Category: Children's - GRANT LEISHMAN

saying thanks and beyond: is saying thank you enough? by ralph mosgrove

14/7/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Saying Thanks and Beyond: Is Saying Thank You Enough? by Ralph Mosgrove is a timely little reminder that what we do and say can have influence far beyond ourselves. As the author compares small, random acts of kindness to the ripples of a pond, he reminds us that our actions do have consequences that ripple out across the Universe. In today’s hectic, me-centred world, it is sometimes easy to forget even the common courtesies that we were taught as children… the pleases and the thank you’s. But even more than that, it is the little things we do that can make an enormous difference, over time. The smile at a stranger, holding a door open for a person with a disability or with arms full of packages, the allowing someone in a hurry to push in front of us, without getting annoyed; all of these minor acts accumulate and are placed in the bank of “paying it forward”, if you like.
Author Ralph Mosgrove, in Saying Thanks and Beyond: Is Saying Thank You Enough? touches a slightly raw nerve in most readers, I am sure, as it asks them to look inward at themselves and perhaps ask the question; what am I doing to help my fellow man/woman? It doesn’t take much and for me, that was the success of this book. The author wasn’t asking us to make massive changes in the way we deal with and interact with others. The suggestions he makes are simple and easily put in place. What is self-evident but often overlooked is the benefit, to the giver, of these little, random, acts of kindness. As well as making us feel better about ourselves for doing something nice, the flow-on effect is what really matters. As each person is made to feel better, they also pass on that good feeling and your act of kindness is multiplied. It’s well worth reminding ourselves that this ripple effect works equally as effectively when we pass on negative, grumpy, or even angry feelings toward others. As a reminder of the importance of pleasantness and civility in our currently fractured environment, this book is a tiny, little gem – one to be passed on from one to another.

You can find Ralph Mosgrove's little book of joy, Saying Thanks and Beyond: Is Saying Thank You Enough? here on Amazon

sahbaar's secret: the fight for acceptance by paul g. wilson

29/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

With a nod to The Jungle Book and The Lion King, Paul G. Wilson brings us his children’s book, Sahbaar’s Secret. Sahbaar is a young tiger cub with a secret – he’s not like the other tigers, yellow with black stripes. Sahbaar is a white tiger and for his family they know that this difference this is a danger to him and to them. The King of the Jungle, the lion, Rashar and the Jungle Council are extremely hard on any animal that is different from their breed and Sabhaar’s parents know if Rashar were to find out about his colouring, something terrible will happen, perhaps even banishment from the jungle. Cleverly they devise a plan whereby Sahbaar will roll in a bed of crushed orange berries every morning to turn his fur orange like the rest of his family. His biggest fear is water – water that could wash the colouring out and of course rain. Sahbaar has to come to terms with his difference and deal with the consequences of it but fortunately he has some wonderfully loyal and loving friends, including Rashar’s own son, Nero, who will look out for him and watch his back. Trouble is coming to the jungle, though, in the form of the animal – man with his shooting sticks and Sabhaar and his friends will have to dig deep and find all the courage they have, to deal with this threat to the jungle way of life.

Sahbaar’s Secret is a truly delightful children’s book, probably best suited for middle-school children. Author Paul G. Wilson, uses the story as a perfect vehicle to explain and reinforce what is important in life; loyalty, friendship, love, courage, and doing the right thing even in the face of intransigence and opposition. What I particularly liked about this story was the variety of animals that Sabhaar had as friends. All of them, even the most slow and lumbering, such as the crocodile had skills that would prove useful in the coming battle against both man and the elders of the jungle. The writing style was perfectly suited to the intended audience of the story, without appearing to be “dumbed down” in any way. As an adult, reading this story, I was still able to identify with the animal characters and their particular natures and quirks, which is always the sign of a well-written children’s book, in my opinion. Although I loved the story and the dramatic climax, especially, I couldn’t help but wish there were some beautiful illustrations to go along with the prose. That would have lifted the book over and above its competition but nonetheless as a children’s book with a strong moral and valuable lessons for life, this story truly hit the mark perfectly. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can highly recommend it.

