Conspiracy 365: January-April

Bookworms Rating - 4 Worms

Storyline - Book 1-4 - January, February, March, April - It all starts on New Years Eve when an old man Cal has never met, or seen, before tells him that his father was murdered and someone was going to be coming after him for the next year. After that, one thing after another almost kills Cal until he is eventually driven from his home and family. As Cal tries to piece together the mystery his father told about before his illness and death, he must also survive the coming attacks. What ever and where ever they come. As the months continue, he has to stay hidden and secretive to stay alive. Will he make it and find the secret his father found?

Author - Gabrielle Lord

Age Group - 12 and up

Content - Cal supports and cares for his mother and doesn't want to add any burdens to her but hides important information and events from his mother (he learns this as well but a little too late). .  He loves his sister, talks to her, and is good to her. Even though he doesn't like his uncle, he tries to help him once. In book 2, he tries to save someone who is after him from death and starts to see his uncle in a new light. But, Cal does some irresponsible things several times throughout the series. He once meets someone in a park alone at night (but quickly learns that was a mistake). He also calls his uncle a liar and a jerk. He describes an angel as "stinking" (but, from the situation he's in at that moment, I can kinda understand why he used that description) and his father didn't really follow any one religion but said "life was his religion". In book 2, he follows a girl into a house as she steals something (she says it is hers but still), Boges forges his mum's signature, and several times Cal steals. Not just food but others things (I wont go over them because it will spoil it) and once attacks a policeman. There is also some language


Personal Opinion - I found this book entertaining, fast moving, and engaging. Even though this book was under 200 pages, it did a wonderful job of describing the characters, emotions, events, past events, what something looked like, ect. The endings are very fun, being in a way I enjoy (cliffhanger). But, at least in the first book, it was a little choppy when, in the middle of a chapter, it updated the time it was during that day which interrupted the story too much. An interesting gimmick but took a book to get use to. I wish the character didn't steal so much and used less bad language (but I would prefer no fowel language. Besides, compared to some books I have read, this one has very little) but the character can still grow and come to find new things. Even though his father didn't follow any one religion, there wasn't any religious bashing which was also nice. An exciting series so far but I think I need to wait to see how it ends before recommending it.

Links - Learn more about the books and author here.

Conspiracy 365: May-August, Review
Conspiracy 365: Spetember-December, Review - Coming Soon

Special Notes - Each month during the year 2010, a new book in the series came out to correspond with that month. There are 12 books total.

Originally posted on 4/03/2011 on book one. Re-posted on 4/10/2011 with book 2. Updated on 10/16/2011 for books 3 and 4.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

 Bookworm's Ranking - 2 Worms

Storyline - After getting in trouble at his school on the Spokane Reservation, Junior decided that he wants to go to school in Reardan, a white school in the town 22 miles away, to try to make a better life for himself. During his freshman year, he deals with racism, crushes, the hate of his tribe, and loses as he tries to find his way and a place to belong and acceptance.

Author - Sherman Alexie

Publisher - Little, Brown and Company

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - Had some good lessons about fighting for yourself, getting out of bad situations, and forgiveness. He also came to see what revenge really was and showed that you have to work hard to make a better life for yourself but it is what is best in the end. There was also examples about what racisim looked like and how cruel and wrong it can be. But the book also had lots of sexual coments, an insolting comment about Christianity and other Christian religion negatives, and bad language. He blamed God for bad things that were happening, made fun of God, and the only time he thanked God was for something gross. I'm not asking for the character to become Christian but some respect would have been nice. Said he could kill himself and some others but was very depressed at the time from some precious people dying in his life.

Personal Opinion - Even though there were parts I liked, I would hesitate recommending this book because of some of the content within. I would have liked the book more if there had been less sexual content and the negative comments about Christianity hadn't been there but I really enjoyed the snappy comebacks that Junior came up with and the book leaving you with hope that he will make a better life for himself unlike some of the others in his tribe. At times, there was a lot of telling instead of showing in the book but it is in diary format so that works. The way it portrayed how bad drunkenness is and what it can do to you which had a sobering affect. If this is what it is truly like in school systems and for Native Americans, oh boy, it is sad.

