Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail

Channing O'Banning and the Turquoise Trail by Angela Spady is the second of the Channing O'Banning books.

Channing is a precocious 4th grader who becomes interested in dinosaur bones and rocks after being given an assignment from her history teacher. She gets to learn more than she bargained for when her family takes a trip out West to New Mexico.

Throughout the story, Channing learns that true friends never abandon you when you embarrass yourself, that it is always important to make restitution when you lose something that has been lent to you, and that God has created a lot of different but amazing people with their own traditions.

What I Like: As with the first book, I love the relationship Channing shares with her grandmother. Nana is her sounding board when, in her mind,  her nine year old world gets turned upside down.

What I Dislike: As with the first book, I don't particularly care for the relationship Channing and her sister Katie have. They are constantly picking on each other, saying things that are not kind, and always looking for ways to verbally cut each other. As a mother with two children, I realize that sibling relationships are not always sunny, but I prefer to surround my children with examples of how siblings are to treat each other well. As I read this book with my eight year old, we talked about the attitudes the sisters had towards each other.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 6-10-year-olds.

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2015; ISBN: 978-0718032364; paperback, 128 pps., $6.99.

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A Horse For Kate

A horse of her own would be awesome. But Kate figures that might be a long way away, especially since she had to give up riding lessons and move to her late grandfather's farm. Besides, it would be a lot more fun to have a best friend to ride with. When Kate discovers a barn on their new farm that's perfect for a horse, and a dusty bridle too, she starts to think that her dream might come true. Then she meets Tori at school, who is totally the best. So when they discover a thoroughbred that appears to be all alone, could it be the answer to her prayers? Maybe. If she can convince her dad ... and figure out what's going on with that horse.

What I Like: In the span of a short chapter book, the story covered many issues that kids ages 8-12 would surely face at school and at a home like being the new kid in a new school, making friends, mean kids, doing chores and parental rules. I think middle grade readers can truly relate to the language and character traits of both Kate and Tori.

The author skillfully blended in the dynamics of a household with an autistic child into the plot while not making it overpower her main storyline. Both of the girls in the story already have a faith based background and occasionally turn to prayer without being prompted to do so. They are good realistic role models for young readers.

What I Dislike: Non-horse enthusiasts may find some of the jargon a little confusing.

Overall Rating: Good

Age Appeal: 8-12 years old

Publisher Info: David C. Cook; 2015; ISBN: 9780781411141; ePub & Paperback, $7.99

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Special Info: The book includes a scene where a character encounters racism.

RISK: The Second Adventure in the Quest for Truth

Do you and your kids love technology, fast-paced adventure and page-turning excitement? Brock Eastman's book, Risk:The Quest for Truth Book 2, is sure to please younger and older readers, alike.  
We jump into the story when Oliver, Tiffany, Mason and Austin are piloting their parent's spaceship, the Phoenix, on their way to Evad, a distant planet housing an ancient civilization. They have reason to believe their parents have been captured by enemy forces (the Ubel), and are also on their way to Evad. The children's parents are renowned archaeologists, and the Ubel troops believe they hold the key to unlocking secret truths.

Oliver and Tiffany, the oldest children, along with their twin younger brothers, Mason and Austin, are convinced they can unlock the secrets first, as well as rescue their parents. Although Mason's arrogant independence often puts the children in danger, the siblings work together to cross gorges, scale ziggurats, revive ancient technology, and solve the riddles of an underwater maze. The fact the maze is made out of rubies and shaped like a cross becomes even more significant when a mysterious red-cloaked stranger gives Mason sustenance, clues and a history lesson.

With devices like an mTalk, Zingers, Zappers, and Oxyverters, Eastman shows a love of modern technology, as well as an affinity for inventing. Readers will enjoy seeing what his creative mind comes up with. There is an expansive, illustrated "Visual Glossary" in the back of the book, useful for looking up devices, planets, people and political groups.

What I Like: Eastman's plot is clever, the characters are believable, and the action is well-paced.  Although readers do have down time to process new information and think about how the characters feel, the action never slows enough for them to lose interest. Also, the book is suspenseful and exciting without ever being gory or horrifying.

This book does a fantastic job of appealing to boys and girls at the lower and upper end of the targeted age range. Oliver is seventeen and has just completed his first year of training at a specialized academy.  As the oldest, he feels responsible for leading a successful mission to rescue his parents, find the lost key, and keep his family safe.  Tiffany is the reader and code-breaker and her compassionate side leads her to adopt a black panther-like animal. Austin and Mason are typical eleven-year-olds, who are alternately brave, reckless, and scared.  Mason's occasional disobedience and desire for independence will resonate with younger siblings, but Austin's more compliant nature provides a good counter-example.

What I Dislike:  There were a couple jumps in the action.  For example, at one point, one of the Mason is being strangled by treacherous vines, but in the next moment he is free and saving Oliver.  Eastman neglects to tell us how Mason avoided being strangled.

