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Category Archives: Children & Teens
Tempestuous by Askew and Helmes
Popularity is conditional. We’ve all seen them fall. Miranda Prospero, is one of those fallen.
Tempestuous
A Twisted Lit Novel
By Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
Merit Press
January 2013
After her social life’s tragic demise, former “IT” girl Miranda is left working the “Hot Dog Cabob” with her new dweeby coworker: Ariel. During yet another awful shift at the food court of the local mall, a ginormuous snow storm sweeps in, trapping everyone in the mall overnight. To make matters even better, they’re trapped in with a thief who has broken in though the computer store! Miranda is left with a quiet and sarcastic loner named Caleb all night- literally. The two are handcuffed together. Again making things worse: the “IT” crowd, that used to practically worship Miranda, is locked in with them. This is going to be a loongg night…
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and had a great time romping around the mall with these unforgettable characters. One thing parents may be concerned about are the usage of curse words. For instance, the “s-word” frequently and an example “her hellish s___s” are used in the book. Other than that the book is wonderful.
Unlike in Exposure, another twisted lit novel (see my review of it here) I have not read the Shakespeare play that this novel is based off of. I plan on reading The Tempest soon though, so that I can find all the little allusions and similarities that are sure to be there, like they were in Exposure.
I would recommend this book to middle schoolers and up to read, based on individual maturity and parent’s discretion. This book was wonderful to read and I hope to be seeing many more twisted Lit novels published In the future.
Arieltopia, Young Adult Editor, is an 12 year old avid reader – usually going through a book a day – who gives readers a unique perspective on Young Adult, Teen Fiction, along with adult fiction: an actual teenager’s perspective.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Exposure by Askew and Helmes
Skye Kingston, a shy girl who hides behind her camera more often than not, is a typical teen novel protagonist. She’s gorgeous, but doesn’t know it. She’s terrified by the high school “royalty”, and even has the common crush on the hot, jock, Craig. Everything seems like the happy, mundane usual high school life for Skye, until a boy named Duncan dies at a party.
Exposure
A Twisted Lit Novel
By Kim Askew and Amy Helmes
Merit Press
January 2013
During a game of flashlight tag in the woods, he goes missing, and the police find his body the next day- with signs of foul play. After Skye overhears a suspicious conversation between Beth, Craig’s crazy girlfriend, and Craig, her whole world is turned upside down.
This book is a modern retake on Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. As one of the few youth who have read Macbeth, I found this book hilarious. Small hints and allusions to Macbeth made this heart-stopping mystery even more enjoyable. Such cleverly placed similarities include: Craig Mackenzie, called “Mac” by his team mates, to Macbeth himself. There are obviously many others, but part of the fun of reading this book is finding the allusions and comparisons. This book does include cussing. EX: the “S-word” appears very frequently (at least once per chapter, and that’s being conservative). Taking that into mind I’d recommend this book to teens, depending on maturity levels of the individual, maybe sophomores and up for most parents. However, considering g the fact that worse conduct in books has been discussed and read by my peers, 8th grade or 7th grade may be more feasible. Again, parent’s discretion.
I also would highly recommend reading Shakespeare’s Macbeth before reading this so you can find those hidden laughs throughout the story. If it seems too “old timey” or “lame” then read this first, and then the play. You’ll want to after you read Exposure.
Arieltopia, Young Adult Editor, is an 12 year old avid reader – usually going through a book a day – who gives readers a unique perspective on Young Adult, Teen Fiction, along with adult fiction: an actual teenager’s perspective.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Sketchy Behavior by Mangum
This is a story about a young sixteen-year-old girl named Kate Carter whom spends most of her free time sketching those around her. When asked to sketch someone in her art class by having a description read to her, she unknowingly sketches a wanted murderer and is what causes authorities to be able to bring him in.
