Author: Bergers Book Reviews

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children

Elephantastic!

Bergers Book Reviews

Elephantastic!
Author: Michael Engler
Illustrator: Joëlle Tourlonias
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4413-0841-2
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Andrew is busy working on a treasure map when his mother asks him to bring a package upstairs to his neighbor. But instead, he opens it, thinking it’s for him. Inside is a stuffed elephant named Timbo, who instantly becomes his friend. They travel all over the world together, seeing interesting new things and having great adventures. But soon the fun ends, when Andrew’s mother tells him the elephant belongs to Louise.

With great sadness, he gives his new best friend to the girl upstairs. But he is in for a big surprise when she comes to visit him only a little while later. Timbo misses him, and she suggests that maybe the three of them can travel together from now on.

Elepahantastic! is full of fun and adventure. Using only his imagination, Andrew can talk to Timbo and travel to foreign places. And when Louise joins them, the joy is multiplied.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Panthers Play for Keeps (Pru Marlowe Pet Mystery #4)

Bergers Book Reviews

Panthers Play for Keeps
Author: Clea Simon
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-5905-8870-3
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

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Pru Marlowe has an unique gift – the ability to communicate with animals. But animals don’t communicate the way humans do, in complete sentences and thoughts. Instead they convey feelings and impressions, which are often confusing and misunderstood.

While training a service dog, Pru discovers a woman’s body in the woods. The dog conveys a mixture of feelings that Pru is at a loss to interpret. But when the police decide the woman had been mauled by a big cat – and none had been seen in the area for over a century – Pru is puzzled. In speaking to the animals, the police, and the people involved with the woman, the story becomes even more disturbing. If a big cat really was responsible, how did it get there? And where was it now?

Panthers Play for Keeps is the fourth book in the Pru Marlowe mystery series. Unlike some other animal mysteries, Pru’s conversations are believable and add an interesting dimension to the story. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more in this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, teen

Wade Boss: Hybrid Hunter

Bergers Book Reviews

Wade Boss
Author: Marcus MacGregor
Publisher: Saddle Sore Entertainment
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 9781475239669
Pages: 242
Price: $9.99

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Wade Boss has a successful business working with exotic animals in Hollywood. So when a tiger is running loose, the police naturally call him in to help capture it. But what Wade finds is a hybrid tiger-lizard which is quickly picked up by the Genetic Anomalies Task Center – a division of Homeland Security.

Soon Wade finds himself caught up in the race to capture these hybrids, who keep appearing all over the country, before they seriously injure or kill people. The goal is to capture them alive, not kill them, but these missions test his skill in handling unpredictable and dangerous animals. While he’s caught up in his new volunteer job, his own business is suffering, and his love life is in shambles.

Wade Boss presents himself as one of the good guys. He cares about his animals and claims he generally wants to do the right thing. But his cavalier attitude toward his staff and the woman in his life make the reader wonder what really motivates him. When another attractive girl suddenly appears, he conveniently forgets he’s involved and schedules a date with the new lady. I found him arrogant and I really didn’t like him much.

The plot is also a bit of a mystery to me. Wade runs off several times chasing hybrids, but there is absolutely no reason given as to why they’re even out there. At the end of the book, a “bad guy” is identified, but that’s about all. Wade Boss is all about action and very short on substance.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

history, teen

Passenger on the Pearl: The True Story of Emily Edmonson’s Flight from Slavery

Bergers Book Reviews

Passenger on the Pearl
Author: Winifred Conkling
Publisher: Algonquin
Genre: History / Slavery
ISBN: 978-1-61620-196-8
Pages: 176
Price: $17.95

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In 1848, a schooner called the Pearl attempted to smuggle 70 slaves out of Washington D.C. Emily Edmonson and five of her siblings were on board when it was captured a day later. Passenger on the Pearl shares Emily’s story, as well as the rest of her family’s attempts to find freedom.

Emily was lucky to have been treated fairly well, but she experienced the horrors of seeing fellow slaves beaten and molested. Husbands and wives, as well as their children, could be separated and sold, without any thought to the devastation done to the families. But the purchase price for freedom was well outside the means of most slaves, and it remained only a dream. Emily had the support of her family, who did everything they could to come up with the ransom, and was finally set free.

Fascinating sidebars about important people and events during this turbulent time in United States history provide a background for the family’s story. Many photos and explanations of slave practices at the time are also included. It’s sad to remember that our great nation once treated a large segment of its population so barbarically, but as young adults read about Emily Edmonson and her family, they are reminded of this truth and can avoid making the same mistakes.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Dorothy: A Different Kind of Friend

Bergers Book Reviews

Dorothy
Author: Roberto Aliaga
Illustrator: Mar Blanco
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9788415619819
Pages: 28
Price: $16.95

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It’s hard to have a friend who’s not like everyone else. Dorothy is very big and has bad manners, and the others don’t like her. But even though she’s different, Dorothy is this little girl’s best friend. Taunts and meanness don’t deter her from spending time with Dorothy, and nothing they can say makes her see her best friend as anything but wonderful.

