0 Comments on Book Review: Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan as of 5/19/2012 5:32:00 AM
This is a wonderful visually appealing book. The beginning pages define the term "manifest destiny." Americans wanted to inhabit "all" of the land of America. They felt it was their "given right" to do so. It did not matter that Native Americans had lived in this land for thousands of years. From the mid 1800's onward---first in a trickle of people moving westward, later in masses, eventually inhabiting all of the west. The Native American's were removed forcibly from their "sacred" hunting grounds and put on land that no one else wanted. This book tells 4 themes, but with the ability for the reader to choose the "trail" so to speak with a different outcome for each choice. Not all choices end well and a sensitive child might be startled. I loved this book! I thought it was a different way of telling history, giving the reader a choice in how to view the era of westward expansion. The book is a mix of illustrations and photographs. The type-face is bold. Clear instructions are given about the choices and order of pages to view. I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers and home-schooling mom's! Published by Capstone Press 2008 112 pages Historical Fiction/Pioneer/Native American/ Railroad/Cowboy Young Adult Fiction Link @ Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/westward-expansion-allison-lassieur/1102656934?ean=9781429617666Paperback 6.25
Traveled West in a Covered Wagon answers 31 questions that make up 31 chapters in this book. Examples of questions are: What was the Oregon Territory? What was a wagon train? How far would you travel in a day? What kinds of clothes did people wear? Each answer is explained fully with illustrations to match the subject. As an adult reviewer there were many things I did not know about traveling west in a covered wagon. For example how they crossed a river, or how far they traveled in a day. There is a nostalgia sometimes about the past, especially the time period of pioneer's, cowboy's, and mountain men. Yet, by reading about these people we come to understand that they were hardy, bold, adventurous folk; yet they were not without faults or troubles. One of my favorite subjects to read about is the Old West and this book satisfied even me! Published by Scholastic 1992 80 pages For ages 7 and up Non-fiction/Old West/19th Century/Pioneer Link @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/You-Traveled-West-Covered-Wagon/dp/0590451588/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337269314&sr=8-1Paperback $6.99 Link @ Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-you-traveled-west-in-a-covered-wagon-ellen-levine/1100417987?ean=9780590451581Paperback $6.29
The first thing I noticed about this book is that it is truly kid friendly, especially for the young child. 1. The book is not quite 7 inches tall and less than 5 inches wide. This size makes it easy to hold and carry. 2. The front and back cover is thick and sturdy. 3. The inner pages are heavy. 4. A hidden spiral holds the pages together. This also helps to make it easy to turn the pages. It also helps to hold the book open to lay flat. 5. In addition, the water-color pictures are on every other page for visual stimulation. There is a table of contents showing 27 included stories. Starting in the Old Testament is the story of "Noah and His Great Ark." The Bible concludes with "How Paul Got Out of Jail." A Bible reference is given for each story. The water-color pictures are descriptive and vibrant. They include small animals, families together working, facial expressions, and standing alone they represent well the written story. The printing of the stories is large type-font, as well as bold print. The Bible stories are brief, yet explain well the message. In every way I really liked this book, except for 1 major problem. There is no story of Jesus' crucifixion or resurrection.The stories go from the story of Zacchaeus to a story about Paul and then the book ends. To me there can be no Bible, no Good news, without the story of Jesus' redeeming work on the cross and His resurrection------Even young children are taught this in Bible class. Thank you to Lion Hudson, Kregel for my free review copy! Kregel Blog Tour runs April 30 through May 4, 2012 Published by Candle Books/Lion Hudson, a distributor of Kregel Publications March 2012 104 pages For young children 3 + http://www.christianbook.com/god-helps-me-bible/juliet-david/9781859859162/pd/859162?item_code=WW&netp_id=954115&event=ESRCG&view=detailsHardcover $9.99 Book will be available in US mid May 2012
I took part this year in World Book Night. It was held last Monday the 23rd. I was able to pick up my box of 20 books from a local Barnes and Nobles. The manager at Barnes and Nobles was really great about his added duties in this huge task! Inside my box were 20 young adult fiction books by a well-known author. Included were book marks, a lapel pin, sticker, information about the book, and a thank you note from the World Book Night organization. Barnes and Nobles happily printed out an additional information sheet about this book. For more information about this organization. http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/and https://www.facebook.com/worldbooknightusaIn the beginning I thought I would hand out these books at a nearby elementary school. About one week before World Book Night I met my neighbor that lives right behind my house, Judy is an at-risk school teacher in the Arlington Texas School District. I was so excited! Over-joyed! I had met the right gal! And a better plan was in the works! She and I both handed out the books to her students. Her age students are middle schoolers and they are a better age for this fiction book. I plan to take part next year in this (I can't say enough wonderful things about) project! Thank you to World Book Night!
