Summer-Time Explorations: K-HS

  

Are you ready for a great read?

Nathan & Joy Clarkson

ISBN: 9780736982498

Publisher's Synopsis:

This celebration of the power of imagination will remind children young and old of the unlimited possibility and potential of creative play.

When you were young, what did you dream of doing? Riding high atop a dragon? Hurtling through space on a rocket ship? Unearthing an island treasure? Sailing on a shimmering sea?

Sibling storytellers Nathan and Joy Clarkson (children of bestselling author and educator Sally Clarkson) invite you and your kids to hang out with them in the clubhouse, a place of boundless creativity where the only limit is your own imagination. Follow along with a fictional boy and girl who turn their play structure into an airplane, a submarine, a cave, a castle, and so much more!

This timeless tale dedicated to the simple, oft-forgotten pleasures of imaginative play will awake wonder in your children and inspire them to dream up their own big adventures!

"What will the clubhouse be today?"

MrsK's Review: Family Read-Aloud, Fantasy

This book is a perfected read... ponder... and discuss picture book. Will it be an airplane... a castle... or maybe a submarine? Simple imaginations that could lead your family into great journal entries and family experiences. Could you design a family clubhouse in your front room... a spare room... somewhere outside for the summer? What about drafting a clubhouse each night in a family journal?

Unusual books can be an amazing opportunity of inspiration... take the time to discover a family read aloud and extend it into your own imagination...

MrsK

Meet the Authors:

 Nathan Clarkson is an award winning actor, best-selling author, indie filmmaker, podcast philosopher, and member of the well-known and beloved Clarkson Family.

"At around 10 or 11, Nathan, our epic adventurer wrote about it in a poem, “What will our Clubhouse be today?” Clay found the floppy disc on which the poem was stored. My two youngest and most extraverted kids, who played and pretended for hours and hours as children, got together to polish and finish the writing of their wonderful book, The Clubhouse: Open the Door to Limitless Adventure.

People are always asking us, “How did you do it? How did you inspire your children to be authors, movie makers, composers, college instructors, podcasters?” This was the way—imagination, nightly discussions over great meals, a close, delightful relationships every day. This is how their hearts, minds and lives were shaped into adults who could imagine influencing their worlds for good. Nathan, Joy and I recorded a podcast today to celebrate these ideas and this wonderful new book." 

https://sallyclarkson.com/

Laura Caputo-Wickham

ISPN: 9781784985783

Publisher's Synopsis:

In 1940, the Germans invaded the Netherlands, and Corrie ten Boom and her family helped to hide as many Jewish people as possible. They even had a secret room built in her bedroom. Corrie and her sister were caught by the German army and sent to a concentration camp, where God made sure they always had a Bible to read and plenty of opportunities to share the good news about Jesus. Corrie’s trust in God gave her the strength to go on until the war ended. From then on, Corrie talked about her life to big crowds, saying, “There’s no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still".

"You are my hiding place..."

MrsK's Review: Gr.1-2 Biography

As an educator, I had to get this simple biography. Right before C19, one of the books that was being banned in classrooms was Corrie's account of the Holocaust, The Hiding Place. Silencing the voices of those who have walked before us steals the opportunities of critical discussions with the next generation. Why would we want generations to forget history? The bravery and courage of so many during some of the world's worst experiences provides insights and values of character.

Within this appropriate biography, Corrie and her family gave all to save Jewish families from the inhumane actions of extermination. This book highlights the faith of the ten Boom's, as well as the value in helping those in need. There are extra learning opportunities such as: maps, age-appropriate discussion questions, a time-line, and a brief biographical page of Corrie. Life and death is not a forbidden topic... how would a generation that doesn't experience death become prepared if, as guardians, we choose to keep reality from them. Truth is the best educator...

Please share this book in your homes... read, discuss, and learn more with them. Value them and their need in knowing how "to cope" when death is the final chapter of life.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Laura Caputo-Wickham is a children’s author from Rome, now living in Kent with her husband, James, two young daughters and a cat. In her spare time, Laura is involved with her church’s toddler group and helps the children in her local school with their reading.

Travis D Peterson

ISBN: 9788269219609

Publisher's Synopsis:

Winner of the 2022 Northern Lights Book Awards in the Concept Book category! The 2022 Eric Hoffer Award recognizes the significance of Ada and the Helpers Grand Prize Finalist First Horizon Award Finalist (for debut authors)Honorable Mention in Children's Book Category" Be bold! Be brave! Let you be you... and let's help others, too!" That's Ada's motto. Ada is a dancing, deaf fox with cochlear implants who loves to help others. On her way to dance in a talent show one day, she meets three other creatures who are each facing a physical challenge or disability of their own. She decides to help each of her new friends to see past their challenges and discover their natural, God-given strengths. But can they help her in return? Ada's a bit nervous about the talent show! Will she be able to hear the music clearly? Will everyone laugh at her? Pick up a copy of Ada and the Helpers today and follow Ada and her new friends on an exciting new adventure that inspires friendship, helping others, inclusion, and finding your strengths.

"...she paid attention to noises far and near...

She danced to every sound...

She swayed along to music from the leaves..."

MrsK's Review: Read-To Gr. K-2 Friendship Fantasy

Meet Ada, she is a very clever young fox who loves to "tip-toe, skip, and spin." Her dancing joy is contagious... yet, she has a challenge... she is deaf and uses special hearing devices.

As Ada follows the path to a talent show, she meets various friends that have difficulties with their sight, their speech, or is unable to fly. By the time she reached the talent show... well let's say her new friends were there.

Friendships are not a new topic for picture books, not only is this the sweetest story about various challenges, it is a celebration about unique individual gifts and talents. Every two-page layout has sign language for young readers to learn. Melissa Fischer has created delightful characters with strong personalities portrayed in every detailed illustration.

Please share this "joyful" discovery... there's so much to do... "Let's help others... too!"

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 Born & raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, Travis D. Peterson grew up building tree forts and exploring trails in the woods, riding waves, catching fish in the ocean and lightning bugs in the night air.

