A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur
367 pages

    Thirteen-year-old Lucy Thomkins loves writing poetry, and has many hopes and dreams for her life. These dreams are nearly shattered when her father anounces they will be moving to Kansas Territory. Lucy tries to see it as an adventure, but she is too disappointed. The only thing she enjoys is school, and when a new teacher arrives, Lucy is thrilled to hear that Miss Kellogg loves poetry as well. Miss Kellogg encourages Lucy to find out what her poetry is trying to say. Lucy thinks that the purpose is to get her father and the men to realize that guns are not the answer to Kansas' problems, but Miss Kellogg challenges her to think beyond that.
     When Lucy discovers that her new friend is part of a group that is harbouring runaway slaves, Lucy realizes what the true struggle is. Can Lucy and her new friends make a difference in Kansas? Can Lucy get her voice heard?

Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul --- Review

Title: Dragonspell
Author: Donita K. Paul
Series: Dragon Keeper Chrinicles-Book 1
Pages: 334
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Genre: Fantasy/Allegory
My Rating: ***** (Five Stars)

Summary: Kale was a slave in Amara, but she is now free. Her masters have sent her to The Hall to be in Paladin's service. She is excited for he new role in society, but completely underestimates her own potential.
Before she even gets to The Hall, she encounters seven dragon eggs and two companions on a quest for a special dragon egg held captive by an evil wizard. When Kale and her new friends, Dar and Leetu, are attacked and Leetu is taken captive, Kale is plunged into a quest that she didn't ask for. Can Kale be brave enough to face her own destiny and rescue her friend? Will they find the egg before the wizard uses it for evil?

My thoughts: I love books about dragons, and this one was really great. It wasn't confusing, even though the author made up many races for the land of Amara. They were slowly introduced, as were the concepts of life in Amara. Kale is a character you can relate to. She is eager to serve, but not sure of her own talents.
As an allegorical book, there were characters representing God (Wulder) and Jesus (Paladin), but the connections were not forced and the messages were not at all "preachy."
I will definitely want to read and review the rest of the series.

The only problem I had was with the cover. The illustration  is beautiful, but misleading. Although the book is about dragons, there is no scene in the story where someone sneaks up on a sleeping dragon, as the cover suggests.

One of my favourite parts:   "Paladin grew somber. 'Mordakleeps are the embodiment of nothing. Within their grasp, [Leetu] was surrounded by nothing. No sounds, no sights, no smells, no taste, not the touch of something against her skin, not even the feel of her skin. Why, even her sense of up or down was hidden from her. Inside a mordakleep, there is no sign of life. In that oblivion, her mind writhed in anguish and shut down against the pain of loneliness and isolation. . . . Wulder has a place like that. It's used for punishment of those who defy Him with every breath until the very last time they exhale on our world. . . .' "   (pg. 201)  My friends and I have talked about what Hell will be like, and one friends suggested that even if there is no fire and burning sulfur, it will still be the worst place because we will be eternally separated from our creator. That is punishment beyond imagination.

**Book 1 in The Dragon Keepers Chronicles**
Next book: Dragon Quest

To learn more . . .

• Donita's Web Site
• More Info
• Read Chapter One
• Author Bio

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. (Thank you!)

Please rank my review on the publisher's site by clicking here.

The Moment of Truth by Jude Watson

The Moment of Truth by Jude Watson
132 pages

    As Anakin and Obi-Wan go to help the people on the last free planet in the  Uziel system, the tension gets worse between master and apprentice. Anakin blames himself for Yaddles death, and Obi-wan doesn't know what to say. The two Jedi work side by side to find the plans for the attack, but it is an uneasy time.
    When Anakin is captured, his captors do scientific experiments on him, making him almost  forget about the mission. Will he get out in time to save the people?

