A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843, is the story of a cranky old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, and what happens to him one Christmas Eve night when an old colleague, Jacob Marley, comes to visit him. What's astonishing, is that this old colleague has been dead for seven years! What does this old colleague tell him?

That he's got to change his ways if he doesn't want to meet the same fate! Jacob Marley is chained up, and doomed to wander the world witnessing what he can't share, but might have shared in life if he'd been a nicer man! Jacob Marley has also enlisted the help of three other spirits to show Scrooge the error of his ways. Will this be enough to convince Scrooge that he needs to be a nicer man? Read the book and find out!

Mustaches for Maddie by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris

Mustaches for Maddie by Shelly Brown and Chad Morris is an absolutely wonderful book based on a true story. Young Maddie, who loves mustaches, imagining, and her friends, is suddenly struck with the reality that she had a brain tumor and will need an operation. The reality of this situation is heavy for a young girl to deal with!

Thankfully she has the support of her family, and she finds out who her real friends at school are. Will her operation be successful? Will she figure out how to deal with the mean girl at school? And will she do a good job in the school play? Will she survive to perform in it? Read the book and find out! This book is a great book for middle grade readers up to adults!

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz and Jack Gruener

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz and Jack Gruener is based on the true story of Jack Gruener when he was younger, and his first name was Yanek (Polish for Jacob). Because Yanek is Jewish, he is in great danger when the Germans invade Poland.

Moved around from one concentration camp to another, Yanek doesn't know if he'll survive one day, let alone until the end of the war. Will he survive long enough for the Allies to reach him and rescue him and his fellow prisoners? This is a wonderful book that young people and older people would enjoy reading especially people interested in reading stories about World War 2.

Leven Thumps and The Ruins of Alder by Obert Skye

Leven Thumps and The Ruins of Alder by Obert Skye is the fifth and final book in the Leven Thumps series. The series is aimed at middle grade readers who would likely enjoy it. In it, Leven finds himself on the island of Alder trying to keep the dream world and reality from destroying each other.

Meanwhile, in reality, the Dearth is wreaking havoc with Winter, Geth, and Pheobe doing what they can to stop it, which isn't much. On Alder, Leven has to go from one trial to another to get to the oldest tree. What will happen there when he gets there, and will he succeed in saving the dream world and reality? Read the book and find out!

High School Musical performed by Duchesne High School Drama

Last night, I attended a really fun dinner theatre where Duchesne High School's drama department performed High School Musical. Gabriella is new in town, trying to find a place to fit in and make friends. She wants to try out for the high school musical, but is she being pulled in too many directions?

And will Troy a basketball player, and a budding actor, help her find her place, or is he too wrapped up in basketball to care for anything more than that? There are three more performances; one tonight at 6:30 at the elementary, one this coming Monday at 6:30 at the high school, and one this coming Tuesday at the Elementary. Tonight and Tuesday there will be a dinner served before the show. The musical was fun, and I really enjoyed it!

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

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, thirteen year old Harry is getting ready to start his third year at Hogwarts. Despite a bumpy end to the summer where he accidentally put a magic spell on his horrible uncle's equally horrible sister, Harry seems to be forgiven by the Ministry of Magic.

But when he finds out that Sirius Black, a convicted murderer has escaped from Azkaban, the infamous wizards' prison, he realizes that he needs to be careful. Sirius Black, after all, is the one convicted of helping to kill Harry's parents. And everyone is convinced that Sirius is after him! What is Harry going to do this year at Hogwarts? How will he be able to concentrate on his lessons when there's an insane murderer looking for him? And what will he do if he ever does come face to face with Sirius Black? Read the book and find out!

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

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, Harry is eager to start his second year at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His aunt, uncle, and cousin have been awful to him and to his owl Hedwig this summer.

But to Harry's despair, a house elf shows up and tells Harry he mustn't go back to Hogwarts because of danger that will be waiting for him there. But Harry has to go back! Hogwarts is his home, and he doesn't want to be anywhere else. But what is Harry, and his best friend Ron going to do when the portal to Platform 9 3/4 won't let them through to get on the Hogwarts Express? Read the book and find out!