The name alone, National Geographic sells a book or magazine. Their reputation for photographs and educational information exults even a non-reader. Recently while at a local Barnes and Nobles I was pleased to find several choices in books for young readers about the Titanic. They are located on an end-cap aisle in the children's area. After looking through all the choices available I chose this one. Why? Because it's National Geographic and I know it will be everything I'd expect it to be. This book has less reading than the previous book on the Titanic I'd just reviewed. The emphasis is on photographs. Many I'd not seen before. The lay-out of the pages are magazine style. It is professionally created with the intent of mesmerizing and educating children (without the child even knowing it.) The photographs are of both the ship before setting sail and after being found in 1985. What I found of most interest is of the artifacts both on the bottom of the ocean floor and those that have been recovered. This is an outstanding children's book on the Titanic and I highly recommend it to young readers, or those of any age. Published by National Geographic Children's Books March 27, 2012 For ages 6 and up 48 pages Non-fiction/Titanic http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/titanic-melissa-stewart/1105544822?ean=9781426310591Paperback $3.79 http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/national-geographic-readers-series/national-geographic-readers%3A-titanichttp://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Readers-Melissa-Stewart/dp/1426310595/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_bPaperback $3.99
This book is a Step-into-Reading, Step 4
Published by Random House 1987
48 pages
For ages 7 and up
Non-fiction/Titanic
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-titanic-judy-donnelly/1022904914?ean=9780394886695
Paperback $3.99
http://www.amazon.com/The-Titanic-Lost-Found-Step-Into-Reading/dp/0394886690/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334426918&sr=1-1
Paperback $3.99
Kindle $3.99
My 8 year old granddaughter Celeste and I watched a Discovery documentary on the Titanic. Since then Celeste has been very interested in knowing more about the history of the Titanic. I made a trip to a local Barnes and Nobles and bought her 2 books: The Titanic Lost...And Found by Judy Donnelly and
National Geographic Readers: Titanic.
The Titanic Lost...And Found, is a great starting point for interest in the Titanic ship and disaster. It gives basic information about how the ship looked, added is a great view of the insides of the ship---another words the picture shows a split image opening up the rooms and compartments for full viewing.
The Titanic is compared to be the length of an 11 story building, or 4 city blocks.
The book teaches of the differences in socio-economic status of the people on board the Titanic.
Immigrants traveled in the bottom decks, while the wealthy traveled in the top decks. More survivors were from the upper decks.
Included is the night of April 14, 1912 when the ship struck an iceberg. A little over 2 hours later the Titanic sank in the early morning of April 15.
The author states how many people had been on board, and how many people that the lifeboats could hold.
It was the Carpathia ship that picked up the survivors.
After the Titanic disaster, new laws were passed to ensure safety on ocean liners.
I thought this was a very interesting book. Celeste also enjoyed reading it.
The book was educational, held the attention of both Celeste and I, and the illustrations were an added gem.