You can find Sahbaar's Secret, by Paul G. Wilson, here on Amazon:

the wolf and the crimson maiden by anastasia bolinder

27/5/2019

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden by Anastasia Bolinder is an adaptation of an old favourite fairy-tale staple, Little Red Riding Hood but with an intriguing and fascinating twist. Rose Emila Decanter is the daughter of a wealthy, ruthless, huntsman who has the King’s favour. She is betrothed to the top Knight in the Kingdom but feels little for the man. She likens her life to of being in prison, albeit a gilded prison. Emila seeks friendship and understanding in the village, but with her crimson cape she is instantly recognisable as the huntsman’s daughter and the villagers fear and hate the man, transferring their feelings for him, onto her. Her Grandmother had always been Emila’s biggest champion and source of love, so when Grandmother died, so did Emila’s little joy in life. One day when Emila determined to visit her Grandmother’s grave to seek some momentary solace she is set upon by a band of robbers in the forest. Left for dead, her saviour and rescuer came in the form of a wolf-man, Cole. Cole had been transformed into a wolf by a witch and was unable to find a way to reverse the curse. As Cole nurses Emila back to health she discovers a warmth and a caring that has been so missing from her life for so long. The strange relationship between the wolf and the young woman only continues to grow and deepen as Emila’s father becomes more violent and vile towards her.

I have read quite a few fairy-tale adaptations over the years but this one was different in a number of ways. The unique idea of the wolf-man and the burgeoning love between the two was clever and lifted this story above many of the others I have read that could be classified as similar. The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden is an excellent read full of excitement and adventure but still managing to continue that fairy-tale staple of delivering a sound, moral message to the readers. Author Anastasia Bolinder has created characters that are immediately recognisable to the original yet unique enough in their own way to distinguish it totally from the original. I particularly enjoyed the emotional gamut the pair was running as they realised their growing love for each other but also the perils that loved placed each of them in. The question always at the forefront of the readers’ mind would be: “Is the greatest love of all, the willingness to sacrifice that very love to save the life of the person you love?” In some ways, I wanted the story to continue and the author has hinted there are future adventures to come, which I shall look forward to. This is a well-written book that is well worth the read and I can definitely recommend it.

You can find The Wolf and the Crimson Maiden, here on Amazon:

Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru by Gloria D. Gonsalves

24/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru by Gloria D. Gonsalve is a short and sweet children’s story designed to pass on the morals of kindness, love, understanding and tolerance for those different to ourselves. Told in dual languages, English and Swahili, it is told through the eyes of Jai, an albino cow who is different to the other cows. When the rest of the herd witnesses the dance of the Cattle Kings, Jai is persuaded to dance also. She is reluctant to do so because she is different, she is not a male and she is shy because of her differences. With the assurances of her siblings and her parents that she is indeed special and has the “blood of the Gods” within her, Jai reluctasntly agrees to participate in this special undertaking.

With a serious nod to the story of “The Ugly Duckling”, Jai the Albino Cow: Jai Ng’ombe Zeruzeru, by Gloria D. Gonsalve is a lovely message for children to receive, that we should revel and celebrate our differences rather than shun and hide them. How appropriate this message is in today’s world of divide and hate. I read this book on Kindle, as I do with all my books. It is not designed for Kindle and the pictures and page backgrounds were unable to be displayed. By looking at the PDF file of the book I was able to see the sweet and delightful drawings that accompanied the text. This is definitely a book you need to get in paperback for the full enjoyment to be had by the children and/or the adults reading to them. The messages inherent in the author’s word are valuable lessons for our younger ones and the bilingual nature of the book just added to its appeal. This is an excellent book for imparting some strong morals on our youngsters.

You can find Jai: The Albino Cow here on Gloria D Gonsalves' Amazon page along with the rest of her extensive portfolio.

jarius's girl by l. r. hay

18/11/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Jairus’s Girl by L R Hay is a biblically-based book aimed at probably middle-schooler’s and high school aged children that tells the story of Jesus, his teachings, his crucifixion and his resurrection through the eyes of a simple, young girl in the town of Capernaum in 33AD. Tammie is your typical pre-teen, full of energy and excitement as she enters her teenage years. Her father is the Rabbi of Capernaum, commanding much respect and honour for the family. When an itinerant preacher comes to town and turns everyone’s lives upside down, Tammie is as excited about this Jesus as everyone else in the small town. When Jesus begins preaching and performing miracles amongst her family and friends, both Tammie and her father are convinced that Jesus is indeed the real thing and may even be the Messiah that the Jewish people have been awaiting so long for, as prophesised. Not everyone is convinced, however, and to some Jewish people he is seen as nothing short of a blasphemer and a heretic.