It’s refreshing to see a child so sure of herself that she sees only the good in her friend, and doesn’t let the others sway her opinion. We could all use more supportive people like her in our lives! Dorothy: A Different Kind of Friend sets a great example of devoted friendship and unconditional acceptance. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Dying for the Past

Bergers Book Reviews

Dying for the Past
Author: TJ O’Connor
Publisher: Midnight Ink
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-7387-4206-9
Pages: 408
Price: $14.99

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Detective Oliver “Tuck” Tucker is no longer among the living. Being a ghost has certain advantages, though, like being able to instantly transport from place to place, and even back in time. When a man is murdered at his wife’s charity ball, Tuck is back on the case along with his police partners.

As Tuck digs deeper into the mystery, he discovers that he and his family play a part in the drama. Other ghosts assist him in his search for “the book,” which someone is desperate to find, even if it means killing those who stand in the way. Fans of ghost hunting TV shows will enjoy references to paranormal equipment which picks up Tuck’s presence, to the astonishment of those operating it. And Tuck’s ability to communicate with the living continues to grow. But one can’t help feeling his sadness in knowing he will never be able to hold his wife in his arms again.

Dying for the Past is the second book in the Gumshoe Ghost Mystery series. Like the first book, Dying to Know, this is a fast-paced read that pulls the reader in and doesn’t let up. Tuck is a great character, and one can really relate to his plight. I’m really enjoying this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian

This Little Prayer of Mine

Bergers Book Reviews

This Little Prayer of Mine
Author: Anthony DeStefano
Illustrator: Mark Elliott
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Genre: Children / Christian
ISBN: 978-0736958615
Pages: 32
Price: 14.99

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Little ones find it easy to talk to God, but they might not always know what to say. This Little Prayer of Mine gives them some ideas in rhyming verse. This simple children’s prayer asks God for help when they feel scared, a smile when sad, wisdom and direction in making decisions, forgiveness for bad behavior, and comfort when feeling lonely. They also thank God for the good things in life and ask for the desire to share their good fortune with others.

While it’s good to learn formal prayers, children can also simply pray from the heart, turning to God as a father and a source of never-ending love. This sweet prayer book would be nice to read at bedtime.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, literary

Alphabetics: An Aesthetically Awesome Alliterated Alphabet Anthology

Bergers Book Reviews

Alphabetics
Authors: Patrick & Traci Concepción
Illustrator: Dawid Ryski
Publisher: Die Gestalten Verlag
Genre: Children / Literary
ISBN: 978-3-89955-728-2
Pages: 64
Price: $16.95

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A is for apple, B is for BORING… Ho-hum. This is NOT that book. In fact, I’m not really sure this is a children’s book at all. Featuring characters like Atticus the altriuisic astronaut and Zooey the zonked zombie, this book has fun with alliterations. Retro-modern illustrations accompany these unusual descriptions.

A glossary is included for those who may need a little assistance in following along, since not all of us know that Zig-Zag is a French based brand of rolling papers and a Contaflex was a camera popular from the 1930s to the 1960s. Literary parents will find this book a pleasure to read to their children, and may even “borrow” it permanently. Alphabetics is a unique and enjoyable alphabet book that both parents and kids will love.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, tween

Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship and Fashion Disasters (Desperate Diva Diaries Series)

Bergers Book Reviews

Catie Conrad - Faith, Friendship, and Fashion Disasters
Author: Angie Spady
Illustrator: Channing Everidge
Publisher: B&H Kids
Genre: Middle-grade girls / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-4336-8460-9
Pages: 304
Price: $12.99

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Catie Conrad’s father, a journalist, has given her blank diaries to record her thoughts. Catie would rather have sketch pads for drawing her fashion designs, but she decides to give the diaries a try. Sixth grade has brought its share of challenges, and she discovers it helps to write about them.

Her brother Jeremy, aka the Germ, and his pet skunk are driving her crazy. The school dance has been announced, and both she and her nemesis, the ultra popular Miranda Maroni, seek the attention of the same boy. And the art contest has her stressed and determined to enter her very best fashion design. Her father has the worst timing in deciding to take the family on a mission trip to an Indian reservation just before the dance and the contest deadline. Catie will need a lot of prayer to get through the year!

Catie Conrad: Faith, Friendship and Fashion Disasters is printed as if handwritten in a notebook, with lots of sketches throughout. Middle-grade girls will relate to the drama of Catie’s life, and will be inspired by the way she tackles her problems, as friends, family and faith strengthen her. Although this is a Christian book, it doesn’t come across preachy, and girls will find Catie very real in her thoughts and struggles. I highly recommend this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Best Part of the Day

Bergers Book Reviews

The Best Part of the Day
Author: Sarah Ban Breathnach
Illustrator: Wendy Edelson
Publisher: Regnery Kids
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-62157-252-7
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

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Twenty years ago, Simple Abundance reminded women that if they wanted to be truly happy, they needed to be grateful for all the good things in their lives. Now, in this children’s version, kids are asked to do the same thing.

Winter, spring, summer and fall – all the seasons of the year share their bounty with us. Was the best part of the day picking pumpkins, building a snowman, tending a garden, or jumping in the pool? At the end of the day, it’s nice to review the joys experienced and be grateful for them all.

In this rhyming book with watercolor illustrations of a happy family, Sarah Ban Breathnach shares the principles of Simple Abundance with kids. Rather than writing down five good things in a gratitude journal, they can simply share their blessings with their parents before bed and go to sleep with a smile. The Best Part of the Day provides a beautiful way to end the day.

Reviewer: Alice Berger