For more information Online:
http://www.history.com/topics/titanic
 Hattie at age 16 is an orphan living in Iowa with a distant relative. The year is 1917 and America is at war with Germany. Hattie's dear friend Charlie is at war. Throughout Hattie Big Sky she and Charlie write letters to each other. Hattie's letters are full of her current daily life and the hope of his safe return. Shortly after the book begins she receives an unexpected and surprising letter. Her uncle has died and left her a home-stead claim in Montana. If she agrees to take over his claim and continue to make improvements over the course of 1 year, she may keep the land. Hattie gladly accepts the terms of agreement on her deceased uncle's claim. She travels by train to Wolf Point, Montana and is greeted by a family that will be her closest and heartiest neighbor. The book describes her daily duties of a back-breaking hard life, of trying to make a desolate claim a profitable farm. Hattie is a gutsy, independent, brave gal. She has a positive outlook, teachable, humble, and has a sense of humor. She and her house mate, a mouser cat named Mr. Whiskers make a go of this laborious goal. I loved this story and really wished it could go on and on, sorta like Little House on the Prairie. Hattie is a genuine and likable character. A gal that anyone would be proud to call a friend. Her story is inspiring, engaging, uplifting, and gives the reader a sound sense of what it is like to live with the bare basics in a remote shanty in the middle of no-where. Also, giving the reader the ability to understand the Pioneer spirit; that feisty independent brave and just a bit crazy gusto, to head west and conquer something! This book was a 2007 Newbery Honor Award Published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books 2006 304 pages/For ages 12 and up Authors website: http://www.kirbylarson.com/books/hattie-big-sky/The book has a website: http://www.hattiebigsky.com/Link @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hattie-Big-Sky-Kirby-Larson/dp/0385733135Library Binding $13.42 Paperback $6.99 Kindle $6.99
Recently I reviewed another book about the story of the USS Indianapolis. Link for review: http://impressionsinink.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-in-harms-way-sinking-of-uss.htmlIn this review I shared that I have a dear friend whose first husband did not survive the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. His name was Charles Roberts. They'd been married less than a year when he perished. She was a widow at age 18. She does not know if he perished on the ship or in the ocean. She does not want to know. In reading a book where I have a personal connection to it, made it more tangible, and certainly emotionally gripping. During the summer of 1996, Hunter Scott, age 11, watched the movie Jaws. One of the characters Captain Quint told a story about surviving after his ship the USS Indianapolis was sunk. He'd shared his ordeal of surviving shark attacks. With this in mind Hunter Scott decided to use this subject as his history fair project for school, the story of the USS Indianapolis. His project turned in to a history making project. It changed the course of history for himself, for the men who survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, for the families of all Sailors and Marines who were assigned to the USS Indianapolis, and it changed the course of history for the Indianapolis' Captain. Hunter began by trying to find out as much information as possible at his local library, but little was available. Through an ad in a military newspaper he was able to contact survivors of the Indianapolis. His first contact person was a man living in Alabama, Maurice Glenn Bell. Hunter contacted over 100 men, hearing from some. Some of these men were willing to share their story, photographs, caps, and other memorabilia. Hunter ended up with a large collection of artifacts and saved material memories from the Indianapolis' survivors. What started as a history fair project turned in to a goal of exonerating Captain Charles Butler McVay, a career Navy Officer who was wrongly court marshaled. The Navy had been at fault, yet used and misused McVay as a gross outlet for their mistakes. For a recap of the story of the USS Indianapolis: During the summer of 1945 the USS Indianapolis CA-35 (a heavy cruiser) was chosen to carry " Little Boy" from San Francisco, California, to the island of Tinian, in the Pacific. Afterwards the Indianapolis was to practice or train near the island of Leyte. The Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine early on July 30. Many men survived the ships sinking by jumping in to the deep waters of the Pacific, but it would be the shark infested waters that would take the lives of many more. The surviving men were rescued on August 2 and 3. "Of the 1,197 crew members aboard the Indianapolis when she sailed for Leyte, 317 men survived." This book goes in to detail about what happens to a human body while in the salty ocean. It breaks it down how the body reacts to the inability to have drinking water and what happens if we drink salty ocean water. There is a section in the book on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We are also told what being in the sun day after day with the reflection of the water will do to the body, especially the eyes. The book also shares with us survivor stories in their own words. This is a must have book for any middle school or high school library, for three reasons. 