Also, although the book works fairly well as a stand-alone, I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first book (Taken) previously.

Overall Rating:  Very Good

Age Appeal:  8-16

Publisher Info: P and R Publishing Company, 2012; ISBN: 978-1-59638-246-6; Paperback, 399 pages, $12.99

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Special Note:  Brock Eastman is co-author of Focus on the Family's Imagination Station series. Check out CCBR reviews of the Imagination Station books here.

Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks: Confessions of April Grace

Alternately funny, touching, and suspenseful K.D. McCrite's, Cliques, Hicks and Ugly Sticks:  The Confessions of April Grace will resonate with tween girls stuck in those awkward, middle school years. The second book in the series finds an eleven-year-old April Grace beginning middle school and wishing family friends would move out of her house, so she could have her room back.

To make matters worse, April Grace can't figure out why her mom is acting impatient and keeping secrets. She also can't understand why a good friend from last year is deliberately snubbing her, why a boy in her class keeps paying her unwanted compliments, or why her grandma in interested in three different gentlemen.

When it becomes clear April's mother will be unable to direct the annual Christmas pageant, April suggests allowing family friend Isabel St. James to try her hand at directing. Unfortunately, Isabel is bossy, critical of small-town life, and doesn't attend church.  Nevertheless, the pastor decides to let Isabel direct the play, providing April will help.

Plot Spoilers Ahead:  Isabel and her husband are surprised when the townspeople help them fix up their house, and bless them with a house-warming party, despite Isabel's difficult personality. With April in the spotlight and Isabel directing, the play is a success, although reminiscent of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. After a medical scare, April's mother delivers her own Christmas surprise, much to April's unexpected delight.

What I Like:  April Grace is funny, spunky and authentic, as a tween trying to fit in at middle school, get along with her sister and avoid her grandma's boyfriends. Even though she rolls her eyes at Isabel and doesn't really want to be in the play, she can't help enjoying acting.  I like the way April worries about her mom but trusts her dad when he tells her everything will be alright. April's positive character shines through when she tries to think of ways to help her mom, even though she dreads change.

I also like the way April loves her grandma, even though she doesn't approve of her grandma dating. 

Although the book is often funny, McCrite's serious scenes are quite touching. 
 
What I Dislike:  I am not sure why McCrite chose to set the book in 1986. Although I appreciated her references to Miami Vice, Madonna, and Buick LeSabres, it seems they would be lost on today's tween audience.

April Grace's voice is replete with Southern vernacular and references, which sometimes sounds authentic, but sometimes sounds forced.

As always, I dislike book covers with photographs.  The cover model is adorable, but it is easier to imagine yourself as a part of a story without having to compare yourself to a photograph.
 
Overall Rating:  Very good, despite minor dislikes.

Age Appeal:  8-12

Publisher Info: Tommy Nelson, 2011; ISBN:978-1-4003-1826-1 ; Paperback, 282 pages, $9.99

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A Remnant Surprise

Great-Grandma decides she's going to make quilts for each of her thirty-five grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But in A Remnant Surprise, written by Vanessa Roam and illustrated by Glori Alexander, Great-Grandma gets a surprise of her own.

Great-grandchildren Walter and Gretchen want to help their great-grandma make the blankets, and Gretchen crawls around on the floor, picking up pieces of leftover cloth. She asks Great-grandma if she can have them, which Great-Grandma allows, even though the remnants are too tiny to do anything with. Gretchen and Walter take the pieces home to their Mama, who keeps them all, and urges her children to keep gathering them up and bringing them home.

Soon, all of the blankets are done, and Great-Grandma gives them to her loved ones, and that's when Mama gets to work. With all the remnants, Mama makes Great-Grandma a very special quilt, so all thirty-six of them can be wrapped in blankets made of love.

What I Like: Everything is great. The story is touching (it brought tears to my eyes), the illustrations are soft and cheery, and it's a book that begs to be read again and again.

What I Dislike: There is no mention of God or the Bible anywhere.

Overall Rating: Very Good, only because I wish there was even a little lesson on giving and receiving, or suggested further reading in the Bible. If there had been, this would have been an immediate Excellent rating.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-61346-464-9; paperback, 24 pgs., $8.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99 or in a Kindle Edition for 6.63.

Where's Rascal? and A Surprise for Rascal

Author Jan Shafer put two dogs stories together under one cover in her book Where’s Rascal? and A Surprise for Rascal. The book features and abandoned dog and his adopted family. In the first story, Rascal’s original family moves away and leaves him behind. Two weeks later, Rascal is caught outside in a storm. After the storm leaves, the whole neighborhood looks for Rascal. When they find him hiding under the porch, one of the neighbors decides to keep him.

In the second story, Rascal’s owners bring home two young puppies. Rascal must share his toys, his bed, and their attention, and he doesn’t like it. Then one of the puppies gets sick, and Rascal decides he cares about the young dogs after all.

