Great Finds Issue #13
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardbacks:
Comes the Bond Fury by John Saul
The Loch by Steve Alten
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn
Paperbacks:
Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume
The Baby-Sitters Club Mystery #17 Dawn and the Halloween Mystery by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #123 Claudia’s Big Party by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #19 Claudia and the Bad Joke by Ann M. Martin
Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Field Day by Ann M. Martin
Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Copycat by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-sitter 3 by R.L. Stine
Bone Chillers: Beware The Shopping Mall by Betsy Haynes
Sweet Valley Twins #21 Left Behind by Jamie Suzanne
Book Review: Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy
Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy
BY: Meg Christian
PUBLISHED BY: Infivity Publishing.com
PUBLISHED IN: 2008
ISBN: 0-7414-4793-2
Pages: 146
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In book one of the trilogy, the young author Meg Christian has created the fantasy world of Umberodia. In this land is a sixteen year old Katrina Rawl. Her mother passed away when she was very young. Since then, she has lived with her aunt. Katrina spends her days selling vegetables on the side of the road. She likes to read books which is something that is forbidden by the Emperor.
Katrina stumbles upon a letter written by her mother. In the letter is a message that she is suppose to give to Amile the Warrior. Soon after, the Emperor sends out his army to do a routine house by house search. The army reports back to the Emperor telling him of a young girl named Katrina Rawl. The Emperor knows this must be the only daughter of Marianne Rawl. He orders his army to retrieve the girl.
When the army arrives the next night, Katrina slips out of the house and escapes. She heads to Ioni where she hopes to find the Amile the Warrior. On the way she finds may other dangers. She also meets a skittish bird named Twitter and a young man named Arlon who help her on the journey.
This is an adorable tale set in an original world of Umberodia. Meg Christian’s love of adventure and storytelling is shown in Battling the Unknown: The Last Rawl Trilogy. The young author is donating all of the profits to the Southern New Hampshire Rescue Mission. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good quest and wonderful characters.
Book Review – First Night
First Night
BY: Tom Weston
PUBLISHED BY: tom weston media
PUBLISHED IN: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-981-94130-1
Pages: 253
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
Author Tom Weston brings us an old fashioned ghost tale in First Night. The story begins with Sarah Pemberton who has caught the small pox. A family friend, Captain John Ayres, gives her an ivory bracelet to wear. Sarah dies.
The story skips to the present day. Alexandra O’Rourke and her younger sister, Jackie, are spending their New Year’s Eve with their aunt and uncle in Boston. They’re California girls and rather be home partying than spending their vacation in Boston.
Their aunt and uncle let them go out on their own and explore Boston. They come across a teenager wearing a 1600’s dress. Her name is Sarah Pemberton. The same Sarah who died many years ago of small pox. The Court of Spirits have accused her of being a witch and release her into our world to find a lawyer.
Alexandra and Jackie think nothing of it because they’re in the historical part of Boston. They change their minds when Sarah runs through Alex.
With time running out, Sarah takes Jackie back to the Court of Spirits to help defend her soul. Alexandra stays behind and searches for the Devil’s Book.
Tom Weston has written a fun, original novel while blending in some historical facts and locations about Boston. Alexandra and Jackie are believable teenage characters with cleverly written dialogue. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good ghost story.
Book Sale Finds Issue #2
Here are my finds:
Hardbacks:
Surprise Party – R.L. Stine
The Haunted Mask – R.L. Stine
Paperbacks:
Tombstones: The Last Drop by John Peel
Tombstones: Dances with Werewolves by John Peel
Maniac by John Peel
Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney
Echoes from the Past by June Masters Bacher
A Place to Call Home by Ruth Glover
Great Finds Issue #12
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardback:
Shiloh Autumn by Bodie and Brock Thoene
Forever in Blue by Ann Breashares
Paperback:
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Book Sale Finds Issue #1
Here are my finds:
Hardbacks:
The Babysitter 4 by R.L. Stine
The Seance by Joan Lowry Nixon
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Four Season’s Cross-Stitch by Better Homes and Bardens
A Merry Christmas In Cross-Stitch
A Cross-Stitch Christmas by Better Homes and Gardens
Christmas Cross Stitch by Jutta Lammer
Celebrations in Cross-Stitch by Lisbeth Perrone
Paperbacks:
Fear Street: What Holly Heard by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: The Face by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: The Cataluna Chronicles: The Deadly Fie by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: The Cataluna Chronicles: The Dark Secret by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: Fear Park: The Loudest Scream by R.L. STine
Fear Street: The Dare by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: College Weekend by R.L. Stine
Fear Street: Super Chiller: The Dead Lifeguard by R.L. Stine
More Tales to Give you Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
The Beast 2 by R.L. Stine
Amnesia by Sinclair Smith
Dangerous by Nora Roberts
Hot Ice by Nora Roberts
O’Hurley’s Return by Nora Roberts
Book Review – Cirque Du Freak: Vampire Mountain
Cirque Du Freak: Vampire Mountain
BY: Darren Shan
PUBLISHED BY: Little, Brown and Company
PUBLISHED IN: 2001
ISBN: 0-316-60806-8
Pages: 195
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
Half-vampire Darren Shan, Mr. Crepsley and three of Mr. Tiny’s Little People leave the Cirque Du Freak. They journey to the Vampire Mountain. Gavner Paul, a friend Mr. Crepsley also travels with them. One of the little people reveals his real name as, Harkat Mulds, and he has a message to deliver from Mr. Tiny to the Vampire Princes.
Many dangers confront them on their way. The purple-skinned Vampaneze are close by.
The Vampire Mountain is a network of tunnels and caves where the vampires live. Darren makes friends with several of the other vampires.
The Princes and Generals weren’t impressed with Darren. They thought he was too young. Now Darren must prove himself to them.
I found the fourth book in the series to be boring and not enough action.
Great Finds Issue #11
What to do when you don’t live close to a book store? Two words – Thrift Shop!
Hardback:
Anastasia Again! by Lois Lowry
Paperback:
The Baby-sitters Club # 120 Mary Anne and the Playground Fight
Sweet Valley Twins and Friends #37 The War Between the Twins
Teacher’s Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick
Goosebumps: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam by R.L. Stine
Give Yourself Goosebumps: The Knight in Screaming Armor by R. L. Stine
Book Review – The Secret of the Sacred Scarab
The Secret of the Sacred Scarab
BY: Fiona Ingram
PUBLISHED BY: iUniverse
PUBLISHED IN: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-595-457168
Pages: 258
Ages: Teen & Up
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In this first chapter of the Chronicles of the Stone, Adam and his cousin Justin are invited to go on a trip to Egypt by their Aunt Isabel and their Grandmother. The boys are excited about visiting another country. Their Aunt tells them that the archaeologist, James Kinnaird, has disappeared while looking for the tomb of the Scarab King. The tomb of the Scarab King is just a legend and has never been proven to exist by any archaeologist.
When they arrived in Cairo, they joined a tour group. A stranger gives three tiny scarabs to Adam. More odd things happen. Their aunt’s camera is switched with Dr. Khalid’s camera. Adam then discovers a fourth scarab in his back pocket. What are theses mysterious scarabs? Is someone one following them? Is the legend of the Scarab King real? Adam and Justin must try to solve the mystery.
Author Fiona Ingram mixes history and legends in this fast action adventure that keeps you reading till the very end. The characters are cleverly written. Young readers can easily step into the shoes of these two cousins and experienced this exciting adventure that takes you into the heart of Egypt. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
