Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi (c) 1880, 1881 by Johanna Spyri

Heidi by Johanna Spyri, first published in two parts between 1881 and 1882, is a delightful children's story about Heidi who comes to live with her reclusive grandfather in the Alps when she is just five years old.

Her grandfather is a bit bitter toward the world, but soon warms up to his little granddaughter, and the two become good friends. Heidi loves the mountains, and the little goats her grandfather owns, which are goat-sat every day in the spring and summer by Peter who takes all the goats of the town up to the pastures near where Heidi and her grandfather live. These two become good friends as well, but when people start to think that her grandfather is a poor guardian for her, and then come and take her away to live in Frankfurt with a young girl who is confined to a wheelchair and her caretakers, what does Heidi do?

Clara, her new friend is very sweet and kind, but Heidi still misses the mountains and her grandfather. Will she ever be able to get back to them, and will Clara ever grow strong enough to leave her wheelchair?

I really enjoyed this book, and recommend it to readers young and old who enjoy stories of childhood and happy endings.

The Zion Trail by Marsha Ward

The Zion Trail (c) 2016 by Marsha Ward

The Zion Trail by Marsha Ward is a fun, historical novel about young Elijah Marshall and his family, and their struggles, losses, tragedies and triumphs after they meet a couple of Mormon Missionaries, and convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The book begins in the early 1800s when Elijah, or "Lije" is fifteen, and follows him through the next several years as he and his family head west with the rest of the Mormons. The going is not easy for Lije, and he suffers loss and grief along the way. But he also grows in unexpected ways, and discovers that he hasn't quite lost as much as he thought.

I recommend the book to LDS historical fiction lovers, and to anyone who enjoys a good historical novel set in west. 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow a short story by Washington Irving, first published in 1820 is a story about Ichabod Crane, a school teacher, originally from Connecticut, who moves to Sleepy Hollow, a small town not far from the Hudson River.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (c) 1820
by Washington Irving

Ichabod is a funny guy, who looks not unlike a crane, being very skinny, with a beak-like nose, and long limbs. He is also given to superstitions, believes in witches, and is frightened of what he fears is out in the dark. This makes his walks home at night a bit scary for him. But otherwise, Ichabod's adventures wouldn't have been all that noteworthy, if Katrina VanTassel hadn't gotten in his path. He takes a liking to her, and also her father's vast farm which Katrina will inherit someday, but Brom VanBrunt, one of the local lads, has already taken a liking to her. 

What happens after a Halloween party at Katrina's (in which she finally makes her disinterest in Ichabod painfully clear) is the main climax of the story, and my favorite part.

The story is often labeled as "horror" but, to me at least, the story is not remotely scary, and is actually quite hilarious. The language, as expected of something written in the early 1800s, is a little old fashioned. Some readers may need a dictionary for some of the old words, but for the most part, even unfamiliar words become understandable, as the meanings of the words tend to be made clear in the context of the sentences in which they are found.

Washington Irving's style is humorous, and often witty and playfully scarcastic. I enjoyed the story immensely, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys classical stories.

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice by Shannon Hale

Spirit Animals Book 4: Fire and Ice
(c) 2014
by Shannon Hale

Book 4 of Spirit Animals, published in 2014, written by Shannon Hale, continues the adventures of Abeke, Rollan, Connor, and Meilin. This time, they're traveling to the frozen north to find their next great beast, a polar bear and its medallion which will help them in their fight against the Conquerers. And of course, the Conquerers, are always just a few steps behind the kids, trying to get their own hands on the medallions of the great beasts. Plus, the Conquerers are coming up with their own version of the nectar, a liquid that assists in helping young people bond with spirit animals, if it's their fate to so, but rather than nectar that simply assists in the bonding, they've invented bile, which actually forces a bond with a spirit animal, and what trouble that will lead to in the future, is anyone's guess!

The Spirit Animals series is a fun set of books for young kids, and young middle grade readers, from 8 to 12 who enjoy fantasy adventure, will enjoy this series.