At the conclusion of each story, the author includes questions for readers to explore. For example, “What does the word responsibility mean?” and “What are some ways we can learn to be responsible?” The author uses the questions to pull a faith factor into the story.

The illustrations, done by Katie Brooks, are simple and cute with a "coloring book" look and feel to them. The book also comes with a free audio book download.

What I Like: The questions are the best part. They allow parents to discuss some good life lessons about responsibility and sharing love with family members. The free audio book download is a big plus too!

What I Dislike:The paw/bone print background behind the text is cute, but distracting. Also, for me the stories were flat. The writing wasn’t tight enough, and didn’t make me connect in a strong way with any of the characters. I also thought the story itself didn’t flow well. Why did the neighbors wait two weeks before caring about Rascal? Plus the change in Rascal’s feelings for the puppies seemed too sudden and convenient. Finally, any connection to God/ faith isn’t evident at all except in the question section following the story.

Overall Rating: Ho-hum

Age Appeal: None listed, but probably preschool- grade 1.

Publisher Info: Tate Publishing, 2011; ISBN: 978-1617390937; Paperback, 32 pgs., $10.99

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In Front of God and Everybody: Confessions of April Grace

It's summer vacation, 1986 style, and April Grace Reilly's biggest problem is choosing which book to read - or so she thinks in In Front of God and Everybody by KD McCrite. But when Ian and Isabel St. James of San Francisco, California, show up on her dusty road in the Ozarks of Arkansas, things change.

First, she has to put up with them both looking down their noses at the "hillbillies" who live in April's little corner of the world. When the shack the St. James' have bought is deemed unlivable by April's mother, the snooty folks move into April's home - which means she has to share a room with her unbearable older sister, Myra Sue.

Then, Mama Grace, the grandmother April Grace adores, starts dating Ole Mr. Rance, and April's sure the man is up to no good - but who will listen to a kid?

One way or another, April Grace will dig up the truth, learn she has to accept the faults of others... and very possibly both.

What I Like: I fell in love with this character before I even opened the book. The description on the back cover did full justice to the April Grace I met in the book's pages. She is a spunky eleven year old who loves her parents and her grandmother, and merely puts up with her fourteen year old sister, Myra Sue. Her opinions about others are varied and colorful, usually with an Ozark twist... like the OLD hippies Temple and Forest who live nearby and their lack of showering.

"I like Temple just fine. She's real nice, and so is Forest, but they are strange and weird and they don't believe in things like deodorant and toothpaste or having regular jobs." (pg. 51)

It's obvious the family isn't overly preachy in their ways. However, when it is more than appropriate, discussions of what the Bible says are woven in brilliantly. For instance, April and her grandmother, Mama Grace, talk of the way April's parents treat others - like Ian and Isabel St. James - when the new people in town have done nothing to deserve the Reilly's kindness. Mama Grace points to 1 Corinthians 13, or the Love Chapter ("love is patient, love is kind...") to illustrate how April's parents take things to heart - and how April should do the same.

What I Dislike: This is a very minor thing. The book is set in 1986, but really, it could've been set in the present day. Other than a few references to Murder, She Wrote and terry cloth shorts (who remembers THOSE?), you wouldn't really know it's supposed to happen 25 years ago.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 9 and up (and I'd highly encourage you borrow it from your daughter's library!)

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1722-6; Paperback, 288 PGS., $9.99

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Special Info: This is the first book in the "Confessions of April Grace" series by Ms. McCrite.

Lily's Passport to Paris

In Lily's Passport to Paris, your pre-teen girl will journey to "gay Par-ee" with Lily Robbins. Whether it's putting up with fellow-Americans Dan and Betty Edwards, picking up the "details" of her pilgrimage, or learning about Lily's first crush, Christophe, Lily's Passport to Paris by Nancy Rue is sure to entertain. This is the 14th--and final--book in The Lily Series.

Along with her mom and siblings, Lily goes to Paris for a month where her mom will be helping in a mission for poor kids. She's understandably nervous about leaving Oxford, England, where she and her family have been for a while. She's just begun making friends, and she's afraid her new friends, Kimble and Ingram, will move on in the few weeks she's gone. However, she's willing to see what God has in store for her.

In Paris, Lily meets Christophe, a young orphan, and his older sister, Odette. Christophe is intriguing, but Odette is downright scary. As Lily begins making friends with Christophe, and after he shows her "his Par-ee," he and his sister abruptly leave, leaving Lily bewildered, and her older brother, Art, sure of the fact that young Lily has her first crush.

When Christophe returns in the middle of the night to tell Lily goodbye, she begs him to stay. He tells her he can't--that Odette wants to take them away from the mission so she can get a job to support them, rather than taking the charity of Pastor Renee. Lily, desperate to keep her new friend and share God with him, begs him to meet her in a few hours so she can talk to her mom. An arrangement is made where Christophe takes Lily and their chaperone, Art, out every afternoon.

