Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
mystery, teen

Beyond Suspicion

Bergers Book Reviews

Beyond Suspicion
Author: Catherine A. Winn
Publisher: The Poisoned Pencil
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-9293-4510-6
Page: 230
Price: $10.95

Buy it at Amazon

Shelby really wants to go to her best friend’s birthday party, and she’s disappointed when she finds out she’ll be stuck at home, babysitting her baby brother. Since her mom got married to Roger and had a new baby, Shelby’s life has been hard, and she vents her frustration to her friends before taking her one year-old brother, Josh, out for a walk in the park. A small fireworks display distracts Shelby, and when she turns around, Josh is gone.

The situation goes from bad to worse when the police won’t believe her story and instead blame Shelby for Josh’s disappearance. She has no one to turn to except a new boy, Matt, who suddenly decides to help her. Unexpected support also comes from Roger, who defends her to the police and hires an attorney to clear her name. Following a couple of hunches leads Shelby to Josh, but she soon finds herself and Josh in danger. Only her quick thinking can save both their lives before it’s too late.

Beyond Suspicion is a fast read that will keep young adults interested from the first page. Shelby’s predicament with difficult parents is easy to relate to, as is her determination to find her baby brother. There are a few scenes that may require the reader to suspend disbelief, but overall, this is a nicely written story that teens will enjoy.

WARNING: Contains violence.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

audio book, fiction

The Darling Buds of May: The Larkin Novels Volume 1 (Naxos Audiobooks)

Bergers Book Reviews

The Darling Buds of May
Author: H.E. Bates
Read by: Philip Franks
Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-84379-998-6
Total time: 4 CDs / 4:21:42

Buy it at Amazon

Cedric Charlton arrives on the Larkin doorstep, determined to get Pop to complete his tax form. But the crafty junk dealer has other ideas. Distracting him with food, alcohol, and his beautiful daughter, Mariette, Pop tries to keep him from his mission.

Charlton wants to keep his focus, but finds he enjoys Mariette’s company too much to consider leaving any time soon. And the joys of the country become dearer and dearer to his heart. As his visit is extended, he experiences his first strawberry season, as well as a horse riding competition, and learns how to eat country-style. Will he choose to go back to his tax office, or will he stay with the Larkins for a while and see what country living has to offer him?

The Darling Buds of May is read by Philip Franks, who does a wonderful job with these voices. While listening, one can easily picture each of the unique characters, as well as the scenery around them. The story is told from multiple perspectives, and it reads more like a play than a novel, with only the props missing. This light-hearted and humorous story is best enjoyed while relaxing on a summer day. I really enjoyed this recording and hope Naxos Audiobooks plans to do more in this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art

Girl Plus Pen: Doodle, Draw, Color, and Express Your Individual Style

Bergers Book Reviews

Girl Plus Pen
Author & Illustrator: Stephanie Corfee
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Genre: Art
ISBN: 978-1-62370-596-1
Pages: 144
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

A pen in a girl’s hand can produce magical designs. Add water colors, colored pencils, and a black marker for effect, and she can create beautiful art, all from what appears to be doodles.

In Girl Plus Pen, author and artist, Stephanie Corfee guides girls through a series of exercises designed to bring out the best in their art. Creative lettering and borders, combined with floral swirls can decorate hand-made cards. Scarves, hats, and phone cases become lovingly designed works of art. And doodles can fill scrapbooks and sketch pads, as the young artist develops her skills.

Doodling is not a waste of time when it’s done intentionally, with the desire to turn it into art. Set your inner artist free, doodling with the exercises in Girl Plus Pen and developing your own artistic style. I highly recommend this wonderfully creative book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, nature

Critter Litter: See What Critters Leave Behind!

Bergers Book Reviews

Critter Litter
Author: Stan Tekiela
Publisher: Adventure Publications
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-59193-590-2
Pages: 26
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

If you were walking through the woods and came across a pile of scat (poop), would you know which animal had been there? Wildlife photographer, Stan Tekiela, has compiled this handy guide to assist in identification.

Twelve animals are featured: coyote, gray squirrel, northern raccoon, Virginia opossum, woodchuck, cougar, badger, moose, gray wolf, striped skunk, black bear, and porcupine. Each two-page spread shows photos of the animal featured, some of the animal’s food source, and a short explanation of how one would know the animal is living nearby. A photo of the animal’s scat is hidden under a flap to be lifted.

While it’s not always easy to identify scat when found, Critter Litter will help the young nature lover attempt to figure it out. This would be a great reference book to add to his collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, Catholic, history

Martyrdom: The Coloring Book

Bergers Book Reviews

Martyrdom - The Coloring Book
Author: Hallie Fryd
Illustrator: Julia Gfrörer
Publisher: Zest Books
Genre: Catholic / Art
ISBN: 978-1942186069
Pages: 112
Price: $16.99

Buy it at Amazon

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. As such, the martyrs for the faith have always been revered by the Catholic Church, and their legends have grown through the ages. In this unique coloring book, these martyrs are shown in scenes depicting their untimely deaths.