Sketchy Behavior
by Erynn Mangum
Zondervan
August 2011
Afterwards her once normal life is turned upside down. She is now followed around by two police men and the detective that came and read the descriptions. Now Kate is a celebrity, and hiding from any of the murderer John X’s friends. Who would have thought a simple project in art class could cause so much trouble, and assassination attempts?
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mysterious fun-filled read. Kate’s spunk and sarcasm will leave readers smiling, and her friends’ and parents’ dramatic antics will make you appreciate your more than likely less dramatic parents a little bit more. (It did for me anyway) Teens and young adults alike will enjoy this book and all of its unexpected twists and turns. I enjoyed this book a lot and hope that any other readers do also.
Arieltopia, Young Adult Editor, is an 12 year old avid reader – usually going through a book a day – who gives readers a unique perspective on Young Adult, Teen Fiction, along with adult fiction: an actual teenager’s perspective.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Poison by Zinn
Who would have thought trying to kill someone would end a friendship.
Poison
by Bridget Zinn
Hyperion
March 2013
Through many twists and turns, Kyra, a potions master, is on the run from her former fiancé and palace guards because she attempted to assassinate her former best friend, Princess Ariana. She has to do so in order to save her kingdom, on the verge of destruction, regardless of conflicted feelings over hurting her friend and saving her world. For the first time ever, during the assassination attempt, Kyra’s poison dart misses its target. Kyra, now on the run for 3 months, has been looking for an opportunity to try again. She may have found her chance, if only little Fred would get lost. After trying to ditch her hilarious sidekick numerous times, he always finds her again and “forgives” her hasty departures. So now Kyra is stuck with a traveling companion who has no idea the danger they are both in or who Kyra really is. How can Kyra save her kingdom by not only killing Ariana, but also dragging Fred down with her? If He is caught with her, he will also more than likely be hanged for being an accomplice.
Poison, by Bridget Zinn is an amazing book now that I’ve finished it. However, reading the first several chapters was difficult and confusing to follow. It is a clever and quick-witted tale about a courageous heroine that will win the hearts of many readers, after they figure out what in the world is happening. I would recommend this book to any adventurous reader up for a guard-ditching, wood-romping tale about loyalty to one’s home compared versus self-preservation. I agree with the teen/tween rating because there are some scenes where people are knocked out or killed. (Not in a way that would cause parents worry; more in a Harry Potter style “Stupify!” and they fall over, in this case poisoned darts instead of wands.) By the end of the story even the most unemotional readers will be laughing out loud at Fred, and cheering Kyra on as she dodges former friends and unwanted reunions with her fiancé.
Arieltopia, Young Adult Editor, is an 12 year old avid reader – usually going through a book a day – who gives readers a unique perspective on Young Adult, Teen Fiction, along with adult fiction: an actual teenager’s perspective.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Girl in the Wall by Benedis-Grab
At a high school birthday party, security guards for the live entertainment pull their weapons on the kids, start shooting, and the party turns in to a hostage situation. Ariel, the birthday girl hears the noises, quickly runs away and hides in a crawl space between the walls. Within moments a friend of Ariel’s who looks like her and her father are both executed in brain splattering gory detail. And then other kids are killed as well. Again and again all night long.
The Girl in the Wall
By Daphne Benedis-Grab
Merit Press
December 2012
Reading through this “Children’s book” for teenagers was more horrifying than even horror books I’ve read by Stephen King or the Walking Dead. Because this author crosses the line of torturing and killing children! In detail. With gore. A kid won’t answer where Ariel is (because they don’t know) so the bad guys shoot him in the head, brain matter splattering the other kids. Even a bad guy remarks, “I didn’t sign up to kill children” at one point.
Which brings me to the main question: what is the point of this? No one, movies, TV and most books go this far in violently treating characters that are children. (Remember the debate raised about the Walking Dead on AMC in season 1 when Rick shoots a child zombie? Imagine a story where bad guys killed children who were not zombies, a lot.) Here this author does and there isn’t a payoff. There isn’t a moral. There isn’t even progression of character. It’s like a horrible nightmare of what none of us parents would ever want to contemplate. A what if? from Hell. And the author seems to delight in it.
