Book Review: Trelian Trilogy by Michelle Knudsen

The Dragon of Trelian, Michelle Knudsen, Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2009.

This is a unique trilogy.  In this first book we are introduced to Calen and Meg, who become fast friends.  Calen is the apprentice to the castle mage; And Meg, actually Meglynne, is the princess.  However Meg is an unusual princess, she has a dragon, and they have formed a bond—which is life-long.  Calen advises her on the relationship as he studies book available through the apprentice.  They both develop in their abilities, and in the end, only working together are they able to overcome some of the hardships they face.  This includes their own safety, but also the safety of Meg’s sister, who is marrying the prince of the neighboring kingdom, and in doing so will help end a long war between the two kingdoms. 

The Princess of Trelian, Michelle Knudsen, Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2012.

Everything is upside down in this second version of Trelian, especially at the Magistratum, which of itself has come under attack from some unknown magical force.  Calen is not exactly blamed, but he is implied.  Through seer saying the magistratum is convinced that Calen will be a force for evil against them.  And in the end this appears correct.  Meg’s younger sister is kidnapped, and Meg’s dragon accused of doing harm to a kingdom which is bent on revenge.  And Meg, in rescuing her sister, starts the war that will allow the evil exiled mage  Krelig to return.  What is worse, Calen leaves with Krelig in the end to become his apprentice.

The Mage of Trelian, Michelle Knudsen, Candlewick Press, Somerville, Mass., 2016.
Finally the book where everything comes together.  Meg must train with the dragon, because they will play a big part in the wars.  But more important, the mages train for a mage war.  Calen finally escapes from the evil mage Krelig, and teaches the other mages what to expect.  It is only this alliance that gives them some hope.  In the end it is Krelig's lust for revenge that does him in. 

Movie Review: ****Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)

This is a classic movie.  I came across it after several years and enjoyed it again.  I read the book as a youth and the movie is mostly true to the book.  A boy and his dogs, how he comes about getting his dogs, and then how he comes about leaving his dogs after they both die.  This book tells a very good story of love and loyalty; but also hard work. 
Stewart Petersen, a Mormon played the lead.  His parents are played by Beverly Garland and Jack Ging.  His grandfather is portrayed by James Whitmore.  Based on the book by Wilson Rawls. 

Movie Review: ****Disney's Christopher Robin (2018)

Disney Christopher Robin

This is a fun family movie.  It is nothing like the historical biopsy Goodbye Christopher Robin, but instead uses animated and live characters to tell a delightful story, as Pooh and friends come back into the life of Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor), after he has become a Heffalump.  However in the end, he is reminded of what is important, and turns the Heffalump label onto his boss, who had Christopher Robin work when he was scheduled for holiday so the boss could take credit while playing golf.  Very entertaining.  I think the really hit the personalities of the Pooh characters.  
Hayley Atwell portrays Robin's wife and Bronte Carmichael his daughter.

Book Review: Midnight for Charlie Bone

Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo, Orchard Books, New York, 2002.
I have come upon a new universe of "endowed" children who are attending the Bloor's Academy.  When Charlie's Great Aunt discover that Charlie is endowed, they send him off to the academy.  Charlie can hear pictures, the voices of the people talking when the picture was taken.  He discovers his talent when he is given a picture by mistake, of someone talking about a baby girl.  This leads him on a quest, to find the niece of a book store owner who was sold away for something several years ago.  The man has since died, but left a case which holds the key; however there is no key to open the case. 
Bloor's Academy is not the fun place it should be.  It is a school for gifted children, either art, drama or music.  And then those who have special endowments.  The endowed are descendants of the Red King.  Some have evil intentions and others good.  It is among the students of the academy where the niece is found, in a half hypnotized state.  How can they open the box and restore her. 
This new universe is going to be fun.  I understand there are seven books in the series.  If they all are as entertaining as this first, this is going to be fun. 

Book Review: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull, Aladdin, New York, 2011.
Int this series, Mull continues on with a common theme, youth who have been sucked into another world, and have to prove their own courage.  Jason from Colorado, and Rachel form Florida are both brought to the world of the Beyonders by extraordinary, Jason through the mouth of a hippo, and Rachel through an arch.  However, both become part of a plot to discover a word, which if spoken in the presence of the evil emperor, will destroy the emperor.  The word is well hidden, and past users of the word cannot help, because using the word erases its memory.  Our two heroes from earth go on a quest for the word.  They are joined at times by Ferrin, a being who can take himself apart, and not to be trusted as he works for the emperor; and Tark, a musician who helped in bringing Jason into the world.  This series has many twists, but this first book ends with Jason being captured by the emperor--the word does not work--and facing continuous torture.  However Ferrin betrays the emperor, and sends Jason home to his own world.  Things on the world of the Beyonders are just worse rather than better.
This book is an excellent read.  I love the quest books, and then the addition of magical powers.  This is very well done.