Author L R Hay mentions that her target audience is young people, but that some adults have also read and enjoyed the adventures of Tammie and her family. I can count myself as one of those adults enamoured and moved by this simple tale, Jarius’s Girl. Hay has crafted a sweet, funny and strangely moving tale that I have no doubt many young people will identify with. To put is simply, this book is a delight to read. The author uses the tool of “reader asides” to engage her readers and I found this a clever technique that subtly reminded us that although these things may have happened two thousand years ago, they are just as relevant today and the morals and lessons inherent in the story are equally applicable in modern times. I say to any doubters, forget it is about Christianity and just read and enjoy the adventures of a young girl in early Palestine. I’m certainly not overtly religious and I loved the story and the message it brought. It is a story well worth reading and definitely well worth the five stars I have given it.

You can find Jairus's Girl here on L.R. Hay's Amazon Page:

dilby r dixon's the time dreamer by tony j. perri

1/8/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Dilby R Dixon’s The Time Dreamer by Tony J. Perri takes us on a magical adventure through our imaginations. Dilby Dixon is an eleven-year-old just about to graduate from Elementary School and head off to Junior High. Dilby was once a non-entity among his schoolmates, the butt of jokes and bullying, but since Dilby introduced his peers to his Dilbonary (a collection of made up words that Dilby has fashioned into a dictionary of sorts), Dilby has become a “cool kid” and not one to be messed with. Apart from his Dilbonary, Dilby has a secret that only his best friend Grace is totally aware of. Dilby is a Time Dreamer. Time Dreaming allows Dilby to travel to strange worlds, in his imagination, when he is asleep and to experience many things way above an eleven-year-old’s usual environment. When Dilby discover that he can bring people and things with him on his Time Dreams and also bring things back from the places he visits, an exciting and enthralling summer is ahead for the three friends, Dilby, Grace and George.

Dilby R Dixon’s The Time Dreamer is aimed at a middle-school audience and as such author Tony J. Perri hits the mark extremely well. The concept of time dreaming is not something I have come across before and as a unique construct, it allows the young readers to believe and hope that there is something special about them, no matter what their circumstances. I particularly enjoyed the way the author was able to weave in moral messages into Dilby’s thoughts and ideas, without coming across as too preachy. The author’s use of words from the Dilbonary, for a number of common things from the story was clever, but with the glossary of terms, in the ebook I read, being impossible to read because of its small size, I had to guess the words from their contexts, which in itself was enjoyable. This is a sweet, almost a coming-of-age story, as Dilby begins slowly to explore the feelings that may exists between himself and his best friend/ (possible girlfriend) Grace. Totally age appropriate this is a great adventure read for middle-school aged children. I enjoyed the story.

You can pop on over to Tony J. Perri's Amazon page to take a look at Dilby R Dixon's the Time Dreamer, here:

How Three Brothers Saved the Navy: The Kare Kids Adventures #3 by charles a. salter

18/7/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Take a Boy’s Own Annual story, from my childhood, update it to the twenty-first century and you have Charles Salter’s captivating children’s adventure book, How Three Brothers Saved the Navy: Kare Kids Adventure #3. Matt (12), Ryan (10) and Jack (8) are three typically rambunctious boys who like nothing more than to run and play together in the woods surrounding their home. For these three boys though, whose father is a Captain in the US Navy and a former Aircraft Carrier Commander, their play revolves entirely around pretending to be Force Recon Marines. The boys have absorbed, like sponges, everything about the Navy and have even read their father’s books on naval tactics and weaponry. When they discover the old, abandoned airfield has been taken over by some high altitude parachute jumpers, they are intrigued and determined to discover who they are and what they are up to. What they discover will throw them into a high-stakes battle against real terrorists and their nefarious plans to blow up their father’s previous carrier command, The USS Dwight D Eisenhower. They are in a race against time to save their country’s navy from some extremely determined terrorists.

