncan to ask his father one thing.

"Ask him if he knows how Toric fares."

And these simple words have more power than Duncan could ever imagine. His father, upon hearing them, tells Duncan to ignore the request and never even look at Mahaylik again.

But Mahaylik caused a stirring in Duncan's restrained heart.

His father would tell him nothing of the past, and refused to let him have much of a future.

Duncan has always questioned his secluded life, and now the chance has come for him to live life as it was meant to be.

But how can he leave his family and bride-to-be?

"Trust your heart, Duncan, not your head."

Despite everything, Duncan leaves his home for the first time in his life.

His eyes are opened to new things. Suffering ... and truth ... good ... and bad ...

His father always told him to trust no one ... but could his father only be saying these things to hide Duncan from his past?

On his quest, Duncan will meet Zaig the giant ... 

"Get your hands away from my neck or I'll snap you in two!"

... irresistible Fyfe, the Midni, who is constantly on end with Zaig ...

"Well done, Zaig! I did not know you could count that high!"

... Visuriun the sorcerer ...

"The only reason you are still alive is because I believe you may serve a purpose for me."

 ... and Blaithe son of Kohr - a worker for Mahaylik ...

Duncan discovers his entire family was killed during his absence ... and their blood is on his hands ... except his father and bride ... they are still alive ... and he finds himself on a mission to rescue them ...

... and then his calling is revealed ...

My thoughts:

This book is amazing!

To start with, the characters are all very likeable, the book is incredibly well-written, and the plot is unique.

We can all relate to Duncan. He is annoyed that his father keeps his past a secret from him, and he decides to go uncover his destiny. And, though at the time he doesn't know it, the Ceator is calling him to even higher purposes.

You will also love Duncan's bride-to-be, Rhyelle. She is so sweet!

I should probably warn any younger readers, there is a scene where Duncan and the sorcerer have an exchange while Duncan is in jail, and the sorcerer raises Duncan off the ground without moving a muscle. He also chokes Duncan by just moving a finger.


Objectional Content:

Language: No particular words. But they say things like, "he cursed."

Romance/Sexual Content:
- Duncan kisses his bride-to-be a couple times. (he also proposes to her in chapter three.)
- When the soldiers took Duncan's bride away, he worried once that they might violate her. They didn't.
- Someone hints at the queen betraying her husband. She did.
- Duncan's friend has a crush on the queen. It passes shortly. But he is later accused of violating her, and she lies and says it is true, even though he didn't.

Violence: A couple people are killed. There are fights.

Drugs/Alcohol: Duncan's dad is a winemaker.

9/10 stars.
Thirteen and up.
 

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by: Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Mara is a slave, but unlike other slaves, she has not accepted the fact. She still dreams of one day earning her freedom. But when the opportunity arises, the situation gets more serious than she ever could have imagined. Earning her freedom involves serving as a double spy for two arch enemies - both of whom support a different contender vying for the throne of Egypt.

From then on her life is one of confusion as she is commissioned to work as a translator for a Canaanite princess - this will get her behind enemy lines so she can deliver a message from her master. Why? she does not know. All she knows is that, if no mistakes are made, it will gain her freedom.
But then she meets Sheftu and overhears him plotting to overthrow the queen. Unfortunately for her, Sheftu knows that she was eavesdropping, and forces her into his plans - threatening to kill her if she disobeys.

Rather unwillingly, free-spirited Mara works as a double-agent, translates for an over-weight, homesick princess, and begins to believe the plan to restore Thutmose III is not as treacherous as it once seemed.

Ultimately, Mara finds herself falling in love with Sheftu and is finally willing to admit feelings towards him when her duplicity is unveiled, putting not only Mara, but her beloved Egypt, on the line

My thoughts:

Many a time I have made the mistake of telling my mom that we "have no books to read," and for the next ten minutes she will create a pile of books for me that we have that I haven't read yet. In this case, Mara, Daughter of the Nile made it into my mom's pile of "to read" books, so I picked it up and began to read.

Well, to start with, I absolutely love Mara. She's so independent and I love that she is always ready with a clever remark. I also like that she is not willing to accept her destiny as a slave - even when a fellow servant, Teta, discourages her from dreaming big.

This story is set in ancient Egypt - which is a time period I happen to l♥ve.
I can't really think of anything else to say about it, except that I loved it, so I'll go right to the....

