Mine Is the Night

In 1745, Scotland was thrown into disarray and turmoil. For years, the people of this frigid northern land had been subject to the cruel treatment of their king. Ruling the land with an iron fist, King George cared little for his people; he taxed them mercilessly, demanded that they obey his every command, and punished any and all Scots who refused to conform to the state church of Scotland. Unwilling to let this tyrant's reign continue, a small but brave group called the Jacobites rose up to challenge the king; they alone dared to seek a new beginning for Scotland. Mine Is the Night, by Liz Curtis Higgs, is not the story of the Jacobite rebellion; rather it is the story of those who saw the conflict unfold, the story of those who lived to tell the tale.

Elizabeth never thought her life would turn out like this. She had supported the Jacobite cause because her husband had fought with it; she had spurned King George's authority in the hopes of creating a better Scotland. She had seen a brighter future for herself in the Jacobite cause. Now, a year after the Jacobite rebellion, all that Elizabeth had hoped for has vanished. The cause failed, Scotland remained the same, and, because she defied the king, everything Elizabeth lived for was taken away from her. Traveling with her mother-in-law Marjory, another casualty of the rebellion, Elizabeth is seeking out a new life and a fresh start. Rebuilding her life isn't going to be easy, but Elizabeth is determined to try. With hope in her heart, God's promise of provision in mind, and the love of good friends in her soul, she is ready to take the next step into a new life.

I was pleasantly surprised when I finished this book. I didn't expect it to be such a good read but I am glad that I was mistaken. I picked up Mine is the Night randomly and decided to read it, if only to shorten my reading list. It had been sitting on my shelf for years and I had no desire to read it so I let it sit. I have read other books by Liz Curtis Higgs, one of which, Whence Came a Prince, is reviewed on this blog. I didn't like that book and found the story and writing sloppy. I expected the same from Mine is the Night. Luckily, the book dispelled all my worries in its first few pages. Unlike Whence Came a Prince, this book had wonderful writing, a solid story, and likable characters that are instantly enduring. I found the characters likable because they seem like real people, they have messy lives that they have to work through, they are not written as flawless protagonists. The book took a simple premise and expanded it into an interesting story that I highly recommend. I do think that the book is better suited for older readers because of some intense situations later in the book and parents may want to pre-read chapter 61 and decide if their child is ready for it's content, (the chapter depicts an assault.) But aside from that, all kinds of readers can enjoy this book. A nice diversion from what I thought is was going to be, Mine is the Night shouldn't be overlooked.



*****
RJ

Photo Credit: Goodreads 

Keeping Secrets

The Civil War was perhaps the darkest time in America's history. It wasn't as bloody as World War I or II, it wasn't as pointless as the Great Depression, and it wasn't a desperate fight for freedom like the Revolutionary War. But it represented the depth to which people can sink; it was the split of a nation that had become the most free in the world, and it tore America apart at the seams. Families were divided and thousands of lives were destroyed simply because two sides couldn't see eye to eye and refused to hear each other out. Witness to all this horror and trapped in the middle of it were the Kelly children. Their story can be found in the Orphan Train Series by Joan Lowery Nixon, and in the sixth book in the series, Keeping Secrets. 

Peg Kelly has watched the Civil War rage on for years now. She's seen it ravage its way across America, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. She saw her siblings rise up to join the fight; she saw them stand up for what they believed in. They came through each trial they faced; they came out bruised and scared but as stronger people. And Peg feels that she is ready to do the same. But Peg, the youngest Kelly girl, is only eleven. The biggest challenges in her life are surviving school and turning twelve. Her mother refuses to treat her like a young lady and no one thinks Peg is old enough or mature enough to do anything for her country - that is except for her brother, Danny, and Miss Hennessy, a new friend who seems ready to trust Peg with anything. And when Miss Hennessy needs help, Peg might just get the chance to help her country yet.