As an adult, it is easy to read Charles Salter’s, How Three Boys Saved the Navy; Kare Kids Adventure #3 and scoff at the unlikely adventure the three boys throw themselves into so whole-heartedly. But, it didn’t take too long for my mind to drift back to my long-lost childhood and nod understandingly. This is a book aimed fairly and squarely at adventurous children of a certain age and inclination and it hit that mark perfectly. The language is age-appropriate and I can definitely see pre-teen boys and girls nodding their heads at the antics of these three brave young men. I guess my only gripe would be that this is three young boys (as was often the case in my long-lost days of youth) whereas perhaps a sister to lighten the gender imbalance might have been nice. That being said, the action was fast-paced and believable to a young mind. The story was relevant to today’s world and the author’s clear knowledge of weapons, procedures and tactics was evident. I enjoyed the read and am sure it will appeal to its target audience. The Kindle copy I read was devoid of illustrations, but it is possible that there are illustrations available in the print copies of this book.

You can take a look at How Three Brothers Saved the Navy, along with the rest of Charles A. Salter's extensive portfolio, here on Amazon:

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling (Orville Wellington Mouse #5) by tom hoffman

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Tom Hoffman takes the reader into his wonderful fantasy world of Orville Mouse in his series of Orville Wellington Mouse Adventures, the latest of which is Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling. Orville Mouse, his best friend (and maybe girlfriend?) Sophia Mouse embark on another adventure through space and time, on this occasion, with his faithful companion Proto and the assistance of a rather unusual tree, we come to know as the Sagacious Sapling. There is trouble afoot in Muridaan Falls, when Orville and Sophie begin to experience some time flips, which they soon discover are the precursor to a massive time shift about to hit them resulting from an enormous explosion some hundreds of thousands of years ago. Somehow, the intrepid band of metaphysical adventurers must travel back in time to the prehistoric, jungle world of Ferus and prevent the explosion from ever occurring and releasing the Great Thaumatarian Time Wave, before it reaches their world and plunges them back into the past, some five thousand years.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling is my first foray into the work of Tom Hoffman and indeed his fantasy world of Orville Mouse. This book is the fifth adventure involving these characters and although it is not necessary to have read the previous books, it is always an advantage, I feel, to read a series in order. As a reader, once you get your head around the idea that this story is a fantasy adventure and indeed the two main characters are actually mice, the characters, their foibles and traits very definitely do grow on you. Orville and Sophia are truly sweet and adorable characters, but much of the humour and enjoyment I derived from the story came from the two offbeat characters, Proto (a robot of sorts) and of course, Leaf, the sagacious sapling. I loved the way they analysed Orville’s jokes and tried to replicate the humour themselves. The idea of logical thinking, programmed, machines beginning to adapt and understand humour while not novel was definitely intriguing. Hoffman has probably targeted the Orville Wellington Mouse sagas at the Young Adult market, but to be perfectly honest, I would suggest there is nothing in this book that would preclude it from being read at a younger age and also by older readers. It is a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure tale, whose two protagonists just happen to be a couple of mice. It was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check this very good book out, plus take a look at Tom Hoffman's full collection:

survivaL ON mystery mesa (eagle mountain adventures book 1) by george goldthwaite

21/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When thirteen-year-old friends, Alex and Josh are stranded on a desolate mountain mesa, with Josh’s eight-year-old brother Mickey and Alex’s seriously injured pilot father, following a plane crash, the young people’s survival skills and maturity is severely put to the test. Where they have crashed, in the middle of winter, just one day prior to Christmas, is a lonely, desolate, freezing cold and dangerous place. Not only do the young ones have to figure out how to find food and water, they also have to build a fire to keep warm and to care for Alex’s veterinarian father, who is slipping in and out of consciousness. To add to their travails, throw in a hungry puma and a mysterious, ghost-like remnant of the past inhabitants of this corner of New Mexico, the long disappeared, indigenous Anasazi tribe, and you have the makings of an excellent adventure, full of danger and excitement. This is what author George Goldthwaite has presented his readers with, in Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1).

