Glimmer Girls: A Dolphin Wish

Glimmer Girls: A Dolphin Wish, by Christian Grammy winning artist Natalie Grant, is the second book in the FaithGirlz Glimmer Girls series.  Once again, Mia and Maddie are solving a mystery  again with their little sister Lulu!  Their mother is a famous singer so the entire family gets to travel with her around the world to her concerts. In the last book they traveled to London.  In this book they travel to the San Diego, California. While there, they visit an amusement park and encounter a mystery involving the animals.  The sisters also deal with feelings of jealousy between them while in San Diego.

What I Like: I appreciate that this book can stand alone from the first book in the series.   You will not be lost at all if you haven't read the first book and decide that you want to start with this one.

If you read my review of the first book, you will remember that I was concerned about  one of the characters sneaking out at night and not receiving consequences.  This disobedience was addressed more thoroughly in this second book.   I also appreciated the family discussions and their reliance on God throughout the book.

What I Dislike:  There was nothing I disliked about this book.

 
Overall Rating: Excellent.
 
Age Appeal: 8-12.
 
Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2016; ISBN:0310752531; Paperback, 144 pages, $8.99.

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Special Info: You can read my review of the first book in the series, Glimmer Girls: London Art Chase by clicking here.

Glimmer Girls: London Art Chase

Glimmer Girls: London Art Chase, by Christian Grammy winning music artist Natalie Grant, is the first book in the Faithgirlz Glimmer Girls Series.  Mia and Maddie are 10-year-old twins who fly to London with their little sister Lulu to watch their famous mother Gloria Glimmer sing in concert. While there they encounter a mystery.  The girls and their nanny try to solve who stole art from the National Gallery.

What I Like: I liked the elements of faith that were written throughout the book.  The characters struggled with feelings of jealousy, not fitting in and fear.  These were all addressed with the characters being told to pray and trust in God.

What I Dislike: There is a part in the story where the 10-year-old main character sneaks out of her hotel room in London to try to solve the mystery on her own.  She ends up being okay but I was disappointed that she did not receive consequences for sneaking out and putting herself in danger.  I think this really would have been a good opportunity for a teaching point on honesty, obedience and safety.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2016; ISBN: 987-0-310-75265-3; Paperback, 208 pgs., $8.99

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The Case of the Campfire Caper

The Case of the Campfire Caper (Bill the Warthog Mysteries) by Dean Anderson is one in a series of Bill the Warthog Mysteries books.

In this book, Bill and Nick and several other boys go on a week long trip to camp. As each chapter accounts a part of the day Bill and Nick are living, a small "mystery" occurs. Based on the information read through the chapter, children are encouraged to figure out the solution to the mystery and why the content of the day was important to the biblical theme woven throughout the story.

In The Case of the Campfire Caper, the theme throughout the book is Creation. Rather than going through the typical "Day one- God made light," a subtle mention of light is made and then children are asked why if was so fitting for light to be the answer to the solution on the first day of camp.

The solution answers are at the back of the book and include another page of reading to end each chapter. Although this book would be great for boys (the characters in this particular book are all boys), my seven and a half year old daughter enjoyed it very much.

What I Like: Because the Creation account is so foundational to our faith, I love finding books that reiterate and review Creation for my children. I also like the way this story causes children to stretch their minds a bit in order to solve the mystery in each chapter.

What I Dislike: I liked this book very much.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8-12 years.

Publisher Info: Legacy Press, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-58411-081-1; paperback, 112 pgs., $7.99


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The Lost Treasure of Persia

In Australian author Heath Jones’ book The Lost Treasure of Persia: A Skye Belle Adventure, twelve-year old Skye Bell and her younger brother Brandon go on an adventure in Paris that turns into a danger-fraught mystery.

Their mission starts out simple enough: visit the Louvre museum to see some recently uncovered ancient Persian artifacts the kids think might be linked to Queen Esther. They hope that examining these items first-hand will help them discover the secret to the Biblical queen’s courage to come before her husband, the King of Persia. However, on their first meeting with their museum contact, the kids discover the jewelry has been stolen. From there on out, the children try to find clues, capture the thief, and restore the treasure to the museum. As the story unfolds, Skye discovers it’s not just the secret of Queen Esther’s courage she is trying to find; it is her own.

What I Like: The story brings in Christian elements and lessons in a way that feels natural, kids can relate to, and works with the personalities of the characters. Also, in many ways, The Lost Treasure of Persia reminds me of the simplicity of adventure found in the popular Magic Tree House stories, only without the time travel. In both, you have a brother and sister on a mission where they learn history, solve a mystery, and confront danger. In much the same way, the story also moves quickly from plot point to plot point—steady action but without the more complex character development found in books geared toward an older audience. The cover art also appeals to that 1st-2nd grade age group. The main character looks much like Kim in the cartoon Kim Possible. That’s why I believe that if your child likes the Magic Tree House books, he will likely enjoy this series as well.