I have read and reviewed the entire Orphan Train series now. I didn't read them in order and there were some books that I liked better than others, but all of them are now reviewed on this blog. This series was geared towards middle school and younger kids, and age demographic that I am not in, but, despite that, I found a couple of the books in the series entertaining if not enjoyable. Sadly, Keeping Secrets was not one of them. The book has many issues that should be addressed: the pacing is strange; the author spends too much time on uninteresting things like laundry and skims over pivotal parts of the story; the main character, Peg Kelly, is a very passive character who spends the book doing nothing and observing what others are doing. It seems like the author put Peg in the story to be the main character but was more interested in other characters and spent more time developing them. Because of this, for the first several chapters I had a hard time remembering who the actual main character was; and the book missed a huge opportunity for some solid character building on Peg's part. As an eleven year old girl she is struggling with very relatable issues, issues that could have been explored further as a lesson to the younger readers who might be struggling with some of the same things. But unfortunately Peg never actually overcomes her struggles they all just magically disappear in time for the exiting climax to the story. Perhaps I'm just too old for this book series and younger kids with enjoy it. Maybe this last book was just too juvenile for me to find it believable. Overall I found this book unsatisfying and found myself wishing I was reading something else.


*****
RJ


Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Havah

Havah, by Tosca Lee, is a novel telling the story of Eve, the first woman to exist. The novel is written in memoir form from Eve's own perspective, and covers everything from her creation, to her death.

The story starts in the Garden of Eden, when Eve first comes to life, learns about the world around her, and has a personal relationship with God, or, as the book addresses him, The One. However, there is a tree she has seen, and been warned not to touch, as it will lead to death, a strange concept for someone immortal. But with the coaxing of a snake, Eve and her husband Adam eat the fruit, banishing themselves from The One.

I liked this book and thought it was a fresh perspective on the story of creation, and Adam and Eve's lives after the fall. I would not recommend this book to children, though, because the first few chapters have many sexual innuendos regarding Adam and Eve.

*****
AK

Lighthouse

Lighthouse, by Eugenia Price, is the first book in the Saint Simon's trilogy. It's a retelling of the building of the first lighthouse built on Saint Simons Island and follows the life of James Gould, who eventually built that lighthouse.

James Gould is portrayed as a very somber, matter of fact young man who has never been without responsibility. His father was badly injured in the Revolutionary War and can really only sit in the house all day. His mother has never really paid James any mind and always assumed that he would take care of himself. James' brother, Horace, is his mother's favorite; he has a very happy go lucky disposition that everyone but James finds charming. After his father dies, James goes off to find work as a builder, his adventures take him all sorts of places, and he becomes a successful business man. His dream is to build a lighthouse, though, and that dream seems too out of reach for a logical man like James.

I enjoyed this book; it was a sweet story of a somber man finding love, joy, and success. If you like historical fiction, then try out Lighthouse. It's a win!


*****
AK

Roots

There is something about history that I find very interesting. I've been studying it for years and have read about many centuries and still haven't gotten tired of it. Perhaps it's the mysteries of long ago eras, where the norm was so much different than today, or maybe it's the sheer elegance found in the pages of history. Many things make the study of history exciting, but I think the most interesting part of history is the people who lived in it. History is full of people who lived very interesting lives, they are remembered throughout the ages. But what's most intriguing is the realization that these faces of history were real people. They lived the lives that were normal to them and were as human as anyone. Sometimes you can trace these faces of history all the way down to today, history transcending time to become real. I recently read a book that did exactly this; it linked generations of history together as one narrative. It was called Roots by Alex Haley. 

