In The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon, in 1978 a young boy and girl are introduced to a young girl who does not talk. They are told to get along with this girl. They start a monster club to hunt them down. When it's 2019, a monster has been sighted. Lizzy, who hosts a popular show about monsters, is coming to hunt this one down. This was a great book! I loved the characters and story line as well as the great ending! (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
Saturday, July 23, 2022
"The Children on the Hill" by Jennifer McMahon
In The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon, in 1978 a young boy and girl are introduced to a young girl who does not talk. They are told to get along with this girl. They start a monster club to hunt them down. When it's 2019, a monster has been sighted. Lizzy, who hosts a popular show about monsters, is coming to hunt this one down. This was a great book! I loved the characters and story line as well as the great ending! (Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
"The Children's Blizzard" by Melanie Benjamin--A Very Sad Story
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin tells the story of two young prairie school teachers who have to find an answer not found in their school books. How are they going to get the children left in their care home safe and sound when the weather turns from a warm day into a blizzard? The author does a very good job of making the reader feel how it was on that day.
This historical fiction book is much more than just that one day. You really get to know the characters! I had high hopes for this book going in and it certainly delivered. It was better than I expected! I LOVED this book and even read the author's notes, which I normally do not do. (Gerard's review, 1/31/21, 5++ stars)
Karen's review:
The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin is based on a true event but with fictional characters. This is a very sad story with lots of death and guilt. Just reading it made me feel cold! Knowing this actually happened made it interesting and even sadder. It revolves around two sisters who both were school teachers and one of their students. Both teachers were only 16 and 17 or 18, Raina and Gerda. Raina made a right decision and Gerda, a terrible one. This is a story about immigrants and homesteading in the 1800s and survival. It has adventure and much heartbreak. Reading this for me was like plowing through a blizzard myself. (4 stars)
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Friday, November 8, 2019
"The Institute" by Stephen King (Husband and Wife Both Liked This One!)
Gerard's review 10/24/19:
The Institute by Stephen King is about children who are really smart and have a special ability to do something are taken and put into a large building. They are held there and are experimented on and they better behave, or else! Who is doing this and why? What about the families of these children?
This is very good! It flows well and is action packed to be sure! The ending was amazing! Good stuff! (5++ stars)
Teaser from page 63: Something began to flutter in his chest, and he took several deep breaths to try and quiet it. He went to the door and grasped the knob, sure he would find himself locked in.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Monday, December 10, 2018
"One of Us" by Craig DiLouie
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)
Teaser from page 62: "You creepers keep away from normal kids, you hear. Next time, there won't be no warning. I'll just take off my belt and get to whuppin'. Understand?"
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Monday, October 15, 2018
"Guess Who" by Chris McGeorge
I enjoyed trying to figure out who the killer was along with Morgan, but would have liked more action. The best part of the book for me was Morgan's interaction with the other people in the room. Some parts fell flat, but for a first-time author, not too bad at all!
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)
Teaser from page 16: What? He didn't have to time to think about the words because there came a terrible sound. The dull tone of a dead phone line.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
"Oregon Dreams" - Book 2 in Trails of the Heart series by Rachel Wesson
I enjoyed this book as much as the first of this series. The relationship between Rebecca and the Captain is quite humorous and entertaining. Johanna and Rick’s relationship is sweet. The suspense during the river crossing and through the mountains kept me glued to the book.
(Karen’s review, 5 stars)
Teaser from Kindle Loc. 137-38: Johanna didn’t say anything but she couldn’t help but pity Captain Jones a little. He really had no idea what he had let himself in for with her sister.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Saturday, July 8, 2017
"The Whisper" by Emma Clayton (Juvenile Fantasy)
I found this book to be better than The Roar. There is much more action and I enjoyed the parts leading up to the ending very much!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Sunday, May 14, 2017
"A Rancher for Their Mom" by Leann Harris
This is light reading and you know right from the title how it turns out, but the boys in it made it somewhat interesting and a heartwarming read.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)
On a sad note, this our cat, Manny's, last photo shoot. He was a very affectionate cat and we will miss him terribly, but he stopped eating and when he did, he couldn't keep it down anymore. He kept losing weight and I had to do what was best for him. We chose to end his life so he would die with dignity and not be in pain any longer. This picture was taken on his last day with us.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Friday, April 28, 2017
"Every Heart a Doorway" by Seanan McGuire
I got this as an audio book. I enjoyed the different children and how they had to work together but give it only 4 stars because it is so short. The book only has 170 pages.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
"The Poet's Dog" by Patricia MacLachlan
This is a young reader's book, but I enjoyed it very much. I hope it touches your heart like it did mine! Perfect read for the holidays!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
Karen read it too and here are her thoughts:
I read it because it was a short children's book that I could read quickly but did not enjoy it as much as Gerard did. The dog understood words and only children and a poet could understand what the dog said. I liked the ending but overall wasn't impressed, but then, poetry isn't my thing. I liked other dog stories much better.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Friday, July 22, 2016
"When Friendship Followed Me Home" by Paul Griffin
I liked this book a lot. The story moved along well and I thought all the characters were very believable. I never really had it figured out, which is very good!
