A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a hauntingly beautiful story about Conor O'Malley and his inner and outer struggles as he deals with the sorrow of his mom's worsening illness and his guilt that he cannot save her, and also wants her pain and his, to end.

He struggles with the unkindness of a school bully, his feelings of betrayal when his best friend told others about his mom's cancer, his grandmother, and a monster made out of a yew tree as it tries to coach the reluctant boy into facing his feelings and acknowledging them for what they are. The story is both sad and beautiful, and young people as well as adults can learn valuable lessons about life, friendship, feelings, thoughts, actions, and knowing when it is okay to let go.

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary

Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary gives us a look into the life of one of her characters, Henry Huggins, and his dog Ribsy, both of whom I was first made familiar with when I started reading Ms. Cleary's Ramona books.

Looking at the world from his prespective was interesting, especially the story of how he and Ribsy first met and became best friends. Henry is an interesting clever character that children, especially boys, can relate to, and the adventures he has are exciting and fun. Kids and adults who enjoy children's stories would enjoy reading or listening to this book.

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Bloom

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Bloom is a fun book about a boy named Peter Hatcher and his trials having to deal with his annoying neighbor Sheila Tubman, and his even more annoying little brother, Fudge.

Fudge does all sorts of annoying things from acting terrible in front of their dad's client and losing his business, to coloring all over Peter's homework. But when Fudge does the most terrible thing of all, will Peter be able to forgive him? This book is fun for kids and adults who enjoy reading books about sibling conflict and growing up.

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume is a delightful story about a girl named Sheila Tubman who goes to Tarrytown, New York for the summer. Sheila, while being a bit annoying due to her penchant for lying and hating dogs, is at the same time funny and relatable in many ways. I enjoyed the story when I was the age of the character, and I enjoyed it recently when I listened to it again.

Sheila is from New York itself, and for the summer, she goes with her family to stay in the house of one of her dad's colleagues for the summer while the colleague and his family are away. Sheila doesn't like sleeping in a boys' room, but she enjoys making new friends and learning things. I especially liked when she learned about the headless horseman, since that is the area where Washington Irving lived in for some years, and where he got his inspiration for the popular story The Legend of Sleepy Hollow about the headless horseman and poor Ichabod Crane. Sheila learns and grows, and by the end of the book has realizes a few things about honesty and dogs. Children and adults who enjoy reading middle grade books would enjoy this story.

Narnia performed by Duchesne High School

Earlier this evening, I enjoyed a lovely performance by student actors at Duchesne High School. They performed Narnia, based on the book The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. It was a delightful story, following Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter as they set off on a journey into the magical land of Narnia, meet the sinister White Witch Jadis, and find the help of the heroic lion, Aslan and his followers. Will they be able to defeat the white witch and save Narnia? The play will be going for three more nights, November 23, 25, and 26th at Duchesne High School in Duchesne, Utah. Preshow will begin at 6:30 with the play beginning at 7:00 pm. Click HERE for more information.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

If you enjoy steampunk stories involving brave, intelligent kids, you will enjoy The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. Joel wants to be a Rithmatist, the chalk weilding people who have special powers with the circles they draw, and are able to fight the wild chalklings in Nebrask who threaten the livelihoods of the citizens living in the American isles.

But as skilled as he is with drawing circles, he doesn't have the same powers that Rithmatists have. So how can he help when a mysterious figure starts kidnapping kids who are Rithmatists, spiriting them away unseen and unheard in the night? Can he and his friend Melody who is a Rithmatist, and kindly Professor Fitch find out what's happening before their entire school, Armedius Academy is attacked?

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis is a delightful story about Polly Plummer and Diggory Kirk, two friends who find themselves tricked by Diggory's dastardly uncle into going on an unexpected magical adventure which takes them on twists and turns, coming into contact with the evil queen Jadis.

Once in her company, they find their way back to Diggory's idiot uncle, then come into contact with an unsuspecting cab man and his horse. Then they find themselves, with the use of Uncle Andrew's magical rings, in the brand new world of Narnia. There, they meet Aslan, the lion. And what does Aslan ask Diggory to do, to help counter the presence of the evil Jadis in Aslan's new world? Read the lovely book to find out! It is a fun book for both children and adults who enjoy magical adventures!