Five Kingdoms 4: Death Weavers by Brandon Mull

Five Kingdoms 4: Death Weavers  by Brandon Mull, Aladdin, New York, 2016
This is the most adventuresome of the Five Kindgoms books to this point.  Cole travels to the land of the dead in an effort to rescue Destiny, one of the five princesses.  He leaves his body behind, and enters a death-like state.  He does this at a time when he is separated from his powers; although he knows he has them.  As part of this adventure he comes in contact with a magical stone, which restores his powers, and he is able to manipulate things to escape, and to rescue his friends.  In terms of science fiction and fantasy, this book does a great job of setting a new world with its own rules.  Each of the Five Kingdoms books has introduced a new world to this point, and that keeps this work fascinating.  The characters are mostly the same, while the environment changes. 
very good read. 

Book Review: The High King by Lloyd Alexander

The High King by Lloyd Alexander (Black Cauldron Series), a Dell Yearling Book, New York, 1968.
For this book, Alexander won the Newbery Award. This is the fifth and final book in the series, and it is the most exciting.  All of the main characters come together for a desperate attack on the fortress of Arawn.  This is after he  comes farther than he has before into the realm of men, and steals the sword Drynwyn from Prince Gwydion.  The have left him badly wounded, but he is saved by the bard Fflewddur Fflam.  These leads to the desperate attempt to attack Arawn's home territory of Annuvin.  To Taran, and those with him, falls the task of visiting the countries Taran visited in his last book, and recruit and army to attack.  Taran is well liked, and he soon has a substantial army.  At the same time they are trying to keep and army of Cauldron-born from attacking those following Gwydion.  This book features the return of the love interest of Taran and Eilonwy.  Of course there is a third member of this triangle, Prince Rhun, now King Rhun.  But the King is killed in an heroic escape attempt. 
This book is very exciting, and with good reason the Newbery Award was given.  It is about finding your strength, and in the end, being willing to give up comfort for the right thing to do.

Book Review: Taran Wanderer

As Taran ages, he wants to discover his heritage, with the hopes of proving he is of royal lineage, and consequently worthy of the hand of Eilonwy.  Gurgi, his trusted companion travels with him.  Taran never finds his heritage, although one man claims to be his father and uses Taran's work to restore his farm.  What Taran does discover is more of who he is, and many friends.  He visits King Smoit, and assists him in solving a cattle war that has been going on for years.  He does this by rewarding the cows to a farmer, and the calves to the different parties.  They encounter Fflewddurr Fflam who joins him.  They meet Doli, of the Fair Folk, who is on a grave mission to discover how a wizard Morda has gained entry to the fair realm and stolen gold and jewels.  Morda quickly turns Fflam and Gurgi into animals, but he fails to turn Taran, saying it is like fighting himself.  Then Taran realizes that a bone the collected, is that of Morda, and into which he has put his life force so he could not be killed.  However Taran is able to break the bone and the life force.  Morda is no more, and all his enchantments melt away. 
But Taran continues to travel.  He meets many more interesting country folk, Hevydd the smith, Dwyvach the weaver, and Annlaw the potter.  He learns the trade of each, but does not become a master.  He realizes he has become who he is through hard work, and returns home, more confidant in himself.
Taran's character grows in this book.  However I missed Eilonwy.  She has been such a great part in the other books.  

Book Review: The Castle of Llyr

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander, A Dell Yearling Book, New York, 1966.
This is the third of the five books which include The Black Cauldron.  In this book, Taran has some competition in winning the love of Eilonwy.  This is in the person of Prince Rhun, whose parents are set to tutor the princess, and they hope their son and Eilonwy marry.  Eilonwy is leaving Caer Dallben to be trained in the ways of princesses.  Taran accompanies her to the island realm of Mona, which is close to the original home of Princess Eilonwy's people.
However, shortly after arriving a plot is made known to them to harm the princess. What is worse, there is a traitor in the castle.  Too late do Taran, and Prince Don (who has been there in disguise) react, and the princess is kidnapped.  The book then becomes one of rescuing the princess.  On their journey they meet a giant cat, who would have done them in but the cat likes the harp playing of the bard, Fflewunder.  They also meet the giant, who also almost does them in in trying to get out of a cave where he has trapped himself growing too large.  After their escape they travel to the island, Llyr, once inhabited by Eilowny's people, where they confront an old nemesis Achren.  She is hoping to use Eilonwy, control her and restore her powers. 
Somethings are not meant to be controlled however. 
Again I enjoyed this book.  I like the characters, and now we have a love triangle, Taran, Eilonwy and Prince Rhun.