When Kunta Kinte was a young man, he never would have guessed that he would be the patron of a long family line. Growing up in Africa, his only thought was to gain the favor of his father and grow into a revered man. Then one day his whole world, including his plans, was shattered. While out walking alone, Kunta was jumped, bound, and kidnapped by white slave traders who, with no regard for the young man's life, placed him on a ship heading to America. Once there, Kunta had to rebuild his life and adapt to a future he hadn't expected or wanted. While he wouldn't live to see its far reaching effects, Kunta's capture turned into something good; he would start a family that would travel down through the ages. His family would see the good and the bad and live through the greatest upheavals in American history. The family would see America, break apart, and then rebuild itself, and its members would build themselves up with it. They would be a true American family, proud, loyal, and always free.

Before I critique this book, I want to make it known that I really wanted to like it. I was expecting to put it on my list of good books. But, sadly, this book just couldn't make the leap to the good side of literature because, Roots makes some critical mistakes that caused me to dislike it. Roots is one of the longest books I've read, and it's also frightfully boring. It started out with the promise of introducing us to Kunta, a likable character who really grows as a person over the course of the story. But by the time his part of the story ends, the book is half over and the other seven generations of Kunta's family aren't even born yet. Roots spends too much time on a few character arcs and has to graze over the rest, creating a weird pacing that throws the reader off. By the end of the book the author had breezed past so many generations that I found it hard to feel connected to the characters anymore. In addition, the book head-hops between characters, in the middle of a chapters, so much that I had a difficult time keeping track of who was talking or thinking. Finally, while this book is very detailed, there are parts that are described in detail that should be left to the imagination. I would also caution parents before a child reads this and only recommend it to high school and older. It could have been a great book and some people may still like it. But I feel that Roots tried to do too much at once and ended up creating more of a mess than a complex story.


*****
RJ

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Sense and Sensibility

The words "classic literature" brings to mind many different things: dusty old books a hand length wide, the charming English countryside, demure ladies and dashing men, and language so flowery that you can almost smell it. Many people are daunted by classic literature; they claim it would be too hard to read the works so why bother at all. This is a real shame because among the ranks of classic literature there are some brilliant works that everyone should eventually read. But there are also some very bad classic books that aren't worth the read. There is a good kind of classic and a bad kind; something like Wuthering Heights is an example of good. Unfortunately, this is a book review about a bad classic.

Sense and Sensibility is a product of its time. Considered  a romantic comedy, this book is not very romantic or funny. The story follows the daily lives of the Dashwood sisters, confident, levelheaded Elinor who spends her time in polite society and lovesick pianist and daydreamer, Marianne who would rather spend her days roaming over the green hills and little rivers around her home. Together these sisters navigate the perils of English society, endure tea time with notorious gossips, and spend their time conquering the height of 1790s drama. On top of all that, there's love and betrayal to navigate and the sensitive issue of over-staying their welcome at a friend's house. Gasp!

I didn't like this book at all. While I normally love the classics and all their idiosyncrasies, I found Sense and Sensibility quite hard to read. The language is so embellished that the small story line there is gets lost between overly polite banter and senseless phrases. The story began well enough, but was focused on only one problem; once that issue came to head in chapter five, the rest of the book dragged, with characters eloquently reiterating the problem every other page. Finally, while Sense and Sensibility was written in 1811, so the characters are characteristic of that time era, I can't stand the wilting flower attitude of every woman in the story. Their tendency to faint into nearby furniture upon hearing something slightly inconvenient or constantly complaining of their delicate constitutions makes the characters very unlikable and had me screaming at the page for them to man up. 

Read Sense and Sensibility only if you have to or, instead, spend your time reading Wuthering Heights or Dracula. 

*****

RJ

Photo Credit: Amazon UK

Wuthering Heights

Cold, windy, flat, and grassy. That's how I can describe the English moors; a land all on its own, the moors seem other-worldly. Only the most desperate people would make a living here, carving out a life from the rough, craggy cliffs and beating out happiness from the howling winds. The moors hardly seem the proper setting for a love story, and yet Emily Bronte did it. She set one of the most famous stories of passion her only novel, Wuthering Heights in this wind swept locale. Perhaps this is why Wuthering Heights works, the moors' coldness contrasted by fiery passion, and the stone cliffs' roughness overshadowed by a loves' tenderness. Drawing from her own home  on the moors, Emily Bronte's novel is as beautiful as an English spring while still remaining oddly mysterious like the moors of Wuthering Heights.