As a young adult, he worked as a bookseller and spent way too much money on stacks of books while pursuing degree in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue University. Most of his experience is in print design, winning multiple awards from the Religion Communicators Council for his work.

Travis currently lives in Bergen, Norway where his wife, Anne Berit, is from. They have two brave and wonderful kids—one of which has profound hearing loss and has received bilateral cochlear implants that help her to hear. Travis' books for children feature characters with cochlear implants to bring awareness.

Elizabeth Raum

ISBN: 9781953743145

Publisher's Synopsis:

The Kentucky frontier was a beautiful place, but it was also a dangerous one. Jemima Boone and John Gass often heard wolves howling, bears growling, and snakes slithering through the tall grasses. There was no store, no school, no doctor at Fort Boonesborough. The settlers were on their own to deal with whatever threats arose. On a sunny summer day in July 1776, the crisis they faced was a kidnapping. . . Based on a true event.

"America was not built on fear..."

MrsK's Review: Gr2-3 Historical Fiction

This re-enactment of four days in the lives of frontier families in Fort Boonesborough, 1776, is woven between two brave teens. Just as with all the tweens and teens, they had numerous chores and they knew the value of each other and the protection of the frontier fort, as well as Daniel Boone.

John Gass is turning thirteen in a few months. His dream is to "prove" he is ready to go hunting with the men at the fort, which of course means he needs a rifle to be his birthday gift. If only his father would realize that he is ready to take his place as a young adult instead of a child. He is a quick learner, has keen awareness of his surroundings, and is loyal to every family member at the Fort. His best friend is Daniel Boone's daughter.

Jemima Boone is one year older than John. On the three week trek to Kentucky, John and her herded the cows on the "rough-cut" trail. Watching the youngest was one of her chores, she enjoyed times with them but now that she's older what she would like is a "bit of time" on her own. Yesterday, she had been herding the cows and her bare foot got a "cane-stab,"  which caused her much pain and a slowness in her walking. That's when she noticed the fort's dug-out canoe. That's the moment she knew that her foot would feel so much better in the coolness of the water and she could have a grand adventure of her own!

Jemima asked her father if her and her two friends, Betsy and Fanny, could go out in the canoe. Daniel thought it was a perfect day for a canoe ride, if Nathan would go along with the girls for protection. He warned her to stay away from the northern bank because that was where the Shawnee had their villages.

When Nathan didn't show up, the girls decided they could handle the short canoe ride before they had to help get supper ready. The girls were finally free from the never-ending chores. Will they be safe? The adventure begins...

Not only is this a delightful story about choices made that are disobedient to the wisdom of parents, it is a courageous story about the history and wisdom from those who have journeyed before us. What history passes on to the next generation is more valuable than any worldly offering. Life will always have moments of survival... those moments are learned from the stories and history of those who walked the path before us. This is a must read in any classroom and/or homeschool. There are pages of resources at the end of the book for further learning and referencing.

As a side note, I'm very grateful to this author. We are related to the Boone's and this novel is now a valued resource for the generations that will be walking life's path after me...

MrsK

"...America was built of courage,

on imagination, and an unbeatable

determination to do the job at hand."

Harry S. Truman 

Meet the Author:

   

As a child, I loved writing reports. For me, doing research has always been a kind of treasure hunt. My treasures are the facts that create pictures of past worlds and faraway places. I've put those facts into nearly 100 biographies, histories, and science books for young readers. I've also written two picture books and several interactive adventures that place you, the reader, inside the story. I hope that all my books lead you to imagine yourself in some intriguing place among fascinating people. Every book should take readers on new adventures in this big, beautiful world of ours.

                                                                       Aimee Lucido

ISBN: 9780358040828

Publisher's Synopsis:

In this innovative middle grade novel, coding and music take center stage as new girl Emmy tries to find her place in a new school.

"Did you know there's a language called Shakespeare?"

MrsK's Review: Gr. 4-6 Reality Fiction

Emmy is a 6th grader who has moved to California from Wisconsin. When you are in MS, clothing matters... a circle of friends is crucial... social acceptance plays havoc in all areas of your life. Music "swims in her bloodstream," yet playing an instrument... well it's not a talent that she has acquired. Her father is a composer and her mother has a voice that has been heard at Carnegie Hall. What she does have a talent for became clear once she met her computer teacher. Could she really become a "coder?"

Ms. Delaney is the computer-science teacher. She believes that writing code "is not the same as writing an essay... but... in time... it will flow out of you like you were born with it." For Emmy and Abigail this class will make all the difference in their MS days.

Abigail is one of the singers that decided to try the coding class. It's not easy for her given that her friends are all in the choir class. Her secret began during the summer when she learned some coding and became hooked.

As Emmy is learning the languages of Boolean and Java, she realizes that her coding "voice" is harmonizing with her musicality. Her school days might be long and hidden, yet with the computer... her coding is like her father's composing... it feels natural... it resonates with in her... as if she's at a piano instead of a computer.

This book is crafted with poetic verse... coding languages that sound like songs... humor... finding your worth... and a musical scale of character.

Enjoy,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

 

   

An artist, a horseback rider, a musician, an office worker, a chef… and an author, apparently. I had always loved words: big words, funny words, word games, word puzzles, alphabet soup, you name it. And as a freshman in college I (almost by accident) became a crossword constructor, too, publishing my first crossword in Brown’s puzzle week in the New York Times. And by the time I was a junior in college, I formalized that love of words by declaring a second concentration in literary arts, simply because I had taken so many of the required classes already, just for fun, that I figured I may as well receive a degree for it.

Kazu Kibuishi

ISBN: 9780545828659

Publisher's Synopsis:

The highly anticipated, thrilling conclusion to Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series! After her confrontation with Ikol, Emily finally understands the stone's power and what she must do to defend Alledia from the shadows. As she travels to Typhon to help her mom and Navin, Prince Trellis returns to the Kingdom of the Elves to save his countrymen -- and confront the fraud who has seized power in the absence of a king. The threat of darkness follows all Stonekeepers closely, and it will take the strength of both new friends and old foes to conquer it... and survive.