The arrangement angers Odette, and she physically threatens Lily, then warns her to keep quiet or she'll harm Lily's younger brother and sister. To top it off, Lily's backpack goes missing briefly, which includes her all-important passport. Several days later, Christophe comes and confesses Odette has Lily's passport; he stole it for her.

So much for Lily's mission to show God to Christophe.

Christophe believes his sister has left France--after all, she has Lily's passport, and with a little hair dye, could pass herself off as Lily. But then he decides she may still be in Paris near Notre Dame Cathedral. As Art, Lily, and Christophe head for the Metro to take them to the famed cathedral, Art has a diabetic insulin attack and Christophe has a severe asthma attack, leaving Lily to try to save the day. After she calls her mom and Pastor Renee for help, Lily spots another redhead--something rare in Paris. She realizes it's Odette, and goes up to the woman and tells her Christophe is looking for her and that he's in trouble with his asthma. Odette doesn't seem to want to believe her, but eventually does.

After a scary night with Christophe in the hospital, Lily is finally able to see her new friend again. Pastor Renee agrees that he and his wife will take in Christophe, and Odette will go to a "special home" for young women like herself, at least for a while. And Lily's dad arrives with a surprise for her: Reni, a friend from back in New Jersey.

And while Lily will miss her friends in both Paris and Oxford, she's looking forward to returning home... and seeing what God has in store for her.

What I Like: Sometimes in books for this age, having God present throughout the day can come off as forced. But it doesn't with this book. Lily's relationship with God seemed very real, as were her quests to find the details of Him everywhere, everyday.

The story is very engaging, and I really like how Paris and a couple of other places in France are almost characters in the book. Whether it was Lily trying to decipher how to say French words, or the details in the famed Granier Opera House, Ms. Rue really helped the reader feel like she was right there with Lily.

What I Dislike: This is a real nit-picky thing on my part, but as an adult, it seemed at the end that Odette was probably prostituting herself. Ms. Rue knows her audience, so she didn't get into the details of it very heavily. Clues that lead me to believe this are things such as: Odette being tattooed in a manner that made Pastor Renee nervous, wearing killer heels, how she dressed, strutting around the Metro... all kind of put together a picture of a girl around 20 prostituting herself. I would have liked a note at the end for parents, so if there were questions from a child about Odette's behavior, it could be explained in an age-appropriate manner.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 9 - 12

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2008; ISBN: 978-0-310-70555-0; Paperback $6.99

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Special Info: We've reviewed other books by Nancy Rue, as well as others in The Lily Series.

You Can Do It!

Poor Linden! His siblings seem to recognize their talents and know what they want to do with those skills. They act confident and successful. But Linden struggles to do anything well!

You Can Do It!, written by Super-Bowl winning coach and bestselling author Tony Dungy, is a story about faith and dreams. Through laughter, prayer, and example, Linden is encouraged by his family (especially his brother Tony and his father) to keep searching for his talent. While dealing with Linden’s frustration, the story portrays great family dynamics of support and love. Several heartwarming conversations take place, ripe with words of wisdom. Here is an example: “Whatever it is you want to do, you can do it. Trust God and dream big.”

Toward the end of the story, Linden talks about trying to figure out his “it”. Dungy explains that “Your it is what you love to do and its something God has given you the talent to do. That’s what makes us special.” Linden’s father reassures Linden that it may take many years for him to discover his “it”, and that’s perfectly okay.

Finally, Linden visits the dentist. He becomes fascinated by the job and the fact that dentists help people. To his surprise and obvious pleasure, he realizes he has discovered his passion …dentistry!

The detailed watercolor illustrations, done by Amy June Bates, add a warm and inviting touch to the story. Bates gives the characters wonderfully expressive faces.

The book also has an afterword from Coach Dungy. In it, Dungy talks about how his own parents taught him to dream, pray, and have trust in God.

What I Like: The illustrations were beautifully done and made a perfect mate for the text. The nuggets of timeless wisdom embedded in the story will inspire adults as well as children. Football fans may be drawn to the story because of the famous author.

What I Dislike: The story was a tad long-winded.

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: Ages 4-8

Publisher Info: Little Simon Inspirations, 2008; ISBN: 978-1416954613; Hardcover, 32 PGS., $16.99.

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Special Info: Watch a YouTube video interview of Tony Dungy as he talks about the book You Can Do It!

Just Like You

Are you looking for a quiet bedtime story for your children - of any age? If so, Just Like You, written by Marla Stewart Konrad and illustrated by Lin Wang, is a terrific choice.

Starting with a mother in the United States, this story shares how different cultures celebrate the birth of new babies, how some things are different - like neighbors in the Amazon bringing gifts of fish and fruit to the new family - and how some things are the same - such as the new mom counting all the fingers and toes and singing lullabies to the new baby.

