Elise The Actress

Elise shook her head. “Oh Verly, I wanted everyone to laugh and be happy. Laughter is the best medicine. Why can’t people forget the terrible war, even if it’s only for one evening?”

Book: Elise the Actress: Climax of the Civil War (Sisters in Time Book 13) by Norma Jean Lutz, Barbour Publishers, 2005

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 9-15

Subjects: Civil War, Hope, Loss, Love for others, Anger, Patriotism

Summary: If you don’t hate the enemy as much as I do then you are an enemy and anyone who doesn’t hate you is an enemy. That’s the general mindset in the last couple years of the Civil War. It is certainly the mindset of people in Elise’s community. An older man has a son who went off to fight for the south and not only is this man now viewed as the enemy, but Elise is an enemy for associating with him! Her good friend abandoned their friendship simply because Elise showed love to someone in need! Elise is so tired of all the fighting, all the sadness, all the anger! Her goal is to make people laugh and smile again. She’ll send letters to the soldiers – letters with riddles in them! She’ll go to the hospital to help the wounded – by putting on a play for them! But some problems simply can’t be distracted from and Elise has to find out how far she is willing to go to help those in need.

Notes: Elise The Actress is the thirteenth in the Sisters-In-Time series. This series features young girls living at various key points in American history, particularly around the wars. It always places the girls right at the edge of the teen years, coming of age.  The concept of the series it to not only show a glimpse of history, but to help young girls feel that the people back then weren’t that different than the people today.

Elise The Actress takes place in 1865 and focuses on the historical event of the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. Elise is a young girl surrounded by sadness. Some of the men of the community have already died in the war, others are still away fighting. The longer the war goes on, the harder it becomes for those still at home. Elise knows that those viewed as “southern sympathizers” are completely shunned but she hurts for them and wants to help. When she comes across a group of deserters from the war though, she will have to decide if it’s worth risking her very life to help these starving men.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 17:22 - A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Matthew 25:31-40 – "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Maria Takes A Stand

But even as she spent hours that evening at the kitchen table writing, Maria decided that if God hadn’t made a mistake, perhaps it was the people around her who were wrong. In what she’d read of the Bible, she found nothing about girls not walking on silts – or not going to the dump for that matter. Who made all the silly rules anyway? Perhaps when she got a little older, she could help change a few.

Maria thought about that. Children having to fight to earn a few coins to be able to eat each day… It just wasn’t right. Then there were all those rich people, like the ones who owned Northwest Consolidated, where Papa worked. Rich people like Evelyn’s and Cathy’s parents. People like that could buy food for these boys with the money they spent on just a year’s worth of collar stay. Something wasn’t right.

Book: Maria Takes a Stand: The Battle for Women's Rights (Sisters in Time Book 18) by Norma Jean Lutz, Barbour Publishers, 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 9-15

Subjects: Women’s Rights, Poverty, Social Justice, Bullying, Prejudice, Showing love to others, WWI

Summary: 1914 is not a good time to be a German living in the United States, especially a girl, especially when you’re not wealthy! The difference between the rich and the poor, between the male and the female is quite evident to twelve year old Maria who wants to be able to do paper routes and go explore the dump and walk on stilts like her brothers. It’s also quite evident to her younger sister who longs to have just one dress that’s nice and not a hand-me-down from Maria who is quite hard on clothes. As Maria gets one of her wishes and begins walking the streets for a paper route with her brothers she becomes more aware of how rough conditions are for young orphans or families who rely on employment from the big industries – the industries that keep reducing hours or wages. Social justice issues are at the forefront of her mind so when she gets a chance to help her aunt with the suffragettes cause she jumps in whole heartedly. And when she gets the chance to help the poor boys on the streets she jumps in so fast she risks her life!

Notes: Maria Takes A Stand is the eighteenth in the Sisters-In-Time series. This series features young girls living at various key points in American history, particularly around the wars. It always places the girls right at the edge of the teen years, coming of age.  The concept of the series it to not only show a glimpse of history, but to help young girls feel that the people back then weren’t that different than the people today.

