Month: March 2022

A Wish In the Dark

Mrs. Eaves Uncategorized ,

by Christina Soontornvat

Wow!  What a wonderfully layered book.  I was breathless as read the last word and shut the cover, eager to read it again to catch what I’d missed the first time.  A real gift!

Once upon a time Chattana was full of magical wonders, but when catastrophe struck, that changed.  In the present magic exists, but is mostly invisible.  It is there, but tightly controlled.  

The only light and power allowed in the city comes from  glowing orbs.  The citizens use these to light their homes, cook their meals and power their machines.  The orbs come in a spectrum of colors.  The dimmest and most affordable orbs are Violet and Blue.  The brightest and most dear are Jade and Gold.  The color of the light has become a symbol of wealth and status so the wealthy are bright and illuminated, while the poor are dim and shadowed. The city Chattana literally has a dark side and a light side – where you reside seems to define your position and worth.

The law of Chattana requires a child born in prison to remain there until his or her 13th year.  Pong, born and orphaned in Namwon prison, is nine.  He dreams of what his life will be like when he is finally able to enter the city.  Inspired by a poster in his classroom, Pong aspires to serve the Governor, Chattana’s savior, ruler and sole source of power.

When the Governor comes to inspect the prison, Pong he hopes he’ll make a favorable impression.   A misunderstanding by the Warden’s daughter,  Nok, makes that impossible.  In fact the Governor proclaims, “Light shines only on the worthy”  and adds that there is no worth to be found in anyone “born in darkness.”   These words crush Pong, and so when the opportunity for escape occurs, he takes it.

Out of the prison, Pong has to flee.  The tattoo on his wrist forever connects him prison, and if caught, he’ll be sent back, for life.  That would be unbearable and so Pong heads south to the sea.  When he is feeling most desperate, he stumbles upon a temple in a small town.  There he meets a wise and generous monk, Father Cham.  Father Cham teaches him about boundless compassion, staying true to yourself and looking for ways to lift others. At the temple, with Father Cham Pong learns and grows – his life is changed forever.

Four years after the prison visit, Nok is faced with a dilemma.  Her parents have asked her to leave the city to attend a well respected school run by monks in the country-side.  They feel it will be best for the family – Nok disagrees.  She has always tried to make her parents proud.  She is the best student and the best spire-fighter.  She believes if she can perform one more impressive feat, she will prove her worth to her family and to the elite.  She just has to realize what that feat will be.

When visiting the school, she discovers it.  Nok recognizes a young monk in the village as the boy who escaped from Namwon on the day of the visit that caused her father to lose his position.  She believes that if she can bring this fugitive to justice, no one will again question her worth.  Thus begins Nok’s relentless pursuit of Pong driving them both into the impoverished darker side of Chattana.  Their the rumblings of discontent and protests of the oppressed are stirring.  As they become louder and more intense, both Pong and Nok recognize the importance of empathy and compassion in the face of the blinding power of self-righteousness.  Will that understanding come soon enough to change the course of the future?  Will they survive?  Will Chattana?

A Wish in the Dark is masterful and magical. A must read book!

Happy Reading! 📚  

Northwind

Mrs. Eaves Uncategorized , ,

Gary Paulsen’s last book ~ so good!

Leif, orphaned at birth, raised as a wharf rat, next as a ship rat, was sent with four of the oldest, crippled crew members and the only other young boy on the ship (bought for a bolt of sail cloth) to set up a fish camp.  The rest of the crew sailed north on a seal hunt.  Those in the fish camp set about catching and smoking salmon.

After they had smoked enough fish the last the entire crew six months, they realized that the main ship was not going to come back for them.  It had been gone too long and so the six,  5-year old Little Carl, 12-year old Leif, and four seasoned seamen, including wise and caring Big Carl, created a cedar dugout large enough for all of them to return to a port to find another ship.  Before they were able to leave the fish camp, a ghost ship drifted into and out of  their bay, silently leaving a deadly sickness.

The older seamen succumbed first.  But before Big Carl became too ill, he gathered a bundle of supplies and pushed Leif and Little Carl out to sea in the canoe, advising them to head North to stay away from the sickness.  While at sea, the boys became ill too.  Leif recovers. Little Carl does not.  After burying Little Carl, Leif follows the old seaman’s advice and paddles North.  Day after day after day after week Leif paddles.  This Long Paddle is full of danger, challenge, constant change and wonder.  Leif observes carefully –  looks for new ways to understand and know – always questions and always learns.  What a journey!  You won’t regret a moment of your time with Leif.  Maybe you’ll be inspired to find a quest of your own.

Happy Reading! 📚

Sorry I was away for so long ~ I had computer issues.  They’re fixed for now.  Phew!📖

How to Get Away with Myrtle

Mrs. Eaves Uncategorized ,

I really like Myrtle.  She is a spunky detective.  If you’re a mystery lover, I know you’ll like her too.   Before the train has left the station in the second book of the series (and I hope it is long), Myrtle is on a new case.