1. It is the story of men who gave their life for our f
Recently I shopped at Barnes and Nobles. Browsing through the children's area I came across several great historical books. Behind Rebel Lines is the first book I've read and am reviewing from this shopping trip. Soon I'll be reviewing other history books on westward expansion, traveling in a covered wagon, Colonial America, and the Titanic. It has been nearly 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic. I noticed at Barnes and Nobles they have several choices in books for young readers. I may make a trip back to browse more from this subject. Sarah Emma Edmonds had left Canada at a young age and relocated to Michigan where she worked as a farm hand. She was physically hardy, independent, brave, bold. When the Civil War began she enlisted in the Union Army as a man, her new identity was Franklin Thompson. Thankfully she was able to work as a nurse, which meant she was able to have more privacy in her living quarters, "instead of a crowded company tent.". Later she interviewed for and got a job as a spy. Several times she crossed Rebel enemy lines disguised as a black slave man or woman. She also disguised herself as an Irish peddler woman. She made 11 spying missions for the Union. She was apparently a talented actor and master disguiser. I loved reading this book! It is a story I'd not heard before. I learned that there were over 400 women during the Civil War that disguised themselves as men in order to fight in the war. Emma Edmonds was a gutsy woman. She certainly had no qualms about rebelling against society and culture standards for her day. She made a decisive and brave choice to fight for her country. Her personality was such that she was not an impulsive dreamy person. She was instead intelligent, perceptive, wise. For more information about Sarah Emma Edmonds: http://www.civilwarhome.com/edmondsbio.htmhttp://www.thekentuckycivilwarbugle.com/2011-4Qpages/emmaedmonds.htmlhttp://susanna-mcleod.suite101.com/canadian-sarah-emma-edmonds-a-civil-war-spy-a186190 Published by Harcourt August 1, 2001 Young Adult Non-Fiction/Civil War/Spy/Biography 144 pages This book to me would be for ages 9 and up. I bought my copy at the Barnes and Nobles store: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/behind-rebel-lines-seymour-v-reit/1100467739Paperback $6.25 Link @ Barnes and Nobles for more Great Episode Books: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/?series_id=155109Link @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Rebel-Lines-Incredible-Episodes/dp/0152004246Paperback $6.95 Blissful Reading! Annette
The story of Simon And The Easter Miracle is actually the embroidered story of Simon the man who was asked to carry Jesus' cross. See real story Luke 23:26. I must first state that this hardcover book has lovely watercolor illustrations from the front cover to the back cover. I enjoyed seeing some of the same familiar animals on more than one page: such as the frisky cat, long nosed puppy, and yellow beaked bird. Each page has much to view, the pictures alone can bring about discussion while reading the book to small children. This is a book geared for young children. I understand that at a 5 year olds age telling the Easter story is different, than telling an Easter story to a 11 year old, or a 15 year old. As a child grows older more detail is given. My 8 year old granddaughter and 6 year old grandson do not understand fully the word peace, at least not as they will at an older age. Peace to them is something or someone that is friendly and calm, loving and docile. Real peace as we are taught in the New Testament, is only made possible by Jesus. Because of His shed blood on the cross we are no longer an enemy to God. We are made in a right-standing, we are at peace with Him. I understand what the author was trying to present in her book. I do believe an additional page should have been added. After the page about the place of crucifixion. I believe a brief and simple explanation, as to why Jesus died on the cross, and why we have "real" and "true" peace. That even when we have a "no