The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry

Young and gentle Dolssa is fearlessly and passionately devoted to her Beloved. When the inquisitors hear of her faith and popularity among the people in her village, they demand that she stop telling them about the love of Jesus, accusing her of blasphemy and heresy. Boldly refusing, she faces execution at the stake, but miraculously escapes. On the run, she is found by Botille, a young woman running a tavern with her sisters. Botille helps keep Dolssa hidden from the inquisitors and the two girls form a bond of friendship.

Based on true events, Julie Berry creates a beautiful story of devotion to one's beliefs and friends.

I loved this book. Julie Berry is my favourite author, and the story she wove for this novel is beautiful. I don't always enjoy historical novels, but of course Julie Berry did an amazing job.

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A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton

Title: A Flight of Arrows
Author: Lori Benton
Genre: Historical Fiction

Hearts are Divided 
Loyalties Will Be Tested
The Fates of Two Families Hang in the Balance
 
Twenty years past, in 1757, a young Redcoat, Reginald Aubrey stole a newborn boy—the lighter-skinned of Oneida twins— during the devastating fall of Fort William Henry and raised him as his own. 
 
No one connected to Reginald escaped unscathed from this crime. Not his adopted daughter Anna. Not Stone Thrower, the Native American father determined to get his son back. Not Two Hawks, William’s twin brother separated since birth, living in the shadow of his absence and hoping to build a future with Anna. Nor Lydia, who longs for Reginald to be free from his self-imposed emotional prison and embrace God’s forgiveness— and her love. 
 
Now William, whose identity has been shattered after discovering the truth of his birth, hides in the ranks of an increasingly aggressive British army. The Redcoats prepare to attack frontier New York and the Continentals, aided by Oneida warriors including Two Hawks, rally to defend it. As the Revolutionary War penetrates the Mohawk Valley, two families separated by culture, united by love and faith, must find a way to reclaim the son marching toward them in the ranks of their enemies. 

    The first problem I had reading this book was that the publisher failed to inform me that it was book 2 in the series, a sequel to The Wood's Edge. Not realizing this until I got the book and started reading, it was difficult to understand what was going on because it was a continuation of another story. Not having read the first book, the characters in A Flight of Arrows seemed underdeveloped to me and the plot points were a bit random and unexplained.

    Since the book is set in the Revolutionary War era, it seems that Benton has attempted to recreate the conventions of speech in that day, writing some of the dialogue in a different style. But she doesn't do this for all of the dialogue, just bits and pieces, making it seem choppy and even more difficult to read. Sentences also seem over-complicated grammatically.

    Another more personal reason that I did not enjoy this book is the focus on Native Americans. I don't have anything against Natives or their stories, but I recently had a bad experience with Native American Literature.

    Despite this being a Christian book, there were quite a few references to sex, with Anna trying to get Two Hawks to stay in a cave with her for the night and kissing him passionately many times. I was not comfortable with this content.

    In a review, best-selling author Lauraine Snelling says "Lori Benton has written another stellar novel set during the Revolutionary War period. The well-drawn characters leap off the pages and take up residence in the reader's hearts, making history come alive." Despite this glowing review and others like it by many readers on Goodreads, I could not enjoy this book.

More information:

• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Author

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Series: N/A
Pages: 550
Genre: Historical
Method of acquirement: Summer book sale
My Rating: 4 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery.

So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. 

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is not at all my usual style of book...not the writing or the genre, but I still loved it. The style was very unconventional, which was hard to get used to at first.
Stories of the Holocaust are always difficult, and while The Book Thief is written about a young girl and has a bit more of a playful feel, this book is really no exception. 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about The Book Thief is that it is narrated by Death.

I did cry during this book. I cried at the end for Liesel and everyone in her town. Though I am not sure how much of my tears were actually for the story, or if it was mainly because I was returning to school...