Who can know the depraved mind; who can find the man behind the beast? When Emily Bronte created the man Heathcliff, she created a very unique monster: a man who had spent his childhood on the moors, a gypsy with an unknown past, a man who only knew how to hate because all he had ever known was people's hatred for him. It seems inconceivable that anyone could love Heathcliff. But then Bronte created Cathy, a woman who was the complete opposite of Heathcliff and yet his equal in every way. Cathy loved a monster; she gave him part of herself. This is a story of forbidden love that spans two generations, a story of passion born on the moors, passion that is strong, strange, and everlasting even beyond death.

I found this book quite interesting but a little strange. While I like classics, and this is definitely that, I have a genuine dislike for many of the characters. The story its self is well written and tells a fascinating tale, but most of the characters are so rude, conniving, and ill tempered that I found it very hard to be invested in their struggles. Written in 1800s English, the languages is flowery and some might find it hard to read. There is also one character who speaks with such a thick Gaelic accent (the words are written how they would be spoken) I couldn't understand them. Wuthering Heights is an interesting book and is worthy of being a classic; I think it's a book everyone should eventually read. But there are many other classics which are much better and worth more time.

*****
RJ

O Pioneers!

O Pioneers! is a novel written in 1913 by Willa Cather. This book spans more than 16 years and follows the life of a young pioneer woman determined not to give up and to turn a small Nebraska homestead into a prosperous farm.

Alexandra Bergson lives in Nebraska with her father, mother, and three brothers. When her father unfortunately dies and leaves the land to Alexandra, she must decide whether to sell it or to farm it. As the years pass, it becomes a successful farm, but troubles for the Bergson family aren't over yet, as Alexandra's beau meets with disapproval and one of her brothers falls for a married woman.

I enjoyed the format of this novel and how it spreads across a long period of time. I started to feel attached to the characters and they felt like real people. If you're a fan of classic literature, be sure to check out O Pioneers!.

*****
AK

A Tale of Two Cities

As with Shakespeare, I think a lot of people are reluctant to try reading Dickens. Both authors are from a different time and wrote their works in a language that is dying out. No one speaks like Dickens wrote; therefore, we find it hard to comprehend and read. But Dickens demands to be read. In the pages of his novels he has created stories that are important, gorgeous, and worth the effort. Dickens is the creator of many stunning and intriguing characters set against the backdrop of familiar places in a different time. His stories pull you in, his settings dazzle you, and his characters find a special place in your heart. One of his best known works, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, is a masterpiece that should be read by everyone.

"Rebellion!" everyone cried. The poor fought back against their oppressors and sought to create a France where poverty was destroyed and every man, woman, and child had an equal share. But with the overthrowing of the monarchy there arose a new oppressor. France itself became the dictator of its people and buried them in the blood of those who dared to fight back. There was nothing except death, mire, and poverty, and over it all hung the shadow of the guillotine. France's cruel mistress who daily called thousands to her to die. As the book says, It was the best of times, in was the worst of times.

Caught in the middle of the bloodbath were fair Lucy, Charles, and their only child. Victims of a world that was burning around them, they desperately sought a way to return to the safety of England. They wanted to survive; Lucy knew she must survive for her child. Accompanying them were four companions, Dr. Manette; Lucy's father and a former prisoner of the Bastille; Mr. Lorry and Sydney Carton, family friends who would do anything for their dear friends; and Miss Pross, a dear companion to Lucy who loved her like a daughter. Everyone was in danger and no one dared to hope. England seemed so far way and to return to it sacrifices must be made. Someone might have to die to save the others.