MrsK's Review: GN Fantasy Series/#9 MS

If you have read the Amulet series... you understand how hard it is to get a copy from your library. So for all the fans of Aumlet... here is a pre-view of book #9: Waverider!

"Every action creates a ripple in time and space..."

Emily has learned the true power of the stone. Defending Alledia must happen, the Stonekeepers are in such danger from the darkness. Emily is committed to locating her family and return to her home. But, first she must find the courage to overcome Ikol's influence.

The New Guardian Council has been in training. Could the void be an avenue between the worlds? Ronin believes that the amulet allows the Stonekeepers to travel between alternate realities. Has she discovered the truth? Will Trellis live to reclaim his seat as the King of the Kingdom of Elves or will he find a new calling?

How will the Amulet series end? It's up to you to complete the journey...

MrsK

"...What we do here resonates far beyond

our reach and vision."

Meet the Author:

Kazu Kibuishi (born 1978) is an American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper. He has also written (drawn) the Amulet series. The webcomic artist and noted critic Scott McCloud has said that some of Kazu Kibuishi's work is so beautifully drawn that "it hurts my hands when I look at it".

Gordon Korman

ISBN: 9781338629156

Publisher's Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of RESTART, the story of a middle-school "band of brothers" -- five friends who need to stick together after they set up a hideout in an abandoned bomb shelter and discover that the only way to be true friends is to reveal their secrets and help each other out. The morning after Hurricane Leo rips through the town of Canaan, residents awaken to widespread destruction -- power outages, downed branches, uprooted trees, broken windows and damaged roofs. Four eighth-grade friends -- Evan, Jason, Mitchell, and CJ -- meet to explore the devastation. The tight-knit group is dismayed to find that Evan has brought along a stray -- Ricky, who is new to their town and school, and doesn’t have any friends yet. Ricky is the one to find the strange trap door that’s appeared in the middle of the woods -- the door to an old bomb shelter, unearthed by the hurricane. Inside, the boys find a completely intact underground lair, complete with electricity, food, and entertainment (in the form of videocassettes). The boys vow to keep the place’s existence to themselves. Things soon get tense. Some bad locals keep snooping around. And what started out as a fun place to escape soon becomes a serious refuge for one of the kids who is trying to avoid an abusive home situation. In order to save the shelter, the friends must keep its secret... and in order to save themselves, they’re going to have to share their individual secrets, and build the safest place they can.

MrsK's Review: MS Reality Fiction

Meet Evan, he lives with his brother, Luke, and his grandparents. Hurricane Leo has just "blew" through their town of Canaan. Which creates even more chaos since the new kid in school needed a place to stay after a tree crashed into his bedroom. Since school is closed for the town to clean up and make repairs, Evan is anxious to meet up with his friends and do some exploring. Of course, that means that Ricky has to "tag along" with him. Walking outside is crazy... debris is all over, huge old trees are uprooted, and one whole side of his grandparents house is purple from a "bombardment" of blueberries!

Ricky just arrived in Canaan right before 8th grade starts. He doesn't have any friends yet, so staying with Evan could be a good thing. Then again, some of Evan's friends don't like that he is extremely smart. He skipped one full grade when he entered Canaan. That never is a "cool" thing in Middle School. His mom works with Evan's grandmother so that is why the day after "Leo" demolishes the area he is happy to follow Evan around.

Mitchell and CJ are waiting at the trail before the woods. CJ's newest "death-defier" skateboarding stunt has scrapped his face. Mitchell has many OCD moments, especially when it comes to the new kid. Unexpected twists are not ok for Mitchell. When Jason arrives, he questions why Ricky is with Evan... isn't it suppose to be a secret? Especially since his girlfriend, Janelle, wasn't allowed at the secret location. How will that work out?

Louder than loud... Jaeger's "unmuffled" car rumbles down the street toward them. Jaeger is the town's meanest creep. Why Evan's brother Luke is hanging with him is scary. Luke knows that Jaeger is no good and his influence is changing Luke. That's not ok, Luke knows the pains they both have battled since their parents were taken to rehab.

It seemed like everyone was showing up at the woods. If Evan and his friends thought their secret place was in danger... wait until they enter the woods and Ricky discovers a bigger secret. One is an amazing place to hang, the other secret will be life threatening.

When Korman's story-crafting brings humor... mysterious adventures... and very real problems together there is no "putting" the book aside. Expect late night page-turning... this book is one to pass along to all MS readers... a defendant "read-it-forward!"

MrsK 

Meet the Author:

  

Korman wrote his first book, "This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall", when he was 12 years old, for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English. He later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in "The Sixth Grade Nickname Game", wherein Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.
Korman moved to New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While in New York, he met his future wife; they now live in Long Island with their three children. He has published more than 50 books.

Seasoned Readers: Spring Time Book Retreats

 

In the "in between moments" of your day...

Enjoy discovering one of these inspiring reads...

Genevieve Cogman

ISBN: 9781101988640

Publisher's Synopsis:

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission - to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested - the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option - the nature of reality itself is at stake.

MrsK's Review: Sci-Fi Fantasy

Irene had thirty minutes to steal the book and escape. She is sent from the Library to this alternate world, as in every book quest... she had to remain on alert and prepared. Her one advantange is that only a Librarian can read the "Language." No other form of magic can compare to the power of the Language. It's usefulness can "affect certain aspects of reality." As long as she can slip in and out with the book she is sent to recover, most quests will be quick and without notice. "Most" is the key,  for when discovery interferes... all aspects of the journey becomes dangerous.

Coppelia is Irene's supervisor. She is a research-based and well equipped field manager with a commanding personality. Senior Librarians only search for the most unique books in the alternate realities or those they long to locate. For Irene's next assignment she has determined that Irene will mentor a novice. Irene isn't sure about the urgency of this next journey. Something isn't in alignment.