Maria Takes A Stand takes place in 1914 and focuses on the historical movement of the social justice cause – women’s rights, labor unions and improving conditions for children on the streets. It’s also set at the beginning of World War I and includes the historical event of the sinking of the Lusitania. Consequently it also shows how Americans felt about Germans at this time.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Anna’s Fight For Hope

Anger and frustration flowed through Anna in hot waves. How could this happen? Why doesn’t somebody fix all the things that are wrong in the country so my friends don’t have to leave t heir homes?

Book: Anna's Fight for Hope: The Great Depression (Sisters in Time Book 20) by JoAnn A. Grote, Barbour Publishers, 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 9-15

Subjects: Great Depression, Poverty, Showing love to others, Friendship, Family Relationships

Summary: When it gets down to one penny meaning the difference between starving or not you know things are bad! They are bad for people all over the place though. Anna and Fred’s friend Dot is facing the strong possibility of losing their home, even though it’s already a much smaller home than the one they had, even though they’ve already sold their furniture and anything else they could. Their friend Chet was asked to leave home and go find work because his family couldn’t afford to feed all their kids and he was the oldest. When Fred and Anna both ask their parents to take him in, they both receive the same answer: we have nothing left to give. They are already taking in other family members. They are already barley getting by. If something doesn’t change soon, not only will Fred and Anna not be able to help their friends, they will be just as bad off as them!

Notes: Anna’s Fight For Hope is the twentieth in the Sisters-In-Time series. This series features young girls living at various key points in American history, particularly around the wars. It always places the girls right at the edge of the teen years, coming of age.  The concept of the series it to not only show a glimpse of history, but to help young girls feel that the people back then weren’t that different than the people today.

Anna’s Fight For Hope takes place in 1931 during the Great Depression, the election of Franklin Roosevelt and the start of his plans to get America out of the mess they are in. The book focuses more on the perspective of Fred, cousin of Anna. Most of the story is told from his view. It shows young people finding any creative means they can to make a little extra money to support their families. It shows how hard it was for those who wanted to help others, but didn’t have enough to help themselves. Then it shows the hope that people clung to with the plans Franklin Roosevelt introduced, but also just a hint of some of the objections that people had to some of his plans.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 19:21 – Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Secret Of the Dragon Mark

“That’s a lie!” Jenny gasped, outraged. “You started the fire! And you left Mr. Mguyen inside to burn!”
Hue ignored her outburst. His hooded gaze traveled across the crowd of Vietnamese. “You have only to ask my neighbors here! they will tell you how we came to help!” There was a shuffling of feet and flickering sideways glances, but no one contradicted Hue’s statement.

“He’s so conceited!” Jenny whispered indignantly to her twin. “He’s so sure no one’s brave enough to tell the truth about it.
”Maybe he’s right!” Justin whispered back soberly.

Book: Secret of the Dragon Mark (The Parker Twins Series, Book 5) by Jeanette Windle, Multnomah Publishers, 1996

Genre: Adventure, Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 12-18

Subjects: Missions, Fear, Gospel, Showing Love

Summary: In Jenny and Justin’s mind the only mystery of the Dragon Tong is why it is still a mystery! It is obvious who is behind the mask and finding proof for the police that masked men are robbing and threatening Vietemese businesses shouldn’t be hard. Yet for some reason, their new friend, Danny’s, Grandfather gets very upset at the very idea of calling the police! The more time the twins spend with the Vietemes man the more confused they get. It’s not just police that upset him. He’s also furious at the mention of missionaries. They need to figure out what is going on before someone loses a life due to the Dragon Tong!

