Fun Fiction Friday - July 13th, 2018

Fun Fiction Friday
November 17th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading.

At least that is what I was doing. I didn't realize it has been more than half a year since I actually posted a Fun Fiction Friday. Another thing I forgot was that I actually started this during Summer Reading Program of last year. So, it was a year ago exactly that I posted my first post. I would love to try to stay faithful with it this time. I am not going to be sharing any book reviews or thoughts this week. Instead, I am just going to share what the children and I are reading. Tomorrow I will be sharing my Picture Book Saturday, plus a review/giveaway for a sweet little children's book titled, Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings.

Tabitha has been reading a wide variety of books.

She is trying to finish the Warriors: The New Prophecy series by Erin Hunter. She really enjoyed the original Warriors series. My oldest son read them years ago and also loved them. He was thrilled that she was reading them. Knowing how much she loves mysteries I encouraged her to try out the original Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene that I read and loved as a kid. She finished book 1 and is ready to start book 2: The Hidden Staircase. I also took out A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I remember enjoying it as a child and we went to see the movie at the library so she became interested in it.

Of course, she also enjoys these Disney fairy books.

I had the following series recommended to me a while back and was thrilled to find it in our library system. Funnily enough, Tabitha's penpal had told her about them, and I hadn't realized it. So, I started the first one, Keeper of the Lost Cities, and couldn't put it down. I told her she HAD to read it. I zinged through the second book, Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile and handed it to her yesterday morning. Now I am reading some Christian suspense books by Ted Dekker, which I will be sharing about on my book blog. I had to wait for the third book, Keeper of the Lost Cities: Everblaze to become available through inter-library loan. As you can see, it is here now. So, I am reading two books.

Amelia couldn't really get into the Warriors books, but for some reason has really been enjoying these Survivors books by Erin Hunter.

Hannah started reading the Tales of Sasha books before going to camp a couple of weeks ago. She zinged through the first three quite fast. Then I put the other three on hold. We were shocked to see they were available for her today. Amelia and Tabitha also decided they wanted to read them. These are a very quick read for them. I finished the first book in half an hour.

Harold tried reading some superhero books, but they ended up being a little difficult for him. He did enjoy the first book in the Magic Tree House series, so is trying the next one. I had him take out several in case he really gets into them. I know he really liked the first one because it was about dinosaurs, but I am hoping he can get into the rest of the books. 

Hopefully next week I will have a chance to have the girls tell a little about the books they are reading.

As a family, we are also reading Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, and the Kane Chronicles: The Serpent's Shadow, by the same author. These have been fun ways to learn a little about the mythology of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. 

Fun Fiction Friday - November 17th, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
November 17th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading.

Last week I shared a short review of the I am Number Four novella compilation, Secret Histories. I started reading Rebel Allies, but put it aside to read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. This is the first book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series.

I had tried watching the movie last week, but I fell asleep. We ended up watching the full movie together as a family, and then I continued reading the book, quite unwilling to put it down. I finished it this morning and am ready to start the second book, The Sea of Monsters. I have all of the books in the series ready and waiting.

Moving on...

We are continuing to make our way through Star of Light by Patricia St. John.

Tabitha finished Prince Caspian, and is now rereading some Boxcar Children books.

When she finishes these I think I have convinced her to try the Percy Jackson books.

Amelia is still trying to read The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell.

However, they didn't get much reading done this week as they have been writing their stories for the Young Writers Program of NaNoWriMo.

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

The Lightning Thief is book one of the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. We are first introduced to Percy, a twelve year old boy, when he is attending Yancy Academy which is a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York. Not only does he have behavioral issues, but he is dyslexic and has ADHD (which is important information for later on in the book). It isn't long before he ends up being expelled, which has happened to him multiple times in the past. He ends up finding his way to Camp Half-Blood where he is to spend his summer, and learns that he is a demi-god, a potential hero, the son of a god. One of the Greek gods that is. 

It takes a short amount time for them to determine whose son he is, but when they do, it causes quite the problem, especially because something has been stolen from one of the gods, and he is suspected of stealing it. He sets out on a quest with his friend and protector, Grover, and a fellow campmate Annabeth, to retrieve the item and return it before a terrible war is started. 

During this journey across America they encounter many a monster and there are even meetings with gods. Percy learns that he has some interesting powers that help them when they are in dire circumstances. He learns who he can trust and who he shouldn't. 