What I Dislike: Kids might not have an issue with this, but I was bothered by the fact that, all on their own, the young characters simply fly off to Paris, travel around the country, and stay in a hotel. When they need to relocate to another part of Europe, they simply purchase tickets and take off… again, on their own. Nowhere in the story does it indicate the family is wealthy enough to have such a large travel income at their disposal. Neither is it believable kids this age would travel without any adult supervision. A family vacation, a visit to a distant relative, a special international camp, a friend who works at the museum in Paris, rich parents who send kids on a trip with a butler, or even a magic tree house... any of these ideas would solve that issue and make the story feel a little more authentic.

Overall Rating: I debated between excellent and very good, and when that happens, I usually go with the benefit of the doubt. So... EXCELLENT.

Age Appeal: The publisher does not list an age group, but I believe it fits kids in grades 1,2, and 3--- about, as I said, the level of a Magic Tree House adventure.

Publisher Info: Amazon Digital Services, 2014; ISBN: 978-1501061899; kindle or paperback, 116 pgs., $4.99

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Secret of the Catacombs

If you’re looking for a Christian alternative to the Magic Tree House series then take a look at Secret of the Catacombs, the first book in the Catacombs Mysteries series.

Author Mary Litton says she was inspired by the popular aforementioned series. True to her word, there are numerous similarities between the two. Like Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, Secret of the Catacombs features two characters—a third grade boy named Will and a second grade girl named Molly. The storyline parallels the structure of a typical Magic Tree House story too, with a magic book (a Bible) that teleport the characters back in time, where they must complete a mission before it is too late. Likewise, Will and Molly are also given specific objects that will help them complete their task, and they (and therefore the reader) have access to vital information particular to the time period. In addition, the story is accented by black and white line illustrations, drawn by Aleksandra D. Chabros in a fashion reminiscent of Magic Tree House.

However, unlike the Magic Tree House series, Will and Molly are given their missions from an angel (as opposed to sorceress Morgan Le Fay) and they must recall Scripture passages and lessons learned in Sunday school class in order to complete their task. They are also teleported from the basement of their church instead of a tree house. Why the differences? As Litton puts it, “I wanted to write a fun mystery chapter book series for early readers to learn and explore the fundamental Bible stories and understand how those stories still apply to their modern lives.”

In this first book, Will and Molly are introduced to the reading audience. They then discover the secret time portal. Plus they get their first mission: to save horses from being swept away in the flood and get them back on board Noah’s ark.

What I Like: As always, I am an advocate for more Christian fiction chapter books for early readers, so I welcome this refreshing new series. The pdf file I read was attractive—clean in mechanics and well written. I also like how the book uses (as Litton puts it) “key memory verses and story references” to help children “become more familiar with the Bible’s books, chapters, and verses.” Some might object to how closely Litton follows the Magic Tree House formula, but I didn’t mind. After all, my own series was born out of a desire to write a Christian alternative to Junie B. Jones, and, eight books later, has taken on a life of its own. I suspect this series has the potential to do the same.

What I Dislike: The illustration of Mrs. Smotherly, Will's Sunday school teacher, was cartoonish compared the realistic nature of the rest of the pictures, and the inconsistency bothered me. Also, while the story was enjoyable, it did not hold enough tension (for me) to make it irresistible. (Ironically, I feel the same way about many of the Magic Tree House books... and it is a major bestselling series!)

Overall Rating: Very Good, although I believe Magic Tree House fans would rate it Excellent.

Age Appeal: None is listed, but it seems well suited for the K-2 grade level.

Publisher Info: Windy Knob Press, 2012; ISBN:978-0615615820; Paperback, 74pgs., $5.99

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God Made Something Amazing (Find the Animal)

God created many incredible animals. In Penny Reeves book God Made Something Amazing by Penny Reeve, it's your job to use the clues to figure out which animal is spotlighted.

The story depicts two young explorers--a boy and a girl--who spot an animal. They speculate what it might be, based on the shape of its head, tail, feet, and where it lives. The illustrations, done by Roger De Klerk, tantalize the reader by showing only a small part of the animal at a time. In the final pages, the mystery is solved, and God is thanked for creating such marvelous creatures.

Each two-page spread in the book features a full page illustration on one side and large-sized print with 3-5 sentences on the other. In addition, each spread provides a short Bible verse (such as, "How great are your works, O Lord. Psalm 92:5) and two questions related to the picture (such as, "Can you find the green socks?").

What I Like: The large print and simple conversational style make this book ideal for the toddler/preschool age. In addition, I like how the questions redirect the reader's attention to the pictures. I also like the inclusion of Bible verses.

What I Dislike: There is nothing I truly dislike, but neither do I feel strongly that it's a "must have" type of book.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: No age is suggested by the publisher, but I think it's probably too basic for kids older than kindergarten, and would probably best appeal to the toddler/preschool age group.

