Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink is a delightful story about a girl growing up in the 19th century in Wisconsin. Caddie gets into lots of adventures and scrapes with her brothers since her parents let her be an outdoorsy tomboy. Her mother isn't too happy about it, but Caddie loves her life. She is able to go on all sorts of adventures with her brothers, and makes friends with Native Americans, especially John and John's Dog, and when her neighbors fear that the Natives will turn on them and talk about attacking them, it's Caddie who is able to ride to the Indians' camp and warn them. Caddie finds herself in all sorts of trouble sometimes though because of her wild ways, and when the teasing of her cousin Annabelle goes too far, what will happen?

Readers who enjoy books like Anne of Green Gables would enjoy reading Caddie Woodlawn. Caddie Woodlawn was first published in 1935.

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis may be my personal favorite of The Chronicles of Narnia. Mostly because when I first experienced the story as a young person, I was found myself relating to Jill Pole. She and Eustace Scrubb, after running away from some bullies, find their way into Narnia. A place where Eustace has been before, but not Jill. After a panic attack on the edge of a very high cliff, and accidentally tossing Eustace off (he doesn't die!) Jill meet Aslan who gives her some instructions which she has to take to Eustace in order to have his help in right a wrong that has come to the kingdom of Narnia, and the family of an old friend of Eustace's. With the help of a marshwiggle, the two teenagers set off on an adventure to save the king's lost son. But as they run into one problem after another, the group starts to get discouraged. If you want to find out what happens next, read this exciting book! The Silver Chair was first published in 1953.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Perhaps the most popular of the books in The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is an exciting adventure following four siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Lucy first stumbled into a strange world when hiding in a wardrobe, and soon, after some misunderstand, and some rather unkind behavior on Edmund's part, the others find their way there, as well. This magical realm is not at all a safe place for them, since there is an evil queen who wants to kill any sons of Adam and daughters of Eve (humans) she finds. And the four siblings are exactly that. But with Edmund having been tricked by the evil queen, the other three find themselves in danger! Read the book to find out what happens next in this fun fantasy adventure! The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was first published in 1949.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis is the first, chronologically, anyway, in the Chronicles of Narnia. Friends Diggory and Polly are trying to do some exploring in the attic of the townhouse in which they live when they accidentally stumble upon Diggory's weird uncle in his attic study. Some funny yellow and green rings on a tray catch Polly's attention, and when she touches one, she suddenly disappears, much to Diggory's horror, and his uncle's amusement! What Diggory does to rescue her leads into the rest of the story involving a dying world, an evil queen, and the birth of a wonderful series! If you enjoy middle grade fantasy with strong Christian metaphors, you will enjoy the Chronicles of Narnia, in particular, The Magician's Nephew!

The Magician's Nephew was first published in 1955.

Children of the Lamp: The Cobra King of Kathmandu by Philip Kerr

The Cobra King of Kathmandu by Philip Kerr

is the third book in the Children of the Lamp series, and is another exciting adventure for the twins, John and Phillipa Gaunt. This time, the twins are trying to help their friend Buck find out who murdered his friend. Their search takes them to India and to the Cult of the Nine Cobras, and its repulsive leader. Their Uncle Nimrod would usually help them, but he's off on another adventure of his own, so they take their butler, Mr. Gronin. But when Mr. Gronin is captured by the cult, what are the twins and Buck going to do? This is an exciting middle grade book that young people as well as adults would enjoy. This book was copyrighted in 2007.

The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey

The Heart of the Rebellion by Sian Ann Bessey

is an enjoyable medieval romance filled with a mix of historical people as well as fictional characters. Rhys ap Tudor and his brothers are drawn by honor into the Welsh rebellion after Henry IV imposes heavy and unfair taxes upon the Welsh people. Meanwhile, Lady Catrin Buckley feels compassion for the people from whom her mother comes. Despite being the daughter of an English Lord, she is also the daughter of a Welsh woman. And though her mother has died, she still feels a pull toward the land and people. When she meets Rhys ap Tudor, she feels both a kinship with him because of the duty he feels toward liberating the Welsh people, as well as a strong attraction toward Rhys himself. But her father has recently betrothed her to a man she doesn't love. What are Catrin and Rhys to do? This story is an enjoyable, clean romance which I really liked, and which I recommend to readers of historical fiction. The Heart of the Rebellion was published in 2019.

Beyond the Mask- Movie Review

Beyond the Mask produced by the Burns Family Studios is an interesting action movie set during the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. William Reynolds has been a mercenary for the East India Company. But when he is betrayed and double crossed by his boss, he sets out to make a new life for himself. Trying to stay one step ahead of his former boss, he finds his way to America, and in his efforts to clear his name, and win back the trust of his sweetheart Charlotte, he bungles things up. But in his efforts to make his mistake right, he finds the support of Charlotte as well as Benjamin Franklin. Will he be able to undo a plot to blow up Independence Hall? I liked the movie, though it was a bit choppy in places, and some things weren't explained as well as they could have been. Still, it was a clean, uplifting movie with exciting action and a very obvious religious theme of redemption and grace. John Rhys-Davies did a wonderful job as the antagonist, and Andrew Cheney and Kara Killmer did great as the hero and heroine. Beyond the Mask is copyrighted 2015.