Jazz Off-Key

Jazz Off-Key, a chapter book written by prolific author Dandi Daley Mackall, is part of the Zonderkidz FaithGirlz series of books. This is a series of books especially for girls.

This book is also part of the Blog On series, a series of stories about a group of five girls who get together once a week to plan and discuss the blog they have created – hence the name of the series. Each book in the series features a member of the group. This particular book is about Jazz (Jasmine) Fletcher.

Jazz has anger management issues. She seems to be angry about something nearly all the time. Even though she believes in God, and she prays about things, when her sister inadvertently ruins her paintings and jeopardizes her first chance at having her art exhibited, God seems very far away and her anger is too much for her to control.

Jazz’s passion is art. She loves to draw and paint and do sculptures. When the owner of a local art supply store asks her if she would like to exhibit her art at his open house, she jumps at the chance. She shows her sister Kendra the paintings she wants to exhibit; Kendra says they need more color. While Jazz isn’t home, Kendra “repaints” Jazz’s artwork orange and red. Kendra has Down’s Syndrome and thinks she’s doing a good thing. She doesn’t understand she has ruined her sister’s work.

Jazz is an artist, so she writes a cartoon for the group’s blog. She also shares her problems with her friends. When she tells them about her ruined paintings, they all try to help her come up with ways to salvage the show. In the end, Jazz learns the importance of family and forgiveness, and she develops a closer relationship with God.

For a little background on the series, a brief bio and description of each girl is provided at the end of the story.

The Bible verse, 2 Corinthians 4:18 is given as a reference: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

What I Like: The characters in this series seem very real. They’re the types of characters readers can relate to.

What I Dislike: At one point in the story, Jazz’s friend, Storm, suggests the two of them break into the local elementary school to retrieve a couple of paintings Jazz did years ago that are kept in a supply closet there. They don’t have to break pick any locks or break any windows to get into the building as one window is unlocked. But, still, they are doing something illegal. Storm is able to talk her way out of trouble when a security guard catches them in the act. I’m unhappy with this scene because it makes it look likes it’s all right to enter buildings that are supposed to be locked up. They had a good reason for doing so, and they did it for a good cause, but they still did something illegal and there were no real consequences for the act. I think that sets a bad example for young readers.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2007; ISBN: 0310712653; Paperback, $6.99.

Buy now at ChristianBook $5.49.

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Special Info: Visit the author’s website. Read our reviews of other books written by Dandi Daley Mackall.

Saying Grace

In a world where illness and financial difficulties are mentioned daily in the news, it's easy to forget to give thanks. That's why Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll is an especially welcomed new book. Although Kroll admits in a forward that prayers of thanksgiving go back to biblical times, in this book she imagines how "saying grace" might have become an American tradition.

The book opens in a Pilgrim village in the 17th century. A young girl named Grace is worried about the coming winter, which neighbors seem to think will be a harsh one. Grace remembers that during another harsh winter, her sister was born premature and nearly didn't survive - and her father barely made it home in a blizzard. The village also lost many to pnuemonia. Grace doesn't think she go through such harships again.

Her friend Hannah says, ""You're a fretter, Grace," and her mother tells her, "Stop fretting and say a prayer instead."

When winter snows come, Grace goes to her room and reads the Psalms. "Please send us a gentle winter," she prays. Her prayer is answered; the winter isn't harsh, and soon spring comes and Grace is working in the family garden. When harvest time arrives, one young man in the village marries a woman from another village. She tells them her people have a tradition of a harvest feast. Grace's village decides to adopt this idea.

As Grace works hard to prepare for the feast, she notices how squirrels with nuts in their hands look like they are praying and how gulls seem to be praising God in song. When her village gathers for the feast, she stops them: "Shouldn't we first say thank you to God and ask a blessing?" Everyone thinks this is a great idea and they ask Grace to do the honors.

"From that day forward, at every meal the family took turns 'saying grace.' Mama often quoted verses from the Bible. Papa talked to God as if he were an old friend, seated right there with them...Grace wrote several new prayer-poems of her own. Sometimes she used words like bounty and giving. But she never, ever forgot the thanks."