Publisher Info: CF4K, 2011; ISBN:978-1845506940; Paperback, 16 pgs., $4.99

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Special Info: This book is one in a series of Find the Animal books. Other titles include God Made Something Strong, God Made Something Quick, God Made Something Funny, God Made Something Tall, and God Made Something Enormous.

No Place Like Holmes

What do clues, clocks and the Loch Ness monster have in common? They all play a prominent role in Jason Lethcoe's mystery, No Place Like Holmes. When Griffin Sharpe is sent to spend the summer with his mysterious uncle who lives on Baker Street in London, he hopes his uncle will turn out to be famous Sherlock Holmes. Unfortunately, Griffin is disappointed. His uncle turns out be a bitter, resentful second-rate detective who constantly competes with next-door neighbor, Sherlock Holmes.

Despite Griffin's disappointment, he determines to make the best of his situation. He has grown up in a Christian home, and hopes if he shows his uncle God's love, his uncle won't mind having him for the summer. Soon, Griffin and his uncle find themselves in the middle of a mystery. A distraught woman comes to them with a wild tale. Her husband has disappeared, and witnesses have told her he was swallowed by the Loch Ness monster.

Griffin's pleasant, personable demeanor, and quick thinking soon make an impression on his uncle. Finally, Griffin's uncle allows him to help solve the mystery. As their lives are threatened by a criminal mastermind, tunnels under the River Thames, and alarming inventions, Griffin and his uncle realize they share a common bond. PLOT SPOILER AHEAD: By the end of the book, they have solved the mystery, reconciled with Sherlock Holmes, and become friends.

The book also includes two mini-mysteries for readers to solve on their own, a set of questions to test your own powers of observation, a detective game suggestion, and the recipe for Griffin's favorite scones!

What I Like: Everything! This is a well-written, clever book, full of action and suspense. Fans of detective books and mysteries will enjoy trying to solve the case with Griffin, and other readers will simply enjoy the fast-paced adventure.

I love the seamless way Lethcoe has of blending an intelligent detective story with Christian principles of grace and reconciliation. Griffin is a positive role model, without being preachy or unrealistic.

The ending is satisfying, but I am excited to join Griffin and his uncle on their next adventure!

What I Dislike: I have two very minor complaints. First, I wish the cover wouldn't have used a photograph. The boy in the photo is adorable, with a clever smile and blue eyes, but he looks young. I am afraid the picture will turn off older readers, and girls, who may enjoy the book just as much as boys the same age as the cover model.

I also wish a map of London in the 20th century was included.

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 8-14

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1721-9; Paperback, 207 pages, $9.99

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Bailey's Peoria Problem

Bailey's Peoria Problem is a unique and entertaining mystery in Barbour Publishing's upbeat Camp Club Girls series.

When Alexis joins Bailey on her uncle's sheep farm, she learns more than how to shear sheep. She and Bailey stumble upon sheep marked with puzzling clues, and they can't resist trying to solve the mystery. Bailey's cousin, Brian, is happy to help, and the other Camp Club Girls help them research a missing millionaire. Alexis and Bailey bravely explore a run-down, abandoned ranch, but the girls are soon in over their heads. The girls want to solve the mystery on their own, but when three of Uncle Nathan's sheep are stolen, they have to tell police what they know.

Soon, the missing millionaire is discovered, thugs are arrested, and Alexis and Bailey can focus on the upcoming sheep-shearing contest.

What I Like: The mystery in this Camp Club Girls episode is very interesting, and full of twists. I enjoyed being surprised.

I also love Linda McQuinn Carlblom's characterization of Bailey. She is the youngest Camp Club Girl, and is sweet and consistently encourages Alexis. However, she is tough enough to wrestle sheep and shear them. Bailey also makes the tough decision to tell her uncle about the mystery, even though they haven't solved it yet.

What I Dislike: I do wish kids in books would tell their parents or trusted adults about things that are going on. Many times, in adolescent literature, the protagonists find themselves in dangerous situations, but choose not to tell anyone about it. I suppose there wouldn't be much of a story if they told right away, but in real life, I'd rather have them be safe than sorry.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-60260-272-4; Paperback, 157 pages, $5.99

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Special Info: You can read our reviews of the other Camp Club Girls books here.

Kate's Philadelphia Frenzy

Kate's Philadelphia Frenzy is the fifth installment of Barbour Publishing's Camp Club Girls light-hearted, mystery series. In it, Kate and Sydney team up to help Kate's friend, Andrew, and his father. When Andrew's dad, renowned Phillies shortstop, Tony Smith, is recorded making disparaging remarks about his team, his fans and teammates turn against him. Only Kate and Sydney believe he was framed. With Kate's technological expertise, Sydney's love of baseball, and long-distance support from the other four Camp Club Girls, the mystery doesn't stay unsolved for long.

The "Camp Club Girls" is a group of six girls who met at summer camp. They became friends, rescued a puppy and solved a mystery together. Now, they stay in touch via email and instant messaging, as well as traveling across the country to visit each other.