Objectional Content:

Language: I'm embarrassed to say that while I know there was some, I don't remember any of it.

Romance/Sexual Content: Mara flirts with an officer so he will let her through the gates, and he wants to kiss her. *SPOILER ALERT* Mara and Sheftu kiss several times.

Violence: Mara is tortured. Nothing else I remember.

Drugs/Alcohol: None that I remember.

12 and up.
Highly Recommend.

Cascade by: Lisa T. Bergren

Read my review of book one in The River of Time Series, Waterfall.

What if you not only fell back through time... but fell in love, too?

Cascade is the second tale in The River of Time Series. In this book, we continue the story of the Betarrini sisters, Gabi and Lia, and their escapades in fourteenth-century Italy. Except this time, they've got their mom with them.

Gabi's heart is continually drawn towards Marcello Forelli, but many things are keeping them apart. For example, she is from the twenty-first century, and he the fourteenth. Gabi can not leave her family, and she can not ask them to go back and live in the past. But Lia, Gabi's fifteen year-old sister, seems to have discovered feelings towards Luca, as well.

War is raging on in Italy, and all three of the Betarrini women are right in the middle of it. But there are also good things coming out of this. Gabi and Lia are feeling a connection with their mom - something they haven't had for a long time, courage, and the realization that good things often mean sacrifice.

After much pondering, the Betarrini women decide to travel in time to the moment just before their dad dies and save him. But is it really possible to go into the past and change your future? And will Gabi and Lia fulfill their heart's desires and marry the men they love?



My thoughts:

I quite enjoyed this book! I am curious, though, how the last book in the series is going to finish. Because it would be a little weird if Gabi and Lia stayed in the fourteenth-century and married Marcello and Luca when they're really two twenty-first century American teenagers.

One thing I definitely did not like about this book, though, is that despite the fact it carries the title, "Christian book," it did not really have any mention of God in it. Sure He is brought up once or twice, but it is not enough to satisfy me. Some people would probably say I'm just picky.

I love how Gabi is so independent, but Lia always kind of annoyed me. I know she is supposed to be sweet, but I don't find her to be so.

And, like I said in my Waterfall review, I absolutely l♥ve the cover art!

Objectional Content:

Language: None that I remember.

Romance/Sexual Content: Marcello and Gabi kiss several times. Marcello proposes to Gabi. Lia begins to fall for Luca.

Violence: Some sword fights, and some painful wounds.

Drugs/Alcohol: Nothing that I can recall, except for maybe some wine at a feast.

Waterfall by: Lisa T. Bergren

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in another world?

The Betarrini sisters decide to explore an ancient tomb during their visit to Italy with their archaeologist mother. They are bored out of their minds, so it takes Lia very little convincing from her sister Gabi to check out the tomb, not matter how dark and uninviting it may look.

While in the tomb, Gabi places her hand in a hand print, and finds herself transported to fourteenth-century Italy. And worse still, she arrives in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces. All she wants to do is get out of there, but one side - the good side, she hopes - takes her with them to their castle.

It doesn't take long for Gabi, who isn't afraid to get in on the action, to make a name for herself. She believes her sister was transported with her, yet she cannot find her. The search begins. The knight who rescued her from the fight, Marcello Forelli, will do everything in his power to help her find Lia, her sister. Maybe too much? Marcello, after all, is already betrothed, to Lady Rossi, a flirty girl who doesn't want Gabi to get in the way.

Even though they are betrothed, there is no true love between Marcello and Lady Rossi. On the other hand, could there be some between Marcello and Gabi? But how could that ever come to be? Gabi is from the twenty-first century, while Marcello is from the fourteenth. Why does Gabi always seem to fall for the guy she can't have?

At a ball, her partner tells her he knows where her sister is, and he only requires one thing. Something she would be a traitor to give.

My thoughts:

Argh! I hate cliff-hanger endings! This book is so cool, I just have to know what comes next! I want to go get the next book, Cascading, right now! Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

I love the cover!!! Though I'm still wondering what the book has to do with waterfalls.

I fell in love with Gabi. She's so strong and smart, and I love the way she always wants to get in on the action, and she wants to fight her own fights, though all the other girls think it's scandalous.

Objectional Content:

Language: A few uses of the word "heck" and one other word that I can not remember.

Romance/Sexual Content: Marcello and Gabi kiss a few times. Luca falls in love with Gabi's sister, but it is rarely mentioned.