Book Review: The Book of Three

the Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, A Yearling Book, New York, 1978.
This is the first of five books about Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper from Caer Dallben.  The author says these books are based loosely on Welch lore.  The assistant pig keeper loses the pig, Hen Wen.  Hen Wen is an oracle pig.  The assistant pig-keeper finds himself on an adventure he did not plan on.  Upon his adventure he meets Gwydion, the Prince of Don.  Gwydion takes up the search, as he realizes the pig is sought by the evil, and he himself was coming to consult with the pig.  Together they are captured by forces of evil, the caldron-born who do not die.  Taran is placed in the dungeon.  There he meets Eilonwy, a young lady who helps him escape.  Eilonwy takes a sword of power, Dyrwyn, and in doing so the castle collapses.  Gwydion does not escape and Taran thinks he killed.
They are joined in the escapes by Fflewddur Fflam, an ex ing and current bard.  Also a human type creature, Gurgi.  His character is very cute with his double talk and constant hunger.  The group continues to be pressed by the Cauldron-born, and eventually they are surrounded.  Through out Eilonsy does not let anyone draw the special sword, but through some miracle Gwydion returns to draw the sword.  Gwydion was not killed, and the evil queen had sent him elsewhere for her evil purposes.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated Version

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, New York, 2015, originial publication 1997.
For Christmas, Sheri purchased the first two illustrated versions of the Harry Potter series.  I quickly fell in love with these books again.  I read the originals, when they were first coming out.  Sometimes we had to buy several copies of the books so the kids and we parents wouldn't have to fight over them.  It was always a race to get them read.  The illustrated version add so much.
J.K. Rowling introduced us to a new world with "The Sorcerer's Stone."  An so many exciting characters, starting with Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and who lives in a closet.  And then Ron who becomes his friend, and Hermione, who starts out bossy, but mellows rather quickly; and so many characters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.  This book entertains, and delights, and they added pictures make it even more delightful.  I enjoyed the new read, as much as the old, and even more so with the pictures jumping out at you.  I especially like pictures of Hagrid.  I think he is my favorite character, with his oversized body and oversized heart, and always doing things to help others and animals. 

Book Review: Five Kingdoms (3) Crystal Keepers

Five Kingdoms: Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull, Alladin, New York, 2015.
This is the most fascinating book up to this point.  The crystal keepers have modern technology, which makes computers possible, and email, and communicating with the earth.  In other words it is possible to check on things back home.  One of the pretexts of this series, as that people on earth forget about there own kids when they are kidnapped into the five kingdoms.  Xeropolis was almost destroyed by a computer that was trying to take over everything.  The rogue computer was totally shut off, and thus contained.  This book has a major surprise, which I will not reveal, but Cole finds a new friend from home, as he continues his quest to rescue all his school mates who were kidnapped.  Another immediate rescue is to find one of the princesses, and restore her powers.  However, her powers have been usurped by another computer system, which now wants to take over control of the kingdom.  This is a fascinating read.  I continue to enjoy this series.  I can't read them fast enough.

Book Review: Mitch and Amy by Beverly Cleary

Mitch and Amy by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Tracy Dockray, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1967.

I love this book.  The characters in Beverly Clery books are very interesting.  This book is no exception..  In this book, Mitch and Amy are twins.  As twins will, they do not see everything the same.  In fact, they often butt heads.  Amy struggles with math, and Mitch with reading.  At the same time, a local bully, Alan torments them both.  Bernadette, is new in town, and she has a crush on Mitch.  These characters make for some interesting reading as they struggle with school, bullies and getting along. 

Picture Book Review: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

The Viking Press, New York, 1982.
Barbara Cooney is known more as an illustrator, but she wrote and illustrated this book for which she won the National Book Award for picture books.  This book has delightful pictures of the sea and the Northeast.  The girl in the story has three goals, to travel, to live by the sea, and to make the world more beautiful.  Miss Rumphius travels, but eventually her body gets tired; So she settles in a home by the sea.  She loves the Lupine flowers, and takes it upon herself to plant their seeds everywhere.  In this way she completes her third goal.  As she grew old, she would tell her great nieces and nephews that they should have the same goals.  This book reminds me that we all have parenting roles, whether as a father or mother or aunt or uncle.  We all play a part in rearing children.

