The Singing Tree was written and illustrated by Kate Seredy and was first published in the year 1939. The copyright was renewed once in 1967 and again in 1990 by Puffin Books. The book begins in the year 1914, a year many people will remember, and a year that the main characters, Jancsi and his cousin Kate will never forget.
"Life on the Hungarian plains is changing quickly for Jancsi and his cousin Kate. Father has given Jancsi permission to be in charge of his own herd, and Kate has begun to think about going to dances. Jancsi hardly even recognizes Kate when she appears at Peter and Mari's wedding wearing nearly as many petticoats as the older girls wear. And Jancsi himself, astride on his prized horse, doesn't seem to Kate to be quite so boyish anymore. Then, when Hungary must send troops to fight in the Great War and Jancsi's father is called to battle, the two cousins must grow up all the sooner in order to take care of the farm and all the relatives, Russian soldiers, and German war orphans who take refuge there."
Taken from the back of The Singing Tree, by Kate Seredy.
This book was a highly entertaining, coming of age story. Follow Kate and Jancsi as they experience the pains of growing up, run the farm, take charge of the Russian soldiers, experience grief and sorrow along with their village, watch lives be torn apart in the War. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book with my mother. It was a great story, and I will cherish it forever. Anyone could read this book, but with mild violence and a bad word, I would recommend that if your child is younger than nine or ten you should read this book aloud to them. All in all, it was a great book, better than its' prequel, The Good Master.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Lightning Thief
This book begins Rick Riordan's popular Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. Now that the movie has come out, more and more people want to read these great pieces of literature. The first book in the series is The Lightning Thief. This book was published in 2005 by Hyperion Paperbacks for Children. It portrays twelve year old Perseus (Per-see-us) Jackson, who discovers that he is far more than a kid who gets kicked out of every school he goes to, and far more than the son of nobody, as he is soon to learn.
"Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school......again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mt. Olympus seem to be walking straight out of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have jut ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mt. Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief; he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves."
Taken from the back of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Is this a good book? Yes! When I first read it, five or six months ago, I couldn't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, waiting for the next chapter. The comical chapter titles and the characters sense of humor and black comedy keep you entertained throughout the book. Rick Riordan draws readers into his story of friendship, adventure, drama, and treachery. The way Riordan wrote this book makes you feel as if you are Percy (females and males both!). Rick is a great author and I can't wait to read more of his work.
"Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school......again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mt. Olympus seem to be walking straight out of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect. Now Percy and his friends have jut ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mt. Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief; he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves."
Taken from the back of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Is this a good book? Yes! When I first read it, five or six months ago, I couldn't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, waiting for the next chapter. The comical chapter titles and the characters sense of humor and black comedy keep you entertained throughout the book. Rick Riordan draws readers into his story of friendship, adventure, drama, and treachery. The way Riordan wrote this book makes you feel as if you are Percy (females and males both!). Rick is a great author and I can't wait to read more of his work.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Sight
There will be three, kin of your kin.....
The wild cats have flourished in their new home on the banks of the lake for several seasons, and the Clans are growing strong and healthy with new kits. The time has come for three kits of ThunderClan to become apprentices.
Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw spring from a strong legacy: the children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, two of the noblest ThunderClan warriors, and the grandchildren of the great leader Firestar himself. All three young cats posses unusual power and talent and seem certain to provide strength to the Clan for the next generation.
But there are dark secrets around the three, and a mysterious prophecy hints at trouble to come. An undercurrent of rage is rising against those who are not Clanborn, and the warrior code is in danger of being washed away by a river of blood. All the young cat's stregth will be needed if the Clans are to survive.
......who hold the power of the stars in their paws.
Taken from the inside flap of The Sight.
One of the many books by the trio who together write under the name of Erin Hunter, it was an enjoyable read. The words on the page drew me into the story, and as I read on I could see it a coming alive in my mind. With the air of mystery and adventure that all of Hunter's works provide, I know I will enjoy reading the rest of her books and reading this one again.
The wild cats have flourished in their new home on the banks of the lake for several seasons, and the Clans are growing strong and healthy with new kits. The time has come for three kits of ThunderClan to become apprentices.
Hollypaw, Jaypaw, and Lionpaw spring from a strong legacy: the children of Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw, two of the noblest ThunderClan warriors, and the grandchildren of the great leader Firestar himself. All three young cats posses unusual power and talent and seem certain to provide strength to the Clan for the next generation.
But there are dark secrets around the three, and a mysterious prophecy hints at trouble to come. An undercurrent of rage is rising against those who are not Clanborn, and the warrior code is in danger of being washed away by a river of blood. All the young cat's stregth will be needed if the Clans are to survive.
......who hold the power of the stars in their paws.
Taken from the inside flap of The Sight.
One of the many books by the trio who together write under the name of Erin Hunter, it was an enjoyable read. The words on the page drew me into the story, and as I read on I could see it a coming alive in my mind. With the air of mystery and adventure that all of Hunter's works provide, I know I will enjoy reading the rest of her books and reading this one again.
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