Kai is the novice that arrives filled with enthusiasm, an air of arrogance, and impossible beauty. Even though he has only been in training for a short while, he is more than ready to leave training. But will he be a "runner" or will he be a willing learner?

Brandement is a Librarian that finds ways to overtake aspects of Irene's assignments. Her appearance at the beginning of the Grimm assignment is not a coincidence. Emily is concerned that Brandement will cause undue challenges. 

The next assignment is to locate the 1812 original Grimm manuscript. Irene isn't sure why this objective is so urgent. The manuscript could have an effect on the Language or it might be specific and unique to the alternate world which the Library would need to own to keep that world open or perhaps it's a book a Senior Librarian just wants to locate... which doesn't seem plausible due to the urgency of the assignment.

As Irene and Kai begin this journey, not all things will go as planned. Danger is everywhere. Death is possible. Creepers are always around the corners and not every character is reliable or truly what is portrayed. This twist-turning and unpredictable tale is so unusually woven... be prepared to walk away with a reader's overload... only to be compelled to rejoin the quest once your mind has successfully become accustomed to the previous page encounters! Be aware you will meet faeries, mutations, superheroes, impossible devices, vampires, werewolves, and of course dragons!

 

Warning... addictive... page turning! 

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Genevieve Cogman got started on Tolkien and Sherlock Holmes at an early age, and has never looked back. But on a perhaps more prosaic note, she has an MSC in Statistics with Medical Applications and has wielded this in an assortment of jobs: clinical coder, data analyst and classifications specialist. Although The Invisible Library is her debut novel, she has also previously worked as a freelance roleplaying game writer. Genevieve Cogman’s hobbies include patchwork, beading, knitting and gaming, and she lives in the north of England.

Shannon Bream

ISBN: 9780063225886

Publisher's Synopsis:

“Have faith” is a phrase we hear all the time. But what does it actually look like to live it out? In The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, Shannon Bream examines the lives of biblical women to see how God’s plans can turn our worlds upside down. She tells the story of Jochebed, a mother who took enormous risks to protect her son, Moses, from Pharaoh. Could Jochebed have imagined that God’s actual design for her son involved flight into exile and danger? And yet this was all part of the master plan to deliver Israel from slavery. Another biblical mother, Rebekah, made terrible choices in an attempt to ensure her son’s place in history. And a daughter, Michal, struggled to keep her faithless father, Saul, from sin, while battling pride in herself.

Through these stories, Shannon explains the intimate connection between faith and family—and how God’s unexpected agenda can redefine the way we think about family. Not all of these mothers and daughters in the Bible were paragons of virtue. Like us, they were human beings who faltered and struggled to do their best. While some heard God’s voice, others chose their own paths. Through the lens of their imperfections, we can see how God used their stories to bring about His divine plans. He’s still doing the same work in our lives today.

The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak shows that faith is more often a twisting road than a straight line. Yet, as the stories of biblical families attest, at the end of these journeys lies greater peace and joy than we could ever imagine.

"See, I am doing a new thing...

I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:19

MrsK's Review: Faith-Baised Bible Study

With in the pages of this journey you will find two truths: The first will be that you need a journal and a few colored pens for you will be inspired to take notes. The second truth will be found in your journey with yourself and the wisdom of these often quiet voices. As with Esther, you will be called for a time such as this.

I can not overstate the powerful guidance of these women who have walked before us. Esther's story has always been a strength building roadmap, yet with new insights I've discovered that her wisdom was in her love for her uncle, as well as her King. 

In Mary's and Elizabeth's story, I understood their journey for our Lord, their strengths demonstrates Proverbs 31 guiding our roles as a wife and a mother. Even though my children are now parents... this story tugged at my heart... reminding me that every generation that crosses my season of life is in fact a generation I can help raise up for our Lord.

In Ruth's and Naomi's story, my prayers to be so honored as to guide my daughter-in-laws in gracious love is an ongoing hope that only by our Lord's Grace will I plant seeds so fruitful.

Mother's and Daughter's... if you can use this book as a book study together... you are blessed. Make this your spring journey and take these women's example to heart... discuss these women and seek to be inspired for a new season of joy...

Throughout the years of my life I was in desperate need of a woman of faith. Isaiah's prophetic words resonnated within my season of motherhood. If I had considered the women of the Bible and what I could have learned... Well... now there is a book of their wisdom... this is a must for every mother, daughter, aunt, and grandmother...

Blessings,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Shannon Bream is the author of the number one New York Times bestsellers The Women of the Bible Speak and The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak, the anchor of FOX News Sunday, and Fox News Channel’s chief legal correspondent. She has covered landmark cases at the Supreme Court and heated political campaigns and policy battles from the White House to Capitol Hill.

Debbie Macomber

ISBN: 9780778311461

Publisher's Synopsis:

It was the year that changed everything. When Susannah Nelson turned eighteen, she said goodbye to her boyfriend, Jake—and never saw him again. She never saw her brother again, either; Doug died in a car accident that same year.

Now, at fifty, she finds herself regretting the paths not taken. Long married, a mother and a teacher, she should be happy. But she feels there’s something missing in her life, although she doesn’t know exactly what. Not only that, she’s balancing the demands of an aging mother and a temperamental twenty-year-old daughter.

Her mother, Vivian, a recent widow, is having difficulty coping and living alone, so Susannah goes home to Colville, Washington. In returning to her parents’ house, her girlhood friends and the garden she’s always loved, she also returns to the past—and the choices she made back then.

What she discovers is that things are not as they once seemed. Some paths are dead ends. But some gardens remain beautiful…

MrsK's Review: Reality Fiction

Vivian has gotten lost in her childhood town of Colville. A place she has known all of her life. Her husband, George, is no longer living... yet, she can talk to him in her moments of need. She must get home to her beloved garden and before he comes home.