Notes:  This is the second in the Parker Twins Mysteries series. It starts off as an innocent realistic fiction story about some kids facing a bully in middle school but quickly delves deeper into understanding a culture that has faced extreme trials and suffering. The Vietemese man they get to know has watched the Viet Cong kill his son and daughter-in-law for refusing to renounce their faith. Due to these experiences, the man is filled with hatred and anger towards Christians and a distrust of police. Now the Dragon Ton are using these things to bully and intimidate business owners into silence. There are a couple of spiritual elements in this story. The first is the twins’ attempts to understand Mr. Mguyen and show God’s love to him. When they are confused at his anger towards them, they pray that he will change his mind. They have a good discussion with their dad about why Danny’s parents died for their faith – labeling their martyrs and discussing Romans 8:28. And when in danger they pray for help.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Matthew 10:28-29 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

Off The Record

As Sam took her seat and pulled out her notebook, she had a hard time concentrating. She needed to figure out who was behind the grade tampering and fast, before Felicia took the blame for it. Everybody was looking for the person responsible, and the principal and district would want the situation resolved soon. With Felicia’s past it’d be easy to pin the blame on her and let her take the fall.

Way too easy.

Book: Samantha Sanderson Off the Record (FaithGirlz! / Samantha Sanderson) by Robin Caroll, Zonderkidz Publishers, 2015

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Mystery

Target Audience: Girls 11-15

Subjects: Family Relationships, Rumors, Truth, Evangelism, Friendship, Crime

Summary: A “C” in English? A “D” in PE? Is that even possible? Something is very messed with the grades and a lot of someones are very unhappy about it! Somehow the computer printed incorrect grades for everyone in school and no one knows why. It’s traced back to the computer system and a virus is discovered but no one seems to know how to get rid of it or how it got there in the first place. Rumors are flying and the first suspect is Samantha’s new friend Felicia. It seems she got expelled from her last school for hacking into a grading system! Thankfully Sam knows just who to have help her with this project: her best friend, “Ninja Computer Genius Makayla” as Sam calls her.

Notes: This is the third in a series about a middle-school girl with a passion for cheerleading and investigative writing. She is a strong Christian who takes her faith seriously. She encounters friends who are not Christians and makes a strong effort to not look down on them, but rather show them love and hope that they come to know the Savior she has found. In this book Samanatha continues to wrestle with obedience to her parents and following the rules and procedures when she’s on a story. She tends to bend a few rules to get what she wants and then gets herself in trouble, getting caught by her parents. She’s also continuing to learn how to trust God more as her mom encounters some dangerous situations as part of her job. One of the lessons Sam is working on in this book is “loving your neighbor as yourself” and recognizing that that includes the bully at school. This book is a part of the faithgirlz imprint – books for girls 5^th-8^th grade that specifically focus on helping their grow in their faith.

I highly recommend this book.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Thank you to either the author or the publishers - whoever sent me a free review copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. I enjoyed it! I just don't know where it came from! :-D

Wonder

Nobody knows. Everybody worries. And I feel absolutely nauseous.

Because you’re scared. For maybe the first time since Artie was found dead, you’re really, really terrified.

Book: Wonder (The Books of Marvella) by Travis Thrasher, NavPress, 2014

Genre: Suspense/Horror

Target Audience: Boys 17+

Subjects: Murder, Fear, Sacrifice, Faith in God, Abuse, Family Relationships

Summary: Summer is over. Maybe all the adventures will calm down and life will get back to normal. That’s Brandon’s hope anyway. But nothing has changed. The murder is still unsolved, Marvel still thinks she’s going to have to die to save someone and Brandon still doesn’t know what to think about God. He continues to stand up for the bullied, getting himself into life-threatening danger. Rather than things calming down, the problems begin to escalate. Whatever is going on in their community is filling people with fear.

Notes: Wonder is the second in the Books of Marvella series by the author known for his suspense/horror books. This one focuses on a girl of great faith convinced that God is going to use her to do a great work and lose her life in the process. The boy is someone of no faith irresistibly drawn to the girl. Something dark and sinister is happening in the town but no one seems to know who is responsible for it. This second book continues the questions with still not conclusions, at least not that last. Marvella decides she can be Brandon’s girlfriend and just take the comfort that comes from that while she can, even while knowing it won’t last.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Acts 27:25 – So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Marvelous

She simply heads into the murky shadows of the place she calls home. I sigh, knowing I have to go back to a similar place. Home should never be dark or full of shadows and secrets. It should be bright and full of open doors. It should be full of stories wanting to be told. I’m glad I’ve told somebody one of those stories I didn’t think I could ever tell. I just hope there won’t be any more of them. From either of us.