It is a far far better thing I do, than I have ever done. I'm sure these words will stay with me for a while. I put off reading A Tale of Two Cities and now I regret waiting so long. While horribly sad and gruesome, this Dickens novel is a gem. Written in gorgeous language, this story of hope in bleak times and sacrificing for the ones you love fills your heart and then crushes it with tragedy. Yet it ends with hope for the characters and is one of the better books I've read in a while. While the language is old - fashioned and the writing flowery, all that is superseded by the beautiful story and wonderfully crafted characters. Be prepared to cry at the end of this book. Though sad, A Tale of Two Cities should be read and appreciated.

Photo Credit: Classical Conversations Books

*****
RJ

Juliet's Moon

In my last book review - of The Color of the Soul - I said there were many different sides to the Civil War. And there were. You can find the stories of the life and times of southern gentlemen, northern ladies, children caught in between, slaves who wanted freedom so badly that they risked dying to get it. There are stories of northern politicians who debated how to stop the war, southern generals with men to command, and even the stories of presidents who were trying to hold the country together. When you pick up a book about the Civil War, not all the characters were real people. But in Juliet's Moon by Ann Rinaldi you'll find the story of real people who lived through the split and reunification of a nations.

Juliet Bradshaw has nothing left. After seeing her father shot and killed by Union soldiers and watching as her family's beautiful farmhouse burns to the ground, she wonders where she can go. She is not completely alone; she has her older brother Seth. But he is always away fighting the Union army with a group of renegade bushwackers. There is also Martha, a friend who has been like a mother to Juliet. But even with what's left of her family with her, Juliet still feels alone and completely lost in the chaos of the war around her. She finds hope and friendship in a woman soldier and spy named Sue Maudy, but what happens when Sue Maudy entrusts Juliet with a terrible secret, one that could cause the death of everyone she loves?

I have read a book by Ann Rinaldi before and enjoyed it very much. Rinaldi's writing style is interesting and really engages the reader in her story. Sadly, I think that this book fell short of that former book. The chapters in this novel felt choppy and a little unfinished, with some chapters being only two if three pages long. Parts of this book moved too fast and I found it hard to catch important details. On the other hand, though, the story was very intriguing and I found myself wanting more of it. It was also very interesting how Rinaldi had some made up characters interacting with real people who lived through the Civil War. One note for parents: there is a character in this book who is a man but dresses as a woman; he is not transgender but only dresses as a woman because he is undercover. Also, there are some very intense chapters and the author didn't shy away from graphically describing the drama, including the use of vile language. Use caution when letting younger children read this. In a nutshell, this could have been a great book, but it was a little jumbled and it was hard to understand in some places. Yet the story is an interesting one and the book is good once you get use to the writing style.

*****
RJ

The Color of the Soul

There were many different sides to the Civil War. There were people on all sides of the fighting. These people were not just faces in old photographs or names in the family tree. They were people; they lived lives like we all do. They lived in a time when life was torn apart by war and they either had to give up and die or scratch and claw out a living to survive. They had to pick sides against their neighbors and family. They all had to fight to survive the Civil War. And after the war ended, these people had to put their lives back together piece by piece and slowly mend the bonds of a broken family. The Color of the Soul by Tracey Bateman is the story of these people - people who refused to die and kept on living when their world was falling apart.

Andy has lived his whole life resenting where he came from and the parents who sent him away when he was only six years old. Though being sent away to Chicago has given Andy opportunities that a black man otherwise wouldn't get in 1948, he still wants to know who his family was and why he was sent away. But when Andy gets the chance to go back to Georgia, the trip is much more dangerous than he thought it would be. Miz Penbrook wants to write her memories before she dies; there are things she has kept hidden for far too long. Stories from her past and the Old South that need to see the light of day. Truths about her own life and about Andy's that she finally has to admit. 

