A Wind in the Door - Madeleine L'Engle

A Wind in the Door

Title: A Wind in the Door

Author: Madeleine L'Engle

Publication Date: 1973

Pages: 203

Genre: Children's Literature / Classic / Fantasy / Science Fiction / Fiction

How I Found It: I read A Wrinkle in Time 

Date Completed: 6/23/18

Summary: The Murrys are at it again. This time, it's the fate of Charles Wallace, not their father, which hangs in the balance. Fantastical creatures, a fight against evil, and lots of character development. 

What I Thought: I didn't know until a few years ago that A Wrinkle in Time had sequels. Upon rereading the classic in 2017, I knew I wanted to read the whole series. 

I found A Wind in the Door to retain many of the qualities which make the first book so delightful. L'Engle mixes fantasy with science fiction. She brings her technical science down to an understandable level for the average reader. There are creatures of all sorts. There is an epic battle against nebulous evil forces. And there is loads of character development. 

The 39 Clues - Books 5 & 6

The 39 Clues: The Black Circle

Title: The 39 Clues: The Black Circle

Author: Patrick Carman

Publication Date: 8/11/2009

Pages: 168

Genre: Children's Literature / Young Adult / Fiction

Date Completed: 11/16/17

Title: The 39 Clues: In Too Deep

Author: Jude Watson

Publication Date: 11/3/2009

Pages: 206

Genre: Children's Literature / Young Adult / Fiction

Date Completed: 11/26/17

Summary: The Cahill hunt for clues continues through Russia and the Pacific.

The 39 Clues: In Too Deep

What I Thought: Part of me finds it baffling that we are still reading this series. It's just so....bad? That's not the right word. Ridiculous. That's the word. These books are no masterpiece literary works. And, yet, they are so fun and crazy. They are short and make for perfect road trip books for us. Sometimes we get weighed down with long books and we never end up finishing them. These audiobooks are only about four hours each, so that's much more manageable for us and still leaves us plenty of time for podcasts. 

The Search for Delicious - Natalie Babbitt

The Search for Delicious

Title: The Search for Delicious

Author: Natalie Babbitt

Publication Date: 1969

Pages: 176

Genre: Children's Literature / Fantasy / Fiction

How I Found It: I read it as a kid.

Date Completed: 7/23/17

Summary: When everyone at court disagrees on the definition of 'delicious' for the Prime Minister's dictionary, young Gaylan is sent to poll the people of the kingdom. Along the way, he finds himself embroiled with creatures of fantasy and a plot to overthrow the King. 

What I Thought: Natalie Babbitt wrote several books I read as a child and which have stayed with me over the years. Since I've been enjoying dipping my toe back into the world of children's literature lately, it seemed like a good time to revisit this one. 

It was as charming as I remember. I cannot really pinpoint what about this book stuck with me for so long. It is not particularly exceptional. Yet, there is something to it which I just enjoy. I think it has just the right balance of humor, fantasy, and intrigue for me. 

The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave - Jude Watson

The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave

Title: The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave

Author: Jude Watson

Publication Date: 2009

Pages: 190

Genre: Children's Literature / Fiction

How I Found It: Kevin and I have been listening through this series on road trips.

Date Completed: 7/1/17

Summary: Oh these crazy Cahill kids. This time, they're running around Egypt learning about ancient queens and goddesses. All still in the pursuit of their family secret and in avoidance of their dangerous relatives.

What I Thought: If you've been following Kevin's and my adventure through this series, you probably already know everything I'm going to say here. These books are cute, fun, and a bit ridiculous. 

The madness continues here. Once again, Amy and Dan are galavanting all over a foreign country with minimal supervision. How does everyone they run into speak English? Why does their nanny, Nelly, always let them go running off? Our main questions about these books have nothing to do with their main mystery.

