The Book Thief By: Markus Zusak

 The Book Thief is a book set in Nazi Germany in a little town and is focused around a teenage girl who steals books. The book is narrated by death making it a little dark but it is a great and entertaining story. The story is about Liesel Meminger, a german girl who is sent to a foster home in a small town in Germany. Her foster family isn't rich but they care for her and she quickly makes friends with Rudy Steiner who lives close by. As she settles in to her new home the Nazi activity is rising quickly. The Story follows her life in Nazi Germany, and her adventures trying to survive. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone willing to take the time to read it as it is a bit long. I loved it all the way through. 

Caroline

the Tempest

The tempest is a book about a Lord Prospero and his daughter Miranda, who gets banished to an island by Prospero's brother and the king, where they live for many years. Years later, the king, Prospero's brother, and others are shipwrecked on Prospero's island and Prospero, having studied magic twists Fate so Miranda and himself end up on top.
Well this is Shakespeare, so this may be a bit confusing, but I have some ways on making it easier to understand Shakespeare (see my post on making Shakespeare easier to understand). Now, I Love Shakespeare, but it’s cool if you have a little trouble. It’s hard. The comedies can be a little easier in my experience, and more fun to read.  It's my second favorite Shakespeare book, after Midsummer nights dream. The play is fun to watch after you've read it. 

what's your favorite Shakespeare play? have you read the tempest?

-Caroline

Book Recommendations by Age

Alrighty yall, i've decided to make a post of my favorite book recommendations by age. I've attached links to the books i've already made reviews on. My goal is to eventually have reviews on all of them and I will update this post if I do.

8+
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
A Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

9+
Wonder R.J. Palacio
A Little Princess
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osbourne

10+
Hatchet Gary Paulson
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
Spy School by Stuart Gibbs
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Anne Of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  Roald Dahl

11+
The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (1-4)
Artemis fowl by Eoin Colfer
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
I Funny by James Patterson
Treasure island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Yankees on the Doorstep by Debra Smith
The Yearling by Marjorie K. Rawlings
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

12+
The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von Trapp
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Messenger by Lois Lowry
Son by Lois Lowry
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
The Purple Mantle by Aliki Kafetzopoulou
Between the Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Mister Max Finder of lost things by Cynthia Voight
Mister Max the books of secrets by Cynthia Voight
Mister max and the book of Kings by Cynthia Voight

13+
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke
Macbeth by Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Odyssey by Homer
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
War, Women, and the News by Catherine Gourley

Of Mice and Men by John Steinback

A Hobbit a Wardrobe and a Great War by Joseph Loconte

The Alchemist by Paul Coelho

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Murder On the Nile by Agatha Christie 

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin 

ABC Murders by Agatha Christie

The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis 

War Women and the News by; Catherine Gourley

War Women and the News is about female journalists and their fight to cover WW2. This book talks about lots of women who get jobs as journalists. most cover out of country, but some stay in the US. Some cover the front lines, some the devastation war causes. One woman and her husband get imprisoned in a prisoner of war camp. It's a very informational and inspirational book. It's got lots of pictures and backgrounds on all of the journalists. Its really cool to read about women who paved the way for women all over the world who because of women in WW2 who made it possible to be whatever you want to be! id say that because this is war that 13+ is a good age for people reading this book. but I would recommend. have you read this book? If not totally do.its super inspirational and you totally should.
Caroline

When Calls The Heart by: Jeannette Oake

I know that most likely when you think When Calls The Heart, you think Jack Thornton. But the title  has more meaning in the book. There is no Mountie Jack only Wynn hence the when-Wynn. like I said the title has more meaning for the book. Not that I have any problem with at least the first 5 seasons of the show. This is a series of books but sadly I have only read the first one. But there are lots of similarities. This book is about Elizabeth the teacher going from City, to town, to frontier. One of my favorite parts of the book is when she visits her brother and his family, she tells him "I am not here to find a husband," and the one man she wants her brother to introduce her too, he just ends his conversation with. I love how the youngest of her brothers children, is in love with an adult she nicknamed Dee.
I hope this post has encouraged you to go read this book. If it has, please keep in mind. The BOOK came FIRST!
Caroline

Gods and Kings by: Lynn Austin

Gods and kings is about a prince named Hezikiah who lost his brother when his father sacrificed to one of his Gods. Hezikiah's mother and grandfather are christians, but keep it a secret. His grandfather tries to teach him the faith, but one day he leaves to go to the temple and says he will return……… Years into the future, his father promised his hand to one of his advisors daughters.  She is very exited to live in the palace, but when she gets there, she realizes he has other wives and probably not devote his life to her. The book is a cliffhanger, just a warning. But there are more books!

Between Shades of Gray by: Ruta Sepetys

Between Shades of Gray is NOT 50 shades of gray. Two different books. The reason I say that, is because a lot of times when I say between the shades of gray and how great of a book it is people are like 50 shades of gray? No Between the shades of gray. I know I say this a lot but it is such a good book! There are few books I don’t like. This book is about a girl her mother and her brother and how they survived the German prison camps. Similar to Corrie Ten Boom (click Here To read my post on her book) they are moved from camp to camp mercilessly. If you read this book, I think it is necessary to say that you need to read the afterword of this book. It gives more of an ending to it. Well it might be a part of the book. i dont know. But anyway it is longer but worth it.
Have you read this book?
Caroline

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

This book like many, reflects christianity when you dig.  I am taking a class on how to dig and find christianity! this book is about a shepherd without a known name, who is trying to find and accomplish his personal dream.  The book starts with sort of a recount of his past.  His love for the merchants daughter, whom he will see in a couple of days, and why he is a shepherd.  How he goes from being a simple shepherd and protecting sheep, to being a traveler searching for his souls delight. I really enjoyed this book and I feel like the author really has a way of drawing you in and keeping you there.  It was such an interesting book.  I really think that this book is for older children and adults, maybe 12 or 13+.
Happy Memorial Day!

Spyridons shoes by Christine Rogers

Happy Pascha!
Spyridons shoes is  about a boy named Spyridon (nicknamed Spyros) on the island of Corfu, Saving to send himself to school, meets a shepherd also named Spyridon (it was common to be named after St. Spyridon there) to not get confused Spyridon the elder is called Abba.  Abba teaches him to pray constantly.  A thing that is not easy to do.  Spyros is a tailor's son who tends his fathers fishing nets, and in his spare time hunts for octopuses to sell.  But one day on the way home from the beach Spyros cut his foot badly.  His friend who was with him went to get help, but Abba  came, washed his foot, wrapped it and took one of his shoes and put it on Spyros's foot.  Spyros in thanks to Abba mended the hole in Abba's shoe, and waited to see him again for Spyros didn't know where Abba lived.  This is a short book but a good one.  it is very interesting to learn about St. Spyridon in this way.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

This book is such an amazing book about how faith can persevere through anything!
follow Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsy through World War 2.
This christian family of watchmakers, successfully hide jews in their two building house, experience the trials and hardships of German prison camps, Death, and near starvation. Corrie and Betsy are learning the ways that faith in the Lord can really turn things around, and thanking him for small things like lice can really make a difference!  Wow looking back through that, it sounded like the back cover of the book! which it wasn't, but its true so I'll just leave it.  It took us a long time to read, but it was so good! I looked forward to our morning reading for school when we would read it.