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

in Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary Ramona Quimby is just starting 1st grade, and finds that it's very different than Kindergarten.

The teacher, Mrs. Griggs is nice, but not as understanding as Miss Binney, Ramona's old Kindergarten teacher. And what is Ramona to do when Susan is copying her artwork but Mrs. Griggs doesn't seem to notice. Also, what happens when Ramona is walking to school and a strange dog starts to chase her? This is a fun book for children, giving them someone to relate to in spunky little Ramona. It's also a good book for older folks who enjoy remembering what it was like to be a kid.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (full name Susan Eloise Hinton) is a wonderfully written coming of age story about a boy named Ponyboy (yes, that's his real name) his brothers, and his friends, including his best friend, Johnny.

They belong to a social class called the Greasers, the poor class in town which is often picked on by the Socs (pronounced Soshes, which is short for Social). They get by until one fateful night when a group of Socs chase down Ponyboy and Johnny and try to drown Ponyboy in a fountain. When Johnny kills one of them defending Ponyboy, what are the two friends going to do? The book is amazing, and a great read for teens as well as adults.

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino is an exciting middle grade story about the terrible accident that happened in Prypyat in Ukraine on April 26, 1986.

The story follows several fictional characters as they struggle to help their friends, family, and others to escape and contain the terrible explosion that happened there. But with rising levels of radiation is there any hope? Despite having fictional characters, the story is still exciting and interesting, and helps readers, old and young, learn more about what happened at Chernobyl.

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer is an entertaining story for young adults about Jack Faber, one of the assistants on HMS Dolphin. Jack participates in the duties of a ship's boy, and even kills a pirate to save a shipmate!

The one problem with all of this, is that Jack's real name is actually Mary. And Jack is actually a girl. Will she be a successful sailor, and will she keep her real identity secret from her friends and shipmates? The story is exciting and plausible. There are some PG-13 moments, and the story isn't something that parents would want their kids reading without previewing the book first. But it is exciting for adults and older kids. Readers will find themselves cheering for Jackie, her friends, and the rest of their shipmates as they go from adventure to adventure, with Jackie all the time keeping her real identity hidden from everyone! (Almost.)

The Candy Shop War Series by Brandon Mull

The first Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull introduces the reader to friends Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon as they meet Mrs. White, a magician who comes to their town and sets up what at first seems like a harmless candy shop. But soon the kids realize that Mrs. White has a sinister plan. Finding friends in Mr. Stott, a good magician, and Mr. Dart, a magical law enforcement officer, the kids set out to stop Mrs. White from succeeding in her evil scheme to take over their town. But will they be able to stop her?

In the second book, Arcade Catastrophy, the same friends are facing off with Mr. White, Mrs. White's dastardly brother before he can follow through on his own underhanded scheme to take control of their town, and ultimately the world. What has happened to Mr. Dart and Mozag, the head of magical law enforcement? Will the kids be able to find out what happened to them, let alone rescue them? In the third book Carnival Quest, the kids, Mr. Dart, and Mr. Stott are suspicious of a carnival that has come to town. There was one sibling to Mr. and Mrs. White left, Camilla White. Is it possible she's the one controlling this carnvial? And what has happened to Mozag and the Battiato brothers? How can the kids help Mr. Stott rescue them? The carnival that has come to town most certainly has something to do with it, but can the kids compete when people keep mysteriously disappearing in the carnival?

Freaky Flyday (Ravenspell Book 3) by David Farland

Freaky Flyday, which is the 3rd book in the Ravenspell Book series by David Farland, is a fun story for middle grade readers. Ben Ravenspell, the boy turned into a mouse, is still in the process of recovering from his other adventures when he and his friends get word that an evil fly has been born, Belle Z. Bug, who wants to take over the world with her army of flies, made loyal to her by her evil pyramid scheme.

Ben and his mouse friend Amber, as well as the shrew Lady Blackpool and Ben's human parents just want a short break when they come into contact with evil Belle Z. Bug's minions. Will they be able to get away? And how does a legendary toad warrior and his two minions affect the whole situation? Read the book and find out.

The Horn of Moran:Adventurers Wanted by M.L. Forman

The Horn of Moran by M.L. Forman is an exciting fantasy adventure for middle grade and young adult readers.

It follows the exciting journey of Alexander Taylor who is from Earth but is recruited to go on a journey to recover a mythical horn that will help decide who is the rightful ruler of Alusia, which is on the brink of war. Alex is no stranger to adventures in this land, having been recruited once before by the mysterious but friendly Mr. Clutter who runs a shop near the tavern that Alex's stepfather owns (both of his own parents are dead). His stepfather, unlike other archetypal step-parents, is understanding and supportive of these adventures, but Alex is pretty much without family on his adventures. That is, if you don't count his loyal companions. Even with their help, will they be able to find and recover the horn before war breaks out?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is the exciting third book in the Harry Potter series.

Thirteen year old Harry is excited to start his third year at Hogwarts. The only thing that is mildly worrying is that Serius Black, a notorious convict, has escaped Azkaban prisoner, and is on the loose. And everyone seems to think he's after Harry! One bright note is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lupin who seems to know his stuff. Unlike the past 2 years, the kids are actually learning from him, and enjoying it! But why is Professor Lupin sick every month and unable to teach? And how is Hermione getting to all her classes when some of them are scheduled at the same time? Harry and Ron aren't sure of that. But they want to find out! The Harry Potter books (7 in all) have been made into an exciting 8 movie series as well. Please click HERE to learn more about them!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling continues Harry's exciting story.

Having barely defeated Voldemort's henchman the year before, Harry is back with the Dursleys for the summer, his aunt, uncle, and cousin who aren't just muggles, but mean muggles. (Muggles are non-magical folk.) Angry because of something that happened out of his control, they lock him in his room and put bars on his windows. But of course, his good friend Ron and Ron's brothers come to Harry's rescue! But is he safer at Hogwarts than he is with the Dursley's? Several misfortunes make him feel uneasy about things, though he is glad to be back at school, and then, he starts hearing a sinister voice that no one else can hear why is that? And why do so many of his fellow students start turning up petrified? Will Madam Pomfrey be able to cure them with her mandrakes? And will Harry and his friends be able to stop whatever is petrifying people before it actually kills someone?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling begins the story of the courageous Harry Potter with an exciting introduction.

Little Harry, only a year old, survives an attack that should have killed him. Voldemort, the evil wizard, killed both his parents and tried to kill him, but somehow, Harry thwarted him. As a baby. Growing up with his awful aunt, unkind uncle and caustic cousin, Harry doesn't even realize he's special until one day he received a mysterious letter telling him that he's been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! What?! And the adventure builds from there! Of course just because he defeated Voldemort once doesn't mean Voldemort won't try again! Harry needs to be on the lookout at his new school. But of course, he has the help of teachers like Professor McGonagal, Professor Dumbledore, and others as well as his friends Ron and Hermione. But will that be enough to save him from what Voldemort has planned?

Hole by Louis Sachar

Holes by Louis Sachar is a wonderfully written book with something happening on every page that leads the reader closer and closer to the exciting conclusion where every storyline finally comes together to help out Stanley and his friend, Hector.

Sachar skillfully twines all of the seemingly unconnected stories of the notorious outlaw, Kissin' Kate Barlow, Elya Yelnats, (Stanley's ancestor) and Stanley's great grandfather, the first Stanley Yelnats. (The protagonist of the story is Stanley Yelnats, the fourth.) Through all of it, the reader is taken on Stanley's journey where he learns courage, loyalty to a brave friend, and self-discovery. It is a delightful book for young and old. There is also a very fun, family-friendly movie of Holes based on the book.

The Zion Trail by Marsha Ward

The Zion Trail by Marsha Ward

is an entertaining historical fiction novel about a boy named Elijah Marshall, his encounter with two Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and his subsequent journey across the plains. He experiences loss, grief, danger, and love as well as he makes this journey. Will he make the journey safely, and will he be able to protect those he has come to love? Read this lovely book by Marsha Ward, and find out for yourself!

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite books of all time. In it, we meet the Pevensies, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy.

