Calamity Jack by Shannon & Dean Hale, Nathan Hale

This book is like one big beautiful comic and I don’t even usually like comic books. It’s technical name is called a graphic novel. The story here is fun. It is also a bit of continuation of “Rapunzel’s Revenge.” It also tells about Jack’s life before he met Rapunzel. The book is basically Jack and the Beanstalk with a twist. I thought this was such a fun book and the illustrations are wonderful. It was easy to just sit and read such a fun tale.

For some fun little paper dolls about the book: http://www.squeetus.com/stage/books_rap.html and also on Dean Hale’s site for newer ones for this book about Jack: http://spacestationnathan.blogspot.com/ look in the right column under Activities for Calamity Jane Paper Dolls.

The Monster in Me by Mette Ivie Harrison

I loved this book. I enjoyed the description of running and I don’t even like to run. Natalie is such a great character. She often says things that are not what she is feeling inside just like the rest of us. Natalie is put with loving foster parents with two children. Natalie is not quite sure what to hope before since she has only known her mother and the ups and downs that comes with a drug addicted mother. This book is wonderfully written. I really enjoyed reading it.

Pingo by Brandon Mull, illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Chad has an imaginary friend named Pingo. He has so much fun with Pingo, but then tries to say goodbye to Pingo but Pingo won’t leave him. This is such a fun book. I loved the beautiful pictures and the storyline was great.

The Princess and the Bear by Mette Ivie Harrison

This book is a lot like the Princess and the Hound. I really am surprised Mette is not a guy. The details of Hunting and killing and the unmagic are very clear in my mind and sometimes a bit shocking to me.

Mette knows how to write. She is a great writer. I've never read books like hers before. They to me are in a category of their own. I do like her books but I find myself pausing for a while when asked to describe them. I think her background really helps these books to be well written. Mette is a unique author but a good unique. I really think I like her writing.

54 Books

54 books this year that I've read. That's good for me. I haven't read that many books in one year for many, many years. I think this blog does help me read more. I think it is because I have to report it.

Next year I am going to try to read 55! YAY!!!

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

This is a book with grit. If I didn't know the author was a girl, I'd think she was a boy. This book is descriptive about hunting, aggressive and written in the view point of the prince. It's a new kind of writing for me. When I say that I don't mean it bad. It's just different that what I am used to. Mette is a great writer. She is very good.

This plot in this book is developed really well. It is intriguing and makes me ask questions right away. There's so much to this book of such great substance. I really did enjoy it.

The Undaunted by Gerald N. Lund

This book is 802 pages long! When I got it from the library it was "daunting." I figured I had to read 5 chapters a day to get it done it time. So, I waited till the last minute like a dummy and had to go on a reading spree.

I forgot how fast the chapters go and how good an author Gerald N. Lund is. I got so caught up in the book I didn't even have to try to be on a reading spree. I was on one due to the pure joy of the story. I even learned a true fact or two along the way.

What a great courage of love, prayer, and perseverance!!!

I love his notes at the end of the chapter that helps us to know what the real facts are too. I like his take on things too. He seems to put it all on perspective.

So many things I like about this book. I love how it starts out with the coal miners. And later it is easy to see how that fits into the story. In his notes he even quoted from one of my favorite authors Susan Campbell Bartoletti. She wrote "Growing up in Coal Country."

This was a very exciting pioneer story with great characters that I really grew to love. I highly recommend reading this book.