Susannah is struggling through her son's and daughter's young adult choices. Brian is a wonderful father and husband... yet there is a disquieting within her mind. Add in the crazy dreams about Jake. Nothing seems "normal" and now, her mother is sounding "out of sorts." She knows its time to return to Colville. What will she find? Will her mom be willing to move into a senior facility? Will returning home to pack up the memories and sell the house allow her to walk away from her burdens that haven't healed? As an educator, summer vacation is the best time to get all things accomplished in Colville, yet if her brother had not died it wouldn't have been just her responsibility.

Chrissie isn't "eager" to return home for the summer break. Leaving the university doesn't thrill her. Leaving her dorm life and Jason to return home to Seattle is not how her life should be unfolding. Especially since Jason hasn't arrived as promised. College is mostly about her social life, her grades are still average but her life is centered around her friends and Jason.

Altimira is Colville's senior living facility. If Vivian will give it a chance, Susannah knows she will meet other's that she has known. Will it be the best choice for her mother? It definitely would be an easier transition for all that must be done for the sale of the house.

In this "disquieted" season of life, things are never easy. Memories and "unknowns" are always a shadow. The saying good-bye to what was and walking thru the desert of an exhaustive change will bring choices that either completes the struggles or destroys what was once comfortable. Relationships become stretched... old friends still have an influence... and home can become broken more than you anticipated. Which will Susannah experience... well that is the journey within the covers of  Susannah's Garden.

This is not a typical Macomber story line. It's a story that causes one to ponder how life can switch gears as one is becoming more seasoned in life. Given we all will experience our parents beginning their journey home, it's comforting to know how others walk the path of an aging parent. Three generations... some with dreams, some with mid-life questions, and those who are removed from their daily homes. What I discovered was the comfort of Macomber's storytelling craft, it did not leave me alone in despair. Hope is always woven within her stories. This book's journey provides a calming peace for the difficult seasons in a woman's life.

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Camy Tang

Guidepost

Publisher's Synopsis:

Sarah has found an anonymously published book about Debby Neely, a quilter from Maple Hill who was jailed for a crime she didn’t commit. To make matters even more interesting, the book was donated by Sarah’s mother, Ruth. Did Ruth have any connection to Debby? Can Sarah find Debby and bring her justice? Find out in this suspenseful adventure that is sure to please any mystery-lover!

"Some mysteries aren't meant to be solved."

MrsK's Review: Mystery

Maple Hill is a small town in which most everyone has known each other for generations. For Sarah, the library always gave her a sense of completeness. She was comfortable with the wisdom and stories that the library provided. Her discovery of an old storage area and a box of books would begin a mysterious journey to find out who Debby Neely was?  Sarah is baffled with this biographical book about a woman who was only in their town for a short period of time. Why did she come to their town? Who was Debby Neely? Why was she taken outside of the church and transported to jail? Was her mother a part of Debby's story?

Sarah realizes that her mother once had a dress like the ones described in the book. Could she be the author? Why was this book donated to the library? Debby seemed quiet, a gifted quilter, someone known at the local church... there must be someone in town who remembers her, including the author of this mysterious book. What Sarah knows for certain is that Debby's story is not a book to be set aside.

Woven between Sarah's interviews around the town and the pages of the mysterious book, there are characters that are realistically portrayed, in fact you would have met them in any small town across America. In many ways... I felt as if I had just gone home to my Silverton youth. Since this is a Patchwork Mystery, I adored all the descriptions of Debby's skilled patchwork dress/skirt designs. There really is nothing better than a quilted blanket, skirt, vest, or even drapes! Inspiring creations abound!

If your first mystery series was Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden... maybe you read Cam Jansen or Friday Barnes... this enjoyable mystery will be like finding an old friend... grab a quilt and a cup of tea and enjoy a moment of just reading for enjoyment,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Camy writes Christian romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery as Camy Tang and Regency romance under her pen name, Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, but for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. Then God guided her path in a completely different direction and now she’s writing full time, using her original psychology degree as she creates the characters in her novels. In her free time, she’s a staff worker for her church youth group and leads one of her church’s Sunday worship teams. She also loves to knit, spin wool into yarn, and is training to (very slowly) run a marathon.

Seasoned Readers Winter's Retreats

 

The most wonderful time of the year...snow... a hot cup of tea... a quilt...a book journey!

Kristin Harmel

ISBN: 9781982131906

Publisher's Synopsis:

Eva Traube Abrams, a semi-retired librarian in Florida, is shelving books one morning when her eyes lock on a photograph in a magazine lying open nearby. She freezes; it’s an image of a book she hasn’t seen in sixty-five years—a book she recognizes as The Book of Lost Names.

The accompanying article discusses the looting of libraries by the Nazis across Europe during World War II—an experience Eva remembers well—and the search to reunite people with the texts taken from them so long ago. The book in the photograph, an eighteenth-century religious text thought to have been taken from France in the waning days of the war, is one of the most fascinating cases. Now housed in Berlin’s Zentral- und Landesbibliothek library, it appears to contain some sort of code, but researchers don’t know where it came from—or what the code means. Only Eva holds the answer—but will she have the strength to revisit old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?

"... Aurignon... was a town whose heart hadn't yet been trampled..."

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction

In May of 2005, Eva saw a photograph in the NY Times newspaper of the book she believed had vanished over six decades ago. Even though the book was published in 1732, within its pages are the coded names of those whom Eva once helped. It was in July of 1942 that the world began its "horror" of the World War. It would be two nights later that the fatal "knock" on their door would awaken them. Her father had directed her to go to Monsieur Goujon if he was arrested. Thus begins Eva's journey, with a typewriter and a smile Eva ventures "into the heart of Paris." In 2005, after all these years Eva has decided to return to Berlin. She must reclaim the book of lost names.

With dashed hopes for escape, Eva leaves Monsieur Goujon's stationary establishment. The package of blank documents would require her talent. Would she be able to forge all the aspects of "real" identity cards, travel permits, and naturalization certificates? She had little time to create the forgeries that would get her mother and herself out of the "free zone." She was told to head to the small town of Auringnon south of Vichy. 