Book: Marvelous: A Novel (The Books of Marvella by Travis Thrasher, NavPress, 2014

Genre: Suspense/Horror

Target Audience: Boys 17+

Subjects: Murder, Fear, Sacrifice, Faith in God, Abuse, Family Relationships

Summary: She’s unique, unlike any girl he’s ever met. And he’s in love. But she doesn’t want him. Or so she says. Brandon is convinced otherwise, but proving it will not be easy. Marvel Garcia is not an easy one to sway! She has this faith, this deep, abiding faith in God that baffles and attracts yet repels Brandon all at the same time. He just doesn’t know what to make of it. But Marvel has secrets. She has a dark past. And a dark future. And Brandon has some dark secrets of his own. But worst of all, someone in the town has a dark secret, a dark secret about how a young boy wound up dead in the park all cut up and naked.

Notes: Marvel is the first in the Books of Marvella series by the author known for his suspense/horror books. This one focuses on a girl of great faith convinced that God is going to use her to do a great work and lose her life in the process. The boy is someone of no faith irresistibly drawn to the girl. Something dark and sinister is happening in the town but no one seems to know who is responsible for it. This first book sets up all the questions – who are these people, what are the terrible secrets they hold, who is killing young people in such a gruesome way, etc. It offers some hope at the end through Marvella’s faith and Brandon’s determination. All through the story Marvella clings to her faith even when she doubts. She frequently shares her beliefs with Brandon who continues to doubt.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 4/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.


Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

An Uncertain Choice

Trudy pressed her fisted hands against her hips, watching me and shaking her head. “Come sit down this instant. You’re wearing me out with all your prowling.”

But I couldn’t stop. A peculiar need was driving me, the need to test the new feelings inside me. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until I’d tested them to their fullest and found them wanting. “Sometimes we have to take risks, even put our lives in jeopardy to do what’s right.”

Book: An Uncertain Choice by Jody Hedlund, Zondervan Publishers, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance

Target Audience: Girls 13-16

Subjects: Romance, God’s Will

Summary: They’re all so handsome, so strong, so talented, so attractive! And she is to marry one of them! For the last four years Rosemarie has known of her parents’ will and prepared herself to carry it out. She is to become a nun on her eighteenth birthday. Her parents prayed for a child and promised to dedicate that child to God’s service. That means not being married. But when wars finally cease her godfather, the noble knight and Duke arrives with news that he has discovered a way out. There is provision in the law – if she falls in love and marries before her eighteenth birthday she can be released from her parents’ promise without facing death. And to make sure she truly has a choice, the Duke has brought his three greatest knights and sets in course a plan to give them each a chance to win her heart. What is a young girl who has spent the last four years preparing for singleness to do with three knights determined to win her heart?

Notes: An Uncertain Choice is the first teen book from the author of multiple adult books. It’s written almost as if it were a children’s fairy tale. Three handsome suitors all competing to win the princess. One tries giving her expensive gifts. One tries offering her arts and entertainment. And the other is poor and has no great family name, but offers a passion for the same things as her – mainly – caring for the poor and needy. The third feels unworthy and is determined to not pursue her, but falls in love anyway. Then the evil villain shows up, kidnaps the princess and tries to kill the suitor she has chosen. It’s a very simple story, but with a few unique twists to it.

The spiritual element is also simple. The princess goes to the chapel and prays a lot, seeking God’s will for her life – should she become a nun or marry one of the knights and if so which one.

Overall, it’s a fun, fairly simple book. It’s an enjoyable princess story for all those young girls who still appreciate the fairy tales.
One warning - the book wraps up everything nice and neat and tidy and then all of a sudden on the last page it suddenly changes and ends on a cliff hanger, apparently paving the way for a sequel. 

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Proverbs 12:5 – The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Thank you to someone, likely the publishers, for sending me a free review copy of this book. I didn't request it. It just randomly showed up at my door! So I read it and enjoyed it and am posting my review. :-)