Good and evil war in this coming-of-age middle-grade tale rife with allusion to Welsh legend. Since The Book of Three was first published in 1964, young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy,... Continue Reading →
I know this book is fairly popular and a lot of people have already read it. It kinda feels like I'm reviewing the Wingfeather Saga or the Green Ember -- both series' that plenty of Christian kids have read. Still, I'll throw it out there. This series is nice and clean, well-written, highly creative, and... Continue Reading →
Short of perhaps Beaumont and Beasley, this is probably one of the downright funniest fairytale retellings I have ever read. Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy... Continue Reading →
If you like history, mystery, and steampunk-type adventure novels, then this is the middle grade series for you. It was a childhood favorite of mine. Coming from Christian author James R. Hannibal, it's clean, funny, and uplifting. There are elements of Chinese mysticism and legend in the third book, but they are treated as fantasy... Continue Reading →
This middle-grade series isn't Christian -- but that doesn't mean it's not good. On the whole, it was clean and enjoyable, the only issue being one mention of a possible lesbian relationship (only hinted at in two sentences.) It was funny and lighthearted, and quite enjoyable. Adventure, magic, and hilarity collide in New York Times bestselling author... Continue Reading →
Yes, it's a Newberry award winner. But it's a good one. This thrilling Newbery Medal-winning novel about the Revolutionary War is a classic of children's historical fiction. Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In... Continue Reading →
I gotta be honest -- the cover for this one creeped me out. That's why it took me so long to pick up the book -- until about fourteen or fifteen years old. People do, after all, judge books by their covers. Keep that in mind if you do plan on self-publishing. But I digress.... Continue Reading →