This was a very interesting book! Tracey Bateman has presented a whopper of a book that asks a very pressing question; "What is the color of you soul?" While I think in some parts of the book the story gets a little too complicated and parts of it move too fast to be understandable, the story in general was very intriguing. Children under 14 should not read this book though! There are some very intense chapters involving the Klu Klux Klan and their warped brand of justice, as well as mentions to sex and rape. These topics should be approached delicately with kids under 14, and this book is not exactly subtle. But in the long run this is a very good book with an important message that I think everyone should take time to read. This book dares to ask, "Does your outer skin color matter? Or does the color of your soul?"

*****

RJ

A Coming Evil

Perhaps the most written about time in history is World War II. It seems that there a dozens of books written about this war, dozens of books with many stories to tell. After all, many different countries, cities, towns, and people were affected by World War II. It's no wonder that their stories are constantly resurfacing and being put to print. The time of the Nazis' regime was perhaps the bleakest in human history, a time when no one knew what tomorrow would bring, a time when people feared an evil power that was taking over the world, and a time when heroes were made - brave men and women who would not let darkness snuff out light. A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde tells the story of one of these heroes, the story of a girl who wouldn't give up.

Lisette hated the country; she hated everything about it. She couldn't believe that her parents would send her away from Paris to live on a small farm with the aunt she barely know and the cousin she couldn't stand. Lisette couldn't find a reason to enjoy any of it, but then it only gets worse. Unknown to herself and her parents, her aunt has been secretly housing and caring for five children, three Jews and two Gypsies. If the Nazis find them, the children will be taken away and Lisette's aunt will be killed. And now that Lisette knows too, she will be punished as well. On top of all that, the hill near Lisette's aunt's house is said to be haunted. Lisette says she doesn't believe in spooks, but what will happen when she comes face to face with a ghost?

This book was very strange. It felt like the author didn't quite know what sort of story she wanted to write. It seems to be two completely different stories, one about the real life heroism of normal people during World War II, and a second about older history and a ghost hunt. Either story could have been good on its own, but lumping them together doesn't work. Also, I will not give it away, but the final plot twist in chapter 20 made no sense and actually angered me a bit. The twist seems like an afterthought and left me with more questions than answers. That said, technically this book is well written aside from a few chapters where Vivian Vande Velde dumped too much information to the page. I would advise that parents exercise caution when letting their younger children read this book; after all, it is set during World War II and talks a great deal about the Holocaust. Like I said before, this was a strange book and, while a younger reader might enjoy it, it is not for everyone.

*****
RJ

The Virginian

There are so many stories about the Old West, a time all its own and uniquely strange. We have all heard stories of the West: the vast open plains and prairies full of tumbleweed and framed by tall snow capped mountains; the lonely towns sitting out in the desert with a few dusty cowboys walking about; the saloon and the bank, the church that doubles as a school; all covered by a thin layer of humidity and sand. And we see the cowboy on his horse, the righteous character of the story, a tall man with a dark hat pulled over his eyes This is what we call the Old West; this is what we are used to. The Virginian by Owen Wister is all this and more; it shows the Old West the way we know it but also with a bit of something new.

No one really knows who The Virginian is; he is many different things. To his boss he is a hard working man who can be trusted, to his friends he is a quiet, stoic man who can drink them under the table anytime, and to his few enemies he is a force to be reckoned with and a fast gun. But he is still a mystery to everyone - a man with seemingly no past, no family, and no permanent home. Then Molly Wood comes to town. She is fiercely independent and The Virginian's opposite in every way. But when fate throws these two together, they can become a perfect team. The Virginian may be the only person who can tame Molly, and she might be the only person The Virginian will open up to.

This book was very interesting to read. Written in 1902, it is very much a product of its time; the language is very eloquent and flowery, which made it a little hard to read at times. There are also some very long chapters. The biggest problem with this book is the way in which it is written. While it starts out as a second person narrative, the character who is narrating slowly falls out of the story and he is replaced by a third person narrator. These two narratives switch back and forth over the course of the book, making it a little hard to read and a little mentally jarring. What I did like about this book, though, was how neatly if finished. Many things happen in the book and I thought a lot of them were going to get lost at the end, but every one of them is finalized and ended by the last chapter, leaving me with a sense of satisfaction. The ending itself is also wonderful with a nice aftertaste of happiness and joy. Aside from a few things, this book was very good and worth at least a try - another notch to add to my classic books holster (pun intended.)