**Book 7 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The Shadow Trap

Next book: The Changing of the Guard



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

The Shadow Trap by Jude Watson

The Shadow Trap by Jude Watson
125 pages

    On the planet Mawan, Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Master Yaddle try to establish peace in the war town land when there is only chaos. The working class lives underground, while the crimelords control the surface. The two Jedi find the three biggest criminals and devise a plan to get them off planet. The first agrees readily, but the other two will not be so easy.
    One may even be an enemy they have dealt with before. An enemy not easily defeated. Can Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yaddle figure out a safe way to resolve the problem, or will more lives be lost?

**Book 6 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The School of Fear

Next book: The Moment of Truth


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

The School of Fear by Jude Watson

The School of Fear by Jude Watson
142 pages

    A senator's son has gone missing from his elite leadership school. Anakin Skywalker, now sixteen, is sent with a fellow Padawan, Ferus Olin, to the school. Ferus and Anakin are to work together to find the secrets of the school, but Anakin sees Ferus as his rival. He thinks Ferus is stuck up and doesn't like him at all. Can they work together to find the missing boy?
    At the school, they soon realize that the students are the suspicious ones, rather than the staff. And if the boy was kidnapped, how was the security breached? Is it possible that he never left the building?

**Book 5 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The Master of Disguise

Next book: The Shadow Trap


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Rebel Fire by Andrew Lane

Rebel Fire by Andrew Lane
335 pages

    A teenage Sherlock Holmes is about to find himself immersed in his second mystery, this time in America! His brother Mycroft and his tutor, Amyus Crowe have heard rumours that the infamous American assassin, John Wilkes Booth, is still alive. Rebel confederates are planning on using him to rally new troops and cause a major rebellion. As Amyus Crowe prepares to leave for America, Sherlock and Matty find themselves trapped in the temorary headquarters of the very same men they are tracking. With exclusive information, they set off to tell Crowe, but Matty is kidnapped.
    Crowe takes Sherlock and his daughter, Virginia, with him to America to track down Matty and the criminals, but the web of conspirators is even more complex than any of them can imagine.

**Book 2**
Previous book: Death Cloud

Next book:

The Master of Disguise by Jude Watson

The Master of Disguise by Jude Watson
139 pages

    A mission to help a group of trapped scientists brings Obi-Wan and his apprentice, Anakin, to the planet Haariden, a planet in the middle of civil war. When their plans are disrupted, they discover a figure from their past in behind this: Granta Omega. A man facinated by the Dark Side of the Force, Omega has sabotaged Anakin's mission before. Desperate to find Omega and the Sith he is trying to impress, Anakin may not realize who his real enemies are until it is too late.

**Book 4 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The Dangerous Games

Next book:  The School of Fear


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The Dangerous Games by Jude Watson

The Dangerous Games by Jude Watson
169 pages

    Anakin and Obi-Wan are sent to the planet of Euceron to keep peace and order during the popular Galactic Games. The mission seems tame, but when a speeder is reported as stolen, they realize things will get complicated. Acquaintances and those who seem to be on their side may really be working for the enemy.
    When Anakin finds out about the illegal podrace that will be taking place, his past comes back to him and he cannot resist going. A turn of events has Anakin racing as a pilot in the race. But Obi-Wan and the other Jedi find that the podrace has been fixed. Will Anakin be safe? Can the Jedi find out who is behind the sabotaged games?

**Book 3 in Jedi Quest**
Previous book: The Trail of the Jedi

Next book: The Master of Disguise


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

New Blog

In addition to this blog, I now have a Star Wars blog to show the awesomeness of Star Wars and Star Wars fans. Please check it out when you get the chance. Today is also Star Wars Day.

http://theultimatestarwarsblog.blogspot.com/

First Test by Tamora Pierce

First Test by Tamora Pierce
206 pages

    Keladry (Kel)  has always wanted to be a knight. When the kingdom of Tortall changes the laws so that females can train for knighthood, Kel jumps at the chance. She knows it will not be easy, but it is harder than she thought. Most people do not like the idea of Lady Knights and will do anything to stop Kel from completing her training. Even the training master has prejudice against her and puts her on probation for the first year.
   It seems that only Nealan will be Kel's friend. Can Kel prove her worth to everyone before the season ends and she is sent home?

**Book 1 in The Protector of the Small Quartet**
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