All in all, their quest is quite the adventure. As we will be learning about ancient Greece in our schooling this year, I loved the chance to read a story focused on Greek gods and the part they supposedly play in our current world. I found the explanation as to why they are now in America, as opposed to Greece quite intriguing and entertaining. 

The story is told in the first person, with Percy telling us his story. So we get to know his thoughts, see his dreams and realize his powers and such with him. We see him as a young boy who is longing for a relationship with his dad whom he had never known, and who seemingly just lost his mother as well to one of the monsters who is out to kill him. We get to see him grow emotionally during their quest, and learn to fight against those who have it in for him and his friends. 

This book really drew me in and kept my attention. It was a quick read, but not too juvenile. Because of the nature of the story, with the Greek gods, there are mentions of adulterous and out-of-wedlock relationships. Though there are no details that would be inappropriate for children. I loved the memories of the greek gods coming back to me from what I have learned in school. There is a lot of adventure. I can't wait to read the second book to see what is going to be asked of our hero next. 

I'm sharing over at:

Fun Fiction Friday - November 10th, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
November 10th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading.

I finally got around to reading the Novella compilations from the I Am Number Four series. I finished the Secret Histories and am partway through Rebel Allies.  I have to say, I wish I hadn't waiting so long to read them. I do wish our library system had more of them though.

I also took out The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I have been hearing of these books for a while, but wasn't sure if I would be interested. Then I took the movie out last week and watched part of it (I fell asleep or I would have watched the whole thing). It was intriguing, though from what I read, it is different from the book (no surprise there). So, I have all the books out in this series now.

Moving on...

We are partway through Star of Light by Patricia St. John.

Tabitha is still reading Prince Caspian.

Amelia is still trying to read The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 

However, they didn't get much reading done this week as they have been writing their stories for the Young Writers Program of NaNoWriMo.

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

I really enjoyed being able to immerse myself in these stories again. And it was quite intriguing to read the tales of those who were not main characters in the original series, to get a behind the scenes look at what was going on during certain points in the story. 

In The Search for Sam, we get to learn more about Adam and what led him to come and join the Garde. I love that we finally get to learn more about One and the relationship they had. 

In The Last Days of Lorien we get a look at the last weeks of life on Lorien through one of the survivors. Though it took me a while to figure out just whose eyes we were seeing it through. I mean, yes, I was aware that his name was Sandor, but it took me til quite a ways into the novella to realize who Sandor was. I figured he was one of the Cepan who made it to earth, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out which Garde he was in charge of. Guess it had been too long since I read the books to remember. 

And in The Forgotten Ones, we move back into the mind of Adam, after the time of The Search for Sam. This story takes place after he had helped free Sam and everyone wasn't sure if he was dead or not. We follow him as he tries to figure out how he can best be of use to the Garde. He realizes there are "forgotten ones" that he can help. We also see that he was receiving help from an unsuspected source. 

Because I had gotten used to changing from one perspective to another in the original series, it was not difficult for me to now be reading from the perspective of Adam and Sandor. In fact, I quite enjoyed being able to see into their minds. I also enjoyed getting answers to what exactly happened during these time frames. And learning more about life on Lorien was quite entertaining. 

As with the rest of the series, there is some language in it. Just so you are aware. All in all though, these were great stories. Next week I should be sharing about Rebel Allies.

I'm sharing over at:

Fun Fiction Friday (On Sunday again) - November 5th, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
November 5th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday on Sunday. (Yes, I know, I know. I'm trying to get better at this.)

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading.

I have been focusing on The Testing trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau.  It is another dystopian series, and I just haven't been able to put it down. I loved that one of the endorsements said that, "The Testing is a chilling and devious dystopian thriller that all fans of The Hunger Games will simply devour." When I saw the books on the shelf at the library, that really caught my attention. Now that I have finished the trilogy, I have to say I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment.

I still have these Novella compilations from the I Am Number Four series out from the library. I started the Secret Histories and plan to get to the other one as soon as I am done with the first.

Moving on...

We finished All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor and The Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John. We have now started Star of Light by Patricia St. John.

Tabitha is still reading Prince Caspian.

Amelia is still trying to read The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. 

