Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, nature, tween

Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Tween / Adventure
ISBN: 978-981-08-1077-1
Pages: 120
Price: $7.95

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Orangutans of the Mukada Nature Reserve are getting sick and heading to the coast. But what’s causing this unusual phenomenon? Is it overpopulation, as suggested by the park warden? Romy and her scientist father plan a visit to investigate, since something doesn’t feel quite right.

Soon after their arrival, Romy hears of the curse of Mukada – and she also discovers Monkey Magic. This magic helps her to communicate with the orangutans, with surprising results. Armed with new information, she and her father are able to solve the mystery and save the orangutans.

Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada also provides facts about orangutans, and how their habitats are being threatened by human encroachment. This delightful, magical tale shows us how greed can harm wildlife, and why we need to take immediate action to try to stop it. I highly recommend this enjoyable story with a great environmental message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

atlas, education

Hammond Scholastic New Headline World Atlas

Bergers Book Reviews


Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Atlas
ISBN: 978-0841-669420
Pages: 52
Price: $6.99

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Any serious social studies student needs a reliable map of the world. Hammond has updated their classroom world atlas as of 2010, to reflect the current global landscape.

This atlas includes pictures of the flags of the nations as well as an index of the major cities. Maps are shown in varying magnitudes and sizes to reflect different degrees of detail. Information on topography, population distribution, land use and mineral resources are provided by continent. But due to size constraints, these informational maps are general in nature, and can’t show the exact locations for some of these features.

The size and price of this atlas makes it an attractive addition to a classroom, since many hands may touch it over the course of the year. But unlike in the Hammond Student Notebook Atlas, the countries are outlined in color, not filled in, which makes it a little harder to distinguish them in more congested areas. Overall, this atlas is a good value and I recommend it for all students and classrooms.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

atlas, education

Hammond Student Notebook Atlas

Bergers Book Reviews


Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Atlas
ISBN: 978-0843-714838
Pages: 32
Price: $3.99

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Any serious social studies student needs a reliable map of the world. Hammond has updated their student notebook atlas as of 2010, to reflect the current global landscape.

This handy reference atlas is bound and hole-punched to fit a 3-ring binder, making it easy and light-weight for students to carry with them to class. It includes pictures of the flags of the nations as well as an index of the major cities. Maps are drawn in varying magnitudes and sizes to reflect different degrees of detail.  The United States is shown by itself on a two-page spread.

Once again, Hammond has demonstrated why they’re the leader in maps and atlases.   The convenience, quality and price can’t be beat, and I highly recommend this notebook atlas for all students.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

birds, tween

Love Lessons On Bird Beach

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Cora Kerr
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Genre: Tween / Birds
ISBN: 978-1-60860-713-6
Pages: 88
Price: $26.50

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Franny and Beth are spending the summer at a beach in Mexico. But they have no idea that they’ll also be spending time with some seagulls and pelicans that need their help.

These injured and sick birds seem to find the girls, and one by one, they are brought back to health. But Franny and Beth never know if their efforts will be successful. And as they learn about helping the birds, they also learn to relate better to each other and the boys they meet on the beach.

As an animal lover, myself, I enjoyed reading Love Lessons on Bird Beach. It was great to see these two young girls take such an interest in saving the birds, no matter what sacrifices they needed to make. And the relationship between Franny and Beth is normal and natural, as they bicker one minute, and then become best friends again. But I was surprised by the girls’ use of the Lord’s name in a way Christians find derogatory. Other than that, this is a fun summer read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Time to Get Ready… A Hurricane Is Coming to Our Town!

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jill Klaskin Press
Illustrator: Cristan Hellen
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9781935605126
Pages: 24
Price: $15.99

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Hurricanes can be frightening to kids, especially when they don’t know what to expect. What can they do to help prepare for the storm? Will they need to evacuate?

In Time to Get Ready… A Hurricane Is Coming to Our Town! the family is preparing for a hurricane. They board up windows, buy additional food, and make sure they stay inside during the storm. From watching this family get ready, kids will learn how to handle a hurricane if one should hit their town.

Although there is good information in this book, one can’t help but wonder if it might have been better if written in a non-fiction format. As fiction, there isn’t really a plot, and kids may read it once or twice before losing interest. But kids love non-fiction when facts are presented in a fun way with good photos, and I think this book would have worked better in that format.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science-fiction

Terratorva

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Laura Rotter
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Children / Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4490-3092-6
Pages: 30
Price: $12.99

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Wix, the cat, can talk, and he’s from another planet. Terratorva needs help, and Dan, Sarah, and Sean have to save it. When Wix leads them through the portal to another world, they have no idea what awaits them.

Evil dragons threaten to take over the whole planet, but the Rimoras are in hiding, hoping for someone to come and rescue them. The three kids come up with an idea, and set off with Wix to put the plan in action. But if they’re not successful, they may perish along with the Rimoras.