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Awards - 2007 National Book Award, 2008 Boston-Globe Horn Book Award, 2009 International Book on Books for Young People Sweden - Peter Pan Prize, 2010 California Young Reader Medal, and Finalis for the 2007 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. It has also been on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Links - Learn more about the book and author at: http://www.fallsapart.com/the_absolutely_true_diary_of_a_part_time_indian (P.S. This is the only book by this author that is for young adults)

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TJ and the Time Stublers: OOPS!

"Any Second TJ Finkelstein Hopes Her Life Will Return to Normal. And it could, Except For... "

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Book 3 - TJ is swamped with two future boys, Tuna and Herby, hanging around that no one else can see, surviving school, and not embarrassing herself (but the future boys make that difficult for her). But as a gadget goes wrong and the famous TV star at her school comes after her, it will take everything she's got to think kindly of others.

Author - Bill Myers

Publisher - Tyndale Publishers

Age Group - 10 and up

Content - TJ thinks badly of others but learns to think about them as God does. Lots of bullies being... Well... Bullies.

Personal Opinion - This book was very funny and kept me laughing at the antics and the silliness throughout. Using LARGE letting at times to show the emotions and the funny jokes such as when you could hear peoples' thoughts for the geeks or jocks, you would think that those would be the thoughts of those characters but at the same time they were funny and made you laugh. Just the craziness happening to the main character was enough to make me giggle. The story was simple but this book is meant for a younger age group than I am used to reading so I have to keep that in mind. It was clean, fun, and had good message of God, about not only not saying mean things about others but even not thinking them. This book would be even better with a discussion guide to go deeper into the lesson that was emphasized in it and going a tad deeper into the characters. Enjoyable book and I am interested in reading the others.

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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Tyndale Blogger Network.

Links - Learn more about the series and author at: http://www.billmyers.com/BillMyersKids/index.html

Special Notes - This is the third book in the series but I have not read books 1 and 2 so I do not have a review for them.

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Tales of Starlight Series: Masters and Slayers

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Book 1 - Adrian Masters has believed that dragons kidnapped people from his planet and made slaves of them elsewhere for his whole life like his mother and father and other believers have. When a chance to find the portal to the dragon world comes, he jumps to the task. Unfortunately, he has to work with an opponent, Marcelle, who caries painful memories and a hot temper. Arriving in the dragon world, they must blend in and learn how things work to figure out a way to rescue the people. But when one of them makes a terrible mistake, they are separated and death is the promise.

Author - Bryan Davis

Publisher - Living Ink Press

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - Adrian looks out for those he loves and who are weaker. Even though Marcelle can frustrate him, he cares about her and protects her. Marcelle has a hot temper but she comes to realize that and does what she can to calm down. Her family was hurt when she was young and has wanted revenge on the one who had caused it. The dragons force the humans to "breed" to get more workers and some are treated violently and burned.

Personal Opinion - Good but had trouble connecting with it like I do other books from this author. Also, the times with Jason, Adrian's younger brother, in it seemed to lack info but that might be because Starlighter, book one in the Dragons of Starlight series, is Jason and Koren's story so the info and the ability to connect with him has been done elsewhere. I did like it though and thought it brought up some good stuff to think about and promote in life. I really liked how the characters grew and how hard they worked for something better and fought for what they believed in. I look forward to reading The Third Starlighter, book 2 of this series.

Video - This isn't a book trailer but was a song made using a poem from the book.

Links - Learn more about the books and author at: http://www.mastersandslayers.com/

Special Notes - Book 2, The Third Starlighter, out later this year.

To read, comment, and rate this and other reviews, stop by http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/

Attracted to Fire

"Only One Assignment Stands Between Special Agent Meghan Connors and Her Dream of Protecting the President "

Bookworm's Ranking - 3 Worms

Storyline - Meghan is assigned to protect the Vice President's addicted daughter, Lindsay as she recovers at a friend's ranch, The Dancen' Dust. Unfortunately, the agent heading the the team, Ash Zinders, is known to dislike women agents. But, as attraction between the two builds, so does the threats and dangers to the VP's daughter. People begin to die and it is up to Meghan and Ash to stop him before he gets their protectee.

