The Youngest Templar

Storyline - Book 1 - Keeper of the Grail - Tristan is an orphan with no knowledge of his past living at St. Alban's when a group of Templars stay for the night and one of them asks him to be his squire. When he accepts, Tristan is in for training and fighting in the Third Crusade in the Holy Land with Richard III. But, when the town they are in is under siege and about to be taken, Tristan's knight, Sir Thomas, sends him on one last duty. He entrusts to him the Holy Grail and tells him to deliver it to Scotland. On his way, Tristan meets up with an archer, Robard Hode, and an assassin, Maryam, who help him. He also has an enemy on his trail, Sir Hugh, who wants the Grail. At any cost.

Book 2 - Trail of Fate - Tristan washes up on the shores of France and meets a group of Cathars, and their leader Celia, who are in trouble with some powerful men. Tristan has to decide if he can help them and still guard the Grail. Especially with Sir Hugh on his trail and a new enemy lurking a head.

Book 3 - Orphan of Destiny - England at last! This should be easy for the three travelers, right? No. England is under heavy taxes by Prince John who is ruling the kingdom. Sir Hugh is still on the trail. And, if that isn't enough, Tristan is hurt. On their way, they are met with even more difficulties, such as the Sheriff of Nottingham who is taxing Robard's home harshly and hurting its people. Will they ever make it to there destination in Scotland with all the things standing in the way ansd Sir Hugh appearing at every corner to take the Grail? And will the answers to Tristan's birth and family be answered when everyone seems to know about it but him?

Author - Michael P. Spradlin

Age Group - 12 and up

Positive - "Honor, duty, and sacrifice" (Orphan of Destiny, Chap. 38, Pg. 252) is not only the Templar morals but also the theme with in the series. When Tristan and Robard are attacked by the Assassins and one gets hurt, Robard has every intention of killing him but Tristan is willing to sacrifice himself to save a defenseless man, even one who just tried to kill him. Tristan stays true to his knight and friends, even when they go and get themselves in trouble. Tristan is willing to give any thing for the safety of his friends. Robard is a caring and protective character even with his hot head and vengeful spirit, who would do anything for his friends. Robard has a chance to kill the man he feels killed his father but lets him go. Maryam is the voice of reason and can get to what is troubling someone. She also is someone they group can depend on is sticky situations and is willing to listen and give support when needed. The dog, Angel, is a pretty neat character as well.

Negative - Robard is very hot headed and vengeful. He tries to kill someone who just tried to kill him and Tristan even though they are unarmed and defenseless. He also has every intention to kill the man he feels responsible for killing his father and making his mother's life difficult. Tristan has had enough of Sir Hugh and him endangering his friends and feels the only way to get the knight to stop is to kill him. Tristan kills in rage and anger once. There were some sware words in book two.

Finish - A series I heartily enjoyed over the last couple of years as they came out one by one. I also enjoyed the endings (cliffhangers). I also like the end of this series which is always an important thing for me and, if any more stories can be told about Tristan and his friends, I would love to read them. Sword fights, chase scenes, and good writing and morals bring this book together for a great read which will make you want to know what happens next. Recommend to anyone who loves adventure and/or books placed in a historical setting. A great series worth the time to read.

Links - Learn more about the series at: http://theyoungesttemplar.com/

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The Homelanders Series

Storyline - Book 1 - The Last Thing I Remember - Charlie West is an average teenager: Goes to school, has a crush on a girl, wants to join the air force, and is a black belt in karate. But one night, after going to sleep in his own bed, he wakes up strapped to a chair being torchered by a group of terrorists by the name of the Homelanders. Not only that, a year of his life is gone and he can't remember what happened. Also, (as if the above stuff wasn't enough) he is convicted of a murder of an old friend.

Book 2 - The Longest Way Home - Charlie's home and trying to figure out what happened. But when his friends insist on helping out, it might be more than any of them can chew.

Book 3 - Charlie finally finds a man by the name of Waterman who is some how connected to his past. But when Waterman says he has to chain Charlie to a chair and give him an injection that will be painful, how it Charlie to know if he is on his side? Or is he another enemy? And what exactly is hidden in his memory? And how far behind are the Homelands?

Author - Andrew Klavan

Age Group - 15 and up (at least in high school because of at least one mature situation in book 1)

Positive - Charlie tries to do the right thing and find out the truth, even if that truth is not what he wants. He looks out for his friends and is trusting in his faith. In book 1, a women is being attacked and Charlie intervenes to protect her, even though he doesn't even know her. At the end of book 1, he tries to help someone else and gets himself accused as a bad guy. He looks after others before himself. When Charlie is sick, the woman who's house Charlie broken into cares for him even though he broke and entered, showing she was willing to help someone who needed it even though they did wrong.