good very bad day." We can have peace inside our hearts no matter how old we are. I believe the use of a dove is a starting point, but not the end all for this book. Easter is not just the previous day of crucifixion, but the risen Christ Jesus that conquered death. Another emphasis in the book is on kindness, this too is important. But kindness should always come from the well-spring of a heart focused on Christ Jesus. The last page is unclear to me, maybe a riddle? Maybe, because Simon was kind he was materially blessed? Blessings are not always material. The choice of blessing is up to the Lord. And not for us to propose. Published by Lion Hudson 2012 Hardcover/32 pages For ages 5 and up Link for book @ publisher: http://www.lionhudson.com/detail.php?product_id=3666049Included is a reading sample Thank you to Lion Hudson and Kregel Publications Book Tour for my free review copy! Link @ Christian Book: http://www.christianbook.com/simon-easter-miracle-traditional-tale-for/mary-joslin/9780745960586/pd/960586?product_redirect=1&Ntt=960586&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP$9.99 Blissful Reading! Annette
 | | Author Kathi Macias |
Special Delivery is book two in the Freedom (human trafficking) series. For anyone who may not have read book one, Deliver Me From Evil, can you fill us in on the focus of the series in general, and Special Delivery in particular? The Freedom series is a three-book fiction series built around the horrifying topic of human trafficking. People often ask me why I decided to write about such a dark topic. First, I explain that I’m not writing about a dark topic; I’m writing about the Light that shines in that darkness. And second, I believe the Church should be at the forefront of the modern-day abolition movement to set the captives (modern-day slaves) free. The three books in this series specifically follows the life of a young woman named Mara, who was sold into sexual slavery by her own parents in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border into San Diego by her uncle who then served as her pimp. A strong sub-plot throughout the series tells of two sisters in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Chanthra and Lawan, who are also trapped in a brothel. Finally, a teenage girl named Francesca, kidnapped in Juarez, Mexico, and forced into prostitution, is introduced in book two. Special Delivery picks up two years after book one, Deliver Me From Evil, ends, and continues with the stories of Mara and Lawan, as well as others carried over from book one. Mara hopes she is finally free to pursue her own life because she was rescued from the brothel and her testimony helped lock up her uncle for life. But the man has underground connections and is driven by revenge to reach out from behind bars and deliver the ultimate punishment to his niece. This isn’t the first fiction series you’ve written on nationwide and even worldwide social issues, the one previous to this being the persecuted Church. What draws you to these difficult topics? As a Christian, I believe I am compelled to use my God-given gifts to honor God in all I do—and that includes exposing the deeds of darkness, calling sinners to repentance, and taking a stand for righteousness by doing all I can to help rescue those who are suffering. I dare not turn my back on “the least of these.” I also believe that God placed this sort of burden on my heart even before I became a Christian at the age of 26. I’ve always been a champion of the underdog, a “soap-box” preacher, if you will. When I met Jesus, I simply redirected that passion toward His people, realizing I couldn’t effect real change in my own strength anyway. With your obvious passion to right social and moral wrongs through the power of the Gospel, how did writing and speaking enter into that? I’ve known I wante
It is difficult to find a book in young adult fiction that is not enhanced by a theme of ghosts, vampires, werewolves, special sensory talents, or sorcery. These themes seem to be the tantalizing bite (no pun intended) that lures readers in to young adult fiction. I'm not as swept up in this, may I call it a faze, as other readers are. When I was a teen, Stephen King, was well, king of the horror books and movies. I read a few of his books, until I was scared silly. Now, I gravitate toward history and biographies, and The Name Of The Star grabbed my attention as it has a Jack the Ripper theme. When I was in London in the fall of 2001 I took part in a Jack the Ripper walking tour, it was quite interesting. I love history, especially British history. I'd waited a while for this book to be available for me to check out from the library, I instead bought a copy. The story is centered on Aurora or Rory. The time period is our current era. Rory is 17, and has recently moved from