    Language: There was quite a bit. No f-bomb, though, and the most common was an insult in German, which was used very often - usually in a playful manner.
    Sexual content: Rudy keeps asking Liesel for a kiss. [Something else I can't remember right now]

More information:

• Amazon
• Author
• Goodreads

A Faraway Island by Annika Thor

A Faraway Island by Annika Thor
242 pages

    Nellie and Stephie Steiner are  young Jewish children who have been sent to Sweden  to escape the Nazis in Austria. They are staying in two different homes and both miss their past lives very much. They eagerly await the day when their parents will send for them,  and they will all go to America.
    The Swedish families are nice enough, but Stephie has a hard time adapting. Not only is the language strange, but some of the kids in school are mean to her. She finds it difficult to know who really wants to be her friend.


**Book 1**

    "Nellie, we're in Sweden now," Stephie assures her sister. "There are no Nazi's here. The police in this country don't come and take people away during the night. That's why Mamma and Papa sent us here."

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?

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.

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

Sovay by Celia Rees

Sovay by Celia Rees

404 pages
Price: Hardcover-$16.99 U.S.
         Paperback-$8.99 U.S.

    Sovay Middleton is not like most girls living in 1794. Instead of sitting for portraits and going to tea parties, she would rather dress as a highwayman and rob coaches. Sovay's father has been gone for a long time and no word from her brother, Hugh, has come in a while. Sovay sets out to find her family, but instead find more trouble than she can handle.

    Her search takes her from England to France, where the people are revolting against the aristocrats. Accused of being an English spy, Sovay is caught in a web of lies and deceit. Will she and her friends have what it takes to survive the French Revolution?

    She stationed herself at the crossroads, adjusted the black eye-mask and green kerchief and loosened her weapons.

    The horses slowed as they toiled up the long hill, but as soon as they reached the summit, the driver cracked his whip, ready to make a speedy descent. Sovay rode out and the horses shied but showed no signs of stopping.

        'Stand and deliver!' she shouted.

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

170 pages

    Paddy is a stowaway on the Titanic, hiding from a gangster that killed his best friend. Sophie and her mother have been arrested for starting a fight about women's rights in London. They are being sent back to their home in America. Juliana is embarrassed by her rich father who gambles and doesn't care about important things. Alfie is under-age to be working as a crew member, but he wanted to sail with his father.

    The four kids meet, but are wary of each other. But when someone is after them, will they be able to team up? Will their friendship only end in disaster?

**Book 1 in the Titanic Trilogy**

Next book: Collision Course

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Belladonna by Mary Finn

Belladonna by Mary Finn

367 pages

Price: Hardcover-$16.99 U.S./$19.00Canada

          Paperback-

    When Thomas Rose meets Ling, a former circus performer, she tells him all kinds of stories about the circus. But she is not in the town to tell stories. She is looking for her hourse, Belladonna. She used to dance on the white horse when she was in the circus, but the circus master has sold her. When Ling finds out that she might have been sold to the horse anatomist, George Stubbs, she is worried.

    With the help of Thomas and Stubbs, Ling finds Belladonna. The horse now belongs to a Lady and her son. Ling is glad to have found her horse, but is this what she wants-to see her beautiful Belladonna being ridden by someone else?

Would you read this book? Why or why not? If you have read it, what did you think of it? Please share you opinion.

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

365 pages

     Nefertiti loves to dance and sing, but these are normal for a girl of her status. When her father's friend, a scribe, comes to visit, he secretly teaches Nefertiti to read and write. Her father is furious when he finds out because his sister, Queen Tiye, the Great Royal Wife, used Nefertiti's mother for her skills and she was killed. But her father's efforts to keep her learning a secret are futile; Queen Tiye invites the family to the palace and plans for Nefertiti to marry her oldest son. Can Nefertiti avoid marrying the prince, who cares only about his cat, or will she become the queen's powerful tool?