In Kate's Philadelphia Frenzy, Sydney is thrilled to be invited to stay with Kate and help her figure out who is framing Andrew's dad. Sydney loves baseball, and appreciates the chance to meet Mr. Smith and attend some home games. Kate, however, is clueless about baseball. She even calls the bases "placemats, " and the field a "court." She tries to be interested in the game, but is more excited about all the technology in use. Kate and her dad invent robotic devices, and Kate has tons of high-tech gadgets at her disposal. These gadgets and a blog site she sets up are instrumental in solving the mystery, and restoring Mr. Smith to favor with his team.

Throughout the book, the girls rely on God and counsel Andrew to trust Him, as well. They ask Elizabeth, the oldest "Camp Club" girl, to set up a prayer team, and they are sure to thank God for answering prayers. They also learn how destructive rumors can be.

What I Like: The girls in this series are all fun-loving, smart, and unique. They love God, but they also love to chat, eat at restaurants, and have adventures. They are realistic role models for pre-teens who may be wondering what it means to be a Christian in a secular world. Things aren't always perfect, but they always fall back on God.

I also like the varied settings of the mysteries. From Washington D.C., to a western ranch, to the baseball field, the settings are as unique as the girls.

In this book, I especially like how author, Janice Hanna, portrays the friendship between Sydney and Kate. Kate is super smart, interested in technology, and not at all athletic. Sydney, on the other hand, has been in the Junior Olympics, and loves sports. However, they are good friends despite their differences.

What I Dislike: I still am not convinced having a different author for each book is the best way to write the series. I find the voice changes from book to book, and the spiritual tone is not consistent. I realize each book highlights a different girl, but I think the writing would be stronger if one author was writing all of the books.

Also, I was disappointed in the cover image of Kate. She is described in the book as petite, with freckles and glasses, but she is shown on the book's cover as a polished blonde with flawless skin and hair, and no glasses.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-60260-271-1; Paperback, 157 pages, $5.99

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Special Info: View our reviews of other Camp Club Girls books here.

The Case of the Autumn Rose

Brother and sister Arthur and Kristin Davis are partners in their private enterprise called the Davis Detective Agency. In The Case of the Autumn Rose, the third in the series written by Rick Acker, the two once again use their skills of observation, deduction and research to solve a mystery.

This one involves a wealthy, rather over-bearing woman named Madame Dragonfly, a Frenchman named Pierre LeGrand and a pearl called the Autumn Rose. Madame Dragonfly hires Arthur and Kristin to figure out where the pearl is and how to get to it without being killed in the process.

That is no easy task considering a number of unscrupulous thugs are out to find the Autumn Rose before the kids do and the thugs will do whatever is necessary to meet their objective, including murder.

What I Like: I liked the story. For the most part it was very well-written.

What I Dislike: However, the last part of the story wasn’t of the same literary quality as the rest of it was. For one thing, there is a major water chase and shoot-out near the end of the book. Three boats are destroyed in the process. With all the smoke, flames, and bullets, the only injury reported is a broken foot. That stretches the limits of credibility somewhat.

And, the next-top-the-last chapter sums up what happened after all the boats blew up and the crisis is over. I found this chapter rather dull as it had no dialogue or personal interaction. It was more like a laundry-list of events. Thankfully, the last chapter was more interesting.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2003; ISBN: 9780825420047; Paperback, 186 pages, $7.99

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Special Info: This book is part of the publisher’s The Davis Detective Mysteries series. Visit the author’s website.

The Trouble with Max

The first book in the Max and Me Mysteries series, The Trouble With Max was written by Patricia H. Rushford, a registered nurse with a Masters degree in counseling.

When Jessie Miller finds an unexpected best friend in newcomer Max Hunter, the two become a pair of unlikely heroes. Jessie is small, skinny and bald, thanks to an ongoing battle with leukemia. Max is loud, confident and more unpredictable than this small, lakeside community is accustomed to. When the girls stumble over a possible drug deal, a string of trouble attaches to their heels.

Before long Jessie discovers that Max’s aunt and uncle are abusing her and that they moved here after a previous run-in with child protective services. The friendship, Max's safety and Jessie's health are all put to the test as the two girls attempt to solve separate mysteries. Believing it will keep her out of foster care, Max wants to cut off the drug supply that feeds her aunt and uncle’s habits, but Jessie wants to find a way to get Max away from her aunt and uncle without losing her only friend.

What I Like: This was a great read! I really enjoyed it. I like that it features uncommon characters. Not everyone wants to read about the beautiful, talented cheerleader all the time. The author depicts the characters' struggles and triumphs with believable details which had my emotions run the gamut between heartbroken, joyful and anxious with suspense.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. A few strings were left loose, but I'm okay with that. I trust the author handles them in the subsequent books of this series.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9-12

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2007; ISBN: 0802462537; Paperback; 140 pages; $6.99

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Special Info: You can read the first chapter of this book online. There you can also learn more about the author and her other books, including two more in this series: Danger at Lakeside Farm and The Secret of Ghost Island.

Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers

Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers, is Susan Marlow's fourth historical fiction novel centering around headstrong, fiery Andrea Carter and her life in California in the 1880s. In this book, Andrea is sent to boarding school in San Francisco while her town and school recover from floods. Andrea doesn't like boarding school and can't wait to get home, but Andrea Carter fans will be pleased to see her acting more mature and less impulsive. However, she still has cause to exhibit the characteristic courage and determination we have grown to love.

When Andrea crosses the headmistress and tries to escape through the kitchen, she stumbles upon a young Chinese girl being horribly mistreated by the cook. When Andrea protests to the headmistress, she is told to mind her own business and not meddle in the affairs of the cook and his "niece." Of course, Andrea spends as much time as possible with the horses, and has learned to trust the stable hand, Juan Carlos. When Andrea asks Juan Carlos about Lin Mei, the Chinese girl, he explains the common Chinese practice of buying and selling young girls as slaves, and passing them off as relatives. However, he also warns Andrea not to meddle, in case she makes things worse for Lin Mei.

Andrea tries her best to listen to Juan Carlos, but she hasn't bargained on the strong opinion of her roommate, Jenny, who is even more impetuous than Andrea! Just when it seems Andrea will have to give in to Jenny's schemes, the decision is made for them. The girls find Lin Mei hiding under their bed, and the headmistress is accusing Lin Mei of stealing her most valuable jewelry. The girls try to get Lin Mei to the Occidental Mission Home for Girls, but are captured by slave traders and left in a warehouse overnight. They escape and finally make it to Andrea's aunt's home and safety.

What I Like: I really like the way Andrea is growing and maturing. She learns lessons in each book, and in The San Francisco Smugglers we see her try to put those lessons into practice. Andrea relies on God and prayer to help Lin Mei until He makes it clear she must do something.

I especially like the historical information Marlow includes about the Chinese slave trade in California in the late 1800s. Marlow opens readers' eyes to the mistreatment of young Chinese girls and also inspires us through Andrea's courageous actions. Marlow also includes information and a website about the missionaries who ran the Occidental Mission Home for Girls.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-8254-3446-4; Paperback, $7.99

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Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure

If you are looking for a good middle school adventure set in the 1880s, take a peek at Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure, written by Susan K. Marlow.

After accidentally falling into a horse trough...and then landing in jail for her mishap...Andi plans a cross-country trek with her friends to escape further trouble. Instead, she finds even more.
Accompanied by Mitch, Andi's big brother, the group travels by horseback into the Sierra Mountains. They stop along the way to pan for gold. They do, in fact, find a surprising treasure, but they also find venomous snakes, a mountain lion, and outlaws. In addition, Mitch suffers a near-fatal injury, which forces Andi to take charge of the expedition. Andi's faith keeps her strong as she struggles to not only save Mitch's life but also outsmart a deceitful deputy.

What I Like: The characters in the book are likable, especially spunky tomboy Andi. The story moves at a fast enough pace and holds enough suspense to keep the reader interested. By allowing the reader to hear Andi's prayers, the author kept the religious aspect of the book in the forefront without getting too heavy-handed. I also liked that the book devoted a page at the front that summarized previous adventures in the series. Finally, I visited the author's website, and LOVED it! It offered discussion questions, book trailers, puzzles, downloads, and more. I believe this kind of computer extra is just the type of thing that will appeal to a middle school audience and make them appreciate the series even more.

What I Dislike: While I enjoyed the good, clean story, the plot was predictable...and, for me, the book, though set in the 1880s, had a very modern-day feel to it. Even so, I would strongly recommend this series to middle school girls.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Kregel Publications, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-8254-3352-8; Paperback $ 7.99

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Special info: Visit this author's website.
Read a five-star CCBR review of another book by this author.

Echoes from the Edge: Nightmare's Edge

Nightmare's Edge, the third installment of Bryan Davis' Echoes from the Edge series, is just that--an edgy, nightmarish science fiction thriller. In Nightmare's Edge there are three Earths--Earth Yellow, Earth Blue and Earth Red. The three worlds used to exist in harmony, but Mictar, an evil force, has been trying to destroy them. The fabric between the worlds is tearing and all three worlds are on a path to collision. The only way 16-year-old Nathan can save the worlds is to travel through people's dreams to Sarah's Womb, the core of the three earths, and play his violin. Nathan is one of the "gifted ones," so when he plays his violin, it will mend the fabric between the worlds and restore the equilibrium of the three Earths.

