Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is an exciting, swashbuckling adventure that has retained its appeal to young and old, despite its being well over a century old. Young Jim Hawkins and his parents first meet a strange man who comes to their inn and wants a room. He's a strange sea faring man who seems a bit crazy, and has an unhealthy addiction to rum, as well as a fearful fixation on the idea of a sea faring man with one leg whom he constantly warns Jim about.

When his father dies of sickness, Jim and his mother are left alone to deal with their odd guest, but when their strange guest also dies, apparently of fear after a frightening confrontation with a strange blind man, both mother and son know they need to go for help, especially when they see mean looking sailors coming toward their inn. They run for it before the pirates can get to them, but they don't leave their inn empty handed. They take a strange map they found in their strange guest's sea chest. Is it a treasure map? Their friends, including Doctor Livesey thinks so. This begins Jim's adventure with Doctor Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollet, and the crew of the Hispaniola, including John Silver, who at first seems a descent man, but then Jim discovers a different, sinister side to him. Will Jim and the good guys be able to escape from Silver's wicked plans, or will they end up one of his many victims?

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is an enjoyable story for both kids and adults about little Almanzo Wilder and his life in New York State in the late 1800s. The story is both an enjoyable tale and a look at how life was like for farmers in that time.

He was a hard worker, and an honest young man, and didn't expect a lot. The chapter where he and his siblings were excited over a few Christmas presents was insightful about how people back then expected less. He got a few presents, including the present he loved the most, a cap with side flaps for his ears that buttoned on the top, and was absolutely delighted with it. He trains a couple of young oxen to be trusty workers, but what he wants the most, is to train a horse. Will his father trust him with the task, though?

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull is an exciting middle grade story about a group of friends who find themselves caught between warring magicians who are looking for a magical device in the kids' hometown of Coleson.

Nate, Pigeon, Summer, and Trevor, are three friends who at first think that Mrs. White, the owner of The Sweet Tooth and Candy Shoppe is a nice old lady who happens to have magical candy that can grant them temporary powers. But as they run errands for her, the errands become more and more sinister until the kids realize they've got to break their ties with Mrs. White before it's too late. But now that she's cast a spell over most of the town with her magical white fudge, who can the kids turn to? Will Mr. Stot, another magician, help them, or is he as bad as Mrs. White? And who is the strange man in the fedora going through town? Is he friend or foe? And can the kids escape the clutches of Mrs. White before it's too late?

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau continues the story of the people from the city of Ember after they were able to escape their dying city before the lights went out permanently. Led by Lina and Doon, they found their way to the outside world, but having few supplies and no skills in living on the outside, the people are worried.

But after following a path, they come upon the town of Sparks. Some people on the outside did indeed survive the Disaster, a series of plagues and wars, and have been using technology similar to the 1800s to grow crops and survive. They have trucks and other bits of old technology, but don't have the means to use it. When the people of Ember first arrive in Sparks, they are relieved that the people seem willing to help them. The people of Sparks share their food, and provide an old, run down hotel that has not otherwise been used, for their housing. But then tensions begin. There is enough food, but just barely, and differences in cultures and ways of thinking begin to set the two groups at odds against one another. And then when one boy from Sparks and one boy from Ember start playing mean tricks, it might just push things over the edge into an all our battle! Especially when the nephew of one of the town leaders is caught in a tree that was accidentally set on fire by the conflict between the two groups. But will Lina and Doon be able to do something? Will they be able to help their neighbors, save the boy, and bring peace to the two groups of people?

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau is a creative and interesting take on the Dystopian genre. Friends Lina and Doon and the rest of their city are starting to worry. Their refuge from the darkness, the city of Ember, is built underground as a desperate attempt to save at least some members of the human race from a coming disaster. This is made clear to the reader through backstory as well as foreshadowing, using the reader's understanding of life above ground.

The two friends and their whole city, not aware of anything else, all live comfortably beneath the electric lamps that give their city light as their ancestors have done for 200 years. But then the lights start to flicker, and they know there are not many supplies left in the once expansive store rooms beneath the city. But surely the Founders didn't leave them with no way to find another city if their supplies of lightbulbs dwindles to nothing? Then one day, after an especially long blackout, Lina finds her little sister chomping on an old piece of parchment that has old writing on it. It came out of a mysterious, old looking box. With Doon's help, and the help of some others, will Lina figure out what it means? And what if it is the instructions for them to find a way out of their slowly dying city?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Patrick Stewart

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an exciting and classic Christmas story, and A Christmas Carol Narrated by Patrick Stewart is especially delightful.

Mr. Stewart shows his great acting skills by showing the emotions, characters, and scenes of the story as vividly in a listener's mind, just with his voice, as if it were played in a movie. He showed the characters of Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchet, Marley's Ghost, and of course Ebenezer Scrooge himself with great skill. And the tone of his voice changed with the scenes, showing the emotions of each. I highly recommend this audiobook for anyone who enjoys A Christmas Carol.