Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, and Gordan Korman

Vespers Rising by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, and Gordan Korman is an action adventure book aimed at young readers. It is the eleventh book in the series, but I didn't feel lost as I listened to it (I listened to the audio book) despite not having read the others. The Cahill family has been at odds with the Vespers (and with each other) for centuries. The Vespers, a secret organization, have been looking for the 39 clues in order to take over the world, and the Cahills have been working to protect them. Amy and Dan, the modern day protagonists are working to stop the bad guys. But will they succeed?

Being in a series, the book ends with some questions answered, and others not. Young readers who enjoy books in a series and clues to follow will likely enjoy this book. Vespers Rising was published in 2011.

Rabbit Ears World Tales Volume Six: The Firebird and The Monkey People

Rabbit Ears World Tales Volume Six: The Firebird and The Monkey People is an enjoyable CD with two stories from different parts of the world. The Firebird is from Russia, and The Monkey People is from South America.

In The Firebird, a young man and a princess work together to outwit and defeat a wicked greedy king. And in The Monkey People, a group of people become so comically lazy that they want the monkeys (created magically from leaves) to do all their work for them. What eventually happens to the people? And do any of them learn not to be so lazy? This volume was published in 2007.

Rabbit Ears World Tales Volume Three Anansi and East of the Sun, West of the Moon

I listened to another CD titled Rabbit Ears World Tales #3. It contained the folk Tales East of the Sun, West of the Moon, from Russia and Anansi from Jamaica. Anansi is a silly fellow. He is mischevious and clever, not bad-hearted, but gets into trouble.

He reminds me of the character Coyote from Ancient American stories. In one story, he wants to be the keeper of all the stories instead of Tiger. Is he successful in his goal? In another story, he wants to appear important during his mother-in-law's funeral and decides to go all week without eating. Does he make his goal, or does his pride backfire on him?

In East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a young girl goes on a journey to free her boyfriend who has been bewitched. She has to go "east of the sun, and west of the moon" to save him! Will she be successful?

Rabbit Ears: Native American Heroines

I listened to the single CD of Rabbit Ears: Native American Heroines, and really enjoyed it. The narrators did a wonderful job. One story was the relatively well known tale of Sacagawea and everything she did. I liked how the reunion with her brother was portrayed. The other story was the tale of a chief's daughter, Princess Scargo, who received a giant pumpkin filled with live fish!

She kept them similarly to how a child today might take care of fish in a tank. But what will she do, when the rains fail, and the fish in the rivers begin to die out? Her people are able to dam up a small lake, but so many fish have been killed by the drought, that her people are afraid they may not be able to repopulate for years and years. So what does she do? Listen to the story and find out! This audiobook was first published in 2007.

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

The Ruins of Gorland by John Flanagan begins with young Will hoping to be accepted as an apprentice warrior. Or at the very least, a trainer for the warrior's horses. But because he's so small, he isn't accepted in either of those schools, or any of the schools that are looking for apprentices.

He has too big a reputation of getting into trouble. But...the Rangers want him to join their mysterious and secretive group. He has skills they've noticed. Being able to keep from being seen, hiding in the shadows, climbing into places an ordinary person couldn't. And why do the Rangers want him? War is brewing, and they need all the help they can get. The evil lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night is looking for revenge. This is a fun book, and appropriate for all ages! Kids and adults who enjoy action and fantasy would enjoy this book. The Ruins of Gorlan, the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series was published in 2006.