Violence: Some sword fighting, and some nasty wounds.

Drugs/alcohol: They drank some wine at the feast

Here is the book trailer:

The Golden Road by: L. M. Montgomery

In this book, you will join a lively group of children who share the triumphs and falls of growing up together on Prince Edward Island. You can always be sure their leader, Sara Stanley, or the "Story Girl," is always cooking up beautiful enchanting stories and planning their next adventure. In her group of willing accomplices are Cecily, Felicity, Dan, Felix, and Beverley King. Also in the group are homely Sara Ray and gentlemanly Peter Craig.

Beverley has a plan for the cold, boring winter ahead. He thinks they should start a magazine! Each person gets a section in it. Sometimes, though, they go a little bit overboard with it and end up printing things about each other that aren't true. Ah well, such is the way of a reporter.

But one things is for sure, they are never bored. One time they even get to spend the night with the local witch, an experience they will not soon forget. Or the time when Felicity put tooth powder instead of baking powder into a recipe for potatoes when an important person was visiting.

And there's always the time when someone they thought was a horrible old relative came to visit, and it turned out to be the governor's wife! They said all sorts of horrible things, thinking their deaf relative could not hear them, when she was hearing...and enjoying... their every word.

Peter is always trying to get the attentions of prim, proper Felicity. Sara Ray is always worried about getting in trouble with her overly-protective Mother. Sara Stanley finds a hidden romance in the town they live in, and Peter's father turns up out of nowhere!

But if things are getting slow, Sara Stanley is always ready with a plan or a story. Sometimes it can take months for her to get the story just right, but there's always one there.

Unfortunately, nothing can ever stay the same. The friends are growing up and everything is changing. New people are entering their lives and they are experiencing new things...fame...romance...sorrow...adulthood. Their lives can never be the same.

My thoughts:

I love all of L. M. Montgomery's books, especially this one and the Anne Of Green Gables book series. These books are true classics! Some people might say that in a review, I should find all the bad things in the book, but there are none in this book - at least, that's what I think.

Objectional content:

Language: None that I remember.

Romance/Sexual Content: Peter tries to get Felicity's attention all the time, but that's it.

Violence: Unless you call spending a night in the local witch's house "violent," then no. No violence. At least, that I remember. I've learned not to rely on my own memory when it comes to these sorts of things.

Drugs/alcohol: None that I remember.

This book is for all ages, though I think ten or eleven and up would appreciate this book more than, say, a nine-year-old would. :)

Always Watching by: Brandilyn and Amberly Collins

The daughter of a rock star has it all - until murder crashes her world.

Sixteen-year-old Shaley O'Connor has the life that many people could only dream of. Her Mom, Rayne, is the lead singer in a band. Shaley's excessive life is full of limos, hotels, and behind-the-stage secrets. Besides that, Shaley is beautiful and famous. But then something happens. Shaley finds her friend, Tom Hutchens's, body backstage... he was shot in the eye.

From then on Shaley isn't even allowed out of her hotel room without a personal bodyguard. But bodyguards can't do it all. They can't keep her safe from the notes and white roses that keep appearing in mysterious places. They can't quiet her fears that Tom's death was just the beginning. They can't keep the paparazzi from stalking her non-stop all day. One of the paparazzi even goes to serious measures to get a picture of Shaley, including setting off a fire alarm, harassing her, and following her wherever she goes. The paparazzi don't care about Tom's death, they only want a "good story" to send into a magazine, where Shaley's life, now a living nightmare, would be displayed for the world to see.

But Shaley's mother refuses to believe that someone in the band could be responsible for this. After all, she knows them all too well for them to do something like that... right?

Somebody keeps sending Shaley white roses.White roses have a special symbolism to Shaley and her mother. White roses were what Shaley's Dad gave her Mom when he was courting her, no one is supposed to know that, though. But Shaley doesn't know where her Dad is, or even who he is. Where is God in a time like this?

Shaley learns that the person who was murdered, Tom, was secretly in love with her. This only raises more questions. Is the killer out to get her? Shaley's friend, Brittany, senses that something evil is going to happen. Life may seem pretty bad, but it's about to get worse.



My thoughts:

I liked this book!

One thing I would like to point out, though, is that this is a Christian book, but God is only mentioned twice. Once on the back-cover, and once inside the book. Actually, I didn't even realize it was a Christian book until my sister told me. To me, I think that a Christian author should make God shine through in their books so that it's clear that he's there.