Talking to Dragons - Patricia C. Wrede

Talking to Dragons

Title: Talking to Dragons

Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Publication Date: 1985

Pages: 255

Genre: Children's Literature / Fantasy / Fiction

How I Found It: I've loved the series since childhood

Date Completed: 6/17/17

Summary: Years after the cliffhanger ending of Calling on Dragons, the Enchanted Forest is still hanging in the balance. Daystar knows little of the predicament but suddenly finds himself thrust into the center of the fight for the Forest.

What I Thought: I have owned and loved this series since childhood. Yet, somehow, I don't think I ever read this last book. Rereading them now, the third book has definitely proven to be my least favorite of the four, so maybe I got annoyed and quit after that. Or, maybe I realized my beloved Cimorene wasn't the star of the show here and passed because of that. Whatever the reason, I am 90% certain this was my first reading of this book.

I wish I had had the presence of mind as a child to push forward, to see this book as its own entity. While we do meet several familiar characters throughout its pages, it is focused on Daystar and the motley crew he befriends, not our familiar friends from the previous three books. Cimorene appears briefly at the start and finish and, even then, is seen only from the perspective of her son. Yet, the tone of the book is more similar to the first and second book than the third. It captures some of the same magic that Wrede had at the start of the series. The characters are mostly different, but the charm and wit are back.

Calling on Dragons - Patricia C. Wrede

Calling on Dragons

Title: Calling on Dragons

Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Publication Date: 1993

Pages: 244

Genre: Children's Literature / Fantasy / Fiction 

How I Found It: I've loved the series since childhood.

Date Completed: 5/25/17

Summary: Once again, the Enchanted Forest is under threat from a bunch of magic-stealing wizards. Queen Cimorene heads out with her motley crew of friends in hopes of resolving the situation before it's too late.

What I Thought: Though I read the first book in this series countless times as a child, I think I only ever made it this far once. In fact, I'm not entirely sure I ever even read the last book. We'll see how much, if any, of it is familiar to me once I read it. I definitely did not remember much of this one, although the ending was familiar. 

Since I'm not sure I have ever read the last book in the series, I don't want to speak for it yet. Of the first three books, though, I find this one to be the weakest. Morwen the witch, a character who I genuinely adore, plays the central role rather than Cimorine. I think that was a miscalculation on Wrede's part. Fiesty Princess Cimorene is what endeared me to the series to begin with. I like Morwen quite a bit as well, even more now that I am an adult and her sensibility seems impressive rather than droll, but she doesn't carry the story in the same way. I find her cadre of cats excessive and a bit obnoxious, though I do like their dry humor. 

A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time

Title: A Wrinkle in Time
Author: Madeleine L'Engle
Publication Date: 1962
Pages: 211
Genre: Children's Literature / Classic / Fantasy / Science Fiction / Young Adult / Fiction
How I Found It: I haven't read this classic in years, but I picked it up at a used book sale recently.
Date Completed: 5/16/17

Summary: Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, along with their friend Calvin, are whisked off on a terrifying and tremendous in hopes of rescuing their father.

What I Thought: I haven't read this book in so long. It has been years. I know I read it once as a child and I had a loose recollection of the plot. It has been long enough, though, that much of the book still felt delightfully fresh to me.

I know there is a fresh adaptation of this coming soon, and so when I both picked up a copy at a used book sale and then there was one in a book of old books my mom gave me, it just felt like all the sides were pointing to a reread.

The Gammage Cup - Carol Kendall

The Gammage Cup

Title: The Gammage Cup

Author: Carol Kendall

Publication Date: 1959

Pages: 288

Genre: Children's Literature / Fantasy / Fiction 

How I Found It: I read it as a child and have been searching for it for literally years. 

Date Completed: 5/5/17

Summary: The Minnipins have lived in their peaceful valley for centuries without disturbance. When a few social outsiders sense a threat, the natural order of things is threatened. 

What I Thought: This is such a great book. No surprise that it's a Newbery Honor book. Though it was written back in 1959, it has themes that feel so relevant today. Social acceptance, heroism, speaking truth to power...the messages of the book are still wise in 2017. And, it's still totally fun to read as an adult. 

It's a quick read. I read it in two days. It was the perfect thing to get my mind off of the AHCA passing the House. Escapist and inspirational all at once.