Madame Barbier is the proprietress of a small boarding house. Thanks to her kindness to Eva and her mother they have a roof over their head. As well as an introduction to a stranger who had shadowed Eva around the village.

le Pere Clement is a Catholic Priest at Eglise Saint-Alban. Someone who has "friends with ink-stained fingers." He will forever change Eva's life with his request for assistance in forging documents for the many travelers who are seeking refuge away from Paris. If "lives hung in the balance," could Eva be "called" to do her part for those in need? While she "forges" papers to get her father freed from the German camp, Eva and others will be drawn into endless hours of "pains-taking" detailing. Secrecy is a matter of life and death. Only a few can be trusted.

Remy Charpentier once a stranger appears at the right moment when she is heading back to Paris. Even though he appears at just the right moment when a German soldier is questioning Eva, he will become the most valued guide, friend, and co-worker Eva will know and forever remember about her days in Auringnon.

With the danger of the 1942 storyline, the beautifully crafted storyline of Eva's return to re-claim the book of lost names is a brilliant masterpiece. Settings are described with details of quaint village life, the horrific horrors of the feared German invasion, and the heartwarming truth of one woman's journey before she began a family. 

Our Booked to Dine group has rated this the best read of the year!

MrsK

"...to librarians and booksellers everywhere,

who ensure that the books with the power to change lives

find their way into the hands of the people who need them most."

Thank you KH... for this dedication page quote... Inspired Learning and MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

A former reporter for PEOPLE magazine, Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. After stints covering health and lifestyle for American Baby, Men’s Health, and Woman’s Day, she became a reporter for PEOPLE and spent more than a decade working for the publication, covering everything from the Super Bowl to high-profile murders to celebrity interviews with the likes of Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, OutKast, Justin Timberlake, and Patrick Dempsey. Her favorite stories at PEOPLE, however, were the “Heroes Among Us” features—tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. One of those features—the story of Holocaust survivor turned philanthropist Henri Landwirth (whom both Walter Cronkite and John Glenn told Kristin was the most amazing person they’d ever known)—partially inspired Kristin’s 2012 novel, The Sweetness of Forgetting, which was a bestseller all over the world. Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts, and spent her childhood there, as well as in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She travels frequently to France for book research (and—let’s be honest—for the pastries and wine) and writes a book a year for Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster.

Jane Kirkpatrick

ISBN: 9780800722333

Publisher's Synopsis:

When Tabitha Brown's son makes the fateful decision to leave Missouri and strike out for Oregon, she refuses to be left behind. Despite her son's concerns, Tabitha hires her own wagon to join the party. Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. But family ties are stronger than fear.

The trials they face along the way will severely test Tabitha's faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family's survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn't know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life--and the greater part she had to play in history.

With her signature attention to detail and epic style, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to travel the deadly and enticing Oregon Trail. Based on actual events, This Road We Traveled will inspire the pioneer in all of us.

"Write the trouble stories down Gramo.

So I have them to read when I'm growed up."

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction

In 1845 Missouri, Tabitha was working was inspiring her granddaughter with her life stories. Tabby promised a hand-written book about her life to Sarelia. As Missouri's city edged closer to her country home, Tabby reflected on her "garnered" wisdom. A quill pen, powdered ink, and memories all drifted in and out of her mind and onto her papers of a life lived. With Orus out in the Oregon country and Manthano a week's ride away... her only daughter, Pherne, encouraged her to write her biography for all of her grandchildren. Yet, at her age, memories proved to be a "fickle" thing. Hours alone in her cabin... muttering to herself and her chicken Beatrice led to a loneliness that she really didn't want to share with her children. It was those times in which she passionately taught her grandchildren... open books... open minds... teaching and sharing knowledge... that was her great passion but it only lasted for short periods of her day. Aging becomes the crossroad of your final season. Yet, time with her children and grandchildren, as well as the expectation of Orus's return is brightening her tomorrow.

Going west into the Oregon country would be a new adventure, a new beginning. Missouri wasn't a state that was currently supporting opposition to slavery. Those who journeyed west would need strength, determination, faith, and hope. Orus believed his mother needed to stay in Missouri. Tabitha became determined to have her own wagon and travel as the last wagon to not hold her family back. Once in Oregon, what will she do to begin a new season in her life? At least she will be with her children... God willing.

Those who walked before us, listening to their "stories" is how so many of us have grown up. In today's world the "tech-age" is no longer learning the circular seasons of life. As with so many of Kirkpatrick's novels, you will gain wisdom. As an educator in the Pacific NW, I've always been drawn to the brave souls who left their homes to travel out west. My great-grandmother was one of those who settled in Bandon, OR. More than grit... faith will walk with you... and this journey within a book will inspire you long after you've turned the last page.

MrsK

"I want to know when trouble found you and how you got out of it.

That'll help me when I get into trouble... and I'll write my stories for you."

Meet the Author:

   

Kirkpatrick brings us a story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community."

Miranda James

ISBN: 9780425277539

Publisher's Synopsis:

In Athena, Mississippi, librarian Charlie Harris is known for his good nature—and for his Maine coon cat Diesel that he walks on a leash. Charlie returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but taking the plunge into a recent acquisition will have him in over his head…

Lucinda Beckwith Long, the mayor of Athena, has donated a set of Civil War-era diaries to the archives of Athena College. The books were recently discovered among the personal effects of an ancestor of Mrs. Long's husband. The mayor would like Charlie to preserve and to substantiate them as a part of the Long family legacy—something that could benefit her son, Beck, as he prepares to campaign for the state senate.

Beck's biggest rival is Jasper Singletary. His Southern roots are as deep as Beck's, and their families have been bitter enemies since the Civil War. Jasper claims the Long clan has a history of underhanded behavior at the expense of the Singletarys. He'd like to get a look at the diaries in an attempt to expose the Long family's past sins. Meanwhile, a history professor at the college is also determined to get her hands on the books in a last-ditch bid for tenure. But their interest suddenly turns deadly…

MrsK's Review: Mystery

Ok, I must admit I had never heard of a Maine Coon cat, but my introduction to Diesel was completely enjoyable. Let me introduce you to the Athena College librarian... Charlie. Currently, he is a bit unhappy with Mayor Lucinda for not showing up on time. Yet, he is curious to see the Civil War diaries that she should be dropping off.