Traveling through people's dreams to Sarah's Womb is no small task. Dreams transport Nathan, his friends Kelly and Daryl, and varying versions of his parents in and out of different earths. Each Earth is at a different place in history--1970s, pre-9-11, and sometime in the near future. All of the book's characters exist on all three earths. For instance, Nathan is simultaneously a small baby, a 16-year-old, and dead. Not only that, people's dreams are often disturbing nightmares, where reality is shadowy at best. Only using a candle lit elsewhere will illuminate who is real and who is a phantom within a dream.

In addition to three versions of each of the human characters, there are supplicants, who seem like guardian angels, as well as Patar, a stern, but good father-figure, and Mictar, who has the power to burn people's eyes and steal their life-force, not to mention call up Lucifer to assist in destroying all worlds.

Davis uses the song, Be Thou My Vision as an overarching theme, and the lyrics provide powerful and timely lessons. We learn most about the value of personal sacrifice and forgiveness, although themes of self-worth and courage resonate as well.

What I Like: My favorite part of reading the book was having Be Thou My Vision in my head for days. It is a wonderful song, and Davis made its message much more real through his compelling story. Although the book is quite scary at times, my brother-in-law, who works with teens, said "Teens who enjoy thriller/horror books are going to read them anyways, so I'd rather get them books with a strong Christian message." This book may appeal to teens who read Stephen King or Neil Gaiman.

I also appreciate what a smart science fiction this book is. At one point, a friend of Nathan's quips, "This is like The Twilight Zone meets X-Files meets Night of the Living Dead." Although I got a little lost when they were transcribing a code of base 12 numbers into musical notes to determine GPS coordinates, I did enjoy the liberal smattering of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings quotes.

Throughout the book, Davis sets up a powerful analogy of dancing with God. At the end, Nathan finally understands what his mother's supplicant told him, "Whenever someone dances with another, he is saying that he agrees with every aspect of his partner's purpose--the partner's beliefs and the principles by which he or she lives. If the music is greater than that of both partners, each one gives up his own path to follow the music's universal call."

What I Dislike: This book did not work well as a stand-alone. I wish there would have been a prologue or synopsis, giving me a run-down of the first two books. I was quite a ways into the book before I realized there were three versions of each human character. I also don't know the history of Mictar, or what he really is. A character list, stating names, ages, which Earth they inhabit and relationships would have been helpful, as well as a definition or history of supplicants and Patar and Mictar.

I have never been a fan of horror or frightening materials, but parents should be aware there are several violent and scary images. One dream Nathan enters shows a small boy playing in a sandbox filled with manure. The sandbox is in a graveyard, and children come out of the graves and spit gobs of blood on the boy. Some characters are tortured, and a minor character is killed in a fairly bloody scene describing a bullet through the head. However, Nathan's father tells him, "Sometimes it's better to face reality, even if it is frightening. . . if people could learn to overcome their fears, they would be able to move mountains."

Overall Rating: Good as a stand-alone, but probably very good as the third in the series.

Age Appeal: Publisher lists 13-16, but I would say 16-adult

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2009; ISBN: 978-0-310-71556-6 ; Paperback, $12.99

Special Info: Mictar sometimes refers to Kelly as a "harlot" and, at the end of the book, Nathan forgives her for past experiences (no details are given).

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Ripple Effect

Elizabeth wants to run away from home. She thinks life in the town of Fawlt Line is like living in "Mayberry trapped in the Twilight Zone." Plus, her parents are excessively quirky (her dad's slippers are grass stained because he does the gardening in them...and he doesn't even care!) and she can't stand being embarrassed by them any longer.

Ripple Effect, The Time Thriller Trilogy #1, written by Paul McCusker, opens with Elizabeth planning her escape with her best friend, Jeff. However, her scheme quickly goes awry when she vanishes without a trace from her locked and windowless bathroom.

Elizabeth soon discovers that although she's still in Fawlt Line, the streets and houses are not quite right, her parents are dead, she is engaged to a man she's never met before...and everyone is calling her Sarah. When Elizabeth insists she is not Sarah and cannot remember her fiancee or "new" best friend (a girl named Rhonda), people question her sanity. Meanwhile, the real Sarah is in a coma in Elizabeth's reality. The police believe that Sarah is Elizabeth, and think that Jeff tried to murder her.

Jeff turns to his uncle, Malcolm, for help. He not only defends Jeff, but also uncovers facts about the case that don't add up. For example, the dental work for the girl in the coma does not match Elizabeth's dental records. Plus, the girl isn't wearing Elizabeth's clothes but a t-shirt advertising a festival that doesn't exist. Malcolm believes the answer to the mystery is that a time-warp door opened up and physical transfer took place. But if that happened, why did this impostor arrive half-strangled and in a coma? Does that mean that the real Elizabeth is in danger?

As the story unfolds, Elizabeth is thrust into more and more dangerous situations. She doesn't know what to believe, who to trust, or even what's real anymore. Jeff has his own problems with the police. Only Malcolm seems to hold the key to finding out the truth.

