YA/Juvenile

The Big Picture By Jenny B. Jones Review by Stephanie L. Morrill

Fresh and honest are the two words that came to mind as I read Jenny B. Jones latest installment of the Katie Parker series (The Big Picture, A Katie Parker Production Act Three). Katie lives in In Between, Texas with her darling foster parents and endearingly crazy foster granny. When her mother is released from prison, she wants to start a new life with her daughter in a new town, and Katie is forced to walk away from a town she loves and a family who dotes on her. She also leaves behind a fabulous church, friends, and a boyfriend who suddenly can’t take his eyes off his ex. Even though life with her mom in the trailer park goes downhill very quickly, Katie falls in with a nice group of kids from a quaint church, including the pastor’s son, who’s dreamy enough to make her and the reader forget about that guy back in In Between. Read the full review

It's All About Us By Shelley Adina Review by Mimi Baker

Are you looking for a realistic view of teen life in a fictional setting? Do you have a teen girl who enjoys Christian fiction? Then Shelley's series about three friends is the perfect choice.  Read the full review

Across the Wide River By Stephanie Reed Review By Michelle Garlinger

I just finished a great historical fiction book. Across the Wide River. This story began in the 1820's. It tells the story of Lowry Rankin, son of an abolitionist minister. It was interesting to read about pre-Civil War and the Underground Railroad. I had never sat down and thought how long slavery issues were struggled with. It was interesting to see the tension of slavery in Ohio because of Kentucky (a slave state) being on the other side of the river.   Read the full review

Bear Wants More By Karma Wilson Illustrated by Jane Chapman Review by Irene Grove

This is an adorable book about how God cares for his animals.  If your child is interested in animals he/she will enjoy this book.  It is meant for younger children but as an adult I even enjoyed reading it. Read the full review

A Horse’s Tale By Susan Lubner Illustrated by Margie Moore Review by Irene Grove

This is an adorable story set in Colonial Williamsburg.  The story centers on an unhappy horse.  The setting is beautifully illustrated and takes you back to the time of Colonial Williamsburg.  The town people try to help the horse that has run away from his owner and seems very unhappy.  They try fixing his horseshoes and taking special care of him.  One character notices him snuggling with another horse and brings it to everyone’s attention.  They discover the horse is just lonely and provide him with another horse to be friends with.  The story shows caring amongst friends.  Read the full review

Clopper and the Night Travelers By Emily King & Ed Olson Review by Roseanna White

We’re all familiar with the story of Jesus’ birth, but in Clopper and the Night Travelers the extended version is presented to our children through new eyes: Clooper the donkey’s.  With him we see the journey to Bethlehem, the flight to Egypt, and finally the return to Nazareth. Read the full review

Am I Forgiving? By Jeannie St. John Taylor Review by Roseanna White

We’ve met Eric before as he examines his childlike faith in the course of his everyday life, and this time we join him on a winter adventure gone awry—when his best friend deserts him and laughs when he gets hurt, does Eric know how to forgive him? Read the full review

Things I Wonder By Jennifer Lynn Smith & Angela M. Gray Review by Roseanna White

Have you ever wondered what life might be like if God hadn’t created you just as He had?  What if you had no nose?  Or eyes?  What if the sky were pink, like cotton candy? Read the full review

The Magic in You By Sally H. Taylor Review by Roseanna White

One little flower grew up far from others like her, in a dangerous spot near the road.  It doesn’t take long for her beautiful petals to be marred, and her self-worth along with them.  It takes the help of a visiting fairy to teach her how to be happy with whom she is. Read the full review

All The Voices of the Wind By Donald James Parker Review by David J. White

All the Voices of the Wind is a delightfully believable and realistic love story from beginning to end. It follows the life of highschool student Jeremy Dillon as he begins a promising senior year. Jeremy’s life is predictably derailed when fate places the beautiful Maria Masterson near him on his first day in school.  Read the full review

STAR PARK by Terry S. Goudy Review by V. Colclasure

From its cover to the last page STAR PARK calls out to young teens dreaming of “Someday.” “Someday I’ll ride in a spaceship. Someday I’ll go on a great adventure. Someday I’ll be a computer whiz.” For hero Scott Freeman “Someday” is here. He created a prize-winning computer adventure game. And now in a shuttle headed for space, he floats gravity free. Expecting to step into the virtual reality format of his game, Scott doesn’t suspect that two schemers are devising his failure. Only by discovering or guessing specific code words can he overcome. In the game Scott becomes Prince of the Bours, pig-like creatures who live by an every-man-for-himself creed. As he battles Dursna, a Bour general, Scott needs to save both himself and other Bours from her evil plans. The Skunny slave masters further complicate matters. So do poor relations with the nearby Neghs. Scott does, however, have an adviser who inspires him to use all his physical endurance and to depend on his knowledge of right and wrong.  Read the full review

LOVE, ANNIE By Dandi Daley Mackall Review by Laura V. Hilton

Annie Lind has recently started helping her new friend, Gracie, with the blog. Annie’s part is “Professor Love.” After all, Annie considers herself a master of the matters of the heart. Read the full review

 

Bad Idea: A Novel With Coyotes by Todd and Jedd Hafer Reviewed by Jake Chism

Brothers Todd and Jedd Hafer have crafted a memorable coming-of-age tale in this collaboration. Griffin Smith has just graduated from High School and is about to begin his college career. Griffin, along with his dad, soon-to-be step-mom, and best friend, sets out on one last family road trip en route to his new school. Along the way Griffin faces some old personal demons and discovers some new ones. Griffin struggles with wanting to be a faithful Christian, but in the midst of family turmoil, he finds this pursuit more and more difficult. All through the road trip Griffin flashes back to his formative junior high and high school years cherishing the good times while wallowing in regret. At one point of the trip Griffin is reunited with his mother where life once again throws him a curve ball.  Read the full review

 

The Adventures of Sandal-Man and Chocolate-Guy by Geri McCarthy, il by Michael and Kevin McCarthy Reviewed by V. Colclasure

Geri McCarthy, author of The Adventures of Sandal-Man and Chocolate-Guy, plunges readers into a classic good versus evil conflict. Thirty Mekani monsters materialize from game cards and begin a wave of destruction across the United States. Children know the strengths and weaknesses of the Mekani because they often play the game. As experts, and fearing the worst, they call upon Sandal-Man and Chocolate-Guy for help. With technological and scientific skills, the two heroes are successful, but distrusted by the FBI who also seek to eliminate the evil-doers. Read the full review

Matchstick by Andrew Cocco Review by Roseanna White

Aimed at the preteen/young adult audience, Matchstick is a story that leads the reader through one of the classic awkward stages of growing up. The usual eleven-year-old woes made worse by moving to a new area, sixth-grader Larry Taylor does not have an easy start to the school year. By the end of his first day, his red hair and tall height has earned him the name "Matchstick," and he has managed to alienate the popular boys in the small school. Determined to fit in, or at least hold his own, Larry determines to be nice to all, helpful, whatever it takes to be accepted. More often than not, his efforts reward him with pranks and taunts. Read the full review