They are a group of siblings who have gone to live with old Professor Kirk in the country, in his big house since it isn't safe for them in the city as it is World War 2, and the Germans are regularly bombing London. While there, Lucy makes an extraordinary find. A wardrobe she climbs into, leads to a magical land called Narnia. There, it is constantly winter. Without any other seasons, yet it's never Christmas! And why is it constantly winter? There's an evil witch who's taken over, and has established herself as Queen of Narnia. So what do the Pevensie kids do when they get there? And how does a giant, golden maned lion named Aslan help them with what they have to do? Read the book and find out!

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder was a favorite of mine when I was little. Especially since my name is similar to the main character's.

In the late 1800s, little Laura and her family are moving from Wisconsin to the Great Plains. Their faithful dog Jack is coming along with them of course, but is Jack and Pa going to be able to protect the family from all the dangers they might encounter on the plains? From rushing rivers to wild fires, Laura and her family have a lot of troubles to face. This is a good book for anyone from eight years old to adult. Anyone interested in seeing history through the eyes of a little girl of European descent would find this book an interesting and entertaining read.

J. Golden Kimball Stories by James Kimball

Being a fan of J. Golden Kimball, I really enjoyed this book. The stories in J. Golden Kimball Stories by James Kimball are hilarious, clean (mostly) and entertaining.

It would have been interesting to have lived during his time and listened to him speak, either in a formal or informal setting. But I think to J. Golden Kimball, he managed to make some formal situations pretty informal. J. Golden Kimball was a high ranking official in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints until his death in the late 1930s. Despite expectations that he be serious, prim, and proper, he wasn't. He was a very kind, compassionate person, but at the same time, he said it how it was. Sometimes with a few colorful explitives to enhance his sentences. As a result, he was absolutely hiliarious, and people still tell his stories today, in the 21st century. The book is an entertaining read for any one who enjoys humor, especially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons as we're often called) but anyone who likes funny stories would enjoy this book.

Winter by Marissa Meyer

Winter by Marissa Meyer completes the Lunar Chronicles series. I enjoyed the book, and it wrapped up in a satisfying way for me, for the most part. I did consider it a bit longer than it needed to be.

Throughout the book, of the group of nine heroes and heroines, someone was getting kidnapped by the evil queen then rescued, then someone else would be kidnapped and then rescued. But it was entertaining. We get to meet Princess Winter. She's not royalty, but the evil queen is her stepmother. And her loyal guard and love interest, Jacin. I listened to it on audiobook, and the narrator did a very good job with the voices. We have the heroes and heroines from the last three books, Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf (Se'ev), Cress, and Thorne. And of course, good old Aiko, the sentient and very life-like robot. This time, they're on Luna, trying to stop evil Queen Levana from taking over the world, and killing Kai. Lots of awful stuff happens, including several people we meet and make friends with, only to have them get killed. But, as I said, the ending was very satisfying. The book is reasonably clean. There are some serious kissing scenes, but nothing stronger than that, and the language is clean, too. "Aces," and "Stars above!" are the strongest explitives you'll hear. So it's pretty safe for older teens.

Dungeon of Dread by Rose Estes

Dungeon of Dread by Rose Estes was the first Dungeons and Dragons book I bought, and the first book that required readers to chose their own paths. I bought it from the school's book order form when I was in 7th grade.

It looked interesting, and I enjoyed medieval fantasy stories at the time, so I got it. I was pleasantly surprised that I would be the one choosing which direction the story would go, and liked the fun and suspense of not knowing if the path I chose would take the character, Caric, to safety or end up killing him. I enjoyed this delightful book when I was a youngster, and despite these times being different with different technology, I know that most kids still love to read, when it's something interesting, and would enjoy reading this book.

Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons by Rose Estes

Revenge of the Rainbow Dragons by Rose Estes is another delightful book put out by Dungeons and Dragons as a book in which the reader chooses his/her own adventure.

In this book, the reader takes on the character of Jaime, a boy who is a wizard's apprentice, who is tricked by 3 bad wizards and separated from his teacher. Depending on which choices the reader makes, Jaime goes on various adventures through the book. It is an entertaining read for middle grader kids, especially when a reader can make a different choices and come to different endings depending on what s/he chooses.