Beginning with biblical martyrs St. John the Baptist and St. Stephen, this book tells the stories of the many people who died professing the Catholic faith, and in many cases, attempting to preserve their virginity. Each person is featured in a two page spread, with one page dedicated to the martyr’s legend, and the other a blank coloring book page. While many of the scenes are horrible, none are so gruesome that the sensitive reader can’t bear to view them. But these tragic stories and images remind us of the religious freedom we’ve been granted in this day and age, and of those who died attempting to find that freedom.

Whether you choose to color these pictures or not, Martyrdom: The Coloring Book is a fascinating read, and will greatly enhance your knowledge of these faithful martyrs. And let us pray that no more are added to their ranks, as the war against Christianity continues to rage in the Middle East.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education

Have Fun With Words

Bergers Book Reviews

Have Fun With Words
Author: Maria Sarkar
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Genre: Children / Writing
ISBN: 978-1849634977
Pages:74
Price: $24.95

Buy it at Amazon

Vocabulary building doesn’t have to be hard – in fact it can be fun if it’s presented in the form of puzzles and games. Have Fun With Words encourages kids to play with words to discover their meaning.

Each lesson covers a certain type of word. Adjectives, synonyms and antonyms, nouns, verbs, roots with prefixes and suffixes, adverbs, and abstract nouns are covered. Idioms and other word combinations round out the lessons. Students unscramble words, use them in the fill-in-the-blank sentences, place them in charts, and circle them in word finds, as they learn how to best use each word or combination of words.

The workbook provides:

  • A clear presentation of target words as well as expressions, carefully selected and put in context.
  • Stimulating activities for recall and practice
  • Free practice in challenging extension activities
  • Links to grammar to show how words operate in a sentence
  • Tasks to develop other related skills such as using the dictionary effectively and guessing meaning of words, all eventually helping to improve reading fluency and enriching the child’s writing.

Learning doesn’t have to always be dry and dull. Have Fun With Words is an enjoyable and creative book to help kids to build their vocabulary.

Book Trailer

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science

Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures: Solar System

Bergers Book Reviews

Magnetic Adventures - Solar System
Author: Ruth Strother
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Science / Children
ISBN: 978-1-62686-306-4
Pages: 64
Price: $22.95

Buy it at Amazon

Our universe is a vast and wonderful place. It holds the Milky Way Galaxy, and in it, our solar system. In this magnetic kit and guidebook, kids will discover just what’s out there in the night sky.

Focusing on our solar system, this book shows how the planets revolve around the sun and rotate on an axis. The planets and their accompanying moons are all featured, comparing day and year lengths, as well as gravitational pull. Star cycles, comets, space debris and the Kuiper Belt are also covered.

In addition to the guidebook, magnetic images are included inside the case. Kids can place the planets on the diagram included, and astronauts and spaceships can be placed on the moon. Magnetic Adventures: Solar System is a fun kit for the budding space traveler.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Drew the Screw

Bergers Book Reviews

Drew the Screw
Author & Illustrator: Mattia Cerato
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3540-1
Pages: 24
Price: $14.95

Buy it at Amazon

Drew the screw lives in a workshop, hanging out with the tools. He watches as the boy selects tools to help build something out of wood. Each of the tools is useful in some way, but Drew wonders what he can do. Finally, Drew is selected for a very important role in the boy’s new tree house.

Drew the Screw is an I Like to Read book, told in simplistic language with bright and cheerful illustrations for beginning readers. Kids will enjoy reading about Drew and how he finally finds his purpose.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Silly Shoes: Poems to Make You Smile

Bergers Book Reviews

Silly ShoesAuthor: Lawson Gow
Illustrator: Mike Guillory
Publisher: Bright Sky Press
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-1-939055-81-1
Pages: 28
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The world it too serious, so why not put on your silly shoes and have some fun! In this book of children’s poems, Lawson Gow creates some wacky scenarios to make kids laugh.

Would you like to eat a meal of colors? Or how about expression fruit salad? Have you ever thought about befriending your chocolate bunny? Or eating a sneeze sandwich? Bowling with Superman? Or living in backwards land?

These and other zany poems in Silly Shoes are guaranteed to chase away the gloomies and bring out a chuckle on the rainiest of days. Kids will love the far-out humor.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God

Bergers Book Reviews

Signs in Life
Author: Deanna Nowadnick
Publisher: Rhododendron Books
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-0-9835897-5-4
Pages: 144
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

As we journey through life, God attempts to get our attention with “signs” that point us in the direction He wants us to go. Using the analogy of traffic signs, Deanna Nowadnick shares her own life experiences and how God is speaking to her.

“Yield” leads to the college her parents choose for her, and allows her to meet her future husband. “Wrong Way” shows how wrong it us to judge others. “No U-Turn” is a sign that it’s not a good idea go back to something that didn’t work the first time. “One Way” tells us our way isn’t always the best, and God may have other ideas. These and other road signs are featured, as she shares stories from her past and the lessons learned along the way.

Signs in Life is up-close and personal, as Nowadnick shares some moments she probably would rather forget. But in revealing her very human mistakes, she allows the reader to connect to her and her message even more deeply. This is an enjoyable and inspiring read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger