Books for Christmas

Christmas is a great time for getting books. Although not many of the presents under the tree were books this year, I did get lots of gift cards, and the books that I did get were good ones.

Books under the tree:

Collision Course by Gordon Korman
S.O.S. by Gordon Korman
Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix


Books I bought with gift cards:

Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
Slayers by C. J. Hill
I also got some movies:

A Christmas Carol The Musical
The Princess Bride

What books did you get for Christmas?

The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan

The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan
293 pages

    Will and the warrior, Horace, hold the fate of the kingdom in their hands. Sir Keren has captured Castle Macindaw after poisoning its rightful leaders. He plans on letting the Scotti in to Araluen, where they plan to take over the who country. Will and Horace quickly round up a small army of Skandians and outcasts who live in the forest.With so much at stake, they cannot afford to make any mistakes. But the kingodm is not the only thing is terrible danger. Will's friend, Alyss, is being held captive by Keren and who knows what he plans to do with his prisoner.

**Book 6 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: The Sorcerer of the North
Next book: Erak's Ransom

The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan

The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan
295 pages

    Will is finally a real ranger-his apprenticeship is done-so he has his own fief to look after. Nothing is happening in his fief and Will is quite bored. But suddenly, he gets reassigned to a castle in the north, where the lord has been struck with a mysterious illness. Local residents say that the illness is the result of sorcery. In disguise, Will travels to uncover the mystery.
    When he first arrives, the solution seems simple: the lord's son is teaming up with the evil sorcerer, Malkallam, who lives in the woods. But after further investigation, Will realizes that superstition has a lot to do with the hasty conclusions everyone has been making. And no one in the castle is as they seem.

**Book 5 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: The Battle for Skandia
Next book: The Siege of Macindaw

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix
197 pages

    When Gideon Thrall gets chosen to receive a medal of courage, Tessa is overjoyed. Their small town now has something to celebrate about! But Gideon runs off the stage, saying her is not a hero and he doesn't deserve the medal. Tessa is very confused, so she follows him to see why he reacted in such a way.
    Soon, the two teens are caught up in a mystery that is dangerous and frightening: why are they fighting this war? And why are the computers giving them contradicting information about the battle sights and enemy territories? Can they be brave enough to face the truth when no one else is?

    Tessa's body reacted as quickly as her mind. Before she was even concious of moving, she was already on her feet and running toward Gideon. Her legs tangled in the blanket, but she kept going, diving for Gideon. She knocked him sideways onto the floor of the plane, so if any of the enemy were already trying to shoot him, the bullets would just whiz harmlessly past. But this wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to tackle him, to hold him down, the mud form her ragged clothes rubbing off on his spotless white uniforn. Guns could ne reloaded, re-aimed, fired again and again and again.
    Tessa rose up and slammed her hand against the control on the wall.

The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan

The Battle for Skandia by John Flanagan
294 pages

    Will and Evanlyn are close to escaping the northern lands when Evanlyn is kidnapped. Halt and Horace rescue them just in time, but they suspect something big behind the kidnapping. With further investigation, they see that the Temujai's are planning on attacking Skandia, and then Araluen.
    Only an alliance with the Skandians will save both countries, but will it work? What about the Oberjarl's vow to kill Evanlyn?

Captured!

 As she pushed her way through the snow-laden bushes, becoming wetter and wetter in the process, she felt a surge of pleasure. The first snare in the line held the body of a small ground-foraging bird. Evanlyn smiled grimly as she thought how once she might have objected to the cruelty of the bird's death. Now, all she felt was a sense of satisfaction as she realized that they would eat well today.
    Amazing how an emty belly could change your perspective, she thought, removing the noose from the bird's neck and stuffing the small carcass in her makeshift game bag. She reset the snare, sprinkling a few seeds of corn on the ground beyond it, then rose to her feet, frowning in annoyance as she realized that the melting snow had left two wet patches on her knees as she'd crouched.
    Evanlyn sensed, rather than heard, the movement in the trees behind her and began to turn.
    Before she could move, she felt an iron grip around her throat, and as she gasped in fright, a fur-gloved hand, smelling vilely of smoke, clapped over her mouth and nose, cutting off her cry for help.

