Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
306 pages

    Fourteen-year-old Sherlock Holmes is horrified when his older brother, Mycroft, tells him that instead of returning home for vacation, he will be staying with his aunt and uncle-who he doesn't even know. His stay there is made even worse by the awful housekeeper, Mrs. Eglantine. Thankfully, Sherlock is able to make friends with a local poor boy, Matty.
    When Sherlock finds a dead body in the woods covered in what appears to be boils from the plague, he is determined to find out why the man died. With the help of Matty and Sherlock's tutor, Amyus Crowe, Sherlock investigates the dangerous mystery. Soon, it is clear that the man's death was deliberate, not an illness. Can Sherlock find out who is behind the murder before more are killed?

**Book 1 in Sherlock Holmes: The Legend Begins**
Next book: Rebel Fire

Praise:

"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle left many clues to Sherlock Holmes's origins in his tales, but it has taken Andrew Lane to do the detective work of ferreting them out and fitting them together into an intelligent, authentice, persuasive, and downright exciting depiction of the English boy who will one day become Mr. Sherlock Holmes of 221B Baker Street, London, the world's first consulting detective . . . It is a profile Conan Doyle would not only recognize, but would agree enthusiastically as being consistent with his own image of the character."
                                                         -The Conan Doyle Estate

Watch This Video

Today, I saw this amazing video. I have no words to sum it up, you just have to watch it.

Swords of the Six by Scott Appleton

Swords of the Six by Scott Appleton
309 pages

    The mighty white dragon is betrayed by his six most trusted soldiers. A thousand years later, the dragon hatches six human daughters from eggs, each with the blood of the dragon. He trains the six sisters to fight with the traitors' swords and sends them on a mission to bring justice to the traitor. Along the way , they will face danger and impossible choices. Will they be strong enough to comlete their task, or will they become divided?

**Book 1 in The Sword of the Dragon**
Next book: Offspring

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby
321 pages

    Solveig, the third child of the king, is in hiding with he siblings, waiting for their father to win the war so they can return home. With the ocean freezing over and their supplies running low, they begin to loose hope. When their father sends his berserker warriors, hope is born only briefly. No one trusts these unpredictable men and they only seem to cause trouble.
    Solveig is troubled by her father's lack of attention. When Aldric, the storyteller, suggests that she learn his craft, she agrees. But she is afraid of what her family will think. Will she be brave enough to be herself? Will they even survive until the end of the war? With the possibility of a traitor in their midst, hope does not seem likely.

Path to Truth by Jude Watson

Path to Truth by Jude Watson
170 pages

    Young Anakin Skywalker is almost thirteen. When Obi-Wan, his Jedi master, tells him it is time for Anakin to make his lightsaber, Anakin is very excited. But while in the caves of Ilum, Anakin has disturbing visions. After he has completed his lightsaber, he and Obi-Wan are given a mission. Anakin is happy, until he finds out what the mission is: they are to track down the slave trader, Krayn-the same one who raided Anakin's village when he was young. When Obi-Wan suggests that he is not ready, Anakin is determined to prove himself.
    This mission also proves to be complicated for Obi-Wan. Krayn's assistant is the fallen Jedi who was once his best friend. Can Anakin and Obi-Wan complete their assignment, or will their emotions get in the way?

**Book 0 in Jedi Quest**
Next book: The Way of the Apprentice


Visit The Ultimate Star Wars Blog to learn more about the Star Wars Saga!

The Trail of the Jedi by Jude Watson

The Trail of the Jedi by Jude Watson
128 pages

    Anakin and Obi-Wan are going on a special mission. But Anakin is not happy. This "mission" is really a complex game to build the Padawan's skills and develop a deeper relationship between him and his master. There task is to track another Jedi, Wren, across a planet.
    Confident, Anakin assumes the task will be easy and they will find Wren in a single day. When the "clues lead them into danger, both Anakin and Obi-Wan are sure something is amiss. They find a young girl who says she was on a school picnic when her classmates were captured. The two jedi agree to help her, but they are soon sabatoged. Why is someone attacking them? Is the young girl telling the truth?

**Book 2 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The Way of the Apprentice
Next book: The Dangerous Games

Visit The Ultimate Star Wars Blog to learn more about the Star Wars Saga!

The Way of the Apprentice by Jude Watson

The Way of the Apprentice by Jude Watson
160 pages

    Anakin Skywalker, the fourteen-year-old apprentice of Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, is learning how to be a Jedi. His master is teaching him well and he is strong with the Force. He enjoys going on missions with Obi-Wan to help people throughout the galaxy. Soon, they set out on a new mission with three other master-Padawan teams. They go to the planet of Radnor, which is threatened by the release of a toxic chemical.
    At first, all seems to be normal-apart from the fact that the people are dying and those who are not are either going crazy with panic or looting homes and shops. But after closer investigation, it seems that the chemical's release may not be an accident. When the Padawans are separated from their masters, the must work together  to handle the situation. Can Anakin work with his fellow learners or will conflict arise?

**Book 1 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: Path to Truth

Next book: The Trail of the Jedi


Visit The Ultimate Star Wars Blog to learn more about the Star Wars Saga!

Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis

Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
289 pages

    Years ago, a young girl was captured by Indians. Now, Taabe Waipu is a  young woman. Ned Bright, a stagecoach driver, finds her injured along the side of the road after she runs away from her village. He takes her to the Catholic mission so the nuns can care for her. Taabe desperately wants to find the family she no longer remembers, but it is so hard to adjust to American life, especially since she has forgotten English.
    Ned and the Nuns do all they can to help Taabe, but the wonder if she will ever find her family. When Taabe tells them that an Indian man wants to marry her and is chasing after her, things get complicated. Will Taabe be safe in the mission? Will she ever find out who she really is?