Circus of Fear by Rose Estes

Circus of Fear by Rose Estes is a Dungeons and Dragons Choose your Own Adventure book. In it, the reader is the main character, taking the part of the protagonist.

I enjoyed this book, because in this book, the main character is female, and since I'm female, I was more able to relate to the main character. The reader takes the part of Laela, a girl in a medieval fantasy world who is visiting a circus with a friend, Petra. The conflict starts almost immediately when Bombax confronts the children when they're petting a pegasus, chained by her ankle to a peg in the ground. After that, the adventure changes, depending on what the reader chooses to do. I enjoyed this book when I was in 7th and 8th grade, and it is still an enjoyable adventure for young people in middle grades, and adults who enjoy reading middle grade adventures!

Summer Book Bash! FREE eBooks!

My Book Cave is doing a Summer Book Bash, a book giveaway during the month of July, offering over 60 books for free! The listing includes my book, Felicity~ A Sparrow's Tale. I hope you take a look, and check it out! You can choose any book you like, sign up for the author's newsletter, and then My Book Cave sends the book to you! Check it out, HERE! Or any of the other links in this entry! And remember to enter the drawing for a $30.00 gift card!

Cress by Marissa Meyer

So, to make this review fair, I have to say that I am not finished listening to Cress by Marissa Meyer, the 3rd book in the Lunar Chronicles. But so far, it is great. It begins after Scarlet ends. Cress (patterned after Rapunzel) is stuck on a satellite, high above Earth.

And of course not having seen scissors in years, her hair is super long, like Rapunzel's. She is a Shell, a Lunar (person born on the moon) without special powers. The people of Earth and the people on the Moon are all human, but have lived separate long enough that Lunars, as they're called, have developed special powers in that they can manipulate or influence the minds of others. They can make themselves appear more attractive, for one, and certain Lunars can even manipulate the behavior of others with their minds. Cress cannot do any of those things. But she is really good with computers. So instead of being killed, or being a prisoner on her own planet (regular Lunars despite Shells) she is put in this satellite. She does not agree with Queen Levana, the Queen of Luna, who believes it is her destiny to take over all of the world, and so Cress is sympathetic to Earthens, and wants to help. But she's stuck. Until she's contacted by Cinder, Scarlet, Thorne (a character Cinder escaped prison with) and Wolf. They are aboard Thorn's ship, and will come rescue her, so she can help them fight back against Queen Levana. But are these plans going to go smoothly? This book, so far, like Scarlet, seems to be appropriate for teens and up. Readers who enjoy retellings of old fairy tales will enjoy this story, and Scarlet.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles. It comes after Cinder. Meyer takes fairy tales and adds a new twist to them. After the first book, in which Cinder (patterned after Cinderella) a cyborg (having been injured in a fire as a toddler) warns Prince Kai that the evil Lunar Queen wants to take his throne and kill him, we meet Scarlet.

Patterned after Little Red Riding Hood, Scarlet is worried about her grandmother who has gone missing. She recruits the help of a street fighter named Wolf who says he can help her find her grandmother, and off they go toward Paris. But can she fully trust Wolf, or does he have secrets he's not telling her about? And what connection does her missing grandmother have to do with Cinder, who has managed to escape prison despite being caught after warning Kai that the Lunar Queen wants to kill him? This book has some violent bits in it, and some kissing, but it is appropriate for teens to read. I recommend it to people who like sci-fi, and enjoy old stories retold in a new way.

Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary

In Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary, Ramona is facing a whole new set of trials she never expected to face. Ramona's best friend Howie has an uncle, Uncle Hobart, who has come home from Saudi Arabia and Ramona isn't sure she likes Uncle Hobart's sense of humor.

Her mother is getting suspiciously plump in front, her beloved Aunt Bea starts dating a man that she won't tell her neices about, and to top it all off, a sad event that Ramona has never experienced before, happens to their family. But Ramona, ever innovative and courageous, faces everything with grace and flexibility. This is a great book for families to read, especially when facing big changes like a family member getting married, a new baby in the family, or the loss of a beloved pet. The stories are written with the language and thoughts that a young child would use, and would be able to relate to. Children as well as adults who enjoy looking back on their childhoods will love these stories, and find themselves relating to and cheering on Ramona Quimby!