The number one thing I loved about this story was that although it was written with the target audience of middle-school children, the writing and the story are just as enjoyable for a reader, like me, who is about as far away from middle-school age as one can get. The three youngsters who are the heroes of this story are compelling, believable and totally normal kids that one would meet every day. They possess nothing particularly special, but George Goldthwaite shows through them, that when placed under extreme pressure, even the most average of us is able to rise to the occasion and perform above and beyond what we may have expected of ourselves. As I said, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and the perils the young people faced and attempted to overcome. Especially poignant for me was the way they handled the aftermath of their adventure, when faced somewhat with scepticism and condescension. Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1) is a wonderful story for middle-school children to read, but applicable to all ages and readers who enjoy a good, clean adventure. As the first book in a series, I say, bring on the next one.

You can take a look at Survival on Mystery Mesa, here on Amazon:

the railroad adventures of chen sing by george chiang

20/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang is a delightful children’s book that tells the adventures of Chiang’s grandfather when he first came to America in the 1880’s to work on the transcontinental railways on the West Coast. From a small farming village in Southern China’s Guangdong Province to the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, where Sing and his companion Bo are kidnapped and shipped to Hong Kong, the pair eventually find themselves on the ship to North America, where their adventures begin. In the raw, untamed Canadian Pacific Rockies, the team of Chinese workmen face daily danger and death as they blast their way through the mountains to build the iron road on Gold Mountain. Despite the hardships and privations in the railroad camp Sing falls in love with this rugged country and decides ultimately to make his home there, among the indigenous population.

George Chiang has presented a beautiful children’s tale here in The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing. The book, with its simple, yet delightful illustrations, digitally drawn by Jessica Warner, would, I am sure, quickly become a favourite read for young people from about eight to twelve. It is just the type of book I could imagine reading to my grandchildren as they go to sleep. It is not too long to become boring and yet not too short to be rushed through in one sitting with a child. The personal connection that Chiang has with the principal character gives the whole story even more poignancy. The writing is perfectly suited to the target market age-group and the issues covered of immigration, race relations and the virtues of hard work are as topical and relevant today, as they were in the 1880’s. I can highly recommend this read for children of the age group. An excellent effort by George Chiang.

You can check out The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing here on George Chiang's Amazon page:

flying upright by susan jean ricci

18/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Flying Upright is a short novella from Susan Jean Ricci that brings us the story of two young children, Monique and Dom who are captivated by the idea of representing their country one day at the Winter Olympics in the sport of pairs figure skating. When Monique, meets the three-year’s older Dom at the age of eight she falls in love with ice-skating and the dream of achieving it all. Years of dedication and hard work see the young prodigy’s progress to the point where they really are serious contenders for Olympic selection. When tragedy strikes and Dom is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, the pair must reassess their lives, their single-minded commitment to achieving their dreams and indeed the relationship that has grown between the pair over the years. Can Monique and Dom, as individuals, survive this disaster and how will it affect their burgeoning romance?

Although a short, little novella, Flying Upright was sweet and somewhat captivating. With the Winter Olympics currently on television, the timing of the read couldn’t have been more perfect and watching the pairs skaters on television made me think of Monique and Dom and the incredible amount of practice and commitment they had to put in, just to raise their performance to the level where they could be considered for selection. Susan Jean Ricci has a clear, concise writing style that is realistic and believable. The character of Monique, as the precocious and sometimes rebellious teenager was well drawn. I found the story to be somewhat predictable, but that never lessened the pleasure of the read. We all need to read some feel-good stories from time to time and Flying Upright is definitely one of those. If the author’s intent with her novella’s is to entice the reader into accessing more of her work, then she can consider it a job well done, for this reader. It was a pleasant and rewarding journey with Monique and Dom.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Flying Upright, plus Susan Jean Ricci's entire and substantial portfolio.

kindness in a scary world by rebecca hubbard

13/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As adults, we have difficulties dealing with the traumatic events we see every day on the news; wars, often horrific scenes of violence and devastation, and of course, the aftermath of terrorism. If we struggle to handle these images and react appropriately, imagine how much more difficult it is for our children to cope with this. Children can often be left confused, scared and misunderstanding what is happening, by either the adult’s reaction to the event (anger, fright and worry), as well as by the pictures of the event themselves that are screened live into our television screens or our computer monitors. This is the issue Rebecca J Hubbard seeks to address in her timely little book, Kindness in a Scary World: A Children’s Book about Terrorism. Hubbard seeks to give us no nonsense advice on how to explain to a child what has happened when a terrorist strikes.