The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief - Peter Lerangis

The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief

Title: The 39 Clues: The Sword Thief

Author: Peter Lerangis

Publication Date: 2009

Pages: 156

Genre: Children's Literature / Fiction

How I Found It: We're listening through the series.

Date Completed: 12/30/16

Summary: Amy and Dan Cahill take their search for clues to the family secret to Asia.

What I Thought: We listened to this book on the way home from Christmas in the Midwest. As I've mentioned in posts about previous books in the series, they make for good road trip entertainment. They are fast-paced and fun. They also require a serious suspension of reality and adult wisdom. These kids do all sorts of stuff without any adult involvement or supervision. Sure, there are some token adults around from time to time, but they do way more on their own than would ever be possible in the real world.

Case in point: in this book, Amy and Dan are booted from their international flight when their also-underage cousins pose as them and end up on the flight with their au pair instead. Thus, Amy and Dan are left to wrangle passage to Asia on their own. Sure, they run into an uncle who helps, but my gosh. Everything about this storyline is absurd. 

The 39 Clues: One False Note - Gordon Korman

One False Note

Title: The 39 Clues: One False Note

Author: Gordon Korman

Publication Date: 2008

Pages: 174

Genre: Children's Literature / Fiction

How I Found It: We're listening through this series

Date Completed: 12/24/16

Summary: The Cahill kids, Amy and Dan, continue their international hunt for family clues which hold the key to global power.

What I Thought: Kevin and I listened to the first book of this series when we traveled north for Thanksgiving. It was silly and fast-paced and entertaining enough to keep us engaged. It felt natural, then, to continue the series on our epic Christmas journey (24 hours+ hours in the car over a week). We actually made it through this one, Book Two, and Book Three. I'll be talking about Book Three next week, but let's focus here for today.

While Book One had the Cahills and company running around America and Europe looking for a clue from Benjamin Franklin, this book led them to Vienna and Venice in search of a clue related to Mozart. The musician in me really liked the use of music throughout this book and it was fun to have a little dose of music history infused as well. The parts in Venice also made me really excited for the trip to Italy we are planning.

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones - Rick Riordan

The Maze of Bones

Title: The Maze of Bones

Author: Rick Riordan

Publication Date: 2008

Pages: 220

Genre: Children's Literature / Fiction

How I Found It: I can't remember

Date Completed: 11/27/16

Summary: Amy and Dan Cahill are orphans in the care of a horrid old aunt and a carefree nanny. On weekends, they visit their charming, mysterious grandmother - at least until she dies and they find themselves among a cast of quirky, distant relatives at her enormous mansion, hoping to be included in the division of her assets. What they don't expect is to be launched into an international scavenger hunt with ancient family power on the line.

What I Thought: I heard of this series ages ago and had put it on the back burner of my mind, thinking it would make a good listen for Kevin and I on a car trip. Well, this Thanksgiving, I timed the library reservation correctly and got it for us as we drove to and from the Midwest for the holiday. 

As I've discussed before, Kevin has high audio book criteria, Mostly, it has to be interesting and exciting enough to keep him engaged and every moment. No lulls in the action. Hence, why I picked out a children's book for us to listen to. Haha. I don't mean that as harshly as it sounds, just that kids' books don't often have the long descriptive passages or focus on internal character development. Kids, like Kevin on a car trip, want to be entertained and have a short attention span.

Mandie and the Cherokee Legend - Lois Gladys Leppard

Mandie and the Cherokee Legend

Title: Mandie and the Cherokee Legend

Author: Lois Gladys Leppard

Publication Date: 6/1/83

Pages: 138

Genre: Faith / Historical / Young Adult / Fiction

How I Found It: I loved these books as a child.

Date Completed: 5/21/16

Summary: As Mandie makes the journey to meet her Cherokee relations with her newly discovered family, she stumbles into tensions between tribe members and the implications of an old legend.