Spirit Animals Book 3: Blood Ties by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Spirit Animals Book 3: Blood Ties
(c) 2014
by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

Spirit Animals Book 3 by Garth Nix and Sean Williams continues the quest of the four kids, Connor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan. The story starts with the friends separated though, as Meilin has gone looking for her father, took a wrong turn in the massive bamboo maze, and is lost. Meanwhile, the Conquerers are taking over cities in Erdas and oppressing the people. In this book, the kids are trying to find their third Great Beast, an elephant this time, get its cooperation (hopefully) and borrow its medallion. But it's not so easy to get to, being located in a swamp filled with giant crocodiles. And of course, the Conquerers aren't going to make it any easier for the kids! If you enjoy adventure stories for kids, you will enjoy this book!

The Sound of Music performed by Stansbury High School Drama

The Stansbury High School Drama department, led by Mr. Glen
Carpenter, is currently performing The Sound of Music, which had performances May 4, and 5 and will continue to have performances May 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15. Tickets for all remaining performances can be purchased by following the link HERE. All days will have performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. and there will be two performances on the 12th, including a matinee at 2:00 p.m.

The Sound of Music was adapted from the memoir The Story of The Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp and was made into a stage play in 1959 then later into a movie in 1965, starring Julie Andrews.

The plot of The Sound of Music follows the adventures of Maria who first plans on becoming a nun, but after becoming the governess of the von Trapp family, a large brood of children, and then falling in love with them, and with their widowed father, she changes her plans. Shortly after their wedding however, the family's plans are further changed when Nazis invade their beloved Austria and want to recruit Mr. von Trapp into their navy. He doesn't agree with Nazi philosophies, and so what is the family to do?

I attended the opening performance of The Sound of Music, and it was wonderfully done. Everyone in the cast and crew did a fantastic job with the performance, and I highly recommend it!

Mrs. Mona Farnsworth who taught Drama at Duchesne High School before she retired had nothing but praise for Mr. Glen Carpenter, having gotten to know him when she and he were on a board together quite a few years ago. By watching the plays he has directed, I can see why. I think it is fantastic that he is helping young people hone their skills and build confidence in their abilities and in themselves through drama!

Whitney Awards Gala, May 5, 2018

On Saturday, May 5, 2018, I attended the 10th annual Whitney Awards Gala, an awards ceremony honoring outstanding achievement in LDS writing. There are 10 categories, Middle Grade, Young Adult General, Young Adult Speculative, Young Adult Fantasy, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Historical Romance, and Speculative Fiction. There is also an Outstanding Achievement Award given, an award for Best Novel by a Debut Author, Novel of the Year in Youth Fiction, and Novel of the Year in Adult Fiction.

Author Robison Wells

This year, I was very glad to learn that Robison Wells, the guy who came up with the idea initially, received the Outstanding Achievement Award (though he insists that the credit goes to others). I personally think he's very deserving of the award, and am glad it went to him.

The winner of Middle Grade went to Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers. I blogged about it and the other Whitney Finalists in Middle Grade on April 16th. You can read my blogpost about Paper Chains here.

The winner of Young Adult General went to By Your Side by Kasie West.

The winner of Young Adult Speculative went to Ones and Zeroes by Dan Wells.

The winner of Young Adult Fantasy went to Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves.

The winner of General Fiction went to The Fattest Mormon by Tyson Abaroa.

The winner of Historical Fiction was Condemn Me Not by Heather Moore. I read this book earlier in 2017, and really enjoyed it. I'm glad it won!

The winner of Mystery/Suspense was Safe House by Traci Hunter Abramson.

The winner of Romance was Lies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright. Julie Wright is a great friend of mine, and I am very pleased that her book won!

The winner of Historical Romance was Love Remains by Sarah M. Eden.

The winner of Speculative Fiction was The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg.

The Best Novel By A Debut Author went to The Hundreth Queen by Emily R. King.
And the Novel of the Year in Youth Fiction also went to The Hundreth Queen by Emily R. King. I loved this, because Ms. King (just one table away from me) had just accepted her award for Best Novel by a Debut Author and had barely sat down, breathing a relieve sigh, when she was called back to the podium again! I haven't read The Hundreth Queen, but I would bet it's a fantastic book!

The Best Novel of the Year in Adult Fiction went to Safe House by Traci Hunter Abramson.

Congratulations to all the Whitney Award Winners for 2017!