This is an uncompromisingly dark, poorly conceived and completely inappropriate book that I would never let a young person read (and I woudl go to great lengths to tell everyone to avoid.)
Scott Asher is the Editor-in-Chief of BookGateway.com. His personal blog is AshertopiA – a land flowing with milk and honey… and a lot of sticky people where he turns real life into stupid cartoons, writes on Christianity, Zombies, and whatever else he wants and posts Bible studies from his classes at church.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
The Voyage Of Lucy P. Simmons by Mariconda
Have you ever wondered if your house was magic? At times such as when you desperately need a place to hide and those shadowy corners and hiding spots seem to appear out of nowhere? For Lucy P. Simmons this is true, and she’s still learning how to use it.
The Voyage Of Lucy P. Simmons
By Barbara Mariconda
Katherine Tegen Books
October 2012
This book is about a young girl named Lucille Prudence Simmons and her sailor family. When the story first opens Lucy is treated with a surprise trip on the sea on their family’s little sloop. While out a fog surrounds the boat and Lucy’s father loses sight of the house. Despite his wife’s urges to go back towards the shore immediately, he continues because he’s heard someone crying out for help farther out. After this trip out, Lucy soon finds herself under the care of her greedy Uncle Victor and his wife. They are supposed to care for her until her Aunt Prudence can come be her permanent guardian. She suspects that he may be trying to take her family’s estate and money. When she does some snooping, she thinks her home may be magic. Lucy struggles with living with her uncle and finding out what exactly could have happened that day on the water. Sirens? Magic? She’s not sure. Lucy begins her journey to find her aunt and answers.
I enjoyed this story but have one complaint: The ending. I don’t feel as if the main problem or conflict of the story was resolved at the end of the book. This leads me to believe that there may be a sequel but I don’t know for sure. I would recommend the book for fans of the Magic Treehouse Series that have perhaps gotten just a bit older, so I would guess advanced fifth grade readers and older. I recommend it to Magic Treehouse fans because of the magic/adventure/tween protagonist elements. The only thing that parents may worry about is the fact that some of the characters grow up in a messed up home and run away to escape their drunk and abusive father.
Arieltopia, Young Adult Editor, is an 12 year old avid reader – usually going through a book a day – who gives readers a unique perspective on Young Adult, Teen Fiction, along with adult fiction: an actual teenager’s perspective.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Jack and the Giant Barbecue by Kimmel and Manders
Young Jack just found out that a giant stole his father’s award winning barbeque recipe book, which caused his father to immediately fall over dead with grief. WTH?!
Jack and the Giant Barbecue
by Eric A. Kimmel
illustrated by John Manders
Amazon Children’s Publishing
March 2012
(This isn’t a SPOILER as we learn this almost immediately.)
So Jack, overcome with anger over his father’s stolen recipe book (not his death,) sets out to find the giant and steal back the recipe book. Along the way he meets a talking, huge juke box that helps him steal the recipe book and get away from the pursuing giant. The giant falls off a cliff (and presumably dies). Jack opens a new barbecue joint that soon becomes famous and everyone (except his dead dad and the giant) live happily ever after.
Why a children’s book should have a father die in it is inexplicable. Why should it prompt questions like these? Why not have the giant capture the father and have Jack try to save him? Why was the barbecue recipe book more important than the father? This is most likely an attempt at satire and silliness. But most of it will be missed by the age group likely to ever read this, namely young children. Adults aren’t going to enjoy the book either so who this book is written for is an outstanding question.
This is a nice hard back book, with great colorful artwork. It is also a mess of a story with one huge, glaring dumb choice by the author. Children’s books should be fun and carefree. This one is not.