**Book four in Ranger's Apprentice**

Previous book: The Icebound Land

Next book: The Sorcerer of the North

 Australian Cover

The Icebound Land by John Flanagan

The Icebound Land by John Flanagan
266 pages

    Will and Evanlyn have been captured by the Skandians and taken north. Halt arrived just in time to see they sailing away. Vowing to rescue them, he went to get help. He is determined to do anything to save his apprentice and the king's daughter.
    Will and Evanlyn soon find the Erak, the Skandian Jarl that took them, is rough, but sympathetic. But when they reach the village, things get more complicated. They hear that the Oberjarl has taken an unbreakable oath against Evanlyn's family. Can she keep her identity a secret long enough to escape?
    Meanwhile, Halt and Horace travel northward to find their friends, battling knights on their way. but one ruthless knight proves to be more than they expected. Can they escape his fortress in time to save Will and Evanlyn from certain death?

**Book 3 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: The Burning Bridge
Next book: The Battle for Skandia

  Australian Cover

Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson

Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
325 pages

    Five Florida teens-Finn, Maybeck, Willa, Charlene, and Philby-have been chosen as the new DHIs for Disney World. Each is copied as a hologram to guide guests around the park. This new technology turns the five ordinary kids into celebrities. Soon they find out that this new job is not as it seems. each has been recruited by Wayne, a mysterious man who works at Disney. They must stop the Overtakers.
    The Overtakers are a group of Disney Villains, led by Maleficent, who have come alive and want to take over the part-and maybe the world. The teens are able to 'cross over' into Disney as their holographic images at night. With technology no one understands completely and evil characters with magic powers, time is running out to save the park and the world.

**Book one in The Kingdom Keepers**
Next book: Disney at Dawn

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan

The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan
262 pages

    Gilan has chosen Will and Horace to travel with him to a neighbouring village, but no one is there when they arrive. It seems as if all the inhabitants have left in a rush. But why? After finding other villages in the same state, Gilan goes ahead to report their findings.
    While they travel, Will and Horace run into a group of Wargals working for Lord Morgarath. When they follow them, they find out a big secret, one that could change the outcome of the upcoming battle.

 THEY'RE COMING . . .

    The chanting was closer now. It no longer died away as the breeze came and went. It was growing louder and more defined. Will, Horace, and Evanlyn crouched among the bushes, listening as the voices can closer.

    "Maybe you two should move back a little, Will suggested. He had left himself a relatively clear view of the road. He knew that, wrapped in his Ranger cloak, with his face concealed deep within the cowl, he would be virtually invisible, but he wasn't so sure about the others. Without any reluctance, they squirmed back, deeper into the cover of the thick shrubs. Horace's reaction was a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. Evanlyn, Will noted, was pale with fear.
    They had already struck the camp and moved the horses back about a hundred meters into the rocks. He glanced around quickly now to make sure they had left no sign of their presence. Satisfied that they had done everything they could, he turned his attention back to the road.
    " Who are they?" Horace breathed as the chanting grew louder still. Will estimated that it was coming from somewhere around the nearest bend in the road, a mere hundred meters away.
   "Don't you know?" Evanlyn replied, her voice strained with terror. "They're Wargals."

                                                             ~from The Burning Bridge by John Flanagan

**Book 2 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Previous book: The Ruins of Gorlan

Next book: The Icebound Land

 Australian Cover

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
249 pages

    Fifteen-year-old Will wants to be chosen as an apprentice for Battleschool, but he is rejected. Instead, he is accepted by the Ranger, Halt. No one really knows what the mysterious Rangers do, but everyone is afraid of them. Some even think they practice black magic. So, naturally, Will is horrified at his new job.
    But soon he finds out that the Rangers are the king's helper and they protect the kingdom. Will is quickly caught up in plans for protecting the people from Lord Morgarath, the exiled lord who is ready to attack.

