Book Review – Pony

R. J. Palacio (Author, Narrator), Ian M. Hawkins (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher) An Audiobook R. J. Palacio (author also of WONDER) has written a spooky book about Silas, a twelve-year-old boy who has to rescue his father. A gang of scary horsemen arrives one night, demanding that Silas and his father accompany them.  Their “Boss” wants to talk to Silas’s…

BOOK REVIEW – Ghosts of War #2: Lost at Khe Sanh (Vietnam)

by Steve Watkins (Author) WOW!  This kid’s action and history book by Steve Watkins is fascinating, exciting, AND well-researched. I lived through the Vietnam War years, but even I learned things in this middle-grade book I’d only heard hinted at before. The three friends, Anderson, Greg, and Julie, have a musical band and practice in Anderson’s uncle’s basement.…

BOOK REVIEW – Echo Island

by Jared C. Wilson (Author) An audiobook for 7-12 grade kids. This book begins in the normal world of Washington State. Four high-school graduates (Bradley, Archer, Jason, and Tim) finish a weekend campout (the last one before they split and head for colleges) and start home, back to Echo Island.  The ferryman seems a bit strange,…

BOOK REVIEW – The Toothpaste Millionaire

by by Jean Merrill (Author) An Award-winning middle-grade book. Jean Merrill’s THE TOOTHPASTE MILLIONAIRE is a fun, fascinating, and informative kids’ book.  Wow, I learned how to make toothpaste, figure profit/loss margins, do advertising, what are stockholders and a Board of Directors, and how to get loans.  All with a fun story about a sixth-grader named Rufus…

BOOK REVIEW – London Calling: City Spies #6

by James Ponti (Author), Lisa Flanagan (Narrator), Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher) An audiobook. LONDON CALLING, the sixth City Spies adventure by James Ponti, is another amazing story about the young Special MI-6 spies whom the Second-in-Command of British espionage, calls “those magnificent children.” Each of these kids, aged from 9 to 14, was once orphaned and then found in…