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
"Stay Where You Are and Then Leave" by John Boyne
I thought this book was very good! I enjoyed the character of Alfie very much and the story moved along well.
(Gerard's review 6/25/16, 5 stars)
Karen's review, 4 stars:
This is a sweet story about a boy's love for his dad during World War I. The boy, Alfie, lives in London and is only five years old, wanting to join his dad on the milk run. The father volunteers to fight in the war but writes regularly. The mother keeps telling the boy his dad is on a secret mission and can't write home which makes Alfie think his father may be dead. One day when Alfie is making money shining shoes, he discovers that his father is actually in a hospital. Alfie takes on a secret mission of his own for love.
This is a good read and I enjoyed it. It goes very fast because it is a children's book, but Alfie is a very brave and loving, caring boy who I liked very much. Although this book takes place during the war, the focus is on those who are not fighting and so there is hardly any violence at all.
We have enjoyed two other books by this author too and recommend them all: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and The Boy at the Top of the Mountain.
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Saturday, April 23, 2016
"True (. . . Sort of) by Katherine Hannigan (A Kid's Book)
Delly Pattison, Brud Kinney and Ferris Boyd all have problems of their own, but when they all befriend each other, it is a beautiful thing to see! Delly has her own way of speaking that I found entertaining. This has a good story line and goes very quickly! This is a kid's book I enjoyed.
(Gerard's review, 4 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Monday, February 15, 2016
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling--Both of Us Loved it!
(Gerard's review, 5++ stars)
I enjoyed Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling. It's about Harry's second year at Hogwarts and is quite the mystery with adventures of an elf named Dobby, a flying car, changing into other people, attacking trees and huge spiders, and an attack on Harry's life! Harry proves to be very brave and very nice once again in this book.
I don't understand though why he just didn't keep that invisible cloak on when he went into the forbidden forest. It would save him a lot of trouble. Anyhow, I really like Hermione and felt sorry for her when her magic potion didn't work so well for her and when she got petrified. This is a very fun read and I plan to continue on with more of this series.
(Karen's review 6-1-15, 5 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
"The Battle of our Age-Fighting for the Hearts and Minds of the Next Generation" by Bob Hoskins
I was very encouraged when I read this booklet and was pleased to learn about OneHope, an organization I wasn’t aware of. I enjoyed reading the stories and found the statistics mentioned staggering! I got this in the mail but you can learn more from their website at www.OneHope.net.
(Karen's review, 4 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Books I Finished in One Sitting (or close)
I did this video for Top 5 Wednesdays, a Goodreads group. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it and what books you finished in just one sitting (or close) in a comment. Hope you will check out my YouTube channel.
Have you read any of these? What did you think? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!
Friday, January 30, 2015
"Wings of a Dream" by Anne Mateer
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
"Touchdown Tony Crown and the Mystery of the Missing Cheerleader" by Peter Guy George
This book had several angels to it: football, a bit of mystery, and the chasing down of the criminal. It is a book of Tony saving the damsel in distress, the missing cheerleader, with the help of a real detective, a friend and his dog. It is geared to kids, but I enjoyed it—especially the football game part and the dog.
(Karen's review, 5 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!
Friday, October 25, 2013
"To Sing Frogs" by John M. Simmons (UPDATED)
A Happy Memoir |
To Sing Frogs by John M. Simmons is an interesting read on so many levels. First of all, it is a true story of a Mormon couple who had three boys of their own, but who adopt a special needs boy (Jack) and later three girls and one boy from Russia. It was amazing at how many hoops they had to jump through and all the delays. In spite of the author being a cynic who really doesn't believe God cares or is involved in our lives, the answered prayers of the three little orphans from Russia seems to at least make him wonder.
I'm glad I took the time to read To Sing Frogs in spite of the dumb title. This book is so well written that I felt the father's frustrations and the joy of the girls who were adopted. I loved the author's sarcasm throughout the book and how the orphans' prayers were answered in spite of the odds. I think anyone considering an international adoption or interested in orphanages or Russia would enjoy this book. It's different from any other book I've read.
(Karen's review)
To Sing Frogs by John M. Simmons is a memoir about family, friends, life, and other things that don't make sense. It is about a couple who adopt four children from Russia. The best parts of the book were:
(1) all the red tape and the various hurdles the couple had to go through to get the children to be part of their family;
(2) the kids, the joy they felt that somebody wanted them and then the trials of coming to America and not knowing the language and the customs; and
(3) how the couple wished that they were able to take a lot more kids in.
This is a feel good book that I think you would enjoy reading! There is no big "wow" factor, but a happy, heartwarming ending. I liked the pictures in the book too!
(Gerard's review, rating 5 stars)
Note: We received an advance review copy of this book but that did not affect our reviews.
All proceeds from the sale of To Sing Frogs will benefit the Ele Lembra Foundation charity and with your assistance, we'll be raising awareness on the benefits of adoption.
Happy Reading!
Friday, September 27, 2013
"Claire of the Sea Light" by Edwide Danticat-Awesome Fiction Set in Haiti
A Runaway Child in Haiti |
(Gerard's review, 5 stars)
Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. Happy Reading!