*****
RJ

Cast Two Shadows

In 1776, the colonists of America started a war against Great Britain. They began a fight for freedom from tyranny, daring to dream of a free country. While the revolution started out as a grand and glorious fight for liberty, it soon became very obvious that war was nothing to be proud of; it kills young men in the fields, destroys families forever, and sets father and son against each other. But for the cause of liberty the patriots fought on through the war and bought their freedom dearly. Cast Two Shadows by Ann Rinaldi paints a picture of the end of the revolution perfectly. Through the eyes of a young southern girl, we see the other side of the war and exactly what fighting does to families.

Caroline has people hanging inside her - not literally, but she has seen things. She has seen the horrible things that the British have done; she's seen what war can do. The British killed her friend, a boy she had grown up with. It all happened so fast. One moment he was with her, her childhood friend, riding over the hills with her and the next he was just a hanging body in a tree. He's gone but he still hangs inside Caroline, and she is determined that she will not let anyone else hand beside him. So when Caroline has the chance to save her brother's life, she goes to help him. But the way to him is full of danger and British soldiers. Will Caroline be able to save her brother in time and will she learn something about herself along the way?

I loved this book, while it is probably below my reading level it was still great. It was a little slow to start but Ann Rinaldi still offers up and interesting perspective of the Revolutionary War from the point of view of the south. The pacing was almost perfect and Rinaldi's characters and descriptions jumped right off the page. I do recommend that only kids 12 and up read this book, as there is a bit of langues and several chapters with gruesome descriptions and thing that might upset younger children. Parents should also be aware that the book mentions things like mistresses and "confusing" family angles. But, in general, this was a good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it and think it is worth a read.

*****
RJ

Beauty's Daughter

Beauty's Daughter by Carolyn Meyer is the story of what might have happened to Helen of Troy's daughter as she grew up on a war front without a mother.

Hermione was the daughter of King Menelaus and the spectacular beauty, Queen Helen. taking totally after her father, and her brother taking after Helen, Hermione was a bit resentful until Paris of Troy came and spirited Helen and her brother away. Left with her vengeance-seeking father, Hermione will journey to far off troy for a great war.

I very much enjoyed this book. I have read it twice for its beautiful composition of suspense, action, and romance. I recommend it to you if you are interested in those things, for Beauty's Daughter has it all.


*****
AK

A Dangerous Promise

We have followed the Kelly children through many things; we've seen them go West on the orphan train and watched them get adopted by several different families. Each one has faced his or her own challenges and gone on their own adventure, each one more dangerous or exciting than the last. But there is an even bigger problem heading for the Kellys and one of them will land right in the middle of it. A Dangerous Promise by Joan Lowery Nixon continues the story of Mike, the oldest Kelly boy, as he runs straight into the biggest fight in American history, the Civil War.

Even though he is three years below the minimum age to enlist, Mike Kelly is determined to become a soldier - a navy blue clad soldier of the Union army. Now that war has officially broken out, Mike can't wait to turn 16 to fight so he comes up with a plan. The army needs drummers to lead the battle charges and direct the troops and - best of all - drummers didn't need to be 16. So, drum in hand and best friend at his side, Mike sets off to enlist. But war is not for anyone, let alone little boys with big dreams - a sad lesson that Mike will soon learn.  

This book was okay. While it is a nice enough continuation of the Orphan Train Adventures series, I did not enjoy it that much. Perhaps it's just because I don't like books about war or this time era, but I found this book boring and/or too quick moving. I think that Joan Lowery Nixon tried to do too much with this one; the book is 148 pages but had the action I would expect from a 200 or more page book. Some of the chapters seemed too full and should have been spread out more. The writing was good though, and this book does add on the series as a whole. 

