March 8, 2014

The Eagle of the Ninth

The Eagle of the Ninth

Title: The Eagle of the Ninth

Stars: 4

Age Level: 10+

Violence: Um, not a ton, just kind of details a fight that happened between Romans and tribesmen

What I Thought:

I admit, I was NOT excited to start reading The Eagle of the Ninth when my mom handed to me to read for school.

But I read it. I couldn't pay attention to it, my mind can wander, until Cottia was introduced, then I was clinging to the story, all of it. Even when Cottia wasn't there. 

Over all it was a great story! I loved Marcus, Esca, Cottia, Cub, and Marcus's uncle--fantastic characters! 

Just like my review with The Book of the King, Keep. On. Reading. It gets better

About the Author:

Rosemary Sutcliff was a British novelist, best known as a writer of highly acclaimed historical fiction. Although primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults, she herself once commenting that she wrote "for children of all ages from nine to ninety."






Enjoy!
Abrielle Lindsay

March 6, 2014

The Last Thing I Remember


The Last Thing I Remember

Title: The Last Thing I Remember

Stars: 5++++++

Age Level: YA book. 12+, I think. 

Violence: I don't think I need to go into what violence is in here, just let me say, (HI, no, no, just kidding) there's a lot, but no where NEAR as much as there is in Left Behind >The Kids< series. 

What I Thought:

WOW. I am serious this book is just one big WOW.
Britt, over at Daughter of the King, highly recommended the If We Survive by Andrew Klavan. And after reading the back cover blurb I wanted to snatch it away and dive in. But I couldn’t. And I had never seen it at my library before. =(
BUT, I have just recently been exploring the adults area of the library and have found numerous TEEN books to read. =) Which includes books by Julie Klassen, ANDREW KLAVAN, Elisabeth Elliot, and so many more. But I saw The Last Thing I Remember, and thought, “That sounds like a great title,”.
So, I picked up the book, and I’m pretty sure that my jaw *literally* dropped when I saw that it was by Andrew Klavan. I looked back at the section of books where I had snatched it up from. If We Survive was there too.
In a hurry, I shoved The Last Thing I Remember on the shelf and grabbed If We Survive. I went to check it out, but it wasn’t the normal librarian, it was someone else who works there. But I handed her the book anyhow.
Then she told me that I couldn’t check it out because THERE WAS A COUPLE OF PAGES THAT WERE FALLING OUT.
UGH.  So I went back for The Last Thing I Remember. I was a little annoyed about getting it, since the one I really wanted lay behind the counter, out of my reach.
BUT, WOW, I SURE WASN’T DISAPPOINTED!! Andrew Klavan is an EXCELLENT writer and this book is such a great idea.
Charlie West wakes up tied to a chair with bruises and bleeding cuts. He doesn’t know where he is. The last thing he remembers is jumping it bed with a pretty girl’s number on the back of his hand. Then soon falling asleep.
He doesn’t remember anything after that. Lucky him he knows karate.
I’m sorry, I would tell you more, but I’m afraid that I’m going to give away the whole because of how pure genius it is!
My mom’s not sure if I should be reading it because it’s “gruesome” but then I remind her that I read the Left Behind >The Kids<. Which is way more gruesome.
AND BY THE WAY, THE LAST THING I REMEMBER IS A CHRISTIAN BOOK!!! =)


About the Author:

This is his header on his website, I couldn't find a great picture of him on Goodreads. =P

Andrew Klavan, (born 1954), known also by his pen name Keith Peterson, is an American writer of mystery novels, psychological thrillers, and screenplays for "tough-guy" mystery films. Two of Klavan's books have been adapted into motion picturesTrue Crime(1999) and Don't Say A Word (2001). He has been nominated for the Edgar Award four times and has won twice. Playwright and novelist Laurence Klavan is his brother.



Enjoy, 
Abrielle Lindsay

Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book (2ND REVIEW!!)


Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book

I’ve reviewed this book before. But I have to do it again. =) I read it for the second time and still absolutely adore it. Anyone who wouldn’t give it five stars is just crazy. Ok, any writer out there that wouldn’t give it 5 stars is just crazy.

Title: Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book.

Stars: 5++++

Age Level: 10+ (or whenever you can sit down, read it, and understand it =) )

Violence: ABSOLUTELY NONE

My Review:
I’ve been reading the GTW (Go Teen Writers) blog since July of 2013. I am amazed at how my writing strengthened because of just reading that blog and reading this book. I also found several good writing friends through the blog that are absolutely wonderful! =)
This book goes step by step through the Macro Edit and the Micro Edit which is totally amazing. Before I started reading this book, I had no idea what a Macro or a Micro Edit was. In fact, I hardly knew any of the writing phrases they used. But after several months of reading Go Teen Writers, this book made even more sense when I read it for the second time. Just because you read it once doesn’t mean you’re allowed to shelve it forever! You have to reread it often!
Morrell and Williamson do an absolutely fabulous job with explaining everything. I love it! They are such great authors! =)
This is a fantastic book, even better the second read! I recommend it for ANY WRITER, not just teens!! It doesn’t matter if you’re teen or not, as long as you are a writer, this book should be helpful!

About the authors:

Stephanie Morrill lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately she discovered a passion for young adult novels and has been writing them ever since.

Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers on her blog, www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrill.com

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms and the award-winning author of several young adult books including By Darkness Hid, Replication, The New Recruit, and Captives. She got into writing one day when someone was complaining about teen books and she thought, “I could do that! How hard could it be?” Very, she soon learned. But she worked hard, and four years later, her first book, By Darkness Hid, was published and won several awards.

Jill is a Whovian, a Photoshop addict, and a recovering fashion design assistant, who was raised in Alaska. She loves teaching about writing, which she does weekly at www.GoTeenWriters.com. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two children, and a whole lot of deer. Visit her online atwww.jillwilliamson.com, where adventure comes to life.

Enjoy,
Abrielle Lindsay

The Book of the King


The Book of the King

Title: The Book of the King

Stars: 5+++

Age Level: 10+

Violence: *cough, cough* Um, yah, there's some violence in here. Like, a lot. But still ok for kids! =) It's fantasy, and that explains a lot. *winks*

What I Thought:

This is such a great book… for 10+ kids. *winks* But, I mean, gosh it was really good.
Jerry B. Jenkins (Chris Fabry too) wrote it and, ohmygosh, he is one of my favorite authors ever. (read the Left Behind >The Kids< reviews…)
When I read the first chapter I was intrigued. The second chapter, yep, still straining my eyes to finish. Chapter three went a little towards the boring edge for me… So I started to read a bunch of other things.
Then I joined the GTW Book Club that goes on in the GTW Email Loop, and the first month (February) we had to read a fantasy book. So I decided to finish what I had started: The Book of the King.
AND I DO NOT REGRET IT FOR A MOMENT!!! If you start to get bored with The Book of the King DO NOT STOP READING IT!!!! Whatever you do, do NOT stop!!! Keep reading to the end. And then run to the library or Amazon for book 2 (I have to get it soon!)
The Book of the King is pure genius, I tell you. Absolutely brilliant. Any Christian 10+ year old that hasn’t read this book is SO missing out. GO BUY IT PEOPLES!!!
I love how Jenkins and Fabry did the POV (Point Of View) in this book. I love it. =) It’s kind of second person and kind of third person. For the first two chapters the author or narrator keeps saying, “We’ll get to Owen soon, but….” And then it jumps into a third person kind of POV. I love it.
So, all that to say if you are above ten, and have NOT read this book, boy, are you missing out on something good.
(and for the record, Chris Fabry is an excellent writer also who helped write the later books of Left Behind >The Kids< which I will always be recommending =) Go get ‘em! *Both series*)

About the Authors:

Jerry Bruce Jenkins is an American novelist and biographer. He is best known as co-author of the Left Behind series of books with Tim LaHaye. Jenkins has written over 180 books, including mysteries, historical fiction, biblical fiction, cop thrillers, international spy thrillers, and children's adventures, as well as non-fiction. His works usually feature Christians as protagonists. In 2005, Jenkins and LaHaye ranked 9th in Amazon.com's 10th Anniversary list of Hall of Fame authors based on books sold at Amazon.com during its first 10 years. Jenkins and his wife Dianna have three sons and eight grandchildren.






Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth FindingBuilding Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W.
Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris' novels, which include DogwoodJune BugAlmost HeavenNot in the HeartBorders of the Heart, and his latest release, Every Waking Moment, have won three Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. Continue reading his bio on Goodreads.

Papua Pilot


Papua Pilot

Title: Papua Pilot

Stars: An Absolute 5

Age Level: 9+ (really just depends on when you can understand the book)

Violence: Ehh, I don't think there was much, but, oh gosh, it was very appropriate. =)

What I Thought:

VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD BOOK. Excellent. Wonderful. GREAT. WOW. All of these explain Papua Pilot. You’re probably not surprised that I read and am reviewing this book since it is based in Papua. (my home) But honestly, I have been putting off finishing this book.
But, I looked at the books I am “Currently Reading” on Goodreads and decided it might be time to finish what I start.
When I had “stopped” reading it, it was on my Kindle. Sometime in between October 30th and February 28th, my brother broke my Kindle. =’( So, I’ve kind of taken over my mom’s Kindle—the first generation, which is oh–so big *winks*—for the most part. And I just started over reading Papua Pilot on Monday, March 3rd.
I was intrigued instantly. And wanted to read it through in one day. But I only got 32% that evening. =(
Ok, I have to admit that I thought I didn’t like autobiographies/biographies. But I started reading this, and now I’ve fallen in love with autobiographies. And then I realized that I’ve adored them for quite a while because I’ve been reading lots of Christian Heroes: Then and Now series.
This book is fantastic and a great example of selflessness. And such a great read. Probably many have not read it, but you are sure to not be disappointed. (You can’t be!) It is so worth buying. =)

About the Author:


Paul Westlund, 57, was welcomed into heaven on September 22, 2011, as a result of an airplane crash while serving as a Missionary Pilot in Southeast Asia. He loved to surf, exercise, and build and fly model airplanes. Paul was an animated storyteller and would become emotional nearly every time he got to the crux of his story line. Paul faced many difficult trials during his overseas service, and yet he could regularly be heard saying, "Isn't this just the best life a guy could have?" Paul is in heaven now because he gave his heart to Jesus.

(This is at the very end of the book...)

Dane Skelton is the co-author of this book. =)

Enjoy,
Abrielle Lindsay =)