Negative - Like stated before, a woman is attacked in book 1 but it is not graphic or detailed but makes the book in appropriate for anyone below high school (I just don't think a younger person should be exposed to the idea). Charlie has doubts at least once and feels God tells him "he has no where to go" which is quite hopeless and not something God would say. But Charlie does come back from that and I think he knows God didn't abandon him. He brakes into a house and eats someone else's food but does leave them money.

Finish - Fascinating and original storyline and idea. As one person said (I can't remember who or where I read this) but these books is The Fugitive and The Bourne Identity mixed together. I have to agree with that assessment. It can move a little slow and things can be repeated more than they have to but the books leave you wanting to know what happens next.

Links - You can learn more about the series at: http://www.thehomelanders.com/index.php and at: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/

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Summer of the Swans

Storyline - Sara is an ordinary teen whose life is falling apart because her shoes are the wrong color and she's not pretty enough. But when her mentally handicap brother goes missing, she learns about what really matters in life and forgiving others, even when it means admitting you were wrong.

Author -Betsy Byars

Age Group - 9 or 10 and up

Positive - Sara learns a lot about family and what is really important in life. She also learns not to make quick assumptions about people and to forgive when found wrong. Aunt informs Sara about an someone who was consumed with hate for certain people to the day he died and told her not to be like him.

Negative - Sara is a little bit of a brat in the beginning but then she wouldn't have a chance to grow. She tries to justify when she takes revenge on people for her handicapped brother but her aunt tries to tell her that holding on to angry will just consume her life. I think she got this in the end.

Finish - A sweet tale about life and a teenager growing up for childish things to seeing the more important things in life and appreciating family. There is an interesting metaphor at the end about life and what we do with it but I'll leave that for your own interpretation.

Links - None but can learn more at wikipedia

Awards - 1971 Newbery Award winner

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The Adventures of Santa Paws

Storyline - Book 1: Santa Paws - A young puppy looses his mother and siblings so goes on the hunt to look for them. Along the way, he meets nice people who he wishes would take him home with them and saving people and bringing hope to them during the Christmas season. His heroics eventually gets him the name Santa Paws.

Book 2: The Return of Santa Paws - Christmas a year later. Santa Paws and his family is flying to a cabin in the mountains for Christmas when they crash and it is left to Santa Paws and his human kids to find help before it is to late.

Author - Nicholas Edwards

Age Group - 10 and up (The book is a simple read but their are somethings in it like how a woman feels a year after her husband dies and a woman that is living in her car with her children after loosing her job and home that maybe more appropriate and understandable to an older age group.)

Positive - Sweet and charming tale about a dog. Santa Paws likes helping people (mostly because he gets attention) and tries to do the right thing among the town. It was interesting to see how the dog perceived the people and what the people saw of the dog. The things the dog does are miracle like and real dogs doing these type of things this character does have happened. In book 2, the kids and Santa Paws keep fighting even when it gets hard and everything seems lost.

Negative - In book 1,the dog sometimes thinks that the people has abandoned him and wonders if he will ever see them again as the people worry that the dog will think that they abandoned him. This might make kids worry that their dog does think like that and gives them a defense for their case.

Finish - The story was cut though young for me but that is a personal opinion. Younger kids will enjoy the delightful Santa Paws though some of the situations in the book they may not understand. Just on a personal note, when the family goes to a service for the whole town on Christmas meant to make everyone feel welcome no matter their believes, a priest says that "it wasn't about religion, it was about community. It was about neighbors." As being neighbors is all well and good, there is something to say about religion and it being important.  We should definitely be neighborly to others around us because that is how we want others to treat us. With respect. I'm just not sure how true this statement is. Something I need to research for myself. But in the end, it is still a good and sweet book and it has a good Christmas spirit to it, would recommend for kids who love dogs.

Links - None. Some information on Wikipedia and a list of other Santa Paws books.

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The Shakespeare Stealer Series

Storyline - Book 1: The Shakespeare Stealer -Young, orphan boy whose only known as Widge is told by his new master to steal a play by master playwright Shakespeare. Having no other choice, Widge tries to do so but ends up undercover in the company to steal the play. Eventually he has to make a choice, his master or the only family he has ever known.
Book 3: Shakespeare's Spy- The plague and the queen's dying health is the trouble in the beginning in this book. But when Widge has his fortune told to him, he is very confused and when it is read a second time is worried about if it will come true. Plus, things have been disappearing from the acting company. Mr. Shakespeare's daughter is visiting and Widge begins to lose his heart strings. Soon, news that an old friend is in trouble and Widge starts thinking about writing a play to impress Shakespeare's daughter and help his friend. What is a prentice to do?