Louisiana to London to spend her last year of high school in a boarding school named Wexford. Wexford is located in the east end of London, near the areas where Jack the Ripper during the 1800's brutally and savagely murdered women. Rory is a chatty girl, easy to like, comical, bright, brave, and wise. She is quick to make friends with her room mate. She settles in to a change in the structured environment at boarding school, as well as academic classes she takes, and a dreaded physical education class. The day she arrived in London was the day the first modern day London copy-cat murder took place. A murder uncannily reminiscent of Jack the Ripper murder's. This is a well-written book. I can understand why I'd heard good things about it. I enjoyed reading it, it was an absorbing read, hard to put down. The characters are easy to relate to, they are realistic in that we see both good and bad sides of their persona. There is light-hardheartedness in that the seriousness of the story is off-set by Rory's comical trait. Rory is an admirable character. She does not have a defiant behavior; but is rather grounded and serious about her grades and current life choices. Her parents are minimal and way in the back-drop of this story. The focus is on Rory and the gradual revealing of how she too will become involved in the copy-cat murders. Link @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Name-Star-Shades-London/dp/0399256601/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326569900&sr=1-1Hardcover $11.55 Kindle $10.99 I bought my copy at Target, hardcover for $10.98 Link @ publisher: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780399256608,00.html?The_Name_of_the_Star_Maureen_Johnson#Published by Putnam Juvenile September 2011 384 pages For ages 12 and up/Young Adult Fiction Blissful Reading! Annette
Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day--January 11, 2012
Abolition: the act or process of abolishing or being abolished.
Abolitionist: one who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, esp. of capital punishment or slavery.
Slave: a person who is the legal property of another or others and is bound to absolute obedience; a human chattel. A drudge; a person working very hard. A helpless victim of some dominating influence.
Slavery, bondage, captivity, servitude, imprisonment, confinement, duress, oppression, repression, subjugation, domination, yoke, restraint, fetters, shackles, chains, bonds, irons.
Definitions from Oxford Pocket American Dictionary of Current English
and The Synonym Finder J. I. Rodale
UNICEF "reports that across the world, there are over one million children entering the sex trade every year and that approximately 30 million children have lost their childhood through sexual exploitation over the past 30 years." Quote from Lisa L. Thompson's testimony, for further reading read link below for Human Trafficking.
See also link for UNICEF further figures:
http://www.unicef.org/indonesia/Factsheet_CSEC_trafficking_Indonesia.pdf
Links for more information:
http://www.humantrafficking.org/events/64
There are four available downloads of testimonies. I downloaded, printed, and read Lisa L. Thompson's testimony.
http://breakingchains.ning.com/
"Fight for the freedom of innocent children who have been subjected to the chains of bondage through prostitution, abuse, and trafficking." From Breaking Chains Website
http://notinmytown.net/
 Published by New Hope Publishers 2011 320 pages Christian Fiction Link @ Christian Book: http://www.christianbook.com/deliver-me-from-evil-freedom/kathi-macias/9781596693067/pd/693067?product_redirect=1&Ntt=693067&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCPPaperback $10.99 Author links: http://kathimacias.com/http://www.christianspeakersservices.com/kathi-macias---christian-speaker--author.htmlhttp://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/Kathi Macias has written a brave, sobering, frightening story of child sex trafficking in America. It is rare for me to read a book and feel so uncomfortable that I had a hard time keeping my seat. I often had to take a break and walk around the room, or house, or even leave my house in order to digest what I'd just read. This is a book that when the reader finishes the last page there can no longer be naivety or apathy; but instead propelled, to be an abolisher, and an abolitionist, and an advocate, for the safety of children! Mara is a teenage girl living in the San Diego, California area. Mara was born in Mexico, and when she was a young girl her father sold her to be a slave in the sex trade. Mara, her name means bitter. A name that reflects her
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Have you read Hitler's Canary? It also portrays the Danish people during the war. It's a middle grade novel, but I enjoyed it.