Review: Magic to Memphis by Julie Starr

Magic to Memphis by Julie StarrMagic to Memphis
Julie Starr

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A box filled with postcards and mementos that once belonged to her father send seventeen year-old Jessie on a quest to Memphis to find the man who disappeared into his own dreams of musical stardom. Her faithful dog Bear protects her, and a quirky traveler named Finch talks to Jessie about the magic of making things happen. When Jessie begins to embrace this everyday magic, miraculous things begin to happen. But not everyone wishes Jessie well. A sinister man with dark power seeks artifacts in Jessie’s possession, and he’ll stop at nothing to get them back.

I’m not a dog person (go ahead and hate me) … Continue reading

Review: Li Jun and the Iron Road by Anne Tait

Li Jun and the Iron RoadLi Jun and the Iron Road
Anne Tait
Dundurn

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Working as a servant to help her family becomes unbearable when Li Jun’s lecherous master makes it clear he plans to take advantage of her. As a Chinese woman in the 1880s, Li Jun has few other options. She makes a daring escape by disguising herself as a boy and living as a street urchin. When she hears of an opportunity to travel to British Columbia to work on the railroad, she realizes this could be the chance she has longed for: to follow in her father’s footsteps and discover what has kept him from returning home.

As Little Tiger, … Continue reading

A Time for Giving Thanks

t-dayAs I took time this week to pause and look at my life, I am filled with gratitude. Our refrigerator is packed with food. Our table is surrounded by family and friends. We have medical care which provides for our needs when we are sick (and we’ve all been sick this week!)

Though we had to say goodbye to both of our longtime pets – two cats we’ve had for more than ten years – we also adopted a new cat from a local shelter. He had a rough start, so he was fearful and skittish when we brought him home. But there was something in his face that made me believe he just needed an opportunity to love. It’s proven to be true. After just a … Continue reading

Checking Out the NKJV Faithgirlz Bible Edited by Nancy Rue

NKJV Faithgirlz Bible Edited by Nancy RueFaithgirlz Bible (NKJV)
Edited by Nancy Rue
Zonderkidz
Published October 6, 2015

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The Faithgirlz Bible is a Bible with additional devotional and study content specifically focused on teen and preteen girls. This edition is the New King James Version (NKJV), but a New International Version (NIV) edition is also available.

When I saw that Nancy Rue edited this version, I’m not going to lie, I was pretty excited. I love the way she relates spiritual and moral principles in her novels, so I felt like she’d do a great job bringing that insight and excitement to scripture and make it even more accessible to girls.

Each book … Continue reading

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers: Review and Thoughts on Book Banning

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Some Girls Are
Courtney Summers
St. Martin’s Griffin

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Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard—falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High… until vicious rumors about her—and her best friend’s boyfriend—start going around.  Now Regina’s been frozen out, and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. 

If Regina were guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth, and the bullying is getting more intense by the day.  She takes solace in the company of Michael … Continue reading

Review: The Hunted by Matt de la Pena

The Hunted by Matt de la PenaThe Hunted
Matt de la Peña
Delacorte Press

When Shy and his friends reach the California shoreline, they find widespread devastation and panic. What seemed at first like an easy mission – transport precious vaccines to Arizona to stop the spread of a disease destroying humanity – suddenly becomes near impossible. With the border closed and vigilantes hunting down anyone on the road, the trip seems like a hopeless cause. But with more and more people dying, Shy can’t give up. He must find a way to deliver the medicine and the evidence damning its creator.

The rise of the ugly disease and the conspiracy behind its spread will likely remind readers of James Dashner’s Maze Runner series. The Hunted packs a high dose of suspense and a fast-paced plot that … Continue reading