Ramona Quimby Age 8

In Ramona Quimby Age 8 by Beverly Cleary, Ramona has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. Because her dad is going back to school, her mom needs to work. And because her mom needs to work, Ramona needs to stay at Mrs. Kemp's house after school. And Ramona doesn't much like that.

Added to that, the woes of getting egg in her hair, dealing with the teasing of a new boy named Danny, and other embarrassments are almost too much for Ramona to deal with. Will she be able to face her troubles with the same pluck and determination that she has had in the past? Kids and adults who enjoy reading books for kids will love reading this book to find out!

Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary

In Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary, Ramona finds herself navigating the uncertain beginning of first grade with a new teacher, and new responsibilities. Being brave is something she wants, and she thinks she's doing great at it when she tells off a bunch of boys teasing Beezus her sister.

But when they just laugh and Beezus gets mad at her, Ramona realizes she's got a few things to learn. Can she really be brave? And when a strange dog follows her toward school and scares her, will Ramona know what to do? Ramona's exciting first grade year will be a fun read for kids and for adults who read to kids, and who remember what it was like to be in first grade!

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

In Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary, Ramona is excited to start kindergarten. She'll be going to school with the big kids, instead of staying at home watching them go to school! She'll get to participate in the Halloween parade instead of just watching it happen, and she'll be learning so much! Things start of great for Ramona.

Her teacher, Miss Binney, seems like a smart, understanding lady. But then Ramona quickly realizes that things won't be as easy or as exciting as she expected. She'll have to get along with the other kids, for one thing, and mean Susan is so bossy that it's hard for Ramona not to pull the other girl's springy curly hair! This is a fun book for children and adults who remember their kindergarten days, and the fun and challenge, of learning!

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris is a great story about a girl who has lived all her life with her family far from what we would call civilization, but has to come into town because of her little brother's illness.

Learning to navigate school, mean kids, shy kids, teachers, etc. is a pretty heavy load for Juniper. She has all that to deal with, and on top of it all, worry about her brother. How will Juniper cope? This is a great book about learning how to adapt to new situations, and working to make oneself a better human because of it. I recommend this great book for kids as well as adults! This book is also a 2024 finalist in the Middle Grade Whitney Awards!

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck takes place a few years after the bulk of A Long Way from Chicago ends. Mary Alice is the narrator now, and because of financial difficulties in her family, her parents decide to have her spend a year at Grandma Dowdle's.

She enrolls in the local school, and begins to meet different people she didn't in her summer visits. Some are nice, others not so much. This time she has several adventures from attracting the attention of the local meangirl, to going through a tornado warning. Through each chapter Mary Alice learns more about herself, her grandma, and her neighbors. Including one special classmate who happens to be a boy.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck is a fun story for children and adults about the adventures of a brother and sister during their summer breaks when they spend time with their grandma.

Joey and Mary Alice have all sorts of adventures with their Grandma Dowdle, from hosting the wake of a homeless man found dead and the shenanigans of an angry tomcat, to helping two sweethearts sneak off so they can elope without the interference of both their meddling families. As each summer passes, Joey and Mary Alice learn more and more about their grandma who doesn't seem to much like her neighbors, while going far out of her way to help them. This is a great coming of age book that both children and grown ups would enjoy.

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown is the third book in The Wild Robot series. In this delightful story, Roz is living happily on her island with her animal friends after the adventures of the 2nd book came to a happy conclusion, and something happens.

An injured seal comes ashore and delivers a dire warning before hurrying to swim away. A poisoned tide is coming. Something in the water is sickening and even killing the life in the ocean, and no one knows its source! Determined to protect her family, friends, and environment, Roz sets out to see if she can stop the poisonous tide from destroying the life in the ocean. Along the way, she meets many different kinds of ocean life and learns, along with the readers, many interesting facts about different animals. But will Roz at last stop the poison that is hurting the ocean? Read the book and find out! This is a fun book for kids as well as adults who enjoy middle grade stories!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown is a delightful story for young and old. This book is a delightful tale about what might happen when technology (specifically a robot programmed to think and learn) collides with nature.