THE EPIC BATTLE HAS BEGUN . . .

    It was ten minutes before they heard the screaming. It was an unearthly sound the twisted the stomach into knots of fear and turned the blood cold. Involuntarily, the Baron and Sir Rodney reined in as they heard it. Their horses plunged wildly against the reins. It came from straight ahead of them and rose and fell, until the air quaked with the horror of it.

    . . ."What is that?"

   It's the Kalkara, " Will said. "They're hunting."

**Book 1 in Ranger's Apprentice**
Next book: The Burning Bridge

 Australian Cover

The World Above by Cameron Dokey

The World Above by Cameron Dokey
                            A Retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk"
175 pages

    Gen lives in the World Below. When her twin brother, Jack, trades the family cow for magic beans, Gen is furious, but, to her surprise, their mother is not-she's happy. She tells the twins that the stories she told them about the World Above are real, and the beans will grow magic beanstalks so they can climb there.
    In the stories, Gen's mother was the duke's wife, but she had to escape when her husband was murdered. Now, she knows she can go back with her children and claim what is rightfully theirs.
    But when Jack doesn't come back from the World Above and Gen goes after him, they realize that things are much more complicated.


    "I'm sorry I never really believed," I said. "Not the way Jack did."
    "It doesn't make any difference," my mother replied. Her eyes focused on the beanstalk for a moment, then returned to mine. "You believe now. Be safe and smart up there, my Gen. Be yourself.
    Before I could answer, my mother turned away and walked quickly toward the house. I turned to face the beanstalk.
    There is no going back, now, I thought.
    For better or worse, there was only going forward. There was only going up. Seizing the trunk of the beanstalk with both hands, I pushed of from the World Below and began to climb

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott

The Pale Assassin by Patricia Elliott
327 pages

    Fourteen-year-old Eugenie de Boncoeur is a spoiled aristocrat living i the midst of the French Revolution. Her brother, Armand, is keeping many secrets from her. This annoys her very much, for she would like to know just what is happening in her country, but there is an even greater secret than the Revolution ideas that Armand is keeping.
    Their guardian arranged for Eugenie to marry a wealthy man called Le Fantome. The arrangement was made for wealth, but Le Fantome hold a secret grudge against the de Boncoeur family. Can Armand keep his sister safe from the Revolution and Le Fantome?

**Book 1**
Next Book: The Traitor's Smile

Precisely Terminated by Amanda L. Davis

Precisely Terminated by Amanda L. Davis
347 pages

    Monica is the only slave in the world without a tracking chip in her skull. The Nobles have them implanted at birth so they can control their slaves, but Monica escaped. Now, Monica is their only hope of being free from death and oppression. Can Monica stay hidden from the enemies? Can she be brave enough to fight off the evil and save her friends?


**Book 1 in the Cantral Chronicles**
Next book: Noble Imposter

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
322 pages

    Reveka is apprenticed to an herbalist. She like her job well enough, but she would rather live in a convent and open her own herbery. The only problem is that she doesn't have the money. Then she learns of the curse on the twelve princesses. The king offers one of his daughters in marriage to whoever breaks the curse and if a girl breaks it, he will provide her dowry-or money for the convent, in Revka's case. So Revka sets out to break the curse.
    But things are much more complicated. Anyone who has stayed in the princesses room to find where they go to dance is either found in an endless sleep or they disappear. Reveka is frightened by the terrible fates of the many who have gone before her, but she knows she must continue. With the help of unexpected friends of all kinds, she continues her quest. But will she succeed? Or will the curse get her as well?

Two Horses- Author Unknown

This beautiful story was given to me by an english teacher who got it as an email:

Two Horses
Author Unknown

Just up the road from my home is a
field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks
like any other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are
walking by, you will notice something
quite amazing. . . .

Looking into the eyes of one horse
will disclose that he is blind. His
owner has chosen  not to have him
put down, but has made a good
home for him.