Book Review: Five Kingdoms (2) Rogue Knight

Brandon Mull has created a fascinated universe, outside the realm of other universes, an in between spot where people go after they die, but it has been shaped for population.  And this kingdom is divided into five kingdoms, each with its own properties.  As such what is magical in one kingdom, is not magical in another.  In this book Cole, our abducted young man from Earth, finds himself in the Kingdom of Ellower.  Here things have run amok, as there are a couple of demons tearing up the country.  There is the Rogue Knight, but an even greater threat is the creature a shape changer has made using a young boy's power.  She has to be confronted, and they recruit an assortment of people to do this, including an earth friend of Cole's.
I really like these books and the characters, and the worlds.

Picture Book: The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter

This is a delightful little story about a duck who insists on sitting her own eggs.  The duck's pride almost gets the duck eaten by the sly fox who offers his back shed for the sitting on the eggs.  However, Jemima had told a dog what she was about, which sparked an investigation and in the end saved Jemima, although they were the worse for wear for their efforts.  Jemima was allowed to sit some eggs, but proved to not be a very good sitter as only a few eggs hatched.

Book Review: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie and the Great glass Elevator, by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1972.
This is the continue sage of Charlie and the Chocolate factory.  Where do our eight persons go after being picked up by the elevator, Charlie's parents, grandparents, Charlie and Mr. Wonka.  They of course travel to space to the new U.S. Space Hotel.  However at the hotel the meet pernicious knids.  The barely escape with their lives.
This is a cute story.  It gets really exciting when Mr. Wonka is battling against the knids.  This is a strange being that likes to eat others.  They are lucky the elevator is knid proof, otherwise they had been goners.  In all this fuss, Wonka and the elevator have to rescue a ship traveling to the hotel with guests.  It seems pretty dicey for a moment.
A cute theme is, can Willy Wonka get the three grandparents out of bed so they can help Charlie in the Chocolate factory.  They don't want to.
There is a part of this book that paints Dahl in a negative light.  This is when he is making fun of Chinese in the voice of the U.S. president.  He makes a couple jokes at the expense of the Chinese.

Book Review: The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

The Carnivorous Carnival: A Series of Unfortunate Event Book the Ninth by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist, Harper Collins, New York 2002, Scholastic 2003, New York, 2003.
The adventure takes us now to a carnival, with a fortune teller, and three new coworkers who should be friends, but things don't turn out that way.  There is also Count Olaf with a pack of lions, and he wants to improve attendance at the carnival by giving people a live show of a lion eating someone.  It does bring the crowds, and the lions get there way, but not with the intended victims.  This is again a story of betrayal, and outright abuse as Count Olaf and Esme, his girlfriend, continue to seek the Baudelaire fortune.

Book Review: The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket

The Hostile Hospital: A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Eighth by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist, Harper Collins, New York 2001, Scholastic, New York, 2002.
I keep coming back to the Series of Unfortunate Events.  Each book the author says the reader should go elsewhere because of the depressing events which happen to the Baudelaire orphans, but I keep coming back.  I think it is because I like the characters, Violet the inventor who ties her hair in a ribbon when she wants to think, Klaus the scholar, who loves books, and then Sunny, the baby who likes to chew things.  These three character make for an interesting read.
In this book, the orphans are escaping from an accusation that they are murderers, which was promoted by the real murderer, Count Olaf.  They seek refuge in a hospital, sleeping in the unfinished side.  They are looking for the "Snicket File" which hopefully will shed more light on their circumstances.  They only find one page, and this page gives them hope on of their parents may still be alive.  However, they are again caught in a web created by Count Olaf.  In stealing the keys to the hospital library, looking for the file, they violated the trust of the caretaker.  However when Olaf burns the library, and the hospital, they are blamed for much more.  Mixed in her is the almost cerebral decapitation of Violet, as part of an operation in the hospital.
Our orphans stay in a miserable circumstance, which only gets worse.

Picture Book Review: The Tale of Tom Kitten, Beatrix Potter

The tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter, Frederick Warne and Company, London, 1907.
This is a delightful tale.  However it is not only about Tom Kitten, but also his two sisters, Mittens and Moppet.  But most importantly it is about their mother, who cleans them up, and dresses them smartly, but then leaves them in the garden so they are out of the way so mother can finishing preparing for her tea.  Of course her goal is a show of the kittens.  However, kittens in a garden are not going to stay put, and they don't.  The soil their clothes, and in fact the ruin them, and they are picked up by the Drake Paddle Duck family, who instead of retuning them put them on as best the could.  When mother finds the kittens, she smacks them, and sends them to their room.  I think the mother kitten may need some help.  The ducks do as well, when they went swimming the clothes all fell off as they had no buttons.  The ducks are always putting their heads under water looking for the clothes.
I like that last cute tid-bit as an explanation for duck behavior.  Very enjoyable story.