Roz is washed ashore on an island in her crate when the boat she was being transported in, sinks. The island is inhabited by many creatures, but not one of them is human. They accidentally activate her, and she proceeds to do as she is programmed; interact with her environment and learn to survive in it. She makes all sorts of friends, including a gosling whom she raised after an accident she caused killed his family. But what happens to Roz when the company that built her tracks her to her new island home?

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a sweet children's story that I have enjoyed since I was little. Poor James has to live with his horrible aunts Spiker and Sponge after his parents are both killed. And these two dreadful women treat him awfully. Until the day that a giant peach as big as a house grows from the tree in their garden that has never grown a peach before.

When James goes outside at night to clean up all the trash (the peach brought quite a lot of spectators to look at it) he finds a strange hole in the side of the peach. What (or whom) does he find when he climbs inside? Read this exciting tale and find out!

Hayden Hamilton and the Lady by Wanda Luce

I recently read a wonderful clean regency romance by author Wanda Luce titled Hayden Hamilton and the Lady. It follows the protagonist Emma Stuart and her friend Hayden Hamilton as they face up again the likes of the dastardly Lord Richmond.

Lord Richmond dislikes Emma because she got back at him for his mistreatment of other ladies, and he wants to ruin her reputation. But not if Hayden Hamilton has anything to say about it. As he sets out to help Emma, the two start finding themselves attracted to each other. But Emma is a high born lady, and Hayden, it appears, is a lowly barrister. Do the two of them have a possible future together? Read the book and find out.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a delightful story about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.

He is a quiet fellow who likes simple pleasures like a nice dinner, leisure time to smoke his pipe, and a comfortable chair by a warm fire. But then along comes Gandalf the wizard and 13 dwarves who are looking for a hobbit to help them on an adventure. The dwarves' home was taken over years ago by a dragon named Smaug, and they want their home back, along with the treasure that goes with it. They've promised Bilbo a share of the treasure when they've defeated Smaug, but will little Bilbo survive long enough to get it? Read the book and find out!

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

In The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, young hobbit Frodo Baggins, the nephew of Bilbo Baggins discovers some things about his uncle's magic ring that are alarming, setting off a journey that little Frodo feels wholly unprepared for.

The ring, which is the evil lord Sauron's One Ring, and which is evil, needs to be thrown into the lava of Mount Doom, the only place it can be destroyed, if the whole of Middle Earth is to keep from being destroyed. Will Frodo be able to do it? As unprepared as he feels, he has friends to help him, his best friend Sam Gamgee, and others, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Aragorn, and of course the wizard Gandalf. But can all nine of them together overcome the forces of evil that are looking for the ring and want it back? Read the book and find out!

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

Jill Pole is crying behind the school gym after being bullied when Eustace Scrubb (a decent boy despite the unfortunate name) comes around the corner and finds her. Trying to cheer her up, he tells her about Narnia, a magical land he had visited recently with his cousins Lucy and Edmund, and how they could possibly go there if they called out to Aslan for permission. Just then, the bullies come looking for them and Eustace and Jill rush off into the bushes toward an old stone wall at the back of the school property.

Once they get to the wall and find a door in it open, their real adventure begins. Aslan needs their help rescuing a prince who has mysteriously disappeared. The only clue the Narnians have, is that there is a dangerous green snake somehow involved. Jill Pole (after an unfortunate incident on the edge of a cliff where she and Eustace are separated) is given four signs to look for. 1. That Eustace speak to the first person he sees when he arrives in Narnia, for that person will be an old friend. 2. That they journey north out of Narnia until they find the ruined city of the ancient giants. 3. They will find writing on a stone in that ancient city, and they must do what the writing says. 4. The first person on their adventure who asks them to do something in Aslan's name, they must obey. The two children, with the help of Puddleglum, a marshwiggle, set off toward the north, encountering obstacles and distractions along the way. Will they succeed in rescuing the missing prince? Read The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis and find out!

Susan Wardle, wonderful neighbor and friend

My sweet friend and neighbor, Susan Wardle passed away the other day.

I am so lucky to have been her neighbor. And I'm so glad I was able to dedicate my most recent book to her before she passed. If anyone deserved to have a book dedicated to him/her, it was certainly her. She was a wonderful friend to me and my children, and we will miss her. Follow the link above, or HERE for more funeral information.