This alone is amazing. If you stand
nearby and listen you will hear the
sound of a bell. Looking around for
the source of the sound, you will see
that it comes from the smaller horse
in the field.

Attached to the horse's halter is a
small bell. It lets the blind friend
know where the other horse is, so he
can follow.

As you stand and watch these two
friends, you'll see that the horse with
the bell is always checking on the
blind horse, and that the blind horse
will listen for the bell and then slowly
walk to where the other horse is,
trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns
to the the shelter of the barn each
evening, it stops occasionally and
looks back,
Making sure that the blind friend isn't
too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses,
God does not throw us away just
because we are not perfect or
because we have problems or
challenges.

He watches over us and even brings
others into our lives
To help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse
being guided by the little ringing bell
of those who places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse,
helping others find their way. . . .

Good friends are like that . . . You may
not always see them, but you know
they are aways there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll
listen for yours, and remember . . .

Be kinder than necessary-
Everyone you meet is fighting
some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeoly,
Speak kindly . . . . .

And leave the rest to God!

FOR WE WALK BY FAITH AND
NOT BY SIGHT

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Steel by Carrie Vaughn
287 pages
     Sixteen-year-old Jill, a competing fencer, finds a broken tip of a rapier on the beach where here family is vacationing. She picks it up and it magically transports her to an eighteenth-century pirate ship. The ship's captain, who happens to be a girl, is fighting with another pirate named Blane, whose sword is missing the piece Jill found. While Jill struggles to find her way back home, she is caught in the middle of the fight. What will it take for her to find the secret to the magic sword?

Wonderful Mail

Guess what came in the mail yesterday. A package from Anne Elisabeth Stengl! I won signed copies of both her books, Heartless and Veiled Rose . . .

A book mark for each book . . .





 plus a Veiled Rose magnet and a pencil  for each book.

And I thought I was only getting signed books!. . .  Book pencils. What a great idea!

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
513 pages

    Percy Jackson has a huge problem: he cannot remember anything about his life. He woke up in a cave with a wolf named Lupa. Lupa taught him some basic things about being a demigod and sent him off to find the Roman demigod camp, Camp Jupiter. Percy does remember one thing, though-Annabeth. But who Annabeth is or where she is is still out of his mind. So Percy travels across the country to find the camp, battling monsters the whole way.
    At camp, Percy is greeted by the Roman legion. On top of being overwhelmed by the size of the camp, Percy realises that some of the campers might turn out to be enemies. Soon he is sent on a quest-much to some of the campers' disgust-with Hazel and Frank, two other demigods. They must free the Greek god of death so the monsters will stay dead and defeat the giant sons of Gaea. With monsters, prophecies and the past all hindering their progress, with Percy, Hazel, and Frank be able to complete their quest and return home alive?


**Book 2 in The Heroes of Olympus**
Previous book: The Lost Hero
Next book: The Mark of Athena

I love this picture. It has a fairy-tale look and is so beautiful. Looks like great inspiration for a story or a book. I think I have some good ideas to add on to the book I am writing. What do you think?

Jessica Day George's new princess book!

'My next book will come out next fall (roughly) and is the third and FINAL book about the Twelve Dancing Princesses. It is entitled PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOOD. It is Princess Petunia's story, and is based on Little Red Riding Hood.'
 Jessica Day George has finally announced the third princess book! I cannot wait. Princess of the Midnight Ball is my favourite book, so naturally, I am excited about book three.

Check out:



and

The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson

The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson
311 pages

    Aidan Thomas is miserable. He just moved to another state away from his best friend because his parents wanted to help his grandfather. Looking for adventure, Aidan comes across three scrolls in the basement of his grandfather's house. They contain a beautiful story of love and betrayal from a fantasy world. His parents tell him that is is The Story, a common book that can be bought at any bookstore. But could the story be true?
    Aidan's grandfather tells him that the story is true and if he trusts and believes, he can 'enter through the door within.' Aidan finds this to be true and ends up in The Realm. There, the traitor, Paragor, is trying to take over the kingdom and defeat the true king. Can Aidan and his new friends find allies and win the battle?