I really liked the ending. It was such a surprise! Though I was kind of hoping it would be someone else who did it. But isn't that what everybody does? Makes you like the bad guy?

I thought the bad guy's reason for killing the two men was kind of silly, but it's never not silly to murder someone.

Language: Though they never specify the words, they will sometimes say things like 'Mom uttered a curse,' stuff like that.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Romance/Sexual Content: As I mentioned above, Tom (the person who was murdered) was secretly in love with Shaley. She found out after his death, because a detective found some paper with the words "I love Shaley" written on it, and he has pictures of him with her plastered all over the wall. I don't want to get into specifics, because that could spoil the book, but the reason that Tom (and another man) were killed, was because the killer was in love with Shaley.

Violence: Of course, having the two men die, is violence. Also the fact that the two men were shot in the eye doesn't make it any more pleasant. After that it's just smaller things, like the paparazzi (which Shaley is terrified of) crowding in so close that Shaley can't breath and having the possibility of them trampling her... things like that.

Drugs/alcohol: None that I remember, but there might be some, I'm not sure.

8/10 stars

13 and up (one review I read said sixteen and up. But I didn't want to rate it that high, since I don't think it needs it. Besides, I'm not even thirteen yet, so I guess, according to my own review, I shouldn't be reading it :)

The Healer's Apprentice by: Melanie Dickerson

Rose has been chosen to work as a healer's apprentice, at the Hagenheim Castle! This is an unlikely turn of events, as Rose is a woodcutter's daughter, so her status is rather low. While she is squeamish about the sight of blood and doesn't like sticking needles in people, especially when they scream, Rose is determined to prove herself to Frau Geruscha, the lady she is apprenticed to.

Rose originally agreed to be the healer's apprentice because she didn't want to have to marry unless she found true love. Her mother's wish is for Rose to marry an aging bachelor, old enough to be Rose's father, that is disgusting and cruel and makes Rose feel ill. Rose's wish is to remain a healer's apprentice, eventually becoming an actual healer. Her chance to prove herself comes when Frau Geruscha leaves for a little while and Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is hurt and comes to her for help. It is Rose that must sew up his wound and heal him.

During the process of healing him something very unfortunate happens. Rose falls in love with Lord Hamlin. But of course it would be impossible to marry him, her being only a woodcutter's daughter and him being the future duke. He doesn't even notice her, or does he?

After two quite unlikely meetings with Lord Hamlin, Rose begins to wonder about him. Then he invites Rose to a ball, where she meets Lord Hamlin's brother, Lord Rupert. Lord Rupert is an irresponsible young man who falls in love with every girl he meets. But Rose is different. He wants to marry Rose. Lord Rupert is quite the contrast with his brother, Lord Hamlin, who is dignified, gentle, and carries the weight of his brother on his shoulders. Both wish for Rose's hand in marriage, but Lord Hamlin is already betrothed, to a lady who is in hiding.

Then Rose finds out that her parents are not her real parents. So who are they? And where is the girl Lord Hamlin is engaged to? Who is she? Rose must search for her true identity.

Here is the book trailer for The Healer's Apprentice!




*SPOILER ALERT*

My thoughts:

This is a great book! It's a modern/medieval twist on Sleeping Beauty.

My favourite character is Rose. She showed courage when she refused Lord Reupert's marriage proposal. She also was very kind when she didn't want want Lord Hamlin to step down from his position as duke so he could marry her.
Objectionable Content:

Language: None that I can remember.
Romance/Sexual content: Lord Hamlin and Lord Rupert both fall in love with Rose. Lord Rupert comes to call on Rose every day and kisses her fingers a few times. He also kisses her lips once. Lord Hamlin calls on her a bit. They kiss on their wedding day.
Violence: Rose gets attacked by a man that wants to marry her and she refuses. He puts a curse on her so she can see demons (or something like that. I don't remember.)
Drugs/alcohol: People get drunk at the ball, and at Lord Hamlin and Rose's wedding.

9/10 stars
12 and up
Highly recommend. I could not put this book down!

A Little Princess by: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Poor. Rich. Magical.

Once upon a magical time...

Poor Sara Crewe is made to go stay at Miss Minchin's school for girls. Of course, being there isn't so poor... at first. Sara is given expensive toys and beautiful clothes. She is given maids to wait on her and her father, as a going away present, gives her a doll. But yet something is wrong with the academy. Sara doesn't like it and wishes for her papa back.