What I Like: The story is crisp and well-paced, with short leave-you-hanging chapters and lots of action. It's a combination of the fantasy, mystery, and thriller genres. It provides just enough tantalizing clues to allow the reader to speculate about crimes and motives without giving away the ending. The Christian message in this book is very subtle, which gives it a crossover appeal into the general market.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really. The author could have perhaps gone into greater detail on the faith aspect of Elizabeth's parents and why that bothered Elizabeth so much, but this may have risked the crossover appeal. Besides, I suspect this will come more into the forefront further on in the trilogy.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: Young Adult, according to the publisher. I think it would appeal to ages 12-18.

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-310-71436-1; Paperback $ 9.99

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The Sugar Creek Gang: The Swamp Robber

Paul Hutchens started writing The Sugar Creek Gang series in 1940. In 1997, his daughter and her children updated the books for modern readers. Book one, The Swamp Robber introduces us to Bill and his friends, bright and mischievous Poetry; Big Jim, the leader; Little Jim, a devout Christian; observant Dragonfly and acrobatic but troubled Circus.

The boys spend their summer fishing and exploring the swamp near Indiana's Sugar Creek. While there, they stumble on an intriguing mystery. Determined to solve it on their own, they investigate for clues, and even hold a stake-out. When a young bank robber is shot by police near the swamp, and the boys encounter two identical, bearded strangers, they realize the mystery is more dangerous than they thought.

In the midst of solving the mystery, Bill is disappointed to learn his mother has had a baby girl. He was looking forward to a little brother to play with, and a girl is not what he hoped for. Meanwhile, Circus' mother has had a baby girl, too, and his dad decides to get drunk, to mask his disappointment. Bill's father talks to Circus' dad, and the young bank robber, and tells them both how to put their faith in Jesus. Bill allows Jesus to help him appreciate his baby sister as well, and prays in front of Circus, even though he is a bit uncomfortable.

The book ends with a very clear salvation message, and Bill makes a firm commitment to Christ, even though he has always respected the faith of his mom and dad.

What I Like: I like the gentle way Hutchens writes about real boys who are adventurous, but love God. They like to wrestle and would rather fish than do chores, but most of them love God and want to do the right thing. They are respectful and kind, but they aren't above sneaking out in the night to capture the robber, or swimming in the creek even though no one said they could.

I love how clearly Hutchens writes about boys' experiences with faith. The boys get hot and fidgety in church, and are sometimes embarrassed to pray in front of friends. They are sad when their prayers don't seem to be answered, but they have sincere and repentant hearts, and their faith grows (especially Bill's) throughout the story.

I also enjoyed the mystery element. Clever and interesting, it involved treasure maps, spying in the middle of the night, a black widow spider and a mistaken identity.

What I Dislike: Nothing, but the book is a little old-fashioned. There is a funny scene where the boys are putting paper cups at the drinking hole, so they won't spread germs by using the same cup.

Overall Rating: Very good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Moody Publishers, 2007; ISBN: 978-0-8024-7005-8; Paperback, $4.99

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Special Note: Although I put the "Just for Boys" label on the book since it is about a group of boys, my almost-9-year-old daughter loved it.

Camp Club Girls: Alexis and the Sacramento Surprise

The Camp Club Girls series is probably my favorite series to follow right now. My daughter and I are equally excited to get a new batch of these books. Written for tween girls, Camp Club Girls books follow six girls who met at Bible camp, and keep in touch via Internet. The girls always have a mystery to solve, and they rely on their wits, their friendship, and the Word of God to help. In Alexis and the Sacramento Surprise, Alexis and Kate spend a week trying to help save a down-and-out nature reserve from closing. The reserve is run by a friend from church, who hopes adding a display of mechanical dinosaurs will generate more interest and boost the reserve's funding.

When the dinosaurs keep migrating to new spots in the park with no sign of humans moving them, reporters and park patrons get curious. The park's owner, Miss Maria, is worried someone could get hurt, since the dinosaurs are heavy, fragile, and are powered by electrical generators or batteries. However, when Miss Maria throws her back out falling off of one of the dinosaurs, the girls are left to solve the mystery on their own.

A snoopy newspaper reporter and an overeager volunteer complicate matters, and soon the girls don't know who to trust. Kate loves technology and her dad is always bringing home experimental devices, so they use hidden cameras and an IPod prototype to take night pictures. They also use some active listening and even a camp-out, to assemble clues. Elizabeth, the oldest Camp Club Girl, encourages them with Bible verses, and the girls learn people are not always who they seem to be.

While the girls are trying to solve the mystery of the moving dinosaurs, they also are trying to come up with a plan to save the park. It looks hopeless when Miss Maria is denied funding based on her exhibit linking plants from biblical regions to Christianity. However, Miss Maria's determination to keep her plant exhibit open, even if it means the reserve may close, makes the snoopy reporter rethink his skepticism. In the end, the reporter is compelled to explore what he believes about God, and the overeager volunteer learns it is better to trust in God than in our own plans. The reserve is saved and the girls have solved another mystery.