What I Like: Grace is a true-to-life character, complete with flaws. I love how she learns to trust God by reading his word and giving up her concerns in prayer. This story is also a fun way to imagine how the phrase "saying grace" might have come about. The illustrations by Timothy Ladwig are full of rich autumn scenes.
What I Dislike: Nothing, really, although I think the book would be stronger if we learned that God doesn't always say "yes" to our prayers.

Overall Rating: Very Good.
Age Appeal: 4 to 8.
Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; ISBN: 978-0310712107; hardback, $15.99
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Special Info: Read our other reviews of Virginia Kroll and Timothy Ladwig books.

Barns of Barley: The Parable of the Rich Fool

Barns of Barley: The Parable of the Rich Fool by Claudia Courtney and illustrated by Kathy Mitter, is a book for early readers who are learning to sound out words. This book is one of the fifteen books in the Phonetic Bible Stories series. This parable can be found in Luke 12:17-21.

This story emphasizes the phonogram "ar" (think barley.)

"Barley in barns,

Garlic in carts,

Parsley in jars.

Chard in all parts."

The illustrations are vivid, and work well with the story. The book starts with a look at the rich man's flourishing garden. He had men to harvest his crops in his large yard. He realized that because of his large amount of crops, he needed larger barns, "up to the stars." He was so proud of his proceeds that he wanted a large party to celebrate his wealth. He was shocked and dismayed to find that his great greed was keeping him away from God.

What I Like: The author writes a note to parents at the beginning of the book. She gives ideas of how to most effectively use the book for early readers. Although this is a relatively short book, it can be turned into a Bible/phonics review or lesson. There are many interesting food items that can be looked up as you read through the story with your child.

What I Dislike: I don't dislike anything about this book. It is well-priced and a great teaching tool. I would definitely consider buying other Phonetic Bible Stories.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 4-8

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 1998; ISBN:0570050952; Paperback $2.99.

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Horse Angels

"I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. . . The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them." Psalm 34:4, 7

This passage illuminates the lesson that "Scoop" (Sarah Coop) learns in Horse Angels, book five in Dandi Daley Mackall's Horsefeathers series. The reference to the "angel of the LORD" provides one reason for the title. The other reason is obvious when Scoop teaches her horses to roll in the snow and make horse versions of snow angels. Dandi Daley Mackall is a prolific author who began riding horses at age three. Her Horsefeathers books are full of horse facts, as well as biblical truth. Her description of horses making snow angels is vivid, and if anyone has seen it done, I am sure she has.

Horse Angels begins on Halloween, when someone sets a fire outside Scoop's stable, Horsefeathers. Fearing for her horses, she races to the scene and realizes only hay bales are on fire, and the horses are safe. This anonymous prank, coupled with a bad fall when Cheyenne, (one of the wilder horses) rears, sends Scoop into a spiral of negative "what if" thinking. Trust is already hard for Scoop, who was adopted at three, but lost both adoptive parents in a factory explosion a few years later.

As Halloween ends, and Fall stretches towards Thanksgiving and Scoop's birthday, she wonders whether her friends like her, she worries God won't provide for her, and she fears her best friend is using drugs, all while weathering a terrible blizzard. Just as Scoop struggles to trust God, she has a hard time making Cheyenne trust her. Scoop's attempts to "gentle" Cheyenne mirror God's attempts to instill trust in Scoop.

The climax of the novel occurs when Scoop, with her manic-depressive little brother, B.C., sets off in search of Jen, Scoop's best friend and Cheyenne's owner. Their search leads them through a blinding blizzard to the Dalton farm. The Daltons are rich horse owners, who rely more on technology and hired help than their hearts when training horses. Scoop is desperate to warm up B.C. and get help for Jen, who was injured when Cheyenne slid in the snow.

