YA Fantasy, Kid Lit Historical, Middle Grade Classic, Middle Grade Fairy Tale
One for me and the rest for the kids :)
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In this article:
Starlighter by Bryan Davis
Little House in Brookfield by Maria D. Wilkes
The Princess Bellaheld by Julie Sutter
The Princess Test by Gail Carson Levine
DNF: Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton
Starlighter (Dragons of Starlight #1) by Bryan Davis
5 STARS, Young Adult Fantasy, Christian Themes, My format: paperback
Goodreads Synopsis | Buy on Bookshop
Jason has to decide for himself if the dragon myths are true, and what he’s going to do about it. Koren learns she has a gift that can help her fellow humans and she hopes this is her way to save them all from dragon enslavement.
Personal Review:
I love fantasy and I never expected to love having a dragon in a book, much less an entire planet full of them, but this story is so well done. I really enjoyed the first book in the adult companion series (see my review of Masters & Slayers) where Jason’s brother Adrian was the main character. I loved Adrian, but I loved Jason even more.
Jason starts out doubting what the rest of his family believes about dragons in another world, so I wasn’t sure if I would like to follow his story. But he quickly takes on his family’s beliefs, finds his childhood friend, decides to trust an enemy from the tournament ring, and embarks on an intense adventure to find the dragon world.
I really enjoyed reading about Jason’s warrior instincts and how he uses them for the different obstacles he faces. I also greatly appreciated the mixed gender relationships in this book. There are hugs, kisses on hands, touching of the face, and other gestures that are not sexual in nature and it is refreshing.
Close friendships between young men and women that are not for the purpose of dating or courting, or a cause of temptation, are rare in Young Adult books. So the friendships that develop provide support and layers to the story rather than sexual tension and I’m so happy they were written that way!
Content Warnings:
enslaved children in the dragon world, child abuse by dragons, murder of humans by dragons, murder in the human world, sword-fighting and combat, bloody injuries (not as detailed as the adult series), near-death experiences
Little House in Brookfield (The Caroline Years #1) by Maria D. Wilkes
4 STARS, Juvenile Historical Fiction, My format: read-aloud to 4-, 6-, and 8-year-old girls
Goodreads Synopsis | Buy on Bookshop
We follow Caroline, Laura Ingalls’ mother, as she grows up near a small town with her mom, grandma, and siblings.
Personal Review:
Caroline is as responsible and sweet as a young girl as she is when she is Laura’s mother. She and her sister Martha encounter many things, experiencing the trials that come with being a poor family.
Something that was unexpected that I really appreciated was the way that Caroline sees her mother deal with the grief of losing her father. The fact that her father is not there to hunt or raise the garden is a major part of the story, as well as the emotional toll they can see it takes on their mother. This shows how one family copes with the loss and I thought it was so beautifully done.
Even though this is written for a young reader audience, I gleaned so much from it. It was a good reminder for me of the importance of traditions (Christmas bread, anyone?) and also of how much children observe, even when we don’t think they are paying attention. I was glad we picked this one up and read it as a family!
Content Warnings:
grief due to the passing of Caroline’s father (which happens before the book starts)
The Princess Bellaheld by Julie Sutter
4 STARS, Christian Middle Grade Classic, My format: hardcover published by Generations
Goodreads Synopsis | View at Generations Curriculum
Bellaheld, the orphan daughter of a Christian missionary couple, marries the new heathen Herzog (king) in order to provide freedom for her fellow Christians.
Personal Review:
This is quite an interesting tale! It is hard to believe it was first written in the year 703. It took me a little time to get into the story as there is quite a bit of preliminary information given to build up to the conflict part of the story. But by halfway through I was hooked and I found myself really interested in how things were going to play out.
Bellaheld is a brave teen girl. Her tenacity is contagious and she is a good example of how to act in all sorts of less-than-ideal situations. Her simple act of daily reading the Gospel to her attendants leads to the conversion of some characters.
Hedan, Bellaheld’s royal husband, is also a noble character even though he is not a Christian for most of the story. He respects Bellaheld and her faith except, of course, when they have to deal with a misunderstanding. I may read this to my daughters soon but I’ll also encourage them to read it as they get older, maybe about age 10 or 12.
Content Warnings:
pagan worship and sacrifices, Christian persecution, death of mother at the beginning, mentions of physical mutilation (loss of a hand, for example)
The Princess Test (Princess Tales #2) by Gail Carson Levine
4 STARS, Middle Grade Fairy Tale Retelling, My format: family book club
Goodreads Synopsis | Buy on Bookshop
In this retelling of The Princess and the Pea, we follow Lorelei, a weak and sensitive blacksmith’s daughter, and Prince Nicholas, a lovable and passionate heir to the throne.
Personal Review:
My 7-year-old daughter chose this book for me for our latest family book club because she was convinced I would think it was really funny. And it was truly a fun experience with several laugh-out-loud moments. Lorelei is an overly sensitive young woman who bears her many ailments with a sweet countenance, always caring for those around her more than herself.
Prince Nicholas meets Lorelei by chance and is determined to marry her even though she is not a princess. The Prince’s parents develop a series of tests to evaluate the young women in the kingdom to determine which one is a true princess. The final test, of course, is having the women sleep on 20 mattresses with a pea underneath.
Each character was very unique and they each have little quirks, some of which were starting to drive me crazy and made me happy the story is less than 100 pages long. But the writing was whimsical and rather entertaining. It provided great conversation for my second daughter and me as I worked my way through it.
Content Warnings:
general exaggeration of characteristics (many of them negative) but nothing overt
Did Not Finish
While the first 2 chapters of Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton were excellent and applicable to all Christians, I didn’t realize the rest of the book was a defense of the Calvinist view of election and predestination. There may be a time for that but I’m just not interested in it right now. My Calvinist friends will probably really enjoy it!
Have you read any of these books? Do any of them look interesting to you or for your children?