The Mayor's son has discovered four diaries that are dated around 1840-1875. Athena, Mississippi was occupied by the Union troops during the Civil War. These diaries, written by Rachel Long, would be an excellent addition to the college's archives. Especially since the current descendant had served four terms as their Senator. Yet, Charlie wasn't exactly sure that the Mayor's statement that she thought the discovery of these diaries could affect the outcome of the upcoming election was rational.

Given so many interested parties, who were very impatient with Charlie's decision to evaluate and archive the documents before anyone could see them, he was becoming annoyed. The budget didn't provide enough funding to be at the archives for more than three days. Given the discovery that Rachel's memoir has suspiciously been recorded as lost, he was certain that someone was becoming overly concerned about what might be in the journals.

Kelly Grimes appears to be a freelance writer. Her insistence on reading the journals is getting bothersome. There might be a political revelation that is behind her desire, much more reasonable than a research paper... she could write a sellable book.

Jasper Singletary is a political "hopeful." What is the connection between Kelly and him? What would the journals prove that could help his election? How far might they go to get their hands on the journals?

Marie Steverton is using her professorship as her right to see the journals before anyone else. Could her urgency be in the discovery of some political scandal or could she be worried about what she already knows is written?

And then, Charlie receives the call that Marie has been "run over" and killed...

A jaunt with literary elements is always a delightful quick journey... add in a good mystery and murder... well is there any better way to spend a winter day off?

MrsK

Meet the Author:

  

Miranda James is the pseudonym of Dean James, a seventh-generation Mississippian who recently returned home after over thirty years in Texas. A mystery fan since the age of ten, he wrote his first novel at the ripe old age of twelve. The only copy of The Mystery of the Willow Key vanished years ago, but since it was highly derivative of the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden mystery series, that’s probably a good thing.

Candace Fleming

ISBN: 9781338749571

Publisher's Synopsis:

"You are to report to Station X at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, in four days time....That is all you need to know." This was the terse telegram hundreds of young women throughout the British Isles received in the spring of 1941, as World War II raged. As they arrived at Station X, a sprawling mansion in a state of disrepair surrounded by Spartan-looking huts with little chimneys coughing out thick smoke—these young people had no idea what kind of work they were stepping into. Who had recommended them? Why had they been chosen? Most would never learn all the answers to these questions. Bletchley Park was a well-kept secret during World War II, operating under the code name Station X. The critical work of code-cracking Nazi missives that went on behind its closed doors could determine a victory or loss against Hitler’s army.

"For it is evil things that we shall be fighting against. 

Brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression, and persecution; 

and against them, I am certain that right will prevail."

PM Neville Chamberlain

MrsK's Review: Historical Fiction YA+

During wartime, many young women and teens walked away from their hopes and dreams and entered into the unknown service known as Bletchley Park. A service that would be cloaked in secrecy. Work that would be difficult mentally, emotionally, and physically. Sheltered away from everyday life.

On September 3, 1939, Britain and France signed an agreement to support Poland. Hitler refused the Prime Minister's letter. War began. In a red brick manor, Station X was established to decipher and break Hitler's codes and save the lives of their people.

Patricia was eighteen, and she worked as a listener on her wireless radio. The dial would be turned back and forth for any Morse codes coming across the "hissing" airways. She was trained to listen for all Nazi weather reports, battle strategies, orders to attack, and more. Most often she listened to naval codes that would endanger the British ships. Before the war, she had hopes of finishing secondary school and getting married. Her life in Lancashire never included joining the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENS). Yet, at seventeen that is where she entered the war.

Jane longed to join the war effort, even though her parents felt she was destined to be a debutante. Once her friend Elizabeth sends her a request to come and join her at Bletchley Park, there would be no stopping her decision to take a train to the fifty-three-acre estate. Even though she understood that she would never be able to tell anyone, including her parents, where she was or what she would be doing... she signed the British Official Secrets Act. Jane had just joined the cryptographers in Hut 6 as a decoder.

Mavis had hoped to join the war efforts as a nurse, yet once she was interviewed and they learned that she knew the German language she became destined to do "more important duties." Deciphering word patterns and syllables would benefit the war efforts at the Enigma machines.

Sarah received a summons to report to Station X. There were so many questions, she had no clue why this unknown Commander Travis would send her to Station X. She lived a royal life of boarding schools and country manors. Her grandmother was Queen Elizabeth's best friend. She knew German and had spent six months in Munich. At Station X, she would be in Hut 8 where she would be working in the Index room gathering intelligence from the deciphered cards: naval coordinates; code names; weapons; units; places; and scientific names.

Along with the ladies above, you will meet Diana who would work in Hut11A with the machines that would break the secrets of the enemies. Gwen joined the WAAF, and her ability to speak some German landed her in Hut 10/Block A where she would cipher communications. In 1943, Ann would convert the crib and cipher texts into diagrams. Joanna would program the "Beast."

This is one of the best war novels. It is filled with historical photographs; factual captions; code-ciphering examples; as well as a glimpse into the lives of four hundred men and one thousand women who helped the world defeat the Hitler horror-filled takeover. This novel is one of the best resources for all learners 5th-HS+. If you are a homeschooling parent, an educator, or a librarian... get this book!

MrsK

Meet the Author:

   

I have always been a storyteller. Even before I could write my name, I could tell a good tale. And I told them all the time. As a preschooler, I told my neighbors all about my three-legged cat named Spot. In kindergarten, I told my classmates about the ghost that lived in my attic. And in first grade I told my teacher, Miss Harbart, all about my family's trip to Paris, France. As I grew, I continued to write stories. But I never really thought of becoming an author. Instead, I went to college where I discovered yet another passion—history. I didn't realize it then, but studying history is really just an extension of my love of stories. After all, some of the best stories are true ones — tales of heroism and villainy made more incredible by the fact they really happened.

