by Farook Nizrana (Author) I have owned THE GIRL WHO STOLE AN ELEPHANT by Nizrana Farook as part of my “Africa/India” collection of middle-grade and young-adult books for a long time. But yesterday I pulled it from the shelf, opened it, and read the first short chapter. Then, I went to my couch, still reading. I…
by Kenneth Oppel (Author), Robbie Daymond (Narrator), Listening Library (Publisher) An Audiobook Review INKLING, by Kenneth Oppel, is a very creative, exciting, and touching story about a … okay, you guessed it, a spot, or splot, of ink. But how can you make a story out of that? Oppel does it very well, just as in his wonderful space odysseys. He…
by Ronald Kidd (Adapter), The Kennedy Center (Author), Ard Hoyt (Illustrator), Laura Bush (Foreword) The “Treasure of Ursa Major” is a super fast-paced, exciting story full of humor, history, and fun facts. It is based on a play by Tom Isbell, adapted by Ronald Kidd. Laura Bush wrote a forward. Three of Theodore Roosevelt’s children – eleven-year-old Archie, fifteen-year-old Kermit, and their sister,…
by Kate Messner (Author), Kelley McMorris (Illustrator) RANGER IN TIME, Hurricane Katrina Rescue by Kate Messner is an exciting, suspenseful middle-grade book. It has a very unusual and fun premise. I know you’ve all heard of time-travel novels when a person (or two) travels to different historical times. There are many of them out now. (I especially like Gabrielle…
I recently served as a member of my Faith Bible Church missions team to Germany. Five of us went to Berlin to assist a sister church there with their Family Camp in the mountains. There were eight sessions in the morning & evening, and to ensure the adults could attend all of them without distraction,…
Check out my article on The Writers In Residence at: “On Top of Spaghetti” Rehearse that old kids’ song, and learn about Spaghetti Westerns, who started them, what they were, and what famous movie actor got his start with them. You may be surprised. If the post inspires you to write something, tag me…
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…
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.…
by Victoria Tait (Author) What fun! Dotty and Keya are back in Victoria Tait‘s new cozy mystery, AN AUCTION OF SECRETS, and they both have new jobs! It looks like Dotty is moving into management at the antique house, and Keya now peers minutely at crime scene evidence instead of chasing the bad guys. (Okay, she fudges…
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,…
Words and Reviews 