Myrtle has been sent on a “relaxing vacation” by her father.  She is to be accompanied on this trip by Aunt Helena, Miss Judson and Peony – because at the last minute Myrtle just couldn’t leave her cat behind.   Peony may be the only good thing about being on a “vacation” with Aunt Helena at the seaside.   At the train station Myrtle begins observing what is happening all around her –  as any detective would.  When she sees something that seems a bit off, she follows her instincts … and follows.

This is how she makes the acquaintance of Mrs. Bloom, a professional insurance investigator who is aboard this train the to protect the priceless Northern Lights Tiara. Myrtle is looking forward to learning all that she can from the investigator, but before the train reaches its destination, both the tiara and Mrs. Bloom have vanished. 

At the end of the line a dead body Is discovered in the baggage car.  Someone has been murdered—with Aunt Helena’s sewing shears.   The trip is derailed, the local police appear to be inept, Scotland Yard is in no rush to arrive, so Myrtle is the only one following the leads. What’s a smart, bored Young Lady of Quality stranded in a washed-up carnival town to do?  

Readers who already know Myrtle, will know exactly what her choice will be.  If this is your first time with  Myrtle, she will follow the evidence to find out which of her fellow travelers is a thief and a murderer.

There are lots of challenges along the way as you read along with Myrtle and solve this mystery.  I hope there is a  next book with Myrtle.  If there is, I’ll be reading it!.

Happy Reading!📚

What Happened on Fox Street

Mrs. Eaves Uncategorized ,

Fox Street has everything Maureen Jewel Wren, usually called Mo, could want.  Her family lives in the heart of the dead end street – Mo considers this end one of its best traits.   Her family’s home is surrounded by all the things they need – a person who cuts hair perfectly, a fix-it man who makes things work, a piano player who adds beauty, her best friend’s grandmother who insures summers together, some wild boys who add spice and a creepy lady who adds to the intrigue   of the street.  Everything is there,  but most importantly for Mo are the memories Fox Street holds.  Fox Street holds all her memories of her mom.  It’s where they lived as a family before the accident that took her away.

Mo’s never seen a fox on Fox Street, but she always looks.  In fact, she and her best friend, Mercedes, have a secret place beyond the guardrail, down in the scrubby ditch at the end of the street.  They call it the Fox’s Den – they’ve always gone there to share their secrets, to solve their problems and to have a little away time from Mo’s little sister,  “Wild Child” Dottie.  That is until this summer when everything is changing.

This is the story of that unforgettable summer where everything changes ~ and yet somehow Mo finds a way to stay connected to the important things ~ family, friends, home and memories.

Read What Happened on Fox Street by Tricia Springstubb to find out Mo manages all this and  perhaps sees, saves…? the first fox on Fox Street.

I really loved these characters.  I hope you do too.  Each one of them is developed as a unique sparkling gem.  I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Happy Reading!📚

The Emerald Atlas

Mrs. Eaves Guest Reviewer

The Emerald Atlas Book Review By Ogen Y ~ a guest reviewer  from Northwood Elementary School

The Emerald Atlas is a fantasy/adventure book about 3 kids who are left by their parents,  but are part of a prophecy. The oldest one, Kate, has to take care of her younger siblings, Micheal and Emma. They live in orphanages and they find a magical book called The Atlas. They put an old picture in it and they get teleported to Cambridge Falls in the past, full of magical disasters. But then they lose The Atlas. Can they retrieve it in this magical past of their setting? Read it to find out! If I were to rate this book, I’d say 5 stars out of 5 stars. 2 things I like about this book is that it is so detailed, it can make you actually feel a reaction when reading it, I also like how they were able to add so much story and plot to the 1st book!  One thing I wish was that there could be more length to the book because it was such a good read. Overall, a pretty good book!

Boots

Mrs. Eaves Uncategorized , ,

Boots completes Kate Hannigan’s The League of Secret Heroes trilogy. (Well, maybe?!.  As the books ends, there is room for more stories with these characters. I would be glad to read them.)   The series presents a blend of history, mystery and superpower action.  They are fun!  The graphic interludes sprinkled throughout are a nod to comic books, important to the era, and the stories.  Each book, Boots, Mask and Cape, celebrates the story of the girls who make the new super-hero group, The Infinity Trinity.  Through them readers learn about different aspects of society during the. World War II era.  One is an Irish immigrant, one is Japanese American and one is African American.

Throughout the series Josie, Akiko. And Mae, discover and grow their powers.  Drawn together by their love of comic book heroes, the girls soon realize something is wrong.  There are plots and spies in the. United States.  Through codes, ciphers and persistence, the girls realize they must do something to help their heroes survive and save their country.

Boots begins in Chicago where the girls discover a Nazi plot to disrupt airplane manufacturing.    Chicago is where Mae’s grandmother and aunts live  Mae’s aunts are pilots who deliver planes from the manufacturing plants to the air strips where they will be launched into service.  The plot becomes personal when the evil Metallic Falcon captures Aunt Willa and Aunt Janet in an attempt to keep the Infinity Trinity from achieving their ultimate goal of finding and freeing Zenobia and the other missing super heroes.

It will take all their courage and skill.  Can they complete their biggest mission yet?

 

Happy Reading!📚