Many cultures are touched on: America, Australia, the Arctic, Egypt...each giving a glimpse into how different places celebrate the arrival of a new member of the family.

What I Like: Though the story is simple, with only cultural changes for each page, as an expectant mother, the book really pulled at my heartstrings. It was hard to make it through without crying - even after multiple reads.

I really liked the fact other cultures are shown. For older children who may read this, I think it will open their eyes to how different - and how similar - people from other places are.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8, but I think the lyrical manner the book is written in will have younger children listening too.

Publisher Info: Zondervan, 2010; ISBN: 978-0-310-71478-1; Hardback $15.99

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Many Waters

Madeleine L'Engle's book Many Waters is the fanciful tale of two brothers who go back in time and experience life shortly before the Flood. Many Waters is the fourth book in L'Engle's well-known Time Quintet, which begins with A Wrinkle in Time. Sandy and Dennys Murry are the stable, "ordinary," and athletic members of their family. When they accidentally interrupt one of their dad's experiments and find themselves in a desert oasis, they are shocked. Sandy and Dennys quickly become sunburned, and must rely on small mammoths, "virtual" unicorns, and the goodwill of strangers to survive.

When Sandy and Dennys first arrive in the desert, they meet Japheth, a tiny, but full-grown young man. He befriends them, and calls unicorns to transport them to his father's tent. However, the unicorns must be believed in to exist, so when the severity of Dennys' sunburn causes him to lose consciousness, he and his unicorn disappear. He awakens in the tent of Tiglah, a seductive, but ill-intentioned young girl. Tiglah's family throws Dennys into a garbage heap, but Japheth rescues him and brings him to his father, Noah. As Dennys recovers from his sunburn in Noah's tent, Sandy is recovering in Grandfather Lamech's tent. The boys quickly realize they are living in the last days before the Flood. Both Lamech and Noah speak with El (God), and receive strange warnings and instructions about building an ark.

To complicate matters, the Seraphim and Nephilim still walk among humans and are interested in Sandy and Dennys. The Seraphim are angels who have chosen to remain on Earth and act as guardians to those who love El, but the Nephilim are fallen angels who take daughters of men as their wives. Both Seraphim and Nephilim appear at times in animal or angelic form. The Nephilim and Tiglah's family try to use the boys for their own gain. Meanwhile, Sandy and Dennys are trying to figure out a way to save Noah's beautiful and kind youngest daughter, Yalith, who is not married and does not have a place on the ark. They also would like to return home. Eventually, the Seraphim agree to help, and they take Yalith to "the Presence" in the same way Enoch "walked with God and was not." Then, the Seraphim use unicorns to deliver Sandy and Dennys to their home in modern-day New England.

What I Like: I love the theme of the book. L'Engle uses the biblical passage "Many Waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." Yalith and her father, Noah, and her grandfather, Lamech, all have an unshakable belief in the love and goodness of El (God). They know His love is forever, no matter what happens.

I also like the characters of Sandy and Dennys. They are written authentically, and are innocent, kind and helpful boys. They are confused by their attraction to Yalith and Tiglah--until now, they have been more interested in sports than girls. They choose to refuse Tiglah's advances. They also convince Lamech and Noah to set aside a long-standing feud and become reconciled. They have very real reactions to Lamech's death, and they question the point of the Flood, in light of the evils they face in today's world. Nevertheless, they choose to act for the good of others, and they realize if the Flood hadn't happened, Jesus would not have been born.

L"Engle's depiction of the Nephilim and Seraphim is fascinating, and will make readers want to learn more about biblical references to them.

What I Dislike: Although I love this book, I have two cautions. First, there is some sexuality. L'Engle subtly shows healthy, beautiful relationships within marriage. For example, she writes,"And they were one. And it was good." She also shows sexuality in the context of power and exploitation. On one occasion she uses the term "slut" and on another, she refers to Tiglah being "an easy lay." (These are the only two instances of bad language in the book). Also, the men and women only wear loin clothes, and there are some references to the girls having "rosy breasts." Although the book would provide a great framework for talking about sexuality, especially with teen boys, I wish L'Engle would have used different words.

My second caution is the book is definitely in the realm of fantasy and is not meant to be biblical, or historical fiction. L'Engle takes an imaginative view of the Nehilim and Seraphim, as well as relationships between Noah and his family. At times, the boys critique the patriarchal nature of the Old Testament, and question how the Bible was written.

Overall Rating: Very Good due to qualifications above, but it is one of my favorites

Age Appeal: Young Adult (14-up)

Publisher Info: Square Fish (Farrar, Strauss, Grioux), 2007; ISBN: 9780312368579; Paperback, $6.99

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Special Info: Read my comments about A Wrinkle in Time in my Top Ten List here.