What I Like: As I have said in past reviews, these girls are sweet, friendly, and brave, and they genuinely love God. They come from different types of families, and different parts of the country, but they have fun keeping in touch via online networks. They have unique personalities and strengths, as well as struggles. They are great role models for my daughter, even though they aren't perfect. The authors do a great job of incorporating Scripture and biblical truth into original mystery stories.

Mystery is a popular genre for girls this age, and I haven't come across many Christian mysteries for this audience. These books are fun and suspenseful, without being scary.

In Alexis and the Sacramento Surprise, I particularly like Miss Maria's strength of conviction. It is realistic for a public school board to reject funding school field trips due to a religious exhibit, but Miss Maria shows us trusting in God's provision is best, no matter how hopeless a situation seems.

What I Dislike: The plot was a little predictable. Also, the biblical content could be stronger. Each of the books is written by a different author, and it seems some authors find it easier to work prayer and Bible verses into their stories than others. However, Elizabeth, the oldest and most mature of the girls, wasn't in this book much and she definitely has the best grasp on the daily application of Scripture.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 978-1-60260-270-0; Paperback, $5.97

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other Camp Club Girls books here.

Camp Club Girls: McKenzie's Montana Mystery

My eight-year-old daughter and I were thrilled to get McKenzie's Montana Mystery in our mailbox a few weeks ago. The third book in Barbour Publishing's Camp Club Girls series, McKenzie's Montana Mystery continues the story of six girls who met at camp and have remained on-line friends. Each book highlights an adventure a couple of the girls have. They keep in contact with the other girls in Internet chat rooms, and via email. In book three, McKenzie and Bailey spend time on a horse ranch, training for various rodeo competitions and trying to solve the mystery of a stolen horse.

Bailey joins McKenzie at a horse camp for girls in rural Montana. Bailey is nine, and the youngest of the Camp Club Girls. She enjoys spending time with McKenzie, but she also feels a bit jealous. McKenzie has been riding horses longer, and is better at barrel-racing and the other competitive events. Bailey also wishes she could take McKenzie's place in the Junior Miss Rodeo contest. However, the focus of the girls' attention quickly turns to their sponsor, Emma, and her prize-wining horse, Diamond Girl, who was stolen just a week before the rodeo.

The girls continue to train, but use all their free time to collect clues. Soon, they realize a strange horse is being kept in an abandoned Western town near the camp. They sneak out and clip some of its hair to send to Kate, who will use a science kit to test for dye. When Kate tells them the horse has, indeed, been painted, they realize it is Diamond Girl in disguise. However, when they try to tell Emma, they find out she is in the hospital with a possible broken arm. Then they receive a threatening note, and decide they better keep their clues to themselves until they find out who stole Diamond Girl. At the end of the rodeo, after McKenzie has won both the barrel-racing and the Junior Rodeo Queen competitions, and Bailey has won the sheep chase, the clues all fall into place. Maggie, a neighboring farmer, stole Diamond Girl so she could win the rodeo events and start a new therapy ranch. At the last minute, the police arrest her, and Emma is reunited with Diamond Girl.

What I Like: This mystery series is perfect for young girls who love God, value their friends, and like suspense. All six of the main characters are sweet and kind, but with their own quirky and unique personalities. The mysteries are old-fashioned and will remind readers of Nancy Drew, while being tame enough not to cause any lasting stress. I also like how the series emphasizes loving God, knowing His Word, and trying to do what He would want.

My daughter and I learned lots of fun information about horses and rodeos, and I enjoyed the interactions between Bailey and McKenzie. Shari Barr realistically portrayed the tension between Bailey and McKenzie. Bailey loved her friend and wanted her to win the competitions, but still felt jealous and insecure. McKenzie understood Bailey's feelings and did her best to comfort her, but still competed to the best of her ability.

What I Dislike: Although I enjoyed the book overall, the writing wasn't as tight and the biblical message wasn't as solid as in the first two books. Each book is written by a different author, and this time it was more apparent. Some of the conversations were awkward, and the plot didn't resolve until the last half of the last chapter. It felt like there were extraneous clues, and at several points, the girls should have told Emma what was going on.

Also, the biblical theme was centered around McKenzie suspecting a stable hand of being involved in the disappearance of Diamond Girl. She asked for forgiveness more than once, but there didn't seem to be anything to forgive. Although McKenzie suspected the stable hand, she still treated him with kindness and didn't voice her concerns to any of his superiors. A better biblical theme would have been Bailey overcoming her insecurity to be happy with who God made her.

Also, there were only a few Scripture references this time, as opposed to a half-dozen in the other books. In the other books, at least one Scripture was repeated often enough for readers to really internalize its message.

Overall Rating: Good, by itself, but Very Good as a series

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Barbour Publishing, 2009; ISBN: 978-1-60260-269-4; Paperback, $5.97

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other Camp Club Girls books here.