Believing no one was home at the Dalton residence, Scoop breaks in, receiving a hard knock on the head from Stephen Dalton, her 13-year-old cousin. Relieved to be inside the home, despite her bruise, Scoop, B.C. and Jen wait out the storm on Thanksgiving Eve with Stephen. They keep the fire going, battle bats and attempt to bake a birthday cake for Scoop and a Thanksgiving turkey. Unfortunately, the power goes out and Scoop discovers pills in Jen's coat pocket. Scoop also learns all of her friends are gathered for a surprise party in her honor on the other side of town, explaining their strange behavior earlier, and allaying Scoop's fear they don't really like her.

Eventually, Scoop learns the truth from Jen. She is in the later stages of kidney failure, but is trying to hide the seriousness of her condition from her mom and brothers. Jen is afraid to face surgery and afraid to ask one of her brothers to donate a kidney. Her fear of dying and surgery are eased by a poignant story B.C. tells, quoting his aunt comparing death to birth. This story is illustrated when one of the mares in the Dalton stables goes into labor. Scoop is forced to help the foal turn, so both front legs and it's nose will emerge first. Witnessing the birth makes Jen more determined to live, and makes Scoop realize God is with her.

Shortly after the birth, Scoop, her brother, Jen and Stephen are rescued. They all experience a release from fear and a renewed trust in God. Scoop says, "God flooded my mind with His words, a passage from Psalm 27, "The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?" Suddenly the fears that had plagued me since Halloween melted like snowflakes in sunshine."

What I Like: I love the fact that there are great dramatic novels for Christian teens to read. Many junior high and high school girls love series of books, especially when there are enough horses and dramatic situations involved. Mackall knows how to weave an interesting, compelling story with characters we really care about. She also knows enough about horses to write authentically. I think many Christian girls would find non-Christian friends would enjoy these books, too.

I especially like the premise of Horse Angels. Mackall acknowledges bad things happen, even to Christians. (Scoop says her friend Jen is the best Christian she knows, yet she still is diagnosed with the kidney disease nephritis.) She also shows us how even Christians can struggle with "what if" thinking. (I certainly can.) But through it all, Mackall points us to God's care and provision and we realize He will be with us no matter what. As B.C. paraphrases his aunt, "She says Jesus wouldn't have died for our sins like that on the cross just to be raised up so we could join Him in a scary place. He did all that so we could be forgiven and go to heaven. And in heaven, He's making mansions bigger than the Dalton's mansion. So that's a mighty fine place to be born when we die."

The book also includes a couple of pages of Foaling Facts at the end, which are very informative. I learned a lot about how horses have babies.

What I Dislike: The characters and set-up of Horse Angels are very similar to Mackall's Winnie the Horse Gentler series. Winnie and Scoop have both lost at least one parent, are experts at gentling horses, and are awkward around peers. Their voices sound similar, and they each run a stable to gentle horses in competition with the more high-tech stable across town. However, I don't think most teens will mind, and they may even find comfort in the predictability of similar heroines and situations.

The only other thing I don't like is a plot detail. Jen was supposed to take Scoop with her to Dalton stables to distract her while everyone else got ready for Scoop's surprise party. However, Scoop forgot and was in the tub, and by the time she realized Jen was missing and she would have to go after her, the blizzard was already beginning. Apparently, Jen left without Scoop, but she had to get her horse from Scoop's stable. It seems logical to me that Jen would have stopped by the house to collect Scoop, before starting out, but Scoop says, "It would have been just like Jen to be so stubborn about getting the library book from Stephen, she would have set out for it without me." This makes sense, but not if Jen was to keep Scoop occupied so she wouldn't find out about the party. A minor detail, but still confusing.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 12-16

Publisher Info: Concordia Publishing House, 2000; ISBN: 978-0-570-07086-3 ; Paperback, $5.99

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Special Information: Check out our reviews of other Dandi Daley Mackall books here.

Our Favorite Mainstream Holiday Books

Here at Christian Children's Book Review, we've posted about many Christian Thanksgiving and Christmas books for kids, but today we wanted to share a few of our mainstream or secular holiday favorites.