A Girl After God's Own Heart: A Tween Adventure with Jesus

A Girl After God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George, is an engaging Bible study, perfect for tween girls to use as a personal devotion, or to study with friends or even their mom. George aptly captures the personality of tween girls--sweet and eager to please, but beginning to test authority and their faith. We follow Emma, a fictional tween, throughout the ten devotions in the book. We learn how to relate to others in chapters on parents, family, school, friends, and church. In the other chapters, we work on growing within ourselves. These chapters deal with readers' hearts, space, selves and time. The book ends with an invitation to embark on an adventure with Jesus. George uses the "Romans Road" to explain how to have a relationship with Jesus.

Each chapter begins with a short snapshot of Emma's life, related to the topic for the chapter. Then George uses the title of the chapter in an acrostic, illustrating principles to remember. Each principle includes a Bible verse and a question asking readers to apply the verse to the topic or their lives. The chapters conclude with a summary message, lines to rewrite the acrostic, and space to write "one thing you liked, learned, or want to do about [the topic.]"

What I Like: This study would perfectly introduce the concept of having a personal quiet time to tweens. Emma's story is interesting, funny and authentic, and George does a great job transitioning from the story to biblical principles. The principles are soundly backed up by Scripture, showing readers God does have a lot to say about their lives.

I also like the mix of chapters about girls' personal development and girls' relationships with others. Tween girls love to learn about themselves, but it is nice to have a balance between introspection and thinking of others.

George carefully includes tweens who are in public school, private school, or home-schooled.

What I Dislike: The only thing I would change is the way George writes about parents. She is extremely positive, which is nice, but this book wouldn't work well for girls who are being raised by grandparents or other relatives, or parents who are less than model Christians. In the chapter on parents, readers are told to "Never criticize your parents to others," and to ". . .trust God that He is leading and growing you through your parents. No matter what happens, you can always trust God." I appreciate George's sentiment, but I wish she would have included a caveat for girls who are in less ideal situations, or who deal with abuse or neglect.

Also, George refers to talking to your mom a lot, and this would be sad for girls whose moms are absent or deceased. I would caution adults to know their audience before giving the book to girls (for example, in a church or youth group setting).

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publishers, 2010; ISBN:978-0-7369-1768-1 ; Paperback, $9.99

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Rough and Rugged Lily

Rough and Rugged Lily, is a book in the Lily series written by Nancy Rue. Just a week before Christmas, Lily learns her youth group will be going on a camping expedition in March. She’s very excited about the upcoming adventure and lists camping equipment as her wanted items on her Christmas list.

But, mom and dad have other plans. After Lily and her two brothers give their “wish lists” to their parents, a family meeting is called. The siblings are told that not only will they not be getting any store-bought gifts for Christmas this year, they will be going to a remote cabin in North Carolina where they will spend the rest of the Christmas holiday. If that weren’t bad enough, there are more conditions and limits: The cabin will be decorated only with things that can be found in the surrounding woods; all gifts must be hand-made; and the kids can take only three things with them – a food treat; a game; and a book – with the idea of sharing the items at the cabin.

Needless to say, the kids are not thrilled, Lily especially. She has already begun dreaming of her upcoming camping adventure and was counting on her parents to provide her with the necessary gear (or at least money or a gift certificate so she could buy it herself) as her Christmas gifts. So, out of spite, she takes a food treat that only she likes, a game that she knows her brothers hate to play (but she figures they’ll play the game with her out of boredom) and a book about camping.

Before the family makes it to their remote cabin, though, they are stranded in a high school gym during an unexpected snow storm. A remote cabin in the woods sounded bad enough, but this is even worse. But, Lily and her family survive the ordeal and come out stronger than before.

What I Like: This is a great story for preteens, both girls and boys (although the story is intended for girls) about thinking about others.

What I Dislike: I was a bit uncomfortable with the way the parents went about telling the kids they were going to be away from home for Christmas and they were not going to fulfill their kids’ wish lists. I support what they did, I just didn’t like they way they went about presenting it. Really, if you’re going to be taking three kids for an extended stay in a remote setting during the Christmas holiday, the least you should do is give them fair warning, not wait until the night before the trip to even tell them about it.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 9-12.

Publisher Info: Zonderkidz, 2002; ISBN: 9780310702603; Paperback, $6.99.

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Special Info: This is book #9 in the Zonderkidz Lily series. Read our reviews of other books in the series. Visit the author’s website.

A Letter from Heaven

A Letter From Heaven, written by Steve Butler, addresses the sensitive issue of a child’s death.

In this case, Jamie’s older sister, Alexandra, died at birth. Her ashes are kept on the mantle in a special vase. When Jamie is very small he asks, “What’s that?” The answer given is, “That’s Alexandra.”

