Book Review: The Diamond War

The Diamond War
A Castle Court Kids Books
Zilpha Keatley Snyder

March.25.2014

Carlo's is ten years old and in fifth grade, he is a good athlete, and a member of a club called the Pro's for those who love sports.  He lives at Castle Court, where he started playing on the baseball diamond a few years before.  The only problem is the Pro's want to cut down a place called Unicorn Grove to build a baseball diamond, and Kate and Ari does not want to see that happen.  

The Diamond War is a book both girls and boys will enjoy, it is about fighting for something that is dear to you, and learning to make compromises.  

Book Review: Get Happy

Get Happy
Mary Armato
Copyright 2014

In this Young Adult Novel

This story opens up on Minerva's sixteen birthday, and she is disappointed  because instead of a Ukulele she gets a sweater from her Mom and a twenty dollar bill from her Aunt.  The next day Minerva goes to school and opens a package she believes to be from her Father, the Father she has never known, but she had not wanted to open it in front of her Mother.  Inside is a letter wishing her a Happy Sixteenth birthday, and a Sea Horse, he also tells her now that she is sixteen he would like to meet her, if she is up to it.  She nearly does not go to the audition later that day but her friend Finnegan insists  that they go.

Get Happy is a story of a young girl discovering who she is, a young girl who is determined to make a way for herself doing what she loves to do, making music.  It's a story of self discovery as well as discovering things about those that you love perhaps things you would rather not know.

Get Happy is  wonderful book for the young adult reader...Five Stars...

Book Review: She Shall Be Praised

She Shall Be Praised

Ginny Aiken
copyright 2014

If you want to take a trip to 1880's Oregon in this romantic story of a young woman not only falling in love with her man, but also with the land, this is definitely the story for you.

Aiken's writes a wonderful story of love, of overcoming, of family, of the beauty of God's creation in this Novel, that is a must read for all Christian Historical Fiction fans.  I know I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last.

So pick up Ginnny Aikens She Shall Be Praised and take sometime to read it if you haven't already. I don't think you will regret it, I know I didn't.

Five Stars...

Book Review: Hidden Like Anne Frank

Hidden Like Anne Frank
Marcel Prins,  Peter Henk Steenhuis, Translator Peter Watkinson
Copyright 2014

It's Holocaust Era Europe and throughout the continent, Jews are being hidden, by their neighbors their family and friends throughout the continent.  Some of these people were well meaning but others treated these children like they were less than human.  

Parents were seperated from their children, siblings from their sisters and brothers, entire families were displaced in hopes of saving at least someone.  In some cases entire families were hidden togeter, unfortunately that was not always the case.

Sadly though some of these children were treated more like prisoners than they were children, some were even beat if they dared called out for their parents.

Everyone of the children in this book suffered inner scars from their time in hiding.  

Hidden Like Anne Frank is a compliation of fourteen stories of those who were Hidden during the Holocaust but unlike Anne Frank they survived...

Five Stars...

Book Review: Run To Me

Run To Me
Diane Hester
Copyright 2013

Diane Hester opens this book up in  a way that draws you in from the first page and does not let you go.

Hester opens this book up with a young son being kidnapped.  

If you love books that are full of suspense, pepered with crimes such as Thievery, Kidnapping, Attempted murder you will Run to Me

This book is full of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end...

Five Stars for a novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat...

Book Review: The Soul

The Soul
How It's Real
And Why It Matter
J.P Moreland
Copyright 2014

J.P Moreland delves into the subject of our soul and Spiritual growth in this book...We are reminded that the Soul Is Crucial for Self Understanding and maturing in the ways of Jesus. Althought I can not say that I agree with everything said in this book, I like the fact that JP Moreland offers a pretty in depth study of the Soul and the importance of understanding it during our Christian walk...

Though relatively short in the number of pages this book is definitely not one for Casual reading, it is a pretty intense study book on The Soul..

Four Stars...For a well done pretty intense book...

Book Review: At Peace In The Storm

At Peace In The Storm
Ken Gire
Copyright 2014

Gire Opens up reminding us how when something goes wrong in our life, a life altering diagnosis or whatever the case may be we spend hours researching the subject, and trying to educate ourselves...It's understandable that we want to do what we can to still the waters...