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

Today I would like to share about The Testing trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau. I was going to share about one book at a time, but this series was another one that I couldn't put down. It gripped me from the very beginning. 

We start our adventure in the first book called The Testing. Malencia Vale, or Cia as she likes to be called, is chosen for the testing that is the future's way of selecting leaders for the country which has been absolutely ravished by the Seven Stages of War. She is thrilled to be chosen, along with a few more students from her colony, yet her father shares secrets about his testing that bring doubt and worry. However, it also causes her to be extremely vigilant during the 4 stages of the Testing. After the stressful yet typical written test, the testing candidates find themselves facing harsher consequences during the hands-on portions of the test, consequences that include death. The candidates discover just how far they will go to earn a spot in the University. They learn what they are capable of. The reason no one has put a stop to this testing all these years is because the candidates memories are wiped of their time of the testing. 

In Independent Study we follow Cia and her friends who survived the Testing, to the University. They find themselves facing more testing and more challenges, some just as deadly. On top of that, they now have to study and compete for internships, which brings Cia into a very interesting position to help stop the Testing. They start to discover more about the details of the Testing and what happens to those who don't pass, and they know they need to expose it and put an end to it. In addition to the students, we discover there are also rebels out there who hope to bring down the Testing as well. 

In Graduation Day, Cia has to decide who she can trust to help her in her fight against those who want the testing to continue. But she is not sure who she can trust. 

I absolutely loved this series. I agree that fans of The Hunger Games trilogy would enjoy these books. There are a few similarities, yet the premise is quite different. In The Testing the participants are out to demonstrate that they are worthy of being the leaders of the government. Though there is killing involved by some in order to get ahead, the ultimate goal is not to kill all the competition for the amusement of the country and as punishment. In fact, the citizens seem blissfully unaware of what takes place during the Testing and during a student's time at the University. 

As we go through the series, we do see the main characters fighting against the corrupt government. There is violence and death, as the most ruthless vie for the top positions, in order to show that they are worthy of leading the country and keeping it from falling again. There is intrigue and mystery as our main character has to learn who she can and cannot trust, and also has to learn to rely on those she is not sure whether she can trust or not. 

There is quite a bit of suspense and action in this series. From the final stage of the Testing that takes them on a journey from Chicago to the capital of Tosu City, to battles within the capital between different factions of rebels and students, and the government agents. As the reader I found myself unable to stop turning the pages to find out what would happen next. The author did a wonderful job creating a future world that was quite believable. Throughout the story we get the backstory of what happened during the Seven Stages of War that led to the annihilation of so many. I loved the way parts of this history were discovered as Cia took her tests and as she got into her studies. 

I can definitely recommend this trilogy (and already have to a few people). I was pleased that there was no profanity or sex. It is hard to find young adult books these days that steer clear of these things. Though there is a bit of a romance occurring in Cia's life, it takes way-back stage to the action in the story. And when it does get brought up, it actually plays into the plot well. 

If I were to rate these books, I would definitely give them 5 stars. 

I'm sharing over at:

Fun Fiction Friday - October 13, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
October 13th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday. 

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading.

I was able to finish The Uncloaked by J. Rodes. You can find my review at the end of this post.

These are the three main books on my "To Be Read" pile.

I took The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer back out of the library. But then I ended up starting Generation One by Pittacus Lore after all. I have no clue when the next book in this new series will be out, but I am looking forward to it. Not quite the same as the original I am Number Four series, but still a page-turning, action-filled quick read. I also started The Testing by Joelle Charbonneu, but set it aside to finish The Uncloaked. That one is quite intriguing too. Wish it was still summer so I had more time to read. We have a long trip coming up on Monday, maybe I will have a chance to read. 

I still have these Novella compilations from the I Am Number Four series out from the library. I actually forgot about it until I was writing this post. I'll get to them eventually. 

Moving on...

We are still reading All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor and The Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John. All-of-a-Kind Family is a book that was listed in our My Father's World Creation to the Greeks Teacher Manual. We are learning about the Jewish feasts this year and this book includes several chapters in which the family celebrates the Jewish feasts. It is set in the early 1900's in NYC. The Tanglewoods Secret is another scheduled read aloud in our curriculum, however, it is not really connected to the lessons we are reading. So far the children and I are enjoying both of these books.

Tabitha finished The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, and is now reading Prince Caspian.