What I Thought: As I mentioned when I reread and reviewed the first Mandie book, I adored these books. There are dozens of them and I read them all. I haven't opened their covers since then, though, so when I grabbed them along with several other boxes of my books from my parents' house I thought it might be nice to revisit one of my childhood heroines. I have so enjoyed revisiting Princess Cimorene, this seemed a good idea, too. Samantha Ellis' memoir was apparently inspiring me before I even realized it.

I loved rereading the first book. In so many ways, it felt like home. There were a few little things that bugged me, but, overall, it retained so much of what I loved about the series as a child. The books are short enough that I can fly through one in the course of an afternoon. I picked up this second one on a sunny afternoon when Kevin was working in the yard. He worked; I sat on the deck and read the whole thing. It was lovely.

The book itself, though, did not satisfy me in the same nostalgic way its predecessor had. Instead, I found myself experiencing ethical indigestion. 

Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Author: Scott O'Dell

Publication Date: 1960

Pages: 184

Genre: Classic / Historical / Young Adult / Fiction

How I Found It: I read it as a child

Date Completed: 3/17/16

Summary: First, her community is betrayed and attacked by Aleut seal hunters. Then, she ends up left behind on the small island, where she lives in solitude for nearly two decades.

What I Thought: I loved this book as a kid. It's not surprising it won the Newbery medal back in the day. It's an engaging, enchanting story that is written beautifully. Best of all, it's based loosely on a real woman.

As a kid, and as an adult, I loved this book because of its adventure and excitement. Castaway stories have always appealed to me for some reason - maybe it's the introvert in me longing for my own shot at true isolation. I wouldn't want to stay forever, I know, but a month or two completely alone on a tropical island...I don't think I would complain that much, provided I had brought a suitcase full of books and all the food and drink needed. O'Dell's Karana does not exactly choose this life, but she certainly thrives in it. She conquers nature time and again in an effort to not only survive, but thrive. O'Dell's writing style remains simplistic enough for young readers and beautiful enough in its simplicity for older ones. It's a classic and an award winner for a reason.

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel - Lois Gladys Leppard

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel

Title: Mandie and the Secret Tunnel

Author: Lois Gladus Leppard

Publication Date: 4/1/83

Pages: 141

Genre: Young Adult / Historical / Fiction

How I Found It: One of my childhood favorites

Date Completed: 1/10/16

Summary: Upon her father's death, Mandie is left with an unloving mother, sister, and a new stepfather. She runs away to find a long-lost uncle, only to be caught up in a hunt for his will and the mystery of who will inherit his fortune.

What I Thought: This series (which reaches a count of an impressive 40 books!) was one of my absolute favorites as a child. 11-year Mandie Shaw was so relatable to me at that age. She's spunky, but still a "good girl" but any judgement. Looking back now, I can see some faint parallels with the Anne of Green Gables series, if only in the optimistic personalities of the heroines. 

The books are set in the early 1900s in rural North Carolina. Of course, as a girl, I never dreamed I would return to the books at a time in my life when I live only a few hours from the setting. As Mandie traversed the mountain pathways with her Cherokee friends, I found myself popping over to Google Maps to trace her journey and gauge its relation to my own home. Having the proximity now in my life only made the book feel more special to me now as an adult.

I would definitely recommend this series to young, Christian girls. Leppard weaves Christian morals and teachings throughout the books - no wonder my parents bought these books for me. At times, these elements are a little ostentatious; I think the messages could have been just as effective while remaining a bit more subtle. Then again, I am reading as an adult now and perhaps the lack of nuance is better suited for children. 

The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass

Title: The Golden Compass

Author: Philip Pullman

Publication Date: 1/1/95

Pages: 399

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Fiction

How I Found It: It's been around for ages

Date Completed: 6/10/15

Summary: In a world remarkably like our own and yet different in some key ways, young Lyra and her companion daemon Pantalaimon face a mysterious threat, set out on a quest to find and defeat it, and encounter a host of unique characters along the way.

What I Thought: I am writing this post nearly a month after completing the book and I still do not know what I want to say. The Golden Compass left me feeling conflicted. I think I was hoping to be swept into a magical world on par with Narnia or Harry Potter. I did not dislike the book, but I cannot say I loved it. 