Snakey, sly Miss Minchin is mean to Sara, but in such a round about way that Sara can't accuse her of anything. In the classroom Miss Minchin is rude to Sara and doesn't give her a chance to speak up for herself. One time she told Sara that she had to learn French. Sara tried to explain to her that she already spoke French, but Miss Minchin would not listen and called someone to teach her. She could have saved herself a lot of embarrassment and trouble if only she'd let Sara explain that she lived in a French-speaking household. She actually was French! From then on Miss Minchin had a particular dislike for Sara.

While most of the girls are jealous of her, and Miss Minchin doesn't like her, life continues to go on. Sara fascinates some of the girls in the academy and she forms a fast friendship with them. She even befriends the maid. One of Sara's biggest enemies, Lavinia, doesn't approve of the friendship that grows between Sara and her maid. Lavinia is jealous of Sara because Sara took her place in the "rich person's spot" at school.

Then the worst thing possible happens to Sara. Her father dies. She can no longer afford to go to the academy. All her beautiful things are taken from her and she is forced to work in the kitchen, under the pretense that she is a lucky child to even be allowed to continue being in the school. Sara's precious doll, the gift from her father, is taken away from her. But she isn't afraid. This makes Miss Minchin even angrier at her. Her only companion is the maid, the few friends she had who were willing to speak to her after her status dropped, and her imagination. She uses her imagination to create wonderful stories to entertain herself and the other maid while they work. Sara is so full of spirit, but will it be enough to survive Miss Minchin's academy for girls?


My thoughts:

This book is a true classic! Sara Crewe is such a nice girl who befriends all the unwanted people in the academy. She doesn't put on airs about being the richest and she tells stories to everyone, even the maid (which was greatly disapproved upon). If you're looking for a cozy, heart-warming, magical book that you can curl up on the couch and read for hours, you've found it!

Objectional Content:Language: None.
Romance/sexual content: None.
Violence: None.
Drugs/alcohol: None.

8 and up
8/10 stars

Losing Faith by: Denise Jaden

A terrible secret. A terrible fate.

In this fascinating novel by Denise Jaden, Brie Jenkins must deal with the death of her sister, Faith. Once Brie is finally over the shock of her sister's death, she begins to question how her sister died. She is told that Faith fell off a cliff, but is that the whole story? Or is there more to it than that? Brie turns detective to find out how her sister really died, and finds more questions than closure. Like, why did her perfect, church-going sister stop attending youth group just before her mysterious fall from a cliff?

Word has it that Faith wandered off on her own, got too close to the edge, and fell off. Some people think she committed suicide. But Brie thinks there is more to eat than that. And she is determinded to find out what. Brie decides to talk to Faith's best friend, Celeste. If anyone could shed more light on the situation, Celeste could. But Celeste is nervous around Brie and won't talk to her, making Brie even more determinded to find out what is going on.

On the side, Brie also must deal with her parents fighting and her boyfriend (Dustin) leaving her for another. At school she is suddenly tossed aside, unwanted, and friendless. She must live with not knowing the truth.

Brie and the girl that she once feared (Tessa) join together with a boy named Alis, the brother of the girl who was there when Faith had her fall, to find out the truth of Faith's death. Brie joins the Bible study group that Faith was with when she died, and soon finds out that there is a lot more to them than meets the eye.
On the final night, the night when Brie finds all the answers, justice is done. Brie finds her own life in danger, the same danger that Faith had to face.

Here is the book trailer for Losing Faith.





My thoughts:

This book was excellent!

The characters were full of emotion, and they felt so real! Big thumbs up to the title, too! I love things with double meanings. The cover art is beautiful as well.

Brie has to deal with Faith's death. She and Faith never really understood each other after Faith became a Christian, and she regretted not knowing more of her sister after she died.

My favourite character was Brie. She was the black sheep of her church-going family. She never gave up on finding out the mystery behind her sister's death, and she had a lot of courage on that last night.

Objectional Content:

Language: There is some swearing in this book
Romance/sexual content: Brie has a boyfriend, Dustin, and he leaves her. However, before they break up, they make plans to "do it". Fortunately, before they can, they are interupted. There is also a boy named Nathan who Brie meets in a grocery store that flirts with her. Also, Brie and Alis (near the end of the book) kiss.
Violence: It's not exactly violent, but the end of the book has a tense scene that includes hypnotism and two people almost getting pushed off a cliff by another girl, Reena. Reena also intended to throw herself off the cliff. 
Drugs/alcohol: Brie goes to a party with Dustin and Dustin gets drunk.