Tabitha's thoughts on The Horse and His Boy:

The story is about a boy named Shasta who was about to be sold by his "father." Not really his father, but a fisherman who took him in when he was a baby. Shasta discovered a talking horse whose name was too hard for him to pronounce, so he just called him Bree. Bree is a horse from Narnia. He was going to take Shasta to Narnia to keep him safe.

On their way to Narnia they meet another talking horse and a girl rider. They are both girls. It was during a lion chase. Now during their adventure they run into this lion a couple different times.

They had a lot of adventure on their way to Narnia. They stopped in a city and Shasta met a prince. This prince looked a lot like him and the book tells us something interesting about him later on (no spoilers). I had a suspicion about what happens later on, and I was right. 

I really liked this book because it was full of adventure. I am also enjoying all the Narnia books.

Amelia is trying to make her way through Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Plus she is finally finishing up Voyage with the Vikings.

In this book Harry Potter goes to see the World Cup with the Weasley's, after seeing Dudley's tongue grow with Ton Tongue Toffee. When he gets to the campsite type thing where they find out that the reception type guy is a muggle. He said that someone tried to give him wizard money, but he didn't call it wizard money, he called it gold coins. 

Don't forget to check out my reviews of the Secret of the Hidden Scrolls books (books 1 and 2) by M.J. Thomas and Imagine . . . The Great Flood by Matt Koceich.

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

The Uncloaked by J. Rodes is the first book in a young adult Christian dystopian trilogy. I have enjoyed other dystopian series in the past, and was intrigued by the fact that this one is a Christian book. 

In this story, a pastor's son, Braxton Luther is close friends with a girl named Eliza. She is a much stronger Christian who believes that persecution is on its way with the new party coming to power. It appears that this America is struggling because of a past war, though I didn't quite understand what exactly had gone on in the past to make America the way it was in the present. Somehow it had to do with religion, which is why there was persecution coming for those who clung to religious beliefs. In the America that was shown at the beginning of the book it appears that circumstances are quite unequal for different classes of people and there is a huge push for this new Progressive Party to come in and make everything equal. That is, unless you refuse to give up your religious beliefs. 

Braxton thought Eliza, along with his father, were getting all bent out of shape for nothing. However the Progressive Party nominee then wins the presidency and things begin to change drastically in what seems to be just a few month's time. It becomes harder and harder for those who refuse to go along with the Party to even go about their day to day business. People are thrown out of homes and businesses, they don't have enough food to eat, they are getting beaten and sent to some sort of reformation camp. 

Braxton can't understand why it would be so wrong to just SAY they were going along with the party so they can eat and live their lives without fear of persecution. Both his and Eliza's family end up facing a lot of persecution, and he ends up pledging and taking the "seal" in an attempt to save them, which he ends up realizing was a foolish thing to do. Though now it appears he is one of the cloaked, instead of the uncloaked, as he is in with the Party, but is helping those who are still resisting. 

The book ended quite abruptly and now I just have to get my hands on the next book to see what happens next.

I did enjoy the book, but I don't think it is one I will pick up again soon to reread. There is a LOT of violence in the book, some quite graphic as far as I am concerned, especially the scene of Braxton's father being tortured and killed. Though sexual depravity is hinted at, there is nothing graphic, for which I was thankful. 

Frankly, I fluctuate between feeling sorry for Braxton and wanting to shake him. His father didn't treat him the best, and this is one of the reasons he fought so hard against his father's beliefs and didn't see why it was so wrong to join the Party, even if it was done superficially. At the same time, he seemed to keep making rash decisions and was all "woe is me" way too much. I don't know. I want to read the next book to see how it is going to play out. I am hoping he becomes a strong Christian in this fight against the Party. Because as of right now, all the strong Christians are suffering and there doesn't seem to be any hope for them, the Party is winning and sin is rampant. 

Definitely NOT a book for young children. Some of the scenes I wouldn't want my teenagers reading. Though it is quite short, so doesn't quite feel like an adult book, esp because the main characters are teens. Though there are almost 300 pages in the book, they are quite short pages. 

I'm sharing over at:

Fun Fiction Friday - August 25, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
August 25th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading. 

I have yet to start The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer. I decided to continue reading I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. I started it earlier this summer, and put it aside for other books. I'm now hooked and will probably finish it before starting on The Land of Stories. But I definitely have to get to those. I just discovered there is a SIXTH book in the series! It was on the shelf of new books at the library. 