Rebecca J Hubbard, specifically addresses terrorism in this particular book, Kindness in A Scary World: A Children’s Book about Terrorism, but what I did like about this was the advice she gives is equally applicable to many of the events occurring around the world on a daily basis, from natural disasters, to war/refugees, right through to the witnessing of an act of terrorism on live television. The book is not long and would be suitable to sit down and read to your child, regardless of age. Perhaps, most importantly, it stresses the need for the parents to ensure their child understands that nothing they did, or didn’t do, had anything to do with what was perpetrated. Children can often blame themselves for bad things they see happening around them. The book also provides a guide (at the end) for parents to prepare themselves for addressing this issue with their children. All-in-all this book is a useful addition to a parent’s arsenal on how to deal with questioning children. The illustrations were a bonus and very nice, but would definitely suit the paperback version better than the kindle version I read.

You can find the paperback version of Kindness in a Scary World, by Rebecca Hubbard, here on Amazon.

the year they stole mama's turkeys by gerry lites watkins

11/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Wesley was just a young farming boy in rural Texas, during the Great Depression, when an event happened that would change his life and bring excitement to his ordered existence. In The Year They Stole Mama’s Turkeys by Gerry Lites Watkins, we find the farming community of Cedar Creek, changed by the arrival of the Morans, an Oklahoma family who like so many other “Okies” had lost their farm when the rains never came and the Oklahoma fields turned into the notorious dustbowl. When the Moran’s car breaks down just outside Wesley’s family farm, a new chapter begins in his life. Watkins takes us back to those desperate days of the Depression, when half the country, it seemed, was looking for work and gives us tales of simple happenings in this rural backwater that allowed the inhabitants to keep their spirits up and to keep their humanity when everything in the Country seemed to be going from bad to worse.

The Year They Stole Mama’s Turkeys is a delightful, children’s book, simply full of sweet and lovely anecdotes that help to explain what is right and wrong, plus gives today’s young people a taste of what was a simpler, a quieter, but nonetheless, in many ways a happy life, despite the turmoil that raged around the family. Gerry Lites Watkins has written characters that are typical of children everywhere and simple to identify with. There’s the archetypal bully, who the author beautifully shows how to put in his place with some sage advice from Wesley’s father. All through this book you feel the love, the warmth and the sanctity of family and what it means to “stick together”, through thick and thin. This book shows us the best side of human nature and the innate kindness that is in everyone, if only we can find it. As an adventure, there is plenty to keep the young reader’s mind excited and occupied. I would really recommend this book as an excellent read for children, especially for those who have never ventured outside of their city neighbourhoods. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, although it is many years since I felt the thrill of childhood excitement.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out The Year They Stole Mama's Turkeys and other work by Gerry Lites Watkins

the other side of freedom by cynthia t. toney

10/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Other Side if Freedom by Cynthia T Toney takes us back to 1925, pre-depression Louisiana and the small town of Freedom. Salvatore is just thirteen, but this son of Italian immigrants is a hard-working farm boy, whose parents and Uncle have struggled to make a good life for themselves in this rural area. Prohibition is in full swing in America and when Italian mobsters come to town and demand Sal’s father’s help in their plans to rob the Freedom bank, or they will hurt his family, Sal’s family finds themselves in a moral quandary. When the bank robbery goes awry, Sal is left with a secret that could destroy their entire lives and set their family on the run. This young man must weigh up the rights and wrongs of the situation and make a decision that he and the rest of his family can live with. Sal is just discovering his feelings and attraction to his best friend, Antonina and whatever decisions he and the family make are almost certain to affect the relationship. This is indeed a dilemma of morals.

I found The Other Side of Freedom to be a truly compelling coming-of-age story. The setting was beautifully described by Cynthia T Toney and one felt oneself being drawn back to the era of gangsters, the G-Men, and bootlegging across the south. The feel of the story was authentic and action fast and furious. I particularly found it interesting to compare the experience faced by the Italian and Sicilian immigrants of the 19th and early 20th Centuries to those of the immigrants of today. They faced discrimination and generalisation – they are Sicilians, therefore they must be gangsters and criminals where today we see, they are Arabs, therefore they must be terrorists. I also found interesting that Sal found some sympathy and empathy with his black friend Hiram in that the prejudices they both faced were somewhat similar. I particularly liked the fact that Toney offered some questions at the end of the book for younger readers to consider and reflect on the story. This is an excellent children’s story that poses some interesting moral dilemmas for the young readers to ponder.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Other Side of Freedom, plus all of Cynthia T. Toney's offerings.