Author - DiAnn Mills

Publisher - Tyndale Publishing

Age Group - 16 and up

Content - The characters believe in God but it doesn't have as much faith stuff as other Christian books do. Some character do come closer to God/convert but it is very light. Meghan and Ash fight for their protectee's life and tries to do what is right.

Personal Opinion - I only found this book to be okay. I didn't get into it like I do other books. I found the character/story development all lacking and the descriptions weren't very good. The main characters spend very little time with other characters in the book (you don't even get to hear a conversation between Meghan and Lindsay for several days after being on the ranch yet you hear that they have talked before then). I wish more had been discussed about the characters' past such as you know Meghan had been engaged but broke it off and I'm still unsure what happened and you also know that she wants to talk to her mom about it but when she does it is less then a page long. There was a bit more for Ash and much more for Lindsay but I just wasn't that pleased with the back stories.The mystery wasn't very good either. The reader don't really get to guess or suspect anyone except who the main bad guy's accomplice might be because Lindsey knows who it is and tells. Sure, it was great to see her fighting back but it left very little mystery. The story had a good concept but I like more mystery in my books and would have liked more about God. But, I do know the author has won awards for her books so I might try an older one sometime.

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Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Tyndale Blog Network.

Links - Learn more about the book and author at: http://www.diannmills.com/

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Dragons of Starlight: Diviner

"The Mysteries Unfold"

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - Book 3 - Jason and his father are returning to the Southlands when they meet up with Elyssa but soon after one of them is kidnapped by a dragon and must be rescued before they are executed. Koren, mean while, learns more about Exudose and tries to make the slaves work for there freedom but find that having someone see the truth and fight for something is harder than it sounds. As they all learn lessons about what slavery and freedom really is, things about themselves, and turning more to the Creator, a new threat comes that could destroy all of human kind, but not just on Dracon but Major Four as well.

Author - Bryan Davis

Publisher - Zondervan

Age Group - 15 and up

Content - The characters like Koren, Jason, and Elyssa learn some great lessons about the Creator, sacrifice, and seeing themselves as they are but loving who they are too. They also learn not be angry with themselves because they had been blind before to the world and concentrated on themselves. I was personally uncomfortable with one of the dragons saying he remade a human and infusing it with its old spirit. That was just a bit strange.

Personal Opinion - Enjoyable book with good lessons and character development in faith and truth. The characters grew wonderfully in the Creator and became wonderful examples for others in giving of themselves, following the Code, and trying to do the right thing. I like Bryan Davis's books but sometimes they get a little strange for me, as well. He has some great story ideas but, as the books go on, they get some different stuff in them such as what I mentioned in 'content'. Even though this weird with me, I'm going to be reading the final book, Liberator, when it comes out in 2012 and looking forward to how it all comes together and having secrets revealed.

Disclaimer - In exchange for an honest review, I received this book for free from Zondervan through the Z Street Team.

Links - Learn more about the books and author at: http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/

Special Notes - You can read my review of books 1 and 2 at: http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/2011/02/dragons-of-starlight.html

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Wildfire Run

Bookworm's Ranking - 4 Worms

Storyline - When Luke, the son of the President of the United States, is on vacation at Camp David with his friend and father, a wildfire begins eating up the forest and is heading right to them. But when an accident strikes, Luke and his friends, Theo and Callie, are own their own to survive and escape before the fire claims the camp with them still inside.

Author - Dee Garretson

Publisher - Harper, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers

Age Group - 12 or 13 and up

Content - Even though the characters were at odds with each other at first, they came to support one another and tried to help those who were hurt. The came to see what was important and really grew up. Luke even put others before himself when everyone wanted him to just go and save himself because he was the President's son.

Personal Opinion - This was an enjoyable book which I was able to read in just two days. There were some unbelievable stuff that happened but it was an exciting book with lots of action and a fire coming around every corner which made the characters work together to find a way out of the 'secure' camp. The ingenuity of the characters was great and supported imagination and inventiveness. I wish the ending had been a little longer and had more to the adjustment after the fire had been covered because it didn't seem like enough for them to recover but perhaps you are just suppose to see them start to come around from the terror. Anyways, good book and I might look into the new book this author has coming out.

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Links - Learn more about the book and author at: http://deegarretson.wordpress.com/

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