I have returned most of the books to the library. Unread. I will have to take them out one at a time. 

Moving on to the girls' books:

Amelia is still reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. She finished Charlotte's Web and I am now reading it to them a chapter at a time. She took Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble out of the library and hopes to be able to get to it soon. I reminded her she still has to finish the Flat Stanley book!

Amelia really likes Harry Potter and the Prisoner and Azkaban. She is halfway through the book and is quite obsessed. This is what she has to say about it so far:

It's about a boy named Harry Potter who is 13 years old. An evil wizard named Sirius Black escaped from a prison called Azkaban, and there are dementors looking all around Hogwarts for him. And they even start searching the little town called Hogsmeade. Sirius Black is Harry Potter's godfather. 

Tabitha is really enjoying the History Mysteries from American Girl. She finished reading Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. She also finished Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic by Sarah Masters Buckey. She is now reading Mystery at Chilkoot Pass by Barbara Steiner.

Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal is about a girl whose name is Rhoda. Her father works at a life saving station to save people from shipwrecks because they live on an island. Rhoda has a sick friend named Pearl who may die if her father can't get enough money. 

Rhoda sees some kind of light, and she tries to figure out what it is, and it becomes more and more mysterious. She thinks it could be the light of a wrecker, who is a person who takes a big light and lures ships to their doom. It could look almost like another ship or a lighthouse. 

She thinks it is really good and she likes it. Tabitha thinks Rhoda's figured out that it is a wrecker, and thinks she knows who it is. But Tabitha realizes that in mysteries sometimes the people add up the clues too hastily and jump to conclusions. Tabitha ended up being wrong about who the wrecker was, and so was Rhoda.

Gangsters at the Grand Atlantic is about a girl named Emily and her big sister Dorothy. They live in Philadelphia. Their mom is an art and music teacher. Dorothy's friend invites them to the Grand Atlantic which is a very very fancy hotel. Their mom only lets them go because gangsters have threatened the store clerk who lives next to them, and Emily. So their mother thinks they should go away for awhile. But instead they find out that a gangster named Mr. M, who is a rum runner, is at the hotel. Well, they think he is at the hotel anyway. So they have to stop him. 

I have been reading the following books to the children at bedtime:

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is a book I loved as a child. I'm glad the children are getting to read it for the study guide we are reviewing from Progeny Press. Imagine...The Great Flood by Matt Koceich is also a review product. The review will be posting mid-September. Once it is live, I will make sure to link to it here on Fun Fiction Friday. It has been really interesting so far. Young Cory is upset he is going to be moving across country, from Texas to Florida. During a storm he suddenly is transported to the time of Noah in the Bible. He is interacting with Noah and his sons. I can't wait to share my full review next month. 

Next week I hope to have The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns finished so I can share my review. 

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will come back tomorrow to read Picture Book Saturday. 

I'm sharing over at:

Fun Fiction Friday - August 11, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
August 11th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading. As I am also reading books for adults, I have started my book blog up again. A few weeks ago I shared my Friday Finds, Book Beginnings on Friday, and The Friday 56 in my Friday Fun post. I haven't had a chance to post one since, but hope to do so today. I will also be sharing my reviews of any adult books over there. If I do, I will share links to those reviews in my Fun Fiction Friday post. 

I finished The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron. I was so excited to see I had a message on my Tots and Me Facebook page by the author. That was just so exciting. I have yet to start The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer. I've just been way too busy. A lot of books are going to end up going back to the library unread. I had such lofty reading goals at the beginning of the summer reading program. Just isn't going to happen. 

The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer is the second book in the The Land of Stories series. Young Alex and Conner Bailey are back to help save the day in this sequel to The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. The Eastern Kingdom, once called The Sleeping Kingdom, had finally began to really recover from the original sleeping curse. At the time of the first book, the Sleeping Kingdom was still half asleep and unproductive (both the land and the people), though Queen Sleeping Beauty's actual curse had been broken before the book began. Now the evil Enchantress (the one who originally cursed her) is back and her evil had reached into the real world. Friends and acquaintances from the first story join forces to help Alex and Conner rescue their mother and save the fairy-tale world. Can't wait to actually read it. Think I'll start tonight after the kids are in bed.