Gire peppers this book with stories of Christians who have faced life changing trials, like Catherina Marshall who was given a Tubercolis Diagnosis in the 1940's, and it reminds us of the search for peace amidst these life changing events.  We are reminded too in this book that during our struggles, the Lord will use friends as well as Strangers, and our Christian brothers and sisters to help us through the trials.  

We are reminded too that the Lord will use His Word of course, but uplifting movies, and books to help us through these times of struggle too.  When we are going through the valleys we do not have to feel alone, because the Lord is always with us.

Five Stars for a book that will help you through your valleys...

Book Review: Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full
Gloria Furman
Copyright 2014

This little book is a wonderful book for Mother's looking for a spiritual uplift.

Furman reminds mothers in this book that We Always Need God's Grace, no matter what is going on...  And that Motherhood should be a time of worship...

In one section it talks about how a baby's cry silences Satan, I love that thought.  I have always known Children are gifts from the good Lord, this is only a stronger reminder of that.

Another section reminds us that A Mother Loves, Because God first Loved Her...I love that too...

The book is also a reminder that Mother's aren't always right, that there are times they make mistakes, but we can grow from mistakes...

Treasuring Christ is a reminder that even Super Mom's need Jesus...

Five Stars For this Wonderful Little devotional made for busy Mother's...

Book Review: Life Behind the Silence

Life Behind the Silence
Gina Azizah

Copyright 2013

This book is the authors journey from a dysfunctional childhood in a Muslim country, dealing with subjects such as adverse poverty...She speaks of a time when she was only eleven and her Father tries to stab her, thankfully she is able to escape him. Finally her parents divorce, and for a short time she feels safer, but it does not really make life a whole lot easier for her.

There were times in her later teenage years that she headed to England with one of her brothers, but did not really contact anyone else in her family.  

In this ook Gina talks about how she studied by the light of the moon sometimes, because her family had no electricity.

In 2006 Gina goes back to Malaysia and see's her Father for the first time in over twenty years.  She is shocked when the man who abused her ends up giving her a hug, but the truth is she does not know how to feel.  

The book allows us to glimpse into one woman's life, a life of childhood abuse, but more than that this is a story of overcoming abuse, and of making a life for herself.  It is a story of forgiveness of overcoming so much, and of one young woman's determination...

Well written book... Five Stars...

Book Review: Between Heaven and Earth

Between Heaven and Earth
Copyright 2014
Steve Berger

Between Heaven and Earth opens up talking about the Apostle Paul's desire for Heaven and what I believe should be our desire as well.   Our ultimate goal as Christians should of course be that Heavenly Reunion with our Savior.

The book is full of wonderul Biblical references of Heaven as well Phillipians 3: 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."  Our focus should of course be our relationship with Christ, and ultimately getting to Heaven.

This book reminds of five imporant facts, that I think sometimes we tend to forget the first being

1.) Death is inevitable....We are all going to face death.

2.) Heaven isn't Automatic.

3.)Hell is Real...

4.)God loves you...

5.)You Must Be Born Again...

Between Heaven and Earth reminds us that our best day on earth pales in comparisson to what Heaven will be like, Berger also points out that in no way is Heaven boring.  

We are reminded too that Heaven is where we will be fully , where the sickenss, disease and disabilities that we dealt with on earth are released.

The fact is we face a lot of pain on this earth, but if we are born again when we die and go to Heaven, that pain and hearteak will not be something we have to endure.  Heaven is a place of healing...A place without the heartbreaks we face here on earth.

Berger also reminds us that not only do we need to ask for Forgivness, but we need to receive it as well.

This book woud be a great addition to your library...Five Stars...

Book Review: A Theology of Matthew

Book Review:
A Theology of Matthew
Charles L Quarles
Copyright 2014

A Theology of Matthew is a wonderful edition to your library because it allows for a pretty extensive study for the Book of Matthew.   I would recomend this book to anyone who is looking for a deep intensive  study of The Book of Matthew.  

I would give this book a five stars because it is acurate in it's research and offers good feedback.