Review by Diane Donovan for my book Ephraim's Garden

Diane Donovan, senior reviewer for MidWest Book Review, has kindly written a review for my book Ephraim's Garden, and the review has recently gone live! You can read the review HERE and read about Ephraim's Garden on Amazon HERE!

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis is a delightful story about how all the comings and goings between Narnia and our own world began.

Though it happened first chronologically in the timeline of the Narnia adventures, it was one of the last books written in the series, and is one of my favorites. Diggory Kirk and Polly Plummer, two friends, find themselves tricked by Diggory's unscrupulous uncle into a magical experiment, and are whisked off on an adventure through multiple worlds, including the doomed Charn, and the new Narnia just being born. This story is a delightful adventure for both children and adults!

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a delightful children's story about sweet, honest Charlie Bucket whose family is poor, and only gets one bar of chocolate as a present on his birthday.

Though he would love to see the inside of Willy Wonka's amazing chocolate factory, he hardly has a chance to win a golden ticket that will admit him inside. After all, there are only ten golden tickets in the world! This is a fun book for kids where the kind, deserving child is rewarded, and the children who are less kind get appropriate consequences for their poor choices. I recommend this book to both children and adults!

Review for Ephraim's Garden, Midwest Book Review

Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review, has this to say about my newest book, Ephraim's Garden: "Ephraim's Garden will appeal widely as both a read-aloud book that adults can enjoy for the very young, and as an attractive fable story for kids up to age ten.

The green valley of Ephrath is tended by gardener Ephraim, who has built an attraction for all ages through his efforts, interesting young, would-be gardeners who both appreciate the beauty and aspire to become garden guardians themselves. Ephraim gathers his young followers and gives each of them a plot to tend in preparation for planting. He warns them that "... the work is not easy, and you will not see the results of your hard work right away." Jared is a young person who believes in hard work, the garden, and Ephraim's promise. His dedication (and that of fellow avid young plot-tenders) attracts the interest and derision of bullies who aren't interested in putting out that kind of effort. Their scorn brings tears to his tenderhearted friend Lissa, who is always easily affected by what others think. She tells him the root of her sorrow: “They said that we’re fools to work this hard, and that if Ephraim really cared about us, he would give us gardens that are already beautiful, not plain patches of dirt.” By now, it's plain to see that Loralee Evans has crafted a story about much more than gardening. She surveys matters of the heart, reasons behind emotions and reactions to them, and teaches young readers survival strategies that embrace understanding and better responses, as the story unfolds. Lovely, large-size, colorful images from Shutterstock.com pepper the tale and enhance it with beautiful accent points of children and gardens as Lissa's dilemma unfolds and Jared is called upon to tap unfamiliar resources in order to support her. The notes about real-life conundrums go far beyond a simple portrait of bullies and victims, creating an in-depth inspection of such related topics as self-doubt, courage, kindness, and supporting others' choices as they navigate obstacles in their lives. The result is a picture book story that is packed with wisdom, insight, and discussion material suitable for parents and kids and any adult working with children to build greater understanding about how to be a friend and how to address life's challenges. Libraries will also want to recommend Ephraim's Garden to discussion groups for young readers, as it holds many insights perfect for kids learning hard lessons about perseverance, friendship, and choice."

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long is a delightful book for children. It follows the adventures of a little boy on the beach when he sees (or imagines he sees) a group of pirates land on the beach.

(His parents don't react to the presences of the pirates, so I suspect he's just got a great imagination.) He leaves home with the pirates and has lots of fun until he realizes that it's not all fun and games. Will he be able to get home, or is he stuck on the ocean with the pirates forever? Read the book and find out!

Nurk The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon

Nurk The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon is a humerous there and back again tale about a young shrew named Nurk.

He lives comfortably at home. His grandmother, Surka, was an adventurer, but not him, thanks. Until one day a hummingbird comes with an urgent request. The prince of the dragonflies has been kidnapped! Nurk, despite being of the non-adventurous type, is still a compassionate soul, so he decides to go help. Will he be successful in rescuing the dragonfly prince? Read the book and find out!