Scott Asher is the Editor-in-Chief of BookGateway.com. His personal blog is AshertopiA – a land flowing with milk and honey… and a lot of sticky people where he turns real life into stupid cartoons, writes on Christianity, Zombies, and whatever else he wants and posts Bible studies from his classes at church.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Super-Dragon by Holgate and Kroll
In dragonland there will be a flying competition. Unfortunately, young dragon can’t fly so he can’t compete. After feeling dejected he asks a bird to teach him how to fly and then quickly masters figure 8s. When the competition comes around he shows everyone how awesomely he can fly figure 8s and wins!
Super-Dragon
By Steven Kroll
Illustrated by Doug Holgate
Amazon Children’s Publishing
February 2011
Normally, I don’t give away the story, but this book is definitely not for you (if you are reading this review), so we should be good. This book is for very young children who are being read to. My 3 year old loves it, for example. I say definitely not for you because I didn’t enjoy reading it. There just isn’t much to root for. It’s a rushed story, with no perserverance, and little pay off. The young dragon learns to read on one splash page! (Which is like 20% of the book, since it is so short.)
So what has this book got going for it? It looks great. The art is fantastic and colorful. The hardback and cover are very well done and give the impression of richness.
What’s wrong with the book? The dragon doesn’t learn a lesson; he teaches a lesson. “Take that older dragons who didn’t believe in me based on facts, like I couldn’t fly” he seems to be saying. It’s compressed and over in just a few pages. The listener won’t learn any lessons.
Overall, a pretty book with a story that is actually a little off morally that children will enjoy. A very mixed bag.
Scott Asher is the Editor-in-Chief of BookGateway.com. His personal blog is AshertopiA – a land flowing with milk and honey… and a lot of sticky people where he turns real life into stupid cartoons, writes on Christianity, Zombies, and whatever else he wants and posts Bible studies from his classes at church.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Escape to the Hiding Place by Hering and Younger
World War II has come to Holland. Patrick and Beth find themselves working with the Dutch Resistance to smuggle a Jewish baby back to her mother who is hiding in the home of Corrie Ten Boom in Haarlem, Holland.
Escape to the Hiding Place
The Imagination Station #9
By Marianne Hering and Marshall Younger
Tyndale House / Focus
September 2012
They take the baby by bicycle into the town trying to beat curfew. Avoiding the attention of German Nazi soldiers is proven harder the closer they get to the hiding place. The soldiers are everywhere and keeping the baby hidden and quiet is not an easy task.
Patrick and Beth see the sacrifice and bravery of those who are willing to lay down their own lives to help the Jewish people.
This is another wonderful book by the creators of Adventures in Odyssey. You will learn some history in these action packed stories.
ReneeK is a sweet tea addicted mamma who loves to cuddle up to a good book. She blogs at Little Homeschool on the Praire and writes about family, homeschooling, having a special needs child, and about whatever else tickles her fancy.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Battle for Cannibal Island by Hering and Batson
Beth and Patrick accidently end up on an adventure in the Imagination Station. When Patrick sees the tropical island he hopes for a fun vacation. Little do they know they are heading to the Fiji Islands with a bunch of cannibals who aren’t very happy about their fellow Fijians who are now believers in Jesus. Its 1852 and the British ship HMS Calliope under the command of Captain James E. Home. They are looking for an island to drop off prisoners. They are about to meet some interesting people.
Battle for Cannibal Island
The Imagination Station #8
By Marianne Hering and Wayne Batson
Tyndale House
October 2012
Missionary James Calvert is paving the way for peace with King Toki. Patrick and Beth are about to learn the true meaning of sacrificial living when they see the compassion James Calvert has for these dangerous natives. The love that he has for spreading the gospel to the point he is willing to risk his life for.
As always these are wonderful books that are packed with lots of adventure. The cousins always find themselves growing spiritually in the lessons they learn along the way.