13 and up
9/10 stars

The Hunger Games by: Suzanne Collins

What is the reaping? The reaping is when every one in the district gathers and two names are drawn to see who is chosen to represent their district in the "Hunger Games." What are the Hunger Games? you might ask. The Hunger Games are when the people whose names are drawn must be put into an arena (a HUGE arena) that has trees and vegetation growing in it, so it's kind of like another world in a way (a much smaller world) ;). There are also animals in it. Most of the animals are mutated by the people who run the Hunger Games, making them even more dangerous than they were originally. Now here's the sad part. To win the games, the chosen kids have to be the last person alive in the arena, whether the others die of starvation or someone kills them or an animal attacks them, everyone but one must die.

It's the night of the reaping. But Katniss Everdeen is not worried about getting chosen. The chances of being chosen are one in a million, right? Fortunately, as expected, Katniss is not chosen. Unfortunately, Katniss's sister, Prim, is. Katniss is upset and immediately volunteers to take her sister's place.

Before she is put into the arena, Katniss must go through training. She gets angry at the training judges and shoots an arrow at them. Fortunately for her, they like her energy and give her the highest mark in training. Katniss is popular with everyone watching the show. She is very pretty, and her designated designer makes her look just perfect. Katniss gets many sponsors and she is a favourite with her mentor, though he won't admit it.

When thrown into the arena, Katniss must watch people die before her eyes. She has to experience hunger and sickness.  She must learn who to trust. She experiences near death. She runs from mutated animals trying to eat her (wait! Does that sound right?). And then Kantiss learns that one of the people in the Hunger Games is in love with her. Is she in love with him? And how can she kill him now that she knows the truth?

Katniss has a terrible time in the arena. She halluncinates ants eating at her body because of a severe illness. And she has to kill people. Katniss's consience tells her no, but she just has to win. She promised her sister, whose place she took, that she would try her hardest.

Then she meets Rue. Rue reminds Katniss of her little sister, so she befriends the small twelve-year-old girl and they work together. Rue is too small to attack anyone, so she helps Katniss destroy the enemies food supply of the enemy, limiting them a great deal. Katniss throws a nest full of mutated wasps at them, injuring several people severely, and killing others. Together the two are a team. They both like each other and work together - until someone puts a spear through Rue. She lives for only a few minutes after that before she fades away. But her last moments are happy. Katniss sits by her side and sings for her. Because Katniss does this, it later saves her life.

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book.

There are some problems with it, however. For example, to win the Hunger Games you have to be the last alive. Which means that you have to kill other people. Katniss drops a wasp nest full of mutated wasps on a group of people, and there are some serious injuries and a couple deaths. She also kills two people with a bow and arrow. The first one she shoots because he killed her friend, Rue. The second one she kills because she had to put him out of his misery, as he was bitten by some animals.

Also, as I said above, a boy, Peeta, does fall in love with Katniss, and she has to pretend that she loves him because there are cameras trained on them, and she doesn't want the people watching to get bored. In the end she stops faking and does it for real, but she still isn't sure if she really and truly likes him.

Ages: Thirteen and up
9 out of ten stars

Making Waves by: Nicole O'Dell

"Just try it one time. It won't hurt anything."

Kate Walker loves to swim! It was because of this that she decided to try joining her local swim team. But swimming on a team is more work then she expected. When she tries out, the coach recognizes her to have a talent for swimming. Because of this, Kate is pushed harder then the rest of the girls on the team. Kate is the new 'teacher's pet'. The coach thinks Kate is the best swimmer that's ever been on the team!

Soon Kate's life is all about swimming. She has no time for anything else. The coach is pushing Kate towards a college scholarship and entering her in competitions. But all this swimming is draining the energy from Kate. She confides in some friends on the team. They tell her about a drink called "Red Dragon" that they use to keep their energy up. Soon Kate is hooked on the drink, but her energy levels are still down. So the girls introduce her to caffeine pills - Another easy way to get quick energy.

When Kate is going to enter an important competition that could effect her swimming future, she feels pressure from herself and her coach. Her mom says for Kate to just do her best, but Kate can't live with that. She wants to win! Then the girls on the team offer her an illegal drug, called 'speed.' Taking the drug would guarantee Kate's winning. But does she really want to take an illegal drug and win dishonestly?