Moving on to the girls' books:

Amelia is still reading The Prisoner of Azkaban, plus a chapter book for Australia called Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures: The Australian Boomerang Bonanza, and recently started Charlotte's Web because we are reviewing the study guide from Progeny Press. She took Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble out of the library and hopes to be able to get to it soon. Though she sort of ended up reading a fairy book first called Ava the Sunset Fairy.

Amelia really likes Harry Potter and the Prisoner and Azkaban. She is toward the beginning of the book still and wanted to share a bit about what is going on. When Harry was still with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, right before he went to Diagon Alley, he got presents from Ron and Hermione. He then took the Knight Bus to Diagon Alley and in the morning he met them. Then they went to the pet store and Hermione got a cat named Crookshanks. Ron got his rat tonic. A few days later they got on the Hogwarts Express where they meet Professor Sleeping Lupin. 

Tabitha is really enjoying the History Mysteries from American Girl. She is almost finished reading Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. She is also almost finished with The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. She is also reading Charlotte's Web, for the same reason Amelia is. 

Tabitha is enjoying Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal. It's about a girl whose name is Rhoda. Her father works at a life saving station to save people from shipwrecks because they live on an island. Rhoda has a sick friend named Pearl who may die if her father can't get enough money. 

Rhoda sees some kind of light, and she tries to figure out what it is, and it becomes more and more mysterious. She thinks it could be the light of a wrecker, who is a person who takes a big light and lures ships to their doom. It could look almost like another ship or a lighthouse. 

She thinks it is really good and she likes it. Tabitha thinks Rhoda's figured out that it is a wrecker, and thinks she knows who it is. But Tabitha realizes that in mysteries sometimes the people add up the clues too hastily and jump to conclusions. 

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

The Castle in the Mist is another book I found on display in the library. It is a juvenile fiction book written by Amy Ephron, her first book for young people. In this story Tess and Max are sent to their aunt's English countryside village because their father is in Afghanistan and their mother is sick.. There isn't a lot to do until Tess finds a key that unlocks a magical gate into what at first I thought was a mysterious land, but ended up being the neighboring estate. However, there is still a huge mystery about who the boy is who Tess first meets, a boy who is there with his "governess" and a man named Barnaby. Tess keeps the key and ends up bringing her brother Max back with her to meet William. A lovely friendship is forged in the fantastical backyard with a beautiful rose garden, pond, magical carousel and lifelike statues of different gods and goddesses. However, there is something sinister about the hawthorne trees, something that isn't quite understood, but definitely makes for some suspense. 

There is quite the mystery about who these people might be, seeing as nobody is supposed to be living in the castle, and their Aunt Evie knows of no young boy living anywhere nearby. And there are magical wishes involved, wishes that bring adventure, but also some intriguing surprises. 

The chapters are quite short, maybe a little too short actually. Personally, I wish the story was a bit longer and a little less confusing. I loved the idea of the storyline, but some of it was just a bit weird, and never really explained well. The ending left me wondering what exactly is going on their, and how these people are even there. 

I did enjoy the book, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It also caught me off guard when Tess was wanting to pray to one of the statues of the gods. There seemed to be a bit more power in these statues that didn't quite make sense. 

Fun Fiction Friday - August 4, 2017

Fun Fiction Friday
August 4th, 2017

Welcome back to Fun Fiction Friday.

In my Fun Fiction Friday I share the books the older girls and I are reading, and a short review of a Young Adult or Juvenile book I have finished, if applicable. I will also ask the girls to tell me something they would like to share about at least one of the books they are currently reading. As I am also reading books for adults, I have started my book blog up again. A few weeks ago I shared my Friday Finds, Book Beginnings on Friday, and The Friday 56 in my Friday Fun post. I haven't had a chance to post one since, but hope to do so today. I will also be sharing my reviews of any adult books over there. If I do, I will share links to those reviews in my Fun Fiction Friday post. 

I am currently finishing up one of the books I mentioned last week. Honestly, I should have been finished by now, but I've been so busy. Definitely NOT going to get to all the books I took out to read this summer. I am going to have to return the other book I mentioned last week, Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell, and put it back on hold because it is past due.