becoming animals by olga and christopher werby

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Becoming Animals by Olga and Christopher Werby explores an idea that probably few of us have ever thought about. What would it be like to inhabit and share an animal's brain? Would the humanity overtake the animal, would the animal display dominance or would it be possible to co-exist and to share their experiences, understanding and view of the world. When eight-year-old Toby Crowe is left alone in her father Will's lab to play with the lab rat, it soon becomes obvious to all those involved in the BRATS project that Toby has an affinity with not only the animals, but the idea of joining minds and "riding" the animals. Dr Will Crowe heads up the BRATS programme, which is funded by the Army. The plan, initially, was to use rats or other animals to assist the Army in searching for survivors in the rubble of buildings as part of their disaster relief programmes. Other member of the Armed Forces, though, have ulterior motives for trying to meld human minds with animal minds. For Toby, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and whose mother is terminally ill with the illness, the idea of becoming part of another animal seems one way of leaving something of herself behind, when her illness eventually claims her young life.

As a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would have. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. Much of what was discussed, I had heard in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realised the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will, or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story was unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out this amazing story plus the full selection of books available from Olga and Christopher Werby.

faviAN'S lAW (tRUTH TELLER SERIES - BOOK 3) BY k CHAMBERS

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Charlotte is a normal nine-year-old girl, excited by the start of the Christmas break from school and three week's of fun and leisure. When her Dad announces to the family that they are off to visit the local Christmas pantomime, the following evening, Charlotte and her little sister Beth are besides themselves with excitement. Charlotte, however, has a secret - a pendant that allows her to travel between her earthly realm and the magic world of Elves, Trolls, Dwarves and Fairies. Reading Favian's Law by K. Lawrence it soon becomes apparent Charlotte has visited this world before, in earlier stories. When the family do visit the pantomime, Charlotte is accosted by the man from the next show on the evening's bill, a mind-reader, psychic, named Favian. Recognising the pendant Charlotte is wearing, Favian steals it and travels to the other realm, where Charlotte later discovers her has created havoc and set the various inhabitant races of the realm, one against the other. Somehow Charlotte must make this all okay again - somehow she must must fix it and undo Favian's Law.

This was a delightful read as we travelled, through the author's imagination, to the world of elves and the like. I particularly liked the little twists, with time-travel, that the author threw into the story. Charlotte was believable, both as a scared child who just wanted to make things right, as well as the feisty and famed Truth Teller from an earlier story. It is always a good measure in a series such as this if a reader can say, "you don't have to have read the earlier adventures, to understand and enjoy this one." That was certainly the case with Favian's Law. K Lawrence had done an excellent job in filling in the gaps in a reader's understanding of what had preceded this tale. Some of the interactions with the elderly lady later in the story were just a little too understanding and accepting of what was clearly an extraordinary happening to have been dumped on her lap. That having been said, it didn't detract from the excitement of the story and the pace and action of the read. I think this book would be extremely suitable a read for any children from ten upwards. Charlotte was a very modern, with-it young lady, who I'm sure all young readers would identify well with. A very good read.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Favian's Law plus all of K Chamers' portfolio

the children of when (florisia #1) by Jennifer Redmile

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Children of When by Jennifer Redmile is a delightful children's coming-of-age story that takes us into the fantasy world of Florisia. When three disparate children, all growing up in different versions of the village of Naissence, turn fourteen, it is time for them to cross-over. On their fourteenth birthday they must leave their village and go to "The Circle" where they are transported to a new world that will shape their future. Three children, Leah, Raff and Belle all have different backgrounds and mixed emotions about the upcoming journey. Their friendship and camaraderie will develop and mature as they discover they are part of a thousand-year prophecy that will pit them against all manner of evil and dangerous creatures.