Searching for Dragons - Patricia C. Wrede

Searching for Dragons

Title: Searching for Dragons

Author: Patricia C. Wrede

Publication Date: 1991

Pages: 242

Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Fiction

How I Found It: I've loved this series since childhood

Date Completed: 6/8/15

Summary: Unconventional Princess Cimorene teams up with King Mendanbar of the Enchanted Forest in hopes of rescuing Cimorene's dragon boss, King Kazul, from malicious wizards.

What I Thought: I find this series so fun. It's untraditional, yet uses a lot of traditional fantasy story elements: princesses, magic, dramatic rescues, fantastical creatures, etc. 

I do not think this sequel is as naturally charming or engrosing as its predecessor, however, it's still a very enjoyable read. Cimorene still is determined to buck any traditional roles. She maintains her position as a fiery, independent woman. Any romantic connection she may make simply proves a bonus to her already complete personality and life. Love that.

Dealing with Dragons - Patricia C. Wrede

Dealing with Dragons

I feel as though I am giving you all a sneak peek into my childhood today. This was one of my absolutely favorite books as a kid. I believe I got it for Christmas (from my awesome Aunt Iris) the year of second or third grade. I distinctly remember reading it in fourth grade (more on that in a minute), but I am fairly certain that time was a rereading. So, that puts me at somewhere between eight and ten when I received it. Perfect age, although I was categorized as an advanced reader at that point. 

Ok, back to that fourth grade story. I'm telling you - I loved this book. Still do. I read it over and over and over. Yet, I am a very firm believer that books should be treated like friends. I've always been careful not to do too much spine bending or page folding. I would never ever dog ear a book to mark my place. Bookmarks all the way. When Kevin set a wet towel on our copy of Insurgent on the way home from the pool a few summers ago, I about had a heart attack. I might be a bit overeager in this particular area of my life. I just like things to be well taken care of. 

All that to say, I get nervous about lending books out. So, when my fourth grade teacher, a woman with whom I already had a tumultuous relationship, asked if she could borrow the book to read it aloud to the class, I was torn. Ultimately, I said yes. To my dismay, she ended up reading the book aloud to the class during the time some other students and I went to a special enriched learning class. I didn't even get to hear her read one of my favorite books to the rest of the kids AND she returned it completely bent up and wrinkled. She obviously was the type of reader who, to my horror, bent the first part of the book back over the spine when she held it. Tragedy.

This story is a bit ridiculous, I realize. I had a lot of other reasons for disliking that woman, so it seems pretty likely that I've latched onto this story as one of the more tangible ones. If you're out there, fourth grade teacher, I want you to know that I fully blame you for the wretched state this beloved book is now in. How am I supposed to teach my kids about keeping books nice when one of the ones I can't wait to read them is practically destroyed?

*Steps off soap box*

Ahem, I'm ready to talk about the actual book now. Just needed to get that off my chest.

James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra - Colm McElwain

James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra

As you all know, I have tremendously enjoyed getting involved with the book tour world. It has brought such variety to my reading, something for which I am very grateful. It also has brought some wonderful books into my life.

Today is another first experience, albeit one in the same vein. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by one of you about reading and reviewing a new book. I happily agreed and am so glad I did. Thanks, Lauren, for approaching me. I hope you are the first of many to do so!

The book, James Clyde and the Diamonds of Orchestra, falls slightly out of the typical for Read.Write.Repeat. While I suppose it could be classified as young adult, it really is geared toward a slightly younger age. Since I'm constantly saying that there is something for everyone here, I figured it was worth the diversion.

James Clyde is a delightful middle age book. I think it would be especially appropriate for young boys. Maybe a great option for those who don't love reading and need just the right thing to entice them?

The book had a charming, youthful feel. It felt like a mix of Narnia, Harry Potter, and Eragon. Young orphan boy discovers his past is not at all what he thought it was when he is transported to another world with two friends. While it is a pretty typical formula for this type of thing, the setting and characters were fresh.