Next book: Sphinx's Queen

Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow

Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow
275 pages
     Sisters Kimi and Hana are daughters of the Jito, a noble of Japan. When their uncle murders their father and older brothers, Kimi and Hana run away to find their mother and younger brother, who is now the heir. The girls dress as poor farm boys and act as servants in a samurai school. But one of the students is their cousin, and the son of their evil uncle. Will Kimi and Hana be able to stay hidden long enough to find their mother and brother and bring them to safety?

Next book: Chasing the Secret

Cecile: Gates of Gold

Cecile: Gates of Gold by Mary Casanova
179 pages
     Twelve year old Cecile Revel lives in France with her father. While in the woods one day, she comes across a woman from the king's court who has fallen off her horse during the hunting party. Cecile brings help for the woman, and in return, she is rewarded with life in the palace.
     Taking care of Madam's dogs seems like an easy job to Cecile, but when she learns of all the rules she is expected to follow, and also hears rumors about her father's previous life, living in the palace doesn't seem the same as she expected it to be.

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford

The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford
353 pages

     After his father's ship is attacked by ninjas, Jack Fletcher finds himself in Japan. A great samurai heals Jack and adopts him as his own son. Jack meets many new people, friends and those who are prejudiced against him. He attends samurai school and must face the young people there who dislike him.
     On top of his training, Jack must avoid the ninja, Dragon Eye, who attacked his ship and is looking for his father's guide book.


**Book 1 in Young Samurai**
Next book: The Way of the Sword

Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja by Simon Higgins

Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja by Simon Higgins
312 pages
    Moonshadow is a ninja in training. He works for the Grey Light Order and they have decided he is ready to go on a mission. Disguised, Moonshadow travels to the fortress of a war lord to steal his newly aquired plans. When he gets there, he is not only confronted by the guards, but another ninja looking for the plans as well. Will Moonshadow complete his mission successfully, or will he fail? And who is the mysterious other ninja?

Orphan of Destiny by Michael P. Spradlin

Orphan of Destiny by Michael P. Spradlin
258 pages
      Tristan and his friends, Robard and Maryam, have made it to Calais, France. There, Maryam was captured by Sir Hugh, who wants the Holy Grail for himself. When the three escape, they return with Robard to his home in Sherwood forest. But when they arrive, they find the forest is under control of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Will they be able to bring the Grail safely to Rosslyn and free the forest from the Sheriff's rule?

Trial of Fate by Michael P. Spradlin

Trial of Fate by Michael P. Spradlin
230 pages
     Tristan miraculously survives the storm that threw him off of the ship he and his friends were traveling on. He wakes up on the beach, surrounded by warriors. They take him to their camp and Tristan finds out that they are Cathars running from the authorities. After Tristan is reunited with Robard and Maryam, they help the band of Cathars get safely to their fortress. Tristan falls in love with the leader, Celia, and is drawn to their fortress. There, Celia helps the three friends escape, only to be caught again by Sir Hugh in Calais. Sir Hugh knows Tristan has the Holy Grail and will do anything to get it. With the life of a friend hanging in the balance, will they get out of this mess alive to complete their mission?

Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin

Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin
248 pages
     Tristan is an orphan who has been raised by monks after he was left on the step of the Abbey when he was a baby. No one knows who his parents were or why he was left there. When knights come to St. Alban's Abbey, Sir Thomas asks Tristan to be his squire. Tristan accepts and travels with the knights to the Holy Land. When the fortress of the city they are in is put under a seige, Sir Thomas gives Tristan the Holy Grail, the sacred cup believed to have magic powers. Tristan sneaks out of the city and starts on his journey to Scotland. On his way, he meets Robard Hode, one of the kings archers. Robard saves Tristan from bandits and they continue together on Tristan's quest. On his journey, Tristan meets many unlikely friends while he hurries to keep the Grail out of the hands of Saladin, the muslim leader, and others, such as Sir Hugh who has a strange intrest and dislike to Tristan.