This novel shows some imagination in some of the beings the kids encounter. But there are several things that didn’t work for me. The story isn’t told from any one character’s point of view, and the three kids never develop distinct personalities. The book is short and the plot isn’t very well developed, either. The scenes progress quickly, with no sense of the impending danger or relief at escape. And the typeface may look cool, but it’s a little hard on the eyes – especially for children who may have difficulty reading.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature

The Greenzys

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Danielle Mentzer
Illustrator: Cris De Lara
Publisher: DK Publishing
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-7566-6911-9
Pages: 44
Price: $17.99

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An old pine tree named Orinda is suffering from the pollution of the nearby river. Her only hope of a legacy is her last pine cone. But Grimy has stolen it. In a last tearful effort, Orinda reaches out her branches to the animals of the planet for help.

Coming from all over the world, the animals rush in to save her. And as they commit to stopping Grimy and his dirty habits, their fur becomes green. They’ve become the Greenzys. Grimy is the symbol of all those who choose to pollute the environment, through negligent trash disposal and failure to recycle. And the Greenzys are the hope for Earth’s future.

In The Greenzys, kids will see why it’s important to protect our environment from those who want to do it harm. This cute story shows us how to be environmentally conscious in a way kids can relate, and the beautiful illustrations by Cris De Lara enhance this green message.

The book is printed in an eco-friendly manner, and a portion of the proceeds from book sales benefits the Environmental Media Association. And in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, for every Greenzys book purchase made between April 5 and December 31, 2010, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree in our nation’s forests.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor, men

Bigger Damner Book of Sheer Manliness

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: von Hoffmann Brothers
Publisher: QNY
Genre: Men / Humor
ISBN: 978-0843-717846
Pages: 256
Price: $29.99

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Men’s tastes are different from women’s, and the von Hoffmann brothers know it. So to celebrate men and the things men like, they created a compilation just for men.

This wonderful coffee table book covers a century of men’s interests, grouped into categories. These include sports like boxing, racing, football, and the world’s strongest man contest. Movies feature strong male characters and heroes, as well as their sexy leading ladies. Hobbies like gambling, fishing, smoking cigars, and drinking – and even pumpkin launching trebuchets – are all in this volume.

Check out some of these classic movies. Try a cocktail or chili recipe. Laugh at the Darwin Award winner, or offer tribute to man’s best friend, the dog. Whatever your taste, if you’re looking for a real man’s book, Bigger Damner Book of Sheer Manliness is the perfect addition to your collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

literary

Fragile

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Chris Katsaropoulos
Publisher: Luminis Books
Genre: Literary Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-935462-27-9
Pages: 212
Price: $14.95

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Amelia Geist fell in love as a teenager, and has chosen to remain a virgin in honor of that love. Now an old woman, she pines for the man who left her so many years ago.

Tris Holloway, the man Amelia loved, is caught in an unhappy marriage and is nearing retirement. As he contemplates the years of his life, he can’t help but reflect on the innocent beauty of his time with Amelia.

Holly Schenck, a single mom and hairdresser, meets Amelia just before the older woman’s 50-year high school reunion. As she fixes Amelia’s hair for the event, she schemes to let this stranger babysit her girls so she can have another late night tryst with her bartender lover.

In Fragile, Katsaropolous weaves together these three lives. Using broken sentence fragments to lead the reader from one point of view to another, we see all three fragile beings trying to survive. As each is caught up in his or her own pain, the pain is somehow shared by the others, through the web of humanity.

In reading Fragile, it’s hard not to identify with the broken parts of our own lives. We see deeply into the lives of these three characters, through their thoughts and words. But somehow this web becomes twisted, as strange decisions are made and lives go in unexpected directions. Many unanswered questions remain at the end, as in life and death. But through it all, hope remains for a brighter future.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, nature, spirituality

How to Thrive in Changing Times

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Sandra Ingerman
Publisher: Weiser Books
Genre: Spirituality / Nature / Health
ISBN: 978-1-57863-466-8
Pages: 176
Price: $12.95

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As our world changes at an ever more rapid pace, thriving sometimes feels like an insurmountable challenge. Sandra Ingerman believes it’s a lot easier than we think, but first we need to know what to do, both as individuals and as a community.

Spiritual masters over the years have taught that our thoughts determine our lives. Now we also know that these thoughts can even affect the environment around us. And if we can get together as a group, these healing thoughts are even more powerful.

How do we do this? Ingerman provides rituals and exercises designed to bring about positive changes in our lives and in the world. These can be done alone or in a group setting.

How to Thrive in Changing Times reminds us that we have the ability to do so much more than we believe. We may be the limiting force in our lives, but we can change our thoughts and the outcomes of those thoughts. And in changing ourselves, we can help to change the world.

Reviewer: Alice Berger