Christine tells me her favorite mainstream Thanksgiving book is The Thanksgiving Bowl, by Virginia Kroll. She describes the book this way:

"Grandma Grace had a Thanksgiving tradition. When you arrived at her house, you used the pad of paper and pencil on the hallway table to write down what you were thankful for and placed your paper in the 'Thanksgiving Bowl.' After all the food had been eaten, while everyone still sat at the table, Grandma read each note in turn and all in attendance at the meal tried to guess who might have written each note."

Sounds like this book could be the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition in your house, too.

Robin says her favorite mainstream Christmas book is out of print, but still available through many online sources. She writes:

"Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book has something for all ages, and there’s much more than the beautiful, nostalgic paintings. My children love the poetry and traditional hymns. I love the short fiction section and the Bible stories of the first Christmas. There is even a Christmas Dinner menu from Fannie Farmer’s 1896 cookbook, featuring Roast Goose with Potato Stuffing."

Happily, this book will be re-released this year.

Personally, I can't imagine Christmas without reading classics like A Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Night Before Christmas.

My favorite edition of the latter has illustrations by Mary Engelbreit, whose work is vivid, colorful, detailed, and always lots of fun. Her edition of The Night Before Christmas is outstanding.

My daughter also really loves Engelbreit's Merry Little Christmas, which is an A to Z guide to Christmas through the eyes of a mouse family. Although it mentions Santa and elves, there is one mention of the true meaning of Christmas: "A is for angel/Atop a tall tree/Aglow with the light of/What Christmas should be."

In our families, we keep the focus of Thanksgiving and Christmas on God, but sometimes its fun and useful to delve into classics (or the future's classics) for a glimpse at what we can be thankful for, how Christmas was celebrated in the past, and how we should treat others. Consider adding a few mainstream classics to your family bookshelf this holiday season!

Two Shoes

Two Shoes, written and illustrated by Beth Raitt, is a rhyming picture book about, well, two shoes! As they walk down the street, they happen to look up. What do they see? They see two feet inside their two shoes. This makes them wonder: What’s making them move?

By looking higher, they discover two shins attached to the feet. They begin to wonder if there’s still more that makes them move.

Further inspections reveal two knees attached to the shins, two thighs attached to the knees, and so on until they are able to see the rest of the body, all the way to the top of the head. Still, they wonder: What’s the reason for their existence? “There must be a reason we’re here at all.” Then they hear a voice:

“I am your Creator,” so clearly was said,
“I sent you my Son who was crucified until dead.
But on the third day He rose up from His grave,
to do what he promised, the whole world to save.
So yes, there is purpose to walk in your shoes,
to love the Lord Jesus and spread the Good News.”

The shoes are happy to finally learn their reason for being. They are so happy, they start talking to other shoes, telling them the “Good News.”

The illustrations are cartoon-like and done in soft pastels and monochromatic colors.

What I Like: This is a different approach to answering the question: Why are we here? What is our purpose in life? It puts it in a context that kids will understand.

What I Dislike: This book is written in rhyme. For the most part it’s done well, but there are a couple of places where the rhyme scheme is a bit forced.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing and Enterprises, 2009; ISBN: 1606966642; Paperback, $8.99.

Buy now at Amazon.com $8.99!

Absolutely Worthy

Absolutely Worthy is the fourth book in the five-book Laurel Shadrach series by Stephanie Perry Moore. Even though it comes in the middle of a series, this is a fine stand alone book. The text begins with a quick recap of the previous plot history before diving into the next chapter of Laurel's life: her first semester at college.

Laurel, the daughter of a pastor and a talented gymnast, has big plans for college. Of course, she wants to do well in all her classes and she wants to share her faith with others, but she also wants to win a coveted spot on the Gym Dawgs gymnastic team and make it into her mother's sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.

Laurel's roommate is also a Christian (and the main character of the author's Payton Skky series), but their suitemates are not. Even before the first class begins, drama ensues. Jewels, one of their suitemates, constantly berates her own roommate, Anna, because she's overweight. She also dislikes Payton because she's black. Laurel tries to be the peacekeeper, but the task becomes increasingly difficult as she and Jewels pledge for the same sorority. When Jewels discovers that Payton's ex-boyfriend is now the star football player, she tries to date him, in spite of her prejudices. Then when Laurel wins sorority class president, Jewels is furious and tries to get back at her by dating Branson, Laurel's high school boyfriend.