ReneeK is a sweet tea addicted mamma who loves to cuddle up to a good book. She blogs at Little Homeschool on the Praire and writes about family, homeschooling, having a special needs child, and about whatever else tickles her fancy.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Life with Lily by Kinsinger and Fisher
“On a small Amish farm in upstate New York, young Lily Lapp has plenty to do and plenty of people to love. But changes are coming–including a new baby brother, a new teacher at school, and new ways of looking at the world. Lily’s growing up Amish, and there’s always a lot to learn–if only Lily can stay out of trouble.”
Life with Lily
The Adventures of Lily Lapp
by Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell
October 2012
In Life with Lily you will meet 5 year old Lily Lapp. Lily is very mischievous, and an overall good girl. Lily tries very hard to stay out of trouble bu.t with so much adventure around every corner it makes it hard. Lily works and plays hard. She is about to learn many of life’s lessons on honesty, patience, and the love of family.
My thoughts: It was interesting to read about Amish life from a child’s perspective rather than an adult perspective. I feel like I was taken back to the days when I was a kid and read the “Little House on the Prairie” books.
This is a great series that is wholesome, entertaining, and will delight parents and children alike for years to come. I love it when I find a book that I don’t have to worry about for my kids to read.
The chapters are short and feel like mini short stories. Which I think is what makes this a great book for younger kids to keep their attention. I also liked how they have a, “Frequently Asked Questions About the Amish” at the end of the book. My kids haven’t read any books on the Amish at this point. This will be a good place to start at before we read the book.
I enjoyed the adventures of Lily and look forward to the other books in this series. This story is well written and you will fall in love with the Lapp family.
ReneeK is a sweet tea addicted mamma who loves to cuddle up to a good book. She blogs at Little Homeschool on the Praire and writes about family, homeschooling, having a special needs child, and about whatever else tickles her fancy.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
Would You… Read Me To Sleep? by Edenfield and Harris
Leia and her father enjoy spending time with one another more than anything. They love taking long afternoon walks together. On these walks Leia enjoys many fun filled activities—treasure hunting being one of her favorites. Leia’s favorite time of all, however, is at the end of the day when her father treats her to storytime. Then one night, Leia’s father tells her the story of a wonderful and mysterious golden treasure. Will Leia solve the mystery and unlock the riches of this incredible treasure? Come along as a father and daughter spend a lifetime investing in one of the most beloved pastimes of childhood––storytime, and along the way, they both discover the awesome wonder of the greatest treasure of all.
Would You… Read Me To Sleep?
By George E. Edenfield
Illustrated by Alyson A. Harris
Golden Garden Publishing, Inc.
January 2012
My thoughts: What a beautiful story of a father’s love for his daughter. I love the eternal message in this story. As a parent one of the most important things I can give my child is the knowledge of the Savior and having a relationship with the Savior.
Throughout the story the father is passionate about impressing God’s word into his daughter’s life. His nightly routine is reading the Bible to her. As the daughter grows into her teenager years and later she goes off to college she discovers the secret of the, “Seven Golden Keys” and “The Great Treasure of Golden Destiny”. Leia shares the Treasure with her children.
As a Messianic Believer in Yeshua (Jesus) I was delighted to see a Tallit on Yeshua in the book. My kids also noticed it quickly. The illustrations are made to look like an oil painting on a canvas and are absolutely stunning.
My 10 yr. old daughter loved the story. I had to read it in several sittings as it is lengthy for my daughter who has some special needs. My son was disappointed that it was just about a girl and not a boy. He thought the story would have been better with having both a girl and boy.:0) He thought the story was to long but he enjoyed it. Overall this was a wonderful story.
ReneeK is a sweet tea addicted mamma who loves to cuddle up to a good book. She blogs at Little Homeschool on the Praire and writes about family, homeschooling, having a special needs child, and about whatever else tickles her fancy.
This book was provided by the publisher as a review copy.
