Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, holiday

Santopia – Book One: Santa and the Lost Princess

Bergers Book Reviews

santopiaAuthor: Sir Nicholas Throckmorton
Publisher: Gramercy Park Press
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 0981715400
Pages: 116
Price: $12.95

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Far north, in the magical realm of Santopia, the current Santa has a new son. The Wizard issues a prophesy for this new heir to the kingdom, which says baby Nicky will marry the first girl born after him.

But over in the kingdom of Drear, the Countess is nearly about to give birth. After hearing the prophesy, she induces labor and is pleased when her daughter, Dazzle is born. That is, until she learns another couple has also given birth to a daughter, who may have been born before Dazzle.

Upsetting the Countess of Drear is never a good idea, so this poor couple needs to do something quickly before they and their new daughter lose their lives. Escape is dangerous and nearly impossible, and intrigue and treachery abound.

This story is set at Christmas, and is full of colorful holiday imagery. Many of the Santa traditions are included, making the story feel real. But one thing I found a little confusing was the different races at Santopia that all ended in “elves” – Gelves, Trelves, etc.

I enjoyed this story, and found myself cheering for the young couple to save themselves and their daughter. But I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the ending, which left the story at an obvious cliff-hanger. If you love Santa and Christmas, I think you’ll enjoy this fast-paced and fun tale.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Weebeasts Plight

Bergers Book Reviews

weebeasts
Author: Micah Linton
Publisher: Beast Stew
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9821734-0-4
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

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Once upon a time, the weebeasts had a home. As a result of some unfortunate choices, they find themselves in search of a new place to live. And during their journey, they make some fascinating discoveries.

In Weebeastology, Vol. 1, author and illustrator Micah Linton introduced us to these fictional beings. By providing the pictures without the words, he invited children to discover the story of the weebeasts for themselves. Weebeasts Plight was created for a younger audience and provides the story line along with pencil and watercolor illustrations.

The weebeasts learn a lesson in how to play nice with others. They also discover that it’s exciting to go out and explore new places. Kids will have fun joining these unique creatures on a wonderful journey to their new home.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

finance

The SmartestWay to Save

Bergers Book Reviews

smartest
Author: Samuel K. Freshman & Heidi E. Clingen
Publisher: Straightline Publishers
Genre: Personal Finance
ISBN: 978-1-4196-5683-5
Pages: 220
Price: $16.99

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In this uncertain economy, we’re all looking for ways to cut expenses and put money in the bank. Authors Samuel K. Freshman and Heidi E. Clingen have created a system called The SmartestWay to Save to help make it easier.

This book is all about saving, not investments. You won’t find any advice on where to put your money once you’ve accumulated it. Instead, you’re encouraged to do your own research and choose wisely. But if you want to learn how to build your savings, The SmartestWay to Save offers some ideas.

Many of the concepts discussed are pure common sense – don’t spend to keep up with others, don’t worry about what other people think, think before you spend, pay yourself first, comparison shop, and avoid debt.

But at times I wondered about their suggestions. They strongly tell us to avoid debit cards and ATMs, but if you keep careful tabs on your checking account balance, you can very safely use them to avoid credit cards. Shop discount stores like Sears and JCPenney? The last time I stepped inside either of these stores, I hardly thought their prices resembled “discount” prices. And Avon is “inexpensive” makeup? I don’t think so.

Many internet sites are sprinkled throughout the book, but these are simply store links easily found through a search engine. Instead I’d have liked to see information on finding “discount codes” at websites we shop on a regular basis – they’re out there if you know where to look for them. Tips on using the internet to find the best prices around would also have been helpful.

I’m a very frugal accountant, so my opinion may be slanted a bit, but to me, this is a very basic book designed to sway a spender to think about and start saving money. If you’ve been frugal for a while, I’m pretty sure you’ve been doing many of the suggestions already, and you’ll find this book too basic for your needs.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Love, Elmo

Bergers Book Reviews

loveelmo
Author: Meg McLaughlin
Illustrator: Tom Brannon
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 1-40375-323-7
Pages: 24
Price: $3.50

Author’s website

Abby Cadabby has never received a letter, so Elmo decides he will make one for her with the help of his Sesame Street friends. As he visits with each of them, they all add their special thoughts to the letter. Elmo then puts the finishing touch on it with his signature.

This adorable little book is full of wonderful learning opportunities. New vocabulary words are sprinkled throughout to help children learn to express themselves more fully. Alphabet references are used with new and interesting combinations, like C is for cantaloupe. All of the drawings explained in the story show up in the final letter given to Abby, so children can match the words to the pictures.

Children will enjoy this sweet story of Elmo being kind to Abby, but they’ll also learn so much from the clever educational tools. I highly recommend Love, Elmo.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery, tween

The Great Scarab Scam

Bergers Book Reviews

scarab
Author: Valerie Storey
Publisher: Dava Books
Genre: Tween / Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-9643289-1-4
Pages: 212
Price: $12.95

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Lydia Hartley wants to be an Egyptologist like her dad, Phid. When a mysterious scarab scam surfaces, Phid is called to investigate. Under cover of a vacation, she and her family travel to Egypt to find the culprits.

But Lydia knows her father can’t help but try to find the Trove of Isis – a cache of treasure he had seen only once before it vanished. And now something fishy is going on at the Malik household where her family is staying, and Lydia needs to get to the bottom of it. Suddenly her trip of a lifetime has turned ugly.

Egypt and mystery blend together perfectly, but there are elements of this story that don’t fit quite as well. I had a hard time suspending my disbelief on a few plot points. The characters were likeable, the setting interesting, and there was great action. But if these elements were fixed, the story as a whole would flow better, in my opinion.

Kids who love Egypt and action-packed mystery will probably enjoy The Great Scarab Scam.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Too Tall Alice

Bergers Book Reviews

tall
Author: Barbara Worton
Illustrator: Don Rodi
Publisher: Great Little Books, LLC
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9790661-1-5
Pages: 32
Price: $15.95

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Alice is FOUR inches taller than the other girls at Cherry Tree School. So tall she has to stand in the back row with the boys in their class photo. Everyone thinks being tall is okay and perfectly normal, but Alice wishes she was four inches shorter.

One night Alice has a dream that she meets a group of tall women. These women help her see how special she is, and how she doesn’t have to let her height hold her back from being the best person she can be.

In Too Tall Alice, the main character suffers from feeling different – in her case, being taller than everyone else. But kids can all relate to being different in some way and feeling like they don’t fit in. This book reassures kids that they may feel different now, but when they’re grown up, they can be anything they want to be.

Cute illustrations by Dom Rodi and clever “kid-language” make this book a fun read. But the positive message of self-acceptance and hope is what comes through in a TALL way.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, reference

The Lexicon

Bergers Book Reviews

lexicon
Author: Steve Vander Ark
Publisher: RDR Books
Genre: Literary Reference / Criticism
ISBN: 978-1-57143-174-5
Pages: 368
Price: $24.95

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One of the frustrations of reading a long series is trying to keep track of what’s transpired along the way and who was involved. And when you mix in some magical spells along the way, things can get pretty confusing.

In an effort to consolidate some of the facts worth remembering, Steve Vander Ark has compiled The Lexicon for readers of the Harry Potter series. In encyclopedic format, he provides some of the names and events that happen throughout the narrative. He also includes brief commentary on some of the items, sharing additional information that’s not in the books.

Because of its format, the reader will need to know the word he wants to find. If you want a spell to make yourself appear to be someone else, you’ll have to look for Pollyjuice Potion. There isn’t a general listing of spells so you can find it. But if you’ve just come across this term and you can’t remember what it is, you can easily look it up.

I enjoyed this series immensely, but at times I found it frustrating that I couldn’t remember everything had happened in earlier books. Having The Lexicon at my side would have made it much easier to follow along. If you’re a Harry Potter fan, I highly recommend you pick up this companion work to enhance your reading pleasure.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, dogs

Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too!

Bergers Book Reviews

baron
Author: Laurie Dean
Illustrator: Kevin Collier
Publisher: Big Tent Books
Genre: Children / Dogs
ISBN: 978-1-60131-035-4
Pages: 24
Price: $14.00

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Baron lives with his human mom and dad. He loves to be around people, and especially loves squishy hugs. His parents let him play outside with some neighborhood kids, but what he wants most is a best friend. Finally his wish is granted.