This answer suffices until Jamie gets older. Then he wants to know, “Who is Alexandra?” At that point, Jamie’s mom goes over to the mantle, reaches behind the vase, and pulls out a letter. The letter is supposed to be from Alexandra, and it is addressed to Jamie. In the letter, Alexandra explains to Jamie what happened to her. She talks about her birth, her death and going to heaven (as well as other things).

The watercolor illustrations by Vaun Healey look like something a child would do. I’m not sure if that effect was intended.

What I Like: This book tackles a difficult subject, and as one reviewer put it, the author addressed “a rarely talked about issue regarding the questions and feelings children have when they discover that their parents had a previous child who died.” That’s a good thing.

What I Dislike: There just seems to be something missing from the story. After the letter is read to Jamie (and it’s a good letter), there is no discussion between mother and son about the sister Jamie never knew. I think the story would have been stronger if it had more closure.

Also, I noticed a couple of layout issues with the print of the text. They aren’t major issues, but they were somewhat distracting.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: The publisher does not give a suggested age group for this book, but I would say it would be 5-9.

Publisher Info: AuthorHouse, 2008; ISBN: 9781434347152; Paperback, $15.99.

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Redefining Beautiful

If you have a teenage girl in your life who you think is even remotely likely to read this book, I highly recommend you get it for them. Redefining Beautiful by Jenna Lucado, is an encouraging conversation about "what God sees when He sees you." Jenna relates God's love for us to a good earthly father's love, and Jenna's own dad, well-known Christian author and pastor, Max Lucado, contributes advice and encouragement in each chapter.

Redefining Beautiful conveys a message essential to girls growing up today--God made you beautiful, and the negative messages you may receive from the rest of the world don't matter. In fact, they aren't even true! Jenna focuses on eight "Life Accessories." They are:

"Security--trusting that no matter what, we have a God who loves us.
Identity--in knowing who we are and whose we are.
Value--knowing we are treasured.
Love--knowing God's love for us so we can love others.
Self-control--for making good decisions.
Peace--in believing God is in control.
Joy--in knowing the Source of all joy.
Contentment--in who God made you to be."

Jenna begins by helping readers explore who they are, based on personality, up-bringing, life experiences, and what the Bible says. Jenna's style is chatty, with lots of quizzes and space for journaling. As girls learn more about who they are, they apply this to how they interact with friends, families, boyfriends, and God. Jenna compares our relationship with Jesus to a Facebook page, where you can check, "single, in an open relationship, it's complicated, or in a relationship." She then tells us how to move our relationship with Christ from single, open, or complicated, to "in a relationship."

Jenna provides a loving and affirming view of all of us, based on biblical passages like Psalm 139, which she quotes from The Message Bible (a Bible paraphrase written in contemporary, easy-to-understand language.) She also discusses how our relationship with our earthly father affects our relationships with boys and with Jesus. She shows readers how to honor boys and gives ideas for what to do if our earthly fathers were less-than-perfect, or even cruel.

What I Like: I like anything opposing the negative and suggestive messages surrounding us in today's movies, television, etc. . . . It can be hard to be content in who God made us, and Jenna's book is a breath of fresh air.

I like Jenna's conversational style. She is easy to read, and you feel like you are visiting with a friend. Jenna understands the heart of girls and takes care to address all types. Her explanation of salvation feels like she genuinely cares about you and just wants you to know her favorite person.

I also like her beauty and fashion tips. She includes fun checklists like "seven uses for Vaseline," and "What to wear on a first date."

This is a must-have for any girl who will read it. Even if it sits on a shelf for a year, you never know when a girl may pick it up in a moment of boredom or desperation.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: Teens--I would say 12 and up

Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 2009; ISBN: 978-1-4003-1428-7; Paperback, $12.99

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Special Note: Jenna does reference her own experiences with under-age drinking, as well as Joyce Meyers' autobiography Beauty for Ashes in which Meyers discusses being sexually abused by her father.

Check out our reviews of books by Jenna's dad (Max Lucado), here.

Skid and the Too Tiny Tunnel

My preschooler absolutely adores Skid and the Too Tiny Tunnel by Jeffery Stoddard. She asks for this book again and again, and pages through it on her own, too. Skid addresses two things my daughter is focused on just now: Wanting to do what grown ups do and being afraid of the dark. I'll bet your young children deal with those things, too.

As the book opens, we meet Skid, a tiny tractor in a world of enormous diggers, bulldozers, dump trucks, and cranes who frequently tell him, "Stay here little guy; you're too small...We have important work and it's no place for a dinky tractor with a putt-putt engine." All except Pillar, the giant bulldozer. "You don't have to be big to be mighty," Pillar says.

"I don't?" says Skid. "How can a little tractor like me ever do big things? I'm even afraid of the dark."

Pillar replies, "A lot of tractors are afraid of the dark...You just have to do what you were made to do, even if you're afraid."