*****

RJ

Black Beauty

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell was first published in 1877 and is focused on the mistreatment of  animals in that time. Sewell had first hand knowledge of the horrible conditions faced by many horses and she was compelled to write the book.

Black Beauty is an English horse who was born on a beautiful farm and treated well. Through the course of the story, he is passed to many other masters, some good, some bad. Along the way, he makes friends and learns about the world through a horse's perspective.

I would honestly recommend this book to anyone, other than a very sensitive child because, while the book does talk about horse beatings, it isn't in detail. This is a lovely story that I would read again.

*****
AK

A Touch of Stardust

A Touch of  Stardust, by New York Times bestselling author Kate Alcott, is a novel about life in the Golden Age of Hollywood. This, however, is an inside look into the lives of the stars.

Julie Crawford comes to Hollywood hoping to get a job as a screenwriter. Her big break comes when she gets a job working for Carole Lombard. Julie will watch the magic of Gone with the Wind unfold, as well as the romance of Lombard and Clark Gable.

I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up because of details regarding the Gable - Lombard affair, other Hollywood scandals, and the protagonist's own love life. All in all, an enjoyable read about the Golden Age of film.

*****
AK

Captain from Castile

Captain from Castile by Samuel Shellabarger is an adventure book set in the 16th century, when the Inquisition ruled and a new world of treasure awaited.

Pedro de Vargas is a young, wealthy Spanish youth. His father is an elderly and respected knight. Pedro has everything he would ever want but when his family is taken by the Inquisition, he must set them free and travel to the new world of Mexico for a new life.

This was a great book. I recommend it to anyone 13 and up. There is some questionable content when a woman becomes pregnant without being married and this is celebrated. Other than that, it's a good book.

*****
AK

My Brother Sam is Dead

Oftentimes we glorify the Revolutionary War, the glorious fight that freed America from British rule, the conflict that made heroes out of George Washington, John Adams, and Paul Revere. The fight for America's freedom, we call it. But amid the glory, we forget how brutal the war really was. It tore families apart, killed thousands of men, and changed an entire country. We forget that while George Washington was fighting his way up and down the eastern seaboard, there were regular people trying to live their lives, everyday civilians who wanted nothing to do with the fighting. Ordinary people caught up in the crossfire of two armies. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier tells the story of one ordinary family divided and torn apart, of one little boy in the middle of a great big war.

Tim had always looked up to his big brother Sam. Sam was everything Tim wanted to be: smart, brave, confidant, and bold enough to stand up to Father. Their father was the most frightening man in Redding, but Sam was never afraid to stand nose to nose with him, especially now that war has broken out. Father was a Tory and Sam was a Patriot, and each was determined to have his way. Tim didn't know what side of the Revolution he was on, and try as he might, he couldn't pick one side or the other; he was certain he'd know when he got older, but what happens when you're forced to grow up sooner then you thought?

I did not particularly like this book; while the writing was good and there were a few interesting twists, the title is a huge deal breaker. Spoiler Warning...Sam dies! The title says it and gives away what could have been a huge shock to the reader. But even the way the authors handled the death was unsatisfying. Through the whole book, I knew Sam was going to die so it came as no surprise when he did, but - another Spoiler Warning - he doesn't die till the very last sentence of the very last chapter, even then he's killed for cattle stealing, which he was framed for, and not fighting in the Revolution. The whole thing was very maddening and should serve as a lesson to all writers on how not to deliver a plot twist. I did appreciate the rest of the book though; as I said, I liked the flow, and the story itself offers an interesting look at the lives of common people during the Revolutionary War. While the book itself is geared towards younger children, mainly middle schoolers and tweens, I enjoyed it in high school, and I don't think anyone is too old to read it.


*****
RJ