**Book 1 in The Door Within Trilogy**
Next book: Rise of the Wyrm Lord

Warrior by Bryan Davis

Warrior by Bryan Davis
421 pages

    The Dragon Prince has hatched, and as prophesied, is handicapped-he is lacking sight. Now, more than ever, he need Koren, a Starlighter. But Koren, having been a slave and then a prisoner of the Dragon Prince, wants to be free. She knows that there is freedom in the Creator's love and longs for that. So she escapes. But will she be able to help her fellow slaves?
    Jason Masters, a young man Major Four, has come to Starlight to free the dragons' slaves. He soon meets up with Koren and together they journey to the Northlands to find the injured star, Exodus. If they can get Exodus to rise again, then the dragons will have no reason to keep the humans as slaves. But with so many against them, can they succeed?

**Book 2 in Dragons of Starlight**
Previous book: Starlighter
Next book: Diviner

Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson

Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson
545 pages
    After narrowly escaping from thier last batele with the Overtakers, the Kingdom Keepers realize that Amanda and Jess need to be part of their group. They quickly turn the girls into DHIs so it is easier for them to help.
    Now they need to find Wayne, their mentor, who has gone missing. They know he is being held by Maleficent, but they do not know where. Following clues left by Wayne, the Kingdom Keepers see that the Overtakers have a plan that no one had ever expected.


From the moment Finn took off running, he was afraid. He hated snakes. Any kind of snake gave him the weebies. A python as thick around as a basketball and nearly twenty feet long was the stuff of his worst nightmares-he's never even had a dream that bad. Somewhere inside him he understood how stupid he'd been to offer to play the decoy.
    Somewhere inside him he understood how fast a snake that big could travel across level ground and how if there were any small piece of him not fully crossed-over when the snake couaght up to him-for it would catch up to him no matter how fast he ran-that he would be caught, crushed, and consumed. But he ran straight ar the snake, as fast as his legs would carry him.
                                                                          ~Disney in Shadow by Ridley Pearson

*Book 3 in the Kingdom Keepers series*
Previous book: Disney at Dawn
Next book: Power Play

The Son of Neptune: New Characters Revealed

Several new characters from the Heros of Olympus have been revealed. There parents have not yet been revealed, but it is fun to guess who they are:

Octavian:

Reyna:

Frank:

Ella the Harpy:

Thanatos:

Hazel:


What rick riordan says about each new person:
Hazel- 'Meet Hazel, a girl with a complicated past. Demigod? Yes. Is that horse important? You bet. Hazel has powers you have never seen before, because her godly parent is on the Roman side. But (major hint) she is related to a character you know well from the Percy Jackson series.Which one? I think that will surprise you.'

Thanatos- 'You will meet many gods in The Son of Neptune, but here's a fellow most mortals would prefer not to meet: Thanatos, the god of death. What part will he play, and what's up with those chains? For that, you will have to wait for the book.'
Ella- '. . . This week we meet Ella, a very special harpy who might hold some valuable secrets. But what secrets, and will she be willing to share them?'
Octavian- '. . . Time for another character reveal from The Son of Neptune! Meet Octavian and his unfortunate collection of stuffed animal friends. What Octavian's story? You can get some hints at the Heroes of Olympus website, but only time will tell if he's friend or foe, and what part he will play.'

Reyna- 'Time for our second character reveal for The Son of Neptune. Meet Reyna, with her automaton hounds Aurum and Argentium. Reyna's godly parent? Hint: it's a god you haven't met yet. Is Reyna powerful? Yes. Are those hounds deadly? Yes. Will she be friend or foe to Percy Jackson? Ah, that's a good question.'

Frank- 'Who is Frank's godly parent? What are Frank's powers? You may be surprised. In fact, Frank may be surprised. But he has a very important part to play in The Son of Neptune.'