The Children of When is a spell-binding tale that even someone well past their childhood can enjoy and relate to. Described by one as a cross between Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Adventures of Narnia, I could certainly see elements of that in Redmile's story. The three characters are from such differing backgrounds and their mindsets about the journey they have undertaken make for a fascinating and interesting clash of motivations. The author does well to meld them together into a cohesive team. I especially liked some of the interplay between the three main characters. Although not a terribly long book, it is certainly one that is impossible to put down and can be easily read in one sitting. It is suitable for children of pre-teen age, although some of the situations described by Redmile could be seen as frightening, there is always the feeling that Belle, Leah and Raff will succeed. As a non-child, I enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to stimulate young, enquiring minds.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Children of When, plus Jennifer Redmile's other works, here on Amazon:

maisie by julie elizabeth powell

3/8/2017

Like all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's books that I've read to date, Maisie is something straight from the author's fertile mind and imagination. It is a delightful fantasy adventure about a young, blind, seven-year-old, orphan by the name of Maisie.
Maisie always wondered about her past, as she tries to cope with the difficulties of living in a foster home and attending sch0ol where she is mercilessly tormented and bullied by her peers. It is only at night, in her dreams, where Maisie feels free, where she is able to see and where she discovers that there may be more to her world than she first thought.
Finally, thrown into one of her dreams, she discovers herself in the magical world of Mageia, where it seems she is vitally important to the future of the world. Required to grow up and take responsibility very early, Maisie discovers she is so much more than she thought she was.
Powell's descriptive abilities are well displayed here as she gives the reader an incredibly vivid word picture of this new world, Maisie has found herself on. The collection of characters Maisie runs into and befriends are as weird as they are wonderful. Powell's imagination can never be faulted in the books of hers I've read thus far.
Maisie is a delightful coming of age story in a world of magic, where nothing is quite what it seems. This book has the ability to appeal to children, young adults, and adults alike. If you love magic and a cast of amazing characters, I know you'll enjoy Maisie.

You can check out the full Julie Elizabeth Powell portfolio here on Amazon:

children of the future by jane suen

9/5/2017

Children of the Future by Jane Suen is a pleasant, little read that is most suitable for readers at senior elementary level or middle-school.
The story follows a school bus driver, Telly and his young friend Billy, who discover that all the children and teachers of their small elementary school have disappeared. When Billy heard the commotion, he hid in a cupboard and was saved from the fate of the others.
Who took the children? Where did they go? and What will happen to them? Telly and Billy set out to find out, as the entire town turns out to search for the missing children.
Ther book is well written, the wording and sentence structure appropriate for the age group and there is plenty of mystery and action to keep a young mind engaged.
A little twist at the end will reveal the true nature of the story and I found that to be interesting and thought-provoking.
All in all, Children of the Future is a good, solid, young person's book that would appeal to a wide age range. Four, solid stars from this reviewer.

You can check out Jane Suen's work here on Amazon:

dog of the ancients: Book 1, 5-Ever series by tammy berg

20/2/2017

Possibly the best thing about being a reviewer of Indie fiction is the immense diversity of material that crosses my desk and my Kindle. Before becoming an author and a reviewer, there is little doubt I would never, in a million years, picked up a children's/young adult's book like Dog of the Ancients and read it. I would have been poorer for having missed the experience.
Dog of the Ancients is an absolutely charming little tale of animals, magic, and the underworld. In Dog of the Ancients, the animals have been put on Earth to guard and protect humans against evil. Josie has always had a special connection with the animals on her farm, but it is only when she reaches the point of believing they can communicate with her, that she actually realises she can talk to the animals and they can talk back to her.
The author takes us on a journey meeting all the animals on the farm, each with their own unique identities and quirks from the plethora of cats right down to the field mice in the barn, every animal has a place in the grand scheme of things and every animal has purpose and dignity.
Most special, to Josie, of all the animals, is her dog, Brodie. The connection she has with Brodie supersedes that of a normal human/pet bond and it is Brodie that first makes communication with Josie.
With fairies, magical animals, and evil worms, this book has every element one looks for in a children's or young adult's fantasy novel. It is magical enough to be exciting and awe-inspiring. It is scary enough to make the young one's take notice, but not frightening enough to scare them off.
I loved the use of the "five-ever" tag in both the story and the blurb. Because it is so much longer than "four-ever"!
This book is magical and if you have young one's who like fantasy, rest assured they can read Dog of the Ancients, without getting terrified. There are plenty of life lessons to be imparted by these animals, fairies, and humans. A great story - want to read book 2 now.

Do check out what else Tammy Berg has to offer, here on Amazon:

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