Baron and his human companions come to life in Kevin Collier’s vivid illustrations, but this simple story seems to lack something. Dogs are a strong attraction for kids, but I felt Baron’s problem was too easy to solve. It would have been more interesting to me if he had to overcome some kind of obstacle, rather than simply showing up to accomplish his goal.

Romping, playful puppies are fun, and kids can relate to wanting a best friend. Younger children will probably enjoy reading Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fitness, health, self improvement

Size 2 For Life

Bergers Book Reviews

size2
Author: Ashley Marriott & Marc L. Paulsen, MD
Publisher: Stance Publications
Genre: Diet/Fitness
ISBN: 978-0-9821047-4-3
Pages: 211
Price: $21.99

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As a culture that’s become obsessed with weight management, we continue to seek out new and improved methods of shedding unwanted pounds. Size 2 For Life offers a diet and exercise plan which is designed to bring women back to their “frame-adjusted size 2” figures.

At the introduction to this book, the authors address unhealthy weight loss methods and a dangerous increase in anorexic and bulimic behaviors. Yet this very title is one that leaves me feeling uncomfortable. Most women would probably be a very healthy size 6 or 8. Size 2 feels like an unattainable and dangerous goal to me.

The 21-day eating plan also disturbs me. It is made up of mostly steamed vegetables, egg whites, chicken and turkey. There is almost no fat and very few carbs. We may be a culture who eats too many of these foods, but healthy fats and carbs are a necessity in our diets. The program also assumes the reader can understand the authors’ lingo. One item on the plan is a “protein smoothie.” This item is not explained beforehand, so the reader would have no idea what would go into one.

The main focus of the exercise program is aerobic movement and muscle toning. Since there is considerable toning of the legs in dance or other aerobic activities, the authors recommend only upper body toning. Some exercises are provided, but they suggest following the circuit at your local gym. While this may be simple, it assumes that the circuit has been properly designed for a total upper body workout.

Once the size 2 figure has been achieved, a maintenance diet and exercise program is recommended. Several chain restaurant foods are analyzed for the best choices to make when dining out.

Overall, I was not impressed with this book. I felt the diet could have been explained in terms of allowable foods that one could pick and choose from, rather than a specific plan one had to follow each day. The diet is bland, and shows no imagination in creating tasty and healthy meals that won’t feel like deprivation eating. Weighing in twice every day as recommended would create unnecessary emotional stress when body fluctuations show weight shifts. The strongest feature of this book is the recommended exercise, which is a basic strength training and aerobic program.

If you’re looking for a sensible weight-loss and exercise program, I’d suggest Body For Life, which I feel is still probably the best book on the market.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

inspiration, self improvement

Tears of Fears Behind Closed Doors

Bergers Book Reviews

tears
Author: Lyn-Dee Eldridge
Publisher: MasterMind Publishing, LLC
Genre: Self-improvement
ISBN: 978-0-9720941-0-8
Pages: 128
Price: $14.95

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Many women exist in silent desperation in an abusive household. As a survivor of an abusive childhood and marriage, Lyn-Dee Eldridge (or Woobie, as she calls herself) wants to show other women that it’s not only possible to escape from the abuse, but also to go on to live a happy and joyous life.

In Tears of Fears Behind Closed Doors, Woobie tells her story, beginning in childhood when the abuse began. Focusing on the universal aspects of abuse, she doesn’t reveal every aspect of her own experience. Instead she shares the parts that many readers would identify with, including some of the things she did to handle her own situation.

Positive self-talk and personal development are key, according to Woobie. Only by learning to love and respect herself can a woman get up the courage to end the cycle of abuse.

Included along with her inspirational story and helpful advice are numerous resources for women who still find themselves in abusive situations. Legal help, daily exercises, hot-line numbers, and addresses for women’s advocates are provided in the appendix. And the author is available as a speaker to share her story with women’s groups.

Woobie’s message is written in a conversational style, which lends itself to the occasional typo and a bit of rambling. But overall, she shares positive information and a spirit of hope. Tears of Fears Behind Closed Doors would be a great inspiration for a woman who finds herself in an abusive situation.

Reviewer: Alice Berger