It's time for YOU make a choice.

In these "Scenario for Girls" books, Nicole O'Dell writes two endings and lets you choose what you would do. Would you take the drug? Or would you rely on your own strength?

My thoughts:

I thought this book was really good!

Kate has to deal with her best friend moving away, distrust and disappointment from her friends and mom, and lots of pressure to be the best.

My favourite character is Kate. It took a lot of endurance to stay on the swim team like she did. Some people would've quit, but Kate kept going. I can't say she made the right choice, though, because you have to make the choice for her. What will you choose?

8/10 stars
For 11 to 16 year olds.

The Penderwicks by: Jeanne Birdsall

A summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits, and a very interesting boy.

The four Penderwicks sisters, Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty, find themselves staying on a beautiful estate called Arundel for the summer holidays. Each girl is very different.
Brown-eyed Rosalind, the prettiest of the sisters, is a mother to her four sisters after their own mother died many years ago. Skye, the next in line, is a sarcastic blond with blue eyes. Jane dreams of being an author and often lets her imagination wander. And finally, the youngest, Batty. Batty is a shy girl who wears a tacky pair of wings everywhere she goes and will not talk to strangers at all. She loves animals and is the only one in the family who understands their dog, Hound, when he is trying to tell them something.

Together the four sisters have wonderful adventures, and some not so wonderful ones. Skye mistakenly insults Jeffrey Tifton's mother and Jeffrey himself. Jane has her heart set on having a professional editor read the book that she's written. But in the end, the editor says it's horrible. Jane feels bad until she learns that he is not a real professional book editor at all. Rosalind has a bad fall and injures her head. But despite all this, good things happen too. The girls meet Cagney, a friendly teenager who is usually wearing a baseball cap. Batty makes friends with some rabbits. And the girls, after much indecision as what to do, finally decide to go to Jeffrey and apologize for insulting him. That was the best part of the summer for all the girls, meeting Jeffrey.

Jeffrey is forced to invite the girls to his birthday party by Churchie, the maid, and the girls have to wear Jeffrey's mother's old clothes since they don't own anything fancy enough. Fortunately for them, Mrs. Tifton doesn't recognize the Penderwick's clothes as once being her own, or does she? The party ends in complete failure when the girls spy Mrs. Tifton and her boyfriend discussing marriage. They also are discussing sending Jeffrey off to a boarding school where he will learn to be a soldier. Jeffrey actually wants to pursue music, but his mother wants him to follow in his grandfather's footsteps.

Batty and Skye overhear Mrs. Tifton talking to her son, Jeffrey, about all the Penderwick's faults. Skye rushes in and yells at Mrs. Tifton about how all the things she said were wrong. But if the girls keep making mistakes and insulting Mrs. Tifton, they will no longer be able to play with Jeffrey anymore. The Penderwicks already were found play-wrestling in the piano room, they ruined Mrs. Tifton's garden show, and their dog got into her plants. Then the girls decide to help Jeffrey run away, but Mr. Penderwick thinks it would be better to have Jeffrey stand up to his mother and tell her the truth, he wants to go to music school.

My thoughts:

The Penderwicks are a close knit family that enjoy being with each other and making new friends. But Mrs. Tifton thinks they are a wild family that their father doesn't have enough control over.

I don't know who my favourite character is, but my favourite person from the Penderwick family is either Rosalind or Jane. Jane loves to write books, particularly books about a girl named "Sabrina Starr", and often lets her mind wander. Sometimes Jane will be sitting there and suddenly quote things from books she's read or written. Rosalind is pretty, good with kids, and takes care of her family, mainly Batty, since their mother died.

Pros:

At first Mrs. Tifton may seem mean, but in the end she shows her good side and proves that she does care a great deal about Jeffrey, who is her only child.

The Penderwick girls are very nice, even if they do sometimes get out of hand. Usually when they get out of hand it's all in fun and they are just a little excited.

Cons:

Mrs. Tifton's boyfriend, Mr. Dexter Dupree, doesn't really seem to have a good side. He is mean to Jane about her book. As soon as he marries Mrs. Tifton, he wants to get rid of Jeffrey and send him to boarding school. He doesn't like the Penderwick girls. He hit their dog, and called Batty crazy.



9/10 stars