So, who do you think their parents are? Post your guesses below and we will see who is right on 4 October
when The Son of Neptune releases!

Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson

Disney at Dawn by Ridley Pearson
377 pages

    There is a giant parade on the day the five DHI kids return to Disney World. Everyone is thrilled. It seems that everything is finally the way it should be, but then the kids notice something strange about Cinderella's Castle. When they check it out, they find the Maleficent has escaped. Now they must recapture the villain. But something else is strange as well.
    The Overtakers have messed with the DHI server system. Now, if any of the teens fall asleep, they will not be able to wake up. They have also made a second server to create an animal army. But the teens soon discover that Meleficent is not the one in charge: she has a master, someone even more powerful. Can the Kingdom Keepers stop them?



    Maleficent stood in the open window, her robe fluttering, the fireworks flashing colors in the sky beyond her. "Silly boys!" she said in a raspy voice. "The end is near."

**Book 2 in the Kingdom Keepers series**
Previous book: Disney After Dark
Next book: Disney in Shadow

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
296 pages

    It seems that Adrianne Keynnman's life cannot get any worse. Her father died years ago and his fortune is gone, so the Keynnmans are now poor. Adrianne's Aunt Minnah hates her and her mother is afraid to stand up to her. One night, she finds her sister, Cecily stranded on a rock on the beach. As Adrianne goes out to rescue her, she sees the Windwaithe mermaid trying to take her sister into the sea. She stops the mermaid from taking Cecily, but discovers later that the mermaid is really after her. Adrianne soon realises that the mermaid's call is hard to resist. Will she give in and leave her mother and sister who need her?

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede
339 pages

    Eff is asked to travel past the Barrier Spell and into the unprotected territory of the far west. She finally convinces her mother to let her go. At first, it seems to be no dangerous trip, since they have magic to protect them. But then they see weird things. Wild cats hanging out in unusual places in unusual groups and plants growing in strange places. These may be just a result of teh mirror bugs from the season before, but a frightening and stange discovery tells them otherwise.
    When they stop to camp for the night, Eff and Professor Torgeson find stone statues of animals that are perfectly carved-a little to perfect. Is some unknown creature turning thae animals to stone? Will it be a threat to the settlers, or is it something from a long time ago?



*Book 2 in 'Frontier Magic'*
Previous book: Thirteenth Child

Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede

Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
344 pages

    Eff is the thirteenth child in her family, so everyone thinks she is unlucky. Her Uncle Earn is especially mean about it. Eff's twin brother, Lan, is the seventh son of a seventh son, so everyone thinks he is lucky.  People want Lan to learn magic, so he can be a powerful magician, but no one lets Eff learn. But when the family moves out west to the frontier, everyone's lives change.
    Eff can learn magic, and no one knows that she is supposed to be unlucky. But Eff still has problems. She feels that everything bad that happens is her fault. When a sudden problem comes up, can Eff realize that she is not destined to fail?



*Book 1 of 'Frontier Magic'*
Next book: Across the Great Barrier

The Limit by Kristen Landon

The Limit by Kristen Landon

291 pages

    In a futuristic world, the government controls how much families spend. If a family goes over the limit of spending, they take their eldest child to a work house until their debt is under control. When Matt's family unexpectedly goes over the limit, Matt is taken. The work house is nothing like Matt expected. He is assigned to the top floor, where the smartest kids are. They have computers, video games and huge televisions in their rooms, in addition to a swimming pool, a gym, and a dance room. With all this cool stuff, no one wants to go back home!

     But then Matt realizes something is really wrong. It is up to him and his new friends to find the information that will save all the kids in the work house. But even if they find the evidence,  will anyone believe them?

Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers

Liberty Porter, First Daughter by Julia DeVillers
163 pages

    Liberty's dad is about to become the president of the United States. Which means she is about to become the first daughter! Making friends with the staff and security is easy for Liberty, but making friends with Miss Crum? Not so easy. It seems that everything she does is wrong. Can Liberty be a good First Daughter or will it turn out to be a disaster?