**Book 2 in Texas Trails**

Note: I read this book first, without reading book 1 and it was not confusing at all.

My thoughts:

I loved this book.  Historical fiction is not usually my first choice, but the description of the story caught my attention. I did not realise that it was the second book in the series until after I was finished reading it, but the story was completely comprehensible, so I just assumed it was number one.
There was little violence. Taabe fell off her horse and was bruised and injured. She says that the Indians beat her when she spoke English, but were otherwise kind to her. A raiding party of Indians come to the mission and try to take Taabe back. In the fight, one man is killed.
There are only one or two kisses, and a mention of Taabe being married and having a son, who died. An Indian man is chasing Taabe because he wants her to be his wife.
Overall, this was a great read and definitely clean. I would recommend it to everyone, and I'm sure young children from fourth grade and up could read it with their parents.

A song for Easter

Today is Easter, so here is one of my favourite songs. It is perfect for today.

He is Risen!
Amen.
Happy Easter:)

Blogger Tag

I have have "Tagged" by blogger Mary Ruth Pursselley. Here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules. (Sort of like Barney Fife's Rule #1 - Obey all rules!)
2. You must post 11 fun facts about yourself in the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and set up 11 more questions for those you've tagged.
4. Tag 11 new bloggers (be sure to hyperlink their names).
5. Let the tagged people know you've tagged them.
6. Have fun!

My eleven Fun Facts:

1. I hate romantic stories (in books and movies), but I love to read retellings of fairy tales.

2. My favourite sport is fencing.

3. I play four instruments and I sing.

4. I saw Star Wars for the first time in 2011.

5. My bedroom does not have one 'theme' for decorations, but I do have separate themes for each section(including my ceiling)

6. When I am public, I am very quiet and reserved, but at home, I am very loud and I like to sing.

7. I already have my outfit picked out for May 4th-even my socks

8. When I was little, I used to think that you could send a letter through the telephone.

9. I have had my blog for almost a year and a half

10. I love music, especially classical music from movies like Star Wars and Narnia.

11. The latest I have stayed up is 'till four in the morning (because a friends was watching Batman Returns and I couldn't sleep.)


The questions I must answer:

1. What's the weirdest movie you've ever watched?
I'm not really sure about this one, since I am generally not attracted to weird movies. I would have to say either All Quiet On the Western Front or The Omega Code, both of which I saw in school. I guess The Omega code would fit the weird definition better.

2. If you could choose an actor to become a character they've portrayed and you got to meet him/her, who would you pick?
This is hard. I a lot of trouble choosing. I guess it would be Anna-Sophia Robb becoming Bethany Hamilton from Soul Surfer.

3. What's the strangest compliment anyone ever gave you?
I have no idea. I seem to remember one, but I can't exactly put my finger on it. Sorry.

4. If you were a weapon, what would you be?
Hmm. That is an interesting question. I think I would have to say a lightsaber-Small, easily hidden, but surprisingly fierce and deadly.

5. What's your favorite song from a Disney movie?
I think it would have to be "A Whole New World" from Aladdin, but I like others also. I love the music from  the Narnia movies.

6. Of all the programs on your computer, which one do you spend the most time using?
Microsoft word.

7. If you could visit a fictional/fantasy world, which one would you choose?
Narnia.

8. Finish this sentence: "Even though I'm a grownup, I still love..."
Playing with my little sister. Sometimes, we will act out scenes from a movie.

9. What's the best fort you ever made/had as a kid?
My sister and I loved to build forts with chairs, blankets and pillows, but I think the coolest fort we ever mad was a snow fort. It had huge wall and a 'hallway' to get in. Then, in front, we made this huge hole to hide in and attack my dad with snow balls when he passed.

10. Share your favorite quote.
I have so many! I think this one is very funny: "I think it's only fair to warn you that I am trained in the ancient art of Origami!" It is from Ella Enchanted. To see more of my favourite quotes, visit my "Quote" page.

11. Have you ever had an "I know what you're thinking, but I can explain!" moment? Share it, if you have.
I can't think of one.

Bloggers I am tagging:
Tales of Goldstone Wood
Clean Teen Fiction
Bryan Davis Author Blog
THE FLAMING PEN
Chronicles of the Evil One
The Book Gargoyle
Chronicles of a Narnian
Enter the Door Within
Amanda's Musings
Blue Rose's Heart
Rebecca's Book Blog

Questions they must answer:

1.Who is you favourite character from a movie (and from which movie)?

2. What is your favourite holiday and why?

3. Who is you favourite music artist/group/composer?

4. If you were an animal, which one would you be (mythical animals included)?

5. What is you favourite vacation spot?

6. If you could be a character from a book or movie, who would you be?

7. If you had a theme song which one whould it be?

8. Where do you go to get inspiration (for writing, drawing, etc.) and what music do you listen to (if any)?

9. What book has taught you the best lesson?

10.What is your most vivid childhood memory?

11. What is you favourite series of movies?

Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

    What do you do when you see a homeless person? Most people "politely" ignore them. But college boys Mike and Sam decide to do more than just fell sorry for them, they become them.
    For five months, the boys choose to go homeless in five different cities across the country. They give up most of their possessions and leave their families, friends and school to go experience a new life. This is an amazing story of faith and redemption.