Laurel broke up with Branson in high school because he didn't respect her wishes to remain sexually pure. But now that they're both in the same college, she wonders if he's changed. A lot has happened between then and now, including an HIV scare for Branson. He claims to be different now. Perhaps they have a future together after all.

While juggling issues with Branson, Jewels and the sorority, the gymnastics team and classes, Laurel struggles with her worth. Why isn't she good enough for Branson? Will she ever be good enough for the Gym Dawgs? Why aren't her grades higher? She and Payton try to find a church to attend. They take turns being the encourager and almost always have each other's backs. Meanwhile, Laurel meets some mystery guy and the two become informal study partners in the library. He is also a Christian who becomes a tremendous encouragement for Laurel.

Tragedy strikes when a girl from their dorm goes missing. A couple days later she's found murdered. Then racial tensions rise when the Alpha Gamma Deltas decide to do a Gone With the Wind theme for Halloween. Payton finds this very offensive, but Laurel doesn't understand why. Then everything comes to a head when Anna tries to commit suicide.

Eventually Laurel learns to find her worth in Christ instead of in herself or what others think of her. But it's a journey, one she begins just before winter break. That's when she returns home to discover her grandfather had a stroke, one friend from high school might drop out of college because of HIV and another faces an unexpected pregnancy. Meanwhile, Branson says he wants her back. Her father summarizes everything at the Christmas Eve service: "We can be happy in spite of the despair all around us because the Lord is with us through the turmoil ... we know our heavenly Father is in control of every phase of our lives. Happiness isn't found in our circumstances. True joy is in God."

What I Like: Self image is a big issue with girls. This book hits the base of that issue again and again, always pointing the main character and the readers back to God. Only by focusing on Him can we find peace. While I worry that this book might cover too much, I like that it covers topics highly relevant to teens: premarital sex, underage drinking, peer pressure, self-discipline, racial tensions, even suicide.

At one point, Laurel leads a friend to Christ. I greatly appreciate this scene because it offers teen readers a clear and concise guide for leading their friends to Christ. It's simple, straight-forward and Biblically spot-on.

What I Dislike: The flow is erratic, and the dialog a little too Christianese at times. I would not recommend it to unbelievers. The book covers so much, and sometimes jumps from one dramatic storyline to another without a smooth transition.

Also, I never felt truly connected to any of the characters. I wanted to know what happened, but held no affection for any of them. As a reader, I felt like a spectator rather than someone truly drawn into the story. It's unfortunate, because I don't know how much readers will internalize if they feel unattached to the characters.

Finally, several plotlines were incomplete, details abandoned. For example, Payton and Laurel never settled their dispute over race and Laurel's choice of costume. Anna was upset that no one visited her in the hospital, but everyone seemed to ignore that and move onto something else. Laurel mentioned her brother's gambling problem several times, but no one did anything about it. I realize some of this may be handled in Book 5, but the unfinished stories distracted and annoyed me.

Overall Rating: Very good. Even with my frustrations over the writing, this book covers several relevant topics for teens and college students. I recommend it.

Age Appeal: The publisher says "teen," and Amazon says 9-12. I suggest 15 and up.

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2003; ISBN: 080244038X; Paperback; $6.99

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Special Info: Parents should note that this book contains under-age drinking, premarital sex (resulting in HIV and unwanted pregnancy), murder and suicide. None of these topics are glorified in any way. Laurel does partake in drinking and suffers consequences. Sex is not described in the book, but is discussed by the characters. The murder is a very minor subplot and simply serves the purpose of warning against unsafe dating. The suicide attempt is described, but not explicitly.

Also, a doctrinal note: At one point in the book, Laurel prays for the soul of someone she knows is deceased. The mention is extremely brief. While this may align with some religious teachings, it also contradicts the doctrines of several denominations.

Follow this link to purchase Purity Reigns, the first book in this series. You may also purchase the first four books of the series together through Christianbook.com. The set of four sells for $22.96.