After graduation, I got married and had children. I read to them a lot, and that's when I discovered the joy and music of children's books. I simply couldn't get enough of them. With my two sons in tow, I made endless trips to the library. I read stacks of books. I found myself begging, "Just one more, pleeeeease!" while my boys begged for lights-out and sleep. Then it struck me. Why not write children's books? It seemed the perfect way to combine all the things I loved: stories, musical language, history, and reading. I couldn't wait to get started.

Elizabeth Ludwig

ISBN: 9781961125391

Publisher's Synopsis:

Cheryl Cooper loves the air of excitement these new arrivals bring, and as a recent member of the community, she enjoys getting to know her neighbors by delivering congratulatory gifts to the families. She never dreamed that one of these visits would end in an awful discovery...a baby has been snatched from his cradle!

When Cheryl comes across a lead that could reunite the child with his mother and put the kidnapper behind bars, she must take matters into her own hands. But will the truth she uncovers spell happily ever after or will it expose a deeper, more sinister problem?

MrsK's Review: Amish Mystery

Cheryl works at the Swiss Miss gift shop. Gifts made by local craftsmen are always sought after by customers, although on this day before Thanksgiving, she did not expect a customer who would be both in an extreme hurry and rude at the same time. Who was this customer? Why did she leave a foreboding impression?

Naomi is Cheryl's "mystery-solving" partner. Today they are on their way to drop off Rachel's baby items, which include Naomi's beautiful quilts for the sweet twins. 

Rachel is an Englisher who has newly married into the Sugarcreek community. One of the twins is keeping her awake and exhausted so this moment of coffee shared with her friends is a blessing. That is until Rachel goes to check on the twins... the urgency of her shout has ended the peace... one of the twins is missing!

An Amber alert is issued and thus the mystery begins. Will Rachel recover from the baby-napping? Will the Sugarcreek community rally around her for support? Will Rachel's estranged relationship with her parents finally come to their daughter's home? For Cheryl, the news that the strange customer had been quickly purchasing baby items throughout the community is the lead that Cheryl and Naomi will follow.

This is a very "sweet" mystery. Your heart aches for the young family. You follow the leads as the mystery unravels, and as with every Amish romance, you will enjoy the "goodness" of a community that in today's world is hard to find.

Grab a cup of tea, and a comfy quilt, and relax with this "cozy" Amish mystery,

MrsK

Meet the Author:

Elizabeth Ludwig is an accomplished speaker and teacher, often attending conferences where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Book three in her popular EDGE OF FREEDOM series, Tide and Tempest, was named a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Elizabeth was also named a finalist in the 2015 Selah Awards for her novella “One Holy Night”, part of the bestselling anthology collection, Christmas Comes to Bethlehem, Maine. Most recently, she was honored to be awarded a HOLT Medallion for her book, A Tempting Taste of Mystery, part of the SUGARCREEK AMISH MYSTERIES series from Guideposts. Her latest releases include Sheeps Passing in the Night, part of the MYSTERIES OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD series, also from Guideposts, and The Coffee Club Mysteries from Barbour Publishing.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

ISBN: 9780316480772

Publisher's Synopsis:

Grayson Hawthorne was raised as the heir apparent to his billionaire grandfather, taught from the cradle to put family first. Now the great Tobias Hawthorne is dead and his family disinherited, but some lessons linger. When Grayson’s half-sisters find themselves in trouble, he swoops in to do what he does best: take care of the problem—efficiently, effectively, mercilessly. And without getting bogged down in emotional entanglements.

Jameson Hawthorne is a risk-taker, a sensation-seeker, and a player of games. When his mysterious father appears and asks for a favor, Jameson can’t resist the challenge. Now he must infiltrate London’s most exclusive underground gambling club, which caters to the rich, the powerful, and the aristocratic, and win an impossible game of greatest stakes. Luckily, Jameson Hawthorne lives for the impossible.

Drawn into twisted games on opposite sides of the globe, Grayson and Jameson—with the help of their brothers and the girl who inherited their grandfather’s fortune—must dig deep to decide who they want to be and what each of them will sacrifice to win.

"Hawthornes don't have hobbies...

we have specialties... expertise."

MrsK's Review: Mystery YA+

*January's first read... So worth the winter chill!

The Hawthorne brothers know that there is "no getting around the rules." Not even on Christmas morning. Even twelve years ago, the brothers knew there would be a trick... always a challenge... an important game of the mind and skill. 

All those years ago, the Hawthorne brothers have followed the rules of engagement. Each brother utilizes their individual strengths, their wit, their intelligence, and their name to accomplish whatever needs to be done. Today when their cells receive the 911 message... they will gather from wherever and whatever they are involved in. A summons, after all, is a summons. 

Jameson and Avery fly to London from the Iguazzu Falls. Avery is patient with Jameson's mood. Whatever secret he is harboring will remain secret until he's ready to let her in. In the meantime, Nash's summon was their destination. Avery has learned that "doing great things" was an internal force for Jameson. One that wasn't just "great" it was more of a "vast and lasting and incredible" great.

Grayson had his own secret. Since their grandfather's death and Avery had walked into their life, everything was changing. The year the brothers had learned who their fathers were had changed each of them. Grayson struggled with the outcome of his interactions with his father. To say that it ended badly didn't come close to what he was dealing with right now. So Nash's 911, took some time to register this new change. Xander, Jameson and Avery were so excited for Nash.

Jameson and Avery will be entering into a secluded game to win back Jameson's father's home. Grayson will be involved in a cat-and-mouse game of keeping secrets... secret from his newly discovered sisters.

The page-turning pacing is how these Hawthorne games unfold. This book might be the 5th in the series... it is one of the best crafted since the Inheritance games began. Every character has matured in their own style. Every clue is masterfully revealed at the precise moment you feel the anxiety of a choice that makes your gut scream no!

If you haven't begun the Inheritance games... get started... sleepless nights are a promise...

MrsK 

Meet the Author:

  

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Happy Winter Reading...