Author - Gary Blackwood

Age Group - 12 and up
(This review is mostly about book 3, Shakespeare's Spy, because that is the one I most recently read and book 2 is not covered at all because I didn't read it for some reason)

Positive - Widge is a loyal friend and tries to do the right thing even when he's not sure what it is. The books also teach about how the theatre was back during the rule of Queen Elizabeth and names some classical plays. There is also some other historical factors in the series like a short hand that Widge is particularly good at which the author says is real.

Negative - Fortunetelling, for one, is in book 3 and it ends with Widge thinking everything is decided by fate. He also lies on occasion and helps a man escape from prison so he could get information to help a friend. The book also mentioned about how Catholics were persecuted during Queen Elizabeth's reign and how one of the main characters were hurt by some Catholics in a different acting company but doesn't help the character see in the end that not all Catholic are like that which is why this is in the 'negative' section. The priest we meet in the book is trying to help Catholics (which is good) and hiding from the police but helps Widge lie at least once  There was also very little spying in the book for it to be part of its name.

Finish - The series had a bitter sweet ending that I didn't like. Widge was alone even though he was looking forward to the future but he also believed more in fate and that he couldn't change the predictions that the fortune teller told him. He had gone back to her the last time so he could know the future to avoid future heart aches such as who should he get close to and who not to after being hurt be several characters. The series would have been better without the fortune telling and if Widge had a happier ending. I wish it had been taught that you couldn't know the future and just because you were hurt by something it doesn't mean you should try and avoid people because you might get hurt because would he really trade knowing any of his friends just because they are gone? Also he should learn from his mistakes, like when Widge felt responsible for a friend who got hurt, and try to do differently in the future. Widge and the characters are good and the books can be interesting I just personally wish they ended differently.

Links - Learn more about the series at: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525473206,00.html#

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Theodore Boone: kid lawyer

Storyline -Theodore Boone is the school's lawyer. He helps kids with whatever legal advice they need from foreclosure information to getting their pet back at Animal Court. But when information to the biggest case in town falls into Theo's lap, it's going to take all his law knowledge along with his family's to figure out what to do next.

Author - John Grisham

Age Group - 12 and up

Positive - Theo is a good kid and supports his friends in trouble. He never turns away a "client" and keeps his word. When things get over his head, he asks his family for help.

Negative - The story took a while to get started and the ending could have used some work.  There was also a lot of lawyer talk which might disinterest young adults and Theo could have behaved a little less like a lawyer and a little more like a kid at times.

Writing - There were spots where I thought I could do so much with this if I was editing but I wasn't so I need to get over it. The author, John Grisham, has not written a book for young adults before so it could have used some work to be more appealing to that age group.

Finish - The only complaint I had with this book was how it ended and how long it took for some exciting this to happen. It was a good book though and the issues I had with it can be forgiven if the book becomes a series (but I don't know if that will happen). But any kid who wants to be a lawyer or is interested in the law would probably like this book.

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

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How to Train Your Dragon Series

Story Line - How to Train Your Dragon is about a boy named Hiccup (he has a long name so we'll just stick to that) who is a viking and has a dragon named Toothless who has no teeth and never stops complaining. Hiccup is not from the typical viking material like everyone else but always does his best. He, his dragon, and best friends, Fishlegs and Camacazi, go on crazy adventures facing even crazier villains and have to save the day for the viking world.

Age Group - 12 and up.

Positive - The series is cute, tong-in-cheek, story telling. It also caries good messages of father's love no matter how wired or different their child is. The characters grow and learn something about themselves in the stories and have to face difficult odds. The face difficult situations which they master.

Negative - The characters believe in gods called Woden, Thor, and a place called Valhalla and sometimes they pray to them. The gods are also tong-in-cheek like Thor's day Thursday which is probably what Thursday is named after. The gods never make an appearance in the books the characters just believe in them. In book 5, Hiccup meets an old love of his mother's but I wasn't to fond of how in the end it made it sound like she still loved that man more than Hiccup's father. Hiccup's father, Stoik, is also portrayed as dumber than Hiccup (like most of the tribe) so he is always portrayed as doing the wrong thing (or the viking thing in certain circumstances) which might give kids the wrong impression. There is also some crass humor on occasion (Toothless pooping somewhere or Big Booby Bertha, Camacazi's mother). Hiccup's grandfather is a soothsayer (sees the future but really bad at it sometimes).

Finish - I enjoy the series even though it is meant for a younger age group than myself but I find it entertaining and silly and sweet. I could do without the gods they believe but if you want to think of the series as factual at all (which can be a stretch) they would have believed in them in about that time period I think. The books have excellent messages when his father and Hiccup don't see eye to eye but deep down Stoik loves Hiccup and would do anything to protect him. This series is also the inspiration for the film How to Train Your Dragon by Dreamworks.

Links - learn more about the books at http://www.howtotrainyourdragonbooks.com/.

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