Then one day, a tunnel the heavy equipment machines are working on collapses and Pillar is buried beneath the rubble. Pete the dump truck asks Skid for help. Only Skid is small enough to make his way through the rubble and dig out Pillar. Skid is afraid, but he tried anyway. He carefully digs Pillar out and soon all the heavy equipment is cheering him. Skid, Pillar says, was "a mighty brave machine."

"That's why when you pass by an important construction job today, you'll probably see a little loader named Skid. Because even big machines know they just may need a brave tiny tractor to do what he was made to do."

Skid is a high quality book and could easily pass as a mainstream title. In fact, the only thing that makes this book Christian is the subtitle: "A story of courage based on Deuteronomy 31:6."

Throughout, Stoddard's illustrations bring the characters to life. Somehow, he manages to bring out the human qualities in heavy equipment and dump trucks.

What I Like: Everything. This is a delightfully told, well written story with quality illustrations. The message is a good one, and appeals to two central issues in the lives of young children. And while this book may generally appeal more to boys, my daughter is a huge fan, too.

What I Dislike: Nothing, really, although I would have preferred that the Bible verse be quoted. ("Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.") But perhaps the publisher chose not to do this, hoping the title would be more accessible to the mainstream market.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Warner, 2009; ISBN: 978-1593173555; hardback, $12.99

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Our New Baby

If you're looking for a book to introduce the idea of a new baby entering the family, Our New Baby by Beth Atchison may be a good choice.

In this Level 3 (independent reader) book (which works just as well as a read-to-me book), a young child who appears to be no older than kindergarten age learns he'll soon have a baby brother or sister. He has lots of questions and some concerns, but his mother says, "God is sending us this special baby. God sent you when you were a baby. You are very special too."

As his mother's tummy grows larger, the little boy learns to play quietly when she needs extra rest. His mommy tells him he'll be able to help take care of the baby, too, by singing to it, fetching the baby bottle, and maybe even helping to change diapers.

He feels a little lonely when his mother and father leave for the hospital, but grandma stays with him and together they pray for the family and the new baby. When his new baby sister comes home, he thinks she's loud and wrinkly, but he thanks God for her. And when his friends come over, sometimes he quietly peeks into her nursery to show her off.

What I Like: This is a simple introduction to common concerns a young children have about gaining a new sibling. The book has a mostly positive spin (the exception is the mention of loneliness), and offers lots of ideas about how older siblings can "serve one another in love" (Galations 5:13). The illustrations by Nancy Munger are colorful and do a great job expressing joy throughout.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher 3 to 7, but this book may be too simplistic for 7 year olds.

Publishing Info: Standard, 2005; ISBN: 978-0784717066; paperback, $2.29.

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Jenny: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Sibling

In the story Jenny: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Sibling, written by Stephanie Jeffs, Jenny’s sister, Rosie, wasn’t well. She didn’t have a sore throat, a runny nose or any spots, but she was sick. Rosie had to stay home from school. She spent most of her time in bed. When she wasn’t asleep, Jenny would take her toys into Rosie’s room and play with them on her bed. Sometimes Rosie had to go to the hospital.

All the members of Rosie’s family, and all her friends, wanted Rosie to get well. They all said they hoped Rosie would be well soon. Grandpa prayed that Jesus would take care of Rosie.

Jenny knew when she got sick, she usually felt better after a good night’s sleep. One day, after Rosie has been sick for quite some time, Jenny asked her mom, “Why doesn’t Rosie feel better after a good night’s sleep? Why does everyone say that they hope she gets better soon, but she never does? Why is she always ill?”

Jenny’s mom got very quiet. Then she explained that Rosie was very sick and might never get better. Jenny asked, “Will Jesus take care of Rosie?”

Her mom said, “Of course he will. He promises to take care of all of us, even when we die. He makes a special place for us to live with him in heaven. It’s a place where we will never hurt again and we will always be better.”

That night, Jenny prayed, “Lord Jesus, please take care of Rosie.” The last sentence of the book reads: “And deep inside she knew that he had heard her prayer.”

The watercolor illustrations by Jacqui Thomas are colorful and very realistic.

What I Like: It’s difficult to talk to anyone about dying; it’s especially difficult to talk to a child when their sibling is sick. So, it’s nice to have a book like this that helps explain what’s going on.

What I Dislike: Having said that, I want to add that I think the ending could have been a bit stronger. The title says the “death” of a sibling, but Jenny’s sibling doesn’t actually die in the story. Her death is implied, but it never actually happens. I don’t want to sound morbid, because it would have made the story sadder, but I think it would have also made the story stronger if Rosie had passed away and Jenny had actually had to deal with her sister’s death. Otherwise, the title should have been something like “Jenny: Understanding When a Sibling Gets Very Ill.”

Overall Rating: I will still give the book an overall rating of good as it is very well written.
Age Appeal: 4-8.

Publisher Info: Abingdon Press, 2006; ISBN: 0687497094; Hardcover: $14.00.

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Special Info: Read our review of another book by this writing/illustrating team.