The one I am finishing is The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron. I was so excited to see I had a message on my Tots and Me Facebook page by the author. That was just so exciting. Anyhow. I will be sharing my review of The Castle in the Mist next week. I'm sure I will have it finished in the next couple of days. I am also going to start reading the next book in the The Land of Stories series. I put it on hold as soon as I was done with the first book and I was conveniently at the library when it arrived the other day. 

The Castle in the Mist is another book I found on display in the library. It is a juvenile fiction book written by Amy Ephron, her first book for young people. In this story Tess and Max are sent to their aunt's English countryside village. There isn't a lot to do until Tess finds a key that unlocks a magical gate into a mysterious land where things that are wished for seem to come true, though at first they aren't even aware why strange things are happening.

The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer is the second book in the The Land of Stories series. Young Alex and Conner Bailey are back to help save the day in this sequel to The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell. The Eastern Kingdom, once called The Sleeping Kingdom, had finally began to really recover from the original sleeping curse. At the time of the first book, the Sleeping Kingdom was still half asleep and unproductive (both the land and the people), though Queen Sleeping Beauty's actual curse had been broken before the book began. Now the evil Enchantress (the one who originally cursed her) is back and her evil had reached into the real world. Friends and acquaintances from the first story join forces to help Alex and Conner rescue their mother and save the fairy-tale world.

Moving on to the girls' books:

Amelia is still reading The Prisoner of Azkaban, a chapter book for Australia called Flat Stanley's Worldwide Adventures: The Australian Boomerang Bonanza, and recently started Charlotte's Web because we are reviewing the study guide from Progeny Press. She took Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble out of the library and hopes to be able to get to it soon.

Tabitha is really enjoying the History Mysteries from American Girl. She recently finished Watcher in the Piney Woods by Elizabeth McDavid Jones and is currently reading Ghost Light on Graveyard Shoal by the same author. She also chose to read Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble, zinging through it quite quickly. She is also reading Charlotte's Web, for the same reason Amelia is. 

Fun Fiction Friday

Book Review

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer is a juvenile book that I (yep, you guessed it) found on display in the children's room at the library. I actually took it out a while ago, didn't have time to read it, returned it, put it back on hold, and finally decided I needed to get it read. I'm sorry I didn't get to it sooner. It is a wonderfully imaginative tale that takes place mostly inside the fairy tale world. Twins Alex and Conner Bailey are grieving the loss of their father, and having some troubles in school, Conner worse than Alex. They remember how their father was always telling them tales to help them overcome difficulties. They also fondly remember being told fairy tales by their grandmother when they went to visit her. 

For their birthday, their grandmother visits and gives them the Land of Stories book they so fondly remember. Days later, they are suddenly transported into the book, into the fairytale world, where they find that all the stories they have been told really took place. However, they are now stuck in a strange, magical, and dangerous land. They make friends with a large talking frog, who had been magically transformed into this form. He sets them on a quest to find out about The Wishing Spell, a spell that can grant a person one wish, no matter what it is. They figure this is their only way to make it back to the real world. 

After they discover a journal written by a man who wanted to cast the spell some years prior, they set out to gather the same ingredients. They are helped by clues in the journal. However, someone else is also after the ingredients for the spell, and once it is cast it won't be able to be cast again. The objects they are after are all related to different fairy tales they know, such as Sleeping Beauty's spindle, and Cinderella's glass slipper. So, the twins have to trek across the land, making their way from kingdom to kingdom, facing dangers they could never have imagined, before the other person gets to them first. 

I love stories that bring "real" world characters into "fairy tale" lands (or vice versa), tales that make it appear as if fairy tales are real. In this story, the different fairy tale characters all live in their respective kingdoms (there's even a map of the land). Alex and Conner make new friends, and some new foes, helping people/creatures along the way, while graciously accepting the help of others. Though, there are some instances where they end up having to steal, one such time was from the goblin and troll kingdom, because well, there was no way those creatures were going to help them, as they had just captured the twins as slaves. 

I will say, there are times when it seemed a bit too convenient that they were able to get the needed object. Times when I feel there should have been a bit more of an obstacle in their way. That said, I still enjoyed the book immensely (obviously, seeing as I quickly put the next book on hold). There were quite a few startling revelations along the way, and the twist at the ending was something I could sort of see coming, but played out in a surprising way. 

All in all, I have to say, I love The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell and am looking forward to reading the sequels. One of these days, the girls may find time to read them as well. I think they would really enjoy them.