Month: August 2015

children

Sophie’s Animal Parade

Bergers Book Reviews

Sophie's Animal Parade
Author: Amy Dixon
Illustrator: Katia Wish
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-63220-403-5
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Sophie has a vivid imagination, so when she feels lonely, she decides to draw a friend. But the polar bear who now sits in her room prefers the cold. Drawing an igloo solves the problem, but now the bear needs a playmate. As she continues to draw more animals to join them, chaos ensues. Finally, Sophie meets a boy with a sense of adventure and the two enjoy their animal parade together.

Sophie’s Animal Parade is pure fun for kids. Animals, friendship, laughter, and bright cheery colors fill the pages of this delightful book. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

The Truth About Lies

Bergers Book Reviews

The Truth About Lies
Author: Tim Chaddick
Publisher: David C. Cook
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-1-4347-0524-2
Pages: 176
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Jesus spent time in preparation for his ministry by praying and fasting in the desert. After 40 days, Satan came to tempt him. While most of us would probably agree that the temptation to turn stones into bread might be one we’d fall for, the other two temptations seem far less threatening. Worship Satan? No way! Jump from the top of the temple? Hmm, no, I’ll pass. But in all three temptations, Satan was attempting to divert Jesus from his mission in doing the Father’s will.

Satan still tries to tempt us today, and as surprising as it may seem, we see variations of these three in our own lives. Craving certain things to make us happy? We need to learn how to pursue them in the right way. Feel passionate about your religion? We must be careful not to misuse it and hurt others. Looking for success? Even when pursuing great religious goals, our motives may not always be pure.

It’s easy to think that good Christians don’t fall into sin. If we just read the Bible, pray and go to church, we’ll have it made. But Satan preys on those who become complacent and forget that he’s the father of lies. Jesus needed to face temptation to strengthen him for his mission. Maybe Christians also need it to strengthen their faith. And with a strong faith, we can draw others to God through our words and actions. The Truth About Lies shows you how to discern the lies you’re facing and break their hold on you. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Celia

Bergers Book Reviews

Celia
Author: Christelle Vallat
Illustrator: Stéphanie Augusseau
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4413-1536-6
Pages: 36
Price: $16.99

Buy it at Amazon

Celia spends all day on Sunday listening to the people as they come to her to share their worries and problems. When they leave, each feels lighter and happier. And in exchange for her services, they pay her one seed.

Celia then begins a week of sowing these seeds of kindness into bright balloons, flowers, fruit and stars. On her journey one day, she discovers a lone seed, lost by a boy who never had the chance to share his worries with Celia. She seeks him out and together they plant his seed. Every day, he visits Celia to see how his seed is doing, and while he is there, they talk about many things. And when his seed finally grows into a small flower, his spirits have been lifted.

In a world where everyone is tied to electronic devices or just too darned busy, it’s hard to find a special someone who is willing to listen to your worries and concerns. Celia demonstrates the power of a kind, sympathetic ear. The story’s accompanying illustrations follow the theme, as they go from black and white to bright and cheerful, as Celia takes away the gloom and spreads her magic throughout the village. Celia is a delightful read for children of all ages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery, teen

Mr. Samuel’s Penny

Bergers Book Reviews

Mr. Samuel's Penny
Author: Treva Hall Melvin
Publisher: The Poisoned Pencil
Genre: Mystery / Teen
ISBN: 978-1-9293-4504-5
Pages: 264
Price: $10.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Lizbeth Landers is spending the summer of 1972 with relatives in Ahoskie, NC. Soon after arriving, she finds herself at the Danbury Bridge, looking on in horror as Mr. Samuel and his baby girl are pulled from his submerged car. His hand clutches a penny, which mysteriously vanishes from the police evidence the next day. The two deaths are determined to be murder.

Collecting pennies is Lizbeth’s passion, and she realizes this particular penny is special. After witnessing Mr. Samuel’s widow’s grief at losing her husband and baby, Lizbeth is determined to find the missing penny and discover the murderer. There are plenty of places to search for pennies, and she won’t rest until it’s in her possession.

Mr. Samuel’s Penny is not just a clever murder mystery, but also gives the reader a glimpse of the south during a time of racial unrest. As a black girl, Lizbeth feels discriminated against by some of the white members of society. Over the summer, she discovers that not everything is exactly as it seems.

Full of interesting plot twists and side stories, Mr. Samuel’s Penny is an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading more books in this new Elizabeth Parrot Landers mystery series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Martian Mustache Mischief

Bergers Book Reviews

Martian Mustache Mischief
Author: Brian Rock
Illustrator: Joshua Dawson
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9781514777589
Pages: 30
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Mars is beginning to lose its red color, and soon fuzzy, ketchup-eating, caterpillar-looking Martians arrive on earth. When the earthlings laugh at their demand to turn over all their ketchup, the Martians try a new tactic.

Soon everyone in town is wearing a Martian mustache. And as the Martians devour all the ketchup, they turn red. How can the people stop them? Well, you’ll just have to read Martian Mustache Mischief to find out!

This cute tale will have kids giggling and attempting to try out the tongue twister, “Martian Mustache Mischief” along with the main character. They might even find themselves wearing their own ketchup mustache.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance, teen

Summer by Summer

Bergers Book Reviews

Summer by Summer
Author: Heather Burch
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Teen / Romance
ISBN: 978-0-310-72963-1
Pages: 288
Price: $12.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Summer is working as a nanny for a couple vacationing in Belize. When their oldest son, Bray, arrives, Summer takes an instant dislike to him. Bray is a college party guy, and Summer is a conservative and modest girl. Their values are far too different.

When a violent storm strands them alone together on a remote island, they’re forced to get along in order to survive. Both discover hidden depths in each other as they work through challenges in finding food, water and shelter. As the weeks progress, they find themselves falling in love.

Being a teen romance, Summer by Summer is full of drama and physical attraction between Bray and Summer. Since their whirlwind romance takes place over a mere month, there is little substance to their relationship. Summer’s faith in God and a purity promise hold them back from taking things too far, but Bray has no such restrictions, other than his respect for Summer.

Maybe I’m just a little too old for teen romances, or maybe the drama in this book is a bit too much. But although this is a fast and engaging read, the story left me feeling unsettled at the end. Summer and Bray are both too immature to be making a lifetime commitment.

Reviewer: Alice Berger